As the night deepened, the city's bustling noise faded into silence. Chen Jing lounged on the couch, scrolling through her phone and occasionally chuckling at something amusing. In the corner of the living room, Lucifer sat on his "throne"—a slightly sagging sofa—his fingers lightly brushing over the metal fragment in his hand, his gaze cold and dangerous.
"This fragment…" he murmured to himself, "is far from an ordinary mortal artifact."
Closing his eyes, he concentrated on his weak magic, attempting to probe the fragment's secrets. Suddenly, fragmented visions flashed through his mind: dark red flames roaring in the void, a group of black-robed figures gathered around a strange altar, chanting an ancient incantation.
"The Abizu Cult…" Lucifer's eyes snapped open, icy and sharp. "So, it's them."
Clenching the fragment tightly, he turned his gaze to Chen Jing, who was lazily sprawled across the couch. Complex thoughts swirled in his mind. Last night's creature, the sudden appearance of the fragment, and this mortal girl's inexplicable involvement—these clues were scattered puzzle pieces hinting at something more profound.
The morning sunlight seeped through the curtains, brightening the room. Chen Jing shuffled out of her bedroom, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She noticed Lucifer sitting on the sofa, his posture ramrod straight, with the same cold, stern expression as always.
"You didn't sleep all night?" she asked with a yawn.
"This King has no need for mortal rest," Lucifer replied, his voice low and indifferent.
"Sure, keep acting mysterious," Chen Jing muttered, heading to the kitchen to make herself a cup of coffee.
When she returned, cup in hand, she found Lucifer still holding the metal fragment, his brows furrowed deeply.
"Can't you put that thing down?" Chen Jing plopped onto the sofa beside him. "Aren't you being a little too obsessive?"
"Mortal," Lucifer said, looking up sharply, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "The power within this fragment is far beyond your comprehension. Your ignorance might very well cost you your life."
"Cost me my life?" Chen Jing raised an eyebrow. "Don't try to scare me. I've already seen monsters last night—what's a little piece of metal compared to that?"
Lucifer let out a cold laugh. "Foolish confidence. However, you did display rare courage last night. I suppose you could qualify as a usable assistant."
"Assistant?" Chen Jing nearly spat out her coffee. "When did I become your sidekick? Don't flatter yourself!"
"Your presence here is no coincidence," Lucifer continued, ignoring her protests. "The creature from last night and the appearance of this fragment—these events are all interconnected. Perhaps you've been dragged into this conspiracy on purpose."
Chen Jing froze, nearly spilling her coffee. "Wait, are you saying I've been targeted by some sinister plot?"
"Not targeted—chosen," Lucifer said, his gaze growing even more profound. "In Hell, there is a theory that certain mortals possess unique significance, their fates intertwined with powerful forces."
"Don't give me that 'fate' mumbo jumbo," Chen Jing interrupted, handing him her phone. "But speaking of strange events, take a look at this."
Lucifer glanced at the screen, where a news headline blazed across the top:
"String of Disappearances Escalates: Police Suspect Serial Crimes"
"This missing persons case has been all over the news," Chen Jing said, leaning back against the sofa, a hint of unease in her voice. "Not only are people vanishing, but some of them… well, let's just say the scenes are horrifying."
Lucifer's eyes turned icy as he quickly scanned the details of the article. "The locations of these disappearances… they form a pattern encircling this city."
"So what?" Chen Jing asked, puzzled.
"They trace an ancient altar formation," Lucifer said, his tone heavy. "Such a formation cannot be created by mere chance. It's deliberate."
"Altar formation?" Chen Jing frowned. "You're saying these disappearances are linked to that metal fragment?"
Placing the phone down, Lucifer's expression grew darker. "These events are no coincidence. Someone is using forbidden magic, attempting to summon a great power. This fragment may be part of their ritual."
"Wait a second…" Chen Jing's mind flashed back to the abandoned factory last night, and a chill ran down her spine. "The monster from last night—was that their doing too?"
"A mere experiment," Lucifer replied, gazing out the window. "But if their plan succeeds, your mortal world will face an unprecedented catastrophe."
Chen Jing clutched her coffee cup tightly, her voice trembling slightly. "So… what can we do?"
Lucifer stood, his eyes sharp as blades. "Find the core of the summoning formation and destroy it before their plan comes to fruition."
"You think you're still the King of Hell?" Chen Jing scoffed. "You can't even handle hotpot, and you're talking about saving the world?"
"That's why I must recover my power," Lucifer said calmly, his voice carrying unshakable resolve.
"And what about me?" Chen Jing shrugged. "I'm just an ordinary mortal—how can I possibly get involved in this?"
"Ordinary?" Lucifer's cold gaze locked onto her, a faint trace of danger in his tone. "You underestimate yourself, mortal. Your very involvement proves you're far from ordinary."
"Me?" Chen Jing blinked in confusion.
"Whether you believe it or not, you've already been dragged into this," Lucifer said, stepping closer, his gaze burning. "From now on, you'll need to learn to protect yourself—and cooperate with me. Otherwise, you might not even survive."
Pushed back against the sofa, Chen Jing took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "Fine, I'll cooperate. But let me be clear—if this gets too dangerous, I'm the first to bail!"
A sly smile played on Lucifer's lips. "Don't worry. You won't have the chance to run."
Chen Jing rolled her eyes. "Figures working with you would be a total disaster."
Chen Jing hugged a pillow, slumping on the couch as she processed everything Lucifer had just told her. Though she prided herself on her bravery, last night's monster and this so-called "altar formation" were well beyond her comfort zone.
"So, you're saying those disappearances are part of some bigger plot to summon something… worse?" She tapped her fingers on the coffee table, trying to piece it all together. "Why would I get dragged into this? I'm just a normal person."
"Normal?" Lucifer's mocking gaze swept over her. "Last night, the creature's behavior toward you was highly unusual. It showed a particular hostility toward you, and even went berserk upon contact. That is no coincidence."
Chen Jing gulped, her bravado wavering. "Berserk? How am I supposed to know why it targeted me? Maybe you were its real target!"
"Foolish," Lucifer said dismissively, standing with his hands behind his back. "If I were its target, do you think it would have had the chance to appear at all?"
"Fine, you win." Chen Jing waved her hand dismissively, though her unease lingered. "So, what's the plan? Don't tell me it's just some vague prophecy nonsense."
Lucifer placed the metal fragment on the coffee table and stared at it intently. After a moment, he said, "First, we need to locate the formation's nodes. Each disappearance site may be part of the formation, with the core hidden in a significant location."
"Nodes? Core?" Chen Jing scratched her head. "Sounds like a detective story. Are you saying the King of Hell moonlights as a detective now?"
Ignoring her sarcasm, Lucifer raised his hand, releasing a faint wisp of black energy that enveloped the metal fragment. The fragment began to glow faintly, revealing a blurry map marked with red dots.
"This…" Chen Jing leaned closer, surprised to see the dots marking the locations of the disappearances. "Is this where the people went missing?"
"Indeed," Lucifer confirmed, pointing to a blank area in the center of the map. "And this empty space is likely the formation's core."
Chen Jing squinted at the map, then gasped. "I know that place! It's an abandoned amusement park in the suburbs. It used to be popular, but it was shut down after an accident."
"An amusement park?" Lucifer repeated, his tone dark. "Such a location is ideal for forbidden rituals."
"Wait, you're not suggesting I go with you, are you?" Chen Jing's unease quickly turned to panic. "I don't want to run into another monster!"
"You're already involved, so refusal is meaningless," Lucifer said coldly.
"What kind of logic is that?" Chen Jing folded her arms, glaring at him. "You know, you're incredibly annoying to work with."
Lucifer ignored her outburst, his gaze returning to the fragment. "If we don't act, what they summon will eventually find its way here."
"Is that a threat?" Chen Jing shot him a glare, but the weight of his words sent a shiver down her spine. She sighed. "Fine, when do we leave?"
"Tonight," Lucifer replied, his tone firm. But what he said next almost made Chen Jing burst out laughing. "However, to avoid the dangers of the night, we'll wait until morning."
"Huh?" Chen Jing raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk. "The great King of Hell is afraid of the dark? That's hilarious!"
"I do not fear the night," Lucifer said, his face darkening. "But forbidden magic is at its peak during the night. Daylight offers a strategic advantage."
Chen Jing doubled over with laughter. "Oh, I get it—you're not afraid of the dark; you're just making a 'tactical retreat!'"
"Foolish mortal," Lucifer shot back with a frosty glare. "Laugh while you can. When danger strikes, you'll regret your levity."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Your Majesty." Chen Jing wiped away tears of laughter. "Fine, we'll go tomorrow morning. But let me make this clear—I'm not fighting anything. If something jumps out, I'm running faster than you."
Lucifer didn't respond, his focus returning to the metal fragment. In a low voice, he said, "Tomorrow, we begin unraveling the first layer of this conspiracy."
Chen Jing sighed as she cleared the coffee cups from the table. "I just hope tomorrow's investigation won't be as exhausting as last night. Otherwise, I might have to start asking for hazard pay."