Chapter 94 — The Servant
Nobody moved.
The underground city stretched beyond the chamber, filled with thousands of silent civilians.
Brook kept his sword raised.
The hooded figure stood at the far end.
"You said he wants me alive."
The figure nodded.
"Yes."
Brook narrowed his eyes.
"Then why bring everyone here?"
The figure looked around.
"Because they were in the way."
Henry stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
The figure turned toward him.
"You don't matter."
Henry's expression hardened.
Brook raised his hand.
"Don't."
Henry stopped.
Brook stared at the stranger.
"What's your name?"
A pause.
"Veyr."
Crowley immediately reacted.
Brook noticed.
"You know him."
Crowley said nothing.
Veyr smiled.
"Of course he does."
Brook looked at Crowley.
"Explain."
Crowley kept his eyes on Veyr.
"Veyr was one of the Maker's original servants."
Sera frowned.
"Original?"
Crowley nodded.
"Before the Walls."
Brook's grip tightened.
Veyr laughed.
"You've been telling them stories, Crowley."
Crowley stepped forward.
"And you've been hiding for centuries."
Veyr's smile disappeared.
"Not hiding."
He raised his hand.
"Waiting."
The civilians suddenly began moving.
Thousands of people walked toward the walls.
Brook looked around.
"What are they doing?"
Veyr answered:
"Leaving."
Brook frowned.
"Where?"
Veyr smiled.
"You'll see."
A massive gate opened behind the civilians.
One by one, they disappeared into the darkness.
Brook looked at Henry.
"Follow them."
Henry nodded.
He started forward.
Veyr raised his hand.
The ground exploded between them.
Henry was thrown backward.
Brook caught him.
"You okay?"
Henry nodded.
"Yeah."
Brook looked at Veyr.
"You could've killed him."
"I could've killed all of you."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Then why haven't you?"
Veyr smiled.
"Because you're not the objective."
Brook raised his sword.
"Then what is?"
Veyr pointed toward him.
"You."
Brook attacked.
He crossed the distance without teleporting.
Sword first.
Veyr blocked with his forearm.
The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber.
Brook twisted.
He drove his elbow into Veyr's ribs.
Veyr barely moved.
Brook followed with a knee.
Veyr caught his leg.
Brook twisted free and landed.
A black blast erupted from Veyr's palm.
Brook ducked.
The blast tore through the wall behind him.
Brook marked the floor.
He disappeared.
Veyr looked around.
Brook reappeared above him.
He came down with his sword.
Veyr blocked.
The two locked weapons.
Veyr smiled.
"Better."
Brook kicked him away.
Then raised his palm.
A burst of white energy struck Veyr in the chest.
Veyr flew backward.
Brook landed.
Lucifer laughed inside his mind.
Now that's more like it.
Brook felt the Hell Source stir.
His pupils narrowed.
His heartbeat changed.
Michael appeared.
Control.
Brook breathed slowly.
"I have it."
Lucifer smiled.
Do you?
Veyr rose from the crater.
Blood ran from his mouth.
He smiled.
"Interesting."
Brook stared.
"What?"
Veyr looked at his eyes.
"You have him inside you."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Who?"
Veyr laughed.
"The Devil."
Lucifer's smile widened.
Finally. Someone with manners.
Brook ignored him.
Veyr charged.
The next exchange was brutal.
Veyr swung.
Brook blocked.
The force drove him backward.
Veyr struck again.
Brook ducked.
A fist passed over his head.
Brook drove his shoulder into Veyr's chest.
Veyr grabbed him.
Brook headbutted him.
Veyr staggered.
Brook's sword flashed.
A cut opened across Veyr's shoulder.
Veyr answered with a black blast.
Brook crossed his arms.
The impact threw him through a stone pillar.
He crashed hard.
Henry shouted:
"Brook!"
Brook pushed himself up.
Blood ran from his forehead.
Lucifer laughed.
He hurt you.
Brook wiped the blood away.
"Yeah."
Lucifer's voice became excited.
Hurt him back.
Brook felt his body responding.
His breathing changed.
The darkness around his eyes deepened.
His smile returned.
Veyr noticed.
"There."
Brook looked at him.
"What?"
"That."
Veyr smiled.
"You're letting him closer."
Brook's sword tightened in his hand.
Lucifer whispered:
Let me.
Brook stepped forward.
"No."
Lucifer laughed.
Liar.
Brook charged.
This time, Brook fought differently.
He stopped relying entirely on his sword.
He punched.
Blocked.
Kicked.
Teleported only when necessary.
He marked the wall behind Veyr.
Then attacked from the front.
Veyr blocked.
Brook twisted and drove an elbow into his jaw.
Veyr staggered.
Brook teleported behind him.
A white blast erupted from his palm.
Veyr was thrown across the chamber.
Brook landed.
He breathed heavily.
Veyr rose slowly.
"You've learned."
Brook said nothing.
Veyr smiled.
"But you're still afraid."
Brook's expression hardened.
"Of what?"
"Of enjoying it."
Lucifer laughed.
Brook felt the devil instincts surge again.
His fingers curled.
For one second…
he wanted to keep attacking.
Not because Veyr was dangerous.
Because it felt good.
Michael's voice cut through it.
Brook.
Brook stopped.
He closed his eyes.
Breathed.
Then opened them.
The darkness receded.
Veyr smiled.
"You're learning control."
Brook raised his sword.
"I'm trying."
Veyr nodded.
"Good."
Then he disappeared.
Brook's eyes widened.
"Where?"
A voice whispered behind him.
"Behind you."
Brook turned.
Veyr's fist slammed into his stomach.
Brook doubled over.
Veyr grabbed him by the back of the neck.
Then drove him into the floor.
The impact shattered the stone.
Brook groaned.
Veyr raised his hand.
A black sphere formed in his palm.
"This will hurt."
Brook looked up.
Smiled.
"I know."
He marked Veyr's wrist.
Veyr looked down.
Too late.
Brook teleported his own arm away from the grip.
He reappeared beside Veyr.
Then drove his fist into Veyr's face.
The black sphere exploded harmlessly against the ceiling.
Brook followed with a knee.
Then a sword strike.
Then a blast.
Veyr flew backward.
He crashed into the far wall.
Brook stood over him.
"Stay down."
Veyr laughed.
"You're becoming interesting."
Crowley suddenly appeared between them.
"Enough."
Brook lowered his sword.
Veyr looked at Crowley.
"Still protecting them."
Crowley stared.
"You've done enough."
Veyr smiled.
"You haven't changed."
Crowley tightened his grip.
"Neither have you."
Veyr looked toward Brook.
"That's why he chose you."
Brook frowned.
"Who?"
Veyr pointed toward Crowley.
"The Maker."
Brook looked at Crowley.
Crowley said nothing.
Veyr continued:
"Your King has been protecting you since before you knew why."
Brook froze.
"King?"
Henry looked at Crowley.
"What does he mean?"
Crowley remained silent.
Veyr smiled.
"You really haven't told them?"
Brook slowly turned toward Crowley.
"What is he talking about?"
Crowley looked at him.
"Not here."
Brook's expression hardened.
"You're not doing this again."
Veyr laughed.
"Let him tell you."
Crowley stared at him.
Veyr continued:
"Tell them what you were before Shinokuni-01."
Crowley raised his weapon.
Veyr smiled.
"Tell them what you did in Hell."
Brook's eyes widened.
Crowley stepped forward.
"Enough."
Veyr's smile widened.
"King Aldric would be disappointed."
Crowley froze.
Brook noticed.
"Who is Aldric?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Veyr stepped backward.
Then the darkness behind him opened.
A portal.
Brook raised his sword.
"You're not leaving."
Veyr looked at him.
"I already have."
Brook fired a white blast.
Veyr disappeared.
The blast struck the wall.
Silence.
Brook turned toward Crowley.
"What was that?"
Crowley didn't answer.
Brook walked closer.
"You know Aldric."
Crowley nodded.
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
Crowley looked away.
"A king."
"Which Shinokuni?"
Crowley remained silent.
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me."
Crowley finally looked at him.
"Shinokuni-01."
Henry's expression changed.
"Our king?"
Crowley nodded.
Brook stared.
"But King Aldric has been dead for years."
Crowley said nothing.
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Hasn't he?"
Crowley looked toward the tunnel where Veyr had disappeared.
"That's what everyone believes."
Brook froze.
A deep bell rang.
Once.
Then twice.
Then three times.
The underground city began shaking.
Crowley looked toward the distant tunnel.
"We need to leave."
Brook frowned.
"Why?"
Crowley answered:
"Because the civilians weren't kidnapped."
Henry looked confused.
"Then why were they brought here?"
Crowley stared into the darkness.
"They were evacuated."
"From what?"
Crowley looked at Brook.
"Shinokuni-01."
Brook's eyes widened.
"What?"
A deafening roar came from above.
The ceiling cracked.
Dust rained down.
Crowley shouted:
"Move!"
They ran.
They emerged onto the surface.
Brook froze.
Shinokuni-01 was burning.
Smoke filled the sky.
The southern wall had been breached.
Thousands of Abominations poured through the opening.
Brook stared.
"They attacked while we were gone."
Crowley nodded.
Veyr had been a distraction.
Brook's fists tightened.
"Elias."
Crowley looked at him.
Brook shook his head.
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"This is bigger."
Lucifer laughed.
Now you're thinking.
Brook looked toward the burning city.
Michael appeared.
The attack was planned.
Death stared at the city.
And many lifelines are disappearing.
Brook's face hardened.
"Then we go home."
He marked the ground.
White energy gathered around his feet.
Henry looked at him.
"Can you get us there?"
Brook looked toward the burning city.
"Yeah."
He placed his hand on Henry's shoulder.
Then Sera.
Then Crowley.
The mark beneath them expanded.
Lucifer smiled.
Let's see what happens.
Brook's eyes narrowed.
"Not now."
He activated the mark.
The world bent around them.
And they vanished.
End of Chapter 94