Hell’s Congress is inside a large, gloomy cavern: tens of thousands of seats have been carved into the outer walls, so that instead of a parliament it looks like a stadium. The “playing field” is a pentagram of fire that illuminates the place, raising the temperature: it’s even hotter than the outside, if that’s to be believed. A human would die within seconds here.
Luckily for Noriko Null, her frail human body is now protected by a semitransparent armor conjured by the she-demon Agony, standing next to her.
There’s an eerie silence. The seats are filled rapidly: Demons are teleporting by the hundreds, taking their place without uttering a single word. One of them appears right in front of Noriko.
It’s a female, wearing a loincloth and nothing else: she’s pointing a red energy pitchfork at her throat. She says something in Demon language, something Noriko can’t understand.
<I don’t think they want me here> Noriko says.
<She is Null, blood sister of Torn of the Seventh Circle. She has the soul of a Demon and therefore we can’t deny her right to address the Pandemonium> Agony explains.
The demon guard doesn’t seem convinced. Noriko really doesn’t want to fight her: she doesn’t have the Genius Gun, and demons are superhumanly strong.
Then everyone’s attention is diverted towards the center of the Pandemonium: on top of a semi-sphere, there’s a throne shaped like a giant skull with ludicrously big horns on both sides.
Oblivion appears in a flash of red flames and takes his seat on the throne.
<Agony. I never ordered you to take the human to the Pandemonium.>
<Forgive me, Lord of All Demons, but she is one of us. I can’t allow her to submit to the ritual.>
<Ritual? What ritual?> Noriko asks.
<This frail being, a Demon? Take away her armor and see how quickly she melts.>
<Y’know, I’m getting sick of this> Noriko protests, walking towards the throne. The guard tries to stop her, but her pitchfork is quickly blocked by a sword created by Agony.
Coming closer to the throne, Noriko realizes several things. How big this place is, how many thousands of people are looking at her, and just how huge Oblivion is.
He would make a bodybuilder look like Gandhi on a diet. This time he’s bare-chested, and the pentagram tattooed on his bicep is bigger than Noriko’s head. On closer look, it’s not even a tattoo: it’s a scar, just like the Mark of Damnation they used on her.
<I am Null, the Slayer of Gods. I have killed Demeter and Hephaestus, I have defeated Hermes, Eris and Artemis in battles of body and mind, I am worshipped as a goddess on Myridia and hailed as a heroine throughout the Galaxy. I was brought to Hell against my will and I demand an explanation, unless your talks of honor and neutrality are just for show.>
Her silver eyes shine as she talks, trying to sound as intimidating as possible. She knows her own reputation and is not ashamed of it. She’s not sure how Oblivion will react.
<None of that matters in Hell. Agony claims you are a Demon, but you don’t understand us.>
<That’s because you guys suck at explaining yourselves. Why am I here? I deserve to know.>
The growing murmurs in the audience seems to agree with her, even though she can’t understand a word they’re saying. Oblivion grumbles before he answers.
<Very well, that is the will of the Pandemonium. A being called Abyss called us through the Blood, asking for us to free her from her prison.>
<Doesn’t sound very neutral to me> Noriko comments, crossing her arms disapprovingly.
<Your name is well known in Hell, Null. Thanks to you, the balance of power in the Olympian Galaxy is rapidly shifting. Mortals are starting to prevail over gods.>
<I thought you’d like that. Aren’t gods your enemies too?>
<Hell is neutral. We can’t support your cause, just like we can’t ally ourselves with gods. The only way to restore balance is helping someone who isn’t a god but is still your enemy.>
<That’s some serious bulls##t. She promised you the Dragon Tomb, didn’t she?>
Now the audience gets rowdy, or at least as much as Demons can: nobody raises his voice, but the crowd was definitely not please to hear that.
<This is not something that should be discussed in public> Oblivion comments.
<Why not? I think all Demons deserve to know> Noriko says, not to Oblivion but to the entire audience. He may be the Lord of All Demons, but he’s still a politician: playing the public opinion is her best weapon at this point.
<Didn’t Oblivion tell you that he sent Torn on a mission to steal the Dragon Tomb, years ago? And that the only thing Abyss has to offer him are the coordinates to its current position?>
<If you knew anything about that weapon, you’d understand that Hell will stop at nothing to get it, no matter the price. Surrender its coordinates and you will be sent back home.>
<Never. Going. To happen.>
Oblivion stands up, quickly and dramatically. As he raises his hand, red energy chains envelope Noriko’s body and lift her off the ground, up to Oblivion’s eye level.
<Go ahead. I’m not afraid of you> Noriko says, her silver eyes shining.
<I am not the one you should be afraid of. You are. NIGHTMARE RESONANCE!>
Red energy hooks emerge from Oblivion’s hand, plunging into Noriko’s head. They don’t do any physical damage, passing immaterially through the flesh and going directly into her mind.
It’s like having your head carved open with a chainsaw, except a lot more painful.
And that’s before Oblivion begins pulling something out. Something dark and angry.
Deep beneath the surface
Max Black is confused. He did find Torn, but he doesn’t want to escape despite the fact that he’s been crucified and has large spikes through his chest. Not only that, his teenage daughter Laceration is right next to him and seemingly okay with this, and Torn didn’t appreciate Max’s latest ally.
-What do you mean she’s the “Emissary of Death”? – Max asks, looking at the Grey Lady.
The grey skinned woman is watching them with a blank expression on her face, partially obscured by the shadow cast by her black cloak.
< ▌▲║♦╣╚◄□►╪►╤♦♦╬‡►╪◙►> she says in her alien language.
<You understand her?> Max asks.
<Her words are not for beings like us. She speaks for the Queen Of The Night> Laceration answers.
<Look kid, this isn’t the time for playing games okay? Your father’s gonna die if we don’t leave.>
<We are all going to die, eventually. None of us is immortal> she replies.
<If you don’t want to help, fine> Max cuts her short, pointing his hand at the cross and preparing a kinetic blast to break Torn free. He stops when Laceration creates her red energy whip.
<I don’t want to hurt you, human. But I can’t let you set my father free.>
<Why? Do you want him dead!?>
<I am Laceration of the Seventh Circle. I must protect my family.>
<That’s what I’m trying to do!!!>
<You don’t understand our laws. The crimes of a Demon are paid by all of his family: if I let him escape, I will be sentenced to death. So will be my mother Agony and my sister Lesion.>
<That’s the stupidest law I’ve ever… wait, you named your kids Lesion and Laceration!?>
<Go back home. This has nothing to do with you> Torn protests.
<The f##k are you talking about!? Someone crucified my friend, there’s not freakin’ way I’m not going to do something about it!!!>
<†▲▌╤ > the Grey Lady says, lifting a hand as if it meant “wait a second” and looking upwards.
A full second later, a harrowing scream of sheer pain resonates through the walls; even standing in front of hundreds of decayed demon skeletons, it’s enough to make even Torn shudder.
<Was… was that Noriko!?> Max asks, knowing the answer.
<Not anymore> Torn replies ominously.
Outside the Pandemonium
Kari Zel is leaning against the closed door, feeling impotent. She can’t get inside, she can’t contact anyone, and she has nowhere to go. She’s weighting her options when a demon approaches her.
<Hello. Are you a human?>
It’s a girl, physically about twelve, although given how slowly demons age she’s probably older; she’s wearing a tunic that leaves much of her red skin exposed, and her red hair is tied into pigtails by energy hair pins.
<Technically I’m Myridian, but yes. What’s your name?>
<Lesion. Do all humans have purple hair?>
<A few, where I come from. What are you doing here? I don’t see many kids around.>
<I’m waiting for my mom, she’s inside there. She didn’t pick me up at combat practice.>
<Combat… practice? How old are you, Lesion?>
<Forty-eight years. Dad taught me what years are: that’s how people count time on places where there are stars, right? Dad told me what stars are.>
<Does your dad also know how to leave this planet?>
<You can ask him. Mom said she’d take him back to Hell today.>
<Take him… Your dad’s name is Torn, isn’t it?>
Before Lesion can answer, Noriko’s terrifying scream of pain comes from the other side of the gate.
<What the… Hang in there, Nori!> Kari says, trying to open the door. It’s even heavier than it looks: she creates five duplicates to help her push against it, but the door doesn’t budge.
<You can’t go inside. Only demons older than a hundred years are allowed to go in.>
<Didn’t you hear that!? They’re torturing my friend in there!!!>
<Sorry. It’s just how it is> Lesion shrugs. Kari finds it rather creepy that this kid isn’t the least bit concerned about hearing a scream like that. Then she recalls something Noriko said.
<The girl they’re torturing? That’s Null, your father’s blood sister. She’s your family.>
<Oh. Okay> Lesion responds, opening the door with one hand and without any effort.
<Why didn’t you say it sooner? Humans are weird.>
The Pandemonium
Agony approaches the throne, but her path is blocked by the energy pitchforks of the topless demon guards. Oblivion is pulling something from Noriko’s head, as painfully as scooping out her brain.
<Lord Of All Demons, please. Show mercy to my husband’s blood sister.>
<The needs of Hell outweigh the needs of Demons, Agony. You should know that> Oblivion answers. Now that the black mass has been extracted from Noriko’s brain, he creates a knife to cut the connection. He tosses the blackness into a newly created red cage, where it takes form.
It’s vaguely humanoid. A black skeleton, a collection of twisted jagged bones that struggles to stand up. The only note of color comes from the red eye sockets and jaws carved onto its skull, giving it the appearance of a monstrous jack-o’-lantern.
<Man, did that feel good. I think I need a cigarette.>
<Are you Abyss?> Oblivion asks.
<No, I’m the Tooth Fairy. Who the f##k do you think I am!? Of course I’m Abyss!>
<You can’t… be real… you’re just in my mind> Noriko says, still exhausted by the torture.
<I’m still there, but it’s getting crowded lately. Luckily, this idiot just made me an avatar.>
<I have met my end of the bargain, Abyss. Now give me the location of the Dragon Tomb.>
<Hmm… yeah, I guess I could do that…> – she says, touching the cage. Its red energy flows around her, forming layer after layer of protection until it starts to look like a human body.
<But, seeing how I’m a being of pure thought and you just gave me access to an endless supply of energy that obeys my every wish…>
Long talons emerge from her hands, which she uses to slash a large scar into Oblivion’s chest; despite him being much larger, Abyss has no problems tossing him aside like a broken toy.
The demon guards don’t waste time attacking. But their pitchforks dissolve into a red mist, which floats towards Abyss. Her body grows, forming impressive horns on her head and sharp spikes that stick out of her shoulders. And her hellish grin just keeps getting wider.
<How about I take over Hell, instead?>
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