Rise of the Demon King: Luke Hellwalker's Revenge

Chapter 4: Fighting an Angel

Judith watched as the so-called hero's body slowly crumbled into nothingness. Soon they would finally be rid of one of the thirteen demon kings. The very thought left her giddy.

An event that had not once occurred since the beginning of creation was happening right in front of her eyes. With this miracle, the balance of good and evil would shift in their favor.

She squealed as she thought about how Salvador would praise her for her efforts. He might not have been one of the seven angel lords, but his status was high up in the hierarchy that his word was just as good as theirs. She would surely rise up the ranks and maybe even reach his status.

With her mind consumed with thoughts about her future, she missed the red glow emitting from the hero's body. It was only when the light became so bright that it was impossible to ignore, she realized something was wrong.

"Wait, what's happening?" she asked no one in particular as she stared dumbfounded at the crumbling body that was reforming. "Could it be? Is he trying to come back as a demon king? I don't think so."

Summoning her holy spear Dawnlight, she lunged at the body to skewer it. The tip of her spear didn't even get close before a powerful force threw her back. Her back collided into one of the pillars, and she groaned. Falling to her feet, she kneeled onto the ground as she watched with horror at the birth of the new demon king.

Luke opened his eyes and saw he had returned to where he had been previously. He frowned. Flexing his fingers, he didn't feel any changes in his body. If he had become the demon king, he figured he would grow horns and wings like how the last demon king had them.

[You only just agreed to become the demon king. The changes aren't that instantaneous.]

He clenched his fists as he said, "I expect you to tell me everything about being a demon king."

[Of course. That's why I'm here.]

"You damn demon." He turned his eyes away from the message and watched as the angel took to the air once more. She looked a bit scuffled up. He wondered what happened. "There's no way you're leaving here. I'll make sure not even a trace of you exists."

"You talk big when I know you can't kill me." Seeing her shocked expression, he smiled and continued, "I know all about the secrets behind the demon kings. Like the one where the role is passed onto another via death. There's no way you'll lay a hand on me now."

She stared stunned. With this, he was safe until they decided to summon more fake heroes to come after him. The angels wouldn't want to be turned into one of the demon kings.

Suddenly, she burst out laughing, and an unease crept up his back. "What's so funny?"

"You're right. The succession for demon kings is done by killing the previous one," she said in between her laughs.

He narrowed his eyes and asked, "If you know this, you should know this is no laughing matter. You can't lay a finger on me unless you want to become a demon king."

"That's true. If I kill you, the current demon king, then I'll become the new demon king. There's just one small detail you've forgotten," she said as she spun her spear.

"And what's that?" he demanded as he prepared himself from what appeared to be an inevitable fight.

"You're already dead," she said with a smile.

That was his only warning before she shot towards him like an arrow. He barrel rolled out of the way. When he looked back, he saw she had crashed through several pillars, destroying them. As expected, she would be a tough opponent for him to face, especially since he was unarmed.

"Demon king, what is she talking about?" he asked.

[You died.]

"I know that," he said as he continued to run and dodge her strikes. Despite how serious she was acting, it felt like she was toying with him. "Didn't you say you'll bring me back to life so I can have my revenge?"

[You were not brought back to life. Only the damage done to your spiritual body was fixed.]

He gritted his teeth. "This was not what you promised me."

[I promise you that you'll live once more and get your revenge. First things first, you need to deal with the crazy angel."

Luke cursed. That was easy for him to say. Asking him to fight an angel unarmed was the same as asking a mouse to attack a lion. It was impossible and dangerous. If only he had his sword again.

[You look like you need a little help. Here, let me.]

A red screen flashed before him, but he didn't get a chance to read before a bolt of lightning struck where he was. Sliding out of the way and into a new hiding spot behind another pillar, he quickly scanned the message.

[Emergency Quest]

[Fight the Angel]

[You are fighting the angel Judith who wishes to erase your existence.]

[Fight and defeat the angel.]

[You will be temporarily given an item of your choosing to face her.]

[Select your item.]

It looked exactly like the system the angels gave them. He briefly wondered what the connection was but quickly shook those thoughts away. That wasn't important right now. This was exactly what he needed to fight the angel.

"I choose Sanguine," he declared as the angel lunged at his hiding spot.

A blood red sword dropped into his open hands and blocked the angel's spear. The force of the collision created a shockwave and large cracks formed around him at the epicenter. At the sight of him blocking her attack, she ground her teeth together.

"You. Where on earth did you get that weapon? That wasn't the sword we gave you," she said as pressured him.

"You're right," he said. "It was the previous demon king's sword."