CHAPTER 575: THE MIGHTY AND THE FALLEN

The holo-screen burst alight, showing footage of the arena. Bea kept her forest intact, but she moved her consciousness away from the trees. This meant she couldn’t use them, but since the matches today didn’t include her friends, she didn’t really care.

The entire group gathered together, Sera and Bea sitting in the back as always, while the others made their usual bets... albeit, not many believed the Chinese Pantheon could win this one. Especially after Wukong explained their abilities and chances...

The crowd continued to cheer wildly as both announcer introduced the current participants.

However, Sera did watch with a proud gleam in her eye, as the people gathered seemed lesser in numbers as the previous days... Since nobody from the Angelic Order participated, the people didn’t care enough to watch the fight in person...

The first fight was one of the Chinese Pantheon’s leaders, Yuhuang, the Jade Emperor, against none other than Lucifer, the Fallen Angel himself.

Both are extremely powerful individuals, but since their Rank was restricted to Stellar, the fight was much more physical and exciting.

The Jade Emperor was quite a fitting name. The man looked quite tall and regal, like a true leader. His skin was milky white, while the long robe covering his body looked green as jade.

His immense power warped reality with each step, demanding everyone to kneel at his feet. He carried a strange straight sword, with a round crossguard and a golden decoration hanging from its pommel.

This weapon was known as jian, an old traditional chinese sword... At least that’s what Wukong said, which meant little since he often lied and played pranks. Especially on poor Amaterasu...

The Queen of the Sun also tried tricking the Monkey, but her attempts mostly ended in failure. However, sometimes Wukong let the prank succeed, causing Amaterasu to burst into laughter.

Each time anyone heard her laugh, it was beautiful, yet the depressed woman’s merriment was rare. She usually just skulked and sat in silence. Luckily, Wukong bullied or, rather, bothered her until she engaged with the group.

She come a long way in the past week, Sera thought. She now sat at the front, beside the others, watching as the drones’ view penned over to Lucifer.

A handsome young man with long black hair and dark crimson eyes walked through the woods. A pair of abyss black feathered wings stretched behind his back as a dark robe covered his body.

A comfortable, confident smile spread across his face as a tendril of blood fell along his cheek. On top of his head, the crown of thorns cut deep into his pale skin, yet the wound didn’t seem to bother the Fallen Angel.

He twirled a dark sword made of Profane Metal, while his eyes glanced across the forest, searching for his target.

It didn’t take long to find each other. They stopped in a small clearing, giving ample space for their upcoming fight.

"Hello, Lucifer," said the Jade Emperor, his voice commanding and full of authority. "Why don’t you give up this fight? There’s no need for either of us to die today. Our enemy is the Last Angel!"

The Fallen Angel’s scheming, playful smile widened as humorless laughter echoed from his lips.

"I disagree and refuse! If you want surrender, you’re free to do so, but I would prefer killing you! In fact, I’ve been waiting thousands of years to destroy all your Factions! I feel thankful to the Last Angel, giving me the opportunity to eliminate everyone!"

Yuhuang chuckled as well, while shaking his head...

"Proud and stupid. You hadn’t changed, it seems... Anyway, maybe death will bring you wisdom! Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick!"

Lucifer’s smile twisted into a mad grin. He grabbed his black robe with his freehand and pulled it off, revealing dark crimson armor made of Profane Metal.

The Jade Emperor also pulled off his own robe. His armor was the same color as the robe. The tiny glimpses of sunlight trickling through the thick foliage glinted on its perfect, shiny surface.

The two primordial beings began circling each other, keeping eye contact, awaiting who’ll make the first move.

Nearly an entire minute passed when both fighters suddenly stopped. The stale air settled between the two. The wind stopped blowing as all the tiny dust particles settled.

The violence in the air became palpable as a light tremble moved across the entire arena.

Time seemed to stop. Lucifer’s grin widened as a tiny blood droplet fell from his chin towards the ground. Before the drop reached the ground, both fighters burst into action.

Their movements were fast enough to send a powerful shockwave across the entire arena. However, they were also fast enough to end the battle before most even recognized it had begun.

Lucifer’s dark wings propelled him towards the Jade Emperor, much faster than a normal Stellar could move.

He twirled his sword and slammed into the ground, just before Yuhuang. The jian cut empty air as the Fallen Angel leaned back, his wings brushing against the earth.

The Profane blade slashed at the Jade Emperor’s legs, but he simply flipped over the attack. His freehand landed on the ground, stabilizing him in a handstand. He then stabbed the jian at Lucifer’s neck, but suddenly the Fallen Angel’s wings beat again.

He flew away from the ground and landed on his feet. Without waiting, he ran towards the Jade Emperor, who already stood ready to defend and attack.

Lucifer stabbed forward, Yuhuang parrying the blow perfectly. He then stepped forward, trying to grapple the Fallen Angel. However, Lucifer simply chuckled and head-butted his opponent.

Blood trickled from the Jade Emperor’s forehead, where Lucifer’s thorn crown pierced his skin. He didn’t care though, and a moment later his jian was already arcing to behead his enemy.

The Fallen Angel raised his Profane weapon, blocking the slash, then suddenly, an overpowering voice echoed through the Colosseum.

"Kneel!" shouted Yuhuang, and in that moment, Lucifer lost control of his body, falling to his knees.

A pained groan whistled through his gritted teeth as his grip weakened on the Profane blade. The Jade Emperor’s jian pushed down, cutting deep into the Fallen Angel’s shoulder.

With every passing moment, the blade went deeper into Lucifer. It passed through his armor, clavicle, shoulder blade and most of his ribs, until only millimeters separated it from his heart.

The Jade Emperor’s victory was already in sight when a light chuckle echoed from Lucifer’s grinning mouth. He leaned in closer, only a few centimeters separating his face from Yuhuang’s.

"You lose, Mr. Emperor!"

At first, Yuhuang believed Lucifer was losing his mind, then as realization set in, his eyes went wide with shock.

Behind the Fallen Angel, the dark wings spread wide. A shadowy smoke settled on its feathered surface, and from these shadows, a dark, destructive gaze stared into the Jade Emperor’s eyes.

"You consumed him?!" he said as a dozen massive hands burst from the shadows, grabbing different parts of the Jade Emperor’s body.

He didn’t even have time to scream as the hands squeezed, breaking him into small, unrecognizable pieces.

Yuhuang’s jian clattered to the ground and burst into sparks of light as both the hands and shadow both disappeared without a trace.

Lucifer stood up and stretched his arms while the deep cut healed itself.

Suddenly, he burst into laughter and began walking back to the elevator, while the announcer revealed the winner and the people cheered.

Back in the lounge room, everyone paid or took money from others, depending on who won or lost the wager. However, Sera continued watching the holo-screen, studying Lucifer’s every movement, watching his grin, staring into his cunning dark crimson eyes.

"Wukong, what was his power again?" She asked the Monkey, who hung from the ceiling with his tail.

"We aren’t entirely certain. I think it has to do with capturing and using souls. Reimagining them into reality, or something like that... You should probably ask Odin. He’s much well-versed in information relating to other Factions..."

Wukong wasn’t the one who answered. Instead, the bright lady wearing a whitish-gold kimono spoke in an impassive, bored voice.

Sera nodded, not taking her eyes off of the holo-screen. She remained silent until Lucifer moved down the platform, out of the drones’ sight.

"Faith. Where is Odin?" asked Sera into empty air, causing the surrounding shadows to turn tangible. A pale face appeared in her lap... Faith’s face...

"I don’t know. He’s not inside the Colosseum, so probably returned north. Should I ask Vicky to find him?"

The Angel stayed silent momentarily. She had a bad feeling. With each day that passed, she felt a horrible anxiety creeping over her. It felt strange, like a predator constantly watched over her, waiting to pounce and devour.

"Yes, after the next battle, when she sent everyone away."

Faith’s shadowy face disappeared without a word. A deep sigh echoed from Sera as she leaned her head on Bea’s lap, letting her lover’s caring hands caress her golden locks.

"Something will go wrong... I can feel it..." whispered Sera while gazing at her group of friends.

"I don’t know when, or how, but... There’s something I missed, just can’t figure out what exactly! It drives me crazy and anxious!"

Sera wanted to complain more, but under Bea’s care, the trouble suffocating her mind seemed to dissolve and eventually, she nearly fell asleep.

The next battle would be held an hour later, so she had plenty of time to take a nap, yet... sleep evaded her. Even in the peak of comfort, she couldn’t enter the elusive land of dreams.

Time passed by quickly, and soon Bea whispered into her ear as the next battle was about to start...