The silence was heavy in the room after we had finished with memorizing the incantation and studying each word of it and possibility of the seal backfiring. Contrary to what Mammon had told me, the seal of Solomon and the incantation had no possibility of having any dire side effects. It was just a tool. In the end, it turned out that Mammon, once again, was lying for his benefit. Obviously, any incantation could backfire if one were to not be precise enough. The only ones who would actually have serious consequences were humans.

So, Beelzebub and I were relaxing on the couch, processing everything we had learned as we patiently waited for Belial's signal. I was slowly growing impatient and suspicious of Belial's whereabouts. There were certain doubts gnawing at me, like if he was ever going to give us a signal or he was just procrastinating due to playing a double agent. In order to push the paranoid thoughts away and avoid acting on impulse for as long as possible, I turned my attention to Beelzebub.

"I ran into Mammon earlier..." I began as I saw him frown lightly. "He wanted back in the cause." I continued slowly, "I thought you were keeping an eye on him?" I raised an eyebrow as I leaned forward, leaning on my knees as my head rested on my hand.

Beelzebub's frown didn't fade as he locked his gaze with mine, "Well I was. I couldn't control him that much when I was busy with the training."

"No, I mean... I thought he was locked up somewhere." I explained. "Or kept somewhere...forcefully."
"I can't exactly do that. He's the gate keeper, remember?" He sighed. "I have a few minions keeping an eye on him that report back to me."

"Clearly not doing good enough of a job." I said dryly, leaning back into the comfort of the couch.

Beelzebub raised an eyebrow at me before retorting, "You know, I could've easily done nothing and left you to deal with Mammon."

"Well, in the end, I had to do it anyway." I shrugged and I saw irritation flash across his features. He clenched his jaw slightly.

"If you think it's that easy to keep Mammon down, you're welcome to try. I've done what I could to keep him in check." His tone was sharp, leaving no room for sympathy. I knew he was right, I was just anxious of things going wrong again. Especially now given Belial was radio silent again, Beelzebub became unfortunate target of my frustration.

"I'm sorry," I let out a frustrated breath and crossed my arms. "You're right. I just hope nothing goes wrong. I'm betting all my cards on this."

Beelzebub's gaze softened slightly, the sharpness in his tone receding as he recognized the strain in my voice. "We're all betting on this," he said quietly, his voice losing some of its earlier edge. "But we don't have the luxury of letting fear control us. We've come too far to let things fall apart now."

I nodded, my arms still crossed tightly against my chest as if trying to hold everything together. "I just can't shake the feeling that something's off."

He watched me for a few moments, inspecting my expression as if searching for right words. "Maybe it's time we go see what's holding him up." He suggested, a bit of playfulness audible in his voice. My eyes instantly locked on him in surprise. I was quiet for a few seconds, giving him a moment to say he was joking. It never came. Beelzebub remained serious, the playful edge in his voice barely masking the intent behind his words.

"You're not serious," I finally said, though my voice held more uncertainty than conviction.

He shrugged, leaning back into the couch with a casual air that didn't match the gravity of his suggestion. "Why not? We've been sitting around, waiting for answers that aren't coming. Maybe it's time we stop waiting and start looking."

My heart skipped a beat at the thought. It wasn't that the idea was entirely irrational—quite the opposite. But the implications, the risks...they were immense. And I knew the cost I always paid when I'd do something impulsive. And yet, the opportunity to be impulsive was given to me, on a silver platter, and it was too tempting to say no. Besides, Beelzebub was the one to suggest it, surely he weighed options better than me.

"What do you suggest we do?" I asked, cautiously, leaning in as he followed me example too, with a playful smirk on his face.
"I say we take the matters in our own hands," he replied nonchalantly. "You have the ring with you, don't you?" He asked and I pushed my hand in my pocket, fishing out Solomon's ring as I let it rest on my palm, "then we have not much reason to wait."

"You suggest we go after the Devil now?!" I exclaimed.

"We have to be smart about it, of course. We've faced plenty on our own before, and we'll handle this too. As always." His tone was firm yet reassuring, filled with a confidence I hadn't seen in a while. The passion in his eyes was undeniable, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw the old fire in him.

I hesitated, turning the ring over in my hand. The idea of confronting the Devil now, even with Beelzebub by my side, felt reckless. But at the same time, I was growing impatient and I couldn't shake off the feeling something was off. Belial wouldn't take this long. If the words he spoke earlier were true, if he was loyal to me, then it was my responsibility now to find him.

I locked my gaze on Beelzebub and smiled lightly, "Alright. Let's do this then."

"Follow my lead this time, don't rush into something without checking with me." He said sternly and I chuckled.

"Yes, commander." I did a mock salute and he rolled his eyes.

"Be serious." He grumbled.

"Fine," I rolled my eyes too and shook my head. I put the ring back into my pocket as we both stood up from the couch. Quickly after, Beelzebub opened the portal and we both stepped through it. Soon enough, we were in the main hall of the palace. 

The hall was rather empty, unsurprisingly so. The more snow was falling outside, the more demons tried to find a semblance of normalcy. They grasped at whatever control they could find, as if somehow their actions would halt the inevitable end that loomed closer with each passing day. They focused their efforts on influencing the mortal realm, thinking that would somehow save the day. All of those were desperate moves.

One may ask, why was I even trying to take down the Devil if all moves were pointless at this point? Why was I clutching Solomon's ring in my pocket, walking beside Beelzebub toward a confrontation that might very well seal our doom? Was it stubbornness? Pride? Or maybe just the sheer refusal to go down without a fight?

And I would agree with you, those were all valid questions and considerations. I would say, however, it was all of the above. If the end was coming, may as well be the end worth watching. And if I were to die, I was going to do on my own terms.

"I am going to enter the office first and you follow slowly behind me. If you want the assistant out before the worst happens, I'd suggest you do that." Beelzebub said in a tone lower than a whisper. I simply nodded in response as we continued treading on towards the office.

Our steps echoed through the hall, each step feeling like an important decision made. The realization of the severity of the matter gnawed at me and it became sharper in my mind. Yet I could not back down at all.

As we climbed the stairs, a peculiar sensation rippled through the air. It was much colder than anything that I had felt. Instantly, I frowned and looked over at Beelzebub who looked just as confused as me. My eyes traveled over to the assistant who was just sitting idly at the desk and looked taken aback by our sudden presence. He shuffled nervously as if trying to reconcile with the sudden drop in the temperature.

"What's happening? Why is it so cold?" I asked, my gaze locking at the assistant, expecting him to at least know something. The demon's eyes darkened even more upon my question but I could sense bits of fear in him.

"The Dark Lord is busy." He mumbled and I raised my eyebrows, then switched my attention to Beelzebub.

"Should I or will you?"

"Let me," Beelzebub replied, his tone resolute. He cleared his throat, stepping forward, the air growing denser with each step. His presence commanded attention, and the assistant shifted in his seat once again. Beelzebub leaned in, his voice low and authoritative. "What do you mean the Dark Lord is busy? This cold—this disruption—isn't normal. Tell me what's going on."

The assistant swallowed hard, his eyes darting to the corners of the room as if searching for a way to avoid the confrontation. "I don't know much," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I've heard whispers... strange things happening in the lower chambers. It's not just the temperature—it's like the fabric of reality itself is being affected."

I frowned the moment I heard his words and chill ran down my spine. Lower chambers? But we were in upper chambers...

"I must go, Beelzebub..." I said and before I could turn on my heels, Beelzebub yelled out.

"ASMODEUS." Instantly, I stopped in my attempts and he quickly continued, "Remember our deal. No rash decisions." His tone was very firm, it almost made me unable to move. Now I understood why he was Devil's choice to do army trainings. Then, he turned his attention back to the assistant who seemed just as scared of him as I was now. "Is the Dark Lord in his office?"

The assistant's eyes widened at Beelzebub's command, his fear palpable. "No," he stammered. "The Dark Lord is not in his office. He's... he's been in and out, but lately, he's been preoccupied with something in the lower chambers. I don't know exactly where, but—"

Before he could finish, Beelzebub cut him off. "Do you know anything else? Anything at all that might help us understand what's happening?"

"That's all I know, I promise." He replied, his eyes darting between Beelzebub and me. Beelzebub sighed and turned his attention back to me. The assistant's frame instantly relaxed as if relieved that Beelzebub was no longer a threat to his life.

Beelzebub's gaze locked onto mine, his eyes burning with that familiar intensity. I knew that look well—the kind of determination that bordered on obsession. It was the same look that had carried us through countless battles, the same fire that fueled his unyielding drive. But this time, it felt different. The stakes were higher, and his resolve seemed even more unshakable.

"We can't afford any missteps now," he said, his voice low and steady. "Whatever's happening down there, we need to confront it head-on, but we must remain calculated. No rash decisions, no unnecessary risks."

I nodded, though my thoughts were racing. The assistant's words echoed in my mind—the lower chambers, reality itself being affected. It all felt like a prelude to something far worse than we had anticipated.

Beelzebub turned, signaling me to follow. The assistant, still visibly shaken, muttered a quick, "Good luck." I simply smiled at him before Beelzebub and me started going back downstairs.

"I think we should hurry." I mumbled, not having good feeling about this at all. He nodded in response and we both began running down the stairs. With each step, it felt like being closer to death.

I couldn't shake the feeling that we were about to cross a line—one that couldn't be uncrossed. The air grew colder with each step, the temperature now biting at my skin, and a strange, almost metallic scent lingered in the air.

Beelzebub's movements were deliberate, his focus sharp as he led the way. The descent felt endless, the staircase spiraling deeper into the heart of the palace. As we reached the bottom, a faint humming sound filled the air—a low, resonant frequency that seemed to vibrate through the walls.

The basement was the same like I had last seen it. The floor before us was stretching out, the air was dense and it brought back many memories. I shook my head, trying to chase away the unwanted thoughts. I needed to focus on the mission I had.

Upon first glance, the basement was vast and empty however the frequency still continued. We started walking further into the chambers, slowly feeling the frequency growing stronger however subtly. I had a feeling that whatever was happening it was in the back room.

Beelzebub glanced at me, his eyes narrowing as he too noticed the subtle increase in the frequency. The sound wasn't just a hum anymore—it felt more like a pulse, a rhythmic throb that seemed to sync with the beating of my heart. With every step closer to the back room, the pressure in the air increased, as if reality itself was straining against something unimaginable.

As we approached the door to the back room, I hesitated, the memories from the last time I was here pushing back into my mind. The encounters, the torture, the pain—everything that I had tried to bury resurfaced. But Beelzebub's presence, steady and resolute, kept me anchored. I couldn't afford to falter now.

"Ready?" Beelzebub asked, his voice calm but carrying an edge of warning.

I nodded, gripping Solomon's ring tightly in my pocket, feeling the weight of it like a tether to the reality I was desperately clinging to. Slowly, we opened the door and what we saw, defied all reason and yet somehow oddly familiar.

Instantly, upon first sight, there was a gaping vortex on the wall across from us. It was a churning mass of dark energy, pulling in everything around it with an insatiable hunger. It was a sight that was far too familiar. Shadows danced across the walls, cast by the flickering light of strange, glowing symbols etched into the floor.

And there, on the edge of the vortex, was Belial—half-embedded in the swirling chaos, his form distorting as the vortex fought to consume him. His eyes met mine, filled with a mix of desperation and fury.

"BELIAL!" The scream tore from my throat as I lunged toward him, my hands locking onto his arms, trying to pull him from the vortex's grasp. His body felt cold and insubstantial, as if he were more shadow than flesh, slipping through my fingers despite my desperate hold.

"Asmodeus, it's pointless!" Beelzebub's voice rang out, sharp and urgent, cutting through the chaos. But I couldn't let go—not after coming this far.

"Just hang on!" I shouted, my grip tightening. Belial's eyes flickered, shifting from fury to something softer, more vulnerable. For a moment, I saw the old Belial, the one who had stood by my side through countless battles. "Please keep holding on!"

"Asmodeus, this is a ritual!" Beelzebub's voice was urgent, cutting through the chaos. My hands, still gripping Belial, trembled as I slowly realized the gravity of his words. The pull of the vortex, the distorted symbols—it all clicked into place.

I released my grip on Belial, my fingers lingering in the air as if refusing to let go entirely. His form flickered, his desperate eyes locking with mine for a brief moment before I turned to face Beelzebub.

"What do you mean?" My voice was a mixture of fear and frustration, as I struggled to comprehend what was happening.

Beelzebub's gaze was cold, calculating, as he surveyed the scene. "This isn't just some random attack," he explained, his tone firm. "The Devil is channeling something—something powerful. Belial isn't just being consumed. He's being used."

"Used for what?!" I exclaimed, my eyes darting between Beelzebub, Belial and all the symbols on the floor.

"For something bigger... Like the Devil himself is consuming him to fuel his power. I think..." The moment I heard Beelzebub's words, I almost fainted. I looked at the ritual on the ground and upon closer inspection, it was a... ritual. It was something Devil would do to souls that were disobeying him too much. And considering Belial had quite a rank, it was affecting the very fabric of Hell. If he found out about Paimon...
"Oh no..." I mumbled, as I looked at Belial who was still fighting hard to hold on. "Belial... Don't let go." I said through a shaky breath as I looked around the room. I noticed the subtle shimmer that betrayed the hidden room, its entrance masked by magic to blend seamlessly with the wall. My pulse quickened as I hesitated for a brief moment. The decision weighed heavily, but something in my gut told me that whatever was behind that door might hold the key to stopping this.

Without a warning, I burst through the magical veil, I found myself in a small chamber. The air was thick with an almost palpable energy, humming with an intensity that made my skin prickle. In the center of the room stood a large, ornate mirror, its surface swirling with dark, inky shadows. Ancient symbols and sigils encircled the mirror, glowing faintly as if they were alive.

But what caught my attention was the figure reflected in the mirror. It wasn't me—it was the Devil himself, his eyes glowing with malevolent power. He was chanting something, his voice low and resonant, the words twisted and ancient, vibrating with dark magic. The mirror seemed to be absorbing the energy, reflecting it back in a distorted, nightmarish form. But if his reflection was here, where was he actually?

"Asmodeus!" I heard Beelzebub behind me as I heard him rushing through the veil too. "Oh... you're fine." He sighed before new silence set in as he scanned our surroundings. "This is... interesting."

"You tell me..." I grumbled. "We need to find him as soon as possible."

"Not if we find a way to break the mirror." He suggested and I frowned a little. He could be right. But we still had to find a way the Devil to trap him though. I guess first thing's first.

"Yeah, but with what?" I stared at the mirror, the dark energy pulsing in rhythm with the Devil's chant, the symbols around it glowing brighter with each word he spoke. The room felt like it was closing in on us, the air growing colder and thicker with every second that passed. My mind raced, trying to remember anything—any detail, any piece of knowledge that could help me stop the ritual.

As we searched the room, my gaze landed on a small pedestal partially hidden by shadows. On it rested a dagger, ancient and etched with sigils similar to those on the mirror. My heart skipped a beat. I recognized it—a blade of severance, used to cut ties between realms and energies. If anything could sever the connection between Belial and the mirror, it was this.

I reached for the dagger, feeling its weight and power in my hand. "This might be our key," I said to Beelzebub, holding it up for him to see.

Beelzebub's eyes widened slightly, and he nodded. "Good find. That should disrupt the ritual if used correctly."

Just as I was about to move toward the mirror, the room's temperature plummeted further, and a dark shadow swept across the walls. A chill ran down my spine as I looked up to see the Devil himself emerging from the far corner of the room, his presence commanding and malevolent. Of course, it would be far too easy. I should've known he was hiding somewhere.

"I'm afraid you came a little late. The ritual is almost done," The Devil said nonchalantly as his eyes pierced through me and then switched to Beelzebub. "Interesting to see you here as well." He added with a smirk.

"I don't think so..." I smiled lightly as he didn't seem aware of the object in our possession. "Tell me, how would you stop me if I took the dagger?" I asked as my fingers traced against it as I noticed clear confusion flash across the Devil's features, clearly not expecting my confidence.

"What are you playing at, Asmodeus?" He frowned as he stepped forward and I wrapped my hand around the dagger. Beelzebub moved to stand beside me as if to say he had my back. The Devil glanced at him, clearly unaware of what we were planning. "I dare you." He spat.

"I double dare you," I shot back, my voice unwavering. Suddenly, the Devil's fury ignited, dark smoke curling around him, thickening the oppressive atmosphere. I could feel the tension crackling like static.

Then, he raised a hand, and with a swift, almost casual motion, Beelzebub was lifted off his feet and hurled against the wall with a forceful impact. The sound of Beelzebub's collision was jarring, and he crumpled to the ground, his body slumped but still moving. The sight of Beelzebub's struggle to stand again fueled my determination, even as fear gnawed at the edges of my resolve. Instantly, I grabbed the dagger and was about to smash the mirror before I got quite literally thrown off by a powerful force as I landed on my back. The dagger got snatched away from my grasp as it got pulled into the Devil's hand.

His grip on the dagger tightened as he turned to face me, his eyes burning with dark triumph. But before he could take another step, Beelzebub, with a fierce roar, launched himself at the Devil. The impact was brutal, sending both of them crashing to the ground.

"You motherfucker!" The Devil growled, his voice filled with raw rage as he got pinned down. The Devil's power surged, dark tendrils of energy lashing out as he fought back, but Beelzebub held his ground, his determination unshakable.

I scrambled to my feet as my eyes tried to find a different way to break the ritual.

"Asmodeus, now!" Beelzebub suddenly yelled out and I knew instantly what I had to. He seemed he was losing the battle against the Devil. I squeezed Solomon's ring in my pocket and got reminded that I was indeed more powerful than the Devil now.

"By the power vested in me–"

"NO!" The Devil roared, his power surging, and a wave of dark energy blasted from him, knocking Beelzebub back. Beelzebub hit the ground hard, but his eyes locked onto mine, silently urging me to keep going.

"I bind thee--" Once again, a forceful blast surged from Devil as he lifted me off the ground. Black tendrils of smoke surrounded my body as it started squeezing me and wrapping around my throat, not allowing me to utter another word. However, my determination stayed steadfast as I struggled against the dark tendrils constricting my body. The pressure was immense, crushing, but I refused to give in. The Devil's fury radiated through the chamber, his eyes blazing with wrath as he tightened his grip on me. Every breath became a battle, but I wasn't about to let him win.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Beelzebub staggering to his feet, blood trickling from his temple, yet his resolve remained unbroken. His eyes met mine, and with a final burst of strength, he lunged at the Devil once more but with the second hand he threw him against the wall once more. The impact echoed through the chamber, and Beelzebub crumpled to the ground, struggling to push himself up again.

I could feel the dark tendrils tightening around me once more, crushing my chest, making it nearly impossible to breathe. My vision blurred as I desperately tried to gather the strength to finish the command. Every inch of my body screamed in agony, but I knew I couldn't give up now.

Just as I forced the words to edge out of my mouth, the temperature in the room plummeted further, making it impossible to even breathe. Well if it was my way to die, then at least I knew I fought violently. I was beginning to accept my fate as my vision began to blur. I should've known something was going to go wrong. I should've–

"Well, well," I heard a familiar voice, one that didn't belong to Beelzebub. But as I was losing my consciousness I couldn't figure out who it was. "Looks like I arrived just in time." The smugness. Mammon. I could always recognize that tone.

The Devil's eyes flicked to Mammon, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features, but he didn't release his grip on me. Instead, he intensified it, and I felt my strength slipping away.

"I think you've had enough fun, Devil," he sneered. Before I could react, a surge of energy shot from his hand, and suddenly, I felt the weight in my pocket disappear. The ring—Solomon's ring—had vanished. "Looking for this?" Mammon taunted.

The Devil's fury flared, and he roared in anger, releasing me as he turned his full attention to Mammon. I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air, my mind reeling from the sudden turn of events.

Mammon simply laughed, his eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and malice. "You didn't think I'd let you two have all the fun, did you?" He twirled the ring in his fingers, the dark energy around him crackling with anticipation. "Now, let's see how this plays out."

"Mammon–" I struggled to speak, as my eyes locked with his. I honestly did not expect him to come to my rescue. Just like last time. Gentleness flickered across his features as he sent a soft smile my way, indicating to me that despite it all, he had my back.

I coughed and gasped for air, my lungs burning as I struggled to regain my composure. The room was filled with tension, the clash of powerful forces hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.

Mammon smirked, still toying with Solomon's ring in his hand. "You always were too predictable, Devil," he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "So obsessed with power that you forget how easily it can slip away."

The Devil's face visibly darkened even more if it was even possible for someone to be that angry. His eyes narrowed as he glared at Mammon. "I should've known you were never on my side."

"You should've." He shrugged and before the Devil could add anything else, Mammon continued, "I bind thee - Devil, Dark Lord, Father of Lies, the Prince Of Darkness - to the seal of Solomon."

"NOO!" The Devil screamed out and he was just about to smash Mammon against the wall but then I rushed over to the dagger on the floor, grabbed it and smashed it against the mirror. The glass splintered, and a rush of dark energy exploded from it, engulfing the room in swirling shadows. The air crackled with power, the oppressive weight of the Devil's ritual unraveling around us. The energy was chaotic, wild, and uncontrollable, making it impossible to see more than a few feet in front of me.

From the other room, I heard a loud thump—a deep, resonant sound that reverberated through the stone walls. My heart skipped a beat as I realized what it meant: the vortex had released Belial.

I turned to where I thought Beelzebub was, my voice hoarse as I called out, "Beelzebub, get Belial!"

Through the swirling darkness, I saw a shadowed figure—Beelzebub, struggling to his feet, his gaze fixed on the doorway. He nodded, determination etched into his battered features, and rushed toward the other room.

"Thy power is now contained, thy will subdued." Mammon continued with low voice that reverberated through the chamber making the Devil unleash the most heart-wrenching scream.

It pierced the air, a sound so raw and filled with fury that it seemed to claw at my very soul. The chamber trembled with the weight of his rage, the walls reverberating with the dark energy he could no longer control. His words echoed in my mind, a sinister warning that sent a chill down my spine.

"YOU FOOLS! You don't know what you've just started!" he growled, his voice strained as he fell to the floor, the power that once surrounded him now dissipating into the shadows.

I watched as Mammon held his ground, his incantation still resonating in the air. The weight of what we had done hung over us like a storm cloud.

"By this seal, I command thee to obey–" He yelled out but then before he could finish the incantation, the ground beneath us trembled violently, cracks spider-webbing across the stone floor as the entire building shook with a force that felt like it was tearing the very foundation apart. The Devil's cackling grew louder, echoing through the chamber, a twisted symphony of chaos and destruction. His words, dripping with malice, hung in the air like a curse.

"As I said, you don't know what you've done," the Devil sneered, his voice laced with a sinister satisfaction. "Now it's truly the end times."

The tremors intensified, and I barely managed to brace myself before the force knocked me to the ground. Loose stones rained down from above, each impact a reminder of the impending collapse. Mammon fell beside me, his face contorted with the same confusion and fear I felt. The Devil, too, struggled to keep his balance, his form swaying with the violent shaking.

I glanced at Mammon, desperate for some kind of answer, some indication that he knew what was happening. But as our eyes met, the truth became clear—he was just as lost as I was. The realization sent a cold wave of dread through me.

The ground cracked open in several places, dark energy seeping through the fissures like black smoke. The air grew thick with the scent of sulfur and decay, and the once-ritualized chamber now felt like the epicenter of something far more catastrophic.

"Beelzebub! Belial!" I shouted, my voice barely cutting through the chaos as I struggled to get back on my feet. I needed to know they were safe, that we could still make it out of here before everything crumbled around us.

Beelzebub stumbled into view, supporting Belial as they both tried to navigate the shaking floor. His gaze met mine, determination still etched on his battered face, but even he couldn't hide the fear that lurked beneath the surface.

"We need to leave, now!" Beelzebub shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. "This place is coming down!"

Mammon nodded, struggling to his feet before making his way to me. His grip was firm as he grabbed my arm, ready to pull me up. But before we could move, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed above us. The noise was unmistakable. It was as if an entire army had just stormed the palace.

We both froze, staring up at the ceiling as the noise grew louder. Panic tightened its grip on my chest, and I knew we had to act fast. The Devil's laughter echoed through the chaos, sinister and mocking. "You broke the veil by attempting to bind me." I nearly stopped breathing at his words, and Mammon's grip around my arm tightened, bracing me for the worst. The Devil's voice grew colder, more malevolent, "say 'welcome back' to the Norse gods."

Clearly, Solomon had never tried binding the Devil.