Chapter 5
I stood beside Loona, who was recording with her phone as we watched Moxxie struggle, failing to take down a hellhog.
"Sometimes, I swear they're setting him up to fail," I muttered, shaking my head.
"Or maybe he's just that pathetic. Who knows?" Loona replied with a shrug.
I shot her a deadpan look. "Really?"
She only shrugged again, unfazed.
I sighed, resigned. "I'm gonna go help him out," I said, stepping into the pen.
"Victor?" Millie's voice reached me, tinged with confusion.
Ignoring her, I vanished in a quick burst of speed, reappearing in front of the hellhog. With a single, fluid motion, I swung my left hand, severing the creature's head. Moxxie tumbled off the hog, landing on his rear in the mud. I sighed, dusting my hands off, and walked back to Loona.
"Must you ruin all my fun?" she asked, a slight pout in her voice.
"Yes," I replied immediately. "Now, let's go find the person we're supposed to keep an eye on." I turned and started toward the farm.
"Yeah, yeah," Loona grumbled, rolling her eyes.
As we walked, I noticed Striker giving me a lingering look, but I ignored him. Loona and I continued across the farm until we finally found Stolas.
"Stolas, must you always be so far away?" I called out, annoyance clear in my voice.
"Oh, Victor! Loona! So glad you finally arrived! And where might Blitzo be?" Stolas asked, looking around eagerly.
"We've been here for a while, actually. Blitzo is out front," I said as Loona grunted her usual lack of enthusiasm.
"Oh, goodie!" Stolas clapped his hands, seemingly oblivious.
"That grunt was Loona-speak for 'Yeah, yeah, let's hurry up and get this started,'" I translated, earning a light punch on the arm from Loona.
"Yes, of course. Right this way," Stolas said, leading us to a small stage. Blitzo and the others had finally arrived, so Loona and I leaned back, half-listening as some demon named Wally Wackford introduced Stolas to the stage. Stolas gave a painfully corny speech to start the Pain Games, and then, with the crack of a starting gun, the games began.
Loona and I settled in, watching Stolas watch Blitzo compete.
"Damn, Moxxie's really going out sad," I said, cringing as Moxxie stumbled through the race.
"This is peak comedy," Loona deadpanned, looking as entertained as I'd ever seen her.
"Loona, come on. I know you don't exactly like Moxxie, but cut him a little slack."
She stared at me with a blank look. "Please tell me you're joking?"
I met her gaze seriously for a moment, before she scoffed, "Ha, never."
I was about to reply when my phone started ringing. Checking the caller ID, I saw it was Lily's number.
"Keep an eye on Stolas," I told Loona, stepping away from the noise as I answered. "Lily, how are you?"
To my surprise, a familiar but different voice responded. "It's not Lilith. It's me."
"Eve? How are you? I'm guessing Lily passed along my message?"
"Yes, she did. I'm fine, thanks for asking."
"Good to hear. So what's with the sudden call?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
"You and Lily are always hitting me up for favors," I chuckled. "What do you need?"
"It's… nothing major," she replied, her tone suspiciously casual.
"Eve, anytime you or Lilith say it's 'nothing major,' it's *always* major."
She laughed softly. "Maybe, but this time it really isn't."
I sighed. "Alright, what is it?"
"Can I stay with you for a while?"
"I'm guessing Lily told you I'm in Hell?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is Heaven getting a bit too dull for you?"
"Very funny. But yes, actually," she admitted, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Well, you're in luck. With Hell's antics, you'll never be bored here. Fine, but I'll have to drop you off at Charlie's hotel; I'm busy right now."
"No problem, I'll wait."
"Good. Later, Eve."
"Later, Victor."
I hung up and returned to the game grounds, noticing that the event was pretty much over. I made my way back to Loona. "So, what'd I miss?"
"Outside of Moxxie failing spectacularly? Not much."
"Who won?"
"Blitzo and that Striker guy tied."
"Figures," I muttered, sitting down as Stolas announced the winners. Out of nowhere, Striker pulled out a guitar and started singing.
"Okay, that is just overdoing it," I said, cringing slightly.
We watched as Blitzo went over to Moxxie and Millie, who seemed to be trying to comfort him. Whatever she said gave Moxxie a little push, and he stood up, but Striker took the opportunity to mock him in the middle of his song. Yep, definitely doing too much. Finally, Striker wrapped up and left for the ranch. A few minutes later, I sensed a fight breaking out in the barn.
I stood up. "Come on, Loona. Time to go bask in my 'I told you so' moment." Grabbing her arm, I teleported us both to the ranch.
A Few Minutes Earlier (Moxxie's POV)
Moxxie glumly walked up the stairs, pausing when he noticed light seeping through the bottom of a door.
"Well, that's troubling," he murmured.
He opened the door, peeking around, and saw the light coming from a box. Inside was a rifle with strange glowing designs.
"Oh, my crumbles!" he gasped, running his hand along the weapon. "A genuine, carmine-crafted, blessing-tipped rifle! How… How in the Hell did he get one of these?!"
Striker leaned against the door frame behind him, smirking. "Why don't you ask me, little dude?"
"Shit!" Moxxie stumbled back, his eyes wide. "W-Why do you have this, mister?! You do realize this kind of weapon can kill—"
"...demon royalty?" Striker finished for him.
"Yes. That," Moxxie stammered.
"No shit. That's kinda the point." Striker flicked his wheat stalk away, grinning as he closed the door and stepped toward Moxxie.
"Okay, well… I'm relatively concerned by your possession of this… I'm also glad my instant dislike of you has been vali—"
Striker grabbed him by the throat. "—DATED!"
He wrapped his tail around Moxxie's neck and threw him hard against the wall. Moxxie clawed at Striker, gasping for air as he looked around, spotting a lamp on the table. He kicked it over, smashing it into Striker. Millie heard the noise from outside, just as Moxxie scrambled to the door. But Striker yanked him back, choking him again with a dark, menacing laugh.
"Pathetic."
Just then, Millie burst in, stabbing Striker in the back with a furious yell. She pounced on him, driving her knife into his shoulder, but he wrested free, grabbing her and slamming her against the wall with enough force to break her arm. She collapsed beside Moxxie, clutching her injury.
In a flash of gold light, I appeared with Loona beside me.
"Victor!" Moxxie gasped in relief.
"Yo," I replied, casting a glance at Striker. "I *knew* something was off about you."
Striker glared. "I could say the same about you, human."
I shrugged. "Call it what you want, but…" I vanished, reappearing in front of him, gripping his throat. "I can't let you kill Stolas."
"Go to hell."
"Aw, that's not very nice," I replied, holy lightning crackling over my free hand. "Maybe this'll improve your manners."
Just as I brought my hand closer, the door burst open, and Blitzo ran in.
"You're late," I said, barely looking at him.
Striker used the distraction to pull a hidden dagger from his boot, stabbing my arm and forcing me to release him. He wasted no time diving out the window, vanishing into the distance.
"You good?" Loona asked, glancing at the dagger still lodged in my arm.
"Yeah, I'm good," I replied, yanking it out as the wound healed over instantly.
"And you're just gonna let him get away?" she asked, watching him flee.
I glanced at the rifle Striker had left behind, examining it with interest. "Yeah, something tells me we'll be seeing him again."
Chapter 5: End