Chapter 1
A bright light flared to life in front of them, its fiery edge tracing out the distinctive arcane formulae used for transportation. However what was most disconcerting was the personal symbol in the center. Each family had their own personal sigil, which marked the transportee as being under their protection, and the one appearing before them now was one she had only seen in the history books.
The Seal of the Original Leviathan. When the first Four Satans had died and they were trying to figure out who would lead them certain factions had wanted to consolidate power with those descended from the Original Devil Lords. Civil war was inevitable and the Old Satan faction had bitterly resisted until the very end, trying to claim the seats that their Ancestors had held. The Devils already exhausted by the Great War fought once more in a civil war that decimated the remaining Pillar Families. Those families of the Old Satan factions refused to concede defeat, and sought to continue the Great War. In the end though the New Satan Faction had won and those that had supported the Old Satan faction were either killed or forced into exile on the very fringes of their society.
The unsteady peace created in the aftermath of the death of the 4 Satans was maintained and the three Biblical Factions were forced into a Cold War.
A single woman appeared from the magic circle. A beauty even amongst her own kind, her ample curvaceous figure only emphasized by the extremely low cut dress that she wore; one side had a high slit, revealing a shapely leg. "How do you do, Sirzechs?" The woman greeted Sirzechs with a fearless smirk.
"The one descended from the blood of the previous Leviathan, Katerea Leviathan." Sirzechs exclaimed. "What is the meaning of this?"
The woman, Katerea Leviathan, gave a defiant smile and spoke haughtily. "The members of the Old Satan faction have decided to cooperate with Khaos Brigade."
"What! What a thing to say. Coming here, the Old Satan faction has the audacity to—." One of the Devil guards muttered.
"So it's a feud between the new and Old Satan side and the New Satans that has become full-scale war. Devils are also difficult." Azazel shook his head smiling as if it was someone else's problem.
"Katerea, is it okay to interpret those words literally?" The Crimson Satan asked, his eyes narrowing in displeasure.
"Sirzechs, it's exactly as I said. We are also taking charge of this attack right now." Katerea confirmed.
"So it's a coup d'état, huh?"
Yes, this was a coup d'état. A rebellion by the old Maou faction against the new Maou faction. To declare this at such a time and place…Moreover, they were lending a hand to a terrorist group.
"…Katerea, why?"
"Sirzechs, we've only arrived at the exact opposite idea of this meeting today. We've concluded that, since God and the original Satans are gone, this world should be reformed."
So they did this rebelled after learning everything about the non-existence of God and the peace conference of the three great powers.
Moreover, they decided to take the opposite path, coming here to destroy everything that the Biblical Faction Leaders had strode to build.
"Has Ophis seen that far ahead into the future? Though that doesn't seem likely."
Katerea just let out a breath in response to Azazel's question. "Aside from being a symbol of power, he just bears the position for the sake of gathering power. We've asked for his help to destroy the world and rebuild it again. We will be the ones to manage the new world!"
If Azazel's story from before was true, then in addition to the old Maou faction and the magicians, rebels from the fallen angels and angels have appeared as well.
"Do you really hate peace so much?" Sirzechs-sama smiled sadly. "So you're gathering Angels, Fallen, and Devils who want their own world and a new Earth to rule over, and your leader is the Ouroboros Dragon, Ophis."
The strongest dragon feared even by God. According to legends it was stronger than even the Welsh Dragon and the Vanishing Dragon. A dragon that embodied infinity and had power to overwhelm even the Biblical God in his prime.
"Katerea-chan! Why are you doing such a thing!?" Serafall cried out.
Katerea shot a hateful glare at the Satan's outburst. "Serafall, how dare you act so shamelessly, you were the one who stole the position of Leviathan from me! I, who was descended from the original Leviathan! I was the one suited to take the mantle of Satan!"
"Katerea…I –!"
"Don't worry, Serafall. Today, I'll kill you and take the title of Leviathan for myself. Your dreams of peace snuffed out, and when I'm done with you'll I'll take your sister as wergild. Then, Ophis will become the god of the new world. It's fine if he's just a symbol. The system and laws, the doctrine will be constructed by us. Your time is over." She glared fiercely, a sadistic smile adorning her face as she glared at the assembled leaders. "Michael, Azazel, and Sirzechs."
The expressions of Sirzechs, Azazel, and Michael, all darkened at Katerea's words.
"That's enough Katerea." A voice called, cutting off the Descendent of Leviathan's tirade. "If you're going to do something then just do it, don't waste valuable time monologuing like a stereotypical villain."
A magic circle completely different from any other that they had ever seen materialized. Perfectly balanced, elegantly simple, yet needlessly complex she stared at the ever-shifting formulae and runes, finding herself drawn deeper and deeper into its depths.
"Ouch." Sona yelped feeling someone pinch her delicate skin. Turning she shot a withering glare at the Fallen Governor who did nothing more than shrug.
"You were being entranced." He explained, ignoring the look that her sister was leveling at him for daring to hurt her even if it was for her own good.
"Entranced?" She asked skeptically. That was impossible, she was a high-class devil, and her own unique heritage should have defended her against any compulsions and mind magics not cast by someone on the level of her Sister.
"Visual hypnosis, combined with a seductive presence." Azazel said grimly. "It seems that, that circle is more than a simple transportation one."
The voice came back, laughing lightly as his trick was discovered. "Well thought out Governor." The circle flashed once more and from it out stepped a man. He was dressed sharply in a charcoal grey bespoke power suit elegantly cut to emphasize his athletic physique. A crisp white shirt contrasted nicely with the color of the suit and finally a blood red tie brought attention to the platinum tie bar he wore. In his left breast pocket he had a white silk pocket square neatly tucked away with a presidential fold.
Turning away from his clothes she could feel her breath hitching at the smile on his face. He was without a doubt handsome, not in the effeminate manner of Sirzechs Lucifer (not that she would ever say that out loud) nor the rugged handsomeness of grizzled men like her father, but somewhere in between. He had long black hair that lightly touched the collar of his shirt and had a silky look to it, her hand twitching at the thought of running her fingers though those locks. A pair of half rimmed glasses framed the most gorgeous pair of emerald green eyes that she had ever seen. Almost unconsciously she found herself moving towards him, as he smiled roguishly down at her, his gaze sending heat and lust coursing through her body.
To those who were there they could only watch as wings sprouted from her back as she readied herself to take flight. "Kaichou!" Tsubaki said grabbing onto her, his Queen enhanced speed allowing her to cover the distance within seconds.
At the abrupt tackle she finally managed to break eye contact with the enchanting man before her. "What?" She wondered, her hand going to her head as she fought off a splitting headache.
"A pity her mind is so weak, easily malleable." The man sighed. "My apologies, but I had thought she would be strong enough to resist my charm."
"Charm?" Sona muttered, wondering if it was something similar to what her friend's Knight had in regards to his female classmates. She didn't miss the insult though as she leveled a withering glare at him, and he had the audacity to smile back at her.
"That's not charm anymore." Azazel commented, staring at the piercing green eyes of the young man in front of him. Meeting his gaze head on he immediately flinched, his right hand clamping down on his left wrist as it rose against his will. "WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T LOOK HIM IN THE EYE!" Azazel screamed struggling with his disobedient arm.
"Tch." The young man clicked his tongue in annoyance, as most of the inhabitants of the room suddenly found the floor very interesting or were looking past him at the woman by his side. "Don't you know how rude it is to not look at the person speaking?"
"Mystic Eyes of Enchantment." Azazel sputtered finally gaining dominance of his arm once more.
"My, aren't you a sharp one." The magician observed, before turning to the woman by his side, her face flushed red with barely contained rage. "Oh don't look at me like that my Dear, you had a job to do and yet you decided to waste our time revealing to the enemy our plan. It's sad really, one wouldn't expect the woman descended from THE Leviathan to be such a cliché villain."
The gathered people could see her about to snap in rage, when the man continued, a smirk on his face as he enjoyed winding her up. "But then again if you had anything going for you but those horribly fake implants, maybe you would be somebody rather than a nobody, little better than a stray mutt."
"You dare?!" She hissed in anger, her hand clenching her staff tightly, hatred in her eyes, and a curse ready to leap from her hand.
"I dare." The man responded, before turning her back on her, just daring her to attack, to open herself up to another beating. Reluctantly she lowered her hand. "A pity, I was hoping to crush what little pride you had left, to have you prostrate before me once more. Regrettably, however we have other business that needs to be addressed."
Taking a single step forward he vanished, reappearing in the meeting room a mere foot away from both Sona and her peerage as well as Rias'. He saw both leaders of the Underworld stiffen, their eyes sharpening as they judged whether they would be able to save their beloved sibling and their servants in time should he attack as fast as he had just moved. He saw Serafall Leviathan lower herself, weight pressed against the balls of her feet as she readied herself to move as quickly as possible. Next to her Sirzechs Lucifer had begun to release a portion of his power, readying himself to create a distraction so that his fellow Satan could save the perceived hostages.
So great was their coordination, and experience working together that the entire plan was concocted on the fly and both knew exactly what to do without either one speaking a single word or sharing a look.
"Good evening, Leaders of the Biblical Faction." The man said, bowing from his waist to a perfect 45 degree. "I apologize for the rudeness of my compatriot. Please do forgive her."
Katerea opened her mouth to protest but a single look shot from the young man towards her had her shutting it with an audible click.
"Who are you?" Michael asked, turning his melancholy stare towards him.
"Ah." The man said. "Where are my manners?" Stepping away from Sona and her peerage the two Satan's did not allow themselves to relax as they readied themselves. "My name is Harry Potter, but you might know me better as Hadrian Ambrosius, I command the Magicians gathered here today."
"Ambrosius?" Michael asked, the assembled Devils' eyes going wide at the name. Merlin Ambrosius the human who singlehandedly created the entire Magicians Faction. The man who took his knowledge of Devil Magic and turned it into a form usable by everyday humans. Never before had a descendent of the Legendary Magician appeared before and now here he was opposing them.
"Correct, I am a descendent of the Legendary Magician who stood by Arthur's side and laid the foundations for all human magic users."
With a snap of his fingers a single red rose appeared in his hands as he approached Sona. "I'm sorry my dear. Please do forgive my earlier crass comments, and accept this trifle token." Wordlessly she took it, her eyes flickering from the rose to his for the briefest of moments. She flinched as her finger brushed one of the rose's thorns before retreating closer to her sister.
"And I do not need to see you to hear you, my Dear." He said without turning towards the Leviathan's Descendent. "Unlike you who were so focused on your villainous monologue that you weren't paying attention to your surroundings, I have." With a snap of his fingers, two magic circles appeared and next to him. When they faded it revealed both of the people that Grayfia had previously teleported:
Rias Gremory and Issei Hyoudou.
Both had been sent to try to rescue her other Bishop and to end the temporal lock on the area, but he had other plans.
Now they were chained to silver crosses, their backs burning as they touched the blessed object, the chains digging deeper and deeper into their flesh as they struggled to escape the pain. "These two were a minor irritant, yet if they had succeeded our plans would've been disrupted." He didn't fail to see the hatred that Sirzechs was shooting him, his form barely maintained as power burst forth from him. "Of course trash like this was doomed to fail since the beginning."
He was surprised that the Crimson Satan managed to keep his temper somewhat in control as Rias and Issei screamed against the blessed silver.
"However I am merciful and as such will allow you to choose." An immaculate white sword materialized in his right hand. From where he was standing he saw Michael's eyes go wide at the aura they were emitting. "Michael understands." He nodded, "and he is correct." A snap of his fingers and a cruciform dagger materialized in his free hand and with a casual flick of his wrist it buried itself into the chest of a nearby devil.
She would always remember that sound. The howling screech as the guard clawed at his chest, his hands blistering as if burned when they came in contact with the dagger. His skin bubbled grotesquely as she struggled to hold back her bile. For every second that passed the man looked more and more like a melting wax figure, until with a final scream he collapsed and his entire body was immolated in white flames. "A sword imbued with the coveted Holy Light, focused and enhanced to create a devil slaying weapon. A single nick will cause agonizing pain, anything more than that…" Hadrian paused ominously. "…and you'll be picking up the remains of your sibling with a dust pan."
He kicked off the ground, retreating back to Katerea's side and with a grand flourish of arms commanded. "Now, Crimson Satan, Sirzechs Lucifer, no Sirzechs Gremory choose!" He took no pride in the look of despair that entered the strongest of the Satans, after all what he was doing was nothing more than a means to an end. What did get his blood pumping was the look of hatred that he was emitting, the breaking of the false mask that he wore. Here was Sirzechs Gremory, the Monster, the man who slaughtered thousands in his desire for peace and safety. Friends whom he had grown up with and fought with in the Great War, Aunts and Uncles who helped raise him and whom he remembered happily, their faces etched in horror and pain as the Power of Destruction erased them from existence entirely.
The mask of a carefree and happy individual hiding the heinous being that lurked below the surface. Rias was his treasured sister, her happiness and peaceful life the proof that all the blood he had shed was worth it. "Will it be your precious sister?" He swung the sword, stopping it so that it just touched her neck. Her screams pierced the silence, the Cross countering her natural accelerated healing as Holy Light invaded her body while the Holy Sword burned her. "Prideful, greedy, and weak, she desires to protect her servants yet is too weak to stop even the weakest of foes. She may be the next head of the Gremory Family but she is a disappointment to the Demon Gremory, she who led 26 Legions of Hell in the Great War."
"Or perhaps you'll choose to save the Red Dragon Emperor?" He shot a loathful look at the boy, a superior sneer graced his face, as he brandished the blade and like with Rias rest it on his skin. "Lust incarnate, and easily led around because of it, he holds within him the power of Ddraig, the Red Dragon of Domination. His power could slay a God, yet his ordinary body prevents him from ever reaching his true potential." A slight push cut his skin and his screams intensified as the Holy Sword seemed to glow brighter as if begging to be unleashed upon the foes of its Creator. "Still there's power in him, and with enough training he can become an Ultimate-Class Devil."
To him the choice of the Crimson Satan was obvious and his actions did not disappoint. Greed was the sin of the Gremory's after all.
Faster than most people could blink a dozen demonic circles surrounded him, and in the following moment he was being bombarded with tiny pellets of Destruction.
They may have been small, but whatever they touched, whether it be matter or magic, were utterly annihilated. Even with such dangerous powers assaulting him, he had nothing to fear. Every little bullet of Destruction froze before hitting him, hovering mid-air.
A spear of Holy Light came from behind him, as a shimmering barrier idly deflected the attack that Michael had thrown at him. "Naughty, naughty." He taunted. "What would your Father say to you, striking a person when their back was turned? Anger coursed through the Seraph, his eyes darkening as his the tips of his wings turned black. "Oh well, the opinion of the dead matters little, and that of his little puppet even less so."
"Don't do it Michael." Azazel warned, looking at his fellow leader. "If you Fall Heaven will be weak as they attempt to find a new leader."
"Tell me, did you bark like a good little dog?" Hadrian asked curiously. "Get a treat every time you came running to your master's call? A pat on the head every time you learned a new trick? And you Azazel..."
"Do your worst, nothing you say can harm me." Azazel said smugly.
"What a shame it is…" He started. "Poor Hadraniel, betrayed by the only one she loved more than her Heavenly Father. I can't even imagine the pain that she went through, seeing her husband laying with another woman. Her cries echoing through Heaven's walls, her sorrowful lamentations stirring even the stoic Raphael. A hundred days and a hundred nights, she wept, before finally on that faithful morning she faded, the Angel representing the Majesty of God, smothered under all those dark emotions. Azazel, the Scapegoat, The Seducer, the Angel detested by God, for your crime even the Almighty refused you Forgiveness. How does it feel to be one of only two beings to be utterly unforgivable in the eyes of your Father?"
With each word, hatred grew within the Fallen Governor, enough so that by the end of Hadrian's little speech, the man was seething, his dark aura manifesting around him. "Oh did I hit a nerve? What was that you said? 'Nothing you say can harm me'."
However before he could attack, Katerea stepped in front, fearlessly smiling as she hurled a bolt of chaotic magic towards her foe. The two foes kicked off and flew to the edge of the field, sparks flying as Light met Demonic power.
Meanwhile a single elegant brow rose in response to the attack, and to his credit Sirzechs did not allow this to shake him, as he readied himself to attack again. "Ruin of the Extinct." The strongest of the Satans commanded, releasing some of his own limiters. Numerous spheres, each one a ball of condensed Power of Destruction, surrounded them, and with a single gesture each one hurtled towards him.
Sona watched, as death headed towards the Descendent of the Legendary Magician. Never before had she seen such an attack, even her sister when she fought did not unleash the raw destructive might that the Leader of the Satans was casually emitting. Unknown to her the Underworld had not seen such an attack since the days of the Civil War, and if Sirzechs' detractors had seen what he had just done they would think twice before challenging him. Still though the magician looked carefree as the spheres of Destruction moved closer.
"Some people never learn." He said shaking his head at the impending attack. While nowhere near as fast as the previous attack had been, each sphere was packed with enough power to utterly decimate an Ultimate-Class Devil and the number hurtling towards him would have even posed a danger to Deities.
He held out his hand palm facing upwards, and those previously frozen bullet of Destruction flowed into it, compressing to form a single ball. Sirzechs attack, Ruin of the Extinct, followed each sphere flowing into his hand, yet the size never changed, keeping its compressed size. When the last attack faded away he held a pulsating red sphere with a darkness that swirled within. "Beautiful isn't it." He said hoisting the sphere up to eye level.
She couldn't help but agree as she felt the power within it pulsing. Enough power to wipe out an entire city lay in the palm of his hand and even though every instinct in her body told her to flee, that he literally held life and death in his hands, she was unable to tear her eyes away from it. "To think that even Devils would be able to create beauty like this."
"Such a shame." Closing his fist the sphere was snuffed out. She could literally feel the disbelieving stares being directed towards him. Magic was many things; to those properly trained Magic was less of a tool to be wielded but a desire in the back of their minds. They had grown so in tune with the force that even their subconscious desires could be made manifest if they weren't careful. Putting aside those monsters the average Magicians regularly gave the finger to science. The one before her was definitely no average Magician, and feeling the magic welling up within him, it was less like giving the finger to Science and more like telling Reality to bend over and bite down on the pillow. "Their Deaths are on your own head, but what is one more to the mountain of corpses left in your wake?"
With no hesitation he swung the Holy Sword, its aura growing brighter as if realizing that it was about to devastate an enemy of God. "Sirzechs!" Grayfia shouted, enacting a teleportation circle underneath the two captives while simultaneously creating barriers around both hostages. The Satan kicked off the ground, his entire being enveloped in crimson, as he unleashed everything. The room that they were in began to shake, no it was not the room but the entire pocket dimension that they were in as his power violently lashed out. His entire body turned red and in a blinding flash Sirzechs was gone and in his place was the True Power of Destruction, shaped in the form of a human. Human shaped annihilation hurtled towards him as the blade struggled to destroy the barriers.
"Magnificent!" Hadrian commented smiling brightly, snapping his fingers. The shaking immediately stopped and the cracks that had begun to form in the sky in response to the awesome power being displayed were immediately healed over. "However in this form you lack any control or finesse. I can feel it, the Power of Destruction is spreading, disobeying your commands, it wants to annihilate everything friend or foe. If you aren't careful even your sister will be put in harm's way." Hadrian warned, dodging the attacks of the Crimson Satan. Once again he snapped his fingers, the circles forming underneath Issei and Rias cracking and dissolving into a thousand pieces. He paid the hostages no mind as he tracked the streaking bolts of Destruction that Sirzechs threw and battered them away with contemptuous ease.
Seeing the futility of his ranged attacks 12 bat-like wings sprouted forth from his back as he took to the skies. Wings tipped with talons sharp enough to cut through steel outlined by the crimson power of destruction were stopped by a golden barrier as a fist crackling with the Bael's signature power was caught in a silver gauntlet. "Divinely forged steel, created by the Biblical God to armor his Seraphim." Once again, Michael's eyes widened at his possession of Holy artifacts. "Truly Heaven's security has grown lax to have not noticed such a relic missing."
The power of destruction even though it was capable of erasing anything was demonic in nature and as such faltered when it met its polar opposite, Holy Light, and in such quantities that it did, absolute ruin was stopped cold. The power of destruction lashed out violently in defiance of the Holy Armor that was protecting his foe. "Repulse." A wall of pure kinetic energy flew from him, blasting the Satan clear across the courtyard. "Is this the best the strongest of the Satans can offer?" He asked disappointedly.
Lightning burst from Sirzech's fingers, infused with Destruction, flashed towards him. "Better." The Lightning flowed through him coalescing into his outstretched hand. Lightning was a great offensive element as it had incredible speed and penetrative power.
Flinging his hand away the gathered lightning branched out. "YAARGH!" Issei and Rias screamed as thousands of volts of electricity flowed through them. "Yet I still find your rumored skills wanting." He paused, looking over the Satan with a critical eye. "Perhaps if the stakes were taken higher?" Piercing emerald eyes flicked towards the Silver haired maid.
She along with Michael and Serafall were busy maintaining the barriers around the clubroom, preventing the massive collateral damage from reaching them as well as stopping them from being wiped out in their carelessness, during the titanic battle. Floating down gently, she was barely able to shout a warning before the barriers around them shattered. Oppressive power bore down on her, driving her and her peerage to their knees. It was difficult to even breathe as it felt like someone was pouring cement down her lungs. She saw her pawns clutching their throats as they convulsed on the ground, their eyes going wide as blood pooled from their nose. Black brogue shoes marched closer, stopping only a few feet in front of her, just as another stepped in front of her. Just as suddenly as she had been forced down she regained her breath, greedily sucking in air as the pressure abated. Slowly and on shaking legs she forced herself to stand.
A sinful beauty stood in front of her, clad in a racy dark navy dress that emphasized her ample figure. Raven tresses flowed down her back, and as she turned her head slightly, Sona caught sight of her icy azure eyes, her dark hair framing a stunning face. Rosy lips parted in a familiar smile. "Are you okay Sona?" Her voice was husky and seductive more suited to whispering sinful temptations than being laced with concern.
"Serafall?" She asked hesitantly.
"Wonderful!" Hadrian commented drawing both women's attention. "Truly the rumors have not done your beauty and power justice. Truly you could stand next to the likes of Gabriel and Penemue, and no man would ever find you wanting. Serafall Sitri, the Demon of Envy, the woman for whom even Angels Fell. A Devilish woman without peer, Corrupter of Innocence, Queen of the Rime, and Slayer of her own Kin."
"You talk too much." Serafall said through narrowed eyes. Hundreds of cerulean circles filled the sky, and from them shot forth a lethal torrent of icy spears.
"Lucifer and Leviathan." He smiled, as the spears failed to touch him. "Your predecessors must be proud you bear their titles rather than their egotistical descendants." The smile faded from his face, as he looked down at them with the first serious expression since he had appeared. "Such a shame that this charade must come to an end."
A crimson fist erupted from his chest as Sirzechs, once more wearing the façade of human form, stood behind him. "And so the cycle continues…" He spoked calmly as if uncaring of the gaping wound in his abdomen. His form shimmered for a few seconds, slowly shifting. First was his hair turning to a familiar scarlet, and then his face lost any trace of masculinity to form a heart shaped and beautiful one. Sea green met sea green as her eyes stared in disbelief at the figure that had wounded her, blood pouring from his mouth. "What started as a family feud, with brother turning on brother, will the betrayal never end?"
"Rias?" Sirzechs stammered.
Dozens of magic circles appeared above the two Gremorys, the smallest hovering about 20 feet above them was still several meters in diameter, while the rings that rose above it got progressively larger. The largest one that they could see spanned the entire skyline, and within it were complex rings of formulae, runes and diagrams. Thousands of stars twinkled in the sky as they fell in a shower, forming a pulsating magic sphere above them, gradually growing larger with each fallen star.
Then the ball began to shrink, condensing smaller and smaller as the ring around it grew narrower and narrower. The orb darkened as a malignant presence radiated from it, the winds howled at the pressure, screaming voiced invaded her mind as she felt the sheer wrongness of the magic being performed.
Then all at once the attack was released.
A pillar of raw destruction fell from the Heavens with enough fury to put even an Elder God to shame. As the beam passed through each ring it grew thinner and thinner until it hit the last circle and the entire power of the attack was condensed down to a few feet wide. With speed born from desperation, Sirzechs removed his bloodstained hand from his sister and threw her towards the clubroom, her body being caught Grayfia who skidded back from the force of the throw.
Azazel couldn't help but stop his fight with Katerea in order to marvel at the amount of power that was being generated, in fact it reminded him almost of… Oh no! The Fallen Governor thought hastily. Kicking away the devil he was fighting he sped towards the clubroom. "SHIELDS!" He screamed hoping that everyone would understand. Dozens of barriers sprang to life as he narrowly took cover under a shield Michael cast. A bulge could be seen shooting forth from the large orb in the sky, traversing the path of the beam within seconds, and striking Sirzechs head on.
A deafening boom rattled the area, what glass hadn't been broken now shattering as heat from the attack melted the unprotected stone walls of the school. The barriers that the leaders had erected barely withstood the collateral damage and they were blinded by the impact. When the smoke cleared, the entire landscape had been changed.
There was now a crater dozens of feet deep and so wide that the only thing left standing was half of the building that they were in. Every building on the entire campus had been swallowed up by the attack, and looking above she couldn't help but gulp. Everything above them was gone as well.
"Goodbye Sirzechs Gremory." Hadrian appeared in between them, sitting on the gaudy throne that the Crimson Satan had been sitting on during the peace conference, holding a glass of wine by the stem. "Your time is over, and in the wise words of Hammurabi, 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and in this case…a life for a life."
A shield flared to life in front of him, as he was assailed by a flurry of spears crafted not only from ice but also Light. "It's useless." He warned those who were attacking. "This shield is powered by the intersecting ley lines themselves, and unless you wish to horrifically damage Japan, you'll stop." Seeing the hesitation in their eyes, he continued. "Besides you have more pressing issues to deal with than a single magician." Emerald eyes drifted towards the still crucified figure of the Red Dragon Emperor.
In that moment of distraction another made their move.
"Azazel!" Serafall cried out in warning, however it came too late.
The severed arm of the Fallen Governor flew through the air.
"Even you're betraying me" Azazel mused, shock written on his face, as he clutched the bleeding stump that was his limb, retreating away from his assailant.
"No hard feelings old man." A silver haired beauty said from behind him. "But they offered me a better deal." Her argent haired reached down to her waist, and her figure was unique even among the beauties of the Supernatural World. Possessing a full and athletic figure, bright sapphire eyes stared at the assembled Leaders with a hungry smile that screamed of bloodlust. Flicking her wrist she removed the blood from her sword before sheathing it.
"What was it Vali? Power? Riches? A chance to rule the world? A harem of the finest men and women to do with as you please?" The man had started off seriously but at the end his face had turned lecherous even as he grimaced in pain. Many of those gathered sweat dropped, thinking that it was the latter thing that would lead him astray.
"Your peace." The young woman started. "I want to fight, to prove the strength of the White Dragon Empress Valentia…Valentia Lucifer."
"Lucifer!" Everyone but Azazel could help but stare at her in shock, having never expected to see the Descendent of THE Devil here.
"Correct." 12 bat-like wings extended from her back. "I am a descendent of the Light Bringer, The Morning Star, and Father of Lies. My name is Valentia Anastasia Lucifer and I so swear that the peace you desire will never exist."
"What an over the top character." Azazel grunted. "All the power one would expect from the Descendent of Lucifer combined with the power of a Heavenly Dragon."
The Leaders watched her warily as she stepped closer to the Magician who was watching them all with amusement. "Oh and Azazel. Why would I need a harem of slaves when I have the perfect man right here?" Saying that she took a seat on his lap, as an arm wrapped around her waist and drew her closer. She went willingly, molding herself tightly against him, as she relaxed in his embrace.
"I'm flattered my dear." Hadrian responded, chastely kissing her. "We'll have time for more later." He whispered.
"Promises, promises." She commented seductively. "However it seems you broke one of the ones you made. You promised to leave the Red Dragon Emperor to me."
"And I shall." Snapping his fingers the chains binding the boy broke and he fell from the cross. Before he could plummet to his death or spread his wings another force seized him, keeping him suspended in the air. A green glow surrounded his smoking body as the horrific wounds caused by the Holy Cross began to heal.
"That's-" Michael stared slack jaw.
"Twilight Healing, yes. Or at least a modified version of it. Dearest, please remind me to leave a fruit basket or something at the altar of the next Church we visit." He said speaking to the woman in his lap. "It was quite nice of the Biblical God to leave a how to guide for the Sacred Gear System."
Within moments the boy was fully healed, even though he was held there, his head slumped over, a bit of drool leaking from his mouth. "Well physically he's fine." Hadrian commented, disappointedly. "As for his mental state…well even in his original condition there was much left to be desired."
"Just leave it to me." Valentia said getting off his lap and taking to the skies. "Try not to tire yourself out, playing with the small fry." She taunted. "After all what I have planned for later will require all your stamina."
"Says the one who always passes out first." He teased, seeing the faint blush on her alabaster cheeks. Her form was covered by white armor as she entered Balance Breaker. "Release him." She commanded her voice brooking no argument. Seizing her rival by the throat she held him aloft.
"Don't interfere." He warned the Leaders, snapping another barrier around them, trapping everything within its confines. "And as for you." Emerald eyes drifted to a darkened corner of the room, right before several spears of light impacted the floor, and drew a circle around the impact points. He stared in distaste at the revealed figure of Katerea Leviathan, having snuck behind Serafall with a dagger drawn. "If you so much as twitch, that circle will shrink, crushing you within its confines. Oh and don't bother trying to break out of it, that binding circle was created to deal with things a lot nastier than you." Getting out pf his chair, he moved until he was face to face with the devilish woman. "You're a disgrace to the name Leviathan, barely possessing a tenth of your ancestor's power and control. Wanting of his cunning and guile, it's no wonder your parents cast you aside, crying not when you killed them…but that a reject like you were to inherit their prodigious name.
Any retort she might've had was cutoff as a large shockwave rocked the building. Shrapnel and debris bounced off the shield as several of Sona's peerage reflexively dove out of the way or fell to the floor.
He winced as a body crashed into the shield which shimmered into existence as it attempted to dissipate the force. The still catatonic form of the Red Dragon Emperor slid down the now visible barrier. "This is pathetic." Vali said disappointedly. "Hey Harry, can you do anything about this?"
Humming to himself, he took another sip from the goblet of wine. "Hmmm, maybe." He drawled, tilting his head slightly. The same array that had been hanging over their heads adjusted, the amount of circles decreasing as well as narrowing, while shifting so it aimed away from them. An image of Kuoh city appeared in the sky as several dozen circles appeared over it, identical to the ones that had struck down the Crimson Satan. "Maybe laying waste to everyone and everything he's ever known will work."
A defiant light appeared in the previously unresponsive boy's eyes. "But then maybe it won't." A flash of light so bright it blinded them shot forth from the array, striking the heart of the city. Blinking away the stars in their eyes she couldn't help the dread welling up within her as she viewed what had been her home. Gone was the city with millions of people living there, students whom she'd sworn to protect, people she'd known for a long time. The entire city had been cleansed from the face of the earth, and in its place and in its place was a verdant landscape.
"You monster." Sona said, the horror at what she saw shattering her normally stoic composure.
"Ironic coming from a devil." He remarked.
"Even we have standards." Sona countered.
"Oh really?" He sneered. "You think what I just did even compares to the blood that your sister has spilled? Your kind is responsible for most of the evils plaguing the world. I've seen pure and innocent people tempted by the stain that is your kin. Priests fallen to depraved sin, family turning on one another as fathers raped daughter before killing them and sacrificing them and their unborn child to forge a pact with a devil. Mothers raping sons, offering their own child as well as their tainted wombs to birth hell spawns. Their perversion damning them to the deepest pits of Hell, their sins staining their once pure souls black, sentencing them to an eternity away from his Light. And for what?"
He glared at the assembled devils, power bursting from his form, eclipsing that of even Serafall who attempted to shield her family. "All to taste the forbidden fruits your king offers. Carnal pleasures, euphoria and bliss unimaginable to mortal minds. Power and influence to affect the masses letting them twist and corrupt others to the same depravity." He turned now to Azazel and Michael. "And you. You were meant to safeguard us. To protect us from the evils of the world, to smite down the foes that would threaten harm upon God's Children. You, Michael, cower behind Heaven's walls playing God. The armies of Heaven have grown fat and lazy as they sit back and watch humanity struggle. Devils poaching and taking the very best that we have to offer, bringing the wielders of God's Treasures into their service. Shame on you Michael, every action you've taken has done nothing but trample upon God's dream, and you spit on the Almighty himself, daring to try and make peace with this filth."
Michael turned, his normally melancholy expression further deepening as he refused to meet the eyes of his accuser. "And Azazel, Governor of the Fallen." You could feel the sarcasm in his words at the title. "It's ironic that out of all the people it's those who have Fallen from grace that carry out their Father's work, as they seek to redeem themselves in his eyes. Yours is the most fractured faction as there exists those who wish to return to their Father and those who wish to embrace the depravity of the Devils. Do you remember what Penemue and Kokabiel said when they Fell? Where you cursed your Father and indulged in carnal pleasures, they stayed true. What was it they said Azazel?!"
Hanging his head low, the Governor of the Fallen softly said. "We who live in the shadows do so to serve your Light. We the damned children forsake salvation, our lives the currency to buy forgiveness for our brothers and sisters."
"Kokabiel had the right idea, the Three Factions no longer have the right to exist." He sneered. Looking back at Sona he met her gaze with his own steely one, as she took a step back, flinching at the sheer intensity in those emerald orbs. "You may call me a monster, asking by what right do I have to kill millions as I just did. However, those who understand know that they have no right to let them live."
A crimson fist was stopped inches from his head, as a pearl white hand gripped its counterpart by the wrist. "That did it." Vali smiled dangerously. Tears poured from the boy's eyes as he struggled in her grip. Savagely she drove her plated fist into his unarmored torso, breaking ribs and bruising organs as the force of the attack launched him into the air.
"What a shame he must've been." Hadrian said, lashing out as he brought forth the doubts he had about himself. "A failure as a son, a pervert of the highest echelon. How embarrassing it must've been for his family, constantly making excuses for his behavior. Nothing more than a blight on society, a loathful existence that even your parents could barely tolerate."
[BALANCE BREAKER]
Crimson plates appeared armoring his form. While similar to Vali's it bore several key differences namely style and ornamentation. Where Vali's was thinner and built for speed and agility, his armor was thick and heavy, with brutal spikes and flanges. Because it was heavy as well as being the first time he was using it he was slow, the heavy and cumbersome plates allowing for Vali to dance around him, drawing blood with every attack.
[BOOST]
[DIVIDE]
For the briefest moment the boy's power doubled, his speed increasing ever so slightly. Nevertheless, just as quickly it was halved, his meager speed dropping even lower as the boost rapidly consumed stamina. "Zero doubled is still zero." Vali taunted.
[BLADE]
He had to smirk, imagining Vali's eyes widening as a 2-foot long blade of Divinely forged steel appeared mid-punch from her rival's gauntlet. One day her over confidence would be her downfall, but hopefully he would be able to break her of her habit of underestimating her opponents before it became a fatal mistake. The attack struck her, her enhanced reflexes allowing for the blade to scratch her armor but not pierce it. Reflexively she backhanded her foe and he couldn't help but wince as she almost turned his head a full 180 degrees, sending him flying once more.
Gingerly she touched the scratch on her armor, her helmet retracting to show her annoyed expression. "It seems I've grown overconfident." She mused.
"Maybe you should stop playing with him." Hadrian suggested from where he was sitting, calmly sipping on his goblet of wine. "That way we can go home and relax."
"A little deeper and that attack would have gotten through my armor, though it's definitely not the worse wound I've ever suffered." A surge of power and her armor restored itself. "And you're right; a massage sounds heavenly right now, but I'm still bored. I wonder…what would it take for him to activate his Juggernaut Drive? We already killed his family, maybe killing his King would cause him to go berserk?"
"No…for a pervert like him I know exactly what to do." Hadrian smirked holding out his hand. The barely healing form of Rias flew from her sister-in-law's tender care and into his hand. "Hey Red Dragon Emperor, look here."
The boy was barely able to wobbly into the air, his entire body in pain from Vali's hits, but even with a stiff neck he was able to shift himself to see his King in the merciless hands of the maniac who had nonchalantly wiped out a town.
Rias Gremory, the woman who saved his life. The woman who encouraged his dream, and was there to help him. They had fought together through thick and thin, yet here he was powerless to do anything to help her. a feeling of hopelessness welled up within him, not even before the might of Kokabiel had he felt such despair. Everything that the Magician had said earlier had struck home, unburying fears that he had secretly hidden within himself.
"I've heard rumors that you treasure your master's bust over everything. To you there is no greater thing than oppai."
"I feel disgusted just knowing that there's a bigger pervert out there than Odin and Azazel." Vali shivered.
He shot her a reassuring smile, as he continued. "I wonder what would happen if she lost a cup size." Glancing at the woman in his grasp he amended his statement. "Or all of it."
"I'm going to kill you, you bastard!" The Red Dragon spat the words with a hateful glare, as power flooded his body.
"I see Azazel completed the balance breaker bracelet." Hadrian commented noticing the disintegrating bracelet on his wrist. "But with you having activated it earlier to fight Vali, you have no power left." The power that had been flooding through him suddenly stopped, as he coughed up blood. His body unable to handle the strain of activating even an incomplete form of Balance Breaker.
Staring at the bracelet for a few more seconds, he got up from his chair and took to the sky. Pointing with a single finger, a small magic circle appeared at the tip shooting forth a bolt of lightning. With his depleted reserves, Issei had no chance of dodging, and fell to the earth, his body convulsing from the electrical attack. "You have no right to be at our level. Embrace reality as nothing but a lowly worm, doomed to be crushed under the heel of greater beings."
"Now that you've had your fun." He trailed off looking at his lover who nodded. "I think it's time for the final act to begin."
"The final act?" Azazel asked warily, aware of the fact that for the moment he and his fellow leaders were still at the mercy of this magician.
"Yes, you see Kokabiel had the right ideas but acted foolishly." A sound like breaking glass was heard overhead as a man clad in Chinese armor appeared floating down on a golden cloud. "After all why go to such lengths to destroy your enemies when there are easier methods out there?"
"Hey Boss." The man greeted with a smile.
"Bikou." Vali nodded turning to her lover with a questioning look, wondering why a member of her team was here.
"He's been banging away at the barrier for the past ten minutes, I figured it must be important if he kept it up that long."
"Old Harry's right." Bikou laughed, hiding the shudder that came about from the dark look Hadrian was shooting him.
"What have you come for?" Vali said pointedly, trying to get the conversation back on track.
"Aww. Isn't that a bit too cruel?" Bikou said placing his hand over his heart, his face contorted in mock indignation. "I mean, I made such a long journey to this remote island and had to force my way through a barrier that could stop a God all to help out my boss. The other guys were making such a fuss, you know. Wondering where the White Dragon Empress was, if she chickened out of joining them to fight the Elder Gods."
He couldn't help but smile at the look of outrage on his beautiful lover's face, as he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "The opinions of sheep matter little to wolves." He gently chided.
"Oh by the way Magic Man." Bikou laughed at the annoyed look the Magician shot him. "Your lovely apprentice was quite peeved to find out that you had left without her. I believe the words castration and rusty spoon were used, when her brother suggested that you needed some time to yourself."
"I…see." Hadrian said slowly. "Well then it's best that we wrap this little show up."
"To think that even the descendent of the legendary Victorious Fighting Buddha would join our enemies." Azazel said darkly.
Bikou turned, as if noticing for the first time the assembled leaders. "So this is where you guys have been." He muttered, before smiling brightly. "Nice to meetcha Abrahamic Leaders. I'm Bikou descendent of Sun Wukong, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, but unlike that old man I like doing things my way." Spinning the bang in his hands, a replica of his predecessors Ruyi Jingu Bang, a golden bubble formed around him and Vali. "I'm sure you can find your own way home." The Monkey descendent nodded towards the legendary Magician.
"Of course." Hadrian scoffed, and with a crack like lightning, the golden bubble rapidly accelerated, escaping from the assembled leaders with ease. Turning towards the crater he had made for a few moments, he addressed the assembled leaders. "Now for you, oh so mighty leaders of the Biblical Faction. Azazel, Governor of the Fallen. Michael, Leader of the Angels. And Sirzechs Gremory. Your time is over." He announced, power pulsing from his body, the very space around him warping in response. "Let the War begin."
With that declaration he vanished.