Luci emerged from the warrior's keep, his crimson eyes narrowing against the harsh sunlight. Chains clinked lightly with each step, a constant reminder of his sealed power. He exhaled sharply, muttering, "This is pointless. I'll deal with it alone."
As he stepped forward, the sound of hurried footsteps broke his focus. Turning his head slightly, Luci saw a peculiar assortment of figures assembling behind him. Some centaurs with a powerful, muscular frame stood at the forefront, its hooves clicking against the stone. Behind it trailed a cluster of goblins with their beady eyes darting nervously. Plenty of frog-like humanoid waddled after them, its slimy skin glistening under the sun, and lastly, a fragile fairy hovered midair, her iridescent wings refracting the light.
Luci's expression darkened. "What do you all want?" His voice was cold, devoid of the warmth or camaraderie that others might have shown.
The centaur stepped forward, its deep voice calm but firm. "We're here to follow you into battle. You're leading us into this war."
The rest of the group murmured in agreement, "Yes, lead us."
Luci's sharp gaze moved from one face to the next, his annoyance evident. "You must be mistaken," he said icily. "I don't lead anyone, least of all into battle."
The frog-like creature croaked nervously, "But you're the highest rank among us. You're the only one who can."
The centaur nodded. "It's your duty."
Luci's jaw tightened as the chains on his wrists rattled softly. He could feel the weight of their stares, their naive belief that he cared about any of this. "Duty," he repeated, the word laced with disdain. "Fine. If it shuts you up, I'll lead this so-called 'war.'"
The group let out a tentative cheer, but Luci silenced them with a single glance. "Move," he commanded coldly.
As the group prepared to march, Luci's gaze fell on the goblins, their small, hunched figures scurrying about with excitement. Disgust twisted his features. Goblins. Filthy, pathetic creatures. He thought briefly about erasing them here and now but decided against it. They'll stay out of my way if they know what's good for them.
"Let's go," he said curtly, turning on his heel.
The centaur trotted alongside him. "Where to, leader?"
Luci ignored the title, his mind racing. Where are we going? He cursed himself for not listening more closely in the gathering room. Closing his eyes, he tuned out the chatter around him. The world slowed as he reached out with his senses, searching for the faint, malevolent pulse of demonic energy. It was faint, like a thread unraveling in the distance, but unmistakable.
His eyes snapped open. "North," he said simply, his voice as sharp as a blade.
The group followed without question, their collective footsteps crunching against the brittle ground. They marched into a forest, but this was no ordinary woodland. The trees were twisted, their bark cracked and blackened as though scorched by fire. Leaves hung limp and brown, disintegrating into ash at the slightest touch. The grass beneath their feet was dry and lifeless, offering no resistance as it crumbled to dust.
The silence was suffocating. No birds sang, no animals scurried, only the faint sound of the group's movements echoed through the eerie expanse. Luci remained at the front, his expression unreadable, his eyes scanning the lifeless terrain.
After a while, he stopped abruptly, causing the group to halt behind him. "They're here," he murmured, his voice low but certain.
The centaur looked around, its ears twitching. "Here? But there's nothing—"
Luci raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze swept the barren forest. The demonic energy was stronger now, seeping through the air like a toxin. He could feel it prickling against his skin, a familiar, almost welcoming sensation.
"They're close," Luci said, his tone colder than ever. "Stay alert."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence eroding under the oppressive weight of the forest's silence
The sky above darkened unnaturally as an overwhelming presence descended. A sinister energy crackled in the air, and suddenly, from above, demons poured down like a black storm. Among them were two towering figures, their forms exuding menace: Push and Pull. They grinned as they landed, their heavy steps shaking the ground.
"Well, well," said Push, his voice guttural and mocking. "Welcome, Luci. It's time you met your doom."
Pull sneered. "You've been gone too long. Let's end this here and now."
Luci looked up at them, unperturbed. A faint smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "Ah, Push. Pull. You've certainly grown… darker. Stronger, even." His tone was icy, yet laced with a sardonic edge.
Push snarled, "Stronger than you, demon."
Pull chimed in, "Now bow before your superiors!"
Luci chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Superiors? Cute. But I'll make you regret leaving Hell." His smirk widened, revealing sharp teeth.
"Fairy Magic: Thousand Rainbow Spears!"
Behind him, Mary raised her hands to the sky, summoning a storm of iridescent light. Beams of rainbow energy pierced the air, raining down upon the crawler demons surging toward her. Their shrieks filled the forest as the magical spears shredded their twisted forms.
Meanwhile, Ron, the centaur, charged into the fray. His massive axe cleaved through both crawler and exploder demons, leaving arcs of blood in his wake. "These creatures are no match for me!" he bellowed. But as he reveled in his triumph, an exploder demon leapt toward him from behind, ready to detonate.
Before the demon could strike, a slimy tongue lashed out, wrapping around it and hurling it away. The demon exploded harmlessly in the distance.
"Watch your back, Centaur," Vic croaked, retracting his tongue.
Ron turned, grinning despite the carnage. "It's Ron," he said, nodding in gratitude.
"Vic," the frog-like humanoid replied.
Their exchange was interrupted by two goblins scrambling to fend off a crawler. "A little help here?" one yelped as the crawler lunged at him.
Ron and Vic sprang into action, crushing the crawler with a combined strike.
Mary, meanwhile, struggled against the winged-hand demons circling her. Their laughter echoed in her ears as they darted through the air, too fast to hit. One dove toward her, taunting, "Little fairy, you're nothing but a spark about to burn out!"
Her hands began to glow with energy. "We'll see about that!" she snarled, preparing a concentrated beam. But just as she was about to release it, Vic's tongue shot out, pulling her hand aside.
"Careful!" he warned. "That beam would've hit you, not them!"
Ron growled, stepping forward. "Winged-hand demons. Masters of illusion. They thrive on confusion."
One of the goblins trembled, clutching his sword tightly. "Wi-winged-hand demons…" he stuttered. "We're doomed."
Mary shook off her fear and straightened her posture. "Not if we fight together."
Vic looked at her, impressed. "What's your name, fairy?"
"Mary," she replied, her eyes glowing with determination.
Ron nodded approvingly. "You've got the spirit of a leader. You'll be our vice-captain."
Mary hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Let's show this demon who's in charge!"
As the group battled the hordes, Luci walked calmly toward Push and Pull, his chains dragging on the ground. A winged-hand demon rushed at him, but he raised a hand, crushing its skull with a single blow. Blood sprayed, and the body fell lifeless at his feet.
Push sneered, stepping forward. "You can't win, Luci. We'll drag you back to Hell ourselves."
Luci stopped, his crimson eyes glowing with cold malice. "Drag me back?" He chuckled darkly. "The only reason I'll return to Hell…" His voice dropped, each word laced with venom. "…is to take Lucifer's head."
The battlefield fell silent for a moment as Push and Pull exchanged uneasy glances.
"You're bluffing," Push growled, though there was a flicker of doubt in his voice.
Luci's laughter echoed through the forest, sending chills down the spines of both demons and allies alike. "Bluffing? No." He raised a hand, the chains rattling ominously. "This is your end."