The third year in Kuoh began not too long ago, and Rias hated to admit that things were not going well.
Certainly, while she could still enjoy some sense of freedom that didn't exist before coming to the human world, there were responsibilities attached to the administered territory.
Maintaining the unstable peace and protecting the city in which she resided was a priority to prove her worth as an heiress; to prove how ridiculous the notion of an arranged marriage was, regardless of the reason that haunted her nights of sleep.
After the Great War and Civil War, the population of Devils declined to worrisome levels, almost reaching the point of extinction. Although Evil Pieces were a means to remedy such a situation, it was still a relatively new method, and it was undeniable that those stubborn old men who held power with their prestigious positions preferred to keep their bloodlines pure; to separate those reincarnated from the natural born, justifying an arranged marriage.
Only, it didn't.
Because Rias wasn't a goddamn incubator!
They were crazy if they thought things would go the way they wanted!
Rias would marry someday, but it would be to someone who looked out for her and her alone, and not for her family name, lineage, and status.
Exactly why she needed to build up a good reputation and create a strong Peerage, preferably composed entirely of outsiders, as the old ones liked to say and prove them wrong or at least have the power to fight her way out of this situation.
In this respect, Sona was ahead of her, someone she inevitably envied for her favorable situation.
Both came from a major remaining clan of the 72 pillars, were the same age, and were younger sisters of a Satan. The difference, however, lay in the fact that her childhood friend and rival had her hands on the reins of her own destiny...as long as she managed to remain undefeated in a game of chess.
A much better deal than the one given to Rias, where all she had was freedom until she graduated from college in the human world.
In other words, just a few more years...which was unlikely to happen considering that that asshole Raiser was pushing for the wedding to happen as soon as possible.
In that case, in the worst-case scenario, she only had until her third-year graduation in Kuoh.
Less than a year.
She wanted to cause an uprising, to run away, to kill Raiser if it was possible, even threaten to take her own life if it would prevent her new family from falling into the hands of someone who would break them just for the fun of it... Yet, there she was, unable to deal with a mere Stray Devil.
A situation that would hopefully end soon.
Her responsibility needed to be fulfilled without further ado.
Thus, not only she but Sona was present, accompanied by all the members of their Peerage, the vast majority of which belonged to her rival, to deal with the problem at hand.
Stray Devils, such creatures were a disgrace to their kind and are currently the biggest reason for their bad reputation with the rest of the supernatural world.
Thanks to those deserters who let themselves be consumed by sin instead of controlling it, they would always be viewed negatively, regardless of the changes made for the better since the last war.
At the moment, the priority was to find and exterminate Abi, a Stray who, although Mid-class, was considered S-class level of dangerousness because of his ability as Bishop to create barriers, making it very difficult to track and detect him.
The investigation was going slowly exactly because of that, where it was necessary to use local sources, examine newspapers, reports, and everything else related to crime to build an old-fashioned case.
If it weren't for the morbid motive of it all, it would be a very interesting and fun activity.
But even with all the effort put in, it was taking too much time, resulting in more and more unnecessary casualties and the justified dissatisfaction of those aware of the situation, expecting much more from her as the younger sister of the current Lucifer.
Responsibility for a title that didn't even belong to her...
That aside, in this early evening, action would be taken and Rias was deciding with Sona the locations to be searched on the local map in an almost desperate attempt at guesswork.
If there was no certainty, luck was an option to be put on the table.
Incomprehensible, Sona would say, yet necessary when doing nothing was even worse.
"All right, then." Rias wanted to make sure everyone was aware of their roles. "The Kings and Queens will move independently to cover more ground and the rest in pairs for safety."
For, no matter the situation, the lives of her new family were way more important than any human in this world could possibly be.
"Exactly," Sona followed through with the explanation as she focused her eyes on all the Devils present; on the two Peerages whose vast majority were her own members. "At any sign of suspicious activity, or even more, if you find the target, under no circumstances confront the Stray willingly," the warning was clear and their members would not dare to disobey... Perhaps Saji, her newest Pawn and full of ignorant enthusiasm to try to impress her, a noble desire that could become his downfall. "Abi is listed as a Mid-class Stray, but that was before. Now, after more than a month on the loose and feeding freely, where even his master was consumed, he may have evolved to the point of being a High-class."
The result of the failure to stop him earlier.
"Meaning he is dangerous to anyone not equally High-class," Rias finished and no one seemed to want to go against the warning given and with reason. "That being said and cleared up, we can finally..."
She didn't finish, unable to even get up from her chair when unparalleled power made itself present to create pressure on her shoulders and force her back into her seat.
"W-what is this?!" Rias asked no one in particular, as no one seemed to be able to answer when everyone but Sona was having an even worse reaction than she was. "This power... is that... Chakra?!"
The answer came in the small form of Koneko as her golden eyes blanched and she fell, beginning to convulse shortly after.
"Koneko!"
"Koneko-Chan!"
Cries of concern echoed along with Yuuto and Akeno's fear, but the girl could not hear as she was consumed by the darkness.
Being a Youkai with her natural sensitivity to Chakra, she and only she could truly feel the abyss present in such dark power.
To her, it was as if the corrupted Senjutsu accumulated on an entire battlefield had hit her all at once.
There was pain and suffering, hatred and fear, resentment, and remorse... happiness and love?
At the end of it all, there was something good, like a point of light amid an almost endless sea of darkness, but not enough for her to hold on before passing out.
"Koneko!" Rias felt real fear by seeing someone she loved in that state and knowing that there was nothing she could do about it. No, no, no!
This almost immeasurable power that created pressure and weakened her legs with fear surpassed anything she had ever seen and felt before, whether it was in strength, quantity, or even in its corrupted darkness!
Considering all the creatures she had the misfortune to meet in this life, that could only mean danger!
If this...this thing is an enemy...then we are all doomed! Rias couldn't let that happen! "Akeno, call my brother!" she commanded and it only took her queen a second to snap out of her dread-filled shock and obey. "Sona!" she addressed her rival, knowing that her brother alone would not be enough. "Your sister, we need her too!"
On the side that received such a request, Sona had conflict preventing her from acting.
This power was absurd on more levels than one could describe, dark and erratic with fury, ready to fight to the death.
A power that surpassed anything she had ever seen her sister demonstrate, someone who could destroy this country many times over.
"I-I..." Sona hesitated, afraid of what would happen if she did as Rias had asked; of putting her sister in danger... Yet there was the desperation permeating the air coming not only from Rias but from herself and every Devil in the room to consider, as well as the coming of Lucifer. "Very well."
This was an unprecedented situation that called for desperate measures.
So, just when the emergency contact was made, warning the brother and sister of an entity whose power could not be measured said entity disappeared without a trace to the relief and confusion of everyone.
"It's gone..." Saji muttered as he wiped away the sweat that dripped as much as his body trembled, unable to do anything else. So pathetic...
His twisted comfort was in knowing that he wasn't the only one in the same situation.
"Just..." Akeno, unlike expected, could not and would not revel in the sinister oppression of that aura, "What was that?"
A doubt that everyone there shared.
"Chakra," Sona followed in Rias' line of reasoning, where her friend was busy checking on the well-being of her little Rook who had thankfully stopped convulsing and was getting better, something that unfortunately couldn't be said about the condition of everyone else in the room, "And not just any kind of Chakra, that one felt..."
"Divine," Rias managed to say, having Koneko in her arms and feeling relief at realizing that she was getting better even if she hadn't woken up yet. "Despite being Chakra, its nature felt like that of a god...and a dark one."
The implications of that weren't good by any means.
"Chakra belonging to a god? You mean a Shinto god decided to show up?" Kiba was trying to understand by asking, but his master and the student council president didn't seem to agree with his theoretical question. "Isn't Japan kind of their territory?"
According to mythology, he wanted to say.
"It was, in the past, or else we wouldn't be here," Rias managed to get up to put Koneko on a couch in Akeno's care, explaining some of what she had learned about the history of Japan. "The Shinto pantheon no longer exists since the great war."
Which was a good thing, considering their hatred for Devils.
"Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi perished in the great war and only Youkais remain with the ability to wield Chakra," Sona added, this being information that was far from common sense. "And for that reason, I called my sister."
A God this dark that shouldn't exist had appeared in Kuoh and only a Satan could confront such an entity.
After all, if there were no more gods with Chakra, besides that legendary Sun Wukong, who or what was that?
The reason behind her questioning resurfaced in a different place of the city, exuding unmeasurable anger to reignite the appeased fear within them.
Fortunately, before that feeling of helplessness could become despair, two magical symbols lit up the room and Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan appeared to bring peace to the hearts of everyone there, driving away that oppressive power with their own.
"Sorry about the..." Sirzechs didn't finish, immediately feeling the more than justified reason to call him with utmost urgency. "That's..."
"Sona!" Sera interrupted as nothing mattered more than having her frightened little sister trapped in her arms! "Sorry, it took so long!" Really, this was the first time her beloved Sona had called her in forever and she still couldn't make it here immediately because of those stupid meetings! "Are you okay?!" she wasted no time in waiting for an answer, examining the condition of the most precious gift of her life from top to bottom. "That evil aura didn't hurt you, did it?!"
If it had, no matter how powerful or dark this thing felt, Serafall would show why she was considered the strongest woman in the underworld and a Satan under the name of Leviathan!
"N-no, I'm fine." Sona did her best to stay composed and not yell at her sister who was taking advantage of the situation to touch where she shouldn't! "You should worry about that thing."
That was the truth... Although, she would have said anything to get this brainless sister off her.
"She's right," Sirzechs was the one to interrupt any response from Serafall, knowing full well the kind of priority his colleague had even at a time like this... Not that he was much different, but the situation demanded it, plus all the Devils present were fine. "This needs to be addressed directly and..." he wanted to smile, but his expression only worsened as four more powerful auras appeared in the city of which he recognized three, "it seems I'm not the only one who thinks so."
The situation had just escalated in an unpredictable and dangerous direction.
"Yes..." This time Sera couldn't ignore that around her, especially when the last time she felt these auras gathering in one place was during the great war. "Sona," she called, and her little sister was listening intently. "I will be back soon, but," her expression spoke for itself as it was one she had never shown before to the ones she loved, "if things get out of hand, you must return to the underworld immediately."
This was not a request, but an order.
"Y-yes..." There was nothing else to be said, no matter how much Sona wanted to disagree. "I understand, but," she did the unthinkable and also demonstrated a hitherto hidden side of herself; the concern with the uncertainty at hand. "Please, don't get yourself hurt."
Sera managed to smile, feeling happy despite everything.
"The same goes for you, Rias," Sirzechs took the opportunity to say just in time for his wife to emerge from a magical symbol. "Grayfia will be sure to drag each of you back home if the need arises."
This entity, whoever it was...seemed to be stronger than he was, and that was concerning for many reasons. Should things go south, going beyond his current state would be necessary, and under no circumstances could his little sister be around, not even in the same dimension, when that happens.
"Yes, my lord," Grayfia did not let the short-tempered girl say anything, being able to sense the danger of this massive power on the horizon. "It shall be done."
Rias didn't know what to do but to obey, only that she didn't like this at all; this weakness reminded her of the reason for her fate being in someone else's hands.
I want to be strong, too, she trembled with this desire that filled her shaken heart to the point of biting herself and having blood dripping from her lips. Only then... will everything change.
Lost in her frustration and before she could say anything; to show her concern for her brother about to confront something that felt stronger than anything she had ever seen, he was gone along with Leviathan and only the hope so commonly held by humans remained with her.
In the half time it took them to reach the place, the reason for their concern had disappeared and familiar faces were in place.
"What do we have here," Azazel couldn't help but smile, especially since the others didn't share his enthusiasm. "The leaders of the three factions gathered in one place!" It came across as nostalgic...and not in a good way. "When was the last time this really happened?"
A rhetorical question, he knew, as well as everyone else.
"On the battlefield, unfortunately." Michael couldn't help but lament about those blood-filled days, something his sister didn't seem to share, as she was someone who didn't understand the weight of the situation at hand, not really. "It's been a while, brother," he greeted the empty shell of the one who once shared the same white of his wings before having his eyes wearied on the current Lucifer; the replacement for his deceased traitorous brother and the greatest danger present not to mention that anomaly of just now. "Sirzechs-dono." Last but not least, his focus was on the girl who stared intensely at his sister, "Serafall-dono."
"Michael-dono, Gabriel-dono," Sirzechs returned the greeting with the same level of respect expected of the Archangel currently leading heaven with his sister who seemed as pure and dangerous as she ever was, only then focusing on the incognito he could never read even after so many centuries. "Azazel, it's been a while," not long enough, he wanted to say, "and this one next to you would be?"
There was a good-looking boy in his teens with silver hair accompanying the fallen angel and that meant a lot.
"Oh, where are my manners!" Azazel didn't mind the change of subject, giving a focus to the boy who came along out of sheer curiosity as to the dark power that flooded the entire country. "This is Vali, my protégé."
The boy in question didn't answer or even show interest in the entities that held more than just power as well as authority.
"I see you have found someone interesting." Sirzechs could see that the boy was a Devil and human, not a reincarnate, and also had a distinct draconic aura. "Would you be..."
"It's gone," Vali ignored the current Lucifer in name, almost annoyed that discomfiting power had disappeared without a trace. Could this be the one Ophis had spoken of?
The Oroboros Dragon claimed that she found someone strong, and for that infinite mass of power to describe someone like that, it had to be a complete monster, which proved to be a pleasing truth by the mere exertion of its aura alone. Then she disappeared just like that, and this unknown power appeared out of nowhere.
That couldn't be a mere coincidence.
"Sorry about that, the boy has some attitude problems," Azazel didn't mind any of this, in fact, he even liked this way of being from the boy. "He's right about that, though."
Time to get to the point.
"In fact, may I assume that everyone has gathered here for the same reason?" Michael was reassured to realize that this gathering would not escalate in the wrong direction, yet not for a second diminishing the holy power that circulated through his body and emanated from his twelve wings to light up the place with his sister. "The unknown entity that I could feel all the way back at the Vatican while Gabriel and I were making a routine visit."
Such was the power demonstrated, each of them had to admit.
"Someone who wasn't very happy, I must say," Azazel looked at the only physical evidence of the presence of that powerful entity; a crushed skull. "Too bad for this guy."
Unless he deserved it, which was probably the case because he was clearly a Stray Devil; one of the recurring problems in the human world.
"Yes, all that darkness," Gabriel had her hands together in prayer, lamenting over what she had felt. "Such a sad aura, full of remorse and anger..."
Worthy of pity, in her opinion; and reason to pray for this individual's salvation.
"Unexpected to see you here too, sis," Azazel couldn't help but comment as to the girl who ignored him and everyone else to stay shut up in her little world of pity. "You are still the same, being too beautiful and pure for your own good."
A bad memory of how he used to be.
"Brother," she reminded herself that she was not alone, especially of this familiar face whose aura was no longer the same, before showing an almost sad smile in response. "I wish I could say the same to you."
"Ouch~" Azazel feigned pain as he placed his hands on his chest. "Honest as always too, I see."
Just the usual, something that would probably never change like everything else in heaven, and one of the reasons he chose to fall, besides women of course.
"Gabriel, my eternal rival!" Sera was tired of waiting to be recognized, pointing at the angelic girl she hadn't seen in eons, declaring, "I'm cuter than you!'
Of all the things she could have said, that didn't cross anyone's mind.
At least it helped take the weight off the seriousness present about the matter at hand, and the girl being...challenged?couldn't help but be surprised even more.
"Who are you again?" Gabriel tilted her head to the side in confusion and everyone there, except Vali, couldn't help but smile at the instant defeat of a powerful Satan. "But yes, I agree." She smiled brightly, completely unaware of the final blow being dealt. "You're really cute!"
A truth that unfortunately wasn't comforting.
"You can't be serious," Sera fought off all the urges she was having; to throw tantrums like a child and even cry! "We almost killed each other in the last war!"
They were rivals in more than just beauty!
"Really?" Gabriel remembered fighting a lot of bad people, but not one of them was that cute and felt that kind. "I think you have changed then, for your aura doesn't remind me of anyone from that time."
"Ahh," Azazel remembers that particular trait of his sister very well, "While Gabriel doesn't have a very good memory for faces, she never forgets an aura."
That explained a lot, even if it didn't please the Archangel accused of having a bad memory.
The fact was, however, that aside from the angels in heaven, no one had remained the same since the great war.
The Serafall who killed her way to the title of Leviathan had fallen asleep, and in her place, although a powerful woman remained, was also a gentle soul.
"Hmph!" Sera stewed her cheeks and crossed her arms under her breasts which although they were voluminous were no match for those of her rival. "Forgetting about me like that just because I've softened up a bit in these peaceful times."
A period that hopefully could remain like this longer.
"Sorry about that, but don't worry," Gabriel assured her with a smile that radiated as much as his twelve wings. "I'll never forget you again!"
Probably.
"Would it be too much to ask to focus on the problem?" Michael was tired, for many reasons, almost no longer able to keep the smile on his face despite everything. "Determine if the culprit is a new threat as his aura suggests?"
A fair point, they all agreed.
"Hmm." Azazel took the liberty of analyzing the scene, touching the scorched ground to look for remnants of the power used and narrowing his eyes as he noticed something with the remaining heat. "Why do I feel like this was Amaterasu doing?"
That got everyone's attention.
"The dead goddess?" Vali had his hands in his pockets, suddenly feeling his curiosity return as he was about to leave. "Did she come back to life or is it some descendant?"
"Nah, if she were alive, we wouldn't be here talking," Azazel remembered this much about that woman, besides her beauty of course. "She was strict and extremely protective of this land and the humans, disliking the presence of other entities, regardless of who they were."
Especially Devils, but he didn't have to say that; everyone already knows it.
"Exactly why she died," Vali had no reservations about remembering the idiocy that led to that outcome. "Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi, they all died along with their Pantheon in the great war in order to protect those without power."
A fate he didn't intend to share.
"Still, it is undeniable that Chakra with divine properties was used here and I doubt that Sun Wukong was responsible." Azazel looked at Sirzechs and could almost see the gears working in his head. "Worried that this is a warning?"
After all, leaving a crushed Devil's head was quite a way to send a message.
"That must be Abi, a Stray who was on the loose for a while now." Sirzechs looked around where it wasn't burned to see bloodstains; lots of blood. "And this must have been his lair."
Something hard to admit in the presence of two Archangels, considering their protection over humankind.
"Seems like you should rethink the position of those guarding over this land," Vali said to the Lucifer in name, turning away shortly thereafter not caring about the stern look from one of the men he wanted to confront but was beyond his current ability. "Their competence clearly leaves something to be desired."
"I will take your words into consideration, White Dragon Emperor," Sirzechs response managed to shift the focus of the other three presents to the boy who barely smiled in response before disappearing into a magical symbol. "You've found quite someone, Azazel."
Someone whose existence could tip the scales of the world, and not in a good way, especially if the Red Dragon Emperor shows up too and that was just a matter of time now.
"Just a green boy who still needs to learn a lot about the world." Azazel had a lot to teach him, especially about women. "Except that, I can't help but agree with him." Sirzechs didn't like to hear that, but it needed to be said. "Your sister is still young, not being able to keep a mere city free of a Stray." This time Serafall was also staring at him and he knew that was his cue. "Just saying, your reputation is still the worst of the three factions." Smiling, he had something to add as his magic symbol lit up under his feet, "It would be better not to make this worse since we all want peace, don't we?"
Such insinuation was all that remained when he disappeared and no one there was sure if they heard correctly.
Did Azazel want peace?
That was almost as worrying as the unknown entity and all its power.
"Who knows," Gabriel smiled tenderly as, at that last second, she remembered her brother when he still had his white wings. "Maybe he hasn't changed that much."
Michael, despite his tiredness and discouragement with all the efforts to keep the heavens up, shared his sister's smile.
"Yes," he could still see some hope. "When it is more appropriate, and if Azazel is serious, we should discuss this further." His eyes were on the two Satans and the surprise expressed by them. "Until then, keep your side of the promise and take measures to ensure the safety of the humans or allow outside help into this territory."
Sirzechs, after his shock about the real opportunity for peace, if Azazel wasn't joking, wanted to be angry for again having his little sister's efforts belittled, but in the end, he knew there was truth in it all.
"Don't worry, I will," he assured, and this wasn't just another empty promise, "So I ask you for your patience."
"You have it, Sirzechs-dono," for that was all Michael had to offer beyond words. "As a touch of sincerity, I will move some resources on our side to investigate this unknown entity and share any information discovered."
Something more than welcome.
"Then I shall do the same," Sirzechs bowed slightly in appreciation, seeing here a small step towards something bigger. "Serafall, I think it's time to leave."
"O-oh," Sera snapped at this unexpected turn of events, agreeing with him. But first, "Gabriel!" she called out to the Archangel and had all the attention she wanted. "If peace is made, I want you to be on my TV show!"
Having an Archangel on her show will definitely give her some points and mark history in a similar way to the possible coming peace treaty.
"I don't know what that is, but okay," Gabriel didn't put much thought into it, agreeing. "See you another time, Satan with a pure heart."
Waving, she left with her brother, leaving only the Devils in place.
"She doesn't remember my name, does she?" Sera had a vein popping in her forehead in realization.
Like, how many Satans were there not to remember the name of the only girl among them?!
"I suppose," Sirzechs could only force a smile before he got his eyes on the remains of the Stray he wanted to finish disintegrating. "I'll send...this to the underworld, have Ajuka study it, and see if he can find out anything else."
If anyone could do it, it was him.
"All right," Sera agreed, glad even that it didn't end with a fight whose outcome was imaginable. "And what about that?"
The unknown entity they didn't even know what it looked like, she was referring to.
"There is a good chance that this entity has some connection to the ancient Pantheon of Shinto and harbors some resentment against Devils." Sirzechs made a magic symbol appear on Abi's remains and along with some burnt soil sent it all straight to the underworld. "In that case, I suggest increasing the forces acting in the city and demanding better results from Rias and Sona."
In other words, comply with the suggestions given by their former enemies.
A minimal sacrifice when compared to the well-being of their little sisters.
"Wouldn't it be better to send those two back, even temporarily?" it was the best option, Sera knew, for this situation. "Not that they will agree."
Both were too stubborn to simply bow their heads and obey.
"Yours, maybe." Unfortunately, Sirzechs had more problems in his family. "Rias, on the other hand, if she returns, marriage is almost certain to happen."
And that was an absolute no for his little sister.
"I had forgotten about that." Too many things going on to keep in mind, Sera hated to admit. "Better go back and talk to them. I'm sure they'll understand, no matter what we decide."
"Yes," Sirzechs nodded and was about to leave but not without first looking in a specific direction for a few seconds, only then using a magic symbol to leave. You are out there, watching, aren't you?
He disappeared, staring at the horizon and being sure that something was staring back at him.
While things were looking up for the better, turbulence was bound to happen and this seemed to be just the beginning.
It took some time, didn't it? But better late than never, as they say.
Let's just hope that the next one won't take so long.
Anyway, that's all that I have for now, so let me know what you think.
