"To create a real world, you can't just recreate space and fill it with planets and stars. You have to 'embody' it: think through the laws of physics and create objects that will adhere to them. Otherwise, you just get a dense illusion, devoid of meaning, like the empty 'planets' in my pocket dimension. Understand so far?"
Lute slowly nodded. It was no wonder it was difficult for her—Lucifer had hammered this into my poor head for over three hours. Either I'm an idiot, or his teaching program is complete bullshit (most likely, both).
"Creating an object from a single type of energy is quite possible." I materialized a steel blade, using only Light, as I had done before. "It will look and feel real. But what happens if I die? Do you think the blade will remain?"
"No?" she guessed. Such experiments, obviously, had never been conducted.
"No, over time it will disintegrate into particles. Moreover, if I create a chain, put it on a sinner in Hell, and then leave Hell, the chain will begin to slowly fall apart. This happens because a creation, deprived of mental contact with its creator and made from 'one-sided' energy, is unstable." (Yep, I was also watching one particular sinner bitch, just as I was watching all the other sinners—thanks to Saraqael and the new drones).
"That sounds logical," Lute noted, "but the creations of the Seraphim don't get destroyed, do they? The barriers in Hell are made of Light, but over millennia, not a single circle has 'mixed' with another."
"Exactly!" I flicked her on the nose, earning an indignant glare. "And therein lies the proof. The barriers were created by the Seraphim... including Lucifer, and at that time, Lucifer possessed Darkness but had almost no control over it, so a few 'drops' of Darkness were used in the creation of the barriers."
"Are you saying that for a full 'embodiment,' you need to combine Darkness and Light?" Understanding flickered in her eyes.
"Precisely. Our entire universe is made of Darkness and Light. They represent a single phenomenon—energy, just with different potentials, like the plus and minus of a magnet. Separately, they are incomplete. God created our universe from Light, but he placed the Fruits of Knowledge here—'doors' for Darkness. Most likely, he originally planned to let it in, because without Darkness, the universe existed only thanks to his will and would have started to fall apart the moment he let go of his control. But he probably wanted to do it later, when society had already formed and wouldn't turn into a complete, uncontrollable clusterfuck."
"And Lucifer taught you this bullshit?" my valkyrie arched an eyebrow.
"Yep, and unfortunately, that clown wasn't lying. And it's not just about creating objects. Take 'Fire.' It can be embodied using Light and using Darkness. But in the first case, you get 'holy flame,' and in the second, 'damned flame.' Both are fire, but not real fire. To get ordinary, real flame, you have to combine both options."
"And what does that have to do with everything else?" Lute frowned.
"Everything. It even affects one's thinking. The nature of the Seraphim includes anger, terror, and other conceptual feelings, but they are all 'presented' one-sidedly, only from the perspective of Light. The same goes for Darkness. That's why the Seraphim who haven't been touched by Darkness think differently, they see the world as if through a veil. Lucifer told me about it, and I agree with him. My entire life before accepting the fruit feels exactly like that to me." And it's true. I mentioned that Adam's memories felt strange, as if I were looking at a simple picture. Before, there was no explanation, I just chalked it up to a side effect of possession, but no, Adam simply perceived the world differently. That's how it is.
I could see that my beloved was already getting a headache from this information.
"Let me show you more clearly." I created a white, shining sphere in my hand. "This is a concentrate of the concept of 'Purity,' drawn from the Light. And now..." I concentrated, and sweat broke out on my forehead. A second later, the exact same concept, but derived from Darkness, was added to the sphere.
The white sphere instantly turned gray, lost its shine, and fell to the floor with a dull thud, becoming dense and resembling a round stone.
"And that's it," I exhaled. "Darkness and Light are needed to embody something 'real.' Without one of the components, the creation will be one-sided and will eventually fall apart. The Seraphim themselves will simply perish if God truly leaves us."
"Adam…" Lute interrupted me. "My brain is boiling. Can we take a break?"
"A break?" I arched an eyebrow questioningly, licking my dry lips.
"A break," she answered and leaned in towards them…
(Author's Note: This fragment was originally 12,000 characters long and looked like… a clusterfuck. A total one. So I gathered my thoughts and shortened it as much as I could. I accept thanks in the form of likes and comments :3)
So, while Heaven prepares for the final battle with all its might, I'm contemplating global problems and realizing that I'm going to have to bust my ass with Earth to get anything "normal" out of it.
Lucifer taught me an interesting trick called "mind control." As I said, this shit runs on Darkness and allows you to literally turn a sentient (and not-so-sentient) individual into a completely obedient, will-less doll, or to slightly adjust the "subject's" consciousness. I conducted experiments on Asmodeus and even achieved some success: for example, I was able to make that three-headed idiot (since he was still in a state of stasis) obediently follow simple commands. But that was just a functionality test. I'm proud of another skill I developed from this ability—consciousness alteration.
I can literally rewrite parts of his personality. My Darkness is only enough for a couple of "lines," because despite its quality, the quantity of Darkness in me is just laughable. But it's still enough to make Asmodeus sabotage all of Eve's orders without even realizing it, as well as pass information to me, and, you know, not do any stupid shit that would harm Earth or Heaven.
Cruel? You bet. But without something like this, I won't be able to change Hell. It might even be possible to "tame" Darkness, allowing it to continue supporting the world while getting rid of all the puppeteers trying to destroy the Light. I'm talking about you, Eve, you dyed bitch!
Ahem.
Anyway, an idea came to my mind for solving a problem I was planning to just incinerate. Valentino. By seizing control of that moth's consciousness, I can slightly influence the sex industry in Hell, starting to gradually change that "hospitable little place." First, I'll buy out Angel, then the other workers, and in the end, the inconvenient and weakened moth's place will be taken by some sinner who is convenient for me and won't sell his ass to a deadly sin (The moth sold his ass to Asmodeus… which is to be expected…). I don't need tools that someone else can use, do I?
Click
"Huh? What's happening?" a surprised Asmodeus, whom I had just brought out of his "vegetable" state, began to look around, trying to understand where he was and what was going on. It seems he had forgotten the circumstances he was in… Or I messed something up and erased his memory… I shouldn't have.
"Asmodeus?" I address the Deadly Sin, who almost killed me once, semi-questioningly.
"Adam?" Understanding appeared in the demon's gaze… How did I figure that out when his heads are literally just some flames with eyes? Who the hell knows, but I did.
"Adam," I nod gravely with a serious expression.
"Am I alive?"
"Alive," I nod just as gravely.
"So what happens now?" an even greater apprehension cut through Asmodeus's voice. Apparently, the demon thought I had thawed him out to torture him… Adam, for the record, never engaged in such things, so I have no idea where he got such thoughts.
"You'll work for me. Eve is leading the entire universe to hell, and personally, I don't need that shit. Do you?"
"No?" Asmodeus raised an eyebrow, not understanding how to answer.
"Do you want a woman who has Darkness instead of a brain, a complete psycho, to be in charge of Hell, instead of Lucifer, whom you all love so much and who doesn't give a damn about his throne?" I ask the demon with a smile.
"No?" Asmodeus asked again, then seemed to think for a second and answered clearly, "No, I don't..." And he really didn't want to. The big guy was literally bullied, because, as I said, he is practically the weakest (if not the weakest) in terms of power among the Deadly Sins, so he got so butthurt that he pledged that very same butt to my ex. "What do you need from me?"
Well damn, he's not so bad… Or was it the months in a capsule of Light that affected him like this?… Hmm…
"Nothing complicated: sabotage her orders and leak information to me… And carry out my errands. I hope that's not too high a price for your life?" I look mockingly at the frowning Asmodeus.
"No…" he said, looking at his palm. Maybe I really did damage his brain?
"Questions? Suggestions? Complaints?" I ask cheerfully.
"Fizzarolli… That clown… Is he alive?" For the first time in our conversation, concern and… fear? cut through Asmodeus's voice. Um… Viv, what the hell? Was it always like this, or did I really mess with his brain? Or is it the influence of the Light from the little sun, which is powered by all the Seraphim (except Lucifer, of course)?
"He's alive. He took a beating, for sure, but… let's just say, your territory is fully functioning in autonomous mode, and it's currently being managed by a Goetia and your representative—that very clown."
"A Goetia?" Asmodeus became agitated. "They didn't take the Lust Ring?"
"No, I spoke with their head bird. The guy turned out to be a real bro," I give a thumbs up, "so get your ass home and get back to business," I create a portal to Hell. This strange Asmodeus was making me uncomfortable with his behavior, and I didn't want to spend too much time with him until I figured out if it was contagious.
"…" Asmodeus unsteadily got up, swayed forward, then finally gathered his strength and straightened up. "Thank you for sparing my life… I was expecting different treatment…" Asmodeus… bowed and headed for the portal… WTF?
"Wait," I say, stopping the demon. "Finish the phrase: 'Blade that cleaves…'"
"…demons?"
"Good. 'Hell of a...'"
"…boss?"
"You're free to go." So, it's still Asmodeus, he just doesn't want conflict anymore. Right, the Sins are almost like a family and supposedly have good relationships with each other. "By the way," I make Asmodeus turn around again. "I have one more request…"
"Um…"
"…" I shift into my demonic form. "In this form, my name is Baal, and in the near future, I will crash your meeting, where I will demand to be recognized as the son of the Deadly Sins. Comprende?"
"Si, signor," the demon nodded.
"Now you're free."
"…" Asmodeus silently walked through the portal leading straight to the Lust Ring, and I sighed with relief.
"Well, at least a dimension-hopper didn't possess him, so thanks for that…"
So, since we've dealt with this two-feathered wonder and even set up surveillance to check if my programming works and if he's really ready to cooperate, we can move on to the next task: the human world. I had already been thinking about how I could change it, at least to begin preparing to change society and the government. Then I discussed it with Abel (via the Mask) and with Lute (in person) and came to the conclusion that I need to get at least some connections on Earth. No, I could, of course, show up at a church and say, "Here I am, your beloved great-great-great-many-greats-grandfather, listen to my wisdom," but I'm afraid I'd show up at an inopportune moment: when some "holy father" is having a close chat with a minor, "guiding him onto the true path"… Those types, by the way, should be immediately cut down with "Angelic Steel," the kind imbued with the concept of Death. That kind of trash has no business tainting Heaven (God forbid), and they have no place in Hell either, because Hell at the moment isn't even a "correctional camp," but more of a "summer camp."
I'd like to get in touch with some kind of "world government" and discuss changing society with them. This is a world based on a cartoon, right? How can there NOT be a secret world government? Exactly!
But before that, I want to experiment with using my new knowledge.
I fly out of my "Death Star," then glance at the nearest planet. It looks like Mars, except without rings or moons, but just as lifeless…
So, I'll copy the laws from Earth, just by imagining them in my head, then surround the planet with Light… Done. Now I need to completely saturate it with Light, imagining its final appearance, add a drop of Darkness, and embody my first planet. And then throw some Darkness into my "Little Star" too, so it doesn't get destroyed just in case.
No sooner said than done, except this trick took nineteen of my full reserves. Either the Seraphim are stronger than they seem, or I don't know something, but the cost is just… indecent. To put it mildly.
Nevertheless, the result was worth it. The dead red sphere transformed before my eyes. First, it was shrouded in a white haze of clouds, and through them, the deep, rich blue of oceans emerged. Then the outlines of land took shape: two huge continents of bizarre form, one of which was crowned by a gigantic mega-volcano. Looks cool, we'll keep it.
I plunged downward. It was the splendor of untouched nature in its primordial power. Below stretched endless forests of emerald and malachite shades, crossed by silver threads of rivers sparkling in the sun. Mountains with peaks as sharp as blades scratched the sky, and waterfalls cascaded down sheer cliffs, creating rainbows at their feet. Even the air here felt different—clean, intoxicating, filled with the scent of damp earth, pine, and something else, wild and completely new.
Beautiful… You wouldn't think this was made in half an hour. You could open a resort for all the "promising" sinners.
Hmm, now that's an idea!
Only, the "promising" ones should probably visit Heaven, the influence of that space is too strong. And the "resort"... What if the most disgusting bastards, who aren't worthy of redemption, were just automatically redirected to my world, to some dark little planet? So they could wander eternally in darkness, without food or water, year after year, decade after decade? And then, when they finally start to go completely insane, conduct an extermination there? Now that sounds interesting, worth considering.
Alright, I've had my fill of the local scenery, I'm satisfied with it, I've saddled myself with another responsibility, time to call it a day, otherwise a sleepy archangel could really mess things up here… And then have to fix it later…
I retract my wings, change my clothes to something simpler: a t-shirt and shorts, then open a portal to Earth, in the same alleyway we came out of with the two hellish beauties when we went to the concert. It's nine in the morning on a Monday, so the chance of a sudden encounter with people is small. Well then, it's time to conquer the pathetic humans, bwahaha!
As I was stepping out, I realized I had miscalculated a bit, because standing in the alley was a young woman with short red hair and blue eyes…
"A demon!?" she exclaimed in surprised fear, pointing a finger in my direction.
"Where?" I turn around, looking at the empty alley. Where did she see a demon here?