What would you do if you knew that death was coming for you?
How would you react if you discovered that the Grim reaper you had always heard about in tales, picture books and the internet was quite literally at your doorstep?
A tall yet hunched figure. A dreary, worn out hood over its head and features consumed by darkness. Revealing nothing but a pair of glowing red eyes that could numb the scalp with a single look.
Pale, boney hands with fingernails resembling claws.
Firmly grasping either a sickle or a reaper blade in hand.
Literally, the stuff of nightmares.
Now throw that memory aside into the garbage bin, and imagine the same scenario where you find out that death was not the above terrifying image description fed to the general populace over the years, but an extremely hot, pale skinned goth girl with a rather carefree character, and attractive facial features.
"Didi".
The vision of Gothic beauty stood before them. Her pale skin seemed to glow in the fading light, and her dark hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night.
Didi swept her gaze across the earth ..... Or the remnants of what was left.
On her delicate features was a never before seen sternness. One which Amari had never had the chance to gaze on.
A smile made its way to Lucifer's face.
"... Always a pleasure to see you. What brings death by?"
"A task to stop two arrogant blockheads from making a mess of creation. Haven't you had enough Lucifer?"
"Quite the contrary dear, I haven't". The devil uttered with a wide grin.
"It's not everyday I get the chance to exercise…".
".... This one has gone on long enough".
"Hehehe". He chuckled. The look in those bright red eyes giving off a dangerous vibe. "I think you've got the whole pecking order wrong here love. But do tell me what makes you think I've had enough".
"Listen to her, Samael". At that moment, a voice came from behind them.
'Huh?'
'Huh?'
Lucifer and Amari both turned around to see space warp before someone walked through it.
".. Oh, it's you". The former raised an eyebrow at the new arrival.
A tall, able-bodied man, bare chested yet covered with a green cloak and a green hood, with ash complexion.
"You are taking your destruction too far this time. An act that is unlike you".
He uttered, then turned his gaze to Amari.
".... Because of him".
"And you are?"
"I …. Am The Spectre. The Wrath Of god".
His introduction allowed Amari to realize his identity.
After taking a good look at him, The Spectre turned his gaze back to his original intent.
"My, My ….". The devil's smile never faltered. "First death, now Wrath. What a special gathering. Last time I checked, you two don't bother yourself in worldly affairs".
Those red eyes suddenly narrowed sharply.
"... Much less mine".
In the face of his momentum, the spectre remained unfazed.
"The moment you unleashed your field in the positive multiverse, this has escalated beyond that. It no longer just remains in the scope of 'your affairs' anymore".
"You know better than anyone that the Earth is the Nexus of each universe. Once it falls, all else follows…". He paused slightly, before continuing.
"You also know The positive world can't handle your full power. Your actions will not only destroy this universe but also destabilize the multiverse as a whole".
At that moment, space in another direction warped again.
".... Your battle has already affected the Sphere Of Gods. As this one here absorbed the energies it produces".
Another figure emerged out of thin air. Only his outfit was far from being as eye-catching as the Spectre who dressed like a cosplayer going to comic con.
Appearing in sight was a head of shaggy hair, eyes as black as night, well angled facial features, and flawlessly pale skin that would make a vampire bleed with envy.
His entire attire from head to toe was all black. Including the black coat, shirts and pants.
Just based on his looks and demeanor alone, he seemed to be the male version of Didi not far away.
Amari was surprised to discover that that speculation wasn't far off.
"Didi". The man turned to death and called out apathetically.
"Morpheus". She returned.
This man was Morpheus. Also known as Dream, member of the endless family and brother to Death itself.
"Hehehe… Well then, since even you've come out, this must be serious". Lucifer uttered with a chuckle.
Dream of the Endless was an enigmatic figure. His character and behavior were something similar to that of a recluse.
Most of his time was spent in his dimension called the Dreaming as he rarely involved himself in matters that had no direct relation or relevance to him.
Just his appearance here was enough to speak volumes.
"It is ….". A voice replied to him, but it didn't come from anyone already present.
In a similar fashion, another new arrival made his presence known just like everyone else.
Only he was taller than everyone else. Sporting a robust frame and massive build beyond the Spectre's and a head of short black hair, he stood on air with his hands behind his back and an expressionless face.
Mar Novu …. Or better known in his official title, The Over Monitor.
".... Well, well, what do we have here …".
If the people before were just eye raisers, then the appearance of the Over Monitor truly surprised Lucifer.
".... I have documented all events of this multiverse since the moment of its inception. I have seen countless civilizations grow and endless stars die. And in all this, I have never intervened ….". He paused, his face scrunching up.
"Today, I go against that rule, due to you, Lucifer".
"Me?"
"Both of you". He turned to Amari who had been silent this whole time.
"If your battle only destroyed Earth 16, then I would have stayed aside and considered it destiny".
The Over Monitor was an extremely powerful being, created by the 'Hand Pepertua' alongside his two brothers.
Despite possessing such force, he had only one job to do.
That was to observe the life cycle of this multiverse and everything within it.
Technically, the Positive Matter realm was under his jurisdiction. Nevertheless, he refrained from interfering simply because it would mess up his natural observation process.
His job was to observe the natural universe and record his findings.
If he intervened, then the whole point of natural observation would be ruined.
But that no longer mattered anymore because his abstinence would mean the destruction of the Multiverse he was supposed to observe.
Amari had absorbed so much power from the Godsphere to battle Lucifer. The latter was about to unleash his own power without reservations.
Once the two actually fought, then the consequences were unimaginable.
At least, the destruction of a single earth was a trivial matter.
Destroying the Multiverse itself wasn't out of the question.
In the face of such a possibility, the Over Monitor could no longer remain indifferent. Hence, his current presence.
" …. But your actions threaten to destroy the balance. I cannot be …. Indifferent, so I hope you can stop".
Dream of the Endless, Death Of The Endless, The Wrath Of God (The Spectre) and the Over Monitor.
Any one of these figures were creatures at the top of the food chain and such a united lineup was more than enough to power through almost everything in the multiverse.
Unfortunately, they met one of the few exceptions. His name ..... Was Lucifer Morningstar.
"And if I refuse?"
The Monitor's face sank.
The Spectre pondered blankly before uttering.
".... We would rather not have it get to that point". To say such words with an expressionless face. Truly worthy of the Spectre.
As a prime character suddenly transformed into a spectator, Amari was honestly surprised at the sudden turn of events.
An uneasy silence enveloped the atmosphere.
Among the group of new arrivals, which one wasn't an all powerful being with Cosmic Awareness?
Which one wasn't capable of manipulating space and time? And which one couldn't sense the lingering crisis that would occur if this fight was allowed to go one step further?
(I answer all three) …. Nobody.
In DC past and future events, The Over Monitor's first appearance in the regular multiverse was during the crisis of infinite earths.
Before that, he had done nothing but watch creation from afar like a scientist documenting the behavior of experimental subjects.
It literally took a giant antimatter wave threatening to destroy the multiverse before he made his first appearance.
After all, if his object of observation was destroyed, what would he study.
But the multiverse hadn't experienced Crisis on Infinite Earths yet, and Lucifer Jumped out to cause trouble.
Worst of all, he could do nothing about it.
An interesting fact. Among the current gathering of powerful beings, Mar Novu who monitored the events of the multiverse like an all powerful god was the weakest and easiest to kill.
Lucifer could quite literally end his existence with a single thought. Death, and Dream were the same.
He hoped most of all that his matter could be resolved peacefully.
"You are destroying a universe with countless beings. Such acts are beneath you, are they not?"
Unfortunately, his hoped fell through.
Lucifer was a tolerant character. Quite chill and would ignore everyone and everything. Even considering attempts on his life as nothing but children's games, despite having the power to erase any and all offenders with a single thought.
It was an indifference that could not be formed without nigh supreme power and billions of years of existence.
He had no fears, no natural enemies, nothing that could permanently end his life …. Unless the presence wished it to be so, he literally couldn't die.
However, such indifference could also be flipped the other way around to extreme persistence.
Lucifer simply hadn't found anything worth his time, with the exception of those two worthless guys who succeeded in taking over his father's position as God of all creation for a while before he and Michael kicked them out.
Even then, those guys still lived to see another day. (Not made up. In the comics, it actually happened)
It was different now. The possibility of escaping his father's grasp, leaving creation was within reach …. Ok, not exactly easy, but still.
Honestly, at this point, his interest had already begun to wane.
But his indifference had always been voluntary, not coerced. Never before had it been the case, and these guys weren't qualified to change that.
Quite the contrary, it only fueled his desire to do the opposite.
"It seems I have been too … Low-key in recent millennia".
His words made everyone's expression's change.
Things were taking a turn for the worse.
"... No one is talking me out of this". He uttered. "Not even you".
"Is that so brother?"
A new voice emerged from behind. Lucifer's smile faltered for the first time.
As behind him stood a man in white robes with blonde hair and white eyes.
Exuding an unprecedented aura, rivaling Lucifer's.
Saint Michael. The Archon.
"Michael". Lucifer turned around. "Always so quick to assume the righteous role".
"All righteousness aside …". The blond haired man began. ".... I will not let you destroy our father's creation. No matter what happens".
"Please don't make me have to stop you".
Michael was serious, and Lucifer knew it. When it came to creation, Michael was more dutiful than any of The Presence's children. So much so that he nearly sacrificed his life to keep it after The Presence abandoned it.
"...".
Silence.
The tension was so thick that it could be seen with the naked eye. Literally.
The aura's both Archangels exuded was so powerful that it solidified into reality.
Finally, one withdrew.
"Hahaha!" Lucifer laughed. "Alright Michael. You win this one".
The archangel uttered, leaving his brother to breathe a sigh of relief.
Lucifer knew Michael's bottom line, and Michael similarly knew his.
Although they could never see eye to eye, had quite literally battled and killed each other, they were still brothers who saw the other as their one true equal.
Talk about toxic relationships.
Gabriel was far off in the face of such a bond, and had to be put aside.
For Michael, only his father meant more. And of course …. His daughter.
On this note, Lucifer turned his gaze to Amari, who had been watching the show this whole time.
"Goodbye little creature. I'll leave you some peace for the meantime. However ….". That smile re-emerged with a hint of seriousness. "This is not over".
...
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