High School DxD: True Maou

by demonicjester01

Aslatiel Bael thought he could ignore his undesired past by working as a freelancer under the wing of Sirzechs Lucifer, his benefactor. However, when a certain job to protect Rias Gremory leads him to Kuoh Town, Aslatiel is forced to face his demons once again. OC x Harem, Issei x Harem. Includes many elements from other series. Slight (Progressively more) AU.

37. Chapter 36

Life.25 Demon Lord of the North.

---

The two golden meteors streaked across the night sky while changing direction endlessly, leaving nothing but utter devastation in their wake.

Shockwaves that were repeatedly produced due to their various airborne clashes blew away dirt, trees and rocks. The bright flashes that came from the battle of the two divine beings lit up the night sky of a perimeter larger than five hundred meters, making it seem as if dusk would never arrive.

"Move as much as you want! It doesn't matter in the least!" Asura yelled and extended his arms to the sides.

Multiple magic circles for a massive bombardment of magic were swiftly prepared and activated. Elements such as fire, ice and lightning, storms of sharp stone, powerful whirlwinds and bright rays of white light were fired at his opponent. However, the projectiles were all briefly stopped by a sudden release of Kartikeya's aura and neutralized by his lance blows that came faster than sound.

Asura narrowed his eyes, but he wasn't done. Knowing that his previous attack wouldn't be nearly enough to defeat such a strong god, he had prepared two huge chunks of the ground below them as compressed spears of dirt and rock, around ten meters in length and two in thickness. Such a large scale of control was only made possible by one of his elemental alignments, Earth.

However, Kartikeya didn't falter and sent out several blasts of his golden aura to counter the earth spears. It was a fierce clash indeed, but by the end, quite a few waves of Kartikeya's aura remained and there was nothing left to stop them from speeding toward Asura, as his earth magic had been neutralized and destroyed.

Using a thin tornado as propulsion, Asura evaded the waves of energy by flying like a golden bullet throughout the night sky, but the blobs of the divine aura followed him at an increasingly faster speed as if they had a will of their own.

I am well aware that this isn't going to be simple by any means…

Asura suddenly braked mid-flight and released destructive bullets of magical power at Kartikeya's attack if only to slow it down for a moment. Then, he placed both hands between the blasts of aura and himself and forced his brain and magic into heavy work.

Remember structure and state… Materials used…

"Ajax Image—!"

Then, in front of him, the rose-colored shield manifested at once.

Now with seven petals and seven layers, Asura's ultimate defense was close to the original shield of Ajax The Great in power.

Several blasts of Kartikeya's divine aura clashed against the rose shield and disappeared before being able to pierce through even the second layer, but a defense of such a level took a lot of Asura's magical power and concentration to maintain. Therefore, he failed to notice in time that his opponent was traveling from behind him at a comet-like speed.

The Ajax copy dispersed after it blocked the last blob of aura and Asura barely dodged Kartikeya's incoming spear by twisting his neck. However, he went straight in the way of a fist and a kick covered in divine aura.

Feeling his head ringing and pain similar to that of being hit by two huge steel beams, Asura spun in midair from the sheer force of the attack. Enduring the severe aftershock and recovering his balance through inhuman determination, he barely dodged a thrust so fast it was invisible for a moment. Just the shockwave caused by the attack was enough to crack the ground below them.

"There's still more." Without losing his calm, Kartikeya thrusted his blood-red spear, which was aimed for Asura's head without delay.

Applied since the very beginning of the bout, Asura had used a spell on himself to optimize his senses with a focus on sight. If he didn't have such an ability, his head or neck may as well have been pierced as soon as the second thrust.

Even so, he couldn't avoid getting more small cuts progressively across his entire body. Without being able to stop it, Asura received a strong blow to his side by the blunt shaft of the lance.

"Guhah—!" The air in his body forcefully taken out, Asura spit a few drops of blood.

Blown aside, he barely managed to stabilize himself in midair.

If it's like that…

The golden aura around Asura suddenly rippled with a strange flow. By the next second, no less than ten Asuras were now floating around Kartikeya, ready to attack.

"Illusion magic? How unsightly for a fellow son of Lord Shiva, even if it pains me to acknowledge such a thing." Kartikeya stated as he effortlessly dodged the attacks of the multiple Asuras.

All of them holding swords in both hands, they still were unable to make contact with Kartikeya's body.

"Annoying!" With that yell, an extremely powerful burst of divine energy was released all around Kartikeya's body.

To protect himself from the blast, Asura had to convert the magical energy that made up the illusions into a single magic circle in front of him, but even that couldn't prevent him from being burned in several places of his body. However, the swords that the illusions held were not simple mirages.

"I have you now!" With a simple hand movement, the twenty-odd swords were launched straight at Kartikeya.

Kartikeya flew at high speeds to avoid them, but the swords were like hunting hounds and pursued him whenever he went. The god narrowed his eyes.

"I really don't want to show more power than needed, but you are a bit more troublesome than I thought…"

Suddenly coming to a stop, he swiftly brought his spear to the side in a quick swipe. An arc-shaped blast of red energy was released with that movement, vaporizing the swords that had been pursuing him without a trace. Asura tightened his fists in frustration.

So that's the divine spear, Vel… The weapon that decimated the entire army of Soorapadman…

"To be able to restrain that nuke-like stick to a level that would only destroy my swords. That's not simple at all, and requires experience." Asura was not flattering, but merely acknowledging the strength of an opponent hell-bent on killing him right now.

"I should say the same for you. I do intend to kill you as soon as possible… But it looks like I went too easy on you. Be proud, lowly half-breed, since I admit you are worthy of fighting me."

A gallant expression appeared on Kartikeya's face as he praised Asura without any fake reason to do so. But the boy in question merely scratched the tip of his nose in return.

"Ah… Er… Actually, you don't need to be so serious. I am, after all, just a half-bred lowlife. So why don't you hold back a bit? To bring a bodyguard to deal with me sounds like too much."

Upon hearing this, Kartikeya narrowed his eyes.

It was true. Apart from him, Asura had felt another powerful presence in the area. It was quite obvious that an important God would come with an escort or something of the sort, but Kartikeya had confronted him alone.

"It's a formality, nothing more. Any high-standing being has to be accompanied by one of two escorts on most foreign business. But I don't need help to deal with you."

Kartikeya dismissed Asura's ridiculous words and began to concentrate. He gathered massive energy attentively, generating a power stronger than anything he had used until now.

C-Could that be—!?

The ultimate weapons used by gods and heroes in ancient Hindu tales. Only known by those with the ancient knowledge, they gave them the ability to exterminate entire armies effortlessly.

"Use it, I know you have the ability to reproduce it to some extent. With Father's Trishula, you still have a chance of injuring me."

… Yeah, right…

Asura knew perfectly. During the time he would need to copy the legendary trident, Kartikeya would kill him. Besides, he doesn't possess the power or skill to project such a weapon to even a level close to its full potential.

"Piss off, I don't need such a thing to win. Today, I will beat you with just my own and Mama's power!" Asura stated without faltering.

"Well then, if you choose to die without having any chance of victory… Vanish in the purifying flames of the God of Fire." Kartikeya said as tremendous heat was released around him.

An Astra!

In contrast to his previous flippant expression, Asura placed all of his attention to try to see through Kartikeya's attack, the one known as Agneyastra. There would only be one chance, so there was no room for failure.

"—O Agni…" Calling forth the name of the Hindu God of Fire, Kartikeya made the signal for the attacks release.

—Now!

[KABOOM!]

The flames that appeared before Kartikeya suddenly expanded and exploded. The shockwave hit the vegetation in the area and sent trees and heavy rocks flying which cracked the ground below.

Aware of the power such an explosion would have, Asura brought forth a huge chunk of the ground below just before the blast happened. Heavily compressing and hardening it with his magical power, he managed to protect himself from the enormous destructive power.

"I succeeded…?"

Kartikeya was still engulfed by flames. Though the results were unclear, the surroundings looked as though many bombs had exploded at once. All that was previously surrounding him had been blown away.

Those are flames made after the ones of the mighty Agni… Taste them yourself, Murugan…

As the flames subsided, the scene inside became clear. Despite being bruised and burned in many spots of his body and clothes, Kartikeya's eyes and body were not even close to defeat.

Exhausted, Asura resorted to descending to the ground, Kartikeya following suit. The god greeted Asura's hate-filled eyes with unbreakable poise.

"So that is your killer shot? Increasing the concentration of oxygen in the surroundings in order to induce an uncontrolled combustion… The flames that you made burst were divine ones, so it's understandable that even one such as me would be hurt. But still, it looks like you're only able to fight with cheap tricks."

His words were humiliating. Asura remembered the smiling face of his mother at that moment. Those eyes of hers he had inherited… They would never open again.

"What a joke! You, who attacked a peaceful village back then with such a coalition of gods and warriors, are talking about cheapness!? Don't joke around, you cowardly murderer!"

Kartikeya's words were too painful for Asura, whose scars from eight years ago still ached in his chest.

"I would apologize if you deserved such respect, but I don't really have time for the rants of a lowly child. Now you have two options: either let me kill you quickly, or suffer through an unwinnable battle. Decide." However, Kartikeya's words were quickly answered by a thoughtless statement from Asura.

"I choose neither, asshole. You and Śakra… I would rather die in suffering than lose to you two! He killed my mother who had done nothing wrong and you killed Kari, you son of a bitch! I will kill you right here and Śakra is next!"

Asura answered in sheer rage while showing his middle finger. Even the calm Kartikeya seemed to be somewhat angered by the insults thrown his way.

The drizzle that had started a few minutes ago was gradually becoming true rain, the sky slowly darkened and winds became faster and rougher.

"So you still think you can beat me? Without such cheap tricks, you wouldn't even be able to scratch my clothes!"

Kartikeya dashed forward, his spear a divine, raging wind.

Asura gnashed his teeth, forcing his brain to the limit and focusing magical energy from all his body.

Remember… Structure analyzed at the moment of sight, composition materials and copying through equivalent exchange—!

At that moment, blue lightning trickled within Asura's hands and two swords of legend were reproduced. Durandal and Ascalon, first-class Holy Swords he had only had the fortune of seeing due to his involvement with the Gremory group. No less than them was required to face a weapon such as Vel.

Barely blocking the thrust aiming for his head, Asura's body was still blown back a few feet.

Mama…

There was a huge difference in strength. Asura knew that better than anyone.

But even so, he refused to give up as if such an option didn't exist in his mind. Maybe he was just a stubborn child, but he wouldn't wish to be any other way.

Don't fuck around! If there's anyone I refuse to get killed by… It's these two!

The next thrust from Vel came at him, but instead of blocking or parrying, Asura compressed large blocks of wind around each of his swords and attacked back with all his might. The wind exploded with a dry sound upon contact, and mixing with the destructive power of Durandal, Kartikeya was the one blown back this time.

"What the…!?" The Hindu God of War was briefly startled by such an unexpected display, but was forced to keep his guard up by Asura's unrelenting attacks.

"Shut the fuck up! Just fucking die already!"

Unlike before, there was no particular technique or finesse to these attacks. The boy who over years had acquired skills that allowed him to fight a defensive battle against a god had returned to battling without them.

But even so—

[CLANG. SWOOSH, CLING—!]

—These blows were far heavier than any of the previous ones. His body is tired and wounded, but the sloppy attacks went past any movement reading by Kartikeya

For the first time in this bout, the god had to actually parry and block attacks from Asura, the lowly son of Destruction tainted by human blood.

"Don't screw around!" His usually calm face consumed by anger, Kartikeya counterattacked.

A lethal blow, anyone would understand that it was supposed to end there, but—

[CLING!]

—It got parried again.

And again, and again.

Seven thrusts that should have been fatal were parried by Asura who was only moving his injured and exhausted self with sheer willpower.

Kartikeya's eyes widened as he evaded a slash aiming for his neck. An attack he couldn't block, but had to avoid.

What the hell is this!? I'm being cornered by a mutt!?

Anger taking control of him for a moment, an incredibly powerful swipe from Vel was let loose.

Asura's Ascalon was finally broken in two and he was roughly blown across the ground.

"You… You're nothing but an annoying half-breed!" Unlike before, Kartikeya was now clearly angry. His handsome and calm face was now contorted unsightly.

Asura, sprawled on the floor, slowly opened his eyes. He suddenly began to laugh, like an amused child.

"I could be mean, I could be angry… You know, I could be Just Like You~…"

"What…?"

Kartikeya asked in confusion due to Asura's seemingly incoherent singing. Meanwhile, the boy with green and black hair simply sat up, a complete Durandal still held in his left hand.

"I could be fake, I could be stupid~! You know, I could be Just Like You~!" Without any trace of fear, Asura sang with a smile while looking straight at Kartikeya.

The god's golden eyes flared in an outrage.

"Why you—!"

An even angrier thrust was released, which Asura blocked with his Durandal copy.

It broke in half and he rolled on the floor a fair distance away. However, Asura's child-like grin remained.

I have to get him angry and bring out all the skills I have attained until now… It's my only chance to win…

"I'll end this right now… You will die, Kai Vinterfeldt." Even his aura being affected by anger, Kartikeya prepared Vel on his hands.

"Heh… Yes… Let's end it now, Murugan."

He 'sheathed' the hilted halves of his Holy Sword copies in his belt as he required support from both arms, but Asura still managed to stand up strong. The two combatants glared at one another with resolution in their eyes, rain and wind ceaselessly caressing them.

Asura prepared the final reproduction he would need for this fight, careful to choose well among the deep repertoire of weapons in his mind.

There is a chance for victory… Murugan won't use the full extent of Vel's powers and he only used the Agneyastra because we were high in the air… Maybe it's because he doesn't want to get the Hindu Gods in trouble with the Three Factions by causing excessive damage to the Underworld…? … At any rate, Murugan is fighting me only with his raw strength and spear technique as long as he can help it… So I need to capitalize on that…

Asura closed his eyes, searching for the weapon best suited to this particular advantage he could count on.

There was one answer. One he had seen already many times through the last year during occasional meetings with her.

A plan that will allow me to deal the decisive blow… I can make it with these weapons!

He remembered the words of his beloved mother, back when he could feel her warm hands whenever he wanted.

Kai… Whenever you're in doubt, scared or think there's no way out… Remember to sing… I love you…

"Hear me, Timeless Root of All Knowledge."

« I Create. »

As if only to rouse his will, these words had no particular effect. Asura focused his magical energy and mental strength, his hands once again trickling with blue lightning. In a split second, the desired weapons were reproduced.

Identical shortswords of black and white, wielded as an inseparable pair. Lucina's favorite weapons, Gan Jiang and Mo Ye.

Kartikeya frowned at this.

"I thought you would at last use Trishula, but you think you will have even a chance of scratching me with those flimsy swords? You insult me…" His anger rousing up even more, it did nothing but amuse Asura.

"I assure you, these swords will bring me victory." He spoke with absolute confidence.

Kartikeya readied himself even so, sensing Asura's determination.

Just one opening… That's all I need, and these swords will bring it… Thank you, LuLu-chan…

Asura breathed deep and smiled purely. Without hesitation, he threw them.

Charging both swords with as much magical energy as he could without endangering their durability, he threw them straight at Kartikeya's neck, the two blades drawing a beautiful arc as if they were intersecting right on him.

Not even a god would come out unscathed after being hit by two weapons which were almost at the level of a Holy or Demonic Sword.

But—

[KISHIN!]

The God of War blocked them like nothing, easily redirecting Gan Jiang and Mo Ye behind him.

Asura was left unarmed, and Kartikeya closed in without wasting a moment. However, much to his surprise, Asura did the same.

Blue lightning trickled once more and sparks appeared as the steel collided.

"The same weapon…!?"

The twin swords blocked Kartikeya's thrust without faltering. The image was already there by the time of the first copy, so creating Gan Jiang and Mo Ye anew was even easier this time for Asura.

"Useless! Those weak swords cannot match me!"

Drawing a blood-like red line across the darkness, Kartikeya's surely fatal attack came accurately.

However, right before completing it—

[SWOOSH!]

—A surprise attack came from an unexpected direction, surprising the God of War.

"What the—!?"

Only his battle-hardened instincts and experience allowed him to parry and break the Mo Ye that flew at him from behind.

That's right! These swords will always go back to the other half of the pair, even if it's a different pair that I'm holding in my hands!

Taking advantage of the perfect opening, Asura thrust at Kartikeya's heart with the Gan Jiang in his hand—

"Don't get cocky…!"

—But he blocked it with Vel.

What a monster…

He blocked both the surprise attack from behind and Asura's full-force slash, destroying the white sword he attacked with as well. It is only a replica, so it is not unbreakable like the original ones, but a durability increase was still present when wielded together.

If he was not a monster, Asura didn't know what was.

But—

"I'm not done here!"

[SWISH!]

—If he wasn't fighting a monster, Asura wouldn't need such an elaborate arrangement.

"Another one!?"

The Gan Jiang that had been blown back earlier was the one to attack Kartikeya from behind this time. As if they paired swords were magnets, the Gan Jiang will always come back to Asura as long as he held Mo Ye in his hand.

"Darn!"

Kartikeya avoided and shattered Gan Jiang with his godly battle instincts, but Asura took the chance to thrust Mo Ye into his unguarded chest—

[THRSHH!]

—However, he blocked even that attack, destroying Asura's last sword.

"—!"

Time froze for a brief moment in Asura's mind.

Both warriors assessed one another's situation.

Asura's attack had ended.

Two pairs of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye. All consecutive attacks were blocked or parried, with the four blades being destroyed. Without his weapons, Asura couldn't do much now.

But Kartikeya was also at his limit.

He destroyed Asura's weapons at the cost of leaving himself completely open.

A stalemate was the only way one could describe this situation.

Both combatants were defenseless, and in a second they would be back at where they started.

That is, if Asura's plan had ended with just those attacks.

"Now—!" The Demi-God focused to the highest extent.

Kartikeya's expression froze at that moment.

"Murugan—!"

He couldn't waste any more time by taking a single step.

Turning himself into a bullet by fully using the wind around him, Asura charged head-on at Kartikeya, tackling his body by surprise.

Such a reckless assault took the God by surprise as he coughed air from the sheer force of this tackle, however, Asura was not done.

The bullet continued its course, dragging the opponent at a blinding speed across the field and appearing to make a hole in the rain that fell with strength. The two battles became a single mass and flew low, grazing on the ground.

"Y-You bastard—!"

With a handsome face completely twisted in anger, Kartikeya lifted his spear and drove it through.

The tackle along with their currently fast speed had affected his balance quite a bit, but Vel still managed to pierce Asura's back with a rough movement that splattered blood around, barely missing a lethal blow on the spine.

"G-GAaAA!"

Terrible pain numbed Asura's senses, making him aware that he had received a dangerous wound. However, he wouldn't stop because of it. He couldn't stop, so he gritted his teeth and kept going.

They finally came to a stop as Kartikeya's back crashed into a stone wall, bottom of a cliff several meters up. The pain of this blow would not be much under normal circumstances, but being so unexpected, it stunned even one such as him for the required time.

Asura's neck.

Kartikeya's lance was only aimed at that spot now. He only needed to take sight of it and drive his weapon in.

"—!?"

However, his right arm didn't even twitch.

"What the…"

His right arm was surrounded by rings of earth and rock, part of the very bottom of the cliff. Countless bands were coiling all around his arm, restraining any semblance of movement.

Is this Kai Vinterfeldt's magic!?

"I locked you!"

Asura yelled and this time he deployed much larger earth rings in front of Kartikeya.

"What the hell are you thinking!?"

Asura was manifesting rings and layers of earth in piles and piles. Kartikeya's upper body, arms, legs, abdomen, lower body, legs… Rings and barriers were covering among each other like patchwork, and defense-type magic circles were applied on top of them as well in an exaggerated display. Even his head was covered by the magic circles. However, at the center of his torso, just a slight space was opened for some reason.

Kartikeya didn't have the vaguest idea of what Asura was attempting.

It's true, by covering him entirely in this sort of earth layers and magic circles, there was no part of his body in which he could summon strength to get free, being barely able to tense his muscles.

But even in such a roundabout way, he was not defeated. He guessed that Asura feared his power and was therefore attempting to prevent any attack, but no matter how much he stopped Kartikeya's movement, Asura wouldn't grasp victory.

After all, Asura's attacks were not strong enough to defeat him in one blow, and if he tried to attack, the barrier of dirt and magic he had put so much effort into would weaken enough for Kartikeya to escape.

Asura didn't seem to have any of these worries, however, as he calmly manifested another weapon with the trickle of blue lightning. This time, even more bafflingly, it was not a copy of even a generic magic weapon, but a standard Desert Eagle pistol.

A single bullet was loaded and the right hand holding that gun was jammed into the slightly opened hole between the earth rings and barriers.

He then piled up further rings of earth and magic circles persistently. Asura was covering even his own arm, sealing its movement. This exaggerated and childishly desperate measure made even Kartikeya unable to make a move.

"It deserves admiration to be able to prevent someone like me from moving through mere nature manipulation magic and standard circles, but what is the meaning of this? Receiving a direct shot from that gun won't leave even a scratch."

Kartikeya sneered. His tone was that of a someone looking down on something lower than trash. Even if heaven and earth cut open, it was impossible for him to lose.

Even such an amount of confidence was still backed up by his great strength. Such was the God of War's conviction.

However, Asura grinned in response.

"Much of my worth is in copying the famous weapons of true warriors. I'm a half-asser. However, to think regular non-flashy magic is what will work best on you…"

His smile was that of complete triumph.

"Like this, it is impossible to block, dodge or parry. Now I will hit for sure, Murugan!"

Kartikeya, utterly baffled at this dumb boy's confidence, didn't lose his smirk.

"Fufu… You can shoot as much as you like. Getting hit by that toy won't hurt of even itch no matter how many times you shoot!"

"Then, I'll do just that."

The wind around Asura raged and raised a groan.

The light streaming from his body shined dazzlingly, dying the surroundings in blue and golden colors. The mixed aura whirled and vibrated from sheer force.

The vast amount of magical power he possessed naturally from his human half, along with the massive divine power he could access due to his Forsaken God Mode, all of that was flowing into the Desert Eagle gripped in his right hand.

The gun itself began to shine from the excessive magical power and then fiercely struggled. In pain, Asura manifested even more rings of earth and magic circles to hold down his trembling hand.

Wrapped in the clear blue and golden light Asura emitted, Kartikeya's smile cramped as he noticed something else.

"What… What are you planning?"

Asura gritted his teeth and grinned.

"It seems you're now aware of it. This is the kind of gun Mina-chan uses, and it's modified to infuse each bullet with the user's magic. Divine Dividing, Canis Lykaon, Absolute Demise, Boosted Gear and Telos Karma. All of those have belief as God slayers backing them up in a way you Gods should be pretty familiar with, and the bullet in this gun was enhanced with the data I collected from my contact with their wielders. Against a God like you… It should have plenty of effect."

Kartikeya was well aware of this.

Gods lived by belief, and became stronger with belief. However, such belief could work against them in a way like this.

Normally, even such a bullet would have it difficult to definitely kill a God as powerful as him, but the circumstances were far from normal.

In spite of the already absurd amount present, Asura continued to rouse up even more magical power. Far too much for the small Desert Eagle to handle, it was as if he tried to fire a cannon ball with a revolver. The gun itself looked as if it was going to explode.

"N-No matter how much energy you try to pour into it, the limit—"

However, both magical power and divine power were endlessly gushing out from Asura's body.

I guess Aly-kun and I really are similar… As batteries, we can't be beat!

The ridiculous amount of energy flowing into the gun made it not react normally anymore. Power at least equal to that of a powerful Astra was whirling in front of Kartikeya's eyes, making him sweat.

This boy called Kai… Son of that dangerous witch… Just how much latent power does he have!?

The gun he had called a toy now looked like a terrifying weapon, making Kartikeya's heart ring like an alarm bell. Fear he had never felt even in times of war drove through him.

The space itself began to vibrate from the sheer amount of energy.

"What… Th-This… That gun…!?"

The Desert Eagle began to groan, as if pleading to let go.

With a desperate look and also a brutal smile, Asura answered.

"You said it yourself, right?"

Kartikeya's pupils shrank in terror.

"This is just a toy!"

Asura pulled the trigger.

At that moment, the god-slaying bullet and the gun that broke through the limit finally exploded.

Fierce radiance and electricity filled the surroundings, and Asura's hand was torn from the point-blank explosion.

The Desert Eagle broke and the bullet burst, however, they accomplished their goal.

A gigantic stream of blue and golden energy, infused with the god-slaying power and in a size unthinkable for even a rocket launcher to shoot was released, engulfing and piercing Kartikeya's body.

"GUhAaAAA—!"

His clothing was torn and the magical power overflowed from the space locked by earth and magic. The energy bullet searched for an exit and ravaged Kartikeya's body many times as it rampaged inside the earth barriers and defense-type magic circles deployed by Asura. The fiercely raging blast forcefully pushed open the weakest spot, that of the stone wall Kartikeya's back laid against, and pierced a hole into it, swallowing Kartikeya's body and forcing him through the formation of earth and rock.

"Gah! G-GuUGAAa! AaAAAAAHHh!"

Kartikeya could do nothing but merely be toyed around by the lump of raw energy. He was pushed through the huge mountain-like formation as the dual-colored magic bullet destroyed everything in its path until finally reaching the other side.

The bright light gouged open a hole in the other side and finally blew away Kartikeya's body out, which had become a part of the magic shell that continued to streak across the night.

Rain and wind blew wildly as Asura fell on his bottom, exhausted. He panted as if forgoing breath entirely for a long time, his body almost screaming for the rest he so desperately wanted.

However, all of a sudden, many golden chains wrapped around his body. His aura subsided and lost its golden color. The symbol on his forehead disappeared and his eyes returned to their natural purplish pink color, only then did the chains disappear.

So this is the limit, eh? Lavinia's seal just took effect…

His Forsaken God Mode forcefully restricted, Asura sunk down on the spot. His back had been stabbed by the divine spear and his right hand had become ragged from his own attack. Due to the bleeding, fatigue and all around burden on his mind, regardless of the intense pain he felt in every cell, Asura was being overcome by severe sleepiness.

But as if to keep him awake, the escort in question they had talked about before was rapidly moving toward his location. Asura could barely sense it as the rain was keeping him from resting.

And I only have a little bit of magical power left… I had planned to use the same strategy on this one, but I doubt I have the energy to replicate even one weapon worth a damn…

That presence was drawing close at an alarming rate. Another aura he was acquainted with, one he would never want to face even in good condition.

But there's no point unless I do it, right? I'll die even if I surrender, and that's something I can't do…

He stood up while enduring the pain in all of his broken body. Asura was covered in bruises and cuts, some bones might have even been fractured. Most of all, his right hand couldn't feel anything, and his back continued to bleed heavily. On top of it all, most of his magical power had gone in his final attack against Kartikeya, and he had an extremely small amount left.

But of course, this opponent didn't care at all.

When Asura looked up, that figure was standing at the top of the cliff.

A young man of average height, dressed in a large, open black jacket with a fur collar over a white lined shirt, black pants and dress shoes.

Handsome and graceful-faced, the flowing, shoulder-length white hair and clear green eyes looked oddly charming on his natural brown skin.

"So you killed him… Lord Kartikeya asked for me to not meddle into the battle even as his escort, but to think that he lost… You probably know what such a thing means, right?" Rama, Number Four in Stigma, spoke with merciless, narrowed eyes.

Someone who could perfectly battle with Asura in perfect condition had arrived, strong killing intent in his visage.

Rama's family, as bearers of the legacy of the original Rama and Lakshmana, were sworn to the service of the Hindu pantheon. Compared to that, Stigma was simply like a free-form club that would not interfere with duty or personal quarrels.

All of this together, Rama would face no repercussions from any higher-ups for killing Asura here and now.

However, the Demi-God's eyes and grin were unwavering.

"Yahallo, Rama-chan~! To meet you even in the Underworld, this is quite far away from home, ain't it~?"

Merely extending his left hand forward, Rama's weapon was manifested. An ornate bow of beautiful silver, as tall as Rama's height and with a bowstring that seemed to give a faint shine. The pressure emitted by this weapon didn't lose out even to Terminus Est. From a seemingly empty quiver at his waist, Rama drew a thread of light that instantly became an arrow upon being loaded on the bow.

"Number 6, Asura. By what the laws of Karma should have me do, I will claim your life with this Gandiva. Feel free to hold all the grudge you want against me." Smirking confidently, Rama took aim.

Let's see… I have two broken knock-offs of Holy Swords and one good hand… Sounds fun.

"Have at it, you law-abiding happy bastard! I'll laugh at your Karma!"

Without any more wait, Asura readied the broken half of his Durandal copy in his left hand.

---

The limousine ride to the party location was not that impressive after the three peerages had traveled on the bodies of a group of two Dragon Kings and ten high-class Dragons.

After saying their goodbyes to the large Dragon family, Aslatiel's, Rias' and Sona's group got into the black limos that had been prepared. One for each peerage.

And thus, before long, they had arrived at the high-rise hotel that was being used as the meeting place for the party, bright light visible through the windows.

"So… Where's Azazel, anyways?" Aslatiel asked while fixing the black tie at his neck after getting out of the limousine.

A dress-wearing Rias answered with a somewhat frustrated look.

"It seems that he will get here after meeting up with Onii-sama and the other attending leaders on another route. Since they've become such close pals, after all." She spoke with clear concern for her brother's carefree nature.

"Heh, sounds like him indeed. At any rate, which of the higher ups are coming apart from the Maou?" Aslatiel asked as they walked toward the hotel's entrance.

"It appears that Michael is coming along with some of his bodyguards, Azazel's own escorts too. Also, a chief of another mythology will apparently be present, but I don't have much information on that."

"I see…"

They kept silent again, being received by many employees as soon as they entered, offering services of item storage and such in a rather courteous way.

As everyone else dealt with that, Akeno checked them up on the reception table and they were found on the list.

(How very efficient…)

Aslatiel thought jokingly.

The party hall was in the floor they had arrived to, so there wasn't much to walk in order to reach the room itself.

Bright light filtered out after the employee opened the door to the gorgeous hall and everyone started to go inside. The huge number of invitees were already settled in small groups having talks while enjoying the many kinds of food and drinks prepared for the party. The chandeliers in the ceiling lit perfectly even in such a huge hall.

""S-So much people…!"" Comprehensibly, the timid Aiden and Gasper tried to go back, only to be pulled back to the hall by their respective Kings.

"I-I wonder if I can really handle this." A cold sweat ran down Issei's back as he felt the elegant vibes in the hall.

"Don't panic. Just use the forks from the farthest to the nearest and you'll be fine~!" Aslatiel joked without a care in the world.

As they talked, most of the fancily dressed invitees noticed the arrival of Rias, Sona and Aslatiel, initiating the long exchange of greetings among nobility.

(No one is making any mention on Sona-nee's appearance… Did Serafall-sama already smooth it out?)

While their peerages went to tables and to enjoy the food and drink, Aslatiel, Rias and Sona mentally sighed at the members of nobility who came to greet them one after another.

(This will be…. Tough…)

---

With a slightly annoyed expression and further irritation noticeable in her fast steps, Lucina Lucifer walked across the hall in search for anything that could appease her mind. After all, she could've not expected that even the 'cover' would carry problems in and of itself.

The princess of the Paimon! So good to see you're well!

To think the daughter of the King family was alive and well… Don't hesitate to ask for any help you may need!

This is remarkable! But Lady Paimon, are you sure you're fine as part of the Marchosias lad's group?

Lucina gritted her teeth.

"To hell with them. What's with the sudden importance of mere bloodline? Damn it…"

The image of her unfortunate mother came to the girl's mind.

Luna Paimon, of the Paimon clan.

Paimon, ranking at King, was always considered to be the most loyal to Lucifer out of the 72 Pillars, despite its high ranking even among nobles. However, to the Lucifer and other Maou, they were servants no better than the Extra Demon Lucifuge.

It only made sense that when a daughter with high aptitude and talent was born among the Paimon, she would be the prime candidate as the wife of Lucifer's grandson, and so it happened.

Mother never had a choice… Yet she always treated me, a forced daughter, with unfaltering love and devotion…

Remembering things she'd rather not recall, Lucina's sapphire-like eyes became slightly moist for a moment. Her glove-covered hands tightened into fists as she reached the place with a nice smell.

However, lost in her world of thoughts, she didn't notice the heated discussion happening almost at her side.

"I told you, we have enough money to pay for all, so just give us the whole amount!" The young woman with dark blue hair and bespectacled eyes, Elesia, demanded rather forcefully. Her shapely legs and slender arms were noticeable even in her modest black dress, but most gazes had been drawn away by this attitude of hers.

The unfortunate employee carrying more of the silver plates with the Monaco-native appetizers made a troubled smile as he trembled from Elesia's unbreakable poise.

"M-Milady, this is food from the human world specifically paid for by Lucifer-sama, and they're limited. There's a reason why they're part of deluxe paid service, so we will get if trouble if only Lord Diodora and his group can have a taste of them…"

"There's no problem with that. After all, you'll be getting the same amount of money from them, right? Or even more, in the case that people don't finish them up. So, I say again, just sell them all to—"

"One of these Barbajuan, please."

Lucina's uncaring voice suddenly interrupted Elesia's demands.

Paying with Aslatiel's card, Lucina waited as the employee in charge of the register held one of the fried appetizers with small tweezers and placed it on her plate.

After this episode of ten seconds or so, Lucina began to walk away and took a bite out of the delicious food, her mood instantly improving.

However, this was only her own mood, since Elesia's sight began to be filled with red as she watched Lucina walk away so calmly.

"Hey, you. The blondie in the suit."

Lucina instantly stopped upon hearing a voice so cold it could freeze her.

However, she turned back, unfazed as she swallowed the Barbajuan bite she had chewed peacefully.

"Yes? Do you need something?" Lucina replied with a voice that didn't lose in animosity or aloofness at the blue-haired girl.

"How dare you buy that Barbajuan!? I was already paying for them!" Elesia didn't waste time in making Lucina aware of her anger, speaking out loud almost in a half-shout.

However, Lucina was utterly unfazed save for her increasing dislike for this uncouth woman.

"Paying for them? I only bought one, dear. There should be plenty left, right?"

"When I said them, I meant all. We have money to spare and wanted all of them since they are limited for the occasion, and yet you came and snatched one before I could finish my order!"

Lucina's calm face finally showed traces of true annoyance. Or maybe, rather than traces, direct evidence. It was at such a moment that a tick mark would have appeared on her temple.

"The hell? Are you trying to buy the whole amount of prepared food for a party? Are you crazy, girl!? There's a limit to how spoiled someone can be!"

"It's not like I was demanding them for nothing! We have the money, proper compensation! There is no problem with it since the payment is the same regardless of whether they served the expected purpose!" Elesia had been particularly irritated at being called 'spoiled', apparently.

"Not everything is money, you simpleton! There's etiquette and politeness to take into account as well! Do you think you're on some pedestal at the center of the world or something? Don't make me laugh!" Lucina retorted now in full-blown anger as well.

The argument that could be called a verbal assault from both Lucina and Elesia was escalating at an amazing pace. Some people were looking on in interest at the fight, while others simply looked away, not wanting to get in trouble. However, there was no one in the vicinity who wasn't aware of what was happening, not that Lucina and Elesia cared or even noticed.

A simultaneous stomp on the ground from both females resounded and made the floor tremble slightly.

"Fuck this! I'll teach you a few lessons about respect, bitch!" Lucina shouted as she brought her hand to the side and her body emitted silver luminescence.

Two magic circles were formed in the air, and from them were pulled out the twin swords of black and white. Tightly grasped in Lucina's hands with no hesitation, she quickly took her stance.

"Don't take the words out of my mouth! This is it, fucking skank!" However, Elesia didn't fall behind neither on anger or flashiness.

With a simple arm movement, many sheets of paper were thrown before swiftly turning into small black hilts. Upon being grasped by the gaps between her fingers, slender blades of around one meter in length were swiftly created out of thin air on the hilts.

Seeing the usage of weapons in a formerly verbal confrontation, many people became instantly worried, while others became even more excited. By now, there was no one who wasn't interested in the surrounding area.

However, before the two girls could come to blows, a worried voice was suddenly heard behind Lucina.

"What the hell, Luci-Luci!? What are you doing in a party!? There's a limit to how much of a reckless tomboy you can be!"

The young vampire lady in the red and black dress, Wilhelmina Carmilla, pulled at Lucina's arm with a clearly distraught and flabbergasted face.

"W-Wilhelmina! Th-This woman tried to buy all of these and then she insulted me and—"

"I don't care! You're using your demonic powers in a party, for fuck's sake! You have any idea how badly this could reflect on us?"

Wilhelmina's words made Lucina feel as if a skyscraper had been dropped right on top of her.

Seeing Lucina's true shock and regret, Wilhelmina sighed.

"Look, it's not worth it. Let's just—"

"Just as expected, it seems. The leader does look quite unusual, but it seems the women in the Marchosias group are as uncultured as they come."

Interrupting Wilhelmina, a teenage girl that was maybe a year younger than Elesia arrived. Her wavy white hair fluttered lightly, contrasting with her black dress, and her yellow eyes looked in the most condescending way possible at Lucina and Wilhelmina from Elesia's side.

"K-Kate? You're here too?" Elesia reacted in surprise at her companion's arrival.

"Don't act like that, Elesia. As [Knight], it is one of my duties to make sure everyone is behaving. But to think I would happen upon something so entertaining! It seems the ladies of the Marchosias peerage are no more than uncouth wenches!" Without any restraint, the girl called Kate laughed irritatingly.

In response to this, Wilhelmina turned around with a scary kind of smile that showed her long fangs.

"Goodie, the girl knows about the word 'uncouth'? How remarkable~! Now, why don't you put that learning ability to good use and learn how to sew a hem properly? You're showing so much leg you might as well be a kangaroo~!"

Only then did both Elesia and Kate notice this abnormal aspect.

The slit on Kate's dress had torn up until almost her entire left calf was exposed, in a rather risqué and embarrassing way. A swift wind could be barely perceptible before it disappeared on Wilhelmina's hand.

"Heh… So that's how it is, slut…"

"Hm? Did you say something, slut?"

Instantly, two S&W 500 revolvers were quickly drawn on Kate's hands while two Desert Eagle pistols were pulled by Wilhelmina not a second afterward.

Queen and Knight of the Astaroth peerage faced off against Queen and Bishop of the Marchosias peerage.

Grinning at one another, sparks flew between the eyes of these four girls. Lucina and Elesia glaring at one another while Wilhelmina and Kate did the same between them.

""""There's only one thing left to do, right?""""

The four ladies said at once as the sparks almost became full-blown lightning.

"Aye, aye. And that is to stop this meaningless squabble~!"

However, an upbeat voice stopped them before the situation escalated to anything more.

The man with the inhuman eyes, Diodora Astaroth, walked calmly and rested his arms on both his servants.

"D-Diodora? This is of no concern to you, they—"

However, Diodora didn't allow Elesia to finish her sentence.

"Elesia… This is no place to solve things violently. It will only reflect badly on the group. If you want to settle the score… Let's do it on a Rating Game field eventually, don't you think?"

Elesia wanted to retort, but seeing the interested and some even disdainful gazes of the onlookers, she stayed quiet.

Following suit, Kate reluctantly followed after Elesia and Diodora as they left.

Lucina's pride, however, couldn't let things end like this.

"Hey! Are you running away—"

"Er… Lucina-chan, you should really let it go this one time…"

A voice that had matured, yet was still all too familiar at its core to her, spoke from behind her.

Almost trembling from the shock, Lucina barely turned around to see the man in question.

Doing the same, Wilhelmina's pupils instantly turned into glowing pink hearts, but Lucina could only regret turning around.

---

It was a rather calm day, as wind wasn't even blowing in the countryside of Germany.

The sun was bright, but not overwhelming, and a few birds soared throughout the cloudless sky in the happy time of spring.

However, the boy didn't look happy or even eager in the least, having been taken away to a foreign land from his home country was a heavy blow to a child of probably only nine years of age.

He had already been told. Once he finished his training, he would be able to return to Italy whenever he wanted. However, the boy was no fool. He knew what the priests were training him for, and if given the choice, he would refuse to take part in any of that.

He was pure of heart, despite being assaulted by tragedy at such a young age and left an orphan.

"This sucks!"

He kicked at a tree and received pain in return. Sitting on the grass-covered floor, he looked up at the sky with teary eyes.

It was only a matter of time before he had to return to the facility or the priests would find him, but these minutes of contact with nature were the time he loved the most along with spending leisurely moments with his fellow orphans.

However, even the great power he had been gifted with could not bring him happiness.

"It sucks so much…"

The boy reached his hand to the sky, where small birds flew freely and happily in springtime.

Wings of white to soar high, without limits or worries. Oh, how he desired them.

Even with such wants unanswered, the boy smiled lightly. He put both of his small hands close together and from one moment to the other, it appeared.

A little bird, like those he had just seen. However, this one was made in clear transparent ice, glistening like beautiful diamond.

"It turned out nicely… They will probably like it if I make more." The boy thought fondly of his fellow orphans.

However, these thoughts were quickly dissipated by what he saw on the nearby wall of old brick, covered in moss and roots.

A small figure could be seen, her arms and cute face peeking out from the other side and looking down to him.

She appeared to be even younger than him, probably four or five years old, yet she was dangling from that brick wall without fear or difficulty. Her blonde hair reached barely below her chin and was of a slightly darker shade than the boy's.

Sapphire-like blue eyes blinked adorably as she continued to look at him with no worry in mind.

"Upsy-daisy."

And just as naturally as she had appeared, she began to move over to the other side of the brick wall, where the boy was, with quite careless moves. The boyish way in which she moved her legs briefly exposed her underwear with a rather unusual, yet cute design of a turtle's head.

"H-Hey! Cut that out!" The boy said rather frantically, his age being one in which her choice of underwear merely looked strange to him.

"Eh? Come on, what's the big deal? It's not like this is private property." The girl replied in a chipper way, as if finding the boy's surprise amusing.

"The big deal is that you might get hurt if you fall from there! You're more than three meters up there!"

Hearing this, the girl first tilted her head adorably, and then began to laugh uncontrollably. The boy promptly opened his eyes wide as this same laughter caused her to fall from the top of the wall.

"Owwie… Hm, it really hurt a bit." However, despite falling right on her head, the girl's response was underwhelming at most.

The boy was flabbergasted by how such a girl, barely more than half his age, had taken a three-meter fall on her head without any major harm.

Due to this, he was quite surprised when this same girl had walked toward him without making noise.

"Gah! D-Don't scare me like that!" The boy said with a pleading face that would be enough to knock out teenage girls and even adult women of questionable tendencies.

However, the girl was in her own world.

"Wow… How pretty!"

It was only then that the boy noticed her gaze focused on the small bird of ice, still levitating in his hands.

"It's well made. Can you make more?" The girl's clear blue eyes looked adorable with such excitement.

"Er… Y-Yes…"

Feeling a bit more calm, the boy smiled in relief at the girl's innocence.

Without any difficulty whatsoever in his expression, he reshaped the small bird into a puppy, making the girl's eyes sparkle.

"Awesome! Great, great!"

The girl's happiness made the boy in turn happy as well.

Yes, someone making him that joyful is what he wanted the most at that age, so without any other desire, he would become fulfilled just from bringing joy to this single girl he had just met.

"I'm glad you like it… Um…"

"Lucina. My name is Lucina." The girl said absent-mindedly as she thought of something before turning to the boy again.

"Say… If you please… Make a turtle!"

"E-Eh? A… Turtle?" The boy tilted his head in repeating confusion at the girl's unusual taste in animals.

"Yes! A cute turtle!"

However, her eyes were such that no one could say 'no' to.

"O-Ok…"

Quickly, the mass of ice shapeshifted again, this time into a perfect replica of a baby sea turtle. The boy could've sworn Lucinal was emitting radiance from her body by now.

"How cuuuute! Thanks! Thank you a lot!"

Much to the boy's shock, Lucina hugged him suddenly. However, he was used to pleasing children younger than him, so he didn't lose his calm and merely patted her soft golden hair.

"Hey, what's your name? I would… I-I would like it if you played with me for a bit!"

Lucina's slightly blushing cheeks were strangely endearing to the boy.

"U-Um, my name is…"

---

"Dulio Gesualdo…"

Just uttering this name seemed to pain Lucina, who gritted her teeth and looked ready to burst and kill the recently arrived man on the spot.

"It's been a while, Lucina-chan…" Meanwhile, Dulio Gesualdo looked at her with downcast eyes and a sad smile.

This man.

The man who had made her happy and ended her loneliness, only to betray her trust that could not have been stronger.

Her mother's killer, whom she had once loved as the older brother she never had.

Dark emotions could be clearly felt just from looking at her, and Dulio was the most affected of all. Probably without thinking of it, his hand was drawn to her head as he did many times years ago.

"Don't you think this is enough already—"

However, he stopped upon feeling cold steel on his neck.

From one moment to the other, the black sword in Lucina's right hand had been pointed at Dulio's neck, close enough to draw a drop of blood that gradually ran down a small distance on his neck.

"Don't you dare touch me! Murderer…!"

"… I… I understand…"

Despite the worried reactions of everyone nearby, Dulio was the one who didn't seem concerned at all by the blade that had drawn blood on his neck. If anything, he looked sorrowful even while smiling.

"… Let's go…"

"A-Ah? S-Sure!"

Being pulled by the hand by Lucina, Wilhelmina followed after her in utter confusion at what had transpired. Elesia and Kate were also baffled by the situation, but were quite frivolously dragged away by an oblivious Diodora.

One more time, Lucina turned to the gentle-faced man who could barely meet her glare head on.

"I tried and failed already, but I'm not the same as one year ago. If I have to do it, I won't hold back my blade like now."

Without saying anything more, Lucina walked away with a stunned Wilhelmina, confused at her best friend's attitude.

Still looking at Lucina's walking figure for a bit, Dulio brought a single hand at the small wound on his neck.

"As expected… It hurts a lot, Miss Luna…"

---

(Yup, I was right…)

An overwhelmed Aslatiel thought as he roughly washed his face in the bathroom, utterly exhausted. His hair that had been nicely slicked back for the party had by now gone down in its usual style, untidily due to the water.

Even life-threatening combat was fun to him, but greeting such a quantity of nobles holding either contempt or quiet anger toward him was unpleasant to say the least. Not to say that Rias, Sona and everyone else had gone on their own 'path' of greetings, so he had had to fare for himself.

Surprisingly, he had happened upon the warrior of the Church, Irina Shidou, on his ordeal. This had worked to make it a bit more bearable.

Apparently having reconciled during the day of the peace treaty, she had surprisingly asked about Xenovia and Asia.

"I have been told to not ask much about it… But Aslatiel-kun. Don't worry too much about the thing from last time! Michael-sama said it's under control for now and there's ways to keep it in check so… Don't be so distant!

"Under control… More like still searching for a way…" Grumbling, Aslatiel finished his third glass of red wine, that he had temporarily left at a side.

Most of the time, his alcohol tolerance was rather comically low, but he still felt no trace of being drunk even after the third glass. It was strangely frustrating.

Aslatiel briefly clutched at his chest before letting go a few seconds afterward.

(How am I supposed to control what I don't know…?)

The wolf. That mad dog from the unknown.

It wasn't the first time it had caused an incident, and it probably wouldn't be the last unless he did something about it.

"But what am I supposed to do when I don't even know the problem!"

Thankfully, he was in the bathroom away from others, or people would've looked strangely at him for throwing a glass to the floor, a loud breaking noise following.

"Hah…"

Aslatiel's frustration probably could not be any higher. Putting his hands on the sides of the washbasin, he lightly looked up at the mirror as tiny drops of water dripped from his bangs.

Only the pitiful face of an angry teenager greeted him back, his red eyes droopy and lazy, or perhaps just tired.

"What… What have I been doing all this time…? Luca…"

Much to his surprise, Aslatiel felt his phone vibrating in his right pocket.

Taking it in his hand, he saw that rather than just now, it was the third message over the night, the first one sent fifteen minutes ago.

The sender…?

[Hey there~ How's your night? ^_^]

[I don't really have anything to do right now, so I hope you don't mind humoring me for a while.]

[Now that I think about it, you're probably occupied with all that business back at your place and such. I'll chat you up at another time.]

His lovely contractor, Haruna Usami.

Perhaps from the sheer surprise of the situation, Aslatiel let out a small laugh. Having nothing better to do, he messaged her back.

[I'm not really busy right now. Sorry for taking so long. My night could be worse, how's yours, Haruna?]

[Right back at you, could be worse. I'm currently rehearsing since I'll have to pick Mizuha up in a bit.]

Aslatiel's curiosity was somehow peeked a bit by her message. Laying his back on the wall, he scratched his cheek with his index finger.

[Rehearsing? For what?]

[… Oh, that was a slip~ Sorry, let's switch topics already.]

Reading this, Aslatiel laughed a bit more and even sent an emoticon, contrary to all he would normally believe respectable.

[Come onnnn~ Tell me, Haru!]

[Fine…]

Aslatiel later on would not be able to believe how elated he had felt just from this simple message, promising to satiate his curiosity.

After around a minute of the messenger app indicating Haruna's on and off writing, the message finally appeared.

[It's for a school play. They're showing "The Phantom Of The Opera" and I kinda want to try for Christine's role.]

…

…...

"Haruna's into acting!?"

Once again, this baffled yell of Aslatiel was fortunately out of the hearing of others.

He was only snapped out of it by the repeated ringing of his phone.

[Well, that wasn't very nice, you jerk.]

Life wasn't allowing him to have a break, it seems.

After all, Aslatiel's finger was still dangerously close to the icon for recording voice notes, which he had accidentally used a moment before.

Sighing at this uncharacteristic clumsiness of his, he went back to writing.

[It's nothing, I mean it. I just don't believe it's a very common interest. I'm sorry, ok? I'm sorry! ;-;]

Yet again, Haruna spent a bit of time writing her message, probably some angry retort. But at the end, she came up with something different.

[Whatever… I guess some surprise is understandable. Maybe I'm immature, but it's something I've liked and wanted to do ever since I have memory. You can understand a bit, right?]

[I guess…]

(How nice it must be… To live by a harmless and innocent dream…)

He didn't know why, perhaps it was the fact of returning back to a land he could call 'his', but the wine he had just drank left only a bad taste in his mouth, and this sudden revelation of the girl's little aspiration only made it more unbearable.

However, despite being tormented by the collage of failure his life was, this small conversation he was having over an equally small device allowed him even a bit of solace.

[And besides, it even gives me some time to relax from work. It's not easy to stay in high school in my position, so I have to help in any way I can.]

[Oh, come on. There must be some money you can spend in leisure, right?]

Aslatiel waited for a minute or two since it appeared that Haruna was writing, but rather unexpectedly, she stopped and didn't resume for one more minute. Aslatiel's eyebrow twitched slightly in irritation.

[Anything you want to say, miss Kirsten Dunst?]

[That was in bad taste. And the thing is I bought a new swimsuit just today, since I just noticed the ones I had are already too small. Would that satisfy you as leisure?]

Once again, the ashen-haired Devil was pleasantly surprised in the conversation. In fact, without really knowing why, he had been smiling lightly since some time ago.

[Oh really? May I see it, then~?]

He asked half-jokingly in a way that clearly carried a purposeful double-meaning. How he had reached the point of innocent and childish jokes was incomprehensible, especially for himself, but he didn't really care.

Yes, indeed. Great was his surprise when a picture was uploaded on the messenger a few minutes later.

A slender body with fair skin was turned back to a mirror, a long brown ponytail draping over the back area and a cellphone held in one hand, which had taken the photo.

Her rather immodestly swelling breasts could be seen in a generous way from the sideways view of her torso, covered by two individual pieces of fabric, black and pink in color in the upper and lower parts respectively, separated by a fading design and tied only by thin string that went all the way around her back, though the knot was partially obscured by her hair.

Her lovely butt was hugged by a triangle shaped bottom of the same color and design, tied at the sides with pink string. Facing the mirror in a more direct way, the pretty much perfect derriere was charmingly emphasized in a way that couldn't be easily noticed in other clothing.

Haruna's cheeks were very visibly marred with red, but even that embarrassed face denoted some mischievous sense of fun. He felt that in her brownish yellow eyes that were not covered in their usual glasses.

Aslatiel was utterly taken aback in surprise and interest, but was quickly brought to attention by his most intimate friend waking up rather quickly.

(Shit! Down, I say! It's not even a drill, so keep down!)

Desperately attempting to hide the rising bulge by bending forward, Aslatiel discovered the true weakness of dressing formally. In order to hide his interest, he would have to take his shirt out of his pants and look relatively ridiculous and lame.

As he tried thinking of another solution, he quickly wrote back at the surprisingly bold Haruna.

[That's not what I meant! Don't get me wrong, it looks great, but what the hell!? I was curious about the swimsuit only, you didn't have to wear it!]

This time, Haruna's message arrived rather quickly. And much to his further confusion, no embarrassment could be noticed in it, despite her words.

[Oh, how dare you shame me like that, Aslatiel!? Purposefully misleading an innocent girl into exposing her skin, that's devious even for a Devil.]

[Misleading!? You're doing this on purpose, right!? You don't feel bad at all!]

[For that, you will at least have to repay me. 20000 yen should be enough, yes.]

Aslatiel could swear he heard something breaking at that moment, though thankfully it wasn't his phone as he had reflexively gripped it quite hard.

(This… This bitch!)

He knew she was probably laughing like crazy on the other side of the line, but he had to admit she had completely defeated him.

[Fine then, you win today, Haru. But be ready for next time, since I will really lay into you.]

[Oh yesss~ Spank me, daddy~]

Aslatiel's eye twitched at this.

It was quite obvious, he couldn't beat this girl. Surprisingly, quite fast, she began to write again.

[Hey, I really have to thank you. Before I knew it, I was smiling.]

A bit embarrassed but mostly amused by her honesty, Aslatiel replied quickly as well.

[Right back at you. Speaking of which… Tomorrow I should be free, if you already thought of your wish.]

[Well, I haven't. But still, that can still be left for later, right?]

Aslatiel was a bit confused. She seemed somehow less direct than earlier.

[Excuse me?]

[I mean, you know. You can come over tomorrow without much need for the wish thing, right?]

(Could it be she's embarrassed?)

Feeling her display to be rather cute, Aslatiel's red eyes narrowed and a small smile crept up in his face again.

[Sure enough, Haru. I'll be there at your call. And let me watch your rehearsal tomorrow!]

[Fine... I will leave you to your things, Aslatiel. I will practice some more today, since I want to be on point for the auditions, but I'll let you see a bit tomorrow.]

Haruna was writing some more after this, but it was just a minute and she went offline rather suddenly, perhaps once again embarrassed by what she was writing.

(Weird, but…)

Putting his cellphone back in his pocket, Aslatiel took one more look at the mirror. Moving away the wet bangs draping over his eyes, he made a slight, self-deprecating grin.

(I guess I should be a bit thankful to her…)

"Aslatiel? How long have you been in the bathroom?" A mature and familiar voice spoke from his side.

The startled Aslatiel turned aside to see it was none other than Sona Sitri.

In the males' bathroom.

"What are you doing here? What if someone saw you?" He was calm even if baffled, but Sona dismissed it as nothing.

"Whatever, you're the only here at the moment and you should know it. Come on, no one needs so much time for washing their face."

Much to the ashen-haired Devil's surprise, Sona began pulling him rather forcefully by the hand back into the party hall.

"What's with the sudden eagerness, Sona-nee? Do you need me for something?"

Sona was briefly stunned by the question.

Attempting to keep her calm by not speaking yet, she modestly pointed toward the many people doing similar things near the center of the hall.

That is, couples dancing to the calm music performed live.

Aslatiel wavered slightly for a bit.

(Ok then… I'll be a gentleman for once…)

Gulping as if trying to swallow up his nervousness, Aslatiel extended a hand to the Sitri heiress.

"Lady Sona, would you accompany me for a piece?"

Bearing witness to this display that was awkward in its own way, Sona smirked in relief and fun.

"I'll be in your care, my gentleman." She said as she gently took Aslatiel's gloveless hand.

"I-I'm honored."

Looking away in happy embarrassment, Aslatiel walked toward the dance area with her so they would be camouflaged from any gossip-loving eyes.

"Would you lead the dance, please?" Sona held Aslatiel's hand and shoulder and leaned her body close to him.

"Very well, but don't expect much…" He muttered as his eyes moved aside abruptly.

Due to his height, Aslatiel got quite a good glance of Sona's cleavage. Even if he would have liked to keep looking at it, he couldn't risk being caught and getting Sona furious at him, so he reluctantly turned his gaze away and placed a hand on her waist.

(I haven't practiced in a long time, but still…)

Aslatiel began the dance with the proper steps he had learned from his mother and aunt long ago.

Although at first he was slow and slightly clumsy from lack of practice, the feeling was gradually coming back to him as something natural and he sped up the pace.

As expected of a treasured daughter of nobility, Sona had no problem in perfectly matching Aslatiel's pace and began to smile in enjoyment.

"Not bad at all, Aslatiel. Dancing must be like riding a bicycle to you."

"I guess… I did practice quite a bit back in the day. But I'm not flawless like you are."

Sona laughed slightly at this while Aslatiel sped up a bit.

"You flatter me. Now that I think about it… We didn't ever dance together back then, right? I guess this is a first for us both."

"Then I'll have to make it worth your while~.

Smiling at one another, body heat was felt from their close proximity to one another. Aslatiel found it difficult not to feel conscious about it.

Precisely due to this, he didn't notice in time his leg getting in the way of Sona's.

"Wha—!"

"…!?"

She stumbled and Aslatiel barely caught her while holding his own balance. However, they were now quite so glued together by Aslatiel holding her close in an embrace.

"…!"

"… U-Uh…"

They looked at each other close enough to feel one another's breath.

Sona's hand touching Aslatiel's arm put some strength in, as if a meager attempt to get away. However, it was weak and Aslatiel himself didn't seem to want to let go in the least.

It wasn't even clear who was starting it, but their faces were gradually drawing close as they closed their eyes. The only focus in Aslatiel's and Sona's minds right now were each other's lips.

"Hm? So the 'prodigal son' knows a basic dance? Progress!"

Such a voice, not even that loud, made Aslatiel interrupt what he was doing.

Letting Sona comfortably on her feet, he turned back in the voice's direction as fast as he could. And truth be told, he wished he had ignored such words.

"Yes, I'm talking about you, Marchosias." Said the man of dirty blonde hair among the three men sitting on a table that was still somewhat near Aslatiel and Sona.

"P-Pardon, Lord Zepar but it is in the regular educational program for us noble to learn dance, right?" The silver-haired Devil spoke as politely as he could to Saleron Zepar, current head of the Zepar house bearing the rank of Duke.

Diodora Astaroth's father… But the men he's with…?

Sona was rather surprised by his company. The venerable Zekram Bael everyone in the Underworld knew as having importance of absurd proportions, and his known puppet, Sairaorg Bael's father and current head of the Great King family of Bael, Zaien Bael.

Letting out a scornful chuckle, Duke Zepar lightly brushed his dirty blonde hair aside and spoke again.

"Oh, I just mean that knowing your upbringing…"

"Duke Saleron, really, we can leave it here." Zaien tried to calm his conversation partner and get him back to the topic they previously were discussing.

However, Saleron in question was utterly interested in the current circumstances.

"Come on, Lord Bael. Will you tell me that it's not true? The apple does not fall far from the tree, and that boy was born to those corrupt dogs of war we were always ashamed of."

"You're wrong."

A voice was barely heard. The attention of both Zaien and Saleron was directed at Aslatiel, who glared at them with his eyes as red as blood, flaring like hellfire.

"The Marchosias weren't any of that!"

At that moment, the silver cup Saleron was drinking from burst into pieces. It happened from one instant to the other, and stained his clothes with some wine.

"Aslatiel!" Sona quickly grasped his arm as if to prevent him from doing anything more, all the while showing him a pleading face and voice.

"P-Please! I know it was distasteful, but don't let it get to you!"

"Ravel…?"

Aslatiel uttered in confusion as the Phenex heiress who had merely arrived nearby to get a drink rushed to his side, an expression of worry that didn't lose to Sona's adorning her cute face.

Meanwhile, the men on the table had other worries.

"Duke Saleron! Did you get hurt!?" Zaien yelled out and glared at Aslatiel with intensity that was at least equal to the boy's previous look.

"No, no. No need to worry, milord. I just tend to grab things to strongly when I get some alcohol in my system, and rather, the boy might be right. After all, regardless of what happened afterward, that Griffith did help us banish the old nobles who couldn't evolve like us."

Sona and Ravel at his sides. Aslatiel desperately tried to focus on them for the moment.

"At any rate, he's the same as that Diodora, Lord Bael. It's nothing to do with the father, it's all to do with the mother."

Aslatiel focused. Thought of what everyone would think if he snapped. Ravel and Sona glared daggers at Duke Saleron as they felt Aslatiel's body tremble from rage.

"I'm not saying anything against the Astaroth and much less the Bael, milord Zaien and Lord Zekram. But that Elise and Lord Zaien's younger sister were the black sheep that even the best families have."

(Yes… The Rating Game. The best way to beat Sairaorg…)

Anything. Aslatiel was searching for anything that could take his mind away from the slander directed not at him, but his very mother. That mother who had given her life to protect the useless him, she was being insulted right in his face.

"I mean, isn't it all in the blood? It happens the same with dogs the human people breed. If there's something wrong with the bitch, then there's something wrong with the puppy—"

"Shut up!"

Ravel and Sona felt Aslatiel struggling free of their grasp. Taking a step forward, a red aura strong enough that it produced its own sound revolved around him.

"Enough! That's enough!" Aslatiel shouted without any restraint as the color red spiraled around, causing the marble floor under him to crack.

"Aslatiel! I beg you! Don't—"

Sona tried once again to hold him back, but she could feel her hand being smacked away by just the flow of demonic power roused up by Aslatiel's emotion.

Saleron and Zaien were stupefied by this display, and even Zekram, who had remained quiet and uncaring of the whole argument raised his eyes slightly to look at Aslatiel.

However, Saleron didn't fear the demonic power of a mere boy and retorted with a grin drowned in confidence.

"Proud of your mother, eh? Who got herself killed and left you as some unnecessary load to the Gremory since they have no real standards for taking people in. Accept the truth, that mother of yours was a shame to the great house of Bael…"

Slowly but surely, Saleron stopped talking, as did everyone in the vicinity. After all, Aslatiel was not backing off.

His entire body was shivering from fury, he couldn't remember a recent time he had been angrier. The demonic power around Aslatiel's body became so condensed that it looked almost corporeal, with now a surprising amount of black in places that should have been red normally.

The frantic voices of not only Ravel and Sona, but also familiar people who hadn't been here by the time the conflict started, such as Rias, reached him and only sounded distant.

It was true. The reason he didn't want to return to the Underworld, his prediction had turned out right.

Everything in this place reminded him of the things he wanted to forget the most, and reminded him of why he couldn't allow himself to forget.

Returning to the Gremory castle had brought him an initial thrill of relief and nostalgia, only to betray him with the strongest sense of his own weakness.

This made him depressed, and along with depression, came anger from the deepest reaches of his being.

(In the end, I can't allow it to keep existing… This weakness, this pain and sadness… Destroy it all…)

Hearing Aslatiel's will, the demonic power appeared in an even bigger size. A pressure overwhelming for the average sorts of High-Class Devils condensed around his body as if a protective bubble that kept everything outside, Aslatiel's fear taken form.

If he released all of it, everything within fifty meters of would be destroyed in the blink of an eye. Seeing this, an angered Zaien Bael roused up his own demonic aura in defiance.

"You insolent…"

Fearless of a mere boy's presumptuous display, Zaien's power worthy of the Great King title was showed. However, Aslatiel was lost in his own mind and unconsciously released even more demonic power at a fast speed. Red as fresh blood and black as the deepest darkness.

"A-Aslatiel…" Sona's expression was one of sheer pain, almost feeling by herself all the emotions denoted by Aslatiel's outburst.

"No… Don't…" Ravel said in the verge of tears, seeing precisely what she feared would happen at the previous meeting unfurling before her eyes.

Even Aslatiel himself did not notice the large amount of energy he had accumulated. He was indulging in such self-satisfied thoughts that he was not properly regulating his power.

Destroying the phantom of his past, haunting him without rest in this Underworld. That was all he was thinking of.

Zaien thought of it as a shame, but he had made his conviction.

The demonic power Aslatiel had summoned was enough to eradicate the party room, whether released as a focused attack or an out-of-control rampage.

If he didn't calm down, there would be no choice but to hurt him to the point that he couldn't release it. If that resulted in Aslatiel's death, it was inconsequential.

With that in mind, Zaien released more of his own demonic power as if in response to Aslatiel.

"Hold it right there."

Even so, a calm voice detained them just before it could escalate to worse. It was a voice famous enough that all the adult nobles in the hall knew of it, and evoked such nostalgia that even the attention of the almost unconscious Aslatiel was drawn.

"M-Milady!"

"This may get violent! Please don't get too close!"

Even the heads of a few Devil clans addressed her as such.

Despite everyone having their eyes on her, this woman, with somewhat wavy black hair reaching the middle of her back and beautiful violet eyes, walked with ease while continuing to look at Aslatiel.

Not a single speck of the dust that had been lifted reached her clothes which looked like the outfit of an elegant woman working in an office environment.

A kind of ancient yearning surged forth, almost causing Aslatiel and Ravel to shed tears instinctively. However, the one who had been utterly paralyzed by the woman's arrival was Sona.

As if completely uncaring of their feelings, however, the beautiful woman who appeared to be in her early twenties addressed Aslatiel as if to a relative who had been missing for a long time.

"Long time no see, Aslatiel. You seem to be doing worse than I would wish."

"… Ahh… G-Greetings, Lady Selena…"

For that moment, at least, all nostalgia and joy overwhelmed Aslatiel's destructive and painful feelings. He laughed as if this Selena Sitri had released him from confinement.

Selena didn't laugh or even smile, but some small glint that could be inferred as care became present in the violet eyes that her younger daughter inherited. Seeing the fiery red and black bubble around Aslatiel, she said.

"What's with that stuff around you?"

"Huh? Oh, just me trying to surpass the past…"

Aslatiel let his body relax, making all the demonic power around him subside over a few seconds as if it had never been there. However, Selena only seemed confused by his choice of words rather than any action of his.

"Really? Hmm, ok… It's difficult to talk in front of so many people. We'll catch up later. For now… Sona, take him away and let him relax over a drink or two."

Everyone was utterly surprised by Selena's arrival, but Sona was in a state that could almost be described as catatonic. Her mother's work prevented them from seeing each other even as much as once a week, yet now that same mother was addressing her directly.

"Hey. Pardon me, Lady Sitri, but I was not done with my conversation. It is quite uncouth to interrupt me and the young Marchosias while we were enjoying ourselves." Said the rather eager and fearless Saleron Zepar, not even fazed by the earlier anger.

However, even while he was not fazed, Selena could be said to not be even concerned about it.

"Duke Zepar, I'd advice to letting this matter go. It is time-consuming on both sides."

"And who gave the Sitri the authority to boss around a fellow he—"

Saleron couldn't help but eat his own words at that moment. After all he wasn't speaking only to Sitri, and it was quite obvious.

Amon, Barbatos, Stolas, Focalor, Oriax, Valac… Heads from these families all looked at Saleron with narrowed gazes, full of quiet aggression.

Of course, among those of high-birth or just those who had researched even recent history of the Underworld, this wasn't something strange. Great King Zaien glared back at the family heads, but they stood their ground without any fear.

Such is expected from this Spider Queen… How troublesome…

Thinking such, Saleron couldn't help but sigh and turn back to Zaien and Zekram.

"That's what I thought…" Selena uttered without any change in her impassive expression.

Turning toward Sona, the girl trembled from her mere gaze.

"Sona. Don't make me wait much, please."

"Eh? R-Right on it, Mother!"

Losing any trace of her usual calm and serious persona, Sona instantly became small and quickly walked toward Aslatiel and took his arm. She looked up pleadingly at him and Aslatiel narrowed his eyes in regret at what he had done.

"Ravel, Sona-nee… I'm sorry for this…" Turning to both of them as he spoke, he apologized while feeling as if his heart was tightly gripped.

Ravel's hand touching his back pulled back hesitatingly and she looked down. She was grateful that it had come to nothing much, but the risk was still there.

Sona couldn't bear to see this much more, so with sadness filling her heart, she pulled Aslatiel away from where most people were at.

---

"H-Here… I guess we can get some peace and quiet here…" Sona muttered as they reached a table that had been mostly razed of its prepared alcohol and appetizers.

Logically, most people would go to the place with the most drink, particularly adults, so this table and its surroundings , quite far away from the liquor stands, were comprehensible rather desolate.

"Quite sad that there's not even water to serve here." Aslatiel smiled deprecatingly at such a worthless fact, trying to joke around in an attempt to get over the lingering heavy atmosphere, but Sona kept her serious face.

"Nonsense. I can just fill up your glass whenever you want, did you forget."

"Heh… Yeah, you're right."

They remained silent for a few seconds, yet it wasn't long before the two teenagers broke out into chuckles.

Like innocent children, either unaware or uncaring of the greatly troubled times they lived in.

"Fu… I used to get kinda angry at those jokes, but everyone at the Student Council led me to enjoy them."

However, it was this mention that stopped Aslatiel from laughing further, while the appearance of that woman flashed in the depths of his mind. A powerful sense of dread overwhelmed any other feeling when thinking of her, and he knew it better than anyone else.

That is, except for them.

(Sona-nee's friends…)

He unconsciously turned his gaze to her.

Greeted by that beautiful visage as he thought about those happy days years ago, Aslatiel's expression became somber.

Yes, indeed.

Nothing had really changed, despite what he desired or how peacefully they had been talking up to now. In the end, he had been the one to take away her happiness.

If he hadn't left Kuoh during that time, Claudia wouldn't have had such an easy time kidnapping Sona's servants. If he hadn't been so late in his arrival, they could have been saved.

Most of all, he was directly responsible for her inability to even give them a proper burial.

If Aslatiel's left hand wasn't covered by the black glove, it would have probably been dripping blood from the palm due to how strongly he was tightening it.

(What am I doing speaking so friendlily with her…? I don't deserve it… Sona-nee, if you knew what I've done… Would you still treat me like a friend…? Would you leave me instead…?)

It had already happened six years ago.

Sona, Akeno, Ravel and many others. People who were like family to Aslatiel even with his true family not being with him anymore, but he had lost them as well back then.

Alone.

He had been left with no one.

Alone.

That feeling was horrendous.

Alone.

Being alone is scary.

(I… I don't want that again… Sona-nee… I don't want to lose you… Forgive me, please…)

"… latiel… Aslatiel…? Earth to Aslatiel!"

The silver-haired Devil was suddenly taken aback by the strong voice.

Looking slightly down his red eyes met directly with Sona's violet ones at an incredibly short distance. In fact, Sona's nose was only around four centimeters apart from his own.

Aslatiel felt his cheeks heat up from her sudden proximity and replied while looking slightly aside.

"O-Oh, sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment there."

"You seem to be lost in thought an awful lot around me… Wait… Is that…" Sona's eyes blinked in surprise at something.

"Aslatiel, are you crying…?"

Only then did he become aware of the traces of tears swelling up at the corners of his ruby-like eyes. Embarrassed, he gritted his teeth and quickly rubbed his eyes with his sleeve.

"So you were… What's on your mind? Please tell me." With a surprisingly kind voice in that serious face of hers, Sona asked concernedly.

However, Aslatiel didn't speak back at this, merely playing with the box of chocolate cigarettes in his pants' right pocket. Sona sighed and surprisingly showed a somewhat sad face.

"You've been really cold to me lately, you know… As if you just want me out of your sight already… Am I really so unreliable as to not even be worth knowing what troubles you?"

"It's not like that… It's just…" Aslatiel felt worthless just by remembering.

The Sitri heiress, being rather sharp, could quite easily pinpoint what ailed him. She lightly rubbed her arms while looking aside.

"Stop beating yourself over them… There is nothing you could have done."

Aslatiel shook his head sideways.

"There is plenty. If I hadn't left, if I had arrived a little bit sooner… I fought like crazy for over six years to become stronger and prevent things like that from happening again, but everything is still the same—!"

The empty box in Aslatiel's pocket was audibly crushed in his grip. The borders of his eyes produced more drops of water.

"Just what have I been working towards, if I'm still so useless? Nothing's changed! I'm still the weak, spoiled boy from six years ago!" Warm tears fell freely from his eyes as he repressed shouts and sobs.

"A-Aslatiel…? You…"

Sona's hand that had been extended toward him was pulled back.

She never knew.

She never noticed that Aslatiel's failure that time at Kuoh had actually affected him so much.

The flippant façade he always kept had been utterly torn apart, and with it, Aslatiel's true emotions surfaced.

Sona could see the boy she used to know six years ago in that crying visage, but it wasn't a pleasant experience in the least.

"Why do I always succeed at taking away things when it's what I hate…? Why can't I save a single person when that's all I want!? I-I… I've always hated it… I hate myself… Who can only steal from others…!"

However, this was the last straw.

A dry sound was produced and Aslatiel felt a burning sensation on his cheek.

His eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Sona's slightly reddened palm.

It had really hurt a lot, so she probably didn't restrain herself.

"Wh-Why did you…?"

"Don't ever…"

Another similar sound was produced and Aslatiel felt the pain of a slap once more.

"Don't you ever say that again…!"

Sona's breaking voice was heard by Aslatiel as he was grabbed by his collar.

Her eyes had traces of tears, but she looked angry rather than anything else.

"That you can only take away things and never give anything? Don't make me laugh! Just ask Akeno, Rias or anyone! Are you really so dense!?"

"Wh-What do you—"

Aslatiel couldn't finish as he received yet another slap, the third one.

Of course, by now, he had gotten annoyed with it.

"Stop that, you violent bitch!"

"Then just shut up and listen for a moment, or the next one I will break your nose!"

Aslatiel gnashed his molars and tried to retort, but Sona was quicker to speak this time.

"When we were younger and everyone stayed away from me because of the unlikable bitch I've always been, you were the first one to approach me genuinely. Only because you did so was that Rias and Ravel did the same…! When I got diagnosed with glaucoma, you wouldn't even let me get out of bed on my own and lost entire hours of sleep just to take care of me! A-And… Don't you remember… That birthday of mine…?"

"Sona-nee…"

By now, Aslatiel could perfectly ignore the pain of the earlier slaps. After all, the serious and mature Sona was now crying as well.

With trembling lips, she continued to say what she needed to let out.

"Th-That time… Mother couldn't attend my birthday party, so I was an idiot and ran away in my immature sadness until I finally got lost in the wilderness…"

"Sona-nee, that's just—"

However, she didn't let him finish and spoke with a nostalgic smile in her crying visage.

"But you came for me… Y-You searched high and low for me and found me quickly… We still got lost together after that, but you would never admit it… J-Just to keep me calm, you always said that you knew the way back and that I shouldn't worry… You must have been very scared as well, but you never let it show so I wouldn't get any more scared…"

Aslatiel didn't say anything in reply.

He remembered that day.

It was around one hour and a half before they were found, but it had felt like half a day. At that young age, they couldn't use their wings properly, so they were essentially grounded in a forest full of wildlife and tall trees. Despite this, he did not cry even once during it, and he smiled as much as he could.

Because he knew that if he cried, Sona would cry as well. So he had just held tightly onto that small hand and walked in whatever way could work to get out.

Trying to convey her feelings, Sona weakly held onto Aslatiel's sleeve and looked up.

"I-I… I don't know about others, but when it comes to me, you have saved me many times… Even when battling that monster woman, you never faltered and protected us to your last… You are my hero, Aslatiel, so if you say that you hate yourself so much… I'll inevitably get like this…" Sona made a chuckle interrupted by hiccups as she wiped her tears.

Aslatiel's expression trembled at seeing such a sad sight of her.

"… Why would you care so much about someone like me?" He said while finally relaxing his tightened fists, with a voice that sounded like it could die out at any moment.

"…!"

Sona suddenly bit her lip in silence, much to Aslatiel's surprise.

Before long, however, she looked up with strange determination in her moist eyes.

"Ugh… Fine… I guess we should take about it sooner or later. But good grief, there's not even a shred of atmosphere, is there?" She said as she sat down on a free chair.

(Atmosphere?)

Aslatiel could only be confused at these words, but he couldn't think too much about it before Sona spoke again.

"It's nothing." She had apparently seen right through him.

"So… What did you want to talk about?" Aslatiel sat down in a chair right beside her. He was looking slightly away.

"That's…" Sona irritably looked downward with cheeks that were dyed red. She hesitated to speak. "Actually, there is something I need to discuss with you."

Aslatiel tried his best to gulp silently. He was even fearing that the fast rate of his heartbeat could by any chance be heard.

"Wh-What is it? I don't get why you're being so roundabout. You don't need to be so reserved… Right?"

"I'm not being reserved, though…"

Sona fidgeted with her hands together and even spoke rather slowly and interruptedly. She then briefly stole a glance at Aslatiel, taking a deep breath and then exhaling.

"Then I'll say it outright. Actually…"

She turned to Aslatiel as if she was determined about something. Sona's straightforward eyes were locked and reflected on Aslatiel's own.

"… I, love you."

…

…..

"I… I see." Aslatiel's cheeks heated up so much that they became the same color as his eyes, making Sona sigh slightly.

"Am I to assume it's not so surprising?"

"W-Well…."

It would be a lie if he said he had no idea of Sona's feelings, and some others while at it. Aslatiel didn't think anything of it as a kid, but upon his return, he vaguely felt that she always directed special attention and good will toward him, beyond the level of interest one would aim at a friend from childhood.

However, he also thought that asserting so could merely be overconfidence or excessive self-consciousness on his part. And then at the same time, thinking of all the life-threatening situations, political intrigue and violence that had dragged them in without asking, he wondered if it was because of those that he tried to not be conscious of romance at all.

It wasn't intentional or even noticed by Aslatiel himself, but looking back on it, he became aware that he was always acting with such thinking at the bottom of his heart. However, now he was basically cornered into a wall.

Aslatiel had no semblance of an idea in how to answer to Sona's sudden confession, stopping at that 'W-Well…' for several seconds, all the while opening his mouth when he thought of something and closing it when he rejected it. Seeing such an Aslatiel, Sona continued what she wanted to say in a fluster.

"I… I don't need to hear your answer right away. Besides, doing this behind the backs of the others somehow feels cowardly…"

"G-Got it. But, why so suddenly?"

(Shit!)

Aslatiel wanted to hit himself after saying that. Surely this wasn't something that had just occurred to Sona out of the blue. She was probably thinking and worrying about it for many days, until finally today she gathered the courage to confess. Yet he insensitively trampled on that courage.

"S-Sorry! Forget what I said just now, I just—"

However, Sona simply made a small smile without any sign of anger or sadness.

"Because we don't know what will happen from now on."

Aslatiel was at a loss for words there, and Sona awkwardly looked down and placed her hands under her face.

"Due to that Khaos Brigade, we're currently in a time that can perfectly be considered a real war, something we have never experienced and I myself thought I would never have to. This time… It will surely be in history books in the future. If we think about it logically, it wouldn't be strange if you, I or both died soon. And also…"

The Sitri heiress looked at Aslatiel with slightly moist eyes, but her smile remained.

"You saying that you hate yourself or that you're just a loser… It made me want to show you what I really know and feel about you."

"Sona-nee…"

"That's why… I want to do everything I want to and take chances. That way, I won't regret anything."

She cutely shrugged and fixed her glasses back in position. By now, Aslatiel's heart was still beating so loud and fast he thought it would burst out of his chest.

Even so, they were prevented from continuing at that moment.

"Aslatiel-kun? Oh, it really is you!" A sudden voice said from not much distance away, causing Aslatiel and Sona to turn.

A slender man of average height with black hair. An overall simple suit belied his somewhat handsome looks, a smile of approachability in his face.

At his side stood the blonde-haired maiden Lavinia, wearing a rather casual blue dress with a jacket over it. She waved at Aslatiel with a slight smile on his face, following her companion's greeting.

Aslatiel recognized both of them, as they had met a few times in the past.

"It will be rude to make them wait." Sona said to Aslatiel who was still slightly stunned.

"Y-Yeah…"

"Won't you go to them?" She asked as if it was surprising that he was still sitting.

"What? But you—"

Sona grinned as if finding his display endearing.

"I told you, don't force yourself to answer right now. I can always wait for you, and for now… You knowing how I feel is enough."

Aslatiel tried to say something, but he closed his mouth in a fluster. Looking down, it still sat wrong with him to postpone this sort of thing.

(But it would only be disrespectful to give a half-assed answer…)

"Fine…"

Aslatiel said as he stood up. He suddenly turned at Sona who was still sitting down. She had been really brave just now, and he felt moved.

(If that's so… Then I'll be a bit brave too.)

"You… Made me really happy just now." Aslatiel said with an awkward face as he looked slightly aside. Perhaps he didn't have much bravery in him to begin with.

Sona was stunned for a brief moment, but then burst out in charming giggles. She looked up at him and retorted in a rather chipper way.

"See? Can you blame me for feeling like I do?"

"Whatever… We'll speak about this later, Sona. I promise." With a face marred in red until his ears, Aslatiel turned tail and began walking away.

"Sure. I'll wait as long as I have to…."

Wait… Did he just call me "Sona"?

Even with this epiphany, Aslatiel had already walked too far for her to call him back by now.

Desperately attempting to settle down his furiously blushing face, he moved in a way that would first be described as completely awkward, like someone trying to move as fast as they could in a no-running area.

It was quite the side-splitting sight, but Aslatiel finally arrived at the place he was called after momentarily remembering that kiss with Sona during his silly prank plan.

(Ah fuck! It's so awkward now!)

Unknowing if his blush had receded or not, he still lifted his face and tried to speak up. However, he was rather clearly beat to the punch.

"Well, that was… Unexpected, Aslatiel-kun. Is that young lady your girlfriend?" The raven-haired man asked with curiosity permeating his face and voice.

Aslatiel tried his best to keep calm and replied in a frivolous way.

"I wish. She's just a friend from childhood, Ikuse-san."

"But Lupo-kun was talking with her so fervently with his face as red as an apple... It was like something out of a movie~." Lavinia spoke gleefully while taking another sip of her drink.

Tobio Ikuse and Lavinia Reni. They could be called acquaintances of Aslatiel, but not close enough to be considered friends. This was for but a single reason…

"E-Er… Ikuse-san, he's not nearby, is he?" Aslatiel asked while a cold sweat ran down his back.

"Oh, you're speaking about Jin, right? You don't have to worry, since I left him to keep guard outside. Haha…" Tobio said with a troubled smile.

He was being thoughtful and humble, as his nature would have it.

After all, last time, Aslatiel had screamed like a little girl and ran away from the dog of Canis Lykaon in sheer fright, while the so-called 'Jin' had confused it for a game and chased him around, much to Aslatiel's and many others' dismay.

Yes, even more than his discomfort with roller coasters, Aslatiel's true fears manifested when something of that particular form was close and breathing.

That is, a dog or a wolf, although the circumstances for such a bad compatibility he would rather not remember, much less tell.

However, the absence of Jin was not the only unusual thing Aslatiel had noticed.

"Minagawa-san is not here, neither is Samejima. Anything wrong with those two?"

On his question, however, Tobio scratched his cheek with a smile while Lavinia giggled like a young girl. She spoke cheerfully after this.

"Wrong? Not at all. In fact, you could say those two are better than ever~!"

"Eh?"

However, Aslatiel was completely clueless.

"This conversation might turn into a simple exchange of questions at this rate, but do you know where Kai-kun is? I haven't seen him in some time, so I would like to catch up with him."

"Asura… It has been lonely ever since he left Grigori." Lavinia followed swiftly after Tobio's words, sadness permeating her voice.

"I was told he had some things to take care of… He should be here soon, I think. After all, he didn't say he would be absent… I guess you just have to wait." Aslatiel said, finally losing his fake smile.

"I see…"

Not only Lavinia, but even Tobio looked somewhat uncomfortable due to this fact.

Even Aslatiel himself wouldn't lie to himself, saying he wasn't worried about his best friend.

Looking down, he tightened his hands painfully into fists.

(Asura… No, Kai… Get here soon, you fucker…)

---

Asura had to quickly step aside as Rama's arrow was released as a streak of light slashing away the darkness of the night, making a thunderous sound an instant afterward and an explosion that left a small crater in the place of impact.

Sonic boom? But if I can see his hands moving, I can react!

Focusing to the greatest extent, Asura ran to the side, trying to circle Rama and dodge any shots from his bow by looking at the movements of his hands. After all, a human can only move so fast.

However, Rama wouldn't just stay there. Not wasting time, he quickly ran toward Asura while shooting arrows as if locked on to him, no need to spend even a full second aiming.

Asura could see the explosions in the places the arrows pierced, craters left in the aftermath. He couldn't help but gulp, but forced his pained legs into high gear.

How's this!?

Even broken, a Holy Sword is a Holy Sword, and Asura knew it.

Leaping around like a professional acrobat, Asura used the numerous trees in the area as cover for both sight and shielding himself from Rama's arrows, but one would be wrong to think this was their only use.

Jumping from one to another, Asura left a number on each with his broken Durandal, cutting enough in a single slice near the base to make them topple from the strong winds and rain.

Before he knew it, Rama was surrounded by trees falling over him. No matter how skilled or powerful, a human would most probably die if crushed under such an amount of trees.

"Desperate."

That is, if they managed to fall on them.

Rama held a glowing arrow in his hand, but instead of loading it on his bow, he waved it around gracefully, dying the night with streaks of silver-white radiance.

In half a second, a path had been opened in between the trees, cut apart by this arrow. Asura couldn't believe his eyes.

You've gotta be freaking kidding me!

Seeing a glimpse of Asura's shock, Rama smiled gracefully as if enjoying his prey's despair.

"You saw one already, so I hope you don't mind another one!"

Asura didn't hear this in his struggle to avoid arrows at Mach speed, but he would've much preferred to do so.

"—O Lord of the Skies, bless mine arrow…"

Suddenly, fierce winds raged around Rama and Asura finally became aware of what he planned.

"Vayvayastra!"

With this yell, the arrow was released. Asura narrowed his eyes and kept it clear in sight.

Vayvayastra… If it's winds, I should at least be able to hold them back!

Before Asura, the arrow exploded, releasing the gales of the God of Wind.

Just as planned, he held them back through his wind magic, but when he noticed, Asura had received a fierce impact that made his body float in the air. He could only see raging air for that moment.

H-How much…!?

The ground of the Sitri territory was streaming through his sight at an amazing speed. Things approached and disappeared in the blink of an eye, while his head was still in chaos.

Without being able to evade, Asura crashed right into a robust tree.

"GAAAA—!"

Leaves scattered and a trunk of more than two meters in thickness was torn. Asura's body spun right through this tree and another one upon coming out through the opposite side, before finally making contact with the ground.

If not for his use of magically reinforced clothing, his entire skeleton might as well been broken by how he rolled, bounced and slid through the ground like a doll.

Spinning for a few dozens of meters, Asura's body finally stopped upon collision with bushes and a huge rocky pillar.

It was rather strange. For a moment, he felt as if he had black out and woken up at the same moment after colliding with the pillar. Asura still felt as if his skull was being drilled in, and he felt the warm blood running down the back and sides of his head.

"B-Blah… Wha, what's… Just now… K-Kh...!"

He threw up vomit mixed with blood as he tried to hold on to reason. Drops of red liquid fell upon the grass and dirt. As he tried to stand up, dizziness caused him to fall back down on all fours.

Perhaps ten meters away, Rama landed softly like a resting eagle, clear on the track of its prey. How funny it was, that for a moment, he could barely distinguish if there was two Rama's or one.

Hahah… Mama, I'm so fucked up…

"What a funny face you are making. Those are the winds of a God you received. Even so, in top condition, you might have been able to indeed do something to defend, but like this… Such a pathetic output of magical power was what you roused for it. But with how little you have left, it's only expected."

"Hah… Hahaha… It, it certainly feels like it…" Rain trickled Asura's face and hair as he laughed, nothing else to do.

He placed his hand on the rock pillar nearby, trying to use it as support to stand up. The lake nearby… Now that was familiar.

I see… This is where I trained with Sona-chan and the others…

Asura cheered up his hazy consciousness. It was there that Sona had perfected the technique that managed to mark a number of him despite their great difference in experience and firepower. Clever use of the water in that lake had allowed her to get used to larger volumes while using next to no demonic power.

Wait… If she used that… Nature manipulation… The most efficient way to use it…

"What's the matter? Would you prefer to die near the water?" Rama grinned and glanced in the direction Asura was looking.

Of course, that was not true. But he could not deny that lake had offered even a glimmer of hope.

He leaned on the rock pillar and stood up somehow.

"Talk shit while you can, Rama-chan. Because I'm about to rock you..."

It won't hurt to try!

Keeping contact with it, Asura sent the slightest pulse of his energy through the hand that also kept holding onto the broken Durandal copy.

"Like a hurricane~!"

As if by a button trigger, a sharp piece of the pillar was shot at a blinding speed that seemed to open holes in Rama's surrounding air.

"What the…!?"

He barely dodged such an unexpected blow, but that was not the only one.

More and more pieces of the pillar were shot like a machine gun at Rama, who with the body of a human, would still be damaged by baseball-sized pebbles with sharp edges and that speed.

That's it! I can still fight back!

Asura made use of his feet on the ground as well, and with the lightest pulse, fissures were opened in the ground right below Rama.

"E-Earth magic!?" Rama barely managed to escape being swallowed by the ground.

If one uses resources already available, such as an already existing lightning bolt, rock or water stream, then merely directing them has a negligible cost of magical power. This is the true power of elemental magic.

Under most cases, one would at least have to enhance the power of the elements used through further investment of magical power, but against a human like Rama was, powerful and skilled as he may be, natural disasters and risks are enough to provide huge danger.

Due to this, he was forced to keep his attention on Asura's attacks to avoid being damaged due to carelessness.

Now!

Using the wind of the storm to his favor, Asura ran away with renewed vigor and speed.

"You saved me there, Sona-chan!"

Running into the bushy wilderness, he leapt across remaining trees and greenery to try and mask himself from sight.

I can win! I have a chance, I just have to wait for the right time!

Once he had dashed out of the thickest parts, he looked back behind him. Rama had already leapt out of the reach of his assault of improvised earth magic.

"Very well, run away for now, my prey."

A feeling of thrill overflowed from Rama's voice and expression, like a powerful eagle going in for the kill. Asura gritted his teeth while frowning and did his best to speed up toward that place.

He didn't really know how fast Rama could be, but against an Asura whose legs were in danger of giving out at any moment, he would probably fare rather well.

Gripping tight the broken Durandal copy, Asura cut down any tree he saw in order to slow down Rama as much as possible. Not only this, but forcing his legs to the utter limit, he even jumped toward the top of a tree and leapt at higher ground, trying his best to lose him.

"Really? You plan to give me the slip like that?"

That was a voice coming from above.

At that moment, Asura moved his Durandal copy at his head without even looking up and spun on his heels to attempt a run in another direction, all the while defending his vital spots.

"GUAA…!"

However, the arrow still hit the broken sword. The blue and golden metal shattered and tiny pieces flew everywhere after barely defending him. Even so, Asura's body still flew like a throwing ball from the aftershock he had been trying to avoid directly since the beginning.

He was blown away and slid through the air a long way across, but even so, one more attack was coming his way.

Fuck no! Watch me! Because I'm about to show you what I'm really made of, pal!

His damaged right hand still had a functioning arm.

Shielding it the best way he could with all the dirt that had been flying away, Asura desperately knocked away the arrow coming his way with a full-force blow from his right elbow.

"GAAAH!"

The arrow was knocked away enough.

Even if his right arm might as well have been made a bloody pulp just like its hand, Asura had scraped by with his life again. However, this didn't mean that the impact was missing.

His body flopped across the ground like a rubber ball, and then, this body was sliding trailingly. There was a hole opened on the ground with a diameter of around five meters. Falling at the edge, Asura's body barely came to a stop.

"Uu… This, th-this is…"

Asura could barely rub his misty eyes and look around his surroundings.

He had confronted Kartikeya's Agneyastra just above this place, and the hole was due to Asura extracting a chunk of ground to shield himself from it.

"I-I can't stop… Here…"

He tried to stand up, but his foot slipped. Asura fell off the edge of the hole.

He extended his left hand and desperately held onto the edge of the hole. The ground was wet and soft from the pouring rain, but he barely avoided falling down. Asura's body was barely dangling by a hand, and he had to make an extraordinary effort to take a look down below.

The place he was at was a cliff, shaped in a way that could be described as a 'claw'. The chunk of ground he had taken was enough to fill the complete hole he was falling in, so the true fall was now several dozens of meters below him.

No matter how powerful he could be at his top, nothing but certain death awaited his ragged state if he fell from such a height.

He somehow supported his body weight with his single left arm that no longer had to hold on to that shattered Durandal copy, but this very arm soon began trembling.

"What is this? Don't tell me you can't even fly right now?"

Rama, who was chasing behind Asura, finally arrived, landing at the edge of the hole. Like that, he was looking down on Asura as though he was drunk in his own sense of victory.

"It's unfortunate but… It is currently impossible for me." Asura replied with a troubled smile.

With some reluctance in his face, Rama readied another arrow.

"I see… It cannot be helped, then. The time has come to end this hunt."

"I guess you're right."

Rama could not help but wonder at Asura's calm.

"What's wrong? You won't try to make me empathize, cry, beg for mercy or something?"

Asura suddenly laughed, making Rama even more confused.

This was not a laugh of nervousness or confusion, but of genuine amusement.

"You know, the end of the hunt is not limited to the prey being hunted, you know? Even a mighty eagle might get a nasty bite from a cornered viper."

Thunder roared in the sky, rain and winds becoming fiercer as if responding to it. For some reason, Asura smiled even more.

"And? Were you ever the one to be poetic? I never expected it." Rama grinned, and even so, he couldn't hide his bad mood from being visible. His eyebrows frowned as he glared at Asura.

Even so, this glare didn't faze him in the least.

"I like rain. If you think about it, this huge storm is perhaps due to my battle with Murugan and also with you. After all, great amounts of heat, a lot coming from our attacks, make the water particles and air go up in the sky, where they finally condense and form thunderclouds."

"I don't need a meteorology class."

Asura's eyes narrowed at Rama's response. At any rate, the situation was good.

Even now, air ascended to the sky from the residual heat levels of Kartikeya's Agneyastra and Rama's many arrows. The air brought by the updraft cools rapidly, and the water particles it contains become tiny drops of ice that combine to form hailstones.

"Rama-chan, if you interrupt people so brazenly, you might miss out on important information." Asura expressed happily.

Such arrogance only infuriated the dark-skinned youth of abnormal white hair, but he replied in his characteristic charming voice.

"Even so, random facts won't get me to pardon your life."

"Yeah, they won't."

As they fell once again, the hailstones melted rapidly, cooling the surrounding air even further and making it heavy. Asura only requiring directing it at a minimal expense of magical energy, this heavy wind dropped down at a speed that could even be described as destructive.

"This is where we part. It was only a short while, but it was fun."

"Yeah… Maybe it was."

This phenomenon, a roar of nature brother to the tornado, is known as a 'downburst'.

"Goodbye, Kai Vinterfeldt, 'Asura'."

"Bye-bye."

Suddenly, much to Rama's surprise, Asura let go of the edge of the hole he had been supported by.

However, he wasn't surprised for long, as he was promptly swallowed by the wind blast that reached the speed of sound with Asura's minimal effort. A destructive power equally as terrific as its speed, there was no way for Rama to deal with it now.

He was smashed down by the straight-lined winds and crushed when it spread to the sides upon collision with the floor. Regardless of reinforced clothes he might have gotten from those above him, today's battle had ended for the unfortunately human Rama.

However, this was not the case for Asura.

Barely avoiding the downburst in time, he immediately pulled out his remaining tool.

The broken Ascalon copy he still kept.

With his muscles screaming for rest, he forced them one more time and stuck it into the walls inside the hole, barely braking his fall and holding on yet again.

"Yes… I-I… I did it…"

His sheer exhaustion didn't allow him to even laugh satisfactorily. In fact, that he could hold on to that sword hilt could be considered a miracle in and of itself.

I'm at my limit… So… So tired…

He couldn't feel his fingers. He had bled a lot too. His consciousness was hazy and strength was leaving his body.

"….. i brat… Kai brat!"

He's here?

Asura recognized that voice. It was one he knew very well, but one he felt glad to hear again after some time.

Ah, sorry… But I want to rest…

"…. be… No! … ume, get him! Quick!"

Asura heard this too, but there was all he had.

His fingers slipped and his hand separated from the sword hilt.

If he fell like this from such a height, surely he would die upon impact.

Even though I defeated them after so much… No… In this kind of place!

He wasn't sure if his eyes were closed or he outright couldn't see anymore, but even so, he had to at least try again. With the strength of his spirit and mind, he would force his body.

Asura desperately reached out his hand, trying to hold on to an unseen something.

But even so, that hand was caught.

"Kai-kun!"

It was a familiar voice. It's echo had a feeling of nostalgia that reassured him more than anything else.

Asura's sight returned, and he could see beautiful feathers of a royal, reddish brown color. Large wings spread in a body that was half bird and half beast.

Asura's shock returned some of his senses. He felt a warm touch and wet drops on himself.

"Griffon… Then…"

With an utterly inhuman effort, he turned his face as much as he could in that direction.

Light brown hair tied loosely and reddish pink eyes. A beautiful and mature face that still retained youthful cuteness for a woman of twenty years of age.

"Natsume-san…" Asura smiled ever so slightly, unconsciously and without requiring effort.

Natsume Minagawa wiped her tears and made a beautiful smile of utter relief. Taking Asura's head in her arms, she gave it a gentle hug as if afraid of breaking him.

"Kai-kun, y-you'll be safe! I promise!"

"Natsume! How is he!? Damn it, Kai! Get a hold of yourself!"

So even Kouki bothered to go for me… I guess I can't really rest just yet…

The voice of Kouki Samejima still felt pleasant to Asura, even through harsh words worry was being transmitted.

Asura felt the soft touch of Natsume again on his head, and just with it he felt like clinging to this place again.

---

"Hah… Haha… Hahahaha!"

In the darkness, undying excitement burning in his eyes, a man with shaggy white hair laughed manically. At his sides stood two men who, despite being inexpressive in comparison, emitted a certainly eager aura.

Now was the time they had been eagerly waiting for. The reason for them joining a seemingly inconsequential group of terrorists was at hand.

"I understand your joy, Aži Dahāka, but you're behaving like a child right now." One of these men had brown skin and youthful looks, dressed in a black ceremonial vest. Despite his words being those of a lecture, he had a smile of clear enjoyment on his handsome face.

The man with white hair replied back with a grin that seemed to tear in order to reach his ears, purple eyes shining brightly.

"Apophis, you always speak in order to keep appearances! Kahahah! Just look at Crom-kun! Even he's excited about this whole party!"

Meanwhile, the tallest of the three, stood still without expression. His black coat blended well in the dark, while his hair of two colors moved gently with the wind even in its unkempt state.

"Refrain from helping me or interrupting my battle. I will fight the Crimson Maou, Sirzechs Gremory one on one." The Crescent Circle Dragon, Crom Cruach, said with barely perceptible fighting spirit in his deep voice.

However, both Apophis and Aži Dahāka took this rather harshly.

"No fair, Crom-kun! I wanted to pit the Gremory's so-called magic talent against my original techniques!" The Diabolism Thousand Dragon complained without any reserve.

"If it's Lord Crom Cruach who declares such, there's nothing we can do. We'll probably have to fight over Ajuka Astaroth, but there should be some opponents that can give us some challenge should we allow them to work together. At any rate, you'll have fun, Aži Dahāka. Don't worry."

Upon hearing the Eclipse Dragon utter such words, the white-haired man snorted.

"Sheesh, whatever. Are those two ready as well?"

Apophis looked up slightly as if pondering before answering with a calm voice.

"Lady Owl will stay on standby until further notice, but the Black Lion is joining the vanguard with us, though from another side."

"And the monster boy?"

"He's escorted by more of the Heroes, so there should be no hindrance to his role. In position."

Aži Dahāka grinned at his companion's words.

"Good… Very good. Now that all preparations are ready, let's get the party started!"

Suddenly, a bright light was emitted from the white-haired man's body, and with it, a violet colored boundary similar to flames spread along the horizon.

Only a few seconds were required and something abnormal was clearly felt, but more than that, once the light died out, there was no trace of the man with white hair.

Instead of him, a giant monster made the air shake. Long necks leading to three horned heads, purple eyes shining in each of them. Six gargantuan wings spread without reserve, being the cause for the air's sudden wildness.

Even in the darkness of the Underworld's night, the black scales of this Dragon of nightmare shone with a purple glint. Aži Dahāka's three heads laughed together as if different people.

"Let us not waste this chance! The feared beings will rampage again!"

The boundary field had been set, no reinforcements would arrive now.

All that was left was for the entire 'army' to make its move.

The three strongest of the Evil Dragons, sharing one common drive and desire, advanced without hesitation.

---

The wilderness of the Underworld was too good of a hiding spot, in reality. It was due to such a location that the group of no less than thirty men and women had been able to relax for an entire hour before the big event.

They talked freely. Longtime friends, lovers and rivals who bit at, yet respected one another.

Normal people. Defined as terrorists by the status quo, but no different than Devils at the party, some even better than most over there. Disagreements in politics, however, could easily create the division and isolation of many.

In a more quiet corner, a girl and boy pair relaxed together on a fallen tree log.

The girl, with lustrous platinum blonde hair and no more than fifteen years of age, also had a black eyepatch covering her left eye, betraying her lovely looks.

She smiled gently while caressing the bluish gray hair of the boy laying on her lap. Even younger than her, he was probably only twelve years old, with dark skin and large eyes that had lost most of their innocence.

He began shaking from time to time, but the girl's touch reassured him.

"Are you still scared, Leo? I know it's hard to bear such a big role so suddenly. Just because you're the one who survived that nasty snake's effects…" The blonde-haired girl spoke softly, a look akin to that of a loving mother or older sister on her face.

However, the boy shook his head lightly and smiled nervously, his abnormally-colored violet eyes meeting with her gray one.

"I'm okay now. It is selfish of me to be so frightened when everyone is risking their life to protect me… Including you, Clare."

With slightly renewed strength, Leonardo lifted himself from his 'lap pillow' and sat right next to the blonde girl.

"Hey, Clare… Even though you're fighting on the vanguard, you seem so confident. How do you do that with no help? It makes me feel a bit pathetic…"

Surprised by Leonardo's words, Clare closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of nature and her comrades joining the fray.

"How could I not? I have these many great friends at my side, and you too, Leo. But also… It might be silly, but I feel that…"

"You remember that person? The one you refer to as your sister?" Leonardo said, completing her sentence.

Clare smiled sadly at that.

"Kind of. Niphelia must be waiting back at home, but even if she doesn't know of this, I feel her support with me. But still… I swear. If I just look up to the sky, and I feel like I can gain strength from him too. With Niphelia and my brother supporting me, I feel like I can do anything."

Hearing this, Leonardo held his arm and looked aside.

"I see… I would have really wanted to talk to him… Mr. Isaiah."

Clare suddenly giggled, surprising Leonardo.

"Calling him 'Mister' is so like you, Leo. Come here and close your eyes."

Blushing slightly, knowing what was coming, Leonardo leaned toward Clare with his eyes closed.

Meanwhile, the girl moved her hair back and approached him, closing her eyes as well.

With nothing to stand in their way nor hesitation from any party, the lips of the two youngsters met.

It was a simple, chaste kiss, but their affection and care for each other required nothing more to be communicated.

Separating themselves after around three seconds, their faces heated up as they looked at one another again.

Smiling, a blushing Clare spoke up.

"I promise you another one later… I always keep my promises, so don't go thinking I'll die, okay?"

Blushing even redder than Clare, Leonardo kissed her again for but a moment.

"Yes… But I'll hold you to more than one."

After saying this, Leonardo stood up with determination and walked, the signal for his action already given. He was still surprised, as near the spot that had been prepared for him stood a figure that was taller than him or Clare.

If they were just at their puberty, this female was near her late teens, even with wavy white hair that would be most fitting on someone much older than her, although it reached the middle of her back in a style that was clearly youthful. Wearing a mix of a modest dress with a combat-practical military uniform, she looked serious and mature in spite of her young age.

"Leonardo, you really don't have to worry. After all, I will accompany Clare on the vanguard."

"I-I see… Do I actually look so nervous, Commander?"

"Hmm… You do. One-hundred percent."

It appeared that her unrestrained, brutal honesty was gleaming like always.

"If I hadn't seen you worried, I would have pondered if there was something wrong in your head."

Hearing such words from his white-haired captain, however, made Leonardo certainly relieved and happy.

She was quirky indeed, along with sharp-tongues and knowing nothing of respect for authority or subtleness, but it was perhaps her being this way that made her so trusted by the spearman who inherited the Chinese ace's name, and particularly all the subordinates currently present.

A natural-born leader, one could say, even if her strategic thinking was rather average. Even so, for a leader participating in the front lines, it could be forgiven.

"Are you thinking badly of me, Leonardo?" The white-haired teenager narrowed her eyes and glared at the boy five years her junior in a way that was both menacing and childishly endearing.

"Not at all, Commander! You just… Reassured me. Having someone so capable at the front lines… It makes me glad."

Even if she didn't smile, the girl's emerald eyes clearly softened. Putting her hands at the sides of the hem of her skirt and lifting them ever so slightly, she made a gentle bow.

"I swear on this life of mine that the maiden Clare will return safely and be protected from all harm. This me only asks of Lord Leonardo's utmost assistance in this crusade."

Smiling slightly with one eye closed, the display looked oddly charming. Seeing this form of that stern commander, Leonardo found himself with even more strength as he walked again.

"It shall be done, Commander Tosca."

Having finished the walk to his position, Leonardo closed his eyes and concentrated. He could still feel the presence of many comrades surrounding him, willing to lay down their lives to protect him.

A god-slaying tool… I'll show what that means…

Gradually, pools of darkness began to form at Leonardo's feet, but they didn't stop there and began to extend endlessly along the forest. The pasture that was once visible even in the darkness of the night was being covered in utterly peerless black.

"Demonic Beast Creation… Annihilation Maker!"

From one moment to the other, the army of monstrous black shapes roared.

---

Many of the party's attendees had already left by this hour of the night, however, these were mostly the aristocrats whilst servants of theirs remained in case anything important happened.

However, such important talk was reserved for the faction leaders currently attending, since the bodyguards of the 'foreign' leaders (namely the Slash Dog team for Azazel, and Irina Shidou and Dulio Gesualdo for Michael) had been given permission to merely enjoy the party for the time.

Even so, there were relatively unimportant matters that the Maou Lucifer, Sirzechs, did want to speak about. From the beginning of the party, he had looked from time to time at that boy with the ugly eyes.

Diodora Astaroth had been calmly enjoying himself with his peerage, all the while Sairaorg and his servants held airs as sharp as blades at the mere notice of them.

There was surprisingly no hard evidence of Diodora's brutal assault in the Bael mansion, since mysteriously, the wounds of the Bael servants had been undone without a single trace.

More than this, no one could imagine how a weak Devil like Diodora could have done something of the sort, so the matter had been thrown under the rug without punishment for the Astaroth heir.

Sirzechs sighed yet again.

Just seven years ago, Diodora Astaroth had been a regular guest at the Gremory castle, loved by Venelana and Zeoticus like another son.

Just seven years ago, Diodora and Rias had been friends close enough to sleep in the same bed at one another's houses. Only their physical appearance made them differ from brother and sister.

And just seven years ago, after the passing of the loving mother Elise Astaroth, Diodora had been banished to the human world by Saleron Zepar, his own father.

In Devil society, power is everything, and even the Maou Lucifer couldn't oppose a decision supported by the majority of nobles. Hence, Diodora Astaroth, born cursed by the single fact of lack of talent when compared to his outstanding brother, was exiled.

His mother, loving him until her last breath, had been the only reason this action had taken so long, and Ajuka Beelzebub had done next to nothing to prevent his own brother's exile.

When he had returned, the Gremory had been thrilled, but this was cut short when it became clear that Diodora Astaroth had changed.

The actions from two weeks ago had only been the culmination of the dangerous suspicions about this unfortunate young Devil.

Even so, there was one person whom Sirzechs still couldn't understand in respect to this seven-year-old issue.

It had been enough time, so even that man shouldn't cheekily refuse by now.

"Ajuka, mind talking some things out over a drink?" The crimson-haired man spoke with a fake smile.

Ajuka Beelzebub, formerly Astaroth, turned to him in the slightest surprise.

"Sirzechs… It is strange of you to approach me."

Ajuka swept back his hair with his hand as he chuckled in slight mockery, but nevertheless, he followed after Sirzechs.

It was a party with many attendees, sure, but in such a big hall, there was still no trouble in finding a quiet enough place.

"It is going rather smoothly, don't you think? Perhaps the bait was not enough for them."

"Don't speak so casually of that, Ajuka. The mess will be legendary if someone is eavesdropping on us." Sirzechs said sternly as he poured a glass of wine for himself and another for his closest friend.

"Yeah, yeah. I understand." Still chuckling, he took a sip, with Sirzechs doing the same.

However, Sirzechs' narrowed gaze didn't falter in the least even in face of such frivolity.

"The discussion about the incident at the Bael mansion was noisy indeed, even though they decided to delay the issue so much."

"It can't be helped, oh-so-mighty Lucifer-sama. All the nobles are very busy, but a problem with the house of Bael affects us all."

Ajuka commented as if it had nothing to do with him, which in turn made Sirzechs even more furious.

"Oh, I didn't know you were so lenient. Since you're so concerned about the rest of the nobles, wouldn't it have been better to calm them down earlier?"

"At any rate, the problem here is Diodora-kun."

"Really? He just killed a few Khaos Brigade grunts, didn't he? All the other crimes pinned on him are baseless at most."

Ajuka laughed, but Sirzechs frowned.

"Don't play dumb, Ajuka. Even if the story was altered so the ruckus wouldn't be too big, someone like you would for sure investigate further, especially when it involves a member of your family. Serafall and you made further investigations on the matter, right? I can imagine she made visibility low and the guards' movements sluggish and tired while you sneaked in."

To Sirzechs' hypothesis, Ajuka remained utterly quiet as his smile became less apparent, but still present.

It grossly complemented his snake-like eyes.

Feeling like he hit the nail on the head with his deduction, Sirzechs asked further without faltering.

"... Was anyone killed by Diodora-kun?"

"… No. Even Magdaran Bael, who received the worst, has miraculously recovered from his physical injuries, at least. But Diodora was the one to defeat all of the casualties at the mansion. From the traces of demonic power leftover after the event, he's the only one who could've been responsible."

Ajuka spoke calmly, but it sounded more like boasting to Sirzechs' ears. If Ajuka's assumptions were true, Diodora had already attained strength rivaling his previously superior peers.

"You seem really happy, Ajuka. If this is true, why did you abandon Diodora-kun back then?"

Sirzechs finally asked the question that he had held back for seven years, always having wondered about it. After all, no matter how unreadable and reserved Ajuka was, even if no one could understand what he was thinking, his best friend, Sirzechs Gremory, had always known that Ajuka actually loved Diodora a lot.

Ajuka chuckled slightly and replied with serious eyes, in spite of his flippant grin.

"I was born as a Devil and live as a Devil. This rotten society values power above all else and I'm not allowed to choose any other way of living... It's the same for my little brother."

"So is that why you threw him somewhere Devils couldn't reach? So he could choose any path he desired? Even so, there was no need to leave him all alone! What if he had starved to death in some wasteland!? What if exorcists had found and executed him!?"

Sirzechs' angry yells were only met by Ajuka's laugh.

"Fu… What are you talking about? He is my brother."

Sirzechs opened his mouth briefly to say something else in reflex, but he lost all strength to continue asking after that boastful statement.

Besides, there was no more time for this talk, since both Sirzechs and Ajuka were instantly affected by an abnormal pressure.

A pressure that Sirzechs in particular, knew quite well.

No… It couldn't be that…

There was no more time to spare. Taking care of no one seeing them, even using magic to maintain stealth, Sirzechs and Ajuka quickly walked toward what appeared to be a mere wall in the enormous party hall.

In spite of this, within them coming into contact with it, the wall distorted. From one moment it looked like clean marble, but Sirzechs and Ajuka passed through it without any problem.

Made with Transfiguration magic, it was an illusory wall. Without knowledge of it being there, it would behave like a completely normal wall to both sight and touch. But if it was known of as truly an illusion, one could pass through it as easily as these two Maou had done, allowing for special shortcuts and escape routes in times of need.

Coming out at the other side without any problem, Sirzechs and Ajuka looked out from a balcony in a style reminiscent of ancient Roman architecture. However, their suspicions only grew stronger by the curious phenomena.

"Why, howdy~! To think the show boys Sirzechs and Ajuka would remember after all this time~!"

Accompanying this voice, a gaping portal, akin to a bottomless mouth of only black, ripped open in front of the balcony. From it, a visibly human shape dressed in a business suit began to step out.

"And I was trying to be stealthy… I guess nothing can escape these two 'monster' Devil Lords."

Hair that was as black as the portal left behind and a handsome face that could probably draw the admiration from quite a few women. However, the man's piercing eyes of dark red caused nothing but a feeling of dread and insecurity.

Eyes that Sirzechs was all too familiar with, and Ajuka had seen a few times already.

"And to what do we owe the displeasure, Schwarz? I don't believe I sent you of all people an accidental invitation." Sirzechs spat such venom-covered words with that smile so characteristic of his person, but only know, it looked much more menacing rather than alluring.

"Could it be that our predictions are true? If so, those guys really searched for allies everywhere they could." Ajuka laughed frivolously while not losing sight of the First Apostle for even a second.

Even so, Schwartz in question remained relaxed. Quite surprisingly, neither Sirzechs nor Ajuka could feel any aggression from him, at least not directed at him.

"Predictions? Oh, so I was right. Who had the plan to reunite so brazenly as bait? Was it Azazel? Or maybe Ajuka here?"

Schwarz spoke without reserve, but neither Ajuka, grinning as ever, nor Sirzechs, more serious in comparison, said anything. The Apostle only became even more amused by this display…

"Or perhaps… 'Goody-two-shoes' Michael?"

Sirzechs faltered ever so slightly at that moment, but that was all Schwarz needed for confirmation.

"Oh well, it is true. Even the Church needs its fair share of cold judgment to survive and stay relevant these days. It only makes sense that the responsible firstborn would take it upon himself~!"

"Are you just here to mock? Because I have all the reason in the world to make ashes out of you right now?"

Sirzechs' cold voice would have been rather shocking were it not his best friend the one present. Even Schwarz could perfectly feel the intensity, while not losing his smile.

"Oh, yes, Sirzechs. Of the few people in the world who can sincerely boast of destroying me… You are definitely among them, same for your little buddy here. However, I'm not here to mess up the Underworld. It would be counterproductive."

"What do you mean?"

On Sirzechs' question, the Apostle lifted a hand and pointed his index finger in direction of the landscape visible from the balcony. A calmer grin on his visage.

"I'm not part of them, but yes, they are coming. The operation to dig out those Khaos Brigade bastards worked perfectly~! Be sure to congratulate Michael for me—"

Schwarz's words were dismissively interrupted by Sirzechs and Ajuka, now focused on the direction he had pointed out.

"So they used a large scale Concealment spell? I can detect it, but can't dispel it… Just what matter of magicians did they recruit!?"

"It might be a single magician too, Sirzechs. I doubt a simple influx of additional energy by a bunch of fodder can make something as unique as that barrier just now…" In spite of the dangerous situation, Ajuka maintained his slight smile as if in enjoyment.

Seeing the two men be so concerned about this instead of his talk did prick the slightest tinge of attention-want in Schwarz. Yes, perhaps he was still a bit of a kid.

"Sirzechs, you yet seem to not understand. I am making an offer here."

"You say?"

On Sirzechs' confusion, Schwarz descended upon the balcony, at a distance of little more than a person from the two Maou.

"Indeed. I have sent my associates to scout their forces, and even people such as us can't take them alone. Of course, there will surely be casualties of varying severity if you confront them as it is… However, my goals are in conflict with theirs, so I propose an alliance among us, Sirzechs, Ajuka."

"Alliance? Are you being serious?" Sirzechs bit back at him, yet the Apostle simply nodded.

"I know of your reasons to distrust me, Sirzechs, so before asking for anything, how about I give you a trial period, as they say? I'll help you all fend off these invaders, and then you, the great and admired Maou, can make a decision on the alliance."

Sirzechs had to restrain himself to not lose his calm at such a preposterous idea. This man of all was really trying to settle an affiliation? There were few things he would be more skeptical of.

Even so, this wasn't a time he could afford to think only with his individual judgment, but rather in the interests of the majority.

In the face of such a complicated Sirzechs, Schwarz remained completely calm. Even as dangerous words were spun by his tongue.

"By the way, you should hurry up. For the well-being of the guards stationed in the area considering the distance the enemy should be currently at."

"Wait, what—"

Sirzechs' words were now interrupted by loud sounds. Flashes of light appeared in several places radially around the hotel. The distance away was probably three kilometers at most.

So it really happened…

The Crimson Maou gritted his teeth in anger, although he did his best to not let it show.

"It looks like the battle already started, Sirzechs. So, what will you choose to do now?" Schwarz spoke gleefully, with the frivolous enjoyment of another one's problem.

Sirzechs thought again, and worried again. It had been like that all the time ever since the Archangel himself proposed this cold plan aiming only at results.

If he had prevented Rias from assisting the party, it would have been suspicious enough to probably cancel the Brigade's attack. If he had told her to leave early, she would have been in danger of running into their forces earlier than anyone and dying like a dog.

It was happening. No matter what he did, even with all his power as a Maou, it would be very difficult to keep the innocent and most of all, his family, away from the harm.

Even in this violent tornado of emotions, he was snapped back to reality by a painful palm to the back.

Sirzechs turned aside and saw Ajuka looking at him scornfully.

"We have to do what's necessary, so try not to have so little faith in others. Fortunately, we're here to do the heavy lifting, right?"

The calm words of Sirzechs' best friend finally gave him the bit of a push he needed. Laughing self-deprecatingly, Sirzechs turned toward the illusory wall not before addressing Schwarz once more.

"I'll remind you. Try anything funny and I'll destroy you completely."

"Sure, sure~." Saying only this as a response, the First Apostle went back into the black portal which disappeared barely a second after.

Both Sirzechs and Ajuka swiftly passed through the illusory wall and happened upon mayhem.

Probably due to the sounds that continued from earlier and the blasts of light seen through the windows, quite a few of the guests were curious and less than pleased.

Even so…

Taking a deep breath and then exhaling, Sirzechs prepared to say what he knew he had to say. But before doing so, not really by accident, he shot a glance at the Angel leader, Michael.

Behind those gentle-looking eyes, a small smile of utmost satisfaction could be seen with a good glance. The cold smirk of a man whose plan had easily come to fruition.

Figures…

However, Sirzechs couldn't spare any more time on scornful gazes. Nothing in the way, he spoke.

"The guard outside have run into problems. First of all, this will be entirely voluntary, you will not be punished in any way, shape for form for remaining here until the problems subside, but if you find it in you to try to help…"

Sirzechs could already hear the discord that had been sown by his words. Of course, to hear such a thing in a party of all occasions was clearly within the most scandalous outcomes.

However, he was not willing to stop. Not that he even could if they wanted to remain victorious.

"I ask of all the combat-capable guests to lend your assistance to the guard outside. If you do so, I promise on my honor as Maou that you will be handsomely rewarded, but for now… I ask that you spare some of your power in the current times of crisis."

Yes, it was shocking.

The Demon Lord himself, bearing the name of the legendary Lightbringer, bowed his head to people supposed to be his subjects. Everyone fell silent at this.

"Let us go. We have been prepared for this already." Rias Gremory stood up and immediately headed out. Dignified like a noble and brave like a warrior.

In response, her peerage (even the cowardly Gasper and the still inexperienced Issei) did the same by standing up and quickly following after her. The old nobles couldn't figure out if this was true bravery or youthful recklessness.

Even so, they didn't have much time to think about it, as more people responded to Sirzechs' call.

"Let's go, team. Nothing we haven't done before, right?"

"We're heading out. We can't let Rias outdo us!"

"This is a good time to show it. The strength backing up our dreams."

Aslatiel Bael, Sairaorg Bael, Sona Sitri and their peerages. They all headed out with incomprehensible conviction.

Yet…

"…?"

"…"

None of them.

These nobles who took so much pride in their power and standing, who looked down on others whom they deemed inferior with glee and had seen the Underworld's Civil War. None moved an inch, without even a semblance of a desire to protect and defend.

These people…

Sirzechs gritted his teeth, furious like few times. He had to purposefully restrain himself to not release an outburst of demonic power.

"Pathetic."

However, these words did not come from the Maou in question.

Rather, the Prince-ranked Selena Sitri said so calmly, looking in sheer disappointment and scorn at most of the nobles.

"For taking so much pride in 'participating' in the Civil War, I see you all are no more than pretentious blabbermouths."

"Bah! No one better to say so than Selena Sitri, oh Spider Queen of the coward families!" Said a muscular-built noble with a neatly trimmed mustache.

Loud voices resounded in the party hall, conflict was clear. However, much to their shock, Selena showed no more than a cold grin.

"Well said, milord, when you are the ones hiding behind mere youngsters due to fear of another battle. I am well aware of my own cowardice, but if so is to be true, what does that make you?"

The large-built noble faltered because of this, and silence reigned yet again.

Seemingly satisfied, Selena stood up from her spot, and with her, so did her trusted few family heads, following the lead of their empress.

Looking up at the spot the Maou stood at, Selena's violet eyes mellowed slightly. They met with her daughter's blue ones and Serafall herself faltered slightly.

"Serafall, Ajuka. For old times' sake… Will you lend this hag a hand?"

Her mask had been completely torn off.

Not as the Magical Girl Levi-tan the Underworld loved, not as the Maou Leviathan that the Underworld respected, nor as the Serafall Sitri that laid waste to the Old Maou Faction back on the Civil War.

No, this was the face of a daughter. A lonely daughter that had been beckoned by her mother after a long time.

She felt a hand lightly slapping her lower back that almost made her yelp in surprise. Serafall frantically turned around and saw Ajuka looking at her urgently. He lacked his usual frivolous grin but his eyes looked somehow softer.

Seeing this, Serafall sighed and then smiled brightly, turning back to the mother she loved so much.

"You got it, Mom! We can't let So-tan get hurt at all, can we?"

"I swear you are such a handful…"

Seeing Serafall's and Ajuka's endearing exchange, Selena couldn't help a warm smile, even if small, from creeping up on her face.

"Oh well. If even Nii-chan and Levi-tan are in, how can we pull back? We're going too, girls!"

"This is quite vexing, but there is no way we can leave the name of the Archduke in such a low spot. Prepare for battle."

Rather surprisingly too, even Diodora Astaroth, Seekvaira Agares and their peerages swiftly stood up and headed toward the exit…

"Let's go now, Dulio-sama! Do you want to let that amazing lady down!?"

"Right, right, Irina. We are allied now after all, and such a wonderful Devil woman deserves at least some help from us."

"This is our duty right? As escorts, we will get rid of the uninvited guests. Let's go, Lavinia, Jin."

"Right on it, Toby. I've gotten tired of waiting for Asura, Natsume and Shark, after all."

… And so did the Angel and Fallen Angel escorts, these four now accompanied by he large black dog with a small blade protruding at the forehead.

Before everyone knew, quite the formidable force had been amassed to counter these invaders. The nobles were flabbergasted by such an alliance.

Smiling in an honest way, Sirzechs looked back at Azazel, as if asking for cover, to which Azazel sighed but showed him a quick 'ok' sign.

Sirzechs nodded and walked forward. The one known as the Strongest Devil would enter the fray once more.

Yes, if I am only good for Destruction… Then I'll Destroy so those younger don't have to...

Selena hadn't waited long before walking her own way to the exit, and even so she noticed the immense force that had been amassed just now.

Her face returning to its normal stern look, she still looked stronger than ever.

"Let us show them once and for all… That even Chaos is not to trifle with Hell…"

---

It wasn't long before the groups of Aslatiel, Rias and the others exited the hotel. As soon as they came out, they found out that the flashes of light and noises were nothing like what could be noticed from behind the hotel's windows.

"Hahah… It looks just like war."

"Looks like?"

Rias replied to Aslatiel with a similarly nervous grin. Yes, they were clearly still teenagers, no matter how much life threw at them.

"There's such a huge amount… It will be hard to find a weak link we can start by." Koneko said so after taking her cat ears and tail out, much to the surprise of most of Aslatiel's work.

(A-A Nekoshou and a Senjutsu user… Ok, I don't think we are too bad when it comes to making some strategy to tackle this…)

However, greater was Aslatiel's surprise when as he thought of this, he saw a bright and blazing figure soaring in the air before flying forward at full force.

(Ravel!?)

Seeing this, Aslatiel made a pair of his bat-like wings sprout out and flew straight at her.

"Wait, Aslatiel! We don't even have a plan yet!" Rias yelled from down below, making him stop for a moment.

"Ravel will get killed by rushing right in like that! I can't let her go alone, but I'll be back as soon as I can!"

As he said this, another person quickly flew up to his side.

"I'll go with you too, then. It won't hurt to have more assistance." Sona said as she fixed her glasses.

Thinking about it only for a moment, Aslatiel quickly nodded and flew forward at a great speed, Sona following right after.

"Why do they have to be so impetuous…"

Even so, Koneko snapped Rias out of her wailing by suddenly running away. No explanations or words even given.

Wait what!?

"Rias! More enemies are approaching from that side!" Using detection with a Shintoist branch of magic, Akeno quickly warned her her [King].

But even so, Rias was conflicted.

"Koneko suddenly ran away! Please, Akeno! Try to hold them off along with the rest here while I get her!"

"Ugh, fine! But that cheeky girl will get some punishment once you get her back!" Even with some slight annoyance, Akeno grinned and commanded the peerage in direction.

Thank you… I really have the best [Queen] ever…!

Thinking this with a big smirk, Rias ran in the way Koneko had escaped.

---

It took longer than expected for Aslatiel and Sona to catch up to the runaway Phenex heiress. Even as a Bishop who are known for their strong magic, she was still remarkably fast, probably a result of training with her brothers.

"What the hell, Ravel!?"

"Are you trying to get yourself killed!?"

One on each side of her, Aslatiel and Sona let out their frustration as yell. Ravel was unfazed, however.

"You don't understand… The guard stationed outside…"

They surprisingly coul see traces of tears at the corners of her sapphire-like eyes.

"Xuelan was with them!"

Aslatiel, who had also gotten to know the Chinese girl during his stay at the Phenex house, felt a sudden sense of fear at those words.

Even so, it didn't last for long, as the seven of battle and bloodshed suddenly greeted the three of them.

"Wh-What is this…?" Sona said as they looked up and down.

The Devil guards were struggling against countless black beasts from the beyond of nightmares. They fought valiantly, if not for trying to dwindle their seemingly endless numbers, then for the honor of those brave guards that had tragically perished already.

Not only that, but in a number that fortunately was much lower than the beasts, yet still numerous, many Devils in antiquated combat apparel fought against the guards as well.

(Devils… Old Maou? Are those their actual troops?)

"Get down, moron!" Ravel yelled out while hitting Aslatiel on the back of his head, causing him to fall a few meters in the air.

Normally, he would have reacted in confusion and rage, but in fact, Ravel's hit had saved him from one of those very black beasts. Similar to many others, this one appeared to be modeled after a gargoyle or drake.

"This speed… We can handle it." Sona said calmly as what appeared to be a lance made out of clear water was formed and pierced the best right on its chest.

"…!?"

However, it didn't seem to do much besides stunning it for a moment, as it swiftly flew and launched one of its clawed hands at Sona, who didn't move in time due to surprise.

"Get away!"

Infusing demonic power into his wings and legs, Aslatiel didn't waste time and dashed at the beast with a kick right on its head, sending it spinning throughout the air before it could touch Sona.

Still, once again, with its head turn back in an impossible way, the black beast recovered its balance in midair yet again.

What's more, more black beasts, apparently attracted by the fight, flew up and surrounded the three Devils. The beasts focused on them now numbered five.

"Shrugging off a pierced chest and a twisted neck… This will be annoying!" Grinning madly to cope with the predicament, Aslatiel brought his hand forward and attempted to call forth his Power Of Destruction.

However, he was held back by Ravel's small hand on his chest.

"Allow me to handle these vermin." Ravel uttered as she brought her hand down, shoved the other one aside and opened a magic circle. Sona was confused by this action while Aslatiel was surprised.

(Wait, is she gonna use it now? … Actually, it might be for the best… Ravus would like to see his invention's first field use…)

From the circle, a slender rapier of pure beautiful silver was pulled out, lightly covering Ravel's hand with an ornate guard. Both Aslatiel and Sona felt something suspicious from that rapier.

"I had planned to first use this on my debut as a [King], but I guess there are more important matters at hand. Ravus-oniisama's present... Bloom, Igneus Spina."

On her words, the rapier's tip produced a small white light that left behind a very visible trail on the air. Upon violently moving the rapier aside, Ravel entrapped the black beasts that were already approaching them into the white string of light that had just been formed, as if it was powerful chains more than a slender trail of light.

"Primrose complete!" Ravel smirked as she flicked the rapier upward.

With just that simple move, the restrained black beasts burst up into upward pillars of flame, heating the surroundings enough to make Aslatiel and Sona sweat.

After the flames dispersed a few seconds afterward, the charred corpses of the beasts, unable to take any more action, fell lifelessly at the distant floor.

A lot had just transpired, but what attracted Sona's attention the most was a single fact.

That was… Light magic?

Upon realizing that fact, everything made sense with a bit of thinking and looking at how the Igneus Spina rapier had been constantly draining particles from Ravel's fiery wings.

Light was inherently harmful to Devils, so there was no way for a Phenex of all people to cast light magic. At least directly, that is.

However, by using their demonic flames as fuel, a proxy would be able to cast magic that an ordinary Devil wouldn't be able to. A proxy like, for example, a catalyst with ingrained spells.

In this way, and by how it had also directed and concentrated Ravel's flames she could naturally produced, Igneus Spina could be considered akin to a sorcerer's catalyst more than a sword. A weapon perfect for a Bishop.

"Don't go thinking this can't give you a mean cut. Aslatiel would know." Ravel said with a smirk.

"You didn't have to be so serious about it! I was teaching you to not entirely suck at slashing enemies up not to turn your teacher into mincemeat!"

While Aslatiel bickered with an 'Ojou laugh' Ravel, Sona wondered if she was some sort of mind reader.

However, this relaxation was for no more than twenty seconds, as Aslatiel and the girls came upon the horrible sight in front of them.

"Phew, that was dangerous. I guess even the baby girl is still a Phenex."

Holding the bloodied and battered Xuelan by her neck, the dangerous-looking man covered in tattoos smirked in the most disgusting show of arrogance.

"Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas… Are you betraying the Underworld?" Sona gritted her teeth in anger at the member of the President family.

"You're late, Sitri girl. This ain't nothing new, I just prefer playing for the winner team. To all you guys who mocked and undervalued me, who's laughing now, eh?"

"You son of a bitch… Do you even know what you got yourself into, Zephyrdor-kun~?"

"Seeing that you have become to your very own race, I'd say that distaste you always produced in Astaroth and Agares is well deserved. In fact, you disgust even me now, Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas."

However, while Aslatiel and Sona could keep a state of calm rage, the same could not be said for their third, who released a powerful pulse of demonic power from sheer emotion.

"Let her go right now!"

Ravel shouted in a voice of otherworldly anger as the flames in her wings became fiercer than ever, causing her hair in drills to shake and forcing Aslatiel and Sona to move farther away from her.

"L… Lady… Ravel…" Forcing a raspy voice out, Xuelan looked at her best friend with eyes that seemed ready to shed tears.

Looking at this, Zephyrdor's grin became even more menacing, seeming that it would eventually reach from ear to ear.

"How about this then, Phenex girl?"

Before anyone could notice, perhaps due to all their attention being on Zephyrdor, a larger one of the flying black beasts flew across and a dry, ripping sound was heard.

Blood was splattered, a few drops staining Ravel's cheek. Xuelan's scream was loud and desperate enough to hurt anyone who heard it, for her right arm had been ripped off from the shoulder in one second.

"YOU BASTARD! I WON'T LEAVE ANYTHING!"

"Uh-uh~ Do you want this, then~?"

Zephyrdor's hand holding a dagger was just poking at Xuelan's chest, ready to pierce her heart. Only this stopped Ravel from attacking Zephyrdor with all she had.

"You hopeless bastard…" Even Sona could not comprehend such an amount of cruelty, and Aslatiel glared at the Glasya-Labolas in a similar manner.

"But if you really want her… I guess you can have her. Yes, she needs medical attention urgently…"

Saying this in a frivolous way, Zephyrdor threw the bloodied Xuelan at them.

Even while completely shocked, Ravel prepares to catch her as carefully as she could. However, before reaching them, a blast of demonic power made contact with the airborne Xuelan and produced an explosion.

"""…!?"""

None of the three could comprehend this. There was a limit to cruelty and spite.

"Oh sorry. My hand slipped~!" Said an enemy faction Devil not far away from them, a companion by his side.

"Can't be helped, right~?"

Even Zephyrdor's further mocking did not affect Ravel now.

"XUELAN!"

With nothing else in her mind, a Ravel with tear-filled eyes rushed toward her powerless friend falling through the air.

Seeing her take the bait, one of the Devils smirked and aimed a demonic power attack at the distracted Ravel.

"Now this will teach h- GHAhH…!"

But before he could launch it, Aslatiel's axe kick descended on his head and broke the Devil's neck, sending him plummeting down.

"Can't mind your own business, can ya, Marchosias!?" As Zephyrdor shouted this, both himself and the now-defeated Devil's companion shot their own demonic power at Aslatiel.

Dashing away from that spot, Aslatiel let the two attacks collide with one another instead, producing a huge explosion and a cloud of smoke.

"Wh-Where the fuck are you!?" Impatient, Zephyrdor shouted as he looked around for any sign of his enemy.

After a few seconds, the smoke had more or less cleaned up and Zephyrdor caught a glance of a figure with many limbs protruding out of the back area.

Multiple wings… Yes, that's him!

Grinning like a mad slasher, Zephyrdor released a powerful blob of green-colored demonic power at the figure. Making direct contact, a loud sound and another explosion occurred.

"Got 'im! How's the power of that snake I got, eh? Pretty neat, I'd say!"

Zephyrdor could almost laugh. However, the body that fell burnt-up out of the cloud of smoke was that of the Devil that had been helping him just now.

"H-How!?"

"I just had to stop his movement with a surprise attack which you helped set up, Zephyrdor-kun. The rest is history."

Almost grunting from sheer anger, Zephyrdor turned toward Aslatiel who flew for a moment with eight wings before returning to two.

He held him from behind and used his wings as bait… Underhanded bastard…

Furious beyond compare, Zephyrdor dashed forward wanting only to mash Aslatiel into red and pink with his own hands.

Turning serious again, Aslatiel attempted to do the same, if not for the sphere of demonic energy coming his way.

(That's right! There's more of these guys!)

Using his Power of Destruction, Aslatiel countered the attack and caught a glance of the arrogant-faced Devil that had launched it.

However, this very thing prevented him from properly responding to Zephyrdor's assault.

"I finally got to do this!"

Zephyrdor's fist made direct contact with Aslatiel's face, causing his consciousness to ring for a moment and the modest flavor of blood being tasted in the area near his lip.

The silver-haired Devil was blown back by the strength of the blow and was tightly grabbed from behind by the Devil who had shot the earlier demonic power.

"Damn it!"

As a matter of fact, unable to move, Aslatiel couldn't respond to Zephyrdor's next hit. This time a knee to the stomach.

"For a whole month I waited to bash your face in!"

Smiling from ear to ear, Zephyrdor continued his brutal assault on Aslatiel, repeatedly punching and kicking his head and torso.

"That's enough!"

However, it wasn't for long.

Sona, who had just finished dealing with her own set of enemies to protect Ravel, quickly shaped her whip of water, grasped the leg of the Devil holding Aslatiel with it and yanked it up.

Much to his shock, Zephyrdor's next punch hit the Devil right on the spine and caused him to let go of Aslatiel.

"So… Fucking annoying!"

Not wasting this chance, Aslatiel quickly launched a huge blob of Power Of Destruction which Zephyrdor barely managed to dodge in time, but erased the other Devil completely out of existence.

Zephyrdor glared at the black-haired heiress with hatred that seemed impossible for any normal person to feel.

"You really want to get murdered so badly, Sitri!? You won't get that luxury! After this is over, you'll be my bitch slave until I get bored of you!"

Sona could not be more dismissive of Zephyrdor's threats, and instead flew to Aslatiel's side without any moment to waste.

"Does it hurt that much?" She asked with concern.

"A whole fucking lot… You saved me there." Aslatiel laughed in self-mockery as he wiped traces of blood from his head and face.

Knowing that it was not over yet, Aslatiel and Sona prepared to this time initiate the assault on Zephyrdor.

"It couldn't be… Is that Zephyrdor I see over there? Is he with the terrorists?"

That voice stopped everyone from acting further if even for an instant.

The powerful voice of the strongest youth.

---

It was a quiet set of plains in the Underworld, still far away from the conflict's center. Owls still made their noise echo, after all.

In it, a lone man walked along as if filled with a sense of adventure. He appeared to be a young adult, with blazing orange-red hair on his head and dressed in a raggedy outfit reminiscent of travelers in the Middle Ages.

From one moment to another, however, he stopped his relaxed stroll with a face of worry.

"The fighting started… How scary…"

The man was rather childish in his mannerisms. He tapped his finger on his chin as he pondered for close to ten seconds.

"But it's not like she would get hurt, right? It is her, after all… Though she is apparently trapped… Aaahh! This is so worrying! My lovely!"

Yes. Complete, unadulterated drama and childishness.

Almost losing his footing due to not looking properly forward, the man sighed in relief from it falling. Even so, the original topic went back to his mind swiftly afterward.

"... I should go to her anyways. But still, she's not the type to fail, right? None of us is… We are those, after all."

— Fox of No Loss, Hound of Sure Gain —