Endless Debt

Life is like this. One second it was calm, and the next second there were waves. There was no warning, it was unreasonable, it was like a chaotic model, there was no order, only change.

The hustle and bustle gradually faded away, and the dead silence came like a tide.

As Boluogo stood in the video store, everything around him seemed to have been pressed on the pause button. The movements of the crowd stopped abruptly, and their expressions and postures were frozen in place, like vivid wax figures.

There was an indescribable and strange atmosphere in the air, as if time suddenly stopped flowing at this moment. Boluogo looked around and saw that the lights in the store were still bright, but the video tapes and movie posters on the shelves had lost their original appearance. The color became gray and lost its color.

"follow me."

Leviathan waved to Bologo, his tone was relaxed and natural, everything was under his control. Although Boluogo had his doubts, he had no choice but to follow his lead at this moment.

When they passed the door, Leviathan suddenly stopped, opened the refrigerator next to it, took out a bottle of canned drink, easily opened the lid, and drank while walking.

After drinking it all in one gulp, the can was thrown away casually by Leviathan. It fell towards the trash can, but stopped above it before being thrown into the trash can.

Following Leviathan to the outside world, the world outside the video store was also frozen.

On the street, whether it is a roaring motorcycle or a huge bus, they have all pressed the pause button and stopped there motionless, seemingly stagnant, but on their tires, you can see the friction caused by sudden braking. of light blue smoke.

Not a breath of wind moved them.

The bustling crowd became dead silent. Men, women, old and young, all stood stiffly like wax statues. Their expressions still retained the vividness of the previous moment, but now they looked extremely strange.

Some people opened their mouths as if they were screaming, but could not hear any sound. Some people took steps, but could never move forward one step further.

The same is true for the flying pigeons in mid-air. Their wings are spread out, their bodies are leaning forward, and they are flying at full speed, but they are frozen in mid-air by invisible forces. The feathers that should be falling freely are also suspended in mid-air, within reach.

Boluogo's eyes were fixed on Leviathan's back, and his heart was full of vigilance and doubts.

Leviathan's pace was relaxed and calm, as if he was not traveling through a strange world frozen in time, but just wandering around the streets.

He passed by one stationary pedestrian after another, and with every brief encounter, Leviathan's eyes would carefully examine their faces.

Then, Leviathan reached out and took off their hats, glasses, scarves, and even cigarettes from their pockets, and dressed them one by one on himself.

While puffing away the clouds, Leviathan turned around and showed that evil smile again.

All his actions at the moment have no logic or purpose at all. The absence of purpose is also a kind of purpose. The devil's moodiness and wanton behavior are fully demonstrated.

Boluogo said coldly, "Are you threatening me?"

"How is that possible?" Leviathan stepped on the edge of the roadside flower bed and jumped up and down like a child. "We have to negotiate next. It would be too stupid to have a conflict at this time."

Boluogo gritted his teeth. Even so, what Leviathan was doing now was undoubtedly showing him his power.

As long as Leviathan wants to, he can cause a crisis in the Oath City Opos at any time, but as long as Bologo is willing to obey, he is willing to walk on the peaceful streets as an ordinary traveler.

"I told you, don't be nervous, Boluogo," Leviathan said, "Before doing anything, you must pay attention to a profit. I don't like losing money."

He seemed to know what Boluogo was thinking, "Is there any point in hurting this city other than making you hate me?"

Leviathan's voice suddenly became erratic, and he disappeared in place, and then emerged from the crowd beside Boluogo, smiling.

"On the contrary, you are my ally. This is your city. Not only will I not harm this city, I will also defend this city for the sake of our alliance with you."

Boluogo said coldly, "The devil's words are really unconvincing."

"Then have I ever deceived you? Bologo."

Leviathan suddenly approached Boluogo, and his eyes became inexplicably clear, like a clear spring.

Bologg choked on his words. He had to admit that from Bologg's personal knowledge, Leviathan had never lied to him, and he had also provided him with a lot of assistance.

Compared with other devils, Leviathan is indeed a conscientious boss.

But this cannot change Leviathan's nature as a devil.

Leviathan then asked, "Bolog, trusting each other is a very important thing. Do you still remember Regulation 1 of your Order Bureau?"

"You are not covered by Regulation 1," Bologo scolded, "Stop talking nonsense and get to the point quickly."

Boluogo didn't want to waste time on this kind of thing anymore, "I have something else to do later...I don't like to miss appointments."

Leviathan's smile became even more exaggerated, and he nodded with great approval, "Keeping promises is a great quality. I like people who keep their promises."

Boluogo clenched his fists silently, feeling extremely irritated. He thought he was used to this unlucky life, but Boluogo discovered that he just didn't encounter any real trouble.

"Okay, okay, we're here."

Leviathan clapped his hands, quickly climbed up the steps on one side, and opened his hands in a welcoming gesture. Bologg looked along his figure, and a movie theater appeared in front of him.

Borlogo clearly remembers that there was no cinema here.

Leviathan in turn urged, "Let's go, Belphegor has been waiting for us inside for a long time."

Boluogo hesitated for a moment, but still stepped onto the stairs resolutely, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings.

This suddenly appeared movie theater doesn’t look much different from an ordinary movie theater. The plaque is decorated with various movie-related items, including cameras, film, celebrity photos, stickers, paintings, etc., and the walls are also covered with them. There are all kinds of movie posters, from classic old movies to the latest blockbusters.

However, when Bologo searched carefully, he discovered a strange thing. This cinema had no name. The plaque was empty, with no logo or text except for the decorations.

Stepping into it, walking through the short corridor, the empty and dim ticket hall came into view. Everything was as familiar to Boluogo. On one side was the movie ticket sales office, on the other side was the popcorn sales office, and then there were scattered Rest chairs, as well as some movie peripheral sales stalls.

Leviathan pretended that he really wanted to watch a movie, doing something at the empty ticket office, and got two more movie tickets out of thin air in his hand.

When passing by Boluogo, Leviathan also handed one of the movie tickets into Boluogo's hands.

Boluogo lowered his head and looked at it, and his whole body froze on the spot.

This is not just a random movie ticket, but a carefully designed one, with Bologg's face printed on the ticket, and... King Solomon Hill, the withered alien visitor, and Leviathan in a space suit. , Mammon, whose face is covered with worm-like lines, and many people that Boluogo is familiar with.

Palmer, Nathaniel, Bailey, Holt and other people familiar to Bologg all appeared on the ticket, forming a group portrait poster.

"Playing against... against the devil?"

Borogo read out the movie title on the ticket stub.

Leviathan suddenly appeared next to Boluogo holding two buckets of popcorn, and said proudly, "This is the name I gave this movie. What do you think?"

He looked troubled again, "Speaking of which, when I first named it, I thought of two names and struggled for a long time before choosing this one."

Burlogo asked subconsciously, "What's the other name?"

"Endless debt."

Leviathan said mysteriously.

Then, Leviathan didn't give Bologo any time to think. He stuffed a bucket of popcorn into Bologg's hand, pushed his shoulder, and led him past the unguarded ticket station.

As Boluogo moved forward slowly, he lowered his head and stared at the movie ticket in his hand, his brows furrowed, and his heart was full of confusion and uneasiness.

This special movie ticket is like a mystery. Boluogo can't understand what this movie is about. It's like inadvertently, Leviathan made a movie with himself and others...

What does Leviathan do in making movies? Trade a good enough video for Belphegor's power? How is this possible? Putting aside the comparison of values, you must know that Belphegor is a strict connoisseur, and it is not easy to impress him.

but……

An uneasy speculation suddenly arose in Bolog's heart. He thought of Belphegor's ability to control the gaze of others. Could it be that Leviathan also had similar abilities, such as integrating his own experiences and shaping them into a film? Just like the shattering reality that Bologna had encountered.

A story within a story.

All kinds of doubts arise one after another, but fortunately, the answer is not far from Bologg, and Belphegor will give a reasonable explanation.

The journey from the ticket check station to the movie theater seemed extremely long. The dim corridor seemed to extend into endless darkness. Boluogo could only rely on the weak light source from above his head to barely identify the direction ahead. Both sides of the corridor were covered with posters. The posters loomed in the dim light.

At first, Boluogo didn't pay attention to these posters. His attention was completely focused on the movie tickets in his hands. However, when his eyes accidentally fell on one of the posters, he suddenly stopped and his whole body As if frozen in place.

Ahead, Leviathan's pace also slowed down, and finally stayed where he was, as if waiting for Boluogo.

Boluogo looked straight at the picture on the poster, and a familiar picture came into his eyes.

In the pouring rain, on the long bridge across the rift valley, a train twisted and fell to the side. Twisted corpses were piled on the ground. Blood mixed with rain flowed around the feet. Two tired figures leaned against the fence. , looking at the rising sunshine.

"This is……"

"Oh, this is the plot in the movie," Leviathan came over with a smile, his voice revealing an indescribable joy, "I really like this plot, completing revenge and starting a new chapter in life. "

But Boluogo had a cold face and turned his head stiffly, his voice revealing an unconcealable irritability, "Are you pretending to be stupid, Leviathan?"

"Why are you pretending to be stupid?" Leviathan gently waved the movie ticket in his hand, with the unfathomable smile still on his face, "This is indeed the plot of the movie, don't you think so, Bologo? "

Boluogo ignored Leviathan and turned his attention back to the way he came. Those seemingly ordinary posters took on a whole new meaning at this moment.

They are like a scroll, recording different scenes in Bologo's past life, as if they were carefully taken by a photographer and then processed later... It is as if the entire corridor is the timeline of his life, the progress bar of the movie.

As he continued on, however, Borlogo came to realize that the posters recorded much more than he had ever imagined.

He does not appear in many posters, replaced by the faces of Jeffrey, Lebius and others, and the recorded content is the invasion of Overlord Xilin and the secret war.

Boluogo continued to move forward, and the poster in front of him seemed to turn into a long flowing history scroll. He saw the heroic figures of the previous directors of the Bureau of Order, then King Solomon Hill in the Fall of the Holy City, and also There are demons dancing in the wrath of the scorched earth. Those demons are struggling wildly in the flames, trying to break free...

What this corridor records is not only Boluogo's life, but also the changes in the entire world and the entire process of a grand event.

Boluogo glimpsed the intertwining of the past and the future, and the inextricable connections between himself and the world. His heartbeat could not help but accelerate, and his breathing became rapid. He knew that he was standing at a critical moment to reveal the truth.

"So..." Boluogo looked at the end of the corridor and the location of the movie theater. He was not as hostile as before, and his tone was much softer. "Then, can I see the ending of all this from there?"

"No," Leviathan shook his head, "The bet has not yet been completed, and the movie has not ended, not to mention that the dispute has not yet determined the real winner."

Boluogo didn't take it seriously, "Sure enough, is it still related to the bet?"

"That's right. As for everything at the moment, I just like to use movies as a means of expression," Leviathan elaborated. "Because of this common hobby, the relationship between me and Belphegor is not so tense."

Boluogo took a deep breath, tried to regain his composure, and followed Leviathan honestly towards the end of the trip.

Along the way, Boluogo's eyes were attracted by the posters on the wall from time to time. Most of those posters had his face printed on them, as if he had become the undisputed protagonist of the film.

As the pace progressed, familiar pictures flashed before Boluogo's eyes, arousing memories deep in his heart, such as the chaotic timeline, the shattered reality, the plague of decay, the upside-down world, the eternal blood tax... these The extraordinary disaster that was once experienced is now reproduced on the poster.

They were like pieces of whetstone that sharpened Boluogo, polishing his originally rough steel into the sharp sword it is today, with a sharp edge.

When Bologg approached the theater, the posters on the wall were also fixed on the scene where Bologg killed the Maw of the Abyss on the street. Moving forward, there were only empty picture frames left on the wall. Waiting for new stories to fill it.

"Belphegor, here I come."

Leviathan pushed open the door at the end of the corridor, and his voice echoed in the chaotic darkness.

In the dim cinema hall, the weak light barely outlines the outline of the seats. Belphegor's figure sits alone in the middle of the auditorium. It is a viewing position with a wide view and excellent immersion.

Belphegor heard Leviathan's shout, which echoed in the empty theater, breaking the quiet atmosphere. He turned his head, looked through the dim space, and looked at the two figures at the door.

At the same time, the picture on the big screen also changed, as if time stood still at this moment, leaving a still image behind the originally flowing picture.

Leviathan walked toward the auditorium with brisk steps, a cheerful smile on his face, as if he was here just to discuss the movie.

He said, "I'm sorry, you know, it's my first time trying to shoot a movie. In the editing of many clips, I admit, it does seem a bit rough and not refined enough."

Leviathan continued cheerfully, "Besides, the movie hasn't been finished yet, so this can only be regarded as a test screening."

Belphegor looked at Leviathan expressionlessly, his eyes were deep and unpredictable, and it was impossible to judge from his expression whether he was satisfied or disgusted with the film. However, he did not interrupt Leviathan. He said frankly, but turned back and continued to watch the movie attentively.

The picture on the big screen began to flow again, as if the river of time had restarted its flow. It was only at this time that Boluogo noticed the content in the picture.

He saw his own figure appear on the screen, standing in front of the counter of the jewelry store, looking at the fire opal ring in his hand. This scene was so familiar and vivid, as if it was a part separated from his memory.

"From a human perspective, this movie is indeed a bit too long," Leviathan explained, his voice echoing in the darkened theater with an indescribable charm, "So I Some time in advance, Belphegor started watching it. Now we are just in time for the final stage of the film, and we can also take this opportunity to talk directly about the distribution of power."

Leviathan walked into the auditorium and sat on Belphegor's left hand side. Then he motioned for Bologg to sit on Belphegor's right hand side. The two of them sandwiched Belphegor in the middle.

He asked flatteringly, "How about my blood relatives? It's actually quite interesting, right?"

"Um."

Belphegor responded calmly, his eyes moved away from the big screen, and the picture on the screen froze.

He looked at Leviathan curiously, and some emotions finally appeared on his stiff face, which was surprise and disbelief from the depths of his soul.

"It's amazing that you can actually imagine such a bet and plan such a conspiracy," Belphegor laughed to himself, "It seems that the other blood relatives don't resent losing at your hands. "

Leviathan enjoyed Belphegor's praise, his face full of intoxication.

Belphegor then set his sights on Boluogo and said meaningfully, "He is the key to the bet? He decides all this?"

Bologger listened carefully to the conversation between Belphegor and Leviathan, from which he could infer that Belphegor should have learned about the bet that has been implemented throughout the ages from this movie, but he, as an insider, Still not qualified to know.

"You know, I am a complete gambler at my core. Otherwise... I wouldn't be able to climb to the peak of power step by step."

Leviathan's voice was low and magnetic, and every word was full of determination and belief. He approached Belphegor, and his handsome face became more and more profound and charming in the dim environment, and in Belphegor's eyes , but this face seems to have been magnified countless times, and every detail is so clear that it is heart-stopping.

Belphegor stared intently at Leviathan's abyss-like eyes. This time, his gaze seemed to penetrate that gorgeous skin and reach directly into the depths of Leviathan's soul.

There, Belphegor saw a destructive chaos intertwined with ink-black tar and scarlet runes, in which two powerful wills were constantly competing and colliding...

It seemed like there was an endless war going on inside Leviathan's body.

"Once you lose in this game, everything will be in vain. All your efforts and contributions will become the wedding dress of my blood relative. He will effortlessly take over everything from you and enjoy your victory. of fruits.”

Belphegor's voice became rarely serious, his expression was solemn and majestic, and his eyes were as burning as torches.

At this moment, he truly showed his demeanor as a devil who dominates his destiny, rather than the decadent soul who had been hiding in the cinema.

Leviathan did not show any panic when he heard this, and a confident smile appeared on his lips again, "You are right, but similarly, once I win, I will completely defeat everyone and become the final winner. I will end your era and start a new era."

"But whether this new era will come or not is not decided by you," Belphegor's eyes fell on Bologg again, "but by him... why?"

Belphegor frowned, his tone full of puzzlement and confusion, "Why did you take such an approach? I fully understand the necessity of a bet, but you have the ability to choose safer conditions, so why do you have to place your hope? For such an unreliable human will?”

His voice echoed in the dim viewing hall, as if he was asking the air.

Belphegor paused and continued, "I have witnessed too many once noble souls fall. You should also understand how fragile and changeable human will is. If you leave the fate of the world to such a being, Is it really wise?”

Leviathan leaned back on the chair and looked deeply at the big screen in front of him. The camera was fixed on the fire opal ring, and the blurry face of Boluogo was reflected in the gorgeous colors.

He said softly, "But...don't you think it's interesting? Put all your bets on that trace of humanity and see whether it will be the victory of humanity or the defeat of humanity in the end."

Leviathan's laughter gradually became terrifying, revealing a cynical madness. This is not the first time he has done this. As early as Gray and Xilin, Leviathan had already played with human nature and observed their choices in desperate situations.

"I am only responsible for creating the conditions and environment for a choice. It is never me who really makes the choice, but humanity itself." There was a hint of sarcasm and joking in Leviathan's voice, "This is a game. A game about the fate of the world.”

Belphegor fell into a long silence, as if he was deeply shocked by Leviathan's words.

Finally, he sighed quietly, unable to suppress his inner emotions, and couldn't help laughing loudly. The laughter was intertwined with Leviathan's terrifying laughter, like two dark melodies reverberating in the theater. .

"Oh my God, you are so crazy!" Belphegor said in admiration. "You are more like a real devil than any devil."

His words were full of recognition and admiration for Leviathan, "You are right, this is so fun! Nothing can demonstrate extraordinary value more than a victory in this way."

"Right!" Leviathan turned his head excitedly and smiled at Belphegor. The two devils seemed to have found close friends, and laughter echoed in the darkness, creating a strange and joyful atmosphere.

However, Boluogo couldn't understand their conversation at all and was incompatible with the hustle and bustle. He looked confused, as if he was isolated in another world.

After the laughter, Belphegor's breath suddenly became weak. He seemed to have lost all his strength and slumped down on the chair.

He stared at the screen and said in a low voice, "That's great, Leviathan. This is a truly stunning movie... undoubtedly the most exciting story I have ever seen."

He tilted his head slightly and asked with a hint of confusion, "What's its name?"

"Playing against the devil." Leviathan replied softly.

"Oh..." Belphegor took a deep breath, and with another exhalation, he seemed to spit out his soul. His body seemed to have been drained of all life, and shrank on the chair, looking extremely... exhausted.

He murmured, "You allowed me to witness such a magnificent story and learn all your secrets. You used this magnificent epic, the endless poems I pursued, at the expense of letting me give up my own power..."

Belphegor suddenly interrupted his thoughts and asked, "What if I refuse? What should you do?"

There was a hint of cruelty in Leviathan's smile, "What else can I do? You already know all my secrets. I have no choice but to kill you, right?"

"Too."

Belphegor nodded with a wry smile. He recalled what he had seen in the film, the establishment of the Bureau of Order, the truth about the decision-making room... everything, Belphegor laughed to himself. He once naively thought that the Bureau of Order could be his defense against other blood relatives. Barrier, but now he realized that he had already fallen into the trap carefully designed by Leviathan, no, King Solomon Hill.

Belphegor took a deep breath and said firmly, "In that case, I have only one request."

"Say it." Leviathan responded softly, as if giving Belphegor his last respect.

"I want to see it till the end," Belphegor's voice revealed a sense of determination. "You can take away my authority and original sin, but I hope to retain a trace of my will. I don't want to be completely swallowed by you, I want to live." Go down and witness the end of this story.”

Leviathan stared at Belphegor, with mixed emotions flashing in his eyes, but in the end he nodded, "I promise you."

Hearing this answer, Belphegor seemed to be relieved. He turned his attention to the big screen again, and Bologg also followed his gaze curiously.

Boluogo soon discovered that the film's perspective did not always stay on him. The scene switched to the meeting scene between Aimu and Vosilin. The two were discussing something, and the atmosphere was tense and mysterious.

"Oh oh oh, this surprise is rare!"

Leviathan suddenly screamed excitedly, and he snapped his fingers. In an instant, Boluogo was surprised to find that the big screen went completely black, and the speakers surrounding the entire auditorium also fell into silence.

Bologger looked at Leviathan and Belphegor, only to find that they were still staring at the dark big screen with gusto, as if he was the only one who was blocked from watching the movie.

This shielding lasted for a while. When the light, shadow and sound returned again, Boluogo found that the subject on the big screen had changed back to himself, and the picture was frozen in the scene when he just entered the cinema.

The progress of the movie is synchronized with reality, as if everything is proceeding according to a predetermined trajectory.

The lights all turned on, and the entire theater was illuminated.

Leviathan stood up and threw the popcorn bucket in his hand casually. The popcorn scattered on the ground with a clattering sound.

His voice was lazy and harsh, like the god of death knocking on the door, "It's over, Belphegor, it's time for us to go."

Belphegor didn't move, just stretched out his hand, and Leviathan held his hand in response. The two held their hands tightly, and then their bodies seemed to blend together, and their limbs were strangely connected. Together.

Tar precipitated from beneath the skin and drooped down Belphegor's arms, enveloping him in it.

During the entire process, Belphegor did not resist or struggle. He could feel Leviathan invading his body, touching the scarlet runes deep in the tar, taking away his authority and original sin.

"It's strange," Belphegor said, "When the end comes, I don't feel afraid... Am I satisfied with my desires? Or am I tired of all this?"

Leviathan ignored this, "Who knows?"

Belphegor's eyes were lowered and he smiled exaggeratedly at the corners of his mouth. When the tar spread over his neck, he looked at the uneasy Bologg.

"Boluogo, this is a very good story. I am looking forward to your final decision."

Borlog still couldn't understand the conversation and behavior between the two demons, but he knew that this was the last time he would see Belphegor.

He said farewell to Leviathan calmly, "Goodbye, Belphegor."

Belphegor responded with a smile, "See you soon, Bologg."

As the tar completely disappeared and pulled away, all traces disappeared, and only Bologger and Leviathan were left in the empty theater.

Boluogo stood there, stunned for a long time, muttering to himself, "Is this the end? Another devil left quietly.".

Leviathan walked towards the exit of the screening room without looking back, with a hint of joking in his voice, "What else? Do you still want to fight Belphegor? You perverted murderer, just let this poor guy go. .”

Bologger stared at Leviathan's back and asked loudly, "What are you planning?"

Leviathan stopped, raised his hand and snapped his fingers, turned around, and raised a strange smile at the corner of his mouth.

"You'll find out soon enough, but now," he paused, as if waiting for some dramatic moment, "it's time for you to keep your appointment, Boluogo."

As the snap of fingers reverberated, the entire screening room began to shake violently, as if it was destroyed by an invisible force. The walls collapsed, debris scattered, and the noise poured into the closed space again.

"Sir? Sir!"

The cashier's voice rang in Boluogo's ears, gradually becoming clear and harsh. Boluogo's eyes gradually focused, his body trembled slightly, and he looked around blankly.

Boluogo seemed to wake up from a fantasy and found himself back in the video store. In front of him, the cashier stretched out his hand impatiently, waiting for him to pay.

"Would you like to pay?" The cashier's voice reminded Boluogo back to reality again.

Bologo lowered his head and saw that he was still holding the video tape Leviathan had selected for him tightly in his hand. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down the chaos in his heart.

"Hug...sorry."

Boluogo handed the videotape to the cashier and hurriedly took out the money to pay.

After walking out of the video store, Boluogo found himself in a bustling city with a steady flow of people and vehicles. Everything was running normally. However, standing on the street, he felt that he was out of tune with the world.

Boluogo was not sure whether what he had just experienced was reality or an illusion, but he clearly knew that in a place no one knew about, another devil quietly exited the game.

Recalling Belphegor's last look and his unusual answer.

Boluogo repeated in a low voice, "See you later..."