Satan stood still, his crimson slit eyes locked onto John.
There was no fear.
Only recognition.
"I sense the same power that man used in you."
His voice carried weight—ancient, knowing.
"I won't be sealed again like last time."
John didn't react immediately.
He simply looked at him.
Calm.
Unbothered.
"…He sealed you knowing that summoning technique can get you out."
A step forward.
"I suppose it's time to finally deal with you."
He glanced around briefly.
"We're not on kael'Ar…"
A faint smile.
"…so let's go to the surface of Zerathis."
A pause.
"Hell is not big enough for us."
Satan smirked.
"Only the worthy has the right to ask—"
GRAB.
His sentence cut off.
John's hand was already on his face.
"I wasn't asking."
Space folded.
Surface of Zerathis — Sky
They appeared instantly.
High above the planet.
And just as quickly—
John slammed Satan downward.
BOOOOOOM.
The impact tore into the surface.
A massive crater formed—
dust, stone, shockwaves ripping across the land.
But—
Satan didn't crash.
He landed on his feet.
Perfectly.
He slowly raised his hand—
touching his face—
and smiled.
"…What's with you guys?"
A chuckle.
"It's like reality obeys you."
Above him—
John hovered.
Looking down.
He smiled faintly.
"Alzwalt would've enjoyed fighting you."
A pause.
"But you're a decent margin above him."
Satan's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Though you can't kill him."
John continued.
"But you could overwhelm him for a time at full power."
Satan laughed.
"Cut the crap."
His aura exploded outward.
Demonic energy flooded Zerathis.
The entire planet trembled.
A world slightly smaller than kael'Ar—
shook violently under his presence.
John descended.
Landing in front of him.
His black slime sword dissolved.
"…Zero Sum."
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Satan blinked.
"…Huh?"
He looked at his hands.
His power was still there.
His strength.
His presence.
But something fundamental had changed.
"…It's like…"
He narrowed his eyes.
"…my existence is turned to zero."
John walked forward.
"Square up."
And then—
He vanished.
The ground cracked where he had stood.
Satan reacted instantly—
BOOM.
Their fists collided.
Shockwaves exploded outward.
Trees shattered.
The nearby mountain cracked down the middle.
Satan twisted—
threw a right kick—
aimed at John's head—
John leaned back slightly—
just enough—
Used the momentum—
spun—
once—
twice—
And drove a left kick straight into Satan's face.
IMPACT.
Satan flew backward—
toward the fractured mountain—
But mid-air—
he flipped.
Landed sideways on the mountain—
Then launched himself forward again—
The mountain collapsed behind him.
He inhaled—
threw a punch—
But in that same motion—
He threw two.
John blocked the first—
And had to dodge the second.
A rare moment.
A surprise.
They closed distance again.
And then—
Hand-to-hand combat.
No abilities.
No tricks.
Just skill.
Just power.
Just instinct.
Satan—the First Demon.
The ancestor of all demons.
A being who had only ever lost twice:
The Divine One Arata Kurogane
And John—
A being who stood outside those definitions.
They clashed again.
Fist.
Elbow.
Knee.
Counter.
Perfect reads.
Perfect reactions.
But beneath it all—
Satan felt it.
Something was off.
Not his power.
Not his body.
Something deeper.
"…Strange."
He stepped back.
Looked at John.
Then smiled.
"I'm getting bored."
His aura began to rise again—
different this time—
older—
heavier—
He raised his hand slightly.
"The 6th son of the 6th seal…"
The world of Zerathis trembled.
"The 6th bearer of Sins…"
The air distorted.
"I, Satan…"
His eyes burned brighter.
"…the First Demon…"
Reality cracked.
"…descend."
And the planet itself responded.