"We will lose our goal, maybe this is the end of our glory!"
"How could those humans, agh ... they've learned it before they even know us!"
"Do I have to live in hell? This world is no longer our place!"
"Noisy!" Lucifer screamed in annoyance when he heard the demons busy arguing about their existence in this world.
He thinks this is ridiculous, what kind of nonsense is it to say this is no longer their era? It's still 2022 and not much has changed. Humans are born and die every day and during that time, their existence is still needed to drag humans into hell.
Lucifer rose from his throne, walked across the altar with all his attention on him. Doesn't he look beautiful? He could be what he wanted, even more handsome than the most handsome human in the world. Yes, he is the king of hell with the hottest and most burning fire.
"I hate complaints like this. You know what? This has never happened before! I thought you were all useless!"
"But, Your Majesty- "
"Who asked you to speak? Call Leviathan! Why does he never come to a meeting like this?"
"What does Your Majesty expect from him? It has been 5000 years he never came, I even forgot that there is a devil like him!" Damballa said. It seemed that he was quite annoyed that Lucifer's attention was immediately fixed on a figure who was not there, instead of the hundreds of devils who were faithfully listening to her annoyance.
"That bastard, how dare he not come again this time? Be must be taught a lesson!"
"Yes, I think so. Every now and then a demon like him should be taught discipline, so as not to act on his own!" Damballa returned to comment with a more cynical tone. Who knows what grudge is buried in his soul to the demon ruler of the sea?
"I thought you had a personal grudge against him. Am I right, Mr Damballa?" Beelzebub showed a grin as she realized this middle-aged man sitting beside her was constantly boasting about Leviathan.
"I don't think a woman like you can understand, that men like us really like competition!"
"Ahahaha ... I thought you were kidding, Mr Damballa. What kind of competition do you mean? He hasn't even gone down to hell for thousands of years. So, who are you competing with?"
"Tch, you damn blonde!" He muttered irritably. He was at a loss for words to argue with.
"I have an idea, Your Excellency Lucifer the Great Demon Lord!" Beelzebub raised her hand as she stood up.
She casually walked over to Lucifer who was still standing at the altar and stared at her. Beelzebub smiled seductively, she knew that she had a high enough position to interrupt the conversation of the other demons.
"Do you have any ideas? Tell me, what is it?"
"Wait a minute, Your Majesty!" Asmodeus immediately interrupted before Beelzebub brought up the idea in her head.
The tall and burly man with a grim face stood with a very sharp gaze. This demon of all filthy lust tried to intimidate Beelzebub with his gaze.
"What's the matter, Asmodeus? You also have an idea that is no less brilliant than your ex-lover?"
"Tch, I just can't let her keep tricking the guys any more!"
Asmodeus and Beelzebub exchanged glances of love and hate that only the two of them knew. It seemed that it took Lucifer enough time to get an idea of how to drag the ruler of the ocean to this place.
"Well, I think I'll do it myself. Because it seems like this is none of the devils' business like you all. Then, today's meeting we will end here!"
"But Your Majesty, regarding the outcome of our meeting. Will we all finally be able to find a solution to maintain our position as devils?"
"I also think so, those humans even do things that we never do. I think there is an immigrant creature who wants to overthrow us!"
It seems that this conversation is still not over, even though Lucifer has already given instructions to end this useless meeting. Because he believed, the only problem here was their self-confidence which was mostly the members and accomplices of high-ranking demons like Asmodeus, Astaroth or Behemoth.
"Tch, seriously! Did you not hear what I said? This meeting is quite up to here. You better think for yourself how to make those humans tempted to worship you instead of continuing to whine like babies!"
The annoyed Lucifer just walked away, vanishing with the hot flames. Meanwhile, the demons who have not found an answer to their anxiety are only silent and are forced to watch the quarrels of lovers.
"Now what?"
***
Lucifer set foot in the deepest cave in the bowels of the earth that radiated extremely hot steam. A valley filled with gleaming black rock caves.
"This smell, ck!" He muttered as he stepped into the mouth of an enormous cavern, perhaps twice the size of the monsters that resided in it.
This place is very dark and the Lord of all flames does not like dark places. He can only see the color of the deepest ocean that doesn't get the slightest bit of sunlight.
"Leviathan, come on! I know you saw me! Stop being silly and come out! Let me see that disgusting face of yours!" He shouted irritably.
"Groooaaarrr ..."
The sound of a growl was deafening. A welcome that he could have guessed, this was how the arrogant devil treated his king.
"Damn it!"
"Are you upset?" Asked a man who emerged from the dark cave slowly lightening, walking towards Lucifer who was standing at the mouth of the cave.
"Can't you respect me when I come? I am your king!"
"Tch, you are the king of those stupid demons. Don't equate me with your followers!" Instead of approaching Lucifer, Leviathan sat casually in his chair smoking a cigarette.
"Since when did you smoke? Where did you get it?"
"I don't know, maybe it's been 300 years. I got it from sailors,"
"Looks like you have a good relationship with humans," He said with a grin and took his place opposite the Leviathan.
"Actually, for what purpose did you come here? Don't you usually ask those stupid demons to deliver messages to me!"
"How long do you think it has been a while since you answered my summons?"
"I don't know, how long has it been?"
"We're in trouble, that's why I came straight to this place for you!"
"Problem? Since when did the king of demons have problems? Shouldn't you have known before we all knew?"
"Out there, there are many humans who no longer need our influence to take them to hell. Looks like they are smart enough to take our job forcibly,"
"Isn't that great? I thought, it's time for the devils to have a long break after endless tiring work. I thought you could give them a ticket for a tour to heaven,"
"Damn it, I'm serious! Stop playing around!"
"Yes, all right ... all right. This time I'm trying to listen to your complaints, man!"
Even though Leviathan said it, Lucifer knew that he was not really serious. Leviathan is the most stubborn of the devil. Even an arrogant demon like Asmodeus still showed respect for Lucifer, yet this one always acted his own way.
"I want to give you an assignment and this time, I don't want you to turn it down!"
"I will consider it if you tell me the task. Do I have to sink a thousand ships carrying humans? Or create a big storm to destroy the settlement?"
"No, I don't want you to do that! you just have to go ashore and work like other demons, tempting humans to commit evil and make them your followers in hell."
***