POV Carmilla
"BREAKING NEWS!!! THERE IS NOW A NEW STRONGEST OVERLORD! JULIUS, THE UNTOUCHABLE OVERLORD, HAS DEFEATED ALASTOR THE RADIO DEMON! MORE TO COME AT 5! AND, AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN TRUST US WITH YOUR NEWS!"
I was running through the destroyed downtown district. There were only three buildings left standing, but those buildings were playing the news. I wasn't too concerned about what was playing as I focused on where Julius last known location was.
The moment I witnessed Julius getting pierced through the chest, I dashed out of my office. Panicking as I knew the type of person Alastor was. If there was even a small chance Alastor survived that weird attack Julius did at the end, I had to be there to stop him.
Alastor was notorious for torturing Overlords and broadcasting their screams for his radio show. Dozens of Overlords over multiple decades have disappeared at his hands, and Vox was the only known Overlord to have survived a battle against Alastor. So, I could only hope this situation was the same.
As I passed the seemingly endless rubble around me, I noticed some demons simply standing around, watching me run.
I figured they were somehow incredibly lucky to not get caught up in the total destruction of an entire district, but then I saw their eyes. They perfectly matched that woman Makima. Their eerie stare only worsened the worry in my heart until I realized they seemed to be leading me somewhere.
So, I decided to ignore the worry and follow the demons, eventually leading to a lone demon pointing his finger to my left. The moment I could I turned left and stopped dead in my tracks.
A couple of meters in front of me I could see Julius in nothing but his boxers. He was unconscious with dozens of circular shaped bruises and cuts all over his body. The middle of his chest, where the missing hole should have been, had a massive black bruise. Just seeing the sight of it made me flinch, reminding me of the pain I felt when I watched that moment happen live.
I would have sighed in relief that he looked ok given the circumstances, but I just couldn't. Not with who was currently with him right now.
Makima was there, sitting on her legs with her suit jacket neatly folded and used as a pillow for Julius to lay on her lap. She stared right into my eyes as she gently caressed Julius's head, slowly running her hands through his hair.
"Are you less worried now, Carmilla?"
"Did you set this up?" I ignored Makima's question. It could not have been a coincidence that this fight happened. First, she randomly enters my office and just so happens to be asked, by Alastor, to give Julius a message in front of me. Then, immediately after Julius left, they started to fight. And finally, Makima just so happens to be here as if she knew I would rush here as fast as possible once Julius got seriously injured.
"And if I did?" Makima asked while slightly tilting her head, still caressing Julius's head. There was a serene smile on her face that screamed fake to me.
"Then I have to ask what the purpose of going this far would be."
Makima stayed silent at my question and continued to watch me. The silence became unnerving as this went on for a solid minute before she spoke up again.
"This was the most efficient way."
What? "What do you mean by that?" What is she talking about?
"Julius needed to see his own weaknesses. Alastor needed to know his place. And I wanted to show you that I am not a threat to you or Julius."
"How does instigating a fight between Overlords accomplish any of that? If any-."
"The only thing I will say is that you do not have to worry about me. I am not allowed to be hostile or hurt those Julius is close to and cares about. We made a deal after all."
Makima lifted her hand up and Julius started to float. As Makima stood, she waved her hand towards me and Julius moved in my direction. I reached out and brought him into my arms, holding him in a princess carry.
"Please take care of him. He is VERY important to both of us. Wouldn't you agree?" And with that, she turned and walked away.
"Wait! If you care so much about Julius, where are you running off to?" I couldn't help but get frustrated. How could she say Julius is important to her when she hasn't shown any kind of emotion at all for the state he is in. She even handed him off to me as if she had better things to do!
"I have some much-needed business to handle in IMP City. Something that will greatly benefit Julius and me. I am sure both you and Julius will appreciate it in the future." She didn't even turn around to address me before disappearing.
I couldn't help but curse in Spanish at this frustrating situation. I took a couple of deep breaths as I reminded myself that the health and safety of my man was top priority.
"I should probably invite the princess over to my compound. I'm sure she is just as worried as I am if she is also close to Julius."
POV Alastor
"Fucking bitch! She has the audacity to threaten me into a fight with Julius before I wanted to. Then has the nerve to call me a useful tool after my fight with him?"
I rarely felt like cursing anyone, but that woman Makima just angers me to no end! I've been around long enough to know that "that" woman is dangerous. Far more than when I am around Rosie. Her unassuming appearance only makes the ominousness of her eyes that much more terrifying.
On top of that, what the hell is Julius!? I felt almost no control in our fight, and even when I got the upper hand, he quickly turned the situation back into his favor! There is no way I am more powerful than him! Not to mention that move he called a domain expansion. I was exposed to it for a moment, but given Julius's other powers that one moment would have been all he needed to defeat me!
"Ugh, Rosie and I need to have a little chat." I was currently traveling to Cannibal Town when I bypassed a tv with the news claiming I had suffered a defeat. That fucking creep, Vox! I may need to pay him a visit and remind him of his place soon!
I quickly came up to Rosie's shop and entered unannounced, too frustrated to be polite.
"Rosie, come out! We need to talk right now!"
"Hmm, Alastor? May I know the reason for such disrespect?" I saw Rosie descend from upstairs. She had a smile on her face but from the look in her eyes I could tell she was quite annoyed.
"Such disrespect, you say? I thought I was the strongest sinner in hell! Yet not only did I get completely outmatched in terms of power from an upstart Overlord, but another Overlord was also clearly more powerful than me! I could tell that that Makima character could kill me anytime she pleased!"
I couldn't help but huff in anger, the smile I force upon my face to never show weakness nearly breaking during my rant.
"Ah, I see!" Rosie said before she started laughing her heart out. Causing my eye to twitch violently.
"What. Is. So. Funny?"
"You are misguided, my dear pet! Hahahaha! First off, this "Makima" you speak of? Isn't a sinner. I do not know what she is exactly, but she is more aligned with being a hell born demon than a sinner. Second, you still are the strongest sinner in hell. In fact, I can tell you became even more powerful recently by a large magnitude. Sadly, this Overlord you speak of, Julius, just so happens to have an odd set of magic powers that makes him very difficult to deal with." Then she mumbled something to herself that sounded like "Ars Goetia" before waving her hand lightly.
Rosie calmly walked up to me before ruffling my hair and pinching my cheek, causing audible static to come out of my mouth.
"What is important is that you are still the strongest sinner in hell. So, my dear obedient pet, uphold your end of the deal like I upheld mine. Ok?"
POV Rosie
"Grrr, fine!" Alastor quickly escaped my grasp before disappearing into the shadows. I sighed softly to myself as I went to sit at a table in front of my stairs.
Julius and Makima, huh? I tapped my chin in thought. Julius seems like a normal sinner. From what I could tell he is. But at that meeting I could feel an unnatural presence around him. That presence felt eerily similar to "It", the very thing Lucifer and the Seraphim used to worship.
Makima, on the other hand, felt nothing like a sinner or hell born demon. She felt like a concept made manifest and given form. Just like the sins in the other rings. Yet for some reason not nearly as powerful. Though that isn't surprising given that whatever that presence is coming from Julius seems to be holding Makima in check. Whatever is going on between those two, they are very clearly connected.
I couldn't help but sigh to myself again. I hope the addition of those two doesn't affect the plan I had so painstakingly put into action that began seven years ago.