It's been a long road, but here's the last chapter of the Summit arc! Last chapter truly ended on a shocker, considering the nature of Ishie's secret, and how her mom and grandma were connected to it. How she'll react to her mother's reveal, along with some other major scenes related to it, are this chapter will mostly cover. There are a few other things we'll see, but those you'll have to read the chapter to find out.
Before I say anymore, to answer a guest review from Michael? I'm afraid you're mistaken, as I didn't include any characters that are from Date A Live in the story, nor will any characters from outside of DxD (not counting OCs) be appearing. Elaine is a canon character, being the maid seen with Le Fay on the one DX V5 illustration, and the reason she shares the last name DAL's main villain they share an ancestor in William Wynn Westcott.
One other thing I need to mention before we begin is while writing this chapter, the scenes tied to Ishie and Rizevia ended up being longer than I expected. As a result, the chapter has been split in two, and the one scene tied to Gasper and Vali (minus one that focuses on the Vali team as a whole) have been moved into it to avoid confusion from the pacing.
Now, getting back on track? To those curious about where Rizevia and Ishie's power levels stand? As you may remember from Chapter 5, it was mentioned by Rias that her brother actually lost when they fought, though balancing this out is Rizevia refuses to fight unless necessary, simply due to what winning that battle showed her. For Ishie, she's currently as strong as Ingvild when she debuted in canon, due to her heritage being unsealed.
To explain Ishie's better, it's because her demonic power is now at a level that's basically reset the training she had for it, since now her full output doesn't match what she could originally use. At best she understands how her Longinus works, but due to lacking her Balance Breaker, she's barely even scratched the surface of its abilities. While she's not invincible, Ishie will struggle less in the battles where Issei did.
Now, without further ado? Let the chapter begin!
[Chapter 15 - A New Era, Part 1]
Ishie was still unable to belief what she had just learned about her entire life and family tree.
All her life, she grew up believing she was Human, but now? Her mother had revealed that wasn't the case. She was half-Devil, and not only that, but she was none other than the granddaughter of Lucifer, the leader among the tyrants who gave birth to the Devil over... well, she actually didn't know how long, just that it was over 700 years.
However, the biggest shock of all was that her mother was actually the former leader of what the current Devil government knew as terrorists over 500 years, and implied to be the most powerful Devil who ever lived.
"This whole time, you've been a... you're actually..." Ishie breathed, feeling her eyes shake as the light in them went blank.
Rizevia said nothing in response. It didn't take long before she felt Ishie run up to her and begin to hit her fists against her.
"What the hell mom!? Why would you keep something like this from me for my entire life!? I bet you never even let Yuuki and Aiko know about this! No, more than that, does dad even know what you really are? Answer me!" She screamed, angry and upset.
Rizevia simply stared at her daughter, letting her get out all the frustrations she just formed because of learning what she really was so suddenly.
"Why... why didn't you tell me? Why lie all these years?" Ishie questioned.
"First thing to clear up? Your father knows what I really am, a little longer than we've been married, as did your brother and sister before they... I only hid the truth from you because I didn't want to risk you ending up like I did." Rizevia answered, explaining everything.
Her daughter looked up at her in confusion.
"I was born into this world around the time the Great War began. I knew my father wasn't the greatest man, but because he was fighting in the war around the time I could understand the world around me, I didn't realize how bad he was compared to my fellow Devils. No, perhaps I did know, but... my mom disappeared for her own reasons and left me alone." She continued.
Ishie felt a twinge of sadness hit her, remembering how Rias said Lilith vanished after telling the Angels and Fallen Angels about the war to avoid the Devils slaughtering them from what could have been a deadly surprise attack. While they eventually reunited, it couldn't have been until after the Civil War ended.
"By the time the war ended, my entire childhood and everything up until my 100th year had been nothing but war experiences. The frustrations of having to eventually lead my people and losing my parents was too much... who could blame me when some Devils convinced me to make the war continue?" Rizevia sighed.
"The dangers of peer pressure..." Ishie realized, whispering it aloud.
Rizevia nodded at the words her daughter whispered, taking a deep breath.
"And as a result, me and the other children of the Satans, my own childhood friends, gathered the Devils who felt this way and initiated the Civil War with me at the lead. The battle was always leaning in our favor, and victory seemed certain for us despite the current Satans' abnormal power. Ultimately, it took using all of mine to finally wake up..."
She closed her eyes, looking at her daughter as she explained what happened.
Magical explosions and waves of demonic power were seen flying through the skies of the Underworld, making the land always covered by the darkness of night flash from the various attacks lightning up the battlefield. Every second, screams and squishing sounds marked the increasing death totals.
In one particular area, an intense series of battles could be seen between each side's strongest four members, with each of the Satans' children fighting against the Devil who would inherit their names as titles in the present day.
*"BOOM!"*
Tsufaame wielded her Sitri heritage to generate a flood of water in combination with her Leviathan powers, pushing Serafall to a corner as she faced more water than she could freeze.
Ajuka tried to make his Kankara Formula as fast as possible, but against the swarm of bugs both big and small, his formulas were being overwhelmed and/or broken by one of the many smaller sub-swarms that Bidleid created through his Naberius heritage.
Falbium had it the worst as he was pressed down against Damaidosu's powers, with most of his earlier attacks being dampened as a result of the latter's Balam heritage.
"Rizevia, understand that if we Devils want to flourish again, the last thing we need is an unnecessary war." Sirzechs warned.
"Do you really think I'll listen to you just because Grayfia joined your side? Forget it. To me, she's no different than any of you Devils in the New Satan Faction, so either shut and die, or shut up and fight me to the death!" Rizevia shouted.
Sirzechs sighed as he realized she wouldn't listen, and had his Power of Destruction surrounding his aura.
"If you insist." He replied.
"Aura of Destruction!"
The rampaging power shot across the battlefield, causing the other six Devils to stop their battles as they noticed it.
"Everyone, get out of the way!" Serafall screamed.
Rizevia didn't bother moving, causing the attack to quickly envelop her within its normally fatal force, leaving many of the Old Satan Faction to gasp in horror as it swallowed up their leader. However, just as the New Satan Faction was about to let out a cheer?
"Did you really think it was that easy?" Rizevia questioned, almost sounding insulted.
Suddenly, the worried and cheering sides were reversed as Rizevia simply swung her hand, briefly showing the worst she got was a few burns and torn clothing.
"What!?" Sirzechs gasped.
"Did you forget what my mother's power is? Because I have it as well, and that's why I willingly let your first attack hit me!" Rizevia replied, smirking as she did.
She flared out her aura, which created energy similar to the PoD, only black and white. The original demonic power housing the divine light Lucifer started as, and what led to the few stories saying Lucifer had the power of darkness and (not holy) light at his command.
"Now, it's time for you remember what ability was used to make the offshoot you known as the Power of Destruction!" She announced.
Rizevia threw her hand out as she fully unleashed her full power.
"Cataclysmic Storm!"
Just like Sirzechs had when unleashing his ultimate technique, an ocean of her rampant power spread out and swallowed his Power of Destruction, making Sirzechs' eyes widen as it enveloped him.
However, the attack continued to spread, making many Devils from both sides release horrid screams as the attack struck them. Just to mark the horror, not only were their bodies erased by the attack, but their souls were ripped apart as they let out a final scream.
"Sirzechs!" Grayfia screamed.
The attack soon came to an end, leaving Sirzechs on the ground. He was defeated, but... he was still alive, prompting Grayfia to rush towards his defenseless form.
"Do you understand now? I am the original Super Devil, preceding you by a whole century! There is no chance for your side to win!" Rizevia declared, pointing at him.
"So, is destroying everything all you care about?" Grayfia questioned.
Rizevia raised an eye, right as Grayfia looked at her with teary eyes.
"Look around you... is this what you believe is the future of all Devils!?" She questioned again, glaring at her.
The daughter of Lucifer felt annoyed by Grayfia's comment, but decided to look and humor her for a moment.
However, that one look made her freeze up.
"This... this is..." She breathed, nearly silent.
Even with the four battles happening between them, and Sirzechs' ultimate attack, the landscape around them was still mainly untouched and/or could be repaired by magic later. Though what she actually saw before her at that very moment? Nothing more than a horrible and grayed out slab of land without any traces of life, both living on it or inside of it.
Worse, there was a wisp of smoking coming off from everywhere where someone had been standing before their demise. Just to further horrify her, those who were only hit by her attack somewhat instead of fully were only half of themselves, and the looks on their faces left them looking like husks with no souls. Even those who the attack didn't harm were now no different than Swiss cheese, having been skewered by the debris.
And this was people from both sides... meaning many of these casualties were her own allies from those among the Old Satan Faction.
'This can't be... I was just trying to do what was right, just like my-' Rizevia thought, hoping to find some justification for what she did.
Her eyes suddenly widened as she thought that.
Rizevia was trying to do what her father would have done, but during this entire war, she hadn't even realized this. She hadn't realized how much she was becoming the same ruler that he was.
A fact that filled her with disgust... because she always hated the man he was.
"What have I done?" She realized.
Grayfia showed surprise at that reaction.
Before she could say anything more, Rizevia closed her eyes and flew off, catching the attention of her friends.
"Rizevia? Rizevia, wait!" Tsufaame shouted.
She followed Rizevia, quickly causing Bidleid and Damaidosu to follow them, sending the Old Satan Faction into a panic. They tried to go after them, but when they tried...
*"SHINK!"*
A wall of ice rose from the ground, revealing to be Serafall's creation, and completely sealed off the entire Old Satan Faction's army from their leaders.
"You aren't getting away." Ajuka stated.
"You will finish this battle." Falbium replied.
Serafall turned to everyone in the New Satan Faction, getting their attention as she raised her hand into the air.
"We can finally end this war! Everyone, follow us!" She announced.
Everyone shouted a mighty rallying cry, and in the next hour, claimed the war in their victory. The survivors among the Old Satan Faction fled, never to reunited with their original leaders.
Ishie felt her eyes shake as she heard her mother finish that story, looking at Sirzechs in response.
"Just how bad was the damage?" She inquired.
"Enough that, while we eventually restored the land she so horribly damaged with her power, it took 400 years before it was able to support any plant life or ecosystems. That was the full extent of the power she unleashed against me." He revealed.
Ishie gasped.
Rizevia lowered her head at the confirmation of how bad the damage really was, rubbing her arm slightly.
"I never wanted to be like my father, and yet... it still happened. The revelation horrified me, and I just ran from the battle, no longer praising my strength. It took a long time before my friends understood what made me abandon the war, and they too understood the horrors of war I had seen for myself." She replied.
She took a deep breath before continuing, raising her head as she stopped rubbing her arm.
"Eventually, they chose to make amends, and brought their children to become the leaders of their bloodlines that the Underworld really needed. However, I couldn't do the same, not until I found the redemption for the damage I caused and the blood on my hands. As such, we went our separate ways as I began wandering the Earth, trying to prove that I could do more with my hands than destroy. Eventually, I found my mother, who had left to heal the damage Lucifer did to her." Rizevia continued.
"Damage?" Ishie repeated, afraid of what she'd hear as the answer.
"The horrible truth is your grandparents were never married... or at least, Lilith never considered they were married. Lucifer just forced Lilith's body to create his Devils, and when she began to refuse? He forced her into a sleeping spell that led to a certain sickness most Devils develop today as a result of her unknowingly creating it while in that horrible state. It wasn't until my father forced her to have me and Rizevim, my younger asshole of a twin brother, that she was finally awakened." She revealed.
Ishie briefly went white at that, while Sirzechs showed surprise.
"Grayfia, is she-" He asked via a whisper.
"Don't ask for the details." She answered.
Sirzechs wisely didn't, knowing that answer was her way of confirming it was true.
"Let's just say her body was breaking down in the same way a rock would get brittle with age." Rizevia mentioned, looking away as she did.
"OK..." Ishie squeaked out.
Clearing her throat to hopefully break the tension, Rizevia continued the story.
"Ages went by, long enough for me to actually question if I'd ever find the redemption I was hoping for, and then... I met your father. You should already know what happened from there." She revealed, smiling as she did.
Ishie smiled in response, especially since she started to realize how much more important this first meeting was.
"What truly made me realize how I had found my redemption was... that the day I told him what I really was had been the same day he proposed to me, and this was after I had told him. It wasn't long before you joined the family, and I finally found my redemption." Rizevia finished.
Hearing those words made Ishie sniffle a bit.
"Alright, I think I get it now, but... if you had magic, then why couldn't you save Yuuki and Aiko?" Ishie inquired.
Rizevia went silent, then teared up slightly.
"Because of how I grew up, that was the one form of magic I didn't know how to use. The only thing I could do was pay for the best medical treatment I could. When it wasn't enough to help them... I told both the truth on their death beds, even if it meant they'd hate me after hearing that. They never did, and knowing they wouldn't make it, asked me to leave something from both of them for you... although I don't think it worked." She admitted.
Ishie recalled how she had to see others using healing magic to learn it herself, and since Cleria was likely in hiding at the time, her mother was left with no way to learn it.
"What did you leave me that you think failed to work?" Ishie asked.
"Honestly, I can't remember. It's been too long." Rizevia admitted.
With all of that said, there was only one more question that Ishie needed an answer to. The one question that, out of everything she just learned, she truly needed to ask.
"Guess the only thing I really need to know now is... why did you seal my Devil side to begin with?" She inquired.
"For your own safety." Rizevia answered.
Ishie raised an eye at that, causing Rizevia to take a deep breath before placing a hand on her daughter's head.
"Despite that I've always been more like my mother... I did act like the tyrant my father was for a time, and since my own brother was identical to him aside from being much lazier, the one thing I feared when you were born was that you might end up the same way. Because of that, your grandma sealed your Devil side into that necklace, and then from there? I simply hoped that you wouldn't make the same mistakes that I had." She explained.
She then smiled, rubbing her daughter's head.
"Sure enough, you grew up with a kind heart, even after losing your brother and sister. I knew one day you'd have to regain your powers, but let fate decide when that should be. It was when I first saw Rias and then you asked Irina to share what happened to your siblings that I knew that day was coming." Rizevia continued.
"Mom..." Ishie replied, tearing up slightly.
"There was so much in my life going in horrible directions, and I didn't know how to avoid screwing things up. In the end... I'm glad you were the one thing that I did right." She admitted, shedding a few tears.
Ishie began crying at those words before she hugged her mother close, prompting her to do the same.
Sirzechs and Grayfia smiled at the sight, waiting for them to stop hugging before the former spoke.
"Ishie, now that we know you're a Lucifer, there's a lot more responsibilities you'll have as the hero of the underworld. As such, I need to ask you about something..." Sirzechs stated.
Ishie looked at him, waiting for his next response.
"Do you have any doubts about being able to guide the future of every Devil?" He inquired.
Hearing that question, a smiled formed on her face.
"Not at all. After all, I'm the hero of the Underworld!" She answered, without a hint of doubt.
Sirzechs smiled at those words.
As the Vali Team stood before their leader, all of them began to sweat as they felt the pressure of his glare, and heat he generated from his aura as a result of his anger.
"So, what you're telling me, right at this very moment... is that Vampire was a mole!?" He questioned.
"Uh... yeah, but I don't think she learned too much! I think her whole thing was to just-" Bikou replied.
Before he could even finish that sentence, he was shut up by Vali's aura suddenly flared up, making him back away and flash a nervous smile.
"She can split into multiple bats! She could have learned anything!" He screamed.
Feeling his heat start to get too strong, Elaine held her hand out and shot him with a small ice flurry, causing him to steam up.
"Are you calm now?" Elaine inquired.
"Yes, thank you." Vali replied, wiping the ice off his jacket.
Great Red soon teleported into view, getting the Vali Team's attention.
"Don't panic about it too much. True, we did have the one spy in our midst, but I've made sure there were others set up in the chaos. I'm completely certain that each of the Three Great Powers now has a member of the Khaos Brigade in their ranks." He reassured them.
"When did you have time to do that?" Le Fay inquired.
"When do I not have time to do anything?" He asked in return.
"Uh..." She replied.
Great Red chuckled in reply.
"Anyways, now that our existence is more publicly known? Let's play the waiting game as we try to gather more allies to our ranks. After all, I'm certain anyone else against the kind of changes that will likely come from this alliance will be easy pickings for us." He suggested.
"Is there anyone you have in mind?" Vali questioned.
The Dragon of Dreams smirked before looking at him, then revealed a few suggestions he already had, catching Vali's interest as he smirked.
Morning soon came, and while there should have been school today? The newly formed Alliance had cancelled classes out of safety.
Because of the Khaos Brigade's attack on the summit, it was suggested they make sure there was nothing in the school that could threaten the oblivious Human students, and currently had their soldiers looking around for things like bombs or etc.
As a result of this, the Occult Research Club was once again using Ishie's house as their meeting grounds, where she was about to reveal everything she just learned.
"OK, is everyone besides the church trio here? I already told them when they woke up this morning." Ishie asked.
"Millarca and Yumi aren't here, but that's not a problem since they only recently joined our club." Rias replied.
Hearing that, Ishie took a deep breath... and then a second, followed by a third, until Koneko finally threw a chip at her head. That action made Ishie blush, and then clear her throat.
"Everyone, as you're all aware... we found out I had eight Devil wings last night. It wasn't until I got home that I discovered the reason why I have eight." She began.
Ishie took a deep breath, and then slapped her cheeks to stay focused.
"It turns out that my mom's real identity is... Rizevia Lucifer." She revealed.
Silence followed as Koneko dropped her bag of chips, which spilled across the floor. Ishie began to sweat as no one reacted beyond that. Eventually, Rias began to let out a nervous laugh at the revelation.
Despite having followed her brother and hearing the whole exchange? She still couldn't believe that Ishie was a Lucifer.
"Cute joke Ishie, but seriously, tell us what you really found out?" Rias begged, starting to sweat.
"Wow, the shock was so bad that she's gone into denial." Rizevia remarked.
Rias turned around as she heard Ishie's mother, which is when her pupils turned into small dots, seeing the figure of Rizevia Lucifer standing before her.
"Mrs. Hyoudou, you don't need to uphold your daughter's joke. Please stop now." Rias begged again, sweating even more.
Rizevia sighed and shook her head.
Knowing that Rias was going to keep denying what she learned, heard, and saw without more definite proof? Rizevia held up her hand and created an orb of a familiar black and white energy. Once she saw that, Rias let out a small whispering scream.
"Only a Lucifer is capable of using this power, and you know this, so are you still going to try convincing yourself I'm not Rizevia Lucifer?" She stated.
Rias answered in the only way she could in such a shocked state.
"I reincarnated... the granddaughter of Lucifer... as my Bishop..." She mumbled, stating the obvious as her body swung.
And once she finished speaking, she immediately fell on the floor as her eyes spun, making Akeno gasp in response.
"Oh my, is she alright?" She asked.
"She's alive and breathing. She's fine." Koneko remarked.
Ishie gave out an awkward laugh in response to hearing Koneko's words, scratching her cheek slightly. After another minute or two, Rias finally got back up, a little bit groggy from the brief stress she weighed on her mind.
"Honestly, now that the shock isn't overwhelming me to the point of denial? That actually explains a lot about Ishie's durability." Rias realized, holding her head.
"It does?" Ishie asked.
"She's right, there's an ability you and I get from your grandma that makes us hard to kill. It's called Resistance." Rizevia answered.
"Resistance?" Ishie repeated.
"The name's pretty self-explanatory. It's a power that makes the user's body remember any offensive attacks it receives, and adapts it to take less damage from it. This is the main reason that Sirzechs was unable to defeat me when we fought in the war. It doesn't stack or grant immunity, but it's a powerful defensive ability." Her mother explained.
Ishie's eyes widened as she heard that.
"So, in other words... getting poisoned from a light bullet actually saved my life, which in turn saved me from being incinerated by a Holy-" Ishie asked.
"Don't finish that sentence." Rizevia interjected.
Ishie blushed in embarrassment, rubbing her neck.
"But yes, that they did." She confirmed.
Her daughter let out a sigh of relief, feeling incredibly lucky for having this power, and grateful to her grandma for passing it down to her.
"Hey, are all of you talking about me?" Lilith inquired.
Everyone looked to see Ishie's grandma, who they now knew as Lilith, sitting on the stairs. Like her daughter, she had since dispelled her Human disguise to show her real appearance to everyone.
She had black hair to her daughter and granddaughter, with hers being a similar length to Ishie's (being just a tad longer), though her hair was much unruly in comparison. Her bangs even bent towards her right eye, revealing them to be like Rizevia's if the red was replaced by pink. Also, since she was the Devil known as the personification of lust, she had a figure that surpassed even her daughter's, which had an amazing B110-W57-H92 for her three sizes.
'Whoa! Is that really my grandma sitting there?' Ishie wondered.
As she was looking at her, and assumed the change from her disguise's blue eyes to her actual purple/pink eyes in a way her hazel eyes had become a purple/gold color after regaining her Lucifer powers through her fight with Vali, she noticed all of her friends were blushing at the sight of her grandma's beauty.
"Wait, why are all of you blushing!?" Ishie questioned.
"We... don't know!" Rias answered, getting redder.
Lilith let out a slight giggle before placing her hands on the stairs and pushing off to hop onto the ground, standing by her daughter as she smiled at everyone.
"Nice to officially meet you all. I hope you've all been taking care of my granddaughter." Lilith greeted.
"I'd like to answer that, but just standing before you makes me too nervous to answer." Rias confessed.
Lilith giggled at that.
"Then that might be a problem for you." She mentioned.
"Uh... why would that be a problem?" Rias asked worriedly.
"Nothing much. Well, aside from the fact that as of today, your brother has made me the official adviser of the Occult Research Club." Lilith announced.
Rias felt her eyes widen, shortly followed by everyone but Ishie, whose eyes instead sparkled with excitement.
"I see all of you are surprised. Honestly, the reason is very simply. It's because I was the best out of multiple options. If not me, you would have gotten either Azazel..." She explained.
"Denied." Ishie replied, closing her eyes with an angry look and making an X with her arms.
"Or Serafall, which I'm sure would have caused Sona to react in the same way." Lilith added.
Rias sighed as she heard that.
"Well, I guess if there's anyone in that role and as our mentor, then having the original Devil Queen isn't exactly a bad deal." She remarked, deciding to accept it.
Lilith smiled in response, then snapped her fingers as Rias reminded her about something.
"I almost forgot, Sirzechs gave me another message. To ask everyone for me to spare a door in their respective homes to enchant with gateway magic." Lilith mentioned.
"Why?" She asked, raising an eye.
"Because this is his official order. At the start of Summer, all of the supernatural members in the Occult Research Club will move into the Lucifer Mansion, which is now their official base!" She revealed.
"Say what!?" Everyone shouted.
Rizevia blinked, then let out a small chuckle as she took out her phone, realizing her husband finally had a reason to officially retire from his job.
As this was going on, the church trio and Yumi were all where the abandoned church used to be, which had been torn down so they could officially start rebuilding it.
They were also joined by Millarca, although she was currently hanging upside down from a tree so she could sleep. Because they couldn't visit the school, she couldn't borrow Gasper's coffin, so this was the best option for her.
"You sure no one's going to question three people rebuilding a church, especially with how Millarca's sleeping like that?" Yumi asked.
After being discharged from the hospital, Rias created a formal identification for Tosca, giving her the official identity of Yumi Tome after her Sacred Gear and finding a name that had a similar first kanji and opposite second kanji to the ones that made up Kiba's surname.
Said kanji were the ones for wealth, since the Yuu of Kiba's name meant leisurely, and sprout, since the To of his name meant to soar or fly. As for her Sacred Gear, it was an archer's bow that saved her life due to giving her some protection because of the gassing happening while there was moonlight.
"Probably, but Lord Michael said we had to rebuild it ourselves." Irina replied.
"Guess you do owe him for reinstating you as church members, so it does show your faith to work that hard for it." Yumi realized.
Millarca stretched at that moment, having heard their last few words as she woke up.
"The good news for them is Japan's a country that would likely ignore a church being torn down and rebuilt with how the view Christianity here... which I don't know too much about aside from it's kind of rare?" She mentioned.
"You... don't want the answer to that." Irina replied, looking to the side as a sweat drop went down her face.
"Hmm?" Asia blinked, not understanding what Irina meant by that.
Xenovia wiped her sweating forehead before placing a hand on Asia's shoulder.
"I wouldn't think about it too much. I'm still just as confused as I am shocked over what Ishie told us when we woke up." She suggested.
"OK?" Asia replied in confusion, despite following her suggestion.
Yumi let out an awkward and quiet laugh before looking at Millarca.
"Say, how exactly did you end up becoming a mole for that Vali guy and his group? I doubt you could have just learned where your friend Gasper was and then followed them all the way to Kuoh Town." She asked.
"Luck was the defining factor there. Great Red and the Vali Team had been looking for strong members to join the latter, since they're his elite guards in a sense, and Romania ended up being one of their multiple stops in that process. From there, what happened was..." Millarca answered.
Yumi listened closely as she kept going.
Currently wearing a pink dress, a saddened Millarca sighed as she sat on her bed, munching on some garlic to try and distract herself... which was failing.
"What am I supposed to do? I told Gaspy that I'd find him eventually, but I still haven't been able to find a way to leave." She sighed, drawing circles on her black sheets.
"Intruders!" Someone screamed.
Hearing that, Millarca's eyes widened before looking out her window, causing her to see many guards from the Carmilla Faction rush at Great Red.
"Pathetic." He replied.
His eyes flashed, immediately causing all of the guards to suddenly hold their stomachs and vomit out blood.
They tried to get back onto their feet, only for them to freeze as Vali held out Ascalon towards them, using its holy aura to threaten and subdue them with little to no effort. For added measure, the rest of the Vali Team quickly surrounded them.
"If you want to live, then you'll listen to what we have to say." Vali warned.
"And why should we listen to anything you ask of-" A guard demanded.
Said guard was cut as Ascalon's blade extended, causing blood to pour out of her before it dissolved her body. That was enough to silence the remaining Vampires.
"We've come here looking for one of your own to join our ranks, regardless of if they're a Carmilla or Tepes, and that's it. Leave us alone as we search for our future ally, and no one else has to die because of your species' superiority complex." Great Red announced.
Millarca gulped as she heard that, slowly backing away from the window at what she assumed was likely trouble.
"I'd be fast about it too. In a few days, we plan to attack a summit happening in Kuoh Town, where the Three Great Powers will be having a meeting about a possible alliance between them." Vali added.
She suddenly stopped, recognizing the name of Kuoh Town.
'That's... that's where Gaspy currently lives!' She realized.
Her scared face changed to a serious one, causing her to rip off the dress she was wearing, and briefly leaving her in just her underwear until she changed into more casual clothing. After that, she grabbed her bed sheets and tied them around her, creating the cloak she wore at the summit.
Just as the Vali Team began their search, they heard a slight thud behind them.
"Hmm?" Vali raised an eye, looking behind him.
Millarca stood on her feet as she walked up to Vali.
"I'd like to join your team, if it's alright with you." Millarca offered, holding out her hand.
He looked at it before begrudgingly accepting the handshake.
Millarca let out a playful laugh at how everything happened, while Yumi just stared at her in surprise.
"Seriously? That's all that happened?" Yumi asked.
"Pretty much, and I bet he's still fuming." Millarca answered.
Yumi tried to say something as Millarca began laughing, but just scrunched her mouth as she failed to generate any kind of words, much less think of what to say.
"Let's just hope he doesn't fume by attacking someone. You know, such as his rival... which happens to be my best friend?" Irina mentioned, suddenly nervous.
Millarca stopped laughing, which was replaced with a nervous chuckle.
"I'm... gonna go buy some more garlic." She decided.
She immediately ran off, leaving the others to stare at her retreating form.
"This might be a little out of nowhere, but... is it weird that even I'm getting used to what others would consider a strange reaction?" Xenovia inquired.
"No, just the opposite." Asia admitted.
Yumi gave an awkward smile as a sweat drop slid down her cheek.
Back at Ishie's house, everyone aside from Rizevia and Lilith were gathered in the living room area, where the ORC was having their official meeting for the day.
"With the recent revelation that Ishie's real name is Ishie Lucifer... it seems that today's meeting should be about how that news will eventually echo across the Underworld." Rias decided, nervously holding her tea.
The granddaughter of Lucifer began to sweat as she heard that.
"It can't be that big... can it?" Ishie asked.
"Of course it's that big. Even though he was one of four leaders, Lucifer was still the de facto King of the Devils, meaning you're a princess." Koneko bluntly answered.
Her eyes widened before she spit out her tea, prompting Rassei to jump and catch it in his mouth.
"Another of my fantasies came true!?" She exclaimed.
"Technically, it was true all along." Murayama mentioned.
Ishie paused as she heard that, holding a smile on her face in a way that freaked everyone out.
"Hello? Ishie, are you still there?" Katase asked.
She waved a hand in front of her face, but no reaction happened.
Murayama then clapped her hands in front of Ishie's face.
"Wha!" She screamed.
Ishie fell over, though quickly sat up again.
"OK, so I'm basically going to replace your brother and ancestor one day... no pressure." Ishie said, letting out a fake laugh.
"You think you're the only one stressed out by this revelation? People are going to expect big things from me now that I have you in my peerage, and not just because you're of a higher status than I am." Rias said with a sigh.
Hearing that caused Ishie to blush in embarrassment, making her rub the back of her neck.
"Uh... well, at least you can say you prevented the death of the Lucifer Heiress?" She replied.
Rias felt her eyes widen before she stood up and smiled.
"You're right, I can say that! It even makes how I beat Riser even better than before!" She replied, getting a little prideful.
'Maybe it wasn't a good idea for me to say that...' Ishie thought.
Right as she said that, a magic circle appeared by her ear, with Rias hearing her father's voice.
"Akeno, finish explaining things for me. My dad needs to talk with me in private." She requested.
"Of course." Akeno replied.
Rias then walked off to speak with her father, while Ishie focused her view towards Akeno.
"Getting back on track. Every Summer, the Occult Research Club visits the Underworld, mainly because it's around this time of year where all of the Young Devils gather for a Devil holiday of sorts, but because of Ishie..." She explained.
"Let me guess, not only will the new alliance influence things, but that's probably when Sirzechs will announce my Lucifer heritage?" Ishie assumed.
"More than likely. As such, this will likely be where the Seven Satan system will be made official, meaning all seven heirs will be in attendance." Akeno confirmed.
Katase raised a hand.
"Yes?" Akeno inquired.
"How long will this trip be? Because I'd need to let my parents know ahead of time if I go on any kind of trip during the Summer." She asked.
"We'll be spending the entire Summer there, but Lilith did say she's using doors in our homes as gateways to the Underworld, so you could just come visit Ishie's house every day and come back for the night." Akeno answered.
"Oh yeah. My mom did say to make sure the house didn't look empty, my dad would be here more often than in that mansion we'll be moving into until I graduate." Ishie recalled.
She twitched slightly after saying that.
"Wow, I am not used to saying I have a mansion." Ishie remarked, twitching a second time.
"Alright, then I guess me and Katase could say the ORC has a summer project where we look into rumored sightings of weird creatures, since this is our first year in the club." Murayama decided.
Rias soon walked back into the room.
"Akeno, my father needs me to return home a day early for a few reasons, so I'll need you to cover my absence and everyone's train ride." Rias requested.
"Understood." Akeno replied.
"Wait... did you just say train ride?" Ishie inquired, looking confused.
"I did. That's the proper channel to enter from, unlike with the Familiar Forest, which has limited access." Rias confirmed.
Katase and Murayama sighed in relief.
"Glad the way to Hell is fairly normal... if I'm using the term correctly." Katase remarked.
"Actually... what is the difference between the two terms?" Murayama inquired.
"Ah, allow me to explain. Hell is an entire realm that has the Underworld near the top of it. I don't know much about the other six areas, other than Hades rules one of them." Akeno clarified.
"Oh, so that's why I'm called the Hero of the Underworld, rather than the Hero of Hell." Ishie realized.
"Yep, that's right." Akeno nodded.
Akeno soon stood up on her feet.
"It will be a long trip, so aside from your vacation luggage, you should make sure to bring some entertainment and lunch with you." She suggested.
'In my case, my luggage is basically everything.' Ishie thought, mentally chucking.
Koneko went silent all of a sudden, which only seemed to catch Rassei's notice.
The following day, everyone finished their last day of class before they headed to the train station, with Akeno leading the group. Ishie was blushing slightly getting Irina's attention.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"I'm fine... don't ask." Ishie replied.
Irina was confused by that reply, since Ishie was still blushing out of nowhere, but Ishie turned her head, making it clear she wasn't going to tell her any more than she already had.
Although, she did notice Ishie had her one arm held against her chest for some reason.
"Haven't all the trains already left? It seems like that would be a problem for us." Xenovia asked, noticing no trains anywhere she looked.
Akeno giggled in response before holding up a card.
"Those aren't the trains we'll be using." Akeno replied.
"Ooh, a card like that of a secret agent? I like where this is heading!" Millarca remarked.
Her thoughts were proven right as Akeno placed it against the wall, causing a hidden door to open and reveal an escalator to a hidden floor.
"Amazing!" Irina exclaimed.
"You do remember we're going to the Underworld, right? Did you ever consider that we might be going under something?" Lilith joked.
"Nice pun." Millarca replied, giggling as she did.
Everyone went down the escalator, following Akeno until they saw a terminal with a red train.
"So, this is the Gremory Train? The outside already seems fancy enough." Rizevia remarked.
While everyone was distracted, Ishie tapped Akeno's shoulder.
"Hmm?" Akeno said, looking at Ishie.
"Two questions. Is there a bathroom nearby, and do you have any spare bras?" She inquired.
"Yes and yes, but... why?" Akeno replied.
Ishie blushed even more as she lowered her one arm, making her breasts bounce as Akeno noticed two bumps, quickly exposing her lack of a bra to the Gremory Queen.
"Oh?" She replied, giving her a playful smirk.
"Shut up! I've been dealing with my Lucifer heritage changing my body since I got it back! Yesterday it was my eyes, and now this!" Ishie whisper shouted, blushing as she did.
When she woke up this morning, Ishie tried to put on her bra, only to discover she couldn't clip it.
She chose to measure her bust after, and discovered it had grown from 97 cm to 101 cm. Her grandma said she could adjust her clothes with magic... except for her underwear, for reasons she couldn't explain. Because of that, she had to go without a bra until she could borrow a pair.
Unfortunately, the only girl she knew with such a large bust was Akeno, who she didn't want to ask while everyone could see and hear her it would be too embarrassing.
"Fine, fine." Akeno waved, summoning a sexy pink bra using magic.
"Don't tell anyone." Ishie replied as she took it.
She quickly rushed to the bathroom, right as Irina turned around.
"Where's Ishie going?" She asked.
"The bathroom, she was nervous about how she looked because of what this trip is about." Akeno lied.
"Oh, so that's why she was blushing." Irina realized.
Ishie soon came back, no longer troubled now that she had a bra on, right as everyone began boarding the train. Once inside, everyone aside from Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Gasper noticed how fancy it was.
"Wow, I didn't expect it to be this luxurious." Ishie admitted.
"Hmm... you know, some of this looks familiar." Rizevia realized.
"That's because the Gremory Clan inherited this and everything else from the Lucifer Clan, some of which was used in making this train." Kiba explained.
Rizevia blinked in confusion, though suddenly blushed as it clicked in her head.
"Oh, that's right... I did mess up the Gremory Clan's land to draw out Sirzechs during the Civil War, didn't I?" She remembered.
"Huh?" Ishie blinked.
Her mother blushed as she looked away, rubbing the back of her head.
"While we were still the leaders of the Old Satan Faction, my friends and I did was launch an assault on the current Satans' Clans to draw them out into a battle where we had the advantage. The irony is that was the same battle that made me realize what I had almost become." Rizevia admitted.
Ishie gave an awkward laugh in reply.
"I think you need to stop telling me about your past..." Ishie suggested.
Rizevia nodded in agreement.
"Well, ignoring the depressing parts of that story? It's also why all of the Clans the current Satans came from and my own moved everything they still had to the territories of the Satan Clans, then merged with them to create the Underworld's only four domains." Sylvie revealed.
Ishie turned to see Sylvie sitting beside her.
"Wait, Sylvie? Why are you here?" She asked.
"Because I was originally going to go home after the summit ended, but since the Khaos Brigade attacked, that didn't happen. Since the Lilith Clan's is in the same domain as the Lucifer and Gremory Clans, this train ride will also be my ride home. Likewise, Ingvild's riding with Sona and her peerage for the same reasons." Sylvie answered.
"Makes sense." Ishie replied.
The door of another train car opened, getting everyone's attention.
"Greetings, I am Reynaldo, the conductor of this train. I'm here to confirm and record everyone who will be making their first trip into the Underworld." He greeted.
Holding out a device, Reynaldo scanned Ishie, which revealed the registered information within her Bishop piece.
"It still surprises me how we're going into the same Hell I once tossed infidels into. For a believer of the church, that's irony for you." Xenovia remarked, holding out her ticket for Reynaldo to mark.
"No offense Xenovia, but unlike me and Asia? You actually fit in due to your infamous nickname." Irina remarked.
Xenovia blushed at that.
"Oh? Do tell?" Lilith asked.
"She's called the Violence of God, for fairly obvious reasons." Irina revealed.
Ishie felt her cheeks puff as she tried not to laugh at the embarrassed exorcist.
"Alright, everyone's been confirmed." Reynaldo smiled.
The newer riders soon felt a strange sensation as the crossed a dimensional border, causing the sight outside the windows to be replaced with an ocean of violet energy.
"What is this?" Ishie asked.
"That's a sign we're shifting between realms, with the color meaning we've entered Hell's realm space." Rizevia answered.
As Gasper played a video game, he soon noticed Koneko hadn't touched her lunch.
"Hey... Koneko? Your lunch is gonna get cold." He warned.
She didn't say anything, making him raise an eye, with Katase and Murayama noticing her sudden silence.
"Is it just me, or is she strangely quiet?" Katase whispered.
"Yeah, I wonder if something's wrong with her?" Murayama replied.
While Koneko heard everything they said, she decided not to say anything. This is when Kiba gave a small frown that caught Yumi's attention. However, before she could ask him about it...
"We will soon arrive at the Sitri/Leviathan domain terminal!"
That surprised most of the group.
"Wait, why are we-" Ishie questioned.
"Hey Hyoudou!" Saji announced.
Looking behind her, Ishie saw Saji walk through the door, joined by Sona and Ingvild.
"Oh, now that makes more sense." Ishie realized.
"Rias was kind enough to let us ride on the Gremory Train, so it felt right to see how everyone was before we got off." Sona added.
"I'm definitely feeling anxious." Ishie admitted.
"That's understandable, considering you're one of the two factors that makes this anything but an ordinary trip." Ingvild replied.
Ishie gave a nervous laugh in response.
"So, what kind of training will you all be doing once you get there?" Saji inquired.
Everyone showed confusion.
"Saji, that was supposed to be a secret." Ingvild reminded him.
Saji paled at that.
"Oops! Well, next time we meet? I'll be a lot stronger. Good luck on your end." He replied.
The three of them returned to their car as Lilith gave a playful giggle.
"Before anyone asks me? No spoilers, so you'll just have to keep guessing until something happens." She stated, winking at everyone.
"Well, after that reply? I think we can tell who set up the training..." Asia realized.
Lilith giggled a second time, making Asia sweat in response. It was around then the dimensional border had been crossed, making Akeno smile.
"Everyone, take a look." She said as she pointed to the windows.
Ishie looked out the window, and her eyes widened at what she saw.
Like she had seen before while in the Familiar Forest, the entire region was in eternal night, though it was brighter as a result of daytime being reflected by a sky being almost completely filled with stars. The land itself had a lot of influence from the time of European nobles mixed with some modern aspects, and it was mostly land covering the area.
"Wow!" She exclaimed.
"Holy crap... I don't remember the Underworld being this green in the 16th century! The new government really knows what it's doing." Rizevia mentioned.
"More than likely, the knowledge shared by reincarnated Devils is to thank for that." Lilith assumed.
Akeno soon pointed to one area.
"See the area of land where there's a blue tint? That's the territory owned by the Sitri and Leviathan Clans." Akeno revealed.
Irina gasped as she heard that.
"You mean all of that? That's like... I actually can't tell from up here, but that seems like a lot!" Irina exclaimed.
"They comprise the same amount of land as the island of Hokkaido." Kiba revealed.
Irina's eyes widened.
"Funnily enough, that's exactly how much land the fused territories comprise. The Sitri/Leviathan domain's size mainly comes from the water, research facilities make some of the Astaroth/Beelzebub domain, while the Glasya-Labolas/Asmodeus domain doesn't have anything extra." Akeno added.
"As for the Gremory/Lucifer/Lilith domain? What makes it so big isn't just the fact that three clans comprise its land, but the fact that aside from the Lucifuge Clan, there were five other major clans that used to live there before Lucifer died." Sylvie mentioned.
"The Six Houses of Lucifer... I haven't heard that name in a long time." Rizevia replied, crossing her arms slightly.
That caught Ishie's attention.
"What are these Six Houses of Lucifer? Since you said you only have a younger twin brother, I don't think it's related to multiple branches in the family tree." Ishie asked.
"They were six clans, including mine when we were still the Lucifuge Clan, that served Lucifer and were the superiors to many of the 72 Pillars until the time of the Civil War." Sylvie explained.
"Let me guess, they fled alongside the Old Satan Faction?" Ishie guessed.
"Not exactly. Lady Rizevia herself destroyed most of them when she ordered all six to gather for her battle against Uncle Sirzechs, and those who survived were then captured and made prisoners, only freed when Aunt Grayfia herself eventually convinced them to switch sides." Sylvie replied.
That surprised Rizevia and Lilith.
"Seriously? All of them?" Lilith asked.
"Yeah, really. Thought it took centuries before she could do it. Even then, I think it was only because rescuing me from my father is what helped them realize why both of you chose to leave in the first place." Sylvie confirmed.
Lilith hummed before smiling, impressed by Grayfia's achievements.
"I need to remember to thank her for that, and saving my daughter." She replied.
Rizevia blushed at that.
"Mom!" She exclaimed.
"Ah, I bet it was doing this that caused the Lilith Clan to be named the last Clan to be made one of the Satan candidates, wasn't it?" Ishie realized.
"Yeah, and those survivors became my Clan's servants, though I'm sure some of them have been reassigned to the Lucifer Clan." Sylvie confirmed.
Ishie let out an awkward chuckle, knowing it would be weird to have them.
"We will soon arrive at the Gremory/Lucifer/Lilith domain terminal!"
Hearing that, Ishie looked out the window again, and her eyes widened at the massive stretch of land rivaling Honshu.
"There it is... home." Rizevia smiled.
As the train began lowering itself towards the terminal, the sight of a figure hiding in the shadows could be seen, with the only thing that could identify them was their eyes. Eyes that were just like Koneko's.
"Shirone..." Kuroka stated, noticing her sister's chi within the train's walls.
She silently followed the train from the shadows, without anyone the wiser.
That's it for this chapter. Rizevia's come clean about everything about why she hid Ishie's heritage from her, and now that she knows and understands her reasons, Ishie's been able to start accepting who she is. Compared to my other DxD story, Lucifer follows the claims of being a horrible leader to the key, so the choices Ishie makes have more weight through being a better leader than her grandfather was.
Anyways, now you know how Ishie's been able to survive what's normally fatal to most Devils, and it's because she has a powerful defensive ability, and a canon one that Tobio was only able to overcome by manipulating his aura. Just so no one misunderstands this, Ishie gaining a resistance to something only reduces the damage and fatality to her, so the right attack (such as any attack from Shiva, Ophis, or Great Red) could still one-shot her if she's not careful.
Speaking of adapting, Ishie's body is still going through the process of regaining her full Lucifer heritage, and it's still not completely finished. Just like how Rias has the figure she does because of her Bael blood, Ishie regaining her Lucifer blood has done the same for her bust size. The reason Akeno's still bigger is to mostly keep Ishie humble, and because I may only have her be bigger once she's a Third Year.
I've been waiting to bring up how Hell and the Underworld differ, and this is how. Like Heaven, it has seven layers, which you can find on the DxD wiki page for the Underworld. The main differences are the top realm is still known as Hell, since it's meant to be the entrance like the first Heaven is for the other six layers of Heaven, with the Netherworld being what I'll call Hades' realm. Each of Heavens' layers also has their own names, but I'll be revealing them later.
Until next time everyone, and stay awesome! ^^