[READ AUTHOR NOTE! VERY IMPORTANT INFO, YA HEARD ME?]
Ayo, ayo, ayo, its ya boy, NarutoPlug, just got out the shower bumping that new Drake, ya heard me?
MMMMAAAANNNN! You niggas ran up them reviews! I had over 100+ reviews before the 24 hour mark of uploading Chapter 6. Thank you all so much for all the favs, follows, and reviews! This story is doing wayyyy better than I thought it was going to. I swear, by the time we get to chapter 12, this story will have more favs, follows, and reviews than The Corrupted Mind which is crazy because that story has been up for at least three years while this story has been up for a little over a month. Just thank you.
Anyway, VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION TIME!
Now, a lot of you were asking on how Lee was able to beat Siaraorg and not Rias in chapter 2. There's reason for this and I'll explain how I'm changing the power scaling in Dxd.
If you watch the Dxd anime/mange, then some of you may have noticed how fast Issei grows in the story (his power grows for stupid and perverted reasons only if you ask me) and how strong Sairaorg already was when he was first introduced. I felt like the young devils that the story follows are perceived as strong but not doing anything to attain such strength. For example, the only reason Rias is held in such high standings is because Issei bails her for everything. If we had the choice to put Rias against someone with actual power, she wouldn't be able to win because she only has one trick, shoot destruction balls of power in a straight line to her foes.
So, with the power scaling, I'm going to keep the younger devils as they are, I'm just going to push the older devils power levels up, forcing the younger devils to actually train themselves in order to be potential Maous, like how Sairaorg is referred as. This way, you all can actually watch these characters grow in strength and actually struggle during their own battles, because as it is now, the only reason why Rias isn't married to Riser right now, is because her brother cheated the system and I'm not lying about that in the smallest.
As for Lee, I explained that the stronger the King is in the peerage, the stronger there servants are when reincarnated. Because Naruto is already strong (how strong is something you all will have to wait to find out in the future) it increased Lee's strength as well as how strong he can potentially be a lot. The only reason why he didn't beat Rias and the gang during Chapter 2 is because he was tired and that he was just having fun. He failed his mission the moment Issei died because Naruto doesn't like to revive people against their will (something Rias doesn't quite understand yet) so he just decided to fight Rias to make up for lost time.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT UNTIL A CERTAIN SOMEONE CHANGED MY MIND!
Shout out to a person who's name shall remain unknown (he's name's Dumat, but you didn't hear it from me). He told me that I shouldn't change up the power scaling as much as I thought. He said while it will be enjoyable to watch the younger devils grow up; he said I shouldn't just give the older generation a boost in power just like that. He suggested that I should just slow down everyone's growth a bit, something I can agree with. However, I did try to add some type of humanity into the story by having Sairaorg not master the Touki technique, but all in due time.
However, it did look like a nerfed Sairaorg a lot, especially when he used Touki. A lot of y'all said that when he activated it, the battle didn't change in anyway. Sorry about that. Won't happen again.
It's just that I wanted Lee to be a badass and when was Lee a badass in Naruto? Oh, I'll tell you, about a good 15+ years ago against Gaara. That's it.
Also, I'm going to have to start reading the Light Novel, something he's pointed out countless times. Like, in all honesty, most of my information I know from Dxd is from the Dxd Wiki and other fanfictions. Like, the most I know up to in the anime is when they beat Kokabiel….. I think… So I'm going to have to change up my study habits if I want this story to be clearer… My B.
And while I was just going to explain what Dumat told me, I had already typed up my first opinion, then I read his pm and just typed some more. I didn't want to delete what I already put up. Adds more words to the word count, ya heard me
Review your thoughts on both mine and Dumats perspectives. I want you all to have a voice in this story, so don't be afraid to share them.
Whew, glad I got that out the way. If you have any questions about this, ask me as a review or pm me for more information.
Also, not even playing about this one, if any of you are fans of Avatar the Last Airbender, I have a story idea that some of you my like if you want to become an author. I'll choose a person in my reviews. Read the AU at the end of the chapter for more
Anyway, forget all that, we got a story to get to.
BreakThrough
StrugglesOfADevil
The Next Day
Kuoh Academy
"I hope everyone studied for this test." Orochimaru said as he passed out papers down the aisles of students. "I don't want to see any failing grades in this class."
Orochimaru handed a paper to Rias, but she didn't reach for it. Halting in his steps, Orochimaru back tracked in front of her desk. He rose an eyebrow when he noticed that Rias was totally spaced out, staring out the window.
"Ms. Gremory." Rias snapped out of her gaze and looked to her teacher.
"Oh! I'm sorry. My mind was elsewhere. Thank you." she grabbed her paper and started working.
Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders and walked back towards his desk. His master told him of what he did while they were fighting in the Rating Game. Orochimaru chuckled to himself while thinking about the situation Rias was in with her [Pawn]. 'I may have to start taking notes from Naruto-sama. He really is a crafty man…'
Orochimaru checked his students, studying their eyes, to make sure they weren't cheating. While none of them were, he noticed that Rias was just staring at her paper, lost in thought again.
"Ms. Gremory," everyone, including Rias, looked up to Orochimaru "If you find staring at the paper more enjoyable than actually working on it, I can just grade it now and let you stare at it all day."
The class quietly giggled as one of the queens of the school was called out. "I'm sorry." Rias blushed before returning to her test, making sure to finish it without any slip ups.
After a while, the school bell rang. The students stood from their seats and handed Orochimaru their papers. Sona gave him a slight nod, in which he returned. He guess it had to do something with the Rating Game, knowing that he watched it, so he couldn't help but grow one of his famous smirks at their accomplishment.
Rias handed in her paper and quietly left out the room, confusing Orochimaru all the more. While he knew that she was troubled, she was usually given him a glare before leaving. 'I guess the situation with her [Pawn] is effecting her more than I thought it was' he thought with a shoulder shrug. While he already knew of the situation, maybe he should get another perspective of what she was going through. He needed all the information he could get since she was the next target of his plan to free his master.
It was Orochimaru's break period, so he took his time with grading papers. He would have more time focusing on the red-haired devil soon. He just had to deal with the real evil of the world…
"Fucking paperwork…" he muttered as he got out his pen and started reading.
Hyoudou Residence
Issei was laying his bed with the lights off and the curtains closed. He didn't want to be around people right now, especially those apart of Rias' peerage. He had to take some time and think for himself before he saw them again.
"You have been in a mental battle for hours, partner, and it's starting to get on my nerves." Ddraig said. "Your mind is feeling uncomfortable right now with the sense of depression."
"Sorry." Issei muttered. "I'll brighten up some way to make you feel better."
"And how do you plan to do that coup up at home? It seems that your condition is worsening."
Issei sighed and ran his hands through his hair in stress "I know… I just can't be around them right now. I don't feel like being around anyone right now."
"Why don't you go out with Yoh and his peerage? They seemed nice… except for Orochimaru." Ddraig said roughly. "I get a bad feeling every time I see that man."
"They don't want to be around someone so weak." Issei said sadly. While he felt like he was improving, he still couldn't protect Asia when she needed him. "I feel like everything that I'm doing is for no reason, right now. I feel so out of place… like I shouldn't have ever been reincarnated…"
"While you do have the best Sacred Gear in existence," Issei laughed at the dragon's arrogance "you won't become strong with a snap of your fingers. Development takes time. You shouldn't be depressed about the way you are because you only became a devil a few weeks ago. You need to take every moment to train."
"Well, what do you think I should mainly focus on now?" he asked.
"Conditioning your body." answered the dragon. "As you already know, you won't be great at using magic, seeing as you can't even make a single teleportation seal. I mean, kids can do that, but you can't? Disgraceful."
"Uh huh." Issei sweat dropped. "Thanks for the motivation. Really felt that one."
"But you won't even need it with me. Your Boosted Gear is more a physical Sacred Gear than spiritual one. Developing your body can help you stand the pressure of increasing your power every 10 seconds. Work on that, and you'll see increase for sure. You've already learned the basics of devils and the supernatural world. Now is time for you to focus on yourself."
"Makes sense. Thanks, Ddraig." Issei said gratefully. "I'm glad that you're my Sacred Gear. You are the best one in existence."
"Damn right." he muttered. "So get to it! You've spent more than half the day in bed!"
"Not today though, Ddraig. You just said that I need to focus on myself now, right? I need to focus on my thoughts rather than my body right now. I'm… I'm too distracted."
It was quite for a while, causing Issei to slowly fall asleep. He didn't know how long he was asleep, but the sound of light knocking on his door woke him up.
"Issei? You awake?" he mother said through the door.
"Yea mom…*yawn* I'm okay. Just not feeling it today."
"Well your friends are outside. They're asking for you."
"I don't want to be around them right now Mom." he said as he checked his cloak, which read 1:28 in the afternoon. School wasn't even out yet…
"They insist, Issei… Please come out. You're not the type of person to be inside all day… I'm worried..."
Issei sighed before getting out of bed. He put on some gym shorts and a black t-shirt before slipping his shoes on. He opened the door to see his mother smiling at him weakly.
"You ok?" she asked.
"Yea.. Yea, I'm okay. I've just got a lot on my mind right now." he answered. "Nothing to serious. Just felt like taking a day off."
"Well, your friends are waiting for you at the front door. Maybe getting some fresh air will help you clear your mind." his mother suggested. He nodded and started his way down the stairs. He figured that he was going to have to meet up with his peerage members again soon, so he might as well get over the awkwardness now rather than later.
He yawned as he opened the door. "Yo, Issei. Took you long enough."
Surprised by the sound of his visitor's voice, Issei opened his eyes to see Yoh and Lee, giving him light smiles. He raised his eyes in surprise before answering "Oh… hey! What's going on Yoh, Lee!" he said. His mood did a complete 180 after seeing the two. He was expecting some like Kiba or Koneko, or, god forbid, Rias Gremory, but not these two.
"YOSH! Friend Issei! Me and Yoh wanted to know if you would like to go out and eat food!" said the excited Lee. Issei noticed that he had a few bandages on his face, but he summed it up as damage he took from their Rating Game yesterday.
"Sure." he said with his own smile. "I'll be back Ma!" as he shut the door.
"Glad to see you out and about." Yoh said as Issei locked the door. "I felt a depressing aura coming from your room while waiting for you. You okay?"
"Eh… it's a long story. Anna's not here, right?" he asked as he looked around in fear.
Both Yoh and Lee chuckled. "Nope, she's at the house sleeping… or dealing with Kisame trying to steal the remote. Anyway we have the day to ourselves."
"GUYS DAY!" shouted Lee. "We shall have fun and show the world our YOUTH!"
The trio laughed before walking on the sidewalk, headed into town to find something to do together.
Occult Research Clubhouse
Rias watched her peerage members, excluding Issei, teleport off to their own contracts. He sighed once everyone was gone a laid her head on her desk. While everyone has met her already, she felt like it was important to introduce Asia to everyone. She was staying in the Occult Research Clubhouse for the time being until she found a place for her to stay by herself. However, the situation with Issei was really stressing her out.
"Am I really that selfish." she muttered as she looked at her hand. She summoned a small amount of her magic and her hand was coated in the legendary Power of Destruction. The power of the Bael, she stared at her blessing in awe as it flowed in her hand.
'The power to destroy anything…' she thought as she stared at it. She wasn't supposed to have this power. Gremory's were blessed with extreme magic control, but she inherited this power from her mother, Venelana Gremory, once Venelana Bael, and it became her main weapon of choice. She practiced ever sense her youth to control the wildfire in her hands, molding it to her liking. It hasn't failed her sense…
She frowned when she thought back to her battle with Lee a few weeks ago. He said he came to the fight tired and still dealt his damage to her, Kiba, and Koneko. If her peerage didn't show up at the right time, there was no doubt in her mind that she would have been beaten into a inch of her life if he wanted to. It was an eye opener for her, but she hasn't had the time to actually do anything about herself yet. Teaching and training Issei was her top priority, but the trust they once had, while it wasn't much, was now completely broken because of last night's events.
Rias' eyes narrowed as she thought back to the orange orb. It blocked Issei's Dragon Shot and killed the Fallen Angel by himself… and he laughed at her… like he already knew how she would react to Issei's pleas, which he did. He completely played her at her own game. She wanted Asia for herself while wanting to increase the trust between Issei, however, while she did get want she wanted in Asia, her friendship with Issei was completely broken. He didn't trust her or anyone apart of her peerage.
She thought back when she watched Raynare's body slowly disintegrate from the power of the unknown master. That power… it destroyed her body strangely similar to how her Power of Destruction would…
'Wait… could their master be a-
Her head shot up in realization, but she couldn't voice her opinions out loud because of her scream of fright when she noticed Orochimaru, standing in front of her desk and looking down at her. She jumped out of her seat and took quick breaths. She didn't even sense nor hear him enter her domain. How could he do something like that without her notice?
Orochimaru chuckled at her face as he let her calm down. She instantly changed her demeanor and pouted at Orochimaru. "What are you doing here!? You can't just come in here unannounced!"
"Yes I can." said Orochimaru as he took a seat on one of the couches in the room. "I can do whatever I want on this campus because one, I'm your teacher and I came over here to give you back your test grades, and two, because I want to."
Rias growled at the man before taking her seat. "Well, why are you here then?"
"It isn't a fun to mess with you during class when your spacing out." said Orochimaru "My master told me what happened last night. Seems like things just don't go your way, fufufufu…"
"Shut up." she said with another growl "I can handle this situation myself, thank you very much."
"Oh really?" he said with a laugh "I heard the perverted boy wasn't at school today. Seems like he doesn't want to be around his 'friends' today, fufufufufu…."
Rias couldn't hide the shame in her face. He knew everything then, especially how she was played. His master was a dangerous person.
"Well, I didn't come to make fun of you…. well, it wasn't the main reason why I came here, at least." he said as he dug into his briefcase that was filled with papers. After a few seconds he found what he wanted and threw it on her desk. It was a medicine bottle which landed perfectly on its bottom.
"Bet you can't do that." he said with a sly smile. She rolled her eyes and picked up the bottle.
"Sleeping pills?" she said as she read the label. "Why do I need these?"
"Well, if you haven't noticed yet, you have very noticeable bags under your eyes. I would have thought that you would have put some make-up or something over them. That is what females do, no? But, I guess because you're so stressed out that you didn't even notice them this morning." he explained.
Rias opened her desk and brought out a mirror to check her face. Sure enough, there were bags under her eyes. "Oh my…" she said as she stared at herself. The bags under eyes were very dark and she couldn't believe that she didn't notice them earlier.
"Those should help you sleep at night, especially for your… predicament, fufufu… "He laughed. Rias sighed and placed the bottle in her desk. Orochimaru really reminded her of Akeno… only more… evil and cruel… and manipulative…
"Wait..." she said as she took the bottle out. "How do I know that you didn't put something in these? You know… something that will do… something…. to me?"
Orochimaru stared at Rias in shock before laughing out loud. Rias shivered. Even though he was laughing at her, it still sounded very evil.
"Oh…Oh my!" Orochimaru took a few deep breaths. "I have to thank you... heheh… for that… you are really one paranoid girl… seems like you need those more than I thought."
Rias blushed in embarrassment before putting them back into her desk. "Sorry… I'm just…"
"No need to explain, princess. Remember, I'm giving you those for my own selfish desires. You're not as fun to be around when you are tired; however, you do say some hilarious things."
"Yea... Thanks… what's with the princess name though?" she asked.
"Well, you are a princess and you do act like a spoiled princess." he laughed. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but she couldn't help but smile at what he said. "I'm going to the Underworld for a bit. One of my master's peerage members will be on school grounds, if you don't mind. You could meet him or you could watch the video of us beating you cousin into a pulp." Rias' eyes widened "Doesn't matter to me. I shall see you soon."
Rias watched the snake man disappear. When he was gone, she slumped back into her chair. That man really knew how to get to her.
"So they really beat him." she muttered. She had to watch the recording of it. While she didn't like Orochimaru at all, she was very interested in what he and the rest of his peerage members were capable of; and if Lee was their weakest member, then she really wanted to see what the other members could do.
Rias turned her attention to one of the doors that led to a few spare bedrooms in the building. Asia slowly walked out of the room, but Rias could tell that she was in a state of shock.
"That man… he's… he feels so… evil…" she shuddered. Rias' eyes softened as she walked up to the girl and enveloped her in a hug.
"He's not going to do anything to you, Asia. I promise. He's… just a person that lives in the city. He won't do anything bad to us…"
"No!" she yelled. Rias looked at Asia, who seemed to be really scared of Orochimaru. "I've felt his magic before… it… it was back when…." Asia shuddered again.
Rias narrowed her eyes "Explain now."
Kuoh School Grounds
Hao was walking through the school grounds with his usual cloak on. He was being stared at by many students, but he didn't care. He came to look around the school, wanting to meet some of the other devils in the area.
It was while he was near the gym entrance where a young boy stepped in front of him. Hao could tell that he had magic in him and by the face he was making, he didn't like that Hao was walking in their territory unannounced.
"Why are you here?" Saji demanded. While he was glaring at Hao on the outside, on the inside he was scared out of his mind. He watched the Rating Game last night with the rest of his peerage. He thought that Orochimaru was lying when he said that his fellow peerage members were strong, but his confidence shot to the ground when he watch them all clean their enemies like they were nothing. And while the fight with Lee and Sairaorg was enjoyable to watch, Saji couldn't help but fear these new devils that made base here in Kuoh.
Hao smirked at Saji as he put a hand on his hip, but his cloak was hiding it. He could basically feel the fear rolling off the boy in waves. Honestly, if he wanted to intimidate him, he could have done a better job.
"I came to meet the devils in this area." Hao stated "One of my fellow peerage members, Orochimaru, I'm sure you heard or meet of him, works here as the chemistry teacher. I just wanted to take a look around town."
"Well, you can't come onto sc-school grounds unannounced." Hao smirked at Saji's slip up. Saji gritted his teeth before continuing "The President would like to see you."
"President? Who?" asked Hao.
"The Student Council President, uh, sir." he answered.
"You know, if you try to come onto a person and try to intimidate them, you shouldn't be shivering in fear of them." Saji widened his eyes and noticed that he was, indeed, shivering. Hao magic was starting to increase and it was all focused in on Saji, overwhelming him.
"Uh...I..."
"For you to walk towards me," Hao stepped closer to Saji, causing him to take a step back in fear "and act like you're the bigger man… don't you know your place in the world, ant?"
Saji took another step back, but he tripped on the stairwell leading to the gym doors. He looked up to see Hao hovering over him with an evil smirk.
"Do you fear me?"
"That's enough!" the voice of Sona Sitri reverberated throughout the school yard. Saji looked towards his crush in hope and awe and made his way to her. Hao smirked and stood back to his full height.
"Seems like you're the boss." he said as he walked closer to her. The rest of the Student Council was behind her, all glaring at Hao. "Just my luck."
"I don't like the fact that your own my territory without anyone's permission, and I especially don't like you threatening my [Pawn]." she stated while adjusting her glass.
"Well, I knew that you were somewhere on campus, I just didn't feel like finding you myself. So, I just used some of my magic as a tracker for you to teleport to me, saving me the hassle." he said with a hair flip. Sona took to opportunity to look under his garb, noticing his weirdly shaped gloves, sandals, and that he wasn't wearing a shirt, just baggy pants. "Smart plan, eh?"
"Well, congratulations, your plan worked." she said as she crossed her arms. "Now, and I am asking politely, may you please leave my territory?"
"Leave?" said Hao in fake confusion. "Why would I leave when I came to meet you?"
"You came to meet me?" asked Sona with suspension.
"I felt like I had nothing to lose but something to gain by meeting you." he said with a shoulder shrug. "I was curious."
Sona analyzed Hao for while before giving her conclusion. "Follow us." Hao nodded and followed the group until they made it into the Student Council Room, furnished with comfortable couches and sweets already made by Tsubaki's hand.
"This looks nice." Hao said as he sat on one of the couches and crossed his legs and prompted one of his arms on top of the couch. "Very comfortable."
"Thank you." Sona muttered as she sat at her desk. The rest of her peerage members either sat on the remaining couches or just stood around Sona protectively. "Now, can you give us a little information about yourself? I mean, you are the one that barged onto my school without any warning."
"Yes, yes, but isn't it proper to give your name before asking for someone else's name?" he chuckled.
"My name is Sona Sitri."
Hao chuckled again. "So serious… My name is Hao Asakura, a middle class, pure-blooded devil. It's nice to meet you."
"Excuses my interruption" said Momo, one of Sona's bishops, "but I've never heard of an Asakura Clan before."
"That's because we're more like a family than a clan." Hao explained as he accepted a tea cup from Tsubaki. "We are in control of a few marketplaces in the Underworld. However, in the human realm, we have established a multi-billion dollar industry. Since most of our money is being made in the human realm, we settled in Tokyo."
"Really now?" Sona laced her fingers and placed them under her chin in interest. "And what company is this?"
"I'm sure you heard of the company 'Sony.'"
"I have." she said surprised. Her peerage members were also surprised. "I didn't know devils ran that company."
"Yes, well, the man over it, Kenichiro Yoshida is over it currently. However, he was placed in that position by my grandparents, the real owners of the company. They don't like the limelight, so they placed a figurehead there in their place." he explained.
"And so a middle-class devil like you, who has all the riches in the world, joins a peerage of an unknown man that easily beat Sairaorg Bael, one of the strongest devils in this new generation. My question is, why give that up to serve someone?"
"My master has done more for me than my family ever has." Hao said as he sipped his tea. "He was the only one that understood me and talked me out of my darkest moments. He's a honorable man. While my family has done a lot with me, I never connected with them in beliefs. I feel like my master raised me more than my family ever had."
"Seems like you hold some hostility for your family." she said.
"No, not hostility, it's just that I couldn't get what I needed from them. I'll always have respect for the Asakura family, but my master…. he feels like my parent." stated Hao.
"You hold your master in such regard…" Tsubaki stated in awe "maybe even more than I do for Sona, sadly. He must be an amazing person."
"He is…" Hao stared at his reflection from his tea. "I'd do anything for him."
"While I was watching you during the Rating Game," Sona's voice brought Hao out of his daze "you seemed to be a brutal person. However, maybe I misjudged you. It seems like you're fighting for your injured master's honor."
"Yes, I am, but I am a brutal person." he said with a smirk. "I'm sure you saw how I handled my opponents. They got on my nerves."
"That's another question I had." Sona said. "What was that monster you summoned? Was it a familiar?"
"Not really." Hao leaned back into the chair. "My partner, Spirit of Fire, is a part of me. In order for you all to understand, I'd have to give a history lesson."
"Can't say that I'm not interested…" Momo muttered.
"As am I; I'd like to know more." Sona said.
"Good." Hao took his last sip of tea before continuing. "Have you ever heard of one of those blasphemous stories about how a village would sacrifice one of their members in order to appease the gods?"
"I have. However, those beliefs were always crazy to me." Sona answered.
"Sorry to inform you this, but they're real. We do live in a supernatural world, after all. The most insane traditions or beliefs could be creditable once upon a time. Devils did steal human's souls a long time ago; who would have known that humans could become out allies so far into history."
"While true, I don't see what this has to do with your 'Spirit of Fire', if that's what you call it." said Sona.
"'He' is one of those monsters of legend." Hao glared at Sona for calling his partner an 'it'. "In Mapuche mythology, the indigenous Mapuche people of south-central Chili, the 'Cherufe' is a dangerous, flesh-loving, man eating creature that lives in volcanoes. The villagers would appease the Cherufe by sacrificing virginal maidens into the volcano to appease his hunger for humans. If he wasn't feed, he would cause volcanic eruptions or earthquakes that would destroy the village."
Two, long, red arms appeared from mid air, along with a small head with long arms. Sona, along with the rest of her peerage, took a few steps back away from the behemoth in fright. Hao chuckled at their fear.
"This is my partner, Spirit of Fire, a Cherufe. It would be wise not to madden him."
Sona expected the top half of the Spirit of Fire's body, seeing as it was the only part of its body that it formed. It didn't look scary, but just by knowing its background and history, Sona gulped in fear and made sure not to do anything stupid.
"Any questions?" asked Hao with a happy smile.
"Uh..Yes..." Sona sat back in her seat and pushed her glass up "How did you acquire… him… as a partner? Earlier you said it wasn't your familiar, but you haven't explained what he was to you."
"Of course. The Spirit of Fire… I met him during my travels in Chili being attacked by magicians. One thing you don't know is that Cherufes can create ardent stones, something magicians use for their dark arts. I bet them and we connect in a way." he explained.
"How so?"
"He told me that he liked the fire in my heart… And I felt like… my body called out to him, in some weird way."
"And then?" asked Tsubaki.
"He ate me."
Silence filled the room as everyone went quiet. The Spirit of Fire ate him? That was something you don't hear every day.
"Well… if he ate you… how are you still alive?" asked Sona.
"He ate me, but he didn't kill me. He sensed the magic I had in me and decided to merge with me. As you said, the traditions of people sacrificing their villagers to appease their gods are old, so he hadn't tasted flesh in a long time. He decided to come with me instead, so he resides in my mind. I summon him with my magic and he merges with the oxygen around us since he isn't in volcano anymore. He needs an energy source to live."
"That's amazing." Sona stared at the spirit in awe. "What then?"
"Oh, I ate the magicians that were trying to capture him." everyone in the shivered. "He gets to eat his favorite food all the time and I absorb that magic he eats. It's a win-win situation."
"Oh…" Sona felt very uncomfortable around Hao and his… partner, now. "Well, you won't have to use that strange ability here."
"I don't know. I was thinking about using it against him" Hao pointed to Saji, who then jumped behind the couch in fright "for how he was acting towards me. Spirit of Fire agreed with me."
"Uh, forgive him, Mr. Hao, of his actions. He is my newest member and is still learning the ropes." answered Sona. Even if Hao did try to eat Saji, she would defend him, but she knew she would lose the battle and maybe her life as well.
"Ah! You're new to? Just like that Issei child I keep hearing Yoh talk about. He seems fond of him." Hao rubbed his chin in thought. "I honestly don't see what he likes about that disgusting human…"
"You don't like humans?" Sona asked.
"No." Hao face went from content to serious, as if he was in battle "I hardly like any race, even devils, but humans… they top the cake… They destroy the world they live in… destroy and hate each other for meaningless matters… if you would have asked me a few years ago, I would have said that we devils should kill them off.
Tsubaki gulped before saying "Well… what made you change your mind?"
"My master… he taught me all about history, focusing on the good side rather than the bad, something I've been doing for the majority of my life. He taught me to have faith in all races and that just because history is riddled with bad events; it doesn't mean it has to be that way. I do still hate most humans… but there are a few that I've seen good in."
"That's good. My peerage here is made up of reincarnated devils. They were all once fully human. They are good people." said Sona with all seriousness. Her peerage members smiled at their [King], glad that she believed in them in such light.
"Even Saji?" asked Hao. Saji gulped and turned to Sona for help.
"Even Saji."
Hao chuckled and stood from his seat. "Well then, I'm actually glad I came here. This was nice."
"I'm sure we can become allies then." Sona said while standing from her chair. "I don't want our relationship to mimics Orochimaru and Rias'."
"Oh, they want. You are actually intelligent; I can tell." Hao stretched his hand out to Sona. "I'll be on school grounds tomorrow again. While I don't want too, I do need to have another conversation with Rias Gremory."
"Then you are allowed here anytime, that is, if you don't cause any troubles." she said. They both shook hands with smiles on their faces, the beginning of a new alliance between devils.
"I'll see if I can stop by tomorrow then." he said as he released her hand. "I'll see you then."
Sona nodded and watched Hao disappear in a magic circle. She released a breath she didn't know she was holding and pushed up her glasses, a full blush on her cheeks
"He's...cute.."
"WHHHAAAtttttTTTTTTT!" Saji shouted.
Serafall Memorial Hospital
Sairaorg opened his mouth and let Kuisha feed him some of the soup the hospital provided. He still felt terribly weak from the battle against Lee yesterday. While his mid-section took the most damage from Lee's last hit, he was full of bruises and entered the hospital with a dislocated left arm.
Currently, his whole peerage and his mother were in his room to make sure he was okay.
"Feel better?" Kuisha asked as she pulled the spoon back.
Sairaorg groaned as he swallowed the hot soup "No…" he whined. Kuisha rolled her eyes and fed him again.
"It's alright, Sairaorg. You did well." Misla said from beside her son. "No need to stress yourself anymore."
"I'm sorry mother. If I had won, I would have used that wish to help you out." he said sadly.
"I know, but you shouldn't beat yourself up about it. I'm still proud of you and your peerage. You all fought your hardest."
"But it still wasn't enough." he growled out. "They… they were so strong… we couldn't even take out one of them."
"I'm sorry, Sairaorg," Coriana said "for not being able to put up a fight. That girl took me and Misteeta out by surprise and there was nothing we could do…" they both lowered their heads in shame.
"It isn't your fault, it's mine." Sairaorg said in between coughs "I shouldn't have accepted a Rating Game against a team we don't know anything about. He raised the stakes so high because he knew they were going to win…" Sairaorg growled when an image of Orochimaru appeared in his mind "I swear, the next time I see that man-
"You'll do what exactly?" everyone snapped their heads towards the door to see Orochimaru standing there with his ever present smirk on his face. "My, my, little Bael. I didn't know your hatred of me ran that deep? We just met."
"Orochimaru..." Sairaorg growled his name. Automatically, Sairaorg's peerage moved in front of their [King], defending him just in case Orochimaru came to finish Sairaorg off.
"Calm down, I'm not here to do anything bad." he said with his hands up in surrender, but it didn't feel like he was surrendering at all. Sairaorg sighed and called his peerage off, which they did reluctantly.
"Seems like you're still banged up." Orochimaru said as he entered the room. "I hope Lee didn't deal too much damage to you."
"Well, he did." Sairaorg said with a laugh. "That boy is really something. He took all my hits and kept on moving like they were nothing."
"Lee is like a tank, probably has the most stamina and has the most the most defenses in the group." explained Orochimaru as he set his bag on the ground. "You shouldn't feel bad about your defeat. I pit Lee against you for a reason, after all. I wouldn't have thought that if I didn't believe he had a good chance at winning."
"You planned this entire thing out, didn't you?" Sairaorg said. "You outsmarted me at any moment you could."
Orochimaru smirked at the Bael "Glad you figured it out. But again, you shouldn't feel bad. I am a masterful manipulator and you are young. I just adapt to what I'm giving and go with that. And to make you feel better about yourself, if you would have lasted at least another 10 seconds or so against Lee, you would have won."
"Really? How?" he asked.
"Lee depends strictly on physical prowess." he explained "When he activated that Gates technique that surprised everyone, he released all of his magic that he holds dormant. He's not the best when it comes to magical control, so that's why he had to end it as quickly as possible."
"Even as a [Rook]? They are known for having a strong defense. However, I must say, he moved very fast for him to be a [Rook]; more like a [Knight] if you ask me." Sairaorg said.
"True, but when it comes to magic, Lee is terrible at controlling it. His stamina was draining out of him quickly because of his magic adding to his strength and speed. Basically, he was beating himself more than he was beating you; it just so happened that you dropped your guard during the last few moments of the fight."
"Sadly, I felt like I won. It's something I'll look back on for the rest of my career and never forget." Sairaorg said.
"Good call. I enjoyed the fight while watching it. You are very strong; you've got a bright future ahead of you, Sairaorg Bael." Orochimaru bowed to Sairaorg in respect.
Everyone looked at Orochimaru in shock. Orochimaru always came off as a bad guy, not a honorable person. While he did complement Sairaorg on his battle, he wasn't so sure if he should trust the snake man yet.
Misla stood up and presented Orochimaru with his sword. "I believe this is yours." she said while holding it out to him.
"Thank you very much, Lady Bael." Kusanagi transformed into a snake, shocking Misla since she was the one holding, and it slithered up Orochimaru's leg and into his rob.
"That is very disturbing." Kuisha said out loud. Orochimaru chuckled at the girl.
"We're devils. I'm pretty sure that there are weirder things than me in this world." he said with a laugh.
"We'll then, Orochimaru, why I'm glad you came here to gloat over your victory, but I feel like that's not the only reason why you came here." Sairaorg said.
"Oh yes, thanks for reminding me." said Orochimaru as he reached on the ground and grabbed his bag. He pulled out a blood pump with a plastic bag attached to it. "I hope you forgot the other end of the deal since I won, right?"
Sairaorg sighed and raised the sleeve of his hospital gown. "No, I haven't forgotten the deal."
"Good. This won't hurt at all." Orochimaru said with a smile.
"Before you do this…" Sairaorg said with a raised hand "There's something I haven't told you." he looked at his mother in worry.
"What?" asked Orochimaru with a raised eyebrow.
"Well… I don't know how to say this…"
"Just say it." Orochimaru said.
"I mean… I know your master needs the blood and all… it's just… ya know..."
Orochimaru eyebrow twitched in annoyance "Sairaorg, I don't have all day. Tell me now."
"Alright..." Sairaorg said with a sigh. "It's just that..."
"What is it?"
"I'm not a full Bael. I'm a hybrid."
Evening time
Kuoh
"Dang, bro. Sorry you had to go through that." said Yoh as he munched on his fries. "My master told me about what happened, but it's different from hearing it from your own perspective."
Yoh, Issei, and Lee were out at a fast food restaurant after spending the day together. Issei was generally happy with how the day went. His mind had drifted away from the previous night's events and focused on having fun. While he did have his moments throughout the day, he felt like he could open up to Yoh and Lee. They were different than Rias.
"Yea… I still haven't checked up on Asia, but I'm sure she's okay. They'll take care of her to keep me on my good side." Issei said as he took a sip of his soda.
"That's why master doesn't revive people against their will." said Lee. "He doesn't want to condemn them into a life they may or may not want. He doesn't take risk like that."
"Well, Rias needs to learn from your master then." Issei said. "She knew all along that I was going to be killed by Raynare days before it actually happened. Shits messed up if you ask me."
"It is; seems like the Gremory doesn't understand people's feelings." Yoh said
"She doesn't and that's what I hate about her. She's so selfish... she doesn't understand me at all, but she has the nerves to reincarnate me as her [Pawn]."
"Well what are you going to do?" Lee asked. "Whenever you see them again? It's going to be weird."
"It is… and I don't know what I'm going to do when I see them. I need to go see Asia, though. She's the reason I even went to that damn church in the first."
"If you want, we can come with you?" Lee said as he devoured his chicken nuggets. "I mean, we're not doing anything any time soon since we just beat Sairaorg at the Rating Game."
"You two would really do that? Come with me to make sure everything's okay?"
"Why not?" Yoh leaned his head into his palm "We're your friends."
Issei stared at the two for a while before smiling "I would really appreciate that. Thanks."
"No problem, anything to get away from Anna." said Yoh "She's been getting really feisty because she doesn't control the TV anymore like she used to back home. She and Kisame are going to tear that house down sometime soon."
"I need to see this video of you all winning your Rating Game that you've been bragging about all day." Issei said. "Did Lee really put on a show?"
"The best one there was!" Lee said out loud. "It cost me a couple of fractured bones, but the battle was worth it. I can't wait for us to have another one!"
"How did you heal so quickly then?" asked Issei "I mean, your talk about having fractured bones sounds serious. It's amazing that you've healed in just a couple of hours."
"Oh, Mr. Kisame healed me, with a little help from Ms. Anna." said Lee.
"Who's this Kisame guy?"
"A very scary man, but he's actually cool." Yoh said "He was acting arrogant when we first met him, his blue skin put me on edge, but he's actually cool once you get to know him."
"Yeah, and he has this crazy sword-thingy that sucks up magic and he uses that to heal him sometimes. He said it only worked with me because his blade liked how my magic 'tasted'." Lee explained.
"Taste? Blue skin? That's some weird shit if you ask me." Issei said.
"It's not as bad as you think." Yoh said. He took out his phone to check the time "Eh, it's getting late. We need to head back home, Lee."
"YOSH! We must rest for tomorrow's activities!" Lee said as he jumped out of his seat and ran out the restaurant.
"Uh… You guys really have to go?" Issei said, reluctant to see them leave. "This is the most fun I've had in a while… I just don't want it to end."
"We'll… you can kick it at our spot tonight?" Yoh suggested "You'll have to deal with the rest of the guys, but it'll be fine… You'll fit right in."
"Alright! Thanks!" Issei said happily, glad his time with the two wasn't going to end.
Yoh left some money on the table as a tip as the two walked out of the restaurant. Lee was doing jumping jacks to make use of extra time until he noticed Issei. "Ah, Issei! Are you coming with us?"
"Yup, should be fun." he said with a shrug.
"Well, you'll have to know the rules in order to stay. They're easy to follow, but they are also very strict." he said.
"Yeah, like how everyone has a night with the TV in the living room." explained Yoh "Today, its Kisame's night, so it's for your own safety not to touch the remote."
"Alright, got it. What else?" Issei asked.
"Don't go into anybody's room without permission, ESPEICIALLY OROCHIMARU'S!" Yoh emphasized. "Please, sweet Lucifer, don't go in there! There are… things… in there you don't want to see…" Yoh and Lee shivered.
"I actually believe you on that." Issei said with his own shiver, thinking back to his first time meeting the man. "I promise you that I won't go anywhere near his room."
"Uh… what is else there?... Oh! Don't leave dishes in the sink. Anna will kill you…. slowly…."
"Orochimaru doesn't like it if you step on the grass on the front lawn. If you do, a snake may pop up and bite you. He's planted a few in the ground to keep watch." Lee said.
"Okay, okay… anything else?" Issei asked.
"Nope, I think that's it. Orochimaru's not home, so you don't have to worry about him." Yoh said.
"Alright! Let's get this going!" Issei said happily.
Underworld
Orochimaru opened the door to the hotel his was staying in. He had his bag filled with Sairaorg blood and set it on his desk. He turned the lights on a sat on his bed. Disappointment was all evident on the snake man's face as pulled on his hair in frustration. He was snarling and his fangs turned purple, a strange liquid oozing from them.
"A Vapula…..a fucking Vapula…."
Orochimaru stood on his feet and disappeared in a magical circle, reappearing in a forest. He stretched his hand out and a magic circle charged with lighting shot out a massive bolt that fired a lot of trees in the surrounding area. A forest fire was started and many of the animals living there were running away from it or the falling trees.
Orochimaru growled out. He had miscalculated.
'I paid so much attention to Sairaorg himself, I just assumed that Misla was a Bael as well.' he thought 'While I knew that idiot Rias was an hybrid devil, I didn't even think about Sairaorg being one as well…'
Orochimaru's hair started to rise as his magic surrounded his body. Evil intent filled the area with a sickly atmosphere, freezing any of the escaping animals in freight.
Orochimaru was taking deep breaths while an orange orb grew from out of the ground and levitated next to him.
"You….okay...?" Naruto asked.
"I'm sorry… I'm…" Orochimaru recalled his magic and the animals were able to run again. "My emotions got the best of me… I'm sorry…"
"Wha…..what… happen?"
"I went to retrieve the blood of Sairaorg since we won the Rating Game. However, I didn't know that he was half Bael, half Vapula. I… I just assumed that Misla Vapula was born a Bael as well…. I'm sorry…. master…"
Naruto was quiet for a while before speaking "Th…that….is a li…little…trou..bling…Ho..however…I'm.. not too worried…..we kn..knew…the Gre…mory….was a half…It may..still..work.."
"We are riding on luck now, though." Orochimaru said "We were only hoping that Rias' blood would work, even though she's half Bael. But now… now we have TWO HALF BREEDS!"
Orochimaru summoned a ball of magic and threw it at the area he already destroyed. A large explosion occurred, leaving a massive crater in the ground. Nothing could have survived the attack.
"T..true… but…we'll remain….hopefull… ..plus…..I have…. back up…..plan…"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow "A back up plan? One different from mine?" the orb tilted downwards and back up, so he guessed that was a nod in agreement "We never talked about this. What is it?"
"Hehehe…heehe…..We… should leave…so…someone..will appe..appear soon…." Naruto said. "We'll discu..ss… chan..ges.. in the..pla..n.. in..the morning…We'll… ..with… .. ..measures..plan.. ..Hao…..I'll… leav…leave …for yo..u….to give… your… contact..tomorrow….don't….open it…" and with that, the orb disappeared.
Orochimaru sighed at his master's secretive acts, but agreed with his words and teleported back to his hotel. He would carry on with his master's original plan and if it didn't work, they'll just use Naruto's backup plan.
Naruto's Peerage House
"What is he doing here?"
"Ahh! Anna! My light in the darkness! You look lovely!" Yoh kissed her on cheek, but it seemed to not affect her at all "Ooooh, you smell great. What is that...is... Is that…*sniff*…. cinnamon?"
Anna used her hand to grab and clench his cheeks, making Yoh groan in pain. "Stop sucking up to me and tell me why he is here?" she said while pointing to the frightful Issei.
"Oh, Ms. Anna! Yoh invited Issei over for the night." Lee answered. Anna growled and pulled Yoh's face down towards her. He gulped and tried to smile, but she applied more pressure to her death grip.
"Without informing me about this?" she asked.
She loosened her grip so that Yoh could talk clearly. "Anna, he needed some people to be around. You know what he went through last night… I was being nice."
"I don't ca-"she stopped when she saw Yoh's pleading look and sighed. She threw Yoh away like garbage and took a seat on another couch. "If he does anything stupid, I'm killing him and you."
Both Issei and Yoh sighed in content; Anna was alright with Issei spending the night. Yoh sat by Anna, but made sure to keep his distance, while Lee and Issei sat on another couch. Kisame was sitting in his own, personal recliner with the remote in his hand.
"Glad you mother fuckers finally stopped talking." Kisame said with a growl "It's Shark Week on Nat Geo, but y'all don't care about that, huh? You don't care about the greatness of sharks and our culture!?"
"Uh… you said 'our' culture." Issei said hesitantly "What do you mean."
"I'm a shark demon, dumbass." he said "Can't you tell with the gill indents? Pointy teeth?" he flashed his fangs to Issei.
"Don't forget small brain." Anna added.
"Hey… remind me the next time I catch you lacking to chop you up into little pieces." Kisame said with a growl. The rivalry between the two would be ever-present as lighting danced in between the two as they stared each other down. The other boys sweat dropped at the scene.
"Eh, fuck you…" Kisame said as he relaxed back into his recliner. "Anyway, Yoh!"
"Yeah?"
"Where's ya' hoe as brother, Hao?" Kisame laughed at his own joke.
"Behind you."
"Oh for real?" Kisame looked behind him to see Hao glaring at him with a bag in his hand. "Hey there, little guy. Did you bring the goods?"
Hao rolled his eyes before handing Kisame a box of poki and sat down next to Yoh. "Yesss…. Tonight will be perfect. I've got Shark Week on... Poki in my right hand… and the controller in my left." he chuckled as he pulled the lever on the side of his chair, bringing forth the leg rest. "Ahhhhhh! Today's a good day. What did you all do today, Rookie? Yoh? Perverted boy who's magical energy smells delicious?"
Issei shivered at Kisame's grin. "We went out to eat, went to the mall, the movies, stopped by the record store, ya' know? Just a regular day."
"I assume you didn't talk to any females today, right?" Anna shot a glare at Yoh.
"Of course not! Well… except for the female working the cash-register at the record store."
"Then you shall never go there unless I'm with you." Anna demanded.
"But AANNNAAAA! You never want to go to the record store!" he whined.
"Can you two shut the hell up!? Do you not see what is on the television!?" Kisame shouted.
"Unlike you, we don't get off by watching dumb fish eating other dumb fish." Hao said while leaning his head on his hand, his left arm propped up on the couch's arm rest.
"And I don't see the purpose of your opinion, seeing as no one asked for it!" Kisame barked back.
"Yosh! We should all train together tomorrow! It shall be sunny, said the weather man today!" Lee shouted out.
Issei watched all the chaos happen in front him, but he didn't fear it. Rather than fear… he enjoyed it. He never felt like a part of Rias' peerage. Sure, he did some light training with Kiba and Rias taught him how the supernatural world worked, but he never had any fun with them. It's been over a month since he was reincarnated as a devil, but he never actually enjoyed his time as one. This was the first time in what seemed like a long time that Issei was having fun.
However, the voice in the back of his head kept reminding him that he couldn't enjoy this peace for long.
He was the [Pawn] of Rias Gremory, after all.
The Next Day
Occult Research Club
Issei didn't come for the second day of class.
Rias groaned and dropped her head on her desk with a loud thump. Akeno, Kiba, Asia, and Koneko all looked at their [King] with worry. The Issei situation was really taking a toll on her and they didn't know what to do.
"Bucho, what can we do to help you?" asked Kiba.
"Reverse time…" she mumbled out.
"Rias, running from this isn't going to help. We need to go find him now and apologize. It's not late to explain everything to him." said Akeno.
"I know…" she muttered. She sat back into her chair with a sigh "But…. but what if he's right?"
"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.
"That…" she bit the bottom of her lip "That I'm selfish… that I only care about power…."
"That isn't true." Koneko interrupted "You love all of us and we love you back for everything you've done for us."
"Yeah, I can tell that you're a great person, Bucho! You don't seem like that type of person!" Asia said, supporting Koneko.
"I… I thank you for your words… but he's right." she said sadly "I waited until he was dead to revive him… and I was hesitant…no… I didn't want to revive Asia because she didn't have her Sacred Gear anymore… all I do care about is power… just for my own selfish desires…"
"Rias." Rias looked over to her best friend "I don't care what you think about yourself, but you aren't an evil person. You have your own demon that you have to deal with and that's what influences you to do the things you do." Akeno said, referring to her arranged marriage to Riser.
"I know, but that isn't good enough of a reason to force someone into servitude all their life." she said "All this time…. I thought I was doing right…"
"Rias!" Akeno shouted with anger, surprising everyone in the room "No matter your personal problems, we have a family member out there who hates us! We need to go get him and explain everything now!"
Rias stared at Akeno with shock before nodding your head "You're right. This… we should go find him and explain everything… I won't hide anything from him."
"That'll have to wait." Koneko said as she turned towards the door "Someone's coming."
"It must be that person that Sona was talking about." Rias said to her peerage. "Hao, I think his name was. He is one of the member's of that peerage that lives on the outskirts of town."
They all waited until Hao knocked on the door. Kiba went over to the door and opened it, slightly bowing to Hao.
"Good evening." Kiba said. "Are you the devil that Sona told my [King] was going to visit here today?"
"Yes. My name is Asakura Hao, middle-class, full blooded devil." he introduced himself, but he didn't bow. "May I enter?"
"Of course." Kiba said with a polite smile as he opened the door fully and stepped aside. Hao entered the room and took a look around.
"This is nice… dark… perfect for devils if you ask me." he said as he found a seat on a couch.
"I'm glad you like the accommodations. It's one of the reasons why I chose this place as my main base of operation." Rias stated. "My name is Rias Gremory, heir of the Gremory Clan. Sona told me that you would visit us, but you didn't tell me yourself. Not a nice jester on your part."
"Your [Pawn] is at my house eating my food in my fridge. That isn't a nice jester on your part." he countered.
"Issei's at your house!?" she said with a surprised look. Everyone, even Koneko, was surprised at the revelation.
"Yes. I was informed of what happened at the church two days ago by master." Hao turned his attention to Asia. She flinched when she felt his eyes on her "Are you the one that he was fighting for? You fit his description of what you looked like." he asked.
"Y-yes… Uh.. Mr. Hao.. is Issei okay?" she asked shyly.
"He is now, but if he keeps getting on my nerves I'm going to handle him myself." he turned back to Rias "When do you plan on getting him out of my house?"
"We were just planning to find him. We didn't know he was at your house. Forgive me." she said with a bow.
"Hmmm… well, Lee and Yoh did invite him over for the night, so I guess it isn't your entire fault." he said "Nevertheless, he's getting on my nerves. If he spends the night again, I may just kill him."
Rias shivered at his cold stare. "I-I'm sorry, once again. We'll convince him to leave as soon as possible."
"Thank you, but for now, I came to talk to you. I already talked to Sona and her peerage and it went well, however, I don't know how this conversation will go because of how Orochimaru talks about you."
"What does he say?"
"That you're arrogant and easy to manipulate." he answered nonchalantly.
"Oh." Rias sweat dropped "Well, that's because Orochimaru is a very… hard man to deal with… Akeno, can you prepare Hao some snacks and tea, please?"
"Of course." she said and headed towards the kitchen.
"So," Rias laced her fingers in a business-like manner "What is it that you'd like to talk about?"
"I'd like to strike a deal with you, Rias Gremory." Hao rested his left arm on top of the couch and crossed his legs. "A deal that you can benefit from very much."
"A… deal?" she said with curiosity. "What is it?"
"I can break your contract with Riser Phenex."
Glass shattered in the other room and Akeno back into the main room, wide eyed. Everyone in the room, excluding Asia and Hao, couldn't hide the shock ridden across their face.
"Wh...What… what are you talking about?" Rias said in utter shock.
"Don't act ignorant." he said with a frown. "You've been trying to get out of this contract with him for the longest of time, so I've heard. I'm presenting the opportunity to you and you act like I don't know what I'm talking about."
"I'm- I'm sorry!" she said, trying, and failing, in hiding her happiness. "Please, continue."
"Well, basically, I'd have my peerage face his peerage in a Rating Game with me professing that I want to have your hand in marriage." he explain.
Rias frowned at him "That's great and all, but I want to be able to marry the man I choose, not someone that I don't even know."
"Right, that's when we beat him, I'll renounce the engagement and you're a free women." he said like it was nothing. "Seems like the perfect plan to me."
"That… that does sound good… but I don't know..." the plan did sound good out loud, but she didn't know this man or his intentions.
"You don't know?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm present you with the chance of freedom and you respond with 'you don't know'? I don't understand at all."
"Well, what you says sound good, and it may actually work," Rias gained a serious look as she gazed into Hao's eyes "but I don't know you, plus, you haven't told me what you'd get in return from this deal."
Hao didn't break eye contact with the younger devil. "When we win and break your arranged marriage, you will give me a pint of your blood and also convince Sona Sitri to give a pint of her blood as well."
"A pint of Bucho's blood?" Kiba said with suspicion "That sounds fishy to me. What do you plan on doing with their blood?"
"Orochimaru wants it for his little 'experiments'," Hao used air quotes over 'experiments "and to study the genetics of the Gremory and Bael. He is a scientist, as you know well, and is very interested in things like the body and how it works, especially with devils. The blood of a hybrid Gremory and Bael seemed like an interesting combination to him and wanted to study it more. He's just using the severity of your situation to get the blood of a high-class Sitri as well." he explained.
"That's a lot to take in…" she said with uncertainty "It's just… overwhelming…"
"Overwhelming, yes, but your only safe way out." he said "Let's be serious for a moment. There are only two ways in order for you to break your contract, and one of them is very risky. The first, and most risky, is to give your virginity to someone else, which will corrupt your high-class image if your maidenhood is lost before marriage. I'd avoid that option at the upmost." Rias nodded in agreement. "The next is if you beat Riser Phenex in an unofficial Rating Game, seeing as you aren't of age yet, which will null the contract because he is unfit to marry someone that is stronger than him. The sexist rules of the Underworld will be in your favor in this situation."
"Correct, that was my other option that I have been considering." she said.
"However, the problem with that option is that you won't win."
Rias narrowed her eyes at Hao will a little of her magic slipped out of her body. "Excuses me?" she said dangerously.
"I've watched every one of Riser Phenex's Rating Games." he started "I can tell you now, even though his peerage looks pathetically weak to me, your peerage, is weaker than his. You will not win in a Rating Game against him. You will lose your only opportunity to break this contract and free yourself if you face him yourself."
Rias stood from her seat in anger. "Who do you think you are!? Coming into my domain and disgracing my peerage! You know nothing about my peerage or our capabilities!"
"Your trump card hates you." Rias' eyes widened "That was your plan, right? Develop Issei as much as possible and depend on him the most because of his Longinus? I can see right through you, Rias Gremory. You aren't hiding anything."
"I'm not hiding anything." she growled out "But I will no longer take this disrespect from some unknown devil that has past jurisdiction into criticizing my family and calling us weak!"
Hao was about to stand up, but Kiba appeared behind him and slid a sword underneath Hao's chin. He had sensed Hao's slight rise in anger and magic when he heard Rias and was going to protect his [King] at all cost.
"Sit back down, please." he muttered without any kindness.
"Get that little plastic toy away from me." Hao growled out as he entered a staring contest with Kiba. While he was hiding it well, Kiba fear started to rise as he stared into Hao's eyes. He could feel the magic that he had…. and an incredible amount of evil in the depths of Hao's soul. He didn't surrender, however, and stood his ground against Hao.
Hao glared at Kiba before focusing his attention back on Rais, not caring for the sword at his throat. "You have a [Pawn] that hates you and doesn't want anything to do with you or this peerage." He pointed at Akeno "A [Queen] that is scared to embrace her heritage and holds back on her own power because of the hatred she has for herself!" Hao's anger started to rise as he pointed to Koneko next "Another devil who hates her own power in fear of what's she's capable of," and lastly pointed to the boy with a sword at his neck "And a fucking pathetic human that was a reject of a idiotic church project gone wrong! The nun is the only right-minded person under your care, but she can't go to heaven now because you forced her into a devil, right?!"
Kiba was shaking in rage and was highly considering killing Hao now with one quick stroke of his sword. However, before he could act upon in, Hao grabbed his sword and broke it with pure strength. He stood and walked towards Rias, who was stepping away from him in fear. Kiba and Koneko acted accordingly and blocked his path. Akeno jumped in front of Rias with an outstretched hand that had a magic seal ready for use. Asia looked on in fright from the sidelines as she jumped behind one of the couches.
"You think these weaklings can stop me…" he growled at Rias. "You need to get your head out of the clouds. I'm not nice like how Orochimaru is. I'm going to tell you this once: You have no chance in winning and you need us. You cannot handle the power of the Phenex with this dysfunctional group by yourself." Hao's magic flared around him and Rias swore she could see a fire in his eyes.
"You are too weak!"
The words hit Rias like a bullet to the heart. She lowered her head as her fears were shoved right in front of her. She really was weak… a terrible [King]…
She faced Hao again, but her eyes were filled with tears. They didn't affect Hao in the slightest. "I…I don't even know if my brother… will accept this…."
Hao smirked devilishly, putting everyone on edge.
"Don't worry. I have that covered already."
Same time
Underworld
Sirzechs slammed his hand against his desk in frustration.
"He was sealed… all this time…"
"Correct." said Orochimaru "And the only way for Naruto-sama to be freed is to gather the blood of a high-class Bael, Gremory, and Sitri since they are the ones who sealed him in the first place.
Earlier, Sirzechs was told that there was a devil that wanted to meet him. Usually, people who wanted to meet with him either were high-class devils that set an appointment with him, because you couldn't just meet with the most powerful devil in the Underworld. However, the maid told him that the person that was waiting for him had sent him a message about a certain friend in the past.
Sirzechs understood the hidden meaning fully and order the maid to bring whoever it was to them in an instant, which was when Orochimaru entered his office. He introduced himself to the Satan and told him everything, from the sealing of Naruto, all the way to the Rating Game they had with Sairaorg a few days ago. Sirzechs knew everything now and was in total shock of what happened to his near and dear friend.
And now, Sirzechs was feeling like an idiot. He had completely forgotten about Naruto over the years while he was suffering in a box of loneliness. Such conditions could drive any man wild, but he hoped that Naruto found a way to stick through it.
"I just don't understand… all of this time and now I remember…" Sirzechs stated.
"I have a hunch that my master was aware of. Can I see the paper I sent you the first time?" asked Orochimaru. Sirzechs nodded and reached into his desk for the message and handed it to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru analyzed the message with a sharp gaze. "There's a seal on this paper."
"A-a seal?" the Satan said. "Where?"
"It is very small, but it's there." Orochimaru used a magic circle to summon a microscope. He placed the paper under the microscope and inspected it further. "Wow… master is amazing… take a look."
Sirzechs took his turn with the microscope and sure enough, there was a tiny magic seal on the paper. "This… this is some type of memory seal. I'm not too advanced at those, but I can recognize them."
"Even better, this seal reverses the affect of a memory binding seal." Orochimaru said. "That means someone put a seal on you without your knowledge, which probably caused you to forget about Naruto."
"This… this is…." Sirzechs was at a loss of words. Centuries has passed since he last saw Naruto and he didn't even recognize it because he had a seal on him. "But I've had to of mentioned Naruto's name after he was sealed. I'm sure of it. And if this is a seal that reverse the effect of a memory binding seal, where is the old seal at?"
"Probably long gone." said Orochimaru, taking another look at the seal on the paper. "Once you touched the paper and read the message, you remembered the lack of Naruto's existence in your life. This seal probably destroyed the old seal the instant you touch this paper… This is incredible! It's like Naruto-sama planned out every single, small detail. His mind is truly a force to be reckoned with." Orochimaru said with praise.
"That's not hard to believe seeing as I've fought right next to Naruto during the Civil War." he said with a sad smile. "However…. this really worries me. Someone close to me was able to plant such a seal on me… this is horrendous… who did it and when?"
"My guess: one of the high-ranking Sitri. When did they do it? Probably right after the sealing." answered Orochimaru. "Whoever did this was smart about it, and a trait that the Sitri are known for is their intelligence. They waited until after the war, during the rebuilding faze and after everything calmed down, and attack. It's also possible that they placed seals on more people, those close to Naruto so they wouldn't ask any questions about Naruto just like you did."
"But what about Serafall?" asked Sirzechs "She doesn't know what happened to Naruto at all? Do you think that she has a seal on her as well?"
"Personally, I don't think so." answered Orochimaru. "Her sadness for Naruto's disappearance was real. The Sitri took advantage of Serafall's sadness over Naruto disappearance to make the story look real. This is a master plan that has been in effect for centuries and nobody even knew. Those who were close to Naruto, other than Serafall, probably just assumed there were problems with their relationship-
"And we thought that they broke up." Sirzechs finished with eyes of unbelief. "Oh my… this is evil… I can't believe this happened to him!" Sirzechs stood from his seat "I'm going over to the Sitri Clan now and I'm going to force a confession out of them!"
"Please, Lucifer-sama, there's a better way to handle this. We have a plan." Orochimaru said in a calming voice. Sirzechs took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before settling back into his seat.
"Okay… what's the plan?" he asked.
"The first thing in order for Naruto-sama to be freed is some of your blood." said Orochimaru. "While you are a half Gremory, half Bael, we'll also get a pint of Rias' blood as well, which could help in freeing Naruto-sama. Two samples of high-class Gremory blood should do the trick."
"Alright, I'll give you as much as you need." he said in agreement. "What next?"
"You allow my peerage to fight Riser Phenex. My colleague should be convincing Rias to let us handle the situation and she'll pay us in a pint of her own blood and to convince Sona Sitri for a pint of her own blood. That way, we'll keep up appearances as an upcoming peerage with the mysterious [King]. With all the blood within my grasp, we'll find Naruto-sama's seal and free him. We'll deal with the Sitri after the fact that he's free."
"Okay… okay, I understand." the Satan said. "Anything else?"
"There is one thing." Orochimaru said as he gave Sirzechs a closed letter. "My master told me to give this to you. Even I don't know what this is."
Sirzechs took the letter and opened it, reading its content with interest. His eyes widened at what he was reading.
Seeing his surprise, Orochimaru spoke "If it's not to private, can I know what is in the letter?"
"It says that as a reward from freeing my sister from her arranged marriage, he wants me to revoke the stray-devil statues of a certain person… this… hehe. Naruto, you think of everything…"
Orochimaru was really interested now. "Who is it that he wants you to revoke the stray-devil statues of?"
Sirzechs smirked at Orochimaru.
"Kuroka the Nekomata."
Occult Research Club
"Now," Hao said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Do you agree to the terms of this meeting?"
Rias bit her lip and thought to herself. She was backed into a corner. She had built her peerage in order to fight off Riser's advances on her. If she would just give up and give Hao and his peerage the right to handle her problem for her, she would have revived them for no reason. They could have been living their own lives, or maybe in Heaven enjoying their days of an eternity of happiness. They had all been with each other for a long time… she couldn't just give up on them! She believed in her peerage and she knew that they would help her with whatever problem that stood in her way.
She glared at Hao as she activated her magic. "We DO NOT need your help! Unlike you, I believe in my peerage! My family! No matter what you say, I know that we can handle this together! AS A FAMILY!" she shouted. "You can leave now. Your presence disgusts me."
Hao growled out at the girl. This wasn't in his plans. She was supposed to agree with everything, not fight against his deal. However, seeing the determination in the Gremory heiress' eyes, he knew there wasn't any convincing her.
'Damn it.' he thought to himself as he gritted his teeth. Seems like he was going to have to go with option 2. He started to summon his magic and-
"Wait!" Akeno shouted, stopping Hao from what he planned on doing. "She'll do it. She'll let you beat Riser if that's what it takes for her to be free."
"What! Akeno!" Rias shouted in anger.
"Rias, just listen to what he's proposing!" she said/yelled, but her voice was filled with concern. "This man is giving us the best chance we have in freeing you from that man. And while I don't like what he said about us-" she shot Hao the most dangerous glare she make "he does have a point. I.. I don't know if we can defeat Riser the way we are."
"Akeno…" Rias muttered.
"But they can!" she said with confidence. "We saw their Rating Game last night. They can beat him! I have 100% confidence that they can do it! While I don't like how he presented himself, he's our best beat for your freedom.. I…I don't want to see you cry anymore over this!" she yelled with tears in her own eyes.
Rias stared at her best friends watery eyes. She had the best- best friend in the world. To lower herself so much… just for her…
"I agree." Kiba said, catching her attention. "While I do not like this man one bit, it seems like he's offering a deal that is too good to be true. I say you take it."
"Me too." said Koneko quietly "This is the best way for you to be free. If that's what it takes for you to be free, then I'll do anything. You should do it."
"I-i- I think so as well!" Asia said from her hiding spot. "While I'm still confused… I can understand most of what's going on. You're in an arranged marriage with a man you don't love! You should fight against it, Bucho! Even though I'm new, I-I'll be right there with you all the way!"
Rias smiled at her peerage. 'No… family…' she thought happily.
She focused back to Hao, who had his arms crossed and waiting for a reply. She narrowed her eyes at him in hatred. She'd rather deal with Orochimaru any day than this man.
"I agree with your deal. If you fight and win against Riser Phenex and destroy any chances of me marrying him, then I'll give you a pint of my blood along with the pint that I'll convince Sona to give."
"Finally, an answer." he said while walking back over to Rias. Everyone in the room tensed, believing that he was going to do something to her. However, Hao only held out a hand for Rias to shake.
Seeing her look at him with suspicion, he spoke "All agreements are finalized with a hand shake. All you have to do now is shake my hand and all of your troubles will wash away."
Rias took a deep breath before shaking his hand.
"I agree. I hope you can uphold your promise." she said.
Hao grinned at the red-head.
"Oh, believe me. We'll do more than uphold it."
Good god, my fingers hurt!
Bro, this chap is almost as long as the other chapter! I deserve a fucking Grammy or some shit for these two chapters! Almost 30k words between the two!
But I did it for you all. As of right now (June 12, 2018, on Thursday at 10:32 central time) chapter 6 has 131 reviews! That's freaking insane! The Prologue, the chapter with the most reviews, had 164! I thank you all for the support, this story is going to go far!
While this chapter didn't have any action in it, it had a serious tone to it. All the meetings and shit were fun to type. I love typing up someone manipulating someone else! Oh, the fun of this story!
So Sirzechs knows everything now! He's knows everything and he sees red! He's going to be coming for those Sitri's asses, uuuuuuuhhhhhhh huh! Can't wait to type that shit!
Naruto is one smart guy in this story (and I'm the smartest man in the story cuz I'm the one making it!) and I've got to say, it has been enjoyable developing his character.
The Hao vs. Rias scene is the best of this chapter. I just love… making her cry for some reason! It's so much fun doing that.
AND I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH TO EXPLAIN THE SPIRIT OF FIRE IN THIS STORY! I swear, it was so hard to find something similar to the Spirit of Fire. Apparently, the Spirit of Fire isn't based off of any actual spirits, which is surprising because of all the Buddist traditions in the show/mange Shaman King, so I had to find the closet thing to the Spirit of Fire and the Cherufa spirit was as close as it got.
Issei still hates Rias' guts, along with the other members of her peerage. However, he's getting along with Naruto's peerage members. What could this mean for him (insert sideways eyeball emoji here)
I was serious about that Avatar idea tho. If you are a serious about making an Avatar story, ask me in the reviews for the idea. I'll accept those who already have a story, or those who want to start being an author. It's a lot work being an author, but I think that its worth it, being able to entertain and interact with you all.
I've been reading that Gladiator story by Seyary-Minamoto and whooooooo wheeewwwwwww that story is good. I'm on Chapter 141 of 151. As you can see, I'm totally invested in the story.
Sorry for the grammar issue in the story, my beta hasn't been getting back to me…
Ahh… you guys really do motivate me… I swear.. I can actually sleep at night now because I'm releasing my mind here on Fanfiction, and you all enjoy all of it. I thank you and love you (no homo, but I ain't against gays. I'm working on becoming a better me)
But yea, that's it for me
NarutoPlug, signing out,
Like a real nigga should…
