Chapter 6. Thinning Threads
Underneath the plastic orange cone peak, a loud snarl escaped Freed pointed frown teeth, his insane constant gleeful grin was absent as his mind lingered on the shitty sapphire-eyed Devil. Putting his bare foot down on the grass, dirt ground surrounded by trees, making his way to the front entrance of the abandoned church.
If he ever saw that Devil again, he's going to peel his grinning face, pluck out his eyes, and stab him with hot pokers. Savoring his screams of anguish, begging for him to kill him as he gets his hard-on.
Freed's snarled frown shifted back into a shark-deranged smile.
His red iris shrinks in an intense gleam.
Oh, yes. That would be a day to remember.
Screw restarting the Great War! He just wanted that Devil dead!
Within the church building, a semi-fully covered Raynare agitated pacing back and forth of the bema, now wearing her BDSM bikini and her single pair wings out as she bit her leather glove thumb in a worry fret. She ordered a meeting of her small army of every rogue Exorcist under her command for an emergency meeting of Mittelt's absences.
All of them wore black hooded cloaks covering their entire body underneath their black cleric tunics and a black cloth mask covering their mouth. Sitting or standing within the aisle murmuring one to another why they were summoned.
This wasn't good, Mittelt was still a junior cadet and wouldn't last long alone in Devil territory. Given what Dohnaseek described, the governor is willing to shoot first and ask questions later. Not only that but that crazy bastard Freed was messing. She swears if that lunatic has anything to do with this, she's going to shove a light spear right into his throat.
Dohanseek arrived from the back entrance of the bema inspecting the rows of rooms where the small army of Exorcists stayed since their mission started.
"Did you find anything?" Raynare whispered to Dohanseek as he shook his head.
"No, I search all their rooms even… Freeds…" he shudders to himself, to this day he has no idea how the church screwed up by creating such a monster. "Are you sure someone within our ranks is plotting a conspiracy against us?" he asked with doubtful skepticism, "Is this about what happened to Reish?"
"It's not… it just…" Raynare rubbed her arm, her violet eyes wavering, softening unsure concern the Nephilim as she let out a sigh, "You know there others in our ranks, who like nothing more but to restart the Great War. What makes you think they won't use our lives to restart one?"
Dohanseek scoffed. "With you around, they're going to need a low-tier ultimate-class Devil or a highly powerful Sacred Gear user. Besides, you're not going to hear me complaining about restarting a second Great War, with how Azazel is running things."
"Even with our lives being at the forefront. Do I need you to get a history lesson that our faction numbers dwindle to the lowest population rate out of the other two factions?" She countered with a raised condescending eyebrow and folded her arms under her exposed breast.
Dohanseek scoffed once again. "If he starts offering our race to the Evil Piece system, don't be surprised if someone usurps him. Just so he can lick the Devil's boots for the sake of 'peace'. Baraquiel's traitorous daughter already sending red flags within our ranks."
"You're being paranoid."
"Am I? Have you ever heard of the tale of the Blazing Prince?"
Raynare let out an annoyed sigh. "Yes, I heard the tale of Tannin and Ignitus. Who hasn't heard of their story? Tannin gave up his throne, freedom, and his kingdom's sovereignty to the Devil Faction. The Lavender Flame Dragon Kingdom's fertile lands started to degenerate and began to lose the Dragon Apples that Dragons need to eat to survive. Later on, Sirzech and Serafall gave him the offer to save his people from starvation, at the price of his kingdom's sovereignty, which is now part of the Devil Faction territories. He lost his throne and his freedom. Now ranked as an ultimate-class Devil under his master, Mephisto. A year later, heir to the throne of the former Purple Dragon Kingdom, Ignitus Tannin led a failed coup. He was thwarted before his rebellion took off. He and his followers were arrested, but shortly escape before he was thrown into prison. Is there a point in this history lesson?"
"Why did Ignitus rebel?" He lingered.
"Why wouldn't he rebel? Losing your claim to the throne, your kingdom's sovereignty, your people's, and your father's freedom. Who wouldn't be pissed off after all that?"
"That's not all. Word got around that it was the Devil Faction that caused the famine of the Lavender Flame Dragon Kingdom lands. That Ignitus hired Mages to examine the cause of the famine in his kingdom and the route caused was traced to House Bael."
"Is there a reason why you're telling me this?" Raynare demanded, with little patience left.
"If push comes to shove what makes you think Azazel won't do the same to us."
"Just drop it. I'm more worried about Mittelt than a history lesson at the moment."
"Fine, just don't say I didn't warn you."
Raynare took a step ahead of Dohanseek as she was about to address the small army of rogue Exorcists.
"Two of our people are missing in Devil territory Mittelt and Freed Sellzen. Your mission is to find them in groups of five around Kuoh. If a Devil attacks you, do not engage and commence a retreat by using light flashbangs. If Mittelt or Freed is captured by the Devils, you return to base and report to me. Any questions?"
The door of the front entrance of the church opened slightly, alarming every Exorcist in the room, who took out their light swords and light pistols, as Dohanseek summoned two of his light spears in his hand, about to throw them.
Raynare however, still had her arms crossed as she narrows her sight at the intruder.
The shadowy figure took a step foot in the entrance as he revealed himself in the lighting of the moon. It was a scowling hunched Freed Sellzen, his clerical clothes all gone except for his heart-shaped boxers. Covered in glued white feathers, large red feathers glued to his boxers as a tail, two of his wrists were glued to his hip as his arms flap, an orange plastic cone peak covered his mouth, and glued under his chin was a small uninflated red balloon filled with weighted balls. His hair was cut to a tomahawk and dyed red and a walkie-talkie was glued to Freed's chest.
There was a long silence in the room as everyone stared at the insane Exorcist. Dohnaseek dropped his spear, his mouth gawking as Raynare rubbed her eyes to make sure her mind wasn't playing a trick on her.
…
…
…
…
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
The whole room laughed to their heart's content, some of them pound their heads to the wall in an attempt to control their laughter and others collapse to the ground. Dohanseek held his stomach as he got to his knees.
Raynare cheeks puffed as her face began to turn purple, unable to hold on any longer she laughed alongside the Exorcists as her large breast jiggled alongside her each time she laughed.
"LOOK IT'S BILLY HATCHER!" One of the Exorcists laughed.
"NO, NO, THAT'S CHICKEN LITTLE!"
"THAT CAN'T BE CHICKEN LITTLE! HE'S TOO BIG!"
"HE'S A MODIFIED ENGINEER SUPER CHICKEN!"
"SHUT UP! JUST WAIT UNTIL I GET OUT OF THIS! YOU BE BEGGING ME TO KILL YOU!" Freed shouted, flapping his feathered arms, his wrist super glued to his waist, causing the Exorcists to laugh even louder.
Raynare laughter dies down as she wiped a tear duct from her eyes as she approaches Freed. "Freed what the hell happened to you?"
"YOUR BOYFRIEND HAPPENED!"
"Reish?" She raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"NOT HIM YOU DUMB BITCH! THE OTHER ONE!"
"Gabriel did this to you." Her violet eyes widened in bewilderment. "How did the psychotic Exorcist in history lose to a newly teenage Devil? Did the boy use his Sacred Gear?"
"No…" he snarled. "He outdraw me."
The room went silent as Dohanseek walked toward the two. "You're telling me a teenager outdrew a genetically modified super soldier? Raynare, who exactly was your target?" He murmured.
"He's just an ordinary teenager with a bad case of bad luck. There is nothing odd in the report about him."
"What about his parents?"
"I checked, but there are no other files on them, not even a photograph. The village he came from was mismanaged and handled things manually. They only started to use digital when they were about to become a town."
"Didn't you tell me his last name is Amakusa and his mother's name is Jeanne… You don't think…"
"You think the two of Heaven's best generals would settle in a village in the middle of nowhere and raise a child? Do you know how plausible that sounds?"
Dohanseek shrugged, "Fine, it just seems odd."
"IF YOU TWO DONE CHIT CHANTING, WOULD YOU GET THESE THINGS OF ME!?"
Raynare casually grabbed the walkie-talkie from Freed's chest and rips it out of him as the Exorcists screamed in pain.
"HE USED A HOT GLUE GUN! YOU BITCH!" He snarled in pain as part of his chest bleed drips of blood staining on the white feathers.
Raynare glared at him. "You´re not off the hook Freed. One of the Exorcists overheard your conversation with Mittelt and told me you agitated her to take off. I don't care if this gets me court-martial if she's dead, you're next. Dohanseek clean Freed up and take him to his cell."
Dohanseek did as Raynare said, as he escorted Freed to the backroom passages, who snarled to the Fallen Angel.
"Everyone else holds your position! I'm going outside."
Raynare opened the door as she flew above the church, observing the surroundings of the forest.
"No intruders." She muttered to herself as she stared at the walkie-talkie. "If he was able to pinpoint and ambush Freeds location, he might be a skillful tactician that I should give credit for."
"BOUNDARIES ARACHNE! BOUNDARIES!"
Gabriel had Arachne in a hold, locking his arms towards her torso. She was wiggling to break free as they both fell to the ground, but he was still holding her firmly.
"JUST ONE HUG! JUST A HUG! SHE'S LIKE A PLUSHY!" Arachne cried out.
"AHAHAHAHA!" Mittelt cried out in tears as she pressed her back to the wall. "I SURRENDER I'LL TELL YOU ANYTHING! I OFTEN DREAMED OF SWAPPING BODIES WITH RAYNARE SO I CAN HAVE HER MELONS AND TIGHT ASS! I KNOW VALI HAS PILES OF TRAINING EXERCISE VIDEOS UNDER HIS BED SO HE CAN WATCH THE FEMALE TRAINER ASS! HE ALWAYS STARES AT RAYNARE´S ASS WHEN THEY'RE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH EACH OTHER! MY FAVORITE POKEMON IS BELLOSSOM! I HAVE A SCRAPBOOK OF THE HOTTEST GUYS IN THE GRIGORI! I THINK RAYNARE´S TARGET IS CUTE! KILL LA KILL IS MY FAVORITE ANIME! RYUKO MATOI IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER! I-"
Mittelt's confession was put on pause with a sharp tooth whistle from Gabriel, getting the two girls' attention. "Okay, everyone takes a breather! Before we wake up the whole block!"
Both girls took a deep breath as Mittet sat in his bed looking worryingly at her captors.
"Arachne if I let you go. You promise not to touch Mittelt without her consent."
Arachne giggled sheepishly at the Fallen Angel. "Sorry about that… I tend to lose myself when I conceive something cute."
Gabriel got up as he let Arachne go with Mittelt staring worriedly at the two.
"What you two going to do to me?"
Gabriel calmly raised his hands. "Relax, we're not going to harm you… anymore." He lingered with an eye roll. "You're a prisoner under my care, directly under my master's orders."
Mittelt swallowed a lump in her throat. "Is your master going to execute me?"
Gabriel shook his head as he took a sorrowful look at the scared girl that was shaken like a leaf.
She's only eleven years old.
Gabriel took a step close to Mittelt in fright as she crawled back to the walls.
Gabriel sighed as he took a knee towards the bed. "Look, you have my word that no harm will fall upon you. We will discuss a prisoner exchange with your squad leader and in the meantime, you'll be treated with care before an exchange is scheduled."
Arachne silver eyes widen alert. "Gabriel, it's time."
He nodded and grabbed his laptop from his desk. "We talk later," Gabriel said to Mittelt as he and Arachne ran outside.
"Hey were you going?" Mittelt asked just as Gabriel ran and slammed the door shut.
He placed his laptop on top of the rail, logged in with his password, linked to the Devil Internet, and typed 'Asia Argento' on the Doogle website. "Did your spiders place my cameras at the church, the secret passages, and all routes to the church?"
"I did. Right now, they're starting to degenerate."
"Did you spot Asia Argento?" He shifted his laptop toward her, revealing a picture profile of a white young blonde teenage girl with bright green emerald eyes, wearing a nun's veil.
Arachne shook her head, "I didn't. Maybe she hasn't arrived yet."
"If so, we need to kick the Fallen Angels out before she does."
"Okay, Raynare is about to contact you in three, two, one…"
Gabriel grabbed his walkie-talkie from his blazer as he began to hear statistics.
"Hello, Yuuma." Gabriel greeted condescendingly.
"So, you were the one who kidnapped Mittelt." Raynare accuses solemnly.
"To be fair, it was my master's orders. You know Rias Gremory. Heir of house Gremory. The little sister of Sirzechs Lucifer. The teenager who governs this town."
Unfortunately.
"I'm well aware of who she is." She started with venom inpatients in her tone as she snarled through the walkie-talkie. "Why am I talking to her servant and not your master?"
Gabriel casually closed his laptop as he leaned backward on the rail bar. "Well, Rias took recognition of my talents in forming tactics and strategies. You just happen to be a field test for me. To get a clear observation of my talents."
Raynare scoffed with a chuckle. "You expect me to believe a Devil governor sent one of her servants to handle foreign and military affairs."
Gabriel raised a mock perplexed eyebrow, "Really…" he lingered condescending. "You find it hard to believe that a teenager with no political experience would use her servant on a delicate errand. After goading a fight with one of your subordinates during a shaky ceasefire. Instead… you know bring him into question. What was his name again? Dohanseek was it."
"Okay, you make your point…" She sighed in frustration. "Your master is an idiot."
"Pretty much." Gabriel agreed whimsically. "If it were up to me, I would have done the proper procedure of contacting foreign and military affairs. But here we are."
"What have you done with Mittelt?"
"She's safe if that was your concern. To save you the trouble she's being held in our main base. She is being treated with care and can go outside with some restrictions so she won't escape. No harm will fall upon her until a prisoner exchange is placed."
"Prisoner exchange? I don't have a prisoner to exchange with."
"I have questions that need to be answered 'darling'. The exchange would be at the park fountain where you 'kill' me. Sunday at 3:00 P.M. Is that fine with you?"
"Very well, but I want to talk with Mittelt?"
"That's a big no, from my master part. You can talk with her when an exchange is taking place."
Raynare snarled, "If you Devils lay a finger at her, I will-"
"Nothing bad will happen to her. Believe me, I take no pleasure in holding a child for ransom. All I want is to avoid a war and prevent any casualties. Besides, someone is pulling both of our strings, wanting to escalate to a full-blown conflict."
"What do you mean?"
"I explain when we meet, face to face, but before that, I want you 'would-be army' army of Exorcists to leave Kuoh right now and I suggest you relocate from that raggedy church you are stationed at. Unless you want to be a conspiracy victim as an excuse for war."
"Fine." She snarled.
"Your right-hand man Dohanseek can stay until our ordeal is finished, but the rest got to go. There's no debate about the former. Either your small army will take their leave right now or you can forget about the exchange. Includes your rooster lock up, believe me, we both benefit from that deranged lunatic chain, I explain more when we meet. Do we reach an understanding?"
"Yes, I do."
"Good, I'll be looking forward to our date… Yuuma." Gabriel turned off his walkie-talkie and places it back in his pocket.
Arachne tilted her head quizzically at Gabriel, "Why didn't you arrange the exchange tomorrow instead? Why Sunday?"
"I need to know more about Diodora's peerage, there is something off about them."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw this before."
"Saw what?"
"I think they are being abused."
"Can you please be more specific?" Arachne asked politely, trying her best not to sound condescending, "We're enslaved and forcefully fight gladiatorial matches in the Rating Games. The only ones who don't think that's abuse are those glory-hound lap dogs like your master´s peerage."
"I know… I know." Gabriel repeated calmly to Arachne, trying not to rile her up, "It's just Diodora´s queen, Maria. While everyone in his peerage was off, she stood out to me… Like she's barely holding things together."
"You met someone like her before?" She tilted her head in confusion.
"I did. I have no right to elaborate on what she went through… hell I still don't know what she went through living with THAT family." He sneered with a scrunched face and grinding teeth but immediately shook his head with a sigh.
"I'm kind of lost here, Gabriel."
"Let's just say I met people like Maria and leave like that."
"Okay, but what are we going to do with Asia Argento? Even if we do trick both Devils and Fallen Angels, that she's missing. She can't hide from us forever. We aren't a witness protection program. Eventually, people are going to figure out where she is."
Gabriel tapped his chin as he began to contemplate. "I take it Asher isn't the most reliant person to trust."
"That's an understatement." Arachne scoffed with her arms crossed. "Enzo and the others barely trust him. He sent us on a wild goose chase in Japan to get you. Saying you are our best chance to cure our mutations and take out our Evil Pieces."
"How? And why didn't he talk to me in person?"
"I asked," she shrugged nonchalantly, "but all I got from him is 'that the right to live is to fight.' Lunatic…" she muttered under her breath.
"If your group barely trusts him… why do you still follow him?"
"We don't… But the last conversation Enzo had with Asher got him to rile up. Saying you were our best hope."
"Here I thought being vague as hell was an anime-only cliché," he snarked. "Did he elaborate any further? He treating your life like cannon fodder."
"Sorry, but that's all I know."
"Where is the rendezvous your group is supposed to meet Asher?"
"He said he appears once we find you."
"Well, you did. Now, where is he?"
"I don't know…" she grumbled in a fret agitation, rubbing her temple. "The others could be de-"
"Don't finish that sentence." Gabriel puts a comforting hand on her shoulders. "Being prepared for the worst is something we all must deal with, but you still got a shot to make it through this. Unless we see a dead body, we do not know if they're kicking or not. Just don't lose your will to survive."
Arachne took a deep breath and began to relax, smiling softly at Gabriel. "Thank you, Gabriel. Sorry about-"
*BONG*
Arachne was cut off with a karate chop at the forehead.
"ARE WE STILL DOING THAT!?" She cried, a comically single tear while rubbing her forehead.
"At this point, it's our little game between us. Whoever caves first loses… and I hate to lose." Gabriel leered amusingly with a devilish smug grin at the Stray.
Arachne opened her mouth to retort but paused for a second until she burst into laughter. "You're such a dork," she said with a chuckle.
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? Having you around unwraps a brotherly instinct within me to be a pain in the ass to your little sister."
Arachne chuckled. "I wouldn't mind having you as my brother. I can give you a proper scolding on how to treat a lady."
Gabriel scoffed as he fixated on his leather blazer collar. "Please, all the girls in Fuyuki were flocking over me, left and right before I was framed."
"Sure…" she rolled her eyes in mused skepticism. "Anyway, what are we going to do with Asia?"
Their playful banter ended as Gabriel focus in a stoic analytical manner. "What is the closest Faction to us?"
"That would be Yokai Faction, their capital being Kyoto."
Gabriel gawked blankly at her in shock. "Okay…" he lingered, "I have so many questions about that, but let's jump one rabbit hole at a time. Would the Yokai Faction accept asylum for her?"
"It's possible, every supernatural faction has an arms race with Sacred Gear users. The ones that don't are the starch traditionalists."
"And what if she doesn't want to be a warrior!?" Gabriel snapped. "What if she just wants to live her life in peace?"
"I hate it as much as you do. I'm a Stray after all, but this is the best we can do for her. At least with the Yokai, you have the option to leave. But she will have to be a warrior to be a value for protection."
"The Devil Faction has been taking races from all other Factions, not even the Heaven Faction is an exception. What makes the Yokai Faction different?"
"They're not. But maybe with a useful Sacred Gear like Twilight Healing, she would be too valuable to deny her asylum and not to give up so easily for the Devil Faction."
Gabriel let out a frustrated sigh as he placed his hands on the rail with a tight grip. "Arachne if you were cured? What were your plans?"
"I don't know. I and others won't be accepted by the other factions. Deeming Strays too dangerous to be held. They won't take our word for it. But with Asia, she has a chance. If I'm cured, I escort her to Yokai territory, but I can't stay to protect her while watching my shoulder at the same time. This is the best we can do for her."
Gabriel sighed in frustration. "I can't thank you enough for helping me so much with this whole mess-"
*CRACK*
Arachne punched Gabriel between the balls, her small fist digging deep into his jeans as she releases.
"Touche…" Gabriel squealed cupping his sack between his legs and wobbled for a short second as his face faltered to the floor.
"We should start keeping score." Arachne beamed at him while rubbing her fist.
Mittelt pulled her cobweb string chain with all her might and placed her feet on the wall as she pulls. She faltered and started biting the cobweb string, only to stop as her face turned sickly blue she spat out in disgust. She pressed her hands together, grunting in concentration, trying to form any kind of light construct.
She sighed in defeat as she slumbered to her knees.
Those Devils were going to torture her. She wasn't going to fall for that Devil's lie. Trying to make her feel secure when she's vulnerable only to do, what kind of horrors they have planned in mind. Some kind of sadistic joke or worse… killed her and turned her into a Reincarnated Devil.
What would Reish do if he was here?
Mittelt froze, hearing the door knob of the front door clank. She paled, scared white, the eleven-year-old hastily grabbed the pillow beside her and clenched it into a false sense of comfort, and buried her head into the pillow.
This was it… she was going to die here.
"Ow! Brain freeze!" Arachne cried out, rubbing her forehead as she grunted. Holding a blueberry smoothie.
"Aw, what's the matter" Gabriel mocked, cooing carrying three pizza boxes, "' Where's that I'm half Yuki-Onna. I'm immune to something trivial as brain freeze,'" Gabriel snarked.
"Yeah, yeah," Arachne pouted pouty lips, "I like to see a Dragon eat a ghost pepper and not bawled their eyes out," she murmured.
"I'm pretty sure an overgrown sentient lizard that can breathe fire, would consider eating a ghost pepper trivial as an apple."
"Uhm… Gabriel…" Arachne pointed to the child Fallen Angel that was huddling his pillow as the two frowned at the sight.
"You know with my plan to kidnap a Fallen Angel, I was aiming to capture Dohanseek or my 'sweetheart' of a date for any information. But… this is just all kinds of wrong," Gabriel murmured with a grunt as he shifts his gaze from Mittelt.
Arachne walked towards Mittelt, putting her smoothie down on the chabudai table, taking a small hop at Gabriel's bed crouching down with her toes at his bedsheets an inch apart from the Fallen Angel.
"Mittelt no one is going to hurt you, okay." She started in a soft gentle voice. "You be reuniting with your team on Sunday, until then you are under our protection."
Mittelt didn't say anything, burying her face deeper within her pillow.
"I know Gabriel looks scary and you don't trust him, but underneath that delinquent exterior, he's a giant teddy bear that wears a leather blazer."
"An exact opposite of you," Gabriel mocks scornfully as Arachne sticks out his tongue in retribution.
Before their banter could continue, they heard Mittelt giggling from the muffle of her pillow.
Gabriel notched his head to Arachne hinting at her to continue.
"He's like a coconut, hard outside but soft inside." She semi-raised a pointed index finger in cheer.
"And you're the incarnation of Watapachi Popping Grape, look sweet at first, but sour as a lemon."
The muffled giggle from the Fallen Angel started to become even louder, almost to a burst of flow-blown cackle.
"It seems she finds your expense more humorous than mine," Gabriel remarked.
"But of course," Arachne snorted proudly in glee, "you're a brute while I'm the adorable kick-ass gladiator ninja."
"Agree to disagree." He shrugged. "You might want to continue, I think you got a good laugh with our young guest."
Arachne rubbed her hands with mischievous glee. "A dam of a child's laughter is about to burst I just need to add a little pressure." She tickled the Fallen Angel's stomach and armpit, not able to hold it anymore. Mittlet let out heaves of laughter, losing the grip on her pillow as she fell on Arachne's lap.
"S-stop… P… p-please… I think I'm… g-going to… faint again." She begged in tears with heaves of laughter, while the Stray was tickling the Fallen Angel.
"Okay Arachne, stop playing with your plushy." Gabriel mused as Arachne stopped tickling Mittelt she sat up straight while shuffling her handcuffs. "Are you feeling any better?"
"I… I am," she stuttered, "So you're not going to..."
"As I said before, you are under our care and protection. For now, just relax until Sunday when you will be reunited with your team." Gabriel took out a small black bat-shaped remote device and pressed the red button at the center, the chain connected to the handcuffs disappeared while the dark energy strand morphed into a solid onyx jet-black strand. "Your power is still suppressed. The M.R. Handcuffs can detect any hostile thoughts. If it does, the dark energy strand of the handcuff will reappear as well as the chain and will increase the weight of the cuffs. Do you understand?"
She nodded solemnly. "Yes… I do."
"Great, now…" Gabriel placed the three pizza boxes on his chabudai table. "Le diner est servi!" He opened the first pizza box, revealing a still-warm pizza with anchovy toppings.
Arachne grabbed Mittelt's hand, gesturing her off the bed as both Stray and Fallen Angel took a slice.
Mittelt flinched, reluctant to take a bite, but once she took a whiff her mouth began to drool.
She never smelled something so good within the Grigori cafeteria.
"Bon Appetit." Arachne gestured her slice to Mittelt, taking a bite.
Mittelt did the same as her sky-blue eyes bugged out tasting the spices within the marinade. She devoured her first slice as she took another.
Gabriel chuckled. "You like it, this neighborhood isn't exactly safe but as I said before, you find hidden gems. Speaking of hidden gems…" Gabriel lingered as he went to his closet and took out his old GameCube he and Shirou used to play together when they were kids. Beginning plugging into his tv. "From your confession, Bellossom is your favorite Pokemon. How about you take a shot capturing her with the old classic."
Mittelt stopped taking another sliced pizza as she gawked at the screen. "YOU HAVE POKEMON COLOSSEUM?!"
"Yup, enjoy-"
*RING*
Gabriel was cut off as his phone rang. He reached into his blazer pocket and answered. "Kiba, what is it? Wait a minute... They found it!? She summons us now!? Damn!" He cursed under his breath. "Tell Rias I'll be there." He turned to Arachne, "I got to go. Arachne watch over Mittelt."
"Sure, but-"
Gabriel didn't elaborate any further as he ran to the door and slammed it shut.
Mittelt tilted her head in a confused manner watching Gabriel heading off while she sat, holding her GameCube controller.
"You didn't find anyone, not even a scout?" Diodora asked his queen Maria as both his peerage and Rias gathered outside the abandoned church Raynare was occupying.
Rias and Akeno were having a private conversation with Diodora and Maria. While the rest of their peerage surrounds the church from the outside started to make their arrival at the front entrance.
"Are you sure that they're gone?" Kiba whispered to Gabriel for only them to hear as Koneko shifted her gaze beside them, making sure no one was eavesdropping.
"Fifty, fifty. I told Raynare to leave the church a couple of hours ago. I'm not sure she and her people had enough time to leave the premise completely. I manage to find broken beer bottles and used cigarette ash buds, still warm. Diodora's peerage most likely took notice and assuming Raynare group left recently."
Gabriel swallowed a lump in his throat.
It scared the crap out of him how close, they were to restart the Great War. If he didn't kidnap Mittelt or contact Raynare… He didn't even what to think about the level of body counts this war might lead to.
"We didn't just dodge a bullet! We dodged a foutu nuclear bomb!" Gabriel angrily muttered to Kiba.
"Now what?"
"Diodora and his peerage are still staying in the clubhouse. Keep them occupy until they leave, spend time with them in groups, and help them with cooking, chores anything. Just keep them close, in case they try anything. For Maria… leave her to me."
"Why?"
Gabriel took a brief of Diodora queen having a conversation with her master, Rias, and Akeno, "Call it a gut feeling." Was the only answer Gabriel gave to a confused Kiba as everyone gathers around the two high-class Devils.
"We're going assault the church, be prepared for any attack both Maria and Akeno will lead the way while the rooks will stay at the entrance," Rias declared their plan of assault.
"While my bishop's station in the sky," Diodora continued, "both knights and pawns will stay put at the church navel and wait for further orders. For all pawns activate your promotion to queen."
"If I may interject?" Gabriel asked being the center of attention of the crowd. "I meant no disrespect but how do we even know, the Fallen Angels are even there?"
"What is it now Gabriel?" Rias asked with irritation.
"Rias when you first meant Dohanseek, you goaded into fighting him. If the Fallen Angels are acting rogue, they would have left Kuoh now. What benefits do they have staying in Devil territory knowing their presence is revealed and with no protection from the Grigori?"
Diodora chuckled nonchalantly. "You are suspecting any kind of logical thinking from a Fallen Angel, that's a laugh. That's like suggesting a Stray is anything but a stray dog."
Gabriel forced to bite his tongue, shaking a clenched fist. Fingernail dug deep into the palm of his leather glove. Wanting nothing more than punch this piece of trash.
Arachne, a Stray Devil is helping him prevent a war between said three groups while hunting her down. While the Devils, these parasites are endangering the town they claim to protect. Should she be trusted is up to debate. The sheer fact that a Stray was compassionate enough to do their job for them should already speak volumes for itself.
Gabriel let an exuberated frustrated sigh as he cools down. "The fact we haven't countered any Fallen Angels this close in the church premise should already spark concern. They may have the place booby trap either to cover their tracks or to make sure their base won't be used against them. Send the rooks as a recon instead of a vanguard within the church, inspecting further any traps the Fallen Angels set up. If there's an ambush, both you and Rias can summon the strongest of us to their location, by using Casting. Half of the knights and pawns will come to their aid. While we remain hidden within the forest as a backup, strategic retreat, or perform rescue ops if one of us is captured."
Diodora opened his eyelids slightly showing off his red pierced eyes as he leered at Gabriel, "Quite the general you are Amakusa, but I suggest you hold your tongue and know your place."
Unfazed by the threat Gabriel kept a stoic posture. "I meant no disrespect, my concern was both of our group's safety." He did a small apologetic bow, which seem to keep Diodora's temper in check.
"Gabriel, I appreciate the input, but I ensure we have things under control," Rias ensured calmly but with sternness to him. "If you're concerned, then stay outside the church entrance with Diodora and me."
Gabriel was taken aback by Rias being a voice to ease tension for once. The last time he brings his output of her plan it ended with a heated exchange. Maybe it was because there was a debate, they had if Raynare was acting rogue or not and the jurisdiction she has a governor. She was still gaslighting him regardless and dismissing his concern, but at least she didn't rebuke him like last time.
"Uhm… yes… of course Rias."
In a red flash of light, Akeno's clothes changed into a shrine maiden outfit as she and Maria burst out with their Devil wings. They soared towards the church entrance as Akeno blasted the door with a bolt of lightning from her fingertips. The two queens halted as they observe their surroundings of the chapel.
A small red Devil magic circle appeared on the clenched fingers of Akeno and Maria's index and middle fingers. They pressed the circle close to their ears and mouths as they relayed back to their master.
"All things clear Rias."
"Same on my end Lord Astaroth."
"The Fallen Angels must have a secret passage within the church, both of you go upstairs and search for any clues of a secret passage," Diodora ordered as the two queens nodded as they went upstairs to the church.
Kiba and the rest of the knights and pawns barged in next to him and the knights with Dark Eraser and swords in hand. The pawns and rooks readied their fists that impute with fire and electricity, except Koneko.
Gabriel, Rias, and Diodora stood outside, waiting for any surprises the Fallen Angels might set up. While Diodora's bishops could still be seen flying above the church with their Devil wings.
Akeno and Maria Devil's wings dissipated as they walked the upper level of the spiral staircase, stopping their pace at the church lounge as they start searching these level rooms.
"Did you find anything?" Akeno asked.
Maria shook her head. "No… maybe your master´s pawn was correct and we should stop our search before we activate a booby trap. If the Fallen Angels are here, we should have fought them by now."
"Don't mind Gabriel, he just takes time to adjust to being part of the Devil Faction. Was it like this for you with Diodora?" Akeno asked with peak interest.
Maria didn't answer as she stares blankly away with dim hollow eyes, tightening the grasp of her forearm.
"Are you al-"
"We should go further upstairs." She answered with a detached voice as she began to walk upstairs. "It seems to be where the leader of the Fallen Angels was staying, we might be able to find blueprints of the church facility."
"Uhm… okay…" Akeno agreed with an uneasy tone.
The two queens went upstairs and found a single room on the upper level of the church as they barged in.
"Nothing yet Rias, where, in what seems to be Raynare´s bedroom," Akeno relayed back.
"Good, search for anything that may lead us to the Fallen Angels."
"Right, I-" Akeno stopped in mid-sentence as she spotted what seems to be a diagram paper of the church building at the top of the desk. "I think I found the diagram of the church." She relayed back, walking towards the blueprint.
"Great, send it back to me and we'll discuss-"
"IT'S A TRAP!" Gabriel's shouted from the other line.
Before Akeno took a step further, Maria pushed her aside as her ankle was sneered at by a small purple Holy magical circle from the center. The whole church was covering purple data board lines of both the interior and exterior of the building, lit up like a Christmas tree in the forest.
"What is this?" Akeno asked in bewilderment as she observed her data boards that covered the whole room.
"It's a pressure sensor light land bomb. The bomb only activates if I move from this spot." Maria informed with a dreadful voice as beads of sweat began to pour off her forehead.
"Rias the whole church is rigged to explode with a pressure sensor bomb and Maria is caught in the trap! What do we do!?" Akeno shouted in the other line.
Rias stood in gawk dumbstruck at the glowing purple church in front of her.
How did things go so badly without even confronting the enemy?
"I-I… everyone, but Maria gets out of the church." Rias managed to utter with a whimpered breath.
"What are we going to do about Maria!?" Gabriel asked, his voice hastening in a worry fret.
"I-I don't know," Rias answered with a whimper.
Diodora rubbed his chin with his index finger in an analytical calm manner. "Maria serves as my queen well, but no matter." He shrugged. "Asia might be too inexperienced in combat to be my queen. But if that is the case, so be it."
Rias gawked at Diodora's dismissal fretting about the danger his queen was, while Gabriel sneered at the high-class Devil.
"Putain ça!" Gabriel yelled as he ran towards the church while tossing Rias a walkie-talkie. "Call me when everyone is out of the church!" He ordered as he ran past Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and Diodora's peerage that were exiting the building.
Maria lets out an accepting reluctant breath, as she relaxed her posture, and closed her eyes in acceptance of her demise.
This will be how she will meet her end. Truth be told, she wasn't even sure it would even matter if she died here. So many queens before she died in a cruel, twisted manner at the hands of that monster.
"Sarah I be with you and the others soon… I just wish I could take that Devil with me." Maria touched her forehead with her right hand. "In the name of the Father," her heart, "and the Son," her left shoulder and then the right shoulder, "and of the Holy Ghost," she began to pray, her face scrunching in pain, as she gritted her teeth. The sizzling steam began to leak from her body. "Lord, holy and compassionate forgive me for my sins. By dying you unlocked the gates of life for those who believe in you. As I depart from this world, I pray that you look over my sister and those of others similar fates as I..." She swallowed a hesitated lump in reluctant acceptance, as she moves her foot slightly, "Ame-"
"WAIT!"
Upon the front door was Gabriel, letting out a breath of relief and slumbering his shoulder.
He swore he felt his soul leaving his body after hearing the former nun's prayer.
"That was a close one," Gabriel gasped sweeping the drops from his brow. "When I heard your prayer down the stairwell it nearly gives me a heart attack," Gabriel joked as he rolls his neck to ease the tension.
"What are you doing here!? If you value your life, you leave!" Maria shouted in a worried fret.
"Sorry sister, I can't do that. I'm this town sheriff. Therefore, my responsibility as long I'm breathing and you happen to be in my protection."
"This isn't a game! You need to get out of here!" She pleaded with a patter breath.
"Sister, you can shout all you want, but I'm not going anywhere. So, work with me here. We can either waste our breath, or we could figure out this mess. I overheard that the bomb is pressure sensitive. How does the trigger mechanism function?"
"What makes you think I'm able to understand the properties of pressure-sensitive bombs? Just get out here when you have the chance!" She pleaded a breath of anxiety.
"I overheard your explanation to Akeno through Rias communication circle. You were able to identify what kind of bomb Akeno almost triggered, the second you got caught. Also… correct me if I'm wrong, you were once a warrior for the Church. I imagine you have some knowledge of their tactics," Gabriel reasoned, dissuading Maria's farce ignorance.
"J-just… just go," she pleaded with a whimper, her hazel gaze shifted to the floor. "I long accepted my fate. I'll be with my sisters soon…" she whispered to herself in an unfocused trans.
Gabriel was taken aback raising a confused eyebrow.
Did other nuns in Diodora's peerage die before?
"Look, I don't pretend to know what you've been through or what you endure, but ask yourself, do you really what to die in a place like this."
"If you know anything about what I and my sisters endure, you'll know that death is the only destination for my kind."
"I heard your prayer. Even as a Devil, you still believe. You still have faith. Don't you?"
Maria took a short glance at the two cross necklaces at Gabriel's neck. "Even as a Devil, you still believe as well, don't you?"
Taken aback Gabriel was silent for a second before he answers. "Yes, I do… although my faith waver over the years and I'm not devout as my mother and father… coming to this town didn't help."
"I feel the same… although different from what I felt the moment I became a Devil."
Gabriel's sapphire eyes jolted with an idea. "Do your sisters feel the same way you do?" He breathed rapidly asked.
"Yes, they do… even with what they are now."
"All the more reason to not accept death just yet. Whatever is going on with you, Diodora, and the whole peerage. You'll still have to fight tooth and nail to survive. If your faith in God held you now, then take this opportunity to let him guide you, to save yourself," Gabriel reasoned. "Please…" he begged, "work with me here. How does this bomb work?"
For the past couple of seconds there was an eerie silence past the two, Maria lingered on the floor in contemplation. While Gabriel stared at her with a pleading gaze, drops of sweat pouring out his forehead.
He just needed to know how the bomb worked. That's all he needed.
"The bomb is wired and powered by a massive power of light. The magic circuits. The purple data board lines that cover the whole church show the whole place is powered with mystical energy. The WHOLE church is the bomb and no one here is trained to expel of all the holy energy from a building." She intensified.
Gabriel rubbed his chin in contemplation.
Okay… disarming was thrown out the window. Truth be told, he's not even sure anyone here knew how to disarm a holy bomb in the first place.
"Do you know the usual blast radius of this kind of explosive?"
"From the size of the building, I go with a block. Any more power input wouldn't be able to hold the holy energy to effetely work as a bomb."
"Okay, that's something. The pressure sensor. How does it work? Does it go by the EXACT weight or is it with something else?"
"Not exactly, it's activated by feeling the mystical energy of the individual. An ordinary human wouldn't be able to activate the bomb. That saying doesn't go for anyone else associated with supernatural human or not."
"I'm going to spit the obvious, but can you escape with a magic teleport circle?"
"That won't be possible both the Heaven Faction and the Grigori made their pressure bombs in a way to activate before the casting took effect."
"Okay, and I'm speaking hypothetically. What happens if the pressure sensor gets caught by another supernatural entity?" He asked as he walked towards her.
"The bomb would atomically be high-wired to said individual, releasing the ca… You wouldn't!" Maria shouted in realization.
Gabriel stepped into the wired tile as the magic circle that trapped Maria's ankle dissipated and was now snared Gabriel's leather boot ankle.
"I would. Now go to the others."
"Are you insane!?" She yelled at him.
"Fifty, fifty. Now go to your sisters, I need to do this alone."
"B-but…" she stuttered.
"But good! Go!" He shouted as he pushed her slightly, "I need everyone out of here for this to work."
Maria hesitantly walked towards the door but stopped her pace as she took a glance at Gabriel.
"You do know what you're doing right?"
"Positive," he gave an 'ok' gesture with a convincing toothy smile, while he hid his finger cross at his back.
Maria's brow twitched as she frowns in uncertainty before she ran down the stairwell.
"I am so dead… AGAIN," he intensified as he reaches for his walkie-talkie from his blazer pocket. "Rias, is Maria with you?"
"She is, but where are you?"
"I'm trapped in the snare of the church booby trap. Long story short, the blast radius is a whole block. Before anything goes more wrong than usual get everyone out of here, before I pull my stunt."
"Stunt? What are you planning to do?"
"A plan doesn't get everyone killed in a blaze of glory. Now get everyone out of here, I don't have time or patience to explain."
"What exactly are you plan-"
"RIAS GREMORY I WILL BLOW US BOTH UP AND TAKE YOU WHAT KIND OF HELL WAITS FOR ME! IF YOU DON'T MOVE YOUR TITS!"
"WHAT!"
"TEN, NINE, EIGHT…" he started to count down.
"Okay, okay, we're going… I do hope you know what you doing," she said on the other line with a concerned tone.
"Ditto." Gabriel hung up as he put his walkie-talkie back in his pocket. He let out an expurgated sigh, he facepalmed with both hands as he dragged his face in frustration.
Gabriel scrunched, beginning to concrete as his Devil wings sprouted from his back. He flinched slightly witnessing the jet-black bat wings. He didn't know why, but just seeing those wings gives him a near heart attack. Whatever, he might be able to learn to fly exactly, but his momentum should propel enough to get out of the blast radius as he glided.
He hoped.
Gabriel looked up at the stone ceiling with a pleading look as he clapped his hands. "God, I know I'm a Devil, but I'm trying to stop a supernatural world war. So bear with me here, I need a miracle." He closed his eyes for a couple of seconds waiting for said miracle to happen, only to slightly take a slight peek from his right eye to see nothing happen.
"Figures," he grumbled.
He took a flask of gin from his blazer pocket and drank the whole flask while tossing it aside, it gives him a shiver to his back and shook his head to regain his composure.
"Here goes nothing."
Just as Gabriel knelt bout to make his move, he stopped himself as he took a side glance at his two crosses. He took off his cross necklace as his mother's words echoed towards him.
"Pray with your heart and let it guide you."
He let out a sigh as he put back his necklace. "What the hell. Who wants to live forever anyway?"
Similar to Maria, Gabriel did the 'sign of the cross' gesture as he knelt and clasp his hand. "Lord, I come to you the uncertainty of the fate of this town, this world, as a great war loom over the arisen. If this is to be my end, then spare me of this fate of letting me go down fighting, protecting others. Let the compassionate, passionate, warm light of my mother be my strength, and the knowledgeable, wisdom of my father guide me. I beseech you to protect the strangers of this town, above all else Shirou Emiya, Sakura Matou, Taiga Fujimura, Illyasviel Emiya, Carmen Dias, Kaguya Suzuki, and Arachne Rella. Until then I'll fight to the last bullet. My you damn me if I don't try, Amen!"
Gabriel rose as he whipped his pistol, shooting the glass window of the room, as it shattered. With a pistol twirl, he immediately put his gun back to his hostler. Then in a flash of red summons his Twice Critical.
"PROMOTION KNIGHT!"
[BOOST!]
Gabriel launched himself as he ran breaking the stone template, he was snared to. The whole church surrounding him instantly turned to a bright golden holy light, almost clouding Gabriel's vision to the narrow gap in the window as felt the whole church begin to rumble.
His foot reached to the ledge as he jumps, summoning his wings a jet-black bat Devil wing at his left and a pure white Angel wing to his right. Soaring far away to the exploding light of the church below in a sonic boom to the night clouds above.
Gabriel stopped his ascension processing what just happen. Hastily checked his surroundings of the clouds above and to the right side of his angelic wing. In an expurgated breath, Gabriel was lost for words, millions of questions keep popping up over his head, but for now, he couldn't help but smile.
He wasn't gliding, but flying like it was natural to him as it was breathing. Gabriel gawked, seeing Kuoh in its entirety, took sights of the city below that illuminated the night below, and looked up at the million stars that the eye could see. For four years he hadn't seen the dazzling stars, not since Hinansho.
Gabriel gazed at his right taking a good exception of his Angel wing. The angelic wing was beautiful, far more than he expected. He knew Angel wings were large pure white dove wings, but now experienced first there some kind of aura, he couldn't describe.
Now the fulling experience of both wings for the first time, his Devil wing felt out of place. That it didn't belong here, like some kind of disease. Maybe because he was a Reincarnated Devil and not a natural-born Devil or a Devil hybrid. Maybe it has something to do with him being a victim of Rias plot of letting him die being her slave and the bat wing was a consent reminder. Whatever the reason, the feeling was the complete opposite of how he felt towards his Angel wing like it was a part of him than so much more than a body part, a welcoming presence.
He didn't understand, as of now this is just one of many unanswered questions running through his head.
Gabriel stared down at the exploding smoldering ruins, where the church used to be, as both Rias and Diodora's peerages surround the smoking ruined building.
"So much for giving you a test ride." He laughed at no one but towards his Angel wing. "Better makes this look convincing."
Gabriel took a deep breath in preparation as he dove down in the direction, where he launched himself from the window ledge a couple of distances away from everyone else in the trees of the forest.
"This is going to hurt," Gabriel mumbled to himself as he winced, shutting his gaze tight for the impact as both of his wings disappeared.
He said he knew what he was doing.
Maria unknowingly took the first step forward in dread, her lips quivering, mouth dry.
"I-I'm sorry," was the only words she manages to say.
"T-This wasn't supposed to happen…" Rias muttered to say dumbstruck by the death of her new pawn.
Akeno walked beside Rias, unnerve of the death, but still manages to gain her sense. "Rias we should regroup at the clubhouse. We can't stay here or the Fallen Angels may use this chance to ambush us."
"I agree," said Diodora walking next to Rias unfazed by Gremory pawn self-sacrifice. "I'll commend your pawn for saving my queen, but exposure here is far too dangerous. His sacrifice would have been in vain if we were to perish now."
"Y-yes," Rias muttered to say "Kiba, Koneko… It's time to go."
The two didn't say anything at first as they gawk in horror at the ruins. Kiba regained his composure, hiding his sorrowful gaze from his bangs, he turned to Rias and grabbed Koneko's shoulder in a sense of comfort.
"Come Koneko, we can't let Gabriel's sacrifice be in vain."
"We left him to die," was the only thing Koneko managed to utter in a trance of the fumes and the ruins of the church.
Kiba knelt towards Koneko and gave the small girl a sympathetic smile he can muster. "Gabriel sacrificed himself so we can live. To finish his wor-"
"Hello!" Came a familiar voice from the smoldering ruined church.
Everyone widened in alert, recognizing the voice.
"Is that…" Koneko lingered.
From the shadows, emerging from the fumes, was Gabriel with a badly bruised face with twigs and leafs stuck in his hair. Holding his head to gain his balance as he walked towards them.
Everyone but Diodora gawked at him dumbstruck by his survival of the explosion.
Shaking his hair, Gabriel got all leaves and twigs out. "Is everyone alright?"
*SLAP*
A hard slap bruised Gabriel's right cheek from his master. A red bruise now decorated his already batter-bruised face.
A scolding Rias and the whole peerage were at the clubhouse office while Diodora and the rest of his peerage were in their quest rooms.
Gabriel fixed his jaw in composure, spitting out saliva to his side. "I guess 'thank you,' have a different saying in the Devil Faction."
"T-thank you," Rias angrily stuttered with Akeno beside her scolding Gabriel, while Kiba and Koneko sat on the sofa stiffed watching the scene. "From the day I recruited you. You have been nothing but back talking me, questioning my decision, and overstating your bonds!"
"This coming from you!" Gabriel shouted back, "When you 'recruited' me, you left me alone for the entire day in a daze only to appear after I was attacked by Dohanseek. He only attack me by the way because he thought I was a Stray because of your negligence and fuel to that mess you goaded him to fight you despite being on a ceasefire with the Fallen Angels. Speaking of ceasefires, you are breaking protocol, that could lead to a Great War!"
"I saved your life, this how you repay me!?" Rias sneered.
"SAVE ME! YOU-!" Gabriel cut himself as he bit his tongue from rebuking. "I did it to save Maria. Diodora was about to let her die if I didn't intervene, and you were frozen on the spot. I had to act or she would have died," He answered calmly as he possibly can.
"I'm sure Diodora was speaking hypothetically to himself in a slip of the tongue and didn't intend to let Maria die," Rias defended uncertainly.
"You were right THERE!" Gabriel shouted, his temper beginning to rise right back up. "Did it sound like he was talking hypothetical?!"
"Regardless of what Diodora's relationship with his peerage is, it's not our concern."
Gabriel remained composed, with a long silence hung over everyone. "Are we done?"
Rias glared at Gabriel. "Once Raynare group is dealt with. We'll be discussing your punishment. You're dismissed."
Gabriel turned and left Rias office with Koneko and Kiba tailing him until they were outside.
"Gabriel," Kiba spoke up, "Rias only doing this for your good and-"
"Do what you need to do." Gabriel turned to him and Koneko with a stern gaze. "You two doing this because you are loyal to Rias. I'm doing this for the people who aren't aware the supernatural exists, unknown of the danger they're in. Regardless of our reason, our interest is in line."
"I-I understand."
"You know what you need to do. Be safe and good night."
"That was stupid of what you did."
Back in Gabriel's apartment Arachne hand him an ice bag as he put ointment on the swollen bruises. While Mittelt was sound asleep, snoring like a truck fiddling her blanket, back to use Arachne spider web chain to the wall and her handcuffs braces connected back to the dark energy.
"Believe me, I know. But I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. If I didn't act now Maria would have activated the bomb."
"That was still stupid!" Arachne sneered quietly, to make sure not to wake up Mittlet as she twisted his earlobe, he winces in pain with a single teardrop pouring out.
"Okay, okay! Uncle, uncle!" Gabriel cried out in pain as he pounds on his table in surrender. "I give!"
Arachne let him go as she scolded him. "Don't you have any value in your life, that you willing to throw it away?"
"Arachne, I did what I had to do to save her," Gabriel reasoned as he rubbed his earlobe.
"Don't get me wrong, it was your master´s fault for not reporting the Fallen Angels in the first place, but still, you have to value your own life."
Gabriel scoffed. "What do I have to lose?"
Arachne stared sorrowfully at him. "Gabriel you are a good person that's willing to risk your life for others. Kaguya seems to care for you more than an employee. You're telling me there isn't anyone you're willing to live for? Any plans you have for yourself before you became a Reincarnated Devil?"
"Arachne you need to worry about yourself and your friends. My life is my proble-"
"Someone who doesn't give a damn wouldn't risk their life for others. Is there anyone you value, to be cautious of your own life?"
"There was…" Gabriel managed to answer, "I lost my family and my people. Unlike me, Maria does have people she cares for despite whatever going on with Diodora and his peerage. If it meant keeping people like her, you, and Kaguya safe. I'm willing to take any risk."
"Fine, you don't give a damn about your own life, looks like I have to look after you before I found the others."
"I'm not suicidal Arachne if that is worrying you. I just don't see what I have to lose. Anyway, did Mittelt mention anything about the bomb?"
"She did, she said it's standard procedure when leaving a Grigori hideout base."
Gabriel rubbed his chin in contemplation. "I understand the logistics for that, but why use a snare bomb instead of an automatic bomb?" he shook his head in dismissal, "Did your spiders keep tabs with the other two Fallen Angels or the army exorcists."
"The Exorcists left Kuoh. Both Raynare and Dohanseek are staying in two separate motels. They don't know if the church has blown up yet. For Asia Argento, she still hast arrived in Kuoh yet."
"Well, that's good news for once,"
"If you don't mind me asking, why was your master so angry that you put your life endanger? Didn't she leave you for dead to resurrect you?"
"Who knows?" Gabriel dismisses. "I rather not talk about her. How were things with Mittelt?"
Arachne let out a chuckle. "She's quite energetic. We just spend the entire time playing Pokémon Colosseum, taking turns."
Gabriel chuckled back as he shook his head. "Well, I'm glad someone had fun last night. You´re in luck to have the whole day tomorrow playing the Gamecube. I'm going do some research on Billy Hatcher, the lunatic Exorcist´s weapons, and probably do some experiments on them also keep an eye on Maria while Kiba and Koneko check on the rest."
"Maybe you should get some rest and take a break before meeting up with Raynare. Just how long did you get any sleep?"
"I can sleep when I'm dead." Gabriel let a tired yawn as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"The way you'll be doing things, that might as well be the case." Arachne stared at Gabriel with a concerned gaze. He was tired, his face bruised, and the sags of his eyelids were getting heavier. He looked like he was going to collapse by the second. "Maybe tomorrow we can go out to the mall with Mittelt, a break from all the craziness you have been through."
"W-what?!" Gabriel stuttered, losing his balance as he held tightly, his ice pack to his forehead, nearly tripped. "You can't be serious! With the Fallen Angels, the conspiracy of restarting the Great War, the whole town being endangered, Devils hunting you and your friends down. Fooling around is the last thing we need!"
"Gabriel look at yourself, you barely holding yourself together. If you're not doing this for yourself, then think of it as logistics. You need to be at your best when confronting Raynare. Besides, I could have my spiders search our perimeter where ever we go. Both the Devil's peerage be together at the clubhouse and Fallen Angels won't risk anything until Sunday," Arachne reasoned.
Gabriel rubbed his jaw in contemplation of the idea. "Can your spiders able detect Familiars?"
"They can, as well as other magical dictation."
Gabriel sighed in reluctance. "This must be the lack of sleep talking," he mumbled to himself. "Fine, but we leave until I say so. No, if's or buts."
"Great!" Arachne cheered, her silver eyes brightening up. "I'm going to make my bed and you better be sleeping too or you be waking up with a black eye."
"Whatever!?" Gabriel dismissed as he rubbed his eyelids, losing his balance of just standing up.
Maybe a few hours of sleep would do him some good.
The lights were off, Mittelt cuddled in her sheets, her snoring stopped, sleeping soundly in his bed. Arachne sleeps above her with a spider cobweb hammock filled with cushions and huddles in a blanket.
Gabriel, only minutes away from falling to slumber himself, sat on his futon, resting his head on the wall with his laptop on his lap. Using one of the Devil's search engines, Doogle. Seeing various images of battle reports of Jeanne d'Arc.
The second Angel-human hybrid. The one who slew the original Beelzebub, Asmodeus, and Leviathan. Nicknamed by both allies and enemies alike as the Golden Angel and the Queen of Heaven.
His mother.
To answer TheEternalKing11 question.
Cleria Belial would be an important issue, but it's going to be more than just an arc.
One thing I don't get is why Cleria couldn't just reincarnate Masaomi into a Devil to avoid this whole mess. It's not uncommon Diodora's peerage and Asia are prime examples that the high-class Devils don't care if an enemy faction joins their ranks unless they are under their service. I have made up a reason, why Cleria didn't want to reincarnate him, but just seems like a giant plot hole of this event.
I prefer talking about this, by PM.
Also hated how Issei and ORC acted in this event. They acted bigger hypocrites almost at the Demonic Beast Riot arc. For those who know what happens at that arc and what the Hero Faction did. Far too many characters in DxD seem to live with the motto, "If I or my comrades do something is justified but if someone else does, it is an unforgivable crime."
If people want to discuss, the Stray Faction story or to get a clearer view of what Gabriel, Jeanne, Arachne, and Maria look like. Go to Forum Questionable Questing and type Stray Faction in the search bar.
And shout out to Herald of Light7 for suggesting of the website and my beta reader Shadowwriter01.