novelraw Chapter 23: I Won’t Kill You—But Someone Will!
Chapter 23: I Won’t Kill You—But Someone Will!
"Spirit of Arrogance?" In the secret room of the San Diego police station, Newland Halerson muttered these words.
"What does this mean?" He looked toward Cardinal Jared Brian beside him.
The remaining people also turned their gazes toward him—this was the man who held the "authority of biblical interpretation." As a cardinal, his explanation carried the highest authority.
This bishop's complexion wasn't good, one could even say it was extremely pale, but under the stares of everyone around him, he still voiced his speculation.
"Galatians mentions the seven deadly sins: pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust." The old man in his fifties took a sip of water and continued, "And the seven deadly sins represent seven evil spirits or demons..."
"The demon representing pride is Lucifer!"
"Lucifer?" Upon hearing this name, everyone suddenly understood, grasping the identity and origin of the other party.
After all, this being truly could directly utter God's name and had no fear of the Lord's majesty!
In this world, everyone knew that this former Seraph, God's left hand, the most trusted angel, was also the most terrifying demon in all of hell!
He had once led one-third of heaven's angels to descend, becoming one of the most powerful forces in hell, and in all classical texts, he was depicted as the most heinous yet most powerful existence!Now, if the Spirit of Arrogance was Lucifer, everything suddenly made sense!
His arrogance and disdain, his attitude of disregarding churches and threats, and his nearly contemptuous posture toward the entire Church—it all made sense!
That was Lucifer, the true great demon king of hell. Without the arrival of a great angel or other powerful being, who could oppose him?
If Jared could think of this, then Angus, who had studied various materials, certainly could as well.
He stared intensely at the "bishop" before him, "I never expected it would be you!"
Father Angus tore off his cross necklace, gripping it in his hand, feeling slightly more secure.
He had originally thought the evil spirit coming would be similar to the previous dream-invading evil spirit, or at most something like Raum among the Seventy-Two Demon Gods.
But he never imagined that this time, such a major character would appear!
Lucifer, the great demon, the fallen angel!
"Who is he?" Deputy Chief Pierre asked. They were all in the same boat now, so of course he wanted to understand the specifics.
Angus said, "The Spirit of Arrogance, the fallen angel, Satan, the morning star of heaven—Lucifer!"
Hearing these words, everyone gasped sharply, yet couldn't help but continue staring at him. This was the great demon, the king of fallen angels! When had they ever seen such a being before?
They didn't even doubt he might be an imposter, instead quickly observing, examining, and memorizing his appearance.
"Don't be nervous, I'm not here to kill anyone!" Lucifer said very calmly, "Killing people—that's something I won't do!"
Of course he wouldn't do it. Such a great demon—why would he need to kill people to demonstrate his terror when he could do plenty of other things?
"Of course, those who insist on seeking death, I won't spare either!" He raised his hand, and a man who had secretly moved behind the chapel, aiming a gun at him, was lifted by some mysterious force.
That was a volunteer from the church. He held a Remington shotgun, his face showing extreme madness as he fired at Lucifer, "Die, demon!"
"Boom!" The gun fired, but the buckshot didn't emerge. Instead, with a wave of Lucifer's hand, it shot back.
The man was headshot by his own bullet, dying without any dignity.
"Don't interrupt my storytelling!" Lucifer still wore that bored expression, but it sent chills down the spines of everyone witnessing this scene.
He didn't dislike or hate killing; he simply found it unnecessary.
It was as if he were a little boy telling stories in the yard, and everyone present were ants before him.
"But what's more interesting is that he actually came to kill you all!" Lucifer touched the other's blood and suddenly said, "The sins of this church are more intoxicating than hell itself!"
Angus couldn't hold back, "Lucifer, what are you doing!"
"A human completed a demon summoning ritual, locating this world!" Lucifer said with a smile, "I accepted her contract and came to take a look!"
"What contract?" Angus asked again, keenly spotting a loophole.
"She wanted to kill her enemies, exchanging her soul and future!" Lucifer said, "Those enemies are in this church!"
Angus immediately said, "You said you wouldn't kill people, right?"
"Hahahahaha! This priest of yours is really interesting! Rigid but not unintelligent—I'm starting to like you!" Lucifer laughed heartily, "Why not work for me? I'll reserve a divine position for you in hell!"
Hearing these words, many people behind the cameras suddenly felt tempted.
Although Lucifer was a fallen angel, and a divine position in hell didn't sound as good as eternal life in heaven, still... that was immortality!
Becoming a god, gaining demonic power—if it were them, they might just agree!
But Angus didn't consider it at all, loudly declaring, "Don't think you can tempt me to abandon my faith, you fallen one!"
Lucifer didn't mind, shrugging his shoulders, "No matter, I have plenty of time. I'll wait for you to come around!"
Hearing their conversation, Deputy Chief Pierre mustered his courage and said, "Then if you won't kill people, can we leave?"
Although Lucifer was a demon, people who had heard many mythological stories knew that this one truly was a man of his word.
Lucifer casually waved his hand, "Mortals, do not interrupt our conversation!"
He raised his hand, and Pierre was lifted up, letting out painful screams!
"Ah... it hurts... so painful..."
Everyone was shocked to discover that this chubby deputy chief was actually thinning out at this moment!
Of course, not the healthy kind of thin, but a kind of "thinning" that resembled shrinking!
He was almost instantly drained into skin and bones!
And the substances drained from him gathered in Lucifer's hand, transforming into an oil lamp. With a flick of his finger, these substances ignited!
The eerie blue flames made everyone feel an indescribable terror!
They stared at this demon king, feeling nothing but icy cold throughout their bodies!
"I said I won't kill, so I won't kill!" He said with a smile, but his words contained something that made everyone tremble!
He truly hadn't killed anyone, but this kind of torture was terrifying to witness!
Deputy Chief Pierre indeed wasn't dead, but his skin-and-bones state, this nearly cruel stripping, seemed to have caused him to faint from the pain.
Seeing this scene, Angus couldn't hold back. He raised his hand, and the cross in his hand emitted a special white light that gradually calmed Pierre.
Angus couldn't restore him, but he could at least reduce his suffering.
Seeing this white light, Lucifer showed no reaction, instead looking around with interest, scanning each person one by one. He simply found this world utterly fascinating!
Angus turned back to face Lucifer, "You want to fulfill the contract, but you can't kill people—you'll violate the contract!"
"Not at all," Lucifer shook his head, "I won't kill, but someone will kill them!"
He raised his hand, and a contract engraved with dark aura, death threats, and special flames appeared in his hand, detailing the specific contents of the agreement.
A peculiar image was carved upon it. As the flames burned, the image gradually came to life:
Everyone could see the contents—a withered woman cutting her own wrist, with her desperate, mad prayers...
Many couldn't even imagine why someone could be so despairing. What must have happened to produce such hopeless sounds?
And in the church, some people's faces suddenly turned ugly upon seeing the woman's face...
Lucifer pointed a finger of flame, directly touching the cross beside him—the spot right above where he had been standing all along.
"How long are you going to watch? Come out and pass judgment, angel!"