Chapter IV. Misfit Class
Isabelle, Ryūko, and Iruma were in the middle of breakfast today. Opera refilled some Hell Gray tea for them and Sullivan told them something about their classes.
"Darling grandkids. We're announcing classes today, and I made sure to put you two in a special class." Said Sullivan.
"What do you mean by "special class", Grandfather?" Asked Ryūko.
"Well, Iruma mentioned that you two didn't want to stand out since it makes you uncomfortable, so Grandpa made certain your wish would come true!" Said Sullivan.
"Oh, that was nice of you. Thanks for doing that." Said Iruma.
"Think nothing of it." Said Sullivan.
"Iruma-kins! Ryūko-kins! Issy-kins! Good morning! Come down and play with us!"
"A most sincere good morning, my lieges."
"Good morrow, Sir Iruma, Lady Ryūko, and Lady Isa."
Those voices belong to Asmodeus, Lavande, and Clara, going to pick Ryūko and Iruma up to school.
"You'll be pleased I put your housemate and friends in the same class as you two !" Said the Chair-Demon, "You'll all be in the Misfit Class."
"I see." Isabelle muttered.
'Wait a minute! Did I hear correctly? Misfit Class? Does that mean Iruma, Lavande, Asmodeus, Valac, Isa, and I are surrounded by idiots?' Thought Ryūko the second she heard "Misfit".
The two didn't have enough time to ask more questions as they did not intend in keeping their friends waiting for long. Once outside, the six walked to Babylus.
As they walked, Isabelle, Iruma, Ryūko, Asmodeus, and Lavande held a conversation. The subordinate demons were happy to be in the same class as them, whereas Clara went ahead not paying attention to what they're saying about classes.
"I'm in the same class as you, my lieges? I'm so happy!" Said Asmodeus.
"Don't forget that your lady is there, too." Whispered Isabelle to Asmodeus in his ear.
Asmodeus blushed from hearing that and Lavande's sensitive kitty ears couldn't help but pick that message, causing her to blush as well.
"The problem is that it's a class called the Misfit Class, and it's filled with a bunch of troublemakers." Said Iruma.
"And I knew that we're going to be surrounded by fudging idiots." Groaned Ryūko.
"I put you in a class with lots of troublemakers who'll stand out far more than you will!" Sullivan told the twins before they left.
"Lady Ryūko, Lady Isa, Sir Iruma. As long as we are in the same class, there's nothing else for us to ask more of." Said Lavande.
"It might be a better class than anticipated." the twins were happy to hear that.
"Hey, by the way, why do you two walk to school, my lieges, when you can fly?" Asked the pink-haired demon.
"Huh? Well, um... So you, Lavande, and Clara can fly, like Isabelle?" Asked Iruma.
"But of course! All demons can fly." Said Lavande before asking Isabelle. "And how can you always walk to school when you can fly, Lady Isa?"
"Well, I'm more of a ground kind of demon." Replied Isabelle.
Asmodeus suddenly realizes something and leans in closer to Ryūko and Iruma.
"Miss Ryūko, are you and your brother..."
'Did he find our race out?' Thought Ryūko.
"In training, so you can strengthen your cores and legs? Rather impressive!" Said Asmodeus.
"Oh, y-yes. You could say that we are to strengthen yourselves." Said Ryūko laughing nervously. Thank goodness that Asmodeus didn't find them out.
The group checked the bulletin board to see their class list posted there. The twins didn't expect their class's list to be so... flashy.
'Why the f*** is it so flashy?!' Thought Ryūko now with her and Iruma's stress levels going up.
"Yay! I'm with Iruma-kins, Issy-kins, and Ryūko-kins!" Cheered Clara who wasn't paying attention to the previous conversation, "The six of us are together! Hooray!"
She hugged Iruma in happiness.
"I'm not in Iruma's/Ryūko's/Isabelle's class..." Said Eiko, Darris, and Acheron, who slumped to the ground.
"Are you okay, Eiko/Darris/Acheron?" Asked their friends.
"We will be, we suppose." Said the three.
The six friends then walked to the first years' tower. Apparently, it has a cafeteria of its own.
"I wonder where the Misfit Class is?" Asked Isabelle.
"All the new students' classes should be here." Said Lavande. Her kitty sense of smell kicked in to figure out if there is something nearby, which might have been a golden flying arrow. Perhaps wanting the group to follow it.
"It's this way!" Said Clara immediately following the arrow.
"That must be the arrow to lead our lieges, the honor students, directly down the right path." Said Asmodeus, "Let us follow it."
As they walked down the corridors, Ryūko and Iruma decided to take a look into some of the lesson rooms.
'We know this is a demon school, but it seems pretty normal.' Thought the twins. 'We really didn't get to go to school before, so we're looking forward to it.'
As they were looking, two other demons suddenly found their necklace and earrings missing after passing by a student, probably the one seen in Come-Come's book of students banned from the school store.
As the group followed the arrow, they found themselves at the back of the first years' tower. The arrow then leads them to a cave with staircases leading them to a deeper area.
"Down here? There's an underground classroom?" Asked Asmodeus in wonder.
"Wonder how much farther it is." Said Clara.
Before the others, Lavande's nose picks up a putrid stench earlier than the others as they went down the stairs.
She, Ryūko, Isabelle, and Asmodeus used their separate handkerchiefs to cover their noses and Iruma just used his hand.
"What the heck is with this?" Asked Ryūko.
"Ugh, it reeks down here!" Isabelle recoiled in disgust.
"This is a garbage dumping site." Said Lavande.
The arrow then leads them further down more steps away from the garbage dump, until it disappeared in front of a particularly large and ruined looking door. Iruma opens the door and must have activated a trap as Clara pushes him further in.
Just as he entered, a variety of melee weapons were aimed at him. He dodges every weapon, thanks to his Overwhelming Crisis Evasion Capability, yelling out. Ryūko stepped in and more weapons were aimed at her. Instead of dodging, Ryūko grabbed a mace and blocked every weapon. Plus before they nearly hit the ceiling, she uses her webbings to wrap them all up in a ball and cleans up the mess as she landed on the ceiling upside-down. Isabelle entered next and this, and another set of weapons shot at her. Isabelle immediately called out her magic gauntlets to telekinetically stopped the weapons mid-air and placed them back where they came from.
"Phew." Sighed Isabelle in relief. "That was dicey."
Seeing this, all the other students of the Misfit Class already here applauded their performance.
"Nicely done!" Said a demon boy whom Ryūko thinks looks like Pikachu, an electric-type Pokémon.
"Brilliant!" Said a demon girl wearing provocative clothes.
"No wonder they're the honor students! "Said a demon boy that looks like an owl.
"I'd like to see that again!" Said a demon boy whose hair covers his head.
"Hardship makes you three stronger." Said a demon boy with a lion's head.
"You are so cool!" Said Clara.
Ryūko was hanging around like Spiderman on her string of silk before she gets on the floor taking a bow.
"Thank you. Thank you." Isabelle said as she dissipated her gauntlets.
Iruma was wonder what was all that about.
"Argh! But I was still lost the stupid bet." Said the guy with hair over his face.
"Oh yeah! I win." Exclaimed the Pikachu-esque demon.
Then the same guy who stole two pieces of jewelry earlier was calling out: "Alright. Come get your winnings! Okay. Line up, you guys."
"You there! What in the world do you think you're doing?!" Asked Asmodeus angrily.
"Come on. We're just having some fun." Said the pick-pocketing student.
"Yeah. We bet on how many times they'd get hit." Said the yellow-haired male.
'So this is the Misfit Class. Isabelle, Ryūko, and I almost died just setting foot in here.' Thought Iruma, shocked from the prank.
"Man, you three were the first ones who ever dodged them, not to mention blocked them, webbed them up, stopped them telekinetically, and returned them all where they belong." Said the Pikachu looking guy again.
"Well if you can believe it, there was someone who managed to catch all of them." Giggled the female demon with her revealing attire.
"Catch them all?" Wondered Asmodeus and Lavande.
"Absurd!"
A tall, muscular blond demon stood up, the weapons used in the prank were all over him.
"I would never dodge them. How cowardly!" Said the demon.
"He caught them all?" Exclaimed Asmodeus, Lavande, and Iruma.
"You're huge!" Commented Clara.
"Did it even hurt?" Isabelle asked the demon.
"Not a single bit." He replied as he flexed the weapons out of his body and took hold of one of the swords before introducing himself.
"That's right! I, the great Sabro Sabnock, am strong enough to be worthy of becoming the Demon King!" He said.
The Demon King: The monarch who rules over the Netherworld and all its inhabitants. However, the Demon King's throne has sat empty for ages.
"Listen well, honor students! I will become Yodh first, and then the Demon King!" Said Sabnock cockily, "Also, this is very important. Thou shalt kneel before me when I become Yodh!"
"Um... sorry. What's this about 'thou' and becoming a 'Yodh'? I don't get it." Asked Iruma, scratching the back of his head.
"'Thou' means 'you'. 'I' means 'me'. As for Yodh, it's the highest demon rank!" Explained Sabnock with pride.
A brief demon tutorial: There are ten known ranks of demons and the highest of which is Yodh (10 - י). The Demon King, the ruler of the Netherworld, is selected from among the Yodh.
"The Demon King is the most powerful of all demons, and therefore the one king to rule them all! So naturally, who will achieve it will be me!" Declared Sabnock.
"He's so big. He's like a mountain." Said Clara, only talking about Sabnock's height, making Ryūko face-palm.
"But I have to rise in rank first!" Continues the large demon, "Which means, any who rank above me, I despise with the fire of a thousand suns!"
Saying that, he broke the sword he held in his bare hand.
"Comments like that one in fighting teachers are why you ended up in this class." Said the yellow-haired demon.
"Oh, yeah, you even made the school paper." Said the black-haired student holding the school paper of Day 1. The picture below Iruma, Ryūko, and Isabelle's article showed Sabnock holding a weapon and a teacher struck on the ground.
"I figured the quickest way to climb the ranks was to defeat a teacher so I did it." Said Sabnock.
"Oh, yeah, I see..." Mumbled Iruma.
"What do you mean 'I see'?" Sabnock then towers over Iruma, "You never heard of Yodh? And you call yourself a demon?!"
As of her promise to Iruma, she brought herself in front of her brother, face-to-face with Sabnock while she tries to resolve the conflict.
"Sabnock, is there any conflict you have? Yes, we know not of this, however, I do not appreciate such rudeness you're presenting towards my brother." Said Ryūko calmly, "If you don't know my name, then I am Ryūko Suzuki, older twin sister of Iruma Suzuki, and the granddaughter of chair-demon, Lord Sullivan."
Many students were shocked at how calm she is resolving the fight and being brave enough to do so.
"As I don't appreciate what you're saying towards him, I suggest you mind on your personal conflicts instead of others' conflicts."
Sabnock seems to lose composure and stares at Ryūko's outfit. He admits, it really is suitable for her; but she is not only suiting her style, but she looks magnificent and malevolent as a gothic student.
"Sabnock? Why are you staring at me?" Asked Ryūko.
He points at her uniform.
"That uniform... makes you look... quite alluring and... malevolent." Complimented Sabnock.
Did she hear it correctly? She looks alluring and malevolent? Hearing this, Ryūko's sharp heterochromatic eyes widen and she turns her back to him, hiding her red face as she covers her mouth with her hand in flustering.
'W-Why is a male student complimenting my clothing style?' Thought Ryūko, 'Most people back where I came from just criticizes it, saying I'm a dead girl. I mean I did wear corset dresses before and other dark things, but no one has ever complimented me like that! Okay... Calm down, Ryūko. Just go with the flow.'
Isabelle, Lavande, and Asmodeus put the twins behind them, they're not amused that their friends were verbally being attacked.
"That's enough boorishness out of you, Sabnock." Said the three.
"Ah, if it isn't Asmodeus and Félin. Tops of the class. I heard you even summoned a Gorgon Snake, and a Laminae Serpentine." Said Sabnock.
"Indeed." said Asmodeus.
"That's nice. But I summoned a Kelbie, which has more legs than yours. So, too bad, it wins!" Declared Sabnock so simply.
'Not only he uses Shakespearean English, but he also has full-on strength and strategy.' Thought the goth student. 'I think I might have something in common about strength with him, only I seem to have more brains than brawn. He's an interesting demon.'
"What kind of reasoning is that?!" Questioned Asmodeus, clearly ticked off. Lavande's face doesn't show anything, but her ears looked pressed down behind her head and her sharp pupils are dilated, showing that she might be turning aggressive.
Sabnock then turned to the cambion, "And you must be Isabelle. I've heard that you're also an honor student like this poor sap and his sister. Even though I'm awed that you summoned the most misunderstood creature in the land, I'm not even impressed enough."
"Yeah, so what?" Rebuked Isabelle, not wanting an answer from someone like him.
"But of course, the moment you two became the honor students' slaves, you are no longer qualified to be my rivals." Said Sabnock as he turned back to Asmodeus and Lavande. "So sorry."
If you listen carefully, you might've heard a growl from one of the group members; that growl belonged to Lavande, as a cat demon, she can also indicate her emotions with her cat features.
"Who would want a title like that?!" Retaliated Asmodeus.
"And we are not as what you think we are." Said Lavande placing her hands on her hips. "We're not our lieges' slaves."
"It's more like we are their friends!" Said the two. As expected of their other classmates, they don't know what friends are and Asmodeus is more than glad to explain.
"I'll elucidate."
"Er, that's okay. No one's interested, really." Insisted Iruma.
"Friends spend time together, and share each other's joy and sorrows, and form a blood pact to seal their loyalty and willingness to die for one another!"
He didn't just dramatize that, he also made things a little embarrassing. His format of explanation really outshined Sabnock's appeal. Now, everyone else is commenting on how great friends are until Kalego entered the classroom.
"Be silent!" Said Kalego. As the weapons got into the queue, Ryūko sharply jumps in the weaponry's direction and stuck them back to the trap point to protect Kalego.
"I can hear you from outside! Why can't you all just be quiet?" Questioned the teacher before patting Ryūko's head, "Thank you, Ryūko. That is well-appreciated."
"It's no problem, Professor." Said Ryūko bowing to the teacher. Her other classmates were surprised and some of their jaws dropped by her being praised by someone as scary as Kalego.
"It's Professor Kalego!"
"Eggy-teach, are you in charge here?!" Asked Clara giving that weird nickname.
"Yes, no thanks to you lot." Said Kalego. "The other day, I was framed because of a certain somebody, and in my absence, I was appointed this class's teacher."
Iruma is so scared that he can't even look him in the eye at all. Once everyone was seated, Kalego starts to take attendance.
"Roll call. Isabelle Abaddon."
"Present." Isabelle raised her hand.
"Picero Agares."
The orange-haired demon with a green blindfold on a cloud just yawned. He was no doubt Picero.
"Alice Asmodeus."
Asmodeus stood up from his seat and bowed to Kalego, "Sir."
'Hang on, why is his first name "Alice" anyway? Is that because of his feminine features?' Wondered Ryūko quickly noticing that.
"Schneider Alocer."
The guy that looks like he has a lion's head raised his hand.
"I'm a learning machine." He said.
"Jazz M. Andro"
That was the one who stole two students their accessories earlier out of habit.
"Yo."
"Elizabetta Ix."
Ix? That's the succubus' last name? Demons sure have pretty strange names.
"Here."
"Clara Valac."
"Here I am, Eggy-teach!"
"That nickname dies right now. Kamui Caim."
...
"Kamui Caim. Are you here?"
The owl-looking demon didn't respond immediately.
"H-Here!"
Isabelle took a glance at him and thought: 'Either he's nervous or perverted? No, he's 100% a pervert since he's looking at Elizabetta weirdly."
"Goemon Garp."
The one who lost the bet earlier. The strange-looking demon, a "samurai" with his face covered in hair.
"Uh-huh. You're looking at 'im."
"Keroli Crocell."
The shy girl in glasses slowly raised her fist up. "Here."
"Lavande Félin."
The said knight stands up and bows. "Yes, Sir."
"Lied Shax."
The blond demon was busy playing a videogame of some kind. "Yeah, okay! Here, here!"
"Sabro Sabnock."
"Cool!" Even his sitting posture appears superior.
"Soi Purson."
The demon listlessly stared out the window.
"Ryūko."
Ryūko raises her hand and kept her discipline, "Present."
"And Iruma."
"Here, sir..."
"Now, let us begin class." Said Kalego before slamming his book on the desk. "All of you, outside, now. You troublemaking idiots. We're starting the process to determine your ranks. Your first test is a race to the flag at the end of this valley."
The class got in two elevators that took them to a rocky platform and the landscape is littered with mountains as pointy as needles.
"Your ranks will be determined by the familiar summoning exam given previously, along with this race." Explained Kalego, "The goal is to reach flag atop a peak covered in mist far beyond this valley before your classmates do. Here's the course layout description."
He snapped his fingers and a pink framed TV appeared with the same cute lesson mentor from the familiar summoning course.
"Here's how the course will go! It'll be more time-consuming, but you can take the chill, relaxing route through Warbling Valley! Or the Cutthroat Valley course! Though there are many perils and traps along the way! Beware, the mountains are vast and treacherous. And the demon birds will protect their nests at all costs!"
"The Cutthroat Valley course is shorter, but the unfortunate tradeoff is that it could outright end your life." said Asmodeus.
"Sounds like it..." Agreed Iruma.
"Okay then! Let's g-"
The screen was then turned off and the class turned to Isabelle, who appears to have a TV remote in her hands.
"What? The professor asked me to." She answered.
Kalego cleared his throat finishing the course explanation.
"The only way to get through this like a boss is Cutthroat Valley!" Said Sabnock.
"Too bad. This year, Warbling Valley is the sole option." Interfered Kalego.
"Huh?! For real?! But why?!" Asked Sabnock.
"The guardian of Cutthroat Valley has been in a mood lately." Said Kalego.
"Guardian?" Asked Ryūko.
"That's right. It's an enormous magical beast the rules over the area." Said the teacher. "That's why it's strictly off-limits. We can't guarantee your safety if you choose to go in."
"Forget that! I'm going in there! Otherwise, what's the point if they've been doing that!"
"Cough!"
'Well, that may not be anyone's problem but his own, but as punishment for threatening Sir Iruma as well as Lady Ryūko and Lady Isa, I won't be there to guard. Not like I care otherwise.' Thought Lavande sweat-dropping.
'Don't expect a spider to be on your way. Or if I feel like I should, do expect me, Isabelle, and Iruma to help.' Said Ryūko mentally. Ryūko may be cold, silent, and emotionless, but she's just like Iruma; kind-hearted and sweet-talking.
'Better watch out, Sabnock. You're about to see what the eldest daughter of Kattrin and Damien Abaddon has in store for today.' Thought Isabelle as she gave the burley demon a look of contempt while readying herself.
The gateway of the race opened.
"Ready, all of you!" Commanded Kalego.
On the call, everyone (excluding Ryūko and Iruma) spread their pitch-black wings (Isabelle's wings more detailed than the rest).
"And now, the flying race will commence." Said Kalego. "Ready... go!"
Now that the command was set, all the demons stirred through the gate with frightening speed, thanks to the strength of their wings being very strong. So strong, that it sent Iruma rolling towards the edge of the platform. He was able to steady himself before falling off.
"I-I won't... S-Safe..." He said.
Unfortunately, Kalego pushed him off the cliff, not caring about his life being on the line.
"Get moving." Said Kalego.
Ryūko, on the other hand without hesitation, jumped off the cliff before she plots her webbing to stick to the bottom of the platform until she'll be able to catch Iruma. After all, for a cold and dead serious sweetheart girl like Ryūko, she's a girl who keeps her promises.
Kalego used the elevator to get to the goal. He snapped his fingers and a purple leaf-shaped seat, along with a vertical TV appeared. As he sat down, a cute little demon blob served him some Hell Gray tea before he begins to turn the TV on. By the way, these little fellas may also serve as cameramen called "Demonitors". Hence their names, they monitor the students and show their occurrences on the TV screen for Kalego to watch their every move.
Here's what's happening with everyone being around the Demonitors.
Demonitor 1
Picero slept on his cloud, not caring about the race much. Neither was Lead, who is playing his videogame. Camui just flew in between them.
"So sleepy..." Yawned Picero.
"Man, I forgot to save before the boss fight!" Said Lied.
Unexpectedly coming across a field of blue flowers, Kamui made a dive to pick up some of those before flying next to Elizabetta and Keroli.
"Ahem. Ladies, may I fly by your side?" Asked Camui.
"Is that a lie?" Asked Elizabetta.
"Absolutely not!" Countered the owl demon, "I just want to be cradled beautifully under your beautiful, soft, plump triceps. That's all, I swear."
What the heck? This guy in particular is not only a good gentleman but a pretty big pervert, too!
"Wow, aren't you honest?" Complimented Elizabetta, taking the flowers.
"In that case, would you say... my passion is safe?!" Asked Kamui.
Like someone who accidentally turned on a Rated 18+ channel, Elizabetta kicked her sole onto Kamui in the face saying: "Not a chance!"
"Your feet are 26.5 centimeters!" Said Kamui, all of a sudden.
Overall, this batch is treating the race as if it was a class trip.
Demonitor 2
Jazz just stole a demon bird egg from a nest with a cute flock of demon birds protecting it, obviously planning to make money out of it. He then flew alongside Schneider and Goemon.
"Hey, how much do you think this demon bird egg would go for?" Asked Jazz.
"Don't sell it. Boil it. 8 minutes and salt would do." Said Schneider talking about boiling the egg if Jazz considers it.
Suddenly, the same flock of birds from earlier charged at the three students in angry chirps and stopping them from going any further in the process. As Kalego looks at this, he feels disappointed.
"I'm surrounded by cretins. Surely at least one of you is decent!" He said harshly grabbing the TV.
Demonitor 3
There wasn't a single demon who passed by. Or did one... or two? Or three? Swift pink, purple, and blue lights flew past the demonitor with lightning-fast speed. The paths belonged to the top students, Asmodeus and Lavande, and the honored cambion student Isabelle. At least, they took the race seriously. They were about to fly past a field of flowers that eventually shot needles at them.
"I guess there's no point in trying to avoid them." Said Asmodeus.
"Agreed." Said Lavande, who's currently finding a way through the field without harming the flowers.
"Well, how do we deal with these flowers without hurting even just one?" Asked Isabelle.
The cat demon spotted a bird flying through the field, avoiding the needles at the same time.
"I might have found an alternative." Said Lavande.
"What do you mean?" Asked Asmodeus and Isabelle.
"If that bird can pass through in that particular pattern, then maybe I found my way through." Replied Lavande using her brains. "I shall do the same. Watch and learn, Sir Asmodeus and Lady Isa."
With that, she flew with an incredible dynamic of flying, remembering the bird's directions. In a while, she was almost at the edge of the field, and Asmodeus and Isabelle kept up way far behind her, in case something happens.
"This may be a better route than I have anticipated." Shouted Lavande to Asmodeus and Isabelle. Little did she know that she'll be taken down.
Her ear picked up one needle coming at her from behind and avoided its speed, but that was meant to distract her. Asmodeus looked at the flowers behind her tail, near to firing their needles. They were all aimed at her!
"Lavande! Look out!" Warned Isabelle.
Too late, she was busy dodging from her front that she didn't bother looking behind her and screamed in agonizing pain when the needles were fired at her wings.
She then made a free fall at the far side of the field.
"Miss Félin! No!" Asmodeus then summoned his Gorgon Snake.
"I shall avenge milady for this!" He said before he told his familiar to burn the flowers down. "Nicely done."
"Lubradine!" Isabelle summoned her own familiar as well. "Help me find Lavande."
Isabelle sat on Lubradine's back as the saber-toothed lion sped off to where the cat demon landed into.
"Wowie! One more time! One more time!"
The magenta-eyed demon thought he was hearing things until he realized that Clara was on his back.
"Hey, get off! When did you..."
"Well, see, right from the very beginning... I hitched a ride on your back!" Said Clara, "And then, I..."
"What, you got bored or something?" Scowled Asmodeus.
Then, he spotted someone flying at immense speed ahead on another path. "Is that... Sabnock? Where is he going? Oh no, he'd better not be..." Asmodeus thought that Sabnock might be going through Cutthroat Valley, against Kalego's instructions.
"Come on, Azz-Azz. Why are you flying so slow?"
Asmodeus wasn't looking at where he's going that he and Clara ended up tangled in lianas.
"Help me, Azz-Azz! You're my only hope!"
"Don't thrash! And first, let go of my neck!"
Eventually, the lianas weren't strong enough to support the weight that they snapped off, causing them to fall into the depths.
Sadly, the fourth demonitor was asleep on the job but woke up and informed Kalego that there's an intruder who went through Cutthroat Valley.
"So Sabnock went there after all... Every year, just like you, there's always one numbskull." Groaned Kalego for not being listened to.
Meanwhile, in the said Valley, Sabnock is going through its treacherous winds.
'Curses! This is how it's supposed to be! Cutthroat Valley may be more treacherous than anything, but is still the best shortcut!' Thought Sabnock. 'And that is why everyone who dreams of being the Demon King goes through Cutthroat Valley to earn their ranks! Who cares about some guardian?!'
He then said his thoughts aloud saying: "I'll crush the beast myself! I will begin my military rule as Demon King from this valley!"
Well... It didn't take long before he was swept away by the winds.
"Well, if we're lucky, we can at least retrieve an arm or a leg." Said Kalego, "On the bright side, I don't mind having one less imbecile to worry about."
He removed Sabnock's name from the list of students who might have survived.
"Come to think of it, where did the other idiot who started late and his sister go to?" He then looked through the other demonitors and couldn't find them, so he assumed that they'd lost the Suzuki twins.
Where did Ryūko and Iruma go, you may ask? Allow me to explain. After being thrown off the cliff, they were caught by some rather curious demon crows as they were falling. And after an intense battle, Ryūko made a pair of reins of her silk and restrained one of the crows as if training a flying dragon and Iruma's now being carried away in its beak.
'Woah! Sis just tamed a wild demon crow as if it was a dragon-like in one of those movies.' Iruma thought in amazement, 'Wait... Humans are considered a delicacy in the Netherworld. I hope it savors every last bite, at least...'
But suddenly, a screeching noise startled the crow and drops Iruma and Ryūko. Hopefully, not to their demise.
Meanwhile...
With Isabelle
Isabelle and her familiar landed in a clearing in hopes of finding the former's cat demon friend.
"Lavande! Lavande!" she called out. "Are you there?"
She looked all over the clearing and noticed her nearby, covered in scratches and bruises.
"Oh, my gosh! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, thanks for finding me, Lady Isa." Lavande gratefully replied.
Isabelle then took out a vile of her human blood from her pocket and used it to heal Lavande's wounds.
"Now, come on. We better get back to Sir Asmodeus before anyone else outflies us." Lavande said.
Just then they were met by creeping vines and noticed that they were surrounded by ensnaring vines and man-eating (or rather, demon-eating) plants.
"Scratch that, Lavande." Replied Isabelle. "First, we have to deal with these carnivorous flora."
With Asmodeus and Clara
Clara was about to be eaten by a big, carnivorous flower and Asmodeus was trying not to be eaten alongside her. The girl gripped onto his overcoat and won't let go.
"Azz-Azz... there's... there's something I need to tell you." Said Clara as if she won't make it back alive, "You're the best. Thank you for everything. Don't forget about me, okay? Promise."
"Let go of me, would you?!" Instructed Asmodeus summoning his sword of fire. He sliced the flower to pieces with the said blade and Clara then emerged from the cut-off flower bud.
"Oh hey, Azz-Azz." Said Clara. "I came back."
Asmodeus looked around and noticed that neither Ryūko nor Iruma have arrived at their pathway.
"Miss Ryūko and Master Iruma haven't arrived yet. Should we try and find them? Perhaps that's what these "friends" they so often refer to are supposed to do?" Questioned Asmodeus before thinking about something else, "No, no. I wouldn't be surprised if they've already made it to the goal. I'll bet They passed as I was idly standing here. Or maybe they went through Cutthroat Valley just like Sabnock did."
Clara got onto him again.
"Time to jump back on the saddle and get to moving!" Declared Clara.
"Get off!" Said an agitated Asmodeus before he realized something. "Ah! Miss Félin and Miss Isa! I almost forgot about them! Where could they be?!"
Back to Isabelle and Lavande
That can be easily explained if he was the narrator/author. After fighting the sentient flora in the clearing, both Isabelle and Lavande were outnumbered by their own adversaries. Isabelle and Lavande were about to be eaten by the same flower that nearly devoured Clara, with some thick lianas preventing them from moving even an inch.
The two demon girls attempted to struggle themselves free, but it was pointless as they were being dragged to a big flower that was going to eat them.
'If only I was not distracted by my frontlines and more aware of my surroundings.' Thought Lavande in despair. 'Perhaps Lady Isa and I might not be able to make it to the goal alive.'
"Miss Félin! Miss Isa!"
"Azz/Sir Asmodeus?"
Asmodeus and Clara ran up to them! The fire demon sliced and stabbed off Isabelle's and Lavande's restraints and the flower behind them. They were left on the ground panting from surprise and exhaustion of struggling.
"Are you two alright?" Asked Asmodeus.
"We appear to be fine. Thank goodness you have arrived." Said Lavande.
"But Lave-Lave, your wings!" Exclaimed Clara.
She revealed her wings now filled with ripped-off skin.
"I must've forgotten to heal them." Isabelle realized.
"You might as well leave me here. Go to the goal without me." Said Lavande in a sad tone.
But that wasn't stopping Asmodeus from helping his friend, he wrapped his right arm around the cat demon's torso and his other arm under her legs, sweeping her off her feet.
Lavande was left in a blushing mess but held on tightly. "I will not leave you here, my fair lady. Just hold on." Advised Asmodeus as Clara got on his back and he took flight with Lavande in his arms and Isabelle tagging along.
With Ryūko and Iruma
Ryūko and Iruma landed on a gigantic bird nest and both cough the dust off their surroundings. Iruma picked up a demon skull and dropped it out of fright. Ryūko's shadow was covering Iruma as they come face-to-face with a big, white demon bird.
It screeched loudly and Iruma thought it was going to eat them.
"Stay behind me, Iruma!" Told Ryūko protectively outstretching her arm, "It might be in some other feelings and we're definitely not going to be eaten."
She was right, the bird was in pain as the siblings noticed a long slash wound on the bird's leg.
"I see. You're just injured and terrified to be confronting us." Said Ryūko. "However, what else can I do? Hm... Of course!"
"Do you have any ideas, Sis?" Asked Iruma.
"I have one. Hopefully the book is right." Said Ryūko. She picked up a splinter, assuming it was from a tree and approached the bird slowly.
"Worry not. All we want is to help you." Said the goth student, she inflicted a bleeding cut on the back of her hand. The bird seems confused and sweat-dropped.
"My brother and I mean no harm to you, we come in peace." Said Ryūko. "Will you let us help? I will be gentle with it, it is a promise I can keep!"
The bird sensed no clues of hostility from her, realising that it was going to be helped and therefore lets her look at its injured leg.
"Thank you. I hope that paragraph was right." Said Ryūko.
She pressed her thumb and index fingers of her right hand onto her cut. A line of blood dripped from the pressure and as it seeped in the bird's wound, it healed the slash. Iruma was in awe and wondered how did she even know.
"It's all better! But how, Sis?" Asked Iruma.
Ryūko ripped off part of her silk reins used earlier and wrapped a strand of it around her hand.
"I was studying about the Netherworld last few nights in the mansion library and one of the books said that our human blood heals demonkind." Said Ryūko with a closed-eyed smile.
"Wow... Maybe humans are more valuable than we thought!" Exclaimed Iruma with sparkles of amazement in his azure eyes.
The demon bird nuzzled Ryūko in thanks for the healing and Ryūko pats its beak.
"I'm happy for you." She said, "You're welcome. But in return, are you alright with giving Iruma and me a ride? For a longer stay, we can't simply take."
Understanding the situation, the bird flung Iruma and his sister onto it's back and took flight.
With Sabnock
Sabnock has just engaged in a fierce battle with an enormous, black beast. He couldn't stand a chance against it.
"S-So this is... the guardian of Cutthroat Valley!" Said Sabnock, "Well, this sucks... Before I even get close to becoming the Demon King... I may die!"
~Interval~
Back in the classroom, Clara was trying to catch Sabnock's tail. Anything that moves up and down highly is pretty much a good pastime for her.
"Man, she's really determined to catch it..." Said Lied.
"My lieges! Like's make something similar to his tail!" Suggested Asmodeus, "That'll shut her up!"
"Maybe this can work." Said Ryūko. She whipped a ribbon of silk. She attached the ribbon to a random stick and waved the ribbon in Clara's direction. Ryūko begins to start a set of dance moves while spiraling the ribbon around. The waving movements hypnotized Clara and she comes at the ribbon with cat-like movements.
"Good kitty, Valac. But to take hold of the ribbon, you must catch up with my ribbon dancing." Said Ryūko.
And so, Ryūko ribbon danced around the classroom with Clara chasing the ribbon. Asmodeus' eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Magnificent, Miss Ryūko! She knows how to handle that chaotic girl!" Praised Asmodeus. Iruma just contented a smile at the girls having fun.
"I'm glad, they're both having fun." Said Iruma.
Ryūko just so seductively danced around Sabnock.
"Hope you enjoy the show." Said Ryūko with a sexy and deep voice.
Once she continued, Sabnock just felt a loud beating on his chest. Ryūko can be kind of sexy, for a girl in all black.