Chapter III: Rapidity
"In a shocking new report from Imp City's military forces, Overlord Olix has been found dead outside of a renowned brothel and bar, his head crushed completely. Local military dispatches that were there at the time report that 'there was nothing they could do', as the Slayer had apparently simultaneously disarmed every single one of them and slain their Overlord within a matter of seconds, and left."
Charlie face paled, worrying more by the second as she was hearing the news report over the widescreen TV inside her rather luxurious and large limo to the Capital; Though considering the hours-long trip awaiting her, it was certainly far better than a small, packed RV. Though it weren't as if this limo wasn't packed.
On either side of her, fully-suited in red and black combat gear, sat rows of demons from the most prestigious special forces division of Hell's military, coined the 'Red Horns' and known as Hell's finest military combatants barring the royal family and Ars Goetia Demons. A single one of them could go toe-to-toe with an Overlord.
And they packed the car to the brim. If it wasn't so anxiety-inducing, Charlie would have enjoyed the gesture from her parents; A sign of their over-affectionate care for her. A modicum of her pride protested the suffocating amount of security, however, as she knew from real experience that she could hold her own in a fight. It was at moments like these where she wished her friends were by her side the most.
"Lady Charlotte," One of the Red Horns at the opposite end of the limo snarled politely, her blood-red cat eyes staring a hole straight through Charlie. "Your carriage shall arrive at the Capital within the hour."
"Okay." Charlie mumbled, less than enthusiastic about the conversational skills of her compatriots in the vehicle. She sighed and looked out the window, seeing the charred wastelands give away to acreages of farmland and close-knit buildings as the limousine bordered upon the exterior of the capital's territories. Reaching the interior, the dirt road progressed into paved cut stone, then obsidian. Gilded complexes, giant estates belonging to the most powerful Overlords, walkways littered with patrolling guards and high-class families chortling and chatting while they enjoyed the top crust establishments that made up the Capital's interior.
(Music: "Lacrimosa", by Vienna Mozart Orchestra)
'The peak of demonic innovation and society', as her father used to repeatedly say in Charlie's younger years; And still today, he was likely reciting on his ornate balcony with a glass of Casillero del Diablo in his claws. As far as any magnificently powerful and influential aristocrat went, her father, Lucifer, was the most elite of elitists and acted the part to a T. The Capital itself was a testament to his personality and behavior, decorated and populated with only the most reputed and finest of kin and crumb. Charlie could even vaguely hear the classical music playing through the city's numerous speakers; On repeat every single second of the day.
And Charlie absolutely hated it. The insufferably elitist city and environment were the primary reasons she chose to move away from her family once she became a 'mature, sinful age'- a quote from her mother, Lilith, used as a tactic to keep Charlie under their wing for as long as demonically possible. Reflecting on her memories, Charlie could hardly stand the mixture of joy and mild apprehension brewing in her. She resolved to hear what they would have to say, but would protest any attempts for them to try and keep her here. She knew her parents, along with the entirety of the upper caste, could deal with any crises that unfolded around Hell. Her primary concern was ensuring that the Hazbin Hotel be led with only the best effort (which she didn't particularly trust most of her employees to carry out).
"No matter what they say, no matter what they say..." Charlie hyped herself up, preparing for the possibility that she would have to stand up against her parents. Making her way into the massive, crimson fortress-like castle that dwarfed a quarter of the city, she felt embarrassment flood her mind as her cavalcade Red Horns security caused each and every guardsman on duty to cower in fear and apprehension, their mere presence a nightmarish scenario to anyone that was in their general direction. It was not uncommon for Red Horns, with the unholy authority they wielded as direct protectors of the Royal Family, to simply slay anyone that tried to impede the course of their journey; Most especially uppity guards that didn't get the malicious memo. And since they carried the highest class of Holy Weapons (that is, weapons gained from Exorcists during the yearly Extermination), there wasn't a single Demon below the caste of Ars Goetians that didn't carry an unhealthy amount of fear towards the Red Horns.
"Your esteemed father and mother await you inside, Lady Charlotte."
Charlie suddenly snapped out of her ponderance, realizing she was at the grand double doors of the throne room. She glanced at her security, seeing them lined up in perfect parallel on either side of her, bowing their heads and torsos with eons-long loyalty and devotion, in precise lock-and-step. The formality suffocated Charlie even further, and in a huff she pushed open the double doors leading into the throne room.
...
"Huh?"
The throne room was completely empty, save for the rows of incredibly-powerful Stoic Sentinels that lined both sides of the obscenely large interior; Another class of highly-trained security personnel, who specialized in constant vigilance and wearing a demeanor of indifference no matter the situation. Because of their round-the-clock highly-expensive services, they were most usually hired for ceremonies and grand social events, where they excelled in overseeing countless individuals and kept a watchful eye out for any would-be assassins or malcontents.
Charlie glanced around the room a bit, intimidated by the number and power of the Sentinels, but gathered up enough courage to walk up to one of the hulking beasts and question them.
"Where are my parents?" She asked plainly. The Sentinel remained stoic, at least until one of the Red Horns moved in a literal flash of a second, his serrated dagger hanging around the edge of the Sentinel's neck as the Red Horn sat atop the shoulder of the demonic beast; In no time, the Sentinel began to sweat profusely and shiver ever so slightly, though his face remained unchangeable still.
"The Royal Princess needs an answer immediately."
The cold, raspy rattle of the Red Horn's voice sent shivers through everyone present, including Charlie (and excluding the other Red Horns); their voices had been altered through satanic invention to cause unspeakable dread in the ears of whomever heard their words, and no one in the room was an exception to that rule. The Sentinel with a dagger to his throat caved in, speaking so as to avoid being slaughtered in the next second.
"War Room."
The Sentinel's booming voice communicated the location to Charlie, and she nodded frantically with apologies to the Sentinel before rushing over to the War Room that sat behind the throne wall, seeing the corridor that led behind the throne room. She came upon a set of smaller double doors, and could heard a muffled commotion from inside even from where she was standing. Charlie took a few deep breaths, trying to steel herself before walking into a room full angry and mighty rulers and warlords.
"Lady Charlotte, carry no fear." One of the Red Horns hissed calmly, lacing her with the slightest of compassion. "Any who raise their voice to you will have a voice no longer."
"...Thanks, Sila." Charlie muttered, certainly not encouraged by the words of her security team. Nonetheless, she resolved to finish this affair and pushed open the doors of the War Room.
"I'M PULLING ALL OF MY ASSETS OUT OF IMP CITY!" "You can't seriously expect me to go into that massacre?!" "CALL IN THE DEADLY SINS!"
"Gas prices are HOW MUCH NOW?!" "Why should I leave MY Ring of Hell to deal with the incompetence of another Overlord?!"
"SATAN IN HELL, WHAT THE FUCK ARE THOSE USELESS CUNTS IN IMP CITY DOING?!" "Who is this 'GTM'? WHY am I only hearing about it NOW, YOU DODDERING FOOL!"
Charlie was bombarded by the chaotic and tumultuous atmosphere she'd walked into, unable to respond in the maelstrom of booming voices that echoed through the large chamber like gunshots. She saw a ridiculous number of Overlords arguing at the massive, ovular table with a charted map of Hell's known territories. Around the edges of the table were most members of the Ars Goetians, silently analyzing the compiled data or speaking with their individual advisors on how to address the current events unfolding. She saw her father and mother at the head of the grand table, overseeing the whole affair with tired looks.
"CHARLIE! There you are!" Lucifer shouted; By raising his voice, he had dominated the noisy atmosphere of the interior, causing everyone to go silently suddenly, all of their eyes trained on Charlie. "I was wondering when you'd arrive, my little sweetie pie!"
Charlie's cheeks flushed red as her father cooed at her, but his face eventually dropped the positivity and assumed a serious expression.
"Young Charlotte, I am so sorry to have called you here on such short notice, and I am even more sorry for having to tell you that you are no longer required here at the moment!"
Charlie's face broke into shock, and more than subtle frustration.
"WHAT?!"
Charlie's demonic side shown for a brief moment, scaring those closest to her with a deathly fright- No matter the standing of any demon present, not a single one wanted to push the temper of a Royal Family member; Even if they were not highly-respected by the masses. Those who regularly worked around the Royal Family were more than aware of the overprotectiveness of Lucifer over his daughter, and all of them knew instinctively that messing with Charlie would lead to a horrible death in Lucifer's presence. Once she walked into the Capital, Charlie's societal position skyrocketed, purely because of her father.
Lucifer chuckled nervously, raising two hands in open-palm gestures of peace. "I don't mean to chafe at you, sweetie, but I am just a bit busy with these current affairs with these-"
His voice suddenly raised once more, his eyes turning crimson-red for just a moment as he raged at those around him, the magnitude of his voice sending cracks through the walls of the War Room.
"IDIOTIC CRETIN!"
He huffed, the air filled with a servile silence, before speaking once again.
"Charlotte, as I sort this whole mess out, I need you to be the Acting Overlord of Pentagram City. The previous one was... decommissioned for reasons I need not say here, and this will be your chance to gain invaluable experience as a ruler, as you should, if you are going to one day rule all of Hell itself!"
As all eyes laced back towards Charlie, she felt an overwhelming sense of expectation as she tried to say her next words.
"...O...Okay."
She was bothered by how lackluster her words sounded, but she wasn't angry in the slightest. She got her wish to go back to her hotel, so why protest?
"GREAT!" Lucifer proclaimed. "Well, I love you, honey, but I have some urgent business to take care of. I assume you're aware of the... let's call it 'The Harbinger' for dramatic reasons- You know, that green monster that's been tearing through Imp City. Anyways, I'm sure you're aware. I'll send a sizable force to help garrison your city should this green menace make any plans to head your way, but I expect we'll have dealt with that pest by the time you get back to your cozy little town! Just make sure you have your city prepared and trained for an invasion, mkay honey? Love you!"
And with that, she was beckoned out the room, with the commotion resuming once more as the doors to the chamber closed behind her. Walking out of the grand castle, Charlie made several plans in her head as her loyal Red Horns marched diligently on either side; she would have to form a council of individuals to help with the defense preparations and training of garrisoned soldiers. She'd been prepared for a scenario like this: the work of her father, who had always been wary of potential uprisings or great events like this.
Vaggie, Angel Dust, Husk, Niffty... those were the only people that came to mind so far, but she knew she could pull from Pentagram City's current administration to find a good amount of advisors and staff to assist in these preparations. As she entered the limousine waiting outside the castle gates, she felt a gradual sense of fulfillment; Not only would she have time to work on the hotel, she now had a direct purpose and mission to keep the denizens of Hell safe from this new threat!
And with this resolved in her mind, she smiled; One not of joy, but of determination.
"Holy shit...! Holy shit! HOLY SHIT!"
"Shhhh! Keep quiet, Mister Adams- please!"
Adamino and Annie, having survived the meteoric destruction, had recovered themselves and found refuge in the inner-districts of Imp City, which remained untouched from any sort of annihilation. Annie shook uncontrollably as Adamino instinctively shielded his body over her- The aftermath of the great explosion like that was a thousand smaller explosions, with crumpled meteorite debris hailing down from the skies in the tens of thousands.
Thirty minutes later, and Adamino's nerves eased ever so slightly; they were out of the worst of it, by now. Or at least, he'd thought so until a mob of people were running fanatically in the opposite direction of the two Imps- screaming such madness as, "THE TURTLE IS HERE!"
Adamino could hardly make sense of the words of the panicked masses, but the general message was clear; Something malevolent was heading his way. Adamino felt an emotion that was ancient- only experienced long ago as a human, when he'd once seen a tsunami first-hand. It was an unforgettable experience, one that washed over his bones and muscle sinew like a strong-flowing current of water.
Dread.
"L-Let's go!" Adamino stumbled for words, turning on his heel and grabbing Annie by the waist as he took off in a full sprint, shoving Imps aside desperately to find refuge at one of the many safehouse he'd established around Imp City. Annie was surprisingly silent and stoic as he had practically picked her up and ran, but that was all the better for him; The quieter they were, the more they blended into the crowd and wouldn't be singled out by whatever threats were coming. Looking around in worry, Adamino searched his pockets for a phone, relieved to find his spare in his interior coat jacket. He whipped it out with his free hand, dialing up the heads of his armed forces.
Brrrrrt-t-t-t!
"Hey boss, how's it hangin'?"
"DID YOU NOT JUST SEE HALF THE CITY FLATTEN?! EXECUTE OPERATION OMERTA-BREAK, YOU CASUAL FUCK!"
"G-Got it, boss!"
Adamino felt a wave of relief wash over him as he closed the phone and stuffed it back into his coat pocket. At the very least, he'd now mobilized his forces to take over the rest of the city, seeing as how this crisis had no doubt sent the ruling caste into serious disarray. He felt a wave of anxiety and excitement wash over him; Finally, after decades of ennui and depression, he had the chance to make a change in this damnation! To live at the TOP of this hellish food chain!
Whoooosh-CRACK!
"JESUS CHRIST!"
An indistinguishable giant, hulking mass slammed into the nearby Hellscraper, snapping the massive Hellscraper in two. Adamino could only watch in sheer horror as the hulking complex careened towards another Hellscraper, then another- sending them crumbling to the ground like dominoes. Unspeakably huge plumes of smoke unfurled themselves from under the broken carapaces of steel and mesh; Explosions rocked the very earth Adamino stood on. His own heartbeat was almost as loud as the city-wide destruction he was witnessing, feeling a sense of despair overwhelm him like a plague; If he survived this ordeal, he would have control over ashes and a broken populace.
"SUFFER MY WRATH, HARBINGER!"
Adamino's gaze was pulled towards the winged grey-striped demi-demon cruising high through the air, with digitigrade legs and abnormally-long arms that wielded a massive, jewel-adorned Morningstar mace with spikes jutting out of the end. The demon's mandible mouth chittered with glee, its dozen eyes darting around in every direction.
"YOU FORFEITED YOUR EXISTENCE WHEN YOU CHOSE TO ENCROACH ON THE TERRITORY OF OVERLORD RASCIN'LEH! I WILL DRAG YOUR CORPSE ACROSS EVERY RING OF HELL-!"
The Overlord stuttered as the Slayer's seamless, undaunted armor launched through the mile-high dust clouds, with a trajectory heading straight towards the flying Overlord, who prepared a readied swing as the Slayer flew ever closer through the air.
"I WILL SPLATTER YOUR TORSO ACROSS THE CITY, AND ANOINT MY TERRITORY WITH YOUR BLOOD!"
The Slayer's raised his gauntlets above his helmet, just as the Demon Overlord swung his mighty mace towards the Slayer's head. Within the span of microseconds, the Slayer's gauntlet suddenly latched onto the ball end of the mace, stopping the momentous swing completely-
SPLAT!
-Just as he completely ran through the Overlord, obliterating his body into bloody chunks that coated the Slayer's armor and rained down over the extremely horrified populace; Including Adamino, who could only gaze in utter dread as the Slayer's hulking mass came crashing down onto the street, somehow miraculously landing in a spot where he had not crushed any Imps under his impact.
And, of course, he had landed right next to Adamino, who was now paralyzed completely with a kind of terror that could not be explained through any number of words; One had to be there, to personally experience the equivalent of a 30-foot tall, hulking menace that radiated pure, ancient yet raw malice; Whose very presence was asserted in the atmosphere like a force of nature, and who was staring unmistakably and directly at Adamino.
"Hello."
To Adamino's further shock, a high-pitched, robotic voice hummed out of the futuristic, dark-green, though it certainly didn't seem to be coming directly from the mouth of the monster that was inside of it. Adamino looked to Annie for some form of reassurance, only to find her completely unconscious in his arms, having passed out from the shock of the Slayer's presence.
"You."
Adamino could only raise his head, quivering throughout his body with an existential kind of dread, to greet the voice that called out to him from inside the blood-coated armor.
"...Y-Yes...?"
"Would you happen to know where this 'Adamino' fellow is?"
Ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump-ba-bump-
Adamino clutched at his heart, feeling his throat tighten and his lungs seize up; His irises dilated wildly, and he collapsed on top of Annie, trying to shield her in his last pangs of consciousness. His heart couldn't take the stress, and he suffered cardiac arrest. Before he completely blacked out into oblivion, he focused his last view on Annie's unconscious face, taking in every part of her feature-
Her cute button nose. The freckles on her cheeks. The stubby little horns that jutted out of her forehead. The cute, tiny canine teeth she had on both sides of her mouth. The adorable way she bundled her hair up-!