Chapter Text
May my night become your caged abyss, may my sun become your escape to a world beyond the stars. Eclipse!
Naberius has crossed the line. A line between a mortal's survival instinct to a monster's rage. The human he so look down upon, for their inability to defend herself. However, it's not that she can't, she refuse. A power reserved for the worst of kind, a final resort, a power far beyond what was known to the human race. Abyssmal Truth. Used as a guiding flame to fight the fire of Abyss. Only those willing and capable of withstanding the immense price just to hold its presence. More than often it's better to steer off the heat of the flames rather than getting burn. And that's what exactly what Naberius is experiencing. He got too close to the sun and burned his only chance of forgiveness. Lest the human's ancestor a former angel, but a blank canvas potraited with magnificent colours can turn to ash with a mere spark.
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"If you are what you say, then I challenge you to a duel to prove yourself worthy and if you win, I'll take whatever punishment you have, and if you fail, well, you might not even be alive by then." His challenge in mind were not at all fair, he believes a human who relied on her pacts to do any sort of effective blow. I mean I would believe it too if I just let myself be ragdolled by him until the brothers arrived to my rescue. If I hadn't had my own internal fight then I wouldn't hesitate to send even a black hole towards him. But the weight of using my magic is heavier than my own safety, for most of the time. I'm used to only using it for when dealing with the Abyss, a time I've longed pass. It's not just that I want nothing to do with it anymore but it can take a toll on me even though I've mastered it. Moreover, I don't know how the others react to it, especially my teacher Solomon, my love interest Diavolo, and his butler Barbatos. They could reast hostile and see my magic as threat. But I'm beyond my patience and forgiveness. It wasn't the first time I was humiliated terribly so I know how to deal with it without using it, but he also humiliate the people I love. I'd do whatever it takes to protect these people, even if it means I have to sacrifice myself. I have enough of being the only survivor. Tired of being the only one live in an empty void. Tired of walking alone where I could've been with my companions, my comrades, and now I have the love of my life and family that care about me.
I can't possibly take the risk.
"When and where?" I am not going down without a fight, especially without any blood spilled. "Oh ho! This human still got some guts to stand up against me! i was expecting you would be on your knees begging for mercy, but then again you are a foolish human."
Foolish huh. That may be true but human? Even I'm not sure whenever I let myself free. If magic overpower everything else what make me human then I'm no human. I fell to far from what keeps my humanity. Maybe the only thread left is my former angel ancestor who have loved the human race even after her downfall. She fell and got up for her love. I fell, and gladly fall even further to the depths of abyss. I'll let the void eat me until I'm nothing if it mean my love can live longer.
I stand my ground to Naberius' belittlement. "Before midnight at the makeshift colussium. Be there if you really want to die. I won't even make you my slave, I'd rather eat you in front of everyone. And make sure you brought everyone there, let them spectate your downfall too." From our interaction before, he would make sure I fell fown and stomp on my head just so I couldn't fight back and get up. He's definitely plotting to make me feel hell of his own.
And with that, he take his leave snickering with glancing me. i know I should feel no fear, and honestly I really don't. But I do feel a little helpless. And it's not the fact I might lose, it's the fact that I might not able to reverse the damage and left a scar on the brothers and Diavolo and everyone else just for supporting me. It boils my blood. This feeling makes me pathetic. Despite my experiences, I'm still unsure how to deal with it. I... I don't want anything happen to them. And I don't know what to do. I don't how to make sure they're safe. I don't know how to make sure they're off of danger. But I do know how to kill the danger.
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"How kind he was for letting you train a bit but there's something about it just doesn't sit right with me." Satan with tone of sarcasm couldn't help but keep on pondering the true motive for the duel. On the surface, it's clear as day that Naberius wanted to humiliate me even more in front of other people and prove everyone wrong especially Diavolo, but we feel there's more to it. For someone like Naberius, it's best to be 1 step ahead from him or he'll trample with a big step. Not to mention he's sly as a fox hence why he's alble to live till this day. More specifically his obsession with previous Demon King before Diavolo's father. That Demon King is notorious for being a tyrant and served a shorter period of ruling contrary to the other Demon Kings. Other than known for tyrannical, he also responsible for the downfall of the Nymphs. Nymphs were once creatures that expertise in blacksmith and producing warriors. But now, they're no longer alive, their whole species went extinct as a way to rebel against the tyrant.
"Whatever, we just gotta train you up and beat his ass!" Logically speaking, Mammon here isn't wrong. I could beat him, I think... I don't know actually what he's capable of with magic. So far I've only seen him mere physically. But if I... No, I don't need to stoop to summoning Abyssmal and request for help. Morever, I don't plan on using my magic anyway. "I'll think of a way to beat him using wits and endurance." If I just beat him by making him surrender, then it's checkmate. "Hm, what exactly do you plan on doing? Naberius is older than Lord Diavolo himself and if not for former Demon King, he would be the next one." A Demon King candidate against a human... If I find the weak point, then it's doable. But for someone with more life experiences than me, it's like finding a needle in a haystack. "If I shatter his confidence and his will, then that's it."
Lucifer had told me to focus on Solomon's training and let them handle the duel choreography. I can't help but wonder, was my idea that weird? Nevertheless, I will try to convince them that I have a great idea cooking up. Speaking of cooking, Simeon currently making some BLT sandwhich while Luke is baking some macarons. Perhaps they noticed how nervous I appear. I shake more than usual(not that I was always shaking) but they can tell that I feel out of the ordinary. Luke has been nagging on wanting to know what I want to eat and he'll bake any pastry I want, that was so nice of him. I look at him and I thought, would Naberius or anyone else threaten not just Luke's life but also the angels' and grim reaper. I'm scared. I'm...scared? It's been a long time since I've felt this kind of fear. A fear of unable to do anything to anyone, but myself. I... I don't want to be what I was. i don't want to focus on magic for survival purposes. But when I don't... Others pay the price. Is there really no way of escaping this fate?