22 C22 Just Keep Walking, Walking, Walking

Finding a spiral that goes at least halfway up, she makes her way to it and starts the trek.

--- [A/N: Fair warning. Today was my birthday and I had to leave this chapter on a pretty bad cliffhanger, so you may want to save this for when I release the next one.

You continue at your own risk!] ---

"Have you met him before?"

"Only once. Though, I wasn't entirely cognizant at the time."

Doom was currently walking up one of the spirals of the central tree.

"Were you able to discern anything?"

"Only that he was no weaker than Mephisto."

He was talking with a purple crystal hung at his neck, under his armor.

"Hmm."

"Victor, do not let your hatred for Mephisto cloud your judgment of his slayer."

It was Cynthia, within.

"I understand, Mother, it's just—"

"Too easy? Like you've been working so hard to achieve something, only for someone to step in and do it before you can even blink?"

Doom—Victor clenched his fists, remembering something, "Yes."

"Don't think too hard on it, Victor. From what I know, he had no less a bone to pick with Mephisto. Perhaps even greater, as he was here much longer than me."

"I know Mother, I just—"

"Victor," she said softly. "You are meant for so much more than just trouncing around in Hell. Free yourself of the past, Victor—or you will never truly achieve the future you're destined to make."

"Yes—yes, Mother. I understand now."

"I knew you would Victor, you always learned fast."

With that, Victor increased his speed to the top.

---

"Almost—there."

Satana was feigning fatigue as she reached halfway up the tree.

'I can't see or hear you, but I can sense your soul; I am a succubus after all.'

Panting heavily, she leans against the wooden structure.

'I would have found you already if it wasn't for the soul energy coming from the top. It's too strong, and so—tempting…'

She almost let down her guard while indulging in its 'scent.'

'Wait! That's not right! I'm the succubus! I'm the one who's supposed to be tempting, not tempted!'

Regaining composure, she stands up from the structure and starts walking again.

"More walking…"

She would have tried attacking her surroundings, but she doesn't want to draw the attention of the 'Guardians' so soon.

'Keep hiding. You'll slip up eventually, and when you do, I'll eat your soul right in front of your very eyes.'

---

'This little demoness has good senses.'

Loki was not far from Satana.

'She isn't weak either, though it's her weapon that's the greatest cause for concern.'

Loki didn't fall for her acting either.

'For a demon, her stagecraft is terribly—obvious.'

Seeing her start walking, he only follows behind, leaving ample distance between.

'No sense in giving her an easier time at finding me. She would have already, if not for this strange energy.'

He inspected the aura being given off.

'I cannot gain any control over it whatsoever. It's like it has a will of its own and won't be swayed.'

His smirk grows, looking back at the demoness.

'Perhaps she will shed some light on what's happening here.'

---

Victor was only a few miles from the top. Along the way, he had noticed the strange energy it radiated—as well as the music.

"This energy seems somewhat autonomous."

He took out a small object that looked like the roman numeral two and held it in front of him.

"I wonder if it can be siphoned."

Before he could continue—

"Don't! I think that energy belongs to the new Lord's. If you try absorbing it, the guardians may take it as an act of aggression."

Victor stopped his movements.

"You think it is his?"

"It's similar to the vague impression I have of him, so I can't be sure, but—well—look in front of you."

Victor looked up towards the front only to see two eyes made of golden fire.

Each was the size of a bus and radiated uncontested power and energy, energy very similar to that which he was about to try siphoning.

"My apologies, Guardian. I was being impetuous and did not mean any harm."

He bowed in apology, while the eyes only gazed at him before disappearing as silently as they came.

Then he heard laughing.

"Why are you laughing, Mother?" he asked perplexed.

"I'm just happy, is all. Happy that my son still has that curious little boy inside of him."

Victor didn't respond and continued his journey.

Though, under his mask, he had a hint of a smile. He liked to hear his Mother's laugh, as she seldom did, even before the deal with Mephisto.

'If it takes me making a few blunders to make you laugh, then that is what I—'

Victor was pulled out of his musings by a trident going towards his head.

Dodging it, he grabbed the shaft and spun his body, elbowing the wielder and making them fly back.

The figure landed on their feet; it was a young demoness.

"You're strong for a human."

"You are weak for a demon."

"You!" she sends a stream of Hellfire with her trident.

Victor, who's prepared specifically for fighting in Hell, only blocked it with a hand and walked through it.

Reaching her, he grabbed the trident, pointing it up, and kicked her in the stomach, sending her into a wall.

Then with the trident in hand, he thrust it to the empty air to his side, ending the strike when the tip was just before a, now visible, man's neck.

He was wide-eyed and held his hands up.

"The only reason you two nuisances are still living is that I do not wish to incur the wrath of the Guardians."

He threw the trident back to the demoness, who would have been impaled through the gut if she had not reacted fast enough.

Resuming his trek, he says, "Rejoice! For Doom has shown you his mercy. Few have had that privilege."

--- [A/N: You thought Doom was the weakest of them? Ha! You, sorry fool. To think DOOM would be bested by a mear demon and an illusionist.

Nah, but seriously. Doom is a first-rate badass. Although none of them was giving it their all, nor has any of them reached their full potential, he would still kick their asses anyway.] ---

Looking at each other, the duo shared an awkward silence.

Deciding that it's better to not cause any more ruckus, they follow behind Doom. Albeit, from some distance.

"You were following me. Why?" Satana would have already attacked him but decided not to, considering the current situation.

"I was merely curious, is all. There aren't many demons like you where I'm from. I meant no harm." Loki showed an 'honest' face, as always, and only spoke the 'truth.'

At least it looked like he did.

Satana harumphed, "So you say, stranger."

Ignoring each other, they continued.

All the while, Doom had completely ignored their presence.

--- [A/N: I know. I hate it when an author puts music in a novel too.

But when I listen to music while writing and come across a perfectly fitting song, I just can't help but put it in.] ---

Nearing the same level as the golden light, Doom was able to make out the music.

It was considered hard rock and was—rather fitting, given his current location.

~I don't belong here, we gotta move on, dear~

~Escape from this afterlife~

~'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on~

~Far away from here~

[Afterlife by Avenged Sevenfold]

'Oh, how I agree.'

Reaching the top level, he saw that one side of the spiral left an open view to the bottom while the other had rooms lining it.

A golden light was coming from one of the furthest rooms ahead. It had the word 'LAB' written above it on a plaque.

He had no intention of entering.

'I have killed others for intruding upon me when I'm in intense study. I will not commit the same treason.'

Aside from that, there was also a sign at the entrance of the top level.

It said the Lord was currently in a breakthrough of sorts and that it would take no more than two months. Any visitors should wait outside or in one of the adjacent rooms.

'Two months is nothing compared to the time I have strived to save mother. I shall wait even longer if necessary.'

Doom entered one of the adjacent rooms and shut the door behind him. Not once did he ever recognize the duo's presence.

Seeing the room had everything required, he moved to stand in front of a window.

"I have to say. Even though everything is built in a roundabout way, and severely oversized, things are still relatively—normal."

"I'm forced to agree, Mother. Although, I am not entirely convinced that this is not some elaborate plan, concocted by another demon."

"Only time will tell Victor. For now—we wait."

--- [A/N: The MC is a modern guy, so why wouldn't he make guestrooms for his tree mansion?

And I think leaving the signs was smart. Why let your 'rebirth' be interrupted by some poor schlub just because he was ignorant?] ---

"Argh!! Why is it taking so long?!" Satana was sitting against a wooden pillar.

"—it's only been three days…" Loki was not far away, experimenting with magic.

"Shut up! Who asked you!"

"You asked why it has taken so long when it, clearly, has not. Did you already forget what the sign said?"

"Y-you—argh!!"

Satana gets up and starts pacing in front of the laboratory.

"Don't tell me your going to—"

"That's exactly what I'm going to do!" She gets ready to charge in, but sees Loki move away, "What are you doing?"

"Getting away from you. Your stupidity may be contagious."

Reigning in her anger and the urge to skewer him, Satana focuses back on the lab's doorway, then to the trident, 'Father said that it would allow me to escape, and whatever is going on behind that door may be useful information.'

Steeling herself, she charged in at her fastest.

//Note//

Guess what guys!

Today was my birthday!

Sooo, I decided to share a very special surprise!

A cliffhanger!!

YEAH!!

*Yeah just imagine your reaction if I didn't warn you at the start.*

P.S.

I will give a full description of MC's new looks next chapter or the one after.

I will comment some supplemental pictures in that chapter's notes.