LINES OF DESTINY

Chapter 13: THEO VS LUCIFER



Theo lunged forward with all his strength, and his sword struck Lucifer's chest. The impact resonated with a metallic sound, like the clash of two steel armors. Shocked to see that Lucifer didn't even move, Theo took a step back, watching warily.

"Not even a scratch?" Theo muttered in disbelief.

Lucifer, with an almost amused expression, looked at him with a smile.

— Did you really expect this blow to affect me, Theo? If you want to challenge me, you'll have to try harder.

Theo gritted his teeth, determined not to be intimidated.

"Fine, if that's what you want," he said, as his arm began to transform into a huge snake. The snake lunged at Lucifer, enveloping him in an instant. Theo, with a confident smile, gave the order for the snake to release toxins and poison Lucifer from within.

However, in a flash of regret, the snake exploded into pieces. From the smoke emerged an imposing figure: a red dragon with two horns and four legs. The dragon's size was intimidating, and Lucifer stared at it with his eyes alight with defiance.

Far from backing down, Theo smiled.

—There's nothing wrong, Lucifer! This is where it gets interesting.

Lucifer, in his dragon form, let out a deep growl.

—Is that all, Theo? Because if that's the case, I'm afraid this won't last long.

The dragon took a deep breath, then released a torrent of flames in Theo's direction. Theo undoubtedly raised a barrier of energy, deflecting the fire to the sides and leaving the ground charred around him.

"And that's all you have, Lucifer?" Theo replied with a slight, defiant smile.

Lucifer laughed, his gaze shining with amusement and respect.

—Not bad, kid. But you ain't seen nothing yet.

Theo took advantage of the moment and decided to use a more advanced technique. He cut off the tips of his fingers, and in a flash of energy, several clones of himself appeared, each wielding a rapier. The clones, in perfect synchronization, transformed their weapons into long chains and threw them towards Lucifer, trapping him and knocking him to the ground.

"What now?" Theo asked, with a triumphant smile.

Lucifer looked at the chains around him, and with a dangerous glint in his eyes, his body began to change. Instead of remaining in his gigantic dragon form, his size decreased and he transformed into a humanoid version of the dragon: a two-meter-tall figure, with dark wings and red scales covering his body.

"Satisfied?" Lucifer asked, his voice deep and resonant. "This is just the beginning, Theo. Is this all your power?"

Theo tensed as he saw that Lucifer didn't have a scratch on him, realizing that he would need much more power and precision if he wanted to emerge victorious.

"So… I'll have to get serious," he muttered to himself, preparing to unleash his true potential.

Theo's clones surrounded Lucifer, launching slashing attacks from all directions. Each clone's rapiers sent blasts of energy towards him, but Lucifer barely blinked as the attacks bounced harmlessly off his scales. Looking at the clones, he let out a mocking laugh.

"Really?" Lucifer said, smirking. "That's all you've got, Theo? You should know that this form is much sturdier than the one you first saw." He paused, his voice laced with mockery. "If you plan on pushing me back, you're going to have to try a lot harder."

Theo gritted his teeth, determined not to give in to the provocation. Wasting no time, he raised his hand and conjured an icy blast that spread around Lucifer, trapping him in a prison of ice that covered him completely. Theo looked at the crystalline ice with a hint of confidence.

— How about that? —Theo asked, flashing a defiant smile. —Let's see if you can get out of there.

A cracking sound echoed through the air as Lucifer, with overwhelming strength, began to shatter the ice imprisoning him. Within seconds, he shattered the prison with an explosion of icy shards that flew in all directions. With a defiant expression, Lucifer walked towards Theo, eyes filled with a fierce intensity.

"Ice? Come on, Theo, I know you can do better," Lucifer sneered, with a sly grin. "If this is all you've got, you're going to regret defying me."

Theo responded to the provocation with a cold smile and reaching out his hands to the ground. Immediately, a river of lava erupted around Lucifer, forming a sea of magma that surrounded his feet and engulfed him. Theo watched, convinced that this time it would be enough.

But Lucifer, without showing even the slightest hint of pain, dove into the lava and moved forward as if swimming in it, each movement sure and determined.

"Is that all you have?" Lucifer asked, his deep voice reverberating through the sand as he emerged from the magma, his body surrounded by heat and energy. "I'm starting to fool myself."

Theo, without backing down, returned the defiant gaze.

— Disappoint? We're just warming up, Lucifer. Why don't you relax and enjoy the show?

Lucifer smirked and in one swift movement, he burst out of the lava and launched a fist straight towards Theo. Just before the punch could land, Lucifer mysteriously disappeared, suddenly appearing behind Theo's back. Surprised, Lucifer frowned and quickly turned around to launch a punch from behind, but in that instant, Theo appeared in front of him again.

"What…?" Lucifer muttered, visibly confused. "How…?"

Theo gave a sly smile, enjoying the surprise on his opponent's face.

—Is something wrong, Lucifer? —he asked, in a mocking tone, without revealing the trick behind the movements.

Frustrated but determined, Lucifer tried to ignore the confusion and lunged once more at Theo, looking to surprise him with an attack from behind. However, just before the blow reached him, Lucifer teleported without warning in front of Theo again, throwing him off balance for an instant.

—What are you doing? —Lucifer demanded, visibly irritated and confused.

Theo took advantage of the opening and landed a direct blow to his chest, sending Lucifer crashing to the center of the arena once again. Lucifer remained on the ground for a second, not a scratch visible, but his eyes showed a glint of uncertainty.

Theo alarming, maintaining confidence.

"Come on, Lucifer. I thought you were tougher to take down," she said, crossing her arms. "Don't you want to try something else?"

Lucifer, regaining his composure, stood up and looked at him with a mixture of respect and distrust.

Theo, without wasting any time, ordered his clones to move forward with a new strategy. Dark, thin threads began to emerge from each clone's hands, which quickly intertwined into a red thread that seemed to float in the air. With precision and speed, the clones launched the red thread like a giant mosquito, enveloping Lucifer in a matter of seconds.

"What is this?" Lucifer muttered, feeling the net tighten around him and begin to suck in the air around him.

As the net tightened, Lucifer noticed that the air around him seemed to disappear; each breath became heavier, as if the net was absorbing every particle of oxygen. A look of mild discomfort appeared on his face as the suffocating emptiness began to affect his breathing.

"What now, Lucifer?" Theo asked from a distance, watching with his arms crossed and a calculating smile. "Let's see if you can get out of this."

Lucifer, feeling his breathing becoming labored, let out a breathy laugh despite the situation.

—Clever, Theo… but you forget who I am —he growled.

With a concentrated effort, Lucifer unfurled his wings in a powerful flap, lifting himself into the air with all his strength. The red one tried to hold him back, but the momentum of his flight snapped the threads in all directions, causing him to explode into fragments of shadow as he broke free from the suffocating trap. Theo watched intently, though he didn't seem surprised by Lucifer's resistance.

Lucifer, now free, rose into the air, inhaling deeply as he regained control of his breathing.

"You almost surprised me there, Theo," she said, giving him a sharp look as she slowly descended to the ground, her eyes filled with determination. "But I need something a lot more solid if you're going to stop me."

Theo sounds calm, evaluating his next move.

—If you wanted a no-holds-barred fight, you'll get it, Lucifer. This is just the beginning.

Lucifer, now standing and catching his breath after breaking free from Theo's web, cast a look of recognition towards his opponent. With a slight smile, he began to analyze out loud Theo's abilities, which had now revealed their true complexity.

"You know, Theo," Lucifer began, his voice filled with respect and admiration. "At first, I thought you were just playing around with some basic tricks. But now I understand. You've taken Astharot's skill to a level I never would have imagined."

Theo watched him with a mix of attention and caution, while Lucifer continued.

"Astharot's original ability was to dematerialize and materialize anything he touched, right?" Lucifer explained, his tone grave and thoughtful. "But you… you choose to apply that power in a completely new way, using your own body as a catalyst."

Theo gave a small smile, but didn't interrupt Lucifer, who continued explaining, almost as if he were talking to himself.

"What you've done is cover your body with a very thin fabric, so thin that it's practically invisible," Lucifer continued, his eyes assessing every part of Theo with keenness. "But here's the real trick: that fabric, being part of you, is configured to dematerialize and rematerialize anything that touches it… at the speed of light."

Theo just nodded, confirming Lucifer's deduction without saying a word.

"That explains everything," Lucifer continued, his voice now filled with genuine admiration. "When I tried to hit you, upon touching that cloth, I was dematerialized and rematerialized behind you, against my will. It wasn't a simple speed trick… it was a system that turns contact into an instant portal."

Theo finally broke the silence, a slight smile on his lips.

"Exactly, Lucifer. You've discovered my little secret," Theo said, his voice steady and calm. "Astharot's ability is powerful, but it was only the beginning. By applying it to myself, I will be able to create this defense. So… every time you try to attack me, you touch the cloth and end up where I want you to be."

Lucifer let out a low, dry laugh, a mix of amusement and defiance.

"Well played, Theo. I expected nothing less from you," Lucifer said, assessing his next options. "But don't think this trick will work forever. Now that I know how it works, I'll adapt my strategy… and when I do, you better be prepared for what's coming."

Theo bowed his head slightly, accepting the implied challenge.

"That's what I've been waiting for, Lucifer," she replied, her eyes shining with a spark of excitement.

Theo took in every word Lucifer said, understanding for the first time the weight of defeat the lord of hell carried within him. Lucifer's words, which spoke of deep pain and humiliation, made him feel a mixture of respect and compassion. After a brief silence, Theo looked up, his resolve renewed.

"I understand, Lucifer. But just as you did not accept your defeat, I cannot give up either," Theo replied, his voice firm and determined. "I may not have wings, and I may have never experienced a defeat like yours, but I will fight to the end to protect what I believe in. I will not give up… not today."

Lucifer looked at him with a mixture of respect and acceptance, as if he saw in Theo a spark that he recognized in himself.

Wasting no more time, Theo and his clones took up attack positions, eyes locked on Lucifer, ready to launch a new offensive. Without hesitation, he began attacking him with slashing blasts from a distance, his rapiers sending out waves of razor-sharp energy that struck Lucifer's body from all directions. But once again, each attack would vanish against Lucifer's impenetrable scales, failing to cause any damage to him.

Lucifer remained where he was, without a single scratch and with an impassive expression.

"Is everything there, Theo?" he asked, a hint of mockery in his tone. "You're going to need something more forceful if you even hope to get me to back down."

Theo frowned, realizing that his current attacks weren't enough. Taking a deep breath, he and his clones paused and closed their eyes for an instant, concentrating all their power. This time, instead of going on the offensive with simple slashing attacks, Theo focused all his energy into each thrust, strengthening his attacks to be long-range thrusts, charged with overwhelming power.

When he and his clones were ready, they strategically positioned themselves around Lucifer, aiming at him from ten different directions. With perfect timing, they launched the thrusts with all their accumulated strength. The attacks sliced through the air and collided with Lucifer's body at the same time, creating an echo of impacts that resonated throughout the arena.

For the first time in the battle, Lucifer let out a low moan, and although the stabs failed to penetrate his skin, the impact made him feel the pain for an instant.

"Ah… so you finally make me feel something," Lucifer murmured, with a slight smile of approval, though his eyes held a spark of renewed defiance. "That was better, Theo. But if you think this is enough… you are sorely mistaken."

Lucifer charged towards Theo with tremendous speed and strength. Theo braced himself, expecting a direct attack, but Lucifer surprised him with an unexpected strategy: instead of hitting him, he struck the ground with such force that the entire ground beneath Theo shook violently. Theo lost his balance, staggering before falling to the ground.

Taking advantage of that moment of vulnerability, Lucifer delivered a powerful blow straight to the soles of Theo's feet, sending him flying through the air towards one of the walls of the arena. The impact was brutal, and Theo felt his ribs break as he crashed into the stone wall. The pain was intense, but he took a deep breath, focusing on regeneration.

As his body began to heal, Theo smiled with effort and looked at Lucifer, his eyes filled with defiance and determination.

"I must admit, you are… relentless," Theo said, his voice breaking as his body healed. "But I have something you may not have considered. Just as I can modify my body to adapt to combat… I can also rebuild it."

Lucifer will watch him with interest, without saying anything, waiting for Theo to continue.

"You think I made all these clones just by chance?" Theo added, straightening up as his ribs fully restored themselves. "With just one cell in my body, I can form a new version of myself, and then materialize any structure or weapon I need. My ability goes beyond shapeshifting… I can create from scratch."

Lucifer gave a deep, dry laugh, full of approval.

"So, not only are you resilient, but you're also a master of creation," Lucifer said, with a sly smile. "That explains a lot, Theo. You're more formidable than I expected… but that also means I have to be even more careful with you."

Theo took a deep breath, now fully regenerated, and his clones gathered around him, ready to continue.

"Were you worried that this wouldn't be a worthy challenge?" Theo replied, with a slight defiant smile. "Because I plan to test every skill I have to make this fight worthwhile."

Lucifer alarmingly with a mixture of respect and ferocity.

—Then I won't hold back, Theo. Get ready, because the best is yet to come.

Lucifer charged towards Theo with tremendous speed and strength. Theo braced himself, expecting a direct attack, but Lucifer surprised himself with an unexpected strategy: instead of hitting him, he struck the ground with such force that the entire ground beneath Theo shook violently. Theo lost his balance, staggering before falling to the ground.

Taking advantage of that moment of vulnerability, Lucifer delivered a powerful blow straight to the soles of Theo's feet, sending him flying through the air towards one of the walls of the arena. The impact was brutal, and Theo felt his ribs break as he crashed into the stone wall. The pain was intense, but he took a deep breath, focusing on regeneration.

As his body began to heal, Theo smiled with effort and looked at Lucifer, his eyes filled with defiance and determination.

"I must admit, you are… relentless," Theo said, his voice breaking as his body healed. "But I have something you may not have considered. Just as I can modify my body to adapt to combat… I can also rebuild it."

Lucifer will watch him with interest, without saying anything, waiting for Theo to continue.

"You think I made all these clones just by chance?" Theo added, straightening up as his ribs fully restored themselves. "With just one cell in my body, I can form a new version of myself, and then materialize any structure or weapon I need. My ability goes beyond shapeshifting… I can create from scratch."

Lucifer gave a deep, dry laugh, full of approval.

"So, not only are you resilient, but you're also a master of creation," Lucifer said, with a sly smile. "That explains a lot, Theo. You're more formidable than I expected… but that also means I have to be even more careful with you."

Theo took a deep breath, now fully regenerated, and his clones gathered around him, ready to continue.

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