Hell, as usual, was loud, filthy, and on fire in the worst places. Screams echoed through the obsidian streets like background music. Demons flew, fought, laughed, and tore each other apart for fun. It was, in short, a normal Tuesday.
Kikidori stepped over a writhing sinner whose arms were being eaten by a lava-imp. He barely glanced down.
"Move. Or melt," he muttered.
But today wasn't about blood or torment.
Today was about diplomacy.
Which, for Hell, was basically just war with less stabbing—temporarily.
A smoky messenger—skeletal, winged, and wearing something resembling robes made of screaming souls—flew down to him.
"The Celestial Summit has been summoned," the messenger rasped, bowing deeply. "Attendance… is not optional."
Kikidori sighed. "Goddamn it."
Within minutes, he was flying again, but not toward Earth. Not toward Heaven. No, this was something different.
The **Neutral Zone.**
An ancient plane outside time, space, and morality. Where no single god ruled. Where no single pantheon had power.
Here, all rulers of the afterlife met when the shit got *really* serious.
The Meeting Hall was floating above a void. Black stars circled below. Galaxies swirled like lazy fish in the sky. The building itself was made of bone, crystal, fire, gold, and shadow—all smashed together like drunk architects fought to the death designing it.
As Kikidori entered, he was greeted by an absolutely ridiculous display of power.
Every entity had their seat at the grand table. A table bigger than most nations.
There was:
* **Lucifer**, in his burning throne, surrounded by infernal generals and flames that whispered sins.
* **Anubis**, jackal-headed and cold-eyed, flanked by crocodile-headed guards with golden spears.
* **Hades**, wearing black robes that shifted like smoke, sipping wine made from lost souls.
* **Hel**, half-beautiful, half-rotten, her wolves curled at her feet.
* **Yama**, tall and stern, writing in an endless scroll while his demon scribes murmured.
* **Baron Samedi**, grinning with a cigar in his teeth, laughing even as he played cards with a headless ghost.
* **Odin**, only one eye gleaming beneath a war-helm, drinking quietly and watching everything.
* **A few more lesser gods**, smugly pretending they mattered.
Every ruler had brought *guards*. Armored, armed, dangerous. The dark afterlives had brought *battalions*. Hell alone had posted at least fifty flame knights around Lucifer's end of the table.
Then, in the middle of it all…
**God.**
Bright, quiet, silent. No form, only light. No throne, just presence.
He was the only one who didn't bring guards. He didn't need them.
Kikidori walked to the Hell-side of the room and slouched in a chair beside Lucifer.
Lucifer leaned over. "Try not to offend *everyone* this time, son."
Kikidori gave him a look. "Don't call me that."
Lucifer chuckled and leaned back.
Across the table, Haruna stood behind God's side. She caught Kikidori's eye. He raised both middle fingers under the table.
She rolled her eyes.
A gong sounded—not one made of metal, but made of *souls*. The sound echoed through every dimension.
The meeting began.
Odin was the first to speak. "Heaven and Hell are at war. Again. Mortals are seeing too much. The veil is slipping."
"Because demons keep lighting shit on fire," Hel added, glaring at Lucifer's side of the table.
"And angels keep flying around like glowing dildos," Kikidori muttered, earning a sharp elbow from an infernal general.
"We need rules," Yama said. "Mortals must remain ignorant. Or the Balance breaks."
"Balance?" Baron Samedi laughed. "You see balance when you die, my friend. Not before."
God still hadn't said a word.
Haruna leaned down. "Say *something*, will you?"
God's light shimmered, and everyone fell silent.
When He spoke, His voice wasn't sound—it was *truth*.
**"Control your own."**
That was it.
No more.
Just that.
Lucifer grinned, golden eyes gleaming. "You heard the big guy. Time to put your angels on leashes."
Haruna opened her mouth to argue—but Kikidori interrupted with a loud yawn.
"This meeting's boring as hell."
"You *are* hell," Hades said without blinking.
"I take that as a compliment," Kikidori smirked.
More arguing erupted. Accusations flew like arrows. Chaos. Threats. Proclamations of doom.
Eventually, the gods calmed, agreements were drafted, and everyone got ready to leave.
But before they could, Lucifer stood.
"I propose a trial. A challenge," he said, his voice booming.
"Oh great," Haruna muttered. "Here we go."
Lucifer pointed at Kikidori.
"My son against one of yours," he said to God. "Let the young decide the future."
Kikidori stood up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa—*What?*"
"I second that motion," Anubis said with a grin.
Haruna looked at Kikidori, jaw dropping. "You're kidding me."
God's light dimmed ever so slightly.
Then…
He nodded.
Challenge accepted.
Kikidori paled slightly.
"Oh… fuck me."
The end of chapter 17.