Volume 5 Chapter 0084 The Great Devils of Baator - I, The Dragon Overlord

The ninth layer of Hell, Nessus, forms the heart of Baator. This layer is a vast void where a jagged continent floats amid a crimson expanse resembling burning flames. At the center of this continent lies a winding chasm, like a serpent's path, within which stands a cold castle. This is the sacred abode of Asmodeus, the Lord of Hell—Nessus Keep. Now, however, Nessus is empty, devoid of any devil. Its master has been missing for thirty thousand years. At the border between the ninth hell, Nessus, and the eighth hell, Cania, a massive table stands in the void. Here, eight lords of hell—legendary archdevils—gather. Each remains vigilant of the devils beside them while casting covetous glances toward the ninth layer, their eyes a mirror of greed and longing. At the head of this long table is an empty seat, once belonging to the King of Baator. For thirty thousand years, the realm has been without its sovereign. The eight lords, divided by gender, number five males and three females. Each possesses power near that of a lesser deity within their territories. Coupled with the advantage of regimented devils in war, the nine lords collectively counter the endless demon hordes and abyssal lords of the infinite Abyss. "Lords of the devils, thirty thousand years have passed, and my father remains unseen. This signifies that Nessus lacks a master and Baator lacks a king. Though these years haven't fully restored Hell to its state before the 'Age of Catastrophe,' it has grown sufficiently strong." "...Therefore, we need a king capable of leading Baator!" A rebellious, proud, and indomitable beautiful voice, speaking in the tongue of devils, expressed this opinion at the long table. This was a humanoid adorned in luxurious jewels and silks, with a stunningly beautiful appearance. Her forehead bore the sharp horns characteristic of a devil, and under her fiery red skin seemed to flow magma, flickering with a bewitching beauty akin to a hellish rose about to erupt. She was Glasya, the Lord of the Sixth Layer, Queen of the Erinyes, and former daughter of Asmodeus, the Lord of Baator. Erinyes are rare even among devils, created under harsh conditions. There are two ways to become one: a celestial being must fall into hell, essentially turning an angel into a fallen angel; or, a devil must absorb a sliver of divine fire from a deity's demise. Glasya was granted the divine fire from a fallen god by Asmodeus, making her an erinys from inception and crowning her queen among them. The queen of the erinyes was notably proud and rebellious, and even the former Lord of Hell required centuries to tame his defiant daughter and secure her allegiance. "Baator indeed needs a king, but that king is certainly not you, Glasya! Even though you are the daughter of the Lord of Hell, we devils are unlike humans; we do not recognize inheritance rights. You have no claim over Nessus!" A loud roar came from another lord, Mephistopheles, the Lord of the Eighth Layer This is a devil that perfectly fits the classic image of the devil—a massive giant, with large and robust red wings and twisted horns, dark red skin burning with black flames, the very embodiment of evil from nightmares. He is an ambitious devil, having declared openly his intent to usurp even when the Lord of Hell lived. Amused by his audacity, Asmodeus allowed Mephistopheles to continue his role as the Eighth Layer's lord instead of punishing him. Now, with the terrifying Lord of Hell absent, he won't miss the chance to seize control of Baator. "Indeed, Glasya, even among all the archdevils, you are not the strongest. I understand your ambition, but in the face of absolute power, your ambition is laughable!" A sharp voice interrupted, belonging to Mammon, the Lord of the Third Layer. An exceedingly hideous yet massive snake-like devil, with a twisted countenance, a repulsive brown serpentine body, and a hideous maw full of sharp fangs and venomous teeth. Mammon allied himself with Mephistopheles, so he voiced his support. Seeing Mammon support his ally, Zariel, the ally of the Queen of Erinyes and the First Layer's lord, retorted with a voice laden with the metallic tang and weight of war, "...Since when did devils resort to brute force like those vile demons to vie for power? It disgraces us devils!" Zariel's voice was like a sharp blade. Like Glasya, she was a female erinys but not one born from divine fire; instead, she was a fallen angel from the heavens. She once shared a reputation on par with Tanarra, the Sword of Dawn, a distinguished figure among celestials, leading armies into battle against demons. A once-kind angel enamored with warfare, she succumbed to wickedness in battle, fell into hell, became a erinys, and with her formidable might, took the lord's seat in hell. Mammon, the third lord, scoffed at Zariel's words, "You are the greatest shame among devils, Zariel! If not for the 'Age of Catastrophe,' you'd still be imprisoned in a bronze cage, suffering ceaseless punishment. How could you reclaim your throne?" The serpentine devil laughed heartily, leaving Zariel visibly vexed. Before the Age of Catastrophe, Zariel had been dethroned and banished from her lordly seat by her subordinate, Bel, a shrewd devil. He imprisoned Zariel in the first hell's depths, torturing her and eating bits of her flesh daily. Bel was a cunning general, renowned as the most skilled in warfare among devils. Under his command, the Blood War always favored the devils, who pushed back the demons at every turn. However, this cunning devil ultimately fell in the Age of Catastrophe, while Zariel, the fallen angel, survived through sheer luck, escaping her prison to reclaim her throne. Yet, her past was Zariel's deepest shame, and any creature mentioning it would be cruelly slaughtered by her. Still, being mocked now by a lord she couldn't guarantee victory against made her helplessly furious. ... While the devils engaged in their overt and covert power struggles, one of Louie's projections quietly infiltrated Baator. He surreptitiously entered the very scene where the archdevils convened.