[Episode 205854] [Episode 205854]The Nether Hells... a place so horrible that most humans aren't really able to imagine it. In here, the souls of the wicked are crying out in eternal anguish as they are being tortured for all eternity.
Every human who feels that the virtues and laws of the Twelve Goddesses or any other god are not enough to satisfy him, quite often turns to the more sinister side... and begins to worship the dark residents of the Nether Hells, the demons!
The hierarchy of the demons is as followed: The most numerous are the Lower Demons, which are the weakest, but still horrible. Those can be summoned pretty quickly by everyone who knows the correct incantation and the demon's true name.
Higher ranked than the Lower Demons are the Horned Demons. These are much more powerful and are usually called to cause serious and everlasting harm to the enemies of the summoner. Still, he needs to do a more complex ritual to summon them. The number of horns a Horned Demon has usually shows the level of his powers. A one-horned demon isn't that much stronger than a Lower Demon, but a thirteen-horned demon is normally a higher servant of the most powerful of demons: The Arch Demons!
The Nether Hells are divided into twelve domains, and each domain is ruled by one of the Arch Demons. They are the exact opposite of the Twelve Goddesses, since they are everything evil they have abandoned a long time ago. And while a goddess still can have her flaws, a resident of Alveran can never have an evil side.
The most feared of the Arch Demons is Blakharaz, Mistress of Pain, punishment and anguish.
In a lake of blood and molten iron, the dark tower of Blakharaz rises. Inside, the cries of the damned never stop. Whenever a poor soul has sold his soul to this dark entity, he will gain the chance to power in his life, the power to take vengeance on all of his enemies. But after his death, all those crimes come back to haunt him, and he will feel them personally... but multiplied tenfold.
Enormous guillotines, iron maidens as huge as oak trees and burning coals that burn the flesh of the unfortunate souls that can never die... after all, they already are dead. This and much more awaits anyone who comes into the dark tower of Blakharaz.
This is also the place where Usagi, former ruler of Crystal Tokyo, and wife of High Dragon Mamoru, is imprisoned.
Fortunately for her, the Arch Demons have decided that she is a much more valuable hostage if they leave her intact... therefore, Blakharaz hasn't tortured her yet.
Trapped in a cage made of human bones placed on top of the tower, Usagi is forced to look over Blakharaz domain and listen to the voices of the damned.
While still an immortal, Usagi has never been declared a true goddess, and ever since she willingly left Crystal Tokyo, she had lost both her status as a queen and a Sailor Senshi.
Therefore, the person trapped inside the cage looked just like any normal human woman, clad in a similar dress her own mother had worn, back when she was still a mortal.
Usagi knew there was no escape from the Nether Hells. Still, she hadn't given up hope.
Coming out of a pillar of flames, a figure clad in a black robe stepped in front of the cage. A wide cowl made it impossible for Usagi to look at the Arch Demon's face. Around Blakharaz' neck, a noose made of living, white snakes was hanging. Out of her sleeves, a pair of pale hands was coming. They were holding an enormous executioner's axe.
"Well then, ex-queen of Crystal Tokyo..." The Arch Demon's voice was like a hissing whisper. "Are you finally willing to talk?"
Usagi glared at the demon. "I don't know why you are wasting your time. I will never betray my friends."
"Unfortunate, Usagi..." Blakharaz hissed. "I was hoping you'd be a bit more... cooperative. I will ask you one more time: How could that brat Mada breach the Sixth Sphere? Thanks to her, the magical energies that could previously only be used by gods and demons is now flowing freely through Aurius. Even we, the Arch Demons, are confined by the barriers of the Sixth Sphere. The summoning rituals of the mortals can only bring our servants down to Aurius, and only for a short time. Now how did she do it?"
Usagi turned her head. "I will never tell."
For a while, Blakharaz said nothing.
"As you wish..." she finally whispered. "If you are not willing to talk... you will have to suffer the consequences!" And she threateningly raised her axe high up into the air.
Suddenly, the flapping of wings could be heard in the air. Both Blakharaz and Usagi looked up and saw a huge, ugly bird that was circling the tower. Its bald neck was covered with scars, and its black feathers were ruffled and moldy. On the creature's feet, curved claws were gleaming in the hellish glow of the Nether Hells.
And its face... was that of Kasumi Tendo.
"You shouldn't scare the poor girl, Blak-chan," the demon said with a smile. "You might scare her to death."
Blakharaz brushed back her cowl, revealing a face that looked nearly identical to the face of Haruhi Suzumiya. "Very funny, Lolgramoth!" she growled in a more normal-sounding voice. "Maybe you have a better idea how we can make her talk?"
But Lolgramoth just smirked. "Oh my! Whatever gave you the idea that I could have an idea? After all, I'm just the poor Arch Demon of restlessness, damned to eternal unrest myself, not allowed to stop and rest even once. Do you think I have the time to think about something like that?"
"Never mind..." Blakharaz grumbled. "She will tell us in time."
"And what if not, oh Mistress of Punishment?" the avian demon asked with a cute smile on her face. Of course, it was nothing but a lie, just like her sweet voice. Lolgramoth was not just the mistress of unrest, she was also a merciless hunter of souls.
Blakharaz smiled. "Then... she will have to be punished."
Lolgramoth giggled while she continued to circle the tower. "You know, you just sounded exactly like Haruhi, you know?"
"Don't you dare compare me with that bitch!" the Arch Demon of Vengeance hissed. "Instead of bothering me, why don't you go and tell Charyptoroth that her daughter is supposed to kill Michiru's son instead of flirting with him?"
Lolgramoth shrugged as best as she could with her wings. "Hranngar pretty much does what she wants, I don't think she listens to Charyptoroth a much as her mother would prefer... I believe she takes after her father."
"Leave already!" Blakharaz grumbled.
"Well, I know when I am not wanted. But after all, I don't even like to stay at once place for too long." Lolgramoth giggled. "That's just how I am. Kasumi enjoys a nice home she can always return to. For me, settling down is almost unbearable, that's why I'm always in motion, always busy..."
"LEAVE!" Blakharaz yelled.
"Sheesh, no need to yell..." the woman-faced bird muttered, flew one last circle around the tower and then headed towards the depths of darkness, the wet domain of the Arch Demon Charyptoroth, the evil side of the goddess Michiru.
"As for you, Usagi..." Blakharaz grumbled. "I'll make you talk, just you wait!"
With one final glare, Blakharaz stepped back into her flames and left her prisoner alone.
Usagi sighed as she looked out of her macabre cage. "Mamoru..." she whispered. "I miss you..."
Ami giggled while she and Nandus left Michiru's domain. "That was fun! Did you see those beautiful corals? And the dolphins? They were so funny..."
"I hope you are still ready for more," Nandus smirked. "The tour is not over yet. Next, I'm gonna show you the most amazing examples of plant life Aurius has to offer... for we will go and visit Makoto's Arboretum."
"I wonder how much Makoto has changed during all those years," Ami said excitedly. "Let's go!"
"Okay, but first..." Nandus snapped his fingers, and a sign made of sparkling lights appeared above Ami's head. It read: "Hi! I'm Ami from before she rose to godhood. That's why I'm in the form of a teenager. I am a teenager. Please stop asking Nandus about it. Thank you."
Ami giggled. "I guess that stops everyone from asking about me, huh?"
Nandus just grinned. In the meantime, their platform continued its way through Alveran. Every now and then, they were coming past a wondrous creature or a gleaming soul. Everyone greeted them politely.
Finally, they were coming past another huge door. This one was black, but decorated with gold. The sign leading to 'Makoto's Arboretum of Fertility' pointed directly past that door, but Ami was intrigued what would lie behind that door anyways.
She gasped when she read the words: 'Hotaru's Bed Chamber of Eternal Slumber'.
"This... is Hotaru's domain?" she wondered.
"Of course," Nandus whispered. "She's still Michiru's daughter, so naturally, her domain is close to her mother's. But be quiet, she doesn't like it when people talk too loudly in front of her door. The souls in there are lying in their beds, sleeping peacefully for eternity... well, there have been a few times one or two souls have woken up, but that was because Haruka made a racket in front of the bed chamber."
"So... Hotaru grants her followers eternal... sleep?" Ami wondered.
"Not just that," Nandus tried to explain. "You see, Hotaru is not just the Goddess of Death, she is also the Goddess of Sleep and Dreams. And within her bed chamber, the sleeping souls can dream whatever they want. In life, they all had to work hardly, but in death, they can take their deserved rest."
"Do you... do you think I could pay Hotaru a visit as well?" Ami asked.
"I think we shouldn't disturb her or the resting souls," Nandus whispered. "She will take a break from her work once a day, so maybe we'll be able to meet her later on. For now, let's just go to Makoto, okay?"
Ami nodded, and they continued on their way, leaving the entrance to Hotaru's bed chamber behind.
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(Posted Mon, 19 May 2008 23:22)
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