While being escorted by Death's men, Darfredon returned to his chamber.
Once inside his resting quarters, he let himself collapse onto the bed. His mortal body—already exhausted—could no longer hold itself upright.
The moment his head touched the pillow, he sank into a deep, heavy sleep.
***
Within the realm of dreams, Darfredon relived his former life as Fredon.
He found himself inside a cavern, trapped within an angelic circle. His limbs were heavy, shattered by the countless tortures inflicted by his fallen brother. Not far from him stood Gadreel, laughing uncontrollably, his cruel laughter echoing against the stone walls.
With every burst of laughter, Darfredon felt his rage grow.
Gadreel slowly stepped closer and finally spoke. But at that very moment, behind him, Penemue appeared—silent, like a benevolent shadow.
- Well… I didn't expect such great resistance from you, my brother. But let's get down to serious matters.
- You are no longer my brother, Gadreel. You are nothing but a monster.
- Oh… I'll take that as a compliment, my brother… hehehehe.
A wicked smile twisted his face as he slit his own hand with his blade. Dark, thick blood dripped onto the ground. Gadreel knelt before his prisoner and traced a large symbol with his blood, each line vibrating with a perverse energy.
But just as the sigil began to take shape, Penemue gently raised her hand.
That unseen gesture granted Darfredon the ability to reclaim control of the dream—to break the chains of that memory.
He stepped away from the sacred fire that held him and walked toward his sister.
Seeing him regain possession of his body, Penemue spoke softly, her voice gentle yet tinged with reproach.
- To think that once… you were nothing more than an obedient little angel, always ready to follow our Father's orders without ever questioning them.
- Times have changed, my sister. But stay… watch this memory closely. You're going to love what comes next. Muahahaha!
Darfredon stood beside him, an amused spectator of his own former suffering.
He almost savored the cruelty of the memory, staring at his other self, still trapped within the angelic circle, as Gadreel completed the cursed symbol that would shatter his destiny.
- You're a filthy coward, Gadreel!
Fredon shouted from behind the sacred flames.
But Gadreel ignored his brother's words. He finished drawing the blood sigil and began a ritual, chanting demonic words.
When the incantation ended, a thick black smoke burst from the circle and surged straight into Fredon's mouth. He collapsed violently to the ground.
Gadreel frowned in disappointment—he had hoped to toy with him longer.
He slowly straightened, raised his hand, and with a single gesture caused the flames of the cage to waver.
But suddenly, Fredon snapped upright.
His body convulsed, shaken by violent tremors, his hands clutching his head as if it were about to explode. He staggered, unable to keep his balance, each step bringing him closer to collapse.
Gadreel burst into cruel laughter, savoring the spectacle.
Short of breath, chest heaving, Fredon fought with all his strength against the grip of the black smoke—none other than a demonic spirit named Baël, summoned by his brother. His eyes rolled back, his body twisted, yet despite the torment, he managed to lift his head. His voice, hoarse and broken, finally tore itself free.
- What did you do to me, Gadreel?
- Hehehehe… I merely invited an old little demon to come celebrate with us.
Gadreel pressed his fingers to his temples and used his telepathy to hurl into Fredon's mind every atrocity he had committed—the murders, the tortures inflicted upon angels who had dared to oppose him.
Fredon screamed, reliving each vision like an open wound.
- STOP SENDING ME THESE ATROCITIES, GADREEL! AND YOU, FILTHY DEMON—GET OUT OF MY BODY!
His voice twisted, darkening until it echoed like that of the ancient king of Hell, Baël himself. On his knees, he continued to struggle against the creature clawing for full control of his being.
Gadreel sneered, his eyes blazing with perverse delight.
- Hehehehehe… poor little lamb. You're already whining, incapable of saving yourself. Perhaps I should call our Father for help? Oh right… I forgot. He abandoned us. No one is coming to save you, Fredon.
- Oh! The little lamb without a father is becoming more and more aggressive… hahahahaha!
Gadreel savored the spectacle. He watched his brother sink, his strength draining away, until Fredon collapsed heavily to the ground—lifeless, almost empty of existence. Gadreel lingered for a moment, contemplating the broken body, then burst into monstrous laughter, feasting on his brother's suffering.
But that shrill, cruel laughter ignited something deep within Fredon.
A smoldering, burning rage erupted from his core. His body snapped upright, driven by a new force. A strange, blinding gray light suddenly radiated from him, flooding the cavern and violently shattering Gadreel's seal.
Fredon stood, panting, letting hatred guide every word.
- I SAID… GET OUT OF MY BODY, BAËL!
At those words, the black smoke was violently ripped from his throat. It coiled, writhed, screamed without sound, then burst free from his body. In a furious motion, Fredon thrust out his hand and seized the non-material demonic entity, holding it fast in a spiritual iron grip.
- Come back here! I'm not done with you yet!
Within the swirling chaos, the smoke seemed to sketch a face—a mouth twisted into a silent sneer, red eyes forming only to vanish an instant later. Fredon fixed his gaze on the fleeting apparition and spat, his voice heavy with rage.
- Wawahaha! How dare you invade my mind, former king of Hell? What were you trying to do?
Receiving no answer, Fredon tightened his grip. The entity twisted violently, its mass of black smoke tearing into chaotic streams. Blood-red reflections flared from its dark core, like embers caught in a vortex. It roared—not with a voice, but like infernal fire raging within a suffocating breath. The smoke convulsed, stretching into shifting fragments, sometimes shadow, sometimes crimson glow, as if imploding under the pressure of his iron grasp.
- Answer me, Baël! What did you hope to accomplish? Were you trying to seize my body to reclaim your throne?
He paused, his eyes blazing with fury.
- In the end… it doesn't matter. Your answer doesn't interest me.
He tightened his relentless grip.
The smoke twisted like a beast in agony, screaming with a thousand damned voices. Red lightning burst from its dark mass, crawling like serpents along Fredon's arm. Slowly, Baël's essence liquefied into burning streams, seeping into his veins like molten poison. His flesh became marked with glowing crimson veins that pulsed—dark embers beating in rhythm with his heart.
The corruption climbed higher still. His left eye, once steel-gray, turned blood-red, blazing with infernal fire.
The fusion ended in a silent detonation.
The soul of the former King of Hell had been sealed within him.
Fredon staggered under the newborn power burning inside him, then collapsed unconscious.
Penemue, a silent witness, stepped back in shock. Her voice trembled with disbelief as she spoke to Darfredon, who was reliving the memory.
- What just happened? I thought an angel couldn't be possessed by a demon…
Darfredon answered calmly, almost with icy pride.
- Normally, he can't. But Gadreel discovered the only way to open that door… to force a demon into an angel's soul.
- Then why did he never teach this technique to Lucifer's armies?
- You know our brother… he jealously guards his secrets. He enjoys being the only one who holds that power.
At those words, Gadreel burst into laughter, his shrill cackle echoing like a hyena drunk on cruelty.
- Hehehehe… Well then, Fredon! You struggled so much just to bring down a simple demon! How pathetic!
Fredon raised his head. His eyes, now darkened by a new gleam, burned with pure hatred. His voice rumbled like restrained thunder.
- Laugh all you want, Gadreel. But remember this… you're next on my list.
He lunged at his brother, drunk with rage. But just as his fist was about to strike, a writhing wall of insects erupted before him, stopping him dead. The air grew suffocating.
A deep, charismatic voice echoed from the shadows.
- Enough.
Lucifer had entered the cavern.
Under each of his arms stood Belzebuth and Lilith, advancing with cold assurance.
Fredon and Gadreel froze, stunned by their sudden appearance.
Gadreel grimaced, his eyes still burning with malice, but his voice betrayed a hint of tension.
- How… how did you know we were here, Lucifer?
Belzebuth curled her lips into a predatory smile.
- Thanks to my insect spies.
Lilith added in a sensual yet cruel voice,
- And your summoning made so much noise in Hell that we simply couldn't resist our curiosity.
Lucifer withdrew his arms from his two companions and stepped forward alone toward Fredon, without the slightest fear.
But Fredon instinctively took a few steps back. Seeing this fear, Lucifer raised a calming hand and murmured,
- Easy, my brother. I won't harm you… I came to help you.
- Don't touch me!
Fredon spat, insulted by the very idea that his brother would dare offer him help.
- Very well. Take all the time you need, Lucifer whispered.
But tell me… do you still believe our Father is with us? Or do you finally admit that He abandoned us?
Fredon clenched his fists.
- Why ask me that?
- Because I, Fredon, came to you… while our Father didn't lift a single finger.
A heavy silence fell.
Then Fredon lifted his head, his eyes—gray and blood-red—burning with rage.
- Never call me Fredon again. From now on, you will call me Darfredon.
Since our Father only helps dark beings like you… then I will become one of them.
Now… get out of my way.
Those words tore a hysterical laugh from Gadreel.
- Hehehe… Darfredon? You didn't look very far for your new name. Darloser sounded even better!
- Shut up, Gadreel! Lucifer hissed, his gaze blazing.
Keep provoking me and I'll be the one to wipe you out.
And you too, Darfredon… don't force me to raise my hand against you.
The silence grew heavy.
Uncomfortable, Gadreel began to step back, ready to flee.
But Belzebuth, a dark silhouette with ebony skin and gleaming eyes, stepped forward. Her lips stretched into a cruel grin, and with a smooth motion of her hand, she released a swarm of flies that surrounded Gadreel, cutting off all escape.
- You're not going anywhere.
His deep voice vibrated like venom, slow and relentless.
Gadreel felt anger rush to his face, humiliated at being stopped by
Lucifer's "good women." He ground his teeth, but before he could reply,
Lucifer let out a soft chuckle, his tone laced with irony.
- What is it, Gadreel? Already thinking of leaving us?
- No… you're mistaken!
Gadreel replied, the lie clumsy and transparent.
Lucifer then stepped forward with fluid grace, his gaze shining with a
false benevolence that barely concealed his true intentions.
- Do not be afraid, my brother. I am not here to exterminate you.
No… I am here to make you an offer.
- Whatever your proposal is, count me out!
Darfredon growled, turning away from Lucifer and starting to walk off.
But as he passed Lilith, she seized his arm. Her fingers were cold and
firm, yet her voice flowed like honey.
- At least take the time to listen to your brother…
I was just like you at first. I resisted. I doubted.
And yet, he convinced me to follow him.
- I don't like working with fallen angels…
Darfredon replied darkly, his gaze fixed solely on his vengeance
against Gadreel.
Lucifer raised his hand. His voice—both gentle and commanding—cut
through the tension instantly.
- That's enough, Lilith. Release him.
If he does not wish to listen, that is his choice.
Lilith obeyed.
Darfredon resumed walking away, but before he could go too far,
Lucifer's voice caught up to him, smooth and poisonous.
- You are free to leave, Darfredon.
But believe me… our brothers and sisters will not accept a hatred
as burning as yours.
Darfredon stopped dead and turned back, his eyes blazing with rage.
- You are hardly in a position to lecture me.
Lucifer offered a thin, almost paternal smile.
- You are free to believe that.
But think carefully… If you continue to nurture such hatred,
they will reject you. I will not force anything upon you.
But remember this: I will always be here.
Darfredon clenched his fists, unsettled.
- What are you plotting, Lucifer?
Lucifer opened his arms, as if hiding nothing at all.
- I am plotting nothing, my brother.
I simply wish to work with you…
with all those who have the courage to follow me.
Together, we can overthrow Cronos.
- And why should we help you overthrow the King of Hell?
- Why?… Because by dethroning Cronos, I will become the new ruler of Hell.
And under this new reign, my brothers, each of you will receive an equal
share of the kingdom. Power will be shared… for the first time.
- Knowing you, you surely made the same offer to Yekun and Kesabel,
who followed you without hesitation. But I, Lucifer…
I do not need more responsibility. I already command the Cherubim.
Lucifer let out a melancholic smile.
- I understand you, my brother. I too once led the Seraphim.
I believed my brothers and sisters would always stand by me…
but one day, my bond with humanity displeased them.
Too close to mortals, too curious about their nature,
I lost their trust. And so, they chose to banish me.
- God never banished you from Paradise?
Darfredon exclaimed, incredulous.
Lucifer's reply struck hard, heavy with resentment.
- God?… That is yet another secret of the Seraphim.
There has not been a God on the throne for a very long time…
assuming one ever existed at all.
For Paradise has always been ruled by the leader of the Seraphim.
A crushing silence followed this revelation.
Darfredon frowned, his voice tense.
- Then why did they banish you?
Lilith answered, stepping forward,
her eyes blazing with defiance.
- Because he protected me.
When Adam rejected me for another woman—more obedient—
Lucifer reached out his hand to me.
And when I fell into his arms, the Seraphim cried scandal.
They declared he was no longer welcome,
because he dared to love me.
Darfredon stepped back slightly, shaken.
- I was always told…
that you killed the first woman.
Lucifer shook his head gravely, his gaze darkening.
- No. I never killed her.
My only crime… was loving her.
Lilith—the true first companion of Adam.
She was rejected because she refused to submit.
So I took her into my arms.
Some of our brothers tolerated that love…
but others chose to condemn me
and erase me from Paradise.
A heavy silence, filled with truth, settled over them. Then Darfredon slowly nodded.
- In that case… I will follow you, Lucifer.
- I will follow you as well, Gadreel added in a firm voice. No hard feelings, Darfredon.
- No hard feelings, Gadreel, he replied softly.
Lucifer smiled, relieved, and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
- I am proud of you, my brothers. Together, we will build a new kingdom. Come… let us leave this place.
- We follow you, Gadreel and Darfredon said in unison.
Lucifer, Lilith, and Beelzebuth stepped forward first. The two brothers followed close behind, crossing the threshold of the cave. Their silhouettes faded into the pale moonlight, as if swallowed by the night itself.
In the present, Penemue and Darfredon watched those images dissolve, like echoes of a past forever sealed.
Darfredon remained motionless, his gaze lost in the void. The silence lingered—but his aura had changed: a new, dark flame now burned within his eyes.
At last, he whispered in a low voice, almost to himself:
- That was only the beginning… now you will understand why I chose this path.