This is my first real post, I bring this up not for attention but because it means I am not sure on formatting and wish to warn you I may repost if I find it formatted strangely and needs to be adjusted.

This is an armature work and I do not own any character within, I do not own Highschool DxD ect.

A calm had taken over him as he stared down his own demise. When he had entered this business he knew that it was dangerous. That said he had taken precautions, used fake locations, and set up top of the line security. There should be no way the hitman had gotten in without him knowing and preparing.

Except one.

"So it was you Sabrina, my love. You were the one to betray me? Was it all a setup? A front from the beginning?"

Next to his killer stood a gorgeous woman with dark hair. Tears streamed down her face as she stood behind the man. Looking for all the world like she wanted to rush forward but was rooted to the spot.

"No, my love. I never wanted this. But they have my little sister, I have to keep her safe. I am so sorry."

"This is all very touching but I am afraid I have places to be, you know what this is about." The killer is almost casual as he shoots three shots into my chest. Toppling me from my chair to bleed out onto the floor.

"NO" Sabrina runs to my body holding my head and crying over it.

Why could you not have told me what was happening, we could have figured something out. Was my life not worth at least the risk? I guess, in the end, for all your love I was never first in your heart.

You were first in mine.

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It is incredibly dark here, honestly I was expecting more fire and torment.

You have been selected

Oh well that is nice, what exactly have I been selected for?

You have been selected as a participant in the great project, congratulations. Please select yes to continue.

Well it certainly beets where I was going. Let's get this started.

Welcome to The Project and interdimensional work of the absolute Divines. As a participant you are gifted with a new life in a new world, chosen at random. In addition a boon will be granted for willing participants.

I see so I am to be reborn. Well I am dead so there is nowhere to go but up.

We will now select a home world, this will determine the races you can be born into.

World AH3912-8 in participant context it would be the world of Highschool DxD.

The incredibly stupid, just barely not hentai anime?

Yes

Well that is… something. Honestly I think I am about to be out done by the power of gigantic tits.

Maybe I can get a re-roll

You cannot, and you are incorrect in your assumption.

In what way?

While the fiction of your world was nonsensical in your opinion that does not mean the world itself is. While there are some versions of the world, and indeed many worlds, that do run on what your people call "Porn Logic" that does not mean all versions of the world do. By percent they are overall less than .005% of worlds. Even then the logic system is simply different, not lacking.

Fiction is often taken from a view of another world but the opinions of the author must be taken into account as well. An author may glimpse into another realm but it is rarely enough to get a complete grasp of the world and its intricacies. So they fill in the details with their own beliefs, characters, and desires.

A majority of worlds run in a manner you would consider sensible.

So basically while there are worlds that run on nonsense like the power of boobs and have no real power consistency most run reasonably for their situation. I am going to one of those worlds.

Correct.

So the characters will be the same or similar, and many of the overall ideas will be present but some of the more outlandish pieces, the BS shonen power ups, and hentai power are not likely to exist?

Indeed. Now selecting race. Devil (Nobility). Selecting family. Phenex. Selecting station. Main Branch. No free space available, replacing existing soul. Raiser Phenex selected.

Wait Raiser Phenex? I swear I heard that before. Most of what I know about this whole series comes from discussions and osmosis from other places. Isn't he one of the first ark villains. Wait am I some throw away villain used to get the idiot protagonist more boob time!

...

Fuck

Remember that you are a different person then the original Raiser. While several things about you may be similar, your choices will affect the outcome. Also this is not a story. It is not prewritten so Issei is the hero. Everyone is the protagonist of their own tale. You especially, as you are a Participant.

The first major change will come from this. All willing participants are granted a single boon for being a part of this project. This can be anything from being quick on their feet or naturally talented at piano to being Force Sensitive. Any power or gift from any world exists here and can be granted. It can be something great or something average or even a cursed sort of power. It is entirely random. Any power that is active and outside the world's purview will cause changes to the world's history to accommodate.

Well then I guess it is time to roll the dice.

Selecting Boon.

Resting Growth

Some grow through hard work and training, some through trials and heroic feats, some just sit around and watch TV.

Aging affects the magical and physical growth of most species and the transition into full maturity for most species comes with large gains. You take this to a new level.

You gain both physical and magical power at double the growth rate of your peers from all sources. In addition you will become stronger as time progresses, this will also affect your cap strength and will stack with any natural racial increases.

Finally your resting healing and recovery rate is 4 times the normal for your race.

Well that seems rather strong, so I am like vampires from myth? How they just get stronger by existing. Plus my training will grant more benefits than normal. I am curious what it means about the growth affecting my cap strength.

Simply put, all races have a limit to how strong they can become. For example no matter how much work they put in a normal human will never be able to use a car as a projectile. Now certain worlds, especially heavily magical worlds like the one you are being born into, have looser restrictions. There a human with training and magic could theoretically reach the strength necessary to throw a car, however there is still a limit. Every mortal race, everywhere has a certain point that they cannot cross. The closer you get to that point the harder it becomes to reach it. You however grow over time increasing that cap, slowly.

Got it, well then thank you for your assistance. I am ready when you are.

This concludes your rebirth. Additional talents and failings may be assigned at birth as normal. Please wait as you are born again.

We hope you prove interesting.

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It is strange being reborn in a new body, especially a new type of body. It takes time for the brain to catch up to the soul, first of all. It is years before I am able to even reach a state I would consider conscious and even then everything is strange. As an adult I remember looking back and wondering at the immature way I acted as a child. Yet even now as an adult in a child body I still act immature.

Surely more mature than my counterparts but still hardly at the level I behaved when I was alive before. Everything just seems so much more intense than it should, things I know should be small potatoes as an adult feel like major issues. I am just so much more emotional as a whole.

Plus I am a devil. Honestly based on what I knew from the show, the appearance I was born with, and the systems comment on replacing the soul I thought it would be like being human, just with magic.

It is not.

Being a devil has fundamentally changed the way I see the world. I can't even describe the difference. Half the time I don't think I really understand how it has changed me. Things I used to know were wrong seem inherently fine.

The idea that might makes right? It is almost instinctual now, like an animal sense not to test an alpha too much stronger than myself. There is also a sense of superiority I cannot quite describe. Not personal pride per say, but a bone deep knowledge that I am simply more than those around me, especially the lower class devils. That my being, even as a child, eclipses their own.

It also affects how I feel all the time. Emotions related to the seven sins especially.

The greatest example of this has been recently. A maid was calling me for something, I cannot recall what. Regardless I was busy playing with a small toy that is supposed to be powered by magic. I simple ball with flotation magic enchanted so children can have it fly around. There are also little hoops they can be sent through but I am not really there yet. It is mostly to get kids started on magic control I think.

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My ball bounces around in front of me, floating through the air and sometimes doing little tricks. Like twists or loops. It is like a game of catch except I am doing it with my mind. Honestly as an adult I should be embarrassed by how much fun I am having with this kids toy.

But c'mon I am doing magic, real magic, and as a toddler no less. I get to do magic and play with my stuff. Plus all adults just want to be kids playing around with toys again, I mean why else have children?

A maid comes in and starts talking about something unimportant, but I can't be bothered to pay attention. She is not nearly as interesting as my ball. I think I can make it change colors if I want, or does it do that on its own? Either way I can almost get it fast enough to leave a short streak like an after image.

Why is it not moving, Did, did she grab my ball? Who does this bitch think she is? That she can just take MY toy away from me!.

Fire explodes from my body in a wave towards the thief. How dare she take what is mine, this will not stand.

She immediately drops the ball and covers her face with her arms. Probably using a bit of magic for defense as well I think I saw a circle flash in the way.

I call the ball back to my hands and take a look over it. Good, it is not even singed.

As I look at the thief it does not appear her defenses held up. The dress sleeves are scorched to just past her elbows and her forearms are blistered.

The magic and her yell of pain must have gotten the attention of others as several older servants and my mother rushed in soon after.

My mother takes a quick look around the room. I am still glaring at the maid, ball clutched protectively to my chest. Around me I can feel some slight heat, some of the fire must still be burning around me. With barely a glance at the maids' burned arms she is rushing over to me, picking me up with a swirl.

"Oh look at you my little darling. Only two and already throwing out your fire, and so strong too." She then sat down with me in her lap. A negligent wave of her hand puts out any fire still in the room. "My baby is already growing into a big strong devil isn't he?" she coos as she runs her fingers through my hair, calming me. "Now what has gotten you so heated up my darling?"

Almost instantly my magic reacts again, a small tongue of fire towards the maid. "This is my ball" I growl while sending another glare at the maid.

"I see, did the mean maid try to take away your ball? Mommy can see why you would be upset." She says consolingly.

Were I truly a child that sentence would seem perfectly in line with the rest of the conversation. However as an adult I could hear the threat in those words, the subtle hint that she was not happy with what she had found.

I can also see a few of the other servants shuffle a bit at those words, the ones closest to the maid seeming to step away slightly as if to avoid being in the line of fire.

"My Lady I, I was" her squeaky reply is cut short almost instantly as she begins to pale. Mom continues petting through my hair as I feel almost like a warm blanket has surrounded me. I begin to hover the ball around again. After all this is resolving itself and I was playing before the thief interrupted.

"It looks like you were hurt young lady, I am sorry about that." my mom then paused as if to look her over "I am afraid I don't know you, you must be new. I am sure Reginald here can take you to the medic wing and have that looked over. We are rather adept at treating burns here." Her voice sounded as sweet as honey though it still had an edge, then it got slightly frostier at the end "And don't worry about coming back to take care of my little Raiser, he will stay with mommy today, won't you my sweet?" I just snuggled in closer as she hugged me against her.

"Thank you My Lady"

"Reginald if you could lead her to the infirmary."

An incredibly well dressed man stood forth, he was rather distinguished with well cut hair that had started to grey at the bottom but was still a deep brown on top. A graying mustache on his lip. "Of course My Lady," he said with a bow.

"And Reginald"

"My Lady?"

"She is obviously new so please be sure to guide her. Make sure she learns all about how the house operates."

"Of course."

With that they left. I continued to play with my ball, though now I was also trying to create little balls of fire to go float around with it.

After watching for a time my mother continued. "As for you," she said, turning me around and poking me in the nose, "you are going to stay with mommy. We will go outside and you can show me and the girls all the tricks you have for your ball. Plus you can show me more of those pretty flames of yours."

She then picked me up and hugged me to her side as we walked through the halls.

"Oh and one of you, go get his father for me. We have to show him how his son is already throwing fire and protecting his things like a big boy."

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I ended up spending a good portion of the day out in the garden with my mothers and her friends. The group of women cooing over me as I moved the ball around and summoned little fireballs. Apparently I was very impressive for my age and they wished their little ones could use magic like that.

Honestly I would think they were being polite but there was a distinct sound of jealousy in some voices. Also my Mom's smile was pretty smug the whole time.

In retrospect I know that burning the maid over a ball is petty, however I cannot bring myself to care. It was my ball after all, it belongs to me. Who is she to be taking my things from me? If she had asked maybe I would have given it over or shared but to simply take it. That is not okay. Nobody should take my things from me, especially not some servant girl.

There it is again, that pride and sense of status along with my greed flaring up. I imagine it will only get worse as I grow.

Well I am a devil now so perhaps I should just accept that, so long as I don't get too lazy. After all, I have no intention of dying a second time.

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The Phenex Clan is a rather interesting group as their title does not beget their power. As many will know the ranking of the houses was determined after the Founding via a tournament. This is why clans who have stronger powers tend to have higher rankings. While a few houses rose or fell during the Establishment period the early loss of the Sin of Envy, and his lack of replacement, led to the stagnation of the pillars. Thus as is often the case with our kind, the strongest rule.

However the Phenex Clan is an odd exception to that principle. As I stated at the beginning of the omnibus my purpose in its creation was to analyze the 72 pillars and attempt to provide an objective view of each house. This would work to give all houses a greater insight into their peers and the assistance they can provide as well as caution those same houses on their weaknesses. As part of that I have collected basic information on the nature of all house talents and innate abilities. These have then been ranked on a 1-5 scale for their overall power in attack, defense, support, and manipulation. The greatest house for each category will receive a 6 in that one category.

Obviously I do not have all access to the training and secrets of each house, however I have been given access to basic information by most lords and have gone through many historical records to get as complete a view on the powers available as possible for an outsider. I bring this up for one reason, the Phenex Clan have objectively the strongest power set in Hell.

Attack: Solar Fire and Air Control

The Phenex clan possess an innate ability to control both fire and air magics to an exceptional degree. They often combine them into even stronger flames, using air to feed the flames while also using air to assist in aerial combat and maneuverability. I have seen the fire of even young Phenex members reduce creatures to ash and melt magically enchanted steel. The only flames hotter were recorded by the now extinct Flauros Clan's Hellfire. Their wind magic is just as dangerous and together they are among the most powerful magic used by devils outside of the Baal Clan. As such they have a rank five attack power. That said it is worth noting that the uniquely powerful flames of the Phenex Clan are only present in males of the clan and thus females would be one rank lower on attack.

Defense: Immortality and Air control

As was stated in the section above the Phenex mastery of air provides great maneuverability making them one of the faster clans among Devils and masters of flying combat. The defensive abilities displayed would have easily garnered them a 3 ranking on that alone. However it pales before the Phenex Immortality.

Capable of healing any wound in seconds, the only way to kill a member of the clan is to annihilate them entirely from existence. The power for which requires strength on par with gods and that is for an average Phenex member. The more powerful members have shown the ability to reconstitute themselves, literally rising from the ashes of their own magic much like the bird for which they are named. Even the power of destruction has not shown the ability to overcome their immortality, despite its properties, and they have been known to heal and expunge even light poisoning. All of this at a relatively low cost to their magic to the point where it is more common to exhaust them mentally from the damage they have taken then magically. For this reason they are the most defensively capable members of our species as they render all attacks on them moot. They have the defense rank of six.

Support: Phenex Song, Phenex Tears, Flames of Rejuvenation

All members of the clan are capable of creating Phenex Tears, though the process is a secret ritual that is supposed to tax the Phenex greatly. Each container of tears is a draught that confers incredible healing upon the one who drinks it (except for the Phenex themselves as it has no effect on them). This has been known to heal even fatal injuries and regenerate small appendages (like toes or parts of fingers). They cannot however regenerate limbs, but can allow limbs to be reattached though there is a limit to how long a limb can be missing before it is impossible to reattach (the longest time frame this has worked for historically is 14 hours and 11 minutes after the limb was cut off). In addition these tears are one of the few unaligned healing methods available, making them capable of use for all races. However they do require preparation to be used and are thus not capable of being generated for use mid combat reducing the support role they play significantly.

The Phenex Song is an ability that affects the voice of clan members. This song when used inspires those around the Phenex who hear it. It has been known to restore stamina and confer a small increase in ability to those who listen. In addition it seems to innately distinguish ally from enemy as enemies suffer a slight decrease in capabilities. More importantly it seems to be able to break fear and demoralization effects on those who hear it. The greatest example of this was during the civil war against the Listlessness ability of Clan Orobas. The song was able to break their troops out of the effect and allow the siege to continue. Combined these two abilities give the Phenex Clan a support rank of three.

That said, in replacement of the Solar Flames females of House Phenex receive the Flames of Rejuvenation. These are a restorative flame that confers healing and regenerates both mana and stamina to those affected. Making them a powerful restorative magic that can be used on entire forces. Females thus have a support rank of 5.

Manipulation:

The central piece of any devil, the ability to affect the feelings of others. Like all devils the Phenex have the innate magnetism noted for our race as well as the natural ability to inspire sin. They also have innate talent at simple mind magics and all sin magics like all devils though more than would be present for lower class families as fits their status.

They do however have one advantage over other pillar families with their Phenex Song. It seems to have an unconscious passive effect on the Phenex clan when they feel passionately about the subject. The effect has been noted by observers especially when they are in a good mood. Their laugh is often noted to have an undercurrent to it like a song or the tinkling of bells. In each case it was something the listener found soothing and beautiful. This causes the Phenex to be more charming as the song underlying their words causes a more positive feeling in those listening. Thus they have a manipulation score of 3.

This analysis is what generated my comment above about power. In total the Phenex clan abilities have a score of eighteen, six higher than even clan Baal's twelve. They are at base the strongest of the pillars. This fact has been reflected in every major war they participate in. Every territory dispute they have ever had has ended in their favor since The Founding. They were one of the top five most active participants among the Pillars in the Great War and yet suffered losses at half the rate of other houses. In the Satan War they were among the first to support the New Satan Faction, making up the core of the bankroll for the rebel forces, and were active participants throughout the fighting from the beginning. The current Lord and Lady Phenex alone are known to have more decorations and awards for actions taken in both wars then half of the remaining pillars do in their entirety. Yet they only suffered five deaths among clan members over the course of the Satan War. The lowest of any clan. Opposing houses simply lacked the strength to effectively kill them.

On the economic side they have the 3rd largest territory in Hell, losing only to clan Baal and Sitri. In addition the sale of Phenex tears has granted them extreme wealth. As it is one of the strongest healing options available to all species it is a premium commodity in the supernatural world. This is especially valuable as many healing items and abilities have holy or purity based effects which can cause damage instead to creatures like Yokai, Devils, and Vampires.

Overall between their economic and military might they stand as the second strongest house in Hell currently despite holding only the rank of Marquis. I say all of this both to give an accounting, as is my mission with this work, but also as a warning. Often young High Class devils equate rank with power. This is fair and in many cases it is true enough. However the Phenex Clan reminds us that power is more than our position.

Bartelbie's Manuscript on The Powers of Hell. One of the only pieces on the pillars not commissioned by a house or intimidated by clan Baal. It is the closest thing to an objective work on the strengths of each house ever written.

It did not make the man very popular with the nobility and copies are very rare. I think less than 50 exist. Yet every pillar family has one of those copies within its library. We devils are funny creatures in that regard. Actively lashing out and destroying the things that we feel attack our pride. Decrying the writer as a hack and a fool in public. But not so proud we cannot see the truth and the advantages it can give us. Even as we publicly mock the writer, secretly hoard the knowledge and compliment him as one of the greatest intellectuals and researchers of his age.

That is what I have come to understand marks a true devil. The ability to see past our sins. To control it and use it for greatness instead of letting it control us.

It is a strange dichotomy. We actively praise sin as a species shrugging off greedy or angry actions as in our nature. We constantly look in envy at those greater then us, working in the shadows to tear them down all while preening at the envy of others. We celebrate sloth as a reward for greatness, approve of lust as anyone who is still a virgin at 16 is considered a prude and if you are an adult (20) and still a virgin you must be some type of asexual. Which is very much an insult.

Admittedly that seemed more than a little strange until you realize puberty is condensed into about a two year period, called maturity, and happens when we are about 10. So you combine that with a society that pushes for sex and has many active members who remember the rise of Greece and it seems less unreasonable.

Despite that attitude, rape is usually met with death. If you rape another high class devil and are caught you will be tried and executed. It is a very big deal as it is classified as attempted line theft.

High Class Devils are very particular about their bloodline. Trying to combine it to both improve the house and maintain the blood powers. More than once a house has denied a marriage out of fear that the other bloodline will consume their own. Even if the other bloodline is better. A house's bloodline is a point of pride. It is why branch members can marry into the main branch to maintain purity and sometimes extra devils can become Lords or Ladies so the bloodline can continue without outside interference. Someone trying to steal or dilute a bloodline is a big deal and they do not survive.

On the other hand doing so with a lower class devil, even one's own peerage, likely results in the same thing. In this case it is due to your own family making you 'disappear' to undo the shame of it. Being caught as a rapist of a lesser devil is proof that you are a failure. First for being caught. If you, as a high class devil, cannot properly conceal your misdeeds and keep those you have hurt under heel you must be an incompetent, an idiot, or both. Second, it is a failure as a devil. We are creatures of lust and seduction, having tempted saints to depravity and turned the most devout monks off the path to enlightenment. Simply put if you cannot convince another being to have sex with you, you suck. Finally it is a failure as a noble, we stand above the riff raff who fall so easily to their sin. We control our sins, they do not control us. Anyone resorting to rape has failed to control there lusts appropriately and instead let it consume them. So anyone caught is a massive embarrassment and often removed from sight even if no legal action is taken.

Which is a good idea for how devils run as a whole. We know that we are monsters, that beneath it all we are vicious selfish creatures. We revel in that. However we are also High Class for a reason. Because we are above acting like petty animals, we are the nobility and we will behave as such.

So it is okay to commit evil acts of brutality and horrible crimes against others. It is okay to break laws and torment innocents. As long as the veneer of nobility is untainted. It is only illegal if you are caught and only idiots get caught. Only fools are lost in their own sin.

I must have been quite deep in my readings to be lost in such philosophical musings. Looking over the pile of books at my table in the library it is clear that I have been going for quite a long time.

I glance at the clock for a better reading on the time. 2 o'clock. That cannot be right. I started just after noon and have to have been here for far more than 2 hours. A quick look outside reveals the dark of night. So it has been 14 then, that makes more sense.

Looks like I can get a personal workout in before breakfast, then see if mother or father have time for training after that.

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"I am sorry my boy but I have several contracts to look over this morning and a meeting with a few others after that. Maybe after lunch? I think I could get in an hour or two then to give you some advice."

No you won't, by around lunch you will be so busy with something so you will not even show up. The most I can expect is Reginald to come and inform the family that you will be taking lunch in the study.

Next to him my mother is cooing over my adorable little sister Ravel as she sits in her booster. She looks positively repulsed by the vegetable matter in front of it, somehow already appearing as a princess turning her nose up at a commoner. Despite being just over a year old.

It is pretty adorable.

"I am afraid I can't today Raiser," she begins, sounding genuinely sad, "I am afraid me and Ravel have a play date today. But I should be free most of the day tomorrow."

Except tomorrow you will end up having a tea party with some of the ladies, that 'I should attend so they can all see how big and strong (her) little devil has gotten' which will take several hours. Then there will be Ravel's nap and you will lose track of time.

No, the answers were about what I would expect, but I had to at least try. It is alright. In the end I was born with several advantages and have the records of our family to guide me.

I will figure it out myself.

Excerpt from Azmeth Purson's treaties on the Spheres of Reality:

The Underworld

The Underworld is one of the five primary planes of existence along with the Overworld (most commonly referred to as the heavens), Pandemonium, the Netherealms, and the Material World (known as Earth). It matches the size of the material world exactly excepting that it has no oceans at all. While it does have water sources, including lakes and rivers, it has no truly large bodies of water. The largest single body being half again the size of Lake Superior in North America. This means it has a great deal more inhabitable land than is present in the material world.

A common misconception among humanity is that the Underworld is ruled over by the magical being, specifically the devils. This is simply untrue. While devils do occupy the vast majority of the civilized space within the Underworld, the total occupied space is around 9%. Just under 5% being devil controlled, 3% going to the fallen with the remainder split among other pantheons and those not affiliated with any major faction.

The remainder of the Underworld is known as the wilds. These are largely populated with demonic beasts born from the area's high magic concentration or mutated from other animals that live there. Some of which are so ancient and powerful they are said to rival even the Dragon Kings and could challenge gods.

Regardless it is known that the wilds are filled with untold treasures to those brave enough to explore them.

A piece from the introduction of Carenth Baal's book Right to Rule:

The class of a devil is often a confusing concept as it is used both as an indication of strength and of status. This is due to strength being a predominant factor for a person's status in devil society. However while they are often used interchangeably this is simply not the case as not all high class devils have strength to match their station and not all devils strong enough to be considered high class have been given the vaunted position.

Let us first look at the classes as positions in society. The breakdown is simple enough. A majority of devils are considered low class. Those who work in the towns, who serve in the military or who manage the bureaucracy, all are low class. Effectively speaking if you are not in a position of some power you are a low class devil. The Middle class represents those who are not the true nobility but still hold positions of influence. For example the mayor of a town, commissioned officers in the military, or those who have high level management positions in the bureaucracy.

Finally the nobility make up the high class devils, the best examples being the members of the 72 pillars, though several other devil clans and devils have been granted these positions. High class is the highest social designation, there is no Ultimate class position above the nobility. It is worth noting that this class is divided based on noble ranking with the 72 pillars being above those outside of their bloodlines. The next step up is the Satans though they occupy a unique space. As far as actual class they are actually closer to the top of High class. As such they are considered High class devils for the purpose of social convention and law. However as the leaders of the faction they (and at one point their bloodlines) are in many ways above the rules of the Underworld.

On the other hand devils also are ranked based on their power. As devils also gain wings based on strength, like angels, this is the easiest method for determining a devil's status. 1-2 pairs of wings is for low class, 2-3 is mid, 4 is high class. From there extra designations are added for power, the vaunted ultimate class at 5 wings and finally Satan class at 6 wings.

It is worth noting that there is one major overlap in these designations. A devil must possess an appropriate amount of power, four wings, to take a position as head of any pillar family. So you must be truly high class in strength to rule as the head of a high class household. This is, in fact, an issue that currently marks nine pillar houses as 'extinct' as after the civil war the heirs are too young or weak to take command. The losses mean the house simply does not have a pure blood devil of the family line with enough strength to take the position as lord.

So this was mostly to make the plot bunnies stop running. I do have an idea of where the story is going but I can make exactly zero promises on update time frames. If you leave reviews I will probably read them but I am more likely to respond via private message then here. Flames will be ignored because I don't really care about the opinion of others. I mean post them if you want and being a little shit gets you off, more power to you. Just don't expect much from me besides this note.

As for this story, a couple things: I do plan on having one of the lore pieces at the end of each chapter to world build and give context I may not be able to put in the story. I do have a few more planned out and I am sure more will come to me as I write. That said, if there is a particular aspect you have an idea on or want to know how I see it, leave a review or shoot a PM. I might create a lore piece from the question or from your ideas. Second, I would love names for devils. Not characters or OC ideas I mean literally names as I am terrible at naming things. Unfortunately. I do need names to put on the lore pieces and to note in passing. Just makes a more complete world. If I don't get any fitting devil names I will just use a name generator but figured I would crowd source first.

Last thing the Peerage. I will include the peerage below. Among them only Melascula is completely set. That said I am more attached to some than others and some ideas will remain. At least one ninja knight is needed. However I am willing to hear some suggestions. I am trying to keep to one per franchise. Must be hot women I mean this is DxD.

Current Peerage:

King: Raiser Phoenix

Queen: Albedo (Overlord) - Succubus Fallen angel hybrid

Rook: Kagamiin Kyōka (Dragons Rioting) - hero lineage, Divine Cauldron of the White Tiger SG

Rook: Nora Valkyrie (RWBY) - Demigod child of Thor

Bishop:

Bishop: Kuroka (DxD)

Knight: Levi Kazama (Trinity 7) - Ninja and Shaman

Knight: Seraphim (Koreha Zombie Desuka) - Assassin Vampire

Pawn x4: Valerie Tepes (DxD)

Pawn x2: Melascula (7DS) - Demon snake and necromancer

Pawn x2: Viola (One Piece) - Romani with the Sacred Gear Eyes of Argus

Finally a note for just this chapter to preempt the whining. Yes, I do know that supposedly all the underworld (or most) is controlled by one of the factions. However I actually did the math and that is complete BS. Gremory territory is the size of Honshu (227,960 km2). Now let us take that as the average for a pillar family and at the height of the devil race there would be 72 such territories. Even if the 7 satans (there will be 7 here, one for each sin, I will get to that later) had 3 times the territory of others, that is still only 93 times the size of Honshu. But I did not go with that, instead I added half again the amount just to be safe and went with 108 times the amount of territory for the devils. Even at that amount, Devil territory would still only be 24,619,680 km2 (which is about the size of North America). Considering the total surface of the earth is 510,067,420 km2 that is still only 4.826% of the globe.

Now keep in mind that means the Gremory clan, after all the dust settled, has less than 1% of Hell under its control. Despite being one of the last remaining noble houses and having produced the current ruler of Hell and the strongest devil to ever live. Plus this is after they lost territory to the fallen and suffered in the Great War. I am still giving gigantic margins for them space wise. I am not underestimating, I am grossly overestimating the amount of territory Devil's would reasonably possess and it is still a fraction of the Earth. Point is Earth without oceans has a fuck ton of space so there is no way they occupy most of it.