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?

42. Sisters

Chapter 42 – Sisters

The sound of explosions and beings clashing against one another echoed in the mountainous terrain as two indistinct shapes dashed in the skies above, with raging winds and a black thunderstorm engulfing the area.

"Right there!"

Takeshi, who was wearing Eight Branch Ethereal Surge and was riding its chariot, shouted as he shot his arm-mounted stinger at his opponent, the former Dragon King Tannin. In response, the Dragon swung his aura-clad tail, batting it away. Unperturbed by his failure, Takeshi conjured several thunder spears above him and hurled them at Tannin, while also buffeting the Dragon with strong wings that threw him off balance. Opening his mouth wide, Tannin let loose a massive wave of flames that consumed the incoming spears and headed for Takeshi, who grimaced underneath his helmet.

[Revolve On. Atrocity.]

Following that announcement from Cataclysm Zone, Takeshi switched his armor into that of Savage Predator Incarnation, crossing his arms, covering himself with his wings and increasing the density of draconic aura surrounding his body at the same time. Even with his added defenses, it took everything he had to tank that breath attack, another testament to the former Dragon King's might. Taking advantage of his opponent's disorientation after the flames dissipated, Tannin extended his aura-clad horns, aiming to skewer Takeshi's limbs and end the spar. Moving as fast as he could, Takeshi pressed one of the small gems on Cataclysm Zone's buckle.

[Add!]

A copper-colored aura travelled from the belt down his left arm, solidifying into the form of Hesperides Fort. Forming a dense exoskeleton barrier around his body, Takeshi received the former Dragon King's attack head-on. Although one of his horns was able to go through the barrier, it was unable to penetrate Takeshi's armor. Focusing on his shield, Takeshi formed a vice-shaped barrier that grabbed Tannin's waist, immobilizing him.

As the Dragon struggled to free himself from his restraints, Takeshi raised his hand, forming several large fireballs and encasing them within barriers, which shrunk to the size of basketballs and condensed the flames within. Just as Tannin shattered the barrier restraining them, Takeshi hurled the spheres at him. Gathering draconic aura around his arms, Tannin tried to bat them away, but Takeshi released the barriers at that time, causing several large explosions that struck and shook the Dragon's body, sending it tumbling through the air. Struggling to regain his balance, Tannin wasn't fast enough to react as Takeshi descended from above, his right leg covered by several dense barriers and surrounded by ice as he aimed a kick at him.

"Seiyaaaaaa!"

Takeshi shouted as his kick struck Tannin's head, sending the former Dragon King crashing on the side of a mountain. Landing on a nearby outcropping, Takeshi kept his wary gaze focused on the rockslide that had covered Tannin, certain that his master wouldn't take this very well. Contrary to his expectations though, a booming laughter echoed, followed by the sound of stone breaking as Tannin emerged from the shattered rocks while dusting himself.

"Ah, you got me good there, Ryuugamine Takeshi." Tannin said, cracking his neck and dusting himself off as he inspected his scorched and cracked scales. "Looks like you can send out some nasty attacks now that can even damage me if I'm not careful. Your endurance has also increased, seeing as you can play around with me for hours now even with the toll your Balance Breakers take on your body, and your strength is nothing to laugh at either. Summoning an additional Sacred Gear out of the blue also caught me by surprise. I wasn't aware you could do that."

"Up until recently, such an act put too much strain on my body, summoning more Sacred Gears on top of my Balance Breaker." Takeshi said as he dismissed both Hesperides Fort and his armor. "Ever since I unlocked Ladon's Balance Breaker though, it has become more manageable. I wonder if there's been some shift in Cataclysm Zone's functions now that I've reached this point. Guess that's a question better left for Sensei…"

"In any case, there are no complaints from my side." Tannin said. "You have done very well in surviving my training. Perhaps you will indeed by the one to master Cataclysm Zone and find a new path that won't lead to a bitter end. However, do not let your guard down. Remember, you are still only halfway there, and from this point on, you're entering uncharted territory. There's no telling what Crom Cruach, Aži Dahāka and Apophis have in store for you."

"For now, I intend to focus on what's ahead of me, namely the game against the Sitri Peerage." Takeshi said, making a deep bow at Tannin. "Thank you for everything over these past few months, Master. Your methods were a little…questionable at times, but it's an undeniable fact that I'm stronger now because of them. Once again, you have my gratitude."

"Don't mention it." Tannin said. "I only fulfilled my obligations as a denizen of the Underworld and as an elder Dragon, nothing more, nothing less. Plus, training the Evil Dragon User was an unexpectedly amusing and fresh experience. If you want to repay me though, you can do so by putting what I've taught you to good use and living a long life."

"That was the plan from the start, Master." Takeshi grinned. "I wanted to thank Zirnitra as well for her assistance. Is she around?"

"Unfortunately, she had to rush back to her homeland once again." Tannin said. "Khaos Brigade's stirring up trouble yet again there, and her strength is needed. I'll be sure to pass on your gratitude to her though."

"I appreciate it, Master." Takeshi said. "What about Bova? I thought for sure that he'd be here, challenging me to another fight. Oh, did he perhaps lose his nerve after I almost made a pancake out of him with that mountaintop over there the last time we fought?"

"For better or for worse, it'll take a lot more than that to discourage Bova…" Tannin said with a sigh. "I imagine he's off training in order to avenge himself after losing so many times to you. I can't help but be grateful for that to some degree, since that means he's not out there causing trouble and picking fights with other powerful individuals like the Devil Kings' Peerage members…"

"Wait, seriously?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "Bova dared to challenge the Peerage members of our Devil Kings, who are known far and wide to be among the strongest Devils? He's either far braver or far dumber than I gave him credit for."

"His actions were certainly not wise." Tannin huffed, letting out a few embers. "Needless to say, he lost all fights, and he was very lucky that none of them took offense with him and sought to claim his life."

"No kidding…" Takeshi muttered. "Anyway, if Bova isn't here, I guess I should be heading back to the Gremory main house. That means this is farewell for now, Master."

"It will be a short-lived one since we'll see each other again during the Devil King-sponsored party." Tannin said, letting out a toothy grin. "Not to mention, my Peerage and I will be transporting you and miss Sitri's group there according to an arrangement I made with the Devil Kings."

"Looks like we'll be making one Hell of an entrance on that day!" Takeshi laughed. "Arriving at the party by means of riding a giant Dragon, I'm sure nothing can top that. Isn't that going to be an inconvenience for Master and his servants though?"

"No inconvenience at all." Tannin said as he spread his wings. "I should also return to my territory for now. We'll meet again soon, Ryuugamine Takeshi!"

After saying so, Tannin took off as Takeshi saw him off while waving at him. The Dragon's figure disappeared in a matter of seconds, with Takeshi conjuring a teleportation magic circle beneath his feet afterwards. The light of teleportation engulfed him, with Takeshi vanishing from the area and appearing in front of the Gremory main residence a couple of seconds later.

"Ah, the smell and feel of civilization…" Takeshi said, a wistful expression on his face as he traced the walls in front of him with his fingers. "How I've missed even the most basic of comforts…"

"Hey, Takeshi-kun."

Turning around towards the familiar voice, Takeshi saw Yuuto approaching him, his usual refreshing smile on his face. Like him, his jersey was also in tatters and his appearance in general was somewhat disheveled.

"Yo." Takeshi greeted his friend while appraising him. "It's been quite some time, Yuuto. The quality and quantity of your aura seem to have increased quite a bit."

"Yours as well." Yuuto said, eyeing Takeshi. "You've built up your muscles nicely from what I can see. I can't help but feel a bit jealous of that since my body is the type that doesn't put on muscle easily."

"Well, it's not like you need it as much as I do, what with your fighting style focusing on speed and evasion." Takeshi said. "Are the others here yet?"

"From the looks of it, we're the first ones here." Yuuto said. "They should be arriving soon though."

"Kiba-san! Takeshi!"

No sooner had Yuuto spoken than Pandora showed up, rushing towards them with a wide smile on her face.

"Oh, if it isn't Pandora." Takeshi smiled. "Judging from your attitude, I guess training went well?"

"Oh, yes, the texts Sensei brought me from Alfheim were very helpful." Pandora said. "Look forward to the results in the upcoming game. I definitely won't slow our group down anymore."

"No, no, where and when did you slow us down, Pandora?" Takeshi said. "Despite your limitations, you always pulled your weight in this Peerage. There's no need for that negative attitude."

"What Takeshi-kun says." Yuuto smiled. "We'll be counting on you just like we always have, Pandora-san."

"Yes!"

Pandora replied in an enthusiastic manner. At that moment, two more people could be seen coming through the castle gate. One of them was Koneko, and the other was a shivering Gasper, who seemed ready to bolt at any moment. Upon catching sight of them, Koneko rushed towards Takeshi, slamming on him and almost knocking him off his feet as she threw her arms around him.

"Oof…" Takeshi said, half-groaning, half-chuckling as he put his arms around the white-haired girl. "Did you miss me, Koneko-chan?"

"…You bet." Koneko said, burying her head in Takeshi's chest. "These eight months apart were torture. You'd better make it up to me at some point."

"Between you, Rias and Akeno, I guess my schedule will booked for the next few months." Takeshi chuckled as he turned his attention to Gasper. "How are you doing there, Gasper-kun? Everything went well with your training?"

"Uuuu, even by the U-Underworld's standards, it was H-Hell…" Gasper said while trembling. "Having to face p-people twenty-four seven, enduring all these s-stares…I don't know how many t-times I came close to running away… Asking from a shut-in like m-me to deal with crowds, it was t-too cruellllllllllll!"

"Still, you didn't run away, and that's something to be proud of, Gasper-san." Pandora said. "You took another big step towards conquering your fears."

"It's just as Pandora says." Takeshi said, giving Gasper a thumbs-up. "You're facing your fears and standing up to your weaknesses. Now that's a fine manly attitude there, Gasper-kun!"

"T-Thank you, Pandora-senpai, T-Takeshi-senpai." Gasper said, a small smile on his face. "I may be u-unreliable for now, but I'll keep doing my besssssssst!"

"Ara, ara, are we the last to get here? Such a shame, ufufu~."

The one who had spoken was Akeno, who arrived alongside Xenovia. Much to everyone's surprise, the latter's body was almost entirely covered in bandages, giving her a ragged appearance.

"Erm…what on Earth happened to you, Xenovia?"

"Nothing much." Xenovia responded to Yuuto's question with an even expression. "I trained, got injured, bandaged myself, then trained some more, got injured again, and bandaged myself again. Nothing to write home about."

"If you say so…"

Yuuto said with a forced smile. Meanwhile, Akeno had rushed to Takeshi's side, embracing him from the back and resting her head on his shoulder with a content smile on her face.

"Hm, this feels nice." Akeno smiled as she rubbed her cheek against Takeshi's while pressing her breasts on his back. "Don't you think so too, Takeshi~?"

"You'll hear no complaints from me." Takeshi grinned, and then his expression became serious. "Akeno, about your father, did you two…?"

"It's too early to say we've come to an understanding…but our relationship is much better than it was before." Akeno said, a small smile on her face. "It's all thanks to you. If you hadn't talked some sense into me, I would have gone on hating my father for what was essentially a petty reason. When I think back to how short-sighted I had been, how much time I lost with Baraqiel because of my stubbornness…I can't help but be ashamed of myself…"

"That's all in the past now." Takeshi said. "What matters is that you acknowledged your mistakes and found the courage to start mending your relationship with Baraqiel-san. That alone is praiseworthy. Many people persist in their mistaken way of thinking and refuse to acknowledge that they've been wrong about something until it's too late."

"…I'm happy for you, Akeno-san." Koneko said. "If only my sister and I could understand each other and reconcile at some point…nothing would make me happier. However, I'm afraid that will be far too difficult, if not downright impossible. She's a wanted criminal after all, not to mention insane from reckless use of Senjutsu."

"You never know, Koneko-chan." Akeno said. "Life has a way of surprising you in unexpected ways. As long as you don't give up, perhaps you'll be able to reconcile with your sister."

"…Maybe." Koneko said. "I can't help but feel that will very difficult though."

"Good, I see everyone has returned right on time. Welcome back, you all."

Appearing from the castle gates while saying so was Rias, a warm smile on her face as she surveyed all members of her group. Walking towards Takeshi, she cleared her throat before speaking.

"Would you ladies mind giving me some space here?" Rias asked. "You're not the only ones who missed Takeshi, you know?"

"Of course, President."

"…Yes."

Akeno said as she and Koneko stepped away from Takeshi, with Rias rushing to hug him.

"Yes, this is the scent and feeling that I've missed so much." Rias said with a smile. "These eight months away from you felt like an eternity. I almost made up my mind to visit you a couple of times, but decided against it in the end. I didn't want to disturb you or seem too clingy. However, this was so hard to bear…"

"I missed you and the others a lot too." Takeshi said, pressing Rias closer to his body and basking at the soft feeling of her voluptuous body and the sweet scent coming from her hair. "Not being with you girls was definitely one of the worst parts of my training. Let's hope we won't have to be apart for such a long stretch of time again."

"This is my wish too." Rias said as she took a step back. "Now then, I'm sure everyone is eager to take a shower and change out of these dirty rags you're wearing. Once you're done, we'll meet with Azazel-sensei for a progress report."

"A proper shower does sound wonderful…"

Takeshi muttered as he followed after Rias and the others.

---

Later…

"I see. Not only did you attain your next Balance Breaker and succeeded in switching between them mid-fight, you are also now able to summon your auxiliary Sacred Gears on top of your Balance Breaker without as much strain as before. How unexpected."

Azazel said. Currently, all members of the Gremory Peerage had gathered in one of the castle's living rooms and were sitting down on the sofas placed there while giving detailed accounts of their training. Everyone else had finished, and it was now Takeshi's turn.

"I'll have to do a thorough scan on you at some point, but my guess is that, upon sealing four Evil Dragons, Cataclysm Zone has unlocked several subsystems that have refined both its energy management and processing power." Azazel said. "A sort of boon for the wielder who managed to reach this stage if you will. What about your time limit in Balance Breaker mode?"

"A couple of weeks, give or take a day." Takeshi said. "That's the theoretical limit though, since there's no way I can maintain any of the Balance Breakers for that long due to their respective demerits."

"That's a given." Azazel nodded. "Still, being able to fight without being hampered by a time limit is always advantageous. All in all, I'm very satisfied with your progress. You overcame some very difficult odds and managed to come out on top."

"That's quite the understatement, Azazel." Rias said, glaring at the Fallen Angel. "Whose bright idea was it to toss Takeshi into a pit filled with ravenous Evil Dragons and expect him to make it to the top with his body and mind intact?"

"That was Tannin's plan, but it was something necessary." Azazel said. "I understand your indignation, but unless his willpower was sharpened by overcoming adversity, there's a big chance he would have succumbed to Ladon's influence at some point."

"Even so, you—"

"It's alright, Rias." Takeshi said, placing his hand on the fuming Rias' shoulder. "All's well that ends well, so there's no need to dwell on that. Sensei may be an insensitive weirdo, but he always has our best interests at heart."

"Hey!"

"Oh, don't try to deny it, Sensei." Takeshi said, and then frowned. "Still, for all the progress I've made…I can't help but dwell on my one major failure."

"What are you talking about?" Azazel raised an eyebrow. "You cleared all the goals I set for you, didn't you?"

"All except for the most important one, the one I set for myself." Takeshi said with a serious expression. "Changing Eight Branch Ethereal Surge's chariot into a motorcycle, that is! I did my best, you know!? Sacred Gears respond to a user's feelings, so I mediated for hours upon hours on end, trying to get it to assume the form I envisioned! I wore that stinking armor until it felt like my limbs would fall off from the pain! And yet, nothing happened in the end! Are you telling me my feelings towards Kamen Rider are lacking!? Or is it my resolve that's lacking!? Or is this damned Sacred Gear faulty!? Shit, we have all these superpowers, and I can't get this one simple thing!?"

Takeshi complained with a frustrated expression on his face, while everyone else looked at him with a mix of amusement, pity and confusion.

[If you're looking for someone to blame, then…guilty as charged~.] Orochi spoke in Takeshi's thoughts while snickering. [I can't do a lot from here, but I can at least block your desires from reaching the Sacred Gear.]

Orochi, you bastard! Takeshi bellowed in his thoughts. Why!? Why would you do this!?

[Hey, if you're not going to let me have my fun, then I'm not letting you have yours either.] Orochi said. [That's how it goes, partner. An eye for an eye and all that.]

I'll rip your goddamned eyes out if I ever get my hands on you!

"Takeshi?" Pandora asked with a concerned expression, waving her hand in front of him. "Hello? Are you alright there?"

"Yeah, just fine…" Takeshi said, sinking back on the couch while sighing. "Never mind my outburst just now. It seems that damned eight-headed snake Orochi is the reason I can't modify the Balance Breaker to my liking. Things like this is why it's so hard getting along with these nutjobs…"

"Well, I think I've kept you all long enough." Azazel said, clapping his hands. "We'll have a few more meetings like this before the game to discuss tactics. For now, get some rest and make sure to enjoy tomorrow's party."

"Ugh, there's that massive headache too…" Rias groaned. "While it's supposed to be a party for the sake of us young Devils, it's actually an excuse for the older Devils to let loose and have fun in a more relaxed environment compared to the usual high-class parties. What a pain…"

"You kids don't know the half of it…"

Azazel murmured with a serious expression, his words too low for anyone to hear. After that, the members of the Gremory Peerage left the room and split up, with Takeshi heading towards the kitchen to grab a quick bite. Once he was done, he made his way back to his room, only to find someone already there waiting for him.

"…You sure took your time, Senpai."

Koneko, who was sitting on the bed while wearing a thin, black negligee, said so with a sultry smile.

"Well, well, a surprise to be sure, but not an unwelcome one." Takeshi grinned as he closed the door behind him. "Far from it in fact. What is surprising is that you're the one waiting for me, Koneko-chan. I'd expect Rias to try and pull rank, or Akeno to claim that it's about time to have our first time together."

"…They tried, but I have one advantage they don't." Koneko smirked as she walked towards the edge of the bed on all fours. "I pulled the Senjutsu healing card and your urgent need for it after everything you went through. The two of them grumbled a bit, but they backed down after that."

"Sneaky." Takeshi chuckled as he took his shirt off, tossing it at the side of the room. "However, I should warn you first, Koneko-chan. I've abstained from sex for eight months now, so I've got a lot pent-up inside me, and I mean a lot. If you want to go through with this, know that you won't be getting any sleep at all tonight."

"…I don't mind." Koneko said as she spread out her arms, the straps of her negligee falling down and revealing more of her porcelain-like skin and modest bust. "I'll take everything you have, Senpai."

"In that case…thank you for the meal!"

Takeshi said with a savage grin as he grabbed Koneko's shoulders and pulled her in for a passionate kiss while tearing off her negligee with a grunt. Koneko moaned in ecstasy and wrapped her legs around his waist as both of them fell on the bed. Although it soon broke due to the force of their coupling, the two of them barely paid any heed to that as they were lost in satisfying their lust for the rest of the night.

---

The next evening…

"Master and his Peerage should be here soon. I hope the others will be ready in time…"

Takeshi muttered as he paced back and forth in the parlor while forming small spheres out of demonic power and draconic aura on his palm as practice. Since this was a formal occasion, he was wearing a tailored suit prepared by the Gremory family along with an armband bearing the family's symbol on his left arm. Thanks to Koneko's Senjutsu treatment, he was feeling rested and refreshed even though he had kept his promise to not let her sleep a wink last night.

I may have overdone it a bit though. Takeshi thought. Could be my imagination, but I'm sure she was walking funnily when she left my room this morning…

"Oh, Ryuugamine?"

The familiar voice of Genshirou interrupted Takeshi's ruminations.

"Saji-kun?" Takeshi said. "Why are you here?"

"I wanted to look around the castle a bit, but I somehow ended up getting separated from the others and getting lost." Genshirou said with a somewhat embarrassed expression. "Good thing I came across you here. If Student President had to waste time looking for me, she'd be scolding me all week."

Genshirou let out a weak laugh as he rubbed his neck. It was at that moment that Takeshi noticed the bandages wrapped around his left hand, the haggard look on his face and the increased amount of draconic aura coming from his body.

[Vritra's presence has grown stronger.] Nidhogg remarked. [It almost feels like I'm standing in front of the real deal.]

[That's good news!] Grendel said. [If Vritra the gloomy is making a comeback, then I can trample that half-assed bastard beneath my feet!]

"Your strength seems to have grown, Saji-kun." Takeshi said. "I guess you didn't do any half-baked training either?"

"Far from it." Genshirou said, a shiver going down his spine. "It's not something I want to remember though. I lost count of the times my life flashed before my eyes. I seriously thought Grigori's labs would become my grave…"

"I can sympathize with that." Takeshi said. "My training wasn't a walk in the park either. Hordes of psychotic Evil Dragons chasing after you is no fun at all, I assure you."

"I don't even want to imagine what that was like, let alone experience it…" Genshirou said with a grimace. "Somehow, things always become extreme when you're involved, Ryuugamine. What matters is that we both made it in the end. If I couldn't overcome this much, then my future goal of becoming a teacher would remain a pipe dream."

"A teacher?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to become one in order to support Sona-senpai and her Rating Game school that will be open to everyone regardless of rank or status?"

"There's that as well, but…" Genshirou bit his lip, looking uncertain, but then spoke with a determined expression. "It's mostly because of my deceased parents that I want to follow that career path."

"Both your parents have passed away?" Takeshi said with a sorrowful expression. "I'm very sorry for your loss, Saji-kun."

"…Thank you." Genshirou said in a low voice. "They died in a car accident five years ago when a truck whose driver that had dozed off fell on their car. My grandfather took care of my siblings and I afterwards, but he passed away a few months ago. That was a pretty difficult time for us. There was no other close relative to take us in, so it was very likely we'd have to be separated and placed in foster care. It was at that time that I received a summoning leaflet and summoned Student President. She sensed my Sacred Gear and reincarnated me as her servant. With her support and that of the House of Sitri, me, my younger sister Kaho and my younger brother Gengo were able to stay together and enjoy a stable family life so far."

"I'm glad to hear everything worked out for your family in the end." Takeshi said with a smile. "Encountering Sona-senpai was really a stroke of good fortune long overdue. Still, where do your deceased parents factor in your decision to become a teacher?"

"It's because both my father and mother worked as teachers." Genshirou said. "That's why, I thought that if I became one as well…I could understand them better and get closer to them somewhat. Also, I wanted to show Gengo, who was too young to have any memories of them, the path they walked in life…maybe help him form an image of them, however vague it may be. That's my dream, and Student President's ambition has only strengthened my resolve to pursue it no matter what."

Genshirou's tone became more fervent as he kept speaking.

"Even though the Rating Game is supposed to offer equal opportunities for recognition to all Devils, there's still an insurmountable barrier between High-class Devils and commoners like us." Genshirou said. "Since only nobles are eligible to attend the school for Rating Games, they have a major advantage over Low-class and Reincarnated Devils, making it even more difficult for us to raise in the ranks through the games. That's why, Student President aims to change that by opening a school that accepts everyone without discrimination. It's for that reason she came to the human world, to study how schools work there and plan for the future. For the sake of giving everyone a fair chance regardless of their origins, she even defied the elders who laughed at her and called our dream ridiculous!"

Genshirou clenched his fists, a fierce smile on his face.

"When I first heard her goal…it was as if someone had lit a fire under me." Genshirou said. "I couldn't help but feel that fate had brought us together. That's why, I'll study a lot, be promoted into a Middle-class Devil to receive a teacher's license, and then become a teacher at Student President's school. I want to lead by example and help the Low-class and Reincarnated Devils of the next generation to grasp their dreams as well!"

"I think that's a wonderful dream, Saji-kun." Takeshi said. "I'm sure you'll become a great teacher. However, no matter how noble or grand your goals are, the winners in the end will be us. Even if that means we have to trample over those dreams, we'll step over you and move forward. You had best have the same resolve when you stand on the battlefield regardless of the enemy's background or goals, Saji-kun."

"I know." Genshirou said with a serious expression. "That's something inevitable when it comes to the Rating Game. We may come across opponents with goals similar to ours, but we won't back down no matter what!"

"Just wanted to make sure." Takeshi grinned, raising his fist. "In that case, let's both do our best, and may the best Peerage win."

"You got it, Ryuugamine."

Takeshi and Genshirou bumped fists, staring at each other with matching gazes filled with fighting spirit.

"Speaking of future goals, has there been any progress on the 'other' matter?" Takeshi said as he inched closer to Genshirou, whispering in a low tone. "You know, your relationship with Student President?"

A dispirited expression appeared on Genshirou's face as he spoke.

"…Zero." Genshirou said in a low voice. "Nothing! Nil! Nada! It's all training, Student Council work and contracts, and whenever we have free time, Student President insists on group outings to 'build up camaraderie'! How am I supposed to get closer to her like this!?"

"Hm, looks like she's not one to leave any openings." Takeshi said. "Do you know what she likes to do in her free time besides hanging out with you guys? I'm sure she enjoys chess, but other than that?"

"I'm…not really sure." Genshirou said, tilting his head to the side. "I think she likes all manners of board and card games in general from what Shinra-senpai said once, but I haven't verified it."

"You should, and if that's the case, challenge her as often as you can." Takeshi said. "If you could defeat her, I'm sure her opinion of you would rise, but even having fun together would be a good step forward. Moreover, you need to be more proactive, try and create opportunities when you two can spend time together. Even helping her carry the groceries to her home would be something."

"Can…can I do all that though?" Genshirou said with a timid expression. "What if Student President finds all that a bother and starts seeing me as an annoying pest…?"

"Oi, don't get cold feet on me when you haven't even made an effort yet." Takeshi scolded his friend. "Where did that fighting spirit of yours from a few minutes ago go? Show some guts and go for it!"

"Easy for you to say, mister 'I have three gorgeous girls as girlfriends'!" Genshirou complained. "It's not that simple for those of us with zero experience, you know!"

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Takeshi said. "It's as simple as that, Saji-kun. Or would you rather have someone else steal Sona-senpai from you? And don't give me the cop-out answer 'as long as she's happy, I'm content' that's fit for weak-willed individuals. If you're a man, and if you really care for her, your answer should always be 'there's only one person who can make her happy, and that's me!'."

Genshirou remained silent, looking conflicted, but then raised his head and stared at Takeshi with a determined expression.

"Then, I won't say anything more." Genshirou said. "I'll let my future actions do the talking."

"Good." Takeshi nodded with approval. "This is the way."

At that moment, a door at the end of the parlor opened, with the members of the Gremory and Sitri Peerage entering the room one after another.

"Sorry for making you wait, boys." Rias said. "Getting ready took a little longer than expected."

"No need to apologize, since it was time well spent from the looks of it." Takeshi said while gazing at the girls of the Gremory Peerage, who were all wearing high-quality western dresses, had put on makeup and had their hair done. "All of you look gorgeous…though why are you also wearing a dress, Gasper-kun?"

"I-I wanted to wear one as well…" Gasper said in a timid voice. "D-Doesn't it suit me?"

"Unfortunately, it does, and that's exactly the problem here…" Takeshi said, rubbing his temples. "Didn't anyone think to stop him?"

"…Why?" Koneko said. "It's funnier that way. Especially if some male Devil starts hitting on him."

"You're evil, Koneko-chan."

"Y-You also look amazing today, Student President!" Genshirou said. "This dress really brings out your eyes."

"Ara, thank you, Saji."

Sona said with a small smile, but at that moment, Ruruko and Momo appeared next to her, matching pouting expressions on their faces.

"What about us, Genshirou-senpai?"

"Yes, don't we look good as well, Gen-chan?"

"Of course, you look really good in those dresses as well, Nimura, Hanakai!"

Genshirou spoke in a hurry while making placating gestures. Takeshi frowned upon seeing that scene.

Nimura-san and Hanakai-san's feelings might be an issue for Saji-kun. Takeshi thought. If Sona-senpai doesn't approve of a harem, or if she feels like she shouldn't get between them, then that will make his attempts to close the gap between them even more difficult. Hm, what to do…?

"Excuse me, miss Rias, miss Sona." A butler, who had just entered the parlor, said after making a small bow. "Tannin-sama and his Peerage have arrived."

"Right on time." Rias said. "Let's go, everyone."

The group left the parlor and headed for the garden, where a majestic sight awaited them. Waiting for them there were Tannin and eleven Dragons that were almost as big as him. Ten of them belonged to his Peerage, while the eleventh…

"Oh, now that's a surprise." Takeshi remarked as he focused on the familiar Dragon. "Didn't expect to see you here tonight, Bobo. Finally done licking your wounds?"

"Like usual, you're as annoying as an insect buzzing near one's ear without end, Ryuugamine Takeshi." Bova said with a huff. "As to why I'm here…let's say that while Devil parties are usually a dreadful waste of time, this one promises to be very entertaining and up to my tastes."

"How so?"

"Don't pay any heed to Bova's nonsense." Tannin said, giving a sidelong glare to Bova. "Miss Rias, miss Sona, I came here with my Peerage as agreed. While you're riding on our backs, we'll place a special barrier around you so that your hair and clothes don't get disheveled. From what I understand, such things are important to Devil women."

"Thank you for your consideration, Tannin." Rias said with a smile. "We'll be in your Peerage's care for the duration of this trip."

After that brief exchange, everyone climbed on the Dragons' backs, with Takeshi sitting on Tannin's head. Once everyone was seated, the Dragons took flight, leaving the Gremory castle behind them. Pandora wasted no time in taking out her sketchbook once they were airborne, drawing the scenery below.

"That's certainly a novel experience, flying in the sky like this." Takeshi said with a grin. "Don't you think so as well, guys?"

[Meh.]

[Who gives a shit.]

[I could fly better than this.]

[Never…had wings…so I can't…compare…]

Nidhogg, Grendel, Orochi and Ladon responded thus, prompting Takeshi to chuckle.

"Looks like even the great Evil Dragons can't help but sulk about their current condition." Tannin said with a wide grin. "However, they aren't the only ones. Ddraig and Albion, as well as some of my fellow Dragon Kings like Vritra and Fafnir share the same fate. Between the Dragons who are sealed and those who don't involve themselves with the affairs of this world anymore, the number of active famous Dragons is really low. That's to be expected though. No matter the era, a powerful Dragon will always be an object of fear. Unless they become more involved with society like me or Tiamat, they will inevitably be hunted down at some point."

Tannin said all that with a somewhat melancholic tone.

"Is that why Master became a Devil?" Takeshi asked. "In order to avoid being sealed or killed by some glory hound?"

"There is that, and there was also my desire to keep on fighting strong opponents." Tannin said. "Since there weren't any major wars occurring during this era, the Devils' Rating Game was a good alternative. However, the main reason for my reincarnation lies somewhere else. Tell me, have you heard of the Dragon Apple?"

"Not really." Takeshi said. "Also, isn't that name a little too unimaginative?"

"I'm not the one who came up with it, so don't complain to me." Tannin said. "At any rate, there is a certain race of Dragons that can only live by eating that specific apple. However, all Dragon Apples disappeared from the human world due to environmental changes, leaving the Underworld as the sole source of those apples. The problem is that Dragons are hated by both Fallen Angels and Devils, the denizens of the Underworld, so there's no way they would provide that fruit for free. That's why, I chose to become a Devil, and once I reached the rank of Ultimate-class, I made the area where these apples grow my territory."

"So, these Dragons who can only survive by eating the Dragon Apple, they live in your territory now, Master?"

"Indeed." Tannin said. "Thanks to that, they were able to avoid extinction. Moreover, thanks to our research, we're able to produce artificial fruits now that are the same as the original, meaning there's no more danger of them vanishing. That means the future of that race is secure now."

Takeshi couldn't help but feel his respect for the elder Dragon grow. Dragons were beings that took great pride in their being and their freedom. For Tannin to give all that up for the sake of his fellow Dragons, it spoke volumes of his sense of responsibility and his resolve.

"Master really is the epitome of what a Dragon King should be." Takeshi said. "At least, that's how I see it."

"Is that so?" Tannin said while laughing. "I'll gratefully accept the praise of the greatest Evil Dragon User, and I'm honored that you think so highly of me. However, my actions were only natural. The desire to continue one's species is shared among all living beings. That's why, I only thought about saving my fellow Dragons as well. That's the duty of a Dragon who has power towards the Dragons who don't."

"Even so, I still think Master's actions are praiseworthy." Takeshi said. "Speaking of which, who was the Devil that reincarnated you?"

"Mephisto Pheles." Tannin said. "An ancient Devil who was the first among the common Devils to be awarded a noble rank, though he never created his own clan like the rest of the Extra Demon families. Perhaps you will get the chance to meet him in the future since he's the chairman of Grauzauberer, the Magician organization which deals with the pacts between Magicians and Devils. I received a Queen piece from him, and since he doesn't usually involve himself in the Underworld's affairs, I have a great degree of personal freedom."

"I figured that only a high-profile individual could be Master's King, though I didn't expect the infamous Mephisto Pheles' name to pop up here." Takeshi said as he let out a sigh. "I wonder if I'll be able to become a respectable Devil like Master in the future…"

"That's up to you and your own efforts." Tannin said. "If I could offer some advice as your senior though, I would ask you to take your time and seriously consider your future. A Devil's life is long, and if you rush to fulfil your immediate goals and dreams, you may find yourself burnt out and devoid of the will to do anything. I've seen that happen sometimes, both in noble Devils and Reincarnated Devils."

"Plan out my future…"

Takeshi muttered as he stared at the sky above in an absentminded manner, pondering Tannin's words. The rest of the time passed in comfortable silence until the Dragons arrived at a wide clearing situated near the edge of a dense forest, where a high-class large hotel could be seen. Its grounds were wide enough to fit the entirety of Kuoh Town within while also leaving room to spare. Following the headlights flashing from below, Tannin and his fellow Dragons landed on a wide stadium, with the Devils climbing down their backs.

"Well then, this is where we part ways." Tannin said. "My group and I will head for the waiting space prepared for large Devils."

"Thank you, Tannin." Rias said. "Although there was no need to trouble you and your servants, I'm still grateful that you brought us here."

"It was safer that way." Tannin said. "After everything that happened with the attack on your train, I can't blame your siblings for being a little overprotective, miss Rias."

"I thought that's what happened…" Sona sighed in exasperation. "My apologies, and thank you for going along with our siblings' selfishness, Tannin."

"Don't worry about it." Tannin said, spreading his wings. "Perhaps we shall meet later if there's time."

"Ryuugamine Takeshi!" Bova shouted. "Once you're done with your game, I'll definitely come challenge you again! You'd better be prepared!"

"Any time, any place, Bova!" Takeshi shouted back. "I'll turn your scales black and blue this time for sure!"

"Don't be too sure about that, damn Devil brat!"

After that exchange, the Dragons took off, leaving the Devils behind.

"You seem to have established an…odd relationship with Tannin's son." Yuuto said. "What happened between you two?"

"Nothing much." Takeshi said. "We're just a bunch of fellows who hate losing to one another. Unfortunately for him, I'm ahead in our little competition and intend to remain so."

"Poor Dragon has no idea about what kind of person he picked a fight with."

"Oi, what's that supposed to mean, Yuuto?"

"Oh, looks like our ride is here."

Yuuto said in haste as several hotel employees approached the two Peerages. They led them to two expensive-looking limousines, with Rias's Peerage getting into the first one and Sona's Peerage into the second. While they were driving towards the hotel, Rias and her group took the opportunity to fix their outfits and hair, which had become a bit disheveled despite Tannin's efforts.

"President, isn't Azazel-sensei coming with us?"

"No, he'll arrive later alongside my brother and the rest, since it seems he's hit it off with them." Rias responded thus to Pandora's question. "He also said something about wanting to see Gabriel after so long with a lecherous expression on his face."

"Gabriel-sama is also here?" Xenovia said, her eyes opening wide. "I wonder if we'll get the chance to meet her. There were plenty of rumors regarding her strength and beauty back in the Church, and I'd be lying if I said I'm not curious to see if they're true."

"Ara, but if Gabriel-sama is here, that's a cause for concern, no?" Akeno said while frowning. "After all, Leviathan-sama views her as her greatest rival, so a meeting between them might turn…volatile."

"Between the rest of the Devil Kings, Michael-sama, Shemhazai-san and Baraqiel-san, I'm sure they can keep things civil enough between the two." Rias said. "More importantly, you should all know that I declared war on Sona on the ride here, saying that we'll beat her for the sake of our own ambitions, and she responded in kind."

"Saji-kun also seemed pretty determined to fulfil his dream." Takeshi said. "We'll probably have a hard match ahead of us."

"Even so, we will be the ones to triumph." Rias said. "We have our own goals and dreams after all."

[Right!]

All members of Rias's Peerage said together. At that moment, the limousines arrived at the hotel's entrance, with several employees welcoming the group. Once Rias confirmed everyone in the front desk, they all entered the large elevator leading to the party venue at the top floor.

"Everyone, if someone from a distinguished family approaches you, make sure to greet them in the proper way." Rias said. "We don't want to make a bad impression."

Everyone nodded as the elevator doors opened, with the Gremory Peerage stepping into a gorgeous and lavishly decorated hall. A large number of tables filled with all sorts of delicacies were placed in all corners, and a crowd of Devils could be seen mingling. Once they caught sight of Rias, several expressions of admiration could be heard from the surroundings.

"Princess Rias, you're becoming more and more beautiful as the years go by."

"Your family and Sirzechs-sama must be very proud of you."

"Have you put any thought into who your future partner will be? If not, then my son could be…"

Such comments could be heard from the various Devils that were approaching Rias, who, as usual, was keeping her annoyance well hidden behind a smiling mask as she dealt with them.

"Uuuu, s-so many people…"

Gasper muttered while hiding behind Takeshi's back. However, despite receiving so many curious gazes, he still held his ground and didn't try to run away and hide. Takeshi patted his junior's head, proud for the growth he was exhibiting.

"Now then, shall we start making our rounds?" Rias said, putting her hand around Takeshi's. "There are a lot of people we need to greet."

"We?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow. "As far as the Underworld is concerned, I'm only your Pawn since our relationship hasn't become public. Plus, I don't think most Devils are that eager to meet the dreaded Evil Dragon User."

"That's what I'm counting on." Rias said, a playful smile on her face. "Your presence should make these greetings shorter than usual. The average High-class Devil is no match for your malicious aura after all."

"Hm, looks like my dear Master is being sly again." Takeshi grinned. "Well, I don't mind giving you a hand with this. Plus, watching these arrogant High-class Devils squirm in my presence is rather entertaining."

"That's the spirit."

Rias said while chuckling as the two of them began greeting various High-class Devils. Just as she had predicted, most of these greetings were short due to most Devils feeling uncomfortable with Takeshi being so close to them. Once they were done, Rias joined Akeno in chatting with several female Devils, while Takeshi joined Pandora and Gasper, who were sitting on the side.

"Welcome back." Pandora said. "You didn't have any trouble with the greetings?"

"No, it was unexpectedly fun in its own way." Takeshi said with a smirk. "One guy from the Amon clan looked ready to piss himself when he saw me and excused himself as quickly as possible. Where are Yuuto, Koneko-chan and Xenovia?"

"Kiba-san is talking with Shinra-senpai over there about books they've read recently, and Koneko-san is gorging herself as usual." Pandora said. "I would have joined her, but I don't feel too hungry today. As for Xenovia-san…ah, there she is."

Xenovia, who had balanced several dishes on her hands in a skillful manner, arrived at that moment.

"Here you go, everyone." Xenovia said as she distributed the dishes. "I've brought the food, so eat up."

"S-Sorry for troubling you, Xenovia-senpai…"

"No problem." Xenovia said. "Carrying only this much was a piece of cake. Here, I've brought some juice as well."

"Thanks, Xenovia." Takeshi said as he began wolfing down his food. "Man, as usual, the Underworld's cuisine is top-notch. I'm not a glutton on the same level as Koneko-chan or Pandora here, but I could eat dozens of these dishes with ease. There's—"

Takeshi stopped talking abruptly as he noticed Koneko rushing out of the room in a hurry. The intense expression on her face made Takeshi feel anxious for some reason.

"Sorry, everyone, but I need to step outside for a bit." Takeshi said. "Don't worry, I'll be back in time for the Devil Kings' address."

"Hey, wait a—"

Pandora tried to stop Takeshi, but at that time, a server that passed by her whispered next to her ear in an almost inaudible voice.

"—The Witch's blood will open the way to Arcadia."

The effect was instantaneous as Pandora's eyes lost focus and she stumbled, avoiding a nasty fall only thanks to Xenovia, who rushed to support her.

"Hey, what's the matter, Pandora?" Xenovia asked, a concerned expression on her face. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes, sorry about that…" Pandora said with a weak smile. "I felt faint all of a sudden for some reason… I'm fine now, so you don't need to worry about me."

"A-Are you sure, Pandora-senpai?" Gasper asked. "Maybe you should l-lie down somewhere and rest…"

"Like I said, it was nothing." Pandora reassured Gasper. "Just a dizzy spell. I'm alright now, really."

"I hope so…"

Gasper said, not looking entirely convinced. Meanwhile, Takeshi had entered the elevator, with Rias and Yuuto entering at almost the same time.

"You two?" Takeshi said. "Why are you here?"

"For the same reason as you, I guess." Yuuto said. "I noticed Koneko-chan rushing out of the party, got worried and decided to follow her."

"Same here." Rias said. "Maybe it's nothing serious and we're overreacting, but I have a bad feeling about this. Koneko's behavior seemed abnormal. I hope she hasn't got herself into trouble."

"We'll find out soon enough." Takeshi said. "No matter what, I, no, we won't allow anyone to harm a hair on Koneko-chan's head."

Rias and Yuuto nodded as the elevator arrived at the ground floor. After asking around, they found out that Koneko had passed through there in a hurry and had made her way towards the nearby forest. Wasting no time, both Rias and Yuuto summoned their familiars and had them search for Koneko's whereabouts. Not even two minutes had passed when the familiars returned, landing on their owners' shoulders.

"Found her." Rias said. "Follow me, Takeshi, Yuuto."

The trio entered the forest, moving with hurried steps towards Koneko's location. After a few minutes, the trio arrived at the edge of a small clearing, with Rias gesturing at Yuuto and Takeshi to hide in the trees' shadows. She then motioned at them to look at the center of the clearing. Koneko could be seen standing there, looking around with evident agitation. Then, as if noticing something, she turned her gaze upwards, with the other members of the Gremory group present following her gaze.

"Hi~. It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The one who had spoken was a black-haired woman with cat ears, two tails protruding from her rear and hazel-gold eyes that was sitting on a tree branch. She wore a black kimono and had a mischievous expression on her face.

"…I wasn't mistaken." Koneko said with an intense expression on her face. "It really is you…!"

"That's right, Shirone. Your beloved big sis is glad to see you're doing well, nya~."

The young woman said with a grin, making a playful gesture.

Shirone… Takeshi thought. Koneko told me once before that was her name before Rias gave her the name she uses now. If that girl knows it, and if she says she's her sister, then she has to be…

"…Kuroka-neesama."

Koneko said with narrowed eyes, confirming Takeshi's suspicions. Next to him, Rias glared at Kuroka with a hard expression, while Yuuto had conjured a blade and was clenching its hilt.

"I'm impressed that you sensed my ki burst and came all the way here." Kuroka said. "Your powers are developing nicely. Big sis here is very proud of your progress, nya~."

"…I don't know why you're here, but this is a good chance." Koneko said. "I've wanted to meet you for quite a while."

"Ara, did you miss your beloved sister that much?" Kuroka smiled. "I've missed you a lot as well, Shirone. There's no need to worry though. We have all the time in the world to catch up from now on."

"…There is only one thing I'm interested in hearing from you." Koneko said, glaring at Kuroka. "What happened that day? Why did you kill your master, ran and left me behind? They say you went insane due to Senjutsu, but seeing you like this and sensing your ki…I find that hard to believe. After everything that happened…I deserve an answer."

"There's not much to tell though?" Kuroka said, placing a finger near her mouth. "That fellow was being a pain in the ass like most Devils are, so I got rid of him, nya~. Unfortunately, the rest of his servants and his personal guard caught me in the act, leaving me no choice but to run and leave you behind back then. I had to spend the next years on the run while being chased by pursuit squads, but big sis here is very skilled. All Devils that came after me ended up six feet under, nya~."

"…Big sister…" Koneko muttered, clenching her fists. "As I thought, you… There's something you're not telling me. I can see through you. What are you hiding?"

Before Kuroka could respond, someone else spoke.

"Oi, Kuroka! How long do you intend to ignore the guys hiding over there?"

Landing on a tree branch next to Kuroka's from above as he said so was the familiar form of Bikou, a playful smile on his face as he tapped his staff on his shoulder.

"It's no use trying to erase your presence." Bikou continued, his gaze focused on the hiding spot of the three Devils. "As Senjutsu practitioners, both Kuroka and I can detect you through your life force."

"And even if we didn't have Senjutsu users on our side, there's no mistaking that swirling mass of evil leaking out from over there."

The one who had spoken while emerging from the shadow of a nearby tree was Milena, her silver-blond hair waving in the night breeze and her blood red eyes focused on the same spot as Bikou. Seeing that their cover was blown, Rias, Takeshi and Yuuto nodded at each other as they stepped out of the shadows and took a step forward.

"…President, Yuuto-senpai and Takeshi-senpai?" Koneko said, looking surprised. "Why are you here?"

"We saw you rushing out of the party venue in a hurry and were worried about you." Rias said, her eyes focused on Kuroka. "I never thought that your sister would be involved in this though."

"Yo, members of Vali's team." Takeshi raised his hand in greeting. "How's my good pal doing these days?"

"Heh, he's doing pretty good all things considered." Bikou smirked as he focused on Takeshi. "From the looks of it, so are you, Evil Dragon User. You've got even stronger, no? I can tell from the flow of aura around your body. Vali's going to be ecstatic once he hears that."

"Evil Dragon User?" Kuroka raised an eyebrow while appraising Takeshi. "That boy is the one who messed up Vali a while back?"

"Yep, that's the one." Milena said. "The Evil Dragon User that has progressed further than anyone in history, and the fellow that Vali has marked as his rival along with the Red Dragon Emperor. Truth be told, I'm curious to see how much he has grown since the conference, and how strong the members of the infamous Gremory Peerage are in general."

Milena's eyes glowed as she licked her lips, killing intent surging from her body. The members of Rias's group tensed in response, readying themselves for a fight.

"Hey, don't start going all crazy, Milena." Bikou said. "We're not here to fight today."

"Is that so?" Rias asked. "If this isn't a terrorist attack by the Khaos Brigade, may I ask why are you here then?"

"Oh no, this is definitely a terrorist attack." Milena said with a smile. "We're simply not involved directly with it. You could say we're sightseeing while helping Kuroka here. Moreover—"

"That's enough, Milena. They don't need to know more than this."

The one who had spoken as he emerged from the forest was a bespectacled young man in his early twenties with light blond hair, who was dressed in a business suit and had a sheathed sword on his left hip. In his right hand, he held a two-handed sword with a cross-like shaped guard. The edges of the blade were colored gold and a round pommel was placed on the bottom of its hilt. Every Devil present felt chills going down their spines at the sight of the sword.

"I've seen images of this blade before in the Church." Yuuto said with narrowed eyes. "That's the Holy King Sword Caliburn, the Sword in the Stone, the mightiest Holy Sword in existence, and one of the two blades associated with King Arthur. The Pendragon family acts as its keeper, which means you must be…"

"It is as you have guessed." The man said while straightening his glasses. "My name is Arthur Pendragon, descendant of King Arthur and a member of Vali's team. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, everyone. I was especially eager to meet you at some point, Kiba Yuuto of the Holy Demonic Swords. It seems coming along with these rowdy fellows to keep an eye on them was the correct decision in more ways than one."

"I'm honored that the descendant of such a renowned figure has taken an interest in me."

Yuuto said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, focusing on Arthur for any sign of suspicious movements. Arthur smiled at that before speaking.

"Unfortunately, our work takes precedence here." Arthur said, turning to the rest of his comrades. "Everything is set, so there's no need for us to remain here any longer. It's about time we took our leave."

"Before that though, there's one more thing to take care of." Kuroka said, looking at Koneko. "I'm taking Shirone back with me. Since I didn't have the chance to do so back then, this is a good opportunity, nya~."

"Kuroka, acting according to your whims and causing trouble for everyone is not allowed." Arthur said, a hint of warning in his voice. "This time, Vali won't let you off with just a reprimand."

"It'll be alright, it'll be alright." Kuroka said, making a dismissive gesture. "Shirone has the same potential as I do, so Vali and Ophis won't have any reason to complain. I'm sure they'll let me off the hook once I explain our circumstances, nya~."

"You sound confident, but don't expect me to cover for you if this blows up in your face." Arthur said. "I still say we should focus on retreating."

"Come on, Arthur, don't be such a stick-in-the-mud." Milena said with a pout. "You want us to run away with our tails between our legs even though we have such a delicious meal laid out before us? That's not our style, is it?"

"…You may have a point." Arthur said after a small pause. "There is still some time left. Perhaps we can allow ourselves to…indulge for a while."

"Looks like we're doing this after all…!"

Takeshi muttered as he, Yuuto and Rias took a step forward, standing in front of Koneko.

"Hoh, what's this?" Bikou smirked. "You guys actually want to do this? I wouldn't if I were you. All of us here are quite strong, you know? If you give us the girl, we're willing to leave in peace and trouble you no further. It's a pretty good deal, no?"

"Don't joke with me!" Rias shouted. "This girl is my servant, no, my family! There's no way in Hell I'm letting a criminal like Kuroka have her, especially after everything she went through and how much she suffered because of her!"

"How arrogant of you, miss High-class Devil." Kuroka said with evident derision. "She's my little sister, which means an outsider like you has no right to get between us. It's true that I couldn't help her back then, but things are different now. Her power will be a great asset to our side, so I'm taking her with me, nyan~."

"Like Hell you are." Takeshi said while glaring at Kuroka. "You may be her sister, but as her boyfriend, I'm afraid I can't let Koneko-chan come with you, Kuroka. It seems like you will be a bad influence on her, and I can't allow the lovely Koneko-chan to be tainted by you."

"Boyfriend?" Kuroka seemed astonished. "Really? You are Shirone's mate?"

Upon hearing that, both Milena and Bikou burst out laughing.

"Hey, what's this!?" Milena said while wiping the tears from her eyes. "Looks like your sister has climbed the stairs to adulthood before you! For shame, Kuroka. Maybe you should get some pointers from her before you end up old and alone?"

"I'll say!" Bikou said while cackling. "How come your more reserved sister has surpassed you in that regard? Your image as a seductress who can bed any man she wants is taking some major blows right now, Kuroka!"

"Hey, it's not my fault that my options are limited!" Kuroka snapped at her comrades. "Our male teammates are either morons like the dumb monkey over there, or celibate like Vali! And with us being on the run all the time, how am I supposed to ensnare a good man or two!?"

After taking a deep breath to calm down, Kuroka resumed speaking as she focused on Takeshi.

"If you really are Shirone's boyfriend, Evil Dragon User, that's one more reason to bring her back." Kuroka said. "It'll be a shame to lose a precious Nekoshu as a result of your inevitable self-destruction. That's why, I'll say this once more; leave these Devils and come with me, Shirone."

"Koneko-chan, there's no need to listen to that selfish cat's nonsense." Takeshi said. "We'll protect you from her for sure, so don't be afraid to let out your true feelings."

"It's as Takeshi-kun says." Yuuto said with a smile. "We may not be related by blood, but we're family nonetheless. We'll stand by your side no matter who our enemy is."

"I always thought of you as my precious little sister, Koneko." Rias said, placing her hand on her shoulder. "I made a promise to myself that I would show you all sorts of fun and enjoyable things in order to blow away all the bad memories and the abuse you suffered. That's why, I'll fight to my last breath in order to ensure your happiness!"

Koneko seemed moved by everyone's declarations as tears appeared in the corners of her eyes. Wiping them off, she faced Kuroka with a resolute expression.

"…I…won't go with you no matter what, big sister!" Koneko declared. "I'm no longer Shirone! I'm Toujou Koneko, and I will live alongside my new family and the person I love! Besides, how could I ever trust anything you say when you're still lying to me!?"

"The lady has spoken." Takeshi said. "She's not coming with you. As such, it's time for you and your merry band to make yourselves scarce, Kuroka."

For a moment there, Takeshi thought he saw a melancholic and downcast expression on Kuroka's face. However, that moment passed as quickly as it came, with her usual mischievous smile appearing on her face.

"It can't be helped then." Kuroka smirked. "Before bringing you back, I'll have to discipline you a bit, Shirone~."

Kuroka waved her hand, with a ripple passing through the area that caused the members of the Gremory group to wince. Takeshi felt that something had changed, but wasn't sure what.

"This is…" Rias said with a grimace. "Kuroka, you formed a barrier and transferred us to an alternate space?"

"That's right, nya~." Kuroka said. "I'm still far from controlling time, but I have become an expert in manipulate space through Youjutsu. Like you said, this area of the forest has been enveloped by a barrier that isolates it from the outside world. That's why, we can go as wild as we wish in here, and no-one will be the wiser. We won't go as far as killing you, but we will rough you fellows up a bit, nya~."

After Kuroka said so, the members of Vali's team heightened their killing intent and raised their auras. In response, Yuuto brought a Holy Demonic Sword, Rias summoned the Power of Destruction and Koneko enveloped herself in dense Touki, growing two tails from her back. As for Takeshi, he summoned Cataclysm Zone and Hesperides Fort before shouting.

"Balance Break!"

[Terror Rise! Stalwart Insomniac Awakening!]

The copper-colored armor of Insomniac Haunted Ground slammed on Takeshi's body, with the red gems on his armor letting out an eerie glow.

"Alright!" Bikou cheered. "Time for one Hell of a party!"

"…Everyone, please let me handle my sister." Koneko said. "I'm the only one who can see through her illusions after all."

"I'll take on Arthur Pendragon." Yuuto said. "I'm curious to see how powerful the Ultimate Holy Sword really is."

"Monkey Boy is mine." Takeshi said. "Sun Wukong's descendant should be a decent challenge."

"In that case, I'll hunt down the Vampire girl." Rias said. "Everyone, let's blow them away with all our strength!"

[Yes!]

The members of Rias's Peerage shouted together as both sides rushed at each other.

---

This concludes Chapter 42. Once again, I intended to write a lot more, but since the chapter would turn massive, I will move the battles and the aftermath to the next one. The good news is that I've already written part of them and my health is a bit better these days, so the next chapter should come out a bit faster.

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

See you all next time!