Chapter 427: Current Situation Of Earth
Damian sat comfortably in the chair across the room with one leg crossed over the other. Between two fingers he held a single cigar, turning it slowly beneath the candlelight as he inspected the craftsmanship. The dark wrapper was smoother than anything he had ever smoked on Earth, carrying faint violet veins that pulsed almost imperceptibly with demonic energy. After studying it for a short while, he placed it between his lips. The tip immediately ignited with a quiet burst of purple flames without the need for a lighter.
He drew in a long breath and the smoke flowed into his lungs like liquid heat before spreading throughout his body. Several seconds later, Damian slowly exhaled a thick plume of violet smoke toward the ceiling before throwing his head back against the chair.
"...Damn."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Unlike the cigars back on Earth that required several sticks before he even began feeling relaxed, a single drag from this one immediately clouded his mind with a pleasant warmth. Everything produced within the Underworld seemed stronger, richer and more refined than their earthly counterparts.
"Thank you."
He looked toward Loth with a bitter smile.
"I’ve been so busy... I nearly forgot how much I love these."
His fingers gently rolled the cigar between them. Even now his memories of Earth refused to leave him.
Every dream during those ten unconscious years had been another replay of his old life. Faces. Streets. Conversations. Victories. Regrets.
No matter how hard he tried the feeling of loss never truly disappeared.
Loth quietly watched him from across the table before offering him a gentle smile.
"I understand. It’s difficult to think clearly when you’re surrounded by enemies."
She folded both hands neatly upon her lap.
"That’s why secretaries exist."
Damian couldn’t help smiling. He leaned farther into his chair while staring at Loth seated opposite him. Absentmindedly, he swirled the wine inside his goblet before speaking again.
"You do realize If Rachel finds out you’re here tonight she’ll probably kill you."
Loth laughed quietly. She understood exactly what he meant. Over the past decade she had witnessed enough to understand Rachel’s possessiveness.
It wasn’t that the women objected to Damian sleeping with others. It was attachment they feared. The moment another woman became emotionally important to him that was when jealousy truly appeared.
"That is..."
Loth smiled faintly.
"...if Your Majesty allows it."
Damian slowly shook his head.
"If this were Earth I’d probably believe that. But things are different now."
He looked down into the crimson wine.
"You and I both know I need Rachel far more than she currently needs me."
He laughed bitterly.
"At least.. for now."
Loth instinctively reached toward his hand across the table. Her fingers stopped halfway and moments later she quietly withdrew them.
Only then did she remember they were no longer living inside that mansion in Chicago.
Everything had changed.
Damian noticed the disappointment passing across her face and he sighed inwardly.
"Do you want to remain by my side?"
The question came so suddenly that Loth immediately looked up. She nodded without hesitation.
"Being unable to see you is unbearable."
Her voice trembled slightly.
It had never simply been about physical intimacy. She genuinely enjoyed existing beside him. His worries became hers and his victories felt like her own.
Even if she played only a tiny role, it gave her purpose. It made her feel needed.
Damian quietly nodded.
"Then it’s settled. You’ll become my private attendant. I’ll have to convince Rachel to let you go. And we’ll need to get you some proper suits. I think they suit you much better."
He looked her up and down.
Loth’s eyes immediately brightened. She couldn’t stop smiling. It wasn’t exactly the answer she had secretly wished for.
But as long as she remained close to Damian, time would always create new opportunities.
Perhaps one day she could become something more. Even Queens could be deposed.
"Loth."
Buzz!
She instinctively looked up.
Damian was already standing before her. His violet eyes glowed brilliantly through the slowly drifting purple smoke escaping his lips.
Her entire body stiffened.
"Did you truly believe you could hide those desires from me?" He spoke calmly.
Loth’s breathing immediately became uneven. She nodded and then immediately shook her head.
Damian’s expression softened. He gently rested both hands upon her shoulders.
"I wouldn’t mind making you my concubine someday. But we both know Rachel won’t be pleased discovering I took another woman from her own clan."
His honesty caught her completely off guard.
"To her that would be an attack upon her pride. And believe me. If you challenge her now you’ll be the one who dies."
He slowly patted her long wavy hair and his voice carried genuine sincerity.
"I like you. I don’t want to lose you. So bury that ambition. Let’s take things one step at a time. You’ve already earned the right to stand beside me. There is no need to fight for more than that."
Loth’s eyes immediately filled with tears. She had expected anger or rejection. Instead, he had simply been worried about her safety.
Unable to contain herself any longer, she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you..."
She whispered.
Damian gently returned the embrace before slowly patting her back.
When they finally separated, he calmly returned to his chair while Loth quietly refilled his goblet. The wine floated effortlessly through the air before settling neatly into Damian’s waiting hand.
He crossed one leg over the other before taking another slow puff from his cigar.
"Now... Tell me what happened on Earth while I was gone."
His expression gradually became serious. Loth’s smile disappeared and her face slowly became solemn. She drew in a deep breath before speaking.
"Earth is no longer ruled by humans."
Buzz!
The goblet stopped halfway toward Damian’s lips and his eyes immediately turned ice cold.
The room itself seemed several degrees colder beneath his gaze.
"What?"
His voice came out barely above a whisper. Loth forced herself to continue.
"Following your defeat an all out war erupted between Heaven and the Underworld. Humanity was caught between them and the population was nearly cut in half."
Damian remained completely motionless.
The fighting lasted years. In the end... your brothers lost. The Commandment of Piety’s vessel had already evolved after fusing with his archangel. He became capable of housing the Commandment’s soul repeatedly."
Bam!
Damian abruptly rose to his feet. His eyes flickered violently between crimson and violet. Images of Corbin flashed through his mind one after another. He could still remember warning that priest.
Protect Earth or suffer a fate worse than death.
"My friends."
His voice tightened.
"What happened to them?"
Loth sadly lowered her head.
"After Heaven secured complete control every sinner was declared state property. They became laborers, forced labor camps were established across the planet."
She looked back up.
"Your devotees were rounded up long ago. They’re among those camps."
Damian slowly collapsed back into his chair. His eyes lost focus.
"Corbin..."
He hissed through clenched teeth.
Loth nodded.
"Earth now functions like an Imperial Province under his administration. Humans live alongside angels under Heaven’s laws."
She sighed quietly.
"It truly has become a dark age."
Silence followed.
Damian stared into nothing as his thoughts drifted far away.
"We should’ve taken him with us..."
Damian whispered. Regret quietly settled over the room.
Loth leaned forward.
"We can still save them. But first Velmora must be stabilized."
She met his eyes.
"Once your position here is secure we can secretly return to Earth. We’ll pull your devotees out before anyone realizes we’re there."
Those words pierced Damian’s heart.
Sneak back?
Onto the very world he was born in?
But what other choice remained?
If Kaizer had left him unconscious for almost a decade, then a fully manifested Commandment of Piety would almost certainly kill him outright.