Hollowreaper 93: Thank you very much! I am so glad you enjoyed it. I have plenty of picture ideas, it's just all about getting to each one lol.
Guest1: I see, unfortunately I've never heard of or seen the Owl Show lol.
xXWolfsterXx644: I hope the wait wasn't too long :D
DJDrake: Hahaha I am glad you agree with the path I took her since we only get glimpses in canon. Her annoyance strategy is surprisingly effective XD And thank you again!
ahsoei: A cat plague there too? XD Sorry but I've never heard of that particular series.
Optimus470: Relaxing chapters with development and hints for the future are among my favorites. Hecuba will have her rematch shortly, and who knows...maybe it will be Iggy who confesses first ;) She is getting bolder lol. Indeed, Euclid makes an appearance early, I always felt his introduction and departure in canon was very sudden considering he's Grayfia's brother. I hope you like my plans.
Lorenzo Macchiavelli: Very interesting takes on each aspect. I sent you a full reply Via PM. Though in their defense, they did work with those villains you mentioned like Loki and Kokabiel, but they had pretty extreme outlooks and were unflinching. I personally don't see how coexistence is impossible when it's implied ExE and DxD have been around for thousands of years with no issue not running into the other XD ExE seem to seek out the problem.
Okaze: A hundred chapters...never imagined I'd get this far when I started. Here's to a hundred and beyond! I used to try estimating how many chapters my story could get but it kept going up lol.
TheLycan2026: That really means a lot to hear my friend. Thank you so much! For that and for your input on side stories, I'll certainly work in more originals and maybe a canon retelling or two ;)
fanficcyberman: Not Azazel this time XD Just an incomplete piece mixed with an old god aura around the school no one expected. I am so glad you liked Ona's return, been planning it a while and was hoping it wasn't too out of nowhere with the hints of an assistant Ajuka had hired. And precisely, sure Dorian is the focus, but the other characters also drive the story, their tales will add to the overall plot just as much as his. And I am so touched and honored you've continued to enjoy my story all this time. I've been seeing your reviews for years and they never fail to warm my heart. You are so welcome, and thank you for as well. Happy New Year my friend!
strikerstriker315: Sorry XD I hope this new one helps alleviate that need for more. Your kind words mean a lot, thank you so much for that! Funny you mention that as he gets his first piece this chapter, though it may be a bit obvious...it's the start ;) Aika and the Kendo girls you say? I won't give a spoiler, but I will say I have had ideas for them though it may be a while before they become evident :D
Talking Pumpkin: That is always a plan, waiting for chapters so you can bypass the cliffhangers lol. That is one of the highest compliments a fanfic writer can receive, that you consider it an improvement to canon. From the bottom of my heart, thank you my friend :)
Gan315: Good morning! And never any need to apologize. I love seeing your reviews, but never see it as a requirement or need to hurry. You reading and enjoying it is what matters most. I sent a full reply to you via PM and would love to hear your concepts for DxD ideas. I do agree with you in regards to the villains. They often did have pretty simplistic goals due to being often Volume-specific and then never showing up again. I won't spoil the latest volume for anyone who hasn't read it...but yea Great Red was done dirty lol. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season as well and here is to an even better 2022!
Dragonx411: Thank you very much-nya! XD
And with that...ONTO THE SHOW!
"Bennia Orcus," the leaders of the reaper squad approached the young woman standing her ground. "You need not become involved. In the name of your subservience to the Underworld, step aside and let us pass."
"I didn't have much of that when I worked for the old bones, what makes you think I'd have more now that I'm with the Crossroads?" She asked while flipping her cloak dramatically acting as if she didn't care about the fact she was alone and they had at least double digit reapers. "Last I checked, this wasn't his territory and I'm more than a little curious why you're showing up NOW of all times. We are having a bit of a situation inside, so if you could leave that'd be swell."
"Your oath owed is just for being who you are," the skeletal man stopped right in front of Bennia. "Or is your task force a loyalty unto itself severing that from your home?"
"Oho, pulling out the big words today." She inhaled deep remembering the boring descriptions of the Crossroad's purpose that only Dorian's voice kept her invested in. "The purpose of our organization is to keep the best interests of EVERY member group into account when working against threats toward each one. Last time I checked, that doesn't give permission to let an infiltration squad just walk into another member's territory. That would be..." she thought for a moment on the word Dorian had used, "...inconducive to mutual cooperation. Or would you not mind an Einherjar team just walking into the Underworld, Zeno?"
Despite not having any skin to speak of, Bennia was certain his eye had twitched, and she loved every second of it. Looking to the side, she spotted the movement of those behind Zeno, a reaper she'd worked with a few times prior to her assignment to Olympus. The young half-reaper didn't think of him as a bad person other than being such a stickler to the rules that his voice alone made her fight the urge to yawn anytime he spoke.
"Too slow!" She shouted as arrows of magic erupted from the hands of the three closest behind him. She disappeared into the teleportation symbol, the magic hitting only air before dispersing.
"Your long-range teleportation and telepathic communication have been negated near us," Zeno pointed out, a wave reverberating out from his body to reveal Bennia to them all. "You cannot escape nor call for help. Just stay here until we finish our work."
A black burst of energy shot past his head with such force that Zeno barely had time to register it. In a flash, one of his guardsmen was down for the count smoking on the ground unconscious but alive. The attack had come from Bennia's scythe she revealed from beneath her cloak.
That's impossible! Since when was she capable of such power!? Didn't Lord Hades choose her as the envoy to Olympus as an insult? But…has her cloak always been such a dark shade of blue?
"Short range hops were my specialty anyway," Bennia bragged as she retreated into a new magic circle. Barrages leveled the spots she had previously been standing, her speed unexpected by the high-class team selected as soon as the nekoshou energy spike had been detected. They were not the strongest, but the fact she could avoid so many was causing no end to frustrations. Her cheeky grin and mocking attitude were not helping and doing exactly what she intended.
Pissing them all off! Pissed off opponents get sloppy, probably the only reason I manage to avoid Hecuba in the mornings sometimes.
Two more dropped to the floor without injuries, portals having opened behind them gone unnoticed with a pair of Bennias stepping out giggling. Even as reapers, they were susceptible to her scythe to disrupt their souls rendering them unconscious. Her clones were quickly struck by other attackers, dispersing into smoke. Her boost in strength was so great that her replications had more solid mass to them, capable of fighting just as she could.
"She is one opponent, form up against her!" Zeno coordinated as he drew his own scythe to clash with her. "You have found other avenues of power; your father would be proud."
"He was already proud; unlike you and the others some don't gauge purely on their ability to hit something. You haven't said why you're here, did the big man give an order of nefarious origins?"
I must avoid pulling our Lord into this. We were discovered too easily; we must bear the consequences.
"I…I serve my own designs!" He lied without skipping a beat. "These nekoshou are too unique to pass up, even a few would advance our understanding of…" He stopped to pause as if only then realizing he had said too much rather than exactly what he intended.
"You act like they're animals, you…" Bennia deflected his scythe to barely dodge a pair of chains from either side. She got off another blast of magic before another snaked around her left wrist. "Hey, I am NOT into that! Go ask Kuroka!"
For all her bravado and managing to wound another, she was too far outnumbered. A half dozen chains forged from magic of the dead claimed her limbs and disarmed her. All attempts to teleport away failed as they were shattered before forming. She struggled and even managed to draw one closer into a right hook that flattened him, but it was a vain effort. After several moments she was wrestled to her knees unable to move.
She defeated five, no, six of us so easily, such an embarrassment.
"Spread out," he called out to the remaining reapers who were not working to hold the struggling woman down. "Collect the strongest specimens you can find and escape." He received nods of confirmation as they vanished into the air. "As for you Ms. Orcus, you shall remain here until we are done, we can't have you…"
"Calling for help? Then this is NOT your day," her confidence sent a wave of concern through Zeno, spinning to see her scythe rising up where it had been thrown. Before he could make a move, a dark orb emerged from the tip blasting upwards into the sky until it was no longer visible.
"What did you do!?"
"Called the cavalry," she winked as the magic exploded setting off a dazzling display akin to fireworks. "And here I thought Rossweisse's contingency plans would never come in handy."
"Such disresepct!" Zeno fumbled with his words in absolute frustration. "In that case, we must move faster and…"
The Grim Reaper jumped back as a mass fell from above crashing down in front of him. His scythe was the only thing preventing a blade from slicing through him as he deflected a blow he could barely follow. The chains holding Bennia shattered, a massive axe head cutting through them with absolute ease, a barrier surrounding her to prevent any attempt to capture the young woman once again. She floated up at her renewed freedom, overjoyed the summoning flare had worked so quickly.
"Great to see you! You both too! These assholes were being VERY rude." Only then did she spot the twitching cat-ears upon his head and long fluffy tail. "Um…I think I missed something."
"Please don't mention it," Dorian pleaded while leveling Twilight Star towards Zeno, his Asgardian armor shining in the sunlight. Rossweisse flanked him to the left with Thrud on his right spinning Gullbjorn with a manic look of glee in her eyes. "I'll explain it later, but until then…" he stared the lead reaper down with an intimidating glare. His opponent readied his scythe, knowing exactly who stood before him. "…would you care to explain why you have entered devil territory uninvited? We are currently in the middle of a crisis."
Elsewhere…
"Another on your left!" Herja called out, ducking below the wooden shinai that rushed past her head faster than was possible by normal humans. Brynda similarly jumped back from another strike not too far. "What are the odds they'd want to make a nest here?"
"It's possible the location is appealing for being so near the food court?" Brynda theorized while sliding beneath another strike to slam a palm into Katase's gut. The Kendo Club fighter's eyes went white as she passed out, the Valkyrie preventing her from hitting into the ground.
The two Valkyries and Issei had set out for their location, dismayed to find it covered with nekoshou-infected students all hailing from the Kendo Club. After it became evident they were not vacating the area, the three had been forced to engage in order to clear a space for the totem lest it be damaged by the instinct-driven students. Fortunately, they did not showcase any Sage Arts talent, rather the increased strength only which made them an ill match against the three experienced fighters.
"You beat me up almost every day for doing what any normal guy would," Issei boasted as he avoided the swings of a quartet of women lunging for him. "Now I get to have some payback," he held up his gauntlet, the power building within it. "Once I'm fully charged…"
"Dorian said no Dress Breaking," Herja immediately shot down his statement before he could finish. "You didn't think he chose us to go with you by random, did you?"
"I have become quite proficient at sealing magic," Brynda warned as she gracefully dropped another student. "I could lock your technique away for a week if you are unable to control yourself."
"Oh, come one," Issei grumbled, but did not give as great a fight as they thought he would. "Fine then, Dragon Shot…minimum power!" One by one he started firing low-energy blasts into each of the remaining fighters in rapid succession, clearing out much of the club.
"Murayama, it's me!" Herja tried to reason with her opponent she had grown close to since joining Kuoh. "You showed me that bookstore, remember?"
It was no use, the Kendo Club President foregoing her shinai to lunge on all fours, nails noticeably longer than usual. With a heavy heart, the petite Valkyrie erected a barrier, the woman slamming into it and clocking herself out cold. With Murayama's defeat, she realized the area had gone eerily quiet, they had won.
"Set it up Brynda," Herja commanded. "Issei, you and I will make sure she's safe then we'll stay put until they can set these off."
"I've only seen devils made from Evil Pieces, what's happening to everyone is something else." Issei remarked as they carried the unconscious students off to the side where they'd be out of the way. "Mr. Ajuka's invention is incredible."
"I would love to study it someday," Brynda admitted while securing the totem to the ground. "If this works, then theoretically there would be no sentient supernatural species that couldn't be reinvigorated with members of more plentiful ones like humans."
"Like what happened with me," Issei could finally smile thinking of his reincarnation since discussing it with the others. "They gave me a second chance, Koneko's sister can do the same for others. I wonder how she'll select who to…"
An explosion rocked the group clearly emanating from the far outskirts of the academy, drawing their attention and concern as to what could have required such a blast.
"What the hell? Should we go help them?"
"We can't," Herja explained with a look of worry. "They said the totems have to be activated simultaneously. Whatever it was, we have to stay here and wait for the signal to begin."
We got this section, everyone…please be careful.
Kuoh Occult Research Club Building….
"All alone again-nya," Kuroka sighed as she dangled here feet off the stone bench she had set herself upon. Per Dorian's instructions, she'd found a nice wide-open field outside the clubhouse to await the influx of energy. She was simultaneously excited for what was to come and also annoyed by the lack of anything to do. "I'm so bored, but my hands can't stop shaking. Dorian better let me get at least a little action tonight or I'll explode."
"Is the new Matriarch a little anxious?" The incorrigible tone of a former teammate caused her to turn with a smile. "At least, you'll be one soon from what I hear."
"Bikou," she greeted him as he dropped out of one of the trees. "Too lazy to help everyone with our little problem?"
"Eh, not my issue," he threw his arms up as if there was nothing to be done. "As long as Vali doesn't know I'm here, no harm no foul. No idea why he's even bothering to help them."
"You wouldn't understand," she remarked in a condescending manner, drawing a furrowed brow from the latest monkey king.
Not long ago I would have killed to have Vali look at me the way he does that feisty Spartan. So, is that his type? I'm sure he's enjoyed the view of her walking away more than once.
"You aren't tired of being the outsider?" Her companion was ever blunt. "You share his bed, are making up with your little sis and even made besties with that angel, but has the kid ever shown interest in kind?"
"Like anyone has in you?" She fired back, wordplay just how the two got along. "He fancies his Rose and golden gal, that doesn't mean there isn't room for another eventually. He just needs to get used to the idea and I'm more than willing to show him the appeal of quantity."
"No more bouncing from guy to guy until you have a litter?" Bikou looked somewhat legitimately surprised. "You have changed, thought for sure you'd still do that even when with the kid."
"He is young, that works out in more ways than one. Eventually, he'll…" Kuroka paused as a small raven fluttered down from the rooftop to land in front of her. The confused bird pecked at the ground several seconds until its eyes shimmered a familiar grey, signaling Skilja had connected to someone on the other side.
"Hey Kuroka," Dorian's voice echoed from the bird's mouth. "Sorry for how abrupt that was, didn't want to delay in case it gets worse in the school. I know this wasn't your fault, if anything you've done so much to help us. If it weren't for you, I'd still probably be running around licking myself."
Kuroka couldn't hope to contain a howl of laughter at Bikou's absolutely terrified expression without context as to the Einherjar's meaning.
"I felt bad you having to be stuck alone, so I sent Skilja back to you with this recording and everyone has a lorgnette on hand. As long as we aren't fighting, if you want to talk, I'm…we're all here. Thank you again, I hope this piece leads to everything you wished for." With that final word, the eyes returned to normal, Skilja hopping onto Kuroka's shoulder to stare at her with a confused expression.
"You never did get very bright, did you?" The nekoshou muttered to the small bird, presenting a handful of seed she kept hidden up her sleeve. "You and your master share that trait sometimes I think."
"Huh, maybe you did get your hooks into him after all," Bikou leaned back against a tree letting out a great yawn. "Guess you won't be as lonely, you don't mind if I hang out anyway, right?"
You're not fooling anyone you softy, but it's appreciated.
"Not at all," she continued feeding Skilja while stroking his feathers gently thinking of the man who'd sent to it to her. "If you wait long enough, you may get to see me become a Matriarch after all."
Kuoh Music Hall…
"What are Grim Reapers doing here?" Zepar called out as he clashed with one that had gotten the drop on him. His blade of light parried blow after blow from the void-black one being used against him.
Zepar and Gasper had set out with the intent of placing the totem and securing the location for when Ona's plan could work. Instead, they'd come across a group of shadow-garbed reapers attempting to make off with several unconscious students all showing signs of the nekoshou epidemic. Unwilling to wait for backup, they had assaulted the group to rescue the students, finding themselves waylaid as more showed up to help their comrades. Gasper could not make use of his eyes with so many blind spots, falling back on his own shadowy abilities he had been trying to learn when time allowed with Dorian and the others.
"They are very strong!" Gasper called out, slamming his hand into the ground for a patch of darkness to form beneath one of their opponent's feet. The young vampire grunted in frustration as the reaper dispersed it with a wave of his hand. "I am guessing high-class or better."
"I agree!" Zepar yelled back, a black blade cutting his shoulder and forcing him to unveil his wings to blow them back. A pair of reapers lay beaten on the ground, a testimony to Zepar's years of sword instruction with Baraqiel and another one at Gasper's hands. All the same, they were losing ground as three more advanced on him, Gasper barely holding off another two. They'd fired their flare requesting aid, but none had come.
Which means they must be beleaguered elsewhere, reapers serve Hades, what could he possibly want with Kuoh Academy. The nekoshous? His train of thought was interrupted as another blow staggered him. He could not take to the skies while surrounded and his ability to calm others seldom worked when in the thick of battle. I won't fall here, not while she is out there.
"You really should smile more," his memory of Akeno echoed in his mind. "That's my favorite kind of man you remember, one who smiles all the time."
Work was always a focus, not much room for smiles. But since meeting you, I find myself showing them more. I thought my wings could make others feel at peace, yet you do it with just your presence. If I can see that smile every day, mine will come a bit easier each time.
Dark chains wrapped about his arms, sending the sensation of searing heat through his being from their magic. For a moment, he fell to a knee as they advanced.
"This pain is enough to rip souls from their vessels," the reaper mocked to build up his own skill. "You cannot hope to even…what is so funny?!" His bravado was shattered as Zepar, for the first time Gasper could recall, started to laugh.
"Pain? Please, Akeno's whips hurt more than this. I'm not FALLING!" He roared, a nova of holy light erupting from his body and propelling his pursuers back. It was at great effort, forcing him down to one knee. "I'm…not…"
"Take the others, this will not be long," the reaper commanded. "Then we can…we…" He did not finish his sentence as he suddenly fell forward, face planting into the ground. He had no injury but appeared drained of energy. It was only then the others spotted a thin cord jutting from his foot looping around the area and up atop a roof.
"Whew, got here just in time," the Black Dragon King Saji grinned confidently down at them. "This is our school you bastards; did you think you could hurt our friends and classmates without the Student Council stepping in!?"
"You stay away from little Gasper!" Ruruko, Sona's Pawn, shouted as she performed a flying drop kick upon the closest reaper. He tried to phase through the hit, only for a crackle of lightning to enshroud her body, connecting with him even in an intangible state.
"Nice move Momo!" Saji complimented the Bishop. "You support us up here and we'll keep them off your tail!" She turned at his words, checking her posterior to make sure he wasn't being literal considering the circumstances.
"We may be rivals for you," the white-haired woman remarked with a determined look. "But in this, we are sisters!" She called down rains of hail around the field atop the enshrouded opponents to give an advantage to their allies.
Now isn't the time, Saji groaned. Ever since Momo, Ruruko and Sona became aware of their mutual attraction to him, they'd started trying to surpass the other in everything, particularly training. Sona was safely away from the battle, inspiring the other two to fight even harder. He could not deny the appeal of three women competing for him, yet felt guilty all the same, not having made up his mind of how to proceed. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, but at least it's making them tear these guys apart, time for me to do the same!
Saji leapt down, punching the first reaper hard, lashing out with his chord like a whip to seize another by the ankle. He spun the skeletal fighter around, smashing him into other of his comrades until finally slamming him into the ground. Even while still outnumbered, the tide had turned in their favor. Zepar could not help but smile almost as widely as he did when near Akeno at the reinforcements. He would live another day.
"Th-they fight with experience, we were put together for speed, not power," one of the reapers still standing cursed, fleeing around the side of the building. "I'll grab the next student I see, make a run for it and make it back with what we require."
"Oh, who are you?" A woman asked behind him. She looked old enough to be a 2nd or 3rd-year student with a uniform to match. "Are you lost?"
"Excellent," the reaper reached out and grabbed the girl's forehead over her black hair and cat ears denoting her infection with the nekoshou essence, enchanting a spell of sleep upon her golden eyes. "You will do nicely, come with me and…"
"Will I now?" The girl seized his wrist, his hand being removed from her despite seemingly no force being exerted upon him. It was almost as if she was compelling him to let go through will alone, he could not explain it despite decades of magical study. "I don't think you should remember this…or anything at all, that sounds like a fair punishment."
"What was that?!" Saji turned as he heard the blood-curdling scream that followed.
With Zepar and Gasper aiding Momo and Ruruko, he raced around the corner fearing a student had been hurt. Instead, he found the laid-out body of a grim reaper still twitching upon the ground. He stared up at the sky, mouth agape and pupilless eyes open without any sign of activity. He was alive, but naught else. The Pawn dragged him back with the others to ensure none got away, totally missing the whiff of black smoke with gold orbs disappearing up and over the rooftop beyond.
The Underworld…
"An entire school of them," the ruler of the Underworld mused as he leaned back at his desk. "And at that Academy under Gremory protection, that is no coincidence."
"None my lord," the looming reaper across from him reported. "It would appear that the Beelzebub has been experimenting with a new Piece system. We only heard of it recently but were unaware its practical applications were so close to fruition. Surely this outbreak was not his intention. I have already deployed a team to acquire some specimens."
"Excellent Thanatos," Hades complimented in a rare moment for one he knew was not worthless. "Until now, the black one was beyond our reach first with the White Dragon and now with the Crossroad whelp. The white one was picked up by the Gremory heiress before we could acquire her. With this development, we need not rely on the pair for our tests."
"We are prepared to begin as soon as we have one, Zeno's men were the first sent."
"I would have preferred your team, but the barrier would have detected you, such is the downside of your power." Thanatos bowed his head slightly in thanks for the confirmation of his status as the strongest reaper in existence. "If we can unlock the secret hidden within the genes of the nekoshou, we would no longer need to put up with the distaste of an alliance with the Brigade."
"Must we do so even now?" Thanatos asked. "We reapers are sufficient; it is my input that they are as unnecessary as the rest."
"You are not wrong," the Lord of the Dead rose to his full height, walking to the window out over the realm he held dominion over. "But none of those in power understand, they only can focus on getting stronger, spreading their numbers and flooding this planet. They even encourage these abnormalities like the Red Dragon Emperor and Sirzechs Lucifer, their powers growing unnaturally strong and fast for the rules of this world. They do not chain the fissure in time that surrounds the Einherjar boy who is rightfully mine. No, those in power cannot be trusted, the Brigade even less, but their role is needed if we are to save this world. Do not forget that."
"I never have," Thanatos knelt, his loyalty beyond question. "If we find the secret buried within the nekoshou race, we will have all the army and numbers needed to police the world ourselves. We would need not rely upon any power regardless of alignment. An army of unstoppable devils under YOUR command."
"Super devils," Hades muttered beneath his breath not even heard by his servant. "Only a handful have existed in history. If we find what we need then legions of them will serve me and this world will be safe at last."
More exists beyond our realm of perception, things that could end us if we are taken notice of. We just need more time, once we have our army…we will be ready to face it ourselves. They don't see it, none of them can, dragons least of all. Only I, only I can prevent the extinction of every living thing on this planet supernatural or otherwise…
Kuoh Academy Front Gates…
"Divide," Vali unveiled his dragon wings, releasing a burst in front of him that caused the neko-infected students to be sent flying from the area. One charged him directly, bounding on all fours. Before they could reach, Hecuba was upon them, slamming him into the ground and out cold.
"They aren't thinking clearly," she lashed out while decking another. "You need to hold back against them."
"I am holding back," Vali answered coldly. "Otherwise, I could level this entire school."
"There is more to proficiency than brute strength!"
"A gentle hand is not enough!" Each back-and-forth remark between the pair was prefaced with another fallen opponent, the Dragon Emperor and Spartan back-to-back defending the area where the totem need to be placed. Beside them, placing the object, was Misty muttering under her breath as she watched them.
"Dragon Emperor and Spartan Commander, man and woman, enacting the dangerous waltz of combat. Is their banter born of animosity or admiration? Loathing or loving? Such questions plague mankind without and within, do the pair even realiz…"
She quickly looked down as if she hadn't been doing anything at all as Vali and Hecuba's eyes locked on her, the girl clearly speaking a bit louder than she intended. Their eyes fell upon one another next, quickly looking away and nailing the latest two students simultaneously to clear the way.
"Is it over YET?" Vali snapped, clearly trying to change the subject. "That's the last of them?" Without awaiting an answer, he stormed off towards the perimeter checking for additional opponents. Hecuba remained to ensure Misty completed her task unhindered.
"Why did you have to say that?" Hecuba whispered to Misty; despite her words they did not seem to infer anger at what was said.
"Sorry," she apologized with a half-hearted bow while finishing the last touches on the totem. "Herja keeps telling me I should be less dramatic. It's just…well you two reminded me of the book I'm reading and it's adorable."
"He doesn't seem the type," Hecuba looked over at him still pacing in the distance clearly trying to keep further away. "If he let someone in that could be different, but as it stands, he only seems to care about getting stronger and…other things," she decided against mentioning Vali's slip from the beach about a grandfather, knowing not all need be told.
"You…do you LIKE him?" Misty's still-maturing girlish side shone through as those words slipped out, Hecuba immediately clamping a hand over her mouth. "Mmhhmmmmhhhh!"
"Th-that isn't the case! It is true he is an incredible warrior with more to him, and I am interested in learning more about him. But that doesn't mean what you're implying!" The worried expression on her face was adorable, the Spartan knowing if Bennia even sensed a hint of the implication that she'd never hear the end of it.
"That's true," Misty started slow once her lips were free, fearing being silenced again. "He did fight Dorian back when he was with the brigade. He trusts Vali to some extent, that has to mean something."
"It does," Hecuba admitted, "True, Dorian has been tricked in the past, but he seems to be learning from that. So long as he feels Vali can do good…so will I."
"And try to talk to him more?" Misty could not help adding, receiving a bonk on the head from the Spartan's armored hand.
"I will, who knows, maybe one day he'll…"
"Something is wrong," Vali stepped up to the women almost out of nowhere, startling them from their talk. "There are more fights going on, I can sense it. But they aren't from nekoshous only, someone else is battling in the school!"
Elsewhere…
"Now this is more like it!" Thrud slammed Gullbjorn into the ground, the runes etched by Rossweisse enhancing its previous power and sending a blast of destructive energy in all directions. The nearest reapers stood no chance and were blown aside. "You are brave to keep going!"
Magic missiles soared towards her, the strawberry-blonde warrior preparing to deflect. It was unnecessary as the projectiles were intercepted midflight, not even coming closer to their target.
"You have much to learn!" Rossweisse reflected the spells with her own, redirecting them back to their targets. Despite a half dozen reapers targeting her with their attacks, she managed them all, muttering under her breath each spell and tactic coming up next in her mind. "As a teacher at this school and a member of the Crossroads, you shall not TOUCH a single hair on any of their heads!"
"What worth could they possibly have to you!?" Dorian swung Twilight Star; the reaper being forced to avoid knowing full well his mass-produced sword could not contend with it fully. "We are working to heal everyone here, they won't be nekoshou for very long."
"Their worth as a species is greater than you know!" Zeno hissed back, a strike failing to land. He recognized Dorian's power far surpassing his own trying to use every moment to find an opening or weakness. "To remove them is an utter waste!"
"Their kind will flourish again, that was the purpose of my request to Lord Ajuka. But it will be for their betterment, not to be used by whatever you have planned."
"You have no idea the world-changing breakthroughs that could be made with so many nekoshou subjects. Just like any human, your thinking is so short-sighted!"
"I don't believe that for a moment. Had it been anything other than nefarious, you wouldn't have come in secret like this."
With his final word, Dorian shattered the void-sword once again, the shockwave blasting his reaper foe backwards. His hood fluttered away, revealing his skeletal features, even his hands were now visible. The Einherjar's memory flashed, all the way back to Olympus wherein he'd been beaten to within an inch of his life. Despoina realized it at the same time.
He…Dorian, he was one of those who spoke with Forcas in the planning of Olympus' attack!
"YOU!" Dorian's resolve strengthened, his muscles expanding as he blasted forward to pin his foe against the wall behind. "I know you! You were the skeletal man in Olympus who gave the spider that poisoned the flame to Heracles!"
NO! The traitor said he did not emerge until AFTER the transaction! He saw me?!
"You betrayed the big man for the Khaos Brigade? You don't have much of a brain in there do you?" Bennia bounced off the head of the last reaper she was facing while listening intently to the exchange.
I have no choice…for the good of my Lord…
"He…he would not see reason. Taking this initiative was the only way." Dorian stared him down, eyes narrowing as he tightened the grip on his sword.
"You're a good liar, but I've been fooled too many times since being introduced to the supernatural world. Nice try though."
More than a bit my fault I am sure, Despoina muttered in a guilty tone as if trying to silently apologize. I never knew his name; Heracles was the main contact with them.
Dorian lunged forward, forcing the reaper to evaporate into smoke to avoid him, an ability he was unable to do many more times before running out of energy.
That device, Zeno glanced at the totem Rossweisse had set down. It MUST be tied to their plan to remove the nekoshou, if I destroy it, or activate it myself…perhaps the power to create more won't be lost to their chosen receptacle. He understood the intricacies of magic well enough to know that the energy to change a species would have to go somewhere in order to be removed. I can't beat the Einherjar in brute force, but I can deny him a victory and escape with what our lord needed most.
Zeno reformed behind Dorian, scythe slicing up his spine. Like Bennia's, it would not harm his body, but instead cut to the very soul. A normal human would have been dead instantly, even an Einherjar would have had their entire core disrupted requiring substantial healing. Instead, the Crossroad leader only staggered, a gold hue reverberating off his soul protecting him from the brunt of the attack.
That almost looks like a god's soul, almost. I only needed a moment, this is it!
Zeno moved faster than he ever had in his existence, reaching the device and looking it over in the blink of an eye. It was made to gather energy, clearly, and direct it to an external source. The plan was so simple, it was too easy. Without uttering a word, he threw the switch, causing a thrum of energy to build up sending out strange pulses of smoke-like wisps.
"He's activated the totem!" Rossweisse left the remaining enemies to Thrud who was so deep into her battle focus she barely noticed anything else. "It's building to draw in the ambient energy to Kuroka's piece across the school!"
Similar reverberations echoed in the distance, the other teams having noticed Dorian's totem starting up believing he was prepared and activated their own. There was no stopping it once started. Dorian fired a blast of lightning straight into Zeno only for the attack to phase through him, the reaper still in an intangible state from his previous escape.
"I can hold this form for three more minutes and am more skilled than all my allies," he grinned in perceived victory. "That should be all it takes for this device to finish its task. The energy must pass through me before reaching the next stage of its journey, only it will not. I will claim it for myself!"
And in turn gain all I require to make more nekoshou on my own we won't need specimens if we can create as many as are required!
"No!" Dorian planted Twilight Star into the ground realizing it could not help him. "This was meant to give Kuroka what she needs for her people. You will NOT steal that chance!"
"Boss!" Bennia shouted from above. "The intangibility is only effective against physical force and natural energy! Complex magic can disrupt it no matter how good he is!"
"TRAITOR!" Zeno called out above only to receive a full vision of Bennia sticking her tongue out with a proud 'nyeh' of disgust at him. His words had no effect nor caused even the slightest guilt in the young woman.
"Rossweisse!" Dorian called out, seals forming in each of his hands.
"I know!" The genius Valkyrie already saw his intent, creating magic circles of her own. Between the pair, they generated reverse gravity spells layered upon inverted barriers causing Zeno's body to shudder. In the intangible state, his molecular structure was destabilized, held from flying off into all directions by the magic within his aura, magic that was now being pulled between the Valkyrie and Einherjar requiring all his focus and limited time to try and hold off.
No! I…must…not…I would rather die than fail now!
"You don't get out that easy!" Dorian inverted his formula in an instant, causing his pull on Zeno's being to instead condense it back in on itself. Trying so hard to do just that, the reaper was smashed back together, his physical body reforming and returning him to the corporeal world. He didn't even have enough time to comprehend what happened before Dorian was upon him, a right hook with all his strength crashing against his face. The reaper was rendered unconscious with a dull thud into the floor, the battle over, but the damage had been done.
"Dorian?" Rossweisse landed on the ground, her body shaking as the magic of the totem swirled around her piercing armor and flesh. "The magic, it…"
"It was drawn in by the seals in your little display!" The frantic voice of Ona Barbatos came in within their minds. "It doesn't have the energy needed to make it to Kuroka anymore, so it's chosen a new host, probably picked her since she's a woman too. I can't boost the signal from here!"
"Try something!" Dorian shouted in concern, approaching Rossweisse who was currently shining with energy akin to Sage Arts. His attempt at touching her was repulsed, hand searing painfully.
"That won't work! The nekoshou energy is synchronizing with her, I say we have less than five minutes before it coalesces. If this keeps up, SHE is the one going to be leading her own nekoshou peerage, not Kuroka."
To prove her point, small white ears appeared upon Rossweisse's head, the start of a tail emerging from beneath her armor. It took all Dorian's willpower not to remark how absolutely cute she looked. He tried several magic-canceling seals to no avail, the cleansing light of Alfheim, even boosted by Vanaheim's magic failing to make a dent. He was no genius compared to Rossweisse, having no hope of recalculating entire new formulas in under five minutes.
No, current pieces can't change their status once reincarnated. If this runs on the same principle then she'll become the head of a nekoshou team. I… A flash of selfish nature burned within Dorian, him wanting to have asked Rossweisse something for the last few days but always failing. I wanted her by my side, to be my…
"ONA!" Inspiration reached his head from his fear. "What would happen if two piece system types compete for a single person?"
"What? How should I know!?" The vampire-devil's lack of knowledge on the nigh-impossible event clearly grating on her. "It could be the first introduced would win out, or maybe the one the recipient accepts most or is more compatible with. In either case it's never been tested in the field!"
"It's about to be," Dorian donned protection spell runes across his body as he stepped forward, immediately meeting resistance from the magic attempting to repel him once again. Rossweisse looked on in concern, the whirlwinds of energy preventing her from moving. "ROSE! Can you hear me?"
"YES!" She called out from her vortex prison. "I…I can't stop it; it's actually devouring the magic of my seals. If we reconvert our formulas, we may be able to…"
"I have a different plan," he reached into his pocket for an item he'd been keeping safe that day with a silent prayer. In truth, though he wouldn't admit it, he'd had it there every day since acquiring it. Every step closer to Rossweisse took a greater toll, the burning from the magic intensifying each second. "There is something I wanted to ask!"
Dorian fell to a knee just in front of the immobilized silver Valkyrie, the power so intense he couldn't bear to get back. Fortunately for him, he was now within arm's reach of the woman he loved. His hand emerged from the pocket, holding out a familiar object towards her.
"Rossweisse, I knew it had to be you, no one else." He held aloft his High King piece from the set provided by Odin and Freyja, the item totally undamaged by the magics around them. "In Tafl they call it a High King piece, but that won't be its purpose here. I should have asked the moment it was given, but I am asking now…will you be my High Queen, from now until the end?"
"Oh Dorian," she brought her hands to her face along with a smile of joy at how similar the scene was playing out to dreams she'd had since growing close to him. She wouldn't have asked, but of course held in her heart the desire to be first among his team to partake of the piece system developed for the Norse people, the Tafl Nobility. "Of course, I will." she paused for only a moment imagining the connotations of her next words. "I will be your High Queen!"
The piece leapt from Dorian's palm at those words, affixing itself between her breasts as its own rainbow glow began to expand from within the depths of the object made from the same minerals as Evil Pieces. The shimmering white of the nekoshou essence contested with it, the conflicting powers pushing against one another for dominance. Dorian held his ground, planted where he knelt unwilling to let the forces push him away from her again. His protective seals were nearly gone, another few seconds and he would be defenseless.
"Boss!" Bennia prepared to teleport in, stopping as a hand from Thrud was laid upon her shoulders.
"Don't, if that energy touches you, you might end up with ears and a tail too. Also, if you pull him out and anything happens to her, he'll never forgive himself. Conversely, him being so close may be able to motivate her to…"
The High Queen piece disappeared into Rossweisse as she threw her chest out at the surge of power, the entirety of the nekoshou energy collecting at a single point and being expelled from her body. With the turmoil gone, she collapsed into the waiting arms of her love.
"Well, I'll be damned," Ona's voice reemerged. "Whatever you just did actually gave the essence an energy boost! It's heading back on its original course, KUROKA! GET READY!"
"Did we do it?" Rossweisse asked as she got her bearings watching the magic shoot through the sky towards the Occult Research Club beyond.
"We did it," Dorian assured her, looping her arm over his neck so he could support her despite the fact she was already getting back on her feet. "How do you feel?"
"I feel…amazing," she admitted. "So much energy compacted into that piece. I…I think it'll take some time for me to learn all the effects. Thank you, for not hesitating. I may miss the ears though." She rubbed the top of his head to showcase his own nekoshou traits had vanished with the energy.
Dorian looked her up and down, noticing that Rossweisse appeared to be glowing compared to how she usually was. He could almost swear for a moment he thought he saw the silhouette of a grander design to her armor, but it dissipated before he could make out any details. Bennia and Thrud rushed over to check on them, the reapers including Zeno all tied up and unconscious heaped to the side. They were so concerned with their well-being that they did not notice a young bespectacled woman crawling away having witnessed the entire exchange from a nearby bramble of bushes that had only seconds earlier been engulfed in the white light escaping Rossweisse's body.
At the Occult Research Club Building…
"Incoming!" Bikou alerted Kuroka as the energy rocketed right for her. He had remained with her planning to assist if anything went awry, staff raised prepared for anything.
"Come to mama," she held up the piece, readying her body for the influx of magic to come. "At last, give my people a fighting chance!"
The collected nekoshou essence collided with the piece lighting up the sky requiring an extra boost to the illusion barrier around the clubhouse to ensure no one witnessed it. She had spent the morning preparing and was more than ready, using her own aura she collapsed it around the energy, directing it towards the piece as Ona had suggested. Like pouring water through a funnel, the Senet monument greedily lapped up the incoming power as it disappeared bit by bit within its depths.
Almost…got it…
"THERE!" Ona shouted from the rooftop. "And SEALED!"
Spiderweb-like cracks formed along the piece, embodiments of the imperfections that had caused the incident to occur in the first place. With a wave of her hand and an infusion of energy from Kuroka, the fissures receded one by one until none remained. As the last of the power finally subsided, not a single blemish was left behind. The Senet piece was complete.
"Whew, not the most graceful finish, but I'll take it," Ona sighed as she leaned back still clacking away on her computer. "You should be feeling the connection to the piece now, in a matter of days you'll have enough control to start accepting candidates.
"I…can't"
"Can't?" Ona asked, uncertain to what she was referring.
"I can't summon my devil wings, they aren't coming." Kuroka looked around trying to see her back. "It's almost like before I was made a Bishop."
"Well, I'll be damned," Ona's scientific side was in full swing. "The nekoshou energy had a similar effect to a full reincarnation upon you, like how you became a devil originally. In this case, the nekoshou input has overwritten the devil side. Congratulations, you're almost entirely a full nekoshou again though it seems you kept the power boost from before and then some, how do you feel? Any physical changes?
"I feel…" Kuroka clutched a hand to her breast where the piece had disappeared, watching as if concerned it may emerge once more. Rejection, that worry that had hounded her steps and caused her to avoid returning to her sister, Shirone, until recently reared its ugly head as she thought it may happen again.
Will it reject me? I imagined bearing entire litters en masse but never sticking around to raise them. I never thought Shirone would ever accept me, but that changed. What is this new sensation from the piece? I almost feel like that silver Val…like Rossweisse is here with me. What happened?
"Kuroka!" The familiar voice of her new team leader came from the raven Skilja once more. "Are you alright!? The magic headed your way, it disrupted my connection for a bit. Are you okay?"
His first worry was of me, not even the piece or the mission. No sign of rejection, not from the piece, not from Shirone…and not from that man.
"Full success," she gave a victory sign with a smile that was almost wholesome, angling Skilja so he'd be unaware of Bikou's presence, the current Monkey King slipping back into the woods with no further danger to his teammate. "Your scary vampire friend thinks I'll be able to have the power to recruit others in a short while. I hope you're looking forward to the pitter patter of little feet around the tower." She ended with a soft "nya" and pawing of her hands giving the most playful outstretched tongue she could muster. She may have started seeing the young Einherjar who had worked so hard in a different light, but that didn't mean she had to stop having fun anytime soon.
Later…
"We will take these ones into custody," Thanatos, the strongest grim reaper ever born, boomed having rendezvoused with Dorian at the outskirts of Kuoh Academy. Azazel himself and a small entourage of alliance troops were present to see the transfer of the defeated grim reapers, none had escaped capture. "They will be brought before Lord Hades himself for their…indiscretion this day."
"WE will send men to oversee their interrogation as well," Azazel remarked with Dorian standing sternly beside him. "Mr. Held identified him as an accomplice in the Olympus attack, we'll expect more than a slap on the wrist if it turns out they were Brigade collaborators to say nothing of others potentially in your ranks. Guess this explains the Samael blood they got their hands on?"
"It must," Thanatos replied coldly. "He admitted to the crime immediately, did he not?"
"He did," Dorian agreed as he stepped forward ahead of the Grigori's Governor-General. "Pretty sloppy that he didn't even try covering his tracks, like trying to pawn it off on Lord Hades having commanded him or something like that."
The Ultimate-Class reaper whose power was known to rival gods looked into his eyes, the void surrounding his face focused solely on the Einherjar who refused to show the slightest sign of intimidation. He took a step forward, gripping his scythe a little tighter.
"Zeno is a fool; his actions today prove that. It is not surprising that he was not clever enough to come up with a cover."
"That, or he's cleverer than you're admitting. He thought very fast on his feet in our fight, even figured out Ona's totem in a matter of seconds. I remember his file, he was so loyal to the Underworld, this must be a heavy blow."
"Kid?" Azazel whispered behind him. "What are you…?"
"LEAVE US!" A magical projection exploded into being like a flame igniting suddenly behind them. The Lord of the Dead, Hades, stood there though not truly but projecting himself from his office in the Underworld. "I would SPEAK to our Mr. Dorian…alone."
"Good luck," Azazel patted him on the shoulder before referring to the looming Greek god directly. "My people will call yours."
"You are at the center of many unique events," Hades grumbled once he and the Crossroads' leader were alone. "Now most recently a sudden explosion in a species on the brink of extinction only to be driven to such a state again. Many events…far too many."
"They won't stay this way for long," he kept his voice steady, barely noticing how much more comfortable he was at the center of attention as was becoming more common. "The nekoshou people will be renewed, but it seems some see them as less than living beings. What was Zeno after them for?"
"And how would I know the insane mutterings of a traitor?"
"Oh, nothing at all I am sure," Iggy remained silent in his mind along with Despoina at his boldness before one of the strongest beings in the world. "But realizing he was the one at Olympus got me thinking…please refresh my memory, why weren't you able to make that peace summit again? Was it your disdain for it or perhaps…?"
The incorporeal image of Hades moved forward in the blink of an eye, the empty eye sockets staring into Dorian's soul with a sinister blue glow. A hand was held just to the young man's neck, it could not touch him as a projection, yet the sheer presence emanating from it almost made him think Hades had a way around such things.
"You accuse me so brazenly while you house a traitor within yourself," only at that line did Dorian's composure waver. "One who was certain to be working with them while your accusation of me is conjecture only. If you utter even a syllable of your…assumptions to others, I need but say a word and all will know who you consort with. You think she is safe within your mind? I can think of a dozen means of extracting her just off the top of my head."
"I heard you aren't an evil god," Dorian finally found his voice once more. "But you are really coming across that way. Why?"
"Have you thought on what I told you at the Rating Game?" The skeletal being recomposed himself, backing up to a more respectable distance. Dorian shook his head, not having considered much of his light-based riddle. "Then you are still blind. Zeno and his band will face trial for their supposed crimes. Until then, watch where you tread. You attract many powers to yourself with how bright you insist on shining."
"Don't worry at all, I'm not going anywhere." With that final word, his projection vanished, Dorian realizing that the authorities had departed with the prisoners as he spoke and he stood there alone.
The moment did not last.
"Well, I may have overstayed my welcome," Ona remarked behind him with an outstretched hand, causing the Einherjar to jump, holding his fists up as if about to fight, lowering them only after several seconds of her not taking any action. "It was a pleasure as always."
"So, Lord Ajuka made you his assistant?" He eyed her, hesitantly accepting the shake. Ona gripped his hand hard, pulling it up to her face and sniffing a small cut he had accrued from the battle. She got a single lick before Dorian could pull his arm back.
"I have that charm," she licked her lips reveling in the slight taste she had managed to steal and his uncomfortable expression. "He came to me in my cell sometime after our battle and asked a question." Dorian raised an eyebrow, her eyes drawing him in like a vacuum. "He asked; Do you want to know?"
"Know what?"
"Yes," Ona hopped back with a laugh. "That was both my answer to him and to you now. Apparently, it's what he wanted to hear. If given a choice between throwing this world into chaos and holding it together to learn everything that is left unsolved, I will choose the latter every time."
She is interesting when not trying to kill you, Despoina had to admit despite the glares she received from Iggy.
"And it's going to stay that way?" He remained cautious, not wanting to be tricked again. He was done with that once and for all.
"If it doesn't, Lord Ajuka will disintegrate me looooong before you get a chance, his power has always been on par with his bestie Sirzechs after all," the former enemy stepped closer, her voice lowering as if to prevent any others from hearing. "And you have some interesting followers, more than you know. Just watch out for the cute dark-haired ones with gold eyes."
"What are you talking abou…?"
"Nothing!" She jumped back, nearly dropping her laptop. "I didn't say a word, good luck with the whole bringing people together thing…ta." At last, Ona disappeared in a summoning circle of her own bearing what looked like a mixture the family crest of Astaroth, Ajuka's family prior to taking up the mantle of Satan as well as Leviathan to whom she was distantly related. He couldn't help but be impressed at the combination.
"Is she gone?" Bennia's head appeared through a portal behind Dorian once Ona had departed, only coming through upon his confirmation. "We're all set! The school is clear, the reapers are bashed and Kuroka won't stop celebrating. You might want to lock your door at night with her for a bit but all in all, I think we can call this a win."
"We can," Dorian smiled reassuringly, ruffling his own hair both to clear his nerves still nearly shot from facing down Hades and to ensure the cat ears were gone. He felt the need to keep up the appearance of a leader where he could, but before Bennia it was like being near a sister. He felt comfortable showing his clearly frazzled expression, almost as much as Rossweisse. "This day has been long enough, let's go home."
"The others are already waaay ahead of you," she expanded her portal to accommodate his size. "Mrs. H and Hecuba are whipping something special up, I think she's working out kinks of her own since Vali slipped off without a word."
"That sounds…nice," Dorian hooked his arm with the one offered, the two practically skipping through the portal. No matter how down or tired he was, Bennia's enthusiasm never failed to put a literal skip into his step. "Why would Hecuba be upset at Vali's departure?"
"Oh boss…I was told not to gossip, but if you ask me so directly like that how could I not tell you exactly what I'm thinking?" Dorian had walked exactly into her trap, the excuse given for her to tell him her thoughts on the topic all the way back to the tower.
Elsewhere…
Issei gasped, looking down as blood spurted from his mouth. He'd been impaled by a majestic spear shining bright, the bane of all devil kind. Before him, the intense stare of Cao Cao was the last he saw before his eyes glazed over, all light extinguished.
"He's human here," Cao Cao muttered, kicking his body off his True Longinus. Around him, the scattered bodies of Rias' entire peerage, Sairaorg's, Sona's, as well as the Crossroads littered the field. They were not dressed in their attire for battle, but rather simple school uniforms, the group of friends having been ambushed on their way to classes. "No supernatural powers at all?"
"None," the voice of a man echoed around him as if coming from the air itself. "This is a world if it had been born pure of their kind. My gear can manipulate everything in there, what do you think of it?"
"It's quite…boring," Cao Cao had to admit, his victory over the doppelgangers of his enemies unfulfilling and leaving him striving for the real ones. "That, and your barrier is too frail, see?"
He stabbed the True Longinus forward, splitting reality itself before him and leaving a slice open like a tear. The man screamed, the faux world of Kuoh falling away to reveal the headquarters of the Hero Faction. The younger Hero Faction member collapsed to the ground gripping his chest in extreme pain, without breaking a sweat, Cao Cao approached and helped him to his feet.
"You need a shield, Marsilio," he advised as the man rediscovered his voice. "You can trap the strongest of them in here, but like a bubble, even the weakest could pop it from without. Your hiding techniques won't be enough in the thick of battle."
"Then…who?" He gasped at last. "Siegfried? Jeanne?"
"Siegfried is indisposed," he answered quickly knowing that he would be a poor choice. Ever since facing the devil knight Yuuto Kiba, Siegfried had grown more distant, almost manic in preparation for a new battle. The Hero Faction leader couldn't be sure, but it seemed as if he was fighting a touch slower than before. "And Jeanne is not one for coddling others. There is a particular recruit I feel would…"
"Someone is coming," Jeanne interrupted, flanking to the side of the entrance with her swords drawn. Cao Cao did not flinch, knowing full well who was coming. Ophis was far off since her last check-in, it would not be her.
"My dear heroes and champions!" The boisterous voice of Moloch rang through the room, alerting them that they were not under attack as he flipped his hat dramatically upon entering the room. "So good to see you free from the overbearing clutches of that dragon. Together, we can usher in a new age of…"
"Enough with the drivel," Cao Cao silenced the mysterious devil, the visitor's eyes losing their friendly gaze for just a moment looking truly terrifying before returning to as they were. "Your ally said you knew how we could activate this without Ophis' power."
He held out a hand, unveiling the magic circle of Olympian design Rossweisse had caught a glimpse of during the battle in Kyoto. It was dull, the light and vibrancy before missing. For all intents and purposes, it was inert.
"Oooooh, he gave you this little trump card but required intense power to activate it? Sneaky old bag of bones, cautious, but sneaky. You were relying on one of Ophis' little snakes to juice you up before the fight?" Cao Cao nodded confirmation. "Let's see what I can do then. How is your little prodigy Leonardo doing?"
"He is fine," Cao Cao stiffened a bit as cold hands of the immensely powerful devil gripped his own, feeling up the rune like a lockpick looking for that one spot to make his move. "He is still creating monsters as we speak."
"Good lad, good lad making use of the specimens I sent," he chuckled somewhat as he found what he was looking for. "Give it some time and you'll have an unstoppable army to unleash where you wish…well…WE wish. Any target in particular you have your eyes set on?"
"Any would do, even the destruction of one supernatural realm would pave the way for the rest. The first is where we must break them, somewhere like…"
"The Underworld? I am sure Shalba would have disagreed, but he's not around to argue anymore about destroying his deserved kingdom, now is he?" Moloch's enjoyment at the thought of the dead Old Satan was obvious. "There is always Heaven, Svarga, Olympus, or those Norse Realms where you have multiple choice. AH, there we are, good enough for one use. Be sure to keep you…eye on it." He couldn't resist a chuckle at the pun, seeing that the eye taken by Issei was still healing from the replacement selected.
The Olympian rune burst to life, the powers now at the full control of Cao Cao who gazed upon it with a confident smirk that was hidden from most. With a flick of his wrist he deactivated, reactivated and deactivated it once again to ensure he could do so. They were no longer beholden to Ophis to be strong.
"Many options, all of which have their purposes. Come, the ouroboros won't be back for many hours. We have much to discuss, such as how you can maintain this power without using her vaunted snakes..."
Hyoudou Residence, nightfall…
The young vampire stood outside the rooms leading to the wing belonging to the women of the Gremory Peerage, he, Kiba and Honda given other accommodations elsewhere in the manor. He stood there longer than intended uncertain what he was going to say.
Koneko sought me out above the others when she wanted a…a mate, d-does that mean she really does see me more than just her underclassman or was it just the nekoshou essence? I mean, she's amazing, always has been, but I always thought…
"Who is out there?" Gasper readied himself only to be confused as it was Catherine who answered the door. "Gasper? Is everything alright?"
"Um, isn't this Koneko's room?" His pale complexion turned a soft shade of pink before Catherine's grin at the risqué situation his nighttime rendezvoused appeared to be.
"She's two to the left, don't stay up too late." He didn't even get out a word before she closed the door again.
"Gasper?" He spun around seeing Koneko in her pajamas having just exited the bathroom. Her hair was tussled, clearly she hadn't given it a thought with sleep nearly upon her, his was similarly disheveled. The two stood there awkwardly, the silence growing around them only broken as the white-haired nekoshou found her words again. "What I said before, don't think anything about it."
"But I do think about it," he blurted out failing to realize that every woman in the nearby rooms had their ears plastered to their doors intent on hearing what came next. "You're an amazing person Ms…you're an amazing person Koneko! I just wanted to say that, that I was touched, no…honored you chose me out of everyone today!"
Koneko stared blankly, clearly not having expected such a proclamation from him, guessing he'd muster some stuttering apology for something he had nothing to do with. Instead, he'd accepted the underlying feelings growing between them and, in his own way and expressed his own in return. While those listening behind closed doors couldn't tell, the glances between the two made that fact beyond any doubt.
"Have a good night Gaspy," she leaned forward to give him a quick peck on the cheek. With that, she strolled past him into her room for the night, leaning on the door with a sigh of worry at what she'd just done once it closed. She would never realize that her action had utterly paralyzed the young man, Rias Gremory's first Bishop not budging from the spot he stood with the uncharacteristic grin of joy for almost thirty minutes.
Crossroads Tower…
"One down, twenty-four to go," Dorian eyed the Tafl case sitting on the nightstand, the High Queen piece missing now settled safely within Rossweisse's bosom. "And you're sure you are feeling alright?"
"Of course," Rossweisse assured him as the pair laid in bed leaning against one another. "I've never felt so powerful, more than enough to challenge my family trials. It goes beyond that that, like we're more connected than ever."
"Well, Ajuka did say the pieces were part of me, maybe there is some element that binds them to my body. We'll have to test sometime to help get you ready for those and…" The Einherjar was surprised as he was pressed against the bed, Rossweisse mounting him and pushing down gently on his chest. The look in her eyes said everything.
"We are alone," she slid one of her nightgown's straps down, nearly exposing a breast. "We haven't had a chance since Kyoto, you are fully healed, right?"
"More than healed," he gripped her hips, situating her more securely atop him. "Rose, I…"
"Ooooh, so feisty tonight, mind if we join in?"
Dorian and Rossweisse turned, faces reddening as Kuroka in her own negligee and Thrud in her baggy sweatshirt stood at the foot of the bed glaring at them. It was all the poor silver Valkyrie could do to pull a blanket atop herself under the gaze of the nekoshou and her friend.
"D-didn't you two say you were going to be in YOUR rooms tonight?" She stuttered, hand still gripping Dorian's arm.
"It doesn't feel the same," Kuroka pounced, landing on the bed with a soft poof. "I haven't slept in that room for weeks; this is much better nya."
"I do not wish to," Thrud answered truthfully and to the point. "I can sleep alone whenever I want. Tonight…I do not wish to. You said you wanted us both to be happy with Dorian, right?"
"You DID?" Kuroka grinned cheekily at Rossweisse, reveling in her embarrassed expression seeing it was true. "What do I have to do to get a glowing seal of approval like that? Is her first time next?"
"Kuroka!" Dorian gasped at her blatant reveal of his night with Rossweisse. "You said you wouldn't…"
"I figured it out," Thrud interrupted him before he could go further. "And I am so glad for you," she took Rossweisse's hand, the pair kneeling across from each other on the bed. "You didn't need to try and hide it, it's the most natural thing in the world." It was Kuroka's turn to look surprised, glancing between the two as she subtly inched closer to Dorian, her tails wrapping around his waist.
"See, you ladies get each other and the Einherjar of your dreams," she pulled Dorian closer. "Let's all have some fun, you two clearly need it. Thrud, you can play with these," her cat ears twitched drawing attention to them. "While he can play with these."
She pressed her breasts together with a lustful expression surpassing any they'd ever seen her make. What surprised Dorian most of all was Thrud seemingly contemplating her offer with incredible focus. Her decision seemed made up as she started to pull her shirt off over her head, answering Dorian's previous question if she wore anything beneath. Rossweisse was blushing furiously, even Thrud looked flushed at the situation, the pair giggling together before starting to crawl towards his side of the bed, Kuroka holding his shoulders securely enjoying the feel of his growing muscles.
"Lucky you-nya. You're about to experience a little slice of…"
"DORIAN HELD!" A familiar boom of Thor's voice shook the room, causing the four in the bed to jump. Skilja sailed through the window, feathers crackling with lightning emanating from his eyes. "THE TIME HAS COME! YOU SHALL COMMENCE A TRAINING THAT WILL NOT SOON BE…"
The bird suddenly stopped, glancing down at the four on the bed; Dorian without his shirt, Kuroka in her negligee, a fully nude Thrud and Rossweisse halfway to joining her. His head tilted in confusion, the group being uncertain if it was Skilja or the one connected to him that caused the action.
"I…see," his voice lowered to a more reserved tone as if an awkward shroud had been lowered over their conversation. "Well, t-the nightly merriments shall have to wait. Such activities, while a welcome one, must be second to…"
"FATHER!" Thrud cried aloud at the top of her lungs, causing even the bird to shirk back emulating the worry of the god of thunder as various weapons hidden around the bed in the event of an unexpected fight by the women started sailing in its direction. The exchange was so loud that none heard the distant ringing of the front doorbell to the Hyoudou Residence.
Downstairs…
"Now who could that be at this hour?" Rias grumbled while cinching her robe closed. The crimson Gremory had just finished settling in for the evening with Asia and Issei and her outfit she'd brought from home, the two close behind, when they heard the doorbell ringing up on the higher floors. Considering the noises coming from his parent's room, the pair were having a second honeymoon and hadn't even heard it. "We were just about to…"
The door swung open, rain still pounding the windows and roof heard even there on the ground floor. Outside stood a soaking wet and none-too happy looking Aika Kiryuu staring at them through foggy glasses. Rias looked over her school uniform clinging to her body, stopping to notice a swishing cat tail protruding from beneath her skirt. Issei and Asia gasped as well, none quite knowing what to say.
"You guys aren't normal humans, are you?" She stuttered, clearly freezing cold. "Don't ask me how I know, I can just smell something different about you now, why can I do that!? This…thing just appeared and suddenly I felt drawn here, like I needed to come to your house." She motioned to the tail. "Rias, Asia, perv boy…what is happening to me?"
Dorian finds his first Tafl Nobility candidate as Kuroka does the same for her Senet Team, the Crossroad team growing a little bigger. Training to bring everyone up to face the trials ahead begins next time. Until then, I hope everyone Reads and Reviews...but most of all Enjoys! :D