Chapter 158: Going Home
Adrian continued to tell Sirzechs of everything that had happened, from the elven world, to Damons' home, the silver side of the mirror, the inner stray being released, meeting Thatan and Pennie, encountering Slender (to which stunned Sirzechs beyond words), time traveling back to the past, killing Sellzens' grandfather, the truth of Richard, Kali, and finally the final stretch to fighting Zeus on the God-Slayer,
"...When we were on the weapon, we had to fight evil copies of Rias and the rest of her house, but you probably knew that already."
"Yes, for some reason, Zeus wanted to try and prove himself by attempting to destroy you and your friends with them, and I must say, you all handled yourselves quite well," commented Sirzechs with a nod.
"Doesn't excuse myself for all that I have done," said Adrian, "for even though Zeus is now dead, the God-Slayer destroyed and the dimension is safe for now, I fear there is something far worse on the horizon, and it is all my fault..." Adrian turned to Sirzechs, briefly lifting his eyepatch to reveal his still empty socket, "...and this is my mark of shame for when that day comes." Sirzechs clicked his tongue,
"That's really unfortunate..." he then furrowed his brow, "...I'm not sure if Tears of the Phoenix could heal that kind of a wound anyway. It usually can't regenerate blood loss or lost organs."
"Well if it could, it won't. Slender cursed the wound so I will never have two eyes again," explained Adrian, "reason being is that when Zeus plucked my eye out, he used that and pieces of Katrina and Damon for some sort of spell. A spell to summon a 'Child of the Apocalypse.' Ring any bells?" Sirzechs paused, letting an almost invisible bead of sweat roll off his brow, and spoke,
"No...I haven't a clue," he lied. Adrian paused, knowing he lied, but decided not to push it.
"Well, that pretty much sums up everything that happened on my end..." Adrian paused, choosing his next words carefully, "...but...I know that after everything, I deserve death for what I've done. Abandoning Rias, breaking her heart, evading capture, and beating down Sonas' house-."
"But you didn't defeat Sonas' house on your own," pointed out Sirzechs.
"I'm aware, but they were only helping me. So whatever punishment you have in mind for them, just add it to my own, because I am the one to blame..." Adrian sighed, "...when I was out hunting Zeus, away from Rias and the others, I didn't feel guilty...in fact...I kind of enjoyed it." Sirzechs frowned,
"You enjoyed being a stray?"
"No," clarified Adrian, "I enjoyed being free...and maybe that's why I know I deserve whatever punishment is coming, because I am supposed to be Rias' head pawn and servant for the rest of my life, and I abandoned her. Not to mention I broke up with her right before going on this selfish damn quest in the first place..." Adrian saw Sirzechs was still frowning, sighed, and knelt down on one knee, his eyes closed and head bowed in shame, "...I'm ready to accept death, if my crimes are deserving." Sirzechs was still frowning, Damon, Katrina, Issei, Llarya and Pennie were watching with concern, Jason, Thatan, James and Cleo were watching, ready to fight if needed, Azazel was watching with slight interest, Grayfia bore her usual blank expression, Sona and her house had looks of pity, and Wesker looked away in shame; shame that his friend was about to die for doing what he thought was right. Sirzechs then raised his right hand, summoning a palm sized magic circle,
"Give me your right hand, Adrian Michaels," he ordered. Adrian brought his hand forward, ready for anything, and was unexpectedly pulled back up to his feet, with Sirzechs gripping Adrians' hand as if it were a handshake, and Sirzechs broke into a smile, "You say even though Zeus is dead, the God-Slayer is destroyed and the dimension is safe for now, you fear what is yet to come. I say, even though you fear what is ahead, you still managed to destroy the God-Slayer, keep the dimension safe for now, and you defeated Zeus, you and your friends..." The magic circle in Sirzechs hand vanished, and in their tight handshake Adrian now felt something in his hand, "...and with that said, even though my sisters heartache hurts me so, I think you might find this to come in handy." Sirzechs drew his hand away, and Adrian looked at what the devil king left in his open palm, his eyes growing wide like saucers...
It was a black chess piece, and not just any piece...it was a king piece.
Adrian looked up at Sirzechs as he began to approach the others, no doubt to tell them the news, and quickly ran up to the devil king, placing a hand on his shoulder and turning him around, holding the king piece up,
"Sirzechs, I can't accept this," he said. The devil king gave Adrian a raised eyebrow, while the others stared at him in confusion, "I can't accept the role of a master of my own house, because how can I know myself to be a good master if I ran away from my own?" Sirzechs had both eyebrows raised as Adrian grabbed his wrist, turned his palm up and placed the king piece back in his hand. The devil king looked at him, and gave him a skeptical look,
"What do you intend to do then?" Adrian pointed to the horizon, where the sun was now setting, his voice making his own conviction clear,
"I broke Rias' heart. I'm going back to fix it. I'm going home." Adrian lowered his hand, and the devil king smiled,
"I'm proud of you Adrian. Truly." Without another word said, Sirzechs and Grayfia stepped onto a pair of magic circles of their making, and vanished. Once out of sight, Adrian exhaled, and his friends ran up to him, giving him hugs and praises as Azazel watched with interest,
"So the one eyed devil chose to stay loyal to his master over becoming one of his own. Admirable." As Adrians' friends eventually calmed down, the one eyed devil got their attention,
"Alright, now that we know that I'm not dying today, we need to get everyone over to Kuoh Town. Azazel!" The Fallen Angel leader perked up at his name, "Do you think you can get Pennie, Llarya, Thatan, Jason, James and Cleo back to Kuoh Town quick?"
"I think I can find a plane somewhere, but it might cost you," he said with a wink.
"I'll pay you thirty grand if you can get my friends over to Kuoh Town by tomorrow, with everything they could possibly need for school on monday." Jason turned to Adrian, sliding his glasses down just enough to look Adrian in the eye,
"You have thirty grand to throw around?!" He mouthed.
"I am a real estate millionaire," Adrian mouthed back.
"I'm sorry, school?" Repeated Thatan, "I can't exactly pass for a human student."
"No but I'm certain Azazel can give you something to let you pass for a human teacher," said Adrian. Thatan turned to the Fallen Angel, and he shrugged,
"I probably have something lying around for him and possibly the...Asari(?)...girl too." Pennie looked at Adrian and walked up to him,
"You would really want me and Thatan at school with you?" Adrian nodded, and right in front of everyone Pennie threw her arms around Adrians neck and kissed him full on the lips, giving him a tight hug afterwards with tears of joy in her eyes, "Thank you! Thank you Adrian!"
"I guess you really do care for us," said Thatan, patting the one eyed devil on the back. Adrian smiled as both he and Pennie walked over to Azazel, but his smile vanished when he felt himself turned around and slapped across the face from Llarya,
"You still owe me for leaving without saying goodbye, jerk!" She said to him.
"I promise...to make that up to you. That's why I'm having Azazel bring you and the others to Kuoh Town, with anything you'll need, including but not limited to clothes, because here in this world, the people here aren't to open to public nudity." Llarya looked down at her bare chest, then looked to Issei, Sona and her house, who either had looks of perverse glee, or were looking away out of embarassment.
"If you say so..." said Llarya, then she quickly planted a kiss to Adrians' lips as well, "...just promise not to leave me behind again." She then left to join Thatan and Pennie by Azazel, and then he was approached James,
"Hey Adrian..." he thought about informing Adrian of what Bennia told him, but decided against it last second, "...wish me luck, nephew." Adrian smiled again,
"Good luck, uncle." James then went to join Azazel, and soon Jason stepped up,
"So, Adrian, I know we haven't properly met, but my name is Jason Gat, and I will say this: you kicked ass back on that God-Slayer, but if it comes down to you and me, I'll be walking away with Katrina in my arms, capisce?" Jason didn't wait for an answer, and strode towards Azazel, leaving Adrian to scoff after him as Cleo made her way to him,
"Head to your old address. There's a surprise waiting for you," she said with a smile, and joined the rest of the growing group by Azazel. Soon Wesker came up to Adrian,
"I'll probably be leaving with Sona," he informed his friend. "There's something I wish to discuss with her before returning home." Adrian nodded, and Wesker disappeared in a flash of red as Sona and her house vanished in blue. Soon it was down to just himself, Damon, Katrina and Issei.
"I'm probably going to head with Azzy," said Damon, "I wanna see if that plane has a bar on it."
"You just don't want to see Xenovia again," stated Adrian.
"Exactly," confirmed Damon, and he joined up with Azazels' group. Adrian smirked, but then he saw Katrina, the latter being fairly nervous as she spoke,
"Look, Adrian," began the War Goddess, "I know we've said and done things, and I meant them. But..." Adrian gently held his fingers to her lips, and lowered them as he spoke with a friendly smile,
"It probably wouldn't have worked out anyway." Katrina smiled at him for understanding, and gave him a tight hug, which he returned, and she too went to Azazels' group, quickly joining Jasons' side, and the group began to leave with the Fallen Angel in the lead. Issei then turned to Adrian,
"So...we going home?" Adrian turned to the pervert with a smile, hiding his nervousness,
"Yes...we're going home..."
