Chapter 12: Arc 2, Part 11 - Ahead of the Civil War
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***
114 years later. Lucifard is the capital of Hell. The new castle of the Lords of Hell.
The huge hall was completely filled with Highs and High Grade Demons. The remaining Pillars, the Rods - all those who had survived and not died out during the War of the Three Factions were present here. It had been over a hundred years since the signing of the Triple Peace between the fallen, angels and demons.
All this time, Rizevim had been dealing with what must have been important matters for his future reign. Although he was young, but not stupid and understood that the demons just because he was the son of Lucifer and the first Superdemon, will not bow to him.
The concept of 'Superdemon' invented Lucifer himself for his son to show his supremacy and power before the rest of the heirs that in the future will swear to him. But as it turns out, it's just a word. Just a term that meant nothing.
The Pillars had been fighting each other over just a small piece of land, massive propaganda and discontent with the results of the end of the War of the Three Factions, and much more had been the last, roughly, sixty years.
That was what Rizevim wanted to play on....
It took time for Rizevim to win over the strong Pillars who had the resources, the army, and most importantly, the Power. Capitalised. It took Lucifer's son a long time to get the rest of the descendants of the First Lords on his side to take their rightful positions with him. And these hundred and more years passed by such defections from one place to another.
The division of society into almost two 'mass factions,' as Euclid, his loyal Servant, who was currently the head of House Lucifugus, put it, also had to be resolved.
His father had died defending Rizevim, taking hundreds of Angels with him. Lucifer's son couldn't let the Demon society split, as they had just come out of the crisis and money was starting to flow into the treasury again, instead of disappearing without a trace to nowhere...
Of course, Hell's economy is unsustainable at the moment and could fall again at any moment, so much so that they would spend the same number of years just to rebuild it and demand help from the Pillars. Borrowing from them, to put it bluntly. And this could serve as another 'wake up call' for leverage against the Lords of Hell.
Also, the issue with the Elders in the OWLs still needs to be resolved, but they supported Rizevim's course and therefore won't revolt. Perhaps. Many unofficial Clans that were able to rise due to the situation will have to take an oath.
Since the Troubles are over, and they are mostly weak in the Force, they can be pressured to support the current Lords of Hell. Not in front of everyone, of course, but it's definitely worth doing.
Although all the Demons were talking to each other very quietly, but there were so many of them that a huge noise was created. Even the fact that all the Lords of Hell were already here and sitting on their thrones did not create any desire to calm down.
- These plebs have completely forgotten their place during the Troubles,' Damaidos Zereikel Asmodeus, the pure-blooded son of the First Asmodeus, said quietly and contemptuously so that only his fellow Hell Lords could hear him.
He was dressed in his dark green armour with wide shoulder pads. Leaning against his throne, he looked around the room with his black eyes.
- 'That's right,' Tsufame Teleak Leviathan, daughter of the First Leviathan, replied in time with her mate.
She was dressed in a gaudy dress of purple hues, showing off the beautiful curves of her body as well as her round breasts. The thin strings of the dress reached down to her breasts so that only her nipples were not visible to everyone. Part of her long, dark brown hair was gathered in a bun and the rest of it fell down her back in a waterfall.
- They are still gone,' Bidlade Basharun Beelzebub, son of the First Beelzebub, sighed after a few dozen seconds of silence.
A handsome young man dressed in black armour with a cloak of the same colour. He has long wavy brown hair where the fringes practically covered his eyes.
- They're coming. I wouldn't be surprised if they even walk hand in hand with each other, discussing the future affairs of the Underworld, - like his father, Rizevim Lebanon Lucifer grinned smugly.
The young man of extremely pleasant appearance was dressed in his silver-blue Lord's battle armour. The hem of his robes reached the floor, causing his legs to be invisible. His long silver hair was tied into a small braid, and his brown eyes carefully looked around the hall.
- A father and his unrecognised son? Not likely. I think if they have anything to discuss, it's their own disputed territories,' Rizevim replied calmly, closing his eyes.
- Bael won't obey you just because you're taking the course he wants, Rizevim,' Asmodeus said without turning his head in his direction.
- I beg your pardon, but you should-' Euclid began, but his Master interrupted him.
- No need, Euclid. If he continues to talk like that, it may soon play a bad joke on him and he'll be hit on the head a couple of times so that he'll stick it in the sand,' Rizevim hummed, sipping from the glass of wine that Greyfia, who was standing behind the throne with his brother, had given him.
Asmodeus said nothing, but gritted his teeth in a way that could be heard by all the Lords. But no one cared about his pride, as the huge black doors of the hall opened and revealed new guests to the Demons. The entire hall froze after the butler spoke:
- Lord Bael, Lord and Lady Gremory have arrived! - announced all Demons servant that stood at the door.
A handsome man in modest but elegant clothes entered the hall accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law. Zekram Bael was dressed in a white shirt and black waistcoat, which were under the short jacket normally reserved for Servants. His violet eyes languidly surveyed the hall and then settled on the Four Lords with the same boredom.
His daughter Margarett was walking under the arm of her husband Zeoticus Gremory, the current head of House Gremory. Bael was wearing an elegant red dress that showed off her slim but beautiful body curves. Because of the neckline at the bottom of the dress, her beautiful legs with black stockings were visible.
Long-heeled shoes clattered on the black floor, made of rare black ore that could only be mined in a few places in the Underworld. Gremory was wearing a white shirt with a black tie under a long red jacket, and his black trousers barely touched his shoes.
This company of Demons approached the small steps by the Lords thrones. Zeotikus and his wife bowed humbly and deeply, unlike Zekram, who gave a slight nod of his head.
- You're late, Zekram,' Rizevim said with a "Luciferian" smirk, ignoring Gremory.
- I apologise, My Lord, there was a small problem, which has now been resolved,' Zekram smiled slightly, lowering his head.
- Yeah? What kind of problems? Destroying a couple of Rods again? - Rizevim grinned, ignoring the shocked Demon Hall. The Ruler laughs at how some of his people were destroyed....
- 'Negative, My Lord,' Zekram grinned in tact, 'This time my target was much stronger than the others,' Bael smiled enigmatically.
- Then tell me, who is it? - Ordered Rizevim, who this time slightly released Aura.
- The unrecognised House of Lamperouge, My Lord,' Zekram said as if not noticing the pressure.
The entire hall had been silent during the conversation between the First Pillar and the Lord of Hell, but now it was as if it had frozen. It was as if life had stopped here, and everyone had stopped breathing. Everyone knew the unrecognised House Lamperouge that traded with all the Pillars.
While everyone was fighting each other, House Lamperouge was the only one who sold any resources. And what they could give was an 'exclusive' commodity in the form of magical ore. It could be used for all sorts of purposes. It could be used to erect a barrier to a part of their lands. It could be used as bullets for the demonic rifles and pistols that are the prototype for exorcists.
So if Zekram said that this Rod was destroyed, then it means he had pulled it under him. Which means his trade influence will increase even more. And that means...yes many, many more things.....
- Too bad,' Rizevim shook his head with the same smile, hiding his joy, 'Too bad indeed. Then you and I, Zekram, have much to discuss after this is over.
- Of course, My Lord,' Zekram replied, not hiding his satisfied smile.
- Well, it's time to begin what I've brought you all here for...
- My Lord, I apologise for my tardiness! - said an unknown voice in the doorway of the hall.
The entire hall turned round and froze again with a complicated expression on their faces. As did Zekram, who opened his eyes wide in surprise.
A young Demon of handsome appearance entered the hall, and his lilac eyes were fixed only in the direction of Bael and Rizevim's company. He was dressed in a white shirt with the same colour bow around his neck, over which was a purple long camisole with gold buttons.
He was also wearing a cloth of unknown origin, attached by a golden rope to the camisole, which concealed the left half of his entire body. On his face was a bandage covering his left eye, with a lilac crystal on a silver chain. Though he wore shoes, his footsteps were almost inaudible.
But the Supreme did not enter alone. Two Demon Servants entered behind him, but you couldn't tell that from their clothes. One of them, a girl, was dressed in a purple dress with thin ropes that exposed her shoulders and thin neck. There was a thin strap around her waist that showed off her perfect waist.
Her long flaxen hair was loose and there was no make-up on her face at all, for even without it she was incredibly beautiful. Her violet eyes calmly surveyed the hall, and she almost chuckled when she saw the stares directed at her. Her black shoes without long heels allowed her to walk to the beat of the men beside her.
The second guest that walked beside the girl was the High One's personal Servant, a Middle Class demon. His black hair was styled with great difficulty, but even so, it was obvious that some of his hair was pointing in different directions. The red streaks leading from his cheekbone to his chin seemed brighter than usual. A white shirt with the top button undone was worn with a purple jacket over it, and black shoes clinked as he walked.
The demon ahead of the small company stopped in front of the throne and kneeled down and bowed low.
- I have come to swear an oath to you, my Lord,' said the High One, and the Servants who had come with him knelt as well as their Lord.
- L-Lord Lamperouge and his Servants have arrived,' said the dazed butler standing in the doorway.
***
How many creatures have died for your ambition!
The world you wish to see could never exist.....
You are already over a hundred years old, but you are as stupid as some boy....
Your journey will be over much sooner than you can begin to put your plan into action...
- To begin with, you must swear an oath to all of us, the New Lords of Hell, not to me as you did under my father,' Rizevim said, looking around at the crowd, which was lined up in rows, listening intently, 'Many things will be changed.
The Son of Lucifer glanced at his companions, who stood with their heads held high and looked round the hall with unprecedented arrogance.
- May I ask you a question, My Lord? - Lelouch Lamperouge, the last arriving guest of this meeting, who stood with a polite smile, asked, 'Many different factories and plants for the production and processing of resources were acquired during the Troubles. I think using them is one of the few ways to generate some income to further the Rod's development.
Lelouch paused for a moment to watch the reactions of his 'Masters'. Though they listened to him, they looked at him as if he were an insignificant bug underfoot.
- The descendants of the First are so proud of their blood that they think they will be obeyed just because they are Lords? At least Rizevim isn't as stupid as his comrades. Fools, no less,' Lelouch thought to himself, his face unchanged.
After a few seconds of silence, Lelouch continued:
- So I have a question for you. Will you nationalise them? - Lelouch asked ingratiatingly with the same smile.
- Simply put, will we take over their businesses or not. If I say yes, there will be a violent reaction to my statement and everyone will leave here dissatisfied. If I say that we will agree on favourable terms, then those 'favourable' terms will be irrelevant in the coming war,' Rizevim reasoned, looking only into Lamperouge's right eye, 'Should I destroy you first? Or Bael first...?
- We will be forced to borrow them for common use,' Rizevim replied, taking his eyes off Lelouch, "Roughly speaking, we will borrow them for wartime and soon return them with compensation," Rizevim continued with a slight smile.
- What wartime? - Lelouch was 'genuinely' surprised, opening his only eye wide, and his Servants, as if knowing what facial expression he had on his face, repeated it.
- Your duty and oath to us obliges you to provide us with your funds when we urgently need them. You are obliged to obey and not ask silly questions! - Asmodeus said contemptuously, rising from his throne.
- Idiot,' Rizevim mentally slapped himself on the forehead, 'This is about to start....
- But, Master, that rule only applies to the Pillars,' Lelouch continued in a polite tone.
When Damaydos heard the reference to 'Sir,' he grimaced.
How proud we are...
- We called you here for that very purpose. You will be the new Pillars that support our Reign! We will endure all troubles and rise up. We will become Kings of the whole world! - Asmodeus said loudly with a smile.
Most of the Rods only flapped their eyes and didn't understand what he was talking about. While Asmodeus continued:
- The Angels are weaker now than ever before. Michael is doing nothing but rebuilding his father's System. Azazel is mired in his own strife with the Fallen, leaving them unable to fight back properly. We will start a new Great War, where the Demons will become the leading and dominant race of the entire world! - After which he spread his hands in different directions and raised his head to the ceiling, expecting a violent reaction.
But there was none.
Rizevim and the other Lords only frowned. They were clearly expecting a different reaction...
- Master,' Lelouch began, 'War...
- I am your Overlord, you miserable mudblood,' Damaidos hissed the last words.
Lelouch grinned.
- Master,' Lelouch continued with a smile, ignoring the grinning Damaidos, 'The war between the Fallen and the Angels lasted about five hundred years, with only a few interruptions. Many lost their families, friends, acquaintances. They were all just waiting for the War to end,' Lelouch closed his eyes for a moment and then continued, 'And now there is peace. The peace that everyone has been waiting for. Of course, after the death of our Great Lord Lucifer, many did not know what to do, but we held out. Together we were able to endure this difficult time. Am I not right? - Lelouch turned to the other Demons, who met his speech with violent reactions.
- Yes, you are.
- Yes, you are.
- That's right.
- Where am I?
- Who am I?
- And now you want to start the war again? For what? If you answer my humble question, Master, I will support you with all my might,' Lelouch bowed, as did his Servants.
Asmodeus was ready to explode with anger. Clearly he had not expected to be put in his place by 'some insolent Demon' who would not recognise his orders as absolute, as he had under his father. But now it was Rizevim who decided to speak up.
- For the sake of your future,' Lucifer's son continued to smile "warmly", 'So that you can live in a whole new world. According to our laws. As we are capable of it. Because it is your duty before your creator - my father - to become the Rulers of the new order! - Rizevim's eyes turned red for a moment.
- YES!!!
- Yes, that's right!
- Hail to the Lords!
- HURA-AAH!!!
Strong hypnosis, Rizevim Lebanon Lucifer. Really strong, but for some reason he didn't use it on the powerful High Ones...
What was noteworthy was the shouting of recent and minor 'Rods'. A few Highs were also shouting something in support of the Overlords, but they were minor sleuths.
Rizevim raised his hand, asking for silence. The Highs did not react outwardly in any way, but only frowned tensely, unlike Lelouch. Han looked at his Master for a split second, and goosebumps ran through him....
Lelouch grinned sinisterly for a moment....
- We're not going to discuss the small matters of the War today, as it has already been won,' Rizevim smiled, "I want to bring up the matter of this girl," he pointed at the beautiful girl with flaxen hair who was standing next to Lelouch and smiled.
Decided to go on the attack? Surprise me, Lucifer's offspring....
All eyes were on her. Some were openly staring at her perfect form. Some were already licking their lips, while those who stood closer were trying to touch. Even though she was incredibly charming and beautiful, there was something about her that made one tremble. Just like the words of Lelouch or Lucifer.....
- As far as I know, this girl's name is Venelana Bael. She is a renegade of the Ba'el Rod,' Rizevim pointed with a nod of his head towards the smiling Zekram, 'And since she is a Ba'el, it is her Rod to pass judgement on. She must now...
- I apologise for not initiating you, My Lord,' Lelouch interrupted with the same polite smile, 'But I have accepted her into the Lamperouge Clan, so the Bael Clan cannot pass sentence on her as it delves into the affairs of our Clan. Or could he declare war on me? - Lamperouge looked questioningly at Zekram, who did not respond in any way to that.
Some of the Demons murmured, not even realising that someone could challenge Bael so openly. But after a while, they stopped.
Lelouch walked over to Venelana, put his arm around her waist and pressed her against him, causing her to blush slightly.
- She swore allegiance to me and became my personal Servant,' Lelouch continued, "If you attack or lay a finger on her, I will consider you to have touched my property and I will kill every single one of your servants and relatives," Lelouch said without changing his expression.
Venelana's eyes turned red from the effects of her Aura of Destruction Force, and thick lightning bolts appeared on her fingertips, which immediately disappeared.
The hall became abruptly cold. Everyone turned away from the right lilac eye that only carried a terrifying coldness. The same thing happened to Venelana. No one dared to raise a glance in their direction. Even the stalwart ones like Zekram, Rizevim and the rest of the Lords involuntarily turned away, but pulled themselves away afterwards.
If anyone wanted to say anything, they shoved their desire deep inside themselves. Zekram frowned very hard after his former daughter's second demonstration of the Force. Zeotikus kept a feigned calm expression on his face and only showed emotion with a clenched hand on Margarett's waist. The Lords of Hell, on the other hand, were frowning the hardest....
And there stood Reichem's son. And beside him is Samui, who faintly bowed to me just now. I can see that your son is not a copy of your behaviour, Raychem. And he is not a 'walker'. Well...
The heads of Sitri and Agares are not present. Nor are the young Demons, who are almost monsters, capable of surpassing the First Lords, according to my data. Sazex Gremory is the son of Zeotikus and Margaret. That they were able to conceive a child after only twenty years speaks of incredible luck. Yes, and recently the Astaroth, Sitri, and Glacea-Lebolas families have had young demonborns that will probably be key figures in Hell in the future, given their terrifying abilities at such a young age. And the fact that they have begun to bond with each other quickly suggests that change is coming soon....
Civil War.
I'm sure after today's meeting, let's just say that the Resistance Faction will be moving into action....
- Well, I see, - Rizevim stretched out, hiding his irritation, - Then I think we can begin our banquet, after which we will take the oath, dear present and future Pillars of Hell.
***
- Thank you for inviting us, Father. It was very...fascinating to hear and see for myself the course choices of the current Lords,' Margarett said to Zekram, standing beside her carriage.
- 'You are welcome, my daughter. Still, who should have done it if not me,' Zekram smiled, glancing at Zeotikus, who was already seated inside the carriage.
- See you later, father,' she bowed respectfully to him before climbing into the carriage and snuggling up to her husband.
- See you later,' Bael replied.
And Zekram went back to the castle to talk to a few Demons. Small talk, wordplay, threats and more, just filled every ball like today.
Exactly forty-three minutes later, he disengaged himself from the company of small Pillars that were his partners. Naive. Zekram stealthily steps into the shadows of the pillars and heads to a room he's been in many times when the First Lucifer was alive. He activates the communication circle and contacts one of his Servants.
- 'Tell me,' Zekram orders glumly, waiting for a response from the other end.
- My Lord...there was a problem...' the Servant began, but was interrupted.
- What the hell kind of problem! Nuclei of concentrated demonic energy had to break through the Evil Dragon's barriers! - Zekram threw out angrily, slamming his fist into one of the walls of the small room.
- My Lord,' the Servant was silent for a moment, as if afraid of something, 'When the cannonballs were fired from the cannons, they began to increase in size due to the high concentration of mana and broke the barriers, as we expected and calculated, but....
- BUT?!
- They got sucked in...
- What?!' Zekram puzzled.
- My Lord, it was an ancestral ability of the Belphegor clan...' the Servant gibbers fearfully.
Zekram stands for a while in a stupor and says nothing. He doesn't even move and only the gears in his head can confirm that he is alive. He is simply in shock.
- I see,' Zekram decides to speak up, completely devastated, sitting down at one of the chairs.
- We've gone and left no evidence, My Lord.
- Yes, yes, you can tell me later when I get to the castle,' Zekram said.
- Yes, My Lord,' the Servant replied immediately and passed out.
Zekram touched his face and rubbed his forehead lightly with his right hand. He then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. But that didn't last long.
He got up from the chair with an unreadable expression and teleported somewhere in the forest, which is not far from his castle.
- FUCK YOU...LELUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!! - Zekram shouted throughout the forest, unleashing his terrifying Aura of Destruction that instantly wiped out part of the small forest.
Years of observation, searching for weaknesses, and all for nothing! Perfect timing, when Ladon had no time to reinforce his barrier after the break, when Lelouch and most of his Servants were out of the castle grounds and wouldn't have had time to react. And it all comes crashing down on the lost little girl Belphegor! Didn't she die in the fortress of Gapi, near the Blood River? It was her corpse that was there, wasn't it?
— А-А-А-А-А-А-А-А-А-А-А-А-А!!!!! - destroying everything in its path Zekram with his Power of Destruction that would easily wound someone of the level of the Dragon King...
This went on for about another hour, after which Zekram could no longer see the forest or the nearby outpost...
I can't frame Rod Lamperouge this time, as he's currently the most powerful Rod in Hell. The Resistance faction needs Rod Lamperouge, so I can't blame him for holding Belphegor. And if I make my move, Rizevim will have more time to get the other Daemons on his side with the help of our showdown, and then the Resistance's blitzkrieg won't work. We need another plan again...
- I have once again... lost...