Lucifer awoke to the roars of dragons. He wasn't sure what kind. Slowly opening his eyes, he stared up towards a black sky, squinting in confusion, positive he should've seen something. His head throbbed in pain, while throughout his body coldness came from his own sweat, accompanying a chill that filled every breath. He went up to one elbow while a wave of nausea struck him. His mind spun, forcing him to close his eyes again. Lucifer focused on his breath.

  Did I have another dream? he wondered, trying to scan his memory for any remnants of what could've made him like this. It wasn't until he looked around and noticed a trail of smoke coiling towards the sky south of his position that the pieces fell into place.

  The Dreamhouse.

  It made sense. His body had probably inhaled countless substances that it had never experienced before. He didn't take any drugs, so his body's reaction made sense. Lucifer recalled his head throbbing a few minutes after taking flight from the Dreamhouse, before falling and crashing on the rooftop he now rested on. He had fallen asleep shortly after. Remembering this, he cast his gaze over the surrounding buildings, noting that most of them possessed rooftop gardens as well. He considered that for a few moments before he realised.

  I'm in Anubi.

  He almost fooled himself into thinking that he could smell the abundance and excess wealth that humans living here enjoyed. It didn't represent the vast majority of humans, but it still made Lucifer sick. Most of his kind were confined to tiny rooms that were the size of the garden he had landed in. Another bellowing roar drew his gaze towards the forever black sky once more, but still there were no signs of any dragons nearby.

  'I could be imagining it,' he muttered, shrugging before attempting to get to his feet. At once he regretted the attempt, stumbling a few times while another wave of nausea struck him, forcing Lucifer to hold out his arms and breathe in laboured inhales. Lucifer wondered if this was what it meant to have a hangover.

  'Why do you humans do this to yourselves?' he gasped before he remembered the human woman from the Dreamhouse. His expression darkened.

  'I understand now,' he said, shaking his head before making his way to the edge of the building. He was indeed in Anubi. The metal buildings were rounded and better shaped, alongside being much bigger. They rose towards one half of Exia Mountain, which it shared with Greyr. Unlike Anubi, Greyr possessed very few buildings, with leaning columns leading towards a single monument that wasn't made of metal.

  Heaven's Gate.

  Lucifer froze, unsure if he should go there next. An instinct within told him no, that it was too early and that he needed to build his legend first before making the challenge. Lucifer fought his rising impatience. Impulsive emotions were to be controlled. If one lost themselves to them, then they had failed.

  And you're not here to help me, he thought. A sense of longing emerged, and Lucifer banished the feeling as soon as he felt it, not wishing to indulge in such thoughts. That was another way emotions got you. Emotions were smart like that. If you were looking for them, they'd find subtle ways of infecting your mind, blurring the lines as you dwelt on something, fooling you into that emotion. Lucifer knew the trick too well.

  You're trying to do it now, aren't you? Lucifer asked his mind, allowing himself a wry smile. He distracted himself by focusing his attention on the rest of the city, watching as it thrummed with life, while humans went about their business. The Divinity Highway nearby seemed especially busy, while many sirens indicated the DFA was mobilising. Lucifer guessed it was almost midday, giving him time to consider his next move.

  What would spread my message the best? he wondered. Lucifer didn't think there'd be many protests happening in Exia today, especially after what he had done. He didn't doubt, however, that Dreamhouses would continue as though everything were normal. His actions against one wouldn't make much difference to the rest.

  They probably appreciated me wiping out a competitor…

  His gaze turned to the large square building that sat between the Districts of Anubi and Greyr north of the city, not far away from the infamous Carnal Sector in Anubi. It was surrounded by walls that were smaller than the ones at his home, situating massive searchlights that cast beams of blinding light all around it. The DFA's base, Lucifer recognised at once, figuring that striking such a place would perhaps send the loudest message of all. Temptation burned at the prospect.

  No, not yet, the voice within uttered. For a moment Lucifer paused, frowning as he held himself. To him, it made the most logical sense. To strike at the Divinity's law enforcement would surely make the greatest impact? He contemplated why it would ward him away, wondering if it was something else he hadn't sensed.

  'What is it?' he asked, before turning around and finding himself staring at a nimble figure shrouded in black, standing a few feet away from him. Despite knowing that this figure's emergence should concern him, Lucifer felt nothing, instead turning to the side before tapping into his Blessing of a Transformative. He summoned his large revolver, keeping it down against his side, using it more to send a silent message, which he didn't doubt the shrouded figure could read.

  'I didn't even hear you land,' he said, unable to hide the fact that this impressed him from his tone. 'How long have you been standing there?'

  The figure said nothing, regarding him as the sounds of the city filled the air between them. Deciding to take the initiative, Lucifer raised his revolver and fired a single round. The figure flipped away from the attack, landing gracefully before giving Lucifer an unimpressed head tilt. Unwilling to be lured, Lucifer unleashed a barrage of rounds in quick succession, sure that the figure would struggle to avoid them all. However, he watched as the figure performed a series of acrobatic flips and spins, avoiding each round as easily as they had avoided the first, before landing on the opposite side of the rooftop. Lucifer, stunned, studied the figure as they raised their arms, summoning a concentration of visible white air that swirled around them.

  An Elemental, he recognised, watching as the figure sent a hard blast of air his way, sending him over the ledge of the building. Knowing he only had a few seconds to save himself as he fell, Lucifer tapped into his Blessing as a Physical, relinquishing his revolver and enhancing his muscles as he tumbled towards the street. He landed with a loud clang, drawing gazes from all the humans who surrounded him.

  'It's him!' one of them gasped, while fearful mutterings emerged. Lucifer allowed himself to smile, looking up and expecting to see the being falling towards him. Wind stirred, touching his skin like a cold kiss before a bolt of electricity raced towards him. Lucifer leapt into the air to avoid the attack, hearing the electricity strike the metal ground, which caused it to be conducted. Its current travelled across the surface, making humans scream and spasm in shock, while car alarms erupted. Landing on a lamppost and gazing down, Lucifer saw no humans were hurt, just immobilised. That gave him a vital piece of information about his opponent.

  You're not trying to kill me, Lucifer thought. He glanced at the assailant who was standing on the ledge of the building above him, staring down in his direction. Still using his Physical Blessing, Lucifer launched himself in the air, missing the assailant who stepped aside, their cloak fluttering from the air generated by their Elemental Blessing. Lucifer landed on the edge of the rooftop, spinning towards the assailant while tapping into his Transformative Blessing. There, he conjured two black feathered wings while turning his hands into bladed claws. In response, the being whipped up another gust of air, this time to serve as protection from Lucifer launching himself at them.

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  'I won't lose,' he said, ignoring the temptation to tap into a second Blessing while using another. Such a move was practically suicide; the body couldn't handle it. But it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was that Lucifer knew the assailant was an Elemental – a powerful one at that. With that information, he could utilise one of the few advantages his race had over all the others: access to all four Blessings.

  And the Elemental is weak against the Transformative…

  Lucifer launched himself at the assailant, coming into contact with another gust of wind, which he figured was to thwart his movement. He had been counting on that, using the feint of showing his claws to fool the assailant into thinking that he was going to use them. Instead, he used his wings along with the wind to launch himself high into the sky, whirling in the air. Using his momentum as a distraction, he turned his claws into arm blades before closing his wings and placing his arms high above his head. Lucifer then spun in a twist that cut through the air, knowing that only something akin to a hurricane would stop him. That, however, took time to conjure; time Lucifer knew the assailant didn't have. He cut through the air with ease, landing right in front of the assailant before swiping his arm blades in an outward slash. To his surprise, he cut through thin air. He looked up in surprise as he saw the being still standing before him, their body shimmering like ripples in water.

  'An illusion?' Lucifer said, calming himself as he rose, relinquishing his Blessing as he turned and expected the assailant to be there.

  'You're one of us,' Lucifer said, sensing the battle was over. 'Have I been fighting your illusion this whole time?'

  'Pretty much,' a female voice emerged, causing Lucifer's heart to sink in realisation.

  No, he thought, peeling his eyes away from her in disbelief. Things made sense then, especially why Hela had not seen him yesterday.

  'She brought you back,' he said, his sense of longing returning. Other emotions returned with it. Exhilaration. Sadness. Hurt. Pain. Happiness. His mind raced, doing the one thing he despised more than anything, losing the sense of control he had been building within himself. Even the voice within stirred at her arrival, as though it too despised her presence. Lucifer forced his eyes closed, trying to steel his mind, while a shiver ran down his spine.

  'Ven,' Lucifer uttered, before making himself look in her direction. He watched as she reached towards her hood, pulling it back to reveal the face he loathed and adored in equal measure. It was soft and round, and her hair was like his, long with flickers of gold and silver. Even as she looked at him, Lucifer felt the awkwardness this meeting was bringing her.

  'She sent for you, didn't she?' he asked, already knowing the answer.

  'Nice to see you too, Luci,' Vennifer said, sounding as disappointed as he felt. 'And yes, she sent for me. She figured I might be the only one who could help you see sense. Divinity knows why.'

  Lucifer said nothing at that, listening as she stepped towards him.

  'Do you wanna know what the worst part is?' she began. 'I wanted to see you. After what happened…well, I was just happy when Hela asked me to return. Then she told me why.'

  Vennifer paused, forcing Lucifer to return his gaze to her. She seemed saddened, as though every bit of this conversation hurt her. For a moment, Lucifer wished his actions hadn't resulted in this.

  I chose this when I pursued my dream, he thought, trying to find resolve within himself. Not even you can stop this.

  'We need to talk, Luci,' Vennifer said, her expression and tone showing her seriousness. 'What you did in Rai…this…Dream. I've only just returned, and already I can hear humans talking.'

  'Good,' Lucifer said, recalling how the humans had reacted to him just before. However, Vennifer shook her head.

  'No. You don't realise what you're doing. The humans, they're afraid, not just of you but of our entire race. They think we're gonna start leaving the Institute now, hunt them down and slaughter them one by one. I don't know why you're doing this, or where it's even come from, but what you're doing is causing nothing but harm for our kind.'

  'No, I'm sending a message,' Lucifer said, steeling himself as he looked into her eyes. 'I will end our suffering, Ven. The humans, they need to change. We cannot spend the entirety of our lives locked away in those towers!'

  As though to add emphasis, he held out his arm and gestured towards the Institute.

  'Something has to change, Ven. I know our lives mean more than what humanity has decided for us. However, for as long as he lives, nothing will change. We'll still suffer.'

  'But even if you succeed, we'll still be Hateful, Luci.'

  'That's not the point, Ven. What matters is that we can be free. Ever since the beginning, they've despised us and blamed us for everything that's wrong in this world. Something has to change, Ven. I cannot stand aside and live with this anymore.'

  'But you have for so long,' Vennifer protested, shaking her head. 'You never had these thoughts before. Where did they come from? What's changed, Luci?'

  Hela took you away, Lucifer thought, forcing down the pain as soon as it emerged. Vennifer almost seemed to sense this as she eyed him, reaching her arms out towards him as Lucifer fought every fibre in his body from stepping away from her. Again, Vennifer seemed to sense this, pulling her hands back slightly before allowing her arms to fall by her side.

  'She was right,' she muttered, while Lucifer was sure who she was referring to. 'Something's wrong. There's something you're not telling me.'

  'I don't care what she thinks!' Lucifer spat, causing Vennifer to frown. At once, Lucifer admonished himself for sounding so petty and insolent, relaxing his face with a sad smile.

  'I'm sorry, Ven,' he said, 'but Hela wants things to stay the same. She doesn't want me to act because she's afraid of change. Most of our kind is. However, if we don't change, then nothing else will.'

  'But what gives you the right to decide that for us, Luci? Who are you to make such decisions?'

  Lucifer considered that, feeling the voice stir again.

  'Sometimes, someone has to make the choice no one else will make. It's easy to allow things to remain as they are, because everyone else around you cannot comprehend of another way. I've seen it, Ven. I've dreamt it hundreds of times, and every single time I've been told the same thing. We must make this challenge. We must destroy him!'

  'But what gives you the right to decide our future?' Vennifer asked again, her expression becoming one of disbelief. 'You're not thinking straight.'

  That's where you're wrong, Ven, Lucifer thought, keeping it to himself, I've never thought more clearly. Yet, I still have the one weakness I've always had. Deep down, you know it.

  He reached towards her face, only stopping himself when a great wave of pain filled him, causing him to hesitate as he grimaced. Vennifer glanced towards the hand, then back at him.

  'You can touch me, Luci,' she whispered, the words and their meaning hurting him more than anything else could. Lucifer forced himself to turn away, the voice inside saying the one thing that he already knew.

  She is your greatest weakness.