A/N: Told you fuckers I wasn't dead.
Chartering a flight to Romania wasn't terribly difficult. While on paper we are allied with both the Hero Faction and Nilrem, neither of them particularly like us in general, or certainly me specifically. Memories of a life not my own reminded me of a certain incident involving Walburga, a bottle of very expensive wine, and many, many loads of soiled and subsequently burned laundry. Huh, guess even before my transmigration Creu didn't care much about miscegenation. Regardless, I'll have to keep my wits about me the next time I do actually attend a Khaos Brigade meeting; I don't need that sort of drama when Katerea is still freshly fucked and probably snoozing.
Conveniently enough, for all the kvetching about the inferiority of the Human world, the Old Satan Faction does in fact have a very comfortable joint account set up with some European bank or another, which means I have access to a long line of credit and paperwork that will allow me to travel regularly. According to the rather official looking passport currently nestled in my breast pocket, my name is Christoph Asmodey, a 33-year old citizen of Switzerland. I'm not sure which clever bastard decided to give me a name with a decidedly Christian etymology, but it's not giving me a headache the same way the Asshole Formerly Upstair's name would, so I suppose it's fine at the end of the day.
The flight itself wasn't too terrible, a teleportation circle taking me from the Khaos Brigade in the Underworld to a remote little town in Germany. From there, it had been a series of comfortable train rides, first into the Alps, then to Zurich, and finally a plane to Bucharest. Why the mundane travel? A number of reasons, really. For one, it had been my first time back to Earth. It may not have been my Earth, but it was Earth nonetheless. Things looked close enough, though the names of leaders and celebrities were slightly shifted around. Secondly, I'm certain enough that superhuman methods of travel were being watched, if not by the Devils then at least whichever local faction ruled where I was at. In Germany, it would have been a mix of the Church and Nordic pantheons. Here? Vampires, and more of them than I had anticipated. It seems my rather limited understanding of this universe from back home didn't do justice to the sheer scale of... well, everything.
I hadn't been off the plane and walking around Bucharest for more than an hour before I had spotted the first of our distant cousins, though she wasn't the last. Slightly paler than average, always hooded or heavily clothed, with an aura that could at times beckon humans closer or drive them to keep a distance, and predominantly long black hair. Without my own attuned sense to the supernatural, they would have fit right into normal society, more or less. At least, until the sun fell. Then, I imagine, it would be open season on unlucky humans. Lucky for me, I haven't been human for at least a week now, and the Malebranche, currently a rather fashionable cane, stored in my luggage would mean that any blood-sucker around would find themselves in a rather unpleasant situation.
That first vampire had been simply walking down the streets, though there were others certainly around. I could feel at least half a dozen within a few hundred meters, and I'm no sensor so I'm sure that there were plenty more to be found in the nooks and crannies of this old city. If they wanted me to see them, I could see them. If they didn't, well I'm sure they had a reason for that. The same way I have a reason to be here, loading around an expensive duffle bag with a week's worth of clothing instead of cuddling at home with Katerea. I wonder if I should get her something while I'm here? I'm sure even Devil women like chocolate or roses or something. Maybe a thrall? Marius should be amping up to reach out to old Lucy Jr anytime soon, and it's not like the Tepes or the Camilla will be of any relevance after tonight. Much to think about, certainly.
It didn't take too terribly long to find a hotel for the next few days, nor was it difficult to rent a vehicle for the duration of my stay here. As much as one can enjoy a good mind-control spell here and there, nothing that magic could ever come up with sways the mind quite like a little strip of plastic and a fistful of bills. When I had settled into my room for the night, carefully organizing my bags around me and inscribing a few runic arrays for protection around my room, I simply sat on the bed, still clad in the same business casual attire that I had walked into the country with. Dark pants, grey bordering on black, with a light grey dress shirt tucked into them; a simple grey overcoat keeping me warm in the chilly September air. The boots had come off as soon as I had walked in, a lifetime of taking my shoes off when entering a domicile forcing my hand before I had even realized that I had unlaced my shoes. Well, nothing else for it.
The first few rings were carried out in silence, before a decidedly unamused voice answered the line. "Where the hell are you?" Her tone was flat, no audible anger in her voice, but I knew that could be infinitely worse. Before I could stop myself, a nervous chuckle had exited my mouth. Poor move on my part. "Oh, do you find that funny, Creu?" She nearly whispered, before I finally responded. "Good morning, Kat." I drawled out, careful to keep my tone as friendly and light as possible. "I'm in Romania right now, I had a little business to attend to here. I'll be back soon, don't worry about it, alright? I just need to pick a few things up, I've even got a few surprises for you when I return."
Her surprised silence lasted only a heartbeat, but it was enough that I knew I was on my way to being out of the doghouse, at the very least. "Stay safe, Creu. When you get back, we need to talk." I nodded absentmindedly, scratching at my chin in thought for a moment before replying. "I know, Kat, I know. I'll be home soon, and we can go over everything. And," I paused, swallowing rather nervously for a moment, "I mean everything." It's a good thing Devils are sinners already, because that was a fat lie, of course. It wouldn't be everything, after all I doubt she'd like to hear that her lover was being possessed by an otherworldly spirit out to right some sort of nebulous multiversal wrong at a whim. But, to her, everything meant our... relationship, if it could be called as such, and certainly she deserved that much. I would come home when this ordeal was finished, and we would figure out where we stood, where Shalba stood, where the OSF stood, and where we would go moving forwards. With that arduous task completed, I simply went to bed.
Or rather, I attempted to go to bed. In reality, I was under the covers for all of fifteen minutes before a rather professional knock rang across the surface of my door. Obviously, I hadn't called for anyone to disturb me, and nobody besides Kat and Shalba knew that I was here. Perfect, they had sought me out before I had to go search for them. Rising smoothly from the bed, it was the work of a snap of the fingers to change my attire to something more fitting for my bloodthirsty guests, Rubicante rising from its place atop my nightstand to come into my grasp. The feeling of the Malebranche making contact with my palm was as silent as it could be, yet to me it always felt like a thunderclap, a proclamation. "I am here!" It would say, an exultation of the terrible power held within its frame.
A few long strides took me to the door, a few mundane latches sliding open as I undid some, albeit not all, of the magical protections surrounding me. As the door swung open, I was faced with a rather handsome visage. He looked young, younger than me at least, dark brows and a smooth and docile visage staring across from me. "I don't recall ordering room service," I said to the teen, for he could have been no older than such. He simply stared back, almost dull in how expressionless he seemed. "My master wishes to see you." He replied. Well, wasn't that just convenient? Nodding, I gently closed the door in front of me, careful to make no motion that could be construed as beckoning him in. Odd bit of trivia, that whole excluded unless invited thing that the Vampires had going on. But hey, who am I to judge? I can't even say certain three letter expressions without the mother of all Aspirin advertisements cock-slapping me behind the eyes. A secondary snap of my fingers had the contents of my luggage packed back into my bag, which in turn was slung carefully across one shoulder. With my keys pocketed and Rubicante still grasped loosely in hand, I simply opened the window and jumped down.
I was situated somewhere on the fourth floor of a rather chic hotel, so the drop was quieted more with magic than any sort of grace or poise. Regardless, by the time I had straightened and stood to my full height, the boy was standing across from me, still as the grave as he first watched and then followed me into the parking garage. I even had the manners to open the door for the freakish little brat, ushering him into the rented sedan that was my main form of transportation for the duration of my trip. "Is there a street address or am I going to take directions from the squishy mannequin?" I asked, noting how his face hadn't shown even the slightest signs of consternation or offense at my insult. Truly a well-trained thrall, after all. The boy simply turned to me, one arm snaking out gracefully to input the directions into my onboard GPS. Oh? Well isn't that just cute. "Buckle up, kid." I said, peeling out of the parking garage and onto the street.
You know how sometimes life imitates art, and things are simply too funny to be true? Yeah, that's what's going on right about now. After forty-five minutes, we've arrived at our destination, a rather nondescript building with what I'm sure is a teleportation circle or a tunnel, or some other route towards the main Lodge where the Vampires would live. What's so special about an abandoned? Well, not too much. Except, I'm pretty sure there was a Korean restaurant less than two blocks away. I wonder if the Vampires know that the bridge to their underworld is within walking distance of a god(ow, really need to get used to that!)damn garlic symposium. I've been to a few of those places in a past life and even my nose could pick up the smell of Manul Changachi a mile away. Odd, our cousins are. The car rolls to a gentle stop, and I depart, leaving my bag in the backseat but very obviously picking up Rubicante and carrying it with me as we depart. The thrall either ignores it altogether or doesn't care, which seems a bit lackadaisical, but who am I to judge? I'm the one that left my comfy house, with my comfy girlfriend and my comfy bedsheets to go traipse around in some cold European hell-hole. Maybe I'm the weird one here.
My steps are kept short, mostly out of respect for my much shorter companion, but in practically no time at all we've passed through the doors of the two-story building, taking a meandering approach down a hallway and a flight of stairs before the young man beckons me, arm out-stretched like some freakishly pale butler, to a waiting teleportation circle. Well, nothing for it, I suppose. I give the thrall a grin that I'm sure is less rogueish and more deeply uncomfortable, before stepping forward. One small step for a Devil, one great leap for- oh wow, this is so cliche as to hurt. A castle, really?
It turns out, yes, they can in fact be that cliche. At least, more or less. It's certainly grand enough to be one, ornamental rugs and gold gilding lining the stone brick walls that seem to stretch out forever into the darkness. A row of vampires languish contendedly on either side of me, some standing while others are, amusingly enough, using Thralls as human furniture, laid out nursing goblets of what I'm sure isn't wine while they recline across the backs of their slaves. The only furniture other than a few braziers and coffins - their beds, I later belatedly realize, is a massive wooden throne. It sits atop a slightly raised platform, a great gnarled monstrosity that looks more like some kind of half-completed Dali painting than a chair. Nevertheless, it's some sort of chair, otherwise why would the King Tepes be seated in it?
"Good afternoon," I announce, my voice kept as smooth and as genial as ever. The vampires around me, all pure-bloods I'm sure, seem to scoff at my greeting, turning back after a moment to attend to their little political games. Tepes, on the other hand, simply looks down at me, literally as well as metaphorically I'm sure. "Greetings, Devil. What brings you to my Kingdom unannounced?" He asks, his voice like a sibilant whisper. I thought vampires were supposed to be all about bats, why does he sound like a snake? Voldemort impersonations aside, I stiffen slightly, my free hand coming across my chest as I bow in a salute to the Vampire monarch. As I brought down my head, my long hair forming twin curtains around my head, I cast my eyes from side to side, taking a quick tally of visible guards. There's a few dozen, nothing insane to deal with. Hopefully, I won't need to, but everyone here saw me walking in with Rubicante so it can't be helped that they know I'm armed.
"King Tepes, I apologize for my abrupt visit. I found myself in a spot of wanderlust, and thought, who better to see than the grand monarch of all Vampires?" I compliment him, noting with no small amount of revulsion that his pale, stricken face twists up in some mockery of a smile at the empty words. A dullard, no doubt. It's of no surprise that Marius was able to supplant him so easily. "I find myself grateful for your warm welcome, your Majesty. You have been nothing but helpful in guiding me towards your home. Your grace is appreciated, and I hope to repay it in kind." I respond. He looks down at me, the small smile all that conceals the obvious boredom in his eyes. Still, the tell-tale glint of greed is clear to see at the sign of a gift. "And what have you brought me for my troubles, Devil? What offering do you bring to King Tepes, rightful King of Vampires?" He asks, leaning forward just a hair.
He's a disgusting sort of creature, that's to be sure. If I can go as far as to make judgement on their race, they all are. Vile, twisted creatures at the end of the day, preying on humanity for no other reason than because they can. But, I realize with the sort of clarity that comes only rarely and fleetingly, so are the Devils. And then, then I had an idea. A beautiful, twisted, dark idea. I think I've figured out how I'm going to deal with this mess. Well, not just this mess. The whole mess of Devil society, and really most of the Supernatural. This whole time, I've been fretting over people like Sirzechs and Ajuka, the Phenex and Bael, the so-called reformed Devil Society as a whole. There's the normal evils to deal with, Rizevim and his kind, and certainly villains around such as Kokabiel who would make my journey here difficult. But what if I don't need to deal with them? What if I simply... shine a light on the way these High-class beings act? Maybe, maybe I don't need to fight Sirzechs and surely die for my troubles. Maybe I don't need to fight him at all; maybe I can let the entirety of natural-born Devil Society fight him for me?
Initially, I had planned to come here, certain that Marius had not reached out to Rizevim and supplanted his father yet. Initially, I would grease him with gifts and leave with Valerie, spinning a tale that she was far past her usefulness. Already, I'm sure that she's suffered a break in her mental state, withdrawing into a comatose state as Tepes and his son had extracted as much as they could from Sephirot Graal. The original plan was to paint her as useless, a curiosity for a sadisitic Devil in exchange for all numbers of favors with the Khaos Brigade as a whole. In a way, I had been banking on Marius's needs to reach Rizevim in order to steal her out from all of them. But now? Now, this could be the start of something beautiful. Hey Sirzechs, what's way more scary than Trihexa? Public fucking Relations campaigns.
"I brought your favorite thing, Tepes." I spit out. "Blood." And then all hell broke loose.
A/N: Next chapter is the fight! Will Creu come home with a daughter? What plans are he planning? Why is bad PR so fucking scary? Find out next time on... Dragon... Ball... XXX! Or something like that, I guess.
Guest Reviews:
"Is this story going to address why Katerea has glasses? Devils are physically better in every way over a human. Sona also has glasses. A devil giving birth to a devil that needs glasses is like Sakura giving birth to an Uchiha who needs glasses."
Glasses are hot man, really not that complicated. This show is about tits and dragons, you really don't need to think it through that hard.
"i must really be tire because that comment about vampires being cousins made me contemplate that whole family tree thing so depending on where you start it could be descendants of glad tepes e.t.c. But in this situation it would make more sense if they were descendants of Cain and then there relation to devils? Lilith who is apparently a lover of Lucifer who was formerly the wife of Adam... but Eve was made from Adams rib and so is technically Adams daughter and Lilith his unrelated ex wife so step grandchildren? Grand nieces/nephews? I dunno"
Yeah I didn't really care enough to think it through, just assume they're some kind of distant relatives. Cousins of some sort, I suppose.
There was a whole bunch of comments about entropy that I'm not going to copy because it'll be heinously long if I do. Suffice it to say, entropy is ultimately a concept of decay, of erosion. Doesn't matter what it's eroding, if you're strong enough it'll erode it eventually. Without getting too conceptual with this shit, let's just say that magic defenses can in fact also be eroded. Whether it's by grinding away at them, or by time, everything dies and withers away eventually. The best thing to compare these abilities to is Barragan from Bleach, because people keep bringing up other inspirations. Thank you for bringing up so many examples! I'll be sure to think on including some of them into CreuSIrey's arsenal.
"More please!"
Hope you enjoy!
Finally, a huge comment from CuriousGuest. Thank you so much for taking the time to write all this out! To answer your questions: Katerea is in fact useful here! Grayfia and Serafall are kind of like the endgame waifus, so it won't be for a looooong time yet, but eventually yes for sure! And yes, Rias and Sirzechs are on some bullshit and Riser really isn't that bad of a guy. They'll all get their just desserts eventually. As for Issei, this is before he died or got recruited or anything, so he definitely won't be going with Rias in the first place! Current plan is to pawn him off to Cao Cao and co, and let him have a small harem of girls that I personally don't want to lewd. I, unlike many people writing a fic that isn't Issei-centric, don't hate the guy and I want to see him happy. So he can have the girls I don't want, like Asia or Le Fay to name two.
As always, please read and review! It means a ton to me.