I do not own Highschool DxD nor do I own Diablo. All rights respectively go to Ichiei Ishibumi, the series' creator, and Blizzard Entertainment, the company who made Diablo.

"Are you all set, Asia?" asked Aidan.

"I sure am," Asia replied. The two of them were finished packing fliers into Asia's bag, ready for another day of handing them out.

Or so they thought.

"Hold it there, you two," Rias called out to Aidan and Asia from her desk. "I think you'll be happy to hear that your flyer days are officially over."

"What do you mean?" Asia asked.

Rias stood up from her desk. "Do not worry, Asia. It's not a punishment. But even though you've done great work, the job of handing out fliers is more attuned to a Familiar."

Aidan blinked. "A Familiar? Like a pet?"

"Not exactly," Rias said with a smile. "Familiars are creatures that we Devils use to do small tasks and jobs for us. Having one is a key part of being a Devil. And I think it's about time for you two to have one of your own."

Both Asia and Aidan looked at one another and blinked. This felt like some form of promotion to them. It has not been that long since they became Devils, especially for Asia. But at least they no longer have to deal with handing out fliers anymore.

"First things first though; let us introduce you to ours," Rias said as she held out her hand and waved it. An oddly round, cartoonish-looking bat appeared over her palm in a puff of smoke. "This here is my Familiar."

"No offense, Rias, but I do not see how a bat could hand out fliers like this," Aidan said. But Rias giggled a bit.

*POOF*

The bat soon poofed into a puff of smoke. Once it cleared, it revealed a it revealed a young woman with short brown hair and a red dress.

"Familiars can assume mortal forms to hand out the fliers," Rias explained. "Each one is unique in its nature."

"Interesting," Aidan said.

"Fascinating," Asia was in awe.

*POOF*

The woman soon returned to a bat before puffing away in smoke.

"I have one too, of course," Akeno said. Walking over to where there was more space, she points her finger to the floor. A magic square of green light illuminated before it displayed the summon creature.

It appeared as a large stuffed animal, only it was three times taller than a normal human. The body was large and round, with limbs looking more like stubs. It was covered in blue fur with a lighter blue belly, had three growths on top of its head that resembled shamrocks with flies surrounding them, enormous green eyes with long eyelashes, a feline nose, and a peace-colored rear.

The creature sat on its rear end on the ground, bending its neck to look down at the surprised Aidan with a curious look.

"What in Pandemonium is that?" asked Aidan.

"His name is Stinky, because of the flies," Akeno told Aidan with a smile. She then walked up to the creature and gave it a long hug. "And he's a total sweetheart. Just don't get him angry or he will do something very bad to you." Letting go of the hug, Akeno turns to her Familiar with a sweet smile. "Stinky, why don't you say hello to my dear friend Aidan?"

Stinky soon bent down and sniffed at Aidan. Then, Aidan felt his left cheek all wet as Stinky's tongue licked him slowly. It then started to make a weird noise that sounded like laughter. As for Aidan, well, he has had better days. His hair was a mess and his face was dripping with saliva.

"Ara ara. He seems to like you a lot, Aidan," Akeno smiled amusingly with a hand on her cheek.

"If you say so…" Aidan sheepishly said, wiping the saliva off of his face but the stuff was sticking to him like glue. Luckily, Kiba handed a towel for him to wipe off.

"Nya~"

A meow was heard from a cat as Koneko summoned her familiar, which was nothing more than a small white kitten with a bell tied around its neck.

"…Her name is Shiro," Koneko said as she held up the cute kitten in both of her hands like a baby.

"OH~ He's so cute`!" Asia squealed as she went over and started rubbing the kitten's belly, which Shiro seemed to like a lot.

"And here is my—" Kiba's turn was next but was interrupted by Aidan.

"Yes, yes. I think I get it now. Thanks though, Kiba," Aidan interjected. He then turned to Rias and asked a question. "So what are the benefits for having a Familiar?"

"Familiars are a major part of being a Devil," Rias explained. "Whenever you're in danger or in need of anything, they come to your beck and call. They are your companion for life."

"Uh, that's great," Asia said, "But we still don't know how to get one."

"It's very simple, Asia. We just have to—"

*KNOCK KNOCK*

A couple of knocks were heard at the door that caught everyone's attention.

"Aidan, dear, could you get that?" Akeno asked sweetly. Aidan did as complied, opening the door to reveal Sona and the rest of the Student Council waiting on the other side.

"Hello, Aidan," Sona greeted warmly.

"Good to see you, Sona," Aidan greeted back as he stepped aside to let everyone else into the room before closing the door behind him. As he did, he noticed Sona's warm gaze out of the corner of her eyes. Aidan met hers with his and the two smiled, although for some reason, Sona held a small blush on her face before regaining composure.

"Sona. What can I do for you?" Rias greeted her hold friend right after Aidan found his way to Asia's side.

"I just wanted to check up on Aidan and the rest of you guys," Sona said. "By the looks of it, you seem all well."

It's already been one week since Aidan and Deckard Kain revealed to Sona, Tsubaki, and the ORC about the truth. The origin of the universe, the Eternal Conflict, the Creation of Sanctuary and the race of humankind. It was a lot to take in. But since then, Sona and Rias have been reading the Devil Mythology books over and over again, looking over the stories. A small part of their minds still believed in the Devil Mythology in that perhaps a few of the stories are of myth, mainly of the Seven Evils. But since the encounter with Raynare, the ORC had to be on guard more than ever since Aidan revealed to them of her allegiance to the Demons.

One thing Rias and Aidan never told anyone else, not even to Sona, was of the latter's Sacred Gear, the Al'Diabolos Terror Claws. Since his fight with Raynare, Aidan's left arm throbbed in pain and black veins protruded all over his arm. Symptoms included headaches, shallow breathing, and losing of feelings. No one really understood why this was happening, yet Aidan speculates in his mind that it could be the Sacred Gear's demonic nature, given of its creator.

It was only by Rias' healing magic hat the veins retreated but the solution was only temporary. Asia had to sometimes help and use her Twilight Healing rings, but again it was only temporary. If they do not find a cure to Aidan's problem, it will become most troublesome in the future.

"I'm doing fine, Sona," Aidan reassured with a smile. "Asia's Twilight Healing has been most helpful, given of its blessing by an archangel."

"Yes, I had heard of that," Sona said as she readjusted her glasses. She received a report last week about the ORC's encounter with the Archangel of Hope. She initially did not believe it but after being told the truth, she believed it. "Have you made any pacts with clients yet, Aidan?"

"One so far," Aidan said. "A blacksmith in Kuoh needed help with a project. I assisted and in return, she gave me one of her weapons."

"Aw, man!" complained Saji with his hands on his head. "I still haven't even got one and yet you have? That's totally not fair."

"You said it," Issei agreed. "Kaichou, why didn't you take him in instead of me?"

"Oh, don't worry," Asia tried to cheer both of them up. "I'm sure you'll get one soon."

Before anyone could blink though, both Issei and Saji were in front of the blonde in a blur of speed, holding her hands in theirs. Issei had Asia's right and Saji's her left.

"You're just as lovely and kind as ever, Asia," Saji exclaimed and trying to be smooth. "I always knew you'd support us."

"Please, tell me. What are the color of the panties you wear?"

*PANG POW*

Both Issei and Saji got smacked in the back of the head hard. Clutching their heads in pain, they turned around to see that it was Aidan with a displeased look.

"Hands off of her," Aidan calmly demanded. He also got in front of Asia to protect her a bit. She had been through enough lately.

"Oh, the clinging type, huh?" Saji said yet shrugged with a superior smirk. "It's not my fault the lovely lady is so attractive. Besides, you've already got Kaichou—"

*POW*

"OW!"

"Quiet, Saji!" Sona demanded, blushing hot for some reason, after she smacked her pawn in the back of the head. Unbeknownst to everyone, even Aidan, Sona felt something for the Dark Prince of Kuoh. She had guessed where Saji was taking the conversation and had to stop him.

But Aidan was confused. While he did not deny the attractiveness and inquisitive nature of Sona, he still was not sure what Saji was about to say or why Sona smacked him in the back of the head.

Well that was embarrassing," Rias said from where she stood, hiding her odd jealous feeling.

"Yes, that was," Sona agreed as she adjusted her glasses.

Aidan clears his throat. "Anyway, Rias, you were saying about something to retrieve Familiars?"

"Oh? Is that your plan, Rias?" asked Sona.

"Yes," Rias confirmed. "I was thinking of going next week, actually."

With Tsubaki dragging poor Saji and Issei away, Sona had time to put a finger to her chin in thought. "Well, that's a bit of a problem for us, since he only takes people once a month."

"In that case, why don't we sort out this little predicament with a friendly contest?"

"A contest? "A genuinely surprised Sona asked. "Sure you do not mean a Rating Game, do you?"

"Of course not," Rias chuckled. "We'd never get permission to do something like that. It's overkill for something like this. But whoever wins earns the rights to make their requests first."

"Agreed," Sona said with a small smile. "Besides, this isn't the time to call attention to yourself, now is it? I've heard of you sleeping with Aidan lately. And of his nightmares."

Rias' expression suddenly darkened. "Don't go there," she threatened. This caught Aidan's attention. He looked towards her and noticed Akeno looking at her best friend with concern. He had a feeling that she knew what was going on with her.

Rias, after calming down, proclaimed, "I know. Let us handle it the old fashion way with a game of tennis?"

"Sounds good, but I should warn you; the Tennis Club is using the courts all this week."

Rias waves off confidently. "Oh, don't worry about that. I can find a way to convince Kiyome Abe to let us use it for a day."

"Very well," Sona and the rest of her peerage turned around and started heading towards the door. "I hope you're ready to be beaten, Rias," Sona remarked with a challenging expression.

"I could say the same for you, Sona," Rias said back to her before the council closed the door behind them.

Aidan could not help but feel worried. This competition was going to be rough in more ways than one.

At around lunch time, some of the many students, clubs, and sports teams met up with one another to either hang out, eat, or get ready for their next class.

As for Aidan, he was standing by the tennis courts. Waiting.

And he had been waiting for half an hour now.

"Where could they be?" asked Aidan to himself. "Rias told me to be at the courts and wait for her and Akeno, but they're not here. Did I mistake her words for this?"

As he waited and waited, a voice from his right caught his attention.

"Hey! You there!" A girl's voice shouted. As Aidan turned to its direction, he was met with the sight of a beautiful busty young woman with long, brown hair done in multiple drill-like curls that were done elegantly standing in front of girls, all holding a tennis racket. She was also wearing the school's Tennis Club uniform, which consisted of a white polo and a short pink shirt that went down to her thighs.

The young woman approaches Aidan and asks, "What are you doing here? The courts are reserved for the Tennis Club."

"Kiyome Abe I presume?" asked Aidan as he dodged the question.

"Yeah that's me," Kiyome crossed her arms under her chest. But as she looked at Aidan, she soon recognized who she was speaking to. "Wait. You're Aidan Kain. Professor Kain's nephew and the one every girl is calling the Dark Prince of Kuoh Academy."

Aidan sighed. "Is that what I am called nowadays?"

Kiyome loosened her tone to be more gentle. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here with the Occult Research Club and Rias was supposed to be here to ask you if she and Sona could use the court for one day."

As the captain stared blankly, the other girls started whispering and gossiping to one another. Kiyome closed her eyes before she turned her attention to her teammates. "Girls, get started. I'll deal with this."

After sending them away, Kiyome ushers Aidan to a more private area of the court. They watch a two vs two practice match go on before footsteps were heard from their left. Looking in that direction, they saw Rias and Akeno jogging towards them.

"Sorry we're late," Rias said, panting lightly from her run. "I had a phone call that kept me at the Clubhouse."

Aidan shook his head with a smile. "It's okay."

Kiyome soon turned her attention to the other two beauties with her hands on her hips. "So, your Pawn here told me that you Devils wanted to use the tennis court for one day, am I correct?"

"You know who they are, Kiyome?" asked Aidan in surprise.

"Kiyome's family are what you call Beast Tamers," Akeno clarified. "She knows about the Devils because she and her family have the supernatural ability to tame many different monsters, and other creatures."

Aidan was amazed at that.

Uncle Deckard would sure love to learn much from her. After all he could also share his knowledge of the various creatures he too has documented in his travels.

"We thought a game of tennis would do," Akeno said. "It is the only sport Rias, Sona, Tsubaki, and me are good at."

Kiyome decided to up her game in this bargain. "But even so, making a deal with you Devils could make things troubling and scary for me. The way I see it, this is a time bomb, and I only have minutes to defuse and cut the right wire. Dealing with you means to be done carefully or else you might take my soul, correct?"

If you wanted your soul taken, then at least go to the Burning Hells for that. Or do you see them as mythology as well?

Rias formed a bitter smile. "Nowadays, we don't do such serious things, you know? But I do see your concern. So what do you want in equal trade?"

It did not take long for Kiyome to think of a bargaining chip as she turned to Aidan and formed a lecherous smile.

"I'll let you use the court if you let me borrow your so-called 'favored servant' for a while?"

"Absolutely not!" Rias rejected with a threatening glare. "Aidan is off limits."

Kiyome shrugged, "Then no deal. You can either hand Aidan over to me and use the courts, or you can find another court to play tennis."

Kiyome began to turn to her left and walk away back to the courts. But she stopped when Aidan's voice called out to her.

"You said you are a Beast Tamer, right?" He asked.

That caught Kiyome's attention as she turns her head around. "What brought this up?"

"What if I told you that there is a specimen in an unknown land that only I know of that is impossible to tame?"

This brought some intrigue to Kiyome who approached him. Akeno and Rias were surprised, looking at Aidan on how he was able to pull her back in.

Kiyome asked, "What's it called?"

Aidan soon pulled out his phone and showed a picture of a large buffalo-like herd animal that looked almost bull-like in appearance. Its back was hunched, and its skin was blue, with black fur stretching down its spine and covering its legs. What was most striking were the two horns that pointed down and outwards in front of its face, the tips on both sides.

"It's called the Great Horned Goliath, located in the Northern Steppes where there is nothing but snow and ash. They like to appear in snow and ice caves. Very hard to tame let alone capture, unless you are of the kharza, or goat men in the more common tongue."

Kiyome was intrigued. She'd never actually seen this beast before, let alone hear of a place called the Northern Steppes. Rias and Akeno were also intrigued by a creature of that size, but they knew what the Northern Steppes really were.

They were the Dreadlands, the site being the former resting place of the Worldstone before Mount Arreat shattered.

"Let me guess," Kiyome concluded and asked to Aidan. "You want me to prove I am a Beast Tamer by capturing and taming this animal and you and the Devils can use the tennis courts for a match game?"

It did not take long for Aidan to answer. "No, that's not it."

Rias and Akeno looked in surprise with a confused What? expression. Kiyome too was also confused. So Aidan clarified.

"I want you to give us permission to use the tennis courts for a match for today and after school, after I send you the coordinates, you show me a tamed Great Horned Goliath to prove you truly are a Beast Master."

It didn't take long for Kiyome to consider the offer, even as she closed her eyes, dipped her head a bit, and crossed her arms to think for a short moment.

"And if I fail?" She asked. But Aidan remained adamant.

"You won't." He said. But Kiyome needed more convincing as she approached Aidan up close and personal. Using a couple seductive techniques she knows of, she traces a finger on his chest near his nipple before it reaches up to his jaw, cupping it.

Aidan felt unfazed but he could not say the same for Rias, who bore a scowled expression at the act. Akeno looked fine but she wasn't as she gave off a smile with eyes closed of pure jealousy.

"What makes you so certain?" Kiyome asked as her hand reaches the hem of his shirt, tempted to rub his skin underneath.

"Because you and your family have been Beast Tamers for generations," Aidan said. "You can tame any creature in a matter of minutes. If it is true, then it should be no problem handling something like a Horned Goliath, which many consider impossible to tame."

Kiyome soon gave a smile of defeat and accepted the offer. "Okay. You can have the court then after school." She then cups his cheek seductively. "Once I bring back a Great Horned Goliath, let's get to know one another more, okay?"

"…Very well."

As Kiyome lets go and walks away to prepare for the upcoming match, Aidan had to contend with another problem as he feels his ear being pulled by a certain redhead.

And it was pulled hard, making him struggle in pain.

"Aiiidaaann…" Rias spoke up to her favored pawn. "What were you thinking?"

"OW OW OW OW OW!" Aidan cried out quietly. "It was a fair deal to make."

"Ara ara, she is not talking about that, silly," Akeno said, still retaining her dark smile. "She just wants to know why you let Kiyome get close to you."

Aidan could only sweat drop. One thing is for certain: Rias is gonna give him a long lecture.

AFTER CLASS…

Word travels fast around Kuoh regarding the duel between Rias Gremory and Sona "Shitori", as her last name is in the school database. Many rushed out to the tennis court after school to see the match firsthand.

Aidan wished he was in better spirits though. For the rest of the period until now, Rias gave him a long lecture and punishment regarding Kiyome's actions on him and how he just let her do it. Rias was not happy and Akeno came to bear witness to it.

If anyone should ask Aidan what had happened, he doesn't want to tell them.

Speaking of Rias and Akeno, they were wearing rather tight sports clothing that hugged their bodies in all the right places. The two gorgeous Great Ladies of Kuoh were both wearing white wrist sweatbands, but Rias wore a pink sport dress with a low V cutout that showed much of her cleavage and no sleeves. Akeno wore a yellow sleeveless polo and a darker yellow mini skirt.

As for their opponents, both Sona and Tsubaki were wearing clothes that, while it covered more of their skin, it didn't leave much to the imagination. Both black-haired girls wore white sleeveless polos and black wrist sweatbands, but Sona was wearing a pink miniskirt and Tsubaki a green one.

Aidan wished he was cheering for Rias and Akeno but that long talk and punishment from the former sucked his energy out of him to the point he wasn't in a mood to cheer, much to his displeasure.

"Well, at least Saji and Issei are cheering for their president," Aidan muttered as he sat down on a hill alone.

Once the match begins, it goes smoothly like any other game. At least so far, for it is only a matter of time before things go south.

And it was close to getting that moment.

"Wow," Aidan observed as the competition got more competitive, if not dangerous. "Never thought they were this good."

"Indeed," Kiyome interjected as she came over to sit next to Aidan. "I'm actually surprised I never knew about this. They're shooting that ball as fast as I can."

"At this point, we're never going to be able to follow the ball's trajectory," Aidan said.

A little bit away from Aidan and Kiyome's location, Kiba and Koneko stood next to each other as the crowd all around them continued to grow.

"I don't think I've ever seen this many people at a tennis match before," Kiba commented looking at the crowd of students around. Depending on the girl, either the girls or boys cheered for whoever smacked the ball with their racquet.

"I think this is getting a little out of control," Koneko said.

Back on the battlefield, Sona had an idea pop into her head. "Let's see how you like a magic attack," she said before striking the ball, however, her family's magic circle crest appeared behind her as she infused the ball with magic. "Sona Sitri Style!"

Now giving off a blue aura, Sona smacks the ball and it rockets towards Rias at high speeds. It went by her so fast that in the midst of its directional path, it veered off into another direction.

Rias was shocked as the point to Sona was announced.

"They can use magic?" Aidan was surprised and confused. "Isn't that illegal considering the crowd we have?"

"Unfortunately, there's no rule against magic," Kiyome said, rubbing her head. "No normal player uses it. But you're right about the crowd at least."

"I thought we agreed to no magic," Kiba said to Koneko, feeling fearful of where this was going.

"There is no stopping them now," She replied as she ate her cookie.

Back on the battlefield, Rias smiled confidently. "Look, Sona, you can cheat all you want, but in the end, it's not going to make a difference in this game." She then pointed her racquet at her with a fist on her hip. "If you want a magic show, then allow me to provide one for you!"

"Do your worst, Rias!" Sona accepted the challenge with a confident smile of her own. And soon the rest of the match comprised of two powerful monsters battling chaotically against each other with magic tennis.

"Unacceptable!"

Kiyome's left hand slammed a broken pair of racquets onto the table of the Clubhouse. "Do they have any idea the cost of their own actions?!" Koneko, Asia, Kiba, and Aidan remained unfazed but could not agree more with the outcome.

"All of our tennis equipment are destroyed! The referee's highchair broke! And worst of all, the tennis court was caught on fire!"

Kiyome panted like a raging bull before she sighed miserably and collapsed back into one of the sofas.

Aidan tried to lighten the mood. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped unfortunately. At least we managed to wipe everyone's memories of the event away. Plus no one got hurt in the process and the fires were put out."

Kiyome would agree to that, but there was also one other thing. "But who is going to pay for the damages?"

"Rias has already hired some Devils to repair the court before the next morning," Koneko mentioned as she picks up the two broken racquets. "It's a shame it was a draw. Since no one won, they're suggesting we all compete in a team match."

"I take it tennis is not the only thing they are good at then?" Aidan asked.

"Indeed, Aidan," Kiba confirmed. "They're all out there right now deciding what we should play."

"Whatever it is, please do it somewhere that can take the collateral damage," mumbled Kiyome. "I don't think the school board can take another event like this." Aidan sits next to Kiyome and offers her some tea that he made earlier. "Thanks."

Kiyome soon leaned on Aidan, to which he did not mind. She was tired after the cleanup that Rias and the others made.

The doors to the room soon open and in walked Rias and Akeno.

"We've chosen dodgeball as the game to play," Rias announced before walking to the others. "We will meet with the Student Council tomorrow night in the gym. Luckily no one will be in the school, so we'll be able to play without getting anyone in the way. So, let's win this."

"Right!" Her peerage responded with enthusiasm. Except Aidan who was tending to the now sleeping Kiyome on his left shoulder.

LATER TOMORROW NIGHT…

It was already nighttime, and everyone was assembled for the game in the gym. Everyone except a certain Pawn of Rias' peerage who was ten minutes late. Again.

"Where can he be?" Rias tapped her foot while her arms were crossed. "He is already ten minutes late."

"Maybe he overslept a bit and is getting ready?" Kiba suggested.

"Or maybe he is slow," Koneko plainly said. But just then, a blue shimmering portal that was familiar emerged in front of them. And out of it came Aidan.

"Sorry I'm late," Aidan apologized. "I was busy with something."

"Too busy for this?" asked Koneko with a volleyball in hand. She looked as if she was ready to smack him in the head pointblank range.

Aidan sweat dropped behind him as the others entered the gym.

"They outnumber us two to one, so we've asked the others to be referees," Rias told her team members while they went inside. Everyone was stretching themselves to prepare for the game.

"This is like any other dodgeball game;" Rias said as she caught the ball Kiba threw to her. "Aim the ball at the enemy team and go right for victory!" She throws the ball back at her Knight.

"Asia picked it up in no time," Kiba caught the ball. "Have you played this before, Aidan?"

"I never had time for playing games," Aidan said calmly. "Given that I traveled all over the world pretty much my whole life. Was home schooled by Uncle throughout my life until my transfer to Kuoh Academy."

Asia was on the floor painfully doing the splits, with not much of a choice, as Akeno was bent over and pushing her back. The two of them, including Koneko, were wearing white shirts with navy blue accents with the Kuoh Academy emblem embroidered on the front, left side, and navy-blue bloomers that showed off much of their legs and thighs.

"Aaah, my legs feel like they're on fire!" Asia yelled in agony, continuing to be forced down to stretch.

"It will always feel like that," Akeno said in a reassuring tone, smiling along the way. "Now come on, just stretch a little further. You can do it."

"I'll try," said Asia, only to yell.

As Aidan watched he felt a tug by his arm sleeve to his left and saw Koneko. "…Can you help me stretch?" She asked with a light blush before glaring lightly at him. "…But don't get any mischievous ideas."

Aidan was a bit confused as he watched the cat-like girl turn around and sit down on the floor, while he crouched behind her and placed his hands on her back. "Koneko, you know I don't do that sort of thing unlike that other pawn of Sona's. Issei I believe."

As she stretched her legs with a moan, Koneko nodded in agreement before her cheeks turned red for some reason. "I know. I just wished you started noticing me too." She whispered her second sentence.

"What was that?"

"N-nothing."

After about two minutes of preparation, Aidan gathered everyone around him and handed out something.

"Team headbands?" Rias asked, curiously looking at them that had the words Occult Research Club in Japanese knitted into them.

"Nice!" Kiba said.

"Yeah," Akeno agreed. "This ought to up our morale."

"Thanks," Aidan said, tying one around his head. "It was Uncle's idea. I couldn't sleep last night due to the upcoming match, so when Uncle Deckard heard of the match, he proposed this. He did all the knitting on each headband."

"You didn't sleep at all?" Rias asked in concern. The truth is, her not being in the same bed as him as brought the same results for her: nightmares. Even when she had a clear mind, she found it difficult to fall asleep and when she did her nightmares were worst. Sometimes she dreamed of something so horrible she'd wake up in the middle of the night. Others were more like visions; of her walking down some dark corridor and beholding a red crystal, emanating off of such evil. She could feel fear radiate off of it, her own fear.

Rias would wonder if Aidan ever had the same nightmares as her.

"I just wanted to make these as a token of gratitude for everything you've done for me," Aidan explained to her. "If it wasn't for you all, I would not have found a group of people I would call friends."

Rias stared at him for a moment with a gentle smile, touched by his answer.

"And we're happy to have you with us," She said. "Thank you for making these."

Koneko admitted with a small smile, "…I was wrong about you. You're sweet and kind."

"Now then," Rias said with her headband on. "Let's go out there and win this!"

"Are you ready for this?" Sona asked as Rias and her peerage turned their heads to see the entire Student Council standing on the other side of the gym. Like the Gremory Team, the girls wore T-shirts and bloomers, while Saji and Issei wore the male tracksuit. The latter had a perverted look on his face as he looked at the girls.

Let the battle begin!

To start off, Tsubasa Yura, one of Sona's Knights, held the ball. Momo Hanakai and Reya Kusaka, two of Sona's bishops, were the referees on the sidelines. Tsubasak throws the ball, hitting Koneko on her left chest, shredding through the shirt in the process.

"That's one point!" Momo announced, holding the red flag. Issei was so distracted by Koneko's torn shirt that he had a perverted look.

But that was a mistake as Koneko gave him a sucker punch that comically thrusted him back to the wall.

"Pervert…" Koneko bitterly said.

Tsubaki ahd the ball next and charged it with demonic energy, cocking it back. "Ready or not, here I come!" She launched the ball at high speeds at Rias.

But the redhead was able to catch the ball with both hands, her hair blown all over the place by the wind created from the impact, even ripping pieces of her tracksuit. Thank goodness Issei was knocked out and not seeing this.

"Well, catching Tsubaki's throw head on is pretty impressive," Sona complimented.

"I'm a Gremory, Sona. Don't ever forget that," Rias said as she shot the ball towards her. Once it left her hand, she opened a magic circle in front of it, making it pass through it and infusing it with her crimson energy.

Tomoe saw it coming towards her and held out her arms, hoping to catch it. But the bal was so strong when it hit her that it ripped off her clothes.

Aidan could only shake his head at the sight of the clothing being torn but remained focused.

'I don't think this is a game of dodgeball anymore.'

"Behind you!" Akeno warned Aidan, which made him jump up and spin in time to dodge a ball Reya threw at him. Some parts of his shrit were ripped up, exposing his muscular skin like that of a competitive swimmer but he didn't care much for it.

"Stay focused Aidan." Akeno said, even with her bra exposed. "We cannot afford to lose our most valuable team player."

"On it."

What started off as a game of dodgeball became dodgeball of chaos. Energy charged balls flew everywhere. Lightning, crimson, and blue infused magic were the main ones thrown. Explosions of devil magical energy erupted upon each impact.

"I had no idea that dodgeball would be so terrifying," Asia exclaimed In terror of the destruction.

"Want me to go ahead and take out that other pawn?" Saji asked Sona.

"No. I got him," Sona said before twirling around on one front. "Get ready, Aidan!" She stopped and lets the ball fly with a blue aura around it.

"Uh oh," Aidan ducked down to avoid it. However, Sona used her finger to guide the ball into making a U-turn and send it back to him. Aidan looked back over his shoulder, expecting to see the ball fly straight, but was surprised to see it coming back towards him.

"Aidan, run!" Rias yelled, making him agree as he ran as fast as he could, trying to outrun the projectile. But it followed him wherever he went, even as he ducked under it to avoid it.

Aidan had to come up with a plan fast or he will be done for, like a prey trying to outrun the predator. Turning around and coming face to face with the ball, he stopped and braced himself. Everyone from the ORC watched with their breaths held, anxious to see what he is doing.

As the ball moves closer and closer, Aidan twists his upper body to the left, dodging the projectile yet catching it with his left hand. Skidding along the floor of the gym, Aidan struggles a bit against the brute force of the ball before he stopped in his tracks.

Sona was surprised. "No way…"

Catching the ball while it was still spinning, Aidan decided to add his own magic to it. Using whatever magic he learned from Uncle beforehand, he severed Sona's connection to the ball and infused it with more power, giving a white aura of power that turned the ball into a silver color that was so violent that cracks were made around the gym.

Spinning around, Aidan lets loose the projectile at Sona.

"HYAAH!" Aidan cries as he thrusts it with an underhand throw, faster than even a softball player's throw. Sona had barely enough time to move out of the way.

*POW*

And the ball landed straight to Saji's chest, bounced off, and hit Issei right in the crotch.

"…Whoops." Aidan said, a bit surprised. "Maybe I used too much."

Asia, panicked and worried for those two pawns, attends to their injuries. Aidan was a bit bashful by the fact he took out two pawns with a very powerful shit and hid his face of shame and embarrassment.

"Whoops, my ass!" Saji said as he sat up. "What the hell were you thinking?!"

Issei was too busy tending to his nether regions, with Asia trying to persuade him to use her Twilight Healing to help him.

"I was aiming for your King," Aidan calmly explained. "She just dodged and you stood there."

The whistle blew and the game started up again. This time, Koneko had the ball. "Bring it!" Sona challenged her.

After a few constant minutes, both teams were exhausted. Except for Sona and Rias who still kept going like they were in the tennis game last night.

"Come on, let's finish thing, Sona," Rias said. "You and me. Right now."

"I'm just getting warmed up, Rias," Sona responded.

"Game over!" Momo suddenly announced, surprising Sona. In the end, the Gremory team won the match. Everyone celebrated together, cheering and laughing. Aidan merely stood with a smile on his face.

"As much as I hate to lose," Sona said, watching her team make their way out of the gym, with Tsubasa carrying Saji on her back and Tomoe Meguri, one of Sona's knights, wrapping one of Issei's arms around her shoulders, "I have to admit that this was a lot of fun." She then faced Rias. "But if this was a Rating Game instead of us just fooling around, there's no way you could have beaten me."

"You really think so?" asked Rias confidently. "Well, I guess we'll never know until we actually play the game. But it'll be a while until we have to worry about that."

"Don't be too overconfident, Rias. You never know what the future has in store next." With that said, Sona walks away to join the rest of her peerage outside.

"Victory!" The Devils of the Occult Research Club cheered simultaneously as they clinked their cups together.

"I'd like to tell each and every one of you that I appreciate you going out there and doing what needed to be done to beat the other team," Rias said to them as they stood around the table. "I hope you guys feel very proud."

Aidan can drink to that. "That was indeed a fun game."

"Thanks for the headbands, at least," Kiba said holding up one of them.

"Tots!" Akeno agreed with her sweet smile.

"Yeah, it totally brought our team together," Asia said, getting a nod from Koneko.

Just then, Aidan's cellphone rang. He had just received a text message from none other than Kiyome, which showed her and a captured Great Horned Goliath in the picture. The text read:

This thing was hard to catch. Can't believe you set me up with something like this. But it was so much fun. Wish you were here to see it.

Aidan chuckled a bit and smiled, putting his phone away. Now he has proof that she really is a Beast Tamer, but those Great Horned Goliaths are only the beginning.

"So what now, Rias?" asked Aidan to his King.

"Now, we take both you and Asia to find a Familiar." Rias then ushers Akeno to activate a teleportation circle.

"Wait, you mean we're getting them right now?" Asia asked.

"It's a full moon tonight, this is our best chance to see him," Rias explained.

"See who?" Aidan asked curiously.

"The Familiar Master."

FAMILIAR FOREST…

When the group teleported to their location, they appeared in the middle of a dark, creepy-looking forest.

"Here we are, I think," Aidan said. If Uncle Deckard were here, he would definitely want to take some notes and explore the place, documenting every single creature. Maybe one day Aidan can do that provided it is the right night.

"This is the forest where all Familiars live," Akeno said. "And where we all got our Familiars."

"Uncle Deckard sure would've loved to come here," Aidan mentioned. "He'd spend days documenting each creature while trying to stay alive."

As the group walked within the forest, they were interrupted by a voice.

"Well, this is a surprise. You come here for my advice?"

All heads turned in the direction of the voice and saw someone standing high up on a branch. The person was a man in shorts and a tank top, a gray shirt tied around his waist, fingerless gloves, a large backpack, and a cape he wore backwards with some hair sticking through.

The man front flips off of the branch he was on and landed perfectly in front of the group. "I'm the Master of the Familiars, a.k.a. Zatouji!" The man proclaimed. "If your goal is to find Familiars galore, you've come to the right place that's for sure! The full moon is out to help you decide, and I'll be with you to act as your guide!"

"What's with the rhyming on this guy?" asked Aidan.

Akeno whispers, "He is obsessed with it. You get use to it." She giggles a bit at the end.

"Now then, how can I help you?" Zatouji asked. "Tell me all your wants and desires! A strong one, a fast one, one that likes to set fires?"

Aidan began to think. He had not really had any time to decide which Familiar to take in given that he was more so focused on the matches against the Student Council. He now regretted he should've done it earlier.

"I'll think about it as we go along," Aidan gave his excuse but Zatouji could only look down with annoyance.

"This is why amateurs always annoy, if you don't know what you seek, then make your way home, my boy. But I'll be willing to guide you around, so the Familiar that fits your personality is found."

"Makes sense," Asia commented. "But I'd like a Familiar who is cute and super fun to be around."

"Fun?" Zatouji grinned happily. "Done and done."

"Oh, thank you so much!"

"In an hour the moon will start to go low!" Zatouji said. "So let's go."

The group follows Zatouji behind as he takes them deeper and deeper into the Familiar Forest. As they walk, Aidan walks next to Asia and asks,

"So what's your idea of cute and fun for a Familiar, Asia?"

"Well…" Asia began to think. "Something akin to like a puppy or even a cat, I suppose. How about you?"

"I never had a lot of time for pets in my days growing up," Aidan said. "Since my Uncle and I traveled all over, it became hard to just live in one spot. So we never had the opportunity to take in a pet, not even a service dog given of Uncle's age."

"Speaking of your Uncle, how old is he exactly?"

"I think he will be almost 83," Aidan speculated. "Age is catching up to him, but he is still healthy and able to get through tight spaces."

"Oh my," Zatouji said coming to a half. The group stopped as well, before he pointed upwards. "Look high!" He said as the others looked up and saw what looked like something on a tree branch. When Aidan looked closer at it, he was amazed to realize it was a small dragon with blue scales and a pair of small wings.

"Is that a sprite dragon?" Aidan asked.

"Aw~. It's really cute!" Asia squealed in wonder.

"Cute, but dangerous, too," Zatouji told them. "When they get angry, they have the power to shoot lightning that's blue."

Aidan could only wonder though in regards to the creatures.

'Must be depending on the species and their color. I'm going to assume red dragons breathe fire.'

From the works of his Uncle, the origin of the dragons are a complete mystery. Even the ancient texts provide little account of how these magnificent beasts came to be. And dragons have never been seen in the years before the Worldstone's destruction. But according to Deckard Kain, he believed, given of his studies on the creatures, that they spawned from the flesh of Tathamet, the original Dragon who also spawned the Demons. If so, then Tathamet could be assumed to be the Father of the Dragons but that supposition is too outrageous to say the least.

"Dragons are a rarity, aren't they Buchou?" Kiba asked his King.

"This is certainly the first time I've ever seen one," Rias responded.

"Do it now if you want this one claimed, when these dragons grow up they can no longer be tamed," Zatouji informed them.

"Aidan, maybe you should take this one as your Familiar," Akeno suggested. "A dragon is suitable for someone strong such as you."

"You think so, Akeno?" Aidan asked. She responded with a smiling nod. "Hmm… then I will—"

"KYAAAH!"

Aidan suddenly turns to see Rias, Akeno, Asia, and Koneko covered in some green, slimy stuff that was dropping from above. And it was melting their clothes.

"What the hell?!" Aidan was surprised.

"O-Oh my," Rias cried out as she and Asia made noises of discomfort. Akeno looked unaffected as she had a smile of amusement on her face.

"Green slime!" Kiba exclaimed, drawing his sword out to attack. Unfortunately, he was but off when some of the slime landed on his face.

"It's burning my clothes!" Rias cried aloud, as bits and pieces of her uniform melted away.

"How naughty!" Akeno moaned, revealing herself only in her bra. "I'm so slimy and wet!"

Aidan, now realizing that Rias, Akeno, Asia, and Koneko's school uniforms were burnt away and showing their perfect bodies, wasted no time attending to their aid. Coming to Rias first, he tries to grab the slime and rip it off of her, only for it to get on him and melt some of his clothes.

But he did not mind that, not in a perverted sort of way.

"UGH!" Aidan said in disgust to the slime as he keeps attempting to rip it off of Rias. "This is worse than that time I fell into a den full of khazra crap."

"Aidan!" Rias cried as she hugged the Pawn, trying to hide her bare skin out of embarrassment, even though she has shown herself naked to him multiple times. Unfortunately, the rest of the slime still on her transferred over to Aidan and still melted some of his clothes.

"Woah, Rias, hold it! It's—Uwaah!" Aidan slipped backwards, taking Rias with him. And sure enough, they were both covered in green slime. "Great…"

Rias could only keep herself quiet, still shameful by the fact she is nude right in front of Aidan in a very erotic way.

As Aidan kept ripping the slime off, he tries to fling it off, only for the slime to either not come off or hit someone else.

"Ugh, this isn't working," Aidan muttered. "Kiba, a little help!"

Unfortunately, Kiba was still struggling to get the slime off of his face.

"Useless," Aidan muttered. Aidan continues slinging slime off of his hand, but one came back right at him and some of it went into his mouth.

"AGH PFFFT! AAGHH PTWAAH!" Aidan yelled as he spat out the stuff. "God, that's disgusting!"

This was already taking too long. Pretty soon all of the girls' clothes were going to be melted and they'll be naked before they get back home. He then had an idea of how to get rid of this. A very risky one though.

"Guys, get ready for a shock."

"What do you mean?" Rias asked, still clinging onto Aidan.

"Whatever you're going to do, Aidan, do it now—KYAAH?!" Asia screamed out at that end as some of the slime entered down her rear end.

"Take your time," Akeno said calmly. "No rush."

"Hurry up!" Koneko demanded in a cat-like way, keeping her emotionless expression.

Holding out his right hand, flashes of red and white light shone from the palm of Aidan's hand. A few seconds later, red lightning bursts out and hits a slime, incinerating it and turning it into ash before the lightning hits another. And then another. And then another.

One by one, the slime were all but disintegrated. Once Akeno and Rias were free, they assisted Aidan in eradicating the green slime. Even Kiba assisted thanks to the slime no longer covering his face.

But the girls were all near-naked. With much of their clothes now melted from the green slime, they didn't bring any backup clothing. But luckily for Rias and Akeno, they knew how to use a bit of their magic to restore their clothing. Aidan also learned of it as well and used his magic to help restore Asia and Koneko's clothes.

"Th-Thank you, Aidan," Asia blushed, still bashful of the fact she was seen naked by Aidan.

Koneko merely nodded her head in thanks to Aidan. But deep down inside of her, she was grateful, knowing Aidan was not a pervert but more so of a playboy.

'Good thing Issei was not here to see this.' Aidan thought. If anything, that Red Dragon needed to keep his urges in check.

Suddenly, a loud noise echoed throughout the forest, catching everyone's attention.

"Was that a wolf?" Asia asked. "A-Are there wolves out there?"

"Wolves?" Kiba asked. "No, that doesn't sound like a wolf."

*SNAP*

Everyone turns around to see a giant red boar-like creature right above them on a small outlook. It's face looked goblin-like and its lower teeth were shown from its lower lips. Fur decorated along the spine of their back as the rest comprised of flesh. Two large belts were wrapped around their bodies. Their feet were clawed and their ears were pointed.

It growled as it locked its eyes onto Koneko, who had pounced on her and catching the cat girl off guard.

"Koneko!" cried Aidan as he brought out his sword and sliced down the huge wolf on Koneko.

But another one came up from behind and tried to go after Aidan, but Akeno utilizes her lightning to zap the wolf-like creature. Screaming in pain, it fell and crashed its hard skull against a tree. Though wounded, it tried to bite at Aidan but Kiba impales it from behind and twists his sword, killing it.

Everyone and Zatouji looks to see what it was, the latter recognizing them in fear.

"Fallen Hounds," Zatouji fearfully said. "Which means a pack is not far behind. We need to get out of here while we still have time."

"A pack?" asked Aidan. "These were just scouts?"

More noises were heard from around the forest. Laughing noises to be exact, but also those of monsters. Or worse yet, demons.

"Uh oh," Zatouji said in fear.

"What?" Kiba asked. "What is it?"

"We're surrounded," Koneko said as everyone stood back to back.

"Surrounded?" Asia trembled. "By what?"

"I think what Zatouji and Koneko meant to express is that we are surrounded by Demons," Aidan explained. "Namus Improbus or Fallen Ones."

Soon the so-called Fallen Ones arrived, no more than 15 of them. Bearing physical traits that humans could imagine when imagining demons, their skins were red and had large horns, claws, and hoofed feet. They carried primitive yet deadly weapons made of wood and stone or metal.

All of them were accompanied by the same hound species that attacked the group earlier. Some even rode on the Hounds as mounts.

"This looks bad," Kiba said as he drew his sword out. "We're completely surrounded."

"Then we have no choice," Rias explained as she prepares her Power of Destruction. "Get ready everyone!"

Akeno prepares her lightning within her palms as Koneko gets into a fighting stance. Asia stays back, in a safe area behind Zatouji who kept her high in the trees.

The Fallen soon charge in, ready for the slaughter to commence.

"I got the riders," Aidan said. "Luna!" Aidan soon summons forth Luna in a burst of blue flame, making him jump onto the horse and lead some of the Fallen with Hounds away from the group to take them on alone. Rias became concerned as she, Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko tended to the remaining horde but she couldn't complain. She trusted Aidan with his plan, whatever it was.

A Fallen One charges in at Kiba as he parries a downward strike, disarms the Demon through a spin, and decapitates the head. He summons another sword to block the blow from a large Fallen Overseer with a weapon resembling two old swords attached parallel to each other to a large, mace-like stick. Able to block the blow, Kiba pushes the weapon upwards and cuts straight on its chest, making an X mark and impales the Overseer, bringing it down.

Koneko moves and plows through all the Demons on their Hounds, knocking down every single one of them. Bones break with every kick and punch she made. Though their swings were wild, she was able to dodge the crude weapons effortlessly. When it came to Hounds, she easily avoided their bites and grabbed their jaws before flinging them out of the way.

Rias and Akeno kept blasting away at the Horde of Fallen Ones, each taking a turn to keep them away while on their wings. Rias takes time for brief looks to see Aidan fight the Fallen Ones on his horse. She could only question how Aidan managed to obtain such a horse like Luna and wondered if he already had a familiar.

Such questions would wait as she turned her attention back to the battle at hand.

But from the rider battle, Aidan sees a Fallen Hound approach behind Akeno and Rias, ready to pounce on the both of them. Moving Luna forward, he grabs a spear implanted on the ground and throws it at the Hound as it jumped onto the unsuspecting girls from behind.

*PIERCE*

"HOOWWLL!"

The two girls look behind to see a dead Hound on its side and a spear lodged through. They looked at each other before looking at the direction the spear was thrown and saw it was Aidan. They were startled of how he was able to see that from behind them and save them once again.

Aidan parries a sword strike from a Fallen before he slices and impales the demon, killing him. He then looks to his left to see an incoming Fallen Hound jump on him. Without any time to react, Aidan is promptly knocked off of Luna, who dissipates in blue light particles.

"Aidan!" Rias came over to Aidan's aid and helped him up back on his feet. She clutches his face to see if there was any damage, but he seemed clean. "Oh thank goodness."

But the relief was only short was Aidan saw an incoming Hound with its rider behind Rias. And she was unaware of it.

"Rias!" Aidan pushed Rias aside to the right and took the full force of the Hound head on.

*CHOMP*

And by head on, that meant getting his left arm chomped and dragged by the animal.

"AAAHHH!" Aidan screamed. But this Hound's bite was not as worse as that Hellion. Part of it was the fact that Aidan's Sacred Gear armor protected him, but he could still feel the crushing pressure of the bite.

Aidan soon got up and mounted behind the Fallen Hound's rider. He headbutts the demon as both the Hound and its rider struggle against his presence.

Elbowing him from behind, Aidan is knocked off and dragged along. Taking out his claws, he struggles to sit up to impale the Fallen One as the Demon kept kicking him down. Eventually though, he manages to sit up enough to impale his claw right into the Demon's chest.

The Fallen One screams as he chokes Aidan with its right hand while holding his arm in the other. Aidan though unmounts the wounded Demon, making him tumble to the ground but he was still stuck on the strap by the Hound.

As Aidan gets dragged along, he struggles to lift his sword up to impale the Hound that had his arm. He could not fight against the stuck arm as it would rip his arm off. But that was the least of his problems as he looks behind to see a cliff.

And it led down to a river about hundred feet below.

The Fallen Hound realized where it was going and tried to slow down, but it slid on the rocks over the edge.

Taking Aidan with him.

"AIDAN!" Rias cried out to her favored pawn as he fell off the edge with the beast.

But he was soon gone.

Once everyone rid of the remaining Hounds, everyone looked around for Aidan. Everyone but Rias who looked in the direction he fell.

"Aidan!" Kiba cried out to his fellow friend but heard no response.

"Aidan?" Asia asked worriedly as she looked around but like Kiba, she heard no response. Even Akeno looked around but saw no sign of him. Koneko too.

Soon a demonic chuckle was heard from a Fallen One demon, wounded and on the verge of death. Everyone saw and went over, with Kiba drawing his sword to the demon's neck.

"Tell me what happened, and I'll ease your passing," Kiba demanded to the demon, but it kept its sadistic smile and laugh.

"He's… (cough) dead," The Fallen One demon laughed. "He took a little tumble off the cliff."

Rias soon came over and grappled the demon by the shoulders, bringing him up to face her face to face.

"You lie!" Rias venomously accused, but the Demon continued to laugh as it soon breathed his last gasp. Letting go of it, Rias soon looked down to see that the dead Demon held a familiar necklace in its right hand.

Rias looks to see that it was Aidan's Horadrim necklace. The Fallen One must have grabbed it when they were tangling with one another on its Hound.

The group soon went over the edge to see a large river below them. But neither Aidan nor the hound were in plain sight. Which meant they both fell into the water and fell downstream with that strong of a current.

"We have to find him," Rias said. "Before the river sweeps him away."

"How though, Rias?" Akeno asked. "That river leads deeper into the forest, into territory unknown to us. We'll be walking around blind if we go in."

"I know where your friend might be," Zatouji spoke up and all heads turned to him. "In a place that is all too familiar to me."

"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.

"If possible, he may run into an old friend of mine," Zatouji explained. "A friend who be walking around with a lumpy spine."

Nobody understood what that meant, but since the river was heading downstream, it was the only way for them to reach to Aidan and whoever his would-be rescuer and friend of Zatouji's was.

"Lead the way then," Rias said. With that, Zatouji leads them downstream on the river to find Aidan.

SWAMP OF FAMILIARS…

Aidan began to wake up from the drops of water that fell from above and hit his head. Waking up with groggily eyes, he looked up to see some form of roof over his head. Another drop of water on his head made his brain wake up faster.

And before he knew it, Aidan was in some form of home. He looked around to see what exactly he was in.

At a strange hut that was crafted wattles from gnarltree roots, along with mud, stones and bark, smoke emerged from the chimney above from the fire burning to warm the kettle. With several open windows and two circular entries, the interior was surfaced with smooth, white adobe clay, which made for a clean, attractive, and, most importantly, dry home.

The humble hut included a sitting room with a wooden stump for a table and a kitchen area. Speaking of the kitchen which was in the middle of its home, a small stove and oven made of rock and clay was constructed. Behind the stove was a storage area with windowsills covered in drying seeds, berries, and herbs. In the back of the shelter was a sink with running water and a spice collection, along with a few clay pots and bowls. A sleeping loft hung above with sleeping mats and blankets. Tools and keepsakes were kept stored away in a nook. The sitting area made up the rest of the building.

A small light shone from to Aidan's left as he looked to see someone stirring the kettle pot by the fire.

The stranger was likely of African descent yet he also wore few clothing. Most f it was gold, white and purple. Ankle bracelets that had sharp bone fragments wrapped around them were on his feet, along with his arms. He wore a large golden and purple belt with a purple jewel, and it was adorned in black feathers. On his left shoulder was the skull, human most likely. But the most attractive thing about him was that he wore a very large mask, gold mostly. The face part was white with purple eyes. There were two horns that emerged out the side of it. Large purple feathers adorned the top of the mask with another facial mask in front of it.

(Author's note: For reference, look up Nazeebo from the game Heroes of the Storm)

Aidan could not exactly move given of the state of affairs he was in. After all, he was in pain and wrapped in bandages and stuck with sharp needles all over him. There was about ten to twelve of these needles sticking in him and keeping him immobilized.

He tries to move away but he could not lift even a right leg for him to scoot. So he tries moving his hips but it hurt too much. It dawned on Aidan that if he moved, not only will it hurt but his would-be savior would take notice so he decided to get some rest and close his eyes.

A few minutes passed by and Aidan felt relaxed as he focuses on his deep breathing, trying to digest what had happened. He can remember fighting Demons before being chomped on by one and taken to the edge of a cliff and thrown off.

When he hit the water, he was immediately unconscious, the Hound letting go of his arm as it struggled and died in the river. Aidan merely floated, somehow avoiding the dangerous rapids and rocks, and floating downstream deeper into the forest. Next thing he knew, he woke up in a hut like this.

But as Aidan opens his eyes, he sees in front of him the man with the mask.

"AHH!" Aidan yelped, followed by pain in his head. "Ugh…"

He then looks to see in the stranger's hand a bowl full of something green. The smell was like a durian overfilled with fermented natto soybeans and dipped in fish sauce.

"Yeah, like your gonna make me drink that—"

*DOING*

The strange tiki masked person stabbed a tiny needle into Aidan's forehead to make him feel comatose for a bit. He then dumped the green liquid straight into his mouth and back his throat and made him swallow it before taking out the needle.

"UWAH!" Raiden said disgustingly as he instinctively swallowed it. Whatever that medicine tasted like, it was like cough medicine that had been aged for a thousand years and left untouched. He began to cough up from that horrible stuff still at the back of his throat.

"If I wanted ya dead, I could have left ya at da riva." The Witch Doctor said as he went back to his black pot.

"Then why save me?" asked Aidan as he began plucking out the needles from his body.

"So dat ya can discover who ya truly are, and what ya are meant to be," The Witch Doctor said.

"Where am I exactly?" asked Aidan. "What is this place?"

"You are in my hut," The Witch Doctor said. "My name be Nazeebo. And I am a Witch Doctor."

Aidan was surprised though. Witch Doctors come from a secretive tribe in Africa called the Umbaru, inhabiting a region called Teganze within the mythical Torajan Jungles. The jungles are rumored to be located at the center of Africa between a waterfall and a statue, whatever that meant.

"Witch Doctor?" asked a confused Aidan. But Nazeebo went up close to his face.

"Dis doctor," Nazeebo said in a sort of ticked off voice. He flicked Aidan's forehead in disapproval.

"Ow!" Aidan holds his forehead.

Most believe Witch Doctors to be figments of legend. Few outlanders have encountered a Witch Doctor in the flesh without losing their own. In truth, the role of a Witch Doctor is a hallowed one in Umbaru society, though only a few men and women can ascend to the position for they must possess both a history of battle and a talent for communing with spirits. The latter ability belongs solely to those born with the touch of the Unformed Land. The Witch Doctors are finely attuned to the physical realm and are able to train their minds to perceive this reality through a combination of rituals and the use of selected roots and herbs found in the jungles of their homeland.

Witch Doctors frequently wear masks, hiding their identities. Through this, they are said to be an aspect of the spirits of the Unformed Land.

As Aidan sits up, he notices bandages around his left arm. The arm that was chomped on by the Fallen Hound was now in a sling.

"Your arm had the worst injury," Nazeebo said as he cooked some dead frogs in the kettle. "The bite of dat Demon was brutal and will leave a bad scar."

Aidan was surprised though. "You know of Demons? I guess they must be here in the Familiar Forest of all places."

"Make no mistake, they're everywhere now," Nazeebo said, looking at the kettle with serious eyes behind his mask. "And they're returning."

"Retuning?" Aidan asked. "What are you—" Soon the smoke filled the hut and Aidan began coughing violently. Either that or it was the side effects of the medicine. It made Nazeebo turn around and face his patient.

"That's a bad cough you have there..." Nazeebo inquired. "You should call a doctor! Oh. What can I do for you?"

Aidan composes himself. "I'm okay. But I should get back to my friends. They would be worried."

"I would advise against that, mon," Nazeebo said. "You are in a swamp that is easy to get lost. It be hard for you to make it back to your friends."

"Well, I doubt I can just call them magically and send them my location, huh?" Aidan asked.

"Well unless you are on a Sanctuary, Heaven, or Hell approved HMO or PPO, I cannot make house calls. Though I can give you this."

Nazeebo looks out into the back to see what he was looking for. But Aidan was even more surprised. He mentioned the word Sanctuary, which was Earth's prehistoric name before Genesis. How did this Witch Doctor know of it? Was he, like Johanna, blessed with immortality to keep watch over the world.

"Ah here we go," Nazeebo said as he pulls out what appeared to be a long snake in his arms, about twelve feet. It was a black color with patches of white underneath its belly. But what was most striking about it was the fact it looked like a cobra.

Aidan was confused. "Is that a king cobra?"

Nazeebo however chuckles. "To da humans, yes. But it go by another name: da Claw Viper. And dis is a female."

Aidan backs off a little, being a bit intimidated by such a large animal. But Nazeebo assures him it is safe.

"It be alright, mon. She be friendly. Let her sniff ya first."

Hesitantly, Aidan sticks out his hand to let the snake sniff. Curiously, it watches Aidan's hand slowly approach, trembling a bit in fear. The snake soon gives a sniff with its tongue flickering. After a few moments of tongue flickering, the snake soon slithers itself from Nazeebo to Aidan.

"Oh. I forgot," Nazeebo said. "She is poisonous. It is said that her poison be powerful enough to kill anything, even gods."

Aidan could feel his heartbeat climb up. The sight and intimidation of one of the most poisonous snakes of the world made him feel fear. And if this snake could feel his fear, then it's no wonder why people would find it dangerous.

But for this female snake, she seemed to continue to slither herself around Aidan, up to the point where she slithered around Aidan's neck and nuzzle itself there. Even though a part of her was around Aidan, he wasn't choking, and its grip was gentle.

Nazeebo chuckled a bit. "Hoho. I think she likes you."

"So quickly?" asked Aidan as the snake flickers its tongue at Aidan's neck.

"Indeed," Nazeebo confirmed. "Claw Vipers do not take kindly to strangers and often attack those who seek to harm them. Their venom is said to be dangerous to Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels, even to gods."

"Is that so?" asked Aidan.

"Oh and let me say, dat female Claw Viper is queen of its kind."

"Queen?" Aidan asked as the snake explores more of Aidan by slithering to his other arm.

"She's survived long enough to grow even bigger than the males. And even the males have a hard time mating with her."

Aidan could understand why the snake was about twelve feet long, which is unusual for a king cobra-like snake. He could only wonder just what kind of queen this snake was to its kind.

"So, what name you gonna call her?" Nazeebo asked.

Aidan thought for a bit before he found a good name for the female Claw Viper.

"I think I will call her… Sethraliss."

The snake seemed to have like that name, tightening itself around Aidan while not choking him.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

Soon a few knocks were heard from the front door. As Nazeebo walks over, he sees a group of girls and two men. But one of them he recognized.

"Zatouji?" Nazeebo asked. "What bring you here?"

"We're here looking for—" Rias stopped to see Aidan behind the Witch Doctor. "Aidan?"

"Oh hey guys." Aidan greeted sheepishly. But the sight of him wrapped in bandages made Rias and Asia rush to him.

Rias was especially concerned with the left sleeve of his. And she remembered why. Playfully, she slapped his chest. "You idiot! What were you thinking pushing me out of the way only to get bitten? I told you to—"

"If I didn't you would've been food for the demons," Aidan justified. But Rias kept her face hidden as she hugged Aidan, relieved he was still alive.

Asia asked, "Are you okay, Aidan? Does it hurt?"

"Not really. Just need to rest is all. Nazeebo fixed me up."

The pair looked to see the Witch Doctor chat with Zatouji. He must have been the friend the Familiar Master spoke of when the peerage went to look for Aidan down by the river.

"You had been licking toads again haven't you?" Zatouji asked his good friend. Nazeebo however was not amused at his old friend speaking of such blasphemous things.

"What? Nooo, I have not been licking toads. Why would you think that?"

Just then, a croaking sound, likely from a toad, was heard throughout the hut. Nazeebo turned his head to the sound of the voice's direction.

"Hush you!"

Zatouji had a good laugh while everyone else looked a bit confused. While Asia and Rias attended to Aidan and his injuries, Kiba, Koneko, and Akeno looked around and beheld themselves the hut that the Witch Doctor lived in.

"This is…quite a collection you have here," Kiba complimented looking at the skulls of all the dead animals.

"I have to keep a head…" Nazeebo said.

"Keep ahead of the game?" asked Zatouji. But Nazeebo was confused.

"What?" He titled his head. "What do you mean 'of the game?' No, I just need to keep a head."

Nazeebo then digs out a severed head of some sort of troll that had long tusks from its mouth. It was blue in color and had two white tattoo stripes going down its face.

"See, right here." He drops the severed, somewhat still bleeding, head. "A head."

But that may have been the wrong move.

"AAHHH!" Asia screams at the sight of the head and turns away. Koneko jumps like a cat as Kiba gets startled and takes a couple steps back. Akeno was surprised.

"I never seen a Claw Viper like this, especially a queen," Zatouji said, a little bewildered by the reptile's attitude. "It looks like this snake should be yours."

"I think that's a lovely idea," Rias agreed with a smile. "From what I have seen, this snake has taken a liking to you. And you've obtained a rare specimen."

Aidan looks at Sethraliss, the snake catching his eyes. "Is that fine with you?"

The female Claw Viper merely wraps herself around Aidan gently. Aidan would take that as a yes.

For the next few seconds, Rias and Akeno helped Aidan put together the pact circle for Familiars and told him the words to make Sethraliss his. Sethraliss laid in front of Aidan as he reached out with an arm to it, the magic circle rotating underneath the reptile, making it glow bright green.

"In the name of Aidan Kain. I command you to accept this pact and become my Familiar."

The magic circle vanished, as the green glow on Sethraliss also disappeared.

"Well, looks like you've got a friend," Akeno said to him. "I hope you two will be happy."

Aidan bent over and held a hand to Sethraliss for her to slither over to his arm. The snake complies and hurries over, wrapping itself around her new master.

"Yay! Now we both got our Familiars," Asia cheered, confusing Aidan for a moment before he looked happily at her.

"You got one too?"

Asia nodded and summoned forth her Familiar. To Aidan's surprise, it was the same small Sprite Dragon that they saw earlier. "This is Raiden," Asia said, hugging her dragon as it nuzzled her. "I love him, and every time I hold him, I'll think of you."

Aidan smiled at Asia but for some reason, when his eyes locked with the Dragon's he emitted sparks of electricity.

*HISS*

Aidan soon heard a snake noise coming from Sethraliss, who opened her mouth and bared her fangs at Raiden, its green venomous poison dripping from it. Seems like the two do not get along well.

"Oh, right, something you should know about these creatures," Zatouji said regarding Raiden. "They hate other males, that's just one of their features."

"It seems like Sethraliss is trying to protect you, though," Rias said. "She probably sees Raiden as a threat."

"I guess I should not be surprised," Aidan remarked. Both the snake and the dragon continued glaring at one another, giving off threats to turn one another into dead meat.

ORC CLUBHOUSE...

"They say Sprite Dragons only give themselves to the most worthy and pure-hearted of masters," Rias told Akeno, as the two watch from the former's desk at the others talking amongst themselves.

When everyone returned to the ORC clubhouse, Aidan and Asia had respectively brought out Raiden and Sethraliss so that Kiba and Koneko could meet them. Both the snake familiar and the sprite dragon continued to glare at one another, still baring their teeth at each other.

"Normally, Sprite Dragons and Claw Vipers would never choose to serve a Devil," Rias commented.

"Well, Asia used to be a holy sister, so who knows? Maybe that had some sway over the little guy," Akeno suggested.

Aidan then saw the time on the clock and saw that it was late. "Asia, we better get going. Uncle will have had dinner ready by now."

"Oh, right. Come on, Raiden." Asia said as her Sprite Dragon disappeared. Sethrallis slithered her way back around her master's neck before she too disappeared in sand particles that dissipated her form before they too disappeared into dust.

Aidan soon opens up that familiar blue portal with a scroll.

"Asia and I will take our leave," Aidan said. "We'll see you tomorrow, everyone!" After exchanging goodbyes, both Aidan and Asia enter through the blue portal which soon disappeared from sight.

Kiba and Koneko also took their leave, leaving Akeno and Rias alone in the clubroom in the same positions they were in.

"Aidan is growing stronger," Rias said with a smile. "And yet…I cannot help but worry."

"Why is that?" Akeno asked. "He's overcome so many battles and got himself a Familiar that can protect him."

"True," Rias did not deny. "But his Sacred Gear has been showing signs of…corruption."

"What do you mean?" asked Akeno. Rias soon pulls up an image of Aidan's left arm, blackened with the black veins. Akeno looks a bit shocked at the photo. "What is…this?"

"I don't know," Rias said, surprising Akeno before she continued. "But they have been causing such pain to Aidan. And my magic cannot seem to hold it back, no matter how much I use. They are spreading over him like a plague. My guess is that his Sacred Gear is growing in power, but I also fear that power is also corrupting his body."

"You think something or someone is behind this?"

"I can only guess one thing," Rias said as she closed her eyes before opening them in a narrow expression. "It could be the one who created this Sacred Gear in the first place."

"Then Kiba may be right," Akeno said in concern. "If Diablo managed to bestow Aidan with a Sacred Gear like this, then either he is reaching out to him from Hell or is inside the Sacred Gear, corrupting his body and influencing him."

Rias remained silent yet gripped her hands that were interlocked from her fingers. If a demon lord like Diablo was able to influence Aidan like this, then it is only a matter of time before he takes full control and it is too late.

Seeing the tense situation, Akeno attempts to reassure her best friend. "I am sure he can overcome this corruption. He is your favored servant after all.'

"You're right." Rias turned her head to the right and looked down to find Aidan's Horadric necklace laying on the desk. She grabs it and just holds it, feeling it in her hand. Looking gently at it while deep in thought, Rias couldn't agree with her best friend and Queen even more.

"That he is," She said softly before smiling to herself.

And yet somewhere in the back of her mind, Rias could feel the dark influence she felt from Aidan's Sacred Gear, almost like Diablo was watching her from the shadows.

Finally I got this chapter done. And it had nearly been a month since the last.

What started off as a competition between two peerages turned into an almost cataclysmic disaster. But at least everything worked out in the end. And no, I was not going to include the undine scene because that was my least favorite part of that episode. Of course the Demons need to keep appearing from time to time. After all, this is the Diablo universe and Highschool DxD universe merged together as one.

So Nazeebo, the Umbaru Witch Doctor from Diablo III and Heroes of the Storm. Now before you ask, I made his speech sound a bit like the Trolls from World of Warcraft because their dialect sounds similar. At least to me any way. So the "mispellings" in some parts of the dialogue are intentional.

Sethraliss the Claw Viper queen. A very good choice of a familiar for Aidan. With a venom to strike fear and kill even into the hearts of gods, it stands to reason why she threatens anyone who regards her new master as trash. Just wait until Riser sees this snake. And speaking of Riser...

Next will be the Phenex Rating Game Arc. And boy am I eager to start this arc. With the Familiar Forest chapter out of the way, I can now focus on this storyline and hopefully finish season 1 once and for all.

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