Chapter 4: The Monarchs Of Life And Death, Raphael and Lucifer

  I slowly descended the stairs that led to bikini bottom. AKA, R'lyeh.

'Proceed with caution, human. Thou shall most definitely encounter unspeakable horrors in this accursed city… I can tell. The undead and accursed roam the streets; Their foul energy radiates through the outlines of this city even. Not just undead, it seemeth…' 

"So, Lucifer, as long as I can imagine it and predict the outcomes, I can manifest anything using this Magic, right?"

Lucifer: 'I guess. Try not to abuse it!'

I'd known right back then that all my childish fantasies regarding Magics and whatnot were all to be lived from this point onwards. Just not in a bright or fulfilling way… This kind of Magic corrupts the mind, alters the physical body, horrendously, if you would, and could, very well, possibly kill me. And I don't mean it in an accidental way…

The architecture of this sunken city of unimaginable age and eerie grandeur could be best described as bizarre and non-Euclidean, defying traditional notions of geometry and human comprehension. The city is a vast, cyclopean metropolis which looked like it was submerged beneath the ocean's depths for ages. The architecture is complete with intricate carvings, and strange, almost organic, textures. The city's construction seems to be made of ancient, weathered stone, covered in seaweed, barnacles, and strange aquatic lifeforms.

The structures, including immense monoliths and towering spires, evoke a sense of immense age and a connection to an unfathomable history predating humanity's existence. The moss-ridden pathways were brimming with almost transparent astral bodies of humanoid abominations. Some bloated, some mutated and malformed, some that don't even resemble humans, and some with exotic and unique apparel, and some that are hooded. 

I started wandering the streets of R'lyeh as I continuously met with streets and corridors that twist and turn unexpectedly, leading to dead-ends or opening into vast, seemingly endless abysses. Navigating R'lyeh is an unnerving and disorienting experience as the layout of the city defies conventional logic. The architecture and spaces constantly shift and change, with doorways appearing and disappearing, with an incredible sense of cosmic disorientation and a reality that is perpetually in flux.

"Sjá hvat—For f… What is wrong with this damn area? Convoluted ass city. On god, this has to be a preamble to a dick-flattening."

Raphael: 'It doesn't seem like you can even begin mapping this place. How about trying to get an overview of this place from an elevated area and proceed to the nearest point of interest that might be even of slightest significance. 'Tis just a minor inconvenience.'

"You think I've not thought of that? What's with your sudden change in tone too?" I punched the wall to my right made of unknown black material to build focus. To my surprise, I was strong enough to break through the wall. And surely the wall cannot be so weak. "Well, would you look at that…"

Raphael: 'I suppose you could say that I don't need to keep up with the pleasantries that I had in my life; In my body; To my people. That kind of life is behind me now, I have decided; Hopefully… Anyhow, your strength almost rivals the weakest of my Holy Knights-! Good going. '

"Weakest?! I just punched a hole through this wall! I didn't even have any intention of destroying it."

'Lucifer: Yeah! Weak ass kid! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!'

"Just shut up, dude…"

I ventured into the structure and saw a multitude of statues. Kneeling, some kowtowing, surrendering themselves, praying, carrying sacrifices. The walls had cracks, pores and weird curves at absurd angles. The hallway was filled to the brim with these statues.

"Damn, can't see shit– Maybe…" I imagined a bright orb of light illuminating every crook and cranny of the surroundings; And *Phoosh* it materialised. It was like a miniature Sun levitating beside me. And yes, as stupid it may seem, I did look at it. And yes, it almost blinded me. "Since we've nothing better to do, how about we share? I'm getting really bored now. To the point where I'm conversing with voices in my head…"

Lucifer: 'Share? Of our past lives? I was a Monarch ruling over the authority of Absolute Power and Death in my world. I was betrayed and back-stabbed by my most trusted knight and the people of my rule. I'd vowed to be the downfall of mankind since then. Well, at least I succeeded unlike a few questionable necromancers! Hahahahah!'

"Necromancers… Mages who can raise the dead?"

Lucifer: 'Aye, I met those bastards when I was wounded and tactically retreated to Avalon; Unknowingly. It was not the first time I saw Sorcery but for it to be used in such a way of heresy… I couldn't help but be afraid. If I were to fall and be raised as an undead husk; Ever-loyal to a filthy Necromancer. Me, the Monarch of Absolute Power and Death. King of Cydwyr. I slayed the vermin and absorbed their Magick. With their Magick, I created the ultimate Magic and became eternal, at last. I crossed the seas once more and wreaked havoc on all. Cydwyr, Ywaingaine, Arthwylydd, Alidron, Elyalydd… All decimated by me. Well, anyway-! Off with that dour expression! HAHAHAHAHAH!'

"Love the Scottish accent, by the way. What about you, Raphael?"

Raphael: 'Lord Raphael for you. I was, opposite of the barbarian, the Monarch of Hope and Life. I was worshipped as the Absolute Being—or God, if you would. Sky was the limit for my powers… And the lengths my subjects would go to in order to get my blessing or to have the power of life be breathed into them. I had to hold up the pleasantries, live up to the peoples' image of myself. If not, there would've been an uproar on the subject of my ethnicity. And of course, there was; After I tried to escape the shackles of worship.

Their faith was shaken; In pieces. They now sought to fill the void of belief I had left them with. The hierarchy was broken, schisms widened, power vacuums… countless wars. The abandonment by the divinity worshipped as the Absolute Being had left the society in pieces. I…I am no God… I am no Absolute Being…  And I am not omnipotent…

I am human... same as all of my subjects. I have the same intrests, desires, and constrains. I isolated myself for years upon years to come... and eventually, I was curious. Curious as to how the humans were doing without me or my magic. I regretted ever having claimed the throne of divinity after committing deicide and revealing to the humans, in my newfound light, myself as their God and saviour. From the Demon Lord, plotting against humanity in the shadows. Hah, Of course, I labelled the divine being as a Demon Lord, hahaha.... I'd earned divine light through blasphemous acts; Became the supposed Saviour of humanity. Truly ironic. One with unique Magicks hath committed blasphemous acts to become divine. Is there a more human thing one could do?'

--END OF CHAPTER 4--