Chapter 118:When Kings Meet

The headquarters had never been this lively.

For once, the military fortress didn't feel like a battlefield.

It felt like a palace.

Crystal lights floated beneath the enormous ceiling.

Long tables covered the central hall.

Expensive food, drinks, and countless delicacies filled the room.

Commanders.

Squad captains.

Grim reapers.

Military officials.

Noble families.

Influential figures from across the world.

Everyone important seemed to be there.

And everyone had a reason for attending.

Some discussed military alliances.

Some negotiated territory.

Some exchanged information about powerful ghosts.

Others quietly discussed promotions, resources, political influence, and future arrangements.

It was supposed to be a celebration.

In reality—

it was a battlefield without weapons.

Every smile concealed an intention.

Every handshake carried a calculation.

Every conversation had a price.

And then there was Lucifer.

He was sitting on the edge of a table.

Not sitting properly.

Not speaking to anyone important.

Not negotiating.

He was simply eating.

Chirin's voice echoed inside his mind.

"You know you're surrounded by some of the most influential people in the world, right?"

Lucifer picked up another piece of food.

"Yes."

"And you're eating directly from the table like you own the place."

Lucifer looked around.

Then shrugged.

"Maybe I do."

Chirin went silent.

"You really are impossible."

Lucifer smiled.

"I've been told."

A few nearby soldiers stared at him.

They whispered among themselves.

"That's him."

"The one who killed Bloody Mary."

"I heard he survived her domain."

"I heard he fought her alone."

"That's not the strange part."

"What is?"

"He doesn't seem afraid of anyone."

The whispers continued.

Lucifer ignored them.

He poured himself another drink.

Then—

a familiar voice came from behind him.

"You're enjoying yourself."

Lucifer didn't turn around.

"I always do."

Amaira stood behind him.

Her white hair fell over her shoulders, and her red eyes carried a mixture of amusement and irritation.

Beside her stood Commander Duan.

Calm.

Elegant.

Composed.

The moment Duan arrived, several conversations around them became quieter.

People respected her.

They feared her strength.

Lucifer simply looked at her.

"You're late."

Duan raised an eyebrow.

"You're complaining?"

"I'm hungry."

Amaira sighed.

"That's your response?"

Lucifer nodded.

"Yes."

Duan looked at the food in front of him.

"How much have you eaten?"

Lucifer considered the question.

"Enough."

Amaira crossed her arms.

"That's not an answer."

"It is if you don't ask the right question."

Duan almost smiled.

Around them, several influential people watched.

Some were surprised that Lucifer spoke so casually to Commander Duan.

Others were even more surprised that she tolerated it.

Lucifer, however, didn't care.

He leaned back.

The world could burn outside.

He would still finish his meal.

Then—

the doors opened.

The entire hall went silent.

Not gradually.

Instantly.

Every conversation stopped.

Every movement froze.

Lucifer looked toward the entrance.

A man walked inside.

He wasn't wearing elaborate armor.

He wasn't surrounded by guards.

He didn't need them.

His presence alone changed the atmosphere.

Soul energy quietly filled the hall.

Not violently.

Not aggressively.

But so overwhelmingly that even the strongest grim reapers instinctively lowered their eyes.

Some bowed.

Others stepped aside.

Several commanders immediately stood straight.

Amaira's expression became serious.

Duan's eyes narrowed slightly.

Lucifer noticed.

"Who is that?"

Amaira looked at him.

"You don't know?"

"No."

Her voice became quieter.

"The Soul King."

Lucifer looked at the man again.

The ruler of the dead.

The strongest known existence in this world.

The one whose strength was spoken about almost like a natural disaster.

The man continued walking.

People avoided looking directly at him.

Not because he demanded it.

Because their instincts told them to.

Then—

the Soul King stopped.

His eyes moved across the hall.

And finally—

they landed on Lucifer.

The atmosphere became heavier.

Everyone noticed.

A few people looked at Lucifer with disbelief.

Why isn't he bowing?

Lucifer simply stared back.

No fear.

No hesitation.

No submission.

Nothing.

The Soul King walked toward him.

Each step was quiet.

Yet the entire hall seemed to feel it.

He stopped several meters away.

"You."

Lucifer pointed at himself.

"Me?"

The Soul King nodded.

"You are Lucifer Morningstar."

"Correct."

"You killed Bloody Mary."

"Correct again."

"You also killed Hachisakusama and La Llorona."

Lucifer took another bite of food.

"You're well informed."

The Soul King's eyes narrowed.

"You don't fear me."

Lucifer swallowed.

"Should I?"

The room became even quieter.

Amaira looked at Lucifer.

Duan remained completely still.

The Soul King stared at him for several seconds.

Then—

he laughed.

A low, quiet laugh.

"No."

Lucifer raised an eyebrow.

The Soul King continued.

"You shouldn't."

Lucifer smiled.

"Good."

The Soul King looked at him carefully.

"Most people who stand before me feel the weight of my soul."

Lucifer leaned against the table.

"I noticed."

"Yet you remain calm."

"I've met stronger things."

The Soul King's expression changed slightly.

"Stronger than me?"

Lucifer smiled.

"That's not what I said."

"Then what did you mean?"

Lucifer's eyes became slightly colder.

"I said I've met things that made me feel something."

A pause.

"You haven't."

The hall became completely silent.

Even Duan looked at Lucifer.

The Soul King stared at him.

Then he smiled.

"You are arrogant."

Lucifer shrugged.

"I prefer confident."

"What's the difference?"

"Confidence is believing you're capable."

Lucifer's eyes met the Soul King's.

"Arrogance is believing nobody else is."

For the first time—

the Soul King seemed genuinely interested.

"You speak as though this world belongs to you."

Lucifer looked around the hall.

Then back at him.

"Not yet."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"But I'm working on it."

Several people nearly forgot to breathe.

Amaira covered her face for a moment.

Duan quietly said,

"You're unbelievable."

Lucifer smiled.

"I've heard that too."

The Soul King laughed again.

But before he could say another word—

BOOOOOOM!

The entire hall shook.

Every light went out.

People immediately turned toward the ceiling.

A strange ripple appeared in the center of the room.

Space itself began twisting.

Like invisible hands were pulling reality apart.

CRACK.

A thin black line appeared.

Then another.

The Soul King's expression changed.

Duan immediately summoned soul energy.

Amaira reached for her weapon.

Every commander stood ready.

Lucifer slowly placed his food down.

His smile disappeared.

The pressure coming from the tear was enormous.

Far greater than any ordinary ghost.

Then—

something came through.

A wave of soul energy exploded across the hall.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Windows shattered.

Tables overturned.

Several grim reapers were forced backward.

The entire fortress trembled.

Lucifer remained standing.

His coat moved violently in the pressure.

His eyes narrowed.

The ripple widened.

A voice emerged from beyond the torn space.

Deep.

Ancient.

Filled with hatred.

"SOUL KING."

Everyone froze.

The Soul King stepped forward.

The smile had completely disappeared from his face.

"Ghost King."

Lucifer's eyes sharpened.

So this was him.

The ruler of the ghosts.

The existence that even ordinary grim reapers spoke about with fear.

The tear in space expanded.

Something enormous began forcing its way through.

The Soul King raised one hand.

Soul energy erupted around him.

The entire hall shook under the pressure of two monstrous forces.

The Ghost King's voice echoed again.

"YOU HAVE RULED THE DEAD LONG ENOUGH."

The Soul King stared into the rift.

"You came here to die?"

A deep laugh answered him.

"NO."

The tear widened.

A gigantic eye appeared beyond it.

"I CAME FOR YOUR THRONE."

The Soul King's soul energy exploded.

Every commander immediately moved into battle formation.

Duan looked toward Lucifer.

"Stay behind us."

Lucifer looked at her.

Then at the enormous rift.

Then at the Ghost King's eye.

A familiar smile slowly returned to his face.

"No."

Duan frowned.

Lucifer stepped forward.

"I'm going to take a closer look."

The Ghost King's gaze suddenly shifted.

It passed over the commanders.

The grim reapers.

The Soul King.

Then—

it stopped on Lucifer.

The enormous eye narrowed.

For the first time, the Ghost King became silent.

Lucifer smiled.

"So."

He summoned Chirin.

The blade appeared in his hand.

"You're looking at me too."

The Ghost King's voice echoed through the fortress.

"YOU..."

The space around Lucifer began trembling.

"...ARE NOT HUMAN."

Lucifer's smile widened.

"Neither are you."

The next instant—

the rift tore completely open.

An ocean of ghostly soul energy poured into the world.

The Soul King stepped forward.

Lucifer raised Chirin.

And every commander in the hall realized the same thing.

The celebration was over.

The war between the living and the dead had begun.