So…it's been 3 holidays. So, for starters, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

I took some time off from writing because I had a small burnout and briefly considered writing for another story to try and help with that. I'm not sure if that story will ever see the light of day, but it did get some brain juices flowing for me.

Also, I had to deal with multiple personal problems in my life. So, frankly, it was a real busy time for me. It still is, actually.

Regardless, I've returned for now with another chapter for you all. I know it's not as long as usual but I've decided to rethink my approaches to my chapter lengths. I'd rather not drag things out for length, thus sacrificing quality.

I do wanna clear some things up from the last chapter, ie Chapter 73. Adelaide, Vali, and Issei were all virgins prior to Chapter 73. Adelaide did have adult toys but not the kind that would cancel her virgin status, lol.

Now, without further ado, please enjoy the story.


Chapter 74: Three Operations

The Trio had spent a good chunk of time roaming around till the Second Atlantean Key pointed them to one of the worst outcomes possible.

"Are you shitting me?" Issei blankly stared at what was in front of him.

"Gonna be hard to sneak it out of there and not get seen." Vali grumbled.

The Second Atlantean Key was telling them to go into the Hermitage Museum.

"No other choice but to go in." Adelaide sighed as she urged the other two in.

Issei had to discreetly hold the Key, walking around as it wished. Its light pulsated stronger as Issei went further into the Museum.

"Please be in storage. Please be in storage." He muttered under his breath.

To his chagrin, the Third Atlantean Key was in a glass display.

"The Key of the Motherland." Vali read the display's info board.

"Long ago, a king of our motherland found this key, proclaiming that it be safeguarded. One day, the Key will be used to save our motherland but until then, it is to be kept safe. The King swore that the heavens told him to never let it be stolen or disappear. Should the Key be lost, fire shall rain and lightning shall shatter the soil of our home." True to the board's urging, guards kept vigilant eyes on the Key.

"We need a distraction." Vali counted twelve very armed guards and half a dozen cameras.

"For something considered superstition, they sure are uptight about the Key." Adelaide muttered under her breath.

"You are too close!" A guard stepped forward as Issei advanced.

He bowed.

"Aporogies. My bahd. My Russian bahad. Dohon't undustanduh." He used the thickest accent possible.

The Guard didn't seem sure how to handle him, so he merely pointed his gun until Issei stepped back. Vali and Adelaide stared at him, appalled that he had the audacity to play the stereotype card.

"There doesn't seem to be any enchantments around the Key. We just need to get people outta here so we have time to get it."

"I can knock out the cameras. We just need the Guards to run off."

"Fire alarms?" Adelaide then grimaced at the lack of one that wasn't locked.

"Goodness, there're cameras everywhere." Vali groaned.

Issei sighed.

"Good thing we're using disguises. Follow my lead. Adelaide, be ready to move. I'm gonna cause a distraction. When the guards are all on me, nab the key after you knock out the cameras."

He walked toward the entrance, prepared to be arrested again.

When he was sure that almost everyone had their eyes on him, Issei whistled so loudly that he echoed through the halls. He was met with so many disapproving stares that Issei felt like the air was rumbling. A guard then walked over, but an old lady got to him first.

"Young man, do not do that again." She sternly scolded him.

Issei pretended to sneeze, only to whistle even louder. He made the most exaggerated jump, tossing money around into the air.

"Everything has a price!" Issei started yelling in Russian. He didn't even think of what to say. He was just using stereotypes and lines from movies.

He grabbed money from his pockets, waving them around in the air, his feet squeaking loudly as he pretended to slip backwards…right into a fire alarm.

"Sir, please stop whistling, screaming, and waving money in the air." A guard came over, looking very displeased but remained polite.

"My name is John Wick!" He bellowed as he dramatically shook his hand into the air before pretending to faint.

As he did, he pulled the switch to the fire alarm, causing panic in the museum.

It was like Black Friday when a horde of visitors came flooding to the exits and entrances.

"Everyone, please re-bugh!" A guard tried to restore order, only to get dragged off by the sea of panic and out the doors.

Vali snapped her fingers, sending out a pulse of magic that knocked out all the cameras as Adelaide broke through the glass, grabbing the Third Atlantean Key.

"Let's grab our wacko and get outta here." Adelaide and Vali spotted him outside, still being carried away.

This time, Issei really was panicking.

"SAVE ME!" He shrieked as the crowd of tourists still charged out, pushing him away like a massive tide.


It took a good bit of time, but the twins managed to save Issei and return to the Bastion.

"That was surprisingly easy." Issei laughed as he nursed a busted lip.

"I think it'd be a good idea for us not to go to Russia for a long time." Adelaide sipped some coffee.

"Welcome to my world, girl. This was almost normal when around him." Vali giggled, remembering Issei's old antics.

"Hey, I get the job done, alright. I just don't succeed at stealth."

"I want you to know that if you get arrested again, you're not getting bailed out." Vali poked his side.

"Only one key left." Issei ignored her, rushing to get the last coordinate in for the final key to Atlantis.

"How many times has he been arrested?"

"About five and counting." Vali whispered back to Adelaide.

"Course planned. Destination: The Moon."

Issei had to blink twice, wondering if all the stress had caused him to hallucinate.

"Computer, did you just say The Moon?"

"Yes. The signal permeating from Three Keys are resonating with a signal from the Moon that matches the same wave type and frequency."

"Computer…can you travel to space?" He drummed his fingers, anxious.

"Yes. The ship is capable of teleporting to the Moon or pushing past the Earth's atmosphere."

"I did some reading and I've been practicing a spell that'll help us breathe in space."

"Wait, we can't breathe in space?" Issei had to doubletake.

"No one's really tried." Vali shrugged.

Issei sat still, debating with himself. It would be quicker to teleport to the Moon but that would potentially alert the Alliance and the Novella Caelum to their presence and their mission. Even so, they'd be spotted trying to break into space.

"We'll teleport there. We might get luckier that way. If we try and fly to the moon, someone's going to spot us. Either way, we're gonna get followed eventually." Adelaide spoke up.

"We've been training tons on top of looking for the Keys and learning from the Atlantean Archives." Vali hoped to reassure Issei about their chances in a fight.

Issei sat for minutes, hoping that what he was going to do would be the best decision.

"Alright…we'll teleport."

"Then we'd better prep and keep training." Vali cracked her knuckles.


Cleaning up after Issei's nuclear escape was an understatement. A ripple effect had shaken the Alliance to its core.

At the moment, the Vali Team was taking refuge with Sun Wukong, who refused to allow anyone else to have custody of the Young Devils. They sat in a Living Room in Wukong's home, unwinding from a day of missions and investigations.

"Day in and day out, it's the same thing. What do they want?" Kuroka's question was rhetorical.

The Alliance wanted more excuses to go after Issei, Vali, and Adelaide.

"They can't have just done all that for no reason. Issei isn't the kind of person to just nuke a place and run off."

"What if it wasn't Issei? What if Bahamut took control?" Akeno wondered.

"He was way too calm and in character to be Bahamut. Issei told us stories of how much of a raging maniac Bahamut is. He was in the heart of godly territory and could've done far worse."

"What I want to know is if he was in control. Issei could've grabbed them and left. Instead, he blitzed the entire area in a rage before running off."

That wasn't something they couldn't answer on their own.

"Rather than standing around and asking the same questions over and over, we should focus on what we're going to do." Rias sighed as she set her tea down.

Several of the peerage members had been pacing, asking why in all ways possible. It was getting stale.

"Anything?" Arthur looked at Jeanne.

"Nothing. My power of prophecy isn't showing me anything. It's like something's blocking me." Her [Sainted Soul] ability was clouded, unable to divine anything related to anyone in the room.

"This is bull. We're all forced to sit around and wait while the world goes to shit around us." Bikou paced back and forth.

"What if Issei intentionally did all this?" Regulus' thoughts broke the boiling atmosphere.

"What possessed you to say that?" Kuroka's brow ticked. She knew Vali and Issei well. Neither of them would ever cause so much destruction for the hell of it. She was getting tired of repeating that.

"I've lived a long time. Even the most righteous people can be turned. The vices of love can turn the most stalwart hero into a puppet."

"Regulus, enough." Sairaorg silenced his Sacred Gear.

He'd given events some thought. Everything that had happened had been a product of factors boiling into an explosion while emotions were at an all-time high. Issei probably did lash out in rage but only through the machinations of Enki, who'd lined up events to give himself excuses.

Up till this point, the Alliance had interrogated them for any information they may have had. Perhaps it was due to Wukong, Buddha, and Hades' influence that they were still safe.

Wukong was notorious as the 'Fighting Buddha'. Buddha had a massive following with otherworldly powers. Hades was considered the eldest of the Olympians, and it was rumored that Zeus only had the Throne of Olympus due to his actions against their father Kronos and Hades lack of desire for power. It was actually whispered that Hades was far more powerful than Zeus was aware of.

It was then that Sun Wukong entered the room.

"Still no word?" Kuroka twirled a lock of her hair around her finger.

"None. Odin was considered to be put on the chopping block but there's lack of evidence." Wukong puffed his pipe.

"Gramps, how long are we gonna stay cooped up in here? We've gotta take some action." Bikou was growing frustrated with the lack of action as of late. The truth was out there but nobody was reaching for it.

"Hush…" Wukong had grown tired of Bikou's constant demands for action.

The moment he took off his glasses, the boy went silent.

"Don't be naïve. The enemy has infiltrated our ranks and we don't know for how long. They've already gained a following. Our greatest friends could be our worst enemies. Buddha is spending restless days searching out the traitors. Vishnu is keeping Indra and Shiva on leashes lest they cause more chaos. Hades is keeping Ares in line. We're on the brink of civil war on top of fighting a radical movement that's been waiting for this chance. We're losing territory and they've declared open war, even attacking Asgard. Now isn't the time for careless action." Wukong had to summarize their situation, hoping to beat it into Bikou's head to cease reckless action.

"That's not the only thing bothering you, is it?" Jeanne gripped her dress.

Wukong tossed his shades away, rubbing his eyes.

"Things are only gonna get worse. Rizevim has gone missing along with the rest of his family."

"What?!"

"The nurses entered his room to find his body gone. Ezagyra and the others have vanished too. Azazel is nowhere to be found, either. Odin's also gone into hiding. The other gods are too occupied pointing fingers at each other and grabbing at power. We've gotta come up with a plan."

"Is that why you gathered all of us?" Rias asked.

"Right now, you have a tiny bit of autonomy. The Alliance can't order you around without clearance from Hades, Buddha, Vishnu, and myself. We need to uncover what else Enki is planning and the real circumstances behind what caused Adelaide to attack. Enki's hidden his agenda well, with only word of mouth to argue against him." Wukong put more herbs into his pipe, lighting it with his finger.

"So, we've gotta sneak into his place and snag evidence." Kuroko tried to guess his plan.

"Pretty much. However, Enki is a god and a heavily backed one. There needs to be enough of a distraction to keep his attention away from your activities. I wouldn't be surprised if he's trying to get in here and listen to us. What he wants is-"

"Issei, Vali, and Adelaide." Sairaorg facepalmed in shame. He hadn't listened at that time when he should've. Perhaps he'd made things worse.

"They weren't lying. All these events have made it clear. The same trick that was used on us gods of the old era. We were lulled into vulnerability and then our enemies struck, weakening us overall to go in for the kill. You younglings have finally tasted real betrayal. They took Rizevim out of the picture and then went after the nuclear deterrents on our side. That's why the Novella Caelum got bold."

"So you're saying Enki's with the Novella Caelum?" Sona asked.

"That's what we need to find out. I suspect otherwise. Enki has too much pride to just kick up with the people he helped destroy in the past. No, I think Enki's faction is doing their own thing."

"Then let's get to work." Arthur knew that Issei and Vali weren't the kind to do something so extreme for no reason. Their escape was also the first time he'd seen Issei seething with so much intensity.

"Enki's Palace is heavily guarded with creatures from his homeland. Getting in won't be easy. In my past visits, he regularly shifts intervals for his guards, who're always patrolling. The best time to infiltrate is at three in the morning. It'll be between the times the morning and evening guards change posts. Enki will also be resting around that time." Wukong rolled out a map, marking it as he talked.

"The problem is going to be how we avoid detection when getting close and while we're inside." Arthur looked around the table, considering who had the best stealth.

"Our knights will be the best options. Speed and stealth are the winning factors." Sona grabbed a pen and paper, putting together a list of candidates.

"We still need more than just speed and skill to sneak around. Enki will surely sense intruders. Who knows how many other gods will be in there." Rias chimed in as she looked over a list of items she kept for missions like this.

"That's where I'll come in. I can craft talismans that will shield you from the eyes of even gods. However, they're not permanent. All guesswork and evidence considered, you'll only have two hours. Once inside, we cannot communicate with you and vice versa. Here are the quickest paths to where Enki keeps his records." Wukong drew glowing lines on the map with his finger.

"Enki wouldn't be dumb enough to keep all his secrets in one place." Bikou thought it was crazy to gamble only on one place.

"Of course he wouldn't. That's why there'll be two groups. One will take all the information they can that Enki has. The other will look for evidence for us to use against him. Enki is meticulous and will most likely keep his darkest secrets close to him. His quarters will be a safe place to start."

"Won't he be sleeping in there?" Rias looked at Wukong as if he'd lost his mind.

"He won't be. I'll be arranging a meeting with him to discuss how to search for the missing trio. I'm going to toss out fake locations for him to search. I also want to see what he's thinking. In that time, you search his chambers. Still, he'll have security in place. I can't stress enough about how careful you all need to be."

"The weakest spot in the barrier around his palace is at the Northeast wall. Once you break in, you'll have to do as we planned and split up and look for evidence. I can only distract him for two hours at most. Your escape will have to be back where you got in. Most of all, if you're seen, then it might be game over for all of us."

There was a silent but noticeable gulp around the room. The stakes were higher than ever. They were dealing with direct confrontation with gods, a feat no one had ever accomplished in ages. They didn't have Vali to guide them and Issei wasn't there to force their way out of a problem.

"Once you've rendezvoused, come back here." Wukong took one last puff of his pipe.

"There's no room for error, everyone. Just like we've just said, we need to be silent, precise, and quick. I've rounded up the best candidates to go and the team makeup." Sona put her sheet on the table.

"The first group will be Reya Kusaka, Kuisha Abaddon, Bikou, and Kuroka. They'll look for information on Enki's plans. The second group will consist of Sairaorg, Arthur, Rias, and myself."

"The rest of you will be on standby. If we get captured, follow these directions." Sona set down several envelopes onto the table.

"Why are there so few going? We're just as involved." Lefay protested.

"You all need to remain here in case we need an alibi. Not only that, but your skillsets aren't suited for infiltration and stealth. We all have a connection to the missing trio but we need to set that aside and focus on the mission so that we can succeed." Sona's reply was logical but she made no effort to hide just how much she sympathized with Lefay.

"I will prepare the talismans for your mission. Once they're ready, wait for contact from me before moving out. Remember, all of our necks are on the line. No screw ups." Wukong stamped his staff onto the ground for emphasis.

While the Monkey King prepped their items, the Young Devils all waited silently. They could feel pins prodding them with anxiety the entire time. The odds were high and one small mistake could cost them everything. Saying they were scared stiff was like saying the sun was warm.

A majority of the Young Devils knew that Issei and Vali were innocent. The problem was whether or not the destruction they left behind was willingly done.

"You okay?" Kuisha held Sairaorg's hand.

"No. We've done all sorts of scary things but this tops everything." Deities didn't really have positive records. Sairaorg shivered to think of what would happen if they got caught.

"I know, but we've gotta do this."

Kuisha saw the doubtful expression on her lover's face.

"That's not all, is there?"

"I'm wondering how they are. I've had time to calm down and deep down, I believe they're innocent. I'm just scared of being proven wrong. If they're innocent, I'm not sure how I'll make it up to them."

Kuisha merely smiled faintly. She pressed her hand over his heart.

"Ever since I've known you, you've followed this. You've never been steered wrong and you never steered us wrong. I believe in you." Kuisha leaned her head against his.

Sairaorg was thankful he'd woken up to his feelings for Kuisha. When he was with Vali, life was fun and energetic but it was Kuisha who brought a soothing air to his fiery soul.

"I hope they're okay, wherever they are." Sairaorg knew that being hounded by an entire collected group of gods wasn't something anyone would want.


Everyone prepared for their mission in their own ways. Rias procured a private bulk of Phoenix Tears while Sona gathered all the information her network could get on the weaknesses and strengths of people associated with Enki. The others warmed up, trained, and slept, and when the time came, they'd all done everything they could to be ready.

"Begin." Wukong had called them two hours after departing to begin his meeting with Enki.

(Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood OST – Master Assassin. Play Song.)

Enki's palace was akin to the ruins found in ancient Mesopotamia. Stone structures stood tall with angular and square designs. The palace was surrounded by several buildings, all of them heavily guarded.

True to Wukong's warnings, there was a barrier to keep intruders out. Sona placed a talisman on the barrier, melting an entrance into Enki's Palace. Once they'd found a hidden area to review the map, Sona began relaying their plan.

"As we all agreed, my team will look for evidence on the Trio's matter. The other team looks for future plans by Enki."

Without another word, the teams split up.

Sona's team snaked through the backstreets of Enki's home, avoiding the noses and eyes of guards and creatures. Thanks to Kuroka's magic, their scent was nullified and their shadows were suppressed from sight.

The moment they entered Enki's Palace, they felt newfound danger wash over them.

"Be on your guard for traps in all places." Sona whispered behind her.

She'd trained herself to have an eye for traps but she knew better than to be complacent. They all spread their wings while Arthur used Caliburn to float, avoiding any trap steps.

"Wait." Sona then paused in midair. She spotted something odd. There were heatwaves vibrating up ahead. Heatwaves with no source at night? That was impossible. Sona threw magical dust ahead, causing floating magic symbols to slightly appear. She was glad she'd thought to bring some in case there were hidden traps like these.

"That's a no-go up ahead. We need to circle around." Sona looked around the hallways as she consulted the map.

"We're on the ground floor while Enki's room is at the top. We can't risk flying up in case there're traps." Sona muttered to herself.

The team continued to zip around corridors to try and find some path up. Almost every other turn was a catastrophe waiting to happen.

"Guards!" Rias pulled the others aside as armored soldiers walked by.

"Don't forget to check the alarms. Lord Enki will be away for several hours, making this the ideal time for assassins and spies."

"When will Lord Enki return?"

"Who knows. It's only been a 15 minutes since he left. Make sure to double the guards around his chambers."

"If that's the case, I'll head there."

Sona debated whether to follow him or not. Would he help them navigate through all the traps and alarms or would he be leading them into bigger consequences?

"Let's keep to the map. Who knows what following a guard might cause." Rias saw the look on her friend's face and knew she needed another head to think with.

And so, the quartet continued on their way as Wukong's map directed. Thanks to Sairaorg's ki sensing ability, he also helped them avoid guards who could've surprised them.

When they arrived in front of Enki's room, Sona scoured every nook and cranny around the doors and halls.

"I can't see any traps. Let's open the door." She formed some water in her hands and hardened it into ice in the keyhole while Rias used her Power of Destruction to undo any seals protecting it.

(Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood OST – Master Assassin. End Song.)

As Arthur shut the door behind him, they quietly frenzied through Enki's room. It was grand like an emperors. A throne was at the end of the room with a massive bed of golden sheets on the other side. Desks, shelves of books, and priceless artifacts were neatly lined around the room, with a clear view of the sky being given from the walk-on balcony.

"Nothing. Just old documents and history." Sairaorg growled.

"Keep looking." Sona also felt dismayed but she refused to give up.

That was when she heard a strange clack. She looked at where she stepped on at the foot of Enki's bed. There was a loose tile on the floor, which had one of his bed legs on it. She tried to pry it out, only for a magic rune to glue it to the floor. She recognized the rune and the spell it entailed.

"Probably need Enki's touch to get it out." Rias looked to Arthur and Sairaorg, who lifted it off.

"Damn it. Should we change plans?" Rias asked.

Sona remained silent, trying to think of a solution. They were possibly on the cusp of a breakthrough but Enki had an almost infallible security measure. The keyword was 'almost'.

"No, I think we can trick the spell."

"Trick a spell? This isn't like technology. We can't hack or short circuit this." Sairaorg was no expert at magic but he was certain that they couldn't take an approach like that.

"No, I mean we can try other ways. This spell requires a certain person's touch." Sona looked around the room.

She had spent years studying magic theory and spell formulas, outpacing even Vali. If there was one thing she wasn't doing, it was leaving this place empty-handed.

Sona needed something from Enki's very being.

"I need something like a toenail or hair or skin, something that's a piece of Enki."

Rias then had an idea.

"His pillowcase." Rias grabbed said item, spotting a single strand.

Sona put the pillow on top of the brick before lifting it, making sure not a single part of her hand touched the brick.

With the brick free, Sona jumped in fright when the tiles of the floor moved.

"It's a trap!" That was Rias' first guess.

Thankfully, a flight of stairs descended downwards.

"We've got an hour and a half left. Let's be quick."

The quartet made a mad dash down the stairs, making sure to keep everything the way it was before their arrival first.

They passed through a doorway, finding a room full of documents and records.

"Lots of evidence in here." Sairaorg saw lots of brainwashing blueprints and spells neatly organized.

"These are health records for Issei…" Rias quickly looked over a paper full of Issei's health information like blood type and physiology.

"I see a lot of prototypes for tapping into one's mind." Arthur flipped through pages, taking pictures as he did so.

"There's also a formula for dragon suppressant elixirs."

Sairaorg was seething with outrage as he finally understood just how long Enki had been planning all this. He had fallen for these lies so easily and went against his best friend as a result.

Everyone took pictures and tried to copy everything they could, with only one hour left to spare.

"We need to meet up and leave."

Much to their relief, Enki had yet to return.

They returned to the surface, sneaking past legions of guards, jetting towards their exit with the other team.

"And I thought rats were dumb. You didn't think I'd just leave myself so vulnerable, did you?"

The person waiting for them was none other than Enki. Guards came flooding to surround the two teams. Sona's frown deepened as sweat fell down her face. She looked to Arthur to signal him to do as planned if they were caught. He discreetly summoned Caliburn, dipping his hand into the portal it came from to draw the blade.

"Do you really think that box cutter can harm a god?" Enki looked amused that Arthur even had the gall to challenge him.

With a small incantation, the entire group was throttled to the ground by Enki. An invisible force held them down, as if a hand denied them the power to resist.

"You're all indeed strong, but I've had so much time to study all of your strengths and most importantly, your weaknesses. It was naïve of you to think that I didn't prepare for intruders. Regardless, your sneaking around will end here. Your infiltration was the final wedge I needed to put down Wukong's resistance." Enki walked over, snapping his fingers to bind the group with magical chains.

Rias powered up, trying to use her Power of Destruction, with Sairaorg following suit to break free of his bonds.

"It's useless. I prepared those chains for when I find Bahamut and the two women. You're not escaping me." Enki waved his hands, his guards dragging the Young Devils away.

"Everything is going smoother than I'd thought."


Wukong sat by the fireplace, staring at the time. If the infiltration team didn't return on time, then that meant that they'd been captured. Wukong knew that Enki would use this as evidence to persecute him next to remove another obstacle.

"Stressing out?" A chuckle followed the approaching voice.

Odin seated himself in front of Wukong.

"I was wondering what was taking you so long. It looks like the plan failed. We'll have to rescue the kids." Wukong puffed his smoking pipe.

"Enki won't kill them. He needs to keep up appearances. At this point, his word outweighs theirs and he'll trace the operation back to you. For now, we need to locate the missing Trio." Odin stroked his beard, staring into the fire.

"The problem is trying to predict Enki and the Trio. I don't think they're just wandering around aimlessly. They're up to something but they haven't been in contact with anyone we know."

Odin merely chuckled at that.

"They intervened quite splendidly in Asgard. They managed to stop both sides from escalating the situation further. They've been growing stronger. I'm sure they won't be captured easily."

Wukong smiled with relief.

"I see."

"It's relieving to see that you two can smile in our current situation."

Odin and Wukong looked at the doorway. Stepping across the threshold was the Lucifer Family and Azazel.

"How did things turn out on your end?" Odin scoffed.

"Still nothing. Enki covered his tracks too well. As for the Novella Caelum, we've found out that they spotted the Trio on the outskirts of Denmark. Their scouts pursued but lost track of them at sea. There've been suspicions that they're in Russia, given an incident in the news about a missing artifact." Azazel tossed a newspaper on the table.

"How do you even know it's them?" Odin was baffled at how left-field the 'evidence' was.

"Apparently, someone was causing a scene immediately before the artifact at that Russian Museum got stolen. I've known those kids for a long time now. This is exactly something that Issei would do." Rizevim could only chuckle. At least a part of Issei's craziness survived his rebirth.

"Very well. It's best we leave them to whatever it is that they're up to. For now, we've gotta think of a plan to save the kids from Enki. With that said, we'll need to wait for Enki to turn them over to the Alliance to rescue them."

"We can't wait that long!" Ezagyra objected. These were her precious family members they were talking about.

"If we try and infiltrate Enki's palace a second time, then it'll tighten the noose around our necks. Enki isn't stupid enough to torture them because he knows they don't know a thing. The Young Devils are bargaining chips. He's going to force us out there or use them against the Trio. We have no choice but to wait until the right opportunity to get them out."

"You hear that?" Rizevim called over his shoulder.

Lefay ceased hiding from the shadows, looking more anxious than anyone was used to seeing.

"Are they actually going to be okay?" She feared for her brother's fate.

"Yes. Enki may be a maniac, but he's not bloodthirsty. He won't waste his time torturing your brother and friends and he can't kill them. The problem is when and how to get them out. There's also the problem of finding Issei and the other two before the enemies."

"How about we let things unfold?" Azazel suggested.

"What?!" Ileana looked to be two minutes away from slapping him.

"Like the geezers said, we can't grab them impulsively. We need to wait for the right moment. As for your daughter, we don't have a way of tracking them down, so we let the other factions do it for us. We can save both groups at the same time." Azazel's reasoning was sound but no one liked it.

"Azazel has a point. We can't rush in blindly or Enki wins." Rizevim sighed, staring into the fire.

"I hope my baby's okay." Ileana surrendered, staring at her hands.

"She's with Issei. She'll be fine. Vali's a prodigy, even by Lucifer standards. Issei's got the cajonés to do whatever he sets his mind to. We'll find them and we'll make things right." Rizvim put a comforting hand on his daughter-in-law's head.

"Still, I've got a bad feeling about all this." Odin kept reading the newspaper.

"Why?" Ezagyra walked over to glance at the pages.

"The Sun, the Moon, and stars to align in seven days?"

"An alignment? When was this? Why haven't I heard of this before?" Wukong was befuddled.

"Because there probably wasn't any surviving records. Remember, the Abyss retconned a ton of stuff when we all got plugged back into life. It buried secrets This alignment feels way too coincidental to just be out of nowhere. There's too much stuff going on right now for this alignment to be a nice little light show." Azazel stared at the paper, wracking his brain.

"Planets and stars aligning is never a good thing." Rintilr could only try to guess what exactly would happen.

"It's common for fateful days and prophecies to occur on eclipses and planetary alignments. Mystic forces are at their zenith during those times. We can only hope that this will bode well for us."

"Getting reeeeeally tired of things going downhill for us." Rizevim drawled.

"We'll do what we've always done. We'll keep believing." Odin didn't sound too convinced this time. This time, there probably wasn't going to be a reset button for them.


And that's the end of this chapter. Again, I just want to sincerely thank everyone for their support and patience. I know my updates have been erratic as usual, but like I always say, I'd rather not rush getting chapters out. I honestly don't know how long it'll take to finish this story or when the next chapter will come, but I promise to keep doing my best.

As always, until next time and please take care.