Global Awakening: Only I Can Respawn

Asmodeus leaned in slightly, eagerly listening to the tale of his death. Lucifer, on the other hand, sat with his arms crossed, skeptical about her claims.

"As we thought the mole was a thing of the past, it reappeared at the most inopportune time... during another disaster subjugation mission."

She continued, "Fighting one disaster was already difficult, but fighting two simultaneously was impossible. Because of that, 85% of the remaining Awakeners were wiped out. The disaster wiped out almost everyone, including the fallen angels."

"I've had enough." Lucifer got up, staring at Asmodeus. "Brother, are you buying what she says? This girl is lying! Show me proof! Show me proof of our death!"

Anna sighed. Even though she didn't know who Lucifer was, the guy was annoying. But if he wanted proof, then she had ample of it. She reached into her phantom bag once more and pulled out the same ring she had shown Asmodeus earlier.

"Take a look at it," she said.

Lucifer snatched the ring and examined it. His eyes widened in shock when he realized Anna was telling the truth.

"Fine," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I believe you... as much as I don't want to."

"Hence you're so impatient," Asmodeus sighed, looking around as if weighing the options.

"Don't get me wrong. I don't want any of you to die with me," she said. "All I need is to know how you made it inside the mole and got out of it without dying. That's it. I can deal with the rest myself."

Asmodeus, who had been lost in thought, looked up at her. The determination in her eyes reminded him of Lilith. She too was just as stubborn as Anna, if not more, and it was herdeaththat made Asmodeus rebel and hence stripped of his powers.

"Lilith... was the first to defy the gods for the sake of the mortals," Asmodeus recalled a long-forgotten story. "As a punishment for her crimes, they fed her to the mole."

He continued, "I couldn't just stand by and watch, so I jumped after her. I ended up in the mole's stomach, but I never found her."

"So, she's dead too?"

Lucifer, who heard about Asmodeus's love life for the first time, couldn't help it and asked. But Asmodeus didn't answer and continued the story.

"I survived," he said after a long pause. "But it wasn't easy. The mole's insides… it's a labyrinth, complete with its own ecosystem within. The only reason I got out alive was because something made the mole throw up."

"Make it throw up..." Anna nodded. "I see."

Just then, Lucifer couldn't hold on any longer and asked Anna why she was hell-bent on entering the mole's body.

"My reasons don't differ from sir Asmodeus's," Anna replied, smiling wanly. "The ugly bastard swallowed someone important to me. Someone I already lost once and I'm not willing to lose them again."

Lucifer looked at her and rolled his eyes. He was surrounded by love-sick fools who couldn't even think logically before doing something stupid.

"Are you deaf?" Lucifer sighed loudly. "Didn't you hear what brother said? He couldn't find Lilith. What makes you think you can find your lover?"

Anna smiled and looked at her hand, touching her ring finger. She knew because she couldn't live without him. Despite their differences and his indifference, she knew they were connected.

But saving YuWon wasn't the only reason. The true reason was the words of the one who eventually killed the mole.

"Hellfire," Anna mumbled. "It's a crazy resource, don't you think?"

Asmodeus's eyes widened as he realized what Anna meant.

"So you're the one who killed that fire giant?" Asmodeus smiled. "You caused quite a scene in the heavens."

"I wasn't alone," Anna replied. "Besides, I couldn't let such a precious thing go to waste."

"Do you still have it?"

Anna shook her head. Asmodeus looked disappointed until she spoke again. "But the one I want to save does."

The fallen angels realized why Anna was so desperate to save her lover. The mole's tough exterior protected it from even a god's smite. But even though the creature was invulnerable on the outside, it was just as weak on the inside.

If one had hellfire, they could set the beast's innards ablaze. Although that itself might not be enough to kill it, it would severely weaken the disaster.

After setting the creature on fire, everyone left inside would die from the flames as well. But that wouldn't be the case for those who killed the fire giant.

For their insurmountable feat, they would gain immunity from all kinds of flames, including hellfire. They could continue killing the beast from the inside.

"You had planned it from the beginning," Asmodeus smiled before shaking his head. "What a cunning disciple I had."

Anna nodded. She had all but one piece of the puzzle. Now that Asmodeus had handed it to her, she could plan her next steps to get inside the mole's stomach without getting crushed by its teeth.

"You'll need a bait," Lucifer chimed in, as if reading her mind. "Do you have your eyes on someone?"

Anna nodded, but her eyes never left Lucifer. Soon Asmodeus was also staring at his little brother.

"You're both sick in the head!" Lucifer yelled, but they had already decided.

***

Sometime later...

Lucifer dangled upside down from the massive tree root, his arms crossed as he crushed everyone he could see.

"Asmodeus, you insufferable old fool," Lucifer growled. "Using your brother as bait for the desires of a mortal. Do you have no conscience?"

"For the hundredth time, you're not dying," Asmodeus yelled back. "We studied the mole's patterns. You'll be safe as long as you stay at that distance."

"Easier for you to say, old prick!"

Anna didn't bother paying attention to Lucifer's complaints and continued staring down.

"Are you sure jumping in straight will work?" she asked Asmodeus.

"That's what worked for me," he replied. "If you hit anything on your way down, the mole will sense it and react. Things might get chaotic, and you might die before you even have time to rescue your beloved."

"YuWon's not someone who dies so easily," she replied confidently. "I'm sure of it, even if the records say otherwise."

Asmodeus raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He admired her confidence, but he knew the reality of the situation. One mistake and they would lose everything. Just then, the ground trembled.

"Here it comes," he muttered.

The mole burst out of the ground, its enormous mouth wide open, aiming directly for Lucifer.

"Now!" Asmodeus shouted.