Behind the gates of ice, I discovered a world that was vastly different. Unlike before, filled with darkness and shadows, this place resembled a realm on Earth. More precisely, I found myself standing on the sands of an island in the midst of a raging storm.
This place reminded me of where Gabriel had trained me before. Except here, there was no rain; only thunder and lightning that continuously shook the crimson sky. And speaking of the sky, its hue was blood-red.
On every side of the island loomed seven tall pillars of black granite, each inhabited by a being I recognized all too well. These were the other princes of Hell. I knew each of their names: Asmodeus, Mammon, Leviathan, Beelzebub, Astaroth, Behemoth, and Azazel. They encircled me atop their lofty pillars, but one was missing—the most treacherous of them all, who dared defy the Almighty. I wondered why he was not present.
"You shall go no further, Rhinggamana Astolfo," Behemoth bellowed, pointing at me with authority.
I replied, "You know me?"
"Yes, we know you. The disappearance of Belial and Belphegor has shaken Hell to its core. I can see their souls crying out in despair within you."
I smiled at them all and said, "I thought you would confront me one by one. I did not expect to be surrounded like this."
Behemoth continued, "Never before has a human soul created such chaos in this realm. Your existence should serve as a warning to the universe and to us all. You can be of use to us. You have three choices: surrender, and we will guide you to true Hell for the judgment you deserve. Perhaps the Almighty will forgive your sins. Or, you can join us and become the eleventh prince of Hell."
"And what is the third option?"
"You will be eradicated from existence. You will vanish as if you were never born, for no one will remember you after we destroy you. In other words, a permanent death."
"I cannot die until I fulfill my destiny. God has chosen me, and none of you can stop me."
"Stop your nonsense. Those who reach this place are cast away by God, severed from His grace. Your existence is but refuse to wait to be burned.
I smirked at their taunts, saying, "You can mock me all you want, but it will do you no good. Only Gabriel's words hold any weight for me. We are all here, mere trash discarded for defying the will of the Almighty. We are no different."
Leviathan spoke up, "It's pointless to converse with this one. We should just finish him off."
Everyone seemed to agree. Yet, before they could strike, I transformed into a colossal monster, black tentacles sprawling from my head. Great horns sprouted, and my mouth belched forth glowing red embers. Thanks to Belial's power, my right side was engulfed in flames while my left shimmered with the chilling aura of Belphegor. Anything I touched with that hand would freeze instantly.
My transformation signaled war for the seven princes of Hell. They revealed their true forms. Leviathan, the largest among them, coiled like a giant serpent, his dragon-like head as hard as iron. The thunderstorm raged, as if reacting to the power clashing on this tiny island.
"Die, all of you!"
I lashed out with my black tentacles, shattering the pillars beneath them. They scattered in retreat. Seeing my attacks miss, I lifted my right hand, ablaze with Belial's lava, and slammed it into the ground.
In an instant, the island was enveloped in molten rock. There was nowhere safe to stand except to be scorched to ash for the seven princes. Unfortunately for me, they could fly.
The rain and thunder roared louder in the blood-red sky. Leviathan slithered through the clouds with wild abandon. The scene was mesmerizing. Soon, the dragon-headed serpent dove toward me, wrapping around my body and rendering me immobile in an instant.
Azazel and Astaroth unleashed black chains, binding my limbs. I struggled with all my might, but those chains were unyielding. I attempted to burn them with Belial's fire, to freeze them with Belphegor's icy might, but both efforts proved futile.
Damn it! I was trapped.
"Struggling is pointless. You cannot sever those chains. Only holy energy from the heavens can break them. Your power is the result of stolen, sinful essence. You will not escape."
I flailed with the tentacles. I could still move, but their agility outmatched me. I couldn't land a single blow. Finally, in frustration, they drove my tentacles into the ground with black iron.
With my movement entirely restricted, Behemoth seized the moment, declaring, "Now return our friends within you."
They all raised their palms toward me. From their hands emerged black tendrils, attempting to draw forth Belial and Belphegor's power from within me. Gradually, my strength waned as if they were siphoning my very essence. Bit by bit, I grew weaker, until Belphegor and Belial slipped free from my grasp. My monstrous form faded away.
Now only Abyss remained, the lone creature still residing within me. I was utterly drained, my legs weak, my face drenched in cold sweat, and my will to live fading. They continued to absorb my strength without relenting.
Just as I felt my energy about to extinguish completely, Behemoth shouted, "Everyone, stop!"
Belial protested, "What are you doing, Behemoth? Finish him off quickly! He's far too dangerous if left alive."
"Indeed," added Belphegor, "the terror we feel from him is beyond description. Do not let this man escape and devour us all. Destroy him while we have the chance."
"No, given his strength, it seems the King of Hell might be tempted to claim him as one of his princes. So, Rhinggamana, have you changed your mind?"
I was too weary to respond. My eyelids felt heavy, and an overwhelming drowsiness threatened to take me. If not for the last remnants of the Abyss still lingering within me, I might have succumbed to unconsciousness.
"Well, I await your answer," Behemoth said, hands on hips.
"I will never stoop to join you wretched beings!" I retorted fiercely.
"Such a pity. You nearly lost all your strength, yet you dare reject me with such a shout. You truly test my patience."
"I care not for your words. I am an envoy of God, appointed for a noble purpose. My heart shall never again be swayed by the whispers of demons!"
Behemoth sighed, soaring high to join the other eight princes. He declared, "What a shame, Rhinggamana. If that is your decision, then you choose your own destruction. Princes of Hell, obliterate this man's soul from existence!"
Once more, they began to drain the remnants of my power. This time, with Belphegor and Belial joining, they siphoned every ounce from me until I was completely drained. For nearly thirty minutes, they persisted, yet I fought to maintain consciousness.
Behemoth's expression turned to astonishment. "What is this? We have been absorbing his power, yet he remains standing. Unbelievable!"
Belial shouted, "It's because there's still a monster within him. Before he drained my power, he first absorbed the essence of the Abyss."
"What? Impossible! If that monster escapes his body, we're all in danger!"
They halted their siphoning, but it was too late. The Abyss had long been struggling to escape, and now I lacked the strength to contain it. Resigned, I allowed the creature to break free.
A thick black aura erupted from my back, soaring into the sky, merging with the clouds. Black tentacles danced through the air, turning the landscape to darkness in an instant. Bright red eyes peered from the shadows. The creature's roar deafened all beneath it. The princes of Hell clamped their ears against the cacophony.
I could do nothing, kneeling in the dirt, fighting to maintain my consciousness. Behemoth and the others were struck with shock as Abyss emerged from my form.
"For the depths of Hell! This is a catastrophe!"
Surrounded by a dense aura of power from nine princes of hell, Abyss sensed the threat. Moments later, it plummeted from the sky, capturing and devouring them all. Their screams echoed in despair as they attempted to flee from the consuming darkness.
One by one, their powers waned, swallowed by the Abyss. Belial tried to burn away the black fog, but it was futile; his energy had been devoured. Azazel then vanished from existence, consumed by the Abyss, followed by Asmodeus, then Mammon, then Leviathan, until none remained.
The shadow, now fueled by the powers of the nine princes of Hell, became a super-creature among cosmic beings—a dragon-headed monstrosity of fire, ice, and darkness.
What could I do now? I had no hope of escaping this super-strong entity birthed from the universe's dark side. I felt it was time to surrender and leave my fate to God. I was out of options.
"Will you surrender now, Rhinggamana?"
A familiar voice echoed in my mind, radiating warmth in my heart. I longed for this voice.
"Gabriel, is that you?"
"Indeed. I sense a deep resignation within you. Will you give up now?"
"I apologize for disappointing you, dear friend. But I see no way out. For now, I can only entrust my fate to God. Ultimately, the final decision remains His."
"Precisely, the ultimate decision rests with Him. And God has instructed me that this is not the end. Through your unwavering faith, you have regained His acknowledgment, and He has decided to grant you another chance. You can still be saved."
"Really? How?"
"Remember what I have taught you, Rhinggamana. You have trained in Heaven for a long time. Your former strength can still be granted back to you, albeit not entirely. With the Almighty's permission, I can bestow enough power to aid your escape from this predicament. Now, accept this power, fulfill your destiny, and do not stray again."
"I will heed your command."
I inhaled deeply. Gabriel's voice faded from my mind, but slowly, a warm, golden energy emerged from my heart. An energy I recognized so well. It felt like reuniting with an old friend; tears streamed down my face, soaking in the profound sorrow I had missed. This was at least forty percent of the power I once held in Heaven. It would be more than enough.
Focusing this energy throughout my body, my weary limbs filled with strength once more. I stood ready to confront the raging monster before me. Ready to settle this down.
"O heavenly Father, bear witness, as I show you the strength of your creation."
Suddenly, a massive wing of radiant light burst from my back. Unlike Belial's wings, these were pure, divine energy. I was enveloped in a brilliant golden aura. Even without the Blerit Sword, the raw power surging within me became a deadly weapon.
I soared high into the storm-laden sky, my heart beating as I locked eyes with the abyssal creature below. Its crimson gaze pierced through the swirling chaos, revealing the trapped souls of the princes of Hell, their faces twisted in torment, screaming for mercy. The very air crackled with dread as the storm raged, a reflection of the malevolence that had been unleashed.
I bellowed, my voice cutting through the tempest, "O creature born of darkness, You do not belong here! By the light of the divine, I shall deliver your judgment!"
Abyss let out a bone-chilling shriek that echoed like thunder, shaking the very foundations of the world. The mountains quaked, and the seas roared in fury, responding to the creature's rage. The skies above darkened further, swirling with ominous clouds, as if the heavens themselves were trembling at the sight of this malevolent entity.
With unwavering resolve, I raised my hand, feeling the surge of radiant energy within me. A brilliant light, pure and golden, erupted from my palm, enveloping the creature in a divine embrace. The radiance clashed against the dark tendrils of Abyss, illuminating the stormy skies as I began to absorb its vile power.
The creature thrashed violently, its serpentine form writhing in desperation, but the might I now wielded was insurmountable. I could feel its essence clawing at my mind, whispering of despair and dread, yet I remained steadfast, fueled by the righteousness of my cause.
As the black mist began to dissipate, the air thickened with tension. The cries of the nine princes echoed in my ears, mingling with the cacophony of the storm. "You are nothing but shadows," I declared, "and shadows cannot withstand the light!"
With each pulse of power I drew from the Abyss, I felt the weight of its darkness lessening. The sky exploded in a blinding flash as the last remnants of the Abyss were pulled into me, a vortex of light consuming the darkness. In that moment, I felt both triumph and terror; I was infused with an overwhelming, corrupting power.
The strength of the Abyss and the nine princes of Hell lies within my grasp.