Max was relaxing in his room at the hotel when the door suddenly burst open.
A second later—
Verosika practically launched herself at him.
"So glad you're alright!" she said as she wrapped herself around him in a tight hug.
Max laughed softly and hugged her back.
"Good to see you too."
She stayed attached to him for a solid minute before finally letting go enough to flop dramatically across the bed beside him.
The two spent a while talking.
Mostly about what Verosika had been doing lately.
Max actually learned quite a bit.
Including something surprisingly useful.
"So wait," Max said, leaning back in his chair, "you can use Dream Invasion through daydreams too?"
Verosika smirked proudly.
"Mhm."
"And imagination."
Max blinked.
"…That's actually busted."
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
"Think about it. During concerts and performances, everyone's already fantasizing."
She grinned wider.
"I get all the vitality and energy I need without ever leaving the stage."
Max stared at her for a moment.
"…Honestly?"
"That's terrifyingly efficient."
"Thank you," Verosika said proudly.
Then her expression shifted slightly.
"Actually… there's something I wanted to ask."
Max tilted his head.
"What's up?"
"During your coma…"
She hesitated.
"The others asked me to try entering your dreams."
Max blinked.
"…Oh."
Verosika crossed her arms.
"And I couldn't."
"No matter how hard I tried."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What's up with that?"
Max shrugged casually.
"Oh, I'm immune to mental abilities."
"Spells too."
Verosika stared.
"…Seriously?"
"Yep."
Max leaned back slightly.
"Honestly, I'm glad I am."
"There are way too many people in Hell with brainwashing abilities."
Verosika hummed thoughtfully.
"Fair."
Then she smirked slightly.
"Well, good."
"I don't want another succubus trying to tempt you."
Max snorted.
"No chance."
"I hate fake love."
Verosika smiled softly at that.
Then Max stood up.
"Anyway, what do you want for dinner tonight?"
"It's your turn to choose."
Verosika immediately perked up.
"Ooo."
"Pizza."
Max nodded.
"Easy enough."
"Pepperoni with extra sausage," she added while licking her lips teasingly.
Max pointed at her immediately.
"Absolutely intentional wording."
Verosika just laughed and pulled out a cigarette.
Before she could light it—
It vanished from her fingers and reappeared in Max's hand.
"Verosika," Max said patiently, "I love you, but you cannot smoke in my room."
He pointed toward his wolf ears.
"My nose is way too sensitive while sober."
Verosika groaned dramatically.
"You're no fun."
Max handed the cigarette back.
"I'll be back. Need to grab a few things first."
A little later—
Max walked into an abandoned factory deep within Pride.
The entire place smelled foul.
Rot.
Disease.
Rats.
The walls and ceiling crawled with them.
Max sighed.
"You know…"
"For how populated Hell is…"
"There are way too many abandoned buildings."
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"Well well."
A rat-like sinner stepped into view.
Humanoid.
But wrong.
Sharp teeth.
Twitching movements.
Filthy fur creeping across parts of his body.
"I didn't think you'd realize I moved into Pride," the sinner said smugly.
Max could feel it immediately.
Hundreds of possessed demons and sinners underneath the building.
Like a hive.
Max thought for a moment about what magic to use.
Honestly—
He wanted to make this hurt.
But he didn't have time for a drawn-out battle.
And he definitely didn't want to attract unnecessary attention.
"Damn," Max muttered.
Then looked at the rat sinner flatly.
"Sorry."
"Your abilities just aren't impressive enough to justify dragging this out."
The floor suddenly exploded upward as infected demons burst out like zombies trying to grab him.
Max activated several abilities simultaneously.
Then—
Explosion.
The entire factory erupted into black-and-red fire.
The blast consumed the building instantly.
Concrete melted.
Metal warped.
Screams lasted only seconds.
A few moments later—
Max casually walked back out of the flames without a single scorch mark on him.
The factory collapsed behind him.
"…Problem solved."
Back at the hotel—
Max immediately shifted into cooking mode.
Tonight's pizza dinner was going to be perfect.
He used small bits of magic to subtly figure out what everyone liked.
Extra cheese for Charlie.
Spicy toppings for Vaggie.
Meat-loaded pizza for Bee.
Ridiculous unhealthy combinations for Angel.
Verosika's request.
And several others.
Soon the kitchen looked more like a cooking show than a hotel kitchen.
Fresh pizza dough.
Breadsticks.
Sauces.
Cheese.
Sodas.
Desserts.
Everything.
Max went completely overboard.
Again.
But honestly?
He enjoyed it.
For once, this felt… normal.
Not war.
Not politics.
Not survival.
Just making food for people he cared about.
And tonight—
The hotel was finally going to have a proper pizza party.