Chapter 47 The Gate [4]
"Greetings, travellers. I am Aamon, the Marquis of Hell, butler to Belphegor, the Prince of Hell's Gluttony of the second circle. What brings you to this place?"
"Forgive me, but I must rectify your statement. It is not we who have intruded upon your domain, but rather, you who have forced your way into our presence," I replied, my tone calm yet firm.
"Nevertheless, you have transgressed upon the territory of Lord Belphegor without his consent, a sin punishable by the direst consequences," Aamon retorted.
"A sin, you say? How interesting," I responded as I rose to my feet and brushed the dust from my garments with a flick of my wrist.
"You know if you fail to even scratch me in order to punish me for committing a sin, consequences can turn really dire for you", I added, my eyes flashing with their heterochromatic contrast.
"Are you threatening me?" Aamon growled, his once-composed demeanour transforming into that of a feral beast. His eyes glinted with murderous intent, and steam rose from his snarling mouth.
A sudden rustling noise disrupted the tense silence that had enveloped us, prompting me to turn my head.
I saw Sun rise up slowly, his eyes focused intently on the devil. He paused for a moment, his mind racing as he processed the information at hand, before finally striding forward to stand beside me.
Sun ran his fingers through his tousled hair, his movements smooth and fluid, as he spat out a mouthful of blood onto the nearby ground.
Without taking his eyes off the devil, he spoke with a calm and collected demeanour.
"Stand down, brother. It would be unwise to challenge him. You cannot defeat him," Sun stated matter-of-factly, his voice carrying a tone of undeniable confidence.
"You should know, just like you, he is not a mere human," Sun declared, his eyes blazing with fierce determination. His attention remained towards the devil, his gaze unwavering.
"Am I wrong?", he asked looking at me as a grin appeared on his face.
"An absolute no, General", I replied.
"Forgive me for my lack of respect, but I was never one to believe in God. However, now that I am seeing one in the flesh, I must say that there is no real difference between you and humans," he said, a hint of defiance creeping into his voice.
"I do not require any worshipers," I replied, my tone even and steady.
The devil sneered at us, his eyes glinting with a fiery determination.
"Nice try to instil fear in me, but I am not afraid of God. The only deity I recognize is my lord," he spat out the words with contempt, his face twisted in a sneer of disdain.
As the devil released a massive pressure of his aura into the surroundings, the air grew thick with tension. Sun struggled to keep his footing under the intense weight of the demonic power.
But Sun was not one to back down easily. With a fierce determination, he summoned his own aura, mixed with a potent blend of raw, unbridled murderous intent.
It was a force that dwarfed even the devil's own power, a testament to the incredible strength of will that lay within him.
As the two auras clashed, the very earth trembled beneath their feet, and the sky grew dark with foreboding energy.
The air crackled with thunder, and the ground shook with the intensity of their aura battle as I stood beside Sun watching the whole scenario, completely unaffected by both of their pressure.
Despite his youthful appearance, Sun's mind was that of a seasoned warrior, honed by years of experience and battle-hardened by countless trials.
His intent was domineering, a force to be reckoned with, and he stood his ground against the devil with unwavering resolve.
"You think you can save your friend by stepping up!"
In a hoarse, dark voice that was of really low frequency but still loud enough to be heard in a massive area, the devil spoke.
The words echoed through the desolate landscape as he disappeared with a push on the ground and lunged towards Sun.
Sun stood his ground, gripping his long broadsword tightly. Flames began to flicker to life around him as he tapped into his power to manipulate fire.
A swarm of black chains burst forth from the ground, encircling Ji-ho, Stella, and Xander, as well as my own chains, effectively isolating them from the fray.
As the devil lunged towards Sun, he quickly drew his long broadsword and met the devil's attack head-on.
The clash of their weapons sent sparks flying in all directions, illuminating the dark surroundings.
Sun's military martial arts proved to be useful as he parried and countered the devil's attacks with swift and precise movements.
The devil was not to be underestimated, however. He possessed incredible strength and speed, dodging and weaving around Sun's strikes.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned a long whip made of black flames that crackled menacingly as it sliced through the air towards Sun.
Sun leapt back, narrowly avoiding the whip's fiery tip as it slammed into the ground where he had stood just a moment ago, leaving a burning crater in its wake.
He responded by sending a wave of flames towards the devil, who deftly sidestepped it with a smirk on his face.
Their battle continued, each one testing the other's limits. They moved at lightning speed, their weapons clashing and sparking in the darkness.
The sound of metal against metal echoed through the surrounding mountains, as rocks and boulders shook loose from their places and tumbled down the slopes.
The devil launched a series of fierce attacks, his movements almost too fast to follow. Sun's sword swung and parried in a blur of motion, as he held his own against the devil's onslaught.
The air crackled with energy as they fought, each one determined to come out on top.
As the fight between Sun and the devil continued, Sun was starting to feel the weight of the devil's power.
He struggled to keep up with the speed and ferocity of the devil's attacks, barely managing to block them with his sword.
The devil seemed to be getting stronger with every passing moment, his movements becoming more fluid and effortless.
Sun, on the other hand, was starting to tire, his movements becoming slower and less coordinated.
The devil landed a powerful blow on Sun's shoulder, sending him flying across the room. Sun crashed into a wall, his body convulsing as he struggled to get back up.
Blood dripped from his mouth as he gasped for air, his vision blurred and his body racked with pain. He tried to lift his sword but found that his arms were too weak to even hold it.
The devil loomed over him, a cruel grin on his face as he raised his hand to deliver the final blow.
Sun closed his eyes, in order to concentrate. Then, a sudden surge of energy coursed through his body.
He opened his eyes, his irises now glowing bright orange. Flames erupted from his body, engulfing the devil in a sea of fire.
The devil screamed in agony as the flames burned his skin, and Sun used this opportunity to gather his strength and strike back. With a swift movement of his sword, he sliced through the devil's chest.
The devil fell to the ground, his body convulsing as he writhed in pain. Sun stood over him, his body still wreathed in flames.
With one final burst of energy, Sun extinguished the flames and collapsed to the ground, his body battered and bruised.
The aftermath of the fight left a trail of destruction in the dark of the night inside the dense forest.
The trunks of the trees were flickering with orange and red flames, while the ground was scorched and blackened. The sound of fire burning could still be heard, echoing through the trees.
The branches of the trees were snapped and leaves were scattered all around.
The ground was littered with broken twigs and fallen leaves, and there were deep gouges in the soil from the force of the fight.
The once peaceful forest was now a battleground, a place of chaos and destruction. The sounds of nature were drowned out by the echoes of the fight, and the flickering flames created an eerie atmosphere.
"Well, that was certainly an impressive show," I remarked, to no one in particular, since everyone was lying unconscious on the ground.
"I mean, two kids beating each other up to see who's the stronger one. What an exciting way to pass the time!" I added.