Avernus.
This was the foremost front line where Purgatory and the Abyss clashed.
Due to the unique nature of the Nine Hells, all visitors from other planes who wished to enter Purgatory would ultimately appear on Avernus, Purgatory's first layer.
Whether they were merchants from other planes, devils, other races, or even demons.
None of them could bypass Avernus and teleport directly into the other worlds of Purgatory.
And the Bronze Citadel was Avernus's strongest defensive point. The passage leading to Dis, the second layer of Purgatory, lay behind the Bronze Citadel's defenses.
No one could pass through this place and enter Dis, Purgatory's second layer, without first breaching the Bronze Citadel.
Thus, compared to the other worlds of Purgatory, Avernus was busy, bustling, and also the bloodiest place.
The other worlds of Purgatory were far more peaceful. At the very least, many devils there went their entire lives without ever encountering a demon.
But the devils of Avernus spent their entire lives entangled in battle with demons.
The lords of the other eight layers of Purgatory were not particularly zealous about war or the Blood War, though they hated demons just the same.
But compared to the devils of Avernus, the devil lords here preferred political struggles.
They preferred beguiling souls from other planes and luring them into Purgatory, so that these devils could toy with those foolish souls from other planes.
Political struggles, beguiling and tormenting souls, the Blood War—these were the things devils in the other worlds loved most.
And in order to have more time for political games and torturing souls, these devils hoped Avernus could hold out in the Blood War for as long as possible.
Of course, it would be even better if they could win the Blood War against the demons.
But every