Kiseki stirred from his slumber, roused by a voice that seemed to claw at the edges of his mind. It was low, menacing, and dripping with disdain.
"Kiseki... Wake up, you insignificant human..."
His eyelids fluttered open, heavy as lead, only to reveal a scene straight out of nightmare fuel. Before him sat a woman perched atop what appeared to be the skeletal remains of some ancient creature—its bones gnarled and jagged like thorns, forming an eerie throne in the endless void surrounding them. Her piercing gaze locked onto him, sharp enough to cut through steel.
A twisted grin spread across her face as she watched him regain consciousness. "Took you long enough to get up, didn't you, little boy," she drawled, crossing her legs casually and resting her chin on one hand. Her posture was relaxed, almost playful, yet there was something inherently predatory about her presence.
"Who are you? And where am I?" Kiseki asked, his voice steady despite the surreal sight before him. Devilish horns curled upward from her head, and crooked wings stretched out behind her back, casting faint shadows against the nothingness. Yet, for all her terrifying features, he refused to let fear take hold. His composure remained unshaken, his words cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade.
He glanced around, searching for any sign of familiarity, but found none. The world—or lack thereof—was an abyss, a featureless expanse devoid of landmarks or light. There was no horizon, no sky, no ground beneath his feet—only darkness stretching infinitely in every direction. Disorientation clawed at the edges of his mind, but he forced himself to focus on the figure before him.
The woman leaned forward slightly, her golden eyes gleaming with amusement as they bore into his own. For a moment, she said nothing, letting the weight of her stare linger between them. Then, finally, she spoke.
"I am known by many names in this realm," she began, her voice smooth and deliberate, each word laced with dark allure. "'The Seducer of Sinners,' 'Remnant of Darkness,' 'Unholy Creature'—and countless others." She paused, tilting her head as if savoring the sound of those titles rolling off her tongue.
"But among all these names," she continued, her lips curling into a smirk, "one has stuck with me permanently. And honestly? I rather like it. They call me Lucifer. The Devil from the depths of Hell."
Despite the revelation of her identity, Kiseki showed no outward reaction. No widening of his eyes, no trembling of his hands. Only the faintest flicker of curiosity betrayed his otherwise stoic demeanor.
"What do you want from me?" he demanded, his voice unwavering, his gaze drilling into hers with unyielding intensity.
Lucifer threw her head back and laughed, the sound reverberating through the void like thunder. "Hahaha! I admire your directness, young one," she said, her smirk widening. "You don't waste time mincing words, do you?"
Kiseki remained silent, his expression unchanged, though his resolve burned brighter than ever.
Leaning back against her makeshift throne, Lucifer adopted a more serious tone, her golden eyes narrowing as she studied him intently. "I have but one question for you, pesky human," she said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. "If granted the opportunity to rewrite the tapestry of your existence—to begin anew with a clean slate—would you seize it?"
Kiseki frowned, confusion knitting his brow. "What kind of game are you playing?" he shot back, his voice tinged with frustration and suspicion.
In an instant, Lucifer's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by raw fury. Her fists clenched tightly, knuckles whitening as she leaned forward, her voice rising to a snarl. "Just answer the damn QUESTION!"
Her fist slammed down onto the armrest of her throne, the impact resonating through the void like a crack of lightning. The sheer force of her anger sent a shiver racing down Kiseki's spine, but he stood his ground, refusing to cower.
After a tense moment, he answered, his voice firm despite the unease bubbling beneath the surface. "Most definitely. I would do anything for such a chance."
A sinister smile crept across Lucifer's face, her eyes glinting with dark satisfaction. "Interesting... Humans sure are greedy," she mused, her tone dripping with mockery.
"Get to the point," Kiseki snapped, his patience wearing thin.
Lucifer threw her head back once more, laughter erupting from her lips like the cackles of a madwoman. "Hahahaha! I can already tell we're going to get along quite well," she declared, her manic grin sending another chill down his spine.
With a sudden shift in movement, she rose from her throne and vanished in the blink of an eye, reappearing behind him in an instant. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders in an unsettling embrace, her breath cold against his ear as she whispered, "Very well, then. As you can see, you've been blessed with just such a chance to redo your life. Isn't that exciting?"
"So, what's the catch?" Kiseki demanded, his piercing gaze locking onto hers over his shoulder.
She chuckled softly, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "You're smarter than you look," she purred, leaning closer until her breath sent icy tendrils dancing across his skin.
"Well..." she murmured, her voice dropping to a whisper, "...the price of redemption is never free."