2 Guns and Magic

"As contractors of God, apostles will not age, but they can still be killed. If they are killed, they'll end up back in Heaven, and that's a no-no for us. I want you to kill them, but you need to do it when they're astray from their principles. If they die in that condition, they won't spawn back to Heaven and instead...."

"They'll end up here," Julian completed.

Lucifer nods and continues, 

"Each apostle could borrow the power of their god, so you might see someone with Thor's hammer or Zeus' lightning, but you shall not worry because I'm not going to send you empty-handed," Lucifer reassured him.

With a swift clap of his hands, Lucifer summoned a massive ring of fire that encircled them, swiftly engulfing and swallowing them within its fiery embrace. As the flames dissipated, they found themselves transported to a completely different area.

"Welcome to my fine collections," he announced, opening his arms in a grand gesture to showcase the surroundings.

"Ohoho, you're kidding me," Julian exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement like a kid in a toy store. Mesmerized by the room they were in, there were hundreds of firearms and knives displayed on the wall.

Hell? This is a fucking paradise!

Julian immediately approached one of the rifles, filled with enthusiasm.

"Swords and shields? Hammers and spears? Heaven's choice in weapons is... how should I say it, primitive? Like a bunch of cavemen."

"Here in Hell, we have taste. A suitable weapon for a gentleman," Lucifer remarked proudly, gesturing to the more refined and intricate weaponry that adorned the walls of his collection.

"Could I take one?" a sinister smile crept across julian's face as he eyed the impressive array of weapons before him.

"Only one?" Lucifer replied, his own smile widening as if entertained by Julian's request.

"Let me introduce you to my personal favorite, the Hell Eagle," he declared, plucking one of the pistols from the display and cocking it before tossing it to Julian.

"A custom version of your human's Desert Eagle, no bullets needed, textured and recontoured grip, coated with gold lining, with fancy carvings by our artisan—Hell's authentic flavor."

"But that's not all! Every shot is imbued with a curse. A single scratch from the bullet would render your victim paralyzed," Lucifer added.

"Hahahahahaha, awesome! Anything else?" Julian asked, excitement coursing through his veins.

"I thought you would never ask. Summer or winter?"

"Winter, but not too cold."

Lucifer reached for yet another rifle from the display and passed it to him.

"Heckler and Koch Cerberus, named after our lovely dog, playful yet dangerous. Again, no bullets needed—no bullet drop, 4x magnification, with 4-karat Swarovski crystals embedded in the grip. Titanium for the body, as light as air, able to penetrate anything and everything."

As Julian examined the rifle, Lucifer had already picked yet another one from the display.

"AWM .338 Gehenna, delicacy of the British meets Hell's feast. No bullet needed, infinite magnification as long as your aim doesn't suck. Custom infrared, night vision, and see-through optic, with a Bowers VERS 50 suppressor and a 24-karat gold tactical stock. Truly a magnificent dinner," Lucifer described, presenting the weapon with a flourish.

"You can put them there on the table," he instructed, gesturing towards the nearby surface where Julian could place the rifles for closer inspection.

"You sure this isn't too much?"Julian said, as he gaze upon the hefty amount of firearms.

"Pffft, bullshit. You're our key to victory. It's natural to provide you with the best weaponry we could offer to smooth your work."

"Don't forget your cutlery, Lorona Cyclone, curse-imbued. Wounds inflicted with this dagger can't be healed, stitched, or closed, so be careful with it," Lucifer added, handing him the menacing-looking spherical dagger.

"Great... I'm ready..." Julian murmured, impatient to try his new toys.

"No, no, what do you mean you're ready? I'm not sending you in that," Lucifer pointed to his school uniform, his tone incredulous as he gestured to Julian's attire. 

"Come," Lucifer waved his hand, gesturing for Julian to follow him.

Julian tailed him through a hidden door behind the display shelf, and inside was a gigantic wardrobe full of suits and blazers.

"Mina!!!! Where the fuck are ya?!" Lucifer shouted, his voice echoing through the expansive wardrobe.

"Don't shout, you dumbass, I'm here," a woman in glasses with horns on her head emerged from between the suits, chiding Lucifer as she appeared.

"I need you to tailor a set for our guest here."

"Huh? But he's a hum-" the woman started, but Lucifer interrupted her.

"Nuh-uh, Apostle." he corrected her firmly, leaving no room for further argument.

"I see... the long-awaited time has come. Come here boy, let's dress you up," Mina said, gesturing for Julian to approach her.

She took out a measuring tape and a notebook, ready to take his measurements and note down the details for the tailored suit.

As she measured the boy, she asked, "American or Italian?"

"Italian, always the classic," Julian replied, opting for the timeless elegance of Italian tailoring.

"Alright, I'm done. Come back in 30 minutes," she said after measuring him, then slipped back into the forest of suits.

"While waiting, I have one last thing to show you," Lucifer said. They walked out of the wardrobe to the display room, where he took out a small book from his blazer.

"Open it," he instructed, handing Julian the book.

the boy did as told, skimming through the pages, his eyes widened in realization.

"Gusion, Sitri, Beleth, Leraje, Eligos, Zepar, Botis, Bathin, Sallos, Purson, Ipos, Aim, Naberius."

"Joseph Stallin, Napoleon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, Alexander III, Julius Caesar, Heinrich Himmler, Gilles de Rais, Osama bin Laden."

The list goes on and on

"These are..."

"Underlings under my command and some humans I find quite 'talented.' I guess you're familiar with the names."

"This is my handbook, a miniature version of the Necronomicon. Inside, there are sigils printed for each name. You're my contractor; therefore, you have the authority to call upon them when you're in need. As for the humans, you could inherit their strengths and abilities," Lucifer elaborated, revealing the true nature of the book.

"This is the representation of my power to you as an apostle. Once again, I ask for your cooperation to fulfill our contract for the benefit of both of us."

"Hah! Don't worry, I'll do my best as long as you keep your side of the deal." 

"Hahahaha, I know I made a great choice contracting you. Pleasure doing business with you," Lucifer chuckled, reaching his hand out offering a handshake.

With a firm grip, they sealed the agreement, "Pleasure to do business with you too, Lucifer Morningstar."

****************************************************************************************

"Done. Tell me if it's too tight or loose," Mina said, adjusting the suit she had tailored for me as I stood before the mirror.

"Everything's perfect," I replied, moving around to ensure I could move comfortably in the tailored suit.

"The suit has hydrophobic and fire-resistant features. It also has impact reduction, able to keep you alive even if you got hit by an elephant. Last but not least, it is enchanted with Asmodeus' essence, improving your appeal to outside eyes."

"Good. My apostle is my representation. I couldn't let my apostle walk around dressed poorly," Lucifer remarked, nodding in satisfaction at my appearance.

"Come on, everything's ready," Lucifer said, gesturing for me to follow him.

I expressed my gratitude to Mina before walking towards the door.

"Boy, make sure to make them suffer!" Mina shouted before disappearing once more into the sea of clothes.

"Everything's packed and ready. I will wait for good news from you," he gestured towards the long briefcase containing all the weapons, perfectly arranged.

"You'll hear it soon," I replied confidently, shouldering the briefcase and strapping the Hell Eagle to my belt. 

"Your first stop is a world named Xylos, in the city of Desmont. Their civilization is built upon steam-powered engines and generators. I believe you humans call this kind of world 'steampunk.' Anyway, the world is familiar with magic. Our intel informed that three apostles have been sent to this area."

With a snap of his finger, a magical circle of fire egraved itself beneath my feet, its flames dancing and swirling.

"Wait, how do I find them?" I asked, seconds before the circle activate.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. I wish you the best of luck."

Instantly, a massive burst of flame erupted, engulfing me and blocking away my vision as I felt the sensation of being pulled through.