- Satan and Elijah -
Satan and Elijah were sitting down at a stone table playing chess. A large stone board was across from them. It had the two's names carved on it with twelve marks under Satan's name and none under Elijah's.
Satan moved a piece. "Are you finally out of questions?"
Elijah looked at the board, pretending as if he was thinking about the game. "What can you tell me about the leaders of Han'ei?"
Satan watched Elijah move a piece and scowled. "Terrible move," He moved a piece. "Can't say I know much more than the average information broker. Those two have done a great job hiding their abilities from the world. The only thing I know that others might not is in regards to Izanagi's intelligence."
Elijah went to move a piece but was interrupted by Satan.
"That's fool's mate, make a different move."
Elijah looked at the board and groaned. "What about his intelligence?"
Satan leaned back. "My only interactions with the man have been at World Council meetings. During the intermission of one of the meetings, he asked me to play a game. His emotions at the time made me aware of his true intentions. Regardless, I didn't care, and played him."
Elijah moved his piece. "What were his intentions?"
Satan moved a piece immediately after Elijah. "An alliance. Before the game started, I told him I wanted to make a bet. If he won, I would ally with him; if I won, he would have to 'link' our information networks. His emotions didn't shift when I offered the bet."
Elijah rested his cheek on the back of his hand. "He can see the future, can't he? Why would that mean anything special?"
Satan created a small illusory tree with many bare branches. He moved it above the board before speaking.
"From what I understand, Izanagi's ability to see the future creates a thousand potential 'paths' up to a certain timeframe," the illusory tree's branches began to multiply. "A thousand 'paths' become a million, so on and so forth," The tree disappeared. "The reason I think his intelligence is worth noting is not just because of his ability to parse such dense data but because of the lack of concern when I offered the bet."
Elijah spoke in a condescending tone, "So you think he's smart because he's confident?"
Satan tilted his head and smirked. "If he had proven himself a fool in the past, I wouldn't, but he didn't. If he was arrogant, I would, but he's not. Besides, there was one final thing that made me believe he's smarter than he lets on," He pointed at the board. "Your move still."
Elijah moved a piece quickly, "Okay, what did he-"
"Check," Satan interrupted as he moved a piece. "As you know, I describe the emotions I see as 'colors' for ease of understanding. Izanagi asked me for a more specific explanation of my magic. I offered him an exchange of information. A further explanation of my powers for a further explanation of his. He agreed. He- not there, that's mate."
Elijah put his piece back down and Satan continued talking.
"He went into detail about what exactly he was seeing. I was impressed given that I think most beings would lose their mind to such a power. The thing that confirmed my suspicions though, was how he responded when I further explained my magic. He immediately understood how I was able to read intentions through the 'colors' that I described. I gave him examples of what I've seen and he guessed the intentions perfectly."
Elijah's eyes narrowed with irritation as he moved a piece. "So you think he's intelligent because he's like you?"
"Check," Satan smiled after moving a piece. "If you want to believe otherwise you're free to, however, in my experience, 'things' often recognize themselves. Monsters recognize monsters, strength recognizes strength, and genius recognizes genius. That being said, I think that man is poisoning his mind with his future sight."
Elijah looked at the board and sighed. "Do you just want to tell me how I should move or would you rather I make another mistake?"
Satan crossed his arms. "This is your last game to ask me questions, so figure it out. I can tell you want to know more about what I just said."
Elijah looked at the board, this time actually attempting to study it and look for a move that doesn't lose him the match. After a few minutes, he figured it out and moves a piece. He looks up at Satan for confirmation that the match isn't over.
"Check," Satan uncrossed his arms and moved a piece. "I don't believe in the idea that unique magics are perfect fits for their wielders, and in the case of Izanagi, I believe his magic--or more accurately his faith in his magic, holds him back greatly. He's known as 'The Lord of Prophecy' because almost every other oracle-classified being is an isolationist hermit that has accomplished nothing more than keeping themselves alive."
Elijah stared at the board. He put his hands on his head and desperately looked for a move that wouldn't lose him the match. He moved his piece and exhaled in relief.
"Check," Satan moved his piece with a quick clack. "Future sight is junk magic. The human world has its fair share of questionable physiological designs, future sight is just this world's equivalent."
"Seems like an inconsistency," Elijah bit his index finger's nail. "You believe in Kos, right? Why would a being create something with no meaningful purpose?"
Satan's expression shifted slightly with surprise. "Because the theory behind Kos is that they created this world in an attempt to mirror the human world. In that mirroring, comes mistakes. Fortune and misfortune come and go with no greater reason all the time in the human world, why not here?"
Elijah moved a piece and shook his head. "I'll have to talk with Lucifer about it when he gets back."
"Checkmate," Satan sighed as he moved a piece and stood up. "Back to training."
Elijah hung his head in frustration. "Oh!" his head popped up. "Who won the game you two had?"
"I did," Satan snapped his fingers, "Back to training!"
- Izanagi and Death -
Izanagi had cleaned himself up before the meeting. He was wearing his best fake smile as he more thoroughly explained his plans to Death.
"I don't know how long it will be until we see each other again, so I wanted to take you on a tour of the mountains so we could better catch up. Izanami wants to speak with Lucifer about certain 'topics' before he leaves, so she won't be joining us. We would have told you sooner but there are complications that I'm sure you're aware of?"
Death sighed, "It's understandable. I'm sure Lucifer will be happy to hear about Izanami's interest," He watched Izanagi pull the spear from the garden wall "I guess it's still mating season for the orochi?"
Izanami chuckled, "It is but I assume that won't be a problem for the two of us?"
Death grinned, "Don't overestimate my strength. I hope you don't expect me to do all the work?"
Izanagi laughed, "Of course not!"
- Izanami, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi -
Izanami stood over the battered bodies of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. She lifted Tsukuyomi by the hair.
"Do what you want AFTER your father and I are done," She dropped Tsukuyomi.
Tsukuyomi coughed as his body hit the ground. His voice was weak but defiant.
"You will lose. Maybe you kill Lucifer, maybe you kill Death even, but you will lose."
"Tsuki be quiet..." Amaterasu mumbled as she attempted to pull herself up. "He's only saying that because of his obsession with Lucifer. Don't listen to him."
Tsukuyomi flopped over and stared at the ceiling as he struggled to speak. "The very reason you and father are doing this...will be ruined if you fight Lucifer. He will drag you to the void with him and then father will lose his mind."
Izanagi put her foot on Tsukuyomi's chest. "You greatly overestimate Lucifer's strength."
Amaterasu stood up with a stumble. She held her side as she spoke with confidence.
"Just leave us already. We're not going to stop you from making this mistake so there's no point in you wasting any more energy on us."
Izanami turned her head toward Amaterasu. The look in her eyes sent a shiver down Amaterasu's body. She took her foot off Tsukuyomi's chest. She walked past Amaterasu without a word. Shadow yokai appeared from the ground and grabbed Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.
- Lucifer, Izanami, Peter, and Yvere -
Lucifer had been talking with Kija about the orcs while he waited for Izanami. He hid his excitement from the rest of the group as he thought about all the things he and Izanami would be discussing. Kija decided to leave with Yamato to tell the rebel forces about the new plan before Izanami arrived. Izanami's expression was still as she called over to Lucifer.
"Ready?"
Lucifer got up and waved Yvere and Peter to join him. The look on Izanami's face shifted to anger briefly. She took a breath and spoke calmly.
"I didn't expect we would have guests joining us. I know they're allies of yours but given what we're discussing, I would prefer to limit the number of ears."
Lucifer glanced at Peter and Yvere, "I would have told you over the echo call but it wasn't until after you called that they said they wanted to join. Peter knows about as much as I do."
Izanami interrupted, "And the half-vampire?"
"Yvere," Lucifer corrected. "And her, I owe my and my team's life to a dozen times over. Despite her age, she is more well-informed than most beings."
Izanami glanced at Yvere and then Peter before closing her eyes and shaking her head with frustration. Lucifer put his hand behind his back and held up one finger, signaling to Yvere and Peter.
"Lucifer," Izanami groaned, "I will tolerate this given that you're helping me," She opened her eyes. "Only these two though, no more."
"Of course," Lucifer faked a grin. "First a rebellion, now this. I can only imagine how stressful it's been," He turned to Peter. "Call Shiri and make sure he gets ready to leave. I don't want to have to track him down once it's time to go."
"Course," Peter nodded and pulled out an echo. "I'll be right back."
Izanami looked confused. "Why call him now?"
Lucifer sighed, "I was meaning to call him earlier but got lost in conversation with Xiao."
Izanami grinned with suspicion. "Mind if I ask what you two were talking about? I don't know as much about the Grim as I would like to."
Lucifer lied confidently, "It was about his past life and how much things have changed in his first life's homeland. There wasn't much discussion about the actual Grim missions."
- Peter and Shiri -
Shiri was having a meal with a group of female yuki when he felt his echo receive a call. He apologized to the smiling group that was clearly saddened to see him leave. He answered in a concerned tone.
"What's going on Peter?"
"Just be ready to leave," Peter said.
Shiri's eyes widened and then went back to relaxed. "I'll make sure to say goodbye to the others before I head over."
Shiri waited for Peter to end the call. He stood there and exhaled white mist.
'It's a good thing I listened to Lord Satan's advice,' He sighed. 'Lucifer...'
- Lucifer and Peter -
(Back when Lucifer's group first arrived in Han'ei)
"What signals are we goin' with?" Peter asked as he moved a large rectangular crate in the group's cart. "We can't be too trustin' after Olympus."
Lucifer sighed, "We'll use the level one signals. I trust Izanagi and Izanami, I trust Xiao and his team, I just...it's so tiring."
Peter groaned under his breath as he dropped the rectangular box, shaking the cart in the process, "Fuck sake Shiri," He dusted off his hands. "S'been a while since we used the ones. What's the order again?"
Lucifer held up one finger. "One finger for alert. Crack of the neck for danger," He mimicked cracking his neck. "Bite the nails for emergency. Ring finger for attack, thumb for defend, pinky for run."
Peter looked at his fingers. "I'll tell the others. Here's hopin' we don't need this shit for once."