High School DxD: Inheritor of Malevolence

by dvdryms

There exist infinite universes, infinite possibilities. In one of them, an almost normal first-year high school student will discover that there is more to the world around him than meets the eye following a certain encounter. But where will his path lead him when the forbidden power sleeping within him awakens?

38. Homecoming

Chapter 38 – Homecoming

"Another night where I couldn't sleep a wink. Feels like a nasty pattern is starting to form…"

Takeshi said with a groan as he tossed his blanket aside and got up from his bed, his frustration palpable. Making a rude gesture towards the rising sun, whose rays stung his skin and irritated his eyes, he put on his clothes and focused his senses outwards, making sure the other occupants of the house were still asleep. Once he was certain no-one would disturb him, Takeshi opened the window and jumped outside. Spreading his Devil wings, he took flight, hoping that a couple of rounds around Kuoh would help clear his head. However—

"There you are."

A familiar voice spoke, followed by a pitch-black arrow that sailed through the air. Its aim was true, tearing through Takeshi's right wing and sending him falling towards the ground. Doing his best to ignore the searing pain, he used his demonic power to launch a blast of wind at the ground below, cushioning his fall somewhat. Upon turning his sight towards the direction the arrow had flown from, Takeshi let out a shocked gasp.

"Rias…?"

The figure of his red-haired master and lover could be seen standing on top of a nearby rooftop, a Destruction bow on her left hand. The loving expression she usually had on her face was nowhere to be found, with an icy gaze she reserved for her enemies having taken its place as she glared at Takeshi while preparing another arrow.

"Hey, what the Hell are you doing, Rias!?" Takeshi shouted, summoning Cataclysm Zone and Mayhem Striker. "If this is supposed to be training, isn't it a little too extreme!? I know you love your spartan methods, but blasting off my wing goes too far!"

"Training?" Rias sneered. "No, this is something I should have done a long time ago. I'm only correcting my mistake in letting a monster like you live."

"What…?"

Rattled by her uncharacteristic words, Takeshi was almost too slow to avoid the arrow volley coming at him, rolling out of the way just before Rias' Destruction arrows buried themselves in his body. Unwilling to face her, he broke into a run as Destruction spheres and lances flew at him, gouging holes in the asphalt and vaporizing the nearby houses.

"This isn't real…" Takeshi muttered as he ran with Rias in hot pursuit. "It can't be real, which means…are you messing around with me again, Ladon!?"

[I wonder…about that…] Ladon's voice echoed in Takeshi's mind. [You could be dreaming…or it could be real… Why don't you…fight back…and find out…? Or let that red-haired girl…tear you to pieces…and wake up…from the shock of death…if this is…indeed a dream…]

[Seems pretty real to me.] Nidhogg said while chuckling. [I warned you once before that this was bound to happen. Now, you'll be hunted down and be killed like a wild beast.]

[It was fun while it lasted, partner.] Orochi said in a jovial tone. [At least I'll have one hell of a story to tell to your successors!]

[Since this is the end of the line, let's make this flashy and bloody, whelp!] Grendel said. [Go out in a way befitting of an Evil Dragon, bathed in the blood and entrails of our enemies!]

"All of you, just—!"

Before Takeshi could complete his sentence, something struck his side with the force of a truck, sending him crashing through a wall and into an empty warehouse. Bringing up his axe on instinct, he parried the punch aiming for his torso and took a step back, a lopsided smile on his face as he focused on his new attacker's face.

"…Et tu, Koneko-chan?" Takeshi asked the white-haired girl. "Though I'm half-convinced this is another elaborate dream, I still have to ask; why?"

"…Senpai is as dangerous as my sister." Koneko said, enveloping her body in Touki. "I see that now. Before you can hurt me or anyone else…I'll take you down!"

Koneko closed the distance between them in an instant, aiming a jab at Takeshi's abdomen. Dodging to the side, Takeshi released an ash cloud to blind Koneko as he rushed out of the warehouse. However, a large stone wall rose from the ground all of a sudden, cutting of his escape route. Several lightning bolts fell from the sky at the same time, aiming for him. Pandora and Akeno, who were the ones responsible for the attacks, descended from above and landed on the stone wall, glaring at Takeshi.

"Did you think you would be allowed to escape?" Akeno said, her fingers pointing at Takeshi. "I'm afraid not. It looks like I was right about you from the start. We never should have trusted a savage beast like you."

"You are even more cursed than I am, a true blight on this world." Pandora said, conjuring her sword of demonic power as fire arrows and rock bullets formed around her. "That's why, consider this a mercy killing, a way for me to repay my debt to you."

"I don't recall asking for this kind of repayment!"

Takeshi shouted as he avoided both Akeno and Pandora's attacks while looking for a chance to flee. However, a large number of Holy Demonic Swords materialized around him, increasing gravity due to their special properties and forcing him on his knees. As a large number of Holy Demonic Swords materialized high above and started raining down on him, Takeshi shouted.

"Balance Break!"

[Malice Rise! Abyss Rage Awakening!]

Dead Shore Advent's ash grey armor formed around his body, with the ensuing aura outburst destroying the surrounding blades. Enveloping himself in ashes that shaped themselves into a drill, Takeshi dug through the stone wall, only to come face-to-face with Xenovia, whose Durandal tore through the ashes and opened a deep gash on Takeshi's chest. Screaming in pain due to light poisoning, Takeshi was barely fast enough to avoid Yuuto's slash from the side, which missed his head and severed one of his helmet's horns instead. Spreading his four wings, Takeshi took flight, only for his wings to suddenly freeze in midair. Several light spears then buried themselves in his wings and limbs, sending him crashing on the ground.

"Sorry about this, kid." Azazel, who was the one responsible for this attack, said as he descended from the sky. "But we can't risk you screwing up the world even further than it already is. You've caused enough problems as is."

"S-Senpai is a bad person after all!" Gasper, whose head peeked out of Azazel's back, said so as his eyes glowed. "T-That's why, I-I will protect e-everyone from you!"

"Don't think too badly of us, Takeshi-kun." Yuuto said as he approached Takeshi, several Holy Demonic Swords forming around him. "I'm sure that if you were in our place and we in yours, you would do the same."

"You're just too dangerous to remain alive." Xenovia said, brandishing Durandal. "I thought we could get along, but some things aren't meant to work out. In the end, you can't oppose fate."

"Sensei… Everyone… You…!"

Takeshi tried to speak through gritted teeth, but couldn't muster the strength to say anything else. Next thing he knew, all members of the Gremory Peerage and Azazel started attacking him. Their blasts melted his armor, their swords hacked through his limbs and their blows sent him tumbling backwards as he screamed. In some corner of his mind, he was aware that he should have died long ago from such grievous wounds even with his regeneration, but couldn't ponder that further as his friends and teacher continued attacking him mercilessly.

Eventually, a large explosion blew him away, sending him crashing near Kuoh's town square. Still breathing somehow, he started crawling away slowly, only for a barrage of Destruction spheres to vaporize his limbs. Unable to scream any more due to his destroyed vocal cords, Takeshi could only stare at Rias, who approached his inert form with slow steps.

"The chase is over, you vile creature." Rias said. "As much as I would love to erase you on the spot, there are some people who deserve that honor more than me. You two, if you would be so kind as to finish this."

"You don't have to ask us twice, Rias-san."

Takeshi's eyes opened wide upon seeing his parents standing there, matching expressions of disgust on their face as they held guns similar to the ones used by Exorcists in their hands. He tried to speak, but only a croaking sound came out of his scorched mouth.

"You are the shame of our family." Shiori said while pointing her gun at Takeshi's head. "If I knew I would give birth to a monster like you, I would have choked you to death the moment I first held you in my hands."

"We are partly responsible for you, so we will atone for our sin of raising you by putting an end to this." Hiroto said as he raised his gun as well. "May you rot in Hell for all your sins, monster."

Two gunshots echoed as two light rounds tore through Takeshi's skull. At the same time, the scenery around him cracked like broken glass and broke apart. Next thing he knew, Takeshi found himself lying on his bed, the searing pain from the injuries he had received still lingering on his body. At the same time, the memories of all other nightmares he had experienced during the night rushed back at him, causing him to let out a strangled cry as he thrashed on the bed.

"Takeshi! Takeshi! What's the matter!? Are you alright!?"

The one shouting that was Akeno, who only wore a pair of risqué black underwear, a concerned expression on her face as she tried to hold Takeshi down. Still half-delirious from his nightmares and the image of his friends torturing him to death fresh on his mind, Takeshi howled as he tackled the raven-haired girl, sending them both tumbling on the floor. Grabbing her throat with one hand, he enveloped his other in demonic power, aiming to bash her skull with it. A defensive magic circle appeared in front of Akeno, shielding her from his blow.

"Takeshi…don't you…recognize me…?" Akeno wheezed out while struggling to escape from Takeshi's vice-like grip. "It's me…Akeno…"

Takeshi said nothing at first, his expression still feral and his body tense. As the haze cleared from his mind and he realized what exactly he was doing, Takeshi released Akeno in haste, taking a few steps back as he looked around in an agitated state. His brain worked in overdrive, desperately trying to make sense of his surroundings before focusing on the almost naked girl in front of him.

"…Akeno…" Takeshi muttered, eyeing her with a wary gaze. "Is this real…or is this another nightmare…?"

"Perhaps this will clear things out?"

Closing the distance between them in a flash, Akeno kissed Takeshi, her supple breasts pressing on his bare torso. His body tensed at first, almost interpreting Akeno's act as yet another form of attack. After a couple of seconds, he relaxed into the kiss and returned it, through not with his usual fervor. The two of them separated after a few seconds, with Akeno taking a step back.

"Feeling a bit better now?"

"Somewhat…" Takeshi sighed. "I'm sorry about…you know, attacking you out of the blue and everything…"

"Ara, ara, you know I don't mind you being rough with me at times." Akeno let out a mischievous smile while licking her finger. "Still, I'd rather we restrict those occasions on the bed and when you're in full control of your mental faculties. It's not as fun otherwise~."

[Oooh, this girl has some very daring ideas as usual!] Orochi said. [That's why she's my favorite among your mates so far, partner.]

"Leaving that matter aside, what are you doing in my room, Akeno?" Takeshi asked, ignoring Orochi's comment. "To be more specific, what are you doing in my room while wearing almost nothing?"

"Oh, just a bit of night crawling, that's all." Akeno smirked. "Or rather, since the sun is about to rise, I guess it's morning crawling? Either way, I thought having some…private time together would be a good way to celebrate your house's renovation and me moving in, ufufu~."

Right, there was that as well.

Takeshi thought as he glanced around at his altered room. The Ryuugamine residence's renovation into a palatial six-storey building, which had been planned prior to the Gremory group's excursion to the Ibaraki Prefecture, had been completed yesterday morning while the occupants of the house were sleeping.

For Takeshi, it had been quite the shock to wake up and find that his room had become twice the size it used to be, with an oversized bed that could easily fit several people placed in the middle of it. His TV, game consoles and computer had all been updated to the latest possible models, and his bookcase had been expanded to fit all his tokusatsu merchandise, with plenty of room to spare for more. Despite the massive upgrade, Takeshi found it difficult to derive any sort of joy from it, preoccupied as he was with the matter of his nightmares.

"When we discussed room arrangements three days ago, I thought I had made myself clear." Takeshi said with a stern look. "None of you girls should be near me while I'm sleeping, at least for the time being. As you found out the hard way just now, I could hurt you without meaning to."

"That's true, but—"

"No buts, and no arguments either." Takeshi cut off Akeno. "I'm dead serious here, Akeno. It's bad enough that I see you all dying in horrific ways during my nightmares. No matter what, I won't let it happen for real, and I definitely won't allow myself to be the cause of that."

Akeno was about to respond, but at that moment, the room's door opened, with Rias and Koneko stepping inside in haste. Upon noticing Akeno standing there, Rias sighed in exasperation.

"Why am I not surprised one bit by your presence here…?" Rias said while glaring at her Queen. "Figures that you'd be the one to ignore what we all agreed upon and try to steal a march."

"…Bad Akeno-san." Koneko said while pouting. "I want to spend as much time with Senpai as possible myself. You don't see me acting all sneaky though."

"Ara, you two shouldn't be so stingy." Akeno let out a sly smile. "Takeshi has given you plenty of love already, so this much should be allowed from my side. Even I want to be spoiled lots and lots, you know? Plus, snatching the number one position with my charms is also an enticing prospect."

"…That won't happen." Koneko said with evident fighting spirit. "Even if the opponent is Akeno-san, I won't lose."

"That's my line, ladies." Rias said, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at the two girls. "We may be in a relationship with the same man, but I won't relinquish the top spot to either of you. That's especially true when it comes to someone who loves to play dirty."

"Oh, was that supposed to be a jab at me?" Akeno grinned. "You had best be careful with your words there, President. Your insecurity is starting to show, ufufu~."

"Are you challenging me, Akeno? In that case, I—"

"Enough." Takeshi cut off Rias with an annoyed tone. "I can tell this is going to turn into another pointless argument, and I'm not in the mood for it first thing in the morning. You girls go downstairs, and I'll meet you all there for breakfast in a bit. Also, where's Pandora? I was sure she'd be here with you two."

"…She went downstairs to help Xenovia-senpai with her belongings and show her to her room." Koneko said. "I still don't understand why she waited until today and didn't move in yesterday like Akeno-san and I did."

"You'll have to ask her that yourself." Rias said. "Well then, we should head downstairs as well and help Shiori-san. Breakfast isn't going to make itself after all."

Once the three girls had left the room, Takeshi went back to his bed and reached under his pillow, pulling out a ring-shaped device and staring at it. From what Azazel had told him when he delivered it to him, this prototype was supposed to be some sort of 'dreamcatcher' that would shield the user from mental attacks. It should have been the solution to the constant stream of nightmares he was experiencing due to Ladon's interference.

"Useless piece of junk!"

Takeshi snarled as he threw the device at the nearby wall with such force that it shattered into small pieces while also cracking that spot. The device had been effective for only a single night, after which his nightmares had returned in full force, as vivid and horrific as ever.

[To be accurate…that little toy…was incapable of stopping me…from the beginning…] Ladon said. [I thought…giving you a glimmer of hope…before snatching it away…would help you realize…how pointless…your struggles are…]

"Looks like you're as sadistic as the rest, Ladon." Takeshi sneered. "I'm going to enjoy chaining you far more than I should have."

[Don't be…too sure…about that…] Ladon said. [I believe…it's far more likely…that you'll come around…to my point of view… Your goals…your aspirations…your fights…your future…nothing really matters…in the end… Accept that…and free yourself…or keep tormenting yourself… By the way…what did you think…of my latest masterpiece…? Did you enjoy…being murdered…by your so-called friends…?]

"I found your script to be in poor taste." Takeshi said, the venom in his voice evident. "Wouldn't expect anything less from a gutless worm like you though."

[You want to talk about gutless?] Grendel said. [We gave you access to our powers within the nightmare, and yet you stood by like a cowering wimp as your friends were hacking you to pieces. A pathetic showing in all accounts! Not to mention, I lost my bet with Nidhogg because of you!]

[I told you the whelp didn't have it in him even if he was convinced this was a dream.] Nidhogg said. [He's too soft, and that's why he's bound to fail in the end.]

[I don't know about that.] Orochi said. [He got used to killing his enemies pretty fast. That's definitely a sign of crooked mentality if I've ever seen one. Remember some of the hosts we used to have? The sniveling brats who broke down in tears each time they took a life? Compared to them, partner here is a big improvement, don't you think?]

[That is a good point, but a single redeeming feature is not enough.] Nidhogg said. [If he cannot act on his impulses, he's far from being an ideal host.]

[What he is…and what he should be…is inconsequential…] Ladon said. [The end of the line…is fast approaching…for him… It seems four…is his unlucky number…]

"Have I ever mentioned how much I love it when you cretins talk about me like I'm not here?" Takeshi scowled. "Though I have to say, it's hilarious that you seem to believe I value your opinions and input. Now, if you're done with the criticism, keep your traps shut or I'll shut them for you."

[Temper, temper…] Ladon chuckled. [As you wish… See you…in your nightmares…]

The presence of the Evil Dragons receded, leaving Takeshi in an even more foul mood than before. Taking deep breaths to compose himself, Takeshi got ready and headed to the dining room downstairs. Much like the rest of the house, the modest dining hall had also received an overhaul, with a luxurious table that was five times bigger than the previous one and the large chandelier hanging from the ceiling being the most eye-catching features.

"Ah, there you are. Good morning, Takeshi."

Hiroto, who was sitting at the top of the table, greeted his son with a wide smile. Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Pandora and Xenovia had also taken their seats, while Shiori was busy bringing dishes from the kitchen. Taking a seat next to his father, Takeshi turned to Xenovia, who was sitting next to him.

"Welcome to our house, Xenovia." Takeshi said. "Any problems or requests regarding your room?"

"No, everything is fine." Xenovia said. "I have to admit though that I was taken by surprise when I arrived and saw how large this building was. For a moment there, I thought I had got the address wrong."

"I know the feeling, Xenovia-san." Hiroto said. "When I first viewed it from outside, I could hardly believe this was our family's house. Rias-san's father did say their work would be done in a single night, but I had my doubts. It's amazing how far construction techniques have progressed in the west."

Takeshi let out a small groan at that. Both his father and mother had been thoroughly hypnotized by Rias to both accept the explanation they had been given without questioning it further and not discuss their renovated residence with their acquaintances, friends and family. Although he should have felt indignant about it like usual, Takeshi couldn't muster the energy to care about that now.

"Not to mention, after the damages our house incurred in that freak hurricane, Gremory-san's offer to renovate it free of charge was a godsend." Hiroto continued. "Others weren't as fortunate as we were. Please convey our gratitude and appreciation to him when you next see him, Rias-san."

"Of course, Hiroto-san."

"Come to think of it, what happened to the neighbors, President…?" Pandora whispered to Rias. "Don't tell me you made them disappear or something…?"

"Nothing that violent, I assure you." Rias said. "If anything, it was a very peaceful settlement. They received rather lucrative offers about some premium plots of land and they moved there. No threats or hypnotism were needed there, and everyone was happy in the end."

"As expected from the negotiation techniques of President and her family…"

Pandora said with a small smile as Shiori brought in the last dishes. She then brought out the house's blueprints, spreading them on the table.

"Since Xenovia-san has moved in as well, we should go over the layout and familiarize ourselves with it." Shiori said. "On the first floor are the guest rooms, the living room, the kitchen, and several Japanese-style rooms. Takeshi, Rias-san and Pandora-san's rooms are on the second floor, while mine and Hiroto's room are on the third floor along with the study and the storeroom. Akeno-san, Xenovia-san and Koneko-san's rooms are on the fourth floor, while the fifth and sixth floor consist entirely of empty rooms. We'll probably use them as guest rooms or extra storerooms if needed."

"Once again, thank you very much for having us here." Akeno said, making a small bow along with Xenovia and Koneko. "I know it must be a bother for you, but we'll do our best to not become a nuisance in your house."

"Ara, what are you saying, Akeno-san?" Shiori smiled. "Hiroto and I are both very glad to have you all here. We couldn't very well leave our son's friends out on the streets. Feel free to stay here until your damaged houses are repaired."

The official excuse for Rias, Akeno, Koneko and Xenovia moving in to the Ryuugamine residence was that their houses had been nearly destroyed by the recent 'hurricane'. Takeshi wasn't sure how they would excuse their continued stay here in the future, but assumed they would either come up with something else by then or keep hypnotizing his parents.

"It's as Shiori says." Hiroto grinned. "As things stand, we have plenty of space available. Apart from the six stories and the open-air garden on the roof, there are three underground floors as well."

"Oh, there are underground rooms as well?" Xenovia asked while struggling with her chopsticks. "Are they supposed to act as shelters in case another disaster strikes this town?"

"The first underground floor does have that function too." Rias said. "It's a spacious room that can be used as a training area and a movie theater as well. There's also an indoor bath there. An indoor pool occupies the entirety of the second floor, while the third floor has a library and a storehouse."

"…Impressive." Koneko remarked. "But isn't it going to be a pain moving from floor to floor?"

"That's what the elevator is for." Rias smiled. "You can get from the top floors to the bottom ones in no time at all."

"Sounds like your father's company has thought of everything, President." Takeshi remarked while eating his miso soup. "How durable is this house though? Can it withstand any future…hurricanes?"

"I wouldn't worry about that." Rias responded. "In fact, I'm confident this house could remain standing even after a bombing run."

"If the latter part were true, I'd quit my company at once and beg your father to hire me in his, Rias-san." Hiroto said while laughing. "Still, it's good to know that this is a sturdy construction. With all these weird natural disasters we've been experiencing lately, it feels like Mother Nature is on the warpath."

"Tell me about it." Shiori said. "What's strange is that such abnormal phenomena have been observed all over the world. Heat waves in Russia, sudden blizzards in North Africa, constant floods in Brazil, a large number of typhoons in China and more. Not to mention, there are all the bizarre sightings that have been reported in various countries."

"Bizarre sightings?" Xenovia raised an eyebrow. "You mean the reports from eyewitnesses claiming to have seen mythological monsters roaming around in remote regions?"

"Right." Shiori nodded. "From sirens in Greece to Piasas in the United States, people are clamoring left and right that legends and myths have come back to life. The way I see it though, this is just some new fad that started from someone wanting their two minutes of fame and spread like wildfire. Worst of all, there are several cults who take advantage of this to stoke people's fears, claiming these are signs of the world's ending, and scam them out of everything they have. I investigated one such case in Osaka while you kids were away."

"Despicable bastards." Hiroto spat out with a disgusted expression. "I hope they all get what's coming to them. Speaking of your job though, you'll be going abroad during summer holidays, won't you?"

"Yes, I'll be doing a reportage on the recent terrorist attack in Vatican City." Shiori said. "It's quite the odd case. Even though they must have gone through considerable trouble to attack the Catholic Church's seat of power, no terrorist organization has come forth to take credit for the attack. Perhaps I'll be able to shed some light into this case by following some leads there."

"If it's you, I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of this, dear." Hiroto said with a smile. "Still, between you going to Rome and the kids going to visit Rias-san's ancestral home during summer vacation, I'll be left here all by my lonesome. At least I'll have plenty of work to keep me occupied. Considering the recent hurricane and the damages it caused, my team and I will have to revise our plans for the Redevelopment Project."

"Tough luck, dear." Shiori smiled. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to bring you lots of souvenirs from Rome. We'd both appreciate it if you did the same, Takeshi. I'd love to try some local products from Northern Europe."

"Sure thing, Mom…"

Takeshi replied in an absentminded manner, prompting Shiori to frown.

"Is everything alright, Takeshi?" Shiori said with an anxious tone. "You seem low on energy. Come to think of it, ever since you returned from Mito, your complexion hasn't been looking too good. Did something happen there? Did you get sick or something?"

"Nothing like that." Takeshi said, forcing a smile and making a V-sign. "I'm as energetic as usual, ready to enjoy the long-awaited summer vacation!"

"Are you sure, son?" Hiroto eyed Takeshi with a suspicious look. "I don't know why, but I've got a feeling you're hiding something from us. Something rather serious."

"No, no, what could I possibly be hiding?" Takeshi said in as carefree a tone as he could manage, though his smile faltered. "If there were any issues with me, you'd be the first to know."

"Would we?" Shiori said, narrowing her eyes at Takeshi. "That might have been the case once, but lately, I feel like you're shutting us out for some reason. We're worried about you, Takeshi. If anything's troubling you, we want to know about it and help you if we can. You don't—"

"I said I'm fine!"

Takeshi shouted, smashing his hands at the table as he stood up. Having failed to regulate his strength due to his outburst, he cracked the table's surface, much to his parents' shock. Before they could react, Rias clicked her fingers in haste, with Shiori and Hiroto's eyes glazing over in response. Next to her, Akeno conjured a magic circle, using her demonic power to repair the table.

"That was close…" Rias let out a relieved sigh before turning to Takeshi. "After this, I believe we can safely say that you're not fine at all. Let me guess, more nightmares? Is that why Koneko and I felt a small surge of demonic power from your room?"

"I…yes, that's right…" Takeshi said, collapsing on his seat and letting out an exhausted sigh. "Ladon keeps projecting all these horrific scenarios in my mind. Worst of all…I almost hurt Akeno for real this morning when she tried to snap me out of it… Still, I'm hanging in there. I won't give Ladon the satisfaction of beating me."

"…Senpai." Koneko said as she hugged Takeshi. "Don't forget, we are always here for you."

"That's right." Pandora added from the side, putting her hand on Takeshi's shoulder. "You can depend on us for anything, even venting your complaints, problems and frustrations. We won't think less of you for that."

"Moreover, don't forget some of us are always available and willing if you want to engage in the other kind of 'venting', ufufu~." Akeno let out a playful smile as she embraced Takeshi from behind. "You aren't alone, so don't try to shut us out and bear everything yourself. Otherwise, your Senpai will have to show her unpleasant side."

"My expertise lies more in the art of battle, but if I can help you with anything, don't hesitate to ask." Xenovia smiled. "We are comrades, no, friends after all."

Takeshi was silent at first, but then showed a small smile.

"…Thank you, everyone." Takeshi said as he stood up. "I think I've calmed down now. If you need me, I'll be in the open-air garden to get some fresh air until Yuuto and Gasper-kun get here. Rias, could you…?"

"Don't worry, I'll handle your parents." Rias said. "Also, what the others said counts for me as well. You can consult with me anytime."

Takeshi nodded as he headed towards the elevator.

All of them are more than I deserve, but even so…

A grim expression appeared on Takeshi's face once the elevator's doors closed behind him.

My issues, they're not something a simple show of support can solve…

---

Later…

"As you all know, since summer vacation starts tomorrow, we'll all be visiting my parents' house in the Underworld."

Rias said. Currently, all members of the Gremory group, including Yuuto and Gasper, who had arrived a few minutes ago, had gathered in Takeshi's room. As usual, Gasper was inside his cardboard box, eyeing his surroundings with a wary gaze.

"The time has come for this fallen believer to descend into Hell at last." Xenovia said with a bitter smile. "I can't say it doesn't suit my circumstances considering I turned my back on the Church and Heaven. I can't help but admit that I'm a bit anxious about the dreaded Underworld we had heard so much about during the daily sermons."

"There's no need to be worried, Xenovia-san." Pandora said. "From the little I've seen of it, the Underworld seems like a pleasant place to live in. It's far better than some of the places I had been forced to stay in the past for sure…"

"…You wouldn't say that if you were a sinner that was trapped in one of the Nine Circles." Koneko said while munching on several anpan. "I haven't seen it personally, but the constant torture they undergo is rumored to be quite severe."

"V-Visiting President's house is going to be t-torture enough…" Gasper muttered. "Such a c-crowded place is like p-poison to a shut-in like m-me. C-Can't I just stay behind like all the o-other times, President?"

"No can do, I'm afraid." Rias smiled. "You've already made some progress in conquering your fear of the outside, so this is a good chance to take things one step further. I know it's hard, but you must bear with it, Gasper. I have faith that you'll be able to overcome your limits one step at a time."

"Y-Yessssss!" Gasper said. "I-I'll do my besssssssst, President! If p-push comes to shove, I'll just do a p-power-up with this…"

Reaching into the depths of his cardboard box, Gasper took the Oni mask Takeshi had given him and put it on his face, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Ah, this and the cardboard box are the oases that calm my heart~."

"Maybe I shouldn't have given him that mask after all." Takeshi muttered. "He looks a little too shady and spooky with it on. Eh, I suppose it'll be fine as long as he doesn't come across any children…"

"We'll be in the Underworld for the entirety of summer break, right, President?"

"Almost." Rias responded thus to Yuuto's question. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we should be back at around the twentieth of August. The overall plan is for us to train and attend various gatherings while we're staying in the Underworld."

"I'll also be coming along as your teacher."

The one who had spoken was Azazel, who had shown up in Takeshi's room out of nowhere. Everyone let out surprised gasps at his sudden appearance, with Akeno glaring at him.

"Where did you come from, Azazel?"

"Where, you ask?" Azazel grinned at Rias. "I came from the front door like a normal person."

"I didn't sense his presence at all…"

"That makes all of us, I think…"

Yuuto and Takeshi muttered at each other.

"That's because you kids are still lacking in training." Azazel said. "You shouldn't let your guard down even when you are in seemingly safe areas."

After saying so, Azazel began looking around the room with an amused expression on his face, his focus on the various tokusatsu collectibles.

"With a few exceptions, this is the mirror image of Vali's old room back in Grigori." Azazel said. "You two are similar to a frightening degree… In any case, when it comes to you guys' schedule while in the Underworld…"

Azazel took out a leather-bound notebook with the Gremory sigil on it, prompting Rias to let out a surprised gasp.

"Hey! That's my notebook! Give it back!"

"Let's see, let's see…" Azazel said, ignoring Rias's protests and evading her attempts to reclaim her notebook. "First, there's the visit to the Gremory main residence, where you'll greet Rias's parents and the new servants will be introduced to the head of the family. Then, there's the meeting of the up-and-coming young Devils, followed by your training. Tch, there's nothing but plans and schedules here. I was hoping to read a maiden's diary that would expose all sorts of embarrassing secrets. You're a little too uptight for such a young lady, Rias. Takeshi might get bored of you if you act like that on your 'private' time as well."

"That's none of your business!" Rias shouted with a flushed face, snatching her notebook from Azazel's hands. "Sheesh, is that any way for an educator to behave…? Anyway, since you'll be accompanying us, should I make the necessary arrangements for you too?"

"Please do." Azazel said. "I usually enter the Underworld through the Fallen Angels' route. It'll be an interesting experience using the Devils' way for once. Ugh, now if only I didn't have to sit through all these meetings with Sirzechs and the others, that would be great…"

"The Devils' route?" Xenovia titled her head to the side. "Aren't we going to teleport there through the magic circle?"

"No, we'll be travelling through another route." Rias said. "You'll see what I mean tomorrow. I don't want to spoil the surprise."

"Well, if there's nothing else, I'd like to borrow Takeshi here for a bit." Azazel said, placing his arm around the young man's shoulder. "Since we'll be gone for almost a month, it's best if he uses the rejuvenation device now. Ah, but Akeno and Koneko don't need to come this time. I want to try out something new."

Akeno and Koneko both raised an eyebrow at this, but didn't offer any objections. Takeshi was also curious, but didn't question Azazel. The Fallen Angel Governor usually had a good reason for doing what he did. Conjuring a teleportation magic circle beneath the two of them, Azazel transported himself and Takeshi to his hidden lab beneath Kuoh Academy.

"So, what's this about a new treatment, Sensei?" Takeshi asked. "Did you come up with something that will put an end to these damn nightmares at last?"

"No, not yet unfortunately." Azazel said. "To be honest, I wanted us to have a one-on-one chat, which is why I brought you here. Got a feeling you would clam up if the others were here as well. I couldn't help but notice that you broke the dreamcatcher device I made for you in a fit of rage. You know such complex pieces of machinery aren't that easy to replace, right? Moreover, such outbursts aren't helping your condition in the slightest."

"You don't say." Takeshi said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Too bad your talent for stating the obvious isn't matched by your skill in engineering, Sensei. That defective gizmo of yours had zero effect on me. It got a good laugh out of Ladon though. Merry Evil Dragons in my head is just what I needed after having my friends and family hack me to pieces in my nightmares."

"Like I said, you're not doing yourself any favors by losing your cool like that." Azazel said with a disapproving gaze. "That only makes it easier for Ladon and the others to influence you. If you keep going like this—"

"You think I don't know all that!?" Takeshi cut off Azazel, a furious expression on his face. "Too bad it's not that easy to maintain your composure when you've already died a thousand times in all sorts of horrific ways, and you're set to die ten thousand more in the near future! When every waking moment, you have to pause and wonder if what you're experiencing is real, or if you're stuck in yet another nightmare where everything's about to go south! When going through each day feels like an ordeal in itself! Start lecturing me once you've experienced all that yourself, Azazel!"

There was only silence following Takeshi's tirade, with him and Azazel staring at each other. After a few seconds, the Fallen Angel Governor let out a sigh.

"The situation is worse than I thought…" Azazel muttered. "I cannot empathize with you, but I can sympathize with what you're going through. Keep in mind though, Ladon has been beaten by past users, so it stands to reason you can overcome his influence as well. You've already done an excellent job in coming out on top so far after all. Don't tell me that you of all people consider conceding to him and the other Evil Dragons? That are you willing to admit defeat?"

"The issue isn't whether I want to win…but rather if it's possible to win at all…"

"Oh?" Azazel raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"Even if I succeed in overcoming Ladon and unlock the Balance Breaker…there's no guarantee the nightmares will stop." Takeshi said, looking like the energy had drained out of his body as he collapsed on a nearby chair. "Using the other three Evil Dragons' power still exacts a toll on my body after all. Even if the nightmares do stop or even if you manage to suppress them somehow, the thought of what might come after when the next Evil Dragon awakens…it sends a shiver down my spine…"

"You're afraid." Azazel said. "That's only natural though. Feeling fear doesn't make you a lesser man."

"The problem is I keep finding new reasons to be afraid every day." Takeshi let out a humorless laugh. "I'm afraid that this torment will never truly end even if I master Cataclysm Zone. I'm afraid to grow stronger for fear of losing control and harming innocents like what almost happened in the conference. I'm afraid that if I don't grow stronger on the other hand, I won't be able to protect those I love, and that I'll lose them while watching powerless from the sidelines. I'm afraid…I'm afraid of turning into something I'm not, that I'm going to lose sight of myself on this path I've set upon."

Takeshi lowered his head, staring at his trembling hands.

"Most of all…I'm afraid of having to live the rest of my life in fear of what the next day will bring." Takeshi said. "I fear that, one day, I will come to agree with what Ladon says, that it's easier to simply not care about anything and anyone…"

[That is…the truth of the universe…whelp…] Ladon's voice echoed in Takeshi's mind. [There is no meaning in life…no grand cause…no higher purpose… All…is in vain…]

"You and I both know that's not the case." Azazel said. "No matter what nonsense Ladon spouts, life isn't as bleak as it sometimes seems. Take this from a guy who survived a war that almost annihilated his species and saw all sorts of atrocities on the battlefield. And don't get me started on humans and their capacity for self-destruction. Despite all that though, the world's still in one piece. Life always finds a way to thrive, and so can you. Your will is strong, and I believe that you can exceed both the Evil Dragons and the world's expectations of you to become something great. If I didn't think so, I would have classified you as a destructive factor and eliminated you long ago."

"Can you do that, Sensei?" Takeshi asked the Fallen Angel. "If it seems I'm about to lose…can you stop me before things go past the point of no return and I harm someone? The others…I don't know if they have it in them to do what they must…"

"If it comes to that, I will take care of things." Azazel said, and then grinned as he pat Takeshi's shoulder. "I doubt they will though. Your training during summer might be able to help you…if you can survive it, that is…"

"Did you say something, Sensei?"

"No, nothing much." Azazel said. "Oh, one more thing. While I have faith in you, in the end, the only one who knows your limits is you alone. This burden of yours was something you didn't ask for, something you were saddled with by Heaven's System. You've carried it admirably so far, so if you feel that you can't bear it anymore…there might be a way to rid you of it."

"Are you implying you have a way to remove my Sacred Gear?" Takeshi frowned. "Doesn't extraction lead to death though since Sacred Gears are bound to our souls?"

"That's usually the case." Azazel said. "Grigori has developed a method to extract Sacred Gears, but the process still leads to the wielder's death. It's why we abstain from using it unless we need to collect specific Gears from criminals. However, recent developments have shown it might be possible to preserve the wielder's life following the extraction. I won't say anything else, but know that might be an option down the line."

Takeshi didn't respond to that, too busy considering the implications of what Azazel had said.

To be rid of Cataclysm Zone… Takeshi thought. It couldn't be that easy…could it? If that's a way out, then maybe…

[Good for you, whelp.] Nidhogg laughed. [That's the way. There's no need for you to die. Run away from your problems and dump them on someone else.]

[Look only…after yourself…] Ladon said. [You are…learning at last…]

[Aw, come on now!] Orochi complained. [You wouldn't be so cruel as to abandon us? After all the fun adventures we've had together?]

[Tch, how predictable.] Grendel growled. [You talked big all these times before, but in the end, you're as much of a weakling as the rest! Good thing is, I won't have to suffer through your pathetic hero play anymore! Perhaps the next host will share my taste for blood and raw meat!]

Doing his best to ignore the cacophony in his thoughts and the turmoil in his heart, Takeshi stepped into the magic circle conjured by Azazel, with the two men heading back to the Ryuugamine residence.

---

The next day…

"Why are we in the train station if we're heading to the Underworld?"

Xenovia asked with a puzzled look. Shortly after the sun had risen, the Gremory Peerage plus Azazel had left the Ryuugamine residence, their destination being the nearest train station. Suffice to say, this had confused the newest members of the Peerage.

"That's because there's a secret level accessible only to Devils beneath this station." Rias explained as the group headed for the station's elevator while carrying their luggage. "It's one of the several hidden areas in this town that are available only to us."

"A secret train platform…" Pandora muttered as the elevator opened. "To think that the humans who come and go every day are unaware of what lies beneath their feet…"

At that moment, the elevator door opened. Rias turned to Yuuto and spoke.

"Akeno and I will go first with the members who haven't come here before." Rias said. "Yuuto, please follow after us with Azazel and the others."

"Understood, President."

Yuuto nodded as Rias, Akeno, Takeshi, Pandora and Xenovia stepped into the elevator with their luggage. Once everyone was inside, Rias took out a card with Devil letters engraved on it from her skirt pocket and swiped it near an electronic panel. After a beeping sound was heard from the panel, the elevator began descending. Once a minute or so had passed, the elevator arrived at its destination, with the doors opening.

"Wow…"

Takeshi muttered as he looked around in wonder. They had arrived in a vast underground space with a high ceiling that was supported by a large number of pillars. Several train tracks could be seen on the side and a large number of lamps letting out a soft glow illuminated the area. From what Takeshi could tell, this underground station was several times the size of the station above them. Once the rest of the group arrived after a couple of minutes, Rias spoke.

"Now then, since we're all here, we'll head to platform three." Rias said. "The train that will take us to the Underworld is waiting there."

"Why is there a need for a train to begin with, President?" Takeshi said as the group started walking. "We have teleportation magic circles after all. True, it would take some time to set them up since we'd be jumping to another realm, but I don't think the train would be faster."

"This is done for security reasons mostly." Rias explained. "While we cross the Dimensional Gap into the Underworld, the installed devices and magic circles inside the train will perform a through check on you, verifying your identity and recording your demonic power patterns. All that information is then fed back into the Underworld's central database and cross-referenced with your existing data. Through that, we ensure that new Reincarnated Devils aren't enemy spies or individuals who've got an axe to grind with the Underworld."

"We used the magic circle to teleport straight to the Underworld during the post-Rating Game party though." Pandora said with a frown. "Doesn't that mean we broke the law?"

"That was an exception since the Gremory family threw the party in haste and Sirzechs-sama vouched for all of you." Akeno said. "That's why, you won't be punished for that, Pandora-san. It's a different case though when one has an illicit sexual relationship with their master like Takeshi over here, ufufu~."

"First time I'm hearing of that." Takeshi turned to Rias. "Please tell me she's kidding."

"Come on, you should know Akeno by now, Takeshi." Rias smiled. "You don't have to worry about any of that. It's possible my parents might give you a bit of a hard time though."

"Great…" Takeshi groaned. "I'm looking less and less forward to this trip…"

"…Don't worry, Senpai." Koneko said, grasping his hand. "I'll be by your side no matter what."

"So will I." Rias said, grasping his other hand. "No matter what complaints my parents might have, I'll make sure to silence them."

"Aw, President and Koneko-chan stole a march from us." Akeno giggled. "Too bad, right, Pandora-san, Xenovia-san?"

"Ugh, and here I thought you had given up on the teasing." Pandora groaned. "Just my luck, I guess…"

"I'm not sure I understand the problem." Xenovia tilted her head to the side. "What sort of march did they steal from us?"

"Ara, ara, looks like this innocent lady needs a through reeducation." Akeno said with a predatory smile as she inched closer to Xenovia. "Don't worry, your kind Senpai here will be sure to show you the ropes and teach you everything you need to know about tempting men, or rather a specific man, ufufu~."

"Please don't." Pandora said as she pulled Akeno away from Xenovia. "Two of Akeno-san would be too much for the world to handle, let alone the one you're thinking of."

"Hm, is that a tinge of jealousy in your voice, Pandora-san?" Akeno's smile became wider. "Ufufu, looks like someone doesn't want the number of rivals to increase. As someone who isn't even in the running though, is it really your place to complain?"

"That's neither here nor there." Pandora glared at Akeno. "To begin with, you—"

Like that, Pandora and Akeno started a small argument, while a confused Xenovia looked at them from the side. A couple of steps behind them, Yuuto grinned at the scene unfolding before him.

"Ah, it's good to see things being lively and peaceful like usual." Yuuto said, turning to Gasper, who was walking next to him. "Don't you think so, Gasper-kun?"

"R-Rather than lively, things seem s-scary to me…" Gasper muttered with a timid expression. "T-Takeshi-senpai must have nerves of s-steel if he has to deal with such s-situations every day, and yet remains u-unfazed by all that… T-Then again, Yuuto-senpai also deals with lots of g-girls on a daily basis though, right? Like S-Shinra-senpai for example?"

"My encounters with girls are mostly me turning down their various invitations." Yuuto said with a smile. "As for Shinra-senpai, we've only spoken a couple of times so far, and our talks revolved around literature. I'm afraid courting the opposite gender is still something I'm woefully inexperienced with."

"Perhaps I should give you a hand with that, Kiba Yuuto." Azazel said with a smirk. "I know several, ahem, well-endowed female subordinates of mine that would jump at the chance to have fun with a handsome young Devil like you."

"That's…a very kind offer, but I'm afraid I have to refuse, Sensei." Yuuto said. "Right now, I can only focus on becoming stronger to keep my comrades safe."

"Being diligent is good, but there's a lot more to life than fighting, young Knight." Azazel said. "You should try and expand your worldview even further, and perhaps find a significant other for yourself down the line that can help keep you centered. Remember, a sword without a scabbard is one that wears down fast."

"It's still not easy for me, but I will do my best on that front."

Yuuto said. After taking several right and left turns in the passages ahead, the group arrived in a wide platform, where a crimson-colored train was waiting for them. The symbols of the Gremory family were engraved on its surface along with Sirzechs' seal.

"This is one of the trains owned by the Gremory family." Rias said as the electronic door slid open. "All aboard~."

Rias entered the train, followed by her Peerage and Azazel. She then separated from Takeshi with an apologetic expression on her face.

"Sorry, but the rules dictate that the master must sit on the front car on her own for the duration of the trip, so I can't join everyone else." Rias said. "The rest of you will sit in the center of the train. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call the conductor on the intercom. If all goes well, we should arrive in Gremory territory within the hour."

"Understood." Takeshi nodded. "See you in about an hour then, President."

Once Rias left them, the rest of the group took their seats in the middle car. Takeshi and Koneko sat next to each other, with Akeno and Pandora taking the seats facing them. Yuuto, Xenovia and Gasper took the seats next to them, while Azazel sat on the seats close to the rear end of the car, falling asleep almost immediately. After a couple of minutes, the departure whistle sounded and the train began to move. Picking up speed, it tore through space and entered a bizarre kaleidoscope-like void that seemed to stretch on without end.

"This is the Dimensional Gap…" Takeshi muttered as he looked outside. "Hey, is it really safe for us to be crossing through here? The Gap erodes most materials, and every living being exposed to it for more than a few seconds dies. Not to mention, isn't Great Red, the Dragon of Dragons, supposed to be roaming around here?"

"There are several powerful defensive seals and wards embedded on the train, allowing it to endure the Dimensional Gap's chaotic energy mix without problems." Akeno said. "As for Great Red, the odds of running into him are astronomically low. Even if we did, he's rumored to be a peaceful Dragon, so I doubt he would attack us without cause."

"…Best to not open the window though." Koneko added from the side. "We may be shielded in here, but the Gap's energies could still seep inside and make us sick at the very least."

"I wasn't planning on that." Takeshi said. "Hey, a thought just occurred to me. If the Dimensional Gap has no known boundaries and is harmful to all living organisms, how come no-one thought about tossing the Evil Dragons in here? Seems like this would have been the perfect way to deal with them."

"I believe it was because they were unsure whether the energies of the Gap would be enough to destroy them for good." Akeno said. "If they managed to adapt and harness the power here, they would become even stronger than before, a rather terrifying prospect. Some Gods suggested throwing the Evil Dragons inside the Gap, and then unleash the full might of the Pantheons upon them to eradicate their souls. Once again though, no-one could predict what sort of effects all that divine power might have on the Gap, or how Great Red might react to so much power thrown around. That's why, in the end, they weren't willing to take the risk."

"Well, I can't blame them for not wanting to risk the stability of the world." Takeshi said. "Doesn't make their chosen solution any less cruel though…"

"Come to think of it, wasn't there supposed to be a magic cabal that created a small country inside the Dimensional Gap through their atypical techniques?" Xenovia asked. "I seem to recall that the Vatican had designated them as high-priority targets because their research was deemed dangerous."

"You mean the Wizards of Oz?" Yuuto said. "I've heard rumors about them, but not much more than that. It should take incredible skill for them to be able to overcome the hostile environment of the Gap."

"The fellow over there might know more about them." Akeno gestured at the sleeping Azazel. "From what Tobio-san told me in passing, he and his team had confronted members of that cabal about four years ago. The previous possessor of Incinerate Anthem was a member of their group if I'm not mistaken."

"The Holy Cross…" Xenovia said with an anguished expression. "Between it and the Holy Spear, it's a true tragedy that some of the Church's most holy objects are misused by terrorists…"

"OK, enough about these depressing matters." Akeno said, taking out a deck from one of her bags. "How about a little game of poker to entertain ourselves? Or better yet, how about a game of strip poker instead to really heat things up, ufufu~?"

"That's forbidden." Pandora said, making an X with her hands. "Sheesh, you shouldn't try to turn everything into a lewd activity, Akeno-san… Also, I'm afraid I don't really know how to play poker."

"Me neither." Xenovia said. "From what I understand, poker involves gambling, and the Church was rather strict when it came to such things."

"In that case, let's play a few practice rounds first in order for Pandora and Xenovia to familiarize themselves with the rules." Takeshi suggested, and then let out a predatory smile, licking his lips. "After that, I can rob you guys blind."

"S-Scary!" Gasper shrieked, rushing to hide behind his seat. "T-Takeshi-senpai is letting out a very s-sinister aura! F-Feels like someone's pressing a knife near my t-throat!"

"Ara, ara, I can feel my entire body shivering." Akeno grinned. "You always know the right thing to do to get me excited~."

"…Don't overdo it, Senpai." Koneko said with an admonishing tone. "Having fun with everyone is what matters most."

"I won't deny that having fun is important." Takeshi smirked as he stood up and struck a pose. "But! Above all else, Ryuugamine Takeshi is a man who always strives for victory no matter the occasion! That's an ironclad law of this world!"

"…Right, right." Koneko said, pulling Takeshi back to his seat. "Let's start the game already, shall we?"

The members of the Gremory Peerage gathered around a small table at the other end of the train car and spent the next thirty minutes playing cards. Engrossed as they were in the game, they almost failed to notice the arrival of an elderly man with a finely trimmed white beard, who was dressed in a train conductor's uniform.

"Ara, if it isn't Reynaldo-san." Akeno said with a smile as she stood up, with the others following suit. "It's been a long time. Have you been doing well?"

"Quite well as usual, Akeno-sama." Reynaldo said as he turned his gaze to the new Reincarnated Devils, taking his hat off and lowering his head. "You must be Princess Rias's newest servants. My name is Reynaldo, the conductor of the Gremory private train. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, everyone."

"I'm Rias-sama's Pawn, Ryuugamine Takeshi." Takeshi introduced himself while making a bow. "It's good to meet you, Reynaldo-san."

"My name is Pandora Othrys, Rias-sama's second Knight." Pandora said as she bowed. "Please take care of me from now on."

"I'm Xenovia, a Rook." Xenovia gave a curt introduction while bowing. "Pleased to meet you."

"Reynaldo-san here is one of the oldest servants employed by the Gremory family." Akeno said. "He's been serving them since the time of the third head."

"That far back?" Takeshi said. "That means you experienced the Great War as well, Reynaldo-san?"

"Indeed, though I wasn't acting as a soldier." Reynaldo said. "My duty consisted of transporting supplies to the various battlefields. Now then, if you'll excuse me…"

Reynaldo took out a camera-shaped machine and pointed it at the three Devils. Its monitor focused on them and let out a small flash of light.

"Erm, this is…?"

"This machine checks your data and confirms your identity through scanning the aura your Evil Pieces emit." Reynaldo explained to Pandora. "It's one of the several measures we employ in this train to ensure that no terrorist will attempt to enter the Underworld disguised as a Reincarnated Devil. In these troubled times, measures like these are vital to ensure everyone's safety."

Once Reynaldo finished talking, the device let out a small sound, prompting the conductor to smile.

"Everything checks out, which means the formal procedures for your entry in the Underworld are finished." Reynaldo said. "You may all rest and relax until we arrive at the station. There are beds where you can have a quick nap, and our kitchen is fully stocked in case you want something to eat. Feel free to use them until we arrive at the station. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to return to the Princess's side. If you require anything at all, call for me."

"Eh, what about Azazel-sensei?" Takeshi pointed at the sleeping Fallen Angel. "Aren't you going to verify his identity as well?"

"The embedded security systems in the train have already done so, and it would be next to impossible for someone to masquerade as Azazel of all people." Reynaldo said, and then let out a small laugh. "I have to say though, the Fallen Angel Governor is quite peaceful and relaxed. I don't believe I could sleep so soundly inside a train belonging to a race that used to be my enemy until recently."

"Sensei is one of a kind, that's for sure."

Takeshi grinned as Reynaldo left the car, with the young Devils getting back to their game. After about twenty minutes, an announcement came from the speakers.

[We will now be breaking through the Dimensional Gap. We will now be breaking through the Dimensional Gap.]

Shortly afterwards, a dazzling radiance filled the inside of the car as the train crossed from the Dimensional Gap into the Underworld.

"The sky is actually purple here…" Xenovia muttered as she stared at it. "A different world indeed, though the image of the Underworld in my mind was far more savage."

"If anything, I'd say it's even more beautiful than the human world in certain aspects." Pandora said as she began drawing the landscape they were passing through, which consisted of small mountains and valleys filled with lush vegetation. "Does the land around us belong to the Gremory family?"

"It's a small part of the Gremory clan's territory, yes." Yuuto said with a smile. "President's family controls a territory that's about the size of Honshu in total, so trust me when I say there's a lot more to see down the line."

"Honshu…you say?" Takeshi asked, an incredulous expression on his face. "Damn… The Underworld's nobility is on a different level compared to the human world's nobles…"

"It's certainly an impressive amount of land, but other Pillars like the Bael clan and the Agares clan possess even greater amounts of land." Akeno said. "President's family is somewhere in the middle ranks when it comes to territory size. There's also one more thing to keep in mind. While the Underworld has roughly the same surface area as the human world, the population is sparser and there is a distinct lack of oceans. That's why there's an abundance of unused land in most territories, and the Gremory family's territory is no exception."

"Even so, it's still impressive to think that President's family is basically in control of an entire country." Takeshi said. "So, how much longer is it going to take for us to reach our destination?"

"It shouldn't take us more than ten to fifteen minutes." Akeno said. "As such, we should—"

The sound of an explosion, followed by a shockwave that shook the entire train, interrupted Akeno's words. Before anyone could react, two subsequent explosions knocked the train out of the tracks, sending it careening into the nearby trees as everyone screamed.

"Damn it, can't anyone get some sleep without being interrupted around here!?"

Azazel complained after waking up with a start. He tore through the ceiling and jumped outside in an instant, conjuring several magic circles around him to slow down the train and bringing it to a halt. At that moment, however, several demonic power blasts came at him, forcing him to dodge in haste. Looking towards the direction of the attack, he saw a large number of pitch-black beasts resembling a Cerberus with bat-like wings growing from their back heading for him. The beasts opened their maws once again, releasing a barrage of condensed demonic power beams at Azazel.

"More of Annihilation Maker's constructs!?" Azazel grimaced as he created a large number of defensive magic circles to shield himself. "What the Hell is the Underworld's security doing letting the terrorists send their troops here!?"

Azazel conjured a large number of light spears around him, hurling them at the Cerberus-like constructs. The hounds opened their mouths wide in response, consuming the incoming light spears much to Azazel's surprise.

"They've been designed to counter beings that use holy energy by absorbing it…?" Azazel let out a lopsided smile as the hounds dashed towards him. "Interesting. Longinus really are so interesting! However, don't think such paltry measures are enough to deal with this Fallen Angel, Khaos Brigade!"

While Azazel started fighting against Annihilation Maker's constructs, the members of the Gremory Peerage exited the damaged train car, with Yuuto helping Gasper and Takeshi supporting Pandora, who had hit her head and seemed somewhat dizzy. The front car appeared to have been detached from the rest of the train, having fallen much further away from everyone's current position.

"Is everyone alright?" Akeno asked in haste while looking around. "Any injuries?"

"I've been better…but it's nothing serious." Pandora said. "What happened?"

"An enemy attack." Xenovia said, bringing out Durandal as she glared into the forest. "Moreover, the perpetrators have come out to greet us."

Following her line of sight, the rest of the group saw several cloaked figures emerging from the trees, accompanied by a large number of humanoid monsters with four arms growing from their torso and a pulsating crimson orb embedded in their faces.

"…The same type as those who attacked the conference." Koneko said as she enveloped herself in Touki. "Arms can shapeshift into weapons, and they can emit light that's harmful to Devils. Be careful, everyone."

"Those cloaked figures…they seem to be Devils judging from their auras." Akeno said as lightning crackled around her hands. "Looks like the Old Devil King Faction is on the move again. In that case, it's time to punish the bad boys and girls with extreme prejudice, ufufu~."

At that moment, the sound of explosions echoed a short distance away from the Occult Research Club's Devils.

That direction is where the first train car fell. Takeshi thought. That means… Rias!

"Balance Break!"

[Malice Rise! Abyss Rage Awakening!]

Dead Shore Advent's armor formed around Takeshi's body, with the young Devil spreading his four wings and shooting upwards. Ignoring the enemy's attacks, which struck his armor and opened several wounds on his body that vanished almost immediately, Takeshi made a beeline for Rias's position. Although he hated leaving the others behind, he was certain they could handle themselves better compared to Rias, who was all alone. Furthermore, if she was the target of this attack…

Like Hell I'm letting them touch even a hair on her head!

No sooner had Takeshi finished that thought than he came across the location of the separated front car, where Rias was fighting against several Devils and constructs while shielding the wounded Reynaldo. Wasting no time, Takeshi smashed in the midst of the enemy formation like a meteor, conjuring a massive ash tornado that swept most of them aside. Rias picked off the rest of them with her Destruction arrows before they had the chance to regroup.

"Rias!" Takeshi shouted as he rushed to her side, dismissing his helmet. "Are you alright!? Are you hurt anywhere!?"

"I'm fine more or less, but Reynaldo was injured in the crash." Rias said. "What's going on here? Those attackers…"

"Most likely, they are members of the Old Devil King Faction." Takeshi said while looking around for any signs of more enemies. "As for their target…we're not sure about that yet. It could be you, or it could be Azazel-sensei. Or maybe both."

"What about the others?" Rias asked. "Is everyone alright?"

"They're fine, but they're also fighting the enemy." Takeshi said. "I left them behind to rush to your side."

"In that case, once we give some basic first aid to Reynaldo, we should join them." Rias said with a severe expression on her face. "We'll make those blasted terrorists rue the day they picked a fight with the Gremory family."

"Such a brave and fierce attitude as usual, little Gremory lady. Your family must be so proud of you."

That familiar voice made Takeshi's blood run cold and the scar on his hand to start burning. He and Rias turned around, only to see a man with close-cropped jet-black hair, pale skin and heterochromatic eyes of red and gold standing there, a lopsided smile on his face.

"Vortigern…" Takeshi said through gritted teeth, struggling to maintain his composure as the memories of their near-disastrous first encounter and the several deaths by that man's hand in his nightmares flashed through his mind. "Why are you here…?"

"I am pursuing my quest for retribution, though I am loath to working with Devils." Vortigern said, pulling Ascalon out of a magic circle that appeared next to him. "I heard that you put an end to our ally Ashiya Douman, Evil Dragon User. Does that mean your strength has increased even further? If so, then perhaps I should snuff out the potentially troublesome element first before moving on to that detestable Governor."

Vortigern took a step forward, with Takeshi involuntarily taking a step back in response. Sweat was running down his neck, the hands that held Mayhem Striker were trembling and he was starting to hyperventilate. Despite his attempts to control himself, Takeshi found himself unable to move or react in any other manner.

[Ah…there's that…delectable aroma…] Ladon said. [The smell…of fear… What a…miserable…yet amusing sight…you are…whelp…]

Both Vortigern and Rias took note of Takeshi's condition, with the former grinning and the latter stepping in front of him and conjuring a Destruction broadsword.

"There's no way I'm letting you harm Takeshi." Rias declared, brandishing her blade. "Just try it, and I'll erase every last trace of your body and soul!"

"My apologies, but that is something far beyond your capabilities, Rias Gremory!"

Vortigern shouted as he dashed at Rias, Ascalon enveloped in a dense amount of demonic power. Their blades clashed, but Rias lost the contest of strength, with Vortigern's blow sending her skidding backwards. Morphing her blade into a scythe, Rias spread eight Destruction bat-like wings from her back, sending them slashing at Vortigern. He evaded her attacks with nimble movements, gathering dark aura around his arm and shooting it in the form of a lance. Rias formed a crimson arrow and shot it at the incoming attack, causing it to disperse.

Evading a slash from Ascalon, she placed her hand on her chest, using Lock Control to unlock several of her body's limiters at once. Unleashing a large wave of Destruction from her body, she forced Vortigern back. Chasing after him, she batted Ascalon aside with her Destruction scythe and aimed a crimson aura-enveloped punch at Vortigern's arm. He caught it with ease and tossed Rias over his shoulder, sending her crashing on the ground. Pointing at her, he released a massive wave of black aura from his hand, with Rias barely evading a direct hit. Even so, the shockwave sent her flying backwards, with even the immobile Takeshi being blown away from his current position.

"You tried to use Lock Control to 'unlock' the bonds between my arm's molecules, eh?" Vortigern said as he checked out his arm. "A solid plan, but it appears you still lack both control and sufficient power with the Gremory family's clan trait, Rias Gremory. Not to mention, it wouldn't have worked on me either way."

"Damn monster…" Rias spat out as Destruction aura swirled around her. "We'll do this the old-fashioned way then! In the name of Duke Gremory, I'll consign you to oblivion!"

Rias launched a barrage of Destruction spheres in a rapid-fire manner. Vortigern sneered as he batted them aside with his aura-clad arm and slashed them apart with Ascalon. The aura then swelled and solidified into the form of an oversized arm that flew towards Rias. Her Destruction scythe slashed it apart, but the ensuing crescent-shaped wave of demonic power from Ascalon shattered her scythe, forcing Rias to dodge backwards in order to avoid a downward thrust that would have split her skull in half. Her Destruction wings aimed for Vortigern, but he once again proved to be too nimble to get caught. Before she knew it, he was upon her, forcing her back with thrusts and slashes almost too fast for the eye to see.

Move… Takeshi, who was observing the fight from the side while still being immobilized by fear, thought. Move. Move, damn it! Are you really going to let all those nightmares come true!? Are you going to let her die by his hand without doing anything!?

[Why not?] Nidhogg said. [Best to end it now before disappointing even more people down the line.]

[Besides…is she really…worth the trouble…?] Ladon said. [Love…is a fleeting thing… She can be…easily replaced…just like the rest…]

"Keep your rotten opinions…to yourselves!"

Takeshi howled, forcing his unwilling body to move. Charging at Vortigern, he aimed a slash at his back, only for the black-clad warrior to counter with a back kick that sent Takeshi skidding backwards.

"Finally decided to join us, Evil Dragon User?" Vortigern asked. "That's good. There is no satisfaction to be found in cutting down an opponent who's lost the will to fight!"

Takeshi didn't respond, gathering a large amount of miasma around his axe as he swung it, unleashing a pitch-black stream at Vortigern. At the same time, Rias shot half a dozen crimson arrows, locking Vortigern's limbs in place and preventing him from moving. He received the blast head-on, but wrapped his aura around his body to protect himself.

[How odd.] Nidhogg remarked. [That foul aura of his…it's rather similar to ours somehow.]

"The same…?"

Takeshi muttered, but wasn't able to ponder this further as Vortigern dashed at him. Ascalon clashed against Mayhem Striker, with Takeshi feeling a chill run through his body due to the Dragon Slayer's close proximity to him. He aimed his miasma-clad tail at the terrorist, but Vortigern severed it with a quick slash before almost severing Takeshi's hand as well with his blade. A furious exchange began between the two, but despite his best efforts, Takeshi found himself unable to keep up with Vortigern, his moves becoming more and more erratic and desperate as time went by.

"Takeshi, Promote!"

Rias, who was busy solidifying her aura to form her combat avatar, shouted. She wasn't able to assist Takeshi due to the two combatants' close proximity and high-speed battle, so this was the best she could do for now.

"Promotion, Queen!"

The Evil Pieces acquired the characteristics of Queen following Takeshi's words, boosting all of his parameters. Even so, this only gave him a small reprieve as Vortigern quickly adjusted to his opponent's enhanced stats and started pushing him back again.

[I almost can't bear to watch this pitiful display!] Grendel growled. [Have you lost what little skill you had, whelp!?]

"Sloppy, uncoordinated and overly agitated." Vortigern said, almost echoing Grendel's words as he deflected Takeshi's miasma-clad wings that aimed for his torso, severing one of them. "You seem to have either regressed since our last encounter…or said encounter had a greater impression on you than I thought. Have you perhaps reached your limit like all others before you, Evil Dragon User? If so, your fate is sealed."

"Don't joke with me!" Takeshi shouted in defiance. "If anything, I'll be the one to decide your fate!"

Forming several ash claws around him, Takeshi had them tear pieces from the wrecked train car next to him and hurl them at Vortigern. His opponent merely smirked as he evaded the incoming debris. Takeshi transformed the ash claws into blades that targeted Vortigern, but he coated himself in aura, dashing through them and tackling Takeshi, sending him crashing through the train car and into several trees. Before he could pierce him with Ascalon, his instincts warned him to dodge to the side, barely evading an oversized arrow from Rias's Destruction avatar.

"That is quite the elaborate technique." Vortigern remarked as he pointed Ascalon at Rias. "I wonder though, how long will you be able to keep it active along with the overclocking you subjected yourself into?"

"As long as necessary." Rias said. "Besides, you're not fighting just me."

No sooner had Rias finished talking than a giant hand made of ash erupted from the ground below, capturing Vortigern and restraining him. At the same time, a large Destruction blade appeared in one of the construct's four arms, with Rias swinging it down at their opponent.

"Still not enough."

Vortigern said as he conjured an aura blade from his hand that shot upwards at high speeds, scattering the ashes and cutting the construct's arm. The blade then split apart into several tendrils that tore through the avatar's ribcage, missing Rias by a small margin.

"Rias!"

Takeshi shouted, riding an ash cloud and rushing towards Vortigern. Not even turning around, Vortigern let go of Ascalon and gathered aura around his finger, letting out a barrage of thin beams that tore through Takeshi's body in several spots, sending him crashing on the ground.

"A disappointing finish, young Devils." Vortigern remarked. "Now, perish!"

Raising his hands high, Vortigern compressed large amounts of aura into a large sphere, intent on finishing both of his opponents off together. Before he could launch it though—a light spear tore through his chest all of a sudden, causing him to let out a surprised gasp as he spat out blood.

"Phew, looks like I got here in the nick of time." Azazel remarked with a grin while hovering above the battlefield. "I shudder to think what Sirzechs would do to me if I let his little sister die."

"Azazel…you bast—"

Before Vortigern could complete his sentence, Azazel bombarded his position with a barrage of oversized light spears, causing a large explosion that raised a huge smoke cloud.

"Guess we're done here." Azazel said as he landed next to Rias, who was on her knees as her limbs were letting out involuntary spasms. "How're you doing there, Rias Gremory? Seems you put a bit too much strain on yourself."

"I did…and it was all for nothing…" Rias said through gritted teeth. "Takeshi, is he…?"

"I'm fine…more or less…" Takeshi, who had dismissed his armor, said as he trudged towards the two of them, the wounds on his body having vanished. "What…what about the others, Sensei?"

"From the little I saw, they had everything under control, which is why I rushed here once I was done taking down Annihilation Maker's constructs." Azazel said as Takeshi helped Rias up. "Come on, we should—"

Without warning, Azazel stopped talking, conjuring an ornate light shield. The next moment, a black aura wave slammed on it, cracking it, but not breaking it.

"As expected of the Fallen Angel Governor. Even though your enemy was seemingly defeated, you didn't let your guard down."

Emerging from the smoke cloud while saying so was Vortigern, whose body seemed relatively unharmed. The only exception to that was Azazel's first light spear, which was still lodged in his chest. Taking note of it, Vortigern grabbed it with his left hand and channeled black aura into it, causing it to disintegrate. The gaping hole in his chest closed itself afterwards.

"Great, another regenerator…" Azazel groaned as he pulled out his Artificial Sacred Gear. "You Hero descendants are such a pain in the ass with all those weird boons you received from your ancestors. What kind of strange quirk did you inherit?"

"You seem to have a few misconceptions, Fallen Angel Governor." Vortigern said. "To begin with, I am not a Hero descendant. I am Vortigern himself, former King of the Britons, whose exploits were recorded in the writings of men…though my story was twisted almost beyond recognition…"

"King Vortigern himself…?" Rias muttered with evident astonishment. "That…how is that possible? Vortigern should have perished more than a millennium ago at the hands of the first Arthur Pendragon. How can you still be alive after all this time?"

"A blood contract with the Evil Dragon Crom Cruach." Vortigern said. "Through it, as long as his soul endures, so shall I."

"A contract…with Crom Cruach?" Takeshi frowned. "That's why the power coming from you is so familiar. You're wielding corrupted draconic aura."

"You are partially correct, Evil Dragon User." Vortigern said. "I am afraid it was impossible for me to become a true Dragon, ending up as an incomplete being stuck between man and beast that cannot fully utilize a Dragon's natural gifts. Not to mention, wielding Ascalon with this body is a…challenge to say the least. Still, I gained more than enough power to put an end to the Three Factions, the ones responsible for me losing everything I once held dear. I think I will start by purging the Fallen Angel Governor and the heiress of the Gremory family."

Corrupted draconic aura swirled around Vortigern's body as he declared so, with Azazel preparing to don his golden armor and Takeshi to enter Balance Breaker once again. However, Vortigern suddenly clicked his tongue in irritation as he turned his gaze into the distance.

"Reinforcements are en route, eh?" Vortigern said, with the aura surrounding him vanishing. "Damn these utterly useless former Devil King supporters. They couldn't even slow them down long enough. I guess that couldn't be helped though since that silver-haired Queen is leading them… So be it then. We will settle this at a later date."

Vortigern slammed his hand on the ground, forming a complex teleportation magic circle. Azazel conjured a large number of light chains and hurled them at the terrorist, but he wasn't fast enough as Vortigern vanished in a flash of light.

"He escaped…" Azazel grimaced. "To think he was the infamous Vortigern instead of a descendant though. Damn, it's almost as if all the skeletons in our closets are coming out en masse…"

A few seconds later, Grayfia descended from the sky, accompanied by a large number of troops and the other members of the Gremory Peerage.

"Thank the Devil Kings you're alright." Grayfia said, letting out a small sigh of relief as a couple of guards rushed to Reynaldo's aid while others spread out to make sure no terrorist was still present. "We rushed here as fast as we could once we detected the crash, but we were ambushed on our way here. I'm relieved to see that this delay of ours wasn't fatal. Even so, the fact that these terrorists managed to infiltrate Gremory territory to this extent is a failure on our part."

"Don't beat yourself up, Grayfia." Azazel said. "These fellows aren't your run-of-the-mill troublemakers. They're part of a global terrorist organization, and the more we learn about them, the more we find out that Ophis is far from the only credible threat in their organization. This is shaping up to be quite the uphill battle…"

"So it would seem, but it's not one we can afford to lose."

"Right." Azazel nodded. "Can I leave the kids to you, Grayfia? I have a feeling Sirzechs will want to hear the details of this as soon as possible. I was going to meet with him, Michael and the others in Lilith later on, so might as well head there now."

"Of course." Grayfia said. "We'll escort them to the Gremory main residence."

While Azazel and Grayfia were discussing, Koneko was using her Senjutsu to treat Rias, who let out a sigh of relief as her pain slowly receded.

"That feels nice, almost like submerging myself in a warm bath after a long day." Rias remarked. "You're getting better and better at this, Koneko."

"…Thanks to someone getting injured over and over, I've got lots of practice." Koneko said, giving a sidelong glance to Takeshi. "Are you sure you don't need treatment as well, Senpai?"

"No, I'm good for now." Takeshi made a dismissive gesture. "There's only a bit of phantom pain, but it'll pass soon."

"…If you say so."

"Summer vacation has barely started and we already had to fight for our lives." Xenovia remarked. "Now that seems more in line with the image of the Underworld I had in mind. I suppose it could be worse though."

At that moment, Grayfia approached the group and spoke to them.

"Rias-sama, everyone, please come with me." Grayfia said. "We will transport to the outskirts of the main Gremory residence through magic circle. It's against protocol, but considering the current situation, it's best that you don't remain out in the open for long."

"What about our belongings, Grayfia-san?"

"I will have some of the guards collect them and bring them to the main residence." Grayfia said in response to Akeno's question. "Now, let's go."

As everyone followed after Grayfia, Takeshi couldn't help but replay the previous battle in his mind while rubbing the aching scar on his right forearm. As much as he hated to admit it, this was indeed a pitiful display from his part. While there was the fact that his defeat at Vortigern's hands back at the conference, which had left both mental and physical scars, was a major contributing factor, his general state of being these past weeks was also partly to blame. If this lack of focus extended to other opponents as well…

I know… It can't keep going like this. One way or another…this has to end…

Takeshi thought, clenching his fist with a frustrated expression on his face as he followed after Grayfia along with the others.

---

This concludes Chapter 38. First, in response to your questions.

—To RyukiPendragon: I'll post Ladon's wiki page after Takeshi unlocks his Balance Breaker most likely. Ingvild will eventually be rescued and added to the harem, though not for some time. As for Tiamat, she most likely won't be included in the harem.

First of all, I wish you all a Happy New Year, and I hope 2023 will treat you all better than 2022. It's also a few days earlier, but this story has reached its one-year anniversary! Thank you all so much for supporting this story over this year, and I hope you'll continue to do so in the following one.

With this chapter, we're finally starting the next arc. The continued psychological torment is starting to have quite the adverse effect on Takeshi's mentality much to everyone's worry. The Khaos Brigade remains as active as ever, leading to yet another terrorist attack and an unwanted reunion. Regarding the full circumstances surrounding Vortigern's transformation and his story, these will be revealed in a later chapter.

Well, that's all for now. As always, please read, review, favorite, follow, but most of all, enjoy!

See you all next time!