—Who are you? How did you get into my room?
I was so shocked to see him that I almost fell out of bed. The only thing I could make out was his dark, almost ethereal figure, and his bright red eyes that seemed to pierce my soul, eyes that would make anyone run in fear.
Despite my words, there was no response. The silence surrounding him was thick, almost tangible. I breathed heavily, my heart pounding fiercely against my chest. Something in the air had changed, an invisible weight that suffocated me. I didn't understand how, but I was no longer in my room.
The place I found myself in now was an endless abyss, a deep darkness that stretched all around me. There were no walls, no ceiling, just an endless void. And in that void, the only thing that stood out were his eyes, glowing like two red beacons in the gloom. They stared at me intently, watching me with an intensity that froze my blood.
—Where am I? —I managed to whisper, although my voice was lost in the nothingness.
—Don't be afraid, Orion. I don't intend to harm you. I'm here because of what you're capable of doing.
His voice was deep, full of power, as if each word made the very space tremble. The resonance of his tone made me feel the latent threat in the air.
—You say not to be afraid? I don't know who you are. Besides, I'm in this terrifying place… Answer me: who are you?
Fear weighed heavily on my chest. How could he know my name? And why was I trapped in this dark and strange place?
—I forget, humans are fearful and need a presentation to feel at ease.
Arrogance dripped from his voice, and each word exuded a sense of absolute superiority.
—Fine, I'll introduce myself. I am the one who rebelled against God and was sealed for it—His voice grew even more powerful, an echo that seemed to drag everything around it. —I am Lucifer.
When I heard his name, an electric shock coursed through my body. A shiver ran up my spine, as if my entire being had been touched by something beyond human comprehension. The darkness grew thicker, and Lucifer's presence in this abyss became even more terrifying.
—Lu… Lu… Lucifer… —I screamed, not knowing how to react. The disbelief was reflected in my voice, as if my mind still couldn't process what was happening.
—Why are you here? What do you need from me?
Lucifer smiled, his expression a mix of amusement and superiority. As if the spectacle of my surprise pleased him.
—I've already told you, I'm here because of what you're capable of doing. I'll give you the power to kill God. Isn't that what you've always wanted? —His smile grew wider, as if each word made him more powerful.
Those words hit me with the force of a lightning bolt. I knew it wasn't a mere illusion. I had always dreamed of killing God, of destroying the one who had allowed the world to sink into misery. But those dreams had always been nothing more than that: dreams.
—I don't know what you mean… Killing God isn't something possible—. My voice trembled, not just from fear, but from disbelief.
Even if I wanted to do it, I didn't believe it was something attainable.
Lucifer leaned forward slightly, as if enjoying my reaction even more.
—True, killing him with a normal weapon would be impossible. But...—. His eyes glowed intensely.
—With a special sword, it is possible.
—But, still... —My voice trembled, unable to hide the uncertainty—. Does that sword really exist? Or are you just saying it because you believe it exists?
Lucifer chuckled softly, as if my doubt was a natural reaction.
—Yes, it exists… or it did. It was shattered by God, fearful of its power.
The mention of the sword left me speechless. The idea of a weapon capable of killing God was overwhelming. But doubt still weighed on my mind. Could I trust Lucifer?
—I don't deny that the idea of killing God attracts me…—. I responded, my mind at war. —But I don't know if I can trust you. What's your reason for wanting to kill him?
Thinking about teaming up with Lucifer to achieve what I had always desired was tempting, but the risk was enormous. If his goal was to replace God… I didn't want a world even more chaotic.
Humanity was already living on the edge of the abyss, and a change of power could only make things worse.
Lucifer seemed to notice my doubt and smiled calmly.
—I understand your distrust. I will tell you the truth that few know about God.
My eyes narrowed at his words. The "truth" about God. Something stirred inside me, suspecting that all of this was connected to the sword.
—Is it necessary? —I asked, though my nervousness betrayed me. —I don't want a history lesson.
Lucifer, however, kept his gaze fixed on me, and in his tone there was a certainty that forced me to listen.
—Everything is connected to the sword. Only then will you understand my motives and my intentions.
Then, he began to speak, and what he said changed everything I thought I knew about the world, about God… and about the sword.
Lucifer spoke to me of the first God, how he found a book in the forbidden section of the celestial library when God ordered him to search for it. The book was no ordinary tome of knowledge: it contained God's experiments, the records of the creation and destruction of countless worlds. As these experiments concluded, God erased everything he had created. The angels, the archangels, even the races that populate the universe, were part of these experiments.
When Lucifer discovered this, his fury was indescribable. Everything he knew was about to be destroyed, and that was the reason why God needed the book. He shared it with three allies he trusted.
Semyazza, the leader of the Watchers, the angels tasked with observing the world and maintaining balance.
Azazel, the master of knowledge, who taught humans the secrets of blacksmithing, astrology, and many other sciences.
Abadon, the guardian of the door to creation, who separated the realm of creation from the cosmic entities.
Together, they rebelled against God to create a world without him, a world where humans, angels, and archangels could live without the intervention of their creator, without the manipulation of his experiments.
Azazel and Abadon were the ones who forged the sword capable of killing God.
The sword had the power to destroy both him and his kingdom. Imbued with the energy of the cosmos, its strength was such that not just anyone could wield it. Only someone with the right skill could unlock its full potential and use it in all its glory.
Lucifer and his allies' rebellion marched forward with firm steps. They reached God, and only the seven archangels who protected him remained to be defeated. Confident in the truth he possessed, Lucifer tried to convince the archangels to join his cause. He told them the truth: that God had created and destroyed worlds at his whim, that humanity and the angels were nothing more than pieces of a senseless experiment. However, not even the most terrifying truth could break their loyalty to Him.
Although some of them believed Lucifer's words, none of them dared to betray God.
The confrontation was brutal. Azazel and Semyazza fell first, killed by the sword and the power of the archangels. The battle wasn't easy for either side, but the disadvantage became evident. Only
Abadon and Lucifer remained.
With one last determined look, Abadon charged forward, challenging the archangels' defense. His sacrifice was not in vain: his attack managed to open a breach in the celestial defenses, allowing Lucifer to face God directly.
The battle between Lucifer and God was epic, a clash of primordial powers that resonated through time and space. Lucifer, with the sword in hand, managed to wound God. The wound was not fatal, but it was a significant blow. The sword worked, its power was real. However, victory was not near.
Abadon was captured and imprisoned by the archangels, while Lucifer fought to stay on his feet. The situation was desperate. He tried to escape, to find a way out, but God wouldn't let him flee.
With a gesture of his will, he fragmented the sword, breaking it into irreparable pieces. Then, with the fury of a being whose power had been threatened, he sealed Lucifer in an eternal captivity.
I knew Lucifer was telling the truth, not because I believed him, but because his words were sincere, and fragments of his memories appeared in my mind as if he were showing them to me while he spoke.
Lucifer looked at me, his red eyes glowing intensely.
—Orion, you will be the one chosen to wield it. The sword will grant you the power needed to end what He has done. But you must decide: Are you willing to change the course of history?
Surprised, but deciding to trust him, even if only momentarily, I said,
—Fine, I accept to be your ally, but I still have doubts. Why didn't God kill you? And how is it that you are here with me, if you were supposed to be sealed? Also, wasn't the world supposed to end thousands of years ago? How is it still standing?
Lucifer smiled, and that smile seemed to carry more secrets than I could imagine.
—I understand your doubts, Orion. Everything can be answered with one explanation.
He paused dramatically, as if preparing to reveal something important. Then he spoke with an unsettling calm.
—The reason why he didn't kill me, and the reason the world still stands, is because, although the sword's attacks didn't manage to kill him, they did weaken him. The power he used to fragment the sword left him in a deplorable state. From then on, he couldn't continue with his "experiment." Instead, he began creating modified humans so they could withstand his power. But these humans… were too fragile. Every thousand years, he needed to make a change, renew them. And thus, the successions were born, God's change.
I was processing Lucifer's words, but one question still lingered in my mind.
—So, if you were supposed to be sealed, how do you know all of this?
Lucifer let out a small laugh, filled with an ancient echo, as if he were telling a story only he knew.
—Because the one who freed me told me. That person... was Gabriel. The archangel.
The name "Gabriel" resonated in my mind, but I didn't have time to process it when Lucifer continued.
—The reason he created these modified humans, aside from them being able to withstand his power, is because… he is recovering—Lucifer said, as if revealing a dark secret. —Once his power is fully restored, he will eliminate the current God and continue his experiment, just as he did in the past. That's why we must end both the current God and the first God, while he is still weakened.
Lucifer's words weighed on me like a burden, but my mind couldn't process it all at once. Each revelation felt more absurd than the last, but there was something in the way Lucifer spoke that told me all of this was real.
—I don't know what to say… That's a lot of information in such a short time—. I replied, disbelief and confusion crossing my face. —And what about Gabriel? Is he someone to trust? Didn't you face him before?
Lucifer stared at me, his eyes glowing with a disturbing intensity.
—Gabriel… he's complicated. He's a complex being. Though at one point he was one of God's most loyal, his perspective changed when he discovered the truth behind it all. He's an ally, but not without his own interests. His loyalty is divided, and don't make the mistake of thinking he hasn't faced me before. But this time, his motives are clear. He's not on God's side, but he's not an easy ally.
His voice grew somber, as if the memory of his confrontations with Gabriel still haunted him.
—With Gabriel, you have to be careful. He's an archangel, and his power is much greater than any human could imagine. Sometimes, his decisions are unpredictable. But for now, he's the one helping us… though not without a reason.
Lucifer paused, letting his words settle in my mind, then continued with a smile that mixed confidence and challenge.
—That's why you must make Gabriel choose you as his champion. With my power and his, you'll be able to face God.
My disbelief was palpable. The idea of wielding that much power seemed as impossible as everything else I had heard that night.
—Your power and Archangel Gabriel's? How am I supposed to handle something like that? —I asked, unable to hide my doubt.
—You will be the champion of both—. The certainty in his voice was almost disturbing, as if he knew something I didn't. —Besides, there's something else you'll discover when you meet Gabriel.
I felt a knot form in my stomach. Something else? Every time it seemed I had reached the limit of the incomprehensible, Lucifer added another layer of mystery.
—But before you become my champion, you must undergo a trial.
That snapped me out of my thoughts.
—A trial? What do you mean? What do I have to do? —My voice betrayed a mix of curiosity and fear.
Lucifer let out a soft laugh, but it carried a dark undertone.
—Something simple. You just have to survive—. His tone made the word "simple" sound like mockery. —As you're in this space of darkness, you haven't realized… but the world has entered an even greater chaos than before, thanks to God's words.
A chill ran through my body. His statement seemed too ominous.
—What kind of chaos? —I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted the answer.
—The kind of chaos that destroys the weak and elevates the strong. Your trial isn't here with me, Orion. It's out there, in the world. From the moment you return, your survival will be the only judgment that matters.
His words resonated with a weight that seemed to crush me. I tried to understand what he was asking of me, but everything seemed too overwhelming.
—What kind of trial is it? How long will it last? How am I supposed to survive? —I asked, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt.
Lucifer smiled, but the smile didn't bring comfort—it brought unease.
—I'll be waiting for you in Columba, along with Gabriel. You'll have to leave Esperion on your own, with or without any allies you might find. It all depends on you. It's a two-day walk from Esperion to Columba, but I'll give you a week. If you don't arrive in that time… —he paused, letting the implicit threat sink in—, I won't need you anymore.
My heart was pounding. It was clear I had no choice. If I wanted answers, if I wanted to survive, I had to pass his trial.
—Won't I receive any help? —I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
Lucifer laughed softly, but the coldness in his tone sent a shiver through me.
—The only help you'll receive is this—. He extended a hand toward me, though I felt no contact. —A sword and a mask. Use them wisely.
Suddenly, the darkness around me began to dissipate, as if an invisible light was pushing it away. I was back in my room, gasping for air as if I had run miles. On my bed, two objects immediately caught my attention: a sword and a mask.
The sword seemed to be made of shadows themselves, with a blade that glowed faintly, almost as if it were breathing with a life of its own. The mask, on the other hand, was an enigma. Its design was dark and twisted, with a sense of mystery that seemed to conceal more than it revealed.
Suddenly, I heard Lucifer's voice, echoing in my mind, as though he hadn't completely disappeared.
"Good luck, Orion. Use the mask when you fight, and you'll discover something more."
I stared at the objects, trying to process what had just happened. The sword felt heavier than it should have, as though it was made not just of matter but of something intangible. And the mask… something about it called to me, almost as if it were alive.