Michael: Last Angel of Earth

In the bowels of hell, Xathanael walked towards a hidden chamber deep in the castle. Opening the secret door, he ensured no one followed him and entered. Closing the door behind him, he found himself seated at the head of a round table. Taking his place, a glow emaciated around him, and suddenly a voice emerged from the shadows.

"We were wondering when you would come," said the voice. Bleeding through the shows stood a massive being. His head was a jackal, and the rest of his body was human. His skin was a dark color, and his eyes a vibrant orange. He wore gold around his neck and placed a massive black-stained khopesh sword atop the table. His nails were adorned with golden finger claws, adding to his sense of royalty.

"Lord Set, thank you for coming. I trust the others are here as well." Upon finishing his sentence, more figures emerged from the shadows. One was the demon king Akuma. His red skin was more vibrant than before. His wife's hair and many horns added to his fierceness. His yellow pupilless eyes showed no emotion except destruction. Sitting next to him was the father and daughter pair Loki and Hel. During his rule of Asgard and the nine realms, Loki adopted a more ice-coloration complexion, homaging his Jotuun heritage. His armor was equally menacing. He wore a helmet aesthetically made in the design of his son Jormungander, the world serpent. His hood and cloak were extensively decorated with blue and red rune markings. His armor had golden snake skins mixed with dwarven plate armor, making him nearly indestructible. His braces were of an unknown golden metal, while his breeches were made of thick animal hide. In his head, he held his magical weapon called Twilight, based on the atgeir design from the Viking age. As for his daughter, Hel wore an outfit fit for the ruler of Niflheim. Due to her disfigured face, she wore a black stained helmet with a full face mask covering, allowing only her eyes to be shown. Her cloak was made from the skin of the slain who entered her realm. Her armor was created from the numerous armor pieces from the dead scattered across the shores upon entering her kingdom. One of her arms was encased in an iron-clawed glow while the other was wrapped in black leather. As for her pants, they were made from her brother, Jormunganders, dead snake skin. Her weapon of choice was dual sickle swords, serrated and dipped in her most potent poisons. The last four chairs were occupied by the most obscure and unusual members of this meeting. They were the four evils of china. Hundun, representing Chaos, was a creature without a face but sometimes depicted as resembling a ferocious bear or dog. He was the primordial being of Chaos for the Chinese gods. Taowu, representing Ignorance, was often described as resembling a boar or a tiger, spreading Ignorance amongst the people. Taotie, representing Gluttony, was depicted as not having a body, just the head of a ferocious beast that seeks to devour everything. Lastly, Qiongqi means Deviousness, and looks like a winged tiger that instigates war, eats people, and commits various other malicious deeds. Together, they were the most feared group in all of Asia.

With his members all here, Xathanael began the meeting.

"I trust you all know why I have allied you all here?"

"We know. We are already dealing with the fallout, as expected. Your plan is going as predicted," said Set.

"What did the dukes of hell discuss?" asked Loki.

"They wish for Lucifer to declare war on the rebellion, and the king will respond with a yes. We must take this opportunity to go forward with our plans."

"Did the king accept your proposal on Hades?" inquired Hel. Xathanael nodded.

"I do not doubt that Azrael and his spies have already learned of this and will try to convince the lord of the underworld to their cause. He will unknowingly aid our cause."

"What if the king suspects something?" exclaimed Akuma.

"I have a plan for that. I will convince his highness that he must receive more training to best this new threat. I will advise you to seek out Azazel and Abbadon, two former associates of mine from the past. With him on his quest, the Codex Gigas will be ours."

"What if he returns?" said Taowu.

"He will, but by then, it will be too late."

"Xathanael, what is so important that you need the Codex Gigas?" exclaimed Hel. The Codex Gigas, or Devil's bible, was Lucifer's most sacred item. That book contained every secret, desire, treasure, and relic of the demonic arts.

"There is something I have been searching for since time immemorial. What I seek may be found in that book. And I will stop at nothing until I have it in my possession," he stated.

"What of the queen and prince? What of them?" asked Loki.

"Leave them to me," stated Xathanael. The rest of the meeting went along smoothly and without interruption. Afterward, the other members of Xathanael's inner circle left to return to their respective kingdoms. When alone, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a Palantir, and placed it in the center of the table. He then utters some words in an unknown dialect. As he spoke, his features began to change.

His skin was pale and drained of color, except for the black veins surrounding his eyes. His eyes glowed and more vibrant orange, and he wore a hood. His armor was more gothic and sinister than before. The colors that permeated were black and dark, stained gold. He had three spikes on each bracer, small blades over his armored gloves, and boots seemingly connected to his chest plate. As for his cloak, it reached down to his ankles and was a deep, pale purple. Then suddenly, the Palantir began to hum softly. Xathanael dared not to look directly at the powerful relic until a bright flash blinded him for a moment. As the flashes subsided, a figure emerged cloaked in smoke and ashes. Xathanel knew who it was immediately and stumbled backward in absolute shock. He then scrambled to his knees and removed his cloak before him.

"My Lord..." he said, stunned.

"Oh, Belial," the being said disparagingly.

"My Lord, I am your humble servant," Belial implored.

"My spies tell me that you have found what we seek. Can it be true that you have found it?

"I have Great One. The lost world... is Earth. The weapon... is here.

"And I am to take your word? You whose word cost us dearly those eons past," stated the being.

"My lord, I will finish what Iltou could not," exclaimed Belial. He was determined to prove himself again before his lord and master.

"If it is redemption you seek, find the weapon, activate the unification, and when this world is scorched, I will come for my grand prize.

"You will come to Earth?" gasped Belial. He sounded surprised, almost overjoyed.

"I have turned 100,000 universes to dust looking for the weapon, looking for those who robbed me of my glory. I will stride across their bones and bask in the glow of unification, and all of their existence shall be mine.

"It shall be so, my lord Baphomet."