He knew there was that whole thing about dragons attracting both those lusting for the strong and those interested in them, but, wasn't this going a bit beyond the freaking pale man?
'Well, it's been two whole weeks, I was bound for my luck to bite me in the ass again.' Kaito rolled his eyes.
The only solace he could take in this fact, was that he at least knew that Azazel, as annoying as being connected to him at all would be, there was little chance of him trying to stomp a mudhole in ass for whatever reason.
"What do you want?" Kaito got straight down to business, crossing his arms and pinning the man with all the annoyance he could muster behind his gaze.
"I could use some company, fishing is always better with a good conversationalist," Azazel grinned at him, "How about you come on down and join in with me? Fishing is real relaxing, would do a testy kid like you some good I think."
"Pass," Kaito snorted, "I'm already experienced when it comes to fishing, it's alright, but right now, I've got the gym to go to. So if you don't mind…?"
Well, technically, he hadn't experienced fishing at all. His other self had though. Growing up in Scotland, fishing was kind of a thing all young lads were expected to take part in and know their way around. It was like a right of passage and you couldn't be considered a man until you were passable.
In return, Azazel rolled his eyes, "What is with you dragon boys and your obsession with training?" he griped.
"Out of the people with dragon powers I know, I'm the outlier actually, the other two need a kick up their asses." Kaito spat to the side in disgust. Those two were scrawny as all fuck. They were like twigs when it came to musculature. Though suckling-simp was at least in better shape than pervert-loser.
If they didn't have their Sacred Gears, they wouldn't stand out at all though.
"The Vritra kid and the Red Dragon Emperor, eh?" Azazel nodded, and Kaito had to resist the urge to click his tongue.
That just revealed Azazel was keeping tabs on things more than he realised, "True, they're not all that impressive right now, but I'm interested in seeing how the attitude of the Welsh Dragon of this generation influences his growth, he's a lot different from the typical person with the Boosted Gear."
"Prepare to be disappointed," Kaito couldn't stop himself from commenting, "He's a useless loser that will never amount to anything on his own and any power he obtains will come from outside sources being gifted to him."
"Ooh, do I sense a smidgen of jealousy?" Azazel raised an eyebrow at him, "I mean, I don't really blame you. Compared to the Boosted Gear, a Twice Critical is kinda weak, even two of them."
He was only jokingly goading him. Kaito knew that. That was just the way this guy was, all playful and shit.
"Even if he could use Balance Breaker, which he can't and won't be able to for a long ass time considering how trash he is…" Kaito snarled instinctively, his pride flaring, "I would rip his head off and punt it to the moon without him having any chance of stopping me."
Azazel just laughed, "Well, consider that nerve touched."
"I don't like him," Kaito bit out, still, it occurred to him, this guy just revealed to him he knew of both of Kaito's Sacred Gears, "The Boosted Gear is all that clown has, he's nothing without it. He's not smart, he's not athletic, he's not good looking, he isn't loaded, and he has no drive to improve himself beyond tits. He's an all around loser that nobody would even look at without his Sacred Gear or the fact he deserves to be locked up."
That didn't change him from laying out his full opinion on Issei, or at least most of it at. Because he couldn't exactly rant about stuff that hadn't happened yet.
"Well, I'm sure you know him better than me, though do be sure not to let personal bias get in the way too much kid, it could really bite you in the ass in the future," Azazel shrugged, "So how about we bench that for now and we can talk about something more interesting, like you."
"Pass," Kaito rolled his eyes, putting his distaste for that utter clown to the side for the moment, "There's literally no reason for me to waste my time here, I've got the gym to get to like I said. The less I need to deal with you idiots bothering me, the less stressful my life is."
"Eesh, it's no wonder you got a dragon-type Sacred Gear, you've got such a dragon attitude kid, so anti-social," Azazel winced, "I could make it worth your while I suppose?"
Kaito was about to tell him to stuff it up his ass, before his words fully registered, "Make it worth my while, how?" he asked, "As in, pay me?"
"Sure, if that's what you want kid, I'm not exactly lacking in the cash department," Azazel rolled his eyes, before wincing, "Dang, what is with kids these days? Back in my day if a human kid saw me they'd get on their knees and worship me."
"You mean back when we were still swinging from trees and grunting as a form of language?" Kaito sniped at him as he then made his way down the hill to make his way over to the leader of the Grigori.
"Oi, oi, oi I ain't that old." Azazel protested.
"Whatever gramps," Kaito smirked, "So, before we get to this, let's settle on that payment or else I'm walking. And what you want to know about or want from me will determine the price."
Though, since he seemed to know so much about the perverted clown and the simpy-slurper, it was pretty obvious what he really wanted to talk about.
"Dragon kids sure are disrespectful man, why do I always get caught up with the type," Azazel pouted, "Though I'm pretty sure that you have a good idea what I want to talk about."
"Satanael?" Kaito raised an eyebrow at him.
"Bingo," Azazel nodded, "Though not only him, I've been curious about you ever since I caught sight of you and saw you had two Twice Critical, was wondering if you wouldn't mind telling me what that's about as well."
…Not Arondight?
Well, whatever, "That's fine," Kaito shrugged, interesting though the way he worded that implied he hadn't noticed Kaito until recently, "The real question is, what will you pay me for that information?"
Azazel sighed and rolled his eyes, "What do you want for it?" he asked.
"What do you have to offer?" Kaito smirked at him, "I mean, you said you're loaded and if Satanael's words are anything to go by, you've got tons of interesting things in your possession like Sacred Gears."
"Keh, that guy was always a blabbermouth, always boasting about something," Azazel rolled his eyes, before giving him an interested look, "You want to go for a third Sacred Gear? Not gonna lie, that would be interesting to see how it would interact with your original two."
Maybe. But, he was just thinking for the future. He wasn't really in need of another Sacred Gear himself, but what if he got it for someone else?
Hmm…maybe he could…?
"Alright, you can pay me twice, once for each explanation, or I'm walking." Kaito decided to risk it.
"So greedy!" Azazel whined.
But he didn't say no.
Right…how much was a good amount?
Hmm….
"Twenty million yen and a Sacred Gear." Kaito decided on after a moment of thought. If he wasn't wrong, that would be a bit over one hundred thousand pounds if exchanged and double that in dollars.
It was a lot to ask for, and he actually found himself swallowing heavily at the sheer amount he asked for. But, it was a trick he'd learned from bargaining and pawning things he'd got a hold of for extra cash. Start at a higher price and make them bargain for lower, don't let them control the-
"Done! No take backs!" Azazel agreed instantly making Kaito's eyes widen in shock, "Phew, I thought you were gonna ask for some crazy amount with how greedy you were acting, but you're a reasonable kid after all I see."
….Wait, what?….That wasn't a crazy amount? He seemed prepared to have paid even more than that?
'Did I just bumble the fuck out of that?' Kaito thought blankly.
"So the exact money taken care of, what kinda Sacred Gear you want?" Azazel mused, "Though sorry to burst your bubble if you were thinking of it, I don't have any Longinus just kicking around, I mean, if only right? And even if I did I wouldn't exactly just give one away to someone not really affiliated with me y'know?"
Kaito released a deep breath, 'Whatever, no point being down on it, twenty million is literally a hundred times my savings.' he consoled himself.
More even, his savings on the side had been a bit over two hundred thousand yen and dropped below over the past two weeks.
Actually, now that he thought about it, it made him super excited, and he wanted to get right down to business, "You can transfer the cash to me through mobile banking, assuming you know how to work an app like that gramps," Kaito was all grins now, "As for the Sacred Gear, what've you got?"
"Hey, hey, hey, now the old jokes are beginning to hurt me kid," Azazel pouted at him again before shrugging, "And as far as Sacred Gears go, I've got a ton that I've collected over the years to study. You want another Twice Critical? I've got a few of those."
"I'm good, I don't really need one for myself, I'm pretty happy with my own actually," Kaito denied. He hadn't even reached Balance Breaker with one of them yet, never mind both, he didn't need to add a third to focus on, "I'm more thinking of one to help out a friend of mine."
Where would he even wear the third one? Would he have to dismiss one after using it and summon the other? That would be stupid.
Sacred Gears he knew, didn't just provide a combat benefit. But, they enhanced the potential of their users. It was why he now knew, that he'd been able to go beyond human limits with his physical abilities even before transforming his organs into that of a dragons.
"For the holy sword girl living with you?" Azazel wondered.
….
"Don't spy on my house you creep, this is why I don't like you weirdo's, you never give me fucking any privacy," Kaito huffed, "And yes, more or less. Assuming I don't end up with some other girl living with me that needs it more."
…God fucking forbid.
He could give it to Yanagi he supposed, but then her having one would just paint a target on her back.
"Hey, don't knock the harem life till ya' try it kid, it's fun times, I've had a bunch over the years," Azazel laughed, not even apologising or making an excuse for his voyeuristic tendencies, "You should totally sleep with that holy sword girl, she has some real big bazoongers on her and quite the badonkadonk if you know what I'm saying."
"I will kill you and eat your intestines if you talk about Irina like that again dipshit." Kaito threatened blankly.
"Oops, looks like I woke the dragon again," Azazel just laughed, "Though gotta admit, that's a new one. Nobody's ever threatened to eat my intestines before."
"I'll eat them before I kill you I think, and make you watch." Kaito added, staring him in the eye.
He wasn't even kidding, that the was the thing. It was the first threat that popped into his mind, but he'd do it.
"How scary~" Azazel swooned mockingly, before sobering, "Alright, alright, I'll watch my boundaries with your little holy side piece. As far as Sacred Gears go for her though, I've got a few that could fit."
He started ticking off fingers, "Could give a Twice Critical like your own, or maybe something more interesting than a repeat like that, gotta keep your individuality and all right?" the mustard stained Fallen Angel mused, "Could go with Sturdy Saint that would make her more durable. Or one of the Starring bows, if she combined it with her Excalibur Mimic she could do a lot with it, it is Angel Light after all and adding her Holy Power would amp the shit out of it. Oh, hey maybe Trick Vanish? That one can be a real good equalizer against strong folks that have few abilities, actually, you should watch out for one of those, that would screw over your whole boosting thing pretty bad, actually now that I think about, would it only effect one of your Twice Critical's and still leave the other one free to boost you? Something to test out in the future don't you think? I mean-"
The governor of the Grigori had just went off into his own world and started babbling at this point as he wondered about the effect Trick Vanish would have on someone who had multiple of the same Sacred Gear like his own.
Kaito stared at him blankly as he rambled, before snapping his fingers, "What about your own ones?" he asked, directing the conversation again, "Satanael said you had made your own artificial Sacred Gars, though he did say they were trash compared to his own."
That was of course a lie. But, it wasn't like Satanael was around to disprove him.
Azazel blinked before his face screwed up in affront, "Why that little punk!" he growled, "He wishes his crappy little rinky dinky things even came close to mine! I had to clean up his mistakes and stabilize the ones in some of the kids he left behind with em!"
"I mean, he had this big plan he was happy to share with me about making his own super special overpowered Longinus," Kaito shrugged, "What have you got that compares."
"Plan, pssh! I have plans for ones like that as well, doesn't mean they'll work out, though I do have one on par with a Longinus thank you very much, he was just jealous," Azazel literally tutted with an exasperated roll of his eyes, "As far as mine goes, not many would match your holy girl…well one maybe."
"Just one?" Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, compatibility is important kid, especially with fighting styles," Azazel waved him off, "It's called Procellarum Phantom. It's a pretty simple Sacred Gear actually, I based it on the Twice Critical now that I bring it up. But, instead of having it enhance everything, I had the enhancement focus on a specific area. In this case, the legs. It boosts the leg strength of the user ten times over, this means ten times as durable, ten times as strong when kicking and the like and the real big baddie, a ten times increase in movement speed when it comes to running."
That…was actually a very useful sounding Sacred Gear, and that wasn't taking into account its possible Balance Breaker form. But-
"Procellarum, seriously?" Kaito asked, deadpan, "Could you pick a more convoluted name."
"Hey, that name is cool!" Azazel counted, "I based it on that old story of that rabbit that jumps over the moon and you know the Procellarum is that big dark spot on the surface of the-"
"The moon, I know, I'm not an idiot," Kaito rolled his eyes, "But seriously, tell me you're a chuuni without telling me you're a chuuni man. That's just sad."
"….Why you gotta be so hurtful kid." Azazel slumped in his chair and moped.
Hmm…
Honestly, despite the stupid name of it, that was a really powerful Sacred Gear. Not exactly a Longinus, but it was still amazing. And really, those other ones he brought up weren't anything to sneeze at either.
But, there was one Sacred Gear he'd love to get his hands on or have someone close to him have. Because increased combat power was all well and good, but this one thing he really lacked.
"What about Twilight Healing?" Kaito asked, "Do you have one of those?"
"Nope," Azazel shrugged and dashed his hopes immediately, "Those are one of the rarest Sacred Gears outside of Longinus, pretty sure pops only made two of em and the only one I know with em' right now just got reincarnated as a devil."
Well….there went that idea. And of course the only healing sacred gear he knew of, that was super rare, almost as rare as a Longinus apparently, would end up with that perverted clown.
Maybe that idiot was so lack luster in everything, because all of his potential, looks and intelligence got dumped into his luck.
Well, he supposed there was nothing to be disappointed about considering he was still being offered a choice from a bunch of Sacred Gears regardless.
"I'll take the one you made then." Kaito decided. Weighing the pros and cons, the sheer speed increase from it, if he gave it to Irina, would be amazing. During the fight with Satanael, she was just as fast, if not faster than him even with his magatama, Touki and twin boosts enhancing him
And honestly, the speed increase would be incredibly helpful assuming they ever ran into something they didn't stand a chance against and running away was their only option.
"Oh?" Azazel grinned, "That's fine with me, actually I'm glad even. Any chance I can get you to let me test her out with it after she's got used to it then?"
There he went assuming he'd give it to Irina again. Though, it was the most obvious choice for sure and the one he was leaning to. But she'd still have to accept it.
"Sure," Kaito agreed, before smirking, evilly, "But Irina's time is precious, she bakes my protein cakes after all. You'll have to make it worth our time."
"Eesh, what a money grubber!" Azazel grumbled, but didn't say no.
….Hey now that he thought about it. Swindling money for doing shit for these supernatural twits sure would be lucrative for him, wouldn't it?
"Whatever, we can come back to this later," Azazel sighed, "Instead, let's get the serious business out of the way. You're the one who killed Satanael right? What happened there?"
If the fact he didn't contend his words about Satanael insulting his artificial Sacred Gears wasn't proof enough that Azazel hadn't been watching the fight, then this did.
"I mean, it was pretty straight forward," Kaito shrugged, "I went full go from the start and rushed him alongside Irina, took him by surprise with how weakened he was and tossed him around a bit, then he pulled Arondight out of his ass and decided to copy the flames in his wound and try and take us out."
"Oh, so he copied Tobio's flames huh? That was a smart move." Azazel mused, stroking his chin.
And name dropping the holder of Canis Lykaon so casually. Was he expecting Kaito to react to it?
Well, no matter, "He did almost kill me then if not for Irina blocking him, though we still got hit pretty bad in the process," he continued, "That was when he started boasting at first and let it drop that God is dead just to rub it in a little more to Irina."
That made Azazel wince, "I figured he'd done something like that considering the girl stuck around and nobody has come for those swords you two have yet, still, dick move man," he shook his head, "Poor girl, though not that I can really blame Michael too much, the system pops left behind is already bugging out and faith is important to it, they can't let any potential risks hang around."
"It's still a stupid move." Kaito snorted.
"Not denying it, but I'd take stupid over everything failing, might have been the tiniest possible risk at all she'd spread it, but the it was there." Azazel shrugged.
"Whatever," Kaito shrugged back, "Either way, while he was doing that I decided to turn my organs into that of a dragons with the energy in my Twice Critical an-"
"Wait, wait, wait, you did what?" Azazel stopped him right there, "Like I know that's possible and all, but usually a dragon would have to do it for you, I mean the Evil Piece system the devils have was based on this ability of the dragons you know, but there ain't any dragons in the Twice Critical's, I know, I've checked, pops only crafted them from the flesh of the Red Dragon Emperor after we all teamed up to beat him and the Vanishing Dragon."
"You all?" Kaito raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah, those two were crazy man," Azazel literally shivered, "I'm telling you. Me, all my boys, Baraqiel, Kokabiel, Satanael, the works. The four original Satans, the four new ones, Michael, Gabriel, hell all of the Arch Angels, tens of thousands of our united troops and even Pops himself. Bringing those two crazy dragons down was a horror show for sure and they decimated our armies."
…Fucking hell. He knew Ddraig and Albion were stupid powerful, but he hadn't realised it had taken all of those powerhouses to bring them down.
He took a second to digest it, before continuing from where he left off, "Anyway, there ain't a dragon in them, but there is energy left over from the Welsh Dragon," Kaito explained, "I'd already discovered it a while back but didn't really want to go through with it for a while, but Satanael forced me to. So I got a power up, which was multiplied because of the Twice Critical's and it was enough for me to kick his ass and overwhelm him."
"Hmm, I suppose that's possible," Azazel nodded, "Checks out at least."
"Yeah well anyway, just as I was about to kill him, he decided fuck it all and stopped using his light to stop the flames hurting him and decided to take me out with him," Kaito continued, deciding not to mention the Evil Pieces, "Luckily, I'd made him drop Arondight when I was beating his ass like he owed me money, so I grabbed it, managed to take him by surprise and stab him through the heart with it and kill him."
"Hmm…." Azazel stared at him seriously, and for a moment Kaito thought he may have been about to call out his withheld information, "…Well that was anti-climactic. Damn, Satanael didn't go out with a bang but a wimper huh? Poor guy, that probably stung that ego of his something fierce."
In return, Kaito shrugged.
"Well, it was going to happen either way, kind of funny though he got taken out by a kid with such a common Sacred Gear though considering his ambition and all," Azazel chuckled lightly before sighing and sobering, "What about his body? I couldn't find it when I checked out the place you fought, did you destroy it?"
In reply, Kaito held up his left hand and summoned his second Twice Critical, "I stored it in here," he replied, "You want it back?" it wasn't like he needed it, but he might be able to get a decent other payment for handing it-
"Actually, you should keep it in there." Azazel cut him off, a gleam in his eyes.
"…Why?" Kaito couldn't help but ask, giving the man a blank stare. The only reason he hadn't gotten rid of the corpse already, was because regardless of him being dead it, it might have been worth a pretty penny to someone.
"Hmm, did you know that adding outside sources of power to a Sacred Gear can make them evolve and change?" Azazel informed, "You said there was energy from the Welsh Dragon in those Twice Critical's right? Why not feed that corpse to the energy in one of them and see what happens?"
He did know about that actually. It was just….it was too stupidly convenient to work that easily so he figured he was missing something.
"If it was that easy, Sacred Gears would evolve all the time." Kaito replied dryly.
"Well sure, it depends on the Sacred Gear itself and the user," Azazel pointed out, "Like not to brag kid, but when we winged type folk made by pops hit ten wings, we get pretty damn strong. Ultimate-Class strong actually, and Twice Critical are nowhere near that level alone. With that kind of power difference, it should be well enough to trigger an evolution into a Sub-Species for you at the very least. It's not exactly something that most can get their hands on all that easily, Ultimate-class is kind of a big deal."
…Huh.
"I'll look into it later." Kaito replied.
Preferably back in his home, after Irina had reinforced the barrier she had put around his home with her holy power so nobody could feel what was going on inside.
"Boo, do it now kid, don't be lame!" Azazel in return, heckled him, "It's the least you could do since I told you about it and let you keep Satanael's corpse, he is my brother ya' know!"
"And you're so broke up about it." Kaito rolled his eyes.
"I'll have you know I was really sad when I found out you killed my poor little brother," Azazel huffed, "I even a shed a tear."
This guy was such a ham. Was this guy the original troll or something?
But, if he thought about it logically. Attempting something like this, would be better done under the supervision of Azazel right? Since he was y'know the big expert on Sacred Gears.
"Fine," Kaito rolled his eyes, "But put up a barrier or something would you? I don't want the devils sensing it and bothering me even more."
Azazel gave him a weird look, "Kid…I put up a barrier ages ago, why do you think nobody has been around but us?" he replied, "Hell, I thought you wandered over this way because you saw the barrier."
Kaito froze.
Azazel grinned, "Wait, are you telling me you didn't notice? How could you not sense something so blatant while inside it?" he began laughing, "Your sensing abilities suck kid!"
"Eat shit." Kaito replied in a very mature fashion.
Instead of waiting for the leader of the Fallen Angel's reply, Kaito focused on the Twice Critical on his left hand and within just a few seconds, his consciousness retreated from the physical world into the core of his being.
His soul.
He appeared in a familiar void, twin dragons of energy lazily flying through the sky above him.
…Actually could it even be considered a sky, since it was just…upwards in his soul?
Questions for later. He didn't know jack about this screwy soul shit right now after all.
He focused on the energy dragon that was part of his second Twice Critical and willed it to land.
It stopped in its tracks and did just that, flying straight down to land before him. And while it did, Kaito focused on the storage space of his newest Sacred Gear and what he wanted.
The naked corpse of Satanael appeared at his feet, handsome even in death.
And totally butt naked. Well, bar a pair of designer Egyptian silk boxers. The only piece of clothing Kaito hadn't yoinked off of him for himself.
"Eat." Kaito commanded simply.
The dragon of crimson red energy rose up, its maw opening wide as it bent over and promptly swallowed the Cadre's corpse.
It was kind of bizarre to watch as the energy dragon swallowed Satanael whole. yet, because it was energy and partially see through, he was could literally see as Satanael slipped inside it and slithered down in the bottom of its stomach area.
…And just hung there, suspended in the energy.
He stared at it for a few seconds.
Nothing happened.
"Fucking Azazel, he's full of shit." Kaito scoffed, rolling his eyes.
And then the corpse erupted into a bright blinding light and Kaito had to hastily turn away to shield his eyes.
The last Kaito saw of it, was the light expanding inside the energy dragon, moulding into it and both swelling upwards and outwards.
His eyes stayed closed for a few seconds, and he could feel…something running through him.
When he finally did open his eyes. It was to find the corpse and energy dragon completely gone. Only one remained. flying lazily through the sky.
"…What the fuck." Kaito uttered blankly, absently bringing up his left hand to run it through his hair.
Only to pause when he saw the bare skin of his arm.
His gauntlet was gone.
His eyes widened, "What the fuck where is-" he spun around in a bit of a panic, only to feel something on his back as he did. He looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened at what he saw.
Huge metallic black and gold wings stood proudly erupting from his back.
And so we return with chapter 10...yay?
Kaito runs into Azazel and is just so...so done. At the very least, he got the chance to take advantage of Azazel so good for him I guess? He got some money, got a boost and even got something for Irina, worth the annoyance I'd say. And thanks to those armani boxers Satanael wore, the sacred gear evolved good for him! Anyway up to chapter 16 on the Pa-atreon if you wanna read ahead.
Anyway, shameless Pa-atreon plug. I've got one, go by the same username on there, easy to find and all that jazz. Support me if you want, it'd be swell, but don't feel pressured lads and ladies, I'll be uploading my stuff outside it regardless and not keeping it all behind a paywall or anything like that.