Chapter 24 – City Of Pandemonium  

The moment Anastasia, Gabriel, and the team of archangels stepped onto the path leading to Hell's Gateway, the air thickened with an oppressive heat. Shadows moved unnaturally, stretching and twisting along the cracked obsidian ground. She turned to Gabriel, keeping her voice steady despite the weight pressing on her chest.

"How do we even know Lucifer is actually locked up? And isn't he too powerful for that?"

Gabriel's gaze remained forward, his tone clipped and refined. "My dear, Lucifer and Balthazar, the second prince of the underworld, formed an alliance with us following the First Celestial War. Surely, you came across this in your initial studies of our world?"

Anastasia nodded. "Yeah, but none of the stories said anything about him being… vulnerable."

Gabriel exhaled sharply, his expression unreadable. "Because it was never meant to be known. However, when recent events began unfolding, his communications ceased entirely. Balthazar managed to send word at great risk—there was a mutiny. Lucifer was overwhelmed and cast into the prisons of Hellfire. Hundreds of powerful demons turned against him. He could have fought, yes, but the consequences would have been catastrophic. He made the strategic decision to surrender, though he now realizes the error in that choice."

Anastasia's stomach twisted. "So Balthazar—he's still loyal?"

Gabriel inclined his head. "Indeed. He and a select few have remained steadfast. They are currently positioned at the rear of the armies within the Celestial City, striving to mitigate unnecessary casualties until our return. However, we must act swiftly. Should Zython and Asmodeus discern our intent, our mission will be reduced to folly."

Anastasia processed the information quickly. The myths, the legends—all exaggerated. Lucifer wasn't some god-like being of pure darkness. He was just another celestial with duties, forced into a war he hadn't started.

The massive, jagged gates of Hell loomed ahead, blackened steel pulsating as if alive. The closer they got, the stronger the heat became, suffocating and thick with the scent of burning sulfur. As they stepped through, an unseen force scraped against her skin like needles.

Inside, the landscape was a nightmare. Towering spires of twisted bone and scorched rock reached into the swirling crimson sky. Rivers of molten fire cut through the cracked ground, their glow illuminating countless figures writhing in agony beneath the surface. Screams echoed, the kind that drilled into your skull and settled in your bones.

Anastasia forced herself to focus.

Gabriel lifted his hand suddenly, signaling a stop. They pressed themselves against the stone pillars lining the entrance to Pandemonium City. Massive trolls stomped across the grounds, their grotesque bodies covered in jagged armor, eyes glowing a sickly yellow. Their weapons, crude but lethal, dripped with molten rock.

"We move on my signal," Gabriel whispered. "Once they turn, we proceed with absolute swiftness. No delays."

Anastasia clenched her fists, her pulse hammering as she prepared herself. The moment the trolls turned their backs, Gabriel shot forward in a burst of divine acceleration, a flash of golden light. Anastasia followed, her own celestial energy kicking in, sending her hurtling through the air with a speed that made the world blur. The others followed suit, dodging through crumbling ruins and shattered bridges as the city of Pandemonium stretched out below them.

The colossal palace at the heart of Hell loomed ahead, its spiked towers piercing the sky, the air around it vibrating with raw energy.

They touched down at the entrance, landing in a low crouch. The corridors inside were suffocating, the walls pulsing like they were alive. The heat was worse here, like standing inside a furnace. Every breath burned.

"The prisons of Hellfire are at the very bottom," Gabriel said. "We move with haste and absolute silence."

They ran through the twisting hallways, shadows shifting unnaturally in their wake. Every turn felt like a labyrinth, the walls narrowing, the air thick with the scent of decay and smoke.

Then—

"Who goes there?"

The voice boomed through the corridor, stopping them cold.