The sound of the textile machine splitting apart was deafening, and the air was thick with the stench of decay. The creature's body swelled rapidly, its ruptured skin releasing countless writhing black tendrils. They coiled and lashed like serpents, each tipped with barbed hooks that extended swiftly in every direction.
"This thing just gets worse the more we fight it!" Chen Jing panted, her spirit sword trembling slightly in her hand. The runes etched on the blade had dimmed significantly.
One of the tendrils snapped toward her, its sharp tip slicing through the air with a whistle. Chen Jing flipped out of the way and swung her sword in a precise arc, severing the tendril. But the severed piece writhed on the ground, splitting into even more tendrils that spread out like uncontrollable weeds.
"Disgusting," she muttered through gritted teeth, slashing continuously to fend off the encroaching tendrils.
Meanwhile, the creature's grotesque body seemed to reach its breaking point. Its jaw split all the way to its ears, revealing rows of jagged, saw-like teeth. It let out a high-pitched screech, its eyeless sockets fixated squarely on Lucifer.
"It's locked onto you!" Chen Jing shouted.
"I know!" Lucifer's trembling voice came from behind her. He was furiously etching symbols into the ground with his fingers, his forehead glistening with sweat. "Just hold it off for a little longer! My power is almost ready!"
Chen Jing rolled her eyes, slashing another tendril aside as she growled, "Hold it off? Do you think this is some sort of joke?"
The creature's body suddenly convulsed, spraying black liquid from its gaping wounds. The viscous substance hit the ground and transformed into even more tendrils, which quickly coiled around Chen Jing's ankles.
"Damn it!" Chen Jing cursed, swinging her sword down with a sharp arc to sever the tendrils. But more surged toward her from every direction, forcing her to defend herself continuously. Her expression darkened with frustration.
"Lucifer! Are you even capable of doing anything?!" she yelled.
"Stop rushing me! I'm working on it!" Lucifer snapped back. Finally, a faint flame flickered to life in his palm, though his pale face and unsteady voice betrayed his lack of confidence.
Chen Jing glanced over her shoulder, noting the tiny but intense flame. "Don't let that go out, or I swear I'll use you as bait!"
"Relax," Lucifer muttered, gritting his teeth as sweat trickled down his temples. "Just give me thirty more seconds, and I'll end this."
Taking a deep breath, Chen Jing tightened her grip on her sword. The faint runes began to glow once more as she launched herself at the creature. With a powerful leap, she slashed at its head, her blade cutting deep into its flesh and releasing a plume of black smoke. The creature screeched and thrashed violently, sending Chen Jing tumbling backward.
"You bastard!" she spat, steadying herself as she prepared to attack again. "This isn't over yet!"
The creature's tendrils lashed out like countless whips, their powerful strikes shaking the ground with each impact. Chen Jing dodged several blows, but one tendril clipped her shoulder, causing her to stagger backward with a pained grunt.
"Hurry up!" she shouted at Lucifer.
Lucifer's gaze focused intently on the flame in his hand, his expression growing more resolute. He raised his palm high, chanting in a low, deliberate voice: "Hellfire, grant me the strength to burn away this abomination…"
The flame erupted into a blazing pillar of light, its heat searing the air. With a determined cry, Lucifer hurled the fiery column toward the creature. It streaked through the air like an arrow, striking the creature square in its chest.
"Boom!"
The explosion of fire engulfed the creature, its tendrils igniting instantly. The creature writhed and screamed, its body consumed by the inferno. The black liquid oozing from its wounds evaporated into thick, acrid smoke.
Chen Jing stepped back, leaning on her sword as she caught her breath. Watching the creature disintegrate, she smirked and said, "Not bad, 'King of Hell.' Looks like you're finally pulling your weight."
Lucifer slumped against the wall, his face pale and drenched in sweat. He managed a weak retort: "My power… is not something mortals can… underestimate…"
Before he could finish, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Hey!" Chen Jing hurried over, grabbing his shoulder to steady him. His face was ashen, his breathing shallow.
"Don't you dare play dead on me," she muttered, lightly slapping his cheek.
Lucifer didn't respond, his body limp as he rested against her.
Chen Jing clicked her tongue in frustration, dragging him over to the wall and propping him up. "You're such a pain in the ass," she grumbled.
Outside, the rain had finally stopped, but the air remained damp and chilly. Gritting her teeth, Chen Jing slung one of Lucifer's arms over her shoulder and began the slow, arduous process of dragging him out of the factory.
"You're so damn heavy," she muttered under her breath. "Some 'King of Hell' you are. You'd make a terrible dumbbell."
She avoided the gazes of passersby as best she could. Several times, curious strangers stopped to stare at her struggling with Lucifer's unconscious form. Forced to save face, she smiled awkwardly and said, "He's drunk. Sorry about this!"
After what felt like an eternity, she finally managed to haul Lucifer into her apartment. It was a modest two-bedroom unit, clean and cozy, with a spacious living room and a small kitchen.
Kicking the door open, she dragged Lucifer to the couch and unceremoniously dumped him onto it. Leaning against the wall, she wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Exhausting," she muttered, glaring at the unconscious Lucifer. "The mighty King of Hell, saved by a mere mortal. How embarrassing."
Lucifer didn't stir, his breathing steady but shallow, his sweat-soaked face looking pitifully vulnerable.
Sighing, Chen Jing grabbed a towel and half-heartedly wiped his face. She removed his damp coat and tossed it aside before noticing a strange metallic shard on her coffee table.
"What is this thing?" she wondered aloud, picking up the shard and examining it closely.
A faint murmur from the couch drew her attention. Turning, she saw Lucifer's brow furrowed in his sleep, his lips moving as he muttered, "Don't… don't make me see… those eyes again…"
Chen Jing froze, a chill running down her spine. Leaning closer, she asked softly, "What eyes? What are you talking about?"
Lucifer didn't respond, his expression twisted with unease as he remained trapped in his dream.
Frowning, Chen Jing watched him for a moment before shaking her head. Placing the metal shard back on the table, she muttered, "Whoever you are, you better not be lying to me. I won't save you twice."
She grabbed a blanket, tossing it over his still form, then retreated to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. Leaning against the counter, she began to mull over her next steps.
The rain had stopped completely, leaving only the faint rustling of the night breeze. In the living room, Lucifer remained motionless on the couch, his brow knit tightly in a restless slumber.