Lucifer reached the 17th floor—Arteos's domain. A floor with more than 100,000 sq km in area. The metallic hell. Every devil was scared to see the shadow of Lucifer. Finally, Lucifer reached Arteos's castle—the castle of spikes and blades, Armedinia.
Deep within the castle was Arteos, covered in tears.
Lucifer said, "Arteos."
Arteos said, "Lucifer, why are you here?"
Lucifer said, "Oh, me? Every Supreme Devil is confined to their own floor. They are unable to move unless it's through the Gates of Nerthalis, where one after another each devil will be let loose. But I'm not a devil. These rules don't bind me. As the strongest fallen angel, I can move freely among the floors of the Underworld."
Arteos said, "Can you go to the surface world?"
Lucifer said, "No. The final seal on the 25th floor prevents me from going up there. But if I poured all my magic power, I could destroy it in a second. But I'm not interested. Now, my friend, what has your soul in so much pain?"
Arteos said, "I have lost. I failed to stop Faust from using the memory spell. Now Freyja and Faust can never be together. In a mere 1 hour, Freyja will forget Faust. History will repeat itself. Even if Freyja recovers herself, the cost is too high. I waited a thousand years, waiting for Freyja's return. But now it's impossible. After so long—I wanted so long, serving the Fausts for so long, in the hope that maybe one day Faust and Freyja would reunite. But now neither can awaken. I tried my best. The previous Faust was one who inherited both the will of Faust and Freyja. But even Lilith Faust couldn't awaken despite inheriting the will of Faust. And Domr Faust managed to beat Loki, but even he couldn't awaken the true darkness. Every Faust has failed. And finally, when a Faust met Freyja, it was all for nothing."
Lucifer said, "Arteos, how old are you?"
Arteos said, "I'm 1054."
Lucifer said, "Yeah. I have been watching the world since the dawn of devils. If you had told me the same thing 11 centuries ago, I would have believed you. But after seeing the man who inherited Faust's will, I understand hope was never lost. And the one who inherited Freyja's will during that period—Elsdi—it's a tragedy. But I'm sure of it: this Faust and Freyja will fulfill their world. The day when devils shall live under the sun and moon isn't far. I know. And if a Morningstar serves this Faust, I'm sure the world—I'm sure the wave is coming."
Arteos said, "What's so special about this Morningstar?"
Lucifer said, "I don't know. All I know is a Morningstar serves Faust. She is a devil who wields golden flames—same as my deceased daughter. If she was here, maybe she could have seen Faust. But there is a saying: a Morningstar will emerge who can command the beasts without the Flames of Vesta. And if this Morningstar is the same one, I'm waiting to see it—the one who will finally defeat the threat on Ironia. Arteos, let's go."
Arteos said, "Where?"
Deep inside Arteos's castle, there was a throne high above stairs—a throne surrounded by swords, wings, and claws.
Lucifer said, "Remember this throne."
Arteos said, "Yeah. A thousand years ago, this is the throne that belonged to the man whom every devil in the world allied with. These claws, swords, wings were the symbol of their loyalty."
Arteos said, "I remember. Yet in the final battle, we lost. And here we are, punished. We couldn't be wiped out due to our strength as a race, so we were divided among 25 floors so that rage, hatred, and grief can isolate each one of us. And seeing Aravon, he is already too far gone."
Lucifer said, "Yeah. And Satan isn't exactly the most friendly man in the neighbourhood. But the point is—I waited 4000 years searching for an answer on why Faust and Freyja left. Until I saw them—Elsdi and him. That was the moment I realized they never abandoned me, and they would return. No matter how long their promise was, for good, they had never forsaken us. And I will keep trying because I'm sure the Flames of Vesta will unite Faust and Freyja once more. Even if they are separated by time, memories, and reality. Arteos, this throne doesn't just represent the man every devil in the world reveres. It represents an eternal promise—and the true reason why every devil in the world was loyal to him. Hope isn't lost. It never will be. As long as the will of Faust lives on, someone will be there to fight."
Arteos said, "I see now, great angel. But I'm still powerless."
As Lucifer nodded in a no:
Lucifer said, "You are a devil who has known the two Fausts since the start. I'm sure with your contract, you can stop the fighting of the Fausts."
Arteos said, "My second contract with Lilith Faust may be the only way. But now I see what I must do."
In the real world, as Lilith and Liebe saw each other, Lilith let out her King's Roar, yet it didn't faze Liebe. The 4.131513 km vanished in minutes. As he was being surrounded by knights, he continued to talk straight, oblivious to the world. As he was face to face with Lilith, yet without acknowledging her, he moved past her and went to Licht. He helped him up and said, "Hey, Licht. You are fine, right?"
Licht said, "Liebe, sorry. I failed."
Liebe said, "You did your best, Licht. And that's enough. It's going to be—I'm here. Now let me help you." As he extended his hand and was about to heal him, Licht grabbed his hand and said, "Liebe, please stop. Don't waste your mana on me."
Liebe said, "No. You are my best friend." As he healed Licht and gently placed him on the ground. Licht lost consciousness.
As Liebe stood up, meanwhile in command:
Someone said, "Grandmaster, Lilith Faust is currently engaging the enemy forces leader. We have them completely surrounded. Permission to capture Liebe?"
Asten said, "No. Wait. Let Lilith handle this. You all will only get in the way. Get away. Get further away. Maintain at least a kilometer distance."
As they all moved away, Lilith looked down onto Liebe. Liebe looked up. The force from their King's Roars alone was enough to make everyone see their ends. They were all frozen in fear.
Someone said, "What the hell is this? What kind of monsters are they? Just being around them is scary. It feels as if I have died."
As most of them started bleeding from their mouths, eyes, ears, and noses.
At point blank, Lilith said, "Black Hole Slash!"
Liebe used Rampage and King's Roar to easily cut through it. The thing that took Licht a life-or-death situation to learn, Liebe was doing it effortlessly. His battle with Mikhail had truly changed him.
Liebe said, "Licht, stop me if I go too far. Dark Magic: Blood Lust!" As the dark marks appeared all over his body again.
Lilith said, "Black holes all around!"
As Liebe extended his arm, they all perished.
Liebe said, "I'm done holding back for good. Especially to the likes of you."