I do not own Highschool DxD nor do I own Diablo. All rights respectively go to Ichiei Ishibumi, the series' creator, and Blizzard Entertainment, the company who made Diablo.
The next day, after the battle with Raynare, came as Aidan walked towards the clubhouse. There was a meeting before school had started and he was to be there immediately. Wearing his school uniform, he took his time walking over to the clubhouse. But as usual, there were a lot of things on his mind, especially regarding yesterday.
Aidan's mind was of Raynare. Somehow, she fell in league to the Burning Hells and became a half-demon in the process. She wielded such demonic power that, coupled with the Twilight Healing, would have made her a formidable foe against even the armies of the High Heavens. But for Aidan, she knew that even with all that power, it would not be enough for her reputation in the Burning Hells. Her power did not even come close to matching even a Lesser Evil. Plus, she was killed easily and relied solely on power. While smart and cunning, she would have been a disappointment to the rest of the demons.
After the encounter with the archangel Auriel, Aidan was told by Rias that she had looked into another book on Devil Mythology, the one called The Eternal Conflict. And Auriel's name was in it. That was more than enough proof for her to ask Aidan the questions that she sought for regarding his actions at the library on that first day. And Aidan did strike a bargain last night with her. In return of taking in Asia as a bishop, he will explain everything to both Rias and Sona.
Both the Occult Research Club and the Student Council must know of this, the former even more so given of what they had witnessed with Asia. But for the latter, since Sona was the one who found out about Aidan's meddling, she had the right to know. Plus, for some reason, she has been spending more time reading Devil Mythology and speaking to Deckard Kain in his office. For what purpose Aidan did not know exactly but he speculates that it had to do with what Rias knows about his uncle's ability to use magic.
Aidan enters the clubroom, thinking on these thoughts, before a voice snaps him out of it.
"Good morning," Rias was sitting on the sofa drinking some green tea elegantly. Aidan sits on the opposite sofa from her. "How are you feeling, Aidan?"
"I'm better," Aidan said, smiling as he does. "Thanks to Asia's healing, I barely had any wounds open before we got home."
Rias giggles a bit. "Well, I guess that's a good thing. It seems like her powers are proving quite useful. I can see why that archangel suggested she become part of my peerage."
"Speaking of peerage, Rias, there is something I wanted to ask you, if you don't mind."
"Go ahead."
"If the number of Evil pieces you have are the same numbers as in the game of chess itself, and that I am a Pawn, does that mean you have seven Pawn pieces left?"
But Rias shakes her head gently as she places her cup of tea down on the coffee table, smiling kindly as she does.
"You're my only Pawn, Aidan," Rias said. "The only one I need."
But Aidan did not understand. "What do you mean?"
"When a human is reincarnated as a Devil, Evil Pieces are used to determine whom to raise them as," Rias explains as she stands up and walks over to the sofa Aidan was sitting on. "However, depending on the ability of that person, more Evil Pieces will be consumed."
"Consumed?" asked Aidan before Rias sits down and wraps her arms around Aidan's neck, making him blush a little.
"There is a saying like this in the world of chess," Rias continues explaining with a smile, while also feeling the warmth from Aidan's body. "Queens are worth 9 Pawns, Rooks are worth 5, and Knights and Bishops 3 each. The same is true to the Evil Pieces. And a similar phenomenon happens to those reincarnated. If a reincarnation needs 2 Knight pieces, then there are also those who need 2 Rook pieces. Once you use it, Devils will not be given a new Evil Piece to replace with."
"So the piece only lasts until the host expires," Aidan concludes.
"Precisely. When you put it that way…"
"So, what am I exactly?" asked Aidan.
"You are all 8 Pawn pieces put together, Aidan."
He turns to look at her in surprise. "You used up all of your Pawn pieces for me?"
"I initially was going to choose Issei, but when you fought the Fallen Angel, I had a change of mind. However, on the night you fought him, both your body and Issei's were present. I was planning to have the two of you as my Pawns. But all eight of the Pawn pieces formed up in you only. I could not understand why before, but now I know. With your power, and wielding a Sacred Gear known to Devil Mythology, I think the pieces chose the right one."
As Aidan looks back and goes into reflective mode like always, he recalls his Sacred Gear during his battle with Raynare. As he fought the half-demon half-Fallen Angel, his Sacred Gear power grew out of a desire for vengeance. It increased his power with every moment that passed and soon, it felt like he possessed the power to spread terror unto all those who opposed him. If his Sacred Gear was indeed an artifact created by Diablo, then Aidan could not tell whether he should be afraid of this power or not.
He then felt Rias direct his back at her gently with her hands, still smiling at him and snapping him out of his thinking.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Rias.
"Just thinking my Sacred Gear. The name and all," Aidan said. "I will be honest with you: I am scared, Rias."
"Scared?" The red-haired beauty asked.
"If this Sacred Gear really is what it is, then perhaps there is more to it than one may think. Fear is a powerful weapon to use. And yet, fear is its own master, never a weapon to master. And I am afraid that this power will consume me."
Rias could see it in Aidan's eyes that he was indeed scared. Scared of his Sacred Gear. A part of her still believed of the mythological story of this Sacred Gear's creation. After all there are many artifacts around the world who have relics claiming to be the real thing.
"And I will always be there to assuage your fears, Aidan," Rias said caringly. "Whatever comes your way, whatever you are afraid of, I promise I will always be there to comfort you. It is my duty as your master after all."
Aidan smiles back, his heart warming up to her promise. "…Thanks, Rias. In return, I will be stronger for you. The strongest Pawn there is."
With a smile, Rias suddenly plants a kiss on Aidan's left cheek, surprising him a bit. "A good luck charm. I expect you to hold that promise. You are after all my favored servant."
A lot of things ran through Aidan's mind despite keeping up his gentle façade and usual look. He would never believe that Rias Gremory, heiress of the Gremory clan and master of her peerage, would give him a chaste kiss of good luck. There was no affection behind it, but she really did care for her favored servant. It brought Aidan's mind at ease, cleansing him of the nightmares he had frequently.
"I probably should stop adoring you," Rias said, bringing Aidan out of his thoughts. "The new girl might get jealous of me."
Aidan was confused. "New girl? Jealous?"
"A-Aidan…? What's going on?"
Aidan turned around to see Asia, who for some reason looked a bit distressed at the sight of Aidan and Rias together on the sofa. She was trying to smile and not cry but it was not working.
"A-Asia!" Aidan was a bit gasped. "W-We were just discussing recent events!"
"I understand…" Asia said with a blush. "Professor Kain did observe that you have grown attached to Buchou because she was beautiful, especially of girls in s-sexy cosplay outfits…"
"…Wait. My uncle told you that?" asked Aidan.
"No! No! I can't think like that! I'm not jealous, just insecure!" Asia suddenly exclaimed putting her hands together and prays. "Oh, Lord. Please forgive my sinful heart—AHH!"
Asia suddenly yelped and lowers herself to the ground while grabbing her head, as the other two comically stare deadpan at her.
"Ohh…I have a headache," Asia groans.
"Of course you would," Rias said. "If a Devil makes a prayer to God, of course you will get headaches."
"Uu, that's right," Asia said while rubbing her head. "I turned into a Devil and I can't face God anymore. He must be angry at me," Asia said, seemingly hurt for some reason.
"Is this going to be a problem?" Aidan asked in concern. "Not that I am implying you should give up your faith, Asia, but these headaches may be a bit of a heckle for you."
"It's alright, Aidan," Asia replied with a smile. "I do not regret a thing becoming a Devil. As long as I am with you, that is more than enough for me. Even in the most dire of situations, I believe in hope. Hope for a better tomorrow."
To both Aidan and Rias, they had just been reminded in their minds that Asia had been resurrected and blessed by Auriel, archangel of hope. If Asia has indeed been chosen as a vessel for hope, then perhaps hope is exactly what Asia needs.
"I see you are wearing your school uniform," Rias commented, seeing Asia wear the female version of Kuoh Academy's uniform but with a black sweater vest over her dress shirt instead of the cape and corset.
"Yep!" Asia exclaimed as she spins around before facing Aidan. "What do you think, Aidan?"
"It suits you," Aidan said with a smile. He then turns to Rias. "So, does this mean…?"
"That's right," Rias confirmed with a proud smile. "I decided to make Asia attend our school as of today. Since she is a few years younger than you, she'll be in your class. Today will be her first day, so make sure to look after her."
"Will do," Aidan said. He then turns to Asia and asks, "You ready for it?"
"Yes, I'm looking forward to my first day here," Asia gave him a bright smile.
"And I cannot wait for it either," Akeno suddenly walks in from another set of doors, wheeling in a cart with a large cake on top. "We're going to have so much fun."
Kiba and Koneko came in through the main doorway.
"Good morning, everyone," Kiba greeted.
"…Still alive and kicking, I see," Koneko said with her usual emotionless expression.
"Oh good, now everyone's here," Akeno said with her sweet smile growing bigger. "I brought cake so that we could officially welcome our newest member!"
They all looked at the homemade cake in amazement. Koneko most especially as her mouth becomes watery with saliva drooling for some reason.
Kiba panics and grabs some paper towels. "Koneko! Not inside the room!"
Aidan looks at the scene before him and smiles fondly. If ever there was a day where he could just sit back and relax without work, then today was that day. While he knew that many more dangers awaited in the future, he knew that he must be ready. Together with the new peerage, they will one day have to fight against the Demons of the Burning Hells. But until then, he will tomorrow explain everything alongside his uncle.
Rias brought Aidan back to life not just for his power, but also because she saw potential within him that was to be realized. It was time for Aidan to return the favor and one day, he will pay it fully.
Unbeknownst to everyone, on a tree branch outside the building, was a bird of some sorts. It was an exotic looking raptor with colors ranging from bright red to orange to yellow, with blue eyes.
And it was staring at the two people on the sofa; Rias Gremory and Aidan Kain.
THE NEXT DAY…
Everyone from the ORC and Sona and Tsubaki gathered at the clubhouse, waiting for Aidan. It was after school and they had all agreed to meet with him in the clubroom so that he could explain his actions at the library that first day he came.
But Aidan was ten minutes late. Just like last time.
"Is it me or is Aidan always late like this?" Sona asked as Akeno served her tea. "Thank you."
"Aidan will keep his word, Sona," Rias assured. "He is not one to lie."
"But he is one to be secretive," Sona said. "I'm not criticizing him or hate him in any way. I'm just cautious. After all, what you described to me regarding your most recent experiences have left me…intrigued."
"How so?" asked Rias.
Sona had set her tea down after taking a sip. "I did some more research on your encounter on the so-called Archangel of Hope. She is mentioned in our mythology as an archangel who was the first to vote for mankind to be spared from Heaven's wrath."
"What could that even mean?" Akeno asked curiously, but Sona did not know.
"I am not sure, I'm afraid," Sona shook her head. "But it is said that the power of hope itself flows through her and that her light has always shone the brightest in Heaven."
Rias can only think back to seeing Auriel that night. Her light was indeed bright, but not enough to burn Devils. Rather her light was a gentle one, a light that while it illuminates the darkness can also warm a person's heart. One could say Auriel acts like an elder sister or mother-like figure to those who have fallen to the lowest depth of despair. Perhaps this is why she chose Asia as her vessel for her blessing for Asia may have radiated that same glow within her that others could not find.
But even so, the appearance of an angel like Auriel was enough for Aidan to come clean with the truth to tell Rias and to Sona. Auriel was proof that there are forces beyond the Three Factions, forces that are far more ancient than them and far more powerful. And Rias knew that Aidan had believed in the mythology the Devils believe in. He just has to provide enough evidence to convince them.
The doors suddenly opened as Aidan soon waked into the room, with a surprise guest behind him.
"Professor?" A surprised Rias saw behind Aidan. "You're here?"
"Aidan has told me of this deal he had made with you," Deckard Kain revealed. "I believe it only to be fair that I help as well. You all deserve an explanation for our secretive nature."
Sona looks intently at her professor. "So you're finally going to tell the truth?"
"Fate has now brought us to this moment, my dear," Deckard said. "And we cannot hide it any longer."
Both Aidan and Deckard Kain soon take their seats by the sofa as Rias and Sona were up front by the former's desk. Everyone else took to their usual spots, with Akeno behind the couch Koneko was on as she was eating some chocolate and Kiba at the side.
"I will get straight to the point," Sona started. "Why did you infiltrate the secret library that only the Student Council has access to?"
Aidan truthfully said. "My uncle gave me the key so as to gain access to your resources in order to uncover and decipher a prophecy."
"A prophecy? Of what?"
"Of the return of Evil itself," Aidan said. "And to do that required looking into what you call Devil Mythology."
Rias crossed her arms as Sona brought her hands together and interlocked the fingers, keeping her gaze on Aidan.
"But why such a topic if it is nothing more than fairy tales and folklore of Devilkind?"
Aidan soon dropped the truth bomb to her along with everyone else in the room.
"Because, Sona, they are no myth. The Seven Evils, the Horadrim, the Eternal Conflict… all of them were, and are, real."
The room was suddenly tensed. Sona and Tsubaki could only glare, not believing in what Aidan had just said.
But they were curious to see if it is real. After all, pointing fingers and accusations will get them nowhere.
"Prove it to us then, Aidan," Sona said before she turned her gaze to Deckard Kain. "And you, of course, Professor. If you are alright with it."
Aidan and his uncle soon took out the books that were needed to tell everyone the truth about the mythology. Sona still had doubts as did Tsubaki. Despite the former learning from Rias about their encounter with the Archangel Auriel, she still had doubts that the mythology was real. Thus she needed proof, and only Aidan and Deckard Kain can prove them that.
With everything set, the storytelling can now begin.
"Ahem," Deckard Kain clears his throat. "Stay awhile and listen."
"For the truth of all things," Aidan said. "That which connects all of us together like a stand of fate hung by the needle."
The room was all but dark, barely any lighting as Deckard Kain opens his book to begin the storytelling.
"In the beginning, before the universe was born, there was nothing. Except for the Pearl, from which a being named Anu resided in. The very first thing born in all of creation."
As Deckard tells the story, the projections show the emptiness void of the universe save for a shining light, which was the Pearl. Inside the Pearl as the projection zoomed in was a being made of a diamond-like material impossible to describe it as. He wore a crown of sorts and had a crystalline beard that extended to his chest. It was bare on its upper body but wore robes on the lower body yet no shoes.
Deckard Kain continued telling the tale.
"Anu was the sum of all things in creation: good and evil, light and dark, physical and mystical, joy and sadness—all reflected across the crystalline facets of its form. And, within its eternal dream-state, Anu considered itself—all of its myriad facets. Seeking a state of total purity and perfection, Anu cast all evil from itself."
Anu was then shown with his hands coming to the center of the chest as he gathered all the evil in himself. Then, having gathered all of it, he spreads his arms out as the darkness disperses away. Soon, only light shone from Anu's form, a light indescribable to define.
For Asia, she felt as if she was looking at God himself. She was so tempted to pray but she reminded herself of the headaches that would come if she ever did do such a thing.
"For a time," Deckard continued. "All dissonance was gone. But these elements could not exist in a state of separation, thus all the evil mass Anu casted aside coalesced to form a new being. A seven-headed dragon that was the sum total of all Evil. The Prime Evil… Tathamet."
When the projection showed the darkened mass of evil, seven pairs of glowing eyes of evil emerged from the darkness. Then the dragon roars to life as all seven heads emerge from the darkness. There was the main head followed by two large ones and then four lesser heads. The body of the dragon, unlike one would imagine for normal dragon, was like a black thick mass cloud of pure evil, with its seven heads sprouting from it in long neck strands.
Everyone shuddered at this being of pure evil. If Tathamet was indeed the root of all evil, then its title of the Prime Evil is no joke at all. If this thing really did exist, then there would have been no hope.
The next projection showed Tathamet and Anu battling as their godly powers were used against one another.
"Though separate beings, Anu and Tathamet were bound within the Pearl. There they warred against each other in an unending clash of light and shadow for ages uncounted, neither gaining the upper hand. At last, their energies spent after countless millennia of battle, they delivered their final blows. The energies unleashed by their impossible fury ignited an explosion of light and matter so vast and terrible that it birthed the very universe itself."
"What we call the Big Bang," Aidan clarified.
The projection soon showed the Big Bang, covering the entire room as galaxies and stars burst forth to create the very universe itself. Everyone marveled at the spectacular sight, finally seeing for themselves how the universe was created. All from just one battle between the ultimate good and the ultimate evil.
"Thus was our universe born," Deckard said. "And from that catastrophic event, the realm of Pandemonium was forged, the scar of the universe's violent birth that lies at the very epicenter of all of reality."
The next image showed Pandemonium, a realm that was vast, chaotic, and harsh, and possesses warped-reality traits. The realm acts as a crossroads for the domains of all beings, and the core of Pandemonium acted as a nexus between the two primary realms of creation. It is a seat of great primal energy that keeps forming new land near its core, while around its edges pieces are constantly breaking off in an eternal loop of creation and destruction. It was a realm beyond human understanding, even beyond what everyone's minds could understand as they looked at the realm.
The projection soon showed Anu, after the battle. He had a missing eye and cracks decorated all over the Diamond Warrior's body. Each splinter of crystal fell like a falling ornament as Anu clutched his own side, heavily wounded form that climatic and final moment with the Dragon. Blood poured out like a crystallize liquid, shining like stars as it fell towards the endless void of the recently-born universe.
"As for Anu, he had survived the battle but with wounds that were permanent, never to heal. He had casted the smoldering dead husk of Tathamet down below the darkest recesses of reality. Over time, the dragon's decayed flesh formed into the Burning Hells, and the race of Demons that arose from them like maggots from a corpse. Additionally, the Dragon's seven heads spawned the Seven Evils, seven powerful demon lords who represent the purest aspect of evil. The strongest of the maws gave birth to the three Prime Evils of terror, hatred, and destruction while the four lesser heads spawned the Lesser Evils of pain, anguish, sin, and lies."
A race of Demons showed itself on projection, along with their background of hell. The Seven Evils were shown at the top, whose forms were shown in shadow, but their eyes glowed with their respective colors. Terror was red, Hatred was blue, Destruction was yellow, Pain was brown, Anguish was purple, Sin was orange, and Lies was bright green.
"But just as the Burning Hells were formed, so too was its counterpart, the High Heavens. When Anu recognized the threat the Burning Hells posed to all of creation, he knew he could not take on all of them alone. And so, in a manner that no one could ever understand, Anu tore out his own spine and thrusted it into the primordial darkness, where it slowed and cooled. Over countless ages, it formed into the Crystal Arch, around which he High Heavens took shape and form. And it is from this arch that the angels come into existence."
The angels shown were ghastly different than what everyone in the room had originally thought them to be. Instead of flesh, they were faceless as per their hoods like Auriel or wore a helmet that fully covered their heads. Comprised of armor from head to toe, they floated on strands of light on their backs that were their wings.
"These angels do not look like the ones we know of," Sona said.
"That is because they aren't," Aidan explained. "The angels you know of come much later, along with their realm, but these angels, often called the Elder Angels, were the very first and not the last."
"Elder Angels…" Asia repeated the term. Having seen the archangel Auriel with her own eyes, the term truly fitted her, for not only was she an Elder Angel but she was also ancient. Asia could see that and confirm it for herself, having been touched by hope itself.
She then asked, "What became of Anu though?"
"Anu took command of the High Heavens when it was formed," Aidan said. "He established himself as its ruler and chose five archangels to represent his purest aspects; valor, hope, justice, fate, and wisdom. Together, they made the Angiris Council, a group of notoriously powerful archangels who not only served their creator, but also became the secondary leaders of the High Heavens, answering only to Anu and carrying out his will."
Deckard ended the story with one final sentence or two.
"Thus it was that the Eternal Conflict was born between the forces of light and the forces of darkness. A war that has continued for eons unaccounted, all of it fought in the realm of Pandemonium."
A projection showed images of the Eternal Conflict, as angels and Demons fought one another within the barren wasteland.
"But why Pandemonium?" asked Rias. "What is so important there?"
"All of their battles were centered around an object called the Worldstone," Deckard explained as the images showed the colossal mountain-sized gem. "It was sought by both angels and Demons as its power would be used to create worlds in their image. Some say that it is the Eye of Anu, for when Anu emerged victorious, one of his eyes was missing and it became the Worldstone. Both angels and Demons have used the Worldstone to create worlds of either perfect order in line with their ideals or engines of annihilation and worlds of destruction, terror, and hatred."
Aidan then took over as the various worlds that the angels and Demons created show themselves.
"But none of these worlds, regardless of their maker, ever flourished to life and were all doomed to wither and die in the course of the war."
The projection then showed the worlds that had recently just been sprung to life soon died and were destroyed. Some were obliterated into nothing but chunks of rock while others became silent, dead worlds that forever roamed across the void.
"As the war dragged on for eons unaccounted, a disgruntled group were tired of the endless conflict and sought a way to escape from it. Angels and, surprisingly Demons, who wanted to flee from the war."
"Angels and Demons tired of the conflict?" asked Asia. "I guess not everyone lived for war."
"Only a small group of renegades did," Aidan said. "And the first sign of this was when the Worldstone was stolen."
"Stolen?" asked Sona.
Instead of explaining it, Aidan decided to show it. With his uncle's help, Aidan weaves some magic to display an event in time around the day when the powers of Hell discovered the missing Worldstone.
A blue image revealed itself to be some sort of skeletal demon whose entire body comprised only of bone and what flesh made up for it on the upper half. It had four arms with a chain connecting the two lower ones to a ring on its chest. But what was most interesting was that the lower half of the demon comprised only the large spine and pelvis. Two large horns sprouted from the head and multiple spikes emerged on its back shoulders.
It showed Mephisto, the Lord of Hatred and eldest of the Prime Evils.
"Cursed am I to lead an army of the blind," An agitated Mephisto said as he looked out to the battlefield, gripping his demonic hand in frustration. "They do not perceive that the angels are fleeing this realm, and the ones they find are merely trapped or lost. A great change is upon us." Mephisto then calls off his forces. "Withdraw from the fields, my brothers. Some battles can only be won with words."
The Lord of Hatred's image was soon joined by another figure in a yellow image. He was four legged with spikes poking off of them. Six bones emerged out of his shoulders with hanging ornaments. The upper body appeared humanoid and held a yellow crystal on its chest as he played with it. Two large horns sprouted form the head and half the head seemed skull-like and the lower half made of flesh but was entirely hollow.
This was Baal, the Lord of Destruction. Everyone trembled a bit at the sheerness of the voice that soon spoke out.
"Enough of your idle speculation, Mephisto!" The brash and reckless Prime Evil responded. "I breached the fortress and saw it firsthand. The Worldstone is gone! The angels I killed knew nothing about it. But since you are so perceptive, maybe you remember who else has been missing: Lilith. We must find her, rip her limb from limb, take the Worldstone back!"
Then a red figure emerged itself, showing it to be a large hulking, brutish demon with black spikes and horns protruding from its back, head, arms, and legs. Parts of his skin lit up from the inside, like it was on fire. Everyone in the room could feel such fear in their hearts, even though it was just a mirror image.
This was Diablo, the Lord of Terror and the youngest of the Prime Evils.
"You are all deceived, my brothers," Diablo stated. "A new age has already begun. Can you not sense them? Ugly creatures, born in shadow. They feel terror, hatred, and the desire to destroy. Yes... but they are not ours yet. They will open their world to us very soon. An invitation we cannot refuse."
The projections soon vanished, and the room was returned to normal.
"So, this demon Lilith was the one who stole the Worldstone?" asked Akeno.
"Not just Lilith," Aidan answered. "She played a crucial part in it, but she was just one of two leaders."
"One of two? Then who is the other?" asked Rias.
Aidan soon brings out a book that was brown but with a golden outlining cover decorating the spine and edges. It also held a silver jewel at the middle of it and its letters were written in black.
The book was called The Testament of Inarius.
"These contain the writings of Inarius, documenting his experience of the war, the theft of the Worldstone, and what would become the result of his actions."
As the book levitated to the center of the room, it opens to a certain page where the words and letters within glow blue. Soon the image of Inarius showed itself to all. Like the other Elder Angels, he was featureless, but instead of a hood or helmet, his head was like white hair, with a golden tiara on the front of it.
They call me a hero. I slew demons beyond count. I won battles and broke sieges, but it availed me nothing. I know that this war can have no victor; only an eternity of revenge, pride, and hatred. Tyrael does not understand. He cannot see beyond the glory of battle. In time, he may, but that day is not yet here.
"Was this Inarius just another angel?" asked Sona.
"No," Aidan shook his head slowly. "Inarius served the Angiris Council as its advisor, serving under the command of one of their own. But he grew tired of the endless war and sought a way to be free from it. Simply leaving Heaven was not an option for he was no coward."
The book soon turns to another page that documents the second entry, the writings glowing in blue as it did.
There must be others who seek a way out of the endless strife. Angels and demons who feel enslaved by our fate. I cannot be unique in all of creation. I know my path: I will find those disillusioned of the war and lead them.
"It sounds like Inarius was rebelling," Koneko said. "Why didn't anyone notice?"
"At that point, Inarius was keeping a lot of personal things to himself," Aidan said. "Since his higher-ups, the Angiris Council, will not listen to him, their advisor, he sought to find others who thought the same as him: tired of the endless fighting. The High Heavens do not tolerate disorder within their realm, but they trusted Inarius."
The book turns to another page that documents the third entry, the writings glowing in blue like usual.
I was struck down in the third charge. I lay upon the ground, only to wake in chains. I did not know that demons took prisoners. I babbled like a fool about my dreams of escaping this war. My captor freed me and said that we would meet again. Her name was Lilith, daughter of Mephisto.
Chills ran down the spine of everyone when they heard who the demon Lilith belonged to. Having seen the Lord of Hatred for themselves from the projection, they would never think that a Prime Evil would have children, let alone a daughter whose beauty and lustful body matches her nature.
Lilith's image soon projected itself to show a surprisingly human body with demonic features. As a demon, Lilith stood taller than a man, with splayed hooves instead of feet. She bore no clothing upon her body thus in this unclad state she can be seen to be dark green of complexion. Fiery quills of an emerald sheen along with similar scales adorn her head in place of hair, and those same quills run down her spine to culminate in a reptilian tail ending in savage barbs. Her hands were no stranger to this savage appearance and so her four fingered hands ended in curved claws. Lilith's mouth bore sharp fang-like teeth for shredding her victims and her eyes are smoldering crimson orbs devoid of pupils. Even in her demonic form, Lilith possessed seductive qualities. She was after all dubbed the Queen of the Succubi.
"Wait a minute," Tsubaki stopped, making everyone turn her eyes to them. "The Lilith we know of is the bride of Lucifer. How can there be two of them unless they are one and the same being?"
"That is a good question, Tsubaki," Aidan thanked. "But frankly, I have yet to find evidence if the Lilith you know is the same as Mephisto's daughter."
"Oh?" Sona asked.
"I will explain more of that later though."
The fourth entry was turned, the writings glowing in blue to continue speaking of Inarius' writings.
Lilith is me, but of fire and flame. I could never have felt this way about a demon while I was mired in the endless war. The strain holds us prisoner to what we have been told to believe. She and I have made plans. We will bring others to our cause, and together, we will escape.
"Escape? Can angels and demons even do that?" asked Kiba.
Aidan replied, "Nobody ever thought of it possible. The only ones to have 'escaped' the Eternal Conflict were those who remained within Pandemonium due to either time-locked spells that they were trapped in or simply because they lost their way back home and continued wandering aimlessly."
The fifth entry was turned, the writings glowing in blue to continue speaking of Inarius' writings.
Those who follow us are strong in purpose and conviction, but we are only few. Yet, if we can obtain the power of the Worldstone, it will be enough. We will scale the Windshear slope, steal into the heart of the fortress, and be gone before anyone notices the stone's disappearance.
"How did he manage to do that?" Tsubaki asked. "If the Worldstone is so huge in its size, how did Inarius manage to steal it?"
"The Worldstone was safely kept within the Pandemonium Fortress, a structure built by the angels before falling into the hands of demons and vice versa," Aidan explained as an image of the Pandemonium Fortress was shown.
"It has changed hands over time, taking on structures reflecting Heaven and Hell. But either through strength of arms or misdirection, no one really knows how Inarius managed to steal the sacred artifact. But in any case, Inarius and his renegades managed to gain access to the Worldstone, located deep within the Pandemonium Fortress. Altering its frequency or dimensional alignment, they used its power to conceal it from the angels and demons still fighting in the Eternal Conflict. Subsequently, the Worldstone was shifted into a pocket dimension."
The sixth entry was turned, the writings glowing in blue to continue speaking of Inarius' writings.
Can I truly love a demon? When I gave the Worldstone to Lilith, I knew I had been right to seek her all along. We have created a new world. We can live here in peace, away from war. I have named this world Sanctuary.
The projection showed both Inarius and Lilith, with the Worldstone in their possession, as a world forms right underneath their feet. When the world takes shape, it looked surprisingly similar to Earth.
"It looks similar to Earth," Akeno stated.
"That is because Sanctuary is what you would call pre-historic Earth," Aidan confirmed.
"Pre-historic?" Kiba asked. "What do you mean?"
"Let's finish hearing these testaments, and then I will explain the rest."
Everyone kept that thought to themselves, thinking that if Aidan were to continue speaking the truth, then they have to wait until the right moment. It was the right call so to speak.
The seventh and final entry was turned, but the writings and runes glowed in a faint blue color rather than bright for some odd reason. The projection soon showed Inarius and Lilith in a romantic hug, the latter embracing her angel.
When I see Lilith sleeping at my side, I'm filled with dark thoughts. My sins are real, and I will surely pay for them. We live in peace for now, but it cannot last. They will come for me. But what of my great deeds? When I'm in torment, who will celebrate those? Who will remember…Inarius?
A chill ran down the spine of both Rias and Sona. The last few questions that would forever linger from this last journal entry of the angel who created Sanctuary, one of the very first worlds not to be engulfed in the flames of the Eternal Conflict.
The book soon closed, ending the final entry of the Testaments of Inarius. Inarius' image dispersed away, and the book levitated back into the hands of Aidan as he catches and closes it, ending the magnanimous saga of the angel who created the world.
"What happened next?" Sona asked.
Deckard took over for Aidan.
"After the creation of their world of refuge, many demons and angels that fled with Inarius and Lilith took shelter there, away from the eyes of the Seven Evils and the Angiris Council. At the same time, many of them, including Inarius and Lilith, fell in love. They comingled and produced children of their own. They were called the nephalem."
An image of a nephalem, taller than a man but surprisingly similar as well, appeared on the projection. Though they were half-demon and half-angel, they were a new entity in their own right. The nephalem glowed in a yellow light, their forms shining brighter than even the sun itself.
"These nephalem, despite born from loving parents, had the power and potential to surpass them. Their existence would forever alter the balance of power and the direction of the Eternal Conflict. When the renegade angels and demons realized this, fear crept onto them. Dissension rippled through the angels and demons of Sanctuary, for not only did this new species have power that surpassed that of angel or demon, but the union of angels and demons would be deemed the ultimate blasphemy by the Seven Evils and the Angiris Council. The defectors were convinced that they would be destroyed if Sanctuary came to be discovered. Some argued for the destruction of the nephalem, others believed they could be spared. At some point, Inarius did consider taking the route of genocide, but troubled by the dissension, he called for a period of reflection, to consider the matter in solitude."
"What was the decision?" asked Rias.
"It was decided that the nephalem would be destroyed," Aidan revealed. "But Lilith, driven into a mad frenzy by the threat of her children's extinction, began slaughtering her fellow renegades, both angel and demon alike, leaving Inarius to discover the carnage she had wrought,"
The projection images showed Lilith in a crazed state, slaughtering both angels and demons before she was on the floor with Inarius looking down on her with grief.
"Bringing his former lover to heel, Inarius found himself unable to kill her—he had promised that he would never strike her down or let another do it, and the promise still held true. He instead banished her into the Void."
Lilith was thus banished as a black and blue vortex portal sucked her in before it closed, leaving Inarius alone.
"Left alone with no-one but himself and a race of 'abominations,' Inarius sought to reduce the power of the nephalem at any cost. To this end, he attuned the Worldstone to cause the powers of the nephalem to diminish over time, for he could not bring himself to harm them. He then disappeared, though writings of the past suggested that he still walked among Men in a form resembling that of his children. He watched as successive nephalem generations diminished and became humans, watching as human civilization spread over Sanctuary. It is heavily suggested by some accounts that he came to favor mortals, for unlike the nephalem, he did not see humans as a threat."
The images showed the birth of humanity waking and walking in the world. Time moves forward as humans evolved from simple primitives to intelligent beings, learning how to cook, write, read, and more.
Everyone in the room was stunned. The tradition told that humanity was created in the image and likeness of God had proven to be false. For humanity was not created by a deity but by angels and demons who fled from war. And their ancestors, the nephalem, were all but extinct yet they were descended from such powerful beings.
"So…humans were not created by God?" Asia asked hesitantly. "But by angels and demons?"
"Correct," Aidan said. "God's role in humans however comes much later. Long after humanity had gone through an event called the Sin War."
"I remember reading this," Sona interrupted as she fixes her glasses. "But they said that despite being called such, there were not a lot of battles to be fought."
"That is correct," Deckard Kain explained. "It was a secret struggle fought between the Prime Evils through a false religion called the Triune and the angel Inarius through the Cathedral of light. The goal was the allegiance of humanity in the Eternal Conflict by any means necessary and it was a war that would inexorably link mankind to the war between angels and demons, even after the conflict's supposed end."
"So what had happened exactly?" Sona asked.
"The status quo between the two bodies was maintained, as agents of both religions carried their messages to the people, building bases of power, constructing monuments, and winning the absolute loyalty of faithful supplicants. However, at the war's end, the precarious balance between the Triune and the Cathedral dissolved due to the return of Lilith, who once again sought to bring the power of the nephalem under her control."
The image of Lilith appeared on the projection, showing her in disguise as a beautiful noblewoman, her demonic visage hiding underneath her façade feature.
"To this end, she weakened the dampening effect of the Worldstone and manipulated a simple farmer named Uldyssian into removing the main obstacles: the Triune and the Cathedral. Uldyssian led a band of followers called the Edyrem against the two bodies and had gained access to their nephalem potential, allowed for by Uldyssian's alteration of the Worldstone's attunement, granting the Edyrem's powers room to grow."
"Uldyssian?" Sona asked. "As in Uldyssian ul-Diomed, the man who sacrificed himself to save the world from ruin?"
"The very one," Aidan confirmed. "He plays perhaps the most important role in the history of this world. And I consider him even more important than Christianity's Messiah."
"How so?" asked Rias. Aidan conjured up the image showing Uldyssian and his band of Edyrem cohorts.
"Uldyssian and his nephalem eventually banished Lucion and toppled the Triune, making Lilith eventually lose control of the situation. Uldyssian managed to severely weaken Lilith, allowing Inarius to once again banish her to the Void. Only this time to ensure that the ways with which she returned are no longer viable for her to use again."
Uldyssian and his Edyrem brothers soon turn their gaze over to a large cathedral, where from its front doorsteps stood Inarius in his human disguise.
"As the nephalem now turned on the Cathedral and Inarius, the High Heavens finally discovered the mortal realm as well. With the Cathedral in ruins and Inarius defeated, the Angiris Council unleashed the Heavenly Host upon the mortal realm. In turn, the armies of Hell erupted from the ground, and a three-way battle began between the angels, demons, and Edyrem."
All out-war wages between all three sides. If one had to say it, it was like the Great War, with the Heavenly Host used as a representation of the angels, the demons the Devils, and the Fallen Angels the Edyrem. Only this conflict was escalating from a simple war to a cataclysmic one. All sides took casualties and the scope of the damage was only getting worse.
The image soon turns to a horrified Uldyssian, realizing what was happening.
"Uldyssian released his full power, driving the armies of Heaven and Hell back. However, in doing so, he realized that the untamed nephalem energies were threatening to destroy the world. It was too much power gained too quickly, and he could feel himself losing his humanity to his nephalem birthright. Thus, he brought the raging energies into himself and released them one last time, the release of said energies resetting the Worldstone and stripping the Edyrem of their abilities, but at the cost of his own being. In the end, Uldyssian had chosen humanity over godhood and sacrificed himself so that humanity might survive. So it was that he sacrificed himself."
Uldyssian, shown in all his power and glory, levitates high into the air and, in a final act of humanity and self-sacrifice, he withdrew his nephalem energies back into himself. Choosing humanity over godhood, Uldyssian's energies were released one last time, negating his very being. All beings were caught in the blast and the Edyrem had lost their nephalem powers. The angels were confused and stunned as the former Edyrem knelt to the ground in awe, some crying over the self-sacrifice of their brother and leader. The demons merely retreated back to their dark domain.
The next images showed Mephisto and five archangels who met with each other on the battlefield now empty and quiet.
"The Angiris Council and Mephisto thus convened to discuss the fate of Sanctuary as a truce was made between the forces of Heaven and Hell."
"So what were the terms?" asked Kiba.
"First the Council decided on a majority vote what would become of Sanctuary and the human race," Aidan said as the projection showed all five council members.
The first one showed an archangel in golden armor and bright orange strands of light that formed the structure of his wings.
"Imperius, the Archangel of Valor, voted for the world's extermination, wanting to finish what the Heavenly Host had originally set out to do."
The next council member showed Auriel.
"Auriel, the Archangel of Hope, was the most impassioned speaker, wanting mankind to be spared as the believed that the crimes of Inarius should not be transferred to his children and that given time, they may play a role in the Eternal Conflict."
The next archangel showed him clad in grey robes and appears neither male nor female. Strangely enough, his white wings did not connect to his body and the pauldrons that held them rather floated above his shoulders.
"Itherael, the Archangel of Fate, sided with Auriel, knowing that humanity could eclipse either angels or demons, depending on the path they took."
After Itherael, an archangel whose figure was gaunt and wearing black robes and armor appeared next on the projection. His wings were bright and purple, and he wore one spiky pauldron on his left shoulder. For some reason, his presence sent chills down everyone's spine, like they were looking at death itself.
"Malthael, the Archangel of Wisdom and leader of the Angiris Council, abstained from the vote."
That bit of information surprised everyone in the room.
"Why?" asked Sona.
"No one really knows exactly," Deckard explained. "But I suspect that the emergence of humanity had something to do with it. He had been watching them for some time and whatever he found, I think it may have drove him to madness."
"Regardless, Malthael's abstain counted in Imperius' favor," Aidan said as the image showed the last Council member image on display. He was clad in golden armor and white robes. His wings were like Auriel's, blue with a flash of white and each individualistic strand flowing like water.
"The last vote was left to Tyrael, the Archangel of Justice. If he sided with Imperius, Sanctuary would be destroyed, as a tie would still result in their original goal being carried out. But Tyrael was touched by humanity's self-sacrifice and voted for them."
"What about Mephisto?" asked Kiba.
"The Angiris Council handed Inarius over to Mephisto to be tortured for all of eternity within Hell. This remains true to this day and Inarius will never be put down so long as he lives."
A sketch of Inarius chained was shown on the projection image. Tremendous chains slowly tore the wings from the back of the angel. Great barbed hooks were then used to stretch out his once glowing skin and his features were distorted by vile powers. By the look of the sketch, Inarius looked to be trapped in Hell within a chamber of mirrors, his eyelids torn from his face as he is forced to gaze upon his misshapen form for all eternity. It was a sight that sent chills down everyone's spine, in disbelief that this angel is still alive, denied the release of death.
Asia had tears spill forth from her eyes and she was so tempted to pray to alleviate his suffering. But she just could not bring herself to do so, seeing his horrendous state.
Deckard Kain soon took over as the realm of Sanctuary fast-forwarded to represent the evolution of humanity.
"For the next few millennia, the Eternal Conflict ceased, and battles were no longer fought with the Worldstone now on Sanctuary. With the truce between Heaven and Hell made, humanity was left to its own devices. The Angels had obviously honored the pact. But the Demons… they were not so willing."
"Why is that?" asked Sona.
"The Prime Evils still sought to influence mankind over to their side so as to unlock whatever nephalem power, no matter how miniscule, remains within them. But when the Lesser Evils grew disgruntled with their superiors, a civil war formed that ended with what was called the Dark Exile."
The projection soon showed three cloaked figures with a red, blue, and yellow aura respectively surrounding their natures.
"Nobody really knew that the Prime Evils walked on Sanctuary for decades," Aidan said. "Nobody except the archangel Tyrael."
"What do you mean?" asked Asia. "Why couldn't he tell the rest of his council members?"
"Sanctuary had been spared by a margin of one vote when the Angiris Council had discussed its fate. If Heaven learned that Hell was focused on Man, it might carry out what he and Imperius once, and perhaps still, intended. As such, he kept silent. He would intervene on Sanctuary's behalf and do so alone."
The image soon showed Tyrael meeting a group of hooded men, who looked like human mages. In the archangel's hands were three crystals showcasing the colors of red, blue, and yellow.
"Fashioning three soulstones out of the Worldstone, Tyrael gathered a number of mages, forming a group called the Horadrim. Over many years, they hunted down the three Primes. Mephisto fell first, and Baal second, though he shattered the soulstone meant for him in battle."
"Shattered it?" asked Sona as the image showed the Horadrim over the broken soulstone, with one of them holding the largest fragment which contained the demon lord of destruction.
"There was not enough time to reformulate the soulstone, but with the suggestion that a mortal heart could serve as a surrogate soulstone, Tal Rasha, the leader of the Horadrim stepped forward, offering to be the sacrifice. Tyrael assured him that his sacrifice would not be forgotten and led the mages to a tomb beneath the sands of the desert."
The projected images showed Tal Rasha bound to some sort of structure with chains on his wrists.
"There, the Horadrim built a binding stone etched with runes of containment. Tal Rasha ordered that he be bound to the stone, and as the other mages looked on in sorrow, Tyrael jammed the soulstone shard into Tal Rasha's heart, transferring Baal's essence into the mage's body." The Horadrim soon left, with Tyrael being the last as he closes the doors of the tomb and buries it underneath the sand.
"Sorrowfully, the Horadrim departed, leaving Tal Rasha to wrestle with Baal's writhing spirit for all eternity."
Fast forwarding through time, the images showed the Horadrim continuing the search for the last Prime Evil, which took them to the lands in the west, far from where Baal was imprisoned.
"Finally, after a decade of searching, the Horadrim confronted Diablo in the lands of Khanduras. The soulstone worked and was hidden away within a labyrinthine cave system near the River Talsande. Tyrael appeared before the Horadrim one last time, commending them for having achieved a victory despite their losses. He declared that the site would have to be guarded and to this end, the Horadrim erected a monastery over the site."
The Horadric monastery showed itself centered on the hill, directly built on the site of where Diablo's soulstone was safeguarded.
"Tyrael's plan had succeeded—the Primes were captured, Sanctuary still existed, and Heaven was none the wiser."
"At least for a time," Aidan interjected.
"What do you mean?" asked Rias.
"What the Horadrim, even Tyrael, did not count upon was the fact that the Prime Evils had manage to corrupt their imprisoning soulstones, up to the point where they implanted their influence over their captors. The Zakarum were the first to fall and Mephsito sent his followers to Khanduras to find the Horadric monastery, which at the time became a decrepit ruin, and free Diablo."
"But shouldn't the Horadrim have stopped them if they found out?" asked Tsubaki.
"By that point, the Horadrim fell into obscurity," Deckard Kain revealed. "There were too few of them left to even notice the return of the Demons. Although they left a legacy, it would be about three hundred years after the Dark Exile did the Prime Evils return."
The image soon showed the Horadric monastery glowing red from the inside. The doors soon opened up to reveal a figure in black robes from top to bottom, concealing his face with a hood that had an eerily red glow emanating off of it.
"Diablo took the disguise as the Dark Wanderer soon traveled East, where his brother Baal was still imprisoned beneath the sands inside the body of Tal Rasha."
The image showed Diablo as the Dark Wanderer, inhabiting a human body and traveling in the sands.
"He had managed to find the Tomb of Tal Rasha and reached the Binding Stone where Tal Rasha, barely containing Baal, stood. Diablo sought to release the Lord of Destruction, but it was here that the archangel Tyrael intervened."
The next image showed Tyrael and the Dark Wanderer battle while Baal struggled in his prison before a small scrawny man holding a torch approached the imprisoned Lord of Destruction.
"While Diablo and angel did battle, Marius, Diablo's unwitting companion, was manipulated by Baal and released him. Marius promptly fled with Baal's soulstone afterwards and Tyrael was imprisoned in the demon's place. And with that, Diablo and Baal set sail to Kurast, where their last brother, Mephisto, was."
"And what became of this Marius?" asked Sona.
"When he took the soulstone, Tyrael instructed Marius to Kurast to find the Infernal Gate, which will lead him to Hell," Aidan explained. "From there, he was to go to the Hellforge and shatter the soulstone, as it was the only way for the soulstones to be destroyed. It was a daunting task that proved too much for him though."
"Why?" asked Kiba.
"Marius was…an unfortunate soul," Aidan regrettably said. "He could not bear to enter that gate and see all the horrors Hell had to offer just to get to the Hellforge. So instead, he fled and hid himself away in a sanitorium. But we will get to that later."
The next image showed the jungles of Kurast, where in the middle of the dense rainforest stood a large and decrepit tower, along with its surrounding structure decayed. Demons and corrupted men of the Zakarum stood vigil, guarding the ancient evil deep beneath the former Temple of Light.
"As you all know, Mephisto had already succeeded in corrupting the Zakarum faith. Diablo used his powers of fear to cause the uncorrupted defenders to flee and/or turn on each other. Mephisto's soulstone was found, and the Lord of Hatred quickly took possession of Que-Hegan Sankekur, the leader of the Zakarum faith."
The image soon showed all Three Brothers together, surrounding some sort of ritual circle with an inactive portal behind them.
"After centuries, the Prime Evils were reunited. Within a chamber, they devised a final stratagem to retake the Burning Hells, claim vengeance on those who had turned on them and use their corrupted soulstones to corrupt the Worldstone, thereby enslaving humanity to their will. The Infernal Gate was opened, and Diablo took full control over his body, assuming his true form, and entered Hell, ready to rally Hell's legions to the Primes' cause."
It did not take long for Sona to connect the events together as she watched the Prime Evils united and setting off to their own objectives.
"So, the Prime Evils planned all of this," She said. "They masterminded their own exile just for this?"
"You are correct," Aidan confirmed with a nod. "The Prime Evils had other ways to corrupt humanity and thus orchestrated their own exile and capture since they figured out that the soulstones, their very own prisons, can be corrupted. Once they broke free, it would only be a matter of time before humanity falls under their thrall."
Everyone could now see the full extent of all the events. If the demon lords were capable of manipulating such events to the point of reunification, then they shuddered to think if history repeated itself in the modern world.
"It did not come to pass, however, as a group of heroes who had pursued the Wanderer since Khanduras, entered Hell itself in their pursuit of the Lord of Terror. Within the Chaos Sanctuary, a final battle played out, and Diablo was bested. Taking Diablo's soulstone, once again containing the demon's essence, they destroyed it upon the Anvil of Annihilation, banishing his soul into the Black Abyss."
In a time sequence of events, Mephisto was confronted by human heroes in his lair before being struck down and his essence returned to the soulstone. Following Diablo through the Infernal Gate, the heroes pursued the Lord of Terror right into his lair of Hell and did battle. Diablo was soon defeated as his soul returned to the soulstone. Then both crystals were taken to the Hellforge, where a strong bald man with blue tattoos took the hammer from the forge and smash both of the soulstones, shattering it and banishing the demon lords back to the Black Abyss.
"Diablo and Mephisto were defeated, which left only Baal," Aidan mentioned. "Having tracked down Marius to the sanitarium he was at and taken the soulstone from his corpse, Baal had set sight on his goals. Now possessing the shard, Baal traveled north, butchering entire villages en route to Mount Arreat, where the Worldstone rested."
Baal was shown in front of his armies, reaching the lands of the Barbarians, the Children of Bul-Kathos. Not too far in the distance was Mount Arreat.
"By the time Baal reached the lands of the Barbarians, his army had numbered in the thousands. By all accounts, the Barbarians fought ferociously, yet it was not enough to stop Baal from storming their lands. Reaching the gates of Sescheron, the Barbarians capital, they first attempted a parlay with the demon, but Baal casually killed the emissary and ordered his forces to attack, destroying the capital easily. Soon, all that stood between Baal and the Arreat Summit was Harrogath."
Demons tore right through the streets of the city and all of its defenders despite putting up quite a fight were cut down to size. Baal walked through the town unopposed, reigning destruction over the city as demons cut down everybody.
"After destroying Harrogath, Baal raced up the slopes of the mountain, able to bypass the mountain's guardians with ease. In the Worldstone Chamber, Baal fused his corrupted soulstone with the Worldstone. All of the strife and horror that had accumulated within the shard began to spread through the gargantuan crystal, poisoning it to its very core."
Baal brings his soulstone to the Worldstone, as the gargantuan crystal seems to absorb the small shard, taking it in. Once the soulstone was absorbed by the Worldstone, a poisonous and destructive essence lurked inside like water, blackening the inside of the Worldstone. Baal could only laugh at the accomplishment of his mission.
"And yet Baal's plans were stymied by a group of heroes; the same group that had defeated his brothers. After a ferocious battle, Baal was defeated, his spirit banished to the Black Abyss to join his brothers, yet the Worldstone was already past saving."
The image then showed of Tyrael and the corrupted Worldstone, the former with his weapon out.
"To save humanity, the archangel Tyrael arrived threw his sword into the stone, destroying it and forever changing everything."
In a time sequence of the event, Tyrael empowers his sword and throws it at the corrupted Worldstone, shattering the immense gem as parts of it were obliterated. A massive explosion engulfed the screen, making everyone shut their eyes for a bit. All except Aidan and Deckard Kain.
The world was soon black before the first sun rose again on the world. And what became of Mount Arreat shocked everyone in the room.
The entire mountain was mostly destroyed. Fire and ash sprouted out of the shattered mountain. The entire area surrounding the mountain was also destroyed, covered in ashes that would be confused for snow. The entire region surrounding Mount Arreat was splintered into four landscapes.
What was once called the Northern Steppes would forever be known as the Dreadlands.
"So with the Worldstone gone, what happened next?" asked Asia.
"Like I said, everything changed. Tyrael's form was obliterated and the Barbarian tribes were left a scattered people. But the most striking changes were the High Heavens. For it is said that after the Worldstone was destroyed, Malthael, the Archangel of Wisdom and leader of the Angiris Council, abandoned the High Heavens and left."
"What?" asked Asia. "But how could he do such a thing?"
"Malthael's mood darkened when the Wordstone had disappeared as he became consumed with finding its location. It darkened further when the Worldstone was destroyed, and he departed the Heavens frequently on solo journeys, each one taking longer than the last. Then on his last journey, he simply never returned."
The image showed the Angiris Council but Malthael's image soon disappears, with onl four members remaining.
"With Malthael gone, Imperius became the de facto leader of the council. He soon became the leader of the High Heavens when Anu had left, entrusting the heavenly realm to the council."
"Anu left Heaven?" asked Asia. "Why? Was it to find Malthael?"
"No," Aidan denied. "When the Worldstone was destroyed, Anu's life force decreased on a more rapid pace. He was dying and knew he had little time left. So he left the High Heaven's rule to the Angiris Council and tended to the destroyed Sanctuary."
The projection showed Anu and the smoldering wreck of Sanctuary. For some reason though, Anu's tears were formed from his remaining eye.
"Anu rescued whatever remained of humanity and put them to a deep sleep beneath the Earth before he eventually drowned the world in darkness, cleansing of its destruction and leaving it as a world full of nothingness and darkness. In the process of putting mankind to sleep, he wiped away their previous memories and identities."
"Why?" asked Kiba.
"He did not want humanity to remember the Sin War or even how they were created. It was an event in history that had changed everything. Instead, he fabricated the story where he created them, and not Inarius and Lilith."
The Earth was then clouded with pure darkness, showing nothingness. Aidan soon said the most critical piece of information that shook the whole room in shock.
"Anu then took the simple name of God. And this is where the stories from the Bible begin, starting with the very first book of Genesis."
The room was silent for only a few seconds.
"Anu…is God?" asked Rias. "He was there right from the beginning?"
"And he was dying?" Asia hesitantly asked.
Aidan nodded. "When God tended to the damaged Sanctuary, he first created another Heaven, where the angels you know of came from. It was called the Lower Heavens."
An image of Heaven appeared and the Angels that was a part of the Three Factions also showed itself, every single one of them focused on the center of Heaven where Anu, or God, resided on his throne, surrounded by four archangels.
"Once Heaven was complete, God rebuilt Sanctuary, filling it with life in seven days and awakening the first human beings, naming them Adam and Eve. God replaced the name of Sanctuary with Earth and watched as humanity awoke and prosper with new identities and memories to make. But then the Great War came…"
The Great War was displayed on the image, as all Three Factions showed themselves fighting over one another.
"I am sure you know the rest of your history from here," Deckard Kain said.
"Then, what about the stories from the Bible?" Asia asked. "Are they still…"
"They are still true," Aidan confirmed. "But the Bible is just one of the most important tomes of the faith compared to the rest."
"What do you mean?" asked Asia.
"After the Zakarum fell to corruption thanks to Mephisto, efforts were made by those still clinging onto the faith and uncorrupted to purge and purify it. The Crusaders of the Zakarum were a primary example, but even they would not be enough. Anu recognized the efforts the humans made to purify their faith and sought to assist in any way possible without stepping foot into the world. To do this, he selected key individuals whose names are recorded in the Bible to help him succeed in the tasks he assigned them to do."
Figures like Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and the Prophets appeared in time images. Even Christ the Savior was shown in one of the images.
"So…all that was said was not done to forgive us of our sins? That the Messiah was not God?" Asia asked, her faith shaking a bit.
"The Messiah was indeed God in flesh," Deckard Kain elaborated. "But he was like the rest of the prophets. Their mission was to purge their faith of corruption and of the human race, to wave off the darkness that would consume them. They had to emphasize the Zakarum teachings to reignite the faith, and throughout human history, the names have changed over time before the Zakarum splintered into various religious factions."
Kiba then asked one question.
"Are you saying that the Church…is the Zakarum?"
Aidan nodded. "Yes."
The room was silent and stunned once again. The ancient religion extending back to a time before the story of Genesis had somehow made its way to the modern world in the form of the Church. The belief that it was founded two thousand years ago was in itself a lie; rather that the religion was just reignited and modified to combat corruption.
"And thus, that's the story," Aidan said. "Now you know everything from beginning to end."
"This is…a lot to take in," said Sona.
All eyes turned to the Student Council President, including Aidan.
"You believe all of this?" asked Aidan in a bit of surprise.
"I did not at first," Sona said. "But after everything you have shown us, I now do. Though I wonder how the rest of the Devils will react upon learning our mythology is real." Sona put her hands together, fingers interlocked, and delved deep into though for a bit. "It is best that we keep this information to ourselves."
"I agree," Rias concurred. "If word of this gets out, everything will change. Fear will spread amongst the populace and it will be too much for them to take in."
"So it is settled then," Sona said as she stood up. "No one, not even the Four Great Satans, must know of what we have all learned today. We must keep this secret to ourselves and, if possible, contain the situation with the Demons."
"And if the situation forces us to?" Tsubaki questioned.
Sona sighed. "Then we will have to be honest about it all. Until then, no one must know of this."
Both Aidan and Deckard Kain nodded before they looked at one another. Their looks suggested that what they did was right in that both the ORC and the Student Council President and Vice-President had to know.
But the truth is more startling than one may think. Even though they told them everything, they did not tell them everything, especially concerning the Three Factions and what role they play in the affairs of the Eternal Conflict.
BEGIN DREAM…
In a large room where rock and stone floated, Aidna found himself on a bridge. But half of the bridge was missing, like it was destroyed. That was because what laid in front of him was a large, colossal mountain-sized crystal. It radiated with such tremendous power, a power as ancient as creation itself.
And Aidan knew what it was.
"The Worldstone."
Aidan beheld the immense object, seeing it as the heart of the world. The heart of Sanctuary, of Earth. What the Angels and the Demons have fought over since time immemorial.
But something was different, and Aidan could see why. A black cloud, water-like substance covered the inside of the Worldstone, seething with demonic energies of the Burning Hells. The Worldstone had been poisoned, no, corrupted.
Aidan soon looked behind to see the archangel Tyrael, his wings flowing back and forth from where he stood as he beheld the corrupted Worldstone. Tyrael then took out his sword from his left hip, places the tip on the ground, and kneels as he speaks some sort of incantation. His sword was unique in that its hilt has a large sunburst pattern with a blue gem at its center and an odd-shaped blade.
Aidan could not make out the words Tyrael spoke. But as the Archangel of Justice incanted, lightning struck a brazier behind him on his right, setting alight in blue fire but not burning it. Then the other one was hit in the same manner on Tyrael's right side and El'druin glowed a bright orange color, empowered by its destructive essence through Tyrael's words.
Finally, Tyrael stops speaking and looks up, facing the Worldstone. Standing up with his empowered sword in his right hand, he brings it back behind his head, and with his full might, hurls it at the Worldstone. Aidan had enough time to duck down and watch as El'druin makes contact with the corrupted crystal.
A noise, like that of shattering glass, echoed across the room as El'druin impaled clean through the Worldstone. A shockwave from the impact dispersed forth from it and soon, starting from the top, the Worldstone began to break itself apart.
As chunks blew off from the crystal, violent energies burst out as thousands and thousands of shards blew apart from the main body. Aidan could only watch with mixed feelings, seeing the once sacred artifact destroyed. He would agree that Tyrael did the right thing in sparing mankind form being enslaved to the demons. But could the archangel have foreseen the consequences and benefits of Sanctuary with the Worldstone now gone? That Aidan did not know.
As the last bits of the Worldstone blew itself apart, the final explosion consumed Aidan and the surrounding area in a violent light of violent energies, engulfing the room. Before he woke up though, Aidan saw Mount Arreat, whole in its form, until the violent explosion shattered the mountain.
It was a most terrifying sight.
END DREAM…
*GASP*
Aidan woke up with a gasp that, thankfully, did not wake Rias up. The redhead was asleep on Aidan's left side, her head on his chest listening for his heartbeat. Lately, she had been sleeping with Aidan more and more than usual. Aidan did not mind it if it brought her comfort, but did it bring him comfort as well?
That he could not tell. Sure his nightmares have dispersed away for a time when Rias, or even Akeno, slept with him. But they were only temporary solutions.
Aidan briefly looks at Rias to his left before he looks up, imagining the stars outside and in the sky. He wondered if the High Heavens were still watching over Sanctuary, ready to unleash their might at a moment's notice. It could happen any time despite their ancient laws holding them back.
Yet still, it could happen.
Aidan soon sits up and frees himself from Rias before swinging his legs over to the side of the bed. But that only woke the redhead up, wondering where her man had gone off to.
"Mmm…are you alright?" asked Rias as she sat herself up a bit, adjusting her groggy eyes before seeing clearly.
"Having a bit trouble sleeping I guess," Aidan responded.
But Rias could only look a bit sad about it. "I notice these keep happening frequently with you. It's as if you wake up like this every night."
Aidan had nothing to respond to that, so Rias decided to press further into the question.
"What's been going on? Have you been having bad nightmares lately?"
Aidan took a moment to contemplate. These visions and dreams have been happening more and more frequently as of late. If he was going to have Rias' trust as her servant and friend, then he needed to come clean with everything. He cannot hide anything anymore from her than what he already had done in the past.
"Ever since my birth, Rias, I have been having nightmares. Dreams and visions of the Eternal Conflict. And almost every one of them get worse."
"What do you see exactly?" asked Rias.
"Angels and Demons fighting in Pandemonium. The Worldstone right in the background as they fought for it. And in the end, the archangel Tyrael destroys it."
Rias could only hold her favorite servant tighter in her arms, trying to comfort him the best she can. Even though Aidan is the most powerful member of her servants, that did not mean he was invulnerable. If anything, he may also be the most fragile.
"It's only another dream, Aidan," Rias said. "It could just be the past."
"Maybe. But with everything I've told you today, maybe there is more to it."
"What do you mean?" asked Rias curiously as she brings her chin on Aidan's right shoulder, looking at him.
"In almost every dream at the end, I see Diablo." The name shook Rias with fear, and rightfully so since Diablo is fear manifest. "With my Sacred Gear named after him, I—"
A sudden bolt of pain manifests in Aidan's left arm. He grips it hard and feels the discomfort, like thorns and spikes were poking out of his skin.
"Aidan?" asked a worried Rias.
"It's nothing," Aidan tried to reassure. "Just…"
But Rias could see some sort of black vein appear on Aidan's left arm. Ever since his battle with Raynare, his Sacred Gear has been acting out of control at times. Whatever was the problem she did not know but she did have a solution, albeit a temporary one.
With some demonic power in her left hand, she strokes Aidan's tense left arm, making it relax as the black veins retreat and disappear, flowing back to his hand. Aidan can feel the pain subside away, but Rias' solution was only temporary. If not resolved soon, then he feared it will become problematic in the future.
"I'm sorry," An apologetic Aidan said, feeling like he was burdening Rias too much. But the red haired shook her head gently, closing her eyes and smiling as she did.
"No. It's alright. The care of my servants, especially you, is always my priority."
Aidan smiles a bit, only for his face to be replaced with melancholy as he looks away and down at the ground. And Rias could tell what is up with him.
"You still feel guilty, don't you?" Rias asked. "About going after Raynare alone?"
Aidan nodded before he felt his head turn to meet her eyes, brought over by her gentle hand.
"Aidan, I've already forgiven you for that. What you did was brave. Braver than anyone else could ever do."
"Still doesn't make me feel any better," Aidan confessed but Rias understood his way of thinking. The guilt hanging over him.
"Then just sleep with me," Rias said as she brought him back to the bed, their heads on his pillow as they look into each other's eyes. Rias brings her left hand to cup his right cheek. "And stay. Whatever nightmare you have, whatever guilt you feel, I will always stay and comfort you."
"Always, Rias?" Aidan asked, a hint of desperation in his voice as if he was afraid.
Rias soon kisses Aidan on the forehead, much to his surprise. "Always…"
Aidan soon smiles as the guilt washes away and his body relaxes. With Rias sleeping with him on the promise she will always be with him, he could now have a good night's rest.
Well that was fun to write. The entire history of Diablo from beginning to end. And no I am not including the Mage Clan Wars because that section of history is not relevant to the forces of the High Heavens and the Burning Hells.
So both Aidan and Deckard Kain have now fully revealed the full history and this has changed everything. What the Devils have believed in mythology has now become a reality. Of course there was that little snippet at the end of the two looking at each other. So maybe, just maybe, that they have not told them EVERYTHING, especially about their species. But we will get to that later on. If you have any questions though about the Diablo history in Highschool DxD, PM me and I can elaborate on it.
More visions and nightmares for Aidan. And now his Sacred Gear is acting up, much like how Issei's Boosted Gear does in the series. Only for Aidan, this one seems to be more volatile and perhaps life threatening. I mean, no one wants to see black veins protrude on their left arm now right. And on that note, I will change Aidan's Sacred Gear a bit considering he has a sword. Instead of wolverine claws, it will just be sharp clawed arms much like Diablo's and will only appear on his left arm. Like Issei's Boosted Gear though, the Al'Diabolos Terror Claws will evolve to become more and more powerful, taking on more demonic traits per its nature and, in time, cover Aidan's whole left arm. It will be featured in the next chapter.
I will be gone for some time in the Maldives for vacation. So do not expect to hear back form me until early February at best. But the next chapter will be the familiar forest. And another cameo surprise from Diablo III. Hint: voodoo!
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