19

The arena was filled with every angel in the heavens but unlike the first time, it was dead silent. No one was as enthusiastic as they were before. Everyone was tensed up, Lucifer was going to pick ten of them at random and they all knew deep down that he was not going to make the games as easy as they were before.

After a long period of silence, Lucifer made an appearance with Adriel, Gadreel, and shockingly to everyone else, Nahamani. Carshena stood up from her seat as she saw her checking her to see if she was okay. Nahamani gave her a slight nod that eased her temporarily. Her gaze then shifted to Lucifer and she glared at him. Lucifer came to stand in front of the arena, still holding Nahamani on his arm. His golden eyes scanned the entire arena. He saw that every angel was terrified and it made him happy. This is how a ruler should be.

"Angels! It is my great pleasure to announce the names of the contestants of this tournament. You should consider yourself worthy". The angels however gave a very weak clap.

"The angels performing in this contestant are Michael, Carshena, Gadreel, Adriel, and Nahamani". The response of the angels showed that they were very shocked at this new pattern. They however still clapped. Lucifer could not care less. He flew to the top of the stands and sat staring Carshena in the eyes. The angel gulped and flew to the bottom of the arena. Michael also made his way down and he tried to make eye contact with Lucifer. Lucifer however plastered a smile on his face and looked towards the crowd. If the angels were going to keep going against him instead of willingly accepting him, he was going to make them do so forcefully.

This was not a friendly competition, this was an execution. He did not even care who would die in the process of the tournament. The reward that comes after it was what he yearned for and that was all which kept him going. Lucifer decided to hide the trials from them, unlike the other tournaments that had a certain pattern.

"Contestants, let the games begin". Immediately, the five of them formed a circle waiting for the first task to appear. Lucifer smirked before waving his hand lightly. A dragon appeared from behind Michael, and the crowd screamed. Gadreel pushed Michael closer to it as it spat fire and started to run in the opposite direction. As Michael fell, the dragon's feet were about to crush him before Carshena was able to drag him out. Adriel watched Nahamani stare at the dragon. She was trying to calm it down. Adriel went after her with her sword but she stopped when she saw the dragon open its mouth. In shock, she stood still as the dragon spat fire towards her. Gadreel quickly kicked her out of the way and she tumbled to the other side.

"Are you out of your mind, the whole point is not to get hurt"? He said to her. Adriel opened up her mouth in shock and pointed to the dragon.

"It's real". She said. Gadreel frowned at her.

"It's an illusion Adriel, it can't kill you but it will hurt you well enough to make you lose this competition". He replied. Adriel shook her head.

"NOOO! "It is real. That's a real dragon Gadreel, it isn't an illusion". Gadreel stared at the dragon and then at Lucifer in the stands. He widened his eyes in realization.

"He's trying to kill us". He whispered. "He's trying to kill all of us".

He glared at Lucifer. Of course, they were just means to an end. He had lied to them from the beginning. He was not planning to share the glory with them. In anger, Gadreel spread his wings and went after Lucifer. Adriel screamed after him.

"Gadreel STOP!" It was already too late, the angel had already come after Lucifer. He was caught midair by the neck, with Lucifer smiling down at him.

"Look at you, this anger should be channeled somewhere else". He lazily said. The dragon had disappeared when Lucifer grabbed Gadreel and the whole heavens were watching them. Where Adriel was, she was glad she wasn't the one who messed up this time. But she feared for Gadreel's life. Lucifer was on a killing spree. Why did he have to be so unfortunate?

"You lied to us". Gadreel spat out. Lucifer smiled at him. He wouldn't kill him, not with his own hands anyway. He would not have minded if the dragon had roasted him alive but now, watching Gadreel challenge him. This was the kind of soldier he needed. Not a weak and feeble-minded angel.

"I certainly did not".

"You think this is funny!" Gadreel yelled. Lucifer smiled.

"I truly do, you are the one hanging over the arena Gadreel so it is funny that you are yelling at me".

"Master please let him go". Michael called from below. Lucifer stared at him and scoffed. All this time, he had been training the wrong person. If only he had been training Gadreel, perhaps to command over half of the angels wouldn't have been so hard.

"If I do that, he will fall to his death". Lucifer said smiling. "And I am sure you are all very tired of death now aren't you?"

"Why are you doing this?" Carshena screamed. Lucifer pointed at himself with the second hand.

"Me? because I have the power to. Because I can, because I willed it to be so". He said.

"Careful Lucifer, you are not God". Nahamani spat at him. Lucifer laughed. How degrading for him to be measured with God.

"No, I am not". He paused. "But I am better". He released Gadreel after this but Michael stood underneath him and broke his fall.

Lucifer then unveiled the key to the forbidden door for all to see. The crowd went into a frenzy when they saw it in his hands. Gadreel glared at Lucifer. What was the point of all these? What was the point of bragging when he could have gotten what he needed quietly?

The anointed cherub smiled broadly. "Behold, the key to the forbidden door".

The crowd gasped in surprise. Lucifer liked the response he got.

"Our heavenly father gave us a gift. The winner of this year's tournament gets to have the gift that was safely hidden inside the door". He explained.

"What is in there?" An angel asked from the crowd.

"Why, a sword of course". He replied. The heavens were silent. "A sword created with the life of God, a sword that gives ultimate power to the wielder, making him or her the most powerful angel in the heavens". Murmurs filled the heavens after that, Carshena and the rest on the floor were extremely shocked.

"And you want the sword". Michael stated. Lucifer stared at him with an unusual glare.

"Of course. Why go through all these troubles?" He said. Michael clenched his fists. This was the spirit he looked up to, the spirit they all looked up to. A lying, deceitful, backstabbing spirit.

"Now I can just go up there and take it...."

"Which you should". Gadreel added with a glare. Lucifer raised his hands up to silence him.

"But I have a flair for the dramatic so I will do what was intended in the first place. I will duel the strongest among you for the sword and if he or she wins, you can do with me however you like". He said and with a smile on his lips, he added." But if I win, you all must bow to me as your one and only master and serve me as long as you all will live".

Heavens were very silent. Fear gripped all of them, no one was as strong as Lucifer. No one came close, well except for one person.

"I will duel with you". Michael said coming forward. Carshena tried to grab him but he pushed her away. "I will beat you and then I will send you to the judgment you deserve".

Lucifer laughed loudly and jumped from the top of the arena to Michael's position. He drew his sword and pointed it at him.

"Ahh finally some energy from you, you were beginning to dull my little one". He teased, a sadistic smile crept on his face. "I am going to have so much fun".