Hell's Redeemer

Chapter 62

Spawn moved through the streets of the Greed Ring, his mind preoccupied with everything he'd encountered so far. From Mammon's antics to the constant undercurrent of Hell's power plays, there wasn't much to find here that impressed him.

But then, a distinct presence pulled at his senses. A female hellhound stood nearby, her eyes locked on him with an intensity he didn't like. For a moment, she just stared, her head tilting slightly as if trying to place a memory.

Then, recognition dawned across her face, and a wide grin spread across her muzzle. Without hesitation, she trotted over to him. "Hey, you're him, aren't you? The Spawn everyone's been whispering about?"

Spawn stopped, his gaze narrowing as he turned to face her. "Who wants to know?"

The hellhound didn't seem deterred by his gruff tone. "Name's Thorn. And let's just say I've got a good ear for chatter. Beelzebub's been talking about you nonstop. Says you're something else."

The mention of the Sin of Gluttony made Spawn pause. He tilted his head slightly, his chains shifting as if mirroring his unease. "Beelzebub? And why would she be talking about me?"

Thorn shrugged, her grin widening. "Dunno the whole story, but Bee's got an eye for interesting folks. And you? Well, word is, you're pretty damn interesting. She wants to meet you, so I'm here to take you to her."

Spawn's stance stiffened. He wasn't about to walk into another Sin's domain without knowing what he was dealing with. "And why would I do that? I don't know anything about her, and I'm not interested in being someone's puppet."

Thorn chuckled, folding her arms. "Look, I get it. You don't know Bee. But let me tell you, she's not like Mammon. Bee's the life of the party-the real deal. She's all about indulgence, sure, but she's fair. Well... as fair as a Sin gets. She doesn't scheme as much as the others. If she's talking about you, it's because she thinks you're worth her time. That's a big deal."

Spawn's chains tightened, the sharp metallic sound a reminder of his power. "And why should I trust your word on that? Sins all have their games."

Thorn's ears flattened slightly, but she didn't back down. "Hey, I'm just the messenger. But think about it-Mammon tried to strong-arm you, right? Think that's Bee's style? Nah. If she wanted to mess with you, she'd have sent a lot more than me. Bee's curious, not stupid."

Spawn let her words sink in, his instincts pulling in different directions. On one hand, stepping into another Sin's ring could be a trap. On the other, the more he learned about Hell's power structure, the better prepared he'd be for whatever was coming.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and firm. "Fine. But understand this-I'm not here to play games. If she tries anything, I'll treat her just like I treated Mammon."

Thorn smirked, leading him toward the edge of the Greed Ring. "Fair enough, big guy. But trust me, Bee's not the type to throw a punch unless it's in good fun. You'll see."

Spawn followed, his guard up but his curiosity piqued. If Beelzebub really wanted to meet him, she'd soon find out he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

Thorn led Spawn through the twisting streets of the Greed Ring until they stopped before a surprisingly mundane sight: a rusted, oversized elevator embedded into the jagged rocks. It looked out of place amidst the chaotic opulence of the ring, its doors faintly glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light.

Spawn frowned. "An elevator? That's how you move between rings?"

Thorn leaned against the frame, smirking as she pressed a clawed finger to a glowing button. "What? You were expecting some grand staircase or fiery chasm? Nah, this is Hell, big guy. We're all about efficiency... well, sort of." She shrugged. "These were put in a while back. Something about making it easier to get around for the 'right' people."