Chapter 30

Wrath Ring

Pain Games

"Welcome, I say welcome all to Wrath-a Ring's annual Harvest-a Moon-a a Festival!" Yelled out a tall and lanky Imp with a white shirt, vest, white pants and dark boots. This was Wally Wackford. An eccentric Imp that does odd jobs all across the Rings of Hell as well as being an entrepreneur on all business-related ventures. He may not succeed in all of them, but he's successful enough to keep up with his eccentric and crazed lifestyle. And today he was selected to be the spokesperson and color commenter for the Pain Games. A series of games dedicated to the Harvest Moon Festival that was also dedicated to the annual harvesting of Wrath's crops, which feeds all the rings in Hell. While small sections of the other rings do provide food as well, it goes without saying that Wrath does most of the food production for Hell's populace. In fact, if the annual harvest was down even a fraction, millions would starve for a variety of reasons. Hence why Stolas had to magically fertilize the fields of Wrath every year. To ensure that never happens.

Speaking of Stolas, he was patiently waiting on a chair for Wally to introduce him to those that had come to either participate or watch the Pain Games. Legs crossed, the Goetia Noble watched as Wally twirled his black cane around before he introduced Stolas.

"To kick things up, we have the great prince Stolas-a here to user in this here Pain Games!" Yelled Wally before giving the microphone in his other hand to Stolas, who simply chuckled in slight embarrassment at the loud introduction that Wally gave him.

"How kind, Wackford." Said Stolas with a smile before addressed the audience. "Greetings tiny Imps of Wrath! I hereby welcome you all to another year of celebrating the spoils of your labor that continue to feed the citizens of Hell!" Rather than cheering Stolas on, the crowd of Imps before him simply glared at him. Amongst them, Moxxie shifted rather uncomfortably at the angry crowd he found himself in.

Many of these Wrath imps were impoverished farmers or farmhands who lived on whatever scraps of food remained after their crops were harvested. The food they worked so hard to produce was mostly consumed by royalty and those in the other Rings rather than for their own consumption. It was a rare thing indeed for any of the Imps get to eat any of their hard work rather than the mere hand me downs given to them by the rulers of the Wrath Ring. To make matters worse, the reward for their important work was being underfed, underpaid and underappreciated instead for…all their lives. This unbalanced cycle had lasted for thousands of years and nothing can be done of it. The Imps were no match for Satan, the ruler of Wrath, nor what muscle he could scrounge up to put down any rebellion against the status quo. And that's not even considering the other Sins as well, who wouldn't be too pleased to know about a rebellion affecting the daily food shipments to their rings. Thus, the status quo remained and the Imps of Wrath were forced to continue their daily lives of feeding the mouths in Hell that weren't their own. Needless to say, many were displeased and held contempt to the other Rings of Hell and the nobility of Hell for their horrid living conditions and lives.

If there was any one reason that Moxxie needed to give to people on why he sided with his father on the subject of Hell needing a change of leadership, it's the treatment of the people of Wrath. They work hard to feed the people of the other Rings and what do they get for their hard work? Just more hard work and being underpaid too. Millie had told him long ago that, although her family has, for the most part, been able to make ends meet in Wrath, there had been times that they were in danger of losing their home and ranch. If it wasn't for the money they earned from participating in the Pain Games and also betting on them too, then there was a very good chance that they would have lost their family home and be on the streets of Wrath.

In fact, the last Pain Game that Millie participated in before she was banned from ever participating in them again, her family was in danger of losing a part of their land to loan sharks from Greed. Needless to say, it was a close call. It was a close call that shouldn't have happened in the first place.

Millie's family shouldn't have been close to losing any part of their home just because they were short on money. When he was here on his wedding day with Millie, he'd seen how much land they had and how much of it was made for farming and handling animals. Running the numbers and doing some research on the value of the crops and animals Millie's family raised, they should be more than financially stable enough to keep not only their family ranch but also be able to afford to expand upon it. Provided they were financially responsible, of course. And since he really doubted that Joe and Lin were financially irresponsible, given they've owned the ranch for years, either he seriously miscalculated the value of their products or they're being underpaid for their services. And given the nature of Hell's leaders and how they operate, he has to go for the latter explanation.

Stuff like what the people of Wrath are suffering, underpayment, and underappreciation for their hard work, it wouldn't happen with his father's rule. He would ensure his people were compensated fairly for their hard work as well as appreciated for it as well. Or, at the very least, treat them better than how Satan is treating his people right now. Was it really hard to give people more money for their hard work, give them better living conditions, or give them more recognition at the very least? Again, Moxxie reminds himself of Hell's awful living conditions everywhere and just how much it needed to change. Change that it seemed only his dad and Princess Charlotte wanted along with their followers. Sighing, Moxxie decided to focus on his goal in the Pain Game. Trying to earn the respect and approval of Millie's parents. Looking at Stolas, Moxxie heard him flirting with Blitzo after starting the games, something that caused his boss to groan out in annoyance.

"Ugh. Fuck me." Said Blitzo, who was beside Moxxie and Striker, both of whom were participating in the Pain Games along with him. A gun soon went off and the games began. Taking a deep breath, Moxxie prepared himself for his latest attempt in trying to win the affection and respect of his in-laws. Surely, it'll go his way this time.

Later

It did not go his way. In fact, Moxxie was pretty sure that all he managed to accomplish was lower their opinion of him even more.

All of the events he participated in, which were all of them, have ended with him getting his butt handed to him by either stronger Imps, better suited for the Games, or a giant demonic shark that, for some reason, kept trying to kill him throughout the Games. Needless to say, he did shitty in the Pain Games.

"Cheer up, Moxxie." Said Millie as she and her husband were in the stands, watching as Stolas announced the winner of the Pain Games. Or rather winners. For the first time in the history of the Pain Games, there was a tie for first place in the Pain Games. Rather than doing a tiebreaker, Stolas decided to name both the winners, Striker and Blitzo, something that hurt Moxxie's pride for a number of reasons. And he was currently congratulating them on winning the Games. "Sure, you didn't win the Games like Striker and Blitzo, but that doesn't mean shit when you got other talents." Honestly, she was just glad that her husband lived through the games. They have a high mortality rate for first-timers, after all. Moxxie just smiled at his wife, thankful at her support for him. She didn't care about how well he did. She only cared about him living.

"Thanks, Millie." Said Moxxie, feeling a bit better about himself. "And you're right. So what, Striker is better than me physically. I have other talents. Talents I'm actually good at. Like singing." Millie was about to agree with her husband when they suddenly saw Striker pulling out a slender dark indigo guitar with knobs made of bones at the top. It was decorated with a brown horseshoe in the center and the guitar was curled up into uneven horn-like shapes arching toward the strings.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to sing a quick song I wrote just now, about me winnin'." Said Striker with a smug look before he began strumming the strings.

"Oh, what the fuck!?" Yelled Moxxie in rage as he watched Striker begin playing a song. And he was playing and singing rather well. Perhaps even better than him. And it was being received well with how the crowd was going wild with admiration at Striker. Seeing her husband rage over what was happening, Millie felt bad and decided to take him away from all this.

Gently grabbing her husband, she took him away from the Pain Game grounds and towards her family home. As they walked, she spotted Blitzo walking up to them with a stick of cheese. A smile on his face.

"Isn't that Striker guy great?" Asked Blitzo, his mouth full. They watched as he continue to sing to a bunch of rabid fangirls and even boys, all wanting him.

"False!" Declared Moxxie, his dislike for Striker growing. He was so much like Moxxie that it was infuriating to the smaller Imp. He was like him but just…so much better it seemed. Blitzo just ignored what Moxxie said before speaking up.

"It's gonna be nice workin' with him!" Said Blitzo as he poured sauce all over his cheese, wanting more kick out of it. Upon hearing that, Moxxie widened his eyes in shock.

"Working with him? What?!" Yelled Moxxie. They could barely afford to pay him and Millie on time let alone enough as well. How are they going to afford one more employee? Better yet, why did Blitzo decide to hire him when Moxxie was around. Did he…did he intend on replacing him with Striker. Someone that was just a better deal to work with then Moxxie?

"Yeeeeaaaah! I asked him if he wants to join I.M.P. He said yes." Said Blitzo as he took another bite out of his food, either not noticing or not caring about what Moxxie was thinking about this situation.

"You asked…but…" Said Moxxie, trying to figure out why Blitzo was doing this, but he couldn't find the stomach to do so. He just…didn't have the stomach to do it. He…he need to go clear his mind or talk with his dad. Or…or just lay down somewhere soft and safe so he can think clearly.

Millie, sensing what was wrong with her husband, began leading him away from the grounds towards her family home. As the two left, Striker glanced over at Moxxie with a cruel grin.

"Heh. Moxxie go fuck yourself!" Said Striker, adding that part into his song so as to not attract suspicion. And it didn't, everyone thought it was a part of the song and cheered him on still.

When Moxxie heard what Striker said, tears spilled out of his eyes as he scowled while Millie led him back to the house, a sympathetic expression on her face.

Satisfied with what he did, Striker spoke up to the crowd as he began finishing up his song.

"Did you hear something? It was just the wind." Said Striker as he finished in song while the crowd cheered. "Thank you. You're too kind." As he gave a bow, Striker gave a sinister smile as he looked at Stolas, who was giving Blitzo a flirty expression. Just a little more and he'll get to do what he's actually here for. Just have to be patient for a little while longer.

Meanwhile

Mordekaiser

"Why are you acting like this Moxxie?" Thought Mordekaiser as he looked at his son departing from the Pain Game grounds with his wife, a pained expression on his face. He had seen everything. From his son participating in the games to the way he walked away from it all once Striker began singing. "Why did you even participate in this silly competition when it doesn't play to your strengths? Better yet, why even come here?"

"It seems that your son is here along with his wife and superior." Said the unknown woman that he had just made an alliance with. "An unexpected surprise. Will they interfere with what we came to do?"

"Hardly." Said Mordekaiser, in his Imp disguise. "Our intentions are not here to take out Stolas. So, they will not be of much issue. I doubt they'll care if food goes missing. We're only here because I wanted to ensure that Stolas won't interfere with what we came to do. My son's appearance here was a surprise."

"Indeed." Said the woman as she looked at Mordekaiser. "Are your soldiers in position? They won't get another chance at this."

"They are." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at her, her face still obscured by her hood. "You certainly are asking much of me today. Attacking the shipments of food to the Rings will certainly cause anarchy in Hell. And also risk exposure of my operations on Earth and Hell if our attacks are linked to them."

"So long as your warriors don't leave any witnesses or leave any incriminating evidence or weapons linked to your realm, we should be safe." Said the woman. "Besides, you have prepared for more than two decades to take Hell is your own. Are you not impatient to start the coup now?"

"Death has a way to give one patience." Said Mordekaiser as he looked at the Pain Game grounds. "I do not need to do anything. While I grow in strength, Hell's strength diminishes. The Exterminations provide boons of resources to my cause. Both in manpower and resources. Many seek to avoid death and destruction come to my shelters and eventually become sworn to serve me for eternity, even if they don't know it. Those who die have their corpses taken to be processed as new forms of war. I have every reason to wait and little reason to start my takeover now. Which begs the question, why do you ask me to start more lethal actions against Hell? What is your goal?" The woman just looked at the Pain Game grounds as well before speaking.

"My goal is the same as yours." Said the woman simply. "To end Lucifer's corrupt and weak reign. To break Heaven and Hell. And forge something better out of the ashes. In a manner of speaking. Thus, because of that, we're on the same side. We're united by our shared goals." Mordekaiser just looked at her sideways before watching the Pain Games come to an end via a speech by Stolas.

"We shall see." Said Mordekaiser as Stolas began speaking. "We shall see."