Chapter Fifty-One

In this universe, there exists a handful of artifacts that defy logic and reason. Tools that—if its user wished—could warp and change the very fabric of reality. They were the works of myths—legends—and not something suited for mortal eyes. Even in God's kingdom, their existence was kept a closely guarded secret. As, if just one of them fell into the wrong hands, it could spell disaster for all of creation. And now, sitting before him was one of these fabled items. "How can this be?!" Aeron cried out as he stared at the mystical device. "The objective you were talking about earlier, it was the Scale?!" he thought that it was still lost in the mortal realm! However, that couldn't be further from the truth.

"Correct, I had my best warlocks searching for it since the moment it went missing. And, just a few days ago, we discovered it resting atop a mountain in a mortal nation called India," Satan exclaimed as she reached out her hand and gently caressed the holy treasure. "It took everything my subordinates had to drag it back here; some of them still can't get out of bed. To think that this little thing was the cause of so much suffering. In a way, it's kind of comical." The Scale itself did exude a fantastic amount of power. But now that Aeron was close enough to get a good look at it, he saw that its appearance was far from stellar. Honestly, it was pretty ugly. The device's golden surface was covered in large dents and smudges. Several parts of it—especially the two silver weighing platforms—were covered in dirt and clay. Honestly, it looked as if it had been heavily neglected and misused. "I had the same expression when I first laid eyes on it. It's hard to believe that this decrepit little thing is the Almighty's Holy Scale."

"Yeah." He was at a loss for words. He didn't expect the infamous tool to look so beaten-up. "By the way," he mumbled as he reached out to touch the device. "You mentioned that it was God who threw the Scale down to Earth. How'd you figure that out?" Usually, he'd decry such an accusation as outrageous. But, at this point, he'd believe anything. Satan dug through her pockets and took out a small vial in response. Resting within sat a tiny clump of unassuming dirt. "That's…" Aeron squinted. That mud was oddly familiar.

"That speck of dust you brought me a few months ago probably broke off this very clump," the Demoness explained as she tossed him the vial. After catching it, he brought the glass container close and nearly gasped when he realized what he was staring at. The dirt—which looked just like regular old sediment—gave off a similar aura as the Holy Scale. "The particle of mud you found in the Bureau was probably too small to leave any noticeable traces of power. It would've seemed like regular old dirt from the mortal realm. However, as you can now see, it's anything but normal," Satan continued as she reached over and scratched one of the artifact's sides. Layers of grime—caked onto the tool's surface—broke off in large clumps. They fell to the marble table, instantly disintegrating once they touched the stone. "That dirt is practically bursting with God's holy power. And the only way I know of for such simple clay to gain this much magic is if Yahweh handled it himself."

"You got all that from some fistfuls of dirt? I've got to admit, that's quite impressive." Even if he spent years devoted to investigating the silt's aura, Aeron doubted that he'd be able to connect it back to the Almighty. This was a puzzle that only Satan could solve.

"Yes, that bastard threw his tool down to the mortals to stir up a little chaos. All for his personal entertainment. It makes me sick." As she spoke, Aeron felt a chill go down his spine. This realization must've been swimming through her head for quite some time. "We can't allow this to go on any longer. Yahweh might've created us, but we aren't toys. That's why—as of today—my comrades and I are starting a little rebellion."

"Your comrades? Rebellion? What are you talking about?" Satan just laughed and clapped her hands together in response to his query. "The hell?!" he cursed as he felt the ground beneath him start to shake. Suddenly, as if he were in a dream, the stone walls surrounding them began to rise like theatre curtains. Fiery red light poured in from the parted rock, revealing a sight that shocked Aeron to the core. Suddenly, he was surrounded by a gigantic army of armored Demons. They carried cursed weapons, and all their eyes were stained with a hunger for blood. They were ready for war—there was no doubt about that.

"As you can see, we've been preparing for this moment for quite a long time," the Demoness started as she hopped up onto the marble table, allowing the Demons' thunderous war cries to wash over her. "In the past, we could never dream of even attempting such a thing. Thanks to God's curse, we're all bound never to leave Hell or Purgatory's borders. But with this," she continued as she scooped up the Holy Scale and held it over her head. "With this tool, we can escape our prison. Soon, what was once nothing more than a fever dream will become a reality. Now, we can take the fight to the Almighty's doorstep."

"You've got to be kidding," Aeron whispered as he stared at the immense force of devils. Even with the Scale's power, this plan was simply idiotic. "You're talking about making Yahweh—the Universe's all-powerful lord—your enemy. If he wanted to, he could erase your little band in an instant. And, even if you did use the Scale to escape, you'd never be able to get a landing party onto his home turf." Demons weren't capable of resisting Heaven's immense strength. And if they couldn't do something as simple as that, then this rebellion would be over before it even began. However, yet again, he was far off the mark.

"Oh, Aeron, you're a strong warrior, but you still have much to learn," Satan started as she stared at her army. "God threw the Holy Scale down to Earth because he wanted this to happen. Take it from me; I know that bastard better than anyone. He wants to play war with us. After all, if that wasn't the case, then why are we still here?" Her explanation unnerved him, but, at the same time, he understood what the Demoness was trying to say.

"She does make a valid argument," he thought as he scratched his chin. "God hardly ever directly intervenes in matters such as this. Hell, it's because of that lack of motivation that the Bureau even exists in the first place. Honestly, he probably doesn't even see Satan as a threat. I bet that he views this rebellion as nothing more than a pebble in the road. Something that can be easily thrown aside for his amusement." If that were the case, then as Satan said, she wouldn't have to worry about God laying waste to their soldiers. However, that still left one massive problem for her to overcome. And that was the fact that they had no direct route to Heaven.

"Are you thinking about how I plan to get my armies to the Pearly Gates?" Satan asked. Aeron nodded. He wouldn't lie—the prospect intrigued him. In response, the Demoness scoffed and looked up at the blazing red sky. "Tell me, Mr. Weber. You're familiar with the Giants, correct?" He nodded. "Well then, in that case, you must know that they were the ones who laid the foundation of God's garden, right?" Yet again, Aeron nodded.

"You're planning on attacking the Giants' realm, aren't you?" When he asked that question, Satan grinned and tilted her head. It appeared that he'd hit a bullseye. All in all, it was a logical plan. The Giants were the ones who built Heaven. So, therefore, if anyone knew of another way into the realm, it'd be them. That said, it wouldn't be an easy path to take. "Are you certain about this? Giants are stubborn, and they won't go down without a fight. And, honestly, I don't think you have the numbers to force them to surrender." Sure, Satan's army was impressive, but it was far from being a realm-conquering war machine. All the soldiers had no experience with worlds besides Hell—they lacked the necessary knowledge. So, the possibility of them taking down even a weak Giant was relatively low. For them to succeed, they'd need some help. They required the aid of someone mighty, learned in the ways of the outer realms. They needed him.

"It appears that you've already figured out why Lady Satan invited you here, Mr. Weber," Dr. Leeson added as he strolled up to the two of them wearing a full suit of armor. Unlike the regular soldiers—whose armor was made of metal—his was crafted from solid gemstones. The Demon looked like a true general, and, in Aeron's opinion, the look suited him.

"Yes," the Demoness exclaimed as she dramatically turned to him and reached out her hand. "Aeron Weber, for our plan to succeed, we need your power. As a fellow fallen Angel, you are my kin. This war is our birthright, and I'd greatly appreciate your assistance. In return for your aid, I'll offer you anything, anything at all. Just name it and—" before Satan could finish speaking, Aeron lifted his hand and stopped her.

"Come on, Lady Satan, you already know what I want," he started as he tapped one of his fingers against the hilt of his blade. "You said you were watching me during my assault on Atlantis. So, therefore, you must know what I am. Zia Lombardi put it perfectly: I'm nothing more than an insane monster. Just give me something to pass the time, and I'll follow you to hell and back." Aeron also wanted a little payback for what God did to him. And, more than anything, he wanted to punish Yahweh for the suffering he put Zia through. If Satan would give him that chance, he'd join her, no questions asked. Even if that did mean going against the Bureau. And so, before the Demoness could utter another word, Aeron took her hand and shook it. From that point on, they would be birds of a feather. No longer would either one of them struggle alone in the shadows. For now, they were eagles reaching for the heavens. A new dawn was coming for the Universe, one that would be stained with blood. The days of peace and tranquility were over. Now, it was time for battle. With his allegiance secured, Satan smiled, turned to her subjects, lifted the Scale, and screamed.

"My children—ready your weapons—it's time to go to war!"