{Earth}
The television screens across the bar crackled, briefly flashing static before returning to their regularly scheduled programming. But something was off. However, right under the normal programs was a black caption bar, showing a countdown at the bottom of every screen.
24:00:00
Murmurs filled the air as the patrons processed what they'd just witnessed. A jock near the center of the room slammed his hands on the counter, his voice cutting through the entire bar.
"Aw, man! A whole fucking day?!" He groaned out loud, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I seriously don't wanna watch another football game right now."
A frat boy, nursing what was left of his third beer, let out a breathless laugh, "No kidding. After that… yeah, screw this. I'm tapping out." He pointed loosely toward the exit. "Let's head back to the dorms and get wrecked. I need to get all of this beer out of my brain. I mean, Hell is real, dude. Hell!"
Around them, the rest of the patrons milled aimlessly in the bar, either still in shock that they just went through that or frantically discussing what they saw.
"Man, did you see the sky?!" Someone whispered from a booth near the window, "There was this huge… like, actual pentagram. Just hovering up there. In the clouds."
"And that… that glowing orb thing," Another added, staring out at the night sky, "It looked like a moon, but it had rings... no way that's part of Earth's sky. That wasn't even our moon."
A girl, who hadn't blinked in nearly a minute, gasped in realization, "What if… what if that wasn't a moon at all? What if it was Heaven?"
A woman tried to keep it together with a tall glass of lemonade, gagged at the sharp taste and slammed her cup down, "Are you shitting with me right now! Don't tell me Heaven and Hell are like fucking planets now?! You're saying that if we just build some rocket or whatever, we could actually go there?!"
Lucas sighed as his fingers massaged his temples as the overwhelming chatter swelled around him. None of it made sense. Nothing felt real anymore. And frankly, he didn't care. He was exhausted, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
With that he left the bar while no one was looking and walked to his car parked in the dim lot behind the bar.
Unlocking it with a soft beep, he climbed into the driver's seat and let his head fall back against the headrest, after a few minutes, he started the engine with a sigh and pulled out of the lot, headlights carving a path through the empty streets. He didn't notice the faint shimmer in the backseat. Didn't hear the soft rustle. Didn't see the green eyes of the Kitsuna glowing faintly behind him.
Timeskip brought to you by Chibi Kieran playing with Chibi Kitsunas.
The drive home was uneventful, yet something felt wrong. The usual background noise of the city, the honking cars, the distant wail of sirens, even late-night music bleeding from the open windows were gone, almost as if the world had gone silent after watching that strange broadcast.
Lucas pulled into the narrow driveway of his small house, the headlights flicking across cracked pavement and a dying potted plant near his doorstep as the engine sputtered to a stop.
He grabbed his keys, opened the door with a low creak, and stepped inside. Gravel crunched under his shoes as he shut the door behind him.
*PSST*
"GAAH!!!!" With a scream he stumbled back and turned around, only to find the Kitsuna snickering at him with amusement.
"What the hell?! How did you get here?! And why did you follow me?!!" He screamed as he demanded answers from the strange creature.
Unsurprisingly, the Kitsuna just stared at him with no answers as it just cocked its head at him.
With a sigh, he stood up and made his way inside and flicked on the lights. The soft hum of the bulb above buzzed a little longer than usual before stabilizing. He tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and peeled off his jacket as the Kitsuna followed him around.
After that, he trudged into the living room and sank onto the couch with a heavy exhale as he turned on the TV.
As expected, all of the news channels and reporters are all talking about the unexpected revelation of the Afterlife, the existence of Hell and Heaven, Demons and Angels, and the mysterious figure known as Kieran who calls himself the 'God of Light'.
And another thing, there was a strange YouTube channel that just appeared right after the broadcast, and it has the video that they had all watched under the name 'Hazbin Hotel (Pilot)' by a YouTuber called Vivziepop.
"Jeez, just what is the world going to do now?" He muttered with a sigh before turning off the TV and pulled out his own phone to scroll through the media until a certain website caught his attention.
It was a website calling out to all 'Kitsuna Holders' in the world, specifically those who had a Kitsuna following them around.
At first, he wanted to just ignore it and think it was some sort of scam, but curiosity got the better of him and he clicked on the website.
Philippines:
Jason could hardly breathe.
His back was pressed against the wall, his chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven gasps. Cold sweat clung to his skin as the images from the broadcast replayed over and over in his mind, not only the fact that demons and angels truly exists, but the fact that an Overlord known as Alastor just leveled an entire airship like it was nothing.
"W-We're gonna die," He stammered out, "We're all going to die!"
His arms wrapped tightly around himself as he sunk to the floor, "Demons exist! They actually exist! They've got powers that don't even make sense! They can destroy entire cities just for fun! There's no escape for any of us!"
SLAP!
The sound rang sharp through the room as Jason's head jerked to the side, his cheek stinging as he blinked in stunned silence.
Standing over him, he saw Sarah's outstretched hand as she glared at him, "Snap out of it, Jason!"
He stared at her, his eyes widened as he was momentarily stunned.
"I don't care if demons exist! They're still stuck in Hell! They're still down there! So quit acting like it's the end of the damn world and fucking pull yourself together!" She shouted, shaking slightly herself, but holding firm.
Jason blinked a few more times and took a few deep breaths and calmed down, he rubbed his face where she slapped him and mumbled, "Okay… okay. I'm calm. I'm calm."
He looked up at her, his voice steadier now and said, "But still... what do we do now?"
Sarah rolled her eyes and shrugged, already scooping up the Kitsuna sitting nearby, "I am taking Lucky and going to meet up with my friends. They've been begging to see this little guy up close ever since all this supernatural crap started."
The Kitsuna, "Lucky," squirmed in her grip, his tail flicking in irritation as he let out a series of sharp growls and annoyed yips.
Jason frowned at her, already finding the idea to be utterly ridiculous, "Seriously? You're bringing that thing out to your friends, I really don't think it likes you that much."
"Too bad," She replied curtly, opening the front door with her free hand, "They want to see it, and I'm not missing the chance. Later, drama queen."
The door shut with a loud click, leaving Jason alone in the living room once again.
He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, dragging himself off the floor, "Seriously, What the hell is she thinking? It is cute and all, but I doubt that's all there is to it."
He reached for his phone on the coffee table, half-mindedly hoping for something to distract him from the constant ringing of dread in his head. As he unlocked it and opened his browser, a strange new tab was already on, one he was sure he didn't click on.
At first, he thought it was a pop-up ad.
But then he read the header:
"Calling out to all Kitsuna Holders, I'm currently hosting a group chat for all those who have taken possession of the Kitsuna. Please click on this website so that we can discuss more about what we just saw."
— NekoTails 420
He found it odd since he had never seen this website ever, then again with the broadcast about Heaven and Hell being real.
Given everything that happened tonight, maybe it wasn't even a virus. Maybe it was something worse.
But even so… he hesitated for a little longer and with a deep breath, he clicked.
Then, the browser morphed into a sleek, dark-themed interface with a glowing red fox emblem pulsing at the top.
[Welcome to The Den | Kitsuna Holders Group Chat]
NekoTails420 has created a group chat.
NekoTails420 has added 5 members.
______________________________________
NekoTails420:
Good evening everyone, I'm NekoTails 420, it's a pleasure to meet you all.
---
Astalover22:
Okay… who the hell are you, and why did you drag us into this random-ass group?
---
BestBarman69:
I've been working all day, then I get hit with a broadcast from Hell itself, and now this? If this is a scam, I'm leaving this group chat.
---
NekoTails420:
I promise you, this is no scam or prank, this is merely a group chat to keep us all updated on what's going on ever since Kieran aired that broadcast and revealed that Heaven and Hell are real.
---
SpaceGod33:
Wait... I thought this group was for people who have a Kitsuna?
---
NekoTails420:
That's one of the key reasons, yes. But given the circumstances, we need to stay connected. The world just changed, and so did our lives. Now that we're here, I'd like to ask: how exactly did each of you encounter your Kitsuna?
---
Astalover22:
Mine just appeared one night, there was this flash of light, and bam! There it was in my living room, my sister's the one with it right now, took it to show off to her friends.
---
SpaceGod33:
Mine showed up after my girlfriend left. I thought it was a raccoon or something. Here check this out.
[Image Attachment: Jacob holding a Kitsuna.]
---
BestBarman69:
Guess I'll go next. Found mine rummaging through the storage room in my bar. Thought I was hallucinating for a second, it's at home with me right now.
---
BigBro123:
My little sister found one in her bedroom. It was curled up on her pillow like a damn housecat. Now she's treating it like a plush toy and watching cartoons with it.
---
LordPraiseUs77:
Mine followed me out of the church, It was sitting outside on the steps after the Broadcast. I didn't even notice until I got to my car and it was just... there in the backseat after watching that broadcast.
---
BestBarman69:
Alright, NekoTails420, your turn. You've been asking all the questions. What about your Kitsuna?
---
NekoTails420:
Mine's with me at home. It hasn't spoken, but it watches everything, but I have a question, where are all of you currently at right now?
---
BestBarman69:
…Okay, now that's sounding suspicious. You trying to dox us or something?
---
NekoTails420:
Not at all. I don't want your exact address, just your general location. If my theory is correct, the Kitsunas are scattered throughout the entire world, maybe even in Heaven and Hell itself.
---
BigBro123:
You think the Kitsunas are showing up in Hell and Heaven too? Seriously?
---
LordPraiseUs77:
It's not impossible. Kieran never said they were only on Earth. And considering what we saw during that broadcast...
---
NekoTails420:
Exactly. The patterns don't lie. And once the next broadcast airs, I expect this group chat will be flooded with more members.
---
BestBarman69:
Fine, I'm in California.
---
LordPraiseUs77:
And I'm in Britain.
---
AstaLover22:
I'm in the Philippines.
---
SpaceGod33:
I live in Chicago.
---
BigBro123:
And I live in the U.S.
---
NekoTails420:
Same here. Looks like the spread is real. Now... about the Hazbin Hotel, what are your thoughts on Charlie's "Redemption Project"?
---
Astalover22:
I still can't believe most of those demons were once humans. It's crazy. And she actually thinks they can be redeemed?
---
BestBarman69:
I'm not buying it. Honestly, it feels like we're all damned no matter what. You think Heaven's got a checklist? I bet that we'll still get sent to hell, no matter how severe or minor the crime is.
---
SpaceGod33:
Chill man, it can't be that harsh, right? If we just make one little mistake, we'll immediately get sent down to hell? That'd be messed up.
---
Bestbarman69:
Then how would you explain those angels slaughtering those demons and that creepy-ass clocktower that says 'Next Cleanse' A full YEAR until the next purge?
---
LordPraiseUs77:
There must be a reasonable explanation for this, I mean... would the Lord truly allow such violence in the name of righteousness?
---
BigBro123:
I don't know guys, but after seeing Alastor casually killing Sir Pentious and wiping out his entire army with those tentacles of his... yeah. I think the Exorcists are wiping out demons just to make sure no one like him ever rises too far.
---
NekoTails420:
Good insight, BigBro123. Behind Charlie, Alastor might be the most dangerous demon we've seen so far. He's not just powerful, he's strategic, and that is the most terrifying aspect of those demons if they were to invade Earth.
---
LordPraiseUs77:
They could not possibly be in the world of the living. No amount of this 'Magic' is even capable of accomplishing this task.
---
NekoTails420:
You're right to be skeptical. But ever since Kieran confirmed the existence of the afterlife, everything we thought was impossible is now a reality, I wouldn't be surprised if both the demons and the angels are scrambling behind the scenes right now, trying to do damage control.
---
SpaceGod33:
You mean... Lucifer and the Archangels?
---
BigBro123:
Probably, and everyone has all eyes on Charlie and her friends, even the Angels themselves.
---
Bestbarman69:
Which brings me to something I've been thinking about... If Charlie, the literal Princess of Hell is so determined to redeem sinners, then why the hell didn't the angels take that initiative first? Aren't they the ones who are supposed to be the good guys? The saviors?
---
LordPraiseUs77:
Perhaps... they did try at some point. Maybe there were efforts made that we never knew about? Who's to say redemption hasn't been attempted before?
---
NekoTails420:
Or... maybe it wasn't.
Maybe the idea that sinners, humans like us could be redeemed was never even considered by the angels. Think about it. Maybe to them, once a soul falls into Hell, that's it. Final judgment. Case closed. No second chances.
---
SpaceGod33:
That's... a scary thought. Like, once we're sent to hell that's it?
---
BigBro123:
Which makes Charlie's mission all the more important. She's doing what the Heavens refused to do. Giving people like us another chance, even when the system says we're beyond saving.
---
NekoTails420:
Whatever it is, this isn't over. Not by a long shot. And I have a feeling that we'll be getting answers very soon.
______________________________________
United States of America
The White House:
Deep beneath the iconic marble halls of the White House, far below the reach of the press and public eyes, lay a covert facility known to only the highest echelons of the government. A center of high-tech surveillance and cyber operations, buzzed with frantic activity, operators shouting updates, code flashing across dozens of monitors, and the low hum of servers working overtime.
But amidst the urgency, behind a steel-reinforced door marked with no identifying insignia, was a quieter room not like those boring office rooms but more... personalized.
The space was dimly lit by RGB lights glowing softly from beneath rows of high-end monitors, the kind any serious gamer would drool over. At the center of it all, reclined in a neon purple, cat-eared gaming chair, was a young woman groaning at her screen.
She wore a black t-shirt with a pixelated cat logo, a violet bomber jacket, and scuffed red sneakers resting on the desk beside her keyboard. Purple hair which was clearly dyed and streaks of pink was held back by matching cat-themed headphones. And besides her was a small, fox-like creature snored quietly on a plush, cat-faced pillow next to her.
Lyra Sharp, age twenty-two, was a technical genius at a young age, her talent was so great that even Donald Trump hired her to protect America from hackers and cyber terrorists, and she has done a very good job so far, and currently... was deeply skeptical of her own job.
And if you can't already tell, she is NekoTails420 from the group chat.
She sighed as she cracked open a can of Pepsi, and leaned back just as a sharp knock echoed against the door.
"Enter." She called out, half-expecting it to be another employee with bad coffee.
To her surprise, it was none other than the former U.S. President Barack Obama himself. He stepped in with hands in his pockets, surveying the room with a thoughtful smile.
"Hey, Lyra," He greeted her casually, "How's the operation going?"
Lyra spun her chair around and raised an eyebrow, "Oh, just peachy. I've confirmed five confirmed Kitsuna holders across different states, and the numbers are probably going to keep rising after the next broadcast."
She took a long sip of her drink before adding dryly, "Weirdest assignment I've ever had... and I once had to reverse-hack North Korean spyware using my smartphone."
"That mission saved us a lot of trouble and a lot of lives Lyra." Obama chuckled heartily.
Lyra shrugged, then gestured vaguely toward the sleeping Kitsuna on the pillow, "Still, that doesn't answer the bigger question: why exactly are we tracking these people? I mean, yeah, we need to monitor them after... that broadcast. But these Kitsuna holders? They're just ordinary citizens who happened to pick up magical foxes."
She looked up at the former president, searching for any difference in his expression, "Feels a little... invasive."
Obama nodded solemnly, stepping further into the room, "You're not wrong. I've had the same thoughts. But the idea came from Trump initially. Biden approved it with heavy reservations. Believe me, no one's excited about spying on people, especially not when we barely understand what we're dealing with."
"So we're just flying in blind and hoping that they don't bite us in the ass later?" Lyra accused as she crossed her arms and stared at him.
"Essentially," Obama replied, "We don't know what the Kitsunas are truly capable of. They're just appeared out of nowhere ever since that broadcast, and they're popping up worldwide, and we can't afford to be caught unprepared. Especially now that Heaven and Hell have revealed themselves on live television."
Lyra sighed again, more deeply this time, her eyes flicking toward her sleeping companion, "I get it. I really do. But they're not just data points on a screen. They're... alive. Curious. Innocent, even."
"I know," Obama said softly before he paused at the door, "But sometimes, doing the right thing means doing something uncomfortable. Just keep your instincts sharp, and your heart in the right place."
With a nod of farewell, he stepped back into the corridor and closed the door gently behind him.
The silence returned as Lyra turned back to her monitor, opened a fresh tab with the group chat, and slowly took another sip of her Pepsi.
She glanced once more at her Kitsuna, its tiny chest rising and falling in peaceful slumber.
"...I really hope you're just a cute cosmic fox," She muttered, "And not something that we can't control."
She exhaled, cracked her knuckles, and began typing.
Far beneath the public eye, buried deep within the fortified canyons of a classified desert research facility, lay a sprawling underground science complex, one that didn't officially exist. Here, the most brilliant and ethically-flexible minds in America worked tirelessly to engineer technologies far beyond the scope of conventional military budgets.
And right now, they are busy trying to create devices that will capture and restrain demons so far... with little to no success.
Inside a reinforced observation chamber, a group of top scientists gathered in front of a thick window overlooking a sterile, glass-walled experiment room. In the center of the room, under bright white lights, a single creature sat quietly: a Kitsuna, its fluffy tail curled protectively around itself, and it's eyes widened in slight fear.
Tension buzzed in the air as none other than President Joe Biden stood at the forefront, his arms crossed, jaw clenched with concern as he watched the small fox-like creature silently, as the weight of the entire country pressed on his shoulders.
"Are we really doing this?" He asked in a firm tone, his eyes never leaving the Kitsuna.
"Yes, sir," The lead scientist, Dr. Robert Anderson replied, "Just give the word, and we'll proceed with the test."
Biden exhaled slowly, "Proceed."
Robert gave a curt nod. With a flick of a switch, a panel in the ceiling slid open, revealing the cold, menacing silhouette of an M134 Minigun descending into position. Its barrels gleamed ominously under the harsh lights.
The Kitsuna blinked and tilted its head curiously. Then the barrels began to spin.
The minigun whirred rapidly for a few moments before an endless and deadly rain of tiny, flesh-rending bullets all aimed at the Kitsuna... and it did little to no damage as it just tanked the bullets like the Gigachad it is.
With a dramatic huff, the Kitsuna flopped down onto its side, unimpressed and visibly hungry.
The scientists scribbled feverishly in their notepads. A few exchanged glances of disbelief while Biden had a grim expression carved deep into his face.
"That's the sixth weapon we've tested," He said flatly, his eyes still locked onto the untouched creature, "Bullets, fire, poison, acid, electricity... Nothing works. Are you done, Robert?"
Robert adjusted his glasses, with a manic intensity that betrayed a dangerous obsession as he said, "Mr. President, please understand, these results are astounding! We're talking about a creature immune to all known forms of modern weaponry. The potential applications are limitless! If we can understand how the Kitsunas were created, and replicate it, we could put the United States at the top of every global power ranking for the next thousand years!"
Joe Biden turned to him slowly and said, "And at what cost?" His voice is low but laced with growing fury. "You want to harness the power of something we don't even begin to understand? Something created by a being who casually unveiled the afterlife to the entire world on live television?"
Robert's excitement didn't fade. If anything, it grew, "Sir, this is exactly why we need to continue! Kieran, if that really is his name, showed us just a fraction of what's possible. If this Kitsuna is a byproduct of his power, imagine what we could do with just a fragment of that technology! Weapons, defense systems, biological enhancements..."
He stopped mid-rant.
Because the President had stepped forward and grabbed him firmly by the shoulders.
Biden stared him down, his face inches from Robert's, and his blue eyes were cold as steel.
"You're thinking like a man who wants to play god. But I'm trying to prevent Armageddon. We are not in a global arms race! I'm not interested in becoming the most powerful country right now, Heaven and Hell is real Robert, there are beings that can wipe out entire armies with a flick of their wrists and there are currently mass hysteria out there while we are here standing around and experimenting on an innocent creature!"
Robert opened his mouth to respond, but Biden cut him off.
"I'm taking the Kitsuna with me." He declared, his voice leaving no room for debate, "Effective immediately, you're under direct orders to locate and safely secure any stray Kitsunas across the country without harming them. If I so much as hear a whisper about you continuing these experiments, I'll personally make sure you're in a federal prison by sunrise."
Letting go of the stunned man, Biden turned on his heel and walked toward the containment chamber's reinforced door. With a beep and a hiss of air pressure, it slid open.
The Kitsuna looked up at him, it's tail twitched as it sniffed the air, then slowly padded toward him with cautious steps. Biden knelt down, extended his hand, and the little creature nudged its nose into his palm with a soft chirp.
He lifted it gently into his arms, as he exited the facility with the Kitsuna curled against his chest while Robert stood motionless.
"...Y-Yes, sir," He mumbled in a defeated tone.
Inside a sleek, heavily guarded mansion draped in opulence and ego, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump sat in a private office, surrounded by framed photos of past glories, and an oversized monitor glowing with the images of a virtual global conference, On-screen were the four most powerful leaders outside of the U.S, each with stern expressions facing the same crisis.
On the far-left tile was Xi Jinping, China's calculating leader, his face calm yet unreadable.
On the Upper right tile was President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, with clenched fists.
On the Lower Left tile was the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida who looked composed as ever.
And finally... the wildcard: Kim Jong Un, North Korea's volatile ruler, who was already ranting about something.
"...And that is why we must pool our resources together to fight those disgusting demons!" Kim slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing through his microphone as the translated subtitles rolled across the screen in several languages.
"And for the last time, I will not align myself with a tyrant like you!" Abdel Fattah fired back.
Kim's eyes widened in rage at the disrespect, "How dare you...!"
"Enough!" Trump barked, raising his hand, "Both of you, sit down and shut up."
The two leaders hesitated, then begrudgingly obeyed. Trump leaned in, his orange-tinged face hardened with resolve, "Look, Kim, while I agree that we need to develop countermeasures, especially after that monster Alastor wiped out an army like it was nothing, it's still too early to launch a global witch hunt."
Xi Jinping gave a firm nod, "Mr. Trump is correct. We still lack critical intelligence. We don't even know if demons are among us yet. Attacking indiscriminately will only create more chaos, more death… and more souls for Hell."
Kim Jong Un tried to make a rebuttal, but he kept silent after thinking about it for a moment longer.
"Good," Trump muttered, adjusting his seat, "Now that we finally have a mutual agreement, how are your efforts of capturing those 'Kitsunas' in your respective territories and shutting down those giant holographic screens in the sky?" Trump asked the men.
"Not going well, so far we never encountered any Kitsuna, and if any of our people have taken possession of it, they wouldn't hand it over willingly." Abdel Fattah el-Sisi scowled in irritation.
Kishida sighed deeply, "Same here, and all of our efforts to destroy the screens have been for naught as all of our weapons simply passed through it."
"South Koreans are already protesting about my weapons production. Of course, I ignore their whining." Kim scoffed smugly, drawing cold stares from the rest.
Xi Jinping cleared his throat and said, "My country has successfully recovered two Kitsunas. They were found near a biological research facility. Our teams have begun analyzing their physiology."
Everyone perked up at the news, this was certainly new, "And what did you find?" Trump asked in a respectful tone.
Xi Jinping adjusted his collar and took a deep breath, "They are immune to all forms of physical weaponry, bullets, fire, chemical agents... nothing affects them. However, during one test, we fired a laser, just a low-frequency light beam and they just seemed to... absorbed it."
Everyone fell into stunned silence.
"WHAT?! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!!" Kim Jong Un screeched, nearly toppling over his chair.
Xi Jinping nodded slowly, "Upon further scans, we found out that they are biologically composed of some kind of light matter. But they radiate heat, like warm-blooded animals. It's honestly fascinating, really."
Everyone was silent, as they all processed this surprising information.
"So... Kieran's claim to be the 'God of Light' may be true, after all." Fumio Kishida prompted.
Trump scoffed as he rubbed his temples, "God or not, he's clearly something we can't control. And if those Kitsunas are fragments of his power, then we're way over our heads."
"Indeed." Abdel nodded grimly, "And how is America handling the aftermath of that 'broadcast,' Mr. Trump? I can imagine that they are not taking the news well."
Trump's face darkened as his fists clenched tightly, "It's a damn mess. Riots in every major city. Religious zealots, looters, suicides in prisons, some criminals are even killing others on purpose, thinking they'll gain power in Hell like Alastor did." He shook his head in disgust, "We're barely hanging on."
Fumio sighed as he leaned back on his seat, "That's... almost what happened in my country too. Some people believe that this is the end of the world. But I've managed to suppress the panic... for now."
Xi Jinping folded his hands, "Good grief, this isn't just a crisis anymore. This is a global collapse of order."
Everyone nodded in silent agreement.
"Gentlemen, we have only 24 hours before the next broadcast. And if it's anything like the last one, I fear the next revelation may be even worse." Abdel finally spoke up.
"Wait," Kim interrupted before he slammed his fist again, "We haven't talked about my proposition yet!"
Fumio rolled his eyes, "You mean your proposal to form a global anti-demon strike force? I have to say that is the most ridiculous proposal I have ever heard of." Fumio Kishida said with a small smirk.
"Don't you idiots get it?! We just saw one demon, just ONE, managed to wipe an entire army with a casual flick of their wrists and we have no idea if any of those cultists and demon worshippers have ever managed to successfully summon a demon and they could have potentially disguised ourselves as one of us!" Kim Jong Un screamed.
The others were all silent, because like it or not... Kim Jong Un has a point, so far there has been no news of any Demon Worshippers, they should have been proactive especially since Kieran basically revealed that demons actually existed.
For once… no one had a rebuttal.
Because the idea was chillingly plausible.
Trump stared at the screen, his fingers clasped together as the others kept bickering in the background as he thought deeply. After a long moment, he raised his hand again.
"Enough!"
Everyone quieted down as they all turned towards Donald Trump.
"Like it or not… Kim has a point. We still don't know how many demons exist, what they can do, or who's working with them. But sitting here arguing won't help."
Xi narrowed his eyes as he said, "Then what do you suggest, Mr. Trump?"
"... We prepare. These won't be the last time that we'll see more of hell and like it or not, these screens give us valuable information on how to defeat them. So I suggest that each one of us has to put aside our own differences if we want to combat this unified threat."
Everyone of them tensed up, so far even in the beginning of mankind, humanity has never once worked together to fight against a common enemy, they would mostly squabble, fight and kill over the tiniest reasons.
But... those screens and that broadcast has been an eye opener for them, if they don't want humanity to be wiped out by the Demons or the Angels, they need to truly work together.
"So are we all in agreement?" Trump asked the men.
They all exchanged looks and one by one, they all agreed, even Kim Jong Un nodded his head.
"Then we will talk soon after the second broadcast." Trump finished as one by one they all left until Trump closed the laptop with a sigh.
Trump groaned as he leaned back in his chair, "God, I hate this. Good thing Biden's the one in the office. If I had to actually work through this..."
Just then, the door creaked open.
"Excuse me, sir?" His secretary peeked in, her face visibly anxious, "But... you have some visitors wanting to see you."
"I'm not willing to see anyone right now, so whatever it is I'm not interested. Why did you let them in?" Trump waved her off dismissively.
"I didn't." She gulped, "They let themselves in."
"Yeah we did. And we've got some very important info for you, Mr. President!" A man's voice called out.
Trump watched as a pale man with brown hair, and a dark skinned woman with blond hair stepped into the room. Both of them were wearing sunglasses, and black tuxedos with red lapels. The nearly stereotypical look of a government agent. The two had calm smiles on their faces, and both stared at the President patiently.
Trunp narrowed his eyes at the newcomers, "Who the Hell are you, and what the Hell do you want?" He said harshly.
"Ha, that's ironic." The male agent snickered.
The female agent opened her mouth to speak, before gaining a look of confusion and turning to her comrade, "No it isn't."
The male agent looked confused as well, "Say what now?"
"That's not ironic."
"Wait, then what's the definition of irony?"
"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that's not it."
"Well, if you don't know, then how do you-"
"AHEM." Trump's voice boomed, silencing the two instantly.
"If you two are done talking, then I suggest that you both cut to the chase otherwise I'll have you two arrested for wasting my time." Trump growled as he glared at the two.
"Oh, our apologies Mr President!" The female agent yelped before straightening out her shirt, and pushing her glasses up, "I digress. To answer your questions, what we WANT is to give you the answers to both your questions and your problems."
"As for who we are?" Her smirk widened into a grin.
"Well… we're just a couple a' DHORKS."
{Hell}
Hazbin Hotel:
Charlie wasn't entirely sure how to feel about the broadcast.
On one hand, it was humiliating, painfully so. It dredged up every insecurity she'd tried to bury under optimism and hard work. Her interview with Katie Killjoy wes re-aired across the whole of Hell, the footage replaying with merciless clarity, making her look naïve, even laughable. The princess of Hell, trying to redeem sinners? It was the setup to every cruel joke in the entire afterlife.
But on the other hand… there was a line outside the hotel now.
A line of sinners. Some were curious, some desperate, and yes, many of them probably just wanted a roof over their heads and a place to crash while the chaos from the broadcast died down. But… some of them looked hopeful. Some of them looked like they wanted to try.
And to Charlie, that meant everything.
Naturally, the rest of the demons also tried to take pictures of the three Kitsuna but it would appear that they ran off somewhere.
Alastor had to intervene shortly after the broadcast ended, several demons had shown up with bad intentions, hoping to take advantage of the sudden attention the hotel had gotten. But the moment the Radio Demon stepped forward, his grin glowing red and eyes filled with static madness, they didn't stick around long. His presence, as unsettling as it was, proved invaluable.
At the moment, Charlie was beaming as she shook hands with a newly arrived guest in the lobby, a lilac-skinned sinner woman with curled horns and a thoughtful gaze.
"Oh my gosh! Hi! I'm so glad to meet you!
What's your name?!" Charlie practically bounced on the heels of her feet, her enthusiasm as genuine as ever.
The demon woman chuckled softly, as a bittersweet smile curled her lips, "Please, dear, call me Ms. Mayberry." Her gaze wandered around the hotel lobby, where a small cluster of sinners had gathered, murmuring quietly amongst themselves about the broadcast, about redemption, and about the possibility of change.
"It's strange," Mayberry murmured, folding her hands in front of her, "Knowing that someone down here… actually believes we can do better. That someone's willing to give us a chance."
She paused for a brief moment, "I don't think I'd be in Hell if not for... special circumstances. If things hadn't ended the way they did."
Charlie's smile faded just slightly, but her eyes softened with compassion, "I'm trying my best to gather resources and build something that works, even if most people think it's unrealistic. Or impossible." She gestured to the bar, where Husker was lazily cleaning a glass.
"Come on, let's talk more over something to drink."
The two sat at the bar as Husk slid a pair of glasses over, filled with ice-cold water.
Charlie sighed, "You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a decent therapist in Hell. Especially one who's a sinner."
Mayberry raised an eyebrow, "Let me guess, they abused their patients, didn't they?"
Charlie winced, "Yeah. Most of the ones down here were... not exactly paragons of mental health support. And the hellborn therapists? They're all mostly from the Sloth Ring." She sipped her water and grimaced, "And let's just say the Sloth Ring is not known for speedy or effective healthcare."
Mayberry laughed a little, "So... Hell's healthcare system is just like Earth's, huh? Sounds depressingly familiar, Your Highness."
"Please, just call me Charlie..."
SLAM!
The hotel doors burst open with a loud bang, making both women jump as Vaggie sprinted into the lobby, her hair frazzled, and her face flushed with panic.
"Charlie!"
Charlie stood up so fast her stool nearly toppled over, "Vaggie?! What happened?! Is it another attack?!"
Vaggie shook her head, panting heavily as she tried to speak up, "N-No! Worse. Your father… he's on his way here. Right now!"
Panic rippled through the lobby like a shockwave. The sinners who had been casually chatting moments before scattered, scrambling back to their rooms or hiding behind furniture. Even the boldest among them didn't want to be around for that. Husk groaned and downed a full bottle of whiskey in one gulp. Angel Dust shrugged, and poured himself another glass of red wine, trying to act unfazed.
Alastor did not move. But his ever-present grin grew tight and one of his eyes twitched subtly. That was never a good sign.
Even Ms. Mayberry shrank slightly, sensing the sudden shift in energy.
Charlie clutched Vaggie's shoulders, as she screamed, "What?! When? Oh my gosh, the floors aren't even cleaned yet, does the main chandelier have blood on it?! Why now?!"
Vaggie tried to speak, but was cut off by the voice echoing from beyond the doors.
"Chaaaarlie!"
The grand double doors burst open with energy, as Lucifer Morningstar, King of Hell himself, strode into the hotel lobby.
"Hey, Da..."
Charlie barely got the words out before she was enveloped in a massive, bone-crushing bear hug. Lucifer lifted her off the ground, spinning her slightly as if she were still a child.
Everybody watched as their jaws dropped as no one would've expected that this is the infamous King of Hell, in fact they were so surprised that they didn't see a Kitsuna sneaking away from the two.
"There's my precious little star!" He beamed, before setting her down gently, "I saw the broadcast and it was marvelous, by the way, and I thought to myself, 'You know what? Why not drop in and see my daughter's little pet project in person!'"
Unbeknownst to them, Alastor was right behind them, with his wicked smile strained and his eye twitched in anger when Alastor saw Lucifer.
Lucifer's golden eyes swept across the lobby, his gaze drinking in every flicker of shadow and light with leisurely amusement, "Well, well, well, this is uh..." He easily spotted the terrified demons and the state the hotel is in, "...A quaint little sanctuary you've built here. A little rusty, cozy and you have some guests that want to take part in your little hotel project right?~"
Those words instantly filled them all with fear as they furiously nodded their heads, even if they wanted to back out now, they would lose their lives in an instant.
"Ah... Lucifer," Alastor greeted with an overly cordial tone, bowing deeply but never breaking eye contact, "It's truly an honor to have the King of Hell grace us with his presence. I do hope the broadcast didn't offend your responsibilities."
Lucifer's head turned toward him, his amused expression barely shifting. A flicker of golden flame sparked behind his irises as he regarded the Sinner.
"...Uh," He murmured, tilting his head, looking Alastor up and down. "Do I know you?"
There was a beat of stunned silence as Angel Dust let out a sharp gasp, then cackled as he tipped backward off his seat, legs kicking in the air. Husker nearly choked and had to turn away, shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter.
Alastor's expression cracked slightly, as he twitched under one eye.
"I am Alastor, the Radio Demon," He said with forced politeness, "Surely you caught a glimpse of me during the broadcast... yes?"
Lucifer squinted thoughtfully, "Ah-huh..."
Then, with a snap of his fingers, recognition flickered across his face, "Right! You're the radio guy! The one with the creepy voice. Yeah, I remember now."
Angel Dust's laughter reignited as he doubled over what Lucifer just said, "Radio guy," He wheezed out, clutching his sides. "Oh my Satan, I'm never letting you live that down!"
Even Husker let out a rare, hearty snort.
Alastor's hand tightened on his cane. His smile didn't waver, but a murderous glint flashed in his eyes, "Yes… the radio guy."
Lucifer moved on before his attention landed on Angel Dust.
"And you," He said, narrowing his eyes in recognition, "You must be Angel Dust, the first resident of this hotel I presume?"
Angel offered a smug grin, swirling the drink in his glass and lifting it in a mock toast, "The one and only, sweet cheeks. Didn't think the King of Hell would know little ol' me. You a fan or something?"
Charlie's eyes widened in horror as she saw Angel trying to flirt with her dad, right in front of everyone.
"Angel!" She hissed under her breath.
Lucifer tilted his head, clearly baffled by the bold flirtation. His stare lingered for a moment before he looked toward Charlie and finally cracked a faint smile.
"...He's certainly got a personality, I'll give him that."
The two got acclimated to Charlie's closest friends and allies, as they went to a private room as Lucifer took a seat.
"Now, Charlie..." Lucifer breathes in, and sighs, "I know I haven't been... supportive of your little passion project."
Lucifer sighed softly, "I understand your conviction now. I won't try to dissuade you anymore. It's just that…"
His eyes flicked toward Vaggie briefly before he continued, "My family... Earth... isn't as forgiving as you think they are. They aren't made for change. They're... stubborn. Proud. Some of them would rather burn Hell to the ground than watch it turn into something… kinder."
Charlie's face twisted but she sighed, "I... understand, dad. But even with the odds are against me, I want to make a difference! And I don't care what they'll think up there!"
Her expression becomes determined as she continued, "I have to find a way to help the sinners down here. I can't just let their lives go to waste!"
Lucifer looked at her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable. Then, to everyone's surprise, he started laughing.
Charlie flinched at the sight, "You're… laughing?"
He caught himself mid-chuckle, wiping a tear from his eye as he said, "No, no, my dear, I'm not laughing at you."
His expression became wistful as he continued, "You just reminded me of myself… a long, long time ago."
"You... were like me?" Charlie blinked in confusion as to what her father said.
"Oh, yes." Lucifer wipes his tears, his laughter calming down a bit, "I had the same look on my face when facing down Father... he was so mad at me for tempting the humans into eating the apple, when in fact they were doomed from the start."
"Wait what!" Everyone was shocked by this revelation, especially Vaggie and Alastor, who briefly lost his smile before quickly putting it back on.
"Charlie." Lucifer gently puts his hand on his daughter's shoulder, "Think about it for a second- humans are naturally curious. God placed them in Eden and told them not to eat the fruit, and they listened at first."
The fallen angel made a sweeping motion with his hands, "But I knew that it was an impossible task. Eventually, they would have run out of things to do, things to explore... and what do you think they would have done?"
Charlie furrowed her brow as realization slowly dawned on her, "They… would eat the fruit eventually?"
Lucifer smiled faintly as he snapped his fingers, "Exactly. They were curious by nature. He made them flawed on purpose, I gave them free will, a choice, and ... I only sped up the inevitable."
Then, his voice dropped in a more somber tone, "He created beings meant to learn, but denied them the knowledge to do so. He demanded blind obedience from creatures who were born to question."
Lucifer looked away as he said, "He isn't evil, if that's what you're asking. But He is... incapable of admitting when He's made a mistake. So instead, He left. Vanished. Disappeared into the stars, likely building new worlds, trying again somewhere else."
A silence fell over them as they all took a while to process all of this.
Charlie's voice was barely above a whisper as she asked, "Then… why did you keep going after you rebelled? Why keep going even after you were banished from heaven?"
Lucifer's smile faded, his hands curled tighter around his cane, the gold band on his finger catching the light as his knuckles whitened. His voice, when it came, was quieter than before.
"…I can't tell you that, Charlie."
He rose from his seat as everyone watched as he opened the door with a deadpanned face.
"Not yet."
I.M.P. Headquarters:
Elsewhere in Hell, Imp City's traffic was as busy as always. Car horns blared, curses echoed from open windows, and a layer of exhaust hung heavy in the air. Inside the modest office of I.M.P., Blitzø paced back and forth in his office, muttering incoherently under his breath as he looped the same path over and over again.
Moxxie watched him warily from the couch, "Uh, Blitzø? You've been pacing for over an hour. You okay?"
"No, I'm not fucking okay!" Blitzø snapped, flinging his arms up dramatically, "How the FUCK are we supposed to keep this business afloat with all that shit going down?! The entire population of Hell just saw Princess Sunshine try to run a redemption hotel and now all eyes are on us! We're freelance assassins, not fucking therapists!"
Millie rubbed Moxxie's back supportively, but her brow furrowed with worry, "Sugar, maybe there's a way through this. Didn't ya say you could call Stolas? He's gotta have some magic that can help us lay low, maybe whip up some new disguises?"
Blitzø winced at the mention of the prince. His brain immediately flashed to the last conversation he had with Stolas, he promised himself to never visit Loo Loo Land ever again, even if Stolas offered him money and a blowjob.
Still... business came first.
"Alright, alright. I'll call the feather-fucker," He muttered as he grabbed his phone and typed in the number.
Across town, in the luxurious estate of the Goetia family, Octavia sat in the backseat of a stretch limo with her earbuds jammed in as it played a tune. She tried to pretend her father wasn't humming joyfully in the seat beside her, glancing at his phone like a lovesick teenager.
Ever since the Loo Loo Land disaster, Stolas had promised to be more present in her life, and to his credit, he kept his word. Breakfasts, lunch dates, even late-night stargazing sessions. He'd made a real effort. And today was supposed to be another one of those days... just the two of them.
But then his phone rang.
Stolas perked up immediately, his eyes widened as he answered it, "Oh, Blitzy~! What a surprise! What a pleasure to hear from you on this fine evening! To what do I owe the..."
"Dad." Octavia cut in flatly, not even removing her earbuds, "You promised not to do the flirty sex thing when I'm around. Remember?"
Stolas blinked a little, "O-oh! Right! Quite right, my little owlet." He cleared his throat and composed himself, though a bright blush is still on his cheeks, "So sorry, Blitzy! What made you call me on this, uh, fine... platonic day?"
"Hey, birdbrain," Blitzø's voice crackled through the receiver, "You busy? I need you to swing by the office. Got some business crap I need to talk to you about."
Stolas's feathers drooped a bit, but he tried to recover quickly. "I, uh... Octavia and I were heading out for dinner. My wife's off shopping with some stuck-up royal cousins in the Lust Ring or wherever."
"Yeah, fine, whatever. Bring her along. Just make sure she doesn't walk in on anything graphic." There was a pause, and then Blitzø added dryly, "I don't want to traumatize your kid again."
That implication alone was enough to make the owl demon perked up with a delighted hoot, "Yes! I'll be there shortly, darling!"
He hung up, clutching the receiver to his chest and doing a gleeful little hoot, "Yes! Yes, yes, yes!"
Octavia peeked around the corner, "Dad. Seriously."
"Octavia, my little star!" He swept her into a hug, much to her reluctant tolerance, "Change of plans! We're going to visit Blitzy's office!"
She groaned, "Fine. But I get to hang out with Loona. And you're still buying me that taxidermy bat from Stylish Occult."
"Absolutely!"
Back at I.M.P., the office was in chaos. Millie and Moxxie scrambled to make the place look halfway respectable. Millie was dusting off a new couch, while Moxxie lugged an overstuffed ottoman through the doorway, cursing under his breath.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Moxxie, you limp-dicked prick, move faster!" Blitzø barked as he frantically polished the guns on his desk, "We've got royalty coming! You don't want the Goetia to see our budget-ass murder shack and decide to cancel our contract do you?!"
Moxxie wheezed as he dragged the furniture across the floor, "Maybe if someone didn't blow the budget on horse figurines...!"
Millie elbowed him on the shoulder, "Don't stress, darlin'. You're still the sexiest imp in the ring."
Suddenly, the rev of a limousine engine made all three of them freeze.
"Oh fuck, he's here!" Blitzø hissed. "Everyone look natural! Or rich! Or, uh, like we give a fuck!"
The door burst open as Stolas and Octavia stepped inside, "Oh, Blitzy~! I'm here!"
Trailing behind him, Octavia sighed and rolled her eyes. "God, he's been like this all day. Please don't make it worse."
Blitzø met him at the door, forcing a lopsided smile as he greeted, "Yeah, hey, Stolas. Thanks for showing up."
Stolas blinked at the less-than-warm welcome but recovered quickly as he said, "So! You wanted to talk about... the broadcast?"
Loona glanced up from her phone and called out, "Everyone saw it, dude. Even the Sloth Ring's talking about it. You know how hard it is to get reception down there?"
Moxxie and Millie gawked at her, "Seriously?!"
Stolas sighed, putting his hat towards his chest, "Yes... unfortunately, it's all over Hell. And the higher ups are already breathing down our necks. I might need my grimoire back for a few days, to help track down Kieran and manage some containment spells."
Blitzo waved it off, "Yeah, yeah. You own the damn thing anyway. I need something else."
"Oh?"
"I need better disguises. Something more human. Something that'll hold up under scrutiny." Blitzø gestured towards his crew.
"Aren't your current disguises sufficient?"
Stolas raised an elegant brow at his beloved imp.
"They've... been fine until now. But thanks to that damn broadcast, everyone up there is going to fucking be suspicious of anything even remotely demonic. I can't risk a hit going fucking sideways." Blitzø pointed out.
"Consider it done," Stolas said with a small flick of his wrist, "I'll whip something up before I leave."
"And uh..." He pointed to the two Kitsuna who were busy analysing a gun like it's a small toy, "Why are they here with you?"
"Oh them?" Blitzø waved them off with a shrug, "Don't know what they are and I don't fucking care, they aren't bothering me or anything so I let them stay for a while."
"Oh! Okay then." He took a seat between Blitzø and Octavia, clearly trying to act casual while Octavia tossed her feet onto the table next to Loona, both teens buried in their phones.
"So…" Stolas said carefully, trying to lighten the mood, "Shall we discuss these 'business matters' now, or after dinner?"
Blitzo groaned, massaging his temples, "Let's just get this fucking over with already."
Wrath Ring:
Deep within the blackened bowels of the Wrath Ring, there lay a place so feared that even the most savage hellborns feared to go there, it was called Satan's Courtroom.
This ancient tribunal, forged from obsidian and brimstone, served as both an execution hall and legislative chamber. Here, all who violated Hell's sacred laws were judged without mercy. It was a place of finality, where demons were exiled, enslaved… or executed.
And now, at the head of a colossal infernal table, sat six of the Seven Deadly Sins, gathered under the seething watch of Satan, Hell's supreme enforcer of order and wrath.
The missing member? Lucifer Morningstar.
The reason for their meeting? A single name.
Kieran.
And... things are not going well.
"I'M TELLING YOU ALL THAT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION!!!" Satan bellowed as he slammed his fists down on the table, cracking its surface, "THAT ASSHOLE EXPOSED US! TO HUMANS! HEAVEN! HELL! THE SINNERS, THE EXTERMINATION, ALL OF IT! THE MORTAL WORLD KNOWS NOW! HE MUST BE TRACKED DOWN AND EXECUTED FOR THIS ATROCITY!!!"
Beelzebub, who was lounging lazily on a cotton candy themed throne rolled her eyes and yawned.
"And I'm telling you that there's no point screaming about it," She muttered as she absentmindedly popped a candy into her mouth, "We've been trying to track Kieran since the moment the broadcast went live. He's not in Hell. He doesn't even look like a demon at all."
"Maybe he's in Heaven," Asmodeus said with a smirk, twirling a wine glass full of glowing pink liquid, "Though I can't imagine those angels up there welcomed him after that performance. He exposed their dirty secrets, too. Must've given them quite the aneurysm."
"If all of you fuckers can stop whining, can we move this along please?" Mammon grumbled as he placed his chubby body down on the table and leaned back in his chair, "I've got some merchandise I need to create, you have no bloody idea how many demons want Robo Angel Dusts so that they can fuck with."
"For the last time, Mammon I am NOT going to help you." Asmodeus said firmly as his mane flares up a little, "It's already bad enough that I had to help you with the Fizzies and now I have to help you create some Sinner dolls? Not happening!'
"C'mon, Ozzie, think of the profit! I'll give you 20% off!" Mammon grinned slyly.
"Why you little..." And Asmodeus and Mammon begin to argue back and forth about robo dolls and money.
Beelzebub sighed as she shook her head, "Here we go again…"
Leviathan sat at the far end of the table, as both heads muttering to each other in hushed, tones. Neither seemed inclined to intervene.
And at the side of the room, Belphegor was snoring softly, curled up in her throne, sleeping like it's no tomorrow.
The Kitsuna that had accompanied them here were growing visibly anxious. One of them even yelped and covered its ears, sensing the rising tension before the others did.
And then…
BOOM!
Satan slammed both fists into the table, cracking the floor beneath him. The force of his rage sent shockwaves through the chamber. The walls groaned, dust rained from the ceiling, and several of the Kitsuna were sent flying backward into the obsidian pillars.
Even Belphegor was startled as she instantly woke up, blinking in confusion, "Is… it over already?"
"WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR SUCH POINTLESS DISCUSSIONS!!! DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY INCONCEIVABLE IDEA AS TO WHAT HE DID!!!"
The other Sins instantly shut up. Even Mammon and Asmodeus stopped their arguing.
"HE DISRUPTED THE NATURAL ORDER BY REVEALING THE AFTERLIFE!!! WE NEED TO DISCUSS ABOUT HOW TO FIND THE BASTARD AND KILL HIM!!!"
"Well, may I make a suggestion..." Belphegor timidly raised her hand with groggy eyes.
"... What is it." Satan growled, his temper simmered down a little.
"Maybe we could ask Lucifer for answers? He didn't really say anything about the broadcast, and he's a former Archangel, he must have some information the rest of us don't know about."
That actually made sense to the rest of them as Satan was deep in thought about this.
"I don't know, I tried calling him, but he keeps dodging my questions I doubt he's willing to answer at all."
"Well, maybe we should try asking him in person." Leviathan's left head said as the right head chimed in, "He must have went to Charlie's Hotel, the broadcast did revolve around his own daughter after all."
Satan was silent before he finally spoke, "... Fine, we will go to Charlie's Hotel and we'll finally get some answers on how to deal with Kieran. Meeting adjourned."
With that he stood up as the rest of the Sins followed behind him, and the Kitsuna followed in tow.
{Heaven}
"Um… Uncle Jesus? Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Emily asked softly, her voice barely echoing over the marble floors of the radiant white corridor. The glistening palace around them seemed almost too pure for the heavy storm brewing in her heart. Right behind them, the two Kitsuna followed silently behind with their ears twitching.
Jesus nodded his head, "Yes, Emily. I had hoped, trusted, I thought I could trust Sera to do the right thing. But even I can be mistaken."
His eyes then darkened, not in wrath but in deep disappointment, and with a strong hand he pushed open the grand doors to the celestial library.
Inside the room, there were a bunch of scattered books and papers scattered across as well as one Seraphim who had been frantically searching for something until she was startled by the noise as she turned around and her eyes widened as soon as she saw the Son of God.
"O-oh! Jesus!" She stammered, her wings ruffling nervously as she dropped a scroll before quickly bowing towards him, "I... I wasn't expecting you to come here!"
Jesus didn't smile back though, "That's Mr. Jesus to you, Sera." He then offered Emily a chair, helping her sit gently before taking his place across from the Seraphim, before asking her one question.
"So, Sera. I heard you've been involved in what the people called... the Extermination."
His gaze burned into her fearful ones like sunlight through stained glass.
"Is that true?"
Sera froze. Her hands trembled slightly as her mind scrambled to form an excuse, a justification, anything. But before she could open her mouth, Jesus spoke again.
"If you're wondering how I know..." His voice dropped into a sadder tone as he continued, "...it's because Emily told me everything. And more importantly, I've seen it for myself.
Those Angels slaughtering those you so easily call Sinners." He spat the last word out in a bitter tone.
Sera's composure soon cracked as she blurted out, "I-I was only trying to protect us! The demons… their numbers are multiplying exponentially! If we don't act, they'll rise up and they'll eventually attack us! I only did what I thought was necessary!"
Emily gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes, "Why?" That single word broke Emily before her tears spilled over as a soft sob escaped her lips.
"You… you really did it…" She whispered through sobs, looking at her older sister with heartbreak as she trembled in her seat, "How could you…?"
"So, you truly believe killing them is the only solution?" Jesus's voice was low, but the sheer weight behind it made the air feel heavy. His gloved hands clenched tightly before a burst of divine energy exploded from his body.
The very walls of the library shook. Scrolls and papers fluttered around the room as a radiant pressure pressed down on her.
Sera dropped to her knees as sweat poured down from her face, "B-but it wasn't me! I-It wasn't my suggestion!" She cried out, desperation crackling in her voice, "It was Adam! Adam was the one who first proposed the Extermination!"
Jesus's radiant aura abruptly faded as Emily gasped in relief, clutching her chest as she tried to breathe while Sera breathed heavily, her face sweating uncontrollably.
"Adam…?" Jesus repeated, his voice now tinged with disbelief and barely-contained anger, "My own ancestor is the one who wanted to slaughter our people?"
Sera who was still on her knees, looked up with confusion, "O-Our people? Mr. Jesus, I, I don't understand..."
Both Sera and Emily gasped as Jesus unfurled his wings as he stared at the Seraphim with brown eyes fuelled with righteous fury.
"The Sinners, Sera… they're not monsters. They are former humans, our kin. Even if some committed unforgivable acts, that does not justify condemning millions to death indiscriminately without a shred of mercy."
"And Adam was the one who wanted to kill them? He is the progenitor of mankind! He... was the one who wanted to kill his own descendants?" He shook his head in disappointment, "Yes, he can be rash. Blunt. But that does not give him the right to order genocide."
Everyone in the room was stunned as they have never seen Jesus had an outburst like that since... ever.
The air stilled. Emily stared up at her uncle in stunned awe, while Sera looked completely shattered, her pride crumbling under the weight of her actions.
Then, Jesus exhaled slowly and brought his hands together as he whispered a prayer to God.
When he opened his eyes, the fire had dimmed. He smoothed his hair, gently refolded his wings, and muttered more to himself, "…I should have never gone into retirement. Not when this is what has happened in my absence."
There was a moment of silence and Jesus stared at Sera and declared, "Sera... I hereby revoke your status as Seraphim. Effective immediately, you are suspended from all duties until this matter is resolved."
Sera's eyes widened again, but this time it was in shock as she stammered, "B-but, who will take over my duties!"
Sera's mouth opened in silent shock, "W-what? But, who will take over my responsibilities?"
Jesus turned slightly and placed a gentle hand on Emily's shoulder.
"Emily will."
Emily's eyes widened in disbelief as she tried to grasp what Jesus was saying, "M-me? Uncle Jesus, are you serious?! I… I'm not ready for something like this! I've never even done anything on my own before! How could I possibly handle that kind of responsibility?!"
But Jesus only smiled as if he'd already seen the outcome before ruffling her hair softly.
"You don't have to do it alone. I will be with you every step of the way. And I believe in you, Emily. I've always believed in you. You have the heart, the compassion, and the courage that Heaven needs now more than ever."
Tears welled in Emily's eyes, but this time, it was happiness as she cried onto Jesus's shoulder.
"Ah!" Jesus glanced upward, his eyes glowing faintly as a ripple of celestial energy shimmered through the room, "It seems the Archangels have arrived. We should probably take our leave, Emily."
"Wait, wha...?" Emily barely got the words out before the world around her dissolved into golden light.
With a single flick of his hand, Jesus teleported himself, Emily, and the two Kitsuna away in a flash of golden light just as the air around Sera thickened with overwhelming pressure as the Archangels appeared before Sera.
"Greetings Sera... we have a lot to discuss." Archangel Michael said in a firm tone.
Sera whs still trembling from her encounter with Jesus now found herself barely able to stand under the Archangels' gaze. Her knees nearly gave out as panic overtook her. Her worst fear was unfolding right in front of her.
And in the back of her mind, one haunting possibility lingered around her:
They might actually send me to Hell.
But just as Michael begin to open his mouth…
CRASH!
Unexpectedly, Adam and Lute burst through one of the stained-glass windows in a shower of colored shards.
"WHOA WHOA WHOA!" Lute yelped as she landed in a heap, before immediately scrambling to her feet.
"...Shit that was a lot higher than I thought." She muttered, dusting herself off, until her gaze lifted and landed on the Archangels and her face drained of all color.
"Oh… oh fuck no."
Meanwhile, Adam popped up beside her, oblivious to the divine presence around him as his face was flushed with panic.
"Sera! SERAAAA!" He yelled across the room, "We've got a MAJOR fucking problem!"
She flinched at his words, "Adam..."
"Hey Sera, I've got some really fucking bad news! There's this guy that shows everyone the fucking Extermination! If anyone else finds out, then we are all fucked!"
He finally noticed her frozen expression and asked the completely obvious question.
"…Why are you staring at me like that?"
Slowly, Adam turned his head and his eyes widened in shock as the Four Archangels were all glaring at him.
"So, Adam… what was that you just said about the Extermination?"
Adam didn't even try to play it cool. His mouth moved but no sound came out, and then…
"…Shit."
Promenade:
Meanwhile, in a quieter corner of the Promenade, far from the chaos and revelations of Hell's broadcast, a small group had gathered in a cozy, softly lit café. The atmosphere was tense, the silence thick with unspoken worries.
These were not just any people, they were the friends and family of the Hazbin Hotel's residents.
May stood near the center, shifting nervously as she glanced at the others seated around her.
"So, um…" She began, twiddling her hands and clearing her throat, "I called everyone here because..."
"You mean our dead loved ones who are apparently now residents in a hotel run by the princess of Hell?" Max muttered, rubbing the back of his head with a wry smile. "Yeah… we kinda figured that out."
"So this is like… a meet-and-greet support group?" Linda asked, raising a brow.
May nodded sheepishly, "Yeah. That's… exactly it."
There was a pause, then a soft voice broke the silence.
"Well, I guess I'll start." A warm-looking woman placed a gentle hand on the head of the girl beside her. "I'm Annie, and this is my daughter, Molly."
Molly offered a small wave, barely making eye contact.
"We're family to Anthony." Annie paused for a breath, "Or as most of you probably know him… Angel Dust."
"Wait…" Rebecca blinked then she pointed out, "You mean the Angel Dust? The, uh…"
"The porn star?" She blurted out.
Everyone stared at her before a sharp thwack followed as Arlo smacked the back of his daughter's head.
"Ow! Okay, okay! Sorry! Poor choice of words!" Rebecca grumbled, rubbing her scalp.
"It's fine, I didn't really knew that Anthony was still alive. But now we learned that he's the first guests of some hotel for redemption? It's a lot to process." Annie sighed softly.
"Then I suppose I'll go next." Max said, sitting up straighter before his voice took on a theatrical flourish, "I'm Max. Former stage magician, illusionist, and proud member of the Wandering Critters troupe. I was also Husker's assistant. Back when he still had a stage to call his own."
He gave a half-hearted bow with a wistful smile.
"And I am Nifty's mother, Linda." The small ladybug winner introduced herself with a bow, "Nifty is my daughter. She was always full of energy. She used to sew clothes for the entire neighborhood, and she never stopped moving, not even for a second... It's a bit embarrassing to say that she got some of that from me."
She smiled weakly with a wave.
"And finally, we're Caroline, Arlo, and Rebecca," Caroline introduced, giving a polite nod while Arlo nudged Rebecca to follow suit. She sighed and gave a half-hearted bow.
"We're family to Cherri Bomb. The rest of our folks are… well, they're busy right now. Trying to calm down some of their friends who also had people turn up in the broadcast."
"Right, and…" Linda began softly, glancing toward the Snake Winner sitting quietly at the far end of the room. His gaze was distant, locked on something no one else could see.
Charles Pentious sat frozen, his posture was stiff, and his hands trembled slightly in his lap.
"I suppose..." Linda said with a sigh, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, "I should introduce him to everyone."
She took a breath and introduced him to everyone, "Everyone, this is Charles Pentious… the father of Sir Pentious."
Everyone was silent as they all remembered about Sir Pentious's attack on the hotel and how Alastor brutally fought back with his tentacles.
"Oh...oh my gosh! I didn't know...!" May stammered, as he stared at the father's distraught look, "I'm so sorry! I didn't know my son would do something like that!"
Everyone was silent, then slowly, Charles turned his head toward her, his expression twisted in grief and rising fury, as tears welling at the corners of his snake-like eyes.
"And what exactly do you mean... that that monster is your son?" He asked bitterly, his voice cracking under the stress and trauma.
"My name is May," She said quietly, "And as I said earlier… I am Alastor's mother."
Everyone stared at her with various range of emotions between shock, fear and anger, they were all surprised to learn that a monster like Alastor has a relative in Heaven.
For a moment, Charles body froze, as if trying to decide what it wanted to do. Then, without warning, he shot to his feet, the sudden movement upending the couch and startling Linda and Max.
Before May could react, Arlo and Caroline leapt into action, grabbing Charles and restraining him just inches from her. Despite his slender build, Charles's grief-fueled rage made him frighteningly strong.
"Why?!" He roared, struggling against their grip, "Why would your son kill Edward?! Even if it was self-defense, what gives him the right to take my boy away from me?!"
His voice cracked again as he mumbled, "And now he's… gone!"
Eventually, Charles stopped resisting. His body sagged in Arlo and Caroline's grip, they released him gently and he collapsed to his knees, his hands trembling as tears spilled freely down his scaled cheeks.
"He's dead… and I'll never see him again..." He cried out, grief now fully consumed the poor Winner, "I never even got to say goodbye..."
The room was deathly silent, no one could ever imagined what it's like to see their son's death with their own eyes.
Suddenly, May stepped forward. Her eyes shimmered with tears, and her doe ears drooping low. Gently, she knelt beside Charles and pulled him into a hug.
"I'm sorry too..." She whispered, "I don't know what I did wrong. I don't know when things changed. I still remember Alastor smiling and laughing, humming to the old records we used to play together…" Her breath hitched.
"But somewhere along the way… he turned into something I no longer recognized."
She pulled back slightly, meeting Charles's wet, grief-stricken gaze.
"But that doesn't mean he's dead."
Charles blinked in disbelief, "What…? What do you mean he's not dead?"
"I mean since he's technically Hell's version of a Winner, he lives forever like we did and Alastor only uses his powers meaning he's still but only a little injured." May explained.
"She's right," Max chimed in from behind them, stepping forward with a surprising amount of energy, "We Winners, we're not like normal humans. We've been blessed with eternal life. And if we can survive up here, then who's to say they can't survive down there?"
Charles slowly lifted his head, his eyes still wet with tears but no longer burning with rage.
"So… Edward might still be…"
"Alive," Linda said gently, kneeling beside him, "And maybe… maybe he's still the same person that you once knew, just more... unhinged."
Charles chuckled softly, "Yeah, my little Edward was always a genius... who knows, maybe he could've become the first redeemed sinner."
Exterminator Angel Bunkers:
Back at the Exterminator Angel Bunkers, everyone was on high alert. Ever since the broadcast revealed footage of Exorcists killing Sinners, public outrage had spread like wildfire even within the walls of Heaven itself.
With riots and protests on the rise, the Exorcists had chosen to lay low, staying within the bunker for their own safety. Going out in full armor was no longer an option, they had to blend in.
A handful of them, disguised in civilian clothes, had been tasked with venturing into the city to gather groceries, clothing, and essentials in preparation for whatever came next.
Thankfully, the Kitsunas in the base were quiet and the Exorcists actually enjoyed having them around.
Soon enough, there was knock on the door and three Exorcists stepped in with bags full of groceries and clothes for all of them.
"About time." A blonde exorcist said in a rough tone, "What took you girls so long?"
Viola, who had been carrying the heaviest load, dropped her bags with a groan, "Hey! These were hard to get without getting recognised you know! We almost got caught because the cashier questioned our identity!"
Claire dropped her own load beside Viola and let out an exhausted sigh, "Viola's got a point, ever since the Extermination has been revealed, everyone in Heaven is on edge right now. Just give us a break, Charlotte."
Charlotte rolled her eyes as she bent down to sort through the supplies, "Yeah, yeah. Fine. Just help me sort this stuff before it spoils."
Once everything was settled, the Exorcists gathered in the main lounge, sitting in beanbags and makeshift chairs in order to discuss what they should do now.
"So… uh… what now?" Montoya, the third exorcists who help Viola and Claire adjusted her glasses and asked, "What are we supposed to do?"
Charlotte leaned back in her seat with her arms crossed behind her head, "We wait. Adam and Lute will return eventually. Until then, we stay hidden. We don't move unless we absolutely have to."
"Maybe we should all discuss on what is going to happen to us?" Everyone turned to Viola who cleared her throat, "What I mean is that maybe we should talk about disbanding the Exorcists."
Suddenly everyone was already on her as they all screamed at just how ludicrous that idea sounds.
"What the fuck are you talking about you bitch!"
"Disband the Exorcists?! Are you out of your fucking mind?!!"
"No way in fuck that's gonna happen you fucking bitch?!"
The wave of yelling, slurs, and furious energy surged toward Viola all at once and she flinched, recoiling from the verbal assault.
All of that anger and shouting triggered something in Claire as she stoop up and yelled, "THAT'S ENOUGH!!!"
Everyone was shocked including Viola who she knows that she barely ever shouted at any of her sisters before.
Claire's eyes burned with fury and frustration as she looked around at the others.
"Viola has a point, everyone now knows that we have been killing Sinners and apparently the Winners are now furious that we are killing their relatives! So unless we want to end up erased, we need to sit down and discuss on what to do from now on!"
She turned to Viola and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Besides, we need to have this conversation. Whether we like it or not."
Viola gave a small nod, visibly comforted by her friend's support.
Her courage and Claire's outburst had shaken something in the group. One by one, the other Exorcists began to calm down, muttering apologies and shifting in their seats. Tension gave way to cautious discussion.
"Still...how are we supposed to deal with everything now? The Archangels are probably watching us like hawks especially after Adam tried to push the Extermination schedule forward."
That drew all eyes to Charlotte, who was idly twirling a strand of her hair between her fingers.
She blinked and looked up, "What? Why are you all staring at me like that?"
"Wait... how do you know that?" Montoya asked, tilting her head, "Adam and Lute never told us anything about changing the date."
Charlotte shrugged casually, "I overheard them talking about it a few days ago. Figured they were going to announce it soon anyway. Not that it matters now since the Extermination will probably be getting cancelled."
The others exchanged uneasy glances but nodded. That outcome seemed more likely by the second.
Then Viola's brow furrowed, and she suddenly spoke up, "Wait… are we seriously not going to talk about the fact that one of us is missing?"
Everyone looked at her confused before they all realised that she's right.
"Holy shit, she's right!" A purple-haired Exorcist gasped, clutching her head, "Where the fuck is Morgana?! She wasn't even there during the broadcast!"
"Do you think she's at her home?" Another Exorcist asked.
"No way. She wasn't at roll call either," Another Exorcist added, shaking her head. "That's not like her."
A red haired exorcist's eyes narrowed, as her mind raced through the possible explanations until one horrifying thought surfaced.
"Wait… oh no..." She whispered in horror, "What if she's stuck in Hell?"
The entire room fell silent.
No one had even considered that.
"What?!" Claire shot up from her seat with panic creeping into her voice, "That's impossible! Weren't we all recalled after Extermination Day? Everyone was supposed to make it back!"
"Exactly!" Viola added, crossing her arms with concern, "We all know that being in hell is practically a death sentence to angels like us."
Another Exorcist scoffed. "Please. There's no way she's in Hell. After what happened to that fucking traitor Vaggie, none of us would be stupid enough to stay down there for a whole damn year."
But at that moment, Montoya's face turned pale.
"Girls…" She muttered, her voice trembling in fear, "Has anyone even considered the possibility that she's… dead?"
There was a huge silence in the room as most of the Exorcists angrily glared at her.
"What the fuck do you mean by that you stupid bitch!" Suddenly, Charlotte roared as she stood up and grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked it hard.
"You think some demon actually killed one of us?! We're Exorcists, Montoya!" She screamed at her, "We are Heaven's soldiers! Those filthy monsters can't kill us!"
Montoya winced in pain but didn't resist. She could barely breathe under the fury directed at her.
Then, without warning, Viola appeared beside them, her eyes locked on Charlotte, and in one swift motion, she grabbed Charlotte's wrist and squeeze it.
Charlotte yelped, immediately releasing Montoya's hair and stumbled back.
"What the fuck is your problem?!" She barked at her, "Why are you defending her?!"
"Because we can't afford to be in denial right now," Viola's glare was icy as she said that, "Whether we like it or not, we have to consider every possibility. Even the worst one."
Charlotte stared back at her, stunned and for the first time, unsure whether that she's right for once.
Around them, the rest of the Exorcists exchanged uneasy glances, whispering among themselves. Doubt crept into their voices as the conversation shifted entirely to Morgana's disappearance, her absence from the broadcast, her silence since then, and the growing fear behind the questions no one wanted to ask.
Could she really be… gone?
Surely not.
Surely a demon couldn't have killed one of them.
Right?
Right...?
The Void:
The tension in the void was thick as smoke, coiling through the silent space between them.
Kieran stood with his usual relaxed posture, his arms loosely folded, yet his eyes held an unreadable sharpness as they locked onto Roo,formerly known as Eve. He was studying her, weighing her intentions, and measuring every twitch and flicker of emotion.
"Well?" He said at last, his voice was lazy but laced with a subtle edge, "Do I have to guess your reasons? Or are you finally going to tell me why you dragged me into this conversation?"
Roo narrowed her eyes as she didn't miss the deliberate provocation.
"I should be asking you that!" She shot back, "Why? Why go through all the effort of broadcasting the inner workings of both Hell and Heaven to humanity? Surely it wasn't just to cause mass chaos now is it?"
Kieran tilted his head with an amused smirk, "Hmm. I'd be lying if I said the humans' reactions weren't highly entertaining. Screaming, crying, panicking, breaking down their illusions of justice and salvation? That's entertainment in my eyes." He admitted as he gave a half-hearted shrug.
"But the real reason?" He said, his voice lowering slightly. "A favor. I owed someone."
Roo blinked and was immediately taken off guard by this information, "A favor?" She repeated with disbelief evident in her voice, "You? Someone as… powerful as you actually owes favors?"
"Don't get the wrong idea," Kieran replied coolly, "It was Frost's idea, not mine. He's the mastermind. I'm just the one who handles the broadcast that's all." He gestured vaguely upward, as if referencing some force from above.
Roo's eyes widened slightly as she realised what he's saying, "Wait. You're telling me… there's more of you? More beings like you and Frost out there?"
"There are more of us than you actually realise Eve." Kieran said with a small grin.
Roo took a step backward, her mind was reeling at the implications but she pushed the thought aside. This wasn't the time to be overwhelmed. She needed to ask, or else she wouldn't get this chance again.
"I didn't want you to lecture me on what you consider as entertainment." Roo said, squaring her shoulders, "I want something else in mind."
Kieran's brow lifted with faint interest, "Now we're getting somewhere."
She took a breath and asked, "I want you… to release me. From this prison."
Silence.
There was a long silence as even Kieran's lazy smile vanished as he stared at her for a second.
Then, after a long beat of silence, Kieran burst out laughing. It wasn't a chuckle, it was a full, unrestrained cackle, echoing unnaturally across the void like mockery itself.
"Oh… oh, you're serious," He gasped between laughs, as he wiped a tear from his eye, "You actually thought I'd say yes? That I'd just pop the locks on your little time-out box because you asked nicely?"
He leaned forward slightly with amusement gleaming in his eyes, "Sorry, sweetheart. That's not how this works."
Roo's jaw clenched, but she held his gaze, "Why not?" She demanded. "You said you find all of this entertaining. You love watching chaos, don't you? What's more chaotic than letting me out?"
Kieran's grin returned, but now there was something darker beneath it.
"Oh, trust me," He said in a silky voice, "It's not about chaos. It's about balance. And the moment you walk free again… well, that would tip the scales a bit too far for my liking."
Kieran idly examined his nails as he added, "Oh, and by the way... there's someone else who wants you to stay put."
"And who might that be?" Roo asked, her voice laced with venom.
Kieran's smirk returned as he answered, "Oh... just God."
That name hit her like a sledgehammer.
A chill ran down her spine, and for a brief second, Roo felt a familiar, ancient fear bubbling back to the surface. 'God? That wasn't possible. Wasn't He supposed to be on vacation? Surely the broadcast would have drawn His attention... but if He knew all along, then why didn't He stop it? Why did he allow any of this to happen?'
"Because I wanted this to happen, Eve." An unknown voice echoed through the void before she could speak.
Roo's head whipped around, and in an instant, the very fabric of the realm shimmered as a blinding golden light enveloped the space as God have arrived.
God appears as a sharply dressed, slender, being with pure white skin, pearly white teeth, and no visible eyes on His face. His head is orbited by four, disembodied, floating eyes which are presumed to be His true eyes.
He wears a large top hat that has a golden cross on the crown, and wears white suit with gold accents, gold shoulder pads with the design of angel-like wings, dark grey gloves, and dress shoes with gold on the tips. He wears a long, flowing cape with the inside being a dull blue color while going whiter towards the ends, which sport the design of angelic wings. The underside of His cape has the design of a moving, blue galaxy.
God smiled at her, his arms gently spread as he greeted her, "Greetings, Eve. How's your little time-out going? Getting the rest you so desperately needed?" He said lightly with a touch of theatrical flair.
Roo was stunned, not by His presence alone, but by the surreal casualness of His tone. This was God, the Creator of All, and yet He was speaking to her as if she were an old acquaintance.
But there was something more pressing gnawing at her insides.
"You said… you wanted all of this to happen?" She asked slowly, "The broadcast. The truth being revealed. You… planned this?"
God chuckled for a moment before his posture stiffened and answered her, "Yes, I did. I've always known the Extermination was flawed… But Heaven refused to listen. So I let the world see it for what it truly is. Sometimes, the only way to show everyone the truth… is to tear it all down for everyone to see."
Roo stood speechless but God continued onwards, his voice now laced with a strange, almost paternal fondness, "And of course I wanted everyone to see my adorable little granddaughter! I thought that my son, would be the one to rehabilitate those demons but I never imagined that Charlie would be the one to do it."
Roo's mind whirled. None of this made sense. Why now? Why allow all of this chaos to unfold?
"And I always want to have an excuse to do this sort of thing but luckily Kieran here suggested this idea and I agree to it wholeheartedly."
Roo tried to speak up, but before she could press further, God suddenly clapped His hands together and said, "Welp! That's enough meddling for now.'I just wanted to check up on you anyway so BYE BYE!"
And then, in the blink of an eye, he teleported in a flash of golden light and the void returned to its muted calm.
Kieran whistled lowly, "Whew. He doesn't show up often, but when He does? Gotta love that dramatic flair."
And without a word, the screen displaying him disappeared, leaving Roo alone with her thoughts.
Roo now stood in stunned silence, as she clenched her fists. What had she just witnessed? A warning? A sign of change? Or the beginning of something even greater?
Whatever it was… history has changed
abruptly.
Forever.