Chapter 11

Knowledge will ever be a blessing and a curse.

attributed to unknow source.

City of Kuoh memorial park Friday afternoon 5:00 pm.

Rias was screaming inside her mind. She was so scared. But there was a feeling of hope that had joined it. Before going to the park Rias had been shown the bird again by Sona. She feared it. But the hope was rising. Sona had joined her there and together they had moved to the park.

It was deathly silent. No one was here. Very unusual. But it made things worse. Koneko had been preparing to run. Sona had put her hand on the nekomata.

"Don't run."

It was a warning and a plea. The room had steeled herself and took courage from rias, who had moved forward only slightly shaking. Much better than she had on Tuesday.

The five of them had cautiously walked to the wall. There before the wall standing in his bug like armor that inspired fear of him throughout the supernatural, was the red angel. Sona had gasped. Akeno whimpered. Kiba gulped very nervously. Rias wanted to scream. But she did not. Hope.

He had his helm on and the green eyes were watching them. He had no weapons in his hand. They were on either hip. A gun that was blocky and his rightly feared sword. He did not move. Neither did they.

He must have seen something in Rias's face because he put his hands behind his back. The movement had scared them all.

"I gave my word not to kill any of you. My word means something. My agent mentioned your situation to me. I know my way of contacting you scared you very badly. I am sorry about that. You have not earned my ire. You are truly safe. I will help you with your betrothal. I am going to get you your freedom."

The voice was impossible to place. Rias gulps down fear.

"How? How can you help me? I do not want the Phenex killed."

"They will not be. I found your contract. There is a way for me to help. I will serve as your contracted magician. That is how I will help you. For the game only."

The words had brought such a strong reaction to rias's greed. She would have him as her magician! She had almost missed the last part. Sona did not.

"It is very clever. That can work. If you will answer me a question, if you permit?"

The red angel nodded. Sona gained courage from that.

"Why are you here in the city?"

The silence reigned. Before he spoke.

"There is an extremely dangerous person coming here. He is a very evil individual. He has been here before."

The red angel turned to the wall.

"It was he and two others that caused the night of red flame."

That shocked them. Before they paled. This scared them. The fact the red angel was here spoke volumes. About how bad this person was. Sona remembers issei's confession.

"I am a survivor of the night of red flame. My home was near ground zero."

Sona looked at the wall again. The red angel was standing in front of issei's parents' names.

Miki and Gorou Hyoudou.

"You are here for him. My friend. You do care."

He nodded. He put a finger of his hand on the wall.

"2250 people died that night. In body or in soul. I am here for that and him. He could not be upfront with you Ms. Sitri. He told me a lot about you. He who was my first follower. My story is like his. I lost my family to the supernatural too. I do not hate the denizens of the world. What I hate is the evil and the injustice that is inflicted on my species, to an often gleeful world that sees us as less than dirt. By All including gods. I hate that so so very much. I hate that my species does the same things to its own kind. Like him I want to leave this world a bit better than what I was born into. I want to see the stars. I want what I had when I was a child reading books about distant planets. That is what I want. That is what my idea of unification is. To see that become reality. The tree has many dangers. I want to protect it."

Rias and the others did not get that last part. What tree? His dream was beautiful. They all wanted to know more about it.

Sona understands the hidden meanings. She also understands his identity. This was her friend. She was angered he had lied to her again. But she understood why. How could he tell her that he was an ultimate class warrior? He could not. Not easily. She remembers the child. Unification. He wanted that too. She wanted that.

"We will talk about this after. I say that for him."

The red angel had nodded. The others had missed something. Why was Sona willingly being in his presence longer than was necessary! They did not know. But they would one day.

The red angel spoke again. Looking directly at rias.

"Will you accept my help? I do truly promise to help you."

Rias remembers the bird again. Hope clearly there. She nodded.

"Alright. I will take your help. Just please do not kill his peerage. They are not bad people. My issue is with him not them."

"I had no intention of doing so. People are not black or white. We are all a mixture of grey. Train more. I refuse to help if you do not help yourself too and I will not carry you to our victory."

"I will. He is right. You are not that bad. I still fear you. But I can work with you."

Rias stopped.

"I want to believe in unification. Just as much as you and Issei-san do."

"Then believe. It is not restricted to just us humans. It is for everyone. You and your peerage included. I will let you go. Have a good night. I will contact you through my agent on Monday."

Rias and her peerage fled. The string cut. Sona stayed. The others had not taken note of that.

"You lied to me again."

The park was quiet. Issei removed his helmet slowly. He was now looking into her eyes.

"I did. I left the clues there for you. I do not want to lie about that to you my faithful friend. I am not his agent. I am him. Unification is my penance to my family and all the others. There is an extremely dangerous person coming here. He is a satyr named Pantier. He has a body count at the high end of one hundred thousand worth of people. As does his friends."

Sona cried before charging him and slapping him across the face. He did not resist. She then hugged him. Crying so loudly it dominated the park. He hugged her back. Sona felt tears hit her hair.

"This is my last bit of truth. I am also the red dragon emperor of domination. It is what drew Pantier in. These people's deaths are my fault. I will never be forgiven for that. That is why I fight so hard. For them. Not me. I want revenge. But I would not be making their lives matter if that were the only thing I sought."

They stood still together. She had shed all her tears. As had he.

"You were right. That vision was beautiful. But it should not be our foundation. I want something better than that future. I want you to be happy. Again, you are right. Not now. But one day I want the little one. What was his name?"

"His name would be Roboute. Roboute Hyoudou."

She liked the name.

"For Him."

"For Him and all those who would come after. I am immortal."

Forge of dreams. Friday Night

Masori served. Not like his clan with his casual acceptance. Not like his former king with a very eager heart. He served his new lord with fervor and true faith. He had saved him. He had given him true purpose. Unification. He and his wife loved it so very much. They wanted to help so badly. For their entire planet's future. For the little one coming. An incredibly happy smiling young blonde haired woman had informed them both the news.

For the ones coming. He would serve. Not like the warriors. Not like the strange duo who talked to the machines. Not like the doctors. He would serve by telling people of what he had been freed from. He would recruit, just like his wife. They would both be there for the little one. There were others who were also new. Two sacred gear users had joined.

Both wanted to fight. They were young. Seventeen, they were twins. Both shared one half of the same gear. More exorcists, those who still had faith, like he did now. Youkai, seconded by Lady Yasaka. They wanted this too. He met three renegade fallen, that were tired of the Grigori infighting. He met devils, which were bitter about their lives. They wanted to be devils, but a few had looked at him with such fervor and hope. He even met a pure angel who had wings not of white. But pure gold, he was so happy to be helping people. He was a healer. He met more they were all Alpharius, they who were truly and utterly legion. They all longed for the stars. To go to places that were true fantasy.

He and his wife would fight. He was shocked when his lord paused to let him pass. He was with another very familiar face. Sona Sitri. He looked wide eyed at her, fear painted his face before he remembered the words. He bowed and smiled.

Sona knew that face. That was Masori lady Belal's newest knight. Or what had been her newest knight. She stood gaping as he passed. Not a hint of demonic energy was in the man.

"How? How is he?"

"Faith. Like what all who are here share. Like how you are starting to share. The warp can also do things that are incredible, good, and evil."

"That's. That's. That is incredible. This place is incredible. What do you want from me?"

"I want my dearest friend. I want to help your dream too. We will do it together."

Sona smiled so much at the words.

"Thank you, I won't tell the others."

"You can tell them one day. I trust you. I want you to meet someone, she is incredibly special to me. You will really like her."

"Who is it?"

"My daughter."

Daliea was again crunching the numbers on her production. The line was going up faster and faster every day. The potential supply shortage had been averted.

Ever since Charles and Cornelia had begun their prayers they had been making things faster. More of the newcomers had expressed interest in the duo's beliefs. They had actually made the request for a room of their own to practice their worship. There were now five of them in that congregation. Two who would highly likely stay. The fifth was a youkai man who was deeply interested. But he had doubts.

She was relived and saddened. They probably did not need another stc for a year. She wanted a brother. She had always wanted that. Father had greatly relieved her.

"We will make another. Just because this is happening now, and we do not need it urgently anymore does not mean you cannot have a sibling. I know that is what you want. When we get the land we will build them. You can help me name them. What name?

"I want Belisarius. His namesake was nutty, but he was a genius. Will we make astartes?"

"Depends. We know nothing about the Xenos. We might not need them. You refined the creation process further? Past Cawl?"

"I did. It will have a high rejection rate. But it is significantly better. Your gene-seed or will the sons return?"

"I do not know. They deserve the peace that they were denied. All of them. But especially Angron. I like Belisarius. Let us use that."

Her brother was still sleeping. She and father would be there for him. Just like before. She was pulled out of thought by her father entering the room with his friend.

Sona gaped at the woman before her. She had Issei's hair and eyes. She was an Ai. That was a major surprise.

"Hello Sitri-san. I am glad that you are my father's friend."

The Ai had barreled over to her before crushing the small woman with a hug. Before whispering to her.

"Thank you for being who you are. Father has been so lonely. You make his days better."

Sona had returned the hug to this woman who barely knew her yet was being so kind.

"He makes my days better too. It is nice to meet you Daliea."

Sona would spend most of the night talking with the two. Her faithful friend and his daughter. The talk was worth the exhaustion.

Kuoh city outskirts Saturday.

Rias was pushing herself so extremely hard now, she had hope now. The red angel was going to help her. That had made last night the best night of rest in a month. She was still very scared of him and to an extent issei.

Sona's words of not feeding her sin and training more had haunted her ever since they had been said. Her friend and the red angel were so very right. She would push herself more so than ever before. Her peerage had been the same.

Gasper had cried to her profusely for being a coward, through the video screen she used to talk to him. He felt like he was a very much wasted piece, more so because he was a mutated bishop. He was not. It hurt that he could not help at all. Gasper had surprised her greatly when he had learned earlier that week of the red angel contacting them that the little dhampir had been ready to leave his room in the basement to protect them, he loved Koneko like an older sister. He had cried to the rook too.

The peerage was in noticeably big trouble. Her sloth had spread to all of them unconsciously through the system. They were now trying to make up for two years' worth of time in two months. She would push them and herself harder than ever before. They needed to win. For all their sakes.

Kiba was slamming his demon blades into a dummy furiously trying to get the new sword stances down. He would be joining the kendo club. Issei was a good dualist and Kiba hoped that he could push himself up further fighting the human. The human who was very much a better person than him. That day still brought him shame.

He was trying to live with more honor. He would still feed his sins, just differently. His pride was damaged yes but he was now feeding it better by being like lady belial. He would take pride in his deeds done for Rias. His wrath was harder to fix. Thus, the dummy. He was going to unleash wrath on the enemies not on his potential comrades. He finally broke the dummy. He had broken it faster than the last two times.

Koneko was punching a tree. She needed to punch harder and faster. Her training weights were double what she had started with today. She was also beginning to use the barest hint on senjutsu. She had to start using it more. Her sister ashamed her greatly. She had killed their species. She and Koneko were the only two left.

She needed to be faster. She needed to punch much harder than she was. More senjutsu. That is what was needed.

Akeno was slamming her lightning into the cliff side that was close to the area they had chosen. She was very very ashamed. When she had been in the red angel's presence yesterday, she had whimpered. Not entirely from fear. He was what she wanted so desperately. A strong man, with a commanding presence. She liked darker things, the control, the submission, the trust. She really liked that. She had wanted the red angel to do that with her. More power. More power was needed. Another bolt hit the cliff. More rocks feel this time. That could work.

Saturday afternoon.

Freed was ready for his mission. He and three others were gearing up. It was him, Jean, Sarah, and Janet. They had their carapace armor on and were ready to go. His hell gun was ready and so were the las-guns that the others were using. The four had before entering a van that was driven by one of the newer people that would drop off at the combat zone, made what their lord had called an oath of moment. All the emotions, none left behind. They put their hands together and swore to protect each other, swore not to leave any who might fall behind. To a new brotherhood that would be the Astra Militarum, the imperial guard of humanity. For unification. For terra.

The oath had brought them so much closer together. Like what their lord said it would do. They were ready. They had faith in each other, their fellow warriors.

The van dropped them behind an apartment complex that was guarded by the enemy. They slapped a ward stone that would keep the people around them from seeing the shadow war. It would also stop their enemy from running.

They counted down. Before the door to the complex burst open violently and they were in.

A guard had been reading a very dirty magazine and had giggled pervertedly as he turned the page. It was getting good. It was a nice distraction from their crazy bitch of a boss. She was beautiful but no one wanted to be near her. Not even her fellow fallen. Still, this was nice. That was gone in five seconds.

The door exploded into pieces and had showered the room with wooden shrapnel. The guard ducked, what the fuck was that! He peeks his head over the desk he had been sitting at. Someone had ruined his book!

Four figures burst into the room and the one in the center raised a weird gun at the guard before firing it. The red hot bolt of whatever that shot was had slammed into the wall behind where the guard had been previously before ducking quickly. The guard grabbed his own gun a regular one, not the light gun that they had for the devils. He returned fire blindly and two of his three shots hit the center figure. A second shot of that monster gun punched through the desk and had once again almost hit the guard. Three more shots had come with it in seconds supporting the first. Each punching through the wooden desk. What the fuck kind of weapons were they using to punch straight through solid strengthened wood!

Another shot was made, and the guard finally felt that weapon. It took his left arm. He screamed in agony the arm was gone! It burned so extremely hot! He was so busy screaming that the next shot finished him off thankfully. It caved in his chest. A red hot hole right in the middle of mass. The guard fell silent.

They moved onwards.

The screaming had attracted more attention. Five exorcists had come to support their comrade at the front. They were being attacked! The fear was that it was being done by the one who had killed the other cell. They brought up guns that had been smuggled to them that week and seeing the first unknown they had laid concise fire down range and had hit whatever the enemy was multiple times from multiple shooters. It still stood. The bullets had pinged off the armor of the attacker falling to the ground harmlessly.

A grenade came the defender's way and went off blinding them. Five shots. Three went down screaming from white hot wounds. None down had been kills. That would change in the future. More shots from the attackers had come from their entry point and finally the first defender since the guard went down. A hole in her heart.

The defense continued the only one remaining had fled like the coward he was at heart, what had gotten him drummed out of the orthodox corp. he fell face forward as a hole appeared in his chest and hit the wall in front of the coward. The wounded former exorcists kept firing at the enemy they had to be doing something to them they were hearing their bullets hit despite being wounded and not shooting well. Three more shots rang out with a snap hiss. The gunfire dies as the wounded ones finally die. It was quiet. The squad leader moves forward and is covered by his comrades. They do not look at the bodies.

On the next floor they met two more of the defenders. But they a man and a woman sighed in very very clear relief on seeing the aquilla proudly displayed on the armor of the four intruders.

The two secret turncoats made the sign of that same aquilla over their chests to them. The sign was returned. The woman breathed a clear sigh of relief.

"Thank unification. It is you and not the red angel. We heard it is here. Did mark and Jen, get to you with the information, we have been waiting so patiently. We thought that the head bitch had gotten them."

"They made it. We got them both on Thursday. Your former lady sent people after them, but they followed the plan and are safe. Your Jen's sister and brother. Let us quickly move the ward stone we were given dies in 5 minutes."

That had come from the center figure whose voice was a man's distorted by the filters on his helm. The now revealed siblings of one of the supposedly coward deserters nodded vigorously. The man spoke quickly as the six went downstairs.

"The bitch killed Aaron. We tried to have one of the false ones deliver the message of Jen and Mark,but they had all been busy with legitimate work that they could not drop. He was the only one available. Please tell the red angel that when you see him. Have him gut her like a stuffed pig. He was only eighteen."

That had made the four angry. Incredibly angry. What right did that thing that wore human like skin have to kill a kid that was just delivering unwelcome news. They were now all pissed. Five of the cell had been true loyalists. The kid wanted out and had told Jen, who was his adoptive sister, that when they were free that he had wanted to be a musician. He was not built for war. He was forced into the corp by the orphanage that had been the recruiting center for most of this cell. He had wanted peace not war!

A woman spoke from the attackers.

"We will tell him to make it extra painful for her!."

The squad lead had spoken softly.

"We will add him to the wall of martyrs. Front line or back?"

Both new recruits took one look at each other both saying in clear hatred.

"Frontline! For Aaron!"

Freed nodded.

"Very well when we get back you both have training with me. I will make you both into the warriors you want to be."

"Put us through everything we will make any sacrifice! We are tired of the abuse! That fallen treats so many of us like we are nothing!"

"Do not regret those words. Because there are things you can do that are not worth it. I who went under the surgeon's blade to become stronger. I say this as your future commander. Think it over again after this is over. Aaron would not want you both to sacrifice something for him that you will come to regret. He matters. But so do you."

The woman who was Jen's sister said with truly clear feelings.

"Put me under it too. I want that. And I say that with a clear mind. I know no fear!"

The man had hesitation before shaking his head in a no.

"I cannot do that. Not yet."

"The pain will be extremely bad. You will be down for a week. You will feel like your nerves are on fire. Are you sure? Absolutely and utterly sure? I nor any others will think less of you."

"I do not care. I will serve unification with my sacrifice! That is what I want!"

"Very well. Let us move. Jean place the bird then once the ward stone dies fire off a single bullet from a light gun."

"Yes captain."

They piled into the van and the driver. A female elephant youkai waited for the final member. The ward died and a single shot was fired and then the bear of a man was in the van. It booked it.

Same scene. Five minutes later.

Suku and four pawns had sprung into action as soon as the ward scheme picked up another holy ping. They had met a rook and the six had entered and then exited a portal as quickly as they could. They immediately entered the building and saw that now very hated bird. Suku had paled and two pawns had run out of the building. The rook a Korean woman had been shaking but investigated the building. The two remaining pawns were frozen in pure fear. The rook came down from the second floor and was very clearly relieved.

"It is not him. It is someone else with his standard. No sword wounds. Not many holes in the bodies. They smell of burned meat."

Suku nodded to her gratefully. It was a good report. She turned to the two pawns.

"Get up new wards hiding this scene. Now!"

They rushed out to obey.

"Tell our king now. Tell her we have more of them."

"Yes my queen."

The rook moved and opened a portal. Less than a minute later Cleria was here with a bishop.

"How many?"

The question was directed to her bishop who was an Eastern European Nature spirit. He closed his eyes and pushed his magic into the air and then one pale ghost figure was seen. He wore the same armor as the red angel. The aquilla was proudly on his breast plate. The scan disappeared and the bishop winced in slight pain.

"That is all I can get Clea. I am sorry."

"It is ok Yoursuf. Thank you for getting us that much. It is definitely not him."

"I."

"It's fine Rusf, you did well."

The bishop had nodded and then went with the now two pawns who had been pushed back into the building by one of the warders, to gather bodies. The order did not need to be spoken.

"This is getting worse. He has soldiers now."

Suku had said that grimly.

"I know. I will lodge a complaint with lord Lucifer. It what we can do."

"I know.

Cleria paused before asking very quietly.

"Did we find where Masori or his wife went yet? I do not want to cut the piece. If he ran it is because of me. And I understand completely."

Suku had shaken her head. No one knew that Masori had possibly willingly turned stray. He had been popular with the pawns and with his fellow knight. The only one in the peerage who did not like him much had been the bishop who had been here earlier. But it was because Masori had done a very human mistake and had said something unknowingly to yoursuf and the other man had been mad. It was not true hatred.

"I have not. I and Jania looked for him carefully. I think he is really gone. What was it you did?"

"Number 1."

Suku winced badly. That was really bad. To do that. That was the worst thing her king could do. Suku now understands why he would have run. If she had not been with her king for as long as she had. Over a decade and a half. She would have run too.

"I am sorry. Morale will drop further. Was it truly just that? Or was it fear of the angel?"

"Probably a lot of both. I am so deeply sorry. You have to know that. I do not want him to be like his predecessor. I failed her too; despite all I did to help her."

"She was in so much pain. The child."

"I know. I still see his face sometimes. Even with the aid from the mentalist we have on permanent call now. He was so bad. Suku. I cannot forget him."

Cleria and the previous knight had been the only two who had found that body. The knight had died inside at the sight. It had reminded her of her own baby boy who had died because of something before joining.

"She knew you tried. The last day before she did it. She told me that she loved you for everything you had ever done for her. I did not know what she had planned. I thought she might have started on the path up. Not down."

"I am failing Masori. And the others."

"You are not. Let us go home. I will have yoursuf take command. We can trust him."

The two looked one last time at that bird. They really did not like it. But it was now part of the world.

Kuoh city church 30 minutes later.

Raynare was now no longer just anger. She was absolutely and utterly pissed off. They had a truly clear enemy now in the city that was not the devils. Whomever it was was targeting their meat shields. She had destroyed multiple bleachers in her rage. Donhaseek had taken shrapnel from the wood. His right wing was now bleeding badly. The female medic that was from the exorcists in the church was trying to stop the blood. It had stopped finally a minute ago.

Raynare turned to the human who she could have just an inch of respect for, a German man named Gustav. She liked him because he was equally as blood thirsty as she was. He was wearing a very grim look. He was a sociopath and that was they worked well together. He grunted to her not cowed.

"I will pull the last two cells here. Are we getting reinforcements? We are down 2/5ths of our bullet sponges."

He did not care about his supposed comrades. He just wanted to kill. That was why he had been picked up in Hamburg. He loved working for her and the angel of the stars. Because he could inflict pain and pure suffering on people. He did not feel pleasure from it. He just liked it.

Raynare had caught her breath.

"We are not. The specialist and the additional fallen from the cadre are not coming. Azazel has begun going after our master. He is now dangerously close to being declare kill on sight. He has to keep himself contained. For now."

Gustav had shrugged.

"Pity. Do we try and find our enemies or launch an attack against the devil's strong holds? The men are getting incredibly nervous. You know that their opinions are dogshit to me. We could kill many of the civilians. Would be some fun."

"Oh, you and I are very much mood kindred, Gustav. You are right it would be fun. But we cannot. I know I just broke your pitiful black heart. We need to start killing the sacred gear users we have been gathering information on. You can do the honor. "

"Oh, how you fill me with so much joy that I cannot feel, which ones first? There are very few that are truly important. Not since those twins disappeared earlier this week. The next strongest was a bad possible sword birth. The girl is near the school. We can make a move tomorrow. Her tail has found that she and her friend like a nearby kendo dojo. I want to watch as she dies."

"Oh Gustav. We are most definitely mood kindred. How I wish you had been born a fallen angel. We would have so much fun. Take three with you. Kill them both. They are just worms."

Gustav took the backhand compliment from his boss. She was wonderful to work with. He would have to agree, they were the others true mood kindred. He was ready.

"As you wish. Do I get any support from the other three? I do not believe the rumor of the red angel. I think it is just our little weak ones whispering. I have already found the one who started the rumors. She died screaming."

"You should have invited me. We could have made her scream. That would have been mixing business with pleasure. You make me sad Gustav, but no. I need them just in case our new friends want to try again."

"You are a big strong woman. Kidnap a civilian. Then do the same. I will not be offended if you do not invite me to join."

"I am close to doing it. But I am sated now. Maybe this coming week. I will invite you to join. Your fun."

"I know I am. What time tomorrow?"

"Noon. Make it extra bloody. We are not friends, but I know you have been bored."

"We are perfect for each Raynare. I will make it into a masterpiece. I am off. Please do not try and hurt Dohn anymore. He is great with cards, and I like winning money off him."

The male fallen had whimpered at those words. He was disgusted in the far extreme by the both of them. They were truly evil. They fed each other's sadism. Gustav had demolished him in cards. The German had a wonderful poker face. The benefits of being a sociopath. No indication of emotion. The fallen was down 4500 yen. That hurt a lot.

"You ask so much of me my eternal, mood kindred. But fine. Have wonderful dreams."

"Oh, I will. You do the same. I tapped the session with the rumor woman. I left it for you on your desk. Do not ever say anything about how I do not do anything for you."

"Oh Gustav. You really know how to please a woman. You might get that night. Impress me further. You who knows me."

"I am quivering in anticipation. You would just gut me halfway through. I like black widows too. Good night."

He marched down the aisle and made his way over to a ladder that led to the basement. He had let a small smile cross his lips as he looked at his fellow who was still patching up Dohn. She flinched violently. The smile grew bigger.

Donhaseek was now very scared. He had reached the point in this operation where it was the abyss. He could not do it much longer. That favor he owed to the new second of the cadre. Anavie. He did not care anymore about it. She is his sister.

She had saved his life when they had been kids. Back before the evil had taken root in her. Back before when they had been happy. She was the older sister. He still loved her. But she had become worse after joining field work and joining the cadre. He had been pressured into the cadre by her. Because he idolized her. He did not hate humans like Raynare. They were mostly ok. Yes he liked battle and killing too. But not like them.

His sister terrified him. He could not run. She knew him so well. As he did her. He walked into the quarters he shared with Kalawarna and Mittelt. They were ok. He liked Kalawarna more. They had the same sin. Lust. They were closer.

Mittelt was all right. Just quiet. She was the one he had blabbed to when he had been drunk trying to forget his sister. She had just nodded in sympathy. He changed his mind. He liked them both.

Mittelt had been listening. She had planted bugs in their base, the week before Raynare had arrived. She was worried. So was Kala. This was getting worse.

"I will message him. Tell him their plan. Hopefully, he kills Gustav. The world would be better off. Who was this specialist we were supposedly getting?"

"I do not know. Maybe Dohn knows. I will talk to him now. He is probably drinking again."

"I get why he does it. His family is not lucky like ours are."

"He is going to kill himself. He is getting stronger and stronger and harder stuff. He is not bad. Just likes to fight more."

"I know. I like him Kala. I just wish he were happier. I pity him. My dad was like that. He never did anything to me before you ask. He just lost his two sisters in the Great War. The twins being born saved him."

"I get it too. My brother was also like that. Until we found the sap. He only has a day like that once a decade now. I have to lock him in a closet, or he will hurt himself. It is horrible hearing the names of his cadre, he cries the most for his fiancé. She was good for him."

"I am sorry. I am lucky I was not born in the time of the Great War.I was a a few centuries off. I was so luck."

"I was also lucky; I was born before the very end. I might be a first generation fallen. But I was so remarkably close. I regret that he was forced to fall because of one stupid thought and I in my worry to make sure he was ok fell for the sin of lusting to want to help him."

"Im sure he doesn't blame you."

"I would like to think so. But always the doubt is there. Contact him now."

"I just did. We might have to run sooner than later."

"I am ready. I got told a team secured my brother. We did not have very many watchers."

"I will send my dad an email on his old private account. Tell them to be ready."

Saturday afternoon forge of dreams, chapel to the machine god.

Sona was sitting here in this very strange room with Issei and five others. The leader of this group was named Charles and he was talking to the others about what he called the great work of unification. About how each of them was much needed cogs in the machine. Necessary but unique. The four others before they had entered had been singing a hymn that like the rest of this congregation was ultra strange.

Sona liked some of what she had heard. She had been incredibly surprised by the fact she did not feel pain by being in the chapel at all. Issei had simply shrugged. He was wearing his own face to her but to the others he was wearing the face of another man. He did not want them to be calling him the omnissiah right now.

"Ise, what is the machine god? I have never heard of it before."

Sona had asked very softly.

"Very hard to explain for people not more inclined to follow it. But simply put it is an aspect of a new god that is forming in the warp. Yes. You can do that. It takes a lot of time and effort."

"A new god! But. That is impossible. Your saying that people can form gods!"

"Again, yes you can. Like I said it takes a lot of effort."

"You said aspects. What is this god?"

"The god of all humanity and others on our planet."

That was something. Was that why she a devil who could not go into holy places easily had been allowed her? Because this god did not look at her and see evil? It made her feel a few very strange things. Amazement, for actually being given a chance by whatever this god was. Acceptance from something that should on principle hate her. That and so much more. Devil society was largely secular in that they knew their primogenitor. The morning star was very well loved by the pillar's families. Not so much by the reincarnation. He for them was just there. Real at one point but not here anymore. There were still a few devils who had been alive when the morning star had been alive. They were extremely private about it.

"I don't know what to say."

"Sona, this god is dangerous. Just like they all are. It is not a very good thing. It was birthed in another tree. It is here because of that tree's death."

She pales significantly with those words. She had only started to understand the tree metaphor.

"How did it die? How different was it to here?"

"Extremely different. Humans ruled over a million worlds in that tree. There were untold trillions of people. They had this god as it is ruler. They were bad in the most extreme ways. There was only war there."

That scared her more than when she heard about issei in the red angel aspect of himself was first in the city.

"What about devils? Were we not there anymore?"

"Sona. That tree died in the forty second millennium. We are in the third millennium. Take that as you want."

That was terrifying. And said so much. That much of a time difference between them. She had a revelation. She looked at the room and now the forge in a significant new way. And him.

"This technology is from that time. You are its avatar. That is."

"Yes. It is unbelievably bad. I did not ask for it. A massive portion of the former being that was that god. It is inside me like the lizard. That part of him is not bad. He wants to be better; he wants to make me better than him. The part in the warp. That is, it without any restrictions. It is not good. But it is protecting us from things that have the potential to be far worse. Sona there are Aliens in our trees galaxy that are extremely hostile and dangerous. They might have technology that surpasses what we are now starting to make."

That made her blood that was usually very warm because of her Devil nature turn icy cold.

"Unification. It is to prepare for when we are ready to face them. That is, its hidden meaning. That is another reason."

"Yes, those Xenos also have gods of their own in the warp. There is more at stake than anyone else on terra knows. You are one of only two people that now knows this. The others have not been hearing this."

She had wondered why the rest of the machine god's followers had not commented on their talk.

"I will help. This is terrifying. The others need to know a hint of it eventually. You cannot hide this from them forever. I mean my peerage too."

"You are absolutely correct. But how do I sell the idea to strangers with no faith in a fellow stranger that they have not formed a relationship with? I cannot. Not easily. We will talk to them about conceptual ideas. They need to make the connection themselves. My soon to be frontline commander is the next one. Then my head doctor. Then Charles."

"Your going to kill gods to funnel more faith to this thing. This is extremely dangerous and bad."

"I will have too possibly. It is this or extinction, for all of us. Your people will not be safe."

He was so so very right. Know no fear.

"That is our slogan. Know no fear. The first tenant of this new faith."

"Exactly. But I will not be like he was. I will not not care about our people on the micro scale. I want them to be happy. Just like you. I will share a large number of my war strategy books with your school. There is a lot of wisdom in them."

"Your building an empire. You are going to be an emperor of it. I am sorry Ise."

"Not an empire. An immortal imperium."

Forge of dreams Saturday night.

Sona was now hard committed to unification. The situation of all their planets people was once a moderate light grey was now blackness. She appreciated that Issei had shared more with her. They were faithful friends. She bade him on the teleport dock and before leaving had hugged him so fervently that he was very greatly surprised. He had pulled a phone from his pocket and had grimaced at something on it.

"I will make another appearance as him tomorrow. The situation is changing again. Calm the others. I going to deal with a true monster."

She had nodded just as grimly. She now knew he hated that part of what he was.

"Be careful."

He only nodded.

Sona zipped through the machine and was back in the home her friend was using in Kuoh and was met by Daliea and a new man she had not met before. He had white hair and had been talking to the other in a hushed whisper. Issei's daughter was very clearly pissed off by what was being said. That look changed when she saw Sona and said to her.

"You know what is at stake now. Talk to your sister please. Try to hint to her the red angel would like to meet her at sometime in the future."

The white haired man had been confused greatly by the words.

"I will Daliea. Have your father talk to more about this. I am guessing this is the frontline commander?"

The man nodded.

"I am Freed. The future lord-commander of the Astra Militarum."

"You are so important sir freed. You will see that soon hopefully. Daliea may I please have your contact information? I enjoyed talking to you yesterday."

"Of course. Here is my number. I will answer when possible. Thank you for everything Sona-san."

She had handed over a note with several numbers that had the details of each.

"You can just call me Sona. Your stuck with me now."

"Not stuck. You are a wonderful person. Father is right. This tree version of you is an amazing woman. I am sorry you know more now."

"I know no fear. I like this tree's version of him too."

Freed had been confused again. He was missing something big. Excessively big.

"I will tell you the idea freed. Your going to like and hate it, for multiple reasons."

"That's not a good thing to start off with dal."

"Knowledge is a blessing. And a curse."

Sona hated that the other woman was right.

Sunday morning 11.30 am kendo dojo.

Katase and Murayama were on their way to one of the best kendo dojos in their part of the city. It was very well funded and was always open. The two young women had been coming here every day after school on the days that they were not practicing with their club.

The two were moving down an alleyway when the trap laid for them was sprung by Gustav. He was with three others who were all almost as equally as bad as him in some way. All three were battle fanatics.

Murayama and Katase had been entering the alley when four figures two on either end had moved from their positions to the entrances. Both girls were now very frightened. A man approached them with no hint of any emotion on his European face. He stopped and drew a long sword from his hip.

"Scream as much as you want. No one is going to help you. I will like the light leaving both your eyes."

Murayama and Katase fell back a few steps at the words.

"What do you want. We will give you anything just please let us go!"

"Oh, you will. You can blame a god that gave one of you something that made this happen. I am going to have an enjoyable rest of my day."

The nutcase began preparing to charge and was only stopped by two quick barks of a gun behind the two young women. A voice that scared the young women further spoke behind them.

"I heard you like to kill. So, do I. But I kill for the right reasons. You are a dead man now. Is not that right Gustav."

Gustav still did not show emotion. The women noticed that the other man next to this Gustav, was shaking very badly.

"The red angel. I am surprised. Looks like our rat was telling the truth. I will say that I admire your work. Big fan. Sad that I will probably not get to say to my mood kindred that you are here."

Katase and Murayama moved forward towards Gustav. Who was the red angel that this nutcase in front of them admires his work. The voice behind them stopped the girls moving more.

"Get behind me please miladies. I am not going to let this thing hurt you. Cover your eyes before you turn around and hide behind the dumpster. Please."

They heard the plea. Death or worse possible death. They took the second choice. Murayama and Katase quickly shielded their eyes with their hands and ran to the dumpster. They did not thankfully see what had been the remains of the first two attackers.

"You cannot run Gustav. Wards are up. Thanks for that by the way."

"At least you have manners. You're welcome. I really do admire your work. It is always fun to read the after action reports. I really enjoyed that one in North Korea, last year. Might be your magnum opus."

"You are still a monster Gustav. But I will take the compliment."

The chainsword that was drawn and ready roared to life and the other exorcist bolted at the noise that was also terrifying the kendo girls. Another bark. That man exploded into a shower of gore and bone. Gustav did not react to his comrade's death.

"A pity. We are also mood kindred, red angel. I just do not try to pretend to be a good person. Make my end extra bad. I will at least hopefully give you something of a fight."

"Not here for honor or glory. But I will consider your request."

The German moved and brought his sword down on the face of the helm. He was not bad, go for a quick killing blow that would give a chance of getting out. The chainsword blocked the other blade and the teeth growled. The red angel pushed the long sword user backwards, and they now looked at the other. A minor psychic scream that was modified to not hurt the women behind the dumpster hit Gustav, and the man winced badly at the noise. The scream had been targeting his soul. A burst of speed from the giant that was the red angel, brought his sword down on the stumbling man and was only block because of pure chance.

The German swung his sword onto the right arm of his foe and the bales clacked and then bounced back off. Before two more strikes came. These were moving to the red angels now custodian enhanced nerves and reflexes like the sword was moving through mud.

It was parried both times before a swipe from the chainsword came and again almost clipped Gustav. He was saved this time by throwing his revolver at the red angel to intercept the ultra fast blow. The exorcist then threw a holy grenade at the other and it stopped in mid air surprising the human greatly.

The thing flew back and then exploded. The holy shrapnel from the explosion hit more of Gustav's body and left several bad wounds. Another strike came as soon as the explosions smoke cleared, and the red angel brought his screaming blade down on the regular human who despite blocking the hit craved through the long sword and then into Gustav. He did not scream.

The blade tore through his body and then to the ground. The body dropped in half and then there was silence.

Murayama and Katase were ready to faint during the battle. But had obeying the orders of this thing called the red angel, hid and done nothing to look. What was going on? Gods? Wards? The fact their possible rescuer or new potential killer had been in North Korea. What in the hell was going on!

They had heard the fight stop and then they saw the shadow that was this giant enter their vision because the shadow of it made it past their shields.

"I will explain everything to you two once we leave. May I please have your permission to put you both under a sleep spell? You are not going to die. I say that as a friend of the one you two have been learning from."

This thing knew Issei! Sleep spell? They were terrified. But their crush had helped protect them in a very unusual way. Murayama was the one to speak.

"Ok. Please, we will give you anything that you want! Just do not hurt us! We are scared so badly. He admires you! That one who belongs in a straight jacket!"

There was silence at those fear inducing words.

"I want you both to be happy. I am so deeply sorry this is how both of you enter this new world. I promise. I will help you."

That was what he wanted? For them to be happy? He must want something else! The being spoke again.

"I will make sure you and your families are safe. I know you are thinking I am going to want something more from you. You are right, but it is not bad. I will wake you both up when we are safe. Please trust me. Thank you for the permission."

They had to trust him.

Unknown location Unknown time.

Murayama and Katase had been awoken by the lights of an indoor room and the smell of a very sanitary lavender scent.

The two young women were on soft and comfortable beds, and they were not in that hell alley anymore. Thank the Shinto! A young woman their age and a man who had golden wings coming out of his back came over to check up on them.

"Thank unification! You are both awake. Your rescuer says he is deeply sorry, the spell made you unconscious for an extra twenty minutes. I am Asia and this is ramiel. We checked you over for injury."

What the hell. What was that guy with wings? What was this day coming to? The kendo women were shaking.

The winged man had smiled softly before releasing something into the air that claimed the fear. Asia had not been offended. She had known this once too.

"You are safe. I will inform the one who got the red angel to help you. Ramiel, please help them."

"Right way."

The young blonde woman had Murayama and Katase had noticed was dressed in a very strange outfit that was clearly something a doctor would wear. They then realized what she had said. She was getting Issei! That made the fear overwhelming them lessen significantly.

Murayama had looked at the winged man again and he sees what she had wanted to ask.

"I am an angel. Yes just like the ones mentioned in the biblical bible. I hope my aura helped you a bit."

Angel? That meant that there were gods just like nutter had said one of them has something that had started this.

The door opened and Issei came in with clear worry on his face. They bolted out of the beds and slammed into him, and he caught them both and had put his arms around them in support. Both had whimpered.

"Issei-kun! Please help! That thing that saved us is a monster."

He had stiffened at the plea, and he slowly moved them back to single bed. Murayama and Katase had their heads buried in his shoulders.

"It is ok. He does not want to hurt you. I will answer any and all questions you two have. I heard he said he is sorry how you met him. He is not a monster."

He had softly rubbed their backs as the crying two just burrowed further into their friends arms. Katase had calmed down first.

"What happened today Issei-kun? Why did that man try to kill us? Why did he say we should blame a god for his evil action? Are there really gods that exist just like him?"

She had pointed to the angel who was still smiling kindly in understanding. Issei had looked Katase in the eye before nodding slowly.

"Gods are very real. That man who tried to kill you was a former exorcist from one of the Christian churches. He was trying to kill you because, kat you hold what is called a sacred gear in your soul. Mura was just with you at the worst time possible. Sacred gear gives you a bigger chance to be able to fight against the supernatural. It is very real."

That shocked both of them. Murayama had almost died today because of pure chance. She had been supposed to help her mom today with some gardening. The brown haired woman had paled. Katase winced. She had almost gotten her friend of six years almost killed!

"Kat. It is ok. You both did not know. It is not your fault this happened. Fate was just extra cruel today. My own entrance to this world is bad too. My family's names are on the wall."

That scared them further. The night of red flame had been caused by the supernatural! He had lied at the club that day. But not because of cruelty. He had lied because he was so private. That made them both sad now. He was probably going to visit the wall after school. Murayama cried new tears into his shoulder.

"I so sorry Issei-kun! I."

"It is ok. I was not angry with you. I was angry with Kiba-san. He took advantage of your club's history with him to get a fight for information for someone in the school who needs help. He is not a bad person."

Kat had shed all her tears now.

"Kiba-kun is also supernatural? What is he? What is this sacred gear thing I have?"

Ramiel had spoken up at the last bit."

"Miss Katase. You have a mid tier gear called sword birth."

That was one question. Issei answered the rest.

"He is from the supernatural. He is the counterpart of Ramiel here. He is a devil."

They paled more. He was evil! They knew a thing or two about the Bible and the devil was very evil. Seeing the thought train their friend shook his head.

"He is not evil. Devils are just hardwired differently than us. Yes they do embody one or multiple of the seven deadly sins. But it is something he cannot fight, just like we humans need oxygen, they need to feed that sin. Do not think less of him. He is fighting his nature. He is trying."

That made them feel a bit better. They paled again. Their families! Their almost killer had gone after them and he had friends. They would now go after their families! Mura felt the plea flowing from her lips.

"Please Issei! My mom and brother! They will kill them now. Please help them. Please have that thing save them!"

Kat had nodded too.

"Please. I do not want my dad and sister killed."

The first good thing that had happened today was spoken by their friend.

"They are both already safe. The red angel moved his people to protect them. Just like he did for a pair of twins that the ones who tried today for you two, earlier this week. He is not a monster. He cares just like I do."

The angel spoke up again kindly.

"Like we all do. Your families will be safe."

That made both better. Issei hugged them tighter.

"Your lives from this moment forward will be incredibly different and exceedingly difficult. Kat I will help you with your gear. Mura I will do whatever you want me to do to help you. The red angel has a large faction in the supernatural world. We are all fighting for unification. So, things like this do not happen anymore."

That word. Unification. The blonde woman from before had said it too. Kat had some courage now.

"Thank you Issei-kun. I'll take the help. I want to fight. I never want someone else to suffer this. I am so scared. What is unification?"

"It is our dream. Where all of us are not slaves to fear anymore. It will be our planets salvation."

The angel spoke one final time. Getting ready to leave them.

"We will describe it to you in many ways. None of them are wrong. Unification for me is seeing my mom again. She fell and the two of us have not spoken in 50 years. The red angel helped us both fix that. I have some more wounded coming in. They are coming in from the recent strike that the lord-commander led against another cell. Two of the three in that cell were badly hurt by their former comrades. I need to help them. Am I good to do that First?"

"Your beyond good Ramiel. Thank you for what you do. I know Caroline and Asia appreciate the extra help."

"Everything I do is for unification. And to repay him for getting my family back together. My sister is ready to join, as are more of her friends. My mom is bringing others from her former cadre."

"That is good. You do not have to do that. But I understand. We will have increasingly soon."

The angel nodded and then moved to the other side of the ward where two gurneys carrying two hurt humans where rolled in by others who wore armor similar to the red angel. The young women saw the Aquilla and knew ardent hope for the first time that day. Mura spoke to Issei in a noticeably clear voice showing her new hope.

"I want to fight too. I know I do not have gear. But I want to help."

"You do not need gear. I fight without it too. I am the red angel."

That confession. They looked him in the eyes.

"I am the first. But will never be the last. I will teach you how to fight. If you do not want to do that, if what I and my lord commander will put you through is ever too much. Tell me and I will find you a place that makes you happy. I only ask others what they are fully willing to give. We are not things that can be used and destroyed by what we must do. We are all people. I will never not care about you want."

He had saved them. They who were part of his fangirl club, the ones he didn't like much. He had been teaching them because they had made the effort to try and get to know him truly. He was and had never been a monster.

"Teach me. I know no fear. I want to fight. But what about school?"

"We have an immensely powerful friend there who is with us Mura. They will help you too. You both will be living in my home until we get rid of this cancer that was the leader of that man."

They both nodded clearly relieved. They spent the rest of the day asking questions. The two new recruits of this ever growing army. The girls were so happy when they had been met by their parents and siblings at what they were told was an honest to Shinto teleporter room that was connected they were told to his home and now three other locations across Japan.

The six hugged each other. Mura's mother was an engineer. She was willing to help with the machines that were making the future. Kat's dad was a nurse, he would help at the hospital. Their siblings were too young to really help. But Issei had told both of them that there were ways to help too.

"Learn. Study. Never stop asking questions. Never give into fear again. You are helping by giving us all something more to fight for. Your future. We fight for all of us, and that includes you."

The little kids were happy to hear that. To hear that they were helping despite not really knowing what they were up against. Kat and Mura had smiled as did the rest of the members of their family. Mura saw her mother turn to a hallway that held a very strange tint of music coming from it and she went to investigate with her son. Kat saw her dad get pulled with her sister aside by a woman with grey eyes and soon start talking about something medical related that clearly shook her dad, before he was crying about something.

The day had ended better that it had started. Hope.

She saw him again. He was growing brighter. Him. The one. She had always known something was strange about her. Her family did not know. They did not know that she would see flashes of their lives.

It hurt not to be able to tell them that. She was very very wrong. But he had flared out his gift that was like hers. She wanted to meet him so badly. To learn from him. To be understood. She had seen glimpses of what he saw. She saw herself. She was always so different each time. Good and bad.

But he was also always different. The same way. They were very bitter enemies in some. In others she and he were incredibly happy.

She wanted to be happy here too. He would see her and know immediately. He who was tied to her by a string of fate. She would wait. She had a plan. It was quite good in her own opinion. It would help him; it would help her. Soon. Very very soon.

AN more hints. And definitely more action. If you do guess the primary wife. Please keep it to yourself. If not, be surprised. I have a remarkably interesting story about her. Yes she is a psyker. She is sort of like Issei. She can see more of the tree of the tree. Not as much as he can but that's more than Asia. Asia is on the weaker end of the scale. This unknown. She is somewhat strong. I really do hope combat is getting somewhat better as we move forward.

To the reviewer who does not like my take on the evil system. thank you for the harsh criticism. im sorry if im coming off as a prick. you are right it is needed the fertility is a very big issue. it still does not mean that to me personally that this is slavery in this universe we are in a more grim version of DxD. there is significant abuse happening. there is a solution. its just a plot point. it will happen in future chapters. im again sorry that you dont like that take. I must have not made more comparisons on how badly the system is needed.