On the planet Oa, the central hub and headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps, the Guardians of the Universe convened an urgent meeting. Present in the grand chamber were several key Lanterns, members of the Justice League, and an unusual contingent of demon allies, including Charlie Morningstar, Mammon, and Vaggie. The tension in the air was palpable as the Guardians addressed the assembly.

Ganthet, one of the most revered Guardians, floated above the gathered group. His calm yet commanding voice echoed through the chamber. "We have received troubling reports. It appears that some Lantern Corps have been harnessing the Seven Deadly Sins to fuel their power batteries."

Mammon, the demon of greed, erupted in indignation. "You're kidding me, right? I was strapped to one of those damn things!" His voice boomed with a mixture of anger and disbelief.

Guy Gardner, leaning casually against a railing, smirked. "Yeah, yeah, we get it, Mr. Krabs. You're mad. Join the club. But I've got a theory about what's coming next."

Hal Jordan nodded in agreement, stepping forward to address the group. "He's not wrong. Mammon's connection to greed made him the perfect source for the Orange Lantern power battery. It stands to reason that if they're using sins to charge batteries, Satan himself might be their next target—for the Red Lantern Corps."

Kilowog grunted, his deep voice resonating. "Makes sense. With the kind of rage those Red Lanterns are packing, Satan would be like an endless supply of fuel for their battery. He's probably the angriest being in the universe."

Ganthet raised a hand, silencing the murmurs of agreement. "While the theory holds merit, Ysmault, the homeworld of the Red Lanterns, is too dangerous to approach without a concrete plan. Until we devise a way to neutralize their power and safely extract any potential captives, we cannot risk an incursion."

Superman, standing tall and composed, nodded. "Understood. We'll regroup and strategize further. Thank you for the warning, Ganthet."

The meeting adjourned, and the group made their way to the Justice League's Interceptor ship, waiting just outside the citadel. The team boarded in silence, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders. Charlie Morningstar glanced nervously at her demonic companions, while Hal and Guy discussed possible tactics in hushed tones. As the ship prepared for takeoff, everyone braced themselves for what lay ahead. The stakes had never been higher.

As the Interceptor cruised through space, Hal Jordan stood by Husk and Alastor, recounting the meeting on Oa. "Honestly, it went as smooth as we could've hoped," Hal said, leaning against the console. "But we're going to need time to prepare. This situation is more dangerous than it looks, and we're walking a thin line."

Husk raised an eyebrow, taking a swig from his flask. "Time, huh? Don't have much of that when you're dealing with rage-fueled lunatics and greedy bastards."

Alastor chuckled, his ever-present grin widening. "Oh, my dear Husk, chaos is inevitable! But even chaos needs the proper ingredients to cook up a truly delectable storm."

Before Hal could respond, a shrill alert rang out, echoing through the ship's communication system. Batman's sharp eyes narrowed as he turned to the emergency console. "That's the Justice League's direct line," he said. "Barely anyone outside of the League knows about this number."

Without hesitation, he pressed a button, and the holographic display lit up, revealing the face of Lois Lane. She looked calm but serious, a faint tension in her expression.

"Justice League," Lois greeted.

"Lois?" Superman stepped forward, concern evident in his voice. "What's going on? Are you alright?"

Lois nodded, but her tone was clipped. "Let's just say I'm currently at the Daily Planet with… a guest. A demon named Velvet."

At the mention of the name, Vaggie, who had been quietly listening, immediately perked up. "Velvet?" she repeated, her voice tinged with unease. "She's one of the Vees—one of the most powerful overlords of Hell."

"Are you safe?" Diana asked, her tone firm but concerned.

"Yes," Lois assured them. "She hasn't done anything hostile. In fact, she's here to surrender—and she says she's willing to talk."

Batman frowned, clearly suspicious. "The timing is too convenient. What's her angle?"

Lois shrugged slightly. "That's what I'd like to know. She specifically asked to meet with you. She's waiting on the Daily Planet rooftop."

Superman exchanged a glance with the team, his expression hardening. "We're on our way. Keep her calm and stay safe."

Lois nodded. "I'll see you here." The transmission ended, leaving the team to prepare for what could be either an unexpected ally or a dangerous trap.

Lois sat perched on the ledge of the Daily Planet rooftop, her calm demeanor masking the tension in the air. Velvet lounged across from her, exuding an air of detached confidence. Though Lois had faced shady characters before, this was her first time dealing with a demon overlord, and she knew she had to play her cards close to her chest.

"So," Velvet began, her voice dripping with amusement, "when does your flyboy and his superfriends show up?"

Lois crossed her arms, smirking slightly. "Soon," she replied simply, her tone cool and steady.

Velvet leaned back, eyeing Lois with a smirk of her own. "Honestly, that outfit of his is ridiculous. If it were me, I'd lose the trunks, maybe add a red or yellow belt, and ditch that gold 'S' on the cape. Way too much flair."

Lois raised an eyebrow, amused. "You'd be surprised. It's a classic. And last I checked, everyone loves it. You can't argue with results."

Before Velvet could respond, the unmistakable whoosh of wind announced Superman's arrival. He landed gracefully, Charlie Morningstar at his side. Superman's cape billowed slightly as he straightened up, his sharp gaze locking on Velvet.

"You're late," Velvet quipped, a playful grin on her face.

Superman didn't waste time. His voice was firm, direct. "First, I need to know—are you here to take me to the Vees?"

Velvet laughed, a rich, melodic sound that carried a hint of mockery. "You really don't keep up with the latest news, do you?" She pulled out her phone and swiped to a series of social media posts, holding it up for them to see. "Valentino's dead. Got taken out by some clown chick and a couple of monsters. And as for Vox? Your kid and the Titans handled that." She flipped through pictures of Harley Quinn, Blitzo, and Angel Dust taking down Valentino, followed by another of Jon Kent, aka Superboy, dragging Vox away in chains alongside the Titans.

Superman's expression didn't waver, but Charlie stepped forward, her voice calm but curious. "So, what do you want?"

Velvet's smirk returned. "I'm willing to give you everything I know about Lex Luthor. The Vees were his top competitors, and I've got dirt that'll make your head spin."

Superman folded his arms. "Why now? What's your angle?"

Velvet shrugged nonchalantly. "Call it cleaning house. With Val gone and Vox humiliated, I'm not looking to follow in their footsteps. Better to play nice before someone else decides to put a target on my back. But first…" She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What do you know about Lex Luthor?"

Lois, ever the reporter, took the lead. "Lex Luthor grew up on the south side of Metropolis—Suicide Slum, as the locals call it."

"Suicide Slum?" Velvet raised an eyebrow. "That bad?"

Superman nodded, his tone somber. "It's the closest thing Metropolis has to Gotham City."

Lois continued, her voice steady but tinged with disdain. "Lex grew up in an abusive household. He was a bright kid, but his ambition and resentment pushed him into some pretty questionable choices early on. For example, he once stole forty cakes from a school bake sale."

"Forty cakes?" Velvet asked, incredulous. "Why?"

"Because he wasn't allowed to enter the science fair," Lois explained. "His entry—a nuclear-powered toaster—was deemed too dangerous. He didn't take the rejection well."

"And that was just the beginning," Superman added grimly. "He went on to rig the brakes on his parents' car."

Velvet whistled low, shaking her head. "Yikes. That's… a hell of a backstory. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. The guy always did have 'villain origin story' written all over him."

Lois and Superman exchanged a glance, their unspoken understanding hanging in the air. They both knew they'd barely scratched the surface of Lex Luthor's complex and deeply troubled history. Velvet, for all her charm and wit, was clearly a wildcard. Whether she could be trusted—or if she was setting them up for something far worse—remained an open question.

Velvet leaned back, crossing her arms with a raised brow. "Trust me, it gets worse. I reviewed his history—specifically, the money from his parents' life savings. He used it to move out of Suicide Slum and build LexCorp."

Lois nodded grimly. "He was ambitious from the start, and to his credit, he had great ideas to benefit humanity. In fact, he's responsible for building half of Metropolis as we know it."

Superman looked out over the city skyline, his expression softening slightly as he admired the retro-futuristic architecture Lex had helped create. "The city is a testament to his genius. His vision shaped it into what it is today."

Charlie tilted her head, her voice thoughtful. "So… what changed? How did he go from a visionary to, well… this?"

Superman's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. "Me," he said simply, his voice heavy with regret.

Charlie blinked, surprised. "You?"

Superman nodded. "When I arrived, saving lives and stopping disasters, I became a symbol of hope for the people of Metropolis. But in Lex's eyes, I represented everything he despised. To him, humanity can only evolve by solving its own problems, without intervention from someone like me. My presence undermined that belief. He saw me as a crutch for humanity—and a threat to its potential. That's why he wants to kill me."

Velvet's smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "So, he's basically got a god complex… and you showing up knocked him off his pedestal."

"Exactly," Lois said. "In his mind, Superman is the ultimate obstacle to his vision of humanity's self-reliance. That obsession has driven him to some of the worst crimes imaginable."

Velvet tapped her chin, her sharp gaze flickering between them. "Interesting. Sounds like he's not just after power—he's after validation. He doesn't just want to kill you, Supes. He wants to prove he's better than you."

Superman nodded solemnly. "And he's tried so many times. He even became the president of the United States."

Velvet's jaw dropped, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Lex Luthor as president? You're joking."

Lois smirked and pulled out her phone, showing Velvet an old headline that read: "Lex Luthor Sworn In as President of the United States." Velvet's eyes widened as she read it.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS AMERICA THINKING?" Velvet yelled, throwing her hands in the air. "This has to be one of the biggest screw-ups in human history!"

Superman couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. "Honestly, I had the exact same thought. It was a dark time. And if that wasn't bad enough, he was willing to let a kryptonite meteor crash into Earth and kill millions because Batman and I came up with a solution that didn't involve his plans. His ego couldn't handle that."

Velvet rubbed her temples, clearly overwhelmed. "Okay, so… how did the chrome dome finally kick the bucket? Did you take him out? Massive explosion? Some epic fatality, maybe?"

Superman's expression grew more somber. "No. It wasn't anything like that. The radiation he was exposed to from the kryptonite over the years gave him cancer."

Velvet blinked, her disbelief clear. "You're joking. That's it? Cancer? That's how he went out?"

Superman sighed. "Kryptonite may be lethal to me, but prolonged exposure isn't exactly safe for humans either. Lex's obsession with destroying me led him to stockpile it—and it caught up with him in the end."

Velvet leaned back, still processing. "So, the guy who wanted to prove he was better than you ended up being taken down by his own arrogance. That's… kind of poetic, in a messed-up way."

Lois crossed her arms. "It's poetic, sure, but it doesn't erase the damage he caused. And even in his final days, he was still scheming."

Velvet gave a low whistle. "Man, Earth really knows how to pick its supervillains. Makes Hell seem like a walk in the park."

"The real question was what did Lex do in the last 7 years in hell?" Lois asked

"Lets see..."velvet remembers

Five years ago, in the depths of Hell, Lex Luthor had reached overlord status and was well on his way to establishing LexCorp in the underworld.

"Construction's going smoothly, Mr. Luthor," a burly hellhound foreman said, wiping ash off his clipboard. "We should be done in a few months."

"Excellent," Lex replied, his voice calm and commanding. "Make sure the infernal reactors are calibrated to my specifications."

As he reviewed the plans, he noticed three figures approaching—Valentino, Vox, and Velvet, the infamous Vees of Hell. Their reputations preceded them, but Lex remained unfazed.

"Ah, you must be Vox, Velvet, and Valentino," Lex said, his tone polite but with a hint of condescension. "I've heard of your… exploits."

Vox stepped forward, his screen flickering with static as he extended a hand. "Lex Luthor. The honor's ours. You've made quite a name for yourself topside and down here."

Valentino grinned slyly, puffing on his cigar. "We thought we'd bring you a little gift. Something you might find… appealing."

At that, Valentino snapped his fingers, and a bound figure was dragged forward—John Constantine, his ever-present smirk intact despite the chains around his neck.

"Oi, cue ball," Constantine sneered. "About time I got to see your ugly mug in Hell."

Lex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "John Constantine," he said, his voice laced with curiosity. "Now this is impressive."

Valentino grinned and held up a glowing contract. "That's right. I own his soul. Got the papers and everything."

"Excuse me?" Velvet interjected, stepping forward with her own glowing contract. "I own his soul."

"Both of you are wrong!" Vox snapped, his screen crackling angrily as he produced his own contract. "His soul belongs to me!"

The three began bickering, pulling at the chain around Constantine's neck like squabbling children. Constantine stood there, bemused, until their argument finally paused, and they all turned to him.

"YOU SOLD YOUR SOUL THREE TIMES?" they shouted in unison.

Constantine smirked. "Took you lot long enough to figure that out."

"FOR WHAT PURPOSE?!" Vox demanded, his screen glitching in frustration.

Before Constantine could answer, the ground trembled, and a massive inferno erupted nearby. From the flames emerged Satan himself, his wings unfurling as his thunderous roar shook the very fabric of Hell.

"JOHN CONSTANTINE," Satan bellowed, his voice a mix of rage and grudging admiration. "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU'D TRY TO WEASEL YOUR WAY OUT OF HELL AGAIN."

Constantine grinned up at the towering demon. "What's wrong, big guy? Need a chill pill, or did you miss me?"

Satan's fiery eyes narrowed. "THE LAWS OF HELL HAVE BEEN BREACHED. ONE SOUL CANNOT BE OWNED BY MULTIPLE PARTIES. SUCH A VIOLATION WOULD SPARK A WAR ACROSS THE RINGS. BY THE AUTHORITY OF HELL, I HEREBY NULLIFY ALL THREE CONTRACTS AND RETURN CONSTANTINE TO EARTH."

"WHAT?!" the Vees shouted, their outrage echoing across the underworld.

A swirling portal appeared, and Constantine stepped toward it with a casual wave. "Thanks for the hospitality, folks. Try not to miss me too much."

Before stepping through, Constantine turned to Lex. "By the way, cue ball, nice digs. Watch your back."

As the portal closed, Satan turned his attention to Lex, his presence looming ominously. "AND YOU," he growled, pointing a massive clawed finger at the man. "I'M WATCHING YOU, LEX LUTHOR. DO NOT TEST ME."

With that, Satan vanished in a burst of flames, leaving Lex standing amidst the smoldering ruins of his interrupted plans, unfazed but deep in thought.

The Vees were left utterly speechless in the aftermath of Satan's decree. The silence was broken by Velvet, who finally threw her hands in the air and shouted, "FU—"

"…CKING DAMMIT!" she cursed, her frustration echoing. In the present day, Velvet sat with Lois, Superman, and Charlie, recounting the story with a mixture of disbelief and lingering fury. "That was the biggest scam of my life! The nerve of that bastard!"

Superman folded his arms, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, that's Constantine for you. The man's a walking loophole in every rulebook, mortal or otherwise."

"Walking loophole? He's a bloody nightmare!" Velvet snapped, her hands balling into fists. "Who sells their soul three times just to mess with people?"

Charlie tried to suppress a laugh. "Honestly, sounds like something he'd do. Classic Constantine."

Velvet threw herself back against the couch, glaring at the ceiling. "The worst part? He didn't even need anything! He just did it to mess with us!"

Superman nodded knowingly. "That sounds about right. John Constantine's greatest superpower is making sure no one forgets him—and that he always gets the last laugh."

Velvet groaned. "Next time I see him, I swear I'm throwing him into the deepest pit of Hell."

"Good luck," Lois said with a smirk. "You'd probably end up in another contract before you could blink."

The room burst into light laughter, the absurdity of Constantine's antics serving as a brief moment of levity amid the chaos of their current situation.

"But seriously anything Lex did?" Superman asked

"Far as i can tell he mostly made bunkers and anti angellic weapons for extermiantion days. Any angellic weapons that fell to the ground he salvaged them and carmilla carmine doesnt trust him." Velvet sakd

"We noticed." Lois said

with Lois. "It sounds like he's preparing for a war, and this time, it's not just against me. It's against all of us." He stood up straighter, his tone firm and resolute. "We can't afford to let him build up an army of angels and demons to back him up. Whatever he's planning, we need to stop it before it's too late."

Velvet leaned back in her seat, her eyes narrowing as she considered their words. "Yeah, and you'll need more than just your usual strength to stop him this time. He's not alone in this—he's got the Vees on his side, and with their connections, he's got access to more than just technology. He's got power."

"Best we head back to the house." Superman said

"YOU KILLED VALENTINO?" Vaggie's voice was sharp, her eye twitching with barely contained anger. She was sitting in the House of Mystery, trying to unwind, but the news of Valentino's death was too much for her to process without reaction.

Harley Quinn, sitting across the room with her legs kicked up casually, didn't seem fazed by Vaggie's outburst. "You ask like it's a big deal?" she said, her voice dripping with nonchalance as she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

"It kinda is," Husk chimed in, his tone matter-of-fact, his ears flicking slightly as he observed the exchange. "Valentino was a pretty big deal to some people around here."

Angel Dust, lounging nearby with a grin on his face, let out a relieved sigh. "Plus, the best part is no more Val. I can start being clean," he said, his words light but his expression revealing the weight of the burden that had been lifted off his shoulders. "Honestly, it feels like a weight has been taken off me."

Vaggie's glare softened for a moment as she processed Angel's words. She wasn't thrilled about how things had played out, but she couldn't deny the relief that Angel was feeling. Still, the death of a powerful overlord like Valentino wasn't something she could easily overlook.

"Okay, but may we also take a moment to appreciate how the youngster here defeated my annoying rival?" Alastor interjected, his eyes twinkling with curiosity as he looked toward Superboy, who had been standing quietly in the background, trying to avoid drawing too much attention to himself.

Superboy shifted uncomfortably under Alastor's gaze. "Well, I'm more of a support, really," he said modestly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Most of it was Raven's doing. She's the one who really took the lead."

"True that," Bee added, nodding in agreement from where she sat. "Raven's got some serious power, especially when it comes to dealing with enemies like Valentino. She really knows how to handle those situations."

The room fell into a brief silence as everyone mulled over the recent events. Valentino was dead, the tension between the groups was easing, but it was clear that the aftermath of such a momentous change would have rippling consequences. What came next was anyone's guess.