Chapter 72 - 72: Mysteries Of Decay
Lucifer only had one hand at the moment as his other hand was cut off due to the Chimera Eagle's attacks. His hand did seem like it was growing back because of his healing.
Using his remaining hand, he fired a lightning bolt in the direction of the Chimera Eagle, intending to kill it at once.
Flapping its wings against the wind, the Chimera Eagle moved to the side, dodging the attack just as easily. Its speed seemed much faster. The Black Lightning Bolt got past the Chimera Eagle, missing its wings just by a few inches.
Feeling the incredible strength of the lightning bolt that had just missed it, the Chimera Eagle screeched in anger.
Its voice was so sharp that it was hurting Lucifer's ears.
Lucifer was sure that if he were any closer to the Chimera, his ears would have been bleeding by now because of that sharp sound. Fortunately, his hand had healed by now, making him feel complete once again.
Watching the Chimera Eagle opening its mouth once again, he realized what was coming. It was going to be another attack of that white Laser Beam.
Not willing to be caught in this attack again, Lucifer pointed both his hands towards the Chimera Eagle and fired two Thunderbolts simultaneously.
The Chimera Eagle attacked as well, firing the white beam of light towards Lucifer.
The two Lightning Bolts clashed with the White Beam of light as they continued ahead like an unstoppable force of nature, finally hitting the wings of the Chimera Eagle that had tried to dodge at the last moment.
Two big holes were left in the Chimera Eagle's left wing as it came crashing down to the ground, losing control.
Even though the lightning bolts had hit the Chimera Eagle, it didn't stop the White Beam of light from hitting Lucifer's stomach either. A three-inch-wide hole was left in his stomach as the beam of light passed through.
Lucifer also dropped down to his knees as he bled on the dirty ground before his body started the healing process.
He was feeling weakness in his entire body as his blood left his body. His vision was blurry, making him unable to see clearly. He only saw a blur crashing on the ground in front of him.
Placing his palm on the ground, he tried to push his body upwards to stand up, but he realized that even his hands were shivering from weakness. Was it because he hadn't eaten properly? Or he used too much of his power recently? He couldn't understand.
Ignoring the shivering hands, he clenched his teeth as he pushed his body upwards and stood up.
His stomach still had a hole, but it was much smaller now. It seemed like his healing was at its full effect, and he was going to be fully healed within seconds.
Ignoring his wounds, he walked towards the Chimera Eagle. His vision was still blurry, but he was able to guess that the Chimera Eagle laid ahead of him.
The Chimera Eagle also stood up on its two eagle-like feet. Its lion head glared towards Lucifer as its mouth opened wide. A mighty roar left its mouth. It seemed like an effort to intimidate Lucifer, but it didn't work in the slightest.
Facing death so many times, Lucifer had developed the will of a true Lion. He didn't feel even a little bit intimidating as he walked towards the Chimera Eagle.
Seeing the chimera eagle not attack again with that laser, he had realized that it probably couldn't attack now. Did he hit a nerve? He didn't know the reason, but he was certain that it would have attacked by now if it could.
The Chimera Eagle started running towards Lucifer with its small legs. Its mouth was opened wide as if waiting to cut Lucifer's flesh when it got near him.
Lucifer, however, didn't let the Chimera Eagle get close to it as he raised his hand that was previously cut in the Chimera Eagle's first attack.
"You deserve to die," A voice that sounded like it was coming straight from the depths of hell escaped Lucifer's mouth as he declared a death sentence.
It seemed like poetic justice to destroy the eagle with the hand it had destroyed for no reason at all.
As soon as he spoke the words, a black lightning bolt left his hands and entered through the open mouth of the Chimera Eagle into its body.
The Chimera Eagle died a painful death as its body was burnt and electrocuted inside out. Its body flopped to the ground as its scary screeches stopped.
Lucifer's stomach was completely healed by now, and his vision returned to normal as well, but he still felt weak for some reason.
Seeing the dead Chimera Eagle, Lucifer walked closer and sat down before it.
Slowly reaching out his right hand, he touched the head of the Chimera Eagle.
As his fingers touched the Chimera Eagle's body, it started decaying and disintegrating, which Lucifer observed, trying to understand his decaying powers better.
....
Lucifer watched the body of the Chimera Eagle deteriorating right in front of his eyes. He observed the body of the Chimera Eagle turn to ash, but even after this whole process finished, he didn't stand up.
"I was right. I do feel myself getting stronger every time I use my Decay on someone. It's as if their life force is absorbed by my body. Is this the reality or just my misconception?" Lucifer muttered as he looked at the ash in front of him. "I don't feel weak anymore, though."
He could feel a new strength soaring inside his body. Even though it seemed to be only a tiny amount which was tough to notice if the person wasn't looking carefully enough, Lucifer had felt something like this a few times before.
He thought that it was a misconception previously, but now that he used his Decay on the Chimera Eagle while keeping a calm head, he was able to see it happen again. It seemed even less like a misconception now, but he still wasn't certain.
While Lucifer was thinking about this strange phenomenon related to his powers, he felt a vibration on the ground. The ash lying on the ground could also be seen vibrating.
With a deep frown on his face, he slowly stood up as he turned back and looked in the direction where the Chimera Eagle had come from.