The silence lasted several seconds after the impact. The galaxies were still trembling from the shockwave — some were slowly collapsing in on themselves, devoured by the void left by the antimatter sphere. Adam remained motionless. His gaze lost itself in the infinite darkness, his wings still spread, beating weakly. He showed visible irritation.
Adam: (sighs, bitter) Tss… I knew that wouldn't be enough.
A golden spark, tiny at first, split the void in front of him. Then another. Soon, a silhouette slowly materialized — each fragment of light recomposing a humanoid form. Lucifer reformed as if the attack had caused him no damage.
Adam clenched his fists. A vein pulsed on his temple. Lucifer floated calmly, hands crossed behind his back, a mocking expression on his face…
Lucifer: With that look, you resemble a dead fish, you know?
Adam: Damn it, if it weren't for the fact that you're a Seraph, you'd already be dead, bastard.
Lucifer: Honestly, look at you… we know you can't win. The rank difference between us is huge — about seven ranks apart. My seniority also plays a role in my power, but our ranks should have made you back off. How can someone be this stubborn?
Lucifer: As punishment, I won't hold back. Since you tried to kill my daughter, don't be upset if I leave you half-dead. (voice distorted)
Note: Angels, according to their hierarchy, are ranked based on their power, importance, and participation in creation. This classification is called the Nine Choirs of Angels.
The classification of the nine angelic choirs does not appear directly in the Bible. It is a theological construction developed after the biblical texts were written.
Seraphim
Cherubim
Thrones
Dominions
Virtues
Powers
Principalities
Archangels
Angels
In Hazbin Hotel, cherubim are strangely weak, but I will respect this point in the series without changing the ranking. If you want to put cherubim at the last place, it's up to you.
Adam was well aware that, being an archangel, he had no chance of defeating Lucifer, who is a Seraph. Even after being trapped in the pocket dimension by the latter, Adam could only strike a few blows before losing; he had too much pride to abandon the fight without fighting, even if his opponent was stronger.
Adam realized that the effects of his ability were seriously harming him — the voices in his head grew louder, and hallucinations started. He temporarily deactivated his ability, which, at the same time, in the main dimension where Charlie and her friends were fighting, caused the projections of Adam's angel exterminators to dissipate. This was a relief for Charlie and her allies, who didn't know that Adam was facing Lucifer. Adam had withdrawn, and his personal extermination was over.
But for the angel exterminators, already confused by Adam's disappearance, the dissipation of his ability made them even more anxious. The most stressed was obviously Lute, who hurried to the Hell Embassy at Heaven to descend. She had a bad feeling.
In the pocket dimension, the fight resumed.
"Know that Adam, now having canceled the perfect copy, will only use his own abilities, not those copied from Sera."
Lucifer: Oh, why have your eyes lost that strange form? Did you deactivate your ability? The side effects are already taking effect. I thought so; you seemed spaced out.
Adam: And since you're a bastard, you're going to take advantage to shoot a death ray at me and kill me.
Lucifer: No, know this — I have pride. The fact that I fight you while you are seven ranks below me would make me look like a coward, so know that the fight will continue in melee. If you want, you can use weapons, but no enchantments, okay?
Adam: Okay… Let's begin then.
Adam roared. He materialized his light axe in his hand and charged at an incredible speed, creating light distortions behind him. Lucifer, meanwhile, raised his hand. The simple rubbing of his thumb against his index finger triggered an invisible shockwave.
Adam's axe exploded into particles. Caught off guard, he tried to create another one. But Lucifer teleported, grabbed Adam's wrist, and twisted it with a sharp crack. Adam gritted his teeth to avoid screaming. Then Lucifer drove a knee into his ribcage.
Adam spat a geyser of silver blood, propelled backward through a field of stars. But before he could catch his breath, Lucifer materialized behind him and struck him with a wing sweep.
Adam collided with an asteroid, reducing it to dust.
Lucifer: Stand up, I'm not done with you.
Adam's body trembled as he slowly got back up.
Adam: You talk too much; I didn't feel a thing. Come on, bastard.
Adam leapt forward, wings spread for maximum speed. His fists, glowing with residual energy, cut through space with a whistling sound, aiming for Lucifer's torso. But the latter, with astonishing fluidity, subtly shifted his weight, leaving Adam to strike… empty space.
Adam pivoted instantly, attempting a hook, followed by an uppercut combo. Every movement made gravity around them vibrate; debris from stars and planet fragments floated in their wake. But Lucifer moved with near-surgical precision, dodging each strike with a slight sidestep or twist of the body.
Lucifer counterattacked. A precise shoulder strike sent Adam crashing into a cluster of space debris. Adam landed on his feet, but his balance was nearly broken.
Adam decided he needed to close the distance. He leapt again, attempting tight melee grapples to seize and throw Lucifer. But with a simple wave of his arm, Lucifer grabbed Adam's forearm and twisted it into a painful angle, a cracking sound echoing in the void. Adam screamed, briefly losing his guard.
Lucifer took advantage: a knee to the abdomen, followed by a reverse arm strike, sent Adam flying several meters. His breath caught; his ribcage protested. He staggered, regaining balance with difficulty, wings beating frantically to maintain altitude and stability.
Adam roared in frustration. His attacks were rapid and brutal, but each was anticipated. Even when he struck Lucifer's shoulder, the effect was minimal; Lucifer stepped back, exhaling lightly as if amused.
Adam began to fatigue. Every move required immense effort. His wings felt heavy; his strikes were less precise. Lucifer, by contrast, seemed almost to float, each minimal movement perfect, his weight, strength, and speed calibrated to absorb and counter.
Adam wavered. Pain and fatigue accumulated. He realized that in realistic melee combat, Lucifer had not only the technique but also endurance, timing, and body reading — advantages Adam could not bridge, no matter the powers he copied from Sera.
Suddenly, a giant hologram appeared in the sky. You already know whose it was.
All the creatures of Hell and Heaven prepared for this moment, but just like the extermination, it unfolded prematurely. The appearance of the anomaly also accelerated.
[New SCP Objects Detected in Your Reality]
[Anomaly Report]: "Avoid making noise…"