The night in Carowa was peaceful, yet the people remained on guard. Villagers roved all night, changing shifts, their vigilance a testament to the recent threats they had faced. Beneath the surface, however, a vastly different realm existed.
The sky was perpetually red, as if ablaze with unquenchable flames. The air was thick with smoke and ash, making it difficult to breathe. The land was dry and cracked, resembling a vast, lifeless desert interspersed with jagged, obsidian mountains. Rivers ran with blood and lava, their combined heat and stench creating an almost unbearable atmosphere. The moon, a haunting and ominous black, cast eerie shadows across the landscape, adding to the foreboding ambiance.
This hellish domain was known as Muspelheim, the home of fire giants and demons. The fire giants, towering and fierce, had skin like molten rock and eyes that burned with an intense, fiery glow. The demons, more varied in shape and size, possessed claws and fangs meant for tearing flesh and spreading terror. Both races thrived in the chaos and destruction that defined their realm.
In the north of Muspelheim, a colossal castle stood imposingly against the crimson sky, its dark spires reaching out like claws. The castle loomed over a desolate landscape, its walls made of dark stone that seemed to absorb the light. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur and brimstone, and the ground beneath it was barren and scorched.
Inside, the grand hall was lit by flickering torches that cast long, eerie shadows on the walls. The ceiling was high, disappearing into darkness, and the floor was made of polished obsidian that reflected the dim light. Dark banners adorned the walls, each emblazoned with the symbols of the seven princes of Hell. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, and the walls seemed to pulse with a malevolent energy.
A grand banquet was being held—a gathering of the Devils. The long stone table in the center of the room was laden with grotesque delicacies, the scent of which mingled with the acrid smell of burning torches. Goblets filled with a dark, thick liquid sat before each seat, and the flickering light revealed faces of malevolent joy and dark purpose.
"Yoho! Asmodeus-kun, you're early," called out a demon who had just arrived. She had a childlike appearance, her pupils black and red, and her irises shimmering gold. Her playful voice contrasted sharply with the malevolence of her gaze. She skipped over to the table, her steps light and carefree, as if mocking the oppressive atmosphere around them.
"Mammon, act your age," Asmodeus retorted, reclining in his chair with a languid grace. His handsome face elicited desire from anyone who saw him. His features were sculpted, his eyes a piercing blue that seemed to see through souls. His voice was smooth, yet it carried a weight of authority that demanded respect. He lazily swirled the dark liquid in his goblet, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Mammon smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. "Oh, Asmodeus, you know I can't help it. The allure of youth is just too much fun to resist."
"You two, cut it out," a woman suddenly appeared from the shadows, her presence commanding silence. Her eyes glowed with an eerie light, her hair flowing like dark water. The shadows seemed to cling to her as if she were part of them. She glided forward, her movements as fluid as the darkness that surrounded her.
"Yoho! Levia!" Mammon said with a mischievous grin, leaning forward eagerly. "I really want that hair of yours."
"Stop it, Mammon, you're being greedy again. But I envy you; you can do anything in Midgard while I cannot," Leviathan said, her voice quivering with envy as tears glistened in her eyes like molten gold. Her serpentine movements were fluid, her jealousy palpable. She coiled and uncoiled restlessly, her eyes never leaving Mammon.
Mammon leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, Levia. Maybe if you stopped sulking and started plotting, you'd get what you want."
Leviathan's eyes narrowed, her voice a dangerous hiss. "Careful, Mammon. Even a serpent has its limits." She raised her chin defiantly, her eyes flashing with a mixture of resentment and determination.
"Stop the drama, you're being a b*tch, Leviathan," a bulky man said as he took a seat at the table, his muscles rippling under his rough, scaly skin. His eyes were a deep, burning red, and his presence was imposing and intimidating. He tore a chunk of meat from the platter in front of him, his jaws working methodically as he chewed.
"Haha, you're being funny, Beelzebub," a woman with white hair and red eyes said with a yawn, her voice languid and bored. She stretched out, her movements cat-like and graceful, her sharp nails glinting in the dim light. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes half-closed in apparent disinterest.
"Oh! So both of you are here, Belphegor and Beelzebub. I thought you two couldn't attend," Leviathan said, her voice a mix of surprise and disdain. She drummed her fingers on the table, her nails clicking rhythmically.
"At first, we weren't, but Sataniel said we had to," Beelzebub replied, his voice deep and resonant. His eyes glinted with a dangerous hunger as he eyed the food on the table. He reached out with clawed hands, greedily grabbing at the grotesque fare. "His fury is not something I want to deal with."
"Why does it always have to be Sataniel? His fury is unbearable," Belphegor muttered, her voice tinged with irritation. "I was enjoying a perfectly good nap." She sighed heavily, her fingers tracing patterns on the table.
"Anyway, is Lucifiel not attending again?" Mammon asked with curiosity. "She's too busy and obsessed with Midgard." She glanced around the room, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.
Suddenly, a shadow materialized, its sinister laugh sending chills down their spines. The dark moon illuminated his face, revealing a tall man with blood-red hair and eyes that burned with wrath. It was Sataniel, the Wrathful Lord. His presence filled the room with an oppressive heat, and the air seemed to vibrate with his fury.
"Oho, everyone!" he exclaimed with a wicked grin, striding confidently to the head of the table. "It seems everyone heeded my call. How about we start the meeting?"