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"The moonlight's illumination makes it easier to see how pathetic you are."
- Sukuna, (Jujutsu Kaisen)
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<(Atem POV)>
"...Did she just say heresy?" I muttered, still trying to process how she even knew those exact words. "You think they might've been able to look into some of my memories when I upgraded them?" I asked Zoya, who had already made her way behind me, hovering silently, as if the brutal war meant nothing to her. She seemed content just to record the entire thing and keep it in her archives for the future.
"Negative. My scans confirm your mind remains an impenetrable fortress—even to gods, demons, or celestials—unless you willingly give them some limited form of access to your memories or thoughts. The angels may have been enhanced by your power, but I can confirm that the augmentation did not grant them access to your thoughts, feelings, or memories in any way," Zoya replied in her usual composed tone.
Hela, who had been quietly eavesdropping, arched a brow at Zoya's statement before turning to me. "Darling, I don't know what fantasies you're brewing in that head of yours, but angels have always been theatrical when declaring war. Frankly, they make even Odin's blood-crazed Valkyries look tame," the goddess of death said with a dry smile and a shrug. "Whatever strange things their Queen might have said, I'd wager it was all her and her delusions."
"Hmm." I let out a low hum, nodding slightly as my eyes flicked to Mephista. She looked visibly shaken with fear and confusion etched into her face as she watched the angels butcher their way through her kin with merciless precision. "You holding up okay?" I asked with a flat voice. "Not every day you get front-row seats to your own species getting massacred in a 'holy' purge." I let out a dry chuckle.
Sure, yes, I could've softened the blow by being a little more... diplomatic with my words. But I needed to know the truth about what she thought about this entire thing—raw and unfiltered. She was meant to rule Hell under my banner now, sealed by our new blood pact, and pushing her like this was the fastest way to gauge her loyalty. Even if the blood pact's magic did bind her to me, there was no harm in applying some pressure to make sure she wasn't already plotting some loophole to stab me in the back the moment I leave this place. She was Mephisto's daughter after all.
"Most of those demons have committed more evil than you can fathom. You can simply call what's happening to them now karma. And, I don't feel the slightest sympathy for them—they're just finally getting what they deserve. Haven't you heard? No one's innocent in Hell," Mephista said after a few seconds of tense silence. Then she exhaled sharply, her fingers idly turning the blood phial at her neck. "Yeah, I'm a demon, but I'm not one of them. I didn't end up here because I sinned—I'm here because I was dealt a bad hand in life, and because my bastard father wanted a weapon for a daughter after getting obsessed with my cultist mother. So yeah... I'm holding up just fine."
"...Well, sounds like a real sob story." I shrugged, not exactly eager to hear the extended version of another tragic backstory. "Maybe we'll schedule a heart-to-heart sometime," I added, genuinely wondering if I should've been a therapist instead. Probably a goldmine career in this universe—everyone's carrying some catastrophic emotional baggage. Especially the female supers. Except, of course, for She-Hulk and Ms. Marvel. Compared to the rest of this mess, their lives look practically idyllic.
"No offense, boss, but why are you acting like a jackass?" Natasha whispered near my ear, floating behind me in the glow of her cosmi-rod's forcefield. "If you're trying to push her buttons to get some raw emotional spill, save the effort. I already sized her up. She loathes her father—and most of demonkind, for that matter. Sure, she looks more... demonic than human, but she's more her mother's daughter than anything else. Including the empathetic part as well." She paused before adding, "You treat her good and she won't give you any trouble... Maybe, she can even make you into her new daddy," Natasha finished with a straight face.
"I see." I nodded, turning to face Mephista. "Look, even though I already gave you the gist when I offered to make the blood pact contract with you, I'll explain it again. You're free to run things however you want in this realm. I can already feel Hell's power aligning with you, so it's not like anyone here could stop you... Unless that someone is me, or Ghost Rider. But you get the idea. You've got my backing.
Even though our blood pact binds your loyalty in exchange for, well, me not killing you, I'm not expecting you to be a servant. Just be a better ruler than your father ever was. Maybe stop the whole 'trick mortals into selling their souls' routine... or launching demonic invasions into Midgard. That's kind of bad PR. In return, I'll stay out of your way, and you'll get a peaceful reign. Consider it a perk of being part of my growing empire."
"...I understand." The demon princess exhaled after a pause, her tone low but steady. "And don't worry—I'm not planning to stab you in the back... at least not for the next few centuries. Right now, I'm probably the weakest Hell-lord in existence. Honestly, it'll be a miracle if some other dimension-lord doesn't try their luck invading Hell in the next couple of decades." She confessed with a thoughtful look. "Also, if I'm being honest, you kind of did me a favor by wiping out most of these demons. They were gunning for the throne anyway, and sooner or later, they would've come for me. So, that's one problem I don't have to deal with anymore. So... yeah. Thanks."
"You'll make a fine Queen, Mephista. No doubt about it," I said with a smile. "Anyway, now that Hell's officially under your control, can you locate the soul of Cynthia Von Doom? I made a promise to get her soul released from Hell, and I intend to keep it."
"Cynthia Von Doom? You mean the former Queen of Latveria? Yes... I remember. She was one of my father's prized 'trophies', unfortunately. With the link I now share with this realm, I can summon her spirit easily. But tell me—do you want her soul delivered to you, or simply released from Hell's grip so it can return to the reincarnation cycle?... Personally, I'd recommend the latter. After decades of torment, her soul isn't exactly... stable. It's damaged, tainted from too long in Hell. Letting it go might be the only way to give her real peace—if that's what you're after."
"Letting her go, huh? Fine. Go ahead and release her," I said with a nod, since that was what Doom actually wanted. He wanted to give his mother a peaceful end, and since she wouldn't be particularly useful for any of my future plans, I was more than happy to give it to her.
At my words, Mephista raised her right hand. As if on cue, a soft green light swirled into being in her palm. Without any unnecessary theatrics, it fragmented into a million glowing particles that drifted upward, slowly fading into the sky.
I turned to Hela. She gave a single nod.
As expected, Mephista hadn't played any tricks on us. She had truly released Cynthia Von Doom's soul back into the cycle of reincarnation.
"Am I forgetting something?" I muttered, watching the war wind down. There was a nagging feeling in my mind—like I was forgetting about someone—but I just couldn't recall whom.
"Doesn't matter." I shook my head. "I've got more important things to handle right now." With that, I turned my focus toward the fallen, preparing to bring back the few dozen angels who'd lost their lives in the battle with my 'Divine Healing' skill
I slowly raised my left hand toward the fallen, channeling my divine energy as I locked onto the angels I intended to revive, as well as the ones I meant to heal.
But just a split second before I was about to trigger the ability, I caught the flicker of panic tightening across Hela's face. She opened her mouth to warn me, but the words never made it in time.
"Heal!"
The moment the word left my lips, my surroundings vanished, and the world changed, quite literally. A soundless shatter rippled through the fabric of existence, and in the blink of an eye, the battlefield, the angels, and even Hela disappeared from my view. Instead, I found myself standing in a dark, void-like space.
It was a realm soaked in a cold, oppressive darkness—so lifeless it felt like existence itself had been exiled. In the distance stood towering walls, constructed from uncountable skulls, stacked on top of each other like some grotesque monument. The landscape itself stretched like a vast, bone-laced labyrinth, with a massive palace looming at its heart, formed entirely of skeletons and shattered bony remains.
"Oh, good, you're finally here. I've been waiting a very... very long time."
The voice behind me was cold and clear. But what shook me wasn't what she said, but the fact that I hadn't sensed her presence at all. Not even the slightest bit, even through my cosmic awareness.
As I turned, I finally saw her. Sitting atop a throne of bones balanced on a towering pillar of skulls, she was easily the most impossibly beautiful, temptingly divine woman I had ever seen. Every curve, every motion was perfection incarnate—until my eyes landed on her face.
There was a bare, grinning skull staring back at me instead of the beautiful human face I was expecting her to have.
[Image from Discord]
"What's wrong, dear? Cat got your tongue after getting caught trying to cheat me?" Her skeletal grin widened. "You do know it's rude to ignore your elders in most cultures, right? So why don't you be a good boy... and greet your Aunt Death?"
"... Oh fuck!"
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