Hey fellas! It's been 4 years since I last updated this story. My old laptop broke down and I thought the original manuscript for this chapter was lost. It was also then that I have to deal with real-life stuff.
Fortunately, I found one of my old USBs containing a copy of my original manuscript. So, I was able to refine and finish this chapter on my new laptop.
Moving on from that, I admit that I'm not used to Japanese honorifics. So, I'll use the First-Name Basis at least.
Anyway, the Shin Megami Tensei franchise and High School DxD Light Novels are owned by Atlus and Ichiei Ishibumi, respectively. I just like to write this crossover.
Now, on with the story!
Great Red, the Dragon of Dragons, was sleeping in his territory in the Dimensional Gap.
Great Red snorted as he felt the presence of two souls entering the Dimensional Gap. But, he sensed that these aren't just two souls; they're human souls. Great Red sensed something extraordinary about these two human souls, and thus he concentrated, and with that, he was able to view the thoughts of the two human souls.
And to be entirely frank, he was not disappointed with what he found.
Great Red decided to probe the mind of the boy first. Being a reincarnation of a powerful human was one thing, but being brought back from the dead and ultimately slaying the god of their world was something else.
As for the girl, she was the daughter of a bartender who got killed in a tragic assault in their home. Just like with the boy, she was killed, but she got revived later on. She has a huge affinity for healing magic, which she uses to support the aforementioned boy.
But, the best part is that the Great Red found out the concept of the Demon Summoning Program. It's a nifty program designed to simulate and simplify rituals that acts as a powerful medium to summon and form contracts with demons. Great Red found it amusing that the word "demon" can refer to any supernatural being from various mythologies and this program allows humans to form demon contracts and ultimately command these demons.
And they were traveling to this dimension in search of Ophis since the Ouroboros Dragon has suddenly made an appearance in their homeworld.
'Demon Summoning Program… Godslayer… Interesting… Very, very interesting…' The Great Red mused. 'With them arriving in this world to investigate Ophis, a great change is coming that even I cannot foresee… How fascinating.'
The Demon Summoning Program was a concept he found so much more interesting and innovative compared to those boring devil abilities he's more accustomed to. The closest thing he found in his immediate thought to resemble this concept was the Peerage System that one of the Great Satans have developed, and even then, the Summoning Program has more merits than the Peerage System.
The Great Red let out a small chuckle as the two souls left the Dimensional Gap and into the world beyond. The Dragon of Dragons knew their capabilities and to the Great Red's huge grin, he would bet they would shake the very foundations of the world and change the variables, for better and for worse.
As the surge of brightness ended, Nanashi and Asahi were finally able to open their eyes. They find themselves in the living room of their intended location.
"So, we met the White," Nanashi pondered. "Their presence is quite suffocating and they reek of despair, that's for sure."
"We shouldn't take their claims at face value, Nanashi," Asahi replied. "Let's just focus on our new apartment room… Nanashi, do the thing!"
"Do the what?" Nanashi blinked, confused as to what Asahi was referring to.
[She meant the Map Analysis, Master…] Burroughs chimed in.
Burroughs' explanation gave Nanashi a better idea of what Asahi was referring to. Without further ado, Nanashi activates the Map Analysis and pressed a series of buttons, which indeed beeped as his Gauntlet released a grid of squares as it scans, and then he pressed another button to complete the scan, registering the map data of the apartment building and the town of Kuoh to their Gauntlets.
[Map Analysis Complete]
[Kuoh City Map Unlocked]
[Current Location Identified - Kuoh: Shichiyo Apartment Building]
[Masters, if I may…] Burroughs chimed. [Your Gauntlets have a 'Cloaking Mode', which you can use to disguise your Gauntlets from onlookers. Press the green button on the screen when it appears, please.]
Nanashi and Asahi nodded and pressed the eponymous button as soon it was visible in the screens of their Gauntlets. In an instant, their Gauntlets cloaked themselves.
"This is so cool!" Asahi gushed out her excitement.
"Now, that's done, let's have a look around," Nanashi suggested.
"Nanashi Kizuna?" Asahi read the birth certificate aloud. "'Kizuna' means 'bonds'. Sounds fitting if you ask me. Did you find my birth certificate, Nanashi?"
"I'm on it, Asahi…" Nanashi said as he began to rummage through the legal documents and certificates that were in the desk in their apartment's living room.
Nanashi searched around in their apartment and found a bunch of papers neatly stacked together on a table in the living room. Among the stacks of papers that were on that table, Nanashi noticed two particular-looking documents that bore their pictures on them. As Asahi walked towards him, he picked both papers up and read one of them in front of Asahi.
"Asahi Kizuna," Nanashi read Asahi's birth certificate aloud. "Wow, I mean we did grow up together, but to share the same surname…"
"We are adopted siblings, Nanashi… I mean, my Dad raised you," Asahi stammered. "I guess this also makes that official."
As they stared in awe of the resources that Stephen provided for them, both Nanashi and Asahi's eyes caught the piles of clothes neatly placed on the table.
"Wait…" Nanashi pondered. "Are those our…"
"Yeah, these are our school uniforms!" Asahi replied. "So, these are our Kuoh Academy uniforms."
"Mine looks a bit tacky to me," Nanashi remarked as he examined his uniform. "Aside from that, it's okay, I guess…"
"Wow, and mine even had a pair of biker shorts!" Asahi replied as she examined her school uniform. "Makes sense, considering how short the skirt is."
Afterward, they returned their uniforms to the table. A few moments of silence were prevalent in the room until Nanashi began to speak.
"And I think there's a good reason why Stephen prepared for everything we needed here," Nanashi pondered. "But we can go only far in guessing what that reason is. So, anything else we're missing, Asahi?"
"Well, while we prepare for school for the next few days," Asahi suggested. "Why don't we summon Dagda and Danu here?"
"Not a bad idea," Nanashi replied as he and Asahi activated the Demon Fusion App on their Gauntlets.
"Welcome to the Cathedral of Shadows, where demons gather!" Mido bombastically declared. "It seems you have used my services in the new world! A new world means more customers and more new demons to fuse on! Ahem, I got carried away by that. Well then, what would you do?"
"Uh… Mido, do we have the demons needed for fusing Dagda and Danu?" Nanashi requested.
"It will take a few moments…" Mido answered as various screens flooded with data from various demons from the Demonic Compendium. "Ah, you two have the demons needed to summon both. Well then, which one would you like to fuse first?"
"I'd like to summon Dagda first," Nanashi requested as he began to immediately select the skills that Dagda would use and inherit from the component demons.
"Let's see," Nanashi muttered as he browsed through the skills of the four component demons. "Tuatha Mace, Luster Candy, Vicious Punch, Samarecarm, Resist Light… I guess these will do."
"With the skill inheritance settled," Mido replied. "I will perform the fusion!"
Within moments, Mido brought forth four containers harboring the data of three specific demons: Megami Brigid, Night Queen Mab, and Tyrant Balor. Then, Mido allowed the data within the containers to move towards the summoning circle, where the four demon data began to rapidly merge. A brief flash of light occurred and then, a particular demon was summoned into Nanashi's Gauntlet.
"So, you called me here to this world, I'm not that surprised," Dagda remarked. "I'm Deity Dagda of the Tuatha De. You're going to summon Mother next? Well, don't keep Mother waiting, kid."
"Yeah, we're on it," Nanashi affirmed. "Asahi, you're up."
"I'm on it, Nanashi," Asahi answered as she began to use her new Gauntlet to select the skills that Danu would inherit. "Mazandyne, Matriarch's Love, Judgment Light, Dekaja, High Force Pleorma… Yeah, that's about right…"
"Without further ado," Mido declared. "I will perform the fusion!"
Just like with Nanashi, Mido brought forth three containers harboring the data of three specific demons: Megami Brigid, Lady Inanna, and Lady Black Maria. Then, Mido allowed the data within the containers to move towards the summoning circle, where the four demon data began to rapidly merge. A brief flash of light occurred and then, a particular demon was summoned into Asahi's Gauntlet.
"Asahi, just as I have watched over Nozomi, I will watch over you, your friend, and my son," Danu said. "I am Lady Danu of the Tuatha De. Let us all walk in this journey together."
With Dagda and Danu at their side, Nanashi and Asahi felt confident that they can tackle any challenge that this world throws at them.
"Gather demons," Mido declared as the Nanashi closed the Demon Fusion App. "And come again…"
High School Godslayer: IVA DxD
Chapter 2: Enter the Hunter Duo!
A few days later…
"Class, we have two transfer students joining us today," The English Studies teacher announced. "Please, kindly introduce yourselves in front of the class."
Wearing their new Kuoh school uniforms, Nanashi and Asahi walked towards the front of the classroom without hesitation, before turning around and facing the entire class to begin their introductions.
"My name is Nanashi Kizuna. I'm not really into calling people by their last names, so you may call me Nanashi if you want. I'm glad to meet you all," Nanashi bowed respectfully to his future classmates. "I hope we can be friends."
"And I'm Asahi Kizuna, and just like Nanashi here, you can also call me by my first name!" Asahi bowed to her new classmates as well. "I hope we can all be friends!"
"Nanashi and Asahi Kizuna, right? I'm Issei Hyoudou," One of the male students remarked on the newcomer's names. "That means you're siblings, right?"
"It's what we've been named as," Nanashi simply replied.
"Where are you from?" Another student, this time was a bespectacled girl, raised her hand with a question of her own. "My apologies for not introducing myself. I am Sona Sitri."
"It's okay. Nice to meet you, Sona," Asahi answered. "We came from… uh, Sumida, a special ward in Tokyo."
More and more students voiced their curiosity toward the newcomers. Despite the chaotic nature of the students' demands, Nanashi and Asahi calmly decline to answer some of those questions. However, before they could answer the other questions, the homeroom teacher stepped right in to quell the ongoing commotion.
"Alright, students!" The English Studies teacher raised her voice to swallow up all other voices, thus ending the ruckus. "I know all of you have a mountain of questions that you want to ask Nanashi and Asahi here, but for your sake, keep it until recess, you understand?"
Dissatisfied grumblings rose from the students, yet they all complied nonetheless. It didn't take a minute for the class to finally sink in silence.
"Good," The English Studies teacher said with a satisfied look on her face. "Now, you all must be wondering that our transfer students… They are quite different from all of us- considering they both came from Tokyo. Well, you guys don't need to be that concerned since Nanashi and Asahi are new students, please help them acclimatize to our school."
"Yes, sensei!" All students in the classroom spoke in unison.
The rest of the class session went on without any further ado. But, the two transfer students caught the eyes of two of the most prominent students in the class.
Rias Gremory observed the two new students. Asahi looked just like a normal human girl who can fit in with any student group in this school. On the other hand, Nanashi has the air of a delinquent. Both transfer students emanate some sort of supernatural power that Rias couldn't properly gauge.
'Interesting…' Rias' eyes narrowed as she stared at the new transfer students. 'I can sense some power in them, but I can't exactly identify it. Just who are these two?'
Meanwhile, in a seat opposite that of Rias, Sona Sitri eyed the newcomers carefully. When she asked her question to Nanashi, she discreetly scanned the duo and found they have some… supernatural power, but unlike any human, she has encountered so far.
'How peculiar,' Sona thought. 'These two may just be the most interesting students that Kuoh Academy has ever accepted.'
A few hours after class…
Now that the classes were done for the day, Nanashi walked the grounds around Kuoh Academy. Yet, Nanashi felt that he forgot to do something ever since he and Asahi start attending Kuoh Academy. Then, it hit him…
"Oh yeah…" Nanashi muttered. "I forgot to scan the whole school…"
Nanashi briefly de-cloaked his Gauntlet and activated the Map Analysis app. Nanashi's Gauntlet scanned the surroundings and after a few seconds, a notification screen appeared before Nanashi.
[Map Analysis Complete]
[Current Location - Kuoh Academy School Grounds]
"Now, that's settled…" Nanashi pondered. "Burroughs, can you tell if Asahi is nearby?"
[Yes, Master Nanashi…] Burroughs replied. [Asahi is on the other side of the school grounds. She is walking towards your location shortly.]
Nanashi nodded in acknowledgment and glanced around and saw three familiar classmates lying on the grass, staring at the incoming sunset. Nanashi could overhear their conversation as he walked towards them. They were Issei Hyoudou and his friends Matsuda and Motohama, colloquially known as the Perverted Trio.
"Tch, they sure beat us up harder than last time," Motohama grimaced as he clutched his head in pain.
"Pain is temporary when we get to see them in their glory!" Matsuda pumped his right hand into a fist.
"You said it," Issei agreed. "I even saw their oppai. It was worth it…"
Unbeknownst to the trio, Nanashi happened to walk near them with a disapproving look on his face. The trio managed to stand up to their feet and approached Nanashi.
"What are you three doing there?" Nanashi asked them.
"Nanashi!" Motohama said. "What brings you here?"
"I overheard you three talking," Nanashi pointed out. "So, I walked here to see what you three are up to."
"We peeked at the girls, that's what we're doing, and we got beaten up by them because of it," Issei explained shamelessly. "Wanna join us, Nanashi?"
"Uh, I think I'll pass that up," Nanashi said. "There's more to life than just ogling at women, you know."
"Come on now, Nanashi!" Issei attempted to goad him. "You're a guy too. So, you should join this prestigious event to see the most cherished part of a woman! Don't you have any dreams or aspirations, Nanashi?"
"If you're referring to the future after high school and college, then yes," Nanashi bluntly answered. "Then, what is your dream, Issei?"
"Me? My dream?" Issei inhaled while placing his right hand on his chest in emphasis. "My dream is to build a harem of women. Not just any harem, but one of mutual understanding, love, and trust! That is my dream!"
As Issei spoke of those words, Nanashi could feel the honesty that the perverted high-school boy was emanating.
"As much as your speech is awe-inspiring, I still humbly decline your offer," Nanashi answered. "Anyways, I gotta get back home soon, so I'll see you three next time, okay?"
"Yeah, the offer is still open, buddy," Issei replied. "I'm not giving up until you're convinced. See you around, Nanashi."
"Alright, Issei. I'll see you three around," Nanashi nodded as he walked away from the Perverted Trio.
As he walked away from the Perverted Trio, Nanashi just shook his head in exasperation. When he turned away from the scene and started walking, he saw Asahi walking up to him.
"There you are Nanashi," Asahi called out to him. "What are you doing behind that hallway?"
"Well, Issei and his two classmates tried to invite me into their group," Nanashi explained. "I turned down their offers."
"Thank goodness, Nanashi, but those three were ticking me off," Asahi huffed. "Especially Matsuda and Motohama, they would dare leer at me even during class hours!"
"At least you wore the black biker shorts that I suggested, right?" Nanashi asked.
"Yeah, I did wear those shorts under my skirt. Thanks, Nanashi," Asahi replied as she turned around, revealing the black biker shorts under her school skirt. "But, that still doesn't change the fact that those pervs leered at me."
"Well, while I agree what you think of those two," Nanashi shrugged. "But, I think Issei is different from them."
"What makes Issei different from the two?" Asahi questioned. "If you ask me, Issei is just as bad as a pervert as them."
As Nanashi pondered for an answer, he was reminded of what Issei said to him.
"My dream is to build a harem of women. Not just any harem, but a harem of mutual understanding, love, and trust! That is my dream!"
"It's just my hunch," Nanashi looked back at the Perverted Trio, particularly at Issei. "But, I feel that Issei is a good person deep down. That and he tried to genuinely befriend me earlier."
"Really?" Asahi inquired further. "What he did talk to you about?"
"He mostly talked about women and harems," Nanashi replied. "But I can see through his body language and his choice of words that even if Issei is a shameless pervert, at least in his way, he has… some respect to women, unlike his two friends, who are unrepentant pervs, at least to me."
"You think so? I don't exactly agree with you on that statement," Asahi replied skeptically. "Are you sure about what you saw on Issei?"
"It's just my guess. I could be wrong in that," Nanashi replied. "Anyway, we should be heading back to our apartment…"
Not far from Nanashi and Asahi, were two female students, who were staring from the window above the Occult Research Club Building, observing intently at the two transfer students. One of these two students possessed long bright red hair, which was let loose in its blazing beauty. The other possessed an extensive hair of raven color, which was tied in a long ponytail by an orange ribbon.
"Are you sure they are the ones?" The pony-tailed one asked, the low pitch of her voice did not mask her skepticism.
"Akeno, when I said that I'm sure about these two, I mean it. I sensed their potential the moment they showed up in class," The redhead replied, bristling with annoyance at her friend's doubt. "Don't tell me that you can't feel the power emanating from them, especially from that boy?"
"Only barely, Rias…" The one named Akeno disinterestedly replied with her arms crossed lazily. "I admit that they are humans, but they're emitting some sort of strange energy, but it's not the kind that Sacred Gears emit, right?"
"Indeed, Akeno..." Rias responded. "The strange power coming out from them is not that dominating and forceful like most Sacred Gears produce. It is so light that you can't sense it most of the time. However, if you are careful and persistent enough, you can feel the magnitude of their power, especially that of the boy."
"Well, I still can't feel anything much from the girl," Akeno said, earning her a scowl from the redhead. "What did you feel from Nanashi anyways?"
"Well, I felt I was intoxicated," All traces of the redhead's annoyance was gone.
"Intoxicated?" Akeno inquired. "I don't understand."
"It's more about Nanashi's presence," Rias answered with excitement in her tone of voice. "Unlike the domineering force that most of the Sacred Gears display, Nanashi's power draws you in like a magnet. The more you are curious about it, the more it pulls you in, and before you can realize it, you are already attracted to it - drowning in its overwhelming, yet intoxicating power."
Akeno could only raise her brow at her friend's zealous explanation, and at the red shade that filled the redhead's cheeks during her explanation. She smiled at her King's behavior.
"This is just too easy." Akeno thought. "Rias, if that's the case, then how would you compare their powers to that of Sacred Gear users?"
"If the powers of the Sacred Gears are to be likened as the flames of the blazing sun and the searing cold of the bowels of hell, then Nanashi is the invisible force that shapes and binds the dark cosmos together – it is nowhere and yet at the same time, everywhere!" The redhead described her experience further with great enthusiasm, not noticing that her best friend was already scheming against her.
"I know the Nanashi looks like a delinquent, Akeno. But when I set my eyes on them, I immediately know that there's something special about those two, especially him," Rias confessed, while a strand of her hair pointed up and waggling vigorously. "And now I know that my suspicion is true- there's indeed something special about these transfer students!"
"Oh my! Rias! How could you!" The black-haired beauty exclaimed in a mock surprise, yet it was enough to startle her friend. "I didn't expect that you already set your eyes on them!"
"Huh?" The face of puzzlement quickly replaced the redhead's exhilarated expression.
"It's alright. I know how scandalous you are. I didn't know that you have this side in you," Akeno continued with her teasing, much to the redhead's dismay. "First is that boy, Issei; and now these new transfer students? Are you intending to build your harem of cute boys and girls? If so, count me-"
"W-WHAT?!" The redhead roared with both surprise and anger in her voice. All efforts to disguise their presence were quickly flushed into the nothingness, as she shrieked to her Queen. "AKENO! How could you?! You know that it is important to us to gain more people for our cause. You what this means to me… and us… and you know that this is not some filthy hunt for mixed-gender harems-"
"Fufu, I'm just teasing you, Rias. You don't have to take it seriously!" The black-haired girl slightly reared as she chuckled at her friend's flustered reaction with her hands held upward, a gesture to placate the redhead's seething fury. "You know perfectly well that as your Queen, I always have faith in your judgment."
"Sometimes, you take your jokes a little too far, Akeno," Rias remarked as she shook her head disapprovingly.
"Regardless, I will always support your choices no matter what," Akeno continued with encouraging words, calming her friend even further. "Even if you show interest in our transfer students down there."
"And indeed you are, Akeno…" Rias instinctively reached out her hands to grab her friends', squeezing them in a warm grip. Although she was always the most mischievous one in her peerage, Akeno was also the one that she regarded closely as her sister.
"Huhuhu, Rias… You always have that glint in your eyes when you see something interesting," Akeno mirthfully said to Rias, who looked at the pony-tailed girl with bafflement. "Oh, the new transfer students are walking away."
It took only a second for the redhead to turn her sight to where her target was supposed to be. What followed next was the representation of her frustration.
"Oh no!" Rias grimaced. "They left!"
As Nanashi and Asahi walked away from the school grounds, they did not expect Burroughs to speak up.
[I'm detecting two Devil signatures nearby,] Burroughs chimed. [It seems those energy signatures belong to Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. They were both observing you two from afar.]
For a second, they saw a hint of red and black hair on a nearby building a few stories above them, trying to hide under the window.
"So, they are already watching us from a distance," Asahi voiced her concerns. "What do we do, Nanashi?"
"As long as they don't antagonize us," Nanashi replied. "I guess we'll let them be."
"But Nanashi, we're already gaining attention from the Devils in this area," Asahi stated her point. "Sooner or later, we'll need to confront them."
"As Stephen said, this is something that can't be avoided, Asahi," Nanashi reaffirmed. "The best thing we can do is to turn down their Peerage offers. We can't afford to lose our humanity, especially when I lost and regained mine a year ago."
"Yeah, you're right," Asahi smiled at him. "Anyway, let's get back home, Nanashi…"
A short while later, Nanashi and Asahi walked around the streets of Kuoh. The duo bought some crepes and beverages and began eating them as they walked in the busy streets.
"Well, our first day in school was… interesting," Nanashi quipped.
"At least we breezed through our homework, Nanashi," Asahi sighed. "At least, it's just our first class for the semester, so we're only doing some research on… Huh?"
The three-tailed fox was being chased by a pair of demons that were familiar to the duo: A Rakshasa and an Ogre. As Nanashi and Asahi saw the chase, they noticed that the nearby humans did not pay attention to the two demons chasing that three-tailed fox.
[I'm detecting three demon signatures nearby,] Burroughs chimed in. [Be careful…]
"From what I know of, I don't remember any foxes that have three tails," Asahi pondered. "Unless…"
"That fox is a demon," Nanashi added. "Although it's strange as to why it's carrying a backpack while being chased by two more demons."
"Yeah, a fox demon being chased by two more demons sounds suspicious," Asahi agreed. "Let's follow them."
Nanashi and Asahi tailed the demons to a deserted corner far away from any prying onlookers. They eventually found the three demons in a deserted corner of an alleyway.
"Quit tailing me, you jerks!" The fox demon snarled in a feminine voice. "The package I'm carrying isn't for you two!"
"Shut it, vixen," The Rakshasa replied. "My buddy and I think that whatever you're carrying in that backpack of yours is highly valuable."
"So, me friend, and I think we would kill you, eat you, and take the backpack with us!" The Ogre declared in a brutish tone of speech. "Give up backpack, foxy, and be food for us!"
"What's going on here?" Nanashi declared.
The Ogre and the Rakshasa turned around and saw Nanashi and Asahi glaring at them with their Gauntlets and weapons in full display.
"Tch, they're humans!" The Rakshasa groaned. "Our business is with that vixen bitch, not you two!"
"We overheard what you two demons are going to do with her," Asahi replied. "That makes this our business now!"
"Okay, that's it!" The Rakshasa fumed at the two Hunters. "My buddy and I will kill you two, and that bitchy vixen is next!"
"Killing time!" The Ogre shouted as he and Rakshasa drew their weapons and charged at the two Hunters.
"Let's go, Nanashi!" Asahi huffed.
"I'm on it," Nanashi agreed. "I call forth Jack Frost!"
Nanashi's Gauntlet glowed brightly and moments later, a diminutive fairy snowman materialized and readied itself under his Summoner's orders.
"It's about hee-time you called me, ho!" The snow fairy spoke to Nanashi upon being summoned. "Fairy Jack Frost ready at your beck and call, hee-ho!"
The Rakshasa lunged at Nanashi, with his sword drawn. But, Nanashi managed to parry the attack with his sword and counterattacked, knocking the Rakshasa back.
"Why won't they die?" Rakshasa growled as Nanashi dodged his sword slashes. "Damn you!"
Rakshasa switched targets from Nanashi to Jack Frost. The Jaki race demon tried to slash the Fairy snowman, but Jack Frost saw that attack coming and leaped out of the way of the slicing attack, much to Rakshasa's frustration.
"Well, too bad for hee-you because life, hee-ho, is not fair!" Jack Frost answered in Nanashi's stead. "Glacial Blast, ho!"
The barrage of frost attacks managed to distract the Rakshasa enough for Nanashi to lunge in and finish the demon off.
"And you're just small fry compared to what we've faced back then," Nanashi declared. "Mist Rush!"
Tightening his grip on his sword, Nanashi slashes several sword beams at the Rakshasa, bisecting the demon.
"Impossible…" Rakshasa muttered his last word before being disintegrated.
With the Rakshasa eliminated, Nanashi and Jack Frost turned their attention towards the Ogre. The Jaki race demon did the only thing that it could do in such an overwhelming situation like this.
[Threatening Aura Activated]
"Opponent too strong…" Ogre glanced between Nanashi and Jack Frost before lowering his club. "Me give up… No point fight for lost cause..."
"Then, join me and become my ally," Nanashi demanded. "If you don't, we will finish you off…"
"Yeah, it's be-hee-best to come along with us, ho!" Jack Frost added. "Trust me, you don't hee-want to end up like your dead friend there, ho."
"Me accept offer…" Ogre relented. "Me Jaki Ogre. Me work together with you now…"
Ogre dispersed into red particles and entered Nanashi's Gauntlet.
"That was rather… anti-climactic," Nanashi muttered.
[Indeed Master,] Burroughs chimed. [But at least that demon was recruited through Threatening Aura sub-app.]
"Way to go, Nanashi!" Asahi cheered. "By the way, where did the fox demon go?"
The fox demon hesitantly emerged from the pile of cardboard boxes and approached the Hunter duo.
"Are… those two gone?" The fox demon hesitantly asked.
"Don't worry," Nanashi answered. "Those two demons were taken care of."
"I don't know what to say about this, but… thank you," The fox demon said in gratitude. "I'm Beast Kitsune. Those two creeps have been stalking me the whole day for the backpack that I'm carrying."
"You're welcome. And you're soo cute! You reminded me of Hallelujah and Chiro!" Asahi gushed as she picked up Kitsune. "I'm curious. What exactly are you carrying in that backpack?"
"I can't disclose that due to Mistress Inari's business code, sorry…" Kitsune shook her head. "Could you please put me down?"
Asahi gently put the Kitsune down into the ground. The Beast demon scratched itself using its hind paw, and then turned around and spoke to the two Hunters.
"Now, I'm betting you two have questions, right?" Kitsune said. "I'll answer what I can, within reason, of course."
"So, you're under Mistress Inari, right?" Nanashi inquired. "As in Inari Ōkami, the Shinto deity of foxes, trade, commerce, and the like?"
"I see you are well-informed. Indeed, I am one of the many Kitsune under the command of Mistress Inari," Kitsune confirmed. "We serve as couriers for our Mistress, carrying various items to customers around Kuoh and beyond."
"So, Mistress Inari is sending you around Kuoh to deliver packages?" Asahi iterated. "That's… Something that I didn't expect at all."
"Well, Mistress Inari has been running this delivery business before you two came to this town…" Kitsune said to them. "Listen, I know I'm just familiar to my Mistress, but perhaps a small token of gratitude is for you two?"
Kitsune used one of her tails and reached in her bag. Using her tail, she grabbed a button sticker and handed that over to Nanashi.
"That is a fox button sticker. Just stick that to any door in the human world and it'll open an entrance to Inari's Domain," Kitsune explained. "Well, I must go deliver this package. I hope you two will visit Mistress Inari sometime. I bet she'll be delighted to meet new faces like you two!"
And thus, the Kitsune scampered off with the delivery item in tow.
"And there she goes," Asahi said. "Whatever she's carrying must be that important, huh?"
"I bet we'll meet with her Mistress soon enough," Nanashi shrugged. "Anyway, let's head home…"
Unbeknownst to Nanashi and Asahi, someone watched the entire battle from the rooftop of one of the buildings. She is a young woman wearing the female version of the Kuoh Academy high school uniform. Her long, brown hair is arranged in multiple drill-like curls. Her name is Kiyome Abe, a third-year high school student from Kuoh Academy.
"They were able to summon those creatures," Kiyome muttered. "Are they Beast Tamers, like me?"
A few days later…
Today was Saturday, the sixth day of the week. Various people were walking about in Kuoh, and the Hunter duo was among the crowds that day.
Nanashi and Asahi were taking a stroll on the busy streets of the town. The fact that this town was still a staging ground for the Three Factions means that they have to keep a close eye on the upcoming events.
"Aside from Rias, Sona, their Peerages, and the three demons we encountered," Asahi recalled. "We couldn't find any other demons or even leads on Ophis so far."
"Maybe we've been looking at the wrong places?" Nanashi pondered. "Think about it, someone so powerful as Ophis could be so secretive that only a few people know about her."
"You do have a point, Nanashi," Asahi sighed. "But you did confirm that there is a flux of supernatural energy here, Burroughs?"
[Yes, I did scan the outlying area for abnormalities,] Burroughs confirmed. [Aside from the Devil signatures emitted by Rias, Sona, their companions, and the first three demons you've encountered in this world, there were only traces of abnormal magnetite surges so far today.]
"As much as Stephen has provided us for this mission, we're slowly running out of money for our daily expenses," Nanashi muttered. "I sure wish there was a way we can exchange Macca for Yen or even a U.S. dollar…"
In the distance, Nanashi and Asahi were walking back to their apartment below the street crossing when they saw Issei meeting up with an unfamiliar girl.
"Wait, isn't that Issei?" Asahi said. "And who's that girl that he's talking to?"
"I don't know," Nanashi replied. "It is his business, so we don't have the right to butt in…"
[Wait Master,] Burroughs added. [I'm detecting faint amounts of supernatural energy nearby. Do you want to run biometric and magnetite scans?]
"Burroughs, I didn't expect you to pop up all of a sudden," Asahi blinked. "What do you think, Nanashi?"
"Not a bad idea," Nanashi agreed. "Burroughs, do a couple of scans of both Issei and the mystery girl."
[Here goes,] Burroughs chimed. [Activating Scan Mode…]
Suddenly, Nanashi's Gauntlet emitted green scanning lasers to the area around them. After a few seconds, the scanning lasers faded away and his Gauntlet glowed bright green.
[Based on both the biometric and magnetite scans, I've detected some traces of abnormal energy within Issei Hyoudou, but it's inconclusive,] Burroughs did her scan on the couple. [But for our mystery girl, it's a different story. It's either that this girl is a human with supernatural powers or she isn't human, to begin with.]
While Asahi gasped at the revelation, on the other hand, Nanashi's eyes narrowed at the information Burroughs revealed. Who is that girl and what is her intention with Issei?
[Master, I also found something about the humans of this world, based on the scans on Issei,] Burroughs added. [Unlike you two, it seems that the native humans don't have any resistance to Light-based attacks.]
"So, humans who are born in this world can be hurt by Light-based spells," Nanashi muttered. "I guess this world is different from ours."
"Nanashi, as much as you'd like to dwell on that, but I'm worried about Issei's safety, even if he's a perv," Asahi persuaded. "So, should we follow those two?"
"Alright Asahi, we'll follow Issei and his supposed girlfriend," Nanashi agreed. "After all, the life of our classmate is at risk here."
[With that settled,] Burroughs chimed in. [I'll register that as a new quest on the list.]
[Main Quest: "A Suspicious Date" has been accepted]
[On your way around Kuoh, you and Asahi noticed your classmate, Issei, meeting up with a mysterious girl. Biometric and magnetite scans indicate that this girl is not what she seems. You and Asahi make it your goal to watch both the couple's date from a distance and if necessary, intervene to ensure Issei's safety.]
"Wait a sec, Nanashi… If that girl is sensitive to the supernatural," Asahi reasoned. "How are we going to track them if she can sense us somehow?"
"Perhaps we could be of assistance?" Danu offered as she spoke from Asahi's Gauntlet. "It seems you two need some help from me and Dagda, my son."
"I agree. My Mother and I could do something about that, kid," Dagda chimed in from Nanashi's Gauntlet. "With Mother's help, we can mask both of your presence for some time while you two are following over the boy and his suspicious girlfriend."
"Wait," Asahi insisted. "You two can do that?"
"Well, one of my titles is the 'Good God', as in 'Good in Everything'," Dagda huffed as he snapped his fingers, causing a green aura to envelop the two Hunters. "This will only take a few seconds."
Both Nanashi and Asahi's bodies faintly glowed in a greenish hue.
"Remember that this aura will only last for a few hours," Danu explained. "So, make the most out of it."
With the issue resolved, Nanashi and Asahi began tailing Issei and the mysterious girl.
Issei and his supposed girlfriend went to various places around Kuoh, with Nanashi and Asahi tailing them from behind.
Issei and the mysterious girl were oblivious to the Hunter duo tailing them as they went into several fashion shops, a few restaurants, and even a movie theatre.
A few hours has passed when the Hunter duo tailed the couple walking towards Kuoh Park. The sun was about to set as Nanashi and Asahi recalled their activities while they were tailing Issei and the mystery girl.
"Well, we did manage to tail on Issei and that girl," Nanashi sighed. "But Asahi, you keep getting us sidetracked, especially on window shopping."
"I know, but the sales are tempting, Nanashi…" Asahi pouted. "And besides, we're lucky that Issei and that girl went to the same stores like us, right?"
As the Hunter duo continued to tail Issei and the mystery girl back to Kuoh Park, they did not expect Burroughs to suddenly pop up.
[I'm detecting a large amount of malignant energy within the suspicious girl,] Burroughs warned them. [Do you two want to go on?]
Nanashi could feel the killing intent originating from the strange girl, and it was getting a lot stronger as the sun went down. Then, the mystery girl turned around and faced Issei.
"Hey, Issei…" The girl asked Issei. "There is something I want to do to celebrate our first date. Can you listen to my wish?"
Nanashi felt something was wrong when that girl asked that particular question to his classmate. This was only confirmed when Burroughs chimed in all of a sudden.
[Massive magnetite fluctuations are emanating from the mystery girl,] Burroughs warned. [Exercise caution.]
This is bad! This more or less confirms to Nanashi and Asahi that the girl has malevolent intentions towards Issei! They could see the glint in her eyes that was not a good thing, and their classmate was too oblivious to notice!
They must take action now or else Issei will pay with his life!
"Will you die for me?" The mysterious girl spoke in a deep, sadistic tone to Issei.
The girl transformed into a voluptuous woman wearing what seemed to be a dominatrix outfit. A pair of large, crow-like wings emerged from her back, signifying this woman is not a human, but a Fallen Angel.
"Nanashi!" Asahi said to him. "We have to do something or else, Issei will die!"
"Yeah, we have to," Nanashi replied, which Asahi nodded in agreement. "Let's go save Issei!"
Just as the supernatural girl threw a spear at Issei, Nanashi ran towards Issei and his right hand glowed in a grayish hue as he cast a particular spell.
"Hang on, Issei!" Nanashi muttered. "Tetraja!"
Suddenly, a barrier nullified the barrage of light spears that was aimed directly at Issei, preventing the spears from directly killing the boy. But, several of the light spears hit the ground, resulting in an explosion powerful enough to knock Issei into a nearby tree.
"Issei! No!" Nanashi and Asahi gasped simultaneously as their classmate tried to stand up after that explosive attack. They both rushed towards the injured boy, helping him stand up.
"What the hell?! Nanashi?! Asahi?!" Issei blurted as he struggled between seeing what he couldn't believe in and getting a hold of his bearings after being knocked down.
"This isn't the time for a chat, Issei!" Nanashi hissed while glaring at the supernatural woman observing them.
"Hmm~ I certainly did not expect my other targets to appear in front of me when I was about to kill the first one," The female Fallen Angel mused as she appeared before them while descending from the sky.
The female Fallen Angel let out a malicious grin as she spoke those words. However, this only made Nanashi and Asahi even more determined to defy her.
"You tried to kill our classmate here, whoever you are," Nanashi remarked as he took his stance. "Whatever you're planning to do, this ends right here."
"Well, not that it would matter, but I would have preferred that we did not meet like this," She let out a rather malicious smirk as she looked at the trio. "I'm the Fallen Angel Raynare. That way, you will remember my name when I stab you and the girl after that love-struck boy."
Nanashi took a glance at Issei who was looking at her with a mixture of horror and utter confusion, despite his injuries. It was too much for the distraught boy to understand everything that transpired, and that just deepened Nanashi's resolve to defend his classmate from the Fallen Angel.
"Now, it has been a pleasure to meet you in person, but since all of my targets are in front of me, I should not waste this opportunity to get rid of you three." Raynare summoned another light spear in her hand as she alternated her sights between Nanashi and Issei. "I guess I should complete the first task at hand."
While Raynare was busy gloating, Nanashi looked at Asahi and in response, Asahi nodded in understanding.
"I'll go deal with her," Nanashi said to Asahi. "You keep Issei safe, okay?"
"I'll do what I can to keep Issei safe," Asahi said to him as she help Issei stand. "Nanashi, go kick her ass!"
Nanashi stood up and let Asahi and Issei run to a safe spot. Raynare paid no attention to them, confident that she can kill the delinquent-looking boy in front of her swiftly before pursuing them from the air.
"You've got guts to stand against a superior species, human," Raynare sneered. "Now, stand there and accept your death."
"Shut the fuck up. You'll regret fighting me," Nanashi retorted quickly de-cloaked his Gauntlet and pressed one of its buttons. "Summon!"
In a flash of light, three powerful beings suddenly appeared alongside Nanashi. All of them were giving stern glares of Raynare while awaiting Nanashi's orders.
"I am the Famed Tenkai," The red-masked demon monk declared. "We must deal with the Fallen Angel woman to help the boy survive!"
"True heroes always show up hee-late, but better late than never, hee-ho!" The demon wearing the Demonica suit spoke. "You can't laugh or cry now because Fairy Demonee-ho has arrived for battle!"
"Looks like it's about time you called me to battle, kid," Dagda declared as he was summoned from Nanashi's Gauntlet. "If we want to save that boy, then let's kick her ass!"
Unfazed by the demons Nanashi had summoned, Raynare let out a wicked smile. Nanashi could tell from her facial expressions that she thinks she'll enjoy this battle. Unfortunately for her, Nanashi and his demons were about to prove her wrong.
As Nanashi and his demons prepare to face Raynare, Asahi managed to help walk Issei away from the ensuing battle. Since Issei was knocked back into a nearby tree due to the sheer force of Raynare's attack, Asahi knew that her classmate sustained internal injuries.
Once they were far away from the battle, Asahi lay down Issei in one of the trees in the park.
"Hah… There…" Asahi huffed. "Now, I can start to treat his wounds properly…"
"Well, well… What do we have here?"
Asahi turned around and saw three Fallen Angels staring at her menacingly.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Asahi cursed. "Just who are you three?"
"Well, girlie… Thought you never asked," The voluptuous Fallen Angel woman replied to her. "I'm Kalawarner and these are my associates, Dohnaseek and Mittelt."
"We three have our orders," Dohnaseek added. "It's that boy you're guarding."
"So, why don't you give that boy to us?" Mittelt demanded. "I'll promise we'll kill you swiftly if you do…"
They were not asking; they were demanding. Asahi quietly bottled up her fear and stood up against them.
"No… I won't let you!" Asahi glared at them as her Gauntlet de-cloaked and glowed in a brilliant green hue. "Danu, I need your help!"
Upon being called by Asahi, Danu materialized between her Summoner and the three Fallen Angels.
"Asahi, I shall confront these intruders," Danu materialized. "They shall not harm you or that boy."
"You dare stand in our way?" Dohnaseek glared. "We'll gladly kill you too!"
"Just who the hell are you supposed to be?" Mittelt demanded.
"I am Danu, Lady of the Tuatha De," Danu faced the three Fallen Angels. "No harm shall befall to my Summoner and her friend."
Agitated by Danu's words, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, and Mittelt all tried to attack Asahi and Danu at once. Unfortunately for them, Danu was a lot faster and immediately cast one of her signature spells to stop them in their tracks.
"Slumber Vortex," Danu muttered as she tapped her staff into the ground.
A wave of drowsing energy burst forth from Danu and managed to hit Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, and Mittelt. The three Fallen Angels struggled against the sleeping spell, but to no avail. One by one, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, and Mittelt fell into the ground, with each of them was in a state of forced sleep. Danu walked towards the sleeping Fallen Angels as a vortex of wind began to form in the tip of her staff.
"The three of you, begone!" Danu uttered. "Mazandyne!"
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind emanated from Danu's staff and blew the three groggy Fallen Angels away. As the three Fallen Angels were swept away by the wind, Danu made sure that they were blown away far enough so that her summoner can start healing her classmate. With her task complete Danu, quickly return to her Summoner's Gauntlet.
Meanwhile, Asahi breathe a sigh of relief, and then she focused her attention on Issei. Since the Fallen Angels were taken care of by Danu, Asahi could tell that if she doesn't use a healing spell on him now, Issei could very well die from internal hemorrhage or worse…
"Hang on, Issei…" Asahi muttered as her Gauntlet de-cloaked and began to glow in a greenish hue. "Diarama…"
The healing spell stirred up the boy, prompting him to briefly regain consciousness.
"Whoa… Asahi…" Issei groaned as he was being healed by her. "Gukh… What is going on…? Ack… And why is Nanashi and Yuuma…"
"Rest easy, Issei…" Asahi assured him. "Nanashi will take care of it. Sleep, for now, Issei. Dormina."
Before Issei could ask any further, Asahi's spell compelled him to fall asleep on the spot. Suddenly, Danu materialized from Asahi's Gauntlet and observed the sleeping high school boy intently.
"Hmm, this is a stressful turn of events for the boy," Danu explained. "Perhaps it is better for him this way. And it should be easier for us to heal his wounds while he's asleep. I shall use my Matriarch's Love to heal the remainder of his wounds."
Asahi nodded and Danu channeled her magnetite through her staff and converted it into healing energy. Then, Danu pointed her staff at Issei, and sure enough, the bruises on his body faded away, his internal organs have been healed, and even his uniform was fully restored thanks to the spell's effect. Yet, Danu kept an eye on the unconscious boy, even though his injuries have been healed.
"Hmm, you look tense, Danu," Asahi spoke the Mother Goddess as they continued to heal Issei of his wounds. "Is there something wrong with him?"
"I can neither confirm nor affirm it," Danu muttered. "But as I healed the boy, I cannot help but notice something strange on that boy."
"What do you mean by that?" Asahi asked.
"There is some hidden power deep inside the boy's soul," Danu explained. "I cannot exactly describe it completely, but I can affirm that the boy's power is draconian. Nonetheless, we will worry about that later. For now, we will need to guard that boy while Nanashi battles that Fallen Angel."
"If you say so," Asahi agreed as Issei was asleep in her lap. "I hope Nanashi is doing well in that battle."
Meanwhile…
"Now, accept your deaths!" Raynare declared as she threw multiple spears of light towards Nanashi.
As Raynare initiated the battle by throwing light spears directly at Nanashi, she let out a smirk as she saw the boy didn't even try to dodge her attack.
But, what she saw next prompted her smirk to vanish from her face.
The spears of light that were aimed towards Nanashi dissipated, nullifying the attacks that she threw at him.
"Impossible!" Raynare snarled at Nanashi. "A human such as you should be dead by one of my spears! How come my spears don't have any effect on you?!"
"Let's just say you don't deserve to know why," Nanashi answered, his right hand began to spark with electricity. "And you shouldn't underestimate us. Ziodyne!"
Nanashi snapped his fingers, and soon enough, a bolt of lightning struck Raynare. The Fallen Angel woman gritted her teeth as she took the brunt of the electric attack. In retaliation, Raynare began to fly quickly and threw more spears at them, which Nanashi and his demons dodged easily.
"Stand hee-still and accept your judgment-ho!" Demonee-ho aimed his rifle at the Raynare. "Desperate Hit, ho!"
Demonee-ho opened fire at the salacious Fallen Angel. Some of the shots managed to damage her, but she dodged the majority of the bullets aimed at her.
"She's more agile and durable than she looks," Nanashi asked. "Dagda, Tenkai… find an opening in her defenses and strike her down quickly."
"As you command," Tenkai replied as he prepared to face Raynare. "Fallen, face retribution this instant! Berserker God!"
Tenkai lunged at Raynare like a missile and launched a flurry of punches, followed up with a throw that sent her flying towards Dagda. As she was knocked into the air, her thoughts on the situation were bleak.
'This was supposed to go without a hitch! How could this happen?' Raynare gritted her teeth. 'Who are these humans? Those familiars of his… they're monsters! Who the hell is that boy?!'
As Raynare was distracted by her thoughts, she bumped into something she did not expect. She looked behind what was obstructing her flight path and saw Dagda glaring at her menacingly.
"Fallen scum like you that preys on a hapless boy disgusts me…" Dagda nodded as his right hand glowed green. "Here's a Vicious Punch! Take that!"
Dagda managed to slug Raynare in the face with his Vicious Punch, causing her to plummet into the hard ground below, creating a miniature impact crater in the process. Nanashi and his demons ran to the newly formed crater, only to see Raynare sprawled on the ground, unconscious from Dagda's attack.
Not far from the scene of the battle, Kalawarner, Dohnaseek, and Mittelt all groaned as they regained consciousness after their attempted attack on Asahi and Issei. They all sport numerous cuts and bruises from Danu's attack on them.
"What was that bitch?" Mittelt gritted. "She put us to sleep and then used a freaking wind spell to blow us away!"
"Mittelt, I think we have other concerns right now," Kalawarner replied. "Look!"
They saw Raynare punched out by Dagda and she plummeted to the ground. As the Nanashi and his demons quickly approached the impact site, the three Fallen Angels were at the crossroads on what they were going to do next.
"Damn that human boy!" Dohnaseek snarled in anger. "If we don't interfere now, Raynare will be killed!"
"Then, what are we waiting for?!" Mittelt agreed. "Let's get in there!"
The two gung-ho Fallen Angels were about to enter the battle when someone tugged their arms. Dohnaseek and Mittelt looked back and saw Kalawarner restraining both of them.
"What are you doing, Kalawarner?!" Mittelt demanded. "Let me go! I want to fight this human and save Raynare!"
"Yeah, you saw what that human boy did!" Dohnaseek added. "We have to help Raynare before that human kills her!"
"No! I want to fight that boy as much as we did to that girl, but we can't just interfere," Kalawarner gritted. "We just saw what those humans and they're… monsters did to Raynare! If we fight them, we'll get killed! And I also sense Lord Azazel coming."
Dohnaseek and Mittelt can only grit their teeth because they along with Kalawarner can already sense Lord Azazel's presence. Fearing that their presence will be discovered, the three Fallen Angels silently cast a magic circle and teleported away from the scene.
Meanwhile, Nanashi and his demons walked to the unconscious body of Raynare. There were several cuts in various places in her body and her face was bruised by Dagda's punch.
"Seems she got knocked out from all the attacks we did to her," Nanashi surveyed. "What do you think, Dagda? Should we finish her off?"
"Hmm, that's not a bad idea, kid," Dagda replied. "Alright then… Wait, someone powerful is coming this way…"
Before Nanashi could even ask who was coming to the area, an unfamiliar voice shouted at them.
"W-wait! Don't kill her!"
A black magic circle appeared before Nanashi and his demons, and a male Fallen Angel materialized in that magic circle.
His hair was a mix of magenta and black and his six pairs of raven-colored wings were bigger compared to Raynare. He was wearing formal business attire.
Unlike Raynare, he has six pairs of black wings were a giveaway of his power, which puts Nanashi and his demons on guard.
"Another one?" Nanashi asked. "And who are you…?"
"Wait, kid," Dagda muttered as he got a look at the strange male Fallen Angel in front of them. "There's no mistaking it. This guy… I think he's Azazel."
Nanashi recalled summoning a demon with the same name as that Fallen Angel that he once summoned through Demon Fusion. This Azazel looked drastically different from the demon that he knows from the Demonic Compendium.
"Yep, what he said is true," The male Fallen Angel confirmed. "I'm Azazel, former Governor-General of the Grigori and I believe we haven't met. Who are you four?"
"I'm Nanashi, a student, Hunter, and a summoner," Nanashi answered. "And these three are Dagda, Tenkai, and Demonee-ho."
The former Governor-General eyed Nanashi and his demons carefully. Azazel was familiar with the names of Dagda and Tenkai, but not of Demonee-ho. Yet, he set those thoughts aside and spoke to Nanashi and his demons.
"I see. I thank you four knocking some sense into Raynare here," Azazel said. "I'll take Raynare back to the Underworld and impose a punishment fitting for her crimes."
"Azazel…" Nanashi muttered. "What are you planning to do with her?"
"Well as it stands, Raynare was supposed to be punished multiple times for disobeying my orders, among other things," Azazel shrugged. "But, seeing her ass kicked by you seems to be one of such suitable punishment, among many."
As Azazel was about to conjure his magic circle, Nanashi raised his hand.
"Wait, before you go, could you at least answer some questions?" Nanashi asked the Grigori leader. "Why did Raynare try to kill Issei? What was she after?"
"At least I owe you an explanation to why she targeted that boy," Azazel sheepishly explained. "You see, the reason she was aiming to kill the boy over there was that he is likely harboring a Sacred Gear."
"Sacred Gear?" Nanashi inquired. "What's that?"
For a moment, Azazel's eyes widened in shock as the boy asked that question, but the Fallen Angel quickly regained composure and decided to answer the boy's question.
"Ahem, in layman's terms," Azazel explained. "Sacred Gears are items with powerful abilities bestowed upon humans by the Biblical God. Weren't you informed about this?"
"To be frank with you, I wasn't informed about the existence of Sacred Gears," Nanashi replied as he scratched his head. "It's kinda hard to explain…"
Azazel eyed Nanashi carefully. Many thoughts crossed the Fallen Angel's mind as he contemplated Nanashi's reply. Yet, he set that aside for now and hoisted the unconscious Raynare on his back. Then, Azazel snapped his fingers and a magic circle appeared underneath him.
"Well then, I have to return with Raynare back to the Underworld," Azazel said as a magic circle expanded in size underneath him. "I promise that when the time comes, I'll have someone in mind to explain the full situation to you and your associates. He's known by his codename, "Slash Dog". It's the least I can do since you managed to beat some sense into Raynare. Until then, we'll meet again!"
Azazel snapped his fingers and he teleported away via a magic circle alongside an unconscious Raynare.
"That winged man was strange-ho…" Demonee-ho remarked. "Hee-ho just showed up and hee-took the bird lady with him."
"He did say that Fallen Angel woman is under his jurisdiction, so to speak," Tenkai added while glancing on Issei, who was still asleep. "I admit this is a strange turn of events, but at least your friend is safe."
"Hmph, I doubt it'll be the last time we see of that him," Dagda huffed as he stared at the sky, contemplating the possible consequences of this battle. "Anyway kid, I can restore this park to its original state, but that'll exhaust my remaining energy."
"Alright, do what you need, Dagda…" Nanashi nodded.
"I'll use up the remaining energy I have to patch this place up," Dagda said. "This will take a few moments, kid."
Dagda snapped his fingers, and immediately, the collateral damage that ravaged Kuoh Park disappeared, restoring the park to its original state.
"And kid, you'd better keep on your toes," Dagda added. "I'm betting that the other big shots of this world are gonna start paying attention to you two."
And with the park restored, Dagda, Demonee-ho, and Tenkai returned to Nanashi's Gauntlet. With the battle concluded, Nanashi ran back to Asahi and found her tending to Issei, who was sleeping on Asahi's lap.
"Asahi," Nanashi said as he walked towards his childhood friend. "How's Issei doing?"
"Yeah, I managed to heal him up with Danu's help," Asahi replied. "Though, I had to put him to sleep while you were fighting Raynare."
"That's good to hear," Nanashi nodded. "Were you attacked by Fallen Angels while I was fighting?"
"Yeah, a trio of them did try to attack us earlier," Asahi confirmed. "Don't worry, Nanashi. Danu defended us from them."
For the longest time, he could remember, Asahi was almost always by his side. Nanashi let out a small smile as he was glad that Asahi defended herself quite well.
"We have to take him back to his house," Nanashi added. "Burroughs, can you find the exact location of Issei's home?"
[Not a problem, Master,] Burroughs chimed. [Issei Hyoudou lives not far from here. It should be feasible for you two to carry him home.]
"Agreed, let's go, Asahi," Nanashi said as he helped her carry Issei. "We need to escort Issei back to his home."
"But, how are we going to explain what happened to him or his parents?" Asahi asked. "I bet it won't be easy explaining all of this when he wakes up…"
"I guess we can just wing an excuse or something," Nanashi shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we need to."
"Yeah, we can worry about that detail once we escort him back to his home," Asahi agreed. "Let's go, Nanashi."
[Congratulations on completing the quest!] Burroughs added. [Now, let's take Mister Issei back to his home.]
As the Hunter duo carried the unconscious Issei back to his home, the whole battle did not go unseen. By the distance, the two Peerages silently observed the spectacle, each with their own opinions on the outcome of the battle.
On one side of the park, Sona Sitri and her peerage members Tsubasa and Reya appeared via a magic circle. They were drawn to massive outbursts of power in Kuoh Park and through their familiars, oversaw the full scope of the battle.
"Incredible, to think Fallen Angel Azazel made an appearance here, of all places…" Sona muttered. "It seems the two transfer students are also aware of the supernatural, just as we suspected. And they even managed to easily defeat the Fallen Angels."
"Yeah, and our transfer students even summoned his familiars to aid him in battle," Tsubasa added. "It's kinda similar to what we used in the Peerage system, right?"
"Sona, both of them are powerful humans," Reya suggested. "Should we try to recruit them to our Peerage?"
"I am not sure about that," Sona shook her head as a magic circle appeared below them. "It's too early to be sure…"
On the other side of the park, Rias and Akeno appeared via a magic circle. Similarly, Rias' bat familiar saw the full extent of the battle and this prompted them to appear on the scene.
"Mou~! We came too late!" Rias grumbled. "And those two took that Issei with them. And Nanashi even had a chat with Azazel, of all people!"
"Fufufu, our transfer students sure gave those Fallen Angels a beating along with their… familiars. I like that Nanashi used that lightning magic at that Fallen," Akeno commented. "What do you say, Rias? Should we try to convince them to join our Peerage?"
"I was already thinking on that," Rias replied. "And to top all of that, even Nanashi fixed the park for us!"
"At least that's one less work for us, Rias…" Akeno agreed. "Anyway, let's head back home."
"Right," Rias sighed. "I guess it'll be clarified when we get to invite them to our club by Monday."
And thus, the two members of the Occult Research Club teleported away using their magic circle. As with Sona and her peerage, they were determined to get some answers from the Hunter duo.
Somewhere in the Underworld, in one of the Grigori hideouts…
A silver-haired young man was exercising alone in an underground gym. He was wearing a black sleeveless tank top, jogging pants, and he was barefoot. As he was about to smack the punching bag with his right fist, he sensed an outburst of power, which prompted him to stop exercising for the time being. Then, a pair of white dragon wings materialized on his back, glowing in a whitish hue, which gave away his identity.
He is Vali Lucifer, the White Dragon Emperor, use of the Longinus-Class Sacred Gear Divine Dividing. And within his Sacred Gear lies Albion, the Vanishing Dragon. The wings on his back began to resonate as the sealed dragon began to speak to his host.
[Do you sense that, Vali?] Albion spoke through Divine Dividing. [That outburst of power was incredible…]
"Yeah, I can feel it too," Vali answered as he picked up a water canteen. "New players have entered the stage."
[Although it is faint, I also detected the presence of my rival in the same area,] Albion added. [What will you do, Vali?]
"What else? I'll train until we cross paths with them," Vali smirked as he opened up his canteen. "Things just got a lot more interesting."
In a heavily customized demon Domain somewhere in Kuoh, a certain goddess was watching the recent events of Kuoh through her flame orb. As she watched the conclusion of the battle with that Fallen Angel and the consequences of that battle, the fox-themed demon woman began to smile, intrigued and curious as to what would happen next.
She is Inari Ōkami, the Japanese goddess of foxes, fertility, rice, tea, and sake, of agriculture and industry, general prosperity, and worldly success.
Inari was about to continue observing Nanashi and his friends when one of her Kitsune entered her room.
"I'm back from my delivery to Lady Yasaka, Mistress Inari," Kitsune greeted her master. "I apologize for the slight delay with the package. Some rowdy demons tried to eat me and take the package away."
"Oh, so the package was successfully delivered to Lady Yasaka in Kyoto. That's a relief to hear," Inari said, smiling as her familiar got the delivery done. "Pray tell, can you tell me what happened in detail?"
The Kitsune explained to her Mistress about the events that day, and how she was rescued by two humans whose abilities were very familiar to her Mistress.
"So, two humans managed to defend you from the Ogre and Rakshasa that tried to eat you and loot the delivery," Inari summarized. "And you saw them using the Demon Summoning Program by your own eyes, yes?"
"Yes, Mistress…" Kitsune confirmed. "The human boy summoned a demon to fight off the two demons that pursued me. He even forcefully recruited one of them while killing off the other."
From what Inari knew, the Beast Tamers are humans native to this world who can tame creatures through various means, but to her knowledge, no Beast Tamer has ever summoned a demon from the Expanse. That means these humans were from the same world as her.
"So far, only Lady Yasaka of Youkai Faction in Kyoto know about the existences of demons like us, let alone alternate versions of some of their gods here," Inari muttered. "Not even the Azazel of this world knows of our true existences as demons, at least not yet…"
"But Mistress Inari," Kitsune asked. "This secrecy wouldn't last forever, right?"
"Unfortunately, you are right in that regard," Inari answered. "With that Messiah boy already in this world, it seems this secrecy is beginning to unravel. You may take your leave now, Kitsune."
"As you wish, Mistress Inari," Kitsune bowed before scampering off.
Inari conjured a fireball in her left hand and observed both Nanashi and Asahi as they walked towards the Hyoudou residence with Issei in tow, asleep from the previous battle.
"It's only a matter of time that the Messiah boy and his childhood friend will attract the attention of malevolent supernatural factions out there," Inari mused. "And the time will come when I shall meet with them to offer my aid. After all, they did aid one of my familiars."
With Nanashi's battle prowess being felt across this world, Inari knew for certain that various factions around the world will be inevitably drawn to him, either to recruit Nanashi into their ranks, kill him, or somewhere in-between. As she was contemplating the situation, she reached for an item in the pockets of her robe, which was a macca coin. Inari flipped the macca coin and watch it land on the floor. Yet, instead of the macca coin landing in either heads or tails, the macca coin landed on its edge. Inari then picked up the coin and put it back in her pockets.
"To think that coin landed on its edge implies a great change is underway, and we shall all be swept by it," Inari mused to herself. "Perhaps this can be a start of a great mercantile partnership with the Messiah boy, fufufu…"
End of Chapter
In the next chapter, the supernatural forces of this world will be drawn to the Hunter duo like moths to a flame. How will Nanashi and Asahi react?
One thing is for certain. The presence of a Messiah in that world will have consequences on its denizens, but to what extent? That remains uncertain…
In the next chapter:
High School Godslayer: IVA DxD
Chapter 3: The Demon Summoner Effect
I'll make sure to bring more chapters next time!