Chapter 7: As Dominoes Fall

Hoshimiya Sora stare at the fruit knife he had been using as his main weapon for years. He put it back into the pocket of his blazer. It had served him well but it will not work for the long run. Against opponents he normally faced, the grunts and strays, it is enough. Even against high-class opponents it would be enough. But against monsters like Valerie Brunestud, he will need a stronger weapon… and a stronger body.

So here he found himself sitting in the dojo of his house he shared with his teacher. He had not trained much in swordsmanship and only work out to keep his body in shape. Now he needed to step up his game with the oncoming conflict threatening to destroy what semblance of normalcy he had. But before that, he will need a new main weapon.

Sora summoned the Boosted Gear to his left hand. The Longinus, his newest equipment is definitely powerful but it does not suit his fighting style one bit. The Boosted Gear accumulated power over time to overwhelm the enemy through pure power. His fighting style though relies on quick, fatal hits where one strike could end the opponent permanently.

Thanks to his eyes, power had never been a problem as because no matter how physically powerful his opponents are or how powerful their defenses are, he could inflict death simply with a swing of his knife or even a simple utensil like a ruler, ignoring any physical attributes. He does not need a lot of power to inflict damage but instead speed and precision to deal the single fatal hit that will surely kill his opponent.

"The Boosted Gear just doesn't fit my fighting style. Any idea on how to fix that Ddraig?"

Sora asked the dragon residing inside the sacred gear. The green jewel on the gauntlet began to glow as Sora heard Ddraig's voice coming from the gauntlet.

[Perhaps. I don't know. This is the first time I have been extracted and put into a new host. Sacred Gears were given to people who would match it the most and you are by far the most horribly matched host I ever had.]

Ddraig bluntly told him. It is true that they are horribly matched. Sora is a highly technical fighter who relies on speed and flexibility while the Boosted Gear focuses on increasing power and dealing high amount of damage. People might say that the Boosted Gear would compensate for Sora's lack of power, making him a more balanced and versatile fighter. If someone said that to him, he would punch that person in the face.

The Boosted Gear takes the form of a bulky gauntlet which is suitable for hand-to-hand combat and transferring boosts through touching. To use it, he needs to adapt to the Gear's preferred fighting style or adapt it to his own, neither sounds tempting to him. He had trained hard to achieve the level he is in with his combat style and changing his style means making all those hours, days, and months all amount to nothing and he hates that.

Besides, the Boosted Gear's form is well-known and easily seen, the Balance Breaker even more so being a full body bulky red armor that is easily seen from miles away. Surprising his enemies will be hard. Not to mention that the armor will lower his flexibility. This is the case of getting a powerful weapon that you cannot use and this matter needs to be taken care of. There are already several uses to the Boosted Gear's power he can think of but until he address the main problem of the sacred gear clashing with his main style of combat, all those uses he thought will only be mere idea. He is stubborn like that.

"Hmm, can it be made smaller at least? Like the size and form of a normal gauntlet? Bracers and greaves would do on both arms and legs so I can apply quick boosts to my limbs."

[Hmm, sacred gears respond to its wielder's desire and since we're just changing the outer shell then it should be possible, maybe. I'll see what I can do.]

"Please do. For now, I won't be using the Boosted Gear yet."

[Very well, I can understand your concern. Though I do hope that you will use it in the future. I know you prefer using your eyes…]

"No, I don't."

Sora cut Ddraig off before he could finish speaking.

[You don't?]

Sora shook his head. He took off his glasses and with one swift movement, he threw his fruit knife which cut through a steel sword hanged on the wall and embedded itself into the wooden wall behind it. He put on his glasses once again and breathe out.

"Sometimes, seeing too much is not a good thing."


Valerie smiled at how easily it is to catch the Gremory's attention and by having her 'nyanpire' act and speak things in a certain manner and in a certain way, making the Gremory move carelessly without worrying about involving any maou is not quite hard.

It's not that hard really. From what information she extracted from Koneko's mind, she only need to fabricate a scenario where there is something dangerous that caught Koneko off guard and traumatize her. That scenario is simply that Koneko had a run-in with her sister and in a bout of madness, her sister captured her and played with her, doing unspeakable things (which is nothing) to her. It's actually part of a yandere scenario she happened to come across when playing a game out of curiosity. The yandere imprisoning her love interest and 'love' him to death or something. After a while, Koneko managed to escape and warned Gremory.

To be honest, Valerie didn't even put much effort in building a believable case. But she believes there is no need to do such a thing. One thing she learned during her stay in Kuoh is that Rias Gremory put her utmost faith in her peerage and is very protective of them. Combined with her tendency to let things flow and being careless for the most part like what she planned with Hyoudou Issei along with her own childish sense of pride, Valerie didn't even deem fit to make a fullproof plan and instead make a half-assed one to handle Rias.

If it is Sona then she would prepare more and maybe use a different tactic. For one thing, Sona Sitri would phone her sister immediately when she heard of someone of Kuroka's fame around. But Rias Gremory, in her eyes, does not worth that amount of effort to work on. Her faith and her concern along with her pride worked against her in this very case. She is concerned for Koneko therefore she is eager to help her. And her faith in her made her believe every word Koneko told her. Her pride prevents her from asking help from her brother, which in this case, makes a recipe for her demise.

Honestly, it is disappointing. There are several loopholes in the story she prepared and to fall for every each one of them simply because of unfounded confidence and faith is simply… well, pathetic maybe? Valerie is not sure how to describe what she felt about it even as she waited on the upper floor of the warehouse.

And right on schedule, the Gremory peerage arrived."

"So she's here, Koneko?"

"Yes, buchou."

Valerie heard the footsteps of several people entering the warehouse. He looked at them from her vantage point and had to sigh. It would've been interesting if she had brought in her brother or even a member of his peerage. It will be interesting to see where she, a True Ancestor and a Brunestud, measure against the famed Lucifer and his peerage, because if she can't even contend with the Super Devil then she won't be able to defeat the Crimson Moon at full power.

The moment all the devils have gathered inside the warehouse, Valerie snapped her finger and the whole warehouse disappear, turning into the throne room of the Millennium Castle. Without giving the devils any time to react, chains wrapped around them and dragged two of them away. Himejim Akeno and Kiba Yuuto are not needed for this. Incidentally, she'll decide their fate later. Personally, she has no interest in them but maybe they will have some use for her friends.

Despite needing some numbers to bolster their forces, Valerie is rather picky in who she personally turn into Apostles. Most of her number consists of those turned by her subordinates or those that defect from the Crimson Moon's side. In fact, the only one she does plan strategically when turning was Julius with the others being done on a mere whim and those rarely survive past the first week of being turned due to their conflict with Crimson Moon's faction.

"Good work neko-chan~"

"Nya~"

Valerie scratched Koneko's chin and pat her head as a sign of good work when she came to her side. Seeing this, Rias' eyes widened as she struggle to get free. She glared at Valerie whose face cannot be clearly seen due to the chains and shadow obscuring her view.

"What the… what is the meaning of this?!"

Rias demanded. Valerie casually stood up from her throne, out from the shadows and into the light where Rias can see her. Valerie closed her eyes and opened them again to reveal her glowing red eyes and fangs. Valerie mockingly bowed to the devil with a smile that, although seemingly sweet, gave Rias the feeling that she is mocking her.

"Good afternoon, Rias Gremory. How nice it is to finally meet you in person."

Rias' eyes widened when she finally recognized the familiar face of her schoolmate, the blonde girl who had been rather popular but seemingly normal and infatuated with Hoshimiya Sora. But clearly she is not a normal girl and judging from her eyes, her pale skin and fangs, she is a vampire.

"You are a vampire? But I thought the vampires were wiped out!"

Rias cried out. From what she heard, the vampire territory in Romania had been attacked by something extremely powerful, leaving behind corpses that would not be found until the magic that hid the vampire territory weakened enough for the town to be seen. Subsequently, other vampire settlements all around the world had been assaulted in a similar manner, leaving many of their kind dead or missing, presumably dead too. The vampire race, for all intents and purposes, had been ended by something that until now remains unknown to everyone.

"Hmm, well, in a way that is true. The vampires have been wiped out. But in a way, that is incorrect. That doesn't matter though, miss devil. What you should be worried about is yourself."

"That's right… where is Kuroka?! What have you done to Koneko?! Answer me, Valerie Brunestud!"

Valerie chuckled and wave at Koneko to come over. Koneko walk over obediently to Valerie's side and then showed Rias her cat ears and tail… along with glowing red eyes and fangs usually possessed by vampires, shocking Rias.

"H-how?! What did you do to Koneko!"

Rias demanded as she struggled to break free from the chains binding her, going as far as to use her power of destruction to blow the chains away using what little freedom she has with her hand. But it is no use. The chains won't break and held her strong.

Gritting her teeth in frustration as she glare at Valerie, Rias wondered how she did not notice it before. How did she not notice Koneko's change? No, in the first place, someone that has been turned by the evil pieces cannot be turned into something else, the evil piece in them would make sure of that. Koneko couldn't be a vampire and fell under Valerie's control, it is just not possible for someone to overcome Ajuka Beelzebub's evil pieces, especially with the piece still inside like what she felt right now and producing demonic signature!

"I have to applaud Ajuka Beelzebub. His work on the evil pieces is truly magnificent. But, it is nothing compared to someone who is remotely competent with the true soul magic backed up by the correct tool."

Valerie then manifested her Grail for Rias to see. The devil was again surprised, knowing what is in her hands.

"Sephiroth Graal. No, there has been no record of anyone using Sephiroth Graal with such power!"

"Well there is a first for everything."

Valerie simply stated with a shrug as she dismissed her Grail. Again, Rias attempted to break free and again, the chains didn't budge. The Gremory heiress had never felt so frustrated in her life.

"…what do you want with me? You know that you will not get away with this. Once my brother…"

"And should I care who your brother is?"

Valerie coldly spoke as she walked back to her throne with Koneko following her like an obedient cat. Once Valerie sat on her throne, Koneko sat on her lap and Valerie began petting her like with a real cat, making Koneko purr. This is one of the reasons why she decided to turn Koneko before hatching her plan.

"Besides, I am interested to see if I can defeat your brother. Well even if I lose, my death will just unleash a bigger monster on all of you, one I'm sure none can beat should he reclaim all his power. It would actually be interesting to see your reaction that it's worth my suicide."

Valerie casually said, not caring a bit that she had just spoken about her death. After all, should that happen and the Crimson Moon regain his full glory denied to him by her existence, then there really is no stopping him. Valerie knew full well how powerful Crimson Moon could be and it is her existence that prevents him from truly coming back to full power. But then again, it would be amusing to see the reactions of the whole supernatural world should she die and Crimson Moon finally came to power. Their expression filled with despair would be amusing to see.

"…what?"

Rias dumbly asked, not understanding Valerie's thought and what she implied.

"Nothing that should concern you. Now, what you should be concerned of is your situation. Ahh, how unlucky of you, if only you lived in a different territory or if only you are as intelligent as Sona Sitri then maybe you would not suffer this fate I have prepared for you."

"What do you mean by that?! Hey!"

Rias struggled again, but this time, it is because she felt more chains wrapping around her and eventually covering her entire body from head to feet. She continue to yell but no sound could escape from the chain that is now wrapping her whole body, although, she could hear what Valerie said and it chilled her to her very bone.

"Your fate, by the end of this month, is either you will die together with the devil race in a war you cannot win or you will die by your brother's hand in order to save the devil race. Either way, it will make for a good side show for me, ufufu."

Valerie's chuckle was the last thing Rias heard as her consciousness fade and she felt something in her body changing.


It's been a while. So, here is the beginning of the nightmare for devil lovers. I have nothing to say for this chapter except this is the calm before the storm… or something. This took a while for me to write since I have to decide what is it that Valerie decide to do. Originally, the chapter would start with Valerie dragging Sora to a date and then revealing her plan for the devils in a casual talk. She would do that with Sora even if it is not the smart thing to do. But in the end, I decided not to pull that off and this happens.

Kinunatzs The Eternal: Hax or not, it is part of a True Ancestor's skill set. And well, I figure with so many mythology and species around, the mana in the air had been 'poluted' with their presence. As for how Valerie works, she works by both world's rules and therefore a hybrid with quite some quirks. Her Apostle also have similar hybrid nature

Gabe d clark 1997: I suppose so. Conceptual power is just that frightening because it bends reality and ignore logic.

Judgement of the Arbiter: Happy New Year too. And yeah, the bloodbath is starting.