I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
While Ddraig's team continued on its way to Ra, the remaining Alliance members were working on the new city and Earth. Youkais and many other small communities left Earth as the prospect of a new city to settle became attractive.
Even church members joined the efforts as the gate of Shangri La was packed with new residents and their families. They brought everything from their personal items, cattle, and everything they owned to the city.
Those who were allowed inside Shangri La worked with the authorities to find places in which to settle. Every construction effort was moving at an impressive pace from business to homes as the devils and other construction crews worked day and night to achieve the dates agreed on.
The view of houses and businesses being fully built in less than two weeks could be considered insane for humans' expectations. Still, for the supernatural world, it was tedious but not impossible.
Our story continues in the streets of such a city as Tosca, Isaiah, and Tressa walk around as they check the streets of the Alliance's new capital. The badger led the children around as its nose was drawn to the different scents around the stands and businesses.
"This place is quite amazing. When you told me that your mom would make a city, I didn't imagine something like this or with so many races together." Isaiah admitted as he advanced through the streets with his friend. The boy had grown accustomed to wearing Japanese clothes, as he was always seen wearing a Yukata or something similar to his tutor.
Today was no different as he wore a black Yukata with golden petals.
"I told you it was going to be big. This place will be our home away from Earth from now on. I can't wait to see what new restaurants and businesses we'll get to visit once everything settles down." Tosca had a cheerful expression as she spoke. The girl felt proud of what her mother had created. It was beyond what she had dreamed about, and now that it was a reality, she couldn't wait to visit every corner of this city, which was enclosed by crystals. She wore white and green attire, including a white skirt, shirt, jacket, and boots. The influence of Tiamat was visible even from far away.
"Since your mother is the principal ruler of this city, should I start calling you "your Majesty" or maybe "Princess Tosca?" Either one works for me." Isaiah joked as he saw the glint in her face.
Tosca playfully punches him. "Never. I'm no princess. Mom might be the True Dragon king, but the old man is not called queen by anyone, so I shouldn't be called princess either. Dragons don't do titles like that."
Isaiah smirks. "Someone has become deeply attached to their new life as a dragon."
"So do you with your life as a devil, Mr. I must master the blade and barely visit my best friend."
Isaiah scratches his head with an apologetic expression. "I'm truly sorry. Master and I have been busy with my training. There's barely time for me to relax since Ms. Manami teaches me other things like cooking and etiquette."
"She's your mom now, so she wants you to be ready for the future. There will be a time when you join Rias and Koneko with barely any time to go back to visit them."
"I know, and I appreciate her. It feels different when I wake up and find a breakfast waiting for me when I get to wake up later than usual or a warm bath after each training session. I never dreamed of having a place to call home or parental figures." The boy admits.
"Neither did I, but fate gave us new lives beyond our human past. We are growing into things far from what we dreamed we would be, but I accept my current self. I'm happy with the present even if we had to lose some of us along the path."
Isaiah grows silent as he remembers their fellow orphans who didn't get to escape the institute. "All of us who survive found places to be welcome, thanks to them. Do you think that Pietro and the rest are watching us from up there in heaven?"
"Here in the underworld? No, the eyes of heaven don't reach here, or that's what I think, but up on Earth, they do. I never asked Gabriel about them, but they must be at peace knowing we survive thanks to their efforts. Is best to leave at that and not disturb their peace."
"The unspoken rule of not reaching out to the dead. I understand. Even if I were given the chance, I wouldn't. I know better than trying to break a taboo or using the angels as my personal messengers."
"Good. Some things are best left untouched. Anyways, what do you think about Shangri-La? Does it look like a place you'd like to call home?" The girl questions the devil.
"It looks exciting, but I'm not considering where I would like to live yet. When I'm old enough to work and gain the right to buy a house, you'll be the first one that I'll ask for help."
That last sentence makes Tosca smile. "So you will ask me for help to choose a home?"
"It's not like you'll let me hide from you. I bet if I made my house away from here and in secret, you'll track me down and burn it down to teach me a lesson." Isaiah jokes.
"Oh, you don't even know the beginning of it. With the help of Tressa, I will make sure nothing remains of that place. You have no right to hide from me. Isn't that right, Tressa?" The dragoness asks her pet.
The badger turns to her momentarily before she goes back to tracking the scent.
"She doesn't seem to agree with your choices," Isaiah says.
"She didn't say no either. I know she would have my back." Tosca puffs her cheeks as she looks away from Isaiah.
The young devil chuckles. "Come on. Don't be mad. Let's go and find somewhere to eat. I'm getting hungry, and I bet Tressa feels the same."
Tosca remains the same and doesn't look at him.
"Please, Tosca. I'll even pay this once, so cheer up."
"Really?" She turns to him as soon as he mentions this.
"You're one greedy dragon. Just don't drain my savings. My allowance is not that big."
"Mine neither, so I won't order too much food." She grabs his hand and starts to drag him to the closest restaurant.
Isaiah smiles as he sees his friend being so cheerful. "If things had been different, we wouldn't be here today. Thank you, Welsh Dragon." A life without Tosca would have been too hard for him to endure.
So he would continue to train and sharpen his blade until he could protect her from any danger that might come their way in the future.
Meanwhile, The White Rooted Palace. Tiamat's POV.
Before her eyes stood five piles of documents that needed her full attention; her office was located on the tallest tower of the main building. If she weren't so busy with paperwork, she would have been able to enjoy the view from her balcony, but Tiamat didn't possess such freedom at that moment.
"So many new residents and so many forms to approve. At least I'm not the only one taking care of all of this." Tiamat told herself as she remembered that in every office within the massive building was someone filling out forms while also helping give orders to the forces around the city.
Everyone was helping somehow, so the task wasn't as challenging as it could have been.
It was just another day ensuring the success of Shangri La and the advancement of the multiple projects of the Alliance.
Suddenly, a magic circle appeared next to Tiamat's ear. "Must be a call from him." The true dragon king touches the magic circle. "I'm all ears, Hephaestus."
"Sorry if I'm interrupting you. I'm calling to inform you that my forge is completely active now. I will start with the construction of the Inner Sanctuary by tomorrow. The team and the golems are ready to start." Hephaestus says.
"That's fantastic news. We need that sanctuary completed by the time Ereshkigal is back. She needs a safe area that's not easily reachable if we're to put the "Lazarus-1" project into motion. Despite its severe limitations, it would be one of our future secret assets."
"If we're to slay Trihexa, breaking a taboo or two will be necessary. We won't be the first to break such a taboo, but it is essential for the Alliance's survival against the beast. Besides that, I will help Raynare with her project. I never expected to work with Ddraig's heart as a material again. Dragon hearts are too special to be given away."
Tiamat sighs. "He did it because he trusted Raynare with it. He wouldn't have offered his heart if he didn't trust her, and she knows that choosing to use it means that she's taking responsibility for whatever happens afterward. If the "Fallen Flaming Diva" project succeeds, we will gain one more asset, and it would improve her other project for the ancient golems in storage."
"The old machines of war. Those dwarven fellows know how to create weapons of war. I'm amazed at the detail they put into each one. They made each one with attention, not a mass-produced creation but one that involved care with the details. If they had produced a million of those with the same quality, maybe Odin would have been victorious in the last war."
Tiamat smirks. "It is weird to hear the famous god of the forge praising the work of others."
"Blacksmiths should appreciate others' work and use them as an example to improve. I never made my golems to create weapons of mass destruction, but I can see places where I could improve my work by analyzing the work of the dwarfs. Perfection is impossible, but we can continue to improve even if it takes a long time. Anyways, how are you holding?"
"How am I holding with what?"
"Without having him here. It is day 27, give or take, with the difference in time between the realms—almost a whole month without our favorite dragon. I'm sure he misses you as much as you miss him."
"You already know the answer. I do miss my dearest, but this has to happen. I can't stop Ddraig from going into missions, but I can ask those alongside him to protect him. I know that Serafall and Gabriel will do anything to keep him safe."
Hephaestus chuckles. "You trust those two more than the rest? What about Yasaka or Baraqiel?"
Tiamat shakes her head. "The strongest connections are the ones that achieve the most. Regardless of who's the strongest, I know those two will put everything on the line to keep him safe. I'm not saying that the remainder of the team is weak or not up to the task, but Serafall and Gabriel are different. I can rest easy with them in the group because they will bring him back in one piece."
The god grows silent for a bit. "... You fear that something could happen while he's away?"
"His luck attracts problems even if he's not looking for them. Apophis could appear while he's over there, and knowing his luck, Apophis's father could be just around the corner. Two evil dragons for the price of one. If only we had been able to influence Crom Cruach's mind for the best."
"All of you seem to dislike Crom Cruach; why is that?"
"Because he's a damn coward that runs away when he's supposed to face his responsibility. He tends to blame his faults and mistakes on others while trying to avoid all responsibility. When we rescued him from his brainwashing mess and released his "children," we asked him what he would do with them. They were his clones, blood of his blood, and they needed guidance, but he ran away instead of taking charge. His children didn't hear any of us out and just went off to cause chaos in different realms. Crom knew he messed up, yet he didn't do anything. When Gaia needed him, he was nowhere to be found. And now, who knows where he is or what he is doing? I'm not one to point fingers, but he is the black sheep of our generation." Tiamat said with a bitter tone.
"... Seems like there's a lot of baggage amongst all of you. Do you think that it could ever change? I mean, Ddraig and Albion did make mistakes as well." Hephaestus says.
"Ddraig and Albion did mess up, but nothing like betraying one's own kin. Crom Cruach has never proved his trustworthiness to us; his actions and path have always been a mystery as he doesn't share his thoughts or beliefs. Those same reservations and mysteries are why Ddraig chose Albion as a rival and not him. He has been far too hard to approach since the very beginning."
"So you don't see a future in which he could join the Alliance?"
"I…. I don't know. It is likely impossible, and more than likely, Ddraig would slay him if he ever crosses paths with him. Ddraig killed him once; if necessary, he would do it again. Not even Vritra has gained such a bad stigma amongst all dragons from our generation. He set his place as the black sheep, and nobody is to blame but himself."
"I see, but still. Let's hope it doesn't end that way. Having another dragon as our ally would increase our strength regardless of the past. Even if the chance was near zero, we should still try recruiting him."
Tiamat sights. "I don't see it happening. Not even Tannin wants him around, especially after he tried to court Yukime."
Her words shock Hephaestus as the god raises his tone in surprise.
"Wait, he tried to court who? We're speaking about the same Yukime, right?"
"The same and only Yukime. Crom tried to court her into coming with him but ultimately went nowhere. It was for the best; Crom is not someone anyone should follow or trust. He's not what a groom should be, and he couldn't offer her what she looks for. Alongside him, she would have only experienced regret as he couldn't take charge of his first descendants, to begin with."
"Damn, this is not what I expected when I met her. The legendary evil dragon and the youngest of Tannin is something I couldn't imagine myself if I had tried. Maybe it is fate that keeps putting dragons on her path. From Crom to Ddraig, do you think it will go somewhere? Or will she move on to new lands?"
"Yukime and Ddraig? Totally. She likes him, and he's not falling for her traps, so it's just a matter of time. She's playing the long game, and at some point, she'll stop before she faces him. She'll be the one to ask him out." Tiamat says with a cheerful expression.
"You seem sure about it, so I must expect his order for another ring. From making weapons and armor to creating proposal rings, my life has taken a complete turn for the better." The god chuckles as he imagines Ddraig putting the order for another ring.
"Hey, you shouldn't be telling me about that. Don't you want to protect his plans? The trust between client and blacksmith seems weak to me."
"I want to, but I fear that Serafall will come asking questions again if I try to hide anything. She came by my residence the day after Ddraig asked me to help forge a ring for her. I know our conversation had no filtration, but somehow she knew. Did she place a spell on him? Or is it some weird ability of devils? Maybe it is a spy network that I don't know about. Should I worry about his safety?" The god asks with concern.
Tiamat grins. "I promised to stay quiet about that, so I can't help you with it. Secrets between sisters."
"You are enjoying this way too much. Maybe it is what you want. A whole crew of females who can keep Ddraig in check. Females are scary."
"Is a give and take. He can have many lovers, and I get to have sisters I can trust to keep him within our grasp. Our small family will continue to grow, and with it, we'll face any challenges that could await us in the future. I know that he won't bring any untruthful outsiders in." Tiamat said as she imagined their home filled with their children and an army of "sisters" that could bring the Welsh Dragon under control.
It was a dark future that awaited the dragon.
"... May Gaia bless my friend's souls. He just dug his own grave." The god said as he feared the future of the Welsh Dragon.
"A grave full of love." Tiamat jokes.
The pair continue like this for another 30 minutes until they continue on with their tasks.
In a different part of Shangri-La. General POV.
The second residence had been fully accommodated for the family. Maids and butlers sent by Grayfia walked around as they took care of the daily tasks, although the place wouldn't be used regularly, at least for some time.
Everyone had chosen their rooms, from the kids to the adults. The kids had brought some personal items to these rooms but remained mostly untouched as none had taken the chance to stay for a night yet. The adults' rooms were the same, but one particular "girl" within the group had taken an opportunity to get accustomed to this new residence.
Ophis walked amongst the halls of the white wooden building while ignoring the servants who bowed to her so as not to gain her anger. A purple set of pajamas adorned her body as she walked through the halls. While the others had yet to stay for a night in their new home, Ophis had enjoyed the place to herself. As she continued to make her way to the kitchen, her hands touched the wooden walls, which seemed unusually soft yet hard.
"Curious choice for a home. Did she take inspiration from materials found outside of Earth? Maybe I should have visited that realm to see if it feels like this." The Ouroboros dragon would never admit it, but she did enjoy the taste of Tiamat concerning home choices.
The first residence felt modern yet welcoming to anyone arriving at the doorstep. Meanwhile, this second residence felt much closer to nature as technology was mainly replaced by supernatural inventions such as crystals for light bulbs or standard doors by live ones, which would arise from the floor as a mass of roots.
The home felt alive but not unwelcoming. It was different from anything Ophis had ever experienced, but it wasn't as if she could have a say when she had been wandering for most of her life without a place to call her own.
"Makes me even feel…. No, I need to return to my real home. All of this is just temporary. It will have an end. I will return to the void, and everyone else will continue with their lives. There's no place for me in here."
Her mind and heart were still attached to returning to her place of origin. The place was devoid of objects, light, oxygen, and, above everything else, connections, yet she believed it was a place she belonged to. A place in which she could return to what it was before she began this extended quest.
Away from the chaos.
Away from the wars.
Away from the worst experiences she had lived through.
... Away from the Welsh Dragon and everything he had helped her to enjoy.
"... Will I be able to let go of these emotions once I return to the void?" It was true that Ophis had not enjoyed most of her years alongside the gods and their creations, but things had changed since she approached the Welsh Dragon.
A room to call her own and where her precious items remained untouched.
Meals to satiate her hunger.
A bath to wash away the dirt.
Fresh clothes to wear every day.
Games, books, and an array of things to pass the time.
All of it was due to choosing the Welsh Dragon as her so-called sword. She had to admit it; she was no fighter. Ddraig was always right about her, but he was different. Every time he joined the battlefield, Ophis could see the drive that he possessed. He had the spirit of a true fighter who put everything on the line, no matter who he was facing.
It gave her chills sometimes as she imagined what he would have done if he had no sense of control or a moral compass, but thankfully, he had one. Ddraig and Issei had shown her the softer parts of the dragon. The care and close attention that the dragon paid to those he called his family had left a deep impression on her, and his friendly attitude with her made her feel at ease.
It made her feel like she could trust him with everything, including her life, but she had not forgotten her goal. She couldn't stay with them even if she felt joy alongside the Welsh Dragon and the others.
"This is not my home. I don't belong here. I don't have a place outside the void."
It was too early for her to realize the truth, but one day, she would see the light. For now, she continued to walk in silence.
When she finally arrived at the kitchen, she was surprised to see Raynare.
"Good to see that you're awake, Ms. Ophis. The servants told me you have been relatively silent besides asking for food. How are you enjoying the mansion?" The fallen angel asked as she prepared a meal for the Ouroboros dragon.
"... You came here to check on me?" Ophis asks as she evades the question. The dragon takes a seat in the breakfast nook near a window.
"My lord did ask me to keep an eye on you while he was away. I was somewhat surprised to know that you came here on your own. We have yet to stay for the night, but here you are, all alone besides the servants. Does solitude call out to you, or are you missing my lord?"
"... I decline to answer the question."
"Very well. Nobody will force you to do something against your will, but taking a shower and visiting your friends will do you good. Sona and Tsubaki are a fantastic pair that truly appreciate you, so don't leave them waiting. My lord wants you to enjoy your time as much as possible, and being secluded won't be good for long. He said that he would return as soon as the mission is over and play with you as much as you want."
"... He should stop treating me like a child."
Raynare shakes her head. "He knows you're no child but still wants you to enjoy good experiences and to make lasting memories. You gave him a task, and it will take time, but until then, he will continue to try to make the wait bearable for you. He cares for you, and that will never change, so let your guard down and allow yourself to explore what's out there."
Ophis remains silent as she reflects after hearing such words. After a few moments, she sights. "I guess I have been rather careless not to visit them. After breakfast, I promise I will shower and go to the Sitri residence. Happy?"
Raynare smiles. "Good choice. I'll let the maids know that you will come back later today. Will you have dinner with Sona and Tsubaki?"
"Most likely. They do tend to invite me for the full course." Ophis admits.
"In any case, I'll prepare something and leave it in the fridge if you feel hungry," Raynare said as she continued to cook.
Ophis remained silent as her nose was drawn to the delicious scent of what the head maid was preparing. If there was a thing she enjoyed about her current living situation, the food was always great.
*Metal Gear Solid V OST- Quiet's Theme (Instrumental)*
She could barely hold a smile back as she looked through the open window and towards the sky above. The fresh air inside allows her to feel at ease as she closes her eyes. "Making memories and good experiences? Is that what you hope for me, my sword?"
As her eyes opened, she imagined the Welsh Dragon smiling at her in the distance. His hand waved at her and welcomed her to come closer.
The first being that ever showed her kindness.
"I'll try, you fool, but you better stay safe. Your luck is not the best one."
Unknown to her, the luck of her sword was close to taking a turn for the worse.
Night 32.
Under a dark crimson sky filled with unknown warships and plagued with at least a million enemies, a dragon stood alone in the ruins of what had been a plaza, missing an eye as he pointed his sword and spear at his enemies.
A blazing crimson halo floated on his back as his anger reached the limit. The rosary hanging around his right arm might have given the impression that he was merciful, but reality was far from it at that moment. There was no mercy in his expression as he bared his sharp teeth.
No mercy for those who wronged him and hurt his allies.
There was not even a single drop of restraint as he spread his wings and pushed his power to the limit. To hell with any self-restraint, as he knew what had to be done.
"None of you will survive tonight. Every single one will pay for what you did, especially you, Crom Cruach!" The Welsh Dragon screamed as he summoned his own army of flaming soldiers.
Each one wielded a weapon, and none had to restrain themselves as the order was clear.
Total annihilation of the enemy forces; no prisoners would be taken tonight as their souls were enough for later.
While Ddraig powered up, another was in deep thought.
Standing on top of one of the battleships, a black-coated male with black and blond colored hair felt a sense of dread as he saw the crimson-armored dragon that pointed his weapons at them. "We meet again, Ddraig, but you feel too different from what I remember. What changed? Why do I feel scared of you?"
Fate had brought them to meet once more, and this time, it was bound to be even more gruesome as the Crescent Circle Dragon had crossed a line that shouldn't have been crossed.
Next chapters: Hunting the Eclipse Dragon, Those Who Came to Harvest, and Tears of Welsh.