- Lucifer -
Lucifer couldn't help but stare at the unknown before him. Their facial features and monotone voice made it difficult to confidently tell what gender they were. This combined with the fact that everyone he had heard refer to the unknown always used "they" or "them" didn't help.
The unknown was 6'1" with long light brown hair and an almost snow-white skin tone. Lucifer understood why some might think they're an angel.
"You wanted to meet me first, here I am, so now please do me the kindness of telling me why you don't want to talk to Death?"
The unknown's eyes were similar to Lucifer's in a way, almost like they were mirroring his stare. They spoke in a soft monotone voice.
"I disagree with his beliefs. A fact I'm sure would make negotiations difficult if I revealed it to him."
"What makes you think it won't make this talk difficult? I happen to agree with his ideals." Lucifer asked.
"Do you?" The unknown turned their head slightly. "I had thought you were smarter than that." They didn't sound like they were trying to insult Lucifer.
"Excuse me?" Lucifer narrowed his eyes.
The unknown clasped their hands and leaned in.
"What Death wants and what is possible do not align. He wants true equality among all races of this world, including humans, and that is just not possible. You've traveled these lands, you've lived as an angel, a fallen, and an advocate for humanity, so surely you've noticed how impossible Death's ideals are?"
The unknown's explanation surprised Lucifer.
"How old are you? More importantly, what are you?" Lucifer asked, stalling for time to think.
"I can't answer the latter, and as for the former, old enough."
"You realize every time you withhold information it makes you look more and more suspicious?" Lucifer said.
"I'm well aware. I don't seek revenge for an extinct race." The unknown responded. "No, what I want is for the evils of this world to fall. I believe humans are among the most affected by those said evils, which is part of the reason I made this resistance."
"Part? Or are you not going to answer that either?" Lucifer leaned back.
The unknown leaned back.
"The other part is that I want to carry on the ideals of deceased friends and lovers. I believe myself to be a successor of those I've lost. My goals are not my own, but all of ours."
Lucifer had been keeping a close eye on the unknown, looking for anything that would imply they were lying. A tick, uncertainty in the eyes, even inconsistencies in their speech. Nothing. The blunt honesty of their words almost worried him more.
"You believe you're multiple beings?"
"I don't believe myself to literally be them, just that I carry all of our ideals." The unknown specified. "I wouldn't be here if not for them, so I believe they deserve to be part of this through me."
Lucifer could feel control of the conversation slipping away from him. He was getting a similar feeling to past conversations he's had with Satan, a fact that set off warnings in his mind.
"You said that disagreeing with Death might put you in danger. You would only think that if what you're planning is going to go against him. He doesn't like fighting humans and would prefer to avoid killing if possible."
The unknown's quick responses annoyed Lucifer. It felt like everything he was going to say had been predicted.
"I disagree with the idea that humans can integrate into this world slowly. I didn't always think like that, but after I realized his line of thinking comes from a place of privileged bias, I do." The unknown countered.
Maybe it was the constant stress Lucifer had been under since Hydern, maybe it was genuine curiosity, whatever the reason, he decided to hear this unknown out a little longer than he normally would have.
"You think he holds his ideals because he's an ancient with a bloody past? I have my own dirty past as well."
"The difference is in your strength." The unknown answered. "I know your story, and I know you owe Death for not becoming a monster. I would never question you're respect for him. He is a great example of what a god should be, however, as far as the politics of this world are concerned, he's too passive."
The word "passive" hooked Lucifer deeper into the conversation. Whether the unknown meant for it or not, they had just used the perfect word to keep his attention.
Lucifer sat back and put up three fingers, hoping his next argument would help him regain some control.
"The Riders, Ragnarok, The World's Grave. Three cataclysms that aren't talked about anymore, for good reason. Those who experienced that time, actually experienced it, know to fear the names. I think it's reasonable for someone to be passive after times like those."
The unknown put up three fingers, mirroring Lucifer.
"Three events that are near-perfect examples of what can happen if gods are left unchecked." They lowered their fingers. "I don't believe power corrupts, I believe corruption is a seed and power is the soil. We can't wait and give these things time to grow as Death has."
Lucifer had a vast knowledge when it came to the corrupt and powerful. Tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of conversations with reborn nobles who believed themselves justified in their actions. He had spoken with every type of ruler from barbarian chieftain to emperors about how they ended up in Hell.
"I can agree with the idea, but things aren't as simple as they used to be. Death can't ride into someone's territory, behead them, and then leave. You do know what a power vacuum is right?"
The unknown nodded their head.
"Of course, to both statements. I'm not a child who thinks things can be solved so easily. What I want will take time, it already has. I simply have frustrations with Death over how little movement someone in his position has made."
Lucifer felt like he needed to switch topics for a moment. He could feel himself getting too deep into the current conversation.
"Tabling your issues with Death for a moment, why are you trying to get the underworld gods to usurp their territories?"
"To help my cause and make a point." The unknown's response was instant.
Lucifer felt like he had a foothold so he pressed the issue.
"How does an unassuming unknown like you gain clout among those gods?"
"Showings of strength." The unknown started to list. "Negotiations. Offering rare items. Different gods require different methods." They said matter-of-factly.
Lucifer felt a tinge of anxiety. Something about a being he had never met potentially being strong enough to sway upper-tier gods gave him a sense of unease.
"I've obliged you with this meeting, and I'm sure you know all about my magic, so can you show me what you're capable of?"
It wasn't a request for a duel and any other being would have found the question incredibly rude, but the unknown didn't hesitate. They snapped their fingers and the same man from before walked in with a tray that held a glass of water, a stone, and a mirror on it.
The unknown placed their hand, palm up, and created a small flame. Around the flame, a small sphere of wind formed. They used their other hand and lifted the stone up and added it to the sphere.
Lucifer stood up in a panic, knocking the chair over. His reaction didn't stop the unknown's show of power.
'No...no that's not possible, he's dead. You can't be alive, you can't be.'
The unknown added the water to their elemental sphere and then created a net of electricity around all of it. They stopped conjuring the fire, wind, and electricity and dropped the water and stone back into the glass.
Lucifer wanted to attack the unknown. He wanted to put all of his mana into a burst of blue fire. His shakiness caused him to hesitate.
The unknown lifted up the mirror and pointed its glass at Lucifer. They projected their own image onto it.
Lucifer was readying himself for an attack. He had been trying to calm down, ashamed of his fearful state. Before he could raise his arms the unknown spoke.
"I'm not your father. Feel free to burn my face to confirm that."
Lucifer walked over and ignited his hand. He touched the unknown's cheek, burning their flesh, and proving that they weren't hiding behind an illusion. He lifted his hand and walked back to the other side of the room. He removed the fire from his hand and took a breath. He didn't look at the unknown as he spoke.
"How can you do that? The only being in existence who had every base affinity was my father."
The unknown healed their burnt flesh and spoke.
"How do you have fire magic? How can lycans transform into wolves? We don't choose what we're born with. Maybe it was Chaos's will that gave me this strength, though I don't like giving credit to a god I've never met."
Another statement that felt a little too perfect. Lucifer had always hated the worship of Chaos. He hated worship in general, but the fact that no one had ever seen Chaos added to his frustrations.
'A majority of gods believe in, but don't worship Chaos so I shouldn't read too much into that.' Lucifer thought, turning around to face the unknown again.
"Final question before I leave. Why of all places would you ever choose this nightmare as your base of operations?"
The unknown smiled, shocking Lucifer.
"I've been waiting for your arrival. I thought you would be here sooner, but it doesn't matter, since you're here now. I want you to help me destroy this place." They dropped their smile.
"This is an abomination of the world. A monument of atrocities that I have long wanted to tear down." The unknown said, their eyes flaring for a moment.
Lucifer had fantasies about destroying Passage's Underground after experiencing it for the first time. There were often places in the Otherworld that Lucifer thought better fit the human-idea of Hell, and the Underground was one of them. A place of tortured souls who welcomed death at any moment.
"Why wouldn't you want Death's help with this? He hates this place as much as I do."
"I think Death would be better suited for what will happen above." The unknown pointed at the ceiling. "If anything I've given him an easier job than you."
Lucifer worried about his team's safety. Whatever was about to happen could put them in danger.
"If anything happens to my team I'll make you regret this plan."
The unknown pulled out an echo.
"Nothing will happen to them. I have people stationed up above, and Death is with them. As I've said, you have a more difficult job. Feel free to call Death and warn him, I'll wait."
Lucifer knew the right thing to do was just leave. At least he thought that was the right thing. Past images of mutilated bodies and broken eyes filled his head as he looked around the plain room. The Underground had even taken a former member of his team. It took months of talking down to stop him from running in and trying to burn the whole place down when that happened.
He called Death.
"Lucifer? Is everything okay? I'll be right there!"
"No!" Lucifer shouted. "Just stay with the team. If anything happens up there I'm trusting you with their safety." He ended the call.
The unknown made a call and was asked one question.
"What's your name?" The voice asked.
"Kahvis." The unknown said.
After revealing their name a large explosion could be heard followed by shouts and screams. Kahvis put their echo away.
"The true resistance begins now," Kahvis said.