This is a short interlude chapter.

It´s protagonists are not the regular crew, but the versions that had travelled back from the future of Universe-05. So the Gods of Darkness characters. It will be a short description of the events that had happened after they took the place of their counterparts in Universe-01.

The events from the last chapter will be continued in the next one, that will follow in a short time.

Chapter 36: Interlude

During the last months, Issei-05 – or Future Issei as he was also called (the one who came from the future-universe) - and his compatriots, with some assistance from the Guardian´s version of Odin, had great success in their mission to stop the threats originating from this world.

The same ones they had been fighting back in their own reality. But this time around they had the advantage of experience and future-knowledge.

xxx

One of the first they had been going after was this world´s version of Hades.

They had gone to Olympus and presented Zeus all the information and evidence about his brother´s secret plans and his actions from the future-timeline.

He had not been happy at all. Both about what they had shown him and what they were now asking of him.

But after hearing about the devastation Hades counterpart had caused in their world and seeing the evidence about his plans to dominate the other Factions - plans that had been in the making for many years - he saw the was no other choice. So he gave them his permission to take him down.

In the end Hades fell through the hands of a team of Future-Issei, Odin and Sirzechs. It was however Issei who ultimately dealt the death-blow with Ddraig´s Crimson Purgatory.

xxx

They had also tried to locate Lamia Belial and her Servants. But so far they had no success. They had long located the place where she and her entire peerage would have placed themselves in stasis if things had been going like in their own world. But they hadn´t been there.

It was as if she had vanished from this world centuries ago. And maybe she did. For an agent of the Dark Order, this was actually quite possible.

After they had found no trace of her for a while, they decided to move on to dealing with the rest of Khaos Brigade.

They used their future knowledge of the plans and whereabouts of their enemies against them. Of course not everything was exactly like it had been in their own universe. Too much had already gone differently for this.

Not all bases of the terrorist organization were at exactly the same locations, members and some of their teams were different. Just like some of their plans. So their had to put some actual detective work into it.

But now, less than four months after they had first arrived here, they had reached their goal. Khaos Brigade was finished. But the price had been high.

xxx

The first they had located and taken out was Shalba Beelzebub. Issei remembered all too well his alliance with Diodora and his attempt to kill Asia. (Something that would never happen in this world, since Diodora Asteroth was already dead. Otherwise he would have been next of their list.) But also his other plans that placed many innocent civilians into danger.

Just like they had expected, the arrogant and bigoted former Beelzebub heir forced them to fight him till death. In the end he was eradicated by Rias Power of Destruction.

But it was next, when they turned to the real and most direct threats in this world – Rivezim Lucifer, Quilloth... and Trihexa... and Rivezim´s plans to awaken it.

Out of them, Rivezim had actually been the first they had taken out. When they fought him and his closest followers, they were being assisted by this world´s Vali Lucifer and his team. Who had been all to happy for the chance to finally take revenge on his monstrous grandfather and be part of the group to take him out.

Issei on his side was happy to the his rival and friend - or at least a version of him - again.

As you could expect, it were him and Vali teaming up on Rivezim himself, while the rest of their teams were taking care of his followers.

What was different was however how easy the fight seemed on Issei´s part, now with his knowledge about Rivezim´s power and his already experienced DxD-Mode. Especially given how much of a threat the Evil Super Devil had been back in their own world.

Now Issei could have taken him on his own. But he admitted he actually held back somewhat to allow Vali to do his part.

In the end it was also Vali who had dealt the killing blow.

Issei had just landed a devastating strike, that left their opponent visibly damaged. If he thought back, it was nearly a repeat of how it played out in his world. With Rivezim lying beaten before him and Vali. Only this time there were no Evil Dragons around to interrupt them.

In opposite to `last time´ however, this version of Rivezim stood up again and went on an angry attack straight for Vali. He had probably identified him as the easier of the two enemies. Maybe he had hoped to take his grandson hostage. Issei wasn´t sure.

What was for sure however was that Rivezim had either underestimated Vali or overestimated himself badly.

Just before he had reached him, Vali materialized the sword Ascalon in his hand - that as it looked Michael had given to him in this reality, instead of Issei´s counterpart - and used it to impale his grandfather through his chest.

For a second, he was starring at Vali in shocked surprise, before he sank dieing to the ground.

At this point the others had already overpowered his followers and rounded them up. Rivezim Lucifer - the literal head of the snake - was gone.

And then they had proceed to dismantle his entire remaining organization around it.

After Rivezim fell, they continued and to locate and neutralize (as far as they knew) all of Quilloth´s remaining hideouts and bases in their reality.

And also - especially important, their connections in the other Factions. Like for example the spies under the Angels.

But the truly greatest threat was still around.

xxx

They were now standing at the sealing-place of Trihexa. The giant lifeless form of the monster towering behind them.

Issei-05, the Guardian members Odin and Rasputin, Universe 05´s Irina, Rias, Akeno, Kiba and Koneko and Kuroka... and also the by now quite pregnant looking Raynare and Xenovia.

Also with them were the three Faction leaders Sirzechs, Serafall, Michael, Gabriel and Azazel.

"So this is it," Issei said.

"What do we do now?" Irina asked.

"To be honest... I don´t know," Issei answered

"Should we just leave it here?" Xenovia said "I mean it was God himself who had sealed it. So if Rivezim or Quilloth is not longer around to awaken it, it should be no real threat, right?"

"I wish it were that easy," Raynare stated.

"You forget that the Dark Order knows about Trihexa as well," Issei pointed out. "If Khaos Brigade won´t release it... they for sure will sooner or later."

"As soon as it fits into their plans," Raynare added. "That might be in 500 years from now on. Or it might be tomorow. And even if they for some reason don´t, someone else will do it for sure sooner or later."

"There is a possibility," Odin stated. "But you won´t like it."

The eyes of them all turned to him.

"As you have heard before, back in my prime I possessed power that far surpassed the gods of your world. I think, if I concentrate all my energy and push myself to the limit... if I realize all the remaining reserves I have and unleash them... then I will be able to reach this kind of power one last time," Odin stated.

"And here, in this state, this creature is vulnerable. But it will cause my body so much damage that it can not be repaired.

Still, the way Rivezim had awakened it in your universe is kind of inspiring. I will bound my own soul to it... but instead of waking it up, I will drag it with me to the afterlife."

"You are not serious," Irina exclaimed.

"Irina is right. What you suggest is plain and simple suicide," Sirzechs stated.

"We can not with good conscience stand by and let you do this," Michael said.

"Why would you go this far?" Azazel asked him. "Just for the sake of a world that is not even your own?"

"What are you saying? Are you seriously aiming to die here?" Issei asked.

"Hyoudou – what gives you the idea that I ever planned something else?" Odin responded. "My Asgard is long gone. So is most of my family who were close to me. What is left of my people lives on without me."

He looked from Issei to the others.

"The truth is, I came here to this world to spend the last days of my life... and find a worthy end. It just happens to be a bit earlier than expected," Odin declared.

"You are right Raynare. As long as this being is here there will be no true peace or safety for this world. It is like a timebomb, only waiting to rip it apart. It needs to be removed. And I think the life of an old man who has already lived his own is not too high a price."

"You truly are serious about this," Issei stated.

"I am."

"If we work together, we can find another way," Sirzechs offered.

"Certainly - but how long will that take for you to find a safe method? Without the need for someone to sacrifice himself or to accidentally wake it up," Odin replied. "What if the remains of Khaos Brigade find out about this and try something desperate? We are still not sure if we have found all their spies.

Or worse - the Dark Order? You were actually lucky that they have mostly ignored your world so far. But that might change, especially when you are holding a being like Trihexa and planning to destroy it.

As you probably heard, in the future Hyoudou here and the others came from, all of you and most other faction leaders had to sacrifice yourself to stop this menace," Odin explained.

"Please let me do this. It is the reason I came to this world. To do something that matters one last time."

Sirzechs, Azazel and Michael exchanged a short look, before they nodded.

"Okay, if that is your choice," Sirzechs stated.

"I want you all to combine your powers and form a barrier around this entire place, when you have gotten into a save distance," Odin told them. "Goodbye - all of you."

"Good luck," Issei said to him before he and the others left.

Like he had adviced them, they moved in a lerge circle around the place and started to form a incredible strong barrier around the area.

At the same time, they sensed an unbelievable power slowly building up at the inside.

xxx

So I guess this is the end," Odin said to the lifeless form of the Beast.

"For both of us." He slowly powered up, connecting himself to the energy called the Odin Force one last time. He reached out and was binding his mental and physical energy to the monster.

Then he unleashed all his power.

A moment later it was over.

xxx

They all sensed it outside, an unbelievable outburst of energy. But not only that, it was literally a hole being ripped into their world that swallowed the spirits of both Odin and the monster.

"Goodbye Odin," Issei-05 said quietly.

xxxxxxx

It was over. Or at least nearly.

The members of the Hero and Sorceror Faction were still being hunted down. Cao Cao and some over powerful individuals were still on the loose.

But in the great scheme of things they were ultimately only a smaller problem. Even if they were dangerous, at least their plans would not lead to the end of this world.

They would have also to inform their counterparts - especially Issei´s own - about the sacrifice Odin had made.

Issei remembered he was technically part of their team. This Odin had acted as something like a mentor for them and they would certainly be sad about his death.

They did not know the extra-dimensional god that well, but he had proven to be a loyal and trustworthy ally during the last months. Yes - they would be sad that he was gone as well. Just like their other selves.

He knew that his younger counterpart was still in his training in some other world to control his power and would be for a while. But he was sure the Guardians would give him the message.

xxx

Issei-05 and his friends however decided not to take part in the hunt for the small rest of Khaos Brigade or any other enemies.

For the last three years, his life had consisted of nothing but fighting, violence and death. From the moment he had been first brought back by Rias, to now. There had barely been a peaceful day. Back in their own reality and in this one as well.

He remembered how damn naive, self-centered and single minded he had been back then. How he had run into everything headlong without question. He had realized his dream of becoming a harem king. But if he had an idea about even half the horrors he would see? Who knows.

Harem King - it all seemed so silly looking back.

He was still with all of his girls. But in the end because he truly came to love them all... even the ones who had once wronged him before.

What he truly wanted for now was a peaceful life with them. At least for some time. Of course he would still play the role of the other Issei, until he `graduated´ from High School and then...

They had already made an agreement with Sirzechs to give them a place where they can live together as a family. To see their children being born and grow up.

A peaceful life. At least for the coming years.

And then, the years afterwards, he thought... well, they would see.

The next regular chapter is already mostly finished and will follow in a short time. Probably somewhere next week.