Chapter 117: [Bonus Chapter 2/5] Disaster's Belly (1)

Asmodeus leaned in slightly, eagerly listening to the tale of his death. Lucifer, on the other hand, sat with his arms crossed, skeptical about her claims.

"As we thought the mole was a thing of the past, it reappeared at the most inopportune time... during another disaster subjugation mission."

She continued, "Fighting one disaster was already difficult, but fighting two simultaneously was impossible. Because of that, 85% of the remaining Awakeners were wiped out. The disaster wiped out almost everyone, including the fallen angels."

"I've had enough." Lucifer got up, staring at Asmodeus. "Brother, are you buying what she says? This girl is lying! Show me proof! Show me proof of our death!"

Anna sighed. Even though she didn't know who Lucifer was, the guy was annoying. But if he wanted proof, then she had ample of it. She reached into her phantom bag once more and pulled out the same ring she had shown Asmodeus earlier.

"Take a look at it," she said.

Lucifer snatched the ring and examined it. His eyes widened in shock when he realized Anna was telling the truth.

"Fine," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I believe you... as much as I don't want to."

"Hence you're so impatient," Asmodeus sighed, looking around as if weighing the options.

"Don't get me wrong. I don't want any of you to die with me," she said. "All I need is to know how you made it inside the mole and got out of it without dying. That's it. I can deal with the rest myself."

Asmodeus, who had been lost in thought, looked up at her. The determination in her eyes reminded him of Lilith. She too was just as stubborn as Anna, if not more, and it was herdeaththat made Asmodeus rebel and hence stripped of his powers.

"Lilith... was the first to defy the gods for the sake of the mortals," Asmodeus recalled a long-forgotten story. "As a punishment for her crimes, they fed her to the mole."

He continued, "I couldn't just stand by and watch, so I jumped after her. I ended up in the mole's stomach, but I never found her."

"So, she's dead too?"

Lucifer, who heard about Asmodeus's love life for the first time, couldn't help it and asked. But Asmodeus didn't answer and continued the story.

"I survived," he said after a long pause. "But it wasn't easy. The mole's insides... it's a labyrinth, complete with its own ecosystem within. The only reason I got out alive was because something made the mole throw up."

"Make it throw up..." Anna nodded. "I see."

"You'll need a bait," Lucifer chimed in, as if reading her mind. "Do you have your eyes on someone?"

Anna nodded, but her eyes never left Lucifer. Soon Asmodeus was also staring at his little brother.

"You're both sick in the head!" Lucifer yelled, but they had already decided.

***

Sometime later...

Lucifer dangled upside down from the massive tree root, his arms crossed as he crushed everyone he could see.

"Asmodeus, you insufferable old fool," Lucifer growled. "Using your brother as bait for the desires of a mortal. Do you have no conscience?"

"For the hundredth time, you're not dying," Asmodeus yelled back. "We studied the mole's patterns. You'll be safe as long as you stay at that distance."

"Easier for you to say, old prick!"

Anna didn't bother paying attention to Lucifer's complaints and continued staring down.

"Are you sure jumping in straight will work?" she asked Asmodeus.

"That's what worked for me," he replied. "If you hit anything on your way down, the mole will sense it and react. Things might get chaotic, and you might die before you even have time to rescue your beloved."

"YuWon's not someone who dies so easily," she replied confidently. "I'm sure of it, even if the records say otherwise."

Asmodeus raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He admired her confidence, but he knew the reality of the situation. One mistake and they would lose everything. Just then, the ground trembled.

"Here it comes," he muttered.

The mole burst out of the ground, its enormous mouth wide open, aiming directly for Lucifer.

"Now!" Asmodeus shouted.