After defeating the three high-ranking demons, Kai felt a sense of relief, yet he knew his journey was far from over. With determination in his steps, he headed towards the gate to exit Hell. However, suddenly, an extraordinary kick slammed into his face, sending him crashing to the ground.
Gasping for breath, Kai tried to rise, only to see a large figure standing before him. As he looked closer, his eyes widened in shock. The figure was none other than Lucifer, the Lord of Hell, the very being M-09 had warned him about—someone he should avoid at all costs and never engage in battle with. Lucifer was an incredibly powerful entity, even able to match Andreas' strength when he first entered Hell.
Lucifer grinned widely, his eyes blazing with fiery intensity. "So, there's someone even bolder than Andreas to come here," he said in a low, commanding voice. "You must be Kai, right? I've heard a lot about you."
Despite his injuries, Kai slowly got back on his feet. He steadied his breath, knowing that even though his body was exhausted from the earlier battles with the demons, he couldn't retreat now. He understood that to continue his journey, he had to face Lucifer—the being far stronger than anything he'd ever encountered before.
Lucifer took a step forward, the ground shaking with each of his movements. "I'm somewhat intrigued by you, Kai," he continued. "After Andreas caused chaos in Hell, here comes another. This is going to be an interesting encounter."
Kai gripped the relic in his hand, its glow pulsating softly but filled with untapped potential. Though the power in Hell limited his abilities, Kai knew he couldn't back down. If he wanted to ascend to the next level of cosmology, he had to overcome this obstacle.
With unwavering determination, Kai prepared for the battle. "I won't retreat, Lucifer. I came here to destroy this Hell and put an end to the threat that comes from it."
Lucifer chuckled softly, his laughter echoing like thunder throughout Hell. "You're too confident, young one. But very well, let's see just how strong you really are."
The tension in the air thickened, and the inevita
ble battle began.
Kai, now empowered by the strength of the relic, wasted no time once the battle began. He immediately unleashed the full potential of the cosmic power he had mastered. A massive explosion of cosmic energy erupted from his body, hurtling toward Lucifer at an unimaginable speed. The force of his attack was so immense that it could have destroyed most of the Dark Multiverse, as though it were tearing a massive rift through space and time.
However, Lucifer stood motionless, watching the oncoming attack with an air of indifference. With a subtle motion, he raised his hand, and instantly, an energy no larger than an atom emanated from his body, effortlessly neutralizing Kai's strike. The explosion that shook the dimension came to a halt, as if it had met an invisible wall that absorbed all of its power. Even such a tremendous force seemed no more than a gentle breeze to Lucifer.
Lucifer let out a soft laugh, as if to say Kai still hadn't grasped just how vast the gap in their powers was. "So brave... but your strength isn't enough to destroy Hell, or even disrupt the balance that has been created," he said, his voice deep and filled with authority.
Kai took a step back, struggling to process the reality that even an attack capable of destroying much of the Dark Multiverse was nothing more than a minor inconvenience for Lucifer.
Lucifer gazed at Kai with a faint, almost sinister smile. "You wish to destroy Hell? Power like yours will never be enough. If you truly want to collapse Hell and access the next level of cosmology, you must face 'him.'"
Kai was confused. "Who is 'he' that you're talking about?"
Lucifer took a step forward, his eyes blazing with an intensity far greater than anything Kai could comprehend. "I speak of Tsukumojuku," he replied. "He is the creator of everything, even this Hell. Tsukumojuku created Hell to balance the overwhelming and chaotic cosmic forces from beyond. Hell exists to ensure that the powers from outside do not disrupt the entire reality. And now, after the devastation brought by Andreas, only one can change everything—and that is him."
Kai stood frozen, overwhelmed with surprise and questions flooding his mind. "So, Tsukumojuku is the creator of Hell and the force behind the cosmic powers beyond this world?"
Lucifer nodded, his voice firm. "Yes, without Tsukumojuku, there would be no Hell, no balance. If you wish to ascend to the next cosmological level, you must destroy what he has created. Only by doing so can the world he has forged truly collapse."
Kai looked at Lucifer with a determined gaze. Though he understood that he would have to face a creator far stronger than anything he had ever encountered, he would not back down. He had been through too much on his journey to stop now. Destroying Hell and facing Tsukumojuku would be the final trial he must overcome. He would not allow this
power to stop him.