Inside the grand cathedral, the air was heavy with an eerie silence. Gregory's boots echoed against the polished marble floor as he approached the altar.
There, on a cracked platform, lay Lucifero's lifeless body. The large gaping hole in his chest was the clear mark of his defeat. Darkened veins ran through his pale skin, and traces of his immense aura had long since vanished.
Gregory crossed his arms, gazing down at the fallen demon lord with narrowed eyes.
"So... those weaklings actually managed to take down Lucifero," he thought, both impressed and skeptical. "I figured Lucifero would crush them. But instead, here he is."
He knelt beside the corpse, the crimson potion swirling ominously in his hand. "I'm not reviving you out of kindness, old friend. I need answers. And maybe... a little entertainment."
Uncorking the vial, he carefully poured the liquid into Lucifero's mouth. It sizzled upon contact, glowing faintly as it seeped into his body. The cathedral trembled, reacting to the dark power awakening within him.
Five minutes passed. Suddenly, Lucifero's fingers twitched. His body jerked as if gasping for air, though he had no need to breathe. His eyes snapped open - two burning red orbs filled with confusion and lingering pain.
Slowly, Lucifero rose, clutching his chest where the fatal wound once remained. It had sealed, though a faint scar was left behind. Recognizing the towering figure before him, Lucifero's expression shifted. He immediately bowed his head in deep respect.
"Lord Gregory," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "You've returned me to life. I am forever in your debt."
Gregory smirked, the amusement evident on his face. "Don't get all formal on me, Lucifero. I just came for a friendly talk."
With a flash of energy, Gregory's form shifted. His body was engulfed in a radiant orange glow as he transformed into Celestic Warrior Orange. The sheer pressure of his aura caused the cathedral walls to crack further.
Lucifero, though weakened, instinctively straightened up in acknowledgment. "I see. You've grown even stronger."
Gregory shrugged. "Enough with the flattery. I need to know how those brats managed to kill you."
Lucifero clenched his fists, the memory of his defeat still fresh. His eyes darkened as he spoke.
"They fought with resilience I had not anticipated," he began. "Safari... that devil. He may have been weakened, but his determination was unwavering. Even as his body broke, he stood tall and actually clung to that fairy after his body gave up. It was frustrating."
Lucifero's voice grew bitter. "And Angeleva. A mere fairy, yet her abilities surpassed reason. The Devil-Fairy Unity was powerful, but that wasn't all. The weakling pests they traveled with - they fueled their strength. The bonds between them... it created something impossible."
Gregory's face twisted with impatience as Lucifero recounted the details of his loss. He scowled, stepping forward with a menacing glare.
"Fine, fine! I get it!" Gregory snapped. "You're saying you lost to those two weaklings. Which means you're even weaker than them."
Lucifero's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of unease passing through him.
Gregory's voice dropped into a mocking tone. "And if that's the case, you have no use to live."
Without another word, Gregory lifted his Devil Mace. With a single swing, he unleashed a powerful shockwave that cracked the cathedral walls. The force sent Lucifero tumbling across the floor, his body skidding to a halt.
Lucifero coughed, struggling to push himself up. "W-What are you doing?!"
Gregory's eyes gleamed with a dangerous grin. "I said I'll kill you again. And I meant it."
"You must be kidding!" Lucifero protested, his pride wounded. "I have served under Lord Raven without fail! And now you-"
But Gregory didn't wait for him to finish. He swung the Devil Mace again, this time with Devil Mace Swing, a brutal horizontal strike that crashed into Lucifero's chest. The blow sent him flying through the cathedral's towering pillars, reducing them to rubble.
Lucifero staggered to his feet, trembling with fury. His eyes burned, and his elegant composure shattered. "You... dared to harm my handsome face!"
Gregory smirked. "That's more like it. I'd hate to kill a coward."
But Lucifero clenched his fists. "I don't need to defeat you. I just have to stall you long enough. This planet is draining your negative energy as we speak."
Gregory laughed. "Oh, please. You think I didn't consider that? I'm not like that weakling Safari. I already have enough negative energy to last over two days. While a regular Sappy devil would barely survive a few hours here, I'm still standing without even a hint of weakness. That's the difference between us."
Lucifero snarled, his pride further shattered. He charged forward, summoning a blast of dark energy, but Gregory effortlessly countered with Devil Mace Shock. The ground trembled as Lucifero was flung backward once more, the force of the shockwave vibrating through the cathedral.
While the chaos erupted within, Patricia stood outside, leisurely observing the ruckus. With a satisfied sigh, she cracked her neck.
"Well, Greg's already at it. Might as well kill some time myself."
With a wicked grin, she raised her hand. Her form shimmered as she transformed into Celestic Warrior Purple. A radiant violet glow enveloped her. She summoned her signature weapon - the Fairy Bow. Its sleek design radiated positive energy, laced with toxins.
The gathered angels had initially greeted her with reverence, believing her presence to be a symbol of grace. However, as Patricia's malicious intent seeped into the air, their expressions shifted to fear.
Patricia sneered. "You're angels, aren't you? Defenders of light, guardians of purity. How boring."
She pulled back her bowstring, dark violet energy coiling into an arrow. With a gleeful laugh, she unleashed a Fairy Shot. The arrow streaked through the air, splitting into dozens of venomous projectiles that rained down on the unsuspecting angels.
Screams echoed through the cathedral grounds as the arrows struck, the poison rapidly weakening her targets. Patricia laughed maniacally, the sight of the angels writhing in agony fueling her twisted delight.
"Aw, poor little things. Does it hurt?" she taunted. "Back on Angelica, I used to enjoy watching the suffering of weaklings like you. You're no different."
Some angels attempted to retaliate, summoning their divine power, but Patricia effortlessly evaded their attacks. With graceful, calculated movements, she unleashed another volley of poisoned arrows.
"Lucifero's busy getting his pretty face wrecked," she mocked, her violet eyes gleaming. "So I'll handle the entertainment out here. Come on, fight back! At least try to amuse me before Gregory finishes up."
As chaos unfolded both inside and outside the cathedral, Patricia relished every moment, savoring the despair of her opponents.
Inside the cathedral, Lucifero groaned, struggling to his feet. The blow from Gregory's Devil Mace Shock had cracked his once-proud armor. The pristine walls of the cathedral were now marked with deep fissures, the structure barely holding together.
Gregory twirled his mace with ease, smirking. "Still standing, huh? Maybe you're not completely useless after all."
Lucifero spat blood, his pride far more wounded than his body. "You think you can treat me like this and walk away? You're nothing but a power-hungry brute!"
Gregory's grin widened. "And you're just a failure who let a couple of weaklings take you down. No wonder Raven never truly favored you."
Lucifero's eyes darkened at the insult. Despite his arrogance, the words stung. He clenched his fists, his energy flaring. "I'll show you what happens when you underestimate me!"
He lunged forward, summoning a massive wave of divine black flames that twisted and curled toward Gregory. The devil warrior, however, showed no fear. With a flick of his wrist, he slammed the Devil Mace into the ground.
"Devil Mace Barrier!"
A surge of orange energy erupted, forming a barrier that split the black flames, dispersing them harmlessly. Gregory chuckled. "Pathetic."
But Lucifero wasn't finished. He swiftly charged, attempting to engage in close combat. His claws, coated in dense positive energy, slashed furiously. Gregory dodged with ease, his movements swift and calculated. The clash of energies echoed through the cathedral, shaking its very foundations.
"You're wasting your strength," Gregory taunted, countering with a brutal swing of his mace. Lucifero barely managed to block, but the sheer force sent him crashing into the wall. "Face it, you're nothing without that facade of pride."
Lucifero snarled, his eyes glowing fiercely. "I am the King of the Devils and Angels! I am-"
"Not anymore," Gregory interrupted coldly. "You lost that title the moment you were defeated."
Lucifero growled, refusing to accept the reality. But Gregory's relentless assault gave him no time to dwell. Swing after swing, Gregory's attacks rained down, each one more devastating than the last. Lucifero's body ached, his energy reserves dwindling.
Meanwhile, outside the cathedral, Patricia's rampage continued. The angels who dared to oppose her were struck down without mercy. She giggled as her poisoned arrows found their marks, the weakened angels writhing in agony.
"Is this all the divine realm has to offer?" she mocked, drawing another arrow. "No wonder Lucifero had no trouble ruling over you."
The remaining angels hesitated, fear gripping their hearts. But even as they cowered, Patricia grew bored.
"Sigh. This is getting dull." She drew back her bow once more, summoning a dark purple arrow crackling with poisonous energy. "How about I wrap this up with a little spectacle?"
Before she could release the shot, a tremor shook the ground. Patricia's grin faded as she turned to see the cathedral's walls trembling. Inside, Gregory's final attack was reaching its climax.
"Devil Mace Obliteration!"
Gregory's weapon glowed with immense energy, its dark aura radiating across the battlefield. He brought the mace down with a thunderous strike, shattering the ground beneath Lucifero. He screamed in anguish, the force of the attack leaving him immobilized.
Lucifero gasped, his pride shattered along with the cathedral's floor. Gregory stood over him, the victorious smirk never leaving his face.
"See? You're not even worth killing." Gregory scoffed, stepping away. "I just wanted to remind you how weak you are."
Lucifero glared at him, his body trembling from both pain and humiliation. Patricia, now visibly amused, floated there gracefully, her wings glowing faintly.
"Aw, Greg," she teased, twirling a poisoned arrow between her fingers. "You're no fun. I wanted to see at least a little bit of gore."
Gregory chuckled. "Don't worry. There's always next time."
Lucifero remained on the ground, too weak to respond. His reign of terror had been shattered, not by outsiders, but by those he once considered allies.
Gregory now smashed his mace hard on Lucifero making him unconscious. Patricia fired one of her poisoned arrow at Lucifero's body ensuring slow death.
With Patricia's laughter echoing through the ruined cathedral, Gregory turned his back on the defeated angel. "Let's go, Patty. We've wasted enough time here."
Patricia gave a mock salute, her amusement lingering. "After you, Greg."
Together, the two Celestic Warriors vanished leaving Lucifero for dead.