Third Person PoV
"So seeing the reports given by Ajuka and Falbium, it is almost confirmed that my brother is alive."
Cain said to Grayfia, Zeaira, Melissa, Vanessa and Lilith.
Grayfia and Zeaira had hard faces, and Rizevim's actions were still evident in their memories.
More than that, what is problematic is his philosophy, and he could have actually understood his power.
What if he learned how to transform? It would be troublesome to deal with a rogue super devil.
He would not only cause trouble for Hell but for other pantheons and factions too. That would make the reputation of the devils fall even lower than before.
The slowly rising graph would fall with a sharp slope. Cain and the others had worked hard to prevent such a thing.
"Where is he?" Zeaira asked.
"Ajuka said Europe, a more precise guess would take years, or less if he left some clues. He had centuries to hide himself, it won't be easy to get him."
Cain said.
"I could track Euclid. It would be easier."
Grayfia offered.
"He isn't stupid, he must have taken precautions against that too. But just for the record, go and ask Ajuka to do that too."
Grayfia nodded at that. The three then finally looked at Lilith. Melissa and Vanessa were unfazed, they weren't sure why Rizevim being reborn was such a huge problem.
To them Cain was able to solve problems even the original Lucifer couldn't, so this shouldn't be much of a problem.
And in reality, it wasn't, it's just that Cain is paranoid. He knew that no matter how Rizevim trained he wouldn't get stronger than him.
Even if he did by some miracle, it's not like there was only him. Zeaira, Ajuka, Scathach, and even Thor might help.
With such a lineup, unless you are Shiva or Okhwang it's tough to win. But Cain had a very bad feeling, nothing more than hunch but he didn't want to take any chances.
"Mom, are you fine?"
"Can you reconcile with him?"
Lillith asked, her voice broken. Cain lowered his head at that. He wanted to say yes but he couldn't.
Seeing that he didn't lie, Lillith smiled sadly.
"I know you could've hidden this from me and killed him. There would be no need to have a conversation like this with me. Why did you tell me?"
"Because you said I should be better."
Cain said seriously. And continued seeing Lillith having a shocked look.
"If you want, I will have a talk with him. You can come too, but that's the best I can offer. One wrong word and all bets are off."
Lillith only nodded upon hearing that, drops of her tears wetted her cheeks. Zeaira and Grayfia left the room.
Although none of them wanted to give Rizevim a chance, they also knew what pain Lillith felt, hence they didn't intervene.
Melissa took Lillith to her room while Vanessa stayed with Cain, she had some questions.
"Cain-sama, why are you giving such priority to your brother? He shouldn't be strong enough for you to personally make a move."
"I know Vanessa. He probably wouldn't be able to take a single hit from me when I am serious. But what I fear is not his strength but his mindset.
As strong as I am, he is better at playing the long game. There is a reason why Ajuka handles the shadow work of Hell and not me.
And only the Satans, Zeaira, and Grayfia know what madness lies below his eyes. What plans he had made, what connections he has made, after his death what happens, has he made preparation for that too?
Even me and Ajuka who are probably the devils with the most fucked minds, believe something like Rizevim shouldn't exist in the world.
He isn't evil because of his past, he isn't evil because he's a devil, he isn't evil because no one was kind to him.
He's evil because that's all he is, pure, untainted, unblemished evil. That's what he is, the fucking embodiment of evil."
Cain said. Vanessa was in shock, she had never seen Cain praise someone that much while despising someone.
"So if you ever come across him and aren't able to be saved, killing and destroying your soul and body is a better option than having hope, because loss of hope is not despair.
The tiny belief that you have after all hope is extinguished when that is crushed, in front of you, that is true despair.
Despair is not the lack of hope, it's the destruction of hope."
Cain said with a serious look on his face.
…
A month has passed by, and Cain is going to fight Musashi.
The investigation of Rizevim is still in progress, but Hell is more secure than ever.
Falbium is constantly on patrol. Ajuka has stopped all of his experiments indefinitely, Serafall has stopped any negotiations and hospital work and is solely working on checking the territories of Hell.
Even Zeaira is busy dealing with the devil lords and looking for any spies. Cain too was busy looking for any hidden bases.
He even searched for the malebranches but found none.
Grayfia had just reminded him of his bet with Musashi and hence he was going to Japan.
"The peerages collection would have you stop for a bit after Musashi. Rizevim takes priority for this."
…
"My name is Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu. Let's battle!"
The woman with two blades in her hands challenged Cain, who was standing there nonchalantly.
He then picked up a sword and stood there without any stance. But he at least had the honor to tell his name.
"Cain."
Hearing that Musashi rushed at him. Her skill was high, enough that even her rival was beaten to death by a sword carved from a wooden oar.
But to Cain, even though he may accept that his skill may be below her, other than that, he dwarfs her in any other aspect.
Thus what seemed to be an almost undodgeable attack was evaded by him in a single step.
But that didn't deter Musashi, she had learned a lot about the supernatural world from her father.
Her skill which was among the best in human history, was not that great. There were beings who could slash time and space unless she completely mastered her void, she couldn't do anything against the true masters of the world.
Knowing such things most people would lose their motivation but Musashi was invigorated by this.
"Hyah!"
She turned around and swung her katana while preparing her for a counter if Cain attacked.
But Cain had enough of it, he slashed. Musashi seeing that she couldn't stop that attack, tried to parry it using her dual blades.
But to her surprise, her sword was cleaved like butter.
*clank*clank*
Two sounds of metal colliding with the ground sounded out and Musashi was defeated. Cain's sword was on her neck.
But Musashi wasn't deterred even at that, she jumped back, drew her remaining two swords, and rushed at Cain again.
But the fight ended even more quickly this time, Cain instead of defending, attacked, disarming Musashi with ease.
The swordswoman tried to fight using her body but a single kick to her stomach had her barfing on the ground and writhing in pain, while her nostrils worked overtime to refill her lungs.
"How, how are you so strong?" Musashi said between her gasps.
"Well almost no one you find would be as strong as me, I am one of the strongest beings around. Your skills are truly marvelous, but they can't overcome the sheer difference in our other aspects."
"Then does that mean, no human could ever reach your level?"
"Honestly, no. But contrary to most people's expectations, there are some humans who managed to reach a level beyond most."
"Who?"
"King Arthur, Scathach, Buddha, there are quite a few."
"Then why should I join you?"
"Well, for one I am stronger than all of the above. Second, Scathach is also serving me. Third, you honor your word, so you won't go back on it."
Cain said, offering his hand to the fallen woman. Musashi took his hand and stood up, she didn't say anything as the reasons he had stated made her unable to refuse his offer.
"Then can you save my father?"
"Unfortunately, his soul comes under the jurisdiction of Izanami, I can't really do much. If I had lost? Then I would have done it forcefully, but I can't now."
Cain explained, not to mention her father was a major figure, Izanami was probably waiting for his soul.
"Then can I stay with him? Until he passes away?"
"Sure, I think he has about a week. I will send someone to fetch you, but before that let's get the ceremony out of the way."
Cains said, taking out his knight piece. Musashi looked at it and asked.
"What is that?"
"A way to turn you into a devil."
"Are you a devil?"
"If that wasn't obvious by the shady deals I offer, then yes. I am the leader actually."
"So you are like a king?"
"Basically yes. Now stand straight."
Musashi obeyed and Cain began the ceremony.
"I, Cain Livan Lucifer, hereby order you,
Heed me Shinmen Musashi no Kami Fujiwara no Harunobu, bound your soul back to me and become my sword.
You shall become my knight and rejoice in your newfound life."
The piece went into her chest and a silver glow surrounded her. The glow faded after a while and Musashi opened her eyes.
"I can feel much more. My speed, my strength, everything has increased."
"Well the evil pieces do boost your stats, but I think speed and reflex should have the most increment."
"Then what should I call you?"
"Whatever you want."
"Then, Master, I will await your subordinate."
"Yeah. Then go."
Cain said and watched Musashi go back to her home. He then teleported back.
…
"So he's supposed to be here?"
Cain said, overlooking the town.
"According to my investigation, yes. Although it is almost guaranteed to be wrong."
Ajuka said to Cain.
"Well I know too, so I didn't bring Lillith here. Even so, I can't ignore this, this might be a lead."
"Indeed, but who would have thought that he was able to tame those egoistic vampires?"
Ajuka said as the town they were overseeing was a vampire feeding ground.
The Vampires raised them as livestock, but surprisingly it was empty.
"But the place is too clean? If the Vampires had razed it to the ground, this plan would be dyed red. Let's check it out."
Cain said and descended down. And found no one. Ajuka also sensed a lot of people but found no one.
The houses were empty, but there were life signals. But that was it, no soul, no heat, nothing.
At that moment Ajuka and Cain noticed an anomaly. The soil was too soft, like an elastic material.
"Cain, do you feel it?"
"I do."
And they looked at their feet. It was squirming, like it was alive.
"Did you not sense the soul?"
"I only felt a dense covering all over the area, but to think it was a soul. It can be hidden like this?"
At that moment, a heartbeat sounded, and that gradually became louder than another, and soon, more than a a thousand hearts were beating at once.
"The village was long since destroyed, this entire place is made with their flesh. The bones, blood, and connective tissues have been removed. The walls and houses are colored flesh."
Cain said in disgust. Ajuka scared the surroundings once again, being able to discern more.
"They are not colored, they have been etched. By runes for reflecting select colors. By hand that too."
Ajuka was also repulsed, thinking about what had happened here. Someone killed everyone, rendered them like cattle, and made a city.
Then recreated that city as the one in the victim's memory, then their flesh was branded by runes by hand, one by one with precision that would take hours for one house.
Someone had spent years creating this horror. And worse of all the people are alive, they could feel everything.
Cain and Ajuka stepping on them, the wind, the heat, the rain all of it, it made to their souls, etching that feeling into their very beings.
This was an art and an art of evil.
Cain floated and said with a tone that made even Ajuka shiver.
"That Fucker!"
…