Despite knowing how to open a portal to the Underworld his entire life, Ferdinand has never had the guts to actually do it. Of course he could've fled there after he's killed a dozen seraphim that made him a fugitive. No angel would be able to set foot in the Underworld. It was a demon's sanctuary.

His eyes gazed around the molten, volcanic landscape but his skin didn't feel any heat nor did it excrete a single sweat. It was perfectly fine and felt like the average room temperature. Everywhere he looked, he would see lesser demons roaming around. He began exploring his never-before-seen demonic heritage, not really knowing where he was going nor where to go. Sure his goal was to set Miranda free but he hadn't the first clue to where she's being held captive at.

He must've been walking for hours but the fruit of that labor was a weary foot that forced him to sit down on the rocky grounds. He reached into his bag to eat some bread and drank some water. Time went by and still he had no idea where to find Miranda.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

Ferdinand turned around and saw a quadrupedal demon standing behind him, flinching at the sight of the creature.

"Don't be afraid." Its rider looked upon him with her yellow cat-like eyes. She dismounted just to offer him a hand and Ferdinand took it thinking that she might actually be friendly.

"Thank you," Ferdinand said.

"No problem," the demon replied. "So you're from the overworld, aren't you?"

"I am, actually. This is my first time setting foot in here. Could you show me around? That is if you have the time." He tried to sound as polite as possible. As close to a demon as he may be, he's still in unfamiliar grounds, and he still felt like an outsider.

"I have all the time in the world. Hop on." The demon mounted the creature again.

Ferdinand looked at the creature. It's unlike anything he's ever seen. Resembling a reptilian horse, it possesses a crocodilian maw that exposed its teeth. A pair of lupine ears stuck from the top of its head. Its tall, quadrupedal body was covered with red, mottled scales from head to tail.

"Aren't you coming up?" The rider asked in a friendly manner. Ferdinand must've been hypnotized by the peculiar creature that he forgot the time. He hopped on behind the rider and they set off.

The creature rode faster than Hex that's for sure. He felt the infernal breeze blowing on his face as they galloped across the Netherworld. Hours of riding passed and the two dismounted to take a break before riding again. It wasn't long until Ferdinand set his eyes on a stronghold. He noticed that the walls were lined with chutes that spit out an endless stream of lava. "Wait, what's that?" he asked the rider.

"That's Ashtanshire stronghold," the rider replied. "That's where the Masters are...and where she's at."

The mention of "she" rung a bell in Ferdinand's mind. "Who is she?" he asked.

"You know, the girl who came in to our world and started slaughtering us?" The rider elaborated. "The Bane of the Netherworld. I think her name was...Mauria?"

The bell started ringing louder. "Did you mean Miranda?" Ferdinand needed to verify.

"Well yes, that's her name."

That was the last straw. She's in there. All he needed to do now was to get in, find her, break her out, and escape the Netherworld with her.

"May I see what's inside?" Ferdinand tried to make an excuse.

"Of course, who am I to stand in your way?" the rider said kindly.

Ferdinand dismounted the beast, thanking the rider. He told her that she may leave and that he'll be spending a long time exploring the stronghold. The rider galloped away as Ferdinand sprinted into Ashtanshire.

He came barging through the gates and attracted the attention of some lesser demons which he just ignored. He went down the stairs that led him to the dungeons.

There were no cells there. In the centre were four stalagmites with green, demonic energy that seemed to flow from one stalagmite to the one adjacent to it creating a containment. Within it was a young woman with jet black hair sleeping on the rocky ground.

Ferdinand approached her cell carefully. "Are you Miranda?"

The woman woke up and shot her sights towards Ferdinand. "Who are you?"

"I'm Ferdinand, Atlas sent me."

She got up on her feet as if she's been injected with optimism after being held captive there for three years. "Atlas sent you?"

"He did." Ferdinand put his hand on one of the stalagmites and a second later, the barrier dissipated. "Let's go." He opened the portal back to the Overworld.

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Mission success. What will happen when Ferdinand and Miranda returns to the Overworld? I'll give you a hint: there's going to be a fight scene. Anyways, I always appreciate votes and comments, so don't forget to leave them. ✌️

I dedicate this chapter to lauratimpson8 who has been binge reading the first book. Hope you enjoy the story.

-Zyrofern