Chapter 11 – Omen

"Good work, Mashibara-san. Here you go."

"Ah, thanks, Ikeda-san."

A middle-aged man with short black hair and green eyes accepted a mug of coffee from his co-worker, a young man in his late twenties with brown hair and grey eyes. Both men were inside a dam's control station, observing the readings and making sure that everything was running smoothly.

"Man, night shift is the worst." Ikeda said, stifling a yawn. "Especially with the sudden downpour outside. Do we really need to be here in this day and age of automation? If something goes wrong, the system will respond on its own. Aren't we kind of redundant?"

"Don't say that." Mashibara said. "Even machines can respond to a crisis only up to a certain extent. That's why human presence is still paramount, and you'd better be glad that it is. Otherwise, you and I would be both out of a job right now."

"I guess that's right…" Ikeda said with a frown on his face. "That doesn't mean I have to like it though."

"No-one said you had to." Mashibara said while checking the monitors before him. "Good, there doesn't appear to be any damage from the small tremors before. Structural integrity and water levels are normal."

"See, I told you so." Ikeda said. "There was no reason to get so worked up over—"

Ikeda's words were interrupted as yet another tremor shook the room they were in. Mashibara checked the monitors once again, a concerned expression on his face, but found no abnormalities once again.

"What's going on?" Mashibara frowned. "Are these tremors some sort of warning sigh? Could there be a big one coming?"

"I don't know, but even I'm starting to get worried here." Ikeda said. "Should we notify someone, or perhaps issue a warning?"

"That might cause some panic, but better safe than sorry." Mashibara said. "I'll contact—"

Mashibara didn't have time to complete his sentence as an even bigger earthquake began shaking the entire area. At the same time, lightning flashed and the lights went out, plunging the entire room into darkness.

"A power outage!?" Ikeda screamed, struggling to maintain his balance. "Why aren't the emergency backup generators kicking in!? What's going on here!?"

"I don't know!" Mashibara shouted as the earthquake became stronger, with small cracks starting to form on the ceiling. "And the intensity of this earthquake is out of this world! We've never had so much seismic activity in this area before!"

"M-Mashibara-san…" Ikeda pointed outside with a trembling finger. "Look…look at that!"

Mashibara looked at the direction Ikeda was pointing, and was alarmed to see cracks forming on the dam's surface. They had started small, but they were now multiplying at a frightening speed and becoming longer and wider as the seconds passed. Water had already started trickling out of them, and it was obvious even to the casual observer that the dam wouldn't hold for long. As if to make matters worse, a bolt of thunder suddenly struck the dam, breaking a portion of it.

"Is this…the wrath of Gods…?" Ikeda muttered, his voice shaking. "We have to get out of here right now!"

"Wait, Ikeda!"

Mashibara tried to warn his colleague, but was too late as Ikeda stumbled and fell down due to the intense shaking. A large piece of concrete broke off the ceiling and fell on him, smashing his head and killing him instantly. As for Mashibara, he could only cower under his sturdy metal desk and hope this chaos would subside. Unfortunately for him, the earthquake didn't seem to be stopping any time soon as more and more pieces of concrete started falling of the ceiling.

"Never thought my workplace would become my grave as well…"

Mashibara said with a bitter smile as he was buried under the debris. Meanwhile, outside, the dam finally burst, with a large volume of water spilling out of it and heading towards the nearby city. Surveying the scene of chaos through his squinted green eyes from above was a Fallen Angel with two pairs of wings growing from his back, whose attire consisted of a grey suit and a black scarf.

"Excellent." The Fallen Angel Turel said, a satisfied expression on his face. "I didn't think it would go so well. That girl's power is the real deal. Too bad about those annoying restrictions. Then again, that might be for the best."

Turel flapped his wings once, descending towards a group that wore black robes. In their midst stood a girl clad in an open shoulder black dress with long sleeves and a feather pattern on the bottom, whose head was covered by a black veil. A large number of small multi-colored energy spheres surrounded her, spinning around erratically.

"That's quite enough." Turel addressed the girl. "The dam is broken, so there's no need to keep using your power."

The girl nodded once, with the light spheres surrounding her disappearing into thin air. At the same time, the earthquake stopped and the heavy downpour turned into a small drizzle before stopping completely.

"Quite the handy ability you have there, Calamity Witch." A young girl with long black hair and violet eyes that was clad in a short black dress with a small, light purple jacket on top and had a pair of wings growing from her back said. "Does this mean preparations are complete, Turel-sama?"

"Indeed, Raynare." Turel smirked, the distant sounds of destruction and alarms echoing in the night. "An excellent hunting ground has been prepared, so the time has come to hunt us some Devils."

"Are you sure they will come though, Turel-sama?" A short girl with blond hair styled in twintails and blue eyes, which was dressed in a gothic Lolita outfit, said. "Devils are stupid, but maybe they will suspect this is a trap."

"Even if they suspect something, they won't be able to control their greed, Mittelt." Turel said. "Devils are always like that. Once they arrive here, their lives are forfeit one way or another."

Matching grins appeared on the faces of everyone present apart from the veiled girl, who only let out a dispirited sigh. Tapping his foot, Turel conjured a large teleportation magic circle that enveloped all members present, transporting them away.

"Hurry it up already. I'm close to falling asleep here…"

"Patience, Takeshi-kun. The principal is known for his boring and long-winded speeches, but this shouldn't take much longer."

"It'd better not…"

Takeshi grumbled, while Yuuto next to him let out a lopsided smile. The two young men were currently in Kuoh Academy's gym alongside the rest of the student body for the opening ceremony. Apart from the students, the parents of the new first-years were also present, dressed in formal outfits. Regardless of whether they were students, parents or teachers though, everyone had matching expressions of barely concealed boredom on their faces as the principal droned on.

Takeshi glanced to his left, where the new first-years were sitting. He spotted Koneko among them, who looked ready to fall asleep like the rest of them. Glancing to his right towards the third-years, he saw Rias and Akeno among them, clearly bored as well, but holding on.

I guess they're used to gatherings where nothing of importance is said.

"Hey, Yuuto, I just thought of something." Takeshi whispered. "Koneko-chan's parents are dead, so who's coming for her when a guardian needs to be present like now? Come to think of it, what about you? You're in the same boat as her, no?"

"Someone from the House of Gremory usually poses as our parent in such occasions." Yuuto whispered back. "There are servants who look like us a bit, so there's no issue."

"I see…"

Takeshi nodded. Since the Gremory house probably employed a large number of people, he figured it wouldn't be difficult to find people with features similar to that of Koneko and Yuuto.

After five minutes had passed, the principal's speech was finally over, much to the collective relief of everyone present. Once the representative of the new students had taken the oath and everyone sang the school song, with Takeshi lip-synching it, the students left the gym, with the first years being escorted by their homeroom teachers. The rest of the students made their way to the large announcement board.

"Hmmm… Let's see, let's see. Where is my name…?"

Takeshi muttered while looking at the list where the names of the students and the classes they would be placed in were written. Next to him, Yuuto was also checking the list, searching for his name.

"There it is." Yuuto said. "I'm in class 2-A. Oh, that's where you are too, Takeshi-kun."

"Well, I'll be." Takeshi chuckled upon confirming this. "Looks like we're going to be classmates, Yuuto. Please take care of me this year."

"Likewise." Yuuto smiled. "I have to admit, it'll be nice to have a friend I can chat with. The boys in my previous classroom…weren't exactly fond of me, and there are our special circumstances to keep in mind as well."

"Yeah, having someone not recoil from you in fear when you try talking to them will be a welcome change." Takeshi grinned. "From what I saw, President and Akeno-san are also in the same third-year class. You think President pulled some strings in order to make sure the Peerage members of the same year end up in the same class?"

"I wouldn't put it past her." Yuuto said as the two of them arrived in front of their new classroom. "Even so, it's not like it's an unwanted favor or anything like that, right?"

"That's right."

Upon entering the classroom, there was a mixed reaction from the students there. The female students were staring at Yuuto, excited murmurs and giggles coming from their direction. The male students were mostly glaring at him with envious and resentful expressions. As for Takeshi, most students were doing their best to avoid eye contact, and the few that did instantly averted their gaze with a frightened expression.

"Hey, you're here too, Ryuugamine?"

The one who had called him out was Issei, who was sitting in the back alongside his two buddies.

"Hyoudou, Matsuda and Motohama?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "You three are here as well?"

"Yeah, looks like we'll be classmates this year." Issei grinned, and then grimaced. "Though we could have done without the handsome bastard next to you."

"That's right!" Matsuda said. "If he's here, there's no way in Hell we're going to get any girls to notice us!"

"We demand that he changes class at once!" Motohama shouted. "We can't let him monopolize every girl here! Leave some scraps for us, damn it!"

Takeshi groaned in exasperation, while Yuuto let out a nervous chuckle.

"Give it a rest, you three. Even if Kiba-kun wasn't here, your chances of getting lucky would still be close to zero. Such is the fate of perverted morons."

The one who had spoken was a bespectacled girl with gold-colored eyes and lightly messy brunette hair tied into braids on each side, a sly smile on her face.

"Hey!" Issei shouted. "Who the Hell are you calling perverted morons!? No, to begin with, who are you!?"

"I'm Kiryuu Aika, a fellow second-year student like you and your classmate." The girl named Aika introduced herself. "Ah, I already know who you guys are, so there's no need to introduce yourselves. I have to say though, the infamous Perverted Trio, Kuoh's Prince and Kuoh's Boogeyman all in the same class, what kind of all-star line-up is this?"

"Kuoh's…Boogeyman?" Takeshi's eye twitched. "Is that what people are calling me behind my back?"

"Fitting, isn't it?" Aika grinned. "Still, now that I'm taking a closer look, you don't look so frightening, Ryuugamine. Ah, maybe Kiba-kun's handsome aura and the Perverted Trio's idiotic aura are canceling out your scary aura?"

"What idiotic aura!?" Matsuda complained. "Are you picking a fight, damn it!?"

"Don't get carried away!" Motohama said, straightening his glasses. "My three-size scouter can see through anything, so you'd better watch your mouth unless you want your secrets exposed!"

"Hoh, interesting." Aika's smile became wider. "However, do you really think you're the only one with this ability?"

[What!?]

A wave of unease went through all five males as Aika looked down at their crotches. Acting on instinct alone, all five boys hid their crotch with both hands. Seeing their reaction, Aika chuckled.

"There's no point in hiding." Aika said. "My glasses can calculate the size of the 'thing' you're packing. From girth to circumference, nothing can be hidden from me."

"That's sexual harassment, Kiryuu." Takeshi noted. "Also, I don't buy it, just as I don't buy that Motohama has some sort of three-size scouter or whatever."

"Yet you're still hiding your nether regions." Aika pointed out. "Besides, you have nothing to worry about, Ryuugamine. Your size is just fine, neither too big nor too small. The girls in the Occult Research Club will definitely be satisfied. Oh, unless the rumors are true and you and Kiba-kun are an item? Are you the attacker or the receiver, Ryuugamine?"

"I am this close to tossing you out the window, Kiryuu."

"Aw, don't be like that." Aika laughed, patting his shoulder. "I'm sure we'll all have a wonderful year together."

"Keep your eyes up here and the stupid comments to a minimum, and we'll do fine." Takeshi said. "We don't need the Perverted Trio turning into a Perverted Quartet."

Aika only let out a mischievous smile before getting back to her seat. Issei and his buddies also went back to their seats, muttering about how terrifying their new female classmate was.

"Well, I guess it's good that this class has so many…colorful characters." Yuuto said with a strained smile. "At least it won't be boring around here."

"No, it certainly won't be…" Takeshi sighed. "Let's sit down as well, Yuuto. Homeroom is about to begin."

Yuuto nodded as both he and Takeshi took their seats, eager to begin their first day as second-year students.

Later on…

"Everyone, before we begin our club activities, I'd like to congratulate you all for advancing to the next year without problems. Also, I'd like to make a toast. To a fruitful and pleasant school year!"

[Cheers!]

All members of the Occult Research Club raised their cups filled with apple juice following Rias's announcement and took a sip. Having finished classes for the day, they had gathered at their clubroom in order to prepare for their Devils' job.

"So, how was your first day as a high school student, Koneko-chan?" Takeshi asked his fellow Devil. "Any problems whatsoever?"

"…None." Koneko said, and then frowned. "There were some weirdos spying on me while panting like dogs during lunch break though."

"It's like all the town's young degenerates have gathered in our school…" Takeshi sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know you're more than capable of handling yourself, Koneko-chan, but if you need help, just give me a call. This Evil Dragon User will give them a scare they won't soon forget."

"…I will." Koneko nodded. "Thanks, Senpai. What about you?"

"Yuuto and I are in the same classroom, so that's a plus." Takeshi said. "On the other hand, we're classmates with the Perverted Trio and a girl named Aika Kiryuu that seems to be cut from the same cloth as them, so…we'll see how that turns out."

"…Sounds tough."

"What about you, President, Akeno-san?" Yuuto asked. "Was your first day as third-years pleasant?"

"It was pretty good all things considered." Rias said. "Isn't that right, Akeno?"

"Yes, it was nice interacting with girls we hadn't had the chance to meet before and reminisce about our experiences during the past two years." Akeno smiled. "Shame that President didn't come across a promising candidate for the Evil Pieces like she intended."

"It's not like I expected much." Rias said. "Unique individuals willing to be reincarnated aren't that easy to find. Chancing upon Takeshi here was already a stroke of luck."

"That remains to be seen. From my part though, I'll do my best to be your good luck charm."

Takeshi smirked, prompting Rias to smile as well.

"Now then, let's move on to business, everyone." Rias said. "First, I'd like you all to take a look at this."

Akeno handed out copies of today's newspaper, with Takeshi frowning upon seeing the headlines.

"The disaster in Minano City?" Takeshi said. "That happened a couple of days ago, right? With the dam breaking due to an earthquake and the ensuing flood due to the heavy rain sweeping away several areas of the city? My mother was sent to do a reportage on the aftermath, as well as investigate whether someone had cut corners in the dam's construction."

"Is that so?" Rias seemed intrigued. "Did her investigation uncover anything interesting?"

"Not really." Takeshi said. "All the proper procedures had been followed and every safety measure possible had been taken when the dam was first made. It was just that the earthquake was of such magnitude that the dam couldn't withstand it. That night's downpour only made things worse by filling the river. However…"

"However?"

"My mother did say it was strange for such a strong localized earthquake to happen there." Takeshi said. "The area isn't near any major fault and hasn't experienced such an intense phenomenon for centuries at the very least. Most earthquakes occurring there were of a smaller scale. It was also weird how both the dam's primary and backup generators failed at the same time. How does that involve us though?"

"Such harsh times are a prime opportunity for us Devils to do business." Rias began explaining. "In times of war or disaster, people's greed skyrockets as they are seeking for anything and everything that can help them survive, find missing family members, reclaim lost property or give them an edge over others. That's where we come in, ready to fulfil their wishes for a reasonable price."

"Aren't we cold-blooded opportunists." Takeshi remarked. "We are Devils though, so that's par for the course, I guess. Still, how are these people supposed to give us payment? Many of them aren't exactly in a position to do so."

"That's why we loan our services in such cases." Akeno said. "Once they get back on their feet, we appear before them to request for the reward. The problem lies elsewhere."

"Oh?"

"Several times in the past, members of rival factions have staged conflicts or disasters in order to lure us Devils into a specific area and eliminate us." Yuuto said. "That's why we have to be extra careful when seeking to capitalize on such opportunities. We never know when someone might have set a trap for us."

"The Fallen Angels are especially adept at this." Akeno said, an expression of disgust on her face. "Through lies and manipulation, they would create elaborate seemingly beneficial situations and lead Devils like us to our deaths. Still, this seems a bit beyond them, unless they somehow received help from a God."

"Small chance of that happening since almost every Pantheon despises the Biblical Factions for stealing their believers and downgrading them into myths and legends." Takeshi said. "To be honest though, I still don't fully understand how that worked out for us. You'd think the various Gods would have put a stop to Christianity's spread."

"A little history lesson then." Rias said. "First, you need to understand the geopolitical situation during the centuries before Christianity began spreading in Europe. At that time, the Greek Pantheon was at the apex of its power. With Alexander the Great's campaigns, its influence had spread throughout the Middle East and Egypt. Defeating the Zoroastrian, Babylonian and Egyptian Pantheons in ceremonial combat during that time had also boosted their standing even further."

"The Greek Gods defeated the other Gods?" Takeshi frowned. "So, whenever there is conflict between countries in the human world, the Gods worshipped in each nation also go to war?"

"Not exactly." Akeno said. "Full-scale war between the Gods has been prohibited ever since the last one, which led to the Cataclysm. Instead, the Gods opted for tournament-style matches, where representatives from each opposing Pantheon would compete against each other. The victorious Pantheon would be given permission to grant blessings and protection to the army they supported, or even change the weather to their benefit, for a brief amount of time. Why do you think Alexander never got killed in battle despite always fighting in the front lines?"

"Well, him being a demigod son of Zeus also helped in that regard." Rias said. "Demigods do have better constitution compared to the average human."

"Alexander the Great was a demigod?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "Go figure. But wasn't that…I don't know, illegal or something? Wouldn't it give an unfair advantage to an army?"

"Demigods were more common in the old days than you think, so it wasn't frowned upon." Rias said. "Plus, overusing their powers would leave them exhausted, so they didn't overly depend on them. But we're getting off topic. Upon noticing the rising power of Rome following its conquest of the Greek colonies of South Italy, the Greek Pantheon integrated themselves into Rome as its patron Gods, solidifying their influence and expanding their power once Rome transformed into an Empire."

"Of course, this rapid expansion meant that the Greek Gods had to keep a watchful eye over several rival Pantheons and respond to their challenges in order to maintain their hegemony." Akeno said. "That's why a part of Deus Trinity being incarnated as a human, his teachings, crucifixion, rebirth and ascension back to Heaven escaped everyone's notice."

"During the feast of the Pentecost, it's well known that the Apostles were blessed by Deus Trinity with the gift of language." Rias said. "What most people don't know and what Gods realized too late was that a very sophisticated and subtle spell was woven into that blessing. Through it, whenever humans converted to Christianity, it became very difficult for them to perceive Gods from other Pantheons or mystical beings associated with them. Zeus, Ra, Enlil and Odin could have been tap dancing naked in front of them and they wouldn't have noticed a thing."

"Now that's one vivid mental image I didn't need…" Takeshi muttered. "But how did this spell spread?"

"It was set to replicate itself and transfer from one follower to another like a virus of a sort." Akeno said. "Through it, Christianity gained followers that couldn't be swayed back to their respective Pantheon. Or at least ones that could be converted with more difficulty than before. It would take an apocalyptic-level event for them to perceive rival Gods."

"That was quite crafty." Takeshi remarked. "But didn't that blessing violate the whole 'we must respect mankind's free will' and all that? Also, how come no-one else thought to do that before Deus Trinity?"

"To answer your second questions first, Gods can be very unimaginative in certain aspects." Rias said. "Devils that have already lived for thousands of years are the same. Your way of thinking tends to become inflexible and stale. That's why they failed to come up with this idea first. As such, no-one had explicitly banned something like that, and since it fell into a grey area, it was permitted. Some Pantheons tried to replicate this technique later on, but couldn't mimic it."

"Plus, by the time they realized the trick, Deus Trinity's power and influence had grown too much, so they didn't wish to antagonize him unless necessary." Akeno said. "Being the only God in Christianity means that all faith and worship is funneled to him exclusively compared to a Pantheon, where worship is spread among the various members."

"So, that means he became absurdly powerful, and he keeps growing stronger since Christianity is the most prominent religion?" Takeshi asked. "And that's the kind of guy we're fighting against? I don't know about you, but I suddenly don't like our odds."

"Well, that's not exactly how faith empowerment works." Akeno said. "It doesn't increase a God's strength, but rather keeps them at peak strength and slows down aging, something of paramount importance since even Gods can grow old and have their strength decline. Still, Deus Trinity is one of the strongest Gods around, which makes him a difficult foe indeed."

"It's a good thing for us that he's mostly kept to himself after the Great War's conclusion…though his believers would probably think otherwise." Yuuto said, a hint of resentment in his voice. "In any case, despite the prosecutions spearheaded by Emperors such as Nero and Diocletian, Christianity thrived and spread, becoming the most prominent religion like you said and downgrading the other Pantheons to myths in order to further weaken their influence."

"And all that is the reason most Gods would rather incinerate any member of the Three Factions on the spot rather than work with them like you pointed out, Takeshi." Rias said. "Still, we can't rule out divine intervention in Minano's tragedy. It's possible some God got a little too upset about something, threw a temper tantrum and caused a natural disaster. Happens all the time unfortunately."

"…Irresponsible man-children."

Koneko muttered, munching on some manju.

"Even if that's the case, the problem in the end is how we'll respond to this." Akeno said. "Do we take advantage of this disaster or remain here in Kuoh and ignore it? We've already had two really close calls these past months, and if this is some sort of trap, I wouldn't want to go for three."

"I say we go for it." Takeshi said. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and there's a lot to be gained from what President is saying. Even if someone is setting us up, we're more than capable of turning the tables on them."

"…Agreed." Koneko nodded. "We can't let fear rule us."

"I don't know…" Yuuto rubbed his chin. "The timing just feels too convenient. Plus, Minano is a little too far away from our territory, what with being in the middle of the Prefecture. I also think we should abstain from involving ourselves this time. But if President decides we should go, then I will follow."

Rias remained silent for a few seconds, a thoughtful expression on her face as she tapped the desk with her finger. Eventually, she spoke.

"I understand both sides' arguments…but I think we should go for it." Rias said. "It's a neutral area, which means we won't be harassed by the Shinto Gods or Youkai for doing business there. We can't very well call ourselves Devils if we let such an opportunity pass us by."

"Very well, President." Akeno said, though she still seemed a bit uneasy. "What about the Kuoh area though? We won't be able to fulfil the contracts with our regular clients and respond to potential clients in Minano at the same time."

"Regarding that, I'll discuss our next step with Sona first." Rias said. "Most likely, she and her servants will take care of the entirety of the Kuoh area while we'll mostly focus on Minano for now, and we'll share the profits from both our ventures."

"In that case, I'll head over to Minano first and check out the area for a good base of operations." Akeno said. "I'll notify you once I find a promising location, and I'll start fortifying it at once."

"Please do." Rias said. "Also, take everyone's familiars with you and have them start handing out flyers. Best that we strike while the iron is hot."

"What about the rest of us, President?"

"You all should get some rest for now." Rias said in response to Yuuto's question. "Once we finish tonight's contracts, we'll probably have several long nights ahead of us starting tomorrow."

[Yes!]

Once Rias and Akeno had taken their leave, Takeshi turned to the other two Devils.

"So, what do you guys think?" Takeshi asked. "Should we do some sparring, or do you just want to hang out?"

"Sorry, but I need to visit one of my clients." Yuuto said with an apologetic expression. "I promised I'd be there for them tomorrow to help them with an important issue. Since we're temporarily relocating to Minano for contracts, I figured I'd better go now."

"…I was thinking about visiting the new bakery that opened a while back." Koneko said. "Want to come along, Takeshi-senpai?"

"Why not?" Takeshi said. "But try to not almost claw my eyes out like you did last time just because I nabbed the last dorayaki."

"…No promises."

Takeshi grumbled. At that moment—

[You're heading to a new battlefield after all? Nice! I can already smell the blood flowing!]

Takeshi flinched at the unfamiliar voice's words, something that both Yuuto and Koneko noticed.

"Takeshi-kun?" Yuuto asked. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah…everything's fine." Takeshi forced a smile. "Just felt a chill going down my back for some reason. Now, let's go."

As the three Devils made their way out of the old school building, Takeshi couldn't help but feel a dark premonition about the coming events.

The following night…

"This place has definitely seen better days…"

Takeshi muttered as he surveyed the state of the town around him. Once night had fallen, he and the rest of the Occult Research Club had teleported themselves to Minano City, whose condition was tragic to the say the least. Houses had been reduced to rubble, trees had been uprooted, overturned cars littered the streets and several roads were still filled with water. Firefighters were struggling to help people while a couple of air ambulances were flying overhead, probably getting ready to transport wounded people to nearby hospitals.

"Good thing no-one notices us." Takeshi remarked as a disaster relief group passed by them, ignoring their presence. "We'd have a lot of explaining to do otherwise."

"The perks of being a Devil." Yuuto remarked while looking around. "What about this city's residents? Where are they?"

"Those whose houses were deemed safe to live in have either returned to them or are out helping." Akeno said. "As for those that have lost their houses, most of them are accommodated by other residents for now, or they're staying in hotels. Some of them are camping inside the city's baseball stadium, which was mostly left intact by the earthquake and was high enough to avoid being flooded."

"…Inside the stadium?" Koneko frowned. "Are they afraid another earthquake might occur."

"Probably." Akeno said. "I can't say I blame them."

"So, what have you got for us, Akeno?" Rias said. "You said in your message that you found us a good base of operations. Where is it?"

"Follow me."

Akeno spread her wings and took flight, with the rest of the Gremory group following after her. They landed in front of a two-storey building situated southwest of Minano. Despite having some cracks here and there, along with several broken windows, the building seemed otherwise undamaged.

"This is one of Minano's public libraries." Akeno said as she led the rest of the group inside. "While the building was deemed safe to use at first, I…persuaded the city officials to change its designation and leave it alone for now as a low priority area after removing the books."

"You mean you mind-controlled them into doing so." Takeshi remarked. "Again, isn't that sort of thing frowned upon?"

"Not as long as it doesn't have a major effect on the human world or other factions." Rias said, conjuring several light spheres and spreading them across the building, illuminating it. "Yes, this will do just fine. How about our security systems?"

"I've already casted the basic ones." Akeno said. "Enemy detection, defense spells, reinforcement of the building's structure and all that. We should be safe here, but I'll add to our measures later and set up some more detection spells in the surrounding area."

"Excellent job, Akeno." Rias said as she took out a piece of chalk and started drawing a complex magic circle similar to the one in the Occult Research Club's clubroom, infusing it with demonic power. "What about potential clients? Did we get any requests?"

"Our familiars were busy helping me set up our base here, so they weren't able to distribute a lot of flyers." Akeno said. "Still, we've already received several calls despite the low number of flyers. People must be really desperate."

"Let's get to work then." Rias said, having finished the construction of the teleportation magic circle. "Akeno, Yuuto, you two are with me tonight. We'll be responding to our prospective clients' calls."

"You'll be going out as well, President?" Yuuto said, a surprised expression on his face. "You usually don't deal with such mundane requests."

"We are a bit understaffed, so I have to pull my weight here as well." Rias smiled. "Besides, it will be a good change of pace."

"What about me and Koneko-chan?" Takeshi asked. "Aren't we going to head out and make contracts as well? We'd better not be stuck here holding the fort while you guys have all the fun out there."

"…It would be a waste."

Koneko nodded next to Takeshi.

"Relax, you'll be joining us as well starting tomorrow." Rias said. "Tonight, however, I'd like you two to work on something else. I'd like you to investigate the broken dam and see if you can find any evidence of tampering or sabotage."

"You still think this whole affair might be a set-up, President?"

Takeshi said, prompting Rias to sigh.

"I don't know… This is something that should be beyond our enemies' capabilities…but I just can't help but feel uneasy. Can I leave this to you two, Takeshi, Koneko? Especially you, Koneko. If you use your enhanced senses and Senjutsu, you might be able to pick up something that Akeno or I would miss. But if you believe it's too much for you…"

"…No, I will do it." Koneko said with a determined expression. "I don't want to run away from who I am anymore, or have any regrets. If my power can help here…then I will do my best."

"That's my girl." Takeshi smiled, rubbing Koneko's head. "As for me, I'll be glad to help, but I'm not sure what I can do. I mean, I can sense demonic power, but I'm sure you and Akeno-san are better at this than me, President."

"True, but you are the Evil Dragon User." Rias said. "It's possible you might also be able to sense something that the rest of us won't. That's why I'm sending you alongside Koneko."

"In that case, I'll do my best."

"Both of you, be careful out there and keep your guard up at all times." Rias said. "Takeshi, I'm designating the area around the dam as enemy territory, so you can use Promotion if needed. If you encounter any sort of trouble you believe is beyond you, don't hesitate to retreat at once. Also, make sure to contact us every half hour or so."

"We're not children, President." Takeshi sighed in exasperation. "We've got this."

"…We'll back before you know it."

Both Devils stepped outside, spreading their wings and taking flight. As they ascended, Takeshi turned to Koneko, a wide smile on his face.

"What do you say we make this interesting?" Takeshi said. "Race you there?"

"…You're on."

Once the two of them had reached a sufficient altitude, they stopped ascending and hovered next to each other.

"…On your mark?"

"Yes." Takeshi said. "Ready, set…go!"

Takeshi and Koneko shot forward with all the speed they could muster, scattering the clouds in their path. Although they were neck-and-neck at first, Takeshi used his demonic power to reduce air resistance and propel himself with a burst of flames from his hands. Thanks to it, he passed Koneko and landed first in the ruined dam, flashing a V-sign at her.

"…Cheater." Koneko pouted. "You used your demonic power."

"Hey, there wasn't any rule against it, was it?" Takeshi pointed out. "I simply used every tool in my arsenal to win."

"…Next time, we're doing this without any tricks." Koneko said. "Wings only."

"You got it, but now, let's focus on the job." Takeshi said while gazing at the broken dam, the small streams of water running down next to them and the ruined forest around them. "If the one responsible for this is a God like Akeno-san said, I wouldn't want to meet them. From the looks of it, they've got a really sort fuse and quite the temperament."

"…That's what many Gods are like." Koneko said. "Let's see if I can discover anything more."

Taking a deep breath, Koneko closed her eyes and focused. A couple of seconds later, a pair of cat ears sprouted from her head and a tail covered in white fur extended from her backside.

"Oh, that was faster than usual." Takeshi remarked. "Are you starting to get used to it?"

"…A little." Koneko said, her cat ears twitching. "It's still quite difficult though. Not to mention, I have very little knowledge regarding Senjutsu. I only learned scattered bits and pieces of it from my sister when I was younger…and she wasn't exactly the best of teachers."

"Because she went crazy and all that?"

"…No, because she was lazy." Koneko let out an exasperated sigh. "Kuroka-neesama liked to lie around all day long, and would only work when she really had to. The prime example of a spoiled, selfish cat."

"Guess that's why you're such an earnest and hardworking girl." Takeshi grinned. "Even things out and all that. But in this case, are you going to be alright? Senjutsu can be risky even for skilled practitioners, much less a beginner like you."

"…This is something simple, so I'll be fine." Koneko said. "Besides, I have to start from somewhere if I want to master this power and not be a burden like last time. I need to get stronger, both for mine and everyone's sake. If I do, then maybe…"

"Maybe what?"

"…Maybe…I'll be able to confront Kuroka-neesama one day." Koneko said. "Find out everything that happened that day, bring her back to her senses if possible…and put a stop to her if I can't. It's my responsibility as her sister."

"Koneko-chan…" Takeshi smiled, rubbing his fellow Devil's head. "I was right after all. You're stronger than you think. However, don't push yourself too much, yes?"

"…I won't." Koneko let out a small smile. "That's your specialty after all, isn't it?"

"I can't refute that." Takeshi chuckled, and then noticed he was still rubbing Koneko's head. "Oh, sorry about that."

"…It's alright." Koneko said. "Senpai's hand feels comforting."

"In that case, could I perhaps caress that lovely tail as well…?"

"…Don't push your luck." Koneko stepped back, a playful smile on her face. "Maybe some other time."

"I'll hold you to that." Takeshi said, summoning Cataclysm Zone and surveying his surroundings. "Well, I'm not picking anything so far. What about you, Koneko-chan?"

"…It's…strange." Koneko frowned. "The flow of natural energy seems…disturbed for some reason. As if nature itself was going on a rampage."

"Then, was this really a God's handiwork?"

"…I'm not so sure." Koneko said, moving towards the dam. "I think there was interreference…but it doesn't seem like a God's aura had anything to do with it. We've encountered two Gods so far, so I should be able to tell."

"Then, could they have manipulated nature through other means?" Takeshi said. "Perhaps a Sacred Gear? If I recall correctly, one of the Longinus could do this."

"…That one belongs to the Church, so it's unlikely." Koneko said. "Maybe—"

A series of howls that echoed through the area cut off Koneko's words. Both she and Takeshi flinched as several shadowy shapes emerged from the forest around them. Upon taking a closer look, they realized that the shadows were actually large, black mastiffs the size of a grizzly bear with glowing red eyes and spikes growing from their necks. Small flames were also flickering around their feet and at the tips of their tails. All of them also seemed to have a metal band with arcane symbols engraved on it around their heads.

"…Hellhounds." Koneko hissed. "What are they doing here? They're supposed to be native to the Underworld."

"I don't know, but judging from their expressions, they seem to think we're their next meal." Takeshi said. "I don't know about you, Koneko-chan, but I'm not in the mood to become dog food."

"…Agreed." Koneko nodded. "Let's get rid of them quickly."

"Showtime." Takeshi grinned. "Let's go, Mayhem Striker!"

Takeshi extended his hand to summon his axe-shaped Sacred Gear. However, there was no response for some reason.

"…Senpai?" Koneko asked. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Takeshi said, a bit of panic creeping in. "Mayhem Striker isn't responding. Tch, don't tell me that bastard Nidhogg is throwing a tantrum or something!"

"Watch out, Senpai!"

Koneko tackled Takeshi out of the way, the claws of a leaping hellhound barely missing his head. The rest of the pack took this as their cue to attack, charging and leaping at the two Devils.

"Fine then!" Takeshi growled. "We'll do this the hard way! Promotion, Rook!"

Two hellhounds rushed at Takeshi. Kicking the first away and breaking its ribs, he shot a wind blade at the second one, splitting it in half. Another hellhound that had circled around tried to jump at his back, only to slam on a defensive magic circle. Takeshi's back kick broke its jaw, and before it had a chance to recover, he was upon it, twisting its head and breaking its neck. Three hellhounds opened their mouths wide and unleashed streams of flame, but Takeshi manipulated the water around him, forming a wave that doused the flames and swept the hellhounds away.

A few steps away from him, Koneko was dodging the hellhounds' bites, slashes and flame breaths, her body enveloped in a thin sheet of pale aura. Each time her fists struck one of the hellhounds, it would stumble and lose its balance thanks to the ki she was sending inside their bodies dealing internal damage. One hellhound that was more agile that the others evaded her fists and attempted to bite her head off. Koneko headbutted it, dazing it, and grabbed it from its belly, slamming it on the ground head first.

"Let's try this…"

The sheet of aura surrounding Koneko vanished, gathering on her hands. As a trio of hellhounds tried to charge at her, she pummeled them with her ki-clad fists, sending them flying into the distance. Wasting no time, she tore a large piece of debris and slammed it on two more charging hellhounds, flattening them. Taking a page out of her book, Takeshi did the same, ripping large chunks of debris and tossing them in front of him, smashing the hellhounds and forming a makeshift wall that they had to go around or above to get to the two Devils.

"How many of them are left!?" Takeshi said, back-to-back with Koneko as they fended off the charging hellhounds. "Can you tell!?"

"…No." Koneko said, driving her ki-clad fist into a hellhound's stomach, causing it to vomit blood as it fell on the ground dead. "Can't focus in both fighting and tracking."

"That's alright!" Takeshi said as his axe kick cracked a hellhound's skull. "We'll just—"

Before Takeshi could finish his sentence, a hellhound charged at him from his blind spot, slamming on him and sending him tumbling down. Gathering demonic power in his fingers, he drove them into the beast's eyes, blinding it. Knocking it out with a backhand blow, Takeshi tried to stand up, but another hellhound landed on his chest. Just as it opened its mouth and was about to shoot its fire breath—

[Connection Complete.]

Following that announcement from Cataclysm Zone, a burst of aura erupted from Takeshi's body, sending the hellhound flying. Both the hellhounds and Koneko were forced to avert their eyes due to the bright light coming from Takeshi's Sacred Gear. Then, the main gem on Cataclysm Zone's buckle changed color from black to dark green, with four streams of aura emerging from it and enveloping Takeshi's arms and legs.

In a matter of seconds, the aura solidified into a pair of dark green gauntlets and greaves with silver energy lines running through them. The gauntlets each had a single green gem embedded in the back of the hand portion along with three small curved blades extending from the side, while the greaves had a small curved blade protruding from the heel.

"This is…my new power?" Takeshi wondered as he clenched and unclenched his fists, marveling at the sight of his weapon. "Not bad. Let's take it for a test drive!"

After saying so, Takeshi punched a nearby hellhound. The beast yelped as it sailed through the air, crashing on a nearby boulder with every bone in its body broken.

"My strength is a bit higher, but not by much." Takeshi frowned. "Does this thing have other tricks up its sleeve…?"

"Look out, Senpai!"

Koneko shouted. Distracted by his musings, Takeshi failed to notice two hellhounds charging at him. Their claws tore at his chest, but much to his shock, there was neither blood nor pain. Much more surprising was the fact that the hellhounds' claws were broken, the beasts howling in pain. Checking out his chest, Takeshi noticed that, while his clothes were torn, there was no injury on him.

"A Sacred Gear that increases the user's defense?" Takeshi smirked. "I can work with that. But first…"

The two hellhounds unleashed streams of flames from their mouths. Crossing his arms to shield himself, Takeshi dove into the flames, scattering them, and appeared in front of the hellhounds. Before they could react, his gauntlets' blades tore one in half, while the other received Takeshi's axe kick, with the heel blade burying itself into its skull. A third hellhound leaped at Takeshi and tried to bite his hand off, only for its teeth to break the moment it tried to sink them into his flesh. Without missing a beat, Takeshi grabbed its jaws and ripped them apart, tossing the corpse aside.

"This is too easy now." Takeshi remarked. "How are you holding up, Koneko-chan!?"

"…Almost done."

Koneko said as she executed a backbreaker, shattering a hellhound's spine on her knee. Leaping into the air to avoid a charging hellhound, she landed on its back and slammed her palms on it, driving as much ki as she could into it. The hellhound lost its balance, vomiting blood and collapsing on the ground. Two more hellhounds charged at her, but Koneko sidestepped them and reinforced her fists with ki again. Her punches tore through the hellhounds, leaving gaping holes in their bodies.

The last hellhound in the area tried to run away, but Koneko was faster. Catching up with it, she grabbed its tail and started spinning it around before letting go. The hellhound crashed on the ruined dam's walls, its corpse falling on the debris below.

"I think we got all of them." Takeshi said as he approached Koneko. "Can you sense anything else?"

"…No, but we'd better stay on guard just to be sure." Koneko said, staring at Takeshi's gauntlets and greaves. "New Sacred Gear?"

"Looks like it." Takeshi said. "Wonder which nasty beast is lurking in this one. At least it made my body more robust. Shame it couldn't do the same for my clothes."

"…Not even a mark." Koneko noted as he felt Takeshi's skin. "Hard. It almost feels like armor…or scales."

"So, a moderate increase in strength and armor-like skin so far." Takeshi said. "I wonder… Among the Evil Dragons, Crime Force Dragon Grendel was the one renowned for his absurdly hard scales, making him one of the toughest Dragons. Could this be his Sacred Gear?"

"…We'll have to check it with President once we get back." Koneko said. "But first, we need to get rid of the hellhounds' bodies."

"Right."

As both he and Koneko started using fire magic to incinerate the hellhounds' bodies and wind magic to scatter any remains, Takeshi spoke to Koneko.

"Your punches were much stronger this time around." Takeshi said. "I think the Youkai we worked together with also did something similar. Is this some application of Senjutsu as well?"

"…Yes." Koneko nodded. "It's called Touki. Through it, a Senjutsu user can coat themselves in ki in order to increase their attack, defense and speed. But I can't use it very well yet. I can only focus on one aspect for a limited amount of time."

"Even so, it's quite the asset." Takeshi pointed out. "Not to mention, Senjutsu that damages the target's internal organs and disrupts their aura matches very well with your hand-to-hand combat. I'm sure you'll become a very formidable fighter once you get used to it. Well, you still won't be able to beat me though."

"…Don't be so sure, Senpai." Koneko smiled. "Pride comes before the fall."

"We'll see about that." Takeshi said as he vaporized the last hellhound, picking up a piece of the metal band that was around its head. "No-one else seems to be attacking, but let's not push our luck. We should report back to President. I'm sure she'll be very interested in our findings."

Takeshi dismissed his Sacred Gear, wincing a bit.

"…What's wrong, Senpai?"

"Now that the adrenaline's gone, I'm feeling a bit of pain." Takeshi smiled. "It's nothing much. Let's go."

Koneko nodded as both she and Takeshi stepped inside a teleportation magic circle formed by the latter and vanished from the area. Unbeknownst to them, a mechanical contraption in the shape of a bat had been observing them, transmitting images back to the Fallen Angel base.

"Not bad." Turel remarked as he rewound the projection, focusing on the two Devils' fighting styles. "A pack of hellhounds should have been enough to kill a couple of Low-class Devils with ease, but they dealt with them. Looks like their rank doesn't reflect their strength. We'll need to adjust accordingly."

"Was this really necessary, Turel-sama?" A tall, buxom woman with long blue hair and brown eyes asked as the entered the office Turel was sitting in. "The Devils are definitely aware something is off now. What if they decide to vacate the area and retreat back to their base? All our efforts will have been for nothing then."

"Perhaps, but it's essential that we gather combat data before enacting the plan, Kalawarner." Turel said. "The more prepared we are, the less the chances of failure are. Plus, I'm sure their confidence won't be shaken by just this much."

"If you say so." Kalawarner shrugged. "But what happens if they decide to retreat regardless?"

"Then we'll simply enact the plan in Kuoh." Turel said. "The only reason we went to this extent is to improve our chances further by splitting up the two heiresses' Peerages. However, that doesn't mean we don't stand a chance against the two of them together. I'm confident this operation will succeed regardless."

"Let's hope so, otherwise Kokabiel-sama will be furious." Kalawarner shivered. "Provoking a Cadre's wrath is the last thing I want."

"On the other hand, if we do succeed, the prestige and rewards will be great." Turel said. "Isn't that why you and the others are here? To get your hands on the Artificial Sacred Gear prototypes we have obtained and be recognized as formidable warriors instead of mere grunts?"

"Yes…" Kalawarner grimaced. "It's as you say, Turel-sama."

"Why the long face?" Turel smirked. "Do you think I'm mocking you? Far from it. If anything, your ambition and drive to obtain more power are praiseworthy. It shows you have a clear sense of purpose. If more Fallen Angels were like you instead of losing themselves in study and research to satisfy their curiosity, our race would be in a far more advantageous position."

"Thank you for your kind words, Turel-sama." Kalawarner bowed, a pleased expression on her face. "Rest assured that me and the others will do our utmost to fulfil Kokabiel-sama's orders for the sake of Grigori."

"That's what I want to hear." Turel said. "What about our guest? Is she behaving?"

"There are no problems with her." Kalawarner said. "It's not as if she can cause trouble even if she wanted to. The explosive seal we've placed on her will see to that. Oh, before I forget, I should inform you that there have been several complaints from…some of our Exorcists. They're itching for some action and wondering when we're going to act."

"Several, or one problem child in particular?" Turel groaned. "Tell Freed that we will move out when I say so, not before. If he's that bored, he can help Dohnaseek with testing the new combat armors. Should he try to sneak out and attack the Devils on his own though, I will turn him into a pincushion. Make sure he understands that. Also, make sure that the Calamity Witch doesn't slack off. The magic formation and the Spiritron Engine won't be complete without her."

"Yes, Turel-sama."

"Ah, how nice it is to have such obedient subordinates." Turel remarked once Kalawarner had taken her leave. "Everyone fulfilling their intended purpose in perfect harmony is the recipe for success. With this, the long-awaited war will be one step closer."

After saying so, Turel returned to observing the projected images before him.

"An attack by Hellhounds? Looks like there's something fishy going on in this area after all…"

Rias commented with a frown. Takeshi and Koneko had returned to the library serving as the Occult Research Club's temporary base without issues and had just finished reporting their encounter with the Hellhounds to Rias.

"Looks like it." Takeshi said, taking out the piece from the metal band he had collected during the battle. "All the hellhounds were wearing this on their heads. Does this seem familiar to any of you?"

"I can't say it does." Rias said as she picked up the piece, turning it around and inspecting it with a curious look. "If I had to guess though, I'd say it's some sort of control device. Hellhounds are notorious for being unruly and violent, even towards each other, so a way to have them obey orders is necessary. I'll send this fragment to the Underworld's research department later and see if they can figure something out from it."

"More importantly, now that we know that some unknown foe had a hand in this disaster, we really need to reconsider whether it's a good idea to keep doing business here." Akeno said. "This city has shown promise so far, but is it really wise to risk our lives for profit?"

"On the other hand, if we are being targeted, chances are our mysterious adversaries will follow us to Kuoh even if we retreat." Yuuto countered. "If that happens, our main base of operations will be dragged into yet another fight with a high possibility of what happened here to occur there as well."

"Yuuto's got a point." Takeshi said. "I'd rather confront whoever is after us here rather than fight them in Kuoh. I don't want to get my parents caught in the crossfire. Or our classmates and usual clients for that matter."

"…It's also possible this was simple harassment from a rival faction." Koneko said. "Though the chances of that are low."

"How difficult…" Rias muttered with a troubled expression. "In any case, I'll notify Sona about this and warn her to be on alert as well. If enemies appear in Kuoh as well, we'll rush back there on the double and reinforce Sona. Until then, we'll keep fulfilling contracts here, and if our mysterious enemies show up, we'll teach them the folly of messing with us."

[Yes!]

Everyone shouted together as one.

"Now then, about the other matter." Rias said. "Takeshi, you said you awakened a new Sacred Gear, right? Could you show it to us?"

"Sure thing."

Takeshi summoned Cataclysm Zone, followed by the dark green gauntlets and greaves.

"Interesting." Rias remarked, rubbing her chin. "If I'm not mistaken, this Sacred Gear is Berserk Devastator, the Sacred Gear in which Grendel is sealed. It enhances strength and reflects the properties of Grendel's insanely hard scales on the user's skin, and I believe it also allowed them to generate and control fire as well."

"Oh, that's something I didn't get the chance to test out earlier." Takeshi said. "Definitely something to work on later."

"Yes, but be very careful." Rias warned Takeshi. "Among the Sacred Gears sealed in Cataclysm Zone, Berserk Devastator is the one that has always driven its users mad in the past without fail. There's no telling what sort of effect Grendel will have on your mental state."

"I've overcome Nidhogg's influence, so I'll handle Grendel as well somehow." Takeshi said with a confident expression. "Regardless, I'll make sure to take care."

"That's all I'm asking." Rias said, clapping her hands. "Seeing as we don't have any more requests for now, I'm calling it a night. Akeno, Yuuto, Koneko, leave your familiars here. They'll be taking care of our temporary base along with mine."

The members of the Occult Research Club did as Rias asked, and once the familiars had taken positions inside the building, all Devils present stepped inside the large magic circle, which each club member being sent back to their respective residence.

"Ah, home sweet home." Takeshi remarked once he was teleported to his room. "That was one eventful night."

[It certainly was. Slaughtering those doggies was a good wake-up call!]

"Not this again…"

Takeshi groaned as his surroundings grew dimmer and vanished. Next thing he knew, he was standing in the middle of what appeared to be a massive mead hall. Thick wooden pillars and beams supported the structure, a large number of tables filled the interior and four fireplaces in each corner warmed the room. Several torches were also mounted on the walls, along with an assortment of weapons and tapestries. Takeshi also noted that there were two towering gates behind him and two windows next to them that allowed one to see the blizzard raging outside.

[Don't just stand there, brat. Come closer so I can have a good look at you.]

Takeshi turned his sights at the oversized throne situated at the farthest end of the hall, where the voice had come from. Sitting on it was a towering shadow that had to be at least fifteen meters tall.

"You're the one who dragged me here, so at least be courteous enough to show your face and come to greet me, Grendel."

[You've got spunk all right!] Grendel laughed. [Nidhogg wasn't exaggerating. Good, good. I've suffered enough crybabies to last me several lifetimes!]

After saying so, Grendel stood up on his feet and stepped forward. As he approached, his features became clearer. Unlike Nidhogg, he resembled a giant with draconic features. His body was covered in dark green scales, his eyes shone silver, two wings and a tail protruded from his bulky body, a horn protruded from his snout, and his limbs were thicker than tree trunks. Several dark orange veins could also be seen in the gaps between the scales on his hands and feet.

"Nice place you've got there." Takeshi pointed at the hall around them. "It's certainly more well-kept than Nidhogg's messy underground cave. Never would have pegged you for the prim and proper type."

[Please.] Grendel scoffed. [As if such a dull place would be to my liking. No, this was simply the site of one of my greatest battles. The hall of Heorot, where I faced the hero Beowulf. Now that was a fight to remember! A human almost as ferocious as a Dragon! I love such insanely strong guys!]

"Didn't he rip your hand off, and then you ran off and died in the nearby marshes?" Takeshi said. "Kind of cowardly if you ask me."

[Bah!] Grendel snorted. [As always, those pathetic humans can't get anything right! You think a mere ripped arm would stop me? If anything, that was what really got me going! Beowulf and I fought for a whole day until our battle led us to the marshes, when he got the upper hand and slayed me. The exhilaration I felt as my head was being crushed…ah, that sensation, that pain, it's something I won't ever forget!]

"You really are as insane as the stories say…"

[This battle made such an impression on me that, once I was revived, I immediately sought Beowulf out again.] Grendel continued, paying no heed to Takeshi. [Damn shame that he had grown older and weaker by that time. It wasn't as much fun as before. He was still a challenge, but needed help from his companion to slay me. After that, he died. That's the rotten thing with humans. You can't play around with them for long.]

"Yeah, what a shame they can't stay around to become your chew toys." Takeshi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who wouldn't want to be hounded by a messed-up Evil Dragon for all time? Speaking of which, where's Nidhogg? I couldn't access his Sacred Gear before. Is he still sulking or something?"

[I do not sulk.] Nidhogg's voice echoed. [The connection to my Sacred Gear was temporarily cut off until you connected to Grendel's Sacred Gear. You should be able to use Mayhem Striker once again. In fact, I insist that you do since it seems you're caught up in something interesting again.]

[Piss off, Nidhogg!] Grendel growled. [You've had your fill of fun so far! It's my turn to enjoy the carnage! I can't do that if your Balance Breaker sucks him dry first!]

"So, you are draining my life when I use Balance Breaker, you scumbag!" Takeshi shouted. "I knew it!"

[What, you thought the Balance Breaker would come to you with no strings attached?] Nidhogg snorted. [Get real, whelp. You may control me to a degree, but you will not escape from your cursed fate so easily. Now, if you were to cooperate, remove these chains and let go of those foolish inhibitions of yours, then—]

"Nice try, but your binds stay where they are, Nidhogg." Takeshi said, turning to Grendel. "As for you, I don't know what you're planning, but you won't succeed. Now, if you don't mind…no, scratch that, I don't give a damn if you mind. I'll be taking my leave now."

Once Takeshi was gone, Grendel began chuckling.

[One of the few hosts who's actually willing to put up a fight. Oh, I can tell we are going to have a great time with this whelp. For as long as he survives, that is.]

[I almost pity him.] Nidhogg said. [You'll be going at it the same way as usual?]

[You know me.] Grendel said. [I'm much more straightforward than the rest of you guys. That's what makes the coming chaos and bloodshed even more exciting!]

[True enough.]

Grendel's boisterous laugh and Nidhogg's sinister one echoed across the walls of the great hall.

That concludes Chapter 11, which is the start of the new arc. For those of you that theorized that Grendel would be the next Evil Dragon to awaken, congratulations, you got it right. His Sacred Gear, Berserk Devastator, is mainly based on the Beowulf Devil Arm from Devil May Cry, though I guess its skillset is a little closer to Balrog due to its fire manipulation (which will probably be shown in the next chapter).

Now, another thing of note is the lack of Asia here. I'm going to be honest with you all, I'm not exactly a big fan of her character. Her behavior, the way the story coddles her, her design, even the way her voice actor portrays her, all that just rubs me up the wrong way. That's why an OC character will be taking her place in the story and in Rias's Peerage. But for those that are worried, I will say that Asia is alive and well in the Church, and not in that scumbag Diodora's Peerage or something. People like Strada came to her defense in time in this fic and prevented her exile. She may show up down the line, but she will be a supporting character.

Well, that's all for now. As always, please read, review, but most of all, enjoy!

See you all next time!