The Devil
Who is the devil? Some referred to him as Lucifer, while others called him Satan. They were essentially twins, yet there were more like them, and the youngest among them was undoubtedly the greatest. Lucifer, the fallen angel of pride, was not to be mistaken for Pride itself. Together, Lucifer and Satan conspired to stage a coup. However, their attempt inevitably failed, resulting in their downfall. Nonetheless, they managed to allure one-third of the angels to join their disobedient cause. These angels mingled with humans, and their offspring transpired into the malevolent creatures we know as demons. God, in His wrath, unleashed a torrential flood upon the Earth, obliterating all life. Yet, they did not cease to exist; rather, they transformed into wandering spirits confined to the underworld. Their fallen angel parents ascended to the status of deities, with fetish priests and seers worshipping them. Among the seven prominent fallen angels were Lucifer, Asmodeus, Satan, Beelzebub, Baal, Leviathan, and Belphegor. The title of "the Devil" was chosen by these seven princes. Satan assumed the role of the Devil during times of world wars, while Lucifer reigned as King during the fall of man and the construction of the Tower of Babel. This dynamic had oscillated throughout generations until this very moment.
The realm of hell now yearned for a new Devil, prompting the question of which of the seven would be chosen. Additionally, would Lucifer or Satan allow this change? The answer to this crucial query could only be uncovered through a specific method.
The demons, neutral spirits, and ghosts congregated before the illustrious throne of hell. Today, they had assembled to express their thoughts to the two ancient kings of hell. Having devoted countless millennia to serving both kings with unwavering loyalty and making incredible sacrifices to strengthen the dominion of hell, they had largely received silence from Lucifer and vicious outbursts of anger from Satan whenever matters did not align with his desires. Though they did not hold him solely accountable, as they willingly followed this unhinged being into the depths of hell, today was the day they had grown weary. United in vast numbers, they planned to bring about a change in the proceedings of the kingdom of hell.
Leviathan, their spokesperson, cared little for such matters, driven mainly by envy towards his twin brothers. However, with his primary goal of dethroning them, he broke the ice as tension permeated the throne hall. "Esteemed lords of hell, your fellow brethren have served you tirelessly since time immemorial and the dawn of civilization. They never sought much in return, ready to lay down their lives for the almighty rebellion. But today, they have a request for their lords, one that should be easily granted considering their invaluable contributions in establishing this kingdom as a global empire. They deserve to be heard."
Lucifer, keener now, relaxed slightly in his seat and inquired, "What is their request, brother? Speak swiftly, for humans are eager to descend from grace into the fervent embrace of hell's inferno." Leviathan provided his response, "They desire a new king, a change in regime, and they wish for neither you nor Satan to be options."
This proclamation struck like a sudden bombshell. Satan shouted, his voice reverberating with horror throughout the hall, "How dare you imbeciles! Have you all lost your sanity? Have you forgotten to whom you speak at this very moment? If anyone here believes they can challenge the throne, let them step forward now!"
Satan's terrifying tone should have struck fear into the hearts of all present. However, there was a reason Leviathan had been chosen. After all, would Satan dare engage in a fight against his own brother, one who possessed equal power as a prince of hell? Leviathan retorted in the most chilling of manners, "Satan, do not forget that we bestowed upon you that crown! We follow both of you not out of fear but out of deep respect. Surely, you wouldn't want to lose that."
As Leviathan spoke these words, it appeared as though the entire gathering converged in mind, body, and spirit. Nobody flinched, no signs of fear were visible, and everyone emanated an aura of "We have made you who you are." Leviathan posed his firm question, "So, what will it be, brother? Shall you fight against us all or silence yourself and heed the voice of the people?"
Satan retreated to Lucifer's side, weariness evident in his expression as he whispered a question in Lucifer's ear, "What should we do, brother?" With elegance, Lucifer rose from his seat and declared, "Let's suppose we agree to this proposal. I ask you, which one of you selfish pricks would actually choose someone other than yourselves? We shall decide this matter amongst ourselves." Astounded by their unwavering resolve, Lucifer inquired, "So, who do you all propose?"