Chapter 152: Return to Hellfire

I saw where I was, but I couldn't believe it.

"Hello little one, why are you here?"

"Beats me."

Sitting in front of me was the demoness. A being I hadn't seen for months.

"You know, your battle against my daughter is all the talk around here."

"Your daughter, Asmodeus?!"

"Yes, I saw it, you fight powerfully, of course, the eating was a bit off-putting."

"Sorry, it used to be the side-effect of my ultimate skill."

"I know, you know, when I look at your power, I begin to understand what Lord Lucifer meant."

"Why?"

"'One will come and defeat that man. This person will possess power that even the Ruler can't explain. A true beast of power and beauty. She will tame the untamable, and rule armies beyond what we can believe.'"

"That doesn't work with what I've done."

"Oh of course it does. We get announcements here too."

"And?"

"Both the Ruler and the System consider your power untouchable, you are able to beat a 900 at 599, you are beautiful, you have both systems under your command, and numerous minor factions, and even a higher faction merged with you."

"Oh… I suppose that it does when you say it like that."

"Hah, and both Asmodeus and Hades can't stop talking about your proficiency."

"What?"

"They are here you know."

"That… actually makes sense. I never actually put thought to the fact that this is supposed to be the prison of demons."

"I know what you mean."

"By the way, you can't move, right?"

"If I do, then I die."

"I see, but then how do others talk to you."

"The dead can move, of course, it's still painful for them."

"Then… why… uh you know."

"Why do I not choose death? Well, it's quite simple. I'm not quite ready yet."

"Hm… What do you know of the Author?"

This was the first thing that caught her off guard.

"How do you know that name?"

"He told me it himself, shortly after he got me killed, luckily I found a way to return to life."

"I see, it truly is lucky. But I'm afraid I may not know much more than you."

"Why?"

"I was captured early into the rebellion, so I didn't know much, all I know about him was that Lucifer's discovery of him is what caused the rebellion."

"I see."

"If you want to know more, then speak to either Asmodeus or Hades."

"Okay… by the way, I should have asked when we first met, but what's your name?"

"Quarinara."

"Rose."

"Wonderful to meet you."

I smiled before leaving her.

"Okay, so how am I supposed to find Asmodeus."

"Quite simply."

"Really, then how-"

Behind me was both Hades and Asmodeus.

"So, you want to know about the Author, huh?"

"Yes."

"We'll tell you everything we know."

Then Hades smiled.

"On one condition, of course."

"And that would be?"

"First, invite us to your faction."

"And what is the second of one condition."

"Okay bad wording. We want to be brought back."

"I can't do that."

They blinked.

"Of course, you can, you already did it yourself during our battle."

Asmodeus nodded in agreement.

"Here's the problem, to do that, I would need to get you, not only out of Hell, but not even to another world, you need to go between, then you'd need to start your lives anew."

"Why?"

"Hades is buried, and I doubt he wants to lose the random skill from revival, and Asmodeus's body is here, making her revive would just trap her here."

"Oh…"

Asmodeus sighed. Then Hades perked up.

"Don't you have that, uh what is it called? OH, System Owner. Can't you just warp us back to life."

"I cannot do that."

"Why not?"

"I can't revert death."

"Maaaaan."

I thought for a moment.

"How about we compromise?"

"What?"

"I make you a part of my faction, then you tell me, and if I find a way to bring you two back, I do it."

"I see. That works."

[Asmodeus has sworn loyalty to you.]

[Hades has sworn loyalty to you.]

"…"

"What?"

"I'm just imagining how confused Luma must be right now."

"It certainly would be confusing to see two dead people swearing loyalty to a very much living one."

Then an automatic announcement.

[Due to surpassing the limits, your skill: Empire can now evolve. Do you wish to evolve it.]

The dead around us froze at the announcement. My eyes were wide.

"Yes."

[Processing, creating new ultimate skill. Ultimate skill: Universal Dominance created. You can now summon two dead followers of your choice. Your boost maximum is also increased to 100%]

"What's the boost I get from Luma and Sona?"

[95%]

I blinked. That mean that I was now in relative strength to them.

Hades blanched.

"That means… that means that you are a twentieth of the strength of the system itself."

"Heh?"

I was not expecting that.

"So, I think I found the way to bring you two."

They smiled. Asmodeus grabbed my hand.

"Come on, to my place, we can talk there."

_

"So, how much you wanna bet that she's 1v1ing the Author…"

"I'll bet 1000 that she isn't."

"I'll take that bet."

"Why are you all betting on what she's doing?! She's limp there, not doing anything!!!"

We all looked at Gabriel, except for Sona who thought she did it by hugging her too hard.

"Do you know how many times she's done this? Theres a point where you just stop getting concerned."

"Uh."

Luma reinforced my words with a nod.

Alice came in and looked at her.

"Weird."

"What?"

"Her soul is still attached, but it's aiming at Hell, you think aunty is there?"

"Pay up, Jalad."

"Maaan. I was really hoping that she'd beat the crap outta him."

"But why is she in Hell?"

Alice shrugged.

"I dunno, all I know is that she's there."

"She better not be getting into trouble."

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Because you are the system, you can tell us."

"Honestly, I don't exactly know what's happening there, all I know is that it's confusing, so I'll let her explain when she gets back."

I nodded.

"That would be best, in my opinion, as well."

So, all we had to do was wait.