With his hand still raised in the air, Lucifer let out a triumphant scream that echoed across the chaotic scene, "YES!" His voice boomed with an unsettling mixture of glee and malevolence. "It's been 400 years since I've soaked these claws with mortal blood, and I've never felt so alive!"
The twisted grin on his face widened as he slowly lowered his hand, his eyes flickering with a wicked red glow. His gaze fell on the four teenagers standing before him—Raiden, Zohar, Kaito, and Kirashi—all frozen in place, paralyzed by fear.
Lucifer's grin only grew more sinister as he took a step forward, towering over them. "Ah, look at you," he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "So small. So weak. And yet..." He paused, his eyes narrowing in curiosity as he studied them. "You're still standing."
For a brief moment, the air around them grew colder, and the oppressive weight of Lucifer's presence seemed to grow even heavier. He chuckled, the sound low and dark, as if savoring the fear he could feel radiating from them.
"I've revealed myself now," Lucifer continued, his voice turning smooth, almost conversational. "So you might just get lucky. The gods know where I am now." He let out a soft, mocking laugh. "But that doesn't mean they'll defeat me. It'll just delay the inevitable."
The four of them exchanged brief glances, their minds racing, trying to comprehend the gravity of what Lucifer was saying. They were standing face-to-face with the king of hell himself, and his power felt immeasurable.
Lucifer's eyes flicked over to Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito, his gaze lingering on each of them as he tilted his head slightly, an amused expression crossing his face. "I noticed something about you three," he said with a cold, calculated tone. "You were able to pick up Gabriel's sword. Not an easy task for mere mortals." His voice held a note of begrudging respect, though his eyes remained filled with malice. "And, somehow, you managed to kill one of my spawn."
He gave a slow, deliberate nod, as if acknowledging their achievement. "That's... impressive."
For a moment, a heavy silence fell over the group. Lucifer's words hung in the air, chilling them to the bone. The realization of what they had done, and what it meant, hit them like a wave. They had fought back. They had survived. But now, standing in the presence of Lucifer himself, it felt like nothing more than a fleeting victory.
Lucifer's grin returned, darker and more menacing than ever. "But what a waste of potential," he mused, his voice filled with twisted disappointment. "You could've been so much more. You could've stood by my side. But instead, you chose to meddle in things far beyond your understanding."
He took another step forward, his wings unfurling ever so slightly, casting a shadow over the four of them. "So now," he said softly, his voice like a whisper of death, "I'll have to destroy you."
Raiden's heart pounded in his chest, every fiber of his being screaming at him to move, to run, to do anything. But his legs felt like they were made of lead, rooted to the ground by the sheer terror of what stood before them. Kirashi's breath hitched, her hands trembling as she stood by Zohar, trying to stay strong despite the overwhelming fear.
Zohar, his mind racing, clenched his fists, trying to summon the courage to act. Kaito's eyes darted to the ground, where Gabriel's sword had once been, now lifeless and powerless. The reality of their situation began to sink in—they were outmatched, outgunned, and completely at the mercy of a being who delighted in their suffering.
Lucifer's grin widened once more as he raised his hand, dark energy swirling around his claws. "I suppose I should thank you for waking me up," he said with a sneer. "But don't worry. This won't take long."
The tension in the air was palpable.
Raiden, still looking at the ground, gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as he spoke up, his voice trembling with barely contained anger. "So, you're responsible for all these deaths..."
Lucifer, now slightly confused, tilted his head, observing the boy's sudden shift in demeanor. Before he could respond, Kaito stepped forward, his voice cracking with grief, "You're responsible for my parents."
Without hesitation, Zohar followed. His tone was cold and resolute as he muttered through gritted teeth, "You're going to pay."
As Lucifer prepared to respond, Kirashi, standing frozen, caught a glimpse of something behind the dark figure. Her eyes widened in panic as she saw Shigenori, moving stealthily amidst the chaos, pick up a pistol from a fallen soldier. He aimed the weapon directly at Lucifer's back, his hands trembling, but his resolve clear.
Time seemed to slow down for Kirashi as she screamed out, "Shigenori!" Her voice echoed through the streets just as he pulled the trigger.
The bullet struck Lucifer in the wing as he raised it to shield himself. The force of the impact made Lucifer stumble slightly, but the expression on his face remained one of amusement. He let out a soft, mocking chuckle, barely fazed. "Nice try," he mused, as his image blurred, suddenly appearing behind Shigenori in an instant, moving faster than any of them could process.
Lucifer's clawed hand gripped the back of Shigenori's head, lifting him into the air effortlessly. Shigenori struggled against his hold, but it was futile. Lucifer's grip tightened as he whispered coldly, "Do you really care about such a little possession?"
In a final act of defiance, Shigenori cried out, "Kirashi! I love you!" The words pierced the chaos, filling the air just as Lucifer hurled him into the sky with brutal force. Shigenori's body soared through the air, crashing against a slanted rooftop. His body rag-dolled along the surface, bouncing lifelessly before disappearing from view.
Kirashi's scream tore through the battlefield, filled with unimaginable horror and grief. "SHIGENORI!" she wailed, her heart shattering as she watched her brother's limp body disappear. Tears filled her eyes, her world collapsing in an instant.
Lucifer smirked, his wings unfurling as he turned his attention back to the others. Without warning, he launched himself toward them, his body a dark blur of power. Kirashi barely had time to react before his hand whipped across her face, sending her flying across the street. She hit the ground with a sickening thud, her body going limp as she fell unconscious.
Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar stood frozen, their minds still reeling from the horror they had just witnessed. But they couldn't afford to grieve, not with Lucifer standing before them.
With desperation, they charged at Lucifer in unison, fists and kicks flying, but none of their strikes found their mark. Lucifer danced around them effortlessly, toying with them, mocking their every attempt. He tripped them up, slapped away their blows, and delivered light taps that sent them sprawling.
"YOU BASTARD!!" Raiden roared, his voice raw with fury. He threw a wild punch, hoping to land at least one solid blow. But before his fist even reached Lucifer, the demon king grabbed him by the abdomen, lifting him high into the air before slamming him down hard onto the pavement. The impact knocked the air out of Raiden's lungs, leaving him gasping for breath.
Kaito followed quickly, his foot aimed at Lucifer's face. But Lucifer's response was swift. He drove his fist deep into Kaito's stomach, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through his body. Kaito gasped, clutching his stomach, utterly winded.
In the chaos, Zohar saw an opening and took it. With all his strength, he swung a punch and—connected. His fist smashed into Lucifer's face, making the demon king stumble slightly.
Lucifer's eyes flashed with something close to excitement as he slowly turned to face Zohar. He let out a deep, satisfied laugh. "That's the fury I've been seeking," he mused darkly. "You're a feisty one."
Without warning, Lucifer lashed out with a devastating kick, sending Zohar flying backward, crashing through a shop window. The glass shattered around him as he tumbled to the ground, dazed and bleeding.
Lucifer, still smiling, turned his attention back to Kaito, who was struggling to get up. With a brutal punch, Lucifer slammed Kaito's face into the concrete, blood splattering from the impact.
Finally, he set his sights on Raiden. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed Raiden into the side of a car, the force crumpling the metal on impact.
Lucifer stood over them all, his black wings spreading wide, his eyes glowing with malevolent power. He was toying with them, breaking them slowly, savoring their pain.
But deep inside, something was stirring within the three of them—an anger and desperation far beyond what Lucifer had anticipated.
As Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar lay battered on the ground, their bodies aching from Lucifer's brutal onslaught, time itself seemed to freeze. The dust in the air stopped swirling, the smoke from the burning wreckage stood still, and the sounds of the world around them fell silent.
Then, faint yet distinct, each of them heard a voice, powerful and ancient, calling to them through the silence.
"Get up, soldier."
Raiden's eyelids fluttered, his vision blurry. Through the haze, he saw a towering figure standing over him. The figure was cloaked in a storm of clouds and lightning, his face stern but filled with an ancient authority. Raiden's heart pounded as he realized he was looking at Zeus, King of the Greek gods.
"You've proven yourself worthy, Raiden. Your spirit will not be broken." Zeus spoke, his deep voice resonating through Raiden's very soul. "Take my hand. You will be saved, and you will be chosen."
Raiden, barely conscious, reached out weakly toward Zeus, feeling a surge of power stirring within him.
On the other side, Kaito's world was no less overwhelming. His blurred vision slowly cleared, revealing a figure surrounded by the roaring tides, his armor shimmering like the sea itself. It was Neptune, the Roman god of the ocean, towering over Kaito with the strength of a thousand storms.
"Kaito," Neptune's voice echoed, low and commanding. "You've fought bravely and with honor. Your spirit has endured much pain, but it will not falter." He extended a hand toward Kaito. "Rise, Chosen One. The power of the seas shall be yours."
Kaito, breath ragged, could feel the energy of the ocean coursing through his veins as he reached out, Neptune's presence both calming and invigorating.
Meanwhile, Zohar lay motionless, pain seeping through every inch of his body, but he too felt the world shift. As his vision cleared, two imposing figures stood before him. One, holding a hammer that crackled with thunder, was Thor, god of thunder and lightning, his fierce gaze meeting Zohar's. Beside him stood Odin, the Allfather, his one eye filled with both wisdom and sorrow, as though he had seen every battle and every loss the world had ever known.
"Zohar," Odin's voice was softer but carried the weight of ages. "You've shown the fury of a true warrior. Your resolve is strong, unbreakable. Take our hands, for you will be chosen."
Thor smiled grimly, extending his hand toward Zohar. "The power of the storm is yours, warrior. Rise, and claim your place among the gods."
Zohar, his body trembling, felt strength surge back into his limbs as he reached out for Thor's and Odin's hands. Thunder roared above them, the skies splitting open with a flash of light.
As Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar reached for the gods, a rush of divine power enveloped them. Their bodies lifted slightly off the ground as an intense light radiated from each of them. The weight of their wounds began to fade, and a new energy, ancient and formidable, filled their very beings.
"You are now our chosen," Zeus, Neptune, Thor, and Odin declared in unison, their voices merging with the thunder and crashing waves.
Time began to move again, the sounds of chaos returning as Lucifer, oblivious to the gods' intervention, stood arrogantly over the fallen soldiers and civilians. His red eyes glowed with malevolence, his wings stretching as if preparing for another strike.
But this time, Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar did not remain on the ground.
The three of them rose slowly, their eyes now glowing with the divine energy of the gods who had chosen them. Raiden's hands crackled with electricity, lightning surging through his veins, while Kaito's skin shimmered with the deep blue of the ocean, waves of power coursing through him. Zohar's fists were wreathed in the fury of thunder and lightning, his connection to Thor and Odin radiating through every fiber of his being.
Lucifer paused, sensing the shift in power, his crimson eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Raiden clenched his fists, his voice steady and filled with newfound strength. "You're not the only one with power now."
Lucifer's grin faded slightly as he surveyed the three young warriors before him, now empowered by the gods. For the first time in centuries, he felt a flicker of uncertainty.
Kaito stepped forward, his voice calm but determined. "We're not just mortals anymore. We're the chosen ones."
Zohar's grip tightened around his newly acquired power, and he stepped beside his friends, his eyes locked onto Lucifer's. "And we will stop you."
Lucifer let out a low growl, his wings flaring out. "We'll see about that."
The battle was far from over. But now, Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar had the gods themselves on their side.
Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar now stood empowered by the gods themselves, their bodies surging with new abilities, untested but raw with potential. Zohar felt the rush of his newfound speed, the energy of Thor coursing through his veins like a storm ready to break. His vision sharpened to an almost god-like clarity, thanks to Odin, every detail crisp, every movement of Lucifer painfully clear.
Without hesitation, Zohar shot forward, lightning crackling beneath his feet, creating a thunderous shockwave that shattered the glass of nearby shops and sent debris flying through the air. In a blur, he reached Lucifer and delivered a swift kick to his side, catching him off guard. Lucifer staggered, his wings flaring, but Zohar was already following up with a quick, brutal uppercut to his chin.
Lucifer hissed, his glowing crimson eyes narrowing in anger. With a swift motion, he brought his sharp, burning claws across Zohar's chest, leaving deep, smoldering gashes. Zohar stumbled back, his chest heaving from the pain, but the power of the gods kept him standing.
Raiden took his chance. He charged at Lucifer, his arm brimming with the strength and lightning of Zeus, electricity arcing wildly from his body. As he leaped into the air, the power lines around them sparked and flickered, his energy so immense it caused nearby electrical systems to overload. His hoodie sleeve burned away as his arm became a weapon of pure electricity. Raiden slammed his fist down onto Lucifer with a deafening crack, lightning exploding from the point of impact, sending shockwaves through the air.
Lucifer grunted, using his wings to shield himself as best as he could, but even he couldn't deny the power behind Raiden's attack. As the demon lord staggered, Kaito moved into action. He focused, his hands outstretched, calling upon the power of Neptune. With a sudden force, water exploded from the nearby fire hydrants, twisting and coiling through the air with incredible speed. Kaito directed the torrents toward Lucifer, hitting him with immense pressure, like a thousand crashing waves.
Lucifer grinned through the assault, his wings expanding, blocking the force of the water. His black, shiny wings shuddered from the impact, but they held strong. Then, in a burst of speed, Lucifer shot forward, piercing through the water like a missile. He grabbed Kaito by his shirt and, with a roar, hurled him through the air.
Kaito's body crashed into Raiden, and in the chaos, Raiden's electricity surged through Kaito's body. The water on Kaito's skin acted as a conduit, amplifying the effect. His body convulsed as the shock knocked him unconscious, his form slumping to the ground. Raiden's eyes widened in horror as he realized what had happened, but before he could react, Lucifer was already upon him.
Lucifer's massive, clawed hand clamped around Raiden's throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air. With a powerful flap of his wings, Lucifer shot into the sky, dragging Raiden with him. The ground grew distant as they rose higher and higher, the wind howling around them.
Lucifer's voice was a dark, mocking growl as he tightened his grip around Raiden's neck. "You people think you understand power. You think you know what the gods are? Why humans even exist? Your precious gods have lied to you, little one."
Raiden struggled, the air thinning, his vision blurring as the pressure on his throat increased.
"This war won't just end the gods," Lucifer continued, his eyes burning with a malevolent glow. "It will end everything. The end of gods, the end of humans, the end of this pathetic cycle of life. You don't even know the true history—why humans were created in the first place."
Raiden tried to speak, but only a strangled gasp escaped his lips as Lucifer tightened his hold, suffocating him. He felt the electric energy flicker weakly around him as his strength faded.
"This world has no place for gods anymore, or their weak creations. I will reshape it into what it was always meant to be," Lucifer sneered, his wings casting a dark shadow across the sky as he ascended higher, the earth below seeming so far away now.
But even through the haze of near-unconsciousness, Raiden's spirit burned with defiance. His hands, though weak, still crackled with the lingering power of Zeus. He wasn't going to let Lucifer have the last word.
"You... you won't... win..." Raiden choked out, his voice barely a whisper. His hands began to glow brighter, lightning gathering in his palms.
Lucifer's grip slackened slightly, just enough for Raiden to summon the last bit of strength he had. "The gods... won't let you... have this world."
In one last act of defiance, Raiden sent a surge of electricity coursing through his own body and into Lucifer's, sending a blinding arc of lightning through the sky. Lucifer howled in pain as the bolt struck him, his body twitching and convulsing from the shock.
The two figures plummeted toward the earth, locked in a deadly freefall.
As Raiden and Lucifer plummeted through the air, the world around them a blur of wind and light, Lucifer's mind began to race. His body still twitched from the residual electricity, his wings struggling to regain control and stabilize their fall. But beyond the physical pain, something far more unsettling was gnawing at him—something he hadn't felt in centuries.
"Such power... from such a little human," Lucifer thought, his glowing crimson eyes narrowing as he looked down at Raiden, who still held a faint glow of Zeus' lightning in his hands, his face a mask of defiance even as they fell. "How much power did the gods give him?"
Lucifer had battled gods before. He had felt their wrath, their divine fury, and had come out victorious countless times. But this... this was different. This wasn't just a divine gift of power handed down like a trinket. There was something else, something primal in Raiden's eyes, in the way he fought—something that was stirring a long-buried concern in Lucifer's mind.
As the ground raced closer, Lucifer's thoughts turned to Zohar and Kaito, both of whom had shown unexpected strength before they had even been touched by the gods. Zohar, with his speed and precision, had landed a clean blow on Lucifer—"That kid hit me," Lucifer recalled, his brow furrowing in confusion and anger. "Before he was even chosen by Thor and Odin."
The memory of Zohar's kick, swift and brutal, replayed in his mind. For a moment, Lucifer had been taken off guard, truly surprised by the sheer audacity and force behind the attack. No ordinary human should have been able to land a blow like that on the Prince of Darkness. It wasn't just luck, it wasn't just strength—it was something deeper.
"There's something about these humans," Lucifer realized, his mind now a storm of thoughts. "They're not like the others. They don't just rely on the power of the gods... They have something else driving them."
As they continued to fall, Lucifer's wings snapped open, catching the wind with a sudden force that jerked their descent. He was slowing their fall now, but his eyes were locked on Raiden, who had passed out, still crackling faintly with Zeus' power. For a brief moment, Lucifer considered finishing him off right then and there. A flick of his claws, a twist of his wrist—he could end it.
But something held him back.
"I need to know," Lucifer thought, his lips curling into a dark grin. "I need to see what they truly are. What the gods see in them."
He began to slow their descent even more, flapping his wings powerfully until they were hovering just above the ruined streets below. Lucifer lowered Raiden gently, almost mockingly, onto the ground, his eyes still burning with curiosity. This human, this boy, had power—power beyond anything Lucifer had seen in mortals for centuries.
"I'll break you," Lucifer whispered, looking down at Raiden. "And when I do, I'll uncover the truth of why the gods chose you... and why they fear you."
He let go of Raiden, standing tall and surveying the destruction around them. Kaito and Zohar were still unconscious, scattered across the battlefield, but they too would rise. Lucifer could feel it. There was more to them than met the eye. The gods had given them strength, yes—but something deeper was brewing within them.
Something Lucifer intended to exploit.
Lucifer's dark chuckle echoed through the smoke and devastation. His wings, sleek and black as night, flared open once more. "I'll be watching you," he sneered, his crimson eyes flickering with amusement as he glanced toward Kirashi's unconscious form. "Hope I didn't hurt your lady friend too badly." With that, he launched into the sky, his wings beating powerfully as he soared upward. A ripple in the air followed his ascent, and with a sudden twist of dark energy, a portal opened above him. Lucifer flew through it, disappearing into the void.
The ground trembled as the portal expanded, but this time it wasn't demonic energy. Instead, a brilliant light filled the battlefield, pouring from the sky as another rift opened. Figures began to emerge from the blinding glow—gods and archangels, their presence overwhelming and majestic. Zeus stepped forward first, his lightning-charged aura crackling around him as he surveyed the wreckage, eyes narrowing at the destruction Lucifer had left in his wake.
Behind Zeus came Odin, Thor, Neptune, and the remaining archangels, each one bearing their weapons of war, ready for the coming battle. Gabriel may have fallen, but they were far from defeated.
Zeus wasted no time. His voice boomed like thunder as he issued his orders. "Angels, take these three." He pointed to Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar, still unconscious from the fight. "Bring them into the portal. They have proven themselves worthy, and we must protect them if we are to stand any chance against Lucifer."
As the angels moved swiftly, gathering the three teenagers, Zeus turned to the gods standing beside him. "Ares, Heimdal, Athena—stay behind. Search for anything that might help us locate Lucifer. He can't be far, not after revealing himself so openly."
Ares, with his gleaming armor and blood-red spear, nodded. "We'll find him." His voice was calm, controlled, but his eyes burned with the thrill of battle. Heimdal, his watchful gaze always vigilant, scanned the surroundings with his massive sword in hand. "He won't escape my sight again," the guardian of the Bifrost said, his senses already stretching across the planes, searching for any hint of Lucifer's presence.
Meanwhile, Athena, goddess of wisdom and war, noticed movement in the corner of her eye. Kirashi, barely conscious, was stirring, her body battered and bruised from the earlier assault. Athena immediately knelt beside her, her golden armor gleaming in the dim light. "Easy now," she said softly, placing a hand on Kirashi's shoulder. "You've taken quite the blow, but you're strong. Let me help you."
Kirashi blinked groggily, her vision slowly coming into focus as she saw the tall, armored woman above her. "Who... who are you?" she asked weakly, her voice hoarse from the pain.
"I am Athena," the goddess replied, her voice both soothing and authoritative. "You are safe now. We're here to stop Lucifer." With gentle care, Athena helped Kirashi sit up, offering her some water from a small flask she carried.
"My brother..." Kirashi mumbled, her eyes searching for Shigenori.
Athena's eyes softened. "He's alive. But you all need rest and healing. You'll be reunited soon. For now, let us take care of this."
As the angels carried Raiden, Kaito, and Zohar through the portal, Zeus gave one last look to the gods who remained. "Find anything useful," he ordered, before disappearing into the light himself.
Back on the battlefield, Ares and Heimdal moved with purpose, inspecting the bodies of fallen soldiers, looking for any signs of where Lucifer may have gone. They began to form a plan, while Athena stayed with Kirashi, offering her aid and ensuring she was stable enough to move.
The war was far from over, and the gods were now fully engaged. Lucifer had made his move, but so had the divine—this was only the beginning of the New Age War.
Ares leapt up to the rooftops with the grace of a battle-hardened warrior, his eyes scanning the devastation for any sign of survivors. His armor shimmered faintly in the dim light, and as he moved, his spear gleamed with divine energy. When he reached the top, he saw Shigenori lying broken and gasping for air, his body twisted from Lucifer's brutal assault.
Ares knelt beside him, the god's expression firm but laced with concern. "You're still alive," he muttered, impressed by Shigenori's resilience. He gently lifted him into his arms, cradling the human as though he were far more fragile than the warrior he had once been. "I am Ares, god of war," he said, his voice steady. "You've been through hell—quite literally. Lucifer attacked, but you fought. You survived."
Shigenori barely managed to open his eyes, his breath ragged as he clung to life. He tried to speak, but only a wheezing gasp escaped his lips.
Ares carried him effortlessly off the rooftop, landing smoothly beside Heimdal, who was watching vigilantly. The Norse guardian's gaze immediately locked onto Shigenori's neck, where the faint glow of dark magic pulsed beneath the skin. "Ares, look," Heimdal said, his voice grave. He pointed to the jagged claw marks running down Shigenori's throat—marks left by Lucifer's wicked claws.
The lines were not ordinary injuries. They writhed and shifted under Shigenori's skin like living entities. As Heimdal leaned closer, he noticed a sickly black substance spreading from the wounds, veins turning dark, like ink being spilled into water. "Hell poison," Heimdal muttered, his tone grim. "This is no ordinary wound. Lucifer's claws carry a venom born from the rifts of Hell itself."
Ares narrowed his eyes, his grip on Shigenori tightening slightly. "Hell poison?"
Heimdal nodded, his eyes sharp. "It's a vile poison that corrupts whatever it touches. It spreads through the blood, turning gods and humans alike into demons. The stronger the being it affects, the more powerful the demon they become."
Ares's jaw clenched as he looked down at the barely conscious Shigenori. "If this poison takes him... he'll turn into something far worse than any ordinary demon."
Shigenori's eyes fluttered open for a brief moment, his voice weak as he gasped, "Help... me..."
Ares, feeling the weight of his words, knew they didn't have much time. "We need to get him to the gods. There has to be something they can do to stop this. We can't let Lucifer turn him." The god of war glanced at Heimdal, who nodded in agreement.
"We must act quickly," Heimdal said, his voice unwavering. "Athena will know what to do. She has knowledge of ancient poisons and cures that might help slow this down."
Without wasting another moment, Ares hoisted Shigenori carefully, moving with urgency back toward where Athena was tending to Kirashi. The poison was spreading faster than either god had anticipated—Shigenori's skin was paling, and dark tendrils of hellish corruption were slowly creeping across his body.
As they reached Athena, her eyes immediately fell upon the spreading poison, and she drew in a sharp breath. "This is worse than I feared," she muttered. "We have little time. We need to stop the spread before it consumes him entirely."
She placed her hands over the wound, a soft glow of golden light emanating from her palms as she began to mutter incantations in an ancient tongue. "I can hold it back, but not for long. We'll need something stronger to cleanse this fully. The poison's connection to Hell is too deep."
Kirashi, barely conscious but aware of the danger, whispered, "Please... save him."
Athena nodded firmly. "I will do everything in my power."
Ares looked at Athena, his expression stoic but determined. "We need to find a way to cure this before it's too late. If Lucifer's poison takes him... we'll have another demon on our hands. A powerful one."
Athena's face was set with determination. "I will find the cure. But we may need something beyond even the gods. This poison is connected to Hell's rifts... and we may have to venture there to stop it at its source."
As the gods began their frantic efforts to save Shigenori, the war against Lucifer was now not only about stopping him but about saving those who had been touched by his darkness. The battle for Shigenori's soul had just begun.
Athena, kneeling beside Shigenori and Kirashi, looked up at Ares and Heimdall with a firm resolve in her eyes. "I'll stay here," she said, her voice steady as she continued channeling golden energy to hold back the hell poison creeping through Shigenori's body. "I'll take care of him and Kirashi. But you two, go. Check the surrounding areas—the school, hospitals—anywhere humans have gathered. Lucifer's too cunning to reveal himself just to infect one person. This is a strategy. There are others."
Heimdall, standing a few feet away with his arms crossed, furrowed his brow. "Zeus told us to search for Lucifer, not babysit humans," he interjected, his tone sharp. "You're wasting time. If Lucifer's infection takes hold, the boy will become a demon. You might as well kill him now before that happens."
Athena's eyes narrowed, her gaze locking with Heimdall's. "You don't understand the gravity of this situation, Heimdall. If we can save him, we must. I'm not letting Lucifer take one more soul than he already has."
Heimdall scoffed, his sharp eyes cold. "You and your sentimentality. Always too close to the mortals. It's going to cost us dearly in the end. We're at war, Athena. We can't save everyone. You'd better be ready to do what's necessary when he turns."
Before Athena could respond, Ares stepped between them, his tone low but commanding. "Heimdall." The Norse god of vigilance turned his head toward Ares, who stared at him with a steady gaze. "Calm down. Zeus knew Athena cares too much for humans to stand by and watch them die. She won't leave them behind. And she won't let this poison take him without a fight."
Ares placed a hand on Heimdall's shoulder, his voice becoming more measured. "We'll do our part. We've been ordered to find Lucifer, and that's what we'll do. But let's not waste energy arguing over this. We search the school, the hospitals, anywhere Lucifer might've left his mark. Maybe we'll even get a little action out of it." A small grin tugged at the corner of his lips, the excitement of battle never far from his mind.
Heimdall's eyes flicked from Ares to Athena, the tension still evident in his posture. But after a moment, he gave a curt nod, his voice gruff. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you when that boy turns."
Athena didn't respond, her attention returning to Shigenori, whose breathing had slowed as she worked to keep the poison at bay. "He won't turn," she muttered to herself, more as a promise than a hope. "Not if I can help it."
Ares and Heimdall turned, their forms disappearing into the distance as they set off to investigate the nearby hotspots. Athena, now alone with Shigenori and Kirashi, continued her work, a sense of urgency weighing heavy on her. Lucifer's reach was growing, and she knew they had little time before the true extent of his plan became clear.
Back on the battlefield, Ares led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the ruins of the city as they made their way toward the school. "You know, Heimdall, there's more to this than just finding Lucifer," Ares said as they walked. "We're not just here to clean up the mess. We're here to stop him before it's too late."
Heimdall glanced at Ares, his face unreadable. "And if it's already too late?"
Ares chuckled darkly. "Then we fight. And we make sure Lucifer knows what happens when he messes with the gods."