Hellnia, Gula's Domain, Sweet Oasis Grand Temple.
On the top floor of a grand and majestic temple surrounded by sand and palm trees, within the innermost sanctum, there sat a lavish and elegant red couch.
Surrounding this couch, tables were filled with spreads of vast amounts of luxurious dishes.
Juicy fruits, succulent meats, delicious cakes, and a fine assortment of various wines filled the golden plates and trays.
In the center of such a mouth watering display, laid across the couch, rested an otherworldly beauty indulging in such dishes one by one, a satisfied smile adorning her delicate face.
The curls of her long, purple hair cascading down her shoulders as she ate. Her gluttonous, beautiful golden eyes scanned the next plates as she gracefully chewed, appraising the offerings with delight and possessive greed.
Though she lay and ate, not a single crumb or stain could be seen on her revealing white dress. Her voluptuous form, barely contained within, revealed 6 small stars in an upward arc on her flawless tan skin above her deep cleavage, just below her enticing collar bone.
Her neck, wrists, and ankles were clad in assortments of various forms of rare and eye-catching jewels, complimenting her delicate hands and bare feet.
Her heavenly grace as she ate plate after plate, with slow yet deliberate fervor, would be enough to put onlookers into a daze at her greedy yet alluring display, making others wish to bring her more.
Only more will please her, only more would do, more is what such a being deserved.
And so they did.
As one plate emptied, another took its place, as fresh as the last. And that only made the queen more ravenous.
As Gula, the queen of feasts ate, lines of servants stood at attention, a covered plate in one hand and a bottle of fresh wine in another. They waited patiently, respectfully, to serve their queen with utmost worship.
As Gula ate she couldn't help but think of the events of half a week prior.
She had met a new devil genius! A new little sister!
'Sister huh?'
Gula giggled to herself and shook her head.
Yes, the girl was born from her temple, but she knew devils all too well, devils are selfish to the core.
Ever since the death of the last Judge, devil relations have been greatly strained.
And Greed's betrayal was the straw that broke the camel's back. The common rules of honor between devils have all but been destroyed. Killing other devils was no longer taboo, deals were no longer made to benefit both parties, and devil unity meant nothing anymore.
But Gula hoped that befriending this newborn, one untainted by the nobility and uncontracted to a malevolent force, would bring back a sense of kinship to her devil race.
She hoped the girl would accept her invitation, showing that two six stars could get along without any hidden agenda would surely bolster the view that devils did not have to step on one another to live happily.
'Having such a cutie around would bring much attention to this event as well.'
She giggled again.
Gula wasn't worried about her new sister's safety in those underground tunnels either, there wasn't anything truly harmful to her there. So she assumed. At most a few magical beasts.
'The little girl is most likely agonizing about what to do, unaware that the apex predator in that place is, without a doubt, her.'
She smiled and took a sip of wine, as she thought back to her own experiences back in the day. Hopefully her little sister will gain the courage to step outside those doors.
Gula would be disappointed if she didn't, a six star devil is a world changing existence. Their bloodline alone helps them mutate their bodies to optimal survival and strength. She just needed to swallow her fear.
'Maybe I'll peek in on her in a couple of days.'
"Your Grace seems to be in a good mood today, are the offerings to your liking?"
An old demon standing at the side asked.
The bespectacled man wore a butler's outfit, his red skin, old and wrinkled under his slicked back white hair and prominent mustache, had no effect concealing the sharpness in his wizened eyes, nor the bulging muscles brimming with energy under his uniform.
He stood with his back straight to the side of the couch, his hands clasped behind his back as he asked the queen curiously.
Gula let out a soft, melodious laugh.
"The offerings are indeed good, Hans. But what's on my mind has to do with the abandoned temple in the caves near Ragescar valley."
The butler, Demon Hans, raised an eyebrow.
"Ragescar valley? Your territory Greeds dogs encroached on?"
Gula gave Hans a sidelong glance. Hans, in turn bowed his head in deference.
"Apologies, your Grace. What of the temple?"
Hans tactfully steered the conversation back on track.
"Well." Gula began. "I felt the well of desires on my altar there fluctuating, and decided to take a peek."
Hans let out a tired sigh. "Don't tell me another one of Greeds spawns corrupted that place with its birth." Hans shook his head.
The Greed devil has tipped the balance of desires coming from the lands of Neel into Hellnia so much in the past 600 years that 8 out of 10 devils born are from his lineage now.
He now has a monopoly in Neel and is encroaching on all the territories of other lineages of Hellnia. The other families are helpless to do anything until the gates of Hellnia self repair.
"That's what I thought as well." Gula chuckled. "I thought I would descend and just kill it before it took any of my tableware."
Gula stretched and took another bite of chocolate cake, glancing at Hans deviously. Hans shook his head. Clearly, she was trying to build tension to her story by stopping mid way. He ignored her and asked.
"So, what was the reason for the odd situation? An awakening artifact?" he questioned.
Some devils put weapons in their well of desires to gather essence for awakening as an Artifact, so that too was a possibility.
Gula smiled and shook her head.
"Oh a devil was born, but not of Avaritia, Most likely Luxuria, she was quite the beauty, but it was hard to tell so early on."
Gula stated thoughtfully.
Hans nodded, this was indeed a good thing. Better than those money grubbing zealots that follow the Greed Devil.
He still could not figure out why all of those devils worship a Devil they only have ancestral knowledge of, even in Hellnia, locked away from Neel.
A different lineage devil was good and all but…
"Apologies, Your Grace, but I'm still unsure about why such a sight would make one as esteemed as yourself so happy? Different devil lineages are uncommon nowadays, sure, but it isn't something you usually bother yourself over. So why now?"
Gula glanced at the stoic butler and giggled. It made black lines form on the old demon's face.
She said playfully.
"Because she is our new little sister."
"..."
"Oh, and she's a six star devil. One already possessing ancestral knowledge." Gula replied, but her face became a little weird after stating that. Something felt off about her words…
"!?!"
Gula's initial words made Hans want to roll his eyes, but instead, the latter words made his pupils constrict.
A six star devil! After only 600 years! This was an unprecedented event!
"Do you plan to bring her into the faction, your Grace?" The stoic demon said, but his voice carried a hint of excitement.
This could be a big play by his Queen!
However, Gula just snorted at his words. Make a six star devil serve another? A pipe dream. Snapping out of her previous daze she answered.
"Don't ask such a foolish thing, she will be an existence that kneels to no one, our title of sisters is more than enough. I only wish for an alliance, we will stay friendly with her."
Hans nodded in understanding.
"A wise choice, your grace."
He was still happy with the results, this was the first time in a while his lord had any dealings with another devil, a six star no less.
"I wonder how she's fairing in those dirty caves?"
She tried her best not to laugh at the thought, but a Luxuria traversing through dirt and blood, wearing nothing but a tablecloth was too much to her imagination.
"Pffft-"
'No! I have to be a more responsible big sister!'
She should have at least left her a dress, but she was too hungry at the time and hastily left a letter while the girl was looking through her temple. A slip in consideration on her part.
Gula couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the girl's crumpled doll-like face right now. Picturing her stepping through such an environment repulsed and moody.
Such would be the actions of a Luxuria, if she truly was one.
Though Gula recalled her observations of Hannya in the temple, She seemed to have completely forgotten about the black gate opening and the big black eye that whisked the little devil away at that time. As if that event never happened in the first place.
As Gula's bell-like laughter echoed throughout the room, oblivious to the shocking events she witnessed, a maid walked in with hurried steps.
She glanced at the maid, and immediately recognized her. She was the one to keep an eye on the surrounding areas of the caves while Hannya tested her body.
Upon arrival Gula gestured her forward. The maid walked to the other side of the couch and whispered something into Gula's ear.
After hearing the report, Gula's eyes turned cold. Her aura changed and she sat up.
The atmosphere in the Dining room grew heavy, the food in the surroundings, once juicy and fresh, began to wither and mold.
The golden plates and platters that once held succulent dishes, all became filled with sand.
The bottles of wine in the hands of the servants and sitting on the tables around her became acrid and muddy.
The demons in the hall began to shiver. They all knew what this omen dictated.
The Queen was displeased.
"Hans." The queen spoke sternly.
Hans stepped forward with purpose. His movements, practiced and strong. He would do the bidding of his liege. Things that brought her displeasure were more than unacceptable, they were a sin.
"At your command, your Grace." He bowed respectfully.
Her anklets jingled as she crossed one slender leg over the other and commanded.
"Go to Ragescar valley and monitor the entrance of the cave of my temple, it seems that bastard Avaritia has marked my little sister, if you see a single one of Greed's dogs enter that cave, eliminate them." she spoke
"At your will, your grace. What of the young miss should I encounter her?"
Gula heaved a sigh. She would have liked for the little devil to venture more and gain more experience before she came here, but only an archdevil can remove an archdevil mark.
"If you encounter her, invite her to Sweet Oasis. That mark would only bring her trouble out there alone. Oh, and give her this."
Gula waved her hand and a spatial crack opened, from inside, a small ring flew out and a piece of paper.
She waved her hand again, simultaneously, words were written on the paper and a slice of cake materialized from one of the piles of sand.
The paper then folded on itself and stamped, while the cake flew towards the ring and disappeared.
Both Items finally landed in Hans' hand.
He pocketed the two items and stood up.
"Understood, your Grace." The old demon said simply.
"Make haste." The queen replied.
With that, the old Demon disappeared.
Gula shook her head.
'Let's hope she hasn't ventured out too far, if at all.'
~~~
One day later.
Hellnia, Ragescar Valley, Hidden Temple entrance
FWOOSH
A single black figure can be seen darting through the forest at mach speed. The figure's speed was frightening, yet no destruction could be seen surrounding him travelling at such a pace within the dense forest.
Hardly any sound could be heard as he blew past tree after tree, his movements seemed graceful and at ease, despite the uneven terrain and ever changing obstructions.
He ran with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes closed. As if he were travelling leisurely, a simple stroll through the peaceful wilderness.
Yet the wilderness didn't feel the same. The suffocating aura surrounding the figure passing through made magical beasts instinctively turn tail and run.
They didn't know what just blew past, but they weren't staying a single second longer to wonder.
This individual was indeed the high society butler and royal protector, High Demon Hans.
Hans had travelled at top speed to reach the hidden temple at the edge of Ragescar Valley.
'Let's hope I've arrived before those pesky greeders.'
Hans thought as he sensed the clearing rapidly approaching ahead. As he exited, he darted to the direction of a particular cave far in the distance.
Ragescar valley used to be an impressive mountain range. But after a particular incident between the butler's Queen and a Wrath devil, the range disappeared along with the devil, leaving only the numerous tunnels below.
'Indeed, a butler must always arrive before the guests. Ready and waiting.'
As Hans arrived at his destination, he masked his presence and hid behind a particularly large boulder a fair distance from the entrance.
The demon's stoic face peeked from the boulder and waited. His eyes, no longer the ones of a wizened butler, but of a hunter watching for prey.
He did not have to wait long for the prey to arrive, a couple of hours later a small band of demons and one devil with two stars under his left eye arrived at the other side of the clearing, heading to the direction of the caves.
'20 demons, all regular and… a two star greed devil.'
Hans knitted his brows, the demons were no problem but the devil will be a bit tricky.
Killing him would be no problem, but devils are notoriously hard to kill if they possess stars.
"If he dies, he'll only lose a star and vanish to devils know where." Hans murmured to himself.
Only supreme races can kill supreme races outright. Angels can kill devils, devils can kill elementals, elementals can kill lords ect.
Hans sighed. The world was truly unfair. To truly be of help to his liege, Hans needed to ascend.
But for some reason, Hans had been in a bottle neck for hundreds of years. Even with the blood of his majesty, his barriers have stayed in place.
He shook his head. 'I'm as talentless as ever.' The old butler couldn't help but lament his lack of talent.
"Hey what's taking so long! Hurry it up!" an irritated voice shouted. The two star devil turned back to the edge of the forest and glared.
"Yes of course master! Of course!" an ingratiating voice answered. Out of the forest walked a chubby demon, his beady eyes could barely be seen on his fat smiling face.
Behind him 4 other demons, leading horses carrying carts, followed. The carts carried cages covered in intricate spell matrixes. In three of the 4 cages lay 3 demon women.
Their clothes were tattered, their eyes hollow. The bruises and scratches covering them made clear of the torment they had endured.
The three of them just sat there, lifeless, hopeless. It was clear they were just waiting to die. But the magical shackles and curse mark on their shoulders made it impossible for them to do so.
Hans narrowed his eyes at this sight. Demons enslaving other demons using magic tools and not contracts?
'Those are human tactics.'
Hans had seen such tools before when he traveled to Neel in his reckless youth. They were not as sophisticated, but the magic language was indeed the same. Humans.
'Why are devils using such devices? And where did they get them?'
The mission needed adaptation. Now he needed information. If coercion and trickery into contracts were not the only thing in play when it came to enslaving people here in Hellnia, his queen must be informed about such events!
As Hans mentally adjusted his plans, his eyes shifted away to something peculiar.
Dense billows of what seemed to be fog, began to slowly creep out of the cave entrance of his queen's hidden temple.