Hello, all you sinners! Welcome back to another chapter and we will continue where we left off with the Defeat of Vox and now heading further into the building to reach the top floor to face off against Mundus. Anyway, no Q&A's this time so let's dive into Hell!
Mission 23: Snake In The Grass
Charlie and Zephyrus galloped through the streets of Pentagram City killing all of the Blades, Frosts, Blood-goyles, and other assortments of demons that Mundus summoned. "Some of these demons must be brought from the other regions of Hell," Charlie said to herself, knowing that some of the demons seemed too feral to live around the city. "I have to hurry," the Princess of Hell muttered to herself while cutting down all the beasts that came after her and the demonic steed. Zephyrus' armored form stomped down and cut through as many of the lesser demons as he could. "Don't stop, Zephyrus! We have to get to Dante and the others," she told the stallion as she beheaded many Hell Sloths.
The hellish horse neighed as he sped up, crushing the pavement beneath his feet and trampling over many foes that were stupid enough to stay in front of him. The Princess of Hell saw their destination in the distance before noticing how these demons were wreaking havoc throughout the city. Her eyes widened as she saw the corpses of Sinners, Hellborn, and Mundus's minions scattered in the streets. Charlie's focus soon turned to the path in front of her being blocked off by an army. Standing in front of the Princess was a large assortment of Blades, 7 Hells, Vanguards, Frosts, Nobodies, Sin Scissors, Blood-goyles, and Hellbats attempting to keep the equine away.
"Fire," a voice commanded as many bullets shot upon the wild demons as they started to disintegrate.
Charlie looked behind her and saw many demons in uniforms and armed with holy weapons marching towards the army in the streets. "Defend Princess Charlotte at all cost!" A lieutenant shouted towards the troops as they made haste and fired upon the creatures of Mundus, disintegrating them into nothingness.
"The Royal Army," Charlie said to herself as she saw the many demons in uniforms clash with Mundus' forces. "How did Dad rally so many of them this fast?"
"Allow me to answer that question, my dear Princess," a voice from behind her said. Turning around, Charlie saw an owl demon wearing a large gold crown on his head, a maroon cape around his shoulders, and a similarly colored armor.
"Lord Paimon? Why are you here," Charlie asked as many more of the Royal Army of Hell came through with their Dukes, Princes, and Overlords leading them.
"Lucifer called upon us and told us that Mundus was set free by a delusional idiot. Both of your parents rallied all the Princes, Ars Goetia family members, and Overlords that were loyal to the Royal Family to aid in fighting these things," Paimon told her as his stare turned some of the Nobodies to stone. The owl king looked at the princess and saw what was on her back. "Oh, my… is that the Sparda I see?"
"Yes, it is. And I'm in a hurry to give it to Dante," Charlie told him.
"Allow us to help you," Paimon said as he turns towards the troops. "Make a path for Princess Charlotte so she reaches her destination!"
The troops from Hell's army started to kill many of Mundus' forces as possible. "Alright, Zephyrus. Let's go find Dante," Charlie said while pulling the reins on the demon stallion as they rode off towards the building.
As the group was going up the elevator, Dante was looking over his new gun as he checked it over. As he did, Blitzo spoke to the Devil Hunter. "So you can't be killed by holy bullets," the imp asked as he watched the numbers on the elevator go up.
"Can't say, but it does hurt a lot more than anything else," Dante told the taller imp as he dismissed his newest Devil Arm. "Guess the only thing that can kill me is by cutting off my head. Don't try it."
"What makes you think I would want to," Blitzo argued as a bat with barbed wire dropped from behind his back. "Okay, maybe a swing."
"Oh please… he'd shoot up before you get the chance to swing," Vaggie said rolling her eye as she polished her spear.
"Go eat a carpet store," Blitzo told the moth demoness as Vaggie was held back by Terry.
"Can you do us all a favor and not egg her on," the minotaur told the imp as he held on to her as her feet dangled and kicked.
"Sir, I would agree since we are closer to the demon who put Hell into so much chaos, it would be best to not make enemies right now," Moxxie told his boss.
"Ugh… fine, Moxxie," Blitzo told the small imp.
"Does your dad always act like this," Bullet whispered to Loona.
"You have no fucking idea," Loona whispered back. "Sometimes it's just Blitz being a jackass instead of arguing with anybody around him."
"What are you telling my Looney," Blitzo asked the pitbull of a Hellhound.
"Maybe, it's none of your damn business," Bullet snarled as he bared his fangs at the imp. "You're irresponsible, immature, and get into everyone's life! I wouldn't be surprised if you originally wanted to steal that book from Prince Stolas because you are that low of a being!"
The elevator was silent as everyone looked, even Vaggie stopped struggling. Loona and the imps all looked at each other awkwardly before the elevator opened up. "Oh, look at that. The elevator stopped. Let's kill some fuckers. We'll continue this conversation never," Blitzo said rapidly, shoving everyone out of the elevator ASAP.
Exiting the elevator on the 15th floor, the group was surrounded by many lesser demons as well as some middle-class ones. "Gives me the best opportunity to use my new weapon," Dante smirked as he summoned Vox out and took aim with the railgun. Once fired, technicolor lightning bolts shot toward the group of demons and made them explode as blood and guts flew onto the walls of the hallway.
"I have got to get one of those," Moxxie stated out of pure shock as Dante's new weapon took out more than half of the demons in the hall. The ones that were still standing were the Blitz demons, whose horns were absorbing the electricity blasted at them. They growled before firing off their own electric blasts at Dante and his makeshift crew. "Get out of the way," the smaller imp shouted as they ducked or moved to the side to avoid the oncoming attack. "Those things look tougher than the frost-covered lizard we saw earlier."
"That's because they are. But they're blind so they can't even attack their own. They prefer to retaliate," the Demon Hunter stated as he wasn't too worried about pulling out Rebellion.
"If they react to sound, then I have something that can keep them occupied," Cherri smirked as she held out some Chinese firecrackers out and lit them up. As the fuse hissed, it made the electric lizards go wild, teleporting in a flash of light, claws aimed at the cyclops. Luckily, both Dante and Terry blocked the attacks with the Demon Hunter using his sword while the minotaur used his brute strength. With the attacks stopped, Terry started tossing the Blitz demon right back at the other one. "Thanks, guys, I owe you one. But for now, let's drive them wild," she said throwing the firecrackers at both Blitz demons as the noise made them zip through the hall as they attacked the other demons on their side before turning on one another digging their claws into each other flesh, stabbing one another in the chest.
"This is our chance! Hit them with what we got," Dante told the group as they attacked the demons.
Bullets went flying before blades, claws, and fangs ripped the monsters apart. After the electric enemies were beaten, the members of I.M.P. watched as their most physical member twirled her battleax around to remove the blood from it. "Ah, that felt so good," Millie said before yelling as she took on an Assault in the hallway. As she swung her ax around, the halls were painted red.
"I love that woman," Moxxie sighed happily.
"Seems like someone's getting pegged tonight when this is over," Blitzo teased his employee.
"And you don't," Bullet asked after tearing a Hell Pride with his teeth and ripping another with his claws.
"I don't know what you did to make him so pissed, but you're an asshole," Cruiser told the taller imp demon while bashing his bat into a Blade's skull, making brain matter spew out.
"Who asked you, you Fonzie reject," Blitzo told the greaser sinner after killing some Hell Wraths by shooting the sacks over their shoulder, setting off an explosion chain.
"Hey! Almost everyone had this look when I died," Cruiser told the former circus performer. "And you're lying to yourself to say you don't have a leather jacket yourself."
"Yeah, but it's more in style than what you're wearing," Blitzo countered as he did have a leather jacket, but it was more of an 80s style than 50s, now butting heads with the sinner.
"Enough talk and more fighting, you dipshit," Loona growled, taking out several demons with her teeth and claws.
"Wait for me, Loonie," Blitzo said as he came running after his daughter, guns blazing.
As Dante and his group were heading to the higher levels of the floor, Striker was on the twentieth floor, polishing his angelic revolver and chewing on a piece of straw. The three eyes of Mundus hovered over the ceiling as the snake of an imp looked up. "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy," Striker told his new employer as he put away his revolver and checked on the rifle he was given from his last connection.
"Vox is dead and Dante's group is on their way to you," Mundus told the imp. "You better not fail me, imp. Or else you will meet a much worse fate than he did," the eyes said as they glowed an even brighter red than before.
Stopping his polishing, he spat out the piece of hay between his teeth and stared at the Demon Lords' floating eyes on the ceiling. "I know I never going to kill that bastard. I bet I can't even beat him in a fight. But I can take out his posse and maybe slow him down for you."
"Just don't fail me," Mundus growled as his presence disappeared.
"Fucking asshole," Striker muttered as he somewhat regretted freeing the most powerful demon that made Lucifer send out his entire army from millennia to now. But if he were able to slow down the Demon Hunter, that would give Mundus the chance to kill him. When that eventually came to fruition, then Striker could continue his goal of taking out the rulers of Hell. "Time that some vermin were eliminated first. After the small fries are taken care of, it'll be time to move onto the bigger targets," he told himself as he grinned that snake-like smile of his, followed by hissing and shaking his tail like a rattlesnake.
The group made its way up to the 20th floor where they noticed the area was more circular and dark. "Why the hell would someone want to have something this spacious in a building," Millie asked out loud as the group huddled in surrounding each of their blind spots.
"I don't like the look of this," Terry asked the group as he looked around. "It feels like something big is going to come up from the floor," he said looking at his feet to see any movement from beneath.
"Can anyone see anything," Lechuza asked as she eyed the entire area. "What was that," she asked as she saw movement from the right of her. But as she turned her head, it suddenly went to the left. "What in Hell is that?"
"I think I know," Loona said as she sniffed the air. "It's familiar."
"Coming from a bitch like you, I'm not surprised," Striker said as his voice echoed throughout the room.
"I thought I heard a snake," Dante sighed. "I bet you were the one that let Mundus out of prison."
"And if I did?"
"Not the smartest move you could make. In fact, it's probably the dumbest choice of your life," Dante told Striker, who was still in the shadows.
"Can't argue with your logic, but at least I got paid. Plus, seeing all the other high-ranking demons meet their end will be music to my ears," the snake-like imp laughed as his yellow eyes were seen in the dark.
"You're mine," Blitzo yelled shooting his flintlock pistol in where he believed Striker would be, but the bullet only hit the wall. "Fuck, I missed!"
"Better luck next time, Blitzy," Striker mocked the imp as he pulled a level and several trapdoors were activated. As most of the group fell down the slides, Striker heard the voices fading as they plummeted.
Blitzo was the first to recover as he looked around. "Where the fuck am I," he asked as he saw that he was on the 18th floor. "Wait, the 18th floor? I only went to two floors down. Why is all of this down here," he asked himself as he looked to see the dirt-covered room with many haystacks, barrels, and a horse's water trough.
"Sir is that you," Moxxie asked after falling into the water trough. Appearing just after the white-haired imp was Millie and Loona, who both landed on a couple of haystacks to cushion their fall. "Where's everybody else?"
"And why does it look like we are back in the Ring of Wrath," Loona asked looking around and smelling the air to see if she could get anyone's scent. "Fuck! The others are somewhere else in the building or outside it. I can't pick up their scent."
"Well, the good thing is that we're together," Millie commented as she rested her ax on her shoulder.
"Mainly because I wanted all of you in one place," Striker's voice rang out through the room as I.M.P braced themselves and held onto their weapons as the snake-like imp approached them.
"Where the fuck are the others, you yellow-bellied bastard," Millie yelled at the cowboy.
"Let's just say that all of them are going to be occupied," Striker told them as he smirked his gold tooth. Millie bared her fangs at the imp, ready to pounce on him but the cowboy pulled out one of his holy revolvers and fired it at her. Millie was quick to defend herself by blocking the bullet with the ax blade, then glared at Striker. "I wouldn't even try it. This gun may not work on the Demon Hunter, but it will surely kill you."
None of the Immediate Murder Professionals moved but stood their ground while Blitzo and Moxxie both had guns aimed right at Striker. "So what, you're just gonna kill us and hope your new employer wins in the end," the Moxxie questioned.
"Doesn't matter to you, little man. Killing all four of you would satisfy nothing. But what going on out there is something that does," Striker explains. "You must have seen it, the chaos that's ensuing in the streets. It will be a matter of time before the higher ranking demons get involved and fall."
"Wait, are you talking about Lucifer and the other royal demons? Yeah, fat chance they will die," Loona said pointing her gun at Striker.
"Not to mention the Ars Gothia. Especially that fucking owl you keep having sex with, Blitz," Striker stated to the former circus performer. "But then again, that would be a relief for you, wouldn't it? You get to use that book all you want and not be his plaything anymore. Or maybe not if you didn't stop me, you would struggle with your company and may go out of business."
"Wait, what are you talking about," Moxxie asked confused as he looked at Striker then glanced at Blitzo and back.
"You didn't tell them? You want to fill them in or should I," Striker laughed.
"Don't you fucking dare," Blitzo growled as he still held his pistol out at the snake-like imp and clenched his teeth.
"Then go on, tell them. Unless you're too scared of what they want to hear," Striker smiled as he had his toothy grin still plastered on his face. The taller imp's hands were shaking as he didn't move his lips. "And your employee called me a yellowbelly. I'll give them a hint. Why did you stop me from killing that horny owl?"
"Well, ain't it obvious? He did it so he can save his boyfriend," Millie said as the cowboy of an imp laughed.
"You really think your boss loves that prince? Seriously? How thick can you be," Striker asked as he still had his pistol aimed. "He's too afraid that he'll lose possession of that book forever."
"Blitz, what is he talking about," Moxxie asked as he and the two other employees of I.M.P were eyeing their boss as they wanted to know the answers.
Blitzo didn't want to come to this but seeing as he had no other choice he had to speak up. "If something happens to Stolas, the book either goes to his daughter or another member of the Ars Goetia. At first, I was gonna steal the book from him and leave immediately, but I got caught in the end. He thought I was there for him and decided to play along so I could get the book. I tried to leave after but surprised his wife during my exit and you know the rest. I fuck his scrawny bird ass so we can keep doing our job," he admitted to his employees, seeing the looks he expected he would get from them. Loona, Moxxie, and Millie all had a mixture of confusion and frustration on their face.
"Let me get this straight. You played with Stolas' heart and keep whoring yourself out to him. All to get a book so we can kill people whenever we want? And the only reason why you saved him is so you can keep using the book," Moxxie yelled at his boss. "I mean, yeah it's Hell, but you had to go and ruin a family like that!?"
"Hey, that family was breaking before I stepped in," Blitzo argued. "Stolas told me himself that his wife is a bitch that he's been wanting to get rid of for years, but he just puts up with her for his daughter."
"But still, you have no feeling for him whatsoever," Millie asked her boss. The look on his face said it all.
"No, I don't," Blitzo admitted, but Moxxie and Millie could see that it didn't seem fully true. "Then again, how the fuck do you know," he questioned, eyeing Striker as he got his composure back. "It got me thinking about something. How can a low-rate, yet dashing imp like yourself get your hands on something that can kill a demon of his status? And then, it occurred to me who hired you back then."
"Did you now? Well, I guess I'll just have to finish you first, Blitz," Striker said turning the gun on the former circus performer. "Any last words you want to say?"
"Well, I've got three," Blitzo told the snake-like imp. "Sic him, Loona!"
Striker looked confused until out of nowhere, Loona got behind him and sunk her jaws right onto his shoulder. The pale imp hissed as he elbowed the hellhound in the stomach making her loosen her grip. Striker ignored the pain in his shoulder and aimed his pistol right at Loona, only to have Millie get behind him and get on his back, and put the handle of her ax against his throat. Striker held onto the handle just to stop the imp woman from strangling him to death, then disarmed her or the weapon. Seeing as the female imp was still on top of him like an angry cat, Striker jumped back and allowed gravity to do its work as he slammed Millie onto the floor. When she let go of him, Striker stomped on Millie's abdomen as he pulled out his pistol again. "So long, Mills. I'll tell your kin you died fighting," he smiled as he cocked the gun about to shoot her in the face.
Moxxie saw this and got involved as he began to shoot at the cowboy. "Get off my wife, you piece of shit," he yelled as he fired at Striker's chest and head. Jumping away, Striker dodged the gunfire before Millie rolled over to her husband.
"Not bad of a shot, vermin. But you're still not at my level when it comes to real physical combat," Striker told Moxxie who was hiding behind a haystack.
"I don't need to get close to you. I'm playing the smart way and keeping my distance," Moxxie said as he kept firing on the cowboy. Soon, the white-haired imp went to a water trough for new cover and decided to change his weapon.
"So you think you're smarter than me, do ya? Well, you're not the only one who's good with guns," Striker laughed as he stuck his hand in the hay and pulled out a sawed-off shotgun, then fired where Moxxie was taking cover. The trough was soon got a large hole in it and the water leaked out like a busted dam.
"Ah, crumbs," Moxxie exclaimed as he moved to a new spot to take cover while Striker continued to shoot him with his shotgun.
"You can run, little rat, but you can't hide," Striker said smirking as he continues to chase after Moxxie. Soon, a bit of buckshot got the smaller imp in the leg, making Moxxie hiss in pain as Striker got right above him and aimed his gun. "Got any last words you want to say, Vermin?"
"Have you been counting your ammo," Moxxie said with a defiant grin on his face. "Last I checked, you're out."
Checking what was in his model of shotgun, Striker growled as Moxxie was right and he had no shells remaining, leaving him open to a gut shot from Blitzo's flintlock pistol. "First lesson in firearms, keep track of your fucking shots," Blitzo told the cowboy, cocking the pistol.
"Who says I wasn't," Striker smirked his golden tooth as he had one of his holy pistols aimed at Moxxie's head. "You so much as move, I pull the trigger," he threatened before he felt a sharp sting in the back of his hand when a throwing knife struck him. "FUCK!"
"Stay the heaven away from my man," Millie shouted as she pulled out another set of throwing knives, holding the blades between her fingers like she had metal claws between her knuckles.
"And don't think you can pull that second one on us," Loona said, aiming a rifle at him. "Easy shot at this range."
"How about this? You give up and maybe we don't turn you into wall paste," Blitzo said as he tried to compromise with the other imp.
"Like I would believe that. I give up, you just kill me anyway. I'm not stupid," Striker said.
"Well, fuck. He's right. Oh well," Blitzo shrugged as he was ready to shoot, but got hit with red lightning.
"Blitz!" Everyone said in unison looking at their boss.
'Shit, he knows,' Striker thought to himself as he knew that he should get out of dodge. Taking advantage of the distraction, he shot Moxxie in the arm, Millie in the leg, and Loona in the side as he ran past each. "Hate to leave all of you on the ground like this, but I got to do what I can to survive," he said smirking his gold tooth and leaving them on the ground.
"Fucking prick," Moxxie muttered as he tried to go after the imp, but then focused on pulling out the holy bullet that was embedded in his arm. After the white-haired imp did so, he looked into the sky and he saw a large dark cloud above him with three orbs floating above.
'So this is how we're gonna go. Struck by lighting from a wannabe Demon Lord,' Blitzo thought to himself looking at the orbs in the sky. "What are you waiting for your piece of shit? Finish it!"
The eyes of Mundus were ready to strike the Immediate Murder Professional, sparking red lightning between each orb as they danced in a manner that intimidated the hitmen. However, a massive fireball was launched at the eyes, making them flinch and blink in and out of existence.
"Get away from them," Charlie said in a serious tone as she held out her hand with embers flickering off her fingertips.
"Gaahhhh…. Lucifer's spawn…" The voice of Mundus rang out through the room as he eyed the Princess of Hell. "You and your family will fall to my army….and I shall take over Hell!"
"That won't happen. Dante will beat you. I know he will," Charlie said with confidence as the embers in her hands started to flare up. "This time, he'll kill you," she said chucking the flames at the eyes, engulfing them in fire and incinerating them into ash. Watching as the wannabe demon lord's eyes were set aflame, the Princess of Hell turned to the Immediate Murder Professionals. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah. I only just got struck by lightning. Does that sound okay to you," Blitzo yelled sarcastically at the Princess.
"Not really helping, sir," Moxxie said as he lay there on the floor, still in pain while Millie wrapped up his wounded arm before pulling the bullet out of her own thigh. "We're still alive and that's all that matters."
"You're lucky you two got it in the arm and leg. I got shot in the fucking liver," Loona growled as she took the bullet out of her and wrapped her wound. "But if anything, we won't be in the field for the next few weeks thanks to that snake in the grass."
"With all the money we're going to make, we can afford a vacation now," Blitzo said to his employees.
"Have you ever thought of doing work aside from killing people," Charlie asked.
"My wife and I are from the Ring of Wrath," Moxie stated to the princess. "It's sort of in our blood."
"Well, if you still want to do something while you heal up, you could work part-time at my hotel," Charlie suggested.
"I've always wanted to wear a maid outfit," Millie smiled, thinking about the idea of herself in a cute maid uniform.
"I'm not wearing a maid outfit," Loona said with a glare.
"Not even a gothic maid," Charlie asked. "Or if you like, I'm sure Husker could use an apprentice at the bar."
"I guess I could learn how to make drinks," the hellhound agreed. If you asked Blitzo, she doesn't do much cleaning anyway.
"Hey, I am no bellboy. I want to be something bigger than that. I want to be a manager," Blitzo demanded.
"That's Vaggie's job," the Princess of Hell countered. "Unless you want to bring it up with her."
Gulping as he thought Vaggie would use him as a target for her throwing knives, Blitzo decided to stay quiet about it. "Why are you here anyway," Blitzo questioned to change the subject.
"To give Dante this," Charlie said as she pulled the Devil Sword Sparda off her back. "His father's sword."
"That's Sparda? It's a lot bigger than the stories say, it is," Moxxie looked at the sword with his own eyes. "If he needs it, then you need some bodyguards."
"Can I hold it," Millie asked as she slowly reached for the blade.
"I guess," Charlie handed in to Millie. As the imp woman took the blade, everyone was shocked to see her fall to the floor and the fact she couldn't lift it.
"What the heck? How is this so heavy," Millie asked as she was using all of her strength to try and lift the Devil Sword.
"Stand back. Let me show you how it's done," Blitzo moved his employee to the side and prepared to lift the blade. However, he ended up failing and pulled something during the attempt to pick up the sword.
"Just shows you that Dante's on a way different level than we are," Loona commented. "So we'll just escort her and hope to not run into the demons that are destroying everything."
"Fine," Blitzo relented, snapping his back in place. "We escort her until her boyfriend gets the sword. Anything else we want to add? Nothing? Okay then," he said loaded his flintlock pistol once more. "Now let's go lick some ass!"
"I give up. I can't keep correcting him all the time," Moxxie said looking deadpan as they found a set of stairs and ascended to the top and whatever will await them all.
And this is where we are going to end this chapter. The Gang is split up and they all will have to fight a boss on their own or with a partner. Thanks again to WaterDragonMaverick for the edit work and suggestions. And those who ship Blizto x Stolas. I apologize in advance but in my view, Blitzo doesn't love Stolas, or at least in that way. He keeps sleeping with him for the book so he can do his job. And before you say "But he didn't run away with the book when Stolas was tied up, So he must love him!" I saw it more as a pity fuck and nothing more. I know Stella is a bitch, but I was not expecting her to be one since childhood. I liked the episode, it was just one thing that bothered me. I'm not gonna judge Vivziepop's decision but even in Hell, there are standards than just "I like Tormenting you." Best to wait and see for any other info we get.
Even if we see the divorce, I'm gonna make it more professional. If anything, I hope best to our favorite Owl. And if there is a connection between him and Blitzo, I hope it's just friends. Hope you enjoy it and leave a review, just no flames. And I will see all of you In Hell!