"Another trip to Hell? ARE YOU INSANE? The last time you went, you skipped half your classes! You aren't going back there. Not on your life!" Lavender conveyed. "Ok, I realize that last time was totally my fault, but this time I'll make sure every year down there is a second up here!" Alex promised. "Wait! We're going back?" Dan inquired. "I don't think there's a 'WE'. Looks like it's just me and Alex," I added. "Yeah, no. That ain't happening. I couldn't come last time, but this time? WE'RE COMING!" Dan asserted. "Yeah! You tell them!" Lavender cheered him on. I looked over to Alex, who just gave a 'no clue what to do' sign. "Sigh, if Alex agrees, you can join us," I decided. Both of them brought up their puppy-doll eyes as they began persuading Alex; wait, do puppy-doll eyes work on demons? "Aww, you're being too cute to resist. Sure, you can join, but on one condition, you're going to be seeing a lot of gruesome sights, and also you're gonna be there for a long time, so do you accept?" Alex asked. Looks like puppy-doll eyes do work, let's keep that in mind.
Even though I wasn't looking at them too closely, but I could feel them gulp down gallons of saliva. "Y-Yes, we a-accept," Lavender spoke up. "Yeah, m-me too," Dan followed. "Good. Now, choose a finger," Alex said. "A finger? Seriously? You were the one who said that never worked out!" I claimed. "Until you came out with a beautiful maid for us, so quickly, choose a finger!" Alex exclaimed. After a lot of whispering amongst ourselves, we decided on the middle finger (obviously) and revealed it to Alex. "Nice! Looks like we're taking the teleportation route," Alex remarked. "The what wa- WHOAAA!"
****************
"Arrggh, I feel pukish," I murmured to myself. By the looks of it, Dan and Lavender were too. "Please don't puke here! You'll spoil the quartz tiles. Oh, wait! Your very presence here spoils them." A croaky voice, like so rough that it sounds as if they have a sore throat, but at the same time, it felt smokey and... annoying? Coming over my nausea, I could finally take a good look at this rude and ill-mannered chap. What I feasted my eyes upon wasn't exactly what I had in mind. Dressed up in white from top to bottom, he was somewhere around my age, if not more. With burning red eyes and white hair, he felt much more mature than I ever expect to be.
"Asmodeus," Alex acknowledged. "Ah, so this maggot belongs to you? I didn't expect someone so weak to come off the Lilith Familia, especially after him..." Asmodeus drifted off. I peeked over to Alex, and she clearly looks pissed off. Looks like this Asmodeus character touched a nerve. Wait, did he just call me a maggot? "Seems like you're here for the Profiteía tou thanátou checkup? Not like this weakling could ever qualify for it." Asmodeus sneered. Do prophecies need a qualification? What have I gotten myself into? "That's none of your concern. As for him, you'll realize his power pretty soon. Get up Jay, let's leave," Alex said. I mindlessly followed her, as did Dan and Lavender. We had no clue what was going on. "Wait!" Asmodeus' voice boomed throughout the corridor they were in. As I turned, he swiftly walked over and threw his... glove?
"Asmodeus! This is no time for games! He's just a kid," Alex shouted. She, for starters, seemed really worried for a change. "This doesn't break any rules, and I'd like to see how strong he really is," Asmodeus declared. "Sigh... if this is how it's going to be, Jay, you might as well summon your sword," Alex said dejectedly. "S-summon?" I stammered. "Yes! Summo- oh you don't know how to do that. Just- snap your fingers or something," Alex mentioned. Snap your fingers? That easy? Well... **SNAP** Did something happen?
"Master, did you call for me?" A girl, who I very well knew, in her maid costume, was snapped into Hell. "Faith," I murmured to myself. "Perfect, now get ready for battle," Alex exclaimed. "Wait, this is supposed to be a 1v1, she isn't allowed to be fighting," Asmodeus complained. "That's-" I interrupted Alex with my intense stare. Can't she just acknowledge Faith as a girl? Alex sighed, and said, "Sigh, She's his sword," Alex disappointedly said. "B-but that's i-impossible! Changing a weapon into a human... that's already Noble-Level magic, looks like I might have underestimated you," Asmodeus stated. "I just poked myself with my sword and this happened, so I don't exactly deserve the credit," I thought to myself as I gave off a very awkward smile.
"Rules for this duel: 1. Killing or fatally injuring the opponent is prohibited," Alex instructed. From the corner of my eye, I caught Asmodeus scowling. Man, he really does not want me alive. "2. Knocking the opponent unconscious or stopping before a fatal blow will declare the victory to the one who did it. That's all, now at the count of three-" "No wait!" I jumped. "Yes?" Alex replied, clearly annoyed. "Faith, could you turn into a sword? It would be easier for me to battle, rather than transforming mid-battle," I asked. "For sure, master. Your wish is my command," Faith said, as she bowed down. This is too formal, even for me. I'll just tell her when we get back.
As I readied Faith for battle, Asmodeus began murmuring something under his breath. "Asmodeus, pre chants aren't allowed, that's cheating!" Alex exclaimed. "Well, it doesn't break any rules, does it?" Asmodeus said, and then continued chanting. Alex looked over, with eyes filled with pity, as if she knew I was going to lose. "Master, if I may, I have some chants that might help you," I heard a voice, coming from, my head? "Wait we can mentally speak to each other?" I thought. "Yes, master. Would you like me to use the chant buffs?" Faith asked. I nodded. "Understood. From the depths of Hell to the tips of Heaven, set fire to all those that stand in our way, and grant the power of the immortals," Faith said and took a pause. "Devil's Knight" Faith said out loud, that even Asmodeus could hear. "D-Devil's Knight? How do you even know that? T-that's Father's magic!" Asmodeus exclaimed. Father's? "I never said we couldn't use Personal magic, now did I?" Alex smirked. I heard 'tch' from Asmodeus as he continued chanting.
"Rain, thunder, gale, and wind, all bow down before your grace, provide us your devilish power, and help us tear down the fabric of reality itself," Faith continued chanting. "Devil's Might," Faith said. It made Asmodeus flinch again, but he continued his chants. "Let's now begin, on the count of three. 3... 2... 1... Begin!" Alex exclaimed. Boom! Asmodeus pushed forward with all he had, and let me tell you, he had a lot. All I could see was a blur. But in an instant, I could see him clearly. "Faith, was that you?" I thought. "Yes, master." Faith said. Swoosh! Asmodeus's sword came down on my shoulder, so close that I could smell the rust off it. I can't die... not here... not now. Then like the gut feeling I had during my dodgeball game, I swiftly escaped his sword, but only by an inch. "Ah yes, surrounding awareness to the rescue. Now, let's see how good weapon mastery and super-strength does for me," I thought as I saw an opening and dashed ahead and stabbed Asmodeus right in the stoma- no wait... did he block it?
Clang! Asmodeus' sword blocked Faith, and I went back. "Looks like you really are something, but even with Father's magic, you are nothing but a weakling," Asmodeus taunted. "We'll see about that," I confidently said and bolted right into Asmodeus again, but this time, I had a plan. Asmodeus expected another straight-forward attack, and got ready to counter, but was oblivious of Faith silently chanting. "IMPRISONING CRASH!" Faith and I screamed, and changed route, and smashed the blunt face of Faith on Asmodeus' back. Thud! Asmodeus fell unconscious and dropped down onto the cold quartz floor.
"Bravo! That was an excellent showcase!" Footsteps resonated in the corridor, as a terrifying aura poured into the area enveloping anything it touches. "F-father?" Alex uttered.