Disclaimer: There is an author's note at the bottom responding to most of the negative reviews, with explanations on why this story is the way it is. (I acknowledge all of the criticism, and I will make sure to keep them in mind. I am not ignoring the problems with the story, that is what this chapter is for, to patch up all the plot holes as well as do some explanations on the world-building through dialogue of the story.)
Midnight Sun
Arc 1: Forsaken Utopia
Chapter 11
Calling of God
Satan widened his eyes as flames engulfed the ground in an instant.
He watched as his Divine Construct was overpowered by this bright red fire, highlighted by a bright blue glow. Dozens of assumptions and questions rose in his head as he attempted to remember the person who used such fire.
He couldn't remember a single Counter-Guardian that had the same flames as the ones that managed to deflect his spear.
Confusion rose as no other entity should be able to deflect the activation of his Noble Phantasm. It simply wasn't possible unless they were at their strongest, and fueled by the power of Gaia and Alaya to be able to know where exactly to strike the spear to stop it from completely skewering its target.
He should have known about such a person, but he didn't.
So, how was a Counter-Guardian named [Fallen Argonaut] Bell Cranel standing in front of him?!
He should've known about him. He knew about all Counter-Guardians, because Alaya himself provided Satan with essentially a database of all Counter-Guardians. Yet, this Bell Cranel wasn't on the list.
Was this the Hunter that Kokabiel spoke about that day under the leaves? The one that ended up losing everything due to his naivety? The one that was once fighting for the Goddess Hestia?
It was impossible. Such a young boy was the one who had all his friends slaughtered?
"So you are the one..." [Fallen Argonaut] Bell Cranel gazed at Satan, his red eyes examining Satan's entire form.
Bell Cranel was a young boy, so young he could have passed as a simple freshman in high school. He had red eyes and white hair, so similar to a bunny. He wore a hip length brown coat with a small black patch on the right side above his chest along with a long sleeved black shirt underneath. Along with it, he wore black pants, a beige belt with a silver buckle, and brown shin-high boots.
Light weight white armor covered his chest and arms, with little to no protection to his legs besides white knee pads and grieves. Satan's black eyes examined the young boy in return, noting the two daggers at his waist.
Satan knew that Bell Cranel was someone who depending on striking quick and moving out of range, depending entirely on his agility and speed to overwhelm his opponent.
Cranel knew that Satan was someone who depended on simply overpowering his opponent, hence the heavy armor meant to take blows, as well as the new knowledge of his destructive Noble Phantasm, depending on his armor made of dark material to defend him from his opponent's attacks.
Satan looked away from the unknown Counter-Guardian, and looked down at the woman he held in his arms, who currently bled in her stomach.
She had really risked herself just to block the shot aimed at him. He had reminded himself that she would sacrifice herself just so he would stay alive, but he still shook his head at her foolishness of disregarding her own life.
He smiled softly at her, and pressed his palm gently on the wound. Darkness sapped from his hand onto her wound, as it slowly mended the flesh together.
It should've been impossible for an Angel of God to heal from the darkness of an Outsider, but their union allow such a forbidden combination to work.
"Gabriel..." He sighed as he stared at her flawless face.
He shook his head as he looked back up at the newcomer.
Rage was built up inside of him. His nature as a Devil augmented this emotion as he glared at the one who stopped him from preventing a disaster. Even worse, he was stopped twice.
First by Artoria, second by this boy.
Hunter or not, Counter-Guardian or not, he was still only a young sixteen year old, perhaps even younger.
He was thousands of years old, crafted from perhaps the darkest and most forbidden place upon the omniverse, and he was stopped by a sixteen-year old named Bell Cranel who comes from a barbaric city that slays monsters and each other alike? It doesn't matter if Counter-Guardians are at their strongest future or past strength the moment they get taken in by Alaya. Cranel was still only a kid.
He placed her down gently next to a single surviving tree with 11 branches.
He glared at the boy, and he merely stared back with soulless eyes.
"I'm assuming you are Bell Cranel of Hestia family." He remembered the story that Kokabiel had told him about the young boy who was the slayer.
His soulless eyes gained substance as his red eyes blinked in curiosity. "You know of me? How is that so? You should not know of Orario..."
Killing intent flooded the area as the once substance-lacking boy suddenly morphed into a killer, his red eyes narrowing in suspicion and rage.
Satan widened his eyes as Cranel appeared right in front of him, twin daggers suddenly within his hands, stabbing downwards. The Devil was forced to lunge forward, tackling the opposing Counter-Guardian into the ground.
Kokabiel had disappeared, nowhere to be found, and Satan wasn't sure if Raynare was still in the battlefield waiting for an opportunity with her Dawn Bow.
Pain flared through his body as the twin daggers stabbed him in the shoulders, almost disabling his ability to move his arms. It was so close to his tendons, letting him know that Cranel could have completely disabled him.
The daggers were removed from his body, and Satan picked the young boy up, who was surprisingly light, and threw him. His wounds healed quickly, darkness rising from his quickly disappearing wound.
The midnight sky was gone, and the sun hang low over the horizon, barely a couple hours having passed since the battle had started. The battlefield was bathed by a red-orange light.
It felt refreshing to Satan, for his regeneration to finally work. Every other thing he had gotten recently was full of pure Sunlight from wielders of the [Delusional Works], those who used the pure Sunlight from the Sun, rather than the mimicked Sunlight used by the majority of the Lord's Angels. He wasn't able to heal from wounds inflicted by the power of the Sun, for he was the polar opposite.
Almost like a Dusk Knight under [CLARITY] somewhere within the cosmos...
"Stop [Fallen Argonaut], you are not yourself." Satan attempted to stop. Bell Cranel was not his enemy. He was merely someone who had just stopped to save another Counter-Guardian.
Satan blinked.
How foolish was he? Bell Cranel was his enemy. That was why he had saved Kokabiel. There was no other reason for him to arrive within his now-disappeared barrier.
They shouldn't fight. His prediction of the fight was wrong. The wielder of Dimension Lost was not present, meaning the only barrier active during his fight was his own that was set up during his rampage that had completely blanketed the former blue sky under endless darkness.
But since his barrier was gone, anyone can be dragged into the mess, even innocent bystanders such as students of the school.
He hissed at Satan. "What is it you know about Hestia?!"
He lunged at the Devil, who jumped away. He refused to draw his spear against such a young boy, and he refused to use Excalibur Morgan to draw blood upon another Counter-Guardian. He was merely using Kiba's Excalibur to fend off Kokabiel, not to kill him.
So much had happened.
His head pounded. He was growing...tired? How is he, one of Alaya's greatest dogs, growing tired? He was dead for Devil's sake. There was no reason for him to lack any more magic circuits and turn exhausted when the World itself provided him with everything he needed to prevent this quickly approaching calamity.
His mind had wandered once again.
He had lost sight of what he was doing in the present.
Bell Cranel landed another cut onto him, as he moved too fast for his broken mind to take. Gabriel, Irina-
His human feelings reached out at the name of Irina, while his Devil feelings reached out for the name of Gabriel.
Both sides of him had one they loved unconditionally, and will perhaps never stop loving them. Despite the human life being so much younger, and much more foolish, he still retained much of Hyoudou Issei's feelings.
He ducked under the next kick, and batted Cranel aside.
"Step aside Hunter. I am only to kill Kokabiel."
He was running out of time. His senses were starting to fail. Was it perhaps the activation of Dusk Breaker? He had unleashed the full power-
Ah, that is why he was so tired.
The World itself had placed a restriction onto him for activating such a terrifying power. That was why Bell Cranel's Firebolt was able to deflect the full power of one of the three strongest Noble Phantasms ever in existence.
"She introduced herself as a goddess, with her black twin-tailed hair and blue eyes that gazed upon my soul. She gave me love. She gave me a home. She gave me equipment. She gave me her blessing to allow me to become stronger." Cranel's eyes narrowed as they turned crazed. "Do not take her from me."
Satan blinked as his tired mind spoke the words that came next of Cranel's story. "He had wanted to become a hero."
Bell stopped, his eyes widened in surprise, as his entire body stopped. He was in position to do another barrage of attacks onto the already battered Satan, who was already healing from the previous exchange.
The crazed glint in his eyes faded as he turned sad. "I see...so that's how it is. A Calling of God. It is God's will that you have appeared before me."
"What?"
The King of Devils was left in confusion as Bell sheathed his weapons in an unknown sheath. The King hadn't even meant to speak the words that triggered Bell's change, he had merely finished what Bell's origin story that he wasn't even aware about.
Almost as if Alaya was still active, relaying needed information between all Counter-Guardians personally, instead of merely disappearing for weeks, months, or even years without a word or a vision.
Which meant that Alaya was still alive, somewhere as Issei, Luna, and Vali had deduced those weeks ago.
Only weeks had passed since his human side had discovered the supernatural and the arrival of the Outsider, Dragon Knight Luna.
Had it really been that short of time?
"I will take my leave, your Majesty." The strange Champion of Alaya bowed to Satan, as he turned his back, exposing himself.
"What?" Satan repeated. "Are you just coming and going just like the one who just arrived earlier?"
Bell stopped. "I see, so Artoria did come by earlier. I was wondering why she had disappeared."
Satan narrowed his eyes. He was mistaken. Artoria Pendragon was allied with Bell Cranel, Kokabiel, and their unknown Master. He had assumed she had come because of him.
No...his wisdom was lacking. He was not as sharp as before. She had come by when his barrier was still up. That meant the entire time, she was within the barrier, watching. She was still in the barrier while he had activated Dusk Breaker.
He cursed.
"[Future and Last King] Artoria Pendragon, [Fallen Argonaut] Bell Cranel of Hestia, and [Nova of Delusion] Kokabiel. What is it you three desire?"
Bell turned back, his red eyes narrowing at Satan. "Do not presume that you'll be able to find out about us. We are merely dogs of Alaya, we serve no other purpose than to prevent calamity."
"Why have you come if I, Gabriel, and Kokabiel had already answered the call here to Japan?"
He gave a quiet, almost maniacal chuckle. "Do you honestly believe you three alone can stop this approaching ruin? Do you not hear it? Do you not hear the suffering it will bring if we fail? If all of us fail?"
It was true. He knew of the doom that would be placed upon the world if somehow, all of them failed.
He didn't know how many Champions of Alaya would answer the call to battle. There were so many within this World, yet almost none of them answered the call to Japan. It did not matter if there were already three Counter-Guardians. The more the better, for the less causalities and destruction would the country suffer.
Even worse, he was tired. He was worn out. Centuries of fighting as Alaya's dog had taken its toll on him. The only thing that fueled him was the reality he was currently in, reunited once more with Gabriel.
"I know what will happen if we fail. My question is, why are you allying with your Master if he will be the one that will bring the end of the world?"
Bell did not offer an answer, he merely continued to stare at Satan.
"Will you answer me, or will you simply disappear like the rest of your comrades?" Satan spat, his eyes widening in frustration. His head started to pound, as the exhaustion continued to seep through his body. It was almost taking everything he can to stay awake.
The hunter gave a soft sigh and closed his eyes. Satan was about to speak, before he realized what Bell was doing.
His head was cocked to the side, almost as if he were listening to a voice that wasn't there.
He reopened his eyes, and said, "You know there is no such thing as evil in this world. It is only determined by those who say such a thing exists."
He turned away with that cryptic message, and vanished right before Satan's eyes.
He let a growl of frustration out. Not only did Kokabiel get away, he wasn't even able to get anything out of Bell. He was wise, beyond his years, able to twist his words around to answer Satan's questions, yet still keeping them a mystery and making him unable to connect the answers.
He closed his tired eyes, and turned around to look at the large group of assembled Devils who had done virtually nothing.
Grayfia looked at him in concern.
Satan pulled Excalibur: Morgan out of the ground, and spun it in a circle, ending the spin so the hilt was pointed at Kiba. "This is your weapon to wield. This is your strength, yet also your weakness. It contains your hope and your despair. Use it wisely, for it will be a double-edged blade in the future."
Just like Bell, he had given confusing advice to Kiba, almost as if he were speaking from experience on one's dependency on a weapon.
"You talk as if speaking from experience." Griselda spoke up, the young thirty year old woman stepping forward.
Satan glanced at her. "I am."
He walked pass her, offering no other words to her.
He stopped in front of Grayfia, who had fully cleansed Irina. She was still wrapped in Kokabiel's cloak and was still in her naked state, but Grayfia had managed to clean her skin of the muck that had once covered it.
He cupped Grayfia's cheek, his body straining from the effort of even moving his limbs. He hid the fact that he was severely weakened by the backlash of using such a powerful Divine Construct.
"Thank you."
Two simple words, and he pressed his forehead against hers. They closed their eyes and simply basked in the other's presence for a short moment, before Satan pulled back. He kissed the top of her head, and pulled his hand away from her face.
He knelt next to Irina, and picked her up, carrying her meters to the single surviving tree that Gabriel was currently resting under. He set her down next to the Angel.
His black eyes were tired and were threatening to close. His mind was close to shutting off, attempting to get rest. His body was screaming for him to stop straining it with the smallest of movements.
But he still had more to do.
He glared at Freed Sellzen, the last remaining member of Kokabiel's team.
Kokabiel had not taken the crazed exorcist with him, opting to only bring his Dawn Squire.
"Unbelievable. Five Counter-Guardians all in the same place at once?"
Why was it that this world was so similar to Artoria's world? Why have Alaya and Gaia suddenly have such a great influence in this World even after Alaya's fatal blow?
How is it that they all exist within this plane of existence for an extended amount of time?
Satan continued to ramble in his head, his mind almost collapsing under the mental strain of forming Dusk Breaker within his hand once again.
"Is there such a surprise for all of us to come here?" Satan growled at the mad exorcist, the exorcist's short white hair plastered against his face with sweat from exhaustion from the battle, as well as being face to face with perhaps one of the strongest beings to ever exist. "We are the world's defenders, made solely to prevent the world from getting destroyed from such petty battles such as this."
"Since you have allied yourself with Kokabiel, I must destroy all of his allies. Only then, will we be able to completely curb the catastrophe." Satan narrowed his eyes. "I hope you have prepared yourself Freed Sellzen, for this will be your last battle. You will never stand again."
Satan's body shuddered, as his black eyes flashed chocolate brown. His figure changed, switching from the older, taller figure of Satan, to a regular young teenager.
"And you will never harm Irina again."
It was almost a trick of light, as the brown eyes and smaller figure was only there for a split second before being replaced by the darkest black and ancient figure of the Devil himself..
Freed raised his sword in defense, as the long black conceptual weapon in Satan's hand came to life. It went from a solid rod of darkness into a writhing black aura.
It was similar to Irina's Balance Breaker, Blooming of Aurum: Osmanthus, except the two colors were polar opposites. Irina's Fragrant Olive Sword was made of the most brilliant of golden flowers, crafted from the very first tree that ever existed.
Satan's Dusk Breaker was made of the darkest of nights, crafted from some sort of forbidden darkness, created alongside Dawn Bringer after Ea split Heaven and Earth. It was pure and utter darkness, so made up of humanity's imagination, so long as the denizens of the world believed in such darkness, it would exist and grow stronger.
Satan struck first, the long "whip" of darkness bending as its pressure cracked the ground. Freed rose his combined Excalibur to block it, only to be thrown dozens of meters away.
Satan ran at Freed at human speed, no longer capable of moving the speed he used to move when he fought Kokabiel. His arms and legs were in protest, as Dusk Breaker began to move at a mind of its own.
It was able to read Satan's weak thoughts, following his command. It may have power stronger than anyone can imagine, but it was still to be used under the one known as [███ █████] █████
Freed rose his sword once again, and deflected the wave of darkness, only for it to come back around and "bite" into his side. Blood slowly flowed out of the wound as Freed grabbed it.
"P-please." Freed began to beg, only to be smacked the side again by the Divine Construct.
"Don't kill me!"
Satan was emotionless as he continued to stalk forward. His black eyes flashed brown again, his figure changing, and this time, it was not Satan's voice.
It was Hyoudou Issei's. "Will you living bring back what was taken from Irina?"
Freed passed confusion passing over him, before horror filled his eyes.
"I see you know what I'm talking about." Issei continued. His eyes flashed back to black. Satan continued Issei's word. "I will destroy you. You do not deserve to live."
"W-what? How are you-" Freed pointed at Satan in fear. "-how are you two entities at once? How are you both the King of Devils and a human?!"
"Hyoudou Issei is me, I am not both. Hyoudou Issei is simply an extension of me." Satan's black eyes narrowed.
"N-no!" Freed cowered once again, as fear overcame him. He was no longer Freed Sellzen, the crazed exorcist who had taken so many precious memories from many young women. He was Freed Sellzen, a fearful boy who had stepped into a world much bigger than him, and was consumed by it.
It was amazing, what a turn he had.
"Cower in fear, just so like so many of your prey." Satan's eyes flashed in rage. "You are not even deserving of me releasing my Noble Phantasma's power."
Dusk Breaker solidified into a single black rod once again, and Satan pierced Freed's abdomen.
He choked on blood, as his red eyes widened in pain. Satan leaned forward, and whispered. "If you had not allied yourself with Kokabiel, then you would have survived and I would not have gone after you. But because you sought Irina Shidou, you brought your own death."
Satan stepped backwards and pulled his spear from the exorcist.
"Goodbye Freed Sellzen. May you find your peace in the afterlife."
Satan turned around as Freed's body slid to the ground. He walked past both assembled groups of Devils, the Sitri and the Gremory without saying anything to either. As he walked, Dusk Breaker vanished from his hand.
He locked eyes with Grayfia, before tearing his eyes away from her.
He knelt next to Irina and Gabriel, gazing at both of their beautiful faces."I have almost failed both of you...I almost lost both of you. For that, I am sorry." He caressed Gabriel's cheek as he talked to both of them. His voice was quiet, so only they can hear him if they were even conscious.
He sighed, as he pressed his hand against the ground, a magic circle forming underneath his fingertips. Every Devil had their own unique magic circle, no family crest was the same.
Satan's was the color of black night, the patterns of his crest completely beyond the typical Devil crest. Most crests formed some sort of symbol or pattern, but Satan's was distorted. No matter what way one looked at his magic circle, there was simply no pattern or symbol formed from the cracked lines. It was simply unordinary, different from everything else.
The magic circle glowed, and Satan looked over his shoulder to gaze at Griselda Quarta, who had returned from Freed's body carrying the combined Excalibur. They exchanged nods, as a Guardian of Heaven and a Counter-Guardian of Alaya.
Two different roles within the workings of the world, yet striving for the same dream.
A peaceful Utopia that was everdistant.
Satan's magic circle flashed, and the three of them disappeared.
Irina Shidou gasped as she sat up on her bed.
She pressed her palm against her temple as she had a headache. She blinked as the sun hit her eyes, the blinds not completely shut.
"Issei..."
She had been in and out during the battle at Kuoh Academy. Her body was tired, and her head hurt, almost as if nails were being nailed into her head every time she turned her head.
She got out of bed, and she looked down at her attire as she stepped onto the carpeted floor. It was only a single matching pure white bra and panty. She only put on a single black shirt in the closet that she recognized as Issei's. The shirt managed to drop all the way down to mid thigh, allowing her to not put on a pair of pants.
There was no other person that would have boxes of shoes on the floor of the closet, and a single cardboard sword lying atop of it.
After all, she had a cardboard sword too, the two of them making it while they still played together.
Her heart yearned for those days to come back, just like those few days ago when they were at the church together.
Had it really only been a few days?
She stepped out of the room and down the stairs.
The house was unfamiliar to her, not the same house Issei used to have when he was younger.
It should've been expected. Grayfia was his caretaker now.
"Grayfia?"
She had eventually found the dining room, and seated upon one of the chairs was a single figure.
"Ah, Shidou Irina. You are finally up." Grayfia looked at her to greet her. Grayfia pointed at the chair that was empty across the table. "Sit down, lunch is almost ready."
"Lunch...? How long have I been asleep?"
Grayfia shook her head. "Do not worry about it for now. Just focus on eating and getting your body properly fed and recovered."
Irina opened her mouth to protest, but a sharp look from Grayfia caused her to closed her mouth and sit down obediently. Only after she sat down did she smell the delicious aroma coming from the single pot on the stove.
A few minutes of silence passed before Grayfia set down two bowls of beef stew onto the table. A few seconds after, Grayfia set two small bowls of rice on the side. Irina dug in right after Grayfia seated herself.
They ate in comfortable silence, not finding anything to talk about. After all, the exorcist and the Devil never even formally introduced themselves. This was the first time they had ever even seen each other.
Eventually they finished their meal, and Grayfia sighed as she knew that she would have to answer Irina's questions, who was all too eager to go straight to the point on the location of the missing male.
"Grayfia...where is Issei."
Grayfia sighed. "I don't know myself. All I know is he is somewhere with Gabriel."
Irina blinked. "Gabriel? As in the Gabriel of the Heavens Gabriel? The one who is sister to Michael?"
"If I recall, there is no other Gabriel that is important in terms of the supernatural world." Grayfia sighed. "Yes, the Seraph Gabriel. It was quite a surprise that she actually came to assist her lover in the battlefield, even willing to take 'the full power of the sun'."
"Her lover?" Irina cocked her head in confusion.
"Ah that's right. It's only a tale told between Devils. Exorcists of all Churchs will not know of this story. It is considered very sacred, yet at the same time forbidden." Grayfia sighed as she stood to put the bowls from the eaten breakfast into the sink.
Irina waited patiently for Grayfia to sit back down.
"Long ago, back before even the creation of the Underworld, before even the fall of Adam and Eve, the Seraph Gabriel and a certain Angel are created, and they meet. Their marriage is blessed by He himself as they become weds in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve lived. However, eventually something happens." Grayfia frowned as she looked at the depths of her memory.
"Something...?"
"This is where it where it becomes unclear. The short first part is a definite. There was indeed a Gabriel and there was indeed a being of some sorts falling in love. They do indeed end up being married, different species or not. Adam and Eve are exiled from Heaven, and an undefined time after, the being Gabriel falls in love with is cast out from Heaven. Many stories are branched out from this core foundation. You know of those stories, don't you?"
"No...I actually do not have much knowledge over this." Irina scratched her cheek as she laughed in embarrassment. "Not a lot of people talk about this stuff in the Church. They usually only praise God and others."
Grayfia winced at the mention of his name, her nature as a strong Devil preventing her from suffering the same pain a low-class Devil would suffer. Irina did not notice Grayfia's hidden undesired pain.
"Well, the most commonly referred to one is that the former Angel, the first Devil, [Morning Star] Lucifer is the one that fell from Heaven that day Gabriel was in despair. Gabriel and the being's story is connected to the Fall of Lucifer, but we all know that is false. Gabriel never loved Lucifer, yet the people blindly believe Lucifer was the one that fell upon seeing the figure fall from the sky.
There is a second story to this. This is closer to the truth, but even I do not know the full truth. Upon the casting out of the being Gabriel placed her love in, a second one also fell. There were two people that fell that day, both at the same time. One of them was the [Morning Star] Lucifer. The second one, was the one we know. The [Disgraced Devil] himself, the one who was tossed out of Heaven and became known as the [King of Devils] Satan."
"Yet even these have no real truth. It is as he mentioned the day Kokabiel retreated...these stories and origins have become distorted over time, leaving no real truth. All it takes is for someone to claim it is true, and it will be considered true. There is no truth within this world. The only way we can get the truth of this history is through the two original characters of this fable themselves." Grayfia shrugged. "I highly doubt they will want to explain their own history though. It is something precious to have after so many years."
"...I see." Irina blinked. "I don't see how this relates to Issei?"
Grayfia sighed. "So you don't know about Issei's relation with Gabriel, or who Issei really is. Well, to keep it short, Issei was never really human. Issei's true identity is [Embodiment of Evil] Satan."
Something vibrated within the home.
"Ah, that's my phone. Please excuse me." Grayfia stood and went to answer her phone right after she dropped the rather large bombshell onto Irina.
Her violet eyes were full of confusion.
"Satan...?"
[Angel of Love] Gabriel sat down next to [Personification of Evil] Satan.
Satan looked to the side at her and smiled softly. "I see you recovered fine."
Gabriel shrugged. "I'm not made out of pure darkness like a certain someone. I should be able to heal from something I myself am made out of."
They were quiet, merely enjoying the other's company underneath the comforting sun. Satan had a ghost of a smile on his lips as he looked at the pigeons that were eating the bread crumbs he was feeding them.
His black eyes glinted with something unidentifiable, as there was simply no way his soul-less eyes were able to have emotion.
"It's been four days since the battle."
"What of it?" Satan turned to the Seraph as she broke the peaceful silence that had seemingly surrounded their bench. "Does it have anything to do with the present? The fight is already in the past, I can't change the outcome."
He winced at the thought of the final moments of the fight. It could have been the turning point of preventing the approaching calamity Alaya was telling him about, that he had been sent to stop. But instead, he had lost horribly. He was unable to kill any of the three that had arrived. Bell Cranel arrived barely in time to save Kokabiel, while Artoria had revealed herself for some obscure reason even he couldn't imagine her reasoning for revealing herself as an enemy to him.
He was only successful in killing Freed Sellzen, an ordinary human who was not supported by any larger being. It was fitting for him, a being made of the complete evil of the world, to not be able to save anyone.
He had messed up, activating the full power of Dusk Breaker, causing some sort of side effect. He wasn't sure if he was under the same thing as the fight, his power restricted by Gaia itself, turning him into a regular "Satan"-class Devil. Him activating the full power allowed Bell Cranel to use the influence of the World itself to deflect his spear, allowing Kokabiel to survive and escape safely.
"That's not what I'm talking about. Are you really not going to do anything about that exorcist that was left behind? Irina Shidou?"
His eyes flickered back to a chocolate brown, insecurity being clearly seen, before switching back to the darkest black.
Gabriel noticed this change in him, but did not note or speak about it aloud. She only made a mental note saying that his human self was still alive despite Satan's efforts to turn back to his original personification.
"Irina Shidou...she is the one with the Fragrant Olive Sword is she not?" Satan pretended to not know who she was. Of course he knew who she was, she was his human self's first and only love. No other person had come close to capturing his heart, even after his parent's death.
"Yes. She is a powerful exorcist for someone so young." Gabriel sighed. "You didn't answer the question. The other exorcists have already left. Griselda Quarta and Xenovia Quarta are already at the Vatican reporting."
"Didn't he also go with them?"
"Yes. Yuuto Kiba also went to Europe with them. His motivations were unclear, but he was determined to go to Europe one way or another. It was clear even if they declined to take him with them, he would go there himself on an ordinary civilian plane, but who knew the risks with that. After all, he was a Devil wielding one of the strongest swords in existence, Excalibur: Morgan. He would attract supernatural attention."
Satan sighed as he proceeded to explain. "Excalibur: Morgan is not his Balance Breaker for Sword Birth. Rather, it is merely an extension of his negative emotions that was crafted and given physical manifestation by the works of the World itself, most likely the doing of the Collective Consciousness of Alaya. After all, the Planet itself wouldn't care for a single Devil-former-human. He most likely will never achieve Balance Breaker, his mindset just isn't right for it to become unlocked the traditional way."
"All is possible with Father's instruments. That was how the Longinus were created, no?"
Satan nodded. "Indeed. Such devices were never meant to slay Gods, yet they were able to due to the spirits they house."
They fell back to silence as the topic concluded.
Satan did not offer any other topics in return for what Gabriel brought up, causing her emerald green eyes to glint with concern. It wasn't normal for him to be silent like how he currently was.
"What's wrong with you?" Gabriel attempted to pry.
Satan did not offer an answer, he only turned his attention up to the sky. His body posture displayed someone exhausted and full of guilt and regret, but it would not make sense for someone like him to feel that way. He had just survived a battle that could have ended his life with the use of cosmic-like weapons.
The Dawn Bow was capable of injuring a Seraph, the highest of Angels, for more than a few days. He couldn't imagine what would happen to him if he was pierced completely by it. He was only hit in the shoulder by it.
Gabriel sighed after a few more moments of silence. She knew that he wasn't going to answer, not even to her.
This was not the reunion was expected to have with him. He was certainly different, something weighing heavily on his mind.
"Do you know how many Counter-Guardians we have in this World?" Satan asked.
Gabriel blinked in surprise at his question. She pondered, tapping her chin as the gears in her head turned.
"Well...I only know the ones that are well-known. [Nova of Delusion] Kokabiel, [Seraph of Delusion] Michael, [King of Asgard] Odin, [Watcher of God's Children] Azazel, [Dragon of Entropy] Albion, [Omnipotent God] YHWH, [DESTROYER] Shiva, [Wielder of Abyssal Works] Sirzechs Lucifer, [The Stormbringer] Dulio Gesualdo, [Kyuubi of the Flames] Yasaka-"
"How many of them are on our side?" Satan narrowed his eyes as he looked back down at the ground. His fist was clenched, his knuckles turning white. "How many of those you just named, do we know for sure are not helping to bring the destruction of this Planet?"
Gabriel paled as she realized what he was trying to say.
There were a great number of Counter-Guardians inhabiting the Planet, whether they were transported across space and time like the man sitting next to her, or natural denizens of the world that ended up ascending to the world above the supernatural, much like Sirzechs and Kokabiel.
But at the same time they were able to have a great number of allies, they were also able to have an equal amount of enemies. There were many apart of the Counter-Force, but that didn't mean they were willing to risk their own lives to protect the very Planet they were born on. It showed when only her and Satan had arrived to Japan. She was sure all of them were called to Kuoh Academy, yet why was it only her and Satan that had arrived in person to stop Kokabiel? She knew that Michael was aware, which was why he even sent her in the first place-
Her breathing stopped. Michael had not offered to go himself. He was hesitant, almost unsure of himself. Was he also one of the ones siding with their unknown enemy?
She had only listed a small amount, and from that small amount, she wasn't sure about any of their intentions. She only knew of three. Kokabiel's, Satan's, and her own. Their shared dream that all still held to their hearts, the dream shared so long ago within the Paradise of God.
The desire to have a utopia, free of pain, full of peace.
She felt like vomiting. An uneasy feeling had settled into her chest at the acknowledgement of Satan's words. "I...I'll be heading back to Heaven now. I need to validate on Michael's loyalty to the Counter-Force."
Her wings spread behind her, as she appeared to take flight.
"Wait."
She turned her head, and saw the former King of Devils looking directly at her. Their eyes made contact, and he quietly uttered, almost whispered his next words. "Be careful."
She gave him a small smile. "You too."
He looked back down, and just noticed the pigeons had flown away. There was no need for them to stay since he had stopped feeding them.
He was given a few more minutes of silence before someone's greeting broke his thoughts.
"Are you...him?"
He knew that voice. Something within him arose as a mysterious feeling overtook him.
He turned his head upwards to look at the one who stood near him, her figure blocking the sun. His eyes adjusted and he was able to see the faint figure of the exorcist him and Gabriel were just talking about.
"You..." He felt something shift inside of him, and humane feelings flooded his body. He saw her face distort with emotion as she breathed out a name.
"Issei..."
"Irina."
Irina put aside the strange phenomenon that was Issei away in the back of her mind. She had just seen his eyes shift from black to brown, and something within her told her that this was Issei, even if his figure kept on switching between the larger older man with black hair and eyes, and a young teenager with brown hair and brown eyes.
He breathed out, surprised to see her, yet glad at the same time.
He stood to greet her, but when his mouth opened, his mind forgot the words that he was going to speak. He was at a loss for words just looking at her. She was the same as him, unable to bring out words she wished to say.
It felt like so long since they had seen each other, but they knew it had only been a few days.
Too much has happened for two young teenagers despite being born into the supernnatural world.
He walked to her and cupped her cheek. She hesitated at his touch, not used to him being the physical one. His brown eyes were flooded with emotion as he stared back into her violet eyes. They stood there, simply holding each other gaze, basking in the other's presence.
A caw from a bird broke them from their moment.
"A-ah." Issei took his hand away from her face, and he scratched his cheek nervously. He took a step back so he wasn't so close to her, but was also close enough for her to hug him if she so wished.
He was different, Irina noticed. He wasn't the same cold person he was at the church a few days ago. He showed his nervousness now, and it was no longer hidden underneath such a cold and daunting mask.
What had changed? Was what Grayfia had told her even true?"
"You've changed Issei." She gave him a weak smile.
He smiled back at her. "Yeah...I have." He motioned for her to sit down on the bench, and sit down she did.
Irina bit her lip, and chose to ask Issei directly about the question plaguing her mind. She didn't wish to waste time."Issei...Grayfia told me something about you. I don't know if its true. Are you...Satan?"
Issei froze, his entire form stilling like a statue. His mind whirred as he attempted to figure out a response to such a question.
"Issei...it's true? I know that look on your face. The look where you are trying to think of something to say that will divert my attention."
Issei slowly turned to her and saw her hurt face. He sighed. "Irina...I didn't want to tell you. I don't know how you'll react. That's why I wasn't there by your side when you woke up. I was terrified to tell you about the truth of my existence. I'm not that boy that played with you when you were younger. I'm also not truly the person that you were talking to at the church. I'm...something unordinary."
He bowed to her. "My name is [Personification of Evil] Satan. I am pleased to meet your acquaintance."
Her violet eyes were full of surprise upon seeing his action.
A small giggle left her lips, and Issei looked up at her from his bow. It was unfitting for a King to bow to one of his subjects, but she was no subject to him. To him, to Hyoudou Issei, she was everything. She was essentially his Queen.
"My name is Irina Shidou, the wielder of the Longinus Fragrant Olive Sword." She closed her eyes and tilted her head cutely as she responded back to Issei. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you Satan."
Chapter End
End Arc 1: Everdistant Utopia
Word Count: 7.4k words
End of Arc was long overdue. Well, here it is finally. This is the first story in a long time that I've actually completed the first arc and moved into the second arc. I know I said that the chapter for A Demon's Reality will be coming next, but I felt better to finish Arc 1 first.
Of course, this led me to think about how I wanted to write Arc 2 for this story, which proceeded with me getting all these ideas that further pushed back the release of Chapter 13 for ADR...so yeah. I ended up only doing an Interlude for ADR on Christmas since it seemed appropriate. The interlude was not filler, but rather, an explanation on something that made no sense in DxD logic.
I have already started the process for the first few chapters of Midnight Sun, Arc 2: Godslayer. I know what I want to achieve with the Arc, and I hope that I can satisfy all the readers with what I plan to do for Arc 2, as well as pushing this story into the original plot rather than loosely following canon.
Thank you all for sticking with me throughout Arc 1 as well as bearing with my uneven schedule as well as perhaps even complicated story telling with subtle hints at future events that seem out of place and confusing.
I hope you all stay until Arc 2.
-Houvdon
Author's Note on core issues readers find about the story:
Part 1 - Grayfia: There are two reasons why it's difficult for me to insert Grayfia into Issei/Satan's harem. The first reason, is because Issei had Grayfia as his mother for the last 3 years. Just because Issei is Satan, doesn't mean that he automatically doesn't see her as his mother anymore. Grayfia is the one that pulled Issei out of his own personal hell after the deaths of his parents. Just because I didn't type it out yet, doesn't mean it didn't happen.
The second reason why I won't be able to insert Grayfia into the relatively small harem, is because of the endgame. I already have the main antagonists planned, most of the Arcs planned. Grayfia just doesn't fit into it because she isn't a Counter-Guardian. If you haven't noticed, the main characters of this story are all my versions of Counter-Guardians. It may be twisted from the Natsu-verse and a bit of an influence from the Dragoon series, but it contains the same concept as the Natsu-Verse Counter Force despite the changes to fit the theme/setting of this story.
Take a look at the characters of the story with the most screen time thus far. Satan, Gabriel, Kokabiel, Vali (albeit for a small bit), Luna, and one other I don't plan on revealing just yet. She has already been introduced into the story, and she will become a Counter-Guardian, I just don't want to spoil exactly who it is. And if you couldn't figure it out already, Grayfia is not this unknown female.
Remember the requirements for becoming a Counter-Guardian as explained by Vali. You must do something none other has done before. It's simple as that. You don't need to kill anything and everything, and be unable to be killed by anything, like in the Dragoon series. You also don't need to make a contract with Alaya personally, like in the Natsu-verse. You simply need to do something never done by anyone else before.
Sirzechs became a Counter-Guardian after he created contact with [ABYSS] and obtained the "Power of Destruction" as he calls it. No one has ever controlled a power from [ABYSS]. They have obtained it before yes, but they have never wielded it like Sirzechs has over his "Power of Destruction". Yes, I do have a name for it, but it's simpler to call it the way canon does it until I officially introduce Sirzechs.
Vali became a Counter-Guardian after he literally became Albion. He isn't Albion, but he also isn't just Vali Lucifer. He is Albion and Vali Lucifer together, because he is both of them. None other has ever been able to harness Albion's full-fledged power like Vali. He is a Dragon, Devil, and human. He no longer has Divine Dividing. He simply wields Albion's full power, because it is his power, similar to Predator!Hyoudou from Arrixam's Dragoon series, but at the same time, not similar at all.
Those two are the only examples I will be using, because both of their powers and their ascension to the Counter-Force (I should really come up with my own name for it) has already been explained through my story-telling. I'm not one to talk about future events of the story because of spoilers, but since there was an overwhelming amount of outcry about Grayfia not being in the harem, I feel like this has to be addressed. I will not have Grayfia in the harem simply for fan-service.
This is a story meant for its story line, not for cheap romance just to satisfy its readers. Sure Satan and Grayfia already have a past love history, but its been centuries since the last time they saw each other, and Grayfia is married to Sirzechs. I am following the plan I laid out when I first thought of this story, Midnight Sun. There are many tweaks and adjustments here and there whenever I get small ideas on how to make some parts make more sense, or sound better, but the path to the endgame, as well as the ending of the story is already solidified, albeit with 3 different routes this story can take based on how I want Arc 3+ to proceed.
Part 2 - Power Levels: The power levels of everyone is currently in a loose area right now, simply because anything can happen. Kiba can potentially defeat Satan simply because he has Excalibur Morgan, which he can use the full power of, and is much more powerful than Excalibur: Sword of Glory simply because it is not restricted by the principles of "Glory", while Satan cannot use the full power of Dusk Breaker because it will call the Counter-Force in an instant to stop him from destroying the Planet itself, which I have already mentioned several times. It is also mentioned in this chapter how immediately after he used it, Gaia itself allowed Bell Cranel to basically defeat the full power of one of the strongest weapons in the universe this story takes place in. Gaia also restricted Satan's power because since him and Dusk Breaker have such a strong connection due to their similar natures, he's able to use it multiple times before growing tired. The reason why he was so tired after only using it once is because of Gaia's influence to prevent the Planet itself from dying.
Other undefined power levels are those of Gods in comparison to other beings, such as Ophis and Trihexa. [DESTROYER] Shiva has yet to be identified within this series, despite the fact that he is a Top 10 Strongest Being in the canon DxD. [Dragon of Dreams] Great Red is powerful, but so is everyone else within the Counter-Force simply because they are all at the strongest they can be the moment they enter it. [Personification of Evil] Satan's power has also not been solidified. As of now, the only remarkable thing about him is the fact that he wields Dusk Breaker, which he obtained through a means I will not be revealing yet. His title may also give a hint on how exactly he had gained a Divine Construct.
Part 3 - Not DxD, More of a X-over: As of right now, it does seem like Midnight Sun is a crossover between DxD and Fate/Stay Night due to how much Fate lore/elements is being placed barely into the first arc. However, there are only three things I have put from Fate into this story.
The first and easiest to blow over: the existence of Artoria Pendragon in the story. You can view Artoria was merely a character within the story, much like an OC. After all, she practically is one. This is not the same Saber from Fate series. This one is more darker/twisted one, as this Saber did not go through the Fourth or Fifth Holy Grail War. She has only witnessed the fall of Camelot and became a Counter-Guardian right after she was struck by Modred. She never did go through the Holy Grail with both Kiritsugu and Shirou like in Fate, so she still holds onto the belief that she was not a good king.
Second element from F/SN: Noble Phantasms + NP's ranking system. This is essentially the same thing as DxD, except with specific grades/numbers, as well as an extended name. Like seriously. In DxD, they say stuff such as "Durandal can cut through anything." So in Fate, Durandal is ranked as an Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm because it does not have an area attack like Excalibur. It's only meant for dueling. You can't really hate the Noble Phantasm system if all its doing is just ranking the power of the weapon itself. I'm also taking from SAO's Enhancement Armament system in the Alicization Arc to unleash the full power of a certain weapon, so there is that to consider.
Third Element: Counter-Guardians + The World. Now this is the one with the most influence on the story. Almost every chapter, there is a mention of Alaya or Gaia, or some mention of Counter-Guardians because the main characters of Arc 1: Everdistant Utopia are Counter-Guardians (Kokabiel, Issei/Satan, Gabriel). I admit, this single element I took from Fate seems like I'm copying Arrixam's Synthesis/Dragoon series, but in my opinion, I'm more taking Fate's version. I'm not sure if Arrixam got his idea for Predators himself or he also took inspiration from other franchises (such as Familiar of Zero or 90% of Fate series) and I won't say he got it from his own head or other franchises. Bottom line is, I am not taking from him, and I am not copying his system. I am crossing over Fate's Counter-Force and the way the World works with this story, although the line is blurry whenever this happens as it seems to be a complete crossover. I was hoping to explain this element within the story itself, but it just didn't seem to fit with what was going on, so I will have to go more in depth on why this story is so similar to Fate's universe despite being two completely different "Planets". I will most likely delve into it in Arc 2, most likely near the beginning because it fits the situation and the timeframe for how long after Arc 2 takes place after the events of Kokabiel's attack.
Part 4 - Lack of focus on other major mythologies: So I know I have been ignoring a lot of things that should have appeared by now due to the combined efforts of Satan, Kokabiel, Luna, and Gabriel in Kuoh. After all, most of the major Gods in other mythologies are Counter-Guardians, or "Dogs of Alaya" as that is more fitting. I slightly explained it in the ending of this chapter in the closing of Gabriel and Satan's conversation. They could have arrived, but they simply chose not to because they don't deem it their duty to obey Alaya and save the Planet. Remember that they are apart of their own mythologies with their own stories, similar to the Norse's Ragnarok. They have their own things to do.
But the most important part is the fact that they aren't relevant to this story. There is no need to put them into the story if they simply aren't going to do anything. That is my feeling on putting in everything DxD has. Most character in DxD and IRL religions aren't going to have that much of an impact in the story. Maybe later on in one of the ending arcs, but certainly not in the very beginning. The beginning is centered around familiar characters, such as Kiba and Irina, and to an extension Issei. Certainly not people like Odin or Shiva even. They are Counter-Guardians, but they aren't main characters.