### Chapter 38: Baal's Last Stand
The angel, in its pure form, managed to return to Orin's body. Arthur, almost out of energy and badly wounded, struggled to stay conscious. The angel attacked with his blade of divine energy, piercing Arthur's stomach. The pain was excruciating, a searing heat that felt like his insides were being torn apart. Arthur's vision began to fade. At the same time, in the mind space, Baal spoke with Azazel.
"Where are my things, you little thief?" Baal demanded, his voice dripping with impatience and irritation.
Azazel, trembling slightly, responded, "They're in the chest."
Baal sighed, a mix of exasperation and urgency. "Don't be the coward you've always been. Help Arthur."
Arthur found himself in a dark space, reminiscent of the moments before his deaths in previous lives. The oppressive silence pressed down on him as he pondered his mistakes. The darkness was interrupted by Baal's sudden appearance, his presence both familiar and imposing.
Arthur began to apologize, his voice shaking with guilt. "I'm sorry, Baal, for being so weak and for dragging you down with me."
Baal interrupted, his tone unexpectedly gentle yet firm. "You're not going to die, Arthur. Say yes when the time comes. Just trust me."
Arthur noticed a farewell tone in Baal's voice, a deep, somber resonance that made his heart clench. "Baal, what are you planning?"
Baal replied, a bittersweet smile touching his lips, "You've been like the son I never had. Despite our rough start, these years with you have been the best of my 10,000 years. Now, give me control of your body."
Arthur hesitated, a mix of fear and resignation weighing on him. "Alright, Baal. I trust you."
Baal nodded, determination hardening his features. "Make good use of my gift, and remember to be ruthless. The only way to keep from losing anything is to make your enemies realize that attacking you will have unimaginable consequences."
As Baal's essence began to separate from Arthur's life force, fissures appeared in Arthur's vital energy, causing his body to deteriorate faster. Pain shot through him with every heartbeat. Baal, his voice filled with resolve, called out to Azazel.
"I forgive you, Azazel," Baal said, his tone softening.
Azazel started to cry, his voice breaking with emotion. "Father, what are you going to do?"
Baal corrected him, a touch of regret in his voice. "I'm not your father. You're just one of my creations. But maybe that's the closest I've ever come to being one, except for my connection with Arthur."
With a deft touch, Baal linked Azazel's essence to Arthur's life force, repairing the fissures. Dark energy emanated from Arthur as the angel confronted Baal.
"What do you plan to do, demon?" the angel asked with disdain, his voice echoing with divine authority.
Baal smirked, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. "Oh, you have no idea."
Baal ran towards the chest, with the angel hot on his heels. At the chest, Baal managed to materialize his hand and grabbed three small devices. The angel mocked him, "Without a host, you're nothing. I can see you losing strength every second."
Baal activated the devices, and a black armor with demonic characteristics enveloped his body. The second device combined with the armor to form a black sword that burst into green flames. The angel recognized him.
"You're Baal? The demon king?" the angel said, shocked.
Baal didn't respond and activated the third device, which created black metallic wings with green flames.
The battle began between Baal and the angel. The clash was intense, with Baal using all his strength and skill. The angel, wielding divine power, matched Baal blow for blow.
Baal's newly acquired armor gleamed menacingly under the moonlight. The wings on his back spread wide, their green flames casting eerie shadows on the ruins around them. Arthur lay on the ground, his vision fading in and out, barely able to comprehend the battle that was about to unfold.
The angel's divine aura intensified, illuminating the area with a blinding light. "You dare oppose me, demon? I'll send you back to the abyss where you belong," the angel declared, his voice echoing with a thunderous power.
Baal smirked, his eyes glowing with a fierce determination. "I've faced worse than you. Let's see if you can back up those words."
The angel moved first, his speed blinding. He closed the distance between them in an instant, swinging his divine blade with deadly precision. Baal parried the blow with his flaming sword, sparks flying as the two weapons clashed. The force of the impact created a shockwave, rattling the ancient stones of the ruins.
Baal countered with a quick slash aimed at the angel's midsection, but the angel anticipated the move, dodging gracefully and retaliating with a burst of holy energy that singed Baal's armor.
Arthur watched through hazy vision, the intensity of the battle leaving him in awe. "Baal… you can do this," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
The battle intensified as the combatants exchanged blows, their movements a blur of speed and power. The angel unleashed a barrage of light spears, each one aimed with lethal accuracy. Baal deflected most of them, but a few found their mark, burning through his armor and searing his flesh.
Baal gritted his teeth against the pain, his demonic energy flaring in response. He launched himself into the air, his wings propelling him upwards as he rained down fireballs infused with dark magic. The angel countered with a protective barrier, but the force of the explosions sent him staggering backwards.
"He's strong," Baal thought, "but I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."
As the angel recovered, Baal summoned chains of hellfire from the ground, ensnaring the angel's limbs. The angel struggled, his divine light dimming as the flames tightened their grip. Baal seized the opportunity, charging forward with his sword raised high.
Just as Baal was about to strike, the angel let out a roar that shook the very foundations of the ruins. His divine energy surged, shattering the hellfire chains and sending Baal flying backwards. The angel's eyes burned with righteous fury as he ascended into the air, wings glowing with an ethereal light.
"You underestimate the power of the divine," the angel declared. He summoned a storm of holy lightning, each bolt targeting Baal with unerring precision.
Baal dodged and weaved through the barrage, but the relentless assault took its toll. He felt his strength waning, the demonic armor struggling to withstand the divine onslaught. His mind raced, searching for a strategy to turn the tide.
"Think, Baal," he muttered to himself. "Use his power against him."
Baal focused his energy, drawing upon the last reserves of his strength. He formed a barrier of dark energy around himself, absorbing the impact of the lightning bolts. With a defiant roar, he redirected the absorbed energy back at the angel in a concentrated blast.
The angel was caught off guard, the blast breaking through his defenses and sending him crashing to the ground. Baal seized the moment, launching himself at the fallen angel with a flurry of strikes. Each blow landed with bone-crushing force, pushing the angel further into the ground.
But the angel was not defeated yet. With a surge of divine power, he pushed Baal off and rose to his feet. His eyes glowed with an intense light as he summoned a massive sword of pure energy. "This ends now, demon."
The angel swung the massive sword with deadly intent. Baal barely managed to block the strike, the impact sending shockwaves through his body. The force of the blow cracked his armor, green flames flickering erratically. Baal knew he couldn't withstand another hit like that.
Drawing upon every ounce of his demonic power, Baal counterattacked with a series of rapid strikes. His sword, engulfed in green flames, clashed with the angel's divine blade, creating bursts of energy that lit up the night sky. The ruins trembled with the ferocity of their battle, ancient stones crumbling under the onslaught.
The angel unleashed a powerful wave of light, intending to end the fight once and for all. Baal, sensing the imminent danger, channeled his energy into a protective barrier, but the force of the attack shattered it instantly. The angel's blade pierced through the barrier and struck Baal, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Baal!" Arthur's voice, though weak, carried a note of desperation.
Baal struggled to his feet, his body battered and broken. He could feel his energy slipping away, the demonic armor barely holding together. But he refused to give up. With a final roar, he summoned the last of his strength and charged at the angel, his sword blazing with green flames.
The angel met Baal's charge head-on, their blades clashing in a final, cataclysmic collision. The resulting explosion of energy sent shockwaves through the ruins, obliterating everything in its path. When the dust settled, Baal stood over the fallen angel, his sword buried in the angel's chest.
The angel's divine light faded, his body dissolving into pure energy. Baal, barely able to stand, looked down at the remnants of his opponent. "It's over," he muttered, his voice filled with exhaustion.
Baal staggered towards Arthur, who lay motionless on the ground. With the last of his energy, Baal knelt beside him and placed his hand on Arthur's chest. "Hang in there, kid. You're not dying on my watch."
He channeled the remaining demonic energy into Arthur, healing his wounds and stabilizing his life force. The process drained Baal completely, his form flickering and weakening.
Arthur's eyes fluttered open, his vision slowly coming into focus. "Baal… what happened?"
Baal smiled weakly. "You did good, Arthur. Real good. Remember what I taught you. Be ruthless. Show no mercy."
As Baal's form began to dissipate, he leaned closer to Arthur. "Take care of yourself, kid. And make sure you live a life worth living."