So... here's the first chapter. Yeah, yeah. I know the prologue was waaaaaaay to short and a tad cheesy but hey, it's my first time so allow me some... room to... break her in, eh? If you're one to imagine voices as you read character dialog then my OC's voice would probably sound closest to Jensen Ackles who is perhaps most widely known for his role as Dean Winchester in Supernatural (and less his less popular role as Jason Todd in the animated movie Batman: Under the Red Hood).

As you are about to read, I'm quite a fan of history and literature so... if you can tell me the meanings of the quotes that you are about to encounter along with who said them, then I'll give you a sumptuous virtual cookie.

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Crimson…

Crimson like the hair that adorned her head, flowing down like a mane of fire.

Crimson like the blood that flowed from the stray devil as its deep cuts and gashes adorned what was intact of its body, its severed limbs strewn across the ground the ground along with pools and splashes of blood.

But what shook her to her core was not the color crimson. It was another color that she saw amidst the crimson that stained the place.

Blue – Blue like the sky.

White – White like snow.

Surprising

Surprising like opening a present on your birthday and finding it to be that toy you had always wanted. Surprising like reading a book only to find a character, or rather, characters that you like summarily put to the proverbial guillotine by the author. Surprising like turning over that last page on your examination papers only to find a question that you didn't study for.

Yes, it had been quite a surprising past 2 weeks for a crimson-haired, blue-eyed girl as she sat behind her desk within the spacious clubroom of the Occult Research Club. Known as one of the "Two Great Onee-sama's" of Kuoh Academy, she is Rias Gremory.

For the past two weeks, she had been utterly surprised at the results of her contracts. Well, surprising would be the least to describe it. She had been downright ecstatic, suspicious, confused, worried, and hopeful. Now, one may wonder; how the hell a person would be in simultaneously different states of emotion? It's simple – she's a woman. And women's minds are utterly mysterious… subjects.

And her latest source of emotional turmoil? It was sitting in front of her desk. She had been staring at it in contemplative thought for a good quarter of an hour through the lenses of her glasses – glasses which serve no purpose in correcting eyesight but one worn due to habit – but despite all the time she had stared and contemplated at it, she had been unable to come up with any idea why a client would pay such an object for a contract.

"I guess I should be proud… but I can't shake this feeling that there's more to this…" she murmured to herself as she continued staring in a half-dazed state. It was one of the few things that had been bugging her. Her new-born and only pawn, Issei Hyodou, had quite a… dismal record when it came to contracts. However, just yesterday, he had successfully fulfilled a contract that paid quite handsomely. The payment, being in the form a bottle of wine– a 2006 Minai Calvari, worth around $1000, to be specific.

This prompted her to question her pawn about what happened during his time with the client. To her surprise and confusion, the client had merely treated him to dinner and conversed with him regarding interesting things regarding the town. The details of the conversation, unfortunately, were all a blur due to Issei having been coaxed into drinking wine by said client. And for the life of him, he couldn't hold his liquor. Not that it was the teen's fault anyway.

"Ara ara, Rias, are you thinking of drinking that?" Rias was snapped out of her daze by a girl appearing beside her. She had long flowing black hair tied into a ponytail by an orange ribbon. Her expression, a teasing smile as she peered at Rias with her violet eyes. She was Rias's best friend and the second of the "Two Great Onee-sama's" of Kuoh Academy, Akeno Himejima.

"No, Akeno. I'm just… thinking…." Rias sighed. She had been too used to her best friend's teasing to bother with it. That and the note that was attached to the bottle had been bringing something up from the back of her mind.

"In Vino Veritas" Akeno read the note out loud. Seemingly puzzled, she narrowed her eyes at the note and repeatedly muttered its contents under her breath, trying to jog her memory of where she had heard of it before. After a few moments, her and Rias's eyes met as a name came into their minds.

""Shiro!"" They chorused before falling into silence. Their minds disarrayed by one word that came crashing into their minds. Finally, it was Akeno who broke the silence.

"Rias… do you think… do you think it's him? Do you think he's back?"

"I don't know. We can't say for sure. All we have is this note."

"What about the ones we got from last week and the one from 3 days ago?"

"That…"

Rias drifted off in thought recalling the payment for the contracts turned in by her Knight, Yuuto Kiba, and her Rook, Koneko Toujou. Kiba had received a bronze Xiphos along with a certificate of its authenticity and receipts showing its worth to be $1500. It also came with a note attached that read: "Non auro, sed ferro, recuperanda est patria".

Koneko on the other hand had turned in the largest haul as she received an ancient cat sculpture of the Egyptian god, Bastet along with a certificate of its authenticity (Not that she cared about the payment as she also returned carrying a whole cake which she quite ferociously guarded and, impressively ate by herself). The price? Well, it couldn't be determined as no receipts came with it though it would be undoubtedly the most valuable among the payments received from the past 2 weeks' contracts. Attached to it this time was a note in Italian that read: "Anche il piu piccolo dei felini, il gatto,e un capolavoro".

"It's possible, isn't it? These are old quotes! He's always loved history!" Rias was broken from her thoughts when she noticed Akeno ask her in an almost hopeful yet pleading tone. If anyone else were here, they would be quite shocked to see the ravenette in this state.

"I don't know, Akeno. Part of me wants to believe but another part of me says that I shouldn't get my hopes up. He didn't exactly part from us on a good note."

"But what if he's back? What if he's already in Kuoh?"

"All we have are speculations. Besides… if he's really back, I don't know if… he still feels the same towards us."

...

"Is this how you devils treat children that aren't your own?! Lull them into a false sense of trust then breaking it along with their will?!"

"You had better thank whoever deity you mouth off your prayers that my duty prevents me from wiping you lot out of existence right now, Devils!

"I… won't… go with them. I'll go with you. Take me with you."

...

"But–"

"Buchou! We're back! Eh?"

As Akeno was about to argue back, they were suddenly interrupted by the door bursting open due to an over-excited Issei Hyoudou followed by Yuuto Kiba and Koneko Toujou. Issei, in a very good mood due to having finished handing out his share of fliers early had burst into the clubroom, expecting to be congratulated. However, he did not expect to be welcomed by a scene of Akeno grabbing hold of Rias' arms with a seemingly pleading expression on her face. Regaining their composure, the two ladies straightened themselves up. Akeno went off to prepare tea while Rias put the bottle of wine away and sat straight as she rested her hands atop her desk. Clearing her throat, she spoke to congratulate her servants.

"Congratulations, Ise-kun. I see you've managed to finish pretty quickly today."

Feeling a sense of pride welling up within him, he jovially scratched the back of his head as he responded. "Hehehe. It's actually thanks to Rei-san's advice that I was able to finish quickly today."

"Rei-san?" Rias cocked an eyebrow as she asked about the unfamiliar name.

"Ah, yes. That's the name of the client that gave me the wine. By the way, what did the note mean?"

"In Vino Veritas. It's a Latin phrase meaning "In wine, there is truth". Don't worry. It's normal that you won't understand. After all, our language power only works when hearing someone speak; it doesn't work in written languages."

"Really? So that's why I couldn't figure out some of the questions in my English homework. I thought something was wrong with my powers."

"Fufufufufu. Sorry, Ise-kun but you'll have to get that through hard work. It would be cheating otherwise." At this Issei could only deflate as he realized he couldn't cheat his way through his English exams.

"Buchou, here is the payment I got for the contract."

"…Here is mine."

"Good work, you two." Rias congratulated Kiba and Koneko respectively as she received the payments – all paid in cash this time. She absentmindedly stored away the money as she briefly contemplated asking her servants a question that's been biting at her. Making up her mind, she placed the three items that had interested her atop her desk before taking a deep breath and voicing out her query.

"Issei, Yuuto, Koneko, can you tell me about the client that gave you these items?"

Elsewhere

In the center of a dark room, there stood a tall figure surrounded by various glowing circles that had various symbols both known and unknown to man's current knowledge. He was garbed in a black hooded long coat and had his hood pulled down. On his torso was sleek metallic breastplate worn above a black undercoat. He wore similarly colored trousers that were tucked into black combat boots that reached halfway below his knees. The only other colors that adorned his garb of shadows was a red sash that wrapped around his waist with its ends hanging by his left side and the golden Aquila – a sigil of a twin-headed eagle – that was embossed onto his breastplate. Despite his attire that clearly denoted of a more clandestine nature, his posture and the aura that radiated from him showed an air of nobility, dominance, and authority.

He stood there patiently and silently seemingly staring into nothingness when the centermost of the 5 circles around him started glowing bright silver. The glowing died down to reveal a figure – a person whose lifelike image was constructed entirely out of light. The light cleared and finally revealed the image of a woman who looked to be in her late twenties.

"Other-Worldly Beautiful" would perhaps be the only way to properly describe her appearance as such beauty would have people question if a mortal could possess it. She radiated an air of gentleness which would spur one's instinct to protect her yet at the same time carried an atmosphere that would make people carry out her will without a second thought. She was clad in a majestic roman-style dress and had a sash draped from her right shoulder and going around from the left side of her waist. On her head was a Corona Civica – a crown fashioned to resemble leaves woven together. The crown, though simplistic in design, complimented and accentuated her carefully styled hair. The monochrome silver light that projected her image only added mystery to her already evident beauty rather than mar it.

Her beauty, however, served no distraction for the man clad in black. He maintained his disciple and proceeded to pay proper respect. He got down on his right knee, left had rested atop his left leg, right hand clenched in a fist and pressed to the left side of his chest, back straight as a sword, and his head bowed.

"I pay my respects to the honored Empress. Ave Imperium! Ave Imperatrix!" He greeted in his youthful but deep, husky voice. Staying still in his position awaiting for his greeting to be acknowledged.

"Arise, my son." the Empress responded in her gentle and soothing voice as she watched the man stand back up with a warm, motherly expression on her face.

"May I inquire of the current situation, Your Majesty?"

At this, the woman known as the Empress couldn't help but giggle, contrasting his serious demeanor. "Straight to business, are we? You're so different when you're out on a hunt. Well, at least my little Dovi knows his priorities~"

However the man she addressed as her son merely stood there silently. Though if one looked closer, his eye had twitched briefly after hearing himself addressed as "little Dovi".

"Well, well… It looks like my teasing isn't working so well anymore~. Anyway, the council and I have negotiated for your permission to operate in Kuoh. I am quite surprised that they even granted it for an indefinite duration. How goes the hunt, by the way?"

"I have already been tracking him down for a month now. There have been civilian casualties over the course of his flight but I have been able to keep them minimal. I have been following his tracks and I believe I have found his lair. He's getting desperate; his actions are growing more and more careless. However it makes the situation even more dangerous for the civilians."

"And how do the devils in the town fare?"

"As far as I've seen, they are outclassed… Your Majesty?"

"Yes, my child?"

"Requesting for permission to speak freely, Your Majesty."

"Granted. Though, you know you could always just do so when it's just you and me speaking, my son~"

"Granting me free reign to operate freely in Kuoh for an indefinite duration is surely quite a boon for us. However, such a boon would surely not be so easily granted. What do the devils want?"

"I see you have been applying your lessons well. Truth be told, when it was mainly Lucifer and Leviathan that granted you that permission."

His brows twitched when he heard the names "Lucifer" and "Leviathan" as he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding emerging from pit of his stomach. "Do the two of them have any special interests towards this?"

"Though they may not expressly say so, it is evident that they do. My son, I will be perfectly honest with you; both their sisters reside in Kuoh. And they want you to watch over them and their peerage." His brows had gone from a full furrow from a twitch when he heard this. He had wanted to delay coming into direct contact with the two kings for as long as possible. Despite his skills and reputation, he indeed felt that he wasn't ready to face them. However, it seems that fate had other plans for him – not that he was a believer of fate.

"I believe that my responsibilities prevent me from… babysitting them and their peerage. Or is this the condition they have set? Why would we even consider such a condition?!" he raised his voice slightly in protest with his last question. Though part of him was indeed protesting on behalf of his duties, a larger part of him just wanted to avoid contacting the pureblooded devils.

"I have already agreed to their terms. The legion does not rest upon your shoulders alone; right now they are under the command of your second and I believe she's already proven herself more than capable of such responsibility. Besides, you have another task to accomplish in Kuoh. Though that can wait for the moment."

"But– " His outburst was forced back into his throat as the Empress raised her hand to interrupt with a stern expression over her face. However, that sternness quickly melted and reverted back into gentleness.

"My child," the Empress continued, "I think it is time to untie some of the knots of your past. I know you still bear some resentment over what had happened to you in your childhood but you should not let it cloud your wisdom and judgment. A ruler must know when to where his desires end and his duty begins. A true warrior should know at whom to point his sword and whom to guard with his shield."

He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before once again opening them to reveal a determined and resolute glint in his sky-blue orbs. "I understand, Your Majesty and I thank you for the lesson."

"Good. Now go forth and finish the hunt. Make sure that humanity suffers not another life lost to your quarry's malice. May the Spirit of Man guide you."

"May the Spirit of Man guide us all."

The image then faded and darkness swallowed the room once again save for the faint glows on the formations on the floor. He turned and left the room, slipping a mask over his face and pulling his hood over his head as he did so.

At The ORC clubroom…

"So you mean to say that you three don't remember what this… Rei-san looks like? But are certain that the client who gave you these are one and the same?"

"Hai."

"Yes."

"…Yes."

The room fell silent as Rias's brows furrowed from the response given by Issei, Kiba, and Koneko. And as much as she'd like, she couldn't pry any further. Clients who make contracts with devils have the right of privacy. They couldn't intrude upon personal and private details of the client unless the client themselves choose to disclose it.

What made her worry was that none of her servants could remember what the client had look liked despite clearly remembering the events that transpired during the course of the contract (save for Issei, of course, who could only remember bits and pieces due to bing tricked into drinking – of which he had already been reprimanded for). Though she is thankful that her servants are unharmed, the fact that they couldn't remember is a sign that some magic was involved. And to affect her servants in such a way despite the client himself not doing any sort of spellcasting (according to her servants) tells that the man…

"…may be someone powerful…" she was snapped out of her thoughts as Akeno seemingly voiced her thoughts as she appeared beside her and set down a cup of tea on her desk. She expression was uncharacteristically grim this time.

"But what does he want?" came Rias' question. Though it was more of a question addressed to herself.

"We can figure it out later. The Archduke has given us a subjugation order."

15 minutes later…

Rias and her peerage walked towards a warehouse right in the middle of a storage depot. The innocent looking Koneko walking right in front as the rest of them followed closely behind her. Night had set and the depot was devoid of its otherwise bustling activity during the day. Each step they took produced a faint echo adding to the already eerie atmosphere that surrounded them. They stopped a few meters away from the entrance of the warehouse.

Koneko slightly raised her head as if to sniff the air. "…I smell blood."

"And I feel the aura of a stray. It's faint but it's… quite concentrated. This could be tough. Everyone, get ready. Koneko, you take the lead. Yuuto, stay close and watch our flanks but be ready to support her. Akeno, set up a barrier around us. Ise-kun, this will be your first time to fully participate in a fight. I need you to follow me closely and don't be reckless."

""Hai, Buchou!""

"Alright. Let's–"

Her orders were suddenly interrupted by sounds of gunfire coming from inside the warehouse. It was suddenly followed by the stray's aura exploding outward. That stunned the group of devils as the aura rivaled that of a high-class devil. However what further stunned them was what followed – it was another aura. However, she found the aura strange as it didn't belong to neither a devil, angel, nor fallen angel. It was almost…

"Human…" her brows furrowed upon muttering the word. A human – and a powerful one at that. What was a human doing here? The only humans powerful enough to possess this aura were usually elusive. And why was she not notified that such a human was in her territory? She mentally scolded herself. Now was not the time to be stunned. The stray had to be dealt with first. She would just question the human later.

"Everyone, let's move!"

Inside the warehouse…

Madness…

Bodies strewn across the floor those that weren't a mess of severed limbs were instead mangled piles of flesh. Those unfortunate enough to still be living watched the scene before them.

Madness…

A 5-meter tall creature was battling a man clad in black. The creature was an abominable aberration. Its skin was a leathery purplish grey. Its mouth stretched as far to the sides of its head. Its tongue stretched a meter long and leaked vitriol. Its six skinny arms stretched to half his height and were adorned with razor sharp claws at the end of each finger. Its legs were covered in small protruding bone spikes. Its feet each bore four toes at the front and one at the back, each toe featured curved razor-sharp claws, its face was a ghastly mass of flesh with a straight horn protruding from its forehead and two forward-curved ones at its jaws. Its fleshy tail ended in a bony appendage that was shaped like a spearhead, at its tip was small opening that unleashed concentrated jets of flame.

Madness…

The man battling the creature was garbed in a black hooded long coat. On his face was a jet-black mask that was otherwise featureless, save for its glowing red eyes which were warped into a glare. On his torso was sleek metallic breastplate worn above a black undercoat. Below his torso were similarly colored trousers that were tucked into black combat boots that reached halfway below his knees. On his waist was a red sash that was stained even redder by the blood that was not his own. On his chest was a golden Aquila that gleamed from the stray beams of moonlight that shone through the windows. On his back were a pair of scabbards, with the right scabbard empty and the left housed another saber awaiting for its master to call upon its service. On his hips were holsters that housed a large pair of pistols, the left empty and while its counterpart rested snugly in its cradle. On his right hand was a saber that glowed crimson, poised to kill all that it cut. On his left hand was a monster of a pistol, its barrel 13 inches long and spat bullets of a caliber large enough to easily kill any man unfortunate enough to face its fury.

The two battled within the confines of the warehouse. What was even more unnerving was that the creature was losing. All its attacks being effortlessly evaded countered with either a slash or a bullet, the man battling it displayed an almost captivating dance; his movements graceful yet vicious.

The mess of bodies, the sight of the creature, his armaments, and the fact that he – a human – was winning against such an abomination was enough for those that watched this scene to ask themselves: Have they gone mad?

"YYYOOOOUUUUU WILLL NOT BEEE THE ONE TO SSSSLAYYYY ME THIS NNNNNIGHT! I WWWWILLLLL INSSSSTEAD HAVVVVE YOURRRR HEAD, EXXXXECUTIONERRRR!" the creature rasped as it launched itself towards its foe, arms stretched forward to bury its claws into his body and crush him within its grip. The hunter in black stayed silent as he dashed towards the creature the twisted his saber to have its edge facing inwards before launching himself forward as well.

He spun his body midair to avoid the deadly claws that were reaching for him and slashed at the creature's torso with his saber before rolling back into a graceful landing. He then proceeded unload his bullets into the creature's back and tail before reloading while swiftly rolling to the side as dodged the creatures spear-like tail.

He then fired at the creature's face as he once again dashed towards it. The creature instinctively shielded his face with all six of its arms. Normally, it wouldn't worry about bullets hitting it – they've only managed to just break his skin before –but not his bullets. The hunter's bullets dug deep into his flesh, organs, and bones and the searing sensation that followed it wouldn't stop as long as they stayed. The act of shielding its face was the opportunity the hunter awaited. He increased his speed and within one swift slash, he severed the creature's left leg clean from the base.

"AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH! YYYYYOU FFFFFFUCKING SSSSSHIT! I'LLL KILLLL YYYYYOOOOUUUU!" the creature bellowed out in rage. Its hideous eyes bloodshot as it flailed its arms at the hunter, claws primed for murder.

"Heh." The hunter chortled under his breath as he holstered his pistol and brought out his second saber. Blades in both hands he once again dashed towards the creature. A bloody dance ensued as steel met bone. The creature madly swung at the hunter with all six of its arms in an attempt to overwhelm him. The hunter eerily silent as he blocked, stepped, spun, parried, and countered at the claws that came at him, dancing to the sound of steel meeting claws and blades cutting flesh.

Both were focused on cutting up each other that neither paid any attention to the door of the warehouse bursting open to reveal the group of teenage devils who stood frozen on the spot.

"My god- Ack!"

"Amazing."

"…Wow."

Issei was the first to break out of his stupor as he unconsciously swore to god before a splitting pain assaulted his head. Kiba on the other hand was awed at the sight of the unknown hunter's swordplay he stood there and watched attentively in an attempt to pick something up from the hunter's swordsmanship. Meanwhile, Koneko marveled at the display of strength. It had to be noted that while the creature – which they had obviously presumed to be a stray devil – had skinny limbs, its strength was nothing to scoff at based on the gusts of wind it produced from swinging its arms and the deep gashes on the pavement caused by its claws. That the hunter was able to block and parry its strikes without losing step was already quite a testament to his strength despite the implication that he was human.

However the ones who seem the most shaken were Rias and Akeno. Not because of the hunter's display of grace, skill, and ferocity, but rather, because of the sense of familiarity that it brought to them while watching the deadly waltz between man and monster.

"Rias… his… fighting style… it's…"

"I know. But… it can't be…"

Suddenly the hunter stopped the dance as he separated himself from the creature – not out of a need for reprieve but for taking in the sight of his 'dance partner'. The result was clear in who lost their clash. The creature had all but 2 of its arms severed clean from the elbows only its left middle arm and its top-right arm were left and neither was in good shape. Both were riddled with cuts and bone-deep gashes and were missing a few fingers. It was breathing hard as it supported itself on its remaining knee and left arm. Despite its rage it knew that it had no chance of winning against this hunter in black. Unwilling to resign itself to its wretched fate, it turned its attention to the group of devils and with all its remaining strength, charged up its power and prepared to unleash it upon the group of devilish students.

"YYYYYYYOU WILLLL DIE WITH MMMMEEE DEVILSSSSS!"

Akeno and Rias immediately raised a barrier around their group but such an actual proved to be needless as the Hunter immediately threw one of his sabers at the creature's tail as he dashed forward, the force pushing it away as steel stabbed deep into flesh, the fiery blast of power from the creature's tail cutting through the roof and shot through the night sky. Holding his saber with both hands, the Hunter leapt towards the creature and stabbed his saber deep into its chest. The creature fell back onto stacks of crates, scattering dust and debris into the air.

The group of devils once again stood rooted on the spot though at this time, they maintained their vigilance. The neither knew if the creature was dead nor were they certain if the hunter was on their side.

The dust settled and revealed the hunter with saber in hand standing atop the creature's chest. He then extended his left hand towards the saber that was stabbed deep into the creature's tail. Its blade and pommel glowed crimson as it flew straight towards him, heeding the call of its master. The hunter then brought both sabers toward the creature's neck, blades crossed, ready to carry out execution. The creature, despite its state remained defiantly glaring at the Hunter.

"FFFF… FFFFU…. FFFFFUCK… YYY-"The creature's never had the opportunity to fully spit out its last words as the sabers, glowing red with fiery murder, sliced off its head clean off its neck.

Silence once again reigned upon the night.

After a few moments of silence the Hunter in black once again moved. With a flick of his wrist the he swung his sabers downwards, ridding his blades of the blood that stained them and sheathed them back. He then turned towards the devils, the eyes of his mask no longer possessing the crimson glow but instead an eerie black. A moment passed before he coolly spoke his voice echoing inside the warehouse.

"You shouldn't be here."

"You shouldn't be here." At these words Rias could only feel indignant. Kuoh was her territory. Who gave the right to a human monster hunter to tell her where and where she shouldn't be in her territory?!

"It is you who shouldn't be here. This town is under the Gremory Clan. Show your face and tell me who you are!"

The hunter merely shook his head before unhurriedly lowering his hood and slipping off his mask. What was revealed underneath the mask and hood took them by surprise. Not because of his handsome features but rather it was the color of his eyes and hair.

His eyes – blue as the sky

His hair – white as snow

"I am Dovrei Vincere."

And that's a wrap for the first chapter. Let me know what you think. Criticisms and suggestions are most welcome!