Chapter 5. The Challenge

Lucifer, the Morning Star, sat upon his throne, crafted from a single piece of glowing magma. His high-ranking demons, Beelzebub, Leviathan, and Asmodeus, stood before him, their eyes burning with fierce loyalty.

"The Angel of Death," Lucifer spat, his voice like a crack of thunder. "He's been a thorn in our side for far too long."

Beelzebub nodded, his massive frame trembling with rage. "We've tried everything to eliminate this imposter., my lord. But he always seems to find a way to defeat us. He is neither Azrael nor is he Michael, yet he bears the powers of both."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with strategy. "I want to know who he is," he growled. "I want to know what makes him tick."

Leviathan spoke up, his voice like a gentle breeze. "We've tried to gather intelligence, my lord. But this Angel of Death is a ghost. No one knows his true identity. Even before Baphomet was descended, this imposter said something confusing, more confusing than when Christians speak in tongues."

Asmodeus snarled, his sharp teeth glinting in the fiery light. "I say we launch a full-scale attack on the mortal realm. We'll find him, and we'll destroy him."

Lucifer shook his head, his fiery mane rustling with the motion. "No," he said, his voice firm. "We'll not play into his hands. We'll find another way to eliminate him."

Beelzebub spoke up, his voice filled with curiosity. "My lord, what do you propose?"

Lucifer's eyes gleamed with malevolent intent. "We'll use bait," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "We'll lure the Angel of Death into a trap, and then we'll strike."

The demons nodded, their faces twisted with cruel grins.

"And what bait do you propose, my lord?" Leviathan asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Lucifer's smile grew wider, his teeth glinting like razor-sharp knives. "We'll use something he cares about," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Something he'll not be able to resist."

The demons leaned in, their ears burning with anticipation.

"What is it, my lord?" Beelzebub asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucifer's eyes gleamed with triumph. "We'll use the boy," he said, his voice firm. "Ali, the young mortal who's helping the Angel of Death, it seems this Angel has some attachment to that mortal worm. We'll take him, and we'll use him as bait."

"Brilliant my Lord!" The demons all praised Lucifer.

"I know it's a perfect plan. But first, I have to visit the one who sits above. It seems he wants to play dirty by trying to interfere into the one thousand years allocated to me."

*

Beyond Earth.

Lucifer appeared before the throne of the Creator, his eyes blazing with defiance. The air was thick with tension as he gazed upon the Creator, his son, and the Archangels.

"You've been interfering in my rule on Earth," Lucifer accused, his voice dripping with venom. "You've sent an Angel of Death to kill my demons. Why?"

The Creator looked at Lucifer with a calm, serene expression, unmoved by the accusation. "Lucifer, my son, you must be mistaken. Azrael, the Angel of Death, is here in Heaven, and Archangel Michael is also by my side. You must be drunk to think I would send them to Earth to harm your precious demons."

Lucifer's face twisted in rage, his skin reddening with fury. "Don't lie to me!" he spat, his voice echoing through the halls of Heaven. "I know what I've seen. The Angel of Death has been killing my demons, and I know it's by your order."

The Creator sighed, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Lucifer, you were once my most trusted angel. But now, you're consumed by your own ambition and pride. You're seeing things that aren't there."

Lucifer snarled, his wings quivering with anger. "I'll show you," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "I'll show you all. You'll regret interfering in my rule."

Michael stepped forward, his eyes flashing with warning. "Lucifer, don't threaten the Creator," he said, his voice firm.

But Lucifer just laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You'll soon see," he said, his eyes glinting with malevolence. "You'll soon see the true extent of my power."

Gabriel spoke up, his voice filled with concern. "Lucifer, please, listen to reason. You're heading down a path of destruction."

Lucifer's gaze turned to Gabriel, his eyes blazing with contempt. "Reason?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "You want me to listen to reason? You, who have always been so quick to follow the Creator's orders without question?"

Raphael stepped forward, his eyes filled with compassion. "Lucifer, we're trying to help you. We're trying to bring you back from the brink of destruction."

But Lucifer just shook his head, his expression unyielding. "No," he said, his voice firm. "I'll never go back to being a servant. I'll never go back to being a slave."

The Creator spoke up, his voice filled with sorrow. "Lucifer, my son, you're breaking my heart. You're choosing a path that will lead to your own downfall."

Lucifer's gaze turned to the Creator, his eyes blazing with defiance. "I'll never go back," he repeated, his voice firm. "I'll never surrender."

The room fell silent, the tension between Lucifer and the Creator palpable.

Suddenly, Lucifer vanished into thin air, leaving the Creator and the Archangels to ponder the gravity of the situation.

The Creator sighed, his eyes filled with sorrow. "My son, Lucifer, has fallen far," he said, shaking his head.

Michael spoke up, his voice firm. "We must stop him, Father. We can't let him continue down this path."

The Creator's expression turned grave, his eyes filled with a deep sorrow. "My son, Lucifer, has fallen far," he said, shaking his head. "He was once my most trusted angel, but now he's consumed by his own ambition and pride."

Michael stepped forward, his voice firm. "We must stop him, Father. We can't let him continue down this path. He's a danger to himself and others."

Gabriel nodded in agreement. "Yes, Father. We can't let him destroy everything we've worked for."

Raphael spoke up, his voice filled with compassion. "But Father, we must also consider Lucifer's fate. He's still our brother, and we must try to save him from himself."

The Creator's expression turned thoughtful. "You're right, Raphael. We must try to save Lucifer, but we also can't let him continue to threaten the balance of Heaven and Earth."

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the halls of Heaven, followed by the sound of shattering glass. The Archangels turned to see a figure standing in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury.

"It's Lucifer," Michael said, his voice firm. "He's returned."

Lucifer's gaze swept the room, his eyes locking onto the Creator. "You think you can stop me?" he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You think you can defeat me?"

The Creator stood up, his expression calm. "Lucifer, my son, I don't want to defeat you. I want to save you."

Lucifer laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You can't save me," he said. "I'm beyond saving."

And with that, he vanished into thin air, leaving the Creator and the Archangels to ponder their next move.

"I seriously hope Michaelis can defeat Lucifer's demons and cut short his power." Gabriel said with worry.

"He certainly will, with the grudge he holds against the demons and the machines, we are certain of one thing; He won't back down till all the demons have been eradicated."