Chrno still had worries about Aion's plan but did not express them. Rizeel, however, seemed to enjoy all of their meetings. She was always coming up with ideas that Chrno didn't bother to listen to.

However, one day Rizeel came up with and idea after Aion suggested that they need more members.

"The more members we have, the less other devils will miss out on the fun," he said before winking.

Suddenly Chrno felt worse about Aion's future actions. He had always thought that it was a mere dream and nothing else, but now Aion was making it reality.

Of course, he did desire the sweet sensation of being out in freedom.

And then another thought drifted into his mind… how would Aion even let them loose on earth?

"Hey Chrno," Aion interrupted. Chrno jumped, startled. "Yes?" he replied.

Aion looked at Chrno for a while. "When the time has come," he said slowly, "Will you grant us your power?"

Chrno thought for a moment and then said, "Yes."

"Good," Aion said. "Because it may be sooner then you think." That stopped Chrno cold. "Oh, Chrno," Rizeel said calmly. "You haven't forgotten about our dream? Remember the way you killed Hezeli. Don't you want to make something out of it?"

"Yes," Chrno answered. "I will grant you my power. I do wish for freedom."

"Good," Aion said steadily. "Rizeel, bring your friends next time. If they disapprove Chrno will kill them. Understood?" he nodded to Rizeel.

"Yes," Rizeel answered. "They won't disappoint you, my lord."

Just as Aion and Rizeel vanished into the darkness Chrno's leg was covered by a stiff hand.

"What the-?" Chrno gasped. He turned his head around. Standing there was DeFaux.

"What the heck are you doing?" Chrno roared, outraged. "We need to talk," DeFaux said unpleasantly. You've been hanging around with Aion a lot around here. What're you guys discussing?"

"Why do you care," Chrno said. "Why can't Aion and I do anything without you poking your bearded head in?"

DeFaux leaped up. "Shut up!" he roared. "Anyway, it's because Aion never had any respect to Pandamonium. And also Hezeli has gone missing. Do you honestly think he just vanished into thin air?"

"We've just been hanging out, DeFaux," Chrno defended himself and Aion. "Just talking, okay?"

DeFaux gave Chrno a suspicious look. "I'll let you off the hook this time," he snarled. "But if it's anything bad, say good-bye to your future."

When DeFaux began to fly away Chrno teleported back to his den.

Just as Chrno reached his den to get some sleep and relax, two large explosions sounded outside of Chrno's den.

Dang it, he cursed inside his head. God, these battles just won't end!

Chrno hurried out of his den but then was blown away by yet another explosion. When the ash and black mist was cleared Chrno saw a large black outline of a figure.

The source of the explosions was a large demon, one with an axe in one hand and a blade in the other.

Chrno recognized him at once; Viscount Borzo. He was a lesser viscount, one far beyond Chrno's rank.

"What are you doing here?" Chrno demanded instantly. Borzo looked troubled.

"Oh nothing- I was- just," he spluttered. "Um… well I think I'll go now." He turned to leave but then Chrno raised his hand and Borzo flew toward Chrno.

"What are you doing here?" Chrno repeated.

"Well, there's a rumor going around that DeFaux is having higher ranked viscounts try to find out what you, Aion, and Rizeel have been doing. And I just-"

"Wanted to find out for yourself what we were doing in hope of getting a higher status?" Chrno raised an eyebrow.

Borzo nodded.

"Hopefully you've found out by now I'm not doing anything." Chrno pointed into the darkness. "You may leave now."

Borzo flapped his wings and then soared into the dark sky.

"That DeFaux," Chrno muttered to himself. "Always trying to get us into trouble." Although Chrno had said 'us' but deep down he knew it was mostly Aion. DeFaux was afraid of Aion, no matter how much he pretended not to and denied it.

Chrno knew DeFaux was also afraid of him, whose power was equivalent to Aion's. But Aion was always the one who wished for more power, the one who was most likely to take over DeFaux's position or ruin his reputation.

Chrno sighed and then flew back into his den to get some sleep.

DeFaux sat in with the other Viscounts he had ordered to spy on Aion, Chrno, and Rizeel. He sat in the top-middle chair while eleven Viscount-level demons sat in each of the rest. Many of them looked like Chrno or Aion, except each of them wore different shades of body armor.

"Well?" DeFaux demanded. A large male demon with yellow body armor and no hair said roughly, "I have watched Rizeel closely. She appears to spend much of her time with Aion. She does not, like her usual self, spend much time with Hezeli, Jenai, or Videl. In fact I have not even seen Hezeli with her anymore."

DeFaux nodded. "Yes, I think we have established that Hezeli has gone missing. However, it is more likely that he has been killed. Thank you, Argrasy."

He looked around at the other Viscounts. More than half a dozen shook there heads when he looked at them or else replied, "Nothing," or, "Couldn't find any information."

A few moments later a female demon with long silver hair named Uni spoke up, "DeFaux, I have been watching the boy Chrno. He seems the least enthusiastic within the group or else least talkative. If they plan to make an attack, I think it will be easiest to convince him. The female one- Rizeel did you call her? - She seems very into their actions. I think she should not be tried to manipulate or convinced."

Before she could say anymore another devil spoke up. "DeFaux, Aion has been very alert. As a compliment I would say his high rank is well-earned. He can sense the presence of me even though he cannot see me and is a truly spectacular devil when it comes to fighting. If it weren't for Lirajie here," he nodded to a devil beside himself, "I would almost certainly be dead or have many serious injuries."

Viscount Lirajie nodded in agreement. "Yes. I agree with Gulio completely. My powers… are outstanding, are they not?" he looked at the other Viscounts with pride. The all murmured or nodded in agreement; it was obvious Lirajie's powers were well above most Viscounts. "But even though I have such extraordinary power Aion easily matched my power. Even with two of us we could not leave even an injury on Aion's body. Now, his behavior is very silent but thoughtful. Even by the look of him we can tell he is cunning."

DeFaux said, "Yes. Good work. Hopefully they aren't planning some outrageous attack."

But how wrong he was, he soon found out.

"Bastards," Aion said the next morning through gritted teeth. "Thinking they could sneak up on me…" his voice trailed off.

Rizeel raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" she asked.

"Don't tell me they weren't spying on you, Rizeel," Aion said in a disgusted voice.

"Well, anyway, I brought Videl and Jenai. They're back over there," she pointed one of her bony hands at a great mound of stone.

"Well, why don't you go get them," Aion said as if it were obvious.

"Ah, yes," Rizeel said nervously before heading of to the rock mound.

Before long Rizeel returned with one large, heavily armored demon and a skinny, bladed demon that hid his face in a round visage.

"Hey," greeted Aion. Videl and Jenai mumbled bits of words that Chrno couldn't hear in return.

"This is Videl," Rizeel pointed at the larger of the demons, "and that is Jenai," she pointed at the bladed demon.

"What do you want with us?" Videl demanded.

"Yeah, we don't wanna waste our time for something that Pandamonium would make up," Jenai said.

Aion smiled. "I see you have a vendetta against Pandamonium already."

Videl suddenly moved toward Aion as if he wanted to hear what Aion had to say more clearly.

"What?" Jenai said, suddenly looking interested.

"What I have for you is a question," Aion said softly. "Are you ready to leap into freedom, and dispose of Pandamonium?"

Videl grinned. "Well," he said. "I see Rizeel hasn't brought us here for a pathetic lunatic I was once afraid of?"

Aion narrowed his eyes. "Is that an agreement?" he whispered.

Jenai folded his arms. "What would you propose to us if we refused?"

Aion pointed at Chrno. "You will face him and face the same death as Pandamonium and the other fools who worship her."

This time Jenai grinned. "So… when are we gonna teach Pandamonium a lesson?"