Chapter 5: Combat Lessons.
Somewhere, in a mountainous region partially covered with the dark greenest forest of Hackberry trees, mixed with honeysuckle shrubs, as the atmosphere has no with no any particular sound or any movement of the branches by the lack of wind, which turned the place even quieter. The Gremory Clan's symbol emerged on the grassy ground, before the light launched a flash throughout the open space. Suddenly, the group of the Occult Research Group made a surprise arrival by the transportation circle.
"Whoa!" Elliot was the only one he face planted on the ground, when he felt the unusual lack of surface on his feet at the time he was teleported. Somehow Rias and her group managed to hold themselves to not fall, maybe because they've gotten used that method of transportation for a long time to know how.
Elliot groaned, as he rose up like a cat and rubbed his head. "Man, that was really weird! I didn't even see anything when I got sucked into that circle!"
"That's what the teleport is, it happens instantly before you'd realize how you're traveling." Rias replied. "Now let's move on, we're not far away from our objective."
Elliot nodded as he started to get up, but suddenly, when he made a step, he felt that one of his legs was limping. He lost the balance, before he collapsed again, like a drunken man recently got out from the bar.
Elliot grunted, wondering indignantly why he can't walk straight, but then he felt the tingles in the muscles of his right leg. Therefore, he realized his leg was asleep. Before he could do something to fix that tingle with a little massage, his eyesight was beginning to spin that he couldn't see clearly his surroundings.
He rubbed his eyes to try to regain his focus, but unfortunately it was not the only symptom he's having it; the inside of his stomach started to reach a strange but a slight feeling of cramp, followed by a little inch in the skin from the same area. Elliot started to moan, bringing the attention of his partners.
Akeno kneeled beside him to attend. "Elliot-kun, are you okay?" She said with worry.
Elliot opened his eyes slowly, staring at her violet eyes, but he didn't make any reaction when he sees her beautiful face closer and her pretty sapphire eyes.
"Akeno? Why I'm seeing four of you?" He babbled. Then he rolled his eyes and collapsed with a thud.
"Elliot-kun!"
"He's getting the side effects of the magic circle," Rias answered to reassure her friend. "Just give him a minute to rest and he's gonna be okay."
Suddenly, Elliot sat up abruptly that almost startled the thunder user. His eyes were wide open and his cheeks were puffed like he has something inside of his mouth that he can't swallow, as he covered with his hand. Before Akeno would ask him about his actual state, he rose up quickly and ran towards the inside of the forest, while shoving Kiba out of his way. They were about to ask him where he's going, but when Elliot hastily got into the bushes, they hear the uncomfortable sound behind the shrubs that he's ejecting something from his mouth while gagging, followed by the grotesque spattering on the ground.
"Well…. I think that will take five." Rias said awkwardly, with a sweat drop rolling down of her temple. She and her group were so lucky they don't have to watch that scene, that's why Elliot had to go behind of the shrubs, though they felt sorry for him having that kind of symptoms.
It didn't take, not even a minute, before Elliot finally finished off letting out his insides. He was beside of a tree, with his hand against the trunk to sustain himself. He was gasping to recover some air when he couldn't breathe while he was throwing up, as he took off his hat to clean the sweat off his forehead.
"And there goes my afternoon meal…" He muttered between his breaths and coughed by the ardor of his throat. Then, he realized he didn't feel dizzy anymore, much to his relief because he wouldn't want to delay Rias and the others with the mission, which he's anticipated to know what it is about.
He took a deep breath and let out a sigh, as he made his way to get out of the bushes. When he was now outside of the forest, as he dusted the leaves off his jacket and jeans, he saw the group was watching him with uneasiness.
"Hey guys… Sorry about that…" Elliot said, rubbing the back of his head. "My stomach didn't feel well, and I could not help myself…"
"It's okay; we had to wait until your symptoms wear off after you used the transportation circle." Rias replied with understanding. "But I see you are now better, don't you?"
"I guess so." He rubbed his belly. "But… This will happen to me again every time when I'll use the magic circle?" He asked apprehensively.
"Not for a long time, these side effects can only affect to the Devils, who are recently reincarnated, because they aren't used to get usually experienced enough with the teleport magic. That means your body will need some time to get used with this sort of transportation for a while; until then, I don't recommend you to move so fast during between 5 and 15 minutes before you get back the full control of your senses."
"Oh, alright then." Elliot looked around throughout the sloped landscape, covered with woody vegetation, as he could smell the refreshing environment. "So… Where are we?" He asked.
"We are in the Southeast, at 500 miles from Kuoh city." Rias answered simply. She turned around and began to walk across the open and the inclined path through the forest. "Follow me and do not separate. This way will take us to a village where we have to go and carry out our task."
Elliot nodded and he, with Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko followed their master. Thanks to the moonlight, they can watch their steps so they will not stumble, although they have the special ability to see clearly in the darkness. While they're walking, the young American thought he would ask the crimson haired young woman about one thing that happened when he met the nun, Asia.
"Excuse me, Rias-senpai." Elliot spoke to his "master". "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, what do you need?" Rias said, without stopping her tracks, but paying attention.
"When I was talking with the nun…" He trailed off for a second when he thought that would bother to someone. Luckily, they didn't. "She told me that she was speaking Italian to me, but I swear I was hearing her speaking English and I could not understand how. I was wondering if you know about this."
"Oh, I see. I apologize I didn't have time to explain you about the attributes we can get." Rias responded as she turned to him. "You see, what you said is because you have now the ability to speak and understand the different languages, with the same you were born to speak." She motioned to the Prince Charming. "Kiba Yuuto, for instance, was born in Japan. After he was resurrected as one of us, his language barrier broke completely."
"Wow, really?" Elliot said with a large amount of surprise.
"I had the same reaction like you, Elliot-san." He turned to Kiba after the handsome young man addressed him. "I never thought the devils could have that kind of mental power, but thanks for that, I was able to communicate with people from other countries, without the necessity of going to a language course."
"Is there anything else you need to know?" Rias asked.
"No, I'm good, for now." He remained silent as he shoved his hands into the jacket's pockets.
His emotion started to change into disillusionment, as he looked to the ground, watching his feet stepping the soft grass. No one noticed his expression because he was behind them. The explanation was because when he mentioned the moment he was with Asia, he recently remembered the words which Rias said to him that left him speechless moments ago.
"It doesn't matter whether she's with the Angels or not. The girl's affiliated with the church and it's very dangerous if you remain together with her. So I ask you to not ever see her again, never."
Elliot felt upset at that statement, for the fact he will not accomplish the promise he made to the nice girl. How could he just simply accept that strict order? He didn't care he barely knew her, the nun was the most friendly and kindest person he ever met, with a delicate heart. She didn't do absolutely wrong to be considered as a danger to him, and for the whole Devil faction. It's really difficult to imagine how Asia will react when she finds out she won't be seeing him again. But worse, if she'll think his promise was just a lie.
'I'm very sorry Asia, even though I could try changing her mind, I'm afraid our plans is off.' Elliot said in his mind with sadness. However, he hoped she would find another person who can take his place, and who is completely human of course.
In conclusion, he decided to focus the 'mission' and not get very distracted with that. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he could try to let it go, he can't forget the innocent smile of her face.
"There it is; we're now very close." Rias spoke, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Elliot raised his head, and he saw his partners have stopped already their tracks when they reached on top of the hill, observing something strange on the horizon with seriousness on their faces. He walked closer to see what they were looking, and his eyes caught in a small complex of houses in a valley, at two hundred meters from them.
Most of these houses are the Minka, or in translation "House of the people", which they're built traditionally based on the style of the Edo period. The base structure of the building, walls and support columns is basically made from wood, while the external walls were completed with the addition of bamboo and clay. And lastly is characterized by its singular pyramidal-shaped tiled roofs, instead of thatch it was used centuries ago.
However, the hamlet seemed to be suspiciously empty, and there's not a single glow of lightning through the interior of any of these houses and the streets look like they are deserted, it's pretty unusual to say everyone in that village are sleeping early tonight.
"What we're supposed to do in there?" Elliot asked to Rias, still confused .
Rias turned her head at the new member. "Elliot, it is now the time to tell you about what we're going to do, and it's very important you have to pay much attention." She said as she crossed her arms. "Yesterday, we received the message from an archduke from the Underworld for an order of suppression. Our mission is to eliminate a Stray Devil."
"A Stray Devil?" Elliot asked with his eyebrow raised.
"The Underworld's society has one major issue, there are devils who are overwhelmed by the greed of their powers after they became a part of a peerage, but who also get tired of being as a servant of a master for the rest of their lives." Akeno replied with seriousness. "They become impulsive before they'll betray their masters and abandon from our world to Earth, with the purpose of doing whatever they'll want, and that includes hurting innocent people, like a wild dog."
"…. For that reason, we have the law to exterminate the Stray Devils..." Koneko added with a cold tone, but with comprehension as well.
Elliot's eyes widened, as he looked back to the village in disbelief. "Are you saying that…" He trailed off when he bit his lip in tension. He did not dare finishing the last words of the current situation he just realized.
Rias nodded slowly with her furrowed eyebrows. "There have been rumors that one of them attacked that place, devouring the innocent people who lived there, even the women and the children." Rias' tone turned into anger for the news, but she had to remain her calm. "Now he's hiding in the shadows, away from the daylight, waiting until he can take a human as his dinner by nights. We had to teleport away from that place because the target would sense to our presence and find out we're coming to exterminate him. He might be waiting for us nonetheless, but we have to accomplish our duty, and it's disposing from his existence, before he'll do more damage to the humanity."
Elliot clenched his hands that his veins almost popped up. He can't believe that kind of devils could do such a thing to the villagers, and just for their greed of their power? He's not the person who wants to bring death sentences to the culprits who commits such atrocities, but the anger didn't let him think he should show mercy to that scumbag, who surely don't have any shame for his action. Although he was now different after his death, he won't dare to ignore the request to avoid another disaster.
The devil fighter stared at Rias to give her his thought about the mission. "I understand, Rias-senpai. I promise I won't have any remorse after we eliminate that bastard for what he has done!" He raised his clenched fist, showing his braveness.
Rias felt pleased to hear he's willing to face a dangerous being without hesitating. She gave him a nod to accept his answer. "Then let's not waste our time, because the archduke told us the Stray Devil will try to find another place with people to do the same. We have to stop him as soon as possible."
Elliot and the rest of the group agreed. Then, they went down the hill together, continuing their way to the village. They're ready to bring the Stray Devil an implacable judgment.
The members of the Occult Research Club were now inside of the village, but while they started to patrol to find the stray devil, they've noticed something strange in the street. There's no structural damage, not even a single window shattered, nor traces of blood stains on the floor or in the walls of the buildings. And overall, it was very, very quiet that no cricket was found to produce its stridulation in the night.
"Something it's not right…." Rias muttered with a frown. "It's impossible a stray devil could leave this place like nothing happened."
"You think he used a spell to repair all the damages he caused?" Kiba asked.
"If he was able to do that, plus hiding the corpses and cleaning the blood all by himself, then we're dealing the one who's not careless." Akeno responded.
"… Then we must be careful…" Koneko said with no emotion, showing no fear despite the bad feeling in the surroundings.
"Keep your eyes open if he has set a trap." Rias scanned around the area with her eyes. "He must be hiding one of these houses or any place where no one would find, so don't let your guard down." She turned at her new servant. "Elliot, Akeno told me you can sense the presence of the people, before you fought with her at the park. Do you think you can find the stray devil around the village?"
Elliot rubbed his chin with a thoughtful expression. "I think I can do that if the murderer is close to us," He answered. "But the only problem is I cannot sense precisely where he's hiding, sorry about that."
"It's okay, thank you for letting us know." Rias replied with a nod of understanding, as she turned to the white haired girl. "Koneko, can you smell something unusual as a clue that could lead us to his hiding place?"
"I'll try…" Koneko started to sniff a couple of times into the air, with her eyes closed to concentrate if she can perceive anything.
"Wait, how she can find the stray devil by just smelling?" Elliot asked to Kiba in a low tone to not distract her.
"Since Koneko's a nekomata, she and her kind were naturally born with heightened senses that help her become more aware of her surroundings." The handsome guy answered. "That means she can find a peculiar smell around this village and in the outskirts, but that depends if the clue we're looking is not far away from us."
"Hum… That's what I thought…" He muttered as he crossed his arms.
"Is something wrong with that?" Kiba asked with a bemused look.
Elliot shook his head. "Not at all; It's just I never thought more supernatural beings could exist in this world for so long, aside from the Devils, the Angels and Fallen Angels you told me about. But seriously, who else exists? Humans who can do magic like in the popular novels and media, bloodsucking vampires, or speaking giant dragons?" He chuckled, thinking that's pretty absurd to believe the myths and legends are actually real.
Kiba's eyes widened for his comment which he did not expect he would say that. He could understand Elliot is not completely aware what's in the other worlds apart from The Three Faction, but he decided to keep quiet. Right now it's not the moment to say something that surely will shock his partner and distracting in this mission.
After some seconds of silence, she cracked her eyes open and said with an intensified frown. "… I smell blood and rottenness…"
Elliot was the only one who was staring at her in perplex, but also a little surprised. He didn't notice that kind of scent from the beginning, in comparison to Koneko. And surprisingly, she didn't even grimace or cover her nostrils with her fingers for that odor.
"Can you find where it comes from?" Rias inquired.
Koneko breathed with her nose again, before her eyes focused to a small hill to the Northeast, at ninety meters away from the village. She raised her arm and pointed to everyone with her index finger towards the higher ground. They followed the direction and found the sloppy side of the hill has stone stairs which leads to the top, and from there, they saw it was a small building, which it appears to be some kind of a temple or something like that.
"… The Stray Devil is hiding inside of that temple…" The nekomata said.
Rias smirked at the result, as she patted her head softly. "Good work, Koneko." Then, she turned at her peerage. "We should fly to the top of the hill instead of using the stairs. Shall we?"
The ORC members nodded in agreement, and the only one who got really excited about that idea was Elliot.
"Oh yeah!" Elliot pumped up his fist, containing his enthusiasm. He has been waiting all this week for the chance to try out the ability to fly.
"Then let's go!" The bat-like wings sprouted out of Rias' back, as the others did the same; Elliot took a few seconds to summon his wings. Afterwards, everyone leaped up off the ground and began to ascend to the sky, but Elliot was remained behind as he was trying to follow them, unsuccessfully.
Rias just noticed her new recruit is missing; she looked down and saw Elliot was still standing on the ground. "Come on, Elliot! Don't make us leave you behind, we don't have all night!" She said, crossing her arms with impatience.
"I know, just hang on a sec!" Elliot took a deep breath, "Ok, here I come..." Then he crouched to prepare for the impulse, and made a jump as high as he could, like he would be as a professional basketball player.
He attempted to use his wings to fly, but suddenly he felt he's not floating in the air, before realizing he's falling to the floor, as his cap flew out of his head.
"OH NO, NO, NO, NO-!" His face hit against the surface, with his legs up momentarily before falling, as his cap dropped next to him.
Everyone, but Koneko, flinched after hearing the sound of the fall and Akeno shouted his name in concern.
After Rias saw Elliot didn't appear to have the knowledge of flying, she recently remembered he still has not learned how to do it properly, and he didn't receive Akeno's flight lessons this week, ever since she was busy making some contracts for her peerage.
'Great, I completely forgot he didn't learn how to fly. I knew I should have bought an agenda.' Rias thought with a reluctant sigh, massaging her temples before she turned towards Akeno. "Could you please help him up?"
The raven haired blinked, and then she nodded. "Of course, Buchou." Then, she flew down towards to her fallen intimate companion.
Elliot groaned before he sat up, clutching his aching face after that fall that almost broke his nose. "Dammit all, that really hurt!" He snarled, as he stood up and dusted off his clothes.
Akeno landed next to him, before she placed her hands on his cheeks to look at his face if he has any wounds. "Are you okay?" The beautiful lady asked him in a soft tone.
Elliot almost blushed when he stared at her beautiful amethyst eyes closely. He stepped back from her touch, as he picked his favorite cap and put it back on his head.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine. But I don't understand what's wrong with these stupid wings?!" He said, gradually not in a good mood.
"Calm down, Elliot." Akeno reassured him. "The reason you can't fly is that you don't know how to control your wings. Besides, that usually happens to the people who are recently reincarnated."
"Can you help me how can I do it, please?" He begged.
She shook her head in response. "I'm sorry, I know I promised I could teach you, but right now this is not the time. It will take days until you'll be able to fly with no problem."
"Oh, just what I needed." He said with complete disappointment. "So what I suppose to do then, should I walk all the way up to the hill by myself?"
Akeno tapped her chin with her finger, in a thinking expression. Suddenly she came up with something that she slowly raised a smile. "Hey Elliot, would you mind if I carry you?"
He blinked in surprise. "What?"
"I don't want to leave you behind, so I think it would be convenient if I carry you in the air. Don't worry, I'll be sure I won't slip my hands from you." She giggled, as she was intentionally teasing him.
Elliot didn't know how to respond if yes or no, he thought it's really embarrassing because is probably a laughing stock when a male is being carried by a woman, even it could be a burden for Akeno trying to lift him, though she surely has strength in addition to her powers of lighting. Nevertheless, he didn't find any more options; the Akeno's suggestion was the only way to keep him together with the group, but he has to make only one question to figure out if she is wouldn't bother.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Elliot said.
Akeno stepped closer to him before placing her delicate hand on his cheek, catching him off guard. "This is the only thing I can owe you after the day you saved my life when the fallen angels defeated me. If you weren't with me, I'm sure you'd suffer the same way as I cried for your death."
Elliot remained silent, not to mention he instantly blushed again. Then, he let out a sigh, as he grabbed gently her hand off his cheek.
"Alright, fine." He responded with acceptation on his tone.
Akeno's smile widened in excitement for his answer, before she stood behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Elliot gulped when he felt her breast pressing him on his back, but he had to let it go and focus.
"Hang on, this will get a little rough."
Then, Akeno made an incredibly high jump, surprisingly managing to carry Elliot's weight without even struggle. Elliot almost yelped when he saw he's now far away from the surface, and then he looked up and saw he was getting close to Rias and the others. He began to feel a little ashamed for being carried in front of them, but luckily nobody laughed in the least, they were just simply waiting.
Rias almost lose her patience for Akeno's behavior with Elliot, though she can't deny their friendship. However, she decided not to say a word to them and as they continued flying towards the old shrine.
After reaching the top of the hill, the devils lowered their altitude and landed on the stone ground, while Akeno let go of Elliot and he gave her thanks for the ride, before putting the wings back inside of their backs. After that, everyone stared attentively to the darkened Shinto shrine, which is also suspiciously undamaged like the houses of the village, with two garden statues of the lion dogs like they are the sleepy guardians of the temple.
Elliot winced when he finally smelled the stench of rottenness that Koneko described, and it comes from that building that eventually he did not dare to guess what's inside.
"Elliot, come here." He heard Rias calling him.
The young American blinked, before walked up and stood beside her. "What's wrong, Rias-senpai?" He asked, trying to ignore the unpleasant smell.
"Tell me, have you ever heard or played a game of chess before?"
Elliot raised his eyebrow in disbelief for that question, but he decided to just answer her. "Well, I think so. I've played a couple of times back in US with Terry, and also the Japanese version called Shogi with his brother once in Japan, before I moved to Kuoh. May I ask what this is all about?"
Rias turned her head to him. "I understand your doubt at such a moment, but this is the time you need to learn about the servant system we use." She said. "As you already know about the consequences after the Great War ended, many of countless Devils who had the lineage of Pure-blooded died in that unfortunate event. We were so desperate to find the quickest way to repopulate before the brink of the extinction would fall upon us; our population was not very low as you think though. But one day, during these difficult times, a famous noble found the only solution that saved our future."
She shoved her hand to her pocket, taking out a King chess piece to show him. "We call them, the Evil Pieces. These can reincarnate other beings into our kind and grants them unique powers. That depends what piece of chess the user can fit in after a particular training they went through or how it assign their traits. That's how I brought you back to life with one of the pieces and turned you as a new member of my peerage." She put the chess piece back into her pocket. "Now, let me explain you in short as possible about my position what makes me the leader of the peerage." She put her hand on her chest. "I am the "King", the important chess piece. However, it's the only piece which doesn't have a special power like the rest of them. It's sort of like a promotion that only the High-Class Devils, depending their family's rank, are able founding their own peerage."
Elliot couldn't help but feel extremely impressed with the fact the Devils have adopted the chess as a new system to save all the remaining population. However, there was one detail he was confused.
"Wait, why does it call the Evil Pieces?" He inquired, hesitating about the word, which defines the wickedness and immorality.
Rias was almost surprised for his question, as she rubbed her chin. "You know, I asked the same question when that came up. I asked my father if he knew the reason, but he told me that nobody, nor my family and himself, knows why the noble had decided to named like that." Rias shook her head. "Anyways, the reason I'm talking to you about this, is because you'll witness our companion's abilities based on their roles in the chess and how they fight."
Elliot nodded in agreement. They walked towards the shrine, before stopping at just several feet from the small building. Then Rias motioned her crew to surround the exit in case the stray devil would try to escape. Kiba positioned to the right, Koneko to the left, and Akeno to the front; Rias and Elliot remained behind of Akeno.
"What about me?" Elliot asked.
"You stay with me." She replied to Elliot with a frown. "I understand you are prepared for this, but you still need to learn what kind of threat we're dealing with."
"What are you talking about?" He narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"You'll find out right now." She turned her gaze back to the shrine and unexpectedly, she raised her voice. "Stray Devil! I am Rias Gremory, also known as the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess! I was sent by your master with the order to eliminate you for your unacceptable actions! You are completed surrounded and it's not use to try to escape. Now get out of the temple and face your consequences!"
There was no answer, which Elliot was the only one who began to sweat in tension, as he clenched his hands very tightly. On the spur of the moment, the old wooden door was shattered when something just came out, coming directly to the trio. Rias and Elliot jumped aside before it hit the ground between them, and their mouths fell open when they saw a graphic and horrible scene.
They just witnessed a mutilated and bloodied corpse of a woman; halved, flayed with marks of chews in all her body. Her backbone and the major part of her entrails were chewed too.
"Oh… My… God…" Elliot said in complete horror and shock as covered his mouth, trying to resist the urge of vomiting again.
Rias gritted her teeth in anger to see the unfortunate destiny of the deceased woman. Before she would start to make an action, she saw a dark figure of a man coming out of the shrine. She didn't have time to describe what he looks like when the man suddenly jumped up highly and launched a tailspin, with the intention to attack Akeno.
"Akeno, look out up there!" Rias yelled.
Akeno heard her warning, before she raised her head and saw the man launching his fist towards her, but she jumped away just in time before he punched in the ground with his fist, literally cracking the surface. Akeno landed beside of the president, unharmed.
After missing the hit, the stranger got on his feet and remained motionless in the middle of the group, surrounded.
Rias was finally able to see the appearance of the attacker. It was a man of twenty, stood about 5'14 inches, almost taller than everyone else. With dark half long hair, and practically dressed only with black pants and a dark brown leather sleeveless vest, which was opened up, revealing his toned torso. But what she noticed and almost disturbed her, the man has blood on his hands and around his mouth, also his vest was stained with it as well. His face wore the evil glee, obviously showing no remorse for what he has just done.
He stared at the crimson haired girl with soulless eyes. "Well, well, well… I never thought I would have the chance to meet a brat from the Gremory family." The killer said with mockery. "You know, you should have destroyed the shrine before I'd come out and tear your pretty lady apart." He chuckled darkly, pointing to Akeno.
Elliot growled at his response, not waiting until he could get a chance to break out all of his teeth for what he said to his friend.
Rias frowned threateningly to the ruthless man. "Actually, I would never dare to destroy a sacred place that remained intact centuries ago, even though you just turned it into your own corpse storage, Dnias." She retorted. "And by the way, what are you doing with that form? Are you afraid to reveal your frightful image?"
Elliot raised his eyebrow for that question. What she was talking about? He thought.
"Not at all, I'm just waiting for the moment of your panic after I'll transform. I can assure you will end up crying while I'll kill your friends in front of you." The supposedly stray devil, now named as Dnias, said with a wicked grin.
Unexpectedly, Rias smirked. "Oh really? I thought you already did when we saw you didn't clean your mouth and your hands. That definitely scared us for your disgusting behavior, and I bet your master would be so ashamed of your lack of manners if he were here."
Dnias twitched his left eye, as a sign that he felt a little offended by the comment. "I see you are even more than a brat to insult me. I'd be very satisfied after I'll stain you with flesh blood, just like the color of your hair." He hissed with venom in his tone.
"Then what are you waiting for? Show us your true form, so we can get a reason to destroy you!" Rias challenged him.
Dnias took out his sleeveless vest and threw it aside. "You will regret you have accepted his request to hunt me down. After I'm done with you, I'll make sure to send him a message to remind him not to mess with me again!"
Elliot frowned as he prepared himself to fight against the cold-blooded killer, but what he did not expect is for Dnias's eyes to turn red. He progressively grew four more feet, as the tone of his skin turned a faded white. His nails grew into claws as curvy and thick as an eagle's. The form of his face began to lose the human's appearance, as his teeth turned into fangs and his ears became pointy. To put a cherry on top of the grotesque spectacle, a pair of draconic wings burst out of his back, their leather similar to the wings of a demon.
As the result, Dnias just turned himself into a humanoid flying monster.
"Holy Mike Tyson biting ears! What happened to him?!" Elliot freaked out for witnessing the horrifying transformation that surely will haunt him in his dreams.
"This is the consequence when someone is corrupted by the lust of power. They not only change emotionally, but also physically as it were some sort of curse." Rias turned to him. "I know this is too hard to believe what you see, but stay close to me and we can survive this, understand?"
Trying to hold back his fear, he nodded in understanding.
The now transformed Dnias flapped his wings and with a big jump he rose up to the sky, as he was choosing which will be the prey he should catch first with a hint of abominable hungriness.
(Highschool DxD Ost – Kiki)
Rias turned to the handsome blonde guy. "Yuuto, you go first! Cut his wings before he'll try to get away!"
Kiba nodded with his head. "Consider it done, Buchou." Then he walked towards the flying humanoid monster.
"Can I help him?" Elliot suddenly offered himself to be part of the first attack.
Rias turned to him with a smile. "I don't think it would be necessary, just look."
Dnias saw the blond one approaching. "Oh, so the pretty boy decided to volunteer?" His voice was completely changed into deep and hoarseness. "Very well then, I'm gonna tear your face off first!"
Dnias flew down and raised his arms, with his claws and teeth ready to tear Kiba in pieces.
Kiba didn't stop walking, as his face remained calm and waited until the stray devil was now close. Dnais landed on the ground with an impact that caused a fog of dust. But as the dust quickly faded, the humanoid flying creature just realized the blond guy just vanished that he did not see how the young man did that.
"What the… Where did he go?!" Dnias exclaimed in disbelief as he looked around frantically. What he didn't know is that Kiba has been just behind him, after the beast almost crushed him. Taking the chance for the distraction, Kiba held out his hands and two swords appeared out of nowhere. He gripped his swords and dashed towards to the stray devil.
Before Dnias was about to turn around and face him, Kiba managed to cut the wings before the humanoid monster let out a roar of pain. Now he can't use it to fly anymore.
Elliot watched with absolute amazement on his eyes. He never imagined Kiba can be capable to dodge with such speed, summoning swords magically on his hands, and also be able to take damage on the stray devil quickly that surely he could not do that.
Rias smirked for his reaction, as she decided to explain him. "Yuuto's role is a "Knight". The Knight's main ability is the speed, agility, and the mastery of swordsmanship. With that, he can perform unpredictable techniques by combining them in order to catch his enemy by surprise. He also can create numerous swords whatever he wants."
"WHAT?!" Elliot couldn't bear the stupefaction after hearing the last part.
Dnias grunted angrily at Kiba after he gave him a surprise and trickster attack. "YOU LITTLE PUNK!" He lunged at him with his mouth open, letting out another roar like a savage lion.
(Ost End)
"Kiba-san, look out!" Elliot shouted as he was about to save his partner, but before he could make one step, the stray devil was suddenly hit by the trunk of a tree like a baseball, sending the beast flying away from Kiba by a few meters, before crashing into a group of other trees, knocking them down.
(Highschool DxD Ost – Kettou)
Elliot went into shock for what he just saw and turned his head to see who delivered such a tremendous blow. His mouth fell open when he saw the batter was the fifteen year old girl, Koneko Toujou, holding the tree with her bare hands after she swung it.
"Thank you, Koneko-chan, I could take care myself, though." Kiba smiled to the silent white haired, as she dropped the tree, making a thunderous sound and also shaking the ground that could scare off the sleeping birds and small animals through the hill.
'Did she carry a friggin' two-ton tree?!' Elliot yelled mentally, finding so hard to believe an underage girl could lift easily that crushing weight without a sign of struggle on her face.
Dnias dusted the shattered wood off him, before he stood up and glared angrily to Koneko, growling like a rabid dog.
Koneko frowned when she realized the ugly and disgusting monster is going to attack her. "… Let me deal with him, Kiba- senpai…" She said to the charming prince.
Kiba did not refuse to her request; the Knight simply nodded in understanding before he walked towards his master and companions and stood beside of Elliot.
"Kiba-san, what do you think you're doing?" Elliot was bewildered why Kiba left Koneko alone against the stray devil without even asking her if she was sure.
"Don't worry about her," Kiba responded with his usual calm look. "Koneko sometimes wants to do this on her own. Nothing bad will happen to her, just trust me."
Elliot was still hesitating, even though he witnessed the amazing Koneko's performance with her strength. She's still a little girl and is hopeless to leave her without assistance. However, he presumed what Kiba was trying to say that he must stay with Rias and watch how she can deal the situation with no problem.
Meanwhile, Dnias was trying to find another way to attack Koneko instead of just launching a frontal attack again. Then he sought attention to the fallen trees around him after the impact, when he just got an idea for a strategy. He picked up one of them, clutching the trunk with his claws, and lifted it as he spun himself one time, before throwing it to the little girl.
Koneko's eyes narrowed as she remained still, without the intend to move out of the way. When the tree was almost in a meter from her, she gripped one of her hands before she drove her fist and shockingly she split the tree in half. Her hand didn't seem to suffer any damage for hitting that solid material. But suddenly, Koneko saw the stray devil running towards her, before she realized it was just a distraction to get close to her by surprise.
"I GOT YOU NOW!" Dnias yelled and he opened his mouth, but Koneko somehow knew this was coming and she grabbed Dnias' mouth before he was about to finally take a bit on her head, as her feet dragged along the ground to resist the onslaught until she managed to stop.
Dnias' eyes widened in disbelief, he tried to chomp her fingers, but he didn't know Koneko has the enough strength to hold him still and without hurting when she was touching the tip of his fangs.
"… Your breath really stinks…" Koneko muttered with a hint of disgust on her voice. "… Get out of my face…"
Before Dnias knew it, Koneko delivered an uppercut to his jaw, breaking some of his teeth in progress and was sent into the air while spinning like a ragdoll. Then the stray devil landed on the ground with an impact, making a small crater. At that moment, the peerage thought it's now over because that blow would leave Dnias incapacitated, but before they'd get the conclusion, Dnias let out a moan of pain. He was still alive, but now more hurt physically than before.
Elliot couldn't take his eyes off what he has just seen. How he could imagine Koneko would be the female Hercules?
"Koneko's role is the "Rook"." Elliot heard Rias speaking to him, as he paid attention to keep learning more about her own abilities. "Her simple trait is the superhuman strength, with that she's allowed to perform powerful attacks and have a strong defense. However, her only weakness is that she can't posses speed and she can be beaten by a high-speed opponent, like Kiba for example because he has the Knight's speed."
'I-It's amazing! I never thought Koneko would be such very skillful fighter despite her age! I probably shouldn't fight with her until I get more stronger enough and I can have a spar with her.' Elliot thought.
Koneko flexed her hands after she made the punch, before making her way towards her group, meaning she's already made her turn with Dnias. Elliot saw she was coming closer to him; one part of his mind was saying he should stay away from her and leave her alone if he doesn't want to end up like that monster, but another part was telling on the contrary that he should congratulate her for doing an amazing job and give her a high five. Elliot couldn't choose between these two options, he was just standing like he was petrified. But then he just realized Koneko was now beside him on his right, still not showing any particular emotion when she was closer to him.
"Um… Koneko-chan…" Elliot tried to say a few words to give her a compliment, but Koneko cut him off by holding her hand up.
"This is not the time… We didn't finish this job yet… I suggest you to wait…" She said.
Elliot decided to listen to her as he nodded with his head.
"And now Elliot, to finish today's lesson, you'll see the powerful chess piece of the "Queen" from our last member and second in command of my peerage." Rias turned to the raven haired with thunder powers. "Akeno, would you do the honor?" She said with a smirk to her right-handed friend.
"Ufufufu… Of course, Buchou." Akeno was smiling with delight, before she walked slowly towards to the fallen stray devil. "Ara ara, what should I do with you?" She continued to giggle.
Elliot began to notice there was something really disturbing behind her cheerful smile. It was not a sign of perverseness or masochism like he had seen her before, since the day he met her. For some reason Elliot is having a bad feeling what she's about to do what she hadn't done at the day of their first fight.
(Ost End)
Dnias twitched as he tried to get on his feet, but then he saw the young woman coming up to him. Only seeing her smile was making him upset. He thought she was scoffing for the fact he's almost been defeated by a young group, even his transformation was not enough to scare them away or even lay a finger on them. The anger started to boil his face before he finally regained his strength to get up.
"That's it! I've had enough I'm getting beaten by a bunch of fucking kids! Now you're gonna pay dearly for trying to humiliate me!"
The Rias' peerage was thinking the stray devil will make a desperate and last attack that will turn out to be in vain. Their expectations were now proven wrong when Dnais opened his mouth wide and before they realized it was a new attack, a beam of light suddenly shot out of his mouth.
"Spread out!" Rias yelled when she saw it coming. Technically, Dnias was aiming at Rias Gremory with the intent to kill their leader so her peerage will lose their morality.
(Persona 4 OST – I'll Face Myself)
Akeno was the first to dodge the projectile since she was almost too close from the stray devil, but the beam was actually heading towards the group. Everyone jumped away and she separated from Elliot as well. The projectile hit to the ground, but also it splashed to some of the trees, before the strange substance sizzled and the grass and trunks began to disintegrate, as some of the trees fell when. It was revealed that the stray devil launched some kind of acid to force them separating from each other.
Before Rias knew the stray devil's plan was leaving her unprotected from her servants, she noticed a shadow on the ground, looming over her by the moonlight. She looked up and saw Dnias in the sky. He took the opportunity of the distraction before she would realize.
"I changed my mind, you'll die first!" Dnias shouted as he clasped his hands and raised them into the air with the intention of crushing her, like a hammer hitting a nail.
"Rias, look out!"
Rias felt being carried into someone's arms and she was moved away before Dnias smashed the ground tremendously that cracked the surface and almost caused a slight earthquake. After failing his surprise attack, Dnias turned angrily to the young boy with a cap, skidding across the ground a few meters away from him.
Rias opened her eyes before she widened in shock when she saw Elliot was the one who saved her life.
"Are you hurt, Rias-senpai?" Elliot showed his frown of concern to his King.
Rias didn't manage to contain the blush on her face when he was staring at her with his blue eyes. Honestly, it was very embarrassing that a High-Class devil like her is saved by a Low-Class servant, for not paying attention she would be attacked by surprise, but for some reason she's feeling very thankful for his heroic action. The Gremory couldn't understand why she's having that emotion at this untimely moment, is it because of the way Elliot was carrying her like a princess in distress in the fairy tales?
"Hey, are you okay?"
Rias snapped out when she just realized he was speaking to her.
"Y-yes, I'm fine! Thank you!" Rias said, trying to hide the embarrassment on her tone and look away from his gaze.
Elliot let her down off his arms gently on her feet and turned his head to the stray devil growling at him, realizing Dnias is probably going to change his plans. But when the monster was about making a move, a lightning bolt suddenly struck him on the right flank and sent him flying before scraping the dirt with his heavy body. Elliot turned his head in surprise when he recognized the familiar bolt and saw Akeno with her raised left hand, engulfed with sparks of lightning on her fingers.
It seems that Dnias have forgotten Akeno was beside him after she dodged his acid attack while he was focusing on Elliot.
Rias proceeded to finish what's next. "As I was about to tell you before: Akeno as a Queen, she can possess all the characteristics of all the pieces of chess. Therefore, she's our strong Vice President of our club. But you were very lucky to defeat her for the first time before she could use all her power... Or something that you've never seen before." She murmured the last words, but Elliot heard that clearly before he grew curious.
"What do you mean?" Elliot inquired. But before Rias had the chance to answer him, they heard the stray groaning, meaning he was still not defeated despite the devastating blows he received in the beginning.
(Ost End)
Elliot furrowed his eyebrows, and then he turned his head over his shoulder to the crimson haired King. "Rias-senpai, I understand you want to teach me how the devils fight and some stuff, but did you forget who I am?" He jabbed himself with his thumb and showed her a grin. "Just give me an opportunity to fight that ugly bastard for a couple of minutes and I'll leave Akeno to continue. Don't worry, I will not do anything stupid that will endanger my life, trust me."
Previously, he was scared when he saw the monstrous transformation from Dnias, but after his partners managed to take damaged on him, he felt now confident that his fear suddenly disappeared. Now he has the wish to be the next to join the battle and test if his abilities have changed after his reincarnation.
Rias did not expect he would say that and she was now not sure if she could reject because Elliot would probably insist. She rubbed her chin to think and quickly before Dnias regain his consciousness, she's still concerned about Elliot's decision, but otherwise she's been waiting for a moment to watch him in action with her own eyes. Before she could make her answer, Rias addressed to her peerage to find out if they're fine with this.
"Everyone, wouldn't you mind if we give Elliot a chance to demonstrate his skills to us?" She asked.
"Ara, ara, fufufu. I was just getting started to give that bad man a punishment for trying to hurt you, Buchou. But I guess we cannot leave my dearest friend without fun after bringing him in." She said with her cheery smile of acceptance.
"I was looking forward to witness our new member's capacity what Akeno was talking about all along. So I don't see a reason to disagree." Kiba responded with no hesitation.
"… Me neither. But if he gets into trouble, I'll not save him… He needs to learn a lesson to stop being a smug." Koneko said with a cynical tone.
Elliot let out an exasperated sigh, sooner or later he won't take it anymore of her rebukes. Now he's having the wish to prove Koneko to the contrary and can't wait to see the look on her face what she's going to see. It will be just like showing a new video game at the E3 and all the people who were in present hang their mouths open like fishes.
Rias smirked after hearing the last answer from the Rook and she turned back to the young American. "You heard them, Elliot. Do whatever you like, but only one condition I want to give you. Don't hold back, show me and my peerage everything what you can do and impress us!"
Elliot couldn't hold back the grin off his face at her request. "It will be my pleasure." He cracked his knuckles as he walked towards to the Stray Devil.
'I hope I still have my chi energy to perform my techniques, even I'm now a devil. Without that, I don't have a chance to face that monster.' Elliot said thoughtfully as he bent his knees slightly and held up his clenched fists, as his fighting stance.
(JoJo's Bizarre Adventure – I'm in Control Instrumental)
'Alright, I was waiting almost all night to kick your sorry butt, because you're gonna pay for what you've done to that woman and the people you've slaughtered!' Elliot gave his furrowed eyebrows to the stray devil.
Dnias was also giving Elliot a look of disdain that he did not find the moment to say anything to the young boy. He didn't care he was attacked by one of Akeno's lightning, maybe it was because Elliot totally wasted his only chance to kill one of the Gremory family and now he was out of ideas to try again. The stray devil used his foot to impulse and made a lunge at the devil fighter as his last attempt, with enough speed to get close at him.
Elliot began to elude the furious slash attacks from Dnias' claws while he was moving away from his range, without suffering a minimum scratch on his skin or his clothes. Dnias started to get pissed off before he raised his arms in the attempt to crush him, just like he tried to Rias Gremory. But before he drove his clasped hands downwards, Elliot's elbow just connected to his stomach after he yelled "ZAN-EI KEN!".
Dnias let out a gasp of pain that he lost his strength to finish his attack. After delivering the elbow strike, Elliot continued to counterattack by punching him in the same spot and followed by a kick, before he spun around and thrust his arms with his palms stretched out and proclaimed the next move.
"DRIVE SHOCKWAVE!"
A small sphere of energy formed out of his hands before it suddenly exploded straight to Dnias' torso, pushing the stray devil with the enough force to send him fly away for a few yards.
Rias and her members' reaction showed the incredible amount of surprise, even Koneko's eyes were wide open than before; therefore, he managed to catch her attention. Akeno was smiling for what entertaining it was to see Elliot fighting.
Elliot could not believe in what he just did because that was one of his own tricks he has been trying out so hard to perfect it before he signed up to Kuoh academy, even he didn't have the time to practice the technique lately. He began to think it's possible that the effect of being a devil gave him the advantage to dominate completely the Drive Shockwave just for sudden. Therefore, he was getting even more motivated to keep going.
He saw Dnias getting up again, clutching his ached torso with his hand while he glared at Elliot. The young fighter was impressed the monster can take many hits and still standing for much longer, but now it's the time to take him down and get it over with.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me this was the only best you can do," Elliot gave the stray devil a mocking smirk while taunting him. "To be honest, you impressed with your transformation though, but I never thought I would face the weakest monster I've never met in my life."
Elliot's strategy was simply to provoke Dnias so he would recklessly attack and not focusing his defense, it's pretty risky indeed considering he's an aggressive beast, but Elliot knows what he was doing.
"YOU FUCKING BRAT!" As he expected the result, Dnias turned seriously upset before he charged and launched a desperate punch, without even thinking the risk he was getting.
Elliot smirked for the predictable attack, before he leaned his body aside as the big fist whizzed above his shoulder, as Dnias' eyes widened when he realized the mistake he committed, and then Elliot took his chance to counterattack with a barrage of punches and kicks through Dnias' whole body with impressive speed that shockingly it was beyond than normal, barely comparing the Knight's speed from Kiba Yuuto.
Elliot stopped of doing his fast punches before he made a jump and launched a spin kick to Dnias' face that the blow resounded out loud, making everyone in present flinched because that the hit must hurt pretty badly.
Dnias stumbled back, he was now vulnerable when the blow left him dizzy and cannot keep his guard up anymore. Elliot saw his opportunity to perform one of Terry's techniques he learned. He twisted his body with one of his legs up and reared back his fist to take the momentum, like a pitcher was about to make a throw with the ball. Then, he launched forward before his fist engulfed with blue energy and made contact with Dnias' chest, causing the stray devil spit his saliva mixed with some blood. But that was not all; Elliot gripped the side of his stretched arm with his left hand and suddenly yelled the next words.
"BUSTER WOLF!"
An explosion of his energy, similar like his Power Wave or Power Geyser, burst out from the ground and impacted to Dnias, flying into one of the dog lion statues and blew it up into bits of debris with his body and rolled across the grassy ground.
(Ost End.)
Elliot formed a victorious grin on his face as he waved his index finger. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You should have just ignored my words and you could avoid that happen, but you didn't even think to count to ten instead of grinding your gears."
Suddenly, Elliot noticed Dnias was twitching his body and letting out a painful groan, but now it doesn't seem like he's trying to get up again, maybe because his body doesn't have the strength anymore to keep it up. His Buster Wolf was surely enough to leave the monster crippled. Elliot felt now satisfied that his urge to beat Dnias up a little more just vanished, judging by the stray devil's current state his fight was now over. However, he still remembered the mission was to 'eliminate' Dnias, and he knew what that means. But he was definitely not ready to make a decision of taking a life of a person with his own hands or not, even if someone is a cold-blooded killer who transforms into a man-eater humanoid demon. Elliot was upset for those inhuman actions, but he doesn't have the thirst for revenge because somehow he didn't see this person was not like this before. Like Rias mentioned in the beginning, some devil's soul can be corrupted by greed, but that was not enough that Elliot must make that decision. He was trained to be stronger, not a killing machine.
He was having a bad feeling if Rias would order him to finish the job, thinking quickly to avoid this could happen, he turned around and walk away from Dnias and towards to the group and spoke before anyone would ask what is he doing.
"I'm done, that was all I needed." Elliot simply stated to the crimson haired King.
Rias raised his eyebrow as a hint of confusion. Perhaps he's already tired? No, he doesn't look like he's out of energy. She was staring at him with suspicious, wondering if he actually was now bored to keep fighting, or something she doesn't know.
Elliot's eyes caught on Akeno, he remembered she said she wanted to be her turn. He thought he should give her a chance to finish what she was doing and he was sure she and the rest under Rias' peerage had experience with this kind of activity, so maybe the Queen can merely take care of this without hesitating.
Elliot turned back to Rias. "Rias-senpai, can Akeno continue with her Queen powers you mentioned before? I'm still interested to know a little more what she was trying to show me."
Rias blinked with a bewildered expression, as she looked to Akeno, also surprised for his unexpected request. As she was aware this was not the moment to ask questions with unclear answers, Rias hesitantly nodded with her head. "I guess so, if this is what you want." She turned to Akeno and told her to do what he wants.
Akeno nodded in understanding as she made her way, but then she saw Elliot smiling to her and gave the gentleman's polite gesture of letting a lady to pass. "He's all yours, sorry for my interruption." Elliot said kindly.
Akeno didn't understand what he has in mind, she thought he got all over the situation, but now he wants her to be the one instead? There's something Elliot doesn't want to do, she bet this is the case, she was not sure if he has a problem though. Akeno figured this was not the moment to ask him what's wrong, so she decided to cooperate and listen to him.
"Ara, ara, ufufufu. Thank you, you're truly such a gentleman." The Vice-President thanked Elliot and she walked towards the crippled stray devil.
Dnias saw the raven-haired young woman was slowly getting close to him, wearing a small smile that somehow he figured it's more disturbing than his own. He gritted his teeth as he tried as hard as he could to crawl away. He finally knew it's not used to continue, maybe Elliot's technique made him face the reality.
"Ara, are you're trying to go away? It seems you still have some energy you left." Akeno said with her hand against her cheek as she stopped her tracks when she was now near of Dnias. She held her hand up before the sparks of lightning engulfed around her fingers. "That means now I can give you the most painful lesson you will feel as your punishment for your actions."
Elliot suddenly realized she began to act strangely, way too different than he never imagined. The Akeno he knew was an elegant and kind person, and sometimes she acts perversely when she enjoys teasing him. Just by watching her unusual sudden behavior, Elliot was getting a bad feeling already about what he's going to see.
Akeno waved her hand and summoned a yellow circle above the stray devil, before a giant lightning bolt came out and fell into Dnias.
TZZZZZ!
Dnias let out the loudest scream of agony that rang out throughout the whole area, when he felt his body suffering the discharge of ten thousand bolts electrocuting all over his body and his internal organs as well.
Akeno decided to stop of launching her lightning bolt for a moment to check out if the stray devil was dead already, but then she noticed he kept twitching, but now his body was now literally roasted by the intensity of the electricity.
"Oh my, you're still alive?" Akeno licked her lips as the blush on her cheeks grew darker. "I'm impressed, but how about if I do a little more intense and we'll see how long you can take it?" She continued to laugh with a hint of vicious as she launched another lightning bolt, this time even bigger.
TZZZZZZZZZ!
Dnias did not stop screaming loudly when the pain was now much worse than before. Akeno was showing no remorse while performing the new level of torture.
Elliot was sweating like crazy and felt the chills on his back, not believing what he's seeing. He definitely did not see that coming and never thought how Akeno would deal a fallen enemy in that dastardly way. Her giggling was not the same he always heard when she's in funny moments; it was the laugh of a sadist.
Suddenly, Elliot felt someone patting on his shoulder as he turned his head over his shoulder and saw Kiba with a comforting smile. "Don't worry, Elliot-san. Even though the Vice President shows no mercy to the enemies, she is very gentle to the allies." The blonde Knight said.
Elliot didn't answer to the handsome young man, he just turned his head back and kept watching the disturbing scene, hoping this ends as soon as possible.
Rias face palmed and shook her head, she knew all along Akeno was going to do that. In fact, she always knew about Akeno's sadistic side ever since she joined her peerage as her Queen. Rias didn't mind with that personality, it was pretty useful to scare the enemies, but the actual problem is that Akeno just scared Elliot as well, maybe she didn't tell him so he might understand, or maybe not. Another problem was that her Queen is not using her full power to exterminate the stray devil right now, and now she was getting tired to spend all night to simply finish this mission.
"Akeno, that's enough!" Rias gave an order to the sadistic Queen. "Come back here and let me deal with this by myself!"
Akeno turned her head to Rias, before she finally stopped torturing the stray devil. Akeno was a little disappointed because she wasn't even satisfied, but she understood the reason. Then, she walked away from Dnias and Rias made her way as they passed each other before they'd separated. When Akeno was almost near of Elliot, he noticed she gave him a wink, but Elliot didn't open his mouth to say something, he just waved his hand slowly but with nervousness, while he cleaned off the sweat before she'd find out his expression.
Rias stood beside of the stray devil. She saw he's now burned as an overcooked steak, and it seems that at this rate it will take a couple of minutes before he'll die in such state. "Now Dnias, before I'll finish you once it for all, do you have any last words you'd like to say? Perhaps a favor I can do for you?" She said with her crossed arms under her bust.
Dnias trailed his reddened eyes to the daughter of the Gremory and gritted his fangs with anger and pain. He opened his mouth and struggled to say his answer. Rias knelt before him so she can hear him clearly.
"Y-Yeah… F-Fuck you… And your family… You red haired… Arrogant… Bitch..." He growled under his breath, not regretting this was his last words.
Rias' eyes widened when the answer almost shocked her. She thought he would wish to die and end his suffering. Well, what she did expect? A killer doesn't have a soul to accept the judgment. Trying to hold back the intense frown she was getting by the disrespect she earned, she stood up as she stepped back just for a few feet away from Dnias, before she held up her hand and suddenly a ball of black and red energy erupted above her palm.
"Insulting my family is a serious offense, especially when you dared to say it in my face." Rias glared the stray devil with her sharpened eyes, before she adjusted her hand, and ready to throw. "Burn into dust to dust."
Rias launched the ball of energy and slammed into Dnias, creating a small explosion of darkened inferno, and when the flames vanished, the stray devil was no more. No trace of Dnias has remained, not even a single drop of blood.
Rias let out a sigh with a calm expression, glad that it's now over, and she made her way back to her peerage. Actually, she was walking towards to Elliot to give him a piece of her mind after his performance in battle.
"What you showed us was really impressive, Elliot." Rias said with a proud smile. "You are indeed an unpredictable person with such amazing techniques. Now I feel absolutely honored to have you in my peerage. Tomorrow you will have to share with us about what kind of powers you use, sounds right?"
Elliot smiled before he made a bow as a sign of gratefulness. "I would like to. And thank you for your kind words, Rias-senpai. I swear no matter what kind of obstacle or danger awaits me, I will never disappoint you."
Rias turned up the corners of her mouth as she nodded with her head. "Well, now that our mission turned out as a success, it's time to leave this place and go home. Maybe it would be nice if we have a cup of tea."
"Wait! What about… the deceased villagers inside in there? I don't think we've been signed up to clean all this mess, right?" Elliot asked as he clenched his nostrils because the stench from inside of the shrine was still rotting in the environment, even he tried to look away from the corpse of the mutilated woman on his left.
"Our contact promised us to take care of this after we did our part of the job, so we can leave the rest to him with the cleaning." Rias replied.
Everyone began to leave, but suddenly Elliot spoke out before Rias was about to summon the magic circle of teleport.
"Wait a minute, Rias-senpai. There's something else I need to know!"
"What's wrong, Elliot?" She asked with puzzle over her face.
"You already explained about the roles of my partners, but you didn't mention about mine. What defines me as your servant?"
"Oh, you're right, I almost forgot to tell about your position." Rias faced him and cleared her throat, while Elliot. "Elliot, your role is the Pawn."
"Say what now?" His voice turned from the excitement into disbelief.
"The chess piece you posses are one of the pawns, also known as 'the foot soldiers'."
Elliot couldn't help but feel disappointed, while an imaginary giant rock with the word of 'depression' written on it fell into his head. He didn't understand why, but maybe because he thought he should be in the higher rank for his abilities, the Rook would be enough to cheer him up since his quality in combat shares a little in common with that piece. The question that invaded his mind, is why Rias chose him only as an insignificant member of an infantry that, in the most circumstances in the chaos, he'll probably end up be killed and eventually replaced.
Rias started to notice the sudden unhappiness countenance from him, before she realized he knew about the characteristic of the pawn. For some reason she began to feel bad for him, but fortunately there's a thing that surely will bring back his good mood.
"Do you really think the "Pawn" is considered as a weak piece?" Rias said with a compassionate smile. "You are wrong."
"What?" Elliot raised his head, showing his surprise expression.
"The Pawn has also ability like the rest of the pieces, but this one is very special that no one could have. In the game, when the foot soldier is on the opposite side of the chessboard, they are able to promote themselves into another piece by the player's choice." She pointed her index finger to Elliot "In your case, whenever you are in an enemy territory and if you are in a very difficult situation, you can promote to whichever piece you need to choose, all of them but the King of course."
Elliot's depression suddenly changed to the mix of hope and excitement, now he felt convinced why Rias decided to be her pawn. Honestly, that sounded risky, but the promotion is the best thing to survive in such cases.
"However, there´s a Little detail you should know about," Rias ever since you consumed only one piece of the Pawn when I reincarnated you, you can do only one time. There´s some people, mostly the men, who consumed more than a piece of the Pawn, meaning they can promote several times until they reach the limit of their pieces they own. My point is you have to choose carefully when that time comes, because only one mistake will lead you to a terrible consequence. Do I make myself clear?"
Elliot nodded with his head, though he found it hard to believe he could be the only person who possesses only one of the eight Pawn pieces. Hoping this could not affect his reputation to the Devil society, he said he´s now ready to go.
Rias summoned the Gremory magic circle, smaller than the previous that would fit about one or two people.
"This teleport will take you home, Elliot. We are going to our own houses, so we'll see you tomorrow at school."
Elliot nodded, and he made his way to the middle of the circle, but unexpectedly someone spoke that made him stop his tracks.
"Buchou, can I go with Elliot tonight?"
Everyone turned in surprise to Akeno when she made that request. For some reason, she's not smiling as usual like there's something she's worried about and she needs to take care of this.
"Can you tell me the reason why?" Rias crossed her arms with interrogation.
Akeno walked up to her King and she leaned closer to her ear and whispered. Rias raised her eyebrow, wondering why she's being discrete so nobody would hear her answer, but then the crimson haired blinked in surprise after Akeno finished of whispering as the Queen stepped away from her. Afterwards, the Kuoh Academy Two Great Ladies turned to look at Elliot and they noticed he was staring Akeno, apprehensive about her decision to go with him.
Rias eventually understood why Elliot must not know the issue he's involved with Akeno.
"Are you sure about this?" Rias murmured to her Vice-President with uneasiness.
"He deserves to know because I trust him," Akeno bluntly replied. "Keeping this in secret will not help and I have to do for him.
Rias nodded her head in understanding. "I see… I'm glad you're making the right decision right now. If you think this is for his own good, then you have my permission."
"Thank you, Buchou." Akeno smiled with a bow before she walked towards the circle.
Elliot hesitantly followed her, without even asking Rias if it's fine to be with Akeno after he saw her sadistic side. It's not because he's now scared of her, but he practically began to disown her, thinking she may have a multiple personality disorder. That would be the reason why she hasn't told him.
When they stood in the center of the teleport, the circle glow in blinding light and then it vanished.
Kiba stood beside of Rias. "What's wrong, Buchou?" He asked curiously.
Rias turned to him with serious. "Akeno needs to deal something personal with Elliot."
Before asking, Kiba suddenly realized what Rias meant. "You think Elliot-san will accept what she is?." He inquired with a hint of concern.
"Let's cross our fingers and hope he can work her out." Rias replied before summoning another magic circle for her, Kiba and Koneko.
N/A: Finally! I feel much better for finish this chapter! I wonder what Akeno is going to tell him about her hidden personality? Let's find out on the next chapter and we'll see!
Now I guess you ask: "Why Elliot didn't get a headache after he said "Oh my God"?
Well first of all, I believe that concept is undoubtedly overused in other fanfictions I read, and I don't feel like using the same idea. Besides, I think it's a little exaggerating that the Devils would get a headache just for saying the word "God", nothing more; the only explanation I find it logic, is when someone prays in His name or themselves in front of the Devils.
And by the way, I wanted to make the reference of that quote from one of my favorite anime characters.
You want to know who? Find out by yourselves, but I'll give you a clue, his name and surname starts with "J" ;)
Now, before I'll take my leave, I want to dedicate this chapter to our dearest person who was a marvelous actor who portrayed famous characters, like Dracula, Count Dooku from Star Wars, and of course, Saruman from The Lord of The Rings.
That's right; I'm talking the famous Sir Christopher Lee, when he sadly passed away one month ago, and one month after his 93th birthday in May. He was not only a great actor, he was also a RAF (Royal Air Force) pilot veteran from the World War 2 when he got involved the most notable battle: The North African Campaign, The Allied Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of Monte Casino. After the war, he decided to begin his new life as an actor. He showed us his remarkable talents to portray the villains in the cinema and he never had the thought to retire his career, even though he was now old.
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, thank you, I repeat, thank you SO MUCH for being with us. We're gonna miss you and we'll never forget you after what you've done. Farewell and God bless you.
Rest In Peace (1922 – 2015)
Well, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please send a review, favorite and follow; also share to your friends and your family, if they watch anime lol. That will help me to keep doing my work because I see this has the potential of being the popular fanfic I ever wrote ;)
Have a good day everyone.
Atte: FrancisVamp0822