One-Punch DxD: NEO - Chapter 79: Abduction

[Another miracle has happened in Lilith after the disastrous terrorist attack committed by one Euclid Lucifuge, a traitor noble of the Lucifuge Family line, the lineage dedicated to serve our race’s creator and founder, Lucifer. It seems as if the Demon God himself is watching over us, but the newcomer race that is apparently confirmed as our ancestor race stated that they have no relations with the Demon God that remade our world.]

Grayfia sighed in relief at the news broadcast in the television of her newly-assigned quarters.

[The vaccine is already at the cusp of completion so that the same plague that befouled our capital will not take us off guard once again. They are aiding in the rebuilding of Lilith… Oh, wow. I want a house like that…]

The female devil reporter said as she saw one of the Demons conjure a floating building of illustrious make in an instant, sharing their favorite theme of sculpted patterns, no flat surfaces for some reason.

“That is the Demiurge’s power at work.” The maid behind Grayfia explained.

“The Demiurge… Their power is to create, correct?” Grayfia asked.

“Yes. Their craft has improved over the years. Long ago, all they made were fortresses, armors, weapons. The artistic flair is new… They were more pragmatic in their military purposes, but I see times of peace gave them time to hone their craft beyond just function.”

Grayfia was intrigued when the more monstrous of the Demons placed seeds around Lilith. They channeled their magic into the soil as the same plants that once covered Lilith sprouted and bloomed.

“…Druidic magic?” Grayfia asked.

“Biomancy. Accelerated and manipulated growth. Their power is more in line with the fundamental structure of organic matter than the global energy of nature altering the structure of natural life indirectly.”

“Interesting…” Grayfia nodded with curiosity. “What about the… Ordog? Their power involves curses, yet what is their function?”

“They exist to cull the wicked and malignants that dare threaten progress and peace.” The maid answered. “No magic can hide any form of malicious intent from them. The only one that deceived their gaze was Lucifer who fell into madness, a mistake they will never make again. Their power in curses is more… creative and dangerous. Debilitating hexes that can do more than just weaken others. For example, Ophibian’s famous curses are the Death Hexes. If the caster or a creature enchanted by the caster is killed, the killer and his or her associates will die shortly. Or drive others mad by destroying the line dividing their perception of dream and reality in the most sinister ways.”

Grayfia turned to her father hiding in the maid’s body.

“…Were you subjected to their curses?” Grayfia asked.

“The only way to remove it is to pass it onto another. And that person must be willing… and close to me…” the maid – Lord Lucifuge replied solemnly, despite the feminine tone coming from him.

“…They stated they want to kill all of the devils yet they are strange… If their grudge is so great, what gives them the strength to tolerate us?”

“They honor their ancestor’s teachings on balance of the self. They will not betray their values and sully their race’s honor just to give in to easy temptation. Remember, Grayfia. Their roots are not human. The way they see the world is different. They are emotional, very empathetic beings, raised in a culture that values self-control, promotes education, and progress. Although I am afraid that the war poisoned some of them… I can see that they are plotting something. They are extremely patient and cunning, and I suspect that they are biding their time… But I don’t know what. They won’t try and commit genocide directly, that is for certain.”

Grayfia pondered what their plan was to fulfill their lifelong goal. She was in a study room in a simple house near the outskirts of Bael territory. Grayfia knew better than expecting a ‘luxurious’ house arrest, but they made sure to make her makeshift prison to be comfortable enough so she would behave during her trial period.

It had been bad enough when Grayfia learned from her father that her brother had been alive. Now the Capital of Lilith had to suffer from his morbid idea of a gift. Considering the damage he had inflicted, it was a miracle that Grayfia received a house arrest instead of actual prison.

Her eyes then caught the sight of Bahamut at the corner of her vision – one of her husband’s Rooks, hovering high in the air outside the window panes.

Sirzechs’ Peerage had been watching over the area where Grayfia’s house-prison was located.

Incidentally, public opinion of Sirzechs and his Peerage was damaged. Some were reprimanding Sirzechs for letting the bloodline of a terrorist get so close to him, others were forming a conspiracy that bordered on ludicrous and insanity, the most Ludicrous was that Sirzechs recruited Grayfia as his Queen, after the latter spread her legs for him, or something along those lines.

In extension of her, Sirzechs and the rest of his peerage’s credibility was all time low in the eyes of the 72 Pillars, thus while they were allowed to be stationed in the area, they were not allowed to make any sort of contact with her.

Fortunately, they had a contingency.

Lord Lucifuge then turned the television off; both he and his daughter had enough about the outside world. “Now, would you like some refreshments? Or perhaps you want to write a letter or two to your family back at the Gremory house?” He, or more like – she smiled at Grayfia.

However, before they could have talked more, they suddenly heard Bahamut’s howl from the distance, they looked outside the window, and saw Bahamut was flying towards a direction where an explosion occurred, followed by a tremor and several spikes of dense magical power.

“What in the world…?” Lord Lucifuge wondered with an anxious tone.

Grayfia, who understood why Bahamut howled and flew away, could only wonder as well, “What are they fighting against?”

In the distance, she gasped when a beam of light from the distant horizon suddenly consumed Bahamut. The Rook fell from the skies, smoked, cooked.

Thunder boomed and lightning followed as she caught a glimpse of the foe in the distance. Whatever it was, it was large, multicolored, and had… eight heads.

She could see multiple elemental breaths at display, one head, Ice blue, firing a sweeping ray of frost that terraformed all in its path into an icy wasteland.

The sheer range and reach of its power rivaled that of Serafall’s. She could see Surtr’s form growing, returning his Jotun size, rivaling the creature’s.

However, one head, jade green, blasted Surtr with wind as a hurricane force swept over the house. Windows rattled and panes cracked, some leaking onto her as she yelped while catching the sight of Surtr flying away from the impact.

She could hear his fading screams through the walls.

“What in the nine Hells did Euclid unleash now?!” Lord Lucifuge shouted, unable to believe what he was seeing out the window.

“I have to go out there! They cannot handle that thing on their own!”

“No! If you leave without permission, you will be convicted for sure! Trust in your husband’s Peerage!” The maid shouted.

“But…!”

Then, both Lucifuges noticed a knock on the door.

“Mistress Grayfia! We have received word of an attack on our position.” One of the guards informed, looking very panicked.

“What’s the situation out there?!” Grayfia shouted.

“I don’t know, but it looked like the terrorist decided to pay the Underworld a visit! We must use the emergency teleportation!” He shouted.

“But…!”

“We don’t have time!” The guard shouted as a seismic quake shook the house.

The walls cracked and roof collapsed around them into dust and rubble. They could see outside now, how the land shifted and reformed under the creature’s will to attack Sirzech’s peerage.

“…Lead us, quickly!”

She prayed that they survive as she and Lord Lucifuge followed the guard out the broken roof. Outside was a magical circle prepared, surrounded by a band of guards in armor bearing the crest of Bael.

Immediately when they landed, one hurried to place the magical cuffs on Grayfia while stealing glances at the approaching monster making its way.

“Are the suppression cuffs on her?!”

“It’s on!”

“Prepare the emergency teleportation circle!”

“Move, move, move!”

Magic suppressing restraints – considering Grayfia’s status as a convict, it was a standard protocol despite Lord Lucifuge’s misgivings.

The Queen stared at the direction where the battle was still raging, before she stepped inside.

“Go! Now!”

At the command, everyone within the perimeter disappeared. Once the scenery had changed, there was a small period of silence.

“…Are we away?” The guard closest to Grayfia asked.

“We’re away… oh…. Thank Lucifer we’re away.”

The guard sighed in relief upon hearing confirmation that they teleported out of the danger zone.

Grayfia and Lucifuge were slightly relieved too.

They were within a room. Grayfia could not tell where they were, but there was the flag of the Bael insignia hanging above the double-doors.

“Where are we?” Grayfia asked.

“We are in the mansion of Lord Bael.” The leader of the guard answered. “Wait here… I need to inform everyone of what happened.”

Grayfia nodded as the leader walked towards the only entrance and exit, two hands holding the handles and pulling the doors open.

“Hello, dear sister.”

Grayfia watched in horror – Standing behind the door, however, was her brother, smiling in her face, surrounded by robed magicians.

She was stunned into absolute silence as she met her brother’s calm gaze. Her silence extended when she saw her entourage mingling with Euclid and the mages, all facing her, all against her and her father.

A ‘thwang’ entered her ears. She turned around.

The guard closest to her held a weapon, a crossbow, finger on the trigger, and an arrow flung into the maid’s throat.

“No!” Grayfia shouted as Lord Lucifuge ‘choked’ out blood, futilely grasping at the arrow piercing his jugular before he finally went still.

Grayfia was about to lash out until Euclid spoke.

“Calm down, he’s just doing his job. Eliminating witnesses.” Euclid chuckled.

“…You didn’t tell us you were sending something apocalyptic.” One of the guards complained.

“I needed something with strength, and the other Evil Dragons and Gods refused to indulge my request. I had to bargain with the young master for that one beforehand with a special surgery. I am just as surprised by his work, I mean, I am impressed. He is already better than I am in the field of bioengineering. And it didn’t show off its regeneration yet.”

“…Young master?”

“My charge. You saw him before when I first introduced myself to Lilith. You might not recognize the creature that is currently playing with your Peerage members like toys due to the alterations, but I’ll explain once we’re home.”

“You… But…” Grayfia was so confused. She could not even begin as to where to start.

“You might be wondering, how is it possible that I am standing here, I shouldn’t be here, should I?” Euclid began before he shrugged with a knowing smile on his face, “… Please, you should have known better than that. It is impossible to plant my agents into the Underworld directly since my staff is, well, all imbued with the Trihexa genome, and being the genius that he is, Ajuka made sure to test everyone for that element to root out spies. A minor oversight on my part, but that is the small price for greater power. Anyways, you have no idea how easy it is to bribe the nobles to do your bidding with the prospect of limitless power.”

“You…” Grayfia expected that the opposing nobles would do something, but to be this drastic?

“Mhm, mhm. Now, sister, if you’d be so kind not to resist while we prepare for our relocation? We have been wasting enough time and manpower as we speak.”

Grayfia then narrowed her eyes, her hands balled into fists. “What makes you think I will come with you, brother?”

Every single soldier shifted at the pressure Grayfia was exuding. Her magic being suppressed or not, Grayfia Lucifuge still earned her moniker as the Strongest Queen and a contender for the title of Leviathan.

Euclid on the other hand, simply sighed softly while his smile remained on his face, “Good grief, I believe the last time I saw you like this was all the way back at the beginning of Devil Civil War. I truly miss you, dear sister.” He then snapped his fingers.

Grayfia then saw the marks on her wrist restraints glowed, before more seals came to life around her knuckles and forearms. It felt like she was carrying a mountain in each hand, the weights dragging her down to her knees with a loud thud, kneeling unceremoniously before her brother, hands pinned to the floor.

“Euclid…!” Grayfia growled as she futilely attempted to return to her feet.

“You were at checkmate the moment my farewell gift nearly turned Lilith into a dead capital. The lower classes are always like that, but considering our family’s history, I don’t blame them. I thank my miscarried… son. I hope he has a better next life,” Euclid then walked towards her and knelt so he could see her closer, “…I strongly suggest you stop resisting, dear sister. It is unsightly to struggle when you have clearly been defeated.”

Grayfia only glared when her brother brushed his finger across her cheek. Euclid then stood up and walked away.

“Prepare for extraction and make sure nothing can trace us. Oh, and also…” Euclid glanced one more time at his prone sister, “Do handle her with care.”

Grayfia’s last thoughts before everything went dark around her, were the faces of her husband and her son.

---

Standing in the middle of Sitri Mansion’s spacious backyard, Issei – clad in his casual red T-shirt and jersey pants, exhaled deeply as he focused on his pulse..

Ddraig, how is it looking in there?

[If someone told me about this situation a few months ago, I’d laugh at their face.]

Ddraig replied from within his soulscape.

[But now…. I’ll say this again, you are the most insane daredevil I know. This feels so… surreal. At first, the power you received from the Mastema was stored in a separate corner, but now the demonic power is fully assimilated with you and the Boosted Gear… and I am not even sure what to say about your new…. Condition.]

The Explosive Heart Release Fist used the heart as the engine to drive the force and power through his knuckles, his strikes.

Now with his body having been modified by the demonic power of Mastema bloodline, he was practicing his offensive style with an extra engine.

It was harder than it looked as he had to adapt, his new physiology sometimes interfering with the usual output of force.

Fuuuuuu!

Before him was a block of ice, constantly respawned via a magic circle tattooed to the floor.

He threw his palm at the block of ice once more, his heartbeats working in sync with twin thunderous pulses resounding throughout the training room, and struck as his aura clad him in a veil of furious red.

The moment his palm made contact, he did not completely destroy the ice.

The force penetrated through the center and gouged a hole, the Crystals disintegrated into the finest powder of snow, a cone of empty space within the cube.

It remained standing surprisingly.

The force traveled all the way to the wall behind the cube and busted another crumbling hole.

Status update. What’s my current condition?

[I confirm that Boosted Gear is changing.]

Ddraig answered.

[Your dark half has done something to it. I think he made some modifications to it to accompany the demonic power. Not surprising since the bloodline power involves manipulating souls, and by extension, Sacred Gears.]

We’ll need to do some more testing. Dark me was definitely winging with the Demonic Power. If he had refined it more, I might’ve lost.

Interrupting his internal dialogue, Issei heard a clapping from the entrance. He turned to see Tsubasa standing there. She was clad in her Kuoh Academy summer uniform.

“…Hey.” She waved.

“Hey yourself. Shouldn’t you be in physical rehab?” Issei pointed out.

“Pfff. Please, we have Asia. She’s a miracle worker, that one.” She reminded him with a smile.

Issei smiled, “Heh. Alright, what’s up? Got something on your mind?”

Tsubasa calmly walked towards Issei.

“…I think I’m ready for the next step. How do you do the exploding heart fist thing?”

“You sure? I mean, have you even gotten the hang of Awakening Breath?” Issei asked in return.

Tsubasa hummed while looking around knowingly, before she smirked at Issei, “Instead of talking, why don’t I show you instead?” She said as she discarded her uniform tie and unclasped a few buttons of her dress-shirt.

“Recovered from a Trihexa death plague and you’re ready for a brawl already. There’s the Tsu I know. Alright, show me.” Issei gestured at her to come at him with one hand behind his back.

“Heh, you’re not so much of Bruce Lee yourself, stud!”

Fuuuuuuu…!

Tsubasa then performed an all too familiar breathing pattern to Issei. Then, Tsubasa was already in the air, launching a flying kick right at his face. However, her surprise attack was not good enough as Issei jerked his head to the side, allowing Tsubasa’s foot to fly past his head by a hair’s breadth, before he caught her shirt and twirled her into tumbling across the floor with her own momentum.

Tsubasa was a little surprised that Issei intercepted her so easily, but she easily recovered herself via a back roll as soon as her back hit the ground.

“How the hell did you pull off the Awakening Breath so well? That flying ninja kick was faster than I expected, though,” Issei remarked.

“I didn’t just laze around when I had free time, you know. Ki might still be out of my grasp, but I can get this breathing technique down if I put my mind into it.” Tsubasa replied with a grin. “…And that’s not all!”

Tsubasa then attacked again. She charged forward and threw several fast combos on Issei who parried and dodged them easily enough. However, instead of retracting her hands like conventional strikes, she proceeded to hook Issei’s hands with hers, weaving Issei’s defense open for her next follow-up attack.

But her posture and form tilted, Issei’s gentle weaves dominating hers despite her initiative, nearly throwing her off balance. Soon the fierce exchange of blows became more like a dance where Issei and Tsubasa’s arms weaved a complex web of competition for dominance of the flow.

Tsubasa expected to be on the losing side, but she would not give up and make it easy for her crush. However, Tsubasa froze when she felt gentle blows tapping her multiple times almost simultaneously the moment she saw a glint in Issei’s eyes.

There was no damage.

“Hey, who gave you permission to hold back?!” Tsubasa pouted as she doubled her efforts, but still failed to overcome Issei’s flow.

“Oh, can I not?” Issei snarked with a feigned ignorance as he tapped her cheek and booped her nose once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Tsubasa sported a furious blushing red. and increased her attack pace. Unfortunately, her agitation made her attack pattern sloppy, easier for Issei to read through.

Soon, Tsubasa was panting, sweating, overexerting herself while giving Issei the angriest, poutiest glare she could muster while doubled over with her hand on her knees.

“Another thing with the Explosive Heart Release Fist, it can make you lose yourself in an aggressive tempo. And tire you out.” Issei noted, before he knelt down next to her, “…But seriously, you okay?”

Issei watched Tsubasa exhale, then he was ready as soon as he caught the glint in Tsubasa’s eyes. Tsubasa suddenly rose up to lunge at Issei, who immediately caught her and the next second, Tsubasa’s back was against the ground with Issei looming above her.

They stared into each other’s eyes for a few seconds before Tsubasa saw Issei’s face descend to hers. She could only blink when his mouth ended up hovering next to her ears.

“…Didn’t see this one coming, did you?”

Tsubasa blinked again at Issei smirking at her, then she let out a sigh with a groan as she was completely spent, with Issei plopping on his side next to her.

“Glad to see you are not getting sloppy.” Tsubasa remarked with a small snark.

“I did kick your ass, didn’t I?” Issei returned, earning a light smack on his arm.

Issei then turned to lie on his back. The two then remained on the grass while staring at Underworld’s dark sky. Despite the gloomy color, the peaceful atmosphere between them was welcomed.

“…How’s Sona doing, by the way?” Issei spoke again.

“Currently spending some time with her family… Especially her sister. Lady Leviathan is over the moon.” Tsubasa replied with a brief giggle. “But back to you – are you really going? To… wherever those demons are living in?”

Issei simply closed his eyes briefly with his smile shifted slightly, “I have to. It’s a part of the deal. And…” He then stared at his outstretched hand, “After what I learned from…. The ‘other me’, I now kind of want to go there, so I can discover more about myself.”

“Makes me want to go there. Though I hope they won’t explode me like Dracula did to that one Devil noble.” Tsubasa replied with humor in her tone

“Yeah, I hope so in my case as well.” Issei returned in kind.

Then, Issei found Tsubasa crawling over him, her face looming over him.

“…I’m gonna miss you.”

Issei blinked, staring right into Tsubasa’s blue eyes. He found himself smiling at her, “I’m gonna miss you too.”

Tsubasa’s smile grew fonder, “You know… I remember your story about that time… When you were nearly burned to crisp.” She glanced down for a second, “I think I get what you went through, when…. I was fighting for my life in Lord Beelzebub’s lab. I’m so glad that I managed to come back.”

“Yeah, I’m glad you came back too.” Issei’s hand then reached up, wiping stray blue locks off Tsubasa’s face before he ended up caressing her soft skin.

Tsubasa’s own hands also trailed up to his toned chest, until she reached his jawline. Their eyes bore into each other, and it was Tsubasa who eventually chose to close the distance.

Their lips locked – Issei’s right hand reached up to the back of Tsubasa’s head, while her own roamed around his brown locks, as they deepened the contact.

Issei then felt Tsubasa’s tongue brushed against his lower lip, then their tongues danced and wrestled in a heavy make out session where Issei’s left hand began to roam around her uniform, while Tsubasa began to rub her own body against Issei’s. His hand worked around her corset’s buttons before discarding it.

Their lips would part briefly every now and then for them to breath before locking again; Tsubasa’s hands began to roam around Issei’s muscular frame, while Issei’s left hand began to tug on her dress uniform and pull it off her skirt, before his hand went inside and began to feel her up; the feeling of his hand on her bare skin elicited a soft gasp from Tsubasa between their kisses.

However, before Tsubasa could have worked her own hands into Issei’s clothes, their moment of increasing passion was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Ahem.”

Their eyes snapped wide open and Tsubasa immediately pulled herself up with a small gasp. The couple then were greeted by the sight of Black staring at them with a small hint of amusement and…. Urgency?

“…Sorry for cockblocking you two. But, we have a problem. So chop chop! Follow me.” the dwarf creature clapped before he walked away.

Issei and Tsubasa glanced at each other, before they quickly tidied and straightened their appearances. Soon they were walking after Black.

Black, however, pretended not to notice that Tsubasa reached out to hold Issei’s hand, whom reciprocated the gesture. They walked hand in hand until they reached their destination.

---

Halrim cooed, the baby world turtle watching the tiny little people with curiosity.

Ever since he became big, Halrim has had an interesting and fun life.

He made friends with little flying things that named him. He liked the name.

They were fun, playing with him all the time, though sometimes they tell him to not do something like bothering the other tiny people.

It was fun watching them fight with other tiny things.

The little purple flying thing was fighting something bigger than it.

It was still tiny compared to him though.

As for Tannin, the former dragon king roared with all of his might as he battled and raged against his foe. He hurled himself straight as like a meteor sailing across the stars, wreathed in friction flame and draconic power.

His foe punched him away with a single swing, like a bat to a baseball as Tannin ragdolled to the side like a stone to a skipping pond.

The baboon howled and banged his chest, covered in special tree bark armor tied together around his masculine dark-purple abs, his fur fluffed in white, arms and legs rippling with power like never before, reveling in his dominance over the previous apex predator.

It was a battle for territory, the right to live on Halrim’s back.

Tannin and his herd waged war against these mutant apes for days and they were relentless – their hide as tough as dragon flesh and their brute might even more.

They craft crude barbaric weapons, stone wrapped around thick tree trunks from the augmented pack alpha wielded a strange club, which was nothing more than a peculiar metal ore tied around an absurdly thick piece of wood.

Fire and ice did not scare these primates, and they were as stubborn as dragons.

Tannin picked himself to his feet, panting, spitting out a tooth and blood with a ferocious grin, a grin he could barely make with his dragon face.

This was a battle to determine who would take the right of land.

He could feel it, the alpha’s desire to dominate and control. These things were kidnapping and trying to tame his people as riding mounts.

“For too long… my kind had no reason to fight, no challenge as the strongest creatures in the nine realms.”

The baboon uttered a noise of confusion to Tannin’s speech, clearly not understanding him,

“But to say that we’re the strongest is nothing more than arrogance. I can’t even beat a monkey blessed with just a piece of Garou’s power.” Tannin chuckled at the irony.

“Consider yourself as my next step to reaching his level! The level of the strongest, my worthy foe!”

Tannin roared as the baboon shrieked and howled, the first flying, the latter sprinting, both clashing again with fist and claw and club. He was a pure power type. He had no technique, and his opponent was ironically stronger than him, faster reflexes.

Wild swings hammered Tannin, pushing him back, batting his arms, his guard swaying further from his center with every attack swing by swing.

The strange ore club somehow emitted a penetrating vibration through his scales and dug into his bones, numbing his skeleton under the meat.

Tannin never thought that he would have to get creative to defeat a giant monkey.

He would gladly give his foe the right.

The giant baboon swung one last time. However, the monkey’s club did not greet anything, slamming against the dirt.

Tannin looked up, his own size now small as a human. It was one of his signature techniques, magic to alter his size.

Then he regrew to his full size and rammed his golden horns into the monkey’s throat, his horns elongating and pierced through the thick meat, the choking alpha hanging and dangling by the throat, gurgling with confusion and fright.

The ore club fell to the dirt. The primate held against the horns, trying to break free.

“It’s too late.” Tannin stated as he swung his head, throwing the monkey to the ground.

The other giant baboons surrounding them shrieked and hollered, fury and fright that they lost, and that their alpha failed them.

The alpha was still holding onto life, holding his bleeding throat, laid vulnerable to the dragon king.

Tannin pointed forward, towards his foe’s pack.

The alpha seemed to sense Tannin’s intent.

His mercy.

With some spite, it gurgled with a tint of rage at Tannin’s mercy. But it obliged and slowly picked itself up. It looked down to the club on the floor for a moment before it looked back to Tannin. It turned and walked away, leaving his weapon behind.

Mostly as a way of salvaging its pride… almost as if promising to take back his weapon of power.

Tannin exhaled with relief when the other baboons hissed at him and retreated back into the forest. Roars of victory drowned the skies in its cacophony, that they fended off another danger of the new world with triumph.

Tannin looked at the ore club, picking up the primitive weapon.

He wondered if he could get Ajuka to inspect it for him… and maybe craft something better out of the new material.

XoX

In the distance, on a steep cliff, Cao Cao watched the fight through a binocular, sitting cross legged.

Behind him was a pyre, flames within a circle of stone, the roasting body of a giant iguana spit roasted above the flames by his comrades.

“It seems that the age of dragons is over.”

Cao Cao turned to their newest compatriot, who was also sitting cross-legged.

The weapon that they must refine to fight GOD… Cao Cao understood the task when he saw Djall, the black-haired young man with three eyes, wearing the flesh and shape of a man, but a beast in nature.

“It was over a while ago, to be honest.” Cao Cao shrugged.

“Shame… though I shouldn’t have held my expectations so high in the first place. This land is strange,” Djall hummed.

He was wearing american clothes, blue jeans and a white T-Shirt. Simple, no sense of fashion. He had no sneakers or shoes, walking on his bare feet – Said he needed his feet bare to sense the vibrations of the land, something Cao Cao did not think he could do.

“It… is rich with energy. So much energy, I don’t even have the words. So much… unexplored… untapped potential?”

“Yes, that’s the word.” Cao Cao nodded.

“…And why is it that the land resonates with that one?” Djall asked as he turned behind, looking at Garou… feasting on his own kill, a giant boar-like creature with diamond-like tusks.

“Trade secret.”

Cao Cao and his friends made the Underworld as their new base of operations, training hard to survive the dangers of the land.

They were no longer wearing their standard uniforms, but wearing armor and leather from the hides of the fauna and materials of the flora. They look a bit savage at the moment.

They were not allowed to use their Sacred Gears, the Malebranche’s edict for them to improve their own power first.

Thus… their weapons were fashioned from the materials of the land around them.

Cao Cao was wielding a makeshift bone spear, the bone fashioned from the fang of a giant serpent, the tip laced with a special venom that never ceased to drip the toxic substance despite it being separated from the owner.

Siegfried had crystalline bone weapons carved from the boar they were eating.

Hercules had bone armor and vambraces, all tied together by vines.

Jeanne had simple glass-like sabers she fashioned from a large piece of obsidian-like material from the river.

It was incredibly sharp and durable for something found in a river.

Georg was panting, sweating rivers while running a marathon around the camp, watering eyes and mouth obscenely open from the panting exertion. He did not have the physique of a warrior, so he must compensate, making a comical face of strife that exasperated his desire to give up if it weren’t the fact that he must keep up with his friends.

Leonardo… was over encumbered with protective gear, practicing push-ups.

He was no fighter in the end, but he wanted to join his friends and be useful. Without his Sacred Gear, Leonardo was just an ordinary boy.

He would die easily in this extremely high-level environment.

“So? What do you think of the World Turtle? You want to… you know? Kill it?”

Jeanne stopped sharpening her obsidian weapons.

Halrim howled in the distance, his voice reaching out for miles and miles.

“…I don’t know why…” Djall tilted his head. “Despite this one having a lot of meat… I don’t want to kill it.”

Siegfried stared at Djall as if he was looking at a different animal.

“Didn’t you just butcher Nidhogg like a pig? Literally?”

Djall painted a picture of a thing with a bottomless savage hunger that would tear the world apart with his teeth if given the chance.

“He is nothing more than meat with sharper teeth, I see him as nothing else than that.”

“But… That turtle has way more meat.”

“Siegfried! Don’t encourage him to kill the cute giant turtle!” Jeanne shouted with a pout.

Djall tilted his head. The turtle was large, his mountain and green-forested shell carrying a variety of appetizers in the form of dragons which he did want to eat.

But the way the turtle looked…

He heard a faint squeak in the back of his head.

“…I don’t know why. I feel like I’ll lose something important if I do. The turtle… reminds me of something.”

His answer stunned them. Behind the blood and savage hunger, a glint of humanity shone. Enough to quell his desire to kill all he sees as edible.

“What does he remind you of?” Cao Cao asked.

“It is a blur… that refuses to take shape.” Djall couldn’t understand the nagging feeling inside him.

“I think it is the environment. I read that behaviors of animals differ in a separate habitat.”

“If that is the case, how do you feel now that you’re outdoors?” Siegfried asked.

“…Refreshed… like I pulled myself out of a dark place. I no longer felt that nagging irritation I didn’t know was there before. But enough about me… tell me about yourself.”

Djall turned to Cao Cao.

“What is your intent?”

Cao Cao tilted his head, “Come again?”

“Don’t play dumb. Now that I’m out here, I can think more clearly than back home. What is your purpose?”

“What do you mean? Can’t a guy try to make friends?”

“Cao Cao. Real name, unknown. Sold as a slave by parents, bloodline of a legendary human figure… and the scent emanating from you is delicious.”

Cao Cao felt a disturbance when he saw Djall licking his lips. It was the first time he felt his primal fear kick in as he swiftly stepped back and aimed his tribal bone spear at the predator in human skin.

The two stared at each other for a moment. Until Djall’s lips slowly curled into a wide cheeky grin.

“…Were you messing with me?” Cao Cao asked.

Djall’s smile only grew.

“I didn’t know you can joke.” Siegfried pointed out.

“Who said I’m joking?”

They paused, tensed.

“Or am I?” Djall smiled at them.

Now the thing was playing with them like the Malebranche demons.

“I will eat you if you die from other reasons, though.” Djall scoffed at his reaction.

Cao Cao stared at Djall, he and Siegfried exchanging glances, asking each other if he was serious. His growing unpredictability was a concern and they were not sure if he would suddenly decide to eat them.

“But in all seriousness, I do have the capacity to separate those I shouldn’t eat and those I can eat. I don’t care about Nidhogg or Grendel. Euclid is somewhat like… an uncle, a suffocating one. Psykos is a strange woman… Whenever I’m near her, I get a ringing sound in my ear and all the noise in my head ceases. Strict and disciplinarian, has high expectations of me. Along with something else which I cannot decipher for now.”

Cao Cao picked up on this.

“Rizevim… he said he’s my father yet… I don’t know. Our connection feels parental, and there is some genuine intent behind his actions, but there is something I cannot describe… However, the words he spoke about me are true.”

“What do you see us as?” Jeanne asked.

Georg slowed when he heard the conversation, sweat and fatigue still leaking out his pores, curious to hear about Djall’s mindset, considering his previous identity.

“You humans are suspicious, yet there is no malice. You are strange because you do not take the Trihexa Cell like the others as if trying to prove something… to promote a sense of purpose and self-worth amongst yourselves?”

“…Not bad.” Cao Cao nodded.

“Will you tell me your intent behind your choices?” Djall asked Cao Cao.

Cao Cao paused, humming to himself.

“…It is hard to explain it to you. But to word it in a way I can understand in less than twenty words, well… We want to be something more than… just the limits of our flesh. We want to….. Exemplify the humans into being something more than what our maker designed us to be. Eating a mutating meatball goes against us because easy power leads to stagnation.”

There was silence from the predator. His throat clicked with a contemplating tune.

“…Interesting… Your ideals sound… worthy. But a little impractical and delusional.”

“I know a guy that trained for three years and became the strongest man in all of the nine realms.” Cao Cao smirked.

“And you think you can do the same? Father wants to replicate something like me, find out what makes me special, but couldn’t no matter what. For he lacks the resources. The blood of Jesus Christ… for some reason, it defies everything I can do… Let me tell you a secret. He wants more of my blood father’s genetics. When heaven is finally breached, and the skies fall with the dead and tears of woe… Like a scavenger, Father will scour the remains of the broken sky for the pieces needed to slay a true GOD.”

Cao Cao did not expect the Son of Christ and God’s Murderer to talk at such a length.

“Really? How would he do that?” Cao Cao asked.

“That would be telling, as the human saying goes. But let’s just say… It will be when enough hope is lost in a world where the strongest protector can do nothing but watch… Don’t know where we’ll fit in all of this. If you’re all heroes like the stories, then let’s see what you’ll do when the time comes.”

---

The tense atmosphere in the conference room was so taught that the slightest spark could set it off.

Sirzechs Lucifer was sitting on his lavish chair. His expression was serene, but everyone summoned into the room could taste the murderous fury inside him. Before the Satan was his peerage – either kneeling or prostrating before him with Souji Okita at the helm.

Issei and his friends, both peerages of Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory, were there.

Saitama, Genos, Black, Azazel and Michael were there.

Vali and his team were there due to the severity of the situation.

Grayfia Lucifuge was missing. Presumed dead. No trace of her in the chaos.

While under the watch of Sirzechs’ most trusted.

“…When I chose you, my friends, to guard my wife – your Queen, while she was in danger, over the protection of the strongest man, I expected… you to live up to my expectations. How could you let this happen?” Sirzechs asked calmly, yet his rage leaked through the cracks.

It was the first time Issei saw Sirzechs approaching his breaking, an approaching natural disaster barely held at bay.

“We have no excuses, my King. Lord Sirzechs, may I show you what we fought?” MacGregor Mathers – Sirzechs’ sole Bishop asked.

“…You may.”

The Bishop of the Crimson Satan rose to his feet. With his magic, he projected a two dimensional image, a rectangular screen large enough for all to see.

Emerging from the iconic Hyperspace Gate was a gargantuan creature.

Eight heads, horned and riddled with spines, the main body covered in thick, heavy scales, hundreds of feet, able to crawl over mountains like stepping stones.

“May I present to you the visual capture of Yamata No Orochi.”

Mathers’ words captured everyone’s attention. Both Issei and Irina almost jumped at Japan’s most iconic dragon from the legends, the eight-branched snake that once terrorized Japan.

However, the image defied the ancient depictions of the legendary snake.

“I could not mistake the visage of Yamata No Orochi, the legendary dragon of my homeland, charging at us. I am still in disbelief that I fought the serpent Susanoo slew.” This time, Souji Okita spoke.

There was a clamor from the children as they whispered amongst themselves.

“That’s Yamata No Orochi! I can’t believe we’re facing Japan’s greatest legend!” Irina squealed.

“But it looks… too different from what I imagined.” Xenovia pointed out. “Does it always look like that?”

There was a big difference to this Yamata No Orochi. Each of the serpentine heads looked as if they were blessed by one of the eight elements.

One head crackled with lightning, its yellow spines longer and had a singular horn that acted as a lightning rod and generator.

One head looked as if it was bathed in the bowels of molten Earth, skin glowing orange and encased in rich black melted stone, breathing fire that seemed to travel for miles.

One head was ice blue, armored in rime and frost, no horns or spines, ice and snow seemed to fall from like constantly flaking skin.

Another head looked more aquatic, a deep sea blue, amphibian skin and larger lower teeth covering its upper lip with a row of serrated shark-like fangs, a large fin protruding from its head.

One head was toxic purple, venomous fangs covering his lower lip, savage, almost dinosaur-like with longer, sharper spines and spikes covering it.

One was light green, almost graceful, serene, feathers of the forest covering from its head and ending at its main body.

One was shelled in brown earth, heavy, layered with minerals replacing scales, armored.

The last looked more dazzling, sunlight seemingly amplified when touching its diamond-like skin. That diamond-white head fired a blinding laser at Bahamut in the far distance and struck him down to Sirzech’s surprise.

“This Yamata No Orochi is much different than the one I knew from legend, for obvious reasons.” Souji continued with a bit of humor.

“…Did the Trihexa Cell do this?” Sirzechs asked, stunned, almost amazed by this one’s design.

“It does not feel like it when we first saw it. It’s like eight elemental gods decided to bless one creature with all of their power to see how it’ll turn out for fun.”

Surtr, Sirzech’s Rook, sprinted towards the gargantuan hydra dragon as he grew in size, about to match him in height, roaring his warcry as he summoned his giant flaming blade.

However, the green head covered in feathers fired its breath at Surtr. It was more force and wind, blood gushing from slicing wounds mottling the fire giant’s frame, blowing Surtr back as he flew into the sky.

They could hear his screams disappearing, fading in the growing distance along with his body.

“…Mathers. I can hazard a guess that this creature is now an elemental dragon… actually, this is the first elemental dragon I’ve seen, but I am bereft of an explanation on how someone that devoured a Trihexa Cell can turn into this.” Sirzechs gave his thoughts as he watched the rest of his Peerage join the battle against this… almost unfair creature.

Like a party of adventures facing off against a monster much higher level than them as the other heads showed their abilities.

The brown one manipulated the terrain, shooting shrapnels of minerals at Okita.

The aquatic blue one shot high-pressure water jets at Mathers in the distance, the Bishop barely teleporting out of the way.

The ice-blue one blasted a cone of freezing blue light that turned most of the land into an icy wasteland when hunting for Enku, one of Sirzechs’ Pawns. Enku, the red Qilin, turned into red mist, trying to avoid the nuclear winter breath threatening to turn him into a popsicle.

Everyone could not help but drop their jaws at the sight of this creature.

“…Uhhh, how strong was Orochi before he turned into… this thing?” Saji called out from behind.

Okita scoffed, “Well, Yamata No Orochi was originally known for his poisonous blood and his ability to breath fire and poisonous blood. Honestly… I did inquire Susanoo about the battle long ago for his recount of the legendary battle… It wasn’t as bad as this.”

“Oh… That doesn’t explain how it can end up like this. I know that Stjarna could use multiple breaths but…” Issei put in his two cents, though he was unsure how Orochi could end up this… jacked.

“Another case would be Diodora Astaroth.” Azazel gave his input. “But his evolved transformations were under unique conditions, and it didn’t give him this much power and abilities.”

“We have fought this Orochi to the best of our capabilities, but it was evident that we needed your presence. However, all communications were jammed, so we couldn’t reach you. Hence the reason why everyone is unaware of this monstrosity wreaking havoc,” Okita continued. “We did manage to receive unexpected reinforcements, however.”

On the screen was a golden-armored warrior entering the fray.

“Sairaorg Bael joined the fight with some of his Peerage. Orochi’s size and display of power was bound to attract attention… But Sairaorg underestimated it.”

The vicious, toxic-purple head covered in sharp, razor spines spat a corrosive, sludge-like cloud at the golden warrior.

To everyone’s shock, his armor melted off, the warrior skinned of golden armor and fell. Then, the golden armor transformed into a large golden lion with wounds and burns over its body.

“For your information – long story short, the golden armor was Sairaorg Bael’s sole pawn, as well as the Longinus Regulus Nemea.”

The room went into a brief murmur until Mathers continued his explanation.

“Sairaorg was poisoned severely. He would’ve died, but thanks to the research conducted on the Trihexa plague, we managed to stabilize him. Orochi’s poison was severe even before he transformed into this abominable freak of nature, able to poison even the soul. This is a bit worse and we found traces of spliced DNA into the toxic genome. We are trying to treat them to the best of our medical knowledge, but we will need some aid from more potent healing arts. In the end, the best we could do was retreat.”

All of Sirzechs’ Peerage on the screen flew away from the rampaging monster as Mathers turned off the screen.

“…Ddraig. By your estimate, do you suppose that this version of Yamata no Orochi has reached the Heavenly Dragon level?” Sirzechs inquired.

Issei manifested his Boosted Gear, in which the large green gem glowed and the Welsh Dragon’s voice was heard.

[I have no conclusive answer since I wasn’t there to gauge him. From what I’ve seen, this Orochi wasn’t even using his full power.]

Saitama looked up in thought, “Orochi… Orochi…” He muttered, repeating those words, trying to remember something.

“…Saitamai?” Genos called out.

“…I think I fought against an Orochi before…” Saitama stated.

Everyone turned to the baldy in the room.

“…You fought Yamata No Orochi during work?” Issei asked with complete disbelief, shared by all as everyone made faces of incredulity.

“No, no… Ah, it was another guy with the name Orochi.” Saitama nodded.

“…Oh.” Genos nodded. “The Monster King.”

Issei perked at the name.

“Oh, ohhhhh! You mean that one guy from the Monster Organization?” Issei recalled the story.

The girls blinked when they suddenly recalled one of the stories Issei regaled him regarding the tales of Saitama, the tales Genos and Black told him in bedtime stories.

“I think we are moving off topic. You can tell me about it later. Okita, please continue.” Azazel chuckled.

“What was peculiar was how it stopped rampaging after erasing the house with its fire breath,” Okita continued. “It suddenly turned around after the deed was done. A portal opened and the creature calmly retreated through it… which confounds me. Orochi is known to be feral. Rabid. It wouldn’t stop with just one building burned down.”

More questions popped out upon what they learned, descending the room into silence. Eventually, Sirzechs broke it by a question.

“…How are Surtr and Bahamut’s conditions?” Sirzechs’ tone gave the slightest hint of concern.

“Surtr flew a long distance. He suffered multiple lacerations from the wind breath attack. Bahamut is suffering from burns, but they’ll recover.” Mathers provided.

“Sairaorg Bael and Regulus Nemea, on the other hand… are suffering from critical condition.”

Issei grew pensive.

“The poison infecting him is still present and we’re trying to mitigate the symptoms. However, what was peculiar was that Regulus swore that the poison reminded him of the Nemean Hydra of old for some reason…”

“…The Nemean Hydra?” Rias was the one to ask this time.

“The Nemean Hydra. A dreadful creature with a poison that contains actual god-slaying properties.” The Bishop continued. “It is far more frightening than the popular notion of it depicted. The Nemea Hydra is just as frightening as a dragon, if not more frightening. The poison of the hydra killed Hercules at the end of his legend almost instantly. Just from wearing a robe secretly coated with poison.”

Everyone paused when they heard Hercules and killed put together into one sentence.

“He was killed by the poison?” Millicas asked.

“Yes. Assassinated by Hera, Zeus’ wife.” The Bishop nodded. “The last time I heard, the soul of the Nemean Hydra was imprisoned in Tartarus so that God couldn’t make it into a Sacred Gear. To hear that Orochi has the same poison… no, it might be even stronger in this case due to the Trihexa’s Cells. It is thanks to the emergency research conducted on the Trihexa Death Plague, the name of a temporary placeholder, that we were able to stabilize Sairaorg and Regulus. Now we just need a potent healer to help expunge the poison out of their souls.”

Sirzechs hummed in contemplation on their reasoning.

“In the end, we still failed.” Okita added. “We will accept any punishment from you for our failure to save our Queen.”

Sirzechs drew out a silent breath. For there to be something so dangerous that not even his Peerage could stave off… The enemy was adapting and evolving. They were not as stagnant as Sirzechs believed.

“…Is there a word on the status of Lord Bael?”

As if answering Sirzechs’ first question, the door was opened, revealing one Mordax Bael stepping inside, garnering looks from everyone else.

“Mordax.” Sirzechs greeted with a neutral tone, “I was expecting your father… Why are you wearing the Clan Lord’s mantle?”

Sirzechs noticed Mordax’s attire.

Instead of the traditional style, he was wearing a clan head’s mantle, an illustrious uniform that signifies the highest standing of a noble within a Clan.

“I’m afraid it is ‘Lord Bael’ for you, Lord Lucifer.” Mordax retorted with a polite yet somewhat smug tone. “Did you not hear the news?”

“I am preoccupied at the moment. Please, do update me,” Sirzechs asked with a narrowed look.

“Hm, I suppose it’s been kept under the wraps to prevent panic.” Mordax nodded, “My father, Zekram Bael has been missing for the last couple of days, and I have taken it upon myself to resume his duty… At least until my father is found.”

“Wait. What? Zekram is missing?!” Zeoticus, who had been sitting on one of the chairs, stood up in alarm. “Didn’t you tell me that your father was out for a walk the last time we spoke about him? How could he be missing? Is our security that terrible?” the Gremory patriarch asked with surprise and irritation at the fact that a Clan Head was missing.

Mordax’s features nearly creased at the mention.

“Well… We found out…”

“Wasn’t he with security? Who reported his absence? Show me where he was last seen in this instance! I cannot believe that he went missing like this without any prior notice to any of the Clan Lords! Why haven’t I and the others been informed of this earlier?! We have the right to know!” Zeoticus demanded.

“All of us are just as confused as you are, Lord Gremory!” Mordax ended up raising his own voice. However, he was inwardly relieved when his voice at least stopped Zeoticus’ rants.

“…That doesn’t explain why you have withheld information from us until now. Do you have any idea how serious of a breach of security this is? For one of us to go missing? Especially Zekram? And yet you stroll in with such… confidence… and… smarm. What are you hiding?”

Mordax stared at Zeoticus, his own visage nearly flinching. He had underestimated how important Zekram was in the current politics.

…And how perceptive Zeoticus was in regards to procedure.

Mordax then sighed, having regathered his thoughts, “…I admit I was in error not to notify you and everyone else about this incident, but I need to prioritize my clan’s safety. If it is worth anything, I have notified some other members of the 72 Pillars before. Like I said, I have to control the flow of information in order not to incite panic among the masses.” He then straightened himself up in order to keep his momentum, “Nevertheless, let us address the reason why the head of Bael clan is summoned here, shall we?”

Sirzechs then replied, “Indeed. I believe the law and the court have decided that my Queen shall be kept within Bael territory, and considering you are now the acting head of the clan, her safety is within your responsibility.”

“Responsibility or not, there is absolutely nothing I have that can stop that hulking apocalypse that slithered into my borders. None of us could have predicted that.”

Technically, Mordax was not lying, of everything that Euclid could have come up with, it had been an titanic eight-headed dragon to serve as a diversion, one of elemental armageddon.

“That’s… true.” Sirzechs admitted. “It is a threat that requires the presence of one or more Satans to quell, I have learned. But the jamming of magical communication is a worry I do want to address.”

“The reason why you’re not there to help your Peerage.” Mordax nodded, “A grave incident, Lord Lucifer. But back to the reason I am here. As of now, we have deemed Grayfia Lucifuge as… missing or dead. Most likely dead in my opinion.”

“…What did you say?” The pressure in the room increased at Sirzechs’ aura leaking out.

“Her prison-house was burned down. And we couldn’t detect signs of teleportation magic being used.” Mordax continued. “…But we couldn’t find her ashes anywhere. If she is alive, well, may I ask if she contacted you?”

“…No, she didn’t.” Sirzechs grimaced. His hand was nearly crushing the armrest of his chair.

Mordax then nodded, “Most unfortunate, then. It is more likely that your Queen has perished in the chaos. But if she isn’t… we will have no choice but to brand her as a traitor.”

“What did you say?” Sirzechs was inwardly furious at the statement.

“Please think about it, m’lord.” Mordax reasoned, “Assuming she is indeed alive, then she would be here to explain her situation, would she not? Correct me if I’m wrong… Innocents have no need to run.”

“She might have been held from arriving here!” Sona ended up commenting.

“And pray tell, by what, Lady Sona?” Mordax eyed the young heiress, who could not find anything to return with. The Bael then continued, “Forgive me for getting ahead of myself, but nobody here has any evidence of her innocence or vice-versa. My only advice is to prepare for the worst.”

“…But to move onto the other reason I am here, I am here to request an appointment to discuss the damages to my territory. We do agree that Euclid has too much freedom to send whatever he has without restriction. The matter with Grayfia will be touched upon at the next clan meeting. Have a good day, my liege.”

Mordax bowed before Sirzechs before pivoting around, returning through the door with his small entourage.

Sirzechs eyes glared murderous daggers at Mordax’s back, his stoic visage crumbled into a face of pure, glowering ire the moment the doors closed.

“…This is dubious. Everything seems… Too convenient.” Zeoticus summarized the obvious.

“…Indeed.” Sirzechs grimaced, his emotions leaking through his features.

Mordax becoming the head of the Bael clan under their notice was against decorum, riddled with suspicion.

“And we still haven’t heard from Lord Lucifuge.” Zeoticus added.

“…Euclid has her.”

“Whoa, sonnovah-!” Issei jumped at the familiar-looking ghost manifesting right next to him.

Apparently, Asia, Irina and some girls who were in the proximity of the sudden new arrival, also gasped and jumped in surprise – spooked like Issei was.

A familiar voice interrupted them. Phasing into the material world, the visage of Lord Lucifuge’s ghost appeared before Sirzechs. Everyone gave the deceased Lord Lucifuge their full attention, all eyes on the spectral form. The ghost noticed the mild glare Issei was giving him before he gave a quick apologetic nod around.

“Lord Lucifuge! You… where have you been?!” Zeoticus rose from his chair.

“Forgive me for not being here sooner. I was preoccupied tracking my daughter, but I couldn’t get close. Euclid and his mages are now necromancers. They will sense me if I approach them carelessly.”

Sirzechs’ face returned to its normal calm, “Please, tell me that you found her location.” He pleaded.

“They teleported away. Unfortunately, I cannot do more. I have not adapted to my undead condition enough to face my son without fear of being bound to his will. But I bring dire news. Euclid is colluding with the opposing nobles. Mordax Bael… he is the most likely candidate. The guards assigned to Grayfia turned against us and killed my familiar host right in his mansion. I had to hide in the corpse lest Euclid will sense me.”

Everyone exchanged glances, noticing the small sense of victory from the noble when he declared himself the Clan Head.

“I know there are many nobles who do not approve of the recent changes in the Underworld… But what could Euclid have possibly offered to turn them against us like this?” Venelana wondered, considering it was her brother who might be colluding with a terrorist.

“Probably something like Yamata no Orochi.” Vali spoke out. “I mean, look at the thing. It turned into an Avatar of the elements, assuming that they’re smart enough to want something like that.”

“If that is the case, then we should bring Mordax Bael in for questioning!” Rias then spoke. The young heiress had reigned her temper long enough since she heard of her sister-in-law’s disappearance.

“Mordax will more than likely dodge and waste our time, Rias. Time that we can use to locate Grayfia and investigate how deep the corruption has gone.” Venelana replied.

“This…!” Rias gnashed her teeth.

It was like Valper Galilei all over again, the Holy Sword disaster that nearly cost her and Sona’s life.

Sirzechs recalled that moment where Issei’s darker half ranted about his arrogance and inability to manage his people… the upper class. As someone who allowed Diodora’s insanity to take so many lives, Sirzechs had little room to refute… now that his own people are turning against him.

“We need allies… we cannot rely on the Demons… well, half of them at least. Oh, how I wish I have the power of Wish Magic in these situations.” Sirzechs almost joked with slight envy.

“…Should we ask?” Rias asked.

“I don’t see why not. Azazel and Michael do not have that much jurisdiction in the Underworld unless it involves the Khaos Brigade and GOD. And this is more of an internal matter.” Venelena explained their options.

“We can try asking Ermias and Ersi to help out. I mean, I won the challenge they gave me and all.” Issei said with a raised hand, while glancing at Saitama, who simply nodded.

“They will most likely refuse given our first impression.” Sirzechs hummed.

“What about Eistheth’s side?” Issei asked. “Murderous death plagues are outside their expertise but this is different.”

Everyone exchanged glances at the prospect.

“…One way to find out.” Sirzechs decided to test their luck.

---

Within the sculpted palace floating in the skies of Lilith, two Demon Lords sat at the balcony watching over the capital being rebuilt by their brethren.

“It still amazes how much has changed since I was in Hell… Time moves much faster down there. It felt like a hundred centuries moved on despite it being a few millennia.”

“Peace is not stagnation for those who know how to move forward.” Eistheth answered across him, one leg across the other.

“I am out of touch with these timelines. The concept of this… internet fascinates me. The code language confounds me, however.”

“And then you discovered the humans’ Amazon. You were ensnared in their scheme and wasted a bit of your savings.”

Eistheth smiled with a tease.

“Modern advertisements are too strong. I could not resist.” Dracula smirked.

There was a small silence as they watched the Capital of Lilith. Philomath’s kraken-hydra behemoth sang a whale-like bellow, a chimeric song of primal beauty greeting Lilith.

Vines were already covering the buildings in a more controlled fashion, the citizens wanting to keep the gifts of this Demon God.

“Is it really true?” Dracula asked.

“What is?”

“…Did you really seal the deed? With him?” Dracula asked.

Eistheth looked away as a Cheshire smile spread across her lips.

“…How did you do it? I was surprised when I heard your age but to think that you would…”

“I might have the power to charm the Minds and hearts of all, but taking him takes a different skill.” She winked.

“I still cannot believe it. I am still in disbelief that you came out of Valqar.”

Eistheth giggled at Dracula’s sense of humor.

“How are you faring in your new duties?”

“Your customs are a bit difficult to grow accustomed to, but interesting. The Menyara Tahkum…”

“The state of emotion that consumes independence.”

“Yes, its accurate description of surrender to an overwhelming emotion and how it destroys all reasoning, a subtle nihilistic engine of malice. To give in to a singular emotion, will, or idea, the state of complete brokenness… a drive that can compel the mind to do great evil under the belief it is for a Divine will, greater purpose, imagined wrongs or addicted to vengeful emotions. I am intrigued how it describes it as an emotional drug, an addiction where any attack of that belief would lead to violent retaliation. And how difficult it is to break out of it.”

“Michael was in that state. And he paid the price for it.”

“Yes… I am still not yet a proper lord. My people are not demons yet. And I have so much to do to weed out the ilk of my descendants before I can induct them into your culture.” Dracula replied with a silent sigh.

“Yes, it is a shame. Have you found out who is still supplying the drug made from Vampire blood?” Eistheth then asked.

“The Embrace? Unfortunately, not yet. He does not operate in my territory anymore… I do believe that he is in the Underworld, however.”

“Please don’t secretly send out your hunting parties into another land’s borders.”

There was a small silence between them.

“I am surprised that you haven’t used your ability on me when we’re alone. I know of your Tribe’s history.” Dracula began again.

“The Lord of the Naamah is not a position for swindlers. Or vile temptresses. Buuuuuuuuuuut… would you do it if I were to show you the pictures?”

Dracula flinched as he turned to Naamah, seeing her playful smile.

She paused as she looked over the balcony, seeing a familiar group approaching her.

“…Haven’t you asked for enough? We are allies, not your personal solution to all your woes.” Dracula called out to Sirzechs.

The Crimson Satan had arrived with Azazel, Saitama, Genos, Issei and Vali.

“No offense, but for allies, you haven’t really helped a lot.” Issei decided to snark.

“I may not have done much, but I am not obligated to if asked. Let me dare to assume… You were attacked by a monstrosity that defied expectations without warning. One of your own is missing, and you request our aid in this matter despite having the resources to recover that person.”

The other party were not surprised that Dracula knew about their intentions. Sirzechs exchanged glances with everyone before he spoke up, “It is as you predicted, Lord Dracula. We would like you to lend us your power to find and bring my Queen back.”

“We could use our resources, but there are political barriers at play… and we don’t know where Euclid’s base is. We’re hoping your overpowered Demon magic can assist us somehow,” Azazel added.

“Hmmmm,” the vampire hummed, “Ermias’ Wish Magic has limits. And their bases are protected against such Divinations and tracking… the conventional ones at least. The Great Enemy has blessed their fortresses to be untraceable, their powers useless even, but if it is to find someone you cherish, however… someone that wants to be found…”

“What kind of Limits does his Wish Magic have?” Issei asked out of curiosity.

“There are natural limits at play so that it won’t break down reality. For example, you cannot wish that two plus two equals fish. Imagine the chaos that would wring.” Dracula explained.

Issei was starting to get the idea now.

“The Wish must be within the possibility itself, achievable through supernatural means and even the scientific. How much authority one could exert over reality depends on the power of the user. It is still magic, possessing its own rules and requiring an ample power source to fulfill your desire.” Dracula continued.

“You also need a vivid understanding of how reality functions, how magic works, visualized context, and how to parse your wish. Otherwise, the wish will backfire.” Eistheth explained. “If you want your desires met, you need to earn it. Be the force that guides your destiny, not give it up to an nonexistent entity called chance.”

Everyone started to understand how the Wish Magic functions now.

“But enough about Ermy. He and the others siding with him won’t help you. However, we can this time,” Eistheth smiled. “After all, I must compensate for my inability, especially last time.”

Eistheth raised her hand at them. Before, it was completely instantaneous when they were teleported without warning.

Now, they could see a shimmer covering them for a split second before their environment shifted.

They were inside the same room Ermias brought Issei and the leaders to before.

Only they were alone with Eistheth. Dracula did not come with them.

“My magic is not as refined as Ermy’s when it comes to versatility, but I am lethal in my expertise.”

“And what might that be?” Issei asked.

“…Murder.”

Everyone stared at Eistheth’s simple answer. Azazel wanted to retort, but he suddenly paused just before he uttered the first word, then his face went into contemplating expression. The others were either raising their eyebrows, mildly disturbed for some reason or completely silent.

“…Are you joking?” Vali was the first one to ask. The first to dare to ask.

“We are peacekeepers. Death is also a tool of peace.” Eistheth replied without missing a beat.

“That’s morbid.” Issei retorted.

“It is a concept of a unique application of my abilities. Do you know that there are two stages that define our limits and understanding?” Eistheth asked everyone.

“…I think I heard something about it…” Azazel muttered. “But all I have are vague euphemisms and allegories, and something about achieving enlightenment. Is it godhood?”

“Godhood… Well, Godhood is a pseudo transcendence, a state of being that allows one to enter the Deva realm after fulfilling a set of conditions. But it is not the stage of True Godhood, like Saitama.” Eistheth shook her head. “It is but a taste, for they are still bound by their limits. The two stages are Aspect and Concept. The Aspect Stage is when one is still tied to the fundamental rules of the universe, using the elements as nature intended to its most natural possibility. The Concept stage… It is when one breaks free from such fundamental limits. The latter allows us to apply our own unique perspectives, our version of our abilities into our powers, our magics. And perform feats that defy the rules of magic and reality.”

Everyone listened to Eistheth’s lecture, enraptured by her kind’s view on magic.

“…I think I understand your meaning…” Azazel rubbed his goatee.

“If you want an example… The Great Red. The big creature was born into the Concept stage, a simple one at that, manipulating the distance between reality and dreams and vice versa, bringing what should not be into existence…” Eistheth explained.

Issei and Vali were intrigued by this unique understanding of the powers at play, a path that was there yet no one tried to understand and decipher until now.

“So you’re saying that anyone can achieve this?” Vali asked.

“Only if they reach a certain level of skill after attaining enough power to defy the limits of the world. Dragons can instinctively achieve this with luck and effort.” Eistheth replied. “Saitama also achieved this, though… Ermy explained it to me. It’s… a bit silly though.” Eistheth giggled into her hand.

Saitama pouted when he noticed that the demoness’ eyes glanced at him – his head, more like.

“…He just brute forces everything. That’s it.”

Everyone simply stared at Eistheth’s answer until Issei replied, “…That’s basically Dad’s life story in less than ten words. Elaborate.”

“Imagine… becoming so powerful you can force whatever you want to happen through sheer mental, spiritual, and physical will. That is his concept. Ridiculous, yet he achieved it. I’m not sure whether to be stupefied or impressed. He can do almost anything. Has the potential to be omnipotent in the truest sense. I’m not kidding. It’s ludicrous. He’s at the point where he can just brute force reality into submission just because.”

“…Are you joking?” Issei asked the question this time.

“I asked that question as well. You cannot be an Overlord without an extraordinary level of insight. We learn to see things others cannot see with effort and study, and Ermy said this to me three times to us behind doors. Saitama is literally beyond the reach of reality at this point. He is that absurd. Stepping over the laws of our world like the soils under his boots.”

“That sounds….” Azazel trailed.

“…So? Your point?” Saitama finished.

Everyone turned to Saitama, all eyes on him.

“…What? She makes it sound like I’m special.” Saitama elaborated.

The eyes of Issei’s and Vali’s turned owlish.

“…And you are not?” Issei asked.

“What’s the difference?”

They could not believe the hypocrisy coming from his lips as if he had no idea of the feats he pulled.

“…Not going to dignify that. Anyways, the point is, it is a stage of magic many barely touched. Boost and Divide also being them. Dragons have the potential to instinctively achieve this stage if they have the skill after reaching a certain stage of power. That is where we come in. One of my friends will craft you an item to help you find your wife.” Eistheth then went to the point, pivoted around her heel. “…Follow me.”

To be Continued

---

Omake: Millicas’ Observation Journal Case 1: Koneko Toujo

“I’ll be in your care, Koneko-senpai!”

Within the ORC building’s office, Rias’ office, warmth filled Koneko’s chest at the sight of her junior, Millicas Gremory bowing to her with eyes of utter respect and anticipation. No longer was she the youngest of the Peerage, now a senior with a real junior.

Originally, she prepared herself to be Issei’s senior when Rias somehow miraculously inducted him into her Peerage, but that path was closed.

“Hm, likewise, Millicas.” Despite her usual stoic expression, nobody could ignore the pleasantness of her tone. And the swishing of her tail.

“…Ise-senpai, are you coming too?”

The Rook turned to the older boy, who nodded and patted Millicas’ back.

“Wanna see how you Devils work in my spare time. Besides, we’re dating, and I volunteered to keep an eye on the little guy here. Can’t have another Kokabiel fiasco happening under our watch again.”

“Thank you for coming, Ise-senpai!” Millicas beamed, prompting Issei to chuckle while ruffling his red locks.

Rias then spoke up from her desk, “I thank you for deciding to look after Millicas, but do take care. Ise, Koneko, I’ll leave Millicas in your hands.” the aforementioned two nodded, then Rias turned and smiled to her nephew, “Millicas, be sure to pay attention and learn. You are now a member of my peerage, so I expect you to gain your own clients in the near future.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best, big-sis Rias!”

Millicas replied, then the trio were teleported away towards Koneko’s client for the night via magic circle.

Issei got an idea on how Devils work from Kiyome and Tsubasa.

There was no barter for the soul since Devils do not need human souls… in modern times.

There were accounts of Devils harvesting human souls for purposes unknown in ancient times when Issei delved into the Grigori’s libraries in his studies of all things ghost, ghastly forbidden magic and unnecessary cruelty which the books never went into detail, but that was in the past.

Around them now was a normal room.

It was dim, the only light being the computer monitor. Issei squinted his eyes at the client turning around in his chair.

“Ah, Koneko-chan, I… wait… Issei?”

“You’re her client?” Issei pointed back at him.

Koneko blinked between the two, “Ise-senpai, do you know Mr. Morisawa?”

“We play online games together. Motohama introduced us at our first offline meeting a while ago in our hangouts.” Issei then turned to Morisawa, “…Actually, how long have you dabbled with satanic pacts?”

“Well, I’m her regular satanic summoner.” Morisawa said with a small grin, then his eyes finally registered Millicas, who stood a little behind Issei. “Oh? And who’s the little guy?”

Koneko gestured at the young heir, “He is my junior who’s going to observe tonight. Ise-senpai also tagged along to watch.”

Millicas then stepped forward before giving a small bow, “Good evening, it’s a pleasure to meet you! I am Millicas Gremory!”

Morisawa nodded, “Hoh, this kid’s polite, I like him already. Anyway, sit anywhere you like, just be careful with the books and merch around. I’ll grab us some drinks.”

It was a few minutes later when Koneko briefed the observers about the nature of her job.

“…You’re his gaming partner?” Issei quirked a brow.

“Nnn.” The Nekoshou nodded, “Sometimes I also put some cosplay on for his photoshoot.”

“…What kind of cosplay?” Issei asked with a slightly narrowed look.

“Nothing risque, don’t worry, senpai.” Koneko assuaged with a small smile, feeling happy about her boyfriend’s concern towards her.

Unknown to them, their young charge had been looking around the room. The entire room was pretty much filled with shelves and stacks filled with comic books, figurines, and other merchandise that he had never seen before. In fact, Millicas could recognize some of the collections – they were rather similar to what he had seen from Rias’ own room.

His eyes then trailed towards a cupboard at the corner that was slightly ajar. His devil eyes could perceive that there was another set of collections.

“Millicas?”

The boy blinked and turned to see Issei addressing him, “Ah, forgive me. I lost myself when I looked around the room. What did I miss?”

Issei simply snorted a little, understanding Millicas’ childlike wonder at a new environment, “Well, we just discussed Koneko’s job for tonight. Turns out Morisawa was just bored and this is their regular gaming night.”

“Oh… So Koneko-senpai got to play games while on the job? How envious!” Millicas remarked.

Issei laughed, with Koneko giggling in amusement, “Well, a job’s still a job, after all. For now, let’s watch and we’ll see if there’s anything else coming up, okay?”

Millicas nodded, and soon the mood in the room lightened up with the boy listening and watching everyone talking about the new game Morisawa and Koneko had been playing as of late. However, his eyes soon returned to the cupboard at the corner of the room.

Issei was engrossed with the game Koneko and Morisawa played that he did not realize that Millicas had crawled his way towards the open cupboard. The boy took a book, scrunching his eyebrows in confusion at the cover, before he decided to flip through the pages.

“Aaargh, waaaaaaaaargh!” Millicas quickly dropped the book to the floor as if he just touched something utterly repulsive. He shot up to stand before he immediately blasted the book with his Power of Destruction.

Everyone jumped at the boy’s outburst, and Morisawa saw in horror that Millicas just finished disintegrating his ‘secret’ collections.

“MY COLLECTIOOOOONSSS!”

“Whoa, what’s going on with you, Millicas!?” Issei asked in bewilderment.

Millicas, with his face paled in distraught, took a few deep breaths to calm himself before replying, “It’s…. I’m sorry for the disturbance, Ise-senpai, Koneko-senpai….. B-but they won’t hurt you, or anyone, anymore.”

The boy let out a wry grin – he looked as if he just battled a fight of his lifetime and came up on top, as he gave a shaky thumbs-up.

Issei and Koneko shared confused glances, then they noted a stray paper slowly fell to the floor – the remnants of the destruction Millicas had wrought upon. It was a magazine paper depicting a naked woman on her fours with an equally naked man pulling her hair from behind, the woman’s expression was a mixture of pain and ecstasy.

“Oh…” Issei exchanged another glance with Koneko before they sent Millicas their own thumbs-ups,

“Well done, Millicas.”

“Good job.”

“No, no, it’s not!” Morisawa wailed, futilely trying to savage the remains of his wardrobe, or what was left inside. “You maniac! You’ve ruined them all! Damn you, goddamn you all to hell!” He cried while pounding the floor with his fist in despair with tears of not-blood.

Issei and Koneko shared yet another glance, before they agreed to simply ushered Millicas and themselves out of the door, leaving Morisawa with his despair behind.

“…Okay, so that happened.” Issei remarked, “What do you think of your first day, Millicas?”

“Uhhhh… should I be worried that all of my clients will be like him?” Millicas asked.

Issei and Koneko stopped.

“…We’ll show you how to deal with them when the time comes.”

Thus, the first night ended. Although Koneko made a mental note to make sure that Morisawa did not remember what happened – she did not really want to lose a regular over something trivial.

---

Yes, so Euclid got his real objective, rekindling Ise x Tsubasa, a quick look how Djall and Hero Faction are doing, more conspiracies and the gang decides to turn to the demons again for help.

Also, while I am happy that Reversal is still receiving a good reception, please be patient as I have established a scheduling pattern between NEO and Reversal. The primary reason is due to the spoiling nature of Reversal’s contents, so please bear with it.