Welcome back for another update for King of Hell. This will likely be a short though rather important chapter. I imagine that it will be the shortest chapter in the story actually but it also roughly marks the halfway point of this story. There does need to be a bit of a reminder that I have changed things, like the fact that the Civil War will be happening a little less than forty years earlier than in canon. It's pretty minor since the timeline of DxD is both at times all over the place and so long due to the character ages for the previous generations, something like forty years is nothing. However I decided to go with an earlier time to feed into the fact that Minato is now coming into his own as an adult and I want the events to primarily occur when he and Sirzechs and co are all new to being adults. It also makes sense to have only been a couple of years since the events of the last chapter rather than several decades due to a few largely minor events of this chapter.
I really hope you are enjoying this and without further things to talk about lets get into the story.
King of Hell
Chapter Five
Igniting the Spark
Sometimes Minato felt a glimmer of hope for the sitting leaders of their people to begin more properly guiding them. Sadly, despite his at times optimistic outlook on the politics of the underworld he had slowly come to realize how correct Lord Bael was in his assessment regarding the Four Satans and their supporters among the elite clans.
There would be no change unless they forced it through. That had steadily become obvious over the last several years. More abuses of power, more obsession with the idea of invading the other factions, more doubt in the mentality and ability of the Satans themselves. It was all rapidly growing to a head.
Minato and his friends had been working hard at Zekram's behest to seed the foundations of a movement primarily among the pillar clans against the leadership. Not all of them were so keen on the subtle acts of rebelliousness though.
The Zepar clan seemed to have lost any spine to resist the elites after what had been done to their head family. Zekram had all but written them off as a lost cause when word about the former heir of the Zepar being betrothed to a member of the Beelzebub's lower family line. They had abandoned their clan head to be married to a woman with three children of her own all older than the boy while being more than a century older than him herself. From the horror stories they'd heard the boy's sisters suffered in their own situations it seemed he was bound for much of the same existence.
It was sickening to Minato. So he had managed to convince his master of a final desperate attempt to liberate the Zepar family from their oppressors. Sirzechs and the others backing him had helped to convince the old man, but they should have known that there would be more to his agreement than simply rescuing them.
"You want to use the meeting to ambush Lord Beelzebub?" Ajuka asked Zekram with a slackened jaw.
"Oh please, I'm not a foolhardy child. I have no intention of directly attacking any of the maou. Not that any would be there for this meeting. I did what I could to get the Zepar family brought to the negotiations by their direct captors along with each of your families. Even then it's not quite high profile enough to warrant attendance by the Satans." Zekram explained.
"So we're ambushing the Beelzebub's cousins and some members of the Sargatanis and Fleurity clans?" Serafall asked.
"No. You are missing the broader picture here. The Sargatanis are going to ambush us for daring to meddle in their affairs and simply because we Pillar clans need to be put in our place." Zekram said.
The younger devils were all quiet at that. Minato was the first to catch on though. "It's the spark that you have been wanting. The elites trying to take out the de facto leader of the pillar clans and failing. No worse than that, backfiring. We are ambushing the Sargatanis and Fleurity clans. Just making it look like they tried to hit us first."
"Wait, we'll be at war. Are we ready? There are some Pillar clans we haven't brought into the fold yet. Nearly half of them." Serafall pointed out.
"No, we have all the clans we can bring in at thai stage. More will join if they see the elite clans suffer casualties from this plan or Lord Bael announces a movement to revolt against the maou." Ajuka said as he realized the extent of the scheme.
"What about the Zepar clan members? Are we just using them as a ruse to get at the Sargatanis and Fleurity?" Sirzechs asked.
"They aren't the main focus of our job here. You're adults now. You have to make tough calls but using them as a way to set this up helps us prevent more from suffering the same fate. Just this morning when I was setting the meeting up one of the Fleurity men took a lower class maid. Right there in front of all of us. The elite clans hold no care for their subordinates at all. They are going to cause an uprising from the lower classes if this keeps going and with the numbers as they are…" Zekram lectured.
Minato shook his head and stepped into the center of the little meeting circle that they had created.
"We aren't leaving there without the Zepar clan. If we want to change things we have to go all the way. We have to fully commit to our beliefs." Minato argued, getting a supportive nod from Sirzechs.
Zekram stared at his apprentice before rolling his eyes.
"Save them or don't. They are just as useful to the cause alive as they are dead. I don't imagine any of them will be in any kind of shape to lead in the coming war after what I've been hearing." Zekram said. He nearly sighed as he saw the determination in the younger devils only seem to deepen.
"We need to focus on the main task at hand, children. The plan of attack." Lord Bael brought the others in to focus.
"I want each of you to share what we plan here with your parents, however only tell them that we plan on countering a possible ambush from the elite clans. The more naturally they react the more the servants of the venue will spread the word about how caught off guard our side was." Zekram further explained.
The younger devils all nodded though they weren't completely comfortable with cutting portions out of the plan for their families. It could lead to them getting in the way or reacting unpredictably. Unfortunately Zekram had a point and they had more or less agreed to follow his lead when he'd brought them all into his and Minato's conspiracy a while back. Ironically their parents had been working with Zekram even longer toward this goal but would be left out of specific details.
"I've gotten my ability to the point that it will work for our needs. We'll have false versions of ourselves present and visible. With my displacement, after we do what we need to do, we'll make it look like our doubles defeat us while we're still disguised as members of House Sargatanis. As that happens it's just a matter of a little bit of smoke and a quick switch with my displacement and the whole thing looks exactly how we want it to." Minato took over.
"So from there we make it look as though we are fighting our way out to safety but really we've got the drop on our hosts in the Sargatanis clan. We can cripple them before the war even truly kicks off and tear a hole in the leadership of the loyalist forces before they know what they are up against." Ajuka realized.
"Precisely. We'll have to make it look good so catch a stray fist or scrape an arm on some debris or something on the way out." Zekram reminded them.
The group chuckled darkly before turning their attention to more specific arrangements like routes they would take into the venue, which direction to attack from, and what targets to hit first. They needed it to go perfectly for everything to work out right.
After a few more hours of planning the group dispersed, intent to commit treason and start a civil war when next they met. It weighed on all of them, including Zekram, but they had become committed over the years. There was no other option but to press forward.
"Sirzechs. Can we talk in private before you leave?" Minato asked.
The redhead blinked before nodding and following his friend into a more private area of the castle. Here Minato had turned a room into his own study where he worked on his own projects and ventures. He'd become quite the wealthy young man with the backing of Zekram funding several businesses of his across the underworld. Beyond that he also worked extensively on new methods to use his magic as well as totally new spells here.
Sirzechs poked around a bit but made sure to respect his friend's privacy. Minato didn't like sharing much about his abilities and resources even with those he was closest to. In fact he guessed that Minato kept secrets even from Zekram Bael.
"What did you want to talk about, Minato?" He asked as the blond closed the door behind them.
"The Zepar. Master is lying a little bit when he says he doesn't care whether we save them or not. He sees more use for martyred victims of the elites than another rebelling clan." Minato revealed causing Srizechs to grimace.
"I wish I could say I was surprised."
"So do I. That doesn't mean I will sit by and let that happen though. I know that if we do manage to obviously save them he won't go out of his way to kill them." Minato reassured him.
"So you can just displace them out the moment everything goes to hell." Sirzechs said with a smile. It slowly faded as he noticed the frown on Minato's face.
"What is it?" He asked.
"There is a part of the plan we didn't reveal to the rest of you because Lord Bael thinks that you would all be against it. I think you are all completely capable of understanding what's at stake here. We have to land a crippling blow as early as possible. I can make that happen. Unfortunately it will take practically everything out of me. Long range displacement is incredibly strenuous. Combining that with the displaced doppelganger technique I created, I'll be pushing myself to the absolute limit…to the point that I can't be present at the actual venue or I'll be a liability more than an asset." Minato explained.
"How many strikes are you making at once?" Sirzechs asked in mild worry.
"It doesn't matter." Minato tried.
"You could kill yourself by overdoing it. Your technique isn't a spell in the strictest sense. It's manipulation of your demonic energy directly and that can kill you." The Gremory heir remained steadfast in seeking an answer to his question.
"I can't tell you how many. You'll focus on that too much, but I know I can handle it. I've been running tests and building myself up for this for literal years, Sirzechs. I just won't be able to fight at all afterward. That's why I'll be here at the Bael estate while one of my doppelgangers goes with you." Minato explained.
The other man stared at his friend for a long time. Minato kept his composure as his friend was clearly looking for any kind of break that might indicate he was not in fact ready for this plan. There was none. Minato was committed, entirely.
Sirzechs blew out a long suffering sigh while running a hand through his hair. "So, you wanted to make sure I focus on getting the Zepar clan members out."
"Who do I trust more than you?" Minato asked with a smirk.
The Gremory shook his head but patted his friend on the shoulder.
"I hope you really do know what you are doing, Minato. This whole thing could really be bad if something goes wrong."
"Then nothing can be allowed to go wrong. You should get going, if Master thinks I'm plotting something he might get all paranoid with me." Minato chuckled. Unfortunately they both knew there was a little too much truth in that statement. Things were going to be tense for a while until they pulled off their operation.
The day of the planned operation dawned. Doppelgangers created by Minato and made to look like his friends accompanied their parents as well as one of himself with Zekram. While another set out with his actual friends to slip in among the soldiers and staff of clan Sargatanis.
That left Minato alone in an expansive room that Zekram and he had created in preparation for the war. One day it would serve as an emergency bunker and war room for their operations. Today, however, it acted more like a staging area for Minato's part of the plan.
Six large objects sat before him. Each one was twice as tall and three times as wide as he was when standing at his full height. They had taken Zekram and himself quite a while to build and perfect. By combining some of the large defensive charges used as mines along the border with the Fallen Angel territories with a suspended spell that would release an implosion created from Minato's displacement and a blast of Zekram's power of destruction they had made explosives that could level even the massive estates of an elite clan.
The normal yield for the mines before their alterations was made to wipe out squadrons of Fallen Angels or at least cripple one of considerable power and force them to retreat. With the enhancements he and Zekram had made, they projected the new bombs to have at least ten times the yield, though with his displacement and Zekram's unique abilities added into the blast, Minato felt that was a conservative estimate.
He set about performing a final checklist to make sure everything was in order. Then, one by one he began arming the devices. They were rigged so that once he displaced them the field he had generated inside that kept the reaction suspended would collapse in roughly five seconds. Long enough for him to close his portal yet short enough to make sure no one could possibly escape from the immediate blast.
Next he began preparing himself for the hard part. Transporting such large objects so far away was going to be bad enough, especially after having to make so many doppelgangers as well. The real issue would be forcing his way past any wards and defenses of the sites he was to plant the explosives. For that, Zekram had given him a stimulant to help if he started losing strength. He really hoped he wouldn't need to use it though. The injection would knock him out for a few days after using it and he didn't want to hear Sirzechs complaining. Not after he had assured him it would be fine.
Just as he finished readying himself for his part of the operation he felt his friends and his own doppelganger switch with their respective clones. It wouldn't be long at all now. Hopefully just a bit longer than planned as Sirzechs ensured the Zepar clan members were saved.
As they say, speak of the devil.
A small magical circle spooled to life beside Minato's head as he recognized the symbol for the Gremory clan.
"We're pulling out of the venue now." Sirzechs reported, though his voice was clearly somewhat strained.
"Good, everything go well on your end?" Minato asked. The ensuing pause made it feel as though ice chips were settling into his chest.
"The main plan went perfectly. Handled a good amount of the Sargatanis and Fleurity clans as well as some lesser members of House Beelzebub. The Sargatanis are also down a clan head and that bastard that started things with the Zepar is a pile of dust." Sirzechs replied.
"Good…what about our plan?" Minato asked worriedly.
"Not so well. They were in really bad shape, Minato. I've never seen anyone treated like that. We had to put the Zepar boy down. He was like a rabid attack dog. The girls are alive but I'm taking them to the Gremory estate to see if my mother can help them. Serafall's parents are going as well." Sirzechs explained.
Minato sighed at that information. He didn't need details on the status of the girls. The fact that Serafall's parents who were both known for their contributions to advancements in healing were going was telling enough.
"I have to let you know, Zekram seems annoyed by what we did. He knew it was your plan as soon as we grabbed the Zepars." Sirzechs warned him.
"That's fine. Choices have consequences. I knew that he wouldn't approve. Get home quick, Sirzechs. Things are going to get tough for everyone pretty soon." Minato said.
"Yeah. See you soon, Minato. Stay safe and good luck." The Gremory heir replied before ending the message.
"Alright then. Here we go." Minato said before moving to the first bomb and opening a displacement field beside it.
He had spent the last two years running errands to and from the homelands of each of the Six Houses of Lucifer. While they weren't the only elite clans in the underworld and far from the only supporters of the four Satans, the six houses made up a hefty portion of what could now be considered the loyalists' more powerful forces. Professional soldiers, veteran warriors, and powerful capabilities all to go with a large sum of wealth and stockpiles of resources.
Minato needed to either see or have been to a place to create a displacement field there. He'd spent two years trying to get the perfect spots across the Six Houses lands and estates for this very day.
The first bomb slid through the field and was suddenly inside the Sargatanis estate. It seemed only fitting that they be the first since they were the focus of today's attack. The Fleurity clan were the second just as they had been during the ambush today as well.
He frowned as he forced his way through the wards of the elite clans. Their homes really did boast some of the greatest security in the underworld but nothing was specifically designed to keep his technique out. It could disrupt it and make it difficult on him, even more tiring than he expected but it couldn't stop him.
By the time he began creating the field for the third bomb he was pretty sure the first would have detonated. He pushed on, not slowing down as he deployed the third, fourth, and fifth bombs in relatively quick succession.
It was only on the sixth and final bomb that he paused. The field opened up, with far more difficulty than the others. Partially due to his being tired and partially because the defenses here were something far more extensive.
He should have expected it. Of the Six Houses of Lucifer, the Lucifuge clan was the only one he could find himself respecting at all. Not only did they not participate in the reprobate behavior most elite clans did, but they were almost religious in their discipline and dedication to their role in their society.
The Lucifuge had been and if they had anything to say about it, always would be the right hands of the House of Lucifer itself. They were dedicated and committed and Minato also had come to recognize that he held some sort of flame for the heiress of the clan.
Grayfia and he had managed to stay in contact occasionally since their mission together. She had made it clear that she survived only due to his intervention, though neither gave any details. It had helped Minato's status among their people immensely. More than that it had led to their occasional meeting and conversations.
They weren't close, but he did consider her a friend.
Now as he stared through his displacement field, not only at Grayfia's home, but members of her family and far enough away that she wouldn't see him, Grayfia herself, he couldn't drop the last bomb. Not on her.
Closing the field he swayed slightly as the effects of overusing his power impacted him. He was going to need a couple days at least if not a week to truly recover from this much.
The problem was he still had another bomb to use.
There was another target that would be a good fit. Less likely to take life as it was unlikely to be filled at the moment with any high profile figures, but destroying the site itself would be a symbolic victory.
Unfortunately, as he began forcing his way into the structure he had in mind, he quickly realized that it was more heavily defended than even the Lucifuge main estate. He wouldn't let it stop him though.
Pressing the injector into place he pushed down on the plunger and felt the effects of the drug on his system almost immediately. He could almost imagine that it was what his family felt like when they used their immortality. Like he was on fire from the inside out.
It did it's job though and he pushed open a displacement field right in the center of the Summit building used by the Four Satans when they announced new legislation or other important things to the nobility of the underworld. The bomb fell on top of a couple of desks and chairs crushing them beneath its weight before Minato slammed the field shut to make sure he wasn't caught by the bomb blast.
With that done…he promptly collapsed to the ground and fell asleep. The oncoming frowns and annoying lectures from both his friends and Zekram already popping up in his thoughts.
That is that. Like I said, a very short chapter, and shortest in the story. Minato has graduated to terrorist…yay I think.
Anyway
Till Next Time
