Warning: this chapter contains themes of torture

After a night of cuddling and resting, Max wakes up feeling quite energized and his head clear. However, with a clear mind, many dots became connected. As he went to the kitchen to have breakfast with Angel Dust, he tried to find the right way to start the conversation.

"You okay dude? You look constipated." Angel comments, getting a restrained laugh out of Max.

"S-shut up." He mumbles out while Angel just chuckles. "…Look Angel, I gotta ask something."

"Ugh, I knew this was coming. What do you wanna ask?" Angel questions, trying to hide how nervous he was.

"I promise I'm not gonna try and ask anything uncomfortable. I just need to know more about this." Max explains as he pulls the brooch out of his pocket.

"Oh yeah I forgot, how did you know to grab that from my room?"

"I didn't, this isn't yours." Max answers, leaving Angel confused. "Your brooch should still be in your room where I last saw it before we left for the strip club. I got this one off the body of a demon trying to kill Charlie."

"W-what?" Angel asks, his eyes wide in shock.

"If my guess is correct, anyone with this brooch has a connection to Valentino. Am I wrong?"

"…you're not." Angel confirms as he looks down. "So, what are you gonna do with this info?"

"Simple…I'm gonna fucking remove Valentino from his pedestal. When I'm done with him, he won't be an Overlord anymore." Max answers with a determined look on his face.

"W-wait wait wait, you're kidding right?" Angel asks, fear in his eyes when he looks at Max's face. "Look Max, you're probably just fuzzy in the head after what happened yesterday. I mean, going after an Overlord? It's suicide for a regular sinner, you're still human!"

"I know, it won't be easy. Which is why I need to gather information. I need to find out just how to beat Valentino. I'm confident I have a chance if we fight one on one, I have plenty of reasons to be pissed at him, so summoning my wrath won't be an issue. But if he has anyone under his thumb attack me while I'm focused on fighting him, then the odds fall more in his favor."

"Max, this is insane!" Angel insists as he looks at the human. "Y-you can't beat him. He's, he's too strong!"

"He's nothing more than an overcompensating limp dick piece of garbage with too much power and needs to go down." Max stated, using the description another demon used some time ago.

"So why does it have to be you?!" Angel yells out frustrated and scared for him.

"Because if not me, then who will?" He asks, Angel struggling to answer. "I like to think I can trust you Angel…so I'll tell you this. This isn't something I just decided to do…Lucifer asked me to dethrone an Overlord, and after what I saw the other night, I just knew the one I had to stop was Valentino."

Angel was shocked by the news, not sure he can really believe it, or if he even wants to. "You can't Max! If you lose against him he'll…he'll-" Angel is interrupted as Max hugs the spider demon, burying the demon's face in his chest for a change.

"I want you to listen closely." He says as he pets Angel's head. "Do you hear my heart beating?" He asks, Angel nodding his head. "I promise you that as long as I have friends like you by my side, you'll always be able to hear this."

"…this is some cheesy shit you're selling me." Angel replies before looking up at Max. "But fuck I'm buying it…" He sighs before standing up. "I can't stop you, but I can help you. I don't know a lot about Overlords, but I know someone who can give you some info on Valentino."

"Who? Vaggie? Alastor?"

"Nah, Vaggie would likely only tell you rumors, and Al may have a big hate boner for this TV guy, but he won't tell you anything useful without you giving something up first. It's actually someone you met a while ago, we crossed paths not too long ago and she'd be more than happy to see you again." Angel hints at, making Max raise an eyebrow.

"Hey kid, long time no see." A familiar feline demon greets him with a smile.

"Whoa! Hey…I promise I remember you, but I never got your name." Max explains with an embarrassed look on his face.

The demon just laughs kindheartedly. "How rude of me now to introduce myself. It's Lexi deary." (Credit to Pickle-Brick for the name.)

"Lexi? That's a pretty name." Max says with a smile on his face.

"To think you've changed so much yet still act just like when I first met you." Lexi giggles as she reaches forward and gives his cheek a little pinch.

"H-hey, stooop." Max pouts, much to the cat demon's amusement. She invites him into her apartment, apparently the building is owned by a demon who has a soft spot for demons trying to escape more abusive lifestyles. As long as all residents act courteous to one another and don't start any fights, they are welcome to stay. However while the housing is free, they are on their own for everything else.

"So, semi-redeemed demon?" Lexi asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah uh, turns out, I'm a human that arrived here via a freak accident." He figured there was no point in lying to her since she was the first to see him.

"So that's why you couldn't remember your death." She concluded with a hand under her chin.

"Yep, because I never died. I know it's a lot to ask but-"

"Oh don't you worry, I have no plans on telling anyone about what you really are. It's the least I can do after you helped me out."

"Thank you so much Lexi! I appreciate it."

"It's no trouble at all. So why did you come to visit little ol me? Come to take me up on my offer?~" She asks with a seductive purr.

Max blushes before clearing his throat. "Tempting, but I'm afraid I'm here on more serious business. A friend of mine named Angel Dust-"

"The porn star?" She asks with a tilt of her head.

"The very same." Max nods.

"I had no idea you two were friends, we talked not too long ago. Don't tell him I told you this but he came around here wanting to check and see if any of the working girls here needed help." She gossips playfully.

"That's Angel for you, a real softie on the inside…then again I guess technically the outside too." He says remembering the spider demon's fluffiness. "But yeah we're friends, he's my neighbor at the hotel. He said if anyone knew the dirt on Valentino, it was you." After saying the Overlord's name, Lexi became visibly stiffer.

"…why do you need to know more about that scum?" She asks in a bitter tone, luckily for Max none of it was aimed at him.

"Because I've seen him hurt good people far too many times for my liking, and I plan to take him down."

"A noble goal, suicidal, but noble."

"Look, I know it's a lot to ask, but I can't sit by while he keeps hurting people. Heck he's gone far enough to even send an assassin after Hell's princess! I don't know why he wants Charlie dead, but it can't be good."

"An assassin?"

"Mhm. He even had an angelic weapon on him. It wasn't easy but with some help from a friend he was taken down. We found this on the attacker's body." He presents the heart shaped brooch, Lexi looking at it curiously.

"I see. You're correct in linking them together. Anyone under Valentino's thumb is given a brooch just like this one. It's sort of like a membership card, allowing his employees access to certain privileges…but also forcing them to promise to do whatever he asks of them." Lexi explains with a scowl.

"Did you have one too?"

Lexi nods her head as she looks down at the floor. "I never wanted to get into this kind of business, but I didn't know what else to do." She began, Max silent as to let her speak.

"When I was alive, I had two beautiful children, twins even, a boy and a girl. They were absolutely precious to me…but their father didn't think the same. I don't know why he left when he did, and I couldn't care less. All that mattered were my darling children. Unfortunately it wasn't easy making money as a single mother. I had help from my parents, but they could only do so much and were getting old. So after roadblock after roadblock stopping me in my tracks, I ended up having no other choice and turned to selling my body." She sighs softly, her voice telling that she accepted what she had to do, but still has regrets.

"It wasn't easy, it was humiliating, degrading, and at times painful, but the money it made me helped me put food on the table for my little angels. One day someone offered me so much money, I thought with pay like that I could buy my children something wonderful for Christmas, show them that while their mother was so busy these days, she still loves them so much…little did I know that accepting that offer would lead to my death." Her hands clenched as she vividly remembers the pain she felt, only for Max to gently put a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to continue if it hurts." He says with kindness in his voice. "You did what you believed needed to be done to give your children the life you wanted for them. You're a wonderful mother."

"You don't think they'd be disgusted knowing what I did?" She asks, feeling somewhat resigned.

"I know I wouldn't. Life on earth wasn't easy, plenty of us had to do things we're not proud of…I know I did."

"You shouldn't feel bad Max, you were in the right killing that scumbag for what he did to your friend."

"I almost forgot I said that all on television. But no, that's not what I'm talking about." He reveals as Lexi looks at him curiously. "He wasn't my first kill." Lexi's eyes widen at that, before motioning for him to continue.

"My mom got into an… accident, some years ago." He clenched his fist as he struggled to find the words. "It left her bedridden in the hospital. I wanted nothing more than to be by her side and help her through such a tough time, but emotional support doesn't cover hospital fees. If I didn't collect enough money to pay them every month, they'd be forced to stop treating my mom."

"I had no idea what to do, I was still in high school and without a diploma there weren't any jobs available for me that could pay such expenses. It at first seemed like I was gonna fail my mom…until I met him." Maxwell says ominously. "At the time I had no idea, but the young man I met that day would turn out to be one of my closest friends."

"I don't know how he knew, but he said I had a talent for killing. He said I would be wasting my talents working at a desk when it could be used ridding the earth of the scum polluting it. I thought he was insane at first, but little by little he guided me, and I ended up becoming his personal hitman. I was good at it, too good for my liking. Normally you'd think a person would feel something like disgust or horror in taking a life. Me? I just felt a hot rage burn deep inside me. I felt only my own heart beating in my chest and the blood on my hands. He insisted the people I killed were nothing but monsters, there were times I wondered if he was lying, but he has proven to me time and time again that I could trust anything he has to say."

"With every hit I was paid handsomely, I even managed to get my own home while paying off my mom's hospital bills. I considered going back to high school but instead just took my GED, no use getting a diploma and going to college when I already had a connection that gained me all the money I'd need and more. My mom ended up meeting a fellow patient who was in the hospital for a broken arm, and they managed to hit it off pretty well. Now they're living together, my mom slowly learning how to live her life again. After some time I even ended up meeting my best friend, I came across her needing some help moving some of her stuff to her apartment, and unfortunately the elevator was broken. I would still occasionally be given offers to kill, the pay was just too good to say no to, I think I convinced myself that I was doing good by doing it, or maybe it was the only job suited for me…at least, that was until the day came that I ended up here." Max motions with his arm in the general area.

"You did all that?" Lexi asks in disbelief.

"Yep. So don't go thinking you were a bad mother. A lot of people would do crazy things for those they care about, I certainly did for my mom."

"I see…what about your dad?" She asks, only to get a harsh laugh out of Max.

"The more he stays out of my life, the better." He says with a somber smile on his face, his fist clenched tightly, Lexi deciding it'd be better to not ask.

"Have you told anyone else this?" Lexi asks, the human looking down at the floor.

"It never came up. None of them were too interested in my past, and personally I hope it stays that way…I'd rather they still look at me as their silly friendly human."

"If they're really your friends, they won't leave you after learning about this side of you." Lexi comforts him, the human still unsure but willing to think on it.

"You've certainly been through a lot…if anyone can make a change in hell, it's you. I mean, you already killed an archangel." She continues.

"To be fair, it was a team effort."

"Semantics kid." She rolls her eyes with a smile. "I'll tell you what I know, but I suggest you listen closely and be careful what you decide to do with this knowledge, the wrong decision could make things a lot harder for you." Max nods his head before listening closely.

"I had a lovely time chatting with you Maxwell." Lexi said with a smile as Max exited her apartment.

"I had a great time catching up with you, maybe next time we can talk about less grim topics." Max offers with a chuckle.

"Sounds like fun. Oh and don't forget…" She leans in before pressing her lips against his cheek, leaving him a blushing mess. "Don't forgot about my previous offer.~" She reminds him before winking then closing the door.

"Jeez, what's with demons here constantly making me red in the face." He huffs before rubbing his cheek.

Max thought over the information he was given, apparently Valentino wasn't a solitary Overlord, no he often spent time with two other Overlords, Velvet the social media demon, and Vox the television demon. Max had no idea the three were such a tight knit group, only for Lexi to explain it's not as tight knit as he thinks. Vox and Valentino apparently had an on and off relationship, many theorizing it was due to Valentino's physically abusive behavior. Lexi advised him that if he could convince Velvet and Vox to not get involved, then Max could challenge Valentino to a one on one duel. However it likely wasn't gonna be easy, as every Overlord in hell Max has met so far is in some way insane.

Without any other leads, Max decides to make his way to Velvet. Luckily or unluckily depending on how you look at it, Velvet lives in the same building as Vox, which means he didn't have to travel far in order to speak to both of them, but it also meant he was in the dangerous vicinity of two Overlords. The VVV Overlords apparently owned a massive building together where they would hang out, it kinda sounded like a sitcom situation, three overlords on one floor together, what shenanigans will ensue? But enough about hypothetical sitcoms. On the plus side, Valentino wasn't at the building during these hours, most likely busy with his many strip clubs, brothels, and whatever other businesses he has control over, so this was the most opportune time to visit.

There thankfully wasn't any security keeping him from taking the elevator to the the top floor, most likely because no one was dumb enough to ever think they can go up there and leave intact. Once the elevator doors opened to let him out, he looked at three doors leading to three different rooms, one adorned with a symbol of a familiar pink heart, one with a TV, and one with a little red, white, and black doll.

It wasn't an easy choice of who to talk to first, but after remembering that one Overlord may have gotten into contact with a certain scum of the Earth, Max found his feet walking towards what he assumed was Velvet's room.

He was nervous about knocking on the door, what with the way the little doll on the door looked as if its eyes were following him. Deciding it was do or die, he firmly knocks on the door. After several agonizing seconds of waiting, and once again swearing the doll was staring at him whenever he wasn't looking, the door finally opened.

"Oh? Normally Val and Vox just kick down my door if they need me. Kinda strange having someone knock instead." The door opens to reveal the social media demon that is Velvet, with her signature velvet and maroon pigtails, puffy sleeved dress, and crazy look in her eyes. Sometimes Max forgets just how tall these demons are, feeling it was unfair this girl was around 7 feet tall, but shook off the envy and tried to give a polite smile.

"Hello there, don't know if you remember me but-" He's interrupted as Velvet makes an excited squee.

"How could I forget you? Your big story when Vox and I interviewed you, the way you splattered that angel's brains in front of us! Oh you're all the rage nowadays!" She smiles wide as she grabs the human by the shirt and drags him inside her room.

"I'm beginning to regret my choices today." Max thinks to himself as Velvet holds him up and takes some selfies of them together before unceremoniously dropping him and tapping on her phone to upload the selfies online. "So I was hoping I could talk to you-"

"Awe that's so cute, did you become smitten with me after our talk?~" She asks teasingly, Max just looking at her with a deadpan stare. After what he's been through at the hotel, it's gonna take more than that to fluster him now.

"Yes, I'm absolutely crazy about you." He says in a monotone voice.

"Oh don't be silly.~" She giggles before looking him in the eye. "You don't even know the first thing about being crazy." She whispers, unsettling Max a little but he stands his ground.

"I don't know, I may know more than you think. It's why I decided to come talk to you. I feel like out of everyone in Hell, you'll understand the most about what it is I want."

"Oh? And just what is it you want?" She asks curiously with a big smile on her face.

"I've heard through the grapevine that you have a certain sinner held captive. He was using fake checks to scam others and apparently tried getting handsy with you."

"You see, this is why I always deal in cash."

"Oh? I thought with your expertise of keeping up with trends that you'd be using crypto or something." Max jokes, getting some laughter out of the Overlord.

"Please, I know a scam when I see one. Now, back to the sinner you're so interested in."

"If you remember what I said back at the talk show, you'll know that a certain bastard killed my best friend, and I killed him in return. Apparently down here he tried to send some hitmen after me, didn't know the cops already gunned me down." He lies, remembering how he needed to keep the story straight about his death. "After learning that he might be in your clutches, I thought it'd be the perfect opportunity to take out any leftover anger out on him, or what's left of him considering you've likely taken more than a pound of flesh from this guy."

"Hmm…I might know who you're talking about." Velvet drawls out. "But what's in it for me?"

"I simply want to show that you and I aren't too different. We've both soaked our hands in blood, both seen things that would make others go insane. Or maybe we're already insane but feel our heads are clearer now than ever before. And once I've shown you just the type of guy I am, then we can talk about something that can change the entire Pride ring. What do you say?" Max asks, looking at Velvet's face, looking for any tell.

"Hmmm…nope!" She suddenly answers, catching Max on the back foot.

"Oh…damn I guess I should have considered you wouldn't be interested." He sighs as he moves to leave.

"Oh I'm interested all right." She explains, once again leaving Max confused. "You certainly have a way with words, but I don't know if I wanna do things your way." She quickly snaps a photo of Max's confused face, giggling to herself.

"I-…okay, so how would you like to do it?" Max decides it might be best to be open to some negotiation.

"Simple, you tell me first what it is you're trying to sell me. If I think it's worth spending some time using a brain cell or two, then I'll let you use that throbbing murder boner of yours on my special guest."

"I-I do not have a murder boner!" Max yells out with a blush on his face and hands over his crotch in case she decides to stare, giving Velvet another opportunity to snap a pic of him.

"You make the funniest faces! Maybe I should add some filters on them!" She giggles as she messes around with the pictures.

Max sighs as he tries to figure out what to say to sell his idea without getting killed. "…Lucifer wants an Overlord gone." He decides to go the blunt route, and it seems to work as Velvet suddenly freezes in place, the smile on her face not disappearing but her eyes focus on him. "I see I got your attention." Max says before beginning to tell his lie the best way he knows how, with the truth weaved into it.

"After the disaster that was Kushiel and his goal of exterminating all sinners, Lucifer confided in me that he believes the denizens of Hell have grown soft, complacent, too used to just either hiding in certain factions or too busy squabbling with each other and destroying any growth. What's worse is that they seem to have lost respect for the one sitting at the top of the hierarchy. I mean, we all saw that the angels were capable of kidnapping him. And what happened? No one made a single effort to save him, no they were all too busy trying to fill the power vacuum with their own mediocre strengths."

"Mediocre?" Velvet says in a strained voice.

"His words, not mine. I can't say he's wrong though. I mean, even with you Overlords and all your power, none of you stepped up to save him or fight back against heaven. No, it was up to the semi redeemed demon, three imps, and a hellhound. What kind of message does that send?" Max asks with a wave of his arms.

"So Lucifer thinks it's time we put the fear of God back in hell. Metaphorically speaking of course. He asked me to find the weak link of the Overlords and take them out. And after what I've seen here in hell…I gotta say I've come to the conclusion that it's Valentino."

Velvet is stunned, her face a myriad of emotions. Max could see a hint of relief, but also worry and anger. Before he could let the Overlord get too frustrated, he interrupts. "That is, he never said I had to kill him." That certainly grabbed her attention.

"For what I know, you and Vox are quite close to Valentino. Maybe I'm a softie at heart or maybe I wanna humiliate him to send a greater message, but I can choose not to permanently end him. It'll be a tough fight but I can still just remove him from his position of power. If all goes as planned, Valentino will lose his status as an Overlord and instead be your run of the mill sinner."

"Then…who will fill his seat?" Velvet asks suspiciously.

"That's up to Lucifer. He has his eye on some promising sinners apparently." Max lies, a part of him worried that he's getting too used to this.

"…and what do you want from me?"

"It's simple. My worry is that if I choose to fight Valentino, you and Vox will intervene. If that happens, I will be forced to bring my own extra muscle. Thus we'll find ourselves just spilling more blood than is necessary, and leaving you with no guarantee that Valentino will make it out alive. So what I need you to do, is when the fight starts, you are to remain neutral and stay on the sidelines."

"That's it? You're asking me to not fight?"

"Not just abstain from fighting, but no magic, no deals, nothing. Neither you nor anyone under your thumb is to participate in this fight. If you do, then I can neither guarantee Valentino's safety nor yours." With all that said, Velvet puts a hand to her chin in deep thought.

"Soooo, you're asking for a deal?" She asks with a mischievous look in her eye.

"Of course not. It's more like an armistice, a truce, an understanding of things. You stay out of the fight, I make sure once Valentino is beaten and loses his status, he will not be harmed any further by me or any of my allies unless he attacks."

"Hmm, that's some plan you've made, you're a lot smarter than I have you credit for." Velvet compliments with an unnerving grin only for Max to laugh.

"Plan? Do, do I look like a guy with a plan?" He asks with laughter in his voice. "I mean, come on. I'm not some plan man." He chuckles before suddenly turning very serious. "I'm the Devil's fucking hitman."

"…you certainly have given me a lot to think about." Velvet says with a curious gleam in her eyes and a sickeningly sweet smile. "Tell you what, you go chat with your little nemesis, and I'll give you my answer afterwards."

"Sounds fair. Where is he being kept?" Max asks only for Velvet to beckon him to follow her. Max looks at his surroundings, a little surprised by the cutesy interior design of her apartment. As they reach an empty wall, Velvet presses her hand to a spot, and a magic sigil appears, the wall suddenly rising up and leading to a more desolate looking lair. Max tries to ignore the various bloodstains on the wall and floor as they reach what looks to be a torture room, many trapped demons moaning and groaning in different forms of pain, some not even making human like noises, sounding more like animals, likely driven to insanity.

"Now where is he?" Velvet ponders as Max is caught up looking at the various bloody torture tools. "What's wrong? Didn't expect a cutie like me to be into this?" She asks in a cutesy taunting voice.

"More disappointed to be honest." He answers much to her surprise. "You left all these weapons covered in blood. It'll attract lots of bacteria. Sure maybe getting your victim sick can be fun for some sadists, but it just puts YOU at risk of catching a disease. Not to mention so many of them are left on the floor which will make them get duller and less effective. Maybe you prefer bludgeoning someone to death, but I'd prefer a knife to carve flesh, not bruise it." Max nonchalantly explains, much to Velvet's surprise before she pouts and looks away.

"Everyone's a critic." She grumbles as she leads Max further into the chamber where different demons are strung up by their arms and hanging in the air. "Ah, here he is." She finds the rope attached to the sinner they were looking for and loosens it, allowing the captured demon to be lowered down until Max could get a clear look at his face. His head which adorned two horns, one which was snapped in half, was hanging low. His bruised and scarred skin a purplish color and was wearing only a raggedy loincloth to cover his shame.

"You…you bitch, what more do you want from me?" The demon asks in frustration as he lifts his head and opens his eyes to reveal a red sclera and no pupils. He was expecting an Overlord only to be surprised to be looking at a human, a familiar one at that.

"…it's him alright." Max growls out, already wrath flowing through his body.

"Then I'll let you two to get acquainted.~" Velvet says with a grin as she leaves the two of them alone. The two stare at each other in silence for some time until the demon coughs a little.

"So…you gonna let me down or-" He's cut off as Max slugs the demon across the face with a left hook. "Ow fuck! Can't take a joke can you!?"

"Is that what you think this is? A joke? After taking away someone so important to me, the first thing you can think of saying is a fucking joke?!" Max yells out at the sinner.

"I thought we were even! I mean you killed me right? By the way, how did you end up here looking like a human?" He asks curiously only for Max to scoff.

"That's not important. I dunno why I thought looking for you would help me, all it's doing is reminding me that no matter how much I try to be a good person and forgive, you deserve to rot in here."

"Oh come on, you can't really believe that can you? I admit, I made some mistakes. I was controlling, I was a tad manipulative, and maybe I got a little too angry at the breakup. But we all make mistakes, in the end I can forgive R-" He's cut off as Max wraps a hand around his throat and squeezes tightly.

"I don't want your dirty mouth ever saying her name, DO YOU HEAR ME!?" Max roars out, his wrathful form revealing itself as Max's teeth sharpened and veins glowed with demonic energy.

"Okay okay okay!" The sinner struggled to say as he was choked out. It was hard to stop in his rage, but Max managed to at least pull his hands away, letting the demon gasp and cough.

"Forgive her? She was an angel! She never deserved to die, especially at your grimy hands." Max said with a scowl.

"C-come on, even you can't tell me she was perfect."

"…no, she wasn't." He sighs softly, his body returning to normal. "She could be a little scatterbrained, a bit of a sore loser, and had awful taste in men…but she was still a wonderful person, my best friend. A friend I know who resides in heaven now while the two of us and our blood soaked hands waste away down here."

"W-wait heaven? How do you know that?"

"While you were busy hiring assassins after me and using fake checks, I've been making connections. Connections that even get me weapons like this." He pulls out the holy imbued knife from his pocket, letting its luster glimmer in the demon's eyes.

"Damn…you got an angelic weapon…that means you gotta be strong enough to get me out of here!" The demon excitedly says.

"And why would I ever want to let you out?"

"Because if you're as good a friend to her as you say you are, then you and I both know she wouldn't want anyone suffering like I am." Max is quiet at this, the sinner deciding to continue. "That doll bitch keeps me here to do so many awful things to not just me, but all of us here. It's not even testing out weapons that's the worst part, it's her stupid potions!"

"Potions?" Max asks, confused.

"Apparently it's a hobby of hers. She tests these disgusting tasting elixirs on us, they have all kinds of effects from making me feel like my skin is peeling off, to my insides melting and liquifying! I've felt pain I never knew existed, and she looks at me with that damn smile the whole time." The sinner began sobbing as he told his tale, Max looking at him with a neutral expression.

"N-no one deserves to live like this. I know it's hell, but I beg of you, have a heart!" He pleads with a whimper. Max meanwhile looks at the knife in his hand in contemplation.

"…do you know what happens when a demon is killed by an angelic weapon?" Max asks softly, the sinner looking at the human with tears in his eyes. "I can never bring myself to let you walk the streets again. I hate you too much…but, I could end your suffering." He offers, looking at his reflection in the blade.

"…hehe, it's not ideal, no one knows what happens to a soul after a permadeath." The demon looks at the blade before nodding his head. "But anything has to be better than what I'm suffering here. Do it." The demon says as he closes his eyes, accepting this fate.

Max brings the knife close to the demon's neck, just one swing needed and he can decapitate the sinner. "If that is what you desire…" Max whispers as he reels his arm back, the demon shutting his eyes right as he awaits death…only for several seconds to pass and nothing happens. He opens his eyes to see Max pocketing the knife.

"H-hey wait what are you doing?" The demon asks in a scared voice, a hint of anger behind it.

"Simple. I'm leaving." Max states as if it was quite obvious.

"B-but what about- s-she wouldn't like this, a-aren't you her best friend? Shouldn't you be doing the right thing?!" He questions in a panic as he struggles against his bindings.

"We were best friends, that will never change. Maybe she'd show mercy to you, but it's not the choice I'd make. I can try to do good things, and I will help those I care about, but don't mistake that kindness for heroism, I'm no paragon, I'm not some knight in shining armor…I'm a sinner, just like everyone else down here. And just like a sinner, I'll make my own choices." Max explains as he turns to walk away,

"Y-you, you bastard! Kill me!" The demon yells out, nearly frothing at the mouth.

"No. You're gonna stay here and suffer for as long as Velvet wants." Max looks over his shoulder and gives a sinister smile. "And I'm gonna sleep like a baby knowing I left you here to rot." He chuckles before walking away.

"No! Let me out of here! Come back here! Mac! MAAAAAC!"

Maxwell leaves the chamber as the screams echo behind him before letting out a sigh. "Stupid bastard couldn't even remember my name." Max soon returns to Velvet's room, finding the Overlord with a big grin on her face as she looks at her phone. "Find a funny pic?" He asks curiously.

"More like a funny video." She turns her phone around, revealing a camera view of the demon he just spoke to thrashing in his bindings.

"You were spying on us the whole time?" Max asks, a part of him suspecting this would be the case.

"Yup! And I gotta say you put on a great show! I really thought you were gonna kill him, who knew you'd take the evil route and leave him.~" She teases while Max just shrugs.

"I dunno about evil, but it's the choice I made, and I'm sticking with it."

"I can respect that." Velvet nods her head. "Alright then, I'll stay out of the fight!"

"Sure made me jump through some hoops for you." Max says with a chuckle.

"You're still gonna need to talk to Vox though, I can't go and speak for him."

"Fair enough. It was a pleasure chatting with you, Velvet." Max said politely as he turned to leave.

"See ya killer! Don't be a stranger!" She waves goodbye as Max exits her room.

"Alright, one down, one to go." Max mutters to himself.

"I have to say you're quite the showman." The human yelps as he looks to find the TV demon looking down at him.

"Jeez, were you waiting for me?" Max asks as he tries not to show any more fear from the surprise of seeing the other Overlord so soon.

"Well after I saw you entering Velvet's room, I decided it was best I keep an eye on you." His TV screen face changes to reveal footage of his previous chat with Velvet.

"What is with you two and spying on people?" Max asks, astonished.

"We've been watching some hidden camera shows lately." He answers with a shrug as the screen reverts back to his normal face.

"Then, you know what it is I'm gonna ask of you?"

"You wish for me to stay out of the battle between you and Valentino." He states matter of factly.

"Soooo…will you?" Max asks hoping this won't be too difficult.

"On one condition." He holds up one finger, Max sighing but nodding his head.

"Alright, what is it?" Vox beckons Max closer as he gets closer to whisper in his ear.

"You see, there's a fun fact about angelic weapons you should know." With that, Vox quietly whispers his condition to Max, the human's eyes widening and a shiver going through his body.

"That's brutal…but if what you say is true, then I'll be sure to get it done." Max nods his head, accepting the condition.

"However, there's always the chance you could lose this fight, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for collateral." Vox continues, a sinister smile on his face.

"Collateral? Shoot, let me think. What could an Overlord like you want?" Max asks out loud as the Overlord is about to bring out his hand to make a dreaded deal only for Max to suddenly snap his fingers.

"I got it! I'll get you a video of me and some friends pranking Alastor!" That certainly put a halt to Vox's current plans, his face momentarily changing to a technical difficulties screen before reverting back to normal.

"C-come again?"

"Well, I've heard a rumor that you don't like Alastor a lot. I'm not gonna go and kill him because he's an ally of the Hazbin Hotel, but I don't see anything wrong with taking the smug radio demon down a peg with a good ol fashioned prank. I've been meaning to get back at him ever since I learned about a certain gift he gave me." Max grumbles the last bit before shaking his head. "So what do you say? Does a video of Alastor humorously humiliated sound like good collateral?"

"…you're a shrewd one aren't you?" Vox rhetorically questions only for Max to tilt his head in confusion. "Fine, I'll accept it. Get me a video of the radio demon succumbing to a prank and I'll take it as collateral. But don't you dare give me some weak banana peel shit!" He threatens only for Max to chuckle.

"Oh don't worry, that lanky deer won't know what hit him." Max says with a devious grin on his face, Vox deciding to put his faith in the semi-redeemed demon for now. With his mission complete, Max takes the elevator, ready to head back to the hotel and make some plans for the future fight.

Sheesh! This was a big chapter. Honestly wasn't expecting to be able to fit so much here. We got to see the return of the feline sinner Max rescued now with a name courtesy of Pickle-Brick, plus it was their idea to make her a mother, and a confrontation between Max and a couple of Overlords. A big fight is on the horizon, but until then, some more lewdness is coming up! But first…

Omake

"Okay, that's milk, butter, flour…fuck what was that last thing. It's on the tip of my tongue." Max struggles to remember as he carries some groceries Charlie asked him to pick up. Just as he's about to remember, fire erupts in front of him, revealing Lucifer with a smile on his face.

"Hello there Max, I got news for you, you're doing a bad job."

"I know I'm doing a bad job, I'm not trying to get your dumb sin points." Max rolls his eyes only to sigh in frustration. " Great, now I can't remember the last thing I needed to buy."

"Look, you still have those 16 sin points, but I need you to really up the ante!" Lucifer wraps an arm around Max's shoulder. "Come on think about it, the right hand man of the devil! You get your pick of what sinners you wanna punish. Heck I'll even bring out the ol pitchforks if you-" He cuts himself off at the sound of a distant explosion. He and Max turn around to see an airship causing mayhem in hell.

"The fuck is that, you see that?" Lucifer asks, Max nodding his head in confirmation. "Is that supposed to be King Koopa or something?"

"Uh close, wrong reptile. If I remember correctly from Angel's story, that's Sir Pentious."

"Oooooh okay, I know that guy." Listening closely, they can hear the serpent demon yelling.

"I'm gonna be the king of sin, it'll be me!" Sir Pentious declared.

"Wow, he's got a looot of sin points Max, you're gonna need to catch up."

"W-wait, him?" Max asks, pointing to the airship.

"Yep! He's pretty evil. So go get him kiddo!" Lucifer encourages before snapping his fingers and disappearing in a burst of flames.

"Fuck, these omakes are getting to be a pain." Max mumbles as he puts the groceries down and runs toward the source of destruction.

"Run my little minions, spread chaos and despair!" Sir Pentious commands as several Egg Bois run around doing various acts of mischief from throwing toilet paper at people's homes and businesses, to creating some poorly made graffiti, except for one Egg Boi who just drew a big smiley face.

"Alright you little shits, prepare to get scrambled!…Damnit! Now I remember, I needed to get eggs! How did I forget that?" Max facepalms as the various minions look toward the human.

"Well if it isn't the little semi redeemed hero. Here to foil my plans? Well good luck trying! Attack my army!" The bombastic villain orders as the Egg Bois run toward Max ready to fight.

"Yeah! Get him!" "For Mr. Bossman!" "I didn't wash my hands!"

Max fake gags at the last one. "That's fucking disgusting, wash your hands right now you sicko!"

"Okay yeah, even I'm not that evil. Any Egg Boi who hasn't washed their hands, go home now and wash them immediately!" Sir Pentious commands. The egg based minions all look at each other before EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM runs off to go wash their hands.

"That is just so gross, what kind of villain doesn't make sure their minions stay hygienic!?" Max shouts at the reptile.

"I-I didn't know! Okay, this is just humiliating. Let's try this again another day, I need to disinfect my lair, those little fried chicken fetuses probably touched everything!" The airship then flies away, leaving Max alone in the ruins.

"…well that just kind of happened, I barely even participated…oh right the groceries!" Max yells as he runs off, back to working on his errands.