"So, why exactly was I chosen to be the demon prince when I know bubkiss about demons?" Derrick asked Lust as Pride sped off the dirt road they were following. "No one knows really. Just that it's been decided, and they trust you to do this right so you can take over."
That seemed like a good enough reason for Derrick as he slumped back on the seat. As he looked around at the barren landscape he couldn't help but feel... nervous? Was it just because of what his demon friends told him about the prophecy, or was there something else going on? He looked down at the lance resting on his lap, trying not to think about how heavy the weapon felt in his hand. "And you're saying I need to practice using this stick because...?" Derrick asked clearly confused. "Because the only thing that can stop Lucifer is the Lance of Michael, and till we get that you'll be practicing with the makeshift. But don't worry! It will come in handy!"
He gave a slight nod before looking forward again. They continued driving through a forested area until Pride took a sharp turn, causing Derrick to look away from the window. "Easy with the wheel man, Jeez." Derrick said as his body slammed against the seatbelt and the world blurred around him. Once his vision cleared, Pride pulled into a small clearing and stopped. Derrick sat up and looked around. The place looked pretty deserted apart from a few trees scattered throughout the area.
"Where are we? Woah... why do I feel like I'm burning? There's this sudden rush of energy around me." Derrick said as he was taken aback by his sudden surge of power. Sloth rolled down the windows and smiled. "That, my dear friend, is because you just experienced an awakening from your dormant powers." He then turned and jumped out of the car, followed by the others.
Derrick got out and walked closer to a tree that looked like it's seen better days. "What awakened my powers? Is this normal? Because I've never experienced it before." Derrick said staring at the skies. "More emphasis on NEVER seeing as this is your first time being here." Gluttony replied. "Where even is here?" Derrick asked as he swung the makeshift lance around. "This is the very spot where Lucifer fell after he was cast out of Heaven." Envy said as he looked at the huge crater before them. "Oh..." Derrick sighed as he glanced at Sloth who still had a mischievous grin plastered across his face. "This is where we will make contact with Michael." Envy blurted out with a straight face.
Derrick dropped the stick. "Wait, wait, wait. You say that like we have some sort of plan! I barely made it out alive from Luci's clutches and now you wanna summon an ARCHANGEL?! I remember you guys calling me the demon prince, emphasis on DEMON! And last I checked, they don't roll with the likes of us. So please tell me there's another plan because I really hope there is." He begged hopefully.
Gluttony stepped towards the crater and knelt down next to it, tracing his fingers along the edge. "If I remember correctly, Michael's Lance was used to end the rebellion of Lucifer. He's the only one that knows where he hid it." It's a bad plan but it's the best bad plan we have." Gluttony said as he stood up. "Then we better hurry before he has time to return it to its original location." Pride added as he took one last long look at the giant hole. He then started walking to the car to get the ingredients necessary for an angel summoning.
Lust followed behind Pride, dragging Sloth along with him. "Come on Envy, let's get a move on." Sloth said as he yanked Envy by his arms as they went to meet Pride who rifled around the trunk looking for the ingredients necessary for an angel summoning. "And what if he says no?!" Derrick said from a distance. "I have a good feeling he won't." Pride said with a smirk .
A couple moments later Pride had the items and was leading them to the large crater. He carefully climbed up inside and began placing the ingredients together as Sloth and Lust watched anxiously. "Alright, you all besides Derrick need to stay outside for backup incase shit goes awry." Pride said as he pointed at them. Derrick swallowed thickly, nodding his head slowly in response as he entered the depths of the hole with Pride. "It should work right?" Lust asked worriedly. "Yeah... it's gotta work... we didn't come all this way for nothing." Greed said. "Besides, what have we got to lose? If I flakes we'd be sent back to Hell and Derrick can't die so..." Greed continued. "I heard that!" Derrick said from the crater. "Alright, no more fooling around come on!" Pride said as he ordered everyone to be silent. He took a deep breath and began chanting as he pushed one of the objects to the center of the hole. "Archangel Michael, show yourself." Pride yelled, hoping that the archangel had listened to him and was now listening to him right now. "Umm... is that all?" Derrick said as he looked around expectantly. "I'll... say it again, it should work." Pride said as he tried to grab the bowl where all the ingredients lay
A powerful gust of wind blew past the group.
Everyone shuddered as the gusts intensified. They could feel something watching them as they waited expectantly. "Is someone there?" Pride shouted as the wind died down. Silence answered him. He was beginning to feel uneasy as no one spoke. He raised his arm and tried to pull one of the components towards himself with his powers when a force yanked him out of the crater with lightning speed. He fell to the ground, landing hard on his side as he groaned. He looked up and saw an angry looking redhead standing above him as he proceeded to grab him by his neck.
"Moloch! How dare you summon me?!" Michael snapped glaring daggers at Pride. Greed grabbed the fallen soldier under the armpits and hauled him upwards. "We mean no harm, we need to talk please." Derrick said to Michael trying to remain calm as much as possible. "And who might you be you hairless ape!" Michael said as he threw Greed and Sloth out of the crater. "It concerns destroying Lucifer." Derrick said regaining his composure. He could see Michael's eye twitch in irritation before he responded. "Yes? I'm listening."
Derrick's legs nearly gave up on him as he explained everything, from Lucifer's apparent return, to the gates of Hell being sealed off, to Lucifer wanting to start the apocalypse early. Michael stayed quiet for a moment as he listened to Derrick's story, then his expression changed to one of concern.
"You have done well to survive. But if this is your attempt at defeating him with these rag tag excuse of companions..." Michael trailed off and his eyes narrowed dangerously at the six demons behind Derrick. "If you fail to defeat Lucifer... you will pay dearly for this mistake. He's not one to let go of a grudge easily. "That's where your holy lance comes in, if I can get it in time and learn to u..." "Absolutely NOT! The Lance stays with me and no other person." Michael said as he spread out his wings preparing to fly. "No, listen to me!" Derrick said stepping forwards. "The lance is special, its my birthright. Its my responsibility to protect it and I'll be damned if I let it in the puny graps of a protozoa."
Derrick glared angrily at him, clearly unsatisfied with his words as he looked down at the ground, clearly frustrated and annoyed. "Fine." He finally mumbled. Michael frowned slightly before turning and flying away leaving the six demons dumbfounded.
"Are we sure that just happened?" Lust said breaking the silence. "Pretty sure. Looks like we found ourselves another daddy's boy huh Pride?" Greed said with a smirk on his face. "Let's go, it's getting late." Pride said as he passed out on the ground. "Pride?! Pride get up!" Greed and Gluttony said as Lust began examining his body. "Guys... I don't think he's breathing." Lust said as Pride's chest didn't rise or fall. "Oh fuck." Envy muttered as he stared wide eyed at Pride. "What's going on?" Derrick said as he began to panic. Lust backed away as he starred at everyone. "Pride is dying, he's losing his life force rapidly as we speak." Lust said as he stared blankly at Pride's limp body. "How are we supposed to stop it? Can anyone here do anything?" Derrick said looking between the demons desperately. "He probably got this wound when Michael grabbed him by the neck, look at the neck burns and how rapidly it's expanding." Gluttony said as he pointed at Pride's neck. "We can't just let him go, We have to do something! Come on guys!" Derrick screamed at now one in particular. "The only thing we can do now... is hope." Sloth said as he carried Pride's body on his shoulders . "Great, just great. Now pray to whatever god is up there for us." Derrick said bitterly as he rubbed his hands on his head. "THIS IS FUCKED!" Derrick yelled out to the clouds as he knelt to the ground and buried his head in his palms.