The silence of heaven was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps, each one echoing like a heartbeat through the divine halls. the Divine, seated upon His throne of radiant light, gazed calmly upon the ones who dared to come forward.
"At least some of you had the decency to come," He said, His voice gentle but firm.
Damon stepped forward with a sly grin. "Well, I'm here now. Let's get it over with."
"Wait, Damon," a familiar voice called out behind him.
He turned, eyes widening. "Sindel? What are you doing here?"
"I've always got your side, Damon," she said, her expression firm.
Damon frowned. "But you could get killed. I came here of my own accord. I knew the consequences."
"So did I."
He let out a short laugh. "And you call me stubborn."
A voice called out hesitantly from the side. "Is that you, Lord Damon?"
Damon turned. "Yes. It is I."
The speaker stepped forward—tall, lean, and clad in blackened armor. "I'm Dustin. I was to be promoted to second-rank demon within a month, sir. I came here because of my own reasons."
Damon nodded in acknowledgment. "Very well."
Another voice joined the gathering.
"Well, isn't it a surprise to see you here, Sindel," said Syril, his growl echoing faintly.
"Syril! You too?" Sindel's eyes widened.
"Yes," he replied with a grumble. "Unfortunately, I want more than a life of savagery."
Sindel shook her head, visibly distressed. "Damn it. If two second-ranked demons and a higher-class demon go missing, they'll catch on. We'll be labeled traitors and hunted down. Sealed for eternity."
"I already knew that," Syril replied calmly. "Regardless, I'm still in."
God's gaze moved slowly across them. "It seems you have all made up your minds, then. I count nine of you in total. And with the time nearly up, no one else will be joining."
Sindel clenched her fists. "Only nine of us? We're expected to take on the entire force of hell by ourselves?!"
Damon shrugged. "Well, I'm not bothered."
Sindel frowned. "I know you're powerful, Damon, but even you can't take on all the higher-ranked devils alone."
He only grinned in response. "Maybe, but that's something I'll worry about later."
The Divine raised His hand, light radiating from His palm. "Then hear Me. I shall grant you all power that will make you a thousand times stronger. I do this not for favoritism, but necessity. If any of you die before My return, your soul will return to hell—and the pact will be void."
"What?!" Damon's voice rose in disbelief. "That wasn't the deal!"
"It is the deal," the Divine said simply. "I told you to protect mankind until My return. If you die, you've failed. So… will you accept My power?"
Dustin clenched his jaw, thoughts racing. If I had known this earlier, I wouldn't have agreed to this, he thought bitterly.
Maga, silent until now, narrowed her eyes. I should have known it wouldn't be simple. Now I have no choice but to depend on the Divine's power.
"A-a thousand times stronger?" Ariel stammered, almost disbelieving.
Osmos stepped forward. "Yes. That will surely help. With my skills, this power will serve me well. I agree."
With that much power… I'll be on the level of a second-ranked demon or even more, Ariel thought, excitement stirring beneath her fear.
Sindel glanced sideways at Damon. "With this offer…"
He waved her off. "I won't blame you for taking it."
"You're not taking the offer?"
"No. I intend to fight with my own strength."
Sindel gave him a long, knowing look. "Are you sure you can pull that off? … Why am I even doubting you? Of course you can."
Damon smirked but said nothing.
The Divine nodded. "Very well. If everyone besides you accepts My offer, then I shall grant them My power."
A blinding pillar of light surrounded the eight demons. In an instant, it vanished, leaving them standing stronger, their very presence amplified.
"Whenever you feel that your strength is not enough," the Divine said, "reach inside you and draw upon My power."
Dustin let out a breath. "Sure… anything to be strong enough to survive."
Damon clapped his hands. "Well then, I suppose we're done here."
"Not yet," the Divine said. "You must form an alliance to protect mankind. And this alliance must have a name."
Damon rolled his eyes. "What is this? A fan club? I'm not into that kind of stuff."
"It is only right," the Divine insisted.
Damon folded his arms. "Alright, if you insist. Then may I come up with the name?"
"You may."
Sindel tilted her head. "What are you thinking, Damon?"
He paused, a glint of mischief in his eye. A grin crept across his face.
Meanwhile, on Earth…
"THERE'S NO WAY I'M LOSING TO THESE SONS OF BITCHES!" roared General Clement, blood streaked across his uniform. "I'd rather die myself before letting that happen. Come on, you bastards! Give me all you've got!"
He raised his rifle and fired a burst of bullets into an advancing horde of denizens.
"General Clement!" Admiral Felicia shouted, rushing over.
"Not now, Felicia!" he barked. "Can't you see I'm busy?!"
"I know, but we just got intel—we've successfully pushed back the denizens from Miami's base!" she yelled, shooting one of the creatures that lunged at her. "Not just us—Japan, South Africa, England, India, and Germany all report victories!"
Clement paused, breathing hard. "Well, ain't that good news. We'll join them in victory by noon."
The forces of man fought fiercely, their weapons flashing like thunder against the black tide of hellspawn. But when noon came… so did something else.
The skies tore open as a massive hellish portal appeared above the earth. From it, the second-rank demons descended—beings of immense power, hunger in their eyes, destruction in their hearts.
Joyous hovered mid-air, scanning the land. "Strange… I don't sense Sindel. Not even on the way here."
Grim cracked his knuckles. "Look at all these humans. Just waiting to die."
Zorfis observed with interest. "Their technology is impressive. They managed to eliminate some third-rank denizens. But their luck ends here." He smiled, eyes glowing. "We will end them and take it all."
Dracon scoffed. "I should start by wiping out entire countries… but that would destroy their toys too. How troublesome."
Wrict growled. "Syril is missing. I suspect he's among those who joined with the Divine. When I get my hands on him… he's finished."
Naamah rolled her eyes. "Ugh, it's a mess down there. Do we really have to clean up? I'd rather be tormenting souls in hell."
"Don't worry, my dear," Luvart replied, licking his lips. "We'll make light work of this and then go back to having our fun."
Ashton scoffed. "Those demons who joined the Divine… I pity them. Now that we're here, they—and humanity—are as good as dead."
"They'll pay with their lives," Lamia said darkly.
"FIRE!" shouted General Lao.
A deafening roar sounded as soldiers launched a nuclear missile directly at Zorfis. It struck with a blinding explosion.
"Yes! A direct hit!" Lao yelled triumphantly as cheers erupted around him.
But when the smoke cleared, Zorfis stood unharmed.
"W-what?! That was one of our strongest weapons!" Lao stammered. "How is this possible?!"
Zorfis raised his arm, a giant sphere of seething energy forming in his hand.
"This is the might of mankind's technology?" he sneered. "How disappointing. Allow me to show you what real power looks like."
With a casual motion, he hurled the sphere at the military base. The explosion leveled it entirely.
Then, Zorfis reached out telepathically, his voice echoing inside the minds of every human across the globe.
"Listen to me, mortals.
You have a choice:
Accept the infernal seal and be reborn as one of us.
Or die and be turned into a senseless denizen.
You have one hour."