Time seemed to stretch endlessly as we navigated the labyrinthine hallways of the cave. Each turn felt like a step deeper into an abyss. It was as if we were wandering in circles, with no clear destination in sight. Yet, in the Astral realm, every place had its significance, its beginning and an end. So, we were certainly going somewhere but we were very unsure of where.

Turning back was far from an option. Neither of us felt like dying in such a way. So, wherever we were going with these tunnels seemed like a better option than whatever waited for us out there. Or so we hoped.

As the darkness thickened, I found myself reflecting on the choices that had led us here. Each decision, each alliance, had brought us to this point, and I wondered how much longer we could hold on.

I knew that Loki would manage to escape this somehow; Belial as well. But as for me - I wasn't sure. My future looked very up in the air. Loki had said that I should keep going because I was a king of demons. However, I didn't feel like much of anything at this point.

However, I decided to break the familiar self-pity and self-hatred creeping into my brain. I turned towards Belial who had a very focused look on his face but as soon as his eyes met mine, the expression softened and I sent him a smile.

"Are you sure this isn't the way to the Abyss?" I inquired jokingly even though the possibility of it being true wasn't very funny to me. Not at this rate anyway.

"I don't remember it looking like this," Belial answered. "Matter of fact, it doesn't even look anything close to this." His response was sort of relieving but the uncertainty was still looming over us and it made me feel very uneasy.

"This area feels very... hollow," Loki suddenly commented in front of us and I raised an eyebrow at him even though he couldn't see me.

"What do you mean by this?" I asked.

"I tried to feel the energy of this place but..." he trailed off as if trying to find the words to describe it. "It's like there is no energy to be felt." His words made my heart drop. No such places in the whole vast Astral were good. They weren't necessarily bad but, at the same time, it's not ideal being trapped in one of them. Not knowing what you were going to find was always worse than knowing.

"Great," I mumbled, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I sighed out in annoyance. "So we really have to choose between getting fucked for sure outside and probably getting fucked in here?"

Loki snorted, "yup. Don't worry, Asmo, you're safe with me." His reassurance provided little comfort but there was a certain warmth spreading through my body.

"Thank you, my brave knight," I laughed and suddenly the grimness of the situation we were in got lifted if only for a millimeter.

As the tension slightly lifted, the cave still loomed around us with a foreboding silence. The air felt heavy, like we were being watched by unseen eyes, and I couldn't shake the eerie sensation of being in a place so devoid of life. My steps faltered for a moment, but Loki's presence kept me grounded.

Belial remained quiet, his eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. His unease was palpable, and I could tell he wasn't entirely sure what we had stumbled into either.

Then, he finally broke his silence, his voice low. "This place... it's like a void. I've heard stories about places like this in the Astral. Dead zones where even magic struggles to exist." He hesitated. "If we're in one of those zones, it means we're either on the edge of something dangerous, or we're in the middle of something we don't understand yet."

"Fantastic," I muttered, trying to swallow down the growing anxiety gnawing at my insides. "So, what do we do now? We can't exactly turn back."

Loki stopped abruptly, holding out his hand. "Wait." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Belial and I froze, every muscle in my body tensing as I strained to listen. The silence in the cave suddenly felt oppressive, like the air itself was holding its breath.

Then, faintly, a sound reached us. A low hum, almost like a distant vibration. It wasn't coming from ahead of us but actually from behind. The ground was slowly beginning to tremble but ever so slightly. All three of us completely froze in place, bracing for the upcoming chaos.

"What is that?" I whispered, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.

Loki's eyes narrowed, his body shifting slightly. "I think they've found us."

Belial and I instantly locked our eyes on him and then looked back towards the source of the noise. "Well, there's no use standing around and waiting for them!" I yelled out and all three of us bolted from the spot in the instant.

We sprinted through the narrow passages, the faint hum behind us growing louder with each passing second. My heart pounded in my chest, fear clawing at my thoughts as the realization hit: we were out of time.

Loki took the lead, moving swiftly with an instinctual grace, while Belial and I did our best to keep pace. The ground beneath us trembled harder now, the vibrations crawling up through my feet, making every step feel unstable.

"Faster!" Loki urged, his voice sharp, laced with urgency. I pushed my body to its limits, every ounce of strength focused on moving forward, ignoring the dull ache in my limbs and the weakness that had begun to creep in. Not already, I cursed under my breath. Loki glanced back at me and faintly frowned.

"Wait!" he screamed out suddenly before he stopped out of nowhere. Before I could protest, with one swift motion, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. "Much better!" He exclaimed and I yelped as I felt my face become crimson red from sheer embarrassment.

"It is rather practical!" Belial responded through laughter and I grumbled under my breath.

"I can walk, Loki!" I protested, wriggling in his grip, but it was no use. He held me firmly, ignoring my feeble attempts to free myself. My cheeks were burning with embarrassment, the heat spreading to my ears as Belial's laughter echoed in the narrow passageway.

"Not fast enough," Loki retorted, his tone light but determined. He adjusted his hold, making sure I was secure before he resumed running, his pace never faltering.

Belial kept up with us, still chuckling. "I've got to admit, Asmo, this is a new look for you."

"Don't you start!" I growled, trying to hide the flush creeping up my neck. The last thing I needed was to be carried like this in front of both of them, but I knew Loki was right. My strength was waning faster than I'd care to admit, and we didn't have time to waste.

"Keep an eye on our backs, Belial!" Loki ordered, his voice returning to that sharp, commanding tone. It was clear he was serious, despite the brief moment of levity. Belial immediately shifted focus, his laughter fading as his eyes darted to the shadows behind us.

The sound of the pursuing horde was still present, a distant roar growing louder, but for now, we had a few precious seconds ahead of whatever was coming. I sighed, accepting the situation and trying to keep my breathing steady.

"I hate this," I muttered under my breath, half hoping they wouldn't hear me.

"I know," Loki murmured back softly, "But you're safe with me, Asmo. Just let me handle this."

I sighed again, giving in. Belial shot me a glance, his eyes filled with amusement but also something else—concern. Despite everything, I could feel that he wasn't laughing at me out of spite. He was relieved. Maybe even thankful we were still together, still moving.

"Focus, Belial," Loki growled, sensing the same thing. Belial nodded, his expression shifting into something more serious. Whatever was coming for us was closing in fast, and we didn't have much time left.

"Alright," I whispered, closing my eyes for a second, hoping it would help me gather enough strength to be of use soon. The noise of the horde at our feet continued resounding through the whole cave but we still hadn't caught a glance of any of them. It was kind of reassuring but we still didn't know how far they were from us. But at least we got the head start because of the amount of echoing.

We didn't stop moving for a very long time but then, suddenly, Loki came to a halt abruptly. I noticed Belial stopped as well and I began to hear a low buzzing noise ahead of us.

"Oh... dead end. Kind of." Loki mumbled and put me down at last. I looked in front of us only to see a giant swirling portal only a few feet away. It was a portal I hadn't seen before and it resembled more of a dark vortex rather than just a portal. The energy surrounding was rather heavy that even I, with reduced powers, could sense it. The density of its energy even made me stop breathing for a second.

The three of us stood before it for a few seconds, neither of us saying a word. Without having to say anything, we understood the stakes at hand. The time was of the essence and we had to decide what to do. Either turning back and risking it or crossing the portal and risking it. Our gazes darted between each of us and at once, I could feel Loki's hand wrapping around mine. I locked my gaze with his before he spoke up,

"We should take a leap of faith." Loki mumbled with the words hanging heavy in the air. The vortex before was swirling, waiting for our decision. The horde was closing in and we had no time for doubts.

"At least we'll be there together, right?" I tried to provide some reassurance however feeble the promise seemed to be.

"I don't know how much I trust this." Belial said, his usual cocky demeanor now replaced by fear as he stared hard at the portal.

"Well, do you want to go back?" Loki snapped lightly as if he was anticipating Belial to turn back at the last possible moment. "I bet you'll be spared." He grumbled.

Belial's eyes narrowed, the fear in them flickering with a trace of indignation. "Spared?" he scoffed, though his voice lacked its usual confidence. "If they catch us, I'll be just as dead as you."

"Well, then decide," Loki shot back, not even turning to face him. His hand still gripped mine tightly, his knuckles white. "Because we don't have the luxury of time."

Belial's eyes softened even more at my words, the flicker of doubt in them slowly dimming. His lips twitched as if wanting to speak, but the weight of everything unsaid hung between us. For a moment, it felt like the whole cave held its breath with him. His loyalty, once so fluid, seemed to solidify in that instant.

"We've come this far, Belial," I repeated, more gently this time, willing him to stay, despite everything. I didn't want to admit how much I needed him here, not now. Not with Loki watching. "Do you really want to turn back now?"

His gaze stayed fixed on mine, wavering slightly. I knew he could save himself. He wasn't the target—he never was. If he turned around, maybe he could disappear into the chaos, survive, rebuild. But I couldn't bear the thought of him leaving us behind. Leaving me behind.

"I want you with me on the other side." The words left me before I could think them through, the vulnerability they carried stinging more than I expected. Loki's presence was heavy beside me, and I knew it was risky to say something like that with him so close. His grip on my hand tightened ever so slightly, but he said nothing. His silence was heavy, loaded with everything he wasn't saying aloud.

Belial blinked, his expression wavering between shock and something I couldn't quite place—gratitude, maybe. Or something deeper. The tension between the three of us was palpable, a silent battle of unspoken emotions.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, Belial finally nodded, his face set with quiet determination. "I'm with you." His voice was low, almost tender, as if the decision had been made not just out of loyalty, but out of something more. Something unspoken.

Loki remained quiet, but his eyes flickered with a brief shadow of jealousy before he turned back to face the portal. "Then let's go," he said tersely, his tone clipped, betraying nothing of what he felt. Without another word, he took the lead, stepping toward the swirling vortex.

We moved toward the portal, each step heavy with uncertainty. The low hum of the vortex reverberated in my chest, its swirling darkness pulling at us like a magnetic force. Behind us, the faint echo of the horde grew louder, a grim reminder that we had no other choice.

Loki's grip on my hand tightened as we approached the edge of the portal. He glanced at me, his expression guarded, but there was a glimmer of something softer in his eyes—something vulnerable he rarely let show. "Ready?" he asked, his voice steady mixed with tension.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to nod. "Yeah," I replied, my voice quieter than I intended. I glanced back at Belial, who stood just behind us, his expression unreadable. His earlier vulnerability seemed to have been replaced by a mask of determination, but I could still sense the fear lingering beneath the surface.

Without another word, Loki stepped forward and disappeared into the swirling darkness. I followed without hesitation, feeling the cold rush of energy engulf me as I was pulled through the portal. The sensation was disorienting, like being torn apart and stitched back together in an instant. I held my breath, feeling weightless as the darkness consumed me.

Then, just as quickly as it began, it was over.

We stumbled out onto solid ground, gasping for air as the world around us slowly came into focus. The air was cold, and the sky above us was a deep, starless black. The ground beneath our feet was jagged and uneven, like a landscape that had been ripped apart by some unseen force.

Loki was already on his feet, scanning our surroundings. "Where the hell are we?" he muttered under his breath, his voice low and tense.

Belial appeared beside us, his eyes wide as he took in the desolate landscape. "This isn't anywhere I've seen before," he whispered, his voice filled with unease. "This place... it feels wrong."

He was right. The air here was thick with a heavy, oppressive energy that pressed down on us from all sides. The ground pulsed beneath our feet, as if the very land was alive, breathing. There was no sign of life anywhere, just the vast emptiness stretching out before us.

My eyes scanned the scenery before us as I turned around, trying to take in the surroundings. This place... It seemed familiar. Like I had been here before and not so long ago. The ground under us was pure concrete that was stretching out into nothingness. I walked around and it slowly began to dawn on me.

"We are... in Abaddon's realm." I said while still trying to grapple with initial shock. Everything I had expected but not that the portal would lead us here. "It's... a way to the Underworld."

Loki's gaze snapped toward me, his eyes narrowing as he processed my words. "Abaddon's realm?" His voice was low, filled with disbelief and a hint of frustration. "That's impossible. How could we have ended up here?"

Belial looked shaken, his usual confidence slipping away as his eyes darted between us and the desolate expanse ahead. "The Underworld," he muttered, almost to himself. "This place... no wonder it feels off."

I kept turning in slow circles, trying to reconcile the landscape with the memories clawing at the back of my mind. The overwhelming sense of dread began creeping in, not just because of where we were but because of what this place symbolized. Abaddon's realm, a way to the Underworld—it was a place few ever escaped. I had been here before, only once, and I never thought I'd see it again.

"We need to move," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Abaddon doesn't take kindly to trespassers, and if we're caught here..." I trailed off, not wanting to say aloud what we all knew. The Underworld wasn't just a prison—it was a graveyard for those who wandered too close to its edges.

Loki's hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his weapon. He gave me a sharp look, his jaw clenched. "Then we'll have to find another way out, fast."

"I'm afraid there's no way out. It feels off. It's unlike what I remember of Abaddon's realm." I said, cautiously. Even though I recognized the way, I didn't recognize anything else. There were no other parts of the realm, it was just this. No other way out or through which should've been there. Only now did I start to actually feel fear. The future seemed even grimmer now.

Both Belial and Loki stared at me hard as if blaming me for ending up here. And it was partially my fault, I couldn't lie. However, maybe, just maybe there was some hope left to be had. Abaddon was my accomplice in all this and part of me hoped he'd help us out somehow. If only he'd show his face.

"It could've been worse. At least Abaddon likes me," I shrugged, trying to twist some lightness into the situation.

Loki raised his eyebrow, still gripping the weapon in his hand. "Well let's hope you're welcome."

Belial's expression shifted, his fear giving way to something darker—frustration, perhaps, or resignation. "Abaddon likes you?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "You better hope that still counts for something. Because if it doesn't, we're dead. All of us."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. He wasn't wrong. Abaddon was unforgiving, even to those it tolerated. And that was before considering that everything felt wrong. The Abaddon I knew—if he even was the same—played by his own rules. His whims could turn cruel in seconds.

"Well, we are on our way to the Underworld. Either way we die," I snorted and both of them looked at me in shock, wondering how I could joke in such a situation. But it felt like I was slowly losing my mind and the only thing left to do was to laugh at it all. The absurdity, the coincidences, they were all twisted jokes, so why not laugh at them?

Before they could respond, the oppressive energy in the air began to hum with a strange vibration. It was subtle at first, almost unnoticeable, but then it grew. The ground beneath us seemed to pulse, sending a wave of unease through my body.

At once, a figure materialized before us. The air warped, twisting into a swirling mass of shadows until it solidified into the form of Abaddon. His presence immediately filled the space, a dark, commanding energy radiating from him. His black eyes glinted with mischief and power, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Well, well, well," Abaddon's voice was a low drawl, echoing through the empty realm. "Look what we have here. The fallen king and his entourage."

I felt Loki tense beside me, his grip tightening on his weapon. Belial, too, stiffened, though he seemed more confused than afraid. As for me, I forced myself to stand tall, even though my heart was pounding.

"Oh, hi, Abaddon..."

"Don't even start explaining," he interrupted me, dryly. "I know why you're here... and how." He said, odd amusement on his face. He seemed to have expected this.

"So, you knew what was happening?" I asked, frowning lightly. He pressed his lips together and lightly shrugged.

"Yeah. I tried to reach you but you... well. You know what happened to you." It seemed that my powers were so reduced to the point I couldn't even hear telepathic messages. It was kind of relieving though that he did try to warn me in some shape or form, no matter how late it was. "You're lucky you got out without much of my help." He made a small pause before continuing, "I just... don't understand. Why is Loki here? He shouldn't be."

Loki snorted, "trust me, no one expected it."

An amusement flickered across Abaddon's features. He glanced at me in confusion as if trying to piece together a puzzle. He knew that he ate my emotions but there I was, standing together with Loki, as solid as ever. It seemed that he could sense a big shift that happened within me. He stayed quiet for a bit, measuring his words.

"What you two have... I cannot comprehend." He smiled softly, partially in disbelief as he watched us. There was a part of me that understood why Abaddon couldn't make sense of what had happened between Loki and me. Hell, I barely understood it myself.

Loki let out a soft chuckle, his voice tinged with bitterness. "We're all full of surprises, aren't we?"

Abaddon's gaze sharpened at Loki's words, his eyes narrowing. "Surprises don't survive long in this world. You should know that better than anyone, Loki."

There was a moment of silence, thick with tension. Abaddon's words hung heavy in the air, a reminder of how fragile everything was. Then, his eyes flickered over to me, his eyes fixated on me with determination.

"Asmodeus, remember what I told you. The thread that you two have, connecting you both - it is rare. Now that you've reclaimed what you lost, don't ever allow it to die. No matter what happens from here on out."

Abaddon's words carried a weight that made even Loki tense beside me, though his expression remained unreadable. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before shifting to Belial, who stood a little apart from us, his face conflicted. He seemed lost in thought, wrestling with something inside.

Belial, however, stood a few paces behind, his face contorted in confusion and discomfort. He shifted his weight uneasily, his eyes flicking between Loki, Abaddon, and me, clearly feeling like an outsider in a conversation he wasn't meant to understand. There was something more in his gaze, though—betrayal, maybe, or a fear of losing whatever connection we had built. His loyalty had always been tied to survival, but this... this was different.

He took a breath, his voice low but strained, "I don't understand any of this... but if this 'thread' is so important, what does that mean for the rest of us?" His question hung heavy, laced with a mix of skepticism and worry.

Abaddon turned his gaze toward Belial, his expression softening slightly, though his tone remained firm. "I'm sorry to say this but you're just collateral damage." The moment he said those words, the shift in energy was so instant from Belial's end. Understandably so. Abaddon really didn't know how to pick and choose words. But then again, he never told me it was a good idea to continue forming a bond with Belial.

Belial's face hardened, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The tension rippled through his body as if Abaddon's words had cut through whatever sense of control he had left. His eyes darkened, disbelief and anger flickering within them. "Collateral damage?" he repeated slowly, his voice thick with rage. "That's what I've become?"

The air between us was heavy, and for the first time, I could feel a crack in the bravado Belial always wore like armor. His confusion had morphed into something rawer—a mix of betrayal and a fear he wasn't willing to acknowledge.

Abaddon sighed, his expression unyielding. "It's not personal, Belial. Fate rarely cares about individual players. You've been useful, you've been loyal, but in the grand scheme, you are just that—collateral. This isn't a game where everyone gets a choice."

Belial's lips twitched into a bitter smile, though there was no humor in his eyes. "Not personal? You're telling me that my whole existence, my struggles, all of it is just part of some twisted cosmic sideshow?"

I stepped closer, trying to meet Belial's gaze, hoping to find a way to ease the blow. "Belial, you're more than that. This isn't about being collateral. You've fought beside me, stood your ground. Whatever this thread is, it doesn't erase everything we've been through."

For a moment, he didn't respond. His eyes locked onto mine, still burning with frustration, but underneath it all, there was a flicker of something else—maybe the need to be seen, to matter beyond whatever fate had decided. He exhaled sharply, his voice tight, "I don't like this, Asmo. I don't like not knowing what comes next."

"I don't like it either," I admitted, "but we'll face it together."

Loki, who had been silently watching the exchange, stepped forward, his gaze flicking between us. "Belial, none of us really know what's coming. But we're here now, and you're not 'collateral' to us. You're part of this—whether that was fate or choice. Don't let Abaddon's words break you."

I didn't expect Loki to actually try to reassure Belial. But it seemed that even he began to understand Belial's role in my life while he was gone. He seemed to understand that he mattered to me so he decided to ease up on him.

Belial's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might walk away. But then, he relaxed slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing, if only a little. He glanced at me again, and there was something close to acceptance in his eyes. "Alright," he muttered. "I'm not leaving. But don't expect me to play along with this 'fate' nonsense. I make my own choices."

Abaddon gave a knowing smile, almost as if he expected this outcome. "Good. Then make the right ones."

At once, the familiar buzzing noise filled the air, growing louder and more menacing with each passing second. The vortex behind us began to churn violently, a dark whirlwind about to unleash hundreds of demons and gods. The realization hit hard, sending a cold rush through my veins. We exchanged quick glances, fear flickering in our eyes, knowing full well that there was no turning back.

The only way was forward—straight into the heart of the Underworld.

I could feel Abaddon's presence hovering nearby, though he remained distant, unable to intervene directly. He had told me before that there were forces even he couldn't control. But still, his presence was like an unspoken promise, a quiet assurance that this was all part of a larger plan.

"Good luck," Abaddon called out one last time, his voice oddly calm amid the chaos, as if this was just another game to him. His eyes lingered on me longer than on Loki or Belial, as if to silently say, I'm rooting for you.

I allowed myself the smallest smile, despite everything. That look from him—it meant that, no matter how grim things seemed, Abaddon had always been one step ahead. It dawned on me then that this entire situation, every twist and turn, had been premeditated. Somehow, Abaddon had orchestrated things so that I would draw the longest end of the stick, despite the harrowing circumstances. It wasn't blind luck; it was calculated. And though he couldn't fight this battle for me, he wouldn't let me face it completely alone.

The thought brought a surge of determination. Loki shot me a glance, his expression focused but with a flicker of something softer, something that mirrored the connection Abaddon had alluded to. And even Belial, though visibly shaken, seemed to sense the gravity of Abaddon's involvement. He didn't argue anymore, only braced himself for the inevitable.

The ground beneath us rumbled violently as the creatures began to break through the portal.

"We run, and we don't stop until we're through," Loki commanded, gripping his weapon tight.

Without waiting for a response, we all bolted, racing toward the entrance of the Underworld.