(A/N) Guys! Please forgive me for anything I may have done to disappoint you, either my update time or my writing. But it was getting hard simultaneously maintaining the story while trying not to fail my studies.
Please enjoy this chapter and leave a review.
LINE BREAK
This is it. Issei thought to himself.
He was currently inside the locker room. He was wearing all white tennis apparel. He had the thinnest cover of sweat on his skin. A tennis racket was beside him. It was blue and black in color. His hair was being held back by a black men's headband.
He was listening intently at the dropping of water at the showers. Azazel was training him in how to play multiple sports these last two days, Saturday and Sunday. Of course, Gabriel supported him in the sidelines, making him bento, the unbelievably delicious kind. He was also teaching Gabriel after his training with Azazel. He didn't want Azazel to be training both of them, that man was crazy. Who knows what that man might do to his princess.
He smiled when his gaze laid upon an apple green lunch box. Gabriel made him this before she left this morning. She said she had to go to heaven since there are some emergency matters that pooped out of nowhere. Issei's fighting spirit dampened at this, and she noticed this so she made him her delicious bento. She promised that she will arrive in time at the ball competition, just not at his match with Dulio since it is going to occur first thing in the morning. The very first event in the competition was his match with the man he considered his brother, Dulio. A tennis match. Or more like try to kill each other with deadly glares while trying to hit each other with energy-improved balls match.
Issei stood up and stretched. Feeling the satisfying sound of his bones cracking a bit. The sound of the announcer can be faintly heard in the room.
"Hey, kid. It's time." A voice called. Issei turned to see Azazel wearing a black dress shirt with white trimmings. He had his goofy smile plastered on his face and his eyes were half opened, like he was about to sleep. Issei couldn't help but be filled with confidence at the sight of his teacher. He walked up to Azazel who grinned at him like crazy, patting him at his shoulders.
Issei breathed in, "Time to kill that brother of mine."
Azazel laughed, "It's not gonna be that easy."
"Of course it isn't." Issei rolled his eyes, a smile on his face. "But that just makes it more fun."
Azazel shrugged. He was training this boy the past two days. He was pretty confident that Issei would have no problem based on the performance of his training. But then again, he was against Dulio, another Joker of Heaven and also the possessor of the second most powerful Longinus, the Zenith Tempest. If anyone could come close in matching Issei in power, that would probably be Dulio.
Issei walked out of the locker room and his ears were instantly filled by the squealing of the girls. He resisted the urge to suddenly hide at the locker room as he felt like he was being stripped.
Azazel noticed this and smiled, "Don't mind them, Issei." He said. "Keep your focus at Dulio. I'm sure he is feeling just as same as you."
The girls and some f the boys were rapidly cheering Issei on. They held these banners and mini flags, showing them off like crazy. Normally, the teachers and he staff would have calmed the crowd down, and they were but they were failing.
Issei smiled at the sight in front of him. Dulio was in front of him, wearing a similar attire like what he was wearing himself. His hair was tied to a small bun, unlike Issei who had his hair held back by a band. He was holding a red and white tennis racket and an identical smile was on Dulio's face.
"Hello, brother." Dulio said, his eyes were like daggers. His smile turned from kind and welcoming to a challenging and menacing one. His brow arched, as if looking at Issei like he wasn't worthy enough to be an opponent.
Issei didn't let himself be left. His expression turned similar to Dulio. "Hello, sister." Issei said in a voice that was about to laugh.
Dulio growled at this. "you better prepare yourself, Issei. You have no idea how much I have waited to beat you when I saw your name in the billboard. You are going to lose terribly. I trained under Sirzech-san and Ajuka-san. They have taught me the secrets of tennis and also a bit of how to trick your opponent." He laughed sinisterly.
Issei yawned, "Whatever. Let's just battle each other so we can find out who really is superior between the two of us." He walked up near the net that was separating the two. Dulio chuckled darkly before walking up to his opponent.
The crowd fell silent at this. They were silently becoming excited with how the mood was deadly.
The devils that were watching sweat dropped. The two siblings looked like they were going to bash each other with their tennis racket to death. Actually, they looked like they were going to kill each other. Their eyes were glowing deadly and they were releasing aura, overwhelming auras. Issei's was red with threads of silver flowing through it while Dulio's was golden with clouds of white floating through it from time to time. The auras can be seen by the devils pushing each other to the other side of the court but failing, only creating something like a borderline. But they couldn't blame the angel duo; this was their first competition after all.
Sona pushed her glasses up. The devils noticed her having a nervous expression on her face. Sona studied closely the aura Issei was releasing. They shouldn't be worried since only supernatural beings can see the intense aura duel the two were in. But she was more worried with what the color of Issei's aura is. Only the hosts of the Two Heavenly Dragons can have crimson red and silvery white auras. But that is impossible to be mixed together…could it be!? Is that why we can't find even one of the hosts for such a long time and why Ise-kun's energy feels so overwhelming?! But if that is true, then Ise-kun should be dead by now and probably entire Japan since the two dragons can never be put into one location together without them obliterating whoever unlucky bastard was in the area…
Rias snapped a finger in front of Sona. Her brows were scrunched up in concern for her best friend. "Oi. Sona?" She asked. "You okay? You looked like you were having a debate in your mind again."
Sona rolled her eyes, although her lips were curved to a small smile. "Don't worry."
Rias's gaze lowered, "Oh. I see you also noticed, huh."
"Ise-kun's aura?"
"Yep." Rias nodded. "I also noticed. But that isn't possible!" She said in a goofy voice. But Sona's grim expression caused her to frown, "Right?"
"I am afraid I don't know, Rias."Sona said honestly. Ever since these angels came in their school, the impossible became possible.
"Today, the annual ball competition of Kuoh academy begins! To mark the beginning of the event, the fight between the new students, brothers Issei and Dulio, will be the first ones to battle in tennis! With Issei representing his newly formed club, the Alchemy club and Dulio representing the Occult Research Club." The announcer, Saji, shouted. The crowd instantly grabbed whatever snack they brought with them and started watching the two competitors who walked back to their respective side of the court.
Issei was holding the ball. "Begin!"
The devils, and also the ordinary students' jaws dropped down the ground when a neon green blur swooshed through from the other side of the court to the other. "T-That's the ball, right?" Asia asked.
Sona nodded in response, her gaze not leaving the two angels. They were moving like they were slicing through people, skillfully navigating their way around their respective court. Though ordinary students can't see, the ball was being laced by a crimson red aura then air then crimson red aura and then air with a bit of lightning. The numbers in the board slowly, no not really. Quickly ascended from both teams. Issei would score, then Dulio will, then Issei will score another one again. The cycle kept going on and on until only one score is needed for both teams to win. Everyone was flabbergasted with how fast-paced the battle was. Not even ten minutes and they were down to the last one, one final score in each team for one team to win.
Issei smiled devilishly at the other side of the court. His hands were numb from all the electricity that flowed from his racket to his arms. Luckily, his arm didn't betray him and kept moving even with the slight tingling he was feeling coursing through his arms whenever the ball made contact with his racket. "You like my technique, Issei?" Dulio asked.
Issei chuckled, "Actually, yes."
Dulio growled, "Then let me show you another one you would surely hate! Frozen lightning!"
Issei noticed the ball become covered by ice that steamed of coldness, with a bit of lightning crackling around it. It left a trail of coldness as it collided with Issei's tennis racket. His racket was instantly covered by a thin sheet of ice and the hand holding his racket was shocked by very high, higher than the others, volts of electricity. He instantly let go of his racket in surprise. There is an amount of electricity he can take on when he was in the human level. It was higher than your average electricity capacity, yes but he could only take on and absorb so far. His eyes widened when his racket fell out of his hands and he saw another ice and electricity covered ball flying towards the other side of his court.
The devils were shocked. These two were going to really kill each other. If that ball was to hit someone, that unlucky person would be frozen and electrocuted, forever tortured in the cold and literally shocking prison. The mere intensity of the energy was high. Higher than even Rias with her power of destruction could counter. It was a good thing the humans can't see the intense fight that looked only like fast tennis for them because Sona set an illusionary barrier around the tennis court. She has foretold that the two, having experienced no competition yet and developed no sense of mercy since they think this is just a game so mercy is not a necessary thing, would show an extreme battle but even she is surprised with how they are taking this too far. They were literally going to kill not only themselves but possibly the whole region of Kuoh if her barrier didn't last.
"Rias, I don't know if my barrier is still going to hold these two." Sona said in a slightly nervous tone. Rias looked at her and knew exactly that her friend was having a bad time in holding and containing the excess energy these two rivers of power were releasing. She was staring nervously forward and sweat was trickling down her face.
"What do I do?" rias asked,
Sona looked at her, panting. "Channel your energy through me. I will need every energy you got. These two are literally monsters if it comes to powers." Before she chuckled. "I have never though that I would go through so much trouble because of a freaking tennis battle. Unbelievable."
The devils knew that Dulio has probably scored a point when Issei dropped his racket but were surprised. Issei suddenly twisted his body skillfully, using his other arm to catch his falling racket before moving like a snake to deflect the ball with his already electrocuted hand.
Issei growled at Dulio who was smiling smugly, "You want to play it that way, huh? Ok, I'll play your game."
Sona and Rias choked back a whimper, "Please don't." Sona asked hopefully. They were already having a hard time with the current situation, if Issei was to follow Dulio in using more of his energy. The two shivered with what would happen. They would probably become pile of bones, their flesh disintegrated with the intensity of the energy. They could feel their energy being sucked by the barrier just so it can contain the dangerous energy.
Dulio, Issei, Azazel and even the devils were surprised when Issei hit the ball back. Instead of the common crimson red aura that wrapped around the ball, it was a silver one. Issei raised his eyebrow in confusion. He could have sword he didn't do anything different for the power to change. The devils, although not having any knowledge besides their theories, were also surprised. Even if they knew nothing, the confused expression on both the competitors face informed them with enough facts to conclude that this was something not supposed to happen. The ball left a trail of ghostly silver thread as it traveled from the other side of the court.
Dulio raised a skeptic brow, his expression was that of a nervous person before he smiled smugly. "Nice, that is the scare technique. Sirzech-san already told me that. To suddenly change the color of your aura so the other person would be confused, nervous, and scared at the same time. That is a nice trick, brother, but that won't be working on me!" He shouted before he hit the ball back. And his eyes widened when a wave washed over him. He could feel the grip of his hands on his tennis racket loosening. His mind suddenly went blank. When he tried to cover the ball with elements, he found out he can't and his knees suddenly felt extra wobbly. He felt like vomiting his insides out. There was this annoying ringing that was very painful inside of his ear and his eyes suddenly felt very droopy. He fell down his knees, yawning even if he didn't want to. He knew he made a big mistake, a very big mistake taking that silvery ball head on.
Issei was confused and concerned but he took the opportunity and covered the ball with his aura, silently hoping to become silver again but it didn't, it was the common crimson red. But regardless, the ball landed at Dulio's side of the court.
"The epic clash of the two has finally ended! Issei Hyoudou of the Alchemy Club has won against Dulio Hyoudou of the Occult Research Club!" Sai shouted at the mic. The ordinary humans instantly erupted to cheer.
Sona and Rias smiled in relief, their eyes closing before they fell to the ground, exhausted. "Finally." Sona muttered.
Rias nodded in agreement, "Finally."
Issei looked confused. Draig, Albion? What the hell was that? He asked inside himself. He instantly made his way to Dulio and helped him up. Dulio gladly took his hand, giving another yawn. Issei noticed something different from Dulio, his energy levels were halved? The light shaking of Dulio made Issei guilty as Dulio struggled to walk, even with Issei supporting him.
"Issei? Tell me you saw that ball." Dulio said weakly at Issei, smiling weakly. Issei groaned, now he felt even more guilty.
Issei smiled warmly at his so-called brother, "I saw it. I swear I didn't know what that was! I swear in the name of Ascalon that I never saw that aura before."
Dulio chuckled weakly, "Damn, I feel like I fought against ghouls for two weeks straight. My energy reserves are halved completely. Don't you think that you just used divide for the first time?" Dulio asked. Even though he lost and he felt like sleeping for eternity in heaven, he was happy for Issei. He knew what that was, that was divide! His brother finally got to use his abilities for the first time.
"You think that was divide?" Issei asked with an excited grin.
Dulio chuckled, "I think so? Not just that, I know so!" He said, before glaring at Issei, "Gabriel was right, you are a baka! You used that in front of the devils, fool. Your hard work and attempts to hide that you are the freaking host of not only one but two heavenly dragons can all go to waste with that surprising move of yours. And secondly, you used divide against me! What the heavens, Ise! You have no idea how bad I am feeling right now, I can even barely stand, damn it. And I could probably sleep early tonight, I can't watch the cartoons Asia sent me tonight because of that stupid silvery power of yours. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for you and that technique was cool and all but at least you could have used that against Griselda." He grumbled.
Issei had a surprised smile on his face, "You are right, it was a stupid move to use that in front of the devils. But it was an accident, I didn't even know how that happened. And secondly, you used a freaking ice lightning prison on me! How in heaven's sake was I supposed to act against that instant death prison of yours!? Imagine getting imprisoned in ice then being electrocuted forever?"
Dulio rolled his eyes, doing a little move Issei assumed was a shrug. "Still, that was not fair. You instantly halved my powers and even gained some of my energy for you own." Dulio complained.
"Whatever. You call it not fair when I could have been trapped in an Ice prison forever while getting electrocuted."
Both of them laughed, walking up to the devils. Asia helped support Dulio by getting the other side of his arm and wrapping it around Asia, although that made both of them blush, to Issei's amusement. The devils walked up towards Issei and Dulio, although Kiba walked away. "Congrats, Issei. Your intense battle or more like try to kill each other has finally ended. Thanks for draining both our energies." Sona said, chuckling with an exhausted smile.
"Yeah, sorry bout that. But it seems so fun seeing both of you struggle." Dulio said with an exhausted smile that matched Sona's.
Rias and Sona's eyes narrowed, "What!?"
Issei laughed, "Yeah, we could have easily contained our energies ourselves without much struggle but you two looked like you wanted to try so we let you."
The angel duo laughed. They were stopped by Asia who was clearing her throat and pointing nervously forward. The angel duo's smile wavered when they saw Sona and Rias rolling their sleeves up, murderous glare and intent. Now both of them can easily take these women out but then, they don't hurt women since that is against the moral code Michael gave them and even the strongest of men is afraid of an angry woman. Both of them gulped. Dulio felt his exhaustion flee out of his body in fear. Pesky little coward.
The screaming of the two were heard, making the watching Azazel chuckle and cry in pride as Issei finally got to use one of his abilities.
LINE BREAK
Gabriel couldn't help but squeal. Today was her Issei's competition, of course she was included but still, it was Issei's first competition. Then her face fell. Whatever this mystery problem that popped out of nowhere, she will obliterate it the life out of it. Now she didn't get to see Issei's first competition!
She landed at the golden tiles of the sixth floor of heaven, the seraphs and the other brave saints' dwelling place. She tilted her head in confusion. Her siblings were and Griselda were around the roundtable, grim and serious expression on their faces. She waited there for someone to notice her. And Griselda did, "Gabriel!" She cried out in relief.
Griselda walked up to Gabriel with a smile. She was wearing a casual red that showed off her stomach. She had a western style clothing on her, a cowboy hat hanging behind her neck and brown leather boots that went well with how beautiful she looked. Her silver hair was in a ponytail, with one sigle strand falling at the middle of her pale face.
"Why did you call me?" Gabriel asked in an obviously downcast voice.
Griselda smirked. "You missed Issei's first competition, no?"
Gabriel's eyes widened, "How did you know?" She asked in surprise. Instantly, her brothers turned to her. Uriel putted out a suave look, with red long sleeves and black slacks. He had black leather shoes and a golden necklace with a golden cross. His eyes were bloodshot red, but he had an oddly, proud smile on his face. Beside him was Raphael with a sea green dress shirt. He had light brown pants and olive green vans. He looked like Uriel, only worse. He was openly crying, but he was chuckling at the same time. Meanwhile, Michael was his normal self, only wearing white shirt and blue chino pants. He had his eyes closed and he was waving at her, a small smile on his face. A men's brown leather sling bag hanging across his chest.
Gabriel shook her head in disapproval, she could have believed that the seraphs were crazy if anyone told her that. "What happened?"
"Issei won the tennis competition!" Uriel said while sniffing. He grabbed one of the nearby paper and blew his nose on it. He didn't notice Michael who looked in shock, before he growled and lunged at Uriel who screamed in a high pitch voice. The paper was Michael's plan that the worked on for the last five days.
Gabriel's grumpiness left her entire systems and instead was replaced by joy and pride, "He did!?"
"And he finally got to use divide!" Raphael added while crying.
The seraphs might be terrifying and monsters when it comes to battle but when it some to their little sister, kids, babies, and Issei, they are as soft as the softest marshmallow in the entire world.
Griselda rolled her eyes at the others, "Didn't we agree on staying unbiased!? Why are you all so happy that Issei won and Dulio lost? I know, I am happy too, but let's not forget Dulio here." But her plea has gone unnoticed. The seraphs were too busy with whatever crazy thing they were doing, Michael was whacking Uriel with a twelve-inched ruler, Raphael was crying openly muttering thanks, and Gabriel was in heaven; both literally and figuratively.
"Wait." Gabriel said. Instantly everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to her. "How did you know my Issei- I mean, " She blushed as Raphael and Uriel smiled at her goofily, "I mean, how did you know Issei won?"
"Azazel, remember? He trained him for the past two days and right now, he was wearing his rebuilt glasses." Michael said, smiling at her. Before getting off Uriel who complained, rubbing the part of his head Michael was bashing him with a kiddie twelve-inched ruler.
"Well, why did you call me then?" Her voice becoming dangerous. The gravity of her not getting to watch her Issei's first competition crashed on her like a falling building. She started hyperventilating and murderous intent and ideas filled her head. Azazel got to watch her Issei's competition and she didn't get to?
Michael smiled nervously, "Because of this." He took out from the sling bag hanging around him a small white folded piece of paper. He started unfolding it and it revealed a letter, but everyone in the room knew better. This letter released an odd and dangerous energy. Michael put on his circular glasses he always wore whenever he was going to read before clearing his throat, "This letter was found this morning lying in front of the large doors of heaven. It had a powerful energy wrapped around it, it even blasted a couple of angels that tried to pick it up. The only angels that can hold it without getting blasted was Griselda, Uriel, Raphael, and I. And also, I assumed, you." He ended grimly.
Gabriel raised am interested brow. She approached her brother and gently took the letter from his hand. The overwhelming power put into it can be sensed with ease. Gabriel closed her eyes, waiting for a blast or pain to suddenly appear out of nowhere. None. She slowly opened her eyes, "By the looks of it, my assumption is correct since you didn't get blasted." Michael said with his signature small smile, taking the letter from Gabriel's hand.
He opened it, clearing his throat once again. He looked reluctant in reading it. He stared at the letter like it was literally something that came out of his nightmares. Even seraphs have nightmares from time to time. "It says:
Beware, angels. I have sent this letter not to bring you harm, ah! Besides the foolish angels that got blasted for trying to pick up something they are unworthy of picking up. I casted a very intricate spell any wizard can dream of casting, only you seraphs, and that silver haired warrior of yours can pick this up. Also the pretty little angel my- whoops! That was close. I ain't gonna tell you, what my relation with Issei is, sadly. Don't worry, you will figure it out later on, the question is would you figure it out in time? I sent this letter to serve as a warning or a heads-up of some sort, my brother is about to awaken. I know that wasn't much. Now, I still won't tell you exactly who I am or who my brother is. I am quite amused studying your respective lives and how closer and closer you come close in figuring things out. But I am afraid you are not quick enough, sooner and later, your Issei would be ours, or if not ours…dead. He is precious too us, yes, but if we can't have him then no one can.
Last night, I decided to visit Issei Hyoudou. I managed to hear the lovers talk about some odd subject I managed to identify as peace. An odd subject but that is expected from someone I ordered to be tortured and to be broken and who I casted a high caliber spell on. Then I heard Gabriel reply all the things she would do even if there was trouble. I have to inform you all that that is something very hard to fulfill my dear Gabriel. You won't be able to cook him dinner or lay beside him or hug him if he is dead, no? Haha!
Keep up the amusing show you are putting up. The romance in the show is very exquisite also. I am very happy that Issei got someone to cherish and adore. But beware, love is nothing but a weakness. Even though I don't have to, If I can't beat Issei (That is very impossible, by the way) I might need to use Gabriel. Oh how delightful and exciting how this show of yours would end, the tragic death of Issei Hyoudou by the hands of his gorgeous angel love-"
Gabriel grabbed the letter from Michael's hands and tore it in half. Poisonous violet-colored air suddenly erupted from the tear. A silhouette of a man appeared, a sinister smile on the silhouette's face before becoming one with the holy air Heaven has. Gabriel was growling in anger. She wanted to strangle the life out of that madman wizard's neck. She is willing to forget all her, Peace is better than war philosophy. There is no chance for this man to survive if she was to encounter the man. She would gladly torture the man and kill him in some brutal twisted way. How the man talked in a scientific high-class way and how bluntly he was covering the subject of Issei's death was annoying the heavens out of her.
She doesn't care if this man was insanely powerful, she will find a way to kill the man. How dare he think that our life is a show for him to enjoy! How dare he mock the angels! How dare he taunt them! How dare he try to create some twisted sick scenario of me, out of all people, me to kill my adorable and sweet Issei. I would never do such a thing. He is too precious too me that even the man's strongest of spells can make me kill my Issei. Gabriel fumed in anger.
The seraphs instantly flew near their furious little sister. Uriel and Raphael pulled her to a hug and Michael patted her head. She saw Uriel wipe away her tears.
She didn't notice she had tears flowing down her cheeks. But she couldn't help it, the mere idea of HER killing HER Issei is something she would do anything just to get out of her head. "Now, now. We will get that man and figure him out in time." Michael comforted his adorable little sister. Despite the situation, he had a small smile on his face. He just kept remembering how cute his little sister is and remembered how she would always cry whenever she tripped when she was just a little kid and Uriel would play rough with her. Right now, he viewed the man as someone who bullied his little sister and he couldn't help but feel agitated.
"Onii-sama." She cried out as she buried her face at Uriel's chest.
"Stop it, Gabby. What would Issei say when he sees you like this? He is happy because he won for the first time a real competition then you would dampen his mood because he sees his beloved princess cry?" Michael said sternly, although his usually firm voice wavered at the sight of his sobbing sister. He is just too soft when it comes to Gabriel.
"That man won't get to be near Issei again. We will protect him. Do you understand me? So stop crying." Uriel said in an uncomfortable voice. He really isn't much of the making your little sister stop crying type of a brother, but he is doing his best. But Gabriel's sobbing really just broke his heart, and at the same time urged him to find that madman wizard and beat him to a pulp. He didn't care if the man was stronger than him, he will find that way to kill that man.
"Let's just all go and congratulate Issei from winning the match." Michael added weakly.
Luckily, Gabriel stopped sobbing. He was relieved. He didn't know how much he could take until he blows from that man making his sister cry. He plastered a relieved smile on his face, "Let's go then?"
Gabriel nodded cutely, her eyes red.
LINE BREAK
Michael looked around in amazement. The angels were in their suppressed power form and were wearing the casual to formal clothes they were wearing a while ago. Of course they were attracting the eyes of the people since every single one of them was unusually attractive, and they were all together in one place. It made them uncomfortable, but regardless, the angels besides Gabriel looked at the streets of Kuoh like they were in some kind of rare place, and they are in a rare place. The angels besides Gabriel didn't get a chance to just walk around and date somebody, or even explore a city. So even a standard looking city like Kuoh is exciting for them.
"It's been a while since we got to walk freely like this. There are always conflicts to fix and creatures to hunt down and make extinct. I actually miss becoming human." Griselda said wistfully, but a contented happy smile was on her face.
The angels could only nod in agreement. Uriel suddenly pointed at a bookstore familiar to Gabriel and made her go pink and look down in embarrassment. "Isn't that where Issei and you went and did your lovey-dovey stuff?" Uriel asked in a voice too loud and made the people look their way, much to Gabriel's annoyance and embarrassment. She smacked the behind of Uriel's head, "Could you at least try to keep your voice down?"
Michael laughed at the sight. He was filled with happiness as the angels, his family, messed around as they made their way to Issei's academy. "Hey, we still have plenty of time to spare. Why don't we enter this "legendary" bookstore of Issei and Gabriel's?" Michael said, before his smile twitched when Gabriel's angry glare was redirected to him from Uriel.
Michael shrugged, "I guess we can."
He chuckled as Uriel and Raphael fist bumped, Gabriel to groan and Griselda to muffle a squeal and enter the bookstore, running up the stairs.
Then Michael felt something. A cold and sharp tingle, like a harmless but bothering spark of electricity. He recalled this feeling. This was the feeling he had when he fought against his older brother's friend, Beelzebub, the original Beelzebub. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a black blur go to the alleyway just next to the bookstore. And the aura it left was powerful, terrifyingly powerful. The others seemed to notice the weird expression on Michael's face. Gabriel approached her brother and cupped his face, "Onii-sama? You ok?" She asked, her brows furrowed out of concern. Michael immediately cursed his curiosity before faking a smile, "Of course I am." Michael waited for them to react. But it seems like he was the only one that can sense the aura, this must have been planned.
The smile on Michael's face was the total opposite of Issei's. If Issei's fake smile was easily recognizable, his was impossible to detect. The angels easily fell for the very convincing smile on his face. "You guys go ahead. I'm just going to go somewhere. I'll be quick." He said, not letting the others reply. They looked at each other and shrugged, going to their own respective business.
Michael looked to both his sides, seeing no unusual sights he entered the alleyway. It was damp and dark, a good place for someone to suddenly mug a person. But Michael walked with confidence, who can possibly mug the strongest angel in heaven? His footsteps were echoing throughout the alleyway, and the squeaking of rats or the droppings of water were the only ones being heard. Michael gave another look behind him, the exit of the alleyway was marked by a small slit of light. He has been walking far that the exit was a mere slit of light. He sighed, asking himself if he is crazy or something, as far as he knows, it may be something like a mere imagination. But then, an imagination couldn't possibly create that aura. Michael was having a silent debate on his mind as he kept walking forward, looking at the dark damp ground. Then the aura he felt just a while back suddenly appeared directly in front of him. He immediately jumped back, bending his knees a bit so he'll be ready to jump for action.
The man in front of him was none other than the madman wizard. Michael was very annoyed. This man was bothering and playing with them for a long, long time now. Yet, they don't have the slightest of ideas of the man's identity. Not even the madman's name. Michael materialized his famous golden spear he used to subdue his elder brother, Lucifer or better known as the original "Satan". The spear glowed dimly golden, acting as the source of light through the unusually long alleyway. Michael's eyes widened as below the man were the corpses of rats, his face messed up at the smell. Even angels are not immune to stink. He covered his nose and pointed the tip of his spear at the madman.
The madman stepped forward. Michael stepped backwards, stabbing his spear, trying to shoo the man away but he knew that that isn't enough to drive the man away. The madman wizard laughed a cold amused laugh, "Oh, Michael. That is ridiculous. I am not a mere ghoul that can be scared off by the prying of spear."
Michael growled, "What do you want?"
"What? Can't I talk to the leader of Heaven?" The man asked, his voice was like he was offended.
"Not an animal like you." Michael replied coldly, thrusting his spear before adding, "why do you want me here?"
"who told you that I want you here?" The man asked.
"I noticed that only I noticed the aura you left. You intended this."
"Amazing. I will remember not to underestimate you, since you are the leader of heaven after all." The madman said. "That is, if you make it out alive."
Right after he said that, a wall of intricate magic circles appeared behind Michael. They were as high as the sky and another line of magic circle appeared right above them, preventing Michael from flying away. Then another layer of black magic circles appeared behind the magic circle wall. Michael couldn't help but gulp as the layers of the magic circles walls multiplied until they were at least ten layers. He tried to stab the magic circle behind him but it only glanced off without giving it a mere crack. He quickly turned against the madman who was holding at his hands in confidence, a smug sadistic smile on his tilted face.
Michael took on his nearly perfect battle form. The madman wizard looked surprised, "Oh. Are we finally going to see the archangel seraph fight once again? After millions of years of avoiding conflict? I couldn't help but feel giddy…" He said, twisting his hands as a black staff materialized slowly from the middle to its ends, spinning. It had a dragon head on the top end and the dragon's eyes were glowing red. It was as tall as the magician. "You go first."
"You can unleash your true form here, Michael. These magic circle barriers will protect the humans from your weak energy."
Michael smiled at this. Slowly, he unfolded his twelve magnificent wings. They easily vanquished the darkness of the alleyway. The narrow walls of the alley seemed to accommodate Michael's wingspan, moving like the world itself was being manipulated. He saw the madman wizard widening the walls like a walk through the park. Michael sighed at this, his opponent can manipulate reality itself.
"If I am going to kill you, might as well kill you in a fair battle, no? I really am not one for using trickery." The madman said before he disappeared, appearing right in front of Michael with his hands glowing eerie black. Michael jumped away.
The whole alley was engulfed by a black light. Michael felt his skin tingle. The intensity of the blast scared him. After the light faded, the man was in front of him, about to strike him down, but he managed to parry this. Although his feet buried to the solid ground and his bones felt like they were going to snap.
The whole fight was like two speeding blurs, one golden and the other one, black red. They jumped from the walls to the other side to the ground to the ceiling and back to the wall. The energies they were releasing were extreme, if the barrier wasn't there the humans and even Griselda would be nothing but ashes. The whole Kuoh must have collapsed to the ground and they might even create devastating natural disasters to even the other side of the world. What scared Michael even more was the fact that he knew the madman was holding back…and he was at his peak. No matter how hard he bring down his spear or how many light spears he materialize to trick the man, he always seems to be faster and avoided these, although Michael knew even if the madman wizard didn't avoid them, he would remain unscathed. It truly was a rabbit against a wolf.
"You are doing well lasting for five minutes; nobody has been able to last that long against me." The madman said as they tried to push each other with their respective weapons.
In a rather strained and exhausted voice, Michael replied with a weak smile, "You aren't even trying."
"Interesting. You even noticed that I am holding back."
Michael chuckled, jumping away. He impaled his spear to the ground and holding it like his life depended on it, and in this case, it does. "Who fights with one hand when you are going extremely fast? You are just playing with me and I know it."
Not letting the man reply, Michael held his palms out and materialized countless light spears all pointing at the madman. "You have played with my family for a long time now. You have caused them hurt and angst for too long. It is time I end you." The spears simultaneously buried themselves to the madman wizard's body as Michael closed his hands. The man looked down the ground, dark scarlet liquid puddling right below him. He collapsed down the ground, the spears not leaving his body.
Michael breathed out in relief. "Please…don't stand up." Michael hopelessly muttered, closing his eyes in disappointment as the man laughed.
Michael watched as the man slowly stood up, straightened his back and brushed his sleeves like he didn't just get stabbed by the man who can destroy the world easily. Michael's light spears retracted from the wizard's body before turning against Michael. It became black. Micahel closed his eyes, apologizing for not being able to live to see Issei and his sister's children.
"Oi, now. No need to jump to conclusions." The wizard said, scratching the back of his head.
"What do you want then?" Michael asked. His light spears were slowly dematerializing.
"I only wanted to give you this." The wizard said.
But Michael noticed something different. The wizard's eyes were red, not the frequent black. And his expression was kind, almost apologetic. He gave Michael a piece of paper, an, I am proud of you, badly written on it. "I wanted you to give this to Issei. It was a great match, congratulate him for me."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't, I'll kill you."
Michael suddenly felt an invisible force push him out the alleyway completely, the alleyway becoming a blur in his vision. He landed on his butt, looking directly at the alleyway. Michael noticed he was holding the piece of paper. "Onii-sama! Where were you? We already ate lunch since were hungry." Gabriel said, lowering herself beside Michael.
Michael looked at the nearby mirror and noticed that he was completely fine. There were no signs of his hopeless fight against the wizard completely gone. "How long was I gone?"
"About three hours." Uriel said, his hands in his pocket looking around.
"Three hours!? Issei must be waiting for us. Shoot! Let's go!" Michael said. Getting up and running.
LINE BREAK
The madman wizard was standing on top of the bookstore, looking at the angels. A neigh made him break his gaze and he looked back to see his Pegasus galloping towards him, stopping just beside him.
"I see." The man said in disappointment, "My brother is awake."
LINE BREAK
GUYS! It's getting really hard updating! So please don't rudely review, correcting me is okay but in a kind way please. A single blow might stop me completely from updating. It's been hard. But I am trying my best so wish me luck!
Wish me luck in my studies and review!
Next Monday I will update. Maybe.