A few minutes earlier
Emilia is sitting on the couch in the portal room when Oshose, Nicosal, and Xavier walk through the portal. "Hello, Emilia," said Nicosal cheerfully while reaching out his hands. "Nicosal," Emilia responded calmly after tilting her head to the right. She notices the demon in the latex dog gimp suit. "That's obviously Oshose. Their plan is so stupid," thought Emilia with a less-than-amused face.
"Do you have a visual on Oshose?" asked Solrac telepathically to Emilia.
"Yes," she responded. Emilia looks at Nicosal, disappointed. "I'm not joining your little group, Nicosal," said Emilia, aloof.
"Those days are behind me." Nicosal walks forward toward Emilia. "I'm not asking," Nicosal said, commanding.
"Well, I don't care. Hand over Oshose," Emilia said firmly while walking closer to Nicosal.
"I guess I'll die because I'm disobeying orders by doing this, but–" said Nicosal before grabbing Emilia by the ear. "You're coming with us, you bitch," yelled Nicosal. He looks her in the eye and smiles. "Plus, you're important for the story to come." She struggles and squirms. Emilia writhed and squiggled.
"What do you mean 'story to come?" yelled Emilia pitifully.
"Don't worry about it. Our readers will know what I'm talking about,"chuckled Nicosal. "No. Not anything depraved, vile, or sexual. Get your minds out of the gutter, you perverts!" he mocked (you). Emilia struggled like a disobedient child.
Okay, okay, I'll join you!" whined Emilia. "Just stop pulling my ear."
"I'm not falling for that. I'm not letting you go until we get to our destination."
"Emilia, is everything all right? Come in. Come in!" asked Solrac telepathically to Emilia.
"Do I sound like I'm all right?" she whined back to Solrac.
"Hold on, I have a plan," responded Solrac with fading confidence.
"Solraaaaac," she yelled telepathically.
Solrac left his office and left a portal device on his desk. The portal device sits on Solrac's desk for a long while.
Nicosal, Oshose, and Xavier started walking away from the portal. "Solrac, this wasn't part of the plan!" Emilia complained. Nicosal stopped walking for a moment and looked at his hand. He face-palms.
"Oh, silly me, we can't get around without a portal maker," said Nicosal, chuckling.
Solrac is sitting at his desk once more. "There's my cue," he said before teleporting away from his office.
Nicosal teleports to Solrac's office. "Can't teleport long distances without at least a B or Faction-Leader-class portal device," said Nicosal. He walks over to Solrac's desk. "And besides, all Greater Demons and above possess the innate ability to teleport genetically." He grabs the portal device off Solrac's desk. "Here it is. Too bad I was born a lesser, but Captain rank has its perks, such as devices that amplify one's strength." He looks down at the portal device suspiciously. "But why did Solrac leave his on his desk?" thought Nicosal. Nicosal teleports back to the rest of them. "All right, let's go," said Nicosal. Emilia struggled in Nicosal's grip.
"You won't get away with this, Nicosal. Solrac knows you're taking me, "she said firmly while sharply looking Nicosal in the eyes. He looks back at Emilia with a sadistic face.
"Oh, I can imagine," said Nicosal.
"Then why do you continue this betrayal?" Emilia asked, sweating and glaring furiously.
"I guess I have a death wish," said Nicosal grimly. He stroked his chin, looked at the portal, and then glared back at Emilia with determination. "Or maybe I just hate Solrac, and my life is worth sacrificing, so I don't have to answer to him anymore."
Oshose raised his hand like a grade schooler asking a question in the middle of a teacher's lecture and said, "How are we going to escape the crystal?"
Xavier looked on in horror, darting his head back and forth between Nicosal and Oshose. Saying, "Yeah, we're going to die, you know," and trembling with clammy palms.
Nicosal put his hands on Oshose and Xavier's shoulders and looked at them with warm and reassuring with confidence, "Leave that to me." To everyone's surprise, Nicosal pulls out the portal gun.
They all gasped, and Xavier pointed at the device. A true feat of engineering. Getting the demonic factions to work together to build such things was unheard of only fifty demon years (or hundreds of human years prior). He says, "How did you get that?!" astonished.
Nicosal looked at Xavier suspiciously, saying, "It seems Solrac gave it to us. But don't get too comfortable. It's most likely a trap or a trick of some sort. The woke crowd are clowns."
Xavier looks down at the device, out of breath from gasping, and says, "No, that's real."
Nicosal stroked his chin and squinted, saying, "Huh. I still don't think it's an accident."
"Agreed," said Xavier.
"Speaking of our inevitable deaths, let's go, everyone," said Nicosal blankly. Nicosal clicks the button on the right side of the device's handle. A portal opens at the end of the room. The four of them walk through the portal. What awaits Oshose, Nicosal, Xavier, and our reluctant heroine Emilia on the other side is something only time will tell.
One Month Ago
Solrac is meeting with a higher-ranking demon to discuss his plans to get them approved by the higher-ups. David, who is sitting in his chair on the other side of the long table, leans his face to one side against his left palm. He wears a green long-sleeved jacket with a silver star-embedded collar. The silver pins on his top glisten in the torchlight. David also wears long gray pants and black military boots. His four horns on each side curve away from each other in the front. He has orange irises, a more prominent nose than Solrac (interestingly enough), short curly brown hair, a rounded jawline, pointed ears, and a slightly masculine build. Solrac is kneeling in front of David (who is sipping tea) just off his side of the table. Solrac raises his head and says, "So, what do you think, David?" The high-ranking demon finishes sipping, puts the teacup on the table, and wears a bored look on his face.
David remembers the words of the Commander: "I told you not to put your damn teacups on the table without a coaster!". The Commander slips a coaster under the cup. "See, it's not that hard. Is it, David?" continues the Commander.
"No," said David quietly with the look of a child who just got told off by their mother and is yet to recover from the emotional damage.
He twitches and recoils. "Ah. Whatever," said David defiantly, ignoring the Commander's words and setting the teacup back on the table. "I'll just wipe it down. He'll never know." He coughs to hide his emotions, then says, "I think your plan presents many uncertainties", while looking back at Solrac. He lowers his eyebrows and continues, "How can you be sure it will pan out that way?"
Solrac gets to his feet and looks at David, saying, "I can't, but I have prepared a backup solution for every contingency I could think of." Solrac smiles after he finishes. David responds,
"Oh? Every possible contingency you can think of. Those are just your thoughts, though. It needs to be approved by the seven kings. They rule over hell, not you." David sips his tea once more, then puts down the teacup, continuing, "Why are you smiling? Do you plan to be one of the seven demon lords?" David chuckles.
"Yes," responded Solrac promptly. David puts down his tea a bit too hard, spilling a bit on the table.
"Dammit!" thought David. He said with a raised voice, "Think realistically; you are a common-ranked demon. Do you know how hard it would be to get up to their level?"
"Then I will speak with them," responded Solrac promptly.
David laughed and almost fell back in his chair and spilt the tea, then said, "Do you know how stupid you sound? They would not hesitate to kill you for insubordination or being in their presence."
Solrac looks David dead in the eye and says, "I don't want to keep being a joke to them."
David crosses his legs, sips his tea once more, then shrugs and mocks Solrac, "Well, you are kind of a joke. You've gotten many handicaps from the higher-ups since you were a kid. Who's to say that you're not just kidding yourself and overlooking the crucial detail that you're nothing without Oshose leading all of you."
Solrac kept looking at David with the same intensity, saying, "I still want to try."
David put his tea on the table, looking back at Solrac, replying, "Okay, but you're not making it look like I approved it. I prefer my head attached to my body," then snapping his fingers.
Two guards approached the two demons, and David commanded, "Escort him out of here. I'm done meeting with him."
The two guards tapped their antispears on the ground, both saying, "Yes, sir."
Solrac arrived outside. The guards left him and closed the door behind him. Solrac smiled with determination and excitement, saying, "Now, to go to the royal circle." He walked down the path that led to the Supreme Greater Circle city of Rosanige. There is much less vegetation out this way. No pesky trees, weeds, or creeps on the site. Solrac walked for (what to him felt like just) thirty-four minutes. Along the way, he walked past some merchants. One in a crimson masquerade. One dressed like a British noble. And the other is lined in full-body jewelry. The last one, she winked at Solrac as he passed her. He didn't know how to react to this, so he awkwardly tried to make a seductive face at her. She misinterpreted this gesture and cringed and looked away from him. For such a "charismatic guy," he sure is a loser. Well, the charisma is more so in his head than anything. He continued his walk into the city, and some lesser demons bumped into him. A tall and skinny one with a terrible fashion sense. He has two horns coming out of his nipples. The other one is average height but has a terrible appearance. He had a slightly disfigured face with two horns protruding from his cheeks.
Solrac is annoyed by this misstep, complaining, "Hey! What are you looking at?"
The taller demon responds, "Oh shit! Run!"
The average-height demon adds, "It's the devil's seven prodigies leader! Fuck!"
Solrac knocked them down as they ran away, kicking them in the back, asking, "Where did you come from? This is the supreme greater demon realm!"
The shorter demon chimes in a while, quivering, "Actually, we're in the greater realm."
"Oh," said Solrac. "Who do you work for?"
The taller demon responded, "We're working for a greater demon. Blaztor. Blaztor Roth."
Solrac backed away, shaking, replying, "Blaztor? The flaming abomination? The tear of demise: Blaztor?"
The taller demon quivers and responds, "Yes."
Solrac lowers his guard and looks at both, asking, "Where is Blaztor right now?"
The average-height demon replies, "At our base."
Solrac stops and thinks out loud for a second, "What faction was he from again?"
The average-height demon says, "The Nine Angel Tears."
Solrac looked shocked but, more than anything, scared. Saying, "The Nine Angel Tears? They're number five out of twelve of all the factions." The Nine Angel Tears. Consisting of 9 generals and 36 subordinates per general. In this group, the leading demons are known as "tears." Their "tears" are as follows: Tear of Demise, Tear of Fear, Tear of Love, Tear of Hate, Tear of Loyalty, Tear of Hope, Tear of Faith, Tear of Life, and Tear of Wisdom.
The taller demon looks at the other and whispers, "Our master is calling."
The average-height demon responds, "Let him know we are on our way." Both lesser demons look at Solrac with discontent. The taller demon says to Solrac menacingly, "We will tell Master Blaztor of this disrespect. What he does is up to him."
Solrac reached out and replied, worried, "Tell him I didn't know you were serving him and that I apologize." The taller demon snickers and mocks, "Apologize yourself. Would you like to come with us? He already knows of this."
Solrac pushes both demons apart and says, finally accepting his fate, "Fine. I'll come with you."
The taller demon holds his wrist up to his mouth and says, "Master, the one known as Solrac is coming with us to apologize."
Blaztor responded on the intercom device, "Good. I will see you at my place, Solrac." Those last words shook Solrac to his very core. He didn't see anything good coming out of this, then nervously gulped his saliva. Solrac stood there as he and the two demons went through a portal to the Nine Angel Tears' base. They arrived in the hall of the nine inside the base. The three of them approached the nine thrones that sat at the end of the room. Solrac's dress shoes ruffled the red carpet beneath his feet as he walked closer. Blaztor gets up from his throne, and the three demons kneel before him. He looks down at Solrac with condescension and sadism, saying with a tone to match his look, "Ah. So, you're a common rank who disrespected my subordinates. Therefore, disrespecting me. I love my subordinates very much. I know it isn't in line with tradition. But who cares? Solrac, was it?"
Solrac shook nervously and gulped again. He'd never felt so afraid in his life. "Yes, that's right", he replied anxiously.
"Well? Let's hear your apology", Blaztor asserted with mocking undertones.
"I am sorry for disrespecting the nine angel tears. I deeply feel regret for what I have done. Please allow me to make it up to you in any way I can," stammered Solrac as he continued quivering. His white pupils dilated so small as he looked down at the ground.
"Very pathetic, I say. But I accept", mocked Blaztor slowly after he clapped his hands for a bit. He stepped closer to Solrac, got in his face, and smiled viciously, continuing, "As for the making-it-up-to-me part. Hmm. Let's see. I know." Blaztor grabbed Solrac by the throat and grinned at him even more sadistically. His eyes filled with absolute hate and pleasure as he said, "Be my personal punching bag for the rest of the day. You can do that, can't you? You did say 'anything.' But I don't care. I'm not asking you. Your sentence starts now." Blaztor snapped his fingers, Solrac fell into a trance, and his vision eventually faded.
He woke up in bondage and suspended from the ceiling, paralyzed. Blaztor came into his field of view and said, "You don't even know the beating you are about to suffer!" He didn't hear what he said, as it was fuzzy. Then he listened to that sinister cackling laugh. The laugh of a monstrous individual who got pleasure from others' pain. Blaztor roundhouse kicked Solrac's cheek, and a chunk of the tissue busted out.
"Aaaaaaaaauuuuuuugghhh!!!!" yelled Solrac in absolute agony. The kick left a gash on the left side of his face that gushed blood. Blaztor took some blood on his finger and licked it.
Something isn't right. Solrac was paralyzed, but he could feel everything. Every blow and kick.
"That's it. Suffer. That wasn't even a fatal blow, so you can regenerate and feel the pain all day and not die." Blaztor grabbed Solrac's face between the fingers of one hand and continued, "Now, let's do something about that annoying scream." Blaztor snapped his fingers, and a gag manifested in Solrac's open mouth. "There we go. Now I don't have to hear your loud voice. It was starting to give me a headache", Blaztor said softly. He then spat on Solrac's face and punched him in the chest. He screamed, but the sound traveled far. All the wind in Solrac's lungs was shot in a split second, leaving him desperately wheezing and gasping for air. "Oh well, now the whole neighborhood will hear your punishment," laughed Blaztor. He continued beating him into the night. They say Solrac's screams could be heard in many towns that day. It must have been some beating. Huh?
The Next Day
Solrac was healed, but the trauma was still there. Blaztor undid his bonds. Solrac fell to the ground. Blaztor snapped his fingers, and Solrac could move once more. Blaztor walks over to Solrac, crawling away, and says, "Now you know what happens. Do it again, and I might keep you here forever."
He walked and emerged out of the base, looking at his surroundings. Solrac walked to the royal layer. He was beaten many more times by the vile scum living in the greater and supreme realms. It took a couple of days, but he made it to the palace gate, saying to one of the guards, "I'd like to speak with the seven kings of hell. My name is Solrac."
The guard laughed muffled behind his mask decked out in natural demon teeth. He responded, "A common demon like yourself has no business meeting with the seven kings of hell."
Solrac replied, "But–"
The guard jabbed him in the gut with the butt of his pentaspear, then insisted, "No. Turn back now if you wish to return with your life."
Solrac returned to the Twelve Disciples' base. He went into the same room he last met David. David is once again sipping tea and sitting at the meeting room table. His mocking eyes follow Solrac's every step as he goes to sit at the table. He puts down his teacup onto a coaster. "Commander Villematreaux really let me have it this time. I'm not disobeying his orders again. Not even a menial one such as coasters under drinks", thought David. David looks at Solrac and says, sure of the response, "Well, what did I tell you? You were denied, yes?"
Solrac looked up and at David's eyes with a disappointed blankness, saying quietly, "I don't understand. I formed the devil's seven prodigies with the permission of the seven kings of hell."
David put his hand on Solrac's shoulder and said nicely, "That was faction rush. It's only for children." He bitch-slapped Solrac's face so hard he had a phantom pain from the beating from Blaztor. He continued, "Of course, the seven kings of hell would be there. They approve the formation, recruitment, and disbanding of all factions." He shrugged, further stating, "What are a bunch of children going to do to harm the leaders of hell?" Solrac gritted his teeth at those words. David pushed Solrac off the table and sipped his tea, mocking, "Why don't you just go back to your pathetic faction and forget about this dumb plan?" He poured his tea on Solrac's head. "Just stick to the approved plan." Solrac sighs as he leaves the Twelve Disciples' base.
One Week Later
He headed back to the Devil's Seven Prodigies' base. Solrac sat at his desk for a good while before a crow could be heard squawking outside the window. The crow shattered the window, fell on the floor, got up, and yelled, "Squawk!!!! Your plan has been approved by the seven kings! Good luck with it." Solrac looks genuinely delighted by this, saying, "All right. Time to get this show on the road."