It gets worse

The atmosphere is thick with unease as more souls arrive, the walls echoing their silent cries. The souls already here begin to grow restless, some isolated in their own torments, while others begin to band together in an attempt to make sense of their situation. Yet no matter how they try to find solace in numbers, their fate remains the same—trapped, awaiting the cruel whims of the Devil.

Cinder Fall, standing tall and composed, observes the chaos around her. She’s been here long enough to know that there’s no escape—only survival. She scoffs at the other souls trying to engage her, their feeble attempts to connect only irritating her further. She’d rather remain alone, the self-proclaimed Queen of her own prison.

Beside her, Emerald shifts nervously, her eyes flickering between Cinder and the others. She tries to avoid eye contact with the rest, hoping to remain unnoticed. She’s always been the follower, not the leader, but now in Hell, she feels the weight of her mistakes crashing down on her.

“Is this really it?” Emerald whispers, her voice barely audible. “We’re just... stuck here forever?”

Cinder doesn’t answer.

She starts approaching the more resourceful looking souls in the group—Danny Phantom and his family, and Reed Richards—hoping for some plan of action. But even they are struggling. Danny is sitting off to the side, his body curled into himself, lost in the abyss of his own mind. Maddie and Jack are sitting beside him, speaking in hushed tones, their attempts at comforting him futile in the overwhelming silence of Hell. Danny doesn’t respond to them—he doesn’t even look up.

“Is there any hope left?” Emerald asks quietly, standing near Reed.

Reed stares blankly at the chains on his wrists. “None,” he replies, his voice tinged with defeat. “We’re all here for eternity... Unless the Devil decides to spare us, which... doesn’t happen.”

Emerald’s eyes widen in horror. She turns away, trying to mask her rising panic, but she knows it’s the truth. There is no way out.

Meanwhile, Kevin Levin has been trying to figure out a way to escape on his own. He had hoped that his deal with the Devil would somehow work to his advantage, but now he realizes just how foolish that notion was. He stands away from the others, his fists clenched in frustration.

Reed notices him, his eyes narrowing as he approaches Kevin. "You’ve made a deal, haven’t you?" Reed’s tone is calm but accusatory.

Kevin’s mouth tightens, but he doesn’t look at Reed. “It was the only choice. What was I supposed to do?”

Reed doesn’t respond, but Kevin’s words hang heavy in the air, unspoken judgment filling the space between them.

Johnny and Susan Storm have found themselves locked in a tense conversation. Johnny, always restless, paces in circles, his fiery spirit not content to sit idly by. “We can’t just wait around like this,” he growls. “There has to be something we can do.”

Susan, always the more composed one, shakes her head. “Johnny, fighting won’t get us out of here. We have to think. We need to wait until we’re called.”

Johnny stops pacing, his face softening for a moment. “I’m not waiting for anyone. Not anymore.”

The souls are scattered, each one struggling to come to terms with their eternal damnation. Some try to align themselves with others, clinging to whatever semblance of camaraderie they can find.

"I won't stay here forever," someone mutters to themself.

But none of their plans matter. Because the one thing they all know is true: none of them are in control here. They have no power, no choices left to make. They’re merely waiting for the Devil to return, to decide their fates once again.

And the Devil and Dice, enjoying their time above, remain blissfully unaware of the chaos below, savoring every moment of their escape from the hellish duties that await them.

After 4 Days of Vacation...
Devil and Dice return to Hell after their relaxing beach break, expecting to resume their usual chaos. However, upon their return, they’re shocked by the overwhelming number of souls that have arrived. The usually empty landscape of Hell is now swarming with new, restless spirits.

Devil: "What in the name of the underworld is this?!"

Dice: "I thought it was only going to be a few... But this? This is chaos."

The two exchange glances, clearly unsure of how to handle this sudden influx of souls. Devil takes a deep breath, thinking up a new plan.

Devil: “Alright, let's... figure this out—”

Before he can even finish his sentence, a new arrival distracts them both: Ada Wong tumbles into Hell with confusion written all over his face.

Devil: "Wait... What?!" (He mutters under his breath.)

Ada Wong’s voice rings out through the chaos.

Devil, already annoyed, turns his attention toward her.

Devil: "Why are you dead?"

Ada: "I—" She pauses for a moment, realizing who he is.

Devil: "I don't care. You shouldn’t be here, not yet."

Ada: "What do you mean?" She looks visibly confused.

Devil then raises his hand, using his dark magic to send her back to the living world, much to the shock of everyone around. The souls watch in stunned silence as Ada disappears.

Dice (curiously): "Is that the woman Leon is in love with?"

Devil: "Yes, she is."

The souls who’ve been chained in Hell, watching the exchange unfold, whisper to each other. They're disturbed by the idea of The Devil having a connection to someone outside of Hell—a weakness. They hatch a plan.

The souls: "If we can get to the one person The Devil actually cares about... King Dice, we might just have a chance."

The Attack on Dice
After the souls in Hell launch their vicious attack on King Dice, he’s left barely alive. Bloodied and weak, he struggles to stay conscious as the souls celebrate their temporary victory, mocking him and reveling in their brief moment of power.

Devil, furious and protective, steps in just in time. His fury consumes him as he swiftly drags Dice’s weakened form into his chambers, away from the prying eyes of the souls. He locks the door behind them, sealing the room in a silence thick with tension. Devil’s eyes burn with anger as he lays Dice carefully on his bed, his hands trembling slightly, but his voice remains firm.

“They've gone too far,” Devil growls, barely holding back his rage as he kneels beside Dice. His healing magic surges through his fingertips as he presses them gently against Dice’s wounds. “I won't let them get away with this.”

As the healing process begins, Dice’s body jerks slightly from the surge of energy, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. He’s far too weak to respond, but Devil stays by his side, refusing to leave him alone. The air in the room is heavy with the tension of unspoken feelings, but all Devil can focus on is his love for Dice. He will make sure that Dice is okay, no matter the cost.

The souls in Hell, meanwhile, remain chained to the walls, unsure of what’s happening behind the closed doors. Their faces twist with frustration and guilt as they realize that their efforts have only caused them harm, and that their punishment for their actions is yet to come.

In Devil's chambers, the healing process is slow, but with every passing hour, Dice’s condition improves. He stirs, groaning slightly as the pain fades away, but his body still feels weak. Devil stays by his side, keeping a close watch, whispering soft reassurances to him as he heals.

Dice’s eyes flutter open, meeting Devil’s gaze. The vulnerability in Dice's eyes tugs at Devil’s heart, and the words that escape Dice’s lips are enough to make his chest swell with emotion.

“I love you,” Dice whispers, barely audible, but still filled with sincerity.

Devil leans closer, his expression softening. “I love you too.”

As the last of Dice’s injuries heal, his strength slowly returns. He may still be weak, but he’s alive, and with Devil’s protection, he will be able to stand once more. The souls in Hell have no idea what’s happening, but they will soon learn that their actions have consequences.

The chamber is silent for a moment, save for the soft rustle of sheets as Dice moves to sit up. He’s still exhausted, but the healing magic has done its work. His gaze meets Devil’s once more, and this time, there’s a quiet understanding between them.

As Devil stays by Dice’s side, keeping him safe from any further harm, he knows one thing for sure: the souls will regret what they did. No one hurts his King Dice, and no one gets away with it.

The Souls’ Regret
Meanwhile, the souls who were involved in the attack are all chained to the wall in Hell, their hands raised in the air, as they await their punishment. The Devil stands tall, anger radiating from him.

They begin to regret their decisions. They had underestimated the strength of Devil’s feelings and the power of his connection to Dice. They thought they could break him, but they were wrong.

As the souls hang in defeat, they realize their plan has failed. They’ve not only failed to defeat the Devil and Dice but have also inadvertently made the two even stronger, their bond now more solid than ever. They now know that there’s one line they shouldn’t have crossed.

The souls: “We... regret everything.”

Devil, his anger subdued, simply watches them. He turns his attention back to Dice.

Devil: "You should've known better."

Now, with everything in place, the souls remain chained, as they reflect on their mistakes. Devil and Dice, though battered, emerge stronger and more connected than ever, with their bond reaffirmed in the face of the chaos. The other souls will have to find new ways to pass their eternity in Hell, forever reminded of the lesson they learned that day.

And Devil? He'll make sure to keep an eye on the souls who dared to challenge what he holds most dear.