Combat was not something carried out solely through nonverbal acts.
Before Abel could say anything, Lucifer sent him elsewhere. Then, after considering what he could presently do, he opened his mouth lightly. It was not the form of conversation he preferred most, but neither was it entirely unpleasant. Having endured this far, his opponent was more than worthy of his acknowledgment.
[How strange. With the Hero and her sword here, I had thought taking the city itself would be more than manageable…….]
The problem lay elsewhere.
[The Vermilion Bird I have observed until now was not nearly this powerful either.]
Even if the Vermilion Bird intervened, he had believed Eve, blessed by Abel, would somehow be able to fight it on equal footing. Even if the Vermilion Bird ultimately won, Lucifer had judged that Eve would at least be able to buy the necessary amount of time.
Yet Eve had failed even in that duty and been defeated. Cain had been hunted down by something he could not identify. Belphegor, who had been operating in the shadows, had finally died as well, and now even contact with Lilith had been severed.
It had all deviated from his predictions to an almost astonishing degree.
[Thus, another variable.]
Judging by the fact that they had all died at different times, perhaps there had been one or two more individuals comparable to the Hero.
It was strange…