Chapter 83 5: The Hero's Exit



Lucifer had no good feelings for those who took over Toshiro's body. One because they were destined to be enemies, two because one of them insulted Gwen and three because he only cared about the people he loved and their happiness.

A dark cloud started forming around the area of Rinvale and Ghastine forest with a loud crackle and roar of thunder; rain began to fall in torrents, hammering the desolate village and forest mercilessly.

Two figures then emerged.

"Bloody Hell, that bastard killed everyone already." Toshiro cursed angrily, his eyes scanning the bodies lying on the ground; most were maimed or mutilated, a few had their throats ripped out, and some looked drained, just like the information Marina had given the other day. 

At the same time, Lucifer sat high above on a branch, raindrops dripping down his face.

"Hey Toshiro, nice weather we're having..." Lucifer remarked sarcastically, which made Toshiro turn towards the tree branch his enemy was perched on.

"Did I piss you off or something, bastard?! Why did you slaughter everyone!" Toshiro cursed again with an angered voice. These people were members of the church that the new Hero managed to win over, ones that loved money and wanted to enjoy the pleasures of life.

So Lucifer killed them. He killed them for Toshiro since he wasn't a monster. Toshiro also wanted these people alive and to convert the Church members to his church.

But he didn't care. Lucifer killed everything he considered an obstacle, or at least did the equivalent action, even if it meant an all-out battle.

"Ah, I am done playing fetch with a pathetic rapist who pretends to be a hero." Titling his head, Lucifer's fingers began glowing with a red light, his eyes watching Toshiro's movements. 

"H...How do you know!?" Toshiro's composure collapsed for a moment. Lucifer knew something Toshiro didn't. How and why?

"Don't you know? We, vampires, can taste and smell the desires and fears of other people... You didn't even hide what was done to that man and his wife. It's disgusting how weak you are and still pretend to act strong."

"Did it feel good?" Lucifer asked with a smirk.

"..." Toshiro remained silent but dropped into a fighting stance. Lucifer jumped off the branch and landed on the muddy soil; the downpour intensified as wind and lightning crackled in the background.

The two stared into each other's eyes, waiting for the other to make a move.

'Don't expect me to go easy, trash.' 

"Ascendant Eclipse," Lucifer muttered as the world seemed to shudder, as if it felt fear, screaming as it felt the mana of something that could one day destroy it.

Toshiro slowly pulled out his sword, a holy light wrapping the blade. 

While Lucifer cut his wrists, letting thick, crimson blood pour out and envelop his body, before his mana and aura exploded in a huge dome pushing against Toshiro, forced to use his sword to stop it from crushing him.

"Tsk.... the fuck is this attack..! Who is this guy!?"

'Ah, he doesn't have memories of me.... good.' Lucifer thought as his body cracked, transforming as his Veins of Eternity began to pulse otherworldly crimson energy, with malice pulsing from him with each heartbeat.

Lucifer wasn't taking any chances against Toshiro; he planned to go all out, which could cause a collapse in the current balance of his life.

That's why he didn't say his name and would try to end the battle immediately.

"Grrr!"

A demonic howl sounded from Lucifer's mouth as Toshiro slashed at the waves of blood like small tsunamis cascading and slamming into his body, his divine power cutting through them at the cost of his dwindling mana as he jumped forward with a determined face.

"You bastard!" 

Toshiro was slowly progressing, his holy sword tearing apart the blood more efficiently after each strike. 

'Damned Hero.' Lucifer thought as his hand became long Infernal Claws with wicked appendages, each talon as sharp as a demon's fang.

Bathed in a crimson aura, these claws can rend through flesh and bone, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake, and finally, his huge black wings spread from his back, creating huge raven feathers that were sharp and deadly.

Lucifer dashed at Toshiro, his infernal mana causing the surrounding grass and mud to blacken as lightning roared as the clouds lit up and flashed across the dark, rainy sky.

"Fuck!"

"Die!"

The two clashed, a bloody haze exploding outward as holy and demonic light tore and scorched the earth as a powerful shockwave ruptured outward. 

Toshiro's holy light cracked Lucifer's defence. It broke his stance but wasn't able to deal lethal damage. At the same time, his infernal mana caused the Hero's divine barrier to fracture, a hole being pierced, allowing Lucifer's clawed talons and fangs to tear into Toshiro's chest, blood spurting onto the grass, causing new flowers to grow.

'Damn goddess, I know you are assisting him!'I think you should take a look at

Their auras collided like raging beasts; Toshiro's holy barrier pushed Lucifer's Inferno back as the vampire recovered from his claws, absorbing the Hero's blood; simultaneously, the Hero's holy light reduced but damaged Lucifer's healing.

'He is resistant.... good. Now... where is the opportunity!' Lucifer dashed backwards before Toshiro could land a fatal hit with his holy sword as his eyes darted and calculated the Hero's behaviour; there it was.

It was when Toshiro reached a state of rage. His mana was depleting, and the wound had sealed, with only blood splatter left, that the Goddess stopped her assistance for a split second as Lucifer's body vanished like a ghost, Toshiro's eye-widening as he looked to the right to see a huge bloody claw coming straight at him, impacting his holy barrier completely shattering, his left arm torn apart, and blood splattered onto Lucifer's hungry claws.

"Now die...."

"Toshiro!!!" a woman's shrill scream sounded, angered and concerned yell echoed as the Goddess's intervention magic began repairing his lost arm.

'Who!?.... Shit!' Lucifer suddenly dashed back, sending five fireballs from each finger shooting towards Toshiro, exploding on contact as Lucifer quickly gathered blood from Toshiro's severed arm and chest wounds and before his hands glowed a vibrant crimson colour.

Two dark balls formed within his hands; Lucifer had learned a lot while travelling to Rinvale; now, he was less hesitant bout becoming a hero killer.

"I cannot defeat you so easily, huh...." Lucifer spat, with his distorted voice, almost seeming to give up.

"Heh, a filthy fucking freak can't beat a hero!" Toshiro's new arm was pale and thin but held the holy sword tightly.

Lucifer dashed again, Toshiro copying his movements before their attacks clashed; holy mana and pure crimson light ruptured outward, smouldering trees and grassland, and blood continued to rain down, the mud becoming thick and sloppy, hindering their movements slightly.

Toshiro swung his holy sword horizontally, and Lucifer jumped backwards; Toshiro continued his flurry of attacks with holy mana and quick steps; his speed was faster than Lucifer's.

'Damned Hero.' Lucifer flew upwards into a thick, dark storm cloud, not that he cared, letting the raindrops impact his crimson mask. 'Fine...'

Lucifer decided to use his last card, and a powerful eruption of aura began to vibrate in the air. Toshiro looked around with his sword shaking, the power of Lucifer's aura pushing him down with its extreme weight.

Lightning flashed as Lucifer descended like a demon king, his eyes staring Toshiro down; Lucifer slammed his foot on the ground, mud and dirt spraying outward, forming a huge crater.

His crimson blood armour expanded, and his mana and infernal mana erupted.

With his palm open to the heavens, a bright, crimson sphere was the size of a goofball before ballooning to be larger than a small house.

[Scarlet Oblivion] This was the Crimson Eclipse's final attack, "Say your prayers, Hero." The ball instantly compressed and condensed back into a golf ball as Lucifer pointed his palm to Toshiro, who was shocked for a moment before attempting to dodge.

"Dodge this...." Lucifer's distorted and demonic voice sounded, echoing like a predator who caught its prey, ready for a feast.

The Scarlet Oblivion rushed like a comet towards Toshiro; the Hero raised his holy sword, a weak barrier wrapping the blade before a tremendous explosion ruptured outward; Toshiro screamed with his barrier shattered, flesh melting and holy armour shattering; a shockwave ruptured toward Lucifer; Lucifer's palm absorbed the recoil.

After a minute, smoke and mist covered the battlefield, and rain began to wash off the burnt grass and soil.

"Now...."

⟪HOW DARE YOU!?⟫ A woman's voice was filled with mourning, anger, and hysteria.

'The Goddess Celestia? No... you are not her... but Celestina, that damn Demi-god who is using Celestia's name to syphon her power!'

Lucifer recognised the owner of the voice, not Celestia the Primordial or Goddess but Celestina the Demi-God, the bitch who was draining Celestia.

⟪What did Toshiro ever do to you!? You filthy creature of the night! I will end your cursed existence, damned monster.⟫ Celestina roared angrily with malice behind each word; Lucifer could feel her aura but easily shrugged it off.

'Get your fake ass down here, Demi-god; Toshiro killed innocent people, not caring if they suffered or begged. He murdered a married man and raped his wife.'

⟪I WILL REMEMBER YOU! Your face, your eyes, your aura, your scent! I will destroy you! Everything you love or care for will be crushed!⟫ Celestina vowed viciously before Lucifer felt her aura vanishing; Toshiro's body disappeared before him, leaving no trace of existence.

'That fake Goddess tried to put a curse on me.... pathetic. Guess she doesn't want another Hero dead.'

With his victory assured, the clouds began to part. The storm began to settle, a gentle breeze as his transformation faded, revealing his devastated body, the holy sword of a hero, no joke as his right arm was hanging by a thread, body full of bloody wounds and a long scar down his abdomen.

Lucifer collapsed onto the scorched earth, his infernal mana fading before the last of Toshiro's blood on the ground to give basic treatment, sealing his wounds, restoring his bones and arm; with no Toshiro to suck dry, his recovery slowed.

'Hmm.... guess I will rest. With him dead, I can....'

A woman's shadow emerged, the plants around her turning black, dying as she looked upon Lucifer with a twisted smile.

"So the cute 72nd Lord killed the first Hero~ ah... I knew it was right to come here."