"This is quite a significant favor, mercenary."
Mackenzie wore living armor that seemed to wrap around her like flesh and sinew, wielding a skull longsword that split an angel in half. She planted the sword at the top of the fortress, the highest point of Black Stone Castle.
She's standing here, on Lucifer's palace, looking over Lucifer's kingdom. She inherited his angelic powers, and she had to pay the price for it.
That price was to guard this place, eternally.
"You mean to ask me to go to the Main World with you, to search for a 'possibly' existent Demon Batman."
"Although you're a demon, you possess angelic power that best restrains chaos; no one is more suitable than you." Su Ming stood beside her, also having slain several angels that flew over.
This location was too conspicuous, able to see the entire battlefield clearly while also being plainly visible to everyone on the battlefield.
If the angels considered the disparity in strength, they might not have the notion of capturing the king first; however, unfortunately, they were too crazed now.
The chasm in strength was filled with madness in their minds.
So they kept charging forward like moths to a flame towards the Lord of Hell. Mackenzie, now inheriting Lucifer's angelic power—not in full, but not something these nameless angels could handle.
Unless Gabriel and Raphael stepped out, a multitude of ordinary angels was just a simple number to Mackenzie, and as the angel army was stalled here, other Hell Demon Kings naturally wouldn't stand idly by.
Having them proactively assist Mackenzie was impossible, but even without transactions, it wouldn't prevent them from taking the opportunity to attack Heaven.
Hatred for God drives people to become demons, and if such hatred is harnessed by those with intent, it can be utilized.
Mackenzie's tactics didn't need much thought; even when Lucifer was present, she was his chief advisor and regent in this strong Hell Plane, maintaining its normal operation while he played nightclubs with beauties.
"But as you've seen, in these circumstances, I can't leave Hell; even if I go to the Main World, my power as Demon King will be significantly diminished." Mackenzie placed her hand on the sword hilt, closed her eyes, listening to the various wails coming from nearby, her face displaying an exquisite smile.
Of course, assuming one did not notice the decayed half of her face.
Su Ming would not return home just because of such words; regarding understanding here, he was not weaker than a devil, knowing many things unknown to most.
"During your previous meeting, you weren't just playing cards with Constantine, right? If I'm not mistaken, you, Satan, and Izunaami no Mikoto—the three strongest Demon Gods—must have reached some agreement."
Strangulation absorbed the blood and flesh bits on the armor, with the black-yellow armor still shiny as new, though the gray anti-toxic mask gradually turned red during the battle.
"Oh? How come I didn't know." Mackenzie smiled shaking her head, casually flicking her black long hair: "Constantine may be filthy, smelly, and annoyingly talkative, but I must admit, he's more interesting than most demons, confined in Hell for tens of thousands of years, now in need of some fun, Mahjong is good too."
Su Ming let out a laugh that sounded like wheezing under the anti-toxic mask: "Come on, Mai Zi, you can't fool me, because it's not just you who cares about this Hell. If I guessed right, Izunaami no Mikoto's reinforcements will soon arrive."
"Why though? She hates me, hates Lucifer, she wouldn't come and help me." Mackenzie didn't mind Deathstroke's nickname for her, although it seemed a bit affectionate, but how could someone like Deathstroke get close to people?
Su Ming used the Black Lantern Ring to resurrect some relatively intact angels, commanding them to fight among their kind, speaking leisurely: "Because of her and Lucifer's son, although none of us can foresee Lucifer's end, Izunaami no Mikoto is an Eastern Demon King with very traditional ideas. She believes her son will inherit this Hell and her Hell becoming the true King of Hell. Oh, the son inheriting from the father, even I can't argue with such a reason."
"Hmph! She views this place as her family's property, but Lucifer and she are already divorced, he's the initial light, undying and unextinguished, rules don't apply to him. Moreover, her foolish son has no qualification to be a King."
Mackenzie spoke disdainfully but didn't deny Deathstroke's words.
During the last Demon King meeting, she indeed used territory blackmail to secure a reinforcements agreement from Izunaami no Mikoto.
By her agreement, when Heaven assaults here, Izunaami no Mikoto must dispatch troops to protect this place if she doesn't want her son's future territory to lack the largest portion.
But how did Deathstroke guess it? The agreement at the time was only known to three people; could Satan have betrayed secrets?
Yet Satan himself would send forces to counter-attack the being-parallel Heaven now; what benefit would it bring him to tell mortals about this?
Su Ming shrugged: "But you have to admit, Lucifer and her son are only seventeen or eighteen this year, yet that guy encompasses all Seven Deadly Sins, making him a veritable human-shaped demon. Despite not having dealt with any demons before fifteen and never been to Hell, he lived in Gotham."
"So what?"
"Someone survives in Gotham? That's harsher than Hell, Hallelujah. He debuted at seven, not only survived but engaged in all typical crime trades of Gotham well. If it weren't for his impatience and inconsistency, like his father, the city would've gained another big boss."
Mackenzie pursed her lips, it seemed Deathstroke had investigated, and her prejudice against Xiong Yan had been deciphered: "But what's the point? He later went to college, like a normal person."
"If you want to be his stepmother, your concern for him is still not enough." Su Ming shook his head, letting out a wheezing sigh: "The latest news is that he dropped out, formed a rock band with a few young girls. If it weren't for the many changes in the Main World, he would probably be taking them to a black clinic for abortions. You don't think I came to you unprepared, do you? What do you take me for? A rookie Exorcist?"
Mackenzie covered her forehead, wanting to hide, but Deathstroke's intelligence on Xiong Yan was no less than her own. He truly was the best tactician among humans.
"If you're looking for my help, this is not the right attitude." She said, watching as the street below gradually turned red, submerged by blood. She didn't want to leave; she preferred to feel the pain.
"I never ask for help for free; it's a transaction. Oh, no, to be precise, you owe me. It was my sword that severed your flesh, pulling out your Ancient Thorn. I made you whole. Now... I demand repayment, just like any Devil would."
Su Ming crossed his arms, looking at the others forming a circle not far away to stop the Angels, and said coldly to Mackenzie.
"You're the first mortal to dare speak to me like this. Aren't you afraid of death?"
"You can try to kill me, but before that, you should know I'm on a 'Death' mission, searching for the Sleep Demon and Lucifer. Hmm, as a Primordial Angel, Lucifer may not care about death, but you can't, dear Mai Zi. You're a vessel crafted by Chaos Hell, everything dies, and you're no exception."
"...Do you know me well?"
"Not really, I'm not interested in other people's mistresses, especially when she's a half-rotten whore," Su Ming laughed.
"Your words pierce my heart, uncovering all my scars, and you're right in every way. I can do nothing against you... This regret, pain, and torment are so sweet... You've given me pleasure as the mental anguish surpasses the physical one by a hundredfold..."
Mackenzie turned, reaching a jade hand with black-painted nails to stroke the rotten half of her face.
"So, the deal is made?"
"I'll help you this time, but people who always tell the truth have no good end." Mackenzie pulled the Skull Sword from the ground with a face full of smiles: "Hope this won't be the last time you need me; otherwise, the price you'll pay will be quite high..."
"Haha, if I succeed this time, I'll find Lucifer. He doesn't care about the cost, and if I fail, there won't be a future for anyone; you'll still be unable to do anything to me."
Su Ming put away the Godslayer, speaking lightly. If one fears the Lord of Hell, how can they be a Supreme Mage? Mackenzie, though strong, was borrowing Lucifer's power, not her own, so now she's just Multiverse Level.
Besides, she's less than ten thousand years old, too young for a Demon King.
"Hiss... Your words are like stones with spikes, making me angry and ashamed, yet helpless. A little more, humiliate me more; it's so hard to find a warrior with courage and backing like you..."
She closed her eyes in ecstasy, making a request to Su Ming.
Not far away, Diana turned her head to look over, her face unsatisfied. She knew this woman was sick, whether it's others' pain or her own that she liked, if not perverted, then what?
Su Ming also felt creeped out. No wonder Lucifer had run off to the Main World to play before. If such a sick, masochistic lieutenant kept clinging for thousands of years, anyone would get exhausted.
"Next time, I'll introduce someone to you; he's not only in pain himself but is especially good at causing others pain, top-notch in both torture techniques and intelligence among humans."
Su Ming turned, opened a Teleportation Gate, and made a gesture inviting her in.
"Asmodeus! Come to me!" Mackenzie shouted loudly. Almost as soon as her words dropped, a burst of spark-laden smoke exploded beside them.
A huge, red-skinned Demon appeared in the smoke, saying nothing, just glaring angrily at Deathstroke.
Su Ming waved at him: "Hello, nice to see you again. Looks like Satan has traded you to Mai Zi, but you looked quite nice in your feminine form before; why revert to your true form?"
This was the Primordial Demon of Lust, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, a shape-shifter skilled in seducing humans.
Last time in the Spirit Thin Prison, it was a beautiful woman, trying to enchant Su Ming when summoned. This time, it was evidently participating in battle in its true form.
How to say, its true form stood three meters tall, with a waist also three meters, looking like a red meatball with sharp fangs and curved horns.
"Human, I curse you, you..."
"Hmm, oh, okay..." Su Ming pretended to dig his ears, then yawned, tapping his mouth, replying casually: "If curses worked, Satan would've cursed Constantine to death long ago. You'd better save your strength, or is your skin itching again? Want another close encounter with the bottom of my shoe?"
"Enough, this ends here." Maggie Ken raised a hand, stopping the Demon: "I will go to the Main Dimension once. If Izuna's people arrive, let them join the battlefield; the Eternal Battle cannot be lost. Also, Deathstroke, remember the Seven Deadly Sins are mine now, don't delve too deep."
"Honestly, I'm curious about what you traded for the Seven Deadly Sins, but whatever, they're just a bunch of guys who can't even use smartphones. If you like them, keep them. Now let's hurry and hit the road, our opponents might be getting impatient."