~Hunt for the stray devil~
The next day, in one of many houses that decorate the city, a boy with a short spiky brown hair is making his way towards the academy, looking completely beat. His name is Issei Hyoudou, one of the infamous members of the Perverted Trio, the most perverted group of teenagers in the entire school academy, which made him… less than popular and unable to make any real friends, besides the two other likeminded perverts that he usually hangs out with. But yesterday, many things happened that he never would have imagined. At first, the day went by incredibly. He finally found a sweet and innocent girl that he quickly grew close to, but everything turned upside down when she turned into some sort of winged sadistic murderer. To top that, a purple robed… thing with two scythes and what looked like an executioner's mask jumped in and saved him, slicing Yuma's wings like they were made of paper, with the other three winged creatures charging in soon after. Then he remembered being impaled in the back, presumably by Yuma, or Raynare as she tends to call herself, followed by the memory of the masked man kneeling next to him before a bright, red light appeared to his left. The last thing he saw were two figures facing each other before he finally lost consciousness due to blood loss.
"How the fuck am I even alive?" Issei thought as he rubbed his chest. "I know I had that damn hole in my chest, I was bleeding like I was in a slaughterhouse or something." He then looked forward. "Man, I just want to forget about all that. Hopefully Matsuda or Motohama have some boob action that will make my day."
Later that day in Kuoh Academy…
"Stop screwing with me guys. You seriously don't remember meeting Yuma?" Issei said in slight disbelief.
"Nah dude, name's not ringing any bells." The bald guy named Matsuda said bluntly.
"I'll say it again. You never introduced us to a chick and it's impossible that you have a girlfriend." A boy with glasses named Motohama said.
"But that doesn't make any sense, her email address is right here." Issei said as he pulled out his phone, but much to his own surprise… "No way, Yuma's contact information is not in my phone. What in the hell?" He asked himself in confusion.
Then when he looked up, Issei's eyes connected to the eyes of a certain redhead student.
"Big boobies twelve o clock." Matsuda said silently.
"Rias?" Motohama said as he stood up.
The screams of admiration and joy permeated the hallway as Rias Gremory passed by. When she did, she glanced at the boy for a few moments and smiled before she departed, leaving Issei completely puzzled.
"Filing that image away for later." Matsuda said casually.
But while Matsuda and Motohama were perving out at watching DVD porn, Issei's mind was fixed on Rias Gremory. There was something off about the way she looked at him. There was nothing sinister about it, that's for sure, but he had the feeling there was some kind of hidden message behind that glance.
Later that afternoon after the classes were finally over, Issei went with Matsuda and Motohama to indeed watch some Double D action, hoping that those bizarre events would eventually fade away. Unfortunately, his mind was greatly fixed on those events, so it seemed impossible to just shrug them off and move on with his life. But it was after they turned off the room light that he was starting to freak out. His vision was slightly crimson as he could see clearly, even though the room was dark, much to the confusion of his friends. In the end, he decided to leave as his mind is too conflicted to concentrate on his usual, lecherous tendencies.
As he went outside, even though it was afternoon, it wasn't dark for him at all. Even the alleys covered in shadows were nothing as Issei's vision was as bright as day, confusing him further.
"I'm not nuts, my eyes are freaking out on me." Issei said as he clenched his fist. "This is weird, I fell so different. Like there is something inside me that is changing."
His mind was confused even further when he heard a child's whining from a good distance away from him, who was apparently scolded by it's mother. Starting to freak out a bit, he started to run away, eventually arriving to the spot where he took Raynare on their date.
"I've been here before." Issei said, having flashbacks of Raynare as he placed his hands on the fountain seat. "Yes. This is the park where I took Yuma, or Raynare when we went on our first date. Also the place where that guy with scythes appeared." He frowned slightly, having flashbacks of the robed man pulling Raynare down with some purple, ethereal hand before jumping and slicing her wings mid-air, all the time having that murderous glare behind his mask. "It was real. It couldn't have been a dream. I remember every single thing about it." He said as he closed his eyes.
Then he heard a squawk out of nowhere, immediately alerting Issei as he looked left and right in his current, paranoid state.
"What? Who's there?" Issei asked quickly. But when he looked behind him at the tree, it was nothing but a crow perched on a thick branch, making him sigh in relief. "Man, I'm really starting to freak out." He said before he groaned slightly. "I better go home, more of this and you can just throw me in the insane asylum." He said before he departed. When he did, the crow flew away in the sky.
Little did Issei know that the crow perched on the tree was actually Dust, who was tasked by Death to check on the boy and see if there are other creatures intent on killing him, other than the fallen angels. Back in the old school building, Death in his normal form folded his arms as he looked out the window. He was still absolutely livid about Rias using the opportunity to enslave a human, a wielder of a Sacred Gear no less. But right now, stopping a worldwide pandemonium was a far more important task and the exact one that the Council ordered to prevent. Currently only himself and Rias were present in the room, with Kiba, Koneko and Akeno leaving to their homes sooner. However, by Death's orders, they sleep the night in the Underworld, and are only permitted to stay on Earth during the day until the rider says otherwise.
"Well, I'm going home now." Rias said seriously as she moved away from her desk and stood behind the rider. She hated his guts for forcing her to return to the Underworld, but she heeded her father's words, begrudgingly in this case as she used her magic circle to teleport herself home in a bright, crimson light.
Death however ignored her completely as he waited for Dust to return with the report, leaving the club room completely dark. Soon after, the crow finally arrived.
"Well?" Death asked before Dust squawked as it perched on his left arm. "So the kid is untouched? Good, I'll have a word or two with him tomorrow." He said grimly. While the Council gave strict orders to the Reaper not to harm any human, they didn't say anything about these devils or any other powers on the planet. If these devils fall out of line, then he will execute them and search this entire city on his own. Now that this boy is no longer a human, the no killing rule is no longer applied for him.
The next day, Rias went to visit Sona in her house, but not before informing Death of her departure. She wouldn't dare to tell him that Sona was also a devil, otherwise it would definitely lead to all of them being killed and that is something she must avoid. Rias and Sona were all alone as they went in the large sauna. It is mostly meant for Sona's personal use, but it is here that the two devils, along with Akeno and Tsubaki gather up to discuss important matters in private. And the topic right now was extremely important. Rias explained to Sona how Death himself has now taken residence in her club house.
"The Reaper? This changes things drastically." Sona said seriously.
"I know. If we are to say anything that might aggravate him even in the slightest, he would kill us without a second thought." Rias said seriously.
"Have you found out why did he come to Earth?" Sona asked.
"He said that he came to stop those who would start the Endwar." Rias frowned seriously.
"The Endwar?" Sona asked curiously.
"Yes. The end of all of mankind and continuation of the three way war, from what I understood." Rias said.
"I have a feeling there is more to it for Death to make decision to reside in your club house specifically. What did you do Rias?" Sona asked seriously.
"Well, the truth is, when I went to bring a boy named Issei back to life and make him my servant, I found Death standing near him." Rias frowned sadly.
"Tell me you didn't." Sona frowned seriously in accusing tone.
"What other choice did I had? Who knows what Death would have done to his body even if I were to let him die. I had no choice but to act fast and make him my servant." Rias frowned slightly.
"In front of the Reaper?! Are you out of your mind?! You're extremely lucky that he didn't kill you in an instant after what you've done!" Sona shouted angrily. Usually Sona acted to grim situations calmly, but when it comes to the Four Horsemen, even she can't help but lose her cool and worry greatly.
"That was his original intention. But the only reason he spared me is because he needed me to take him to my brother." Rias said seriously.
"Did he made any progress to convince Death of your innocence?" Sona asked seriously after she calmed down a bit.
"None. He had as much luck as I did." Rias frowned seriously as she looked down.
"Pray that he doesn't end your lives when the real perpetrators are discovered. Because with the pale rider, nothing is certain." Sona said seriously. She didn't mean to be so strict, but it was for Rias' own good. She was known to be reckless at times, but this time she made things utterly worse for the entire devil faction.
"Look, I just want you to be careful with him. Your life and the lives of your servants are in extreme danger. Be careful in your approach to every situation now that the rider will be on watch." Sona frowned slightly as she placed her hand on Rias' shoulder.
"Thank you Sona." Rias smiled gratefully.
"Well, we better get ready. The classes will start in half an hour." Sona said seriously as she stood up, placing a large towel around her naked body as she departed, followed by Rias.
Later that day in the afternoon, Kiba was sent to pick up Issei so he may take him to their club and formally introduce themselves to their new member. Kiba opened the double doors and was first to enter. After being introduced to Koneko and Akeno and a several moments passed of Issei's mind filled with perverted shenanigans, Rias finally finished with her shower.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Rias smiled as she dried her hair. "Well, now that you've arrived, I think everyone is here."
"Not everyone, Gremory." A low and grim voice said, making Issei wince in fear at the terrible voice. When the entire group turned around, they found Death leaning on the doors with folded arms. "How rude of you to exclude me." He said sarcastically as he walked inside.
"Wait! I remember you!" Issei exclaimed as he pointed at the rider.
"Is that so?" Death said curiously.
"Yeah, you're the guy who fought Yuma and the other winged dudes back at the fountain." Issei said with blank expression.
"Yes, right before you were killed. And then converted into a devil." Death said venomously at the last part.
"Wait, I'm what now?" Issei asked in shock.
"A devil." Rias said seriously, drawing Issei's attention. "In fact all of us are, except for Death."
"Who?" Issei asked, completely confused at the last part as his attention was now turned towards the purple robed pale man in yellow bone armor.
"Death, The Horseman of the Apocalypse, the leader of the Four and the servant of the Charred Council." Rias introduced with as much formality as she could.
"Wow. Sounds like a huge deal." Issei said as he looked at the rider blankly. He doesn't entirely realize who Death exactly is, but damn are those badass titles.
"You have no idea." Death said as he leaned on the wall with folded arms.
"And 'the winged dudes' you encountered were something else. The Fallen Angels." Rias said seriously. Issei gasped slightly in shock before turning towards Rias. "Some think we're the same, but it's not true. They wish to serve the Creator, but since they succumbed to dark emotions, they were banished from Heaven. Along with them, we also battle the angels themselves, sent from Heaven to destroy us, so naturally we devils have to defend ourselves in two fronts." She explained, but it left Issei utterly confused. "What's wrong? You seem a little overwhelmed." She smiled.
"Well, probably because I am, I mean you're talking about some freaky deaky stuff here." Issei said nervously.
"Remember Yuma Amano?" Rias smiled, making Issei gasp slightly in shock again. "Of course you do, how could you forget? You two dated for a little while, didn't you?"
"Where did you hear that name?" Issei said in slightly shaky voice of disbelief. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Look, I'm not sure how you know so much about my life, but I'm starting to feel a little uncomfortable here, so maybe we should just…"
But as he was slowly departing, Death stopped in front of him and pushed him back, making him stumble and fall backwards on the sofa.
"Hey! What the hell dude?!" Issei shouted in frustration.
"Your ignorance annoys me boy. Everything that happened at the fountain was not a dream." Death said seriously.
"Yes. The girl you dated with was also a fallen angel tasked to kill you." Rias frowned seriously, but starting to grow uneasy when the horseman is slowly losing his patience.
"Okay, point taken." Issei glanced at Death for a few moments before he looked towards Rias. "But answer me this. If it wasn't a dream, how is it that none of my friends remember Yuma? Or Raynare as she called herself. And the fact that I don't have her phone number anymore." He asked curiously.
"It's simple. Once she complete her mission, she erased memories and records of herself from you and all the people you knew. That way the fallen angels can easily hide among the humans even if some were to spot them in their true forms, though most opt for a rather grizzly alternative." Rias frowned slightly.
"I take it you devils have the same ability." Death said strictly with folded arms.
"Yes, but we never had the occasion to use it. Like we said before, we don't intent on harming the humans in any way." Rias frowned seriously at the rider.
"Still find it hard to believe." Death said sarcastically. Rias frowned slightly, feeling like saying something to that remark, but she kept her mouth shut for her own good, so instead she silently looked at Issei.
"Sorry, but what mission exactly?" Issei asked in curious, yet confused tone.
"To kill you of course, but only after she figured out whether or not there was something dangerous or threatening within you. After that was verified, you were stabbed through the middle with the spear of light." Rias said seriously.
"Yeah and yet somehow I'm still standing, how is that possible?!" Issei exclaimed in slight outrage, while Rias smiled as she drew a sheet of paper from the desk behind her.
"Do you remember this? Just before your life ended, you summoned me with your thoughts through this flyer." Rias said.
"Summoned? I remember thinking about her hair and how red it is, but…" Issei thought.
Death glanced silently at Issei, with a glare that is almost accusing. Even though his death can most certainly be blamed on that fallen angel that escaped his wrath, he had his doubts of his actions prior to their little get-together. He had a theory that Issei made a bargain with these devils beforehand, that if he were to die on that day, then these devils can claim him as their servant, body and soul. But judging how genuinely distraught he looks, and having no idea of the flyer's actual function, it's safe to say that he was deceived into taking that flyer, thinking that it was just another piece of paper with fancy scribbles and whatnot.
"And from that day you were…"
"Made into a devil slave." Death interrupted Rias as he frowned angrily beneath the mask. Then unintentionally, a pair of jet black wings sprouted from Issei's back, much to his shock.
"Are they for real? I'm a freakin devil? So my life as a normal human guy is over?" Issei thought in disbelief.
"They are not my slaves, I already explained you that." Rias frowned slightly.
"The proof is standing before you Gremory." Death said seriously, not moving from his spot as he still leaned on the wall with folded arms. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand and continue with my task on my own. Not that it would make a difference." He said as he tilted from the wall and stood upright with his hands near his hips, ready to draw out his scythes.
"We are not a threat to your precious Balance, we haven't harmed a human ever since we got here, we already explained everything back in the Underworld." Rias frowned slightly, but inwardly started to feel a little nervous.
"Yet the boy's reaction solidifies my decision to put you down, so you don't enslave any more humans in the future." Death threatened as he picked up his scythes and extended them to their usual size and reverse grip. Rias and the other devils were on full alert, ready to fight a losing battle, but before either of them could ready their weapons and abilities…
"Whoa whoa, simmer down dude, what are you going to do with those?" Issei said in panic, waving his hands in front of him.
"Out of my way boy." Death threatened, with Issei's face going blue in turn.
"Look, they're maybe devils and all that, but they're still my friends from school. Can't you just spare them and learn how to get along? Maybe?" Issei said nervously, but he yelped in panic as Death pinned the tip of his right scythe on Issei's chin. Even with a tap, Issei felt that his scythe was razor sharp.
"You are the only one I intend to spare, since you've been robbed of your humanity. But don't think your little devil 'friends' will be that lucky." Death growled slightly in threatening glare. Issei knew he was definitely going to kill them. In truth, they weren't hanging out with him at all, probably due to the fact of him being a major pervert, but even so he couldn't allow him to kill them.
"Come on dude, if anything they did me a favor by reviving me." Issei quickly answered.
"Hmm?" Death raised his eyebrow curiously before he lowered his scythe, with Issei immediately rubbing his chin.
"Ouch. Man, that's sharp." Issei said to himself before he looked at Death. "Look, I know being a devil servant and shit is total bonkers, but it's helluv alot better than dying a virgin. I barely even got to touch a nip yet, let alone have a sexy time." He explained bluntly.
"Ugh." Death groaned in frustration as he placed a hand on his face. "Do you want to die too?" He asked bluntly.
"Okay, maybe that wasn't the best explanation the world." Issei said nervously before he quickly composed himself. "What I'm trying to say is that anything is better than to die young. I barely even did anything in life and if being Rias' servant or whatever will allow me to accomplish more things in life, then I guess I'll take it."
"Issei." Rias thought in surprise. Freshman in the club and he is already defending them from certain demise. She was shocked, surprised and somewhat touched from his act of bravery, though that last word came loosely against the Reaper.
"Can you please give them a second chance?" Issei pleaded.
Normally Death wouldn't care what anyone said, once his mind was made, only his own brothers can sway him from the kill, if they have good reason for it. But in this mission, he guessed that angels and fallen angels were on full alert of his presence and he will need some baits to lure them out, which is the reason why he ultimately decided to spare them. Besides, in his eyes, they are about as expendable as his own ghouls.
"Very well." Death said as he lowered his scythe and sheathed it. "Remember that you are no longer a human, boy. If they fall out of line, you will join them." He threatened as he pointed at the pervert.
"Yes, sir." Issei said nervously as his face went slightly blue with fear.
"As for you Gremory, you will break all contact with the humans outside of your school duties, including your little sneaky flyer deliveries." Death threatened as he folded his arms. Rias frowned angrily at that, but she said nothing, knowing from where she stands, she is lucky not to be killed, let alone try to talk him out of his decision.
"Then what are we supposed to do, just sit back and wait for our enemies to show up?" Kiba frowned seriously.
"We won't do anything. You devils will." Death pointed out strictly.
"What?" Rias said in surprise.
"That's right. All of you will be appointed to scour this city of any angel and fallen angel you can find. And if I find any other devils other than yourselves, they won't be spared, so I suggest you send them to the Underworld where they belong." Death ordered strictly and coldly.
"What about you? Aren't you going to join us for the hunt?" Akeno asked seriously.
"No. Ever since my skirmish with those fallen angels, they are on full alert of my presence here on Earth. And the same probably goes for the angels of the White City, so they will probably conceal themselves in their little hideouts from me to avoid my wrath." Death explained before he stood sideways.
"So you send us because they don't know your interests align with ours." Rias said seriously.
"Exactly." Death said simply.
"Well, I guess that sounds like a reasonable strategy." Kiba said to his club president, while Rias remained silent as she thought about it for a few moments. Then she opened her eyes and stood up from the table.
"We'll do what we can to find as many of the angels and fallen angels in the city as possible. But this city is a pretty big place, so it will take some time." Rias said seriously.
"Good. You will commence your search tomorrow." Death said strictly before he left the room, leaving Dust to keep an eye on them.
The next day, Issei got dressed in his usual uniform and made his way towards the school.
"Man, this is such bullshit. 'You're my devil servant', she says, just my luck. I meant what I said back there, but still… And to make things worse, I have to count seconds of my life cause of that big masked dude in bone armor breathing at my neck all the time." Issei thought in a grumpy tone before he had flashback of Rias' serious, but seemingly scared look on her face. "Is that guy that big of a deal though? He really put everyone on edge before he went to kill them. Either way, if they are really scared shitless of that guy, then I must have been out of my mind to stand up to him. I need to be really careful next time, might not get so lucky."
As Issei made his way towards school, he stumbled upon an innocent, pure-hearted girl named Asia Argento, a small nun who recently arrived in Kuoh Town. As usual, the first thing he noticed about her were pantie shots when she tripped down, but strangely enough for a pervert like him, he acted like a gentleman when he was hanging out with her. She kindly asked him to show him the way to the town's church, and seeing how kind she was and mostly cause her looks are to his liking, he decided to help her find the church, which they eventually did.
Issei's opinion on the girl changed after he escorted her, she was the nicest girl he ever met in his life. True, his perverted tendencies is what made nearly every girl in school despise him, but having a girl beside him who doesn't want to practically kill him was a rather welcoming change and he grew somewhat attached to her. But unfortunately for Issei, that friendship was short lived as Rias scolded him to never again go even near the church, as it is considered an enemy territory and that they can kill him if he is to fight them by any chance.
"Well great, I managed to piss Rias off. It seems like she is always angry about something." Issei said, putting a few papers in his brown school bag before he had flashback of Asia waving goodbye. "Sorry Asia, looks like I'm not gonna be able to keep my promise." He thought sadly.
"She's not pissed off you know, she's just worried about you, silly boy." Akeno suddenly popped from behind the sofa with a gentle smile.
"What the… Akeno, you scared me!" Issei exclaimed in jumpscare, almost falling down on the floor. Then Akeno folded her arms on sofa and leaned her chin on her arms.
"But Rias has been very serious lately, probably because we have the pale rider breathing at our necks." Akeno frowned slightly.
"About him, is he the Horseman of the Apocalypse? Or was that just some prank that you pull off every time a new servant joins the club?" Issei asked in curious, yet slightly nervous tone, but Akeno only shook her head in response.
"No Issei, that wasn't a prank at all. The robed man in bone armor you saw was indeed the Reaper that all of Creation trembles at, more so even than his brethren." Akeno said seriously, while Issei's face went slightly blue in dread and awe at her statement.
"You mean, the horseman from the bible and all that?" Issei asked nervously. Akeno nodded seriously in response again. "Do you at least know why he's here exactly? I doubt he came here on a vacation."
"To prevent the end of mankind from the other powers in the universe." Death suddenly said, startling both Issei and Akeno, with the rider leaning on the wall with folded arms before he moved towards them.
"The hell? How long have you been here?" Issei asked quickly.
"Long enough." Death said strictly before he glanced at Rias' queen. Before he spoke, Rias entered the room next.
"You're still here. I thought you had gone home for the day." Rias said with serious frown.
"Report Himejima. Any discoveries?" Death said impatiently.
"Only one, but not from angels and fallen angels. Apparently there is a stray devil who is luring the humans in his hideout before devouring them." Akeno said seriously.
"Hmm. I guess it's a decent start to purge the wretches from the Third Kingdom. We depart in the cover of darkness." Death ordered coldly before he left the room.
The night quickly came that day and Rias' peerage, along with the Reaper himself were on the move as they teleported near an abandoned warehouse.
"Stray devils start out as devil servants." Kiba said.
"You mean, like we are?" Issei asked.
"No, not exactly. Once in a while, a servant rebels and kills their master to gain freedom. Then they become strays. And these monsters are pure evil, they don't care about anything but their own selfish desires and that always ends in ugliness." Kiba explained seriously.
"Just the kind of vermin to be exterminated." Death said coldly as he and the Gremory group entered the warehouse.
"Issei." Rias said.
"Yes, president?" Issei asked curiously.
"Are you familiar with the game of chess?" Rias asked as she continued to walk forward.
"Yeah, sort of. I played it, but I totally suck at it." Issei said.
"As the mistress of the household, I'm the king. My empress is the queen, my cavalier the knight, my tank the rook, my clergymen the bishop and my foot soldier, the pawn. Devils with titles and nobility grant the characteristics of these pieces to each one of their servants." Rias explained.
"You devils sort out your servants by… chess pieces?" Death asked curiously in slight disbelief, listening to every word Rias said.
"Yes. It's called the Evil Piece system, though the name of it is not to be taken literally. And like the game of chess, each of the pieces have special enhancements granted to the servants of the household to boost their fighting abilities, some more so than the others." Rias said seriously.
"I never heard of this 'Evil Piece' system before. Is that something exclusive to your devil society? Last I checked, such a thing never existed in the Dark Kingdom." Death asked curiously.
"It is. It's only in recent decades that the devils used the Evil Piece system as means to reincarnate those who are willing to serve into devils." Rias explained.
"You mean humans." Death frowned slightly with a light growl, implying to Issei's recent reincarnation. At that point Rias knew that Death will never drop it, she was flagged down permanently for that one. However, recently she was calmer than in their first few encounters, though she was still put on edge from the Reaper's mere presence.
"Only those who came to our doorstep. We wouldn't dare to openly lure the humans to our household with paltry promises of power." Rias said seriously.
"Your flyer deliveries prove otherwise." Death said bluntly, with Rias now starting to grow a little nervous.
"It's here." Koneko said, alerting the entire group, including Death.
Rias thanked Koneko inwardly for that timely intervention, even though it was unintentional. If their conversation would have gone any further, it would quite possibly end up in Death raising his scythes against them and not the stray devil. It was then that Rias realized that she needs to be really, really careful not to let her words come out of her mouth so casually, at least in front of the rider.
"Now what could that foul, fickle smell be? Something smells quite delicious as well. I wonder if it tastes sweet… or bitter!" A female voice moaned slightly in pleasure as the being appeared to be a naked woman, with only her upper body and large breasts shown.
"I see big boobies!" Issei said excitedly in lecherous voice, while Death's left eye twitched at the out of the blue statement. If Strife was here, he would laugh his ass off.
"Viser, you wretch. You betrayed your master and ran away to fulfill the lust for wants and desires that consumed you. Your sins are worthy of a thousand hells. In the name of the great marquie of Gremory, begone or meet your death!" Rias declared boldly.
"Was that an intentional pun?" Death asked casually, raising his eyebrow beneath the mask curiously.
"Probably." Rias smirked slightly before she returned her attention to the stray devil with serious frown. Issei, Akeno and Kiba couldn't help but snort and giggle slightly as they did found it slightly funny, despite the situation at hand.
"Oh give it a rest, you little slut. You're just jealous cause your breasts will never be as lush as these." Viser said as she started groping her large breasts lustfully.
"This is your final warning, go back to your master now!" Rias commanded in threatening manner. While Issei still had that lecherous look on his face, it was soon replaced with shock while Viser laughed as she slowly extended her large, clawed hand.
"See what I mean? When I said it ends in ugliness, I wasn't joking." Kiba smiled casually as Viser revealed her full body, comprised of snake for a tail, brown demonic lower body with large, jaw-like mouth, large human-like clawed hands and her top part comprising of the smaller version of upper body.
"She's got a really nice rack though, what a waste." Issei said bluntly while Viser continued to grope her breasts. But much to Issei's increased shock and slight disgust, Viser's nipples started to extend slightly and unknown red auras circle around them.
But before she could fire her extremely bizarre attack, suddenly her large breasts were sliced clean from her chest, making her scream loudly in pure agony and leaving her with flat, crimson wound on her chest, with blood freely flowing from it. It was then revealed that Death was responsible for such an unpredictable, but utterly ruthless first strike.
"Holy shit!" Issei exclaimed in shock as Death landed on the ground. "That guy just literally sliced her fun bags off."
"That was unexpected." Kiba said in equal surprise, while Rias and Akeno couldn't help but shiver slightly and grab their own breasts in turn, having a nauseating chill down their spines and chest after that brutal breast reduction.
Viser growled in unbridled rage as her beautiful face was slowly degrading to be more demon like in reflection of her true nature, with jagged teeth forming and her fingernails extended to sharp claws. The stray devil now completely ignored the Gremory group as her full attention was not turned on the pale rider, succumbing to primal instincts.
But the pale rider was ready as he crouched slightly and held his scythes in reverse grip. Viser attacked with her right hand, but Death jumped in the air and landed on her hand before running towards the demon. Viser tried to smash him with her left hand, but her palm was sliced while Death continued to run forward. Then he attached his dual scythes and sliced her right arm clean from her shoulder, making the devil scream in agony again. But Death did not stop as he ran around and sliced her left arm too before he jumped and landed nimbly on the ground again, with the pale rider's gaze fixed on the Gremory group. Viser let out a beastly roar as her lower jaw opened wide. Death glanced behind him before he turned around and threw his attached dual scythes like a sawblade through her jaw inside her body, continuing to spin while slicing her insides, completely paralyzing the poor stray in place, inflicting even more agony than before. Then Death ran towards the devil and grabbed his attached scythe before immediately jumping in the air, while a flood of sliced intestines and blood flowed from her bottom jaw soon after. Death then impaled his scythe and sliced upward before stopping in midair, beheading the stray devil and finally putting her out of her misery. As soon as Death landed, her head followed, along with her lifeless body crumpling into the ground while a pool of blood formed around her.
The entire group was stunned from Death's quick, but brutal execution of the stray devil, especially Issei.
"Mental note to self: do NOT piss him off or you die. Literally!" Issei thought in complete shock. If there was any doubt he had about Death, it was all gone.
Rias was left stunned and speechless, along with Akeno, Kiba and Koneko. She learned from her father and her brother that the horsemen were a force to be reckoned with, but seeing the leader of the Four in action, and how brutal, lethally precise and efficient his attacks were, her fear for her life and that of her servants grew immensely. Even combined, they couldn't hold the candle against his might. He certainly lives up to the name of the Executioner.
"Are you done gawking yet?" Death asked casually with his usual, cold demeanor as he sheathed his scythes and walked towards the group. The devils finally snapped from their shocked trances while Dust landed on the head of the decapitated stray devil, pecking one eyeball out and eating it.
"With all due respect Death, we were about to execute that stray devil ourselves." Rias frowned slightly after regaining her composure a bit.
"You will have your chance to prove yourself in combat Gremory. For now, I'm curious to hear what kind of abilities you and your servants possess." Death said.
"You will, but first things first…" Rias said before she walked towards the stray devil.
She then cringed in disgust when she saw Dust pecking another eyeball out of the head of the stray devil. One slip in front of the rider and Dust will do the same to her corpse. But she quickly collected herself as she conjured a magic circle in front of her and fired a crimson-black energy blast of a sort, but not before Dust flew away from the incoming attack. The blast set off in bright, crimson light as the stray devil's carcass was completely disintegrated into nothingness.
"What kind of attack was that?" Death asked curiously as Rias's blast caught his attention.
"What you saw was the Power of Destruction. It is an ability exclusive to the house of Gremory, capable of destroying opponents in its entirety." Rias explained proudly.
Death raised his eyebrow curiously beneath his mask. From what he had seen, it was very similar to the crimson magic that Fury utilizes against her enemies. He is yet to see the full potential of this 'Power of Destruction', but so far he was not impressed. Its 'destructive' capabilities are nowhere near as ruinous as that of the crimson power his sister can unleash with immeasurably devastating results, especially since she had eons of practice with her magical powers.
"Sounds like something not to be underestimated." Death said.
"A mistake made by all enemies in the past." Rias smiled slightly before she walked towards her queen. "Issei, since Death demonstrated his own abilities, I guess I'm going to have to explain each of the traits and abilities my servants possess, okay?"
"Yes, president." Issei nodded, with Death standing close by with folded arms, being all ears.
"First, Kiba's attributes as the knight are tremendous speed and mobility. His means of combat is with his sword, so with it he is able to deliver lethal high speed attacks and maneuvers." Rias explained.
"Super speed? Neat." Issei smiled in amazement.
"Koneko is my rook. Despite her small stature, as a rook her attributes are immense physical strength and endurance." Rias smiled as she gestured at the little girl, who still had that passive, uninterested expression on her face. As a demonstration, she casually punched a nearby pillar and it shattered in small rubble of rocks.
"Okay, don't piss her off either." Issei thought nervously.
"Last, but certainly not least, Akeno." Rias gestured at her friend, who smiled cutely. "Her attributes as a queen are a perfect combination of all the other pieces. She's simply unbeatable." Rias smiled.
"Is that so?" Death said with folded arms. Rias' and Akeno's face went slightly blue as they looked at the pale rider, who frowned slightly under his mask.
"Well, against most opponents." Rias said in slightly nervous tone before quickly composing herself. "Now that that's out of the way, let's go home." She smiled.
"Sounds good to me." Akeno, Kiba and Koneko said in unison.
"Wait a minute, what chess piece am I then?" issei asked curiously.
"You're a pawn." Rias smiled.
"But I don't wanna be a pawn." Issei complained childishly.
"Well… sorry, that's what you are." Rias smiled casually as she left outside, followed by Akeno, Kiba and Koneko.
"But that blows!" Issei whined childishly, while Death couldn't help but find amusement from his dilemma as he let out a muffled chuckle. He was maybe reincarnated into a devil, something he is still livid about, but it was damn hilarious how he is still an insignificant pervert as he was as a human.
But before he departed outside, he noticed how the shadows were slightly shifting and moving. Someone else was lurking about and the pale rider knew it. The other devils didn't even bother to look back at Death as they all used the teleportation circle to go back to the ORC building, for they weren't really fond of having him around. Not that it mattered for the Reaper as he has his own means of transportation. Besides, when he is not around, then Dust is on watch for those devils.
"Come out of the shadows… Watcher." Death grunted slightly in mixture of frustration and disgust of such a parasitic creature. Then it was indeed one of several beings of a slave race known only as the Watchers that appeared, who act as eyes and ears of the Charred Council, most of the time.
"Very perceptive horseman. You almost didn't see me coming." The Watcher giggled darkly.
"Speak your mind parasite." Death growled slightly.
"Watch your tongue, pale rider! You are speaking to the servant of the Charred Council." The Watcher threatened as he pointed at the rider.
"Who came to Earth on his own accord. I doubt the Council would allow his race of slaves to run around freely, now would they?" Death said in threatening voice.
"That's where you're wrong, rider. They are growing impatient as you haven't reported anything in the past few days of even a hint of the Endwar." The Watcher said.
"If I have something to report, the Council will be informed. Now, begone!" Death said in cold and annoyed voice as he started to walk away.
"I would watch where I place my loyalties, horseman. For what I see, you seemed to be quite comfortable in the company of these…devils, I presume?" The Watcher said shrewdly and darkly, but that remark struck a nerve a tad bit as Death pulled out his scythe and pressed it on the Watcher's lean neck.
"Don't test me." Death threatened in a low, stern, cold tone in a low growl. But reluctantly he removed the scythe, leaving the Watcher with only a scratch on his neck.
"Those devils are a means to an end, an expendable assets and nothing more." Death said coldly before he turned his back on the shadowy creature. "Now go, before i drag your corpse out of this world myself." He threatened.
The Watcher growled slightly before he slithered away into the shadows, back to the realm of the Charred Council, while Death made his way back to the ORC building. But during their conversation, a bat was perched upside down above the rider, listening intently on their conversation. After he left the building, the bat flew away outside the open window.
The next day of school, Rias and Akeno were all alone outside, sitting on the bench before the school bell rings for the next class to begin. Unknown to Death, Rias' bat familiar informed her of what the pale rider told to the shadowy creature and she was angry to say the least. Though she tried to contain as much of her anger inside of her, she condensed it to mere angry frown, which was enough for Akeno to see and understand.
"Just as I thought. He sees us as nothing but disposable tools." Rias frowned in frustration.
"So that's the reason why he decided to spare us, it's all because he has use of us." Akeno said seriously before she looked at Rias.
"Well, can't say I'm surprised." Rias said seriously.
"What do we do now Rias? If so, then we are basically just delaying our executions until this is over." Akeno said seriously, but worryingly.
"Hmm. Not necessarily." Rias said while holding her chin in thought.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Akeno asked curiously.
"It's like my father said before I left: If we can convince Death with our actions and not words that we are not a threat to the humans or the Balance, then we might make it out of this alive." Rias said as she looked at Akeno.
"But how can we do that?" Akeno asked, but Rias said nothing as she looked back down on the ground.
"Well, we lost our chance when Death executed that stray devil. Honestly, that would have at least been a good start to gain his trust. We can't manipulate the events to our advantage anymore, because the rider doesn't miss a thing." Rias said seriously.
"So in short, you don't know." Akeno smiled gently at her best friend, while Rias smiled too and closed her eyes in turn.
"No, I guess I don't. But I'm certain that if we work really hard to gain his trust, then he will at least spare our lives." Rias said before her smile turned into confident smirk. "Besides, no one is going to take away my precious servants from me, not even the Reaper."
"Oh my, getting reckless are we?" Akeno smiled cutely.
"Says a girl who's into S&M." Rias retorted, making both of them giggle cutely in turn. Then their attention was turned towards the sound of a school bell.
"We better go, the class is about to start." Rias smiled.
"Right." Akeno smiling cutely as she nodded before following Rias to the school building.
In truth, Rias knew that her chances of survival raised from none to slim, but she will make the most out of that small chance, and pray that it will be enough. But like Sona said, she has to be extremely careful and try to avoid Death's bad side as much as possible. For her own sake and the sake of her servants.
-Lq840i the reapers in dxd are servants of Hades, so i doubt they will be a match for the true reaper, but that's an excellent idea, ill include them in the story later on.
If you mean origin of the soul with the Well of Souls, then not really. In this point of time, and this goes for everyone, Death and the other horsemen are not aware of the Well of Souls or the true purpose of the Tree of Life/Death and for a reason, as stated by Crowfather in Darksiders 2. The whole concept of soul recycling and being reborn thing is unknown to them.
About the devils poaching the humans with sacred gears, good question. But in this story, and this also goes for everyone, if you followed chapter 2, the devils deviated from the demons of hell and they are more inclined towards peace rather than subjugating humanity. So even if they have reincarnated humans with Sacred Gears, like Issei in Rias' household, then it would actually be a boon since they are much stronger than humans and they would help them if the Endwar was to occur, something that Death doesnt know about, so he is yet to determine will that either disrupt the Balance or reinforce it, since he only recently discovered the devil faction.
-treyalexander63917 we'll see :)
-6tailedinja Thanks :) Actually, both Death and War are about the same size in Darksiders 2. In Darksiders 1, if you compare War to a human, War is only slightly taller than a human, but much bulkier. So Death's height in human disguise is nothing outlandish, though his bulky size is reduced to human proportions.
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews and i hopefully wasn't misunderstanding some of the reviews, if i did feel free to PM me. Until then, see ya in the next chapter :)