Reviews:
Tiamat: ...I mean, she's strong enough for Ddraig to fear her. It got me thinking that she was a perfect Ddraig counter, or something along those lines ...Perhaps, a dragonslayer dragon? (Probably won't do)
Grayfia: The final answer is no. After a lot of pondering in the free time I should use for writing - or something more productive - I had as much planned as the series itself: not much. I've changed a lot of thing around already and there's bound to be more, but this, right now, is one change I don't feel like making.
Lawrence HB: ...ok, you and I see Issei totally different. I think I am to blame... For one thing, you have some of the canon events wrong... which skewed your opinion harshly with Grayfia and perhaps, Issei. And as for the Issei part, I think I tried to be specific in not trying to convey his past life in such a way."Issei H's practical family" doesn't hated him... I guess, that was a shortcoming on my part. However, you do bring up a good point: "they could really understand... and connect with each other." I agree to a degree, but, sadly, it isn't enough to drop everything and insert her into the harem. As of right now, there's nothing that'll convince me otherwise. Maybe, one day that'll change, but til then, Grayfia is a no. Besides! There's almost no Grayfia interaction planned so far.
AoiRyuu5Ds: ...Actually, me being a twit forgot to insert: "Act: [IV]" as in after Act: [III], which has only started. This is the "side-character's arc" so-to-speak.
Omni-Creator Kami of Anime: D-Don't make me spoil too! I promised not to comment further on the subject, shhhhh! ...*coughs* As for Grayfia... While I agree somewhat with your last statement, it isn't enough. Even if the numbers outnumbers the ones against, I do have the final say. So, please, for now, let the subject drop.
darth56: Your welcome!
Julbot1: I did say something about the writing style... but I deleted it in the rant. It was one of the reasons in not updating. I'm not too sure what was different, but like you, I realized something had changed. As for that simile, I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing, honestly. Because, in part, I think I wanted that, but I don't think you meant it in the way I wanted... As for the Ddraig part: I see. Thank you for sharing. ...And at the time of writing that chapter, I didn't even know the LN/wiki had covered over their relation. So, uh, I genuinely was surprised.
"Bones": I wouldn't like to admit that I laughed, but I did. The bluntness of it all is what got me. But please, do try to be a bit more civil ^^;
TheLaughingStalkIsKnown4-1Taps: (WHAT DOES THAT NAME EVEN MEAN?!) ...Shouldn't you have said that in chapter 10?
Guest (Guest I): Well, people think it's so easy to overcome one's nightmares, fears, self, etc. DxD's plot sure as hell doesn't help. Honestly, I think, the only genuine version of overcoming is from Koneko. Issei can't overcome the Elders, in fear of what will happen to others, such as his sister. He doesn't want another him so he'll fight his way out. And while he's strong, immensely so for his age, he lacks "connections," at least, the likes of which could hide his peerage and take down the Elders, whose own connections could probably just overpower him, whether of numbers or not.
Guest (Guest II): ...I can't relate because it's hard when it all makes sense in my head, but I do apologize. Sorry.
Xeroz LotCN: Ohoho! I like this! For the most part, you're on point! I won't say anything else besides that. As for Gasper's powers: I just "stole" it from the anime actually, which deviated from the LN in some ways. As for "boobs": I've always had that in mind! I plan to do an omake about it, someday.
|:[Pyrex]:|
...
[After Issei's outburst]
Luckily, it was still her "turn" because she doubted Rias could handle this situation properly.
...W-What in the world?! Sona didn't let her thoughts convey themselves onto her usual school façade, even if normal school hours were over, as she threw her senses and sensors on. Tsubaki flinched at flare of power. And she was just as, if not more so at some things, of a stoic. If Sona wasn't bothered by a certain someone's absence, she wouldn't deny the fact that she too would've flinched. The flare hinted an amount that rivaled her sister after all.
Looking through her sensors, she realized the epicenter was... normal? There was no lingering aura of sorts, no magics, or any supernatural being unaccounted for. And yet, all her sensors picked up the energy reading from this one house. Whoever it was was skilled enough to hide it— Wait... She stared hard at the address through the magical screening. She shook her head, pulling out a certain file, only to sigh.
It would be his.
After making sure her mind wasn't playing tricks on her, she formed a teleportation and a communication circle.
"Tsubaki, I'll need you and Koneko, if Rias allows it." She let out a silent sigh, before the both of them turned to the door just as it clicked opened. One figure burst into the room while the second simply strolled in, nonchalantly, smiling as always. Cancelling the communication circle with a wave, she greeted her fellow classmates, "Rias, Akeno."
"—Your sister?"
Sona shook her head. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about the accusation or if she would rather it actually be her sister, when they find the origin. "I'm not too sure."
The two newcomers looked at each other, "you'll have to convince Koneko," Rias said with an expression that was conflicted between duty and her worry for one she'd call family. They all knew of Koneko's position about her powers and abilities. Sometimes, she was okay with just using a little bit of it. Others... her trauma was too much, understandably.
"It may not be required," Sona spoke up, gesturing to Tsubaki before blinking and pointing to Akeno, "they could ask the spirits."
Akeno's smile widened slightly, modestly, "Tsubaki is more useful than myself in this situation."
"Buchou!" The occupants blinked, hearing a male's voice, before the door slammed open. "Koneko-chan, she's..." Yuuto stopped, as his confusion surfaced, before he questioned more than stated, "she's scared?" That's what it seemed like to him, but he didn't know quite know why. The four girls blinked.
"I-I see." Yuuto's [King] looked back to Sona, "I have to..." She trailed off as the fellow purebred nodded, "I'll help out later!" With that she ran off with her servants in tow.
"—Should we get going?" Tsubaki spoke, as a circle encompassed them.
"Yes, we've wasted too much time, hesitating." She nodded.
"Reya and Momo should be meeting us there."
With that, the circle flared to life.
...
A barrier swallowed the surrounding area.
At least my sensors weren't tampered with, Sona realized as she looked around. However, the question still lingered: who caused that explosion of energy?
Sona stepped away from her [Queen], just as two blue demonic circles appeared. From the ground, the circle rose, revealing her [Bishops]. They looked at her. "Magic and Aura forensics, if you would." They nodded, and she watched, making sure they did to the utmost of their abilities. She hid a slight smile—she was proud of them and their growth.
Once she made sure, she became her own search. Tapping her foot into the ground, she reached through the water and searched the ground around that... that "man's" house.
At first, it gave away nothing. However, searching with even more focus, she found a head-sized tunnel? The problem was, the tunnel came out of nowhere and, as far as she could tell, was rather useless despite it's massive length. Based on the settling of underground creatures, it happened long before the explosion. Yet, her sensors were picking up some form of energy foreign from the lands.
"Kaichou." A curt voice called out, "the spirits, they all say the same thing: 'Dragon and Devil Mans!' but they're not being helpful otherwise..."
Holding back a sigh, she nodded, almost tiredly. "Has... Phe— Hyoudou-san been found?" She didn't bother with the "Dragon" part. It was stressful already, and thankfully, there wasn't any sign of a fight. Clearly, there was another thing that that Phenex was hiding, unsurprisingly.
The two [Bishops] perked at the name, only to look away, partly in shame. The pale-haired half-devil spoke, "He... He left this morning, but he never came back, from what we could tell."
She stared at the house. ...Was he a cautious type? She hoped not as she stepped forward, throwing all her senses forward, and raising her defenses, straining herself. "Reya, Momo, follow closely behind Tsubaki," she said as she stopped before the front entrance.
They nodded, nervously, skirting into position.
"Be ready."
And she released water into the keyhole.
*Click*
...Oh.
The door has been unlocked, and she could only watch as it fell open. Nothing happened, as the girl stood ready for almost anything. The first ones to relax were the [Bishops], looking at one another.
"...Nothing," Tsubaki said, stepping forward even as Sona tried to search for anything.
Hiding a deeper sigh, Sona gave more commands, "Reya, Momo, you have this floor." They nodded, going in opposite directions. "Tsubaki, you'll help me upstairs." And so, they went. Once upstairs, they, too, parted in opposite directions.
...Sona found herself in the only room that was filled with clothing. A foreboding feeling fell upon her as she swallowed, making her way across the room. The bed was done, smooth down even. However, she sensed moisture that surpassed the normal amount of sweat within the pillow, sheets and bed. Either he sweated more than usual (which was unlikely as a Phenex) or... There were too many possibilities, whether of the mundane or otherwise.
Sadly, despite her better judgement, she reached for the pillow in particular.
Alongside the extra water, there was the elements that made up... tears: glucose, sodium, potassium, and so on... Furthermore, there were crust particles, which she guessed came from his eyes. Unknowingly, she tightened her grip, focusing in her devilry, as she conjured the "memory" of the pillow ...only to freeze. She may not have seen the all of it, but something changed this morning.
He did sweat a lot in his sleep unlike what was told about the Phenex. He did cry. He didn't sleep for long (a given as a devil). But that morning, his demeanor was unlike anything she has heard of from the Phenex. Silent, daunt and dispirited, he left. It was so unlike either of the two personas (Dickish or one that was matching of her "younger brother") she knew of that she...
"Kaichou." Said girl jumped, startled, almost dropping the pillow she clearly wasn't clutching. Before clearing her throat and nodding for Tsubaki to continue, who pushed up her glasses, "Beelzbub-sama... was here?" Furrowing her brows, slightly, she elaborated, "Reya and Momo weren't sure of their discovery so I double-checked, and I made the same conclusion. Rather than worse case scenario, it was a barrier that surpassed anything we could create..."
...At least it wasn't anything dangerous. Otherwise, her [Queen] would've mentioned something of that sort. However, evidently, something had seeped from the barrier, and as predicted from before, it, despite her pride, far outstripped her in power. Thinking more whilst slow in nodding, the petite young woman moved towards the door, "...I—" She frowned slightly, a tint of pink atop her tight cheeks, "I'll contact Beelzbub-sama... but in worst case, I'll reach out to Ser—Leviathan-sama." The [Bishops] flinched inwardly. Instead of doing so herself, she let herself smile. The two girls, they were coming along nicely. "You both are dismissed. Thank you for your work. Reya, Momo—I'm proud."
The two girls blinked before finding Sona's smile contagious but in their case, wider, nodding.
"Y-Yes!" The brunette clutched the hem of her skirt, happily but true to her shy mannerisms.
Momo found herself conflicted as to how to respond with the warm emotions that bubbled from within her, despite the small smile she unknowingly upheld, "I try my best." With that, the two teleported off—probably to their apartments.
"Sona," an arm reached out to Sona's—the one that still held his pillow. "The air," she whispered aloud, waving her hand. With that, parts of the air turned light green or a sudden blunt red. "A pheromone."
The short-haired devil blinked. "A—what?"
Then, Tsubaki stood before her, suddenly, "but, don't bother with that small matter, Sona. —You're acting strange."
"You of all people know that I was pro—"
"I wasn't talking about that."
"I... it was the pheromone..."
They both knew it was a weak argument.
"...O—... Onee-chan, s-she told me about him... I'm still struggling to live with that reality."
Somewhere in that phrase, Tsubaki could tell there was a lie, but she couldn't quite pinpoint it.
Sona, despite everything many may think of her, was a dreamer. ...As one would think, it wasn't something she'd like to show. It came with being isolated at a young age. Before meeting her peerage, Rias, and Issei, all Sona had was her sister to keep her company. Her parents were loving, when they were around that was. Something that had to do with her older sister had always kept them busy. —She had told herself that she would only bother them if she wasn't called upon. That had begun her evolution into her cold persona. However, that was only to hide the dreamer within her.
She wanted to build a school for reincarnated devils. To many that was a dream—one that she would be scorn for. It wasn't her only one. She wished for genuine world peace. Quite ironic as a devil and counterproductive with how cynical she's become.
Then, as forceful as per her usual, her sister "made" her have fun. ...Honestly, Sona couldn't help but sigh, but smile to herself, slightly.
All she was was...
"...what's the smile for?"
"Let's go have fun."
"The occasion?"
"No reason."
"I see. Let's."
—First, Tsubaki needed to find a way to properly shield herself (and thus the rest of her peerage) from the pheromones. As Sona uncharacteristically dragged her away, the [Queen] allowed her blush to spill. I hope no one from school recognizes us... If that happened, well, their reputation would be tarnished. ...It wasn't that she wanted to have fun! It was her duty as a [Queen] to watch over her [King] and nothing more.
...Who was she kidding? She wanted some udon noodles!
There was another thought: Just who is this "Issei Phenex" to her master, anyway? Not that she dislike her master's true self...
From behind Yubelluna, Karlamine followed, looking timidly obedient. Her gaze was to the floor ahead of her, barely seeing the [Queen] from the corners of her eyes.
"Karlamine."
"O—Oh, y-yes?"
"Will..." The purple-haired woman paused, clenching her fist with a noticeable amount of strain, "Will you continue your training today?" From the corners of her eyes, Karlamine noticed it.
The younger woman, a 180 from her usual self, nodded, fiddling with the texture of her sword's sheath, "I plan to."
"—Would you mind if I intrude?"
The brown haired woman looked up quickly, matching eyes with Yubelluna, "Wha..." only to look back down. "I- It's fine, if you want."
"Karlamine."
"Yes—?!" The swordswoman found herself enveloped by the Witch's arms.
"I'm sorry." The older woman meant it in more ways than one, and there was no way Karlamine could miss it, even as oblivious as she is. Tears pooled up in her olive eyes as emotions flooded her being. The arms that hung at her side reached behind Yubelluna, slowly, as if in disbelief.
The person who she thought would know how she felt but wouldn't know how she felt acknowledged her. It made her guilty nonetheless, even as she clung to the motherly but sometimes immature (—in a way) woman.
Karlamine had sought to "strengthen" Issei with her own strength, which was actual strength and her swordsmanship. However, in the bird eye's view of things, it was ineffectual, impractical—futile, useless. Rating games were skewed already. In other words, she could be replaced—she was unnecessary. And sadly, her sword skills and a few spell that any devil could learn was all she could "do." She was absolutely no good with things that require "brain power." She lacked the affinity of magic to make herself as important as Yubelluna since that was seen as more relevant than swords.
...She didn't want to be useless.
"Useless sword-idiot," she was playfully dubbed by her peers. While she didn't hate the name, it struck her more than she let on behind her outburst of meaningless threats because it was true. She knew she wasn't the only one. All of them—Ravel and Yubelluna—felt that way. But, in some shape or form, Karlamine felt inferior to them. The revelations of the days before only solidified that.
...She absolutely didn't want to be useless.
This was something she hid from even her Master, who deserved none of it—her "oblivious" lies included.
Anger bubbled from within her—subsiding only by her "uselessness."
"Is there nothing I... I can do, Yubelluna?" she asked drawing away from the woman.
"Issei-sama is fine with you just staying by his side."
"But I'm—!" I'm not fine with just that, she wanted to say as she had only stopped initially to ease her raising voice but she had froze, finally realizing the opposing woman's expression.
Yubelluna was smiling.
Cruelly.
Aesix: Some of my past plans were forgotten, so meh - I had to change it up. I had once said before Issei and Ravel are genuine full-blooded siblings. I guess, that's one major change, if you didn't get the ambiguous "hint" at last chapter.
Sona (& Tsubaki): Like it? Hate it? OOC but worth it? Or not? Someone's on their period? Not sure. As for Tsubaki, I sorta drew inspiration from somewhere I guess.
Karlamine: ...ah well, she's really... having a bad day... and it'll get worst. (Spoiler?) I wonder how many people will expect what's to come ~
My writing style as of the last few chapters: So... For the most part, I confused y'all but not in the way I intended, I'm guessing. Either, you all are too lazy (not that I can say anything) read past what's given—or I'm being stupid and can't tell what's wrong because it makes sense to me, no matter how many times I read it over and edit it in a way that it doesn't give too much away. So yeah... same reason, and not much changed? Perhaps.
Oh how I wish to spoil!
Have a nice day!
Edit: ...some?
[Words: 3,330]
Random: I wonder if this chapter confuses people. ...that wasn't sarcasm.
