Lucifer looked down at the battlefield.Only Water, Steve, Luke, Ace, Light, and Thomas were still on their feet.Light whispered:"I've never seen my father pushed this far…"Lucifer snarled:"Shut up, disgraced."His arm transformed into an obsidian blade then shot out like a bullet, stabbing Light in the leg and dropping him instantly.Lucifer fired more dozens filling the battlefield with flying obsidian spikes.The heroes dodged, rolled, ran but Luke was too slow.A spike hit his back shoulder, dropping him.Only Ace, Water, and Thomas remained standing.Lucifer said:"Thomas… don't you think enough blood has spilled?" Thomas was caught off guard."Yes. So let's stop fighting and you surrender, Lucifer."Lucifer chuckled."I could say the same for you."He floated down, voice calm, almost gentle."Thomas… you have the power to end this conflict."Thomas stared at him."Join me, Thomas.And I give you my word no one else needs to die today."Thomas answered:"So they die tomorrow then?"Lucifer smirked."I admire your quick wit.But your fellow humans can't say the same."Thomas stepped forward."You talk like you're better than us… but you want to destroy us."Lucifer laughed."Destroy you?I MADE you humans the dominant species on this earth.Without me, you'd still be living in caves, hunting like cavemen."Thomas asked:"Then what do you want with us?"Lucifer lowered himself to the ground."What I want… is to save you.Save those who are worthy."Thomas narrowed his eyes."And kill the rest?"Lucifer's tone shifted dark, ancient."Have you heard tales of the old world?"Water and Ace looked at Thomas confused.No one alive had ever heard of the old world.No books.No records.Nothing. Lucifer continued:"The old world was filled with war, plagues, starvation, and hate.People fought meaningless wars over religion… ideology… pride. The left thought they were right. The right thought they were right.Fools all of them."The heroes listened, silent."Genocide spread.Children, women, honest men killed for greed.People hurt each other for lust, for money, for power.Humans betrayed each other for scraps."Thomas clenched his jaw.Lucifer kept going:"People identified as animals.People spread lies covered in glitter 'Do what's best for YOU.' Selfishness. Pride. Infidelity. Broken families.People killing each other over colors. People scamming the innocent.People prostituting themselves to bosses for raises they were already going to get."Lucifer's voice grew colder."Humans destroyed themselves voluntarily.And when they died, they all said the same thing:'I wish I could go back and do things differently.'They died with regrets because their souls knew they were destined for the fire."Thomas whispered "If that's true… it doesn't give you the right to kill us."Lucifer shook his head."Kill you?No, Thomas.I want to remake humanity. Return it to its glory days neighbors knowing neighbors,communities helping each other."Lucifer stepped closer."The old world became so selfish they raised the price of organic food and fed the poor processed lab garbage.They believed any man on TV calling himself an expert. They followed lies painted as 'greater good.'But it was always for their good."Lucifer's eyes glowed."The most selfish generation was called Generation Z.How fitting the last letter of the alphabet.The last generation with a chance to save humanity."Lucifer extended his hand."Join me, Thomas.Together, we can ensure nothing like that ever happens again."A witch stepped forward behind Lucifer holding an apple on a plush pillow.Lucifer tossed it to Thomas."Eat it, Thomas.And our pact will be complete.The war will end.The people you love will live.You can build a future for the children of tomorrow."Thomas stared at the apple.All it takes is one bite… and the war ends.The heroes watched breathless.Thomas raised the apple toward his mouth A hand touched his shoulder.Light whispered:"No way…"Luke said:"It can't be…"Ice whispered:"It's him…"Ace looked like he'd seen a ghost.Thomas turned.Standing behind him was Edwin with a halo over his head looking exactly like himself again.Edwin smiled."Is it too late for me to join in?"Thomas couldn't speak.Edwin stepped forward."I know how to handle this."He grabbed the apple kicked it like a soccer ball shattering it into hundreds of pieces.Edwin turned to Lucifer."How about we show the Great Deceiver the power of brotherhood?"Lucifer roared:"THEN YOU ALL WILL DIE!!!"His aura flared high, violent, monstrous.Thomas and Edwin stood side by side.Light limped forward."You can't kill the king of demons without me."Lucifer screamed"A FAMILY REUNION?! HOW NICE.I WILL PAINT THE STREETS WITH YOUR BLOOD!!!"
