“You’re finally awake, darling.”
Belros sat in a chair at the corner of the room, her elbow resting on the armrest, her head propped against her hand as she stared at me with an amused expression.
“Where are we now? How long was I out for?” I croaked.
“We’re at a tavern. You’ve been sleeping for about a day and a half,” she replied, her lips curling into a smirk.
“You carried me here?” I asked, trying to piece things together.
“Oh, I sure did… all princess style,” she said with a grin.
I groaned. “That’s seriously embarrassing.”
“Oh, I’m just teasing,” she chuckled. “I used magic to carry you here and even paid for a room. Aren’t I sweet?”
“I don’t get you,” I said, sitting up. “Why are you being so nice to me? Why are you even helping me?”
“Because I like you,” she said matter-of-factly. “You amuse me, Soda.”
My eyebrows shot up. “How do you even know my name? I never told you that. It’s honestly freaking me out.”
“By the power of God’s Blessing,” she replied with a mischievous smile.
“God’s Blessing? So God still has sway in Hell?” I asked, my confusion growing.
She laughed. “No, not that God. The Demon God Lucifer’s Blessing. It’s an enchantment placed on all demons who enter Hell. But I’ll explain more later. For now, why don’t we head downstairs? You must be hungry.”
“No thanks,” I started to say before my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl.
Belros burst out laughing. “Oh, your growling stomach begs to differ.”
I sighed in defeat. “Fine. I am a little hungry… that spar really wore me down.”
“Come on, boy. I’ll show you downstairs.”
The tavern was bustling with life, though it was far from what I expected. Monsters of every imaginable shape and size filled the room. Some sat at tables, eating and drinking merrily, while others engaged in games or shared tales of their exploits. A lively tune played in the background, blending seamlessly with the sounds of laughter and clinking mugs. It was so… normal, yet utterly surreal.
I paused on the stairs, taking it all in. “Am I really in Hell? This isn’t anything like I imagined.”
Belros glanced at me over her shoulder. “And what did you imagine? Do tell.”
“I don’t know… pits of fire, brimstone and ash, wailing screams of agony and sorrow… misery beyond belief, death and destruction?”
She smirked. “Would you prefer it that way?”
“N-no, this is fine actually,” I admitted. “I could get used to this.”
“Well, don’t,” she said with a grin that sent a chill down my spine. “Where we’re going, you’ll have plenty of wailing screams of agony and sorrow. Ohohoho!”
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I muttered.
“Of course I am,” she said, her eyes glinting. “A human in Hell is quite the novelty. I can’t wait to hear you scream.”
“Your jokes aren’t funny,” I retorted. “Are you even sane?”
“Honey, you’re in Hell. You won’t find anyone sane here. Civil, perhaps, but not sane.”
We found a table in the middle of the tavern, and as we sat down, I felt the weight of a hundred eyes on me. Monsters whispered amongst themselves, their gazes fixed on me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. It wasn’t the first time I’d been stared at, but it was starting to wear on me.
“Belros, why is everyone staring at me?” I whispered. “Is it because I’m human? How rare is that down here?”
“They’re sizing you up with their appraisal ability,” she explained casually. “All demons have it, thanks to God’s Blessing. I did the same thing when we first met. And yes, humans are a rarity. Usually, they’re trapped in Limbo before making their way to any towns. By then, most have turned into monsters.”
“Limbo? Like Dante’s Inferno?”
She shook her head. “No, Limbo is a city of humans. It’s where you should have woken up, but somehow you ended up here, near Lucifer’s castle. That’s what makes you so… intriguing.”
I frowned. “It can’t be a coincidence. I was definitely summoned here. I heard a voice in my head calling me… even now, it’s still there.”
“It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who’s calling you,” she said, sipping her drink. “It’s the Demon God himself.”
Before I could respond, a cheerful voice interrupted. “WOA WOA! A HUMAN!”
I turned to see a small girl in a waitress outfit approaching us. Her bright azure eyes sparkled with excitement, and her blonde hair bounced with every step. For a moment, she looked almost human, but the bat wings, pointed ears, and heart-shaped tail gave her away.
Out of reflex, I pulled out my combat knife, pointing it at her face. “Stay back!”
The girl froze, her smile faltering. “Ehehe… sorry, I got excited. Can you, um, put the blade down now?”
I sighed, lowering the knife. “Sorry. Bad habit. I’m not used to seeing… monsters.”
She giggled nervously. “That’s okay! Anyway, what would you two like to order?”
Belros didn’t even glance at the menu. “I’ll take this. Make it quick—we’re heading out soon.”
The girl turned to me. “And you, handsome?”
I stared at the menu, completely baffled. The writing was nothing but gibberish to me. “Uh… I’ll have what she’s having.”
The girl gave me a thumbs-up. “Don’t worry, sweetie! You’ll learn the demon language soon enough. I believe in you!” She skipped away, humming.
“What was that about?” I whispered to Belros.
“Careful around her,” she said. “She’s a succubus demon “called an Alice. They lure people with their innocence and charm, but they’re just as dangerous as any other demon.”
“An Alice, huh? She definitely looks like a cute, innocent, little girl”
“If it’s cute, it’s definitely evil. Keep that in mind,” Belros muttered casually, leaning back in her seat.
“Noted,” I replied dryly. “Now, you were talking about this ‘God’s Blessing’ thing. What’s that all about? Stop keeping me in suspense already.”
Belros smirked, clearly relishing her role as the knowledgeable guide. “Well, if I haven’t already said, God’s Blessing is a supernatural system imbued into Hell by the Demon God Lucifer to instill order among its chaotic denizens. It’s not a “blessing” in the traditional sense but an intricate enchantment designed to regulate and structure the lives of demons and other inhabitants of Hell. This system introduces a framework of growth, survival, and progression, transforming Hell from a lawless battleground into a functioning realm with its own rules and hierarchies. Only demons can see it, not lowly humans like yourself, darling.”
“Excuse me?” I shot back.
“Oh, hush. It works as a countermeasure to keep demons from needlessly killing each other. Before this, Hell was a literal bloodbath, a constant battle for survival. God’s Blessing divides our souls into measurable components—what we call
The Stat System
God’s Blessing divides the essence of a being into measurable components:
- Health: Represents physical vitality and endurance. When it depletes, death (or worse) ensues.
- Magic: Reflects the capacity to wield supernatural powers, whether elemental, dark arts, or other mystical abilities.
- Stamina: Governs physical exertion and endurance during combat, travel, or strenuous activity.
Every demon or entity has unique stats depending on their origin, race, and experiences in Hell. These stats are not fixed and can grow through effort, conflict, or absorbing the essence of defeated foes.
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Attributes and Affinities
- Attributes: These are core traits such as Strength, Agility, Intelligence, and Charisma. Attributes influence how effectively an individual can perform certain actions. For instance:
- High Strength increases physical damage.
- High Intelligence boosts the potency of spells.
- Affinities: These define one’s natural alignment with certain elements or abilities (e.g., fire, ice, charm, or shadow). I, for example, have a strong affinity for fire magic.
Skills and Abilities
Every inhabitant of Hell develops skills that align with their nature or combat style.
- Skills: These are techniques or powers learned through experience or granted through transformation. For example:
- Charm (used by the Alice waitress): A skill designed to influence or control others through charisma.
- Energy Wave (used by you, Soda): An accidental manifestation of raw power, indicative of latent potential.
- Abilities: Innate powers tied to one’s essence or lineage, such as regeneration, flight, or elemental control.
Titles
Titles are markers of achievement, status, or unique traits earned over time. These titles can provide buffs or passive effects. Examples include:
- Slayer of Beasts: Increases damage dealt to animalistic demons.
- Cursed Wanderer: Reduces stamina drain but increases susceptibility to certain curses.
Appraisal System
Every demon can assess others using a basic form of Appraisal. This ability allows them to view the stats, skills, and general strengths of their peers or enemies. Humans, however, are excluded from this system until they transform into monsters, which is why you remain an enigma to most demons.
Humans, unlike demons, are not initially attuned to God’s Blessing. They arrive in Hell without any awareness of the system, operating purely on instinct and natural ability. However, prolonged exposure to Hell’s energy eventually alters their essence, turning them into monsters and integrating them into the system.
Soda is unique because he arrived in Hell and skipped the typical transformation process. His latent abilities—like the energy wave he used in his spar with Belros—hint that he may already be connected to God’s Blessing in an unconventional way.
God’s Blessing also reflects Lucifer’s ideology. It’s less about mercy and more about control and efficiency. By creating a system that mirrors the structured chaos of Earth (with rules, progression, and competition), Lucifer has reshaped Hell into a realm where power is earned, not just taken.
I raised an eyebrow. “That being what, exactly?”
“Attributes, skills, and titles we acquire along the way. Every demon has different attributes and learns different skills over time. For example, that Alice waitress you met earlier? She was definitely using a charm skill on you, but you were stupidly unaffected.”
“Are you calling me dense?” I said
“Which is a good thing in Hell, trust me. You don’t want to be a slave to an Alice. That’s just one example. Another is our fight. I used various fire magic spells, my strongest affinity, while you… well, you pulled off that energy attack. Care to explain what was going through your head at the time?”
I scratched the back of my neck, embarrassed. “Honestly, I just thought if I swung my scythe hard enough, it’d cut through the air and hit you. As ridiculous as it sounds, that’s what I thought.”
Belros snorted. “Humans can’t normally use magic attacks, but Hell’s energy changes things. Humans can’t perceive God’s Blessing because they’re too ignorant of gods and history. Ever wonder how Jesus walked on water?”
I blinked. “Wait, Jesus is real?”
“Of course, he is.”
“Holy shit! So, everything in the Bible is true?”
Belros sighed. “What are you, a kid? No, not everything in the Bible is true. Humans wrote it, after all. Anyway, humans don’t see God’s Blessing. Exceptional abilities are usually called talents or earned through effort. Why can one human run as fast as a cheetah naturally, while another achieves it through training? It’s the difference between talent and effort, though in reality, one may have an affinity for running while the other earns it.”
I tried to absorb the information but found it overwhelming. “Even now, I’m struggling to wrap my head around all this.”
“Don’t worry about it too much,” Belros said with an uncharacteristic note of reassurance. “If you stay here long enough, you’ll turn into a monster and see your stats with God’s Blessing.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’m on a mission. I have to get to Lucifer’s castle. This ringing in my head won’t shut up. It’s like… I’m not entirely myself. Something feels wrong.”
Before Belros could respond, the Alice waitress returned, her voice sing-song. “Here’s your foooood, you twoooo~” She placed two plates on the table—one piled with tacos, the other with nachos.
I stared at the dishes in disbelief. “You ordered Mexican food? Hell has real food? I’m honestly shocked.”
Belros chuckled. “We were all humans once. Why wouldn’t we bring our cultures here? Makes sense, doesn’t it? Or would you prefer eyeball spaghetti?”
“Nope. This is fine. Thanks for the food,” I said, digging in.
The Alice waitress leaned closer, her bright smile unnerving. “Why are you eating with your mask on? Won’t you take it off so I can see your face?”
“No.”
“Fine, fine. How’s the food?” she asked innocently.
Before I could answer, my mouth erupted in fiery agony. It felt like a dragon had spewed molten lava directly into my throat. Belros’ shit-eating grin confirmed my suspicions.
“What… what did you do?” I croaked.
“Oh, nothing,” she said, laughing. “Enjoying the spice, are we?”
“Water! I need water!” Desperate, I grabbed Belros’ drink and gulped it down.
“Oh no, don’t drink that—” the Alice waitress began, too late. “Oopsie~”
I immediately doubled over, vomiting everything in my stomach onto the floor. Laughter erupted around the room.
“What the hell was in that drink?!” I demanded, wiping my mouth.
Belros grinned wider. “Blood.”
“BLOOD? BLOOD?!” I bent over and retched again, my stomach convulsing violently.
The Alice waitress giggled, sticking out her tongue teasingly. “We are monsters, after all.”
“You… you crazy bitch!” I spat, glaring at both of them.
Belros was practically crying with laughter. “Oh, come on. This is Hell. You should expect surprises like this. So, enjoying the food?”
I clenched my fists, my gut still churning. “I’m SO mad right now!”
“Ohohoho! You’ll live, Soda. You’ll live.”
The laughter of the tavern slowly died down, though a few monsters were still chuckling at my expense. I sat back in my chair, fuming, as Belros sipped her tea with a smug grin plastered on her face.
“You know, Soda,” she began, swirling the tea in her cup, “you’re going to need a thicker skin if you’re planning to survive in Hell. You can’t lose your cool every time something... unexpected happens.”
I glared at her, still trying to erase the taste of blood and infernal spices from my mouth. “You call this unexpected? I call it sadistic.”
“Well,” she shrugged, “sadism is practically a pastime down here. You’ll get used to it.”
Before I could retort, the Alice waitress returned, this time carrying a small glass of clear liquid. She set it down in front of me with an apologetic smile.
“This should help with the heat,” she said. “It’s a special concoction that neutralizes demon spices. Sorry about the mix-up earlier!”
I eyed the glass suspiciously. “This isn’t more blood, is it?”
The Alice giggled. “No, silly! It’s just enchanted water. Perfectly safe for humans.”
I hesitated but eventually took a cautious sip. To my surprise, the fiery sensation in my mouth and throat faded almost instantly.
“See?” she said brightly. “All better now!”
“Thanks,” I muttered, setting the glass down.
The Alice beamed. “No problem! If you need anything else, just holler!” With a playful wave, she skipped off to tend to another table.
Belros leaned in, her elbows resting on the table and her chin in her hands. “You handled that better than I expected.”
I snorted. “Not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“Take it however you like,” she said, smirking. “But I wasn’t joking earlier. If you really want to reach Lucifer’s castle, you’ll need to toughen up. The monsters out there won’t just laugh at you; they’ll kill you.”
Her tone had shifted, the playful edge replaced with something colder and more serious.
“I’m not scared,” I replied, trying to sound confident.
Belros raised an eyebrow. “You should be. Fear keeps you alive. Overconfidence gets you killed.”
I clenched my fists under the table. “I didn’t come here to die. I came here to find answers. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get them.”
For a moment, Belros studied me, her crimson eyes narrowing as if trying to peer into my soul. Then, she smiled—a genuine, almost approving smile.
“Good,” she said simply. “Then let’s finish up here and get moving. The path to the castle won’t wait for us, and neither will the dangers along the way.”
I nodded, pushing the half-eaten plate of food away. The thought of more surprises in my meal wasn’t appealing.
As we stood to leave, the tavern’s lively atmosphere seemed to dim slightly. Conversations hushed, and all eyes turned toward us—or more specifically, me.
“Looks like you’re the center of attention again,” Belros said, her voice laced with amusement.
“Yeah, I noticed,” I muttered.
“Don’t let it get to you,” she said as we headed for the door. “They’re just curious. Most of them have probably never seen a human before, let alone one bold—or stupid—enough to venture this far into Hell.”
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Belros chuckled. “Anytime, darling.”
As we stepped out of the tavern, the cool night air greeted us. The gothic city sprawled out before us, its towering spires silhouetted against a crimson sky. The faint hum of distant activity echoed through the cobblestone streets, but the path ahead felt eerily quiet.
“Ready to face the edge of Hell?” Belros asked, her tone a mix of teasing and genuine curiosity.
I adjusted the scythe strapped to my back and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
And with that, we set off into the unknown, the shadow of Lucifer’s castle looming ever closer.