Part X: Avenger vs. Devil (Round Two!)
We were too late. Samael's magically-augmented speed had allowed him to reach Lucifer's soulstone before we could stop him. Now, all he had to do was break it, and the true Lord of Hell would be unleashed back on the cosmos. I overheard Samael muttering down to the stone in his hand. I couldn't quite hear exactly what he was saying, but he seemed to be addressing Lucifer.
"Rei, we have to get that soulstone back," I said, my voice soft yet adamant, "Move fast; grab it from him before he can—"
A sharp cracking sound split the air, followed by the splintering tinkle sound of shattering glass. A bright, blinding flash dazzled me and I was forced to cover my eyes. A deafening howl rent the air. I might not have been able to see what was happening, but I could definitely feel it. Something—both incredibly powerful and supremely evil—was emerging. Laughter rang out, harsh and diabolical. I rubbed rapidly at my eyes, desperate to clear my vision. I heard their voices. Their wicked speech chilled me to the marrow.
"My Lord," I heard Samael hiss.
"Samael, My general," Lucifer rumbled smoothly, "You have done well for yourself in My absence. You have named yourself Lord of Hell."
My vision started to clear. I saw the Dark Lord and his Dark Prince standing together. Lucifer stood, looking basically the same as when I had imprisoned him. His hair was dark and wiry, his skin was a dark, blood-red, and his horns were thick and heavy. He even still bore the scar in his torso from where I had driven my old sword through it. The only difference was that he now looked thin and emaciated. He grasped Samael by his arm and pulled him into a handshake of seeming camaraderie.
"You think you are the Lord of Hell?" Lucifer asked, his voice dangerously quiet, though still silky-smooth.
"I was…only maintaining the order of our Infernal Realm…my Lord," Samael said nervously.
"Yet you waited this long to release Me?"
"I…I had to be sure how to find You, my Lord," said Samael hesitantly.
Oh, come on, I thought scornfully, Even without telepathy, I can tell he's lying. It shouldn't be any chore for the Lord of Lies to do the same.
"I sense great fear behind your words, Samael," Lucifer hissed, "Do you fear your Master?"
"No…my Lord," Samael said fearfully, yet defiantly.
"You should."
With that, Lucifer drove his free talon through Samael's chest, impaling his former general. Samael looked down at his chest as Lucifer lifted him off the ground. He hung there limply, dangling from his Infernal Master's thin, yet powerful arm. Every couple of seconds, he would make a gagging sound as he choked on his own blood. It ran with his spittle down his chin every time he coughed and gagged.
"I have been imprisoned in that crystal for far too long, Samael," Lucifer growled, "My body hungers for power, and your body is filled with power. You will now give that power to Me."
Samael began to shriek in agony. I saw why. Impaled on Lucifer's claw, his body was beginning to shrivel up as Lucifer drained away all of his life-force and energy. I watched this event with a sense of grim satisfaction, as well as a mixture of disappointment and dread.
Pity, I mused to myself, I had hoped that I would be the one to destroy Samael. However, now that Samael's energy is feeding Lucifer, he'll be just as powerful as ever, perhaps even a little bit more!
"Rei," I said, turning to her, "We have to strike now, while he is gathering his power."
Rei nodded grimly. I took her hand. She leaped into my embrace and we kissed passionately. I sensed her feelings; they were identical to mine. We feared that this would be the last chance we would get to express our love for one another.
No matter what happens, Rei, I will always love you, I told her emphatically, but if things begin to go poorly, I want you to retreat and get Michael. I will grapple with the Evil One to the bitter end to buy you time.
But he will kill you! Rei protested, You can't defeat him alone!
That is why you must fetch Michael as fast as you can, said I, I do not fear death. I do not fear evil. I only fear losing you to the hands of the Beast Master. Now promise me: if the fight goes poorly, you will retreat and seek out Michael.
I promise.
We broke apart, and Rei nodded to me. Swords were drawn, and we charged forward together. My AT Field went before us at full strength, to shield us from any sneak attacks that might have been waiting. By the time we reached Lucifer, he had already reduced Samael to a shriveled, black husk of his former self. With a single flex of his now bulging arm, Lucifer shattered this husk. He then shook away the fragments, as though they were the merest water droplets clinging to his skin.
"Hello again, Za'afiel," Lucifer murmured, not facing me, "It's been some time…"
"I guess if you consider a week 'some time'," I replied.
"A week?" Lucifer scoffed, turning to face us, "Is that all the longer you think it has been? Did you look around the Mortal world lately?"
"Didn't have the time," I shrugged, "I was too busy trying to beat Samael to Heaven to stop him from releasing you."
"So, not only did you fail, you failed to notice that almost twenty years have passed in the Mortal world," Lucifer quipped, "You Avengers amaze Me sometimes."
Twenty years?! I gasped mentally, How…can that be?! That would mean that all of our friends are in their mid thirties by now! They probably think Rei and I are dead.
You can find them later, Rei replied, reading my internal monologue, Stay in the here-and-now. Don't let Lucifer fool you and lull you into a false sense of security.
"So it's to be a rematch between us," said I.
"Yes," Lucifer agreed, "And this time, you do not have that accursed Michael's help. This time…you are doomed."
Lucifer and I leaped into the air and whirled towards each other. Lightning flashed at the point where our blades collided. I heard my blood singing again in its battle rapture. My spirit soared in elation as my pulse raced and pounded in my ears. I was battling a stronger incarnation of the foe I had faced before, but this time was different. I was not afraid this time. I was confident and had more conviction in my cause. This battle was my purpose for existing; to defeat evil of this magnitude.
My movements were smooth and measured. Every thrust, every swing, every parry flowed from one into the next. Instead of fighting, Lucifer and I seemed to be doing a very intricately choreographed dance. Our swords sang as they clashed and whirled through the sky.
Rei joined in the melee and added her blade to mine with as much grace and fluid motion as Lucifer and I were creating. Now, there were three of us in that dance-like duel. It was a dance of combat; a dance of death. There would be only one side to emerge as the victor. Each of us expected that it would be ours. Still we kept up the flow of motion; the liquidity of our duel.
The flurry of blades ended when Lucifer launched a beam attack at Rei. She stood her ground, waiting until the last possible instant, and then going "between" and reappearing a second later. She began hopping in and out of the "between" space, keeping Lucifer guessing about where she would appear next. We scored small hits on the Devil; his black blood flowed over his red skin. I began to hear a voice inside my head.
"Your armor was forged by the hands of demons and imbued with magic cast in the Daemon Speak…You are betrayed, Za'afiel…The dark touch of the Daemon makes it susceptible to My will…"
Oh, I've got a bad feeling about this… I thought miserably.
Lucifer began chanting in Daemon. I felt the steel of my armor shiver at the words; as though reacting to his speech. Suddenly, the chainmail shirt's collar tightened about my neck like a noose! The plates of the armor shrunk tighter to my body, forming a crushing carapace that constricted my torso. I tried to bring my hands up to save myself, but they wouldn't move. Gloved in the same black chainmail that was now strangling me, my hands were now also subject to the will of Lucifer. Even worse, my right hand still grasped my sword. As Lucifer continued to chant, my arm swung upward, preparing to strike. I opened my mouth to speak. All that escaped my strangulated throat were gasps and gagging sounds.
Rei! I gasped mentally, Run! Get Michael!
As my arm descended in a crushing strike, I felt a wet snap in my side. One of my ribs had just snapped like a dead twig in a hurricane, but any normal man's skeleton would have been reduced to gelatin by this point. Rei managed to evade my strike; narrowly. As my vision started to swim from pain and lack of oxygen, my body continued to move independently of my will. Rei dodged and blocked valiantly, but she wouldn't be able to hold out forever.
Rei… I said weakly, you've got to get out of here…
But I—
You promised me…Rei…I reminded her, darkness lacing my swirling vision, As soon as…I black out, I won't…be able to…to hold myself back…He'll use me…to kill you…Now get out of here!
Deeper swirls of blackness entered my vision as Lucifer kept pulling my "strings". In this demon-enchanted armor, I was little more than a puppet to him; a marionette with him as the puppeteer. One of the last things I remember seeing was Rei ducking my sword and fleeing the battlefield.
Good…I thought with relief, even as another of my ribs shattered.
"She's abandoned you, Za'afiel," Lucifer hissed, "She flees because she knows that she cannot stop Me. I will give you one last chance to join Me, old friend, and forgo your own destruction. What say you?"
The grip of my armor loosened slightly, allowing me a brief moment to catch my breath.
"What say you, Za'afiel?" Lucifer asked again.
"Go…back to…Hell…" I gasped defiantly.
"I'll see you there…Andrew," Lucifer said quietly.
"What…?"
"Did you forget that I have taken over Samael's power?" Lucifer asked, walking over to me. I was still on my feet, even though my leg muscles had given out some time ago. That damnable armor was forcing me to stay upright.
"With his power, I absorbed him, as well," Lucifer continued, "All of Samael's schemes, his plotting, his treachery…everything. I know everything he knew."
"But he didn't…know my name…" I panted, still thankful that I was able to breathe again. My sides burned where my ribs had broken.
"No…but Ikari did…"
"Gendo Ikari is…still in there?" I asked, shocked, "I would have thought…he'd be gone…by now."
"Oh no," Lucifer answered smoothly, "He's still clinging to that precious second chance at a half-life that Samael offered him; a chance to move around again and to be seen moving, in exchange for intimate knowledge of you, how you think, and your weaknesses. And now…that knowledge is Mine to use. You see, Andrew…I finally understand why you have been such a pest to Me; you are Mortal, and you are still just a boy. You have no concept of the things that have been bestowed upon you. You are young and idealistic; headstrong. Power greater than yours used to be Mine to command, but it was stripped from Me when I was cast out of Heaven. I was the most beautiful of the Archangels, second in splendor to only Yahweh, himself. I should have been his equal, not his lackey…but he never respected My claims. When I saw that he would not make Me his equal, I knew that I must overthrow him in order to claim My rightful position as Lord of the Universe!"
"You don't…deserve it…" I growled defiantly, "You are arrogant; prideful. And my mother always used to say… 'Pride goeth…before the fall!'"
I was amazed at how careless Lucifer had been. By getting him to start talking in an endless monologue, I was able to buy myself time to recover enough strength to do something. I called upon my last reserves of stamina and burst outward with my AT Field. My armor strained and bulged, groaning as the metal vainly tried to contain the force. A rending crash split the air around me as the metal suit shattered and burst everywhere. I collapsed to the ground, clutching my sides. My breath came in short, sharp pants.
I need time to rest, but I won't get it, I thought grimly.
I flooded my body with a second burst of energy. This one was intended to heal my broken bones and restore my strength. I felt my ribcage mesh, but my strength wasn't fully recovered. Lucifer aimed a kick at my now bare chest and sent me flying backwards through the air. I landed limply and allowed myself to roll, still focusing on strengthening my body. I looked up. The shattered fragments of my old armor were swirling through the air. The gathered together at Lucifer's side and reformed themselves roughly into a standing, humanoid shape. It looked like armor on a display stand. Lucifer was making a golem; a living being made from inanimate or inorganic material, in this case, my old armor. Since my armor never had a helmet, the golem had no head. My sword remained in my hand, but the golem's body protracted blades and spikes. It would be very dangerous to engage in close-quarters.
"Attack!" Lucifer commanded.
The black, metal hulk lurched forward and lumbered towards me with startling quickness. It brought one of its massive, spiked fists crashing down at me. I rolled clear and back to my feet, forming myself in a new suit of armor as I did so. My new armor was a suit of silver half-plate with chainmail under. My black, flaming wings stood out in a marvelous contrast to the brightness of the silver. Again, I gave myself no helmet. A helmet's visor or eyeholes would narrow my peripheral vision, and I had to be able to see both of my enemies at once without turning my head or looking away from one or the other.
The golem turned and hurled itself at me again, trying to impale me on its body blades. I was slightly unnerved at the movements of a headless suit of armor, but I didn't freeze up. I brought my sword down hard, intending to sever at least one of the thing's arms. My sword ricocheted off with a resounding "clang!".
"You built your armor well, Andrew!" Lucifer taunted, "Not even a scratch!"
Tell me something I don't know, I groaned mentally, It's gonna take more than I've got alone to take this golem down. Now, I suddenly wish I hadn't sent Rei away.
I was forced onto the defensive, as I could do little to damage the creature of steel. The air was filled with the ringing and scraping of metal on metal as we clashed again and again. I had to make myself a shield when Lucifer joined back in the fray. I found myself pushed back against the inside of the gates I had so furiously defended. My shield and AT Field were helping, but they were both beginning to weaken.
Time suddenly seemed to freeze and I felt a deadly chill descend upon me. My very heartbeat seemed to slow. My blood cooled. It felt like…death.
Death… I thought, This is the chill of the grave…What's happening?
I looked around, searching. Searching for exactly what, I wasn't quite sure, but I would know it when I found it. My gaze fell upon a large, winged figure shrouded and cloaked in heavy black robes carrying a great, black scythe. The aura that surrounded him seemed to swallow all of the light in his immediate vicinity. I feared no one; Mortal, Angel, or demon, but the sight of this dark figure chilled me to the marrow and deeper. I knew that there was only one creature that could do that to me.
That's Azrael, I realized, The Angel of Death, himself. But…he never joins in open combat…
I didn't finish my thought process; I didn't dare. The conclusion was too chilling to consider. He, Azrael, was here to claim one of us. My senses sharpened. Time resumed its flow and the battle resumed. I fought harder, determined to remove myself from Death's list. Azrael drifted closer, hefting his black reaper's tool. Desperation gripped me, and I blasted Lucifer and his golem back from me. I stared at the Angel of Death.
"It's not my time, Azrael!" I shouted defiantly.
He made no reply, affecting not to hear me. Instead, he diverted his course and approached the spot where the golem lay. Azrael knelt beside the hulk and plunged one of his hands through the armor. When he withdrew, I saw a dark, wispy material clutched in his fist.
He's removed the golem's soul, I observed in relief.
Soul in hand, Azrael faded out of my view. The golem, its source of animation now gone, fell apart into a heap of scrap metal. I realized then (and I felt stupid for not seeing it sooner), that Azrael had not been there for my soul at all. Like I said: stupid.
Azrael came, or was sent, to even the odds and make this a fair fight again…
My courage restored, I plunged back into combat with Lucifer. Now, with the playing field completely level, Lucifer's arrogance vanished and he fought like a madman. Lightning flashed and thunder roared as we clashed. We struck at each other with swords and energy blasts. Neither of us conceded an inch or gave any ground. Just when the fight seemed to be in my favor, Lucifer would find some hidden depth of vigor and battle back. Just the opposite was true, as well. I managed to push back and regain my own momentum at several points, just before Lucifer was able to claim victory from me.
The battle dragged on for what felt like an eternity. I felt my strength beginning to wane. And, believe it or not, Lucifer was starting to look a little bit ragged, too. We broke apart from our latest fracas.
"Lucifer, we are an even match," I panted, "Yield, and you will be allowed to leave Heaven in peace and return to Hell unchallenged. I give you my word."
"If that accursed Azrael had not interfered, you would be dead by now, Avenger," Lucifer replied, breathing just as heavily, "I will not yield until one of us falls!"
"Then fall!"
A blast of energy struck Lucifer from behind, encasing from the neck down in solid ice; just like what had happened to Lilith.
"Rei…" I breathed in relief.
"Foul!" Lucifer snarled, "Interfering Guardian bitch! This was single combat!"
"It was never declared," I snarled in response, enraged at his use of language towards Rei, "This was never exclusively our battle, Dark Lord. My Guardian was involved in the beginning of the battle, and retreated on my orders to return with reinforcements to contain you in the event of my failure. Look around you, Lucifer."
Lucifer craned his neck as well as he was able. Standing around us were nearly five thousand cherubim and two Archangels: Gabriel and Michael. I was pulled back into the ranks by two of the cherubs as Michael stepped forward.
"So, again you have been defeated, Lucifer," he said, "You were offered the opportunity to yield and leave in peace. You refused; just as you refused the Lord's forgiveness after your failed rebellion eons ago."
"Forgiveness?!" Lucifer spat, "He offers servitude and you call it forgiveness?!"
"You wish to return to Heaven?" Michael asked, ignoring Lucifer's venomous words, "Very well, but this time, you will be place in an unbreakable prison. Zophiel, if you will."
"I will find a way to have My revenge!" Lucifer swore, "Heed My words! Some day I will have—"
Lucifer's words were cut off by Rei firing another blast of energy. This blast enveloped Lucifer's entire body and head in a thick cocoon of crystal clear ice. The Devil was finally silenced.
Perhaps…this time he'll remain quiet… I mused.