Max spent the next few days keeping his head down.
Loona and Millie were out on a contract that took them across rings, which meant he had time. Time was dangerous for someone like him. When he wasn't juggling conversations or navigating feelings, his mind wandered to bigger problems.
Poppi was strangely absent. He couldn't feel her ring clearly. It flickered, but it was… obscured. Like something or someone was masking her presence.
"That's not ominous at all," he muttered while wandering through Pride.
Eventually, his steps carried him toward Valentino's district.
Not because he enjoyed it.
Not because Angel's shows fascinated him.
But because he wanted to understand Hell's machinery. Power. Exploitation. Contracts. Influence.
And because he still couldn't shake the urge to help Angel more.
This time he didn't bother hiding his appearance. No trench coat. No shadow mask.
If someone wanted to notice him, fine.
He approached the club entrance casually.
A new bouncer stepped in front of him.
"Sorry," the demon grunted. "Boss wants you using the side entrance."
Max raised an eyebrow.
"…That's new."
The bouncer just pointed toward the alley.
Max shrugged.
"Sure."
He stepped into the alley.
The second his foot crossed the threshold, magic ignited.
A blast of violet fire shot toward his head.
He sidestepped effortlessly.
Four figures stood ahead.
Valentino.
And three demons radiating Overlord-level pressure.
Connected to the Vees, clearly.
Valentino exhaled smoke slowly, his smug expression barely hiding irritation.
"So," he drawled. "You're the one who tampered with my contract."
Max's eyes narrowed.
He ran magic sense.
"Raphael."
"Answer. Valentino utilizes enchanted smoke constructs formed into vermin for visual surveillance. They identify targets via scent signatures. No auditory transmission."
Max exhaled through his nose.
"Careless," he muttered.
Valentino smiled wider.
"You have an interesting ability," the moth said. "Interfering with contracts isn't common. Work under me, and I'll grant you some personal time with Angel Dust."
Hypnotic energy seeped into the air with his voice.
Max felt it.
And immediately felt anger instead.
Black lightning sparked across his skin without conscious thought.
The alley darkened.
Valentino's smile twitched.
"Ah," he said. "We're doing this the hard way."
He unsheathed an angelic dagger.
The other three Overlords launched their magic simultaneously.
Fire, shadow, sound distortion.
Max didn't move.
Absolute Guard unfolded around him like a transparent dome.
The attacks shattered harmlessly.
He extended a hand.
Black lightning lashed outward.
It didn't just strike—it consumed.
One of the Overlords was erased mid-scream, reduced to nothing but smoke and the faint echo of magical residue.
Valentino staggered back.
"What the—"
Max tilted his head slightly.
"Raphael."
"Answer. Current body configuration lacks the divine overload parameters previously active. Spellcasting backlash significantly reduced. Nearly null."
A slow grin spread across Max's face.
"Good."
The remaining two Overlords attacked again, this time more desperate.
Azathoth manifested behind Max—an abyssal presence of writhing blackness. Their magic vanished into it like pebbles dropped into a bottomless ocean.
Max stepped forward calmly.
"You know," he said conversationally, "I couldn't touch you properly before."
A crystal lance formed in his hand.
He threw it.
It pierced one Overlord through the chest.
The body collapsed.
And did not reform.
Max blinked once.
"…Interesting."
Raphael's voice returned.
"Answer. Hell's structural foundation resembles a domain formed via a [Small World] construct. Resurrection privileges are system-bound. You currently possess authority to revoke access."
Max looked down at his hands.
Meaning…
He didn't need soul destruction.
He didn't need divine override.
He could simply remove resurrection permission.
Freedom.
True freedom.
The last Overlord tried to flee.
Max lifted his hand.
Revocation.
The demon collapsed mid-step and did not return.
Silence fell over the alley.
Only Valentino remained.
Sweating.
Fear flickering behind his eyes.
"You can't—" Valentino started.
Max appeared in front of him instantly.
"I can."
He killed him.
Valentino respawned seconds later, gasping.
Max killed him again.
And again.
And again.
By the twentieth time, Valentino's arrogance was gone.
By the thirtieth, he was shaking uncontrollably.
On the thirty-second forced resurrection, Valentino collapsed, mind fractured by fear.
He didn't even scream.
He just passed out.
The alley was soaked in blood that faded quickly as Hell's systems cleaned themselves.
Max exhaled slowly.
"I feel so much better," he admitted quietly.
He crouched beside Valentino and altered his memory.
Removed himself entirely.
Left only confusion and dread.
Then he lifted Isolation Barrier and let the ambient noise return.
He stood in the alley alone.
Power thrummed through him in a way it hadn't since the timeline shift.
"Good to know I'm not restricted here," he muttered. "If only I could make this permanent. Unfortunately… plot."
He glanced toward the skyline.
"Maybe I should go beat up Mammon next."
Then he vanished into Pride's chaos, leaving behind nothing but a faint smell of ozone and terror.
[AN: I am dropping the Demon of Destruction and Cyberpunk story I am writing. I got a family member who is dying so I can't focus on more than two stories at the moment. Sorry but tge best I can do is only work on this and Overlord Zero. Anyways enjoy]