THE GRAND INFERNAL SUMMIT

The doors of the ancient Infernal Assembly Hall opened with a thunderous groan.

For the first time in centuries, virtually every major power in Hell had been summoned to the same place.

The Seven Deadly Sins were present.

The Goetia aristocracy occupied an entire section of the chamber.

The Overlords sat together in their elevated seats.

Territory lords, crime bosses, ancient demonic houses, powerful sinner clans, and lesser factions that controlled entire districts had all been ordered to attend.

And at the center of it all sat Lucifer Morningstar.

This wasn't merely another political gathering.

This was a meeting that could determine the future balance of Hell.

Lucifer leaned casually against his throne, looking considerably more serious than usual.

"Everyone's here," he said, glancing across the enormous chamber. "The Sins. The Goetia. The Overlords. Territory rulers. Royal families. And every other faction important enough to complain when somebody moves their borders."

A few demons grumbled.

Lucifer smiled.

"Wonderful. We're already making progress."

Among the attendees was the Hazbin Hotel delegation.

Charlie Morningstar sat beside Vaggie, visibly trying to maintain a diplomatic expression.

Angel Dust lounged in his chair, looking around at the gathering of Hell's elite.

Husk had somehow managed to bring a drink into a meeting where drinks were explicitly forbidden.

Niffty was already fascinated by the enormous table.

And Cherri Bomb sat nearby, looking considerably more interested in the possibility of something exploding than in diplomacy.

Charlie leaned toward Vaggie.

"Okay. We need to behave."

Angel glanced around.

"Define behave."

"Angel."

"What? I'm asking for clarification."

Husk sighed.

"This is gonna be a long day."

Across the chamber sat the Goetia.

The atmosphere around them was considerably colder.

Stolas was present despite everything that had happened.

It had been only one week since his exile.

His position within the Goetia had been shattered, his authority stripped away, and his relationship with much of his former family left painfully complicated.

Yet Lucifer himself had ordered Stolas to attend.

Beside him was Blitzø.

The imp looked deeply uncomfortable surrounded by aristocratic demons.

"This is stupid," Blitzø muttered.

Stolas adjusted his clothing.

"We were summoned."

"Yeah, by Lucifer."

"Precisely."

"That's the part I don't like."

Lucifer's eyes briefly moved toward them.

"Stolas."

Stolas straightened.

"Your Majesty."

"You were invited because this meeting concerns the entire political structure of Hell. Whatever happened last week doesn't change that."

Stolas nodded.

"Understood."

Blitzø raised a hand.

"Do I count as political structure?"

Lucifer stared at him.

"No."

"Cool."

At another section of the hall sat the Seven Deadly Sins.

Satan looked irritated simply by being required to sit still.

Beelzebub seemed considerably more relaxed.

Mammon was already calculating how much money could potentially be made from the gathering.

Asmodeus appeared mildly amused by the sheer amount of tension in the room.

Leviathan remained silent.

Belphegor looked as though they would rather be sleeping.

And Lucifer, naturally, represented Pride.

The gathering also contained several faces that technically shouldn't have possessed any authority here.

Emily, Sera, and Lute had been allowed into the meeting as honorary guests.

Lucifer had personally permitted their attendance.

That distinction was extremely important.

They could observe.

They could speak.

They could offer opinions.

But they possessed no authority over Hell's political proceedings.

Sera understood this.

Emily understood this.

Lute...

Lute was having a considerably harder time accepting it.

Lute crossed her arms.

"So we're just supposed to sit here?"

Lucifer looked at her.

"Yes."

"And we're not allowed to interfere?"

"Correct."

"Even if—"

"Correct."

Lute narrowed her eyes.

Lucifer smiled.

"You're learning."

Emily quietly whispered to Sera.

"I think he's enjoying this."

Sera sighed.

"Unfortunately, I believe he is."

Then the massive doors opened again.

The conversations throughout the chamber gradually died.

Something had changed.

An Overlord had entered.

Not one of the weaker territory rulers.

Not a newly crowned sinner attempting to establish themselves.

Someone whose name carried enough weight that even the Deadly Sins had reason to acknowledge their presence.

Your character.

A powerful Overlord whose influence stretched across territory large enough to rival some of Hell's established factions.

Your arrival immediately attracted attention.

The Overlords looked toward you.

The Goetia watched.

The Sins noticed.

Charlie glanced curiously in your direction.

Even Stolas studied you carefully.

Lucifer's eyes followed you as you approached the enormous central table.

The King of Hell didn't look threatened.

But he was paying attention.

That alone said enough.

You were directed toward your assigned seat among the Overlords.

Lucifer waited until everyone had settled.

Then he stood.

The entire chamber fell silent.

Lucifer's voice echoed through the hall.

"Everyone here represents power."

His gaze traveled across the chamber.

"Royalty."

The Goetia.

"Sin."

The Deadly Sins.

"Territory."

The lesser factions.

"Influence."

The Overlords.

"And, apparently, several people who have somehow survived long enough to get invited."

His eyes briefly moved toward Angel.

Angel pointed at himself.

"Hey!"

Charlie covered her face.

Lucifer continued.

"Something is changing in Hell."

The humor disappeared from his expression.

"Political boundaries are shifting. Old alliances are collapsing. New powers are emerging. The relationship between sinners, Hellborn demons, royalty, Overlords, and the Goetia is becoming increasingly unstable."

Stolas remained silent.

Blitzø stopped joking.

Even Mammon looked interested.

Lucifer placed both hands against the table.

"And after the events surrounding the hotel, Heaven has become increasingly aware of just how different Hell has become."

Emily glanced toward Charlie.

Charlie gave her a small smile.

Lucifer continued.

"So we're going to have a discussion."

Satan leaned forward.

"What exactly are we discussing?"

Lucifer smiled.

"Everything."

A murmur spread throughout the chamber.

Lucifer's eyes finally settled directly upon you.

"And before we begin..."

The room became completely silent.

"I believe we should hear from one of Hell's most influential Overlords."

Every eye turned toward you.

Charlie looked curious.

Vaggie became cautious.

Angel grinned.

Husk took another drink.

Stolas watched carefully.

Blitzø whispered, "Oh, this should be good."

Even the Seven Deadly Sins waited.

Lucifer gestured toward you.

"Go ahead."

The entire Infernal Summit waited for your response.