The dark red light of the Annihilation Ray wove through the air, tracing right-angle and straight-line paths with lethal precision. Any fallen angel caught off guard was instantly consumed by the beam, reduced to ashes in a heartbeat.

“Don’t falter!” the fallen angel leader barked. “Form a formation to counter him!”

Angels, even those fallen from grace, retained their celestial prowess. Once warriors of Heaven, they now served Lucifer, their martial instincts undimmed. The remaining dozen or so fallen angels, guided by their leader, aligned in a disciplined formation mid-air and dove toward Sebastian Shaw with coordinated ferocity.

Sebastian adapted swiftly, shifting tactics. He replaced the Annihilation Ray with the Hellfire Curse, flicking his wand before him. A stream of Hellfire ignited in the air, and as he swept the wand upward, the flames erupted. The surging Hellfire coalesced into a towering, half-bodied flame demon, its winged form looming. With a roar, it swung massive arms, clawing at the descending fallen angels.

Boom! Boom!

The demon’s claw lashed out, Hellfire exploding from its arm and spreading outward in a blazing wave. The fallen angels scattered, dodging to avoid a direct clash with the inferno. Sebastian’s lips curved into a faint smile—their dispersal was exactly what he’d anticipated.

He waved his wand again, the Hellfire now as pliable as an extension of his will. Once difficult to control, it now obeyed his every thought, a testament to the authority he’d claimed. The flame demon shattered, its fragments morphing into a flock of flaming crows. Cackling eerily, they soared in all directions, pursuing the scattered fallen angels with relentless hunger.

Screams pierced the night as the fallen angels plummeted, their bodies engulfed in flames. Soon, the leader found himself encircled by a swarm of Hellfire crows, frozen in place.

Sebastian stepped forward, apparating instantly before the leader. Without a word, he raised his wand and cast Legilimens. A verdant green light shot from the wand’s tip, piercing the fallen angel’s eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, delving into his mind.

Fallen angels, far stronger than humans, resisted fiercely. The spell’s progress was slow, inching toward the depths of the leader’s brain and soul. His body trembled violently, wracked by spasms as he roared incoherently. For over three minutes, he fought, but his defenses crumbled. Sebastian breached his mind, accessing a flood of memory fragments.

The memories flashed chaotically, a torrent too vast to parse. With a twist of his wand, Sebastian refined the spell, filtering out irrelevant fragments to focus on Lucifer’s domain in the Hell dimension. In the vision, the leader soared through Hell, flanked by fellow fallen angels. Black mountains, sharp as swords, pierced the crimson sky. At their center stood a towering peak, nearly touching Hell’s zenith. Atop it, an obsidian throne gleamed, and on it sat a young man in a black suit, barefoot, eyes closed, as if napping.

Sebastian, through the leader’s memory, drew closer, straining to discern the figure’s features. Abruptly, the young man’s eyes snapped open, locking onto the fallen angel—and, impossibly, onto Sebastian himself. His gaze pierced the leader’s soul, traversing time to meet Sebastian’s eyes in the present.

A jolt shook Sebastian’s body. The leader in the memory ignited in black demonic flames, vanishing without a trace of pain. Sebastian severed Legilimens, eyes snapping open. Before him, the real leader was engulfed in the same black flames, his body dissolving bit by bit.

Yet, defying expectation, the leader’s face remained serene, as if cradled in peace. His eyes opened slowly, revealing inky black voids without whites, and fixed on Sebastian.

“I’ve long wished to see the human who wrested Hellfire’s authority from Mephisto,” he said, voice calm. “You exceed my expectations. A pity you’re now watched by many high beings. Otherwise, inviting you to my ranks might have been… intriguing.”

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. “Lucifer?”

“Indeed,” the voice confirmed. “As amends for my subordinates’ insolence, I offer advice. When probing the minds of a high being’s followers, never seek memories tied to that being unless you’re shielded by greater power. The consequences are… unpleasant.”

“Why aid me?” Sebastian pressed.

Lucifer’s tone was measured. “Aid? Perhaps you see it that way. But my actions serve me, just as the Ancient One’s seem to serve you. Who can say her true intent isn’t self-preservation? At a certain echelon, motives blur. You must plan three steps ahead, your vision extending beyond the present.

“You may not grasp this now, but the world is too still. We need upheaval, and you are its catalyst. You, a restless fish, must stir the waters. Whether you leap from the lake to join us or sink into obscurity depends on you. I’ll await the chaos you bring, watching from beyond the lake.”

The body of the fallen angel leader dissolved completely, consumed by the black demonic flames until nothing remained, vanishing without a trace.

Sebastian glanced at the demonic shadows scattering swiftly around him, their forms fading into the night. Dismissing them, he descended gracefully, landing before the Ancient One. Her robes were slightly tattered, her usual serene composure tinged with fatigue. A flicker of concern crossed his face as he studied her. “Master Ancient One, was there some formidable being here just now? How else could you be in such a state?”

The Ancient One met his gaze, her lips curving into a soft, knowing smile that held a warmth beyond her usual stoicism. She brushed off his concern with a gentle shake of her head. “It was merely a challenge to face those foes with only my own strength. Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

Her voice carried a playful lilt, the unspoken trust that had grown between them. He nodded, a spark of understanding in his eyes. “I see. Still, I’ve put you through a great deal, Master Ancient One. Thank you.”

Her smile deepened, a glimmer of mischief dancing in her expression. “No trouble at all, Sebastian. I helped you today, and I trust you’ll return the favor when the time comes, won’t you?” Her tone was light, but her gaze held his, steady and searching, as if testing the weight of their bond.

Sebastian felt a warmth bloom in his chest, her words stirring something deeper than mere alliance. He stepped closer, his voice softening, laced with a sincerity that mirrored her own. “Of course, Master Ancient One. If you ever need me—anything at all—you need only ask.” His eyes held hers, a quiet promise in their depths, the air between them charged with an unspoken connection.

She tilted her head, her half-smile teasing, yet her expression softened, revealing a rare glimpse of the woman beneath the Sorcerer Supreme. “Don’t worry, Sebastian. I’ll hold you to that.” Her voice was low, almost a whisper, and for a moment, her hand hovered near his, as if tempted to bridge the gap.

The moment lingered, fragile and electric, before she stepped back, her composure returning like a veil. With a graceful gesture, she opened a shimmering portal, its golden sparks illuminating her silhouette. “Until next time,” she said, her eyes catching his one last time before she stepped through, returning to Kamar-Taj.

Sebastian watched her vanish, the portal’s glow fading into the night.

Without hesitation, he summoned his magic, transforming into a vortex of twisted space and disappearing from the barren mountain.

————–

Author’s Note:

To Compensate for the delay, I have Uploaded 2 Chapters Today!

Enjoy!!

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