A dark armored figure sat as the master of his realm enthroned, centered in a vast room. The room itself had metallic, black walls, engraved with writings and imagery of the enthroned. Hexagonal columns made from the same material as the walls and adorned with figures similar to the enthroned one and glyphs, lined the aisle that led up to the throne, stretching upward like obelisks of obsidian reaching into a starless, moonless night sky. Whatever light entered this inky-black throne-room would’ve been the dim light of long dead stars.
The enthroned figure sat in a contemplative position before a hovering board of black and white checker and assorted game pieces. His chestplate held an opening that revealed a black hole in place of a heart, resembling an eclipsed sun. Beneath a halo of eyes and black flame, a foreboding yet ornate white crown adorned a helm that hid his face under a veil of black. His void black armor was adorned with numerous, organized and structured geometric sigils and patterns glowing a ghostly white.
A white piece moved towards his side of the board. It was eliminated only seconds later as the enthroned master moved a black piece to knock it over in a calculated, machine-like movement. The doors to the throne room opened. Two angels entered the throne room, resembling the statues on the columns, with wings of black woven into feathers, and black halos around themselves like intersecting rings of night-black flame. They walked in as guards, bearing ranseur spears behind an orange skinned creature holding a pitchfork, standing in contrast to the monochromatic environment.
“O-oh great Eternal Darkness, I beseech your attention.” The creature said to the master.
“You seek an audience with the Eternal Darkness…” The master said to the creature, unmoved from his game.
“Y-yes.” The creature continued. “Apologies, oh great Firstborn, for coming here unannounced but-”
“Just make your report, foul hellspawn.” The Eternal Darkness said with a degree of irritation and disinterest, still unmoved from his game as he moved another piece in response to the movement of a white piece.
The demon nervously answered “R-r-right. In recent times after my master sent you the memory, his actions against the Master of the Ring of Greed were discovered and… he was sent to the City of Blood. I come here on his behalf.”
“…And?” the Eternal Darkness inquired, still unmoved from his game.
“What is your plan to recover him? Surely you owe him something in return?” the orange demon asked, shaking nervously in anticipation of the firstborn’s answer.
The Eternal Darkness’s eyes turned towards the demon. They glowed a cold, ghostly white from behind the crowned helm that covered his face. He extended a finger as he drew a ring of night black runes that materialized into an inky circle. Extending his hand through it, he pulled out a metallic orb engraved with red, wicked runes. Examining it, he looked at the individual runes, felt it. He picked up one of the black pieces and moved it to claim a white piece that had just moved. He turned his attention back to the figures before him.
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“Every soul has its purpose, and your master has fulfilled his. As for payment, that was taken care of when he sent me this. I owe him nothing further.” The Eternal Darkness responded, before putting the orb back through the portal, dispelling it, and returning his attention to his game board. “Besides, I have no care for the affairs of the hells and or their foul inhabitants.”
“B-b-but surely you may have some kind of… incentive to keep us working for you in the future… right? W-we could still be useful…” The demon asked, shaking nervously.
“And what kind of work is it that you would be doing, demon? I haven’t heard any reports from your master in millennia even before his conviction, which I knew about prior to you coming all the way across dimensions just to tell me. And don’t for one minute think that I am ignorant of the fact that your master has been trying to manipulate me.”
“What?” The demon asked, shocked into stillness.
“I must say that I find it adorable that the hells think I can be manipulated, and at the same time, find it amusing that the lords of the hells, masters of manipulation, are so susceptible to manipulation themselves.” The Eternal Darkness said, moving another black piece closer to the opposite side of the board.
The demon stepped back, shocked by this revelation.
“Given a creature as low as you and your circumstance, I doubt anyone besides your master would notice your absence. I’d advise you to run, but that would be pointless.” The Eternal Darkness said, the room chilling as he spoke.
The demon’s muscles tensed as if he were about to bolt for the exit. However, his eyes flashed a cold, ghostly white light, his muscles relaxed and he fell on his knees, kneeling before the Eternal Darkness.
“Dispose of this garbage. Leave no trace.” The master coldly said, addressing the guards.
The guarding figures moved in an almost mechanical, calculated way, each grabbing an arm of the demon, and flying out of the room carrying the creature between them.
The Eternal Darkness’s game continued as though nothing happened. Silence returned. A single white piece moved forward by two squares. His hand returned to the base of his helm. Looking at the board for several minutes, he then looked at each of the pieces on his side, then the pieces to the other side. He then extended his hand again, picked up a piece and moved it one square forward.