I really have no idea what to do with Another DxD at this moment. Damn all-out battle.
Disclaimer: the usual
Chapter 11: Kuoh, Once Again
-Flight to Japan-
Xenovia is deep in thought as she watch the clouds from her seat by the window inside the plane heading to Japan. She's not actually thinking about the mission though. Since the town they're heading to is Kuoh, Xenovia can't help but think about Haruka.
She had told no one, absolutely no one, about Haruka. Not even Vasco, Griselda, and even Irina. It is a good thing that everyone who knew that she went to meet Haruka had expected her to be defeated so no one ask anything if she had seen him after.
Xenovia touch her lips where Haruka kissed her two weeks ago. That was her first kiss and if it weren't for the topic they're talking about, it would've been pure bliss.
She loves him and he loves her. But they are apart and very likely cannot be together. It is very unfair to Xenovia. She hates it. But they are warriors tasked to protect humanity. Xenovia understands. As an exorcist, Xenovia fights to protect humanity. And so does Haruka. He only does it in his own way together with Eterna. She doesn't know what they're planning to do but Haruka wishes to put humanity before his feelings. Putting aside her personal take on the matter, Xenovia cannot say that Haruka is wrong.
Xenovia wishes that Haruka would rely on her, on them. But he has lost all faith on the Church. He was the one who uncovered quite a number of illegal experiments and dealings. Xenovia cannot blame him for leaving as much as it hurts her.
Putting aside his personal feeling to do what needs to be done, Xenovia could respect that. If only they aren't on the opposite end of the field.
Beside the blue-haired exorcist, Shidou Irina looked at her friend worriedly. The little sister of Shidou Haruka had been observing her best friend and possible sister-in-law since her return. She refused to talk about anything related to her brother and she acts differently now. Before, she had been focusing on getting stronger. Now she's just… strange. She frequently space out when she's not training and she has this odd look in her that Irina cannot put into words.
The younger Shidou sibling hopes that this mission could take her friend's mind out of whatever it is she is always thinking.
-Seimei estate-
"Ehh, right. So I'm gathering all of you here today for an important mission."
Setsuna addressed the 'elite team' that had been assembled in his house. Well, it's just a better way to address his freeloaders. For almost two months he has to take care of all the 'trouble' Haruka dumps him with. At least he came back two weeks ago and finally deal with the former devils before disappearing again but Setsuna learn to ignore that part about him.
Currently present in his house are the 'elite team' which other than describing his freeloaders also describe those who can be called as Haruka's friends.
Hyoudou Issei. Seimei Mizore. Asia Argento. Kiba Yuuto. Shuuzen Akua. And Seimei Kurumu.
These are the people present in the Seimei estate.
Seimei Kurumu, Setsuna's other wife, had just returned from her trip with Akua to Hong Kong, training under one of the Youkai Lords, Touhou Fuhai, to improve her combat capability.
Now with everyone gathered, she began addressing everyone available.
"We have received words that the Excaliburs kept by the Church had been stolen. Normally, this is of no concern to us but the bad news is that the thieves are Ramiel and Kokabiel and they are currently in Japan, more specifically, in Kuoh."
"Kuoh? Why are they there?"
Issei asked though those with sharper mind among them had already deduced what the Fallens want.
"War, Issei-kun. Kuoh is still home to the Gremory and Sitri heiress. The plan is simple and much more effective. Heaven's relation with the Underworld is at an all-time bad since the Great War. The Devils are on edge and so does Heaven. Now, with this kind of relationship, the Devils will not be thinking rationally when it comes to matters related to Heaven. If they found out that Excaliburs are in Kuoh and most likely will be used to assassinate the two heiresses, the Devils will be totally outraged, especially since Gremory is the little sister of the late Lucifer. The problem for us is that if war does happen, Japan could very well be the center of it since it happens here. We will not be taking any chances. The Devils have grown pass their usefulness in this land. Keep them safe until this matter is resolved and then we'll kick them out. They have become more trouble than they're worth."
Everyone, even Yuuto nodded.
"Very well. This mission will be protecting the Devils and drive out the Fallens. The Church will most likely send some Exorcists to reclaim the stolen swords."
Then Setsuna turn to Yuuto.
"Good news for you, Yuuto-kun. Balba Galilei was reported to be working together with Ramiel. Also about the Excaliburs. I don't care what you do to it but make sure that whatever you do don't let it bite you back in the end. Vengeance or whatever, it is your right and something you must settle by yourself but please don't drag your friends into trouble. We already have Haruka for that."
Everyone chuckled at the jab made at Haruka. Somewhere in the world, the one-armed former exorcist sneezed.
"Now, we can't send too many people so for this job it will be Yuuto-kun, Issei-kun, and Akua."
"You know, I can do this alone."
Akua said with the arrogance of a vampire that Setsuna is used to. So he simply replied.
"Not against a cadre. Ramiel and Kokabiel are far above the likes of Gyokuro and even your father. Ramiel is the fastest Fallen wielding black lightning and Kokabiel is second only to Azazel after his ascension. Don't be overconfident. As powerful as you are, a cadre is much more powerful. A ten winged could level a town or two easily. The likes of Kokabiel with twelve wings could annihilate Alucard in an instant that it's not even funny. Twelve wings are the strongest of Heaven's army. Each of them could match the Underworld's Maou without problem. I will need to activate the full power of my flames in conjunction with Innovate Clear's balance breaker if I want to match them."
Yuuto and Issei became visibly nervous and although Akua didn't show it, she knows that Setsuna is not saying this to scare them. He is only stating a fact.
"Try to avoid them as much as you can, Kokabiel even more so. Ramiel is hot-headed and can be handled if you know how. But Kokabiel is a real monster. He can annihilate armies by himself. And most of all, if Kokabiel is not alone, if he bring his army… run. I don't care about the mission. Unless someone on my level like Scathach, Valerie, or Haruka arrives, run like hell."
Needless to say, the three doesn't have as much enthusiasm as they first had after Setsuna briefed them. It is indeed a very tall order. Ramiel and Kokabiel, these are no longer just some new names. These are legends worthy to be mentioned in the Bible. Even Akua who had faced the leader of Fairy Tale in single combat knew that this is something far above anything she had ever faced before, especially now that she has to keep an eye on Issei and Yuuto as well as the devils.
This is not a job for an assassin.
-Kuoh-
"What! The Hyoudou family had moved two months ago?!"
Irina's yell could be heard throughout the neighborhood when she found out why the Hyoudou house is empty. The first thing Irina did when they arrive in Kuoh was to immediately run to her childhood friend's house for a quick visit. Imagine her disappointment when she asked one of her old neighbor why the house is empty only to find out that they have moved. It was then that the name finally clicked to Xenovia as she remembers a passing word from her master. The older exorcist pull Irina to the side to have a little talk with her.
"Ahh Irina, I should've mentioned this but my master was quite close to some people in the Shinto faction. Is your friend by any chance named Hyoudou Issei?"
"Ehh? You know him?!"
Irina is honestly surprised when Xenovia knew her childhood friend's name. Irina is one of the few people who knew about her apprenticeship to Scathach so mentioning her master is no problem.
"Hyoudou Issei is the name of the current Sekiryuutei and he was taken in by one of the strongest Shinto demigod. I heard from my master that Sekiryuutei got involved with whatever Haruka did and he seeks asylum with the son of Amaterasu. Most likely your friend and his family moved to Kyoto or Misaki city."
"I see… well, it can't be helped. I'll visit Ise-kun when we're done! You said Misaki city? I can understand Kyoto but why Misaki?"
"The Shinto demigod who took in the Sekiryuutei lives there. Anyway, we have to get going."
"Alright."
Irina says thank you to her former neighbor before she follows Xenovia who is slowly getting further. It was when they're halfway to Kuoh academy when Irina finally realize that Xenovia had said something very important during her explanation.
"Ise-kun is the current Sekiryuutei?!"
Xenovia can't say that she will enjoy the meeting with Gremory, Phenex, and Sitri. Well, from her lessons with Scathach and what Haruka mentioned, Sitri is quite pleasant to talk to as long as you are intelligent enough. Gremory are unpleasant with their more subtle arrogance when you manage to read between the lines when they speak (Eterna's opinion through Haruka), and Phenex are outright arrogant for the brats, business-like for the men, and tsundere for the females (Scathach's description).
It would've been two bearable conversations if the Phenex in question is an adult but Riser Phenex, the fiancée to Rias Gremory, is the brat Phenex. That means two annoying conversations which is one more than what Xenovia care to handle.
And then there is one very large problem.
Irina.
Rias Gremory must not know that Irina is a Shidou or things will get ugly very quickly. Due to Haruka, the Shidou name became infamous throughout the Underworld. The Shidou family has permanently beem assigned to Vatican by Vasco Strada for their protection just in case. Unknown to her, this is also a favor to Shidou Haruka (and also leverage) from Uriel.
If the devils in Kuoh knew that Irina is a Shidou then…
As the two of them walks into a room known as the ORC clubroom, Xenovia had prepared Durandal to be quickly drawn if needed. She just hopes as she crosses her finger that she doesn't have Haruka's luck. God knows if she has even half of Haruka's luck then they would be running for their very life in a couple of minutes. She's confident with her strength that she can exploit all her advantages and defeat all the devils but Xenovia doesn't want to be the reason Great War restarted. If Haruka with his luck hadn't managed that, she'll be damned if she succeed.
That's why Xenovia had forbid Irina to say her family name.
The only other problem is that Irina and Haruka looks so similar that given a few makeup and they can actually pass for each other. In fact, cut Irina's hair and style it like Haruka's and wrap her chest and borrow her father's clothes and you get a 90% accurate copy of Haruka. Just give her a slightly more serious look, very slightly, and the similarity goes up to 99%.
Hope the devils won't notice.
The apprentice of Scathach knocked on the clubroom door. When a reply came telling her to come in, Xenovia and Irina entered the room.
In Xenovia's opinion, the room too extravagantly decorated for a school club, especially one called Occult Research Club in an old building behind the main campus. The building itself is not even in a condition to be called old though. Comfortable sofas, a large high-quality desk, lots of expensive-looking decorations. Yeah, totally not an Occult Research Club in an old school building. Then again, it is the base of operation of a Pillar Devil heiress. This much is a given.
Behind the large desk sat a… douchebag. Really, Xenovia doesn't know how to describe the man. Whatever words she wants to use to describe the blonde turns to 'douchebag' the moment it pops to her head. He must be Riser Phenex… and he's already staring at her and Irina. Xenovia held back her urge to cut the Phenex.
Standing beside the man looking very gloom is definitely Rias Gremory with red hair and large bust as the file said about her. With them are their respective Queens, Himejima Akeno and Yubelluna.
"What are two exorcists doing here in my territory?"
Riser spoke arrogantly.
'…I'm so tempted to cut his dick and blame it on Haruka. I'm sure he won't mind.'
And so we begin the infamous Kokabiel arc. Well, Ramiel is also here so just call it the Fallen Angel arc. I'm putting in Ramiel for a couple of reasons but the one I will say now is because Akua and Xenovia. Alone, both of them along with support from Yuuto and Issei and the eventual arrival of ultimate-class fighters can defeat Kokabiel. That's why I'm adding Ramiel and upgraded Kokabiel. Ohh and Issei is stronger, obviously, but haven't reached balance breaker yet.
As for the devils... so there is Riser and the rest. To be honest, I put them in only because that's just how it is. Not like Riser or anyone could beat Ramiel, let alone Kokabiel. Hell, the current Xenovia could butcher their whole peerage with her extensive upgrades and elemental advantage which she can exploit like what Haruka did against Lucifer. I'm actually looking forward to writing this since I've never found any story with Kokabiel arc following Xenovia's perspective. Then again, she's not the main protagonist in most stories.
As for Haruka and Xenovia's past. I'm going to write it as a prequel story. There's a lot of ground to cover there. Plus I've listed all wielders of Eterna right from the first to Haruka. They are important in the grand scheme of things.
Now for the revs.
Guest: I wanna see that too but sadly my skill is still limited. As for ways to keep Haruka alive, making an Elixir is a way but it is hard and Eterna doesn't know how. It's not like she needs it and she's not all-knowing. And Nicholas Flamel is just as elusive as him and I'm not even sure if he is alive in DxD.
Wacko12: For reasons like making it even more intense and balancing when the ultimate-class fighters like Setsuna finally arrives.
lo .spirito .vendicatore: The lifespan issue will persists and Ophis will have no hand in anything. Infinities tend to stay out of each other's way unless their interests collide.
Swordalfgun: If there was any way for Eterna to interfere with the lifespan matter, she would've done it on her previous hosts who released her. She might have great relationship with Haruka but she got along to the point of being lovers with 3 of her previous hosts and she cannot do anything but watch them die. It's just how it works.
Vulkhanos: Eterna cannot interfere with her host's life force. If it is like that, Ddraig could've also done so with Issei when he use Juggernaut Drive in canon. No, Eternal Twilight has so much more features and Eterna cannot interfere with this one. And no, Great Red owes Eterna nothing so why should he help her?
Deathwatch 45: Eterna is number 2 in the real power ranking and she is above Ophis but below Great Red. Issei as a Devil couldn't handle Juggernaut Drive's power so Haruka as a human cannot become the vessel of Eterna for long without a very large price. Haruka does have allies though. Not very many but just enough.
dragonrider66: I know Stark. He's the iron man from winterfell. What I mean is what do you mean by Issei going for iron man route? He's iron enough with balance breaker anyway. As for Issei's personal arc... maybe. The story mostly follow Haruka and Xenovia and now it's Xenovia's turn.
frozem1: It's been a while since I last wrote a romance so glad you like it.
ahsoei: I also feel the same. My teacher always warn me about pacing. I'm also practicing to rectify that. I know I still need to improve much but at least I get some things down good. I shudder when I remember the first time I wrote a story. It was horrible.
Ahh and as for why Setsuna is not coming. He's the strongest Shinto demigod. It will cause problems if he suddenly appear in devil territory even if it is actually not. The territory matter needs to be dealt with first before he comes in.