Issei just wanted to eat the high-class food at the buffet table, even though all of the glass in the ballroom was cracked to oblivion. However, when he reached the wine-stained buffet table, about to take a bite out of the infamous shrimp hors d'oeuvre, someone approached him.
His mouth remained open when a devil girl arrived, one seemingly older than Rias, enough to be a college student.
"Greetings, Red Dragon Emperor." The female devil had a hime-style bowl cut hair and sharp eyes, a rare kind of beauty in a low cut dress of shining night, in glass high heel pumps. "How have you enjoyed our party so far?"
"Uh, hi?" Issei chewed on the shrimp appetizer. He hummed from the exquisite taste before he swallowed. "...I'm sorry, who are you though?"
"Ah, forgive my impudence. My name is Matilda Furfur, heir of the Furfur Clan. Would you honor me with a dance?" the woman curtseyed.
"...Furfur?" Issei asked.
"I suppose you haven't heard of our clan. And yes, our clan name is indeed Furfur."
Issei tilted his head slightly while shrugging, trying to appear to be entertained, "Okay. So… What's your clan's power?"
The name Furfur sounded like something a chuuni-furry would name their kids, though he believed saying it to the beauty in front of him would spark an infuriating outrage from the noble woman.
"Fufu... It is simple. The aspect of my power is the power of lightning. Demonic Lightning." Matilda replied with a hint of pride and amusement.Issei quirked a brow, "Wait, demon lightning? I know someone that can use Holy Lightning so… I didn't think there's someone that can use the dark side aspect of it."
He wondered if he could get the two to engage in a duel of lightnings to have a Jedi and Sith like duel mostly for fun.
Matilda replied with a hint of recognition in her tone, "Ah, yes. Akeno Himejima, correct? I would like to engage her in a duel, but I outclass her at the moment as her senior in the rankings."
"I see..." Issei nodded along.
"My clan is of Earl status. I am still struggling to surpass the others, to my embarrassment. It is a shame that the fame of being in the upper twenty is not as strong as that of the top ten in the Rating Games…. Anyway, would you like to accompany me for a dance?" She asked. "I can teach you how to move with the grace of a noble along the way, if you want. I suspect that you might be a fast learner considering your bout with Thor's progeny."
"I can see where you're going with this and what you want by the end of this, honestly." Issei replied with a small shrug.
"And what would that be…?" She asked wryly.
"Yeah, I'm not going to be a Devil. I already told that to Rias and Sona."
Matilda's eyes twitched ever so slightly.
"Oh... Them. Are you not attracted to older women, then?" She asked as she leaned forward a little, almost showing the ample silken skin of her big breasts. "My Peerage is all women, by the way."
"Tempting, tempting. But I'm not your lesser man." Issei tossed another shrimp appetizer into his mouth and chewed.
"...Ahem."
Issei did not need to turn around to see Rias and Sona glaring at him and shooting lasers out of their eyes at the Furfur girl.
"Ah, the rising stars themselves. Please go away, your senior is trying to pick up a good man." Matilda waved her hand as if to shoo the younger heiresses away like flies.
"Unfortunately, I would like to notify you that we have the 'first dibs' as modern humans say. There is no room for one more." Rias harrumphed in return.
"Oh, really? You must not be trying hard enough if he still managed to repel your advances, which is obvious that you're a 'second rate hack' as the modern humans would say."
"Excuse me?"
Issei already started backing away from the lit dynamite as he swiped another plate full of Devil tuna appetizers and swiveled around, only to see a smiling noble man standing in his way.
"...Hi?" Issei looked left and right, starting to see more and more devils approaching him.
He did not like the looks of this.
To his rescue, Koneko, Akeno, and Ravel intercepted the devils just when the chaos started.
"Red Dragon Emperor, I am L-"
"No, Red Dragon Emperor, I am of the Sabnok clan, and I wish to invite you-"
"No, I saw him first!"
"I did!"
Issei stood as a spectator of it all, the chaos growing more and more out of control when the Kings started pushing each other out of the way.
It eventually devolved into an all out brawl as Issei and the girls slowly backed away from the chaos.
"...Wow. I don't even know any of these people." Issei commented, impressed.
"They are Kings from the other less-known houses. I think you outdid yourself with your stunt this time, Issei." Akeno smiled amused.
"Didn't think it'd get this bad." Issei replied as he saw someone's tooth fly out of the chaos and struck a wine glass, breaking it with a loud bullet-whistling crack.
"Yes, and this time Rias has no time to intercept all of the invitation letters and burn them." Koneko added.
"Wait, she did what?" Issei asked.
"Yes, she made sure to burn all of the invitations since your bout with Diodora. You should've seen her, though, flying around and collecting every last envelope before erasing them with a satisfied smile." Akeno giggled.
Issei always wondered about that as he imagined the funny scene of the heiress trying to monopolize him to herself.
"...'Sup."
The four turned around to see Saitama walking past them. The man already entered the chaos, and started casually karate-chopping their heads one by one until their faces kissed the floor out cold. It was so absurd how he easily knocked them out like he was taking out the trash as he walked back to them.
He noticed Saitama was holding a plate full of exotic-looking appetizers in his other hand. One of them looked like a crispy scorpion stacked with cheese, a small slice of garlic, and a cracker, all shishkebab'ed by a toothpick.
"So, how are you feeling?" Saitama asked as he plopped the scorpion snack into his mouth.
"Good for someone who just became a lightning rod." Issei shrugged, "Definitely gonna train more after Modi roasted my ass… and I need to address the gaping weakness to magnetism."
Issei wondered if there was a spell for that, or if he should practice lightning magic to find a counter. It was an excellent measure against those that rely on metal weapons and armor, even if the armor was crafted from a dragon's corpse.
"That's good to hear, but I'm asking about…." Saitama suddenly glanced around awkwardly, noticing the other girls around his son, "...Her."
"Who? Tsubasa?" He asked.
"...Yeah… So…"
"We worked it out. It's tough, but… I don't know. Honesty, I don't know how to express the feeling." Issei then shook his head to dispel further thoughts, "...Anyway, it's complicated. But what about you? I noticed that… you're acquainted with a valkyrie. She's a valkyrie, right?"
"You mean Rossweisse?"
"What's your relationship with her?" Issei asked as he started throwing appetizers in his mouth. He liked the high class flavor.
"Oh, we're friends." Saitama waved off.
"...Really?"
"Really. Met her during a small skirmish in… In… Some kind of forest filled with people with long-ears. She always complains about not getting a boyfriend, though. Anyway, I found someone that can help your friend's magical nightmares."
Saitama looked behind him. He stepped aside to reveal a unique individual to Issei.
There were no words to properly describe him.
His entire body was like a shimmering mirage made from sand, his form constantly blurring as imaginary sand made of light green ethereal matter constantly cascaded from his robes. The four could not distinguish his features, his face nothing more than that of a mannequin's hiding behind an abstracting screen.
"His name is… uh…"
"It is nice to meet your family, Saitama." The newcomer stepped in, "...And allow me to reiterate myself. I am Morpheus, the Greek God of Dreams. Your father aided my kin when they were in dire straights. I am glad to offer my services since my domain is currently in… dire need of renovation."
His voice was just as shimmering as his appearance, like an imaginary echo that left a trail that one could barely notice.
"...I can't believe that your dad actually brought a god." Koneko gave her input, which Issei simply returned with a knowing shrug.
"Would you kindly lead me to the patient? Such cases that lead to death usually means that someone is invading another's domain of dreams. I can help shield your friend's sanctuary from invaders if you allow me," Morpheus asked the catgirl, who happened to be the closest one next to him.
Koneko blinked at the god's request, but she nodded nonetheless, "Y-Yes; this way, please."
The Rook looked at Akeno, who nodded as they walked towards Gasper. The boy was with Millicas. He looked like he was about to doze off or sleep on his feet, his eyelids evidently heavy.
"Gasper." Akeno called.
"Y-Yes?!" Gasper immediately replied with eyes forced open.
Millicas and Gasper turned to their direction.
"...Alright, I'll leave it to you. Gotta go walk around and keep an eye on the folks." Saitama waved off as he left them, throwing another appetizer to his mouth.
"Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Saitama." Akeno nodded.
"Thank me later once everything's okay." Saitama simply waved off while walking away.
Gasper blinked as he gazed at the strange man that was more mirage than man.
"So this is the patient… I am Morpheus of Olympus. Your friends have asked for my assistance with your dilemma. You are…?"
"G-Gasper Vladi…. Sir." The dhampir meekly replied.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, young Vladi. Now, if you would allow me…." Morpheus knelt on a knee and placed a finger on Gasper's forehead.
Gasper slowly closed his eyes as he collapsed on the floor.
"...What are you doing?" Issei asked why the God of Dreams knocked Gasper out cold on the spot.
"I am curious. There aren't many, even amongst Gods, that can kill a mortal through their dreams. The Great Red is the most capable of all of the few that could. I want to confirm my suspicion. If you want, I can bring you with me into the boy's dreams." Morpheus offered.
"Oh..." Issei did not know that. He looked at Akeno, Koneko, and Ravel. They nodded at him.
"Um… Will Gasper-sempai be better?" Millicas asked, feeling left out.
"Don't worry about it. We will save him." Issei smiled as he patted Milicas' head, before nodding to the Olympian God, "...Lord Morpheus, do it."
Morpheus rose to his feet, "Close your eyes, and relax..."
Issei and the three girls did close their eyes as instructed.
They took a deep breath, exhaled, and relaxed all of their muscles. When they opened their eyes, they found themselves in… a different world.
The sky was cloudy gray, and the surroundings were a bit medieval, houses of old architecture built beside a beige dirt road, stone fences surrounding private property.
"...Where are we?" Issei asked as he looked around, the girls immersed by the sudden transition.
"We are in his dreams."
Issei and the girls turned to Morpheus, albeit despite his recognizable voice, his appearance was in a different form.
He was in the form of an unknown girl - a young woman a few steps in adulthood with short blonde hair and red eyes.
"...Who are you?" Issei asked.
"Morpheus. I am taking the form of Gasper's most cherished person when he was in Transylvania. We are in a time of his past during his darkest, most traumatic moments, however." Morpheus said with a male voice despite looking like a gorgeous female. "I cannot control it if you're wondering whenever I enter the dreams of others. And… it seems we are short on time."
The god wearing the skin of another smiled sadly.
"Why not?"
The god pointed at something behind them.
Issei and the girls turned around. There, they saw a giant Cimmerian creature shrouded in shadow, two pale horns of great thickness and sharpness curling back then swerving up from the top of its head.
There were two eyes… no, three eyes. The one at the center of its forehead was pitch black, an empty socket.
"It seems that it will be more difficult for me to ward off the invader than I hoped..."
They were stunned speechless when the entity gazed upon them. One of its eyes was pitch red, the other a piercing blue.
"...What the hell are we looking at?" Issei asked.
The creature growled at the intruders - it emitted an aura of terror that inspired fear not because of its power, but because it conveyed its malice and its capacity and ability to spread malevolence.
"A god that should have been dead. May I ask… does the boy have something in him that doesn't belong to him? Something personal?"
Issei then glanced at Akeno and Koneko - which the Queen provided, "I don't recall Gasper ever stole anything."
"It does not have to be intentional. Anything that might be….. Special, for his or his race's standard?" Morpheus asked again.
"...His Sacred Gear." Koneko muttered, "Gaspie possesses the Forbidden Balor View."
"Ah… That explains it. He has what belongs to the being we are witnessing." Morpheus frowned. "The one you're seeing is the owner, Balor, the evil God of destruction. He has reached your friend through his stolen eye, and I cannot truly shield him from his influence as long as he has it."
"...What?" The four were shocked to hear that the God that was the original owner of the eye Gasper wields was…
"I don't understand. What's the difference between Balor and… I thought Balor was supposed to be sealed in Gasper's Sacred Gear or something." Issei asked.
"Balor is a rare case. Rarer than Vritra. Instead of dividing his soul, God only stripped his eyes for the forging into a divine artifact. The entire soul is cast aside for a reason beyond my Ken." Morpheus explained.
"Eyes?" Issei did not miss his use of plural.
"The Evil God has three mystic eyes; The eye that stops the world, the eye that brings annihilation, and the eye that sees through all. It appears Balor has reclaimed two of his lost eyes, otherwise he would have been blind."
Issei did not know that as he stared at the avatar of the once deceased god.
"Okay, good to know. So you're saying that we should surgically remove Sacred Gear off Gasper?" Issei asked.
"That will be for the best, yes. If I am not mistaken, Grigori has developed a method to remove someone's Sacred Gear without risk, correct? As long as the young dhampir does not have anything of Balor's possession, the evil god will have no reason to haunt him."
"...You are incorrect."
The voice of the giant shade boomed throughout the dreamscape. Issei immediately entered his combat position on reflex, along with the others.
"Someone of your stature should not lower yourself for a pathetic whelp."
Balor's voice was commanding, a tyrannical authority that demanded total obedience.
"Times have changed, Balor… And someone of your esteem shouldn't bother with something so below his station as well." Morpheus rebuked.
"The boy has something of mine, something the wretched Biblical God took from me, unlike you. Where is the pathetic whelp, Morpheus?"
Morpheus stared back at the giant unfazed by his demonic voice and imposing presence.
"Safe from you. If you have fallen so low as to torment children, then Lugh had every right to slay you."
"Low…? The boy is a pig with pearls that should be on the neck of a princess. I will not suffer the existence of a cowardly, pathetic boy that has problems obtaining his gender identity when he holds my third eye. I have every right to be wrathful, you who have not experienced the Biblical God's insult."
Balor's malicious aura tore through the skies and unraveled the dreamscape.
The land warped and started losing cohesion as the realm around them slowly turned into a scene directly from hell - fire and destruction spread, ruin and skeletons littered around them.
"Leave Gasper alone!" Koneko shouted as she walked up and assumed her fighting stance.
Akeno and Ravel joined her as they prepared their fire and thunder spells.
Balor erupted a low growl before his two eyes turned to Morpheus.
"...What do you plan to do with the boy?" Morpheus asked.
"It is obvious."
"...The boy does not deserve the cruelty. You only need your eye, not his soul." Morpheus reasoned, his words catching the boy and girls' attention.
"I have every reason to consume his soul. I am in need of a body, and, to my displeasure, the child's vessel is the most compatible with my spirit. It is a shame that the system God placed did not include the concept of worth in the vessels. Let that be his only closure before I take everything he has for my quest."
"And is your quest for vengeance that great to sacrifice a child?"
"If you wish for someone to blame, blame the Christian Deity for bestowing him my eye. I will kill all of his children after I am done with Lugh and the Tuath De."
Morpheus remained silent as the air started to shimmer around him.
"...Are you willing to face me, Balor?" Morpheus dared.
"...I would rather not fight a god of dreams in his domain. So be it. The boy shall rest without fear of me, but it doesn't matter in the end. What you see here is a warning for what's to come."
Balor's form slowly melted away from the dreamscape, the shade turning into dust from the ground up.
"Tell the boy the next time we see each other, I will devour his soul. I will be whole once more, and when I am, I will reclaim vengeance on all that dared to cross me, even the Dead God shall not escape my wrath!"
Once Balor's shade vanished from the dream world, the malicious aura disappeared along with him.
The terrain rewound, reforming into another area.
Then Issei and the rest instantly found themselves in Gasper's room, the same girly room in the ORC building.
"...Is he gone? Because that was a lot simpler than I imagined." Issei asked as he looked around, gradually relaxing his stance
"The evil god has left the boy willingly because of my presence. It is still not the end of him. I will see if I can prevent his return." Morpheus sighed with relief.
"...Why is Balor afraid of you?" Koneko noted.
"Because if we fight in the world of dreams, the damage will transfer to his soul and body in the physical world. And in this world, I am far more omnipotent than him."
"Wait, so you're like a super version of Freddy Kruger?" Issei accused, impressed as he imagined the limitless potential Morpheus has in this world.
"If you wish for a simple comparison, yes." Morpheus replied with an amused chuckle. "...But I am embarrassed to admit that I am still inferior compared to the Great Red in terms of power. Also, as a guilty secret, I am overjoyed that your father made the True Dragon bleed. One day, my power will influence the physical world like the Great Red."
The god of dreams then walked towards a familiar box in the corner of the room and knelt before it.
"...Gasper, you may come out now." Morpheus called out.
Issei shouldn't be surprised but he kinda was when Gasper slowly poked his head out of the turtle shell that is his cardboard box.
" ..V-Valerie?" Gasper called.
"I am Morpheus. I automatically assumed the form of the person that grants you the most security in your heart." Morpheus denied as he smiled with Valerie's face
"U-um….. I see?" Gasper looked baffled for a second, but he nodded in the end.
"The monster that invaded your dreams has left. I will make sure that he won't return to your sanctuary. But… one day, he will meet you in the material world."
"W-What?!" Gasper squeaked with fright. "Y-You mean h-he's r-r-r-real?!"
Issei and the girls grimaced. At this rate, the boy would regress even further to his cowardly self.
"...It won't matter how much you hide. He will come for you. The one that torments you in your dreams is a powerful, malicious foe. Your enemy is an Evil God, the one whose eye is in you as your secondary source of strength. But do not fret. You have powerful allies with you, young Gasper. Remember that you are not alone in your struggle." Morpheus gestured to Issei and the girls.
Issei took that as his cue and stepped up, walking to Gasper and knelt down.
"...Gasper…" He then sighed, "I don't know if this is too much for you, but it's time for you to take the next step into becoming a man." Issei said as he offered his hand to the young dhampir.
"E-eehh?! B-b-but, we are talking about fighting an evil god! I-I-I can't just simply-!" Gasper protested in fear, only to be interrupted by Issei.
"...I know, I know. Honestly, it's too early for you to face him as you are now. But even in the face of giants, don't be afraid to face him when the time comes. We won't let him take you. I swear in my life that you'll live long enough to beat him on his own terms."
Issei then offered his hand towards Gasper,
"...What about after I live long enough to… beat him?" Gasper asked.
"It is what being a man is about, you know? To face the unknown head on."
Gasper stared at Issei and then his proffered hand. The boy slowly reached out to it.
He hesitated and pulled back.
"...Do you think I can do it?" Gasper asked.
"If I, a pure human, can beat a thunder god, then yeah - a half-vampire with a Sacred Gear has a better chance."
Akeno, Ravel, and Koneko knew that Issei was bluffing at that since he was not exactly a normal human, but they simply smiled in silence.
"...Heh." Gasper smiled and took his hand.
"My job is over." Morpheus said as the world shifted.
Issei and Gasper blinked when they found themselves back in the ballroom.
Gasper was hiding under the table, holding Issei's hand while the girls found themselves standing behind Issei.
"...Were we… sleepwalking?" Issei looked at Morpheus, back in his mirage-man form.
"It is better than sleeping in the middle of the party, my friend." Morpheus chuckled.
"...Gasper?"
Rias called out.
Issei found that they attracted some attention from the Devils. Sairaorg, Sona, Rias, and another devil red eyes, pale skin, glasses, and blonde hair were staring at them alongside the other faces in suits and dresses.
"...P-President!" Gasper smiled as he got up from under the table and ran towards her.
"Gasper!" Rias hugged Gasper as the boy buried his head into her bosom. "How is your condition?! Are you alright now?!"
Gasper broke off the hug as he looked up.
"I… I don't feel sleepy anymore." Gasper realized as he touched the area under his eyes.
"I cured Gasper's insomnia in the process." Morpheus interjected, garnering many eyes in his direction. "It is within my power to aid those with sleep deprivation. Gasper should feel as if he slept for three days."
Rias nearly broke into tears as she looked at the god.
"...Thank you so much for helping him." Rias immediately bowed before the olympian.
Morpheus simply smiled as he bowed back.
"My work here is over. Balor will no longer be able to enter your dreams without consequence, Gasper. Sleep well and remember me when you do from now on." Morpheus smiled as he disappeared from the scene, fading like a mirage.
Everyone stared at the spot where Morpheus once stood.
"...What a great guy." Issei smiled. He wondered if he should pray to him for a good night's rest from now on. The guy seemed skilled, probably more skilled in the art of dreams than the Great Red.
Issei was staring at the two odd elements sneaking amongst the lavish guests under the crystal chandelier lights while chatting with Koneko and Akeno.
"How did you girls train by the way?" Issei asked as he glanced at the Rias helping Gasper mingle with the party members.
He retrieved a plate full of devil cuisine. There was an actual roasted bull, cooked to perfect crispy brown and marinated with side dishes on the white-clothed table for the guests to dine, and Issei definitely sliced a good piece for himself.
The two odd elements, a sneaky monkey and a familiar black cat, were sneaking under the tables with the monkey looking out on high alert with an impish smile. Yeah, Issei could definitely tell who that was at first glance.
The monkey stole a knife and fork and immediately turned invisible through youjutsu or something. He could see a piece of meat being sliced off.
"...Your uncle basically grinded me to master my Senjutsu." Koneko replied with a small pout. "He even arranged my sister to help me out."
"Uh-huh. Youjutsu as well? That's good, isn't it? Your arsenals are increasing." Issei asked as he saw the monkey reappearing next to the cat, offering her a slice of beef as the cat accepted it with a silent smile.
"Yeah, sure… Great." Koneko returned with a lop-sided smile as she awkwardly averted her eyes away.
Never would she reveal that half of the time of her supposed 'training' was spent weathering Kuroka's smoldering her, saying about making up for the lost time. Don't get her wrong - Koneko did learn many new things from her sister, but Kuroka being overbearing and spoiling her just felt downright awkward.
"I spent my time with my father mastering my holy magic and my angel heritage." Akeno inputted. "...And Mr. Genos had me learn the properties of electrons. He even personally lectured me about how to kill someone through electrocution in the most efficient way."
"Uh-huh. Can you pull any stunt on the level of the thunder brothers?" Issei asked as he watched the monkey and cat immediately headed towards the appetizer section and stole several plates of snacks. They were feasting like kings and queens under the table.
Akeno snorted, "To be honest? I believe Mr. Genos will reprimand me if I were to focus on increasing my power like the Sons of Thor. I believe he once said, 'it's not about how to hit hard, but how to hit right'."
"I see. Though, Uncle Genos did say that he placed much emphasis on power back in his early days." Issei nodded in understanding.
Issei noticed that Vali was leering at the two youkais in disguise from afar while holding a glass of juice.
"Still, the way Modi magnetized his weapons to my armor was kind of brilliant. Got any spells that can help me counter something like that?" Issei asked as Vali downed his juice before he stomped over to the two youkai.
The two immediately noticed Vali. They already turned invisible upon making eye contact, albeit it was too late since Vali's senses were sharp enough to track their signatures and started following the two panicking animals.
"There is a spell that could neutralize anything that is conjured by magic, but otherwise, I suppose you can also conjure your own magnetic field to counter your opponent's, or... You can use extreme heat to nullify the magnetism altogether." Akeno gave her input. "...But enough about me. What did you actually do to grow this strong? Compared to the last time I saw you fight Kokabiel, you actually defeated a god."
"It's a complete pain in the ass… I had to delve into Sacred Gear's inner world and deal with Ddraig sicking his attack dogs on me after exhaustive training; and by attack dogs, I mean the shades of my predecessors, the two strongest ones. And I had to fight them without my Scale Mail, which sucks ass…"
"Must be a story to tell for the ages. Though…" Akeno looked around and noticed that the music accompanying the party had shifted, "Will you tell me more about it over a dance?"
Issei blinked and noticed Akeno's knowing look.
"...You know, I thought it's supposed to be the man who invites the girl?" Issei said with a good-natured sigh.
"Oh, that only applies to a man that seeks one girl specifically. You're too popular for that. So please enjoy the warmth of accomplishment that a girl has to ask you out before the others take you."
"Hey. Me first." Koneko pouted.
"I called dibs." Akeno cheekily reminded her.
Issei laughed as he offered his hand to the girl that called dibs first, much to Koneko and other girls' chagrin. He glanced at Vali's direction, seeing him holding both the monkey and the cat with a frown, the two animals struggling to free themselves from their leader.
Kuroka made eye contact with Issei. She was giving him the cute pleading cat eyes, begging for assistance.
Issei's eyes then met Vali's - the latter was raising his eyebrows at him, and eventually, Issei simply gave a knowing smile and mouthed 'good luck', much to Kuroka's horror, as he let Akeno lead him to the dance floor.
Issei could feel himself being in the center of attention as he stole a glance around. He could see the girls eyeing him with slight envy, minus Irina since she kinda already spent much more time with him than the others.
Asia, Koneko, and Rias were pouting as well. He spotted the woman known as Matilda eyeing him with interest. Griselda simply smiled while Xenovia was looking a bit serious.
While unfamiliar with this form of choreography, it was simple for him to incorporate the water stream style to mimic Akeno's pace and footwork. He should be able to do this much.
He caught sight of Genos speaking with a peculiar devil girl with glasses and blonde hair combed down to her nape.
"So, care to narrate your harsh experience now?" Akeno asked as they waltzed, hand in hand.
"Like I said, I met the consciousness of the past users in Boosted Gear. Well, the two that are strong enough to retain their personalities in there…"
Issei started recounting what he had gone through, battling the two strongest male and female wielders after Ddraig empowered them to give him literal hell, what he learned under the Monkey King, and how he endured through it all.
He told her the endings of all of the past users of Boosted Gear, every single one burning their own lives at the end via the Juggernaut Drive, and how he was inspired by one of his past foes to incorporate dragonfire into his ki.
Issei purposely redacted the part where an evil dragon suddenly showed up and became his coach for the rest of his training days.
"That is quite a story." Akeno said as silence dawned between them. "...I heard about you and Tsubasa."
"...I shouldn't be surprised."
"Well… All of us may have seen Tsubasa leaving the party early in tears, with the rest of Sona's peerage - sans the King and Queen, accompanying her." Akeno said with an apologetic smile.
"Ah, damn… Things are gonna be awkward between us for a while, but we believe that this is the best for both of us."
"I believe you." Akeno nodded, as her hand reached out to caress Issei's cheek, "Just… know that our ears are open whenever you need them."
"Thanks, Akeno." Issei smiled before he leaned forward to kiss Akeno's forehead softly, much to the latter's and everyone's surprise.
Akeno was now simply following Issei dancing around - her mind appeared to stop working for a moment when Issei suddenly kissed her forehead. Eventually, she found her words.
"Um…. Not that I mind the display of affection, but... What is happening…?" Akeno inwardly berated herself for sounding so uncharacteristically awkward.
"...I'm taking charge as a harem protagonist." Issei smiled as Akeno started to become flustered.
"...Tsubasa reminded me how popular I am before she left. I gave it some thought and… might've decided to give it a shot."
Akeno's face slowly brightened up, "...Really?"
"Being around too many gorgeous women might've corrupted me." Issei joked.
"...Then, allow me to finalize your corruption."
Akeno leaned forward while pulling Issei's head towards her, until their lips met. The kiss did not last long, although Akeno made sure to run her tongue once before breaking the kiss apart, giving Issei an eager look.
"...Just don't make me wait too lo-"
Akeno nearly yelped when Issei pulled her in for a more passionate kiss, Akeno widened her eyes for a second, initially wanting to break free, but soon melted into the kiss as she gradually feeling weak in the legs with Issei holding her head and back, gazing into her eyes as he overwhelmed her as payback for all those times she teased him.
Asia cupped her mouth while Rias nearly choked on her wine. Irina and Xenovia gasped while Koneko and Ravel blushed hard.
Griselda felt something pricking her chest when she saw the daring act for some reason.
Issei broke the kiss away when he spotted Baraqiel - from the corner of his eyes, being restrained by Azazel and Saitama; the cadre looked positively murderous, shrouded with potent killing intent. Saitama was giving Issei the look that said 'Really, now?', while Azazel was giving him a proud look and 'okay' signal.
"...Looks like we've garnered an audience."
Issei then returned to regard Akeno - still in daze from the kiss, but aware enough to comment about their situation.
"Yeah, I have to apologize to your father after this." Issei smiled wryly.
Akeno blushed and giggled.
"At least… I'm the one that completed your turn to the dark side. And don't worry about him. I can… persuade him to let you into our lives."
Akeno slowly lifted herself from Issei's gentle hold, and she curtseyed, "Thank you for the wonderful dance."
"Thank you for having me. Now, if you excuse me, I have to deal with the aftermath." Issei as he sensed an angry red angel stomping towards him.
Irina was smiling, but Issei could not help but feel perturbed at what appeared to be some kind of bloodlust exuding from the reincarnated angel's body.
"How was the dance? Hm?" Irina asked with a sharp passive-aggressive stare.
"Uh, not bad?"
"Really? Did you really have to kiss her like that? Are you abusing your girlfriend's permission to date other girls just for fun?"
"Okay, look, Irina. I know you're pissed, but we need to talk." Issei tried to placate.
However, Issei's choice of wording caused Irina to freeze for a brief second before her face contorted in fear, "...Is this a break-up talk?"
"What - No, no, we are not breaking up, okay? I just need to talk to you about something." Issei amended.
"...What is it about?" Irina asked.
"Err, basically about how our relationship will work in the near future?"
"...Are you sure this is not a break-up talk?"
Issei sighed, "No, it's not. This is-"
However, before Issei could have explained further, a hand was placed on his shoulder. The boy turned and saw Gold towering over him.
Issei thought the creature was about to make fun of him, but the expression on his face said something otherwise.
"...Something happened?" Issei ended up asking.
Gold simply nodded before he bent down, whispering into Issei's ears. Whatever he whispered brought a small frown on Issei's face, which concerned Irina.
"Um, what's going on?" Irina asked.
Issei then took a quick look around and saw Platinum and Genos were standing by the ballroom entrance, waiting for him.
"Sorry, Iri. We gotta talk for another time. I gotta go now." Issei replied.
"Go? Where are you going?" Irina pressed on.
"Back home. Something happened, so I'm gonna give it a quick look. I'll explain to you later, okay?" Issei then gave Irina a quick peck on the cheek. "Take care, I love you."
Irina was caught off guard at the sudden turn of events.
"Wha- Wait, Ise?!"
However, Issei had regrouped with the three from his family, and they immediately disappeared by the entrance.
Balor opened his eyes, his heterochromia red and blue eyes shimmering as he released a deep guttural growl.
"How was your trip to dreamland, Balor?" Rizevim asked while typing on a keyboard, staring at a large screen that encompassed the walls.
Balor stared at the descendant of Lucifer - The Devil that bargained with him was sometimes irritating, but his skills were useful.
Balor was like in the dream, a shimmering black shade with only his red and blue eyes the only other color that did not share his theme.
Dún Bhalair, Túr Bhalair, Tór Mór, all of his strongholds were destroyed after Lugh slew him. However, they did not take account of what lied underneath the stronghold, a secret passage leading to his hidden treasury that could not be found even with his All Seeing Eye.
"...I had an unpleasant encounter, do not pry. What is the status of my new body?" The shade of the fallen god demanded.
"It is still a temporary measure since I can't get ahold of your divine corpse… the best I can find is the shield made from the tree Lugh impaled your severed head onto, but still, it is not an ideal body for you." Rizevim answered.
A test tube stood in the room, filled with unknown bubbling liquids, containing a monstrous pulsing body of black, veins and muscle still showing, the skin not present.
"It doesn't matter as long as it serves its purpose."
"It would be easier if you told me where your body ended up. Honestly, it amazes me that you made a pact with them."
"They honored their bargain. Demonstrate even the slightest hint of treachery and I will give them your existence."
Balor growled menacingly at them.
"Yes… of course. Also, your weapon arrived. I hope you don't mind the eastern design."
Rizevim snapped his fingers.
A magic circle appeared before Balor as a weapon materialized before him.
It was of eastern design like Rizevim stated, a dark malefic weapon that bore so much potent malice that one could feel it slicing it into their skin.
An odachi, the blade reeking of blood and hate, if hate has a foul stench, the pattern of the metal like it was dipped in the very ichor of perdition, the wooden hilt bearing a venomous shade of brown.
"Soul metal from the depths of Malebolge, the hilt made from the same wood soaked in your blood, and within the weapon, thousands of Fomorian souls, both pure-blooded and mixed-blood, that remained loyal to the other Fomorian Kings and gods of old of whom you devoured yourself." Rizevim informed. "Forged by Muramasa, the Hellsmith, with extreme care and dedication to the art of murder."
The evil god hummed as he eyed the sword up and down, before he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the hilt.
"His skills are quite remarkable for a human, though I suppose being forced to forge countless weapons in Hell for his own survival and sanity have sharpened his skills to the apex. It is his first time trying to forge a blade that can slay a god… is it to your standards?" Rizevim asked.
Balor stared at the weapon as the blue eye glowed, his All Seeing Eye.
"...Yes, this shall suffice. Very well, Son of Morningstar." Balor swung the blade a few times. They could practically hear the sword sing a baleful, humming din as it sliced the very air. "I will test its edge on the false demons of the Underworld. When will we march upon the world and announce our return?"
Balor had spent his time building his power, devouring all of the past and future Fomorian kings that joined him in Hell while making an example of the disloyal ones.
He had grown strong with power, feeling as if he could crush God, The Welsh Dragon, and The Vanishing Dragon at the same time as he was now.
"Soon. We have a few loose ends to tie up. Need to make sure that everything goes right. Would be troublesome if the Gods of the Dead act up, honestly, can't fool them for long. We need to test their influence over the dead after all."
Genos straightened up from the nearby lamppost he was leaning back on, when he saw Issei walking out from the diner where his 'peerage' was supposedly working.
"How was it?" the cyborg asked as he immediately followed his nephew walking away.
"They have not come back since a few days ago, nor have they made any calls. The manager only saw them leave work like usual one night, and he did not hear from them ever since."
They had received word that the girls that once belonged to Diodora had gone missing. There was no warning whatsoever, and they took their eyes off them for way too long to notice.
"Nothing suspicious or unusual?" Genos asked again.
Issei shook his head, "None, as far as we are concerned."
"Then it's time to resort to the usual secret weapon." Genos looked down beside him, gesturing to the dutiful dog wagging his tail patiently.
"Sure, but do we have anything that might belong to them?" Issei asked as he took Rover from his hair and hugged his best friend.
"Their belongings in their rooms are ideal." Platinum informed.
"Let us make haste. We don't know if their scent still lingers for Rover to track." Genos informed as he picked up Rover and placed him on Issei's head, then placed a hand on both Issei and platinum.
"Initiating teleportation matrix. Coordinates locked."
Genos said as his core engine whirred before the scenery around them shifted. They then returned to the interior of the mansion, right outside of the bedroom of the girls.
"Would any of their clothes do?" Issei asked.
"Bring a prime sample from every girl for maximum odds of success." Genos informed.
A good dozen of Black Sperm clones suddenly came out from somewhere and began to run through rooms and corridors. It did not take long before every one of them emerged with a plethora of clothes.
"...Hey, kid." One of the Black Clones said as he waddled up to Issei and handed him something.
It was a small wooden box with a letter glued to it. It said, 'in case we are gone'.
"Found this in Mary's drawer… I think the girls expected something like this to happen."
Issei and Genos exchanged glances for a second, before the former let Rover down and took the box into his hands. He opened the letter, and read a summary - in which he could use the content of the box to track and locate them.
The contents were Mary writing this just in case something like this happened to them while Issei was away. They wish to be able to take care of themselves, not wanting to be the kind of girls that would depend on a man for all of their problems…
And if something like this happened, Mary prepared something special for him to find them.
When Issei opened the box, he blinked at the familiar sight of the King Piece which Ajuka Beelzebub gave him prior.
"...Oh." Issei kind of forgot about that thing as he held the forbidden piece in his hand. When it did, it started to glow.
"...I detected devil magic at work apart from the power of the King Piece." Genos informed as his mechanical eyes whirred. "Analyzing… it is a tracking spell according to my database. It is honed in on fifteen other signatures, most likely the other Evil Pieces. We can use this."
"Right… Now how do you track…?" Issei mused as he held the King Piece between his fingers.
The Piece was giving a soft hum of power, glowing faintly.
"Maybe you need to move around, see if that thing picks up anything?" Black suggested.
"Don't know where to start though. Rover, would you help us, buddy?" Issei asked his best friend as he barked and plowed his head into the pile of clothes.
Issei watched as his best friend started sniffing the contents. Rover pulled his head out and started barking, down the stairs and towards the door.
They followed the dog out of the mansion and into the streets of Kuoh.
The dog continued sniffing the ground as Issei stared at the King Piece in his hand. He started waving it up and down for effect, then left and right. He stopped when he noticed a difference in luminosity when doing that.
He slowly gravitated the King Piece towards the left, the luminosity glowing brighter the more he turned left… Then it started dimming. Issei slowly turned right until he narrowed down the direction.
"...I think I know how this works."
It reminded him of the bone compass he used to track down Bernael.
"Rover, come back boy." Issei called out as Rover stopped, whining in confusion a little.
"Ah… Clever. I did not think they were capable of that." Platinum noticed as Issei started to walk towards the direction the light pointed to. Issei inhaled and then broke into a sprint, running towards the direction, gradually accelerating his running speed until he left a trail of dust in his wake.
Genos and Platinum followed, Platinum picking up Rover with his elongated antenna as they followed Issei across Kuoh.
Issei skid to a stop when he noticed the glow fading, forcing him to decelerate to a skidding halt as he turned around, left and right until the glow landed on a building. Genos and Platinum joined him as Issei tilted his head.
The boy walked left with the King piece aimed at the building, a high class hotel in Kuoh, then walked right with the piece still aimed at the building.
"...I think we found them." Issei said as he lowered the King Piece.
"...It is the first time I saw a nice establishment as a base of abductions," Platinum remarked.
"I detected numerous signatures inside the building. Majority of them are devils but their signatures are… abnormal?" Genos noted.
As if on cue, the windows of the hotel shattered as multiple figures jumped out of the building. Issei narrowed his eyes as the moonlight illuminated the shadowed figures.
"...Are we really doing this right now?" Issei sighed as the devils sneered at them.
"Our employer sends his regards."
Then the Devils started to transform.
Latia Astaroth heaved a soft sigh after she stepped out alone on the balcony of the estate where the young devils party was being held.
She had to represent her household in the place of Diodora Astaroth, but since her induction was still recent, she was not obligated to participate in the Rating Game. Nonetheless, being in the same room with several Rating Game veterans, Satans, and honorary guests from different pantheons, had put some stress on her mind.
"The world is changing too fast… or is it that I'm not changing enough?" Latia muttered to herself as she swirled the glass of wine in her hands. She looked out at the beautiful moonlight sky in thought.
Was she worthy of the mantle of heiress to the clan?
The grand fight between God and Mortal put herself into perspective as she compared herself to them, to the human that ended the shame of their bloodline.
She wondered how their family could produce both a proud member of their race, one that became a Satan, and one degraded into becoming the clan's greatest shame. If God still existed, she believed that it must have been an equivalent exchange, a pact of with whatever forces that governed the outcomes of this world, if there was one.
She did not know if she should continue as the heir to uphold the image of their clan or recommend someone more suitable for the role. The problem was that there wasn't anyone else… just her and Ajuka, and a Satan could not take over the role to appease the other clans, to not overcome them in status and power for the sake of cooperation and unity of their kind.
"Is the burden of heiress too heavy for you, my dear niece?"
Latia Astaroth froze when she heard a voice, a familiar voice that should not be here.
She turned around and saw a face, a face that once wore a mask of benevolence now showing his true vile mien, his true nature full of madness and depravity which his smile exuded tenfold. Half of his hair which was previously dark green, were now covered with white locks.
"How are you….?"
"I am doing wonderful, thank you very much for asking." The newcomer then blinked at Latia's expression before he chuckled, "Oh dear, are you perhaps questioning how I am possibly here? I suppose that's a fair question, forgive me for jumping into conclusions earlier." But I am here for business, dear Latia. Why don't we… discuss it outside?"
Latia backed away, her back pressed against the balcony rails as Diodora marched towards her and grabbed her by the throat, his devil wings taking flight as he dragged his helpless relative through the skies. She gasped as she started hammering Diodora's arm with her fists, but she was no fighter. Her training was behind the other veterans, only tickling the mad Devil as Diodora landed amongst a cluster of trees and then slammed her into the bark.
His smile grew ravenous as he openly licked her lips. Latia could feel Diodora's intent roiling off her like an evil bonfire as Diodora placed his knee between her legs, rubbing her crotch ever so subtly.
"Oh, dear dear Latia… you look so much like sweet Asia, but more… mmm. Noble. I don't know if I can compare you two as you are now."
Latia gagged and choked as she slowly lost strength when Diodora's fingers tightened around her throat.
"To think that my parents gave the position of heir to someone whose only purpose is to give strong heirs. It is infuriating to see my lesser take my role like this… so I gave it some thought and realized, why not fix that problem by making her bear a worthy heir? I mean, I have been alone in that room, all by myself… without my girls with me for so long."
The next second, Latia suddenly found her dress had been torn vertically in half, revealing the skin clad in underwear.
Her eyes overflowed with panic and dread when she realized what the Devil was planning to do to her. How his family managed to overlook this kind of wicked soul for so long, Latia could not imagine.
Tears started to leak from her eyes as magic circles bound her hands and ankles as Diodora had her trapped in midair, her legs already spread open as he started to unbuckle his pants.
"P-Please… don't do this!" Latia begged.
She prayed to whatever forces in this world for anyone to save her. She begged to the Gods of Earth and the other eight realms.
"I was originally saving this for Asia, but I just… I thought, why not? The girls I recovered no longer interest me. Besides, I wonder if incest really does ruin bloodlines like they say. One way to find out. Don't worry, I'll be gentle… you will soon crave to bear my heirs once I take over the Astaroth House."
He whispered in her ears as he unzipped his pants.
Diodora spread her legs apart and moved the fabric that was covering her sex to the side - his member poked out of his pants and pressed against her entrance.
Latia choked her sobs and closed her eyes tightly, resigning herself to her fate.
However, something slithered throughout the bushes, a shiny, tensile tentacle immediately jumped out of the bushes and struck.
"AIIIIIIEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
Diodora's moment was shattered as his smile fell, his face contorting with instant agony as an unfamiliar sensation pierced through his anus and slithered deep into his bowels as if karma itself delivered his medicine tenfold.
Latia shot her eyes open at the sound.
An unceremonious sound of a fusion of a confusion and a voice that could not properly reflect the agony that ran through his spine when he was lifted by the slithering appendage in his anus and slammed into the tree.
"Phewww… how'd you like the taste of your own medicine, you freak?!"
Latia's magical binds came undone as she saw another figure jump from the foliage and ran towards her. In the moonlight, Latia saw a familiar devil approaching her.
"Hey, you alright?! Uh… Damn, I don't think we've met yet." The devil with sandy blonde hair discarded his suit-jacket and placed it over her shoulder, allowing her to cover her modesty to an extent. She then saw that his right hand was covered in a black vambrace bearing the shape of a gecko.
"...Eh?" Latia was confused by the sudden turn of events.
All she knew was that whatever forces that heard her plea answered her call.
"AAAARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
However, an ugly, unholy screech alerted their attention.
Diodora rose to his feet with hateful vengeance.
"You… you dare… AGGGH?!" Diodora tried to stumble forward, but he fell on the floor with his pants still down one hand holding his naked arse that was twitching in agony. "How dare you?! HOW DARE YOU?!"
"I just gave you a taste of your own medicine. You're way worse than what I've heard from Hyoudou." Saji shot back as Diodora's face twisted with a strangled cry of frustration and insanity.
Diodora roared to his feet as he pulled back his pants.
"I… will not be denied! Not again! Not by a worthless commoner!" He shouted as he summoned his magic circles and fired many, many spells at Saji, fire, lightning, pure arcane energy, all slithering through the air like serpents.
Saji smirked as the silver tongue extended from his gauntlet via thought and started spinning it.
Black Dragon's Unscrupulous Rings
The only time Latia saw someone able to deflect Diodora's spells was from Issei Hyoudou.
To think she saw someone else doing the same, with a strange tongue-like appendage was a new sight for her.
The boy spun the tongue like a whip, only the tongue moved on its own like it was another muscled limb, spinning in a triskele, three rings overlapping each other as the spells were blocked.
No, the energy did not disperse upon contact. It looked like the spells were absorbed into the tongue itself.
Diodora saw the human's visage overlapping the filthy impure devil for a moment, a memory he did not want to experience again.
"No! No no no no no no!"
The memory, the humiliation, all of it he tried to suppress in the darkest corner of his memories were returning.
"Not again… You're not that wretched human! You're not him! Don't pretend to be him, you filthy-"
Diodora was cut off when Saji flicked his wrist.
The gecko tongue flew towards Diodora faster than he could react as Saji smirked.
It was a trick Saji developed after hearing about the Urn of Wei Cheng. Platinum helped give him ideas, and to see if he could absorb spells and magic and throw it back at them.
He could.
From the tip of Absorption Line, Diodora saw a flash as every spell he casted was thrown back into his face at once.
Latia was in awe when her savior sent Diodora flying away, crashing into a tree with blood leaving his lips upon impact.
"Yeah, I'm not Hyoudou, I get it." Saji smirked. "But I think beating the shit out of you is a good first step to becoming a man, right?"
Diodora released a feral, strangled snarl at Saji.
"I will not be outplayed by the lower class!" Diodora started to transform.
But Saji immediately sprinted towards Diodora the moment he did, armor covering his shin, an armored eyepatch covering his left eye, and vambraces on his forearms as he grasped Diodora's shoulders and slammed him into the tree.
Weeks of torturous athletic training under Platinum was starting to actually pay off.
Diodora snarled as he struggled to throw Saji off, but Saji held his arms at bay and slammed his knee right between Diodora's crotch.
Latia was amazed as Diodora howled to the forest sky as Saji's knee immediately started igniting a black flame that lingered onto the fallen devil's crotch, raising the volume of his shrieks.
"Learned this trick from Rias! Also!" Saji smirked as his hands ignited a black flame and immediately set Diodora on fire.
The black flames were new to Saji, but at least he had something to use other than a lassoing.
Diodora thrashed, holding Saji's wrists as he struggled to pull himself free, but the Devil's grip on him was too strong.
"I hope you enjoy being barbequed, noodle arms!" Saji cockily mocked Diodora's inferior physical strength.
"You dare call me weak?!"
Under sheer unspeakable anguish of his manhood being burned away along with his skin, Diodora tried to summon the power of his transformations, the power he gained by selling his soul.
But for some reason, he could not muster the energy to transform, or even call upon the power of the trihexa cell within him.
"What… What is happening?! Why can't I draw any power?!" Diodora looked around angrily, desperately looking for answers or clues.
Then, he noticed that the Pawn of Sona Sitri was holding his palm towards him, and when Diodora took another look, the atmosphere in his immediate surroundings seemed darker, as if enveloped by some kind of veil.
"You! What have you done to me!?" Diodora demanded.
"What, you expect me to say what I can do like some third-rate mook?" Saji snorted. "You're trapped, that's what."
Saji started kicking Diodora while he was held.
Saji was starting to enjoy his role as the one giving the pain instead of receiving it. What he did to Diodora was to suppress his power using another one of Vritra's sacred gears, meaning Saji sealed whatever transformation Diodora had in his sleeve.
"I thought you high class devils are supposed to be the elite and stuff!" Saji said as he threw a heavy right hook smashing Diodora's jaw. A tooth flew out and struck a nearby tree. "But turns out you're nothing but a scumbag too lazy to pull your own weight! Living the good life has turned you into a worthless pig, as my coach likes to say!"
"You dare talk down to me?!" Diodora garbled through the blood and black flames.
"To someone that never earned anything in his life?! Yeah, I'm sure as hell that I can talk down to you!"
The sight of the rapist being consumed by the cursed black flame was cathartic considering his track record, and Diodora started to succumb to the pain.
"Damn you! Damn you!" Diodora cursed at him before Saji headbutted Diodora so hard that the tree behind him cracked, Diodora's face now a bloody mess.
Diodora grit his teeth as he immediately summoned the emergency magic teleportation item he kept on his person and activated it via thought.
"...Ah, wait!"
Saji cursed when Diodora vanished in a flash of light. He was about to give chase, but remembered about the charge behind him. Not to mention that Diodora's presence had completely disappeared from the area.
"Damn…" Saji clicked his tongue. He didn't even get to interrogate the Devil as to how the hell he managed to get away under Ajuka's nose.
"Still, this doesn't bode well for Asia… or any girl." Saji muttered as he turned to Latia.
Latia blushed a little as she pulled Saji's coat tighter around her.
"Um… You alright?" Saji asked as he walked towards her and offered her a hand.
"...How did you manage to… find me?"
"...It's kind of embarrassing." Saji chuckled as she took his offered hand. "I was kind of… well… I don't have a dance partner. I was about to ask President Sona for one when the music started to set the mood, but I saw you get abducted out of the corner of my eye. So, yeah, pretty lucky on our part. Still can't believe that it happened like that. Hope he likes having his balls burned off."
Seeing Latia simply stare at him unblinkingly, Saji shook his head in embarrassment, "Um, sorry about my rant. Can you stand up? Are you injured?"
Latia looked down on herself…
"I might need a slight change of wardrobe. But… Thank you. My name is Latia Astaroth. May I ask the name of my savior?"
"Saji. Genshirou Saji - Pawn of Sona Sitri." Saji introduced himself with a thumbs-up.
Latia smiled as she took Saji's offered hand.
"AGHHHHH! DAMN HIM! DAMN HIM!"
Diodora thrashed after he fell on the floor. The flames from the blasted wretch lingered like an unwanted stain that just refused to go out as Diodora clamored to his feet and ran through the halls of the Qlippoth base.
Within the metal halls of arcane make, the magicians of Hexxenacht and Nelrim caught sight of the devil wreathed in cursed flames.
"What the Devil?"
The witches and magicians backed away from the burning devil.
"Where is your leader?! Tell me!"
They looked at each other for a moment. They were all disturbed by the devil's manic eyes and a face written with insanity all over him.
"...Lady Walburga is in the Hellsmith's forge." A witch notified cautiously.
"Tsk!" Diodora thrashed and stumbled his way, dragging himself throughout the base, sometimes screaming from the pain as he garnered the surprise of the other creatures that had joined the ranks of Khaos Brigade willingly.
Diodora caught the glances of the giant Fomorians, the spectral shades of the giants of Ireland giving their condescending gaze.
There were undead amongst them, the zombies of Chinese mythology with a talisman on their faces, the kyonshee, dressed in monk robes as they remained unfazed by Diodora's conflagration.
He even caught the eye of the floating head of Osiris. The god was chopped into pieces before the sarcophagus containing his body was thrown into the Nile river.
The dead god was still awaiting the rest of his body parts as promised by Khaos Brigade for his aid.
When Diodora finally arrived at the forge of the Hellsmith, he fell again with disgrace as he cried out in pain as his skin started to melt.
"...Is this another soul to add to the crucible?"
The forge of the Hellsmith - a room designed for the sole purpose of forging the finest tools of murder, of death, one made for the man that created the legendary cursed swords of Japan.
There was a figure sitting in a lake of molten metal, his lower body submerged in glowing orange, his height more than two times taller than the average human adult.
His face was ghastly, wrinkled skin sucked in, eye sockets empty with jagged teeth, the lips seemingly dried and pulled back to perpetually reveal his desiccated black gums.
He had six gangly arms, each holding a tool in his hands with the skin wrapped around his bones so tightly that it showed the shape of his arm bones.
This was Muramasa, the Hellsmith, the man that the fires of hell consumed and warped to fit his persona and dedication.
Walburga was standing before the Hellsmith's arcane anvil, forged from the souls of the politicians and warmongers of Malebolge, a black metal object covered in arcane runes, the metal so pitch black that light was devoured on contact.
The hellsmith was still hammering the blade even as he looked at Diodora with his 'eyes.'
"Wow. He definitely looks ready for the furnace." Walburga giggled as she brushed her gothic lolita dress.
"Don't just stand there and help me! I'm burning away!"
Diodora could feel the fires reaching his muscles. He could not repel the flames for long.
"Why not transform and make it go away if you're so high-class?" Walburga asked.
"The wretched devil did something to me! Do your job!"
Walburga looked a bit perturbed when his left eye was starting to melt.
"Alright, alright, let's see… oh, wow. These are some potent cursed flames." Walburga leaned forward to inspect the flames. "Hmmmm… these flames would not do much damage at first but once they reach a critical stage… Well, it will burn your flesh and then your soul away if you don't do something about it. It's the kind of flame that gets worse the more you leave it alone. It's reaching the critical stage, think stage four cancer critical."
Walburga summoned a giant ball of purple flame and threw it to Diodora, much to his horror.
Walburga was mostly curious as to whether he would survive this since the flames are the same as the ones that burned the Messiah at the cross all those years ago. Still made her wonder how and why would God make the tools that murdered his Son into weapons.
It brought a lot about God into question.
Diodora was set brilliantly ablaze as the devil's voice was burned first, purple and black flames dancing at their brightest for a second before both were extinguished, leaving a charred half-skeleton.
"You… whore…"
Diodora managed to wheeze out those words. Walburga gave a small scoff in return.
"Huh, surprised that you're still alive after all that. What I hit you with is holy fire, you know? It's the only way I know that can banish those flames since it has reached the stage where I can't remove it with conventional magic. But hey, regeneration, right?" Walburga giggled as Diodora grit his teeth. Half of his face was now bone, his skull showing while his surviving eye glared at the woman with all his hate.
"Oh, do keep going. I don't mind throwing fresh meat to the soul forge. I'm having Muramasa-chan here forge me a sword that lets me fight like a legendary warrior, you know? And I hear that souls forged in this fashion… suffer worse than being in Malebolge. So, what do you say to someone that bothered to save your life?"
Diodora grit his teeth as he wheezed as his skin and muscles finally started regrowing.
"...I'll repay you back for this."
Walburga blinked at the choice of words, which could be assumed as gratitude, but she nodded with a smile nonetheless.
"Hm, I guess that's the best I can get out of you. Welp, have a good one, then! And don't be a stranger~!"
Diodora clicked his tongue with a hiss as he slowly trudged his way out. He did not have the strength to run, the pain still burned into his bones.
"Oh yes, one more thing… if you're interested in having something fun… be sure to check out with Euclid-chan." Walburga added as Diodora stopped.
Within the silence, Muramasa's three hammers continued striking the glowing hot blade. With each strike, ghastly wails followed the echoing reverberations of clashing metal, begs and moans for salvation whispered for the pain to stop.
Diodora resumed his trek out of the forge, leaving the witch alone with the Hellsmith.
"Are you trying to kill him early?" Muramasa asked, his voice a ghastly tone filled with age, old and weary with a hidden zeal.
"Hmmm, more like testing the waters. After all, I'm dealing with experimental eldritch magic here. I don't know how the thing managed to make twisted versions of Sacred Gears this fast, though… by the way, do you need anything else to make my sword? Preferably something other than the redundant need for souls."
The ghoul of Malebolge returned his sights to his work as the ghastly wails grew.
"Bring me the memories of the greatest swordsmen, or one from the living if you wish for the skills of a true warrior imbued into the blade, my lady."
"Hmmm, I think I know some candidates then."
Another blood was splattered across the asphalt, as Issei had finished the last of the devil stragglers with his fist outstretched forward. He exhaled and glanced around - Genos, Rover and Platinum had finished with their own group of hostiles.
The devils that ambushed them did not give them any trouble, even Issei did not need to use the Boosted Gear to deal with them.
"It is time for some entertainment..." Platinum gestured to the one Devil that had his body turned into platinum, from the neck down. His head was still flesh and blood, his face warped by the horror of his situation.
The Devil's head thrashed around in his immobile, now useless body.
"Alright, you. Tell me who hired you, why you are doing this, and give me a reason why I shouldn't have Platinum melt you down or sell you whole to the black market… Alive." Issei warned.
The devil hyperventilated in complete panic.
"L-L-Look, I-I, I wasn't, I wasn't told I was going to face the Son of the Strongest Man!" The Devil begged.
"Uh-huh, and you all believe that the Son of the Strongest Man is a baldie. I should smash your head in for that." Issei scowled with clenched teeth at the memory.
"Alright, alright! Look… I was hired to wait and ambush some guy that is going to look for some… Evil Piece. It is in a briefcase in the hotel, room 3F!" The Devil instantly confessed.
Issei blinked at the information, exchanging glances with Genos and Platinum before the cyborg nodded at the latter.
Platinum then addressed the prisoner, "Please remain a statue for us."
"Wha-"
Zap!
Platinum silenced him as his head joined the rest of his party in platinum.
"...So, one of them died." Platinum broke the news.
Issei turned to Platinum, "Wait, what do you mean by that? And come to think of it, why'd this guy refer to Evil Piece?"
"The spell that girl used points to the other chess pieces she is connected to. Meaning… the only ones that have said chess pieces are the girls. And if a piece is removed…"
Issei's mind clicked when he recalled the lore behind the evil pieces.
"No…. No, no… No no no no no."
"...Unless there's a secret technique to extract an evil piece without the host's expiration, that is the most likely outcome."
Issei did not want to believe it, wanting to reject the image of the corpse out of his head.
With haste, he burst through the doors of the hotel and climbed the stairs, broke down the entrance of room 3F, already finding the suitcase the Devil mentioned.
He did not waste time as he snapped the case open and…
His world suddenly came to a halt when he saw the bloody Pawn piece.
Platinum arrived with Genos and Rover in tow, just in time when Issei opened the suitcase.
"Ise…" Genos could not help but feel concerned at his nephew's silence.
Rover trotted inside the room, circling around Issei's legs while nudging its head on, as if wanting to make him feel better.
In return - a few seconds later, Issei picked up the bloody Pawn piece and wiped it clean with his shirt, then he knelt down to caress Rover's head. That was the cue for Genos and Platinum to come closer.
However, despite Issei's ministration, Rover still behaved uneasy, yet it allowed the boy to ruffle its rough fur.
"Uncle Genos…" Issei said with a calm tone, but his face was that of a silent fury. "...Contact Lord Ajuka for me. I need to confirm something."
There was only one person he knew who would try something like this.
Someone with a connection to those girls, someone who would take their lives just to hurt them.
If it was who he thought, then he should've killed him when he had the chance.
And that would be the end of his trust in the Devil justice system.
To be Continued….
Extra
Gabriel took a deep breath as she peeked around the corner.
The man with spiky white locks who she was watching for a long while was returning from a fishing trip. He did not look like he caught anything good judging by the empty bucket he was carrying.
She looked down on herself. Her common clothes looked unassuming enough…. Right? A simple white blouse with red scarf and a long purple skirt with normal-looking brown shoes. If she were to say so herself, she was supposed to be some random girl walking in this settlement; though she hoped that the man did not ask her any personal questions by the time they talked… She hoped he would not force her to tell the truth.
It was not easy being an archangel.
She walked out of the alleyway as she took another deep breath and waited for the man to walk past her on the cobbled road.
Steeling herself, she came out from her hiding spot and began to follow the man in front of her, looking for a good opportunity to greet him.
Unknown to Gabriel - despite her best attempt to look unassuming, her looks still garnered various looks from both men and women around. Focusing on her query, she took note of his current appearance.
The man was wearing a light short-sleeved shirt that was a little tight around his abdomen. She could… see the complete outline of his toned stomach. She kept following him, until she saw him entering the local tavern.
Gabriel did not expect inside the building would be rowdier than she expected - people bustling around; either they were drinking, talking, laughing, singing, dancing, even fighting amongst each other.
She was so caught off-guard that she nearly lost sight of the man of her interest.
The man pulled himself to his seat. The waitress arrived and asked for his order.
"The usual…"
The waitress quirked a brow. She looked like she dealt with him daily as she walked to the counter.
And then she returned with a glass of water to Gabriel's surprise as she placed it before the man. The man sighed as he took the water and drank it all in one gulp, sighing with slight relief. She took note of his poverty as she tried to make her way through the crowd - apologizing whenever she felt like she bumped into someone, when another thing happened.
A group of men - perhaps the other patrons, were also drinking on the table not far from the man. They were burly, taller than him, and they were loud. As soon as one of them noticed his presence, their expressions shifted into sneering.
"Another day of no catch today, buddy!?" one of them shouted.
The man did not give the loud drunk his attention.
"What, you think you're too good to talk, you skinny lad?!"
He still paid no mind.
"Bah, just forget about him - he's gonna piss off in a few days after all. In fact, would you check that out?"
The other patrons then saw Gabriel who finally walked out of the crowd, sighing in relief.
One whistled at the sight, "Check this slice of heaven, lads."
Their eyes turned to the beautiful woman that stood out like a beacon in the night.
"Anyone ever seen that lass around?"
"Fuck me, anyone ever seen a lass like that?"
"Nope. I'm gonna chat her up first, I called dibs!"
However, before one of them could have made any attempt to approach the angelic-looking woman, her face brightened into a smile as she made her way towards the lonely man.
The other men had their eyes wide as saucers when the stunning-looking woman took a seat next to the man. For a few seconds, the woman simply sat next to him, shifted her position ever so subtly out of nervousness.
"...Anything you want from me?" The man's gruff tone was finally religion
"U-um….. W-Would you spend a moment of your time to learn about our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ, good sir?" Gabriel asked with a smile.
The man gave her his attention, though the way he appraised her with his piercing eyes felt slightly invasive.
"...You are a long way from your house. Not to mention that you've been following me ever since I returned to this town. I saw your type before, but I'm not sure this is the right place for someone like you." The man stated the obvious as he looked at her face unperturbed by her angelic beauty.
"Y-Yes." Gabriel was not sure what to say since any excuse would lead her to fall.
"...Are you from that one Church I visited before?" The man asked.
Gabriel perked.
"Oh! Um, they called for me to, um… help look after you." Gabriel took the chance, and it was not a lie. "...Would you like me to help buy you something? You look very famished."
The man stared at her in silence. His growling stomach broke that silence to his embarrassment.
"...Hah." The man sighed. "Damn it. Alright, fine. I will say that I'm not the kind of person that likes to listen to outdated proverbs and phrases full of indirect redundancies. But I'll listen to what you have for me."
Gabriel's smile lit up the whole room.
"Um, waitress!" Gabriel waved her hand at the same woman that served the man his water.
The waitress walked up to them, though her eyes were shocked to see a gorgeous woman sitting with the man that ordered water almost every day.
"I would like to make an order! Um, what do you wish to have, good sir?"
"How much can you afford?" The man asked.
"...Umm… as much as you can eat?" She said.
"One of everything."
The two stared at the man as the words tried to sink into their ears.
"...Excuse me?" The waitress asked.
"One of everything. No exceptions."
Gabriel blinked rapidly for a few seconds as the waitress absentmindedly wrote down his orders.
"...Alright." The waitress left.
It did not take long for the food to arrive.
It was the first time she saw the man eat like this. He was the center of attention as he wolfed down every dish that greeted his table, medium rare steak, lager, steamed fish, everything.
He even did not bother to pour his drink into his glass - he chugged the whole pitcher down.
Gabriel watched amazed as he devoured everything, each and every plate returning to the kitchen clean.
Once the man gluggled his second pitcher of lager, he slammed it to the table and exhaled.
"Aaaahhhh. It's been a while since I felt this full." The man grunted as he burped a little. "Thanks, I needed that."
Gabriel was too stunned to respond immediately.
"U-Um, y-y-you're welcome… so…" Just watching him finish all of that made her feel full.
"I'll listen. So, anything new you wish to tell me about your Messiah?" He asked.
This time, Gabriel's smile was like a giant beacon from people outside the tavern.
Right... For those who want to see the next chapter sooner, feel free to check out my (P) . atreon site under the same pen name Ahsoei. Inside the page was also the image i4md347h and I used for Matilda Furfur.
Another thing is, that I realized that I want more people to see my work, so I decided to bend the rules; the NSFW side story will be unlocked and available for public for... a short period of time - probably one week, give or take. After that, the NSFW contents will be locked for Patrons again. Same will go for the next chapter should I post another one. Cheers.
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