The wind dances, creating a hurricane that rips away the darkness. Wings, pitch as black, torn away, feathers left to wallow in the abyss.
A figure steps out from the winds, his scent akin to the grave.
Stop. The girl is innocent.
In a world without a god, the darkness closes. And then... the world falls apart.
A DRAGON DARKER THAN BLACK
OPENING: "Yoru wa Nemureru kai?" -flumpool
Hey
Hey
Hey
Fukaku nemureru kai kizu wa iyashita kai?
Yoru ga sabishii kara tte atari shidai ni kowasanai de
Yume wo miru koto datte hoshi ga naku koto datte
Shiri mo shinai mama shinde mita kke
Joozu ni kakureta kai iki wa hisometa kai?
Ima ga kurushii kara tte mury shite jibun kaenai de
Yuukan na banjin datte nayameru kohitsuji datte
Mawari michi shite ikiteru tte
Yeah, Yeah
Medata ni you ni
Yeah, Yeah
Tae rareru you ni
Yeah, Yeah
Shikou kairo wa mada tomenai you ni
Koyoi runaway runaway uso mitai da
Dare ka kono tsukande kure yo
Mienai asu wa konakute ii
Ima wa tada nemuritai
Hey
Hey
Hey
It was the end of school when Issei, accompanied by Yin, after shortly liberating her from a mob of curious girls and boys alike, and his partners, Motohama and Matsuda, went up to the rooftop. Lounging about atop the fence was a familiar black cat, flicking it's tail back and forth lazily before opening one of it's eyes, noticing the four's presence. "Oh, there you are." Mao greeted. "So, how was Yin's first day at school?"
"It was...interesting..." The white haired girl responded in monotone.
"The other students wouldn't leave her alone." Issei elaborated. "They kept pestering her with all sorts of questions."
"Well, it can't be helped, all things considered." Mao shrugged. "Anyway, just got some news from the higher ups." His eyes narrowed dangerously as he jumped down from his perch, landing easily on the ground. "The package has arrived in Kuoh... and it's with an unexpected variable."
Motohama furrowed his brow. "An unexpected variable?" he inquired. "How do you mean?"
"A Contractor from the Heaven's War," he elaborated, earning a look of startled surprise from the other Contractors. "Carmine. Codename: Havoc."
Just by hearing the name, Matsuda and Motohama flinched. All the while, Issei remained passive, but he gained a sharpness in his eyes.
Havoc...that was the codename of an unbelievably powerful Contractor. From what they knew, her power was creating powerful vacuums. They have seen evidence of what her power was capable of to both humans and buildings.
The photos were more...gory than he anticipated.
"...will this pose a problem?" he asked, his voice even. "After all, if she's as powerful as the reports claim her to be, then our mission has become more difficult."
"That is the thing though..." Mao interjected. "Based on the information we have, she hasn't shown any sign of using her power in years."
Matsuda raised an eyebrow. "What's up with that?" he asked. "What? Did the war make her lazy or something?"
"No. Nothing like that. When she was active, she laid waste to countless syndicates. There was another reason for her inactivity." Mao took a breath. "There has been a rumor that she lost her powers..."
That interested the group greatly. "A Contractor that doesn't have her powers?" Issei asked, folding his arms over his chest. "I thought Forfeitors were only in theory."
"Well, it's unconfirmed if she is," Mao said. "But regardless, don't let your guard down around her. She's still dangerous."
"So what are we talking about here? Some trained in knives, guns, or unarmed combat?" Matsuda guessed.
"All of the above." the cat replied. "At any rate, you three, you'll need to find a way to retrieve the package without arousing suspicion from the Sitri or Gremory heiresses, as well as avoiding the Fallen stationed here."
"So we need to remain stealthy lest we get our covers blown and possibly captured, interrogated, and tortured by either the Devils or Fallen Angels..." The bald teen mused. "...Sounds like a party."
Motohama sweat-dropped. "...Matsuda, sometimes, I think you don't take things seriously enough."
Issei ignored their banter, and instead, looked out past the fence, his gaze intense. 'Havoc, huh?' he thought, his left hand twitching slightly. 'A Contractor who's lost her power...doesn't make her any less than a threat.'
Even though a contractor may be powerless, its not the abilities they have that make them so feared. It's their natural skill.
He should know that, better than anyone else.
Ever since their brief, if non-existent, confrontation in the hallway, Rias was confused about Issei Hyoudou.
The moment she walked passed him, she did not feel the bright, positive energy that he seemed to emit before. All she felt was a cold, endless abyss.
There was no trace of the perverted boy she had come to be aware of.
But how was this possible? Just how could Issei perform a complete 180 turn in his personality like that?
"You look like your deep in thought." Akeno remarked as she entered the room. "Penny for your thoughts, Buchou?"
Rias offered her friend a tired smile. "Hey, Akeno..." she greeted back. "Sorry... just dueling with unpleasant thoughts."
At this Akeno frowned. "...is this about the arranged marriage?"
"For once, no." the redhead replied. "It has to deal with a certain kouhai."
"Ara? Do you mean Issei-kun?"
Rias nodded. "I ran into him into the hallway not too long ago." she said. "And, well... let's just say I'm having doubts about him."
"Doubts?" Akeno cocked her head to the side. "Is that so... Well, speaking of our young kouhai, I hear his cousin has enrolled today."
"Really now?" Rias was now intrigued. She may have to ask Sona for more information about it.
Akeno nodded. "Yin Hyoudou. She's a rather quiet girl from what I can tell, and she's apparently been studying abroad."
"Is that so? Where did she study at?"
"I don't know." her Queen shrugged. "That's all I really know. Sona's quite curious about her, though, so she's keeping an eye on her.
"I see..." So Yin was under her friend's observation? The very notion piqued her interest, as Sona wouldn't keep tabs on another student without good reason.
Perhaps there was more to Issei Hyoudou, and by extension, his cousin, than what was letting on.
"I apologize for the delay, Argento." the man in the fedora hat said, bowing his head. "There was certain... complications. I am Dohnaseek, of the Grigori. I've been tasked with looking after you during your stay here." He turned his gaze to Carmine, who remained ever cautious of her surroundings. "And you must be Havoc... Lord Azazel has told me much of you."
"That name is in the past, Mr. Dohnaseek." the redhead dead panned. "Carmine will do just fine."
"Very well, Carmine." The Fallen Angel nodded.
The three currently resided in the Church of Kuoh Town. When Asia and Carmine first stepped off the train, they were greeted by the man before them.
The man had arrived only an hour after their arrival, and if the perplexed expression on his face was any indication, it was clear something recent had happened. What, she didn't know. She doubted they needed to know, but the fact that something had happened for this complication to occur meant it was something serious. She held her tongue, but Carmine knew it wouldn't be long before something would happen.
"Pardon, Sir Dohnaseek..." Asia said quietly and respectfully, bowing her head. While he may be a Fallen Angel, he was still an Angel, a servant of the Lord. In spite of her exile, she still retained her faith, evident by the cross that hung around her neck. "I-I was told we were to meet a Lady Raynare here."
Dohnaseek grimaced. "Yes, she was... And that is part of the complication." he said gravely. "She was killed. We found her body only yesterday."
This caused differing reactions amongst the girls. In Asia's case, she let out a horrified gasp, unable to believe what she just heard. Carmine however settled with her eyes widening in her surprise. She wasn't that perturbed, as bloodshed was a common thing back when she was a Contractor.
The question though...who was it that killed Raynare?
Whoever it must have been... they had to be either a Contractor, or a supernatural entity, if they wanted to kill a Fallen Angel, or a human experienced with a Sacred Gear.
"That's horrible..." Asia whispered, terrified at the prospect of an angel being killed. "Who would do such an awful thing?"
"We are currently looking into the matter as we speak," the man responded, sighing tiredly. It was only now that Carmine noticed the bags underneath his eyes. "Enough talk, I'm afraid. We must head to the church."
Carmine nodded. "Lead the way."
WIth the conversation at a close, the three made their way over to their destination. Still, Carmine could not shake off this strange feeling she had.
'Why do I get the feeling that things have become more complicated?'
Misaki Kirihara was one of the youngest people in the force to reach her current position, and one of the few female officers to achieve the rank of Chief at all. As a member of the Public Security ad Safety Bureau, she was tasked with investigating any unusual anomaly that involved contractors, dolls, or anything of the sort. Normally, she and her team would be stationed in Tokyo, as it was the hotbed of Contractor Activity.
However, the reason they were in Kuoh, a small residential district on the outskirts, was because of Contractor activity... specifically, two contractors that were labelled particularly dangerous.
One was a Contractor identified to be IO-010. Not much information was known about him, other than his Contractor ability over gravity. Supposedly, his power seemed to intensify the gravity around a certain point.
The other was even more of a mystery...and a lot more dangerous. The Black Reaper. BK-201.
There was little info about the latter. All she knew for certain was that he was wrapped in death and mystery, as no one had ever seen what he looks like. He first appeared around four years ago, and within that four years, he left behind a trail of corpses that would no doubt make a serial killer green with envy. After all, his list of kills was composed of many, ranging from corrupted officials to Contractors. It seemed as if he were an expert assassin, or perhaps a killer for hire. Either way, he was dangerous, and the fact that he was showing activity here, in this small town, provided some confusion and anxiety for her.
Why was he here? Moreover, why was IO-010 here as well? Had they tried to kill one another? Unlikely. Both stars were still present.
Based on this, there could be only a handful of assumptions. They haven't discovered one another, or they are collaborating with one another.
The last one terrified her. She didn't even want to know what would happen if they joined together.
Either way, this case was sure to be a long one.
"Chief," Saito, a large, burly man with short black hair and broad shoulders, greeted her with a salute as he approached. "We've managed to identify the victim."
Misaki nodded her head. "Alright." she said. "Who is she?"
he man set a file before her. The manila folder was opened to show a teenage girl with long black hair and violet eyes.
"Amano, Yuuma. Age, seventeen." Saito read off the information. "She was a student at Sumika Private Academy for Girls. She was listed as a straight-A student, no records of suspicious activity ranging from within the past few years. Strangely, however, when we questioned the staff about her, they appeared to have no recollection of a Amano ever enrolling in their school."
Misaki raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious of the circumstances. "ME?" she asked.
"A possibility. We're looking into it as we speak." he replied. "The cause of death is unknown, but it appears she was tortured first. We found signs of trauma prior to death, several broken fingers, a stab wound through the back of the hand, and scar tissue on the back. It was as if pieces of her flesh were ripped right off."
"I see...anything else?"
"No ma'm. That was all."
Misaki frowned deeply, leaning back in her seat. Out of habit, her forehead crinkled, and bit down on her lower lip. "Why was a high school student killed?" she muttered. "And why the torture? Moreover, why was the faculty's memories erased?"
"Hell if I know, chief." Saito said, clearly as confused as she was. "We do know, however, that her time of death coincides with BK-201's star becoming active, and prior to her death, IO-010. It's possible that 010 restrained her while 201 tortured her. Why, though, is anyone's guess. We checked her parents backgrounds, but nothing was out of the ordinary."
"Is that so? Who were her parents?"
"Just regular folks." Saito informed. "A housewife and a business man. Like I said, there's really-" He was cut off when the door to the office opened, revealing a well-aged man in his late fifties with gray hair and eyes, dressed in the ever-familiar business suit. It was Kunio Matsumoto, another member of the Public Security Bureau.
"Chief," he said without breaking stride, stopping just short of the desk. "I just got off the phone with the Principal of Sumika Private Academy. We did a little more digging on the victim." Misaki leaned forward, recognizing the disturbed, confused face on her colleague. "Apparently, there ARE no records of a Yuuma Amano attending Sumika."
Both officers' eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, you mean they were falsified?" Saito asked. "What the hell for?"
"Damned if I know." the man grunted. "I did some further checking in the Public Archives. There isn't a single damned mention of a girl named Yuuma Amano at all. She doesn't even exist."
The brown-haired chief frowned heavily, glancing down at the photograph that belonged to the victim... the one known as 'Yuuma Amano.' "If Amano doesn't exist..." she narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing over the picture as she tried to find an answer within the photo. "Then just who is our victim?"
The night was rather frigid, as Issei expected. The cool air whipped around him as he stood atop the rooftop of a recently established building that overlooked a majority of the small-scale city. He had forgone his previous attire, in place of more well-fitting clothes.
It was an outfit consisting of a pair of black pants, a black undershirt, and a black overcoat. They were built to take a few hits and provide a free range of motion for combat effectiveness. He also wore a harness underneath the coat, which was attached to his built, as it was armed with several knives meant to cut through any obstacle. The steel wires would provide the means of mobility, and the means to kill, but what truly brought forth a sense of dread in the hearts of his enemies was the object currently held in his hands. It was a white Pierrot mask with deep black eyes. It had a red slit that was bent upward to resemble a clown's smile. Going through the right eye was a purple lightning bolt marking.
"Issei," Motohama's voice broke through into his ear via comm-link, which was attached to the lobe of his ear. "Are you ready?"
"...yeah." he answered, slipping on his mask. He felt the cool material brush against his face as the world he perceived became more clearer to him, forfeiting any traces of the person that was Issei Hyoudou. There was little need for a school boy here... Here, there was only a Contractor. "Yin, what's the status of the package?"
"It is already in the Fallen Angel's possession. The one named Havoc is also with them."
BK-201 nodded. 'Regardless of whether or not Havoc has lost her powers, she is still a threat.' he thought as he double-checked his equipment, making sure everything was in place. 'I should focus on neutralizing her, first.' He tapped his earlobe. "Matsuda, Motohama... Are you ready?"
"We're all ready to go."
"Then mission start."
He leaped off the building.
"So, any news on the bastard that killed Raynare?"
Dohnaseek shook his head in regret, rubbing his tired eyes. "I have made little headway." he admitted. "All I can say with certainty is that, whoever killed her, they wanted to know something. What, I cannot say...but something tells me it may be that girl and the Contractor."
"Huh? Why would they want to know about the Nun and Havoc?" A petite blonde girl dressed in a gothic Lolita dress questioned.
"Who knows? But they must be pretty driven to get info about them if they were willing to torture and kill Raynare."
The blue-haired woman growled, her fingers digging into her arm. "Whoever they are, they're going to pay for what they've done." she hissed in rage. Raynare had been like a sister to her, long before they had ever fallen from grace. She had always wanted to be praised, to be loved, to be pampered by Azazel. Their orders were to simply observe the nun girl, and await further orders. Shortly after Raynare's death, however, she didn't give a damn about orders.
She wanted to find whoever did this, and then run them through with her spear.
"They will, Kalawarner." Dohnaseek told her, looking equally as enraged, albeit in a more calm manner. "For now, we must bide our time." He turned to the blonde girl. "Mittelt, have you erected the barrier, as requested?"
The Fallen nodded. "A few minutes ago. If anyone crosses the threshold, I'll know."
"Good." Dohnaseek nodded. "We should not take any chances."
It was crucial that they didn't lose Asia Argento, or the Contractor. While he wasn't sure about the woman, the nun was valuable, being the carrier of a Sacred Gear, a rare one at that. It was not everyday one encountered the power to heal all manner of beings, be them demon, angel, or human. It would become a useful tool, should Azazel choose to recruit her, or find a way to replicate it, in the near future.
"Back to the topic at hand..." Kalawarner narrowed her eyes. "Do we know who, or what, killed Raynare? Was it the Devils?"
"I don't believe so." Dohnaseek shook his head. "From what I know, the Heiress of Gremory is in charge of this territory. Given her character, it would be unlikely for her or her servants to move haphazardly. Besides, given what her abilities are, she wouldn't leave any trace of her victims behind. So Raynare's body remaining intact at the scene of the crime crosses her off the list."
"And the Sitri heiress?" Mittelt asked.
The fedora-wearing man scoffed. "She isn't stupid. The implications of killing a Fallen without knowing anything are too prominent. Besides, her character would also prevent her from acting."
Kalawarner sighed in frustration. "Okay, if it isn't a Devil... then who?"
"Who else would it be? A Contractor."
The two female looked at him in bewilderment. Kalawarner looked startled, whereas Mittelt frowned heavily, leaning back as she folded her arms over her chest. "Why the hell would a Contractor be here in the sticks?" she questioned. "Also, what gives you that idea?"
"Because the Public Safety and Security Bureau are present in this town as well." Dohnaseek replied without breaking stride, causing their eyes to widen. "It appears they've already discovered that 'Yuuma Amano' doesn't exist, which is to be expected, given that the falsified records weren't meant to be examined so thoroughly. After all, that alias was meant to last through the duration of Raynare's previous assignment."
"Damn. So because of Raynare's death, the PSSB are infesting this town like roaches? It's going to be a lot harder to move about freely for our assignment."
"I sincerely doubt that." Kalawarner scoffed. "They're humans, after all. As far as they know, the only true threats in the world are Contractors. They know nothing of the supernatural world, outside of their kind."
"True, but caution should still be advised." Dohnaseek told them. "Whoever killed Raynare must be quite skilled, given that she was one of the strongest of the lowest rank among the Grigori." He turned to Kalawarner. "That said, I doubt I have to tell you that there is no need to hold back."
Kalawarner gave him a dark smirk. "Of course." she said, pleased with the idea. "After all, they killed my best friend. It's only fair I kill them without hesitation."
Dohnaseek chuckled at that. In terms of raw power, Kalawarner outclassed him, but when it came to magic, Mittelt was the best in her field. He was more of a strategist than anything else, thus with them working together, they would be able to eliminate the threat easily. That being said, they couldn't quite throw caution out of the wind. After all, their opponent was an unknown, and obviously good enough to kill Raynare. Now that he thought about it... there was that rumor Azazel had informed him about... about a Contractor that left behind a long list of kills in the past.
Could it have been him...?
Before he had time to think about it more, Mittelt suddenly leaped to her feet, her eyes wide in alarm. "Someone's entered the perimeter."
"What?" Both Fallen snapped to attention. Someone actually entered the area?
"Who is it?" Kalawarner asked.
"I don't know."
Dohnaseek narrowed his eyes. "Whoever it is, they have a lot of gall." he growled. "Kalawarner, Mittelt, you two guard the nun and the Contractor. I shall deal with our uninvited guest myself."
Kalawarner nodded. "Understood. Be careful, Dohnaseek."
"Don't worry about me. Just keep those two safe. We can't risk losing them."
Mittelt snapped into a salute, grinning. "Give 'em hell, Dohnaseek!"
The man grinned at her words before tipping his head, swiveling around his feet as he turned to the exit.
Elsewhere, outside of the church and in the city, a young girl with silver hair and violet eyes stared blankly ahead of her, her hand touching the surface of a bucket of water that was placed in front of her.
"...a Fallen is approaching," she reported. "It appears to be a male. He is likely the one Raynare informed us of."
"Understood," Mao replied. "Alright, boys, it's game time. Issei, you know the drill."
As usual, he gave only a one-worded response, as was expected of him. "...understood."
When Dohnaseek entered the courtyard, he found the intruder standing in the middle of the field. He couldn't help but feel slightly impressed by them. They didn't bother to try and hide. They wanted to stand and fight, to engage in battle with him. To be rather honest, he was slightly excited as well. "...I assume you are the one who killed Raynare." It wasn't a question. "So, might I know your name, stranger?"
The lone figure standing in the courtyard turned on his feet, revealing their attire to him. Dohnaseek's eyes widened in mild surprise. They were dressed completely in black, a long coat reaching down to their shins bearing a green interior with black pants and boots, as well as a muscle shirt that could be barely seen underneath. Their face was covered by a white mask, resembling that of a pierrot with a smiling mouth, black eyes, and a purple insignia resembling a lightning bolt. They possessed brown hair, which was patted down, thus obscuring the left eye of the mask while the bangs fringed over the right, hiding their ears and reaching down past the collar of the coat.
All in all, they possessed a rather intimidating aura.
"...you are Dohnaseek, of the Grigori, correct?"
"...And if I am...?" The Fallen Angel replied in caution.
"Where is the package?" The masked figure requested bluntly. At this, the Fallen raised an eyebrow. Package? He must mean the nun.
A smile crossed his face. "If you are referring to Asia Argento... you may not have her." he told the man, not beating around the bush. "She is a valuable asset... However, I am most curious about you. Tell me, why is a Contractor here? As I understand it, you lot are a rational bunch. Should you really be risking your life going after a girl who's only use is healing? Why don't you think about this more... rationally?"
When the figure didn't answer, he smirked. "If you tell me the name of your employer, I will not kill you. Lord Azazel has quite an interest in Contractors, even those beings you call Dolls. I can guarantee you will not be harmed." At least, not by him. He couldn't quite say the same about Kalawarner.
"...Raynare had given me a similar offer." the masked man said after a period of silence. "A rational proposal... It appears diplomacy is the Fallen Angel's strongsuit." Before the man could react, the masked assailant threw his arm out in a swiping motion. Dohnaseek was quick to react, moving away to dodge a knife that nearly cut into him. In that same instance, the man rushed at him with another knife in hand. A light spear was quickly forged before the knife reached him, clashing with it and creating a slight shockwave, as well as sending sparks flying into the air.
"...However...diplomacy is useless in a fight. You are merely wasting your breath. You will die here."
The fallen gritted his teeth as he pushed the masked man back, leaping away to put some distance. However, before he could, his opponent launched a steel wire at him, attached to a knife. He batted it away, leaving the knife to retract back to the assailant before flicking the knife into a reverse grip. A blue light began to dance around him.
The knife became enlightened with electricity.
Dohnaseek narrowed his eyes analytically. A triumphant grin soon appeared on his face. 'SO that is your power...electricity. And based on your weapons, you can control the current to travel through conductible material to shock the opponent. Well too bad for you...I will simply stay out of range.'
"Think you can stay out of reach, old man?" the masked man said. "Think again." As soon as he finished speaking, the unknown figure flicked his wrists, shooting out several more cables at great speeds.
Dohnaseek immediately took to the skies, his wings emerging from behind him, avoiding each cable that chased after him.
"Hah! Is that really the best you can do?!" he gloated.
The masked man said nothing, as he continued to throw wires in rapid succession. Each and every time, Dohnaseek dodged them, batting away any that came to close with his spear. "Pathetic!" As soon as he was given a reprieve, the man threw his spear, aiming for his opponent's heart. The assailant dodged it with ease, performing a backflip as the spar pierced into the ground, rather than flesh. Before he had a chance to attack, Dohnaseek charged at him, a new spear already in his hand.
"Too slow!" The Fallen thrust his spear forward.
The masked figure showed no visible reaction, instead his body swayed to the side, the spear just grazing his side. 'How?!' Dohnaseek cried in shock. 'At this range, he shouldn't even be able to...!'
"Unfortunately for you," his opponent said coolly. "I'm faster."
He rammed his heel into his jaw, and sent him flying.
The winged assailant felt his jaw crack from the force of the strike. The very though shocked him. A human was able to hurt him this much? His body crashed into the statue of the Virgin Mary, causing it to crack and break apart, the debris flying through the air. He tumbled and landed harshly on the ground. He quickly shrugged off the damage, dust falling from his wings before looking up at his target. The masked man slowly walked over to him, a knife still resting in his hand. Electricity danced around the blade, sparking threateningly at the poor soul who stand before it. "I'll ask one more time..." the assailant said. "Dohnaseek, where is the package?"
Gritting his teeth in Anger, the Fallen Angel climbed up to his feet and prepared another spear of light. "I will never tell the likes of you!"
"...very well." He flipped the blade into a correct stance. "Die."
Before he could strike, however, he was forced to jump back to avoid being skewered by two light spears.
"So it was a Contractor after all..." Kalawarner mused. The masked man looked up, finding the two Fallens hovering in the air. Kalawarner held her arms underneath her bosom, her face set into a quiet, yet blatant sign of rage, while Mittelt seemed to be ogling him, leaning forward with interest.
"So this is the guy who killed Raynare?" Mittlet questioned. "...He looks like a hunk."
Dohnaseek raised an eyebrow. "...are you seriously eyeing the man who killed our comrade?"
"What? So sue me for looking at a dude who's got it all going on!"
Kalawarner sighed. "In that case, Mittelt, I hope you understand that I'll be putting an end to him."
"Aw, do you have to?" Mittelt whined. "Can't you, I dunno, keep him barely alive for me to keep?"
Kalawarner put a finger to her chin in thought. If they left him barely alive...then she could keep on torturing him before he killed him. And Mittlet could turn him into her sex slave.
Well...as long as she gets to kill him in the end.
"...very well."
The blonde loli grinned. "SWEET~!"
The masked assailant sighed, shaking his head. "How troublesome..." he muttered. "This reminds me too much of what happened in Hong Kong two years ago."
This caught the male Fallen's attention. Hong Kong...two years ago...? He was sure he heard of something along those lines before. He wracked his brain looking for the answer.
Eventually, his mind reached the incident he recalled in question. Two years ago, in Hong Kong, China, a group of Contractors belonging to the Chin Long Tong, a Chinese mafia group, were systematically slaughtered. The incident had been well known by the Grigori, primarily due to, in part, because of the contractor responsible.
A contractor who left behind death in his wake, shrouded in black.
A contractor who wielded the power of electricity.
A contractor, known only as...
"...the black reaper?!"
At his proclamation, both Kalwarner and Mittlet snapped their heads to their comrade before whipping back to face the man in black.
"...so you've heard of that incident I take it." he stated.
Dohnaseek bit back a scowl. Their opponent wasn't just some small fry...it was a demon among Contractors. A monster unlike all others.
Now it was understandable how Raynare was killed. She was dealing with a demon!
"Damn," Dohnaseek growled. "Kalawarner, Mittelt! Be careful! He's no ordinary riff-raff!"
BK-201 chuckled, his shoulders shrugging. "Three on one? Hardly fair..." he mused before bringing up his arm. However...what say you to evening the playing field?"
"Huh?" The was the only word Kalawarner managed to get out before her and Mittlet was forced out of the skies and crashed to the ground. An oppressive feeling weighed down on them, ceasing their flight.
Dohnaseek's eyes widened as he quickly snapped his head to the right. As soon as he did, an unknown figure rammed his fist into his chin, sending him flying.
If his jaw wasn't broken before, then for sure it was now. The male Fallen crashed hard against a tree. The force of the blow causing him to uproot it.
"D-Dohnaseek!" Kalawarner cried as the man tumbled to a halt. Her eyes quickly fell upon the attacker. Unlike BK-201, his face was open, albeit slightly obscured by a baseball hat and hood. Beneath the rim, she could see a sly grin, and a blue aura dancing around his form, wearing only a pair of jeans, boots, and a plain gray hoodie.
"Yare yare..." the newcomer sighed as he dug into his jacket's pocket, pulling out a box of pocky. "So much running... It really works up a guy's appetite."
"Zip it, Mada." another voice intervened. Mittelt saw another male enter the courtyard, this being another young man, only he was wearing a scarf around his neck, along with a black blazer with silver trims, and underneath it, a dark gray v-neck, along with bellbottom pants and a leather belt. Over his eyes were retro-sports sunglasses, bearing no rim at all. "We have work to do."
"Aw, come on, Moto." the man called Mada sighed. "Can't you lighten up? Not like the package is going anywhere."
"There is a time for play, and a time for duty. Now is the latter. So take it seriously lest you risk failure for this mission." Moto scolded.
"Okay, okay. I got it, geez..." Mada shrugged. He nibbled on a stick of pocky.
"Enough, the both of you." BK-201 snapped. "Let's kill them and be done with it. The longer we're here, the more attention we gather."
Mada sighed. "Fine, fine... Let's get it over with." No sooner did he say that did he lean back, avoiding a light spear that hurdled straight past him, only inches away from his chest, before it impaled itself into the wall. He looked to the side to see Dohnaseek standing back to his feet, a hand over his jaw. His teeth were gritted as he forcibly shoved his jaw back into the place, a loud, nauseating 'pop' echoing in the air. "Damn, your still alive?" he asked, chuckling. "Looks like I screwed up."
"Silence!" Dohnaseek barked. "I don't care if you are Contractors of the Black Reaper...You will all die!"
Moto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll hold these two down." he said. "Ise, Mada... take care of him."
BK-201, or rather, Ise, nodded. "...acknowledged."
Mada grinned, slipping a piece of pocky into his mouth. "Alright, time for another workout."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mada's eyes glowed bright red as a blue light emitted from his body. He disappeared in a blur, catching the Fallen by surprise. Ise advanced as well, his normal agility being greater than that of an average human.
In a split second, Dohnaseek managed to twirl a light spear he crafted in that same instance behind him, blocking a strike that would have otherwise knocked him to the ground. Mada stood behind him, his fist in contact with the spear. He quickly moved away when Ise came straight in, thrusting his knife forward. The blade cut into his coat, barely missing the flesh. Dohnaseek winced, feeling the lightning sear into his skin as he moved back before his wings allowed him to take into the air. 'One uses gravity,' he thought, his eyes moving to Moto. 'Another can move at an incredible speed, and the other wields electricity...'
They have powers that have the effects of debilitation, agility, and power and technique. A pretty powerful combination. However, on their own, they are not worth much trouble. If only he could separate them...
'I need to get rid of him first.' Dohnaseek's eyes settled on the one that kept his comrades in place.
However, Ise and Mada could tell what the Fallen's plan of action would be.
The Black Reaper threw several cables at him, each sparking with electricity. However, Dohnaseek evaded each of them, and forced a second light spear. He used the first to deflect the incoming cables, and then thrusted the second, which was aimed directly at Moto. Mada scowled. "Ah hell!" he swore, a blue light dancing around him as he quickly vanished, reappearing right next to the glasses-wearing Contractor, throwing him to the ground. The spear that was meant to impale him struck the ground instead.
With his line of sight broken, Kalawarner and Mittelt were now free of their gravitational bindings. The older of the two was gasping while Mittelt groaned, feeling a heavy weight on her shoulders.
Now free from their oppression, the female Fallen took to the skies to rejoin their comrade.
"Thanks for the save." Kalawarner said to Dohanseek.
"Yeah! Geez...my shoulders are all stiff now..." Mittlet complained.
However, while they took a moment to converse, neither of them noticed the cables flying toward them until one wrapped around Mittlet's ankle.
Immediately, their eyes widened in horror as the blonde slowly turned to see Ise, staring back at her, the cable held firmly in his hand. She could have sworn the jester-like smile on the mask turned sinister.
"Die!"
His body glowed bright blue. In the next second, Mittelt let out a scream.
While in the air, her body violently spasmed as if she were electrocuted by million watts of electricity. One could even see the electricity discharging from within her mouth. Her eyes became glassy. In the next moment she dropped like a dead bird.
Kalawarner's eyes widened in horror and terror. "MITTELT!" she wailed in despair, tears falling from her face. Dohnaseek was stunned, horrified by the sight of the blonde loli's corpse before his face morphed into total fury.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT, REAPER!"
Ise waved his hand, giving him the universal gesture that worked every time. "If you want me," he mocked the Fallen. "Come and get me."
"Gladly!" The woman forged two Light spears in her hand and charged forth.
"Wait!" Dohnasheek tried to stop her.
But it was too late. As soon as she was in close, she found herself being thrown to the ground, an unimaginable force being pressed down against her body. It only took her a second to realize the cause.
The Contractor called Moto.
"Tch," he scowled, his eyes twitching in annoyance, an irritating itch scratching away at his eyeballs. "Annoying crow... This is gonna make my eyes hurt even worse now."
The more he used his power, the worse his eyesight becomes. The grade for his eyeglasses has gotten worse and worse every time he goes to optometrist. There was a limit of how much he can use his power. It was only a matter of time before he became blind.
But he shouldn't let that worry him now. They had a mission to complete.
Kalawarner struggled to get up, but she found a knife stabbed into her back. A second later, she let out a scream as millions of volts of electricity ran through her, her body sent into a trembling and shaking mess, her eyes threatening to bulge from her head, and her insides being burned to singes before the pain ceased. Her head fell back to the ground, followed by silence.
Dohnaseek bit his lips in frustration, blood drawing from the tender flesh. "...damn it..."
Ise pulled the blade from her back, flicking it into his sleeve as he looked to Moto. "Enough, Moto." he told him. "Fall back. You're of no use in your state."
"R-right..." Moto nodded reluctantly as he rubbed his eyes. Dammit. He can feel a stinging pain from them even now.
Dohnaseek forged another light spear, glaring at the glasses-wearing Contractor. "As if I'll let you go!" he hissed, about to throw it when he found himself dodging cables once again. As he evaded them, Mada immediately hoisted Moto's arm over his shoulder, and began to move away. "Che! Fucking pests!" the Fallen growled as he batted away a cable. "Every last one of you is annoying!"
"Why thank you!" Mada snarked. "We aim to try and piss off our foes before we eliminate them."
Ise shook his head, whether in exasperation or in amusement was anyone's guess. He then looked back at Dohnaseek, obviously not about to let him strike down his comrades. Mada's body glowed bright blue, and in a split second, he was already gone, leaving behind only a passing breeze that shook the grass around him. "I doubt you'll catch him," he told the man bluntly before he made any moves. "Mada's nickname, Speed Runner, isn't just for show."
Dohnaseek scowled. "It won't matter..." he snarled. "Once I kill you, I'll hunt them down. Nothing will stop me, and nothing will keep him safe, no matter how fast he runs."
A chuckle escaped the black contractor. "And, pray tell..." he said, brandishing another knife. "What makes you think you'll live long enough to try that?"
"It is because I am a Virtue! I am of a higher level than either Mittlet or Kalawarner!" He stated as if it were mere fact. "I am superior to them! Stronger than them! and I will end you!"
Ise shook his head. "It would seem your as arrogant as those I've killed before you..." he sighed in disappointment. "A shame... I was hoping we could speak, provided we reached an impasse. It would seem that is no longer possible." He stretched out his arm, the same one holding the knife. "However... I will show you something before you die. It is the least I can do, out of respect for a Virtue."
Dohnaseek scoffed. "And what might that be, you foolish human?!"
"...the wrath of a dragon."
As soon as Ise said his piece, an emerald light engulfed his outstretched hand. It blinded the Fallen momentarily. But as it died down, Dohnaseek's eyes were bulging out of their sockets.
Resting on the Contractor, feared and awed for his prowess... was a red gauntlet that armored his entire hand from the elbow up, the fingers resembling talons, golden spikes decorating the red sheen with a brilliant green gem found in the center at the back of the hand. It was a Sacred Gear, that much was obvious. However, this was no ordinary Sacred Gear. This was one of the few special Sacred Gears that held a mystical, great power: the power to slay gods and satans. This gauntlet christened it's wielder with the title of "Red Dragon Emperor," for within that gauntlet was one of two dragons that held incredible power.
One of the Thirteen Longinus, the Welsh Dragon's Gauntlet... Boosted Gear.
Dohnasheek was speechless. The Sacred Gear that Azazel notified them about...was this monstrosity?!
[BOOST!]
A mechanical voice rung out with a rumble, a brilliant light shining from the gem. Ise removed his mask, revealing his face to the Fallen Angel.
"Y-YOU?!"
Issei Hyoudou smirked as a red light emerged from his pupils, and a blue light danced around him. "Contractors are liars, killers, betrayers... and I, no less." he said. Unlike before, where it was a silent, yet deadly spark, electricity now danced around him, as if in a frenzy.
"And now...You are erased." With a quick flick of his wrists, several cables with knives attached on the ends shot to the skies and toward the Fallen.
Dohnaseek flapped his wings, intending to take to an even higher altitude, but the knives were much faster than him. In a mere matter of seconds, all of them pierced into his body. The moment they did, billions of volts of electricity poured into his being.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" He howled in agony as his body was fried. Not only did his body spam erratically, but it became charred from the intense heat from the high voltage of electricity.
The feathers of his wings started to fuse together, smoke rising from the quickly-turning black body, and flames flapping from the forming cracks.
In a matter of seconds, the once-proud Virtue of the Grigori was reduced to nothing more than a smoldered black husk. It dropped from the air like a rock and crashed on the ground with a sickening squelch and muffled crunch.
Issei sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "Damn... The executive is going to be pissed." he muttered before he shook his head, slipping his mask back on. "Oh well... what's done is done. All that's left now is to retrieve the package."
He was about to walk inside the cathedral's main quarters when he heard the sound of clapping. "Nice~! I don't think I've ever seen such a work of art! Kyahahahaha!"
"Hm?" The masked man turned his head to the source of the cackling laughter. Coming out from the side of the building was a white haired young man. He was dressed in a black outfit consisted of a long sleeved shirt and jeans, and a white cloak that priests would wear during mass. However, his expression was anything but Holy.
"...and you would be?"
"Freed Sellzan," the white-haired man replied with a mock salute. "Exorcist! Well, former Exorcist I should say, but who the fuck cares about that?" The man's grin grew wider as he took a step forward, his fingers twitching. "So, what's a guy like you doing in a shithole like this?"
"I'm here to retrieve the package." Issei said bluntly, turning to face Freed fully. "Where is it?"
"Sorry~ But those sluts," he tilted his head to the two dead females. "Ordered that they be moved. Where to, I dunno. Personally, I don't give two fucks!"
"...I see..." Then it was useless speaking to this psycho. He had more important matters to attend to. Now he and his team would have to search for the package the hard way. Bur first...he would need to kill this white haired bastard.
Seeing the growing hostility, Freed's grin grew even wider, if it were possible. "Oooh, are we gonna get on with the killing?!" he giggled like a madman. "Sweet~!"
Before the Exrocist could even move, however, multiple cables have already lopped around each of his limbs. After he took a brief second to process what happened, the white haired male screamed and spasmed upon electrocution.
After his body stopped pulsating and spasming, he fell to the ground, face-first with a thud. "...idiot." Issei insulted the corpse as his cables retracted. "Still... There was no intel about a Rogue Exorcist being presented here."
He then pulled out the adult magazine he kept in his pocket. Now was a brief opportunity to perform the payment for his power. Who knows what else will show up?
"...huh," he said, slightly in surprise, as he turned the page. "That's a rather interesting position... must hurt like hell for the guy, though."
Elsewhere, around that same time, the outskirts of Kuoh, which were normally calm and quiet with little of anyone around, had it's silence shattered by the arrival of a sleek, American model car. It appeared to be a Chevy Camero, painted black with dark red trims, and bearing black-tinted windows. It's engine ceased as it slowly came to a halt, allowing it's passengers to exit the vehicle. All three were foreigners. One was dressed in a tanned business suit with a dress shirt and red tie, his light brown hair cut short, and a holster strapped to his waist, carrying a magnum. The next was a large man, easily a head taller than the first, bearing a shaven head and dark skin, with a green-colored muscle tank-top and bandages wrapped around his waist, along with cargo green jeans and military-edition boots. A cut was found on the bridge of his nose. The last had wavy blonde hair, swept to the right, dressed in a black blazer with a blue v-neck, and red pants and brown dress shoes.
"Christ, what a dump..." the first man groaned, pinching his nose. "And the smell is awful... This is why I don't like the sticks."
"Quit your complaining," the blonde said, his tone even. "We'll be in and out of here, no sweat. Just remember, we're after the red-haired woman. Anyone that gets in your way is collateral damage."
The black man nodded quietly in agreement. The first man sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "Easy for you to say, Jean." he snarked. "Considering you and the big guy here are Contractors. Me? All I've got is a freaking gun. Plus, the Public Security dogs are here." A troubled frown appeared over his face. "So, pray tell, how do we get at the target?"
"It's actually quite simple, Alan..." The blonde stated. "We simply need to ask around very subtly, then we ca focus on retrieving the target once we have acquired enough information."
"Subtle," Alan scoffed. "Yeah, right... And how do you propose we do that, with the PSB wandering around?"
"They're troublesome, true..." Jean nodded. "But our real problem... is the target."
By the time morning had arrived, the town had been thrown into chaos. Issei merely stood by in the amassed crowd in front of the church, which was engulfed in flames. The entire cathedral was engulfed in a red inferno, raging about and threatening to crash down any second. The Firefighters were trying to stop it from spreading, but even they knew it would be useless. Sooner or later, the flames would destroy the building. It wouldn't matter either way, though. The fire had already done it's job, as any and all evidence of the Fallens were now reduced to smoldering ash.
"...you know, they told me you were good, but this is something else." someone said, standing beside him as they watched the church burn. "Your a step above the others. It's as if you were made for this sort of thing, Ise." Issei turned to his left, seeing a man in his early thirties standing next to him, dressed in a dark blue suit with a black dress shirt, and a green tie. A black briefcase was held in his hands. He was relatively young, possessing angular features and narrowed, yet sharp brown eyes, and black spiky hair. In his mouth was a cigarette. "We've received new intel. A group of Contractors arrived in Kuoh last night. According to the information, they're foreign agency. French, probably." He took a quick drag of his smoke before exhaling the polluted air, creating a black cloud. "I doubt I have to remind you about your position here."
"...no."
"Good. Just want to let you know." The man nodded as he pulled out a portable ash tray to snuff out the cancer stick.
Issei looked back at the man for a short while before looking back at the burning building. "Why is one of the executives here?" he asked. "You wouldn't show up here just to tell us about a threat."
"The incident brought up a lot of attention, Ise." the man replied, his eyes trained forward. "The Devils know there is a Contractor here. The PSB is aware that BK-201 is present in Kuoh. And now, we have a group of Contractors, who may or may not be aware that BK-201 is also here. In other words, three groups in one town, and three boys who have secrets." He tossed the dead cigarette to the ground, then grinding his foot into it. "You need to be careful."
"I'm fully aware of the consequences." Issei said, not at all concerned. "And what about the Fallen Angel?"
The man sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Other than having her body fried out, she'll be fine." he said. "In all honesty, it's a wonder how she's even still alive after being pumped full of millions of volts. Then again, she IS a Fallen Angel, so she must be pretty sturdy." He gave the boy a questionable look. "Why did you bring her back with you? It's rather irrational."
"I believed she had information regarding the movement of the package." he answered. "Whether or not she does is up for debate. I take it the organization will erase her memory of the event?"
The man shrugged. "That's currently up for debate." he said. "According to the report Motohama submitted, she appears to have taken a liking to you. We might be able to use that."
"...I see." A liking to him? He just couldn't see it. Why would the enemy take an interest in him that way? It was just pointless.
"Women are a fickle thing," the man said briskly, as if reading his thoughts. "You can never really understand them. At any rate, we'll look into the package's whereabouts. For now, deal with the Contractors." He turned around, patting the boy on the shoulder. "Give Mao and the others my regards."
Issei nodded wordlessly. The man then took his leave, vanishing from the crowd.
Issei was then left alone with his thoughts. So a foreign syndicate was after the package as well? He couldn't let that be...it just wouldn't do. Not at all.
Once he found them...he'd erase them.
Unknown to the brunette, someone was watching him from within the back of the crowd. Though most of her face was obscured, her lime-green hair easily fell out from beneath the cap, and the smile that crossed her face.
"I'm glad to see you doing well...Issei-kun~" she spoke softly.
It was good to see him doing well. It was also good to see that he had grown stronger. She had heard many things in the few years, and she was more than impressed with what she heard. While she did not see Yin, Motohama, or Matsuda, she was sure they were doing well. Of course, she didn't come here simply to visit an old friend... she wanted to see his progress. She wanted to see how strong the Red Dragon of the organization she once worked for was doing.
Oh, how she wished she could run up to him and give that adorable, lovable little boy a hug! But, for now, she must relent. It was too soon for him. She would have to wait, wait for the right opportunity.
She would settle watching from a distance. After all...she had all the time in the world.
"...I apologize for calling you out, especially since you were in the middle of something."
"Oh, no, it's quite alright. I was getting bored anyway."
At an unknown location, somewhere in the United Kingdoms, specifically in the city of London, a meeting was taking place. One was a bureaucrat, dressed in a sharp, dark brown suit with a thinning head, a well-trimmed mustache found at the upper lip with a pair of thin-rimmed glasses. He was sitting behind a desk, a manila folder laid out on his desk, which was open for the other occupant of the room to read. He was younger, likely in his late twenties, with light blonde hair and dark blue eyes. Unlike his superior, he was dressed in a white suit with a blue dress shirt, a red tie wrapped around the overturned neck collar of the shirt.
"So, what's all of this about?" the blonde man asked. "You wouldn't call me out away from a job just to apologize."
The bureaucrat sighed, resting his head on his hands. "Tell me, how much do you know about the Grigori?"
"Just about what everyone else aware of that nasty little world knows." he shrugged, a wistful smile clear across his face. "A group made of up Fallen Angels, specifically the first of the Fallen. They're the ruling body among the Fallens, and at the head of the group is the former Seraphim, Azazel, who, from what I've been told, is something along the lines of a Sacred Gear fanatic."
"Well, the Grigori is currently facing some heat right now..." the man informed, catching the blonde man's interest. "...from within itself."
Oh, now he was intrigued. "Go on."
"Among Azazel's most trusted officers is a Cadre by the name of Kokabiel. According to one of our spies in the Vatican... he's just stolen the Excaliburs."
"Really now?" His interest was piqued even more. Stolen the Excaliburs? If it were anyone else they would've been quite insane, as an act of theft on that level from the Church could be seen as a sign of aggression. If they weren't careful, another war between the factions could start. But knowing who the culprit is, that that is exactly what he was aiming for.
Kokabiel. Once known as the Angel of Stars, the Angel said to possess the power of the cosmos. And known infamously as a Warmonger.
While he didn't know much about Kokabiel, he knew the stories. Some say he was dissatisfied with the outcome of the war, and sought a more favorable, more appropriate end to it with the coming of a second one. Others say he was livid about the decision of the ceasefire, and refused to accept it. Regardless of what was true, the fact remained that Kokabiel wanted a war.
And stealing the Vatican's most treasured weapons just might start it. "So, in other words..." the blonde man smiled thinly, clearly realizing why his superior called him in. "You want me to retake the Excaliburs, and return them to the Vatican, as a sign of good faith for future cooperation?"
The man nodded. "More or less. We're not just working with the Church, however. We're collaborating with another organization."
The agent raised an eyebrow. "And who might this organization be?"
"They call themselves... Gate Royale."
"Foreign agents?" Matsuda asked as he chewed on a piece of pockey, reading a comic book held in his hands while he rested on the sofa. "So, France also wants the package?"
"No, not necessarily." Mao answered, lying atop the coffee table. "From the intel, it seems like they're after the Contractor, Havoc. It's understandable, when you think about it. She's a survivor from the Heaven's Conflict. The chances of her having any information about Heaven's Gate is very high."
"I see..." Motohama nodded. It would make sense. There are not too many people who possess knowledge of the Heavens Gate incident...and information like that was invaluable.
Naturally, it would make sense if the organization would want to obtain her. However, they were more focused on retrieving the package.
They couldn't let the Package fall into the hands of the Grigori. Who knew what they would use it for? Although, having information about the Heavens Gate event would be a nice bonus.
"So... what do we do?" Matsuda asked, looking at the glasses-wearing teen. "We go after them both, or what?"
Motohama pondered the situation carefully. As things stood, they had to find the package, which had been moved away after eliminating the Fallens stationed here. However, their actions have also aroused the suspicion of the Public Safety Bureau, which was now present in Kuoh. To make things worse, a group of Contractors were also after Havoc, who was with the package. If they discovered it, their mission would be compromised. As things stood, they needed to eliminate them while also being discreet about the targets' elimination while retrieving the package.
The real question... was what the best course of action was?
He was usually the strategist of the group. But even he can see that this mission has gotten quite complicated.
"We've hit a snag, I take it?"
"Sadly, yes." he sighed. From the way he sees it, the only outcome that could grant them the best results ideally would be snuffing out the foreign syndicate first. The less interference the better.
Another sigh escaped him. "How troublesome..."
Life 2: Reared Chaos