Hell, 163,000 light-years from Earth
Moving the Demons back to their home planet was the easy part, thanks to the Key of Heaven; dealing with the destruction of three quarters of their civilizations will be exponentially harder, no matter how stoic the Demons think they are.
Millions of Demons are still recovering, but thousands of them have convened in the Pandemonium, Hell’s version of a parliament.
The original building has been destroyed, so the Pandemonium has gathered inside one of the planet’s many volcanic caverns. Noriko Null has no nostalgia for the original building, where she was almost sentenced to death and completely lost control of Abyss. The cavern is immense, but it’s so crowded that it’s giving her a slight sense of claustrophobia.
She has Torn and his wife Agony at her side, with Kylon providing his diplomatic expertise. If she’s sweating under the protection of her Survival Field, she can only imagine how much the Lar’s refrigeration unit must be working overtime.
<Big crowd. There’s more people than in the Mortal Senate, which is odd considering Hell only had a few hundred million people even before the Ares massacre.> Kylon whispers to her.
<They’re not very big on representation. Expect them to say “Demons don’t bow to anyone” at least a couple of times.> Noriko replies; Torn then gets her attention by lightly tapping her shoulder, pointing at an elderly Demon approaching them.
Noriko and her advisors are placed on a slightly elevated rock, and the old Demon approaches them by creating steps of Blood energy to get closer.
<Greetings, Slayer of Gods. I am Scourge of the Second Circle of Hell.> he nods respectfully, then turns towards the crowd to address them:
<Children of the Blood, the Congress of Hell is now in session. As the current highest ranking Demon, I shall preside over this assembly.> he announces, with most of the attendees hearing his words directly in their soul.
<Now that Vice is dead, shouldn’t he be the new Lord of All Demons?> Noriko asks Torn.
<He’s not in the line of succession… Ares killed the first fourteen Demons in line.> Kylon answers before Torn can even open his mouth.
<How do you know!?> Noriko wonders.
<I’m your diplomatic advisor. Keeping tabs on Demon government was a no brainer.> he shrugs.
<The Lady of All Demons has been murdered. It is now time to choose a successor, but these are times of crisis: this is not the moment for a new election. I propose we appoint the new Lady of All Demons by acclamation, like our ancestors did.> Scourge explains.
<Null!> someone from the crowd shouts. For a few moments, nobody else says a single word.
<Null!> another Demon then repeats, and it spreads like wildfire.
<Null! Null! Null!> hundreds of Demons begin to shout rhythmically.
<Wait a second, wait a second!!!> Noriko replies, raising her voice to be head.
There is literally one second of pause. Then the chant restarts, more loud than before.
<Null! Null! Null!>
<Of course they took it literally. Look, you can’t be serious, I’m not even a Demon!> she protests.
<Torn adopted you as his Blood Sister; legally you are a citizen of Hell.> Scourge says.
<C’mon, is this really the moment!? We’re in the middle of a war with Ares!!!>
<Exactly. When Abyss defiled the Blood, who protected us? When Anubis attacked Hell, who lead the charge to our defense? When Ares declared war, who rescued us? When the Blood calls, who will lead us to victory?> Scourge continues, then he kneels before Null.
<Not the the Lady of All Demons. But you, the Queen of Hell.>
<Queen! Of! Hell! Queen! Of! Hell! Queen! Of! Hell!> the crowd repeats, with thousands of Demons kneeling one after the other while still keeping the chant.
<I don’t… I shouldn’t…> Noriko stutters, looking around for comfort… and seeing both Torn and Agony join their brethren in kneeling in front of her.
<You can’t be both Queen of Hell and Supreme Divine Commander for Apollo.> Kylon reminds her, getting closer. She’s shaking nervously.
<I never wanted to be either!!!>
<You don’t want to rule. But if you want to save these people, you’ll have to make a sacrifice.>
<Becoming a queen would go against everything I’ve tried to accomplish by killing gods. And I still need Apollo’s forces.> she explains, stuck between two positions that she hates: having to take charge or crush the faith that the Demons have in her.
<There’s a compromise. Scourge, is the role of Regent still a valid option?> Kylon asks.
<We haven’t had a Regent for millions of years. How do you…>
<Lar history goes way back. Null, the position would make you the commander-in-chief of Hell’s forces but you would have limited powers over its internal affairs. It was used to deal with military emergencies and the position cannot be renewed once the term expires.> Kylon explains.
<Kind of like the dictators of Ancient Rome, uh? How much time are we talking about?>
<Twenty years.>
<TWENTY YEARS!? I don’t want to live in Hell for twenty f##king years!>
<You are under no obligation of residing in Hell. But you must choose the new Lord of All Demons.> Scourge explains.
<Why do people keep wanting me controlling their military forces!?> Noriko sighs.
<It comes with the territory if you keep killing beings that shouldn’t be able to die.> Kylon replies.
Noriko takes a moment to reflect, and her silver eyes shine as her mind processes all possible options. She hates being responsible for yet another civilization, but she doesn’t see any other way.
<Alright, I’ll do it. But I shouldn’t be the one who gets to choose your ruler, so my first act as Regent of Hell is to appoint a temporary leader. She will hold the position only until Hell can elect a legitimate successor.> Null declares.
<“She”?> Torn repeats, raising an eyebrow.
<Agony of Third Circle of Hell. Do you accept the position of Lady of All Demons?> Null asks.
<I do, Regent.> Torn’s wife declares, slowly standing up and bowing to her new superior.
<My second act is to nominate Torn as my second-in-command. Is there a name for such a thing?>
<Archdemon Of The Armies Of Hell.> he replies.
<That’s a mouthful, but alright. As for my third and hopefully final act as Regent… as of this moment, Hell is formally at war with Ares.>
Delos system, 78.000 light-years from Earth
Queen Helen walks the halls of the holy building at a fast pace. Following the death of every single mortal living at the sanctuary, thanks to the invasion of the Ares forces, the place is working with a skeleton crew: there is nobody to accompany her.
She follows the trail of rose petals that have been spread on the floor to signify the return of the Sun God, a trail that leads to a door guarded by an Oracle.
<Apologies, Your Majesty, but the Sun God does not wish to be disturbed.> he warns her. The door is blocked by a laser barrier that the Oracle himself is generating.
<Perhaps by mortals, dear, but I demand to see my husband.>
<That will not be possible, Your Majesty. Our lord Apollo has been very clear.>
<I’m sure he has. What is your name, little man?>
<Pavlos, Your Majesty.>
<Do you have family, Pavlos?>
<Oracles are sworn to celibacy, Your Majesty. Our lives are devoted to Apollo.>
<Is that so?> Helen comments, removing the immaculate white mask that normally prevents her supernatural beauty to affect mortals.
<Just how strong is your devotion, Pavlos?>
<I, uhm, it is very, ah, what was the question?> the man wonders, feeling his head spinning as he simply cannot get his eyes off Helen’s mesmerizing body. With his concentration gone, his powers are no longer able to maintain the laser grid.
<Open this door for me, little man.> the Queen orders.
<Uh? I’m sorry, what?> the Oracle asks, too lost in her beauty to understand anything.
<Nevermind.> she just dismisses him, pushing him aside; he’s so smitten that her lightest touch causes him to faint helplessly.
<They don’t make mortals like they used to.> she sighs, opening the massive door herself; despite her slender frame, she’s far stronger than she looks.
She finds her husband in the chapel on the other side of the door. He’s relaxing in a pool of water, surrounded by three young priestesses who are taking turns rubbing his body with sacred oils.
<You had time for this but not to tell me you were back?> Helen asks, crossing her arms and giving Apollo a disapproving look.
<Do you wish to join us, Your Majesty?> one of the priestesses asks.
<This sanctuary is a disgrace. There wasn’t a single hymn sung in my honor as I returned.> Apollo complains.
<We were invaded, Apollo. The entire personnel was slaughtered.> Helen reminds him.
<Across my entire realm?>
<No…>
<Then someone should’ve supplied a chorus to herald my victory. I shall unleash a famine or two, that should teach my subjects some perspective.>
<Your victory against what? You were not here when the invasion was repelled.>
<I annexed the former territory of Adrestia, greatly expanding my realm. And if Null defended my kingdom, her victory was my victory. Speaking of her, where is my Supreme Divine Commander?>
<She’s on a mission. Doing more to protect this kingdom than you ever did.>
Helen’s harsh words touch a nerve, and Apollo’s body begins to shine. The priestesses look away as they get an instant tan from just staying next to him. The glow only highlights the numerous cuts and bruises still visible on the god’s chiseled muscles.
<Do you have something to tell me, woman?>
<You went to fight Ares, didn’t you? How did that go?>
<Ares is no concern of yours. But I’ll have you know that I have secured peace for my sector.>
<How?>
<I have taught him that he has nothing to gain by fighting the Sun God. Instead, I have provided him a target that shall give him much enjoyment.>
<You didn’t seriously…>
<Ares will lay waste to Earth. Without the minds of her planet to boost her Nexus, the Slayer of Gods will no longer be a blight to Olympus and the natural order of things will be restored.>
<But you promised Null that you wouldn’t destroy Earth!>
<I gave her power over my military forces, but I never submitted myself to her will. Besides, it’ll be Ares to destroy Earth, not me. Now either join my bath or remove yourself from my presence, I grow tired of this conversation.>
<As do I. I thought I’d married a god… not a coward.> Helen insults him.
It’s the final straw: Apollo’s body emits so much solar radiation that the priestesses suffer third-degrees burns, as the water around him boils.
He steps out of the pool to grab Helen by the throat and lift her off the ground; her clothes catch fire, and only her divine heritage prevents her from being burned to a crisp.
<Have you forgotten your place, woman!? You are only HALF a god. You will not QUESTION me because I. AM. THE SUN.>
<I might be questioning you, but it’s not to me that you will answer to.> Helen replies. Only now Apollo notices that she was hiding something beneath her clothes: a pendant with the Ø symbol and a miniaturized transmitter… which has just finished sending a faster-than-light signal.
<The Slayer of Gods now knows what you are, Apollo. And she is coming for you.>
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