Choice

Lucifer's eyes darted to the status screen, which flashed 45 hours. Same damn night. He'd only wasted around 5 hours dealing with that wolf attack. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to push himself up, muscles protesting. No time to waste.

His gaze lingered on the fallen beast's lifeless form. A powerful creature like this had to have some value in this cultivation world. But damn it, he couldn't just haul it around aimlessly. With a determined nod, he left the corpse behind, his mind buzzing with possibilities.

Engaging Ghost Transformation skill, he surged into the air, a gust of adrenaline propelling him forward. Phoenix Feather City beckoned like a beacon on the horizon, urging him onward. The wind whipped past his face as he gained altitude, the city growing larger with every heartbeat.

"Huh... I was actually this close to the city. But how is it possible for such a powerful creature to be present in such close proximity to the city?"Lucifer pondered as he observed the city from his location.

However, he quickly dismissed the thought, realizing he had limited understanding of this world and no time to dwell on such matters. With a sense of urgency, he raced towards the city, his mind laser-focused on the three goals he needed to achieve before meeting with Wrath and Victor the next day.

But then a realization struck him like a lightning bolt. "Wait, I never told them the meeting time," Lucifer muttered, barely resisting the urge to facepalm himself for his own oversight. "Well, they're my subordinates, so I suppose they can wait there the entire day," he rationalized, shaking off his momentary lapse in judgment.

Lucifer's goals crystallized with unwavering clarity. Above all else, he needed to amass as many soul points as possible, ensuring he never found himself in a precarious situation like today again.

Moreover, he planned to use the skill "Deal with Devil" as quickly as possible to increase his lifespan. Even though he still had over 40 hours remaining, Lucifer knew all too well that unforeseen circumstances could arise, rendering him unable to use the skill if his lifespan dwindled too low. He couldn't afford to take chances.

Finally, the pressing matter of his injuries demanded his attention. Uncertainty gnawed at him as he questioned whether the mortals in this world possessed the means to mend his broken hand.

Phoenix Feather City shared a similar structure to White Lotus City, with ordinary mortals residing at the outskirts while martial artists and cultivators lived at the center.

Lucifer's piercing gaze fell upon the city, searching for his first targets. His eyes sought out individuals who stood alone, untethered by the bonds of family. He believed that those with loved ones were less likely to venture down the treacherous path of wickedness, and he also desperately wished to avoid repeating a tragedy similar to Emily's.

Silently, he infiltrated the room of a man deep in slumber, his presence completely undetectable. With a graceful motion of his right hand, Lucifer cast a spectral illusion upon the unsuspecting figure. This ethereal manifestation wove its way through the man's mind, whispering hauntingly and compelling him to confess his darkest deeds—each guilt-ridden secret that weighed heavily on his soul.

Yet, as Lucifer employed his supernatural abilities to manipulate the man's consciousness, a profound dilemma gripped his own thoughts. Could a genuine criminal truly harbor remorse for their malevolent actions? And if guilt lingered within them, did it not suggest that they already regretted their deeds?

He wrestled with the burden of his self-imposed judgment, recognizing it stemmed from the remnants of his former life, riddled with hypocrisy. However, he felt trapped, compelled to adhere to his own flawed ideals. As his actions were not driven by a desire for justice but rather to protect his fragile state of mind.

Lost in the turmoil of his thoughts, Lucifer's hand rose in a swift, decisive motion, aiming directly at the vulnerable figure on the bed.

With an explosive surge of telekinetic force, the man's skull yielded to Lucifer's power, instantly silencing the echoes of life. He swiftly gathered the lifeless body, cradling it with cold detachment, and ascended into the night sky. Carrying the remains, he floated away from the city, discarding the body in a remote part of the forest where the man's existence would be forgotten, both literally and figuratively.

Concealed by the shroud of darkness, Lucifer's unwavering pursuit endured. Throughout the night, he became a bringer of death, quietly hunting and ending the lives of five more lonely people. Until this concluding morning has already dawned.

.....

Amidst the city's awakening, with the rising sun,

Lucifer perched upon a tower, his heart undone.

The vibrant sky cast shadows upon his weary soul,

A profound melancholy, a sorrow taking its toll.

In this realm of wonder, he had come to know,

A range of emotions, like an ebb and flow.

He witnessed souls with hearts as dark as night,

Who reveled in wickedness, basking in their spite.

But opposite them, radiant souls did shine,

Beacons of hope, with goodness as their sign.

Between these extremes, most souls did reside,

Navigating the gray, where choices did collide.

But what of Lucifer, bound by his fateful plight,

A different creature, burdened with eternal night?

Compelled to take life, for survival's plea,

Denied the freedom to choose, forever marked, it seemed.

His existence, devoid of the choice given to all,

A yearning unfulfilled, an agonizing call.

These questions consumed him, a storm within his core,

Yearning for goodness, longing for something more.

His decision was made, unyielding and bold,

To claim his own power, a story yet untold.

He would break the chains of morality's sway,

Surpassing humanity's boundaries, come what may.

No longer bound by the notions of right and wrong,

He would forge his own path, where he belonged.

In the face of destiny, his defiance would ignite,

A beacon of rebellion, against the heavens' might.

The Devil he may become, but by his own will,

A choice born of longing, a longing to fulfill.

Embracing his nature, with a heart unconfined,

In this grand act of rebellion, his purpose he'd find.

So, as the city stirred beneath the morning's gleam,

Lucifer's resolve burned, a fire within his dream.

To transcend his existence, to break free from the fray,

To be more than a devil, to be human in his own way.