The tiny demon, seeing that Michael paused, took the chance to scamper off. Michael paid it no mind and turned to the source of the voice. He frowned at what he saw.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find decent staff down here?" said the one who stood before Michael.
The figure had waist-length silver hair streaked with black, molten yellow eyes with slitted pupils, and two ram-like horns curling from his forehead. His nails were clawed, his teeth razor-sharp, yet somehow, he managed to look sinfully handsome.
It was none other than Asmodeus.
"Politeness and decency are for decent people—not for vermin like you and your kind," Michael replied, his tone colder than a winter storm.
Asmodeus smirked.
"You wound me, Michael. Is that any way to talk to an old friend?"
"You lost the privilege of calling me 'friend' eons ago. Now enough with the chatter!"
Michael points his blade at Asmodeus.
"Where is he?!" he growled.
"Oh? So you aren't here to visit me?" Asmodeus said in a relaxed manner.
Michael's frown deepened. The sword he had pointed at Asmodeus erupted into golden flames.
"Where is he?" he asked again, this time with a far more threatening tone.
Asmodeus rolled his eyes.
"Fine. If you insist on being a rude guest, then I'll simply be an awful host," he said as he clenched his fists and set them ablaze with pinkish-blue flames.
Michael narrowed his eyes—and charged.
+ + +
Back in the dungeon, Gabriel paced his cell.
He had sensed the heavy angelic aura the moment it appeared. Relief washed over him. Heaven had sent someone to rescue him! Judging from the aura's potency, it was someone powerful.
Though all the demonic energy in the environment made it hard to determine who it was.
He waited quietly as the aura approached… but then frowned. It clashed with another aura—this one darker, sinister, and undoubtedly demonic. But to Gabriel's relief, the darker aura was weaker. It retreated—but curiously, it moved toward the dungeon.
Gabriel's heart skipped. It was getting closer, and closer, until—
BANG!
Something broke through a dungeon wall.
"Gabriel! There you are!"
The dust settled, revealing the unmistakable form of Michael.
"I'm sorry I didn't make it to you earlier. All the demonic energy in the atmosphere dampened your aura," Michael said, then paused. He looked around for a moment and shook his head. Asmodeus was nowhere to be found.
Gabriel smiled.
"There's no need for apologies. I'm just glad you're here. I knew Heaven would send someone powerful—but I wasn't expecting it to be you."
"Well, who else would it be?" Michael said as he sheathed his blade. "I ran into that traitor on my way here. Lumiel, I mean. He was foolish to challenge me—but thank Jehovah he did, because he inadvertently led me to you while trying to escape."
Michael approached the cell.
'Was it really unintentional?' Gabriel thought to himself.
Michael stretched out his hands to grab the bars.
"No, wai—" Gabriel tried to say, but Michael had already ripped them from the wall.
"You were saying something?" Michael asked, tossing the bars aside.
"Never mind," Gabriel muttered.
"Well, it's time to get out of this Godforsaken realm. A celebration in Heaven awaits your return, Gabriel. Best not to keep them waiting. Come, let's go."
Michael took off, Gabriel flying right behind him. The demons—paralyzed with fear from Michael's divine presence—didn't dare stop them. It didn't take long to fly out of the castle.
Michael's power protected Gabriel from the castle's flight-restricting spells. Within seconds, the two angels were millions of miles away.
As they neared the golden portal that had brought Michael here, Gabriel began to think.
Michael had said Asmodeus led him to the dungeon.
Was it really unintentional?
X X X
"I know it doesn't count as an apology, but I hope it can serve as a start."
X X X
Asmodeus had said that with such a warm expression.
Maybe he's not completely far gone. Maybe there's a little bit of Lumiel in there after all—
Gabriel didn't get to finish the thought before an intense pain shot through his back.
It was overwhelming. Mind-numbing.
He looked behind him—and saw an arrow lodged between his wings.
"Gabriel!" Michael yelled, catching him as he fell.
The sudden movement caused the flower on Gabriel's chest to fall—into Hell's unforgiving embrace.
As Michael carried him through the portal, Gabriel looked back.
He saw Asmodeus.
The demon held a bow. He waved—and smiled.
A cruel smirk on his face.
Light from the portal flooded Gabriel's eyes.
Then darkness wrapped around him.
And he lost consciousness.
+ + +
Arcadia, the once-mighty kingdom, was no more.
The king and his people didn't change.
So, as promised, the Almighty's judgment came.
Every single man, woman, child, and animal in the kingdom—dead.
For the worst sinners, their deaths were especially brutal.
What caused it?
Some say a plague.
Some say the Angel of Death came.
But regardless, one truth emerged:
Arcadia is lost.
Nearby kingdoms took its riches and land. Its glory—buried in the sands of time.
- - -
Back in Hell, Castle MorningStar stood proud as ever.
In her throne room sat Lilith.
She still wore the same bathrobe from earlier. Her ankle-length white hair and crystal horns gleamed under the room's lights. She lounged on a couch, attended by an incubus who massaged her feet, and a succubus who fed her grapes.
There was a knock on the door.
"Enter," Lilith said.
The door swung open.
A hulking demon entered—bull's head, leathery bat wings, and a scorpion tail. In his arms, he held a certain tiny demon.
The guard dropped the little creature onto the floor, bowed, and took his leave.
"M-M-Mistress Lilith! I beg of you! Mercy! Have mercy on me!" the tiny demon pleaded.
He had been caught trying to flee the castle—and dragged back.
Lilith had many rules for her subjects.
Chief among them: never abandon Castle MorningStar while it's under siege. Loyalty was paramount. The other was unflinching obedience.
"There, there, little one. I understand. You were afraid, weren't you?" Lilith said kindly.
She picked him up, placed him on her lap, and embraced him.
"Y-Yes, I was, Mistress. Please! Spare me!" the demon sobbed, melting into her embrace.
"Don't fret, I understand," she said gently, leaning in close.
Then, in a whisper:
"Unfortunately… I despise those who abandon me the most."
The demon didn't even get to scream before he crumbled into dust in her arms.
Lilith sighed and reclined on the couch. The succubus wiped the dust from her robe.
"My Queen, pardon my boldness," the succubus said. "But may I know why you helped that human kingdom rise to power? And why you captured the Messenger, only to make no effort to keep him?"
Lilith smirked.
She opened her palm.
A glowing white feather floated above it.
"Patience, my child. All will be revealed in good time…"