Revenge of the Serpent

Chapter 22

It has the same name as one of Lucifer’s spells, which must be why his eyes had widened the instant he saw what Theodore’s magic circle could do. “How…How can you use that?”

“Feels familiar doesn't it? I’m surprised that ‘you’ of all people could use a holy spell.”

“…It won’t work on me,” Lucifer let out a chuckle. “It would never work on me, I’m an angel! Evil Vanquish only smite those who have sinned! You can’t hurt me with that spell!”

Theodore hissed, his patience running thin. “Are you delusional? Of course it would work, you must’ve done something so terrible that even ‘he’ didn’t give you a chance for redemption.”

“I…” Lucifer was taken back by what he’d said and he lowered his head in shame.

Theodore took his silence as the signal and released the spell, immediately the magic circle moved to the floor and expanded until it was larger than the ice cage, golden pillars rose from around the perimeter of the arcane as pale orange fire lit up on top of the towers one by one.

Suddenly, Lucifer fell onto his knees while the ice chains shattered from the mysterious force pushing down onto them, it was as if gravity had grown stronger within the distance of the spell.

A ball of pale fire gathered in front of Theodore while multiple rings made of light surrounded it. His and Lucifer’s Evil Vanquish had the same effects, but the appearance was clearly different.

It was supposed to be an angel’s skill, something divine, it would obliterate any and all evil that dared to show up in front of them.

Lucifer’s version of the spell was corrupted, dark and sinister; it wasn’t used as a shield against the wicked, but a weapon against the weak.

The fire ball grew in size until it was almost as large as Theodore’s head, that was when he knew the attack was ready for use. “…Let’s talk for a bit.”

“What?” Lucifer lifted his head, confused as to why the snake had decided to talk to him. He’d already given up on fighting back since he would know best what sort of spell ‘Evil Vanquish’ was, once one’s caught within the boundaries of the sacred pillars, they’ll never be able to get out, surviving ‘Judgment’ was even more of an impossible feat, even for him.

“I want to know something.”

“…Know what?” Lucifer narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Theodore let out another hiss, showing his anger. “Why did you come here?”

“…” The demon king was quiet for a moment. “What do you mean exactly?”

“People died,” Theodore’s thoughts briefly went into the past, during his first monster expedition, his other set of classmates had all been slaughtered because of a group of goblins, another was killed mercilessly by a minotaur that they’d unknowingly provoked. “If not for you guys, many good kid’s futures wouldn’t be destroyed, and we wouldn’t have to worry about keeping ourselves safe for the sake of our family.”

Lucifer blinked. “You talk as if you’re human.”

“Because I was one, until a ‘monster’ killed me.”

“Ha.” The fallen angel huffed, shaking his head slightly. “So you made a deal with a god? That would end way worse than seeking revenge the normal way.”

“I don’t care.”

“You do you, I guess.” Lucifer tried shrugging, but the powerful force was pushing him down way too hard for him to properly move. “But I don’t even know why we were transported here.”