Prologue:
[Location: !?Error!?]
— !?Error!? —
A strange figure can be seen sitting on a wooden withered bench, gazing out into the infinite void that surrounds it.
"So... He genuinely believes that he'll one day hold the ability to bend time? Hahaha... I have a strong feeling about this one, maybe I'll give him a visit..."
ゴゴゴゴ
"I don't have long now anyway, I'll have to make my decision soon before it's too late." The strange entity remarks.
Without warning the figure is engulfed in a bright light leaving the bench behind in the void.
[Location: Underworld - Astaroth Territory: Astaroth Mansion]
A boy can be seen looking out of his window into the endless expanse that is the underworld, looking at the various building and wildlife that surrounds his home. The lad, 15 years old has short scruffy fern green hair and light blue coloured eyes. He has a chiselled face and body that a normal boy his age could only dream of having, this being the product of some kind of physical training.
"Ah... Such a blissful day." The boy comments, continuing to gaze at the scenery.
This boy is Issei Astaroth, the son of Ajuka Beelzebub. Issei's mother, Miki Astaroth died during childbirth leaving Issei without a mother and Ajuka widowed. Growing up, Issei only had his father as a parental figure to look up to due to his mother's unfortunate passing. As a consequence, Issei's personality is heavily influenced by his father, even having a more creative side to his contributions to the Underworld. Although Ajuka was his only parental figure, he did have other adults in his life whom he could look up to as well, these being Sirzechs Lucifer, Serafall Leviathan, Falbium Asmodeus, Grayfia Lucifuge and even Azazel.
The aforementioned people aren't just those Issei look up to they are also the only ones who know of his existence. Due to political reasons and not wanting Issei to get kidnapped Issei's existence was kept a secret from the public, and the only ones who knew of his existence were the Four Great Satans, various maids and butlers who work in the Astaroth Mansion who were sworn to secrecy, Grayfia Lucifuge who found out by wandering where Sirzechs Lucifer was wandering off to and Azazel who found out due to detecting Issei's various creations and wanting to find there creator.
Issei wasn't allowed to leave the Astaroth Mansion due to him being what Sirzechs called a Classified Being. Apart from the maids and butlers of the mansion, Issei didn't see many people. This was due to Ajuka and the rest of the Four Great Satans being constantly busy with their duties for the majority of the day, and when they did have the time he could only spend time with his father as the other three were with their own families. Apart from that he also got visits from Grayfia when she wasn't busy or spending time with Sirzechs, she is probably the closest thing Issei has to a mother as she visits more often than the Four Great Satans.
As previously mentioned Azazel found Issei due to his creative projects. You see Issei like his father is incredibly talented when it comes to creating or designing things. Due to this when Issei is done with things such as his studies, he focuses on creating and designing things that he wants or just thinks would be cool. Some of Issei's creations are what you could call interesting, some of his creations could range from a weird idea he had like creating a banana stand so that you could nicely present your bananas, or his creations could be a magical artefact that could change the outcome of any war. Azazel, being someone who also has a creative mind, mainly specialising in creating his Sacred Gears made a device that detects powerful magical artefacts so that he could obtain them to research them. During his hunt for magical artefacts, Azazel picked up that a lot of artefacts were located in the Astaroth Territory, in Devil Territory.
[Location: Underworld - Astaroth Territory: Four years ago]
Not wanting to cause a war by bargaining into Devil Territory, he contacted Sirzechs and Ajuka asking to purchase some of the artefacts that were located in Astaroth Territory. The two devils were confused by this as there weren't any high-class magical artefacts stored in Astaroth Territory.
"We would be perfectly fine with doing business with you Azazel, but we don't have any magical artefacts stored in this territory," Sirzechs responds receiving a puzzled expression from Azazel.
At this current time, no one knows about Issei's new hobby.
'They know I wouldn't use it for war against them... What are they hiding?' Azazel thinks to himself.
"Well Sirzechs, Auka I'll be honest with you, I have an artefact that I created that tells me where other artefacts are and... There are about fifty located in Astaroth Territory, so you're rather hiding something you don't want to sell to the Fallen Angels which is fair enough, or you have a vault in your territory that you don't know about," Azazel replies taking out the previously mentioned locating artefact and showing them the readings on it.
The two devils bewildered by this information stare at each other for a moment before Sirzechs begins to speak.
"We are thankful for this information that you have provided us with Azazel... Does that device tell us any other information, perhaps a more precise location?"
"Ah... I'm glad you asked my little Devil friend. The device can tell us the exact location of the magical artefacts, but it comes at a price. The price of letting me come with you as the readings for the artefacts are some of the strongest I've ever seen." Azazel answers receiving a look of concern from Ajuka.
"Okay... First, never call me 'my little Devil' again and second... Yeah sure, I don't mind but don't go wandering off, we don't want Devils seeing a Fallen Angel flying about all willy-nilly. You've proven to us that you just want to do your weird Sacred Gear stuff and are not interested in war or conflict, so I'll trust you with this, Azazel." Sirzechs responds nonchalantly but says the last part in a more serious tone.
"Hey, my offer about the peace treaty will always be there... We just need to know how Michael and the rest of the Four Great Seraphs feel about peace. Maybe one... One day it will happen." Azazel says whilst giving a sad smile.
"we'll just have to see what the future has installed for us... Now, let's get going." Sirzechs replies getting flashbacks of a time that was more... Unpleasant than this period.
With that two Devils followed Azazel as he gestured to follow, reading the location of the artefacts on the device. After some time the trio end up outside of the Astaroth Mansion.
— Astaroth Mansion —
With the three supernatural beings standing outside of the mansion the two Devils start getting nervous, knowing who lies within.
"Hmm... Are sure this is the correct place Azazel?" Ajuka asks wanting him to say 'no'.
"Yep, this is it! Getting all kinds of reading from this place." Azazel answers getting a look of worry from Ajuka and Sirzechs.
"Why the long faces?" Azazel continues raising a brow.
"Azazel, whatever you may see in this building must stay between us. Understood?" Ajuka answers with a serious tone, one not heard very often.
"I understand... You have my word." Azazel responds gaining a nod from both Devils before they approached the door, unlocking it, then opening it.
The sound of the door opening could be heard echoing throughout the mansion, the sound bouncing off of every wall and floor. Maids and butlers come rushing to the door in a panic, clearly showing that guests were not expected, not for a while at least.
"Welcome home, Master Beelzebub. Welcome back, Lord Lucifer. Welcome in Master's and Lord's guest." The maids and butlers say in unison after lining up by the entrance and gesturing into the mansion.
After the three entered running could be heard from a higher floor, frantically trying to reach its intended destination.
"Ah... I see he's heard us come in." Ajuka comments to Sirzechs, getting a look of confusion from Azazel.
"It appears so," Sirzechs adds crossing his arms.
The running can now be heard closer, heading towards them as its origin starts racing down an out-of-view staircase.
Abruptly rushing around the corner of a wall a small boy with short fern-green hair can be seen sprinting towards the new arrivals.
"Father! Uncle Zechs! You've come to visit?! You didn't tell me you'd be finishing early today." The excited boy says.
"No Issei, we haven't finished early we've just stopped by to check something out. Also, we're here on official duties so you must refer to us properly remember." Ajuka comments with a stern manner but has a smile on his face having to get to see his son earlier than usual.
"Ah oh umm... My apologies Lord Beelzebub and Lord Lucifer and... Umm... Lord Bloke." Issei replies awkwardly caught off guard by them still being on duty and now only just noticing an unfamiliar face.
Facepalming at Issei's poor attempt at being formal, Ajuka speaks again. "Oh, Issei... Anyway, this Lord Bloke you've stupidly named is Azazel the Governor General of the Fallen Angels and Grigori."
"W.. Wait... By the way, you first spoke to Ajuka and the way he looks, It looks like this kid could be a mini version of you Ajuka. How funny is that?" Azazel says half-jokingly getting a blank expression from the three.
"W... What?" Azazel continues nervously.
"Azazel, this is my eleven-year-old son, Issei Astaroth," Ajuka announces, sighing at Azazel's stupidity.
Finally understanding Azazel starts to speak. "Oh, so he's why you were so nervous about me being here, how fascinating. Nice to meet you, Issei. As your father just said I'm Azazel."
"Anyway Issei, as I said we are here on official duties, so why don't you go play in your room for a bit and once we're done Sirzechs will play with you," Ajuka says whilst patting Issei on the head.
"Okay! I'll see you all later, bye-bye." Issei announces as he starts making his way up a flight of stairs supposedly going to his room.
'Ah... So that's why the two of you were so nervous about me being here. To think that Ajuka had a kid... A kind-hearted one at that. Once this conflict is over maybe I'll give it ago... Well that's if I can find someone that is.' Azazel thinks to himself, a small smile appearing on his face.
Snapping Azazel out of thought Sirzechs starts to speak. "Now that that's out the way, Azazel if you would please guide us in the way of the artefact readings?"
"Oh umm... Yeah, and away we go." Azazel responds, holding the magical device out and childishly imitating it dragging himself along. Receiving looks of amusement from the other two.
A few moments later the three find themselves going up a flight of stairs and pondering for a moment before going up another flight of stairs. Arriving at the top of the stairs now on the third floor they continue to follow Azazel, inching closer and closer to their destination.
"Well this seems to be the place," Azazel announces cheerfully as they arrive at a wooden door at the end of a hallway.
"Are you sure...?" Ajuka asks wearing a concerned expression, similar to the one from earlier.
"Yeah, the device is saying that beyond this door are about fifty artefacts," Azazel responds, tapping his foot in anticipation.
Ajuka who is now extremely worried walks towards the door and begins to slowly open it. As the door starts to open a noticeable scrambling sound can be heard within the room. Opening the door more, Ajuka finds that the movement of the door is halted by something on the other side.
"Ah... Sorry, I'll move that. I'll just be one moment." A familiar childlike voice calls out.
After a few moments of what sounded like the movement of heavy objects, the door slowly opened from the inside. Suddenly a sweaty Issei's head that now has a look of worry on it as he's realized who was trying to get in.
"Dad? I thought you were busy." The child questions tilting his head.
"Ah well, we were... May we come in?" The man in question responds.
"It's a bit messy but... Sure, Dad I mean Lord Beelzebub." Issei replies nervously.
Fully opening the door Ajuka and the other two supernatural beings are shown the interior of the room that Issei is in. The room looks like it's supposed to be a child's bedroom, but has multiple large machines in it accompanied by many large boxes by them. The room is also littered with many different types of tools, which is complementing the colossal about of shelves that house strange objects. One could even say they look like gadgets.
"Again... Ah sorry that it's a bit messy." The boy apologizes sheepishly.
Issei looking at the three new arrivals is now confused by the look of complete shock and disbelief on their faces.
"W... What's wrong?" Issei continues, getting continuously more nervous, questioning the three.
"U... Umm Issei... How did you obtain these... Artefacts?" Sirzechs questions, getting straight to the point.
"Ohh... Umm well, I made them... Lord Sirzechs." Issei explains.
"You what?!" The three exclaim in bewilderment.
"What do you mean you made the?!" Ajuka questions the boy.
"Umm well... I got bored so I took some of the old magic artefacts and materials and well... Made new ones." Issei responds.
"..." In return the three were speechless, leaving Issei just standing there trying to understand their amazement as they take some time to calm down.
After some time everyone had calmed down and they took some time to talk to Issei about his new hobbies. The artefacts that Issei had constructed from old magical artefacts and magical scrap material were all transported to a better location, where they were catalogued and research was done on them.
The discovery of Issei's new hobby gave way to those around his realizing his intelligence and potential. Within the mansion, a research lab was constructed for Issei to continue his hobby and even collaborate with Azazel on a few projects.
[Location: Underworld - Astaroth Territory: Astaroth Mansion, (Present Day)]
Returning his attention to his bedroom fifteen-year-old Issei hears a knocking coming on his door.
"You may enter." The boy announces.
With the door slowly opening a figure can be seen entering the room.
"Ah my sweet boy, how you've grown up so fast." Ajuka questions as he reminisces about Issei as a child.
"I'm only fifteen farther, I'm not even halfway through my teenage years." Issei retorts.
"I know but... Time has just flown by so fast. You'll be eighteen before I know it." Ajuka responds putting his hand over his heart.
"Anyway, I hope you are ready for its almost time for your big debut!" Ajuka reminds Issei in excitement.
"I know I know, the Underworld will finely learn of my existence today," Issei replies, a small smile forming on his face at the thought of being able to see and meet new people.
"Meet me in the lobby when you're ready to leave, today should be fun!" Ajuka says failing to hold back his excitement.
With Ajuka leaving Issei he is left there to make his final preparations before the time comes.
"I suppose it's time then... Once I get this out of the way I shall start my journey... My journey to obtain 'Temporal Stasis'."
"Now... I better get going." Issei announces as he puts on a jacket and picks up a briefcase.
To Be Continued...
Hi, thanks for reading the prologue of my new story. I do apologize for any punctuation or spelling mistakes, I do check multiple times in every chapter for them but everyone makes mistakes.
If you have any questions or concerns about the story please let me know in the reviews. This segment will appear in every chapter and will work as a place for me to thank readers and reply to reviews.
I'm not sure what the release schedule will be as I do have another ongoing story as well. I'll probably try average 4-6k words a chapter so that you have a decent amount to read every chapter.
Again thanks for reading and I'll hopefully see you in chapter one.