Hello, and welcome to the next chapter!
DocSlendy; Hehe, I'm glad that it did!
hellspam; Thanks, glad you liked it! Indeed, they have quite the interesting relationship between each other. Don't worry about Issei, things are gonna get better from hereon out, I promise. Exactly, it was to show, despite sometimes petty squabbling, they really do know how to work together, with or without Zenki, and when with Zenki, they are quite the strong team. That's how Issei is, he believes Zenki has already achieved his dream, and he sort of has, though that wasn't really Zenki's idea of when he did build his peerage. Yeah, those would be quite interesting to see, wouldn't it? Valerie and Akeno will be having, quite the few verbal back and forth. That would be quite funny to see!
TitanEmperor; I know right now, Mittelt does seem quite the odd one out, but when it comes to what I have planned for her, it is going to be quite, a character development. But thank you! I'm overjoyed that you liked it!
Harem Master123; Thank you! Ophis is quite funny with her quirks. He indeed does, but it isn't like she'd really be able to hurt him, physically or mentally, or heck, even emotionally. Raynare's conflict is going to be something that allows her to grow as a character, and what I have set up for her later. Cool suggestions!
JLOC; Aah, it's always nice to hear that, so thank you very much!
BlueBlade87; First of all, thanks! As for that, well, you'd have to ask him, it does seem like suicide, doesn't it? That's good, I hope you continue doing great stories! Hmmm, I guess whichever you could write for the most would be the best one for you, right?
ShadowKing042; Sorry, Mittelt is there to stay. Kunou, she'll be, around Ravel's size I'd say. Le Fay is gonna be in his peerage, though, since I've got ideas for future ideas with her there.
Blue Eyes Pendulum Dragon; Indeed, he's catching up with Ophis, and she's being a little sneaky in her eyes. Zenki's got a few Loli's, huh. But also some developed girls too, a good mixture I'd say. She pretty much does, yeah. I'm glad that you do, he cares for each and everyone of them, and I personally think that even if he wasn't, after everything he's done for the individual girls, he's gonna be quite the girl attractor, the Dragon aspect just helps XD. Eeh, I don't know how Zenki would give Issei that. You're right there, he does see Azazel as something like that. He wouldn't come out and say it, since it would be disrespectful, but he does share things in common with Azazel, and does look up to him as a fellow scientist, and maybe even as a father figure.
Legend3881; Yeah, Ravel is his childhood friend. He's known her practically all of his life, which will come into play later on.
RangerElk76; Rise of him indeed! Yandere Ophis...she was yandere? Huh, I didn't think she was. Raynare, in this, has been going through quite a lot, and it is building to a good payoff later down in the story. It is going to be fun to do, I can say that for certain. Don't worry about Ravel, she's going to get her own back, very soon.
ShadowUzumaki55; I'm glad that you're glad! It indeed was shown Ophis is being influenced...by something. I suppose in a small way, it is, but it has been four years, so most can presume that Zenki has done things for Ophis that haven't even been stated, just yet. Mittelt really is going to be quite the loose canon isn't she? But she'll come around, eventually. Well...I think that at least one of them is going to be happy. Yup, that's apart of an upcoming arc I have planned. Valerie is growing as a character, showing that despite her somewhat timid at times nature, she is a fiery girl, and doesn't take crap from anyone.
Guest 1; Poor Mittelt indeed, but she'll get better. Ophis is quite innocent, and just wants to be in a sexual manner with Zenki, even if she doesn't really understand what that means, she soon will learn. Mehehehe, yeah, who's he going to meet there I wonder~? She might already know about it, you never know with Vali. That would be pretty good, thanks for the suggestion! Here's next time lol.
Silver crow; Yeah, he did become quite a good character from the bastard he began with, that's why I like him as a character, and how he changed, yet still kept the core reason why I love him as a character. 18 indeed is a very attractive woman, I'd be with her anyway. Yeah, maybe because it might be difficult or something? Or they don't like the idea of it, or something. And yeah, I don't think she needs a mate either, though she might be having kids with Zenki at the conclusion of this. Those kids would be the strongest children he would have, considering the parents. Yup, I do know indeed haha! Thanks for the recommendation, I will have to give it a look over. They were holding back either due to being cautious, being bored like Kuroka, or being curious about what was going on. While that would've been funny, and I did consider something like that, I thought that it would show that unlike Rias, Zenki genuinely does understand where Issei is coming from, and can sympathize with his plight. He does have thoughts about them from time to time. Yeah, maybe in a future fic she could be a Bishop, or even a few Pawn's, or mutated Pawn or something. Yeah, that does sound cool! Here's the next update! Actually, I was going for the gross type factor, to show that Ophis isn't really great with being appropriate. In my mind at least, it just seemed like something Ophis would do. That's the thing, isn't it? The snake is going to be relevant later on. Whether it is power, tracking snake, or something else entirely, don't forget about the snake, it is going to be something important, even if it didn't seem like it.
Gabriel790; Thank you!
dragonsayianblue; I'm happy you liked it! Yeah, poor Ravel, but she's going to get her own back, sooner or later. Ophis and Zenki have quite the fun interactions, and quite weird as well. She better not mess up, or Azazel might be unhappy with her. Yup, they'll be going to Kyoto very soon. It very well could be, but don't forget that he's going for something else as well. Kyoto really is going to be quite the fun and exciting time. Yeah, it kinda would make sense, at least they'd be especially mentioned.
Skull Flame; Ophis time! She came and wanted to get it on, then left! More on her later on. Mittelt is quite the unique girl, and might be argumentative girl at first, but in time, she'll come into her own, and know what she needs to do. Vali is quite possessive, but that's because she really does care for him, as it will be shown in future chapters. Exactly, that's why Zenki said what he said, not to be mean, but to keep Issei safe. Thanks, glad you liked them, I put in quite a bit of effort on my battle scenes, as do I on all of my scenes. Raynare and Kalawarner care a little bit, Dohnaseek really doesn't at all. Hmmm, someone else did...but who is it? It will be revealed...within a few lines of this chapter. And thank you!
nipunkhan823; Adding Mittelt to the peerage huh, could be interesting, I guess. I'll have to give it a think over, maybe I'll have a little poll about it.
ClyxicRyse; Thanks, glad you liked it. Yeah, I still am, that should be out soon.
Guest 2; Yeah, that does sound great to me! Thanks for the suggestions! I like the idea of him going out alone, and not relying on others like the Devils, or anything, and will become his own strong powerful person.
TexasTank; No worries, she's going to be shown quite soon, and it is going to be, interesting.
Neonlight01; Yeah, Ophis and Zenki are quite close with one another. They have a unique bond. Well, Ophis is quite the unique person, and would do something like that. It's Koneko's special power that can sense anything that has touched the lap that she owns. Raynare is going through, quite a few difficult things in her life. Thanks, glad that you liked it! And yeah, it shows Valerie in a different setting, where she is in charge, and shows how capable she really is.
Lightwave; Hehe, well they weren't really broken up anyway. It was just a thing that happened, and Ophis understood, and took him at his word that he'd make it up to her. Well, it is going to do, something. What that something is, will be revealed in the future. Hehe, I'm sure most know who that was, I really didn't disguise it all that well. Vali and her...weird love, it is going to be, something to tell about, isn't it? Yup, that's how it is! Valerie really has come to her own, and can stand beside Zenki as his second in command.
Guest 3; It is all apart of Kuroka's master plan after all~ She'd do that just for the hell of it.
AlphaOmega; He'll notice it, eventually. For now, he will remain clueless. What makes you think it has anything to do with power? It could be something completely different hehe~ That's a very good question, where does Ophis learn these things? It is going to be, quite the fun thing to learn about. That's how Vali rolls, sort of hehe. She really likes that part of his body, huh. Poor Mittelt, she's really going through the ringer, isn't she? Indeed, it is a very well oiled machine, with or without Zenki, though there will be fights in the future with the entire peerage happening. Valerie has quite a few moments coming up where it shows how she is with her Queen duties. I think the answer to that will be revealed, pretty much at the first part of the chapter. I'm glad that you liked it!
Cf96; Thank you!
JamesFreki; Well, thanks for the advice.
Anonymous; I don't really know who that is. I think she is from a mythology, but if she's from an anime series or something, I don't know. Irina is gonna be his Knight, for quite a few reasons I have been thinking of. I'm actually considering Mittelt, maybe having a poll or vote or something about it. Thanks for the suggestions!
ShadeAkami; That's how Ophis rolls, I guess. She's always a little quirky. That, will be revealed at a later time. It could be a little while, or it could be a lot later, but don't forget that scene, it is going to be important later on. Well, all of the fights I write are actually important, whether it is shown right away, or later down the road, but still important none the less, so I wouldn't recommend that, but to each their own. Well, to answer that, it is because if I did it just like that, then I personally would find it just dull, boring. And a fight, can tell a lot about a character that isn't stated in other ways. As it was stated, and shown, Kuroka really wasn't that interested in the fight, and even said to Kalawarner she was bored, and beat her instantly, she just wanted to play around with the Fallen Angel. If she wanted to be really interested in fighting, she could've wiped them out, but Kuroka just didn't really care to do that. Valerie was trying to assess what was going on, why they were attacking, and if they had anything hidden up their sleeves. While I agree with the poison mist, the fact that she didn't expect him right away was what happened, and she had to protect the likes of Asia and Issei, plus he ran away before anything could occur. Also, Kokabiel has been shown to deflect a Rias powered by Issei's boosted gear Power of Destruction, and he said that it was a power of an Ultimate Class, and even said a little bit more would've been a Maou level, that's straight from the LN of vol three. Of course, that could be just shown as Kokabiel just trying to hype himself up for when he just tanks it, with one hand, but he also could've been serious, to a degree, or it could've been an error in translation, though I think it was the same in the anime as well in both sub and dub. So power scaling in DXD is, kinda difficult to pin down some of the time. And to use the scene you talked about. Once Issei gained Balance Breaker, he suddenly cannot be touched by Kuroka who basically had them all on their hands and knees just a little bit before, but later has his armour stripped by people who are said to be Ultimate Class as well. So, I hope that cleared everything up. Hope it didn't come off as me being rude or anything, just stating my own thoughts, and people can agree or disagree with them, it's their right after all.
AndroSid93; Hehe, Ophis really is becoming quite the strange girl, huh. Valerie really is growing as a character, as a leader, as a subleader, and as someone that can stand beside Zenki once he goes into Rating Games for real. Yeah, if everything goes to plan, it should be up every Tuesday, that's what I aim for anyway. Though that chapter will have them heading to Kyoto, not arriving, the chapter after will have them arriving. Yup, here's the next update!
Well, with those lovely reviews out of the way, it is time to start the chapter!
New goals, Zombie's and the learning curve!
"You're all stupid." A cloaked man said to the three Fallen Angels before him, the three of them looking like they were going through something quite difficult. "You think, that you're able to do something like that? I don't think so. You're useless, you couldn't even do your jobs right, and I had to save your lives."
"We're sorry…"
Raynare apologized weakly, only to receive a slap across the face by the cloaked man, making Kalawarner wince, while Dohnaseek looked quite happy with Raynare being hit like she did, but then stopped when he felt the eyes of the man before each of them.
"You're supposed to be the leader of this group, Raynare. But all you've managed to do is nearly get killed, because of your insufferable attitude, your complete disregard for your mission, and your even impending relationship with Hyoudou Issei! Don't you even know what's going on right now you stupid woman!?"
Raynare's eyes went to the ground, feeling like she was going to die from the eyes of the man before her. This person clearly was enthralling, yet disturbingly scary at the same time. Raynare knew that one of two things were going to happen, either she was going to die or live, and right now, it looked like she was going to die.
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that…b-but, I don't have a relationship with Hyoudou. That's all who he is, just someone that I didn't kill…I didn't mean to, I just was conflicted, b-but it won't happen again. I promise for Azazel-sama and-"
"Hah! Azazel! That's rich!" The cloaked man guffawed. "Azazel, has put out a word for your capture, all of you." The three gasped, shocked that Azazel would do that. "That's right, Azazel has heard of what you've done, and he is cross with each and everyone of you. Dohnaseek, Kalawarner, and Raynare, you three are in hot shit, and there's very few ways to get out."
Kalawarner bowed her head to the person before her, trying to control the trembling that was wrecking her body.
"B-But, if Azazel-sama has put out a warrant to our arrest, we won't be able to stay hidden for long. We'll be captured, and then we'll have to surrender our lives to Azazel-sama…maybe after everything that has happened, it would be better if we did do something like that."
Raynare and Dohnaseek couldn't disagree. Right now, they didn't have a choice but to agree.
"S-She's right, Azazel-sama is going to come for us and punish us. We even allowed Mittelt to die for our own…for his own amusement."
Raynare shot her glare towards Dohnaseek, he didn't look interested in the slightest by the way that she looked right now. Though, it didn't matter to Dohnaseek, he was cowering from the figure that was before her.
The cloaked man laughed a little loudly.
"Mittelt isn't dead."
The news, came as a pure shock to all of them, since they believed that Mittelt had been killed by Zenki, or someone else from his peerage, since they couldn't know how to handle something like that right now.
"W-What do you mean…?"
Dohnaseek was in a shocked way, even Raynare and Kalawarner didn't know what was going on right now.
The man continued to laugh at the three Fallen Angels, finding it amusing for what was going on with the people before him.
"Mittelt has been captured by Zenki Astaroth." The news stunned the three. "She has been placed in his custody for the moment. Isn't that funny? She's been captured by the Devils, and who knows what's happening to her right now. She might even be crying right now, and we don't even know what's going on with her. You all left your fellow Fallen Angel to her death, and now she won't ever be able to recover ever again. Sorry, but you've all messed up in a huge way. Can't you even think for a single moment?"
The three Fallen Angels once again felt like shit.
Everything they do, seemed to mess with everyone around them, and they didn't even know what was going to happen with them. They, didn't even know if they were going to be alive for much longer after everything they've done.
However, a single light shined upon them.
"However, there is a way for you to redeem yourself and your actions."
"We can!?"
Kalawarner was the most excited, wanting to be redeemed for their actions.
"Please, we'll do anything! We will do anything to get out of here!"
Raynare pleaded, putting her hands together like she was praying.
Dohnaseek remained silent, but he also wanted to know what was going to happen as well.
Each of them looked very concerned, and hoped that the cloaked man did have the answers for each of them.
"That's right." The cloaked man clapped his hands together. "We've got things that we need to discuss, but remember, the other person you are here to observe?" The three nodded. "Well, Azazel told me personally that if you remove that persons Sacred Gear, then you'll be able to return to the Grigori as hero's."
Light and hope returned to Raynare's, Kalawarner's, and even Dohnaseek's eyes. Each of them were very happy about it right now, they wanted to have fun together with everyone again at the Grigori, and they didn't want to die. That, wasn't something that they wanted to do.
The cloaked man folded his arms, and grinned from ear to ear, though the cloak hid his smile from the others.
"Right now, with Zenki Astaroth being inside of the town, it would be impossible for you three to do this. But, I have knowledge that he'll be leaving in a few days, therefore it is going to give you time to truly get that Sacred Gear from her."
Raynare wasn't sure about it, having mixed feelings. On one hand, she thought about Issei, and what happened during the time they had met one another again, and how she lost her shit again with him, wishing that it didn't happen. Yet, she couldn't even begin to imagine killing someone else for their Sacred Gear, mostly afraid of Zenki Astaroth.
Kalawarner was torn between doing it because she didn't want to die, yet taking someone's life didn't sound like something Azazel would want from them, since they were, in theory, already in trouble for doing what this man wants them to do again. She didn't know how two wrongs, made it alright.
Dohnaseek on the other hand, he was all for it, he didn't see a problem where he wouldn't have to kill these people off. Whoever it was, was just another person, and that didn't matter to him, really, if at all.
"When the time is right, I will contact you. Until then, keep your fucking asses out of this town and stay away from Zenki and the others. They, will destroy you. They went easy on you just before. If they fought truly, and surely, they'd be able to wipe you off the face of the earth. Sorry, but that's how it is. For now, it is time for you to stay low, until I give the orders, is that clear?"
[Yes sir!]
Hearing the agreement from the others, the cloaked man turned away, and began moving slowly towards the door.
"Also, Dohnaseek is now in charge."
Raynare's mind was blown away with such a shocking twist.
"B-But, why is Dohnaseek-"
"Don't make me repeat myself, Raynare! Don't speak out of term again!"
Raynare flinched at the tone, wincing and looked downwards at the ground, nodding her head ever so slightly.
The man didn't even have to turn to know that she obeyed him.
"Good, Raynare. While you're not so bad as a leader, Dohnaseek has more potential. He's strong, charismatic, and has vision. Don't be concerned though, Azazel will still love you if you follow Dohnaseek. Just do this, and Azazel will accept you with open arms again. Isn't that a good thing Raynare?"
"Y-Yes…"
Raynare's submissive tone almost broke her mentally.
She didn't want to be submissive by the second. But right now, she didn't have a choice.
The man continued to walk away, until he was outside of the Church that the Fallen Angels had procured for themselves.
A sadistic grin worked itself onto the mans disgusting face.
"Idiots. If they die or not is little consequence to me. This will be purely amusing, to see the Devils in this town kill the pathetic shit's. God, this is great! If I watch this, then I'm going to be able to enjoy my own life by watching these idiots fall into despair! I'll enjoy watching them bleed to death! Goodbye Raynare, Kalawarner, and Dohnaseek. Enjoy your slow, and painful deaths. I'd just leak the information to Zenki Astaroth, but I want to see a struggle between them and the Devils. If Zenki comes, he'd wipe them out without a trouble. But Rias Gremory or Sona Sitri might have a little bit of a problem with these people."
With those thoughts in his mind, the mans back sprouted ten darkness wings, a Fallen Angel of the highest degree type of wings, spreading them far and wide, almost making them look like everlasting darkness, like the mans evil heart.
Within a certain area of Zenki's house, his peerage were all there, having a training session. Since Zenki thought that at least once a week it would be good if they all trained together, that's what they were doing together right now.
Zenki and Jeanne were fighting together, to train Jeanne's speed up, which was already impressive. Kuroka and Koneko were mediating together, training on their Senjutsu. Ravel and Asia were together with Valerie, talking about various magical stuff.
Zenki and Jeanne usually trained together, as well as Koneko since she was a physical person, but today, Kuroka wanted to help Koneko with her Senjutsu training. Ravel, Asia, and Valerie usually did train together. Since Ravel was a support type fighter, she always is looking for ways to use her Phenex abilities to aid in a fight. Asia, she was also a supporter in a fight, so she worked on a way to use her Twilight Healing abilities from afar, as opposed to being up close so she didn't always have to be in line of an attack. Valerie, she usually tried to gain better control over her Sacred Gear, but it was difficult for her to do so.
And even though it was training, Zenki and the others enjoyed doing it, so they could become stronger, more willing to do it so they would be able to become stronger and be able to protect one another. That's, what they liked doing.
"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Take this!"
Jeanne summoned a flame sword to her hand, and swung it for Zenki within the training room of the house that Zenki and his peerage lived.
Her sword almost made contact with Zenki, but he used a demonic powered barrier, stopping the sword from making contact with him, and because of his power, the sword shattered in her hand, blowing away in the slight breeze.
"I'm not giving up yet Zenki-chan!"
Jeanne stuck both of her hands outwards, and made two holy swords. One was a lightning sword, and the other was a water sword, that both looked quite dangerous to normal Devils. In fact, it looked dangerous to most Devils that would see them.
"That's a pretty bold move Jeanne-tan! But that's okay, come at me!"
Zenki got into a fighting position, his shirt not being there at all.
"Okay! Watery-chan! Lightning-chan! Let's get together, and rock this world my holy babies!"
Jeanne rushed forward with the blades, swinging the watery blade forward, and released a glob of water, enhanced with the power of the Knight aiding it, shooting it off like a bullet. Zenki watched on as Jeanne spun her lightning sword and stuck her lightning sword outwards, releasing a bolt of lightning, which mixed with the water orb heading for Zenki, making a sphere of water and lightning, the pair mixing perfectly, and added with the holy power leaking from the holy sword, made this attack a very strong movement from Jeanne, being pretty intelligent to come from Jeanne.
Zenki watched on as the attack headed for him. While he could take control of the attack, Zenki decided to face it head on, gathering demonic power within his hand. The grade of the demonic power couldn't be beaten by how it swirled around his hand, the strength of the demonic power being higher than usual.
"Hah!"
With a grunt, Zenki released the demonic power, which took the appearance of a green orb. As he sailed through the air, it grew bigger, being drawn out of its power from Zenki's own control over his already impressive demonic power.
"Ku! Powerful!"
Jeanne noted as Zenki's demonic power clashed together with the orb of water and lightning, violently pushing against the other one.
They struggled in the air for a few moments, before cancelling one another out, creating a wall of smoke between Zenki and Jeanne.
"Hah!"
Zenki saw just in time a holy sword had been launched through the smoke, heading straight for his body. Fortunately, he did catch it in time, and moved his head to the side, missing the sword coming for him, only for him to be slightly surprised when Jeanne appeared before him, having her twin blades at the ready to slash down from the right.
"Try this Zenki-chan!"
With a warm smile, Jeanne swung the blades down intending to cut down Zenki…but he made a barrier of demonic power, blocking the swords just in time. With a heavy step on the ground, breaking it apart, Zenki tightened his fist, and threw it at Jeanne's body, breaking through his own barrier.
"Have this Jeanne-tan!"
Jeanne gasped, and went to retract her body, but she couldn't do it in time, so she crossed her blades over her chest. Zenki's fist unfortunately smashed through Jeanne's sword, and hit her in the stomach, Zenki dilaing down the power so he didn't truly hurt her, and punched her, blowing her body away.
"Gwaaah!"
She spat out bile as she skidded across the ground, coming to a stop.
Zenki looked on as Jeanne took in heavy breaths, trying to collect herself.
"Jeanne-tan, do you want to stop now?"
He offered as he stretched his own body, hearing a small cracking from his knuckles. Jeanne looked up towards him, shaking her head resolutely, not wanting to stop the fight now, she wouldn't stop the fight now, she needed to continue onwards.
"I won't stop yet, Zenki-chan!"
Though she was feeling tired, she took to her feet again, and summoned a sword to her hand. The sword gathered around it a dangerous looking wind to it. The sword was a green colour, like Zenki's hair colour, he had to wonder if she used him as an example for what the sword would look like.
"Alright, then. Let's continue."
Seeing how she didn't want to stop, and how ready she was, he didn't deter her for stopping and nodded his head, readying himself with his hands, and his eyes turned to slight slits, Zenki tapping somewhat into his Dragon powers.
Though he has far from mastered them, he had grown to a place where he was able to breathe a certain amount of flames from his mouth, the blue and yellow flames that he could use, but not to the extent that he could if he entered Dragon mode.
"Here we go then!"
Jeanne took her sword, and waved it like a fan, releasing dangerous cutting winds, cutting apart the ground that was below her. Zenki barely could see the winds that was coming for him, so he breathed a little bit out, yellow flames coming from his mouth, the freezing flames at that.
"Freeze!"
He breathed out a gust of yellow flames, and froze the winds that came for him, turning the area before him into a line, many lines, of frozen winds.
Jeanne wasn't deterred though, and rushed forward through the yellow frozen winds, using them as stepping stones, and took her body like a bullet, shooting it off towards Zenki. Her eyes shone brightly as she crossed the distance, swinging down with both of her hands.
"Hah!"
Zenki placed his hand outwards, and made a barrier, blocking the sword. But Jeanne controlled the winds, and made them go above his shield, and like a homing beacon, the wind blast went towards Zenki's body.
"I'll freeze it!"
Zenki looked upwards, and gathered yellow flames in his mouth. Just before the winds were about to touch him, he breathed out a yellow flamed coldness that froze the winds above him, freezing them all the way to her sword.
Jeanne looked as her sword was frozen, gasping at the sight. Knowing she wouldn't be able to use it, she dropped the sword as the ice crept up the sword, towards her hand, discarding it, and put her hand outwards, making a flame sword.
"Burn!"
Jeanne swung heartily for the ice before her, the frozen sword, and smashed it apart with her flames, and carried on towards the barrier that Zenki still had up. The sword clashed with the barrier, which broke upon impact of touching Zenki's barrier, the barrier being reinforced with some if his demonic energies.
"Sorry Jeanne-tan, but I won't be losing now!"
Dropping the barrier, Zenki shot for Jeanne's body with his fist leaked backwards.
Jeanne gasped, and jumped backwards, placing a hand on the ground.
"Bloom!"
With that command, Jeanne made swords spring out of the earth, like flowers blooming, and made them go for Zenki like a barrage of swords.
"I see! That's a good move Jeanne-tan, but I won't lose now!"
Zenki tightened his eyes, and then took in a deep breath. Flames of blue appeared around his mouth, circulating the back of his throat, turning his attention towards the swords that were going towards him.
"N-No Zenki-chan! You can't!"
The girl became a little worried, and saw that Jeanne's swords were blasted away by the blue flames. She watched the sea of flames appearing before her, breaking one after the other of her blades.
"Here!"
Like a bullet, Zenki shot through the flames, and appeared before Jeanne, his fist drawn back.
"N-No! Don't!"
Jeanne gasped, and went to raise her sword in defence, but Zenki's fist went for her face, scaring Jeanne even more…
"Okay, that's the end."
Zenki stopped his fist just before hitting her face, the area behind her being blown away by the speed of his fist, releasing a blast of wind, and broke apart the ground behind her, not touching even Jeanne's body, or face.
Jeanne blinked once or twice, and then her face turned downwards in self pity.
"Grrr! Darn it! I can't even reach it!"
Jeanne complained as she sat on the ground, looking as if she was going to give up.
Zenki walked over towards her, and sat down, facing her.
"You don't need to get so frustrated, you know? It will happen for you."
Jeanne pouted, looking at the ground as her eyes moistened slightly.
"I've been trying for ages now, and I can't even awaken Balance Breaker. Why? Why is that Zenki-chan? Changing is what is supposed to happen, so why can't I become stronger now and be able to awaken that state? I'm ready to become strong already."
Zenki could understand her frustrations, as even he could understand wanting to gain power as fast as he could, even if he did have power now, he worked all his life for his power, not relying on talent, he trained his best, and for someone like Jeanne who does the same, it was clearly frustrating her to the point where she wasn't able to get anything that she wanted.
"Jeanne-tan, attaining new levels of power isn't just going to happen. And Balance Breaker is usually to do with different types of situations. Training can awaken it, but there's also thoughts, and feelings involved. That's how Sacred Gear's grow together with people like yourself. Someone who loves life, I'm sure you'll be able to awaken a truly strong Balance Breaker when the time is right. Until then, don't worry so much about it."
Jeanne knew he was trying to be kind, but she still felt saddened by the fact that she wasn't able to attain Balance Breaker.
"I try my best Zenki-chan, each time. I fight you, and get closer to winning, but each time that I do, the Sacred Gear doesn't respond to my feelings of becoming stronger and wanting to have my Balance Breaker to be known. I want to protect you, as your Knight, and protect Asia-chan, but if I can't reach Balance Breaker, what kind of girl would I be then? I wouldn't even be a Knight, I wouldn't be anything but useless…"
Zenki budged closer to Jeanne, and wrapped his arms around her. As he did, Jeanne smiled childlike, and hugged him back, enjoying the full hugging effect that she was feeling right now from the pair of them.
"Jeanne-tan, there's no rush to it. Everything takes time, and when you need it, Balance Breaker will come. For now though, you're the best Knight that I could hope for. Your speed is amazing, it is vastly superior to most Knights that I know, and I'd argue it is a little faster than Rias-tans Knight. But I can't be sure just yet. Even then, you've got lots of different unique aspects to you that will be able to make it so that you'll gain strength everyday. Your Sacred Gear is getting stronger everyday, it's taking more effort on my part to break apart the swords you made. At first, I could snap them like twigs, but now, I have to put in more and more effort, that's the best thing Jeanne-tan. Sacred Gears grow with the user, and as you grow, so will your Sacred Gear, you'll become amazing together, I promise you. I wouldn't just say it because you're my peerage member. I'm being genuine right now, Jeanne-tan. You're my Knight, and you're amazing. That's all there is too it."
Jeanne's eyes moistened at his loving words, and made her feel like she was going to burst into tears. He knew what to say to her, and that's what she liked about it. That's what she loved about Zenki, how he was always able to make her feel better, no matter how she was feeling.
"Zenki-chan…you think I will attain Balance Breaker in the future?"
The worries from her voice made Zenki be able to connect with her deeper than usual, and gave her a comforting smile.
"With your personality, Jeanne-tan, I'm sure that you're going to attain Balance Breaker sooner or later. That's how it is, Jeanne-tan. I'm sure that you're going to attain one like no other one. Yeah, I can see Jeanne-tan achieving an amazing one."
"Yeah!" Jeanne cheered, regaining some of her usual peppiness. "I'd love to have one like a Dragon or something! Maybe like when Zenki-chan goes into that Dragon huge form of his, I'd love to have something like that!"
"Yeah…something like that would be pretty cool."
He muttered, Jeanne tilting her head to the left.
"Zenki-chan still can't control that form, can he?"
The green haired boy gave a single nod of his head.
"That's right, I can't control it just yet."
He sighed out, wishing that he could, but each time he tried, he wasn't able to stop from losing his mind, mindlessly. He'd always go into a weird rage and wouldn't be able to come out of it. He could go into the form, if he was desperate enough, but controlling it was far beyond him at this point in time for now.
"Ooh Zenki-chan, it is okay, you know?"
"I know. It's frustrating that I have a power that I can't control. I can summon the flames from my Kaa-chan, but it isn't to a level where they'd be able to compete with her. And it is a wild type of power to control, I don't like using it out of training like this, as it could turn against me. But maybe I can get help training with that in the future…"
"Exactly! That's the best thing to do Zenki-chan! For now, we've got to become even stronger than we are now!"
Zenki smiled at her, and waved a hand in front of her face.
"Hey, should we go and see what the magical team are doing?"
"Okay!"
The pair stood up, and walked over to the other group.
As they walked, Zenki and Jeanne held hands, thinking about what they should progress too in the future. Jeanne thought about her Balance Breaker, and how she'd achieve it, Zenki was thinking about his own Dragon powers, and if he'd ever be able to unleash them when he was strong enough.
The pair had obstacle that they needed to overcome, but neither were sure on how they'd be able to do something like that. Jeanne wished she could reach Balance Breaker, and Zenki wished to attain control over his Dragon powers, but they didn't know how.
When reaching the place the magic users were, Zenki witnessed Kuroka, and Koneko sitting together, having their legs crossed, and their eyes closed, gathering life energy around them, which allowed the area around them to feel, genuinely better, and loving as opposed to being quite drab and dirty as the training field was.
Asia and Ravel were talking about magical support, as that was their main job in the peerage. While Ravel was quite strong for her age, being on a league above her brother, Zenki thought, she suited the support role the best, and she accepted that. Even Asia accepted she was more suited to support than anything else, as she was the healer of the group.
Valerie was nearby, and she had one cup out, hovering over a recently deceased rabbit, trying to revive it and not hear the voices of the other side. Even with the bracelet Azazel devised for her, using the Sacred Gear was quite difficult, as Valerie had a hard time using it to revive the dead, without them coming back as…wrong, as in, they wouldn't be them anymore.
"Zenki-san!"
Asia noticed Zenki immediately, and went over to his side while hugging onto his side, giving him a kiss on the cheek which he returned, Ravel following suit and did the same action, kissing Zenki on the cheek while blushing, Zenki giving her cheek a kiss on the cheek too.
"Asia-tan, Ravel-tan. It seems like you've been looking serious today?"
Ravel nodded her head, and put a hand to her chest.
"As you're aware, I've been trying to use my flames in different ways, and I believe that I have slowly began using my flames in new ways, for defensive purposes, and aiding others attacks with my own attacks, in particularly Kuroka-sama's poison use."
"With your winds, correct?"
Ravel nodded her head in agreement.
"Yes, that's right. Since I've been working closely with Kuroka-sama for a few years now, beside her and Koneko-san, we've been able to develop quite the best teamwork. Though we argue a lot, we've been able to develop quite the fighting relationship with one another."
"I'm glad that you've been able to develop such a thing."
Ravel smiled widely, continuing to hug Zenki for all it was worth.
"Yes, that's right. Usually, Kuroka-sama and I are at odds with one another, but for some reason, we have quite the best working relationship. I find it strange, honestly. She's able to work the best when with me, barring her own Imouto of course. But even then, I think that there's something going on with that. I suspect that she just likes bullying me."
"You really think she bullies you?"
At the question, Ravel's body trembled and moves closer to Zenki for protection.
"She does Zenki-sama. Whether she finds it funny or not, she does sometimes. I swear, she enjoys hurting people. But she's laid off for a few days, I think she has shifted her bullying towards that Fallen Angel that we have at our house. Maybe that's the best thing for now, she can bully the Fallen Angel."
"Ravel-tan, I didn't think you felt so badly, about Kuroka-tans teasing. I always thought that you let it roll off you."
That's how Zenki honestly felt, and thought, and indeed, Ravel bobbed her head along.
"I do for most of it, though when she calls me a whore, then I think she's going too far."
Zenki's face broke out into a smile, almost bursting into laughter. Not because of what she said, which did annoy him by how Kuroka made Ravel felt, but because of the way she said 'whore' which sounded so upper class that he didn't think it would sound so funny as it did.
"I'm sorry you felt like that, I honestly thought that it didn't bother you. Don't worry, I will give her a scolding later for calling you a whore."
Relief came to Ravel's eyes.
"Thank you Zenki-sama. Next time, instead of keeping it to myself, I will tell you straight away."
"No, it is I who should be sorry. I should've picked up on how much it hurt you…"
"N-No!" Ravel rejected it straight away. "I know Zenki-sama has a busy life, so it must be difficult keeping track of everything and everyone. I'm sorry that I didn't say anything sooner. Next time, as I said, I shall definitely say what's on my mind more."
Zenki lightly smiled, petting her head, and gave her a tight hug as Jeanne questioned Asia.
"So, Asia-chan. How has your healing range been? Have you been able to increase it so you don't have to have direct contact with people like before?"
Jeanne asked with a wide cheery smile on her face, wanting to connect with her best friend in the entire world.
"Yes…basically, I am able to send my healing aura and heal others at a distance. Though it isn't able to match my direct touch. I am able to use my enhanced magical abilities with my Bishop piece to increase the power of Twilight Healing."
"Awww, that's amazing. I knew that Asia-chan would be able to do it, since it is Asia-chan and all! By the way, have you gotten closer to reaching Balance Breaker, yet?"
Asia's green eyes went downwards as Zenki listened on with interest.
"Yes…erm, I haven't been able to achieve anything close to it. Though I have been trying, it seems like Balance Breaker isn't going to be reached by me right now…I wish that I could achieve it, so I would be more useful to Zenki-san and the others."
"Asia-tan, your healing is already top notch."
Zenki said, making Asia's face turn slightly red.
"Y-You think?"
"Yes, that's right." Zenki began, twirling his green hair with his finger. "Asia-tans healing is the best. I've heard of other Twilight Healing users around, and they can't compare to Asia-tan. Maybe because she's got the best healing aura around, I am able to say with confidence that Asia-tan is able to use Twilight Healing to the best of her ability."
Zenki looked on as Asia smiled, but then her eyes lowered sadly.
"Y…Yes…but I wish to be able to use Balance Breaker…"
Jeanne still seemed depressed too, Asia adding to the sadness that neither had achieved Balance Breaker.
Zenki could see how it was effecting them, and if he was them, he'd probably feel the same, after all of the training they had done to try and reach that state, when seeing others from different areas reaching that state, making them feel quite sullen about it.
"Achieving Balance Breaker will be able to happen, in the future. For now, it might not happen, but because you're my Knight and Bishop, I know that you're going to be able to achieve amazing Balance Breaker's in the future. After all, I believe in you, and believing in yourselves also is a big part of it as well."
Asia and Jeanne cheered up even more than they did before, making each other smile at one another.
"He's right Jeanne-san. W-We will be able to do it for Zenki-san and the others."
"Right! We'll be able to have more fun when we gain Balance Breaker! Until then, don't worry Asia-chan, I definitely will protect you!"
Asia's face turned into a wide smile, and placed her hands together.
"Jeanne-san is the best ever, I am blessed to know Jeanne-san, and has become my best friend in the entire world."
Just hearing that brought a smile to Zenki's lips, glad that the pair of them were such good friends and no doubt will always be friends. At least, Asia and Jeanne had one another, and him and the peerage.
As he watched then, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that Kuroka was calling him over while using her hand to wave at him. Curiously, he went over, and stood before her, Koneko still being in a medative state.
"Yes, Kuroka-tan? Is there something going on?"
"Yup nyaa. Sit down."
She patted in front of her, so he did just that.
With a purr, Kuroka leaned forward, her breasts dangling out of her kimono top. Zenki's eyes widened at her sudden boldness, using her movements to make her breasts bounce around, Zenki's eyes being in for quite the treat.
"You see, Zenki-chan. There's a certain something that we need from you nyaaa."
"N-Need from me?"
Barely, Zenki rasped that out, seeing how she looked like she was going to express a sexual desire, he was expressing a sexual desire anyway.
"Dragon's sperm."
"Kuroka-tan!"
He berated, as she snickered loudly.
"I'm kidding, at least for the context I'm thinking of nyaaa. What I'm trying to say is, your Dragon ki, can help us grow nyaaa." Zenki furrowed his eyes as Kuroka grabbed his hand and placed it on her large breast, his breath hitching in his throat. "Don't you know about it Zenki-chan? If we take in your Dragon ki, we'll be able to grow in different and new ways. I've been preparing Shirone to take in the Dragon ki, since yours is especially thick, and warm nyaaa~" Zenki's eyes turned to disbelief, not quite believing her. "Your eyes are telling me you don't believe me nyaa. But that's the truth nyaa. Dragon ki can help us grow in new and exciting ways. So, can we take in some of your ki nyaaa?"
Zenki's eyes were a little more suspicious than they should be, he wasn't sure what to think right now.
"Hmmm, is there something going to happen when I do it?"
"Not really nyaaa~ We could have some fun if you want nyaaa~?"
Kuroka winked as she leaned forward. Her lips parted as they overlapped with Zenki's own. Knowing she'd do it, Zenki placed a hand on her cheek, rubbing her face slowly, gingerly. Attentively, he kissed her back, Koneko's eyebrows twitching, even though her eyes were closed, she heard the smacking of the lips.
Kuroka brought Zenki's body closer, and wanted to deepen the kiss, but Koneko bonked Kuroka on the head, releasing her lips from Zenki's, pulling him away from Kuroka, and closer to herself, Koneko taking his lap for herself.
"I won't have you do what you want with Senpai."
Kuroka gained a teasing smirk.
"Ararara, it seems like Shirone is really becoming a bold type of girl, isn't she? She's even taking Zenki-chan, and having him for herself. What a girl you are, Shirone. You're amazing really, aren't you nyaaa?"
Koneko hugged onto the Senpai that she loved, and showed a defiant look on her face.
"Yes…Senpai and I are…h-he won't go to you anymore…he is my Senpai…and I admire my Senpai…very much. So please don't touch Senpai all of a sudden. E-Even kissing him like that isn't something you should do."
Kuroka continued to smirk at the pair, moving to Zenki's left and hugged him. Her large breasts encompassed his arm, laying a kiss on his lips. Koneko didn't like that, and pushed Kuroka away, only to kiss Zenki by herself, shocking him quite a bit.
"Koneko-tan…"
"…Senpai is also someone that I can kiss, yes?"
Zenki didn't make any attempt to stop her, and nodded his head.
"Yes, that's right, Koneko-tan. You're my Rook, you can do whatever and whenever you want."
Koneko's face lit up excitedly as Kuroka's face turned into a pout.
"Why don't you ever say that I can do that nyaaa!?"
Roaring, Zenki gave her a no nonsense look to his eyes, Kuroka knowing that he was being stern right now, and it, aroused her immensely. She didn't want to admit it, but it did arouse her to see Zenki being so stern with her, and while she wasn't a masochist like Jeanne, she'd appreciate some…special spanking's.
"Because you'd take advantage of it." Zenki told her straight, Kuroka looking down at the ground. "I'm serious, you will take advantage of it, and I won't ever be able to do anything like, I dunno, have freedom! You'd take advantage, and want to do ecchi things all of the time! Kuroka-tan, Koneko-tan wouldn't take advantage of me, like you would do. She's innocent, you're not. While I love that about you, it's better if I keep myself, and my chastity to myself, thank you."
Kuroka felt like she was going to fall into a deep depression from not being able to have the same benefits that Koneko had, though it was clear why they were going to be in a situation like that for the foreseeable future.
"Ooh, it isn't fair. I want to have sexy fun time with Zenki-chan, and Shirone wants to also blow her Senpai."
"Kuroka-tan!" He berated her again, seeing Koneko's face melting red. "Y-You can't say such things with Koneko-tan around! Remember, she's still innocent, you can't have such a language when it comes to my Rook!"
Kuroka snickered and looked between Zenki, Koneko, and Kuroka, wondering if she should tell Zenki about Koneko's rising heat, and lust for her Senpai, which was evident on the girls face right now, Koneko's face being slightly more redder than it usually is.
"Here we go…"
Zenki heard a noise near Valerie, so he looked and saw Valerie putting her hand over the cup that suspended in the sky, and released a golden aura from it. The aura travelled downwards towards the dead animal.
Slowly, the aura washed over the animal, and looked powerful. Zenki could barely look at it, but he did and saw that the dead animal…began twitching.
It twitched once, and then twice.
The eyes slowly opened, looking around…but then, something happened.
The eyes of the creature turned feral, mindless. Behind the eyes, was nothing. Neither Zenki, Ravel, Valerie, Koneko, Kuroka, or Asia and Jeanne could see anything that resembled normalcy within the small rabbit looking creature.
Its mouth opened, breathing out death and decay.
"…Grrrrrr…"
It snarled, and turned its dead like eyes towards Valerie.
"O-Oh no, it isn't happening again…is it…?"
Valerie backed away as it snarled at her.
The others watched on as the creature bared its sharper than normal teeth, and bit into the ground, shattering one of the teeth that it had, but broke the ground around it, frightening the girls around Zenki, all hiding behind him, as he looked intrigued by it.
"Well, it seems like Valerie-tan tried to raise the dead again."
Zenki genuinely looked interested, but worried as it didn't look all that right, honestly. It looked terrifying to say the least, Valerie and her dead raising…it didn't look like it was alive. It looked like, a walking corpse.
"And it looks like a fucking Zombie or something!"
Kuroka argued, clinging to Zenki the tightest. He was surprised that she was frightened the most by the Zombie rabbit.
"Yeah! It is something from Resident Evil or something!"
Jeanne cheered like a child, looking interested now, forgetting the fear she had before, and that was now replaced with a determined look of wanting to make sure that she was able to see this Zombie rabbit for what it was.
"Sacrifice Ravel!"
"Oowwwww!"
Kuroka pushed Ravel forward, the girl landing on her hands and knees before the deranged looking rabbit.
"Ooh Ravel-tan…"
Zenki went to move forward, but stopped when seeing where the rabbit was towards Ravel.
"Eeeh, Ravel-chan, you might want to look up, that thing is really looking like it is going to do something."
Jeanne warned as she clung to Zenki's back, fearful of what she was seeing right now.
"Zenki-san, that c-creature looks very dangerous right now."
Asia trembled clinging to Zenki. Koneko also held onto Zenki, not wanting to face the dark creature that Valerie had resurrected.
"…Zenki-senpai, I think that thing is going to kill us."
Koneko shivered, not wanting to be near the creature anymore.
"Holy motherfucking Maou-sama! That thing looks like it is going to kill us all! Thanks Valerie-chan nyaaa! This has been foretold in Zombie films, the end of the world, and it is thanks to you, and that fucking Graal of yours nyaaa!"
Valerie's eyes leaked tears at Kuroka's yell, scared of the rabbit. Valerie also went to Zenki's side, and clung to him, scared of what she had created before her, it wasn't a good thing at all. In fact, she had created a monster before her, and that thing, was terrifying.
"W-What's going on?"
Ravel was in a daze from the push, she was sure that Kuroka put Senjutsu into the push that she gave.
Ravel's ears heard a snarling sound, so she looked up, and saw how close the rabbit was to her.
Drool came from its hanging mouth, its dead eyes on Ravel's frightened ones, its breath reeking of death and decay, Ravel's eyes feeling tears prickling there. When she went to stand, the rabbit stomped on the ground, breaking the ground below it.
"…"
Ravel tried to speak, but her voice failed her.
She convulsed in fear, wanting to run away, but she couldn't. Just something about the lifelessness of the eyes before her was astoundingly terrifying. Tears fell from her eyes, and hit the ground before her.
"…Zenki-sama…"
She squeaked, and she wished that she didn't do that, as its blazing evil glared towards the Phenex girl.
"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Ravel screamed as the creature pounced towards her, stuck in her own fear.
"Get away from Ravel-tan!"
Zenki fired off demonic power towards the creature, blasting half of its body away from existence, saving Ravel from certain death. Ravel shed tears of relief as Zenki rescued her, going to her side, and holding onto her tightly.
"Zenki-sama, what was that thing!?"
"E-Even I don't know what that thing was! Don't look at me!"
Valerie put her hands together in sorrow, tears prickling her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I wanted to try it again, I didn't think that it would turn feral like that. I can't even resurrect things correctly. I am remove and enhance weaknesses in people, but when it comes to resurrecting things, they really turn on me, and become insanely insane. I couldn't really even begin to say how sorry I really am."
Zenki felt like face palming, but he couldn't blame Valerie. He knew how difficult it would be if she did use her Sacred Gear. While she could resurrect things, they turned out, badly. However, if she used it at her full power, she'd be exposed to a place where she'd hear voices and it could corrode her into a shell, and Zenki wasn't going to have that. He'd rather her make Zombie's, than her becoming one.
"Valerie-tan, don't say things like that, I'm not going to allow you to…"
At that moment, Zenki and the others heard a strange noise coming from the left hand side of them.
Curiously, they all looked, and…horror entered them.
They saw that the lower half of the rabbit had rose, somehow. Slowly, the upper half was being reformed. Bone, muscle, and other things were reforming before their very eyes, and soon, the deranged rabbit appeared again.
"W-What the fuck nyaaa!?"
Kuroka screamed as she pulled Koneko away from the rabbit, frightened.
"Valerie-chan! You've made it unstoppable again!"
Jeanne screeched, getting out a sword.
Zenki pulled Asia towards him, and picked her up, knowing she wouldn't be able to outrun it unlike the rest of them.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for that to happen! Waaah! Each time I try and make the dead come back, they turn into Zombie's that have regeneration like the Phenex clan members! I'm so sorry! I am worse than anything in this world!"
"Fuck that shit for now Valerie-chan! Run fast or lose your ass nyaaaa!"
Kuroka didn't even stay still to say that, as she ran away with Koneko in her arms, the rabbit snarling at each of them. It put its tiny paw on the ground, but that broke the ground around it, like it wasn't even earth at all, destroying it easily.
Zenki gasped as did the others, all pulling away from the rabbit.
"R-Run! Everyone! Run!"
On the command of Zenki, the others ran away with him as the rabbit gave chase.
"Why does this thing want to kill us!? It should be grateful to be alive, even if it is insane right now!"
Ravel's tearful cries were accompanied with her almost getting bitten by the creature, but thanks to Jeanne swatting it away with her sword, she was saved from getting eaten by the creature, but it didn't stop, and charged for them again.
"Don't ask me Ravel-chan, I don't know what's going-" The rabbit jumped, so Jeanne stopped her body, and readied its sword. "That's it! Time to die!"
Jeanne leapt forward, and swung for the neck of the creature, cleaving it off the body of the creature. To make sure it was dead, she impaled the sword into the rabbits dead head, and used fire from her holy sword to turn it to ashes.
Jeanne looked down in victory, but then stopped herself when she heard footsteps behind her.
Fearfully, she looked backwards, and saw that the rabbit had a head again, and was snarling, its teeth directed towards Jeanne herself.
"Ooh no!"
Jeanne panicked as the creature leapt forwards, trying to bite her.
Jeanne went to defend herself, and swung her sword, but something unexpected happened, when the creatures sharpened claws smashed through the sword, and turned it to nothingness.
"Holy moly! This thing is going to kill me! Zenki-chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"
Jeanne cried as she was left defenceless, the creatures teeth close to biting down on Jeanne.
"Hah!"
Zenki, while carrying Asia, kicked the rabbit away with such force that its leg was smashed to the point that it wouldn't, or shouldn't, be able to be used anymore. The rabbit was blown away from Jeanne, Jeanne's face smiling happily.
"Zenki-chan saved me~"
She sang out as she kissed Zenki on the cheek.
"Zenki-chaaaaaan! It's come back!"
Kuroka pointed out, seeing it raise to its feet.
Jeanne, Asia, and Zenki's eyes broadened with fear.
"Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!"
Once again, Zenki and company ran away as the rabbit chased after them.
"This isn't a normal creature! Zenki-san, what are we going to do!?"
"Don't ask me Asia-tan! This thing has become unstoppable again!"
Zenki yelled as he fired off a strong demonic powered bullet. Though it hit the rabbit in the centre, blowing its chest apart, it regenerated again, and gave chase, this time not even stopping from the wound it received.
"This is all your fault Ravel-chan!"
"Why is this my fault Kuroka-sama!? I don't have the power to do this crap!"
Ravel yelled at Kuroka, the girl wearing a sheepish face.
"Sorry, force of habit. I meant, Valerie-chan! This is all your fault Valerie-chan!"
"I'm so very sorry! I don't know why this keeps happening!"
Valerie screeched while putting her hand backwards. She fired off a shadow orb towards the creature, but the rabbit somehow was able to dodge the attack somehow, building up speed towards them.
"My Maou-sama, is this thing unstoppable or something!?"
Kuroka complained as she activated some kind of magical power to make the ground like mud. The rabbits feet should've been stuck in the mud, but somehow, it was able to stay up in the mud, and acted as if it wasn't anything there at all.
"Waaaah! What are we going to do Zenki-sama!? This creature is stronger than anything!"
As Ravel said that, she fired flames of the Phenex clan towards the rabbit. It washed over the creature, and melted off some of its flesh, but like before, it healed itself somehow thanks to Valerie's Longinus.
"I know! Give me a second to think!"
"Zenki-san, we don't have a second!"
Asia cried while clinging to Zenki, the situation looking bleak.
[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!]
They all screamed…
They couldn't do anymore beside running away.
For about half a minute, that's what they did.
They ran away like headless chickens, trying to escapable this insane unstoppable rabbit as fast as they could, which seemed to be less than they thought since the rabbit somehow had the speed to match Zenki in a race, so he ended up trying to lead it away from the others, with little success.
No matter what they did, none of them could stop them. Zenki, Ravel, Koneko, Kuroka, Jeanne, and Valerie. Zenki's demonic, and Dragon powers, didn't work. Ravel's flames and winds didn't work. Neither of the Nekomata's Senjutsu skills worked, Jeanne's holy swords and Valerie's shadow powers didn't work either.
None of them had the power to stop the creature, it was immensely powerful, thanks to Valerie.
Until, Zenki stopped in his tracks, and faced the creature.
"Alright everyone! Let's combine our attacks together, and finish this rabbit off! We can't run from this overpowered monster forever! It might've been made by Valerie-tan, but we'll just have to annihilate it, won't we!?"
The others stopped and went to Zenki's side, each having determined faces on.
"This rabbit is going to fucking die nyaaa!"
"…I want to see blood."
"Let's make this rabbit disappear!"
"Yes, as Koneko-san said, I want to see its blood, and its death."
"E-Even though I made this creature…let's get rid of it!"
Kuroka, Koneko, Jeanne, Ravel, and Valerie all got determined again, and put their hands outwards as did Zenki.
Zenki gathered a mass of demonic power, Senjutsu for the Nekomata sisters. Jeanne created a holy sword that dealt with immense power that she could summon. Ravel made both her winds and flames dance in twine, and combined them to make a stronger attack. Valerie hiccupped as she made a shadow sphere in her hand, Asia looking on as she didn't have a means to attack on the same level as the others.
They looked on as the rabbit was charging for each of them. They didn't flinch, in fact, each of them looked determined right now. Even Asia was wishing the others good luck inside of her heart, hoping that they would be able to do something against the creature.
"Let's do it!"
[Yeah!]
On the orders of Zenki, everyone unleashed their attacks.
Zenki fired his demonic power, Ravel fired of her wind and flame powers. Kuroka and Koneko put their hands together and combined their Senjutsu white like flames and shot them forward, making them stronger. Jeanne and Valerie fired off their swords and darkness power respectably.
The rabbit stood its ground, and readied itself for the attack.
[DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!]
With the yell of the others, all of the attacks washed over the creature, and erased its existence, and nearly all of the training area. They did it too hard, and obliterated most of the training area, leaving some rubble around, but beside that, nothing but a hole would be there.
Once the power stopped, they all looked on and sweatdropped at what they did, but couldn't see any trace of the rabbit. Literally, they had erased its existence, and left nothing left, smiling as they panted, falling to the ground in a heep.
"Don't even try it Mittelt-san. You know what happened last time, this time it will even go insane about it."
"Grrr!"
Behind Zenki, sitting alone on a couch while reading Romeo and Juliet, the original one at that, Mittelt held up a light spear, which she defused, knowing that she wouldn't be able to win against Zenki, the boy not even looking at her, and knew that she was trying to attack him.
He simply was stronger than she was, and she didn't know what else she was going to do now. She couldn't do anything right now, Zenki was a monster compared to her. But what she didn't know was what was going to happen with her life now. She didn't know what she would be able to do, and what could happen to her.
Mittelt huffed as she walked around to the side of the couch, sitting down at a distance away from Zenki himself.
"For fuck sake. What are you going to do to me Astaroth boy!? I can't stand it! I've been here for a few days now, and you've done nothing to me! Is this another form of torture for you or something!? I can't take this much longer!"
Mittelt was of course freaking out.
She didn't understand why Zenki hadn't just killed her off. In fact, she was just, treated as a guest. She wasn't treated horribly, she wasn't abused, yelled at, or anything else. She was, just Mittelt. She wasn't anything more, or less.
She barely was treated like a hostage at all at this point.
The only time people told her off was when she tried to attack them, but even then, she wasn't stopped from doing anything she wanted. Like playing games, watching television, eating whatever she wanted. Jeanne even cooked her meals, and she could use any facility that she wanted…so she was confused, about everything.
"What can't you take exactly?"
He asked, not looking from his book, being deeply invested in the story, despite reading it many times beforehand.
"This! Why am I treated like a guest!? Aren't I a prisoner of war or something!?"
"I wouldn't go that far."
He chuckled, turning a page on his book.
Mittelt wasn't satisfied, and lunged towards him, but stopped when his eyebrow twitched.
It took just that to stop her from trying to attack him. She wouldn't be able to hurt him anyway, she couldn't even dent his form. She wouldn't be able to do anything like that she wanted to do, because, she was just Mittelt, she wasn't all that strong, and Zenki was on a different level all together.
"B-But! Azazel-sama said that I have to be with you at all times! Aren't I valuable or something to wage a war with Raynare or something!? Dohnaseek that fucker is-"
"Weaker than I am."
Zenki confirmed as he slid his finger across his cheek, brushing some hair away from his eyes, Mittelt wearing a stunned expression.
"B-But…"
Mittelt went to argue, but a look from Zenki's eyes caused her to stop herself from talking.
Zenki took in a small breath, speaking directly towards Mittelt, to try and relieve her worries and doubts that she was holding inside of her chest right now.
"This Dohnaseek is weaker than I am, weaker than Rias-tan. We don't have to worry about him, Mittelt-san. Once he tries anything, we'll be able to take him out, though Azazel-san wishes for him to be captured, which shouldn't be all that hard."
Mittelt turned her anger towards confusion, not sure on how she was supposed to proceed now.
"I…I guess…b-but, what happens to me afterwards…a-am I going to die or something…?"
The real fear she was displaying, was something Zenki could understand. Even he could understand why she was as scared as she was. If he was Mittelt, he'd be worried about dying too, since she was in a place where Devils inhabit, stronger people than she was, and her leader just gave her away like she wasn't anything worth all that much.
"You're not going to die."
He confirmed it for her, so she didn't have to worry, or cry or anything else, all she had to do was trust in him, but even Zenki knew that it was a tall order for her to do, since he was a Devil King, and she was a Fallen Angel, she was someone that would trust him the least.
"But you don't know that!"
Mittelt raised her doubts with him, so Zenki placed his book down on the couch, and sighed.
"You're with me, here. If Azazel-san wished you death, then he would've taken you away with him. Or he would've told me to kill you. Which, he hasn't done. So, you're quite safe, and I am pretty strong, and together with my peerage, we're quite the formidable team. I think that we'll be able to do something if someone tries to hurt you, Mittelt-san. So, just relax, have something to eat, sleep or whatever you want to do. You're not in danger here. None of my peerage members are going to lay fingers on you, nor am I going to allow anyone to hurt you either. So, you don't have to worry about anything."
Mittelt wasn't sure if she should be relieved or not right now. She had his assurance, but what was that worth? What was it worth for her to be relieved by a Devil? It didn't mean much towards her, as he was a Devil, and he was dangerous to her and her kind. Even she knew, by standing this close to him, she could feel the power radiating off him, causing her to quiver under the eyes and power from the young Devil.
"You say I don't have to worry about anything when I do have to worry about everything, don't you know that? I am freaking frightened of what my life is going to become, and you're treating it like a joke or something."
"Do you actually see me laughing right now?"
True to his word, Zenki wasn't laughing. He didn't think it was funny that she felt like this, yet she still didn't believe him, even if he did speak the truth, it didn't sound good to her at all, and she wished that she could run away.
"I don't care if you laugh or not! I seriously am annoyed with you! I hate you so goddamn much! Seriously, you, and all Devils are scum! Scummy, and you should feel bad about being scum like you are!"
"That's quite racist, of you."
Zenki muttered while turning a page of his book.
Mittelt's face furrowed into a darkened frown.
"D-Don't say such things…I'm nothing like that. But that's what you Devils are, aren't you? To you, I'm probably some scummy Fallen Angel, that wouldn't even be able to beat a top notch Devil like you are. Screw you and your Devil ways."
By now, Zenki wasn't sure if she was looking for a fight or now. To him at least, she looked like she was looking for an argument, a fight, and he wasn't going to give her one. He didn't see the reason to give her a fight, she was just trying to lower his guard and escape, and even if she did, it wouldn't bother him in the slightest.
"If that's how you feel, then I'm not going to stop you."
Mittelt gritted her teeth, looking for a reaction from him, but she didn't get any from him. He merely read the book in his hands, engrossed with the story. It irritated her so much, that he wasn't paying attention to her, and she didn't know why.
"I'm gonna kill you!"
Mittelt made a decision and made a light spear in her hand, lunging across the couch at Zenki.
Without looking, Zenki sent demonic power at the light spear, breaking it apart, and grabbed Mittelt's hand, forcing her to sit down on the couch without hurting her. Even his grip on her wrist wasn't tight, just enough to keep her from running away.
"Attacking like that isn't going to work Mittelt-san. Especially with me. I saw your movements before you even tried it. There's no shame in trying to escape, but as I keep saying, I'm not going to hurt you, you're going to be protected. Think of Devils what you will, but sterotyping isn't something you should do with everyone. I'm sure you'd feel the same if I said "Fallen Angels are the scum of the earth, and should suffer eternally!" or something like that, when I'm friends with a Fallen Angel, a leader Fallen Angel at that. As I've said before, don't be so on guard, and think you're going to attack. If we were going to attack and kill you, don't you think we'd have done that by now?"
His argument had very valid points. Even Mittelt couldn't deny that he was making sense right now. But her attitude really didn't want her to accept his word as reality, and yelled right in his face while trying to get out of his hands grasp.
"Grrrr! Why don't you just kill me already!? If you're going to do it, then just do it! I've had enough of this now! Seriously, just do something to me! Either hurt me or let me go! I'm sick to death of everything going on!"
Zenki sighed, and let go of her hand. Because she was pulling so hard, she fell onto the ground on her butt, wincing at the fall, Zenki curiously raising his eyebrows at the Fallen Angel before him, unsure of how to approach this situation.
"You're really strange, Mittelt-san. You act as if I'm the one that's trying to kill you, yet you're the one who actually was the one who was being quite rude, mean, insensitive, and haven't even apologized for doing what you did. We're treating you with kindness here. We could be total dicks and treat you like a doormat, but we're not, because there's no point in doing it. At least be happy that you're alive, and not locked in prison or worse, dead."
Mittelt's eyes quivered, shooting to her feet.
"Well, I have to spend time with stupid Devils and I'm going to die anyway!"
"That negativity is really strong with you, isn't it? Have you always been like this? I'm curious."
Mittelt looked away, and then walked away from Zenki.
Zenki watched as she left, wondering why she was so certain that she was going to die when Zenki hadn't ever shown any aggressive movements towards her, nor had his peerage. The most could be when they tickled her, and that was for trying to kill Koneko.
Zenki relaxed for a few more minutes by himself, until Gasper entered the room, looking shy.
Zenki didn't notice her at first, being engrossed with his book. He didn't even bother thinking to sense if anyone was wrong, reading being a personal hobby of Zenki's, and how it could be good for him, and he always lost himself in thought when he was reading.
Gasper slowly approached Zenki, until she shifted to his side. She somehow was able to make it all the way to his side without even being noticed by Zenki, that was until Gasper reached out her hand, and gripped Zenki by the arm, pulling his arm.
"Ooh, Gasper-tan!" He panicked, jumping in spot, which in turn made Gasper nervous. "I didn't even notice you were there! S-Sorry, is there something going on Gasper-tan? Would you like a drink of my blood?"
Her blonde hair went everywhere when she shook her head.
"N-Noooo~ I-I wanted to sit with S-Senpai…"
Zenki smiled, and put his book down, turning his body on the couch so his knee rested on the cushion, dangling over the side of the couch. He looked fully at Gasper, seeing how she was dressed in a cute pink nightdress, that showed quite a bit of her Loli body towards him.
"I see, then that's alright. Would you like to sit on my-" Zenki didn't get to finish as Gasper occupied his lap, smiling with new confidence. "-lap…never mind then. So, you're like, gaining some confidence lately haven't you Gasper-tan? Even becoming so bold where you can sit on my lap, and not be embarrassed. You are quite adorable, aren't you?"
Gasper's face turned a cute pinkish colour at being called adorable.
"B-Because of Senpai…I-I am able to gain…e-even more confidence…"
Zenki lightly smiled, and hugged Gasper from behind, resting his head on her shoulder. Gasper's cute face turned red at the hug, leaning back so she could enjoy it fully. Her trembling face went to Zenki's assuring one, one that allowed Gasper to feel more confidence.
"I'm glad you're gaining in confidence. My, you're so adorable, aren't you Gasper-tan? Why are you trembling right now? It's just me, and you. There's nothing to be worried about. You could even relax your shaking body if you want too Gasper-tan?"
Gasper wasn't sure if she could honour that request. Trembling, always seemed to happen. But when with Zenki, it was less so than when he wasn't around. She felt confident when he was around. He just was able to connect with her, and talk with her, without her Sacred Gear going off like it did when with others.
"Senpai…I feel nervous…when Senpai goes…will I become even more scared than without him…?"
Zenki's face turned understanding, hugging her even tighter.
"Silly. Akeno-tan is going to be here, and you can call me anytime. When you feel nervous, worried, or anything else, you can call me, and I will definitely answer. But you're not going to be alone, and I'm not going to be all that long either. So remember, every time you feel worried, scared or frightened, think about me, Valerie-tan or whoever gives you confidence, and think what you'd do if that person was around."
Gasper listened intently to what he said, and could gain even confidence from what he was saying, wishing that she could become so confident to do what she wants to do, and one of those things were being with Zenki.
"S-Senpai…i-if I gain confidence…c-could I even…b-become…c-close to Zenki-senpai…"
"Hehe, you are close to me, silly."
Gasper smiled lightly, and put her head against Zenki's chest, snuggling against him for comfort, support, and even some love as well.
"S-Senpai is…I-I really like Senpai!"
Zenki smiled even more, putting his hand to the back of her head, and stroked ever so slowly, running his fingers through her hair, enjoying the sensation of her soft hair, while Gasper slowly began closing her eyes.
"I'm glad Gasper-tan. So, are you going to be okay?"
Gasper looked up towards Zenki's face, showing a cute look to her face.
"Definitely, I will always be okay when Senpai is around...a-and I will b-become confident f-for Senpai!"
Zenki smiled even more, and pet her face. With his cooling touch, Gasper felt relaxed, loved and cherish. Since she didn't feel that before coming to Rias and Zenki, besides with Valerie, she always wanted to feel like she did.
Gasper then released a yawn sinking against Zenki's shoulder.
"Gasper-tan, are you tired right now?"
The Vampire girl whined adorably.
"Y-Yes…"
"Shall I take you to your coffin?"
To most, it would sound insane for him to say that, but since Gasper did sleep in a coffin, it wasn't all that strange for him to say that.
"S-Senpai…I don't w-want to sleep in my coffin…"
She confessed like a cute girl confessing love, clinging to him with doe eyes.
"Oh?" Zenki was surprised. "If not there, where would you like to sleep? In your bed maybe?" Again, Gasper shook her head. "So…where do you want to sleep exactly?"
"W-With Senpaiiiiiiii! I-I want to sleep in the same bed as Senpai!"
Being taken by surprise couldn't even amount to the feelings that Zenki felt right now. He didn't think that Gasper would want to do that, but here she was, asking for that same thing and with the eyes of a shy girl too, something he actually liked.
"Oh…eeh, sure, I don't see why not. But, are you sure?"
"Y-Yes Senpai! Please…I want to sleep next to Senpai…"
Hearing her quiet plea, Zenki stood up while carrying Gasper bridal style, peering into her eyes with a loving gaze.
"Okay, let's get to bed then, alright my cute Gasper-tan?"
"Y-Yes Senpai! Let's go!"
He chuckled, and walked off to bed with the Vampire girl in his arms. Finally, Gasper felt strong enough to feel like she could sleep in his bed too, having wanted to do so for so long now, and now she actually had the chance, she couldn't be happier.
"So, you're really going to Kyoto, are you? I was shocked when hearing about it."
Sona asked as she, and Zenki sat opposite one another, eating some of their lunch together. Since it was lunch, the schools Student Council was pretty empty, none of the members barring Sona was in the room.
"Yes, that's right. I'll be going quite soon. It is going to be educational, and also, I'll be able to get a certain something."
"A certain something?"
Sona's interests were piqued, she wouldn't deny that this time. She wanted to know what Zenki was going to get for himself, and whatever he was doing. Even Sona, didn't know what he was doing, even if she understood when he was talking about something inventive. This time, she didn't know what he was actually doing, no one barring Azazel knew what he was doing.
"Yes, it is something for my research, so it is important. I'm sorry, I wish to go into further detail, but it isn't possible right now."
Sona nodded in understanding.
"I understand, you have things that need to be kept secret, like myself."
Zenki always suspected that she did keep things secret, though he couldn't speak either, since he was keeping things secret as well. If he wasn't, then it would've been weird to Sona.
"That's exactly it, I didn't mean to sound if I wasn't trying to make it sound super secret. I just feel like if it doesn't work, then it would be embarrassing. Especially with everything that I've been trying to do for it, and how I wish for it to succeed. If it fails, I might even have to worry about what is going to happen in the future."
"I see…and you aren't willing to divulge anything?"
"Well, the most that I can say is that the request to make what I'm going to make wasn't from someone that I expected. In fact, I had no idea that person would even want to come near a Devil like myself."
That intrigued Sona.
She wouldn't know who he was talking about, but it sounded like it wasn't a Devil. But if it wasn't a Devil, then she didn't know who that was. She couldn't even begin to formulate an idea on who it might be that Zenki is working on a project with.
"Also, I am working on something with Azazel-san to aid your peerage, as of accordance to how you've been feeling lately about your peerage and how they'd progress in strength."
Sona's ears perked, and immediately her face went into rejection mode. Not because of the kind gesture, but because Zenki would have to go out of his way for her, and she didn't want anything like that to happen for her.
"You don't have to go to the trouble of making things for-"
"It's alright." Zenki cut her off, knowing where she was going to go with it. "I understand Sona-tan, you don't have to worry. It is also going to benefit me in the future, allow me to take my research and development to new heights. So, helping Azazel-san, and also helping Sona-tan, seems like a good deal to me. Wouldn't you agree with me, Sona-tan? You always say that progressing is what we should aim to achieve, and that's what we're doing right now, I'm trying to better myself, so I can help the Underworld, the Fallen Angels, the Angels, and even myself to progress to a new future. That's, what my research is for, after all. It might sound weird if it is coming from me, but I'm all about peace, and if I could help it, I wouldn't fight again, even if I have to fight to achieve that goal in the future."
Zenki told Sona with a smile on his lips, showing how he thought, and what he was trying to do for Sona.
"Yes, I think that…well, I am surprised, that you thought about me like that."
Sona expressed honestly, almost expecting the exact opposite of what he was going to do for her, Zenki himself finding it quite odd that she'd feel like that after everything they had gone through together.
"Don't sound so shocked. It is a challenge for myself, and it is also something for your peerage as well. I thought you might've been happy to receive them? A-Aren't you excited about that, Sona-tan?"
"Of course I am excited. But I find it…odd, honestly. The word I'm using probably isn't strong enough, but that's how I feel. I feel good, yet a sense of dread as well. For some reason, I feel like you're going to give me something that…embarrasses me."
At her admission, Zenki wasn't sure if she was being real right now or not.
"I'm not going to give you something embarrassing at all. I only want to help your peerage, and because Sera-tan asked me, I'm taking care of you. And even if she didn't ask me, I'd still take care of Sona-tan since she's my childhood friend."
At those words, Sona's expression fell slightly.
"Childhood friend…yes, that is what we are."
She almost sounded disappointed, but Zenki didn't know why.
"Do you feel…dissatisfied about me being your childhood friend?"
"It isn't like that." Sona cleared up, taking a breath. "I always thought that…no, it doesn't matter. Anyway, Kyoto, huh. I went there last year with Rias, Akeno, and Tsubaki, and of course yourself, though you were busy during that time as well. It was an enjoyable experience, especially when Rias fell into a huge pond, soaking her from head to toe."
Sona's face lifted ever so slightly, and made a smile known to her face.
"Hehe, I think that would've been funny to see. Too bad I was busy in Kyoto during that time to see that."
Zenki thought it would be funny if he did see that, and Sona agreed, wishing she could see that again.
As Sona and Zenki were having a conversation, there was a knock at the door.
"Yes?"
Sona invited them in with a single word, and the door opened…to reveal Rias.
She stood there with a slightly small smile on her face, barely noticeable.
"Hello Sona, and Zenki."
Rias greeted, the pair of them.
"Hello Rias, is there something wrong?"
At Sona's question, Rias walked further into the room, and tilted her head.
"No, nothing is wrong. But Zenki…" Her head turned towards him. "…it's your turn to take care of the Strays, correct?"
"Well, yes, but what does that have to do with…"
Rias put on her best smile, and bowed her head.
"You see, I need you to do something for me. With regards to Ise. I mean…erm, would you, when you get the call for one, would you perhaps take Ise with you? I wouldn't ask, but you have all your main pieces. You know, Queen, Rook, Knight, Bishop, and Pawn. I thought that with regards to Ise, it would be easier to show rather than just tell. He might become confused."
Zenki quietly listened to the request, and didn't have any reason to say no, so he agreed while nodding his head.
"I don't see why not. If we get one before Monday, I don't see why not. Though I'm sure that we will, since Stray's seem to flock to this town as if they are drawn here for some reason or another."
Rias let a relieved look appear on her face.
"Ooh, thank you. That's one less worry for me now. Since you're doing this for me, I will do anything for you, anytime. It seems that lately, I've been depending on you for Ise, and it makes me feel complicated about this."
"Don't worry about such things. Hyoudou-san is an interesting person. And has quite the future, if I can see where he is going to go from that, then I am pleased with it. And you don't have to do anything for me, I don't see this as a chore. If I'm going to fight a Stray, then I'm going to do my best to help your Pawn become more knowledgeable, at least for his sake."
Rias chuckled a little bit, and smiled in thanks.
"Thank you, and goodbye. Enjoy your time with Sona." Rias' eyes went towards Sona. "Sorry for the interruption."
Sona's expression didn't change.
"It is okay, do not worry."
Despite saying only few words, Rias felt like she had really ruined a time where Zenki and Sona were together, and felt bad about it. But, she took a breath in, and left Sona and Zenki alone, so they could talk with one another again.
"So, what is a Stray Devil, you asked?"
Zenki questioned as he, and his peerage slowly walk towards the place where they had to go in order to fight the Stray. Usually, they'd take out the Stray easily, but that wasn't possible this time, since Issei was around, and Rias had asked him to show Issei the different types of pieces. Since he didn't have a reason to say no, he did as he had been asked, but since Rias was going to do something with him anyway, it was all good in the end.
"Y-Yeah, Buchou didn't say anything."
"I see. Well, a Stray Devil is a Devil that has left their masters side, and gone astray. People like us, Rias-tan or even…well, since this is the territory that Rias-tan and I share in protection, we're tasked by the Arch-Duke sometimes to clean up this mess. Stray's are quite ruthless in what they do."
"Also, sometimes Strays are lovely people nyaaa."
Kuroka added while folding her arms, Zenki nodding his head.
"There are different reasons why Stray's are what they are. I've only decided to ever kill Stray's that have had no remorse, or guilt, or whatever in what they have done, and their actions themselves are also under questioning. If they did it for good reasons, then I will have to determine how to move forward. But for this Stray, this creature had a pretty good Master, and treated her kindly, but she killed her former Master, and gained a status where she'd lure people out here during the night to eat their bodies, and devour their souls as well."
"D-Damn, that sounds rough."
Issei muttered, not sure on what to even think about right now.
Zenki looked at the expression on the young mans face, and saw how he was still in doubt, and was thinking deeply about it.
"…Smell of blood."
Koneko covers her nose with her uniform after she says that.
Unlike Issei, Koneko could smell it. Even Zenki couldn't smell it clearly, but Koneko could, Kuroka could too, but she didn't say anything about it, she didn't see the need to say anything about it, as she had done it before anyway.
After that, the people around became quiet.
It becomes very quiet, the area.
They each can feel the presence of an enemy nearby, and its intent to kill them isn't normal.
Issei's legs are shaking. He really was scared. If the others weren't there, he would have escaped.
Zenki who is up at the front putting his hands on his hips looks very reliable in the eyes of Issei, even he couldn't deny that the air around the young boy had changed from the usual calm and collected boy, to the same, but with the air of a leader being around him.
"Hyoudou-san, it's a good opportunity to experience what it's like to fight. Rias-tan thought the same, since she wants me to teach you how to fight, and what we fight like."
"Wait, are you serious!? I'm positive that I won't be of much use!"
Issei got mixed messages, and thought that Zenki was going to send him off into the battle, but Zenki shook his head.
"Yes. It's still impossible now. Don't worry, I won't be sending you out into a battle like this." He says it straight at Issei, giving a smile. "But you can watch what a Devils' battle is like. Today, just concentrate and look at how we fight. Oh, yes. I will also explain the traits the servants have. That would be the best thing to do. Maybe you saw it when my peerage defended you and such, but this time, I will explain what my peerage can do, and what their roles in my peerage are, and their traits are."
"Explain? The traits servants have?"
Issei put on a confused look, but Zenki continues.
"Devils, who are the Master, give traits to those who will become their servants. …Yes, it's probably about time I explain about it and also about the history of Devils." Zenki took a breath, and then continues with a smile. "Long time ago, there was a three sided war between the Devils, the Fallen Angels, and God with its Angels followers. All three sides had a large army and they fought for almost eternity. As a result, all three sides lost most of their troops and the war finished several hundred years ago with no side winning."
Jeanne continues after Zenki.
"The Devils were no exception though, ya know!? Big Devils with peerage who commanded about 20 or 30 troops lost most of their underlings because of the war! They lost so many that they couldn't even form new armies! That's so cool, isn't it!?"
Jeanne peppily said, Issei giving a strained smile.
Valerie then continues on from there.
"I heard that most of the pure Devils passed away in that war. Even after the war, there are still problems between the Devils, the Fallen Angels and God. Even though the Fallen Angels' and God's side also lost most of their troops, we are still in a position where we can't let our guard down, or else we will be in trouble."
Then, Zenki speaks again.
"Then, the Devils decided to use a system to form a small group of soldiers. And that is the Evil Piece."
"Evil Piece?"
Too Issei, it seemed like it's going to get complicated, but Issei knew that he had to listen to it seriously.
Zenki looked at Issei, to see that he was listened, so he continued onwards.
"Devils with Peerage decide to use the traits of the human's game "Chess" to their Servant Devils. It was also sarcasm, because most of the servants are Devils that were reincarnated from humans. Since then, Chess became a popular game in the world of the Devils. We'll leave that aside. Devils who are masters are a King. In our case, that is me. From there, they created 5 special traits that consist of Queen, Knight, Rook, Bishop and Pawn to which I have one of each category being in my peerage, unlike Rias-tan right now, which is one of the reasons she asked me for this. Since they couldn't make an army, they decided to have a small number of Devils and give them enormous powers. This system was made in the past few hundred years, and this unexpectedly became popular amongst Devils with peerage."
"Popular? You mean the Chess rule?"
Zenki nodded.
"They started to compete against each other. For example like, "My Knight is stronger!", or "No, my Rook is stronger!" As a result, High-class Devils started to play a game like that of Chess against each other using their Servant Devils. We call it the 'Rating Game'. Anyway, this game became very popular amongst the Devils. Now, there are even tournaments for it. The strength of their Pieces and also how strong they are at the game affects the Devils' social position, and their peerage. There is a thing called Piece Collect where they gather humans with talents and make them into their Pieces. It's very popular recently. Talented servants become their status."
"Besides for Zenki-chan of course! He's already dead popular in the Underworld! For being…" Kuroka was going to reveal it, but she thought it would be funnier for it to be revealed at a very serious time. "Naaah, never mind nyaaa~"
"I'm not a matured Devil yet, so I can't participate in the official tournament, though I have once been included in helping an elder Devil prepare for a Rating Game. Even if I could, there are things that I need to go through, or else I can't play. In short, my other servants here won't be participating in a game for a while, though maybe in summer, I have been hearing things about being a tournament."
Issei was baffled by the words Zenki was speaking, but he got the gist of it, and turned to Ravel.
"So does that mean that Ravel and the others haven't played in that game yet?"
"Yes, that is correct. Officially, Zenki-sama hasn't participated in an official game with his own peerage, however, in the past, Zenki-sama was included in someone else's official game, where he became apart of a team, and fought with some upper class Devils, and such. Though since he was young, he couldn't compare to the Ultimate Class Devils, Zenki-sama was the brains of the team, and helped the games reach the conclusion where his team won."
Issei was astonished, looking at Zenki who nodded his head.
"W-Wow, so if you're a…leader, you also once participated in a game?"
"It was quite a while ago, but yes, there was this incident between some raging families, and I was asked to participate in the games, serving as a Bishop, due to the other places being taken. However, I wasn't actually given a Bishop piece or something, I was just classed as such. That was quite the fun time."
"I don't remember that, though?"
Asia noted, not recalling when Zenki did that.
Zenki smiled at his Bishop, and folded his arms.
"It was when I was, around 12 or something. Before I gained you as a peerage member. It wasn't a huge deal or anything."
"Huge deal, it was Zenki-sama. That was where you began gaining fame for being who you are, helping that team of High Class, and Ultimate Class Devil's become the victors."
"Well..." He scratched his cheek with an embarrassed blush on his cheeks from Ravel's words. "...it was a time where they needed my intellect is all. Not to say they were stupid or anything, because they were smart people, but it was a place where my different approach to battle could be used. That was a fun time though, it gave me a chance to participate in a true fight, even though I didn't fight much. Though I did fight together with Diehauser-sama, that was an amazing time in my life. The man that I want to beat one day and stand on top with the peerage I love..."
"I didn't know you felt like that, Zenki-sama."
Ravel noted with the others not knowing of it either, Zenki's eyes lighting up.
"Well, Diehauser-sama was really kind to me during that Rating Game, and didn't treat me like a child, and asked me for my advice, despite being the top of the games. And later said that he'd wait for me to have a truly challenging fight together. That's one of my goals anyway, to reach him to that fight, and have a true fight with him using our own hands and fists, and peerages against the other, and see who's the best..."
The girls in Zenki's peerage all smiled, happy to hear that he had a goal like that, deciding that they'd do anything to help him in anyway possible.
It was lost on Issei though, he didn't know what he was talking about, and became impatient.
"So, Shota, what is my role and traits? And what piece am I?"
Issei rudely asked, wanting to know what was going on right now, Zenki not taking offence to it, and nodded his head.
"Hyoudou-san, you are…"
Zenki stops there.
Issei also knows the reason why. All of them can feel chills all over their bodies. That's because of the presence of the enemy and its intent to kill became much stronger.
"I can smell something disgusting. But I can also smell something delicious. Is it sweet? Or is it sour?"
A low voice which is coming from below the ground. Issei felt unnerved about the voice, but none of the others really seemed to be shocked at all. In fact, the one he thought would be the most frightened, Asia, seemed to be perfectly relaxed.
"Stray Devil Visor. We are here to eliminate you."
Zenki says that while radiating killing intent.
"Ketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketaketa…"
The abnormal laughter echoes around them.
This isn't a laugh of a human. It's also not a laugh of a Devil that Issei knew of.
But Zenki and the others had heard this before, and unlike Issei, they weren't that bothered about it.
Nggh…
A topless woman appears from the shadow, and it took a step forward.
A heavy footsteps. The next thing that appears is the body of a gigantic beast. It's a grotesque being with an unnatural form having a woman's upper body and the lower body of a monster. It's holding something that looks like a spear in both of its lower body of the monster has four fat legs with sharp claws, and a snake tail appeared behind it, smashing against the ground to try and scare the Devils, and besides Issei, none of them were frightened. From the size of it, it's definitely more than 5 meters tall. If it stands on its hind legs, it would've been much taller.
"T-That things a Devil!?"
Issei's wild question was met with a nod from Jeanne.
"Yup! Isn't it ugly!? That thing should be punished in the name of the Lord! Ooh Lord! Please bless me as I do what is needed to destroy this creature before me!" Jeanne received pain in her skull from the praying, twitching her body, a luminescent blush appearing on her cheeks. "Ooh yeah, that definitely feels good~ I wanna feel more and more of that goodness in the future~ I am so freaking stoked right now! Yes! That's it! Zenki-chan, I'm feeling it! Can I please go first?!"
Zenki nodded as he looked at the Devil that Strayed.
"Leaving your Master's side, killing and stealing souls of the humans around here, and rampaging as you please definitely deserve death. In the name of my Otou-sama, and my Okaa-sama, and also myself, I will gladly eliminate you!"
Issei had to wonder if Zenki had special parents since he mentioned them specifically, when he hadn't heard Rias mention her own before. Though he didn't know much about Devil Zenki. He didn't even know much about what house he was from, and what he could really do, only beginning to scratch the surface of everything that happened.
"You are cunning for a little boooooooooooooooooooy! I will rip your body, and colour it in red and destroy that forest green hairrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!"
The monster barks, but Zenki just laughs with his nose.
"Wow, you sound super serious right now, and sound like you're actually threatening to kill me when we have the advantage here. Jeanne-tan, it's your turn!"
"Yes! It is my chance to shine brightly and take out everything that needs to be taken out! Let's go, because of the Lord!"
Jeanne, who was near Issei, sprints ahead as soon as Zenki gives her an order. She was fast. Too fast for Issei to even really see. Zenki could see her, and most of the others could too, but Issei, he was baffled on where she was.
"Hyoudou-san, I will continue from the lecture before." Zenki smiled as he watched Jeanne whiz around the battlefield. "Jeanne-tan's position is Knight. Its trait is speed. Those who become a Knight have their speed increased."
Just like Zenki said, Jeanne speed increases, and he couldn't even see where she had gone with her eyes at all. It was like, everything had disappeared before his eyes. Issei couldn't even get a trace of her movements.
The monster is using its spear to attack, but it didn't seem like it will hit. Each spear it the ground that she thought that it would hit Jeanne, Jeanne though was too fast, the Devil that was a Stray couldn't even do anything.
"And Jeanne-tans ultimate weapon is swords."
Jeanne stops and suddenly he is holding onto a European sword. She took it out of the scabbard, and the drawn sword is reflecting the light of the moon.
Jeanne suddenly disappears again. Next moment, the scream of the monster echoes.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
When Issei looked, both of its arms are cut from its torso along with the spear. Blood gushes out of its wound.
"This is Jeanne-tans power. Speed that you can't follow with your eyes, and sword skills of a professional. By combining these two, she becomes the fastest Knight. Though, Rias-tan would argue her speedy Knight is faster, but I don't think that. Well, maybe it is because I am bias to my own Knight and her power. Yeah, it probably is something like that."
As Zenki said that, the monsters large naked breasts jiggled, Issei's eyes widening at the pair of boobs. It didn't matter that the body was grotesque, Issei was entranced by the breasts that moved by themselves.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! Self moving oppai! Is this justice right now!?"
Zenki wasn't sure if Issei was excited or frightened. His voice seemed a mixture of both. But the perverted look on his face was telling Zenki and the others that he was having lewd thoughts about the monster before them.
"Erm, not to sound mean, but are you aroused by that?"
Ravel was the one to ask, feeling slightly disturbed if he was, but if he wasn't, then she'd understand, but that face he had wasn't telling her that.
Issei clenched his fist together while the breasts gained magic circles around the nibble area.
"Yes! Yes! That's right! Those oppai are amazing! I don't mind the body, I will focus on the oppai!"
Ravel twitched her body backwards, afraid of the boy near her, and put distance away from him as a result.
"Zenki-sama, I must be the one to destroy the breasts that are going to attack right now. I can't, and won't have this person perv on a monster near me. I don't care about if he does it to normal girls, but to a monster, I am disturbed."
Zenki nodded his head without saying a word.
Ravel moved forward as the monster turned its attention towards her.
"Cheeky little bitch! I'm going to melt you!"
Ravel felt like it was Kuroka calling her a whore again, though she actually wasn't this time, and looked genuinely angry at someone else picking on Ravel.
Briefly turning, she saw that Kuroka was smiling dangerously at her, sexually winking towards the young girl.
Ravel could barely look at her anymore, so turned back to the monster.
"Now, is Ravel. She is my Bishop, and her trait is…"
"Damn blonde idiot!"
Ravel felt tears in her eyes as she watched the monsters breasts fire off acid bullets. Some landed around Ravel, melting the very ground. As Issei witnessed this, he became frantic with worry, and didn't know what to do.
"W-Wait, isn't she going to…"
Issei thought that Ravel should get out of there, but Zenki seemed to be not worried.
Ravel put her hand upwards, and a flame wall appeared instantly. Without even a hint of her using that, a fire wall appeared to be as big as the monster itself, and because of the intense heat of the flames of a Phenex, the acid bullets couldn't get through.
"Ravel-tan is my Bishop. The Bishop gains enhanced magical capabilities that can be used with different means behind them, to cast a multitude of spells, and such. Ravel-tan is actually more of a supporter type of fighter, but she's also from the house of Phenex, and has fire and wind under her control, plus she has immortality on her side, so most attacks can't really hurt her, and even if she was, she can regenerate her wounds to an extent of her demonic power. But, after myself, Ravel-tan is on par with Kuroka-tan and Valerie-tan in demonic power levels."
Issei watched as Ravel put her hands together, and the flames of the wall went towards her cupping hands. In her palms, a flame orb was made, and then Ravel split it into two, holding one in each hand and they spun around in her hands.
"It seems like I have to fight this time. How unbecoming of you, trying to fire acid and such at me. I don't think that can be allowed, and for such a vulgar body and the way Hyoudou-senpai back there is scaring me, I have no choice but to fire off these and melt your breasts."
The monster flinched while Ravel threw the orbs.
"N-NO! NOT MY BREASTS!"
The monster fired off more bullets towards the orbs, but they didn't stop coming for it. The flame spheres kept their state, despite the attacks coming for it, warding each and everyone of them off away from the others too.
"I'm sorry, but that's how it is."
The next moment, Ravel witnessed the breasts of the monster being burned off her body, leaving two messes on her chest, nothing being there. Only blood spurted out from where the breasts used to be, bleeding profusely.
"Gauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"
The monster screamed as Zenki smiled.
"That's Ravel-tans Phenex fire. It is very hot, and it can beat most forms of fire. And because Ravel-tan is so talented, she has been able to harness many types of different attacks. And if you're wondering about Asia-tan, she is also my Bishop. She heals people with her Sacred Gear."
"Hehe, yes that's right~ I will heal anyone injured~"
Asia smiled like the Virgin Mary, placing a hand to her own cheek, looking happy. But Issei didn't look like he was listening.
His eyes remained on where the monsters chest was, almost as if he was going to cry about losing the sight of her breasts.
Ravel returned to the others, and saw that Issei looked absolutely devastated.
"W-Why did you do that!?"
Ravel retracted from Issei, surprised by how angry he was.
Kuroka was also angry, so she slapped Issei across the face, and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him close to her, as Zenki and the others winced at the slap she gave him. Issei was a mixture of terrified, and aroused by seeing how close she was, and how beautiful she was, but also pissed off.
"Don't you dare yell at her you piece of shit! She's not someone you can yell at nyaaaa!"
"Kuroka-sama…"
Ravel felt good about Kuroka defending her…but it wasn't meant to be.
"That bitch there, is my personal target. No one else can yell at her like that, but me! I won't have anyone else bullying my Ravel-chan nyaaa! Do you understand me or do I have to get heavy handed with you nyaaa!? I will make you scream bitch nyaaaaaaaa!"
Ravel, like that, lowered her face, and hugged Zenki from his left hand side.
"Kuroka-tan, you can't say that. Ravel-tan isn't your personal target, so please apologize."
Kuroka looked defiant, but then…she looked at his hips, where his crotch was, and cried, knowing that if she bullied Ravel anymore than normal, he'd deny her what she wanted, and that, was a very frightening concept to her.
"Okay, I'm sorry Ravel-chan nyaaa."
Ravel wasn't sure if she was being sincere or not, but accepted the apology regardless, Kuroka letting Issei go, and went to Zenki's side also, running her hand down his chest, and hugged him from behind, her own breasts pushing against Zenki's back, her hand cupping him from down below, his eyes shooting open while Issei looked on with jealousy.
"Kuroka-tan! Not here!"
"Mouuu, you never let me play with your dick nyaaa. Even though I'm here, and ready to play with you, you still refuse. Zenki-chan is cruel nyaaa~ I can't even have fun with Zenki-chan like this, I want to play nyaaa~"
Adding allure, Kuroka licked his neck, each of the girls looking pissed off with her.
Zenki groaned when she rubbed with her cupping hand on his crotch, and defiantly shook his head.
"W-Wait until l-later…n-not now…"
Kuroka pouted, but accepted it, kissing him on the lips, shocking Ise. His eyes continued watching as Kuroka basically tongued Zenki and took control over the kiss. She didn't care if anyone watched…in fact, she found it enjoyable for people to be aware of their making out sensations, and right now, they were quite annoyed with Kuroka doing that.
Kuroka pulled away, leaving a panting Zenki, and a satisfied Kuroka.
"Zenki-chan's surely got loving lips, that only Asia-chan and Shirone have also tasted before~ Even that Ravel-chan, Valerie-chan and Jeanne-chan haven't even kissed Zenki-chan like that before nyahahahahahaha~"
While Asia and Koneko turned away shyly, Jeanne, Ravel, and Valerie looked very pissed off right now. Even for Jeanne to look like this, it made the others seem like they were going to explode, as Jeanne was usually happy and calm, but right now, she was even on a level where she could be called frightening, Ravel and Valerie being higher in rage than she was.
"Uuuuurrrgghhh…"
The monster moaned, lifting its body, breaking the girls out of their murderous looks, thankfully to Issei.
Then as the monster was recovering, a shadow moves near the monster's legs…it was Koneko.
Zenki nodded to himself, and explained to Issei.
"Next is Koneko-tan. She is a Rook, and my first official servant. The trait of a Rook is…"
"Damn inseeeeeeeeect!"
The enormous monster tries to stomp on Koneko-chan!
"K-Koneko-chan! Hey, she's in trouble…"
Issei stopped when seeing what happened.
The monster's foot didn't hit the ground. It wasn't able to stomp completely.
The girl with a tiny body is lifting up the monster's foot.
"The trait of a Rook is simple. Absolute strength. And also very high defence. It's impossible for a Devil with that calibre to stamp on Koneko-tan. It can't crush her. And because she is so adorable, she is able to become the best Rook ever that I could hope for."
Koneko completely lifts up the monster, a dangerous gleam in her eyes.
"…Fly."
Koneko jumps high and punches into the monster's stomach very sharply. The enormous body of the monster gets thrown enormous monster went flying with just one punch.
"Lastly, is my Queen, Valerie-tan."
"Yes, Zenki-kun What should I do?"
Valerie is smiling while walking towards the monster that is on the ground after being hit by Koneko.
"Valerie-tan is a Queen. She's the one who is the strongest after me. She is the girl who holds a special Sacred Gear inside of her, my second in command when I am not around for which you have witnessed for yourself, who has all the traits of Knight, Bishop, and Rook."
"Guuuuuu…!"
The monster stares at Valerie. Valerie makes a fearless laugh after seeing the monster's gaze.
"It seems that even the others haven't been able to give you enough. Since you've been hurting my peerage and such, I cannot allow you to continue. Since it is a time where I don't have to use my Vampire powers, I will use some demonic power instead, and show off like Akeno-san."
Valerie puts her hands towards the sky and in the next instant, the sky sparkles, and a lightning bolt strikes down the monster.
"Gagagagagagagagagagagagaaa!"
The monster gets electrified violently. Its entire body gets burnt and smoke are coming out from it.
"Wow, you're a really naughty for a monster-chan aren't you? I'm not usually a sadist, so I won't go full power and erase you…wait, that makes me sound more sadistic, doesn't it? Aah well, I guess it doesn't matter right now. Here, have another one."
Another lightning bolt hit the monster, wrapping around it like a blanket.
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
The monster gets electrified again. It already sounds like its dying.
Even so, Valerie strikes down the third lightning. She looked quite happy to do it, she looked like she would be able to do it.
"Valerie-tan excels at attacks using demonic powers. She could use natural elements like lightning, ice, and fire. Though she's stronger when using her Vampire powers which she has been able to develop more than demonic powers, though the demonic powers are top notch as well. It's a good thing that she isn't a sadist huh, like Akeno-tan."
Zenki confesses as if it was nothing, Issei hearing that Akeno was a sadist.
"W-Wait, Akeno-san is a sadist?"
Issei's eyes turned a little scared, but Zenki reassured him.
"Usually, she's very kind, but once the battle starts, she won't stop until she calms down. That's how my Akeno-tan is after all."
Issei's body turned stiff at the thought of her being quite, scary.
"…Uuu, I'm scared of Akeno-san."
Issei expressed his honest thoughts about Akeno, but Zenki chuckled.
"You don't have to be afraid, Hyoudou-san. Akeno-tan is very kind to comrades, so it's not a problem. Though, I think she might want to do S and M with me, so that might be a little worrying…yeah, I think that Akeno-tan might come for me if I think about it like that. She's going to come for me, and do weird things…best not think about it."
"Hmmm, so even with this lightning, you still seem to be quite aggressive towards me huh. But, that cannot be said about anything, can it? Yeah, if I think about it strongly, you're only getting in my way like this, so I have to send some more lightning your way."
Valerie once again put her hand to the sky, and summoned more lightning. it rained down like it should, and wrapped around the monster, shocking it back into reality. The cries of the monster could barely, if at all, be heard.
Once the creature stops moving, essentially nearly dead, Zenki went to take a step forward, but Kuroka put her hand outwards.
"Zenki-chan, I haven't been able to kill anything lately…c-can't I do this one? You can explain about my own piece to the noob there. Isn't it alright nyaaa? Can't we show him that I am awesome as well, and send this bastard straight to hell nyaaa?"
Kuroka's face adopted innocence, it looked the pinicle of innocence right now, and Zenki felt like he was going to fall to the ground right now. Seeing her like this, he was going to quiver from the sight of the cute Kuroka, even Issei looked smitten with her…but that stopped when her dangerous eyes turned towards him, causing him to stop.
"Alright then, please Promote."
"Yeah fuckers nyaaa!" Kuroka raised her hand to the sky, and proclaimed happily. "I wanna become an awesome Queen bitches! Please give me the amazing powers of the Queen that I am better at being than Valerie-chan!"
Valerie scowled as a change happened with Kuroka. Because she had permission, she was able to promote to being the Queen, Issei looking on with a confused look. Zenki curiously watched as Kuroka went forward mischievously, the monster has already lost its will to fight.
"Now, finally. Kuroka-tan is my Pawn. As a Pawn, she doesn't have the abilities of Rook, Knight, Bishop. But, however, when she gains permission to promote from a King, from her King I mean, like me, or she enters a territory that I have designated as enemy territory, she'll be able to take any of the traits. Bishop, Rook, Knight, or Queen. She can become any of them, and she usually goes straight for Queen, because she likes it. But yeah, she's good when she becomes the Queen."
Issei was in awe, as he watched Kuroka move forward.
Kuroka put her hand towards the monster once making it to the enemy.
"Any last words you fucking slut?"
Kuroka demands an answer, making her eyes look scary.
The monster looked terrified, almost devoid…no, it was devoid of life now.
"Kill me."
That's the only thing the monster says. It couldn't say anything, it was too scared, and beaten. After everything that had happened, it couldn't do anything. It couldn't even move at all. It's eyes coloured the stain of fear, and even Zenki felt slightly sorrow for the creature, but that was soon dispelled when Zenki remembered what the creature had done before, and what it could do in the future.
"I wish you were Ravel-chan so I could do this for real nyaaa."
Ravel put a hand to her face and looked a little scared, so Zenki called Kuroka to protect Ravel from her.
"Kuroka-tan, don't be rude to Ravel-tan, you know it isn't nice if you do that. She is a comrade, you can't say you want to kill her, and I take bullying very seriously. If you don't stop, I will have to deny you sleeping in my bed."
"Fuck sake nyaaa. That's like death to someone like me. Can't I continue please Zenki-chan?" Zenki glared even more, so Kuroka relented. "Sorry Ravel-chan, I got a little horny again nyaaa."
"W-What…?"
She didn't quite believe she heard what Kuroka said, but the catgirl winked in her direction.
"Nothing sweetheart nyaaa. Don't you worry your sexy tight body about anything and allow me to make you feel good."
Ravel wasn't sure if Kuroka was coming onto her again. In some ways, her coming onto Ravel was worse than when she just outright called her names. In many ways, being called what she was, was better than being sexually teased.
Kuroka turned back towards the enemy, and winked cheerily.
"Alright bitch, time to die~"
Kuroka put her hands together, and a sphere of Senjutsu and Youjutsu was made, and is shot out from Kuroka's palm. It's so big that it can cover all of the monster's body. The mass of Senjutsu and Youjutsu devours the monster's body.
When the Senjutsu and the Youjutsu disappears, so did the monster's body.
Confirming that, Zenki makes a smile appear on his face.
"It's over. Good work everyone. You've done great!"
At that moment, everyone returns back to their usual self.
The Devil that Strayed had disappeared, and Issei was in awe. Each of the members, barring Zenki and Asia showed quite scary side to them. He didn't know whether to be worried or happy right now. He wanted to know if they really could've done it alone, with everything that he had seen beforehand, but now, it was a little worrying.
However, as he was thinking about it, Issei recalled that Zenki hadn't told him his piece yet, so he turned to the green haired Shota who was slowly rubbing the top of Koneko's head, and Ravel's head too, the pair of them smiling like they were happy to receive such a thing.
"Zenki, there is still a thing that you didn't tell me."
"What is it?"
Zenki responds with a smile, so Issei adopted a sheepish look, not used to males smiling at him, much less being friendly like this, his only other friends usually being jackasses to him, so it was pleasantly surprising that Zenki was being this kind to him.
"My Piece…more like, what is my role as a servant." Issei asked, and then thought about what he could be. "I know that Akeno-san is the Queen, Buchou is the leader. Kiba…I don't know. I bet he's the Knight, the Prince Knight or something like that. The Rook…with the strength, I could be that. the Bishop…I don't know if I'm suited to magical stuff…and the Pawn…a-am I the Pawn?"
Issei apparently didn't recall what the Pawn could do, and felt like he was going to be a foot soldier.
Zenki furrowed his eyebrows, and then expressed with a kind smile on his lips.
"You are a Pawn. Hyoudou-san, you are a Pawn."
At that moment, Issei looked devastated.
"S-So…I'm a Pawn…"
Zenki nodded his head, and then saw the look on Issei's face, questioning it.
"What's wrong Hyoudou-san?"
"Y-You just said that I'm a Pawn, I'm the lowest, aren't I?"
Zenki tipped his head to the side, but ultimately shook his head.
"No, didn't you hear about Kuroka-tan? She can take any pieces form that she desires. In fact, like the Queen, the Pawn can use any aspect of the Evil Pieces system. You can become a Rook, Knight, Bishop or Queen. You can take these for yourself, and Master each form. Listen, the only difference between you and the Queen is that the Queen has access to these powers without having to promote, that's it."
Light lit up Issei's eyes.
"R-Really?"
The green haired boy chuckled, nodding his head.
"That's right, you are quite diverse Hyoudou-san. You're not bound to your single trait, you have all of them. You can see which is good for you, which one works, and which one doesn't, if any at all don't, but if it is Hyoudou-san, then I am confident that you'll be able to find the right way to move forward."
"T-Thanks…"
For some reason, Issei ended up scratching his cheek shyly, something he rarely did.
"No problem! Hyoudou-san will-"
"Hey, errr…s-since you kinda like, are being nice. You can call me Ise."
Zenki was surprised that Issei actually suggested his nickname for Zenki to call him, but accepted it as Issei trying to be friendly with Zenki, so he smiled, and leaned forward with a childlike smile on his face.
"Ise-kun then! That's better! You can…wait, you call me Zenki anyway. You can still call me that."
Issei nodded, and looked away. Zenki's peerage curiously looked at Issei, then all went over to him, and pointed at him, confusing him.
"W-What?"
At Issei's question, the girls all smiled, and rushed Zenki, latching onto him wherever they could.
[Love you! We're glad you've made friends with him!]
"Hehe, thanks girls. I love you too. Come on, we should go home. We've got to prepare to leave on Monday."
[Okay!]
At that, the girls all cheered and slowly began walking home, wanting to take in the nights breeze for himself. Zenki watched on as his peerage began walking away, proud of each and everyone of them, and then saw Issei not moving so went over to him.
"Ise-kun, is there something wrong?"
"N-No…I was thinking about Yuuma-chan…"
Zenki's face turned into a comforting smile, and patted Issei's back.
"Don't worry, I know that everything will work out."
"You…don't know that…she didn't kill me…you know?"
At the news, Zenki titled his head.
"She didn't kill you huh."
"She…She wouldn't. I don't know why…she had her wings out, she had a spear of light and whatever, but she didn't kill me. She told me to run away…and if I listened, I could've-"
"You wouldn't have been able to get away." Zenki astounded Issei, then continued. "You were human, you wouldn't be able to have outrun a Fallen Angel. Even if you did run, the end result would've remained the same, so don't blame yourself for staying. It is understandable, with everything you've gone through Ise-kun. Remember, even if it looks bleak, there is always hope. My peerage taught me that long ago, and I think it is a good life lesson too. Plus, you've got a world changing Sacred Gear."
At that, Ise's interests perked, wondering what he meant.
"I do!?"
Zenki chuckled, and walked backwards.
"Indeed you do, Ise-kun. You might not think it right now, but you're a world changer, with your Sacred Gear. It is one of the most powerful Gears that exist. Your powers, I would be interested to see where you're going to go from here on. Fufufu, you're quite the strange person Ise-kun, but you've got a big heart, I can tell. At least, I know you're one of the better people I've ever met."
"L-Like…"
Zenki smiled, and continued walking backwards.
"Come on Ise-kun, you might be left behind."
"I-I'm coming!"
Issei caught up to Zenki, and then the pair of them walked away together, catching up with the peerage and walked home, once dropping Issei off at his house so he didn't get caught up with anything that he shouldn't get caught up with.
"Are you ready?"
A woman in a white cloak said, to another woman wearing a white cloak.
The second girl was sorting things into a suitcase. Clothes, and other things that the pair of them might need.
The girl lifted her cheerful eyes, and winked at the first one.
"I can't believe that I get to go to that place! I haven't even been to that country in such a long time!"
The second girl seemed to be really excited right now, and for whatever reason, the first girl didn't seem amused at all.
"I suppose. But don't forget the mission, we're not to see sights. We've got to put a stop to the person causing trouble."
The second girl's face fell into a pout.
"I guess…but even then, we're going towards-"
"I'm well aware." The first girl cut her off, folding her arms. "I'm sure once we get there, the mission is going to be difficult, but we've got to do it. We're the only ones available right now to make that journey. If all goes according to plan, we'll be there by Monday afternoon."
The second girl broke out into a large smile, and thrusted her hand upwards with an arching smile on her face.
"Here we come, Kyoto!"
That's the end of the chapter!
Some important information dropped this chapter! Even if it doesn't look like it, it will become more clear as the story goes on. I'm pretty sure everyone can guess who was talking with the Fallen Angels, but they've got their eyes on a certain someone…and from Asia and Jeanne being sad about not reaching Balance Breaker yet, to Kuroka and Koneko taking in some Dragon ki from Zenki, and finally Valerie resurrecting Zombie's and turning them into super powered beings, it seems training is quite, fun to do! Mittelt is being her usual self, but slowly is becoming more of her own person and Gasper is getting closer to Zenki, as is Sona in her own way. And finally, Issei has learned about things of the Devils, and has even moved his relationship with Zenki more forward to first name basis!
Next chapter, Zenki will be reuniting with someone that he never wanted to be reunited with! So look forward to that, and see you next time where an old enemy is going to come back!
Zenki; Asia, Koneko, Kuroka, Jeanne, Valerie, Xenovia, Serafall, Ravel, Irina, Sona, Ophis, Le Fay, Kunou, Akeno, Gabriel, Vali (fem), Mittelt, Gasper (fem).
Issei; Aika, Tsubasa, Kiyome, Isabela, Rossweisse, Elmenhilde, Raynare, Rias, Kalawarner.
Zenki's Peerage
Queen; Valerie.
Rooks; Koneko, Xenovia.
Bishops; Asia, Ravel.
Knights; Jeanne, Irina.
Pawns; Kuroka (5 pieces) Le Fay (2 pieces) Kunou (1 mutation piece)
Rias Peerage
Queen; Akeno.
Rooks; Aika, Rossweisse.
Bishops; Gasper (two pieces)
Knights; Kiba, Raynare.
Pawns; Issei (8 pieces).
