The Anthills exist between Purgatory and Hell’s second gate, and the name is owed to the land’s appearance when one flies over it. On the surface you can see countless holes resembling ant nests, surrounded by small mounds of rock and mud the Demons have piled up high in the process of digging those holes. They act as entrances, leading into a never-ending maze of tunnels that expand underground and end at the Brim of Hell.

As for the name Bug Demons, that’s what Grim Reapers call all the Demons at the Anthills.  They use various transformations that resemble a plethora of insects. The Demons' appearance is due to natural selection, as it is their job to create and maintain those tunnels below the Anthills. They choose to transform into bugs whose bodies help in digging and carrying heavy loads around.

The name is also meant as a joke as the Bug Demons are the lowest in Demon hierarchy. Unfit to become soldiers or torturers, they are reduced to manual labour, adapting and struggling to survive. Griffin knew that despite how terrible it looked the Bug Demons had it pretty good. Up in Purgatory they were free from painful torments other than the whips of their superiors, always pushing them to work faster. And even though they are the weakest type of Demon one can encounter, like most insects they live in colonies, and when they are high in numbers, they are strong enough to bring down even a team of Angels.

Griffin smelled the wet sand and knew he was near the surface. The sky above the Anthills is constantly cloudy and gloomy, and more often than not it rains.

“I hope the Angels get here in time. The bug Demons must know I’m heading their way, and I’m sure they’re waiting for me.”

Claws scratching echoed in the tunnel and Griffin spotted countless Bug Demons digging their way in as he was traveling through, emerging just under him, trying to pin him to the wall. He manoeuvred and cut through them until he reached the exit. He exploded out the tunnel, looking down, in anticipation of any Demon that might jump after him, but he never thought to look up.

Tens of Bug Demons started falling from the sky. Before Griffin could react, demons piled on top of him and forced him to the ground hard, where even more Bug Demons crawled over him, forming a giant hill made of Demons that held him down. They took away his scythe and Nathaniel’s soul and forced him to his knees in the muddy waters. They restrained him and thousands of them gathered in a circle around him in the rain. Two Bug Demons held each of his arms in their large pincer-like mouths. Their master moved across from Griffin, holding Emma in his hands, and used Nathaniel’s chained soul as a sitting stool.

“Unlimited mana for one hundred years,” the leader of the Bug Demons said as he closely examined the scythe, “If I deliver you to Lord Lucifer, but He never said anything about the state you must be in.” The Demon held the scythe firmly with both hands and moved over Griffin. “You used this weapon to injure some of my Demons. Let me repay the favour. Let’s say a left arm?”

The Bug Demon holding Griffin’s left arm pulled it outwards and repositioned himself so he wouldn’t stand in the scythe’s path as it struck. The Demon lifted the scythe high and took aim. He drove it down with tremendous force and a high-pitched cry penetrated everyone’s ears. The scream came from the Bug Demon who was holding Griffin’s left hand. The scythe had penetrated his hard shell and plunged into his ribs.

The Bug Demons’ leader was stunned and Griffin took advantage of the confusion. He punched and kicked away the Demon holding his right hand, pulled Emma out of the other Demon’s rib cage and forced the leader to lose his grip on the weapon. He then quickly trapped the leader’s head between the scythe’s blade and handle; making sure it expanded over and around the Demon’s neck.

All the Bug Demons went to jump in when their leader raised his hands, signalling them to halt. “Hold it, what the fuck do you idiots think you are doing? He will remove my head before you touch him.”

“I knew you were slightly smarter than the rest of them, but you are not as smart as you think,” Griffin said. “A Grim Reaper’s weapon can never harm its master. Any attacks using his weapon against him are repelled, in this case into that Demon’s ribs. But I guess I shouldn’t expect anything more from a lesser Demon such as you. Now kick the soul over to me,” Griffin tugged the scythe a bit, threatening the Demon.

The Demon did as Griffin asked. “What now?” He continued after Griffin had tied the soul at his back once again, “You must realize there’s no escape for you. You are surrounded. If you kill me the others will grab you. If you don’t kill me, then we’ll still arrest you. Either way, you cannot escape.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try.” Griffin knew the Demon was right. There was no way for him to escape now that he was surrounded.

“That’s enough!” a regular Bug Demon said as he stepped forward from the crowd and everyone immediately bowed down. Everyone except Griffin and the Demon trapped in his scythe.

Griffin noticed one distinct difference between this Bug Demon and the rest. His eyes were a glowing yellow colour.

“As you can see, Griffin,” the Demon that stepped forward said, “My apparition may not be able to step out of the boundaries of Hell, but I am more than capable of taking control over one of my minion’s bodies, no matter where they are.”

“Lucifer?” Griffin’s voice trembled.

“Correct the first time. And at least you say my name as you should, trembling with fear. You know, Griffin, I was right when I said you were an interesting soul when I first met you. I just didn’t know how extraordinary you were. But seeing you today; your insolence, your arrogance, your stupidity, always believing you can succeed. And driven to achieve anything you set your mind to, combined with the darkness of your soul, your ability to question and wonder about everything…you make me regret the deal I made regarding your soul. I should have refused that deal. You would have made an excellent Arch Demon for my army. Alas I was offered the one thing I can never say no to.”

Griffin stared back in silence and confusion, trying to make sense of everything the Devil said.

“I regret the deal I made. You should be proud of that Griffin. Now about that soul you carry. Will you give it to me or force me to order my Demons to take you apart?”

Out of nowhere a large spherical object, about the size of a watermelon, landed with force right in front of Griffin. The object never touched the muddy ground. It somehow stopped and hovered just above it. This spherical object was covered with what appeared to be silver wings and a gentle, soothing ringing sound emitted from it as it slowly rose to Griffin’s head height. More similar unknown spherical objects quickly landed all around the Demons and Griffin.

Two crystal blue eyes appeared from within the wings of the first sphere and focused on Griffin. “You might want to pull your hood down.”

The spherical object expanded its feathers, revealing six enormous wings and a shining silver centre. It had a set of wings expanding upwards and a second set of wings extending downwards, never touching the ground. One wing expanded to the left and one to the right and all the feathers on all the wings had eyes drawn on them, like a peacock’s feathers. The silver centre had numerous eyes on it, facing in all directions, and they were all closed. It also had two mouths, formed with beautiful, full lips, one facing Griffin and the other facing the Bug Demon possessed by Lucifer.

The eyes of all the silver spheres opened wide and the leader of the Bug Demons managed to yell one word, “Seraphim!” 

Griffin grabbed his hood and pulled it over his head as he fell to the ground. A blinding white light emitted from the Seraphim wings and the gentle ringing sound turned into a high-pitched screech that caused vibrations which formed ripples in the muddy waters. All the Demons ran scared; screaming in pain as they jumped in the tunnels leading underground. Those who were not quick enough to hide started erupting into flames, falling apart and bleeding sizzling black blood. Any non-Demon entity caught in the Seraphim’ light does not experience pain such as the Demons, but the light will still blind them if they don’t look away or cover their eyes.

The explosion of light lasted a full minute, after which the Anthills were abandoned by all Demons. Griffin saw Angels landing next to the scattered Seraphim, cradling them gently in their arms and flying away. The exhausted Seraphim were unable to fly after such a powerful attack. Griffin collected the Seraph in front of him and took flight. He joined the unit of Angels that regrouped in the sky and they set a course for Heaven.

The story continues in:
Kingdom of the Red Rose
(Episode 9 of 62)
Chapter Four: Suspended Until Further Notice
(Part 1 of 3)