Vermilion Dragon of the Phenex

by Alek Sands

"Allow me to reintroduce myself, Gremory-san; my name is Hyoudou Issei, I am the Pawn of Eight to Lady Ravel of the House of Phenex, but today it is for Lord Riser, her elder brother whom I fight for. Upon my left arm, I wield the Longinus, {Boosted Gear}, and by this gauntlet, I proclaim myself as this generation's [Sekiryuutei] (Red Dragon Emperor)." AU. Rated M. etc. etc.

8. The Winter's Mass Tales

The following is a non-profit, fan-based AU story. [High School DxD] is owned by Ishibumi Ichiei, Miyama-Zero, Fujimi Shobo, TNK and Funimation. Please support the official release.

Warning: The following is a compilation of short stories I fiddled with during my exam period that I muddled together and put a story around it to make it one single document. This just bridges the huge gap of what happened for the three years before Issei enrolls at Kuoh for his first year. If you are uninterested, don't read. If you are interested but do not like it, you are not obligated to finish it. If you choose to read it and decide this story is no longer worth reading, I ask that you withhold your resignation until after the next chapter. Thank you for reading.

Oh, and if you're going to complain that I've gone away from the Rating Game again, I did say that it was a present for New Years and that I wasn't going to go back to it until the timeline's caught up many times.

Anyways, onward we go. It's going to be a long one.

---

"_" = Speaking.

( _ ) = Translation/Other Meaning

[ _ ] = Personal Title.

{ _ } = Item/Ability/Sacred Gear.

["_"] = Speaking via Alternate Means.

["_"] = Speaking through Sacred Gears.

[{"_"}] = Sacred Gear Command.

---

For those who do not wish to read a compilation of short stories, I have provided a context of which you can copy-and-paste into your "find_bar" and skip over to. Enjoy:

Life 1 - Training in Hell (Part I)

As part of a deal set up by Ruval, Issei receives tutelage under Tannin, but has yet to realise how difficult it will be.

Life 2 - Gone Rogue

Ravel recalls the mock trial set up condemning the Nekoshou Shirone for the actions committed by her elder sister, Kuroka.

Life 3 - Dragon Queen (Part II)

Taking a training exercise too seriously, Issei wanders out of Tannin's territory, only to find a unfriendly face not happy to Ddraig again.

Life 4 - Sweetest Honey, Strongest Lion

Ravel retells the events in and around the battle for inheritance of the Bael Clan, between half-brothers Sairaorg and Magdaran.

Life 5 - Forest of Familiars (Part III)

Escaping certain death, Issei finds more than he bargained for when he accidentally crash lands in the Forest of Familiars.

Life DX - Legend of the Dragons

Ddraig narrates an abridged summary of his entire lifetime; from birth to death, from a few notable host till present day.

---

It was the twenty-eighth day of the eleventh month in AM 5767, or December 25th 2006 in the overworld. I, Hyoudou Issei, was enjoying my fifth celebration of the winter's mass under the Phenex Household.

You may guessed that I have avoided mentioning Christmas entirely from my vocabulary, and that is because devils do not celebrate that holiday. I don't think I need to explain why this is a term neglected. Not only is it a proxy celebration used to cover its roots from other mythologies, the statement that it's the celebration of Jesus' birthday is completely wrong.

In fact, Jesus, or Yeshua, was born April 17th or at least that's what most of the eldest devil scholars have recorded when they say the twenty ninth day of the first month, ironically placing his birthday one day after my own which felt a little giddy in the ironic sense that such an important figure was born close to the same day I was, albeit with nearly a two millennia difference.

Many devils simply choose to remember him as the first god to die by a Sacred Gear, giving birth to the term [Longinus].

I could probably also mention his birth year was AM 3758 or 4 BCE, with the Common Era actually starting from the year he was publicly acknowledged as the son of Jehovah, but now I'm just shoving in random facts for no means necessary.

So this festival for the winter's mass, Satanalia as it was called, replaces the overworld's Christmas holidays, typically starting from the or December 17th and ending on the 25th aka the last day of the eleventh month. The festival was adopted from the Roman holiday "Saturnalia", which was then altered by the obviously clever pun. In Deftodiz, its more "formal" name is "Tezzo Viozosofoy" or "The Gathering [for the] (Four Great) Satans", but for the contemporary society following the victory of the Anti-Satan Faction, it simply became referred to as the winter's mass for political reasoning.

"It was literally training in hell."

"I don't understand."

As per tradition, since the party thrown for the last day of the winter's mass was open to all devil nobility and servants, Ravel and I would meet by the window that overlooked the front door where the many guests entered and proceeded to join in the festivities, along with the many varieties of decorations and entertainment that lined the front garden.

As my *ahem* "special condition" meant that being around that many powerful devils would arouse too much suspicion, even with the seal still active, it was safer to keep me out of their attentions completely. So, while all the family, peerage members and servants were attending to the party guests, I was the only one to never make formal attendance, and instead resided myself to watch the last day festivities from the large window at the very top of the mansion that overlooked the front of the home.

I understood the necessity in this action, but it made the last day of the winter's mass very lonely.

"I-it's a human expression" I explained. "It means 'it was really hard that it's like it will kill you'."

"That makes no sense."

Having spent the greater part of the year apart; me with Tannin, or with the other peerage members training, preparing, learning my various duties and requirements necessary to carry out the roles I may be required to do. Ravel, had her studies, her appearances in public, . . . and other things all nobility needed. Since we had other occupations for the twelve other months, rarely seeing each other except for the few weeks between.

But, this holiday was for us as much as either of our birthdays.

At seven o'clock, before all the guests had arrives, we would meet up here to watch them enter. Watch the sunlight die and the artici- purposely artificial lights spring to life in the darkness. And, on this particular occasion, tease her brain with a human saying uncommon to her young ears.

"Yeah, I suppose you'd have to-

"No I mean the expression; if you as a human were training in hell, you would already be dead, so it makes no sense to be training to kill yourself when the deed was already fulfilled."

Though her answer was very serious, I couldn't help but laugh a little in response to how literal she took it to heart and decomposed it down to the last fact. Though laughing a little to long as I was, she got a little annoyed at my reaction. Backhandedly smacking my shoulder, I couldn't find any other reaction to her pouting than it was cute to see her lose composure, after all these years like it always used to be.

"I missed this."

"Missed what."

"Your political correcting. The way that your words become so much looser when you speak onward and onward till you forget that you're a lady. It's suits you better sometimes."

"I'm your king now, baka. Don't say such a thing like that about me again."

She sounded angry, but her tone was too exaggerated that it sounded like she was trying to reenact one of the old great plays that were constantly being performed at the Grand Ashyrow Alsiel Theatre in Lucifaad; "There Were The Ten", "Love in Crimson and Silver", "The Blue Knight and the Silver Princess Part I & II", "The Faust and the Pheles", "The Tragedy of Queen Lilith", etc. etc.

Deciding upon it, I took it a little too far, by reciting "Blue Knight I's Act 3 Scene 7":

"As by your will, my princess. Though we come from two different worlds, I promise to stay all evils from your door so long as this blade at my side remains unbent."

The embarrassment easily got to her, especially since I was being expressionly loud for dramatic effect, complete with over the top acting that would make myself cower my face if it ever was being recorded.

"Stop it you idiot. And it's: "Though we come different worlds apart, I swear unto you that no evil shall harm you so long by the sword at my sheath remains unwavering." You did that on purpose."

I did.

"You're a jerk sometimes."

I smiled to her remark. Though iw as being quite impolite, it felt a little more relieving than to be exchanging physical attacks than verbal ones.

"Only because I can do this stuff with you."

"You didn't do anything like this . . . when you were with the dragons then?"

I shook my head, pressing it against the glass in front of me as I watched the nobles walk in two-by-two towards the front door along the red carpet rolled out especially for them. What can I say except this; the Phenex Clan knows how to throw a lavished party every single year.

"Not really. To put it bluntly, most of them are battle fanatics, so they constantly like to butt heads with each other frequently when they get bored or cranky, which was most of the time."

"Sounds tough to survive in."

After she took another sip of her drink, I could see her wincing slightly at the greatly bitter taste. It was my fault for suggesting we share a glass of dragon apple juice. As dragons are primarily carnivorous, their taste buds are actually very weak which allows them to consume a great many things without a fuss, but they tend to like their food to have very strong tastes to make up for their lack of ability. For devils like us, who have better senses than omnivorous humans, this sudden overflow of strong flavour was a little too much.

Unlike I, who had to learn to survive off of this kind of food so was used to the taste, it was definitely not something that Ravel could swallow down as easily. I eased her suffering by taking the glass from her hand and setting it down alongside mine on the floor beneath the windowsill we were sitting on. It would probably be better to forget about the drink for a while. I wouldn't say I enjoy the taste anymore than she did, I just had the stronger stomach, and knew how much of it could be sampled before one of us would start feeling an uncomfortable bubbling in our stomachs.

"You don't know the half of it;" I continued after seating myself back down "you should try it when there's someone who had their guts out for you the moment you walk in."

"Was there really someone like that."

"Tannin's youngest son, actually. He didn't like the idea that I was there because his father lost a bet with your brother."

The look on her face screwed slightly like she thought I was making it up. But since she knew that I wasn't a very convincing liar that there was no way I could easily hide my expressions from her. Sad to say, but my pupils get smaller and avoid eye contact when I lie. Desperate lies also cause me to break out in sweat easier, so it is noticeable in quite a few different ways.

None of the above happened. So, she knew it wasn't a lie.

"It's a stupid reason, but . . . I guess I can understand that. What exactly did he do?"

"It sort of started the day I left for my first training session."

---

Life 1 - Training in Hell

One month had passed since I had turned my head from my old home for the last time, and I, Hyoudou Issei, began my first day of training under Tannin-ojiisama.

A while back, Lord Ruval and Tannin-ojiisama made a bet after their last match, with Ruval claiming victory. Though I do not know what Tannin had bet on before making the deal, since it was Ruval's win, Tannin was obligated to uphold his end of the deal.

To explain the suffix; well, unlike a sensei or someone who are actually qualified with how they teach a person, Tannin was more like and uncle, or a grandfather, just someone who reacted with the first thing that came to their heads teaching wise and assumed that it would go well. And who calls you out on it when you don't succeed even when it's quite the impossible task set before you.

. . . I am not cracking wise here. I am dead serious.

Awaking at dawn, or at least a simulation of the sun rising over the horizon at 6:00 am, it took an hour to prepare before I was waiting at the front entrance of the Phenex Mansion. Though Ravel had wanted to be there to see me off, she had private lessons to prepare for so her sleep was a necessity.

As Lord Ruval had been the one to set this opportunity up, he was waiting with me, along with his Queen Junyspar, and also Lord Rivalen's Queen Lupambulus who was there to oversee the event on his Lord's behalf.

It was luck that Ruval and Tannin were consistent rivals that a visit from the former Dragon King wouldn't catch such unusual attention.

On the strike of the 7th hour, almost to precision, a great shadow emerged over the faux light. A great purple western dragon with golden horns that curled slightly inwards like the images of devils in Christian lore. Draped in black and silver robes that covered his lower half, it was a surprise to see a dragon wearing anything to be perfectly honest.

He didn't talk as he landed. The wind rushed by my face as he slowly dropped his wings behind his back and he folded his arms across his chest. He wasn't even looking at me. No, he was looking to my left arm, at Ddraig.

"Nol Lost Naako Doi Paar."

("From what I have tasted of desire")

His voice ripped through the air like thunder from his mountainous height, standing bipedally blocking the artificial sun from his stance. His figure looked more imposing than it had been during his latest match against Ruval.

In response to his words, Ddraig awoke himself from my arm. He didn't activate my {Boosted Gear} since it would break the seal too soon, so we had been practising the last few weeks to allow him elbow room so to speak in order to converse without alarming anyone within an appropriate radius.

["Zu'u Kriista Nust Wo Lahney Naal Yol."]

("I hold with those who favour fire")

From Ddraig told me later, this exchange in speeches was something of a traditional form of greeting between one dragon to another. Something about rooting out the mindless beasts with the ones who could properly communicate.

Though somehow, I doubt a dragon was so poetic as to invent such an accumulation of phrases.

"Been a long while, hasn't it Ddraig."

["Indeed Tannin. The last we met, you were still the Sixth Dragon King, and I had a body of my own."]

"A great many can change in two millennia. When you reach a certain age, you realise just how immature you once were.

["If those hatchlings of yours knew that you had gone soft."]

"If they could hear us, I'd whip them around the head for eavesdropping."

I don't what seemed stranger between the dragon living in my left arm or the dragon standing towering in front of me, but regardless of how unsually aquanited theyr were with each other, it was not an unknown fact that Tannin-ojiisama did indeed have children of his own. Three children in fact;

Mulstrun was the eldest son and the spitting image of his father in all except height, and the colour of his eyes were a stronger red than Tannin's blue, perhaps inherited from his mother. The name "Mul Strun" (strong storm) was given to him for his impressive use of not just mimicking his father's [Meteor Barrage] attack, but actually improving upon it that made it more effective for his size and utility.

Aldokun the middle son, was much leaner than his two brothers, almost like he was an Eastern Dragon rather than a Western one. He was purple as they were, but the sleekness of his body made it very shiny so it appeared quite a few shades lighter under the artificial sun. He earned his name "Al Do Kun" (destroyer of light) after destroying three consecutive light spears in his first engagement with a fallen angel.

And finally Bova, who was the youngest, was also the biggest and strongest of his three children apparently. He was a lot larger and bulkier than most dragons were at his age. He was only double my age at this point at twenty six, but he was very immature as expected of a being with natural longevity. His name "Bo Vah" (spring flight) was earned for his rapid growth, allowing him to be able to fly unaided before his first birthday.

I didn't meet the older two the entire time I was training under Tannin except during the occasion visits, but I never spoke with either of them. Bova on the other hand was often there to give me a hard time.

Standing next to him made me feel exceptionally small, but that was when I presumed that his mental age was the same as his physical age. I can't recall why I ever felt so intimidated by him.

"It's not easy being a father, but I love the little malkiirs (kids) all the same. Can't say the same about the missus though."

"And how is Lady Tunannu?"

"I'd . . . rather not say. Losing to you again, Phenex, has landed me in the doghouse so to speak."

"Well you'll just have to wait for the next time. But, I guarantee that you won't get the result you want."

"That I wish I could take you on your offer, but I confess that I am finding it difficult maintain many duties that come with being an Ultimate-class devil despite Mephisto's more lenient nature."

"Mayhaps you should consider retiring for a while then?"

"Oh-ho-ho, not until old Rahdom gets back on his feet. I'd hate the miss his attempt of a comeback over a trivial issue of semi-retirement just yet. Plus, I still want one more score to settle with you before I consider putting my claws up."

"Then, I'm afraid you won't be able to retire till Heaven's Gates fall into the deepest pits of Cocytus and put the entire Underworld into a permanent Ice Age. I'm sure you'll be able to enjoy a winter retirement with Saint Peter then."

This went on for a little while longer, and I barely got my own interaction with Tannin-ojiisama whilst he was in the middle of his . . . um, talk with Ruval.

'[Just get on his back while he still remembers you're here.]'

Following Ddraig's advice, I proceeded to do just as he suggested. Admittedly, climbing a dragon's back was quite easy, but the vertical angle did make it quite treacherous, what with direction his scales were facing. It would have been easier to slide right off of him than to be climbing with direct contact to the cliff face with all its sharp purple edges.

["Though I would hate to dismiss a conversation between close friends, the sole purpose of meeting at dawn was precisely so we could leave earlier in the day."]

"Still impatient as always, Wuthdovah ("old man")."

["Hah! I am at least one millennia younger than you are. Plus, I died in my prime, whereas you're still pushing yours."]

Though the two dragons laughed at each other's comments with all their heart's content, it was probably due to Ddraig's last reply that training was especially difficult.

"Hahahah. I'm gonna make you regret that remark."

Yes. It was definitely after hearing him say that I felt a chill running up my spine.

The journey wasn't very long, but Tannin made it his mission to make my journey there a living he- . . . very hard on me. I had to remind myself to keep Ddraig's spectral mouth shut next time he engage in conversation with the Old Geezer.

Like termite mounds that rose from the ground, the valley of the dragons in Tannin's territory emerged into the landscape into view the moment we dropped back below the clouds again. The sheer quantity of residents there was also overwhelming; weyrs of them flew across the sky in great numbers, while even greater of them nested in the pointed summits.

Flying over the great orchard of dragon apples that grew like wild flowers over the thousands of acres of land, Tannin finally stopped and slowly descended into a crevice that opened up and swallowed us below the ground.

"When do we begin training?" I asked him as we approached the outskirts of his castle; I should probably mention his home was buried into the side of the canyon's opening, and that its spires were pointing downwards like a collection of stalactites inside of a cave. Definitely one of the more unique places of residence in the Underworld.

Instead of landing, he continued to hover between the endless ravines below his wings, with his face looking towards the castle, but he showed no signs of moving forward. It was only when he started moving did I realise what he intended to do;

"Training begins now!"

Without giving me the opportunity to prepare or hang on to him, he performed a barrel roll, and sure enough I found myself resting not on his back, but upon the open air, which could not support me leaving me to plummet directly down into the misty smog down, down, down.

I want to say I didn't scream bloody murder, but I wasn't that brave as to keep my voice from escaping instinctively. I'll . . . just omit what I actually sounded like, f-for meaningful reasons.

I would like to make an important note that I had never once before sprouted my wings. I knew that I had them but I had never been taught how to release them from my back, and thus falling was the only choice I had at this moment.

I don't know how far down I was, as I was in so much of a panic that i shut my eyes instinctively.

I remember the wind brushing swiftly past my ear, and how they started popping a little, which made me wonder just how far down I really was falling. I felt strangely sick from all the motions I was experiencing, and due to shutting my eyes, I was unaware of which was up anymore as I continued to free fall down, down and down. Further, and further and further I was falling. And, I waited for the ground to arrive.

Then, there was a tug on my shoulders before I felt my self being constricted by four iron-like fingers, and when I opened my eyes, I was in a giant purple claw. Though it didn't belong to Tannin-ojiisama.

"Get yourself together, you Krent!"

"H-huh? What?"

Though I had Evil Pieces that could help me understand every language spoke, most dragons in the Underworld spoke almost entirely in Deftodiz rather than Thuum, which meant that suddenly abruptly changing languages never clicked. So Bova's insult towards me never sank in until I finally learnt that that "krent" was the equivalent of calling someone a "runt".

He ruffled up scales as he shook his head, continuing to fly. He think he also spat in disgust a little, but I believe that it combusted and melded into the fog surrounding us.

"Bah! What would you know of such a small thing? The first month I was born, I was flung from my nest and I learned to spread my wings and fly or I would have died. If it weren't for your connections, I would have let you drop."

'Great, thank you. I'm so grateful'

His attitude didn't exactly leave me with the best of impressions of Tannin's youngest son. My own thoughts were so sarcastic that I couldn't care less with what he was saying any further. He continued on and on about . . . why he was so much better than me, how he could do these things that was so amazing that I couldn't even comprehend. It was all just pretentious, so I mentally blocked it out as he continued to carry me through the canyon of mist.

"Right, unto your first training!"

That word, training, is what suddenly brought me back to my senses.

"That wasn't training?"

"Nah that was just the warm-up. You're training is to glide over a net."

I tried to look up at him with my puzzled look, but from the angle he was grabbing me, it was easier said than done.

"A net?"

I really should have taken not of that smile before asking that question. Maybe He had been smiling all this time knowing full well about the net, but I couldn't exactly tell that easily with the kind of structure his face had.

"It's made of blessed silver. Specially ordered from Lord Alsiel. You're a devil now after all, the stuff is going to sting like hell if you so much as touch even with your clothes."

Though I had never once touched silver till that day, the stories of horror surrounding the description of the pain it inflicts was almost instinctual. The best and most well-known description was recorded by an anonymous author, who stated:

"A holy metal at which when formed in the fires produced of Uriel's sword and cooled in holy water, reflects the light of the moon where neigh even the shadows may hide. The penance paid by Judas Iscariot for selling the protection of his liege for thirty pieces of silver, of which now burns the very souls of being whom wield or allow loyalty to demonic magic. Once touched upon the surface, the blessed metal pierces the skin in a white flash, becoming hot like the surface of a star. The surface does not show any signs of injury due to the magic tied to it works from the inside out, shocking the nerves and exposing the inflicted's allegiance. Direct penetration in the form of weapons is enough to prevent the wound from clotting whilst also poisoning the affected area if not removed quickly enough. Though many of the pure-bloods may be able to withstand the injuries produced when cut or stabbed by silver, those with no enough power to resist the might of the Faux God will lose all form in this world after a fatal strike, and not even their voices will remain connected with the living."

After hearing all that, I immediately regretted reading through Aleister's volumes late at night.

"Any advice?" I asked, hopeful he wouldn't be quite as cruel as he was making himself out to be.

I was wrong.

"If you start smoking; stop, drop and roll. Bwa-ha-ha-hah!"

And from that day on, as I started shouting in absolute protest whilst attempting to free myself from his grip, I would begin training in the Valley of the Dragons. From silver net flights to land mine runs. From free falling to vertical climbs. From fist fights, where apparently feet, heads and even tails counted as a fist, to one-on-one flame protrusion collisions, which I don't need to say was difficult considering I couldn't distinguish the differences between exhaling and expelling so I ended up getting burnt more times than I was able to at least successfully participate.

And I would get my comeuppance after a year and two months, . . . and sixteen days but it's not as if I was counting, when I finally managed to get strong enough to life Bova over my shoulders, with some helpful {boosts} included of course, and tossed him into that blessed silver net he liked to joke so much about.

Even with his thick dragon hide, the stinging sensation was enough to make him stop, drop and roll, so I got in a good laugh in the end.

Though he ended up getting his revenge when offered me that extra strong glass of dragon apple juice as a "sign of camaraderie". After a sip of it made my tongue go absolutely numb from horrid sampling, I told him to bite me which he did quite unexpectedly with his large spear-like fangs. Even then I couldn't taste anything for an entire weak except the morbidly bitter juices.

But . . . with all that said, nothing in the Valley of the Dragons could prepare me for the dangers I may have to face in the overworld, nor could I have counted on my training to keep me alive when I encountered a being that far surpassed Tannin-ojiisama's strength.

But, that's another story.

To Be Continued

---

"Robert Frost."

"Beg pardon?"

"From what I've tasted of desire / I hold with those who favour fire. It's the third and fourth lines of Robert Frost's poem, "Fire and Ice"."

Having finished recapping the first week of training almost two and a half years ago, I was shocked to see that she had picked up on something I had long since passed over during my reminiscing.

"Could it be coincidence?"

"Who knows? Perhaps the poet had befriended a dragon and learnt those words before deciding to craft them into verse."

"Perhaps."

"Did you ever settle your quarrel with Bova?"

I nodded, but it was also sort of a shake like I was trying to balance out the answer in my head while I came top the conclusion.

"Yes, but it took time. A lot of time." I took up my glass again and swallowed a couple of gulps of dragon apple juice down my throat again. The strong taste was just one of many reminders that a lot had changed.

The first day he ever offered me a glass, I looked set to enjoy it, but the bitterness caught me by surprise and I choked on it. I swore that my tongue had shriveled up and died after wetting it in the sticky horribly sweet drink. I was surrounded by laughter for a good five minutes before he fell backwards gasping for air.

Thinking about his reaction still ticks me off a little. But, I still feel nostalgic drinking this juice every single time. It was one of those tastes that never get any better with time, but you still like to have it regardless.

"I received my own name though."

"A new name?"

"No, I'll still be Issei, but I was awarded my own dragon name, even if it was just an honourary one."

"Which is?"

I wanted to wait for a dramatic introduction, but if you knew what name I was offhandedly awarded, you would understand why my pause was more about hesitation that presentation.

". . . Kahdovmed."

If the Underworld was ever to be infested with crickets, this would have been one of their starring moments. I can say that it was bad name, but that was usually the problem with someone who was not born with a name to suddenly be given one out of the blue.

"What does that mean?"

"self-worthy dragon-like."

There was a longer pause following the revelation of my dragon name's etymology, and another smacking of lips at another sip of dragon apple juice.

"Sounds better in Thuum."

"Pfft. Yes, I perfectly agree."

We laughed it off luckily, and the returned back to watching through the large window as many of the guests started to make their public appearances;

The Household servants were all still in the main halls cleaning and serving the guest who had already arrived, and the peerage members were stationed along the red carpet to welcome tonight's guest into the party. Lord Rivalen's peerage kept to the left side of the carpet, lined up from Lupambulus furthest from the house and then proceeding by height going towards the main door where Lord and Lady Phenex were awaiting to greet their guests;

Though in traditional times, the Old Maou's families would have been the first to arrive or so I have heard, with the houses of the Seventy-Two Pillars following after in their traditional order, now it falls to the New Maou's family to take their place out of the old norm.

The first to arrive was the House that technically led the New Maou faction, the Lord Zeoticus, 4th [Duke of Gremory], and Lady Venelana Gremory nee Bael were the first to approach. Though it was uncommon for the Lord to walk ahead of the Maou, Lord Gremory was the exception for this one night due to his past friendship with lord Phenex when they were both children. Greeting each other in a manner unlike the rest of nobility, with open armed hugs that were barely visible from our point of view, but it was easy to recognise it was there.

Looking down at the Gremory clan from the window, the only one who was absent was Rias. Though at the time we had only met her the once, it did pipe our curiosity if we would meet again only to be dashed at the sight of her lack of attendance. Though we were made aware that she was studying in the overworld at the time, it had be presumed she would have returned home during the winter's mass, but had apparently chosen to stay due to schooling commitments.

Though her main motivation could have been called into question, no one pressed any further.

Behind the two were the Maou Sirzech Lucifer and his wife Grayfia Lucifuge, with their nine year old son, Millicas Gremory clinging to his mother's arm. It would be one of the few times I would ever see the three as a complete family with Lady Grayfia in her martial and maternal role rather than her serving one.

I felt half fascinated and half nervously intimidated looking at Maou Lucifer even from such far distance between the two of us. The sight of his eyes possible turning and glaring directly at me like it did that day haunted me. The knowledge he withheld to society about my existence was enough to inform me that he had motivations of his own, and the enigmatic nature of it was on my thoughts almost every week since our first meeting.

I wondered then if I ducked below the window sill if he would still see me, or at the very least be able to sense I was now hiding from his sights?

. . . Actually, on a more positive note, seeing the Maou Lucifer did bring up something I had at the time been meaning to ask about for a while;

"There was a lot of talk going on about this trial while I was away. Something to do with . . . a white cat, I believe?"

It was only one year ago, but the infamy of the trial was still circulating mouth-to-ear throughout the entire Underworld. By the time that it reached the ears of the dragons of Tannin's land, the only credible information about it was that the accused was a small white kitten, and at the end it was Maou Sirzechs Lucifer who interfered with it. Many different accounts varied on what the trial was about, so there was no viable information related to the charges nor what the outcome came about to.

It seemed strange how Tannin knew next to nothing about this despite his overlord and King being present on that day, or at least according to one such speaker.

Ravel nodded in response to my question. It was nice that she was still trying to continue drinking despite it obviously being so painful to her taste buds, but she really didn't need to keep forcing down something that was too horrid for her.

I could never say that out loud, so i have to act in accordance rather than lead with words. So I took both glasses back and hid them behind a potted plant instead of leaving them to the side for them to be consumed by forgetful curiosity.

"I was there."

"You attended the hearing?"

"Is it so hard to believe?"

"No. It was just . . . unexpected. I didn't think . . . you know; you'd be interested in that sort of thing."

"It was, more or less, an entertaining event."

I half smiled a little, while humourously exhaling.

"You're starting to sound like dignified noblewoman."

"Not like my mother?"

"Lady Phenex doesn't hold such natural disposition as you do."

Had I not , I probably would have loosened a snicker at that moment, which would have seriously been inappropriate. Actually, inappropriate wouldn't have been the word. Unintelligible would suit the role much more realistically.

"I'll be sure to relay your words to her."

"Please don't. I'm not a cute as I once was, I don't think she'll let me survive this time."

I went cold at the sudden thought; though I had been Lady Rozalva's Pawn for over a year since my reincarnation nearly three years before, there is a specific reason why I have avoided talking about the Marchioness' age, and I only got away with an evil miasma heart-to-heart talk that has been well cemented into my memories.

I will say no more.

As I looked back over to Ravel, who was throwing her head back and stretching herself away from the window frame, most likely to relax the strain that had built up from leaning against the polished and painted wood, I most unfortunately had to force my sights away when I came to my senses just how immensely I was deliberately drawn in;

Though I had rarely seen my King in the two years and ten months we had been apart, it never occurred to me in the few days we did reunite within the years how much she was also growing up until this night.

Of course the awkwardly aware fifteen year old would suddenly take notice of how much her buxom line had also grown. With her stretching her arms over head, her chest and the clothes wrapped over them were pulled upwards with them, which only emphasised their size and shape, making it all the worse for me to maintain the ability to think clearly and to act without surrendering required strength of will.

I could not prevent the sudden interest I was developing, but it would have been in rather bad form for a servant to suddenly be caught gawking at his King's growing ample figure. I had to steel myself against these kinds of thoughts.

Then again, perhaps I should have stopped and looked at the bigger picture before reaching that conclusion.

Quickly changing the subject to remove the embarrassment over my face, having had to hold my left hand over my nostril, I returned to our earlier discussion.

"I'm curious; how entertaining was this trial?"

She rolled her eyes after I expressed my own opinion based on my ignorance to the topic of conversation was. It wasn't the type of roll that would have conceited me as a buffoon, but one where the very memory of it seemed to incite something very well unheard of from her perspective. The small smile that came with it was the clue to deciphering that it was much larger than a simple court case.

"I say entertaining, but realistically as part of the spectators, it was far from it. Like the battle between two titans taking place."

"Like a Rating Game match?"

She sighed, rolling her right hand as if she had a figmentive glass held within it.

"No. Nothing like a match. It was stand-off:"

---

Life 2 - Gone Rogue

It was the 1st day of the 12th month, and I, Ravel Phenex, was witnessing my first trial.

Though it was usually improper for one such as myself to be allowed entry, my parents thought that I needed to at least make the attendance of one as soon as possible in order to better understand the judicial system.

However, my first impression of how our kind dealt with those we called criminals was, for better words, civilized barbarism.

"Bring in the accused."

As the judges, that is to say the five selected heads of the remaining seventy-two pillars, called forth for the condemned, the audience in the courtroom turned their heads at the large doors situated behind them, when two armoured guards walked in with a cage between the two of them.

Many of the witnesses started the make conversation as the wardens brought forth the criminal in a small pet-sized cage through the many rows of high and middle-class devils who had chosen to make the journey to bear witness to this act of

In all misfortunes, due to my youth, my bad draw in seating and angle from where the accused was being brought towards the stands placed in the middle of a large circle to be vultured by the judges, I was unable to get a good view by just simply reclining into my section of the bench.

To savour my need to investigate the condemned, I stood with both feet upon my seat to catch the shortest of glimpses before mother made me resume my sitting position.

What I saw was not wasted though, and though I had but a glance I saw the small white kitten cowering in the centre of her steel imprisonment.

I saw two golden coloured eyes, but they were like brilliant jaspers that had been left to wallow in abandonment collecting dust that they had lost all shine behind a deep layer of dull grey.

As she wasn't a devil, not even a reincarnated devil, the whole trial was a farce;

Not only was her status as an "unknown entity" meant that she was illegally in the Underworld due to her age now exceeding the below thirteen years limit, but she wasn't a devil so she was not obligated to have an attorney, nor was she allowed to speak in her defence, say more than yes or no when asked a question, and nor was she permitted to Anthrothropise at any time during this court hearing and remain in her full youkai form.

In her favour, at least, was that if she wasn't entitled to a defence, there could be no prosecutor, so all discussion and questioning during the trial was to be made by the speaker-of-the-bailey, a voluntary role chosen by the Maou.

Whether it was to be in her favour though entirely rested upon the speaker's motives.

Standing in judgement were the Lords Keyargar Bael, 5th [King of Bael], Borscht Dantalion, 4th [Duke of Dantalion], Kilreign Focalor 6th [Duke of Focalor], Hydeway Vassago, 3rd [Prince of Vassago], and Jarlus Amon, 5th [Marquis of Amon]. For appearances, it seemed fair, but there was an obvious under layer when it came to political allegiances;

With the Bael clan heading the Old King's Faction, and both Focalor and Vassago seemingly supporting the New Maous, it came down to the other two judges whichever way the vote would swing as it would have appeared that both sides would never intentionally side with the other's vote.

From a bystander's point of view, this charade was as apparent as a Cheshire smile.

"May the speaker-of-the-bailey enter."

Entering in scene to everyone's shock, surprise and awe, cropped with his signature combination of red and blue hair, and matching heterochromic eyes, the chosen representative was none other than Lord Mephisto Pheles, 1st [Baron of Pheles] and Head of the Magician's Association, Grauzauberer.

The great quantity of gasps that elapsed over the room was well founded, considering that such an important person, even one who was from the original generation of devils like the first heads and even the Great Devil Kings themselves. The figure that had chosen to make his few regular appearances in the Underworld as opposed to his near-permanent residence in the Overworld is by definition a living legend by his own hands nonetheless;

The creator of 108 spells, of which 83 are still used on a regular basis. The first being to forge the contemporary terms of contract of the benefit of both parties against the old ideas of trading favours for souls. The only devil in existence to have ever forge a partnership with the great magician, Johann Georg Faust. To only hold the rank of Baron is also quite the insult when he is the first in the Underworld to ascend to the rank of Ultimate-class devil rather than be born into it.

But what made his appearance most unusual, when you remove his personal disdain for residing or even contributing further to devil society due to personal preferences, was that he was an avid supporter of the New Maou's Faction.

To have him as speaker-of-the-bailey was a point of power in this courtroom; no matter the decision of the judges may be, if the speaker chooses to sway the spectators' favour in opposition to the final verdict, then it ultimately turns against the judges who vote against public opinion.

Having him speaking would be already putting him at odds with Lord Bael. And even from this far away and buried within a sea of watchful eyes, it was clear that Lord Bael was aware that he had been set up by how uncomfortable he was not fussing from his seat of power.

Looking down upon Lord Pheles, who was already set with a goal in mind, and across from him Lords Vassago and Focalor, who were apparently already within his support, it looked like an obvious check had been placed before their match had even begun. Even with the votes of Lords Dantalion and Amon, they were more like wild cards than anything else and not something an experienced character would expect to rely upon without turning the field.

But, for all intents and purposes and no matter what goals each side was playing to achieve, the case would be settled according to the laws set by the governing bodies from the dawn of our race to the present.

Lord Bael, who held lead judgement by laws according to his higher nobility rank of King, was ready to deliver the summary of the case before them.

"The charge has been set; on the 28th day of the 9th month, there was a murder."

Lord Bael was experienced in public address, and he knew how to best make use of speech to emphasise particular sections in his favour. Though everyone who had made attendance knew very well that this was a trial of murder, his delivery seemed to capture the audience's shock once more.

Even I, who had yet to really understand just how dire this place was, was captivated by how he spoke and felt like I was being roped in to his words.

"A murder most foul took place in the residence of our Lord Nekark Egin, 2nd [Baron of Egin], may the Maou rest his soul. The Lord Egin was slain most viciously and under the most deplorable of reasons."

The Egin clan was originally a subservient house for the House of Ziminiar, before the clan was exterminated. Lord Levizan Egin was awarded the posthumous rank of 1st [Baron of Egin] for his role during and shortly after the Bombing of Lilith in 1865 CE, which was then passed along to his son, the late Lord Nekark shortly afterwards, but he never did truly earn the role nor was he groomed for any such duties that came with nobility.

It was not uncommon for people to acknowledge how disgracefully the late Lord Egin had acted while he was still alive, but with a serious decline in pure-blooded devils, leniency was executed in order to maintain what few bloodlines still existed. His death was a more serious ordeal to the standing of devilkind rather than himself as a person, and thus we come to this place.

"On the night of the ninth, the reincarnated Bishop of Two named Kuroka, did so willingly and knowingly attack and kill her master, Lord Egin. Not only is this in violation of the laws that govern the reincarnation our Maou Beelzebub has set in place, but murder itself without due cause is also in violation of basic devil law, and as such is already guilty. Since the primary accused has fled the scene, her guilt is automatically imposed, as rightfully judged by the hearing passed three nights previous."

It was public knowledge about the new SS ranked stray devil on the loose, but wherever much of the news was true was never formally published.

The hearing made between the selected judges of the day, the Lords Temphuran Astaroth, 5th [Duke of Astaroth], Arganeigh Sitri, 7th [Prince of Sitri], Paqommun Balam, 8th [King of Balam], Raytorian Furcas, 1st [Earl of Furcas], and Kalmar Barbatos, 5th [Duke of Barbatos], had made the choice based on the investigation reports of the crime scene, and the absences of the accused meant that a formal trial could not be held, and so a declaration had been made based on what evidence was present and nothing more.

Pointing downward an accusing finger towards the kitten cowering in the cage surrounded by the five lords, Lord Bael's voice altered from sympathetic to acussing like the transition between the two was as natural as breathing.

"Before you, most humble people of the Underworld is the ghost beast-"

"Excuse my interruptions, my Lord Bael, but the term you are looking for is "Youkai", not ghost beast."

With a callous smile, and by some obvious lax tone of voice that seemed like he was playing around, Lord Pheles correction of Lord Bael's statement. As the speaker, he was in every rights to ensure that the judicial records only contained the correct facts, even while all of it was being recorded for the Great Library in Lucifaad. But, even to one as young as oneself, I couldn't help but notice how condescending it almost sounded while he was deliberately making a fool out of him.

As Lord Bael was obligated to follow the laws rather than seek any reason to oppose them, he was forced to accept Lord Pheles' words rather than protest his way of address.

". . . Thank you, Lord Pheles. *ahem* The Youkai before you, stands accused of many related crimes. Though condemnation by charges of both murder and manslaughter cannot be taken into account due to no such evidence to suggest such cases have been found."

"The crimes of: Aiding and abetting. Preceding knowledge of the crime. Withholding of said knowledge, synonymous to that of treason. . ."

A list of various crimes were piled on during the hearing, none of which Lord Pheles has any control to protest as of yet unless the charge was falsely added without the speaker's knowledge. As the list grew longer without interruption, the gasps only grew longer with it.

" . . . And, by the oldest laws by the late great Maou, the most heinous of charges, that of Bad Blood."

Bad Blood. The charge was simple; if you were related to the criminal, you were often seen as being equally capable of committing said crime again. Parents and distant relations of the initially accused could be exempted since Bad Blood referred to sharing near identical DNA to the accused. Siblings and descendants were the primary targets of this charge, and very few ever got leniency.

One such case would be the war criminal, Elucid Lucifuge; though he had been killed in the Civil War and was never formally charged for his experimentation of devils, the charge of Bad Blood was placed on his elder sister Grayfia despite having already been pardoned. I don't know any more of the details than that unfortunately, nor do I really know the outcome except the charge was pressed no further.

"The accused before you, Shirone, is the younger sister of the SS stray devil, and was also present on the night of gruesome scene that took place. Bad blood doth often run deep in the family, and as such we are all already at risk of death upon our own by allowing such Bad Blood to continue to roam free unsupervised. I'm know you are all aware of your history as am I, of the Corson siblings."

The incident dates back to the 19th century, Marbelle Corson and Gryparron Corson, her half-brother from a human mother, both got acquitted on the charge of Bad Blood, one of the few cases that proved to have been viable; The heiress had been the one convicted of the 1865 CE Bombing of Lilith, claiming less than a hundred noble high-class devils, and a little under a thousand lower class devils also.

Her brother had be caught with evidence to suggest he was planning a sequential bombing of Lucifaad after the Anti-Satan Faction captured the city from the Old Maous. When the undetonated equipment was discovered littered around the former capital, his guilt was reassured.

For both their crimes, they were executed by slowly lowering their bodies into the River Phlegethon between the borders of our Underworld territories of Gehenna and the Pits of Tartarus still under the occupation of the Hellenic mythos, to be slowly consumed by the river of fire till naught but smoke remained of them. This act also exterminated the remaining members of the Corson Clan.

By the sound of the room, it was safe to assume that it had never been forgotten by any devil present here. The crowd started turning hostile to small white cat in the middle of the floor. Lord Bael knew just how to turn a room to his whims.

"This is a dangerous being we behold in our most gracious of courtrooms.

"Lord Bael, I may interrupt you once again, I must correct you on the name of her species."

"There is no need for correction, Lord Speaker, since as it is clear to see that this demon cat is known as nekomata."

"I'm afraid that I must point out that you are mistaken, Lord Bael. Though there are a species of Youkai in Japan known as nekomata, the accused here is not one of them."

Walking towards the cage, everyone who wasn't in view stood from their seats just to catch a glimpse of Lord Pheles' daring move; reaching his hand inside of the cage. Even if she looked like a small white cat, everyone else was concerned for his safety considering that the charge for Bad Blood had given the impression of this youkai being a "wolf in kitten's clothing".

He then retrieved his hand, but he had also brought something else out to public view.

"As seen by her two forked tails here, the correct terminology for her species is "nekoshou", a far rarer breed. Mono-gendered might I add. Though this is present in the reports upon the accused, I presume the Lord Bael was easily mistaken as he couldn't have possibly have been able to see this small difference from whence he stands."

"Yes, yes. Thank you for you correction, Lord Pheles."

There were a few light snickers within the audience, but I had no idea at the time just how much of this had an impact on the relations between the two opposing factions within our supposedly united devil society.

Though Lord Pheles had made a few early small attempts to get a lot of the charges rectified and corrected as was his job entitlement, it became very clear from an audiences perspective that Lord Bael had already decided her fate and was stubborn in his refusal to allow his opinion to be taken out of consideration.

". . . can it really be called withholding information when such information never existed in the first place? I mean really; if the stick insect should fall unto a sticky bun and die unable to break free, should we cut off the hands of the baker who layered the icing without knowledge that this transpired?

"Lord Pheles, must I remind that it is your job is to bring forth the information made present by our investigators, not act in a manner as the accused's solicitor. Must it be verified that this is a hearing, not an officiated trial?"

"You cannot fault me for wanting to make sure this trial holds all the correct facts now, surely?"

"There is no trial to be had. All the evidence gathered here is enough to send this youkai to the pits of Malebolge let alone have her executed. Must we put off this farce any longer, dear witnesses? Do you believe that this is truly the justice that Lord Egin deserves? Does he not deserve to see his convicted killer walk away freely from this, let alone let all those associated with them be released when they are within the arms of our judicial system?

"My Lord Bael, there has never been evidence to sugg-"

"That is enough! I will no longer be subjected to anymore of this deliberate delay. Judges, I shall instigate the call of-"

Then, the doors to the room opened. Not with a slam, but with a most peculiar of voices.

"I wish to interject, if I am allowed."

The room went silent over a familiar voice. Everyone's faces turned to the most familiar sight of burning crimson hair entering the court room, as every sound and every movement became a frozen memorial of time.

"M-Maou Lucifer, this is most improper of you to interrupt one of our most sacred traditions."

"Tradition? Forgive my rudeness, Lord Bael, but I admit that I lack such perception as to dub something so vulgar like this trial to be simply tradition."

No one spoke up, no matter how they were shocked by Lord Lucifer's statement.

"Though you may be Maou Lucifer, for you to interrupt a trial in session is unfounded and without due cause. There are no objections for you to sit in, but to place judgement yourself is in violation of our most sacred laws, as you are aware, Maou Lucifer."

"As the Maou Lucifer, any and all domestic duties within and outside of the Underworld that concern our people is within my jurisdiction, as it always has been since the old days under Maou Attar long before me. To say that my being here is unbecoming is to deny tradition itself, but I know that is clearly not what you were implying, wasn't it Lord Bael?"

The expression of having walked straight into a trap was all but necessary to cement that Lord Lucifer's statement was the correct one; it was true that the Lord Lucifer's duties were domestic affairs, so having him foreseeing a trial was not out of the blue so to speak.

It would also be wise to remind everyone why there are five judge's seats, and also whose seat Lord Bael currently occupies as well. But I need not say any more about that.

"Though I agree, I have no authority to overturn or contribute judgement, nor do I intend to overrule the judges chosen. I would, however, like to see this trial be done in accordance to the law, if I be permitted to observe."

Lord Bael looked to his four counterparts, who had chosen to remain quite silent throughout the entire trial; Lords Vassago and Focalor gave a small nod in acceptance, which then prompted Lord Amon to follow sooth. Lord Dantalion looked eye-to-eye with Lord Bael, but chose to just accept the role as it was.

"This selection of judges has no objections to allowing the Maou Lucifer to remain in observance to this trial."

"Thank you, Lord Dantalion. Please, continue Lord Pheles."

"Yes, but of course, Maou Lucifer."

It was thanks to Lord Lucifer's intervention that the nekoshou's life had been saved; through a series of counter arguments that Lord Pheles had obviously prepared beforehand. He outlined a great many issues with the charges, such as being unable to aid and abet due to being kept behind a lock door every night, and had been found behind said lock door when arrested without signs of interference to the lock nor to the anti-teleportation trigger inside the entirety of the mansion.

The condemned also gave evidence that she had made no contact with her sister in many months before, and while a testimony was no solid alibi, neither was there any clear evidence that Shirone was withholding information as the news of Lord Egin's demise was a shock to her also.

Overall, with the direct gaze of Maou Lucifer on Lord Bael, it seemed like he became less assertive as he had been previously. With the flawless deconstruction work outlaid by Lord Pheles, it seemed only a matter of time before the whole case was dropped.

There was, however, one charge that could not be overturned no matter how many words were wrapped out it;

"Very well, all charges detailing the accused of aiding the criminal have all have been dropped. There is however, the charge of Bad Blood, which cannot be ignored."

The moment Lord Bael had spoken again, the crowd sudden felt the confliction in their hearts wrap their voices. Calls for innocence or guilt wavered into a mixture of oil and water. It was the scariest the room had ever been, having decided to fight itself with a war of words rather than follow the mood like sheep as was usually expected.

Lord Bael's mood picked up slightly, unlike the other four lords that sat opposite him from all directions. I even looked to my mother and father sitting at either side, but instead their moods seemed to be of amusement, which I didn't quite understand until much later why this was at such a time.

The only ones who were not showing a new expression, were Lord Pheles and Maou Lucifer. They both held their smiles, unwavering and unyielding like this had all been part of a larger plan.

Lord Pheles looked at Maou Lucifer, who nodded in indication, as he raised his hand to garner the attention of the room.

When all noticed and all were silent, Lord Pheles proceeded to speak again.

"My lord and lovely ladies. Yes, the accusation of Bad Blood is one that we can never ignore. It has done us a service to remove rid us of those that may seek to do us harm. That has always been the way in the name of the Four Great Satans and the Blessed Devil Queen Lilith who gave us this blood which runs deep within each and every one of us."

Though it was no secret that Lord Pheles never really got along well with the original Satans, no one could deny the pious nature that all devils felt indebted to our mother of devilkind, and it paid off that he caught the room's attention when he placed his hand over his heart in thanks to her memory.

"We cannot deny that there is a killer instinct flowing in her veins, no more than there is one that flows in the veins of every one of us. I myself have killed a great many people. As have the first Lords of every devil family, their children, their children's children. The only difference is, we turn our killer instinct against our true enemies, not ourselves. It is the angels, both the ascended and the fallen, who we aim our swords to. And, we have killed a great many in five millennia."

The room turned silent again, and even some of the other devils gasped at such a statement. To compare devils with other beings was something unfathomable. It was almost treasonous to say such things, especially to the many lords who were present today.

Even if this was Lord Pheles speaking here, it simply wasn't done. And yet, he did.

"If this Bad Blood is so prevalent and ramped, why must we kill it? Are we trying to forget that we are at war? We have signed peace, but there are still rogue angels and stray devils, and let's not forget about the Olympians, the Aesir, the Takaamahara, and the Deva. And let us also not forget that they too have enemies that would pounce on us if given the chance. Not everyone is willing to share this Underworld with us who once ruled in the Heavens."

Lord Pheles walked back over to the cage and promptly rested his left arm upon it. He was even willing to risk his hand again by reaching into the cage and presumably pet the kitten.

"There is a killer instinct dormant in this nekoshou, as kindly pointed out by Lord Bael among the list of accusations, but why should it be bad. It would be bad if she was our enemy. But why make such a viable killer a weapon to be used against us? With every charge placed against our kind stripped away by our most gracious of judges, why not simply accept that we have another chance of potential recruitment? Peerages are always in need of enlisting."

Lord Pheles words managed to sway the crowds in his favour again.

However, the issue still remained; Kuroka the older sister was also a peerage member, and yet she still killed her master. Any sane devil would be inclined to feel insecure with that kind of knowledge hanging over their heads.

"Council of judges, if you would be so kind, I would like to offer my assistance in resolving this issue."

The room fell to the quiet again, then turned to Maou Lucifer, who stood raising his palm at equal height to his face.

"Since there is doubt to be had that this Shirone will eventually turn on her master as her sister has already proven to have done, I will be sure to take full responsibility for the foreseeable future if this court will allow it."

If the room could gasp any more this day, there would be a vacuum residing here.

"I've stuck my nose too deep here, so I believe it is only fair that should something bad happen it should fall unto me, don't you all agree?"

The room started talking again, but my attention looked between the judges and Maou Lucifer as if there was an invisible duel between the two authorities. As much as I would love to have seen the [Crimson Haired, Blazing Eyed Fury] I had envisioned from the stories in his youth and in all the performances, it would have been an improper display for the Maou Lucifer to exercise barbarity when he had already won with words alone.

Even Lord Bael, who by now had foreseen that he would be outnumbered four to one realised that he couldn't not show any resistance lest face repercussions by directly opposing Maou Lucifer face on in public.

"The judges have spoken; five are in favour of the verdict, and thus judgement has been passed. The nekoshou, Shirone, has been declared not guilty on all charges and shall be placed under the guardianship of Maou Lucifer, to either await reincarnation or to be sent back to either the Shinto or Youkai Factions of Japan. This trial is concluded."

The End

---

"So, it has a happy ending then. I suppose that's good."

It was a blunt response I admit, but I required confirmation after she abruptly ended her story at the result and had failed to illustrate what had transpired afterwards, leaving me still relatively in the dark. Her response was justified based on how narrow I had observed the story.

"The killer is still out there you know. I don't see how the death of a Lord and the unknown whereabouts of his killer is a happy ending."

"Your story was about a person who was falsely accused of crimes she couldn't commit being saved from being put to death. If the innocents don't die for something they didn't do, I consider that a happy ending."

"Like in the stories."

"Like in the stories."

"What happened to . . . uh, Shi-Shirone, after the trial I mean."

Ravel shrugged her shoulders and looked unto the front lawn. Though Maou Sirzechs had already long entered the household whilst she recounted her story to me, it seemed like her direction of sight was aimed to where we last saw him.

"As far as I know, she went into Maou Lucifer's care. Whether he chose to have her reincarnated or sent back to Japan, I am unsure. Though I think he more likely gave her to his sister."

"I think that he just wanted a pet."

My was met with unexpected laughter after the words sunk in. I found myself also joining in when I said it; the though of the Maou sitting at his desk with whit cat on his desk made me remind myself of some cliched villain from a spy movie in a revolving chair. the multiple scenarios then built up in out mind of just what kind of pet owner Lord Sirzechs would be only made or enjoyment that more hilarious.

"That is probably the real reason he interfered: "I would like a pet, but not an ordinary one. I want a pet that might like to kill me one day." Something like that?"

"More like: "Aww isn't that cute? She tried to rip my guts out with her claws. Ooh look at her ears, they're so soft." Right?"

We were almost gasping for air by the time we finally settled down. Our cheeks were hurting, but ours smiles persisted. Finally opening my eyes after clenching them too hard, I think I skipped a heartbeat when I saw Ravel's smile. Even though the both of us had been laughing quite hard for a few minutes back and forth, I suddenly lost

Her face was flustered but it was like a light rose tint against her cheeks. Though she had shaken her head quite a bit that it had slightly made a mess of her hair, even allowing a few more ringlets to form and fall over her forehead, I felt the urge to fight against reaching out and entangling a few of those loose strands around my fingers, maybe even fixing it and then moving my hand further down and cuffing her face.

'[That's nothing to joke about you know.]'

Had it not been for Ddraig speaking to me inside my head, I think I could have seriously lost myself to the moment.

"Just because it's you, Ddraig, doesn't mean it has to happen to everyone."

'[I am not commenting on that.]'

"You should because it was your fault we got into that situation."

"Issei?"

Having forgotten about Ravel who was sitting only I front of me whilst i was speaking aloud to Ddraig, she questioned what I had been discussing with him since she could only hear half of the conversation through my words while Ddraig continued to speak to me via our personal telepathic connection to avoid detection from the high-class devils enjoying themselves several floors below our feet.

"Oh, sorry Ravel. I was just talking to Ddraig."

"Can I know what it's about."

As she started leaning in, I happened to accidentally catch sight of the top of his blouse, which she had at some point in the evening opened up despite it being the coldest part of the house. I guessed that it must had been her proximity to the torches on the wall, but since I had started training with the dragons, my own sensitivity to heat had decreased so I barely noticed if that was the case.

It wasn't a problem that she had undone it, but from the way she was leaning in and the positioning of her arms had cushioned her front together in such a manner that it almost resembled to top of her breast that I had to immediately avert my eyes again. I tried to ignore what was happening my forwarding the conversation.

"I-I-It had something to do with an . . an, um, incident a year back."

"Do tell."

Though for some peculiar reason, she had failed to notice this and just continued to advance while I was doing my best to control my inhaling through my nose.

"*sniff* W-w-Well, when I say incident, it was . . . how do I say it? Just s- *sniff* something that was unavoidable."

---

Life 3 - Dragon Queen

"How Dare You Enter Knowingly Into My Domain, You Spineless Wyvern- No, You Lindwyrm!"

"What the heck is going on here?!"

["Fly! Just Fly, You Fool!"]

"A Kamisa- ** Fuck!"

Yeah, I forgot about the cons of being a devil; divine backlash. My native Japanese naturally slipped out, and it had the same repercussions as it would if I had spoken it in any other language.

How my day ended up like this; you can thank three people for this; Tannin-ojiisama who thought that I needed to spread my wings out a bit and fly for as long as I possibly can. Bova, who decided that if I couldn't even reach the other side of the Forest of Familiars by sundown, that I would get to do the "landmine challenge" again at level three difficulty.

If you're wondering how bad it could be, imagine the landmines not being something you avoid by just not stepping on them, but to physically dodge them as they come flying towards you from any direction they so choose.

And level three? That just means I have to watch myself while three dragons get to pummel me from all around me, laughing and singing as they attempt to blow me into tiny pieces all over the place.

I'm fourteen now, but I barely survived at level one, and I couldn't even get halfway through level two. I still can't believe I managed to live after getting cornered by two doses of projected plasma.

And the last person I have to thank for this horrid conclusion to the day's events is my partner, Ddraig. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have a fucking Dragon Queen attempt to kill me once I started flying over the forestscape.

Pardon my poor language, but this encounter still gives me nightmares to this day.

The blue blur continued her barrage of attacks against me, while I still learning to fly had to now worry about what may be trying to kill me from behind, above, below, sometimes I didn't even know even these attacks were combining from. I had to thank my devil enhanced hearing and sight, and also for human based perception to danger for staying alive the entire time.

["{Boost!}"]

Tiamat, [Chaos Karma Dragon], the strongest of the Five Dragon Kings, and the one being in the world who just had to have it out for Ddraig. Though he would constantly tell me that his rank of Heavenly Dragon meant he was by all means stronger than she was in his prime, he openly admitted that he had never bested her.

["{Boost!}"]

Instead of flame, she produced balls of volatile scalding hot water that she hurls at much faster speeds than any normal dragon could do the same with fire, not that she couldn't breathe fire either as far as I was aware.

["{Boost!}"]

Not only was she the strongest of the Dragon Kings rank, due to the Heavenly dragons being sealed and the Dragon God, Ophis and True Dragon, Great Red, living off world, she was the most powerful dragon in existence by default. Not only that, but I made the mistake of flying over her current home in the Underworld in the Forest of Familiars.

["{Boost!}"]

Dragons are naturally aggressive to each other, and while it was true that male dragons were the worse when it comes to this rule, I had yet to see a female dragon's rage, and I was now regretting it very much so while I attempted to not force my {boosts} to reset on me.

["{Boost!}"]

["{Boost!}"]

["{Boost!}"]

I must apologise that I am not commenting on my ability to dodge her attacks despite the fact she was constantly attacking me whenever I felt I had the chance to rest. But with the adrenaline of the day and the times where I never wanted to remember what had happened that day, my memory is full of quite a few too many holes when it comes to a person who is not myself.

["{Boost!}"]

But that doesn't matter, when I can say that I was only able to dodge this well because of the mine field challenge that Tannin-ojiisama had set up for me; it's ironic to think that he made up the training on a whim just to give me something to work with, but avoiding all of those fireballs has become a lifesaver for me in this sort of situation I have found myself in.

["{Boost!}"]

If I was going to take down the Dragon Queen who held the entire Sumerian younger gods pantheon inside of her womb when she became impregnated by the [God of the Primeval Sea], Abzu, last of the older gods, then I would need all the power I could possibly muster at this stage in my life. I would need to accumulate every single {boost} I could handle without killing myself.

["{Boost!} . . . {Liberation!}"]

At the sound of the awaited call, I felt my luck had suddenly been won over in my favour as my {Boosted Gear} began to overwhelm itself in rich scarlet light, whilst an emerald flash continued to leak layers of energy over my Sacred Gear.

"Finally!"

I had discovered two months into training that with enough {boosts} to count, I could achieve. After I managed to surpass my previous limit of six, and reached past ten, I was able to unlock and upgrade my Sacred Gear into {Boosted Gear Gift}.

My red gauntlet extended further up my arm until it had encased my elbow, with a second green jewel propping up behind my joint, and six extra golden spike protruded forth making my already sharp metal dragon's claw into a more imposing weapon to be used against my enemies.

I managed to get my second vengeance against Bova for the dragon apple juice incident with a well-placed punch to his exposed gut with this beauty. He was not expecting the [Red Dragon Emperor's Gift] to pack quite the punch on my first attempt to use it. But then again he didn't know about its inept abilities that it granted me either.

And the necessity in reaching this level was this:

["{Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!}"]

Unlike in base form, I would be able to hold onto my previous ten {boosts} of power, and successive {boosts} could be attained by my will rather than by the succession of time. Green light continued to flash continuously for as much as I was able to hold onto it, which meant that I would never need to restart at zero even if I should get hit by an opponent.

I wasn't sure of it was enough right now, but at the power of fifteen {boosts}, I was ready to test my strength against the strongest of the Five Dragon Kings. Though I admit that I could never best Tannin in my present state even with {Gift} around my arm, I was feeling the motivation of the moment.

Grabbing hold of my focused power into my left hand, I punched forth as Tiamat came towards me head on.

["{Explosion!}"]

As I turned myself to face Tiamat, with her large sapphire coloured body ready to strike, I let loose all that I had gathered at her in this one strike, hoping it was enough to do the damage I needed to escape from here alive.

The attack hurtled straight towards her, but while my hopes had soared beyond the heavens, a sight of aqua light emerging was enough to ground my desires to the land.

My {Explosion} was swiftly shattered when a ball of boiling superfluid pierced right through like a needle through a ball of yarn, before the steam destroyed my attack completely.

The worst of it came when the ball struck me right into the chest.

"Shit!"

*SPLASH*

I covered myself with my arms, but the damage had already crashed against me and sent me hurtling backwards faster than I could have flown there. I found myself spinning vertically for a while as I nursed my burnt arms and chest, as the redness continued to sting across me, and even a splash of it managed to wipe against my brow and cheeks.

I was lucky I didn't get any in my eyes.

["{Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!}"]

["{Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!}"]

As I regained composure and tied to retake what I had lost. I knew I needed more, so I continued past the fifteen I had gathered earlier, and tried to grab more before attacking further.

["{Boost!} . . . {Burst!}"]

"No!"

I looked at my left hand in shock.

Twenty. I finally hit twenty and that was my limit. I couldn't go any further according to my {Boosted Gear}, but I knew it wouldn't be enough.

"Come on! I need more! I'm up against a Dragon Queen! Come on, I need to reach more!"

I tried to get to work for me, only to find that I was not getting it.

I hit my limit, and that was all I was supposed to expect from a contraption such as made by Jehovah, who set about certain rules for the use of his artifacts.

I would have cursed his name, but I couldn't afford to sting my concentration at this point.

"Take This, Ddraig!"

Tiamat broke through the steam and shot right at me. I couldn't dodge quickly enough and ended up getting struck across the back by her claws as she swooped downwards at me from above. The sharp pain across my back where four talons had swiped across my skin was very painful at first, but I needed to hang on.

I started to pull myself together and rose higher to avoid her as best as I could, all the while still talking to my Sacred Gear.

"I don't want to give up! I'll take anything, just give me something to work with!"

. . .

. . .

. . .

"Come on, please!"

. . .

. . .

. . .

"Take from me what you need! I'll even give up my life so long as I don't die at her mercy!"

. . .

. . .

. . .

"Come one, you son of a bitc-!"

["{Overboost!}"]

"Huh?"

I felt a vein burst in my eyelid, as a bloodied tear started running down my face. I reached for my eyes as the pain started throbbing so intently that I lost sight for that brief moment.

But I had more power. I found my extra {boost}.

I could go further than my limit, even if it was starting to kill me.

No. I wouldn't let it, but I needed it to. If I can just get high enough to force her away, then I could survive. Otherwise, I would dead either way.

I had a new opportunity, and I needed to take it.

"I don't need a minute, just a few seconds! Hit me with all you can give me! I need to live!"

["{Overboost!}"]

My nose went, as did my second eyelid. I felt my blood leaking and the pain starting to get to me, but the power I was reaching was getting stronger also.

As Tiamat continued to re-ascend after her brief moment of daze, I didn't look, I just continued to push my Scared Gear with everything I had.

["{Overboost!}"]

"Fuck!"

My left wing went into red, which briefly caused me to lose altitude, but I resurged it with enough energy to nullify most of the pain. I continued flying and willing my {Boosted Gear} to push me further. I did not just spend all these months training to get stronger to die here in the middle of flying practise.

["You'll kill yourself, Partner! You've already hit twenty-three, a commendable achievement for someone as initially weak as you!"]

["{Overboost!}"]

My right leg starting growing cold as my skin started breaking and stained my cuffs. Drops fell from my shoes and down to the earth below until they were lost from sights.

I think I only further angered the Dragon Queen below when a couple of drops splattered her in her face. Her roar of fury echoed across the heavenly plains while I tried to climb beyond the clouds and further prepare myself.

["If we dive now, we may be able live, I can assure you!"]

["{Overboost!}"]

My chest suddenly went and I suddenly got caught from breathing. Though Ddraig had done his part in trying to persuade me to stop, I had ignored him and pushed through the wall until it came back and hit me.

I felt so much stiffening in my body I felt that I was undergoing rigor mortis. I was stuck like stone in the sky, and suddenly my flight path was stopped also. Weight suddenly gathered over my body and started plummeting quicker than I had been climbing.

I felt Sparky in my chest vibrating and fidgeting like an unkempt child as the sheer overwhelming energy I had gathered together started to swell throughout my body. First my left arm felt hot, and then it spread like a virus through my body.

I saw my {Boosted Gear Gift} suddenly shrink back, and I was certain I has losing my energy as the strain of it left my body. I felt down. I felt I had failed. Until I heard a voice break the misery and then the light entrapped me before I could react.

["{Welsh Dragon: Balance Breaker!}"]

*Shon*

Out from my back, I suddenly stopped falling when my large dragon wings suddenly sprouted forth from the armour I was safely inside. My fall was caught like a parachute being unfurled and air resistance broke my falling speed as quickly as I had gained it. I was still falling, but I had drastically slowed down.

"I feel so powerful. What is this?"

As I observed the new metal piece I had sudden obtained around me, all twenty five of my {boosts} suddenly didn't give me so much pain as they once did. I felt comfortable moving around now, like I had naturally become accustomed to it. All the pained had become null also, and my movements felt so much more free then they once had.

I looked to my hands, and saw they matched; both wearing the same red clawed gauntlets that resembled my {Boosted Gear}, but I also saw three clawed boots covering my feet also. I followed along my body and noticed the whole thing was red and draconic. I even found a tail appendage that sprouted from the centre of my back that I could will to move how I wished like it had been plugged into my spine.

Ddraig replied to me, in the most prideful voice he had ever mustered since the day were first spoke to each other, as he proudly introduced the new red armour I was donning.

["This is the pinnacle of the power bestowed upon humanity by the God of the Bible. When great strength is needed in the most desperate times, and the wilful soul refuses to bow in the face of death, the balance of the world shall be broken, and in its place comes a miracle that defies the natural laws of the universe is awakened. This is the Balance Breaker: {Boosted Gear - Scale Mail!}"]

At the sound of his call, ever light in the armour flashed a brilliant green that shock the sky like a green sun had emerged from the clouds.

"Scale Mail?"

I amused myself with the name, noting how every easy it was to move around despite being quite heavy looking. The dragon themed suit looked intimidating from my first person perspective, so it only got me further excited when I thought about how imposing it looked from a third person view.

"I have broken the balance, but I suspect this isn't your first seeing such an event?"

["I have lived many a lives, and this is not the first I have seen this miracle occur! But, Partner, you know that I now have high expectations for you, so you cannot let me down now that we have come so far!"]

"Any advice then for our current predicament then?"

["{Boost} till you have no more stamina, this is the power granted to you for as long as you can withstand the pressure you place upon yourself! Take this power, and destroy the enemy in front of you, Partner!"]

"I'm hitting at about twenty-five right now, so I hope you know what you're doing."

["{Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} {Boost!} . . . {Burst!}"]

As the blue dragon shot faster and faster towards her sitting duck target, I blasted the repetitive sound of my Sacred Gear's call till I could do it no more. Fourty-five was my new limit with this scale mail protecting me and enhancing my strength.

Though I had proven I could push past my natural limit, as I had done to receive such a gift

"No. Let's see what else I could do!"

Instead of punching the ball as I usually had in order to enact {Explosion}, I now had two gauntlets and plenty of metal to shield me from backfires, so I was feeling pretty daring at this point and willing to further test myself.

I held the ball from below in my left hand, and then I used my right hand to cover over it from above. I then started transferring my {boosts} into this tiny ball till it expanded into my palm space.

As the blue blur continued to rocket at my vicinity, I prepared myself. I was ready for what I had been hoping for.

Bracing my stance, and mirroring what Goku had been famous for starting, I brought both hands to my right hip and stared feeding more energy to the small ball till I was literally having to force it back with all the strength in my arms. The crimson glow penetrated the space between my two hands and in-between my fingers were it could escape.

The shaking in my hands as the ball of energy started fighting back against my muscles was becoming quite unbearable and I wanted to let go lest let it overpower me, but I couldn't.

I had only single chance for this to even remotely work, but at the current distance between me and the Dragon Queen, I would surely miss. I needed her to come in closer.

'Closer.'

I bit on my tongue, under the strain to force myself to hang on.

'Closer.'

Not yet. She was not close enough.

'Closer.'

A little more. I started biting down my teeth now. I nearly had her.

'Clo-ser!'

"I'll Get You Now! You'll Finally Pay For Your Insolence, Ddraig!"

["Now, Partner! Hit her with all you've got! Shoot her out of the sky!"]

"Don't need to tell me that! . . . Kame . . . hame . . . HAAAAAAAAAA!"

["{Smasher!}"]

Unlike my usual bursts of energy with {Dragon Shot}, this new {Smasher} was an eruption, an explosion that was without end, and I fired it off against the enemy flying towards me. Though she attempted to sweep left and avoid the attack, her range had decreased too suddenly to prevent her from easily maneuvering away from safety, as her right front leg and the inside her wing got literally smashed by the beam I was protruding from my side.

The force of the attack was not accurate enough to push her back far enough that she would think twice before trying attack me head on. However, the injury inflicted on her wind was enough that it knocked her from the sky, as she stared falling and unable to regain altitude with her smoking wing trailing her descent down into the thick of forest below.

I breathed a moment of silence, as the energy finally stopped and the beam ceased from existence. I gave a sigh, until I coughed up a little blood.

["{Reset}"]

And then, I lost my armour, shattering into a million pieces of red solid glass before becoming sand an eventually nothing, till I had nothing left, except the sudden feeling of falling.

To Be Continued

---

"And you crashed!"

Having had to stop as I re-imagined my fall that day, Ravel clearly summarised was I was trying to describe without making it so . . . degrading in words.

I scratched the back of my head and I nervously pulled a grin that said that it was exactly as it happened, but I want't exactly too pleased that the story of how I achieved Balance Breaker effectively ended with me tumbling down from the sky when I lost all my energy.

"Yeah. I couldn't hold onto my Balance Breaker for too long since it was my first ever attempt. I probably shouldn't have tried to do so whilst I was flying."

She then caught me off guard when she held onto my left hand with both of hers. The sudden grasp of her touch was enough to send a dose of euphoria up my arm. The feel of her delicate fingers running across my palm briefly before encasing them and locking my hand into her hold. I felt hot again, as if her body heat was travelling from her into my own, gathering into my face as it did.

The close proximity intoxicated me with the scent of her hair. It only became much worse when she spoke words of admiring praise to me while bringing my hand over to her heart, and to the soft feel of her cushioning chest between the two. It was enough to make my nerves run overtime through my brain.

"But, to have still utilized Balance Breaker is a commendable achievement. There are many Sacred Gear users who go through life who never once activate their artifacts, let alone push it to the point that they literally push through the natural limits of power. Not to mention, it's a Longinus Balance Breaker. There are only thirteen that have the potential to reach that sort of level that it can kill gods with relative ease, and you possess one of them."

As I tried again to avert my eyes, something that was eroding away on my moral conscience every single times these moments started to happen in such frequency, I tried to distract my thoughts by looking through the window. It had gotten colder, so the window had fogged up with condensation, which forced me to wipe the window with my free right hand while also trying to hide the redness in my face from Ravel while she still held unto my left hand.

As I cleared my vision, I looked back to the grounds to see who else maybe entering the party, when I caught sight of someone I never seen before;

"Ravel. I don't know that guy. Do you?"

Ravel promptly let go of my hand, which I am thankful for since I started feeling a need to- . . . never mind!

As my direction with my right hand, I pointed out of the window to a youth whom I had never seen before. He looked to be in his late teens, with black hair that formed into a . His eyes were a shade of purple unfamiliar to me, that were shockingly brilliant even through his thick furry sideburns that encroached the sides of his face. Unlike most devils, he was unmistakably muscled, and it was the heavier kind you would expect from a bodybuilder and not from a noble devil.

"Sairaorg Bael."

"Sairaorg? I've never heard of him."

My face screwed at the sound of his name due to him being an unknown enigma to me. I had been taught the names and features of the remaining noble devils and their families, and suddenly I was being undertowed by this new revelation.

"That's because he only became the heir recently."

"I though Magdaran Bael was the heir of the clan."

That was what I had learned; Magdaran was the name of the Bael heir as I was aware. And to hear that this was no longer the case was a shock to me.

"There was a duel for heirship between the two of them, and Sairaorg won."

"He must be really strong. But, it sounds like you didn't enjoy it? I would have liked to see a strong match between two wielders of {Power of Destruction} go all out against each other."

I was of course ignorant at the time that Sairaorg did not possess the hereditary ability of his clan, which was the sole reason that he had been disinherited to begin with. What I was also ignorant of was that this fight had a lot more at stake than just the inheritance of a single clan, as Ravel would yet explain to me. Her gaze continued to stare out of the window and towards the night sky where our moon was at it's fullest tonight, illuminating the world below with it's blueish light.

I don't need to tell you why it's not a silvery light.

"Strangely, had it not been at such high stakes, I probably would have enjoyed it watching it. It looked like . . . it was meant to be enjoyed."

---

Life 4 - Sweetest Honey, Strongest Lion

It was the nineteenth day of the fifth month and I, Ravel Phenex, was witnessing history and I wasn't aware of it at the time.

The public spectacle had been arranged by the Bael clan, who had hoped that it would send a message that the weak would remain weak, and their strong will always stand on top. At least, that's how Zemele had worded it.

It wasn't just myself and my parent's who had made attendance today, all three of my brothers, and even members of extinct clans like my older brother's wife were present. Many devils of human origin or half descent, and even those with only very little devil ancestry were here today.

This was more than just a fight between brothers. This was the between the sons of Keyargar Bael, and the potential 6th [King of Bael].

Standing to the right of the stadium visible through the projection screen, cracking away with his fists in any direction possible, Sairaorg, son of the first wife, Lady Misla of the [Dukes of Vapula]. He had the purple eyes most prominently of the Bael clan, in their regal shade of Tyrian purple that all descendants had, and also the rich coal black tone in his hair that none could deny meant he belonged to the Bael clan. He was eighteen years old at the time, but even for his age he looked very tall and imposing, as well as very well built.

He wore very shoddy looking clothes though unfortunately, which many attributed either to the negligence that he and his mother received from Lord Bael after being disinherited and partially exiled, but the Old King's like to say that it was a reflection on his person, how unrefined and crude he was compared to the previous [Kings of Bael].

I chose to believe the former after hearing some of the elderly kings speak in a manner such as that.

There on the left, as his opponent and junior by a single year, Magdaran, son of the second wife and former acknowledged concubine, Lady Lacryne of the [Princes of Stolas]. The only reason his mother had been made the second wife had been due to circumstances following Magdaran's birth, but the reasons why were largely ignored by the public. Unlike his brother, Magdaran did have the Bael purple eyes, but his hair was not the right shade of black that many would have liked, instead having grown into a mix of Bael black and Stolas purple into a very dark shade of violet, with the exception of several noticeable gatherings of white hair, most notable right in the middle of the bangs covering his forehead. He probably got those from the new stresses Lord Bael put on him after making him heir, or at least I assumed.

It wasn't much of a problem since he had inherited the {Power of Destruction} from his father, but usually this kind of drastic mutation in his genes would have been scorned especially by the Old King's who viewed the sight of heterochromia tricha as akin to mutts. Unfortunately, this was a view that was shared by even a few of the heads in the New Maou Faction.

He was dressed in the more formal gowns passed down by the heirs of the Bael clan; a full body suit of black and silver, draped with a rope of black, gold and purple that hung his back and both of his arms, but left his front completely exposed.

Unlike his elder half-brother, Magdaran did not look prepared for this fight. In fact he looked slightly terrified based on how loose his stance was in comparison. I had heard that he preferred to watch the cultivation of rare flowers rather than fight, which was a trait inherited from his mother's family and the arborkinetic abilities strongly tied to the [Princes of Stolas]. Though, this was heavily criticized by many in the Old King's Faction, including Zekram, 1st [King of Bael] and leader of the faction.

Though it looked like Sairaorg looked more pumped for this showdown between the two siblings, his odds of winning were set at 500/1 based on what statistics were provided of him, whereas his brother was looking at 1/7 which was measured on the destructive abilities of his clan ability and the proficiency he could wield it.

Though it was disheartening to see such harsh odds, it was to be expected over a society who favour the use of magic over brute force.

On a less serious note, Riser had decided to put his money on Sairaorg on a simple whim or so he said, though he looked to be trying to win some more money should the fates be in his favour.

"I can't believe you actually fell in to the crowd and put money on this match."

Of course my brother Rayzem would protest to his actions, citing how ridiculous it was to be gambling when this duel was about more than entertainment. The very future of the Underworld and what direction it would turn literally preceded with the outcome of this bout.

Though since we were all in our separate booths observing the fight, which was taking place within the same pocket dimensions purposely created to host many of the Rating Games of the modern era, I am still puzzled where he was making his bets from.

Riser, who had at this point stopped trying to create his own style of haircut, and had opted for a more reasonable one that fell down the sides up to his jawline with the exception of a few thick cowlicks at the front that looked to be mirroring Ruval's "crown", brushed away the hair from his right side before considering answering.

"There's no law prohibiting gambling, especially when we're here to watch a spectacle here today."

"But to bet 2 PtØ on this match is ludicrous."

"That just means I'll get 1,000 PtØ when I win doesn't it."

In the end, Rayzem couldn't win, so just turned his head back to the match while adjusting Ramarh's position on his lap.

"You're incorrigible."

For clarification; Ø is the symbol for our currency unit "Ohrre", which is unconventional when you consider that all of currency is based on the trading of precious metals as coinage. Pt is the chemical symbol for Platinum, and the amount of Ø is based on the measurement of its weight in kilograms, so to bet 2 PtØ is equal to 2kgs of pure platinum being used as betting funds. Even down here in the Underworld where precious metals were more in abundance, it was a lot of monetary worth alone. But it was still not as much as 1 RdØ, with Rd being Rhodium, the most precious of all precious metals.

Though due to the current mining schemes in place, the monetary value of each metal varied daily, so it usually becomes very difficult to calculate the exact amount every day, which was why the lowest three were set at 1 OsØ = 35 ReØ, and 1 ReØ = 65 RuØ.

Of course, none of these names for metals are the same as in our native language, but the chemical symbols alone are more recognisable as abbreviations.

Confusing I know, but for the low-class devils, it meant that they didn't have to worry about watching prices every single week to know whether they had enough for a feast or for a single roll. And the additional controlled mining of the lowest three precious metals also helped to sustain this figure thanks to the reforms made by the New Maou's Mining and Refining Laws and the Act of Currency which both helped to stabilise and bring about this more accepted outcome.

["My sincere welcome to all noble devils, both of the old blood and of the new. I, Zekram, First of the House of the Great Kings of Bael, will stand in judgment over this most memorable of matches on this day!"]

The sound of the 1st [King of Bael] speaking through the receivers signaled the beginning of the match. I myself felt almost nostalgic, though never had I heard his voice before that day, nor did I see him for quite some time afterwards. Having grown up with his tales of his days when the Zophasemin ruled as a pantheon, and he was the chief enforcer under the Lord Hadad.

Our family settled more comfortably in our seats, with the twin seated on an adults lap since they were prone to constantly fidget if they were given their own seat even though both were seven years old now. Ramarh was on his father's lap, while Riana was sitting on my father's. Out of the two, there was a reason that Ramarh was being kept close to my older brother seeing as my parents were prone to spoiling them a little more than they should.

["The field of our creation has but the boundaries of the stadium walls. There are no time restrictions, but both parties will forfeit should neither be able to continue. The first person to knock their opponent out or to render them unable to continue will emerge as the victor. Resignation is allowed. Killing the opponent is discouraged, but is understood to be unavoidable."]

I felt rather shocked when the last of the rules was announced to the spectators and the combatants. The fact that the 1st [King of Bael] had openly admitted that killing was inevitable, but did not necessarily say it was illegal or worthy of disqualification showed just whose side he truly favoured, despite his obligations to be impartial to either side as far as family matters and referee terms of neutrality was concerned.

["The right to future succession of the Bael clan is to be decided between the two sons of the current [King of Bael]; to the north end, the current holder and defending heir, Magdaran Bael! To the south end, the former holder and challenger, Sairaorg Bael!"]

Had this been in the Agreas Dome, I could have imagined just how the stadium would have applauded; most would have clapped louder for Magdaran than for Sairaorg, with the majority siding with the status quo rather than the unknown entity that was attempting to upturn a previously made decision.

The only person I could guarantee would be supporting Sairaorg would be Riser, but for his own selfish reasons of course.

But as we were isolated in our own viewing boxes, I would never truly know how it was, nor could I know how every other family reacted to the sight of the victors left standing at the end.

["In the name of the Four Great Satans, Lucifer, Leviathan, Beelzebub and Asmodeus, and to the mother of all devils, Lilith. We bear witness and we obey the outcome of this duel!"]

"""""""We bear witness and we obey the outcome of this duel!"""""""

""-this duel!""

After the twins finally caught up with the pledge of witnesses, it was time to start.

["Combatants: Prepare yourselves, and fight!"]

As the sound of the siren ringing throughout the surround systems, it was Magdaran who had the first move, as his right hand instantly filled up with red magic that encased an unforgiving blackness that one would only question was intangible with death itself. The Bael clan's {Power of Destruction}.

This was the first time I had ever laid eyes upon it, and it was nothing like it had been drawn in the illustrations I had seen in a few of the older books relating to Zekram Bael's battles during the old world; the red was not the light colour I had expected to see, like it had been cut from a ruby, while the black supposed to be a liquid-like one as if someone would find from light reflecting off of crude oil.

No. Looking at the dark scabby colour of the red that reminded me of wounds that had clotted and were no longer bleeding, and the black as previously described was not one that would expect a glossy sort of colour, but rather one that just sucked all the colours from the room until there was nothing but a greyscale gloom in the room.

It was not a majestic as it was depicted. It was ghastly to witness. It was the true weapon of a harbinger of death and destruction.

Magdaran held it in his palm a while, but he didn't look like he enjoyed holding such power within his grasp. He looked quite disgusted with it, but his expression reflected more fear than hate towards it, but none the less he allowed it free reign against his brother.

Sairaorg did nothing but stand there as the fury of red and black came in his direction. He moved not an inch nor a muscle, except for the ones in his face that pulled into a powerful grin.

He didn't sidestep, nor did he duck. He refused to even turn his back and run from the attack, but took it head on. The hereditary spell that once brought angles to their knees in defeat and monsters to the ground without their bodies, and Sairaorg did nothing but stand and brace for the attack.

Nothing but a smile. And a small movement of his right arm.

That was when we noticed the golden glow encased on his right hand, as he brought it to the red-black chaos, and punched a hole straight through the attack.

Though his brother was still a much considerable weaker user of the hereditary ability of the Bael clan, for Sairaorg to literally break the spell by punching a whole in it suddenly shattered the idea that the magic was unbeatable. The {Power of Destruction}, which sliced the sea dragon Lotan in half over five thousand years ago, was smashed and destroyed before it could even land.

Riana's eye instead lit up seeing the older devil suddenly engulfed in a bright hueing light all over his entire being. If I was perfectly honest, I think Issei would have drooled over seeing someone being able to perfect a technique that mirrored his . . . "super sayin-" no wait, "super saiyan" power-ups that he grew up watching as human.

He also wouldn't have forgiven me for making such a rookie mistake on its name after he went into such lengths explaining how much he liked the show when he was still human.

"Oh! He's on fire!"

The whole family excluding her twin brother and I laughed at her expression of disbelief. It was my father who was the first to correct her on her easily mistakable assumption of what the elder Bael was attempting to unleash.

"My sweet granddaughter. It is not fire that is surrounding young Sairaorg."

Riana was not convinced however.

"Hmm? But it's moving like fire, and it's yellowish like fire, so why is it not fire?"

With that kind of logic, my father had a tough time trying to counter her argument, but there was no easy way to win with a child's limited logic that seems to be hard to disprove nor disclaim.

"Touki!"

Rayzem however knew how to handle his two offspring much easier than either one of our parents or brothers could. It preferred the blunt approach, since his two children would inevitably argue the logic unless they were given another entirely new option opened and introduced to them.

However, this only defused one probable and sparked a new one.

"Tocky?"

"Papa said Tokey, Nana."

"He did not, Rara."

"Did too."

"Did not!"

While the twins continued to argue over the pronunciation of a single word, the rest of the family, save for my elder brother and his wife trying to quell the children's conflict, the rest of us returned to watching Sairaorg build up his Touki.

Mgadaran in a panic attempted to launch several weaker spells from his palms in an attempt to scare, maybe even defuse his elder brother's build-up of strength, only to see his multiplicity gamble be thwarted and effortlessly rebound off of the gold coloured arura that was slowly gathering.

To see this you needed to not have eye lids because a blink and you would have missed the sudden evaporation of Sairaorg from his side of the field, and his reapparition right in front of his brother, still glowing gold, but that was the end of the match once the sudden gust of wind finally settled and the dust was dropped from the air.

A slam in the stomach, and the second son of the Bael clan had lost all consciousness. It was so quick and so unexpected that the moment was frozen for a good five second before the end result became clear for all who bore witness to see.

With the seconds counted out, Magdaran's face fell first, followed by his head which sank forward with his arms and legs becoming limp also until his entire body seemed to be resting on his half-brother's right hand. The elder brothers slowly pulled it away, showing how much wind had been knocked out of his opponent by how his body sank and spread in a line as he stepped back and retrieved his arm.

He never let him hit the ground though, instead opting to lower him slowly like he was lowering him to bed. The younger brother, who was exhausted by fatigue and by a serious injury to his stomach was removed from the field by a teleportation circle quickly after.

["Magdaran Bael has been resigned. The winner is Sairaorg Bael, and thus this concludes the match!"]

Instead of cheers or booing, there was just the quiet of the arena. No one spoke nor did they make their breathing audible. The sight of the supposedly weak Sairaorg not only completely evade the supposedly indestructible {Power of Destruction}

"The strong survive and the weak must lay under foot! That is the way it has always been from the beginning of our race. Had it not been for Majoou Lilith, we all would have died before our race had even began."

He suddenly spoke to the ears of all the noble devils of the Underworld. No one had teleported him from the arena, and so he just stood there and spoke for the entire Underworld to hear him.

"But the original Maou were not the strong. They were the weak, as were the first devils. Against the might of Jehovah and his angels, we were the weak and they were the strong. But, then we got stronger. Not because it was indebted to us, but because they were willingly to put their lives on the line to attain the strength necessary to overcome the strong who oppressed them. They were the weak, but they became the devils. They became the strong. But, I have looked around and it seems that this fact has been forgotten by many of you hear;

Kings, Princes, Dukes, Marquees, Counts, Earls, Barons, Knights. Had this been three hundred years ago, I would have included Maou in that order, but that is no longer the case. The successors of the Old Maou were no longer the strong, and yet they continued to flaunt their influence by keeping us in a war that would have ultimately killed us. Our new Maou proved that they were no longer the strong, and thus they could not lead us. But even their ascension has not stopped the others from ranking themselves by title rather than true strength. Strength must be earned not inherited. Power must be learned not indebted. There must be a change, and it must happen soon.

There is only one solution then; the weak must become the strong, and the strong must prove they have the right to remain strong. Those who do not earn their strength should not flaunt it for their benefits. Only those who work for their strength deserve to wield it. They know what the price it asks for. They know how the weak struggle under their oppressors.

I am right here. I was the weak, but I have become the strong. The weak can become the strong. The strong can no longer sit idly by content with their positions. If they cannot pull their weight, they must work hard to earn it, or step aside and let those better suited rise underfoot and take their place!"

I don't remember quite what happened next after his declaration; it was an eruption, both of praise and of fear from everyone who was present, but I could not make such an accurate decision on my own feelings towards the matter at hand;

Though his words meant well judging from where he was coming from, what he was suggesting was a dismantling and re-establishing of the entire

It was a promise that one day, the weak shall rule over the strong; those who were not born with clan abilities, those who were looked down upon for being of lower nobility, and those who were not considered true devils due to human heritage.

For many who would become witnesses to this historic moment in devil history, it was a symbol of hope.

The End

---

"After he made such a statement, we knew that this was not going to be good for either faction. It was not that he wasn't wring for voicing his opinion to the public, but . . . he didn't seem to take in what the consequences of such actions would have led to."

It was true what she was saying; though the public recognition that the role of heir had been transferred back to Sairaorg, who had been considered an embarrassment to the Bael Clan due to his impotence in magic, and more specifically his inability to use the hereditary {Power of Destruction}, it all had the opposite effect. Sairaorg's demonstration and declaration had actually been a bad result for the New Maou Faction.

As the successor to the Bael Clan, who were heading the Old King's Faction, Sairaorg's words were deciphered as the future prospects of their faction, and thus while his views were contradictory to the ideals that his fore bearer and family's current allies persisted, it drew in the old houses that had gone extinct or were on the verge to, with many young devils already beginning to show interest in allying with the new Bael heir.

At the age of twenty now, Sairaorg had already recruited the likes of Kuisha Abaddon as his Queen, Beruka Furcas as his Knight, and Gandoma Balam as his Rook, all pure-blooded, and was now even looking to offer his membership to devils who were part of the new allying extinct clans; Bune, Crocell, Botis, Sabnock, Vepar, Raim, and Marchosias. All of them had started being drawn to this new prospect that they may get their chance under Sairaorg's ambition.

Thinking about the idea of gaining pieces reminded me of the day that Ravel acquired hers. Though I was not there for the ceremony in front of the public of devils which would have been impossible to hide Ddraig among the many new and more powerful eyes who would have instantly been drawn to the sudden inclusion of a dragosn aura that was still at this point irremovable or even cover-upable.

The pieces exchange had actually also occurred on the day of Ravel's acquisition of her own Evil Pieces, and I returned back to the household for the single day for the very purpose being transferred over. I remember the ceremony being a lot quieter and more private than my initial reincarnation process, with only Ravel, Lady Phenex and I present for it.

A simple circle had been drawn on the floor in magic and the eight evil pieces that Ravel had been gifted upon her ascension to traditional adulthood were placed at her end, whilst I stood opposite in front of Lady Phenex as the two of them inserted their magic into the circle. Ravel started glowing with the orange of the Phenex clan as did her eight Pawns lying in front of her, while from behind, Lady Phenex started glowing in Andrealphus blue, which then resonated into me and my eight Pawns inside my chest.

Sparky and his electric current were visible like an x-ray, as were the seven candle flames of the remaining pieces, though I think a few of them started making sparks rather than flickers, but it could have been the angle I was looking.

I remember the distinct feeling when Ravel's piece started changing from orange to blue, and then vice versa occurred for me as the aura of Lady Rozalva changed and became Ravel's. The calm soothingness of the blue eventually faded out and replaced itself with a more vibrant, stronger flame inside my chest as it was swallowed in the orange. After the minute had been over, the colours faded out and from that point on, I was officially Ravel's Pawn. I will never forge-

"So you crashed?

"What?"

Having been brought from my thoughts abruptly, I was suddenly brought back to our earlier conversation when I had accidentally diverted my story unto the issue of the new Bael clan heir after asking about it to Ravel. She on the other hand had not gotten preoccupied with other talks and attempted to resume our previous discussion.

"You said that you crashed. What happened after that?"

But . . . I did not want to move on any further with my story past that point which only made it awkward when Ravel persisted me to do just that. If she wanted to, she could order me as her King, but Ravel never truly wanted an absolute master and servant relationship between us, which i should consider myself lucky to have from her.

"Oh, that. Well, a lot of stuff happened. I mean, it's not really that important what happened afterwards."

"No please. I would really like to know."

I could never argue with her when she pulled her wide eyes on me. Especially not now when she is also propping up her b-

". . . eh, . . . oh alright. I-If you insist: *gulp*"

---

Life 5 - Forest of Familiars

*THRASH*DON*DON*SCRAAAAAAAPPP*SPLASH*

I landed head first into a tree, and down it came with a cry of "timber", had there been anyone around to see such a thing. Then, as I felt the drag force throw me through the thick and shrubbery, I finally landed in the water and my fall came to an end.

The first thing I did of course was swim to the surface, because indeed while I had been falling, I had yet to deactivate my {Boosted Gear} whilst I was plummeting, so when it finally woke up, I did get at least one or two boosts of energy before I collided with ground level.

["{Reset!}"]

I was lucky enough to have clawed my way to shore so to speak before my Sacred Gear decided to cancel out on me. I should have to thank Ddraig sometime, since he would have better control of these kind of functions than I had.

I kept myself anchored before passing out by digging in my claws on my left hand into the ground. There was no current in this small lake, but why take chances.

. . .

. . .

. . .

["{Boost!}"]

I awoke as the surge of energy brought me back to the world of the living . . .

. . . In the Underworld I know, pardon my pun.

"Arhch-ch-ch-ch."

I first dragged my legs out of the water, having left them to wrinkle for ten seconds in the lake before I had the strength to pull my entire body out. After my {Boosted Gear} naturally deactivated, having reached its limits for a while, the first thing I noticed was not that I was wet or filthy from brushing against the mud at the waterbed. No, I was covered in salt.

I started to feel quite stiff in the places that had begun to dry, and then I felt uncomfortable moving my facial muscles, which prompted me to touch my face, I which a thin layer of white salt deposit had fallen from my forehead.

The biggest shock was not that I was now head to toe in salt after drying myself, which meant I now was covered with a whitish hue even on my skin, but that there shouldn't be anywhere you could get saltwater in the Underworld. Especially not in the Forest of Familiars which was off limits from any interference or excavation, so dumping salt into a lake was an impossibility also.

I leaned back down into the water and took a sample upon my ringer, which I tasted on my tongue. It wasn't a familiar taste, but I was certain that this was seawater, which only expanded the mystery of this lake's occurrence;

Naturally the Underworld was all one big landmass since the ocean did not exist this far below ground. The only reason for lakes and rivers forming occurred from the naturally aquifer waterfalls that poured through the rocks from the surface and down from high up.

Naturally, most of it formed clouds that covered the upper quarter of the space in this realm due to the higher temperatures down here, and that in turn forms the heated onsens that the overworld enjoys. But again, none of this explained why there was a seawater lake that had no such fall or any other sort of visible water source feeding into it.

It was also very cold in comparison to most lakes I had been in, which was now completely flipping over my head.

"Well, I can't keep investigating this. I need to-"

I was stopped from words when the lake started bubbling. It wasn't that it was being heated like a hot tub, but there was a small area that starting to release bubbles.

"What under eart-"

*SPLOSH*

A large column of water erupted from the lake, and then a shadow blocked the artificial sun from my vision. Looking up, I saw a giant fish leaping over my head. Due to the lighting, it was hard to tell how big it was till it started falling closer.

"Waaah!"

After a girlish shrill entered my eardrums, I suddenly found myself unable to move from my spot. So, I was unable to avoid the imminent collision.

""Umpf!""

I landed right on my back, and I was not expecting what had suddenly fell on top of me;

Instead of grey fish scales, what landed on me was flesh. Light peach coloured flesh that could only belong to a human or a demi-human species. Locks of untidy sea green hair were in sight, . . .

*Boing*

And I had the chest of a woman currently rubbing my face. With my hands currently trapped, I had no chance of stopping my nose from bleeding.

I really wish that this hadn't happened at such a time.

Deep pinkish eyes suddenly came into view, like pearls being released from two clams. The woman started shifting herself off of men, but didn't seem to notice me.

I heard something slap the ground in front of me, and I was unmistakable in my observation.

'Fish tail?'

Yes, I was looking to her lower half, and instead of legs it was a fish's tail. She was most definitely a mermaid. Though I found it odd since mermaids were usually depicted to be the other way round, but this was clearly not the case with this one. Almost like it was matching her eyes, it too was a shade of pink, but had a much stronger salmon pink colour.

"Ouch-ch-ch. I need to look where I'm going."

The mermaid rubbed her head with her webbed hands. It was only when she was sitting upright did she realise that she was on top of someone. Someone being me, bloodied in the face for reason I do not need to remind you.

"Oh dear. I am so sorry, sir. Are you alright?"

I was lucky she was the naive kind of person, and that I was already looking in pretty bad shape before I had her fall on top of me. Any normal girl would have beaten me even more bloodily after realising that she had been rubbing her . . . assets in my face.

"Don't worry about it. You are the first person who tried to kill me today."

"Someone is- . . . wait? You understand me?"

I looked at her in confusion to her question.

"Hmm. Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

It was stupid thinking back at it now, but my Evil Pieces were automatically translating at a rate I couldn't comprehend after finally settling in. This mermaid was probably speaking a foreign language and I wouldn't even notice after becoming so accustomed to this new hearing of mine.

I didn't necessarily need to explain that to her however, as the thought of being able to communicate with someone made her really happy.

"I never expected anyone to know Adunaic. This is great!"

I had no idea what this Adunaic was, but I was more shocked to hear that there were others who could speak it. Actually, I was more shocked that my Evil Pieces were allowing me to speak a language I had no knowledge of. I doubted anyone else in the Underworld knew what this language was either.

Having gotten herself off of me, I noticed that she was not naked as I presumed; I do not know where she could have gotten this kind of clothing since it was clearly a bikini top or something of that form of shape. If I looked down far enough, she was also wearing a swim-skirt over her lower half, which made me question whether it was necessary for her to cover herself like that.

Wait, I shouldn't have been asking that.

But I had to ask her the obvious question.

"Why were you leaping out of the water like that?"

It was a simple question to ask, and I was also curious as to where she came from; I didn't think the water was that deep that she could have gotten here by natural mean. Plus, if she knew where this water came from, then it would have satisfied my early curiosity.

The expression from her face changed from the concerned expression she was showing towards my wounds to one that reflected a distaste for what she had been previously exposed to.

"There was a scary person, with a very large ugly face; jagged teeth, bulbing eyes and an antenna hanging over his forehead."

So she was running from someone. Well, that at least was plausible enough for her to have acted rashly as she had by springing free from the lake.

For some reason, the first person who came to mind with that description was Gragg Forneus, but I found it hard to believe that he was that obsessed with a mermaid that he would chase her underwater with a harpoon.

I was wrong through. He was. He even wore an eye-patch and had a hook from what she told me, so he had really gotten into his role.

I feared for the future of his clan with his kind of behaviour, not that he had a decent personality to begin with from I knew of him from personal observations.

"I was swimming as far away from him as I could get, but he continued after me even after I dived deep underwater. I remember that I was hiding in one of the underwater caves, and then I followed the tides that lead into Mariana Trench."

Though I knew little about the oceans, I was aware that the deepest part of the Pacific Ocean was called by that name. I think that it was deeper below sea level than Mount Everest was higher above sea level. All these measurements just went over head though since geography was never a particular interest of mine, but I was curious just how far down the Underworld was compared in depth to this Mariana Trench was.

If this mermaid had been able to reach the Underworld by a passage that connected a cave in the ocean to this salt water lake here in the forest, then this may have a future importance. It wasn't something that I could think of on the top of my head, but this coincidence and chance seemed too random to not have a sense of meaning to it.

"I don't know what led me here, but I remember . . . I don't know how to describe it; it was like an unusually strong source of energy. I don't quite understand it, but I felt so easily drawn towards it that I just kept on diving. And then, instead of diving further, I followed it through a gap in the rocks in Challengers Deep until it was suddenly above. I broke through the water, and that's when I found you."

'A strong energy, huh?'

My first thought immediately went onward towards my ability to finally achieve Balance Breaker may have been that strong energy that she was talking about, but surely it couldn't be that coincidental could it?

But looking around this Forest, the only other person who would possess such a strong aura would be the Dragon Queen trying to kill me.

"AAAaaaAAArrrRRrrRrrrrgggHHHhH!"

Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.

I really should had jinxed myself then, but at the sound of her pained and infuriated roar, I felt the urgent need to run.

"What was that?"

"A dragon, and she is not happy."

I didn't even think about what I was doing next until I was already running. I hadn't thought clearly until our path that cut through the forest ended up at another lake, only this one was freshwater, and had a river running into it, and also out of it.

I said our, because I didn't think before I acted and picked up the mermaid with me as I ran. Through the treeline, the bushes, the grass, the branches, and even over the many scattered rocks that lay about, I carried her in my arms. Bridal carry, I should mention.

Fireman's hold would have been much easier for me in terms of mobility, but as if you could have expected me to carry a girl like that throughout the forest. I can say from experience that it is not comfortable riding with someone's shoulder digging into your gut.

Whether it was because of the loud noises that were spooking the woodland, or because the length of my arms, but she kept her face buried into my pectorals the entire time I was running.

'Was her temperature always this hot?'

I had no time to question my own observations when I found myself with no path left to advance to. Sure I could go into the water, but I had no way of telling how deep it was. I looked left and found no way except around it across the jagged rocks. I looked right, but there was some particularly shady looking brambles and rotting wood that didn't at all look like a safe way to step across to.

Flying wasn't even a reliable option, no matter how much I might have willed it. With my wing still damaged from my earlier fight, and no guarantee I could get my Balance Breaker out so soon. Not to mention I was also with a passenger who I couldn't very well abandon on my conscience in such a dishonourable manner.

So, I could have always gone back and tried to find a new route-

"Where Are You? Ddraig! I'll Rip You In Shreds!"

. . . Or not.

Without a moment's hesitation, I leapt for the water and buried both our heads beneath the surface, until we were deep below the world above us.

I don't know why I thought that diving would immediately hide us from the presence of the only dragon I know who manipulates water. The many wounds on my body started stinging as the water made contact with them, but compared to the injuries Bova and the other dragons had inflicted me before, all was but minor flesh wounds and not enough pain to actually hinder me.

I couldn't see her from where I was, but I could only

The mermaid no longer needed me to carry her around since the water was her domain so she kept herself buoyant on her own. Though she had some sort of confliction across her face that I never did understand.

The problem came after two minutes, maybe less than that, when I felt an ache in my lungs. That sudden thought then spread into my throat and then behind my mouth and nose as the thought of breathing returned to my natural processes.

But I couldn't go up for air. That was the problem. I knew that I couldn't lest face the wrath of Tiamat again. I had no guarantee I could reach Balance Breaker again so soon, nor did I know if I could muster the strength to beat her on the ground or near the water especially.

I could only hide, but now I was losing that option quicker than I needed it to by my own volition.

'Ddraig. Can I {boost} my lungs to help me hold my breath for longer?"

['I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my Sacred Gear can perform miracles, but not the physically impossible. Had you {boosted} before you held your breath, then it may have worked, but your body can only take in as much air. Devil's aren't so much better than humans when it comes to the water, so.']

Great. I had no prospects for lasting any longer.

'Then I guess we're done for; if I stay down here, I'll drown. If I go back up, I'm toast. Either way it does not end well for me.'

('Kind sir, are you ok?')

'Hmm?'

A second voice was in my head. But, I didn't know where.

('You seem to be talking to yourself, is everything alright with you?')

I looked over the mermaid swimming in front of me, as he came in closer to my face. Though her mouth never opened, her expressions were matching the mood of the voice speaking to me.

'Wait, you can hear my thoughts?'

['Of course she can, Partner; {Undersea Telepathy} is a common ability among mermaids. I say telepathy, but all it is sending vibrations through the water to project your thoughts.']

'Then how do I hear her and she hears me?'

['You're a devil now, you affinity to sounds increased, and your ability to project magic also increased following your training. Not to mention, you surpassed {Balance Breaker}, so your own power already pushes the boundaries of the universe.']

There was still too much that I didn't know about my Scared Gear at this time, but I realised that by breaking my natural limits, I had opened a new door to greater heights now. With Ddraig's conclusions being the only satisfaction in my mind, I chose to simply acknowledge that the dragon knew more about the prison designed to encase him than I did.

*BLUB*

But that didn't solve my air problems as I accidentally let some out from my nose. I answered the mermaid as clearly as I could, without trying to worry her, but I pinched my nose just to hold open a little longer.

'I'm sorry to worry you. It's just I'm running out of breath and it's far too dangerous to-'

I didn't get to say anymore as my mind suddenly went black when a pair of lips suddenly caught my own. The shock of it made me lose my train of thought, and I even forgot I was trying to hang on to breath when I stopped pinching my nostrils.

I am not kidding when I am telling you this; a mermaid wrapped her lips around mine.

Was it kissing? It didn't feel like a kiss. I'm not experienced enough to define what a kiss is like, but I know just from what I have observed that there is usually a process of sucking, but she was more like feeding me through her mouth.

Does pushing her tongue in also count though?

Too many questions, but that is not the importance of this here.

Once she let go, I no longer needed to gasp for air. I don't know how she did it, but after the . . . kiss, I no longer felt like I needed air despite having been forced to exhale all that I had during the process.

('There. Now you should be able to stay here a little longer.')

'U-um. Th-thank you. But . . . where did you . . . ? How?'

('I'm still partially humanoid in appearance, so I do have lungs.')

'Bu-but . . .?'

('I'm also part fish, so I have a swim bladder full of air to keep me buoyant in the water. So, you don't have to worry about me drowning for your sake. I have gills too, so it will replenish in time.')

Though it was hard seeing it, her gills were located around the lower half of her rib cage. I had enough trouble not covering them up with how close she nested between my arms. If I wasn't careful, I would be suffocating her.

Because this was going to be a problem from my end, I had to try and resolve this with her.

'I'm sorry to ask, but is it possible to-'

('I'm sorry, but I can't.')

'I-it's not that I d-d-don't mind you clinging, it-it's just that-'

('No, I-I mean I really can't; I used up the air in my swim bladder, so I'll end up sinking if I let go.')

Though I felt embarrassed with her still clinging to me so tightly, I couldn't very well deny her my aid for something so crucial. And besides, from the shade of black below us, there would be no guarantee how deep this water really was. She could get stuck down there for all that was possible.

Or worse, something may live down there. I didn't even want to think about that though.

I waited for an extra minute, before Ddraig sent me a sign that it was safe to swim again.

['Coast is clear, Partner. Best go back up now before she decides to come back.']

'Thanks, Ddraig. Let's go back up then before I really do drown.'

I won't bore you too long with what happened next, but three important events occurred after that:

The first was both of us swimming back to the surface, with her still clinging tightly around my neck from the front. Though she couldn't stay buoyant, she was of great help reaching above water quicker thanks to her natural amphibious physiology. She hid her face the entire time we were swimming upwards.

Second, was that I had to hoist her out of the water since I couldn't stay in too much longer, and she still needed to regain buoyancy before diving back in. She was surprisingly light despite having a large tail as she did. After a few minutes of sitting, she informed me she had ample air replenished in her swim bladder, before deciding to splash me with water as she dived straight in without warning.

And the third, was that it was her decision that we should continue our separate ways.

Understandably I was skeptical to her claims that she would be okay with herself, since she was not a native to the Underworld, nor did she have any intentions of going back to the ocean where she originated from.

"Are you sure you can make it by yourself?"

She nodded, with her head barely above the surface, so I didn't exactly know how deep it was.

"As long as there's water, I'll be fine staying here."

"But what about the ocean, and the other people who could speak your language."

"I never fit in with them, because I was always so different."

It made me feel sad seeing her express how outcasted she felt, but she was quick to resume to her more cheerful self when she realised how downtrodden this conversation was making me feel.

"May I know your name, kind sir. Before I leave, I would at least like to know that."

"Issei. Hyoudou Issei, but . . . you can call me Ise if that makes it any better. May I ask for your name?"

She paused for a moment, but she looked like she wanted to open her mouth before that. I was unsure why she had done so, but she was compliant regardless of her reasons for stalling her answer.

"Lily. I'll let you be the only one to call me Lily, kind sir."

After giving me her name, I gave Lily a bit of what I knew about the waters around here, and how a few of the rivers would flow into neighbouring noble territories, so she should preferably try to avoid the ones still owned. I didn't know where we were, but I was certain that either the former Murmur Kaim, or Vepar territory was to the West of the Forest, but I told her for certain that staying her was not preferable since many young devils find familiars here.

As the started to allow the current to pull herself away, she then said something I would never forget about her. But, I should have seen what she was going to say when she played with her lips as if to signify a "quiet secret" signal.

"I should also say, that was my first ever kiss."

I of course got flustered at the mere mention of that statement, which only made her laugh.

"W-w-w-w-w- . . . "

"Here, catch!"

Out of the water, her right hand threw something at me. I managed to catch it, but I ended up soaking my left foot in the water as I leaned forward to reach within range. Lily found it funny as I fumbled a bit to bet out of the water, with the mud trying to drag the rest of my body in with me.

I opened my hand and looked upon the smoothest white and oval shaped stone I had ever seen. It wasn't a flat stone either. No. It was a polygon with the dimensions that could have made it interchangeable with an egg.

I think you can see where this is going.

"What's this?"

"Something as a memento. Think of me when you look at it. Ok, Ise."

That girl was seriously aggressive in her flirting, waggling her finger and winking to her left side as she did.

"I'll be sure never to forget you, Ise. Or that kiss."

She dived before I could react, and then she was just gone. I was left there in the Forest of Familiars with nothing but the injuries I wore, the burnt, scratched and stain clothes I had draped over me, and a small round white stone clutched in my right hand given to me by Lily.

And of course, I had Ddraig's comments to keep me company before I would be rescued from here.

['Hahahahah-hahah. You lady-killer.']

'Shut up, perverted dragon!'

The End

---

After concluding my story, the area we were both currently occupying started feel a little warmer than usual. Though the top floor was notorious for being the coldest floor above ground, the humidity at this moment was that of sitting huddled by an open fire.

"Ravel?"

"Hhhhmmhmhmmmmmhmmmmhmmhmmmm."

There was a reason I didn't want to tell the story, especially in front of Ravel who was now pouting and puffing out her cheeks this they were sorely red. I didn't understand at the time whether this was her deliberately overreacting or not, but the fire behind her eyes looked real in hindsight, so I know that she was really not pleased with what she heard. Plus this heat was no joking manner.

"Are you alright?"

It was a stupid question to be asking her since the her lack of composure was a clear give away. She was angry, and I knew exactly why that was; while it had been an action that had saved my life potentially, it was unmistakably a kiss. And the way I described the entire encounter only made it worse in how much detail I was able to recount in comparison to certain events before where I either gloss over or make excuses for not remembering quite a clearly.

She huffed for a while and didn't speak, which made me feel very bad inside. I don't know how long it was that we were just silently sitting there. Though she was angry with me, she made no effort to simply walk away from this. I just looked to my feet and waited to hear what she was going to do next, if anything.

I remembered return home with that same stone still in my pocket after a couple days in which I needed some recovery magic for a while after scrapping with Tiamat and the several layers of forest I unmistakably destroyed in the process of falling. ravel had visited me as often in a day as she could, often using her free periods during study sessions to sit by my bedside until my injuries were healed up.

That small stone sat prompted on my bedside, until one day it suddenly cracked and out came a small little feathered and scaled creature no bigger than a chick from what was really an egg. Based on the physiology of the little creature, it was determined to be a Cockatrice, which was not a creature one could find in their garden as Zatouji, the [Familiar Master], assured me when he was brought round to determine the baby's species. The result of a frog sitting on a chicken's egg or so he said, but it sounded too bizarre to be real until I remembered that I had a dragon living in my arm and chess pieces belonging to a devil inside my chest.

As the little golden and green bird-dragon was only a baby it had none of it's born abilities like petrify people into stone with a single look, but the little fellow grew attacked to me after deciding that biting me wasn't at all too tasty, which allowed me to take him as my familiar. On his name, I went for "Karuka" from the katakana form of "Calcatrix", an alternate name for his species.

I think he is a he, but I don't exactly know. But, I do still remember Lily when I see him, since she was the one who initially picked him up.

"Mistletoe."

I lifted my head up as I found myself looking at her again. She looked a little angry still, and her face was still flushed, but I prematurely assumed it was because she was still angry or hot, or possibly both. It wasn't. It was mistletoe.

"Huh? Mistletoe?"

I looked to where her finger was pointing, and low and behold, there was mistletoe right above our heads. Having been sitting her for several hours now, I found myself scratching myself why there was mistletoe there and that I had no idea it was even here to begin with. I thought back to the previous years and I never once recalled seeing any mistletoe hanging there before. In fact, this part of the household was usually off limits to guests, so it was ever that highly decorated, and a plant that grows exclusively in the overworld alone was worth quite a bit down here.

I too then started to realise just why Ravel was red in the face still, as I started contracting the same reaction from realizing the implications this mean, especially during these times. It wasn't another tradition that was related to Christmas, nor was it that commonly celebrated for the winter's mass down here, but it was just something people adopted as an excuse that has sort of intergrated with contemporary culture. It was undeniable that both of us were so enfixed with the idea that neither one of us could back down without it looking bad on our persons.

Besides . . . it was not like I didn't want to . . . ki-k, you know.

"Yes, it's mistletoe" she replied, now looking straight into my eyes. I tried to keep my attention to her eyes as well, but i was feeling a sudden draw towards her lips instead, which started getting me internally confused, but left my external posture unmoving and unshowing of this.

I thought of it like the perception magic seal placed on Ddraig to keep people from finding out about him prematurely; now that I was thinking about the prospect of kissing her, I was suddenly becoming more aware of her and less hesitant to distract myself away from them.

I kept thinking of a great many things that i was now being caught to attention towards; her lips looking very plump and pinkish, wondering if they might taste of something sweet like raspberries if I went in towards them. Whether I really could start reaching out and touching her cheeks, possibly brushing her hair over her ear, and possibly brushing my fingers through the many strands the made up her signature ringlets on either side of her head, maybe have enough to delicately ensnare my wrist in those golden locks.

I was also noticing that rather than being rather smaller than me with only a years difference between us, that it was more a delicate figure, and that the tininess of her statue was attributing to a doll-like figure and that I would rather like to pick her up and hold her tightly in my arms. I had hugged her before, but something about the kind of hug I was imagining was different, like it wasn't something I wanted to reward her with, but something I would rather enjoy more, but wouldn't want to let her go from.

Nine heartbeats started running a little too wild in my chest, with only one of them belonging solely to me. The other eight were obvious reactions to my emotions as was their job, but the synchronicity between all of them only made the feeling that more intense and real.

"S-s- . . . So you know what we have to do right?"

"U-Uh-Um. Y-Yes, the . . . kissing.

Though Ravel and I both spoke, neither of us made a move past looking at each other, and it would have been plainly obvious to outside observation that this was something that was making us both embarrassed.

'[Take the initiative. You're the man here, Partner]'

Ddraig's voice echoed through my head, but he promised not to interfere any further than that. But, he was right. I should have been the one to initiate this, since it was part of the tradition or at least I believed it was so.

I shuffled slightly forward, which made Ravel jump slightly, but she then leaned back to her previous stance, while I started to slowly move forward, but then as I reached in to the point that I was about to press my hand unto her thigh that I snatched it back and pulled back a little.

It was so stupid, but that the sudden touch of her dress I started getting overloaded with so many thoughts running across my vision that I felt the urge to yield and pull back before I could clear away the anxiety that had invaded my common sense.

"You were fine kissing a mermaid, but not me. Right?"

"I-i-i-i-i- . . . I . . ."

"It's because you don't want to, right?"

I felt like I was suddenly going to lose her with those words. The retreat had been a costly one and it looked as if I would get no recovery from this which allowed the ice to overrun my emotions. But . . .

"N-n-no. I- . . . Ravel."

She then reached forward and cuffed both my cheeks, which caught my speaking pattern and forced me to silence before I spoke her name. Her face was a strawberry now, but she never averted her eyes from me. I watched as they turned from attack to shock, then from hesitation, to overcoming her thoughts to a renewed offensive. Her flashing sapphire eyes then started to draw in closer as she spoke sense to me.

"Then . . . it should matter too much if it's just a quick one. I mean, I'd hate to break traditions."

"U-u, w-e-well ok then."

After confirming my own approval, we drew our faces in till our noses were only delicately pressing against each other. I could taste her breath at this distance, how suspiciously sweet the fragrance of dragon apples on her breath mixed in with her natural aromas had put me at ease enough that I was able to slowly twist around my head so that our lips could finally meet.

And then, we touched.

. . .

. . .

. . .

. . . Then, we parted.

In the history of kisses, this would not have even made the ranking of a decent kiss which was to be expected for our first one. With only a simple touch of lips and nothing further till be pulled back, it barely qualified.

But what I felt from our joining was real.

That amourous feeling that suddenly sparked alight was real while I was awkwardly staring into her jeweled eyes, that too was real, and even while we barely even sucked each others lips, that warm feeling was real and I was comforted by it. And when I finally decided that we had to pull away, the massaging warmth was drained as quickly as I had gained it which also asserted to me that what had happened was definitely real and that all feelings drawn towards it were not fictitious either.

But, then I said nothing. And we both knew it was suddenly becoming awkward after that.

Finally, after Maou knows how long, Ravel finally prompted her dismissal from our company.

"I need to rejoin the party soon. It will look suspicious if I don't eventually join the other High-class devils soon enough."

I looked up only briefly, but the flash of memory made by gaze feel heavier than previously.

"Oh. O-o-o-ok. Then, I'll stay here then."

There was a few more seconds of awkward temporal pause before I started to catch sight of her feet leaving my field of vision.

"This will probably be the last time tonight so; good night, Ise."

I didn't answer for quite a bit, until she started to move further and further away. Only then could I muster some small courage to finally give her a real departing reply.

"Good night, Rav- . . . Rei-chan."

She stopped for a moment when I called out to her. She only turned her head sideways in my direction, but didn't look towards me. Her eyes covered from a shadow from her forehead prevented me from seeing the shade of blue her emotions were reflecting out of them.

"You baka."

Though I heard her reply, there was no sense of malice behind her words, nor was their even an ounce of playfulness, which made feel concerned. But I did nothing, but let her continue to walk further and further away from my sights, till she was no longer in front of me.

I was alone

'[You still need to learn a lot more about women, Partner]'

Well, I was never totally alone, not when I always had Ddraig to talk to.

I knew straight away from his answer that he was right as I turned my head towards the potted plant where I hid our glasses from before.

'Is that so, Ddraig? I guess being separated for too long has made me uselessly unprepared for this.'

As I held both glasses in either of my hands, I stopped and poured the contents of both glasses into mine. It wasn't hard to tell which was mine gathered that ravel had struggled swallowing down hers compared to me, who could stomach the juice much more naturally due to overexposure. I could have used this excuse and drank from her glass, but that was neither appropriate, nor was it a sane thing to even juggle alone, so of course I didn't.

That urge to retake that feeling we shared between us. I wanted to recreate it, even if it had been an indirect kiss, I thought it may had still been possible. That was until my better senses reminded me of social etiquette and consequences of such a secret action bubbling inside of my conscience. I would never be able to look at her the same had I done that.

'[I doubt you would have noticed even if you hadn't accepted Tannin's tutelage. Hell, I think you would have been even more dense.]'

'With you whispering in my ear, I doubt that could have gotten worse.'

'[Will you do anything?]'

'. . .'

I spoke nothing, except swallowed down a sip of dragon apple juice. It had gotten warmer in our absence, but it was still the same bitter taste I was accustomed to as I lifted myself up fully with both feet on the windowsill as well as my seat. I even pressed my face against the cold, fogged glass as I watched as the world moved on without me.

'[You know that leaving it like this will only make it worse later on.]'

I nodded.

'I know.'

'[And yet you will do nothing.]'

Again, I nodded with another sip down my throat to boot.

'I've known for quite a while now. Even if I- . . . there will always be the issue of blood. I'm still her servant, and I will remain at her side forever like we promised. Devil society is far more critical of these kind of issues than for humans.'

'[Nobility from blood purity. It's not such an old story. Though the human world lack the concept of higher technology and magic from being dispossessed, morality has exceeded centuries of development. You never promised each other your hearts.]'

I took another sip, and flickered though my memories to my reincarnation ceremony to Ddraig's claim.

'No. We never did, did we.'

'[I have made many mistakes in my life, Partner. I have met many people over the course of history. But the story is always the same; people always have the same desires and goals in life. No matter how different, it is forever the same.]'

'Even you, Ddraig?'

'[Especially for me, Partner.]'

'I guess I can always rely on that.'

'[Many before have relied on me. You would do well to learn from their experiences through me.]'

I downed the remaining contents from both glasses, before setting them both down to the floor to avoid me knocking them off or having to shit around in order to hide them again. I smiled a little, then returned to my solemn expression as I saw the fireworks being prompted across the grounds to celebrate the mark of the midnight hour across the entire Underworld and the official end of winter's mass.

'Will do.'

---

Life DX - Legend of the Dragons

["I was born in 1115 BCE, from an egg that was brought to the lands of Britannia by the Men of Troy. I was but a mere prize they had plucked from the Nile, but it wasn't until I reached Ancient Kamber's Land that I hatched from my many centuries of slumber and took to making my home in the lands now known as Wales. The primitive beings who settled the land eventually named me as "Y Ddraig Goch", and I was later known as [Ddraig Cymraeg] which later became [Welsh Dragon].

Before the Men of Rome reached the White Isles shores, there was a white creature that made its first appearance. The one the Romano-Germanic peoples were calling "Albion Gwiber", or the [Vanishing Dragon] due to his white hue that allowed him to camouflage his pale hide against the clouds above before swooping upon the unsuspecting prey.

Our strengths were equally matched, and yet we fought to kill the other. After generations, it no longer mattered that we were no longer fighting over territory as our struggle shifted over many distant lands, even took time out of our battle to fight other foes for a short while. I remember exchanging blows the the Crime Force Dragon, Grendel during my time in Scandinavia. There was even a time with Tiamut, but I dare not recount further than that. Then, our duel became a topic of concern for the leaders of the Three Factions, who put aside their own war to destroy the both of us.

Though are efforts were valiant, neither of us were in any shape to fight the might of Three principal factions at the same time. I remember destroying many angels, fallen and devils before I myself met a similar fate. Tzadkiel in particular was an interesting one; he attempted to freeze me, only to be met by deadly Blaze. The goose was cooked to well-done. Aldemyer Pruflas, I remember too, tried to face Albion alone. Now all that remains is a scorch mark where a puddle of acid had melted him where he fell. So many dead, it was great little war we had.

Eventually though, we were both destroyed by the combined might of Jehovah from above, and Attar from beneath, with many subordinates cutting our escape till we were no longer of this plain of existence. Fate, either kind or cruel, placed our remnants at the mercy of the [God of Angels] who placed our souls into these Sacred Gears. That was in 100 BCE, the birth year of the Roman Dictator known as Caesar.

I awoke to find myself, but not myself. I felt weightless, yet I was anchored. Though I could see all, I was blind. When I finally awoke from the darkness, I was in the eyes of a small child. A girl actually. Junia. Life wasn't interesting, but I should have appreciated the time we had together instead of wallowing in my self-pity;

I started speaking to her in her dream. Scared the child half to death, thinking a demon had invaded her mind. I never corrected her, only persisting in my right to challenge God and the Satans again. The Augur called my voice the words of their God of War, Mars who demanded war upon the Pontic and against their King Mithridates VI. The stupidity in mankind. Though she never fully awoken me into the physical realm, I regret never having had a proper conversation with her even once. She was killed in the fire that broke out in the Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in 83 BCE. She was 16 years old.

I awoke to many of hosts after her; some were long-lived, some were short. Some fought, other struggled and ran. I remember each and every one of their names. Even those who barely lived are always on my mind.

My first true partner was Aurelius Ambrosius, King of the Britons. In the wars against the usurper Vortigern, and then later against his son Vortimer. With the doubling power that was bestowed upon him by my Sacred Gear, his prowess in the field of battle was asserted time and time again.

And yet, his wars were far from over.

In the newly established Kingdom of Kent, King Hengist of the Saxons had made his home here after fighting Vortigern's wars for him, before he betrayed the usurper also. But when my host and the Saxon King finally met in battle in 469 CE, a true rivalry was rekindled.

["Welsh Dragon"]

["Vanishing Dragon"]

Upon the back of the Saxon King were Albion's Light Wings, the same ones Hengist had used time and time again to weaken his enemies. When both met in open field, our powers clashed for the first in five hundred years. The continued battled between our two kings eventually allowed us to reach Balance Breaker for the first time in our lifetimes, until King Hengist was killed in 480 CE, and not by my gauntlet.

Aurelius' reputation preceded him, even after he eventually perished a few years after his rival. Though both sides achieved glory in their lifetimes, it was the [Red Dragon of the Britons] who emerged victorious in the wars of the isles. He never truly spoke to me as equals, but acknowledged the strength I bestowed to him. His brother, Eutherius took kingship after him, even adopting the dragon as their family's new symbol, thus creating the House of the Dragon, or the Pendragons as it was better known.

I had many great and powerful hosts, like my 45th: Elsha Blodhfallidh (Bloodfallen) of Gottland, the [Strongest Female Red Dragon Emperor], better known as the [Bloodied Empress of Red]. In 1206 CE, she flew from Iceland to Greenland in a single day, then wrestled and killed a kraken in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. She also killed the [White Dragon Emperor] Jaime del Castello over the dominions of Ireland, only to die at the hands of Sir William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke and his {True Longinus}.

And also, my 54th host; Belzard Glazdlyazmeya (Serpent's Eye), who was by far the [Strongest Male Red Dragon Emperor]. He alone killed two [White Dragon Emperors] in his lifetime, known as the [Vanisher's Slayer] and [Red Blizzard Dragon Emperor], but perhaps his best moniker was [Velikiyzmey Okeburi] (The Great Serpent in the Eye of the Storm). He fought many in the winters of Siberia, and even into deepest Turkestan, slaying both [White Dragon Emperors] Dimitri Ivanovich and Sullah ad-Din Tuanqing in 1352 and 1370 CE. He eventually died at the hands of Parvin ibn-Umar, one of the generals serving under Tamerlane, and a wielder of {Dimension Lost}.

But, I truly became a Longinus when my soul was bonded with my 39th host, Marcupo. Born in the Philippine Islands in 1141 CE, he was the only [Red Dragon Emperor] to have ever killed a god.

The islands were home to seven moon deities, one of whom was Mayari, daughter of the [King of the Gods] Bathala by a mortal woman. Naturally, they were fond of each other growing up, until the village head responded by burning their houses, Marcupo arose to the skies in full armour to punish them, by responding in kind.

And when Mayari, now risen as a goddess, lost an eye during a bet with her half-brother, Apolaki the [Sun God], Marcupo punched him for what he had done until he agreed to share dominion of the land with his sister in atonement.

And finally, when a rival moon goddess, Haliya attempted to usurp Mayari's role due to the loss of one of her eyes, Marcupo fought her for twenty eight days. The battle ranged until Haliya was weakened by the dawn of the New Moon, at which Marcupo activated [Juggernaut Drive] and tore her to pieces before he consumed her until the sudden loss of control killed him and his life force died out.

He became known as [Bakunawa], the Moon-eating Dragon, and thus his slaying of Haliya earned my {Boosted Gear} the rank of Longinus. Definitely not the strongest host I ever had, he was one of the more interesting. His children ending up inheriting the title and attempted the same trials he did.

From what information I have managed to salvage from our brief exchanges of words rather than strength, Albion's sacred gear, {Divine Dividing} only became a Longinus in 1521 CE, when his host Xicotencatl II crushed the Fifth Aztec Sun God, Tonatiuh, which led to the Fall of the Aztec Empire having lost the divine protection of their solar deity.

Now, after two millennia trapped as a spirit, constantly at odds with my lifetime rival, I have found myself with another unusual host; though not the youngest to have ever summoned me early in his life, he is the first to become a devil rather than remain human.

My second Japanese host, Hyoudou Issei, is but a boy still. He is weak now, but has so much potential. And unlike many other who have come and gone before him, he is the first to acknowledge me as a being rather than a tool in so long.

I do not know what the future will hold for my 92nd host, but I will look forward to it as it unveils, as the [Sekiryuutei]."]

The End

---

Having left my Pawn and only real friend in the world to join in the last party of the festival, why was I, Ravel Phenex, crying like this?

"That stupid . . . baka."

My face was shining in the torch light that flanked the walls of every corridor in my home. I continuously used the backs of my sleeves to dab them from my cheeks till they become soaked through, only to find that they were still dripping with tears.

I was not sad because I was leaving Issei to rejoin my family downstairs.

Nor was I crying because I disliked the party.

No. I was in tears because I realised how little time I had left with Issei;

Though we would always be together, it would be as King and Pawn, and that was all that anyone would have expected. In April next year, Issei would be gone again to attend high school in the overworld, so I will not see him again for a long while again. It was similar to him leaving for most of those years with Lord Tannin, but was further away this time, and nor would I be able to get permission to speak to him, let alone visit him in the overworld, wherever he may end up studying.

And even when he visits, he will still have his new duties to his own private studying, his devil work, and more training on top of it, while I still continue with my own education on the side. We will still see little of each other.

And, even when we may attend school together, I will be his kouhai, but by then it will be too late. I would have already finalised my engagement, to whomever my parents have selected for me. I will have lost my chance.

I had an extensive list of possible suitors and had attended a great many interviews with pure-blooded nobles that my parents had selected out of the remaining devils left. That was what I never told Issei. Had I known that this was how things would have turned out, I think I would have been a little more braver when we had the chance. But i couldn't tell him any of this. I couldn't express how much I treasured him and wanted there to be more between us.

I wanted more than just lord and servant.

More than simply being childhood friends.

I wanted . . . more. I wanted him to realise that I wanted there to be more between us.

I wanted him to know . . . to know that I . . . love him.

I sniffled and continued to clean away the wetness across my eyes, but I felt them getting sore from the friction with the fabrics of my dress. I chose this one, because it was similar in colour to the one I wore went I was first in the overworld. That moment when we first met, and when he came into my life and changed it.

I was starting to forget about all the stories, the knights that rescue princesses, starting to reach an age where I would believe that it was too far ion the past and that I could never have it. But he made that declaration to me in his broken dialect when we were still children. It was then that I really believed in him. I felt my heart flutter for the first time, as I was looking up at him in awe. And when Akeno was pressing into his back, I felt so horrid. It was this horrid feeling like jealously when I saw that.

I remember feeling very warm and comforted when he was with me after that day, and every day after that I wanted to feel his hands holding mine, and to never let go. I never knew that it was love then. I only became aware after Grandfather Algernon started teasing me for holding Issei's hand during Ruval's party, which I then needed mother to explain to me what he was talking about.

She said that love was the most natural of addictions; you feel funny taking it, sometimes good and sometimes you think it's bad but you still want it all the same. You hate it when people take it when it's yours, and then you want to hold unto it tighter. It is, also the hardest addiction to let go of, and the wounds it inflicts are never visible but never really fade when you have to forcibly let go of something so wonderful.

And that's what was happening now. I was realising that my withdrawal phase was approaching faster than I wanted it to. And, it was breaking me piece by piece. The worst pain of it was that I was never able to satisfy my ache by telling him. I couldn't tell him, and I couldn't find the right time or the right way to do it. So, I tried to make him realise it without telling him.

I knew he averted his eyes, despite the fact I discreetly made turn of events come about. I knew he would notice what I was doing, stretching my arms above my head, leaning in closer to him, pressing his hand into my breast over my heart. I even made sure that the mistletoe was there above us when the servants were decorating the house, just were we always met every single year so we could have an excuse to kiss.

I must sound like an irresponsible young woman for taking such actions, but I should have realised it was too little to make him realise how serious I was being without acting scandalous. I may be a woman in love, but I cannot allow that to make me forget that I am also a High-class devil and there are certain actions I shouldn't do.

"I should have realised it sooner. He's been smacked around the head too many times that he's become thick-skulled."

I tried to laugh it off by making a small joke about the situation, but it only made the pain even worse in my chest. That kiss we shared. *sniff* It was awkward. It was hot and it was a mess. It was not what I had imagined at all. I wanted it to be more.

But . . . remembering it is enough. Touching my bottom lip and reminiscing about it soothes me a little. This ache feels warmer, but taking my fingers away leaves me cold again.

"I just- . . . I wanted to have this one last chance to be that close with him. Before, . . . we end up losing that."

I wiped my eyes for the quintilliant time, citing how sore my lower eyelids were feeling now, before I straightened my form and proceeded down the stairs.

". . . Please. Notice me, Issei. Some day, before it's too late."

A last tear fell from my face, before I left the top floor behind me that evening, as the fireworks ended the night's events once and for all.

---

Three years behind us,

Three years more to come our way,

As will forever.

You, the lady, coyed

To the notions of marriage

Amidst transgressions,

And I, the dragon

Battlehard and feeding fear

Against trespassers.

---

Omake VIII: So Many People, So Little Time

Alek: (running from off screen, gasping for air) I finally . . . *gasp* . . . made it!

Ravel: (ticked off) You are seriously late!

Issei: (in agreement) Not only did you give us a sweet taste of freedom to not only bring us back here-

Alek: (gobsmacked) I was being nice (quietly) which is unusual for me in this universe. (growing a grey beard) besides: "A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to." (sheds it away quickly)

Issei: (continuing) . . . but you also promised it would be a week later or you would skip this chapter and move on. I mean look at the word count: over 30,000 words! No one wants to read this much in one sitting. It's enough to fill a Light Novel for crying out loud!

Alek: Well I had a plausible excuse for being late-

Ravel: (presenting a letter) Even the reviewers were worried about you. User:darth56 wrote this review scared that you had ended this work prematurely.

Alek: (sighing) You're right, I;m sorry that I didn't update on time, but I had a legitimate reason which corresponds with my IRL, so I ended up delaying it because it was unfinished. Forgive me for that, but it's here now.

Issei: Also, if you leave this work unfinished, how do we get back to our world?

Alek: (pretending nothing happened) Right, on with the party! (puts on his hat)

Issei: (annoyed) . . . Alright, I am just going to say this since no one here will: (shouting) WHY THE HELL ARE WE CELEBRATING!

Alek: Because I already missed celebrating Christmas and New Years with you, so here we are. (pulls a party popper) Happy Celebrations!

Ravel: (pulling the streamers out of her hair) I don't usually resort to language like this, but this is f***ing ridiculous.

Alek: And after I went to the trouble to invite everyone.

Issei: Exactly, you kidnapped us here again-

Alek: I let you go home for the holidays.

Issei: (ignoring him) Not only us, but you decided to abduct my entire peerage for enjoyment as well.

Alek: (looking over to Issei's right towards Asia, Xenovia, and Rossweisse) . . . what's you're point? I sent you a letter.

Ravel: (rolling her eyes) I'm more ticked that this is what you got your readers excited about when you left a cliffhanger two chapters back. It's like you don't think things through anymore.

Asia: (raising her hand) Can someone please tell me what's going on?

Issei: (sighing) I'm so sorry about this Asia. But we're going to be stuck here for the duration of this omake.

Asia: (puzzled) Oh-mah-key?

Ravel: (explaining) It's a short humourous extra bit of fun that authors or creators tend to add at the ends of their work in order to lighten the mood. It's never really considered canon, but it does usually relate to the latest work.

Asia: (eyes spinning) . . . I . . . I don't understand.

Issei: All you need to know is that this jerk here is in control and he will keep us here for his entertainment.

Alek: (insulted) Excuse me? I'll have you know that on the alignment system, I like to think of myself as Lawful Neutral.

Issei: Lawful Evil more like.

Xenovia: (analysing) So, what you are saying is; in this world, he is God?

Ravel: For the most part, yes.

Xenovia: (turns to Alek) So if I wish for you to do something for me while we're here, it will come true?

Alek: (sweatdrop) . . . I'm not a genie.

Xenovia: (questioning further) Hmm, but from I've heard from Kiryuu-san, if you enter a god's personal space, you have to get on your knees in front of them, lean in, and then take them all in for them to do something for you? It's supposedly some sort of unwritten rule. (Issei and Ravel in too much shock to answer that they are white-washed) What?

Alek: (blank) ? ? ?

Asia: (going red and hiding her face) Xenovia! Y-y-you can't say stuff like that! You're Kaichou now!

Xenovia: (realises what Asia means) You're right Asia-shinbuchou! I can't believe I was being so foolish to not think my words carefully. I will do better.

Asia: (shining eyes) As expected of Xenovia; getting right back up. Let God help lead you.

Xenovia: (fist pumping) Yes. Let's make great strides in our future endeavors as the Shinkaichou and Shinbuchou respectively!

Asia and Xenovia: Amen!

Asia: (awkward pause) . . . It's strange not having Irina here with us now.

Xenovia: (nodding) I agree. So let's make up for our self-proclaiming member's absence by pushing on.

Asia: (nodding) Yes. Let's do it.

Xeniovia: (to Alek) I want to apologise for what I said. I am still

Alek: (shaking his finger) There's no need. I don't expect apologies from people, even when they are being brutally honest or just plain trolling me with deliberately insulting comments instead of constructive criticism. (looks to certain reviewers) You know exactly who you are, because everyone can see.

Xenovia: (kneeling) So in penance, I offer my body for you to use it in what ever way you please.

Ravel (sweatdrop) She's clueless to what she originally said.

Issei: (plugged up his nose) Yep, she is still ignorant, even now when she's the new Student Council President

Alek: Hmm . . . ? (nosebleed when the realises what she meant) W-w-well, I didn't mean it like that.

Xenovia: (leans in) Are you sure there's nothing I can do? (presses her chest against him) For the chance of getting a wish granted by a god, I willing to do whatever task you ask of me.

Issei: (gobsmacked as Alek bleeds further) . . . I can't beleve I'm seeing this. So his weakness . . . is Xenovia. He actually has a waifu among the main cast. I'm shocked it wasn't Ravel though.

Ravel: (conjuring a plan) If we cannot defeat Alek-sama with force of words, we now have a secret weapon. (evil laugh) Oh-ho-ho.

Issei: (evil smirk) Yes. Now, we will have our revenge, very soon. Mwua-ha-ha.

Rose: (panicky) Hey! I haven't had any interaction yet. Why did you bother to bring me if this is all you were going to do?

Xenovia: (curious) Perhaps it has to do with popularity that gets you the chance to speak in this section? Ise-kun is very popular and speaks a lot, as does Ravel-san and Asia, but you seem to have the opposite effect, Rossweisse-san.

Alek: (smacking his forehead) This will not end well.

Rose: (bursting into tears) I . . . I'm not popular? Is that true? I-I . . . (runs off screen with her face in her palms)

Alek: (jaw dropped) Aww shit. I'll deal with this, jus-just cut to the reviews! (runs after her)

Ravel: (stunned) Hey don't- . . . (realises it's too late, then sighs) We can't do personal reviews when he leaves like this.

Issei: (thinks for a moment, before psyching himself up) Well then . . . let's just do our best in his absence.

Ravel: (positive) Hai!

Issei: First one is from User:Th3-Dragon-Lord, who . . . (stops and reads the letter) What on earth is "DxIfBad End"-

Alek: (running from far away, then smacks the copy from his hands) Don't look!

Issei: (bewildered) Huh? Why?

Alek: (close up to his face) Dark forces were responsible for it's creation. They say that in the twenty-first dimension, there was demon who wanted to create a world where the hero is unsuccessful, and the villain does things so unspeakably cruel to the heroines that it has haunted this very issue. Though so who ever reads it cannot unread it. It is a fate worse than death. (catches his breath) But the art style is good quality. (runs off again)

Ravel: (confused) What was that about? (snatches the letter) 'give this to Issue if he doesn't behave, okay?' I'd hate to think what kind of evils are in these pages to scare Issei.

Issei: (scared now) I-i-i-i-i think we should move on. (laughing nerviously) User:Dragon_Rider_66 has a lot of questions for Alek-sama, so we'll leave that for when he next speaks. (puts the review down and picks another one) . . . (stares angrily at the letter)

Asia: (concerned) Ise-san?

Issei: (crinkling the page) It's nothing, Asia. I just have a little issue with User:ferodile after he sent me that USB. (pulls a half forced smile) It's ok fero, I forgive you.

Xenovia: (pressing her forehead to Issei's) I think you need to lay down, darling. (looking around) Does Irina's baby making room connect with this dimension from anywhere?

Ravel: (flustered at the thought) I-I-I think we should end it here, sicne we have no more questions. Um, thank you to everyone who sentba review, and even to those who actually enjoyed last chapter in comparison to the last few, which is a good morale boost.(to Xenovia and Asia) Ok you two. Finish this up for us.

Xenovia: (nodding) Alright. Thank you everyone who is still reading this, and I think I can say Alek-sama appreciates your patronage.

Asia: (smiling) And next week will definitely be Ise-san's first year at Kuoh Academy, but the Omake will be with Alek-sama and Rose-san since they ran out abruptly.

Xenovia and Asia: (together) Until next time, everyone. Bye-bye!

Xenovia: (questioning) Does twelve days still count as one week, or do you round that to two weeks?

Asia: (thinking) I think that it depends on who you ask. I don't know if it's still considered two weeks if it isn't fourteen days, so i can't really give an answer to that.

Ravel: (sighing) Hopefully this is just a joke and it won't take more than a week to publish the next chapter.

Asia: (looking around) Um, how do we leave?

Issei: (teary) You don't.

---

Thank you for reading, and review at your nearest convenience.

Special thanks to 'LordGhostStriker', 'Dragon Rider 66', 'On Soaring Wings', 'FateBurn', 'AcclaimingTR', 'Th3-Dragon-Lord', 'RedSS', 'UCCMaster', 'ferodile', '1337Pwny', 'DragonShot21', 'DrunkenFistNinja', 'Guest' (1), 'IseeiShiva', 'RuinHuntr','Prodigal Knight', 'jjjj', 'HelpfulNudge', 'darth56', and Redripper666' for their reviews, I really do appreciate it.

Well, until next time everyone. Bye!

. . . Xenovia, I love you. And Rossweisse, it will be ok.