Pride, Steps and Trickery

"And according to me, I don't explain your position, powers, to whom shall you bow or trample, and the knowledge given to you might already have every answer but, even so, I am obliged to ask, Are there any questions?" 'asked' Empra.

The overpowered creatures who just woke up were looking at Empra quite normally not like one would after they got disrespected or in the presence of higher beings such as angels.

After, a few tens of seconds of staring, Gabriel and Raphael noticed that these creations who woke up looked at Archangels quite disrespectfully, not with hostility but in ignorance as archangels were just lesser amusing beings.

The shimmering blue-green scaled Jormungandr, with a single horn on his head and two legs and numerous fins on his body, The Midgard serpent, is said to be long enough to wrap the whole Heaven three times, with indestructible scales that even void can't destroy, this time looked to be quite underwhelming being just as long as an average old banyan tree.

The eight-headed headed Hydra, called Orochi, with its magnificent blackish-gray scales and red eyes, known for his nigh-immortality standing proud with his long eight necks, currently was probably the most humongous among them all today,

It also had demon-like white reverse membranous wings and an incredibly long scaly tail, it's scales were spike-like, pointed away from his head toward its tail which at the tip was also had a magnificent spike with purple eyes and shining insides whenever it opened its mouth.

Phoenix, Ash, is the legendary fiery bird, two pairs of wings blazing with blue-fire with ice base and golden beak and legs, that is just enough to describe his magnificence as the second most beautiful of Ashuras alongside the Griffin, also a true immortal.

Griffin, Nowai, what to say about her, the most beautiful of Ashuras with white head embedded with a golden ruby with a colorful body to be exact colorful typical eagle-lion body.

Tiamat, the mother of all spirits, all the spirits were created from her body when she wasn't awakened, the one with all elemental manipulations except for the most exquisite ones.

Wukong, the monkey Hanu, the father of all Vanars, The greatest of martial artists, had two extremely long and thin golden horns with black hints, ruling over his race with a great golden dragon staff and a beacon of great physical strength and energy radiating from him any second and looked quite irritated.

And finally the great pitch-black dragon, the Vasuki with a gem in his heart, and blue fire radiating from him only one looking down on archangels.

And you know that got on nerves of the proud archangels of God.

But even so, Gabriel talked to them sweetly while

Empra knew 'someone's pride should be destroyed today for good.'

"Are you confused? We will guide you to king later, please first see around the heavens as you like but, first don't you think you shall offer us some respect."

"The great dragon Vasuki if you acknowledge us as equals then it is okay but, if you look down on us, you shall know the consequences!!!" said Gabriel quite irritated after everyone moved exception being Vasuki and daemons who had no orders.

"In case, you wonder, Why aren't I, Vasuki, am not bowing to you, There is only one answer that can exist that is because you aren't worthy enough, the only one I would bow to his majesty of High Heavens,"

"If I bow to three of you fellows it would be holding you in the same regard as the king."

said the reptile-scaled, large-necked, membranous-winged, colossal dragon with spikes all over his body keeping his head just above the three angels gave a 'reasonable' excuse.

"As proud as ever, the dragons of Azathoth," commented Empra.

"The great angel Empra who alone held and pushed the frontlines of the Almighty in the great war of Aeons after Arcuthas were corrupted, but remember your bravery is a plaything in the eyes of Aeons, so think a thousand times, before the name of an honorable Aeon cames out mouth with disrespect, otherwise you shall know the wrath of an almighty equal, then you shall remember that God isn't the only one absolute in the heavens anymore."

The other Ashuras didn't even talk to them and directly went to search for their king,

The monkey king Hanu, summoned a mist after spinning his staff and rode on it to leave.

While Hydra, Griffin, Tiamat flew and Jormungandr slithered away silently.

While Vasuki flapped his huge wings blowing wind all over around going onto the same quest.

While three angels were dazed a Daemon came forward and said "Is there anything our daemons can help with?" with a quiet, low voice but still heard by everyone.

"Even if through knowledge, we found out that we can't use magic we still have our physical strength so, please don't shy away from asking us for help," said Daemon who later smiled.

"May we know your name?" said Raph.

"It's Mulcifier, the passionate architect," said Daemon with his smile widening like he liked talking with Raph.

"Oh, Is that so?, Wait for a few moments we will finish our task here I will ask you daemons to build a home and lab pieces of equipment around here, materials will be provided by Gabi," said Raph.

At first, Mulcifier was a bit confused about who was Gabi but later he understood that only G on the angel's side was Gabriel.

The demons went away following Mulcifier to look around the heavens with Mulcifier going mad over the wonderful architecture buildings of Heaven.

************************

A year ago, Michael and Helel stepped inside the gate that would lead to the pocket dimension which serves as the chamber of Aeons in the shadow realm.

They walked just straight inside the portal for about 3 minutes they both started to feel uncomfortable but maintained a poker face.

Soon, they saw a black light, How did they find the light in such a shadow black portal well, the light was darker than the shadow.

They walked toward the black light.

As soon as, they took the first step toward the blacklight, they felt immense pressure on them like it wanted them to bow to the ground but, twin Archangels weren't easy, they continued to walk towards the blacklight, with every step the pressure on them increased by a thousand folds.

Michael's back slowly started to bend a little after the seventh step while Helel was standing as tall as ever like pressure didn't even affect him.

Both looked forward toward the light all the time soon Michael fell completely to the ground on the eleventh step while Helel still standing tall.

Helel said to Michael without turning back in a shaky voice "Crawl if you can... You have to do it as my brother...just two more"

Helel continued to move forward without looking back at Michael in despair and difficulty soon Helel's two steps were completed, it felt like an eternity.

The pressure on Helel disappeared.

He turned back and said in a tired shaky voice.

"Come on, you can do it... Michael, remember just two more..."

Michael gathered his strength and looked below that the shadow formed a sticky clay-like layer and Michael was sinking in with pressure.

He then put his fingers in the clay in front and inclined his body forward and started pulling himself.

He started coughing up blood which was quite rare for an angel.

Soon, he crossed the distance that can be counted as two steps.

"Good, now let's move forward," said Helel extending his hand toward Michael who took it and stood up.

"So now what? Wait what's THAT!!!" screamed Michael.

Helel did not get to answer, not like he knew.

The black light came and swallowed them like a flood soon, they figured out it was the flood of more potent 'clay' called the shadow matter.

******************************

"Good job Mulci," said Belphegor.

"Lord, will you have me accompany your next invention for this command?" said Mulcifier.

" can watch as long, don't disturb me..." said Belphegor lazily.

'Belphegor, the demon of Sloth, so he commanded Mulcifier to talk to us' thought Empra who was following daemons.

'Is it due to his laziness or something else,' he thought but, later shook his head and returned.

As soon as Empra was out of range, a daemon said "He is now gone."

"Angels are cautious, they really followed us, as expected of our leader, the great Satan, the sin of wrath, to predict this," flattered a random fanatic daemon.

"But, why are we hiding like we did something illegal???" asked a daemon confused.

"Does it matter, he has no right to violate our privacy..." said another daemon.

"Don't speak otherwise you will alert Archangel Gabriel for nothing." said the first daemon who gave the news of Empra going away.

"We know archdemon Beelzebub, cut us some slacks." said the Mephistopheles, the archdemon of Hatred and Trickery.