Chapter one

     THE QUEST FOR GLORY        

The crack of lightning glints as pools of the blue hue of fog drift, and creatures of orb piercers bite on the feet of fiends chained while standing on the puddle of flowing corpses of the damned. 

The air was rancid and cascaded cloudburst of acid rain drops on the heads of chained anomalies and prisoners of the abyss. 

It was all torments and screams. The Balors with their blazing whip were enjoying this, chasing human prisoners, who try to escape their cruel torments however the thug demons would shove the prisoners on the floor while the Balors lashes out their whips which coiled on the flesh of escaping victims and dragged them in the exposure of the acid rain. 

The port hole was called Golden City located in the capital of unreturned. The irony of the name golden city was coined because the balers wear heavy gold chains on their necks, arms, and legs so everywhere was glittering and shining brighter than the dungeons where beasts are kept for sports. 

All that glitters in this city is not gold.

Gaalmagus was chained among other demons whose loyalty was questioned, and those who failed in combat or task. 

Gaalmagus was imprisoned because he defiled the orders given by Xanxost to take care of the activities in the underworld.

To prove his point he demanded trial by combat and his fight was against Hexblade, a fiercely dangerous Balor. 

He knows technicalities and strength will do little all he needs is a magical way of getting out of the situation and possibly an ally. 

The ability to break the chains was limited because the elder brain is put to work to limit any demon from freedom. 

The elder brain sucks out creativity or any thoughts of freedom in this portal and limits the ability of any demon around this lair to think independently. 

Akaza moves around laughing his head off as he pauses close to Gaalmagus. 

"Greetings master; I deem it fit to greet you". Akaza mocked. 

Gaalgamus regards him for a while 

"where eagles and hawks fly, the butterfly has no place". 

"When eagles have become entangled with the Hawks, the butterfly knows the essence of freedom and can easily beat his wing with joy". Akaza replied. 

Soon as I gain my freedom, my soul will be crushed, " the butterfly always thinks he is a bird". Gaalmagus retorted. 

I used to admire you, comrade, what happened? You allow yourself to be degraded and abused. 

You defy Xanxost's orders to keep this place operating, you think way too high for yourself. 

 XanXost is weak! and my perfect plan will unveil later. 

The flame altered from shades of bright red and changed to bright blue to indicate summoning.

Good day traitor, he moved away briskly. 

Bethesda walked in gently as she used her hand to caress the wall and ran her hands gently on the chain used to secure him. This chain is well enchanted. I can't even think straight like something is breaking into my thoughts. I don't like this one bit.

Have you also come to mock me? 

Gaalmagus, I dare not mock you.

How dare you defy me and call me by my name? We are not even of the same rank so watch your tongue yali whore.

Perhaps if my lord wishes to continue wallowing in pride I can take my services elsewhere, the succubus concludes with dismay in her voice. 

"You used to be my slave Bethesda", do well to remember your place, yali worm". 

I came to work with you to set you free.

Set me free? you speak highly for yourself considering your category.

I am now the Queen of the damned newly promoted by Asmodeus himself she held up her chest with pride. 

Gaalmagus observed her with keen curiosity "Perhaps my whore is worth a fortune now, he smiled".

Tell me do your minions or faithful pray to you?

Do you mean beings outside this realm? 

Yes, exactly.

Well, You will do well to visit their temple. 

I have a humble request to make to my queen.

She moved closer and used her hands to probe under his thighs as she quickly started massaging his phallus. 

What would that be my love, 

She straddles him as he lowers himself to an invisible seat still bound by chains and starts groaning as Bethesda humps continually on him till they both achieve a purpose of pleasure, all succubus require body secretions as means of payment.

She slipped herself from him and held his cheek. I would gladly ask them to pray for you. 

*****************************************

          THE CONTRACTOR 

Bethesda ascended to the upper realm, she utilized her vial, a dark nectar of reserved blood preserved and consumed in the underworld, also used as currency. 

To conserve energy she consumed vials and climbed the infinite steps, flying around an abyss portal that could not only attract a fine but also severe punishment as a low-ranked demon or Such succubus as herself. 

She reached the entrance to the realms of the dead guarded by the contractor who was well-known as the grim reaper. 

She bowed mockingly, if my lord of death pleases I wish to pass onto the realm of the living. 

The grim reaper intently peeped at the succubus; she rasped painfully as her life force reduced. 

The grim reaper derives joy in draining a life force.

Don't do that, I am a queen of the damned and you are to abide in me. 

You are nothing but a yali worm and with one swipe, of this I would take your life and send you to the lower plain. He waved his curved scythe menacingly at her. 

The eye socket started to glow red, in fear she backed away and her back close to the wall as he waved his scythe, the pall above the city of the damned went pitch black, and thousands of screams commenced shapes of humanoids were dropping from the pall into the lower layer of the abyss. 

Thousands of people condemned and sent to the abyss were falling as the Reaper waved his scythe. 

She shifted her gaze and peeped at the lower abyss. A fresh set of people were screaming and in torment. 

She stood till he was done harvesting. 

She chooses her words carefully. Our ruler isn't aware am going to the world.

Yes indeed I'm aware of this, his skeletal low jaw dropped she could tell that was a smile. 

I just want to go on a task Gaalmagus sent me!

Which is? 

Take souls from Nerul temple. 

Whose soul in particular? He sneers as his contract paper appears and he pretends to scan it. 

Interesting …he beamed. 

What's so interesting about your eh list? She pretends to peep at it. 

What interests me the most is that your master's name is on my list. 

Bethesda wide-eyed turned blindly and ran, the grim reaper threw his head backward and laughed; the clattering of his teeth could send chills down the spine as it sounded like death with a sense of humor. 

"Gaalmagus wake up," Bethesda screams.

Who says a demi-god sleeps?, am trying to break through this blankness He responded. 

"I didn't say so". She glared

Bethesda was catching her gust, "The contractor has your name on the list". she wailed. 

So my combat with Hexblade could lead to my demise he contemplated. 

I didn't see that coming. Someone is limiting my thoughts and vision, perhaps a brain controller.

He smiled "An elder brain is controlling this part of the realm, indeed very clever I must admit".

Your journey wasn't so useless after all; besides, you need to be witty and strike more bargains with the contractor. 

Since I know I don't have much time nor do I have many allies. 

I can cause more trouble by liberating the beast I chained in the dungeon, kindly tell him it's a parting gift from Gaalmagus.

Do you mean the dragon? Belmeth!

Exactly. 

My love, I am scared of that beast it could flay me. 

Don't even think of hesitating to do it, tell him he's free. 

Use magic to break his chains. 

Magic is forbidden in the inner chambers Bethesda pouted. 

Well, use the chain breaker. 

Tell him Hexblade intends to kill him and you wish to ride him to the Temple of Nerul as a queen. 

Use your authority and show no fear.

Anything else my lord? she bowed her head. 

Yes, make sure the people devote the prayer to my name and sacrifice as many devotees as possible to give me strength.

When the reaper appears to you tell him, you are doing my binding usually it costs two thousand souls to break a rule. 

Where do you intend to get those souls? 

He grinned, bringing the war to earth soon. That is where I want to seek solace, make haste and move along my love. 

*****************************************

         THE FOOL'S FOLLY 

The Fool glides into the torture chambers, hacken unto me Gaalmagus I know your plans and I like it. 

Fool, What do you want? 

Mayhem! That is all I want, the fool replied drifting all over the room. He is a black slippery entity whose existence has been ancient and hidden since creation.

I know of your plans with the whore Bethesda. I have always known you for good marks. 

I will make it all easy for you tonight promise me one thing! 

Chaos! 

Gaalmagus grinned, I promise you to also end the world. 

Deal then, I assume you are to have combat at midnight. 

Fear not demi-god for I am with you. 

It slid off the room. 

Bethesda opened the door of the chamber and started descending the stairs into the dungeons she lifted her touch light, for fear that using magic glow might send the wrong signal. 

She stepped on the pool of water as it smelled strongly of iron. 

It smelt of blood and she cringed, as she heard the rustling of chains. 

Who is there? the voice growled as a hot cloudburst of air flared past her 

Dragon breathed and she covered her nose. 

I am the queen of the undead, Bethesda.

You smell oddly delicious for a succubus, and a glowing bulb of red eyes slowly approached her. 

I know that scent, you reek of the scent of my aggressor.

Gaalmagus!He flared in outrage.

He spouted flames towards her direction as she took plight and beat her wings flying for refuge. 

She kept flying as she felt something wet and slippery rammed into her knocking her down, blood trickling on her head. It was the dragon's razor tail that caught her off guard, not that she couldn't see in the dark but fear overwhelmed her. 

I smell blood the dragon hissed, Bethesda extended her wings and elevated higher as she conjured orbs of light as she threw the flame of glow it repelled off the dragonhide she forgot dragons are immune to magic, the dragon spouted flames at her and she barricaded herself with an imperceptible barrier to repel off the dragon flames. 

Wait! Before you think of scorching me I came to release you from captivity she screamed.

The dragon wavered, why would you do that? under whose wish? 

Gaalmagus ordered it as his last dying wish.

He urges me to tell you that Hexblade was planned to place you in a worse condition than this. 

Who can stand in for these allegations you bring forth? 

I will 

The fool's voice echoes loudly. 

The Fool? the dragon's voice sounded with suspicion. 

Oh yes, it is I the ancient essence of darkness, he who is undetected, the rogue of the evening.

Stop the flattering and get to the point. 

Listen to me, scourger this will benefit us all. I have planned a rebellion, Gaal is my best bet as my fighting champion.

All you need is to escape with the succubus and live the affairs of the underworld to the masters. 

No punishment would be awarded to you or even the succubus rather punishment awaits the higher-ranked villains. 

I don't like anybody riding at my back except for the master who enslaved me. 

Bethesda is his mistress, hope you understand and all this is strictly necessary dropping all rivalry aside. 

The dragon nodded then lowered himself while Bethesda climbed the dragon and started ascending the portal. 

It flew higher and burst through the portal opened by black magic. 

Bethesda directed the dragon to glide eastwards and landed on the Tower of the Temple of Nerul 

The priest looked up and cried out behold our queen of the damned as heeded our prayers!

She descended gradually and came close to the priest. 

Pray !! To your god Gaalmagus!

Pray for his victory !!! 

Pray your worms, for in the end, you shall partake in his bounty of glory.

The Nerul priest started their incarnation.

Bring in your sacrifice now! 

Just then five maidens were bound in ropes naked and laid on the altar one by one their throats were slit open.  

*****************************************

             PANDEMONIUM 

The Grim Reaper has latched his scythe on a being assumed to be Gaalmgus which quickly evaporated into gliding wet black oil.

Fool! The Grim Reaper howled

A bash of flames went off! Orgathax demons started fighting themselves. Balor swung forth his burning chains and pulled down five demon thugs cursing at being pulled.

A bloodletter rammed his horns into a pit fiend. 

And tossed a magical flame-pitched fork at the ribs of the pit fiend sending it sinking into the flames. 

You worm! You dare not Hexblade pull out his magical blade and slice open the bloodletter's gut as bile blood flowed out. A dark wraith demon emerged from the shadows and hurled a poisoned spear at a Rakdos demon who ducked and tossed a magical flaming mace at the villain, the blow sent the dark wraith crashing straight to another plateau 

Akaza drew his blade and went straight into the dungeon where Gaalmagus was secured only to find the shackles of chains littering the floor. 

He screamed "Treachery!" 

He ran out, "XanXost" he howled, Gaal had escaped!

Find him! 

More or less, demons armed with blades started searching fanatically for Gaalmagus.

Hexblade exalted and ascended to the upper layer of the abyss to find Gaalmagus already waiting for him. 

" Not on my watch will I let you go", he expelled a thunderbolt and it hit the prisoner as he groaned in pain. 

He swung a flaming mace at Hexblade, he swerved it and the blow collided with the pillar, the realm gravel gave away everywhere was vibrating. 

Hexblade plummeted Gaalmagus with several hits from his hammer and held his throat. 

Gaalmagus was bleeding, now I will send you to a lower abyss with your soul crushed, he growled. 

Gaalmagus broke his grasp and held him "I have got you where I always wanted". He pulled out the blade of glory and stabbed Hexblade in his rib and pushed him.

Hexblade fell like lightning descending fast into the lake of flames. 

Akaza looked up and wailed in agony, Gaalmagus smiled as the portal opened up and he vanished. 

Asmodeus beamed one win for you fool!