Welcome to the next chapter!
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Silver crow; Thanks, glad you liked it. Yeah, they'll be seeing one another pretty soon. Yeah, its fun when they turn up. He knows some, he also likes surprises. Yeah, they had a meeting, and it went rather well. Irina and Elmen two unlikely people came together, and did their best~ Zekram did yeah. Kuroka and Vali are a fun duo. Ravel and Koneko are always fun~ Zante did yeah. Kuroka will have a few words. Thanks for the vote. Thanks for the harem suggestions. Serafall could do. Yeah, he's known by a good few people. Zante's mother shall be explored more in the future.
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Darkwubs; Thanks for the vote. Yeah, several stuff happened last chapter. Yeah, they run into each other, after things have already been going on. She did yeah, Zante seems to be getting recognized enough even Vampires are aware of his name. He's gonna be meeting Ingvild this chapter, and yeah, while I can't spoil things yet, Ingvild's gonna be apart of an upcoming plot. Zante and Zekram do have some kind of respect for one another, even if they have different ideals on how Bael should be.
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With those reviews finished, its time to start the chapter!
Chapter 9
Elmenhilde was stood before someone she knew was strong, that being Zante.
In a small house in Europe, the lone Vampire felt like she was trapped right now. With the fact that she had to confront an Exorcist, that seemed to be in good with the Devils for reasons she didn't know.
Elmenhilde tightened her shaking hand, while Zante, along with Irina, Shirone and Ravel all pull inside of the small home. The nights sky cast a beautiful glow with the moon and twinkling stars shining.
"Wow, thanks for the save there Zante-sama~ Those beings, where they Undead? I've read about them before, but I haven't actually seen them." Irina said, showing a gracious smile on her face.
"I haven't seen them either, but yeah, that's what they were." Zante replied, his eyes glancing at Elmenhilde. "They're made when a Vampire bites a human, but it doesn't go well. They're caught in a state of perpetual desire to kill, and bite other beings, spreading their kind to other humans. The only ways to get rid of them is to either finish them off, or take out the Vampire that made them in the first place."
Elmenhilde huffed. "And I assume you're thinking I did something like this?"
"My King wasn't implying you. We just want the facts." Ravel clarified.
Elmenhilde couldn't decide if they were speaking the truth or not, because this was a situation where she could be killed if she wasn't careful.
"…Good, your twin would listen to you." Shirone murmured, hiding a small smile growing on her face, looking directly at Ravel.
Ravel looked baffled, while Elmenhilde folds her arms, looking deeply into the eyes of Zante, she kept wondering if the Devil would end her life. She hadn't interacted with Devils before, so this was an unknown situation for her.
"S-So, I take it you're Zante Bael." Elmenhilde's eyes narrowed considerably as she spoke.
Zante in turn folds his arms. "I am. And you're a Vampire…what's your name?"
"I do not have to reveal my name to you." Elmenhilde said it, trying to be assertive and as if she wasn't worried.
But she was worried, and she kept her heart at bay as best as she could do.
Zante slowly nods his head. "I see…well, so we can be on the same page, can you tell us about any political matter going on here? I don't want to start problems with the Vampires, so please alert me if there is anything currently going on here." Elmenhilde fumbles with her lower lip.
She didn't reveal anything, something that cast a shadow of doubt in the Devils.
Because of that, Zante pulls in close to see if there was anything he could discern about her, if she was a noble Vampire, and if so, he wondered if he could see any crest to her household, or something that would indicate who she might be.
"Y-You back off, or I'll bite you!" Elmenhilde threatened, trembling as she did so.
Zante glanced at Ravel, who shrugged her shoulders, so Zante continued moving closer to her.
His hand reaches out, Elmenhilde thought that he was going to end her life. "Nooooooooooooooooo-"
Her scream was cut off, when he simply pats her on the top of the head.
Elmenhilde blinks, looking up at him, and saw that he radiated a positive smile right down towards her. "Its alright, you don't need to worry. You're not in any danger, I just wish to establish the facts, alright?"
Elmenhilde didn't know if she could believe that.
If she could see Zante as an ally at all, or if he was going to end up turning on the young girl.
"T-This is…this is nothing to worry about. I was the victim, she and her brutish friend attacked me!"
"…That girl Xenovia did say she hated squirrels." Shirone murmured, Ravel inclining curiously, seeing Elmenhilde's facade of confidence dropping by the moment.
Elmenhilde then glanced at Irina, who was relieved to see that Zante was there. Even though a Devil, it was clear he knew how to handle situations such as these, and she was still learning, so she wanted to make sure that the mission would go without any casualties.
But then a thought rampaged through her mind, and she gasped. "Xenovia! S-She's here! She isn't an Undead, is she?!"
Zante shakes his head. "No, I don't believe so. Shirone-san told me she's with my group."
"Ooh no!" Irina bellowed out, her body shivering like a leaf.
"What's wrong?" Ravel mused, not sure why Vali and Kuroka would be a problem.
"W-Well, Xenovia isn't the best at manners…she kinda lacks them~ She might try and attack your friends…ehehehehe, I'm just gonna apologize in advance in case she has already done something like that…" Irina giggled out nervously.
Zante waved his hand. "I assure you, I trust Vali-chan and Kuroka-san, they'll be able to handle Xenovia-sans…eccentric ways."
Irina was relieved, and hoped that would be the case…
Meanwhile, Vali kept her arms folded, as Xenovia was staring at her, and Kuroka. Kuroka herself kept showing a teasing smile.
"…Not long now, correct?" Xenovia murmured.
Kuroka nods, licking her lips. "So, like the church nyaaa~? You married to the church or you know, free to explore anything~?
Xenovia blinks. "I am currently not married to the church. Why?"
Kuroka loved how Xenovia didn't seem to fully get what she was implying. "Its just, Zante-chan is looking for strong peerage members, and cute ones. Plus, you've got this whole enemies to lovers vibe going on. Just imagine if you two ended up together, that would be good, wouldn't it~?"
Vali truly didn't know what went through Kuroka's mind at times.
Xenovia twisted her head to Kuroka in surprise. "Me, and your King?"
"Yup, I'm very determined to make Zante-chan's love life a really good one, you know~? So, I think while you're a bit wild, you'd be a good match. And you do have an Excalibur, so wanna swing that for Zante-chan's team nyaaa~?"
Xenovia folds her arms, and gives wary eyes. "No, I don't want to do that. Maybe Irina does."
Kuroka grins. "No kidding~? That's amazing~! She was cute too, I could see her and Zante-chan having a good old fashioned time~"
Vali's tired eyes went to Kuroka, but she was so in her own thoughts she didn't notice.
Xenovia on the other hand aims a finger towards Kuroka. "Does your King frequent the Churches?"
"Unless he's secretly into God, I don't think so~ Why are you asking? Would you want him too~?"
Xenovia grumbled. "It doesn't matter."
While Xenovia was in thought, Kuroka's eyes turn towards the town. "Ooh, seems like your friends met up with Zante-chan. That's good, I'm sure she'll be safe now, so you don't have to worry anymore~"
Xenovia took in a deep breath, and pulled ahead.
Vali raised an eyebrow, when she saw some movements from the shadows. "Guess we're about to be attacked."
"Ooh, warned before I could say. That's why you're the Queen Vali-chan~" Kuroka exclaimed.
Just then, zombies began to come out of the woodwork, and lunged for them.
Vali's hand lit up with demonic energy, and she released a scattershot of energy, splitting off into different spheres, and collided with the enemies. The destructive energy managed to create a single dome of energy that erupted as they combined to create a destructive field in front of her, destroying the Undead.
Xenovia narrowed her brows. "She's strong, and fast. That cat girl did say that this is that boys Queen, and he'd not pick a weak ally either, especially for the Queen. For now, I shall cooperate with the Devil, but when we find Irina, then we can finish the mission."
Xenovia decided that fighting the enemies took precedence over fighting the Devils in this instance.
More Undead began to come out, and goes for them, so Kuroka wriggles her fingers in the air, causing the ground to turn into a mud like sealing substance, sinking the Undead down, which left them wide open to Vali's attack, who sent off a myriad of destructive demonic waves to destroy their bodies.
"These beings, I haven't come across them before. I haven't come across a Vampire either to be honest." Vali admitted.
Xenovia narrows her brows. "Then you don't know what these are?"
Kuroka giggles. "I think I know. Vampire's can make humans into Vampire's, but the process doesn't always go the best way, so I think that's what's happened here, they were bitten by a Vampire, but not made into one. Guess that explains why I sensed human and Vampire but neither fully."
Vali nods. "Know how to kill them? Besides what we're doing?"
"Gotta find the ringleader Vampire who made the first, and slay them, otherwise these pesky guys will just keep feeding off of humans and turning more, unless of course they're all destroyed nyaaa~"
Xenovia thought that made sense, so she took up her sword, and cut down one of the Undead, running right through their body, and causing them to break down as she unleashed the holy power of the sword.
Meanwhile, Zante listened to what Irina had to say about their mission. She was quite forward with what was going on, unlike Elmenhilde who kept tight lipped about what she was doing there.
"…So, that's it Zante-sama. Are you here for the Vampire too?"
Elmenhilde stiffened, Zante however shook his head. "No, just looking for some rare ingredients for a quest of ours, this is just a coincidence that it happens to grow around here."
Irina nods quickly, as Elmenhilde attempted to walk off when she wasn't being looked at.
But Shirone cleared her throat. "…I am sensing you at all times, don't try to sneak away."
Elmenhilde cringed, turning back to the group to see them all looking towards her. "I-I don't have to answer anything. I am actually the one who's being targeted by the Exorcists. We didn't even come here for them. We came for the Vampire!"
Elmenhilde thought that if she could say a little of her mission, then they'd be satisfied enough that they'd leave her alone.
"A Vampire huh." Zante mused. "Rival faction? Or defected from your own?"
"What difference does it make?" Elmenhilde said with her eyes narrowing.
"Because one we can get involved in, the other would be a bit trickier."
Elmenhilde folds her arms underneath her chest. "…Its rival faction, and defected from theirs."
Zante nods. "Right, then we can help. Did you come alone?"
"No, I didn't come alone. But I don't know if they're dead, since the Exorcist there, and her blue haired friend attacked us."
"Zante-sama, she's lying! Her group attacked first!" Irina argued.
Zante looked between them, seeing Irina and Elmenhilde both looking at him to mediate this between them, so he took a breath, and turned to Irina. "Please tell me everything that's happened so far."
"You'll listen to her, and not me?" Elmenhilde snapped.
Zante shook his head. "I'm listening to both sides, so please try to relax. I'm not on either side, consider me like neutral party. So Irina-san, if you would, please tell me what's going on from your perspective."
Irina gave a thumbs up and did just that.
When she finished, Zante turned to Elmenhilde. "Now, Vampire-san, if you'd like to tell me your side."
Elmenhilde scowled, but ultimate nods, and did what he asked.
When she also finished, Zante got into thought about it, while Ravel and Shirone look to one another.
"Well, its clear to me that both sides came here for a similar goal. Irina-san, you mentioned that villagers from a nearby church have gone missing?" Irina nods. "And Vampire-san, you said this Vampire ran out here, after betraying both you and the rivalling faction?" Elmenhilde nods. "Then it seems this Vampire you're tracking, is responsible. Its a case of mistaken identity, Vampires and Exorcists aren't the best of friends, so naturally you'd think negatively of seeing the other in a territory like this."
"So, its just a big misunderstanding then…huh, I guess it makes sense. We didn't get the entire info, only that a Vampire had been spotted here, so we assumed. But I did remember what would Zante-sama do!" Zante gives an enthused smiled to Irina.
He then turns to Elmenhilde. "Until this is resolved, I think its best you come with us."
"Why?"
Ravel released a breath. "Zante-sama is suggesting it because its clear as day that if you went off on your own, you could run into other Exorcists, and could get killed, or the Vampire you're tracking down could hurt you. What Zante-sama wishes is to end this peacefully, and allow this Vampire, that clearly has been causing all of these problems, to be dealt with."
Elmenhilde hummed, and thought about what she said.
Ultimately, she wasn't much of a fighter, so she didn't know if she could survive on her own, and if she wasn't being threatened, she thought this would be a good way for them to be able to survive, so she consents.
"Yes, I'll agree, if you promise to deliver me back to my people."
"Will do. You have my word." Zante promised.
Elmenhilde shuffles side to side, seeing his nice smile, and his gentle eyes, she for a moment thought he looked cute. But then she shook her head of the thoughts, folding her arms, as she tossed a gaze outside. "S-So, we do, what now?"
"First, lets meet up with the others, then deal with the Vampire." Zante explained, turning to Irina. "Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect to me Zante-sama~"
"You don't have to call me Zante-sama. Zante's just fine."
Irina flushed, becoming a little embarrassed. "That's so informal! C-Can I call you Zante-san instead?" Zante agreed with a head bob. "Great, then lets go Zante-san! But, I do wonder, are there many Undead out there? I'd not want to be surrounded by them."
Zante gave assuring eyes. "Its alright, there are a good few, I'm protecting this house currently with a destructive barrier. Once we leave, lets get into a formation…hm, yes, I'll take the back in case the dodgy guys try a sneak attack. Irina-san, please take the left, Ravel-chan please take the right, and Shirone-san, please will you lead us up front with your Senjutsu? Vampire-san, please stay in the middle."
They all nod, and begin getting in formation.
Then they decide to leave the house.
Going outside, there was a horde of them, all trying and failing to claw at the destructive barrier.
"Geez, so many." Irina murmured.
"That Vampire was busy. How many towns did you say he hit?" Ravel inquired from Irina.
Irina grimaced. "Three that we know of."
Zante nods, and charges his barrier with his Power of Destruction energy even more, causing it to glow brightly. "I'm gonna do a wide range wave, should destroy them in the immediate area. Shirone-san, your Onee-sama and the others?"
"Nearly here."
"Then you take us to the Vampire, can you sense them?"
Shirone nods. "Yes, they're at the edge of the town. But there are hordes of those monsters outside here."
"Then lets go, and lay waste to them."
The group nod, so Zante begins with the first attack.
He unleashes a large destructive wave all around them, going in all directions, and for up to half a mile, the buildings, remained in tact, which surprised Elmenhilde, as she saw the Power of Destruction wiping out the zombies as if they weren't even there, turning them to less than dust.
Shirone then begins leading them forward.
Moving through the town, more hordes of Undead come moving towards them. Along with that, a deep fog was settling in, Zante knew this to be the work of the Vampire, so he exhaled, and wouldn't allow that.
"They wont quit. Alright girls, lets kick some ass!" As he said it, Zante unleashed his Power of Destruction energy very finely, allowing it to spread all through the fog, so it turned to nothingness, allowing them to see what was going on.
The girls yelled "Yeah!" and begin fighting off the Undead.
Irina looked at the Undead, and her blade came out. She was preparing to slice them down, Zante noticed a moments hesitation in her eyes, so spoke up to her. "You're seeing them as human, aren't you?"
Irina turned her eyes to him, shaking his head, as he repelled the Undead from Irina. "…I know they're dead, and I know they're not human anymore. But they look so human, so innocent."
"They were, and that Vampire took their innocence away from them. That Vampire took their lives, and now are moving their corpses like a puppet master. Think of it, not as ending a humans life, but putting them to rest, after a monstrosity has occurred to them."
"Monstrosity…" Irina murmured, collecting her thoughts.
Zante nods, as his fist embeds into one of the Undead, breaking through his body with raw strength. "Yeah, these poor peoples lives ended viciously, now you can give them a final rest, so their bodies aren't used to harm anyone else, anymore."
Irina felt a faint blush adorning her cheeks at his words.
When she thought of it like that, she could see it being a very good and noble thing to do.
So she took her sword, and swung for an Undead.
When her blade came near the Undead, she hesitated for a moment.
But, she recalled his words, and pushed through, cleaving through the Undead, and they turned to ash.
"May you rest in peace." Irina muttered, holding a hand to her chest. "May you all, rest in peace now."
Irina lunged forward, and did her duty, cutting down the Undead.
Elmenhilde looked on, and turned to Zante with surprise. "Why did you encourage that girl? She's your enemy, isn't she?"
"She's an ally right now. Our factions might be at war, but why do we have to be?" Zante replied, twisting his body and slammed a Power of Destruction empowered foot into an Undead's head, smashing him down into the ground, turning to dust that scattered in the wind.
Elmenhilde was beyond surprised, it didn't even register with her that they could consider themselves allies. Even if they worked for the same goal, at best they were merely excuses to not fight one another.
Elmenhilde contemplated what he said, as they continued on their journey towards the Vampire, fighting through the horde of the Undead.
When Vali's group met up with Zante's, Xenovia saw Irina was doing well, and it did relieve her heart. But she saw Elmenhilde behind her, and in her eyes, it looked as if she was trying to end the young girls life.
"Irina!" So Xenovia took Excalibur Destruction, and charged ahead towards the young Vampire, who in turn froze in fear.
Zante raised his hand and created a wall of destruction, as Xenovia was in the midst of swinging down with holy aura surrounding her blade.
The blade clashed with the wall, repelling Xenovia's blade. Elmenhilde was surprised that he defended her so quickly.
"Defending a Vampire now?" Xenovia accused.
Irina sighed deeply. "Xenovia, no. It isn't like that. She isn't our target, its a different Vampire, we're heading there, right now."
Irina's words caused Xenovia to look confused. "What? So she isn't our target?"
"No, she isn't. She is a bit mean, but she isn't a bad girl, per-say. We need to work with Zante-san and make sure the Vampires stopped! These poor humans, we have to deliver that Vampire to justice, you know?"
Xenovia folds her arms, then deeply sighs. "…I guess for now, we will work with the Devils. But I'm trusting in you Irina. Also, there aren't any squirrels around here, are there? Some Undead squirrels perhaps?"
Zante blinked, while Kuroka murmured "Why does she hate squirrels?" but Zante had no answers, shrugs and replies. "Why do camels hate Rias-chan? Both are mysteries of the world."
Kuroka smirks as Xenovia glances at her.
Kuroka whistles innocently, while Zante gives a small amused look on his face.
Vali edges closer. "A Vampire, in town huh? We've been fighting these Undead beings, so we slay that one and its dead, right? That's what Kuroka said."
"Indeed, that's how it is." Zante replied.
Kuroka moves closer to Zante and hugs him tightly. "Zante-chan! I'm so glad you're okay! I thought I'd never see you again!"
Kuroka suddenly cried, which astounded the others.
Zante confusingly pats the back of her head. "Its okay, I'm here now."
Kuroka secretly grins, and she looks deeply into her eyes, fluttering her long eyelashes. "Maybe, we could come together, Zante-chan and…"
"Not now Onee-sama." Shirone rejected it, pulling Kuroka away from Zante, who pouts.
"Shirone, I was just having a little one on one time with our King~"
"We are in a middle of a situation, don't do weird things now."
Kuroka sighed deeply, and gives a cute pout.
But then her eyes shift to Elmenhilde, and Ravel, furrowing her brows. "Twins? A Devil and a Vampire, amazing nyaaa~"
"W-We do not look that much alike!" Ravel exclaimed in shock.
Elmenhilde nods furiously, while Kuroka pulls ahead, and cutely winks. "We going then nyaa~?"
Zante nods, so together, they pull ahead and move towards where the Vampire is.
Fighting through the hordes of the Undead, Zante and the group eventually arrive at a tall building. It looked to be a library, based on what they could make out of the destroyed sign. Zante's eyes caught the sight of Xenovia heading inside.
"Now Devils, this is a job for the Exorcist, I am going inside to take this down. Irina may help me, she may not. When you're around, she tends not to help me."
Irina taps her foot. "Because you tend to fight Zante-san who doesn't start a fight."
Xenovia shakes her head, as Elmenhilde pulls ahead. "I need to go, and confirm this Vampire's death. I cannot rely on the words of an Exorcist."
Xenovia and Elmenhilde exchange looks between them, sparks going off between their eyes.
Zante hums, feeling the tension, as he notices more Undead beginning to come out of the houses.
"Okay, Xenovia-san, Irina-san, I'll accompany you inside, and watch over Vampire-san here. Everyone else, can you keep the Undead away, and we'll take care of the Vampire?"
They agreed, albeit with reluctance on Xenovia and Elmenhilde's sides.
"Zante, is the Vampire strong?" Vali asks.
"Around Middle Class I'd say." Zante explained.
"Disappointing." Vali sighed.
"No worries my cute Queen, I'll find you a very powerful opponent soon~ In fact, I do have some potentials lined up, just for you~"
Vali smirked. "Then leave these Undead to me, my King."
Zante winked, and together, headed inside with the Exorcists, and Vampire.
Xenovia clutched her sword, while Irina did the same. Elmenhilde stuck close to Zante, who in turn promised "Don't worry, I'll protect you." which caused her eyes to lift up and meet his own kind gaze down at her.
She turned her head slightly shyly, and they walked off down the long corridor towards the library's book section.
The corridor was empty, and it felt rather lonely. Irina's eyes went to Zante, who in turn offered her a small smile. She felt a relaxing wave run through her, and she keeps her eyes focused ahead of her.
"Well, this is a surprise!" A voice echoed out around them. The girls came on high alert, while Zante calmly allowed his Power of Destruction to subtly move around his hand. "Two Exorcist dogs, a fellow Vampire, and a Devil bastard!"
"Bastard? Me? How rude~" Zante gave a jokey tone.
Elmenhilde stifled a laugh, while an agitated voice came out. "I don't care Devil! Today, I'm going to end you! Do you know who I am?!"
"No, I don't." Zante replied in a casual manner.
The Vampire's anger came through in a growl, as fog began to appear. Zante and the others watched as the fog formed a shape of a man, wearing a cape. Having a doll like appearance, the Vampire made himself known.
"Now what are you going to do? Are you going to fight me?!" As he said it, he flapped his cape open.
When he did, he showed monsters beginning to appear. From centipedes, spiders, among other insects, even bats had formed.
Elmenhilde scowls. "Using your pets against us, are you?"
"I am, little Karnstein. Yes, I know who you are. You're a pathetic Vampire that can't even fight. I watched you, running away from the Exorcists like the coward you are. If those others aren't dead yet, I'm sure they'd die when seeing you being under the protection of a Devil. How pathetic you have become Karnstein."
Elmenhilde felt like a wrench had clutched her heart.
Zante himself adopted a sad look when seeing her pained eyes.
So he turned to the Vampire, and called him out. "I don't see you being any different. You cowardly used defenseless humans to do your bidding, and now these creatures. While you hid yourself here, you tried so hard to hide your presence. And even now, I can see your hand is shaking. So, you have no grounds to call anyone pathetic."
The Vampire looked angry, and his hand did in fact shake, Irina and Xenovia noticed it.
"S-Shut it! Right now Devil bastard! Now die!"
The Vampire unleashed his monsters, that went after them all.
Irina and Xenovia lunge forward, Irina's blade turned into a whip, and began cutting up the monsters in quick succession. Xenovia twirled as she cut down numerous enemies one after the other.
Elmenhilde grits her teeth, as Zante snaps his fingers, creating spheres of destruction, and controlled them, as he fires them off. They go towards the monsters, slam into them, erasing them out of existence.
Zante protected Elmenhilde, as Irina and Xenovia progressed towards the Vampire in question. His hand emitted darkness, and sent it off in a burst of power.
Xenovia snaps her hand towards the darkness, and cleaves it in half with Excalibur Destruction, cancelling it out.
Irina smiled, and yelled "Have this!" as her whip like blade came out to slash him down.
But the man summoned a spider, that spewed out a webbing that when touching the surfaces, began to melt them. So Irina pulled back, and tripped over when the Vampire shot darkness for her foot, and the webbing went to cling to her body.
However, Xenovia yells "No!" as she releases a wave of holy power, cleaving right through the webbing, as the Vampire tried to retreat through the fog that was gathering all around his body.
"Aaaargh!" But he was repelled out of the fog, by a wave of Power of Destruction energy, smashing him into the wall.
He coughed out blood, and his eyes became hazy as a result.
His eyes turn to Zante, who casually slays the monsters near Elmenhilde and himself.
"Y-You bastard!" The Vampire yelled.
"Erm, please don't swear, there's no need for it~" Irina said with a strong face.
The Vampire growled in anger, and frustration, charging up his darkness, as they slayed all of his monsters. Irina and Xenovia stood together, Zante held back, since he didn't need to interfere right now, and focused on protecting Elmenhilde.
"We shall slay you!" Xenovia took charge, and her blade came out towards him.
Her blade went to pierce the Vampire, when he turned to fog, and vanished out of sight, out of mind.
Irina whirled around, as did Xenovia, Zante silently encouraged them, while Elmenhilde turned to Zante. "Why aren't you doing anything? You can kill him, can't you?"
"I could do, but this isn't my mission. Its theirs. They worked hard, and it seems people from the church died. They've got to let their emotions out for what this Vampire did. If they begin getting overpowered, I'll step in. But, I can feel their potential, both of them are strong. Lets see how they deal with this Vampire, okay?"
Elmenhilde was surprised, it was odd to hear a Devil encouraging Exorcists.
She was baffled, as the fog began to appear behind Irina.
Irina widened her eyes, and turned her blade back, swinging all the way around to cleave the Vampire down. But the Vampire narrowly dodges, the blade missing his chest by mere inches, and shoots off darkness.
Irina moves out of the way, as Xenovia comes down with her blade to cut the Vampire in half.
But he vanishes into the fog, and isn't able to get in close.
"We can't catch him like this. This Vampire is able to move faster than we can get to him."
"What can we do?" Irina murmured.
Zante furrows his brows, and offered his thoughts. "You both have the means to defeat the Vampire. You need to lock him down, think about your blades, and come together. Then unleash your power. I know you both can do this. So show this Vampire your strength."
Irina and even Xenovia listened silently to his encouraging words.
Irina then turned to Xenovia, and nods. "We can do this, together."
"…Alright, I don't know how I feel about receiving advice from a Devil, but I'll take it right now. I'm not that picky if it means to survive. So lets come together."
Irina and Xenovia got back to back rather than being split up, and circled around the area, looking for the Vampire.
Their eyes went to all areas of the corridor, trying to locate the Vampire.
Zante nods slowly, while Elmenhilde was astonished to see everything that was going on.
The Vampire, believing he found an opening, began to emerge from fog from above them. Flying on his wings, the girls below kept moving around, and searched for the Vampire.
Irina and Xenovia seemed to be unaware…
That was until suddenly Excalibur Mimic turned into a whip, and wrapped around the Vampire. "W-What the?!"
"There's only one place you could go to sneak attack us!" Irina roared.
"Yeah, we are trained warriors, we shall end yoooooooooooooou!" Xenovia charged up her Excalibur Destruction.
Irina dragged the Vampire down, in front of Xenovia.
Because Excalibur Mimic was around him, the Vampire couldn't move out of the way due to the holy properties of the blade, so Xenovia charged up the holy energy.
""Disappear!"" The girls yell together, as Xenovia unleashes her power.
Irina undoes Excalibur Mimic in time, the Vampire was overcome by the holy energy, wrapping all the way around him, and erased him out of existence.
When confirming he was gone, Elmenhilde nods slowly. "He's indeed dead. Good, mission complete. Even if we Vampires didn't do it."
Zante looked at Elmenhilde curiously, then towards the Exorcists.
Irina and Xenovia move closer, the former offered an energetic smile, while the latter looks on in uncomfortable gratitude.
"Thanks Zante-san! You really helped us come together~ You were right, we're better together than apart~"
Zante smiled, as Xenovia released a breath. "I don't know why we keep being thrust together. But today, was a good one indeed. I, thank you for your advice, and for helping out Irina. She is, my best friend, and I was worried about her."
Even Irina was surprised when Xenovia admitted that.
Zante gives a tender smile. "Not a problem~ Glad it worked out. Though, does this mean we wont be doing the death dance again? We could have many other dances that we can do, you know?"
Xenovia tilts her head. "Dances? Our fights, are dances?"
Irina giggles. "Of course they are Xenovia~ Zante-san isn't a bad guy at all~"
"I've noticed you've gone from calling him Zante-sama, to Zante-san now. Are we getting more familiar with the Devil, Irina?"
Irina scratched her cheek sheepishly. "W-We are…being thankful and nice! Since he is nice to us too~ Come on Xenovia, even you have to admit that Zante-san helped us out this time. We could've died if we didn't meet up with him."
Xenovia didn't disagree. "…You're right, but we have to leave now, Irina. We have to check on our comrades."
Irina nods slowly, as Zante shows a cheerful smile. "Hey, don't worry. We keep meeting for some reason, so I doubt this is the last time we're gonna see each other~"
Irina became cheerful once more. "Yes, you're right! Thanks Zante-san! Ooh, I wish the Devils and the church weren't enemies. But, maybe one day we wont be? That'd be good, wouldn't it Zante-san?"
"Definitely."
Irina grins, and winks, before walking off.
Xenovia looks to Zante, and folds her arms.
She didn't say anything, but Zante could see that she looked like she had gratitude in her eyes.
She then bowed her head, and walked off, leaving behind Zante and Elmenhilde.
Elmenhilde herself looked back to Zante with a confused face. "Why did you lie to that girl?"
"About what?" Zante asked, genuinely confused.
"You said that you'd probably see one another again, but the chances of it happening are low. Even if you keep running into one another, you're enemies. This time you weren't, but you wont see one another again, and if you do, you'll be enemies."
"Maybe you're right, but maybe you're wrong. We don't know how the future is going to go, maybe one day the people high up on both sides, will change their thoughts, and come together. But what I do know, is right here, right now, I think we made good strides, don't you think so? Devils, and Exorcists, working together, for a common goal."
Elmenhilde thought about his words, and she actually didn't mind them.
She thought that he would have said something like "Because I said it would, that's why its gonna happen!" but no, she was taken aback that he was simply being realistic, and optimistic at the same time.
"…Now, we contact my Vampire's, and head back home. Correct?"
"Yeah, if that's what you wanna do. What about your fellow Vampire's?"
Elmenhilde gave uncomfortable eyes. "…Truth be told, they'd look down on me for even agreeing to work with you. I'm a coward, that worked with a Devil. That arrogant Vampire was right, I couldn't do it on my own."
Zante hums and leans closer. "What's wrong with relying on others? Sometimes, we can't do things all by ourselves. I can't claim to know everything about Vampire's but I do know of your prideful natures. However, being prideful doesn't mean you have too much pride to not accept help from others offering it."
"…You are right, of course. But, they wont see it that way. As soon as word gets out, I'm a goner. My worth as a Vampire, will be questioned. My actions will be seen as cowardly, and I will be known as a being that relies on humans and Devils."
Zante furrows his brows. "How would anyone find out?"
Elmenhilde blinked. "W-Wouldn't you say anything about it?"
"Nope, we'd not say a thing about it."
Elmenhilde blinked in surprise.
But then her face fell. "The Exorcists, they might…"
"I'd highly doubt it." Zante confirmed it for Elmenhilde. "I mean, working with a Devil, the church isn't going to like that. Same for a Vampire. I'd very much doubt they'd want to say that to anyone in the church."
Elmenhilde thought about it, and it made a good deal of sense. "Maybe you're right…c-could I get away with it?"
"You can." Zante replied, his eyes looking into her own. "But, I feel disheartened that you have to feel like that at all. Running away, isn't a cowardly move. It preserves your life, and allows you to achieve your goals in a different way. You did that, you survived."
Elmenhilde closed her eyes, and thought about his words.
What he said, did make sense to her.
It was outside of the normal for a Vampire.
But, she didn't think it was bad once she thought about it the way he put it to her.
"…My name is Elmenhilde, by the way."
Zante smiles strongly. "Nice to officially meet you, Elmenhilde-san. Now, why don't we help you find your Vampire comrades? And then we'll make our escape before they find you with us, okay?"
Elmenhilde felt herself unexpectedly turning slightly red.
She didn't get why, but the fact that he helped her, not only with the Vampire, but the Exorcist that tried to cut her down, and to kill her. Along with that, he calmed her worries, and even giving her encouragement at the same time.
"…Okay, that sounds good, Zante Bael…Zante-sama."
Zante lightly pats her head, Elmenhilde blushed up a little at him, as they made their way out of the area.
A small time later, Zante and the group had helped Elmenhilde find her people, and then left her alone, but monitored her just in case she was in danger, but it seemed that everything worked out okay, as Zante saw Elmenhilde send a bat back to them, with a note that she was okay.
"So, the Exorcists left~" Kuroka mused.
Zante nods. "Yeah. I'm surprised Xenovia-san didn't use her trump card."
Vali raised a brow. "Trump card?"
"Yeah, learned she is the next wielder of Durandal."
Ravel whistled. "How did you find that out?"
"We share a mutual friend." Zante explained, his eyes going to the sky for a moment, thinking of a certain Angel.
"Durandal and Excalbur, wish she would've shown them." Vali mused, as Zante comforted her.
Zante looked to the others, and let out a breath. "Guess we didn't get what we need for Ingvild-san huh."
Vali shakes her head. "I got it."
The others look to her in surprise.
"When!?" They all yelled it out, besides Zante, who gave intrigued eyes.
"I got bored fighting the Undead, so I searched the area while blasting the Undead from a distance. Found it just outside the village." Zante watches Vali pulls it out, presenting it to him. "Here, this is what you need, right?"
Zante's eyes turned excited, and takes it happily.
"Aah, well done Vali-chan~! Such an amazing Queen~" Zante lightly kissed her cheek, they both blushed, the other girls eyes ignited with flames, but Vali couldn't care less, and was ready to take them on.
"Its a shame I couldn't fight the Excalibur, but I did get some meaningfulness out of this."
Zante blinked at Vali. "You did? What did you get out of it?"
"While I don't pretend to fully understand things such as romance and usually I couldn't care less, in this instance, it seems that I am in the head running when it comes to you, Zante, and that makes me happy." The girls eyes reignited with flames, grinding their teeth, as Vali took Zante's hand and pulled him along. "Come along, my King."
Zante rapidly blinked, as Kuroka folds her arms. "She's very dangerous girls. She's got that stoic look and all that, but she, underneath that, has a heart filled with love and hot desire for our sexy King…she is also after Zante-chan's heart! We have to come up with a counterattack! Who's with me nyaaa!?"
"….Me, I wont lose my position." Shirone said with fire in her eyes.
Ravel nods strongly. "I wont also lose either. Lets do it Kuroka-sama."
Kuroka grins excitedly. "Alright my girls, then lets get going and think of how to get Zante-chan nyaaaa!"
The girls chase after Zante and Vali, catching up, and the three piled on top of Zante, hugging him tightly, while Vali was dragged into it, landing on Zante's chest, while Kuroka and Ravel land on his thighs, Shirone's face brushes against Zante's own.
"Geez, everyone's getting excited today~" They all let begin to laugh, besides Vali, who while not really into things like this…did begin to like the family feel the peerage had going on, reminding her of her time with her Mom, and genuinely enjoyed the others, even if they annoyed her at times.
After returning to the Underworld, they delivered everything to Leviathan, Serafall and Azazel in turn stood on by, and watched Zante deal with it. They believed in his capabilities to talk and interact with others, and make deals all himself.
Which soon came about, when they mutually agreed they'd be able to see Ingvild and help in her recovery.
"Well, looks like you did it Zan-chan~" Serafall giggles.
Zante chuckles. "Its thanks to my peerage as well. They did fantastic supporting me, seems like I have picked the right people so far~"
Zante gave prideful eyes for his group, he looked at them with an incredibly cute smile that touched all their hearts. Even Vali was overtaken for a moment by such a look, and her head filled with delightful thoughts.
Azazel nods. "Guess its all apart of that Bael training, isn't it?"
Zante gives amused eyes. "Guess it is something like that. But thanks to that, we can see her, and maybe help her. I know there's no cure, but we're connected in some way or another, and we can find out more about her, and what this connection is."
Azazel nods strongly. "Indeed…ooh, I hope it is a Sacred Gear that we're going to find~"
Vali shook her head at Azazel's childlike attitude. "I also wish to meet this Leviathan girl."
Zante nods. "We should all go."
The peerage agreed, and once speaking with the Leviathan clan, they agreed, so they finally went to go and meet the young woman.
When Zante and the others went to see the girl, he was stunned to see she was, like the doctors said, simply asleep.
"So that's her huh? She's pretty." Kuroka murmured.
Shirone nods. "…At least she's not a loli. My position is secured."
Ravel's amused eyes met with Shirone's stoic ones, as Vali folds her arms. "So, she's just asleep…its weird, it looks as if she could wake up at any moment. You'd not tell she's got any Sleeping Disease if you look at her like this."
Zante agreed, and strolled closer, his head hanging over to see her sleeping face.
She was quite a beautiful girl.
"Hello there, Ingvild-san. Seems like you've been dreaming of me, huh. I wonder why…" Zante reached out, and touched her hand.
When he did, for a moment, he felt a pulsation run through his chest, and deep into his heart.
He looked over the young girl, who in turn moved her fingers.
He thought maybe she was waking up, but she didn't move beyond those small movements.
She stayed completely still, like she was a statue, Zante folds his arms, as a doctor comes up behind him, and looks over Ingvild.
"She's got the Sleeping Disease, you've been told about this, haven't you?"
Zante nods his head. "Yes, that's right. Its a disease that there's no known cure, currently."
The doctor inclines his head. "Exactly, there's nothing that we can do, except monitor her. That's why, we came to contact you, she's been calling out your name, and just then, she reacted to your touch. She hasn't ever done that before with anyone else."
"I don't understand why though doctor." Zante asked, wondering if he had an answer.
But he didn't have anything, he was unsure himself. "All I can guess is that she is calling out to you with her demonic powers. Someone setting it up. But I am unsure as to why you are the recipient of these meetings. In all of the Devils in the world, she chose you, and I do not know why she would do that."
Zante didn't know either.
But he was glad to see that she was alive, and well.
Even if she was asleep.
He wished he could do something to help her.
Meanwhile, Elmenhilde had returned back home, and was recounting a revised version of what happened to her Queen, and it seemed that everything was going very well.
She received praise from those around her, those that went with her, also thought she did well.
But she couldn't get a nagging feeling out, and that was what Zante had said to her during her time with him, and that was about how it felt wrong that she had to pretend to be courageous so she didn't receive backlash for surviving.
"A coward…I'd be seen as that. Taking praise for something others have done. I couldn't have done it alone, there would've been no way for me to have done it."
Elmenhilde thought as she reached her room.
She went inside of her room, and collapsed onto the bed.
For reasons she didn't know, her mind kept going towards the Devil that she had met.
She couldn't stop her thoughts going towards him.
"He was an odd Devil. Speaking to the Exorcists and even offering them advice. They're the enemies, yet he still helped them. He was kind to them. He was even kind to me when I began being rude to him and the others."
Elmenhilde tossed on her bed.
She looked out of her lone window, and into the sky of her home territory.
A Devil…was making her think about relations between Devils and Vampires.
It was a strange sensation for sure, and she couldn't stop herself either.
"Hmm, I wonder what about that Devil is making me think? Hmm, its really good…that he at least wasn't a bad Devil. I wonder what else he does…I have heard of something's…hmmm, would I meet him ever again? Do I want to meet him ever again?"
Elmenhilde didn't know.
But she couldn't deny that she was intrigued all the same, so she began to secretly research about the Devils, and Zante Bael in particular, wondering more about what his deal truly was, and what else he had been doing in his life…
A good deal of time passed on since then, and Zante had kept going to see Ingvild.
Each day he saw her, the young girl would twitch an eye, or an elbow, her hand, her toes, anything really.
It seemed that she reacted to him personally, and that made him wonder what was truly going on.
He didn't miss a day, hoping that she would wake up. He couldn't heal her disease, but if she reacted to him, maybe, just maybe, she would wake up as it had happened before when Devils come out of Sleep Disease by themselves.
He made sure that he could do something for her, anything that could help her out.
Sitting beside her in her hospital room, Zante casually was reading from a book, when he began to hum a tune he recalled that Ingvild had sung to him at one point.
Because his eyes were on the book, he didn't see that Ingvild's fingers began to twitch.
Ingvild began reacting all the more, when Zante's humming became a little louder.
Delving more into the song with the humming, Zante's voice began to leak out ever so slightly.
"Time goes by, you and me~ Its what we call destiny~" Zante sang out.
When he sung that out, Ingvild's vitals spike.
Her hands, her fingers, her feet, her toes, all of them began to move more and more.
Zante noticed, widening his hands, as he gently touched her hand to sooth her.
But, it had an opposite effect all together.
Ingvild's eyes shot open, and she took in a deep long drawn breath, shocking him.
His eyes went to Ingvild, who in turn looked right back towards him. "You..."
Zante called back for a doctor, as Ingvild looked at him with wide eyes. "Ingvild-san."
"You know my name…You're the boy, in my dreams…who listened to all my songs…aren't you?"
Zante's face curled upwards. "Yes, you're right about that, Ingvild-san. I can't believe, after all this time, you're awake."
Ingvild placed a hand on her face, taken in by the sight of the young man.
She didn't understand it.
But, she felt the eyes of warmth on her.
Like she was in a dream, but this felt more powerful than that.
It was real.
She was awake.
Zante couldn't hide his smile.
Now she was awake, things were truly going to become quite interesting.
End chapter!
So, this chapter dealt with part two of the Undead/Vampire attack, Irina and Zante began bonding, Elmen started off as wanting to be distant from the others, but saw their qualities, and became more intrigued about them by the end. Along with that, they managed to acquire what they needed for the Leviathan Clan, and they met Ingvild.
Then after sometime had passed, Ingvild finally woke up! So, we'll be seeing more interactions between her and others next time.
So, its quite the split between Issei and Isane, it was quite surprising how evenly split it was. So, I'll leave it for one more chapter. And whoever wins, its gonna be quite intriguing to see~ And still accepting peerage suggestions!
Well, until next time, thanks for reading!
Zante's Peerage.
Queen; Vali.
Bishops; Kuroka, Ingvild (mutation).
Rooks; Koneko, Free.
Knights; Xenovia, Irina.
Pawns; Ravel (x2), Le Fay (x1), Elmenhilde (x1), Rest Free.
Zante; Ravel, Serafall, Kuroka, Koneko, Akeno, Vali (fem), Ingvild, Xenovia, Le Fay, Elmenhilde, Irina, Sona,