"It would be an insult for the leader of the so-called mighty Fallen Angels to die at the hands of my subordinate while I just watched! But as a reward, I'll let you experience a portion of my power!" Luseraph said, turning toward Leviathan, who was still stunned by the events.
Leviathan's eyes narrowed, her thoughts racing as she struggled to comprehend the true strength of Luseraph. "It seems the Demon Lord is afraid of me, hiding behind the power of one of the Seven Deadly Sins! And you dare call yourself the strongest?" She scoffed, but her words were laced with doubt. She could feel the overwhelming presence of Beel, and she couldn't deny it—the Demon Lord's subordinate was stronger than her.
Luseraph's smile only deepened. "Say what you want, but your death is inevitable. The more you talk, the more you delay your end. You'll soon understand what it truly means to make an enemy of the Demon Lord." With those words, a black flame flickered to life in the palm of his hand, swirling with unnatural intensity.
"Impossible! How can one single demon possess the power of Amaterasu?!" Leviathan gasped, recognition flooding her mind. The flame before her was the infamous Hell's Furnace, known for its endless, consuming heat—the strongest of all flames.
Luseraph casually regarded the fire as it began to grow larger, his voice cool and composed. "Well, this much isn't beyond the scope of my abilities. Now, perish." With a single motion, the flames erupted, engulfing Leviathan instantly. She shrieked as her body was consumed by the black inferno, and despite turning herself into water, the flames continued to burn with an unrelenting ferocity. No element, no matter how mutable, could quench the demonic fire.
The pain was excruciating, but Leviathan was an immortal being, her essence tied to something far beyond the limits of her physical form. "It seems I underestimated you," she murmured, her voice devoid of desperation as her body dissolved into the flames. "However, remember that Fallen Angels don't die so easily. This is not the end... I will have my revenge!" Even as her body perished, her mind remained resolute, accepting her fate without a hint of panic.
Luseraph turned his back, his expression unbothered. "I'll be waiting," he said, his tone cold as the remnants of Leviathan's form were carried away by the wind, leaving only ashes behind.
The humans, watching from a distance, could only stare in awe at the sheer power that Luseraph wielded. The princess, still in a daze, struggled to find her voice. "It seems we have you to thank for our survival. And as I promised, I am yours," she spoke softly, her words heavy with the weight of her oath.
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Luseraph gave a dismissive wave, his gaze already shifting toward the portal Beel had created. "Like I said earlier, you're not worth it. Humans are an inferior race compared to us demons. You think I would benefit from taking you as a concubine? In terms of beauty, you're second-rate, and in terms of power... utterly pathetic." His words were blunt, each one a cruel jab that stung the princess deeply.
But the princess held her ground, her resolve hardening. "Even still, I made a promise. How about you name your prize instead?" She had sworn an oath on the crown, and though the thought of offering herself seemed increasingly humiliating, she could not go back on her word.
Luseraph paused, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. "I see," he said, smirking. "I'll give it some thought once I return to Hell. But for now, let me have a peek at that ring of yours. It seems quite fascinating." The princess, still shaken by his harsh words, handed over the ring without hesitation.
Luseraph's crimson eyes gleamed as he examined the ring. "Fascinating," he murmured. "It's an 11th-grade artifact, though it's sealed for now. If the humans knew of its true power, they could have easily turned the tide against the Fallen Angels. However, only a portion of its power has been unsealed, making it currently only a 4th-grade artifact. Still, it's a weapon designed specifically against demons." His mind raced as he analyzed the artifact's potential. "An ordinary demon couldn't have created this. It must have been made by a primordial or even the founding demon themselves." He traced his finger along the surface of the ring. "It has the ability to tame and summon demons. It can absorb demonic magic and also houses an ultimate anti-demonic resistance spell."
Luseraph's thoughts shifted. He realized that this ring could potentially become a major threat to his plans if the humans learned to wield its true power. "This ring is indeed powerful. If only you could use its full potential, the battle would have been won in an instant." He tossed the ring back to the princess with a nonchalant flick of his wrist.
The princess caught it, her hands trembling. "Then do you want it?" she asked, her voice softer now. She understood that if he accepted it, it might be the only way she could truly repay him.
Luseraph smirked. "As powerful as it may be, I pride myself on growing stronger through my own efforts. But there's a little secret about that ring. It's already soul-bound to another person. It would be useless in the hands of any other human. However, if you can find the person it's bound to, perhaps humanity will have a hero who, one day, could defeat the Demon Lord." His smile widened with a mixture of amusement and intrigue.
"Who... who could it be?" the princess wondered aloud as Luseraph and Beel began to vanish, the portal pulsing with dark energy.
Back in Hell, in the Demon Lord's castle, Luseraph reclined on his throne, his presence overwhelming. Beel knelt before him, a question on his lips. "My Lord, don't you think obtaining the ring would have been the wiser choice?"
Luseraph's gaze was distant, his expression unreadable. "Whether they have the ring or not, it wouldn't be enough to stop me in the future. The reason I left it with them is to give them a chance of survival in a world where they're the weakest."
Beel's face lit up in admiration. "Truly a noble deed! As expected, my Lord! Your kindness knows no bounds!" He rose and turned to leave, but not before Luseraph's voice stopped him.
"Things are about to get interesting from here on out. I've been cooped up in Hell for far too long. It's time I see the world for myself." A gleam of anticipation sparkled in his crimson eyes, and his lips curled into a satisfied grin.