- Lucifer, Fensyr, Peter, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi
Amaterasu, Peter, and Tsukuyomi joined Lucifer and Fensyr. Peter and Tsukuyomi placed down two large plates of food. Lucifer explained Fensyr's plan to Peter. Peter picked at food as he spoke in a skeptical tone.
"Things are tense right now. Luce has an active target on his back, and unlike last time, the enemies in question don't appear to be angels."
Amaterasu took a bite of food and winced as the spice hit her tongue. "Well," she took a sip from a glass, "I think we have enough strength currently to deter any sane god from making an attempt."
Peter sneered, "We were travelin' with fuckin' Death and we still got attacked."
"I think this is different," Amaterasu disagreed. "Death has no defensive capabilities besides his magic negation but even that is limited to things in melee range of him. Tsukuyomi is top-ranked among the defensive magics."
"Death," Peter repeated himself. "If fuckin' Death wasn't enough to deter an attack, then no one is."
Fensyr joined in, "I came here with the little moon because I wanted to ask in person; if you can't or won't do it, then that's fine."
The four looked at Lucifer. Lucifer looked at Peter with an apologetic expression.
"Fuck," Peter clicked his tongue.
"'Little moon?'" Tsukuyomi questioned.
"I'll do it," Lucifer said. "I need to establish some rules first, get some things in line here, but I'll do it. There are also a few stops I'll need to make along the way."
"Where?" Fensyr was curious.
"Old friend that I might not get to visit again for some time after this," Lucifer looked at Peter.
Peter's sadness was replaced with a positive surprise. "Wait, Arryx?"
"The king of Adamantia?" Fensyr asked.
"Where?" Amaterasu inquired as she turned to Tsukuyomi. "Is that where Susano'o went when he left for that duel?"
"It's the old dwarf territory," Peter revealed. "It's near the N-H. It's where most of the enchanted weapons and life-weave clothin' come from."
- Elijah, Satan, Heinrich -
Elijah stretched and waved goodbye to the demon he had been training with. He walked over to Satan and Heinrich who were playing a board game. The game's board was made of multicolored stone, and the two were placing down tiles to spell out words.
"What's the current ruleset?" Elijah asked.
"German, English, and French," Heinrich said as he placed down multiple pieces.
"Ask," Satan said to Elijah.
Elijah examined the board. "I want to join Lucifer's trip."
"What if he isn't going to help Fensyr?" Heinrich asked.
"Ha!" Satan doubted. "Sure, go ahead."
"Just like that?" Elijah doubted.
"It'll be good for you," Satan said. "There's no better place to learn how to use lightning than the N-H. There is one condition I have for you though."
"And that is?" Elijah was suspicious.
Satan placed tiles on the board with a clack. "You have to fight on the E.B. at least three times."
"Fine," Elijah agreed.
Satan warned, "Be careful on the E.B., it's broken minds in the past."
Elijah didn't respond and ran off with a large grin.
"That's game," Heinrich pointed.
"How?" Satan scratched his head. "All right, next ruleset, Latin, Korean, and Russian."
As Satan and Heinrich continued playing, Satan's expression soured.
'Great,' Satan complained in his head. 'I'm going to have trade Lucifer a favor for information on what he did in Cosm. 'Devil' and now 'Warden', even 'contract' is causing a shift.'
- Lucifer, Fensyr, Peter, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi -
Lucifer was walking through the city explaining the plan moving forward. "First thing we'll need to do is hire a healer-"
"Along with the half-vampire?" Fensyr interrupted.
Lucifer questioned, "What do you mean along with? Yvere won't be joining us for this."
Fensyr glanced at Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. "About that..." he hesitated. "Obviously we had to travel through Sangmara to get here and obviously we couldn't do that without drawing a lot of attention. 'Yvere', told us that if you agreed to do this that she was joining no matter what."
"She was very insistent," Tsukuyomi added. "She said she would follow you if you tried to avoid Sangmara."
"Fuck," Lucifer grumbled.
"What's the problem?" Amaterasu didn't understand. "Aren't vampire healers normally paid a fortune?"
"I don't-" Lucifer shook his head. "Whatever. I'll just move on to the rules for now. First," he held up one finger, "I'm in charge, Peter is second-in-command."
"I-" Amaterasu stopped herself from arguing.
"Two," Lucifer held up a second finger, "if a fight breaks out, Peter and I will not hesitate to de-escalate said fight with aggressive force."
Fensyr tilted his head slightly. "Have your teams gotten into a lot of fights?"
"No," Lucifer held up a third finger. "I have a number of signals I'll be teaching you three. These signals are for the sake of the entire group's safety and must be followed if given."
The group kept walking as Lucifer explained the signals to Fensyr, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi. Eventually, the group arrived at a large gate near the center of the city with the words "Exotic Enclosure" written above it. Lucifer signaled to a demon guard and led the group into the area. Peter separated temporarily.
"Why is it so fucking big?!" Fensyr marveled at the massive red lizard roaming around a stone garden.
Lucifer walked up to the large creature and shot blue fire into its open mouth. The giant lizard inhaled the fire and made a happy sound. Lucifer turned around to introduce the creature. The lizard rested its chin on the top of Lucifer's head.
"Good boy, Rojo," Lucifer scratched the chin of the large lizard.
"Didn't know laga could get that big?" Amaterasu said.
Tsukuyomi spoke to himself, "Row-ho? Like the human pirates?"
Peter spoke from the side, "That'd be a more creative name."
Fensyr stopped staring in wonder at Rojo and quickly backstepped as he noticed the creature that Peter was standing next to. Peter patted the leg of the giant spider next to him.
["Good...see."] The spider spoke.
Peter introduced the creature, "This is Sheila."
"Oh ya named it, didja?!" Fensyr kept backpedaling.
Rojo plodded over to Sheila and nuzzled his head against her massive legs.
"They were gifts to Satan," Lucifer informed. "Satan has a large collection of creatures from around the world. Most of them are kept in a different city than this one."
["En-joy warm...Ro-Jo,"] Sheila said.
Lucifer grinned. "Normally, given Sheila's class of intelligence, she wouldn't be housed with a laga but she and Rojo get along well."
"How fuckin' beautiful," Fensyr tried to avoid looking at Sheila.
Lucifer walked up and fed more fire to Rojo. "You're in no position to question my choice for a name," he leered at Peter.
"Fuckin' Arachni," Fensyr mumbled to himself.
" I wonder how the Jorōgumo clan is doing?" Amaterasu said to Tsukuyomi.
-Lucifer, Peter, Fensyr, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Elijah -
Lucifer was lifting crates into his carts when he noticed Elijah sprinting towards him.
"NO!" Lucifer shouted so Elijah could hear.
"Come on!" Elijah argued.
Peter was directing Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi on where to move crates. He was about to tell Elijah no until he heard Lucifer say it.
"No," Lucifer repeated himself as he dropped a crate onto the cart. "This isn't a vacation or a mission. No offense, I'd prefer to keep the team as is right now for the sake of safety."
"What about Yvere?" Elijah asked. "I'm guessing she'll be joining you?"
Fensyr poked his head out from the other cart to see what was happening. He decided it wasn't worth joining the conversation and went back to helping Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi load crates.
"Really?" Lucifer said. "I don't want Yvere joining for personal reasons. As an ally, she's extremely capable and I'm lucky to have her assistance. You, like most modern-humans, do have a talent for magic but it's not enough to justify your joining."
"He's right," Amaterasu interjected. "Do you even have a contract?"
Elijah glared. "So you'll trust the woman who tried to kill us but not me because I'm not strong enough?"
"Context matters," Lucifer stated. "If I didn't trust Amaterasu enough I wouldn't be doing this trip."
Elijah clenched his teeth in frustration. He could tell that there was no point arguing with words. He took a deep breath and surged his body with electricity.
"Is that enough for you?" Elijah asked.
"Can you move?" Lucifer mocked.
Elijah glared and walked over to the stack of crates by Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. He hoisted a large crate onto his shoulder and jumped onto Lucifer's cart. He dropped the crate on the cart, causing the cart to rock as he did.
"Mmm," Lucifer said before shoving Elijah off the cart.
Elijah rolled as he hit the stones of the road. As angry as he was that Lucifer shoved him, the pride he had in his own ability to maintain the form caused him to smile defiantly.
Lucifer looked at Peter. Peter shrugged with acceptance.
"What were Satan's conditions?"
"Just one," Elijah stopped channeling his electricity. "I have to fight on the E.B. at least three times."
Amaterasu objected right as Lucifer was about to speak, "Just because he can maintain surge doesn't mean he won't be a bur-" she tried to stop herself, "-den."
Peter sighed, "Elijah, how old are ya again?"
Elijah revealed his age, surprising Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Fensyr.
"Fuckin' modern-humans," Peter shook his head.
Lucifer took a breath to calm himself. "The E.B. isn't a game Elijah. As useful a tool as it is for training, there's a reason it isn't more popular."
Elijah spoke arrogantly, "I'm the only one in this group who's actually died before. I know what comes with it."
Lucifer shook his head in disagreement and decided it wasn't worth continuing the argument.
- Lucifer, Kū, Fensyr -
Lucifer had Fensyr join him at the top of Hell's walls while Peter showed Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi around. Lucifer pulled out his echo.
"Y'know," Fensyr was moving his head around to observe the city below, "I hadn't considered that Odin might just tell ya no when ya ask."
"He won't," Lucifer said. "Odin is the most straightforward god I have ever met. Unless something's changed recently he'll have no reason to refuse."
"What gods haven't you met?" Fensyr questioned as he leaned further over the wall.
"Hello?" an exceptionally deep voice asked over the echo.
"Hi, Kū," Lucifer greeted. "I'm calling about a future visit."
"LUCIFER!" Kū roared with laughter.
"Is that Lucifer on the echo?" another voice could be heard in the background.
A jumble of loud voices came through the echo. Fensyr looked back at Lucifer who just shrugged.
Kū laughed. "So when exactly is this visit?!"
"However long it takes to get from Hell to the N-H, plus a few additional weeks to account for the usual problems."
"You know I have to ask," Kū responded, "Reason for the visit?"
"Helping a lycan with wolf business," Lucifer was honest.
"Mmm," Kū hummed. "How many visitors? Names? What races? Abilities?"
Lucifer listed off the needed information. Fensyr was impressed by the speed at which Lucifer was able to answer.
"We look forward to your visit!" Kū said as he ended the call.
Lucifer put his echo away and looked over at Fensyr. Fensyr was staring at Lucifer with an expression of deep curiosity.