Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
OechsnerC; Thanks very much! Yeah, Gasper's in the story, and he's a he in this story.
ShadowUzumaki55; He did yeah, Zenki managed to win against him, and now the real fights about to begin. Yeah, he really doesn't like Ajuka and we'll explore more of that as the story goes on. Yup, Arthur's back now, and is with Le Fay and the others. We'll have to wait and see what happens with them.
TianLongYi; Thanks for the suggestions!
Skull Flame; Kinda yeah~ He has more motives than that, but that's a big motive of his. We'll learn more about him in the future.
Andrew123456; I'll have to check them out~ Thanks for letting me know.
Silver crow; Thanks! Yup, he's praising his son~ He was buying time, for the others to do what they were doing. He was yeah, but that also brings up a question with Zenki and Ravel in this chapter. It seems that he does yeah~ Sairaorg and he do train together. Not worse in a sense, it's because he also teamed up with another clan to bring ruin to other people. Serafall and Vali seemingly had some fun this chapter~ Hmm, we'll see what happens with the Pendragon siblings. Yup, Ravel's quite happy with her place in the harem now. Yeah, it's more to distract than a major threat. Shinji just says whatever he wants~ Yeah, I'd guess it would cover those two volumes. Reference them yeah, I don't know about introduction yet. Those Black Clover ideas look great! Dunno about Sister Lily, the others seem cool. The peerage might be having some rank climbing in the near future. That sounds pretty funny~ It's been there for a while, but we don't know much about him yet. We could see them appearing soon. Bedeze's chances of escaping...we'll see what happens this chapter. The King Piece will be touched upon. I've not played Royal yet, but I do plan to play it when I can. One Piece wise, looks pretty interesting, he could know Big Mom, and great crew! Yeah seems like we don't know the others yet, I'd hope Grayfia gets one since she was said to be on par, or near enough to Serafall, so she'd be a good Maou. The lemon between them, I've already planned when it's gonna happen, so we'll have to wait and see for that. Ingvild, she could be waking up soon~
Guest 1; No, just been busy with real life stuff.
guest; Some Pawns could do yeah.
Guest 2; I will keep doing yeah~
Guest 3; Still working on that yet.
Guest 4; There's a number of stories I'd like to rewrite, like maybe my Naruto one or Fairy Tail perhaps.
Ultra force; That sounds pretty fun to me! Thanks for the suggestion, and cool harem as well~
Well, with those lovely reviews out of the way, it's time to start the chapter!
Bedeze's schemes part three
Staring down Bedeze after he had attacked them, Zenki's mind raced.
This was the Number Three of the Rating Game. Though he could see that Bedeze was breathing rather sharp and hard, it seemed that Serafall had exhausted him. Which was a plus for Zenki, it allowed him to at least have some kind of advantage during the fight, and if he was able to do it right, be able to pull off a victory, or stall long enough for him to get help coming for him.
But he still had to remember Bedeze had some experience in fighting, and he had the knowledge of many games under his belt, how to take advantage of a number of things.
Zenki was thinking about Asia, and how to make sure that she'd be safe, and protected. Zenki wasn't exactly thrilled about fighting Bedeze, still it didn't stop him from understanding more and more about this man, his motives, and what he truly wanted out of this.
Rias and the others who were watching, couldn't stand it. Seeing him being in the fight like this, Rias desperately turned to her elder brother, who held his head down.
"Onii-sama, there has to be a way for us to go and help Zenki. He's fighting Bedeze, someone that's renowned in the Underworld for being skilled. He's strong...but, can Zenki win against this man? Who's said to have powers rivaling Satan Class, maybe not as strong as you Maou's...but still. I'm worried...I don't know if Zenki is going to be able to handle it..."
Rias wanted to believe in Zenki.
She truly did.
But seeing the situation before her, she wasn't sure on what to think, and how to believe in how Zenki was going to win. Seeing the fact that Bedeze was strong, seeing how he's fought before. All she could do was hope that Zenki would come out of this alive.
Seeing his little sisters worried, Sirzechs tried to comfort her the best that he could do.
"I know...you're worried. Ajuka and I are working on breaking down the seals. But this man...the man that you saw here before, has managed to create something that even we're having difficulty in dealing with."
"Even you Onii-sama?"
Sirzechs sighed, nodding a single time.
It was surprising for Rias to see Sirzechs admit that so casually.
"Yes. While the seals aren't something Ajuka isn't familiar with. The power behind them...it isn't just his power. It's also filled with a God's power...perhaps even more than that. It's filled to the brim with power and is quite complex, so we're trying our best. Even Ajuka, who's able to disable techniques...that man would know how to counter the Kankara Formula, even to Ajuka's to a certain degree. Isn't it scary?"
Rias placed a hand to her mouth, while Ravel looked on.
"Zenki-sama isn't going to be beaten by this person."
"But, didn't you hear Ravel?" Isane interrupted. "This man...this guys supposed to be the Third Ranked of the entire Rating Games. Your Onii-sama is one thing...but this guy, he's in a completely different dimension than Riser is."
Ravel could understand where Isane was coming from.
But, she also knew something about Zenki.
Something that she had learned more and more through the years of being his servant.
"I understand your worries, I am also worried about Zenki-sama. But, Zenki-sama isn't an idiot. He's been able to fight strong opponents before. Stronger than he's been, and he's always been able to think of ways out of it. Stronger opponents, Zenki-sama wears them down until they become manageable."
Isane hoped that she was right.
Akeno could hardly watch.
She didn't know what was going to happen to Zenki now.
As for Zenki himself, he was staring directly at the opponent before him. His eyes were unyielding, his determination was on high.
Bedeze on the other hand seemed to have a cocky streak to him. His eyes were burning into the man before him. Zenki's face, seeing how he was actually attempting to face him down, it was rather worrying for him.
"Bedeze. I have to know. Why did you do this?"
Bedeze raised an eyebrow.
"Do what exactly? Fight against society? Fight against the oppressive ways the Maou's are currently running the Underworld? Or are you referring to why I set up Riser to die? Because either of them have things in common."
Zenki didn't really like that answer.
It was as vague as could be.
"Don't play dumb, you know what I meant. With Riser, you set this whole thing up, does Phenex...no, rather, has Riser done something that makes you angry or something?"
"Riser, he's merely a Pawn in all of this. He was meant to die, but things went south. I was surprised by what happened with Tiamat. I knew that she'd be tough to fight. But, I didn't expect that you'd have a Maou there, and the Vanishing Dragon as well."
Zenki folded his arms.
"Yes, that's because I knew you'd do something with her. It was in one of the possibilities that I had thought about together with my Otou-sama. Because of the fact that you were pushing Riser toward a Rating Game, it had to either be me, my peerage or Tiamat-san you were trying to hurt. Because, you'd be able to get to Riser by yourself. But unlike him, we're usually within places you'd have no excuse in being there."
Bedeze clapped his hands together a single time in a dramatic way.
"Perhaps you're correct. I haven't been truthful lately. Tiamat was a goal of ours. But, it was mainly you...rather, it was Astaroth itself, and you, were a key component to that."
Zenki just had more questions than answers at this point.
"So, do you hate Astaroth that much? Seeing your actions, has this just been a personal attack on us as a family?"
Zenki demanded from the man before him.
Bedeze seemed passive as he answered.
"On the contrary, I don't hate Astaroth at all. I hate that there are people that pretend to be strong and talented. I hate that there are things such as unclean Devils in this world."
"You're in the Rating Game, your peerage has been made up of people that use the Evil Piece system. In that sense, they aren't 'clean' Devil as you put it. Though, that way of thinking belongs in the past."
Zenki countered, the man couldn't deny what Zenki was saying either.
"Yes, you're right about my place in the Rating Games. However, the Devils that are noble, are the only ones that should enjoy the Rating Games, and those pretender Devils, anger me. But, I've found out a true person that has my belief. A belief that Devils can truly fight to their hearts content, running around after these reincarnated Devils that pretend to rise through the ranks, and have no talents at all." His eyes shot for Asia, who flinches at the sight. "This is your precious Bishop, is it not Zenki?"
"Don't look at my Bishop with cold eyes. You wont be able to even touch her."
Zenki warned.
He knew that Bedeze was trying to be intimidating.
Bedeze himself simply laughed.
"Your Bishop is quite the cute girl. It would be a shame if something happened to her, wouldn't it?"
Zenki narrowed his eyes.
Seeing how Bedeze was looking at Asia, Zenki wasn't thrilled at all.
However, he wasn't going to be ruled by his emotions either.
"I don't fall for things like that so easily. I wont bow down to your thoughts and feelings you're attempting to push on me. You wont get a rise out of me because you're antagonizing my peerage members. I do feel protective over them, but allowing my emotions to run wild now, would spell certain doom for my peerage and myself."
Realizing what he was attempting to do, Zenki wouldn't allow Bedeze to get one up on him.
He wouldn't allow Bedeze to win.
Bedeze himself opened up his arms, and revealed his more cocky demeanour.
"What matters here is extreme power, and talent, Zenki Astaroth. You possess both, however you're also attempting to make it so that others have the same rights as the nobles. That's a childish idea that wont make it very far in this world."
Zenki wasn't deterred at all, and simply allowed his power to erupt around him.
"I train my body and hone the talent that I've been blessed with. Talent doesn't equal amazing. Even people in the Rating Games understand that fact...besides you it seems. Even though you're Number Three, I feel as if you're not appreciating other peoples passions and strengths, and I don't believe it's childish to help others become stronger, and give others chances also."
At his words, Bedeze scoffed, not seemingly caring about what was going on at that moment.
"I don't care about those below me. I've seen the way, the right way for me to continue the path that I desire. First, it was to make sure that Riser was killed. By killing Riser, then the Astaroth would truly suffer. But, it isn't like our leader hates Astaroth. No, he simply hates Ajuka Astaroth, for what he's done."
"My Otou-sama...what are you talking about? He hasn't done anything..."
Bedeze showed his disgusting smirk, a smirk that was quite haunting to those who watched it.
They had seen Bedeze as a good person.
But now, seeing how evil he really could be, was quite disgusting, and made them question why they fell for his lies in the first place.
"But, he did Zenki Astaroth. He's the reason why many things happen. Him, an unfeeling monster, caused this kind of situation in the first place. By creating the chances for other Devils apart from nobles to rise, the Underworld is going to be overrun by these imbeciles."
Zenki shook his head.
Clearly Bedeze was arrogant.
He wasn't going to be persuaded with words.
"Still, if he hates my Otou-sama. Why also take down Astaroth? Sure, my Otou-sama will also suffer from that, but we'd eventually find the truth of what would have happened to Riser. How you set it up, even if you had a decoy or whatever back at the viewing area. People will now know it's you, you can't escape that fact."
"By that time, you and Vali Lucifer would have been taken. The true blood of the old Maou's, the cleanest blood that the Devils have. You, Zenki Beelzebub Astaroth have an important part to play in the future of this world, of the Underworld. But you had to spoil it, and make sure that Riser survived. He was someone that lacked true talent anyway, so it doesn't matter."
Zenki couldn't believe what he was hearing…
No, rather he was disgusted by what he was hearing.
Badmouthing his Father, badmouthing Riser, among other things.
It was intolerable for Zenki to even fathom what kind of person this is before him.
"Your thoughts about the Devils world is living in the past. For the future to truly be shining, we need new ideas, we need new blood. Sure, the Devils might have to think about pure bloods, and half bloods, and things like that. But, it doesn't mean they're bad things. Reincarnated Devils can show the way by bringing together these ideas. But I wont get through to you. You're simply too hot headed to understand these things. And now you've made an attack on the Underworld, and my family. While I'm here, that isn't allowed. Even if you're the Number Three in the Rating Games, I'll just have to show you my power! I wont lose!"
Zenki flared his aura. Shining brightly through the area, the aura was green. The ground was being erupted in several sections, creating a rocky terrain. Asia stood behind Zenki, hoping that something would happen. That he would be alright in this fight.
Meanwhile, Vali and the others were currently on clean up duty. The beast that had been summoned from the knife, Vali simply stepped forward, and went to fire her demonic power at it, when Serafall yelled "Freeze!" and shot off her ice, encasing the creature in ice all together.
Mildly surprised by what she did, Vali questioningly turned to Serafall.
"That was my fight."
"Don't complain, you got to fight him, didn't you?"
Pointing to Arthur, Serafall showed her cheerfulness through her childlike expressions..
Vali wasn't exactly thrilled about this at all.
"Still, I wished to have another fight. If Zenki was here, he'd allow me to fight."
Serafall stuck out her tongue.
"Well, Zenki-tan isn't here right now, so you're stuck with following after me~"
Vali frowned as Kuroka wagged a finger.
"Instead of worrying about who's fighting who, we should really clean up here, and make sure that we can get to Zenki-chan. I'm sure that he could need us to fight with him, and if not, he still will need us to tell him about this~"
Vali huffed, and dove right in. Spreading her wings, she allowed her body to sail between the different people, and end up blasting the enemies with powerful waves of demonic power. Because they weren't anything to write home about, it was easy for her to deal with them now that Bedeze and Arthur was out of the way of fighting.
Serafall pouted, throwing her hands up and down.
"Vali-chan, that's not fair! I also wanted to fight too!"
"You took out something I wanted to fight, so I'm cleaning up these things."
At that, Serafall huffed, pointing her staff forward, and unleashed a wave of ice towards an incoming wave of people. The ice froze them solid almost instantly, and then she snapped her fingers, shattering them out of existence all together.
"Hehe, see that Vali-chan? I can freeze things~"
"And I can obliterate them out of existence. Besides, Zenki chose me as his Queen."
"Grrr! You always say that! I would have become his Queen if I wasn't a Maou!"
"If you were that serious, you should have given the role of Leviathan over to Grayfia."
"But, I totally beat Grayfia-chan in a fight once. It was showing that I was deserving of the Leviathan title! If Zenki-tan asked, I'd totally become a member of his peerage~"
"That would actually be a nightmare."
Serafall huffed, and continued fighting as did Vali.
Koneko looked towards Tiamat, seeing that Vali was fighting intently, and wanted to know the current situation of Zenki himself.
"...How is Senpai? Is he okay?"
"Currently, he's facing down Bedeze. I'm not sure how he's going to win…"
"Zenki-kun will find a way." Yumi said it with a sure expression. "He's going to get through it, I know that he is."
Le Fay put her fingers together shyly.
"Ooh yes, Zenki-sama has many tricks up his sleeve, he'll find one that's going to work~"
Le Fay was then poked in the cheek by Arthur.
"I'm sure that his second biggest fan would say that."
"D-Don't remind me that Kunou-sama stole the number one position from me!" Le Fay cried out with a cute expression. "W-We can just wait for Zenki-sama to fight! But we have to fight also, so lets get to it!"
Arthur gave a sly smile, seeing Le Fay becoming embarrassed.
"Ararara, she's so cute when she's shy~"
Kuroka meowed out, with Arthur murmuring.
"That's because she's doing things like this often. She has a saying, WWZD, when she's unsure of how to proceed."
"WWZD? What's that mean?"
Yumi wondered, as Arthur saw Le Fay's face burning red.
""What would Zenki do?" is what it means. She's a fan after all. I'm glad that she's able to experience happiness though, seeing her with you guys now makes me believe that she's found a good place to belong in."
Le Fay couldn't hide her blush anymore, and her bottom lip began to tremble.
"P-Please stop that immediately Onii-sama! That's so embarrassing!"
At that, Arthur simply took his holy blade, and increased the holy power around it. With a single swing, he unleashed the incredible power of the sword, overtaking the men and women in the area, obliterating them out of existence.
Kuroka chuckled awkwardly when seeing that.
"Guess this is what the Holy King Sword is up close, huh~?"
Koneko turned her neck to the side.
"...I suppose you're right about that. But as a Devil it still makes me feel uneasy."
"I also don't like that we're relying on a Holy Sword...but, I'm glad that it isn't Excalibur at least."
At Yumi's words, Koneko cocked her head.
However, it seemed that Vali and Serafall had this handled.
Koneko and the others were quite worried about Zenki, and how his fight seemed to be coming along.
Back with Zenki, with his aura dancing around him, he made the first move, and shot off countless waves of bullets of demonic power.
The dense demonic power could only come from someone that was High...no, Ultimate Class Devil at least.
Even Bedeze was astonished by what he was seeing before him right now.
"Heh, quite the power you have. Thanks to Serafall-sama, I'm running a bit low here." Bedeze took out what seemed to be some kind of pill, and swallowed it whole. As he did, the aura around his body began to increase to incredible levels, something Zenki found astonishing. "There, now I'm ready."
"That's interesting, I can feel your power building. Yet the wounds Serafall-sama gave you aren't disappearing."
"Even with these wounds, I wont lose to you. Show me the power of Astaroth and Beelzebub Zenki!"
"I'll show you right now Bedeze!"
Shooting them through the air, Zenki called "Reverse!" as he used the Kankara Formula to change the movements of the bullets, increasing their power amount other things of that nature and turned them all into waves of light that could defeat a High Class Devil with ease.
"So, this is the power of the Astaroth Heir, is it? Show me, why you deserve that title, and I'll show you my power, the power I've accumulated in the past, and release all of the talent that I have for you!"
Bedeze grinned, summoning many holes around him to absorb the waves of power. The aura was being dragged to the holes, and Zenki could see that there were also a good number of the holes. Bedeze might be arrogant, but he did have the skills to stay in the Top Three for a long while.
As the power was being sucked in, Zenki twirled his hands while activating the Kankara Formula and caused the light to begin a chain reaction.
"Perhaps you're right. But I'm not out of tricks yet."
The light buzzed, and swirled, soon coming together, causing a mass of explosions that began destroying the holes.
Bedeze smirked at the sight, as a hole opened up behind Zenki.
"You're skilled, I'll give you that." The hole released a number of light attacks seemingly unknowingly to Zenki's body, the ones that Bedeze had managed to absorb. "But, you're not going to be able to beat me! I will destroy you!"
Bedeze's words were cold, and when he thought they'd hit, Zenki stopped them mid air with his Kankara Formula, showcasing his abilities in controlling them, and caused them to fly right back into the hole, creating controlled explosions to collapse the hole like the others had collapsed.
"Your attacking me with my own power? I don't think so. Don't you know that I can control all phenomenon? And your powers aren't any different. They will submit to me sooner or later Bedeze? Even if you're the Third Ranked."
Zenki controlled his aura around his body, wearing it like a suit of armour, as he shot forward. The speeds were blinding. Even Asia who was used to Zenki moving fast, now couldn't even detect him at all. He was moving faster than he had usually.
Bedeze also were slightly stunned, but the instant he perceived Zenki coming in, a small hole opened up by his face, absorbing Zenki's powerful fist into it, along with the fist opening up behind his head in an effort to strike him with his own attack.
But Zenki saw that coming, and while his hand did indeed come through, it was filled with the Kankara Formula, allowing the hole that had been created behind him to expand, growing higher and higher, to the point that it was nearly as tall as Bedeze himself.
Zenki then simply released his aura, bending it around himself, and headed right for Bedeze at close range. Bedeze gritted his teeth, creating a hole to jump into it, avoiding the massive wave of power Zenki had used.
For a few moments, Bedeze disappeared all together.
But then he appeared beside Zenki, his fist embedding itself into Zenki's face, exploding his demonic power right into his face, and sent him flying into the Occult Research building. Asia gasped "Zenki-san!" and went to move, when Bedeze stopped her.
"Girl, don't interfere with this battle."
Asia stood her ground, and turned to Bedeze, allowing her hands to glow with demonic power.
"Even if you say that...Zenki-san is my King, and I'll always stand beside Zenki-san. You don't know anything about the power of cooperation. Zenki-san always says that a team effort can beat a single person. A single person can make mistakes, a team can cover that persons mistakes, and make the group stronger than the sum of its parts."
Becoming intrigued, he wondered if she was going to fight. But she simply stuck her hand to the ground, and a light appeared.
He didn't get what it was at first.
If this was a strong attack, a defence, or what.
But, he then saw that it was a simple barrier. He laughed at the sight, he didn't think that this was going to be anything special, so he outstretched his palm, and simply released a wave of demonic power for her body.
"Crumble and die you-" Pausing, he saw that the barrier began to bubble up, and release some weird type of flies. The flies spun around Asia defensively. "-w-wait, that wasn't a barrier! It was a summoning that threw me off with the barrier! You took that to distract me you little bitch! And flies...those are-"
"Mine you bastard! Don't call my Asia-chan a bitch!"
Zenki appeared before Bedeze, getting in close and delivered a hard blow to Bedeze's face. Bedeze was stunned by the sudden punch, which cut deeply into his cheek. And then the blowback of the demonic power washed over him, sending him flying back through the entire area.
The demonic power also erupted around Bedeze, and caught him in the massive wave. The blood that flew out of his body stained the ground. The world around him was shaking due to the power that Zenki had released.
"Yes! That's right Zenki-kun! Kick ass!"
Isane cheered, glad that Zenki had managed to accomplish that.
Rias though knew it wasn't over, and held back her cheers.
Zenki's eyes went towards Asia, and smiled lightly.
"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"
Asia shook her head, showing that she was indeed alright.
"No, because I knew Zenki-san would be right back. A single punch wouldn't take down Zenki-san."
Zenki wiped his face of the small bit of blood Bedeze managed to drag out of him.
"Yes, you're right about that. His punch wont stop..."
Zenki trailed off, seeing a hole opening above him. He prepared for demonic power, but what he got was something different than that.
It was Bedeze himself, who came down with a double punching attack. His fists together, ready to pound him into the ground.
"I don't think so!"
Zenki raised his hand, and blocked off the powerful fists, forcing the man backwards, and delivered his own powerful fist back for Bedeze.
"Listen boy, your combat abilities are good, but you lack experience like me!"
Bedeze created a hole beside his hand, punching through it, and caused a hole to appear at the elbow of Zenki. Managing to land a strong blow, Zenki slightly winced at the feeling, but it didn't stop him from continuing on, his fist embedding into the man's upper body.
Bedeze spat out bile while Zenki retracted his arm, feeling the stinging pain he received because of the punch. But it didn't deter him, he just had to recall the time he fought against Diodora, and how he had been bloodied, broken and still he kept fighting.
"Experience, I've got a number of experiences in battle. I've been on deaths door before, I remember I promised myself that I'd become strong, strong enough to fight any foe that threatened me or my loved ones. You might be strong, maybe even stronger than me. But, I wont give up because of that fact. Besides, I know Sairaorg would be pissed if I gave in from a single punch. By the way, his punches hit harder than yours!"
Using his incredible speeds, Zenki got before Bedeze, and twirled his hands around, creating what seemed to be ropes of demonic power. Allowing them to shoot out, he turned them to light via Reverse, and threatened to wrap around his body.
Bedeze grimaced and growled.
"You are the most troublesome opponent. If you were like that Sairaorg, then he'd go down without a problem. Any kind of physical opponent, or an opponent that couldn't concentrate on Techniques and Power at the same time, but you're different, you're quite scary as an opponent and no doubt in the future, you'll become very scary, you'll become a monster...but, it doesn't stop me from winning! This time, I'll make sure that you wont be able to come back!"
Bedeze created two holes. One before him, and one behind Asia.
The Third Rank was going to use Zenki's own ropes to grab his Bishop, and possibly kill her with it.
Zenki though expected that, and simply waved his hand as flies came shooting around Asia. Even when the rope came out of the hole, due to how fast it was sucked in, the flies responded, and redirected the rope right back towards Bedeze via the Kankara Formula.
"...It's amazing how skilled you've become with that. Definitely, you are a very troublesome opponent that's going to be difficult for me to defeat. Even then, it seems that I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve."
Bedeze didn't allow himself to be determined.
He wasn't going to back down.
Allowing his demonic power forward, he broke through the binds that Zenki tried to set around him. But Zenki used that moment to increase the power of his own demonic energy, sending it forward, and shot it like a huge wave of energy.
Bedeze was caught off guard. The power seemed to be focused on purely destruction. The wave neared Bedeze who attempted to jump into a hole he had created, but Zenki shut that down using his control over the Kankara Formula to make the hole collapse in on itself, forcing Bedeze to raise a barrier instead.
The barrier seemed thin at first, but Zenki saw that the barrier was compressed with more and more barriers by the second. It seemed that Bedeze was the type to focus on defence, and that he could keep his opponents at bay if his hole didn't work.
When the aura hit the barrier, Bedeze was stunned for a few moments. He thought that he was going to be finished off all at the same time, but somehow, he managed to turn the demonic power towards Asia, with a combination of his hole, and the skill with it, shooting it back at her.
"Hah! Have that Asia Argento! You'll die with the power of your King-"
"No she wont!"
But while doing that, Zenki also managed to get behind him, delivering a kick straight down towards the top of his head.
Bedeze stopped Zenki's approaching foot with a hole. But rather absorbing the kick, the hole spat out some close range demonic power to crumble down Zenki's stance.
However, Zenki managed to use his incredible speed to dodge narrowly out of the way, protecting him from being hurt or worse.
At the same time, the power that Bedeze shot at Asia was being redirected, shooting right for him in a myriad of waves that could crumble down a good number of people. It had even been turned into light which made it worse for Devils such as Bedeze.
One hit of them all and he could be finished off.
That was worrying for him.
He didn't think he'd be able to take that kind of power.
"Don't toy with me!"
Bedeze snapped, unleashing a good amount of power to combat the power. Zenki, used this chance to twist around to Bedeze's back, filling his hand with aura, and shot it forward.
Bedeze cocked his neck back, and grinned.
"Not yet boy. You're not ready to take me down."
Bedeze's hole opened up, threatening to swallow him hole. However, the moment Zenki went to have his hand sucked into the hole, he simply disappeared into a burst of speed, appearing right in front of him.
Panicking, Bedeze opened another hole, hoping the fist would be absorbed. Once more, Zenki disappeared into a burst of speed, repeating this process. He'd appear, Bedeze would open up a hole, but Zenki wouldn't be lured into the hole, and managed to get to a different location.
Simply speaking, Zenki was attempting to overwhelm Bedeze with a blitz of speed, and hating to admit it, Bedeze was having trouble keeping up with the wild attacks. Bedeze thought that if Zenki resorted to this, then he'd be able to blow him away with his holes, and then demonic power.
But, it simply wasn't a fact right now.
Rias, and the others who watched on, were stunned Zenki could do this. Even Ajuka who was busy destroying the seals of the Rating Game, seeing his son being able to fight like this, just showed Ajuka that Zenki truly had been training hard, he wasn't an idiot, and could use the Kankara Formula quite well.
"Bedeze might be the third...but, seeing Zenki-kun doing this Ajuka...this boy did inherit the talents of both Astaroth and Beelzebub."
Sirzechs praised, but Ajuka shook his head.
"Please don't speak as if this isn't Zenki's effort at all."
"Hmmm?"
Sirzechs pondered, while Ajuka lightly smiled.
"My son is talented. But that way of thinking would belittle the hours, days, weeks, months, years of polishing of techniques, of increasing power, that Zenki has achieved. He works hard, harder than many people. He understands that talent is amazing, but training is also a fundamental factor into fighting like this."
Rias mentally agreed.
She also wondered if she had been taking training less seriously.
At the same time, the flies around Asia all erupted with the Kankara Formula, and released their powers to control the power, splitting it apart, and shot it back towards Bedeze himself.
Bedeze, reeling from the punch, created a new hole, and absorbed the power.
Or he attempted to.
When it was being absorbed, Bedeze noticed that the power had an odd discolouration, it was a thick purple colour.
The purple coloured demonic power span around within the portal created, and soon expanded, Bedeze noticing that the purple demonic power was…
"That's it...it's poison!"
Zenki didn't let up, and got towards the right hand side of Bedeze. Unleashing a barrage of punches, Bedeze picked up the way he moved, and simply made some holes to block his fists, and teleport them some place else, so he wouldn't be affected by the powerful fists.
But he also saw that each time he created a portal now, it seemed to be more and more difficult.
As if all of his portals were being poisoned.
Noticing that the poisoned portal wasn't closing, he willed it to close…
But it simply didn't.
It wouldn't close on his command.
"W-Why isn't it closing?!"
"I wont let it close, that's why."
Zenki revealed, Bedeze noticing the flies around Asia kept using the Kankara Formula. At first, he thought it was simply on the poison. But, no, it seemed to be on the portal itself. They were willing it to remain open, and cause the poison to spread across the network of holes that he had created.
"But, how is it affecting all of my portals?!"
"They're all connected, right? Your portals are like roads, they lead to wherever you want, and can cross with each other. I'm just using the Kankara Formula, to establish the connection between your new holes, and this hole I've taken care of."
Bedeze was stunned.
He didn't think that Zenki would be able to do that.
He was tactical.
He was smart.
He was able to take advantage of his opponents abilities with his own ability.
He thought that right now, he was dealing with a monster.
"W-Wait, Zenki! We could work together! You and I, we could overthrow the Maou's! Your techniques, your abilities, you'd be able to overwhelm Ajuka, and become the true Beelzebub!"
Zenki scoffed.
"I will surpass my old man. But, I wont do it in a cheating way, I'll do it with my talents, dedication. I'll become Beelzebub that can stand proudly. But, I wouldn't ever join someone like you, who's cowardly, and doesn't have his own ways of life. Latching onto anything that promises sweet words, believing in a world where Reincarnated Devils can't become strong. That's simply stupid. This world is changing, your ways are disappearing. The future needs all sorts of people, and you, aren't one of them!"
Bedeze panicked.
Seeing the way that his holes weren't being effective anymore, it seemed that he was running out of options. His demonic power was drained due to his fight with Serafall, and now with Zenki. It was difficult to even comprehend how he was going to fight against Zenki.
"Zenki, wait! Don't disregard it so fast! I can tell you things! About the person behind this! If you let me go, I'll tell you everything!"
"You're gonna tell me everything anyway, so don't offer it up as a bargaining chip now!"
His words, crumbled Bedeze's hopes of a peaceful way out.
He knew that this wasn't going to end well.
He only had one chance left.
One attack that was going to work.
But, Zenki still had his speed.
He didn't have the power to contain Zenki now that his holes had been poisoned out of existence.
Desperately, he looked for anything that he could use to help him.
To distract him so he could capture him…
Then he saw Asia.
That girl, that Zenki would risk himself for. Who he'd die for.
He smirked, and began to laugh.
"Zenki Astaroth, I'll admit that your ability is simply fantastic. But, you're not going to win this fight."
Zenki raised a brow.
"Why's that then?"
"While I have nothing here that would cause me to become distracted...you do." Bedeze's hand created a magical circle, and flames of purple erupted. "I had some saved up. This time, you wont be able to take control over them."
Zenki thrusted his hand out, creating his Kankara Formula to stop the flames.
But something odd happened.
The moment his aura wrapped around the flames, it shattered instantly.
"See? I told you. My leader has been treating me to his research. In particular, the research around Kankara Formula. To turn Ajuka's most powerful technique, into a thing that's nothing at all. It can't touch this technique. Your power cannot reach me."
Zenki saw in Bedeze's hand, there was a magical seal on a piece of paper.
Zenki presumed that it was a sealing type of magic...no, rather it was a negating type of magic sealed onto a piece of paper. But for someone to actually create that, to be able to stop the Kankara Formula, it was scary, and insane, Zenki thought.
But it was also rather intriguing for him to know exactly how he did it.
"That's why, your Bishop is going to roast! You might be able to control power, but can you block flames directly meant to slay Devils?! This girl will die! And you'll only be able to watch as she perishes! Or, you could save her, but you'll burn! Even you wont be able to out think me this time!"
Bedeze, in his craze, shot off the powerful holy flames for Asia.
Asia looked towards Zenki...and understood something.
She simply curled down as the flames engulfed the flies around her in their protective form.
Zenki's eyes sunk slightly, as Bedeze smirked.
"As I said, your Otou-sama is cold. It seems to be a trait shared by his son. Just as cold, just as malicious as he is. You let your own Bishop die before your eyes." Bedeze's eyes shot forward angrily towards the composed Zenki. "You...show emotions you bastard! Your Bishop just died! You couldn't have been that cold as to not break from seeing her die, right?"
"Right, if Asia-chan did die...then I'd be broken."
"What do you mean 'if'?! She has just perished in the flames! You couldn't save her at all!"
Zenki turned his eyes to Bedeze who wickedly glared at him.
"Save her...I couldn't do that, right?"
Zenki didn't betray any emotions he could be feeling.
He simply spoke, and looked at the fires that kept burning.
"Right! She's in the flames, in ashes and you're just standing here..." Zenki stepped aside, showing that Asia was stood there, perfectly safe. "...what in the actual hell?! What are you...h-how did you?! You wouldn't have time to teleport her to you! You'd have to be beside her to teleport you both! That's not even possible! You couldn't simply do that! You can't be real! That's a simple illusion so you don't mentally break, right?!"
Hearing that, Asia waved.
"Zenki-san will always come and protect me."
Bedeze was falling into despair.
He didn't know what to even think now.
Zenki was a powerful guy sure.
But his techniques.
His ability to plan ahead.
It was scary.
It was even something that Ajuka couldn't comprehend.
"Y-You're...bu-but, that's not...I-I can't...t-this isn't right! This isn't real! You can't be real! This is a joke! A mistake! This isn't..."
Zenki merely stepped forward, exhaling.
He could feel his stamina drain being real.
However, he also saw that Bedeze was becoming quite exhausted.
"Bedeze, don't you know that I am like my Otou-sama? I always have plans in case my attacks fail, even if the Kankara Formula fails. I'm not a one trick Pony, you know?" Zenki placed his hand out, as a few flies surrounded him. "Cute little things, aren't they? Using them, I can run my power right through them. Using them, I could transfer Asia-chan right beside me, with the link between these little flies. Though I'm more intrigued about that piece of paper in your hand. I'd like to know how someone developed the anti Kankara Formula."
Bedeze revealed the paper, showing that it had disappeared, the circle that was on it.
"Now you wont know. One shot use. But still, your stamina is drained, your demonic power wont be able to stand up to mine!"
Hearing that, Zenki knew he'd have to try something. Anything to combat this power. So he knew he'd have to try a very dangerous technique. A technique he had yet to perfect, yet, also offered him incredible strength at the cost of a big portion of stamina among other things.
"Asia-chan...as my Bishop, will you keep supporting me even now?"
Asia gained a question mark above her head.
"Zenki-san, are you thinking about..."
"Yes, I'll have to use that technique. It's my ace in the hole...it's my technique that allows me to grow even stronger. But I've not been able to stabilize it yet...even then, I know that with Asia-chan beside me...I'll be able to fight."
Asia put her hands together, and simply nodded strongly.
"Yes, Zenki-san. I'll always be here to support Zenki-san, no matter what."
Zenki lightly smiled, as he stuck out his hands. From the air, vibrations rung out, and distortions in the air happened to spit out a good number of flies. The flies began to circulate Zenki's body, attaching to his form, melding with his body.
Bedeze looked confused as Zenki's body glowed bright green. The light of the flies also merged with Zenki's form. From behind him, multiple Devil wings, and fly like wings shot out of his back. His face twisted, and contorted, his skin turned more into more of a flies.
His body began to grow also. It grew bigger, and bigger. His face also began to turn more fly like, Asia watched with her hands clutched together, as Zenki transformed into something else. He had transformed into a fly chimera/human hybrid type of being. Not one, or the other.
Zenki's body released a deadly poison, the poison rotted away the ground below him, along with anything that got in his path.
Bedeze backed away slightly, feeling a sick feeling entering his body, feeling his body becoming more and more sickly at this form before him.
"T-That form..."
Ajuka also noticed it, and was surprised.
"I see...so, he's managed to tap into the ability to turn into a fly like that..."
"What does it do exactly? He seems to be half human and half fly right now...it's really weird yet kind of awesome too..."
Isane asked Rias, who wasn't sure.
"This is the first time I've seen it, so I couldn't tell you..."
Rias replied truthfully.
Sirzechs, understanding what was happening before him, breathed out slowly.
"Think of it like...Zenki's manifested his bloodline ability, but this time, he's not summoned flies, he's turned into one by attaching them to his body. It allows him to have immense strength thanks to a combination of using Kankara Formula and his flies, but it will also be hard to stabilize that form, at least from what I can tell right now, so that's why he saved it until now. I've seen this before, someone I fought hundreds of years ago could do this...but unlike that form, this form was achieved by his talents, and knowledge, he didn't have any outside help...he's going to have powers that surpass Bedeze's current level."
Rias was stunned.
She didn't think he had something like that packing.
"Surpassing even Bedeze's right now..."
"In that form, he's turned on the Kankara Formula onto the flies, which increases their power, in turn that powers absorbed back into Zenki's form, and increases his power exponentially...yes, he's given birth to a move that can showcase his incredible strength and talents. Also, with the poison, it seems he's mixed the Kankara Formula into it, so he's able to break down powers at an increased rate...fascinating, to mix my technique with his Okaa-san's bloodline ability..."
Ajuka murmured, proud of his sons technique.
Rias was happy to hear that Zenki had this form.
"It's amazing...now, I'll have to perfect my own techniques."
Ajuka continued with a light smile.
"Using this form, he must know that he currently doesn't have the ability to win without using this kind of power. Though from what I can tell, it doesn't seem like the perfect transformation, rather it seems that he's used a form that would give him power, but wouldn't be too difficult to use. This is a middle of the road type of form, something his Okaa-san used to do as well."
"So, Zenki-kun could push it even further? To a full transformation?"
Akeno's question was met with a nodding head from Ajuka.
"Correct. Middle of the road, Zenki deemed it necessary to unleash this power, and not go too far with it so it's a full transformation. He probably believes that it will be enough for the current Bedeze who's had his power restored, but his body is still damaged, that's going to be the deciding factor here. He probably plans to finish off Bedeze in one fell swoop. If he went full chimera...then I don't know how powerful he'd be...but, still he might not have full control over a perfect transformation yet, that's why he's gone into this form..."
"Zenki-sama..."
Ravel said with worry, she didn't want anything to happen to her King.
Zenki, who had transformed, turned towards Bedeze, and his wings fluttered.
Bedeze backed down slightly, and went to open a hole...but saw that the hole was being corroded away by the poison that was being released.
"S-Shit! Damn it...your power has increased quite a-" Zenki appeared before him, significantly faster than before, embedding his fist deeply into the torso of Bedeze. "Gwaaaaah!"
Spitting out blood, Bedeze was sent flying into the air. As he was, Zenki opened his mouth, releasing a large volume of poison. Also by flapping his multiple Devil wings and fly wings, he could spread the poisons power further and further.
Bedeze, in the air, turned his hands downwards, and shot off high density power.
But the moment it touched the poison, it too eroded out of existence. Like it was returning it to nothingness. The poison was so strong that even Sirzechs murmured "Damn..." believing that with this power, Zenki would be able to pull off a victory.
The poison destroyed all of the demonic energy thanks to Zenki mixing the poison and Kankara Formula together to increase the rate of breaking down of Bedeze's power.
Bedeze flapped his Devil wings once revealing them, announcing "No! I wont die!" and continued his heavy barrage of amazingly powerful bursts of energy.
However, the poison simply followed after him, like it was honing in on him thanks to the Kankara Formula.
Asia looked to Zenki, seeing that he was panting.
He needed to finish the fight quickly.
Using the poison to keep him at bay, Zenki was allowed to shoot through it himself. Being immune to the poison himself, Zenki flew right towards Bedeze. Bedeze tried to shoot his demonic power, but that simply disappeared within the cloud of poison itself.
"You piece of shit!"
Bedeze snapped, managing to create a hole in the air, and punched through it.
His hole opened up near Zenki's face, and while it did indeed stay open, his fist couldn't reach Zenki. The poison was soaking through his demonic powered fist, breaking it down, and on his skin, the flesh he had was beginning to erode out of existence as well.
"Deadly poison, straight from my Kaa-chan!"
Bedeze panicked, ripping his hand back, seeing the damage to it.
Snapping his fingers, Bedeze summoned what seemed to be his ultimate power. He was putting everything into his attack. Zenki also knew he'd have to do the same thing, so he breathed out more and more poison, while also charging up his demonic power, changing it into light so Bedeze would suffer even more through it and incapacitate him.
Asia saw the strain on Zenki's face.
Even though he hadn't been in it long, she knew that it was difficult staying in the form for too long.
So she did the only thing that she could.
She spread her wings, and flew up towards Zenki.
The poison emitted by Zenki didn't touch Asia as she got in close. Her hands touched Zenki's arm, drawing his full attention towards her.
"Asia-chan..."
"Zenki-san, I might not be strong...but please, use your power to take my own...I'll give it all to Zenki-san, so we can beat Bedeze...so we can make sure he's stopped, and doesn't hurt anyone else..."
"Asia-chan...are you sure?"
"Yes, please, allow me to help Zenki-san."
Zenki smiled, and hugged the young woman into his body. The flies around him attached to Asia, and began drawing out her power as she constantly released it from her body. Feeling weaker and weaker, Asia released a cute moaning sound, apparently the effects of the energy stealing seemed to be feeling good to her.
While he couldn't absorb the power directly like Vali who could do it regardless if they used power or weren't using power, using the flies and Kankara Formula, he could take the power that she was releasing.
Increasing his powers more and more, a huge sphere of demonic power was formed. The poison he spewed out, spreading through the orb thanks to the Kankara Formula, and coated it in a layer of protection.
Bedeze was panicking. He was feeling afraid now. The power before him was scary to even think about.
"...N-No, it can't be...it can't be this! This power, Beelzebub and Astaroth...I can't...I can't lose!"
Bedeze, charged up his entire power, shot off his incredible energy forward. Zenki also thrusted his hand forward, shooting off his sphere, while Asia collapsed into his arms, panting from the power she had taken from her.
The sphere and the demonic power clashed.
The clashing powers created a huge shock wave. The buildings surrounding them was destroyed by the simple move. Their powers blended together, but Bedeze saw that the poison coating the sphere was breaking down his demonic power, more and more, allowing Zenki's energy to collide with him.
"N-No! It can't end here! It can't!"
Bedeze panicked more and more, shooting off energy spheres towards the large sphere of Zenki's. But the poison acting like an armour, broke down the spheres and destroyed it without incident, breaking it down into nothingness.
"This is Bedeze! You're finished now!"
Bedeze couldn't flee now.
The power was coming at him.
He activated barriers, but they were eroded away into nothingness.
In his last ditch attempt to harm Zenki, he seemingly summoned an arrow of light.
Pure light.
"This was for the Maou's, made up from Arthur's Holy Swords aura and condensed to kill them...but, you'll do instead, I wont lose to you..."
Using the last power he had, he could create a hole in the air, and shot if off towards Zenki.
Zenki, while concentrating on his attack, didn't see the arrow until the last moment, where he managed to stop it from piercing his chest, divert it away and hit his stomach instead.
He winced as Bedede's body was overcome by the power.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Bedeze's screams echoed through the area, as the power wrapped around him, breaking down his stance, and his body.
Blood shot out of him as the power exploded around him. Catching him up in the full power, Bedeze's eyes overcame with fear, flinging him right into the ground. Wounds were all across his body. His blood leaked out of him like a tap turned on full, every part of his body screamed at him.
His eyes closed, indicating that he had reached a state of unconsciousness.
Zenki's body dropped to the ground once confirming Bedeze's defeat, as Asia panicked.
Landing on said ground, Zenki continued to pant, the tiredness showed on his face. The bags under his eyes, the fatigue he felt was unreal.
He felt sick from the light arrow.
"D-Damn it..."
"Z-Zenki-san..."
Asia panicked, as Zenki placed his hand on the arrow, and called "Re-Reverse..." and turned it into a demonic arrow.
Because of that, Zenki could grab it, and rip it out of his body. But he still felt the effects of the light on his body, feeling it deep inside, he tried to negate it with his Kankara Formula while Asia quickly began healing him.
"A-Ah...that hurts...but, don't worry Asia-chan...I'll be fine..."
"Are you sure Zenki-san? That arrow...it seems to have spread a holy aura inside..."
"Yeah...I'm destroying as we...aaah speak, t-turning it into harmless...demonic power...but, if I can...I can get it out...then I'll only be unconscious...for a day or two...damn light..."
Asia held onto Zenki as she healed him.
"Zenki-san...you did it. Even with that final attack...you did it."
"No...we did it, Asia-chan."
Asia continued to smile, and held onto him, as he did her.
But then he leaned against her shoulder.
"That was tiring...damn Bedeze's arrow...always got some trick up their sleeve...it seems...the lights...out of me...b-but still...aah, that wasn't ordinary...I feel so...so tired..."
"Zenki-san, please rest, you've earned it."
Asia lightly smiled, and gently placed his head on her lap, allowing him to have a small sleep.
His eyes looked into her own, as she saw him slowly falling asleep.
"Zenki-san, I'm glad...you managed to stop Bedeze from hurting people. Even if Bedeze was strong, Zenki-san still managed to win and fight..."
"Asia-chan..."
Unable to say anymore, Zenki simply fell asleep while Asia ran her fingers through his hair in a comforting manner.
She didn't move until help arrived.
It took over five minutes for them to eventually come. Immediately, Ajuka walked over to Bedeze, who was unconscious, and checked him over. What he found in his pocket was rather...worrying for him.
It was some kind of Evil Piece.
Taking it in his hand, he was astonished.
"Is this a King Piece…?" Thinking to himself, he overlooked it swiftly, then determined some differences. "No, this isn't the King Piece...not exactly, this is different, but this piece has similar properties of the King Piece...damn him, did he find a way to replicate the King Piece, and gave one to Bedeze…? If that's the case, then Bedeze's power was increased...yet, my son still edged out a win, that's my boy. Pulling off feats like this...you'd be proud of him, our son is saving lives, and beating down the bad guys...that's how you always put it. So simple...yet, so effective. That's why I truly loved you, you always made the complicated things easy, I always was at ease in your presence...but now that your relative is back, I'll have to begin making moves, to protect our son from him...especially if he's made replica King Pieces, who knows who he could sway to his side with them...still, where did he even find one…? He couldn't of got one on his own...did he have Bedeze steal a real one…? Or, is there another enemy we're unaware of? Either way, seeing our son fighting like that...he did your thing of partial transformation, he must have remembered it from when he was young...he didn't even tell me, guess he wanted it to be a surprise."
While Ajuka was thinking about it, Ravel came running up to Zenki as did Isane, Akeno and Rias. Checking over him, they looked relieved when they saw that he was simply asleep, he wasn't dead.
"Zenki, he managed to do it. Defeating the Third Ranked Rating Game player, that's an awesome feat. Even taking that light arrow, he's still alive..."
Akeno said with a smile, Rias agreeing.
"Indeed, many people will notice this kind of feat, and will be quite impressed with Zenki's win and how he fought."
"Yes...also, with his fight against Riser-nii-sama."
"How is Riser anyway?"
Isane asked Ravel who pursed her lips.
"Recovering, he didn't want any visitors, he said he needed to think about a few things." Ravel's eyes went towards Zenki, and smiled. "Zenki-sama...this is why I joined, you keep surprisingly me despite all of our years together."
"Fufu, I know. Now that Rias is marrying Zenki-kun, it's time for our affair to truly begin~"
Rias scowled at Akeno.
"A-Are you going to attempt to steal my Zenki?"
"My Zenki, is it Rias?" Akeno gave a challenging stare to Rias. "Fufu, you're going to have competition Rias~ My Zenki-kun is also going to marry me too~"
"B-But, he's marrying me first!"
"After Asia-sama."
Ravel reminded, Rias nodding as she glanced at Asia simply hugging Zenki's head.
"Yes, I know that. Still that doesn't mean anything about being with Zenki in an intimate way."
Asia looked between them, then to Isane who was seemingly writing something down in a book marked 'Harem' wondering what that truly was about, and what she truly was writing down, but could see that Isane had a perverted expression.
Ajuka walked over towards Zenki, and checked on his condition, while Sirzechs and a number of guards, took Bedeze away.
"Ajuka-san..."
Asia called, but Ajuka simply smiled.
"It's alright, he's going to live. He's simply going to be fatigued for a little while from that light, from what I can gather, it was designed to kill a Maou, so Zenki taking it like he did is incredible. No normal Devil would have survived. It's a good thing he had you here, and also his Kankara Formula. But, he'll have his Nekomata's to help with that to restore his body fully."
Asia gave a thankful smile, hugging onto Zenki tightly.
She was glad that it was over with now.
Finally, they could begin getting back to normal.
A few days later, Koneko and Kuroka, fully naked, were rubbing their bodies up and down Zenki's sleeping form.
Using their Senjutsu, they were able to replenish his stamina more and more.
Though he hadn't woken up yet, they were still trying their bests to restore his power.
"Nyaaa...Zenki-chan, wake up soon..."
Kuroka meowed out sadly, hoping that Zenki would come out soon.
Koneko also was worried for her King, and kept rubbing her body against his own.
"...He'll be coming back soon. ...Senpai wouldn't stay asleep for so long."
Koneko was sure about that.
She waited and waited for Zenki to show back up, so she'd be able to spend more time with him.
As they healed him with their Senjutsu skills, Zenki's eyes began to flutter.
"Zenki-senpai..."
Koneko called, seeing him finally waking up.
As soon as he did, Zenki's eyes met with Koneko's who allowed a cute smile to appear on her face.
"...Senpai, you're-"
"Zenki-chan!" Kuroka cried, fully kissing Zenki's lips. "My Zenki-chan finally woke up~"
Koneko scowled at the sight before her, seeing how Kuroka took advantage of the situation for her own benefit.
"Onee-sama...that's not fair, simply kissing Zenki-senpai when he wasn't prepared..."
"Ararara, you could do the same thing Shirone. Zenki-chan here likes it when girls kiss him, don't you Zenki-chan~?"
Zenki chortled lightly, placing a hand on Koneko's head, and Kuroka's, and gently petted them.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Just a few days. Seems like Bedeze got his ass handed to him~"
"Did Bedeze..."
"...He was taken away Senpai, and is being questioned as we speak. All he is saying though is that he did for his leader, and says that this leader is going to take down society as we know it...the usual crazy stuff people say when they want to be aloof."
Kuroka weighed her hands up.
"Even then, it doesn't matter because Zenki-chan took down the Number Three! Yeah boy, took that asshole down! He might have had that last trick, but he's gone now!"
Zenki held back a smile.
"Serafall-sama softened him up, just finished him off, that's all. Exploiting the damage he had already sustained, even if he restored his power, my poison could weaken him quicker and quicker."
"Still, he was the Number Three, there are talks about Zenki-chan even more now in the Underworld, praise being thrown your way, the ingenuity of your skills. I even heard that people are considering having Zenki-chan increase his social status. Hehe, they want Zenki-chan to find even more brides now!"
"More brides?"
Koneko nodded, seeing Zenki's surprised face.
"...Senpai, is it surprising?"
"The Underworld definitely is unpredictable. I didn't think they'd care much about that until I married Rias."
"Zenki-chan, you're getting even more offers to become your brides! Though, marry us peerage members first, okay nyaaa? We love you more than these people~"
Zenki relieved her worries as he gently petted her head.
"I wouldn't marry people I don't know Kuroka-san. Still...more offers..."
"Yes, it really does annoy me."
Zenki was surprised as he saw Rias entering the room.
"Aah Rias, I'm happy to see you."
"Yes, as am I my darling."
Kuroka and Koneko glared at Rias for that choice of words when it came to Zenki.
"Eeh, are you alright Rias? No more problems with the Underworld?"
"Well….there's always problems. Like, people are now sending me baby names, great isn't it?"
Sarcastically saying it, Rias flipped a hand through her hair as Zenki simply chortled.
"Baby names? Geez, we haven't even married yet."
Rias agreed, as she bobbed her head up and down.
"I know, the Underworld can be so damn pushy. But, I did hear a few good ones, so I'd take them into consideration." Rias said with a smile, Kuroka frowned as she moved closer. "Anyway, I'm glad you're awake Zenki. Because we've got a few things to do."
"Things?"
Rias nodded, getting onto the bed, lightly laying her lips over Zenki's own. Koneko frowned even more as Rias wrapped her arms around his neck...or tried to, as Kuroka simply slapped her hands away from Zenki's body.
Rias glanced at Kuroka who didn't look thrilled at all.
"Right, things. The Underworld thought we should have some sort of engagement party, I don't know when that's going to be yet. But, now it's official that we're getting married..."
Koneko, in a slightly jealous look, moved to Zenki's side, wrapping her arms around his upper body and defiantly stared at Rias.
"...Senpai will marry me too."
"Nyahaha, Shirone. He'll marry us both~"
Kuroka grinned, Rias furrowed her brows, puffing out her cheeks.
"E-Either way. we've got plenty of time to do things now. Speaking of, I'm not sure if anyone's told you yet, but Le Fay-sans Onii-sama has been returned, thanks to your combined efforts, he's come back, now they have plenty of time together now."
"I'm glad that Le Fay-san got her Onii-sama back. It's been a hard time...but, I'm glad that we got him back, and now with Bedeze arrested..."
Rias, seeing that Zenki still looked a bit tired, pulled up, and dragged Kuroka to her feet.
"Come, we should let Zenki get some rest. We should tell the others that Zenki is awake."
"Nyaaa...you're right. Come on Shirone, lets go~"
Kuroka and Rias began walking out of the room, as Koneko turned her eyes to Zenki.
"...Senpai, we'll leave you alone, and come back later."
"Heeeh, I'll be back to normal soon, don't worry Koneko-chan."
Koneko nodded, leaning forward, and gently kissed Zenki's lips with her own. Feeling her small lips on his own, his hand gently cupped the back of her head, and smiled into their sweet kiss, something Koneko truly appreciated, that she could be with her King in this intimate manner, despite him having a fiancée in Rias now.
When she broke apart from Zenki, she blushed and jumped off the bed.
"...Then I'll leave Senpai..."
While walking out of the room, Koneko whispered "I'm glad you're back, Senpai." to which Zenki smiled at.
"Yes, I'm back Koneko-chan."
Koneko stopped at the door, and showed a cute smile on her face, a smile she rarely showed around others.
"...Senpai, don't worry, I'll also become someone Senpai would want as a bride."
"Koneko-chan..."
"Just wait, Senpai. Not only Rias-senpai...but, I will also become Zenki-senpai's bride too..."
Zenki lightly smiled as she walked out of the room.
Once she was gone, Zenki leaned back, and lightly yawned, and began to relax...
A few hours later, Zenki was left alone in his room, to have some time to himself, and recover his body. Along with briefly speaking to his Father via hologram and checking in there. Though Zenki could see that Ajuka was distracted by something.
Whatever it was, Zenki wasn't so sure, but he did want to find out either way.
While recovering in his room, Zenki heard a knock at the door.
[Zenki-sama, I'm sorry for the intrusion, but Onii-sama has come to see you. Erm...Riser-nii-sama I should say. Is it alright if he comes inside?]
Ravel's voice alerted him. He quickly threw on a shirt, and sat up in the bed.
"Riser..." Zenki murmured, wondering what he could want now. "Aah, sure, I'm decent."
The door opened, revealing a flustered Ravel, and a disheartened Riser.
Ravel looked between the two of them, before she sat down on a nearby chair. Riser just stood there, unmoving in his body and mind.
"Ah, Riser, is there something going on?"
At the question, Zenki saw that Riser suddenly sharpened his eyes.
"...Bedeze, he used me."
"Yes...he did."
Zenki retorted, still curious as to what was happening with Riser's mentality right now.
"Because of that...all the time and effort I put into training...it was for nothing. Now...Now, I've brought shame to my family...I was working with Bedeze...even unknowingly...I was suckered in by his lies, and because of that...I endangered both my Imouto, her King...and also, I endangered the Underworld. If Tiamat-sama had been killed...if the Rating Game didn't happen in the first place..."
"Riser, this wasn't your fault."
Zenki's words caused Riser's eyes to broaden.
"Zenki..."
"Bedeze...he did use you. I'm sorry that he did. But it happened. Times will be tough now...but as I've told Ravel-chan and the Phenex clan, there's no animosity between Astaroth and Phenex at all. This incident will be just that, an incident. It wont go any further on our end."
At that, Riser began becoming emotional.
He didn't think that it would be this easy.
The image he had of Zenki in his head was that of a monster that would turn on him the instant that he could.
But no, Zenki was giving him a reprieve.
He was allowing him to simply have a normal life once more without anything in return.
"I...Is it really okay? I put you and your group through...I also put Ravel through a lot..."
"I can't speak for Ravel-chan, it's for her to decide what she feels about you. But I know that any hostility on my side would simply cause Ravel-chan upset, and I don't want to do that. Besides, as I explained. Bedeze is the one at fault he. He suckered you in with sweet words, that's not your fault Riser. Temptation with the right incentive can be difficult to fight. You had genuine concerns for your Imouto, any Onii-sama would be worried about that. I do get where you came from Riser. But, don't let this situation put you down. Grow from it, become better. You have a great peerage, those girls really care about you."
Riser lightly hiccuped, Ravel smiled, she could see that Zenki's words had penetrated Riser's heart, along with the fight in the Rating Game. Riser, was truly seeing the error of his ways. Not just the fact that Zenki was stronger, but also how he treated people and himself in general.
"Talent...it doesn't equal success, does it?"
"Talents part of it. If you're lucky to be born with it, then of course it's amazing. But at the same time, it's not something you should rely on. I learned that early in my life. Now Riser, you've just learned it too."
Riser exhaled slowly.
"...I thought that I found someone that believed in me...Bedeze, I thought he cared about my feelings too..."
"I know...he's a snake, but now you've got a chance to make it right. Begin learning and moving forward. Bedeze was a bastard, he can't control your life from now. He was right when he said training is what makes a difference. So don't give up on that, I'd like a proper fight with you one day Riser, when I'm gonna ask Ravel-chan to be my bride~"
Trying to play it light hearted, to cheer Riser up, Riser seemed to begin cheering up, and smirked.
"You want to marry Ravel, you've got to fight me for that right. Though when I'm stronger, and my peerage too. I'll be training and growing stronger. I'll even ask Sairaorg for hand to hand training, and I'll make sure the Phenex shine bright again."
"Good, that's amazing Riser. I can't wait for us to fight for the right for me to marry my cute Ravel-chan~"
Ravel blushed immensely, poking her fingers together shyly.
"Z-Zenki-sama! T-That's...w-we're going to get married! Zenki-sama and my wedding would be the best ever! I can imagine it now...aah, Zenki-sama, and me...being wed, and having little Phenex Astaroth Beelzebub children...need to shorten that...but, imagining it makes me so happy..."
Zenki lightly smiled towards Ravel, as Riser felt a pang of remorse inside of him.
He wished that he could atone for what had happened.
Even as an unwitting Pawn, he still shared some of the blame for what happened.
"...Then, I'm going to leave. I've got things to do…make things up with the Underworld...make sure that Phenex doesn't suffer from my blunder."
"Onii-sama..."
At Ravel's call, Riser simply let out a laugh.
"I was wrong Ravel. This King of yours, seems to be the real deal. He's a genuine guy...yeah, I caused a lot of problems...I'm sorry Ravel, my error as an Onii-sama seemed to be...that I couldn't do anything good for you...I caused a lot of problems...but, I'll do my best to make it up...to make sure that you're...to make sure that you're alright from now on...to make sure Phenex thrives again..."
Ravel placed her hands on her lap, showcasing a light smile.
"I know Onii-sama, don't worry about it now."
Riser bowed his head, and began exiting the room.
"Until later, Ravel. Enjoy your time in the human world...with your King."
Hearing that, Ravel was content now.
She knew that Riser truly was changing and growing into a strong person now.
Once he had left, Zenki's eyes landed on Ravel, seeing that she was smiling.
"Ravel-chan, now that this is over...the Phenex are going to have a bit of a difficult time."
"Yes...it's going to be difficult."
She responded, realizing that it could be difficult times ahead, and how other houses might speak about the Phenex now. Even unwitting, some people wouldn't believe that and would think poorly about Riser and by extension, Phenex.
Seeing the worry building up on her face, Zenki tried his best to give her some comfort.
"But don't worry, I know that Astaroth, Gremory and Sitri at least will back your clan up. I also know that things will be getting tougher now. Bedeze was just the beginning, we'll have to keep getting stronger Ravel-chan."
"You're right Zenki-sama. But what I saw...Zenki-sama, I knew you'd come through. I knew you'd be able to do it...so we'll have to try even harder. We'll have to become even stronger Zenki-sama! Seeing you fighting and beating Bedeze, was amazing!"
"Yes...we'll do it Ravel-chan." Zenki placed his hands up, and stretched. "Hehe, I'll have to thank Serafall-sama for damaging Bedeze enough. Still, I want to keep getting stronger, this experience has taught me that we all still have a good long way to go...gotta improve on my Beelzebub ability with the flies huh..."
"Still, it was amazing to see Zenki-sama being able to fight like that. Seeing you being able to breathe poison, countering Bedeze-sama's moves as he tried to fight with his portals. He was right about one thing though...Zenki-sama was a hard match for him. Technique and power."
"Perhaps you're right Ravel-chan, still makes me excited to reach new heights."
Ravel expected Zenki to say something like that.
Showcasing a light smile on her face, she brushed a few strands of hair out of her face.
"Zenki-sama, the one that we met in the viewing area, it seems that he's intent on killing the Maou's."
"I heard a little bit about it from Rias, but what happened?"
Ravel cleared her throat, and began to explain the best that she could.
Once she was finished, Zenki looked troubled.
"So, it seems that both Sirzechs-sama and Otou-san know who this Shinji is then…?"
"I got the feeling that they were more than on mere understanding of each other's existences. I wouldn't say friends...but it did seem like he held a grudge against your Otou-sama, and the Maou's. According to Sirzechs-sama, someone that can seal the pathways to the Rating Game so quickly, and even took Ajuka-sama sometime to get through is very dangerous..."
"Indeed. But, I also got a weird feeling...if he's got this power...why send Bedeze to kill Tiamat-san?"
Ravel pursed her lips.
"That thoughts crossed my mind as well. I don't understand it. He's clearly powerful, I'd say he's probably stronger than Tiamat-san...it just doesn't make sense to send Bedeze there unless he had a purpose for it. Maybe he was the best for the job? Perhaps Bedeze could only get there because he was Top Three of the Rating Games..."
"I don't know...I have a feeling that Bedeze was there for a reason. We might not know what the reason is yet...but, we will find out Ravel-chan." Zenki yawned, twitching his shoulders and roated them. "Aaah, it's going to be difficult. But, I think we need some kind of break. Too many things been happening lately, wouldn't you agree Ravel-chan?"
Ravel showed a bright smile, nodding her head again and again.
"Yes Zenki-sama! We should have a break!"
"Great...then lets begin having some relaxation before anything else happens. We all deserve it after the fights we've had."
Zenki showcased a grin to match Ravel's own smile.
He knew times would be tough.
But, he still knew that his peerage deserved some time to relax, the same with the others.
Even he felt like that right now.
End chapter!
So, we finished off the fight with Bedeze, learning more about his motives.
Also, we saw a new move from Zenki, turning into a half fly chimera, which grants him the ability to breathe poison strong enough to strengthen the Kankara Formula to break down peoples abilities quicker, and erode peoples flesh as well, it does take some stamina to use so he had to use it at the right time as right now, he does find it difficult controlling that form.
Riser also showed his remorse, and showed that he was going to try his best to change his ways now.
Well, until next time, thanks for reading!
Zenki's Peerage.
Queen; Vali.
Bishops; Asia, Ingvild (mutation).
Rooks; Koneko, Xenovia.
Knights; Arthur, Yumi.
Pawns; Ravel (2 pieces), Kuroka (3 pieces), Le Fay (2 pieces), Elmenhilde (1 piece).
Zenki; Asia, Koneko, Ravel, Kuroka, Vali (fem), Serafall, Kunou, Le Fay, Xenovia, Yumi, Rias, Isane, Akeno, Irina, Rossweisse, Ingvild, Ophis, Elmenhilde.