Chapter 3
I don't own ect. Honestly not sure I still need to put this here.
Twelve is an important age for a devil, it is the point by which we are considered 'mature' and thus able to start on our path. This is not to say we are considered adults by any stretch of the imagination but it is considered more than say a teenager for humans. It is like your late teens to early twenties. Except it goes on for several decades.
Old enough to start being responsible, but not really mature enough to be a true adult.
In fairness mature is a loose term in this case. To a devil anyone without at least a century of life is considered little more than a child. Such is the perspective amongst immortals.
Devils go through an accelerated form of puberty at around ten years old that ends around age twelve. Over this period of time our brain develops, our magic grows denser, and hormones run rampant as we reach a more 'adult' body.
Truly rampant, I honestly feel bad for some of the maids and I am more mature than most. I shudder to think about how it may be for other houses.
Regardless, by the end we have stabilized and have reached adult development by most human metrics. Mentally speaking, we are as emotionally stable and mature as any late teen. So not really that mature to be fair but more than most 12 year old's.
More importantly our magic stabilizes along with a rapid growth period at this time. Makes control easier and us more powerful.
Honestly I think the whole period was a design feature upon our creation. Makes us able to act as soldiers or workers from a relatively young age.
Unfortunately maturity does not include physical development. For instance my height, I am still far too short and it is infuriating. How am I supposed to be taken seriously at just over 160 cm (5'3").
From this point on most of our future development would be cosmetic. Again serving my theory about it being intentional.
The only strength we may gain will be purely physical due to changes in height and muscle mass. For women secondary features will develop. All until we reach our more 'idealized' self. The final form which reflects how we wish to be seen. Within some limitations of genetics of course.
Lord Beelzebub calls it a 'Reasonable Reconstitution of Genetic Potential.' Basically it means as we develop our magic shifts us to the best appearance we could possibly have based on our subconscious will. So I will likely never have the Gremory's blood red hair, it is not in my genetic potential, but some fiery red tips are definitely doable.
Plus this is an anime world where people have hair and eyes of all colors of the rainbow and sometimes even alternate bangs (even humans). So at least that means there are a lot of possibilities.
Even with that, if you truly hate how you look, there are rituals to change it on a genetic level. There are a lot of political ramifications on them though (like anon Gremory getting the distinctive hair is a bad idea). Also families tend to be more than a bit insulted if a member spits on the bloodline's appearance like that and even the simplest changes are said to be intensive. So such rituals are rarely used.
Most just use a simple glamor spell and trust all the other devils to have the decorum not to talk shit to their faces.
It does however make identifying the age of a new face impossible. That loli over there? She stole from the Library of Alexandria for shits and giggles. The distinguished gentleman who is greying at the temples? He isn't even 25 yet.
Most look like early twenties supermodels that could cause traffic accidents. So I chalk that up to another win for my species.
Most importantly though, twelve is the age by which a high class devil can receive their peerage. Which means I can start assembling the group that will serve me for the rest of eternity.
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"Welcome young lord and or lady," the intern from the screen drones out at me. "Today begins your wondrous journey into the greater world. With the Evil Pieces you receive today you will form an elite group of powerful individuals to serve as your personal guard and forces for millennia to come. In doing so you will be working for not just the betterment of yourself and your house, but for our race." Dear Satans that run on sentence took a year. If you are going to stop for long breaths include some damn punctuation.
They could not have found someone with even an ounce of pep for this video? There were Elcor in Mass Effect with more tone inflection than this man has.
"Let us start at the beginning with a quick run down of the pieces and the improvements they grant. Starting with the queen who is worth nine points…"
By the Satans please kill me now…
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"Finally, be sure to keep the case safe. If a piece is destroyed or a peerage member is killed the piece will regenerate over time within the original case. This will take a decade per point of the piece. You can directly channel energy into the case to reduce the time taken, just be sure to do so in moderation. Too much energy will cause damage. We will not reissue a damaged case."
Finally it is ending, dear Satans, that was perhaps the most painful lecture I have ever experienced. He droned the entire time. Hours of my life I will never get back and most of it was common knowledge.
"Now for the final test. Rising dramatically from the floor is a cadaver with a fake pawn piece. Complete the ritual just like we showed you in this video. Once done the room will unlock and you can go out to receive your pieces."
It did not raise dramatically; it stuttered up, slowly jerking into place. Like they could not be bothered to maintain the lift properly or just, I don't know, oil it once in a decade. Some pathetic puffs of smoke coming after indicating that once there may have been a whole fog display. They were obviously mistimed too, smoke should have been during the rise.
With the floor finally setting itself into place, a small chess piece is revealed.
I should probably do the whole dramatic spiel about "Rising in service eternal" and "Serving the honor of clan Phenex" but honestly I am just exhausted by this stupidity.
I cast the magic, the floor glows, flash of light and the body disappears.
Yay.
"Great job young lord or lady. You have successfully used the evil piece. The door at the back is now unlocked. Once you leave you can go out and register yourself as a king to receive your evil piece set. Congratulations and good fortune to you. If you have further questions another recording is here at the front with a general Q&A we have created for your edification. Thank you for watching."
Thank the Satans I am finally done. If I had to hear that voice for another hour I was going to kill something. Almost certainly then man on the screen.
Actually I would be shocked if someone else hadn't killed him already.
Time to go get my Evil Pieces.
I am almost at the door when I stop.
Knowledge is power, I know that better than anyone. A lifetime ago I built a small empire because of it. Even knowledge that is simple or seems unimportant can tip the scales if applied at the right time. I mean almost the entire first video was worthless, but the second might have something right?
Can I really not watch the other video? Yes the presentation makes me want to kill myself, but can I really just not take the opportunity while I am here?
I really don't want to do this. I don't have to do this. I can choose to not torment myself. Just another couple of steps.
I mean it probably doesn't have any worthwhile information. I can get my pieces and go relax at home.
I mean Q&As are always filled with obvious nonsense. Right?
I put in the damn Q&A video.
"Welcome to the evil piece Q&A video where we cover the basic questions about the evil piece system."
He is back, better strap myself in this is going to be a long ride.
"Let me start with a short congratulations for you watching. The pursuit of knowledge is not always exciting, but it is always important." His voice is changing as he speaks, more inflections it is smoother, more charismatic. Is his face shifting too?
"To overcome our race's natural aversion to anything we consider insipid is no small feat. Especially with the small enchantments I have included in this room. I predict maybe one in every thirty devils will select this video, and I am probably overshooting." Green slicked back hair takes the place of unkempt black, boring brown eyes turn a light almost silvery blue, and a plain face becomes thinner and regal.
Lord Beelzubub, head of development in Hell and Sin of Gluttony sits with a sly, smug grin on the screen before me. "So let's talk about my Evil Piece system."
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The second go around describing the abilities of each piece is much more exciting than the first, and includes some additional information. Each back piece was designed with roles in mind and thus also has secondary functions not listed.
Rooks can of course castle allowing you to swap places with the rook. It also allows you to call the rook to your side as fits their place as the bodyguards for the king. In addition rooks have an innate sense when their king is injured or in danger that can be trained with effort. Allowing them to know your location and then port to it in times of need.
Knights are speed troops, but more importantly they are meant to be assassins. The piece also has a built in presence concealer magic making their demonic energy hard to detect. Mimicking their ability to hop over pieces in chess. Infiltrating the back line.
Bishops are researchers and come with an integrated buff to mental acuity.
Regrettably Queens do not gain these secondary traits, but the piece does have an interesting side benefit. They are adaptive in nature and will grow to match the queen. So if your queen focuses on magic the benefit of the piece to magic will grow over time more than the knight or rook aspect.
He also explained promotions in pawns. Basically they work at two thirds the strength of that many points of the piece they transform into. So if a three piece pawn becomes a knight they would get two thirds the enhancement a knight would get. It takes five pieces for a pawn to overtake the bonus of a single knight or bishop piece when they are promoted, and a full eight for a rook. They cannot match a queen and like a queen do not gain the secondary abilities.
"Now onto the part you were actually curious about, the reincarnation system. As for how it works, explaining the full details is complicated, but the basics is that it modifies the existing genetic structure to include markers central to the devil race. This process continues over time as the reincarnated individual is converted into a full devil with traits of the original race. As for the rebirth it uses the existing genetics and the soul's impression as a template to recreate the physical form thus removing any injuries. Now onto the general questions, lets see here"
He reaches off screen and pulls up a small sheet of paper "'Can I reincarnate a god to serve me?' Seriously?" He stops to look off screen at the recording individual. "Everyone should know this. Read the second part? 'Like what if I get as strong as a Super Devil and have my own divinity then could I reincarnate a god?'" He stops again to sigh and rub a hand on his forehead "Classic failing of our race. So, turns out, it is not always about power. Shocking, I know. Yes, on a pure power differential someone like myself or Sirzechs could reincarnate a god with some of our stronger pieces. Honestly depending on the god in question, any ultimate class devil who has completed Apotheosis could. But that's not how gods function. They are not physical beings. Once one becomes a god, they become their divinity. The bodies they use to interact are constructs used to house that divinity, you could no more reincarnate them than you could a robot or a golem. So no gods, ever."
"'What about demigods?' So that is actually an interesting question, yes you could reincarnate them but it is best to do so while they are alive. Demigods are fascinating creature, you see the divinity of their divine parent is layered over their soul while the genetics are from the constructed form. This means, what?"
He pauses again to look off screen. "Right back on track. Point is without the host soul and living body together the divinity fades fairly quickly, far faster than the soul itself. So if they die and you reincarnate them that divinity is almost certainly gone, dissipated on death. I mean they would still be way better than any human, hero genetics are strong even without the divinity, but not what they once were. 'Can we reincarnate ghosts?' Theoretically, yes. As long as the soul remains we can use the piece. The problem is that those bound to the world tend to suffer degradation. The longer someone is denied the afterlife the more their soul degrades, eventually dissipating forever. Which is bad because the soul should in this case act as the template for reincarnation. But being trapped on earth has caused it to degrade. Since in these cases the bodies are often decomposed as well, there are a lot of gaps. So when the piece tries to remake the body a lot has to be filled in with demonic energy and genetics. Basically instant demonification. A lot like what happens with an unstable stray, and since most ghosts are already mentally unstable... Well it is not a good combination. So yes we can, but I do not recommend it, not the best results I have found."
His face shifts at this point into one of consideration. "That said a complete soul would probably work much better. Say one currently in an afterlife as they prevent such degradation. Like a warrior in Valhalla should be workable as a reincarnation target if you can get their soul. The data for the cost analysis on the piece would be fascinating. Plus how much would the form become more idealized without actual genetics to base on? I mean with only the impression of a soul that earned its happy rest…" He starts to trail off mumbling and thinking.
"*Ahem* Of course, we obviously do not support the theft of spirits from their earned afterlives." You should probably sound a bit more sincere there Satan Beelzebub. "If you steal from the afterlife of another faction we will disavow you and you will be hunted as a traitor before being handed over to the faction in question for judgement. Also anyone caught aiding you will be," he pauses again before looking around. "Where did I put that memo from when I asked?" You know that you are being recorder for the public to see right? We can hear you. More searching. "Here it is 'I swear anyone who helps you will be frozen to a chair of ice spikes with just their hands free and forced to write and sign all of the apology letters needed. Plus work on all the paperwork the incident generates. All the while the ice spikes will slowly grow impaling them all over until they die or the paperwork is complete. I don't care which.'" A short silence followed the quote. "Dear us Sera. So, um, if you do try it anyway please be sure to take lots of recordings and send me the data before you are caught."
He pulls back up the list before tossing it away. "These are getting progressively dumber, let's talk about what you really want to know, the cost. How is the cost of a person determined? How did I manage to determine a person's potential? What has the greatest genius of the devil race done to boil down the future of a living being to a set of numbers? Even more to make it a scan that can be automated into my system?" Once again there is a pause, this time for obvious dramatic effect. "I didn't." He pauses here with a sly grin splitting his face. "Honestly the idea one could codify potential is ludicrous, once they become a devil they have a limitless amount of time to improve. Think about it, any devil can, with time and effort, surpass gods and the central function of the pieces is to make someone a devil. Put a number on that? What idiocy."
"But we will get to that in a moment, let's start with the basics. The main focus of cost generation is energy. How much will it take to reincarnate this person? Big factors here are individual strength and race. More powerful people need more energy as you have to get a roughly matching amount of demonic energy into them so as to convert a person. Devils cost way less because there is not much to do, they are already devils. Also humans are generally cheaper as their bodies are more adaptive than most supernatural species. Being a magical species means always being affected by your own magic, it gives the body greater permanence. Rule of thumb for other supernatural beings is, the longer lived the species the more set their body. Thus the more base energy required. Humans are naturally adaptive though so even hero descendants and demigods take less than they otherwise would."
"The other factor, energy wise, is situational. If you are repairing a body it will take energy. Raising the recently dead? Takes energy to capture the soul before it passes on. The potential biggest one is if they want to be reincarnated. Magic is based on intent and will. If they don't want to be a devil, their magic will instinctually fight back. So you will need to overcome their magic while also changing them. Now the dead and dying generally don't have this problem because sentient creatures don't want to die in most cases. But then you have the other cost increases previously mentioned."
"That all said, if you have reached at least the middle class in power, you can pretty safely throw out everything I just said. My Evil Piece system is a work of art and highly efficient. In pure power it only takes two pawns to reincarnate someone who is as strong as the user. Assuming they are alive, human, and willing. So the cost really comes from somewhere else. Not the chosen person's potential, but their danger level."
"Think about it, the Evil Piece system has the ability to bring in some highly dangerous individuals. If they go rogue it could go very badly for a lot of devils. So do you really think one of the five smartest beings in existence wouldn't create some sort of safety measure? Our people have terrible impulse control, giving them the power to turn others into devil servants, with a boost no less, and no limitations would be idiotic. So came the scanning system with a simple bit of scrying and detection magics all to answer one question: 'If this person were to go rogue after reincarnating and start rampaging, how dangerous would they be?'" The smiling and good cheer of a scientist speaking about their favorite project stopped with that question. There on the other end of the screen for just a few moments is the Satan Beelzubub. The man who tore down our previous capital and killed hundreds of high class beings to create the modern underworld.
"Make no mistake, I will not let short sightedness lead our people to ruin. Your powerbase will not come at the cost of our people. If you do not have the strength to control your peerage members properly I will not have you reincarnating them."
"That said, you were smart enough to watch this video even when you thought it would be dreadfully boring. So I am sure you have the self discipline to not do anything too stupid. That's all I feel like explaining for this video. If you have questions send them to my research group. Someone will probably get around to answering them at some point. Good luck in your peerage hunt." Back we are to the relaxed face for the ending bit.
"Oh right and one more thing, don't go telling people about what I said here. I record everyone who uses the Q&A so I will know who to look for. Knowledge is power and it is best when earned not given."
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Heat blooms with a loud Fwoosh as my scream of rage is swallowed by a roar of fire. Golden flames lash out in a massive half sphere centered on my location, vaporizing all in their path. As the burst of power fades nothing but white ash remains in this portion of the forest.
Slowly it drifts, almost like snow, to cover the floor of this new clearing. All living things consumed in the wake of my rage.
Admittedly screaming in rage and breaking things is a bit tantrummy. I should have better control than this, but I am twelve and it helps.
Plus this was empty forest anyway, not like anyone needed this 100 meter area of trees. Plus there also may have been a demon beast or two but nothing sentient. Probably. I think I get a pass.
I look around at the football field sized clearing I have made. Alright so maybe that was more fire than was strictly necessary, but I cannot help it.
I am a devil, I can be wrathful when things are not going my way.
Unfortunately nothing is going my way.
First I finally figured out how to get to the next step with my mind control voice plan, I don't. That is simply not how our Phenex song works. It is, at its core, a voice of freedom and inspiration. As such it cannot be used to take the will of another.
Even its lust effect is more due to us being devils combined with that idea of freedom. Free love and all that hippie nonsense. Plus it is positive in nature and turns out people like things that make them feel happier, go figure.
Basically my ancestors weren't idiots who didn't know how to exploit their actual gifts. I was an idiot who thought generations of power hungry creatures of sin and depravity would just ignore an ability.
So half a decade of work and all I have to show for it is a sexier voice and a decent singing range.
Fine, frustrating but fine. Take it as an object lesson to not underestimate devils. We are not a stupid species.
Except all of my personal plans seem to be doomed to failure as well.
Once upon a time I was an information broker, no I was The information broker. A real life shadow broker. I got there by starting at the bottom of the totem pole.
The homeless, the undocumented, the undesirables that exist in every society. The people we quietly overlook and abuse. The ones who are never seen and have nothing, so are more than willing to pass info along.
Plus treat these people with just a modicum of respect and they will lap it up. They are so used to being beat down that simple kindness earns long term loyalty even as the money I gave them for info got them higher in the world.
Except devils don't have them. They don't have homeless, they don't have a starving lower class, they don't have an easily exploited group of unseen.
This is supposed to be a basically Feudal society run by greedy monsters. Where are all my starving serfs?!
The first big issue with that simplistic view is space and resources. In the end we devils have far more space then people to fill it. I mean the devil population is only recently getting into the double digits millions. So basically it is the population of just London except with all the space and resources of the entire continent of North America.
Even with the ludicrous amount taken up by the nobility, like a truly ludicrous amount, there is still a ton to spare. From what I have heard my Father plans to give me a lakeside villa as a gift for my maturity. Even with that and the lake it still means basically nothing compared to the amount of territory my family owns.
Oh and if we ever, for some unknown reason, really need more space people are always free to go claim it. After all there is still another 80% of the Underworld unclaimed by anyone. So if a young devil has that need for their own territory they can go take it.
Basically there is no shortage of resources. Even low class devils are often given a home for themselves upon marrying or just as a signing bonus for their first major job. By the government, for free.
So there is basically no homeless.
Second big problem is that Devils are immortal and so they think for the long game. They are much better at watching out for the long term consequences of actions as they will inevitably be around to see it.
A big part of rampant human greed is that they don't have to suffer for their choices. Sure this factory will kill the planet, but not while I am alive. So it is basically just making me money. Sure I have made an unsustainable economic system that breaks those working for me, but I get the profits now and by the time this time bomb goes off I will be retired and likely dying.
Humans can be greedier than devils because they can escape the consequences of that greed. A devil will live long enough to pay the price.
Wreck the environment magically? Chances are you will create some form of mutated rampaging demon beasts. That happens then you are going to have to fight them. Suppress and abuse your workers? You will have to deal with the revolts.
Which goes into problem three, devils are dangerous. All of them are dangerous, even the lower class.
Any devil can grow stronger and reach ultimate and even Satan class. Being born to a high class family just makes it easier.
But put enough pressure on a devil and they will pop. We are creatures of sin so giving us a reason to be wrathful is a bad idea.
There is a famous tale amongst devils, the tale of Viltrak.
Viltrak was a low class farm boy serving in a town run by a branch family member of one of the pillars or the satanic families or some other noble, no one is willing to claim responsibility. Now he has a decent life and is content, until it is all taken from him.
The arrogant son of the ruling lord decides he like the look of Viltrak's sister or daughter or brother or any relation really (This was back during the first generation so details are muddled and no one is stupid enough to ask Viltrak about it). He then decides that he can't be bothered to seduce the young peasant. I mean that might take him, like, a whole month. No instead he decides to force his way in, kill Viltrak's parents, and rape said relation. Then, having got what he wanted, kill said relation and also burn the farm to the ground for the lolz.
As one can imagine this does not sit well with Viltrak, who proceeded to swear revenge. He trained for centuries until he was strong enough, all fueled by his unending wrath. Once he had the required power, and after more than a few notable encounters, he goes and kills the son, the lord, and all of their men.
Moral of the story, don't be a dick. Devils do not forget and we rarely forgive. The bigger the slight the more it will fuel us and a driven devil is a dangerous one.
Combine that with problem two and basically the ruling class long go figured content peasants were the best peasants.
Then you have problem four which is the value of a devil worker. Simply put, every devil is valuable. We are naturally faster, stronger and smarter than humans. Plus we have magic which is essential in the creation process of many magical tools.
Potions for example have to be made by a magical being, as we funnel our magic into the concoction while brewing. Even if a normal human followed the instructions perfectly they would just get toxic goop, same for almost any form of automation. It is just not viable to use others for many jobs, so devils have value.
We are also extremely good looking and natural liars, so we make great actors. Plus we are above humans in every conceivable fashion so we make great everything, and we have magic to help us get what we want.
So basically we can easily make a good life for ourselves amongst humanity. With that as an option plus the value of the average devil worker it fits that they would be given good wages and benefits. We don't want them leaving for Earth.
Which leads into reason five, devil pride. We devils know ourselves to be better than humans. So we won't accept the idea that any devil would be less than the average human, in anything. So as the middle class of humanity goes up in luxury, so too does our entire race.
As Lord Amon said while providing every house in his lands with a full TV set during the early 70s, "I will not have even the lowest Devil sit below a human I can find on the street."
So all together the state of Hell makes a lot of sense when one thinks about it.
Really it is completely logical.
Nothing frustrating about it, because it makes so much sense...
Except it absolutely doesn't!
This is the fucking Underworld! Where are my tormented souls? My oppressed masses? My hated and reviled ghouls?
But nooooo, none of that. Turns out a race of selfish and greedy elitists effectively made a fucking paradise. Turns out Hell is actually a Satan damned utopia!
The frustration this causes is bad enough, but worse is what it means in regards to my former life
It means that a bunch of spoiled, selfish, rich kids make a better group of leaders then anyone I ever elected.
Proving that literal devils are still better than politicians.
In retrospect that makes a great deal of sense, we devil's do at least keep our word. It is still extremely frustrating.
It is fine, it is fine.
Sure everyone else has had centuries to develop their own intelligence networks. Plus I lack the resources to overcome or break into such a system since I am only a third son. And my central plan to do so has been Undone sine Hell is actually a Fucking Paradise!
That tree was asking to be burned down, really.
Okay fine fine, I'm cool I'm fine
I will just have to find another way to break into the intelligence profession. Against millennia old networks. Run by master schemers who have been at this since before Rome was founded. With a mere fraction of their resources.
It will be a challenge, a fun new challenge for this new life.
Really I am just going to have So Much Fun.
That tree was asking for it too, I swear.
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She searches quickly through the trash here. Some food, a busted game, a damaged toy, nothing of use in easy reach.
On to the next trash pile. More of the same.
Behind her she can hear her tormentors coming, hollering away as they approach.
"You stupid worthless girl. Honestly every time I see your face all I can think of is failure."
There are a few more cans down the street, but they will turn the corner soon. She needs to be out of line of sight. Dashing forward she takes the next corner available.
"She is your daughter so take her, I am done with her and you."
Nothing, nothing, Nothing!
One of these has to have something she can use.
Satan damnit, they will get her soon, she needs a weapon. Any weapon.
She needs a better choice than these small cans. Something with more options.
"Honestly, why would you think I care about this half-breed trash?"
"Common little crow bitch you can't run forever. Just stay still and we will be nice." They continue to holler behind her.
Shit, they were almost upon her she needs
There, an industrial can down the alley. It has to have something.
"Just take her away somewhere. I can't have the mongrel dirtying my home."
"Found you. Honestly, hiding in a dead end, how stupid are you?"
Ignore them. Ignore the memories. Got to find something.
"Ha, look at her digging through trash. Exactly where she belongs."
"Stay here and say nothing about your parentage. Remember that you will never be a true devil. It is best if you are simply forgotten."
There.
She turned to face her pursuers, her new weapon in hand.
They all just laughed.
"Is this some kind of joke? You really think a damaged old short sword will make a difference here?"
"Don't come any closer." She wishes her voice didn't sound so weak.
"Or what, you will beat all five of us?"
"Do you actually think your better than us? Just because your daddy was a high class devil?"
"No I just,"
"That is right you're not. You're just a worthless mongrel halfbreed who was thrown out of daddy's castle. That is all you will ever be."
Were they right? Years of trying, of working to fit in. All the while being beat own by people like them. Was all this fighting for nothing?
"Failure"
"Mongrel"
"Trash"
The sword is starting to feel so heavy in her hands. It was all so pointless. It didn't matter how hard she tried or fought. In the end she would always be trash.
Slowly the sword starts to droop down, slipping from numb fingers.
"Well now don't tell me you are going to give up now after all the work you did to find that sword."
A new voice pierces the air. It was young but had a refinement to it, an almost beautiful lilt to its words.
"You were showing such will, such drive. Don't let it be put out by these pests. Show me what you can do."
There, sitting on a roof overlooking the alley, is a boy. He had gone through maturity, but was likely not very old, or he preferred to look childish. But assuming age matches appearance he was likely still a preteen or early teen.
So around the same age as herself and the boys.
What stood out were his eyes. Pools of molten gold that stared down at them, somehow apathetic, interested and judgmental all at once.
She could not help but shudder. It was like being a rabbit under the gaze of a great hawk.
"Hey, who are you calling a…"
The comment dies in the lead boy's throat as those predatory eyes slowly pan towards him. Almost as one the group seems to pale a bit and step back under the gaze.
"I was calling you a pest. Not to worry little pest I have no interest in you, nor in interfering. Please go back to what you were doing. I won't stop you." The eyes return to her. "As for you, show me that fire, the determination that led you here to that sword."
Silence reigns in the alley after that comment. All six of them continuing to eye the boy. Waiting for him to move. But that seemed to be his last say on the matter. He just continues to sit with his head propped on his hand. Waiting.
Slowly the boys seemed to regain their courage, rallying off of each other. She could feel as they brought up their magic. Empowering themselves even as the leader's hand seemed to light on fire.
The boy on the roof was right, this was not time to stop. She had spent to long, put in to much work to stop now. Even if she was just trash in the end, she would still give it her all to the last.
Slowly light spears began to form around her. Preparing to be launched at the group.
"There it is, that disgusting crow magic of yours. Don't think you can beat us with just that."
She launched the spears forward, but two of the boys were ready. Slamming their hands on the ground they made a wall of dirt to absorb the attack.
She started forming more spears but the lead boy was already on her. Flaming fists lashing out.
She dogged to the side, but another boy was already there.
She ducks that hit as well but now she has lost sight of them for a second. On instinct she pushes herself back from the group.
Just in time as the final boy comes past to try to get a punch on her while her head is down.
They are all too close, she sends the spears she has made to distract them, but she hasn't had enough time to really form them. They are still weak.
Four of the boys still take a moment to dodge, the two in the back even tripping over themselves in the process, but the leader does not.
He backhands the spear as he approaches, shattering the weak construct. He is too close now to dodge.
A pained cough escapes her lips as the fist slams into her stomach burning a hole in her clothes and searing the flesh beneath.
She stumbles back to the end of the alley. Doubled over and on her knees from the blow. She needs to end this, now.
"You thought you were better then us you stupid crow, just cause daddy was a high class devil didn't you? Well I am going to show you your place, under my heel." The group has bunched up again as they slowly approach. Looming over her. "But I am a nice guy, if you kiss my shoes and promise to be my bitch, I won't hurt you too much. Don't want to ruin that pretty face."
The little troglodytes around him start to laugh quietly and jeer at his little speech. Thank the Satans these idiots are so arrogant.
She looks up, bright yellow eyes gleaming with malice. "You talk too much."
With those words a magic circle appears in her hands as the swords she was holding dissolves into motes of light.
"What was," the question is never finished as the boys feel a prickling on their backs. A small cluster of light spears sits above them, previously too weak for them to notice.
Now however they are strong enough for their presence to cause tingling.
Like an executioner's blade they descend, detonating in small bursts of light magic as they hit either one of the devils or the ground.
Her father's magic can be draining and she is not well practiced, but she did it. She won. Even as she pants, her stomach aching with each breath, a vicious smile blooms across her face.
The sound of slow clapping causes her to look back up. There is the boy from before standing before her. He is smiling down at her with a look in his eyes she has never seen before, and the smile is different from the ones she usually gets.
There is an edge to it, like a smirk but it is not pointed at her. It is closer to the others she receives but fuller, not hollow like the orphan matron's. A true example of what they are faking.
"Beautiful, simply beautiful. You are something amazing aren't you?" His voice is soft and smooth, somehow both calming her racing heart and lighting a small fire in her soul.
"I, I am no one. Just an orphan, nothing special."
"But I think you are special. In fact I think you are one of a kind. With the powers of the Fallen and House Zepar, you are truly astounding." There it was again, something in his voice inspiring her. Like a song just beyond her hearing that lifts her spirits to new heights.
"I am not, I am just a halfbreed. I'm not a real member of house Zepar. Just trash."
"Only a fool would throw out something so priceless." He continues to look down with that kind smile on his face and offers her a hand. "Come with me. Join my peerage. I promise I will help you reach higher than you could ever imagine."
That look in his eyes, was it approval? Affection? She sees it sometimes, second hand. Always directed at others. Never for her.
Everything about him is like a great fire. From his golden appearance to his warm voice. The very air around him thrumming with heat and power that beckons her in. Like the hearth to a home she has never had.
She never wants to leave it, this warmth. This affection. This home. Never wants to be out alone in the cold again.
She takes his hand.
"With this pledge I accept you into my service. In flames to be reforged and in service eternal. Now rise again as my Bishop."
Even as he helps her to stand a chess piece flies into her chest. Suddenly power, like she has never felt before rushed through her body. Leaving her with enough energy to fight what feels like a hundred more battles. Her mind expanding in ways she never dreamed of before.
"Well you look to be feeling better. Are you still hurt? The process can heal wounds but it is best to be sure."
"My stomach still aches but I will probably feel fine within a day."
"No need to wait, here drink this. It should clear up any lingering pains." With that he handed her a small vial with clear liquid within.
She took it, and not wanting to offend her new king, drank quickly. Honestly she was expecting a nasty flavor, she had heard most potions taste atrocious, but it was basically nothing, like water. Within moments the burning heat from her stomach was gone, every ache and pain evaporated. Even the slight soreness and exhaustion from running for as long as she did went away.
"What was that, um sir?"
"It was Phenex tears."
Her heart stilled for a second. "But those are super expensive, you could buy a building or more with a single bottle. Even nobles have to be frugal with them. I am so sorry I shouldn't have…"
"If I was worried about it, I would not have given them to you. It is fine."
How rich was her new king to just waste such a valuable item on her?
"Now to your first lesson, what shall we do with them?"
With that he stood aside, perpendicular to her his one arm held out as if showcasing something. There, no longer blocked by his body were her five assailants. Only the leader was still conscious, if just barely. Trying desperately to get up but far too weak to even reach his knees, all the while while glaring hatefully at her.
The rest were scattered a bit around the alley, burned and beaten. One even appeared to be missing an arm while another didn't look to be breathing.
"I don't know. Maybe we should take them to a hospital? Let someone know they are here?"
"I don't think that is the best idea. These boys are pests. They may have started this fight but they are not the type to accept the consequences of their actions. Just look at the leader and how he glares at us. If left alone they will continue to grow stronger all to take revenge for you daring to not be beaten."
"Then what do you think we should do? Your saying we shouldn't just leave them be if they will attack again, right?"
"Indeed we cannot. Remember this little truth my new bishop. Enemies you defeat make armies," his hand reached back up from where it rested at his side. His tone was calm , even serene, like a teacher giving a lecture. With two fingers he pointed at the boys and a large magic circle formed beneath them. "While enemies you destroy," the hand turned over now with the palm facing the sky and the fingers pointing forward, "make graves."
With that he licked the finger up. The simple hand gesture unleashing a pillar of fire. The heat from it dried her skin and stung her eyes even at a distance. Golden flames danced in a great swirling inferno for but a breath. When it dissipated all that remained was soot and ash. With a wave of his hand the wind picked up and soon even that was gone.
Her tormentors, bullies who had made her life hell for years, gone. Erased like it was no more work than swatting a fly.
"Come now, let's go home."
Home, she had never had one of those before, not really. She was looking forward to it.
With a flash of light she was somewhere new. A great manor hall, gorgeous and full of great displays of wealth. It even surpassed the hall of her father from the brief time she got to see it.
"Ah master Riser, I see your excursion managed to bear fruit this time. I am glad to see it was not all for nothing. Who might we be welcoming into the household?"
"No more than me, I was beginning to think it was all a waste of my time. Honestly, even finding her was more luck than anything. I was in Zepar territory looking for an enchanter when I heard a commotion and decided to take a look. This is my new bishop, the lovely…" For a second he paused just staring at her, before a blush crossed his face. Soon it was accompanied by an embarrassed smile.
"I am sorry my dear, I was so entranced by you I forgot my manners completely. I am Riser Phenex, third son of House Phenex." With that he reached his hand towards her palm up.
Placing her hand in his she answered as was appropriate. "Albedo."
With a sly smirk and golden eyes shining in amusement he lifted the hand to his lips to leave a searing kiss upon the back. "Charmed."
He was right, she was.
An excerpt from the introduction to A Father's Work: A History of the Sacred Gear System by Alphonse Gamgin:
Perhaps the most impressive system of enchantment and item craft ever made. Regardless of the political and personal opinions one may have on it, the Sacred Gear system is undeniably a work of art.
It is also the most insidious trap ever designed and a testament to the masterful planning of The Father.
The basics of the system is simple: it allows groups to put any magical object or lifeform into the system and then converts the ingredients into a new relic bound to a designated soul. This relic then powers partially off the system and partially off the infinite potential of the mortal soul it is bound. The only caveat being that the relic is, by necessity, part of the system.
In effect it allowed pantheons who used the system to empower their people with relics that could not be stolen and at a relatively cheap cost. The system itself taking a large portion of the enchantment costs.
Have an enemy relic you fear they will try to retrieve? Turn it into a sacred gear, now it works to empower your champion. Remains of a magical enemy you want to get rid of? Make a sacred gear. Some old enchanted weaponry that is not working on its own? Group them together and make a sacred gear, it will concentrate the power.
It was a simple sell for all pantheons, even us who should have known the devious nature of our enemy. However the power came so easy and during the Shadow war we were all fighting through humans anyway. So why not give our chosen pawns an edge?
Everyone thought it was grand until people we didn't give the gears to started having them. In the beginning, we all thought that once the initial users died the gears would disappear. Gone with their bound user soul. That was the great trick. Instead, every weapon we made for our chosen champions became a weapon that humanity, His favorites, could use against us. We were feeding them the tools they needed to protect themselves from our predations.
The worst part was we could not simply stop. Both the first and second Shadow Wars were fought by mostly human troops, and those with Sacred Gears held an immeasurable advantage.
Sure we in Hell could give them enchanted demonic blades, but they could effectively carry and wield three, maybe four and if they fell the blades were our enemies. Sword Birth is clearly superior in every way.
It was the same for all involved. Divine beasts or cursed beings that are hard to kill could be made into powerful weapons when needed most, like in the case of the Nemean Lion. Dangerous remains like Balor's, which continued to damage the area they were held in, could be used for the betterment of the pantheon instead. All without the usual difficulties of enchantment.
He made a system too good to ignore. Every pantheon was effectively forced to give up more and more relics to feed into this arms race. All of which invariably ended up being used against the very forces who made them. But none could stop, because to do so meant a massive disadvantage for their troops. An inevitable defeat.
A trap we all could not help but fall for and even as we saw it spring we could not escape. Truly He is more diabolical then any devil ever known.
An excerpt from the 27th chapter of Bartelbie's The Powers of Hell:
The ability of House Zepar is interesting in its utility. It, in effect, expands upon and improves the idea of ritual sacrifice. So to understand it one must understand ritual casting.
At its core, ritual casting is a magical trade. You give up speed for power in some cast types or use artifacts that hold a certain type of magic in place of your own. You can also have multiple casters, this sacrifices the control over a spell one caster has to receive the benefit of multiple sources for the spell to pull from. Effectively something is sacrificed in a calculated manner to enhance something else.
With this in mind, sacrificial rituals could be considered the purest form of ritual. The sacrifice of a giant to enhance the strength of the caster, or perhaps the life of a thousand year old plant to extend their own. Sacrificial rituals and magics are common the world over. From blood magic to pill refinement. However it also introduces a new concept into the equation, ownership.
If I was to use a ritual to sacrifice my own life force for power it would be a simple transaction. What I give out in life force I get in magic. A one to one conversion, if you will. This is in fact the basics of blood magic, my life force in the form of my blood and health in return for magical energy. However, what if I were to sacrifice another's life? Well then I am not really making the sacrifice am I, someone else is. So I do not have the same right to that power. Especially if I am forcing them to sacrifice it, now they don't want me to have the power so I will get even less.
This is the great complication of sacrificial rituals, loss. Few people are willing to give up something from themselves when they can give from others instead. So they get less from those others. There are numerous factors such as rights of conquest or the willingness from the one being sacrificed. Numerous magical rules and beliefs effect the end conversion rate. Here is the first benefit of the Zepar house ability, it improves the conversion rate for ritual sacrifice. So they get more from their rituals than would otherwise be available.
The other is combat sacrifice. With the rare exception of some blood magic's most sacrificial magics need to be part of a ritual. To lay down rules for what is being sacrificed and for what benefit as well as channel and convert appropriately. Zepars however, can use their ability in combat. Instantly converting an appropriate artifact to empower a spell.
So if they need to enhance an attack they can use a weapon, a shield with a shield and so on. Any object can be used to enhance any spell as long as there is some degree of synergy. The greater the metaphysical weight and power of the object the greater the enhancement for the spell.
This makes it an incredibly adaptable ability, though it can be a costly one.
Alright newest version of the peerage bellow. Anything with the question mark is still up in the air (technically everyone not introduced is not set, but the question marks are more uncertain).
King: Riser Phoenix
Queen: Valerie Tepes (DxD)
Rook: Nonko Arahabaki (Yuragi) - Oni or Laura Matsuda(Street Fighter) ?
Rook: Nora Valkyrie (RWBY) - Demigod child of Thor
Bishop (mutated): Albedo (Overlord) - Devil/Fallen Angel hybrid
Bishop: Kuroka (DxD)
Knight: Ayane (Dead or Alive) - ninja
Knight: Jeanne (DxD) ?
Pawn x4: Osakabehime (Fate) - former ghost now sorceress/spy
Pawn x2: Melascula (7DS demon snake)
Pawn x2: Velma (Scoobydoo)
So on the topic of Peerage let me clear up some stuff. First, to reiterate, they will be the DxD versions of these people. So Albedo is a damaged child (to help explain her mentality since she is not just a programmed person) or Melascula is a demon beast. So first off is that any character has to be able to fit into DxD. So if the only way to make them work would be something like an extra Longinus it is probably a no. For people from DxD they have to be a reasonable recruit considering his lack of Meta knowledge.
Let me go with an example: Ingvild. She is a common one for peerage requests from DxD. Which makes sense she is a great choice for anyone who knows about her and is relatively easy to acquire with proper planning. Except how would Riser know about her at all? Remember he has very little metaknowledge, he doesn't even know why he is an antagonist, let alone details about a late game character like Ingvild. That is the issue for DxD characters, many options are based on proper Metaknowledge to identify, locate and convince them. Something he does not have.
That is also why Jeanne is a heavy maybe, I am just having a hard time justifying her recruitment. Sure if he knew before hand that her faith in the church (and God) was wavering he could get in early and convince her before she joins the hero faction. But he doesn't and I honestly believe she was the last person anyone would ever expect to have wavering faith. So we will see.
Final note on this, I am planning to post a One Piece story sometime soon. The only reason it matters for this is that it has a crew list with some other world characters. So that is where Esdeath and Saeko Busujima are (I think those are the only 2 I have seen brought up before). Anyone on that list won't also be here. I will probably post that soon(ish). It needs to be edited. Unfortunately I work retail so this is the busiest time of year for me and I have had a lot less free time.
That is all I have for the peerage discussion, hope that clears up some stuff on that. On to Albedo, yes I recognize she is usually a tank not a mage. We will get there I promise. As for the power, what do you all think? The Zepar house ability was my answer to her special power, where she effectively sacrifices a piece of armor for invincibility. I just expanded on that principle for the magic as a whole. So she should be able to pull the same move in effect but with a less video game reason and more versatility. I could have also done a damage transfer power but I thought this would be cooler and open up more options.
Finally on lore, yes I made other groups also responsible for sacred gears, le gasp. But seriously if they were not involved it means that God went and raided a bunch of other pantheons (the Neman lion or Balor view for example), took their shit and made enchanted weapons out of it. Then he just scattered it around for kicks and everyone else just nodded along. No, no way. Plus it allows for real origins to some of them, like Absolute Demise is Norse in origin here, made from the Casket of Fimbulwinter.
Leave any requests for new lore pieces in your review and I hope you enjoyed.