Chapter 373: All is Gone

An infernal landscape, one that housed every evil imaginable. Demons of all shapes and sizes that tried to either attack, consume, or weaponize each other. The Mask's grin grew wider as Jesta demonstrated how Hell itself worked, with each one being an interpretation to someone within the realm. One would be nothing but lava and claws that try to tear them apart, another would be a vacant void that holds a false imitation of an angel. One would be a bustling city constantly trying to kill one another, another would be a false Garden of Eden, the sinners forced to boil in a sea of blood. Within each interpretation, one factor still remained: Satan. The demon that originated Hell as he laid imprisoned. It grunts and snorts as it tries to sleep, ignoring the unholy chorus of cries and screams from the damned, each realm, each interpretation, even, being louder than the last. From the very universes of hell, however, one would always keep him awake. That very thing is what came down to the pit, as the prideful angel he really is.

Lucifer.

"What do you want..." A deep growl bellowed from the beast, its prison shifting, the tendrils trying to keep itself contained.

"Sin has tarnished our fruit. Our humans have been corrupted. Was this your doing?" The Angel asked, brandishing his blade as he stared at the very evil being before his eyes.

"Thousands of souls have come and gone, you may need to be specific with your little findings."

"Don't play coy with me! YOU are the one who's been punished by God! As by my blade, I will make sure to rend you out of existence and-"

"And what? So that the Angels would think of you as a Hero?" The question dug deep into the Morningstar's heart, his ego quickly broken. A face of rage was made as he tried to lift his blade, yet Satan merely raised his head, anticipating the sword, as he continued to speak. "If you truly wish to play Hero, you would've saved them first. Could've found the antidote. Could've offered it to them, and THEN people would start praising you." His words were acting as an intoxicating drug, prompting the children watching to shout for the Angel of Pride to not take such a request.

Alas, it was merely a recording of that very day.

"You....You actually think I can save them?"

"Of course. You correctly deduced it was in Hell that tainted the food. Makes sense that there would be an antidote here." The eye of the Demon squinted, as if it was smiling in joy, as it already got Lucifer by his heart. The prideful figure can't help but laugh as he'd feel himself, taking up the monster's offer. Throughout his time there, learning about hell and its confines, as well as utilizing it to strengthen himself as means to boast about his title as an Angel, his body became a mess. His build now skeleton-like, starved down to his ribs, his arms and legs lengthened. What was once a cross on his tongue became inverted, his eyes bulging and bleeding tears down his face. His weapons were rusted to time, now outfitted with two red blades, curved like scimitars in order to get a better cut. His wings bore no feathers, only bone, his teeth rotten and made into screws. As the Angel of Pride got corrupted, the barrier between the human world and hell were being thinner and thinner, his knowledge funneling to let him break free.

All so that he can go to heaven and gloat about his newfound discovery.

Then, it arrived. The day where demons wrecked havoc and damaged Earth as they knew it. Monsters that tried to consume what they can, kill whoever gets in their way, breed a new legacy for themselves. Seven specific demons served to lead this new legion. Seven Demons dubbed as Hell's own gods.

Asmodeus, The Passionate Hunter, large in size with multiple dragons out of his body. A Living hydra that burned whatever was in its radius, as the warlock deemed it so.

Beelzebub, the Gluttonous Insect, once a mass of Mosquitos, now a black sphere with a massive maw, eating down forests worth of meat, grass, and mushrooms.

Mammon, the Infectious Greed, a crystalized shard of jewelry that plagued the people, the gemstone growing out of their body, turning them into parasites that followed the Demon's will. A cavern that always brings the sick in and grant them its treasures.

Belphegor, The Cloth of Sloth, A mass of hands underneath a green cloak, towering in size akin to Khepros, such hands reaching out to grab and strangle whatever it wants, before returning in its slumber after its fill was reached.

Leviathan, the Serpent of Envy, the snake that used the ocean as its jaw, akin to the world eater itself, Jormungandr. Ships and Islands fell victim to its ravenous appetite whenever it traversed the waters, its silver eyes gleaming with the smiling sun.

Satan and Lucifer, the two that started it all. All seven of them made a mess within Earth as they stomped about, forcing the Humans to retaliate with whatever they had, with one person in its wake. A man in a three piece suit of white and silver, a top hat, and boots. A man with a deck of cards that fought the demons back. Solomon and Harvard recognized him, prompting Jesta to laugh a bit. "Well, how was it? How does it feel, seeing my previous life. I was quite stunning for a man my age, hmm?" He'd ask, causing the two to stare at him in shock, the demons beside them being curious.

"He's the guy who saved humanity before...." Harvard whispered, recalling his time in the tower. Zazel and Stolas would be just as surprised, looking towards Jesta and the man in question. Their body shape was similar, and the factor he knew about the cards were just as enough evidence. From here, the rest was history. With the Codex Machina, the man would thwart each and every one of the Seven demons back, a personal war against hell, whilst Lucifer soared to the skies and made well good on his demand. Angels whispered amongst one another as the Prideful Monster laughed, right in front of His face no less.

"I DEFY YOU, GOD!! YOU COULDN'T LET THEM ADVANCE! YOU COULDN'T LET THEM REACH THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL!! BUT I HAVE SEEN IT! I HAVE SEEN HOW THEY CAN WEAPONIZE THEIR HOPE! THEIR DREAMS! I HAVE SEEN THEIR GROWTH! YOU HAVE HELD THEM BACK FOR FAR TOO LONG, GOD!!! IT'S TIME I TAKE THAT THRONE AND TRULY GIVE THEM WHAT THEY TRULY LONGED FOR! A GIFT TO SUPPLY THEM WITH ENDLESS PLEASURES AS THANKS FOR PROVING THAT I! WAS! RIGHT!!!" He'd shriek.

"He's gone mad...."

"What happened to him...?"

"His ego is too much..."

"Dear Heaven...."

"He is an Angel no more!"

"Look at his pale figure!"

"His teeth....his wings....his eyes..."

"It's HIDEOUS!!"

"Kick him out of the gates NOW!" 

"BANISH HIM! He does not seek reason anymore!"

Angels left and right were chanting and demanding his exit, yet He stood there in silence. He stared down at his own kin, seeing through what he was. When he saw he was forever tarnished, He was left with no other choice.

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

The first of many erasures, followed by the erasure of the six 'Gods' for hell, a paradise once more for the creations the Lord has made. The screen would fade to black as the last sight they would see is of his creations cheering, proud that they were able to survive against the wrath of such demons.