"DAMN IT!" Alinoth's voice echoed as he plummeted through the unstable portal created by the fractured looking glass.
The Bearer of the Curse found himself spiraling uncontrollably in midair. He couldn't gauge how far the ground was, but he knew it wouldn't be long before he crashed into it. That was, until he managed to steady himself and take in his surroundings - only to discover that beneath him was not solid ground, but an immense lake of lava.
Yet, Alinoth didn't flinch. What would have been a fatal situation in the past was now nothing more than an inconvenience. He no longer felt the searing heat; his body had long since adapted to withstand far more extreme temperatures. For him, the lava was as harmless as water.
Floating just above the lava's surface, Alinoth scanned the horizon until he spotted solid ground. He swam effortlessly toward it, emerging from the lava with a cough as he spat out a bit he had accidentally swallowed. Kneeling on the ground, he took a few moments to catch his breath.
"Aldia? Are you still there?" He coughed again, spitting out the remnants of lava. "Aldia?!"
"Fear not, Alinoth. I still remain." replied the Scholar of the First Sin, his voice resonating within Alinoth's mind. The relief was evident in Alinoth's sigh.
"Good... that's good."
Rising to his feet, Alinoth quickly inspected his gear, his primary concern being Lucatiel's mask. Thankfully, everything was intact - the enchantments he had painstakingly placed on his equipment had once again proven their worth.
"Any idea where we are?" he asked, finally taking in the environment around him. He found himself amidst a vast, rocky wasteland. The only notable feature was the lava lake from which he had just emerged. But what struck him most was the pervasive color.
Everything was red. The sky, the ground, the rocks - everything. It was a crimson landscape unlike anything he had seen before Even after countless battles, not even a battlefield would see such red.
"No..." Aldia replied after a pause. "However... do you sense it as well?"
"Sense what?" Alinoth asked, frowning, though Aldia offered no immediate response. But soon, Alinoth too could feel it - the lack of a certain presence, something fundamentally different.
"Wait... it can't be..." His eyes widened in disbelief. "The essence of this place... there's no First Flame here!"
More startlingly, Alinoth sensed life. Not just a few souls, but trillions. Though their nature was unfamiliar, they were undeniably present.
"Wherever we are, it seems promising. Perhaps this accident will turn out to be the greatest fortune we've encountered in centuries." Aldia said, his voice contemplative.
Alinoth remained cautious, but he couldn't dismiss Aldia's optimism. Though he saw only an endless expanse of red rocks, he could feel the dense concentration of souls in the distance. With no other options, he began walking in their direction, his eyes sharp and observant, studying the peculiar landscape with each step.
In the familiar confines of Lucifer's office, the Helltaker took a moment to steady himself. The sickness from traveling through the portal hadn't completely faded yet - his body still adjusting to the peculiar method of transportation.
Meanwhile, Lucifer, Justice, and Judgement were already walking briskly through the room, none of them having noticed the human's arrival.
"Judgement, gather as many skeletons as you can." Lucifer ordered the High Prosecutor, her tone firm and serious.
"On it." Judgement replied curtly, hurrying down an adjacent hallway, leaving the others behind.
The Helltaker had no idea what was going on, but gathering an army of skeletons certainly didn't sound promising.
"Girls, wait!" Having recovered, he rushed to catch up with them.
Both demons spun around at the sound of his voice, eyes widening in surprise. It was only now they realized he had followed them.
"Taker, what are you doing here?! I told you to stay at home!" Lucifer's tone was harsher than he had ever heard it, more severe than when someone dared to steal her pancakes.
Momentarily taken aback, the Helltaker quickly composed himself. He locked eyes with the Queen of Hell. "After seeing how tense you all were, there's no way I could sit idly by. What's happening?"
"Hell is the last place you should be right now!" Lucifer snapped, waving her hand to summon another portal leading back to the human world. She immediately began pushing him toward it. "Go home, and don't disobey me again!"
"Wait!" The Helltaker dug in his heels, resisting. "At least tell me what's going on."
"Someone... something incredibly powerful has appeared here in Hell." Justice explained, her voice grave but far less abrasive than Lucifer's. Her revelation made Lucifer stop pushing the Helltaker.
The Helltaker blinked behind his sunglasses. "How powerful?"
"A power that dwarfs even Beelzebub's strongest form. A power... greater than mine." Lucifer admitted, swallowing her pride.
"It's not a demon." Justice added thoughtfully, stroking her chin. "It doesn't feel like an angel either. It's... almost human, but there's something more."
"No human could possess such power." Lucifer retorted, turning to the Helltaker once more. "That's why you must go back. I…"
Her voice softened, and she reached out, taking the Helltaker's hand. She gazed into his eyes, her usual sternness melting away. "I can't risk you getting hurt, or worse…"
The Helltaker was surprised by her vulnerability but soon smiled, squeezing her hand against his chest. "Don't worry, Lucy. There's no force in existence that can take me from you or the others." His smile faded. "But is bringing an army really the right approach? Meeting this being with an army of skeletons seems... risky."
Justice considered his words. "The big guy might be right. An army could be seen as an act of aggression."
Lucifer sighed. "I agree, but I'm not willing to-"
"What if I talk to him?" the Helltaker interrupted.
Both demons stared at him in disbelief until Lucifer stammered, "E-excuse me?"
"If he's human, maybe seeing another human will deescalate things."
Lucifer immediately protested, "Did you not hear me? This being's power exceeds mine - this is far too dangerous!"
"Has he done or showed any sign to be aggressive?" the Helltaker countered.
"No..." Lucifer admitted reluctantly. "He's just... wandering."
"Then he might not even know where he is." the Helltaker reasoned.
Lucifer was about to argue further, but Justice stopped her. "Lucy, I think he's onto something. This could work."
Lucifer hesitated, her protective instincts warring with reason. Deep down, she knew the Helltaker was right. With a heavy sigh, she relented. "Fine, but if anything goes wrong, I'm unleashing the skeletons."
The Helltaker agreed, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on her lips. Lucifer blushed fiercely but regained her composure.
"Very well." she said. "Prepare yourself. I'll open the portal when you're ready."
The Helltaker smiled, nodding. Though he was slightly anxious, he felt confident that he could handle the situation and protect the ones he cared about.
"Brimstone… Why did it have to be brimstone?" Alinoth felt a wave of nausea wash over him as the foul, sulfurous stench assaulted his senses. He pressed on, trying to suppress the discomfort it stirred within him.
The Bearer of the Curse had grown accustomed to enduring horrendous odors. But the problem wasn't just the smell - it was the flood of memories it brought back. Memories of his time as a Northwarder in Forossa, leading armies through the relentless wars that plagued the land. One of those wars had been against the kingdom of Jugo, a nation of fierce warriors and master pyromancers.
During an invasion campaign in Jugo's arid deserts, Alinoth recalled setting up camp at a large oasis. It was meant to be a rare night of respite, a brief pause before another day of bloodshed. But what was intended to be peaceful turned into a nightmare.
Jugo was infamous for many things, but none as terrifying as its native species of giant ants - the Corrosive Ants. While the larvae were considered a delicacy, the fully grown ants were deadly pests, secreting an acid so potent it could dissolve even the strongest steel.
Unbeknownst to Alinoth and his men, they had unknowingly set camp near several of these ants' nests. In the dead of night, Alinoth was jolted awake by the panicked screams of his soldiers. The Corrosive Ants had invaded the camp. Men were killed in their sleep, others captured, dragged into the depths of the ants' underground lairs to be consumed alive, their bodies melting away in the corrosive acid.
Alinoth himself barely escaped with his life, his hands forever scarred by the burning acid. It was one of the first memories that had resurfaced from his past: the helpless screams of his comrades as their flesh dissolved, their desperate pleas for him to save them or to end their suffering. And through it all, the stench of the acid, so strikingly similar to brimstone, lingered. That night had haunted Alinoth for years, filling him with a deep sense of failure, torturing him with thoughts of what he could have done differently. It had taken him a long time to overcome that weight.
But the stench of brimstone unearthed another buried memory, one tied to an ancient chaos beneath a realm of ice. It was a memory Alinoth fought hard to keep locked away - a day of betrayal, loss, and unbearable grief. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the face of the one he had lost. That vision had once driven him to the brink of madness.
Thankfully, the pull of the past was interrupted by the more pressing sensation of the concentration of souls he had sensed earlier. Climbing effortlessly to the top of a nearby hill, Alinoth was struck by the sight that lay before him. In the distance, amidst the blood-red landscape, loomed an imposing city surrounded by towering walls. The architecture, though vaguely familiar, was alien enough to create a stark contrast to anything Alinoth had ever seen.
From here, he could hear a cacophony of voices - conversations, complaints, merchants advertising their wares. But mingled with these were screams of pure agony, as though creatures were being tortured within the city walls.
The chaos of it all only deepened Alinoth's confusion. "What is this place, truly?"
"We may not have time for answers." Aldia's voice cut into his thoughts. "It seems we have a visitor."
Alinoth furrowed his brow, unsure of what the Scholar of the First Sin meant. But soon, he felt it too - a sudden shift of magic somewhere below, accompanied by the unmistakable presence of a peculiar soul. The soul radiated immense potential, though in its current state, it was far too weak to pose a threat to Alinoth.
Intrigued, Alinoth decided to investigate. Looking down the steep slope of the hill, he didn't hesitate. Without a second thought, he leaped down, the quickest way to reach the source of this strange presence.
Meanwhile, down below, the Helltaker surveyed his surroundings after emerging from the portal. This place didn't resemble any part of Hell he had visited before. The landscape was harsher, more barren, with a desert-like desolation.
'According to the girls, that powerful human is nearby. I just hope it doesn't take long to find him...'
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when something massive and heavy crashed down a few meters away, kicking up a cloud of dust. Instinctively, the Helltaker shielded his face with his arms to protect himself from the debris.
After a few seconds, he cautiously lowered his arms and peered ahead, only to spot the silhouette of a man gradually emerging from the dissipating dust. The first thing that struck him was the man's unnatural height. The Helltaker was no stranger to towering over everyone - human, demon, and angel alike - with the sole exception of Behemoth. But this man was a true giant, towering even over the Helltaker by a great margin. A quick glance told him the man had to be at least three meters tall - a true colossus.
In addition to his imposing stature, the man's attire was equally striking. He wore a medieval-looking suit of armor, with a chestplate, shoulder pads, and gauntlets all silver in color, together with black pants and brownish boots.A leather strap crossed the chestplate, and his shoulders were draped in white fur, while a blue cloth hung from his waist like a regal overcoat, adding an almost elegant touch to the ensemble. Despite its archaic appearance, the armor was undeniably beautiful.
Still processing the shock of the man's sudden arrival, the Helltaker examined him more closely. The man had long, flowing white hair and a thick beard of the same pristine shade - reminiscent of the hair of the demon girls in his harem. His eyes, bright blue and piercing, were even more radiant than Azazel's.
There was an undeniable allure to the man, yet his presence also carried a palpable sense of danger. The way he looked at the Helltaker suggested a fight was imminent.
However, instead of hostility, the man's features softened. His posture relaxed, and his expression shifted into one of sheepishness.
"Oh... I apologize. I didn't mean to startle you." the man said, raising his hands slightly in a gesture of harmlessness.
Seeing this, the Helltaker relaxed as well. "It's fine, really. I've dealt with worse."
"I can imagine." the man replied, a slight smile tugging at his lips. His eyes widened in sudden realization. "Ah, where are my manners? My name is Alinoth Cynred. May I ask yours?"
"You can call me Helltaker, or just Taker for short." the Helltaker responded with a small grin. "Not my real name, though. It's more of a title, but at this point, I've been called it so often that it's practically become my name."
Alinoth chuckled, his laugh warm and sincere. "Oh, trust me, I understand that all too well. I've been called by titles so many times that my real name has almost lost its meaning."
"But Helltaker…" Alinoth continued, his tone now more curious, "if I may ask, what brings you here? This place is quite inhospitable, and I can't imagine what a human would want here."
The Helltaker chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… let's just say I came here to find you."
"Me?" Alinoth raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.
"Yeah. A few of my friends sensed your presence here in Hell and wanted to investigate. They were about to bring an army of skeletons with them, but I convinced them to let me talk to you first. You didn't seem hostile."
Alinoth grinned appreciatively. "Thank you for that. I'm really not in the mood for a fight." He paused, raising a brow. "And... 'Hell,' you said? Is that what this place is called?"
The Helltaker crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at Alinoth. "Exactly. I had a feeling you didn't even know where you were."
"No, I… did not." Alinoth admitted. "Let's just say I'm not from around here. Or from this world, for that matter."
The Helltaker blinked, raising both eyebrows. "From this world?"
"More accurately, from this universe." Alinoth clarified, placing his hands on his hips as he exhaled heavily. "I had a little mishap with a portal - one of my own creation, no less. One moment I was struggling to control it, and the next, I was here, falling straight into a lake of lava."
Out of everything the Helltaker had heard, that last part caught him off guard the most. Alinoth had fallen into a lake of lava and survived? Even though the Helltaker couldn't sense the immense power his demon companions could, that fact alone told him this man was no ordinary being.
"Well, that's definitely beyond me." the Helltaker replied with a smirk. "But I think Lucifer might be able to help. She's the Queen of Hell, after all, and if anyone can send you back to your home, it's probably her."
At the mention of a queen, Alinoth sighed. Another monarch he had to deal with… It seemed that no matter where he went, he couldn't escape them. As for the rest the Helltaker said, Alinoth himself wasn't sure he wanted to return - to the endless cycle of Light and Dark, to more futile research…
But for now, that didn't matter. Alinoth was in unfamiliar territory, and this Lucifer seemed like the best chance for answers.
Nodding, he looked back at the Helltaker. "Lead the way."
The Helltaker's grin widened. "Great. We just need to go through this portal, and we'll meet up with Lucifer." He gestured toward the large red portal behind him, and Alinoth gave a final nod of agreement.
Turning around, the Helltaker stepped through the portal, this time with Alinoth following closely behind.
The Helltaker wasn't jesting when he spoke of an army of skeletons. As Alinoth stepped through the portal, he was met with the sight of hundreds of towering, horned skeletons, nearly as tall as the Helltaker himself. Each one fixed its gaze on the Bearer of the Curse, their stares brimming with unwavering resolve, poised to strike at the slightest hint of hostility from the True Monarch.
At the forefront of this skeletal legion stood three women. Alinoth quickly assumed that one of them was Lucifer, the figure the Helltaker had mentioned. Her crown was a clear sign of royalty, but it was her aura - one that resonated with the same regality as many rulers Alinoth had encountered - that confirmed her identity. And yet, there was something different about her, something more, which intrigued him.
Potential. Alinoth sensed in Lucifer a vast potential, one he hadn't felt in many lifetimes - greater than any ruler he had ever encountered. It wasn't just the potential for power, no. If properly guided, Lucifer could one day rise to the status of a True Monarch, free from the bonds of fate, with the freedom to pursue whatever she desired. Another detail caught Alinoth's attention: both Lucifer and her two companions had stark white hair, much like his own. Additionally, the trio's horns and tails revealed their demonic nature.
Meanwhile, Lucifer herself was quietly observing Alinoth from a distance. Though she and her companions had already sensed his immense power when they were still in the human world, now, standing face to face with him, she felt as if she were in the presence of the raw, unchanging concept of power itself.
Yet, there was something more. Alinoth exuded a strange disparity of calmness and volatility - an aura that was at once serene and fiery. He was an enigmatic being, embodying both order and chaos. This contrast unsettled Lucifer, yet it felt oddly familiar to her.
"See? I told you I was the best choice." the Helltaker remarked as the group approached. But none of the women acknowledged him. Their focus was entirely on Alinoth.
"And I'm glad you did." Alinoth replied, briefly turning his attention to the Helltaker. "You seem like a decent man, Taker. A promising soul." He then turned his gaze back to the demon with the crown. "And you must be Lucifer, correct? My name is Alinoth Cynred."
The CEO of Hell crossed her arms, fixing Alinoth with an authoritative stare. "That's right. I am Lucifer Morningstar, the Queen of Hell."
"I know." Alinoth replied, offering a friendly smile, though Lucifer didn't return it. "I recognized it the moment I saw you. After all these years, it's easy for me to identify a fellow monarch."
Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "Did you say 'fellow monarch'? Are you a ruler as well?"
"Yes and no." Alinoth shrugged casually. "I am a monarch, but not in the traditional sense. It's... a rather complex matter to explain."
Lucifer found herself even more perplexed by his words. How could someone claim to be a monarch, yet not be one? Either you were a ruler, by having either earned or conquered the authority, or you weren't. The distinction was straightforward - or so she had thought.
Before she could press him further, another voice cut through the tension. "We don't care about your so-called titles! Answer us now - what are you doing in Hell, or face the consequences!" Judgement, the High Prosecutor, demanded.
To Alinoth, Judgement's threat was hollow. No one in this Hell, not even Lucifer herself, posed a real threat to him. He was restraining most of his power, and if forced to fight, it would end only in death for his challengers - though that was the last thing he wanted. It was understandable that they perceived him as a threat. After all, he was a complete stranger in their realm.
"If you consider me a danger, rest assured, I have no hostile intentions toward you or anyone else here." Alinoth said, his voice steady with conviction. "My presence in Hell was purely accidental, a result of my own doing. I didn't even know the name of this place until moments ago."
"How could you not know about Hell?" Justice, one of the other demons, asked, her tone curious.
Alinoth sighed. "Well, I already explained it to the Helltaker. It's only fair that I explain it to all of you."
Over the next few minutes, Alinoth recounted the same story he had shared with the Helltaker, offering only the essential details. As he finished, the three demons stood silent for a few moments, absorbing what they had just heard.
"So... you're from another world?" Lucifer asked, her hand on her chin. "One entirely different from ours?"
Alinoth nodded. "That's right."
Lucifer frowned slightly, deep in thought. "I always considered alternate realities to be mere theory. I never thought they could be real."
"Well, the proof is standing right in front of you." Alinoth said, gesturing to himself.
While both Lucifer and Justice seemed to be contemplating Alinoth's words, Judgement remained skeptical. "Lucifer, you can't seriously believe this nonsense! He could be some agent of Heaven sent here to destroy us-"
"Judgement." Justice interjected, "I highly doubt this man is involved in any scheme with Heaven. All of us felt his power the moment he arrived in Hell. If Heaven had sent him, they wouldn't have been able to hide him from us."
Judgement opened her mouth to argue, but closed it, realizing that Justice's words held some truth.
"Sorry to interrupt, but... what exactly is this 'Heaven' you keep mentioning?" Alinoth's question, asked with genuine curiosity, caught everyone off guard.
Before anyone could respond, the Helltaker, who had been quiet until now, cleared his throat. "Look, it seems like both sides here need to have a proper conversation. So why don't we do that back at home? It's more comfortable than Hell, and besides…" he added, looking directly at Alinoth, "I bet you're hungry."
Alinoth smiled at the offer. "You know, I could use some food right about now."
Judgement, however, wasn't convinced. "Wait, you want to bring him to our home?!"
"I agree with Taker." Lucifer said, surprising Judgement. "We can't just let him wander Hell aimlessly."
Stepping closer to Judgement, Lucifer placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered: "And we can't leave him unsupervised either. This is the best way for us to keep an eye on him."
Lucifer's gaze met Judgement's. Though the High Prosecutor still didn't like the idea, she reluctantly accepted.
Lucifer turned back to Alinoth. "So? Will you come with us?"
"As if I have any better options." Alinoth replied. "You're still my best source of information about this place. And as I've already said, I have no desire for a fight - though defeating all of you wouldn't be much of a challenge."
Justice chuckled at Alinoth's words. "We barely know each other, but I already like you."
Alinoth grinned. "Likewise."
"Enough banter." Lucifer interjected. With a wave of her hand, she opened another portal to the human world.
"Shall we go?" Lucifer asked. Alinoth nodded in agreement.
Justice was the first to step through the portal, followed by the Helltaker and then Lucifer. Judgement and Alinoth were the last to leave Hell, returning to the human world.
I thought of leaving a little character sheet of Alinoth here, for information and trivia. Some of the titles I gave him will make sense as the story progresses.
Full Name: Alinoth Cynred.
Known Titles: Arch-Oracle of Faraam, The Bearer of the Curse, Young Hollow, Seeker of Fire, Conqueror of Adversities, True Monarch, Flame Incarnate, Avatar of Dark, Flaming Darkness, The Dragon God, The Slayer of Gods.
Age: 15.000.000+ (38 years old in appearance)
Height: Variable between 3 and 21 meters. (Alinoth is able to control his height between those two limits at will)
Species: God (formerly human)