Chapter 10

Loathe me as much as you like. I don't do my job for adoring masses or commendations from on high. Whether they know it or not, humans need me as much as they need water. I have been the one thing standing between them and ruin for dozens of centuries. No other god can do what I do. None of you have the will. You all lack the necessary ability to sacrifice your self-serving ego. I am everything you are not. You should be thanking me for opening your eyes to how pathetic you all are.

-Quote attributed to Hades; spoken during his trial for gross negligence and dereliction of duty

Tiamat knew she wasn't technically following proper procedure by teleporting Percy straight into the heart of Agreas, but she didn't think he had the patience to keep in line with a bureaucracy twenty times his age.

Truth be told, neither did she, despite predating said bureaucracy by thousands of years. For her, though, it was a matter of principle. She wouldn't give pencil-pushers more power than they were entitled. It irked her to no end when a mouth breathing proselyte thought their position as Vice President of the Filing Cabinet somehow gave them the authority to condescend her.

People without power craved power. Such was the product of a cynical mind finally realizing what kind of world they had been born into.

If she ever gave somebody an inch, they would try to take a mile. Acknowledging the weak made them feel strong. And so, she would always hesitate to acknowledge them.

The world had been much simpler a thousand years ago. People knew their lot in life and accepted it, grudgingly or not, and usually that worked for them just fine.

Tiamat stepped out of the neatly prescribed mandala on the floor. All eyes instantly went to her. Typically, teleporting inside of the Administrative Center for the Greater City of Agreas, or any other kind of significant government building in devil-controlled territory, was restricted. Only the most important employees had the luxury.

Important employees and, naturally, Tiamat herself. She respected Ajuka well enough, Sirzechs some less, but she refused to jump through too many hoops for either of them.

Percy trailed behind her, rubbing his temples as he stepped out of the prescribed circle. "What's with this headache?"

It was only then that Tiamat remembered what she hadn't told him. Better late than never, she supposed. "We just passed through a total of four separate magic barriers. The dimensional wall separating the Underworld from Earth itself, which we have already gone through in the past, the barrier surrounding all of Agreas itself, and two barriers created specifically for this building."

"Is that right?" He squinted. "Why's everyone giving us the stink-eye?"

She snorted. It wasn't surprising he'd noticed it as well. A dozen devils occupied the large reception area, and not a single one had bothered hiding their disdain. Percy would be easily recognized as a human by even the least perceptive devil alive. "They might not appreciate me flaunting their rules. Visitors aren't allowed the privilege of teleporting anywhere on the premises. But since you're with me, they can't say much about it."

A smirk stretched her mouth as she swept her gaze around the room. Guards stood in each corner, and one of Ajuka's personal assistants sat behind the desk adjacent to a set of silver inlaid doors. Several notably dressed devils lounged on beautiful upholstery in two separate alcoves, sipping drinks quietly.

Each and every one averted their eyes when she looked in their direction.

She sniffed and led Percy to the desk.

The administrative center had a few dozen floors to it, and they had already arrived on the upper half, Tiamat having bypassed the ground level reception lobby for the sake of her sanity. To reach Ajuka's office, they would need to take the elevator even further up. If there was a way to teleport directly there, Tiamat didn't know it. The restrictions on magic on the highest floors were absolute. Ajuka had nullified every branch of magic within his ability—which was to say, every branch which existed, no matter how esoteric.

Such a thing was no small feat. In fact, it was probably something only Ajuka could do.

"Hello," the assistant gave her a professionally shallow smile. "Name?"

She had become accustomed to the routine. The assistant already knew her name, but appearances needed to be upheld.

"Tiamat."

The devil nodded. He motioned to the doors beside him, and they opened to reveal an elevator. "Lord Beelzebub is ready for you. Please remember that by choosing to visit the upper floors, you are voluntarily forfeiting your ability to use magic."

"I'm aware," she replied dryly. It would only be her hundredth time hearing this exact same warning.

"And is your… tag-along also aware?" The assistant plainly and willingly refused to address Percy directly.

Percy, rightfully indignant, leaned in, making sure his arm came down across a few papers nearest to the center of the desk. "The tag-along heard."

Tiamat sighed. The guards had started to creep closer to them. "Percy."

The assistant's conflicted expression just about gave way to words, but Percy pulled away before the situation escalated. "Yeah, let's go."

They boarded the elevator. Tiamat selected the highest number available on the button panel, and the doors closed without making a sound while Percy leaned against one slick metal wall.

She noticed that he'd become tense.

"So this city really floats?" he asked suddenly.

Tiamat nodded. "Agreas is officially under the control of the Agares clan, who planned a coup to take the city from Old Satan loyalists during the Devil Civil War. The city boasts the second largest library in devil-controlled territory, along with many institutes dedicated to Old Satan research… whatever that means. And yes, it does float."

"If the city is controlled by Agave, why does Ajuka have the best view in town?"

"When the coup succeeded, and the loyalists became aware of their inevitable loss, they tampered with the spells keeping the city afloat, undoubtedly hoping to deny their enemies such a valuable prize. Ajuka countered their sabotage by creating an entirely new nexus of spells to prevent the city from falling out of the sky. The politics and economics are handled by Archduke Agares, but everything related to magical and scientific research is taken care of by Ajuka, seeing how there is no better man for the job."

"Huh."

Tiamat frowned at the disinterested noise, and at his profoundly dour scowl. "What's wrong?"

"Do you… not feel that?" he asked.

"Feel what?"

He looked at the ceiling as the elevator began to crawl to a stop. "There's something up there. Something… gross."

She stared at him. What did he feel that she couldn't? What could be worrying him to the same extent as Thanatos and she, herself, once had?

The elevator came to a seamless halt. When the doors slid open, they did so to reveal a final vestibule before Ajuka's office.

Sparsely decorated, the room offered a grand view from ceiling-tall windows, displaying the entirety of Agreas from its highest point. The spectrum of magenta that colored the sky reminded her of an Earthly twilight.

It was always like this in the Underworld, though. Here, there was nothing inherently unusual about seeing a purple sky.

Across the vestibule, the door to Ajuka's office swung open.

Sirzechs Lucifer stepped out.

Tiamat spared Percy a glance. Was this the "something gross" he'd felt on their way up? If so, she would be impressed. Sirzechs made it a point to keep his unnatural aura hidden from most everybody. He was freakish and aberrant in ways similar to Ajuka.

"What a surprise," Sirzechs said, raising his hand to greet them even as he advanced. "It's been a while, Tiamat."

"So it has." They met halfway into the vestibule. "How are you, Lucifer?"

"Well enough, I suppose. A few more vacation days certainly wouldn't hurt. I keep telling Grayfia it would be good for me to get out and do something other than work, but she doesn't seem too thrilled about that idea."

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown, eh?"

He chuckled. "Quite so. There's always something for me to manage, it seems. I'm glad for all the people around me who are willing to help so much. Without them, my life would be even more difficult." Sirzechs cleared his throat and looked at Percy, smiling apologetically. "Excuse me for being so rude. I didn't mean to ignore you."

"Right." Percy seemed less than moved by Sirzechs' rehearsed apology.

Sirzechs waited for a few seconds. "Yes, well… I'm Sirzechs Lucifer. It's nice to meet you…"

"Percy."

"Nice to meet you, Percy." The Satan looked them over. That he was wearing common clothes made Tiamat realize he hadn't been expecting to meet anybody in a formal setting. "What brings the two of you here?"

"We have business with Ajuka," she replied.

"I assumed as much, given where we are," he said pleasantly. "By the way, how was that last Rating Game between Roygun and Rudiger? I wasn't able to attend, and I haven't had the time to watch it on pay-per-view."

"It was entertaining enough. Belphegor again proved the dominance of her family's ability, despite Rosenkreutz's ingenuity. Even so, I still have my misgivings about Belphegor."

"But things went smoothly? You didn't have to intervene?"

"Thankfully."

"That's good. And the Forest of Familiars? I haven't sent anybody to follow up since we last spoke about it."

"Filling up nicely. The attacks have slowed, but haven't stopped completely. I'll have to go hunting again for any remaining undesirables."

Sirzechs nodded. "It sounds like you have everything handled. Thank you for all your hard work. Now, I've kept you from your meeting for long enough. Pardon me."

They parted ways. Tiamat was almost to the door which led into Ajuka's office when Sirzechs suddenly called out.

"Young man."

She and Percy stopped and turned around in unison. Sirzechs was already at the mouth of the elevator, watching them curiously.

Percy tucked both hands into his pockets. The movement was deliberate and cautious, but still unhurried and steeped in his recognizable confidence. "What?"

"Have we met before?" Sirzechs asked.

"Uh, no? I would remember meeting something like you."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

Percy stared at him for a few seconds. Slowly, he raised his hand and pointed at his own hair. "I've never met somebody with that color. You'll have to tell me what kind of dye you use; it gets the job done."

Sirzechs tugged at a few strands of his dark red hair. "I'm afraid mine is a bit dull compared to my sister and father. A shame, to be sure. Then again, I like to count my blessings where I can."

"It suits you."

"Thank you." Sirzechs smiled kindly. "Percy, was it?"

"Yeah."

"Have you ever considered becoming a devil?"

Tiamat's eyes widened. Was this really about to happen right in front of her? So suddenly? What could possibly have been running through Lucifer's mind to offer one of the few remaining positions in his peerage to Percy?

"I've never thought about being anything other than what I already am. Got turned into a guinea pig once. Had fur in all sorts of places."

"Well, becoming a devil is much better than turning into a rodent, I assure you. There are many benefits, especially in the peerage of a Satan. And it just so happens I have space."

"I appreciate that, but I'll have to pass for now. The guinea pig experience really taught me the value of being human." Percy smiled lightly. "And I don't think I'd look good with horns and hooves."

Chuckling, Sirzechs summoned a business card to his hand. He walked back to Percy and held it out. "If you make your peace with that bit of unpleasant history, feel free to contact me. I guarantee no horns or hooves. Not even a pointy tail. You do get wings, though, which are retractable. Nobody has to know."

Percy looked at the offered card. He hesitated. When it was clear that Sirzechs would wait for a clear answer, he took it and hid it in his back pocket. "I'll think about it."

"Please do. I won't keep you any longer, so if you have questions about the fabulous wealth, vast influence, or immense strength you stand to gain, don't hesitate to reach out. The world is your oyster, Percy. You just need to know how to crack it open."

"I'll keep that pearl of wisdom in mind."

The devil smiled once more, then took the elevator down.

Percy turned around and breathed a sigh to deflate himself.

Tiamat raised an eyebrow when he passed her Sirzechs' business card. "A grave insult."

"I wouldn't sell my socks to the Devil, let alone my soul. Keep it safe for me?"

"Fine," she rolled her eyes, plucking the card from between his fingers. She waved it at him pointedly. "You promised to behave."

"I promised to be on my best behavior when we met Ajuka. Nobody told me anything about having to meet the big-bad Lucifer himself." He jabbed his thumb at the elevator, "Speaking of, what's his deal? He's not actually a devil, is he?"

A good question. Once, Ajuka had confided in her that he often didn't feel like he could be called a devil.

"Sirzechs does a good job of hiding it, but it's true he's far from a normal devil. In fact, he's far from a normal anything," she muttered. "You noticed, which drew his attention, which I would say isn't an easy feat."

Of course, she didn't think it was entirely that simple, either. Sirzechs had probably deduced Percy's worth rather quickly. The current Devil Kings were all very good at choosing their allies, and their subordinates.

"If you want to live," Tiamat said, "don't make Lucifer your enemy." She grabbed his arm. "Trust me. He isn't someone to cross."

Their eyes met. He blinked, then glanced away, chagrined. "I won't. Probably."

"The same goes for Ajuka. He's much the same as Sirzechs in some ways. Well, they are close friends, so I suppose it wouldn't be hard to believe as much."

"We'll be fine," he said. "I guess I'm just worried about these guys turning people into devils. Is that actually a thing?"

"If humans can be made into gods, like in the past, why not devils?" She pulled away from him. "Ajuka created a system that simplified the procedure into something quick and painless. He calls them 'Evil Pieces', though why he chose such a forbidding name is beyond me. It's thanks to Ajuka that the devils managed to recover so much after the wars."

Percy frowned. Rather, his face reverted to its usual tired scowl, which made him look like he was constantly brooding. "Evil Pieces… Is that supposed to be some kind of inside joke about how not all devils are evil or something?"

Tiamat wasn't sure why Ajuka named them the way he did. She had met him far after the fact, and she never bothered asking simply because she didn't care. Evil Pieces, Good Pieces, Neutral Pieces, no title explained their function.

The Evil Pieces were tools for reincarnation. That was all. Their purpose was neither good nor evil, clinically speaking.

"I suppose that's a question you'd have to ask Ajuka yourself."

His eyes narrowed. "Can Evil Pieces make anybody into a devil?"

She shrugged. "Most species can be reincarnated as devils. Certain divine beings cannot be reincarnated. I'm not sure about demigods. You're part human, so I assume it's possible, but I could be wrong."

"What's stopping a devil from turning every human they meet into a devil, then?"

"Only high-ranking devils are given Evil Pieces. Even then, they are allotted only fifteen pieces in total, taken straight from the game of chess. Eight pawns, a handsome sum; two rooks, knights, and bishops; one queen. No sane devil would waste even a single piece for a random human. Typically, only the exceptional are chosen to be reincarnated. Everybody wants strong servants."

"Why would any 'exceptional' person choose to become somebody else's servant?"

"There are countless reasons. All of them personal." She raised an eyebrow at him. "Can't you think of a reason? Some devils can fulfill their promises with ease. Sirzechs Lucifer, for example, truly can make you fabulously wealthy or immensely strong. Also, devils live for an extremely long time. To a human, it might seem like immortality. That said, I believe there is still a prejudice against reincarnated devils by the pure-blooded nobility."

Percy went quiet, perhaps to mull over her question. At the same time, she began to wonder if Sirzechs' offer had been a serious one. The Satan knew next to nothing about Percy. It certainly struck her as odd...

"We shouldn't keep Ajuka waiting," Tiamat mused.

He blinked himself out of his thoughts. "I suppose not."

Tiamat turned and knocked on the door.

"It's open."

Hearing Ajuka call to them, she pushed into his office with Percy in tow. The young Satan sat behind his desk, giving them a cursory glance before turning most of his attention back to his computer monitor.

"This is unusual, isn't it?" Ajuka asked placidly. He sighed and leaned back, rubbing the space between his eyes. "Excuse me if I come across as impudent. My obligations keep multiplying, and I'm struggling to understand why." He looked at them again and smiled. "Feel free to sit. Would you like anything to drink?"

"If you're offering," Percy said, sliding into one of the chairs across from Ajuka, "I'll take some water. The Underworld isn't all fire and brimstone, but I'm still really thirsty."

Tiamat sat down, frowning. "Nothing for me."

Ajuka stood and went to fetch water from a small refrigerator he kept in the back corner of his office. That he had a complete kitchenette in his office told of how many hours on average he spent here.

Apart from that luxury, it was a scarcely filled room. How could anybody work for days on end in such a place? She would have been driven mad after only a few weeks.

When Ajuka returned, it was with a bottle in hand. He set it on the desk.

Percy smiled. "Much appreciated."

Tiamat shook her head slightly. Not the best acting she had ever seen, but not the worst either.

"You're welcome," Ajuka said. He remained standing. "I don't believe we've met."

"I don't think so either. I'm Percy."

"Ajuka Beelzebub."

"Tiamat talks a lot about you." Percy held up his hands in good-natured surrender. "Only good things, I promise."

"I believe she has mentioned you as well," Ajuka replied, adjusting his sleeves flippantly. "Not by name, but she did tell me about an interesting someone who seemingly warranted her attention. You must be that someone. She doesn't have many friends that I'm aware of."

"Considering she doesn't talk about anybody else, it might just be you and me."

"Honestly, you might be very right about that. I'm just glad she found somebody else."

"Yeah, well," Percy rubbed his jaw, "she's a good friend. You and I got lucky; everybody else doesn't know what they're missing."

Tiamat cleared her throat, reminding them that she was still in the room, and that while she did enjoy being praised, they had other matters to discuss.

"She can be kind of prickly, though," Percy added.

"True," Ajuka chuckled. He held his hands up. "But let's get down to business. I assume you're the reason she's been asking about the suspension."

"More or less."

"You aren't a devil, though, so it doesn't necessarily apply to you. A friend affected by the illness, then? Tell me about them."

"Maybe we're getting a little ahead of ourselves," Percy said slowly. "I just wanted to meet you, is all."

Unfettered by Percy's attempt to stall the conversation, Ajuka pressed on. "You're measuring me. You don't trust me. That's fair. But your caution also speaks volumes. Whoever you're trying to protect must be quite important. Why did you come to me? Many hospitals in the Underworld take patients suffering from suspension free of charge. I can recommend a few."

Percy hesitated. "That's…"

"Unless, of course, you feel as though you can't spare a certain type of capital. You came to me through Tiamat's recommendation, I guess. That must mean, in your mind, it's less of a risk to speak with me than medical experts under oath to do no harm to their patients."

"Hey, you said it, man: I'm here off of Tiamat's recommendation. She told me I could trust you. I mean, she already trusts you to the moon and back. It wouldn't be fair if I just ignored her advice, even if some of it makes me scratch my head."

Ajuka bobbed his head sympathetically. "I know how you feel." He took the chance to sit behind his desk once more. "So, what is it that you need from me, specifically? I've already failed to find anything significant about the suspension. My research is on hold until something is added to the wider discussion, or I free up enough time. I'm afraid there simply isn't much I can do."

"And that's the thing," Percy said. "We might have something to add. Not sure if it's actually something that'll help, but from what Tiamat tells me, we might be able to work with it. At least, that's what we're hoping."

"Interesting that you would reach that conclusion. Normally, I would ask you to prove it to me, but you haven't come to me alone."

In fact, Tiamat thought, Percy would never have been able to meet Ajuka without her help. The Satans' time was valuable to more people than just themselves. Without connections, Percy wouldn't have gotten on the waiting list for an appointment, which might have already reached into the next year. And then, even if he did manage to get on the list, notable devils would always be able to find a place above him in the queue.

That was the reality of the current devil-controlled Underworld.

She wasn't sure about the situation on the fallen angel side.

"Without Tiamat, I would've been at a loss for what to do," Percy admitted readily. "I don't know much about anything, so it's nice to have somebody able to point me in the right direction."

"You trust her enough to follow the direction she points?"

"For the most part. Not like I had any better ideas."

Ajuka smiled. "Is that something you should be telling me?"

"I don't see why not. You fought in a war, right?" Percy asked, propping one leg atop the other and finally sinking into his seat more comfortably. "The civil war, I mean. You were one of the leaders."

"Yes, I was."

"You must have made some hard choices."

"A few. On the battlefield, Sirzechs and I couldn't be beaten, and so we never tallied sacrifices as victories. When politics are involved, though, my hands are suddenly tied. It's a delicate balance we've struck."

"I hear you exiled the remnants of the original Satan clans."

"They gave us little choice but to do exactly that. War is war. I regret it, but our hands were tied."

Percy pulled his eyebrows together. "You'll have to explain that one to me. If you're so strong, why go to such extreme lengths?"

"Looking back," Ajuka began slowly, "civil war seemed inevitable. After the Great War, we were a tired, humiliated people. Our leaders were all dead, about half of our oldest clans had been destroyed, and a generation had seemingly been lost for no gain. When the true Satan heirs pushed for more war, one old devil took it upon himself to form a coalition of noble houses in opposition. His decision to act so quickly may well have shaped the Underworld into what it is today. He created the powder keg and then struck the match."

Zekram Bael, Tiamat thought. She had met him once, some two hundred years ago, having been curious about the oldest living devil. Many people saw his loyalty as mercurial, but she knew better. Zekram Bael was steadfastly loyal.

But he was only loyal to himself.

"Influenced by his recommendation, our coalition displaced the old Satan families, securing our position in the immediate aftermath." Ajuka steepled his fingers on the table. "But is that really why you came all the way here? If you want the history of our civil war, there are plenty of accounts to be found that wouldn't require rubbing elbows with a Satan."

"Just one more question, if you don't mind," Percy said.

"Go ahead."

"Why did you join the war?"

Ajuka leaned back. "The Satan heirs represented tyranny, much like the original Satans did. I thought devils deserved better than them."

"That's a good reason."

"I hope so. Now, your turn."

Percy gave Tiamat a sidelong look. It was the first time since they had entered that he gave her his attention. She cocked her head at him, signaling his free reign, and he settled further into his chair, becoming a picture of surety despite the reservations he had already shared with her.

"There's somebody I was hoping you could help. A girl who deserves a fair shot at life. I want to help her, but I can't. Not with this disease."

"Admirable. You mentioned that you may have learned something useful."

"Right. Well, she woke up from that disease—was awake for about two weeks—then fell back asleep." Percy gave Ajuka a meaningful look. "I hear that's never happened before."

"It took hold again?" asked Ajuka, frowning. "Recovery is rare enough. Very rare. That's already a reason to be interested. But, as you've heard, there's never been a case of somebody falling victim to suspension after recovering."

"There you go," Percy shrugged. "That's why we're here. We have theories on why she recovered and then relapsed, but since we aren't scientists, we need a second opinion."

Slowly, thoughtfully, Ajuka began to nod. "I understand, and I'm glad you chose to come to me despite the risks you must have perceived. Every lead should be followed to its natural conclusion when we're dealing with something this serious. I'll gladly help."

Tiamat allowed herself a slight smile.

Good enough for her.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

Hades stood at the foot of Samael's cross. It was a grand thing in how wildly unassuming it appeared, yet how potent it had remained for thousands of years. That it had managed to hold a creature the likes of Samael... As much could only be called awe-inspiring and difficult to even comprehend.

Yahweh had always had a knack for seals and barriers, even during his more obscure years in Edom, prior to the conquest of ancient Judah and Israel.

While many things could be said about Yahweh, his ability to subvert and subsume all forms of belief was something Hades not only acknowledged as impressive but also felt compelled to praise. Yahweh had been as powerful as he had been cunning. And equally as self-absorbed.

A prime example of that conceit was found right here, in the form of Yahweh's once-great warrior, the scourge of Canaan.

Samael, now known as the Dragon-Eater, had been among Yahweh's most successfully ruinous angels. When their creator had pointed, the angels had swarmed the old Canaanite gods in a flurry, with Samael always at the fore, leading hosts alongside the Four Great Seraphs.

Hades remembered those times well.

When Samael had been cast out of Yahweh's good graces and sealed in the heart of Cocytus, most of the Levant's neighboring pantheons had been relieved, less fearful of possible conquest by the ruthless angel.

And here you still suffer, Hades thought, cocking his head. I wonder if you ever knew the terror you inspired in us.

Crucified as he was, Samael did not move. Nails driven through his body—from the bottom of his serpent-like lower body all the way to the ends of his fingertips—kept him pressed flush against the wood cross. A nearly invisible length of thread had been run through his mouth to keep it shut, and his eyes were covered by a ragged strip of bloodied linen. The stench of iron seeped into Cocytus from his place at its center, pervading every crack in the ice, every minute breath one could possibly take.

He was a miserable sight compared to what he had once been.

"Lord Hades."

Turning away from the forsaken angel, Hades found Orcus, his most useful lieutenant apart from Thanatos.

In other words, his most useful lieutenant who was still alive.

"Hello, Orcus."

The grim reaper bowed. His face was hidden behind his mask, but Hades was sure he was frowning. The tension in his voice rang clear through the near-silent world they had met in.

Yes, that was good. Let fear bolster their respect; Hades would never wonder about their loyalty. There was a reason the Netherworld's power structure had not changed in thousands of years.

"Do you know why I summoned you here, Orcus?" Hades asked. He gestured at their surroundings.

Cocytus was far from a pleasant place. As far as the eye could see, ice glinted in the gloom of ethereal moonlight. The temperature could snuff out a human's life in a matter of moments, cold as it was. Gods, too, would find it troublesome to acclimate, despite their natural resistance to discomfort from things such as extreme temperatures.

"No, I'm afraid I don't know," Orcus said. His mask trailed up Samael's figure. "However, I assume you wanted privacy to discuss something. Here, it will be just the two of us."

"Exactly so," Hades said. "Needless to say, I expect this conversation to remain between us until I choose to address the rest of the grim reapers."

"I understand."

"Good. Now, I'm sure you, of all people, have noticed the absence of Thanatos from his duties. Indeed, I was also confused at first. When I finally did learn what had happened, I almost couldn't believe it." Hades sighed and shook his head. A frigid breath swept over the icy desert. "Thanatos is dead. Murdered."

Orcus rocked back, shock mildly cheapened by the neutral visage of his mask under the moonlight. "Dead? Murdered? But… how?"

The reaction was something Hades had anticipated. Gone were the days of constant battle from the beginnings of human societies, when gods from different regions would often vie for domination against their neighbors. Even as human nations continued to war, gods had become less interested in destroying their fellow gods.

Two thousand years ago, it wouldn't have been so upsetting to learn of a god dying.

But the world was different now.

"A human killed him."

"Impossible," said Orcus. "What human has the strength to defeat Thanatos? My only thought would be Vasco Strada, but what conflict could he have had with Thanatos?"

"No, this was a human I had never heard about before. I am only privy to the information Nyx saw fit to grace me with. It was she, not I, who watched Thanatos die."

This was, of course, a lie. If anything, Hades felt confident that he had more insight into the matter than Nyx did.

"I see. Expecting a primordial god to care for her children could always be seen as foolish, I suppose." Orcus smoothed the sleeves of his robe. "Have you told Pluto?"

"No. I need Pluto—most of the grim reapers, in fact—to focus on the more pressing issue regarding soul-spread between life and death. We can't have too many eyes turned our way right now. Especially not those with whom we share the Underworld."

"Devils. Are they involved?"

"I can't say for certain. Perhaps they are, perhaps they are not. I won't accuse them quite yet."

"Then why did you tell me?"

"I trust you to be more subtle than Pluto in your next task." Hades cocked his head up. "The spirits in New York need pacification. They need a shepherd to guide them away."

"Are they gathering on their own whim?"

"If you find evidence proving the opposite, I leave the solution in your hands. Our duty is to safeguard the Earth. Never forget that."

Orcus took a moment of silence to ponder. His robes billowed as another blast of freezing air ripped across the desert, shearing flakes of ice from the topmost layer of the ground and scattering them across the flatland.

"I'll stay vigilant. Something doesn't feel right about what has recently occurred," Orcus concluded. "Thanatos… I simply can't see him dying to a human, regardless of the circumstances."

Hades feigned curiosity. "I'm sure Nyx knows more than she is telling me."

"Maybe that is the case. I don't have proof, but my intuition tells me we may be caught in something sinister."

"That may be true."

Orcus bowed to him. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I have much to consider."

Nodding, Hades turned away. "Be careful. An enemy may be looking to weaken us from the leadership on down. I can't very well lose you to carelessness."

"Of course."

With that, Orcus teleported out of Cocytus. With only the restrained Dragon-Eater for company, Hades allowed his bones to be suffused with gnarled doubt.

Orcus, much like Thanatos, worried about the Netherworld more than the average grim reaper. He had been a good lieutenant for over a thousand years, despite occasional disagreements.

But he would never understand. He was utterly reactionary, and that wasn't what the Netherworld needed. It wasn't what anybody needed right now.

A shame.

Hades tucked his chin down. The world continued to spin, yet both he and Samael had been rooted in place for longer than either of them would be able to remember. Reaching out, Hades ghosted a finger across the nail piercing the tip of the Dragon Eater's tail.

Malice built. Samael stirred.

Author Note: This chapter definitely could have come out two weeks ago, but I got so caught up in other things the last five hundred words didn't make it to paper till Thursday. Thanks for the patience.

You know what's surprising? There's no DxD/Helltaker crossover on this site as of me typing this. I feel like that crossover has the potential for at least a few good short stories. It's not just me, right? Right?

Anyway, I'm using the (understandably) criticized and controversial Kenite theory for the origin of God in this story. I assume nobody reading this cares about blasphemy regarding any religion, since it's DxD we're talking about.

Next chapter has the intrigue in New York come to a head.

Thanks for reading.