"What do you want me to do?"

The question itself brought a sickening sensation in his chest, he felt morbid curiosity at Lucifer's words.

『My power will be connected to you, every single ounce of it would be yours to command. In exchange for your unwavering loyalty and devotion to me. 』

Her eyes shone with admiration as she spoke, Lucifer's smile was gentle that Sorin could trace sincerity in them. He took a deep breath, the scent of ash filling his nose.

He felt his responsibility as the Saint crashing down on him.

"Loyalty." he tested the word on his tongue "...It is my fatal flaw. I was loyal to my virtues until my death."

It was a realization that started to take hold of him. At how foolish he was even in his death, letting his companions die a cruel death just because he believed in such childish musings.

Ah, he felt so pathetic.

The innocents who died under his name. Sorin could never forgive himself– he could never forgive those who hurt those who were precious to him.

Sorin felt anger coursing through his veins, overwhelming his thoughts. He knew that Lucifer's words were poison, but it was intoxicating him.

Twisted desire slowly bubbled at the pits of his stomach.

The weight of his sorrow and grief was an anchor that grounded him back to reality. His very soul crushed by the unrelenting pressure of despair. It was suffocating.

『Humans will always be humans, my dear saint. You sacrificed everything for them, you fought valiantly for them, and yet... here you are.』

Lucifer's gaze on him was softer this time as if she understood everything. She moved closer to Sorin, closing the distance between them.

His anger burned like the sun as he let out a pained scream. They had robbed him of all he had dear. Luke stepped towards the two intruders, each step symbolizing their inevitable death. The air buzzed with a sense of finality.

The curtain between life and death lifting.

『Gods cannot make humans pay for their sins...』

A wicked smile formed on Lucifer's lips, as they locked eyes once more.

『But you can, my beloved saint. The bearer of my mark.』

Sorin made his choice as resolve filled his heart "...I accept."

Lucifer's laugh echoed through the air, a haunting melody that resonated with the promise of chaos and destruction.

A shiver traveled down Sorin's spine, but he found himself strangely drawn to it, the sheer power it represented.

The scene around them changed, warping and distorting itself before it turned into a white space. A tall tree stood in the middle, its branches reached towards the heavens as if it was yearning to touch the sky. The leaves glistened like pearls, casting a warm glow on Lucifer's figure.

Sorin's eyes were locked on the fruit that was hidden behind the thick leaves. They hung like precious jewels as if their existence held the secrets of the universe itself.

『It's beautiful, isn't it? The Gods are selfish beings who refused to share their power with anyone.』

Lucifer picked one of the fruits, the object that had caused all of humanity's suffering. For a moment, Sorin felt time stop at the very sight of it.

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Tension filled the air, a reminder of his choice. The possible consequence of it on humanity.

The tree stood as a testament to the eternal struggle between the pursuit of knowledge and the boundaries set by the Gods.

Its branches whispered tales of forbidden truths and hidden power, challenging Sorin to confront his deepest desires and the sacrifices they entailed.

『Come closer, my saint.』

And he did.

『This is the symbol of our pact. You will be the harbinger of change, reshape the world as you see fit. Tear down everything those foolish humans had believed in.』

Lucifer extended her hand, offering the fruit to him. He could feel the energy emanating from the fruit. Something different from divine and demonic energy. It was the life of the universe itself.

She chuckled before taking a bite of the fruit.

Sorin watched as it changed color into a pure black, the darkness spreading across its surface like ink in water.

『This is the very core of creation and destruction itself.』

Lucifer held the fruit towards him, enticing him to accept her offer. He could feel the weight of his choice, his heart pounding with both fear and anticipation.

He knew this would be the catalyst of a different future.

Sorin closed his eyes and took a bite.

When he opened his eyes, he saw Lucifer's wicked grin.

The taste was both divine and infernal, something he could never describe. The sensation inside of him continued to scorch the last bit of humanity in his veins that he desperately wanted to save.

Lucifer's laughter ignited a spark of madness that he couldn't resist. His eyes reflected the same twisted amusement that the demon had.

It was a symphony of malevolence.

Sorin felt his very soul being defiled.

『Ah~ My chosen one, this is all I ever wanted for you.』

He couldn't comprehend what was happening anymore, his entire world was being destroyed and rebuilt over and over again. The last remnants of his humanity slipped away with each passing moment.

『Spill their blood in my name and reap the souls of those who oppose you.』

Time felt meaningless. The only thing that held meaning at that moment was Lucifer's words.

『I'll see you soon, my beloved saint.』

『May you enjoy your journey.』

Sorin's entire vision was then consumed by darkness.

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"Ah!"

He jolted awake.

He found himself in a disoriented state as he gasped for breath. The room where he found himself was so familiar to him. The walls were adorned with faded tapestries and the bookshelves lined each corner of the room.

It was his room.

Sorin was back at the manor.

He swung his legs over the side of his bed, hands trembling as he gripped the edge. The memory felt so vivid, so real, that he could trace each wound that went through his body before his death.

"It was indeed true." He mused to himself "This is my second chance."

He knew what he had to do. With all of his knowledge of the future, he could exact vengeance. Sorin wondered if there was a version of him that had experienced a kinder fate, perhaps he wouldn't have accepted Lucifer's offer.

Perhaps, humanity would have been saved.

But he was free from the shackles of his former self. He was no longer bound to his duty as the saint.

He stared at his hands for a moment. There were two stigmata that marked his palm ever since he was born. Two cross-like marks showed his connection with the Gods.

This time they were different; it was an ashen color and the marks had turned upside down.

"...She likes to show off," he muttered under his breath.

Sorin could feel both divine and demonic magic swirling inside of him. A perfect balance of power. He knew that this is what Lucifer meant, a power behind human comprehension.

He traced his fingers on the mark and sighed "How far back did I regress?"

Sorin turned to the bathroom and his vision tunneled at the painting on his bedside. It was an image of him and Kieran together as they both graduated from the academy.

He could already sense the intricate web of betrayal and deceit that awaited him.

A heavy wave of nausea and disgust filled him. The memories of their shared laughter and trust mingled with the knowledge of the betrayal, causing a torrent of emotions to surge through his veins.

Sorin ran through the bathroom, purposely knocking off the painting to the ground. His legs trembled beneath him as he stumbled towards the bathroom. His shaking fingers gripping the doorknob–

BLARGH

Sorin lurched, he fell to his knees, his body convulsing with disgust and anguish. The sight of the mirror greeted him, reflecting a face marred by pain and rage.

Sorin's trembling hand reached for the sink, gripping its edge tightly as a surge of bitterness rose within him.

The realization of the person who had orchestrated his downfall, the one who had turned his back on their friendship, the one who killed his loved ones—struck him like a blow to the gut.

A guttural growl escaped his lips as he doubled over, his body convulsing in a fit of retching. The sound of his own anguish filled the small room, echoing off the cold tiles and mirroring the turmoil in his soul.

He vomited the poison that had infected his heart. Each heave carried the weight of broken trust, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

As the waves of nausea subsided, Sorin raised his head, wiping the remnants of his anguish from his mouth. His eyes met the reflection in the mirror, filled with tears but he could see his own anger reflected within those deep purple eyes.

He took a deep breath in to steady himself

The bile that came out of him was black, like soot. Like it contained all the suffering and betrayal of the past.

Sorin wiped the liquid off his lips and sneered "I'll destroy each and every one of them."