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[POV - Serafall Leviathan] [Meeting Dome - Before the Attack]
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Everything was going perfectly. Negotiations flowing, agreements being formed, peace finally within reach after millennia of conflict.
Well... almost perfectly.
TWITCH.
My eyes involuntarily drifted to Cerys Agares. Then to Grayfia. The two "maids" conversing politely in a corner, exchanging information about... I don't know, servitude techniques or something like that.
Seriously?
I couldn't say anything. Not with my magical girl hobby. But, like...
Did you two really need to bring your maids?
I thought while watching the two exchange tea recipes or whatever. My eyes couldn't stop twitching.
CLAP. CLAP.
I clapped my hands, bringing attention back to me.
— Everyone, welcome! — I announced, voice taking on official Satan tone. — Could you please take your seats at the chairs with each of your names?
I opened my arms, indicating the enormous circular table. Perfectly neutral. No one at the "head." Everyone equal.
Well thought out, Ajuka.
THUMP.
Azazel practically threw himself into his chair in a completely awkward manner. Legs stretched out, posture too relaxed. As if he were in a bar, not a historic meeting.
Typical.
Sirzechs, in contrast, settled himself carefully. Every movement measured, elegant. The perfect Satan.
SLIDE.
Odin glided into his chair with calm movements, almost floating. Gungnir leaning beside him, ravens perching on his shoulders.
SIGH.
Lugh sighed — loud enough for everyone to hear — as if he didn't want to be there. But he also sat down, because refusing would be an insult.
SHUFFLE. SHUFFLE. SHUFFLE.
One by one, the other leaders settled in. Yasaka with feline grace. Minor representatives from pantheons who wanted a voice.
And then...
Blink.
I tried to look at Rito to see if he had moved to his seat.
But he was already there.
How...?
Sitting calmly, fingers interlaced on the table, serene expression. As if he had been there the whole time.
I didn't see him move.
— I think we can begin now — Sirzechs said with a smile on his face.
All the faction leaders nodded in agreement.
HUMMM...
Sirzechs continued, voice taking on formal tone:
— Today we are all gathered to discuss an alliance between our factions. Where we can share information with each other and open a narrow channel of mutual cooperation.
— Certainly — Azazel intervened, dropping his relaxed posture for a moment. — We can prevent hostile members from sabotaging this treaty. By the way... — he made a dramatic pause — I heard from an informant that Khaos Brigade will make a move soon.
MURMUR... MURMUR...
Murmurs ran through the room.
— Hmpf — Odin grumbled, tapping Gungnir lightly. — I'm sure someone will try something. They always try.
He was thinking of Loki, obviously. That troublemaker wanted Ragnarök to occur — it was the destiny of the Asgardian cycle. But Odin stopped him. Repeatedly.
Lugh just raised an eyebrow, expression neutral. Fortunately he had already dealt with all hostile people in the Celtic pantheon. The problematic ones? Sealed. Resolved. Not a concern.
— So — Yasaka spoke for the first time, voice soft but firm — I propose a shared alert system. If any faction detects a threat, they inform the others immediately.
— I agree — Michael said. — And I suggest joint training. Our forces need to learn to work together.
NODS.
Heads nodding in approval.
Ajuka leaned forward, adjusting his glasses.
— Logistically, we need permanent portals between territories. For quick response in emergencies.
— And technology sharing — Azazel added, eyes gleaming. — Angel magic, demonic technology, Norse runes... imagine the possibilities.
— As long as you don't use it to build weapons — Lugh warned.
— Defensive weapons don't count — Azazel countered with a smile.
CHUCKLE.
Some nervous laughter.
— I also propose — Sirzechs continued — a permanent council. Regular meetings to discuss problems before they escalate.
— And mutual protection of territories — Odin added. — If Asgard falls, everyone falls. If Heaven falls, everyone falls. We need to be united.
Rito, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke:
— And education.
SILENCE.
Everyone stopped, looking at him.
— Education? — I repeated, curious.
— Yes — he said calmly. — Exchange programs. Young people from different factions studying together. Learning about other cultures. It's hard to hate someone when you grew up beside them.
PAUSE.
The silence that followed was thoughtful.
Then Sirzechs smiled. Big. Genuine.
— Perfect — he said. — Let's—
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!
****
The explosion shook the entire dome.
CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.
Cracks appeared in the walls. Alarms began to sound.
WEEEE-OOOOO! WEEEE-OOOOO!
— WHAT WAS THAT?! — I shouted, already on my feet, power circulating.
SHIMMER.
Ajuka summoned a magic screen in the air, showing the exterior.
And my blood froze.
ARMY.
An army. Hundreds — no, thousands — of demons from the Old Satan faction. Organized in military formation.
And leading them...
— Shalba Beelzebub — Sirzechs said, voice turning to ice. — And Creuserey Asmodeus.
Two Satan-class devils. Descendants of the original Satans. Fanatics who wanted to restore the "ancient glory."
But that wasn't all.
GASP.
— Euclid Lucifuge — Grayfia whispered, and for the first time since I'd known her, I saw genuine emotion on her face. Horror. — My brother...
And beside him...
PRESENCE.
A presence that made my skin crawl even through the screen.
— Rizevim Livan Lucifer — Azazel said, all trace of joking disappearing. — The Super Devil. Vali's grandfather.
But the worst...
HORROR.
Beside Rizevim was... a thing. Two meters tall. Grotesque form mixing fallen angel and dragon. Vines in the eyes that moved as if alive. Legs and arms bound with ancient seals.
Crucified on a large cross. Nails driven through various parts of the body — arms, tail, wings. Bindings with inscriptions that glowed faintly. Eyes covered by a blindfold from which tears of blood dripped.
— Samael — Michael whispered, horror in his voice. — The Dragon Who Hates Gods. How did he...?
— Hades — Azazel spat the name like venom. — Must have freed him from Cocytus.
ROOOOOAR!
And then came the evil dragons.
Apophis. Serpent of chaos from the Egyptian pantheon.
Aži Dahāka. Three-headed dragon from Persian mythology.
And in the center...
DARK.
An even darker presence. More ancient. More malignant.
— Angra Mainyu — Lugh said, standing up. — The Zoroastrian destructive spirit.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
My heart was beating erratically.
But then...
SHIMMER.
Another presence appeared inside the dome.
CLONES.
Fenrir. No, Fenrirs. Clones of the giant wolf materializing around the room.
HISSSSS...
And Midgardsormr. The world serpent. Massive body coiling around the dome, beginning to squeeze.
And in the center of it all...
LOKI.
The Trickster God smiled. That smile that said "chaos is beautiful."
SLAM.
Göndul slammed her fist on the table, standing up furiously.
— WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! — she shouted at the Norse god. — RECONSIDER! THIS WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING!
Loki laughed. Loud. Maniacal.
— Destroy? — he said. — Dear Valkyrie... destruction is the goal. Ragnarök cannot be avoided. Only... accelerated.
GROWL... GROWL... GROWL...
The Fenrirs growled, surrounding everyone.
And outside...
GRIN.
Rizevim smiled. That smile that made even demons feel fear.
And then...
He let something out.
WHOOOOOOSH.
Power. Pure. Malignant. Ancient.
A sphere of black energy began to form in his hands.
Growing.
Growing.
Growing.
And I realized.
Absolute horror washing over me.
He was going to throw that directly at the dome.
With all of us inside.
SHIT.
— BARRIERS! — I shouted. — NOW!
But deep down...
Deep down I knew.
Peace was over.
War had just begun.
And this time...
No one would escape unscathed.