NMHA Ch. 78 - Tipping Points
A/N - No I'm not dead. I got kind of burnt out writing the story, so I may have taken an impromptu month off. Which is probably a sign that I should wrap it up soon. I hate that I'm hitting burnout, but I can't say I'm too surprised either.
It's been three years after all. I've come a long way. I do hope to get it done before 2025 though. I've been writing this for a long time, and I think I'm ready to start moving on.
But I said it before, and I will say it again- I will finish this story. Don't worry about that.
True justice, Lunarunn thought grimly, took far too long to deliver.
Even in the face of mentalists, memory trawls, and a copious amount of binding magics to prevent duplicity, the court systems she helped build took quite some time to deliver the verdicts she expected.
Invasive? Yes, and she had no qualms admitting to such.
However, the sheer scope of the accusations laid at the feet of the Underworld aristocracy demanded that the privacy of the captured Devils be infringed for the sake of determining the truth. Their defiance and conflicting stories only compounded upon that demand.
It was a slippery slope, she knew. One that could quickly topple into outright authoritarianism.
Another reason she knew she could not continue to lead after everything was said and done. After all, she'd already given the order. She had already proven she was willing to veer into dangerous territory to deliver proper results.
A true leader needed to be better than that.
But these were Devils. And Devils were Devils were Devils. What happened amongst them was bad enough - oftentimes completely in contempt of basic sentient rights - but taking that behavior beyond their own borders was where Luna drew the line.
The further they dug, the more skeletons the Dawn Legion's inquisitors uncovered.
And Devils, particularly those of means, tended to have rather exorbitant closets.
She would have smiled at Yasaka's renewed outrage as the true extent of the Underworld species' duplicity if it wasn't so appalling.
Even Azazel, after reading all the reports, was extremely troubled.
"Sirzechs can't have known about all this," he had said, a pensive gloom creasing his brow. "If he had, he'd have slaughtered half the Assembly no matter what old Zekky tried."
Luna wasn't so sure. The Super Devil had convinced his own friends to turn on her once she outlived her usefulness. Did he expect that she'd come crawling back to him anyway?
Fat fucking chance. That bridge had burned quite brightly, and Sirzechs was the arsonist no matter what he said.
She told him as such, in one of their various encounters over the past season.
He did not answer. He rarely talked back these days, instead channeling his efforts into Rending her existence from the world.
He hadn't succeeded, of course. The fact that she was walking onto the raised stage, dressed in dark robes that obscured her features, save her head, was proof of such.
She could feel his growing frustration with each time their fights came to a close. The brunette inched closer and closer to victory with each stalemate, her familiarity with her Demonic powers - her nature, her destiny (she hated that word) - growing in kind.
Phenex was giving him problems too, she knew. Constantly intruding into the lands of the other houses, the Demon Lord had shown he had little patience for the laws of Devils. It certainly did not help that House Belial and a rather large contingent of commoners had defected.
Truly, she did not envy Sirzechs at this time. She certainly hoped he felt the walls closing in on him.
She allowed herself to crack a smile upon the schadenfreude that flitted through her consciousness.
"Ladies, gentlemen. Thank you for being here today. I will say this once and once only - if you are not prepared for what is to come, please leave. This goes to those watching as well." She fixed a baleful stare toward one of the cameras. "The verdict has already been delivered. This is merely the execution."
She lifted an arm, the hand appearing from the folds of her cloak to gesture to the side. "Today, the guilty will pay for the abuses they have delivered upon others. We have uploaded the court documents for each individual to our public records for those that wish to view the crimes, evidence, defense, and cross-examination. As always, viewer discretion is advised."
Luna's gaze shifted to another lens, this time the focus of a magic feed. "Lives are precious - I do not take them lightly. But I can assure all those watching, that the individuals you will see on this stage shortly are more than deserving of the fate that awaits them here today."
Unfortunately, the Devils weren't the only ones guilty of such debased proclivities.
She wondered whether that said more about the world or herself, that she'd see similar behavior everywhere she looked.
Even the Dawn Legion itself wasn't entirely free of atrocities. There were those that thought that being part of an army meant carte-blanche over the land and people they captured.
Such parasites were dealt with swiftly and decisively.
Excessive, some might call their actions against those former soldiers. An argument could be made to even call it draconian.
Luna called it cruel necessity. Those that showed no mercy or consideration for others deserved none in turn.
Masaomi had given her a very concerned look when she made that declaration, and spoke with her after the fact. Heaven certainly wouldn't be pleased with that particular hardline stance. Still, it changed nothing.
That was fine. She was done seeking approval for her actions. She knew what had to be done.
She heard cursing as Ninurta and Utu dragged out a figure dressed in a simple toga, the air growing charged with ozone as the individual in question tried calling on his power, only for it to be stifled by the suppressing cuffs binding his arms and legs.
While the Devils in question were equally as deserving - Luna needed to send a message to the world after what seemed to be inaction over the past multiple months.
Showing that not even Gods were safe from judgment would do nicely. And what better than to deliver such upon one of the 'greatest' - and most despicable?
She turned to the one in question, slicing her hand to the left to cut off the Grecian curses.
"Zeus. Jupiter. King of the Greeks and Romans. Lord of the Skies - or so it is told." She fixed an even gaze on the leader of the Greeks. She swiped her hand to the side, cutting off his attempt to spit back a response - another threat, she knew. "Your crimes are manifold, over thousands of years. They have been engraved, not just in legend, but in the testimonies of your own subordinates. Your foul nature has been laid bare for the world to see, time and again, yet you have not yet been punished. That changes now."
"Your brother below and your son Ares pleaded for leniency." She paused for effect, tilting her head to the side. "And so you shall receive it." Another pause. "Recant your sins. Admit to them, prove your regret for having committed such, and you will be allowed to pass on from this world peacefully."
A moment later, she released her hold over the space around Zeus's head, and the god spat, acid dripping from his tone. "Do you really think that 'killing' me will earn you any goodwill, girl? Do you truly believe my pantheon would take the death of their king laying down? The Moirai will mark your demise in an instant, if they have not already. To say nothing of my brothers and children! You will rot in Tartarus for your insolence, and your entire band of fools with you!"
It was a potent threat. Even now, the Greeks were among the strongest pantheons, and Hades was among the strongest beings in the world - like with Sirzechs, she knew that angering him would make for a dangerous foe, and one she could not let near her people under any circumstance lest they be slaughtered one and all.
But that was just the thing.
She was already marked for death, by Death. The Fates had no power over her any more.
Those sorts of threats, spoken or no, had shielded Zeus for too long.
Far, far too long.
"Then you regret nothing." She sighed. "I wish you had the foresight to reconsider, but I suppose you made your opinion of Prometheus clear long ago. Very well. I won't insult you by drawing this out any longer."
No more.
Her sclera flooded with darkness as her other hand shot out, grasping Zeus by the throat, the black appendage lifting the Greek God into the air as his hands went to her arm to try and pry the offending limb off of him.
While the appearance of a slim woman like her lifting the muscular god into the air with nary an effort was a rather unusual departure from what many would consider 'normal', the far more concerning was the pair of wings - Cataclysm Eclipse - that shot out behind her, glowing with fell promise and leeching the stage of color save for their owner.
She could feel the explosion of indignant fury from the Greek God of War in the distance as he realized what she planned to do, and the responding burst of action from Cao Cao and Vali as they wrestled him down.
She could tell how unsettled the audience was, even though they were not the recipient of the punishment she was to inflict on Zeus now.
Zeus was a monster, plain and simple.
Lunarunn didn't just devour monsters, she erased them.
It made sense that one's good conscience would consider this power would be even more antithetical than the things she purged.
His growls of defiance changed to choked screams as Cataclysm Eclipse stabbed forward, puncturing his body in several different parts, assailing him not just at his physical form but at the very essence of his being.
Zeus likely hadn't suffered like this since his war against Kronos. But she didn't stop there.
Luna drew on Cataclysm Eclipse, drew on the fragment of Trihexa that had interwoven itself into her being so long ago, not to just Rend the Greco-Roman God of Storms into non-consciousness, but to erase, dragging the peels of his essence into the endless black of Trihexa's being.
The screams grew in pitch, rising to the squeals of a pig in a slaughterhouse, as she stripped more and more from his very existence.
The Greek god's history.
His power.
His name.
His very presence in the world itself.
Every facet of Z̷̧̳̽͐ẹ̴̥̳͐u̸̫̟͋ͅs̴̢͔̣̫̏͘͜ was fed to the nature of Cataclysm Eclipse, the very form of the god's body shuddering and spasming as though glitching out of existence.
Then, with a final pull, Z̷̧̳̽͐ẹ̴̥̳͐u̸̫̟͋ͅs̴̢͔̣̫̏͘͜ came undone entirely, sent violently careening into nothingness.
The squealing screams cut out like a light as the body's existential spasms erupted into gore, before that too was obliterated but moments later.
The ground quaked, the sky shook as the King of Skies was made no more.
All that was left was a momentary blackness, a mark on existence itself where a god once was, but now wasn't.
Luna could feel something, or rather a certain Thing, shudder as the existence of another thing in the world was undone. It was wrong, or perhaps Wrong. She could feel it in the marrow of her very bones.
But it was done. Her only regret was that his actions had led to that fate.
She knew that more would suffer the same fate as the former King of the Greek Gods before long.
Luna lowered the black, red-pulsating claws of her left hand, letting the sleeve of her cloak conceal it once more as light returned to the sclera of her eyes. As color returned to the stage, she could hear the mutters of the crowd. Wariness and distrust was the common color of those whispers. As well they should be.
"It is finished," she said softly, but her words carried all the gravitas that her actions warranted. "The King of the Greek Gods has met his End. We can be so much more than what we are. He chose to be something less. So I removed the stain upon the world that he was."
She cast her gaze to the cameras, the video magic arrays, and the audience present. "And anyone else with power, who refuses to face their actions with dignity and honesty, will meet the same."
Luna let out a soft sigh, and lifted her voice. "Ninurta, Utu. Bring out the next one."
They exchanged looks, but complied.
Even they, who were warned in advance of what she intended, now had their reservations. Not unexpected; being warned of her actions and seeing it in practice were two wholly different contexts. She'd need to discuss with them after this was over to clear the air. As best she could, anyway.
After all, if she could deliver a punishment more final than what the original Creator God did to the Demons, then what did it mean for them?
As the next individual slated for death row was brought to the stage, Luna nodded slowly.
He too would die. But at least in this case, Luna had reason to end him without violence. So she did; his passing was without pain, his name yet remembered.
She didn't revel in the violence of Cataclysm Eclipse.
She just did what she felt she had to.
So she continued her grim work, hoping that each to die would allow her to take them peacefully - through the kinder of her powers, rather than through Cataclysm Eclipse..
Not all of them did.
Not even most.
They too, were given to Trihexa, their very names torn from the world as punishment for their sins.
But perhaps that was for the best.
She was here for a reason, after all.
The seed planted what felt like ages ago continued to grow, slowly but surely.
Over time, Ruval began to notice discrepancies in the world around them. Features that were a touch too featureless. Names that he failed to remember, no matter how hard he tried to hold onto them. Faces that, for the life of him, he could not make sense of.
He never voiced those thoughts, of course. He wasn't sure who he could trust, if he could trust anything at all.
Was he going mad? Paranoid? Were the thoughts in his head his, or placed there by something else?
He wasn't sure. It was hard to tell, especially with her around. Everything clouded over, he had since realized, when she was near. Especially when his eyes laid upon her.
It was tempting to sink into the comfort she provided, and leave the discrepancies forgotten, never to be noticed again.
But he couldn't.
Something was terribly wrong, he surmised. Or perhaps he knew it all along. Either way, it was up to him to figure out what.
And to do so, when he next went for a late-night walk, when she asked him if he wanted some company - of course he did - he politely refused.
She paused, as though taken aback - but he couldn't look, or else he'd lose his composure and sink again. But the fact that she hadn't immediately responded was already telling enough of her surprise.
"Is that so...?" she whispered softly. He could feel the warmth of her hand, nearly touching his back, but it pulled away. It was a long moment before she continued. "Alright. If you insist, then I will not stop you. Just don't keep me waiting too long?"
"Sure," he agreed, rising from the bed and sliding his shirt back on. "I'll be back in a little bit."
For the second time in what felt like ages, she didn't respond immediately. But then, a quiet hum. "I hope so."
With that, Ruval took his leave, stepping outside. For the first time in what felt like a while, his senses felt sharp. Stepping outside onto the plains, he spread his burning wings and took flight.
It felt good. It felt right. But something was still off. He couldn't put his finger on it.
As he looked down, at the sprawling expanse of nothing - no trees, no houses, only softly waving grass, he came to a realization.
There was nothing here.
There should have been something. All this land and nobody to develop it? No, something should have been here. Even if he wanted to maintain it, there'd at least be winding paths,
But there weren't.
Brow furrowing, Ruval landed, wings folding behind his back as he knelt down and touched the grass.
His fingers met soft dirt, but something was still not right. He pulled out a clump, and lifted it to his face.
He examined the dirt closely, but there appeared nothing sinister about it.
His nostrils flared as he drew in a deep breath, then exhaled. It was then that he realized something.
Where was the scent of the dirt? There should have been an earthy aroma to it.
But no, it was as though the dirt weren't even there.
How? He could see it. He could touch it. He could even hear the bits fall away, ever so slightly, as his grip around the clump tightened.
'Nothing but the house, her, and an endless sea of green around us,' he thought. 'No sound except the ones we make, no light but the candles and sun.'
Ruval stilled, coming to another realization.
There's no wind.
A shiver ran down his back.
What sort of world had no wind? It was as integral to life as the sun itself - wind being the harbinger of change.
Yet there was no wind.
None. No change?
But then what did that mean? He couldn't remember how he got here. But the fact of the matter was, something was very wrong.
No wind. That wasn't right. No change. A lack of change meant stagnation, which meant...
That which stagnates inevitably withers, he thought. Yet the grass is moving without wind. The dirt doesn't have a smell. My mind goes all hazy when she's around.
Details that weren't easily picked-up on, easily missed, yet crucial to the world around them. Wasn't that a telltale sign that he was under some sort of illusion?
He froze again as something stirred his hair.
Wind.
Why was there wind now? He lifted the remaining dirt in his hand to his face once more.
There. The smell was now there.
Wasn't it always there? Maybe he was just overthinking things?
No. No, he'd definitely smelled nothing the first time.
So why was he thinking that he was overthinking?
He hadn't been thinking enough. And whatever it was that wanted him to stay complacent and docile, it was active.
The illusion - or whatever it was - was adapting. Too little too late for him to not notice, but it was there and it was trying to rein him back in.
So what was he doing? Was this all in his head? Was he doing unthinkable things beyond the confines of his own internal world?
"Get out of my head," he growled, but of course there was no response. He focused his power, his essence, his Id, and directed it inward.
A spike of agony lanced through his skull, and he collapsed to a knee, holding his forehead as fires rushed through his mind, burning away at the veil. Through the pain, clenched teeth, and low groan, he noticed the world around him flicker with the same fires he'd directed into himself.
For a moment, he could see someone across from him, someone who looked like him but not exactly like him, ember sclera widened faintly in a mixture of surprise and pride.
As quickly as the image appeared, it vanished, but it gave Ruval everything he needed to know.
I am trapped in an illusion, he realized grimly. But is it all in my head, or am I just blind to the real world around me?
But the memories were still so hazy. How did he get caught in the first place? Who placed him under this spell? How could he break it without breaking himself first?
And what about her?
"Ruval! Are you alright?" And speak of the Devil... she was there, behind him again. "I saw the fires - are you hurt?"
"No," he grunted. "No, I'm not. But..." he grimaced. Shaking his head.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Yes." He rose back to his feet, a chill turning his body to unmoving ice. "I think I may be under some sort of spell. An illusion."
"Are... you certain?"
"Absolutely. Those fires..." He didn't turn around, but he knew she was there. "You should not have been able to see them."
There was another pause. "...Is that why you've been so distant lately? You think I'm ensorcelling you?"
Ruval didn't reply, instead letting out a long breath. "What other conclusion could I make? Of all the people I've seen, spoken with in.. who knows how long, yours is the only face whose details I can make sense of. Of all the things I've beheld, you are the most real by far - everything else is simply not all there."
"That sounds suspiciously like love."
The blond's heart sank, but those words confirmed his suspicions. "And the real Lunarunn doesn't use the word 'love' lightly. I've only ever heard her use it once... and that was when she admitted how closely she holds that word to her chest. But never again have I heard it since."
Silence, save for a faint shuffling. Ruval finally steeled himself and turned around.
The familiar ache was still there, still struck him like a hammerblow, but this time he was ready. This time he could withstand it. She stood across from him, perfect and whole, pale and flawless, soft blue eyes clouded with emotions he could not immediately place.
There was no candle with her, no flame to cast a long shadow. Just the pale, moonlit sky under a backdrop of fake stars.
"So who are you?" he asked, an undercurrent of danger lacing his tone. "And what right do you have to wear her face?"
A flash of anger streaked across her face. "Do you even hear yourself Ruval? I am Lunarunn." A moment passed, and the anger subsided. "Just not the one you know."
"Do tell." His expression settled into stone.
"I... I can't."
"You won't."
"If I could, I would."
"You're a fake."
"I'm real," she insisted, looking down at her hands. After a moment, her expression pinched. "At least, I feel real. Maybe I'm the only real thing here. But I am as real as you are. I am." The brunette looked up at him. "How would you feel if I called you a fake? If I told you you didn't actually exist?"
"You're an illusion. Or the perpetrator. Those flames you mentioned, they were directed inward. I was trying to cleanse my mind of foreign influence." Ruval's eyes narrowed. "And yet you saw them."
She pulled a face. "I- I did, didn't I?"
He stepped forward, a spear of white flame forming in his hand as burning tar roiled in his gut. "Give me a good reason why I shouldn't kill you now for daring to impersonate her. Go on."
She swore quietly, taking a step back. She looked like she was about to say something, but reconsidered. "...Assume that I am part of whatever it is you think you're under. Whether that's the perpetrator, or someone abetting it - what do I get out of letting you come out here to think things through?"
"Yet you pressured me, more than once, into staying with you, into staying under whatever spell makes me lose myself when I look at you."
"I asked. I gave you the choice. But I still let you go," she whispered. "And I truly wanted to make sure you were okay. I- I don't care if you don't believe me about that, but I really did. Do."
He took a step forward.
"Ruval. You're- you're scaring me." She took another step back.
"Why should you be afraid?" he asked softly. "After all, I don't have any reason to hurt you, do I?"
"Then why-?" Ruval interrupted the fake by lunging, spear aimed at her chest.
Yet when she moved, she did so with enough speed to almost avoid the spear entirely.
Almost. The weapon seared through her shoulder, and she fell to the ground, scrambling backward with her good arm before stopping, staring at the wounded limb with a wide-eyed gaze.
Ruval let out a 'tsk', brandishing the spear again, raising it over his shoulder to try and impale the falsehood once more. Before he could lunge again, however, something stopped him.
She hadn't screamed when he pierced her shoulder. But she was sniffling, short of breath.
"Was it... was it not enough?" she whimpered, tears rolling down her face. "I- I gave you everything you wanted. Everything." She looked up at him, clutching at her wounded arm. "Why? Why am I not enough? Why am I never enough? What more do you want?" the brunette choked up, looked back down, and shook her head.."If- if you're going to kill me, at least answer me that."
Ruval was angry.
More than angry.
His hands shook, unable to fully contain his fury at this... imposter who kept him snared, trapped in this illusion in which he still couldn't remember how he was imprisoned.
He couldn't trust her. Couldn't trust his own senses. Couldn't trust his mind. Couldn't trust his own heart.
How in the nine hells was he supposed to do anything other than kill her now?
But his hands didn't move. Not because he couldn't move them, but because something inside him - something he furiously knew to be of his own self - stayed his hand.
For the moment.
If this really was Luna, somehow - or some version of her - he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
"...Fine." he bit out, as harsh as the raging conflict within him, lowering his spear a touch. "But only if you tell me what the fuck is going on. Like why you've been complicit in keeping me enthralled in whatever illusion this is."
She opened her mouth, closed it, unsure of what to say before coming to a decision.
He could tell by the way her back straightened. Her eyes, however, didn't leave the ground.
"Because without you," she admitted, quietly, "I don't exist."
His muscles burned.
His head throbbed.
And yet, Issei didn't just feel alive, he felt like he was thriving.
He was really debating whether or not he was a masochist, given how he couldn't fight down the wide grin on his face as Tannin stared down at him, the Blazing Meteor Dragon cracking his knuckles.
It didn't quite make sense to him. He was pretty sure that Sirzechs's Rook was a clone of some fire giant, but he couldn't remember the name.
He wondered if something in the past (Lunarunn's past self - Azrael, he was pretty sure) had changed the course of history enough for that little change to occur. Among others.
It was strange. Ever since that night, things had gotten... odd. It was like he was starting to remember things - helped along by Isaiah. Kiba, rather, but he seemed to consider himself a different person than the Knight of Rias, and Issei would respect that.
He was different from the Pawn of the Crimson Ruin Princess, himself.
Yet things weren't the same as he remembered. People weren't the same. Issei was no exception.
He lunged, the Rook blocked, and the two continued their sparring session - though nobody weaker than Ultimate-Class would be able to tell.
That Asia was watching nearby, lips merely pursed in concern (bless her heart), spoke of her trust in his ability.
She wasn't a fighter. But she was definitely strong in her own way.
So he'd be twice the fighter so she didn't need to be.
Something that Tannin seemed to approve of, if his laughter was anything to go by.
"Ha haaaaaa, yes! It's been too long since I had a fight like this!" the dragon roared triumphantly as Issei Boosted out of the way of a hammerblow that turned the ground into a scorched crater. "Show me your moves, whelp!"
Issei responded with a metal-clad arm that caught Tannin's followup blow, using the momentum to roll Tannin's humanoid form over his shoulder and into the ground.
He got a grunt mixed with the wheeze of driven-out wind, in exchange for an aching shoulder. That dragon was heavy!
But he chose that move despite knowing how rough it might be on him. This wasn't meant to be a fight of raw power - at least, not in Issei's case.
With the interest all his Boosts had accrued at this point, power wasn't Issei's limitation, but rather fighting experience.
He could remember fights from his past lives, but he couldn't replicate some of the moves he pulled off.
Yet. He was much closer by now.
Some time later, the spar had come to an end, and after Asia had patched them both up, Issei sat shirtless with the Blazing Meteor Dragon, water in hand and a towel around his neck.
"So how did you join Sirzechs's Peerage?" he asked. The question had nipped at the back of his mind for a while now, but he hadn't had a good opportunity to ask until now. Tannin was always so busy, running between Dragon Mountain and in service of Sirzechs's crusade. He rarely got to just speak with the Rook.
This brief moment was something of a rarity, and Issei was more than willing to capitalize on it.
Tannin cast a glance at him, before huffing. His voice still rumbled, but it didn't boom with the same gravitas it had before. "You know about Dragon Mountain, correct?"
"About how there's a specific type of fruit that certain dragon species require to survive?" Issei nodded, then raised a brow when Tannin cast another, more surprised glance at him. "I know that much, at least."
"Right." The dragon snorted. "I forget, you're more well-informed than you look. Yes, well, the Baels gave me that land, which is one of the fleetingly few with the type of soil required, on the contingency that I become a Devil."
That made sense so far. If Tannin was a Devil, then that effectively added the dragons of Dragon Mountain to the Underworld's pool of forces. Given how both species were in a rough patch at the time, it was a reasonable offer. "So why Sirzechs?"
"He was the best available. I would have become Mephistopheles's Queen, but he had since cut ties with the Underworld wholesale." Tannin bared his teeth. "He didn't even respond to my request for Peerageship. My pride was already ragged enough asking for his patronage, but to not even deign me with a response was a severe insult."
"So... then Sirzechs?"
The dragon shrugged. "He understood my plight; being pushed into a role to protect that which he held dear. He lets me operate on my own terms, and in return I assist him when called upon. It is a good working relationship; far better than I would have received from almost any other Peerage."
Issei hummed thoughtfully. "I was under the impression the Gremory family treats their Peerages like family?"
That got another huff of amusement from the Crimson Meteor Dragon. "They do. Which is why Sirzechs and my relationship compared to the rest of the Peerage is... unique. He has made it perfectly clear that if I require his assistance, all I need to do is ask."
"And have you?"
"We are dragons, whelp!" Issei leaned away slightly as Tannin started radiating heat. "Does it not sting your pride to grovel for assistance?"
"I'd much rather look after what's important to me," Issei admitted. "If it means helping those I care about, I don't mind planting my face so far in the ground I start sprouting flowers from my ass."
The half-joke seemed to poke a hole in the dragon's countenance, given how the air around him cooled. "Hmph. I understand your position. However, I have already begged enough - I dare not place myself in Sirzechs's debt any further."
The air heated again, but this time with an underlying malice. "Not after last time."
Issei frowned. That was really unusual. Tannin got angry from time to time, but he'd never felt anything like this before. "Last time?"
The Crimson Meteor Dragon shook his head. "I am sworn to secrecy on the matter, and I will keep it." He leaned in, a solemn expression on his face. "But trust me when I say this whelp - beware of kind Devils. They're often the most treacherous of them all."
"...Then you and Sirzechs aren't on great terms," Issei guessed.
"We have an excellent working relationship, and I see no reason to change that." The young man caught onto the underlying meaning immediately as Tannin stood. "It is good to see that you are asking questions. Perhaps it will save you from trouble down the line."
Issei stood as well, as Tannin bared his teeth in an approximation of a grin. "Keep your mind as sharp as your claws, Issei. I look forward to seeing you become a proper scion of Ddraig."
"I thought I already was?" he asked, almost innocently.
"Don't Boost the size of your head, whelp," Tannin snorted. "You're not there quite yet."
"I know, I know," Issei grinned. "Seriously though, thanks for training me up, along with the others. I know it's probably hellish, working in a training session with me in addition to everything else. Pun not intended."
"I see potential," the dragon replied simply as he walked off. "That is enough. Ah, Lady Rias. Pardon me, I was just taking my leave."
Issei's good cheer fell away for a nervous twitch. Hoo boy, this was not exactly what he was hoping for immediately after a spar - he wanted a short break before having to work his brain too!
"Thank you Tannin. Please, do not let me bother you, and have a nice day." Rias looked immaculate as ever, dressed in simple riding breeches and a white blouse. It did wonders for her figure, Issei allowed, before cutting that part of his mind off with practiced efficiency.
He didn't miss the way her eyes quickly gave him a once-over, nor the faint blush that rose to her face when she saw his shirtless state.
...Damn it, why did this have to be so complicated?
"Issei. You appear to be in good health," she said, almost lamely. Then again, he was pretty sure she could make anything sound nice.
Tannin's warning rang true in his head, particularly when compared to his own experiences thus far. At least as far as his interactions with this Devil went.
"You look great as ever, Rias," he responded truthfully, with a slight, polite smile. The same sort of smile he noticed Rias herself made whenever she was in a discussion she would rather avoid. "Going somewhere?"
If the look in her eyes was any indication, she knew it too. He did feel a bit bad about it, but he had reason to be wary of her intentions.
"I was planning on traveling to an archeological dig in the former Andras territory," she explained. "I've received word of some War Between The Heavens-era artifacts, and want to examine them for myself."
"Andras..." he ran through the quick lessons he and Asia had run through before he'd made his trip to the Underworld. "That's near Phenex territory, isn't it? Wouldn't he see that as an opportunity to take a hostage for negotiations against the GKF?"
She nodded once. "I was hoping to go incognito, to prevent word of my exploits from getting out - until after the fact, of course."
"You may want to dye your hair then," he offered. "I think anyone with eyes could tell who you are if you don't do anything with it."
Rias stiffened, raising a hand to her hair almost protectively. "I... don't think I'd like that."
"Then I suppose you'd have to accept the risk that comes with it." Issei shrugged, but he was still paying careful attention to the Devil before him. "Just be careful. I've heard that Phenex put a bounty on the location of traveling nobles. Pretty decent pay too, especially since it's just information."
Rias glanced away, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "W-well... surely that bounty wouldn't be followed up on if said noble had a strong escort, correct? It wouldn't be worth the cost in bodies."
And there it was. The brunet pulled a face. "Rias, I told you before, didn't I? For... whatever this is to work, there needs to be honesty. Don't beat around the bush with me. If you want something, just say it to me straight."
She frowned, looking back at him. "You don't make it easy, you know?"
If he made it easy, that'd defeat the point. Rias tried to manipulate him. He wasn't going to just play along after that. She had to meet him at his boundary now, he wouldn't accept anything less.
Distantly, the young man realized how pathetic he'd been before, both in his past lives and this one. He was a pervert - that was never going to change - but at least he had some self-respect now.
Looking back, Issei was amazed at the shit he let himself be put through. All because he let himself be the fool. The outcast.
Not this time. He was fine with being an outcast - as long as he had his people, that was enough.
And Isaiah? Gasper and Valerie? Irina and Xenovia? Raynare? Asia? They were his people.
She must have seen something in his gaze that convinced her, because Rias took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders before declaring;
"Fine. Issei, I'd like you to go out with me to the dig site."
There was a brief pause as Issei processed those words. Go out...? Rias was a wordsmith by her very nature, both as a Devil and a noblewoman. But given her more down-to-earth tendencies, the message was clear as day.
"...That sounds like a courting attempt, Rias," he heard himself say, the neutrality in his own voice unsettling him. "To an outsider, no less."
Now she flushed brilliantly. "And if it is?"
He could say he already has a girlfriend. But to do so would be remiss - Asia said she was fine with Issei pursuing his dream of being a harem king, as long as she (and anyone else in the group) was okay with it.
Not that anyone else was yet, but he was sure at least Raynare was interested. The innuendos were hard to miss.
Maybe Xenovia too. She did say something about finding purpose in another- she'd given him a pretty intent look after that, as if he'd been the one to bring her back to life rather than Lunarunn.
Irina was a bit more uncertain. They were close again, and he couldn't deny she had grown quite beautiful since they parted as children, even with the prosthetic arm. But she seemed more comfortable getting to know the people around him first. Which was fine, and if her happiness meant she looked elsewhere for companionship, then he wished her the best.
How did that American pop song go? If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends?
But Rias... she had a long way to go to prove herself.
How could he trust her if she couldn't be honest with him? If she had to be forced to speak her mind even after he told her to?
How many times would she fail to do right by him?
A vindictive impulse arose as his thoughts took a turn for the dark, an impulse he acted on.
"Well, what would Venelana think?"
Rias faltered, face draining of the red that had risen to it. Issei knew Rias and her mother didn't get along well.
'That was a low blow, Issei,' A little voice in his head whispered, one that sounded suspiciously like Asia.
He looked away, but he didn't apologize. He meant what he said, or rather what he said what he meant.
Hurt for hurt.
Eye for an eye.
("You can be so much better than I can!")
And yet... He'd made a promise, hadn't he?
He was better than petty snipes like that. Or at least, he should be.
Especially if he wanted to fulfill that promise to that jaded, contradictory woman who seemingly still dared to hope for a better future.
"Fuck..." he swore under his breath, lifting his draconic arm to his face, letting the claws dig slightly into his flesh - not enough to harm, but enough to feel it.
The pain steadied his thoughts. "I- I should be better than that. Rias, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me. You're trying to be better too, and I should meet you halfway."
The redhead in question had clearly been about to say something else, but his sudden turnaround had stayed her tongue, for the moment.
"So let me make this clear," he said, hand dropping to his side as he looked her directly in the eye and took in a deep breath. "You betrayed my trust by trying to pull me into your Peerage despite my reluctance. Then you betrayed my trust by speaking with me as though I'm just what's in my arm after that. That you did so after I made it clear that I resent that perception just makes matters worse."
He threw up one hand to the side, eyes trailing it as he did."But I shouldn't have done the same with your status just now. That was wrong of me, especially out of spite."
Issei shook his head. "I want to be better than that. So, to give you a proper response to your request - the answer is no." He looked at the Devil directly again. "I will not 'go out' with you to your dig site. You've got a long way to go before I consider it - much less my girlfriend. She forgives easily - but she's got a really good memory."
Rias's expression fell, then her eyes widened as he let slip his relationship status.
"Relax." Issei cracked a grin. "I didn't bring her up until now because she's fine with other people joining our relationship. As long as she gets as much say in it as I do. Or anyone else, for that matter. Which I agree with wholeheartedly."
The grin fell away again, in favor of something more awkwardly thoughtful. "Still. That brings up my other point - I know you enjoy being the center of attention."
She was one of the two 'great onee-sans' of Kuoh, after all. Akeno seemed to relish in it more, wherever she was these days, but Rias had also appreciated the adoration of the masses. She wouldn't have taken up the role if she hadn't. Sona certainly hadn't.
"That, well, that isn't how it'll go if you really do want... this." he finished lamely, gesturing between himself and the redhead. "It'd be a shared relationship. Nobody places anyone above anyone else. I'm just stating that all up-front. Setting expectations, boundaries, and all that. I hope I've made myself clear."
"I..." Rias seemed at a loss for words, blue eyes clouded with introspection. It was clear that she still stung, but his words now gave the redhead something else to think about. "I'll need to think about what you said."
"Of course," he allowed. "But, if you still need someone to escort you, I should be available after I meet with your brother and mother. I'd like to see what the wider Underworld is like anyway."
"I thought..." the words died on her lips.
He shrugged, giving her a self-deprecating uptick of the lips. "I won't 'go out' with you. But what sort of person would I be if I let a young woman travel alone after she asked me to be her guard against the threats that prowl that land? Besides - I am curious to see why Devil archaeology fascinates you so much. Hope you don't mind if Asia tags along though. I don't plan on leaving her here alone either."
Rias paused.
Gave his offer some thought, eyes shifting to the side.
Then, she met his gaze.
Issei got the impression her opinion of him had shifted again.
She smiled. "I think I'd like that."
"So you finally settled things with Rias?"
"More or less, I think. I laid out my expectations going forward, and made it clear I wasn't going to roll over like a dog."
Sona Sitri adjusted her glasses, taking a look at Issei. "You do seem to be rather too large to be a mere dog. A wolf, perhaps."
Issei scoffed. "Really? I thought you'd call me a dragon."
"Too on-the-nose. Besides, you're not greedy enough to be a 'dragon'."
"Maybe I've grown greedier and I want only that which I know will be good for me and mine."
"So you're the Crimson Dragon of Pickiness now?"
"I have grown pickier, haven't I?"
"So you have." Sona fell silent, glancing over to the closed door, behind which her parents, Venelana, and Sirzechs were discussing.
She spoke again after a few moments. "You've come a long way from the lecherous eel that terrorized the halls of Kuoh Academy."
"We all have," he said quietly. "Things... have changed a lot, and it hasn't even been a year. It's hard to believe Kuoh got nuked not too long ago. I have a girlfriend now, for crying out loud. And one that is even willing to support my dream."
"To be a 'harem king'?" Sona quipped. Issei grinned back.
"Maybe. But it's not about the girls anymore-" He got a disbelieving look from the Sitri. "What?"
"Lying is unbecoming of you, Issei-san."
He lifted a finger, then lowered it. "Fair enough. Let me rephrase that, it's not just about the girls. It's about the people, really. I get it now. And I've got that now."
Isaiah, Gasper, Valerie, Xenovia and Irina, Asia. Hell, he even considered himself on decent terms with Sona nowadays.
That was not where he would have expected to find himself even a year ago.
His smile fell. "Except Motohama and Matsuda. I failed them. I wasn't there for them when I should have been. We were bad for each other, but I never wanted them to die."
Sona didn't respond, but that was fine. He appreciated that about her. She was a surprisingly good listener for someone so imperious. So he didn't dwell on the memory of the departed pair of the Perverted Trio for long.
Not until he had a moment to be alone, anyway.
"But the past is the past. I failed them. I won't fail the people I have now. And that's that."
"That's that," the bespectacled Sitri then echoed, a small smile rising to her face. "I understand now why Asia asked me to lighten your punishment back then, Issei. You just needed the right environment - and incentive - to be a good person."
His eyes focused on the door, smiling faintly.
"...What can I say? She brings out the best in people."
Sitri's own smile widened. "Perhaps she does. I won't hold you up any longer though. Thank you for indulging my curiosity."
"Happy to help, Kaichou. I look forward to seeing what Sitri Academy becomes."
She nodded once, and with that Issei strode through the doors.
As he did, the inhabitants paused, their conversations cutting short as they turned to stare at the brunet.
Issei cleared his throat, feeling a brief twinge of awkwardness. "I, uh, apologize for the interruption. Am I late?"
"Hardly, Issei," Sirzechs smiled, but it did little to hide the shadows under his eyes. "Please, take a seat. We were just having a friendly chat before I debriefed the group on the status of locating the Dark Moon."
Knowing what he did about what happened between them, Issei could easily pick out the cold venom that colored his tone when he spoke Lunarunn's title.
But there was something else there, too. Grief? Yes, but that wasn't quite it.
"Anything I should be aware of?" Issei asked, to which the older Lord Sitri nodded slowly.
"Not so much pertaining to you, but with one Satan dead and the other two MIA, it may be worthwhile to mention that we've received a missive from the Dawn Legion-" His expression darkened. "-making the claim to have recovered Serafall in a raid on the TSF, and that she's in a coma due to resisting custody."
Resisting rescue from the True Satan Faction? He looked at the two Sitris, then at Sirzechs. "I'm missing something here, aren't I?"
"The same time frame the Dawn Legion made their move and captured a number of the remaining Pillars, Diodora Astaroth attacked the Assembly," Sirzechs explained. "He showed enough power as a Mentalist to render multiple Pillar heads and elders brain-dead, and kill several more, before Sairaorg Bael managed to drive him off. To cover his retreat, Diodora caused more chaos, resulting in the death of hundreds of commoners."
His blood heated at the mention of Diodora. His memories of the Astaroth weren't numerous, but never good. "Aren't Mentalists the designation for Devils specializing in mind control magicks?"
"The very same. And Serafall has a... bad history with them in general." Sirzechs got a look from Lord and Lady Sitri, and he nodded in understanding. "It's not my place to say what happened in her past, but I believe you can put the pieces together."
He could.
"So we have a comatose, potentially-brainwashed Satan in the custody of another enemy, another one completely out of the picture, and one..." he trailed off, still not entirely sure how to voice Ajuka's passing in the same room as Sirzechs. The crimson-haired Devil nodded.
"These bags under my eyes aren't just for show," Sirzechs half-joked, gesturing to one of said marks on his otherwise-impeccable features. "I have been running between roles, keeping everything together, but I am only one Devil. A Super Devil, but still just one. So please allow me to offer my gratitude for easing one of my most serious concerns in what would happen to my family with Father's passing."
"Goes without saying, you guys need help." Lord Sitri looked away with a pinched expression. Pride was likely his Sin, but that didn't make Issei's comment less true. "And I can. And you're good people. So I will."
Something flashed across Sirzechs's gaze, but Issei couldn't tell what it was.
"It is another reason why I was so insistent on you becoming a Devil in exchange for my services reviving your friends, Issei," Venelana replied, bowing her head. "Though I am disappointed to hear your resolution in remaining as much a human as possible, I understand wanting to remain true to yourself above all else. It still is a great relief to have your support in these trying times."
"It's mine to be able to lend a hand," he admitted honestly. "But we probably should get down to business."
"Agreed." Sirzechs pulled out some papers, setting them on the table. "When Lord and Lady Sitri received the missive that their eldest daughter is in the protective custody of the Dawn Legion, they attempted to vie for her return to the Underworld. They were refused, on the grounds of the Underworld's limited medical budget and growing instability, and instead offered legal passage and sanctuary at one of the Dawn Legion's holdings."
He shook his head. "Most likely an outpost or stakeout, rather than a primary base, to prevent them from turning back around and exposing the Dawn Legion's true assets."
Not incorrect reasons, per se, but not telling the whole story either. Lunarunn suggested he get involved, and where he goes, Asia does too. "Are they concerned about Serafall's current... er, state of mind?"
"Given Lunarunn's predilections prior to her exile from the Underworld, it's not out of the question," Sirzechs replied. "She is extremely suspicious of the practice of Mentalism, something she shared in common with..." he cleared his throat, but Issei got the impression that it was to steel himself from the ache. "...my blood-brother, so it would make sense for her to be wary of someone who may well be compromised."
"Which makes her continued contact with my daughter all the more peculiar, given that Serafall is a capable Mentalist herself." Lady Sitri confessed. At the looks the others gave her, she looked away. "I managed to pry a few secrets from my wayward child. Not all the details, but perhaps enough to form a picture."
Issei gawked. Previously-unknown-to-him-abilities aside, what Sona's mother was suggesting "Wait, are you saying that Lunarunn and Serafall-"
"May have had a relationship beyond just contacts? Almost certainly. The two have always gotten along like a house on fire." Sirzechs frowned, already processing the additional information. "Ever since the Dark Moon was revealed to the Underworld, Serafall and my relationship has grown increasingly distant. I believe she resents me for the part I asked her to play in Lunarunn's reveal. It may well be that same resentment was the catalyst for a renewed bond between the two."
"Which makes Serafall's initial disappearance all the more concerning," Venelana continued where her son left off, steepling her fingers on the table. "What happened? How were there no witnesses? Why were the Bael Archive alarms tripped, but nothing found on site save for missing records? Serafall is a Satan- one of the most powerful Devils since the Demon Children. There are very few who could match her prowess, much less capture her without destroying an entire region."
"Questions we do not know the answer of, only suspicions," Lord Sitri finished, stroking his beard, though he gave a stern gaze to Sirzechs as though warning him of something. "However, that does not change the fact that the Dark Moon is an existential threat to our people, further cemented by the videos the Dawn Legion released just a few days ago." His eyes shifted over to Issei. "Execution videos."
The Red Dragon Emperor went cold. "How many died?"
"Of the Devils; three Pillar heads, five Elders, and two Heirs," the Gremory brunette answered Issei. "One of them was the only surviving member of their family. Lunarunn rendered the Purson Pillar extinct with that execution."
"More concerning still is the method she used to execute them," Sirzechs crossed his arms, the pressure in the air increasing as his expression turned sour. "I've scoured our records. The names of those Devils, save for Elder Tamilus Stolas, are no longer legible, speakable, or even remembered in any form - even by immediate family members."
That... shouldn't happen. The stricken expressions on the other three Devils spoke their agreement.
"This is what I was warning you about, Issei," Ddraig commented. Issei was sure he'd have been smug if it weren't for the seriousness of the topic. "There's only one thing as dangerous as that woman, and It's still sealed behind Yahweh's final barrier."
"And you're sure this isn't some form of... I dunno, a mutated manifestation of the Power of Destruction?" Issei asked in an almost mumbled tone, but he already knew the answer.
"The Power of Destruction is exceptional, and Sirzechs an exception among exceptions. But even its finest wielder since Bael himself does not have the ability to erase a person's name and memory from the annals of history," Venelana confirmed grimly.
"That's..." Monstrous. Diabolical. Horrific. All those words and more danced in Issei's head, but he pushed through them. "From what I know, Lunarunn claims to only go after those who committed serious crimes - what's the logic behind these executions? What are the crimes?"
"That's where things begin to coalesce," Sirzechs stood. "We have no records of the crimes she listed in the documents released online; the legal records she claims to use are the same scrolls that went missing during the initial appearance of the Dawn Legion."
The implication was clear as day. Two of the four Satans disappear, the Bael Archives are emptied of legal records, and now those records were supposedly being used as the justification for... erasing people from history?
No wonder Lunarunn directed Issei to get support from the Devils now that he didn't need anything from them. She'd gone even further than what Devils considered the most unforgivable of acts.
In doing so, she effectively gave him all the cards in any negotiations he had to get involved in with Devils, moving forward. As long as he was strong enough, of course.
He had been confused why his offer of assistance, despite his insistence on remaining human, had been accepted so swiftly. Now it made sense.
Clearly, Lord and Lady Sitri got the same message, looking at each other with shock, then back to Sirzechs.
But something didn't add up.
"Then why would the Dawn Legion reach out to the Sitri Family to explain what happened with Serafall?" Issei pointed out.
Venelana answered immediately. "Plausible deniability. By pretending to have 'recovered' Serafall and refusing to return her to her people on the grounds given, they get to play the moral high ground and dispel suspicions that Serafall turned traitor. And if the Sitri family leaves the Underworld, that's another asset taken away from the GKF, even if they merely become noncombatants." she looked at Lord and Lady Sitri, brow furrowing with concern. "If they aren't held hostage or killed."
"Serafall would never agree to that," Lord Sitri denied immediately. "My daughter may be a loose cannon, but her loyalty to the Great King Faction is ironclad. She may have her issues with the way things are run, but she's our chief diplomat and public relations expert!"
The shadows under Sirzechs's eyes grew more pronounced as his head tipped downward.
"And if, over the course of years, her priority changed from supporting the world she helped create to, say, an affection for another... loose cannon?" Sirzechs asked calmly.
Venelana stiffened.
The patriarch of the Sitri Pillar's vein bulged as he leaned in and glared at Sirzechs. "I will not sit here and listen to you denigrate our daughter," he whispered. "You cross a grave line with these insinuations."
"Your lack of willingness to even consider the prospect speaks poorly of either your judgment or your innocence in the matter, Lord Sitri," the redheaded Satan replied, equally softly. "I recommend you mind your words carefully, lest I be forced to charge a family I thought of as my friends with treason."
The mounting pressure threatened to drive the air from Issei's lungs, and Venelana gave him a long glance, gesticulating slightly with her hands while the other two Devils were locked in a cold staredown with each other, and Lady Sitri looking between the two with an increasingly worried expression.
Was she asking for assistance in defusing the situation?
How? It sounded like Sirzechs got it in his head that one of his closest friends was supporting the complete erasure of Devils. How was Issei supposed to argue against that? It wasn't like Serafall could defend herself, given she was supposedly in a coma.
'Oh. That might work.'
He defied the pressure Sirzechs and Lord Sitri emitted with an internal Boost and inhaled. "And what if Serafall really is comatose, and Lunarunn is acting this way without Serafall's support?"
Everyone's eyes were on him now, and the tension in the air remained steady. He ground himself by taking another breath and pushed onward. "Lunarunn wouldn't let something like a comatose friend - or something more maybe - stop her from doing what she thinks is the right thing to do. The actions of the Devils she killed - rather, erased - aside, it sounds like she's becoming confident enough to start the fires she said she would back at the Summit."
He'd made sure to watch the entry of the Dawn Legion at the Kuoh Peace Summit to try and get a better picture of the brunette.
The Red Dragon Emperor continued, mind tracing a path as quickly as he spoke. "It could be that, if they really are friends, Serafall was actually a moderating influence on Lunarunn's actions. It could be that Serafall being in a coma has become a justification for the Dark Moon to use her powers in more horrific ways."
And to become the villain he had to stop.
"Isolation does breed extremes," Lord Sitri murmured, stroking his beard again. "Our progenitors and a number of the children they sired is evidence of such. Lord Lucifer, you have the most experience out of all of us regarding Lunarunn's psychological profile. Does that explanation fit into what you know of her?"
"It... does," Sirzechs affirmed after a long moment of contemplation. "Serafall and Ajuka spent more time with her, but I knew enough to know that without someone to rein her in, Lunarunn is liable to amaze everyone. As of late, not in a good way."
'And maybe she knows that too,' Issei mused.
At the looks he received from his mother and the Sitris, the Super Devil pinched the bridge of his nose, rubbing it gently as he exhaled. "You have my apologies for my insinuations towards Serafall, Lord and Lady Sitri. I am under an incredible amount of stress, and the number of people I can trust is rapidly diminishing. I hope you understand how I may have come to the conclusion I did."
"You haven't been resting," Venelana accused, to which Sirzechs didn't immediately respond, prompting her normally-soft gaze to sharpen to a razor's edge. "What has your wife been doing?"
"Everything she can do to maintain a normal life for Millicas, while assisting me in my administrative duties, Mother. In that order, by my order," he replied tiredly, cutting her off before she could continue. "However, the onus left by my fellow Satans is too much for one individual - even with a full Peerage - to bear. I have been delegating, and Grayfia has kept me from dropping the ball on multiple occasions. She has been every bit the Queen I need her to be."
"Clearly you could use additional assistance all the same." The Gremory matriarch's gaze slid over to the brunet once more. "Issei, do you know enough about administration to help Sirzechs with his work?"
"I'm not even a tenth of Sirzechs's age," he dryly responded, but tilted his head and furrowed his brow. "Also, I haven't even chosen a degree in Kuoh Academy to pursue. That was for the upper years."
"Sirzechs is right here..." the redhead in question mumbled, practically pouting given the crossed arms and head turned away.
"Desperate times call for desperate measures," Venelana conceded with a slight smile. "We may not have facilities quite as modern as Kuoh Academy does, but I'm sure we could find a way to give you a crash course on what you need to know. You would be properly compensated for such a role, as well. Oh, and you are welcome to bring your friends. We would be glad to bring them on board if it would lift some of your concerns."
"Beware of kind Devils. They're often the most treacherous of them all." Tannin's words prevented Issei from jumping at the offer outright.
But it was still extremely tempting. He didn't see any immediate pitfalls either, especially since he intended to support the Underworld in its time of crisis anyway, and use the resources they could offer to become strong enough to challenge Lunarunn.
Though it did mean leaving home behind, at least for a little while.
So instead, he inclined his head. "Your offer is extremely generous, Venelana. I, uh, I'll need to talk to them about it before I make any decisions on their behalf."
Lord and Lady Sitri exchanged looks before nodding, the former clearing his throat. "Then with that settled, shall we get back to the main point of our meeting?"
"Of course," Sirzechs took lead of the conversation once more. "The reason I bring up the Dawn Legion's offer of sanctuary to the Sitri family is because I contracted a team of specialists to trace the digital footprint left behind through the VPNs the offer undoubtedly went through, and managed to narrow down the location of the device the offer was sent from."
Issei blinked. "Wait, isn't that illegal?"
"The legality of it is up in the air, but Lunarunn has proven herself willing to bend the rules to achieve her goals, and turnabout is fair play. Fewer lives were lost this way anyhow," Sirzechs countered, pulling out another sheet of paper - a report of some sort - and set that on the table as well. "We've tracked the device down to Canada, the Northwest Territories more specifically. Technology is limited out here as few humans like to live near the North Pole, yet there has been a rather notable amount of both development and digital communication coming from this region. I believe this may be the location of a Dawn Legion base - a cell, if not one of their main holdings. They've covered their tracks well, but we've got a scent now."
"So you've called us to help you determine the feasibility of bringing a raid up in the Assembly," Lord Sitri surmised, taking the report from the table and looking it over. "Unfortunately, most individuals there will not be able to make heads or tails of the report - 'Human-Tech' was typically Ajuka's domain of specialty. I can barely make sense of it myself."
"Which is why I would like the Sitri family's assistance in this matter. Sona likely has someone who could transcribe the report in your hands to something more palatable for the nobility, even if she cannot." The redhead cracked a grin to hide the discontent that had flashed across his eyes. "It could even be a little project for her to help educate the people. Put it like that, and I'm sure she'd be interested in assisting."
"Or maybe you could hire some more technicians?" Issei suggested.
"Not worth the risk," Sirzechs glanced at Issei. "The Underworld's already unstable, and we have no idea who might be Dawn Legion or Phenex spies. Our ability to check is limited too, thanks to the Dantalions also going extinct. Good riddance, but still problematic for internal security."
"Then why did you have another group trace the Dawn Legion message?"
"We have a longstanding relationship with the group I contracted," he replied. "I trust them to perform the duties set before them, but we still need a Devil's touch to show the Assembly this is a worthwhile venture."
"That... seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy, if you're not going to bring your people into this." Issei mused. "If you separate yourself from the people you're leading, of course it's going to cause resentment - Lord Sitri said it just a couple minutes ago; isolation breeds extremes. Actually, why even allow me to take part in all this planning?"
"You have a history with the Dark Moon," Lord Sitri replied. "And you oppose her for what she's done. Whatever reasons you do so are your own, and I will not pry, but between that and your existing relationship with Sona and Rias, you are more trustworthy than most these days. Doubly so, given your unaffiliated nature and your generally-amiable demeanor, especially given your Longinus."
"Most Red Dragon Emperors are territorial, aggressive, and prone to hostility with other elements of the supernatural," Venelana tacked on with a coy smile and a brush of her hair. "In comparison, even with your predilection towards the female form, you're practically docile~"
The Red Dragon Emperor covered his mouth with a fist and cleared his throat.
"Plus, you're strong. I've been keeping tabs on your progress through Tannin and the others," Sirzechs continued after giving his mother a glance. "Your power is already well into the Ultimate-Class of Devils and still growing rapidly. And as a young man, no less. I've been told it's like you already know exactly how to fight, but just lack the experience."
The other Devils exchanged knowing looks. There was more to the last comment than Sirzechs was letting on.
"I've had help that most couldn't dream of getting." he conceded, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I never would have gotten as strong as I have if I didn't have others to give me some huge boosts along the way."
Like in the case of that maniac Freed, who jumped him and Asia in the forest. Or when Ddraig used some of Issei's humanity to give him the power boost he needed to beat Georg down at the Summit.
Now that he thought about it, it said something that 'humanity' was a resource valuable enough to give him such a leg up, didn't it? The notion reinforced his belief that his humanity was valuable beyond what he knew.
Or was it the other way around?
Hmm.
"Humble, too," Sirzechs cracked another smile. "But keep your head up. That you made it this far is still your achievement, assistance notwithstanding."
"I know that," Issei replied immediately. "but credit where credit is due all the same."
"If we are quite done schmoozing," Lord Sitri politely coughed into his fist as he set the report Sirzechs produced back on the table. "Back to the main topic. I can bring this document to Sona and see what she makes of it. And to answer Issei's question, the reason why we wanted to avoid bringing anyone else on this process until we found a lead is because, despite her hostilities with the Underworld, the chaos that Lunarunn brings with her represents a chance to enact some changes we've wanted to make for a while now."
Oh! That made sense. "You don't want your opposition to muster resistance."
"That the Dark Moon killed members of the Pillars, already so few, is unforgivable," Venelana started. "That she completely obliterated them is beyond the pale."
"However, between her, the local unrest, and the revived Phenex seeking to reclaim territory, it does give us an opportunity to clean house," Lord Sitri stroked his beard again. "Lord Naberius was just the first. And if even part of what the Dawn Legion has charged some of our fellow aristocrats with is true, we have jurisdiction to wipe away all the power the OSF still possesses."
Issei wondered if it was solely the OSF that had been 'charged' in that instance. He needed to double-check each Pillar's political affiliations.
Lady Sitri joined in, prompting Issei away from his thoughts.. "It may push the remnants into the arms of the TSF, but Phenex seems to take offense at them more than us anyway."
Sirzechs held up a finger, as though to politely correct the Sitri matriarch. "But we cannot presume the intentions of a Demon. He has proven himself useful for now - if somewhat two-sided - as a buffer against those terrorists. In exchange for land we can no longer afford to hold anyway, he gives us a chance to restructure. Still, he may direct his attention toward us at any time, especially if he catches wind of our 'restructuring'."
"And you aren't worried Phenex might get too strong?" Because Issei remembered him - the Demon possessing Ruval. The presence of that harsh, winged predator gave him chills no matter how hot that Demon burned.
"I can beat him," the Super Devil answered. "Not easily, and not in my current state, but if I'm at 100% then I have confidence that I can give Phenex a second Rending. There's only one Demon whose power ceiling can develop further, barring literal divine intervention."
Concern crossed his face as he breathed out softly. "And she's rapidly approaching a level of capability I will be unable to match. Thus, she is the priority."
Lunarunn. Azrael. The one he was supposed to stop.
Sirzechs just admitted she was growing to a level he couldn't handle.
...What did that mean for Issei? What was he going to become by the end of all this?
And how was he going to stack up against that?
"So you're really following through with it, huh? Man, and here I thought what you pulled before was nasty business. But working with Bael to capture Azrael?"
"She never was one to do things by halves. When Azrael makes a choice, she acts on it with no reservation. Perhaps before that was beneficial, but as of late..."
"Yeah, I get it, I get it. I'm not stupid, Dad."
A long silence, and then... "You never were."
Rizevim stared up at the massive, golden gates that heralded entry into Heaven. His eyes raked across the grandiose appearance, and down toward the individual guarding the gate.
Saint Peter. Founder of the Catholic Church. A mighty warrior in his own right; it only made sense for him to be the guardian of Heaven's entry. Woe to those who sought passage through his duty without approval, for he carried with him the might and muster of God's chosen.
And so on, and so forth.
Honestly, Rizevim couldn't care any less for the spirit of the holy man. He was much more interested about what laid behind the vast portal.
He wondered how much had changed since God's death. Was it still the same place of beauty, serenity, and peace - as shown in the scripture? Or had it too begun to crumble?
The madman strode forward, approaching Saint Peter without a care in the world, feet tapping against the marble tiling as he stepped past.
The gatesman, who guarded Heaven, who watched for men like Rizevim, didn't see a thing.
The snap of fingers cracked behind Saint Peter.
Then he died.
As the white-haired individual strode through the gore-marred gates unhindered despite the red which reached the apex of the colossal structure, a wicked grin crept upon his face.
A voice sweeter than honey and more beautiful than the clear night sky haunted the air once he decided upon a fitting piece of gospel for the moment.
"Amazing Grace,
How sweet, the sound,
That saved a wretch, like me!
I once was lost, but now I'm found,
Once blind, now I can see~"
A/N:
Ohohoho, I know I shouldn't pat myself on the back like this, but once I got the idea that Rizevim would start singing something so ironic as he entered Heaven, I knew I had to put it in.
That being said, the 'executions' scene is a bit awkwardly-timed given that whole Alabama execution that happened last night. Yikes. But that's that, and this is this.
Tempura Wizard, out.