~Encounter with a Fallen Angel~
As soon as the classes were over, the two school idols, Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima gathered in a seemingly dark room where the only source of light emanated from three candles on the table, next to the chess table with red and white chess pieces. Rias was sitting on a green sofa, while Akeno and a gray-haired little girl stood next to her. The little girl eyed on a strange man with a pet crow with great interest as he left the compound, knowing that there was something strange about him, but she had no idea what.
"That man. I've never seen him before." Rias frowned as she looked at the chess pieces on the table.
"Me neither. He didn't appear to be a school student, he was wearing regular clothes." Akeno said as she looked up curiously.
"His slightly pale skin puts me on edge though." The gray-haired girl said in dry tone.
"Yes, that is intriguing, considering his handsome face." Rias smiled slightly.
"Oh? I see someone got your attention president." Akeno teased as she giggled cutely.
"Not in that way Akeno, I don't even know his name." Rias smiled, completely aware of her teasing.
"Do you want me to follow him?" The little girl asked.
"There's no need. I have a feeling that he will arrive again tomorrow, i doubt that will be the first and the last time we see him." Rias said before she picked up a pawn piece from the chess table. "Now, what about the boy?"
"It seems you were right about him." The little girl said.
"So what's next? What do we do with him now?" Akeno asked curiously.
"We need to make preparations immediately, that's all we can do at this point. Everything else depends on him." Rias smirked as she placed the pawn piece back on the table.
Death has a good lead so far, at least he thinks so. The only confusing part is that he can't say for sure that those two girls are demons. Their physical, alluring features would usually be a dead giveaway that they were demons, more specifically the succubi, but they don't radiate with a malicious aura like they usually do, even with their disguises. And that fact has been confirmed when that redhead locked her eyes on his without the slightest sight of fear of discovery. The only thing he was definitely sure is that those two are not human, especially with the abnormal powers they both possess, at least by human standards.
Either way, before he can take any course of action, he needs more information on those two, for only knowing their names isn't enough. And who else to currently ask but Vulgrim, a demon that will do whatever it takes to get his fee, be it coin or preferably a soul. Death bet that demon stayed on Earth for too long. There were many times where he was on the verge to kill that demon, merchant or not, but only because he proved to be useful more than once did he spared him and for that purpose alone.
As the sun sets on the horizon, Death returned to the hidden location where Vulgrim's shop resides. As soon as he was near, Vulgrim popped from the glyph.
"Yes?" Vulgrim grinned expectantly.
Death said nothing as Dust flew in front of Vulgrim. The demon merchant raised his hand for Dust to perch on and the crow showed mental image of faces of Rias and Akeno. After that, Dust returned back to Death's right shoulder.
"A fine specimens." Vulgrim said before he giggled darkly. "I thought the horsemen were above such… earthly pursuits." He grinned.
"I need information of those two, they are probably the demons I'm looking for. Other than yourself." Death said strictly.
"It will be done. Expect information on those two females by tomorrow morning." Vulgrim bowed before he submerged inside his glyph. With nothing else to do, Death climbed above the hidden crevice and leaned on the tree.
As the night fell and with no human on sight, he removed his disguise as he sometimes felt like it was suffocating him, deciding only to use it on broad daylight and when he is walking among the humans. As he was leaning at the tree, he looked at the city lit with streetlights and lights from every house. It's quite a boon that the horsemen do not have to deal with trivial commodities like lack of food, drink or sleep, especially Death. For twenty four hours straight he is fully ready for whatever dangers both day and night will spawn, though sometimes it can be dreadfully boring just sitting around waiting for a new day to rise.
The next morning, Death jumped down from the tree he was leaning on and landed right in front of Vulgrim's hideout. When he did, Vulgrim himself appeared at the appointed hour.
"Report, demon." Death said strictly.
Vulgrim remained quiet as he waited for the obvious: payment. Death rolled his eyes and groaned slightly in annoyance as he tossed to Vulgrim another small pouch of gold for his efforts, which the demon immediately caught with a satisfied grin on his face.
"The redhead girl you saw is named Rias Gremory, the next head of the House of Gremory, who are a part of the devil society. She has an older brother named Sirzechs Lucifer, who is the leader of the devils." Vulgrim explained.
"What treachery is this? Samael is the next in line when the Dark Prince passes away." Death frowned seriously.
"Oh but he is. In recent centuries, some of the demons defected from their 'barbarous ways' and formed their own, more 'civilized society', with Sirzechs Lucifer as their leader." Vulgrim explained, mocking their hypocritical remarks on their own kind.
"That 'devil' is digging his own grave if he is foolish enough to have that last name. Even so, they are still trying to manipulate the humans. And that is all the reason I need to kill them." Death frowned seriously as he looked towards the town.
"There is another force that you might find interesting, and it has something to do with the black haired female." Vulgrim said. Death raised his eyebrow beneath his mask as he turned sideways towards the demon. "She is named Akeno Himejima, born from the union of a human and a fallen angel."
"A fallen angel?" Death said curiously.
"Yes. And with her heritage, she also possesses exceptional skills with thunder and lightning, hence the title Priestess of Thunder." Vulgrim explained.
"A bastard child no doubt. Thought it wouldn't be farfetched if those renegades reside in this city as well." Death said as he turned towards the town below.
"Indeed. And most likely brewing something sinister for the humans, even as we speak." Vulgrim said shrewdly.
"Not for long." Death said coldly as he put on his human disguise and was about to depart.
"Before you leave, there is one more thing that you need to know. The Gremory girl, along with her brother are very proficient in the Power of Destruction. Long story short, they are not to be taken lightly horseman. I would keep your guard up, if I were you." Vulgrim warned.
"Thanks for the warning." Death said, his eyes still fixed on the city before he departed, all too aware that Vulgrim only said that so he wouldn't lose his 'most valuable customer' as he once pointed out.
Later that day, Death was nearing the school grounds of Kuoh Academy. Although he enforced the Council's will of human only policy on Earth ever since the pact was made, Death was certainly not known for mindless killing. When he thought about it, he knew that Rias Gremory may offer valuable information, so killing her outright will get him nowhere, especially now. He needs to know the reason of them foolishly settling among the humans before he could carry out his sentence on the devils. And to reach this Sirzechs Lucifer, he will need to convince Rias to take him to him. If she doesn't comply, he will kill her and her friend without hesitation. That would be two trespassers down out of several who hide in this town. But as always, he will cross that bridge when he gets to it.
When Death entered the school grounds, he began searching for the two girls. As he monitored his surroundings, he tried to detect other demons and possibly angels amidst their ranks. But so far he found nothing, aside from multitude of fangirls who annoy him all the way to the Abyss. But he kept his cool as he decided to ignore them and focus on Rias and Akeno.
"Looking for someone sir?" A person suddenly asked from Death's right. The rider then noticed a petite girl with glasses, violet eyes and short black hair, who had a strict look on her face. He also noticed another girl with glasses behind her, but taller and with long, straight black hair.
"May I ask who you are? Judging from your clothing, you are not the student of this institution." The girl said formally.
Death didn't flinch in the slightest from her glare, his own ghouls can make a far more threatening face than her. However, he did overlook at how he's going to name himself while on Earth. After quick thinking, he came up immediately with a name.
"I am Damian. Damian Rider." Death said, with Damian now being his alias while on Earth.
"Well, Mr. Rider, my name is Sona Shitori, I'm the School Council president and it's my duty to supervise the student activities in this academy. You on the other hand are not a student, so I will ask again. Are you looking for someone?" Sona asked strictly, but as always, Death never lost his cool.
"I am looking for Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. Where can I find them?" Death asked simply.
"What business do you have with them?" Sona asked.
"None of your concern." Death said coldly, but Sona will not back down so easily.
"They are the school students as well, so they are my concern. Are you here to cause trouble Mr. Rider?" Sona asked strictly. And yet, for some reason, a nauseating sense of dread is surging in her entire being, growing more intense the longer she locked her gaze with this man's eyes. It's almost as if he's piercing her very soul with that icy stare.
"No. I merely wish to speak with them." Death said in slightly polite tone, as polite as it can get from the Reaper.
"They will be informed of your arrival, Mr. Rider. For now, I would ask you to wait at the school entrance, we have a strict policy for non-students." Sona said.
"Very well." Death nodded before he turned right and went back to the entrance.
As soon as he departed, Sona now had a slightly nervous look on her face as she gazed at the man's broad back, with even a drop of sweat sliding down her right cheek.
"President? What's the matter? You seem a little troubled." The vice-president known as Tsubaki Shinra asked in slightly concerned tone.
"It's nothing Tsubaki. Come, we still have work to do." Sona said as she readjusted her glasses, quickly retaining her serious attitude before she turned around and went inside the building.
But Tsubaki was not convinced, because this is the first time that she saw Sona troubled, more so than usual. She might be wrong, but in those few moments before Damian departed, she seemed… scared. In either case, Sona didn't appear like she wanted to be questioned right now, so Tsubaki slowly caught up with her.
In all honesty, Death was glad he had to wait outside, otherwise he might do something he will regret later if he were to jump on these annoying fangirls that keep squealing girlishly for some reason. As if that wasn't enough, he heard three boys in the distance whining about boobs and what not and cursing him for gaining so much attention. Thank the Creator that it didn't take long for him to reach the school entrance.
"Dust, search the area, see if you can find those two." Death ordered. Dust squawked once in response before he flew up.
As it did, Death's attention returned to the school building, remembering his short conversation with Sona. Something seemed off about that girl as well, the same feeling that he had with Rias and Akeno when he first encountered them. Could she be a devil as well, along with the long haired girl Tsubaki? Even if it's so, it's the problem that will wait for another time. Right now, instead of tearing one leaf of the problem at the time, he plans to go for the root instead, that root being Rias' brother, Sirzechs Lucifer.
As the crow flew up and surveyed the school grounds, he soon perched near the window as he found a class where Rias and Akeno belong. During the class, Rias was lost in thought at when she will meet that handsome man again. But when she looked at the window, she saw a familiar crow glancing left and right before it flew away. Rias smiled as she recognized the crow to be the same one that was perched on the man's shoulder when she looked at him. Now she can't wait for the recess so she can go and meet him in person.
It was 2:45 PM and the school recess finally arrived. Rias and Akeno walked together to see if they can find the man in question, but not before they were stopped by Sona and Tsubaki.
"Rias, wait a minute." Sona said seriously.
"Oh, hi Sona." Rias smiled.
"There is a man named Damian Rider who wishes to see you and Akeno. He is waiting for you outside the school gates." Sona said seriously before Rias looked outside from the exit curiously. From the distance she can see the man that is Damian leaning on the wall with folded arms.
"Damian Rider. So that's his name." Rias smiled.
"I would be careful if I were you, that guy spells trouble." Sona warned.
"Don't worry Sona. If he were to indeed cause trouble, Akeno and I will handle him no problem." Rias smirked before she went outside, with Akeno following suit.
"For some reason, I seriously doubt that." Sona said to herself as she fixed her gaze on Damian, who still had his eyes closed. And if that sense of dread that washed over her previously was of any indication, her doubts might be justified indeed.
"Damian Rider?" Rias said as she closed in with Akeno, prompting for Death to open his eyes and turn towards the two girls.
"Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. You two have quite a reputation in this academy." Death said, hiding his cruel demeanor with a fake smile.
"Indeed we do. What do we owe the honor of your visit?" Rias smiled, acting like a mature woman as she concealed the girlish excitement to finally meet him.
"I have certain matters that I wish to discuss with you both in private. If it poses no complications." Death said.
"Not at all. Can we at least know what is it about?" Rias smirked, now being a little more cautious, surprisingly.
"You will know soon enough. Meet me with your friend here after you are done with your daily obligations." Death frowned slightly with a faint smirk.
"Oh, a mystery man. I like him already." Akeno smiled seductively.
"Sorry Damian, but I have important matters waiting for me after school, so I'm afraid I don't have the time to be playing mind games." Rias smirked, trying to play miss hard to win as she turned around and about to walk away, followed by Akeno.
"I'm sure a devil like you will manage… Rias." Death said in serious and grim tone as he turned his back and left.
The smiles in faces of Rias and Akeno disappeared and were replaced with shock and surprise as their eyes went wide open. Then they frowned seriously as they turned around to find Damian departing with his hands in his pockets, with his crow squawking as it perched on his right shoulder.
"How does he know that you're a devil?" Akeno asked seriously.
"I have no idea. Maybe Sona is right about him." Rias said seriously.
"Let's not jump to conclusions just yet. We will hear what he has to say and then see how we will deal with him." Akeno said cautiously.
"Agreed. Let's go." Rias said seriously as she turned around and walked back inside the school grounds, followed by Akeno.
Her opinion on Damian has certainly changed after that little encounter. She had this feeling near the end of their conversation that something seemed off about him, but the moment he regarded her as a devil confirmed her suspicions, which only puts her on edge. However, he didn't appear to be a typical, arrogant grunt she can shrug off, but something far, far more dangerous. But what he exactly was, she had no idea at the moment.
The sun was yet again setting on the horizon and hues of orange and red colored the sky. During that time, Death walked around the city so the time might pass quicker, but he was quickly bored of it and he was sitting on a fountain while the water continuously sprayed behind him.
"I sure had fun today."
"Yeah, this was the best date ever."
Death heard two young voices behind him. When he turned around from his sitting position and tilted to the left, he found a boy and a girl seemingly having a fun time. Death immediately sighed slightly as he was preparing to leave. He guessed the next thing that will follow is a lot of slurping, and that's something that annoys him more than girlish squealing.
"Would you die for me?"
It was those words that prompted the Rider to stop and frown seriously. He glanced behind him before he immediately darted in the woods surrounding them while the two were distracted. Judging the voice who made that threat was female, he immediately locked his target on the girl standing in front of the boy as he crouched behind the bushes, waiting for his moment to strike.
"What'd you say? Sorry, something must be wrong with my ears, I don't think I heard you correctly. Could you maybe say that one more time please?" The boy laughed nervously, her rather morbid question really throwing him off his loop. But the girl casually walked up to him and leaned her head close to his ear.
"I want you to die for me." The girl said before she laughed as she finally ditched her sweet, innocent girl farce as her clothes exploded.
While the boy was distracted with naked body and her large breasts, he remained oblivious to his demise as his surroundings turned purple-black. Death on the other hand, readied his scythes for battle, albeit a very brief one. The girl finished her transformation as dark wings and awkwardly tight suit formed from her body, with the boy plopping down as his legs gave in from pure shock and terror.
"A fallen angel." Death frowned grimly.
"I have to admit, I did had some fun today masquerading as an innocent lovey-dovey. Considering how naïve and childish you are, things could have been much, much worse." The fallen angel mocked as she slowly hovered in the air before looking at the pink bracelet in her left wrist. "Thanks a lot for the gift too, very sweet. But, even so…" The fallen angel grinned wickedly as she conjured a crimson light spear.
"Yuma, wait! Please!" The boy pleaded, but his words fell on deaf ears.
"It's time to die!" Yuma said as she threw her light spear at the poor boy.
Death had enough as he charged at almost blinding speed. Much to Yuma's surprise, the spear didn't impale, but it actually exploded in cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared, she found a man raising his double scythes in front of him to block the attack.
"What?! Who are you supposed to be?!" Yuma shouted in outrage.
"Your end." Death said grimly while a purple, soul-like aura enveloped him as he shed his disguise, revealing his true self. The fallen angel looked at the rider in absolute horror as she now faced against the most dangerous being in all of Creation.
"No… no, it… can't be. It's… the Reaper!" Yuma screeched in absolute horror as the pale rider crouched low and held his twin scythes in reverse grips. As for the boy behind him, he was slowly crawling backwards away from whatever just appeared in front of him and Yuma, and stopped when he hit the tree, his body now paralyzed in pure fear.
Even though fallen angel's entire body trembled in fear, she growled in anger and desperation. If she were to die, then she won't go down without a fight, as one sided as it is right now. She then launched a light spear at the rider, but Death nimbly jumped backward and dashed sideways. Yuma continued to fire the light spears, but Death rolled and used his Death Grip to pull her towards himself. After he pulled her down, he jumped in the air and sliced her wings mid-air with a single slash from both of his scythes, making the fallen angel scream in agony before she crashed into the ground, with Death landing soon after. As the Reaper stood upward, his scythes still in reverse grip, he instinctively dodged the incoming attack in place, a projectile that didn't come from Yuma. Death looked up as three more fallen angels entered the fray.
"Reinforcements, huh?" Death said to himself as he continued to dodge their light spears.
"Raynare, get your ass out of there, now!" A man in coat and hat urged.
"Raynare?" The frightened boy said as he looked at the busty fallen angel that he dated with today.
"No sweat, we'll take care of this freak." The blonde girl said as the three fallen angels engaged the pale rider.
"What the hell are you doing?! You are all doing to die!" Yuma, with her real name revealed to be Raynare, shouted with eyes filled with terror. Unfortunately for the stubborn trio, they were too busy fighting the horseman to hear her grim warning.
But when Raynare glared infernal daggers at the poor boy, he screamed in panic as he started to run away. Before he was rooted in place at outlandish fight that happened in span of seconds, but now he has a good reason to run away.
While Death was occupied with the three fallen angels barraging him with their own light spears, Raynare shouted as she threw a light spear of her own, determined to finish the job. It was only then that Death looked behind him, his eyes going slightly wide as the boy was impaled through the chest, with his lifeless and bloody body falling down on the ground. That enraged Death greatly as he fixed his furious gaze at the three hovering fallen angels, who were laughing from the sadistic kill. As the three fallen angels charged at Death, the pale rider had enough as he sheathed his scythes and used his Harvest ability, with his ethereal Reaper Form cleaving the three fallen angels, Dohnaseek, Mittelt and Kalawarner in a single swipe of its massive weapon, with their cut down bodies slamming down lifelessly. Death then quickly turned his attention to Raynare, pulling out his scythes again, but much to his surprise, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Damn it. She got away." Death cursed himself. "Dust, search for her fast!" He ordered before the crow squawked as it immediately flew in the air.
The rider then heard the boy from the distance puking out blood loudly, still clinging for dear life. He sheathed his weapons and ran towards the boy, quickly coming to his side before he rolled him on his back, kneeling close to him and inspecting his injury.
"Your stomach is split open. All I can do now is end your suffering." Death said grimly.
"F-f-uck." The boy said as he coughed out more blood.
But while the boy was dying, he contemplated on his rather perverted regrets, like not motorboating Raynare's breasts or not losing his virginity. Then he thought about Rias Gremory and her crimson red hair, her color as same as the blood that stained the boy's hand. The more he thought about Rias, even in death his perverted nature surfaced in his mind as he imagined Rias' large, bouncy breasts just screaming to be motorboated.
As Death raised his right scythe to give the boy a merciful passing to the Dead Kingdom, something happened that not even the pale rider expected.
"What?!" Death's eyes went slightly wide in surprise as red glow started to emanate from the boy's pocket.
Then an unknown sheet of paper, which unknown to Death was the flyer that was given to the boy earlier today, glowed red and started to hover in the air. Then it formed into red, glowing, circular symbol that he had never seen before. In a moment's notice, Death stood up in crouching position and unsheathed his left scythe as well in reverse grip, ready for anything that might appear from it. The circle expanded and then started to descend towards the ground, with something, or someone materializing from it. As the figure formed more and more, Death was only slightly surprised to find an awfully familiar person.
"I have come. You're the one who summoned me, are you not?" The woman with crimson hair said with her back turned.
But when she turned around, her serious face was replaced with absolute horror when she found someone she wouldn't expect even in her worst nightmares.
"Gremory." Death growled as his suspicions now became facts. Rias really is a devil.
Rias couldn't believe who she was seeing. She thought the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse were just a myth, a story that her father usually told her to scare her and her brother when they were children during their stay in the Underworld. But seeing one in person, the leader of the Four no less, made her lose all courage as her body trembled in fear, especially when those furious orange eyes were fixed on her horrified sky blue eyes.
"Speak quickly or die quickly." Death threatened in cold and grim voice, feeling as if it pierced Rias' heart a thousand times. She knew now her life was very much in danger and she had to think quickly to save herself first, and by extension the boy's life.
"Please. There is a way for me save him, but only if you let me." Rias said in slightly trembling voice, mixed with fear and determination.
"How?" Death asked in slightly curious tone, though still ready to kill Rias in a moment's notice.
"I need to save him now, he's losing too much blood. Please!" Rias pleaded for dear life.
Death was really tempted to just cleave the devil in two, but one, he needs her to reach her brother, the ruler of the devils. And two, he needed to correct his mistake for being so careless by letting the human die and making the fallen angel escape. After a few moments of intense staredown, Death nodded silently and allowed her to proceed with her plan, whatever it may be. Rias smiled gratefully as she knelt down and pulled out eight pawn pieces.
"Chess pieces?" Death thought in confusion, having no idea what she intends to do with those items.
But it was only after the eight chess pieces were fused in the boy's body did he realize the fact that angered him greatly. She was enslaving the boy. He was indeed brought back to life, but as her servant. Even though Rias sighed in relief, her joy was replaced with even greater horror as Death towered above her with a furious look on his face, only inches away from using his gripped scythes to end her life. It was extremely tempting to do so in that moment, to slice this devil in tiny bits for having the audacity to enslave a human right in front of him. Fortunately for the devil, Death had other plans for the Gremory girl and for that he needs her alive, but it doesn't mean she will walk out of here unharmed.
Far away in the old school building, Akeno was waiting for Rias to come back with two more members of their club called the Occult Research Club. The little, gray-haired girl from before named Koneko Toujou and a male blonde named Kiba Yuuto.
"Where's president Rias? She should have been back by now." Kiba asked worryingly.
"I have no idea. She said she would come back after the resurrection." Akeno said curiously.
But all of them were jumpscared as a limp body rammed through the double doors and slammed on the floor.
"RIAS!" Akeno, Kiba and Koneko shouted in shock and ran immediately to Rias' side.
"Rias? Rias, what happened to you? Who did this to you?" Akeno said worryingly, tears starting to form in her eyes at seeing her best friend bloodied and beaten like that.
"The… the… horseman." Rias said in weak voice.
"Horseman? What is she talking about?" Kiba asked Akeno in a serious tone, angered at the one responsible for brutalizing Rias like this.
But all three of them frowned seriously as someone was approaching from the shadow. Rias' eyes immediately shot open in horror as Death entered the doors.
"What did you do to her, you monster?!" Akeno shouted in fury.
"You're going down." Koneko frowned angrily as she clenched her firsts. Akeno growled angrily as she conjured lightning from her hands, while Kiba readied his sword in rage.
"I guess she possessed their minds, along with their bodies." Death said to himself as he readied his scythes in reverse grip and crouched slightly.
"WAIT!" Rias suddenly shouted, using every ounce of her strength to stand up, but to no avail. "Please… don't… kill them." She pleaded before she plopped down on her stomach, with tears starting to form in her eyes. "I… beg of you. I'll… do anything you need of me. But please… don't hurt them."
Akeno, Kiba and Koneko were shocked to say the least as they looked at their mistress. Such sorrow, hopelessness and desperation in her eyes… This is the side of Rias that they had never seen before, like a small child that was moments away from being torn apart by a pack of wolves. If it was anyone else they wouldn't be nearly as shocked, but this isn't just a random, spineless opponent they faced before. This is Rias. The proud, headstrong, yet kind and gentle Rias, someone who wouldn't yield to any foe, no matter how dangerous they are, is groveling on the floor in her wounded state, actually begging for mercy? And to thing that this masked enemy was the cause of it all made them even more furious.
"The only thing I need from you is to take me to your brother." Death commanded coldly.
"Not before you pay for what you have done!" Kiba said angrily before he dashed towards the rider.
"Kiba, no!" Rias shouted hopelessly as she extended her hand, but it was too late. Death parried his sword with his left scythe and immediately attacked with his right scythe, slicing Kiba's chest from left shoulder to right hip in a swift motion.
"KIBA!" Koneko and Akeno shouted worryingly as Kiba fell down.
He was still alive, but gravely wounded.
Enraged, Koneko also attacked, but the horseman was ready. Death swiped with both of his scythes, but Koneko avoided the attack by backflipping. Just as Koneko landed on her feet after her backflip, Death kicked the little girl hard, sending her slamming onto a wall, leaving a wide crack on it while knocking the breath and consciousness out of her.
"Koneko!" Akeno shouted worryingly as Koneko fell on the ground. She then turned towards Death, not daring to leave Rias' side after his swift and deadly attacks.
"Your move, 'Priestess of Thunder.'" Death taunted as he crouched again with his scythes in reverse grip.
"No! No more! Please!" Rias begged as she slowly got up on her feet. "I'll take you to my brother… but only if you let them live. Please." Rias pleaded desperately with teary eyes, basically all she can do to stop someone like the pale rider. Never in her life had she felt so helpless. Against any threat she would stand tall and fight to the end, but this foe is the most dangerous being in all of Creation, more lethal even than his own brethren. What chance does she have against Death himself?
Death finally ceased his attack as he stood upright. Maybe he overdid a bit in his punishment when he inspected Rias' injuries, but that doesn't mean he regretted pummeling her for her actions, not in the slightest. If it weren't for her relations with Sirzechs, he would have killed her back at the park. But for reasons he voiced to himself and the others at this point, he sheathed his scythes before he looked at Akeno.
"Heal her." Death ordered.
"What?" Akeno asked in surprise.
"I said heal her Himejima." Death said in strict and cold tone.
"But, I don't know how." Akeno said in sad, afraid and reluctant tone after Death's brutal display of strength and skill.
"Yes you do. If the brief displays of these devil children are of any indication, then this isn't the first time that you devils received battle wounds as grievous as the ones they have." Death said as he glanced at incapacitated Kiba and Koneko before looking back at Akeno.
"But i-"
"Just try to lie to me again, and I will not only finish off these two devils, but I won't hesitate to raise them into ghouls and leash them on you Himejima. Not to mention what I would do to their souls when their rotten flesh ceases to animate. So get to it this instant!" Death said impatiently, implying to Kiba and Koneko again.
Akeno nodded quickly in fear, her body quivering a bit before she started taking off her clothes. The sad look on her face makes it appear like she's going to be raped by the Reaper. In truth that's far from it for the horseman, but it's certainly that kind of feeling that Akeno has in her entire being right now.
"What are you doing?" Death asked in slight confusion as Akeno only had her underwear and white shirt on now.
"Healing her." Akeno said reluctantly as she removed her shirt before proceeding to remove her bra.
"And how can taking off your clothes possibly heal her?" Death asked in sarcastic tone.
"It's the part of the process. You'll see." Akeno said, retaining her fearful tone as she removed her bra, her large, luscious breasts now on full display for the rider to see. If it was anyone else they would have been stimulated by such a sight, but not the Reaper.
"Indeed we will. If this turns out to be a waste of time, I'll kill them both, relations be damned." Death thought in annoyance.
Eventually both Akeno and Rias were as naked as newborns. They are really fortunate that Death doesn't share Fury's impatience, otherwise Akeno wouldn't had the chance to remove even one part of her uniform, let alone be completely nude. Now that that tedious part was over, time to see why they bothered to strip themselves bare in the first place. Akeno then hugged Rias, her large breasts melting on her back before her entire body glowed with crimson light, channeling her devil magic into Rias. Death noticed that Rias' lacerated wounds are slowly healing, and she seems to be more responsive the longer Akeno is healing her. After a few moments Rias' wounds have been completely sealed. Aside from scars that are now visible in places where Death wounded her, the healing process was finally done, though it left Akeno tired from the procedure. A rather orthodox manner of healing, and apparently not the most effective of types that exist out there, but it did its job decently well.
Then Rias got up and used her magic to quickly conjure new uniforms for her and Akeno, along with cleansing her body of blood stains. If they risk even a moment of further delay, they might aggravate Death more than he already is.
"Good. Now take me to your brother, I waited long enough." Death said impatiently.
Despite her calm, but somewhat scared composure, Rias was ultimately fuming inside. One blast, just one blast right in Death's smug face with a full Power of Destruction would have immensely satisfied her, the least that he deserved for what he did to her previous servants, for instilling such fear in her best friend. But she knew better, especially now when Death is reaching his limit of tolerance towards them. She has to be smart right now, she can't afford to be reckless in the slightest.
"Akeno, I'm counting on you take care of Kiba and Koneko, I'll be back as soon as I can to help you." Rias said as she turned sideways and smiled gently.
"Right." Akeno smiled weakly and nodded to her friend.
Rias nodded silently before her face went serious and walked up near the Reaper. She then used her magic circle to teleport both Death and herself into the Underworld, leaving Akeno all alone to tend to incapacitated Kiba and Koneko for the time being.
After a few moments, Rias transported both of them in front of a massive mansion. Strangely enough for the horseman, the mansion's design and its surrounding fountains and gardens strongly resemble that of human architecture. It's nowhere near close to spiky, dark bastions that he got used to seeing whenever he traveled to the Dark Kingdom.
"Let's go." Rias said in serious, but slightly frightened voice as she walked towards the mansion, with Death following suit. Even though she did compose herself, she still has a nauseating feeling in her gut of even being near the rider, especially considering the fact that he intended to kill her and her servants.
As Rias and Death entered the mansion, they were welcomed by the gray-haired girl in maid outfit, who was immediately aware of her arrival, but certainly not of certain someone.
"Welcome home Rias. It quite a surprise to see y…" The woman then gasped in shock and horror at the person standing behind her with murderous glare behind his executioner's mask.
"It's great to see you too." Rias said in low tone, trying to smile, but she couldn't. The gray-haired woman could clearly tell that Rias was horrified to the marrow of her bones, and for good reason.
"The Pale Rider? What is he doing here? Something must have gone terribly wrong." The woman thought in fear, but she quickly composed herself as her face went straight serious.
"Greetings, rider of death. I am Grayfia Lucifuge, a humble servant of the house of Gremory. How can I be of assistance?" The woman now known as Grayfia said.
"Take me to Sirzechs Lucifer." Death ordered.
"As you wish. This way." Grayfia bowed slightly before she turned around and walked in front of the two, at the same time trying to keep her calm composure.
"It is a grave omen if Death himself visits the Underworld. This won't bode well." Grayfia thought worryingly as she continued to walk forward.
Along the way, many of other servants, bartenders, maids, gardeners etc. started to whisper amongst themselves when they saw Death walk by.
"Is that one of the Four?"
"It can't be. That's the pale rider."
"Impossible."
Bu Death ignored the whispers as he continued to follow Grayfia, even though they annoy him to some extent.
While the three of them made their way to their destination, in a large living room, Sirzechs Lucifer himself played with a little boy named Milicas Gremory, his son. Sitting from the other side of the small table was Sirzechs' father, Zeoticus Gremory. Then their attention turned to the double doors that suddenly opened, with a familiar person walking in.
"Ah, Grayfia. Come in, have a seat." Sirzechs smiled light-heartedly.
"I'm afraid it will have to wait. We have an unexpected visitor." Grayfia said in a dead serious voice before the smile on Sirzechs' face disappeared. Grayfia was quite known to be serious during her duties, but never that serious. It made even Zeoticus very curious.
"Really? Who?" Sirzechs asked blankly. Almost on cue, Rias walked in. "Ri Ri! Hey there little sis, this is a surprise." He smiled brightly. But again his smile disappeared when he saw his little sister frowning sadly. And if he's not mistaken, dreadfully afraid of something.
"Something's not right here." Sirzechs thought as he frowned seriously, his fact proven when both Grayfia and Rias were not uttering a word and having those glum expressions on their faces. Even Zeoticus felt unease in the atmosphere.
But it wasn't long until the rider himself entered the room. Both Zeoticus and Sirzechs never would have thought even in the worst of nightmares to find Death himself stomping his way inside the room, looking every bit as intimidating as ever.
"Dad, who is this man? He looks really scary." Milicas said in shaky voice as he clutched onto his father in fear.
"Grayfia, take Milicas out of here. Now." Sirzechs ordered in a dead serious tone.
Little Milicas was starting to be increasingly scared as he never saw his father this serious before. Whoever this mysterious person is must be someone extremely dangerous, having no idea how right he was with that statement. Fortunately, Grayfia was there to calm him down and reassure him. As Grayfia and Milicas were passing by Rias, Milicas grabbed her hand.
"Auntie Rias, are you going to be okay?" Milicas asked worryingly. Rias knew that nothing is okay while Death is around, but she smiled nonetheless as she patted Milicas' head.
"Don't worry. We're going to talk with this man for a while and then we will play as we always do, alright?" Rias smiled, trying to ease his worries.
Even though it worked slightly, Milicas was still worried when he looked at the tall man with executioner's mask, looking really angry. But Rias knelt in front of Milicas and placed her hands on his shoulders reassuringly.
"Everything's going to be okay. You trust me, right?" Rias smiled. Milicas frowned sadly at first, still worried for his aunt before he smiled and nodded. "Good. Now go with your mother, I'll see you soon." Then Rias stood up while Grayfia and Milicas went outside and closed the double doors behind them.
It was after that that Death grabbed Rias on her back and threw her on the floor near Sirzechs and Zeoticus.
"Rias!" Zeoticus and Sirzechs exclaimed in worry as both of them rushed to her side, but they were on immediate alert as Death walked in front of them.
"Answer my questions and I will stay my hand." Death said grimly, but Zeoticus and Sirzechs said nothing as they helped poor Rias stand up. "Which one of you is Sirzechs Lucifer?" He asked while glancing at the two male devils.
"That would be me." Sirzechs spoke out.
"You are the leader of the devils?" Death asked curiously.
"I am the current Devil King, yes." Sirzechs said seriously. Death then glanced to the other devil to his right.
"Then who are you?" Death asked.
"I am Zeoticus Gremory, Sirzechs' and Rias' father." Zeoticus said seriously.
"Their father? Aren't you supposed to be the king of the devils?" Death asked curiously.
"The people chose Sirzechs for his contribution against the rebels, who would see our society return to the barbaric and murderous ways of the legions of Hell." Zeoticus explained.
"I see." Death said simply.
"May I ask what does Rias have to do with you? And of the cruel treatment you have shown to her." Sirzechs frowned angrily.
"Mind your tongue Sirzechs!" Zeoticus exclaimed angrily.
"Her presence in the Kingdom of Man, for one. The other reason being that she enslaved a human boy." Death explained, with venom heavily present in his words.
"I did not enslave him! I brought him back to life!" Rias protested.
"As your slave." Death said coldly.
"With all due respect Death, we have not subjugated a single human against his will, nor did we ever laid a hand on them, let alone killed them." Sirzechs frowned seriously.
"Yet you seem to take the opportunity to make them your servants when they die." Death frowned angrily beneath his mask.
"That boy was the only exception, because he was in possession of a powerful Sacred Gear." Rias explained, trying to act brave, but she knew that if they were to say a single word wrong, then Death would slice them up in a blink of an eye.
"Sacred Gear? What is it?" Death asked curiously, his attention now drawn to the topic.
"They are powerful artifact gifted to the humans by the Creator. But due to the Sacred Gears possessing a very intense and unique power, not all humans are born with it. In fact, only rare few attain the artifacts when they are born and each of those humans attained incredible achievements in their lives." Zeoticus explained.
"However, the power of the Sacred Gear can be so uncontrollable that some who have it become a threat to those who would subject the Kingdom of Man. Admittedly, there are some among the devils in our own society who consider humans undeserving of such power. We managed to execute those who would harm the humans possessing the Sacred Gear, but unfortunately we couldn't prevent several criminals who succeeded in doing so." Sirzechs explained.
"Hmm. Maybe that's what the Council meant when they said that humans would someday be integral to the Balance." Death thought curiously.
"The reason why I was so insistent on saving the boy from before was indeed to save his life. But it was also because he was among those rare few who possessed Sacred Gears. And that was the reason why that fallen angel Raynare orchestrated the whole thing, so she could catch him alone and then execute him." Rias frowned seriously, now calmed down a bit, but still cautious with her words.
"That still doesn't absolve you Gremory. Your very presence in the Kingdom of Man is breaking the law in and of itself." Death said in a threatening tone as he pointed at her accusingly.
"We knew of the threat it would impose if we were to set foot in the human world." Sirzechs frowned seriously.
"Was near extinction not enough? Have you 'devils' forgotten what happened the last time the three factions were hiding among the humans?" Death said seriously as he pointed at the three.
"We all know of that day Death." Zeoticus said grimly.
"Dad?" Rias said worryingly, making Zeoticus' heart squeeze in pain at Rias' frightened voice. Usually she would call him father, but when she was dreadfully scared, she would always call him dad, something that rarely occurs.
"Rias, remember when I told you the story of the Great War where three factions battled on Earth?" Zeoticus said in serious voice before Rias nodded silently. "It wasn't the battle itself that crippled our people. It was the Four Horsemen."
"What?! You never told me they were there." Rias exclaimed in surprise and shock.
"It wasn't a surprise to us that day Rias, at least to our family." Zeoticus said as he went to explain the whole story.
"When the angels of the White City, the fallen angels and the demons of the Dark Kingdom started a massive, destructive battle on Earth, humanity was well on its way to be exterminated. The entities known as the Charred Council were aware of the chaos that enveloped the world. And before all of us even knew they were coming, The Four Horsemen arrived. Not a single demon, angel and fallen angel stood a chance against the relentless fury of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse as they were all slaughtered like cattle. Even the heavenly dragons, Albion and Ddraig fared no better against them as they were cut down in thousand pieces and their souls bound in humans as Sacred Gears. Everyone who participated in that battle were killed without mercy or remorse. All three sides were crippled that day and we only barely managed to recover." Zeoticus said as he turned towards Rias. "Out of 72 pillars, only three survived. And I think you already know which ones." Rias nodded silently as she knew indeed who were the survivors, before Zeoticus turned towards Death. "It was after that battle that we deviated from the demons of Hell and formed our own society, one that is less murderous and barbaric than the dregs of the Dark Kingdom."
Now there's a legitimate surprise for Death. Over the eons the horsemen believed that the angels and demons are utterly incapable of change, that they were doomed to remain in that stasis of war and bloodshed against each other till the end of Creation itself. But today that fact came into question with the emergence of the devil faction. It was surprising enough that their architecture is heavily inspired from the Third Kingdom, but their human appearances are as well. He can't say for sure if these are their actual appearances or it's just a formal illusion, but in truth this is a refreshingly interesting twist for the Reaper. To think that the dregs of Hell would be capable of such a drastic change, both in appearance and in behavior pattern, to take that first step before the angels do is almost unbelievable. Almost.
"Unfortunately, we were few in number when the three remaining pillars defected from the Dark Kingdom and found our own realm in the Underworld. Due to our low birth rates, we had to rely on humans to replenish our dwindling numbers." Sirzechs said seriously.
"So you were indeed luring the humans for your own ends." Death growled slightly as he pointed at the Devil King.
"Nothing of the sort, I can assure you. The humans were far less ignorant of our existence after the Great War and they knew well that we were far more diplomatic than the demons of Hell. Some came to us out of greed or lust for power, but some came to us to attain abilities out of revenge or to aid their loved ones and willingly became the servants of our peerage." Sirzechs said seriously.
"Somehow I doubt that. But that still doesn't explain why you are hiding among the humans now. If you dodge the question again, I will exterminate every devil I found or will find on Earth, starting with your sister." Death threatened coldly. Sirzechs was really on the verge to attack the horseman, but he knew such action would only lead to his demise, even though he possesses immense power.
"I wasn't even trying Death. The reason why we had to entrench ourselves in the human world is because angels and fallen angels were doing the same. I have no idea what the angels are up to, but there have been reports that they made their own base of operations in Kuoh Town. The same applies for the fallen angels, only their plans are far more nefarious then that of the angels. That is why we had to make our own plans to stop them from doing anything that might endanger the humans in any way." Sirzechs said seriously.
"If I am not intruding much, there is something I need to know rider. What brought you to Earth in the first place?" Zeoticus asked curiously.
"The Council ordered us to eliminate those who would start the Endwar prematurely. That is why I was sent to Earth." Death stated.
"The Endwar?" Sirzechs said in slight surprise.
"But the Endwar can only be commenced if the Seven Seals are broken. Only then would the legions of Heaven and Hell descend on Earth, along with the Four Horsemen." Zeoticus said seriously.
"Many over the centuries tried to break the truce and resume the conflict. All of them were killed, and if you devils try to do the same, you will follow." Death threatened, with the three devils not uttering a word this time. "Either way, until the real threat to the Balance is exposed, I will make my stay in Gremory girl's little club."
"What?!" Rias exclaimed in shock.
"I will supervise both you and you little servant devils. From now on, your actions will not go unsanctioned. Everything you do in Kuoh Town you will report to me." Death ordered.
"Absolutely not! I have done nothing to deserve such treatment!" Rias said in outrage, on a verge to cry, but she did her best not to.
"The only reason I spared you 'Rias' is because of your family relation with the devil king, otherwise I would have killed you and your servants back in the human world without a second thought." Death said coldly before as he turned around. "We wasted enough time. Make peace with your relatives before you return to Earth." He said before he marched outside, opening the double doors and slamming them shut.
It was then that Rias' mind finally came to a nervous breakdown as she cried loudly, burrowing her face on Sirzech's chest. Zeoticus and Sirzechs feel terrible for Rias, they wish they could say that everything would be alright. But in truth, it won't be, not with the Reaper in charge.
It took half an hour for Sirzechs, Zeoticus and Venelana to calm her down. Sirzechs paced forward and backward in a loop, Venelana still had Rias in a hug while patting her head and Zeoticus sat in the sofa across the table.
"I never would have thought it would come to this." Zeoticus said seriously.
"Well it did come to this father! I told you it was a mistake to send Rias to the human world, she should have went to devil school instead!" Sirzechs said angrily.
"Now is not the time to be tossing blames Sirzechs!" Zeoticus said in frustration before he sighed to calm himself while standing up. "Now we need to figure out how we can make Rias cope with all this."
"Well it's not like they are going to be the best of friends in a day father. The Reaper will now have her and her peerage on a short leash." Sirzechs said in calmer tone.
"I know." Zeoticus said before he went to Rias and knelt down. Right now, the commotion is absolutely redundant as his daughter needs support and fatherly love.
"Rias? Sweetheart?" Zeoticus said in calm and considerate tone.
"Are you feeling better sweetie?" Venelana smiled gently, while Rias smiled as she finally calmed down and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Yes. I'm fine, thank you." Rias smiled sadly. Zeoticus then held both of her hands to calm her down further.
"Listen sweetheart. Believe me, this was an immense shock for all of us, not just for you. But when you go back to Earth, I want you to be strong. You know that the Reaper is the most dangerous being in all of Creation, but he won't harm you if he sees that you are not a threat to the humans." Zeoticus said seriously.
"But you know that I'm not father. How can we convince Death that I never harmed a human?" Rias frowned sadly.
"The truth is we can't. But with your actions, maybe you can. As much as I know you hate to be ordered around, this time you have no choice but to follow Death's instructions. Can you do that?" Zeoticus said in low and serious, but concerned voice. Rias nodded silently before she stood up, followed by her father and mother.
"I'm ready to go. It wouldn't be wise to keep him waiting any longer." Rias smiled to her father. Zeoticus and Venelana then hugged their daughter for several long moments before they reluctantly let her go. Then Rias went to hug Sirzechs was well.
"Be careful sister. If things get tough, I'll come to you in a moment's notice." Sirzechs smiled.
"Thank you." Rias smiled before she finally departed, leaving the room and making her way outside the mansion.
Dark times befell the house of Gremory. The Pale Rider himself arrived on their doorstep and now makes his base of operations in Rias' Occult Research Club. Rias' life became a lot more difficult now that Death himself is in charge. Her brother and her parents have no idea how events will play out, but for now they can only hope that Rias will find a way to stay alive, at least until the Reaper finds the perpetrators who threaten the Balance.