"Impudent! How dare you call the Holy Son by his name!!" Muriel was visibly enraged but she didn't dare to move away from the golden phantom.
Gabriel's eyes was focused on the phantom behind Lucius and his face broke out into a smile. "Hiding your Divine Avatar behind that chaos, is it to stop us from witnessing it's true form?"
Lucius didn't reply him, only a look of disdain on his face as he fixed his gaze on Gabriel, causing him to furrow his brows. He felt the reason why Lucius covered his avatar's image with chaotic essence was to cover up the injuries inflicted on him from the last confrontation he had with Arcadia but he cannot be sure it wasn't a trap Lucius set up.
For all he knew he could be playing the pig to eat the tiger and right now the Heavenly Court was already lacking manpower, should they fall here or get greviously injured, they would not be able to resist the Devils or even keep the restless and ambitious Union government in check.
He looked at Ludociel who coincidentally was looking at him at the same time. Ludociel shook his head slightly, opting against them engaging him.
Gabriel considered it and in the end he sighed, he realised what Lucius was aiming at now. From silently breaking past the Fences of Heaven and heavily injuring Mael to the confidence and disdain he showed them and even brazingly releasing his Divine Avatar but yet hiding it behind chaotic essence.
"Even now you still have this habit? Gambling like this, are you not afraid of making the wrong bet?"
Lucius smiled as Gabriel realised his intentions "I've always been a betting man and with the odds being in my favour, why wouldn't I take this bet? After all while I can afford to take this bet, you unfortunately cannot."
He was right. Gabriel could not take the risk of finding out whether Lucius was back in shape or if he was a paper tiger. Although it would be nice to aggravate his injuries that would be only if they are able to give him a heavy strike.
He didn't expect Lucius to still be able to use his Divine Avatar. Demi deities are able to begin converting their abilities into the higher level Concept. False deities where able to use this Concept to draw closer to the natural order and use more of it's power. True deities where able to use the Concept to draw power from the natural order to remold their very being, elevating their life order.
Planar deities refined their concept to establish planes which encapsulated their comprehension towards their concept within their cores. Additionally they were able to manifest a Divine Avatar and Divine Domain as well as getting a True Name.
Although Lucius had not gone through his tribulations and broken through to the Planar Devil Realm it was only because of his wish to bring back his seniors and destroy Arcadia's monopoly over the natural order. If not he who had already manifested the Divine Avatar and Domain unique to the Planar Devils before even taking that step, would have easily broken through.
After the last battle he had with Arcadia, his divinity was heavily injured. It should be impossible for him to have healed it under just a century but then again a century was still made up of 100 years and it wasn't too long nor too short.
If Lucius interfered they were supposed to carry out this attack with the Divine Edict and heavily wound him some more or finish him off completely if the chance arises but now with Lucius able to manifest his Divine Avatar he wasn't so sure.
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, a calming voice sounded out and the clashing auras between the phantoms slowly dispersed. "Lucius you really surprised me. I admit my loss, let's end things here. Take the girl back and I'll take my people back. What say you?"
The voice sounded out from the golden phantom. It suddenly started shrinking within and coalescing to form a figure of light of human height floating in the air alongside the Ark Angels. It's face was still hidden behind a glaring light but it seemed more alive.
"Hehe do you actually think it would be that easy Paul? Your men saw my mark on my junior and they still attacked her, even going as far as to attempt to sacrifice her to that shitty heaven." The phantom behind Lucius dispersed and he floated up to be on the same eye level with the figure of light as though disdaining to be beneath him.
"Do not push your luck Devil."
"And what if I push, if you don't like me pushing then let's fight! "
The figure of light had no facial features to express it's emotions but it's anger could be felt surging through the space. Lucius let out a snort and it quickly broke away.
Muriel was about to speak out but was shut up by a glare he threw her way. He then chuckled after seeing her resentful expression
"Alright I'm not unreasonable. Three conditions. Firstly, the Heavenly Court will not make any movements towards the Outland, Union or Devils for a year. You lot were already planning to reduce your activities so it won't affect you much anyways.
Secondly, you will open your dimension gates towards that Divine Order world you bunch discovered recently for the public to access. I don't care how you split the slots with others but I want us Devils to take 40%.
Lastly, you give me back my Cosmic Relic, Fortune Dice. There is no room for bargaining on any of these conditions, either take it or we fight right now."
As Lucius listed his conditions, Gabriel's face was getting uglier and uglier at the minute. They did plan to reduce their activity outside of resisting invaders and dealing with Evobeasts but leaving all the other factions for a year was not the plan as by the time they came back who knows what surprise would be waiting for them.
The second one was even more detestable. He swore when he found out who sold out this information he would gut the person. When he thought about it, he realised the person who gave him this information about the Divine Order world they recently encountered was also the person most likely to inform him of the sacrifice, making him even more infuriated. Especially as he already had a good guess who the sneaky bastard was, that coward better pray he never catches him.
The Heavenly Court had given a lot to take down the barriers and traps around that world and just when they were about to move in for the profits they were sold out by that scum and now would have to let in these outsiders to take part in it.
The last one was the most shameless and ludicrous condition of them all. Cosmic Relics where relics used by beings at and above the Planar deity realms and the one Lucius is asking for, is rumoured to be his Natal Relic.
Something he forged and bound to himself, giving a great boost to the power of his Concept and having world shaking might. It took the sacrifice of many on that day to seize this Relic from him and even now they hadn't completely recuperated the loss.
Add on the fact they weren't even able to use it until Lucius dies, it was basically a thankless effort and the only reason they sacrificed so much and did it was too make sure he didn't have it, as a Lucius with the Fortune Dice and a Lucius without one were completely different things.
Each of his conditions was more ludicrous than the last and he was already pulling out his sword for the fight to come as he completely believed the Holy Son would reject his offer but surprisingly....
"I accept." As he spoke, the figure of light reached it's hands into the void and shortly after pulled out a box before tossing it to Lucius who didn't bother checking and instead tossed it into the void as though unafraid of getting scammed.
Infact the way he acted was as if he was already aware that the Holy Son would accept his offer. Under the Ark Angels disbelieving eyes, the Holy Son swore against the natural order to keep his path of the deal concerning the other conditions, warranting a wanton chuckle from Lucius who stepped into the void.