At the same time when Aron led his forces in an attack on Eternal Hell, in another hell something equally great was happening.
Lucifer resided in his own domain, but not alone.
The gathering place was Mephisto's Blazing Hell.
There, alongside Lucifer, appeared other lords: Hades from the dark underworld, Satana, mistress of the succubi's hell, and Satanish from the dark realm.
Almost all rulers of hell, except the dead Belath and Hela who had already joined Aron, were present.
They had been summoned by Mephisto himself.
"Mephisto, I've already heard of your little inglorious exploits on Earth," Satanish was the first to speak, always ready to belittle him.
"Hahaha…" he mocked, "how does it feel to be tricked by a mere human being? Do you want us to help you solve that… human disgrace?"
The merciless mockery echoed through the hall.
Good news fades, bad spreads like wildfire.
So had Mephisto's shame, when a man outwitted him, already reached all the hellish kingdoms.
Everyone knew how Mephisto had lost part of his power and been humiliated.
Just as they once mocked Belath, now they turned on him.
Mephisto, however, stood upright, though fury was visible in his eyes.
Usually, he would remain silent, but this time he had not come to defend himself.
"Satanish, if you weren't in my home, I'd already have turned you to dust," he muttered in an icy voice.
His aura exploded, hinting at the force that stood just below a Heavenly Father.
Perhaps he had not reached the ultimate level, but his power was undeniable, and all of them knew it.
"I called you here not for quarrels," he said, as a reddish flame lit up his face.
"I have something of enormous importance for all of us."
His gaze circled the room.
Satanish looked at him with the same scornful smile.
Hades sat still, expressionless, no one could read his thoughts.
Lucifer, the weakest among them, listened intently, like a student before a teacher.
Satana, the only woman among them, leaned back in her chair with a smile full of charm, obviously not taking his words seriously.
For all the others, this seemed like just another of Mephisto's personal obsessions, a chance to watch him embarrass himself.
But…
As he uttered the next words, the expressions on all the hell-lords' faces suddenly changed.
"I summoned you," said Mephisto, "to join me… in killing the Ancient One."
Silence fell like a stone.
The fire on the walls flickered, but no one spoke.
"We will divide Earth!" he added, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
The rustling of garments and sudden shifting of gazes, all present looked at him as though he'd gone mad.
"Mephisto… everyone knows the Ancient One is at her twilight," Satana was the first to speak.
"Her human life is short, limited. Why risk war? We only need to wait. When she dies, Earth will fall into our hands without a fight."
As mistress of the succubi's hell.
What she hated most in her life was solving problems with violence.
"Satana is right."
"The Ancient One is just a human being, and her short lifespan is an obstacle she can never overcome."
"Patience is our greatest ally. There is no need to cause chaos, when time itself is already on our side."
Hades also agreed.
"Ha! Then it's clear," Satanish interjected.
"Some idiot has lost his senses. You think you can wage war against the Ancient One? And what when Odin intervenes? What about Earth's other protectors?" Satanish mocked Mephisto again.
Mephisto restrained his fury.
Mocked three times in front of everyone, even though he had come to request their help, it was nearly unbearable.
"Enough! Satanish, do you truly dare fight me to the death?"
His voice thundered like the skies. His aura exploded, filling the hall with a force that felt like it would devour all present.
Satanish finally fell silent.
Many believed Mephisto had weakened after part of his power was taken, but now it was clear he was still what he had always been. The elder brother among them, a lord not so easily brought down.
Lucifer, though the weakest, spoke up.
"Tell us, Mephisto. What is your plan?"
Mephisto shot him a sharp look, but continued.
"Do not worry about Odin," he said, "as far as I know, the end of Asgard is near."
These words swept through the room like a cold wind. If Asgard truly stood at the edge of destruction, then Odin could not intervene. This was the first real reason to believe Mephisto's words.
Mephisto was preparing to explain his plan against the Ancient One, but then Lucifer suddenly stood upright, as though sensing something terrible.
"What are you doing?" Mephisto asked him, eyes narrowed with displeasure. Even if Satanish contradicted him, Lucifer never dared interrupt.
Lucifer looked terrified.
"No, I… I just received a message! My Eternal Hell is under attack!"
"What?!" several lords cried out at once.
Their gazes darted from one to another, none of those present could be responsible, for all of them were here.
Mephisto was the first to speak.
"I know who is behind this," he said, and told them all what he had seen in Limbo, as well as the words Hela had spoken then: "Satan, why not?"
Cries of outrage erupted immediately.
Especially Satanish, whose name had long caused confusion, many mistook him for Satan himself, and now he felt directly insulted.
"A man!? He wishes to become lord of hell? He will find death!" he shouted.
"That's right!" Hades added. "I will gather the army of the underworld and crush him to the ground!"
Satana added, with a smile hiding venom in her words.
"If he thinks he can play at the game of gods and demons, he will quickly realize how naive he is."
Suddenly, they were all shouting, riling one another up. All wanted to trample Aron.
Lucifer nodded, visibly relieved. At first, he thought he had no strength to repel the attacker, but now, with the support of his "brothers," he could hope for success.
"So what are we waiting for?" he cried. "Let's go at once!"
But when he turned, he saw that none of the great lords had risen. Their words were loud, but their bodies still clung to their chairs.
Lucifer fell silent.
He was a demon, he understood perfectly what lay behind it.
They all wanted a piece of the cake. They were only waiting for the right offer.
"If you are willing to help me destroy the intruder," he finally said, "I am ready to give up part of my Eternal Hell."
Those words rang out like a siren.
Immediately, several lords rose at once.
"Don't worry, Lucifer," said Satanish, patting him on the shoulder with greedy gleam in his eyes, "if it's only one man, together we will slaughter him."
"But let it be clear," he added, "whoever contributes the most will also get the largest share in the division."
"I agree."
"No problem."
Quickly they all reached a consensus, satisfied that they would lay hands on a piece of Lucifer's hellish domain.
Mephisto had stood aside the whole time, watching this scene with growing suspicion.
In his head echoed the question: Could he really rely on this bunch of greedy insects to deal with the Ancient One?
He raised his hand, and his shadow filled the room.
"Listen!" he commanded.
All fell silent.
"I have a plan."
"That man is not an ordinary mortal. His connection to the Ancient One is no small matter."
"If we use him…"
"We can threaten the Ancient One."
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