Volume 5 Chapter 0086 The Most Cowardly Devil - I, The Dragon Overlord

Archdevils do not fear gods, just as demons do not foolishly provoke them, for gods are inherently the pettiest of creatures. In the realms of the Nine Hells that belong to them, these lords wield virtual divinity comparable to lesser divine powers, and the most powerful archdevils can even approach intermediate divine strength. Although these virtual divinities lose their efficacy outside their layers or the Hells, within their domains, they can remain unafraid of any god's avatar. Even a god as powerful as Louie, when manifesting an avatar, can only wield a level of lesser divine power. Thus, to kill an archdevil on their own turf is a daunting task. Gods cannot deploy their true forms, allowing archdevils the luxury of fearing no deity. However, gods are spiteful and vindictive; if you offend them and provoke their wrath, expect relentlessness. They may bear grudges over centuries or millennia, becoming a lifelong nuisance. No archdevil, save the former Lord of the Hells, can withstand such harassment. Therefore, when confronted with the true ruling class of the world of San Soliel, the archdevils present accorded Louie due respect. Unlike chaotic demons, devils are beings of order and have a keen sense of timing and propriety. The Erinyes Queen Glasya is quite different from the Succubus Queen Melcanthet. Although marked by her fallen seductiveness, she is stubborn and proud to an almost ungovernable degree, not easily subdued even by the Lord of the Hells. When Glasya approached Louie, she was respectful and humble but untainted by fawning obsequiousness. This is the result of her status, power, and character. The enormous and dignified dragon, with dark golden scales stretching over a kilometer long, observed the devils with eyes full of majesty. Louie responded to their inquiries with a solemn and proud draconic roar, "…I have come here to offer you a suggestion on how to vie for the throne of Hell!" Louie's words stirred the hearts of the archdevils, arousing skepticism. They exchanged glances, silently urging each other to engage the god in conversation, yet none were willing lest they draw the divine's notice. This particular god is known for enacting grand dramas since the awakening of the gods. Louie's involvement in nearly every critical event is reminiscent of the Prince of Lies from the Age of Catastrophe. Seeing no one speak, the Lord of the Fourth Layer of the Nine Hells, Queen Fierna, renowned for her breathtaking and awe-inspiring beauty, stepped forward. She met the dragon's gaze with a serene yet proud dragon tongue, saying, "…Great Dragon God Louie, devils are not ones to easily believe in the promises of any being, least of all a god with the domains of 'Deceit' and 'Conspiracy.'" The nature of devils is inherently duplicitous and conspiratorial, making them particularly wary of gods who embody these two principles—powers capable of deceiving even the mightiest of archdevils. The other archdevils silently applauded Fierna's candor. To dare confront a god openly is commendable, yet they wondered if Louie, notoriously irascible, would take offense. Should they come to blows, it would provide an opportunity to usurp Fierna's holdings and eliminate her from contention for the throne of Hell. Devils, all insidious and devious by nature, even began contemplating whether they could manipulate Louie to achieve their own ends. Louie was unfazed by Fierna's retort. He opened his massive maw and laughed, his terrifying voice rippling through the ethereal plane, creating waves of space disturbance. "Fierna, Lord of the Fourth Layer of the Nine Hells, I can forgive your discourtesy, and indeed, I find pleasure in your disrespect, for it is your fear of me that renders you so cautious and vigilant!" "…To express fear towards a god is the greatest compliment to the divine!" Louie's slitted eyes swept over the other devils, roaring, "…Even Queens Fierna and Glasya dare to face me directly, yet you archdevils hide behind women, unable to meet my gaze?" Were Louie's provocations directed at demons, they would likely have charged recklessly at him by now. However, the devils were cautious. Even Mephistopheles, Lord of the Eighth Layer, boastfully stated, "…Such taunts hold no sway over us devils, Lord Louie. Unlike foolish demons driven by emotion to poor decisions, we remain unmoved." The other devils nodded in agreement, taking pride in their restraint rather than feeling shame. Cunning and deviousness are innate to devils, while temporary retreat is but another aspect of their schemes. ‘What cowards!’ Louie inwardly cursed, recognizing the devils as those who, despite their formidable might, prefer to deceive with words. History is replete with tales of powerful devils outsmarted by powerless humans who then bind them in contracts. Louie felt a sense of exasperation at their wariness, not even willing to converse at length out of fear of being deceived. He began to regret assuming the divine offices of 'Conspiracy' and 'Deceit,' which made god and devil alike wary, causing even the latter to be elusive. After exchanging a few words with Louie, even Glasya and Fierna opted for silence, possibly aware that speaking too much could be perilous. The fallen angel Zariel, Lord of the First Layer, seemed inclined to converse further. However, for Louie, having just Zariel in his corner was insufficient. For a time, Louie and the archdevils found themselves locked in a silent standoff. Louie wielded divine power to anchor the space, while the remaining eight sought opportunities to cast spells and escape back to their realms. Faced with this impasse, Louie found himself in a quandary. He needed the devils' cooperation to incite a 'Blood War,' so fighting them was counterproductive. Furthermore, until Louie ascended to a higher state of divinity, he was not equipped to handle the combined might of eight archdevils. The unique nature of the Abyss and the Hells makes demons and devils unending forces; they are impossible to annihilate completely. Otherwise, in over a million years, the gods would have eradicated the lower planes. Louie realized that with these devils, sometimes directness trumps subtlety. Their intense vigilance leads them to overanalyze every word. Rather than speaking in riddles, he decided to lay his cards on the table. If they still overthink things, let them knock themselves out. With this in mind, Louie broke the silence and articulated his plan: "…The Abyss and the Hells have been opposing forces for over a million years, perpetuating the Blood War throughout that time. This conflict defines the dominion of the former Lord of the Hells, Asmodeus. Thus, I propose that if you eight lords wish to claim the throne of Hell, you do so by inciting a Blood War. Let victory be determined by who can slay more demons and conquer broader swaths of the Abyss!" The god's proposal gave the archdevils pause, finding merit in it. Yet, they remained wary; what underlying schemes did a god of conspiracy and deceit have in encouraging them to wage war?