FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Hell, underworld, Hades (The place, not the god), Inferno... many names, all meaning the same: The place where the dammed souls go and the demons, ghosts and other creatures of the night are crawled out.

Technically it is half right, as while the creatures of the night did indeed resides there, taking the majority of the netherworld(Minus the part controlled by the Overlord) the dammed souls go to the Abyss, where as far he knows is controlled by the third now... ah the third. Gnarl often wondered if the third would ever come back to claim the place that is rightful his, or simply keeps enjoying the role as Abyss lord. Gnarl wouldn't blame him, as the creatures of the Abyss are having their advantages against Minions. While here must be disadvantages, after all the Overlord managed to defeat the former Abyss lord and his troops, despite the former being a literal god, Gnarl couldn't figure only one out: Against strategically placed Minions and of course the usage of superior numbers they couldn't do much. But again, that can be said about the minority of the enemies a overlord normally faces.

As Gnarl wandered through the section of the Netherworld he had chosen to visit to help his master, he mused that a lot of have changed since his last visit centuries ago. But due the special condition of this place, Gnarl wasn't that much surprised.

Many demons and hell spawns are looking at disgust at the old minion, as minions were normally considered as a very weak race as they relied on a mortal to fulfill their role of evil. What is left unsaid is that minions are often more successful in the operations for their current master, than any of the demons, succubus's, hell spawn or other creatures of the night. Oh sure, some managed to be a threat of the world but for how long? Most of them were dealt with very shortly after they revealed themselves, while most overlords managed to hold out long and often caused severe losses on the heroes before falling.

Also normally Gnarl wouldn't have bothered to come here, as if a Overlord wanted the service down here, he either had to perform a ritual or get down here to strike the deal himself. But now with the current status of his master, and the promise he sees in him, he makes an exception.

It took a while until he finally reaches the place he was looking for: One of the bars within the netherworld. Walking in, the barman, red, horned demon with wings looked down on Gnarl and grunts "I don't give alcohol out for free!"

"I am not interested to drink," the old minion countered "I am here to talk with your boss! Tell him Gnarl is here for a deal! Something he would like~"

The demon grunts, not believing what he said, but still reach under the desk and took out a device, talking into it. Gnarl never knew what this thing was, but he knew that it came from a place no minion had been before... and Gnarl wondered if his current master manages to bring the minions to said place one day.

A reddish portal appeared to the side and a bald black man with sunglasses and black tattoos on one side appeared. Looking down at the minion he said "So Gnarl! What makes you think you could come into one of my bars, telling you have business with me, despite knowing that you aren't paying in halos, as neither inferno nor paradiso is having business in your place?"

"We may not offer Halos, but as you know we have a few creatures that nowhere in Inferno can be found for your... other business," smirked Gnarl "And I am offering you the chance to get them, without having to lift a finger to soften them up."

"Knowing you, I doubt you would risk whoever is your current leader for just giving me an option to do business. You want something in return, something big." Stated the bald man

"Indeed, I want something" chuckles Gnarl "I want some troublemakers which can be released to... keep certain elements busy and of course one or two contacts who would be mad enough to awaken the ones you are interested in. Let them have their fun for a few weeks and you can come back and collect what you want"

"So you want to trade something you don't actually have, to keep somebody busy? How weak is your master that you have to pull on such tactics? I thought you minions always go for the possible best master, even if it takes years to acquire a new one?"

"He is very promising, believe me! If he survives long enough, I think Paradiso and Inferno might even consider partnership just to deal with him." Chuckles Gnarl "But due some recent developments, he has the problem that he cannot be everywhere... so that's why I seek your assistance, despite us hating each other so deep that you would kill me, and I try killing you by proxy."

"If your current Overlord is really that promising, then I am considering accepting your offer, just to see if you can hold your claim. But of course, since I am the one who has the bigger investment risk, I prefer to add a bet on top of it."

"And how you propose should this bet look like?" asks Gnarl, not liking where this is going... especially when he knows with who he is talking to. But in this state of affairs, Gnarl risks either the work undone he put into the overlord so far, the most promising since the third he might add, or hopes that the ones in power don't realize the danger the overlord is proposing.

While those living under his wings believe he only bears the title out of formality while doing good, outsiders might not be that stupid. And given that an Overlord always means overthrown rulers, here is no way somebody might fear him and move against him. Also by coming here, he already had decided to pull through the idea he had in mind.

"The bet is that if your current Overlord manages to get a position where his soul is more worth down here than any of the souls that normally got sold to demons, devils and whatever is crawling down here in the soul trading business, I will make your overlord a gift that even some of my best customers get jealousy. But if he gets killed before that, I claim your soul. Of all the minions that exist or ever existed, your soul is the only one that is worth quite something. And I have an eye on it for a long time for professional reasons. But that old Overlord contract thing you have running, prevented me or anybody ever claiming it, especially since it would only land in the veil, ready to be resurrected."

Gnarl understood now: While his minion soul was bound to the veil, where Mortis could bring him back to life, thus in the long run bound to Overlords, a deal with a devil is the only way to extract his soul. This guy was properly laughed at by some people down here as the normal minion soul isn't even worth the dirt under the boots of anybody. Except for a set of minions... the champions, the strongest of minions, Mortis due his unique position in the veil and of course Gnarl self, the oldest and most experienced Minion. The knowledge gathered over the centuries of serving and the wisdom earned by experience, is something a few demons would lick their fingers for. And his... business partner of course could use it for some fancy toy he wanted to get working for a long time.

Gnarl rubbed his chin... if he agree, he risk of being torn from the system forever, leaving the minions without a minion master, the Overlord lacking an advisor who knows how things are tuning and worse, that the next rise of an overlord might take centuries instead of the usual couple of years. On the other hand... one of his tools in the Overlords hands, his help keeping their enemies busy until the Overlord is ready once more and perhaps an... door for new paths of conducting evil. After all his master is open minded... especially by employing of troops and weapons.

Deciding to put his trust into the Overlord, taking a personal risk for the first time for centuries he told "I agree to this bet! But under the condition that neither you or any of the people you contact are interfering with the Overlord! If you get him killed by sync a creature you have a deal with at him, the bet is void and you can forget of me ever betting my soul again."

"I agree on these terms! It is nice to make business with you. How about a drink on the house while we discuss the terms of our deal in detail?"

Gnarl considered the offer. As minion he shared the liking of a good drink and he admit that the stuff down here is much better than most of the overworld. Only the dwarves are better makers of alcohol. Also here was a drink that the Overlord once said he cannot understand what people made fuss about: It tastes questionable and people treat it as it was a health hazard of the strongest kind.

"Do you have a drink called "Happy Life"? I heard it was a strong stuff that came up somewhere in the last century" exclaims the old minion.

"Going for the extreme stuff? Well don't complain me if Mortis has to fish you out of the veil after drinking it."

"I am old, experienced and trained. I doubt that something that the Overlord survives would kill me" declared the minion master.

His business partner accepted the answer and signaled his worker who gulped. First he put the glasses on the table and put on a pair of gloves. Then he put on a protective mask while opening a safe with six locks. Using Tonks the barman carefully took the bottle out and carefully opened it; back off as a small hiss came from the bottle.

Once he believes it was safe, he used the Tonks once more and carefully filled the glasses and each glass released a small pink smoke which formed small skulls. A barmaid in hazard suit put the glass on trail and carefully moved it to a table where Gnarl and her boss were sitting. Anybody who thinks the glassed get to close to them moved aside, taking the table with them, just not to risk that the drink were not spilled.

Once the trail arrived the barmaid placed them on the table with two tongs and put ice cubes in them... only to jump out, screaming in agony before vaporize in an instant.

Gnarl was getting nervous and took the glass. His partner took it as well, gulped it down in one movement and starts coughing violently after a few seconds "Damm! Even I have trouble with that stuff! Whoever had this made, wanted to slay demons with it"

Gnarl nodded and confident if his business partner, Rodin could handle, he would as well and drank it down. He placed the glass down, showing no reaction...

"Don't tell me you are able to ho-" began Rodin but Gnarl makes suddenly grimaces with ever changing colors of his eyes then his mouth opens, a laser beam shoots out of it and a section of the ceiling broke off and lands on Rodin, who didn't even twitch an eye. After the beam died down, Gnarl bounces around the entire bar, every spot he impacted, a small crater was made before crashing down, releasing a shockwave that demolished the bar from the inside.

Gnarl coughed loudly as he stood up again "Damm! This stuff could kill dragons!"

"The costs of rebuild will be send to your boss" stated Rodin

Looking at him, Gnarl told "The Overlord cannot do anything I could be afraid of, after tasting this stuff!"

Getting a map out, Rodin asks "Still in the mood to discuss what you want from your deal?"

"Yes of course" said Gnarl and sat down to plan the movements of Rodins contacts... and of course also the restrictions so the overlord can deal with them if necessary.

Some hours later, Gnarl began to leave the bar, mostly satisfied with the outcome. The only thing that left a bitter taste was the fact he managed to create a massive bill for his master. Answering this will be complicated.

Making on his way, the Minion Master turned back to the tower, going back to his business... and laughing at the thought how things will turn out soon.