Steve rose slowly, eyes locked on the demon couple.
Lucifer smirked. "Still a warrior, I see."
Steve cracked his neck. "You goddamn right I am."
Lucifer nodded. "I've always admired that about mortals. Your will to die."
Steve paused. The bearded man's voice echoed in his mind. "Steve… we're getting too old for this."
"You know what, old man?" Steve replied silently. "I think you might be right. Crazy how I'm starting to agree with you more." The old man laughed. "About time you listened to your teacher."
"You're not my teacher. Just someone who taught me a few things." "Then let's go out with a bang, old friend." Steve smiled. "You said it. No going back now."
The bearded man: "Let's do it."
Steve roared to the sky. "Raven! Find Thomas and Luke. Deliver my final message
"Those who run will never lead.
Those who murder will never live.
The ones who accepts there fate will live forever."
Tell all the warriors we believe in humanity!"
A purified fire erupted around him, gold aura blazing, trees blown back by sheer force.Lucifer watched, eyes gleaming. Such power… this old man still has it.
The raven flew, cawing, wings slicing through the wind. Caw! Caw! The teacher's words will be delivered! Lucifer pointed. "Don't let that bird escape."
The demon queen slithered up a tree, leapt into the air but before she reached the raven, Steve struck. A punch so fierce it sent her crashing to the earth, carving a trench in the land.
Steve dropped, eyes locked on Lucifer.
Lucifer powered up, red aura flaring, fangs lengthening. Then it begin, Lucifer blocked Steve's elbow and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. He didn't see a man. He saw a figure engulfed in fire.
They clashed punch for punch, kick for kick. Steve's knee connected, a skull-shattering blow. The demon queen is back up and she whipped Steve with her tail. Steve turned, bleeding, but smiling.
She whispered, stunned, "It's true…" Steve unleashed a barrage. She barely dodged until a right hook sent her flying.
Lucifer roared. "Enough!" He transformed dark wings, horns, scaly black skin. His true form. Steve thought, He looks more menacing than any demon I've ever seen.
Lucifer's voice deepened, sinister. "You rebels are pesticides!" He rushed Steve, air warping like an ocean wave. They collided blow for blow, blood for blood.
The demon queen rose, aura swirling pink and purple and black. She joined the fight. Steve held his ground, but wounds mounted. Lucifer's punch. Her tail. His kick. Her scream.
Steve blocked, countered, staggered. Then the demon queen swept Steve from his feet and he landed on the floor, Lucifer double-stomped his chest. Blood sprayed. Steve rose again, fire dimming, but silver and gold still glowing.
Lucifer charged. Steve blocked. But the queen struck from behind tail wrapping around him, binding his limbs. Lucifer grabbed Steve's arm and ripped it off.
Steve groaned, smiling through blood. "Good to know it takes two of you to take me down."Lucifer sneered. "You are the legendary Steve. It'd be a shame not to witness your fall."
Steve coughed. "Yeah… I'd be scared of me too." Lucifer chuckled. "Your mouth never changes. But I won't have to hear it anymore."
The queen tightened her grip, bones cracked, breath faded. Steve's fire vanished. His aura dimmed. Lucifer stepped forward. "You died with nobility."
He punched through Steve's chest, grabbed his heart and crushed it. The tale of Steve the bearded man… was no more.