Ashen Dragon

In the fierce and tumultuous storm, the devils shivered, not daring to breathe, for they all knew that Piere had been in an irritable mood lately.

Cassius, however, remained calm and composed, and remarked lightly, "What is this, Lord Piere, is this how you welcome an ally?

Is this the hospitality unique to Avernus?"

"Of course, Cassius...His Majesty, your strength has become even stronger."

Piere trembled with anger but forced himself to suppress it, nodding reluctantly as he uttered some insincere niceties.

At this moment, Piere felt as if he had swallowed a thousand flies, utterly uncomfortable.

This Hell Lord knew that although this greedy Red Dragon had shamelessly seized his authority, he still had to rely on the other for this bloody battle - and this should be the reason why the Red Dragon was so unscrupulous.

Cassius was also well aware that he held leverage over Piere, including the binding of a contract, making it impossible for the latter to turn hostile no matter how furious he was.

Piere, wearing a gloomy expression, extended his large, fierce claws and made a "please" gesture, "Please follow me, Your Majesty Cassius.

This is still the battlefield of a bloody battle, it's too noisy here, and there's a risk of eavesdropping on intelligence, so let's discuss this in the palace."

"Very well."

The surface of Cassius shimmered with light, and in a moment, he transformed into a tall Half-Dragon clad in armor, following Piere to the Bronze Fortress's Inner Circle.

In the palace, magma flowed, and pungent white smoke permeated everywhere, with a throne built of demon skulls and swords at its center.

This palace was built by Piere, seized by Zarriel during the last coup in Avernus, and after several centuries, it was back in Piere's hands.

Piere sat on that Hell throne, his hands crossed, glaring ominously at the human-formed Red Dragon.

Cassius maintained his usual demeanor, casually raising his hand, causing the lava to solidify into a seat that rose to the same height as Piere's, as he sat down straightforwardly, meeting Piere's gaze.

Gunpowder smoke permeated, and the air grew stagnant again.

Piere was the first to break the silent atmosphere, speaking in a low voice, "Your Majesty Cassius, pardon my bluntness... you have breached our contract."

Cassius pointed to the ground, "This contract was signed under the witness of the Styx River. If I indeed violated the terms as you claim, the Will of Styx River should have already taken my soul away.

But why... hasn't it reacted?" He laughed and continued, "Furthermore, Lord Piere, I can't understand what you're trying to say."

"Don't play dumb here, Cassius!" Piere's eyes ignited with blazing Hellfire, he slapped the armrest of the throne forcefully and let out an angry growl, "Avernus' Authority! The authority that Zarriel left behind, I felt that power, it must be in your hands!!"

Only then did Cassius clap his hands, revealing a look of sudden realization, "Ah, so that's what you're referring to."

Piere's tone was sharp, "Cassius, return the remaining Avernus' Authority to me, and we can continue to work together."

"Of course, I'd love to collaborate with you, but..." Cassius shook his head, gazing at Piere with a cold smile, "That is my trophy, what reason do you have for me to hand over this authority?"

Piere became infuriated, his voice hoarse, "It's the contract! You promised—you would fully assist me in becoming the Master of Avernus!

But now, I don't even have the complete authority! How can I become the true Lord here?"

In Piere's wrath, magma surged, ground fire erupted, and the overwhelming pressure spread throughout the heavy Bronze Fortress, causing it to shake violently.

"That was not in our contract." Cassius said indifferently, with a cold gaze, "What I wrote at the time was to fully assist you in killing Zarriel. I never said...you'd get the complete Avernus' Authority."

"You are more like a devil than I am." Piere gritted his teeth, eventually forcing this sentence out from his throat.

"Thanks for the compliment."

Piere glared menacingly at Cassius, filled with extreme anger inside, his mind racing with thoughts, yet he couldn't do anything about it.

The other had not breached the contract, and in a fight, he couldn't be sure to win. How could he reclaim what rightfully belonged to him?

At that time, Cassius had already connected with multiple Hell Lords, while Piere was only a Duke secluded in a corner of Avernus. Opportunities slipped away in an instant, and he had no qualifications to state conditions but passively accepted the terms laid out by the Empire.

Piere initially thought that as long as Zarriel died, with his strength and foundation, it was a sure thing to seize the position of Master of Avernus.

But he never expected that, before Zarriel's death, she would play a trump card, leaving thirty percent of Avernus' Authority to the Ashen Empire's Emperor.

Wait... there's one more way, one being in Hell is even greedier, stingier, and stronger than this Red Dragon.

The Lord of Nine Prisons, Asmonthy.

Towards that being who had once deposed him from the position of Hell Lord, Piere harbored much resentment, but that resentment was overshadowed by a stronger fear.

It is too ancient and mysterious, even through changing epochs and falling divinities, Asmonthy still firmly holds the position of the Lord of Nine Prisons, unchallenged by anyone.

Even the most powerful Seventh Lord, Mephistopheles, dared not challenge openly, only secretly coveting that supreme position.