Darkness.
That's all Lucien had known for years.
A heavy, endless sleep that felt like drifting through warm smoke — no sound, no fire, no pain… only stillness.
Then suddenly —
Sniff… sniff…
His nose twitched.
"Is that… bacon?"
Lucien's eyes snapped open.
The ceiling above him was cracked, sunlight leaking through, and the faint aroma of sizzling food filled the air.
He sat up immediately, hair messy, eyes half-glowing.
"Wait a second…" he muttered groggily. "This… isn't Hell."
He looked around — dust-covered furniture, cracked walls, plants growing through the windows — and yet, somewhere in this chaos, someone was cooking.
Lucien's stomach growled like a dragon.
"Well, wherever I am, someone's making breakfast, and that makes them my hero."
He stumbled out of bed, tripping on his own coat sleeve, and followed the smell like a zombie.
When he reached the kitchen, he froze.
There, wearing a loose black shirt and her hair tied up, was Valerie — humming softly while flipping pancakes.
Her wings were folded neatly behind her, and she looked… surprisingly domestic.
Lucien rubbed his eyes. "Either I'm still dreaming or Hell really has frozen over."
Valerie didn't even turn around. "Morning, Sleeping Beauty."
Lucien blinked. "Valerie? You… cook now?"
"Somebody has to keep you alive," she replied dryly, plating the food. "And you were useless for—"
"Don't tell me," Lucien interrupted dramatically. "A few days?"
Valerie turned, eyebrow raised. "Three years."
Lucien froze mid-step, still clutching his fork like a sword. "…What?"
"Three. Years." She pointed the spatula at him. "You've been out cold since the demon invasion. I had to drag your lazy ass across the city while fighting monsters and eating canned soup."
Lucien's jaw dropped. "You mean I've been asleep for three years and you didn't bother to wake me up?"
She smirked. "I tried. You snore like a thunderstorm and drool lava."
Lucien gasped. "Lies and slander! I'm a dignified descendant of Lucifer!"
"Yeah, well, Lucifer's descendant was out-snored by a generator for three winters."
He frowned. "I feel… insulted and weirdly proud at the same time."
Valerie sighed, sliding the plate toward him. "Eat. You'll need your strength."
Lucien sat down instantly, eyes sparkling. "Finally! Real food again!"
He took a bite — and froze again, tears forming in his eyes.
"This is… amazing!"
Valerie folded her arms. "I'll pretend you're not surprised."
"I'm honored! My fiery, terrifying ex-waitress has ascended to goddess-tier cooking!"
"Keep talking and I'll poison the next batch."
Lucien grinned. "Ah, there's the affection I missed."
The World Outside
After breakfast, Valerie led him outside.
The world he remembered — bright cities and noisy streets — was gone.
In its place stood massive walls of steel and glowing barriers stretching for miles. The sky was gray, and strange airships floated above.
Lucien's eyes widened. "What in Lucifer's burnt beard happened here?"
Valerie crossed her arms. "The apocalypse. While you were drooling, humans got stronger. Angels came down and blessed certain people — now they're faster, tougher, smarter. They built that." She pointed to the towering wall. "Keeps demons out."
Lucien blinked. "Wait… angels?"
"Yep."
He rubbed his temples. "So let me get this straight — demons got out, I took a nap, and Heaven's golden-haired showoffs are giving humans cheat codes?"
"Pretty much."
Lucien groaned. "I'm gone for three years and the world turns into an anime."
Valerie smirked. "You are in one, genius."
He glanced at his reflection in a broken mirror — his once-glowing eyes now a faint red, his aura weak.
He flexed his fingers, but only a flicker of flame appeared.
"…I'm weak," he whispered.
"Yeah," Valerie said bluntly. "Right now, you've got the power level of a hormonal teenager."
Lucien gasped. "A teenager?! The disrespect!"
"Well, maybe if you didn't let your soul batteries run out…"
"Excuse me, Miss 'I Burn Everything I Touch,' you didn't exactly keep Hell in check while I was gone!"
Valerie rolled her eyes. "At least I didn't collapse for three years."
Lucien threw his arms up dramatically. "I was spiritually exhausted! You wouldn't understand!"
"You were lazy."
"Touché."
They both stood in silence for a moment as wind blew past them, carrying faint echoes of alarms from the distant city.
Valerie's tone softened. "Lucien… things aren't the same anymore. The humans don't need saving — they're fighting back. They've got angelic gear, demon hunters, entire agencies dedicated to killing anything from Hell."
Lucien tilted his head. "Including me?"
"Especially you."
Lucien smiled faintly. "Well… guess that makes things interesting again."
Valerie sighed. "You're seriously planning something, aren't you?"
Lucien stretched, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Maybe. But first—" he sniffed the air again. "You got any more of that bacon?"
Valerie deadpanned. "Priorities."
He winked. "Always."
The streets outside the broken diner were cracked and dusty, wind carrying ash through the air. Lucien stretched his arms, staring at the morning light bleeding through the haze.
"Well," he said proudly, "the apocalypse really went all out. Five stars for atmosphere."
Valerie groaned. "You're unbelievable. Try to act normal for once."
"Normal?" Lucien tilted his head. "I just woke up from a three-year nap in a world that smells like smoke and despair. Normal's off the menu."
Before she could reply, the ground rumbled.
Black mist leaked through the cracks, followed by hollow, distorted wails. Figures began clawing their way out — damned souls, twitching and snarling.
Lucien blinked, scratching his head. "Oh hey… old employees?"
The souls twisted toward him with rage.
He waved cheerfully. "Hey guys! Long time no—"
They lunged an attack and he barely dodges.
"Wow. Guess no one liked my management style."
Valerie sighed, stepping in front of him as her eyes flared crimson.
"Lucien, move!"
Her hands ignited, releasing a swirl of hellfire that tore through the air. The souls screeched and vaporized one by one. Each time one disintegrated, a faint spark flowed into Lucien, his aura pulsing faintly brighter.
He grinned. "Oooh… keep doing that! I feel like I just drank twelve energy drinks!"
"Shut up before I throw you into the next one!" Valerie barked, slicing through another with her wings.
Lucien grinned, clearly enjoying the chaos. "C'mon, Val! Say the move names out loud — it's cooler that way!"
She turned, deadpan. "You're a lost cause."
"Fine I'll do it for you but just this once ok? " Lucien said
" Twistimg flaming punch! Get him with the tornado wings of certain death! Pow!! Get them!!"
He yelled throwing punches at nothing
Then — a voice broke through the smoke.
"Lucien!!"
Lucien turned just in time for a fist to crash into his jaw, sending him tumbling across the cracked road.
He groaned, clutching his cheek. "Okay, not a fan."
Out from the haze stepped McGruffin — tall, scarred, and radiating demonic aura, claws gleaming under the dim light.
"Long time no see, boss."
Lucien blinked, then smiled brightly. "McGruffin! You're not dead! Also, nice abs—"
"Shut it!" McGruffin snapped. "You left us all behind in Hell! Do you know what it's like down there without you?!"
Lucien tilted his head. "...Peaceful?"
McGruffin roared, charging forward. Valerie stepped in between them, summoning a blast of flame, but McGruffin deflected it easily, his grin stretching wide.
Lucien ducked another swing, shouting, "Hey! You hit the hair, we're gonna have a problem!"
McGruffin growled. "I always hated you, Lucien!"
Lucien raised his hands, backing up. "Wait— you do? Join the line my friend!"
McGruffin lunged again, claws extended—
But suddenly, someone intercepted him mid-strike. A glowing pink-haired girl in combat uniform crashed into the scene, catching McGruffin's wrist with one hand and twisting it effortlessly.
"Freeze!" she shouted, eyes glowing bright gold. "By Section 9 of the Demon Extermination Act, you're under arrest!"
Lucien blinked. "Oh wow, that's a familiar voice…"
Valerie (now fully human-looking again) gasped. "Wait— isn't that—?"
McGruffin snarled, breaking free and leaping back. "Damn humans!"
The girl — Hana — crouched, ready to strike again. "You picked the wrong city to play monster in."
Lucien couldn't help himself. "Uhh… correction — technically the city picked him— ow okay I'll shut up now."
McGruffin hissed, his demonic energy flaring. But instead of fighting, he bolted, vanishing behind a collapsing building.
"Coward!" Valerie yelled.
Lucien pointed after him. "He's gonna do something stupid."
And indeed, moments later, a puff of smoke rose from the direction he ran — and out stumbled a "completely normal-looking" McGruffin in a wrinkled human form, shirt halfway tucked in, awkward smile plastered on his face.
"Heyyy guys! Haha… misunderstanding! See? Totally human!"
Lucien squinted. "Really? Because your shirt's on backward and your tail's showing."
McGruffin froze, trying to tuck it in. "Shut up!"
Hana looked between them, confused but unconcerned. "So… he's harmless?"
Lucien gave a thumbs up. "Harmless-ish. But don't worry he's with us but he got lost, right mcgruffin??"
" Yeah right boss"
She sighed and turned to him. "You two shouldn't even be here. It's illegal to go beyond the Wall. I was just out here to clear my head when I saw all that commotion."
Lucien smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You saved me back there."
Hana smirked faintly. "Guess we're even. You remind me of someone I knew… long ago."
Lucien blinked. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. He was annoying, talked too much, had messy hair… but he saved my life once."
Lucien laughed awkwardly. "Sounds like a great guy."
" I know it's you, I could never forget his face"
" Pfft.... No it's not you've got things totally wrong " Lucien said waving his hands
" And I know the two of them are demons too, of course the first thing they'll teach students who plan on hunting demons how to identify them, but don't worry since they're with you that means they're good"
Valerie folded her arms, glaring at Hana's soft smile. "Oh please. She's already swooning."
Hana shot her a look. "What's your problem?"
"Nothing. Just allergic to bad hair dye."
Hana smirked. "Pink's natural."
Lucien blinked between them. "Wait, are you two fighting or flirting? I can't tell anymore."
Both shouted, "We're NOT!!"
McGruffin sighed. "And I thought Hell was chaotic…"
As the four of them began walking toward the Great Wall in the distance — towering, glowing with angelic symbols — Hana looked back at Lucien.
"You're lucky I was here. I could get in serious trouble for bringing strangers in. But I'll risk it this once."
Lucien grinned. "Ah, a rebel. My favorite kind of human."
She blushed lightly, turning away. "Don't push your luck."
Valerie rolled her eyes. "Oh, he already did."
As they approached the massive gate, the sigils shimmered, casting golden light across their faces. Lucien's faint red eyes glowed back at them, a mischievous grin forming on his lips.
"Three years gone, and now angels run the world," he said softly. "Guess I've got a lot of catching up to do."