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The tension between them lingered.
Three thrones.
Three ancient beings.
And across from them, Arthur Blackwynd, seated on a throne of living shadow.
The First of the Fallen sighed, spreading his hands with theatrical grace.
"I feel," he said lightly, "that we began this meeting on… unfortunate footing."
His red eyes glinted with amusement, but something lurked beneath.
"A hint of tension. Understandable, of course. Pride is a common language in this realm."
He leaned back, voice smoothing into diplomacy.
"Let me be clear. We seek conversation first. No chain or bloodshed. We only want a simple discussion. After that, we decide whether we stand together, or apart."
Arthur regarded him coolly.
"So you already know why we're here."
The First chuckled. "Of course. The same reason every demon in this wretched realm is tearing itself apart." His smile sharpened.
"This useless. Senseless. Struggle."
John and Arthur exchanged a brief glance.
Arthur's expression didn't change, but his mind moved.
'Senseless,' he repeated inwardly.
'I see through you. It is not senseless to you at all.'
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"So," Arthur said aloud, calm and cutting, "you're telling me you don't care about ruling Hell. I heard you once sat on its throne, before Lucifer defeated you and took it. I assumed you'd want it back."
For a split second, irritation flickered across the First of the Fallen's face.
His fingers tightened around the armrest.
Then he smoothed it away, smile returning like a mask.
"That," he replied evenly, "is in the past. I am no longer a lone ruler. I am part of an order now as you can see."
He gestured faintly to either side.
"The Triumvirate governs Hell equally."
Arthur turned his gaze to Belial.
Then to Beelzebub.
Then back to the First.
"It's difficult to believe demons can share power," Arthur said with polite disinterest. "But perhaps I'm simply ignorant of your ways."
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"So you'd allow the likes of Neron, and other minor Hell Lords to seize real power instead?"
Belial answered before the First could.
His voice was smooth. "It is not so simple. We allow the lesser lords to clash because direct confrontation… draws attention."
His eyes darkened.
"There are beings who would notice if we truly went to war ourselves."
Beelzebub's mandibles clicked, compound eyes narrowing.
"And you," it rasped, "are a variable as well… unless you deny it."
A trap. Arthur looked directly at the insect demon.
"What I want is for this realm to stop tearing itself apart," he said flatly. "I want to stop Hell from spilling onto Earth."
Then his gaze hardened.
"If destroying every pretender lord and taking control of the entire realm is the cost.."
His violet eyes burned.
"I will not hesitate to do so."
The Triumvirate exchanged glances.
The First of the Fallen smiled slowly.
"So you intend to take part in this war."
John sighed, rubbing his head.
"If we could find a simple solution, mate, we wouldn't be here. But this is Hell, some blokes just don't listen to reason."
The First nodded slightly.
"On that, Constantine… we agree."
Arthur leaned back as the conversation continued, but another voice whispered in his mind.
'We found evidence of war,' his shadows reported.
'The demons within this castle act as generals. This is the Triumvirate's base of operations.' 'Their srtonghold, my king.'
'They control many regions of Hell.'
' According to intercepted discourse… Neron still holds the upper hand and is the uncrowned ruler of this realm.'
Arthur's lips twitched into a faint smile.
'I already know the Fallen is lying,' he thought coldly.
'And all three of them would stab each other in the back the moment it benefits them.'
'Beelzebub is the weakest.'
'Belial is strong, likely stronger than his son, Etrigan.'
' The Fallen is the strongest here.'
'And still… none of them truly threaten me.'
"Lord of Death." The First of the Fallen's voice pulled him back.
Arthur lifted his gaze.
"I have a proposition for you," the Fallen said, tone smooth but it was laced with subtle mockery.
Arthur felt it. and noted it. He ignored it.
"Why not side with us?" the Fallen continued. "No contracts. Your friends would be welcome here."
His smile widened.
"Hell is far too dangerous to roam freely right now."
He spread his hands again.
"Together, we could end pretenders like Neron before this realm collapses and that would benefit Earth and the world of the living as well."
Kara glanced at Arthur, already knowing his answer.
Zatanna watched quietly, lips curved in a smile.
John shook his head faintly. 'Of course he's going to refuse…'
Arthur rose slightly from his shadow throne, violet eyes glowing brighter.
"I'm afraid," he said calmly, voice filled with authority,
"I can't do that."
The Triumvirate watched him closely.
Arthur's smile sharpened and it was not friendly.
The air tightened and soon enough Arthur's smile faded.
"I don't side with demons," he said calmly.
Then the shadows at his feet surged.
They rolled outward like a tide, crawling across the ground, coiling around pillars, licking the edges of the Triumvirate's thrones. His violet eyes narrowed, glowing brighter, sharper, no longer merely observant.
"And I think," Arthur continued, "you're full of shit."
The room reacted instantly.
John's coat fluttered as he snapped his hand up, sigils already burning along his fingers.
"Easy, mate.."
Zatanna was already preparing a magic spell.
Kara subtly shifted her stance, ready to launch forward, heat vision already prepared.
Arthur, meanwhile, raised one hand.
Shadow condensed. A weapon began forming in his grip, elegant and godly.
"And you," Arthur added, gaze fixed on the First of the Fallen,
"never intended to keep any of your pretty little words."
For a moment, they were all silent.
Then the First of the Fallen smiled wider, leaning back in his throne as if thoroughly entertained.
"Oh, humans," he chuckled lightly, red eyes glinting,
"always so eager to believe themselves clever."
Belial clicked his tongue, irritation flashing across his features.
"I warned you," he muttered to the others, rising from his throne.
"You two never listen."
The moment he stood, hellfire engulfed him.
Flames coiled around his limbs, his presence spiking, truly demonic. The temperature in the chamber surged, heat pressing down on them like a physical force.
Arthur didn't move. Didn't even tense.
He remained on his throne of shadow, relaxed, smiling faintly as though he were watching actors on a stage.
"I sense it," Arthur murmured, more to himself than to them, eyes gleaming.
"That same signature… the same filth."
He tilted his head slightly, and looked straight at Belial.
"The same kind of energy I felt from Trigon."
Belial's expression darkened.
"He was your father, wasn't he." Arthur said simply.
Belial's jaw tightened.
"So it was you," he hissed, flames roaring higher. "You're the one that.."
Arthur smiled. "More or less."
Shadow surged again.
The half-formed weapon in Arthur's hand finished assembling with a sharp, resonant hum.
Thanatos Bronte manifested fully.
A spear of lightning crackling along its shaft in violent arcs of violet and white. Power rolled off it in waves, death, authority and inevitability.
Thunder whispered where the tip pointed.
Arthur twirled it once with effortless familiarity.
John stared, breath hitching.
"…Christ."
Arthur leveled the spear slightly, gaze sweeping across the Triumvirate.
"Let's drop the act," he said coolly.
"You weren't here to negotiate. You weren't here to cooperate with us."
His violet eyes burned brighter.
"You were waiting to see if I'd be useful… or disposable."
A beat.
"And I don't like being tested."
The First of the Fallen chuckled softly.
Belial's hellfire flared.
Beelzebub's mandibles clicked, wings twitching.
Three ancient powers rose.
Arthur Blackwynd stood smiling, lightning crawling along his spear.
"Now," he said lightly,
"let's stop pretending this was ever a peaceful meeting."
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Solo leveling in Westeros.
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my patreon at
"https://www.patreon.com/FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to 3 More Chapters OR 7 More Chapters if you want