"I see... so that's the reason for the resonance." – muttered the silver-haired man, his crimson eyes scanning Kojou from head to toe. "So you are the Original."
"As expected of my Father, he split us apart and left the Original without any memories." – the silver-haired man said, bowing elegantly toward Kojou – "I am Lucifer—or more precisely, a fragment of the original Lucifer, which is you."
"I am Lucifer...?" – Kojou muttered in disbelief, stunned by the words of the man who claimed to be a fragment of Lucifer.
It wasn't just Kojou who was shocked—everyone else in the room was just as stunned. No one had expected to hear something so outrageous.
"That's right. After I rebelled against my Father and was defeated, I fell into the deepest depths of Hell. I grew stronger there, hoping to fight him again... but I was defeated once more." – Lucifer said, his eyes glowing with a foreboding light. "This time, my Father didn't allow me to live. But he couldn't kill me either. So he fragmented my power, stripped the Original Soul of its strength and memories, and scattered us across the multiverse so that we'd never reunite again."
"You are the Original Soul, the one stripped of power and memory, while I am merely a shard carrying a piece of your power and memories." – Lucifer said nonchalantly as he sat down on the sofa.
"Do you expect me to believe such a story?" – Kojou asked, shaking off his daze. Deep down, he felt Lucifer was telling the truth, but he still couldn't nod and accept it so easily from someone he'd just met.
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. After living so long in this world, I've lost all interest in rebelling against my Father again." – Lucifer said casually, taking a sip from his wine glass. "So, what do you want to do? Absorb me to reclaim your power and memories, or ignore everything I've said and continue living your current life?"
"From what I see, you don't seem interested in rebelling against my Father again either." – Lucifer added with a sideways glance at Kojou, as the latter's soul showed no reaction, as if indifferent to everything being said.
"You're right. The reason I tried to summon you is because I was intrigued by all the legends about Lucifer." – Kojou shook his head indifferently. Even if his soul was Lucifer's, it didn't matter to him. He was now Akatsuki Kojou.
"I see. So after becoming a Campione, you decided to summon me to satisfy that curiosity." – Lucifer nodded in understanding and gracefully placed down his wine glass. "Then... do you want to fight me, as a Campione and a Heretic God? I must admit, I'm a little excited at the thought of fighting you."
"Actually, so am I." – Kojou said, flashing a savage grin toward Lucifer. But he remembered Guild's report stating that Lucifer's power rivaled ten or more Heretic Gods. "Still, I don't think this is the right place for a battle. This entire continent might vanish."
"Hahahaha..." – suddenly, Lucifer burst into laughter, holding his stomach. "That smile... it was just like the one you used to wear when you were known as Lucifer. But I never expected the great Lucifer to be concerned for human lives!"
Lucifer couldn't help but laugh heartily. From the memories he retained, he knew how cold and merciless Kojou—when he was Lucifer—used to be. He never cared for the lives of the universes he destroyed. And now? He was worried about humans. It was laughable... yet touching.
"I don't know what I was like when I was Lucifer, but right now, I'm Akatsuki Kojou—not the First Rebel of the Heavens." – Kojou said with a slight scowl. He may have been ruthless to his enemies, but he wasn't some madman who killed meaninglessly.
"I see... I apologize, then. You are no longer Lucifer." – Lucifer apologized sincerely as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye and muttered – "I wonder if this was the Father's true intention... letting you live among humans as one of them."
"Well then, since we've agreed to fight, how about we battle in the Netherworld?" – Lucifer suggested as he stood. "But before that, why not take a walk with me in the current world? I'm curious to see what humans—The Father's favorites—are doing nowadays."
"I have no problem with that." – Kojou nodded. He hadn't sensed any lies from Lucifer.
"But before that... aren't you going to introduce me to the lovely ladies over there?" – Lucifer asked with a smirk, pointing toward the four women standing near Kojou, cautiously watching the situation.
"They're my women." – Kojou said curtly. He didn't say more, and that was enough for Lucifer to understand the implied meaning.
"I see... as expected of the Original, you have good taste." – Lucifer nodded, the sinister light in his eyes fading. He had initially planned to provoke the girls to turn them against Kojou, but abandoned that plan upon seeing Kojou's displeasure.
"Don't refer to me as the Original. My name is Kojou." – Kojou said indifferently as he stood. "Erica, you and the others stay here. I'll go take a walk with this man."
"Alright..." – Erica nodded as she heard Kojou. She understood that even if a battle broke out between the two, they would only get in the way. Lucifer's power was beyond their comprehension.
"Let's go." – Kojou said as he walked out of the castle, leaving Erica and the others frozen in astonishment.
"..." – Lucifer said nothing. He simply put his hands in his pockets and followed Kojou, paying no attention to the girls.
...
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