Chapter 22

If it is worth doing, it is worth doing to completion.

Aphorisms 97

Imperial hospital Australian Outback Monday morning.

Sona looked at the woman in the bed across the hall from where Malgun had been held. This was the discovery of a lifetime. A new Longinus user. That had never happened before. Sona has so many questions. Issei is with Dohnaseek and the two are discussing how to fortify the hospital. This place was now needed badly.

The medical staff were growing quickly. They needed more space. The soil here plus the room to expand had made the decision more important. Dohnaseek wants to blow it up. He had looked at the experiments that the staff had recorded, and they made him sick. He had only read three reports.

Issei understands that. He had helped make the building a bit better. He had used his psychic might to banish several lingering spirits and had told them that there was a place for them now. The spirits had been thankful to the Inquisition. A male spirit had wanted to stay and protect this place. But Issei told him that there was an ever growing legion of humanity coming to fight this darkness.

"The dead should not linger. You should enjoy the rest you and the others deserve. No one will ever taint this place again. It will be a true hospital not a place of horror."

The spirit had agreed he still wanted to help. But he deserves the rest. He had returned to the warp and entered Neoth's afterlife.

Sona wants to learn about this possible third. The woman on the bed hooked up to the machines is beautiful. Her indigo hair and facial structure indicated noble birth. But they had been shocked when the two rulers had learned her name.

Ingvild Leviathan. This was a true Leviathan. She had sleeping disease. Issei was confident they could help her. Sona had touched Ingvild's hand. She felt more kindness reach her soul. This young woman did not even know what had changed in the world over the last hundred years. She was a stranger out of time.

Dohnaseek had finally accepted that they could not destroy this place. They could not move the Leviathan. Her machines were ultra rare, and they were hardwired to the building. They could kill Ingvild if they removed her from here.

Issei and Dohnaseek began issuing more orders to begin transferring medical personal here. The acolyte had then departed to inform Akio. Issei sat in the chair next to Sona.

"I have a few ways we can wake her. None are pleasant. The least damaging is for me to enter the warp and then connect my soul with hers. I will need you to watch me. No one else can be in the room but us three."

Sona understands the trust her other is asking for. She nodded.

"I will watch you. Please help her. Like you did me. Like Rias. Ingvild needs a friend."

Issei nodded. Antony had been ordered to stay outside the room and stop anyone else from trying to enter. Sona watched as Issei centers himself. His gold eyes were worried. He touched Ingvild's hand. The gold eyes turn milky white as he does the connection.

Ingvild's mind.

Ingvild was alone. Like she had been for so exceedingly long. She did not know how long. The half human half devil was just sitting in the darkness that had been her reality for so long. Ingvild did not know what to do.

She had tried to wake. Nothing had ever worked. That had led to a small but always steadily growing despair. Ingvild had tried to keep herself steady. She had practiced her singing voice. That helped so very much. She was ready for another day of isolation. She hums a song of hope that had become her main focus.

The sun finally rose in a sunless world.

Ingvild felt something coming towards her. She did not care what it was. This was probably her finally going utterly mad. The feeling of someone else grew. The woman did not know what. Then out of the darkness came light. The purple haired woman gasps.

There coming towards her is a man. No. A sun of light. The man with the strength of Sol behind him is something she will never forget. He is handsome. He is light incarnate. He sits across from her. Ingvild wants to cry for how beautiful he is. They do not talk for a while.

Ingvild Leviathan lives a trillion lives. He is there. He is anything she could want in her life. She and him are kin in many ways. Her gene activated. The tree appeared behind the man. Then an infinite number of other trees.

She gasped. She sees herself. They are different from her. Some she is a monster. Others she is a queen next to a king that while they are a pervert they genuinely love her for who she is. The two are happy. Ingvild wants that. She sees so much. The man just lets her look. There is now a window behind him. Ingvild can still see everything. The man finally speaks.

"Another one of my kin. I am sorry for activating this in you. I will try to help you Ingvild. To escape from here and to control your gifts. My name is Issei. I really like the other versions of you."

The trees where Ingvild is with her king now show his face. She likes the others of him too. Even the massive perverts. They are good people with a bad flaw. She smiled the first true smile she had in the time here.

"Hello Issei. Or would you like it if I call you the Breast Dragon Emperor?"

The voice Issei hears is that of a perfect singer. The tease was clear. He however winces at the other name. He and Ddraig hated that title. But Issei smiles at the kindness.

"That is not me here. I have other better titles here. I see the new Longinus you have. I have the red one here too. But I do not use him too much. He finally gets to sleep in peace most of the time. I was not lying when I said that I will help you try to escape this. Nor in activation of the psyker gene. I genuinely want to help you."

Ingvild smiles further. She sees the lines. She sees the other outside this space. She likes her a lot. Better than the redhead who he is with in so many lines. She also sees the first. The fire bird is cunning. Ingvild sees where they might go. Where she will highly likely go.

"I know you will. My light of Sol. I see you have several plans to help me. I do not like how hurtful some are. I like the least dangerous one. But I see that we will be bound together by the string it forms. I see that I am the highly likely third. I know you will treat us well. What does the soul bond do?"

Issei sees why his other trees like Ingvild. She is kind. She was perfect for them. She who was their queen. Ravel was the second in those peerages. But Ingvild is in many the heart and soul of them. It is why they were clicking now. She was the artist of humanity. The song maker. Sona was the teacher. Ravel was the political monster. The others will represent an aspect of humanity.

"I will have to soul bound you to me. I will never try to take your freedom away. You will be shocked by the time that has passed. But we will help you. I and my Sigilites. Please understand that it will hurt. I will try to make it next to nothing. But the bond will kick your soul into awakening. Then we can help you begin recovery."

The lines show the truth of his words. Ingvild understands. She wants to be free. She reached for his hand. He extends his to her. They touch.

The pain is bad. But Ingvild feels defenses against the tree build immediately. She feels the first hints of truly waking up. The pain dulled to a small twitch. But Ingvild trusts him. Her light of Sol.

Imperial Hospital ten minutes later.

Sona did not like the eyes. They were not his. She only wants the gold. They were beginning to return to the best color in her life. Ingvild began to move. A small twitch runs up her body. When Issei returned fully that is when Ingvild opens her eyes and sees the second and her Emperor.

Sona sees the kindness in the woman on the bed. They click. Just like how Sona had with Ravel. Ingvild will fit right in with them. Issei dropped back against the chair breathing somewhat painfully. Sona touched his face in worry.

"Ise! Are you ok? Please be ok!"

The words are tumbling out fast. Issei hurts. But this might be what he has to do to help Psykers. Give them a single fragment of his strength. Ingvild wants to touch him too. But her body is in an atrophy state. She just raises a hand towards him weakly.

The Leviathan's voice cracks. She says only two words in a whisper.

"My light."

Issei recovered. He touched Sona.

"I am ok So. Please have Antony begin letting doctors in to help. Ingvild will need a lot of help. I just need to rest for a few minutes. I have done my first Soul binding."

Underworld Phenex manor Monday morning.

Ravel sees the event. She feels horrible that her dear had to do that. She does not blame Ingvild. The poor song maker could not do anything. Ravel wanted to hug the other. To let her know that she has kin and that she is not going to ever be without family again.

Ruval is talking with Argel Phenex. They are discussing what land to give to Issei. It will be decent land. There are two mines and four small villages that are part of the grant. The village elders had been summoned and then informed that they will be swearing new oaths to a new lord.

The elders were surprised. But they had been chosen for a reason. They all loved Ravel. The youngest Phenex had often shocked her family by helping in these villages that had the people sworn to their house. Argel now understands why she had done that. She had done it for her contract. But Ravel had come to love being with the commoners. They who deserve a Lady who will help them.

Their villages are next to the eight houses that will swear allegiance to Issei. The lords and ladies are of the very minor nobility. They have some wealth. But it is nothing compared to the seventy two pillars. The houses also love Ravel. They know that she takes the issues they bring to her seriously.

They are interested in the fact that Lord Phenex has asked from among them and eight other houses for an experiment he would like to have them participate in. Of the eight houses loyal to Ravel are five couples that are feeling something when they are asked to participate. Hope.

Ravel is going to see Riser and his peerage. Riser had finally woken up. He was sore. But he was now a different man then the one who had entered the game two days earlier.

Isabela and Xuelan were both fangirling over two signed autographs that had been delivered to them today. Yunabella had been holding her King's hand. The pawns were all collectively hiding in a group because they had somehow survived against The Red Angel. Karlamine and Siris are talking in a corner together. The bishop is sore from the punches and the chainsword.

Riser sees nothing but his new house emblem. He feels pride in the fact he did not run. He stings because he has lost Rias. But a look at Yuna and he destroyed that feeling forever. Riser did not need the Gremory. He has the rest of his peerage. They are more than enough. He will marry them all. Because he now sees that they are wonderful people and not just bodies.

Yunabella is very shocked when Riser pulls her in for a kiss. It is not one of lust. It is of true love. Yunabella wants to cry for how this feels. Ravel entered the room after the kiss ended. She smiled to see that Riser is really a better man now. Yunabella will be so happy because of Saturday.

Riser looks at his sister. He noticed that she really is happier than she was when she was in his peerage. Her smile is real not a fake one. Riser needs to know if what he saw will happen. Or if he had gone temporarily insane with pain.

"Ravel. The Red Angel. The emblem Riser saw. The little ones. Are they real? Riser has to know. Riser wants them all so badly. Are they truly real?"

Ravel smiled at her brother. She comes to her brother's left and touches his free hand. Riser sees them all again. He sees that he is happier than ever before. He is wearing the pendant. He is holding his first son with Yuna. He has a lovely home. The peerage has good and fulfilling jobs. They are a big family. He sees the banner of his branch house. He sees his father holding in his lap three girls and is reading them a story about a world recently found. His mother is dog piled by the rest of the brood. She is so incredibly happy and is smothering them all.

The vision ends. Riser looks to Ravel. He wants to be lost in that time. But he must make it for them. Ravel smiled and said.

"They are more likely because of what you experienced and what you are feeling now. You will get the family. You will get satisfaction from what you do. Riser. I am what is called a psyker. That is the line you want the most. Help my dear. You will get everything. Be the man you really can be. Swear to my dear. The dawn of a new age is coming. More people will be better off than they are now."

The peerage looks on with confusion. What is a psyker? What did their king see? Who is Ravel's dear?

Riser needs that future. He weeps. To know it is possible. To know he was not insane. He needs the babies.

"Riser will help. Riser will give anything for them. Please tell your dear that. Riser will be his eternal if Riser gets that future."

The peerage is shocked. What did he see! Yunabella takes the plunge.

"Show me please Ravel."

Ravel extends her hand. Yunabella touched it. The rest of the peerage is coming closer. Yunabella is stiff. But she comes back to them weeping. She sees. Yunabella wants that future too. Her babies. Her husband. A job where she is not the bomb queen. She grabs Riser and shakes him.

"We must do this! We must have them! I want that too! Riser please!"

Riser hugs his queen as she begged. Xuelan is next. Then Isabela. Then Karlamine and Siris. The pawns and the bishop are last. They see their lives in what they could be. They are desperate for that too.

Ravel answers their questions. She explains her gift. She tells them dreams can never truly die.

"March for Terra. March for your dreams. March for everyone of us who share our world. My dear is amazing. You will see it he is the greatest man who will ever live. You will get your dreams. Just believe in him like he does with you."

Riser and his peerage believe. They have found a cause that will transform everything it touched. Riser will be better. They will all be better.

They will march. They will know no fear. They have to. They must do this. Riser, however, tells his sister something.

"If he ever hurts you. Riser will cook him alive. But Riser sees your dream too. You must genuinely want him."

"I do. With all my heart. He is my other. Like how everyone here is yours brother. You can help beat him up if he hurts me. But he will not."

Riser smiles at that.

Imperial Hospital Australian Outback. Early afternoon Monday.

Ingvild was touching her Light of Sol's hand. Issei and Sona had not left her alone. Several doctors had arrived and had begun to help Ingvild. She was not in a good state. Her muscles were all but gone. Her stomach had not had real food in a century. The first drink of water had also come back up her throat.

Issei had told her the history of the world since her sleep started. To learn that humans had advanced to the moon. That airplanes which in Ingvild's time were just a curiosity were now how many traveled. That nearly the entire world was connected through this thing called the Internet.

Ingvild had missed so much. She felt horrible about that. But Issei and Sona would teach her everything. They would not leave the Leviathan alone. That made their bond more real. Ingvild sees why Sona loves the other. And he the black haired woman.

They were becoming her family. Ingvild did not have a great family. Her mother was a human trapped in a contract with the last Lord Leviathan. She had a half-sister. The sister had been pampered by their father and the birth mom. The purple haired woman was technically a bastard. But her father had done a few things to try and be kind to his half human daughter.

She was allowed to spend time on Earth. Always watched by her father's fanatics and she had made friends with some of the humans who had often been tricked by her father. They had been good friends. But they were all dead now. Issei promised to help her make new ones. Sona had helped Ingvild when she needed to go to the bathroom for the first time.

The two women had taken strength from each other. Sona had asked while being helped by a nurse what Ingvild had liked before her sleep.

"I liked the arts. Singing in particular."

The reply was just an incredibly soft whisper. Sona had tightened her hand around the other.

"I will help get you copies of any type of music you like. There are also many different new styles that have popped up over the century."

Ingvild smiled weakly at that. The Custodian had intimidated her when he had entered the room. But Sona had told her that he was a big softie. That had made Ingvild feel better. The Custodian was to be her personal guard. Ingvild had tried to insist that it was not necessary. But Issei had surprised her.

"He will be here until a second Custodian is ready. I have had three more men step up. They all want to protect me. The process is slow. It has to be for them to survive the augmentation. Your family Ingvild. I do not know if you truly are the third. But the Custodians are family too. They will show those who wish to hurt you their fury."

Antony had backed that up. He really was a big softie. Ingvild liked him. Issei and Sona had stayed with her and the two had talked with her about everything. Issei had gotten what he called a data slate and had pressed a button on it. Music entered the room. Ingvild liked it. Issei had called it jazz. It was nice to listen too. Ingvild learned that Issei really enjoyed Opera. That surprised Sona.

"I had pegged you as a soft rock man Ise."

Issei chuckled at that.

"Most do think that. But I enjoy the extra work that goes into the art. I cannot sing. The old man could not either. My mother could. She was decent. I still remember my fifth birthday. She sang me to sleep that night. I miss her so very much."

Ingvild saw the Night of Red Flame. It was horrible. To lose your parents and so many others like that. Her hand trying to tighten itself around Her light Of Sol. He took comfort. He reassured the two women.

"It is all right. I have made peace with them long ago. I will never stop missing them. They are with the Shinto. The pantheon hates me. But they told me through Yasaka that my parents are proud of what I am doing and building. I cannot see them. But I know that is the truth."

Neoth was trying to come to an agreement with the Shinto. They hated him so very much. The new god wanted to let his avatar see them. He was offering concessions. The Shinto were not budging. They had said that he was stealing more souls from them. It was truth. But Neoth was still trying. Yasaka was trying too for her friend. It was a very uphill battle. Sona understands. That her betrothed was still lonely in so many ways.

Ingvild had too. Issei had to get up for a walk and to meet with Ramiel who was chosen to lead the hospital. When he had left Ingvild had said quietly.

"I have made my choice. He is mine. With yours and the first's permission."

Sona tightens her hand around the purple haired woman.

"I do not object. I do not know about Ravel. But he will not move fast with you. The relationship has to be real. He will never stop building it. Build him up too. He is a man who will always put others first before himself. I am going to always support him. He will be the sun to the vast majority of people. He will never show doubts to people. But to us he will. He needs us so very much."

Ingvild understands. She would be his new singer.

Forge of Dreams Inquisition headquarters Monday afternoon.

Akio was looking at the second objective of the mission in Australia. This ward scheme manual would be the OSF's downfall. They would put the scheme codes into a satellite when possible and then use it to find every single base they had. The other objectives were important too. Ingvild was a new Longinus user. She had a target painted on her head now.

Akio did not understand the first objective. Why were the rescued humans so important? He did not know. His psychic gift enhanced his mental clarity. He could like Issei remember everything in his life. He was good with plan making when it came to connecting dots on motives for why someone did something. He did not, however, see much of the tree. Just the barest of hints most of the time.

Akio had been deciding on which of the five new recruits for the storm troopers would be the next sergeant when he was informed about Malgun. The devil had accepted the cuffs and the bracelet that had been put on him. His cell was in a small part of the forge that had been set up for the eventual prisoners that would come.

Kangabaru. That would be the name of the prison they would use in the new country. It was slow work building. But it would come. Malgun knew everything about OSF combat doctrine. He had shared that willingly. Fleur was already beginning to train her men on how to counter some of the tactics the OSF used. Akio was just about to choose the sergeant when he violently sneezed.

ORC building Monday afternoon.

Akeno had been giggling nonstop about her other. He was perfect. They both liked the same stuff. She was ready to meet him tomorrow. Koneko was ready to meet her brother tomorrow too. The Hell Cat had barricaded herself in her room and just looked at his pictures.

Kiba had been thinking of his walker and had been wondering what he should use for his house symbol. He was still thinking it over. Rias was thinking how to bring more to Unification. Her parents wanted to help. Zectus had begun looking from amongst their sworn house levies for volunteers for the Guard. Velelana had contacted several mentalists that were currently without purpose, and she would try to get them to work. Sona had told Rias that earlier today.

Rias had also wanted to learn to use a gun. Just in case. She was going to meet Issei tomorrow and they would talk. She would never be able to help enough.

That Issei was the Red Angel was still a massive surprise. But it did not matter to Rias in any way. He was the best thing that had touched her life. Rias was beginning to see when touching her pendant, the name of her ship. It was beautiful.

Still things needed to be done. Rias sat back in her chair at her desk and was busy drawing plans to bring several small houses to the Aquilla. The fight would never truly be over.

Underworld Serafall's office Monday.

Serafall had with her entire peerage giggled evilly and then made the order. Troops loyal to the new House Leviathan joined up with others from Lucifer and they began to cripple the GKF.

A vast number of raids were launched against houses loyal to the GKF that had true connections to the OSF. In total twenty kings from the GKF had been arrested for collaborating with the terrorist organization. Cuffs had been slapped on them to prevent the now screwed kings from cutting demonic power to their peerages. Fifteen non king members of those houses were also arrested for smuggling weapons, armor, and warriors to them.

The highest member arrested from the thirty five was a king from the Sallos family. He had been the lord of the pillar. His arrest sent shockwaves through his vassals. They had protested but when the evidence was shown, and he was slapped with multiple truth spells the lord had chirped.

The vassals were pissed at that. They had each lost members of their families to OSF raids and during the Civil war. That their lord had been secretly helping the bastards and had often times helped leak the information of the slain members locations to the OSF had made his entire bannermen flip to the NKF. Many swore new oaths to house Gremory. Others to Sitri. Five had heard a rumor started by an Alpharius of a new noble house that was coming. They would appreciate them. They also learned that the new lord hated the OSF too.

That had sold them the idea. They wanted vengeance. The five would wait for this lord but would from now on vote for the NKF. The heir to the Sallos family was a woman that had secret NKF leanings. She had instantly flipped her house and they would vote for the NKF too. The shame of her father helping the OSF was immense. But she would have her vengeance against him. She would break the GKF majority and with her former banners also voting for the NKF they made from the once slim possibility that Rias and Riser getting married into a strong majority now.

Serafall had indulged in her wrath that day. She had broken twenty of the arrested personally. That had been so good. The former Sallos lord was beaten up particularly badly for what he had said to Sona. Serafall had hit him with more truth spells and the man had confessed to more crimes. He would never see the light of day as a free man ever again.

It had been the greatest upset of power in the underworld since the civil war. The NKF smelled the blood. They immediately hit the senate floor with dozens of reform proposals that would try and help the reincarnated more and then protect them from abuse. It was sadly too late for many of the current ones. But it would protect the future ones who would come.

Serafall had after her sessions that day promised to utterly be in Issei's corner with Sona. She had already told her mother about the human last week. But today really sold the idea of the human to her mother. The Lady of House Sitri was shocked to learn her daughter had lost three times in chess to a human. She had doubts till Serafall told her the difference that the human had on Sona. They were startling. But the romantic won out. Their story was so incredibly good.

Lady Sitri had joined Behemoth to help write the book. Her feelings would help propel it to a bestseller in the underworld, and eventually the human one too.

Sirzechs had enjoyed the day immensely. More so when the Red Angel had sent him an autograph for his son. Millicas had whooped and cheered for it. The happiness was worth it. Grayfia had been a little disappointed with her baby by the improper display of enthusiasm, but her face betrayed the smile that was there. She had her feelings soften on the red angel more. She did not like it that he was her son's newest idol and one that would not go away easily. But the strongest queen had seen other sides to him during the game. They were mostly good.

Zectus and Velelana had both understood that the Red Angel had saved their family now. The politics today reinforced that view. Rias had told them yesterday to be alert for today. Sirzechs had leaked the hints to his sister on Saturday after the game. They saw that they needed to help him more. Velelana had found five mentalists and they were all good people. They would join to help the guard. Zectus had found three hundred from their levies that were interested. The Lord and Lady had sworn to do more.

When they had visited Rias and her peerage that night at the chapel in the ORC building. They truly felt faith. No pain. No judgment. No condemnation. Velelana had immediately called up a building company to make a chapel for them in their territory. The building overseer had been wary of the contract. But he accepted it because the money was good. He and his work crew would convert. They would spread the religion further into the underworld.

Reincarnated had begun to hope. They wanted freedom in their hearts. It had always been there. But the Aquilla pendant had made more believe. Two reincarnated in the guard who had witnessed the miracles of the destroyed pieces had spread the rumor. That made more begin to believe. Twelve ran that night. All from GKF peerages. They were hopeful. They needed to be free. They were the harbingers. Strays would become more of a common sight in the next few months.

Imperial Hospital Australian Outback Monday evening.

Ingvild was resting on her bed as Issei told her more about the world. That a world war had broken out less than two years after her sleep began. That had been shocking. More so when she learned that a second had started just twenty years later. So many things on Earth were different. The empires of Europe were mostly gone now. Germany was a republic. The Russian Empire was gone. The Ottomans were now dust. The United States had gone from a second power to a superpower.

Nukes scared her so badly. But Issei explained the concept of MAD.

"Mutually Assured Destruction. The powers with them will not dare try to use them. That would have been different in another branch."

That aliens were real and had nukes too was scary. But Issei had reassured her that they were safe for now.

"I am an avatar for two gods now. The first is a massive prick. The second is really nice. I do not like the fact she gave birth to the Olympians, but her desire to be a genuinely good goddess has made my hate of her lessen. Still do not like that she used an unbelievably bad one of her spirits to attack humans because of the ecological damage we have done. But she regrets that so much now."

Ingvild saw Pantier. She hated him. He was a very horrible person. Issei reassured her that the satyr would not be here for much longer. The two psykers talked. Ingvild voice was very slowly getting stronger. Issei had offered to make a psychic bond so that she could save her voice's strength. The woman had shaken her head.

"I am your singer. It needs to be stronger for you my Sol."

Sona had gone downstairs and had welcomed the five mentalists that the Gremorys had sent their way. The devils had been in awe of the place and everything they had seen. A slow but steady stream of the guard were being sent here for memory lessening. Issei had brought the other psyker here on one of his breaks. The man was also a psychiatrist. He had been shocked to learn that part of the reason he was so good at his work in Britain was because he had slowly and unconsciously been taking people's pain away through his gift too. He was eager to help immediately.

"Soul bond me milord. I want to help our brave brothers and sisters."

Issei made him understand what that would entail. The man named Varric had insisted. The second bond of the day was done. Ingvild and Sona had helped their Emperor recover. Ingvild through her touch and Sona through her strength. Issei hated that process. But some of the psykers would need the help badly.

Another blank had been found. This was also a woman. Her gift was not as strong as Ellen. But she had been transferred to the Inquisition. She would be Ellen's first acolyte when the first blank was ready to become an Inquisitor.

Blanks also scared Ingvild. The thought of having no truly visible soul. The pain they would usually go through because of the gene. It made Ingvild want to write a song to help them. Issei and Sona had reassured her that blanks were not scary.

It had been getting late. Issei had not wanted to leave Ingvild. Neither had Sona but there were twelve new strays at the camp who needed help. Ingvild had surprised them further.

"Bring them here. I will sing a psychic song to ease their pain. They will be my subjects too."

Ingvild had sealed her fate utterly with those words. She was now truly the third. Ingvild wanted to help others with them like they had done for her.

The strays had been moved here quickly. All were nervous. They had fled in hope of freedom. The first to step forward was a centaur. She was a bishop. She had almost screamed. But the song Ingvild had sung with her gift had dampened the pain to next to nothing. The piece fell to the floor and shattered. The other strays had cried for the truth being shown.

The centaur had given Ingvild her first title.

"The Empress of Peace."

The strays had chanted that as they now did The Empress of Light. Issei smiled at Ingvild. The woman had been happy to help others. The rest of the strays formed a line and the next to be free was a tiger youkai. He had sworn to do anything for them. The centaur had joined him. The strays still in chains had sworn the same. The pieces kept falling out and breaking. The song of Ingvild continued soothing their pain. The last piece to break was a pawn. The man it came from saw Antony watching the ritual. He saw the Empress of Peace in her bed weak and vulnerable. He made his choice.

"I will serve you my lady as your personal helper and eventually your personal Custodian. Let that be my contribution for your part."

Ingvild seemed to see something in the man. Issei and Sona saw it too. This man loved his Empress who had made his pain leave him. He had been the worst when it had come to the pain. Ingvild nodded her acceptance.

"Serve me then. You will do wonderful things. I see them. What is your name my Custodian?"

"Harry. But let me become Hadrian for you. I am eternally yours."

Ingvild took the oath. Her Custodian knelt to her. The rest of the former strays swore new paths. Some would be the guard. Two bishops had sworn to join the magicians guild. The centaur asked to farm here at this facility. The tiger youkai swore to bring more of his clan in China to the Aquilla.

Issei reassured them that they were free to return to their families without having to commit anything. They were not slaves. Two had taken the offer. They were just done being tools. But they would still help. They had promised to join their country's Unification Party.

The day had ended with Ingvild learning that Issei would stay with her tonight. Sona unfortunately had to finish contracts back in Kuoh. Her peerage had been given the weekend off, but they and Rias had been told they would pull double their requests for the week.

Ingvild had touched her Sol. Hadrian was here with her having taken his oath seriously. He had begged Antony to teach him. The Captain-General had promised to help the new. Sona had whispered to Ingvild that there were rooms in their home that were open. That had cheered up Ingvild and said that she would never be alone again.

Issei had only left three times. Each was just five minutes, but the Imperium needed its Emperor. One issue brought to his attention was a request from Elon for more funding. It was approved without question. Another was a request from Akio. The approval needed was for rune smiths. The Inquisition could not understand the brand they had recovered. Or for Issei to look at it. He would do that tomorrow. They would move Ingvild to the forge tomorrow.

Forge of Dreams Inquisition Headquarters Monday.

Akio was ready to pull out hair. This damn brand was made by a master of runes. He nor anyone else could get why. They need a second brand just in case they break the first one. Thankfully, they had found a second possible location.

In nearby Vietnam there was a Hero Faction base. According to Leonardo there were three more brands kept there. The Solar Bears had been contacted. This base was massive. Near five hundred gear users and the magicians that were loosely allied with the Hero Faction. The Inquisition could not handle that. Fleur had been grim. So had Dohnaseek. Thankfully help had come from the tank crews. Commander White-Owl had volunteered three of his now five tanks. Cawl had also brought help. He had said that he would have Artillery ready by the time the operation was launched this week. Two Basilisk cannons. The crews were training in their use.

Akio was setting the beginning of the mark for Thursday. Hopefully, they will have the vehicles ready by then. It also gave Cawl more time to make more tanks. The Inquisitor was nervous about tomorrow. He was going to meet Akeno. She was something he wanted to meet badly. But work had come first. He had given Dohnaseek his rosette.

"You have earned it. I have come to enjoy collaborating with you. What Ordo will you join?"

The angel had smiled at his promotion. He did not know what Ordo he would join yet, however. Diego would be happy if he joined the Ordo Xenos. That was probably his future Ordo. But he would stay with the Investigaus.

"I will be here in your Ordo, Lord-Inquisitor. For now. You have already found another acolyte to replace me?"

"I would appreciate the help. And it is actually two potential acolytes. One is absolutely perfect for the Ordo. The other will be my acolyte for a while. I mean a long while."

Dohnaseek saw it. The longing. He smiled and then returned the favor for his lord helping him. He and his now steady girlfriend were happy. His drinking was gone. He was sober. He had not imagined that was possible. His sister still scared him. But he had become stronger. He was nearing six wings.

"I understand. Go for it. I will still help until they are ready to join fully. I see the path of the Xeno as my eventual future."

Akio took the advice he had once given. He would meet Akeno.

Kuoh Academy Tuesday ORC building late morning.

Koneko was practically bouncing. She would see her brother today! She wanted to hold him and let him get to know her. He was now her world. Sweets did not matter anymore compared to him. Issei was bringing him and two strangers to see them today.

Akeno was so ready. He was coming today! Her highly likely other. Her hero. The one she would build anything for. She was so happy about that. Rias had teased her about that. Akeno had zapped her king and told her to hush. Rias had yelped but the lightning was not that powerful. Rias had grumbled but accepted the shock. Gasper was also up here out of his room. He said that something important was coming. He was needed here for that. He did not know what it was.

Thirty minutes later and a portal had opened in the corner set aside for them. The symbol of it was the Aquilla. Four people had stepped through. Issei was smiling at the ORC. To his right was a man with blonde hair and a grim face. The moment he saw Akeno, however, a small smile had appeared. To Issei's left was a nekomata woman and a baby.

Akeno squealed and then had dragged the blonde man off towards another room for the two of them to talk. Koneko moved slowly to the nekomata and the baby. The little one was gold in color. The white cat had just looked at her brother longingly. The nekomata had smiled and the two women had moved to the far end of the room and a privacy ward went up.

Issei had just smiled at Gasper and Rias. He was wearing regular black pants and a black shirt that Sona had picked out for him. Gasper had gasped. Rias had just smiled. Before standing and welcoming her Emperor.

"Issei-san. Welcome to the ORC. I have a few things I want to run by you in regard to Unification. I also have talked to my parents. We are trying to fix our relationship. Let me introduce you to my bishop Gasper. Gasper this is Issei Hyoudou. He is an agent of the Red Angel."

Gasper was proud of himself for only shaking slightly. Issei saw the little dhampir and had been kind.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Gasper-san. I saw that you would be here today and that you need help with your gear. I brought something that another of our people uses. It is power hungry, but we will refine it to get rid of the issue. I do have some explanations for you Rias. They should help fill in a few blanks. I see you are not your others."

That had made Gasper want to cry. Something to help with his gear. He had long hoped for that. He touched his pendant. It lightly warmed. The short boy smiled and then surprised everyone. Gasper ran to his new senpai and hugged him.

"Thank you Issei-senpai! This is the greatest day of my life!"

Issei smiled softly. He knew how hard it was for Gasper. That he was out and about and not wearing the box on his head was quite frankly astonishing. He saw the pendant around his neck. Neoth was still an asshole. But he had helped the young boy. He gently pried the dhampir off before he knelt and hugged the other boy better.

"I would be happy to be your Senpai Gasper-san. Here is the device. My boss has people in Grigori and this works as a suppressor and as a beginning control establishment system. I will bring you the power cells that will power it."

The device was in the shape of a belt, and it had the cell power source where a buckle would be. Gasper took it and then attached it to his person. The device immediately helped. Gasper cried more and babbling his thanks. Rias had smiled. Issei was so kind. Gasper had, after five minutes of babbling, finally extracted himself from his Senpai.

"You are amazing Issei-senpai! I am going to go to our chapel and thank him too!"

The young boy ran off and now it was just Rias and Issei. Rias gestures to a chair and Issei sits facing Rias.

"Thank you for helping Gasper. And thank you for giving me help. Please tell me everything. I have been out of the loop. But I see why Sona loves you. Why I would have loved you."

"There is a lot to explain. The visions you saw were of another reality. I refer to them as trees. Yes I can see multiple trees. I see the possible timelines that can form in our tree. The ones I choose do the most good for the greatest number of people."

Rias gaps. He could see that? How? The visions were truly real! Issei sees the questions.

"Yes they are real. We are both vastly different in this tree. And by how I do it. I am what is called a psyker. It is a gene in those who share the human form. I can show you a bit of one tree if you would like?"

Rias felt her greed stir. It was vastly better than before. But it came forth again.

"Please show me."

Issei extended his hand. Rias took it. The redhead saw the tree. She and Issei were married in that tree. She had a baby boy with him. He only had brown hair there. His eyes were not gold. He was her reincarnated single pawn having taken all eight. Rias gasped at the sight. There were other different things too. She was still incredibly spoiled there. She had actually hurt him by getting mad at him for not confessing his love to her. That had stemmed from how he had reincarnated. He had died while on a date with a fallen.

The woman was a bitch of the most massive degree. She had given Issei horrible trust issues. The fallen had also destroyed his self-confidence with women. That the other her had done that to him was horrible. Rias hated that part of the other her. It had taken Akeno helping by a very unusual way to fix that divide. But they had gotten past that. Rias saw that he had a harem. She and Akeno were his favorites. That hurt the others. But they had just accepted that. It was not right.

Issei there had problems too. He was a massive pervert. But he had been slowly moving that behind closed doors. He also was a very insensitive ass a lot of the time. But he did help their peerage a lot. That he was the red dragon there was surprising. But he had earned his way up to being a reincarnated king.

Those were much more common there. Still not the majority but they had a better society there. Rias saw that the evil piece system was more refined there compared to here. That was another surprise. Rias vastly prefers the Issei in front of her. He was a particularly good man here. The vision ends. Rias asked.

"Am I like that in a lot of trees? The bitch that does not see your problems?"

Issei shrugged.

"You are ok in a fair number of trees. But there are more where you are exactly like that. You also have a large number of others where you mistreated me and the others. But you are not them. I am never going to be the Oppai Dragon. I am actually not attracted to them that much here. I like personalities better here. It is why Sona and I have clicked. Why I have clicked with two others too. I do want the harem. But I will never play favorites. I am like you in wanting to build your partner up. But there is no chance of that here for either of us with the other. And even had you or Sona attempted to reincarnate me here. It would have failed. No one can do that here. Not even the Satans. I like being human. I like being the person I am."

Rias understands. There is no chance here for them. That he cannot be reincarnated was very shocking. How was he able to do that? Rias asked that.

"I also have a gene that makes me what is called a perpetual. I cannot physically ever pass on. I am stuck here till the universe dies. It is a blessing and a curse. I heal fast. I can lose a limb and have it back in a few hours. I can get my head cut from my body and then have that regenerate back. I can be a corpse for about a minute before I return. The evil piece system here kills you for a brief second before it restarts your heart again. It cannot do that with me. I am just here. I am a true immortal. It is why Sona, and the others will never be left behind. I will be the one eventually left behind."

Rias gasped. That was horrible. To never truly die. That was a fate that non should have. Rias pities Issei more now. He is stuck here.

"I am sorry. That is horrible. You must not be happy with that."

Issei shrugged again.

"I made my peace with it long ago. I have others who are like me too. We have our own club. It will be open to everyone who has the gene. We will also police ourselves if we ever have a perpetual who is a massive asshole. I know of several ways to keep perpetuals in a near catatonic state. They would never ever pass. But it is a solution."

Rias still feels horrible for him. But sees that he is truthful. She instead asks a few more questions.

"Where do you draw your power from? And why did I feel sick near your fire? During the game."

"Same answer there. It is from a dimension known as the warp. The warp is unreality. It causes people to feel unease in many different ways."

That led to a discussion about the concepts of the dimension. Rias could now see why Sona fed her greed with knowledge. It was very satisfying to know things that others did not. That she was feeding her god. That he was from a different tree. That did not matter. He was an exceptionally good thing in her life. Issei understands that. Rias can see that the man hates the god. But he does not tell her she is stupid for believing. Rias does now wish she had this Issei. But it is not jealously. More of wanting her partner to be just as great as him. Issei sees the thought. He reassured her.

"He is here somewhere. I cannot see what he is. But you will be good for each other. I can tell you that he is a good man. Sorry I cannot tell you more."

To know that her potential other partner was a good man. That was hopefully. Rias realized something.

"That other man with you. That was Akeno's. Are they?"

Issei looks at something. Then he nodded.

"They have an eighty five percent chance of getting together. No ninety now. She just said something."

Akeno was clicking with the man she learned was named Akio. He was doing the same with her. Whatever they could have was very real. She had been shocked to learn about his nature. To not be able to die. That made her happy and sad for him. Happy because he was a regular human and that meant that they could be together for an exceptionally long time. Sad because he would eventually outlive her. But ten thousand years with a partner that understands you so utterly. They would be the best years of her life.

He was just as funny as the visions said he was. He was a snark. But that they both liked the aspects of the sheets they both longed for. Akeno could see herself extremely happy. Akio had been tense before coming here. He said he did important work for the Red Angel.

"I am like a police detective. Just with more power and responsibility. I have a problem at work that is not easy to fix. I do not know how we are going to do it."

Akeno wanted to help him. But she did not serve the Red Angel. But she wants to help make his life better. Like how he had inspired her to become better.

"I will help you. I want whatever this between us becomes. Tell me and I will see what I can do to help you. You my true other. The one who sees me. I will enter his and your service. I just want this so badly. You inspired me. I want to inspire you too."

Akio was struck by that. He wanted this too. He gently reached for Akeno's hand. She took it without hesitation. They truly would be good for one another. Akio had been lonely before becoming a perpetual. But now he would never hate the condition. She was his.

"I am a watchman against the night. I will never be able to be in the light. Not like the Red Angel. I will order and do terrible things that to some will have me vilified. But I want this too. Please be my candle in the night. We will have to take it slow. But I promise to always show you how much you mean to me."

Akeno takes the plunge. He wants her. She a fallen hybrid devil. Akeno was his forever. He is a true hero. He that needed her badly. Just as she needed him.

"I will join the watch with you. I am not of light either. But I want to be with you till the end. I will be yours. Take strength from me. Just how I did not knowing your name and or your face. Teach me what I must do."

They were overheard. Gasper feels his purpose. To serve something greater than oneself. To be a watcher against the night. His pendant warms in support. He takes the plunge himself. He says through the door loudly enough.

"I want to help to. I only heard the last part. I need to help against the night. I who was born from it. I am not brave like you two. But I want to stop evil. I want to never let what happened to me happen to others. Teach me too."

Gasper feels like he just made a mistake. He is about to turn away from the door when it opens, and Akeno comes and drags him into the room. Akio sees the cross dressing boy and sees the line. Akeno picks Gasper up before glopping him to her chest in a hug of support. Gasper feels like he did when he was held by his mom. He hates and fears his dad. But his mom had been one of two things that were good in his life before being here. He truly sees the very well hidden rosette. Gasper sees his now revealed path. To be a hero. To be an Inquisitor for the Red Angel. Like his new lord before him and Akeno. Akio looks at Gasper. And he sees the boy for the first time.

"Bravery comes in many forms. We will have it because we will do the things that must be done. Things that people will hate us for. But we are the Inquisition. And we must never cease in our watch. I would be honored to have you both as my acolytes. I will play to your strengths. Gasper. You can do backline work. You do not have to be on a battlefield with the noise and the war. Your battlefield will be one of computers where you find why something is misreported. Why we are missing a bullet or a farm tractor. You can be a hero."

Gasper wants to cry. Akeno pats his head. The head pats help. Gasper will be a man of shadows. But that is because he will bring light to darkness. He wants to serve.

Akeno loves her other more now. He was giving Gasper a purpose. One where it played to his strength. His knowledge of computers. Where he could be a neet. But Gasper shocked both with his bravery now.

"I want to fight in the battlefield of true war eventually. But only when I am truly ready. I swear my service to the Inquisition. And to Issei-senpai. He who I know will be Emperor of our world and many more. He that has the wings."

Akeno has her eyes widen. She puts the pieces together. Issei is the angel! He had been the one to fight with them on Saturday. But he had shown his true face there. He was the sun. They would each walk in his shadow. Akeno made her oath.

"I will serve as well. For him on Earth. Issei is a man we should all try to be more like. I know no fear. I am with him and you. Together to whatever end our path lays."

Those words seal the line.

"Then we will begin immediately. Gasper I will have a few of our computers brought to you today. I need help looking for a cross reference on a brand. That thing is evil. But it needs to be counted in hope that we can free the ones who have it. Akeno. When you get time, I will have you help me with interrogation work. We are beginning to get prisoners who have information. I want them plumped. But do not torture them unless we have absolutely no other choice or path."

Akeno nodded. She could do that. But she lets loose a smile that promises so much more. To her other. He shivered pleasantly. Gasper does not see the actions and is just bouncing in extreme excitement.

"I will help you Inquisitor-senpai! I have a large group of online friends. Maybe they know something."

"Please call me Akio. That is for both of you. We will get along well. I have one other acolyte and she is nice. Will just make you a bit uncomfortable for a second. Do not hold that against her. She is not doing it on purpose. I will introduce you to the other two Inquisitors. One is currently with us in our Ordo. But he will eventually be moving to the other major Ordo. That is headed by the other."

Gasper asked the question.

"What's the other Ordo?"

Akio is quite before answering.

"The Ordo Xenos."

Koneko is holding her brother so close to her chest. The baby is gurgling happily. His eyes are white like hers. He had smelled the family scent on her. He knows she is here now. The nekoshou is ready to embarrass and love her brother forever. Koneko asked the question.

"How was this possible? My sister and I are the only nekoshou left in the world. How is my brother here?"

The nekomata woman had smiled kindly at that.

"The little one is a clone. But he is completely different from you in terms of how he will be. You are looking at your races Adam. I am Veina by the way. I am the head of the nekoshou project. I volunteered to help this because I have always been fascinated by cloning. This will be my first of many legacies. I want to help return species to the world. Your sister gave us a hair. We decoded that one hair. We made him. But with my DNA and several others we can begin to fill in the gaps and eventually we can make new families so that we save your race. The next one is my first daughter. I cannot have kids. But the ones I make will be my babies."

Koneko let us lose tears. Her race is saved! Her sister had repented for her action of killing them by giving this team her DNA. This was an utter miracle. To have their race back. She looks at Veina. To know this woman had done this for her. Koneko wanted to hug the mother of the nekoshou and eventually more species. Veina had smiled in understanding. She extended her hand to her pseudo daughter. Koneko takes it.

"I will help too. Any DNA you want. It is yours. For my baby brother, and his future. I will never be able to repay you or the Red Angel."

Veina smiled.

"I would appreciate the help. But you have repaid him. You had faith in yourself. He knows that. You became stronger to help yourself and your king. It is a story that your brother will love to hear when he is older."

The baby gurgles at the words like he understands. Koneko burrows him into her small chest. He just continued to be adorable. Koneko puts the pieces together too. She looks to Issei and Rias. She will never fear the human again. He who had encouraged her to not be sadistic. He who had compliments her hard work. She wants him as her mate. A man like that was worth fighting for. Veina sees the look. She giggled.

"He has others already. But you're welcome to try. He is the type of man I would like too. But I am happily married to another. And I am not that way. But try if you want. He is the Emperor of humanity. I did not see it at first. But I understand now that my dream would not be possible without him. He changes everything he touches. We all who see his sun become better. He is the greatest man that will ever live. Would we all burn as brightly as him. We would have the impossible utopia."

The baby gurgles again as if in agreement with those words. Koneko knows now that she will fight for him. She wants a man like that. She will beat her sister! She will get the greatest man on earth as her own.

Kuroka sneezes. Someone is thinking of her! Her sneeze attracted Vali's attention. The white haired woman laughed. Kuroka had been doing that a lot recently. The rest of Team Vali joined in. They liked the nekoshou. Kuroka feels her secret pendant tells her that Shirone has forgiven her completely now. The black cat smiles and then begins to prepare for a mission. They were being sent by Ophis to a recently attacked base in Mongolia. The infinity dragon had said that she wanted actual eyewitness reports from in her own words.

"Competent eyes. The devils are lying. There are no such things as laser tanks."

An. Yay another done. Soul bonds Inquisition stuff and the nekoshou. Plus, a little look from team Valintina. Gasper being an Inquisition agent and then an Inquisitor eventually is funny to me. It makes my funny bone tickle. The soul bonds are a very off screen thing from now on. It is only going to happen to psykers who need the help very badly. Technically it is what happened kind of with Irina. A small piece is there. But not much. I like this tree's Ingvild. She is really nice. All the Empresses will have a part in the destruction of the evil pieces that those who want to be free will have. Koneko. I like the hell cat. She will try like Kunou to win Issei. They are both very up in the air. It is possible. But not certain. I will see where that leads.

The tree Rias saw. That one was pretty close to the first tree. It was a decent one. Issei was still the Oppai dragon. But he was getting better. Akeno there had to do something very weird to get that tree working again. It was actually not perverted. It was extremely sweet. It is why she became a hard favorite there. The nekoshou project. That was founded in 2010. Yasaka knew of Veina's dream and seconded her and her significant other to the project. They needed the two years to learn from Daliea how to be decent geneticists. I always felt bad for Koneko and Kuroka. This helps them. They can be more than just broodmares at the very end. Ophis is getting sick and tired of her bases being attacked by the Imperium. Thus, team Vali. They have a pov next chapter. They are not going to like the after battle. Ophis is still fifty/fifty.

Ann