[MORGAN VENATORES]
As I made my way to Kuoh Academy, worry started to bloom in my chest. First of all, Sona was now aware of my presence in Kuoh, which will become a bit of a problem after this sunday; she was nice enough to grant me my little wish. Second, the fallen angels were also aware that someone was hunting them down, which may or may not become a pain in the ass if they decided to relocate from the abandoned church.
There was also the victim in question. Over the week, Hyodo has been boasting to his friends that he managed to get a girlfriend. It was quite amusing to see the hate and bickering towards Hyodo, saying he had 'betrayed them' or stuff like that. But this means that the fallen Raynare still had the boy dancing in the palm of her hand. I could take advantage of this, using him to track her. Basically using him as bait, a plan that left a bitter taste in my mouth, but certainly effective; it was for his own good.
Azazel hasn't answered his damn phone. I understand that he is supposed to be the leader of grigori and fallen angels as a whole. The guy is a busy man, but at least he could bother to answer the calls. With Azazel out of the picture for the moment, that still leaves me to handle the situation with my own hands, far from ideal but it would have to do.
I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't even notice that I had reached the classroom, bumping my head against the door. Rubbing my forehead I entered the classroom and started with my class. Just like these last classes it had been uneventful and mundane, but I could feel the stares coming from Sona and her peerage, watching my every move.
This is supposed to be my mundane job, you know? The supernatural hunter Morgan Venatores isn't here now, only the English teacher Venedetti-sensei. I get that they may be curious or something between the lines, but it kinda annoyed me a little. Anyways there was nothing I could do about the situation. Sona kept her part of the deal; For the moment, the Gremory heiress still seems oblivious to the things happening in her territory, at least it seemed, who knows?
Lunch time arrived, and I made my way to the academy's rooftop. The fresh breeze helped me relax, and that's what I needed right now. Maybe a drink too.
Reaching the rooftops, I opened the aluminum door, screeching the floor in the process, and a breeze of fresh morning hair hitted me. Taking a deep breath, I started to relax and forget about the fallen situation for the moment. With my back against the railing, I let myself slowly drop down to the ground. Today I had decided to go for something more easy and different. Opening my cardboard box, some Onigiri stood there waiting for me to eat them.
And in a matter of seconds, I heard the aluminum door screech, signaling that someone had entered the rooftops. I didn't even need to turn to see who it was. It was as if the girl had some sort of supernatural instinct to know if there was food she was able to get a hold of. Well, she is a Devil, so it may be a real skill of hers for all I know.
Of course, I didn't forget my promise with the girl. Reaching for another plastic bag I had with me, I pulled out the second meal of Onigiris and offered them to the girl. Finally turning towards her, I smirked and extended my hand with the meal.
"Just as I promised, I meal just for you." Her eyes shone in excitement while her face remained in that stoic and muted expression of hers. It looks like her eyes say more than a thousand words.
She sat besides me as we both started to dig in. They were good. Not as good as my meal from yesterday, far from it, but it was good. And by the expressions she was making I think she shared my opinion. Taking a sip from my water bottle we maintained a comfortable silence, enjoying the morning day. My mind started to roam back to the fallen angel dilemma, thinking about what I was going to do tonight. I could check the church and see if they were still there or decided to relocate.
"...Is something wrong, Venedetti-sensei?" I heard the girl beside me ask in a quiet tone. Her yellow eyes looked at me in a muted expression. It actually surprised me that she started the conversation first.
"No, why do you ask?"
"... I have the feeling you're worried about something." The whole fallen angels situation is worrying me a little and what it will mean if I lost them in the city; It will be like starting from step one all over again. I thought I could maintain a cool expression with ease, but she managed to catch my distress. Maybe she has a very good intuition? I don't know.
"Just some personal issues, it's nothing really." Koneko just glanced at me with the side of her eye, and continued munching down her lunch, or what was left of it; the girl sure can eat. I continued eating my own meal at a more slowed pace, staring at the different clubs around the academy grounds.
The Kendo club dressed in their kendo uniforms, some students dressed in a white sports shirts and shorts, part of the athletics club I guessed, and the swimming club students dressed in their swimsuits. I quickly looked away, trying not to stare too much.
"Hey, Koneko;" The girl turned and we locked eyes. With a mute signal, I continued.
"Are you part of a club here in the school?"
"...I'm part of the occult research club."
A devil researching the occult? Hah, now that's amusing. Suppressing the grin that threatened to bloom on my face, I continued.
"Really? I never took you for someone interested in the supernatural."
"...It's interesting, and the President is nice to me and gives me desserts." Now that makes more sense.
A soft chuckle escaped my mouth, and I threw my own two cents. "Well, I'm not that particullary interested in the branch of occultism. I rather like mythologies and history, and the stories they can teach us."
Victor liked to talk about important historical events, mythos and folklore when I was growing up. And it made sense since the clan used to record everything they observed and knew about, even in myth. I guess it's an acquired taste.
"You sound like an old man, sensei." C'mon, its interesting to me, alright? Ignoring her jab, I continued.
"This president of yours, it's Rias Gremory, right?"
She looked back at me, paying more attention than before. "...How do you know?"
"I've seen her in that old building in the academy. I'm also one of her teachers, so I see her almost everyday."
She nodded in understanding beside me, sipping from her canned tea I gave her. It might be my imagination, but I had the feeling she was starting to grow out of her shell more. That's nice.
Standing up I raised my arms to sketch, I felt and heard the bones in my back cracked releasing a satisfying sound. "Gotta go, Koneko. I'll see you around" And I made my way towards the door, waving my hand over my back. With lunch over, I needed to start thinking about business again, Fallen angels.
I made my way towards the teacher's lounge, where my bag waited for me. I needed to take advantage of all the time available. Hyodo's date was just over the corner, so I needed to do something fast. Grabbing my bag, I started to walk towards the exit, but to my surprise I was intercepted by two people.
"Sensei!" Both Tsubasa and Saji cutted my path. I only raised a brow at them.
"Yes?"
"We have a request for you!"
"What is it?"
"Please train us!"
I did a double take at that. "Huh?" I looked at them, trying to find something in their faces. Both of them only stared back with shining determination present in their eyes. They were serious about this.
"You see…" Tsubasa started. "Both mine and Saji's fighting style relies on actual physical fighting, and our magical abilities aren't that good '' She said while looking away and scratching her cheek, she suddenly took a more hopeful tone. "But! We both have some fighting experience! I have studied Martial arts since I was a kid and Saji used to be a thug."
"Oi, I wasn't a thug! But I've been in some street fights before."
So they aren't complete novices, that's good to know. But they still needed to answer a question to at least consider training them.
"Why?"
Both of them turn to me with confused expressions. I started back, and I needed to understand their reasons. I continued.
"As a pillar heiress, Sona should be able to get you the best teachers devil society can offer, with thousands of years worth of experience, so why me? As you know, I'm human; and far from being the strongest or wisest guy."
A look of understanding fell in them. Looking at each other both of them nodded in understanding. Tsubasa spoke up first.
"...It's precisely why you're human were asking you. At least I am. You acknowledge the fact that you're human and you work your way around that fact without treating it like a weakness, just another characteristic."
That's been more insightful than I expected, she had a good head on her shoulders alright. I turned towards Saji, raising him a brow and expecting his answer.
"Well… It's just as Tsubasa said, you seem to have a deep understanding in fighting, and from what I could see in your fights it's that…" He seemed to be searching for the right word, pondering over it. "...You seem to think outside the box, in a more unorthodox way. I also want to be stronger for President Sona!"
Looking at both of them, I thought about it in silence. True, the fallen angel situation was still more present than ever, but daytime was still going. Fallens would act at night, if they act at all tonight. Both of them raised valid points, if unexpected.
"...Fine." I sighed and closed my eyes. Maybe this will be good, expanding relations with Sona's peerage was a good idea. Both of them gave excited grins at my approval.
"Thank you sensei!" They exclaimed while bowing their heads. I could start to feel the stares of some students passing by. Hah. I decided this in the first place.
"Alright, alright. First of all, is there a place where we can train without being seen?" I asked both of them.
"...Hmm… We could ask Sona or Tsubaki for help with the bounded field." Tsubasa asked Saji. Ah, bounded fields, I'm not particularly skillful with those.
"Got it, I'll go ask them right away." And the boy sprinted off, heading towards the student council room. In all honesty I'm not sure what I could teach them for fighting. My own training with Victor consisted of getting my ass kicked on a daily basis and dodging projectiles to sharpen my survival skills. Guess I'll just have to do the same thing.
The once-filled academy gymnasium was now silent and still, my steps echoed in the halls of the place, giving more the feeling of emptiness. In the center of the place were Tsubasa, Tsubaki and Saji, wearing their gym clothes. For Saji, It was a standard male gym uniform. Baggy white tee, and knee-length dark blue shorts. Just like him, I was dressed in a red lycra shirt and gray shorts, ready for the exercise.
For Tsubasa and Tsubaki on the other hand, it was almost the opposite. A tight white shirt hugging Tsubasa's slim physique and for Tsubaki only accentuating her ample bosom even more. For complimenting, a dark blue bloomer shorts. These things were actually really short, and didn't leave anything to the imagination. I looked away diligently. Unfortunately, Tsubasa noticed it.
"What's this? Do you see something that you like, sensei? Hmm?" She paused and took a moment to stare at me, like really looking. She kept staring at me as if looking for something.
'Is she actually checking me out?'
"Well, sensei, you don't wear the outfit that bad to be honest"
I could feel my face warming a little. Huffing, I looked away and ignored her.
"Alright let's start this. So, how do you wanna do this? 1v1 or 1v2?"
"1v1!" Both of them exclaimed. Nodding, I turned towards Tsubaki, her characteristic stoic expression still on her.
"Tsubaki, If you could…?" She only nodded at me, and with a magic circle that appeared on her hand, I felt the presence of the bounded field slowly start to grow above us, acting as a bubble.
"Alright, who goes first?" Saji raised his hand first. I signaled him to prepare himself while both Tsubasa and Tsubaki stepped away.
The moment he finished getting prepared I sprinted towards him, not giving him anytime to react whatsoever. He didn't expect it based on how wide his eyes went when he saw me running like a mad bull. I threw a punch towards his face and he barely managed to cross his forearms, blocking my punch and sending him screeching on the floor.
I heard Saji hiss in pain. He was still standing and his arms were shaking a little from the impact. "Hey! That's cheating!" He growled my way. I only smirked in response.
"Always expect the unexpected." Of course, I wasn't going all out on the boy, only armed with my fists and legs. I banned myself from using the reinforcement spell, I didn't want to hurt them that bad, Sona would probably kill me. Saji then started to run towards me head first.
He tried throwing punches at me, all coming from different angles- With practiced motions, I blocked them all and threw my own hits where I could. He tried some grapples, trying to force me to a handlock. But I was still physically stronger, so it didn't work. In an unexpected way, he kicked me in my kneecaps, making me stumble, losing my balance and strength, giving him the opportunity to handlock me.
Now I see what Tsubasa meant by a 'Thug'. He's a brawler, not a martial artist. Basically a punk. Meaning he's street smart, and doesn't care for a dirty fight.
Regaining my strength, I shaked him off me as I grabbed him by the forearms and threw him off me. The boy stumbled on the ground but quickly regained his bearings and stood up once more. I rushed at him; this time, weaker but faster lighting-pace punches, testing his reflexes to the max.
He managed to dodge the first few strikes but most of them managed to hit him. With the back of my fist, it impacted his jaw and sent him away, stumbling once more. I heard him groan as he nursed his jaw and stood up with shaky legs.
"What? Had enough already?"
Huffing, he stood to his height, if a little hunched over.
"I'm not done yet! Take this, ABSORPTION LINE!"
And once again he managed to surprise me. In a flash of light a small gauntlet appeared on his hand, on top of the gauntlet a small black lizard creature with big purple eyes. Saji made a punching motion, and out of the lizard, a line shot towards my direction.
I managed to catch the line he shot at me, preventing it from tying me up. But suddenly I started to feel a little weaker and more tired. Saji tried to snatch away the line from my hands but I had a firm grip over it.
"Promotion: Rook!" He suddenly yelled and I could feel his strength growing by the second. So he's a pawn then, that's good to know. My grip on the line was starting to slip. Looking at the line, I realized it was draining my energy, possibly making Saji in the process stronger. Now would be a good time to end this.
Summoning more strength out of my body, I grabbed the line with both hands. I released a roar, and I hurled him back to me.
"W-Wha-!?"
With a bolt of energy, I crashed my fist into Saji's midsection. Maintaining my momentum, I punched him hard into the ground, a thunderous echo bouncing in the walls of the gymnasium, and Saji laying there face up, with blank eyes staring at nothing, having passed out from the hit. Shit, maybe I overdid it a little.
"Jeez sensei, you sure don't know how to hold back, do you?" Tsubasa said, wincing as she went to pick up Saji from the middle of the court. Grinning, I responded.
"You think so? Those were just some love taps." Tsubaki shot me a disapproving look my way. Of course, I ignored her professionally.
"Well enough of that, you ready over ther-?"
I saw a leg approaching my head at alarming speeds. Just barely, I managed to dodge it by leaning backwards. Her foot passing centimeters just above my face, and left a gush of air behind its trail. Planting my hands on the ground I flipped around and quickly stood again.
"What was that thing you said about expecting the unexpected?"
Tsubasa had a cheeky grin plastered on his face. I really didn't think she would actually put my advice to use, she really turned the table on me. Mirroring her grin, I extended my hand at her, moving my hand in a taunting manner. 'Come at me…!'
Tsubasa rushed at me with an overhead ax-kick that I blocked with my forearm. She spinned and tried to get me with the second kick but my second forearm was ready for her. I responded with a roundhouse kick of my own, but she managed to dodge it.
She threw her own series of punches, filled with technique and power behind those fists. Concentraint, we exchanged a series of blows, trading punches and hits where we managed to squeeze them in. Speaking of punches, she hitted with the force of a goddamn truck. So a rook then; with their main power being incredible strength and equally amazing resistance.
With a well placed kick on her midsection I managed to push her back. Tumbling over the floor, she managed to regain her composure, Tsubasa was huffing and sweating, but that grin of her's was still in place. Really, what a battle-hungry girl we have at our hands.
"Kudos for you," I began in a carefree manner. "It really shows the effort you put behind those techniques of yours. Ready for round two?"
"Yes sensei!" From her back, two black leathery wings sprouted from her back, and with more speed that I expected for a rook, she flew in my direction, her knee held back.
"Hyaaaaa!"
She released a powerful knee strike at a lightning fast pace, aiming directly for my stomach. I managed to catch the knee, but its momentum was too powerful and she sent me back this time, bouncing over the floor until I hitted a wall. Not bad, not bad at all.
I heard Tsubasa huffing and breathing heavily, she was starting to get tired. Fortunately for me, my stamina is pretty high for a human, so I can fight as long as I can if allowed to.
The thing about the devil's evil pieces is that most of them have a unique trait of strength and weakness, and that makes it easy to exploit said weaknesses. For example, the knight's piece grants an incredible speed, but naturally lacks strength, the rook is the opposite of the knight; amazing strength and resistance but tends to be slow.
Bishops are the same. Grants them amazing magic capabilities but leaves them with very little defense. Personally, the most rounded and balanced pieces were the pawn and the queen, they had all of their stats balanced and did not relied overly so in a unique characteristic.
As a teacher, it's my duty that they realize the weakness they have and how to manage in the best way the weaknesses that you have. Smirking, I cracked my neck and stretched out my muscles. Bending my knees, I jolted towards her with a burst explosive speed, even faster than before.
Tsubasa's eyes widened and her face lost that grin she had during the fight. I needed to wear her down and to acknowledge her rook weakness. Placing a good punch at her diaphragm that echoed in the gymnasium, losing her breath and stumbled back. she looked stunted for the moment.
As I continued my relentless assault, I could see her trying to recover from the punch to her diaphragm. The gymnasium echoed with the sounds of our movements and the occasional clash of blows. She fought to regain control of her breath, but I didn't let up.
Darting through the gym, I utilized the space to my advantage, dancing around her with calculated precision. Each move was deliberate, exploiting her vulnerabilities and keeping her on the defensive. I could sense her frustration growing as she struggled to anticipate my next strike.
Feinting left and then swiftly changing direction, I circled her, maintaining the pressure. The intensity of the situation heightened with every passing moment. It was a battle of strategy and endurance, and I was determined to exploit every weakness in her defense.
She attempted a counterattack, but I anticipated her moves and skillfully dodged, leaving her swinging at thin air. Using the opportunity kicked her stomach forcefully and a pained gasp escaped her mouth. Tsubasa went down and this time she didn't appear to rise again.
The heavy breathing echoed in the place, after putting that much speed, I was starting to feel tired and sweaty.
"...I…" Tsubasa spoke in between huffs. "...I think, this is as far as I'll go… sensei…"
Taking a gulp of air, I started to relax.
"Good job, both of you." I complimented them as I addressed Tsubasa and Saji, who was still unconscious. Grabbing two bottles of water, I opened one, as I started to gulp its contents. Walking towards Tsubasa, I knelt down beside her and offered her the bottle. Without thinking a second time, she drank the bottle like a thirsty man in the desert.
"Well, you certainly surpassed my expectations." I began while looking at her. "Your battle experience is clearly there, and it has taken you far. But what happens when you encounter a stronger and faster opponent than you?" I left the unanswered question hanging in the air, making sure she was listening to me.
"In my opinion, I think you should have some sort of plan B ready for use, like an escape plan or even tools or weapons that can aid you in a fight."
"...I'll keep it in mind, thank you Morgan-sensei…"
Humming in response I stood up. "Tell Saji, he also did good. And just call me Morgan." I started to make my way out of the gym, grabbing my stuff before heading out. Tsubaki and I locked eyes. Nodding at each other.
"Tsubaki."
"Morgan."
And I walked away from there. The two of them were pretty good, far being a force to be reckoned with, but they were on the right path. As members of a peerage, they should think how to get rid of the inherent weakness from the devil pieces, and make that gap as small as possible. But that's a topic for another day, now let's talk about more important matters right now. Fallen angels.
Tackling the nocturne streets once more, I made my way to the abandoned church. By now, it was a usual trip I made every night, but I had a feeling that today I wasn't going to be as lucky as before. Arriving at the holy grounds, I noticed there was this odd feeling in the air.
The air howled and the trees around me rustled their leaves, but other than that, it was mostly silent. Walking towards the main entrance of the building, I pushed the doors open, its heavy weight and age making itselves known by the creaking sounds of the door. I was met by the silent building and the sounds of water drops hitting the moss-covered rug.
Just as expected, the fallen had changed from location.
"Oh, for god's sake…" It was a possible outcome. A part of me wanted to remain hopeful that maybe the fallen were stupid and confident enough to not change base location, but it seems someone must have been the voice of reason. Grumbling to myself, I turned towards the entrance, eager to leave this night behind. If they know I've been searching for them, they'll most likely keep activity to the minimum.
Just as I was going to leave the building, I saw an old cracked silver mirror, just past the entrance. I didn't see it when I came in, but now I had my attention because I saw a glint hitting the reflection of the mirror. Narrowing my eyes to get a better look of the glint, and its image becomes clear.
A man with a sadistic smile on his face, dressed in a black overcoat with golden accents, and a gun in his hand.
Pointing straight at me.
With my heart pounding against my chest, I tensed my legs to bolt to the side-
"BANG!"
A sharp pain invaded my body, but the searing sensation didn't immediately claim my life. It felt like a fiery sting, the wounded area pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat, each beat making the wound ache more. The bullet hit me right between my shoulder and my spine. If I had been a bit more late, that bullet would have been fatal.
Without wasting time, I swiftly went for cover behind the church's pews, protecting me from more bullets. I couldn't use the healing potion I had on myself, not with the bullet still in my body.
"Sorry my friend, but the Church is under renovations right now." He said with mockery present in his voice.
I grimaced as the pain pulsed through my shoulder.
"Renovations, huh? I must say that your renovations look like shit to be honest. Well, it's a shame your sense of interior design matches your choice in weaponry . Maybe next time bring a paintbrush instead of a gun, spruce up the place a bit, you know?"
The man let out a loud laugh to the air. I peeked over the pews to get a better look at the man. White-gray hair, white clothes behind his black trenchcoat and a cross hanging from his neck.
"I didn't know he had quite the art appraiser in here. Why don't you come out, so we can meet each other face to face?"
I did not respond inmediatly.
"C'mon, say something," he taunted, a sinister grin playing on his lips. "Oh, and just so you know, the bullets I carry are special."
As he said that, a wave of nausea assaulted my being, my body growing weaker by the second. The air seemed thicker, suffused with an otherworldly energy that left a bitter taste on my tongue. I stumbled backward, my vision blurring at the edges, as if reality itself were unraveling.
He chuckled, relishing in my distress. "You feel it, don't you? That's the poison in the bullets. They sap your strength, drain your very essence. You won't be able to resist for long."
Shit, this was bad. If a stall here, I'll just be poisoned to death. I need to turn the tables in some manner right now. Coughing silently I scanned my sorroundings.
Inspecting the very benches I was taking refuge in, an idea popped in my head and I could feel a small grin starting to grow. Planting my feet against the bench I pushed it really hard,sending the pew flying towards his direction.
The exorcist's eyes widened in surprise and rolled to the side, avoiding the pew crashing into him. He tried to relocate me quickly with the barrel of the gun, but this time I was a step ahead. Throwing a knife towards his hand, I saw the knife hit true, piercing his hand and making him drop the gun.
"Gah! You little fucker!"
My plan had been successful, I could probably overwhelm him with physical speed and strength. Then to my confusion, the exorcist let out a loud whistle, its echo vibrating in the building. Then just as fast, the windows and doors beside the buildings open forcibly, and more stray exorcists entered the church. All of them with their guns pointing at me.
Opening fire on me, I was forced to retreat once again. I was being hindered by the bullet wound on me. Fighting my way out of here was a no brainer, they would kill me first by numbers if the potion didn't do it first; the bullet wound was still bleeding, so just another excuse to get out of here.
Huffing, I hurled the Morning Star towards the ceiling of the church, its already weak roof crumbling easily after a well-placed strike from the magical whip. The roof came crashing down on the stray exorcists. Some managed to roll out of the way, while others were caught beneath the debris.
The dust settled, and I took advantage of the confusion to make my escape. The fallen roof created a barrier between me and the pursuing exorcists. I sprinted through the chaos, using the remaining energy in my weakened body to flee.
With heavy breathing, I kept running until I felt more safe to slow down my pace. Leaning against a wall, I attempted to regain control of my breathing, the poison making my body weaker and weaker by the second, but for now I was good but short in time.
'I need to find help'
Azazel wasn't even in town, I checked after he didn't pick up his calls so I couldn't go with him. I wasn't familiar with the mercenary supernatural groups of the zone so I couldn't go with them either, so that left only one real option.
'I need to find Sona, right now…! Hopefully she will still be at the academy'
With a new destination in mind, I jogged at a stable pace towards the Academy. Hopefully she will be able to treat my wounds, I'll have to repay her somehow, but that's a problem for future me.
[SONA SITRI]
The student council room enveloped me in an organized chaos of paperwork, the lamplight casting a focused glow on the desk before me. My hands flowed in a practiced motion as I continued working on some papers I needed to check before sending them out. Tsubaki, as always by my side and helping with the huge amount of hellish paperwork.
Working on the papers, my mind was elsewhere reminiscing the situation before our hands, the fallen angels in Kouh. Even though Morgan said he was taking care of it, I couldn't let him do all the work, afterall Kuoh is part of my responsibilities and I should act like it.
Speaking of the man, I didn't know what to think of him. He's a good person, I can tell that, but it's hard to discern which parts of him are genuine and what are not. Sighing to myself, I massaged my temples before continuing with the work.
The Venatores name has always been a delicate part of our history as devils. A clan of supernatural hunters, they were once the scourge of our existence, relentlessly pursuing devils and other creatures that humanity deemed evil. However, the turning point came with the infamous Venatores purge, a dark chapter that is believed to have wiped out the majority of their lineage.
As a noble devil, I grew up with the understanding that the Venatores were once our ancient adversaries, skepticism should be my immediate response. Yet, Morgan was an enigma. Appearing almost out of thin air, he bore the weight of his family's past.
Morgan's presence in the academy unsettled the foundations of my understanding. The Venatores name, once synonymous with fear, now carried a different weight—a weight that Morgan, as the last of his lineage, bore alone. Even when he discovered what we were, he still chose to give us the benefit of the doubt and even acted to save Ruruko. It made me question the truths I had been taught, the black-and-white narratives that defined our history; After all, history is written by the victors.
Devil society underwent political changes after the purge. The power dynamics shifted, leaving new Satans to guide our society into an era marked by change and adaptation.
While being lost in my thoughts, I noticed a shift in the bounded field surrounding the academy; someone had just entered the academy grounds, and based on its reading, it wasn't a devil. Tsubaki and I locked eyes, and she nodded with silent understanding.
Getting up, she walked towards my side, a magic circle suddenly appearing on her hand, ready for anything. At first, I could faintly hear some footsteps in the distance. With each step, the sound grew louder and heavier. Then, they suddenly stopped just outside the door. I could faintly hear heavy breathing behind the door my body tensed in anticipation.
The intruder knocked on the door a few times, waiting for an answer. I didn't move immediately. Then, the voice coming from the door caught me by surprise.
"Sona… Are you in there…? I kinda need your help with a little thing."
Walking to the door, throwing caution out of the window, I opened the door, and a wounded and sick-looking Morgan greeted me.
"Morgan? What happened to you?"
He looked tired and sick, his skin far more pale than his usual tan complexion. His clothes were dirty and bloodied, especially around the shoulder area. Concern etched across my face as I gestured for him to come inside.
"Come in, quickly," I urged, my voice softening with worry. Tsubaki, sensing the urgency, moved to assist Morgan, supporting him as he entered the room. The scent of blood lingered in the air, and I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him.
Once inside, Morgan's weariness became even more apparent. He leaned against a table for support, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "What happened out there?" I questioned, my tone a mix of urgency and empathy.
"Well, for starters," Morgan's voice sounded weary, each word carrying the weight of exhaustion, "the fallen angels moved their base after one of them slipped away from me. Most likely he told his companions that I was on their trail. They set up an ambush, knowing I'd be hunting them down in the church. An asshole of an exorcist shot me and poisoned me, and I haven't been able to take the damn bullet out for proper healing."
"Language. You don't have to be so crude." I said as a knee-jerk reaction. Morgan's head slowly turned to me with an unimpressed stare. Sighing, he addressed me again.
"I'm sorry to impose, Sona. I really am. I didn't know where else to turn."
"Don't worry about it; I'll heal you right away." Turning, I addressed Tsubaki, who was still helping the man out. "Tsubaki, call Reya and Momo to the academy."
"Right away, president." She then grabbed her phone and dialed their numbers. After a minute, a bright magic circle appeared on the ground in the corner of the room. Reya and Momo stepped out in their pajamas, blinking in the sudden change of surroundings. Reya was dressed in cute pink pants with a white shirt that left her belly open and a cat plastered in its center. Momo on the other hand, was dressed in a black short, exposing her legs, and also a loose white shirt that reached the shorts.
"...President Sona," Reya yawned in between. "What's going on?" Just as she finished, Reya, Momo, and Morgan locked eyes. A silence fell between them, with Morgan looking intently at both of them. A weak smirk grew on his lips.
"Cute PJs."
I shot an unimpressed glare at Morgan, who just shrugged at me. Reya and Momo, on the other hand, remained unresponsive until their faces started to grow red as a tomato.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at Morgan's remark. "Focus, everyone. Morgan needs our help."
Reya, usually poised and composed, stammered, "W-We didn't expect an emergency... um, in our pajamas."
Momo, her cheeks still flushed, added, "Yeah, sorry for the informal attire, President. It's not every day we get summoned in the middle of the night."
Morgan chuckled weakly, the tension in the room momentarily lifted. "Don't worry about it, really. I appreciate the impromptu fashion show. But seriously, Sona, can we get this bullet out before I die from poison?"
"Huh?" Momo said with wide eyes. Ignoring that remark, Tsubaki came to us with a first aid kit in her hands.
"President, we're ready for everything."
"Good. Momo, Reya; Morgan has been shot and needs the bullet closed and we need an antidote for the poison, can you handle this?" Breaking out of their stupors, they nodded with determination on them.
"Yes!"
Both Reya and Momo walked towards him.
"Sensei," Reya started, her voice tinged with a hint of hesitation and embarrassment. "I need you to take off your clothes so I can get a better look at the wound and take the bullet out."
Morgan just nodded, the weariness evident in his eyes, and stood up from the couch. Fingers deftly unbuttoned his vest, revealing an array of tools and knives, each carefully nestled in their designated pockets. The vest soon joined the pile of discarded items, leaving him in a bloodied white button-up shirt.
His hands then moved to the buttons on the shirt, and one by one, they gave way.
Oh my. He has a nice body indeed.
As the shirt revealed more of his upper body, it became apparent that Morgan possessed a physique both powerful and graceful. A slim waist accentuated the broad expanse of his hairy chest, the fabric clinging to the contours of his well-defined muscles. Wide shoulders framed a back that bespoke strength and resilience. In a few words, roguishly handsome.
I couldn't tear my eyes away for a moment. Judging by the looks of it, Tsubaki was equally captivated, sporting a deep blush on her face and wide eyes. However, the ones who seemed to be most affected were definitely Momo and Reya, who stood just in front of him. Both of them had wide eyes and a red tomato face. Reya covered her face with her hands, even if she was sneakily taking looks in between her fingers. Momo, on the other hand, seemed unabashed, just gazing without a care in the world.
"Yes, I'm hairy," he said, accompanied by a casual scratch of one of his tan hairy pecs. "It's perfectly natural."
Momo, blinking and breaking out of her thoughts, looked around desperately trying to find an excuse for something.
"You…uh… You have a lot of scars," she said, pointing at his upper body. Now that she mentioned it, he indeed had a plethora of scars, some big, some small, each telling a unique story.
"Yeah, well, you tend to get hurt a few times in my line of work. You know how it goes."
Reya, suddenly regaining her bearings, clapped her hands, gaining his attention.
"Alright, sensei! Sit down while we work on your wounds." Morgan did just that, settling onto the couch and allowing both Reya and Momo to approach and treat him.
The atmosphere in the room shifted from the initial awkwardness to one of focused professionalism. Reya and Momo, despite the lingering embarrassment, seemed determined to provide the necessary care. Tsubaki, having regained her composure, fetched the first aid kit and stood ready to assist.
Reya, with a gentle yet firm touch, began inspecting the bullet wound. She carefully probed around the entry point, assessing the extent of the damage. Momo, on the other hand, prepared a concoction to counteract the poison that had seeped into Morgan's system.
"We'll need to clean the wound first," Reya explained, her tone now more clinical. "Momo, pass me the antiseptic."
Momo handed over the antiseptic, and Reya began the meticulous process of cleaning the wound. Morgan winced slightly, but he bore the discomfort with a stoic expression.
As Reya worked, Tsubaki inspected the odd-looking bullet that had caused the damage. It wasn't a standard issue; its surface was etched with intricate patterns, and it emitted a faint, unnatural glow. Tsubaki exchanged a glance with Morgan, a silent acknowledgment that this wasn't your typical encounter.
"Alright, let's get that bullet out," Reya declared, reaching for a pair of sterile tweezers. With delicate precision, she extracted the bullet, the metallic object gleaming in the dim light. Tsubaki handled the unusual projectile with caution, placing it in a separate container.
"Strange-looking bullet," Tsubaki noted, her brow furrowed. "Definitely not something you'd find in conventional weaponry."
Morgan nodded, his expression confirming the abnormality of the situation. "They're not playing with the usual gear."
"Morgan-sensei, please bear with the pain a little more," Reya said in a soft tone of voice, almost like a worried mother. "I'll stitch the wound so be ready." Morgan grunted in confirmation, and I saw him slightly wince at the contact of the needle.
Momo, having finished the antidote, approached with a syringe. "This should counteract the poison. It might sting a bit."
Morgan nodded, bracing himself as Momo administered the antidote. The room fell into a brief silence as the healing process continued. The antiseptic stung, but it was a welcome discomfort compared to the bullet wound.
Once the procedures were completed, Reya and Momo bandaged the wound with expertise. Tsubaki handed Morgan a clean shirt to replace the bloodied one.
"You should be fine now," Reya stated with a small smile, a touch of pride in her eyes.
Morgan nodded appreciatively. "Thanks, all of you. I owe you one."
Dressing again, Morgan started to button up his clothes alongside his vest with the Venatores crest etched on his back. Momo couldn't help but pout, her gaze shifting away momentarily. Before leaving, Morgan meticulously checked all of his gear, his experienced hands patting his chest in assurance. With a nod, he started to take his leave.
Turning around, he addressed all of them. "Thank you for this. I won't forget. When you need help with anything, give me a shout. I'll be there to help."
I couldn't help but give a small appreciative smile in his direction. "I'll hold onto that then."
He shot me a small smile, not one of his usual grins or smirks, but a genuine expression of gratitude that words couldn't fully convey. "It's a promise, then."
With that, Morgan walked out of the room, leaving us in a contemplative silence, his words echoing in the air. After his footsteps had faded into the distance, I turned to the girls with me.
"Does somebody want to say something about tonight?" Reya raised her hand and spoke in a soft tone.
"Even though Morgan sensei looks intimidating and he's from a bloodline of powerful warriors, he is very kind overall and nice to be around with," Reya finished with a soft smile on her face.
I then turned towards Momo, raising a brow at her. Her face suddenly started to blush.
"...I knew Morgan's sensei body was toned, but seeing it that close… " she said in a quiet voice and a blushing face. "The shirts he wears do him no justice."
"Momo!" Reya shrieked, her embarrassment mirroring Momo's flushed face. Tsubaki, usually stoic and composed, betrayed a hint of color on her cheeks.
Sighing, I took in the unexpected turn of the evening. In a way, some of my doubts regarding Morgan had cleared. Just as Reya said it, even though Morgan comes from a Clan whose purpose was the eradication of what humanity considered as 'evil', devils included, I can say for certain that Morgan Venatores is a good person. His actions spoke louder than the ominous history of his bloodline, revealing a man who steps up when the situation calls for it, forming bonds even in the most unlikely circumstances.
[MORGAN VENATORES]
This is bad. Really bad. Hyodo's date was just turning the corner, and that means he's in the most vulnerable position. Two imminent threats loom over me — the danger that Hyodo is unknowingly stepping into and the official reintroduction of my existence to the moonlit world through Sona's impending report.
I needed to do something and I needed it fast. Scouring the town for the fallens like a headless chicken won't cut it. There's another, albeit one that didn't sit well with me, option on the table. I could use Hyoodo as bait to lure the fallens out, particularly that Raynare girl. It made me feel like an asshole. I know I act like a jerk sometimes, but I have standards. Professionals have standards. Today is my last chance to gather any information about his date and the girl.
Summoning Hyodo to stay for a brief chat after the class, we'd go in and out swiftly. The bell rang, signaling the end of the class. As the students filed out of the classroom, only Hyodo lingered. He approached my desk while I busied myself putting away my teacher's materials.
"You wanted to see me, sensei? Am I in trouble for something…?" he asked, nervousness palpable in both his voice and body language.
His enthusiasm returned, and he scratched his head nervously. "Well, I was thinking of taking her to this new café that opened downtown. I heard they have amazing desserts, and I think she loves sweets."
I nodded approvingly. "Solid plan. A sweet tooth always leads to a sweet date. Now, let's add a little more charm to your rendezvous. Start with the café; it sets a pleasant, relaxed tone. Share a dessert or two, savoring the flavors and engaging in light conversation. Make her feel special, Hyodo." I said with a grin plastered on my face.
His eyes lit up with a mix of excitement and determination. "Yeah, sensei! And after that?"
"After the café, take a stroll through Kuoh Park. The evening breeze, the sound of leaves rustling, and the serene atmosphere can be quite romantic. There's a beautiful fountain near the center of the park; it's surrounded by flowers and bathed in soft light during the evenings. It's the perfect spot for a more intimate moment."
Hyodo listened attentively, mentally noting the details. "A fountain, huh? Sounds nice. What should we do there?"
"Take a seat by the fountain. Enjoy the tranquil ambiance, maybe share more about yourselves. It's a great opportunity for a heartfelt conversation. And, if the mood feels right, you could even express your feelings. Keep it genuine, and most importantly, let the evening unfold naturally. If you play your cards right and feel brave enough, you might even have the opportunity of a kiss. "
He grinned with a newfound sense of confidence. "Thanks, sensei! I'll keep that in mind!" He then relaxed a little, pointing something out that took me by surprise. "You know, sensei, you sound really experienced in this type of thing. Are you some kind of romantical or something?"
By no means was I any type of romantical or the like. Far from it, depending on who you ask. I chuckled, trying to brush off the question. "Well, let's just say I have a knack for understanding the intricacies of human connections."
In reality, my interest in understanding relationships stemmed from a peculiar taste in literature. I enjoyed delving into books that sparked the imagination, particularly those that some might consider a guilty pleasure.
You know, the certain type of literature that explores the complexities of relationships in a... steamy manner. Let's just say, I've gained insights from various perspectives on love and connection. Because who doesn't enjoy a good romance novel with... vivid details? Shut up, I like this stuff.
"Well, I gotta get going sensei, thanks for the advice Morgan-sensei!" He said as he made his way towards the door.
"Don't worry about it Hyoudou, good luck with your date. Also, call me Morgan if you feel like it." I flashed him a knowing grin and threw a thumbs up. When he left the classroom a sigh escaped me and I rubbed my temples. A part of me felt a little bad at tricking him into the perfect ambush spot, for the fallens and for me. But if everything goes just as planned, everything should be fine.
At least now I knew where they were going to be on their date. If more fallen angels come, especially the one in the trench coat, I'll be sure to finish him off for good this time. I stood up from the desk and made my way to the door.
Sliding the door open, I was a little startled to find someone behind it. Koneko was just standing there, having likely just arrived. Before I could say something, the girl interrupted me.
"...You didn't show up today on the rooftop." Oh, right. With all the plans and talking with Hyodo, it must have slipped my mind.
"Ah yes, sorry about that. I've been just a little busy, so it must have slipped my mind." The girl just narrowed her eyes slightly at me, and is she... pouting?
Reaching into my bag, I started to search for something within it. After securing it, I pulled it out and offered it to her.
"...Is this for me?" She asked, eyeing the mochi sweets I bought the other day. A petite, pastel-hued sphere, its glossy surface reflecting off the wrapping.
"Yes, consider it a sort of apology or something like that."
The soft glow of the room cast a warm ambiance as she accepted the sweet, her guarded expression softening. The delicate crinkle of the wrapping paper echoed in the room as she unraveled the treat, revealing the perfectly molded mochi within. Without a second thought she ate it all in one bite. Not really surprising.
"...Thank you."
Chuckling softly, I waved away her thanks with a dismissive grin. "Don't worry about it; I'm not evil enough to leave you hungry. Just think of it as my way of sparing the world from the consequences of a hungry Koneko. You know, doing my part for global peace."
She looked angrily at me, but there was no real heat behind her glare. "...jerk."
I just chuckled and took my leave. I needed to rest my body and finish healing, priming myself for the inevitable scuffle I'll likely stumble into during Hyoudou's date. Haaaaa. Once I'm done untangling myself from this Fallen angel mess, I'm treating myself to a well-deserved drink. Because, god, do I need one.
Today is the day. Today is the day that Hyodo goes on his date. I used Saturday to rest and have a good night of sleep. Going around the nocturnal city took its toll on me, so sleeping and resting a full day did wonders to my body.
So today's job was clear-cut:
Don't get the boy killed.
Get rid of the fallen angels in the city.
Finish the job, get a drink.
Easy enough, right? I prepared myself for the day, adorned in my hunting vest and morning star, the attire of my combat clothes. It might seem a bit peculiar strolling through the streets in such equipment and unconventional clothing, but this is Japan, where eccentricities often blend seamlessly and could easily be dismissed as cosplay. I just grabbed a jacket I owned and threw it over my vest, at least somewhat trying to appear inconspicuous.
Stepping into the daylight streets marked a refreshing change of pace. Typically, I would navigate the nocturnal alleys, where supernatural activity thrived, but today, the sunlit surroundings offered a welcome respite. Making my way towards the café where Hyoudou planned to take "Yuma," I positioned myself at a nearby spot, aiming not to draw too much attention – or at least as inconspicuous as a man dressed in borderline cosplay could be.
Observing the passerby, I melted into the background. The rhythmic hum of the city enveloped me, and for a moment, the weight of my nocturnal responsibilities lifted.
As I waited, the café's atmosphere spilled onto the street, laughter and the clinking of cups weaving a casual melody. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, a stark contrast to the usual scents of the nocturnal world. It felt strangely normal and oddly welcomed.
Then I saw the man of the hour. Hyodo arrived at the cafe with a pretty girl by his side. One that I immediately recognized – Raynare, the fallen angel. I had to give it to her; she knew how to act and maintain a facade. Well if it isn't the picture of innocence? I'm almost impressed.
From my concealed vantage point, I observed their interaction. Hyodo seemed genuinely pleased, blissfully unaware of the concealed danger beside him. Raynare played the part of an ordinary girl with finesse, concealing the ethereal threat that lurked beneath her facade.
I continued to observe them. By all means, it looked like just an ordinary date between two love birds. It was a peculiar ballet of deception and genuine emotion, a dance that played out against Hyoudou. After a while of talking and laughing, Hyodo payed the check and left the cafe. The boy seemed surprisingly polite despite all the 'Harem King' comments and pervy tendencies.
With a new destination in mind, I discreetly separated from them and made my way to the Kuoh park fountain, anticipating it to be the end of their date. Checking my surroundings, I ensured there were no fallen angels or stray exorcists in the area. Satisfied with my reconnaissance, I took cover behind some trees and bushes.
Just in time, both Hyodo and the fallen Raynare arrived at the park, hands entwined. It pained me to see the boy's face like this, blissfully unaware that the creature was playing with his emotions and genuinely in love with the girl that was luring him into a deadly trap.
They continued talking, I could faintly hear what they were talking about. I felt I changed the atmosphere between us, and felt the compulsion in my head to just turn around and leave this place, like a little voice nagging my head. Looking around I noticed that the people around the fountain and the nearby started to leave.
The fallen had placed a bounded field in the area. Hyodo didn't even notice that the people around them started to leave, captivated by the girl sitting in front of him. The atmosphere between the two of them grabbed a suddenly more intimate tone, something that the boy noticed immediately.
Still holding hands, it seemed that the fallen was leaning in for a kiss, and Hyodo responded in kind. As they were on the verge of sealing the deal, the girl whispered something in his ear—a chilling question that reached my ears crystal clear.
"Would you die for me?"
In that moment, the morning star was sent hurtling towards the girl, who was conjuring a pink light spear in her hand, poised to strike the boy through his stomach. With a thunderous crack, the whip struck true, sending the fallen angel hurtling away, crashing through trees and breaking them in the process.
Emerging from my hiding spot, I looked at the bewildered boy with wide eyes, still staring at the spot where the fallen had been sent tumbling.
"Yo, Hyoudou," I greeted him with a casual tone.
"M-Morgan-sensei...?" He whispered my name in an incredulous tone, as if refusing to believe what had just transpired. "Why did you do that...?" Before I could answer I heard a shriek from the fallen.
"Y-YOU BASTARD!" The girl screamed at the top of her lungs. Placing a hand on the shoulder of the boy, I pushed him behind me.
"Stay alert, this isn't over ye." I whispered to the boy.
"S-Sensei…? What's going on!?" Hyodo looked like he wanted to hyperventilate. I needed him to maintain his calm before something bad happened.
The fallen angel's gaze burned with resentment as she glared at me. Clad in her skimpy leather outfit, she sneered, "You just had to play hero, hunter." Nonchalantly, I removed my jacket, tossing it to the side as I braced for the impending fight.
With a roll of my eyes I replied, "Oh, absolutely. Because you must be the third-rate villain from a shitty manga." Her glare only intensified.
Inspecting the fallen angel, I noticed a seared patch on her body where the Morning Star whip had struck. Despite the evident pain, she hissed quietly, a resilient defiance lingering in her eyes. Anticipating a renewed confrontation, I cracked the Morning Star against the rock tiles at my feet, the chains leaving an indelible mark on the floor—a silent proclamation of readiness for whatever awaited.
The fallen, undeterred by the burn and my menacing display, narrowed her eyes at me. It was as if she sought something, some clue in my demeanor. Our eyes locked, and her gaze widened in a sudden realization. In a tone laced with recognition. "...You're the human who has been hunting us down all weekend…"
"I am."
She then grinded madly at me. "Oh I'm going to enjoy stabbing you to death! You worthless human!" Before she could make a move, I noticed movement coming from behind. Rushing to me, two fallen angels flew towards my direction, their light spears in hand. The one with the fedora and the woman with blue hair; Ready to throw them or to stab me. With a swift reaction, I grabbed Hyoudou and reinforced my body, dashing out of the way of both fallens, and reappearing some meters away from my spot.
"A sneak attack? You're going to try better than that," I taunted with a mocking tone. The doll-like fallen narrowed her eyes in resigned frustration, while the man, seemingly more experienced, appeared wary and cautious, choosing not to engage with my jest. It seemed I left an impression from our last fight with him. Glancing around, I noticed the absence of one fallen angel—the woman with blue hair.
I heard steps coming from all around me. Looking around, a dozen or so of stray exorcists started to surround me armed with weapons of all kinds. Guns, swords, spears and other holy equipment. I narrowed my eyes glaring at them. This isn't good.
"Hyodo," I started, startling the boy. "Make a run for it. I promise I'll explain everything to you after this, but you need to get out of here." Hyodo looked around, starting to panic a bit. He locked eyes and tried to tell me something, but my frown silenced him. "Now."
He turned around and started to make a run for it, trying to flee the scene.
"Where do you think you're going?" An exorcist raised his gun at him, trying to scare him off. The sounds of rattling chains filled the air. With a thunderous crack, the gun flew out of the exorcist hand, leaving behind a bloody and broken hand.
"Shit!" The exorcist shrieked in pain, clutching his broken hand. The morning star returned to me, and in an instance all hell broke loose.
"Kill the human! Dohnaseek, Mittlet, make him regret intervening with us!" Shouted Raynare.
"Run, Hyodo!" I ordered the boy.
Light spears started to rain from above, coming in my direction. Using the whip I swatted them away, some spears shattering the ground around me with great force as they missed its mark. Reinforcing my body, I dashed away in a burst of speed, but a group of exorcists and priests intercepted me.
I unleashed the Morning Star, the chain extending with a powerful lunge, the metal links crackled through the air, striking the exorcists and sending them tumbling backward. Looking around the exorcists by the sides of the fight raised their guns at me, my frame locked in their aims. Tensing my legs, the ground broke at my feet, and in a burst of lighting-speed dash I was in front of an exorcist with their gun pointed at me.
I could only see how his eyes slowly widened in panic, before my fist came crashing on the man's skull with bone-shattering strengh, sending him flying and crashing through a tree. Grabbing a knife from my vest, I threw a knife towards the other exorcist with the gun, the knife hitted in head, killing him instantly.
A sense of impending danger pricked the edges of my mind, telling me that something is coming. Without wasting time, I leaned sharply to the side, a sudden urge that forced me to dodge, and the lightspear having been thrust at my back.
Dohnaseek, the fallen angel– I finally remembered his name– wasted no time in his relentless assault. Tightening his hands, he conjured another radiant lightspear in his free hand, aiming for a second thrust.
Reacting on pure instinct, I propelled myself forward, evading the trajectory of the second lightspear by a hair's breadth. The searing heat of its passing lingered in my skin.
Coming behind Dohnaseek, the other fallen angel Mittlet emerged with short, dagger-like light constructs. The fedora man quickly followed behind her, separating and forcing me to fight from two different sides.
Sending the whip, it first clashed with the Girl, making her step and pause, and with a bounce the tip of the whip went for the attack on the other man. Mittlet spun open her wings and took the sky attempting to snipe me from afar. Dohnaseek rushed at me, this time with a lighsword, grasping in between his hands.
The morning star unleashed in the direction of the man, but he dodged the first strike. I attempted a series of practiced strikes, but the man kept dodging them. He suddenly grabbed the chain of the whip with one hand.
I tried to pull the morning star to me, but the fallen discarded his sword and with both hands he pulled the whip towards him. A firm grasp on the Morning star and he wasn't letting it go. I could even hear the faint sound of the Morning Star's holy element burning his hands.
'Motherfucker! I guess those double pair of wings aren't just for show'
Mittlet summoned a volley of light daggers and spears my way with the intention of skewering me alive. I was forced to abandon the whip, before the daggers could hit me. A smirk appeared on the fallen's punchable face, and he dashed my way with another light sword in hand.
Raising and reinforcing my fist and forearms, I clashed bare handed against the man. The fallen raised his sword with alarming speed, and let it fall down on me, his sword connecting with my reinforced arms, managing to draw some blood, but my arms still held. The burning sensation of the lightsword on my arms was starting to get too much.
With a solid kick at his midsection, he let out a gasp of air and was sent flying away.
'I wish I had my sword right now; That Vali bastard…'
I need to use the chance, now that Dohnaseek is stunned for a brief moment. I rushed at the man and my Morning Star whip. The doll-like fallen, having noticed this, attempted to throw more constructs my way in the safety of the air. I kept sprinting, dodging the daggers that flew towards me.
Reaching the Fedora man, I reeled back my fistback, my arm tensing with anticipating power ready to be unleashed. Having noticed this, he attempted to form more light weapons, but my punch managed to hit him first. The bone-shattering punch made his head turn from the impact, spit and blood flying from his mouth.
Without pausing, I assaulted the man with a barrage of punches. I quickly grabbed my whip from him. My hand reached for three knives from my vest and grabbed them between my fingers. Just like a claw, I stabbed the man with a powerful punch to his chest; Surprised, he stumbled back as he kept bleeding.
Winding up the morning star, I tensed the chain as much as I could, making this next strike more powerful than the others. Plating a foot firmly in front of me leaned in forwards, and my arms extended with great force. In an instant, the whip found its mark, the resounding impact severing the fallen angel's head from his shoulders.
A silence descended upon the battleground, heavy and pregnant with the weight of their dead comrade.
"Y-YOU BASTARD!" Mittle the fallen angel flying above dove down, just like a prey bird. Reason and self preservation have left her, and now was charging straight at me. Raising my arm, a magic circle flashed in my hand.
Based on how wide her eyes went she had no idea I could use magic. Out of the circle a golfing inferno blazed off, instantly killing the fallen. I turned towards Raynare who suddenly went white as a paper sheet, realizing her companions were dead. We locked eyes for a brief moment that felt like an eternity.
"...Are you next?"
A tremor of unease rippled through her, evident in the slight quiver of her hands and the way her breath hitched. The air around her seemed charged with apprehension, her gaze fixated on with a mix of terror and dread.
In that moment, fear etched itself into her features, a flicker of uncertainty betraying her facade of confidence. She took a tentative step back, her gaze darting between me and the fallen, a sense of vulnerability creeping into her demeanor.
She turned and fled the scene. Looking around, the remaining exorcists were wary of me. They took a few steps back from me, realizing this was a fight they couldn't win. Eventually they run away, discarding caution all together. After a few moments of silence a sigh left my body as I stretched and massaged my muscles. Hah, I still need to catch a fallen angel.
[ISSEI HYODO]
My heart raced in sheer panic as I dashed away from the chaos, Morgan's-sensei urgent command to run ringing in my ears. Despite barely talking with him—him just a teacher I barely knew outside the classroom—concern for his safety tugged at my thoughts.
'What the hell's going on!? I was just supposed to have a date with Yuma-chan!'
This wasn't anything how this evening was supposed to go. And what's with Morgan-sensei getup? He looked ready for a cosplay more I thought about it, the more my head hurts at all of this.
"Where do you think you're going boy~" a sweet and sinister voice came from behind. Turning my head slowly, my eyes met the boobs of a hot chick with blue hair and sharp eyes. I would have felt overjoyed at seeing a piece of paradise in her chest, if I didn't had the feeling that my life was in danger.
Peeling my eyes away from her chest, which was a hard thing to do, I addressed the woman who was standing in front of me.
"What do you want from me?" I asked in a wary tone. She just gave me this knowing smile that sent chills down my spine. She maintained the silence before a cracking energetic sound filled the air.
"We want you dead, boy~" I felt my blood run cold. I turned and tried to make a run for it.
Pain. So much pain assaulted my body. I triped and fell from the pain cursing all over my body, I looked back and met a bright like-spear engraved into my leg. It burned, It burned so much that a cry of pain escaped my lungs.
"Ohhh, your screams of pain are like music to my ears. Think you can keep up with the little old me~? She cooed with malevolent intent. "I'll make sure this will be as painful as possible,"
What? Is this how I'm going to die? After Morgan-sensei stayed behind to fight all of those people? Another scream of pain escaped my lungs, tears forming in my eyes.
"Why!?" The fallen changed demeanor, looking more serious than before.
"If you want to blame someone, blame God for giving you such a gift."
I don't want to die. I at least wanted to get a girlfriend and touch some boobs. This isn't fair, dammit! Please, somebody, anyone, save me! Please… I don't want to die. My head started to feel lightheaded from all the blood pouring from my legs. The sickly-warm blood on my hands made me feel even worse.
'Red. Huh. Just like her hair. If I'm going to die, I at least wished it was in the arms of a pretty girl.'
Suddenly, I felt heat coming from my pocket. It wasn't burning, but I was starting to feel too weak to do something about it. In a sudden flash of red light, a bright red circle appeared on the floor, some symbols that I didn't recognize making the form of the circle. I heard the crazy woman step away from me, surprise evident in her voice.
And as if they were a pair of angels, two beautiful silhouettes of girls appeared from the circle. My eyes widened at seeing who they were.
"...Gremory-senpai…?; …Himejima-senpai…?" I croaked in a low voice.
She stared at me, surprise swimming in her eyes looking how her eyes broaden by a small margin.
"You look to be in quite the tight spot, Hyodo. Let me help you." In a split second, thunder roared from the sky and strikes the ground nearby creating a huge explosion. Turning slowly towards the impact, I saw the charred remains of the woman who was torturing me, her body all black and definitely dead; with a passing gust of wind, her ashes dispersed in the air.
Himejima-senpai walked to me with a glass bottle in her hands, it looked almost like a magic potion. She gave me something to drink with a warm and welcoming smile present on her face. "Here, drink this. It'll make you feel better." I drank slowly the liquid she gave me, and just as she said, I could feel the pain in my legs slowly dying down, finally letting out a gasp of relief.
A rustling sound coming from the leaves put all of us on alert. The sounds kept getting louder and louder, everyone tensing in anticipation. And then a girl with black hair and purple eyes came rolling out from the bushes. Two crow-like wings, bloodied and filled with small knives present on her back.
"Yuma-chan…?" I whispered in surprise. We locked eyes, for a brief moment, before her eyes went up lock eyes with Gremory-senpai and Himejima-senpai. Her eyes widened, and she suddenly lunged at me, desperation in her voice.
"Please, Issei, you have to help me!" She pleaded with panic in her voice. "There's this crazy man who is trying to kill me! Please Issei I beg you-"
The sounds of rattling chains filled the air once more.
A chain suddenly wrapped itself around Yuma-chan, and I could feel Himejima-senpai dragging me away from her. What is going on? The length from the chains came from the foliage a few meters behind Yuma-chan and suddenly, the chain hissed around her, burning her skin, and in a sudden combustion, the whole chain lit alive with a powerful fire.
"DAMN YOU, HUMAN! GO TO HELL-" She was cut off, as the fire engulfed her completely. Why was she burning to her death? I thought we were supposed to have a date today. I don't understand. Why did this happen? I felt even more tired. My eyes felt like they weighed a ton. Dammit. Could somebody please tell me what's going on…?
[MORGAN VENATORES]
I stepped out of the foliage, tightening and wrapping the Morning Star in its holder. Looking at the charred remains of the Fallen angel Raynare, I felt a scowl made its way into my temples. Even in her last moments, she chose to manipulate the boy. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
Looking over, I saw both the Gremory Heiress and Akeno Himejima by her side, most likely Hyodo summoned her with a summoning circle flyer i've seen around town. If I had to guess, she was most likely her queen, seeing how both heiresses seemed to mirror each other at times. King and Queen, always tied by the hip, it's amusing in its own way.
"Evening, Lady Gremory, Miss Himejima," I greeted. They both tensed in anticipation and ready for a possible fight. Understandably, they must be wary for an unknown to be in their territories; and I'm carrying a potent Holy weapon, capable of killing devils just as fast.
My eyes went to where the boys were now sleeping, his legs bloodied. A pang of guilt hitted my heart, if it weren't for the intervention of these two, he would most likely be dead by the time I arrived. So much for a monster hunter with a legendary weapon.
I saw how the Gremory heiresses' eyes roamed to my whip tied in my hip, a spark of recognition dancing in her eyes. "Evening, Morgan-sensei," The heiresses started, "I never took you for a seasoned warrior, much less one from the church." I held back a groan.
"Ok, first of all," I massaged my temples. "I'm not an exorcist, nor a priest nor anything related to the church. I may act like one, but I assure you I'm not. Seriously, I just had this conversation with Sona."
She stopped her next words upon hearing that. "With Sona?" She asked, evidently surprised by that statement.
"Yes, I ran into her a few nights ago. If you're wondering why she didn't tell you anything its because I told her to keep it secret for a few days. Actually, today is my deadline, so we hadn't met today, most likely she would have told you tomorrow."
A look of annoyance appeared on the heiresses face, with her Queen looking with amused eyes. Her eyes locked with mine once more.
"Where did you find the chain-whip? The Venatores Morning Star is supposed to be lost. Nobody could find it after the purge thousands of years ago." Well, it looks like somebody did her homework. Since my presence in the moonlit world was about to reach higher ups in Devil society, I guess I could humor her.
Bowing a little, I placed a hand on my chest. Trying to appear presentable even with all the cuts and wounds present on my body.
"Let's try this again. My real name is Morgan Venatores. Last descendant of the Venatores clan."
A heavy silence fell upon us. The heiress' eyes flickered with a hint of confusion, and the recognition. Realization fell down on her like a waterfall.
"Huh?"
[UNDERWORLD]
In the heart of the grand conference room, shadows danced upon the walls adorned with intricate sigils of authority, four figures sat at a table carved from polished obsidian, the air heavy with the weight of their presence. The four great Satans of hell have reunited at the request of Sirzechs Lucifer.
Serafall Leviathan sat in one of the heavenly ornamented chairs in the room, a bored expression on her face.
"Sirzechs-chan~ Why did you call us to such an important meeting right now? I was about to start the filming of the new episodes of levia-tan! Couldn't this have waited!?"
Sirzechs only smiled at the woman, but did not reply immediately. Looking over, Falbium was just sleeping on his chair, unaware of everything happening around him. In the other chair, Ajuka was tinkering with some stuff he had on his hands, waiting for the meeting to start.
It was no secret to the people in the room, that the four great stans were extravagant and honestly, quite weird people. Stepping into the room was a silver-haired woman, resplendent in a meticulously tailored Victorian maid dress. Every stride exuded regal poise, an air of nobility gracing her every movement. Her presence, a striking contrast against the opulence of the Satans' surroundings, commanded attention with a silent authority.
The maid walked to her husband's side, taking her place as his queen. She then cleared her throat, gaining the attention of all the Satans in the room. Well, most of them. Serafall swatted her hand at Falbium, who awoke from his slumber with a groan.
"Good Evening everyone," Grayfa began, her voice commanding attention amidst the hushed ambiance of the room. "We've received some very important news that just arrived today."
"We've received word," Grayfa continued, his gaze sweeping across the room, "regarding the unexpected sighting of a member of the once extinct Venatores clan."
A silence spread through the room. Even the always tired Falbium was now wide awake.
"Who is this person?" Ajuka asked.
The maid gracefully extended a single folder, its contents comprising just a solitary sheet of paper. As the folder exchanged hands, a collective hush settled over the room, each Satan fixated on the unfolding revelation. The paper bore an image, revealing the back of a man adorned in a dark green vest, embellished with the unmistakable Venatores house crest etched prominently.
"Morgan Venatores. Last known member of the Venatores clan," the maid announced, her voice carrying a weight of mystery shrouding the figure depicted. "Not much is known about him, only that he's recently become active in the moonlit world."
Serafall interjected, her voice laced with skepticism. "Hold on a moment. How can we be certain this man is truly a Venatores clan member? Even after all these years, the Venatores stronghold remains under constant surveillance, not just by our kind I might add. It could easily be a man flaunting a noble crest."
"I did consider that possibility, Lady Leviathan," the maid responded, her gaze sweeping the room. "And you wouldn't be mistaken, if not for one crucial detail. The man possesses the Venatores heirloom— the Morning Star." A profound silence descended upon the room, its weight far heavier than before.
The Morning Star, a weapon steeped in the blood of countless devils, irrespective of their status, casted a foreboding shadow over the devil society. The cursed relic was infamous, its history woven with tales of relentless carnage and dread among devilkind, just like the Excaliburs.
"Who else knows about this?" Sirzechs asked with a serious tone.
"Based on our intel, Lady Yasaka also knows of the presence of the Venatores."
"Alright, nothing about this talk leaves the room. Remember that the information of the clan is reserved only for noble families, so don't mention anything to them," Sirzechs Lucifer, commanded with a steely resolve. "Grayfa, notify me if anything related to the man reaches your ears."
"Understood." She answered loyally.
As the Satans exchanged knowing glances, an unspoken vow of secrecy settled among them. Their collective affirmations echoed in the air, marking the conclusion of the meeting. With a final glance around the chamber, Sirzechs Lucifer signaled the end of the session.
"Assemble again if any significant developments arise," He commanded, his authoritative tone closing the discussion. This certainly was an unexpected development.
Author's note: Hello again. With this chapter I got blocked some days, trying to make the story flow but everything I came up with, I didn't end up liking it. But after a few days I could continue writing somewhat decent stuff. My vacations are just around the corner so maybe I could write more in future chapters. Don't count on it tho. Anyways, thank you for reading and have a good day.