Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD.
The Trails of Avarice
Betas: None so far, you're welcome to apply
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Chapter 1: Memories of the Great War
Dawn broke over a wondrous land of crystal, populated by plants made from living precious metals and giant mushrooms in a kaleidoscope of colors.
One might have been forgiven for believing such a fantastical land was to be found in some heavenly realm or other, but in this case that couldn't have been further from the truth. This was the Land of Greed, located in the Underworld and the ancestral lands of the Mammon Clan of Devils.
Located at the heart of the breathtaking Land of Greed was another incredible marvel, [Spiral Urbis Opes]. [The Spiral City of Wealth] as the city was known in English was built out and around a single massive hill sized diamond. It was built on seven levels, each carved out of and into the hill, and about each was set behind a wall, each of which had a single massive and well defended gate. These gates were not set in a line: the Great Gate in the City wall was at the east point of the circuit, but the next faced half south, and the third half north, and with each subsequent gate out off line with the previous; so the paved way that climbed toward the citadel turned this way and that across the face of the hill. It was a real-life Minas Tirith but orders of magnitude larger and created by the Devils of the Mammon Clan centuries before Tolkien had even been conceived.
At the apex of the city was a single massive pyramid, easily as large as the Great Pyramid of Giza, and unlike that great monument still in possession of its facade of gleaming marble, but black instead of the Egyptian counterpart's white. It retained its capstone as well, a single massive black diamond. This opulent palace, for unlike the Egyptian pyramids this was no tomb, was the home to the rulers of this land of wealth, the Mammon Clan.
Seated at a wrought iron patio table on a balcony in the apartments at the very top of the pyramidal palace was the last of the once numerous Mammon Clan, Devora Mammon, and as she had her morning tea she let her eyes roam over her lands.
She was a rosy-cheeked woman with the proportions of an average young woman in their mid teens, with waist long black hair that contrasted well with her fair skin and her startling orange eyes. Dressed in a simple but elegant black dress, she looked every bit the refined ruler.
Bored of looking over a vista that she had spent centuries surveying she turned to the two empty places at her table.
"Looks like Leloucia and Atlan aren't joining me for breakfast today." Devora sighed at this. "Again."
"I know their duties are important, but I really wish they would spend some time with their old friend. It gets lonely to always eat breakfast alone." the Devil noble admitted.
If only we were children again….
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Flashback begin
Three young girls sat around a familiar wrought iron patio table overlooking the amazing expanse of the Land of Greed. Not that the girls paid the view any notice. The trio were too busy squabbling playfully to pay it any attention.
"Don't call me that!" A twelve year old Devora Mammon, shouted to her two best friends.
"What's the matter? Don't like your new nickname, Devi~?" Leloucia Amon, one of the aforementioned best friends teased back.
The sandy haired and violet eyed Leloucia Amon was the heiress of the Mammon Clan's allies, the Amon Clan, and due to that close association between their clans and being the same age as Devora the two of them had spent a great deal of them together growing up and had thus readily become the best of friends.
"Devi the Devil? Isn't that a little silly?" Atlan Furfur commented in Devora's defense.
"You're one to talk." Leloucia shot back without thinking.
Atlan winced at that, even as Devora sent Leloucia a chiding glare. "Lulu!"
"Opps. Sorry Attie. It was just a slip of the tongue." Leloucia apologized.
"It's ok." Atlan replied even though her hunched frame made it clear that it wasn't.
Sad as it was, Atlan Furfur, was used to it. She might not like it, but it was something she had come to live with. Being a devil of the Furfur Clan had many advantages, it being one of the 72 Pillars and all, but it was also very much a curse, as every one born to the clan was a hermaphrodite. A fact that unnerved many around them, even best friends she'd known since she could walk like Leloucia.
There was one exception to this though, as Devora proved when she slipped a hand under the table to squeeze one of the Furfur heiress' hand comfortingly. She might have first met Devora as part of her father's plans to forge an alliance between their two Clans by capitalizing on the fact that his heiress was the same age as the youngest of the Mammon children, but Atlan felt that between the two of them they had forged something much more valuable: true friendship.
"So as I was saying," Atlan began, changing the topic away from Leloucia's slip-up and the upset it had caused, "Devi might not be the best idea, Lulu."
"I agree."
"Ok. So maybe not Devi. But Devora really does need a nickname." Leloucia insisted.
"That's true." Atlan agreed. "I mean you guys call me Attie and Leloucia goes by Lulu. It's time you got a nickname too, Devora."
"Fine." Devora conceded as she crossed her arms and pouted. "I don't see the need, but I can see where the two of you are coming from. Just not Devi, ok?"
"Sure." "Yup." Her two friends readily agreed.
"So what would like instead-" Leloucia began only to be interrupted by a new arrival.
"Sorry to interrupt you girls, but someone is here to see Devora." Luzen Mammon, head of the Mammon Clan and Devora's father declared as he stepped out onto the balcony.
Luzen Mammon was a particularly tall and lean Devil with long limbs and a long face. His orange eyes, a hereditary Mammon trait, were piercing and narrow and his short black hair was neatly slicked back with the exception of four forelock bangs. Normally cool and imposing, he was known to easily strike terror into lesser beings from his presence alone. Today however, he looked visibly rattled.
"Father." "Lord Mammon." The girls greeted.
Lord Mammon waved the greetings away and turned to look at his daughter. "Devora, love, you must come with me."
"Now, Father? Lulu and Attie just got here. We were going to have a tea party." Devora whined, her two friends nodding at her words.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but this cannot wait. Satan Lucifer is here to see you."
"Lord Lucifer!?" All three young devils exclaimed in surprise.
Which was to be expected. Not only was Satan Lucifer, the supreme authority of Devilkind, requesting to see someone, instead of ordering them to present themselves, he was actually visiting their home to see them. As extraordinary as that was, it might have been understandable if he had gone to see a Clan Head like Lord Mammon or an heir like Devora's eldest brother, but to see Devora? The youngest of Lord Mammon's eight children and so the least likely to inherit the Headship? That was just unbelievable.
"Yes, now come along."
Devora wanted to ask her Father what was going on and whether the Satan had asked for her specifically or the whole family, but from the harried look on his normally stoic face, she knew better.
She could just ask later.
"Bye Lulu, Attie. See you two later."
"See you later, Devora." "Bye Devi~!"
Devora sent Leloucia a glare for that.
End Flashback
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"Devi~!" A voice sing-songed as its owner, a beautiful woman with mid-length red hair and wearing a bright yellow dress, embraced the last Mammon from behind.
"Attie! Let go of Devi this instance." An irate Leloucia Amon, her hair now knee length though looking longer due to her confinement to a wheelchair, admonished her best friend.
"Au~! Lulu, don't be so uptight."
"I'll relax once you start acting your age. We're not twelve anymore."
"Oh, I know." Atlan winked mischievously, as she stood up and stretched, showing off her curvaceous figure.
"Urgh! That's not what I meant." Leloucia hissed, as she self-consciously crossed her arms over her noticeably smaller bust.
"You're just jealous."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
The two centuries old Devils might have continued their childish little squabble indefinitely if not for Devora giggling at their antics, the sound of which stopped them cold.
Smiles spread across both their faces at the laughter. It was rare for their friend to laugh happily like that.
"So you two finally decided to join me for breakfast?" Devi asked as she finally smothered her giggles.
"We always intended to, just that someone had something come up at the last minute that needed us both to settle." Lulu explained as she sent an accusing glare at Atlan, while her enchanted wheelchair pushed itself to the patio table.
Furfur just shrugged as she slipped into her own seat, "It was important."
"Do I need to know?" Mammon asked as she gestured to a servant waiting patiently in the shadows to begin serving their meal.
"It's not that urgent." Lulu declared, while shooting a warning look at Atlan. "It can wait till you hold court later."
"You sure-"
"We're sure," Atlan cut in without letting Devi finish her question. "For now let's just enjoy breakfast."
Devi hesitantly nodded. She was worried about what issue had required the attention of both Atlan and Leloucia, two of her most able lieutenants, to handle, but she trusted them and if they said it didn't need her immediate concern then it probably didn't.
She could worry about it later.
Right now, she was spending time with two of her oldest and best friends, and that was all that mattered.
As the trio finished their breakfast, the topic of conversation shifted back to what had held Atlan and Leloucia up earlier that morning.
"It's nothing to worry about in my opinion." Leloucia said as she waved a hand dismissively. "At least not yet."
"Maybe. But it also isn't something we should just forget about." Atlan countered.
"Of course not, but still not something to worry about now."
Devi couldn't help the smile that spread across her face at the byplay. Her two friends never could stop sniping at each other.
But as bemused as she was, she was still their ruler and she needed to know what they were talking about. So she cleared her throat and said, "What are you two talking about?"
Both Atlan and Leloucia flushed at that, apparently having completely forgotten that they hadn't yet told their lady what they were arguing about.
"It's the Infinite Dragon God, Ophis." Furfur said as she turned to face her liege, utterly serious. "She appears to be mustering an army."
Devi gasped. Why would the Infinite Dragon God,one of the two most powerful beings in the world need an army?
"An army? For what?" Devi asked, giving voice to her inner shock and confusion.
"We don't know." Leloucia admitted. "None of Attie's sources have any clues and without something to go on, we can't make any guesses either."
"But whatever her goals for doing so, ultimately an army can only mean one thing…" Furfur began only to be interrupted by Devi.
"War."
Not again!
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Flashback begins
It was the depths of night on an empty barren plain in the Underworld, one populated by nothing but corpses and one lone exhausted Devil.
This was the Megiddo Plain, a plain that sat on the border between the lands controlled by the Devils and those claimed by the Fallen Angels. As such it was a site which had seen more than its fair share of the war between the two races and the Angels of heaven, who had more than once ambushed armies of both races as they fought here, that was already called the Great War.
This day one such battle had just concluded with a decisive Devil victory as they unleashed their latest weapon upon their foes, Devora Mammon, to devastating effect. Despite only being thirteen, the young Devil possessed immense power, being one of only a handful of Super Devils who had the powers to possibly match even gods.
It was for this reason that Satan Lucifer, a Super Devil himself, had visited her home all those months ago to forcibly recruit her into the ranks of Devilkind's armies despite she being grossly underage. Her father had tried to stop him of course, arguing that she was too young, but his arguments had been shot down by the Lucifer reminding him that he had already defied the Satans once by refusing to report Devora's status to them despite standing orders to inform them of all Super Devils.
Discovering these once in million superpowered devils was why the Satans had introduced standardized power testing for devil children in the first place, but her father had apparently discovered she was a Super Devil during her tests and tried to hide it. Despite this, the Satans had found out anyway and were using the fact that Luzen had tried to deceive them, a crime punishable by death, to hold the whole family at their mercy and as an excuse to use in the event of any future resistance to justify eliminating them.
That was not something she could allow. Not if she could help it and she could.
Which was way she had willingly left with the Satan. Leaving behind everything she had ever known to serve on the frontlines as the Satans' weapon in their war.
As she caught her breath after the exhausting battle, she looked over the blasted remains of the Megiddo Plains, at the shattered corpses of friend and foe alike, at the carnage that she had wrought. She fought down her bile. She could not show weakness here, not now, not in front of him.
"Bravo. A job very well done, little Mammon." A Devil that looked to be in his 40s with silver hair that fell to his shoulders and a beard complimented as he teleported in and surveyed the battlefield. He was Rizevim Lucifer, son of the Satan and another Super Devil. "Observing this from afar doesn't do it justice, you really did leave none of them alive did you?"
"No." Devora replied emotionlessly. "Just like you ordered, I destroyed them utterly."
"Oh. What an impressive little soldier you are." Rizevim said with a smile. "You make me feel so proud for being your handler."
Devora didn't bother to respond, instead continuing to stare out at the devastated landscape around her.
"Meh. I'll get you to lighten up soon enough." Rizevim said with a shrug. "In the meantime, Father has recalled us to Lucifaad. Apparently he has something special planned for us."
"Understood." Devora replied, her voice as dead as it had been since the start of this conversation.
Rizevim sighed as he called up a magic circle to teleport the two of them back to the Devils' capital.
"I guess I really have my work cut out for me if I want to get you to stop being a robot." The son of Lucifer commented idly as the duo were teleported away.
Flashback ends
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The throne room of the Mammons was like so much of the architecture of their buildings an incredibly opulent place, and befitting its importance doubly so. It was a vast chamber the size of a soccer field at the heart of the pyramidal palace. The room was lined by massive Greek columns made out of solid adamantite, its walls, floor, and the ceiling of the arched roof was of pristine soulstone the glow of which provided the room's illumination. At its head, on a raised dias carved out of dragon bone, was the throne of the Mammon Clan. If the Land of Greed as a whole reflected the avarice and fortune of the Mammons in terms of mundane materials, the throne room represented their wealth by flaunting how they could spend some of the most costly mystical materials for little more than interior decoration.
Unlike everything else in the room and the Land of Greed in general however, the throne of the Mammons did not speak of the unsurpassed greed and wealth of the clan which owned it. It was a simple wooden thing made from a black poplar from the Realm of the Dead. While the rarity of the wood arguably made it as valuable as everything else that made the Land of Greed worthy of its name, unlike everything else the throne's unstated, simple design meant it was hardly as ostentatious at making this point as everything else. In that way, it was a embodiment of its owner.
Like her throne, Devora Mammon was every bit the greedy Mammon, she was just not as obvious about it as most would expect.
Which was why she set her face into a mask of indifference even as she inwardly reveled in the pomp and grandeur as her entry into her throne room to hold court was announced.
"All rise to pay respects to the ruler of the Land of Greed, the Satan Mammon!"
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Flashback start
Apparently her recall to Lucifaad had been for some kind of promotion for her, to a rank that in the words of the Satan Lucifer "reflected her abilities." What that rank was, Devora didn't know and honestly didn't care. She was not fighting this war for ranks.
So it was that on the day of her promotion, a disinterested Devora walked down the red carpet of the Grand Palace of the Satans to kneel before Lucifer. She ignored the proceedings for the most part, keeping her eyes firmly focused on the floor in front of her as the Six Satans spoke in turn to the gathered audience of the Devil aristocracy.
The only thing that had caught her eye was her family seated in a box on the level normally reserved for the families of the Satans. Briefly Devora pondered about that, but other things quickly took priority over her family's odd seating arrangements. Namely the presence around them of a large number, disproportionately so, of what others might mistake for bodyguards but which Devora knew to be jailers. She recognized those Devils after all as members of the Satans' elite guards, that they were now serving as guards for her family meant that the Satans were keeping a very close eye on them. All to keep Devora herself under their control.
Devora was torn from her musing of her fate when Lucifer said something that she couldn't tune out.
"And now it is my honor to present to you, my people, your Seventh and newest Satan. Raise Satan Mammon!"
What?
Devora took a moment, and only a moment, to process this development, she couldn't afford more. Not in front of the Satans and the entire gathered nobility. Gathering herself, she rose on wooden legs, the shock overcoming her enough that she rose unsteadily despite the week of practice at the ceremony that had been forced on her, to raucous applause from the audience. Even her family were happily cheering for her.
The seating, the guards, it all makes sense now… Oh no! The guards! If I'm a Satan then it makes sense to have guards gifted to my retinue by the other Satans to serve as protectors for my family. Permanently. Which means there's no escape… At least before, we could have fled before the Satans hunted us down for our 'crimes', but now? With Devils loyal to them at our backs at all times? There's no chance. Damn them! And they did it without even making it look like anything malicious. Everyone else won't realize their true purpose, they'll just see it as the Satans being generous.
As the reality of the situation, of how her actions might have in fact put her family in even more immediate danger, dawned on her, she wanted to break down into tears. But she smothered it. She would not give the monsters the satisfaction.
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A week after her elevation to the rank of Satan, Devora found herself at a mustering ground in the outskirts of Lucifaad preparing to meet her army for the first time. She hadn't wanted an army of course, having never led Devils into battle before, she didn't feel qualified at all. When she had voiced this opinion to the other Satans, pointing out also that assigning her troops was thus a waste and would likely lead to their slaughter, Lucifer had looked at her strangely, almost approvingly, before declaring simply that "a Satan needed an army." That was the end of all discussion on the matter.
Her troops - and wasn't that going to be a strange thing to get used to? Having a whole army of troops at her command. - were preparing for inspection on the parade square of the mustering ground, but before she went out to meet them, she would first need to meet her officers.
"Oh relax!" Rizevim, her ever present shadow, chided. "You're a Satan. It's these lesser devils that should be the ones terrified of this meeting. Not you."
"As you say." Devora replied neutrally as she always did to her handler.
"Hmm. I think I hear them coming." He stood up from his casual slouch against the wall behind her then and summoned a magical circle.
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving."
"What?" Devora said in surprise, the first emotion she'd shown to Rizevim since they'd met.
Smiling mockingly at Devora, the son of Lucifer explained, "You're a Satan now, can't be seen to have me hand holding you, now can I?"
"Not worried I'll use my new status against you and your masters?"
Rizevim's smile turned sinister, "Nope. Not when we have your daddy dearest and the rest of your family right where we want them."
Devora glared at the older Super Devil, which earned nothing more than an amused laugh as he teleported away.
Just in time too, as the door to the room, the office of the mustering post's commander, was opened by its owner. He let in her senior officers and their aides and with a bow closed the door. This meeting was strictly for her and her men.
Turning her attention to her men she surveyed them and had quite the shock. Leloucia and Atlan were there.
Wha-What are they doing here? Devora thought to herself frantically, even as she fought and mostly succeeded to keep her composure, her time with Rizevim paying off. Though if the simultaneously worried and reassuring looks her best friends were shooting her were any indication, they at least had seen through her mask.
"My Satan." The oldest looking of her new officers greeted as he fell to his knees in an act of respect to her new rank. The others quickly falling his example.
Thankful for the distraction from her shock, Devora gestured for her men to raise.
"Greetings." The young Satan begun. "I will not bore you by introducing myself, as you all already clearly know who I am. Unfortunately, for the most part save for Atlan Furfur and Leloucia Amon, I cannot say the same about yourselves. As such, even though we are short on time, before we begin I ask that the rest of you introduce yourselves."
"Short on time? What do you mean, My Lady?" A Devil who looked liked a man in his thirties with long blond hair and blue eyes voiced her men's confusion.
"Yes, unfortunately, we've received word that the Angels have made a major push against us and we are desperately needed on the front. As such, we will have to deploy as soon as possible. I trust this is not an issue?"
"We live to serve." The older looking Devil spoke for the others this time. He was a tall, slender, broad-shouldered Devil with green eyes flecked with gold that wore the guise of a man in his fifties. He head was shaved bald, though he wore a set of bushy golden side-whiskers.
"Good. Now introductions, then we can get on with planning out the details of our deployment."
Or letting you lot plan it out for me. I don't know the first thing about this kind of thing, only that from my limited experience with armies both back home and in my few months on the frontlines that they need lots of planning. Devora thought to herself.
"Of course, My Lady." The older gentleman said. "I shall go first then." When no one objected, he began. "I am Lord Tywin Viné of Clan Viné. I specialize in earth magic and siege warfare. I will be serving as one of your generals, commanding your third division."
Gesturing to his aide behind him, a extremely handsome Devil that looked to be in his twenties with blond hair and bright green eyes, he continued. "This is my adjutant, my son and heir, Jamie. He is one of the greatest swordsmen of his generation."
Devora nodded, she could see the family resemblance.
"I'll look forward to see great things from you then, Heir Viné." Devora complimented, which earned her a blush from the young swordsman, before turning to the other devil who had spoken earlier.
"My name is Archox Eligor, Lord of the Eligor Clan. I'm old friend of your mother's." Devora blinked at this, her mother never mentioned this. Then again Devora hadn't spoken to her mother much, she was despite the many children she birthed for her father notoriously unhappy with their arranged marriage - particularly the fact that she was married to her own first cousin - often taking it out on their children, like Devora, by being neglectful.
Unaware of his Satan's straying thoughts, Lord Eligor continued his introduction. "I'm proficient in ice magic and mounted combat. I command your second division. This is adjutant, Hansel Leraje." Here he gestured to yet another blonde haired Devil, this time looking like a man in his late teens with hair that fell to his mid-back much like his superior and grey eyes.
What's with all these blondes? Is this Rizevim's idea of a joke?
"And of course, you know your old friends, Leloucia Amon and Atlan Furfur. They are my apprentices in the art of command. In a year of two, once they're experienced enough, they'll be leading their Clan troops under your banner as your fourth division." Eligor finished.
Devora nodded but gave no other acknowledgement. She could wring her friends for why they were here later. If their clans were providing her troops, their fathers as clan heads should have been here instead.
"Very good. With the addition of my father, commanding my first division and garrisoning my lands."
And wasn't that a bitter pill for Father to swallow. With my elevation to the rank of Satan I automatically outranked him, and he was forced to cede the position as head of the clan to me, making Lady of the Mammon lands. Not that he said anything about it, he knows better than most that I had no choice in any of this and neither does he.
Putting aside her bitter musings, the Satan continued, "That makes all my senior officers. I apologize that I cannot take the time to know you better now, but I'll be sure to do so as time passes. For now let's get down to planning our deployment to the frontlines."
Flashback ends
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As the day's court session came to an end, Devi reflected that it was once again an uneventful day with only the need to address a couple of minor disputes between residents of [Spiral Urbis Opes]. With so little to go on in regards to the situation with the Ouroboros Dragon, it was decided between Devi, Leloucia and Atlan that until they knew more, it would not be brought up in public, like in court. That said, Devi was still concerned and was of a mind to take some precautionary measures, to that effect, she called for her chief of security, Ellen Marchosias, to remain.
She wore the shape of a seven year-old girl with fair skin, waist-length purple hair that was styled into a Hime-cut, topped with a large red bow, and golden cat-like eyes. Like Leloucia, Ellen was in a wheelchair, though unlike her best friend who had been hurt in the Great War with some kind of magical blade that caused an injury that to date resisted all attempts at healing and had left her paralyzed, Ellen remained in her chair by choice.
She was being pushed around, her chair was enchanted like Leloucia's but she rarely ever used that function, by her wife and former human, Viola. Ellen's former victim turned devoted spouse wore the form that she had possessed when she had first fallen into the sadistic clutches of her wife, that of a 13 year old girl with fair skin and a slender frame. She had blond hair tied into two small braids with messy bangs that hang about her face, and green eyes.
"Ellen, have you been briefed about the situation with the Infinite Dragon God?"
"Of course. Atlan sent out a brief to all of the the senior staff."
"Good. Then I don't need to explain why I would like you to beef up our wards."
"Does this mean I get to use the more creative traps in my labyrinths?" Ellen asked almost pleadingly.
"Yes, Ellen, you may use your more brutal traps." The Satan confirmed, before turning to Viola, "Viola, I trust you to keep Ellen from going overboard."
"Yes, Lady Mammon."
"Hey! I know how to restrain myself."
"Ellen, you don't even understand the meaning of the word. By the Gap, you demonstrated your love for Viola by brutally torturing her." Devi said as she turned accusing eyes on her friend.
"It worked didn't it." Ellen countered with a shrug.
"Well not everyone is like Viola." Devi explained.
"That's true." Ellen conceded. "Fine. I'll tone it down."
"Good. Now go and start working on those upgrades that you're itching to implement." Devi dismissed with a smile.
As the Marchosias couple left, Devi could only shake her head in fond amusement. Ellen hadn't changed much since the first time she'd met her all those years ago.
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Flashback start
The Marchosias Clan was one of the 72 Pillars and thus one of the highest ranking nobles of Devil kind, this unfortunately meant there was quite a bit of political infighting within its ranks as different branches of the family fought to assume the headship for themselves. Whilst this was true of all the 72 Pillars, the Marchosias Clan was at the moment particularly susceptible to this.
Most of the 72 Pillars, like the Mammons, had a single strong main family headed by a strong head such as Luzen and now Devora - who despite her youth was a Satan and no one in the family was crazy enough to challenge that. The Marchosias in contrast had had the misfortune of seeing the majority of its main family wiped out in the Great War, leaving a weak branch family to inherit instead. Sensing this weakness and their own chance at seizing power in the clan, other branch families had pounced on the opportunity to attack the new main family.
This had led to the death of almost the entirety of the Marchosias' mine line for the second time in less than a century. Yes, almost. There had been one survivor of this internecine bloodshed, a daughter by the name of Ellen. She had not escaped unscathed though, her would-be killers had in her case tried to poison her, and whilst she had survived, it had unfortunately left her confined to bed. A condition that thanks to the powerful magical components of the poisons used against her, not even the most powerful healing magic could remedy. Crippled as she was, there was no way that she could become head of the Clan and she was passed over in the succession.
For most, such a turn of events would have destroyed them, but not it seemed for Ellen Marchosias. Instead of wallowing in despair and anger over what had happened to her, she instead strove to get revenge. Though her physical body had been utterly wrecked by the poisons, her magic had been unaffected, so she'd honed this one tool left to her into the absolutely greatest weapon she could. In the process, developing a terrifying new style of magic dubbed [Labyrinth Magic], which she used to trap her victims in phased spaces occupied by massive labyrinths of her own design filled with all kinds of horrors to trap, torment and ultimately destroy her enemies.
Using this deadly new magic she'd had from her lonely cell of a room in a small house on the grounds of the Marchosias main house, trapped her entire family - every last one who could claim the name Marchosias - within one of her labyrinths and watched gleefully as they died one by one at the hands of her creations. By this one act, she became head of the Marchosias Clan whilst also rendering it effectively extinct, since she had no interest in actually governing her Clan and its vassals.
The Satans learning of this had chosen not to intervene, the Marchosias had long since become irrelevant in their calculations anyways. Their losses in the Great War reaching a point where they were only a member of the 72 Pillars in name. They were thus content to leave Ellen alone in the crumbling ruins of her ancestral home playing games with the odd victim she lured into her labyrinths.
Well, most of the Satans anyway. Unlike the others, the Seventh Satan, Devora Mammon, was very interested in Ellen, the Devil of labyrinths.
"So this is the place is it?" A now fifteen year old Devora said rhetorically as she observed the ruins of the once stately Marchosias manor. It's perimeter wall was missing large chunks, and so was the main building that she could see from outside the twisted remains of what had been a sturdy solid steel gate. Everything besides that was covered in vegetation.
"Lucky I didn't bring Lulu or Attie, seeing this they would have not stopped complained about how this Ellen girl has let her heritage rot away." Devi commented as she deployed her wings, all twenty of them, and flew over the ruins towards the only building in the whole compound that looked remotely habitable, a small cottage some distance away from the main building.
She flew slowly, Ellen Marchosias was known for her traps and while Devi was confident she could handle them, there was no harm in being cautious. Her caution was rewarded as she encountered a whole host of traps, mainly transportation traps designed to teleport her presumably into one of Ellen's dreaded labyrinths from which only a handful ever escaped but also other more typical traps such as attack traps that spat elemental attacks at her and traps that released guardian monsters and even a single mechanical trap that fired what looked like a railgun at her! Thank the Gap that she had the foresight to cast protective wards around herself.
The traps didn't let up as Devi entered the cottage, they in fact got much worse. After a whole hour's long slog through at least two dozen traps and navigating the maze like corridors of the spatially distorted cottage, there was no way it was this big on the outside, Devi finally reached her destination, Ellen Marchosias herself.
As Devi entered the bedroom that served as the Devil of labyrinth's "base of operations" and before she could speak even a word, Ellen spoke in a resigned voice, "So the Satans have finally decided that I need to be dealt with, huh? What did I do, kill someone important?"
"Not at all." Devi assured the other girl. "I'm not here to kill you."
"Then what's a Satan doing here?"
"To recruit you."
"Recruit me?" Ellen asked, her skepticism clear in her voice. "Why?"
"Because by virtue of your [Labyrinth Magic] you are a master of defense. And that's something I sorely need for my armies."
"Oh?" Ellen smirked at that. "So you need a defensive specialist like me, huh?"
"Yes, and I am willing to pay you well for your services."
"I'm not interested in your riches, Mammon." Ellen sneered.
"Then what do you want? Anything that's reasonable, I'm willing to provide." Devi offered.
"I want you to heal me."
Devi boggled at that, "Bu-But that's impossible. No known magical or scientific technique is capable of reversing what's happened to you. By the Underworld, they can't even explain how you're even still alive."
"Don't you think. I. KNOW. THAT!" The Devil of labyrinths raved.
"Then why ask for the imposs-"
Ellen cut Devi off, "I not asking for you to heal me NOW! I'm asking for you to fund research that can heal me EVENTUALLY!"
The Satan blinked at that, "If that was your goal, why didn't you properly assume the headship of your Clan and use its wealth to do that?"
In response, younger looking Devil begun to laugh in a deranged way.
Mammon just crossed her arms and waited impatiently for the other girl to calm down.
When she finally did, a whole five minutes later, in between wheezes she explained, "Oh! You're hilarious. So naive. Do you really think anyone, even those outside the Clan, would have accepted a crippled Lady Marchosias? Even if I tried to assume the mantle, no one would have accepted it."
Mammon palmed her face at that, "And you call me naive. You think no one would have backed your claim? What about us Satans?"
"What about you lot?"
"Do you understand just how useful your [Labyrinth Magic] is? If you had pushed your claim, I can assure you that the various Satans would have started fighting each other to be your backer."
"And yet you're the only one that's ever come to recruit me." Ellen observed, her voice once more full of skepticism.
"That's because you've been behaving like a rogue. Setting up shop here in the ruins of your ancestral manor and playing crazy serial killer? You're behaving like a loose cannon and the other Satans hate that, handling someone like that is too much risk."
"And you don't mind the risk?"
"I have a lot more to lose than the other Satans, so I'm willing to gamble big." Devi replied cryptically.
"More to lose?" Ellen asked curiously.
"Join me and I might just tell you." Devi cajoled.
"Might?"
"It's private. I'll tell you only if you prove yourself loyal."
"And you'll still fund research into a cure?"
"Of course." Devi promised.
Ellen was thoughtful for a long moment, before a determined look spread across her face.
"Where do I sign?"
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Devi was just reviewing the latest version of the draft plans for Ellen's labyrinth for [Spiral Urbis Opes], the third the Marchosias had produced in the week since she'd been recruited, when she had an unwelcome visitor.
"Salutations, Devora~!" Rizevim greeted cheerfully as he stepped out of the magic circle that had teleported him right into the Satan's personal office.
"What do you want, Rizevim?" Mammon asked her fellow Super Devil curtly.
"You wound me, Devora." The son of Lucifer said as he placed his hands over his heart in mock hurt. "Can't an old friend just stop by to say hello?"
"You're no friend of mine, Rizevim." The Satan retorted sharply.
"Is that so? Then I guess I best leave, and here I thought I might want to pass on a couple bits of news. Well, I guess, you're not interested." The older Devil replied in a teasing voice even as he formed a magic circle.
"Wait! Tell me your news before you leave." Mammon said quickly. As much as she hated him, Rizevim was her best point of covert contact between herself and the other Satans. If he'd come bearing news, then it was likely something important.
"Say please~" Rizevim teased in a mocking voice.
"Please." Mammon obliged through gritted teeth.
Rizevim laughed merrily at getting his way before abruptly turning serious. An action that sent chills down Devora's spine, whatever he had to say was likely not going to be pleasant.
"You're right to be nervous, Devora." Rizevim said almost sympathetically, "I don't come bearing good news."
"Out with it." Mammon said in as brave a tone as she could manage.
"The first thing is a congratulations from my father and the other Satans for recruiting the Devil of labyrinths into your entourage. At least that's what they said officially. In reality, well, they want me to warn you not to make waves by building too strong of a following. It makes them nervous and when they're nervous, they're prone to doing drastic things."
"You're being uncharacteristically honest." Mammon commented even as she struggled to keep calm in the face of the thinly veiled threat the other Satans had just issued.
"You may not believe me, Devora, but I do consider you a friend." Rizevim said seriously.
So seriously that for a moment, Devora almost believed him. Almost.
"What's your other bit of news?"
"This is isn't going to be easy on you, Devora, so brace yourself first ok?"
"Just tell me, Rizevim."
"Your sister, Helena, she's dead."
"Big Sister Helena? Dead?" Devora said in utter shock as she sat back heavily in her chair. "How?"
"She was sent on a mission against the Angels, and got ambushed under suspicious circumstances."
Devora understood what the son of Lucifer was implying, her sister had been sent on a mission that had been deliberately compromised to ensure her death. An act that was likely carried out by the other Satans in retaliation for her recruitment of Ellen.
"Thank you for telling me this, Rizevim." Devora said honestly.
"No problem." The eccentric Super Devil replied his cheerful mask once more on his face.
As he summoned a magic circle to teleport away, he turned to the Satan and once again in an uncharacteristically serious tone, said, "Take care, Devora."
For a moment after the man left, Devi remained where she was, stock still. But as the shock of the revelation left her, she burst into sobs.
Flashback ends
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The Mammon family crypts were located in the deepest part of the hill upon which [Spiral Urbis Opes] was built. Like the throne room, like all Mammon examples of architecture really, the crypt was opulent in design. It's walls were made of soulstone and each of the unique sarcophagi were made of their occupants' favored precious material and designed to suit their tastes, some held carvings of their occupants, others supernatural beasts they had chosen for some reason or the other and a whole assortment of other designs.
Sitting on the landing between the two arched stairs that led down to the floor of the crypt, Devi let her eyes roam over the final resting places of her kin. All of them. She was after all the last Mammon left.
"What's the meaning of all this power?" Mammon asked the still air of the tomb. "I have the power to do impossible things, even cure Ellen of her supposedly incurable paralysis, decimate armies, fight gods even. But in the end, it's all worthless. In the end, it wasn't enough. Not by a long shot."
She let a single tear fall.
"It wasn't enough to save even a single one of you. And for that I'm sorry."
With that the Seventh Satan turned her back on the dead and climbed the steps back up to the rest of her palace. Her daily ritual of regret complete.
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Flashback starts
The Garden of Eden. A garden of perfect beauty, a land that was graced by the most beautiful plants and animals ever to walk the Earth. Or at least that was as it should be, right now though, it was little more than yet another battlefield in the seemingly unending Great War.
But the battle was over, for the most part at least. The Devils were in full retreat as the Angels, led by their God had launched a devastating counterattack and was steadily driving them off their sacred homeland. In fact, by all rights, the Devils should have long since been routed, so overwhelming was the power presented by the Angel's God. However, the Devils were not without their own powerful leaders and one such leader was now single handedly keeping the Biblical God occupied, thus giving her troops the chance they needed to escape.
"You are most impressive, Young Mammon." The being of pure light that was God commented honestly as he crossed his blade of light with Devi's blade of light sucking void. Normally, his appearance appeared to those who gazed upon him as the face of the most perfect being they could imagine, but to Mammon at least, this didn't seem to work and she saw him as he was, a being of light in a vaguely humanoid shape.
Devi didn't bother to respond, she just disengaged and launched a barrage of void missiles in the general direction of God, and the Angelic host behind him. God responded by easily, almost lazily, launching his own barrage of light missiles which countered Devi's barrage one for one.
"You know of all the Satans, you're probably the best person?" God continued, seemingly completely unfazed by Devi's attack.
The Satan responded with a massive energy blast right to his face, which God just shrugged off and continued talking, "However, like all the Satans you are an epitome of Sin! You lust for power! You hunger for knowledge! Your greed is unending! But above all you seek what you lack, freedom!"
That seemed to strike a nerve, as Devi suddenly launched into a rapid fire barrage of blasts at God even as she screamed at him, "Shut up! You talk you much. Just close that mouth of yours and fight!"
God sighed.
"If you insist, little Satan." God said in a pained voice as he flickered out of view for an instant only to appear a moment later with his light sword slamming into Devi's void blade as she barely raised her guard in time.
The real fight was on.
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The command tent of the armies of Mammon was typically a scene of controlled chaos, with a whole battalion of devils coordinating the Satan's forces on the battlefield. Today however, that controlled chaos had descended into true anarchy as the command staff tried desperately to organize the retreating forces into a semblance of order before it became an all out rout.
That however was only one source of the mayhem, another larger source was the argument raging between the army's senior officers.
"No. Not in a million years. Not while I breathe." Lord Eligor declared authoritatively.
"Are you saying then that we abandon Devi out there!? Fighting God of all people, and covering our retreat single handedly, we need to go save her! NOW!" Atlan Furfur accused harshly.
"Of course not! Don't be ridiculous Furfur." Tywin Viné countered. "Archox is merely saying that you can't be part of the rescue force."
"Bu-"
"No buts, Furfur. If I let you go, and any harm came to you, Lady Mammon would have our heads." Archox explained. "Already Amon has been wounded by Michael of all Angels, and with some kind of magical blade that somehow resists our efforts to heal her. That alone is something that I'll have difficulty answering to My Lady about, imagine if you were hurt too. She'll be beside herself."
Atlan bit her lip in frustration, but had to concede the point.
Seeing that he had won the argument, Archox began issuing orders. "Hansel ready the men, Tywin take charge here, we leave in five min-"
Archox never had the chance to finish, as he was midway through his sentence, when a magic circle popped into being in front of him, from which stepped out a badly wounded Devora.
She managed only one step before she collapsed into a faint, right into Archox's arms.
"Healers! Summon the healers NOW!" Was being shouted by a dozen different voices, as Mammon's loyal men rushed to her aid.
Flashback end
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Devi had just finished locking the doors to her family crypt and was walking through the palace's public crypt when she ran into arguably the most eccentric member of her court, her chief scientist Tohru Honda.
"Tohru, what are you doing down here?" The last Mammon asked the teenaged looking woman. Tohru unlike the beauties that were the other ladies of Mammon's court was rather plain, being of average height, weight, and size with long brown hair and a set of front bangs that framed her brown eyes.
"Oh!" Tohru cried out in surprise, "Devi-sama, you scared me."
Devi arched an eyebrow at this, "Really?"
"Yup." Tohru said enthusiastically. "I saw so busy having lunch that I totally didn't sense you coming. Teehee~!" The scientist trailing off into embarrassed laughter at that admission.
"No souls, right?" Devi asked sternly. As a high-tier specter Tohru could and often did feed on the dead. While as an undead herself she didn't strictly need to eat, she often did consume both mundane food and death energies. The former as a luxury and the latter as fuel for her powers.
"Of course not!" The ghost denied vehemently, "The people resting here are the beloved dead of our people, I wouldn't do something like that to them. Just the ambient death energies of the crypt is enough for me."
"Ok. Ok." Devi replied with a placating smile. "Just checking, Tohru. I didn't seriously think you would do it."
"Moh! Devi-sama can be so mean sometimes." Tohru said with a pout.
"Well, why don't I make it up to you with lunch in the kitchens? We could have the chefs make anything you want."
Eyes sparkling in delight, the specter nodded her head enthusiastically.
Chuckling at her friend's behavior, Devi led the way to the palace kitchens.
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Flashback starts
Tohru Honda had originally been a girl that everyone who knew her described as sweet and kind. Born into the violent and unstable Sengoku Jidai era of Japan, her personality would have put her at quite the disadvantage already but the death of her family to plague when she was just a little girl had put her, like so many others in her times, on the road to an early death.
Perhaps that would have been the kinder fate for her.
Instead, of death from destitution though, Tohru was instead taken into the Sohma household. A clan of youkai themed around the animals of the Chinese zodiac. For a time, as a servant in their household she had been relatively happy, making friends with some of her masters and even falling in love with one. Unfortunately, this little fairy tale quickly turned into a nightmare for her when her affair with one of the Sohma Lords was discovered. If her paramour had been one of the more respected Lords perhaps she would have just been kept as his mistress or if she was lucky his concubine but she had the misfortune to instead fall in love with the detested outcast, Kyo Sohma. The youkai who by his very existence was seen as an affront to the Head of the clan. So instead of being taken into the family as his lover, she instead become one more instrument by which the Head could demonstrate her hatred for Kyo.
The Sohmas at the command of their Head, brutally tortured her, violating her mind and body all while making Kyo watch. Through it all, Tohru never once renounced her love for him, something which earned her the grudging admiration of her tormentors. She was so steadfast in her love that it allowed her to become a lingering ghost, determined to watch over her beloved even in death.
She only wished she could say the same for her beloved's love for her. He had renounced her as soon as she was brought before his Clan Head. At first, she had thought this was because he had been trying to protect her, renouncing his love for her to spare her his Head's wrath. But as time passed and he found multiple subsequent lovers, as he threw away every memento of their romance that she had so carefully preserved for him in spite of the Sohma Head's cleansing of them, as he sought to forget her utterly, her love turned to bitterness and finally to all consuming rage.
A hundred years after her death, she had transformed from a humble lingering ghost into a terrible spirit of pure wrath. Using the powers her new nature gave her she began exacting her bloody revenge on the Sohmas who had destroyed her. The Sohmas had fought back of course, as youkai they possessed powers that could harm her, but they were never the most martially capable of youkai and in the face of a monstrous undead whose ilk were known to destroy whole nations, they fell one after another.
But not even that managed to sate her thirst for vengeance. Not even the tortuous deaths of the lover who betrayed her nor of the Sohma Head who condemned her was enough.
So she worked towards the task of wiping out the Sohma bloodlines forevermore. A feat made almost impossible by the centuries they had lived and the many relations they had with others, human and youkai.
But Tohru was determined so she began experimenting with combining her natural necromantic powers with the alchemical knowledge that had earned the Sohmas their respected status among their youkai peers in spite of their weakness in combat. Between her plundered knowledge and her powers she created a host of abominations that she unleashed across Japan to sniff out and kill any and all who carried even a drop of Sohma blood.
It was this that brought her to the attention of Devora Mammon.
"Impossible!" Tohru exclaimed in shock as three of her most powerful creations were casually destroyed by the young looking gaijin attacker. "Those three were as strong as a Daiyoukai. To destroy them so easily, how powerful is she?"
"Powerful enough to keep going until you decide to stop hiding and face me!" The gaijin declared.
"Face you? Very well." Tohru declared with as much bravado as she could muster. She knew she could not defeat this opponent, nor could she escape the barrier that had been set up around the secluded forest clearing that she was using as her base. The gaijin was too powerful for that, but if this was her final death then she would face it with as much dignity as she faced her first.
Taking corporeal form for the first time since the start of the battle, Tohru Honda faced her soon-to-be executioner with courage.
"Good. Now we can finally talk."
Shocked by this, Tohru could barely sputter out a, "Ta-Talk?"
"Yes. Talk." The gaijin said with a reassuring smile on her face. "I'm not here to kill you."
"Then why attack me in the first place?" Tohru accused.
"If you'll recall, I didn't. You were the one who attacked me with your pet monsters the moment you saw me."
"Oh! Sorry about that."The ghost sheepishly apologized.
"Not a problem, it was a nice workout."
Tohru was horrified by the fact that this stranger would consider fighting through her most powerful creations a mere workout, but didn't comment.
Her expression must have given her fear away though, as the other woman sent her another reassuring smile and changed the topic by introducing herself, "I'm Devora Mammon, Seventh Satan of Devilkind. What's your name?"
"Tohru Honda." Tohru's inherent politeness allowing her to respond automatically, despite the shock of learning she was in the presence of one of the legends of the supernatural world.
"Well then, Honda-san, let's get down to business shall we?"
"Business?" Tohru asked, now thoroughly confused.
"Yes, business. I'm sorry if this is rushed and confusing but we really don't have time for a more detailed explanation." The Satan actually sounded genuinely apologetic at that.
"Why not?"
"You're created quite the mess with your hunt of the Sohmas. As a result, quite a number of supernatural factions are out to eliminate you."
"I know. I've dealt with quite a few hunters already." Tohru said proudly.
"And that's the problem. By killing those hunters, you've proven yourself a threat and so earned the attention of more powerful beings. Beings you have no hope of defeating."
"Like you?" Tohru accused.
"Like me." Mammon acknowledged. "However, unlike the others who just want your head. I want something else."
"What's that?"
"To recruit you."
"What? Recruit me? Why?"
Why would a Devil, one of those gaijin supernaturals that had just began to appear in Japan, want to recruit me? Tohru thought to herself skeptically.
"Because you're a skilled alchemist, which I need. And you're not a Devil." The Devil explained.
"Why is the fact that I'm not a Devil, be important?" Tohru asked suspiciously. Does it make me disposable?
"Because there are few Devils who I can trust are not the agents of the other Satans."
That explained quite a bit. Out of the limited news that had reached Japan about the Devils, the infighting between their Satans was one of the most prominent bits. Often cited by Japanese factions as a sign of their inferiority, since they seemed unable to even keep their own house in order. Hypocrites the bunch of them in Tohru's opinion, the Japanese factions were after all just as divided.
"And if I refused?" Tohru asked bluntly.
"Then I leave. And you'll have to deal with the next hunter. I spotted Susanoo not far from here."
Tohru paled.
"So if you do refuse, I'd advise you run." Mammon suggested helpfully.
There was no choice at all. Tohru couldn't outrun a god.
"If I enter into your service, the hunters will stop hunting me?"
"Yes." Mammon said with confidence. "I've already got a promise to that effect from Susanoo and I can handle the youkai."
So I'll be safe, but…
"I'll serve you then, but you'll need to do something for me first." Tohru hesitantly demanded. I'm gambling with my unlife with this, but I can't just let my grudge go like that.
"You want me to help destroy the Sohma bloodlines don't you?" Mammon was unsurprised, which Tohru could understand, she had not been subtle in hiding her intentions.
"Yes."
"Then here." Mammon said as she passed a scroll over. "That's a bloodline curse. It uses sympathetic magic to target everyone who share blood."
Tohru took the scroll with trembling hands, scarcely believing that the answer to her ambitions might be right in front of her. As she unfurled the scroll and saw that it was exactly what Mammon said it was and that it was well within her ability to cast, she felt her knees give out on her.
"This is-" Tears began flowing down Tohru's cheeks. "This is what I've wanted for years."
Kneeling down beside her, Mammon smiled at her, "I know. Can you cast it? I hope the translation to Japanese was clear enough. If it isn't-"
"The translation is fine. And yes, I can cast it." Tohru said as she wiped her tears away with the back of a hand, even as she stood up. "In fact, let's use it now."
"Now?" The Devil asked sounding surprised. "Don't you need Sohma blood for that?"
"Yes. And I do." Tohru said as she smiled menacingly. "Oh, Kyo-kun~! Come over please."
Suddenly the ground a few meters away from the two women exploded as a twisted abomination unearthed itself from where it had burrowed into the ground. It vaguely looked like a cat, but the undead monster had clearly been heavily modified through the use of alchemy, with a variety of grotesque growths hanging from various parts of its body.
"You're kept the creature you made out of the man who betrayed you?" Mammon asked sounding only curious.
I guess she's seen worse. Tohru thought to herself feeling disappointed. That just means I've gotta work harder!
"Of course. He's my pet after all." Tohru said as she petted the horribly deformed head of the remains of her one time beloved. "And now he'll be the catalyst to fulfill my ambition."
"Before you start can I check with you that you'll not just pass on after this." Mammon asked sounding unsure for the first time since she'd showed up.
Did she really just remember that possibility? Guess she isn't perfect either.
"No worries." Tohru replied confidently. "I've long since grown past being anchored to the mortal plane by my ambition. I'm quite stuck here now."
"Good. Good." The Satan said with a relieved sigh. "Let's do this then."
With that, Tohru cast the spell. For a moment after she finished nothing happened, then suddenly the monster next to her exploded in a bloody shower of gore, as did dozens of the monsters in the clearing. This spectacle however was minor in comparison to the bloodbath that happened across Japan as thousands of people, anyone with even a drop of Sohma blood, spontaneously exploded from the inside out.
"You kept so many Sohmas around?" Mammon-sama asked looking at the scene almost admiringly.
"Yes. Mammon-sama. I liked torturing them once in awhile." Tohru admitted from where she had prostrated herself before her new liege.
Perhaps responding to the change in address towards her, Mammon-sama turned from admiring the bloody scene towards her new servant.
"Raise, Tohru." Mammon-sama ordered, and Tohru complied. "Let's get going shall we? I'm hungry and I have it on good authority that Japanese food is quite interesting. Know any good eateries?"
"A few, Mammon-sama" Tohru said with a smile.
"Great, let's go." Mammon-sama declared as she looped her arms with Tohru's own.
"And my pets?" Tohru said gesturing to her remaining creations.
"Just send them to [Spiral Urbis Opes]. Here let me give you the coordinates for the teleportation…"
Following her new liege's instructions, Tohru teleported her horde of abominations to their new home. As they were teleported away, said new liege started dragging her along, commenting as she did that, "This was so much easier than dealing with those Heavenly Dragons. I might've gotten a couple of nice trophies from fighting them but I think you're more of a treasure. Don't you, Tohru?"
Flashback end
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After an enjoyable lunch with Tohru in the kitchens, where both women were spoiled rotten by the chefs serving practically all their favorites, Devi had retired to her private study to go through some of the inevitable paperwork that ruling a domain produced. As the head of an efficient bureaucracy, most of it amounted to just reviewing decisions made by her subordinates, but it was still something that as a ruler Devi was obligated to do.
It didn't stop it from being mind-numbingly boring after a while though, and after two hours and finally clearly her work for the day, Devi sat back in her upholstered chair and relaxed by admiring the room. As befitting one of Devi's personal spaces, it was the pinnacle of understated opulence. While at first glance it looked like a stereotypical Victorian style study, with wood panel flooring, floor to ceiling shelves on all the walls except for a number of spots where paintings were hung and the window wall which looked out onto yet another fantastic view of the Land of Greed, a cosy freestanding fireplace that was ringed by sofas, and topped off with a large desk set just in front of the window wall. But upon closer inspection, one would discover that all the wood came from extinct trees, the fixtures were made out of gold, the upholstery were made from the leather from mighty supernatural beasts and the padding for the cushions were from the feathers of the same.
Ruminating on these facts only occupied Devi's mind for a moment before her eyes were drawn to one of the paintings. One of her father, Luzen Mammon.
"Father," Devi began solemnly, before her lips quirked into a mischievous smirk. "How did you ever manage to do anything with all the paperwork?"
As expected the painting offered no reply, but Devi was undeterred and continued talking to it.
"You know when you were alive, I never did appreciate just how much of the day to day affairs of the Land of Greed you handled for me."
Devi lapsed into silence then before she grew solemn once again, "Thank you, Father, not only for the help with the paperwork but for everything else too."
Tears pooled in the Satan's eyes, but she stubbornly did not let them fall.
"I'll never forget your sacrifice, Father."
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Flashback start
Devi was seated in her throne room with a band of half a dozen men on their knees before her. They were clearly fresh off the battlefield, and had rushed to [Spiral Urbis Opes] to seek an audience. They still smelt of blood and gore and their clothes were stained with the same.
"Lord Phenex, why have you come here in such haste?" Devi asked the leader of the men, genuinely concerned and curious. Lord Phenex was a friend of her father's, in fact her father was supposedly visiting him at the moment, so of course she'd be worried at his sudden appearance before her especially in the condition he and his companions were in.
Had something happened to Father? Devi thought worriedly. Please don't let that be true. He's the last family I have left. The War and the other Satans have claimed everyone else, please not him too.
"I'm afraid, My Satan, that I come bearing ill news. Your father-"
"What has happened to Father?" Devi shouted as she shot from her throne, all thought of maintaining the image of a ruler forgotten.
"I'm sorry, My Lady, but he is-Luzen is dead." Phenex said in a voice wracked by his own grief.
Gasps erupted throughout the court of Mammon at the revelation.
As for the Satan herself, she just collapsed back into her throne a look of shock on her face, "No. Please, tell me you're joking, Phenex. PLEASE!"
Leloucia and Atlan rushed to their friend's side pulling her into a group hug, offering her their support. If this was the court of any other Satan, this would have been a grievous breach of protocol even given the circumstances, but the court of Mammon had always been different.
"I wish I could, My Lady." Phenex admitted as tears rolled down his face.
The Satan Mammon, one of the most feared beings in the world, a Super Devil famous for having held her own against notables like the Biblical God, the Heavenly Dragons and Shiva, broke down.
No one in her court could blame her, the Satan had always been close to her Father and even more so since he became the only other surviving member of her family. To hear of his loss was an immense blow. In fact, far from being disgusted at what outsiders would have called an "unbecoming display", the vassals of Mammon were instead filled with sympathy for their liege and burning fury at those who had caused it.
It was thus no surprise that Archox Eligor strode forth to angrily demand answers from Lord Phenex.
"How did this happen, Phenex! Luzen was only supposed to pay you a polite visit, how did it lead to his death, in what from the state of your clothes I can guess was battle."
"Belphegor," Phenex spat the name of one of the Satans. "That's what happened."
"Explain." A soft, ice cold voice demanded. It was Devora Mammon, who had ruthlessly crushed her emotions to listen to what Phenex had to say. She did not leave the comforting embrace of her best friends though.
"He came to my manor shortly after your father arrived, My Lady." Phenex complied. "He demanded Luzen go on a mission. A suicide mission."
"And Father agreed?"
"He had no choice. Belphegor was holding my household hostage."
Devi nodded, her father would never let someone, much less a friend, lose their loved ones due to the machinations of the other Satans. He wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
"What mission?"
"He was to lead a reconnaissance in force of the Garden of Eden."
"The Angels have turned the Garden into a fortress…" Archox commented, as Devi sucked in a breath.
"Hence, why it was suicidal. It was why I and my men volunteered to accompany him."
"And you survived? How?" Tywin Viné asked accusingly.
"Because Luzen sacrificed himself to cover our escape." Phenex said sounding deeply regretful. "We had planned to just feign an effort and retreat before the Angels could properly respond. But they were waiting in ambush."
"Someone let them know you were coming." Tywin concluded.
"Belphegor most likely. He has been most cross with me about 'stealing his triumph' during the last battle of the Blasted Lands." Devi hypothesized.
"Most likely, I'll check." Atlan added.
"We can worry about that later. Lord Phenex, did Lord Mammon have any last words for Devora?" Leloucia asked.
"Yes, he did." Phenex said as he pulled himself up to look Devi in the eyes. "With his last breath he told me to tell you, My Lady, to 'Be free.'"
Once more gasps broke out throughout the throne room, they all knew what those words meant.
Secession.
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Outside the first gate of the great Devil city of [Spiral Urbis Opes] stood a quartet of beings.
On one side were Rizevim Lucifer, and two of the Satans, Belphegor and Abaddon. On the other, barring them entrance to her city was Devi.
"What is the meaning of this, Mammon?" Belphegor bellowed. Unlike most Devils, Belphegor did not bother with a humanoid form, through the use of a host of twisted magics, he had transformed himself into a monster. His face consisted of an animalistic muzzle, his ears narrowing to points, and he had a pair of powerful curves of bone for horns. From his back grew six enormous wings, each bat-like and bound at the joint by a length of chain. He had a powerfully built body of furred muscle, with chiseled abs and a chest with a red, bat-like tattoo. His two huge arms ended in strong, clawed hands and around each bicep curled a golden ring. Each forearm was wrapped tightly by lengths of chain and the back of each hand was covered by a golden glove. He had a thumb of pure flesh on each hand, but all of his other fingers had been sheathed in claws of glowing energy. His digitigrade legs had another length of chain wrapped around his right thigh while a pair of leather belts curled around the other, which ended in a pair of clawed feet that were wrapped in bandages.
"You are no longer welcome in my city, Belphegor, Abaddon, Rizevim. That is why I redirected your teleports here." Devi explained calmly,
"How dare you, whelp?" Abaddon accused. "You forget your place. We are your superiors. You have no right to deny us-"
"I am a Satan. I have every right!" Devi countered fiercely, unfazed by the bald devil in his suit of oversized power armor that was Abaddon.
"Why don't we all just calm down, yeah?" Rizevim interjected in a bid to calm the tense situation.
"Be quiet, boy." Abaddon chided the son of Lucifer.
"You may be a Satan girl, but only because we allow it. Know your place." Belphegor told Mammon, completely ignoring Rizevim.
"No." Devi rebutted. "You are on my lands, in front of my fortress. You will not lord over me."
Belphegor seemed furious at this, but Abaddon chuckled before saying, "Finally standing up for yourself, eh, girlie? About time."
"Abaddon?"
"Relax old friend, the girl's right, she's a Satan too. She deserves some respect."
Belphegor didn't seem to agree but didn't dispute his friend's statement either, instead settling for glowering at Devi.
"Right, now that everything's settled, let's get down to business shall we?" Rizevim spoke up.
"Let's. I have plenty of work to do and would like to get back to it." Devi said tauntingly.
"Work?" Belphegor snarled. "What work would occupy your time so much that it made you forget to obey your orders to deploy to the frontlines with your army?"
"Administrative matters about the running of my lands. Boring but necessary."
Belphegor growled at that, while Abaddon stiffened and looked at Devi coldly, "Are you rebelling, girl?"
Suddenly a ways behind the two male Satans, Rizevim was shaking his head at Devi. Warning her desperately not to go down this path.
It's too late for that, Rizevim. I'm not your puppet anymore.
"Yup!" Devi casually declared as she deployed her wings and gathered her magic about her, causing streams of void energy to begin orbiting around her.
Abaddon drew his sword, a wicked zweihander that glowed blood red from the multitude of deadly enchantments worked into it.
Belphegor set his chains on fire and extended his energy claws.
Rizevim just kept shaking his head, "Devi, is there any other way?"
Devi's answer was to launch a barrage of void missiles at her three opponents.
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The battle was brutal, but after two hours of fierce battle Devi was the last one standing. More than once her men had tried to help her by attacking her opponents from the walls, thankfully Eligor had heeded her instructions and kept anyone from rushing out, but that had caused more harm than good, as it led her enemies to target them and forcing her to shield them and thus losing her the initiative. Fortunately, after a while her generals must have managed to rein her men in, and they had stopped and instead followed her orders and hunkered down behind the heavy battlements to wait out the fight.
As she stood on the devastated battlefield in front of the gates to her city, she surveyed her handiwork.
Abaddon's prized Despoiler armor was a shattered wreck and the Devil within had been reduced to a bloody pulp.
Got to recover that armor, who knows what secrets I can learn from it. Devi idly noted to herself as she turned her attention to the other corpse of the field, Belphegor's.
The monster's body was remarkably intact, it was missing a couple of wings and claws but was otherwise whole, surprising considering the amount of punishment that Devi had rained on him to put him down.
Gotta examine that one too. Devi scanned the battlefield once more. Rizevim isn't here? He must have escaped, damn that snake.
At those thoughts, her exhaustion began to exact its toll and she collapsed to her knees. Behind her, the city gates opened and her men rushed to her side but she paid them no mind.
But it doesn't matter. Not now, not when I'm finally…
"Free!"
That single word washed over her body as tears of joy spilled from her eyes.
Freedom, it had been so long since she could claim it.
And without doubt it was the sweetest fruit she had ever tasted.
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AN:
Well here's the first chapter of my DxD fic.
As you can tell it's OC-centric and OC heavy. Hopefully that won't be too much of a problem.
For people who care about overall plot so early on, like I would, let me just give a few hints. Canon will remain largely the same, with a few butterflies here and there, but with Devi's story being the focus and near the end taking the spotlight. I originally wanted to avoid the last bit and let Issei and co. have their day in the sun. But in the end, I don't like Issei enough to relegate my MC to being some background character.
Since this fic is OC-heavy and I'm quite skimpy on descriptions [the plot is just more important to me], I'm going to provide a list for readers to see who the characters look like. Some won't be in the list, simply because they don't appear in significant enough of a way for me to have bothered to give them a chosen appearance [like Lord Phenex's companions] or they're from canon but have a vague description and I don't want to contradict canon [like the original Lucifer and Lord Phenex]. Others are their canon appearances like Rizevim. Others like the Biblical God I just think I did well enough already.
Devora "Devi" Mammon: Diva from Blood+ but with orange eyes
Lelouica "Lulu" Amon: Nunnally from Code Geass
Atlan "Attie" Fuffur: Furfur from Umineko
Luzen Mammon: Saito Hajime from Rurouni Kenshin
Tywin Viné: Tywin Lannister from A Song of Fire and Ice
Jaime Viné: Jaime Lannister from A Song of Fire and Ice
Archox Eligor: Armored mode = Persona 3 Eligor; Normal mode = Allen Schezar from Vision of Escaflowne
Hansel Leraje: Legolas from LOTR movies
Ellen and Viola Marchosias: Ellen and Viola from Witch's House
Tohru Honda: Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket
Belphegor: Belphemon Rage Mode from Digimon
Abaddon: Abaddon the Despoiler from Warhammer 40k
Hope you all enjoyed this fic.
Also I'm looking for a beta. If you're interested drop me a PM. Preferably someone who can help with making my characters less stiff, something which I know this fic struggles with.
Please review. No flames please, they'll be ignored.