Chapter Text
Blitzø looked out the window of his office. In the distance, he could see clouds of smoke and an airship destroying some buildings in the industrial area. That was another day when the traffic would be unbearable due to another turf war by the sinners.
It was always about the sinners.
The bastards were lucky enough to make it to Hell and receive eternal life, with guaranteed regeneration and resurrection. The only thing that could stop them were the weapons of the Exorcists who descended once a year, but the rest of the time? They could climb, try, and perfect their games.
It didn’t matter that they hadn’t been born in Hell. For them, social classes didn’t function in the same way that them. Everything depended on their effort.
Dammit.
Some of those sinners had empires! They weren’t royalty, of course, but Overlords like Vox had a monopoly on technology, and everyone assumed he had more money than some minor royals. Kings of other Rings respected the bastard. That was the range of growth that sinners could have.
An imp?
Second social class. Always.
The office light flickered and turned off. At the same time, all devices connected to an electronic current stopped working.
“Blitzø!” Loona cursed “You didn’t pay the bills!”
“What made you come to that conclusion?” Mox’s voice reached his ears.
Blitzø opened the office door and took a deep breath. The business wasn’t doing very well. In reality, they were almost bankrupt. Thanks to the mafias and mercenary syndicates, it was difficult to make a business of killing made up of demons who, if they received enough attacks, could truly die. Clients would always prefer to go to sinners who were guaranteed to survive despite everything.
His eyes fell on M&M’s and a blow of guilt washed over him. Despite being in the dark, Moxxie just kept working on his phone. He was so used to having to improvise. No customers, no payment, and…
…he hated to do it, but Blitzø would have to go to Angel Dust again for some help.
The ex-porn star had been an Overlord for almost a year. In the last Extermination, Angel, other sinners, and a few Overlords joined forces so that Valentino found himself on the streets, with no way to defend himself or ask for help. Eventually, an angel killed the bastard and to the surprise of some, all his power was transferred to Angel.
Blitzø was happy for his friend. He deserved it. Angel was driving the Sex Industry monopoly in an interesting direction.
Angel had offered to help Blitzø on a few occasions, but similar to when the roles had been reversed, pride made it hard to ask for backup. But there was a limit to stubbornness when M&M couldn’t pay their bills or the pantry in his own apartment was empty, and his daughter needed to eat.
As if summoned, Blitzø saw Angel Dust’s name on his screen. He opened the message and choked a laugh as he saw the series of emoticons and random letters in a series of messages back-to-back without making any real sense of what the sinner meant.
Until a link appeared.
«Look at it. Look. Look. Look.»
Blitzø raised an eyebrow and clicked it. Immediately the speakers of his phone echoed in the office. Loona, Moxxie, and Millie stopped what they were doing when they heard Lucifer’s voice. Blitzø watched the King of Hell appear on camera with his sardonic smile in place.
«…like every first of December, I know, you were waiting for the announcement of the Capital Competitions. But I’ve thought of something more interesting.» Lucifer made eye contact with the camera and Blitzø flinched at the king’s deadly gaze. «Every December we take the month of my father’s favorite son and turn it into a celebration of hellish decadence. Each year it has been a delight to see what my esteemed fellow Circle leaders have in mind. But recently I heard something catastrophic. Something that cannot be.”
Behind Lucifer, the social pyramid of Hell was shown. Each specie having its rank of priority. Up there were the royalties and even among them, there were degrees of power. The closest Blitzø had come to the top was that day he played with who once was the sweet prince stolas. But things changed. The little nerd had turned into a pompous and cold bastard who, together with his husband Andrealphus, seemed to control the Ars Goetia without looking back.
How was it possible for things to change so much?
Millie’s hand closed on his jacket, and she dragged him to sit on the couch, pinned in the middle of the couple so they could all see the screen. Loona was leaning over the arm of the chair, grunting at the end of the pyramid.
Hellhounds.
And above these were the imps.
At the bottom.
Lucifer eyed the pyramid with an amused smile and then clicked his tongue.
«I heard someone say that the constant in Heaven and Hell is that there is a System, and you cannot change it. A cherub will always be below an archangel. A hellhound will always be below a succubus. And that’s not correct, right?» Lucifer looked at the camera as if he was sharing a secret between himself and the audience. «Unlike Heaven, where souls are the same and boring, I wanted them to have a second chance here. I like the tenacity, pride, and courage of sinners who aren’t willing to sit carelessly by, but instead rebel.» The king laughed. «I see myself reflected in them. They forge their own empire. So…» Lucifer smirked and rested his hands on the podium. «I don’t see why only sinners have that privilege.»
Moxxie whispered something. But Blitzø couldn’t hear him, he leaned forward, almost covering the screen. Angel must have already known what this was about. Whatever it was, it had been discussed with Overlords and other important demons. And it was somewhat beneficial to them. Or at least Angel thought it would be something that would interest Blitzø.
«So, we will do a little test.» Lucifer raised his index finger «For a month, every imp or hellhound that wishes to break the System, has my fervent interest. I’m going to open the wards that limit the title of Overlord to sinners and if one of you manages to take the title by the end of this year, it will be yours permanently. Well, as permanent as you can keep your power, of course.»
“It can’t be…” Mox whispered in a suffocated voice.
No, it couldn’t...
«Eternity, regeneration, and reincarnation will be given to the hellborn who takes the title.» The king made an amused gesture. «I’m not going to allow my future Overlord to be at a disadvantage among their peers, am I? Oh, and of course! You’ll be able to make soul contracts and acquire new powers. I’m sure that one of you who can pull off such an accomplishment will be up there with some royalties.» Lucifer raised his index finger. «But remember, you have a month. Build your empire. Make me proud.»
The transmission ended.
“That’s suicidal…” Moxxie shot him a look. “Sir, no. Don’t even think about it!”
Blitzø knew he was smiling dangerously. So, he looked at Millie, who clung to his arm and nodded vigorously.
“B! We can do it!” She assured. “That would solve everything.”
“Or he’s going to kill us all,” Loona muttered sarcastically. “Seriously, Blitzø, how can you believe that you can be an Overlord?”
“Because we are the best,” Blitzø left his phone on the couch, without blocking the screen. “Besides, we have an advantage.”
“Oh, really?” Moxxie crossed his arms. “Please, sir, enlighten me. What advantage is that?”
“We have someone inside. Angel can give us advice on everything about how being an Overlord works. He was the one who sent me the video,” Blitzø started pacing back and forth. “Other hellborns have no contact with an Overlord. Even less a good relationship. And just think about it! It would be better for Angel to have me in the big leagues with him. If I take that position, because I will, Angel will immediately have a guaranteed alliance.”
“Valentino had one with Vox and Velvette and look how it went,” Loona raised an eyebrow. “Scattered in the streets of the Cannibal Colony.”
“But because he was a jerk. I won’t be,” Blitzø looked at them. “Come on family! This is our opportunity to take the business to another level and never have to worry about money again.”
“Sir…” Moxxie stood up visibly concerned. “An Overlord has a monopoly on something. What do you plan to have? Over horses?”
“Mox, be serious! You know what it should be: Assassinations! Death!” Blitzø pointed at them. “The only advantage those sons of bitches have over us is that they can be revived. But without that? We are the best.”
“Are you kidding?” Loona laughed aloud. “You can’t be suggesting what you’re saying.”
“Oh Loony, but I do! We took over the mercenary syndicate,” Blitzø widened his smile. “That will be our monopoly. Angel is the Overlord of sex? Well, I will be the Overlord of death.”
“Sir…” Mox growled in frustration. “We need money for that. We can’t just go to every mercenary and order them to answer to us. You have to make contracts and give bribes.” The imp shook his head. “We can’t even pay ourselves.”
“But it would be amazing,” Millie jumped to her feet, infected with Blitzø’s humor. “We wouldn’t just kill when customers show up, we can do it whenever we want. Wouldn’t that be wonderful, Moxxie?”
“That’s my girl!” Blitzø put his arm around the female shoulders. “If we had the money, do you know what would happen? This city would be ours!”
Millie laughed and held out her hand to Moxxie, encouraging him to join.
“Are we really going to encourage him to try being an Overlord?” The imp complained, letting himself be dragged along by his wife.
“What other option do we have?” Loona shot them a look over her phone. “It’s not like we’re going to lose anything. We are bankrupt, better to take extreme measures.”
“That’s my Loony!” Blitzø smiled widely. “Just imagine, everyone would bow down to us.”
Millie gave light applause, not hiding her excitement.
“Oh, Moxxie, admit that would be fun.” She insisted. “We could get ourselves one of those palaces that you and B often see when you think we don’t notice.”
Not that Blitzø searched for palaces. It was just that the house on steroids that Stolas had was on TV a lot. And when that happened, his brain just remembered what it looked like on the inside. Nothing more.
“Well, I admit it would be great to command instead of serve,” Moxxie mused aloud.
“Do you see it now? If we can get hold of that Overlord title, we could get hundreds of servants,” Blitzø put his hands on Moxxie’s shoulders and shook him. “You could cook whatever you want, with whatever ingredients you want, and only when you feel like it.”
“Of course, you were going to see my culinary skills as a priority,” Mox rolled his eyes and stepped aside. “Just admit that you love my pastry.”
And be weak? Never!
“We would be royalty among the hellborns,” Blitzø deflected the subject and pulled Millie back against his side. “You would be our Killer Queen. The most beautiful and deadly imp queen ever to exist.”
“B!” Millie gave him a light push with her hip and looked at him entertained. “Stop promising us things or we’re seriously going to have to figure out how to get you that Overlord position.”
He smirked.
“I’ll buy you a crown. So, let’s make it work,” Blitzø responded, shooting a look at Loona. “I have a plan, you’ll see.”
“And what plan is that?” His daughter leaned back on the empty couch. “Are you going to ask Angel Dust for a loan?”
“No, we need funding from higher. A big name behind us that makes the syndicate beg us to take control,” Blitzø explained, tapping his chin. “The question is who?”
“Are you serious?” Moxxie stopped smiling and looked at him “Sir, that’s crazy! How are we going to convince someone?”
“Oh, I just have to seduce a bastard with money and power,” Blitzø smoothed out the sleeves of his jacket and shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve used sex to get us out of trouble, right?”
Moxxie looked at him for a couple of seconds and took a deep breath. Without another comment, he took his phone and began to investigate who or what they could use. Millie hugged Blitzø’s waist tighter and looked at him with a lopsided smile.
“B, if this is what you want to do, count on us.” She raised her fist and pressed it against Blitzø’s chest. “You’re going to have to fight some extraordinarily strong enemies if you try to be an Overlord. It could get ugly.”
Blitzø leaned in and whispered in Millie’s ear.
“That’s why I have your bitch for husband and you, right? So, you don’t leave anyone alive.” He put away and noted the amusingly murderous glint in Millie’s eyes.
“If you become an Overlord, will you give me a car?” Loona asked with a smirk. “One that looks good.”
“Obviously. Everything you want and only the best for you, Loony,” Blitzø glanced at Mox. “Well? Any plans other than me going and fucking some rich guy stupid?”
“While you were fantasizing about things we don’t have yet, I was reviewing the history of the Overlords. Most of them took years to ascend,” Moxxie was explaining. “Except for two cases. One of them is the Radio Demon, who arrived in Hell with powers. But the other one was Valentino.” He looked at Blitzø. “As much as it pains me to admit it, your strategy isn’t that bad, sir. Valentino seduced one of the strongest Overlords, Vox, and that made hundreds of sinners want to work on his payroll. A strong ally would be helpful.”
“Why not Angel Dust?” Loona asked, putting down her phone. “He already has the power and influence.”
“I don’t think the trick of sleeping with an Overlord to become one will work twice in a row. I think because I’m an imp, people would think I work for Angel,” Blitzø shook his head and started looking for where he had left his phone. “But I promise for you, damn ingrates, to ask Angel for help when necessary.”
“And when you don’t think it’s,” Millie pointed, resting her hands on her hips.
The sound of a notification made Loona jump and find Blitzø’s phone between the cushions, throwing it at him. He caught it and noticed that a new video was playing. A hit in his chest forced him to turn his back on his team and slightly turn up the sound of the video that had been muted at some point. On camera was Stolas dressed in black, wearing a gothic shirt and a slightly darker waistcoat. On the neck was a ruby, the same color as Stolas’s eyes. A ruby the same color as the prince’s eyes decorated the collar of the shirt. Stolas was answering an interview, standing gracefully and not lowering his chin. The considerably shorter reporter had to raise the microphone above their head in order to reach Stolas who was making no effort to make things easier for the other demon.
«…it’s about investing,» Stolas responded with the utmost seriousness, framing an eyebrow at the reporter instead of the camera. «The main obligation of the Ars Goetia is to serve his majesty, King Lucifer, and the royal family. Bringing pride to our kingdom is a rewarding job, but it consumes all my time. So, answering your question: No, I don’t have any hobbies like riding or reading any fashion magazines.»
“Moron,” Blitzø approached Moxxie, showing him the video. “Look at this pretentious asshole. When was the last time he had fun?”
Moxxie looked at the screen and made an awkward gesture.
“I don’t know, his marriage to Lord Andrealphus looks stable, they often go to the opera and that’s fun.”
Millie leaned between them and gave a long whistle.
“I’m sorry, love. But those two have nothing,” Millie touched the tip of her nose. “It’s all appearances.”
“And how do you know that?” Blitzø asked and cleared his throat.
Appearances?
“When you come from a big family and you’re an assassin, knowing when people are lying is a thing you know. Especially to save face.” She smiled. “That’s why we’re the best right, B?”
He smirked. That’s right, his family had unique abilities. That’s why they should take this opportunity.
“Then the prince is a good target,” Mox meditated with renewed inspiration. “Prince Stolas could be your benefactor in your quest for the Overlord throne, sir.”
Blitzø jumped back.
“What? No! There are hundreds of idiots out there. Why should I go near that spoiled rich bird?”
And having to humiliate himself by approaching someone from the past?
“Oh, but Prince Stolas is an excellent choice, he has access to prophecies and all that stuff,” Millie explained. “Do you know how useful it would be to have that information on a mission?”
“I don’t think it works like that…” Moxxie mused. “But it would surely help to be prepared.”
“Didn’t you say you knew him?” Loona asked in a bored tone. “Or have you chickened out already?”
Chickened out? He? Never!
Blitzø puffed out his cheeks and took his phone, closing the video and going straight to his contacts. He only had to wait a few seconds for the other demon to answer.
“Hey, BDB,” Angel Dust purred over the line .“Ready to sit with me at the big kids’ table?”
“I have a plan and it includes the skills of a dangerous gangster like you.”
“That’s why I like you, you’re one of the few who remembers that I’m something better than a pretty face and the best fuck someone will ever have,” Angel sounded pleased. “Okay, what do you need?”
“What information do you have on Prince Stolas?” Blitzø rested his hand on his hip. “I know you know something about everyone.”
“Well, you’re right. Stolas is a discreet customer, you know? He never goes to my establishments. He prefers everything to be done in his palace and he’s part of the clients who require a confidentiality agreement about what happens in each session. Even I can’t know what’s going on, just that it doesn’t break my rules,” Angel chuckled lightly. “But you’re lucky, he likes imps with good packages...”
Blitzø felt his cheeks flush, and he cleared his throat.
That was incredibly specific.
“And tell me pretty face, do you think I can…? You know…” Blitzø waved his hand in the air. “…go instead of one of your boys when he requires a readjustment.”
“Come to the club and let’s talk, BDB,” Angel responded entertained. “I want to hear your little plan and how the fact that you have the possibility of being an Overlord led you to want to professionally fuck the heir to the Ars Goetia.”
“I’m sure you already realized where my train of thought is going but I’m not going to deny you gossip and a few drinks for your time.” He smirked.
Blitzø hung up and the smile on his lips faded. In the dark, he could recognize the office that was falling apart and for which he couldn’t even pay for the most basic services. Three demons depended on him, Blitzø was their boss and therefore they were his responsibility. Besides, he really wanted to have that Overlord title and finally be in front, where Blitzø belonged. At last, he could show that he wasn’t born to serve anyone.
How hard could it be to seduce a stuffy, self-centered demon who dressed like a goth?
It wasn’t going to be the craziest thing he’d ever done for money.
“We’re going to be royalty,” Blitzø teased, forcing a relaxed smile to his lips to calm his team. “I have it in the bag.” He lied.