Guest: Bro you have 20 stories that are on "hiatus", people probably don't bother giving you reviews since they know you'll abandon the story in a few weeks or months. These "rewrites" where people think their writing improved so they'll just do the same idea but better, never work out. Better to finish a story at varying levels and show consistency and strong character, than to never actually manage writing a story out.
Well, true, but, i ain't getting paid for this so… eh. I write what i want when I want ultimately, and no one's on the internet is gonna stop that, even if does mean the reviews are hitched because god forbid me from having my own hobby
Anyway dude's got a point. And i'm slapping it away. Life's too short to not write as many stories as i want. One of these days you might fall asleep in moscow and woke up in Ukraine
Since i'm unoriginal, i adopted Fate's physical depiction for the Greek Gods, so if you're curious about them, just google 'enternamehere fate'. Since it doesn't have Athena, I used Granblue Fantasy's illustration for her, and Hera's from the 'Blood of Zeus'. An animated show where she's basically a domimomi
I made a mistake in the last chapter, it should've been Ajuka Astaroth, not Glasya labolas. already fixed that, but whoops
Enjoy folks ᕕ(ᐛ)ᕗ
Lucifer: The God and The Devil
Chapter 5
|| The Morning Star in Olympus ||
The Temple of the Olympians rested at the peak of Mount Olympus. Eons away from Earth as it was from the Realm of Asgard. But as those Realms resided inside the God-made universe — Lucifer traveled within a blink, and not as a figurative expression either.
And in the cloudy Realm of Olympus, inside the temple, Lucifer was immediately greeted by one of the gods who liked to assume they were the mightiest because no other gods had bothered with them; Ares.
The proud olympian towered before him in front of all his family. Closest one, at least. Seven of them; Zeus, Hera, Demeter, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus and then Ares himself. For those unpresent, Lucifer had checked, were busy with their godly responsibilities. Poseidon ruled his own Realm in Atlantis, Hades was banished, Apollo was womanizing a Greek woman, Hermes was traveling through Realm to deliver news regarding Trihexa's possible awakening, and Hestia gave up her spot for Dionysus, who was currently in a pub somewhere in Greece, drunk as ever.
Hestia was wise, and good for her. She understood a rotten tree could only produce rotten fruits. A corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit, or so his father would say, never looking in the mirror, as per usual.
"Godslayer," the Olympian God of War barked, his confidence boosted by his impressive set of gilded lamellar heavy armor and his golden spartan helmet with the red brushy bits that looked like mane of a horse.
Again with gods and their flashy helmets, Lucifer apathetically thought, finding more interest in the olympian's helmet than his entire being.
But he supposed he could spare a greeting.
"Ares," Lucifer nodded at the god that quadrupled his size and muscles and weapons. "Good…" He glanced outside the temple, between the pillars and saw nothing but clouds and a distant star that was keeping the Realm from experiencing the darkness of the night. "...noon, I suppose. …For the time being."
Only Athena tapered her eyes upon hearing the last bit of his cordial statement.
"Dare you taint the Temple of the Gods with your evil presence and without prior notice? And you consider yourself as civilized? Do you think you can and leave as you please?"
"Yes; to all questions."
The God of War readied his spear. "You're standing in the presence of the Gods," Ares seethed, "Take your shoes off, and kneel."
"You mistook me as Moses."
The olympian muttered through his gritted teeth. "You find this funny, don't you? Do you think I'm joking?"
"Oh no," Lucifer cordially replied. "I know you're not one to trade banter. I'm only thinking what a joke you are, now that I see you face to face. Tall, dark, annoyed by me… You remind me a lot of Raguel."
"Before you killed him? Kinslayer?"
"Ergh… please."
Having heard enough of Ares' kindergarten insult and intelligence, Lucifer idly untangled himself from the sleeping valkyrie in his hands, and suspended her in the air inside a protective bubble. Completely black and impenetrable by the light. A cocoon whose insides were padded with delightful linen and silk, while brimming with malevolent and pure destructive Power of Destruction mixed with the Annihilation, Worthless, among a slew of others. Just in case Zeus tried to be smart and tamper with his belonging.
His precautionary measure alone alerted the olympians in their comfortable seats inside the marble temple as they shifted in unease.
"Spare us your mock civility," Ares griped, angry that this puny devil refused to cower before him and gave him the respect he deserved. "If it is a fight you seek then it is a fight you shall receive."
"Fighting is for pawns and children… and children you've used as pawns," said the former archangel, present Creator, to everyone who had 'guided' heroes. "You happen to be all three, but don't presume I am as witless as you are."
"You dare insult me in my own domain?!"
"This place is your father's. Now be quiet. I've wasted enough time with you. Our conversation is over." Lucifer shrugged away Ares' hostility. No gods were worth his time or attention, save for a very select few; those three in Asgard and only because Odin treated him not as The Devil or a God. If by some miracle another god gained his attention, it would be for entertainment purposes… or to complete a favor.
"You're no longer welcome in this place the day you aided our treacherous brethren to steal Persephone from me, thief."
At that spiteful sentence, Lucifer glanced at Demeter, taking no note of her skimpy armor and bountiful blonde hair of hers. In his eyes, she was the mad mother who had sentenced millions to die of starvation because her baby daughter fell in love with a talking skeleton. Sure she had added more demons to his army in doing so, but he didn't need her help.
Hades had gladly given him a million reapers in exchange for The Devil's help; by teaching him how to sway and capture Persephone's heart without having the perfect look, the might of his brother, or the wisdom Athena possessed.
"There may still be a day you realize your daughter is an adult capable of making her choice," said The Devil to the Goddess of Harvest.
"She's my daughter. I know what is best for her."
"How disappointingly human of you."
Demeter gripped the armrest of her throne that was twice smaller than Zeus'. "You're nothing more than a lying snake… Father, we should banish him at once. We can't let The Devil speak."
He said nothing to her other than a silent, condescending smirk, as he took away his attention from the envious god and to the golden hulk before him. Lucifer didn't feel the need to correct an insult of a delusional child.
It was at that phrase that Lucifer allowed the tiniest smile. 'Don't let The Devil speak'... a begrudging acknowledgment towards his masterful craftsmanship over words, sentences, truths, and of course, manipulation without the need of resorting to lies.
"In time," The King of the Gods—the olmypian ones at least—, Zeus, spoke. His voice was as powerful as a storm, but his temper was nowhere as controlled. "You best explain the reason for this unannounced visit, Lightbringer."
So many epithets already. Couldn't they settle on one or, better yet, use his goddamned name (a figurative expression, of course. Why would he damn his own chosen name)?
"Perhaps he wishes to play the judge, the jury, and the executioner," his wife alleged. Hera was as stunning as he remembered her. Stunningly marvelous at being delusional. "We don't need to welcome you here, Lucifer," But hey, at least she used his name. "State your reason now, lest the wrath of the entire Olympus fall down upon you."
Lucifer took a moment to look around, letting Hera's statement hover in the air awkwardly as it waited for his response. His crimson eyes swept over the gods, at these criminals who believed they were above the law because those who could punish them decided they were not worth their time.
Until today.
It wasn't that Lucifer desired to boot these criminals straight to Hell; he never had the chance to when he was but an archangel thirsty for justice. Brutally efficient and without a shred of mercy but his execution had never been lesser than flawless. Yet now that he had taken God's mantle as the First Light; Lucifer had since stopped caring about those underneath him, and looked nowhere too far, to find the souls he did give a damn about.
Besides, killing them would only send their souls to the Elysian Plains in Elysium. Their Afterlife where Hades reigned. Regardless of his bitterness towards his brother's family, that boney Grandmaster of the Grim Reapers could never condemn his own family to pay for their crime. He was too soft to even consider revenge, and Persephone would only complicate his judgment.
It was part of the Rules since their creation, and as it was their rules, they were bound by it. Changing it would require snuffing out Chaos, and Chaos had done nothing but idly pace around the Void, wondering what's for supper.
In spite of it all, The Devil would have never bothered himself with these washed-up gods, and he wouldn't have, if not for the deal he made with Nyx.
"The Queen of the Gods asked you a question," a noise reminded him. Ares' most likely. "When my mother asks, you answer."
As if he was the representative to express his fellow family's growing anger, Ares stamped the floor with his golden spear once, shaking the great temple as he approached The Devil.
He drew out his shield.
Lucifer didn't even bat an eye.
However, Lucifer noted, his shield was made of gold. So much gold here and there, serving for nothing more than decorations. Their thrones were made of gold, their hearths were made of gold, and Lucifer had no doubt that those tacky hair ornaments they wore were made of golden leaves. Those Greeks back on earth could have used some.
The olympians would refuse, that was without a doubt. Ninety-nine percent of the Greek population believed in God and therefore they put their faith in him. Just like everyone in the Vatican City. Odd to be both The Devil and The God.
These gods no doubt had been terribly bored with the lack of usage their weapons and armor had seen in the past millennia, keeping these useless trinkets and baubles because they refuse to move on from the Age of the Gods or face the reality that they were no longer needed. Not even by their own people.
Pathetic, really. They were gods but always expected something in return or no blessings at all. And they wondered why Greece became the first European nation that accepted and embraced the gospel, even forming the second-largest Christian community by rejecting to listen to the pope — who was, by all means, human.
Good on them. When the Great Schism erupted, Lucifer had the biggest smile on his face. Finally—he had thought—someone who kinda gets it. Just needed to stop worshiping anyone and they'd have been better. Not perfect, not even good, but better.
Then again, the persecution of the Hellenic religion encouraged by early Christian Roman emperors, leading to the destruction of their temples, statues, artefacts, and the murders of Hellenic philosophers and/or priests by Christian mobs gave the olympians quite the strong alibi to abandon those murderous apes.
"We should slay you here, devil, and to the Realms a favor," Ares spat, furious from Lucifer's lack of response. "You like that word, don't you? You and your 'favor'... Nothing but lies and tricks. Isn't that why you haven't uttered a single word?"
Lucifer slanted his head, staring but without sparing a single word. He let his crimson eyes convey how lowly he thought of these beings. He never lied. He kept to his promises. Lying was for lesser beings than him, but so was replying to a god whose conversation he had deemed to be over.
Without putting much effort, just silence, really, Lucifer felt their Wrath gathered. Felt the Wrath of the olympians focused on him. Felt the archangel side of him growing in power. He was once his father's Executioner. The Archangel of Light. Sin was like a shadow, and the darker the shadow, the brighter the light must be to fully obliterate it.
"If you know what is best for your wellbeing, then I suggest you turn tail," Zeus warned, "and return to whatever nightmarish Realm you came from."
The Devil snorted. "Heaven is indeed dull and too bright, but nightmarish is a bit excessive."
Somebody giggled at that, and the olympian took it as a signal of betrayal to their unity. It was Aphrodite. Of course. The ginger-haired Goddess of Sexual Love and how to be unfaithful and cuckold her husband and still be lusted by men… who swayed Paris during her beauty contest against Hera and Athena, and thus ignited the Trojan War.
"Are you here to punish us for our 'sins'?" finally, the Goddess of Wisdom spoke, after believing she had considered everything thoroughly. Athena should have been the Goddess of War as well, but perhaps she felt bad for her brother that would be rendered epithet-less as Ares didn't have any other redeeming qualities other than being a powerful, brainless brute.
"Surely you won't be so barbaric and judge us using Christianity's concept of good and evil."
Nevertheless, Lucifer answered her inquiry as though Ares was just a boulder. "Much as I want to, I understand you Gods have your own… views about certain things. Morality and standards. Such and such… It's never about good and evil, but chaos and order for you Greeks, no?"
"Your awareness in this matter is reassuring," Athena nodded, believing she was able to diffuse the situation if only for a moment. Unlike most of her more prideful and vain siblings and parents, her wisdom allowed her to not lose sight of the most important fact — a cunning snake like Lucifer wouldn't have visited this place if he was worried about his safety. He wasn't. It was them who should be worried for theirs. And Athena must tread lightly. Carefully. Measuredly.
And Lucifer tripped her with just a single item.
He extended his hand, and atop his palm materialized a golden apple. "Before we proceed, I came here bearing a gift," he announced, presenting the succulent fruit to the olympians. "That some of you might be familiar with."
As Athena's eyes broadened, fixated by the enchanting appearance of the shiny fruit and the meaning it entailed, she also realized what he intended to do; to split her family apart like Eris, the Goddess of Discord, had done before the Trojan War.
And it was indeed that same exact fruit, plucked by Nyx' daughter herself, because they believed The Devil could put on a show.
And the show had only just begun.
The Queen of the Gods swallowed her spit, her mind already envisioning a victory to finally easen the humiliation she suffered from that brat Paris.
"How thoughtful of you," Hera muttered, her red lips smiling as she touched her braided aubergine purple hair, as if to emphasize her peerless beauty. A jealous goddess she was, no thanks to her failure of her husband — Hera, at the very least, held little animosity towards The Devil who no doubt knew a thing or two about beauty. "And which of us shall receive your generous gift?"
'Ah… Hera. Still bitter about the Apple of Discord,' Lucifer thought, with just a mite of disappointment. Olympians were known to let the little things bother them greatly, and caused war or famine or the cursing of at least one human in their anger.
"To the fairest, of course," Lucifer said, as the female olympians, most prominently Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena as they believed they each were the most beautiful of the olympians, gazed upon the floating apple, which glided smoothly across the air, and landed safely upon the lap of the deformed God of Blacksmith.
Hephaestus was short, hunchbacked, one-eyed, and his face and deformed physique resembled nothing of a perfect visage of an olympian. He was, as his own kinmen had said to him, the 'ugliest' of them all.
And understandably the most bewildered as he stared upon the shiny yellow fruit on his lap, gingerly looking around at the confused then the angered goddesses of Olympus.
"Him?!" Hera shot up from her seat next to her husband's throne, said husband who seemed to have found amusement in The Devil's little show.
Lucifer shrugged. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
"Then you must be blinder than a bat, Lucifer Morningstar."
Bah. This misconception again. "It's Lucifer," he told her, annoyed. "Morningstar is what it means."
"Are you insulting us?! What is the meaning of this?! He's one-eyed! If you are the epitome of perfection, then explain how you find a malformed cripple to be the fairest of us all?"
"Is he not?" Lucifer replied, his voice as smooth as velvet. "He's treated people without discrimination or favoritism. Isn't that what fair is? He fairly did his duty as a son. Trying to prevent his mother from falling into the words of an adulterer that would trap her into a loveless marriage — emphasis on 'trying'. I would have succeeded but he's not me. Or did you sincerely assume I'm someone captivated with appearance?"
As the Queen of the Goddess quietly glared at him, the God of Blacksmith stared at The Devil with renewed sense of respect, and appreciation. Out of all the entities that were higher than men; it would be The Devil who didn't offer him with sympathy or pity — but respect and acknowledgement.
The only thing the God of Blacksmith deeply craved that had bothered him like invisible itch he couldn't scratch for millennia.
"And what did he get in return? He was thrown off this mountain, fell for an entire day, and became the first paraplegic olympian in history. And he acted his part as a god. Never shirked from his duties. He aided you in the Trojan War that you started. Before then he taught your people craftsmanship and metallurgy, and he returned. Humiliating you as well, if I recall."
"And what of it?" Hera spat, "He's not your child."
"Is that really the best excuse you can make?" sighed Lucifer, disappointed by the unmet expectations. "Even if he is, would I be so cruel to dump him off a cliff?"
"You're The Devil," Welp. Back to the title again. "You're created to be cruel."
For once, Lucifer narrowed his eyes. "This old adage again… God made me. Everything he created is good. If I am evil, then what of him? Is he evil too?"
"I won't listen to you to discuss your view about your family."
"Just have to make everything about you, don't you," Lucifer chuckled. "But very well… I'm not done talking with your son, so do excuse me."
His eyes wandered over to the god, and met Hephaestus' cloudy eye, as Athena felt a cold dread grasping her chest as he heard The Devil say, "I have an offer."
"Don't listen to him, brother, if you know what's best for all of us—"
"I will listen," Hephaestus drawled, not letting Ares complete his sentence. "As an olympian, I also hold the right to speak with those who sought me instead of my siblings."
Lucifer smirked. The deal had already been settled the moment he gave the hunchback a pat on the back.
"You know how to swing your hammer," he began, and Hephaestus listened intently. "Your forge has run cold for ages. In due time, perhaps you'll run it again to arm the army for the fight against Trihexa, where many will undoubtedly be broken and shattered. Wasted."
"Brother, I—"
"Silence!" Hephaestus seethed at Athena, not exactly the prettiest of sight or the most menacing, but he damned well tried to look the part. "I've respected you. All of you. I let you speak and I wait until you finish your sentences. Don't I deserve the same? Now be quiet. I'm talking with somebody. …Please, Lucifer, continue."
Satisfied at the look of uncertainty from the olympian, fully aware of their predicament, Lucifer continued, "My legion requires a competent blacksmith. See what I'm getting at?" Hephaestus nodded as he grabbed the golden apple in his hand.
"Serve me," Lucifer said. "As Hell's Forgemaster. Serve me well and you will find what you desire the most; a place where you finally feel belonged, an army and subordinates that will respect you and the armaments you forged. You shall have a forge twice as grand which fires will never run cold even after The End of Times. You will have a faithful woman that will sate your unquenched thirst for both physical and sexual intimacy, that will love you even if you are blind or without limbs, as long as you're alive."
"Or more," Lucifer chuckled, a simple smile on his face. "You gods can't ever have enough, can you? Well lucky you… succubi are born and raised and live to be perfect wives, and there's plenty in Hell waiting for you in your new mansion."
Athena's blood ran cold. "...Hephaestus, tempting as it is, consider before you accept. This is Lucifer you're talking to—"
"I accept," Hephaestus declared, shakily standing up as he took a bite of the sweetest fruit he had ever tasted, so sweet and delicious that his tears ran down from his disfigured face, as he bowed before The Devil. "I accept… Lord Lucifer."
Lucifer's smile was sincere. Always a good day when he gained a new worker. "Welcome to the club. My secretary will handle your contract as soon as you—"
"You dare betray your mother?!"
Lucifer rolled his eyes, closed his mouth, and folded his hands. Well he always had the time for family drama.
"You're not my mother." Hephaestus words were lined with a boiling hatred that had resided for more than thousands of years. Unlike his forge, never did it run cold. It had settled snugly deep in him, and now it was about to explode like a volcano. "You might have birthed me… but you're not my mother. You never were. The closest I had was Thetis, who cared and nurtured me when you cast me out. And she repeated it when Zeus hurled me off this very temple, because I advised you against accepting him."
Tearfully, Hephaestus pointed his blacksmith hammer towards the Queen of the Gods, whose eyes and mannerism clearly showed she held no regret or guilt.
"I tried to be a good son for you, but you ignored my advice and look at where you are now… You love him but hate him for his unfaithfulness. You're the Goddess of Marriage, not Cuckoldry," the olympian raged didn't subside, "My leg is broken from that second fall, but what did you tell me when I climbed this godforsaken mountain again? You wished that both of my legs were broken!"
Hephaestus smashed his hammer upon the marbled floor, shattering it as his tears seeped between the cracks.
"But fair enough," he sniveled, rampaging against his grief, "I understood from that moment on that you never wanted me. That's fair enough… At least I have siblings who valued me. But all I ever wanted. All I ever wanted was to be treated as your equal. I'm an olympian, just like you, but you see me as this… this monster. You think I didn't notice how you flinched? That wince you make? That little jump you had when you didn't notice I was walking next to you? Am I nothing more than a limp ironmonger who you come to whenever you need something made. And what did you ask of me… To build your thrones… I've forged weapons and shields wielded by heroes, and you asked me to build chairs?!"
"Brother, please," Athena muttered, pushing Ares away as she rushed over to her hurting sibling. Maybe it wasn't too late. "Calm down—"
Lucifer smirked. Because those two words always worked wonderfully. If you intend to add gasoline to the fire, that is.
"Calm down?! I was calm, Athena, for thousands of years! I waited and I believed, I put my faith that one day, one of you ungrateful gods would come to visit my forge, and talk to me. Not even to appreciate my work; just talk. Only Hestia ever cared… She's the only one who treated me like an olympian," walking past Athena, Hephaestus hobbled his way down the flight of stairs he had always found to be a hindrance to climb up or down, but now, it was the only obstacle between him and his freedom from the family that didn't want him.
"If you will have me, my lord, I, Hephaestus, Son of… None, would be honored and indebted to serve you and your army, Lord Lucifer..."
"Don't bother kneeling before these pissants," Lucifer said as he clapped Hephaestus' right arm, healing his leg and his disfigured face at once. "Worship no one. Not even me. Don't mistake worship as part of serving. And lastly; welcome to Hell."
With a snap of his fingers, a gateway sparked and infiltrated the temple. No screams this time, only the sound of running river of lava empowering the Hellforge, as well as the sound of metal clanging repeatedly; Hephaestus' new employee and assistants, who each stared out the Gate, and each gave the god a casual smile with too many teeth.
"Hey, that the new Boss, Boss?" a demon called out, just as a scantily clad succubi gathered by the open gateway, equally curious at their soon-to-be-husband.
"Is that him?" a black-horned succubus asked Lucifer, who nodded to answer the two questions. With that, the succubi smiled as one in particular, evidently the most mature and most… alluring, reached out to grasp Hephaestus' white robe.
"Hmm… What're you doing standing there? Get in here and let us rid you of your tears… Of sorrow and… oh my, childhood pain? Tsk, tsk— you poor, poor man… We've prepared your bed for you. A hot meal is also in order. And of course, as it should go without the saying," the succubus chuckled seductively, "we are included in the course."
Wordlessly, happily, the olympian detached his right and title as an olympian, and stepped into the Gate, as it shut seamlessly behind him.
"Alright… that's one down."
"Leave this place," Zeus' thunderous voice boomed, brimming with rage as he had no desire to respect The Devil, or anyone who shamelessly infiltrated his palace, and clearly didn't have the intention to be courteous. "Now."
Lucifer shook his head. "Can't leave before I honor my end of the bargain, Zeus. That goes against my principle… And… well. My whole deal as the Dealmaker, actually."
Zeus wanted to hear none of The Devil's twisted truths and carefully crafted words. "LEAVE!"
Storms gathered outside the temple, and thunder began to crackle and twist inside the gathering supercells. The temple darkened, and all the olympians stood up from their seats, ready to pounce on The Devil with whatever Divine Powers they believed they still possessed.
Lucifer frowned a little. This was why he dreaded meeting Zeus, and why he never bothered trying to forge a deal out of the obstinate god.
Not because he feared him, but because Lucifer knew it would be a waste of time. He shouldn't have bothered with the pleasantries either. Not all Gods were as welcoming as the Argardians when Lucifer reaped God from his Godhood. The olympians, most of them anyway, assumed since he always looked younger than their eldest; he was created on an earlier date, and therefore held less power than all of them combined.
The closest they got to him was when half of the world placed their Faith in them, and even then their difference was still, simply put, heaven and hell.
Some of these olympians were children of Titans, who were created by the Primordials, whom Chaos spat out.
Lucifer was God's first creation. The Second Light, now the First itself.
"You'd prefer to listen to me," Lucifer replied, calming the storms outside by drawing the 'sun' closer, incinerating the clouds and rain as the temple brightened a few levels. "I highly suggest it. Would you rather talk to me or Nyx?"
And then everything went dark.
Power of Destruction had swallowed the artificial star shining on Mount Olympus, and Lucifer sat on his throne that emerged not soon after.
They could see him still, as were gods, but Zeus nonetheless conjured his thunder to act as an emergency lamp.
"Hello, hello, hello…" The Night giggled, "Thunderboy. Still scared shitless of me?"
Zeus scrambled off his seat. "H-How did you get here…"
"Hm? I can always come here. You just assumed I couldn't," the Primordial purred, straightening her white long-sleeved buttoned shirt as she stepped upon the cold darkness. "Why… Why so worried? I've sworn an Oath, you know. Unless… have you wronged me?"
"No," the King of the Gods said hurriedly. "Never."
"Hmm… then can we agree that you will listen to what my… acquaintance has to say?"
"I will—" and light returned, and Zeus realized too late that he had fallen under Lucifer's nightmare of an illusion. An undeniable evidence that The Devil had indeed surpassed him. "...listen…"
"So surreal isn't it?" Lucifer chuckled, reclining on his own throne. Admittedly not as merry or decorated and riddled in gold and silver, it was his throne, and it was portable, so it was already better than what these olympians had.
Ares was concerned with his father's sudden silence. "Father?"
"We'll listen," Zeus stated with finality. "...Say your piece, Devil."
"Right…" muttered The Devil, "...Well, in all honesty, I've said my piece."
"Then leave us," Athena stepped towards him, standing next to Ares. Any longer and she'd fear he might turn her entire family against each other. "If you're finished."
"I've said my piece. It's not yet done. Be patient and try not to be so jumpy. You speak as if I'm willing to waste energy to kill the lot of you."
That was one of Athena's fears, but she found solace in that no matter how powerful, The Devil was not beyond reasons.
Although that was not to claim Lucifer was a reasonable entity. He wasn't. He never was. Never had been. Never would be.
The reasonable adapted themselves to the world. The unreasonable persisted in making the world adapt to him.
And Athena feared the Devil had succeeded in doing just so the day The Devil murdered the Abrahamic God, and grabbed hold of his Divine Power. In fact, he had forced the olympian to adapt to him. How many times had they told him to leave? Yet here he was, sitting in his black throne, with one leg raised, and so full of himself.
But for almost a thousand years he had remained dormant and Athena believed her family was safe. Obviously she was wrong, yet the question persisted; why now?
The simplest answer was; he needed something from them. "What do you need from us, Lucifer?"
"You don't have anything I need."
"...What do you want from us?" Athena rephrased, swallowing her Pride. She couldn't allow the archangel to be stronger should worse come to worst.
"Want or need— he's gaining nothing," Ares seethed as he turned towards his father. "Why are we still allowing him to stand here?! He's stolen our blacksmith and he has threatened to kill us! And that valkyrie of his— who knows what he's planning to do by bringing her here?! We should be killing him right now!"
"Quiet, Ares. The adults are talking. Trying to. Preferably without your noise," Lucifer said, keeping his tone civil but words wholly intended to set the God of War alight. "I don't take kindly to anyone who wastes their time pretending something they're not."
Ares' eyes flared majestic golden flames as he took the bait, but Athena quickly interjected as she floated down her throne, placing her hand on her brother's arm, and stared at The Devil face to face.
"Your demands, Lucifer," she asked, knowing her time was running short especially with how angered Ares looked and how excitable Artemis was to fire her bow. The fate of her family rested on her shoulders. "State them."
"Yes, of course…" Lucier cordially nodded as he unbuttoned his suit. "...It's a simple thing, really… I want you to evict this place. Pack up your belongings, and find some new place to live."
The skies outside crackled and lightning smeared the sky, conveying Zeus' ungodly rage smiting through the storm clouds.
"That will be your last slight against our family." The God of War took a step closer to The Devil, and with a great and mighty voice, announced his oath, "I, Ares the God of War, son of the God of the Skies, vow for as long as I live and breathe, as long as I am able to draw my spear, within the Realm of Olympus, you, Lucifer, will never lay another step inside the Temple of the Olympians."
Athena saw the corner of his lips tug the slightest smile. Almost as if he was waiting to hear those very words.
"I will never lay another step in this place as long as you, Ares, are within this same realm. In other words; you have a deal."
Athena never knew how one word, spoken ever so softly, could shatter her composure. Realization broadened her eyes as fear filled her lungs. She tried to shout, to warn her brother, yet her voice failed to push through the thick clot of dread in her throat.
A malformed blade pierced the golden armor and straight into the heart of the God of War.
Wrath, Ares' greatest sin, corroded him from the inside, eating his godly visage like a million of flesh-eating termites. Thick tar-like ooze dribbled out of his eyes and nose as an ungodly pain wracked his body, seizing his ability to scream. Burned from within by eternal hellfire that sundered his flesh and stripped his muscles and broke his Divinity, and Ares felt his flesh turning to mush.
As his shield and spear clattered against the marble floor, he reached and clawed for Lucifer's throat, but the Devil simply took a step back. He pulled out his greatsword from the olympian's chest, and watched with a little amusement as Ares slumped forward.
And the boisterous God of War died with a gurgling whimper. His great golden armor clanked over the floor like a useless piece of metal, scattering over before dissipating into golden dust, as his soul was released from his body, and condemned straight to Lucifer's Sanctuary… to pay an eternity for his mortal sins, over the deal he unwittingly made with The Devil.
Mount Olympus had never experienced such a gravely silence. None of the olympians were yet able to fully register the callous murder of their son and brother. Zeus was completely baffled, his rage hadn't yet set in to replace his confusion as the storms outside could be heard subsiding.
"A-Ares…?"
Athena heard her mother's voice, cracking like her heart. And yet she shed no tears when Hephaestus was taken away from her by The Devil.
"What… What have you done…?"
"An insignificant part of a favor."
The Goddess of Wisdom swallowed a spit. She noticed Artemis had loosened her arrow, only for it to shatter the moment it hit Lucifer's unblinking eye.
It was at that moment the olympians realized how powerless they had become.
Without Faith.
Without the offerings or worship.
They were no longer an integral part of humanity's survival.
But nevertheless, against all odds, against The Devil who had become God, Athena remained stolid. "Are you prepared for the consequences…? Other Gods will execute you for this. They won't sit idly. They won't stand down… They will kill you, Lucifer."
"And I'll return in 3 seconds to return the favor. You should make your own universe sometimes." The sword in his hand dissipated, and Lucifer reconjured his smoldering black throne and sat atop of it.
"Now. Listen to me carefully…" he calmly began, now that he had their undivided attention and, regrettably, fear and dread — he tried to keep things civil, really, but he'd wasted enough time and his fox in a rock still retained the same amount of seals. "This is nothing personal. The Night wants all of you gone. She desires a new view, and has chosen the peak of Mount Olympus. Hence why I'm here as your eviction notice. Deadline is ten…" He checked his wristwatch. "...seconds."
"Nyx…"
Lucifer nodded at the powerfully built man with the magnificent gray beard. He could practically smell his fear already.
"...You lie… She would never make a deal with a devil… You're full of trickeries and dishonesty! You're tricking her!"
"But I'm not a devil. I'm The Devil. Massive difference there… And don't talk to me as if you're a saint, Zeus. I've personally chatted with the women and young girls you raped and your wife killed. Some of them are Hades' reapers now, taking contracts to rid the world from rapists like you. Some of them became my demons… which you'll soon meet, as your time is up."
The olympians entered a tense silence, readying their weapons. Too proud to even consider leaving.
When then a tiny portal formed next to The Devil's face, and in it showed a female demon with white hair and eyes as scarlet as fresh blood.
"Ahh… Our former Master's family…" Cerberus sniffed, a smile adorning her face already. "Is it finally time, Master?"
"Yes."
The Triple Demon beamed a smile more sinister than Lucifer's. But of course it was only because he had never smiled sinisterly.
"Oh!"
The raging hellfire soared as hundreds of Gates emerged. The ground shook and trembled as the cheers of Lucifer's legion accompanied with the cacophony of burning souls drowned every other noise, burying the crackles of Zeus' thunder so completely, as hundreds of the millions of Infernal Demons poured from the Gates.
"REND THEIR FLESH AND LAY THEM BARE! TEAR THEM ALL BUT REMEMBER: ZEUS IS OURS!" The Cerberus trio roared as they led the unholy assault. Fangs bared, red eyes filled with nothing but the purest desire of bloodlust, and elongated claws ready to rip those who stood against the will of their Master.
"Hold!" Zeus roared himself, conjuring his own Gates as he called for the Greek Heroes' aid. "Hold your ground and fight! Defend this palace! Our home must survive!"
Lucifer loosened up and made himself comfortable, watching arrows, thunders, javelins and large rocks were hurled to his demons, who laughed as they pushed their way through. Even if the olympian managed to kill some, unless their souls were destroyed, they would simply return to his Hell and be granted a new and improved body.
And among them, Athena noticed as she readied her glaive, carried golden weapons… with Hephaestus' trademark of hammer and anvil… except the anvil was now in flames.
Weapons to harm gods.
Not kill.
Athena feared for her life.
She raised her spear and danced with it, steadily backing away to regroup with her family, not managing to kill a single demon, but her spear kept them away… No. They were intentionally giving her a wide berth. But why?
No matter, she must save her family from ruin. "Father! We can't hold! We must escape and regr—"
Before her stood a monstrous female demon. Standing twice as tall as Ares, with legs covered in golden snake-like scales and massive serpentine tail… as she slithered between the ranks of other ungodly creatures that were once slain by Heroes, and her eyes shone a brilliant purple glow.
The moment Athena realized who she was, her legs had refused to move, but she managed to lift her shield just in time before the petrification completed, spearing the dozens of demons as she stood her ground, alone, surrounded by another ten dozen.
Only for a set of five golden claws plunged deep into her chest.
"HRGH— GAHH!"
Athena screamed as the monster held her up by her ribcage. Her spear slid off her fingers, clattering against the floor before being snapped in half by the stampeding demons.
Athena gagged on her own blood, and grasped the arm of her attacker as she puked. A woman with long purple hair which splitted and amalgamated into demonic snakes with black reptilian skins, hovering around her new demonic visage.
"It's been a while…" the Gorgon smiled, "more than two thousand years, rather…" and she softly chuckled, a serene grin on her beautiful face. "Do you remember me, Athena? The woman you cursed for being defiled in your temple? Do you like my new body? It's a gift from my new Master. He's very generous. If you agree to serve him, that is."
"Med…usa…" The olympian croaked, her entire body trembling from the pain that was ripping her in half. This was what she feared the most; for her past grievous misdeed to finally catch up to her. "Ah…m… s-sor…ry…"
"An apology won't unrape me, sadly." Perhaps Medusa the human would have tearfully accepted her dying wish, but demons lacked mercy — Lucifer didn't consider it to be a necessary trait. "Don't worry, Athena... This will only hurt for a moment… You're an immortal after all. And then an eternity will follow. You, me, and our friend Arachne… Mhmhm~ I must say; I adore your death rattle…"
The Goddess of Wisdom limped. Her hands dangled on the side of her impaled body as her head hung low.
"Hmm? A gargle? I see that pretentious wisdom isn't the only thing that comes out from your mouth…" Medusa tittered as she slammed the Greek God against a pillar, crumbling it down from the impact as white boulders buried her body.
Calmly but swiftly, Medusa let her gilded wings carry her to the very Goddess who had turned her into a monster. The demons gave way to her as they marauded the rest of the olympians who persisted to stay instead of fleeing for their lives. She clawed through the rubbles and dug out Athena's broken body. She was still alive, though faint.
"This is what I love with you immortals… You still feel physical anguish… Your spear and head shall make a fine ornament worthy of decorating Nyx's new home." and Medusa let her snakes rip out her flesh, taking a bite and sinking their fangs, melting her bones and flesh to pink goop, as Athena died over, and over, and over, and over, even as Medusa tore her head from her shoulders, and impaled it against her own spear.
'Mercy!' she wanted to scream, but it was unheard.
She had her chance.
As his demons sacked the temple, Lucifer sat by, relaxing against his throne, flicking away a spear thrown by… whoever olympian was holding the spear, and swatted a bolt of lightning like a fly.
He let his demons do the brunt of the work as Nyx revealed herself, before him, smiling at him with a smile fitting of a sadist. She sat atop his lap, her slender arms wrapping around his shoulders, as then she gave him a quick peck to his chiseled jaw.
Unceremoniously, Lucifer rubbed off the kiss, causing the Primordial Goddess of the Night to frown, albeit only briefly.
"I thought you're meant to stay hidden."
"As if I'd spend such a spectacle on my lonesome," she tittered as she made herself more snug on his lap, reclining on his chest as if he was her seat. "My Father sent his regards and his condolences. I've said mine when we made our little deal… which, of course you'd remember," she chuckled as the pillars of the so-called Temple of the Gods collapsed — a fitting testament to the downfall of Mount Olympus and its failure of gods.
"Mhmm," Lucifer hummed only a lazy response. Lukewarm towards the Night at most. She didn't strike him as anyone with further use once this deal was concluded, and Lucifer had no intention of humoring her more than necessary.
The Night shuddered as an insurmountable thrill filled her tepid heart. It had been so very long since she saw Zeus looking like a terrified boy… and seeing his silver armor broke down piece by piece, watching him and his little broken family struggle to fight these hellish demons — among them were the women whom he had raped and killed by his wife, Nyx had never witnessed such a barbaric display of justice.
"The Cerberus have grown well in your care."
"They're good hunters."
Idly, Nyx watched as the hellhounds brutalized Demeter, coating her throne with her blood as the goddess wailed and screamed.
"Torturers too," Lucifer then added.
Granted his demons were given his blessings. They were his own little gods and god killers, ever thirsty and ready to kill and maim and bleed in his name. And, granted, there weren't so many people in the world that firmly placed their Faith in the olympians… Nyx, nevertheless, chained by her oath as a Primordial; to never lay harm upon these band of hypocrites and disappointments, wouldn't have been able to finally rid Olympus of these olympians if it wasn't for him.
Besides, nobody had dared to risk fighting the olympian in their Realm or wanted to. Since the Age of Gods had passed, these lesser gods had been… boringly passive. Not even her daughter Eris was allowed to stir some discord thanks to their totalitarian Chaos.
Nobody except The Devil and his Infernal Legion, of course.
As she marveled the glorious massacre before her, she reached for his chest, easily shattering a seal to that peculiar necklace of his without having to see it.
Lucifer allowed a smile. With the Greek dealt with, he should visit his siblings in Heaven. If what Nyx's said about Sacred Gears were true, then it might be worth checking the System.
"A pleasure to finally have done business with you…" Nyx smiled, once again shivering at the bloodbath and the exuberant demons shouting at each other to wait for their turn. "...But what is that thing."
Lucifer glanced to his right, where Rossweisse's cocoon had hovered. Several demons who were waiting in a line idly probed their weapon against it, getting slapped by their coworker because it caused the cocoon to fizzle and sparked the chaotic energy on their face.
"A baggage," he blandly said, referring to the valkyrie snoring inside.
Nyx sniffed, not knowing what to say to that as she wasn't curious enough towards that large black egg-like structure.
Sooner than later, those olympians would have to leave this place.
Sooner than later, without their Realm to keep their pitiable divinity intact, they'd lose their immortality, and without enough Faith from humans; perish for good.
Unless, of course, they struck a deal with The Devil himself.
"...Lucifer…" she then heard a whine, coming from his chest. Must be the nine-tailed fox Yasaka. "Lucifer! Can you hear me? Please reply, I want... I need you here! P-Preferably this instance!"
The Devil spared a single glance at Nyx, before standing up without waiting for her, causing her to float awkwardly forward.
"Our deal is concluded. Farewell."
To be continued…
Isn't this essentially a power trip fic danzy?
Well yes, but actually… yes
If you think Lucifer is an egotistical megalomaniac on a permanent power trip, then you are absolutely correct. On all counts.
This chapter highlights the difference between how he treats his 'friends' and people he do give a shit, to a bunch of neutrals like Nyx and Zeus and co. He's cordial, for a while, until he gets what he wants; Hephaestus, then it was straight to business.
Btw Medusa is Gorgon from Fate Babylonia. The rest of the cast are as mentioned in the notes above
Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center has just been bombed by the russian government by the time i'm writing this sentence. What a sad world
Slava Ukraini