A wave of overwhelming power washed over them, an aura so potent it reeked of pure killing intent and an indescribable, primordial vileness. Their eyes snapped toward its source.
"His presence is as foul as ever," Eve spat.
Lucifer looked down at Adam, a smirk playing on his lips. He raised his hand, and the shroud of black energy surrounding him coalesced into his grip, solidifying into a blade of solidified shadow. With a contemptuous flick of his wrist, he sent a devastating shockwave tearing toward Adam.
Adam stood unwavering, his own divine energy erupting in response. "Divine Skill: Samson the Lion Slayer!"
The very earth shattered. In the split second that followed, Adam vanished, reappearing directly in front of Lucifer. Lucifer's eyes barely had time to widen before a colossal punch was launched. He barely managed to cross his wings in front of his face. The impact was colossal, hurling him backward to crater the ground. Blood trickled from his mouth as he used his black sword to push himself up.
Before he could recover, Adam was upon him again, seizing his face and slamming it into the fractured earth—once, twice. With a furious roar, Lucifer finally managed to kick out, sending Adam crashing into a distant wall.
Lucifer staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his lip. "Ha… haha! Samson the Lion Slayer? That fool? Well, when I become God, I have a great deal to change."
"After what you did to Eve!!" Adam bellowed.
"It was her choice!" Lucifer retorted. "She knew what the fruit would bring. And you… you ate it willingly."
"...I did," Adam growled, his voice low and deadly. "And I will kill you if it's the last thing I do."
"Hahaha! Then I hope you are ready to suffer a fate far worse than Hell itself."
"Tch. Disgusting. Divine Skill: Eyes of the Future, John!"
Lucifer lunged forward, his sword a blur as he unleashed a furious barrage of slashes. Yet Adam weaved through the assault with impossible precision, every move predicted and evaded.
From their vantage point, John observed, "It seems he is using my Divine Skill."
Moses nodded. "It appears so. But I never truly understood how Adam's skill functions. Our divine techniques are born from our own feats and characteristics."
"Yes… the forgotten world…" John murmured. "I think I have a vague understanding. His sin used to flow through all our veins. That is all I will say."
Moses sighed. "Here we go again with the cryptic talk."
On the battlefield, Adam's divinely enhanced blows hammered into Lucifer. No strategy, no attack could land; Adam foresaw and dodged them all. Suddenly, the world shook violently. The ground erupted as a monstrous dragon emerged, boasting ten heads, each adorned with a crown of gold and precious earth.
Lucifer took to the skies, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Took you long enough, Leviathan."
John cracked his knuckles. "Well, it's about time."
"I was even getting bored," Moses said, his voice suddenly dripping with killing intent.
The two prophets leaped from the building, landing with earth-shattering force before the biblical beast.
"Ah, Moses," Lucifer called down, his tone almost cordial. "It's been a while."
"Indeed, Lucifer."
"Even though this isn't the most opportune time, my offer remains. Join me, and I shall grant you true freedom. You will no longer be chained to divine law."
Moses laughed, a dry, harsh sound. "Haha. Freedom is an illusion. Everything must follow a rule to exist. To promise absolute freedom is to promise chaos. Without order, nothing can be. You of all beings should know that… you don't want to free me, Lucifer. You just want my soul."
"Your soul is a small price to pay for liberation."
"Haha! Spoken like a true devil. The soul is the will, the very reason a person exists. You don't want to free it; you want to control it."
"Tsk. You humans are so myopic. You are merely God's pawns."
John interjected, "You're just spouting nonsense, Lucifer. Plus, is Leviathan just going to sit there and watch?"
---
Eve glanced back at Luce, analyzing the situation. "It seems that beast is here, but not fully manifested."
Luce watched Eve, wary of her next move. In a flash, Eve descended, landing gracefully in front of her.
"Well, it seems I will be spending some time with you," Eve purred.
"I have better things to do, Eve," Luce replied, her voice steady.
Eve's eyes gleamed with a predatory curiosity. "I must say, God is wonderfully paradoxical… Why would He give you the Holy Spirit? The fact that your very soul is its vessel, and that your body can handle such power… Once I'm done with you, I will study you. Thoroughly."
Luce unsheathed her sword from its rod. "No matter what you say, I have been given life through the Lord, and I shall fight in His name."
Eve looked at the blade with a mocking grin. "Ohhh, I like where this is going."
"I see why Adam's life was better before you existed."
Eve's grin vanished. "What did you say?"
"You have been nothing but a pain in the ass for him."
"Well," Eve hissed, her composure cracking. "You will make a great sacrifice for my research."
Luce stood her ground, faith unwavering. "Jesus once said to God: 'You did not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me. You are not pleased with burnt offerings or any other sacrifice for sin.' It is faith and obedience He desires, not empty rituals."
"Such a fool!" Eve shrieked, her rage finally boiling over. "Do you truly believe God does not want sacrifices? He changed His mind! It is because of Him that I lost my two sons! All because of Him! You know… Lucifer was right. God sees humans as pawns and tools! He cast us out for a single apple! He cursed me, and generations of my daughters still suffer to this day, forced to bear the weight of my sin just to bring life into this world! Tell me, is that justice?!"