It was Charles Dickens that had said "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times." Humans loved to quote famous people and as I was running towards the Underworld, I felt slightly more like one of them. Memories, like a relentless film reel, were flashing right before my eyes as if I was struggling to hold onto the past I'd had here in Astral. It was nostalgia with no fulfillment, realizing that all those moments were equally meaningless due to each creature's greed for power. And suddenly, as if a wave washed over me, I felt nothing towards all those gods and demons behind me and the only ones that mattered were running alongside with me.

The rumbling behind us was growing louder and for a second it felt like the whole of Abaddon's realm was about to collapse within itself. Seemingly out of nowhere, shadow tendrils began reaching out towards us and grasping at the air, writhing like living creatures born from the dark. It was the combined power of all demons chasing after us.

I could hear the shifting of stone, the echoing cries of distant gods and demons, but all of that faded into the background as those black tendrils shot toward us with terrifying speed.
One of the tendrils lashed out, grazing Belial's arm. He winced but didn't slow down, pushing through the pain with a grim determination. Loki, who was just ahead of me, turned his head slightly, his eyes darting toward the oncoming threat. The tendrils were gaining on us, moving faster, angrier, as if the realm itself was desperate to pull us back into its clutches.

And then it happened.

A particularly large tendril wrapped itself around Loki's ankle, jerking him backward with such force that it nearly yanked him off his feet.

"Loki!" I screamed, my heart slamming against my ribs.

He tried to keep running, to shake it off, but the tendril only tightened its grip, dragging him down. His sword clattered to the ground, and before any of us could react, the ground beneath him began to split open. Dark energy seeped through the cracks like smoke, and I saw the panic in his eyes as he fought against the force that had latched onto him. I didn't expect the power of all demons would cause one of the most powerful realms in Astral to crack. But nothing was normal anymore.

Almost instantly, I lunger over at him, grabbing him by the arm. Together, we heaved, pulling with every ounce of strength we had. But the tendrils didn't relent—they only grew tighter, angrier.

Loki's face was pale, his breath ragged, "It's... not letting go."

"We're not losing you here," I growled, tightening my grip.

The ground beneath him began to shift again, the cracks widening, and a chill ran down my spine.

"Belial!" I barked, desperation clawing at me.

Belial's jaw clenched, his eyes flicking towards the horde in relentless pursuit. "We don't have time for this," he muttered, more to himself than anyone. But instead of running, he planted his feet more firmly into the ground, determination written across his face. With a growl, he dug his heels in and pulled harder.

The tendril snapped back in response, yanking Loki down with such force that I nearly lost my grip. The ground beneath me began to crack, pieces of stone crumbling away as the void threatened to swallow us all.

I glanced at Loki, his eyes meeting mine for just a second—there was fear there, yes, but also something else. A flicker of trust. A belief that I wouldn't let him fall.

"We're getting out of here," I promised, my voice shaking with the effort.

And then, just as the tendril seemed ready to consume him whole, something shifted in the air—a sudden burst of energy, a pulse that reverberated through the realm. The tendril loosened, just for a fraction of a second, and that was all we needed.

With one final pull, Belial and I yanked Loki free, stumbling back as the tendril recoiled, hissing like a wounded animal before retreating into the cracks of the earth.

We scrambled to our feet, our movements frantic as adrenaline drove us forward. My muscles burned, fatigue gnawing at the edges of my strength, but I forced myself to keep going. There was no other choice. The air buzzed with danger, thick with the energy of what was hunting us down.

Then, suddenly, a rain of arrows darkened the sky. Thousands of them whistled through the air, cutting through the gloom like deadly stars. There was no time to think, only react. I threw myself to the side, narrowly dodging a cluster of arrows that embedded themselves into the ground where I had just stood. Belial and Loki weaved and dodged, their movements swift as we danced between the lethal projectiles.

My breath was coming in ragged gasps now, each step heavier than the last. The tiredness that had been creeping up on me for so long was becoming harder to ignore, the weight of my reduced power pressing down on me. I didn't know how much longer I could keep up this pace.

A sharp pain shot through my side as I narrowly avoided another arrow, rolling to the ground and feeling the sting of exhaustion flare in my limbs. The realization hit me like a blow—I was slowing down. My body was betraying me, no longer able to match the frantic pace of this escape.

But I couldn't stop. Not yet.

"We're almost there!" Loki shouted ahead of me, his voice strained but determined. I looked up, barely able to make out the faint, jagged outline of the Underworld's entrance through the chaos. It was close, but not close enough.

An arrow grazed Belial's arm, and he winced, stumbling briefly before regaining his balance. I could see the fire in his eyes, the same determination that had kept him fighting this long, refusing to let fate decide his path. He glanced back at me, his expression tight with frustration. He could see how I was struggling, but there was no time for words.

"I'm fine!" I managed to shout, though the lie hung heavy in my chest.

Belial didn't answer, but his gaze sharpened, a silent understanding passing between us. He pushed forward, using his last reserves of strength to charge ahead, his defiance driving him even in the face of exhaustion.

Loki, too, kept his focus on the path ahead, his hand still gripping his weapon tightly, ready for whatever came next. The three of us, battered and worn, pressed on toward the Underworld's entrance, the onslaught behind us growing fiercer by the second.

With the rain of arrows came a storm of fire bolts, scorching the earth in front of us, their flames hissing as they tore through the air. The realization hit hard—they wanted no survivors. The chaotic sound of arrows and fire roaring through the skies drowned out everything else as we raced forward.

Suddenly, a fire bolt struck Belial square in the back. The force of the blow sent him crashing to the ground, his body colliding with the hard surface with a sickening thud.

"No!" I screamed as I stumbled back towards him, Loki close behind. The entrance to the Underworld loomed just ahead, so close and yet impossibly far as Belial lay motionless on the ground.

He groaned, trying to push himself up, but another volley of arrows and fire bolts rained down around us. Loki grabbed my arm, pulling me back. "We don't have time!" he shouted, his voice panicked, eyes darting between me and the oncoming storm of death.

But I couldn't leave him.

I dropped to my knees beside Belial, grabbing his arm, trying to pull him to his feet. He looked up at me, his face twisted in pain, blood pooling from the wound where the fire bolt had hit. His body trembled, weakened, but there was still that fire in his eyes—a refusal to give in.

"I'm not leaving you here," I whispered fiercely, my voice shaking.

Belial coughed, his breath ragged, but he managed a weak smile, shaking his head. "Go," he rasped. "I'm... I'm not going to make it."

"No," I choked, my grip tightening on his arm. "We're almost there. You can—"

"Don't you dare waste it," he interrupted, his voice suddenly strong despite the pain wracking his body. His eyes locked with mine, a fierce determination in them, even as his body gave out beneath him. "You need to finish this. You deserve to be free."

The world felt like it came to a halt as my mind tried to process all of this in such a short amount of time, "I can't—"

"You can," he insisted, gripping my arm with surprising strength, even as his body trembled with weakness. "Go. Now."

I hesitated for a moment longer, my heart screaming at me to stay, to fight for him. But the horde was closing in, and I knew... I knew I had to leave him.

Loki pulled at me again, his voice tight with urgency. "Asmodeus, we have to go."

I stared at Belial, my chest tightening as the reality settled in. There was no saving him. Not here. Not now.

With a final, shaky breath, I nodded, my heart breaking as I let go of his arm. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Belial gave me one last look, a sad smile on his face as he laid back against the scorched earth. "Don't be," he said softly, his voice fading. "Just... make it count."

"I'm not leaving him," I said firmly to Loki as I was trying to fight off the tears that were forming. He frowned in confusion but before he could question me, I proceeded, "pick him up. We're all going to the Underworld."

Loki's eyes widened as he realized what I was requesting of him. "But—"

"Now." I ordered, not allowing any sign of protest. He had come this far and I did not want to leave this place without him. He didn't deserve to be reduced to just lunch to these scavengers.

Loki hesitated for only a brief second, then nodded firmly, the weight of my words hanging between us. Without another word, he crouched down, looping his arm under Belial's lifeless body and hoisting him over his shoulder. The motion was quick, but it was clear how heavy the situation had become.

I wiped away the tears that threatened to fall, forcing myself to keep moving. There was no time for grief now. Belial's life hung in the balance, and every second counted. I knew that if we didn't make it to the Underworld, he would become just another victim, another name lost in this unending war. And that thought was unbearable.

"We move fast," I said, my voice unsteady but firm. Loki's eyes briefly flicked to me, acknowledging my determination, before he adjusted Belial's weight and began to move.

We sprinted again, the sound of arrows and fire bolts cutting through the air around us. The entrance to the Underworld was closer now, its dark, ominous gate seeming to call to us like the only escape from the madness.

Belial groaned weakly from Loki's shoulder, his body limp but still alive, clinging to the last shreds of consciousness. "Just a bit more," I whispered, mostly to myself but hoping that somehow Belial could hear me, could feel that we weren't abandoning him.

Behind us, the horde was gaining ground, the chaotic sound of demons and gods surging forward with terrifying speed. The tendrils of darkness clawed at the ground behind us, growing ever closer, eager to claim what was theirs. I could feel the weight of their presence, like a shadow creeping up my spine.

Loki's breath was ragged, and I could sense his growing exhaustion, but he kept pace, never faltering. He knew what was at stake.

As the entrance to the Underworld loomed before us, my heart raced with a mixture of dread and hope. It was the last place I wanted to be, but the only place that could offer us any chance of survival.

"We're almost there," I called out, pushing through the burning fatigue that weighed on my limbs. My eyes flicked back to the swirling chaos behind us. We didn't have long.

Finally, we came to the long red line that indicated we were at the threshold of the Underworld. It only took a few seconds before the ground before us opened and it revealed a long staircase leading down under. I hadn't expected for it to open this easily but it seemed that Abaddon had made some things a little bit easier for us.

Just as we were about to rush inside, it was like they foresaw what we were about to do, they doubled the speed of their attacks making it almost impossible to dodge. One fire bolt managed to strike me as well as it pushed me down the stairs, making me roll down.

"Oh shit, shit!" Loki was screaming in the distance as he suddenly dropped Belial down too, allowing him to roll down with me. If I wasn't scared already, I would have begun to laugh.

Belial landed beside me with a heavy thump, unconscious but still breathing. I struggled to my knees, the fire bolt wound on my side burning through me like molten lava. The air was thick with the scent of ash and blood, and for a split second, I thought it might be over for us. The horde would catch up any moment now.

"Loki!" I shouted, wincing as the pain in my side intensified. I could see him at the top of the stairs, trying to fend off the relentless rain of fire and arrows, the weight of this madness almost too much for any of us to bear.

He glanced down at me, his face etched with fear and panic, before making a split-second decision. He leaped down the stairs two at a time, his eyes never leaving me or Belial. The sound of weapons clashing and fire bolts roaring filled the air, but he kept moving, determined.

Then, without missing a beat, Loki turned on his heel, his face set in grim determination. With a swift, almost casual motion of his hand, flames erupted from the ground near the entrance, spiraling upward with ferocious intensity. The fire licked at the air, growing higher and higher until it formed a towering wall of flames—blazing and impenetrable. It crackled and roared, casting an eerie glow over the entrance to the Underworld, like a barrier forged from pure wrath.

The flames danced with a life of their own, rising so high that even the most fearless demon or reckless god wouldn't dare cross it. The sheer heat radiated off the barrier, making the air shimmer, as though the very atmosphere was bending to Loki's will.

I stood there, transfixed, my chest heaving with the effort of keeping myself steady, watching as the fire barricade seemed to pulse with an unspoken warning: no one would follow us now.

"That should keep them busy for a while," Loki muttered, his voice hoarse from the strain. His eyes gleamed in the reflection of the fire, betraying a mix of exhaustion and anger that matched my own.

The roof above us soon closed and the only people inside that remained were the three of us. I exhaled in relief and then felt the sharp pain shoot through my body. I hissed as I dragged myself to the wall, slumping against it, feeling the cold stone press into my back as I tried to catch my breath. My gaze drifted to Belial, lying there utterly still, his chest barely rising. But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't stir any emotions. The numbness had swallowed me whole—only exhaustion and the dull throb of pain seemed real.

Loki rushed to my side, kneeling in front of me with wide eyes. The concern etched on his face cut through the haze. He reached out with trembling hands, gently lifting my shirt, revealing the scorched flesh underneath. His breath hitched as he took in the sight.

"Oh dear..." he muttered under his breath, wincing at the sight of the gaping wound. The fire bolt had left a jagged, angry gash across my side, the skin cracked and charred, blood trickling from the edges.

I couldn't even flinch at the sight. "It's not... that bad," I whispered, though my voice lacked any conviction.

"It's worse than you think," Loki said, shaking his head, his hands hovering unsurely, as if he was afraid to touch me. "We need to find something to stop the bleeding. You're going to burn out if we don't."

I let out a humorless laugh, wincing immediately as pain shot through me. "Burn out... fitting, considering."

Loki's expression softened, but I could see the fear creeping into his eyes. He reached for his belt as he also ripped the sleeve of his shirt, and started pressing it gently against the wound, trying to slow the bleeding. The pressure sent another wave of agony coursing through me, but I bit down on my lip, forcing myself not to react.

"Stay with me," Loki urged, his voice barely above a whisper, desperation clear in his tone. "I can't lose you too."

I nodded weakly, though every muscle in my body screamed for rest. My vision was starting to blur at the edges, but I held onto his voice, his presence, the only anchor I had left in this madness.

As Loki pressed harder on the wound, I could feel the warmth of the blood seeping through the cloth. Each breath was a battle, my chest tight with the strain. The distant roars of the horde, muffled now by the inferno Loki had summoned, faded into the background. All I could focus on was the pain and his voice.

He glanced back at Belial, still unmoving, his face paling. "What about him?" Loki's question lingered, but I didn't have the strength to answer. A part of me wished I could summon the same desperation for Belial, the same sense of urgency, but it just wasn't there.

I closed my eyes for a second, trying to gather myself. "He'll live... sort of" I managed, though the words felt hollow. "Just... help me get through this."

Loki's jaw clenched, his hands trembling as he pulled back, staring at the bloodstained cloth. His voice cracked as he muttered, "You're asking me to save you both." His eyes flickered with uncertainty, guilt maybe, as though he knew this would push us all to the brink.

"Do what you can," I whispered, feeling my strength slip away. "We didn't come this far just to die here."

Loki sat back for a moment, watching me, then something hardened in his gaze. "Alright," he said, his voice more steady. Before he could fully pull away from me, I reached out to his collar as I grabbed it as I planted a kiss on his lips. It only lasted a second but the familiar warmth spread out, prompting me to want to push forward and not resist.

Loki's eyes softened as he dared to smile through this horrific situation we had found ourselves stranded in.

"Just in case we don't get to kiss each other again. In case I lose you along the way." The moment I spoke those words, I felt something in me twisting as if the reality suddenly became far too real. Loki just continued to have his eyes fixated on me as if trying to memorize each freckle on my face for the same reason.

Then, he leaned in and kissed me again, this one lasting a bit longer. As our lips met again, the world around us faded into a blur. The heat from the inferno and the cacophony of battle became a distant hum, overshadowed by the urgency of that moment. It was a brief escape, a fleeting sanctuary amid chaos. When he pulled back, his gaze bore into mine, a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface.

"I won't let you go," he said, his voice low and fierce, igniting a spark of determination within me.

I nodded, clinging to that promise as tightly as I could. At the same time, I hated the fact that our future we could've had together was snatched right under our feet. I hated that we couldn't have more time together. And I especially couldn't handle the fact that the closest we had managed to get was in this catastrophic situation. At the very least I knew nothing we had done until now was in avail. All of it mattered. But love always demanded a sacrifice.

He looked over at the doorway leading further into the Underworld, the path stretching before us like a yawning abyss.

He stood, tugging at Belial's limp body once more, then throwing him over his shoulder again. "I'm not leaving either of you behind," he muttered, as if reassuring himself. The weight of his words sat heavily on the air, and I couldn't help but feel the pull of their significance.

I tried to rise, but my legs buckled beneath me. The pain had reached a new peak, crashing over me in waves. I leaned against the wall in support as pain spread even more.

"I don't think I can go yet." I admitted as much as it pained to do so. "You should go and I will catch up with you two."

"No." Loki said firmly. "It's too dangerous. I don't know how long the fire gate will hold."

"Well, then, what do you expect me to do?" I asked, desperation clear in my voice. Loki clenched his jaw as his eyes darted between Belial and me. We had to make a decision and while I knew he would rather save me than Belial, I was still determined not to let that happen. Somehow - there had to be a way.

"Belial is already gone. There is still hope for you. Unfortunately, as Abaddon said, it seems he remains just collateral damage," Loki said and I frowned a little bit at this reasoning. It was rather cold from him but I couldn't say I was surprised.

"I can't just leave him behind," I protested, the words tumbling out in a rush, fueled by a mix of panic and defiance. "He deserves better than to be abandoned here, Loki! We can't just write him off."

Loki's expression hardened, his frustration evident. "As much as you want to save him, you can't save everyone. If we don't move now, we all die here."

I shook my head, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "But he's not just collateral damage to me! He's a part of this too. We're all in this mess together."

I could see Loki wanted to argue, to push me toward safety, but the weight of my determination hung heavy in the air.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice low and resigned. "If you're staying, then I'll stay too. But we need a plan." He let Belial rest back on the ground before he came closer to me and sat down without a word. I joined him quickly after, both of us staring ahead of us, the weight of reality settling down heavily on our shoulders.

"Matter of fact, I couldn't save anyone which is why I want to save at least one." I grumbled and Loki shot me a glare as he had his eyes fixated on me for a few seconds. He then let out a sigh and shook his head, leaning it against the wall, closing his eyes for a moment.

"You somehow managed to save yourself despite it all." Loki smiled, trying to reassure me to keep going.

"Yeah but at what cost?" I mumbled and he opened his mouth to say something but then quickly closed them. Silence took over for a few seconds as both of us were weighing our options and trying to process everything that had happened.

"How much does it hurt?" He asked after a while.

"Quite a lot. I don't think I'd be able to go until the end and there's quite a way for us to go." I said, sighing. Loki nodded as he hummed in thought, his brows furrowing.

"Okay," he said, determination flickering in his gaze. "We'll figure something out. There has to be a way."

I couldn't help but admire his resolve, even as my own spirit waned under the weight of exhaustion. "You really think we can do this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Believe it or not, I have faith in us," he replied, a flicker of that old spark igniting in his eyes. "And I'm not going to let you give up on Belial or on yourself. We've faced worse, haven't we?"

"Have we?" I challenged lightly, but the corners of my mouth betrayed me, lifting slightly.

"Remember when the Devil locked you away? Twice? And, here you are, still standing. We can't let this be the end of our story." He chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "Asmo, if they locked you in a room without windows or doors, you'd find a way out."

I laughed out loud at the description but I couldn't even disagree. I had an odd luck with escaping seemingly inescapable situations. I began to believe that Astral might have been on my side.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow and he pulled one of his infamous mischievous grins. Always trust a trickster to have a plan, this I learned.

"I'll shapeshift into Sleipnir." He declared and for a second I didn't know what he meant. And then I remembered.

Sleipnir was an eight-legged mare Loki shapeshifted once before in his history. The mare was supposedly the fastest horse in the Norse world. It could travel from Asgard to depths of the underworld in great haste. Hopefully, this underworld counted too.

"Oh... This is not a bad idea at all." I said, frowning slightly in amusement.

"You'd be the first demon to ride Sleipnir." He continued grinned, obviously very proud of his plan he came up with in a spur of a moment.

"Too bad I can't ride you in other contexts." I snickered at my lame attempt at a dirty joke. It looked like it amused Loki even more as he laughed a little.

"I don't think you'd be the one doing the riding." He said, cheekily.

I raised an eyebrow, a smirk creeping onto my face. "Oh, really? Care to elaborate on that?"

Loki's laughter filled the air, lightening the tension that clung to us. "Let's just say I've had my fair share of experiences, and I'm a rather accommodating ride."

I feigned shock, putting a hand to my chest. "Accommodating, huh? I'm intrigued. You'll have to tell me more about your... riding techniques later."

He grinned, the sparkle in his eyes returning. "If we survive this, I promise I'll give you a full lesson."

"Only if I can take the reins," I shot back, trying to maintain my playful demeanor even as the weight of our situation loomed over us.

"Deal," Loki said, his smile widening. "But I can't guarantee that I'll be able to keep my legs in check."

"Legs in check? You're going to need all eight for this ride," I teased, feeling a surge of adrenaline mixed with the playful banter.

"Fair point," he replied with a wink, the mood lightening for just a moment. But the reality of our situation crashed down again as we both glanced toward the ominous darkness ahead.

"Alright, enough teasing. Let's make this happen," I said, urgency creeping into my voice. "I don't want to get caught up in whatever hell is coming for us."

"Onward, then!" he declared, his expression shifting back to determination as he began to shift. In moments, the air shimmered around him, and there was Sleipnir—magnificent and ready to run.

I pushed myself up and struggled over to Belial. Every part of me screamed in pain from the wound, but I forced myself to push through just a little longer. With sheer determination, I lifted Belial's motionless body and helped him onto Sleipnir's back.

Once I secured him, I climbed onto Sleipnir as well, my heart racing. I breathed a sigh of relief as I settled into place, fighting through the pain. "Just remember, if this goes sideways, I'm taking full credit for the ride of a lifetime,"I called out, trying to keep the mood light despite the gravity of our escape.

"Just hold on tight!" came Loki's voice from within the mare, and with that, we galloped into the depths Underworld, ready to face whatever awaited us.