The Cruel World

Angel-X was an organization that has existed for the past 100 years, with the goal of slaying demons and bringing back the utopia known as Network-City. They've strived off of advanced technology that survived the nuclear warfare during World War 3; when mankind wiped out a majority of their population to extinguish the demonkind.

Ancient technology was the importance of Angel-X, and without it, they would be nothing. Demons were too powerful for your average human to handle—especially with conventional weaponry—these creatures were immune to everything of the Earthly plane and could endure nuclear heat.

That's why mankind invented the Universal Truth Network (UTN) chips, and inserted these circuits into one's brain at birth, giving them a UTN field.

This field acted as a personal space that used to surround all humans in Network-City. It envelops only a small amount of space around the user's body to a radius of more than two meters, whereas those who master their UTN Field are typically able to extend it to a circle with a 50-meter radius.

The form taken by a UTN field, and the effects it creates, will differ based on one's philosophy of life, or in other words, worldview. Everyone has a worldview, which is the idea that everyone lives in their own world. It is a collection of attitudes, values, stories, and expectations about the world around us, which inform our every thought and action.

Since the world depends on how a person chooses to perceive it, people with a UTN field can think of themselves as invincible, thus, making them invincible within their field. Or perceive the world as their playground, therefore granting them means of altering reality on a local scale.

Worldviews can change over time, which in return, alters the effects of their UTN field. Within each UTN field, laws differ from normal reality; changing physics, quantum mechanics, and even causality to the degree, based on their worldview of life.

UTN chips were common during the utopia of Network-City, however, this routine was lost after the World War, and now only members of Angel-X can use UTN fields. During the early 2,900's, UTN fields were limited by Network-City's government brainwashing people into believing one worldview, so they could benefit the society of their utopia—but now that's gone—and people in the new age are now born with their own philosophies of life.

"I'll show you not to fuck with me!"

A tall, muscular man, wearing shades and a futuristic outfit, was in a training room infested with demons of the lower class. Each one surrounded him, charging at the soldier like wild animals.

He could see their every movement—deciding to elbow one from behind and then kick another on his left. Others had weapons like swords and daggers—but he evaded each one with precision, and slammed his fist into their gut before they could even attack

"And who is this bag of meat?"

Watching from the second floor in a one-way mirror was Astaroth and Mikha'el; analyzing the fight below.

"His name is Uriel, one of my most powerful soldiers in Angel-X. His UTN field makes him a force to be reckoned with." Mikha'el took a cigarette from her business suit, igniting it with her lighter. "I'm certain that he could even take on one of the infamous Arch Demons."

Astaroth chuckled, rather calm and composed.

"An Arch Demon? Don't be ridiculous. You humans needed to invent the UTN chips in order to have a chance against a lower-class demon of Hell."

Mikha'el puffed on her cigarette—blowing smoke through her nose.

"That was one hundred years ago."

"Hm?" The demon rubbed underneath his chin in thought. "Are you saying you managed to enhance the potency of UTN fields during this Age of Demons?"

She side-eyed him.

"And what if I am?"

Astaroth looked out of the mirror, glancing at Uriel and his combat prowess.

"Then I suppose you humans are more dangerous than I thought."

Mikha'el laughed at his comment, finding it rather amusing.

"Bwa ha ha! As they say: a human's imagination has no limits."

"Yes indeed." Said the demon, crossing its arms. "Combining technology with the consciousness is mankind's best work as of yet."

"Mm." She nodded her head, ashing her cigarette with a smirk. "And I plan on improving our technology even more. Angel-X is the only organization in the world that has Network-City's ancient technology, so why not use it to its fullest potential?"

The demon smirked, glancing at Mikha'el with delight.

"As long as it benefits me, then nothing else really matters. I'm sure Satan will be most pleased with what I'm trying to do."

She turned away from the mirror, thumping her cigarette across the command room.

"I'm sure he will—you want Ishmael dead so Lucifer won't have to worry about his son getting in his way—you're ironically loyal for a demon."

Astaroth grinned, keeping his eyes on Uriel.

"Yes, If I kill Ishmael, then Lucifer will promote me to an even higher status than before, and I'll be rewarded with a large portion of souls."

"How greedy. It's very fitting for you creatures of sin."

"There's nothing more lovely than the Sin of Greed, Mikha'el, I'm sure you can understand that much, no?"

She lowered her head, frowning at his comment; Astaroth managed to get under her skin with relative ease.

"You're helping me, and in return; I'll awaken your Sheolplasm without the downside of Eternal Damnation."

"You know damn well why I'm trying to obtain magic—so don't act like a fool—and bunch me in with your kind."

"Oh?" Astaroth turned to face the woman, grinning with sadistic delight. "Are you really trying to learn Sheolplasm to save your family from Hell, or is it for power?"

Mikha'el balled her fist, and bit her tongue, halting herself from acting irrationally. She knew that demons were the biggest manipulators, even putting the likes of Steve Bannon, and Joseph Goebbels to shame.

"It's for my family…" She dithered in her words but lifted her head with eyes of determination. "They all died by the hands of a demon, and are now suffering in Hell. It's unjustifiable for them to be in endless pain when they were good people, that's why I'll be the one to save them."

"And you can only do that with magic, hm?"

She turned to face the demon, widening her eyes in question.

"Are you implying that there are other ways for me to save them?"

"Kuhuhu!" Astaroth cackled. "I'm afraid not, Mikha'el. Humankind is in the Dark Ages again, and God has left all of you; so there is no "justice" or protection. Lucifer is the ruler of this universe, and evil triumphs all. If you want to get what you desire, then you must commit sin."

She frowned, gritting her teeth with hints of hopelessness. The only way she could get what she wanted was by using evil, and she knew that clear as day.

But there was one way—

One way to avoid committing sin in order to get what you desire, and that was with the Holy Bible.

King James, Darby, Tyndale, and many other versions of the Bible were wiped off the face of the Earth by demonkind, however, there was one that remained.

This one Bible was speculated to exist by the human collective, but there was never any proof of that; only a fairytale, or maybe even delusion to ease the despair of this demonic age.

Humans usually invent stories with hope and ambition as coping mechanisms for the cruel world, knowing the horrors of reality. Some often believe these stories to be true; living a life of delusion to prevent nihilism of many kinds.

The several million last remaining humans only wished for the best. They were tired of being cattle, slaves to the demons, and lambs of sacrifice. They wanted Justice—and that could only be obtained by the Will of God—and by his Divine Book.

"Next week I'll have my men ready to hunt this Ishmael hybrid, and then you'll fulfill your end of the bargain. Is that understood?"

Astaroth nodded his head, grateful for the assistance.

"Most indeed—I thank you for your help—just don't fail me this time around. You wouldn't want me showing you the Sin of Wrath, do you?" He chuckled as hellfire surrounded his body, flapping his cape from an intense wind. "I'll see you till then, Mikha'el." A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, transporting him back to the pits of Hell.

Mikha'el was left standing there, feeling the tension leave as she balled her fists and punched the wall. She nearly broke her hand out of anger.

"Son of a bitch! These demons deserve to pay! Every last one of them! But what choice do I have? The only way I can save my family is with magic!!" She closed her eyes, falling to her knees in exhaustion. "I have to keep trying, there are no other options in this world but evil."