Chapter 2 : into the badlands

Rogue clutched his cellphone for dear life. After an hour or so of crying he finally came to his senses and realized that he was way up on the mountains and the heavens were now a darker shade of blue with the moon and stars out. 

Checking the time on his phone, Rogue sighed and wiped the tear stains on his cheeks and began to make his way down the hill, midway he felt like he was being followed by someone. “ Who's there?” Rogue asked turning around to look behind him, The bushes rattled forcing him to change his attention to the bushes. 

His heart started racing, Fear creeped up on him, and sweat began to form on his forehead, He swallowed and took out his phone. Turned on the flashlight and used it to see around, focusing on his front he caught a climpse of a silhouette cloaked in darkness before him. “ Who are you? If you are looking for money I don't have it, you can take My phone” Rogue articulated to the silhouette.

“ And what made you think I want your money or your phone?” A feminine voice replied back and the silhouette started moving towards Rogue. Rogue seeing this, Attempted to gain space between the two but his heel got tangled on a vine which tripped him. He fell back on his back, his body experiencing the recoil pain from his fall. 

“ What a funny cute thing you are” The silhouette articulated, by now her eyes were visible and they were blood red piercing through Rogue's soul. Rogue gulped, but his gulping was that of fear. He felt like he had a lump stuck on his throat and no matter how much he gulped he couldn't push it back down.

 “ Yes that lovely smell of fear, gives me the pleasure. Makes me wet, You wanted to know my name right, Call me Lucifer” Lucifer announced herself. Her form bathing under the moon light. Lucifer is an average height lady being shorter than Rogue by atleast 0.5 inches, she has blood red eyes and blood red hair which compliments her corpse pale skin. Lucifer looked like a teenager the same age as Rogue. But her aura and even mentality defied that logic, on her back are six massive wings which were folded the edges protruding from behind her head. 

For a person or entity in the age group of teenagers, she was well endowed. And she wore revealing clothing as well.

Rogue's peepers registered her overall appearance and would draw back in their shells being the eyelids. ‘ A tail, horns, long nails. A devil? ’ Rogue thought, to himself his mouth opening wide. Lucifer on the other hand smirked a devilish smirk exposing her fangs after she heard Rogue's thoughts. She would stand atop of Rogue, her legs placed by his sides trapping his thorax Inbetween. 

Lucifer bent her knees lowering herself down and her behind sat on Rogue's abdomen, she caressed Rogue's face with her index finger nail chuckling as she noticed Rogue become hesitant and more frightened. “ Yes dear I'm a devil. But not any kind of Devil, I'm the Queen of all devils Lucifer and it seems my dear king's spirit Reincarnated into you” Lucifer articulated, blowing her warm breath on Rogue's face. Rogue swallowed and decided not to show any fear. 

“Q-queen of devils Lucifer? I thought those books about supernaturals were nothing but myths and what do you mean your King's spirit? ” Rogue asked although being timid at first then gaining courage as he went on. He didn't care if she killed him then and there for his informal way of speaking, he already lost the most precious thing he had in his life. That led him to believe he had nothing more to live for.

Lucifer only shook her head and used her claw to scratch Rogue's face, The scratch wasn't deep but was visible enough for Lucifer to intertwine her blood with the gash on Rogue. “ Heed thy call and once more awaken. The gates of the underworld await your glorious return Escliffe” Lucifer articulated and beneath her and Rogue, in red was a rune.

The clear night sky was assaulted by nimbuses with fulgurations dancing in them. A huge gust of wind rattled all over Hiraizumi, and from within the clouds descended a pillar of blood red light. The pillar hit the lithosphere and the duo, coalescing both of them, an ancient ritual called Zenon Glyph. A ritual that only the true descendents of the underworld were able to perform. 

Rogue's body started to reconstruct adapting to the ritual, His hair turned to white and grew longer. His nails turned to claws, His fangs elongated and he grew several inches taller. On his back, the epidermis wiggled themselves and from them grew massive wings. This process however was painful, Rogue not being familiar with the magnitude of the pain could only scream in agony. Lucifer noticing this, placed her lips on his silencing Rogue's screams and keeping his mind from registering the pain more.

The whole country of Japan witnessed the beam of light and many began to applaud, believing that God has finally heard their wish. Others were mesmerized by the magnificent display pigment from the conical beam itself, however in Tokyo a band of people weren't impressed, they were concerned.

 “ It seems like Escliffe has been revived. And we know what that means, Japan will be flooded with the supernaturals once more, Kyo since you are the fastest among us, im tasking you to eliminate the threat at once” The figure sitting on the throne addressed one of the six kneeling before him. Even without light penetrating the building, One could tell that the figure on the throne was a man. From the sound of his voice. 

Kyo, who was kneeling near the giant silhouette would nod and allow his metaphysical Essence to manifest, his body shattering into Hieroglyph essences and scattered away. A nifty spell of his known as spatial displacement, which enabled him to advent anywhere across the globe as long as it has a beacon.

Kyo's particles would reconstruct several meters away from the beam of light. The wind blowing away the cloak he wore revealing his appearance. Kyo has a height of 5'4, and is heavily built, he wears a white priest robe which has a hoodie that conceals his hair and has a pair of jade eyes.

 “ Step away from the devil” Kyo articulated, His hand beaming with metaphysical Essence, using the first Hieroglyph, the root Hieroglyph which allowed him mastery over the elements, all five of them. The light forged a thunderbolt that was twelve meters in length and twenty three meters in diameter. The wind gathered around the thunderbolt that was focused on the beam before him, without awaiting an answer Kyo threw the bolt at the duo, while another took its place

Lucifer's lips twitched at the corners upwards into a smile as she stood up from Rogue's body. “ I believe I cannot do that.” She said turning her head to face Kyo. Both of her hands tightened into fists, a malevolent aura clouding her presence as she rose her hand and deflected the bolt of lightning several meters away, a large explosion followed afterwards

Those simple words were enough to instill fear in Kyo, his mind questioned itself,who is she?why am i so scared all of a sudden, is it due to how easily she deflected one of my strongest techniques? Whats her relationship with Escliffe ?. The thunderbolt in Kyo's hand dissipated into particles of energy as he realized that he couldn't take her in a fight even if he wanted to. “ It seems like my hands are tied. Remember this, we will find him and when we do he will be eliminated” Kyo asseverated, his body concomitantly scattering to particles leaving his voice to echo that unmitigated threat. 

Lucifer breathed out and turned back to look at her King who was writhing in agony. Her eyes softened but that didn't last long as another intruder made themselves known. “ Get away from him” A female voice spoke, the voice was followed by huffing and puffing from the owner.

Lucifer's head turned around, and she was greeted by a sight of Skyla breathing heavily trying to catch her breath as she had to run up the mountain. Lucifer's pupils dangerously got slitted and they emitted a reddish glow. “ So this is the wrench that played with his heart. I'll enjoy this” Lucifer verbalized as she stood up from Rogue's body. Lucifer's fists were clenched even harder as she prepared to move, and move did, her movement was so fast Skyla couldn't catch it until she was sent hurling through the air by her fist.

A vivid shade of cerise liquid from Skyla's mouth and it soared through the atmosphere following her body which hit a tree that was behind her. In her mouth Skyla could taste the metallic taste of blood, she felt as if her organs were pushed together from within and with a shriek, her body felt an excruciating afliction.

“Remarkable, to survive a direct hit from me but this is not even one percent of the pain you put my dear king through” Lucifer spoke, her hand grabbing Skyla's hair and quickly lifting her up with her supernatural strength. Her crimson eyes staring deeply into Skyla's very own, “ I see that's what you are” Lucifer affirmed her suspicion and grinned a toothy grin extending her hand backwards, adjusting her claws to go for the kill.

As if time had stopped for Skyla, she resigned to her fate. The claws ever coming closer and closer to her chest, she felt helpless and was too tired to move and in too much pain to scream or talk. She just stood there awaiting her judgement. ‘ I guess this is the end for me, I wanted to say I was sorry. I should've told you instead of leading you on Rogue. I hope you can forgive me till we meet again ’ Skyla thought to herself, shedding a few silent tears.

Blood flew everywhere as a sickening squelching sound reverberated all over the mountain side, Everything was then reduced to absolute silence.