04/22/2012, Dimensional Gap, undefined time.
The Dimensional Gap, an immeasurable void between worlds connecting the many realms of the various mythologies. It is a dangerous and deadly place, only by staying in for a couple of seconds without good protections both magical and non can be deadly. It is not a place for mortals, which is highlighted by its only inhabitant: the strongest being, Great Red, the so called dragon of dragons or dragon of dreams, due to his enormous size and power.
However, another being is currently using the Gap to move towards Kuoh Town. After speaking with Vali, Ophis discovered about this Makoto's strength, but the descendant of Lucifer didn't say anything about his location, saying he didn't know where he lived. Annoying. Fortunately enough Shalba Beelzebub came to her and told where he is: Kuoh Town in the human world on an island called Japan. "My home stinks of that overgrown lizard" murmurs Ophis while traversing the void space as she feels Great Red's overwhelming presence.
"What is this?" asks herself Ophis as she feels another presence in her home, alien and unknown. "Another intruder" she says without much surprise when a being, a human looking figure, appears in front of her. Nyarlathotep in his human form smiles at the Dragon god of infinity. "Greetings Ophis it is amusing to meet you. Although I would love to have a chat with you I fear we can't" says delighted the Crawling Chaos snickering. "You're not from this world" states the dragon god immediately feeling Nyarlathotep's foreign nature to the Dimensions contained within the Dimensional Gap. "Oh, perceptive. Indeed I am surprised" laughs the Shadow. Ophis looks at Nyarlathotep, her face not showing any sign of reaction. "Go away, this is my home" she says ignoring him as she continues floating towards a portal leading to the human world.
Nyarlathotep shakes his head. "I took a liking to this world. I like it so much that I'll personally bring doom and devastation to it and its inhabitants: doesn't it sound fun, lovely even?" rhetorically asks Nyarlathotep causing Ophis to have a small expression of confusion on her face, which soon vanishes. "What are you talking about?" questions Ophis, the hint of confusion on her face from before still lingering. "You are an interesting being Ophis, you desire so much your beloved silence that you bother forming a faction of individuals that could help you defeat Great Red. To reclaim your tiny spot in the world" says Nyarlathotep while playing with his clock monocle. "However you are so concerned about recruiting more and more people that you don't see what is happening right under your nose, oblivious about the actios of your own 'squad', if we can define it as such" he adds.
Instinctually, like a buried voice deep within her to do so, without a second thought Ophis sends an immense wave of power against Nyarlathotep. A shockwave so powerful that it shakes the fabric of reality around them, causing the natural colours of the Gap, born from its innate power to fade blasted away by the Ouroboros' power. An attack the dragon hasn't done in thousands if not millions of years. If they weren't in the immense void that the Dimensional Gap is Ophis would have probably destroyed everything around her: a blast so powerful it could annihilate the entirety of planet Earth ten times over, if not more. Why did she do it? Why did her instincts, buried under thousands and thousands of years of apathy, suddenly told her to attack? For a split second Ophis feels a sense of... fear? worry? from the being who's facing her, only for it to be devoured by the infinite abyss of her power.
"I commend you Ophis, you used your full power immediately. You are the first one in this world to not underestimate me: it's such a shame I need to kill you, you would have made a fine Shadow" says Nyarlathotep, unscathed by Ophis' attack: not even a scratch or a fold on his red robe. Another feeling strikes Ophis for another instant: surprise? Was 'surprise' the right term? how was it called when you are taken aback by something? She just made an attack who could have wiped out everything, but Great Red that's what it was. She used a theoretical infinite amount of power against him and he... ignored it. Only Great Red could resist it thanks to the power of dreams which directly countered hers. "How?" she asks, her tone still the same shade of apathy. "How did I survive this? You simply can't harm me Ophis. I'm something far beyond you" says Nyarlathotep.
"You know, when I first came to this world I considered you and Great Red beings similar to Mother Nyx, almighty, immortal and transcendental" admits Nyarlathotep.
"My first plan was dismissing you like I tried to do with Mother to end humanity as a byproduct. By creating the rumour of the prophecy of The Fall. This time I only had to bait the Universe here and he would have done it for me, again. When I discovered you weren't like Nyx I was more than joyous. I couldn't contain my happines: I didn't have to waste the Universe power and his immense potential, I could use it for myself. I continue to wonder what you two are, your nature is a mystery I am yet to resolve. You aren't like the other gods of this world: beings stronger than normal with the limited ability to create and dictate over some small aspects of reality. You aren't like normal dragons, you are far stronger than them, so much that comparing them to you and Great Red could be considered an insult. Still, you aren't completely immortal, as another dragon god died before: the Huanglong. You aren't born from the Sea of Souls or direct creations of the Axiom. So what are you?" asks Nyarlathotep not expecting an answer from Ophis. "The answer I gave myself is simple: you are just like everyone and everything else in this world, the only difference being that you are simply at the top of the food chain. That's the only answer I came up with" explains the Crawling Chaos.
The Ouroboros tries to attack once again Nyarlathotep, but her attack is 'blocked' by a weapon. A spear just appeared in Nyarlathotep's right hand which managed to nullify Ophis' second blast. "I present to you the Spear of Destiny. What you may know as the Spear of Longinus. Its initial use was that of sealing personas, but I think I have another idea for it which just popped in my mind" says Nyarlathotep with a wicked smile on his lips before making his move.
Ophis doesn't react in time as Nyarlathotep scratches her with the spear, a single tiny scratch on her cheek which starts to bleed. "Wha-" tries to say Ophis before her breath is blocked and the words blocked in her throat. The Dragon God takes her head with both hands, screaming in pain for the first time in her life. Ophis' mind is suddenly bombarded with emotions, all the suppressed feelings she hasn't felt in millions of years: she feels them now in single instant. Everything from pleasure to pain, from boredom to joy and sorrow. Still, reigning among all of them a feeling of... fear? This is what fear is? Her body trembles, her breath laboured desperately gasping for air. The heart who isn't supposed to beat in her body is dramatically pulsing like the engine of a running locomotive. "W-what is this attack?" she barely manages to ask, her voice trembling too, filled with anxiety. "What you are feeling right now is panic, Ophis. One of my favourite emotions, don't you agree?" explains Nyarlathotep amused by the scene.
Ophis starts to feel weak and her face becoming paler and paler. Her own home turning against her, the usually relaxing feeling she has when she's in the Gap is now replaced by a storm of energy ravaging her body and mind. "You should thank me Ophis. Not only I removed the suppressor of your true self: your power. Now you can finally feel pain, suffering, fear and everything else, isn't that fantastic?" rhetorically asks the Crawling Chaos before adding. "I'm also giving you a front-row seat to witness the new world I'm going to create. Enjoy yourself Ophis the show is just at the opening act" with this said Nyarlathotep opens a portal to toss away the dragon god, not wanting to let her escape by dying for the exposure to the Dimensional Gap's energy. As the dragon god of infinity falls in the portal, a thunderous roar is heard throughout the Gap, signalling the vicinity of Great Red. "I better go away, he shall be useful in the future". And so Nyarlathotep leaves the Gap too.
04/22/2012, Madagascar, Early Morning.
"Diarahan" says a feminine voice. Ophis blinks a couple of times, the dragon god is now feeling for the first time a sense of dizziness caused by her sudden awakening. However she doesn't feel any pain, no injuries on her body are to be seen thanks to the Diarahan being casted on her. Her heart is beating... fast. A feeling of anxiety is overwhelming her mind. Where is she? Where did... Nyarlathotep send her?
"Calm down, everything's alright. Nyarlathotep isn't here" says the woman voice, the simple pronunciation of the Crawling Chaos' name sends shivers down Ophis' spine, an irrational fear just from hearing a name. The dragon god finally manages to look at her saviour: a woman in blue with short white hair and yellow eyes. "Who are you?" asks Ophis, she's surprised by her own voice. Gone is the apathetic tone of it, replaced by an almost anxious and frail sound almost resembling the voice of a lost child. "My name is Elizabeth" replies the Velvet Room assistant. "Where am I?" asks again Ophis. "Madagascar, an island on Earth" answers the woman in blue.
Ophis looks around herself. Nyarlathotep sent her in a desolate plain, red dirt and short yellow grass are the only things visible for kilometers and kilometers around. She feels... lost. It's a different feeling from her former forced exile from the Dimensional Gap due to the presence of that overgrown red lizard. That was more akin to annoyance and boredom. This, however, is like a kid who lost the way home. Madagascar? Another unknown place on that human planet... a place Ophis wouldn't have considered going to in millions of years.
Now she's here, no matter how much she concentrates or how much she tries. Her powers are gone, she's gone back to the power of an hatchling. 'First-row seat?' Ophis thinks back at Nyarlathotep's words, dread building up inside her.
"Can you stand up?" asks Elizabeth, patiently waiting for Ophis. "Yes" she says, standing up. Even the simple act of getting on her feet feels extremely different, her weight and the force of gravity binding her to the ground. These two formerly trivial phenomena are now very real to the dragon god: she has to obey to the rules of nature, something that is completely alien to a being of the Dimensional Gap. Ophis looks at Elizabeth, the woman looking back at her with a carefree expression. "Are you feeling better?" questions Elizabeth. Ophis nods her head. "Did you save me?" asks the dragon.
"I healed you, yes. I was quite surprised to see a little girl like you being targeted by Nyarlathotep. I wonder why he didn't finish you or attacked you in the first place" wonders Elizabeth. "Could you tell me your name please?" adds then the attendant. "Ophis" briefly answers the girl surprising Elizabeth. "Ophis? Oh, from what Azazel told me you are quite different from the dragon I imagined. You don't seem like an old man at all, but now I see why Nyarlathotep wanted to kill you. Still, the question why he spared you remains. Fine, it's better this way" says the attendant nodding her head. "You too are from beyond the Dimensional Gap" states Ophis, even though her powers are mostly gone she can still feel something different from the woman in front of her.
"Indeed. I am here to stop Nyarlathotep. I am just an attendant tho" says Elizabeth. The woman then summons the door to the Velvet Room. "It's better if we talk about this in another place" she says opening the door inviting Ophis in. After some seconds of confusion, Ophis sees the Velvet Room door appearing in front of her and decides to follow Elizabeth's lead.
04/22/2012, Phenex Marquisate, Morning.
Riser is whistling satisfied in one of the wardrobe chambers inside the main castle of the Phenex clan, already planning his wedding at the end of the month. The youngest son of the house is looking at his reflection on a mirror while trying different types clothes for the upcoming marriage ceremony. "This one?" he mutters to himself thoughtful while holding an elegant red jacket with tiny silver buttons, the decorations on the outside of the jacket reminiscing the feathers of a phoenix and with yellow fabric on the inside of the piece of clothing. "Nah, too basic and ordinary" he says discarding it and putting it back inside the wardrobe along with the many dozens of other clothes he already rejected, immediately taking another one. "What about this?".
"Brother are you sure you should worry about clothes and not about the incoming Rating Game?" asks Ravel who was patiently waiting for her brother. "What are you talking about Ravel? Are you seriously thinking about the possibility of us losing to Rias? If that was a joke it is banal yes, but still fun enough" laughs the matter off Riser, considering the Rating Game against Rias a mere formality. Nothing more.
"I'm not saying that, but... Lady Rias will surely prepare for it. I'm just suggesting we shouldn't risk it and do something about it, just to be sure" points out Riser's younger sister, finding the courage to talk back to her brother. The older Phenex sighs. "Ravel you don't need to worry. They have less than ten days and moreover we have a great number advantage and the immortality of our clan to our side" states Riser discarding another shirt.
"Do you remember the human with Lady Rias? The one with blue hair" starts Ravel, before being stopped by her brother. "That insolent guy? Pfft, I still wonder what reasons the Queen of Lucifer had to defend him. What about him?" asks annoyed Riser the memory of Makoto an inconvenient one. "I have a bad presentiment, can't you just prepare something just in case, please?" asks Ravel, genuinely preoccupied her brother might lose. The other Phenex however shakes his head. "No sense Ravel, just go for a walk around the castle you are being too nervous for this" says Riser, dismissing the matter once again despite Ravel's efforts.
Before Ravel can add anything more a gentle knock is heard on the door of the room. "Enter" says Riser, letting the the newcomer in. "You must be the tailor Father talked so much about, Mr. Jun right?" greets Riser, turning back and offering an handshake to the man who just entered the room. An individual with long black hair, covering the right side of his face, with brown eyes and pale white skin, wearing light blue clothes with black shoes and a yellow flower pinned on his shirt. However this man is simply a disguise for Nyarlathotep, taking the aspect of good old Jun Kurosu, how much he loved playing with the guy's memories truly one of the funniest moments of his existence.
"Lord Riser and Lady Ravel, it's an honour to be here.
Lord Phenex told me about your problems with choosing a suitable outfit for the upcoming ceremony and you needed a new item of clothing to be tailored right for you, Lord Riser" says Nyarlathotep with a smooth and soothing voice, tailoring his words just like his supposed disguise should do with fabrics and clothes. "That's right Mr. Jun. I hope your talents are as good as they say. Now as you know I'm struggling with finding adequate clothes what do you suggest?" asks Riser already forgetting the discussion he just had with his sister.
"Is there anything you particularly desire my lord, colours, specific materials, accessories?" asks Nyarlathotep while gracefully taking the measurements of Riser's body with a tailor's tape measure. "Mmh... obviously. I'd want to wear the main colours of my house: red, yellow and orange. However nothing catched my eyes among all the clothing in my possession" says Riser patiently letting Mr. Jun do his job. Ravel meanwhile looks at the tailor with a curious look, his eccentric yet elegant manners and moves. Looking at his experienced movements make him to seem more a showman than a simple tailor. "You are quite proficient with your movements Mr. Jun, it seems to be looking at a dancer" comments amused Ravel, still hoping the guy ends soon so that she could slam some reason into her brother's stubborn head.
"Thank you young lady. I have an idea Lord Riser, what about tailoring a bordeaux tuxedo with golden buttons. Under it I'd suggest a black shirt with a yellow tie to make contrast and recall the buttons of the tuxedo. But let me show you better" with a knock of his fingers a magic illusion of the soon to be tuxedo appears in front of Riser. "This is quite the interesting magic trick, useful for your job. I like it, but I still find something is missing. Like the final touch isn't there yet" says Riser, looking at the tuxedo displayed in front of him. "I thought you could say it. I suggest to pair the tuxedo to cufflinks. I have a contact with some of the best dwarven jewellers of Nidavellir that could craft them for us" says Nyarlathotep.
"You must have good connections to say something like that. Let's go for it, did my Father already pay you?" asks Riser satisfied. "Unfortunately not" then 'Mr. Jun' takes a page of the Shadow Compendium he tore off previously and shows it to Riser. "This is the order, if you sign it I can ask the treasurers of your House to pay me" says Nyarlathotep. "I know how it works" says Riser taking a feather and sinking it into a small recipient of ink to sign the contract. Reading it he doesn't see anything strange, just the Phenex House hiring the tailor Jun to design an item of clothing for the third son of the Phenex family. Riser signs the contract much to Nyarlathotep's satisfaction. "Thanks a lot Lord Riser, your order shall be delivered in two days. I bid you farewell" says Nyarlathotep taking his leave after the fitting greetings and a respectful bow.
"Brother can we talk about the Rating Game now, please?" insists Ravel. Riser looks at his sister with the corner of his eye. "Fine, fine. So, what do you propose sister?" concedes Riser. "We could prepare something with the girls, talk about strategies or something like that" says Ravel.
Meanwhile Nyarlathotep walks through the spacious alleys of the Phenex Castle as he takes the Shadow Compendium, leaving through its pages he stops on a teared off one. After some seconds, however, instead of the missing page a new one forms bearing the title of Reverse Phoenix. "Very good" muses Nyarlathotep closing the Shadow Compendium and heading towards the exit of the Phenex's Residence.
04/22/2012, Velvet Room, Morning.
"Where are the headquarters of this Khaos Brigade?" asks Elizabeth to the dragon god. The two of them are sitting around one of the tables on the Velvet Room's first floor and the attendant is questioning Ophis about her encounter with Nyarlathotep. Ophis tries to answer Elizabeth's question, however, despite her best efforts, she doesn't know how to respond. "I don't know..." she says, confused by her amnesia. "It was predictable" points out Elizabeth. "Nyarlathotep also sealed important memories. You know about the Khaos Brigade, but don't remember the bases. What about its accomplices?" tries Elizabeth with another question, but nothing. Ophis doesn't remember.
"I don't know" repeats the girl. Then the, at this point, former dragon god looks around the Velvet Room. "What is this place?" she asks. Elizabeth smiles containing her enthusiasm. "I finally can say it" she says quieter. "Welcome to the Velvet Room. This place exists between dream and reality. Mind and matter" explains Elizabeth hiding an amused smile after repeating Igor's usual words.
Ophis nods her head, but doesn't pay much attention to Elizabeth's annoyance. "I need to find the Khaos Brigade. I must restore my powers... I feel lost in this state" says Ophis. As Elizabeth is about to say something and advise Ophis against her idea a growl from the dragon's stomach is heard. A loud growl. "What is this noise?" asks Ophis looking at her stomach. "Is it part of Nyarlathotep's attack?" she asks to Elizabeth not knowing what hunger is.
"No Ophis, that feeling is called hunger. Do you want something to eat? I too don't require to eat like you are used to, but I found a liking to do it. Especially when it's Makoto's cooking we are talking about" tells Elizabeth finding a bit of herself in Ophis before the attendant met Makoto who taught her how to be human. "Makoto? I was searching for him" when Ophis says this Elizabeth frowns.
"For what reasons? may I ask" questions the woman in blue. "I wanted to recruit him. Vali said he is strong" replies the dragon making Elizabeth to sigh. "Oh The Star told you? That's reasonable. Here take this, I consider it my favourite food from human cuisine". Elizabeth offers Ophis a plate on which there are three fried meatballs. Ophis takes one of them and puts it into her mouth, her eyebrows twitch. "It's hot" she comments. "It's meant to be, they are called takoyaki" explains Elizabeth taking one of them for herself.
"I don't like it" says after some seconds of reflection on the taste Ophis and another growl of her stomach. "Oh truly? Perhaps something sweeter would be more to your taste" proposes Elizabeth searching for something else. "Sweet?" Ophis' eyes shine at the mention of it and looks enchanted at the jar of cookies Elizabeth puts on the table. "Yes, Rias gifted me these cookies". Ophis doesn't wait anything else and pulls out one cookie swiftly shoving it into her mouth. She munches it satisfied, taking bite after bite. "Are those cookies to your liking?" asks the attendant. Ophis nods her head, her mouth still full of cookie pieces.
"Thanks for the cookies. Now I go" says the dragon soon after she finishes eating. "I'm against that. I suggest you remain here, in your current state you are just an easy target for shadows" explains Elizabeth. "What are shadows?" comes the immediate question of Ophis. "Suppressed parts of one's psyché given form. Nyarlathotep himself is a shadow" briefly explains Elizabeth. "I still need to go" says Ophis exiting the Velvet Room, Elizabeth not forcing her stay.
However the Attendant still understands the importance of Ophis for the balance of the world, and she doesn't want to risk her becoming a potential Shadow Self in the future. So she opens the Persona Compendium to ask for help in keeping a close eye on the dragon. "Sun incarnate I humbly ask for your help to keep safe a lost soul" says Elizabeth before summoning Horus. Her call is answered by the Egyptian God, who enters the Velvet Room and illuminates the space around himself with his blinding golden aura.
"How may I be useful?" he asks, the voice of the god not coming from the beak of the golden falcon, his avatar, but from the air around it. Almost like it's the room itself speaking. "If you could maintain a watchful eye on Ophis, the girl who just left the Velvet Room, that would be ideal" explains Elizabeth. "It shall be done" answers the voice of Horus as the falcon disappears, becoming the dutiful guard of Ophis.
04/22/2012, Phenex Marquisate, Afternoon.
"Mr. Jun please have a sit. I was really hoping to encounter you, I hope the suit my son commissioned is worth of your talent" says a blonde man, an older version of Riser without his bratty aura around him. Blazalon Phenex, current head of the house and father of Riser, just invited Nyarlathotep to have a sit with him as he saw the shadow, obviously still disguised as 'Mr. Jun', on his way out of the Phenex Castle.
"To what do I owe your kind invite Lord Phenex?" asks Mr. Jun sitting on the fancy and soft sofa of one of the many tearooms of the castle. "I would love to speak of business with you Mr. Jun. My house has a great history of patronage of fashion. If you make a market research, you will soon find out that us, the great House of Phenex, own almost the entirety of the Underworld's fashion industry and not only that, all the arts are welcomed under our Clan's protection" explains Lord Phenex. "Do you want a glass of whiskey? I made it come directly from Avalon, it's one of their finest batches" he asks pouring the liquid inside two glasses and offering one to Nyarlathotep. "Thanks for your kindness I feel obliged, what proposal do you have in mind Lord Phenex?" asks Nyarlathotep, playing along and accepting the drink.
"I assume that being an independent tailor in the supernatural world must be expensive. I'm offering the patronage of the Phenex House to you Mr. Jun" replies Lord Phenex. "I'm honoured, but there is a reason why I'm independent. Politics isn't my field of competence and I fear they might ruin the quality of my work". As Nyarlathotep says so Lord Phenex smiles. "Oh, on that view we're similar. Even my house is a separate faction her in the Underworld. Yes, we support the New Satan regime, but we aren't affiliated with any of the political parties in the senate of Lilith" tells Blazalon.
"Oh really? That's quite the information to give someone like me my Lord" says Nyarlathotep. "I want to show you how much I appreciate your work. Cooperate with my House Mr. Jun, I promise only great profits" tells Blazalon, firmly believing no one in his right mind, especially an artisan like Mr. jun, would refuse such an offer. "That's tempting, still may I ask something my Lord?" asks Nyarlathotep. "Please ask me whatever you like". "Could I be invited to the marriage ceremony of Lord Riser? I'm sure I could meet someone who could be interested in hiring my services. Obviously it would firstly pass through the approval of the Phenex Clan if that is what you desire my lord" lies Nyarlathotep. "Just that? Consider it done, you are officially invited Mr. Jun. I hope our cooperation will be long and fruitful" says Lord Phenex shaking Nyarlathotep's hand.
This was an unexpected, yet welcomed, surprise for the Crawling Chaos. Now he could witness to the results of his Reverse Persona project without problems and under everyone's nose. In the meanwhile he can be sure nothing bad happens to the Priestess. Oh how much potential that ceremony has, his identity as Mr. Jun could really become something to be reckoned with. And who knows? Maybe he could sneak in the Universe's precious Confidants with it, way before his estimations.
'30th of April, I can't wait for it' thinks Nyarlathotep as he greets Lord Phenex. The 'Jester Plan', another fundamental step for Nyarlathotep's plan for submitting the Universe. By forming an irreplaceable bond with Makoto, Nyarlathotep could sway him much easier, manipulate him, using him to his advantage while destroying his only enemy. Yes, Philemon can send another one, another wildcard even the one who currently possesses Makoto's one, but there is only one Universe. 'We will have so much fun together Makoto, my other self, so much fun' thinks Nyarlathotep taking his leave.
04/22/2012, Yomi, Afternoon.
"Father you are back!" shouts Izanami hurrying to hug her father, in his normal human form, like a kid who didn't see her parents for long days. "How are the preparations for the Jester Plan going?" asks Nyarlathotep patting Izanami's head to make her free him from her embrace. "Wonderfully! Kagutsuchi will soon be reborn and Japan will be enveloped in flames and choked by ashes! I really hope to see someone like Tsukuyomi being burned like a witch at the stake! Oh the irony of it!" laughs Izanami. Nyarlathotep shakes his head.
"I told you many times already, Kagutsuchi will just be a reprimand for the Shinto Pantheon and a bait for the Universe. I will stop it as Jun Kurosu after all" says Nyarlathotep. "No fair" whines Izanami. "I want to butcher the japanese gods not save them! And moreover I don't want my Father to save them!" cries the Shadow goddess. "Don't throw a tantrum Izanami, you will have all the time in the world to torture them as much as you please. Just be patient and follow the plan. Take your time or else you will get bored in the future when they will all be dead" says Nyarlathotep, speaking to Izanami like a father teaching her daughter to savour her time and toys.
"Ok..." says Izanami, a bit saddened. Nyarlathotep puts his hand on Izanami's shoulder. "Izanami, don't make that face..." despite Nyarlathotep's words Izanami doesn't stop. "Fine" says the Crawling Chaos, in a rare sight of giving up. "When the 'incident' will happen I will let you take the life of one god, ok? Just not a major one and make it so that the Universe doesn't interfere". When Nyarlathotep says this Izanami's eyes shine and she hugs him. "Thank you so much Father! You are the best!" shouts excited Izanami. "Now I need to check on your brother, see you later Izanami" greets Nyarlathotep taking butterfly form and flying away.
04/22/2012, Underworld, Evening.
"Lord Beelzebub, Lord Asmodeus and Lady Leviathan are here as you requested" says a devil guard to Shalba who was sitting beside a desk in his office inside the Old Satan Faction headquarters. "Tell them I'll be soon in the throne room" says the Shadow. When the guard is gone Shalba spits on the ground with venom in his mouth. "How much I despise those two vermins... I want to smash their skulls and drink their blood! Foolish, arrogant and childish. And I should be their peer? This is the worst insult someone could ever say to me" says in utter disgust Shalba, clenching his fists as he thinks about his supposed colleagues and peers in the Old Satan Faction.
"Your hate is wonderful Shalba" says Nyarlathotep landing on his son's desk. "Father, what pleasure to see you. I guess you are here to reveal yourself as the new leader of the Khaos Brigade right?" asks Shalba. "Indeed, let us go dear son". Nyarlathotep takes his human form adjusts the monocle on his left eye and follows Shalba.
The throne room of the castle, located on the extreme edges of the borders of the Underworld far from anyone else, has four seats, reserved for the heads of the Satan houses: Lucifer, Beelzebub, Leviathan and Asmodeus. Although only two of them are being occupied. One by Katerea Leviathan, a tall bespectacled woman with tan skin, head of the Leviathan House and self-proclaimed Leviathan. The other one by Creusery Asmodeus, a man with black hair tied into a ponytail and pale skin with pointed ears, head of the Asmodeus House and self-proclaimed Asmodeus.
"Shalba, for what reasons have you requested us to meet?" asks Katerea as soon as Shalba is also present in the room. "Khaos Brigade is going through a little change. Ophis is no more. She has been substituted" states Shalba trying to fake a calm tone causing confusion in his two... colleagues. "Shalba, Ophis is naive and oblivious about the real state of beings, but she's still what we need to ensure we have enough power to bring down the traitors of the New Satans. I hate to admit it Shalba, but we still need her for some longer" says Creusery not understanding what the Beelzebub is saying.
"You are wrong Creusery. I'm not saying Ophis left, she has been defeated". Silence falls in the room before Katerea speaks up. "Shalba it isn't in your nature to joke. Why are you saying this?" she asks, despite the absurdity of his claim Katerea knows well Shalba... or at least she knows the former one and he wasn't one to say falsities as jokes. Especially he was not someone who joked about important things, even more if it was their crusade against the traitors they were talking about.
A new figure enters the room, Nyarlathotep shows himself in front of the other two Satan's descendants. "Greetings Katerea Leviathan, Creusery Asmodeus. My name is Nyarlathotep and I will be your new boss if you pass me the term. We could say Khaos Brigade is under a new management, my management" tells smirking the Crawling Chaos. "And who are you!? Guards take this peasant out of our sights!" growls Katerea, showing her aggressiveness now that someone who's not Creusery or Shalba is in front of her. An intruder, a mad one who dares to claim to be their 'boss'. Creusery spits at the sight of Nyarlathotep readying to execute him himself with a magic spell.
"Don't you dare to make a single step or I cut off your limbs and use you as paperweight for my desk" threatens Shalba when a squad of guards entered the room to take care of his Father. "Don't be so aggressive Shalba. Relax, I know well how to defend myself" jokes Nyarlathotep approaching Katerea and Creusery. "Shalba what are you doin-!?" tries to ask Katerea before the Beelzebub unleashes a deadly purple mist paralyzing the other two who look at the Beelzebub in shock, paralyzed by his power.
"Let's do again our presentations. My name is Nyarlathotep and this is my son, Shalba Beelzebub. I see in your eyes a certain hatred and... pain, not the physical type? Oh that's interesting" comments Nyarlathotep kneeling down in front of Katerea and Creusery who are writhing in pain desperately trying to breathe as Shalba's deadly poison envelopes them. "Sshhalba... T-traitor" mutters Creusery looking at the Shadow with fire in his eyes. Shalba walks closer to him standing right above his head. "Don't worry Creusery you will both live. You only need to be taught obedience to my Father and what better teacher than pain?" rhetorically asks Shalba taking the Asmodeus descendant by his neck.
"Good words Shalba. Pain is a great teacher indeed" says satisfied Nyarlathotep looking proudly as his son slowly tortures Creusery: melting his limbs with the corrosive mucus secreting from his true Shadow Body. A giant fly monster playing with his prey more like a spider than a normal fly. Creusery's shouts and screams are suffocated by the buzzing of Shalba's gigantic wings. "Where do you think you are running?" asks Nyarlathotep to Katerea who was crawling away as her arms and legs were still paralyzed by Shalba's poison.
Nyarlathotep takes Katerea by her hair slowly raising her. "You tried eating one of Ophis' snakes right? But they didn't give you any power, am I correct?" asks Nyarlathotep enjoying the desperation in Katerea's eyes. "Ophis' power. The power you relied so much on is gone. Or is better to say is mine now, not that I can do much about it". Nyarlathotep summons an orb in his palm, deep black like a bottomless ocean. "Here it is, inside this sphere an infinite amount of power is contained. How can I do it? Well, the omnipotent orb bends the rules of reality to protect his user and so it's creating an infinite space to store an infinite energy so that it doesn't harm me. Wonderful right?".
Nyarlathotep puts away his omnipotent orb and pins Katerea down on the ground by stepping on her while forcing her head to face Creusery as he slowly gets turned into paste. "Look closely Katerea Leviathan, usually I don't enjoy physical torture as much as psychological one, but seeing my own son indulging in his own nature and take his revenge on you is delightful. I am a proud father" tells Nyarlathotep enjoying Katerea's desperate tentatives to free herself. "Are you crying Katerea? Oh, treason hurts right? Did you really think my dear son considered you and Creusery as equals? Friends even? You made a great mistake Katerea Leviathan and that mistake was ignoring the reality of things. Just like you thought Ophis was oblivious of the true nature of things. It turns out so are you" says sadistically Nyarlathotep.
04/22/2012, Fifth Heaven, Evening.
The fifth floor of the heavenly realm is a giant land full of laboratories and research facilities, a reminder of its glorious past: when the angels weren't divided. A past before Lucifer's rebellion and the Great War. However hope isn't dead, a piece of news arrived to the ears of the Four Great Seraph. The Messiah exists. Michael, the current substitute of Yahweh is walking through the lively Fifth Heaven waiting to meet his former brother... Azazel. Michael is a tall blonde man, every glance someone would took at him would tell only one thing: peace and calm. His entire being radiate an aura of security for the children of the Lord and dread for his enemies, effect further improved by the golden halo above his head.
The 'Halo of Bliss', the signature power gifted to him by the God of the Bible granting Michael the power to strengthen the other angels like Yahweh could. It was thanks to this power that the angels didn't suffer more losses during the Great War and were able to minimise the damage. Obviously, not only angels were the ones affected by the power of this godly halo: granting boons to humans and banishing the evil were just some of the qualities of the gift Father almighty gave him.
Then something happens, when Michael has arrived to the former central house of the Grigori a light appears revealing Azazel, a bittersweet smile on the lips of the Governor General of the Grigori. It's not the first time in the last weeks that the Governor General of the fallens is able to teleport himself inside Heaven without triggering any alarm or being injured, but it still surprises Michael. "Michael, it's good to se you" says Azazel waving his head. Michael looks at his... former brother for some seconds, the doubt still in him. 'If I look at him... I see the old Azazel, the angel Azazel... the Messiah must be real uh? Oh Lord, oh Father almighty please guide me through your challenges' prays Michael a strange feeling of anxiety forming. 'Why am I feeling like this? Yeah obviously...'. The old tale Yahweh told him and Lucifer is becoming reality, God is dead. The world is on the verge of a total and devastating war that could make the Great War pale in comparison. Only a saviour can help them... an universal saviour who doesn't care about race, faith, power or anything else. The Messiah.
"Azazel, how are things doing?" asks Michael to ease himself. "Well, I must show you something!" tells the Governor General, with the excitement of a kid, as he takes out the Twinkle Aegis: the artificial Sacred Gear Makoto improved for him and Azazel fixed up. "One of your experiments?" asks Michael confused on why Azazel would be showing him something like this. "Better, take it. What is your first thought?". Azazel gives the shield to Michael, which brightens up when the angel takes it. "It... seems real. How is this possible? It is resonating with the Heaven System!? You managed to recreate a perfect Sacred Gear Azazel!" shouts Michael, even though his voice is barely louder than usual. "I did nothing. I merely brought it into balance; the Messiah made all the enhancements alone" replies the fallen.
"Incredible, simply incredible" murmurs Michael."You took the words out of my mouth" jokes Azazel with a small laugh. The two brothers stay in awkward silence for a couple of minutes looking at each others, not knowing what to say. "Do you think we can finally meet the Messiah?" asks Michael with hesitation. Normally he would have immediately rushed to his location as soon as he knew it, but after hearing what Azazel told he understood it was better to be cautious.
Firstly he lived in Kuoh Town, a city ruled by devils and not normal ones: the sisters of two of the current Satans. Azazel already risked to cause an incident when his 'Shadow' manifested. Secondly, the Messiah is a boy from what Azazel told him, not even an adult yet. Father would reprimand him if he dragged a boy into politics. And thirdly, even if he manages to sneak inside a devil town it's unthinkable that the Shinto faction would let one of the Great Seraph on japanese soil without a proper reason.
"I spoke with his attendant yesterday. The Messiah is out of town as of now" explains Azazel. "You mean the woman magician who assists him? Elizabeth right?". "Yes, her" says Azazel. "What about inviting her to Heaven? From what you said she's like the Messiah's right hand". Azazel nods his head. "Good idea". Before Azazel leaves the Fifth Heaven Michael addresses him once again. "Ehy Azazel, what about Kokabiel? Do you really fear he might go rogue?" asks the leader of Heaven. "I hope he doesn't, just to be sure I have sent spies to check on him 24/7" replies Azazel before greeting Michael one last time. "Be careful... brother" says barely above a whisper Michael causing Azazel to tear up a bit. "You are making me cry Michael. Ah! I wonder what the Old Man would say right now" wonders Azazel stopping right in front of the teleportation circle. "Hope lives on. That's what he would say, I'm certain" tells Michael. "Yeah... I lost all hope after I was banished from Heaven, after Lucifer's fall... but now I can see it again. Stay well Michael".