After the conflict with Vox, Hazbin Hotel was enjoying a brief respite, but the calm felt fragile, like glass about to shatter.
The dim lights of the hotel reflected reddish and orange glimmers that danced on the walls, while the scent of incense mixed with freshly brewed coffee floated through the air. Charlie was organizing some papers with enthusiasm, her movements standing out among the hum of the fans and the distant rumble of the flames that always burned outside.
—Peace and quiet… nothing bad can happen —she said, trying to convince herself.
Vaggie kept watch over every corner with sharp eyes, ready to intervene, while Niffty swept and cleaned with an almost hypnotic energy, raising small clouds of dust that shimmered in the infernal light. Husk, sitting in a worn-out armchair, lifted his glass with disinterest, and Angel Dust played with Cherry Bomb, leaving a trail of mischief wherever they went. Alastor remained silent, observing everything with his unsettling smile that seemed to absorb the light around him.
In the distance, across Pentagram City, Hell's atmosphere tensed like a drum about to burst. The streets were shrouded in dense smoke that smelled of ashes and molten metal. Twisted, contorted buildings cast impossible shadows, and rivers of lava reflected a deep red that illuminated figures moving in the gloom.
A new sinner had arrived. His mere presence seemed to absorb the light and bend the shadows around him. Each step he took made the flames tremble, as if Hell itself recognized his power.
His black armor seemed alive; metallic patterns shifted slowly, simulating serpentine movements that seemed to anticipate every action. From his back sprouted enormous, elegant, and deadly wings, their barely perceptible flapping cutting the air with an ominous whistle. His helmet, adorned with imposing horns and eyes burning like living embers, projected an aura of unshakable authority.
—Where… am I? —he whispered, barely audible beneath the weight of his presence.
Sinners who crossed his path fled without looking back. Even Alastor, who had witnessed unimaginable horrors upon arriving in Hell, felt a shiver run through his demonic frame.
Lucifer, sensing the arrival, paused his stroll with a small rubber duck in hand.
—Wow… this doesn't look good —he murmured, his voice heavy with concern—. Charlie… this is going to be… complicated to explain.
The aura of the being approached Hazbin Hotel, and the tension became almost tangible, like a weight pressing the air and making even the incense smoke swirl with unease.
—Feeling… nervous? —commented Angel Dust, trying to mask his unease with sarcasm, though his fingers trembled slightly.
—I'm not paid for this —said Husk, raising his glass like a shield while his eyes followed the newcomer cautiously.
—It seems someone new has arrived in Hell —added Alastor, tilting his head, both fascinated and disturbed.
Charlie opened the door and came face to face with the stranger, feeling the hotel's light dim slightly in his presence.
—Hello… do you need help? —she said, her voice trembling between fear and curiosity.
—I'm looking for Lucifer —the sinner replied, firm and cold, in a tone that chilled the blood and made the very air feel heavier.
Vaggie stepped forward, spear in hand, evaluating the imposing figure that radiated absolute power and authority.
—Alright… but if you do anything… —her warning hung in the air, almost insignificant before the majesty of the newcomer.
Lucifer descended elegantly, his demeanor as calm as it was theatrical.
—Hello, Ishnofel… —he said, measuring each word—. I'm glad to see you. How have you been?
—I'm well, my lord —Ishnofel replied, with obedience and authority at once, his voice resonating like a metallic echo that filled the space.
Charlie furrowed her brow, confused.
—Dad… you know him? Who is he? —she asked, her fear barely contained in a whisper.
—Ah… he is… my creation —said Lucifer, with a hint of pride and concern—. I turned him into a demon a few days ago. I found a man who suffered too much, and I gave him the forbidden fruit… thinking that way I could protect his wife.
Vaggie glared at him, her fury contained.
—That was a human? Lucifer… what were you thinking?
—Now he is a demon —he replied calmly—. I did it to protect us from sinners like Vox. I cannot intervene directly, so… I created Ishnofel.
—I only follow the orders of my king —said Ishnofel, firm, without hesitation, his gaze making even the light around him tremble.
Charlie nodded slightly, trying to accept the situation, though her heart raced.
—I do not seek your understanding, princess —said Ishnofel, his voice so cold and majestic it seemed to envelop the very air—. I only fulfill my purpose.
Ishnofel walked toward a separate room, closing the door behind him with a sound that echoed like a sharp strike in the hotel's silence.
—Don't worry, Charlie —said Lucifer, approaching and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder—. Ishnofel won't attack anyone. He has his own will, but his loyalty is unwavering.
Hazbin Hotel had received a new and powerful resident: Ishnofel. His presence was so majestic that even Hell seemed to bow before him.