PART X

A Death and a Revival and a Dark Ritual

Lucifer, the Avatar of Pride, also known as the Morning Star was doing some Student Council work in his office at the House of Lamentation when he suddenly felt a soul shatter. His head jerked up in shock. Satan! Before he could process what had happened to his brother, he felt Satan die. It couldn't be! He couldn't be dead! Lucifer thought in horror. Rushing from his office to the Main Hall, he saw his other brothers there. Everyone was in shock. They had felt Satan's soul shatter and had felt his death as well. All were thinking the same thing, what in the Three Realms had happened to Satan?! Seconds later, Lucifer's D.D.D buzzed. He flipped it open. It was Lord Diavolo.

Lord Diavolo: Lucifer, come to the Castle immediately and bring the others. I have grave news.

Lucifer: I know. We're on our way.

Lucifer closed his D.D.D and looked at his brothers.

"We're going to the Castle now."

Everyone nodded. Lucifer and his brothers left the House of Lamentation and went to Lord Diavolo's Castle.

At the Castle, Lord Diavolo and Barbatos met them. Both were pale but were rational as they quickly led the brothers to the Castle's Conference Hall. Lord Diavolo motioned everyone to sit and then sat in his chair. Barbatos sat next to him.

"I'm sure all of you know why I called you here."

Lucifer nodded. "Yes, it's about Satan. Soul Shatter had somehow been cast on him. My brothers and I felt his soul shatter then we felt him die, but no one knows about that forbidden spell besides us so how can a spell of that potency be cast on Satan to shatter his soul? That knowledge has been sealed for centuries in our Grimoire which lies in the Underground Tomb."

Lord Diavolo nodded in agreement before he looked at Lucifer gravely, "You're right. That knowledge had been sealed for centuries. I made sure of that. What is most concerning is who could've found out about it and cast it on Satan? No one knows of the spell except us. That was something I also made sure of because of the danger the spell poses on us. The spell is deadly. By shattering a demon's soul, they fall into a death like state with all vital functions shut down. The Ancient Evil is the only one who knows of this spell and can use it at full power, but He is only half-awake so that knowledge should still be a secret from Him."

Then Levi spoke up, "Then we must find Satan and bring him back before the Ancient Evil learns of what happened to him. We must also find out who had cast the spell."

Lord Diavolo nodded then looked at Levi before saying, "That is what I plan to do next. I already have Barbatos on it."

Turning to Barbatos, Lord Diavolo asked, "Barbatos, have you found where Satan is in the human world?"

Barbatos stood up and bowed, "Yes, My Lord. I have. One of my doors is already set to Satan's location. When I felt Lord Satan's soul shatter and felt his death, my powers activated and I saw Lord Satan's location. However, I did not see what happened to him or who had cast the Soul Shatter spell. Only the Devildom Doctor would know what had happened to Lord Satan. And only Lord Satan knows who had cast the spell on him."

Lord Diavolo nodded. "I'll call the Doctor once Satan is safely back. Go and bring Satan back."

Barbatos nodded, "Yes, My Lord." He gave Lord Diavolo a respectful bow before leaving the Conference Hall.

Returning to the others, Lord Diavolo said, "Lucifer, I want you and your brothers to get the Grimoire and search for any information on how to revive Satan. This comes first before we could figure out who had cast the spell on Satan. His life lies in your hands."

Lucifer stood up and said, "We will find a way to bring Satan back Lord Diavolo. If we cannot, then he will stay in that state for all eternity. That is something that must never happen. My brothers and I cannot lose him too. Mammon, Levi, Asmo, Beel and Belphie, let's go."

His brothers stood up and together they left for the Underground Tomb.

After Lucifer and his brothers left, Lord Diavolo closed his eyes in pain. Satan, we'll find a way to bring you back no matter what. You must return to us. Your brothers and I cannot lose you.

Meanwhile in Barbatos' room, Barbatos opened the door that led to where Satan was. As he stepped into the human world, the first thing he saw was the rocky grasslands of Cornwall. He remembered what Kagura had told Lord Diavolo and him of her dream when she came to the Castle with Lord Lucifer. She had told them that she had seen the rocky grasslands of Cornwall and a train traveling in the area. Barbatos looked around for the train and saw its faint silhouette before freezing in shock. A mass of Dark energy was surrounding it and the power emanating from the area was a remnant of the Ancient Evil's Dark Power. With a hiss, Barbatos flickered into his demon form and chanted an incantation in the demon tongue. As the chant echoed around the area, a ring of dark green flame appeared around Barbatos before he blasted the flames toward the Dark energy. His dark green flame enveloped it and burned it all away, leaving the train intact and Satan safe. Returning to human form, he quickly went inside the train and saw Satan's still form. Barbatos also saw splatters of human blood in the train, but there were no bodies which was strange. Where were the bodies? They couldn't have disappeared like that unless someone or something took them. If they had taken the bodies then the only place they would be taken to would be…Barbatos eyes went wide as the answer came to him. They would have been taken to the cave where he saw the hooded figure with the Ancient Evil's Power was. No, it is the Ancient Evil Himself.

Barbatos immediately took out his D.D.D and messaged Lord Diavolo. The Dark Mages were going to resurrect him from the Human World and he had a feeling that it would be soon.

Barbatos: My Lord. I found Satan and also learned something horrifying.

Diavolo: Tell me, Barbatos.

Barbatos: My Lord, do you remember the premonition I had?

Diavolo: Yes, about Kagura with the eight hooded figures in the cave. You told us that one of them was the Ancient Evil.

Barbatos: That's correct, My Lord. I have a feeling that my premonition is going to come true.

Diavolo: What?! Are you sure?!

Barbatos: Yes, My Lord. The train that Kagura saw in her dreams is here. When I saw it, I also sensed the remnants of the Ancient Evil's powers emanating from the train. When I entered the train, I saw human blood splatters on the train but no bodies. The missing bodies confirmed a sudden suspicion I had. I believe the Dark Mages have the bodies and plan to use the human souls from the bodies to resurrect the Ancient Evil so He could fully awaken in the hooded figure from my vision. The hooded figure is the vessel.

Diavolo: This doesn't bode well. Your premonition also showed Kagura. That means she's with the Dark Mages. How am I going to tell Lucifer and the others about this?

Barbatos: My Lord, you have to tell them. They, the Angels, Solomon and the Sorcerers Guild must stop the Dark Mages and the Resurrection. It's going to happen in the Human World. Maybe not now but it will soon. We don't have much time.

Diavolo: It's going to happen in the Human World?!

Barbatos: Yes My Lord. The hooded figures were in a cave. I believe the other seven hooded figures are the Dark Mages. The cave, according to Solomon's Divination is in the Human World. He had also said that something was going to happen there. That something could very well be the Resurrection.

Diavolo: Okay, I'll let everyone know. For now, come back with Satan.

Barbatos: Yes, My Lord. I'm going to teleport him and myself to the Castle's grand foyer. Meet us there, My Lord.

Barbatos closed his D.D.D and went to the still form of Satan. Touching Satan's shoulder, he teleported Satan and himself back to the grand foyer of Lord Diavolo's Castle. Lord Diavolo was already there. Together, they helped Satan to one of the extra rooms in the Castle. Once Satan was situated, Lord Diavolo called the Devildom Doctor then messaged Lucifer.

Diavolo: Lucifer, did you find any information in the Grimoire that can help us bring back Satan?

Lucifer: I'm sorry Lord Diavolo. My brothers and I searched through the whole Grimoire but didn't find anything. The only thing that we learned was that if a demon's soul is shattered, the only way for them to revive is through a Resurrection spell, but the Grimoire does not have any information on what spell it is.

Diavolo: This is not good. I've come upon some other ominous news as well, but we'll get to that once the Devildom Doctor takes a look at Satan. Satan's life takes priority for now. Barbatos has found Satan and he's currently situated in one of the Castle's extra rooms. Come back with your brothers. I'll have Barbatos bring you to Satan's room. I'm currently with him and the Devildom Doctor.

Lucifer: Okay. I'm not eager for more ominous news, but you're right. Satan's life takes priority. My brothers and I will be there soon.

Diavolo: See you soon.

Lord Diavolo closed his D.D.D and waited for the brothers to arrive as he watched the Devildom Doctor look at Satan with his powers. A few minutes later, the brothers arrived with Barbatos. Everyone sat in the room and waited tensely for the doctor to finish. When the doctor finished, he turned to them, a grim look in his eyes.

"My Lords, Lord Satan has indeed fallen into a death like state. His soul has been shattered completely and his vital functions have completely shut down. I cannot do anything more."

Everyone paled when they heard this. It was too late. When Barbatos saw Lord Diavolo's and Lucifer's expressions, he quickly pulled up two chairs. Both sat down abruptly.

Lucifer closed his eyes in anguish, "Doctor, is there nothing you can do?"

The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry Lord Lucifer. Lord Satan is beyond my reach. He lies in a Dark Abyss which he can never return from unless Lord Satan gets resurrected."

In a quiet voice, Lucifer said, "Tell me Doctor. What in the Three Realms happened to my brother?"

"When Lord Satan fell into a coma, the Darkness within his heart had weakened his soul. Someone or something had taken advantage of this and had cast the forbidden spell that shattered Lord Satan's soul, putting him into this state."

Closing his eyes, Lucifer asked, "Are you saying what happened to Satan were premeditated?"

The doctor looked at Lord Lucifer for a long time before nodding.

Rage slowly built inside of Lucifer, but he clamped it down. Now was not the time to lose his temper. Lucifer made a silent vow. He will make whoever did this to Satan pay, pay dearly with their life.

Levi stared at the Doctor in stunned silence. "Just a minute Doctor, you said that Satan had fallen in a coma that weakened his soul. When did that happen and why didn't we know about it?"

Lord Diavolo spoke then, "I'm sorry Leviathan. It was my fault. I should have told you and everyone else about what had happened to Satan during the Meeting we had. I didn't because I didn't want to worry everyone. Before Satan collapsed, his soul link to Kagura showed him what had happened to her. In the vision, he saw Kagura severely injured. Satan had thought that she was dead so the trauma put him into a coma. While comatose, he got trapped in the Darkness of his own heart which weakened his soul."

Levi and the others were stunned into silence.

Levi soon recovered from the stunned silence that gripped his brothers. He was furious but rational enough to not go into his demon form. "Lord Diavolo, how could you have not mentioned this earlier?! How could you have kept this knowledge to yourself?! Lucifer did the same thing when he never revealed to us what had happened to Lilith after her death. He bore that pain and knowledge himself!"

Lucifer looked at Levi then said, "I'm also sorry Levi. It wasn't only Lord Diavolo. I also knew of it and didn't want to worry everyone either. If Satan didn't wake up from his coma the next day, we would have told you and everyone else, but he woke up. Looking at Satan's situation now, he is forever lost to us."

Lord Diavolo looked at the doctor, his own pain and anguish evident on his face. "Is what Lucifer said true? There must be something we could do."

"I'm sorry My Lord, but there is nothing we could do unless Lord Satan gets resurrected. Soul Shatter is a potent and deadly spell. We all know what the spell does. The only way to bring Lord Satan back is to cast the one Resurrection spell that combines the Elemental Powers of Darkness and Light. However, that spell has been lost for centuries."

Lord Diavolo went still when he heard what the doctor had said. He knew what the spell was.

"Doctor, it is that spell?"

The doctor looked at Lord Diavolo gravely before nodding, "Yes, 'The Empty Resurrection Spell', the spell hidden in the lost Grimoire, the Grimorium Elementum."

There was a long moment of silence after the Doctor mentioned that spell. Everyone knew of it. The spell was a lost Ancient spell.

Lucifer broke the silence first and said, "Doctor, that spell has been lost for centuries. Is there no other way?"

"I'm sorry Lord Lucifer. That is the only way. Without that spell, Lord Satan will stay like this for all eternity."

Lord Diavolo closed his eyes and said, "Thank you Doctor. I know this is all that you can do."

"I'm sorry My Lord. I wish I could help more."

Lord Diavolo shook his head, "You've helped more than you know. Thank you Doctor, you may go."

The doctor bowed to Lord Diavolo and everyone else before he picked up his bags and left.

Turning to Lucifer and his other brothers, Lord Diavolo said, "I'm sorry Lucifer, Mammon, Leviathan, Asmodeus, Beelzebub and Belphegor. There is nothing else that I can do for Satan. He is lost to us."

Lucifer and his brothers bowed their heads in grief. Not only have they lost Lilith, they've also lost Satan.

"Master, He has been eliminated and I have brought the one that thou seekest."

The dark figure turned from his Mirror and looked at his Dark Servant with a smile.

"You've done well Wrath. I am pleased. Bring the girl to the altar as we make the preparations for my full resurrection."

"Yes, My Master."

Kagura was put on the altar and a Dark mass of energy swirled around her. Within the Darkness of Kagura's mind, her consciousness was still active. She had felt Satan's soul shatter followed by a vision of Satan collapsing. After he collapsed, she had sensed Satan "die." Satan! Kagura thought in horror. Dear God, he couldn't be dead. Demons don't die. What had happened to him? She somehow knew that the only way to figure that out was to project her consciousness into Satan's mind to find out. Kagura concentrated then somehow separated her consciousness from the Darkness within her mind and entered Satan's. There she sensed a Dark spell cast on him. Without knowing how she knew, she recognized the spell. It was Soul Shatter, a spell that shatters the souls of demons and puts them into a death like state. The only way to bring them back was to resurrect them. There was only one spell that could resurrect a demon, 'The Empty Resurrection Spell'.

Kagura went still. How did she know about that spell? Then she remembered. That knowledge had come to her after a memory fragment returned while she and Satan stood at the site of the train she fell from. The memory was of her looking at a sealed spell book she unsealed and opened before it disappeared. When that memory had returned, she had felt a power within her awakening as if from a deep slumber. An infinite number of Ancient magical knowledge had also come to her mind.

As Kagura's consciousness returned to her mind, she knew what she must do next. She was the only one who could bring Satan back but at a heavy cost, she would fall into a state of suspended animation. Kagura loved Satan with all her heart so if she could bring him back by making this sacrifice, then so be it. To cast the spell, she must go to Satan but her body was trapped in Darkness. How will she get to him? An idea slowly came to her. Kagura could project her soul to Satan's location. She knew about the phenomenon because she had read about it a long time ago, and had wondered if she could do it. The term for this phenomenon was Astral Projection.

Remembering the process of astral projection, Kagura concentrated hard and used a little of her powers to separate her soul from her body. Seconds later, she was floating in the air and saw where she was at. It was a cave. Kagura went still as she recognized it. She remembered reading about the Caves of Tintagel in the Tintagel brochures. One of the caves located in Tintagel was Merlin's Cave. She had seen pictures of the Cave and this cave looked exactly like it. This would be good to know. Seconds later, Kagura disappeared into the Astral Plane then made her way to Satan, following her connection to him.

Kagura's connection led her to a Castle she didn't recognize. Nothing was familiar about it. Making her way through the Castle, she found Satan lying on a bed still as death. There was no one else in the room which she was thankful of. Floating toward Satan's bed then landing next to him, Kagura solidified her shape. She bent over and touched her lips against Satan's cold ones before biting into her lips, giving him some of her blood before stepping away to start the incantation.

"Unam dilectam qui dormit, our link non formatae. Surge profundo in lucem recidisset, our link non formatae. Surgas ex gurgite natantia, in lumen oculi existit! Revenite! To my beloved who is sleeping. Our link is formed. Get up from the depths, into the light! Our link is formed. You may arise again out of the abyss, in the light of the eye exists! Come back!"

After Kagura finished her chant, Satan started to glow a silvery white light. The light seeped deep within his body, restoring his shattered soul and purified the Darkness within him. The Dark spell Satan was under dissipated as well. As the glow subsided, Satan stirred.

With a smile, Kagura stepped away and sent an image of Merlin's Cave into Satan's mind before saying softly, "I love you Satan and goodbye."

With a flicker Kagura was gone as she returned to her body, falling into a state of suspended animation.

"Everything is ready. Let the Dark Ritual begin."