Jun's POV
Being frozen alive is not a great sensation to experience. It may be a cool technology to use in science fiction, but it sucks in real life. It saps away from your body heat, which exposes you to the numbing cold that pervades your entire body. Eventually, everything in your body shuts down and leaves you in darkness.
Immediately after I was frozen alive, I activated my Newtype powers to search for my servants. Their thoughts were jumbled and scattered. Artakha's mind was silent and the blacksmith didn't say a word about his plight. Vesemir was reciting to himself old songs to keep himself sane. Garro was a storm of rage and fury as he lashed out at the icy prison that trapped him. Eugeo was terrified about his situation as he called out for his old friends and family.
A bell-like chime rings inside my mind and a menu appears.
[Skill Level Up! Newtype Lv. 1 - 2]
[Range increased to 15 meters. You can now use telepathy to speak to people around you.]
Immediately, I connect my mind with Eugeo's mind and he recoils from the connection.
"Who's there? Who are you?" he screams into the void.
"It's me, Jun. You alright?"
"Not really, it's terrifying. I can't feel anything in my body. I want to get out, please!" he screams again.
"I know that. You need to remain calm, Eugeo. The more you become scared, the more you will become insane." I stated bluntly.
"Then, what can I do to calm myself?" he asked.
"For now, count your numbers. It will keep your mind distracted. I will check on the others and come back, okay?" I said. An affirmative sound comes from his mind and I briefly sever the telepathic connection with him. The next person I check on is Vesemir, who's surprised about my ability.
"How long did you have this ability, kid?" he inquired.
"I just unlocked it, okay? How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine, Jun. So, what's the plan?" he asked.
"I don't have one right now. Our best bet is to go with the flow." I said. I didn't know where they sent us. For all I know, we could be sitting at the bottom of the ocean. Until they release us, we are stuck and frozen eternally.
"That's fine, lad. I will be -," the witcher pauses mid-sentence as a warm sensation fills our bodies. The sensation grows until it becomes a blazing inferno that singes my skin. My vision returns slowly as the darkness recedes. I drop to my knees as I gasp for air. Inhaling sweet, precious oxygen into my lungs, I steady myself to examine our surroundings.
The pit we are standing in is illuminated by a circular row of torches. Anti-magical wards and defensive sigils covering the wall glow brightly in our faces. I hiss in pain when I place my hand on the wall. Instantly, the wards react and burn my hand. A loud 'clang' echoes off the wall as Garro's broadsword is deflected by the wards.
"Don't even try flying upwards, giant," Peering over the pit's edge, a woman with twin tails of black hair glares at Garro before jumping down. A pair of wings sprouts from her back and she hovers several meters above us.
"Junichiro Marchosias, step forward," she commands. I take a bold step in front of her and she frowns at me. Gesturing at my servants, she asks me where and how I got my servants.
"My family summoned them over the centuries and they serve as my companions," I lied. She descends to the floor and snaps her fingers. A long, wooden rectangular table with chairs materializes between me and her. Cautiously, I motion my servants to take a seat. As we do, three more figures drop from above. Ajuka takes a seat next to the woman while the redhead sits toward Ajuka's right side. The bald man scratches his head as the impromptu meeting begins.
"Let me start by apologizing to you, Mister Marchosias," Ajuka bowed his head to me. "I think we can all agree that none of this would be happening if I had released you."
Hmm, that's an interesting tactic. Placating the victim with an apology is a good way to lower one's guard. I can't tell whether Ajuka is genuinely sorry for his actions or not. But if I'm right, he's bound to offer some sort of reparation for free. Of course, in exchange for free gear, we will have to sign some kind of agreement. I might be overthinking it, but anything could happen.
"Since you're already here, we have decided to give you a tour of the Marchosias territory. For now, let me introduce my colleagues."
He pointed at the redhead, "This is Sirzechs Lucifer. He's in charge of domestic affairs and leader of the Four Satans." The woman with twin tails was Serafall Leviathan, who was in charge of foreign affairs. Meanwhile, the bald guy, Falbium Asmodeus, was head of the Underworld's military forces. Finally, Ajuka was responsible for technology and communications.
Once we became acquainted with one another, the Satans led us to an underground tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, the door swung aside to reveal the Underworld. A crimson sky hung above us as we surveyed the Underworld. Besides the sky, everything in the Underworld resembled Earth. It was not the fire and brimstone world that ordinary humans believed in.
Three black vans idling in the street waited for us and we climbed inside them. Without a word, the small convoy moved out. It did not take long to arrive at the Marchosias' territory. The castle loomed before us as we approached it. The rusted iron portcullis creaked as we passed underneath it. The outer bailey was a field of weeds and debris littered the area. Another wall separated the outer bailey from the dilapidated keep.
I shook my head at the sight of the keep's interior. Centuries of abandonment left the keep in its current state. It would take a while to refurbish the castle into its former glory. Tattered war banners, crumbling stone statues, and rusted ancient weapons either laid on the floor or were hung askew on the wall.
"Why are you showing me this?" I asked Ajuka.
"To prove that you cannot deny your heritage," the inventor stated. "I know it's hard to believe, but you have devil blood flowing in your veins." He motioned me to follow him, where the rest of the group was standing before a black stone pillar. Pulling a small knife from his pocket, he pointed at the pillar in front of us.
"It may look like a regular stone pillar, but it is a disguised magically sealed vault. These vaults can only be opened via blood identification. Simply put, it will open only to the descendants of the Marchosias clan."
Closing his hand around the knife, he pressed the knife against his palm and pulled it. A trickle of blood spurted from the wound and he placed his hand against the pillar's surface. Nothing happened and a bloody handprint was left on its surface.
He handed the knife to Sirzechs, who repeated the action. Three bloody handprints were added to its surface and the pillar remained inert. Behind me, Garro scoffed at the devils and unholstered his bolter.
"This pillar is nothing but the work of heretical witchcraft," he intoned and fired at the pillar. Empty casings bounced against the tiled flooring as the miniaturized explosive bolts left the bolter's barrel. Each one slammed against the pillar and exploded in a spectacular shower of fire and sparks. The space marine remained undeterred when he saw there was no sign of damage and grabbed his massive power sword attached to his backpack.
A loud hum and the crackling of lightning filled the room as the power sword activated. With a mighty shout, he stabbed it at the center of the pillar. A shockwave burst from the point of impact and the air billowed around us for a few seconds. An irritated growl left Garro's mouth when he saw the pillar was undamaged.
Ajuka passed the knife toward me. With a quick motion, I slice the palm of my hand and place it on the pillar. Instantly. spider-like veins glow and the pillar splits apart to reveal the hidden treasure.
An armored suit decorated in resplendent gold and muted cyan hung on its rack before us. The face of a scowling man was imprinted on its white helmet and a gray lightning bolt was displayed prominently on its forehead. At its feet was a large sword and hammer, each one inscribed in an unknown language. A small box laid beside the hammer and I opened it. Inside was a twisted shard of golden metal.
I bit my tongue to hide my surprise when Godsight revealed what it was.
[Item Scanned...]
[Item Identified: A torn shard of sigmarite]
[Sigmarite: Named after the God-King, Sigmar. An arcane metal mined from Mallus, the core of the World-That-Was.]
If I learned anything from comics and movies, metals with fancy names mean it must be powerful. I cast Godsight on the suit to learn more about it.
[Item Identified: Lord-Celestant armor]
[Worn by the leader of the Stormcast Eternals' Warriors Chambers. Identity of former wearer unknown. Heraldry and colors identified: Celestial Vindicators]
[Lord-Celestant: Equivalent of a WH40k Company Captain]
I lift the blade up to examine it. Besides the unknown lettering carved on it, I can feel a steady pulse of magic within the sword. Channeling my magic into the sword, it ignites into a crackling pillar of energy. The sword shivers when I deactivated it.
I move aside so the others could examine it. Some people, like Eugeo, marveled at its artistic craftsmanship while others were curious about its composition. Plucking the helmet from the rack, it slides over my head when I wear it. It was stuffy and hot inside the helmet, but I could see everything clearly.
"Anything else you want to show me?" I ask as I return the helmet to its spot. Ajuka handed me a parchment scroll, "This scroll is a map of your territory. We surveyed the area a month ago. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
"Being friendly won't persuade me to join you," I warned him. The inventor shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't hurt to try, am I right?"
The ride back to the pit was uneventful and we found ourselves back at the table. A single sheet of parchment laid before me, the terms of the agreement written in black ink.
The agreement was straightforward. The Marchosias territory would be repaired to its former state and a subsidy would be given to me for two years. Additionally, I would be recognized as a high-class devil, which would grant me and my companions the privilege and rights of nobility. A Rating Game set would be given to me and used to participate in the Rating Games. In exchange, a member from the Gremory and Sitri peerage would observe me every day.
"Do you mind if I discussed this agreement with my peerage?" I asked. Sirzechs nodded his head and the four Satans flew into the air and away from us. I wait a few minutes before facing my servants.
"Recommendations, anyone?"
"You are a fool if you accept that agreement," Garro stated loudly, "They would know everything about us and report their findings back to the Satans. I wouldn't be surprised if they assembled a contingency plan to deal with us."
"I hate to say it, but he's right," Vesemir agreed with his fellow supersoldier. "Letting our enemies into our home is a risk we can't take lightly."
"What happens if we don't sign the agreement?" Eugeo asked meekly.
"We will be hunted down by the entire supernatural community. We would be on the run forever." I answered.
"It is better to have enemies near us than to be a fugitive forever," Artakha said. "Besides, they never said what kind of information we could tell them."
"Pfft. That's hilarious," Vesemir laughed. "They aren't stupid people, Artakha. They can tell the truth from the lies we tell them."
"We have no other choice, Vesemir. We don't have enough resources to sustain ourselves if we become fugitives." Artakha said. I placed myself between the blacksmith and the monster hunter and waved my hands.
"Okay, that's enough. It's time to vote. Raise your hands if you want me to sign the agreement." Two hands shot up into the air, which belonged to Eugeo and Artakha. Neither Garro nor Vesemir raised their hands. Seeing that we were at an impasse, I moved to the next topic: the Rating Game pieces.
I had explained the functions of the Rating Games pieces and the Rating Games itself. What I hadn't told them was that accepting the piece would transform into a Devil permanently. As expected, Garro growled at the tiny chess pieces on the table and grumbled under his breath. The others were also concerned about becoming a Devil. The benefits of becoming nigh-immortal, gaining magic and wings would sway many people instantly. But a high libido of sexual tension and low birth rates was a concern some people worried about.
"Is there a way to accept the pieces without becoming a devil?" Garro asked. I shrugged my shoulders, "I will ask Ajuka if there is a way. He made them, so he should know."
"If it is possible, then I have no objections to you signing the agreement," he said. I frowned at him, unable to understand why he changed his stance so quickly. Seeing my facial expression, he explained his reason.
"I admit that the Xeno blacksmith is right. We may not be able to deceive them, but we can monitor where they can go. As a leader, you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
"If that's the case, let's get to it," I say loudly. Immediately, the four Satans dropped from the sky and took their seats. A quill and a small inkpot appeared next to my copy of the agreement and I dipped the quill's nib into the pot.
"Before I sign this agreement, I have a question," I asked. "Is it possible to change them into a sort of proxy piece? My servants don't like the idea of becoming devils permanently."
"I can do that right now." He said and pulled out a silver boxy container. Tossing the chess pieces inside, the machine whirred to life and the container shakes as it modifies the Rating Game pieces. A puff of smoke escapes from the container and Ajuka hands over the modified chess pieces. Placing them into my inventory, I stare at the parchment in front of me.
"Whatever happens, I will have to deal with it." I thought to myself. With a single stroke of my quill, I sealed my fate. After Ajuka signs it, the paper glows and a circular magical seal appears over it.
"You're free to go now, Mr. Marchosias. You and your peerage will be teleported back to Kuoh Academy. Starting tomorrow, the agreement is in effect." Ajuka's words become lost as a vortex of magical energy sends away from the Underworld and back to the human world.
The next day...
"Why am I not surprised?" Those were the words that escaped my lips when I saw the two observers/spies who would be following me and my peerage's every move.
The school day had ended and I had received a message that my observers would be waiting in front of the school gate. Walking toward the gate, I sighed mentally in my head when I saw Rias and Sona standing near the gate. The Sitri heiress's spectacles flashed in the setting sun's rays when she turned to face me. On the other hand, Rias had a smile on her face, yet her splayed hands trembled slightly when I approached her.
"Per the agreement, we will observe your actions until the Satans say otherwise. I look forward to working with you." Sona said and both devils bowed toward me.
"This is going to suck," I thought to myself as they climbed into my car. No one said anything until I reached the castle. "So many statutes..." Rias murmured quietly and Sona nodded her head in agreement. The statue of the soldier greeted us with a blank stare when we entered the front door. While the Gremory heiress marveled at the foyer's decorations, I noticed the Sitri heiress trace her fingers over the statue's pedestal.
"He must have died horribly," she said.
"You know about the Lost Battalion?" I asked her. She nodded her head, "I did a research project last year for my history class." Her hand fell to her side and she straightened her posture. "But that's a story for another day," she finished.
I beckoned them to follow me as we made our way to the basement. "Awfully dusty in here," Rias remarked and sneezed. It didn't take long for us to reach the basement and I slapped my hand against the disguised wall, which opened up to reveal the bunker. The cavernous size of the room and the giant magical circle elicited sharp gasps from both girls as we descended down the staircase. Standing near the circle were my servants, who were waiting for me.
"Welcome to our humble abode, ladies. It's not much but this is where we live," Vesemir said sarcastically. Behind him, Garro glared at the devils, who flinched under his steely gaze. A shuddering moan left their mouths as the [Transhuman Dread] passive activated. After a few seconds, Garro turned his head away from the devils and the passive was canceled.
"I heard much about you, Mr. Rulid," Sona said. Eugeo swallowed his throat and she walked around him. "I can see why the girls are fawning over you. Your looks alone make Kiba look like your average blonde."
She laughed when she saw Eugeo blush, his face turning red within a few seconds, " I was only teasing you. There's nothing to worry about,"
"So, what exactly do you guys do?" Rias asked. Artakha answered her, "We hunt stray devils and other hostile creatures in the area."
"Besides hunting stray devils, any other activities? Like fulfilling client requests and etc" she asked. This time, no one answered and she shook her head.
"If you want, I can give you a few suggestions. Hunting stray devils are not going to generate any profit for you." Rias said. I raised my hand to interrupt her.
"I will happily take your suggestion, but there is a matter I want to attend to." Reaching into my pocket, I held the summon token and gave it to Rias.
"These tokens activate the summoning circle, which allows me to summon servants," I said and went to the catalyst room. Shock and (maybe) disgust was painted in the devils' faces as I waded through the mountain of junk. "In order to summon a servant, I need a catalyst. Something that belonged to them in their previous lives."
Closing my eyes, I began listing out my criteria. Like last time, I needed someone who was a skilled warrior and a loyalist. Invisible lines tugged around my hands as I searched through the relics. A sudden tug on my pinky finger pulled me to a spot, where I dug out a leather necklace with a crimson crystal attached to it. The relic burned lightly in my hands and I grinned. Marching up the mountain, I left the catalyst room behind me and walked into the center of the summoning circle. Placing the catalyst on the circle made it pulse with light.
I turned to face Rias and Sona, who were holding their hands up to shield themselves from the light. "Watch carefully," I held the token in front of them to catch their attention. Once they focused on the token, I tossed it into the circle.
Lightning bolts crackled and arced around the circle as a whirlwind of light surrounded the catalyst. The Gregorian chanting grew louder as the whirlwind slowly transformed into a solid pillar. The hum became a scream as the ritual reached its climax and the pillar exploded, blinding everyone in the bunker. Blinking my eyes rapidly, the multicolored dots peppering my sight disappeared and I took a good look at the person I summoned.
A figure wearing an orange and white skintight suit stood in the center of the circle. Light armor covered her shoulders and legs, while a pair of gauntlets protected her arms. Fluffy red hair trailed behind her, giving her a mane-like appearance.
Orbs of crimson fell on me and she grinned at me. "So you're the one who called me," she said cheerfully while she shook my hand.
"Well, I did summon you. By the way, what's your name?" I asked her. Stepping away from me, she held her hand in the air and a large spear materialized into her hand. Slamming the spear's shaft into the ground, she introduced herself with a cheerful voice.
"Kanade Amou, idol and Symphogear, at your service!"
AN
Hopefully, this addition will satisfy readers' requests for now. She won't be the only female hero on this team. Review time...
Judging from the reviews, some readers are pissed off at the lackluster battle in the last chapter. They will probably be disappointed in this chapter too. Before screaming at me, let me explain why I made the MC lose.
Power difference - Let's face it. Currently, there is no way our hero can beat the Satans or the heiress (Rias and Sona). He's low-leveled and doesn't have enough power-ups to defeat them. Right now, Jun is at Issei's level. Over time, he will become stronger and overpower a Satan. But that's in the far future.
In the case of a one-vs-one match, Artakha or Garro might win. Artakha because he's a demigod and he can create weapons from scratch thanks to his Kanohi Mask of Creation. Garro because he's a Space Marine and his experience during the Horus Heresy.
Potential counter-argument: Okay, MC is low-leveled. But he has an Astartes with him. Garro should have killed everybody!
Response: That's true. I could have made Garro beat everybody and call it an easy win. He is a Space Marine and they are hard to kill. But you have to remember that they are fighting in an enclosed environment. There isn't enough room or space to swing a massive broadsword. Thus, it's close-quarter combat.
Again, I look forward to reading your comments, whether they be good or bad.