Just a few days after Jason returned to Earth, the messengers from Heaven arrived again. This time, however, their demeanors were considerably more restrained, and they even had the courtesy to announce their presence to Jason in advance.
Their method of notification was elegantly simple. Two feathers—one pristine white, one midnight black—materialized in the sky and descended slowly through the air until they came to rest directly before Jason. The meaning was unmistakable.
Once again, the emissaries were incarnations of Archangel Gabriel and Lucifer, though noticeably humbled compared to their previous visit.
Atop the floating island fortress that hovered in Earth's upper atmosphere, Jason lounged lazily in the warm sunlight on the terrace of his castle palace. The two avatars stood before him, their celestial and infernal auras creating a strange atmospheric distortion where they met.
"You two," Jason drawled without bothering to sit upright, "if you have something to say, just say it. If we can reach an agreement, wonderful. If not, we can revisit the discussion when you're prepared to be more reasonable." He stretched languidly. "Either way, I'm in no particular hurry."
Lucifer stepped forward, his dark eyes flashing with barely contained irritation. "What have you done to Hell? Why can we no longer sense its dimensional presence?"
Jason's lips curled into a subtle, knowing smile. I am the Lord of Hell now. Isn't it within my power to conceal its existence from outsiders? he thought to himself. But naturally, he wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal such information directly.
Instead, he replied with casual indifference, "Your inability to locate Hell is hardly my concern, is it? Perhaps Hell itself has grown weary of your ineffectual leadership and desires independence from your influence."
"You—!"
Lucifer's face contorted with fury, but recalling his previous humiliating defeat, he recognized that direct confrontation would only result in his own suffering. He restrained himself with visible effort.
Gabriel, standing nearby, recognized the perfect moment to intervene. She stepped forward with practiced diplomatic grace. "Sir Jason," she began with forced civility, "we wish to propose a mutually beneficial arrangement. What if you were to return the Hell-Heaven portal that you... acquired... to Lucifer and his associates? In exchange, we in Heaven would offer appropriate compensation."
Jason regarded him with lazy contempt. "Compensation? From what I've heard, Heaven suffered catastrophic losses in the recent conflict. What could you possibly offer that would interest someone of my capabilities?"
"Heaven has accumulated countless treasures over millennia of existence," Gabriel replied smoothly. "Surely we can produce something of value to you. Furthermore, this negotiation involves more than just us standing before you. Several lords of Hell are also willing to participate in these discussions. Surely we can resolve this situation without resorting to further conflict or warfare?"
Jason studied him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. It seemed the angel's inherent arrogance hadn't been entirely eliminated by their previous encounter. Nevertheless, the proposal itself held considerable appeal. If Hell's armies could truly return to Hell through the portal... Jason could barely contain his delight at the prospect. It would be like watching a feast willingly deliver itself to his table.
However, the question remained: how to deceive these supposedly great lords without revealing his true intentions?
He rolled over, basking in the warmth the sun had left on his skin, and said, "Since you're so eager to negotiate, demonstrate your sincerity. What specifically do you have that's worth trading with me?"
Gabriel hesitated momentarily before responding. "We can offer you one thousand guaranteed places in Heaven."
"Pfft, hahaha!" Jason couldn't contain his laughter. "Places in Heaven? Are you actually serious?"
Gabriel's face flushed deep crimson, indignation rising visibly in her expression.
Have these mortal creatures truly reached such a point of arrogance that they now scorn Heaven itself? she thought incredulously. Over the past several centuries, fewer than a hundred souls had been granted entry to Heaven's hallowed realm. Offering a thousand places represented an unprecedented gesture of divine generosity!
Yet this mortal had the audacity to laugh?
Beside her, Lucifer's incarnation couldn't help but shake his head with a resigned sigh. Heaven had remained isolated from the human world for centuries and clearly had no conception of how drastically things had changed. The promise of heavenly admission held minimal appeal for most modern Earth dwellers.
Particularly after two Hell invasions had decimated the authority and credibility of God among humans. Even within the Vatican itself, dissenting voices had grown increasingly vocal.
"If you cannot approach these negotiations with genuine sincerity," Jason said, his expression hardening, "then perhaps you should return another time. Before you do, I suggest you carefully consider what you truly have to offer. Don't waste my valuable time again."
Jason's eyes gleamed with dangerous intent as he raised his hand, preparing to crush them as he had during their previous encounter. He was suddenly interrupted by a desperate cry.
"Wait! We haven't even presented our full offer yet!"
Lucifer's incarnation hastily stepped forward, shooting a withering glare at Gabriel before addressing Jason directly. "If you agree to return the portal to us, we are prepared to offer three thousand high-quality souls—absolute treasures from Hell's most valuable collections!"
Lucifer stared intently into Jason's eyes and added, "If my assumption is correct, you must have already acquired territory in Hell, haven't you?"
"Oh?" Jason raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at his lips. "You believe I've become a lord of Hell?"
"Isn't that the case?"
"What makes you think so?"
"Hah! You and that treacherous old bastard Mephisto must have formed some kind of alliance, correct? When he brought those two minor lords into our coalition, I suspected his true motives. But even after we exchanged solemn oaths not to betray one another, I never imagined he would engage in such underhanded schemes!"
Lucifer scrutinized Jason carefully. "Your cooperation was orchestrated by him, wasn't it? He granted you a minor lordship over a small territory, then exploited our absence to launch a massive assault against our domains. That's what happened, isn't it?"
Jason regarded the remarkably perceptive Lucifer, shrugged noncommittally, and remained silent.
Lucifer's brow furrowed slightly. "Then I must wonder why the punishment for breaking his sacred oath never manifested. This was a binding covenant that all seven lords established together—there should be no possible escape!"
Jason's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Perhaps he never actually betrayed you? What if everything he did was merely following orders from a superior power, leaving him no choice in the matter? Under such circumstances, it could hardly be considered betrayal."
He abruptly changed subjects. "Three thousand souls are insufficient."
Lucifer's eyes flickered with calculation before he finally replied, "We can add another treasure from Hell—the Void Devouring Flame! This extraordinary power can consume all fire in existence to strengthen itself. It formed the foundation of our confidence in attacking Heaven. If it absorbs enough flames, it possesses the capacity to incinerate an entire world!"
His voice grew more animated as he continued, "Furthermore, several lords have only begun to discover its most superficial applications. It contains infinite potential awaiting proper development. It is unquestionably among the most precious treasures in all of creation."
Jason responded with open skepticism. "If this treasure is truly so invaluable, why would you so readily offer it to me?"
"As a demonstration of our sincerity!"
"That's complete bullshit!"
Lucifer paused, realizing Jason had seen through his deception. With no alternative, he reluctantly revealed the truth.
"The Void Devouring Flame suffered significant damage during our assault on Heaven. It has now fragmented into numerous smaller flames. To restore its full power, it must be nurtured in the magma sea for at least a millennium. But," he added hastily, "this hardly represents a significant obstacle. For beings like you and me, surviving hundreds of thousands of years poses no difficulty. A mere thousand years passes in the blink of an eye!"
Jason rolled his eyes dramatically. "You might consider a thousand years insignificant, but I'm only 23 years old this year!"
Nevertheless, the artifact sounded genuinely powerful. Best to accept it for now and determine its true value later.
He waved his hand dismissively before turning his attention to Gabriel. "I've heard your offers, but nothing you've mentioned genuinely interests me. Here's my counter-proposal: in addition to the two items Lucifer has mentioned, I require one more concession. Return, discuss my terms, and if you find them acceptable, come back. If not..." His voice trailed off ominously. "Well, we can always continue this standoff indefinitely."
Noting Jason's malevolent expression, Gabriel sensed something profoundly wrong with the situation. "What exactly do you want?" he asked, tension evident in his voice.
"I understand that the proxy God overseeing the European and American regions in Heaven has recently perished," Jason stated with calculated casualness. "How about allowing me to assume this position?"
Gabriel's eyes widened in stunned disbelief. "What? That's absolutely impossible!"
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