Chapter 37
DxD Universe 15
If someone had told the Sorcerer family named Hyoudou a short time ago, that they would play host of a group of Devils... okay, that alone would probably not be that unlikely. They were part of a prominent Magic Guild after all and contact with Supernatural Being was part of their daily business.
But the fact that this particular group of Devils came from another universe? That was something completely else. That and the little fact that their leader was no one else that a red haired and big breasted double of their son´s schoolmate and apprentice Rias Mac Greymore.
It was nearly bizarre, seeing her and the Rias they knew next to each other. Of course being who they were, the Hyoudous had for some time already the suspicion that the irish family `Mac Greymore´ was actually the former Gremory Devil Clan.
This only confirmed it.
There had been stories that some Devil families close before the end of the last was had used a special procedure to turn themselves human, to escape both the Erebos and the Church. Their Guild had confirmed a long time ago that these stories were actually true.
After their last meeting the universe travellers had already told them that they would return.
Their visitors in turn were more than surprised to see the small and very terrified looking Fallen Angel Mittelt with them. As the Sorcerer-Hyoudous had exlained them, she had agreed to give them information about the Devil Hunters and their Masters in exchange for protection.
Rias Gremory and her peerage were however not the only ones who had arrived. With them were also Gaeriel and Murayama... and three other students from Kuoh.
xxx
As they had been preparing to return to this reality after their first visit a few weeks ago, their three fellow students Matsuda, Motohama and Katase suddenly appeared at their club-room.
And they had asked them for a special favor - a very special one. The three wanted them to take them along to another world. She remembered that she had agreed to do them a favor for keeping quiet about her and her peerage.
Well, the Devil Hunters had by what they found out left that reality and never returned for weeks now. They were visiting a world they already knew of and there were no other known greater threats. So it should be relatively save, right? She decided to take them along this time.
Rias could only hope that this was the right decision.
xxx
It was a decision that she had already started to regret...
… in the moment Motohama and Matsuda had met up with the doubles of Murayama, Katase and herself to be precise.
The two couples of perverts had `hit it of´ right from the first moment.
Well, what should she have expected?
The entire conversation pretty much started with Issei´s two friends pointing at her human counterpart and loudly complaining about her lack of breasts, even calling it a `crime against nature´. This alone caused both Rias to fight down the urge to punch them.
And it continued with them comparing the chest sizes with the local versions of Murayama and Katase with their counterparts who had come along with them.
It didn´t take long for the conversation to come to the point where the two perverted girls said that they knew a quiet place in the park close by... where they could `do it´ with nobody seeing them.
"Yeah – the last two parts of the perverted trio are now about to loose their v-cards," Matsuda called out.
"The same goes for us. Finally we can take some dicks," Murayama-015 exclaimed completely shamelessly in front of all of them with a grin.
"And it are even the ones of Motohama and Matsuda, even if it are not truly them."
They all remembered that this universe´s versions of the two were members of the Student Council, along with Issei... and like him showed little interest in girls. So the complete reverse from the world they came from.
"Are you coming with us Rias?" she asked Human Rias, who suddenly looked visibly insecure.
"I-..." she said reluctantly with a short look to Sorcerer-Issei.
"Oh come on," pervert Katase said, "we know you have a crush on Issei-sama. Like all of us. But I am sure he doesn´t care so much about if you are a virgin or not. Otherwise he would say something right now.
Come on Rias – how can you miss such an opportunity? Unless of course Issei would take care of your virginity himself."
"Don´t even start with that Katase," Issei-015 said.
"Okay – what the hell is wrong with you perverted sluts," Murayama-01 called out.
"You have seen how this two other perverts treated Rias here. I thought you were her friends? They even called her a `crime against humanity´ for heaven´s sake.
And now you want to fuck them anyway? And even expect her to join in? What kind of friends are you? I am actually ashamed that you -... that you are me."
"I – I completely agree," her friend Katase said. "You two are a disgrace. And I am ashamed as well."
Their two counterparts now actually looked visibly shaken and regretfull.
"We – we are sorry," Katase-015 said.
"I guess our other selves are right. That was completely thoughtless of us. I am sorry Rias." Murayama-015 turned to her friend.
"Yes - I guess we weren´t really good friends right now," Katase-015 admitted as well. "Please forgive us."
"And you two are not the slightest bit better," Murayama-01 said to Matsuda and Motohama. "To insult a girl like that, just because of her breast-size, you assholes. And you are surprised that no girl beside this two whores here actually want you?"
The two male perverts now looked clearly ashamed too.
"You are right, we acted like complete assholes here. Just because this Rias has not the same assets like ours, we had no right to treat her like this," Motohama stated.
"We are both truly sorry," Matsuda added. "I guess we both got a bit carried away."
"Okay - I can accept that," Human Rias said to them. "As long as you really mean it. And I have also not a problem with you two having sex with my friends. But please keep me out of the entire matter from now on."
"By the way, when I think about it, is this even save?" Murayama-015 stated. "We are talking about having sex with someone literally from another universe. I mean their sperm inside us won´t give us cancer or something?"
Okay - this comment showed Murayama-01 that her intelligence might not actually be lost on this version of her. Just that she was too perverted to notice.
"You take a nice time to think about that," she commented.
"Well, In this case I wouldn´t be too worried about that," Gaeriel spoke up. "Since your universes are practically identical and only differ since a few decades ago, there should be no problems. Unless of course you get pregnant. Then there might be complications." She was actually looking like she was holding back a chuckle as se said this.
"No need to worry. We are both on the pill anyway," Katase-015 said. "So we can go now, right?"
Katase-01 shook her head.
"I just don´t get it. Like Murayama said: How in the world did you two become like this? Liking sex, I can understand. But you don´t seem to be able to even shut up about it for even a single minute. And as shameless as you act..."
"Oh really? You know, you and your friend are actually lucky that you have boys like this two around," Katase-015 replied.
"You are not serious."
"Actually yes," Murayama´s double said. "You see – the boys at our school never paid attention to us. They all follow Issei-sama´s and his friends example and concentrate only on their studies. They all say they have no time for girls.
No you know how that is, when no boy would even take time to look at you, even less date you? It all started with me getting so frustrated that I finally flashed my underwear in front of a few boys in my class... and finally they paid attention."
"And now it is better?" Katase asked aghast.
"Well - at least they no longer ignore us," her counterpart replied.
Murayama-01 wasn´t sure if it was truly just that what was wrong with her, Katase´s and Rias doubles. Just lack of attention sounded a bit weak as an explanation for acting like this.
Maybe it was just some weird kind of cosmic constant that a few people in her class had to be complete perverts.
Matsuda, Motohama and Murayama´s and Katase´s doubles finally excused themselves a few seconds later, leaving no doubt for anyone what they would be doing with each other.
But all of them mostly ignored it. Anyway, it was not really their business if perverts wanted to do perverted things with each other. That was the general consense under them.
They had agreed to return ad meet up at the Hyoudou´s home later. So there was not really an issue of having to find them again.
"Now we can finally deal with the real matter at hand," Issei-015 said.
They were now going to meet with his parents.
xxx
Rias Gremory was still talking with the Sorceror Hyoudou family and her own counterpart. It was admittedly one a bit awkward conversation.
"So you think that is the reason why she is human instead of a Devil?" she asked Mister Hyoudou. "And this Erebos have fought a war against your Underworld? And it was turned into a wasteland?"
For the younger members of the native group, especially Rias Mac Greymore, a few of these things were kind of a surprise. They had of course known about the war with the Erebos and the resulting destruction of most of the Underworld. But the fact of Devil Clans turning themselves human was new to them.
"To be more precise, they were fighting your race," Mrs. Hyoudou stated. "They might have gotten in conflict with the other Factions as well, but that seemed mostly because they had been getting in the way. Their main target were always the Devils."
"And you say this weapons that had been created during that war could be the reason they came back to your world?" Akeno questioned.
"Yes – Mittelt here has actually confirmed this." He pointed to the small Fallen. "But like I said, these weapons and their locations are protected by our Guild," Mr. Hyoudou replied sternly.
"I can also tell you more about the members of the Devil Hunters and their abilities," Mittelt told them. "But I only know a little about their plans. I will tell you all what I know. B-but pease, don´t kil me or hand me over to the Grigori."
"They won´t anyway. You are under our protection Mittelt. Don´t forget that," Mr. Hyoudou pointed out. "It was part of our agreement."
"I honestly don´t care much about that," Rias said. "If she is afraid to return to the Grigori, she can stay here for all I care. As long as she doesn´t fight against us again.
Can you tell us more about the Erebos themselves?" she asked.
"Sorry – but what we told you is about all we know about the Erebos," Issei´s father said. "There is however someone who might have more information."
"And who?"
"The remaining Devil Families of course," he explained. "But most will probably not be very cooperative. We are still not exactly at friendly terms with the Devils," he reminded her.
"But there is one I am sure will be. Yours," he said to the two quite surprised Rias.
"Moment – you want to ask my family?" Rias-015 asked.
"Yes - but for that we need to go to Ireland," he told them.
xxxxxxx
A short time later they were standing inside a large villa.
Rias and her peerage members, Gaeriel, Issei-015 and his father (his mother had decided to stay home to deal with the rest of their guests.) and the human version of Rias.
Their hosts had greeted the pollitely... but with clear shock at seeing them.
Rias Gremory in turn was more than a little unsettled too as she saw the human version of her family.
Her mother and her father were pretty much looking the same, except – well – being human. And they were older of course.
Both her father and Sirzechs, who went by the name Siegfried, had now the same brown hair like her own counterpart, with Zeoticus having some grey strains in it.
This surprised her a bit. She had thought it were only her own counterpart, who had been born long after the transformation. But it seemed the red hair was somehow connected to the Devil genes of the Gremories and with them removed. A shame, she thought. Or had this maybe been on purpose? A side-effect to help hiding their old identities? she speculated.
Her brother was also wearing a elegant business suit instead of the robes of a Devil King and seemed to be a little bit slimmer and less muscular as his counterpart. And he and Grayfia were both looking like in their later 30´s, instead of permanently in their twenties.
This Grayfia had light blonde hair instead of silver one.
But they all had the same aristocratic flare about them like their Devil counterparts.
She didn´t see Milicas. Rias wasn´t sure if he was never born here, or if they simply had not taken him along for this meeting. And if she was honest, she wasn´t sure if she even wanted to ask that question.
The four members of the Mac Greymore family were even more surprised as they heard why they were here.
"So you claim to be an alternate world counterpart of our daughter," Zeoticus stated. "And you are here here because you want information about the enemy known as the Erebos."
"I am Rias Gremory," she declared. "And yes I am – in both cases. Unless you want to deny that you were once the Gremory Devil Clan. That would be quiet strange however, since you are looking exactly like human versions of my parents, my brother and his wife," she said with a light smug smile.
"We don´t deny that," Venelana said. "We have once been the Gremories. But we gone though the process to turn ourselves human after the last war."
Her tone was bitter, but resigned, as she said this. She had never liked it, but accepted it.
"It was the best chance for all of us to survive."
"You have given it all away?" Rias Gremory said aghast. "Our name, our heritage, our powers, even your race. You were the one who had always thought me to hold up and honor this things. And because of this war you have given it up? It must have been terrible."
"It was," Venelana said. "Not only the erebos themselves and their attempts to exterminate us, but also the newest weapons the Church had created and the new Magical Guilds... against them... and us."
"I see," Rias replied.
"I have to say, you are quite different from the Rias we know," Sirzechs counterpart commented.
"It is no wonder," Zeoticus reminded him. "She was actually raised in the Underworld as a Devil. While our Rias, well..."
"We truly did our best with her," Venelana said, "but she always had to act like a deliquent. Then we send her to the renowned school in Japan. We hoped it would get better. But it became only worse when she met this two perverted girls."
"Hey!" Human Rias suddenly called out. "I am truly sorry that I turned out such a `disgrace´, but maybe you should stop blaming everything on me.
My entire life you have told me I should live up to the values and traditions of our family. But you have never even bothered to tell me what this values and traditions were.
You always acted like ancient nobility. But you know, I had never found any history about this `great´ family Mac Greymore until one generation ago. Simply because it didn´t exist as I know now. You have been lying to me my entire life – you kept my entire heritage from me - and then you expect perfect behavior in return?
You have made me believe the entire time that you are nothing but a bunch of jumped up human snobs, who somehow got to money and now had their heads in the clouds. You have never given me a reason to think something else."
After she said this, she left the room quickly.
The entire Mac Greymore/Gremory family was left behind, visibly shaken by her words.
"You know, she has a point," Rias-01 said matter of factly. "How could you have expected her to value the traditions of our family when she never knew what this traditions were."
"We believed growing up as a human were easier to her. Never knowing what she had lost," Zeoticus said.
"But looking back we should have probably told her the truth when she was older," Sirzechs double stated. "She is right, a good part of our problems are our fault, for hiding this from her for far too long."
"There is certainly much we have to talk about," Venelana admitted as well.
"For the moment, I will talk a few words with her," Rias-01 said. "For what it is worth. I hope this Erebos will be leaving your world alone in the future."
"That is something we hope as well," Zeoticus stated.
"You know, she truly likes you," she said quietly to Issei-015 as she passed him. "I mean, a pervert like her passing up the chance to have sex because of you?"
"Are you sure it was just because of me?" he asked.
"It was. Trust me here. I know myself."
`Even if I don´t necessary like myself,´ Rias thought.
xxx
She found her double alone, sitting somewhere in the large garden. It was obviously that she had been crying.
"It is quite ironic, isn´t it?" she said bitterly as she noticed her coming. "That you are obviously the perfect little daughter they always wanted."
"Believe me – I am not perfect. Far from it. I was willing to stand back and do nothing when I had a good suspicion that Raynare was planning to kill Issei. And I actually planned to resurrect him later as one of my Servants.
I mean I had kown about her team being in Kuoh for days. I could have confronted them and give them an ultimatum on the first day. Instead I just sat on my ass and did nothing until people were killed and slapped myself on the shoulder for being `smart and patient´."
"At least he would notice you," Rias-015 replied. "Look at me. I am just a plain looking weird thing. I am nothing. Even with the Boosted Gear I am just a joke. Why would Issei ever pay attention to me? Or anyone?" she said in resignation.
"With you at least he will. Even if it is to give you a well deserved kick in your well formed ass," she said, "... and probably fuck it afterwards," she added.
"Could you stop being perverted for five fucking minutes? Okay? I am trying to help you here," Rias-01 snarled. "And I wouldn´t be so sure about that," she stated.
"I even met another version of myself from the future who actually had gone throught with that. then she had made more and more stupid decisions, more lies, got manipulated by a group of enemies and ultimately completely messed up her own life and nearly Issei´s as well. Quite ironically, she is still one of his lovers and part of his harem in the end."
"You see," Rias-015 replied cynically, "a pair of big tits is more important than right decisions or a good character."
"You are wrong," Rias-01 said sharply. "I met yet another version of us, looking just like me, who was even worse – far worse.
She was nothing but a monstrous psychopath. She had send Issei into a deathtrap to be mauled and killed by a Stray Devil... and then resurrected him as her slave and framed Raynare for it.
Then she had murdered her before his eyes, just after he realized she was innocent and forced him to stay in her service afterwards."
Human Rias was looking at her in horror.
"W-what happened to this version of us?" she asked.
"I killed her."
"Good."
"But that Issei, he cracked. He went completely insane. He tortured her, right next to me... and she deserved it, she deserved every bit of it," Rias-01 said darkly.
"But then he wanted to do the same to me. He acted as if there wasn´t even a difference between us. As if I did the same things that she did."
She sat down next to her human counterpart.
"You see, you are not the worst version of us. You are more likely one of the best.
I hated her. I think I never hated someone that much. She told me that Issei and Akeno and Koneko and Asia and Kiba, that they were all only tools to her. That it was completely okay to her if they died, when it meant a chance for her to save her rotten skin," Rias growled.
"I – I am afraid." Her voice suddenly fell. "I am afraid of becoming like her. I mean technically we are all the same person, right? I am afraid of waking up one day and be that monster."
To her surprise her human double suddenly wrapped her arms around her and drew her into a hug.
"I don´t believe you need to worry about that as long as you think like this."
They were staying like that for a few moments.
"And by the way," Rias-01 said, "as I told you before, Issei and me are not together. Not that I couldn´t imagine it. I admit he is... well – quite impressive. But he also already has a harem consisting of Raynare, Irina, Asia, Gaeriel and a girl named Ravel Phenex. So even if we came together, I would only be one of six."
"Oh – I bet you would secretly like that," Rias-015 said with an open grin.
"I guess we should now continue the conversation with your parents," Rias responded with a light smile on her own face.
xxxxxxx
Unknown universe – Issei´s training-ground.
Issei woke just up from a nightmare.
As he looked around, he saw that he was still in the chambers he had been given in the house in the world Darien and the others had brought him to.
Nightmares. It was no wonder, he thought - after all what happened.
During the last months he had already seen more terror and death than some people did in ten lifetimes. Raynare – as she had been at the beginning, Freed Selzen, Kokabiel and his Rogue Faction... the many battles and destruction he had been shown during his training... Alyk Crocel, the attack on the Peace Conference, the SHA... and now the Devil Hunters.
Given all he had gone though, the only thing actually surprising was that he didn´t have more nightmares. Or that he hadn´t broken down a long time ago.
In some sense he knew it should unsettle him that he had gotten used to a life full of death, violence and horror so damn easily.
But this was what he had chosen.
xxx
It had now been a bit over two months in that he had been on this planet. All in all it was going quite well. Given the circumstances at least.
He was still not able to use his powers on his own in this universe. But as Darien and Specter explained to him, this was no surprise.
And by what they told him, his energy had gotten far more stable. Even if he could not access it. But that had been the plan after all. To keep his powers dormant until they could be controlled again.
He was not dead or insane... or both. So all this here could be counted as a success.
xxx
The name the natives called this world, as he had found out by now, was Hyrion.
Which meant in the local language nothing else than `Land or Ground´ - so in a sense the word had pretty much the same meaning as Earth at home.
But it was not Earth. Like he had already see before, the continents were different. The years were also slightly longer and the seasons slightly different.
His best guess was that this was either a planet where humans had evolved completely independant from Earth as a separate but virtually idetical species – in a one to ten trillion chance.
Or, what he thought more likely, that they ancestors had been tranferred here in the past from a different dimension. Darien and Specter hadn´t known the answer either, but they agreed with his theory.
xxx
Most of his friend had staid for the first half week.
But then they had to leave for some time because of duties at their own world.
Rayare had to report to the Grigori, Rias to the Maou, Irina and Xenovia to the Church. Murayama had to return to her family and school (Sona back in Kuoh could only made up excuse about `school projects´ for so long) etc.
They had of course all promised that they would return to visit as quickly as possible and stay if they could.
Darien couldn´t stay either. Of course he had helped him as good as he could in the first weeks. He was one of the leaders of the entire Guardian Organization and it´s inofficial head. So he could of course not stay here for two full years.
Especially with both the Dark Order and the Erebos out there. At the beginning of the second week he had to leave as well.
In the end only Asia, Kuroka 06 and the mysterious Senior Guardian Specter had staid for the entire time. The only ones who were not needed elsewhere.
That meant Specter became the one mostly responsible for his training.
To be honest, Asia seemed to be enjoying the time she got to spend with him by herself pretty much and was eagerly trying to make the best out of it. He admitted that, despite her general innocence and `holy maiden attitude´ that she still often showed, she had a truly naughty side burried deep within her.
At the same time however she said that she was missing her friends (a.k.a comrades and fellow harem members).
xxx
Raynare had come for a visit two weeks ago. It had been her second one. In between she had been busy running errands for Azazel and the Grigori, as she told him.
This time she had been together with Gaeriel, who had told her that now - that the talks with the Universe-015 residents were over - she could now probably stay here permanently until his training was over. Unless some emergence happened of course.
A visit from Raynare. That meant normally going on a date - or whatever passed as a date here. He was in a middle aged town. So the life here was for the most part, quite boring.
Normally they were sitting in the inn together, talking and drinking a bit. Going on a walk together, watching the landscape, maybe one or two sparring matches... and the spending the evening with hot sex. Either by themselves or in a threesome with Asia. Like this time.
Raynare had also told him that she was going to a special mission for the Guardians and Azazel. It involved another dimensional breach. She thought that maybe it was Kalawarner – maybe.
In exchange, she told him, she had afterwards gotten time off from her Grigori duties and would be able to stay with him as well. At least for some time.
A visit from Irina was for the most part not much different than one of Raynare.
xxx
Kuroka-06 was mostly keeping to herself. It was clear that what had happened to his counterpart had hit her badly.
But they were talking to her and trying to get her to open up as good as they could.
xxx
He and their hostess Varnia had also started to get along pretty well.
Of course he caught himself starring at her breasts from time to time. But she was, as it turned out, quite relaxed about it.
Despite appearing on the first look like a stereotypical middle-age town, the people here seemed to have a more open minded view on sex like you would first think. More like the people of his own time than back in the Dark Ages.
He had actually tried to ask her out at one point – twice actually.
But she had just givem him a friendly smile and told him that he was a nice boy, even if a bit perverted (a bit, she clearly didn´t knew him that well, he thought). But he wasn´t really her type of man and a bit young for her... and she had politely refused.
Ddraig had explained to him once that his Dragon Aura was drawing people, especially women, to him and helped to make him practically incredible attractive to some.
Not so much physically, but more in form of charisma.
But of course that didn´t work on everyone and was no guaranty at all. If a woman just didn´t found him at least somewhat attractive like he was and had no interest in him.
Or had simply all her interest concentrated on someone else even the Dragon Aura would help him nothing.
It was then a short time later that he noticed that she had begann some kind of sexual relationship with Darien, as he had come on one of his visits. Well, that probably explained which man she had been interested in, he thought.
Of course that had only happened after she had finally stopped treating him like some kind of Super God, only refer to him as `Lord Darien´ and treat him as the savior of her world and founder of their civilization (even if technically he was exactly that)...
… and started to see and treat him more like a normal person.
A few nights ago he had actually seen that they even had a threesome with Specter.
At least going by the fact that he had seen the three entering Varnia´s bedroom together and by the noises he had heard shortly afterwards.
Well, he was probably the last one who should critisize others because of their relationships, Issei thought.
But since then he had also started to fantasize about Varnia even more. He remembered all too well her moans and shouts he had heard from her room.
It was then when he had hit on her the second time. He had told her right away that if he was truly not interested, he would not bother her with it again.
But he had also brought up her relationship with Darien and argued that, if he had her and Specter both, there was no reason why she couldn´t have a man at the side too.
But her answer had staid the same. She had told him once again – in the words of her world – that he simply wasn´t her type... and that she was also simply not feeling well about the idea of having any relationship with a boy so much younger than her.
He finally nodded and told her that he accepted this.
But he didn´t keep himself from complementing her and telling her that she looked beautiful today with a sly smile on his face.
To which she only thanked him and smiled back in a similar manner.
xxx
On the next day Murayama and Rias with her peerage came for a visit.
They normally came every month or two for one or two days.
He admitted he was a bit taken off guard as Murayama asked him to spend the evening with him together. He was not sure if this counted as a date or not.
Even more surprised however was he as Rias of all people had asked him out on a real date for the second evening of their stay. In the end she even placed a short kiss on his lips.
He wasn´t sure what had brought this on. But he wasn´t complaining.
xxx
Despite all that Issei hated the fact that he was trapped here.
He had also to think about Kalawarner whenever he was alone. (Not in that way for once.)
It was true that he was not as close to the Fallen Angel as to many of his other teammates.
But that did not stop you from banging her, a part of him thought sarcastically. On the other side, if she offered to him like that, who was he not to take it?
But he was still worried for her, wherever she was. If she was even still alive.
Who was he kidding?
In his quiet moments here, he sometimes asked himself how much of a sex-maniac he truly was. Was he truly not able to live around any halfway attractive woman without instantly wanting to fuck her?
Especially if he already had two others around and even more visiting regulary? Actually the fact that his girls pretty much gave him a free card to ask out other women didn´t help the problem.
Self control, he told himself. He had figured out that he needed to get a better hold on himself and also accept that some girls would just not been interested.
And especially to stay away from crap like spying on them when they were undressing or things like that, like he had once done together. with Matsuda and Motohama.
In the end he decided to push this thoughts out of his mind and to concentrate on his training for now. Slowly he was starting to believe that his powers were returning.
xxxxxxx
DxD Universe 17 (New universe) – a few months `earlier´
Issei Hyoudou was dead... killed by his own girlfriend on a date... once again.
Like in many other worlds he also here had died by the hands of the local version of Raynare.
But in this world it turned out to be worse.
Here he died again only a short time later. This time for good.
Like in other worlds, he had been standing between Asia Argento and his girlfriend and killer Raynare, as she tried to bring Asia back with her to remove her Sacred Gear.
But this time... Issei stood just frozen in place, as the lightspear had pierced right through his heart... for a few moments. Then he collapsed. He was dead... once again.
`No!´ that was the thought racing through the mind of the being who had been watching everything. A masked female figure had been following the events from the start.
What was that stupid bitch doing? she asked herself... and moved instantly.
Just as the Fallen angel tried to grab Asia, the appeared right between them.
"What? Who the hell are you?" Raynare-017 called out.
"It doesn´t really matter to you... but you can call me... Mirage," the masked female answered answered. "The question is, what the hell do you think you are doing? You have just killed a Devil Servant in their own territory. Are you trying to provoke a fight?"
"Oh really? you make it sound as if this were a bad thing," she replied.
Kokabiel. Under her mask, the figure called Mirage gritted her teeth. She had looked a short glympse into the mind of her opposite and saw a picture of the insane Cadre.
She realized she had misjudged the situation. This one was not simply arrogant and very misguided, like most versions of h - of Raynare - she had seen. This one was obviously a follower of Kokabiel... and a complete fanatic.
She had obviously bought into his entire philosophie and actually wanted to start a fight.
"That is enough," Mirage said. "I am taking this girl with me. You can clearly not be trusted with her."
"What? You dare," Raynare growled. "She belongs to the Grigori. I need her for my plans. You can not take her."
"Oh really? And how do your leaders think about your plan for her?" Mirage asked sarcastically.
Raynare didn´t answer, just grimaced slightly.
"As I thought." Once again Mirage moved faster than Raynare could follow, grabbed Asia and teleported away.
… and left behind black feathers? Raynare thought surprised. This Mirage was a Fallen Angel? One that had fought and outmatched her without even showing her wings?
She did her best to force down her anger and shame before she teleported away as well.
xxxxxxx
When Raynare arrived back in the abandoned church a short time later, she was already greeted by her teammates Dohnaseek, Kobriel and Temm – a typical female Fallen with blonde hair and extreme large breasts... and also a group of their Stray Priests, under them Freed Selzen.
If she was honest she would have prefered her old teammates Kalawarner and Mittelt. Kalawarner might be a slutty ditz and Mittelt a brat, but they were still better than this two idiots.
But neither of them was truly loyal to Lord Kokabiel.
"I have just killed one of these filthy Devils like we have planned. So the rest of them will probably come very soon," Raynare told them.
"But something unexpected happened. We have a problem."
"Where is the girl?" Dohnaseek asked.
"That is part of the problem," Raynare responded. "Someone took her. A powerful Fallen Angel wearing a mask had suddenly appeared."
"A Fallen Angel? You think the Grigori leaders could be on Kokabiel´s plan?"
"Well – it truly seems like you have a little problem here, right?" Freed commented smugly.
"You better shut up Selzen, don´t forget your place," Raynare hissed at him.
"Oh – but I would never do that. Especially when I am surrounded by so many powerful Fallen Angels," he said in mock submission.
"You know, it is actually your loss," Raynare stated. "I was actually going to allow you to teach her a lesson and have some fun with her for running out on us like this."
"Really? Yeah that is really too bad." Freed grinned. "I was hoping to find out if her little holy cunt really keeps what it promises."
The rest of the Fallen, especially the other female and some of the other Stray Priests were looking at him in disgust, as expected. He actually liked it somewhat. It was fun riling them up,
But then their expressions suddenly changed to shock.
"What?" he asked. "Argh..." His question was answered as he felt a lightspear being stabbed through his back in the next moment.
They all starred at the masked figure who had suddenly appeared right behind the mad Stray Priest.
Freed cried out in agony, as the attacker painfully moved the spear upwards, cutting to his body. Until his body became limb and sank to the ground.
"You," Raynare growled. "How did you find us? Where do you have Asia Argento?"
"I have know of this place for some time actually," the masked woman replied. "Leave this town."
"What?"
"I said leave. I know about your plans to provoke the Devils here into a fight. You are risking a new war, all for the twisted goals of a madman."
"Don´t dare to talk about Lord Kokabiel like that woman, whoever you are," Dohnaseek exclaimed.
"And what makes you think that your `Lord´ Kokabiel ever intended for you to survive this battle?" Mirage questioned.
"Lets see, you are just four two-winged Fallen. You are on your own deep in enemy territory only supported by `hired help´ inform of a bunch of weak Stray Priests.
In this town are at least two peerages of Devils and they can get even more help from the Underworld whenever they want.
For me it doesn´t look as if your Master has great intentions for you to survive this battle you are provoking."
She saw that there was now actually some doubt on Dohnaseek´s face. Good, she thought. Mirage remembered what had happened to the Dohnaseek she had known.
"Enough," Raynare exclaimed, "kill her. And then find the girl and bring her back."
But as soon as they started to move, a terrible shock suddenly ripped through all their minds.
The twelve Stray Priests present all lost consciousness and fell down. The Fallen Angels were taking it better, but they were also visibly distraught.
It was a telepathic attack, an incredible powerful one.
"I say it one last time," Mirage told them, "leave. Believe me, the only reason you four are still standing is because I wanted it that way. Attack me and you die."
"Okay - we will leave," Raynare finally said enrage. "But Lord Kokabiel will hear about this."
"Oh - I count on that," Mirage replied confidently.
xxxxxxx
"You have been waiting here?" Mirage asked as she returned to the place in the park where she had left Asia behind.
"Yes," the girl said.
"Good."
"What will become of me now?" Asia asked.
"There is something I need to see. You don´t need to worry. He will take care of you. And if he can not, I will," she added.
She was trying to keep the guilt out of her voice.
xxxxxxx
Grigori HQ – a short time later
Azazel-017 was just entering his personal quarters. He just had some time off to work a bit on his newest invention.
To his surprise however, he noticed someone else in the room.
As he turned around, he saw two female persons standing beside him.
The first was wearing a mask, but was clearly a female Fallen – Ultimate Class at least. The other was a young human girl. But he could sense the energy of a sacred gear inside her.
"Well Ladies," he addressed them, "I admit it is not so often that I get visits from women here these days. If this is your way to invite me to a threesome, then..."
While he spoke he prepared himself to instantly power up and descretely begann to form a lightspear with a hand behind his back.
He realized that the young human girl was blushing deeply at his suggestion. She was obviously quite inexperienced when it came to that things.
"Oh really Lord Azazel," Mirage interrupted him. "You don´t need to worry. We are not here to attack you. So you can power down the spear.
And about your offer – as much as I would like to accept, I have other things to deal with. So please power down your `other spear´ too."
Azazel grinned, but then turned serious again a moment later.
"How did you get in here?" he asked.
"Well – for beginning, I have entrance to the wards as a member of Grigori... and for the rest, these walls are no hindrance for me. They call it phasing."
To proof her point, she moved her hand through a solid piece of forniture.
"Who are you?" Azazel-017 asked.
As an answer she just removed the mask from her face.
They both froze. This could not be.
"L-Lady Raynare," Asia said, "but you..."
"It is okay Asia," Mirage – a.k.a Raynare-01 – answered. "As you probably realize, I am not the Raynare you know. I come from what you would call a parallel world."
"How did you get that powerful?" Azazel asked. Even if her story was true, the Raynare he knew was a two winged Fallen and this woman was not far away from Cadre Level.
And the techique she had just shown was something completely unkown.
"That is a long story. I had a lot of training and help from some new allies. I will tell you everythig about it. But I am not really here to talk about me. At least not this me."
She looked into his eyes.
"Are you aware what my other self was doing right now at Kokabiel´s order?"
His interest was growing even more instantly. He had seen how the Raynare he knew had come more and more under his influence.
Kokabiel was a dangerous fanatic. But he was also one of the founders of Grigori. He could not simply remove him, unless he actually did something treasonous.
But if he actually did now...
"I take it the word Khaos Brigade says something to you?" she questioned.
"It does," he said sternly.
xxx
Raynare-01 knew that she should have probably killed her insane counterpart in this world.
She had intentionally tried to start a war in Kuoh and was willing to let that bastard Freed rape Asia for god´s sake.
But she just couldn´t bring herself to do it.
Especially since she wanted the other Fallen and Stray Priests to leave peacefully.
She remembered her old comrade Dohnaseek. Killed by the same man he had admired. She had wanted to spare this one the same fate.
xxx
"I will tell you everything I know," she said. "Of course I can not guaranty that everything will be exactly like it was in my world. But most basic facts about this enemies will still be the same.
It is not that long ago that our realities divided apart. Less than a hundred years we believe."
Azazel nodded.
"I however ask two favors of you. First I want you to take care of Asia here and protect her."
"And the second?" he asked.
"I will give you a way to contact my allies. I want you to keep your eyes open in the close future... for something unusual."
"Unusual?"
"The organization I am currently working with had detected what we call a dimensional breach. That means someone - or something - had entered your universe from outside. With either powers or technology to travel through dimensions.
I was send here to find out more. But so far this somebody seems to keep down and not show himelf.
So I ask you to contact us and inform us when any being appears that possibly doesn´t belong to this world."
"I see," Azazel-017 replied.
xxxxxxx
X-Universe 01: Index World - two weeks later
Irina and Xenovia were standing in the middle of Academy City, a town that only a short time ago had been a battlefield.
It was just the day before that they had been informed that this world had another dimensional breach. Just a few weeks after Irina had been send here per accident.
One look had already told them one thing about what happened. The town had been turned into a battlefield. At least an entire district was lying in ruins.
What they didn´t knew yet however was, who did this and why.
One thing though they could easily suspect, even if they were missing the details... Academy City had become the target of an attack. Not from some local power of their world.
But from outside... an invasion.
They had after some time located their new friends from this reality and started to question them about what happened. What Touma, Misaka and the others told them confirmed for the most part what they had suspected.
xxx
As the invasion begann, they had been completely unprepared. Of course nobody would have even expected something like this.
A portal had suddenly opened in the sky... seemingly out of nowhere. And then they came. An army of sinister looking beings with bat-like wings and small horns on their foreheads. Nearly like Demons.
What was no wonder, because in fact they literally were Demons. An strike-force of the Erebos was invading their world.
They attacked without warning, unleashing supernatural attacks on the population, setting buildings on fire and killing dozens of people. All that in the first minutes.
In many worlds they would have continued to lay waste to the rest of the town, wipe out or enslave the citizens. And then move on to the rest of the planet.
But here... The superpowered Espers and magic users living in the city were quickly starting to fight back. Defending first themselves and then also other citizens as well.
Just like the police forces, who started to mobilize nearly instantly. In most other realities, the regular police would have been completely out of their depts. But this one was used to deal with superpowered and supernatural beings.
A short time later they were joined by the military.
Perhaps the most useful person of them all however, had unsurprisingly been no one else but Accelerator. He had just been sending their own attacks back at them, while facing them in the dozens.
And it was him, who ultimately fought and defeated the leader of the attack, a female Demon with incredible powers.
Misaka and her clones (at least the ones who were in the town), along with Touma and Shirai Kuroko, had also played a larger role during the fight. Perhaps one of the most important ones besides Accelerator and the Air Force.
The Misakas were using their electro-magnetical powers to target the flying enemies in the air.
Touma tried to use his own ability against them. he quickly realized however that his negation power seemed to have barely any effect on the Demons from another dimension. But somehow he also seemed to be taking any damage from their magical attacks, if at all.
So he did his best to act as a shield to protect the others (meaning the Misakas) from damage. While Kuroko used her teleportation to move herself and him from place to place.
They were however only one of many groups of Espers to confront the attackers across the town.
In the end it was an air-strike by the military...
… along with the fact that an nearly invincible seeming Accelarator was sending their own attacks back to the invaders.
Accelerator at this point was facing nearly a hundred opponents by himself, including the leader of the invasion... and he was beating them, for the most part with their own attacks.
xxx
The leader of the Demon Army had fallen into a wild violent rage as she saw that none of her attacks - nothing she did - even seemed to have hurt him.
She could now believe it.
She was Keithra Ninlil - one of the four High Lords of the Erebos Empire - one of the strongest of her kind in existence...
… and this - this white haired brat was just standing there and - and toying with her.
She cursed and threatened him and threw attack after attack on him. Not even caring that he redirected them at her troops.
She ended killing dozens of her own men. But it didn´t matter to her. They were weaklings if they died that easily.
All she cared about was that little upstart that dared to taunt her like that.
So she send out energy-beams and magical spell, one after another. More and more powerful.
After a short time her troops around them broke formation and retreated. Afraid to be the next to fall through their own leader´s hands.
But she staid and continued to attack. Until she was finally barely able to fight anymore through exhaustion and he threw her last angry attack back at herself.
With that and also seeing her flying subordinates being decimated by the other Espers and the squadron of jetfighters that had just arrived, she ordered to retreat.
The invaders created another number of portals and disappeared nearly as quickly as they arrived. Only the dead of both sides and the damage in the town remained.
xxx
That was exactly what they now told Irina and Xenovia.
But they hadn´t even heard the worst yet.
xxx
Only a couple of hours after the battle ended and another portal opened and two figures stepped outside.
The Misakas, Accelerator, Touma, Kuroko were under the many citizens who had volunteered to assist the professional rescue forces and medics with the recovery and help of the injured.
Accelarator recognized the two newcomers right away and he get a feeling that he didn´t feel often... fear.
One of them was the being who had once recruited him – the one sometimes calling himself Faust – the other was one of his compatriots, with the same rank like himself. Two of the `Lords´.
"Accelerator – how nice to see you again," Faust greeted him friendly. "Don´t you want to introduce your friends to us? Not that it is necassary, we can easily read their minds after all."
"Sorry - Accelerator, but who are these guys?" Touma questioned.
"This are them," he just answered. "The ones I had warned you about."
"You mean?..." Touma said in realization. "Was it you who send this army to us?" he asked the two newcomers.
"No we didn´t," Faust´s partner - nobody else than Dracula - replied. "That was another Faction that has little to do with us.
But that doesn´t mean that the attack didn´t have any meaning for us. To be honest, we were impressed. Other worlds that faced such a sudden attack would have been overrun. But you fought back... and won."
"We came here to give you a message," Faust said.
"What kind of message?" Accelarator asked.
"Quite simple. After some consideration... we have decided to see this battle and the way you reacted to it as a test for you – a test you passed. With your victory here, you have proven yourself and earned your right."
"Our right for what?" Misaka asked. Four of her clones were standing next to her.
"Your right to live of course," Dracula replied, "... for the moment."
"For the moment?" Touma repeated aghast.
"Don´t you see? It is always for the moment," Faust said.
"That is just the way the universe works. Death can come to you anytime and anywhere. But you have faced it and are still here... for now. Well - maybe we see each other again."
He looked at Accelerator, Touma and the Misaka´s.
Then he turned around and they left.
xxx
That was at least what they told Xenovia and Irina now.
"They – the Lords - they are just bizarre," Xenovia said. "I just don´t understand then."
"Maybe that is a good thing. I am not sure if I even want to understand them," Irina replied.
"Thank you for telling us everything," she said to Touma and the others.
"We have to return now and report all this. I am sure we will met again when we visit this world another time."
xxxxxxx
Meanwhile in another world, the leader of the failed Erebos invasion force had just fled with her survining forces to another dimension.
And was right now meeting with another one of her kind.
Before her was the Demon Lord Pazuzu, with the Devil Hunters Vali Lucifer, Kuroka, Shirone and Nero standing behind him.
"Now Keithra – It seems your scheme has not completely worked out," he commented.
"Shut up," she hissed, "I am a High Lord just like you. I don´t owe any explanations to you. Or to your glorified mercenary group." She looked at the Devil hunters.
"No Lady Ninlil – but I believe you owe an explanation to the Emperor," Vali responded with barely hidden disdain.
"We know you had no authorization for you invasion Keithra," Pazuzu stated. "An invasion that was a complete failure by the way."
She gritted her teeth. As they had located that world, it had looked like such a good opportunity for her. Had she been able to conquer the local `super-humans´ called Espers and turn them into a resource for their Empire, she would have been praised and showered with glory.
And now it turned into a debacle.
"Don´t worry my Lady," Kuroka told her smugly, "I am sure the Emperor won´t execute you. You are a High Lord after all."
She felt the urge to kill the arrogant cat-yokai. But the Devil Hunters were favored as an important asset and she knew she already head enough trouble as it was.
This failure was not something the Emperor would accept easily. The troops could be easily replaced. But it would cost time and resources.
Combined with the latest rebel-attacks back in the home-world, this might be enough to significantly set his plans back.
She prepared herself to face his wrath.
xxxxxxx
Unknown universe – Issei´s training-ground - 23 months after his arrival
It was now nearly two years that he was here. Just like Darien and Specter had predicted.
But he knew it would end very soon.
His control over his powers – that had grown significantly – was now nearly complete and even better than before he lost control.
Good – he was truly looking out to seeing Kuoh again and his parents and his friends from school.
He had regained the ability to use his powers around two months after he arrived here. Enough time for his energy to stabilize itself. All had gone well.
Issei was once again training.
He was in his Crimson Awakening mode, but showed no outer sign of it – he was in his civilian clothes.
Of course, he thought. The armor had always been a manifestion of the power, not the power itself. If he wanted, he could suppress it´s appearance.
He was doing one of the lessons Darien had showed him. Influencing the weather patterns over the continent.
His mind and powers were controlling the winds and rain over thousands of miles around him.
xxx
They had also heard about Odin´s noble sacrifice around 16 months ago.
Darien had given him the message.
They all had been sad, they came to see the old man as a friend.
During the same meeting Darien had also shown him how to summon Odin´s spirit and they had a short conversation about his reasons to sacrifice his life.
Summoning the spirits of the dead. That was something he had not been able yet. But just because he had not figured out how. Not because of lack of power.
As Darien had explained to him, it was an ability that was developed by him and the other older Guardians in first line as a way to deal with their eternal life.
Constantly seeing people around them die, all except themselves and their enemies. And that combined with the constant pressure to control their own powers. It would have broken them otherwise. He himself would not have been able to take it, he willingly admitted to Issei.
xxx
Issei decided to try something else. Something Specter had thought him.
He opened a portal to the closest parallel realm.
Issei didn´t need a control device and technological support anymore. He could do it just with his own power.
Of course he still needed to know about the world he was connecting to.
Otherwise he risked landing in a world with completely different concepts of space and time, where life was impossible. Or end up somewhere between the worlds.
But as soon as he had a idea where he was travelling to, it was no problem.
[I have to say it turned all out well Partner,] Ddraig said in his mind. [I would say we are ready to return.]
"Yes – we are," Issei said.
Like promised earlier. Here is already the next full chapter.
The invasion in the Index world was partly inspired by Thanos attack on New York in the first Avengers Movie.
xxc
I also have an announcement to make. I have decided that I will continue the rest of the plot in a separate story, beginning after the two years timeskip. So it will basically be Issei Hyoudou the Guardian part 2.
I also think this one is already long enough with 37 chapters. That of course doesn´t mean it is over. The unfinished plotlines will be continued after the timeskip.