Inhabited by the nine foul powers of sin from the nine princes of Hell and the Abyss, my body felt utterly crushed beneath this weight. My chest ached, my breath grew heavy, and I collapsed to the ground. A black aura and fog swirled out of my body.
I fought fiercely to keep my mind from being overtaken by them. If I let my guard down even for a moment, I could become a creature far more terrifying than the Abyssal tornado I had just faced.
Unexpectedly, I sensed an extraordinarily powerful presence looming behind me. Its aura was utterly intimidating. I turned to find the strongest of all the Hell princes standing before a black gate that had materialized from the void. His bare chest and blackened limbs stretched down to his feet, his claws and eyes reminiscent of a monster.
He strode slowly towards me, speaking with a voice smooth as silk, "I believe you know who I am."
"Lucifer, I was wondering when you would show yourself."
Lucifer chuckled softly as he circled me, "I've been watching you since you arrived. You've piqued my interest, Rhinggamana Astolfo."
"Are you here to destroy me?"
He laughed lightly before continuing, "I initially planned for that. But witnessing you battle my comrades and absorb their power, it seems the King of Hell has taken an interest in you. What say you, Rhinggamana? Would you reconsider? Join me in Hell and become part of the leadership there."
"Of all that has transpired, you should know I could never accept such an offer. No matter what you present, my faith in the fate ordained by the divine remains unshaken."
Lucifer paused for a moment, then resumed his slow circling, lost in thought. "Are you not aware of where you stand?"
"No idea. If you could enlighten me, I'd be most grateful."
"You now dwell in the dimension between mortal life and death. Normally, the soul of a person who dies will be sent directly to the afterlife for final judgment. There, they are assigned to Heaven or Hell. Yet between the realms of Hell and Heaven lies another dimension, the dimension of transition. Here, the Abyss reigns. If Heaven is the birthplace of angels and Hell the cradle of demons, then the dimension of transition is the birthplace of the Abyss."
"So, this place is the domain of the Abyss?"
"Precisely. Here, they give rise to the creatures of the dark side of the universe, one of which is the Reptilian."
And then I added, "Thus, the beings born here are the very cause of the unending wars across the cosmos."
Lucifer stood still for a moment, his gaze piercing through me. "The Abyss exists beyond the confines of time. What you call beginning and end does not apply to them at all. Rhinggamana, you should be dead and a part of the Abyss by now. Had it not been for Gabriel's assistance, you wouldn't have lasted five minutes in this place."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"I told you before. We can escape this place and free ourselves from the Abyss to head to Hell, or we can fight to the death until we both vanish into the darkness."
"Isn't Hell a part of that darkness? Your existence, famed for rebellion against the divine, embodies the dark side of life itself."
"You are mistaken; Hell serves as a tribunal for sinful souls during their lifetime. We are not bound by good or evil. As for my existence? I was cast into Hell as punishment from the divine, yet Satan, the King of Hell, recognized my immense potential and made me one of his princes. He sees that same potential in you, Rhinggamana. Join me in Hell and become part of Satan's leadership."
I fell silent for a moment, my mind racing to formulate a fitting response to Lucifer's increasingly tiresome words.
Suddenly, the ground trembled. The sky shook, mountains cracked, and oceans evaporated into the air. A storm raged, more ferocious than before. A rift split the sky above us, dark tentacles of the Abyss creeping in.
The crimson sky shrouded in clouds is soon shattered by the creature's arrival. Lucifer vanished into the black gate. I contemplated fighting the Abyssal creature above, but I quickly realized its power was beyond my capacity to withstand. So, I too slipped into the same gate.
Beyond that portal, I was thrown back into the void. Darkness enveloped me.
Lucifer stood before me, still as a statue. "Well, I await your decision, Rhinggamana. Our time is limited. You'd best give your answer, or I shall leave you here."
"You know exactly what my answer will be."
I called upon the celestial strength within me, pushing it to its limits. My body shone amidst the darkness, a golden aura spreading throughout the void, making me the sole source of light, like a tiny star.
Lucifer braced himself, inhaling deeply. "You truly cannot be swayed. If that is your choice, then die here with the Abyss."
Lucifer summoned another, larger black gate, preparing to leave for Hell. But before he could step through, tentacles from within me had already ensnared him. With my celestial strength, I shattered his gate with a single blow. Lucifer stared in disbelief at what had just transpired.
"Now none of us can escape this place," I said, a victorious smile spreading across my face.
"You're insane! If our powers are consumed by the Abyss, imagine what kind of creature will be born into the world."
"That I can ponder later. For now, give me your power!"
I absorbed all of Lucifer's strength, just as I had with my previous allies. His power was far greater than I had anticipated, yet he offered no resistance. He simply allowed me to consume his power until it was completely depleted.
Once his strength was gone, he vanished, merging into me.
Now, I have removed all barriers from the higher-ups of Hell. But now what?
I had to find a way out of this place. But how? This realm existed beyond the confines of time; I could be trapped here for decades if I didn't escape soon. When the Four Great Kings had sealed me and sent me here, they stated that only the tears of a pure soul could release me. If there were no kind-hearted souls willing to weep for me, I would never leave this place.
"That's right, Rhinggamana. You will never escape this place."
Whose voice was that?
Is it you, Lucifer?
"Indeed."
"How can your voice be in my head?"
"You foolish Rhinggamana, you've absorbed far too much of the destructive power of the Hell princes. Your body, once filled with divine strength, cannot withstand it for long. Absorbing my power was a fatal mistake."
My heart suddenly throbbed with unbearable pain. My body trembled, overtaken by something dark. I collapsed, utterly powerless. The golden light that enveloped me slowly faded, replaced by a pitch-black aura of hatred. I screamed with all my might, unable to withstand the pain that consumed me. It felt as though my body was being torn apart from within.
Soon, my chest was ripped open, revealing a dark figure with red eyes. The black mist laughed triumphantly and soared above me. With each retreat, my strength waned drastically.
At last, all that remained within me were the tentacles of the Abyss. The ten princes of Hell, released from my form, hovered in the black mist, encircling me as I lay writhing in agony from the wounds they had inflicted. I drew upon celestial energy to close the gaping hole in my chest. Gradually, the pain subsided. My body healed as though it had never been harmed.
Belial, Belphegor, Asmodeus, Mammon, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Astaroth, Behemoth, Azazel, and Lucifer—all laughed victoriously at my current state. Lucifer stepped forward and declared, "You are far too proud, Rhinggamana. I am the embodiment of pride, yet you surpass even me. I am in awe of you."
Belphegor shouted, "Let's finish him off!"
"No!" Lucifer raised a hand, "We have no time. We must leave this place."
"What? We can't leave this creature behind. He is too dangerous!"
"Look behind you."
They turned, and a massive shadow with red eyes surged towards us with terrifying speed. Fear gripped Lucifer and the others as they beheld the enormous Abyss and exclaimed, "Before we eliminate others, we must prioritize our own safety. Everyone, let's go!"
"I won't allow it!"
With the Abyss's tentacles still within me, I seized their feet.
"Rhinggamana, you're insane! We could all vanish if we don't leave this place at once!"
"You will not escape anywhere. If I am to die, you shall all die with me."
"You monster!"
Once again, I began to absorb their powers one by one, starting with Belial and Belphegor, the first to be devoured. I continued until all had vanished back into me.
My body brimmed once more with the energy of the ten princes of Hell. But the Abyss was already grasping at me. Its dark tentacles pierced my legs, immobilizing me. Yet, with my newfound strength, I easily broke free from their grasp.
A fierce desire surged within me to strike this wretched creature down, but I understood the position I was in. It was impossible for me to eliminate a being that had terrorized Adam's lineage for millennia. I needed to avoid being consumed by them, just as I had devoured the ten princes of Hell.
With lightning speed, I fled as far as I could from the creature. My movements approached the speed of light, leaving the Abyss behind. Yet I found myself lost, with no destination in this consuming darkness. Not until the tears of an innocent pure soul freed me.
"You foolish Rhinggamana, you know you cannot escape from here!"
"You again, Lucifer!"
"It seems you've learned nothing. As long as you cannot leave this place, we can easily slip from your grasp."
Once more, my chest tore as black mist erupted from within. One by one, the Hell princes burst free from my body. I might heal from the pain of their departure, but I doubted I could endure the torment they inflicted indefinitely.
Lucifer then stated, "You will never escape this place, Rhinggamana. And do you know why? Because the tears of a pure, sinless soul are nearly impossible to obtain. Not in this age of wickedness, where people prioritize their own desires. We shall return to Hell, leaving you here with the Abyss."
"No, I have unfinished business in the world, and I will escape this place. You are the one who shall never return to Hell!"
Again, I absorbed their powers all at once. But still, they fought to escape from me, inflicting agonizing pain upon my chest. As I fled from the Abyss's grasp, I relentlessly absorbed the powers of the ten princes. Each time they broke free, I consumed them anew, refusing to grant them the chance to open another gate to Hell. This cycle continued for an eternity that defied counting.
I felt on the brink of surrender. Every time they emerged from me, the pain grew unbearable. Were it not for the celestial strength granted by Gabriel, I wouldn't have withstood this agony. But how much longer could I endure this torment? When will my punishment end? Would I be trapped here, tortured by the ten princes of Hell for eternity?
"Give up, Rhinggamana! You will never leave this place. Release us and stop absorbing our powers!"
Once more, they burst from within me. My chest felt as though it was shattered. Breathless, I could do nothing. This felt like eternal torture. The ten princes of Hell fled once more.
I reached to capture them again, but my legs faltered beneath me. The Abyss surged from behind, drawing closer, still hungry to consume us all. Damn it! Move, legs! You must! I cannot give up; I must fight to my last breath. No matter how painful this suffering may be, I deserve it.
With the last vestiges of strength, I forced out all the celestial energy within me and ensnared the ten princes of Hell one final time. I was uncertain I could capture them if they emerged again.
Once they were all ensnared, I collapsed, unable to stand. The sharp tentacles of the Abyss stabbed into my back, dragging me toward darkness. This is it. This seems to be the end for me. I had no strength left to resist.
"It's over, Rhinggamana; there is no path left for you. Surrender now!"
"If giving up was an option, I would definitely do it. But I've already made a promise to God."
Lucifer and the others laughed inside me. "What more can you do? The Abyss has claimed you. You have no power left, and we can escape your grasp whenever we please. Your end is assured."
The Abyss's grip tightened. The turmoil in my chest from the rebellion of the ten princes of Hell grew increasingly frenzied. With all my might, I held them at bay, fearing that if they escaped my body, I would never absorb their powers again, and the Abyss would consume me.
I had to endure for as long as I could. Fight on, dear self!
Just as hope began to fade, a drop of pure blue water fell from above, hovering before my eyes. The droplet then shone brightly, blinding the Abyss. They fled in terror into the shadows.
The blue light from that drop radiated a warm, comforting sensation.
"Impossible!" Lucifer shouted, "How can this be?"
I smiled triumphantly, "It seems you all will meet your end here."
Lucifer and the others screamed louder, trying to escape. But it was too late; I had grasped the droplet of water. In an instant, a white-blue light erupted, blinding my foes.
I was finally free from this place.