I'm The Devil - Chapter 266

Chapter 266: Return 4

The silence that followed Lucifer’s question was thick and suffocating, broken only by the labored breaths of those struggling to maintain their composure under the weight of his presence. The Nephilims exchanged uneasy glances, their celestial power wavering in the face of such raw, ancient darkness. Cain, however, remained outwardly calm, his crimson eyes meeting Lucifer’s black ones with a measured, unyielding gaze.

It was Lord Aurelius who first attempted to speak, his voice strained and tinged with fear. “We… we have our reasons for returning, Lucifer. The world may have changed, but our purpose remains. We are here to reclaim what was lost, to take our rightful place in the order of things.”

Lucifer’s grin widened, his dark eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and something far more sinister. “Your rightful place?” he echoed, his tone dripping with mockery. “And what place is that, exactly? At the feet of the beings who cast your ancestors down? Or perhaps you seek to rule over the mortals you once guide?”

Seraphina, still struggling against the oppressive aura, managed to muster enough defiance to meet Lucifer’s gaze. “We are not here to be questioned by you, Morningstar. We’ve faced worse than you in our time. If you think your presence alone is enough to deter us, you are sorely mistaken.”

A low, dangerous chuckle escaped Lucifer’s lips. “Such fire,” he remarked, his voice silky and taunting. “I almost admire it. But you misunderstand, Seraphina. I am not here to deter you. I am here out of sheer curiosity. After all, it’s not every day that I find myself in the company of such… unique individuals.”

He turned his attention back to Cain, his expression shifting to one of cold interest. “And you, Cain,” he said, his voice lowering to a near whisper, “what of you? What drives the Firstborn to emerge from the shadows after so many centuries? Surely, it is not just to reclaim a world that has all but forgotten your existence.”

Cain’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he maintained his composure. “My reasons are my own, Lucifer. But know this—I did not come here to be anyone’s pawn, not even yours. My return is not a plea for redemption, nor a quest for power. It is simply… necessary.”

Lucifer raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Cain’s response. “Necessary, you say?” he mused, his tone thoughtful. “How interesting. It seems there’s more to your return than meets the eye.”

He took another step closer, his aura pressing down even harder on the gathered beings. “But necessity can be a dangerous thing, Cain. It often leads to desperation, and desperation… well, it can make even the most powerful beings vulnerable.”

The air grew even heavier as Lucifer’s presence seemed to expand, filling every corner of the space with a darkness that felt almost tangible. “But I am not here to pry into your secrets—at least, not yet,” he continued, his voice softening to a whisper. “For now, I am content to watch, to see how this little game of yours plays out.”

He leaned in closer to Cain, his black eyes piercing and unblinking. “But remember this, Firstborn—should your actions threaten the delicate balance I maintain, I will not hesitate to remind you of the true hierarchy of power, and this goes for all of you.”

Cain met Lucifer’s gaze without flinching, his crimson eyes glowing with an inner resolve. “I have no intention of disturbing your balance, Lucifer,” he replied calmly. “But I will not be intimidated by it, either.”

For a moment, the two ancient beings locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Then, Lucifer straightened, his smirk returning as he stepped back. “We shall see, Cain,” he said, his tone light and almost playful. “We shall see.”

Turning his attention back to the Nephilims, Lucifer’s grin widened once more. “As for you, children of the Watchers, consider this your first and only warning. Whatever your purpose here, be mindful of the lines you cross. The mortal realm is a fragile thing, and it would be such a shame to see it shattered by your… ambitions.”

With that, Lucifer turned on his heel, his black cloak swirling around him as he began to walk away, his aura slowly retracting. But even as he departed, the oppressive weight of his presence lingered in the air, a stark reminder of the power he wielded.

Cain and the others remained silent, the gravity of the encounter settling over them like a shroud. They had returned to the mortal plane with their own goals and desires, but now they knew they were not alone in their ambitions. And in the shadow of Lucifer Morningstar, even the most powerful beings would have to tread carefully.

Seraphina’s frustration boiled over as she shot a glare at Celeste and Aurelius, her anger barely contained. “Look at what you’ve done!” she snapped, her voice trembling with barely suppressed fury. “We’ve barely set foot in the mortal plane, and already we’re being watched by a being whose strength we can’t even begin to fathom!”

Celeste flinched at the harshness in Seraphina’s tone, but she held her ground, her expression one of quiet resolve. “We knew the risks,” she replied, though her voice was softer, as if trying to calm the situation. “The moment we decided to return, we accepted that we would attract attention.”

“Attention?” Seraphina hissed, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and fear. “This isn’t just attention, Celeste. This is Lucifer! Do you have any idea what that means? We could all be destroyed before we even have a chance to fulfill our purpose!”

Aurelius, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke, his tone steady though laced with guilt. “Seraphina, I understand your anger, but we cannot afford to lose our composure now. We came here with a mission, and we must see it through, no matter the challenges.”

Seraphina shook her head, frustration etched into every line of her face. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just another challenge. Lucifer Morningstar is not someone we can simply outmaneuver or overpower. We’re talking about the Morning Star, the Prince of Hell himself!”

“Enough bickering, will you?”