亚洲综合中美

“There it is,” he took in the cathedral, a lonesome structure, massive and study, perched upon the gentle hill. Makina gasped at the task. ‘Are we climbing?’ said her not-so-subtle expression.

‘I barely feel anyone,’ they entered the compound after a short walk. Makina turned pink, and her fatigue and irritation were square across her forehead.

“Go take a rest,” said Staxius.

“Understood,” she looked over and noticed a pretty garden lined with beautiful statues and benches. A mild stream skipped along the hedges. For a place of worship, the sense of relief and relaxation was true. A feeling Staxius narrowly escaped. Attendants dressed in white robes lined with golden stripes came to with lowered gazes and respectful tone, “-lord Igna, we’ve been expecting you.”

“…”

“Please follow us,” they said.

He glanced at Makina, she met his gaze and nodded. ‘-The time has come,’ he straightened his tie and gave the go-ahead. They went through an unchanging hallway spaced by arched windows. Shade heavily muted the corners. The walls hung empty canvases – empty armor stands and close to nothing of wealth or prestige. ‘-Put these men against the religious brokers’ home who bathe in wealth and indulges – I’d imagine a church to a demon to be decadent. How good it feels to know paradox are the living bane of existence.’ The robed guides paused at a singular room. Lights sparsely lit anything – a torch bravely coughed, like the sick trying to live, to yield what little light it held. The waves cast broadened an atmosphere of intrigue and mysticism.

“We have arrived,” said the attendant.

.....

‘Suppose I go at it alone,’ he reached for the handle and pushed. A burst of pure energy blasted. The sheer gust shook his suit, the robed figures hung to their outfit to the dismay of their rather revealing leggings and undergarments. *Snap* the pressure died, he took a large step, “-quite the introduction.”

A simple desk and table. No furniture nor windows – more of an interrogation cell by how an amber flame hung over the stranger, “-one worthy of the man who’s on the cusp of becoming the devil.”

“Who are you?”

“Who am I?” hands moved openly, “-I was under the assumption that you were smart.”

“Intelligence is subjective. I’m not opposed to a riddle.”

“I don’t much care for wasting time,” they sighed, “-I will say this much, I am one to represent Leviathan in his affair, I am, in fact, the heir to his throne.”

“Memphe, care to drop the act?”

The chair spun. A glistening expression sustained; “-you’ve figured me out?”

“Perhaps I have?”

“Please give me a good explanation, else, I might do something unkind to the one thee seek.”

“I wouldn’t say it was a confirmed guess. Think of it as a gamble. There are but a few people who know what I am, or what my goal is. I make it a priority to switch the stories depending on the person. Thus, depending on who I interact – little details I allow to escape become an identifier for said person. As a great author once said, the devil is in the details.”

“Consider me impressed.”

“No, I consider you an enemy. I demand an audience with Leviathan.”

“On one condition.”

“Speak.”

“As we chat, an army of considerable size has advanced on our land in Draebala. The work of the annoying Artanos, supreme leader of the Titan army. We crumble, Hell’s legion is no longer united. Such was the fate we sought, alas, there’s naught to gain. Our advantage of mutual understanding and goals has been flipped. The council alienates the kings, and the kings strive to conquer – like my father when it came to Ragno. A simple miscalculation on his part, I wonder how long he’d take to understand the one ruling Ragno is not a man to be taken easily. Before you ask any questions, Igna, here are my reasons for coming to you. You’re plenty strong and are not bound to our preconceived notions. Unlike me, inherent unbias is an asset. Satan and Leviathan have been allies since the very beginning. Leviathan’s always had a clear advantage over Satan, such the reason why his influence has grown within the last century. The growth came at the cost of relations with the council, who I’ve reminded him countless times, are the true entities able to unify the realms. He doesn’t listen,” she interlocked her fingers and rested her elbows on the desk, “-tis a matter of give and take. Take back the stolen land and I promise the safe return of Sathanas.”

“A contract.”

“No need for such extremes,” she clapped, a side door pulsed into reality, “-release her.”

A battered and skinny lass fell onto the harsh ground. The rags barely covered her skin, and her hair, once gorgeous, was cut haphazardly. Dark circles, darker lips, and pale complexion, “-Sathanas,” she said, “-I won’t apologize for how we treat prisoners,” Memphe’s appearance changed. Goat horns grew, and her breast enlarged as did her whole body. The complexion went tan, her eyes turned a shade of brown as did her hair. There was power in her breath, an intensity rivaling those of deities. “My name’s Enfia L. Leviathan. I am the first daughter to serve my father, I am the first in line and the one to succeed his throne.”

“Teresa?”

“The youngest girl within our household. I had her be the head, in name alone. Leading from the shadows is most convenient when one redirects unwanted attention. If I were to ask you, I’d have a book on the subject, isn’t that right?”

“Quite the mistake,” he walked past Sathanas and stood over the table, “-I can take her straight out the main door without batting an eye. You wouldn’t have the strength or power to stop my advance. I say this with confidence, there’s none able to beat me in a battle.”

“Yes, yes, I don’t doubt that statement. Well, that’s like a nuke, isn’t it? big and powerful, used once and discarded after. Does such a thing reflect upon thee?”

“…”

“You’re a smart man, Igna.”

“…”

“Threats won’t give any information. I’m used to strongarm tactics.”

“If strong arms won’t work,” he pulled a chair and sat, kicking his feet over the table and lighting a cigarette, “-give me the details of your plan. If it sounds interesting, I wouldn’t be opposed to signing a contract.”

“HA-HA-HA-HA,” she coughed, “-my type of man.”

“I go people over the consenting age, thank you for the advance.”

“Bro, I’m over a hundred years old.”

“Bro?” he puffed, “-still too young for me,” he snickered, “-no more pleasantries. Tell me, Enfia L. Leviathan, what is it you wish?”

She got up and walked to the center of the room. There, with Staxius’s chair turned 180 decrees, she clapped. The walls turned doorways from where robed attendants entered the area, “-Devil,” she undid one of her buttons and stripped to nude, “-I offer myself and my attendants as payment for one task,” she knelt, “-please, annihilate the heavenly faction. You’re the one we’ve sought after, lord Adjudicator. We are emissaries who serve under thee, my liege.”

“We’re your servants,” they echoed.

“Enfia, explain.”

“My liege. It’s a well-kept secret of the Devil’s true identity. He is the true harbinger of death and destruction, a destroyer. The heavens refer to him as the ultimate judge, the Adjudicator. A man unbiased with power that is peerless in nature. The one tasked with a fundamental choice of life and death. Our reality has strayed from the path of life and death – the gullible gods and their thirst have led to your awakening. You can say, your birth has been our plan since the beginning. My words are grand – it’s not so. We’re humble followers who’ve vowed to serve the true master of hell. This cathedral was built in your honor. No one knows why or to whom it praises, I made certain it remained a secret. Lucifer knew the truth, he and I were friends. Though he and father never saw eye to eye, we had mutual admiration toward the Cursed King. To obtain what we sought, evil needed to thrive. Samael wouldn’t have revolted if the gods kept to themselves. He became evil and prideful in order to seek the true judge, to find you. He accomplished his task… well, it was sad to see such a man turn a cloud of his ideals. I chose to stand at his side. Before I realized it, we were here and you were amidst our presence. I led my father to attack and baited Artanos with what he desired. I abducted Sathanas in her goodwill visit to her father – he would have accepted her offer if I hadn’t been there. Too bad, I was ready to strike and in my quest, hurt more than I wished. The ends justify the means,” she widened her arms, “-I gladly offer my life and soul as repentance. The cathedral was built on the vestige of the great war. The cellar hides a room accessed only by one.”

“The cathedral houses a room accessed by the one who made it. you and your servants are one to serve me, and to said end, are willingly going against your father’s will?”

“In a way, yes.”

“What does it get you, Enfia?”

“Retribution,” she seethed.

“What about Memphe, the branch family, the academy, and Skeptor?”

“Lucifer,” she cleared her throat, “-simply created a legend for my disguise. Remember the time I came by your house to visit? It was to see if you were the one I could entrust the academy to… I was overwhelmed to see the princes. It made my heart sing and I barely resisted myself. I kept up the act until you decided on playing along.”

“How did you fool Artanos?”

“He’s a tough one. Which is why I went straight to him and asked for assistance. I told him what I wanted and he scoffed, but, didn’t dismiss me altogether. I said if he wanted something, he ought to do it. I gave him a teleportation scroll to Ragno in exchange for his aid in fooling whoever was in my way. Father went behind my back and made a deal with the newly found Heavenly convention. He sees Ragno as an expansion… you masterfully stopped the growing tension by naming Teresa as the Director, even offering her as the incarnation of Pride. I was stunned… and was forced to continue my act so as not to raise suspicion. I baited and baited, but you never responded. Then it struck… like Artanos, you’re a cynical man, therefore, I arranged our meeting and here we are, the rest is history.”

‘My word,” he smiled and waved his hand, clothes reappeared over the attendants, “-you, Enfia, are someone who’s not to be trifled with. Making deals with demons and gods, playing them as if they’re your pawns, and even using me for your gains. I’m very impressed. To me, what matters is conviction and the resolve to act out your word. You handed Sathanas over, regardless of state, tis an act of goodwill. I won’t take your life, but I will sign a contract. One of obedience, one which binds thee to my will. Only then will I accept your offer?”

*With a slice of this dagger and the drop of my blood. I offer myself to you, master, take what’s mine and make me yours. Contract; Blood-Seal.*

“-I accept your blood,” he took the bloodied dagger, “-and seal the pact,” then slit his wrist, “-welcome to the family, Enfia L. Leviathan,” conjuring a crimson circle with ancient writings.