Max had never in his life entertained the thought that there could be a civilization in Hell like what he was seeing. Cobblestone streets stretched ahead of him, lined with buildings that resembled human architecture,multi-storey structures packed tightly together. Different abominations of various sizes walked the streets: some looked like gargoyles, others like trolls, and some were so grotesque they were outright repulsive to the eyes.
There were even vendors on the sides of the road selling antiques, cursed artifacts, and magical objects no doubt. Some were even selling mea-wait a minute, Max thought, as a nauseating stench of blood and rotting flesh suddenly hit his nose. He looked closer.
Human organs and limbs.
That was where the smell was coming from.
The more he looked, the angrier he became. There were prisoners locked inside cages, waiting to be slaughtered like livestock. And the angrier he grew, the heavier the feeling of oppression became, pressing down on his body—a special effect, or perhaps a magical field placed over this place.
Max suddenly stopped walking.
Three demons wearing armor like knights approached him. He tensed instantly, preparing for a fight, when one of them stepped forward and spoke.
"Human. By decree of King Nazra, you are requested for an audience."
"And what if I refuse?" Max asked.
"Then you shall be taken by force," the lead demon said, drawing its sword and leveling it at Max.
A tense moment of silence followed.
Then Max spoke.
"Fine. Take me to him."
The demons led Max through the city until they reached a massive castle standing at its center. They stopped before the enormous doors and turned to him.
"You may enter," one of them said.
Max stepped inside.
He was immediately greeted by a pig wearing a tuxedo, standing upright like a butler.
"King Nazra will be here shortly. Please wait here," the pig said before bowing and leaving.
Max took in his surroundings. The smell of rotting flesh was even stronger here—almost suffocating. He raised a hand to cover his nose as he continued to look around. Portraits lined the walls, their frames dark and ornate.
His eyes stopped on one particular painting.
It depicted a figure with glowing red eyes and curved horns, its body turning serpentine from the waist down.
The image felt disturbingly familiar.
Just as Max tried to recall where he had seen it before, a voice interrupted him.
"I rather enjoy the smell."
Max turned around.
Standing behind him was a monstrosity with yellow eyes, rows of sharp teeth, four muscular arms, and dark obsidian skin. It wore a loose bathrobe, draped casually over its massive frame.
"King Nazra, I presume?" Max said.
"Nazra will suffice," the demon replied.
"What do you want with me?" Max asked.
"I should be asking you that," Nazra said calmly. "What are you doing in my city?"
"I was looking for something. Now I find myself unable to leave. May I ask why?" Max replied.
"That would be the barrier I wove around this place," Nazra said. "It keeps uncivilized savages from wreaking havoc in my kingdom. And of course, what is a king without subjects? The barrier also prevents anything that enters from leaving. Unfortunately, you fall under that category."
Nazra paused before continuing.
"But that is not the main point. The fact that you entered Hell alive tells me you are no ordinary human. I may have use for someone like you."
"I work for no one. Find someone else," Max said coldly.
"Oh? So you intend on staying?" Nazra asked with amusement.
"No. If you refuse to let me leave, I will force my way out," Max replied.
"That's Unlikely to happen because as you may have noticed, the barrier suppresses all who remain within it," Nazra said. "It is how I keep my citizens in check. I doubt you will be able to overcome it."
"I am confident that I will," Max said, his voice steady. "Including eliminating you, should you prove to be more of an obstacle than you already are."
Nazra smiled.
"Not even for them?"
He snapped his fingers.
A massive cage appeared beside him, filled with children. Some were crying and begging for help, reaching through the bars toward Max. Others lay motionless on the floor, seemingly unconscious.
Max's eyes narrowed.
A surge of killing intent burst from his body as he clenched his fists, rage burning in his chest.
"There is nothing my kind enjoys more than the sweet, subtle flavor of innocent souls," Nazra said casually. "So I keep a few for myself to enjoy every now and then."
He looked at Max with amusement.
"Your reaction tells me everything I need to know. You are like every other human,ruled by emotion, with a soft spot for children."
"What's stopping me from killing you right here and being done with it?" Max asked coldly.
"Nothing," Nazra replied calmly. "Well… nothing, if you want them to die with me. The moment I die, they die too. Besides, I am not much of a fighter, nor do I enjoy fighting. But I can assure you, if my existence is threatened, I can put up a very good fight."
Nazra spread his arms slightly.
"So what will it be? Run a few errands for me and I'll let you go free,along with their lives. I might even send you back home myself. Or you can take your chances."
Max gritted his teeth, anger and frustration boiling inside him. After a long moment of silence, he finally spoke.
"Fine. What do I have to do?"
Nazra smiled.
"Good. Now walk with me."
With a casual wave of his hand, the cage vanished into thin air. Nazra turned and began walking deeper into the castle, his footsteps echoing through the halls.
Max followed behind Nazra as the demon pushed open massive wooden doors.
The moment they opened, screams of despair flooded the hall, mixed with the sharp cracks of whips lashing through the air.
A torture show.
Max inwardly grimaced.
Demons forced prisoners to dance while whipping their bleeding bodies. Bloodied, naked corpses were stretched across frames and beaten like drums. Women were tied to massive harps that released violent electric shocks with every pluck, their screams blending with the twisted music.
Nazra spread his arms, breathing deeply.
"Music to my ears. I do enjoy a good show."
He turned to Max.
"Do not be too sad. These individuals brought this upon themselves. Their desperation… their willingness to do anything at the faintest promise of fame and money. A cast of thousands. Millions of selfish and delusional souls. All the qualities we look for. Delicious."
Nazra began walking again as he continued speaking.
"This place once belonged to a powerful demon named Nergal. He was the one who established it. But arrogance consumed him. He chose to live among humans to feast more easily, and that became his undoing. After his fall, I took over and shaped this place into what it is today."
He glanced back at Max.
"Unlike him, I do not leave my domain. I have agents in the human world, collecting individuals with the qualities I mentioned,for me and for my subjects. But lately, I have found myself facing competition. Other demons have begun adopting my methods."
Nazra's eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is bad. It risks drawing the attention of magicians and exorcists. If that happens, my empire,built over many years,will be destroyed. And so will I."
He stopped walking.
"Which is where you come in."
"You want me to eliminate them?" Max asked.
"Precisely," Nazra replied.
"What guarantee do I have that you'll free them when I'm done?" Max asked.
"A binding pact," Nazra said. "Seared into my own flesh."
His fingers began glowing red as he carved glowing runes into his wrist. When he finished, the symbols pulsed faintly before sinking into his skin.
"Now, time is of the essence," Nazra continued. "You may enjoy the show if you wish. As for me, it is time to feed. My house is your house for the duration of your stay. My butler will tend to your needs."
He pointed toward the pig, who bowed respectfully to Max.
Nazra then conjured a floating map and handed it to Max.
"I've marked all their locations so you don't waste time. You may consult me at any moment."
With that, Nazra turned and left, disappearing down the corridor.
Max stood in silence.
Although he had agreed to Nazra's terms, he knew the chances of the demon keeping his promise were slim. Still, this arrangement benefited him. It meant killing more demons,and feeding them to his statue,which would shorten the time he would need to remain in this putrid place.
But his mind was already made up.
Whether Nazra honored the pact or not…
Before he leaves Hell, he would raze this place to the ground.
End of Chapter
You can get up to 15+ chapters at Patreon.com/Darkerknight