Take Me Back to Eden hasn't been written yet. I wonder where y'all heard that name? Has someone been stalking my buddy's pages on the DxD fanon wiki?
"If there is someone out there that is destined to save the world, why not help him?" Ajuka asked neutrally, still unbothered by all of this "That's what I'd like to say, but the destiny of the world is not something to carelessly consider like that."
"I don't doubt your willingness to side with creation." Sin Devourer added, seemingly content to let the Demon Lord have his doubts "But your role, Nemesis, makes it very difficult to ignore a very important detail: We need our Messiah. The world is twisted up in his favor. With him, our chances of victory increase dramatically. And that's what matters."
Diodora looked down, shaking his head as he tried to process everything being said. He felt dizzy, and weak in a way that had nothing to do with his diminishing physical resistance.
"This is too much for him, Sin Devourer." Ajuka shook his head too "Too much, too soon. You should've allowed them to figure these things out by themselves."
"We're already behind our deadline, Lord of Beelzebub." Sin Devourer replied "We must cut as many corners as we can."
"I don't think you can really cut corners on this." A*****l frowned, looking at Diodora's peerage while they tried to digest the information in their own way "You've put us in a very awkward spot."
"It doesn't change anything." Miyuzuin pointed out "But at the same time, it puts into perspective every single thing that has to do with these two. Is that why he can just get away with doing insane stunts? Is the world just… Allowing this?"
"Of course not, even Telos Karma and divine power must rest from time to time." Sin Devourer chuckled "The world doesn't enforce their roles, it's been twisted enough that they should naturally happen. That the Nemesis can do what he does is part of the reason why he was chosen. The other, of course, is that the Messiah is ill-equipped to defeat him."
Diodora lifted his head upon hearing that. When had he lowered it? When did he start cradling it?
"The way you work, the way you ooze between the cracks that the Messiah simply can't see." Sin Devourer answered Diodora's unspoken question "I've seen you. You'll lose every battle you get involved in… Until you don't. Until you pull off a trick, or a plan comes to fruition, or you perfect your 'All is Mine'. If I understand this correctly, it's a form of battle that the Messiah does not understand. You'd just worm your way into a position where you're already too powerful to overcome… Which works every time but when it counts."
"Fate Weaver would just win? No matter what?" Ajuka asked, pondering "That still bugs me."
"It's not as cut and clean, Lord of Beelzebub. The scales are tipped in his favor, but there's no outside force enforcing these things. It'd be ridiculous. I wouldn't be here, as it'd mean Invaders cannot lose no matter what." Sin Devourer explained, talking slowly. Giving everyone time. Then, he turned to Diodora "Nemesis, heed my call. I ask not to forget the wrongdoings that you've been subjected to, I do not intend to get in the way of your feelings or the direction you wish to lead your life…"
"That's for me to worry about." Ajuka added.
"...But I must urge you to weigh the existence of this entire realm against your feelings. Stave off your wrath, your envy, your pride. I ask not for you to forgive Fate Weaver, but I must ask of you to allow him to fight for us."
Diodora stared at Sin Devourer again, sweating cold and trying to discern where in that hoodie the eyes and mouth of a person hid.
"I shall become your ally, I know you've worked in the shadows to sustain the principles that give this world life. If we all join forces, the End can be averted. Do with this world as you see fit, but help me avoid its demise."
"Did we have to get sucked into a maze for this option to be put on the table?" A*****l asked, clearly mad but holding it back.
"This is this, and that is that. My interests align with Sin Devourer's, but I have my own responsibilities to uphold." Ajuka straightened his back "His point is fine and well, but I ought to look out for devil society before I look out for the rest of the world."
"How does that have to do with us, meow?" Kuroka crossed her arms. More pensive than angry.
"That is for you to decide, Kuroka." Sin Devourer answered.
"That's what I don't get. You say the world is twisted up so these two end up in conflict." Kuroka pointed at Diodora with her chin "But doesn't that mean that destiny, or providence, or simple random chance had us tied up to him since the beginning?"
The Miracle Child did not answer immediately. Diodora could guess why.
"Nothing to say? So we're just puppets in a giant game that we can't understand? Just like the Khaos Brigade. What's the point of even coming here to talk? If we're going to be dragged into this, why not let it happen?" The catgirl scoffed "Lucius-meow cannot win, so… Why care to tell us now?"
"He will not answer." Miyuzuin made a face like she wanted to hiss, but reigned herself in "We're not meant to know, right?"
Sin Devourer tilted his head.
"What is his name?" He pointed at Diodora, sounding more normal now. As if he just had forgotten in casual conversation.
Miyuzuin frowned, and Kuroka didn't want to answer. On the same note, his sister couldn't so she stayed silent.
"Lucius-san?" Genshirou bit the bait, looking just as confused as everyone else. But more willing to bet on getting an answer.
"Why didn't he answer himself?"
"Because he can't…" Genshirou blinked, shaking his head rapidly as the answer escaped his mouth "Wait, what does it have to do with anything? You mean that he's…?"
"Arbitrarily tied into his role." Sin Devourer interrupted "I won't pretend to know how reality works, I only know what I've studied and interpreted. But the absolute truth is that Invaders can fail, and that's the problem. The rules that brought them here are not absolute, and thus I must make sure they are not enforced. I need the three Invaders fighting for us, using their unique situation to our advantage."
"Don't even count me in. I'm not a fighter." A*****l scoffed.
"But you've given us a unique situation where we can abuse a very important Longinus, no?" Ajuke interjected this time, even if it looked like Sin Devourer wanted to answer "Be it because it's you, your connection to the other two Invaders, or destiny manifest… You're here. In place of someone else who would simply not be."
"Although the Tiebreaker's concerns are understandable, the Lord of Beelzebub also speaks the truth." Sin Devourer added "According to what I understand, Valerie Tepes would require a lot more effort to wake up. And yet you are here, still connected to the Sephiroth Graal. Strong, mostly, and willing to stay awake no matter how much burden you place in your soul."
A*****l flinched.
"You can see it."
"I can tell that you'll make your soul collapse at this rate." Sin Devourer ignored the accusation "No matter how much power of Infinite you are given, you are no higher being. This is also why we hurried to get to you: So you wouldn't think your efforts wouldn't cause a tragedy sooner rather than later."
"With you here, and Azazel's help, we should be able to at least locate one of the two missing grails before we must fight the Brigade head on." Ajuka explained, waving his hand and making a holographic magic circle filled with complex diagrams appear "Name your price, child. Work with us and I will personally guarantee your safety."
Diodora stopped himself from screaming.
"That's very magnanimous of you, Lord Ajuka." He gritted his teeth.
Ajuka didn't scorn him or look down on him. Instead, he opened his palm and equations popped out from between his fingers.
"This is what you wanted, yes? You wanted possession of my Kankara Formula." Ajuka closed his eyes, showing the first emotion since Diodora fell into this place. He looked regretful, hesitant "Follow my lead, and I shall give it to you. Heed Sin Devourer's plea, and I shall personally endorse your rise to power. That last spell was intriguing, and you do have more talent for demonic power than the original Diodora…"
Ajuka looked away.
"I am willing to compromise, if you will obey."
Diodora frowned.
"And I shall offer my aid in whatever you may need it." Sin Devourer lifted both hands, making an 'X' when his wrist crossed one in front of the other "Call my name three times in quick succession, and I shall be there. Whatever it may be."
"Even if it concerns Fate Weaver?" Diodora pointed out, feeling every bit as hesitant as Ajuka's Kankara Formula seemed to call for him.
"If it comes to that…" Sin Devourer paused, turning to face the Demon Lord for a moment. Ajuka nodded "...I will see to it that the Messiah is capable of fighting. That's all I need, that's all the Demon Lord of Beelzebub cares about."
His arms were still above his head, which distracted Diodora a bit. He looked ridiculous, all clad in black and making a weird pose.
Diodora looked back at Ajuka's stretched hand, the green patterns that changed in real time in front of Diodora's eyes. It was right there, right in front of him.
Did Diodora feel confident about this? No. Did he have options…?
…
Yes.
"So, thoughts?" Diodora turned to his peerage, opening his arms almost as if to invite them to hug him.
"Thoughts?" Miyuzuin parroted, opening her eyes wider. Almost looking surprised "You're really asking that of us?"
"I don't know what to think." Genshirou confessed.
"Multiple realities aside, we're getting premium treatment for literally nothing." Kuroka still had her arms crossed, her eyes half-open and filled with doubt "I don't trust them. Meow."
Diodora nodded, turning to the other two to encourage them to think along Kuroka's own line of thought.
Miyuzuin's usual frown deepened.
"Will we be protected from Fate Weaver's wrath?" She finally asked "He seems to like neither Gen nor Lucius, and I have very good reasons to think he'd try to initiate conflict from his side."
Sin Devourer nodded.
"You have Star Seeker, do with her as you please." He stated "I'm under the impression that the Tiebreaker is competent enough to plant Star Seeker back in the Messiah's ranks and make it a net gain?"
"Tiebreaker?" A*****l asked.
"You don't seem to care too much for someone that is part of your family." Genshirou pointed out.
Sin Devourer exchanged a look with Ajuka.
"I can't give you a proper answer, but it reads to me that… Whoever gets to you first, gets the upperhand in this Invader conflict." Sin Devourer ignored Genshirou's comment.
"Right…"
"You might actually be my one win condition." Diodora chuckled.
Sin Devourer pointed at Stain.
"That thing is far stronger than anyone in this room… Save for our Demon Lord here." The Miracle Child explained "It uses so much demonic power that it almost clouds my senses. But it uses it to keep its bodies operating. That thing, if it were to absorb the right individuals, would become a very potent adversary."
Diodora blinked a couple of times, diggesting those words.
"Or a very solid last boss." He realized.
"Didn't you ever find it weird how easy it was to find the creature?" Sin Devourer wondered.
"It wasn't." Diodora assured him.
"Then…"
"But that's beside the point." Diodora motioned with his hand, and the slime expanded shifted into its gooey form. It placed itself under Diodora's hand "Stain has been nothing but useful, and although I have my own concerns, I do believe that we at least shouldn't jump to conclusions about it."
"Meaning?"
"If we can come up with a sure-way countermeasure, a plan to make it so it stops being a danger to everyone… Would you object?" Diodora tilted his head.
"I do not see an issue. It sounds like you have something in mind." The Demon Lord took the turn to answer.
"I need Azazel… And a team to make a second trip against the Hero Faction."
Stain shook.
"Lord?"
"We can't coexist like this, my Pawn. That is the truth. Just as Fate Weaver seems to be destined to fight me, so too only one of us can remain. Isn't that the same conclusion you came to after I reincarnated you?"
Stain didn't answer, and instead oozed away. Slowly, deliberately. It took the form that Diodora didn't want to look at.
"But my lord, this is not the moment to say goodbye." Olivia sounded so alive, so worried for him. It forced Diodora to shut his eyes and concentrate.
Stain shifted, multiplying. A Rook, a Knight. The forms that it had never used appeared in front of him, looking as lamenting as Olivia's form had looked.
"Lord Diodora…"
"Master…"
"Enough." Diodora gritted his teeth "They don't affect me. I destroyed part of my mind trying to cope from the first incursion. I didn't manage to make my metal spell on the first try, and that's why you got to eat them to begin with."
The Stain-bodies frowned and retreated back into a singular form. This time Diodora didn't recognize it.
It was biding its time, yet Diodora would never get as good of a chance as this.
"The Lord always surprises this one, to think a checkmate situation would just fall on your lap…" The slime's body started making bubbles, looking liquid at the same time as it looked like flesh and organs: A disgusting visage as Stain overcharged its body "A pity."
The Oblex exploded itself, sending acid everywhere but being stopped when their momentum got killed by Ajuka's demonic power.
Silence reigned once more as Stain got rid of the body that had been following them.
"That's…" Genshirou swallowed "I… Kaho, Gengo. They are…"
Ajuka snapped his fingers, creating a magic circle beneath Kuroka, Genshirou, and Miyuzuin.
"Go, we will send your lord when we're done." The Demon Lord spoke, but didn't teleport them until Sin Devourer stepped onto it.
"Allow me to aid you." The Miracle Child didn't look at them, but at Diodora instead "I suppose this is your way to agree to our covenant?"
Diodora nodded.
Ajuka snapped his fingers and his team disappeared.
"Very brave of you."
"They can defeat a single Miracle Child on their own." Diodora sighed.
"And the slime?" The green haired Demon Lord tilted his head.
"I always knew it'd come to this." Diodora pressed his lips together "And I will feel a lot safer once I have your power in my arsenal."
Ajuka nodded.
"Let me prepare the magic circle that will keep your sister powered up. I'd suggest not to mess with power levels too much, as she might lose the strength to stay awake if she overexerts. But otherwise…"
"You won't intervene?" Diodora offered.
"I'll monitor you. I'm curious to see what you wind up doing with my demonic power." Ajuka didn't smile, but Diodora had the odd feeling that the topic of observing excited the Demon Lord "Otherwise, I'll simply act as a safety net. Tell Sin Devourer what you need, and I'll see what can be done."
"We should get as many Longinus on our side as possible." Diodora pointed out, already thinking about how he'd manage to get Fate Weaver off that list without Stain's help.
Ajuka nodded like he already knew.
"By the way…"
"Yes?" Ajuka blinked as he traced circles of demonic light on the floor.
"Whose blood is in the vial?" Diodora smiled.
"Rudiger Rosenkreutz's, just in case you had a way to see if it had the magic potential you seeked or not."
"Ah, I see." Diodora nodded to himself "Clever."
Ajuka smirked.
"What can I say? I'm a genius, after all."