Hordes of demons congregated before a towering structure crowned with a single balcony. The air was thick with snarls, growls, and restless anticipation. Among the masses, six palanquins stood out, each carrying one of the princes.
This must be good, Satan thought, peering through the veil of his palanquin.
"I wonder why Lucifer has summoned us all," Belphegor muttered as he stepped out, stretching lazily, his ram-like horns scraping the air.
"Six hundred and sixty-six legions gathered in one place… Luci, you'd better have something spectacular planned," Beelzebub said, trembling with manic excitement inside his palanquin.
Such a waste of time, Mammon thought bitterly.
Lucifer is a piece of work, summoning us like this. What else could one expect from a fallen angel? Asmodeus mused, draped in women, his tone dripping with disdain.
How dare he summon me! Lucifer forgets himself. We princes are equals. Hell has no king, Abaddon seethed as he stepped out, his glare fixed on the balcony.
The horde grew restless, snarls echoing as they awaited movement. Then, two figures emerged onto the balcony — Valefor and Barbatos. The crowd erupted in chants.
"VALEFOR!"
"BARBATOS!"
The two stood calmly, smiling as they turned toward the entrance.
Ukobathan, lost in the sea of demons, stared in awe at how revered the Ars Goetia were. Then, the noise reached a fever pitch as another figure stepped forward.
"LORD LUCIFER!" the horde roared.
Lucifer strode to the edge of the balcony, then leapt. Gasps turned to thunderous cheers as vast black wings — twenty feet in length — unfurled from his back. He soared above the horde, their chants shaking the earth.
On the balcony, Lenen joined Valefor and Barbatos. "Lord Lucifer is truly incredible," he whispered.
"It is why we follow him," Barbatos replied.
Lucifer landed once more, wings folding behind him. He raised his voice, and silence fell instantly.
"Horde!" he thundered.
"We march for Tarth in one hour. All of us. Peace with humans has made us forget ourselves. They hunt us as prey. Mothers no longer whisper our names in fear. Fathers walk boldly into the night. Even I have grown complacent. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN OURSELVES!"
Growls and snarls erupted from the horde, bloodlust rekindled.
"In Tarth, we will kill everything. Blood will flow, and our legacy will be reborn. Those who fear war may stay behind — but when we return, may whatever higher power they cling to show them mercy, for we demons shall not!"
The horde roared, the sound deafening.
That is how a demon speaks, Satan thought, grinning.
"NOW! Let us reclaim ourselves. PREPARE! We march not only to Tarth — WE MARCH TOWARDS OURSELVES!" Lucifer bellowed.
The horde erupted in frenzy, Ukobathan roaring with them, his blood ignited. Behind Lucifer, Lenen's eyes glowed red, his bloodlust directed at his lord.
Lucifer… this changes everything, Lenen thought. Valefor noticed, a sly smile curling on his lips.
"Horde! You heard the man! Mobilize!" Satan commanded. The horde scattered, preparing for war.
Abaddon lingered, his gaze locked on Lucifer. Satan approached. "Abaddon. We depart in an hour. What say you?"
Abaddon snarled. "I come not out of fear of you or that glorified angel. I come because my demons crave blood." He turned and walked away.
On the balcony, Lenen clenched his teeth. "My lord, all-out war was not the plan. Lilith is our enemy."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "Lilith is our enemy, true. But what value does human life hold to us? I avoided war to minimize casualties, but demons live for destruction. Who am I to deny them?"
Valefor smirked. "You seem troubled by human lives, Lenen. Perhaps you are more like your namesake than you admit."
Lenen reeled back his bloodlust, masking it with calm. "Absolutely not. I simply dislike sudden changes. Forgive my insolence, my lord."
Valefor's smile faded into suspicion. This boy… far more dangerous than I thought. A true monster, his fangs already close to my lord. I must bide my time until he bares them.
Lucifer nodded. "You did nothing wrong, young one. Now prepare for departure."
"Yes, my lord," Lenen replied, leaving.
As the legions mobilized, Ukobathan searched for his unit. His crimson armor marked him as part of Satan's inner circle, a prospect for the inner guard. He spotted his brother atop a rock, clad in golden armor, his gaze cold and calculating.
Ukobathan leapt up beside him. "Look how far we've climbed. In a hundred years, we might even be hands."
"In a hundred years?" Lenen's voice was calm, detached. "There will be no hands. The seven will be plucked from the root and stem. Demon hierarchy breeds endless war. The only way to minimize loss of life is to disperse the horde."
Ukobathan's eyes widened. "Lenen… what do you mean?"
"I will remove the seven. I will collapse demon civilization. I will destroy what I must — demon or human — to protect life. Brother, be ready. Tarth will be bloodier than any of us can imagine." Lenen tapped his shoulder and walked past.
Ukobathan trembled. Why am I shaking? Why do I fear my brother? Why does it feel like if I speak of this, I will die?
"Damn it… Lenen, I'll stop you. I'll save the horde," Ukobathan whispered, forcing himself to turn.
Lenen glanced back, his voice calm, chilling. "I respect your conviction. Then kill me in Tarth." He leapt down, leaving Ukobathan alone, shaking atop the rock.