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Satan's gaze lingered on Blaze for a moment longer than necessary.
Then it shifted.
To Jason.
His eyes narrowed, burning with ancient contempt."Human," he spat. "Vile. Pathetic. A tainted creature. The failed creation of a mad god."
His gaze returned to Blaze, sharp as a blade."A mixed blood. A mongrel." His lip curled. "You stain my vision with your existence."
He looked upward, toward the sky that was not truly a sky."God forged me of fire. Angels of light. We were perfect. Beautiful. Harmonious." His voice darkened. "And then… He ruined it."
His eyes snapped back to the castle behind him.
"Creatures of will and freedom," he continued, "shaped from mud. From weakness. From everything impure and unbeautiful." His sneer deepened. "Humans. Free-willed filth."
Jason narrowed his eyes."Sounds like someone never got over losing his favorite-child status," he said dryly. "What, still bitter God paid attention to the newborn?"
Satan turned slowly, his smile thin and venomous."You say that because you are human. You think yourself the center of existence." His eyes glinted. "And I do not blame you. God favors your kind as well. Even His favored Son was cast from Heaven. Yet humanity never tasted His wrath."
He stepped forward.
"But I am different. I left by choice. When God chose to create vileness, I walked away. I ruled here with the fiery beings He made before you. There was peace. Prosperity. Harmony."
His voice trembled, not with weakness, but fury.
"Then He dared to turn this realm into a punishment pit for His least favorite creations. He demanded I rule it." Satan laughed bitterly. "I refused. So He sent Lucifer. Punishing both of us."
He gestured to the castle."And so I waited. Trapped. For eons. Until the day someone worthy arrived to challenge me and usher in my age."
He turned back to Jason, smiling.
"So tell me, inheritor," Satan said softly. "Do you know why I can finally leave my castle?"
Jason raised an eyebrow."I didn't even know you couldn't."
He glanced at Mazikeen. She shook her head. She hadn't known either.
Blaze stared at Satan."So that's why you never came out to fight me."
Satan laughed, deep and cruel."Fight you?" He roared with amusement. "You think you ever stood a chance?"
He raised his hand.
Dark fire erupted from nothingness. Not flame, but absence. A void that erased everything it touched, ripping toward Blaze.
Before it could reach her, a blur slammed into her side and dragged her clear.
The void-fire stopped just short of her position.
Behind it, the land was gone. Not burned. Not broken. Erased. A massive trench carved clean through reality.
Satan turned, amused.
"Ah," he said. "The one who believed himself king has arrived."
Blaze looked up.
Neron stood between her and annihilation, straightening slowly. He wore a black, almost regal combat suit, a dark cape flowing behind him. A golden sigil rested at the center of his chest, rising toward his neck.
"First of the Fallen," Neron said evenly. "You finally step onto the battlefield."
Jason watched it all unfold, equal parts intrigued and unsettled. Events were accelerating far faster than even he had anticipated.
Satan laughed."None of you matter," he said dismissively. "I will remake you all in time."
Then his attention snapped back to Jason.
"But you," he said. "You are different. You claim Lucifer's inheritance. And now that I am free… it is no lie."
The air thickened.
"It is my right," Satan continued, "to challenge you to a Trial by Combat for dominion over Hell. Under the ancient laws." His smile sharpened. "Established by Ramiel and Duma."
The moment those names left his mouth, Jason reacted on instinct.
He leapt back.
Too late.
In an instant, faster than thought, faster than perception, a presence stood before him.
White eyes.
White hair.
White wings unfurled with blinding radiance.
A being of pure, overwhelming light faced him at arm's length.
At the same time, an identical presence appeared before Satan, who merely laughed.
"Duma," Satan said warmly. "Ramiel."
His smile widened.
"Hello, my brothers."
The face before Jason twisted unnaturally, bone and light shifting as it turned away from him and toward Satan.
Only now was it undeniable.
They were angels.
"Fallen one," the being said, voice layered and distant. "Do not call us brothers. We feel no kinship with you."
Satan smiled faintly."How things have changed," he said. "Nevertheless… I demand my Trial. As the two Kings of Hell. As carriers of the Key. I invoke my right to Trial by Combat."
Ramiel's head tilted at an unnatural angle.
"Request… denied."
Satan's eyes flared."You dare?" he snarled. "You would break the laws of Hell? Laws you yourselves set? Or have you grown fond of this realm? Do you now wish to rule it?"
Before Ramiel could answer, a blade of pure light was suddenly pressed against Satan's neck.
Duma had moved.
Instant. Silent.
"No," Ramiel said calmly.
Duma withdrew without hesitation, stepping back like a shadow obeying its source.
"God… has spoken," Ramiel continued. "Hell shall be contested… by all… who claim rulership. Lucifer's game… will not continue. A contest shall be formed. A tournament… shall decide."
Satan's lips curled."He wants us to dance for Him," he hissed. "To amuse Him."
Ramiel's own sword appeared, light humming as it rested against Satan's throat. For the first time, Satan did not move.
"Do not," Ramiel said, voice lowering, "insult the Lord."
The blade vanished.
In the same instant, Ramiel stood directly before Jason.
Too close.
Jason felt the pressure of existence itself bear down on him.
The angel's head twisted, eyes locking onto his.
"One from beyond," Ramiel said. "God sends welcome… to His plane. Yet as Lucifer's heir… bearer of his will… you have invoked an ancient law."
Images flickered in Jason's mind. Chains. Keys. Names.
"From Lucifer… to Dream of The Endless… to us," Ramiel continued. "Each of us bore the Key. None bore Lucifer's title. That… you inherited."
The weight of it settled.
"As such," Ramiel said, "you challenge for the Key. As a human… this would be impossible. Humans cannot rule a plane of existence."
A pause.
"But you… are not merely human. A Beyonder human. The rule does not apply."
Jason clenched his fists.
"In three Hell days," Ramiel said, "prepare yourself. A tournament shall commence. The fate of Hell shall be decided."
From the side, Neron finally spoke, disbelief cracking through his composure."You would allow Hell to be ruled by a mere human?"
Ramiel turned.
He vanished.
Then reappeared inches from Neron's face.
"The next words you speak," Ramiel said softly, "shall end you. Question the Lord's will again… and grace will be withdrawn."
Neron froze.
"If not for His mercy," Ramiel continued, "this realm would already be erased."
Silence followed.
Ramiel and Duma turned toward one another.
Then they were gone.
In the same breath, reality folded.
Satan vanished.
Blaze vanished.
Neron vanished.
Jason vanished.
The battlefield emptied, each ruler torn from the moment and returned to their respective strongholds, castles sealing shut across Hell.
Only echoes remained.
And the promise of war.
/*\
If you Like this story! Check out my other story ! Shadow Monarch in Danmachi!
AND
If you wish to read more or simply support me just because ? than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/Riadooo"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want !