(Chapter 3: War Priest meets a Sith Lord)
It was a little over a month later for the former Sith Lord who had continued to advance and grow in strength both physically and moreover with his Force abilities which over these past 6 months had felt stronger than ever with his command of the Force now almost seeming to have no limit. With him making greater strides in the use of Force Healing over this time period in order to not make himself so heavily reliant on Force Drain due to the heavy drawbacks that came from overuse of the powerful dark side ability, while with Force Destruction his progress with it was more trying in terms of making it more precise for dealing with single-targets.
Yet the endeavor he actually took a good deal of joy in was his attempts in mastering Force flight, of which was he had assistance from with Ddraig mentoring him on how to properly fly and do aerial maneuvers that was all the first step towards his being able to fight enemies who no doubt had flight capabilities on equal footing.
(July 17th, 2017, Kuoh Town, 10:14 Pm)
It was yet another night of training for Anakin who had finished doing training with not only trying to gain more control over Force Destruction, but also doing so with Force Flight and as such was currently eating ramen in order to fill his now empty stomach.
'I think I've found my new favorite food. This ramen is too good." Anakin mentally remarked as he was finishing his 9th bowl of pork and chicken ramen
"In addition to your tremendous power, it also seems that you have a hunger to match." Ddraig noted as Anakin was now on his 10th bowl of ramen
"Look...I had to eat paste through a tube for over a decade. I deserve to stuff my face like a Hutt to make up for all the things I missed out on because I was stuck in that twice-blasted metal prison." Anakin snarkily responded in feeling that he more than deserved to be a glutton every now and then after having been trapped in his metal armor as a quadaplegic on life-support
"Fair enough. Granted it made you immensely more dominant in physical might. However, the cost of it robbing you of all the pleasures you would've been able to experience without being a cripple, that is far too high of a price to pay in my personal opinion." Ddraig spoke in knowing full well what it was like to be confined to a metal prison and robbed of all the pleasures of the flesh that one would normally enjoy
"Although, There is something I do have to ask after I took a further look at your memories." Ddraig added while Anakin continued to devour his ramen
"What is it?" Anakin questioned the Heavenly Dragon
"Why is it that in the almost 6 months of us training, that you have never tried your hand at trying to utilize Force lightning? After all, it is a rather powerful technique that would serve you well. One that you should be more than capable of using now that you are no longer bound to your armor." Ddraig spoke as Anakin's mind soon went towards all of the memories associated with that ability
"You really want to know why I haven't tried using it, all too much. Then I'll show you.. Just be prepared for what happens." Anakin replied as he finished the remainder of his ramen before heading out
That in mind Anakin headed out of the ramen store and using the Force to empower himself dashed off into the night until he found himself in the middle of one Kuoh's parks'; one where he knew that no one would be to see him show Ddraig his reasoning. So taking a deep breath and preparing himself for the worst of what would come he began drawing upon the Dark Side of the Force, his body floating into the air while fierce arcs of electrical energy lanced out of him; gouging out the ground and lighting up the night sky in its bright magenta radiance.
Yet the moment he went to release a single arc of said electrical energy his deep-seated rage and hate in memories past where he was forced to serve Darth Sidious and how he was demeaned and treated as the Dark Lords' lesser; even more so when he'd torment him with Force Lightning to punish him caused his own Force lightning to soon increase in potency. Turning from mere bolts of electricity to ever-increasing storms of dark-side energy, as Anakin's mind couldn't help but hyperfocus on memories of rage that were associated under his masters' thumb and the rage that was felt in how each and every time he was made a subservient dog to the Sith Emperor.
Ddraig had tried to call out to Anakin to shake him out of his rage-filled haze as he soon rose several feet into the air as he began to become the epicenter of a veritable Force Lightning storm, one of which rapidly began turning trees to ash and gouge at the ground around him as his anger over those memories grew intensity. With it being mere minutes before he eventually reached critical mass and erupted into a cacophonous storm of Force Lightning that tore away at everything in nearly a quarter mile of himself, as he expended large amounts of energy that was accompanied by an almighty roar of pure rage.
Once he eventually landed back onto the ground he and Ddraig looked at the destruction his rage-induced episode had wrought, causing every living thing in site to have been flash fried on the spot and choking the air black with burning embers; all the while everything in roughly a quarter mile was a desolate wreck of pure oblivion. In wanting to escape the scene before anyone could come and find out what in the hell had gone on, Anakin had taken to the skies to fly off and away his heart thundering in his chest and his hair nearly slicked with a cold sweat.
"Now you know the reason why I haven't taken to using Force Lightning, as you can see...I have issues as it were with said ability." Anakin spoke as his anger ran rather deep in concerns to the Force technique that was trademarked by the Sith
"I can see. Having tried to get through to you when you were in that state was like trying to part an ocean with a rotting tree branch." Ddraig replied as no matter what he had tried to pierce the the raging storm within Anakin's mind it was for the most part in futility
"So until I can overcome my 'issues' with that power. Then it is unusable to me and of not much use. Which is a shame because the destructive might of that technique would prove rather useful. Something I have to give credit to Starkiller for being so inventive with it." Anakin spoke as his anger over the technique had caused him to be unable to properly utilize Force Lightning without for a lack of a better term 'short-circuting'
"Then perhaps I can be some form of assistance in aiding you of getting rid of this mental block of yours. After all, you may not be able to do it alone. However, as partners I have full confidence that together we will be able to overcome this road-block as one would put it and help you to further increase your might to new heights." Ddraig responded in being more than willing to help Anakin overcome this obstacle that was preventing him from reaching new levels of power
"You're really going to help me that easily?..I thought you would've given me some speech about how I need to stop letting my emotions cloud my mind or that I'm simply not using enough power to overcome the situation...Something that I've grown used to hearing from either side that kept me down to no end." Anakin replied as his mind flashed back to all the times he was berated and chided as both a Jedi or a Sith when his emotional state was causing him problems with his Force powers
"Of course, I will be glad to assist you. We are partners in all things that either you wish to do or whatever comes to try and dominate or destroy us. Therefore, what sort of partner would I be if I didn't lend my aid to you when it is needed...A poor one that is!" Ddraig answered back in being completely on-board to help Anakin overcome his feelings of anger and rage towards Force Lightning
"Thank you Ddraig, I appreciate your help...Even I know this is something that I can't do alone, even with all my power over the Force; I know that I would fail trying to do this alone." Anakin thanked the Heavenly Dragon for agreeing to aid him in getting better control over Force Lightning
With Anakin's pride in himself taking a big hit in the admission that he was unable to conquer his anger towards Force Lightning and the memories associated with it, but even he knew that in order to gain control over the power to viably use it, then he would need aid and help in conquering it. Who better to aid him in doing so than a centuries if not millennia old dragon who would have a wealth of experience in overcoming their own demons; than Ddraig who was probably a master at doing so with everything he's had to suffer through.
"Again, it is of no consequence to help you. Anything you struggle with, is my struggle is as well. Any enemy of yours, is an enemy of mine and so on and so forth. We are partners in all things till the very bitter end, which means that regardless of any joy or strife you go through; I am there with you till the end of the line as it were." Ddraig spoke as any troubles or strife along with any joys of the former Sith were ones that they would share and overcome and revel in respectively
"However, enough talk of what troubles you. Right now, we should focus on the good. Such as you making great strides in your flying lessons." Ddraig added in seeing that instead of the bad that troubled Anakin they should instead celebrate the good in his life
"...Yeah..that...Hopefully, I'll be able to do all the things I've wanted to soon.." Anakin replied as he tried to shift his mind to more happier things but to no avail
'This is gonna be a looong year…' Anakin thought to himself with a heavy sigh as he headed off elsewhere for the night
(1 week later, Kuoh Town, July 25th, 2017, 6:42 Pm)
It was around 18 minutes till 7 the evening as Anakin had finished doing his 2nd set of physical exercises for the day that involved a 8 mile long run around the town and then doing a 2 hour long parkour gauntlet in addition to that.
"I can consider this another workout well done." Anakin spoke as he'd come to run his rather intensive workout regiment
"While I agree that you have been able to perform rather exceptionally in your physical training. I think that there is a more pressing matter, that you've just quite literally stepped in." Ddraig pointed out as the former Sith Lord continued his walk home
"What are you talking about….and it appears I have stepped in someone's blood." Anakin noted at patch of fresh blood he stepped in that led a crimson trail to the abandoned church in Kuoh Town
So seeing as how he had nothing else to do and curious about where the blood trail would lead him to, he followed it towards the abandoned church where he quickly entered it and saw that it led to one of the pews where he heard the sound of cursing and pained breathing; alongside the shedding of what sounded like armor. With him following the sounds until he reached the frontmost pew to see the source of the noise who upon seeing him got to her feet and raised her battleaxe and shield ready to fight against him despite her wounds, something that made him respect the young woman a considerable amount at her readiness to fight him despite her injuries.
The young woman was of a rather diminutive yet surprisingly muscular stature that stood at 5 foot 4 with golden-blonde hair that went to her lower ribs that was wrapped up in a high bun while the rest of her hair fell in a messy blood caked curtain around her shoulders and face. Her face that held a great amount of kindness and compassion that combined with her large emerald colored eyes was hardened greatly from years of being on the run, what wasn't hidden behind her plate mail was the body of a warrior with powerful muscles that earned from years of fighting with a battleaxe and shield.
With her being garbed in armored gauntlets, greaves, black sweatpants and a chain-shirt that was stained in her blood, while a moderately sized sterling silver cross of St. Peter hung around her neck with a penny sized tiger's eye was in the dead center. Yet the most notable thing on her face was the scar that ran clear across, a jagged one that went from her right eyebrow and sickeningly curved it's way to her left jaw that was almost 3 inches wide in its width.
"...If you are another exorcist that's come for my head, I swear I'll…"The blonde woman tried to say before the wound on her left side that leaked crimson onto the floor re-opened itself
'Damn it, I just got it to close up!' The blonde woman cursed to herself as she staggered somewhat but was able to quickly recover
"Calm yourself, I did not come here to hurt you. I'm not an exorcist that has come to strike you down, or capture you for whatever the people you speak of have planned. I only came here because you left a trail for me to follow...You have my word that I will not harm you." Anakin assured her that he did not come here with any ill intentions towards the blonde woman who let out a pained sigh of relief
"..I can sense that your telling the truth, which is a weight off my shoulders after what I've put up with…" The blonde woman spoke as she slumped back down with a pained groan as she went to take off her chain-shirt albeit with a considerable amount of pain
"Here let me help you. You look like you've gone through enough." Anakin replied as he helped her take the chain shirt off to reveal a bloody hole in her side
"..Thank you...That damned Goristro..It had to be an alpha no less...Just my luck that I had to fight one of those and it leave me a hole in my side as a thank-you present." The blonde woman said through gritted teeth as she held up her hands that held two silver rings on them that glowed a bright absinthe over her bleeding gut wound
'This is unexpected.' Anakin mentally remarked to himself as he saw within the span of a few moments her abdomen wound close up as though it were never there albeit with some minor scarring
"Thank you for your help, whoever you are. If you hadn't helped me take off my armor; I would've been a few minutes close to having bled out. That blasted fiend really did a number on me." The blonde woman thanked him for having helped her with her armor so that she could properly heal herself
"It's nothing. By the way, my name is Anakin." Anakin introduced himself
"I'm Asia, Asia Argento. Pleasure to meet you." Asia replied in kind to the towering form of the former Jedi Knight
"So tell me something, Asia. Why is it that you've come to Kuoh Town?...After dealing with whatever a Goristro is." Anakin inquired as to why the war priest had come to Kuoh Town
"I came to this place seeking refuge from the 'people' I thought I could trust and work alongside as my comrades. Only to find out that when I do the right thing to try and help someone, I'm not only scorned and made an outcast for it. I'm also hunted down by them for being a supposed heretic… So here I am in this 'quiet' little town to hopefully find safety from those that wish to hunt me down like a mange-ridden dog." Asia told him as to why she came to Kuoh Town which had struck a chord of sympathy within the former Jedi
"Why don't you tell me more about this. I want to know why they would cast you out for helping someone?" Anakin asked wanting to know more of Asia's story in why she was being hunted like a filthy mange-ridden animal
This was something that Asia was all too happy to do in explaining how she came to be in how she was vilified and propped up as the Maiden of Miracles not only for her skill in healing magic, but also for the power that her Sacred Gear known as Twilight Healing possessed in being able to heal even the most grievous of injuries short of missing organs or entire limbs. Only to be cast out when she healed a Devil who she saw was quite wounded and help him back to health, but instead of being thanked for doing the right thing in healing a wounded man; instead she was scorned, hated, called a heretic, blasphemous whore and other derogatory names before being cast out and soon hunted down by her former comrades.
Anakin who listened intently to her story of how all the good she did was ignored for one deed of kindness and mercy, had her betrayed by her very own had his heart well up with fury and hate towards her betrayers; the former Jedi only being able to feel sympathy towards her in knowing full well what it was like to have your own betray you. With it being by the time she finished her story that Anakin could only remain silent yet in his mounting anger towards her betrayers was still present, evident by the cracked windows and walls that were being broken by the pressure of the raw energy he emitted.
"How dare they do that to you and when you only went out of your way to help a man in need no less. The treacherous bastards, the lot of them!" Anakin said in sharp anger of how Asia was treated by her fellows within the Church and the Heaven Faction
"How do you think I feel...I grew up in the Church only wanting to use my gifts to heal and to help, to bring praise to my Lord. Only for my attempts at doing what I am taught to be not only to be thrown in my face. I also have it be the result of my being chased like vermin, cast out of every place of worship that I would call home and the worst of all hunted down so that other exorcists can gain prestige by slaying the heretical Maiden of Miracles..Who would've thought that everything I grew up with and gave my life to would come to only scorn me." Asia lamented at her circumstances that had her now on the run as a war cleric fighting against her own people
'This is hitting far too close to home for my liking.' Anakin remarked to himself in feeling that Asia's story was hitting him in places that he never would've thought he'd feel from anyone in his new life
"..I do have to ask you something, Asia?" Anakin questioned the war priest
"Ask away, Anakin. I'm not going anywhere, anytime soon." Asia replied
"Do you have anywhere to stay? I know that you are seeking refuge here in Kuoh, but certainly you must have somewhere to stay and rest?" Anakin further asked the war cleric on if she had anywhere to truly stay for the night
"Funny you mention that. I have nowhere to really go, in fact I was planning on staying here until I could find somewhere better to stay.. Being a cleric on the run doesn't really help out in terms of places to stay, moreso when Devils and Heaven itself are hunting you." Asia answered back in having planned to stay here at the abandoned church seeing as how her options in where to stay were quite limited at the moment
"Then its settled that since you have nowhere better to go, that you will stay at my place." Anakin told the war priest who was thrown back at the sudden offer
"You..Y-You don't have to do that. I'll be fine here." Asia replied in being very caught off guard by the offer given to her
"Oh no you're coming with me to my home and staying there. I will not have someone who has already been dealt a rather rotten hand in life, live in a place that looks as though it has seen better days." Anakin spoke his voice leaving absolutely no room to be argued with in the discussion of her staying in the lackluster abode that was this church
"..I can tell by your voice and your expression that you will not take no for an answer, will you?" Asia surmised in seeing that Anakin wasn't going to take her refusal whatsoever
"I didn't realize it was that obvious, whatever could've given it away." Anakin coyly replied causing Asia to sigh knowing that Anakin wouldn't take no for answer
"Since you won't take no for an answer. I guess that means you are now stuck with this towns' one and only cleric." Asia spoke as she stood herself up half dressed in armor
"Anyways, you wouldn't mind helping me with my armor? I rather not have to lug it across town to wherever it is you live." Asia requested of the former Jedi Knight
"No problem." Anakin replied as he helped Asia with her equipment
From there the two headed back towards the Hyoudou Residence where after using the Force on the Hyoudous' convinced them to let Asia stay indefinitely for as long as she wanted, after that he helped her with her armor, weapons and other assortment of things she brought with her. With the war priest thanking Anakin for the immensely kind gesture before bidding him goodbye for the night as she settled in for the night, all the while Anakin had felt pretty good about himself in getting Asia off the streets not only due to him sensing a great amount of power within her; it was also that he saw someone whom he resonated deeply with as well.
(4 days later, July 28th, 2017, Anakin's Mindscape, 3:27 Am)
It was a few days later for Anakin who while he was physically asleep, it was within his mind where he was currently conversing with Ddraig about a few things as the former enforcer of the Sith was currently thinking a few things over.
"Something we do have to consider from us having taken Asia in, is that it does put a target on our backs now more than ever. Both Heaven and the Devils will come for her..by extension you as well." Ddraig told the former wartime general of the stakes that came with having taken in Asia as one of their own
"If that is the case, Ddraig, then let them come. They will have to face me in order to get to her. I will be damned if I let anyone get past me, much less be able to fool me into letting my guard down long enough for such a thing to happen." Anakin responded in daring either side to come at him with the intention to go after Asia with ill intent
"Even you for all your power in the Force can't take on entire races at once." Ddraig said as Anakin merely scoffed
"Not yet. However, my strength in the Force continues to grow with each passing day. I'm becoming far stronger than what I was as a Jedi and much more than when I was Vader. That's not even mentioning that with the addition of your power at my side, we will be truly unstoppable." Anakin rebutted as a counter to the point Ddraig posed
Even Anakin knew full well that with his strength and command over the Force continuing to increase without limit on top of his mastering abilities that he never had the chance to when he was either Jedi or Sith; that he knew his chances of being able to fight anyone from either faction were quite high. Then taking into account the power of Ddraig who would stand by his side as an ally and the former Sith knew full well that he would be an unstoppable force of nature unto the new world, all it would take is time and he would have enough strength to attain true freedom.
"That's the spirit of my partner! Even though the odds will be against us should you try to take on the whole world itself. I greatly admire your spirit to do so!" Ddraig applauded Anakin in his tenacious spirit and willingness to fight even if it meant against the impossible
"I've done the impossible before. Whoever says I cannot do it again, clearly has not seen what I can do. If I can win planet-side battles, almost win a galactic scale war twice over, hunt down and kill some of the orders' best Jedi; not to even mention all of the dogfights I've won when I used to pilot a starfighter. If that isn't proof that I'm capable of doing what cannot be done, then I don't know what is." Anakin replied in listing off the multitude of achievements he was able to accomplish both as a commander of the Republics' armies and of the Empires'
"Indeed, there is no mistaking your talents for being devastating in combat and being a one in a 10 million prodigy when it comes to battle. However, I want you to be aware of the dangers that exist within this world. Threats that soon enough will come to challenge you and push your powers to their utmost limits and beyond." Ddraig warned him of even with his immense power that the threats within the new world around him were nothing to be trifled with
"I welcome the challenge. Even though I know my own strength and have learned from the mistakes of my youth not to rush recklessly into things. I also know how far my own power scales above those within this world. So never mistake my confidence for arrogance, for my loss on Mustafar showed me the cost of being so foolishly arrogant in my own power." Anakin shot back in more than relishing the challenges of whatever was in this world while also acknowledging that he was nowhere near arrogant to rush into something in foolhardy recklessness
"...I learned long ago to harness my power instead of acting as a blunt instrument. Now I can not only use my powers to the fullest and protect Asia if needed. Now that I am no longer confined to my armor, I can actually use my power to the utmost limits. With your help included into the mix of things, I can become far greater than what I ever was capable of as a Jedi or Sith." Anakin added as his defeat on Mustafar had enforced the use of his power as more of a complete set than as a mere blunt instrument
"Speaking of my power. It should be noted that with all of the physical training and the training of your powers on top of that. That you are ready to start using my power in the form of the Boosted Gear." Ddraig informed him which gained the full attention of his partner
"When were you going to tell me this?! This is something that you should've informed me of as soon as I was ready and not a single moment before." Anakin questioned in having wondered when the Heavenly Dragon would've informed him of this development
"I was going to tell you this when I deemed it necessary to do so. With our time taken to train ourselves to an acceptable level nearing its end. I felt that this was the right time to do so." Ddraig answered back while his gaze narrowed at Anakin
"However, do remember that this is a partnership between the both of us. We are equals in this and as such you will not command me to do anything as though I am some droid. Remember this, partner. For I despise repeating myself to others...am I perfectly clear?!" Ddraig added his voice reminding the former Sith Lord that despite his imprisonment he was still one of the most powerful beings in existence
"Crystal." Anakin sharply replied as Ddraig's face relaxed
"Good to see we're on the same page." Ddraig spoke before continuing
"Now concerning you accessing the Boosted Gear and beginning to train with it. We will start training with it in the following week." Ddraig told the former Sith Lord on win they would begin training with the Heavenly Dragons' power
"Good. I'll finally be able to see what all your power is cracked up to be. Hopefully it doesn't prove to be a bunch of fanciful parlor tricks." Anakin responded in wanting to see how the Dragon of Dominations' power truly stacked up
"My power will be more than enough, I can assure you that. For the Boosted Gear is only the first part of what you will have access to in terms of my strength. For there is far more that you will be able to wield, power that is far greater than what you know, I guarantee you that!" Ddraig boasted his pride asserting itself in wanting to prove that his power was something to be feared as it was in his heyday
"I'll hold you too that Ddraig, for now we continue to train and prepare for what's ahead of us. Hopefully Asia will prove to be someone worthwhile I can fight beside." Anakin hoped as at the current moment all they could do was continue to prepare
(4 days later, August 1st, 2017, Kuoh Town, 10:50 Pm)
It was days later for the former Jedi Knight who had finished battling a Behir who proved to be one of his more challenging fights, but overall had served to aid in him working on furthering one of the many techniques at his disposal in Tutaminis; beyond that he came out of the night relatively unscathed as he headed home.
"I will say that this is a rather eventful night for you. Seeing as how over a dozen creatures have been felled by your hand tonight." Ddraig spoke in noting how Anakin's combat prowess allowed him dispatch so many vile creatures in quick succession
"When I am able to create myself a lightsaber. The amount I'll be able to kill will be far greater." Anakin answered back knowing full well that once he was able to make a weapon for himself his ability to devastate would be far greater
"Then the time for when you gather all of what is needed for your weapon is fast approaching. If what I've seen is anything to go by, then your attaining that weapon must happen as quickly as possible." Ddraig said knowing full well that Anakin's creation of the favored weapon by both Jedi and Sith needed to happen with haste
"I couldn't agree with you more…" Anakin spoke before he felt something through the Force that caught his attention
"You can sense that too right?" Anakin questioned the Heavenly Dragon
"Yes. It seems as though we're being watched...How do you wish to handle this? I say we snuff it out before they even have a chance to react to our presence." Ddraig answered back while Anakin shifted his head towards the source of what was watching him
"Quickly. I would rather not cause a scene tonight, I don't know if whoever is watching me has backup or how strong they are. So for now I'll stick to making sure things are done without much flash." Anakin replied in a low and hushed enough voice so that only Ddraig could hear him
Meanwhile Koneko who had been watching the former Sith Lord throughout his escapades and just as she was about to go elsewhere and try to report Rias on what she witnessed, only for her to soon clutch at her throat as though a massive steel hand were trying to wring the life out of her. All before she was violently slammed into a wall and subsequently thrashed about with her body thudding against the pavement with such force that it violently cracked and nearly cratered on each impact, which continued onwards for almost a minute straight before Koneko soon fell unconscious.
With Anakin then stepping out of the shadows to see the battered form of the pint-sized rook laying on the ground while still breathing would be out like a light for the next couple of hours, which gave the former Sith Lord enough time to do as he needed. So without further delay he used the Force to rip through her mind and take all the information needed, which was made incredibly easy due to her unconscious mind leaving her mental defenses as fragile as a cabin made of rotting wood.
The former Sith soon found out more than what he expected of how 2 Devils by the name of Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri had spent quite some time watching him and his training, on top of that he also gleaned from his invading her mind for information of how they planned to somehow convince him into serving them as a Devil. With the thought of serving under someone as an inferior was enough to make his anger rise forth and want to crush the neck of the Gremory rook like a twig under his boot heel out of pure spite, but it was only thanks to decades of self-control that he reigned in the murderous impulse.
"So what do we do now, Anakin? Now that you know that these two wish to force you into servitude, where do we go from here?" Ddraig questioned his partner as to what they would do from here
"First we inform Asia of what we've now learned. If they'll come for me because of my power, then it will only be a matter of time before they come for her as well. Her abilities to heal injuries alongside her magic will make her another target for them." Anakin answered back knowing that if they have been watching him then they will also have been watching and soon plotting to acquire Asia as well
"What of this one? What will you do with her?" Ddraig questioned as the former Jedi Knight looked down at Koneko
"We leave her be..at least for now. If I were to kill her now then I would risk too many unknown threats coming after us. Granted I am confident in my strength, however, I am not foolish enough to bring down a legions' worth of unknown threats down upon us all. So until I know what it is we are dealing with, she lives..at the very for now." Anakin replied as he knew that if he killed Koneko right now that it would mean dealing with a whole host of threats of unknown strength he wasn't quite ready for
"Then let us leave here. I would rather us not be caught with our proverbial pants down by the leader and allies of this Devil. We do not know their strength and as such it would be in our best interest if we headed back home to regroup with Asia." Ddraig advised as he knew that it would only be a matter of time before Koneko's allies probably showed up to see what happened to her
"Agreed." Anakin simply replied before he snapped his fingers to alter Koneko's memories to make it seem as though her observing him had gone as planned before taking flight
It would soon be minutes later for Anakin who would soon return to the Hyoudou Residence and head towards Asia's room where he saw her reading Agent Venom comics, when she asked him what was wrong and why he came barging into her room all of the sudden. From there he proceeded to tell Asia of what he'd learned from tearing the information out of Koneko of how the two Devils that ruled over this town had plans for him and potentially for her in terms of more than likely trying to turn them both into Devils under their service.
"You do know that there is no conceivable way I'm going to become a Devil. I'd rather get soaked in kerosene and be lit ablaze in hellfire, before the day comes when I let myself become a Devil." Asia said to Anakin in complete and utter refusal to ever let herself become a Devil and much less serve under one
"Glad to see that you won't become either. I refuse to do so as well, if only for the simple reason that I will bend the knee to no one. I would face a dozen dragons before the thought of serving under anyone becomes even a thought in my mind and a hundred if not a thousand more I'll battle to the death before I consider it an option." Anakin replied in utmost refusal to ever let himself bend the knee to anyone
"So what do we do now, Anakin? These Devils are going to be coming after us sooner or later and I would rather not be caught off guard." Asia asked on what their next move from here would be
"The answer is rather clear Asia. We build up our defenses and prepare for the very worst. We don't know what their intentions are towards us beyond enslavement and permanent servitude towards them. Neither of which can possibly be good…. So until they show their hand we are to be on guard and be ready in case things blow in our faces." Anakin answered back knowing that the best thing they could do right now was to get some defenses up and running and prepare for the worst
"Good to know. I can get some warding up and running and if we have enough time; hallow the house. There's only one problem with that." Asia spoke knowing that while she could get some defenses up and running soon enough there was a minor snag
"What's the problem, Asia? Is this something that is going to bite us both?" Anakin asked wanting to know what the problem was
" It's nothing like that at all. It's' just that I don't have enough of the materials needed to do a ritual to hallow the house against Devils. It will take some time before I can gather enough to make it so that Devils will be repelled from our home, but I can make it work." Asia informed him of the fact that she was short on the materials needed to make a ritual to hallow the house as strong as she wanted
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure we can play defense long enough for you to get what you need. With your magic and my power combined, I'm pretty sure that our chances of being able to hold them off if and when the time comes are pretty high. We are the two strongest people in this town if I had to brag about it." Anakin responded in being more than confident in their combined might to fend off the Devils long enough for Asia to get the needed materials
With Anakin knowing that between his command of the Force and superhuman physicality and Asia's combat prowess and divine magic that they could hold a very strong chance of beating back the Devils if it came to that, which Anakin was ready to fight against should worst come to worst against them.
"You're not exactly wrong. My holy magic tends to be extremely effective against those fiends, so if we do fight against them. I'm pretty sure my magic will be able to deal a rather extreme amount of punishment towards them." Asia noted at the fact that with her holy magic that she would be able to deal quite hefty amounts of damage against the Devils
"Then its settled. For now we're on defense against the Devils, if they try anything against us. Then we go on the offensive against them, I will now be cowed into submission by these Devils." Anakin spoke in seeing that for now their plan of attack was to go on the defensive and wait for them to cast the 1st stone
'For I dare even one of them to try and snatch away my freedom from me.' Anakin thought to himself as he wished one of them would go against him so that he would have an excuse to retaliate
"Well, if your already here in my room and I have nothing else to do since I just finished reading my comics. Do you want to watch Power Rangers with me?" Asia asked as Anakin was thrown for a loop at what she was talking about
"What are Power Rangers?" Anakin asked having no clue what they were
"...You're kidding right, you mean to tell me you live in the country where the most awesome T.V series was created and you don't know about them?" Asia questioned as the former Sith Lord shook his head no in response
"Alright, that settles it. We're watching Power Rangers and getting you involved in one of the greatest T.V shows ever. Next to Avatar: the Last Airbender and One Piece." Asia added as she knew full well that as an acquaintance to Anakin that she had to convert him to the greatness that was Power Rangers
"What's a One Piece?" Anakin asked as he sat down next to Asia who turned on the television and flipped her Netflix account to the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
"You've got so much to learn, Anakin. For now sit back and enjoy with me some of the best things to come out of televised history!" Asia said with excitement as the Power Rangers theme song came to life
'I don't have anything else to do. Besides, what could one episode of this show hurt.' Anakin thought to himself in deciding to stick around for one episode of Asia favorite T.V series
With Anakin meeting with the former Maiden of Miracles in Asia Argento, alongside Anakin now having gained information from an unconscious Koneko on what Rias and Sona have instore for him; the two now prepare to defend themselves in the event things go sideways.
Now then onto some of the reviews from the last chapter.
Darquesse8512: I will be sure to fix that sometime after the chapter drops
UnsanMusho: I can definitely see it be Sona since there are some similarities to Padme that I can see that would hold a considerable amount of weight to make her a worthwhile candidate for her to be paired up with Anakin. As for Rias considering how pissed Anakin gets about slavery as we've seen throughout canon and legends, I don't think he'd ever sacrifice his humanity for anyone or be very much inclined to train her due to the fact that in his eyes all he sees is another slaver that dresses up what they do by pampering her slaves she keeps complacent.
Lq840i: I know full well of the effects of Force Drain and what its done to Nihilius and as such he won't really be spamming said ability all that often, moreso for when he needs to quickly kill a large group of enemies he can't overwhelm en masse or to permanently kill a big bad that keeps getting back up and to keep him going should he face a sufficiently stronger opponent so as to offset the power differential and weaken their attack power overall. Also I do have a temporary solution to his lightsaber problem until he can get proper materials and parts to make himself a properly functioning lightsaber; also as far as I'm aware of we've never seen him use normal metal blades, yet I still believe he can use them as well as a lightsaber.
Raven Marcus: It will probably Sona since out of everyone I can see her being the most likely candidate for a pairing with him beyond possibly Ophis.
That wraps up this chapter and everything that's gone on in it that I hope you guys have enjoyed the chapter and all that went in it. So without further delay, let's get into it.
First up we've got Anakin losing his shit and the fact that Anakin getting Force Lightning isn't gonna be as simple as him just busting it out and doing the unlimited powah meme, as he's gonna have to work for it as you would think that he would have mental scars about it from being under Palpatine.
Coming up after that is Anakin meeting up with Asia a lot sooner than she would've shown up in canon, which I hope you guys liked. Considering how Anakin's reincarnation does come with ripple effects to the DXD world as an overall whole beyond what he does within it.
Following that up we've got a bit with Anakin and Ddraig which expands a bit on their dynamic and Anakin finally being ready to wield the Boosted Gear and all that jazz.
Finally we've got Anakin knocking out Koneko and him and Asia making the plan to go on defense and wait for them to make the first move before going on the attack which I hope y'all liked.
That being said I hope y'all enjoy this story and what's to come in the future chapters of it as well as favoriting, following and sending reviews so that we can hopefully make this a pretty decent story. As flames for the most part will be ignored unless you got anything nice to say or that helps the story then go somewhere else.
With all that said this is Pravus666 signing off until next time, as we finish up the prologue in the next chapter so stay tuned for all of that.
Prelude Theme Song: Reborn by Stone Sour
Random End Song: Scream by Thousand Foot Krutch