Chapter.6 A meeting in Hell
(Author's note: I didn't realize till I started this chapter that I had on accident put 12 generals in the summary and in the fourth chapter. It seems that I had forgotten one of the Generals which coincidently happened to be one of the best ones too. In my opinion at least. I know he is important. I'm just saying this so you all won't be confused when you read this chapter and see 13 Generals instead of just 12.)
Ever since the beginning of time, there has always been two sides to the coin. A Yin and a Yang. Good and evil. But to ensure the fragile stability of both worlds, they have always remained separate. Two universes, exactly alike and yet completely different, divided by the thin line of reality and fiction. Never in the history of the cosmos have the two universes collided, nor have they ever merged at any point thus interacting with each other. In doing so would cause an unstable chain of events that would crush the twin universes, no matter what side won.
But in this story, that fragile balance has been broken, and the world of light, the world the humans have dwelled on for thousands of years, has been thrown into chaos. With the two worlds now connected by small portals, it is a never ending fight for total domination. Which would only lead the victorious side to utter damnation. The only chance now for this horrid dilemma would be that both side realizes the fault they have created and try to restore the balance that was lost since the first Great War. The possible chance of that happening is slim to none. With both leaders of the worlds aiming for each others head, it is practically a shear impossibility.
One of those leaders in fact, is debating right now his next move in the deepest and darkness depths of Hell. He found himself alone in one of the most remote rooms in the entire demonic complex on which he served. This man was a demon, and his name was Engel. He was the powerful leader of the 13 Generals, the most powerful and fearsome demon force in all of Hell. But right now he felt as if he had gone through Heaven, pun intended for demon warriors, and only wanted to rest. But alas no rest for the wicked.
Engel stood up from the large round table in front of him and walked away to the row of windows that covered the entire right side of the room. Gazing through a window, he saw everything that made Hell special. Or just a human's worst nightmare. At first glance it looked like your average human city but it was practically the opposite. Here, humans were treated as pets and all the rules and regulations in the human world were non existent. In hell, anarchy was welcome and the unruliness of demons made it feel just right for Engel.
So then why did he feel empty every time he looked at this biological death trap? Sure he was an angel, a fallen angel but he had severed all his ties to God and his kingdom of Heaven. He was no longer welcome in such a pure place. He didn't care though. For the same reason he was thrown out of the kingdom of Heaven, he was recruited for the 13 Generals. All he wanted was to purge the entire damned human race and end all the suffering of those pathetic animals.
Unfurling his massive white angelic wings, he remembered how he used to listen to humans and just stand there as they cried about their problems or laughed about their pleasures. But that's what he couldn't stand. They cried and laughed. They had the thing he wanted. True liberation, life, and decision. He was created to be the servant of the most powerful being in the supernatural but that was not what he wanted. At first he didn't have a choice in the matter but he learned from the humans as humans learn from others and themselves. He learned that everyone, no matter their race, or gender, or condition, they all had choices and he wanted that. So he evolved. He evolved into something that God hadn't intended. And so for that he was reprimanded.
Engel reached up to his face as he gazed into the somewhat reflective windows and watched himself touch the half mask on the right side of his face. It was a clown mask that he had created that was special. It reacted with his emotions and changed accordingly. Right now all he saw was anger and that was all he felt too.
But still, he couldn't shake the memories of his past life. It was true that his soul ached to be back in that paradise called Heaven but he rather suffer the death of a thousand lifetimes before returning to that. Or did he? Suddenly the mask flashed with dark power and then went blank.
"No!" Engel hissed as he grabbed his mask. "Not again!" He fell to one knee and gripped the mask but didn't bother taking it off. He didn't need to be reminded of what had happened. Not now. The pain that coursed through his body from his face distracted him to the point that he didn't hear the hole in the opposite wall open and the group of demons that came through it. But he did recognize the first voice that shouted at him, and this was not a demon to show weakness to.
"Engel! Are you daydreaming again? I thought only humans did that!" Snapped the harsh voice.
Engel forced the pain to subside and stood up as it went away. The mask itself changed again and turned to a face of neutrality. Engel turned to face the voice but already knew who it was. The only other demon that could match him, "Zanbazan. You are incorrigible as always. As well as rude."
Zanbazan stood in front of Engel as the rest of the demons that came in sat at the round table for the meeting that Engel had set up, and sneered at him. He was easily taller standing almost two meters as compared to Engel's small 5'10 frame and he wasn't as……kind as Engel was at times but he did respect him in terms of power. But even though they respected each other, they both found themselves completely different in every other manner.
Zanbazan even looked like a human. But he was not only tall but he was very strong. Even if his frame did not imply that, the power that was buried in his arms was enough to snap a human in half without even trying. Even with his large size, he could also move faster then any human and almost every demon. The only Demons that could kept up with him were Engel and Legion. Considering Legion was no longer around anymore, there was only Engel. And with all that power, it only made sense to him to hold a 7 ½ foot long Zweihander. It was also a foot wide near the peak, widening to a full two feet near the base of the blade. And to add insult to injury, it had markings on it from the tip to the hilt. It's black chrome seemed to echo with power unreal and it settled on his back with an unearthly stillness.
And yet even though he had an enormous weapon with near unfathomable strength, he nearly had no armor. The only visible armor on him was the white and black cloth around his waist and a silver plate on his shoulder with a strap that held it in place, running across his bare chest.
Besides that though, he treated others like most other demons and just about every human. Like lesser trash. "What in blazing hell where you doing on the floor like a child for?!" His voice continued to boom in the large room.
Engel shoved past him and snapped, "It's none of your concern. You are only here to give me a status report anyways. That and we have other business to attend to." And just as he said that, another person entered the room. But this one was different from the rest. The rest you could tell were demons, this one looked human.
Zanbazan growled menacingly and yelled in obvious resentment, "What's that half-breed garbage doing in here?!"
Engel turned to Zanbazan and quipped, "He is here because Master allows it. Apparently this man has something to do with Master's 'Final Solution.' What it is, not even I have the privilege of knowing."
That obviously did not mix well with Zanbazan who only scoffed in displeasure. But knowing that Master said that he was allowed in here was enough for Zanbazan to tolerate him. But the moment he stepped out of line……..well, he could take the punishment that Master usually dishes out.
Engel sat at his place, the top end of the table and Zanbazan sat to his right. The chair on his left though was empty. They all knew why too so they didn't even bother mentioning it. Besides, it was time for more important business.
Engel looked at his fellow demons and then took a quick glance to the newcomer that stood in the corner. It seemed that he wanted to stay in the dark to stay shrouded in that veil of mystery that came with him. Engel knew nothing of his name, or his past. Nothing at all. All he was told was that this man was the key. Whatever the hell that meant, Engel didn't know nor cared to know. All Engel knew though for a fact was that if this creature did anything to disturb the Master's plans, he would pay for it with his life……a thousand times over.
Aside from that, it was time to start the meeting.
"How goes the battle for Rotar?" He asked forcefully placing his strength behind the words. Basically, he wanted a good answer.
Zanbazan rolled his eyes and just leaned his chair back and kicked his armored feet up. He hated it when Engel tried to throw his weight around like that. It made him sick.
One demon furthest in the back stood up and stood at attention. This one was a tad small, almost as if he was a human child. But his sickly black skin and his dark red eyes seemed to scream demon child. His attire was also very different then that of a human's. A dark blue vest that seemed to almost quake with life unnatural. Black pants that clung to him like a second skin. The only hair he had like a low slick back Mohawk. The only odd thing about him was the white spade that seemed to scream out at everyone on his vest. It covered his small torso like a disease, pulsing with some type of un-ethereal energy.
This was the demon known only as Spade to all but the Generals. The Generals knew him not only by that name but also the leader of the "Trump Cards." The "Trump Cards" were a smaller unit within the Generals. Four child demons with near endless potential. Each of them easily had the power to be General and more, hence why they were recruited by the Generals and the Master of Hell himself. But that wasn't why they were dangerous. They always fought as a team. If someone were to face one of them alone, they had better be careful. Because the rest were either right on his heels, or hiding in the shadows. This made them near invincible.
"The battle goes well Engel." His voice seemed to strike with a venomous whisper, "We have successfully destroyed the main building and hunted down all of the remaining humans. It is a ghost town for our liking."
Another demon stood up from his seat at the left of Engel but beside the empty chair, more in a rage then anything, and pointed to young demon, "Spade, you did not destroy the Library did you!?"
"No." He deadpanned acting as if the offending demon thought he was an idiot. Spade knew how to follow orders. "The Library is the only building up. We also have three patrols of Goatlings and two of our Shadow Phantoms protecting it. Nothing will get through."
The other demon sat back down and wiped it's mollusk-shaped head. Then wrapping the black cape it wore around his fragile skeleton body, he snapped, "We need that for the Masters 'Final Solution!'"
Spade look at him with a glare that would make flowers wilt, "I know that Illness. And I have done exactly as I was told. I do not need you to tell me otherwise."
Illness jumped up again from his seat and yelled in a hot rage, "How dare you speak to me like that you filthy lower demon! I should-"
"Do nothing." Engel hissed.
Illness suddenly turned green as he heard Engel. No one, not even Zanbazan liked it when Engel got like that.
Zanbazan though found this all to be hilarious. "Illness, what could you possibly do? You don't even fight your own battles!" He pointed out.
Illness turned to Zanbazan, wanting to say something but decided not to after Zanbazan's next comment.
"Besides, the only reason your acting as if you actually have power is because of your recent promotion. Had Legion still been here, you would be fourth instead of third. Remember, this is only because necessity is in your favor."
Illness turned away, furious at how Zanbazan tossed him aside like that. "Last I recall, I am the only one fluent in Latin and have able knowledge in the books of old."
Engel interjected, "I have plenty of knowledge in Latin my friend. And in almost every other single language on this planet."
"But do you have the wisdom that I have spent countless centuries accumulating?" Illness pressed on.
"I have enough." Engel said, not finding this sudden power trip of Illness's to be appropriate. In fact it was getting on his nerves.
"Then you need me more then you think." Illness stated, crossing his bony arms across his chest as he sat down.
Then out of the shadows, "Not entirely."
Illness snapped to the source and said, "Who said that?!" He found it offensive for anyone to doubt his intelligence.
Zanbazan and Engel both knew who it was as they looked at him through the corner of their eyes. They both wondered how this man deserved to be amongst them in a meeting.
Illness noticed the direction of the gazes between Zanbazan and Engel and he too followed their peering. Then he growled finding the source of the most recent outburst. It was the outsider.
"How dare you-"
"Shove it up your ass." The outsider snapped harshly. It was obvious that he wasn't going to take anything from anybody.
And both Engel and Zanbazan were shocked. Illness though was a tad bit infuriated and standing up again only earned him a nasty quip.
"Do you enjoy jumping up and down like a jack rabbit?"
Zanbazan snickered a bit at the remark but for the most part watched the two fight. Even if he hated the newcomer and couldn't stand Illness.
Illness on the other hand didn't know what to say.
The newcomer shifted his position as he leaned on the wall and said. "My reason for being here, General Illness, is that I have found a large reservoir of knowledge that not even your Master had previous knowledge of."
That got all of their attention. Engel and Zanbazan didn't show it but they were very interested by that statement. How anyone could have knowledge that their Master didn't know, as ancient as he is, was beyond them.
Letting that fact simmer for a moment longer, he propped up his leg against the wall and continued, "Being dead a couple times over does that to you." A pause then, "During one of my little deaths, I had found myself in purgatory awaiting judgment. I knew for a fact that I was going to Hell and was in fact hoping for it. But I have a bad habit of wandering while waiting for something. And so I wandered around in the endless void that seemed to keep me in the same spot no matter how fast I ran or which way I went. Until I found it."
The others awaited for him to continue but Illness was more impatient.
"Found what?!" He yelled, obviously still bound by the same mood he had since the beginning.
"The 'Tomb of Knowledge.'"
And there went the neighborhood. First it started with Illness in a heated rage saying that it was impossible to find the 'Tomb of Knowledge' considering that it was guarded by God's three most powerful Angels and a battalion of lesser but still Holy Warriors. Zanbazan was yelling at Illness to shut up and let the dirty half-breed speak. The other demons were murmuring to themselves shocked by this new piece of information. Engel however was silently contemplating to himself. Then without a sound, Engel stood up and clapped his hands once.
This under normal circumstances would automatically mean shut the hell up. It was something he came up with if something like this were to occur. Basically he would be at a lost for words and would need something else to speak for him. Of course this also meant that he was somewhat angry. And not even Zanbazan like him when he was angry.
Yet, it seemed that ever one else was too busy to pay him any heed. So instead he took his index finger and poked the table they sat around gingerly. This was enough for a tiny bit of his power to reach out and spilt the table clean in half and then continue on to crush the wall beyond. The entire wall exploded outward with such force that the weaker demon Generals were almost pulled out by the vacuum but they found a way to hang on. Even the outsider was immensely impressed this show of power.
Zanbazan turned to Engel, surprised that he decided to break the table and blow down the wall, but not at all frightened as were the other Generals. If their was one thing he wouldn't show Engel, it was his fear. Besides, he could have done the exact same thing if he wanted to. Of course it would have ended with some body bodies but Engel was always the type to hold back. Weak.
Engel, after he had gotten everyone's attention, turned to the outsider and asked, "You found the 'Tomb of Knowledge?'"
The man nodded and Engel asked another question.
"Then I guess Master is going to do more then the 'Final Solution?'"
The outsider looked at Engel, "Do you even know what his 'Final Solution' is?"
Engel calmly answered, "Yes."
"Then yes. 'You're,'" he focused on the 'you're' indicating that he wasn't like them, "Master is also working toward reviving the 'Thousand Year War.'"
That surprised everyone. Even Engel.
"Wait a minute." Zanbazan interjected, "Why would he want to bring back something like that?"
The outsider turned to him, his face still shrouded by a darkness that would not leave him and said, "I don't know, but I do know this. I have the precious information he needs in order to release 'them.' And as long as you do as he says, 'He' will never know what's going on."
Engel nodded but Zanbazan wasn't satisfied. "You mean Sieg? Ha, if the man isn't already dead, he isn't a threat to us."
"It's not him I'm worried about." The outsider pushed himself off the wall and headed to the door, but just as he reached the opening wound that was the doorway in the wall, he placed his hand on the edge and finally said, "It's that damned half-breed demon, Dante."
Decided to end it here. I know I was MIA for a while. Hopefully it won't happen again. Or maybe it might. Depends, I guess. Hope to hear from you all! Plz R&R. Oh and of course any problems, do mention
