The air was thick. Smoke and golden dust swirled through the broken cathedral walls.
Crumbled stone and shattered stained glass surrounded the battlefield.
Seraphiel was on his knees, his golden spear shattered into fragments.
Cracks ran across his once-imposing armor, and his wings drooped, their brilliance dimmed. Despite his divine presence, the proud saint had fallen.
Angeleva and Safari stood firm, their hands still bound by Ian's tape. The swirling energy around them, a perfect blend of light and dark, pulsed with raw, balanced power. It was no longer the unstable collision of opposing forces - it was harmony.
Safari's body still bore the marks of his brutal torture. Blood stained his skin, and his breathing was ragged. Yet the energy coursing through him, fueled by his bond with Angeleva, kept him standing.
Angeleva's radiant glow remained steady, but her face was streaked with sweat and tears. The emotional weight of the battle had left her exhausted, yet she stood tall. The determination in her eyes had never faltered.
Seraphiel lifted his gaze, his expression a mixture of disbelief and reluctant awe.
"...Impossible," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Safari, his usual defiance tinged with satisfaction, smirked. "Guess we just proved you wrong, huh?"
Angeleva, still holding his hand, stepped forward. Her wings shimmered softly as she met Seraphiel's gaze. "We're not your enemies, Seraphiel. But we're not going to stand by and let Lucifero destroy everything."
Her voice carried a calm authority.
Seraphiel's eyes flickered with something unfamiliar - doubt.
"I believed you were lost," he admitted. "A traitor to your own kind. And yet..." His gaze lingered on the bound hands of Safari and Angeleva. "You stand together. Light and dark, in perfect balance."
He tried to rise, but the weight of his injuries forced him back to one knee. Still, his expression softened.
"Perhaps I have misjudged you."
The tension in the air eased. Safari was slightly amused. "So, does that mean we're done fighting, or are you planning another dramatic comeback?"
A faint chuckle escaped Seraphiel's lips. "No. I have no strength left to fight. And no reason to."
With great effort, he pushed himself to his feet. His wings, though dimmed, spread behind him in a final display of dignity.
"Lucifero waits beyond those doors," Seraphiel said, his voice low. "But be warned - his power eclipses anything you have faced before."
Safari's grin remained steady, though the pain still gnawed at him. "Yeah, well... good thing we don't scare easy."
Angeleva nodded firmly. "We're not turning back."
Seraphiel held their gaze for a moment longer. Then, with a slow, respectful bow of his head, he stepped aside.
"May your strength prevail," he said softly.
The family rushed forward. Zack, tears brimming in his eyes, wrapped his small arms around Safari's waist.
"You did it!" Zack sobbed. "You're okay!"
Safari winced but managed to ruffle the boy's hair. "Thanks to all of you."
Olive crossed her arms, though her concern was obvious. "That was reckless. Even for you."
Ian, holding his camera triumphantly, grinned. "But I got every second of it! Legendary battle footage, right here!"
Jen, though visibly shaken, tried to smile. "You guys were amazing. But we still have Lucifero to face."
Safari nodded. "Yeah. No time to celebrate just yet."
His gaze drifted to Angeleva, who still held his hand. They both seemed to realize it at the same moment.
"...The tape," Safari muttered.
"Right." Angeleva blushed slightly, her fingers twitching against his.
Ian, ever the opportunist, chuckled. "Oh, no way! You're not getting rid of that bond just yet. You two make a great team!"
"Yeah, yeah," Safari grumbled, though he didn't pull away. Despite the awkwardness, neither did Angeleva.
Ahead, the massive golden doors of the cathedral loomed. Ancient carvings of angels and demons entwined in eternal battle marked the entrance. A crimson glow seeped from the cracks, an ominous reminder of the evil that awaited within.
Lucifero.
The family stood together, their resolve unshaken.
"Whatever's waiting for us in there," Safari said, his voice firm, "we face it together."
Angeleva's grip on his hand tightened. "Together."
The doors creaked open, revealing the darkness beyond.
And without hesitation, the Safari Family stepped inside, their senses on high alert.
The air was heavy, thick with a malevolent presence that seemed to watch their every move. The echo of their footsteps reverberated through the vast cathedral hall.
Ian, camera in hand, grinned mischievously as he began his signature narration.
"Welcome, viewers, to the grand cathedral of doom! Ruled by none other than Father Lucifero - who, spoiler alert, probably won't be throwing any blessings our way!"
He panned the camera around, capturing the sinister architecture. "Look at that! Crumbling walls, terrifying statues, and just the right amount of demonic ambiance. A five-star evil lair if I've ever seen one!"
Zack rolled his eyes. "Ian, can you not treat everything like a broadcast?"
Ian smirked. "Come on, kid! This is exclusive content! The world needs to see how we bravely confront the devil himself!"
"And how I bravely knock you out if you don't zip it," Olive muttered, though even she couldn't fully suppress a smirk.
Jen chuckled. "Just make sure you capture my good side when I throw pudding at Lucifero."
Safari, despite the lingering pain from his injuries, shook his head with amusement. "Ian, I swear-"
"-You love my commentary, admit it," Ian interrupted, winking. "Oh, and speaking of love..."
The camera zoomed in dramatically on Safari and Angeleva's bound hands. The tape securing them together was still intact, a constant reminder of their precarious yet powerful bond.
"Look at these two! The Demon King and the Fairy Queen, bound by fate! Could this be the greatest romantic plot twist of the century?!" Ian teased.
Angeleva's face flushed. "Shut it, Ian."
Safari scowled. "Keep pushing, and I'll make sure your camera's the first casualty today."
Ian chuckled, clearly unbothered. "Oh, but the people demand drama!"
Before Safari could retort, the air grew colder.
A slow, chilling chuckle echoed through the cathedral, drowning Ian's voice.
A grand throne, made of twisted bones and blackened steel, emerged from the shadows. Atop it sat a figure draped in elegant robes.
His face, sharp and handsome, was framed by long silver hair. A wicked smile curled on his lips.
His piercing eyes gleamed with amusement.
"Welcome," he said, his voice both smooth and commanding. "Safari, Angeleva, and the little family that dares to defy the divine."
Safari's glare hardened. "Lucifero."
Lucifero leaned forward, resting his chin upon his hand. "I must say, you've been quite entertaining. Surviving Seraphiel's test, breaking free from the prison below... and even binding your powers together like some foolish tale of unity."
His gaze lingered on the tape binding Safari and Angeleva's hands, his smile growing wider.
"But I wonder... how long will your pathetic resolve last?"
Angeleva's wings flickered with glowing light. "We're not here to play your games, Lucifero. We've come to stop you."
"Stop me?" Lucifero chuckled. "You misunderstand, dear child. You cannot stop what is inevitable."
He rose from his throne, his presence towering.
"Long ago, I was like you - an angel bound by the laws of purity, forced to follow the meaningless whims of those who called themselves just."
His eyes gleamed with disdain. "I questioned those laws. I saw the flaws in the ideals of balance and restraint. I wanted to create a world of true purity. One where weakness would be eradicated, and strength would reign supreme."
"But no one listened," Lucifero continued, his voice darkening. "They feared my vision. They called it blasphemy. And so, I turned to the only being who understood true power."
"Raven," Safari growled.
Lucifero nodded. "Yes. In exchange for my undying loyalty, Raven granted me the freedom to build my paradise. And in return, I offered my angels as his eyes - spreading across the galaxies, infiltrating weaker worlds."
Safari's fists clenched. "That's why Raven has such a massive territory. He used your angels as spies."
Lucifero grinned. "Precisely. While the universe believed in salvation, we were already sealing their fate."
"But you..." Lucifero's tone shifted as his gaze bore into Safari and Angeleva. "You are a farce. Binding your opposing energies, clinging to foolish hope - it's laughable."
He sneered. "No matter how tightly you hold hands, you will never stand against the true strength of those devoted to Raven."
"Like Gregory and Patricia," Lucifero continued, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Ah yes, your precious former comrades."
Safari froze. His heart pounded, dreading what was coming next.
Lucifero's smile widened. "Gregory, the one who was behind your sister's death. Patricia, the killer of Angeleva's mother. Both now reborn as Celestic Warriors under Raven's command."
He extended his arms dramatically. "Gregory, the Orange Celestic Warrior. Patricia, the Purple Celestic Warrior. With powers far beyond your comprehension."
The family gasped in shock. Even Ian's camera lowered slightly, the weight of Lucifero's words sinking in.
"They are no longer bound by petty morals or regret," Lucifero declared. "They have embraced their true nature. And no matter how much you struggle, you will never surpass them."
For a moment, silence reigned. Safari's hands trembled, the painful memories of Gregory's betrayal flashing through his mind. Angeleva's own torment resurfaced, the image of Patricia standing over her mother's lifeless body burning in her thoughts.
But then -
"No," Angeleva said, her voice steady.
Lucifero's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"You're wrong," she continued, the glow of her wings intensifying. "Gregory and Patricia may have abandoned their humanity, but that's not strength. That's fear. Fear of facing their pain. Fear of accepting who they really are."
Safari, his rage replaced by newfound resolve, stepped forward. "And we're not afraid. Not anymore."
Angeleva gripped his hand tighter, the energy between them surging once more as she transformed. "We've come this far because we believe in something stronger than fear."
Lucifero's smile faded, a flicker of irritation passing over his face.
Safari smirked, transforming. "And you know what else? We're going to beat the hell out of you."
The family stood united, the burning light of defiance in their eyes.
Lucifero's amused facade twisted into a dark scowl.
"So be it."
The cathedral walls trembled, the air thickening with malicious energy.
The final battle was near.