Chapter 84 The Fallen One
Two months had passed since the grand wedding of King Yan and the God of Death. Nyx and Erebus had left Qingzhou to continue their travels around the world. Hypnos, unwilling to part with his brother, decided to stay in China for a while longer. Apart from the addition of two more residents in the apartment, life gradually returned to normal.
In Room 202, Poseidon was telling a story to the baby in Venus’ womb.
Venus insisted that education should start with prenatal influence. His child had to be immersed in culture even before birth. Poseidon, long accustomed to telling stories to Venus, was more than capable of taking up his old profession again.
Today’s story was about Chaos and his children creating the world.
“Chaos was the primordial god of the Greek pantheon, the beginning of the world, the embodiment of chaos itself. From the chaos emerged Gaia, the Goddess of Earth; Tartarus, the God of the Abyss; Erebus, the God of Darkness; Nyx, the Goddess of Night; and Eros, the God of Love. These are the five gods of the first-generation.”
“Eros, the God of Love?” Cupid, who was listening in, raised his hand. “Isn’t that me?”
The little God of Love’s Greek name was indeed Eros, although he was better known by his Roman name, Cupid.
“You just have the same name. His seniority is far beyond yours,” Poseidon explained. “The first-generation God of Love brought love and desire into the world, allowing the gods to unite and reproduce. The Goddess of Earth created the sky, the seas, and the mountains. The God of Abyss formed the hell. The God of Darkness and the Goddess of Night created the realm of darkness and night, and they then united to give birth to daylight. And so, a structured world came into existence.”
“That’s not what I heard,” Cupid said, scratching his head. “Big Brother White Impermanence told me that in the beginning, a great god named Pangu was born from the chaos. He split the heavens from the earth using his giant axe, and stood between the sky and earth until he could no longer endure it and collapsed, turning into all things in the world. His breath became the wind, clouds, and seasons. His voice became thunder and lightning. His eyes turned into the sun and moon. His limbs became the four cardinal directions. His skin became the land, his blood the rivers, and his sweat the rain…… And that was how the world was created.”
“That’s Chinese mythology.” Venus tapped Cupid’s little head. “We’re talking about Greek mythology. You’re a Greek god, so you should follow our version.”
“But there’s only one world. Who really created it?” Cupid’s curiosity was insatiable.
Venus could not answer, so he turned to Poseidon for help. After all, he wasn’t a god of knowledge. When it came to questions like this, he relied on his husband.
Poseidon responded with ease, “There isn’t just one pantheon. Each pantheon governs its own region, and the world each one creates is limited to its own domain. Other regions are left for other gods to shape as they see fit. That’s why the world is so vast, diverse, and filled with rich civilizations.”
Cupid nodded, satisfied with this explanation.
Eagerly, he asked, “Besides Greek and Chinese mythology, what other myths are there? I want to hear more! I think creating a world is so cool!”
Poseidon thought for a moment before answering, “Then let me tell you about the creation of the world by God in Hebrew mythology……”
In the beginning, the world was formless and shrouded in darkness. From that darkness, God was born.
His name was Yahweh, the one and only god in this realm. Finding the endless void too lonely, He decided to change it.
On the first day, God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. He separated the light from the darkness, creating day and night.
On the second day, God said, “Let there be a dome to divide the water and to keep it in two separate places.” And so, the sky and the air came to be.
On the third day, God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered in one place, and let dry land appear.” And so, the land and the seas were separated.
On the fourth day, God said, “Let there be lights in the sky to divide day and night, to serve as signs for seasons, days, and years, and to shine upon the earth.” And so, the sun, the moon, and the stars were created.
On the fifth day, God said, “Let the waters be filled with living creatures, and let birds fly across the sky.” And so, fish swam in the seas, and birds took to the air.
On the sixth day, God said, “Let the earth produce all kinds of animal life, domestic and wild, large and small.” And so, all living beings came into existence. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the creatures on earth.” And so, humankind was created.
On the seventh day, creation was complete. God rested and set aside the seventh day as a day of rest for mankind.
Cupid: “Wow, God was so hardworking!”
In Greek mythology, mankind was created by Prometheus, the God of Wisdom. In Chinese mythology, it was Nuwa who shaped mankind. But God? He handled everything from creating the world to making life and even mankind itself. His diligence left Cupid deeply impressed.
Cupid declared, “Now that’s a good boss! My Big Brothers Black Impermanence and Hypnos are always complaining about how King Yan and King Hades overwork their subordinates. Every day, they either think about rebelling or how to rebel. Bosses like that are terrible! Having someone like God is so much better. He did everything Himself and even gave His people a day off. Working under Him must be pure bliss! That kind of life is heaven!”
Then, as if realizing something, Cupid added, “Oh wait, they do live in heaven. That makes it even better!”
Because of the small halo above his head and the tiny wings on his back, Cupid was often praised for looking as cute as an angel. But he wasn’t an angel. He was a God of Love, a completely different species.
After being called an angel so many times, Cupid gradually learned more about these celestial beings. They, too, had halos and wings and lived in heaven, a place mortals dreamed of reaching. It was said to be a land of carefree happiness and eternal bliss.
People didn’t want to go to the underworld, to hell, or to be lost at sea, but they seemed to have a different kind of longing for heaven. So, Cupid naturally had a very good impression of God. After all, why else would so many people want to go to His kingdom?
Poseidon was silent for a moment. As someone who had dumped his work on his subordinates to vacation in the East, he wasn’t exactly exempt from Cupid’s indirect criticism.
But he quickly smiled and said, “On the contrary, God’s most favored and cherished archangel, Lucifiel, betrayed Him. He led a third of heaven’s angels in a rebellion, fell from grace, and became Satan, the Demon King. He even abandoned the ‘-el’ title bestowed upon him by God and called himself simply Lucifer.”
Cupid: “???”
Cupid: “Why!”
“How could Lucifiel be so ungrateful with such a good boss?” Cupid huffed.
Seeing his son’s eagerness to learn, Poseidon continued the story.
God’s creations extended far beyond mankind. There were angels, elves, dragons, and more. Humans were merely the smallest and most fragile of them all.
Lucifiel was God’s first angel, and in fact, His first creation. Long before the world was made, when God sat alone in endless darkness, He had created a being in His own image to accompany Him.
Later, when God began creating the world, He had mastered His divine power, shaping mountains and seas with mere thoughts, crafting other angels and all races, including mankind, with effortless ease. But in the beginning, in that lightless void, He had worked carefully, tracing each feature of the young angel’s face with delicate precision, seeing him as a companion who would break His solitude.
Humans often used the phrase “as if sculpted by God’s own hands” to describe unparalleled beauty. However, only Lucifiel truly deserved such words. In his case, there was no need for “as if” because he was God’s perfect masterpiece, crafted with divine care and intention.
Every feature of his face, every inch of his skin, every feather of his wings was flawless, peerless, and unique.
He possessed a head of silky, golden hair that shimmered like sunlight. His golden eyes, as clear as a morning sky, was a radiant light in the darkness. As God gazed upon him, he thought that such a dazzling angel deserved an equally splendid world. And so, God said, “Let there be light.”
God poured six-sevenths of His divine power into creating him, using only the remaining one-seventh to shape the world.
He named the angel Lucifiel, meaning the “Morning Star of Dawn.”
After the creation of the world, God and His angels lived in heaven. Lucifiel, the highest-ranking among them, was kind and gentle, yet brave and just. He radiated brilliance and strength, admired by all who dwelled in heaven.
God did not concern Himself with worldly affairs. Lucifiel, as the most powerful of the angels and the one most cherished by God, was granted supreme authority. He ruled over all the angels and governed the affairs of heaven. The six other archangels merely assisted him. They obeyed his every command and accepted his leadership without question. God was the sovereign of heaven, but Lucifiel was, in essence, its regent.
As soon as he heard the words “did not concern himself with worldly affairs,” Cupid immediately made a connection. “Ah, I see! So God was also a hands-off ruler who dumped all His responsibilities onto Lucifiel. Lucifiel was driven crazy by work and that’s why he rebelled. That means Lucifiel was really proactive! My Big Brothers Black Impermanence and Hypnos only think about rebelling, but Lucifiel actually did it!”
Poseidon shook his head. “It wasn’t that simple.”
God cherished Lucifiel, and Lucifiel held the deepest reverence for God. No matter how exhausting or overwhelming his duties were, he never once complained. With unwavering devotion, he governed heaven as God’s faithful servant.
One day, God brought forth a mortal named Adam before the gathered angels and declared him the new Holy Son. He then commanded all the angels to kneel and pay homage.
At the time, it was widely believed that mortals were far inferior to angels. For an angel to kneel before a human was considered a humiliation. However, the command had come from God Himself, so none of the angels dared to defy His will. Despite their reluctance, they bowed and worshiped the Holy Son.
Even the six seraphim knelt in obedience. Only Lucifiel remained standing, his back straight and unyielding, refusing to bend his knee.
God’s gaze turned cold. “Lucifiel, why do you not kneel?”
Lucifiel lowered his eyes, avoiding direct contact with God’s gaze. “I do not understand why you want us to worship a mortal.”
God answered, “He is the Holy Son I have chosen. From this day forward, he will take your place and rule heaven. You, too, shall obey Adam and pay him homage.”
For the first time in his existence, Lucifiel’s flawless expression faltered. A flicker of shock surfaced in his golden eyes.
With firm resolve, he said, “Divine Lord, I have served heaven with unwavering devotion for tens of thousands of years without a single mistake. Why does he deserve to replace me?”
A faint trace of grievance stirred in his heart. He had been born perfect, and God had always praised his perfection. But in reality, no one can remain perfect forever. The other seraphim had all made mistakes. Only Lucifiel, unwilling to disappoint God’s trust, had never allowed himself to falter. For millennia, he had relentlessly pursued perfection, never once stepping out of line.
What kind of mortal could replace him?
God’s voice remained calm. “Lucifiel, do you intend to defy me?”
Lucifiel lowered his head, assuming a posture of humility and reverence, but his spirit remained unyielding. Every word he spoke was deliberate and resolute. “I have never dared to defy you. But today, I refuse to submit.”
God’s tone did not waver. “Lucifiel, you have committed the sin of pride.”
Pride was one of the seven deadly sins. By pronouncing judgment upon him, God was declaring him guilty.
The golden-haired angel lifted his gaze in disbelief, hurt flickering in his golden eyes. But his innate pride kept him from showing even the slightest trace of weakness.
Of course, he was proud. It was God Himself who had granted him that pride. He was the companion God had personally acknowledged, the regent of heaven, the Chief Seraph loved by all angels. He had every reason to be proud. When God cherished him, He had once said that Lucifiel’s most radiant quality was his unyielding pride.
But now that God had turned away from him, pride became arrogance, a sin.
So it turned out that he was no different from other creatures, just something dispensable, something that could be replaced at any time.
Still lost in his thoughts, Lucifiel was caught off guard when a sudden, searing pain shot through his knees. God had no patience for further resistance. With a single strike of divine power, He forced Lucifiel to kneel.
The pain cut so deep that it shook his very soul. His six luminous wings trembled and drooped. But even as his body quivered, he refused to bend his knees any further.
Gritting his teeth against the agony, he spoke through labored breaths. “Why force me to worship him? I will never kneel to something so insignificant, something that came long after me. I was here first. He should be the one kneeling before me.”
The golden-haired angel looked sadly at the God high above the throne. For the first time, he dared to look directly at God, silently demanding an answer.
God looked at him coldly, increasing the pressure of divine power, not even bothering to explain.
Lucifiel’s eyes darkened with despair before he let out a soft, bitter laugh. “I understand your answer now.”
His voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable finality to it.
“Divine Lord, this shall be the last time I call you that. I was born with pride, and it will never change. If you have judged me guilty of pride and demand my repentance, if you want me to bow to another, then I can only…… add another sin to my name.”
The beautiful angel’s gentle smile appeared poignant and tragic. And then, he abandoned all reverence and spoke the name of his God.
“Yahweh, I renounce the title you bestowed upon me. From this moment on, I shall be known as Lucifer. Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven.”
Turning away, he cast a cool, piercing gaze over the kneeling ranks of angels below.
“Those who would follow me, come. We shall descend to hell together.”
For countless eons, Lucifiel had commanded unwavering loyalty in heaven. The moment he spoke, a third of the angels rose to stand by his side without hesitation.
And so, war erupted.
The battle raged for three days. But no creation, no matter how strong, could ever hope to defeat its Creator. The rebel army was defeated, the angels fell, and Lucifiel, struck down by God’s own hand, plunged from heaven.
He fell through the chaos for nine days and nights.
His six pure white wings, now stained with blood, could no longer carry him. Feathers, torn and broken, scattered through the air.
The golden halo above his head dimmed, flickered, and shattered.
As he plummeted, he gazed up at heaven, reaching out as if to grasp something. But in the end, his fingers closed around nothing but emptiness.
His once-radiant golden hair lost its luster, and clear tears streaked down his golden eyes.
Then, he shut them and fell into hell.
His dove-white feathers darkened, turning into the black wings of a raven.
His angelic halo was replaced by the sharp, curved horns of a demon.
In the depths of hell, Lucifer opened his crimson eyes and let out a cold, mocking laugh.
……
“WHAT?!” Cupid was so furious that the halo above his head nearly exploded. “What kind of bastard is God?! How could He do this to Lucifiel?!”
Venus: “Weren’t you just saying Lucifiel was ungrateful?”
Cupid, despite still being a child, had spent enough time around the Black and White Impermanence, those true overworked souls, to develop empathy for the struggles of adults.
“Think about it, you graduated with a Ph.D. from a prestigious university and worked hard for the big boss in the company for decades. Then, out of nowhere, a nepo intern who didn’t even finish elementary school gets parachuted in to become your boss. Who wouldn’t want to quit? It’s better to start your own company, hmph.”
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