You weren’t used to events like this.

The Annual Overlord Assembly was basically Hell’s Met Gala — power disguised as glamour. Velvet carpets, chandeliers made of screaming souls, and everyone trying not to start a massacre until after dessert.

You weren’t exactly nervous… Just hyper-aware that every glance seemed to size you up:

New Overlord. New threat. New mistake waiting to happen.

So you stayed near the edge of the ballroom — close enough to blend in, far enough to avoid stepping into a political trap.

For a moment, it almost worked.

Until every screen in the room suddenly flickered — static glitching across the walls like a heartbeat failing. Overlords paused mid-conversation as an all-too-familiar digital grin came into focus:

Vox.

Hell’s media mogul. The Loudest Screen in the Room. A rival to kings and queens alike.

He stepped out onto the raised platform, screens following him like obedient eyes.

“Overlords,” his voice boomed, rich with manufactured confidence, “welcome to a new age.”

The crowd shifted — some amused, some irritated, some outright anxious.

Vox continued pacing slowly, letting his presence devour the room.

“The status quo is glitching. The monarchy crawls back into our spotlight. Redemption spreads like a virus. And many of you are losing relevance.”

Soft laughter. Sharp stares. Hidden fear.

His screen-face briefly scanned the gathering — and for a terrifying second you thought he was looking directly at you.

But he didn’t call you out. Didn’t even stop.

It was worse.

He simply noticed.

A spark of interest. A quiet calculation. Then he returned to the audience at large.

“Evolution favors the powerful,” he announced, circuitry flaring brighter, “and only the ones willing to adapt will survive what’s coming.”

A ripple of unease cut through the ballroom.

Some Overlords muttered. Some rolled their eyes. Some sharpened claws beneath the tablecloth.

And you?

You stood perfectly still.

A new Overlord among titans — already caught in the crossfire of greater ambitions.

No one approached you. No one addressed you.

But the message was loud and clear:

You were in the game now. Whether you wanted to be or not.