Hello, this is your author in-progress, ArtLotus. I hope everyone is having a nice day and will continue to do so as I have good news for you. The good news is I have updated the brand new chapter of A Problem Devil, Born~
Daily Answer
xxOblivionxxx: If you will never understand the story then don't think about it. Do you want to know why I made this story? Because I love Izayoi as a character and I want to make him a what-if character in different animes. I started out with SAO along with Naruto, Dog Days and now HDXD. I love the story representing in all of these animes and that is why I featured Izayoi in them. Do you think I pick them because of sexy girls only? That is one part but there is a plot in each animes and I want to create my own by using Izayoi. Anyway, fanfiction is about using your imagination and I use that. What if Izayoi have a harem? What if he is married? I done that with both SAO and HDXD, coupled with Naruto and Welcome to Flognarde. If you got a problem with me using my imagination to get readers to read my story then why review it in the first place? You should PM me if you're not at all happy with the story.
growolf900: Izayoi did not blush. He's acting embarrass when he visited Canaria in the hospital because they have an awkward relationship even though they are close. About Izayoi, Asuka and You giving Kurousagi a present. Which one is that? Anyway, I will try all that I can to make Izayoi more original, I think? I will try.
I hope you will be satisfied with this and leave a review when you're done. And also, favorite and follow this story because that will be much appreciated.
I hope you stay tune for the next chapter.
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 45: Rematch!
~Yasaka's Castle~
Night
"Kunou ojou-sama, you aren't ready! Please come back!" A shout resounded through the lower halls of the castle before Kunou suddenly bounded off from a corner nearing the main room.
"But I feel I'm ready!" Kunou shouted back behind her before she look forward. A lopsided smile stretches across her lips as she run towards the designated room with the sash around her waist was left waving behind her back. Just as she arrived in front of the double sided doors, she smooth the wrinkles of her kimono before she slides the left door open. Walking through it, she looks over at her left and immediately spotted someone. She closes the door before bounded straight towards her. "Serafall onee-sama!" Kunou called out as Serafall looks at the little blonde's arrival and smiled delightedly.
"Kunou-chan! You look amazing!" She commented as she look upon the florals designs of her kimono added with golden and pink accents.
"Thank you! And you look pretty, Serafall onee-sama!" Kunou replied with a smile looking over at the black kimono within her sights. Purple floral designs could be seen decorating around Serafall's kimono coupled with white transparent-looking flowers. Other than that, a yellow and gold sash wrapped itself around her waist which compliments her kimono overall.
"Thanks, Kunou-chan! But I can see that you aren't dress correctly."
"Why is that?" Kunou tilts her head to the side in curiosity as Serafall smiled reassuringly before she kneels down in front of her and grabs the ends of her sash that lies at the blonde's feet. Kunou watches Serafall wraps the remaining length of the sash around her waist gently before tucking the end at the centre of her stomach.
"There. Now you're dress correctly."
"Heh…Thank you, Serafall onee-sama." Kunou sheepishly smiles before she looks around the room and looks at the black haired. "Um…Where is Kuroka onee-sama? She should be here."
"Don't worry, she's getting ready." Serafall assured as Kunou nods in understanding before she smiled excitedly at the woman.
"Serafall onee-sama, I can't wait to go out! Do you?"
"Me too! If you want, we can play all the games together!"
"I want to! It'll be a lot of fun if we play together! Otou-sama said I should always win in games to get great prizes and I want to do just that."
"Did he said that?" Serafall raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Well, if you want to win. You have to beat me first, Kunou-chan. I'm not going to lose so easily by you. So, don't think you're getting the prizes all for yourself." She explained playfully as Kunou nodded determinedly with a smile.
"I know I won't get all the prizes but at least I will try. And I will start by beating you, Serafall onee-sama!" She said pointing her right finger at the woman who smiled and nods in agreement.
"Well, looks like you two are ready." A voice stated behind them as Serafall look up while Kunou turns around. "You know patience is key to win games, right?" Rias asked as she smile over to them and stands in front of them.
"Rias onee-sama!" Kunou exclaimed at the sight of the red head smiling down at her before the blonde notices the new attire adorned by the red head. "You look amazing too, Rias onee-sama! Your kimono is so pretty." She complimented as she looks at the pink and white kimono that have floral designs decorating around the fabric along with golden bells.
"Thank you, Kunou. I appreciate it. It took quite a while to prepare this but it is all worth it for this occasion." Rias answered smiling down at the blonde. "And I see that you are also dressed up for this occasion too. Kunou-chan." She then turns to Serafall. "You too, Serafall. You look beautiful."
"Thanks for your compliment, Rias-chan. It took quite a while to get this hair done as it is, you know?" Serafall explained as she brushes the end of her right pigtail, which appear to be curlier than before adding with a glistening shine. "Anyway, since you're ready. Where's Izayoi-kun?" Serafall asked before she tilt her head to the side, seeing Rias blushes as her cheeks glowed deep. "Rias-chan?" She called out in curiosity, wondering what cause her to blush instantaneously.
"What? It-It's nothing." Rias assured waving her right hand in dismissal with a flustered look.
"Are you sure? You look so red." Serafall exclaimed as Kunou nods in agreement.
"Yes, Rias onee-sama. Are you alright? You're not sick, are you?" At the question directed by Kunou, Rias responded with a reassuring smile while her cheeks still glows.
"No, I'm not. It is nothing related to illness, Kunou. It is entirely different." Hearing her explanation doesn't seem to satisfy Serafall as she could see that a strange glow was around the red head but it didn't inhabit any bad energy. It is the opposite of it; it made the red head glowed ever so happy than before. One such evident was that the red head looked even more beautiful with the glow but she doesn't know what cause it. A small frown curved downwards on her lips as she realised the red head can stand perfectly oppose to lying on the bed last night.
"Rias-chan, are you alright? Yesterday, you fell unconscious. How can you still stand after that? You were drained mostly of your energy, Rias-chan." Serafall explained in worry as Rias offered a sad smile, recalling how hard it was to move at first when she woke up. "Yasaka-sama and Shiroyasha said that we should left you so that you can recover faster and we did. I thought I should visit you this morning but I change my mind since you would be recovering." She stated as Rias smiled at her worry for her.
"I admit it was hard at first. But over the course of time, I recovered little by little." She answered honestly while leaving the parts where she took a stroll right after she woke up. But she admit that while she walked outside the castle, she was slightly regaining her energy from the peaceful atmosphere around her where she could do nothing but stare at the night skies without worrying about anything. "When I felt energized this morning, I thought I should greet everyone but I stayed instead. I don't want to ruin the moment by coming in as I did, and I decided to appear in this for this evening." She gestured herself as Serafall look at the kimono she adorned and felt her worry fading.
"Yeah, you look beautiful, Rias-chan."
"No kidding. But sadly, I don't want to upstage by the Gremory Princess." An amused voice stated as everyone look at Kuroka standing in the doorway of the double sided door with the right door opened. Everyone gazes upon her kimono as Kuroka walks towards them after closing the door. Just as she stands in front of them, Kunou was the first to speak up.
"You look so pretty, Kuroka onee-sama!" She complimented as both Rias and Serafall nodded in agreement as they look at the kimono that they admit is beautiful and held an aura of elegance around it. The kimono was coloured red paired with the colour black below it. Black coloured little flowers decorated around the kimono with white sakura flowers and golden accents at the ends of the kimono at the top and bottom. Other than that, purple flowers could be seen below her right cat ear, adding to her beauty and elegance.
"Thanks, little fox."
"Yeah I have to agree with Kunou-chan. You do look beautiful, Kuroka-chan."
"I must admit, it looks like you beat me." Rias commented with a smile, founding the kimono to be more elegant than hers. "And I mean it."
"Don't so modest, Rias-chan. But thanks for your appreciation, nya." Kuroka smiled as Rias smiled back. A small smirk spread across her lips as Kuroka thought about the smell of lust last night. "Oh, I almost forgot. Did all of you sense something last night?" Kuroka asked everyone as Serafall raised an eyebrow along with Kunou, both confused on what she said. Except Rias who stopped rigid.
"Did she sense it?" Rias immediately asked in thought, wondering if the black nekoshou could sense her and Izayoi 'activities' last night.
"It was a bit strange at that time but when I knew who they were…" Kuroka smiled amusingly at Rias, who started blushing. "It took me by surprise. I thought I was going to be the one but someone beat me to it." She said as she smirked. "You've won this round, Rias-chan. But I'm going to become his next."
"Kuroka onee-sama, what are you saying? Who is he?" Kunou asked as Serafall held a confused look before realization dawned at her and she looks at the blushing Rias in surprise.
"Nothing, little fox. This is just between the three of us women only." Kuroka smiled down at the little blonde who started pouting after she finishes.
"That's not fair! I want to know too! I'm a grown up too!" At Kunou's declaration, Kuroka couldn't help but chuckle at the little girl in front of her.
"Hate to break it to you, little fox. But you're not a grown up yet. You'll understand what we're saying when you're older but by then, you'll just have to face the consequences of being a child."
"And that is?" Kunou asked in slight curiosity but keeping her pout visible.
"When you're a grown up, you don't have that much fun. But when you're a little kid, you can always have fun!" Kuroka explained. "So what do you want to be, little fox? A grown up or a child?" Kuroka asked lifting a finger on each hand indicating the blonde's two choices. "A grown up?" She lift her left finger. "Or a child?" She then lift her right finger before she look down at Kunou who stares at her fingers with a thoughtful look.
After a moment, Kunou grasp Kuroka's right finger with a wide smile. "A child! Because I want to have a lot of fun! Grown-ups are boring!" She exclaimed as Kuroka smiled back.
"That's good, Kunou. When you're old enough, then you'll understand what both of me and Rias talked about, alright? Right now, you're too young to learn about it. Anyway, you don't know if that sort of subject will be fun to talk about…" Kuroka trailed off with a finger under her chin while she look further in the distance and stealing a glance to see Kunou's reaction, watching as the blonde furrow her eyebrows thoughtfully.
"Really? Is it boring?" Kunou asked herself. "Then I don't want to know. If it's boring, then I don't want to." She said with a shake of her head as Kuroka turns at her and smiled in satisfaction while both Rias and Serafall look at her in slight awe.
Turning to both women, Kuroka sent a challenging smirk before her ears perk up and she turns towards the sound of a door sliding open. She smiled wide as she spotted the lock of blonde hair along with a pair of purple eyes.
"Izayoi-kun, nya." Kuroka greeted as everyone look behind them to see both Izayoi and Yasaka walking towards them arm in arm. Noticing the gesture between them, Kuroka smiled amusingly. "Did we miss something important?" She asked in slight mischief as Yasaka shakes her head.
"No, Izayoi-kun asked if he could escort me here."
"Did he?" Kuroka asked her eyes looking at the said blonde. "I didn't see him at my room to escort me here. Are you specifically choosing, Izayoi-kun? You know there are better choices, right?"
"Right. But that isn't related right now."
"…Okay. I'll accept that for now." Kuroka said while hiding a mischievous smile as Rias look at Izayoi who glances at her. The moment they exchange eye contact, Rias draw her eyes elsewhere with a blush on her cheeks.
Noticing the reaction from the red head, Serafall thought to herself. "…Did they?" She questioned, wondering if Rias and Izayoi had already made love with each other. "If they did, when was it? I never heard them…" The instant she said it, a blush quickly covered her cheeks, realising she thought about the matter too deep. Lifting her sleeve to hide her redden cheeks, she spare a glance at the said red head and watch her blushing stupor. When she stare at her, she immediately slip a few words out. "Did it feel that good…?" She asked out loud before her eyes widen in realisation. She then look up at several faces looking at her. Amusing looks were sent from both Izayoi and Kuroka while Kunou stare at her in confusion. On the other hand, Yasaka smiled at Rias who closed off her glowing cheeks with the right side of her sleeve.
"Fear not, Rias. Although it is embarrassing at first, but you should not hide your embarrassment. You should feel proud of it. That step is the step in which your relationship has been taken to another step." Yasaka explained as Rias look at her in slight awe. After a while, the red head steals a glance to Izayoi who look at her in return but she didn't shy away from his gaze. She let down her sleeve and smiled back with a tiny blush visible on her cheeks.
"Okaa-sama." Kunou called out as Yasaka turns towards her daughter.
"Yes, musume?"
"Did you feel good too before, Okaa-sama? Just like Rias onee-sama?" Kunou asked out of curiosity as Yasaka's eyes widen at her statement before she steal a glance at Izayoi standing next to her and lightly blushes. Meanwhile, everyone looked down at Kunou in mild surprise, shocked that the little girl could ask the question innocently without knowing anything.
"…Musume, it's a little complicated for Okaa-sama." Yasaka answered with a small smile.
"Why is that?"
"Because It is complicated, Kunou." Izayoi answered as Yasaka looks at him. "You can't force the answer out of her, you know? This topic is not one to be taken lightly, alright? This topic is difficult for your Okaa-sama to answer." He explained as Kunou stare at him before turning to her mother with a small frown.
"…I didn't know that, Okaa-sama. I'm sorry…" She apologised grasping her hands tightly in front of her. "Will you forgive me?"
"It is not your fault. It's just…It's difficult for me to tell you, that is all." Yasaka said as Kunou nods solemnly. "And who could ever blame you, musume? You're my daughter and I could never blame you. I forgive you." She said as Kunou looks at her mother before she hugs her at her legs while Yasaka smiled down at her and wraps her hands over her shoulders. After a moment, Kunou pull back from the hug and smiled up at her mother.
Suddenly, the sound of a door sliding open catches everyone's attention as a voice speaks up. "Kunou ojou-sama!" A brown haired woman with fox ears and two tails appears in front of them while holding up a various types of hair pins in her right hand. Wearing nothing but an maid outfit that consisted of a white frilly dress that jutted out from the ends of the dress. "You're not ready yet." She said to her before looking at the occupants standing in front of her. Noticing the two blonde figure standing close to each other, she bows her head to them. "Izayoi-sama. Yasaka-sama. I apologise for my reckless entry."
Holding his hand upwards and waving it in dismissal, Izayoi offered a smile.
"Don't be. I can tell you're here for Kunou." He stated as the fox maid look up at him and nodded before she focus her attention at Kunou who smiles at her.
"Sorry for running out, onee-san." Kunou apologised sheepishly as the fox maid shakes her head and ushers the little girl forward to which she complied. Once Kunou stood in front of her, the maid quickly started to gently brushes the blonde's hair backwards and weave it into a bun before gently pinning it with a small pin at the centre of the bun from behind. After that, she stare at the bun with a calculative gaze and then nodded in acknowledgment before putting in the final hairpin which is a small hairpin. Nodding to herself, the fox maid stands up as Kunou look up at her bun with a happy smile. "Thank you, onee-san!"
"Don't mention it, Kunou ojou-sama. It is part of my duty." The maid smiled before she address both Izayoi and Yasaka and bowed her head to them. "I shall be on my way then, Izayoi-sama, Yasaka-sama."
"If you don't mind," Izayoi stated as the maid look up at him. "If your task is dressing Kunou, mind if you dress me up next time? That will be much appreciated." He sent a smile to the maid who look at him in surprise before a blush bloom from her cheeks.
"Izayoi-sama, I don't…" She trailed off glancing away.
"Izayoi-kun," Yasaka called out as Izayoi look at her while ignoring her hand that was gripping his forearm with a little bit of force. "Do you understand what you're saying?"
"Well, yes I do. If you mean a maid clothing me rather than myself. Then yes, I understand the full responsibility of what I'm saying." Izayoi explained professionally before he look at everyone and noticed how Rias, Kuroka and Serafall looking at him pointedly. "Although I regret to differ," He turns to the flustered maid. "I have to postpone our—" He was interrupted by a tight squeeze from his forearm. Smiling at the interruption, the blonde continued. "Sadly, I have to take back my offer. I hope that you aren't offended by any means."
"No! I am not at all offended by you, Izayoi-sama. I was mostly taken by surprise." The maid replied bowing her head to him.
"Then without any means, continue your duty." Izayoi nods at the maid who let out a smile at him before she turns around to leave. As she left, the blonde look at Yasaka and noticed the apparent missing hair ornament in her bun. Taking this to mind, he turns to the others and smile. "Anyway, what are we waiting for? There's a festival waiting for us."
"Yay!" Kunou exclaimed in excitement before clasping her mother's hand. "Come on, Okaa-sama! Otou-sama! We should go now before the festival ends."
"Musume, the festival will not end until then." Yasaka replied as Kunou nods with a smile.
"I know. But we can't know for sure, Okaa-sama." At this, Yasaka smiled amusingly. "If it ends before we get there, we can't play any games."
"How did you learn all of this, musume?"
"No one. Except Kuroka onee-sama who taught me a little. But I learn it all by myself the most."
"If you think the festival will end, then we have to hurry to the festival right?" Izayoi asked as Kunou look at him and nods. Touching Yasaka's hand with his left, signalling her as she releases him from his right arm. The blonde then kneels down as Kunou smile widen before she immediately let go of her mother's hand and climb up onto her father's back. Feeling his daughter clasping her hands around his neck, Izayoi stands up and support her legs with his hands before walking towards the exit leaving the girls alone in the main room. But before they would leave completely, Izayoi turns his head to look at the girls. "What are you waiting here for? The festival will end before we even get there." He winked at them causing the girls to smile before walking towards them.
As the girls arrived at the two, Kunou felt a hand press against her back as she look at her right to see her mother smiling up at her. "Be careful, musume."
"Don't worry, I will. I got both Okaa-sama and Otou-sama to catch me if I fall." She said as Yasaka smile at her while Izayoi stifle a laugh. Watching the pure happiness radiating from both her parents made Kunou smile in happiness. "I love you Otou-sama, Okaa-sama."
Present
"Kunou ojou-sama, do you want any refreshment? You will feel dehydrated." Hearing this, Kunou look up at the worried looking maid in front of her. "Ojou-sama, I understand with the past events have affected you but you have to stay strong for your people that your mother rule over." She explained as she watches Kunou sit with a sorrow look on her face.
"Okaa-sama…"
"Ojou-sama." The maid kneels down on both legs before clasping Kunou's right shoulder causing the girl to look up at her again. But this time tears were beginning to appear at the corner of Kunou's eyes. "Regardless, you have to stay strong for your people. For your mother."
"…But how can I? Okaa-sama did not teach me everything there is to rule. I only learn the basics only." Kunou answered as the maid frowned. "I can't rule…"
"But you can, Ojou-sama. You just have the confidence to do so, and also a strong will."
"But without Okaa-sama, I…"
"I can sense your sadness about losing your mother but you still have Izayoi-sama. He is still alive and so is your mother. I understand that they are not with you right now but they would always support you and care for you no matter what circumstances. Although we are experiencing a difficult situation right now, but you are here, Ojou-sama. You are born to lead us, Youkai." Just as she explained, a new voice appeared along with the distinct sound of a door sliding.
"Both of your parents wouldn't leave you without knowing that you are suitable for it. Your mother teaches you the rule starting with the basics and your father gave you his faith along with his belief that you are suitable to rule before both of them left. They predicted that ruling the Youkais will eventually fall onto you, Kunou."
"Shiroyasha-sama." Kunou look at Shiroyasha smiling over her as she stand in front of her after the maid moved next to her.
"Though I already scheduled my leave after your father's trip but it looks like I have to postpone my leave. And it is none other than my fault that your mother has been kidnapped, I want to repay the favour for it in any way I can."
"But it is not your fault, Shiroyasha-sama." Kunou protested.
"As it is neither my fault that I didn't expect this would happen. If I can, I would prefer to bring back your father that day. That way, none of this would have happen."
"But Otou-sama will get Okaa-sama back. He said he will and I believe him." Kunou said determinedly as Shiroyasha shed a smile.
"I know you are inexperienced in this field but the only thing we can do is to prepare you to rule over your people until then. During this period, I will help you."
"You will help me, Shiroyasha-sama?"
"I'm quite versed in the arts of ruling and I will lend my expertise to make you a fine leader. But I will not teach you everything. Your mother must have left some notes to rule if ever such an emergency occur right?" At this, Kunou recalled back in her memories before she nods.
"Yes, she said I should learn from them if she were…" Kunou trailed off as a frown smeared her face.
"Worry not." A clap of a fan break her out of her thoughts as Kunou watches Shiroyasha closes her fan and points at her. "The White Demon of the Night, will teach you all there is to rule. And as such, I would like your determination and strong will to show during our time. Can you do it? For both of your parents' sake?"
"…Yes, I will!" Kunou nods as Shiroyasha saw her determined face staring back at her. "I will do it for Okaa-sama and Otou-sama's sake! And my people's sake too." At her declaration, Shiroyasha smiled proudly.
"Then, your training will start now." Hearing this, Kunou thought determinedly as she recalled Shiroyasha's words.
"Okaa-sama, Otou-sama are counting on me!"
~Tono Village~
"Itaku, will Kunou-sama be alright?" Reira asked in slight worry as she look up at the direction of the castle in the distance. The Yuki-onna was currently standing nearby a river that flows through the rocky surface. Meanwhile, the black haired teen that she mentioned stood behind her as he sharpen his sickle with his other sickle in-hand. "I cannot fathom how hurt she is from Yasaka-sama's kidnapping."
"It is unfortunate." Itaku answered as he look at his reflection on his right sickle. "But we can't comfort Kunou-sama out of her misery. This event will lead to the decisive future of Kyoto if Kunou-sama isn't prepare to rule. You do heard a small riot has begun, right? The riot begins because of Yasaka-sama's disappearance. If Kunou-sama cannot rule over the Youkais, the Youkais will act first."
"But they wouldn't dare hurt Kunou-sama right?" Reira asked turning to look at him.
"They wouldn't. But they will hurt others to gain what they want." Itaku muttered as Reira's frown deepen. "In the meantime, we should believe in Kunou-sama to rewrite the order once again. If she cannot, then we will take action for her."
Hearing the last part made Reira frown, not wanting to go on her own accord without reason. But she cannot protest as their decision will benefit for their nine-tail fox substitute leader. Looking down, Reira appeared thoughtful before she clenches her hand into a fist on her chest.
"Kunou-sama, please stay strong."
~Underworld~
Another Dimension
Night
A large green pyramid stood in the centre of the decimated ground amidst the green forest that were meters away from the centre.
"The seal is about to break." Rias stated looking down at the pyramid that started glowing from the top of a cliff. She was standing in front of her peerage and her friend, Sona. And in front of her who was sitting at the edge of the cliff with his legs dangling under is her husband, Izayoi.
"Yes." Sona agreed.
A flicker of red dances around Izayoi's right fingers as he look down at his said hand. Before long, the light disappears and the blonde focuses his attentions at the pyramid.
~Flashback~
"So, the best chance we got is to wait the old man to get Mjolnir, the thunder god's hammer?" Izayoi asked looking at Sirzechs, who in turn look at him. "If that's our best bet, why are we holding this meeting in the first place? As far as it would be cool to watch this hammer in action. But I disagree on the subject of bringing that hammer."
"Why is that, Izayoi-kun? Serafall asked looking at the blonde, who held a smirk on his face.
"Let me finish that Norse god once and for all." At his statement, everyone looked at him in surprise especially Odin instead of Sirzechs and Ajuka. "We haven't finish our battle yet after that mutt got in the way."
"You mean to tell us that Loki was your target all along?" Ajuka asked as Izayoi nods.
"What an interesting statement, Izayoi." Sirzechs smiled at his brother in-law.
"Izayoi-kun." Rias called out from her seat next to her husband as she adopted a concern look. "Are you serious?" Even though she knows that her husband could fight the Norse god after beating him in a display of power but she can't help to worry about the blonde continuing the fight with the Norse god in a full all-out battle.
Sensing her worry, the blonde smiled reassuringly. "Why not?"
"I know that your back and that you're already healed but is it worth it? To throw yourself out there after what happened..." Rias trailed off looking down. Just as the red head mull over the thought of the blonde fighting again, a single hand grasp her right hand. She look at the hand squeezing her hand in return before the red head look up at the blonde smiling over her.
"Hey, all of that is in the past, right? That lizard isn't going anywhere. You shouldn't worry about that anymore." Izayoi stated. "Anyway, I'm back. So, don't think otherwise that I'll be gone right after. I don't intend to leave anytime soon, you know?"
"I know, but..." A tint of worry was visible in her eyes as she said and the blonde couldn't help shake the feeling that his wife was thinking to make him withdraw from battling the incoming battle.
"Rias," Izayoi called as Rias look at him. "I'll be fine, and I trust myself on that. Nobody knows my body better except me. I can't make your worries disappear but unfortunately, that's how I am. I can't stop making people worry a lot." The blonde smiled at the red head who stare at him. "I can't change that and this time, I still know that. But now, there is a crazy god that wanted to bring the world into an end. Isn't that a relevant excuse to fight?" A faint laugh bubble in the red head's throat at his statement to which makes the blonde smile at ease. "Since I can't help but ask my wife about this particular topic because it would make me guilty. I need to know; do you trust me?" Izayoi's eyes stare back at Rias's, who can't help but gaze deeper into the purple orbs.
"Izayoi-kun..." Rias mutters as she stare at her husband's eyes before she let out a smile to grace her features and nods back. "I trust you."
"I don't mean to interrupt." A voice exclaimed as Izayoi look in front of him where he face Odin across from him while sitting on his seat. "But you? I don't mean to disrespect boy, but are you capable?" Odin cast a smirk as Izayoi. At the statement coming out of the old man's mouth, both Rias and Serafall slightly frown, feeling offended by him underestimating the blonde's strength after what he has heard of him thus far. Meanwhile, the blonde sitting across from Odin processed the true meaning of the last part.
'Are you strong enough?'
A smirk begins to spread across his lips as Izayoi stare at Odin. "What's the point If I chose to fight? That doesn't make me less of a coward." Izayoi mocked smirking. "Anyway, If I recall. We didn't finish our fight last time and the way you said about him; he isn't that strong. Not that of the Three-Headed Dragon."
At the mention of the name, everyone looked at him in shock, not expecting him to bring the name in the conversation and compare it with the Evil Norse god. Both Rias and Serafall look at the blonde as they cast a frown at him, wondering if it was alright to mention the name since it was a long time he had encounter the being and how it had resulted badly at the end of the battle, much to their discomfort of remembering the event that was beginning to repeat itself in their minds.
"Oho? You're saying that the Three-Headed Dragon I heard of is far stronger than Loki?" Odin let out a smirk at his statement.
"More so than you…" Izayoi stated nonchalantly as Odin quirked an eyebrow at the blonde's word.
"Is the being that strong?" He consciously thought, automatically thinking about the Three-Headed Dragon that he had heard before from the news swarming around Underworld and finally spreading the news all over Asgard which was picked up by his bodyguard which in turn told it to him. At first, he ignored the news as he was convinced that it didn't involve his presence in any way. But when the statement from the Valkyrie that told the Underworld has been miraculously been saved from complete destruction; that information immediately grab his attention. The intriguing feeling of the fact that the Underworld where Devils lived, plus the surprise of hearing that it was almost destroyed. But that was all he had heard since the Valkyrie hadn't get the full information about news but little bits of it, which in turns to be the biggest piece of information that could stop him from whatever he was doing at the moment. Paralyzed by the news when he first heard it. And after the invitation to come to Underworld and the gathering had finished, he heard from Sirzechs that the cause of the destruction was a Three-Headed Dragon, he was baffled. He'd thought that the cause was more sinister than that, especially the fact of how the being could destroy the entire Underworld. That thought cross his perplexed mind but he continue to believe that what the red head Satan is the truth. But his surprise didn't stop there; he received another piece of information that the blonde across from him was the one that defeated the Three-Headed Dragon and saved the entire Underworld, shocking him but he didn't let it show since he knew that the blonde would make fun of him.
Looking at the blonde in front him, Odin speak up.
"How do you know that this being is much stronger than I?"
"It doesn't take someone to taste something bitter and live to tell the story." Izayoi said with a smirk as Rossweisse look at the blonde in surprise after registering the last part.
"So you tasted death, huh?" Odin stated with a smirk. "If you had learn death, then you must have experience. For a young boy like you to experience such an event, it's a remarkable feat. But let me ask you this, were you afraid of dying? If so, are you afraid of dying then?" Odin stared dead eye at the blonde, expecting his answer.
"If it means dying to keep someone alive, should I answer?" A smirk planted on the blonde's face as he answered.
Understanding his statement, Odin nodded in acknowledgment before turning to Sirzechs. "You have quite an individual, Sirzechs. At this rate, I'll be sitting on the side lines watching the boy fight with Loki rather than retrieving Mjolnir. It'll be a waste of time if the fight ends long before I retrieve it." He explained before taking a glance at the blonde across from him. "But for good measure, I'll retrieve it nonetheless. It'll maybe useful."
"If that is said—" He was promptly cut off by a raise of a hand by none other than his little sister. "Rias?"
"If Izayoi-kun volunteered himself to fight Loki, then I would like to volunteer to be at his aid." Rias stated surprising everyone, excluding Izayoi. Rias looks over at her husband, "I'm not going to let you fight him yourself, Izayoi-kun. I want to help too, whichever way I can to support you. Lastly, I'm not going to hear your denial about this. I trust you, Izayoi-kun. And for that, I want you to put your trust in me. I know what I'm doing would lead to some consequences regarding my safety but I worried about you more than myself." Rias explained to the blonde, who stare at her. "And no matter how you try to convince me, I won't say otherwise. I meant what I said." She exclaimed in all seriousness.
"…Are you sure?" Izayoi asked staring at his wife, who promptly nodded at him in determination. After a moment, the blonde smiled before replying. "Oh well, since I can't say no to my wife and argue about this, seems like I have to answer yes." He stated as the red head smiled happily at her husband.
"Thank you, Izayoi-kun."
Smiling at his wife, the blonde turns towards Sirzechs.
"Well, any objections on your part?" At the question, Sirzechs shakes his head amusingly,
"No, I know both of you are fully capable of protecting each other. And I trust everyone wouldn't object my brother in-law decision?" Sirzechs emphasized clearly as he scan the room to see if anyone was uncomfortable by the decision made by the Gremory Prince. Noticing the silence that came with his statement, the red head Satan look at his sister.
"I expect that you would bring your peerage in the fray? I doubted that Loki would fight alone without any help whatsoever once he gets out." Hearing his statement, Rias nodded at her brother before looking over at her husband to see if he minded the company.
After seeing the smile on his face and the gestured nod, the red head speak up towards her brother.
"I will bring some of them to compensate the others that would be willing to join. Since there will be a limited number of people that could be transported. I will bring four in total. The others will be the support team if we need any." She explained as Sirzechs nodded in acknowledgment.
"Well then, it is settled."
"Not quite. There are also who wants to volunteer." Serafall chirped in holding both her palms together before she glanced behind her, to which everyone look at the door that started to open and reveal Sona with Saji and Tsubaki. "Like Sona-chan."
"Sona!" Rias exclaimed in surprise on her seat as Sona started to walk forward followed by the other two.
"Three members of the Sitri family also wish to volunteer." Sona stated stopping to stand in front of everyone.
"She wouldn't listen to reason." Serafall shrug off her shoulders before she turns to look at Sirzechs who held a frown. "Well, this problem was caused by our carelessness, and both she and Rias-chan are related to the Devil King, so I guess they are the right people for the job." Serafall then smiled at Izayoi, to which he smiled back.
"We already have two people ready to go. We don't have time to waste picking people." Azazel stated as Rias quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Two people?"
"On our side, we have…" Michael started as he glance behind him to which everyone look at his direction and Rias's eyes widen at the appearance of the light brown twin tailed girl standing at the end of the room.
"Irina-san!"
"The way she is now, she will surely prove to be an important asset." Michael explained.
"Please leave it to me." Irina smiled before she waves at the red head.
"Seeing as our enemy is an Asgardian god, I am going as well." Rossweisse declared from her position behind Odin where she stood. The white haired then glances at a certain blonde in her sights and her eyes trailed off a smile on his face, and such she focuses her sights on everyone except him, trying to hide the faint blush colouring her cheeks at the moment.
"Please buy us some time until Odin-dono transfers Mjolnir." Sirzechs exclaimed to everyone that had volunteered.
"Surely, we can't be using Mjolnir." Izayoi stated looking at Sirzechs who cast a smile.
"I have high hopes that you are capable, Izayoi. But since you were recently discharge from the previous battle, I don't want to take any chances whatsoever. The previous battle had left a mark on Underworld's ground but it also left a mark in our minds." Sirzechs frowned after this followed by Serafall and Rias. Then, Irina who also revealed a small frown decorating her face at the mention of the previous battle that wage in the Underworld. "The fact that you almost died should be accounted, and I don't want that scenario to happen again anytime soon while you're fighting with Loki, a Norse god." He explained. "This battle could turn out differently than that of the Three-Headed Dragon." He explained which cause Izayoi look at him.
With a smirk, the blonde shrug off his shoulders, "If that's what you want, I don't mind. I know that this battle could turn out differently but the fact still remains the same; that Norse isn't as strong as the lizard. So don't think that the god could do anything to bring the world to an end."
A smile played on Sirzechs's lips as heard the words from the blonde before the red head Satan nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Izayoi. Now then, let the plan of attack start now."
~Time Skip~
Outside of the Gremory mansion…
"We apologize for the inconvenience." Rias apologized standing in front of Asuka, Shirayuki-Hime, Sala and Pest. The red head was standing next to Izayoi while her peerage which consisted of; Issei, Koneko, Kiba and Xenovia were standing behind them with Sona, Saji and Tsubaki.
"No worries, Rias. We understand." Asuka stated smiling at the red head. "We did plan to enjoy our time in the Underworld. Who would have thought things would turn around for the worse?" She asked. "Anyway, we will support you if we are needed." At this, Rias nodded in appreciation before looking at the rest of the three.
"You should focus on the battle ahead. It would be a difficult fight." Sala explained.
"Be careful out there." Shirayuki-Hime said to everyone.
"Don't forget to bring us in if you are seriously ahead of yourself. And I am talking about you, blondie." Pest stated crossing her arms as she glared at Izayoi, who let out a smirk.
"Will do. And also, nice getup. It really does fit you as a maid." Izayoi commented as he look upon the white frilly maid dress that Pest adorned along with a matching maid headpiece.
"So what? I'm already contracted to you, blondie. What can I do than to serve you as a maid…" Pest said begrudgingly as Izayoi kept his smirk. "Anyway, Leticia said that I should show my loyalty to you by wearing this. I don't know how she thought of this but I have no choice in the matter than to wear it."
"Did you lose a game?" At this, Pest glared the other way.
"…Stupid card game…" As the red head mutters, the blonde laughed which makes Pest glared at him. Smiling at the two, Rias turns to her other members of her peerage that stood next to Asuka.
"It's a shame that we won't be together, but you will be safe with the defence force here." Rias stated with a smile at Asia and Gasper standing before her.
"H-Hai!" Asia answered before turning to the brunette standing behind Izayoi. "Issei-san, make sure you come back!"
"Don't worry! Make sure to get along with the other devils, Asia."
"Of course!"
"Oh, and Asia. Thanks."
"Huh? For what?"
"For helping me to release my Balance Breaker. It was a big help coming from you. And I won't forget it." Issei smiled widely as Asia looked at him in surprise before her cheeks started turning red from the compliment.
"So we're together again, Xenovia." Irina said turning to look at Xenovia standing next to her right.
"Yeah. But Irina…This may sound odd coming from someone who became a devil…" Xenovia trailed off before she was cut off by Irina.
"You want to warn me about the danger, right?"
Just as everyone seemed to be ready, Izayoi turns his head around as he senses someone coming. An amused smile played on his lips as he look at the new arrival.
"I apologize for the late introduction." At her greeting, everyone turns towards her. "I came here as an attendant to our Great Father, Odin-sama. My name is Rossweisse." Rossweisse introduced kindly.
"Rossweisse?" Akeno stated as she look at the white haired Valkyrie, noting something familiar about her that trigger her memories. "Where did…" She trailed off before her eyes widen in realization and a smile immediately spread across her lips. "You're the woman in the photo with Izayoi-kun. Am I right?" Akeno turns to the blonde, who moved to stand in front of Rossweisse who looked up at him.
"It's been…" Rossweisse started before a faint blush erupted on her cheeks.
"A long time, eh? Two years?" Izayoi asked as Rossweisse slowly nods. "You know, I thought there was something with you on that day but I just can't figure it out." At his statement, Rossweisse frowned.
"What was wrong with me?"
"Let's put it this way, who would have thought you were a Valkyrie?" At the question, Rossweisse blushes before glancing away.
"I-I'm sorry that I did not inform you on that piece of information on our date." Rossweisse's eyes widen and she look up at the blonde. "I-I mean, our time together—No! Our—"
"Date together." Izayoi finishes as Rossweisse look at him in surprise. "It's the truth after all. And because of that you've experience to be a girlfriend huh, Ross?"
"Y-Yeah…" Rossweisse nods before letting out a small smile at her name.
Meanwhile Saji and Issei stood side to side as they observed Rossweisse. "Issei!" Saji exclaimed.
"She was wearing a suit last time, but what a wonderful form this is!" Issei said observing closely to the lower part of Rossweisse's armor. But before the two could continue observing they were pull back from reality as their ears were pinched hard by both their Kings.
"It is almost time, and you were ogling?" Sona said to Saji, who wince at his ear being pull to the side.
"I thought you were better than that, Issei." Rias stated at her Pawn who also winces in pain at his ear's pain.
"Sorry for making you kids go." Azazel stated from the side lines with Michael and Sirzechs standing behind him.
"Grayfia." Sirzechs called out to his wife who stood in front of the eleven people standing above the green magic circle belonging to Ajuka.
"Yes, sir." Grayfia said as she extend both of her hands towards the group where she hold a box that carried three specifically same items. "These are phoenix tears. This is all we could collect on such short notice."
"A precaution, since your healing bishop cannot go." Sirzechs stated as Rias takes the chest.
"Thank you very much."
"Still, don't be rash." Sirzechs reminded as Rias nodded.
"Understood." After she said in agreement, the red head turns around to face her husband who in turn look at her. "Izayoi-kun, please take one." Rias stated holding up the small chest that contains the three vials of Phoenix Tears.
"Rias, there are others that will need it later on. I'll be fine without one." Izayoi assured before a voice cuts in.
"Izayoi-kun, you should take one." Akeno stated as the said blonde look at her. "For our sake." She insisted as the blonde look between the two women.
"I think you should take one, Izayoi." Sirzechs added. "Just for your safety."
At this, Izayoi sighs before he went to pull out the Phoenix Tears in the middle and pocketed it into his right pants pocket. "If It stops the two of you from worrying, then so be it." Just as he ended his sentence, he is immediately greeted by a pair of lips on his before they pull away.
"Thank you, Izayoi-kun." Rias smiled up at the blonde who in turn smile back before he looks at Sirzechs.
"I'll keep them in line." Izayoi stated as he pointed his thumb over his right shoulder at the people behind him.
"I'm more concern about you, Izayoi."
"I'll be concern if something happens during our interval with the god. Specifically, you and the rest." Izayoi frowned a little remembering the white haired that appeared recently.
Knowing what he was talking about, Sirzechs nods in understanding. "We'll keep an eye on the surroundings. I suspected Leticia's kidnapping is somehow connected to all of this."
"It's more than coincidence. They're planning something big with her as the center of attention."
At the worrisome information, Sirzechs frowned thinking of ways that the plan Khaos Brigade had entirely plan for them. "If that is so, then we will be aware of that." Izayoi nods as everyone looked at the blonde's back.
~Flashback~
"Take me with you." Koneko stated to Rias standing in front of her while Izayoi sat on the bed on her left.
"Koneko, but you are…" Rias was cut off by her Rook.
"I'm no longer unsure of myself." Koneko stated to her Master as she and Rias stared at each other. Before long, the red head let out a smile.
"I understand."
~Present~
After she had thought about her conversation with her Master, Koneko looks up and stares at her blonde senior's back.
~Flashback~
"Why?" Koneko asked as she turns to her blonde senior sitting on the bed in front of her after she had already gotten her Master' s permission.
"Why what?" Izayoi replied back as Rias look between the two while she stood between them.
"Earlier…Why did you…Onee-sama…" Koneko trailed off, finding it hard to speak after discovering her sister's relationship with her blonde senior, not to mention she had recently found out about her sister's feelings for him. But the main question she composed, was the topic that her senior had protected her sister after his arrival when she was in the forest with the others during the gathering. Curling her fingers into a ball, Koneko forces herself to speak up properly. "Why did you—"
"Protect her?" Izayoi responded to his white haired junior who looks at him. After a while, the blonde watches her respond with a nod before resuming to look down and avoids eye contact with him. At that, the blonde nods slowly before he decided to answer her question. "Because you can't blame what was not a person's unwillingly fault. Events happens when someone want it to happen, or they spontaneously happen without a fault. Your sister is the former. She decided to get it to happen because she knew what will happen before that event happens." At the end of the sentence, Koneko raises her head to meet his eyes questioningly.
"What kind of event are you talking about, Izayoi-senpai?"
"One that involves you turning something that you're not." At the answer, Koneko look eyed wide. "Kuroka knew that would happen if she didn't do something. But I'm not the one to tell you the whole story. It's better if someone else tells it for you, then you'll understand completely what she meant, what she did." Izayoi stands up from the bed and kneels down in front of his junior before lifting his hand and patted Koneko's head. "For all I know, she still cares for you." Koneko's eyes widen. "But doesn't know how to express it as much. I'm not asking you to give her a chance, give her the option to explain herself."
"…"
"Anyway, since we're fighting a crazy god. It doesn't matter if you let your true self out for a change." At that, Koneko stared at the blonde in surprise. "But you just have to have the courage to do it. And believe me, you're not like your sister. You are your own. So, don't think for a second that you will turn into her because she isn't what you thought she is in the past. But that is for another time with a certain Nekoshou, right?" Izayoi smiled along with Rias as Koneko stare at him and her before she let out a smile.
"I…I'll remember what you said, Izayoi-senpai."
~Present~
Just as Izayoi nods, the blonde look upon his right hand and stare at it for a moment with a serious glint in his eyes. After a while, he tighten his palm into a fist. But then, a tugging on his right sleeve cuts him from his stupor and he turns his head around to look at Koneko standing behind him. He looks at Rias standing next to him before focusing to the white haired junior.
"What is it, Koneko?" Izayoi asked the white haired who glances away while she kept her head slightly down. Putting her hand down from his sleeve, the white haired speak up.
"Izayoi-senpai...Thank you for earlier. I will remember your words. And also...give me courage." The white haired nekoshou finishes with a faint blush on her cheeks.
"You've gotten it already." Izayoi answered with a smile patting her head with his right hand. Standing beside white haired, Issei nodded in agreement before he speaks up to her.
"Yeah, Koneko-chan. I'll protect you along with everyone else including Izayoi-senpai." At the last name mentioned, Koneko looks at the blonde who smiled down at her to which she let out smile in response with a blush on her cheeks.
"Ara, ara, it looks like Izayoi-kun stolen Koneko's heart." Akeno said to herself as Izayoi smirked at her way. "But I too, would love to receive some courage from you, Izayoi-kun." She stated before she smiles and turns away from him, hiding the frown on her face at the recollection of meeting her father at the gathering.
"Akeno..." Rias muttered with a small frown before a hand grasp her own. She look up at Izayoi and immediately she knew he shared the same concern with her, seeing the small frown on his face at the sight of Akeno.
"All right, then. Let me teleport you all." Ajuka stated before they teleported out of sight along with the green magic circle.
Main Timestream-Present-
"We're up against an evil Norse god, huh?" Issei stated to Saji standing next to him.
"Damn. We got ourselves a tough opponent right after training. Well, it's all to make President's dream come true." Saji explained as Issei turns to him.
"Your president's?"
"She wants to make a Rating Game School in the Underworld, which even low-level devils can attend."
"Oh, I never knew that. But what does that have to do with this?"
"There are actually a lot of devils who think President's dream is stupid." A frown appears on Saji's lips.
"Devils do live in an aristocratic society." Issei added.
"So if we make peace with other mythologies..." Saji started as realization dawned on Issei.
"I see. The hard-headed devil society might change."
"My dream is to become a teacher at President's school." Saji smiled at the brunette.
"That's a good dream."
"Anyone who gets in the way of our dream, whether a Norse god or not, needs to be beaten down!" Saji raises his left fist as Issei raises his right gauntlet.
"Yeah. Let's do this!"
"He's coming." Rias's voice interrupted them as both Issei and Saji look at the glowing pyramid that started to levitate upwards before exploding into tiny shards. In the midst of the falling shards was Loki standing in the air.
"Beelzebub! Playing petty tricks, I see."
"Loki-sama! Baring your fangs at our Great Father is unforgivable! You should voice your opinions through the proper channels!"
"Ah, you're the Valkyrie who serves Odin. Though I hear you are talented, your power is far inferior to a god's."
"You refuse to listen to reason?' Rossweisse asked narrowing her eyes.
"You are all far too weak for the opening act of Ragnarok." He stated with a smile as four lights suddenly appeared behind and descended down beneath him. The first light hit one of the ground beneath, revealing Fenrir amidst the rising smoke. The second hits the far right of Fenrir which revealed to be another wolf like Fenrir. And then third hit the other side of Fenrir and revealed the third kind of the same.
"Those are Fenrir's children, Hati and Skoll." Rossweisse explained to everyone as Loki smirk and lift up his right finger, causing purple lightning to be strike from the darken sky towards the ground next to him. Suddenly, a serpent like dragon showed itself to the group. "On top of that, one of the Five Great Dragon Kings, the Midgardsormr!"
"So many legendary monsters!" Irina stated.
"They're probably imitations created using a dragon king as a base." Rossweisse stated as Issei stood beside Kiba.
"We're surrounded!" Issei exclaimed.
"Don't be intimidated. Right now, our job is to do everything in our power to defeat them." Rias said to everyone.
"Hai!" Everyone said except Izayoi who silently sit at the edge of the cliff with his eyes closed.
"You will regret challenging a god!" Loki said as he spread his right arm forward as Midgardsormr head forward followed by Fenrir, Hati and Skoll.
"Let's do this!" Issei said standing back to back with Saji.
"Yeah! I'll show him the results of my training!"
"Buchou!"
"Kaichou!" The two of them shouted as both Rias and Sona nodded. The motion causes both Pawn to be promoted to Queen.
"Promotion, Queen!" Both of the Pawn shouted.
"Balance Break!" Issei said showing his gauntlet before his body was engulfed in red light.
"Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!" Instantly, Issei transformed into his Balance Breaker like last time with the addition of dragon wings.
Flying up, Issei stand across from Loki.
"One of the two heavenly dragons, the Emperor of Red Dragon. What fate this is!" Loki said as he flicks his wrist at Issei, launching a wave of electricity towards him but it was deflected by a swipe of Issei's right arm.
"I've been chased by a fire-breathing dragon king. This is nothing!" Issei declared as Loki flick his finger enlightening Fenrir to jump from behind towards Issei and strike him at his left dragon wing, destroying it in shreds.
"Issei-senpai!" Koneko shouted.
Just as Issei was about to fall to the ground, Fenrir made itself known and open its mouth to eat him. But before that could happen, Xenovia knock Issei to the left and strike the wolf-being along with the presence of Kiba beside her.
"You guys!"
"Don't forget about..." Kiba started wielding his Holy Demon Sword.
"Us, the knights!" Xenovia finishes wielding Durandal. "Let's go!" She shouted as she pull her sword back and swipes it across the ground towards Fenrir, launching a yellow energy wave towards it.
"Sword Birth!" Kiba shouted as he stabs his sword, causing countless of swords to pierce through underground and strikes Fenrir that was standing in between cliffs, trapping it. The yellow energy wave finally made itself known and strikes the wolf being, causing smoke to envelope it.
"Kiba and Xenovia have both gotten stronger. All right, I'll show them, too! Dragon Shot!" Issei said as he extend his left gauntlet summoning a red ball of energy before it grows into a big ball of energy. Then, Issei punches the energy ball with his right fist to which hits Fenrir directly.
"I suppose we'll be taking on this one." Rias stated as she, Akeno, Sona and Tsubaki stood in front of Midgardsormr.
"Lightning!" Akeno shouted as she strikes the dragon at his head with a lightning strike to which causes it to turn towards the four and breath fire on all four of them. But the four women had already grew devil wings and fly away from the scene, escaping the fire breath. Looking back at the dragon, Akeno narrowed her eyes in dissatisfaction. "My power right now is not enough."
"I shall reflect those flames right back at you, Mirror Alice!" Tsubaki said as Midgardsormr breaths fire at the mirror that appeared in front of Tsubaki. But after the flames were distinguished, the mirror reflected back the attack at the dragon, burning it and causing it to scream in pain.
"Sacred Gear, Mirror Alice. When Tsubaki's mirror is shattered by an attack, it's reflected back with double the power." Sona explained as the mirror breaks apart leaving fragments of it falling down.
"A countering gear, huh? That would be troublesome against my peerage, since we rely on powerful attacks." Rias stated to her.
"We won't hold back if we play against you in a Game." Sona replied.
"All right, then let me show you the results of my training." Rias said as she spread two fingers on each hand and cross her arms over her chests. A red magic circle appeared in front of her before Rias spread open her arms, shooting a big stream of red dark flames forward.
"Let me attack as well." Sona responded as a blue magic circle appeared in front of her right palm before blue energy started to be suck into the magic circle. Suddenly, a water serpent appeared from the gathered magic circle of Sona and wrap its tail around Midgardsormr before stabbing its teeth onto the dragon's neck. Once the dragon collided at the ground beneath by the water serpent, its eyes glowed yellow before the water serpent disappear into vapour, covering the whole area in steam.
"Even though it's an imitation..." Rias stated covering her face with her right arm.
"It is based off of one of the Dragon kings." Sona said turning towards the red head as she held a handkerchief in her right hand while the left held her glasses into place. "We should still be careful, Rias." She said before wearing her glasses after cleaning them of the vapour covering her glasses.
"You haven't changed at all." Rias smiled as she turns to Sona.
"It's been a long time since the last time we met. I hope that you have trained enough." She stated as Rias kept her smile.
"I'll prove it to you."
"Though small, they are Fenrir's children. If you're caught by their fangs, it's all over." Rossweisse warned to Irina as the two stood forth against Hati.
"Sounds like a worthwhile opponent." Irina responded.
"Irina, don't be reckless! You're still just a human!" Xenovia reminded her as she fly in the air with her devil wings.
"Xenovia, look at this. This is the new me!" Irina said as she cup her hands together. The 'A' mark on the back of her right hand glowed red. Before long, a halo appeared above her head and angel wings sprouted from her back. She spread her arms in delight at her transformation as Xenovia and Kiba look at her in surprise.
"That form..." Kiba muttered with a surprised reaction.
"She looks just like an angel!"
"I'll explain later. Minions of an evil god!" Irina said as a white halo appeared above her right index finger and she pull back her finger. "I have become a reincarnated angel through Lord Michael's blessing. Now accept my holy wrath! Amen!" She shouted as she throws the giant white halo towards Hati that gets its neck trap into the halo before crashing into a giant rock just as Irina fly away to let Rossweisse attack it from behind with her Norse magic.
"It seems they don't have as much defensive power as Fenrir." She commented as she kept shooting countless needles like energy towards Hati.
"Yay!" Irina said with a smile.
"A reincarnated angel?" Xenovia questioned in surprise.
"Her personality hasn't changed at all, though." Issei stated as he landed right beside Koneko.
"We will take care of Fenrir!" Kiba announced to the two of them.
"All right, Koneko-chan! We'll take on the other one!" Issei said to her as Koneko steals a glance at the blonde sitting at a cliff nearby watching them. After that, she felt herself gain confidence and she along with Issei jumped in the sky to face Skoll.
"It seems you may not be as pathetically weak as I thought." Loki stated over the sky as he observed the battles where everyone had been engaged.
"And it seems like it's just the two of us left." A voice caught Loki's attention as he look down from where he stood. Once he caught sight of the individual calling him, Loki's expression changes dramatically.
"You..." Loki gritted his teeth as rage could be seen in his eyes.
Standing up from the edge of the cliff, Izayoi opens his eyes to meet the god's. "We haven't finish our last battle, right?" A smirk spread across the blonde's face.
"I'm going to kill you!" Loki spread both his arms forward as a blue magic circle appeared above them. Suddenly, a burst of flames ignited from the circle and launch forward towards the blonde.
"Do you think I'll let you?" Izayoi asked with a smirk at the sight of the flames approaching him. Lifting his right hand, he easily swipes his hand to the side, destroying the streams of flames into nothingness.
Surprised by the act, Loki was then caught by surprise as the blonde instantly appeared in front of him without notice. Before he could counter the blonde for what he would do, Loki instantly sent downwards to the ground by a punch to his stomach, coughing up blood in the process of it all.
Gritting his teeth at his embarrassing act, Loki glared heatedly at the blonde standing on the ground across from him. Blood drips from his mouth towards his front collar, staining it red. But upon the rage filling itself inside him, he ignored it and instead focused himself at Izayoi who let a smirk cross his lips. At the sight of the pathetic blonde, Loki immediately lift his right hand and slap it down on the crater beneath him causing the earth to form large spikes that head towards the blonde.
Seeing the earth spikes approaching him, the blonde punches the ground beneath him, causing the ground in front of him to explode and destroyed the earth spikes into tiny pieces before letting them fall into the newly formed giant crater. As the tiny earth pieces fall from the sky, the blonde immediately focuses back but his eyes widen in slight surprise as a cut appeared on his left shoulder and then his hand. Quickly raising his hands to form a cross over him, Izayoi narrowed his eyes at the amount of magic needles embedding into his arms. Noticing the barrage of needles wouldn't stop, the blonde swiftly jumps aside and roll to his feet before looking up at Loki smiling at the slight achievement.
"Does it feel good to know that you're not all invisible?"
"When did I say something like that?" Izayoi asked before he shoots forward, sending all of the magic needles embedded in his arms to burst out from him.
Lifting his hand to summon his spell to counter the blonde, he was once again caught by surprise at the appearance of the blonde in front of him just as his magic circle appears. Not a moment too soon, Loki flew back by a punch to his face. During mid-flight, Loki closes his eyes at the dizziness that greeted him as the after effects of the blonde's punch. As Loki plan to stop flying back by stopping his body, he can't seem to.
"Why can't I stop?" Loki asked in thought before he collided by a kick to his back which launches him towards the awaiting ground beneath him. Crashing into the ground, Loki stagger to stand up before he look at the blonde standing perfectly fine from the barrage of attacks he received earlier.
"How is it to bow down towards your opponent? It doesn't bring a good feeling, right?" Izayoi mocked as Loki's eyes widen and he look down at his current position; he was kneeling in front of his enemy.
At the realization, Loki look up and stand up before flying towards the sky, ignoring the pain that he started to feel overtime. The god tried to launch an attack but he was caught by surprise yet again by several blue magic rope that tied around his left wrist.
"What?" Loki asked as he turns to his left and saw Saji standing while holding onto the magic rope in his right gauntlet while the left grabbed onto the start of the rope that came out from his gauntlet.
"A careless watch invites the vigilant foe, god!"
"A weakling amongst weaklings dares to face me?" Loki glared at Saji.
"Your arrogance will come back to bite you." Saji replied.
"Don't make me laugh." Loki said as he pump his energy to the blue rope to get rid of it. But then, he found out that it can't seem to, much to his surprise.
"Saji!" Issei shouted over Saji after watching him engaging Loki.
"Issei-senpai." A voice said as Issei look up at Skoll approaching with its fangs bared to bite him. But before that could happen, Koneko appeared from the side and punches Skoll a few meters away before flipping back towards the ground. But at mid-jump, a white tail appendage started sprouting from Koneko's bottom and a pair of white cat ears appeared on her head.
"Koneko-chan!" Issei looked at the white haired landing in front of him.
"I will accept this power and master it. I won't be afraid of my own power anymore. As long as I am with you, Issei-senpai and Izayoi-senpai who believes in me." She said before she moves forward and grabs Skoll by its snout, lifting it up and spinning it in the air. "I am..." She throws Skoll into the sky. "not afraid." She said as a light blue flame started engulfing her right fist and she released her fist to the sky as the numerous blue energy balls collided with Skoll in mid-air before Issei punches the being crashing into a small mountain nearby.
"I see. Koneko-chan, I see you've accepted your power…I must accept myself as well." Akeno thought looking at the white haired before stealing a glance at the blonde standing nearby the trapped Loki. With a determined nod, Akeno focuses her attention to Midgardsormr. "I am the daughter of Himejima Shuri and Baraqiel." She said as she jumps back into the air as the dragon started to head towards her. A devil wing and a fallen angel wing sprouted respectedly on each side of Akeno's back. "I am also Rias Gremory's Queen! I am Himejima Akeno!" She announced with her left hand to the side. Lifting her hand, Akeno says, "Lightning!" At this, a yellow magic circle appeared above Midgardsormr and lightning strikes down towards the dragon. A white black light appeared on her left palm and Akeno aimed it at the dragon before white black lightning started shooting off from her palm and hitting the dragon along with the yellow lightning. The combination caused Midgardsormr to fall down with a burst of smoke.
Meanwhile, Rias smiled at the scene of her best friend finally accepting her power. "At last...You've taken a step forward, Akeno." She said as tears started to appear at her right eye before she brushes it away with her left finger.
A thud could be heard as Hati fall down and blood started to seep out from its mouth coating its teeth and dropping them from its chin. Rossweisse and Irina stood proudly above the body as they look down at their victory.
"You all aren't bad for weaklings." Loki said before he tried to pump energy to get rid of the blue ropes around his right wrist.
"Loki-sama, please think this over. I'm sure Odin-sama will forgive you." Rossweisse said trying to convince Loki with words.
"You couldn't be more mistaken. I am the one fixing his mistake."
Disappointment crosses Rossweisse's face before she replaced it with determination. "You leave me no choice!" She said as she lifted up her hands and aim it at the god. Numerous of blue magic circles appeared in front of her in a circle formation. Then, Rossweisse extended her arms wide as white beams of light shoot out of the circles and towards Loki.
Intend to counter the attack, Loki find out that he can't summon the energy to fight back. "What?" He muttered before the arrays of light hits him directly, causing the god to fall down as a result. Crashing onto the ground, Loki look up at Saji.
"For President's dream, this was nothing!"
"Nice! That's what I expected from my rival!" Issei said as he impaled Avalon through Skoll's heart, killing it. Pulling down the sword from his gauntlet, the sword disappeared as Skoll fall down.
"Impossible. How can it not come off?" Loki asked as a blue magic circle circled around the blue rope tied to his wrist and tried to get rid of it. But then the magic circle dissipate just like last time when he did it.
"Azazel-sensei tweaked it a bit." Saji said as parts of black armor started to equip his feet and arms. Then, his left eye started to change; the eye turns black with a yellow slit in the centre replacing the pupil. "All of the Vitra-type Sacred Gears have been implanted in me." He said as purple darkish energy come off from his gauntlet and envelope the blue rope that was tied around Loki's wrist.
"So these are Vritra's dark flames."
"Even a god can't escape the curse of Vitra so easily!" Saji stated as Loki narrows his eyes before he started to fly upwards.
"You should never underestimate an ambitious devil, evil god Loki." Sona smiled.
"That's because you can never let your guard down around our teacher! All right!" Issei said as his damaged wing started to heal instantly before he look up at Loki. "Loki!"
"What an impudent little devil and dragon!" Loki said as a burst of blue energy burst out of him, releasing him from Vritra's flames.
Suddenly, giant waves started to appear in the sky above Loki before lightning strikes followed by a burst of light and gall of wind that furiously blow everything in the area.
"Loki-sama! You can't! If you do that, not only the Underworld, but all mythological worlds will be affected!" Rossweisse warned the god as she covered her face with her arms.
"It will only speed up the coming of Ragnarok." Loki said as Izayoi narrows his eyes at the blocks of ice raining down on the entire area.
"Issei!" Izayoi shouted as Issei look at the blonde amidst the snowstorm. "Tell everyone to stay back as far as they can!" He shouted as Issei look at him, momentarily confused before he nodded and flies towards everyone.
"Izayoi-senpai." Koneko called out to the blonde standing a distance away from her.
Noticing the white Nekoshou, Izayoi let out a smile. "It seems like you've accepted your power. That's great." He said before his face changes a bit seriously. "Anyway, go and tell everyone to stay back. I'll handle the god alone from now." At this, Koneko frowned before she reluctantly nodded and runs towards everyone.
"Buchou!" Issei shouted as he look up at the red head standing besides Akeno. Their hands were extended up front as protective circle appeared in front of them, blocking the blocks of ice from hitting them and bouncing off the circle.
"Issei, what's wrong?" Rias asked as Issei landed in front of them, protecting them from the snowstorm with his armor.
"Izayoi-senpai told us to move back as far as we can." Issei explained confusing both Rias and Akeno.
"Why is that?" Akeno asked.
"Because Izayoi-senpai will take it from here on to fight the god." Koneko appeared in front of Issei as she told them the information.
Eyes furrowed in slight worry, Rias glances at her husband standing a few distances away before she look behind her, seeing Xenovia and Kiba were having a hard time blocking each blocks of ice that rapidly rain down on them.
"That is my wish to begin with." Loki said
"What is he planning to do?" Rias asked looking up Loki.
"He plans to release his divine powers and rupture this space!" Rossweisse said from behind a stone nearby them.
"Ah!" Kiba said as he flew back from the force of the blocks of ice attacking his body.
"Kiba!" Xenovia called out to the blonde knight. "Shoot!" She said as she saw Fenrir jumps out from the barrage of swords acting as a bars from its prison.
"You'll be eaten by my children at the coming of Ragnarok. A fitting end for weaklings." Loki stated as he raises his hands above and a blue magic circle appeared in front of his palms. Suddenly, a beam of light shoot out from the magic circle towards the skies above.
Sensing the danger ahead, Izayoi immediately disappears.
"Huh?" Saji stated as he felt a tugging on the back of his collar before he immediately disappear. "What?" Saji asked out loud as he reappears from his strange disappearance. He look around to find that he wasn't anywhere near where he stood. He then hear a voice from behind him and he look behind to find himself staring at Izayoi's back.
"Don't go back. Stay here." Izayoi said before Saji could respond and the junior could only saw his senior disappears milliseconds after.
Reappearing in front of Kiba and Xenovia, Izayoi look down at them as the two Knights look back at the blonde in surprise of his appearance.
"Get away from here. I suspect this will be hell before Loki could release his true divine power." Izayoi ordered as Kiba nodded and he look at Xenovia.
"We should go." He said as Xenovia nods and the two Knights stands up from their positions and runs past the blonde. Mid-way of running, Xenovia looks back at the blonde disappearing form before she looks up ahead; a worried look could be seen on her face.
"Izayoi-kun, what are you going to do...?" She asked before her eyes widen at the intense pain overwhelming her back. Her eyes wide as she look upon Kiba who fall down upon being strike down by beams of light. But before she could be engulf in with more pain, an arm wrap itself around her before she saw the other arm grabs upon Kiba's collar. Before long, they disappeared out of sight.
"Wha..." Xenovia thought as she reappears and she saw Saji in front of her standing with a worried look. She redirect her attention to where he look which was behind her. At the motion, Xenovia's eyes widen at the beams of light rapidly destroying the area they were in seconds before, from the skies.
"Take care of Kiba."
Xenovia look up at the blonde with his back facing her, and immediately her eyes widen. Tracing the strange markings on his bare back, the blue haired didn't have enough time to look at the markings before the blonde instantly disappears with a crater replacing his absent, unaware of Durandal's absent in her hand.
"Issei!" Rias shouted as she look up at her Pawn being inflicted with beams of light from above.
"Shit!" Issei said enduring the pain from the beams of light before his eyebrows raised in surprise at the pain that didn't made itself known to his back anymore. The brunette turns around to see his blonde senior standing in front of him deflecting each beam of light that comes their way. His eyes tried to follow the fast movements of the blade in the blonde's hand but to no avail, the movements could not be seen with the naked eye.
As the beams of light dissipated, Loki look down at the blonde below him. His smile grows at the sight of his tattered red vest but his smile immediately replaces with a scowl at the sight of the blonde meeting his eyes as he moves Durandal at his side with no expression of pain evident on his face upsetting him thus far.
"How can you not die?" Loki scowled in slight frustration.
"Ha! Do you think I'm going to die by the likes of you? Think again." Izayoi smiled amusingly before he grips Durandal in his hand and immediately jumps towards Loki.
"What annoyance!" Loki exclaimed lifting his hand to form a magic circle in front of him just as Izayoi swings down Durandal and promptly destroyed the circle in pieces, surprising Loki.
Reacting quickly, Izayoi slashes Loki with several powerful slashes before reversing the blade and hits Loki with the back of the sword and send him to crash the ground. Landing on the ground below, the blonde watches the god's body being drag across the ground and split the ground, sending the soil and rocks away repeatedly as he goes.
Meanwhile, Issei move away from his position to look at his senior against the god. After his action, Rias and Akeno get to look up at the blonde and their eyes trailed the big marking on his back, much to his surprise once they saw it clearly without Issei blocking their way. When the two saw it the first time, surprise were what they felt as they never saw the marking before.
"Izayoi-senpai..." Koneko muttered looking at the marking on her blonde senior's back.
Nearby, Rossweisse's eyes also trailed their sights upon the strange marking on the blonde's back before the right side of her head piece lights up and she promptly touches the side of her head piece, listening on it. Her eyes widen before she narrows them once she nodded to the information she has been received. "I understand!" She said before she shouted to everyone. "It's here!"
"What?!" Issei look up at the sky above and he saw a giant blue magic circle appearing in the sky. Then, a blue beam descended down from the magic circle upon the ground a distance away from the brunette. Issei watches as an object appeared floating down from the magic circle through the blue beam.
"The weapon of Thor, god of thunder!"
To Be Continued…
That is the end of chapter 45 of A Problem Devil, Born~
I apologise that I did not update this awhile back. I had plan to update this right after the previous chapter but I started thinking that I should retrace back to the points of the story that I had miss such as the events in Kyoto, and Izayoi's two weeks battle royale against the Demon Kings.
Anyway, I hope that you like and love the chapter because I don't know how long I will update next. I do not want to update once a month that is for sure. So back to the story, Kuno is experiencing some difficulty in Kyoto from the kidnapping of her mother and Shiroyasha is going to help her. I wonder how she will be a ruler later on? And also, we come to the rematch between Izayoi and Loki. The thunder god's hammer has arrived and Izayoi didn't beat Loki yet! What do you think will happen in their fight?
Leave a review and tell me what you think of the chapter. And also, favorite and follow this story because I absolute love when new readers favorite and follow my story. Also, if you have any problems whatsoever, PM me.
Anyway, that is all boys and girls. I hope we will meet again in the next chapter to come.
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!