In just seven days, the seven great legions of Hell had completed the effective occupation of ten medium-sized cities around the world.
Officially, it was "peacekeeping." In reality, dozens of unexplained disappearances occurred every day in every city placed under "protection."
The total number of missing people had surpassed five million. Their souls were sent directly to Hell, becoming fuel for Crowley's expanding power.
Crowley himself sat in the top-floor suite of New York's Waldorf Hotel, sipping Romanée-Conti looted from the wine cellar as he remained in contact with every legion through military-grade encrypted channels.
He wore a newly tailored suit, its cuffs made of pure gold.
"What has the Demon Hunter Guild said?" he asked.
"The Demon Hunter Guild issued an emergency statement condemning the demon legions for exploiting the crisis," his deputy reported. "But Bartholomew and Mad Angel have them tied down across the major battlefields. They can't spare forces to deal with us."
Crowley took a sip of red wine and nodded in satisfaction.
"Let them keep condemning us. Once they and the angels have both suffered—"
He stopped, his wineglass suspended in midair.
"You just said that several legions have allied themselves with the angels?"
Middle East, Mesopotamia, the ruins of ancient Assyria.
This was the most troublesome theater in the Asian war zone.
After the remnants of the Bartholomew Faction retreated westward to this place, they encountered wandering demon stragglers. These were not organized Hell legions, but low-level demons who had infiltrated the human world alone and had yet to submit to Crowley.
After initially attacking one another, both sides quickly assessed the more profitable strategy: cooperation.
The demons provided familiarity with the local terrain and human settlements, while the angels used holy light to suppress the Demon Hunters' rune weapons.
After joining forces, they