"Cerberus?"
Lucias called out while carrying a large box of cake in his hand, searching for the triplets who always greeted him as soon as he got home.
"Where are they?"
Lucias said while climbing the stairs up to the second floor of the palace.
"Cerberus, where are you? I brought you some treats"
Lucias loudly shouted while searching through each room. Searching every corner of the palace until he arrived at the kitchen, a place where Cerberus always stayed out everytime he went out to work.
"Lucias-sama?"
Seraphim called, noticing her faction leader entering the kitchen with a large box in his right hand.
"Seraphim have you seen Cerberus?"
Lucias asked as he walked towards Seraphim with a serious expression on his face causing Seraphim to shake her head in response.
"I haven't seen them since this morning, Lucias-sama. Have you tried searching through your room? Cerberus-sama likes to stay there and sleep during the afternoon"
Seraphim advised causing Lucias to nod his head as he made his way towards the top floor of the palace where his room is located.
"... Cerberus?"
Lucias called out once again as soon as he arrived at his room, but found nothing inside except for his unkept bed and broken sword at the corner of the bed.
"Hmm?"
Lucias hummed while walking towards the broken sword on the ground.
"This is... the sword that I used while I was still part of the church, but why is it on the ground?"
Lucias said with a confused expression on his face as he grabbed the broken sword on the ground before noticing the shattered frame that he used to preserve the sword.
"... What happened inside my room?"
Lucias muttered while looking around his large bedroom, searching for any clues of what happened inside until his eyes stopped in front of the broken window on the wall.
"... Did someone break inside?"
Lucias said before throwing the broken sword inside his inventory with a serious expression on his face.
"... No..."
Lucias muttered as a sudden idea came to his mind causing him to immediately jump out of the window without hesitation to follow the tracks left behind by the person who broke inside his room.
"... Cerberus... please be safe..."
-Flashback (with Cerberus)-
"Owner, let's play!"
Cerberus happily said while running towards an extremely buffed man wearing a white suit and an apron on top of it with the word "Satan".
"Hmm? Do you want to go out?"
Helltaker asked while taking off his apron, looking at Cerberus who was staring at him with both anticipation and excitement.
"Mn!"
All of the nodded their heads in unison while showing a large ball in their hands.
"Sure"
Helltaker said with a light smile on his face before taking out three leashes from the lower drawer of the kitchen.
"Let's go"
He said while gently placing the leashes on their hands to prevent them from causing trouble or wandering around the city.
"Be back before lunch, alright?"
Lucifer said as she waved her hands at Helltaker while wearing a similar apron on top of her attire, preparing piles of pancakes for them to eat at lunch.
"We will"
Helltaker said before grabbing the ball in their hands with a light smile on his face as all of them walked out of the house.
"Play!"
One of them shouted in joy as soon as they got out of the house, immediately running away but was stopped by the leash that Helltaker placed on her hands.
"Sit down"
Helltaker ordered causing the 3 of them to stop in their tracks before sitting down on the ground with a wide smile on their faces.
"Catch"
Helltaker threw the ball in his hand with all of his strength, lauching it at a great distance as the triplets immediately chased it in all fours.
"... It's been a while since I spent some time with Cerberus"
Helltaker said with a nostalgic smile on his face while watching one of the triplets ran towards him with the ball in her arms.
"Again!"
She happily stated as she gave the ball to Helltaker while the other 2 followed her from behind.
"Ou!"
He shouted before throwing the ball once again at a great distance causing the 3 to race towards it with incredible speed while the surrounding demons watched them with warm expressions.
"They must really like their new owner, don't they?"
One of the bystander said with a soft smile on her face, thankful for Helltaker for giving Cerberus a chance to experience fun and enjoyment other than causing chaos to all realms that exists in their dimensions.
Even though Cerberus was a troublemaker, they always placed the safety of their people and loved ones first than anything else. They will retaliate if they're threatened by any forces if necessary. The only reason why she became such a troublemaker is because of her lack of experience when it comes to emotions.
She was raised by the elders to kill and destroy any of their opponents without mercy, thus her lack of sympathy and love for chaos came to be. She lacks the understanding of relationships, and think like that of a wild beast that is capable of speaking ancient demon and human language.
She is a weapon raised by the elders and would continue to be so until Lucifer steps in and took her in her care. She, along with the other ancient demons raised her and taught her everything she needed to know to associate with her fellow demons.
When Helltaker barged into the underworld and took the original demons of his harem. Cerberus became more humane as she was introduced to various foreign emotions that her fellow demons wasn't able to teach her like trust, and loyalty.
"But... it's quite a shame that Helltaker is a human... his lifespan is still limited compared to ours"
"That is true... the only way he can gain immortality is through the [Blessing of the tree of life], but... it won't bless a person that holds such incredible greed"
One of them said, remembering his determination and greed to capture all of the original demons along with one original angel in his grasp.
"Well... Let's just see what happens, knowing Cerberus she will easily forget about it if something more interesting comes into her life"
One of the bystander said while watching Cerberus ran towards Helltaker for the 10th time, carrying the ball in their hands.
"Owner! Stay with us forever ok?"
One of the triplets said while streching out her pinky towards Helltaker who was smiling at their direction.
"It's a promise"
He answered as he intertwined their pinkies together.
"Mn!"
Timeskip
"What!?"
Lucifer shouted in shock as she recieved the report from Judgment pertaining the number of demons missing in her faction.
"... Lucifer... we're the only ones that are left... they're all gone"
Judgement said in a grave tone while tightly gripping the chains in her hands, remembering her fellow demons who has gone missing so suddenly within a single night without alarming any of them.
"Are you sure about this? How can you assume that all of them are gone?"
"I searched everywhere but couldn't find a single trace of them... I know it sounds impossible since no one can stand toe to toe with us demons except the original angels but knowing them... they won't carelessly start a war with us especially when Azazel is staying with us"
She answered causing Lucifer to place her palm on her forehead a massive headache assaulted her mind.
"What happened?"
Cerberus who just came in inside the room asked, noticing the grave expression of the original demons and Helltaker while standing around a pile of documents on the table.
"Nothing, Cerberus... Go back to sleep alright?"
Helltaker said while patting their heads causing the 3 of them to reculantly look at Lucifer who was biting her fingernails in frustration.
"... Lucifer, what's your plan?"
Modeus asked while reading through the documents brought by Judgement.
"... We're going to search for them, any clues, any traces... I don't want to just stand here not knowing what happened to my subjects"
Lucifer said causing all of them to nod their heads in response.
"... Who's going with me?"
She asked while looking at the beings around her with a serious expression on her face.
"Naturally, both of us will go"
Justice pointed at herself and Judgement who was crossing her arms on her chest.
"Me too"
Modeus raised her hand in the air while Beelzebub theatrically nodded in response to her question.
"Us too!"
The triplets all said in unison as they clung to Lucifer's body with a determined expression on their faces.
"... How about the four of you?"
Lucifer asked Pandemonica, Malina, Zdrada, and Azazel who were all listening with a serious expression on their faces.
"I can't... I need to report this to the council of heaven"
Azazel answered with a reluctant voice causing Lucifer to nod her head in understanding.
"I'll go"
Helltaker stated causing Lucifer to shake her head to side in response.
"You'll only drag us down... even though you could fight and win against a few of the demons of my faction... we're facing a being that can kill or kidnap all of them without alerting any of us. It's far too dangerous"
Lucifer said before glancing at Pandemonica, Zdrada, and Malina who were both contemplating about their decision.
"... I'll stay here, we need someone to protect Hell while most of us are gone"
"I'll stay here with them"
"If they're staying that I will to"
Pandemonica answered followed by Malina and Zdrada causing Lucifer to nod her head in understanding.
"Then, we'll immediately start searching for them by tomorrow. I can use my magic to try and search for any of their traces so we wouldn't have to split up, especially when our enemy is this dangerous"
Lucifer stated causing all of them to nod their heads in response.
"Everyone... be careful"
Timeskip
"Nee, Lucifer aren't we going home yet?"
Cerberus asked with an innocent expression on her face while following her fellow demons, searching through the Hallowed Forest of the underworld, a forest filled with dangerous mythical creatures and the hometown of the dragons of the dimension.
"We haven't found our people yet, Cerberus. Just endure it for a bit alright? We'll go home after this"
Lucifer comforted as she patted her head with a tired smile on her face as they haven't slept for days, only desperately searching for their people all over the underworld but found nothing.
"Lucifer... Should we go back?"
Modeus asked as she lost all hope in finding their kind, no matter how she expanded her magic just to search for their traces. She found nothing causing Lucifer to become more desperate than before.
"..."
"... Let's continue our search for tomorrow... It's dangerous to stay in this forest for the night, Lucifer"
Justice advised causing her to grit her teeth in frustration.
"I... I think your right... let's just go back and continue our search tomorro-"
Lucifer tried to say but was cut off as a powerful beam of concentrated mana launched at her direction at incredible speed, causing her to immediately cast [Demonic Armor] on all of them to try and lessen the damage and impact of the spell.
"Ugh..."
She grunted in pain as her body slid backwards due to the incredible force contained in the attack.
"WHO ARE YOU!?"
She shouted as the other original demons prepared for combat.
"... So we finally found you... Lucifer-san"
A young girl wearing an ethereal like dress and pale translucent skin muttered while pointing at Lucifer as she descended down on the ground.
"Y-Y-You"
"Please forgive me for this but... I'm just following the orders of the 'creator'"
"W-What?"
Lucifer muttered in shock before being binded to the ground by two black and white chains along with the other original devils and Cerberus who was struggling to break free to save her family.
"You... Are you the one who kidnapped my subjects!?"
Lucifer shouted while struggling to break free but stopped as a sudden charge of electricity ran down her entire body, numbing all of their senses as they all fell to the ground.
"Ugh..."
"I have no connection to the mass extinction of the demon race... blame yourself for associating with a human who provoked the apocalyptic beast 10 years ago"
The little girl calmly stated causing Lucifer to look at her in confusion and shock, just like Modeus who was binded to the ground.
"W-What... Mass Extinction!?"
"No more questions for I am running out of time... You're purpose... The reason of your existence... Will commence a few million years from now... We need all of you to live to see and serve the boy chosen by our father"
Order said before creating a massive magic circle below the original demons, releasing incredible amounts of mana that was enough to suffocate even them due to its density.
"I will seal all of you in a space where time doesn't exist. Please forgive me for what I'm about to do"
Order muttered causing Lucifer to panic and shout at Order who was standing in front of them.
"E-Even if you seal us Helltaker would-"
"Do not dream of it, Original Demon of Pride. He will not search for you nor will he remember you after your disappearance after a few weeks"
Order immediately cut her off causing her to look at her in shock.
"W-What... Helltaker will never do that!! He loved us!!"
"But that love of his is only short lived... A high human such as him will naturally choose those that are available to him than those that dissapeared out of nowhere for several years"
"You're lying!! Owner will never do that!! He pinky promised!!"
The triplets shouted in anger while glaring at Order.
"Then... Shall we make a bet?"
Order stated before shattering the magic circle that she erected below them.
"A bet?" (Lucifer)
"Indeed, I will only seal you within a structure that allows those that are sealed within to live eternally but can never escape unless... This high human of yours come to your aid and take you back just like what you've said"
She said before snapping her fingers as another magic circle with complex ancient runes appeared below them.
"But... If he don't come and break all of you out of the seal, you will stay inside for a few millions of years until the chosen boy is born"
Order said before summoning a giant building covered by a thick layer of crimson ice inside the Hallowed Forest.
"Will this suffice? Original Demon of Pride?"
Order asked causing Lucifer to immediately nod her head in response as all of them were pulled inside the building.
"Remember our bet, Lucifer"
Timeskip
"Lucifer? Aren't we going home yet? We want see owner!!"
Cerberus asked with a large frown on their face as they stared at Lucifer who was nervously sitting on the ground with a frustrated expression on her face while Justice casually observed the large building that they were sealed in.
"... We can't yet, Cerberus... But don't worry, Helltaker will come here and pick us up, so be patient"
Lucifer comforted while patting her head.
"Oh! Owner made a promised with us! We will all stay together forever!"
One of them happily said causing Lucifer to smile as she hugged the demon dogs in her embrace.
"You're right, he will come for us... He promised afterall"
Timeskip (3 billion years)
"W-What did you just say...?" (Lucifer)
"Hmm?"
A devil who tried to conquer the seal hummed while being binded to the wall by Lucifer's [Demonic chains].
"About Helltaker!! Please tell me your lying..."
She asked while feeling light-headed, struggling to swallow the news that was given to her by the devil in front of her.
"I'm not..."
The devil answered reluctantly as a sharp spear made from concentrated demonic mana was pointed at his throat.
"So he just abandoned us!? A-After everything we've been through!?"
Lucifer shouted in both anger and sadness as she gripped her uniform with a pained expression on her face.
"... I-I thought the reason why he was so desperate to become immortal is to search for us... S-So why... How could he just abandon us... E-Even though I waited for him for all of this years... I hoped for him to come... I-I-I-I... D-Did I do something wrong... Did I lack anything... How could he just-"
"Stop blaming yourself, Lucifer"
Judgement who came inside her test room stated before piercing the chest of the devil that was tied to the wall.
"He left us for dead... Justice and I have already confirmed this... I knew that we shouldn't have expected anything from him in the past"
"Y-Y-You believe them!?"
"... Don't be ignorant Lucifer... It's the truth... Even Modeus have accepted this fact long ago because of her experience with men... Only you and Cerberus hasn't accepted this"
Judgement said with a stern expression on her face while looking down on Lucifer who was gripping the cloth on her chest due to the intense pain and sadness that she felt from her lover's betrayal.
"N-No... M-Maybe if we keep waiting-"
"Tch! It's over Lucifer, open your fucking eyes. He won't come for us! He... his already happy with his new family..."
"N-No no no no no you're lying!!! This isn't true!!!"
Lucifer shouted in desperation and denial as she choked on her tears, slowly kneeling down on the cold floor of the building with extreme sadness taking over her entire body causing Judgement to bit her lips as she punched the stone wall of the building. Shattering it into pieces.
"T-This can't be.... H-He hasn't abandoned us... M-Maybe his just preparing himself... Yes, that must be it"
"... Lucifer... Please accept the truth... He won't be coming back..."
"..."
Lucifer bit her lip in frustration as her tears drenched her uniform while her pained cries echoed through the hallowed rooms of the building.
"... It's over... Lucifer..."
-with Cerberus (400 million years)-
"What's taking owner so long?"
"I'm hungry..."
"I missed his pancakes!"
The triplets said in dissatisfaction as all of them sat down on the cold floor of the room.
"How long are we going to stay here?"
"I don't know?"
"Owner is taking so long"
The three of them talked with each other while holding various to toys that they obtained from all of the devils that attempted to conquer the seal.
"Let's play! We've been good for a while so owner will be proud of us once he comes back!"
"Mn!"
The three of them muttered in a joyful tone as they started to play with one another... just like what they always do for the past few billions of years while waiting for Helltaker to come and pick them up.
"... Lucifer, shouldn't we tell them?"
Justice asked as both she and Lucifer watched Cerberus happily play among themselves while they wait for someone that will never come back.
"I can't... you know Cerberus is... She is a girl that has one soul but three bodies... If all of them experience grief at the same time... It will only break them so... I'm reluctant to tell them the truth"
"... But if you let it last longer... It will only hurt them more, Lucifer"
"... I know"
Timeskip (100 million years)
"Lucifer, what's wrong?"
"Why are you sad? Did someone hurt you!?"
Cerberus asked Lucifer who was caressing their hair with a conflicted expression on her face.
"... Cerberus... Do you believe that... Helltaker will still come and save us?"
"Mn!"
"We pinky promised!"
Cerberus confidently answered causing Lucifer to cover her eyes as small droplets of tears ran down her cheeks, reluctant to tell them the truth but she couldn't let it last for any longer.
"C-Cerberus... He won't come back... We're all alone now..."
"Huh?"
All of them muttered in unison as they tilted their head towards Lucifer in confusion.
"Cerberus, he won't come back anymore... H-He... left to be in a better place..."
"..."
"I'm sorry... for saying this only to you now..."
"You're lying!!"
"Owner promised!"
Cerberus shouted in denial.
"Cerberus, listen to me-"
"No! We will wait for owner!!"
"Cerberus please"
"W-We will show you!"
"Cerberus... please listen to me"
"Hmph! You will see owner will save us!"
"Cerberus..."
Timeskip (300 million years)
"..."
"..."
Cerberus remained silent while sitting in front of the large gate of the building, sitting on the cold ground as they waited... waited for their owner to come back... and play with them once again, but no matter how long they waited... He never came back.
"... D-Did... O-Owner really abandoned us?"
One of them asked causing the other two to lifelessly drop their tails on the floor with extreme sadness written on their faces.
"... I... don't know..."
"B-But he promised..."
One of the triplets said as tears welled up at the corner of her eyes causing the other two to feel her depression drown their body from the thought of their owner.
"... D-Did we do anything wrong?"
"W-Why..."
They all muttered as the sadness that they all felt was amplified to one another, not knowing why would their beloved owner would just abandon them when they did everything they could just to be good for him.
"Cerberus..."
Lucifer who came to check on them said in a sad tone as she immediately hugged the three of them from the back.
"L-Lucifer why did owner..."
"We did good right?"
"Why why?"
All of them asked one after another as their tears started to ran down their soft and rosy cheeks as the surrow that all 3 of them had kept inside them started to break free causing them to loudly wail in Lucifer's embrace.
"Just let it all out... Were still here for you, Cerberus"
Lucifer comforted while giving all 3 of them a soft kiss on their foreheads as they drenched her uniform with their tears.
"W-why *hic*"
"Shhh... Just let it all out... Don't blame yourself anymore, Cerberus"
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!