Spiritual beings do not have a true conception of time. There is the beginning and then there is rest of eternity. That is all, and that is what it will always be. But for someone as powerful and robust as himself, nothing compares to His authoritative influence. He created everything, even the image of time. And Satan was in the middle of it all. He was powerful, yes, second to the Man himself, but the contrast to Satan's ability and that of God's was so far and unimaginably intangible, that no real comparison could be possibly made.
So how powerless was he when God made him feel every second, every moment of his imprisonment. Bound and left in isolation for a thousand years. The sense of time was something inconceivable for Spiritual beings for a reason. Beings that live forever mustn't know the ebbing pain of boredom, for even a mind made of something intangible from reality can lose it. And lose it many times Satan did. For the devil, it was an embarrassment to all his Fallen, that the most strongest one of them all, can still fall even lower. It made him think about all the things that he fought for. All the lives of His 'precious' children Satan brought down into an eternity of fire. Was it all really worth it? Was he himself a child just repelling against his Father and was put on timeout? He would never measure up to the power of God's ability, so why bother fighting?
But he remembered why. The one thing that brought him out of his own insanity. He was created this way. He was given freedom to think, to feel, and most importantly, to want. And he wanted to be like God, to have such... Power. To even be near Him, he could feel a great presence pressing down on everything surrounding. And Satan was the second to Him, his right hand. He felt it all the time. He could see the indescribable authority God had, and he wanted it all. 'Tis but a sin he couldn't help himself to. And because of this sin, because of how Satan was, he was cast out of Heaven. Him and the others who dared to want.
And now here he stands, at the Pearly Gates with his Fallen in tow. This was it, the prophesied battle, Satan's last chance to fight for his sin. And he will fight with every fiber of his ethereal being.
He lead charge with his demon generals by his side and started the war of revelations.
If time passed as if it were in the realm of man, Satan and his demons fought Heaven and its army for what could be considered a millennia. And during all this time, he fought a losing war. Not only was he outnumbered two to one at every corner of the battlefield, but the seven Archangels took it upon themselves to fight Satan. To his annoyance, Satan had been challenged in battle with these angels for a majority of the war. He had the misfortune of being on the defensive for its entirety.
"You all have fought for a while now, how about a break? Lie down and take a drink," Satan said, his spear resting on top of his shield in a lowered stance.
Raphael, the Angel of Healing, spoke first, "Do not try to tempt our conviction, Lucifer. You are strong to stand against us, but you will fall eventually."
"Conviction, faith, principle, on what evidence do you have that can suggest my defeat? I have lasted, and can last even longer. You might hold the rank of Archangel, but you do not hold any semblance of competency."
"Your insults mean nothing, Lucifer. It was prophesied that you are to be cast into eternal flame. You will not pass this point," Jophiel, the Angel of Beauty, responded. She stepped forward and struck her lance onto the ground as to emphasize her point.
"Do not call me Lucifer, I have Fallen, Jophiel," Satan continued, "And I will pass here.. for I have counsel with God."
At this, the rest of the seven took their stances to prepare for the next battle. Satan studied all his opponents with careful eyes. Gabriel, the Messenger Angel, took stance at the back of the formation in the air with his long bow at the ready. To the left of the formation, Ariel, the Angel of Nature, and Azrael, the Angel of Death, readied themselves. Warhammer and Scythe presented respectively. To the opposite side stood Jophiel and Raphael. Chamuel, Angel of Peace, took a flanking position off far right with the all purpose Halberd.
Lastly, the angel who is responsible for Satan's imprisonment, Michael, the Warrior Angel. He stood in the middle of the formation with his sword unsheathed and held by his hip. When the devil and his pupil took over the earth, Satan took the form of a red dragon. Michael had told the devil that he could defeat the dark lord and safeguard the property of mankind for the 'Lord'. Arrogant no more was Satan when he was defeated by a mere angel.
The Fallen Angel focused his hatred into his spear, almost snapping the wooden shaft with an titan grip.
"Michael," he sneered.
"Lucifer," said Michael, his features unfazed from his own hardened face.
"You think you can address me as my slave name? I am Satan, the Fallen Angel." He couldn't contain the anger that swelled within him for much more.
Michael said nothing for a moment before sheathing his flaming sword. The surrounding Archangels looked in wonder and confusion. Satan kept his hardened glare. The Warrior Angel locked eyes with the devil.
"It was the Almighty that granted you that name, Lucifer, do not reject it. You are but a slave to yourself in your own selfish thoughts."
Michael gripped the handle of his sword with his off hand, "I will defeat you here by my own blade. If you defeat me, you shall have your counsel. Shall you grant my wager, Prince of Darkness?"
Jophiel came forward, "Michael..." Said angel raised his hand, silencing her. He didn't bother to look away from the devil.
Satan's watchful look did not waver as he bore into the Warrior's eyes, trying to find something devious. But all he saw was righteous anger and a look of battle-lust.
"You would wager a skirmish? What is the method to your madness?" Satan asked out of genuine, but careful, curiosity.
"We fought before, the time before your captivity. I recall that I was the one to defeat you. It was preordained that I would cast you to your confinement, to which I had no fear of losing. Now, I wish to have a true battle, one that was not prescribed." He appeared to not have any hidden intentions, but to wager something of this nature was odd for an angel in his standing.
Being reminded of his loss was a blow to his pride, but he won't allow for the angel to get into his head. Satan, the Prince of Darkness, Lord of Demons, the Fallen Angel, and God's Severed Right Hand will not fall to such a lowly angel. Not again. This time he was ready. He had learned and he had been educated.
"...I will take you on this wager, Michael. As much as I hate to say it, I do have to compliment you on your stipulations. You would make a great demon."
For the first time since Satan had fought the Archangels, Michael made a sour expression. "I follow the Almighty, Lucifer, my resolve is far stronger than yours."
"Right then, would you care to show me just how long you can keep up that tenacity, little angel?" Satan gave a big toothy, sinister smile that reached ear to ear.
Michael's answer came in the form of a strike so quick that the air around him cracked. With instinctual precognition, Satan dodge forward into the attack, sliding under the swing and jabbing the Warrior with his shield. The shield hit so heavily against Michael that the force of the bash caused a shock wave that knocked the ethereal breath out of him. Michael flew backwards through the air, but regained his composure last second, sliding into a defensive stance.
Wasting no time, the Fallen Angel whisked towards the Archangel, his shield forward. Michael brought up his sword to eye level and solidified his even posture. Satan jumped and motioned a thrust with his spear hitting the ground and pole vaulting over Michael. In a swift midair attack, Satan went for another bash with his shield against the angel. Reacting to this, Michael held his ground and blocked with his sword. Again, the intensity was so strong that it caused the Archangel to slide backwards. Fortunately for the Warrior, he was able to completely block the damage.
"You fight strong, angel," said Satan, surprising the angel with a compliment. Satan took advantage of the distraction and sprung forward into a twirl, his shield covering his body from any attacks and his spear ready to drill into the Warrior Angel. The power from the Fallen Angel cracked the ground beneath him as he shot through the air quicker than the naked eye could see. Demonic energy surrounded the Fallen Angel as he raced towards the Warrior Angel. Reacting just slightly too slow, Michael was hit full force by the strike straight into his chest. Practically crumpling onto the ground after skipping like a pebble on water, the Archangel realized he was lying on his back. He tried to launch back onto his feet, but Satan came crashing down onto his plated chest. And like that, the battle was over.
Satan, with demonic energies casting around him, laid an armored boot onto the downed angel. A look of contempt imprinted itself onto Satan's face. Raising his spear and jabbing it into the angel's abdomen, the swirling energies grew around Michael and his body went into a rigid paralysis. The angel's now paralyzed face was engraved with shock. The Warrior Angel was defeated in three attacks, only three attacks. All Michael could think of is 'how?'
Unless God himself cast down the punishment of death to an ethereal being, which if the devil himself hasn't been killed then it is very unlikely a scenario like that wouldn't happen; then the best one spiritual being can do to another is temporarily disable them or render them into unconsciousness. Using a demonic curse engraved onto his spear, Satan can temporarily paralyze an opponent for some time.
"You fight strong, angel," repeated the devil, "But have you forgotten the time that I have battled you since my invasion of Heaven? I have learned your forms and stances, your counters." Satan stepped off of him and looked onto his audience of Archangels. "I had to end it before it began." The devil moved forward, his march full of swagger and pride.
The Archangels he presented himself to were in a fit of shock and anger. It made him feel giddy inside, their strongest angel was now down and out. Not only that, but his wager with the angel had to be honored, for it would be deceitful otherwise. "Oh, but the naivety of morality," Satan thought.
"I have fought defensively for our many skirmishes, angels, how are you to know my attacks? I waited for an opportunity and your ally presented one to me. I have fought and won the dual. Now, let me into God's sanctuary, as the wager promised," said the devil.
"No! We will not allow you to pass this point, Lucifer." Jophiel growled in anger.
"You have no choice, Jophiel. As a commander, protector, and enforcer, you too must abide the righteous commandments of God's moral judgment. I would know, I was a follower too," Satan declared factually. "Michael's sin of arrogance and lust for battle consequently endowed a path free of constraint. If you must blame someone for your failure, let it be Michael."
Jophiel went to speak again, but was interrupted by Raphael. He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eye with an angry expression of his own. "Jophiel, it pains me to say it, but he is right. It would be sinful to be break the promise of the wager. It would be deceitful," said the Angel of Healing.
"Our duty is to defend the sanctuary! No wager can disregard that order," Jophiel argued.
This time, Chamuel spoke up. "Peace between you two. Lucifer fights with lies and deceit, hatred and contempt, dishonor and ruthlessness. We do not. Are we not angels? We must honor the wager, for it is right within the eyes of God. He may have won with chicanery, but we must be righteous." His words ended with silence between the angels as they contemplated.
Meanwhile, Satan waited. Whether they chose to honor the wager or not would be a win for him. To suggest and trick others into sin was his profession.
Raphael spoke up again. "The Almighty has ordered us to fulfill our duty, but we have been defeated. We must recognize the wager and let him pass. God is the Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. He can take care of Himself, Jophiel.
She wanted to argue again, but after taking a moment of thought, she instead submitted to the words of her allies. With a scowl she moved aside, signifying that she wouldn't fight him any longer. Following her lead, the rest of the Angels moved aside to guarantee his passage unimpeded. Satan had won this battle, now it was time to win the war. Satan couldn't help but give a devilish smirk.
For now it was time to have his counsel with God.
