Four centuries ago, in the Demon King's castle, turmoil gripped the halls as devastating news reached the throne. The Demon King paced, fury and frustration radiating from him.
"Akuma, tell me why the angel army just backstabbed our front-line demons. And now I hearā¦ Azzel has massacred 86% of our people. I only trusted him because you begged me to. Now look at the ruin he's brought us!"
Akuma stood frozen, shock filling his eyes. "Naniā¦ butā¦ Fatherā¦ I trusted himā¦ I never thoughtā¦"
"Enough!" The Demon King's voice cut through the air like a blade. "I'll let your elder brother handle this." He gestured sharply to his advisor. "Bring Chandler to me. Now."
A few tense moments later, Chandler strode into the room and bowed respectfully. "Yes, Father?"
The Demon King turned, his gaze hard. "I want you to eliminate Azzel and bring me his headā¦ and if your brother tries to stop you, bring me his as well."
Chandler's face remained impassive, and he nodded. "Yes, Father." Without another word, he left to prepare.
Back in his quarters, Chandler donned his armor, ready for the mission. Akuma approached him, desperation in his eyes. "Brother, pleaseā"
"Akuma, shut the hell up!" Chandler's voice was cold. "We gave that 'high' angel a chance, and look what happened. Just because he was your friend doesn't give him the right to do this." He brushed off Akuma's hand and walked away without looking back.
Far from the castle, Azzel sat on a hill, watching the battlefield below with an amused expression, a rose twirling in his fingers. He sensed someone approaching and spoke without turning. "You wouldn't dare strike a man from behind, would you?"
Chandler stepped forward, his expression grim. "I knew something was off. Your ki is way weaker than Akuma's. It's sad my father sent me here to slaughter you."
Azzel smirked, turning to face him. "Did you forget the last time we fought? You were the one lying on the ground then, barely able to stand."
Chandler chuckled. "I doubt my brother felt the same way."
The smile vanished from Azzel's face. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Chandler's eyes glinted. "I thought there were two of you, yet only one came back."
Azzel's face twisted with rage. "That's it, you foul demon! I'll kill you and your entire family!" He drew his sword, ready to strike.
They locked eyes, each waiting for the other to make the first move. In a flash, Azzel summoned a blinding Holy Light, momentarily blinding Chandler and trying to strike him down. Chandler narrowly dodged, countering with dark flames that hurtled towards Azzel, who let out a pained scream.
"Ahhhh!" Azzel retaliated, shouting, "Holy Consumption!" His Angel Eye absorbed the flames, leaving him panting for breath. Chandler smirked.
"It's only been five minutes, and you're already tired. And you were calling me weaker than Akuma. Any last words?"
Azzel gritted his teeth. "Damn it, I'll just have to use it."
Chandler narrowed his eyes. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Azzel closed his eyes, muttering, "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit." He let out a crazed laugh as a white force field surrounded them. "Your worthless demon body will disintegrate. I am unstoppable! I am unkillable! I am Azzel!"
Chandler cursed under his breath. "Damn it, I should've killed him earlier. Now he's reached Stage 4 of the Angel Eye."
Azzel sneered. "Now you'll witness true angelic power." The gravity in the dome intensified, forcing Chandler to his knees, gasping.
"My lungsā¦ feel like they're collapsingā¦" Chandler struggled to stay conscious.
Azzel laughed. "Inside my Heavenly Forcefield, you can't use magic. You're finished, demon scum!"
Chandler's body cracked under the strain, but he muttered through gritted teeth, "Spirit Animalā¦ Summon!" A giant octopus materialized beside him.
Azzel scoffed. "You think an octopus will save you?"
The octopus sprayed gallons of water and ink, filling the dome and forcing Azzel to disable it. He resurfaced, coughing and sputtering. "Where the hell did you go?" He spat out water as he looked around.
The octopus spat out Chandler, who was breathing heavily, barely standing. Azzel chuckled. "I'll admit, that was clever, but your destiny is still death."
In his mind, Chandler spoke to his octopus spirit, Jerry. I have three minutes left in Sapient Mode. Do you see any weaknesses in his Angel Eye?
Jerry responded, Yes. His Angel Eye has a cooldown periodāabout 30-45 seconds. And it drains a lot of ki. When you were in the dome, he was leeching off your ki to keep it up.
Chandler nodded. Good. Let's use that.
Charging toward Azzel again, Chandler prepared to strike but was met with a searing Angel Beam, severing his arm. He screamed in pain, quickly regaining his focus.
Jerry spoke in his mind. You've got two minutes and thirty seconds left.
Gritting his teeth, Chandler rushed at Azzel once more but was thrown back. Jerry slammed a massive tentacle on Azzel, pinning him momentarily.
"Demon Seal Chains!" Chandler shouted, summoning red-hot chains that wrapped around Azzel, burning and dragging him down. "Iā¦ need moreā¦ kiā¦" Chandler's voice grew weaker as his chains slowly disappeared, one by one.
Azzel, coughing up blood, looked up at Chandler. "You almost got meā¦ you bastard."
Chandler dropped to the ground, on the verge of death. Azzel laughed, casting a healing spell over himself. "You really thought you could drag me down to hell, huh?" He raised his sword. "Now dieā"
Before he could finish, Akuma teleported in front of him, delivering a devastating punch to Azzel's stomach, shattering his ribs.
Akuma's face was filled with sorrow and rage. "Azzel, why would you do this? I thought I talked sense into youā¦ why?"
Azzel sneered. "It's simple. You're demons. You don't belong in this world of light. If demons start being friendly, who will play the role of the villain? Who am I kidding? I'm just doing this for fun." He smirked. "Now step aside. I'm going to finish off your brother."
Akuma's eyes darkened. "You're not going anywhere, Azzel. I promise you that."
Azzel laughed mockingly. "Really? And what will you do about it?"
Akuma's voice softened. "Azzelā¦ stop. I know this isn't the real you. You have to be under a curseā¦ please, I'm begging you, stop this."
Azzel shook his head, chuckling. "The Azzel from 170 years ago is gone. This is the new meā¦ the powerful me. Now move aside." He activated his Angel Eye, lifting Chandler with telekinesis and throwing him aside like a ragdoll.
Akuma's eyes flashed with fury. "You bastard!" He cast a spell, summoning 200 black fireballs that rained down on Azzel.
Azzel smirked. "Holy Push." With a wave of his hand, the fireballs veered off course, missing him completely.
Before he could react, Akuma appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye, slicing Azzel clean in half.
Azzel gasped, but he quickly whispered, "Holy Resurrection," his body mending itself. "You're using the Speed God Technique, aren't you?" He attempted to retaliate, but both his arms were swiftly severed again.
Akuma's voice was calm but filled with resolve. "I can't let you hurt the people I care about. This is your last chance. Stop."
Azzel's body regenerated once more, and he laughed. "No." He charged at Akuma but suddenly froze mid-motion.
Azzel's eyes widened. "W-What's happening? Why can't I move?"
Akuma's Demon Eye glowed as he explained. "It's my Demon Eye ability. I can manipulate time within certain areas. Just give up, Azzel. I don't want to kill you."
Azzel gritted his teeth, summoning a brilliant glow. "Holy Light!" The blinding light forced Akuma to step back, breaking his hold.
Four angels descended from the sky, landing beside Azzel. Michael and Lisa, two archangels, took in the scene before them.
Michael spoke first. "Azzelā¦ sorry we're lateā¦ wait, is that the Demon King's son?"
Azzel's expression darkened. "Where is Leviathan?"
Lisa looked away uncomfortably. "Uhā¦ Akuma killed himā¦"
Azzel's face twisted with fury. "How the hell did heā"
Akuma cut him off. "Azzel, I'm sorryā¦ but it was him or me. Please, forgive meā"
"Shut up, you worthless demon!" Azzel's voice was a venomous hiss. "I will kill you for this!"
He and the two archangels charged at Akuma, their power clashing in a storm of light and darkness.
(Michael arrived, glancing at the scene. "Azzel, sorry we're lateā¦ wait, is that the Demon King's son?"
Azzel's eyes narrowed, ignoring the question. "Where is Leviathan?"
Lisa shifted uncomfortably. "Uhā¦"
Michael broke the silence. "Akuma killed him."
Azzel's face contorted with rage. "How the hell did heā"
Akuma's voice was steady but filled with sorrow. "Azzel, I am deeply sorry, but I had to. It was his life or mineā¦ please forgive meā"
Azzel interrupted, his voice a furious hiss. "Shut up, you worthless demon! I will kill you!" He and the two archangels rushed forward, their auras flaring with power.
Akuma's eyes glowed as he activated his Demon Eye. All three attackers froze in place. "Demon Hell Chains!" he commanded, and 60 red-hot chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around them and dragging their souls slowly toward the underworld.
Akuma's voice broke slightly. "I'm deeply sorry, my friend." Tears welled up in his eyes, sliding down his cheeks.
Azzel struggled, his voice weak but defiant. "F-Fuck youā¦"