Chapter 25: father and son meeting
"I was assuming, have you recovered your sand or do you know the name of the demon that has your helmet?" I said with some amusement.
"No," Dream said dryly.
"Okay, let me fix something and we'll go," I said as Sueño disappeared into the sand.
"What the hell was that, and who was he?" Conner said, looking at where Sueño disappeared into the sand.
"It was Dream of the Endless, a being that was believed to have renounced his duties a century ago, according to Pope. I have also read that they have existed since the beginning of time," Zatanna said, surprised.
"As Zatanna said, Dream is a representation that was born when the universe was created, a being that is in charge of our dreams. It has been trapped for a century by whom I ignore, and I have a debt with him. Kaldur, you take charge of the mission, I will try to arrive as fast as possible," I said, looking at Kaldur who nodded.
Kaldur grabbed my shoulder, "Don't you want help from the team?" he said worriedly.
"No, not this time. This is going to be too dangerous a trip, to the very center of hell, and no one will be able to bear the horrors they will see inside. I prefer that they are safe going with Nelson than what they will see below," I said, surprising everyone.
"Good luck, friend," Kaldur and Conner said, knowing it was my father's domain. While they went up to the Bio Ship, I put the demonic knives away.
"Dream is time, let's go," I said, with him appearing again.
I spread my wings, and we appeared in front of some black iron bars. The earth was ash, and a foul smell of blood and sulfur was in the air. Upon arrival, I appeared with my wings outstretched and full armor, including the helmet. Morpheus saw me and looked surprised.
"So what now?" said the raven of Morpheus.
"There are rules, little Raven. A monarch cannot enter another's domain without permission," I said as I advanced toward a tunnel made of human bodies where there was a bronze gong.
"We have to be invited; there are protocols that we must obey," Morpheus said, looking at me.
"There are two options: I do it the old-fashioned way and exploit the entrance since protocols do not bind me, and I massacre everyone in my path. Or I simply knock on the door. Or, as I think about it, there is a third way, but I prefer not to use it," I said, walking to the bronze gong. A body offered me the drumstick to hit it.
"Thank you," I said to the damned soul while hitting the gong. The sound caused the walls to shake; they were made of human souls.
Footsteps were heard along with a voice, "There is someone at the gate of damnation. Is she a harlot, a thug, or a thief? There is a guaranteed place until the end of creation," he said. A giant of about 2 or 3 meters came out of the fog with gray flesh and parts of the skull missing, looking grotesque.
"None of them, for I am salvation, Orondoinflato," I answered. This was a mockery for him and a warning about who was coming.
"Greetings, Orondoinflato. I request an audience with your monarch," Morpheus said with a monotonous voice.
"Who are you?" the devil said, mocking Morpheus.
" Plump inflated , stop being stupid, or I'll open the gates myself. I have no patience with you rhyming demons," I said, extending all my power and grabbing the gate to open it. This caused the demon to panic, seeing that I would force open the gates of hell without much effort.
"I'm sorry, my lord. I didn't know that His Majesty Morpheus and one of his brothers were coming to see my lord Lucifer," he said in a panic, opening the doors before they were destroyed. I knew he was a demon at my father's service.
"Guide us, and no tricks. At the slightest movement, I will erase you from existence itself," I said, making the demon hurry. As we walked, the landscape changed to a forest of ashes.
"Where are we?" asked Matthew, who was next to us.
"The landscape is a whim of the Morning Star," Morpheus said, looking at the place.
"Morning Star? Do we have to spend the night in this place?" Matthew said, surprised and afraid.
"No, luckily, this is the forest of the damned. 'Morning Star' refers to Lucifer Morningstar," I said to Matthew seriously. When I saw the trees, they were impaled bodies that were still alive.
"Bone the Devil," Matthew said, almost swallowing saliva.
"Who rules is not a simple Devil," Morpheus said, looking at me. This was something that the raven noticed.
"They know each other," Matthew said, looking at me.
"For a long time. Samael Demiurgos was, in the past, one of the most beautiful, wise, and powerful angels, second only to the Creator and another person. Lucifer is the most powerful being that exists," Morpheus said, looking at me seriously.
"More powerful than you two?" Matthew said.
"Much more, especially now. Before, I was an envoy from my own kingdom. Now, I invited myself, and I didn't bring my vestments," Morpheus said.
"Let's say that he and I are related in a very personal way," I said calmly, even though I was clenching my fist tightly. I hated being in this place, hated the idea of seeing my father. I left my mother to die. I was seeing how Plump inflated disappeared, and Morpheus realized it. The trees began to wail in agony; the branches were skinned human bodies.
Plump inflated appeared next to Morpheus. "This way," he said, but I condemned him without hesitation, which surprised him. He had never seen an angel use human weapons.
"I warned you, no games, neither Lucifer, Beelzebub, nor Azazel can save you when I kill you. No more games or tricks," I said with the gun pointed at him. He felt that if he pulled the trigger, he would be erased. He knew I wasn't lying.
The demon led us down a cliff. It was the infernal prison. High towers of fire rose, just like the screams of the damned that resounded throughout the place.
"Boss, it looks like the way to the palace," Matthew said, looking at the place.
"No, the demons have a thousand reasons to do something, and all of them are evil," Morpheus said seriously.
"Especially PlumpInflated. Lucifer ordered him to do this," I said seriously, while stepping on a demon's skull.
Morpheus was stopped by a human woman's soul, who had called him.
" Kai'ckul ?" said the crying woman.
"I greet you, Nada," Morpheus said, transforming into a young man with dark skin, like the woman's.
" Kai'ckul , I have prayed a lot for this day. I knew you would come," Nada said, crying intensely.
"It hurts to see you like this," Morpheus said, without being embarrassed by the situation.
"So set me free. Only your forgiveness can set me free. Do you still love me?" she said, crying.
"Ten thousand years have passed. Yes, I still love you, but I still don't forgive you," Morpheus said, leaving to what made me angry with him.
"You are brutal with your punishments. Ten thousand years, an innocent soul locked up just because I rejected you. I will have to talk to Death about this," I said, disappointed. I went to where the woman was and touched her forehead with my hand. "Be free. I am Ethan Demiurgos. I grant you eternal rest and paradise. Your soul no longer has sins to pay for. You are free." She shimmered and disappeared into particles of light.
Morpheus looked at me and did not respond. He knew that I had just freed her soul from any punishment. We continued walking until we reached a field with crosses, and the sky seemed to burn with fire.
"Lucifer is waiting for us," I said when I saw the palace and Orondoinflato leaving.
We walked to the entrance, a pentagram that shed blood when touched to open the door. The whole path was flooded with blood. We walked through the corridor, decorated with paintings made on human skin and demonic art, arriving at a large room with black and gold columns, braziers, and a fire in the center.
At the window, he was, with a black leather suit, staring at the sky. "Ah, Morpheus and one of my brothers. It seems that Father gave his armor to one of his new favorites. But who are you? You are new. Since you have never felt your power in heaven, my Father must have slept with another goddess and given birth to the new litter. What do you want, Dream?" Said Lucifer, entering and adjusting the flames of the bonfires. Mazikeen appeared at his side, playing with a dagger.
I kept silent in response to his question. I was seething with anger, my heart throbbed just by seeing my father. "Greetings, Lucifer Morningstar, and you, Mazikeen of the Lilim," Dream said.
"Greetings, Lord of Dreams, and disrespectful guest," Ella said, and I growled.
"Because I should say hello back to you," I said roughly, which made Mazikeen angry.
"Greetings, Dream. I see you well and your family. You know, Fate, Death, Despair, and others. Also, like this dad and our brothers," Lucifer said, looking at me. He was trying to see who I was using his powers, without success, which surprised him.
Dream chuckled, "I suppose your Majesty knows that this is not a social visit," Dream said.
"You come to join forces with me and recognize the supremacy of Hell," Lucifer said, amused.
"Please, Samael, stop playing your games. Call Choronzon and have him bring the damn helmet. I'm busy; I have things to do, and I don't want to see you. Honestly, it's something I've been avoiding for ten years," I said, not wanting to keep seeing him. Furthermore, there was a time when I wanted my father to rescue me, but not now.
"I like you to the point. This brother of mine has balls. But you should learn to respect," Lucifer said, turning his hand to me, and a whip of fire shot out. I moved my hand, and the whip disappeared.
"Interesting, Father. I created my replacement, someone who can finally be tied down," Lucifer said seriously. His mocking tone had completely disappeared when he noticed the demiurgic force.
"Shut your mouth and bring Choronzon. We'll do it according to the old rules," I said, not able to take it anymore.
"Good," Lucifer said, bringing the demon with a strange-looking helmet, as if it were a mosquito.
" Chorozon , this Angel challenges you to an ancient Duel. Do you accept?" Lucifer said with some anger.
"I accept, Your Majesty," said the demon, with a little fear.
"Well, you have a champion to represent you," Lucifer said, looking at his demon, who nodded.
"I have it, Your Majesty. You," Chorozon said confidently.
"I accept," Lucifer said, smiling. He expanded bat wings and wore black leather clothing.
Chorozon went to the window and shouted, "I have selected my Paladin, His Majesty Lucifer Morningstar, to represent me in a contest of skill, trust, and transformation, the most ancient game." All the demons roared.
"I'll put a bullet in his head when this is over," I said softly, Maze interested in the threat.
"As I am the one challenged, I impose the metric, and the first movement is mine," said Lucifer.
"Okay, let's finish this. You already look like Uncle Amenadiel with the nonsense of the metric," I said to which he seemed angry by the comparison but surprised when I said 'Uncle'.
Lucifer smiled, "I am a dire wolf, a stalker of prey, a lethal marauder," he said, smiling, forming his concept without attacking me.
"I'm a ruthless hunter, an animal killer," I said, with my concept formed, shooting his wolf concept with a gun.
Lucifer doubled over in pain and growled. His hand had blood, just like the wound on his chest. Mazikeen saw Lucifer worried; something gave her a bad feeling about that angel. It was like Lucifer in the power he radiated. Also, no angel would have created a modern human hunter.
Lucifer smiled, pulling himself together. "I am a snake, biting hunters with lethal poison in the fangs," Lucifer said, with his concept biting mine. I bowed my head in pain, but I eliminated it quickly.
"I am an eagle, eater of snakes with sharp claws," I said, with Lucifer leaning down with three deep marks on his face and blood running. That angered him.
"I am a carnivorous bacterium, a destroyer of all hot life," he said as I almost fell to the floor, feeling my flesh disappearing.
"I am a world, floating in space, nurturing all life," I said, with Lucifer disgusted and looking sick, as if he were about to vomit.
"I am a nova, a massive explosion cremating planets," Lucifer said with force, a meteorite devastating my concept. My body was all burned, and I was kneeling while he looked at me amused, with his bat wings extended and his demonic face.
"I am the universe, the container of all things, the receiver of all life," I said, spreading my golden wings. Lucifer saw me trembling.
"I am the Anti-life, the beast of Doomsday, the darkness at the end of everything," he said in a whisper, getting closer. He fell to the ground on his knees.
Matthew saw this, "Boss, what's up?" he said worried.
"Lucifer used something terrible, in him," Morpheus said worriedly. He had never heard of anyone surviving Anti-life.
"What did I use?" Matthew said concerned.
"The Anti-life, the beast of the final judgment," Morpheus said, looking very serious. He knew that no one could win this and get out alive.
"That beats Anti-life," Matthew said, worried.
"Nothing," Morpheus said, to which I stood up slowly, everyone watching me.
"Me," I said, taking off my helmet, with Lucifer dismayed, just like Maze. The hand that held his knife trembled in dismay, almost letting go of his weapon. The angel was identical to Lucifer, maybe younger.
"Ethan Morningstar, the one who holds the Demiurge Title. Son of Evelin Asher and Lucifer Morningstar. Grandson of God and the Goddess. I am The Light at the end of everything, the hope of the Universe. Tell me, Father, can hope defeat me?" I said, looking at him with all my power emanating. Lucifer was broken, like a doll that had lost its strings, surrounded by light. He began to back away quickly; his face showed dismay. Desperately using his power to see if it was true.
I let him see all my childhood, everything I suffered. All the tortures I endured, my pain. The pain of being skinned alive, that my eyes were removed with extreme pain, one by one. My bones removed from my feet, legs, hands, arms, and shoulder blades. I was like a puppet tied in chains for years. In addition to my tears, my fury, the hatred that throbbed in my chest for not saving us. And worst of all, the death of my mother. At least, the fragments that I was able to recover, from the souls that I found over the years.
"Choronzon, give him the helmet," Lucifer said, staring at me. His face had completely changed; he couldn't look at me.
Choronzon stepped ,He walked away so as not to give me the helmet "No, I don't want it. It's mine, please," the demon said.
"I don't have time for your stupidity," I said, pointing at him and shooting him in the head while catching the helmet in my hands. Maze was impressed by what I just did.
"Take your helmet and go, Dream," I said, throwing his helmet. He caught it and left in a whirlpool of sand.
Weekly Power Status
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