"He's gone, and I can't even trace him back now," Lucifer said coldly, his words laced with frustration as he addressed the other Demon Lords.
"Gone? Just like that?" Beelzebub, a burly humanoid figure with the head of a hound, muttered mockingly. His tone was edged with disbelief, though a trace of amusement lingered in his voice.
Leviathan, the embodiment of envy, leaned against one of the glowing rock pillars, a sly smirk curling his lips. "Oh, How the mighty Lucifer falters," he sneered softly, clearly taking pleasure in Lucifer's misfortune.
Belphegor, the ever-lazy Sin of Sloth, let out a long yawn, barely managing to keep his eyes open. "Are we done here? This was far too much effort for nothing," he muttered, his voice as lethargic as his demeanor.
The Sin of Lust, Asmodeus, sighed, her tone exuding disinterest and mild disappointment. "What a waste. I had hoped to see this 'Heir of Ruination' for myself."
Mammon, the Sin of Greed, clicked his tongue sharply, his golden eyes glinting with frustration. "So much effort, so many resources... all for nothing. A damn shame."
Meanwhile, Amon, the Sin of Wrath, stood in stony silence, his burning crimson eyes fixed on the distance. He scanned the horizon as if willing the target to reappear, his muscles tense with restrained fury.
Lucifer's gaze flicked over each of them, his expression a storm of controlled anger. "Laugh while you can," he said, his voice dangerously low, "but mark my words—this isn't over. The Heir of Ruination cannot escape for long. I will find him, and when I do, his power will be mine."
The air around them grew heavy as Lucifer's aura flared briefly, silencing any further comments. The other Demon Lords exchanged cautious glances, knowing better than to provoke him further.
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"Lucifer, do you think the newly risen Demon Lord Ruination and the Heir of Ruination are the same person?" Asmodeus asked, her voice calm but probing, trying to connect the dots.
Lucifer let out a scoff, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Well, yes. We all want that, don't we? We will do whatever it takes to help you catch that person, Lucifer. Even if it means eradicating the entire world," Amon added with cold, burning determination, his wrathful aura intensifying as his words echoed in the frigid air.
The others nodded in silent approval, their expressions somber and unified, marking their shared resolve to achieve freedom and their Supreme Father's (Demon God) liberation.
However, they didn't know the being thwy wanted catch was on verge of ascending to Godhood. He was far beyond their reach.
---
Meanwhile, Aengus sat in his domain, alone in his regular room, deep in contemplation. The weight of his next move bore heavily on his mind as he thought about how to gain those last five levels to reach the pinnacle of SSS rank.
Reaching into his storage, he took out the Divine Stone which illuminated the dark room with an ethereal brilliance. The shimmering light seemed to pulse, reflecting his conflicted thoughts.
Aengus stared at the stone in a trance-like state, his mind conjuring vivid imagery of water flowing endlessly into rivers from a vast, boundless sea in Solis.
"The Sea..." he muttered, his voice barely audible, breaking out of his stupor as the idea struck him.
Manas's voice rang in his mind. "Master, are you sure about this? The Sea is a vast, thriving world full of life—innocent lives, most of them harmless. Is it truly necessary?"
Aengus hesitated, his usually steadfast demeanor wavering as he weighed the cost of his actions. The vision of the boundless Sea flickered in his mind, a vast symbol of resources.
"No," he whispered, then clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. "I must do it. Power comes at a price, and there is no greater gain without sacrifice."
His voice grew colder, as if silencing the protests within himself. "This is for the greater good. The path of a ruler, a god, is never without bloodshed. If I falter now, everything I've fought for will crumble."