Fate: Bonds Beyond Humanity

by Apprentice of Life

In a world where all can be real, what does it mean to be human? What is the meaning of humanity? A meeting between a human and a devil will have them discovering the truth while chasing their dreams. My take on the combined worlds of Fate and DxD with characters from other franchises if they can be adapted to it. Harem.

61. Chapter 61

Fate/Bonds Beyond Humanity

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61- The Value of Words

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When Xenovia woke up she immediately knew something was wrong.

She was dressed in a provocative nightgown that barely covered anything and was one of the many clothes that Rias bought for her she wasn't going to donate. As someone that was still learning to explore her body with a partner, she loved seeing his reactions and how steamy their passion could grow during their thirst.

However, much to her shame and disappointment with herself, they didn't do things as often as they could and that was mostly her fault. Xenovia, despite slowing down a little in her training, still tended to overreach or push herself a little too much. More than once Shirou showed up in her room to find her too tired or asleep from exhaustion.

On the occasions she was awake, Xenovia still managed to push through, enjoying the act of lovemaking so much that her will could banish the exhaustion most of the time. On the other hand when she was too tired it wasn't an uncommon sight for her to wake up the next day, covered up, with Shirou peacefully sleeping by her side.

Not that day and that was extremely odd to the point the bluehead would call it wrong. "Shirou broke a promise?" Xenovia voiced her disbelief while sitting up in her bed. And it was just her, alone, with her covers beneath her and no sign of her lover. "Shirou broke a promise?" It was so unbelievable it bare repeating. "He lied?"

Brown eyes grew wide as Xenovia jumped to her feet and moved to change clothes. She didn't bother with a shower or anything else, just throwing in her combat uniform and exiting the room much earlier than anyone else. The floor was empty but lights were on to show everyone it was 'day' inside the Vault.

Her bluish green cloak jumped around as the knight raced towards her master's door, her boots so loud someone heard them first before her fist slammed the door. "Shiro! Shiro! Are you there?" She knocked hard five more times, getting no response. "Shiro!"

"Did something happen, Xenovia?" Akeno walked out of her room with her hair loose, a toothbrush and dressed in a yellow button up pajama and pants.

She wasn't the only one either as Gasper, dressed in a more frilly pajama, peeked outside his door with some concern and Liz, with her loose shirt and man's underwear, opened the door with her halberd in hand, ready for some sort of attack.

"Shiro didn't show up in my room last night." Xenovia noticed a small look of jealousy cross Akeno's face before it disappeared, replaced by a curious one.

"Maybe he was too tired after dealing with Lakmia-sama." The hybrid offered as an explanation.

Liz moved besides Xenovia before anything else could be said. "He was going to your room?"

The knight nodded. "We agreed to spend the night together." The white haired maiden nodded, stepping past the younger woman. "He had promised-" Only to stop short when Shirou's door was ripped off the wall.

"Leysritt?" Akeno was so surprised by the action she didn't know how to respond. Xenovia chose to remain silent.

"Doors can be fixed." Her tone hid her concern which could only be seen through her brash way of opening the door. Even Gasper could see it as he stepped out of the room and moved close to the teacher. "And he isn't in his room." She added before throwing the door away.

""He isn't?"" Akeno and Xenovia quickly moved inside to confirm, their concerns growing.

"Sensei? Shirou-enpai really isn't in his room?" Asked the Bishop of the group as he approached carefully behind her.

Xenovia was already checking his bed and noticing how it was untouched. "I don't think he slept here."

Akeno was exiting the bathroom just in case he was there for whatever reason. "Perhaps he woke up earlier and went to the lab? That wouldn't be the first time."

"But he promised we would spend the night together." At Xenovia's reveal the other three grew silent, their concern growing. "What time is it?"

"Close to six." Medusa calmly commented as she approached the door with her eldest snake right behind. "And my protector didn't return yesterday either. In fact, he isn't in the Vault of Prosperity at all."

"Shirou isn't like that." Liz said immediately as the others stepped back from the redhead's room and looked at the goddess. "Are you sure?"

Medusa pointed to her creation who nodded. "My little ones are spread all around the Vault. If they say Shirou isn't here, he isn't here." Her eyes turned to the empty room with a frown before looking back to Akeno. "What are the odds something wrong happened?"

"I mean… Shirou-kun is important for the Gremory and we do have enemies…" Quickly Akeno snapped back from her own thoughts. "We need to call Rias. And talk with Azazel."

"I should have gone with him to that meeting." Xenovia cursed herself, punching the wall with anger.

Medusa raised an eyebrow at both women's reactions, noticing that Gasper looked close to panicking while Liz remained stoic. Too stoic. "Calm down. My protector is more than competent enough that you shouldn't worry that much."

"But if Shirou-kun isn't here something happened, Medusa-sama." Akeno replied immediately, something that had all the others nodding. "Maybe something happened after his meeting or something. He wouldn't stay out without calling."

"That just isn't him." Liz, who lived with Shirou for almost ten years, said without hesitation.

It was an undeniable argument but panic wasn't going to help so Medusa took control of the situation. "So our first step is talking to Azazel and seeing if my protector left a message of some sort." When everyone was about moving to the elevator, the goddess had her creation move ahead of them and intervene. "He isn't in his lab yet, going there is a waste of time. Finish your daily preparations and we can go."

"But Medusa, Senpai may be in danger." Gasper was more nervous than anyone else but he just voiced what everyone was thinking.

"And if there is a message this panic is for nothing and you are wasting time." A few hisses from her creation had the goddess clicking her tongue. "Just fresh yourselves up and be dressed in five minutes. If something happened, five minutes wouldn't make a difference."

It was clear the purplehead wasn't worried as of yet, her trust in the man who saved her keeping any concern in check. Her calm attitude had the others convinced and everyone moved to change to more fitting attire while Medusa did the same while communicating with her creations telepathically.

There wasn't any sign of Shirou either in the Vault of Prosperity nor the forests surrounding it and the last sighting of him was in the teleportation room going to his meeting with the Matron.

If someone attacked Shirou, Medusa wholeheartedly believed he wouldn't go down without a fight and that it would be loud enough for everyone to see and rush to call reinforcements.

However she was in the Underworld and there was much she didn't know about it. "Go to Azazel's room and get him moving." She informed one of her snakes who rushed to execute the order.

Five minutes on the dot everyone was on the elevator going to the main lab's floor. Xenovia just brushed her teeth and was the first one inside while Gasper had thrown in a red dress and was the second one ready to go.

Liz was the third with her armor and track suit, halberd on hand and obviously concerned to everyone who could see the signs. She was far more alert and refused to say anything unnecessary, almost like she was saving every scrap of energy she could get for a fight.

Akeno and Medusa arrived pretty much at the same time, the goddess looking fresh and perfect like always in white and black while the Priestess was still tying up her hair in her usual ponytail, also white and black but instead of a dress she had jeans and a short sleeved shirt.

Either way most were still trying to fix themselves to look presentable at Medusa's existence as she sounded confident that everything was fine.

"But what if something happened to Shirou-senpai?" Asked a nervous Gasper who couldn't help but play with his finger.

The low hum of the elevator moving didn't distract anyone and so all eyes were on Medusa again. "I doubt anyone has managed to defeat my protector. If anything he probably failed to show up because he found somebody needing help and is probably still helping."

"In highsight…" While Xenovia was disappointed, that was a likely possibility with Shirou's personality. Liz seemed to agree as her posture relaxed and Akeno managed to fix her hair properly.

"But what if…" Gasper said while putting on his most brave face. "If he is injured or in danger? Then… what do we do?"

The goddess gently patted the Bishop's head. "That is why we are still finding him." She let out an exaggerated sigh. "Probably somewhere with his neck up in a thousand problems he had nothing to do with but still got involved somehow."

Akeno giggled and joined the fun. "Most likely to help someone who was in actual danger. Maybe decided to take down all of Runeas' crime at once?"

A pout revealed itself on Xenovia's lip. "If so then he is owning me way more than just dinner."

While some of the others laughed Liz remained stoic and quiet as the mood was lifted a little for everyone except her. When the door opened she was the first out, moving straight towards the lab at a hurried pace, her concern blocking anything else until she had Azazel in sight.

The man was holding a snake with an unamused look. "Maybe you could ask someone other than a snake to make sure I arrive here on time-"

"Shirou is missing." Liz's words cut off whatever joke the man was about to make. "He didn't return yesterday."

"That… is odd?" Azazel commented with a tilt of his head while everyone else entered the lab. Crouching he let the snake go and it quickly disappeared at a corner of the floor. "How many of those are in the building at this point?"

"Do you really want to know?" Medusa couldn't help but ask in an amused tone.

Fallen angel looked at the goddess for a second before shaking his head. "No, I am good."

"Shirou is missing." Liz repeated, her concern evident.

The Cadre turned to the maid with an obvious frown. "Okay but did you get any signs he is in danger?" Her eyes didn't waver and he let out a sigh. "Look, I am just saying that there is probably nothing to worry about since, you know, it is Shirou. The guy who fought and won against the White Dragon Emperor and earned the title of Mage of Swords. If anything maybe he is using his fame a little and having some fun."

"Not Shirou." Was the simple reply which didn't turn heads but had some of them pondering both sides of the argument.

And Azazel made no mistake, he knew there was an argument to be had. "Why?" He asked while crossing his arms.

Suddenly Liz felt a burst of energy enter her body and her brain felt close to catching on fire. "Shirou was raised by the Magus Killer and since little Kiritsugu-sama always feared that his family would be targeted, because of that he established protocols that Shirou never stopped following even in the Underworld and amongst them was something that Irisviel-sama wholeheartedly agreed even if it was something basic; always call if you are going to get home late or as Kiritsugu-sama liked to say, report your position just in case something unexpected happened. Shirou has neither returned nor called and I know he got the phone number of the Vault and had at least one Gremory magic circle in his person just in case such a situation arised."

After speaking so much Liz had to blink a few times while Azazel and others stared at her in shock. Only one person didn't and that was Medusa who had touched the homunculus and set a pinch of her mana to help the white haired woman say what she needed to say. Even a pinch was a lot when it came to a god's mana and even with her sinapses working faster than usual the maid felt 'full'.

Thanks to her constitution even thinking cost too much energy, she was considered a defect by the Einzberns for a reason, and so that was the first time she was truly working at full capacity.

With her piece said, Liz turned to the goddess and nodded in gratitude. "Thank you."

"It was a bit of a risk. For a moment I feared you were going to blow up." Medusa acknowledged but they both knew it was necessary. If Liz hadn't spoken what was needed then the conversation would never get going and she knew Shirou longer than everyone else. "That being said I would like to add he promised to meet Xenovia at night and still didn't show up." The bluehead nodded in agreement.

Once again, to everyone's surprise but Medusa's, Liz began to speak once again. "Not only that but Shirou isn't the kind of person with reasons to waste the night away if it is for himself." With her mind working at full capacity, she had already anticipated all of Azazel's arguments. "He doesn't like drinking nor has interests on drugs and while exploring the Underworld is something he can get behind it is usually with someone he can enjoy seeing the sights with. If he was out with either Xenovia, Akeno or any of us, it would be believable he was touring the place some more." She watched as the Cadre nodded, taking all in. "However Akeno is here, Xenovia is here, Medusa is here, Gasper is here and I'm here. If he isn't with his friends or lovers, only family would force Shirou to not return and we, the Emiya family, already agreed that if Illya showed up we would call the others if possible."

"I would add women to that list but…" Azazel wouldn't dare that considering that Xenovia was going to spend the night with the redhead anyway so he knew the argument was mute. "Any chance he would go visit Rias? Gremory Castle is just a hop and a skip from the village."

The answer came the second Azazel finished his sentence. "He wouldn't want to interrupt her training."

Another valid argument and the fallen angel was starting to see why the white haired woman was so concerned. "Okay, so Shirou must really be missing… Unfortunately we didn't get any of Ajuka's cell phones so we can't call him. That complicates things."

"We must go look for him." With how much energy Liz had she was almost jumping in place to get into action only for Akeno to hold her shoulder.

"I agree but you have to calm down." Turning to her goddess, the ravenhead asked, "Did you give her too much energy? It is like she is pumped with caffeine."

"I am a goddess, she is a homunculus and this was my first time doing it." Medusa admitted with a pout. "I had to be careful to not break anything but… I won't recommend making this a habit."

While the effects of a god's mana in homunculus was something that Azazel suddenly grew interested in, they had other matters to attend to. "Right, anyway, I agree with you all; something happened with my lab partner. And on the worst day possible." Even if Shirou was alright, considering who was visiting later, the Cadre was going to tore him a new one if the redhead didn't have a good reason to be present at the lab. "At least it is still early and we have time to look for him. I will get-"

All stopped when Medusa's head jumped to look up and her eyes grew in confusion. "What is another god doing here? No, wait, two gods?"

Azazel facepalmed but Xenovia could already guess. "Isn't this a bit early for him to arrive?"

"Yeah, yeah. What a drag." His gold and black locks were pulled back in frustration as he looked at the clock. "Why the hell that old bastard is already up at this hour? Son of a…"

"Azazel… who are they?" Medusa gulped at the idea of two gods in the same building as her. One of them felt small while the other felt like nothing. "Who is that old man and the woman?" However one of them was for sure a complete god and even if he felt like nothing she knew it was only him holding back his real power.

It has been far too long since Medusa was in the presence of another god and for the first time in a while she felt fear. People noticed, both Akeno and Gasper moving to support the goddess who looked close to having a panic attack. The Queen's hand began to massage her right shoulder and arm while the Bishop held her left hand.

With a raised eyebrow, Azazel raised his hands in a calming fashion. "Don't worry, don't worry. They aren't Greeks and aren't here for you. One of them is… Wait, two gods? There is supposed to just be one…"

Not that it concerned the Cadre since if they were in the Vault of Prosperity they were obviously invited but the thought of a second god showing up was a bit of a curve ball for him.

After calming herself Medusa glared at the fallen angel. "An old man with an eyepatch and a woman with long white hair."

Clicking his fingers, Azazel chuckled. "Oh, yeah. It is just one god alright. Then again, Valkyries are half gods."

"So it is Odin!" Xenovia exclaimed with triumph.

"What is a god doing here?!" Medusa asked again more forcefully and Azazel was surprised at the amount of fear in her face. Still, considering her story, he didn't blame her.

If anything he regretted not having warned the purple haired goddess of Odin's arrival. "He is an ally of Grigori and I dare to say a friend. Don't worry, he won't touch you, I promise."

With her protector absent and weakened as she was, Medusa wasn't confident in her chances. "We need to go look for Shirou anyway." The girl looked ready to run but two hands held her in place.

"Medusa-sama, calm down." Akeno said gently, eyes locked in her goddess. "He won't hurt you, we won't let him."

"It is a god, Akeno. You aren't ready to face him. We need my protector…" Even if in fact she knew Shirou wouldn't win either, having him around would have calmed her nerves.

Then again the redhead had the pegasus, a Divine Beast made to challenge the Heavens and the gods who inhabit them. Bellerophon's capability was proved against a sacred gear, Divine Dividing itself. With him around Medusa was sure that whoever the god was wouldn't dare to move, fearful of the risk.

"But we do need to find Shirou anyway." Liz had no problem commenting.

It was Xenovia who pointed out something important. "If it's really Odin, then he can help."

"Oh you can be your ass, it is him and you are absolutely right." Azazel was frowning at the situation, trying to figure out why Odin was already in the building. "If he is in the mood, that is."

The elevator was going down again, nobody having realized when it had gone up but knowing without a shadow of a doubt who was coming in.

Akeno quickly placed herself in front of her goddess, a confident smile trying to banish all the girl's worries. Xenovia did something similar, knowing that absent or not her Master would be ready to protect Medusa with his life if need be and she was ready to do the same. Liz was still worried for Shirou but she planted her halberd on the ground and turned to the elevator, ready for the worst of winters.

The elevator's ding almost seemed to echo in the room and Azazel stepped in front of everyone, amused by their actions but nevertheless mostly distracted by them.

Finally the door opened and the winter everyone expected didn't come, instead two people entered the lab and if asked who was the god between the two of them, the majority would say that the tall woman was the culprit instead of the old man.

The silver-white haired woman had beauty that could be classified as transcendent which couldn't be hidden in her stern but professional expression. Azazel called her a Valkyrie, a half-god and no one doubted his words. She was the sort of image that men would fight over and be happy to see at the end of their lives to escort them wherever their souls need to go without complaints.

She was dressed in a business-like fashion in a gray suit with a purple tie that didn't quite match the small pink ribbons tied on the side of her hair but brought out her silver mane a little more. Then there were her eyes, aqua spheres that Gasper couldn't help but call "Pretty" on sight, almost by reflex.

A beauty unlike any other, despite dressed in a business suit it wasn't unflattering by any means as her curves were the sort that could make any clothes look good. They were form fitting and highlighted her profissional expression as she walked in with a confident stride and the sort of face who was all business.

Same couldn't be said about the old man who if anyone saw on the street they would hardly call him Odin besides by the leather eyepatch on his left eye. He was unassuming as he could be with a balding head that still had enough hair for a braid or two at the right side of his face.

His beard was big but not overbearing, a proof of age and could be called a sage's beard easily as it covered his neck but not reached his chest. He was dressed in heavy clothes that hide his body type, a long cloak made of some animal's fur and a blue tunic beneath that seemed to belong a few centuries in the past.

Despite looking old there was an youthfulness on his visage that most people in the room couldn't comprehend, all they could understand was that their brains told him Odin had an old man's face but also not.

However Medusa could see the truth and not just in his face but also in the lone gray eye; that wasn't any old man but a god and if he looked weak, spent, hunchback, wary or anything else it was because he wanted to appear as such.

While everyone else was distracted by the superficially more impressive Valkyrie, only two paid attention to the old man.

Because that wasn't his true face and Medusa knew it and Azazel knew it too even if he didn't fear the true Odin.

On the contrary, he approached the god with a grin and an insult in his lips. "You son of a bitch!" Everyone, including the Valkyrie, were shocked at the insult but the old man just laughed as their hands met in the middle for a powerful handshake. It revealed dozens of tattoos spread on Odin's arm, letters of many different shapes and sizes. Runes one and all "Why the hell did you decide to come here so early?"

"Because I was bored you feathered bastard. Who the fuck you think you are to schedule a meeting bright and early in a dimension without sun? Or worse, where these cunts made a sun and stuck their clock in reverse." The two men hugged each other with their free arms revealing that the old man's left was as marked as the right only with different sigils and runes. "This place's night life is a mess, I tell you, a mess! Nothing fun is open at the right hours! Nothing!"

A wince and a chuckle were Azazel's response. "Yeah, forgot to tell you about that."

"I mean, how they expect gentlemen to explore their strip clubs in broad daylight. Who does that? That is just wrong." God or not, the man looked offended by the notion. "Such places need the cover of darkness, of the night, so their bright neon lights call for any broken hearted men or boys who are about to see a woman's naked flesh for the first time."

"I hear you man, I hear you." The fallen angel commented while patting the old man's back.

All who didn't know Odin stood there in shock at such blatant comments that was a mixture of disappointment and extremely upset. Indeed even Medusa's fear grew muted at hearing a god of Odin's fame talking about visiting those sort of places openly and without any tact for the women in the room.

But by looking at the silver haired woman's face, one that remained professional even if had some exasperation, clearly it wasn't the first time she had to listen to her boss acting without regard for any form of decorum.

"Lord Odin, please." The woman confirmed the god's identity with her plea. Her face set back in a stone-like professional look as she looked at the group behind Azazel. "Perhaps we should come back a little later? Clearly lord Azazel was busy with something else."

Knowing that the woman didn't know anything about them, they couldn't blame her when Medusa shivered at the older god's eyes on her. "Were you busy, General Governor? Or is that my reception?" Odin asked with a smirk as the woman behind him winced for his wrong pronunciation of Azazel's title. What she couldn't see was his smirk growing more. "None of these lasses look old enough to even hold a drink. Good company they ain't."

"No, you old fart. They are here for… other matters." Azazel stepped back and even if he was smiling, there was a tension on his face. "Unexpected matters."

"Doesn't it suck when a plan goes wrong?" The old man asked with a laugh that was borderline cruel, his eyes locked on Medusa who gulped but refused to step back. "But where are my manners? Aren't you going to introduce us, Azazel?" But before anything else could be said, Odin stepped past him swiftly, stopping just in front of Medusa. "Although, if I can take a guess, you are Medusa the former Gorgon, aren't you?"

Taking solace that Akeno's hand never left her shoulder, Medusa stared back at the man's eye. "And you are Odin of the Aesir, King of Asgard."

"Former." The man said almost playfully and behind him it was possible to hear his companion hold back a groan. She was trying to hold back but Medusa heard her nonetheless. "Former King, I am retired."

"Kings can retire?"

Odin's eye turned to Xenovia with amusement which grew as she didn't shrink against his stare. "Why yes. Who would stop us?" Asked the god as he focused on the bluehead. "If you are the king, nobody can disagree with what you want and if you don't want to be king anymore, what are they going to do? Tie you up to the throne?" He looked to the side, his eye landing on Durandal. "That would go against everything that makes a king." Faster than could Xenovia react the god began to inspect her legs. "Hmm, nice muscles…"

"Lord Odin-"

"You have been practicing swordsmanship since you were little, haven't you?" Jumping to his feet he ignored Durandal and looked at Xenovia who moved with him to keep in his line of sight. Despite her cloak, it was like nothing was hidden from Odin. "Also that isn't the only sword you used. My, my, you are a natural talent too. Say, would you like to work for me? Asgard can always use more Valkyries."

"Lord Odin." The woman then paused to see if the man would throw another curve ball but as he was still inspecting Xenovia, she proceeded. "It is my duty to remind you that, since you aren't king anymore, you can no longer appoint Valkyries."

Instead of upset, disappointed or any negative reaction, the man's smile grew bigger. "Oh, how could I forget? Ladies, this is my babysitter-"

"Bodyguard-"

"-secretary, Rossweisse, the Valkyrie Who Never Had a Boyfriend." Finally the woman's professionalism broke as she almost fell back like if hit in the head.

Making things worse for her was the ever curious Xenovia. "Is that something odd?"

"Look at her, she is stunning. All Valkyries are." Yet Odin was still looking at the knight, raising and touching her arms with curiosity. "Say, is training with one of the Church's Holy Swords made any difference in your body?"

"I wouldn't know." Confessed the bluehead as everyone else just watched the odd situation.

"Hmm. Do you know any magic?"

"Just the prayers the Church taught, does that count?"

"Nope. But nothing that a stint at the Valkyries training can't correct with a proper teacher. Anyway, what my babysitter forgot to realize was that, king or not, I still have plenty of influence. Just say the word and I can't get you in the program in a jiffy."

"Sorry but if you aren't the King of Asgard, who is? Thor?"

Odin suddenly stopped and began laughing jovially. "Thor? King of Asgard? Sure the boy is noble but if I left him in charge the place would be a ruin in less than a week. I left Baldur on the throne, a little less fun of a son but a great administrator. Certainly better than Thor." Shaking his head he touched Durandal, finally focusing on the sword. A few words later and dozens of letters spread on the blade before they disappeared, making his frown. "Interesting…."

"What is interesting?" Azazel approached and joined the god on touching the sword resting on Xenovia's back.

"How volatile this weapon is… almost like a Cursed Sword but actually a Holy Sword." Odin played with his beard before swiftly moving around to stand in front of Xenovia. "So, about that proposal…"

"Sorry but I'm already someone else's sword." Xenovia's genuine pride had the god laughing.

"I see, I see. What an interesting development, I never thought the Church would allow Durandal to leave its clutches nor someone with so much natural talent." Then the old man shifted his feet and landed exactly in front of Liz. "And you… you are a homunculus, aren't you? Einzbern if I am not mistaken?"

"I am Leysritt, Maid of the Emiya Family, currently serving under Emiya Shirou the Mage of Swords."

"Ah, my supposed new apprentice." There was a tone of mocking on his words that had Akeno, Xenovia and Gasper flinching. Liz just met Odin's lone eye with apathy. "And where is he, by the way? Since you all look to be someone involved with him, we should expect the man of the hour to present." Then his face changed to an expression of horror. "Please tell me I am not too early for some surprise party. I hate those."

"That is actually the situation we were talking about. Turns out that Shirou is missing" Azazel informed with some resignation.

"Missing? Huff, didn't you tell him that I would arrive today?" He grabbed Liz's chin and began to move it from one side to another. While Akeno, Gasper and Medusa expected some sort of reaction the maid remained completely still.

"He sprung that up as a surprise and kept your name out of it." Xenovia supplied happily, much to the fallen angel's embarrassment. "I guessed it was you but he didn't even admit it."

"For shame, Azazel. For shame." His eye was fitted on Liz despite him waving his finger to Azazel's face. The rest of the group turned to look at a conflicted Rossweisse as the woman struggled to not chastise her boss. "You really are one of the Einzbern. A legitimate article. I could swear all of them were destroyed when the family went down under."

Azazel couldn't help but snort. "Calling being destroyed 'down under' is a bit of an euphemism, don't you think?"

"Bunch of stubborn idiots who couldn't let an idea go."

"You knew the Einzbern?" This time it was Akeno's curiosity who got the better of her.

Odin spared her a look and asked with genuine curiosity. "Are you a fallen angel or a devil?"

"My name is Himejima Akeno, Rias Gremory's Queen." Remembering her lessons and the person in front of her, she fully introduced herself while lowering her head. "An honor to meet you, Odin-sama."

"You didn't answer my question." Odin's lone eye stared at her and for a moment Akeno felt like she was stuck in a glass being studied by a giant. It didn't last long before the sensation disappeared as the god waved away and turned back to Liz. "But finding an Einzbern homunculus that is still kicking… And so well preserved too." Then his eye shifted to Medusa. "Are you Emiya Shirou's goddess or is her using your mana a more personal development. I had some Einzbern homunculus in the past and most of them were overloaded when I tried to sustain them." Then he returned to Liz who remained still, her face unflinching. "Best homunculus in the world or not, still such fragile beings. Speaking of fragile…" His eye turned to Gasper who shivered and ran behind Medusa. "A dhampir and a Reincarnated one to boot? Does that mean prayers hurt you more or less? You don't need to hide, girl. I just asked a question."

"I am a boy-"

"Ehhh, speak louder." With a hand on his ear, he leaned in Gasper's direction.

"I am a boy!" Gasper replied firmly and Odin just stared at him and almost made the Bishop retreat. "I am a boy. My name is Gasper." Fortunately he didn't and Odin stood there, studying the blond.

Before laughing out loud. "Right, a boy. Sorry but you are dressed as a girl. Can you understand my mistake?" He offered his hand for a shake and while surprised the Bishop approached and accepted it. "Strong grip for one so young. Perhaps we are making a warrior out of you yet, heh." Still nervous and unnerved before the one eyed god, the blond quickly squirmed away once he let his hand go. "Hey, if you are a boy, you can't show fear like that."

Losing her patience and still fighting her own fear, Medusa found herself replying, "That is not relevant right now." When Odin looked back at her, the little goddess was proud that the lone eye didn't make her flinch. "My protector… My Champion is missing and we were making plans to look for him."

Azazel took his cue to get some heat off Medusa. "Long story short, Shirou didn't show up yesterday and he isn't the sort of person to just disappear like that." Yet Odin's eye remained on her, forcing him to try harder. "Maybe it is nothing but maybe it is something-"

"You don't need Azazel or anyone else to look for him." The retired King of Asgard interrupted calmly, too calmly even. "If he is as capable as you all make him sound then he probably isn't far from wherever he had to go." His gray eye seemed to glow but Medusa refused to look away. "You know where he went?"

"He had a meeting with a client?" Xenovia offered and Akeno nodded in support.

The Queen took advantage of the situation to step in front of Odin and speak directly to him so her goddess got a break. "He was bound to visit and deliver a sword to Lakmia-sama of the Gremory Clan-"

"No need to be posh, girl. I am not King of Asgard anymore." Odin waved away and moved around to look at the burned couch. "... What happened to it?"

"Ha ha, a disagreement." Azazel commented with some embarrassment. "I will get a new one later today, unless…."

Rolling his eye, Odin waved his hand again, this time a magic circle with no central symbol but made from dozens of scriptures appeared in front of him. Besides Azazel and Rossweisse, everyone was surprised when the burned couch was completely restored to its old glory as if Shirou never damaged it.

"Hah! That is a nice couch." Odin commented while sitting down and placing his boot clad feet on the table close to it. "Oh yeah, very comfy."

"Thank you." Azazel moved to a fridge close to his monitor and collected some drinks and a couple of cups.

"Just bring the cups, Goat. I brought mead." The old god revealed a waterskin which obviously wasn't filled with water.

"Asgardian brew?" Azazel asked after licking his lips.

"Baby, you know it. Three cups." He commented while placing the waterskin on the couch's arm. Then he turned to the residents of the Vault. "And what are you all waiting for? Didn't you say the Mage of Swords was missing? Go find him."

Once again Medusa took front and center. "That is why we need Azazel's resources, maybe even get the devils involved on the search." Odin stared at her but she refused to falter. "Finding him isn't going to be easy. On the other hand, if he is involved in some sort of mess-"

"Going to have to stop you right there. You are jumping the gun a bit." Odin took his feet off the table as Azazel returned and began to pour in the glasses. "Let's forget about the possibilities and focus on the facts. Letting your concerns get in the way of logic is an easy way to throw shit on the fan."

"But Master is missing and he would never just disappear like that. Not without warning us."

Odin's sole eye turned to Xenovia as the three glasses were filled to the brim. "Sure but no reason to jump to conclusions, right? He probably is at that place," he began to snap his fingers like he was trying to remember something, "where was it again? Oh yes, you never said. Just talking with a client." Turning back to Medusa he grunted and grabbed a glass. "Get your team to go where he was supposed to be so we can have an idea where to look. Then maybe you will need to call the dogs. Or maybe not, perhaps he just drank too much or something. Probably will respect the kid more if he did that."

"He… is right." Medusa acknowledged with a frown. Ever since knowing Odin was in the building her focus spiraled as her fears almost consumed her. "We need to check the place Shirou went first." She turned to Akeno who nodded.

"Lakmia-sama's manor is in the Gremory Village a few minutes after we leave the magic circle. Shorter if we just fly there." Akeno informed with a look of resolve that was soon shared by everyone.

"See, now you have a plan." Odin commented with a laugh before pushing the drink in Medusa's direction, much to her shock. "Sit down, relax a little. Let the others do their job."

"You may be retired but I just returned to being a goddess and my Champion is in peril." Medusa's fear gave way to anger as she took offense at the older deity's words. "You expect me to sit down here and do nothing?"

"And if his capture is a trap for you? Can you fight already? For where I am looking, you are still far from complete." With a sharp wave of his hand one of the chairs in the area moved and forced Medusa to sit on it. When everyone was about to react, the god raised his hand. "Besides, if I am to teach your Champion Runes, we can at least drink together." With a smile he drank all from his glass in a go before letting out a sigh of pleasure. "Asgardian brew is the best, that will always be a universal fact."

"Medusa, just do as he says or Odin is going to be insufferable." Azazel commented while sipping his own drink with a smile. "Trust me on this; he can look older than dirt but he actually is like a little kid."

"You are as old as I am." Odin laughed as he refilled his cup.

"And I still look adorable." Azazle said jokingly as their glasses clicked.

Meanwhile the two were completely relaxed, most of the room found the situation too uncanny to express into words and Medusa certainly wasn't interested in sharing a drink with a god, especially one stopping her from going to help her friend.

It was Rossweisse who stepped forward to defuse the situation. "I am sorry about Lord Odin. He is used to getting his way." She lowered her head and her face looked conflicted even if still professional. "But if you need to rescue someone, I suggest you get going quickly."

Cue Odin to throw a metaphorical wrench in their direction. "Actually I had an excellent idea. Take my babysitter with you."

"Eh?!" Rossweisse cracked and all professionalism vanished. In a bit of panic she stepped closer to the couch and began to scream at her boss. "Lord Odin, you know that I am supposed to not leave your side! It is bad enough that you keep dragging us to all those shady places in Europe but now you want me to leave you alone in the middle of the Underworld?! That is too risky! I understand you are Azazel's friend but the devils still have known terrorists who will want to kill you and start a war! Please be sensible!"

"Hahahahaha! If any of them manage to kill me, they earned it!" He raised his glass higher to toast at the notion. Directing his eye to the stunned group, Odin said jovially. "But yea, take the secretary with you. As you all can see she can be a handful and totally crap on my style."

"Lord Odin…" It was hard for everyone to not feel pity at the defeat in Rossweisse's voice.

Everyone but Odin. "Rossweisse, who is this fellow drinking with me?"

Blinking rapidly, she fixed her posture and replied. "Azazel, leader of Grigori and Governor General of all fallen angels."

"Aham. And what are we doing?"

"... Drinking together…" It said a lot about the woman that she was keeping her temper under control because both Akeno and Medusa could see the signs of stress.

Clear Rossweisse was someone close to exploding, extremely close, as if her fuse was just about to run out.

"That is right. I am drinking with Azazel, in the depths of his new passion project, surrounded by hundreds of fallen angels that would give their lives for this bastard." Odin hit Azazel's back but the man wasn't phased. By how he just kept sipping his drink, it was like he expected it. "So you don't need to worry about anything. I am going to be fine, we are going to be fine. Isn't that right, Medusa?"

The purple haired goddess wanted to curse the god before her but something told her to not do it. Not instinct nor her nerves and certainly not fear as that one was buried deep beneath a pile of just rage and a desire to punch the old man's face. On the contrary those emotions demanded action but none of them was prevalent.

No, what held her back was the glint of amusement on the sole gray eye, a hint of mischief like those she remembered seeing in Hermes when he tried to convince her sisters to join Olympus more than once.

Despite being an Olympian, Hermes never did anything directly against them despite that glint prevailing until their very last meeting when he came with Zeus' ultimatum so she decided to trust it.

"Is she able to help find my Champion faster?"

"The Mage of Swords, Emiya Shirou, the man who triumphed against monsters and dragons. Doesn't that sound like a hero?" Odin pointed out with amusement as he pushed the drink to Medusa one more time. "Then who better to find a hero than a Valkyrie?" He concluded when she took the drink.

Rossweisse let out a sigh of frustration and resignation, accepting the role her boss was giving her.

"He isn't dead." Xenovia said with a conviction mirrored by everyone else on her side with just Medusa remaining silent as she studied Odin.

Seeing as she was going to have to work with them, and not trusting her boss to not say anything to earn their anger, Rossweisse explained. "All Valkyries are taught spells to locate those with noble souls that carry deeds of value. That was how the Valkyries can tell who is worthy of Valhalla." Her professionalism had returned so she didn't react when all eyes turned to her. "Dead or alive is irrelevant with the right sequence of runes but unfortunately the reach of the spell isn't very good. I will be able to confirm if the Mage of Swords was in an area or even if he died somewhere but unless he is really close that is all it can do."

Akeno nodded and took upon herself to ask something else. "What if he is behind a boundary field that will block scrying?"

"Bwhahaha! If you meet someone capable of blocking Primeval Runes from a Valkyrie trying to locate a soul then please get them here, I would love to share a drink." Odin said while chucking another glass of mead.

Rossweisse rolled her eyes but nodded. "As a Valkyrie, I am especially good at locating souls. If the Mage of Swords is noble then his deeds make him more than worthy of Valhalla. Sure it can be difficult and take time but once he is in reach it is pretty much inevitable that I will find him."

There were many foundations for one to be accepted in a Heaven and since Valhalla was the North version of it, a paradise to warriors who fell in combate with valor, there was little doubt Shirou would earn a place there if he was a believer.

Which he wasn't but a Valkyrie didn't need him to be one for him to be found. His deeds left marks in his soul, a trail that Rossweisse could track.

"He isn't dead." Xenovia sounded both concerned and offended by the implication regardless.

Akeno for her part was happy to accept any help. "Then we better get going." Rossweisse nodded and they all turned to leave.

"Oh, one more thing." Until Odin decided to speak again. "Rossweisse, unless it is to track Emiya Shirou, don't intervene in any devil business." The order left many confused but Azazel's eyes widened in realization.

"Lord Odin?" The Valkyrie sounded confused and none blamed her. "Are you saying that I am just to help locate him and that I can't help?"

"No, you can't help any devils on this. Can you think of the scandal it would be if you accidentally killed one?"

"But you never cared-"

"Just an old man trying to not give my son, your king, any problems. Your goal is to find the Mage of Swords, everything else is secondary." Rare were the times Odin ordered her like that but Rossweisse couldn't call him out on it because she understood the logic. "What are you all still doing here? You have a Valkyrie and a dhampir on your team. Go nuts."

Looking at each other the group knew they had to leave but Akeno stepped closer to Medusa and placed a hand on her seat. "We are going to find him."

The goddess nodded, her eyes never leaving Odin. "Make sure to punish him if he was worrying us for nothing."

A small giggle left the ravenhead. "That goes without saying, Medusa-sama." Her eyes landed on Azazel and he nodded to show he had Medusa's back.

"Let 's move." Liz called out, her patience spent. She didn't like the idea of leaving Medusa alone with any god but Shirou was her priority.

They rushed towards the door and exited the lab and Odin let out a sigh. "Finally, I thought they were never going to leave."

"What do you really know about Shirou's kidnapping?" Azazel wasted no time and while Medusa failed to hide her surprise she managed to limit it to just some widened of her eyes.

"Accusing me of something, Azazel?" If the chuckle was any indication Odin was still far too amused.

Yet Azazel chuckled as well. "Not really. But I do think you know more you are letting on. Perhaps your 'eyes' know exactly where Shirou is, for example?" The old man gave nothing but a fraction of a smile to his younger counterpart. "You already knew he wasn't here."

"I ain't saying anything." Odin refilled his cup and despite having done so several times the waterskin appeared to still be full.

Perhaps Medusa would care about that if her friend wasn't in danger. "You know where my protector is?" In this case she chose to stand up and slam her hand on the table, almost dropping Odin's drink. "Tell me so-"

"You almost ruined a perfectly good mead." His lone gray eye turned to Medusa and for a second it wasn't an old man sitting before her. "Learn to be patient, little goddess not even a century old. A conversation has its own rhythm and pace."

No, the person sitting before her was really a god and an extremely dangerous one to boot. There was almost a shade of a helmet with long wings and a spear on his hand as he stared down at Medusa with that singular eye. The vastness and depth of his power weren't completely out to be felt but he was giving her a taste.

Behind that old man's façade there was a god with so much power it wouldn't take a minute for him to delete her existence before her or her creations could even react. She could feel them all squirming, wishing to jump to defend her but hesitating as to not provoke a far stronger predator.

So much stronger that Medusa began to sweat. 'I was naive. I can do nothing against this man. He is a complete god. He can erase me. Capture me and throw me at Zeus-'

Her spiraling thoughts ended when Azazel slammed his glass on the table and glared at Odin. "Don't you dare threaten my guests, Old Man of the North."

"Ohho, want to go a round or two?" Both of them were under no illusions that Azazel would lose that round if it was a fair fight. Only for the fallen angel to shut the god up by taking out Down Fall Dragon Spear from his coat with a smug smile as the god sat back down. "Fafnir is still around. You sure you want to play like that, chump?"

"What is wrong, old man? Didn't want to go a round? Is a dragon and a fallen angel too much for you to take?"

Medusa felt like a gazelle trapped between two lions as the men stared at each other with smiles that were borderline bloodthirsty.

With how playful and welcoming Azazel was it was easy to forget he was the fallen angel's leader and the winner of the Great War while Odin was known for being the god of a people known for being warriors that lived to die on a battlefield against impossible odds.

Then they began to laugh and all the shadows retracted as Medusa found herself free to breathe again.

"Hahahaha! We almost dropped the mead you asshole."

"Yeah but she didn't." The atmosphere grew lighter as they laughed a little more before Azazel sobered up. "So you know where Shirou is?"

"He never left the manor he went inside yesterday."

"You have been spying on my protector?!" Recovering her courage, or snapping in shock because of whiplash, Medusa questioned with a glare even as her hands stayed away from the table to not drop the drinks.

A couple of chuckles later Odin pointed to her glass. "Drink and we will talk. We actually have much to discuss, Medusa. From one god to another."

"Mind if I eavesdrop?" His tone may be playful but Medusa appreciated Azazel staying.

"Why should I care? It's stuff that you know. About your Champion, Medusa, I found him the same way you saw me arriving." Odin supplied casually. "Of course, you have far more eyes than I do. Then again, mine go farther and are smarter. Would you like to meet them?" The sleeve on his right arm began to bulge and move until a bird emerged from it. The call of a crow echoed in the lab. "Unfortunately his brother is a bit busy keeping his eyes out for my possible apprentice so you can only meet one."

"Huginn and Muninn, arguably the best spies in all dimensions. Odin's ultimate scrying ability." Azazel informed while finishing his drink and staring at the crow whose feathers were as dark as his. "So Muninn has been keeping an eye on Shirou for a while?"

Chuckling mockingly, Odin patted his familiar's head who leaned in his touch. "This one is Muninn, the one looking after the Mage of Swords for the last few weeks has been Huginn."

"You have been spying on my protector, on us, for the last few weeks?" Medusa sounded rightfully upset.

Something that Odin recognized. "You didn't expect me to teach Primeval Runes to just anyone, did you? Emiya Shirou needed to be tested, not in combat but in caracter." That calmed the goddess down a little but her glare remained. "Don't look at me like that, you know how easy power can corrupt if abused and I needed to know if he was someone… trustworthy besides competent. His victory over the White Dragon Emperor spoke of his abilities but I needed to know about his personality. Don't worry, I haven't been looking inside the Vault." Muninn turned and let out a shriek at Azazel who smirked. "Not that I could, the blasted place earned the name Vault."

"That is what I do." When he went to drink again and noticed his empty glass, Azazel's face fell before he turned to Odin to ask for some more. The old god swiftly placed the waterskin on his sleeve with a smile. "Hmph."

"So you tested my protector, when?" Medusa asked carefully, trying to remember if something odd happened when he happened to leave the Vault.

"I didn't test him, life did. And it's still testing him." Odin commented with a genuine smile, motioning Medusa to drink again. Finally the goddess relented and took a sip of the drink and the former King of Asgard couldn't look more satisfied if he tried. "Good, ain't it?"

"Delicious…" As far as drink went that was the best thing she ever tasted in her life. With eagerness Medusas turned the cup upside down as she chugged all her drink until the last drop. "What is-" Cutting herself off she placed the glass back on the table.

Odin's waterskin was revealed once again, much to Azazel's chagrin, and was ready to refill her cup until Medusa's hand stopped him.

Alcohol wasn't anything new for her and as a goddess she never got drunk. "What do you know? Why are you doing this?" But she wasn't having any more mead because her head was already light and she was sure that thing could get her drunk.

Recognizing that and Medusa's intention to not lower her guard any further, Odin laughed. "First timers never know how to hold their drink."

A small glare came with Medusa's reply. "That drink can kill mortals with how sweet it is." She was trying to play off how strong the drink actually was but with her red cheeks it was a losing battle.

"It did, once or twice." Odin admitted with a smile before moving to pour Azazel's another drink. "Don't worry, later you can learn to hold your liquor."

"My protector! What are you planning?!" Once again Medusa's hand slammed on the table but nobody was faulting her for it.

Certainly not Odin who felt like he really did pour a cup for a child. "Feh, just planning to teach him Primeval Runes if you must know. Emiya Shirou proved himself honorable so I will give him a lesson or two." Then his eye began to glint playfully again. "Supposing that his knight can pass her trial."

"Wait, you are testing Xenovia too?" Azazel took over the conversation as Medusa clearly wasn't in condition to keep going.

"What are those trails?" Yet she still tried, both for her friends and her pride who refused to fold because of a single drink.

"In the order of which was asked; Xenovia Quarta, Durandal's Owner, is going to be the first to received those Noble Gears you are planning to make so she needs to be tested both in her loyalty for him and her power to make sure she isn't going to die and give our enemies something dangerous."

"It will be connected to Durandal." Azazel stated plainly. "Only her will be able to wield it, that is the whole point."

"Then just her loyalty is being tested and she is passing that trial, so far." Odin didn't know those people and while his familiars showed things, that didn't mean he didn't like to test them. Just to be sure. "About the trails, they are not of my making but the makings of Life and Chance."

"'Life and Chance'? What are those…" Shaking her head, Medusa refocused herself, her constitution getting rid of the dizziness with some effort. "That is about coincidence, isn't it?"

"Not really." The Old Man of the North shrugged. "Think about it this way, what is the greatest failure a test can have?"

"The fact people usually know there is a test being applied." Was the first thing that came to Medusa's mind.

"Correct. An oversimplification but still correct." He played with Muninn who tried to bite his fingers. "Sure enough those kinds of tests took some time but I have five eyes and they don't mind going around waiting for the show to begin." Odin looked back at Medusa while his familiar jumped to his shoulder and he placed the glass in the desk to show he wasn't drinking anymore. "So they stood around watching, waiting. Every time he popped off the Vault one of them was there to see what he was going to do, what tests life would provide."

Azazel stared at his mead for a second, knowing it was the last he was going to get for a while and savoring it as much as he could. "And he passed?"

"With flying colors." Odin recognized it respectfully.. "No man is perfect but you should expect us to be at least honorable and good whenever possible. However sometimes it is harder to be either or both." The old god thought of his own past and the mistakes he almost made. But most of his attention was still on Medusa who clearly wanted more of the explanation. "Defeating and saving you showed bravery and a kind heart but I don't know all the details there so I waved it away. Perhaps another god guided him or gave him the instruments to free you from the Gorgon."

Remembering the giant mirror in her cave Medusa couldn't deny Odin was right because Athena had helped Shirou however indirectly and unintentionally.

Regardless, Odin proceeded. "Facing and defeating the White Dragon Emperor with just your gifts and some extra mana showed his power and the bonds he made." His tone made clear that still hadn't been enough. "However I wanted to test the nobility of his heart and his honor, both of which I gained the opportunity when Azazel told me you all were moving to the Underworld for a while. Here he showed honor by taking responsibility for his creations and nobility by not taking advantage of a woman when her heart was weak. On the contrary, from what I observed, he helped your niece to grow by letting her pursue her desires."

Knowing how much the god was watching bothered the other man quite a bit. "I didn't know you were going to do that." The Cadre finished his drink and stared at the god with a frown. "Nor that you are risking Shirou's life."

"I am not, Life is. Life and his decisions born out of too much trust. If nothing else he will learn to be more careful once all is said and done. Even if I wasn't here, he would be in the same position."

"Then let me go save him." Requested the fallen angel, much to the goddess' surprise.

"Do so and I will not teach him runes." Was Odin's ultimatum and one that had Azazel glaring at him. "Understand something, Azazel, if he dies, he won't be able to help us with what is to come." The fallen angel still glared but didn't challenge the god. "Besides, from what Huginn managed to see, his life isn't in any real danger. No, the ones in danger are those going to rescue him, per their trial."

Azazel gritted his teeth while Medusa asked. "You are risking the life of your own subordinate?"

"Rossweisse is… a smart girl and strong enough that I don't need to worry, else her grandmother will have my hide. Besides, I trust her to call if things get too bad." His words were no consolation. "Of course that will mean the others failed their test and so I won't be teaching Emiya Primeval Runes on the risk his work may be stolen and used against us." His single eye dared Azazel to disagree with his decision. "You know as much as I do that things are changing."

"Doesn't mean you need to be a dick about it." The fallen angel replied with a growl. "I trust those kids, they will rescue Shirou and bring him back, passing your stupid trial."

"Then we wait." He raised the waterskin again, the offer clear. When he was refused, all Odin could do was grunt. "You are not the only one taking risks here, Azazel. If they pass my trial I will be forever risking that more of my knowledge can fall in enemy hands. He can still join the Hero Faction, as you know."

"Why would my protector join them?" Medusa felt she was completely out of the loop. "Also, are they your enemies?"

"They are a mistake made by old men who thought they knew better." Odin looked at the ceiling, almost lost in a haze.

"Sure you guys did…" There was some pity in Azazel's tone but he quickly brushed it off and focused on explaining himself. "The Hero Faction didn't start with the Khaos Brigade, at least not its original interaction. Because of the meddling of gods who wanted heroes on their side there was pretty much an arms race to recruit or kill as many of those with potential as they could." Disgust colored his tone and the goddess knew there was more. Unfortunately for her, the fallen angel wouldn't go into the more gruesome details. "I only got to know about it a few centuries ago but at that point the damage was done, hundreds of potential heroes were dead while bloodlines were manipulated for their own preservation or into servitude. Not even mentioning the ones lost."

"Do you want to know why I am not the King of Asgard anymore, Medusa?" Odin asked apparently out of the blue but by the way Azazel looked resigned it was clear he knew where the question was coming from. "Because when I looked back and studied how my Pantheon would fall I realized that it would be all my fault." His statement was final as if no one could ever challenge him on it. "Ragnarok… To avoid it I had to walk back many decisions, decisions that still have repercussions anyway. Still, to stall it more in the hopes someone, somewhere, can present us with a solution, I left. Simple as that."

It was the best way to avoid a Prophecy and brilliant in its simplicity, all they had to do was move the actors in positions that the event couldn't take place easily.

"By making my son King of Asgard he now has a detail of Valkyries protecting him constantly so even if Loki does decide to try something, Baldur won't take the hit, for example." There were other actions, many of those he did while king himself while others involved some cloak and dagger of the sort a king couldn't partake in. "It can still happen, only humans can challenge Fate. Free Will and all that… That is what makes the Hero Faction dangerous, especially its current incarnation."

Remembering what her protector told her about Angelo and the Hero Faction, Medusa realized the problem. "Too many descendants of heroes are part of this generation…"

A bitter chuckle escaped Odin. "I doubt they are as grand as their forebears, certainly most ain't. That doesn't mean they aren't capable of doing some dangerous things."

"The fact a descendant of Gilgamesh emerged is part of the problem?"

Nodding at her words, Azazel replied. "If there is someone that can bury the Age of the Gods for good then it is Gilgamesh." Leaning forward he folded his hands. "Luckily for us either he isn't as capable as the original or still is on the fence about starting all out war."

"Not that he is the real problem." Odin earned another glare from Azazel but this time he glared back. "Oh please, I told you I was going to talk with her from god to god. You are just an eavesdropper." His attention returned to Medusa and he looked worried if not afraid of something. "If heroes are Humanity's potential then our enemies, the enemies of all things, are the Evils of Humanity."

"They haven't emerged yet." Azazel said quickly.

"Nobody has been able to see the future for years, Azazel. Our enemy may already be around, moving, plotting, preparing. Just because we cannot see them, doesn't mean they aren't already here." Odin gritted his teeth and closed his fist with fury as Muninn flew away from its master's wrath. "I may only have one eye, but you are the one blind."

"Last time you guys tried to meddle too much, the actual Hero Faction emerged and pushed the old one to the side lines." Azazel reminded him with some vindication. "And there are others still messing with them even if they aren't gods. That is why we are in this mess in the first place."

And the god couldn't help but concede his point. "That is why I don't make tests anymore nor try to force things. That attitude almost had me unleashing Ragnarok." Odin recognized with a deep breath. "Which is why I am willing to let Life put in place the trials that each and everyone of us have to face and why I allowed Rossweisse to go, to make it fair by giving them the ability, if not the knowledge, of how to overcome the trail." His smirk showed some malice but was still playful. "She will be able to locate Emiya Shirou if he is close enough but with boundary fields on the way, she will need to be really close. Will the Mage of Swords' friends be able to find him then? Are they going to come and ask for help? That will be a failure, by the way."

"I am starting to hate you." Medusa confessed coldly. Not as much as Zeus and the Olympians but it was starting to build up.

"Heheh, Rossweisse is the same even if she is too professional to let emotion get in the way of her actions. That girl is going to be a splendid Valkyrie one day, if just a little too stuck in the mud."

"Is that affection that I hear?" Azazel couldn't help but tease.

"Ahah! Sure, I supposed she is starting to grow on me. Maybe it is because most Valkyries my son designated to be my babysitters lasted a few weeks to days while she has been around for a few months." His face then grew fearful and he shivered. "To be fair it is probably because of her grandmother, probably… Rossweisse refuses to use skirts and if I try anything..." The old god shivered again.

"Hahaha! Who is that woman and what does she want for her birthday?"

"Shut up, Goat!"

Medusa, losing her patience with how the men could go from serious to playful in a conversation like this, was close to snapping. "Why was the Hero Faction formed?" She wanted things back on track. "What are 'Evils of Humanity'?"

Both men sobered up quickly and Muninn landed on Odin's shoulder again just before the god spoke. "They are beings even gods fear and you should too. Their very existence doesn't mean a simple change of Age but the complete destruction of everything they consider unworthy or unnecessary."

Upon seeing Odin's expression, Medusa noticed the emotion that god was trying to hide. 'This- he isn't joking anymore. That is true fear.'

It was Azazel who spoke next. "The meddling with the Hero Faction is because that is an enemy only Humanity can face. God, angel, devil and everything in between is destined to fall against the Beasts of Humanity." His eyes told everything she needed to know, he was afraid too. But just hearing the term made Medusa shiver and she knew whatever they were, those weren't beings she should mess with. "Beasts of Humanity, or just Beasts for short, are creatures capable of breaking through the Core of the World and taking over it. Do you understand what that means?"

She did, deep down in her being even if the knowledge never came up or nobody told her throughout all her life, she did. "To replace Gaia and become the World."

What followed next while they waited for news on Shirou's rescue was Azazel and Odin telling Medusa about Beasts and the steps taken to prevent their birth.

They told her a tale of gods, when all gods but one joined forces and worked together for a single cause.

Pantheons, goals, philosophy, and old grudges, nothing mattered and nothing could stop them.

They joined forces once, for a single goal, and broke apart after accomplishing it.

They destroyed Solomon's corpse.

…..

When the group of five arrived at the Gremory Village they wasted no time. "Can you locate him from here?" Xenovia asked upon landing, much to the surprise of the employees of the place.

Rossweisse shook her head and marched for the exit, everyone falling behind. "Need some space without boundary fields on the way. If he is behind one it will make things more difficult but…"

"We understand." Akeno would not have disagreements, not with the other devils around them and risking one being a spy of some sort. "Let's just get out of the building and hope he is around here."

"That would be too easy. Shirou never makes things easy." Liz, still full of energy, couldn't help but comment.

Rossweisse found it amusing that nobody disagreed and with a few meters outside of the building she could already get to work. "Okay, this is far enough."

"Excuse me, but how far is the spell's range?" The Bishop asked timidly.

"Approximately 4.2 kilometers." That impressed some in the group but not all as Xenovia knew that Hrunting could go farther.

Then again to use it they would need the sword in the first place and a sample of Shirou's mana. "Have to ask Master for some of his mana when this is done." The runes forming on Rossweisse's hands broke at the statement.

"What did you just say? Weren't you his knight?" The Valkyrie asked with a scarlet face that would have Akeno teasing her in a better day or time.

This was neither. "Xenovia, explain in a few words."

Confused but deferring to Akeno out of habit, she did just that. "Just thinking how if we had some of his mana or blood we could call Beowulf and ask him to find Master for us."

"Oh yeah, Lucifer's Pawn is Beowful's descendant and he has Hrunting." Rossweisse nodded in understanding as she began to focus on the spell again. "For a moment I was thinking you and your Master did the mana transfer ritual or something like that."

"We do have sex quite frequently." And the Valkyrie messed up again.

"Wha-wha-wha-"

"We don't have time for that." Akeno took charge again, stepping closer to the silver haired woman, and noticing she was taller by just a few centimeters, before grabbing her hand and shaking it. "Hi, as you heard before my name is Akeno and my boyfriend is in danger."

"Boyfriend! But-"

"Yes, I know. We have an agreement, she is only the third one and I haven't slept with him yet. That covers everything so please forget about it and focus on finding him." Akeno's violet eyes stared in Rossweisse's aqua ones, showing her concern and determination.

Nodding her head after calming down a little, Rossweisse got back to work. "Right, sorry. It will just take me a few seconds." Two magic circles composed of dozens of letters in a language only she could comprehend manifested in her hands. They were of a pale blue color, almost white, and began to combine forming a single letter. "Here it comes."

The letter was the size of her hand despite how many combined to form it and began to pulse, letting out a wave of mana around the area.

Rossweisse then used her other hand and expanded it several times its previous size and the pulse of mana covered the area of the whole village before long. One, twice, three pulses of the letter's color circulated around the village, disappearing upon reaching a couple of meters from it.

However Rossweisse's reach was far bigger than what the pulses seemed to indicate and it reached the promised distance easily despite several interruptions on the way. Still those interruptions, boundary fields, barriers and other disturbances born from magic, reduced her 'vision' and made identification harder.

After a few attempts the Valkyrie let the rune go. "I have bad news and good news."

"You couldn't find him." Akeno stated the obvious.

"That was the bad news." Rossweisse said with a nod. "The good news is that no combat has happened in this area for a long time. No spirits linger, certainly not human ones."

"You think that Shirou-senpai-"

"I am sure it was just part of the spell, Gasper." Akeno hugged the Bishop while giving the Valkyrie a look. "Isn't that right?"

The taller woman nodded her head. "The spell searches for all traces of blood spilled or death automatically while looking for worthy souls." Rossweisse explained with a smile that seemed to calm both Gasper and Xenovia a little. "Of one thing we can be sure; if the Mage of Swords was around here, he fought no one."

"But no real sign of him." Leysritt pointed out neutrality, avoiding accusing the Valkyrie of anything.

None of them was a tracker of any sort so they were dependent on the silver haired woman to help find their lost companion. Neither Leysritt nor Xenovia liked the situation but they held their tongues as the Valkyrie at least tried.

But it wasn't enough and Rossweisse herself noted it as well. "Well, there is a chance he is still in the area. The pulse bounced back several times. Does everyone here have a boundary field?"

"Yes." Nothing else needed to be explained and Akeno took charge once again. "Since we have no choice but to keep looking, our next step is Lakmia-sama's manor."

"Lead the way." Xenovia requested and Akeno delivered, promptly starting to run in the direction of the manor.

Once it was in sight Leysritt got ready to accelerate only for Akeno to hold her back just in time. "Do you know what to ask?" She asked as they kept running.

"If Shirou is there." Was the maid's response.

Despite being created by a family of noble bearings it was clear to Akeno that Liz didn't know the proper decorum. "Most of them don't know how to identify Shirou by his name."

"We should let miss Akeno talk." Rossweisse offered calmly as they kept running. Of them all only Gasper was flying as he wasn't a great runner. "I suppose you are used to the Underworld's social norms?"

"Of course." Akeno replied with an easy smile despite the situation. Turning back to Leysritt as they ran, she added. "You are not the only one worried."

The homunculus chose to not reply, her eyes locked on the manor like if it had personally offended her. That was, in theory, Shirou's last known whereabouts and their only real lead as the Valkyrie found nothing. If the magus wasn't there then she didn't know what they would do.

So Leysritt was ready to put her most aggressive foot forward first, something that everyone knew would start a fight.

But Akeno knew that even if Lakmia, one of the most loyal Gremory, was involved in any way they needed evidence or help of any sort. Not that she believed she was involved but in the back of her mind the Queen held the similar concerns.

'What are the odds of Lakmia-sama being involved anyway?' Few as Shirou was the Magician of Gremory. "We can't lose our cool in this." Akeno reminded them of Medusa's words.

"I don't think I can keep my cool against whoever took Master." Xenovia was going to kill somebody today and she knew it.

Leysritt didn't voice her agreement, she didn't say anything as they arrived at the iron gates surrounding their property. But her feelings were the same; if someone harmed Shirou there would be blood. Emotions were high and everyone sans the Valkyrie shared in the desire to save the magus.

As they got closer Akeno took point and called a magic circle to grant them access, the invisible boundary field opening slightly in a manner only those of the Gremory could feel and soon they were inside.

"Should I use the spell again?" Rossweisse asked once they crossed a boundary field.

All eyes turned to Akeno who shrugged. "Sure, why not." With a wave of her hand the gate opened. "If Shirou-kun is here, I can't see why."

Rossweisse nodded and did the spell quickly, the final rune forming in less than a second before a pulse left her position. This time however the rune didn't break and remained glowing with a small shimmer. The white haired woman knew what it meant; a soul worthy of Vahalla was close.

"I don't know if it is him but there is someone here who qualifies." She looked up to see Xenovia's fury, Leysritt's cold stoicism and Akeno's confusion. "Are we sure there is a problem in the first place? Perhaps the meeting lasted too long and-"

"Shiro doesn't break promises." Xenovia affirmed coldly, already drawing Durandal. Only for Akeno to stop the sword from leaving her back. "What are you doing?"

"What are you doing? That is a Holy Sword."

"Clearly Lakmia kidnapped Shiro."

"We don't know that." Akeno hissed with a harsh but calm expression. "This person is the Matron of Runeas, one of the more important people of in all the Gremory Clan."

"She has Shiro- Master in her clutches."

"Again, we don't know that." Akeno repeated firmly before taking a step back. "Besides, if she did anything the Law is on our side, Rias is on our side." Throwing a look towards Liz to make sure she also was listening, the ravenhead almost flinched at her cold red eyes. "If you are upset, imagine how Rias is going to feel when she hears about this."

If Lakmia was guilty of harming a single hair of Shirou's head, there wasn't just going to be blood, Rias was going to unleash all her Bael heritage on the woman until the Thousand Ruins was just a ruin and nothing else.

But so far they had no proof of foul play and while she agreed with Xenovia, Akeno could see how the Valkyrie may be right. "Maybe something did happen but nothing bad or maybe Rossweisse-san is right and Shirou-kun worked himself to the bone without any of us to stop him and knocked himself out."

While it was easy to remember his habit of not breaking promises, it was easier to remember the many times he pushed himself too much despite complaining about Xenovia doing the exact same thing.

Sure there was never a problem before, the magus had far more stamina than most of his kind, but there was a first time for everything and Akeno didn't want to accuse Lakmia of anything.

"Or maybe I detected someone else." Rossweisse added just to make sure. "Just because someone was Reincarnated as a devil, doesn't mean they suddenly become unworthy of Vahalla… I think."

"Thank you." Akeno said with a smile and a nod. "Now we are going there and not exploding anything until we are sure Shirou-kun is in danger in the first place. Or that he is even here."

"But if he is in danger, Akeno-senpai?" Gasper fought his shyness and asked after landing beside Leysritt.

"Then we go, call Rias and we watch the world burn." Same if he wasn't there because they had no real leads besides that one.

Following Akeno's lead they approached the manor, a huge structure with three floors painted a dark red. Gremory's color but on the darker side, much like the arrows in the Underground Arena.

The double doors of the entrance were huge things, big enough that an elephant could enter with some difficulty and they had four handles for knocking; two nearly at the top and two close to the bottom, just enough for someone of Gasper size to reach by tiptoeing.

It was the perfect height for Akeno who grabbed the handle and knocked on the door three times.

Thanks to the boundary field that was mostly unnecessary, the devils in the manor already knew about them and their allegiance to the Gremory even if they didn't have details on who it was.

However, knocking was still polite and Akeno knew they wouldn't have to wait for long. And they didn't as a devil with a suit opened the door and looked at them. He was young, or at least looked just about Rossweisse's age if not a little older and was slightly nervous from what the Queen could perceive.

That alone wasn't a good sign but wasn't directly bad either. "Good evening. My name is Himejima Akeno, Rias Gremory's Queen. Is Lakmia-sama at home?" She felt a shift behind her, either Leysritt or Xenovia not liking the question.

Akeno ignored them, all her attention on the man in front of her and even the smallest twitch of his face. Every action was judged from her mostly closed eyes as they hid their sharpness and gave the impression she was relaxed to in turn help him relax. To lower his guard and show his secrets.

He did not lower his guard as instead of opening the door to the manor for them it was kept mostly shut with only his upper body visible and a reserved expression that could speak of shyness or lack of resolve.

Or when someone had a secret to hide but it wasn't time to throw Lightning around just yet and Akeno needed to be careful with her own words.

The duo behind her was ready to jump and demolish the manor the first chance they got.

"Yes, she is." The man replied carefully. "However she is… busy at the moment. If you could return at a later hour I am sure she wouldn't mind talking to you, miss Himejima."

Nodding her head, the ravenhead didn't allow her expression to change. "Unfortunately the situation has us in a bit of a rush. You see, one of our estimated allies is missing. The Mage of Swords, Emiya Shirou, Magician of Gremory." Akeno offered her classic smile, as disarming as possible. "Now, the last time he was seen, he had a meeting with Lakmia-sama and we would like to ask a couple of questions."

"Ah, the Mage of Swords, yes. He was here. He is here." The last part was quickly added. A little too quickly in the Queen's opinion.

However she quickly lost control of the situation. "My Master is here? Did something happen?" Xenovia took over instead. "Where is he?" The man grew guarded and it was concerning.

"What my friend means to say…" Akeno interrupted, reclaiming control of the situation while pushing Xenovia back. The former Exorcist may be above the human limits but a hybrid was far beyond those so there was no contest. "Is that the Mage of Swords has an important meeting right now and it has already been delayed due to his disappearance." She made the word sound light and hypothetical despite how much she was starting to believe it was not. "Could you please collect him for us? We must return to the Vault of Prosperity at once."

The man fought back a wince, held it back enough that most people would miss.

Not Akeno nor Leysritt or Rossweisse who all had training and experience dealing with subtle changes in one's face for whatever reasons.

Still the man was mostly successful, if not for his words which sounded foreign despite nobody knowing him. "He is indisposed at the moment…"

"Something happened?" Xenovia was more than ready to raise an alarm but Akeno's arm didn't bulge. The knight could only talk and nothing else for the moment. "Is he alright?" So she talked and Akeno didn't stop her.

Rossweisse was the only one who noticed why. 'She is a distraction.' A maneuver that the Valkyrie saw Odin using and dealing with once or twice, even using her for it on occasion when the silver haired woman was unable to spot the god's machinations. 'Having somewhere so blunt speaking like that hides our suspicions.' And there were some.

Which was exactly what the man didn't want, even if there was nothing wrong. "There is no trouble. The Mage of Swords is just enjoying the Matron's company."

"Then call him." Xenovia demanded swiftly but made no threatening moves.

However the man just looked nervous, slightly more nervous than before at least. "Well, you see… I can't. They are… busy."

"Busy with what?" When the man pretended to hesitate, Xenovia took it as real hesitation. Not her fault as they all did. "If they are together that is fine, we can talk with the two at the same time." She wanted to know why she didn't get laid the previous night and the frustration was showing itself.

Much to Akeno's pleasure who was glad to give the bluehead the reins while she focused completely on the man's reactions.

"Busy with certain activities…" While having his orders, the man was trying to give the impression he was avoiding speaking too much about his mistress' business. "They have been going at it all night." By the look on the five faces his job was finished, they quickly gathered their words.

"Playboy! Pervert! Manwhore!" Rossweisse's reaction was the most explosive one but that was great for it hid the shock and disbelief on Akeno, Xenovia and Liz's faces. Gasper just blushed and looked to the side with embarrassment. "Heh heh heh. I see. So there was nothing to worry about after all." The Valkyrie managed to compose herself.

The man was extremely relieved by her words. "I understand that he had an important meeting. Is it that now?"

"Yes, it should have already started." Akeno took over again and Xenovia didn't fight back, retreating and letting the Queen deal with everything. "Although, it was mostly a surprise sprung on us by Azazel." She shook her head with a tired smile. "That fallen angel is so frustrating, you know?"

"Hahaha. I wouldn't, milady. Never worked with one." Things to tell his mistress the second the conversation ended no doubt. For now he had to get rid of the five before raising their suspicion. "If you desire I can deliver a message once they… finish their exercise. They haven't eaten yet but sooner or later they will pause for a few minutes."

The fact the Mage of Sword's disappearance was already noted completely went against the Matron's plans but the rest remained in place. His job wasn't to think about that anyway but to get rid of the search party or dissuade them from trying to see the Mage too soon.

He waited for some push back but Akeno smiled and shook her head. "No, that won't be necessary. It is unusual for him to lose a meeting but first time for everything, right?" There was something under her words, something the man couldn't catch. "Just tell him we passed by and that we will stall his teacher for as long as possible."

Seeing as everything worked out, the man didn't even question her words. "I wish you the best of luck." He didn't wait to close the door.

Which was fine for them as Xenovia asked, "Did you buy that?"

"Absolutely not. Lakmia isn't on the list." Akeno added with a dark look.

"Huh?" Rossweisse was decidedly confused.

Although she was the only one. "So they have Shirou-senpai?" Gasper whispered.

"He is definitely here." Akeno informed and Leysritt began to eye the door with hidden disdain. "That is the only explanation. Shirou-kun wouldn't be in bed with Lakmia for no reason. He has no permission."

"Permission, is that about that list you were talking about?" Rossweisse couldn't help her own curiosity, ignoring that Akeno's voice now lacked any deference and respect to the older devil. "Isn't he just… being a man in this case?" Both Akeno and Xenovia turned to the silver haired women with harsh looks and almost made her step back. "Sorry but last I heard he was already in a relationship with two women."

"Yes, a relationship." Akeno put emphasis on the last word before noticing Rossweisse's red face and holding back. "Look, Rias got him first-"

"He is with a Heiress too?"

"-and she would do anything to make him happy. And Shirou-kun, blessed fool he is, is at his happiest when everyone he cares about is happy." Ignoring the Valkyrie's interruption, she calmly explained before turning back to the door. "I know that is something different but consider it a devil thing and move on. We have more important things to worry about."

"Before I blow the door open," Xenovia drew Durandal and held it in one hand, "we sure Lakmia isn't on the list?"

"I discussed it with Rias before we went our separate ways. No names were added and Shirou-kun barely knows Lakmia. If he just jumped in bed with a woman because they showed interest, I wouldn't be a virgin right now." Rossweisse heard Akeno's words in disbelief and her jaw dropped. Then the ravenhead raised a hand to stop the knight from unleashing Durandal on the manor. "We don't know where Shirou-kun is and they don't know we suspect foul play. The right thing to do is contact Rias and get reinforcements."

"But Master is in danger."

"There is no doubt about this. That story is a distraction, a believable one considering how liberal devils can be but this is Shirou-kun we are talking about." Akeno also wanted to storm the manor herself but she was trying to consider all the risks. "We don't know where exactly he is or what Lakmia is doing. Shirou-kun is too useful for the Gremory Clan to kill so I doubt his life is in peril."

"Akeno-senpai, are you sure?" Gasper looked at the door and the Queen nervously.

She smiled to reassure him. "Of course. Whatever she is doing can't harm him too much or do anything permanent." Except that was a hunch at best, a guess at worst. The moment the Matron moved against Shirou things could only go downhill and the woman had to know that. 'We just don't know what she wants.' Still they had room to maneuver, on the surface. "We need to get Rias and Zeoticus-sama. It is the best way to solve everything peaceful-"

A loud noise followed by the manor door falling apart and the devil who had spoken to them flying several meters away until his face hit the wall. Apparently he was eavesdropping but that wasn't what got the group's attention.

No, Leysritt held that honor as her halberd had slammed in the door with all her strength breaking both it, the wall down and revealing a very furnished entrance hall with openings extending in several directions, each marked with elegant arches and with nothing on the way so a devil could fly anywhere inside the three store manor.

Fixing her weapon on her hands, the maid started to advance with a cold look of resolve. "Liz! We need to-"

"You can go get Rias. I am going to save Shirou."

Xenovia smiled and jumped over the ruined door with Durandal ready. "She 's right! We should save Master first."

Letting a sigh of exasperation, Akeno felt several presences move inside the manor and quickly turn to Gasper. "The Gremory Castle is close, Gasper-kun? Can you go call for help?"

The former dhampir frowned before charging inside the building shouting, "I also wanna help Shirou-senpai!"

If she was less in control of herself, Akeno would have facepalmed. Turning to the last of their group outside of the building, she expected the Valkyrie to still be flushing a little over the whole relationship business.

Yet what she found was a young woman studying the situation carefully. "Lots of devils on the way. More than 100 at least." Rossweisse stated coldly. "And I can't help." Her god's order took precedence, unfortunately.

That meant she couldn't go deliver a message either since it would fall in the branch of 'devil business' and so the silver haired woman could only be little more than a witness if they took Odin's orders at face value.

"You can still find Shirou-kun, right?" Now what Akeno planned as she stepped inside the manor and prepared herself as men in suits began to pour inside the entrance hall, all armed.

"Sure, leave that to me." What Rossweisse didn't say was that the rune for location would be a little harder to make if there was combat but she was going to do it anyway. "Just keep them away from me or better yet, find a way to avoid a confrontation." Leaving someone in danger wasn't in her nature.

Akeno found the request reasonable if not impossible as not only her friends looked ready for a fight, the Matron's followers obviously were ready too if their weapons were any indication.

All swords so obviously Lakmia's preferences shone through even in her employees. "No promises." There was no teasing on her tone even as a chain manifested on her right hand and tied itself around Leysritt and Xenovia's midriffs. Lightning didn't harm them and the homunculus stopped moving while the bluehead looked back with a raised eyebrow. "Behave you two. There may be no need to shed blood!" The Queen announced loudly before her eyes dropped to the devil stuck on the wall. "More blood."

"Himejima Akeno." One of the men, tall but not the tallest but from what the ravenhead felt undoubtedly the strongest, took a step forward. He had a dual bladed double edged sword with a big handle in the center short enough it couldn't be held with two hands but not enough to call the weapon a spear. "After being welcomed in the Matron's Arena, it is rather rude to invade her residency." The man's eyes were cold.

"Apologies but I don't recognize you." Informed the hybrid while holding her two friends back. Gasper was at her left and behind them Rossweisse worked discreetly on a new rune from the back closest to the exit. With her typical smile she added, "Would you like to introduce yourself so we can speak on equal grounds."

"My name is Xarth and you are transpassing!" He pointed his weapon at the Queen but the ravenhead didn't react. "Leave or face the consequences."

"I am going to tell you the same thing I told him." Said the Queen while nodding her head towards the downed devil. "We need to speak with the Mage of Swords. He is already late for a meeting and we aren't taking a no for an answer." Akeno's glare showed she wasn't playing around.

However Xarth had his orders and could only repeat what he was informed. "My lady is entertaining the Mage of Swords at the moment."

"Yeah, right. Like we are going to believe that." Xenovia's comment had everyone around raising their weapons and she turned to Akeno with a smile. "No point in negotiating, Akeno. Let me deal with these mooks." She was already eying Xarth, planning to get at least one decent fight.

If Rossweisse wasn't busy trying to create a smaller rune with more focused searching capabilities she would have facepalmed. 'Didn't she realize they need to buy me time.' In the current situation all the silver haired maiden could do was hope the ravenhead controlled the situation.

Akeno smiled kindly. "It seems negotiations broke down. Oh, well." She actually sounded pleased by the notion, if her uninterested shrug gave any indication. The Valkyrie didn't need anyone to tell her violence was about to start. "Get them, girls!" Lightning Chains shifted and allowed the duo freedom while quickly neutralizing two devils.

Completing their previous motions, Xenovia advanced with Durandal over her head while Leysritt slammed her halberd on the ground to create debris that flew in their enemies' direction.

However all of them were warriors and not a single one flinched at the stones hitting their bodies. Instead they charged, one of them using his sword to flip a couch in the maid's direction.

The entrance of the manor was well decorated with some furniture and the sort of space which would belong in a palace or a castle. It had access to all three floors of the manor and entrances to multiple rooms with hallways going over several directions. The place was big and the entrance hall big to match.

So Leysritt had enough space to swing her halberd and bash it towards a group to the side which was also charging. Because of her small stop she was overtaken by Xenovia and Durandal which collided with one of Xarth's blades. The floor beneath the man's feet cracked as he glared at the grinning knight but it wasn't long before he pushed back.

The bluehead flipped and prepared to charge again but before she had the chance two devils advanced from the sides with their swords drawn.

Durandal was already postured and ready to cut them into pieces only for a halberd to reach them first, one was stabbed in the chest by the tip while the other man's side was hit by the axehead in a fast motion.

Leysritt was spinning and sending the devils away as Xarth advanced to deal with her and Xenovia but the bluehead jumped over the maid to complete her previous attack. "Haven't had a decent fight in a month!" Complained the knight as the Matron's main enforcer glared. "So do me a favor and last more than a minute."

With a howl of fury he pushed her back but a blast from Durandal had Xenovia landing close to his huge mass. The blue blade moved to stab his abs but the other blade blocked and deflected the Holy Sword much to the bluehead's pleasure as she didn't want the fight to end too soon.

From the counter Xenovia allowed it to push Durandal and around in a spin before reestablishing her footing just ready to slash the man's waist. His double sword came down and metal clashed, sparks flying around as they struggled with each other. Light surrounded the bluehead as she retreated and attacked again, their clash echoing in the entrance hall.

Both sides were surprised by each other's strength as Xenovia didn't expect a devil to push back against Light and Xarth was shocked that with his strength, amplified by his Queen Piece, he never would predict a human to survive facing him.

Still neither took a step back as their swords clashed against each other, the Mage of Swords' knight liked those kinds of fights and the Queen was unable to think of any plans as the warrior he once was had already vanished because of his Evil Piece.

They clashed several times as others fought around them, Leysritt ignoring the duo and moving to hit a devil in the shoulder. Her weapon got stuck as the man grabbed it and tried to use a magic circle with his free hand. The maid raised him above her head before slamming him on the ground before turning and kicking another devil on the chest.

Acting as one, the Matron's warriors moved to encircle the maid leaving room for Xarth to deal with Xenovia while others were still charging towards the other three members of their group. Rossweisse had already stated that she wouldn't fight and Gasper was watching the other devils nervously but resolutely.

'Well, I can compliment him for his courage.' Akeno thought as she watched the Bishop shaking, her chains moved around freely, dealing damage to any getting too close. "How long do you need?"

"With this much combat? A few minutes." The Valkyrie informed, struggling a little since the boundary field and constant fighting made things worse. "It will be helpful if you guys don't kill anyone. The runes will judge them before trying to locate anyone else and-"

"Senpai! Your right!" Gasper didn't need to bother as the chains moved on their own, tied a devil with a huge sword trying to cut Akeno in half, and threw him to the ceiling after filling his body with Lightning.

The man fell down a few seconds later and a trio of devils dodged him while charging at the trio again. "Gasper, stay close and guard Rossweisse-san. Help if you can but stay out of danger!" Akeno didn't wait for a reply and charged at the closest devils, always aware that more were flying around with their weapons ready.

Lightning Chains moved from both her arms and she whipped them around gracefully, quickly dispatching the closet ones before taking a sharp turn to the right towards a few more that were calling forth their magic.

There she saw a devil with a rapier positioned in front of them, he was more muscular than most and had yellow hair and a serious expression. Just before the spells began to fly he took flight to not get in the way. Despite her speed Akeno was still too far to do anything but those spells weren't that strong and looked even a little amateurish.

Not that it mattered, the hybrid wouldn't allow any of them to touch her. She waved and dodged around the attacks while sending the chain from her right to neutralize the devils mercilessly. The chain of her left arm was missing as she was focusing much of her will in the right's Lightning but it wasn't for long.

Not only because she had no time to waste once they lost consciousness but because the rapier user dropped down at full speed for a stab, his acceleration something that almost caught Akeno off guard despite her senses never dismissing him.

Spinning to the side she avoided the attack but the fighter didn't relent. His feet landed softly before he began to unleash a flurry of stabs in her direction. Not landing herself, Akeno floated back while dodging the hits, the man keeping up with her despite having to use his feet and the reach of his arms.

By how he was moving, his lack of magic and where Lakmia found many of her employees, Akeno already suspected he was one from the Arena. "Tell me, are you a Champion as well?" A glint appeared on his eye and his left foot extended unexpectedly as he threw a stab to her face. The ravenhead dodged with a twirl as Lightning and Thunder converged on her hand. "Raiden!"

Not as big as when she used it against Gertrude, the attack was still big enough to hit the huge man's whole torso. The roar of Thunder broke several windows inside the manor and warned everyone who hadn't heard before there was an attack happening. It also did an excellent job of throwing the devil off his feet and sending him away.

Akeno chose against pursuing him, maneuvering her attack and whipping it around to hit another group of devils with the combined Elements. Their bodies burned and were sent flying with every hit as the Queen moved around in an elaborate dance, trying to keep every enemy in her range of attack.

Unfortunately there were too many and seeing Gasper about to be attacked changed her targets as Raiden flew towards the Bishop.

Gasper was close to Rossweisse, just two steps away from her, and used magic circles to blast any devil who came too close.

Unfortunately for him they were mostly using weapons to attack so even when using his sacred gear the former dhampir had to deal with the men themselves and his offense wasn't that good.

Rossweisse saw no choice but pausing her spell and raising a rune to the blond's side for defense before shouting. "Here! Quickly!" Gasper turned with a magic circle ready but the attack was too slow for the Valkyrie's tastes. Not his fault, she knew, he was too young and obviously focused on his sacred gear. "Look to your left then your right. Keep your sacred gear up."

Per Odin's orders she shouldn't be interfering but Rossweisse would claim self defense if asked. "YES!" Forbidden Balor View blazed and several devils stopped moving.

However a few didn't, others were away from Gasper's line of sight and Rossweisse had to raise her runes once again or risk being attacked. The Bishop was doing his best, two magic circles working constantly to try and blast away as many enemies as he could. Still he wasn't a fool, he could see the damage he was doing was minimal.

So could the Valkyrie who raised four huge runes around them that quickly formed a barrier that blocked several attacks. "Keep going! It won't stop your magic." Rossweisse said while the devils tried to chip her shield down.

To his credit Gasper was shooting his mana at the heads of his enemies to try and apply maximum damage and a few of them were falling or staggering even if the damage wasn't necessarily small.

'More, more, more. I need to use more.' Gasper was panicking and it was easy to see that by itself emboldened some of the Matron's warriors while Rossweisse started to grow concerned for the little devil as he was pushing himself too hard.

She was about to start fighting back when a wrecking ball came and hit the devils with a force far stronger than it should. It was connected to a chain and Akeno's hands, the Queen came down with a vengeance, using it like a hammer before tackling another devil down and tying his neck with the middle of her weapon.

The ravenhead threw a nod at Rossweisse as thanks before speaking to Gasper. "What were they training you for?"

"I am sorry-"

"This isn't your fault! Your attacks are weak but your defense-" Akeno was interrupted by several swords going in her direction, her chain moving to block them all as the sphere on the tip came clashing without prompt. It kept going for a few seconds until exploding, damaging the hall and giving her a second to breathe. "What did you learn over the month, Gasper! We need you to focus on that!"

His offensive was subpar but his sacred gear control was better, far better than before. "How to stop lots of things." Was the best way he could describe.

"Then do it!" Akeno started before noticing the devil with a rapier from before flying at her with a few burns on his chest but mostly unharmed. She was too much of a lady to curse but still glared at her adversary, surprised he survived Raiden. "I will defend Rossweisse-san, do what you can!" Previously she had looked forward to playing with her new fighting style, forgetting she wasn't just Akeno for a moment until remembering that when Rias wasn't around she was supposed to be the leader. 'I am a Gremory Queen.'

Chains moved around the battle as she ignored everything but her enemies and the Valkyrie who gave her a look before starting to focus on her runes again. That was exactly what the Queen wanted and as the attackers came she moved. This time she wouldn't go farther from her position and instead she made a circle of death around Rossweisse.

None could pass the Lightning and Thunder guarding the Valkyrie as chains moved around capturing and neutralizing everyone that even thought of throwing a swing in the silver haired woman's direction.

For the rest Akeno dodged easily but that rhythm lasted just a few seconds as the man with the rapier covered the distance and threw a stab at her. Quickly Lightning wrapped around the chain but the man was still able to try and stab Akeno five more times before his free hand grabbed her arm.

When violet eyes turned the chain moved without warning to free their creator and the man's arm grab grew too numb, forcing him to let go. However, part of his objective was accomplished and his sword was freed, returning with a vengeance to take Akeno's life. She jumped over it and used her two hands to create chains around the man's neck.

Once that was done the ravenhead used her wings to boost herself to the floor and pull, Lightning running wild and with her strength she would have pulled the man's head were he a normal devil.

What Akeno didn't know was that the man was a Rook, an unregistered Piece connected to a King Piece and so far stronger than the average. Classifications would put both of them on the High class and he proved it by grabbing the chain with his free hand, freeing himself with brute force.

They didn't stop moving, Akeno forced to dodge as the sword came down in her previous location. She didn't need to turn or look at her enemy and the crack under her feet showed he wasn't any weakling. Rebuilding her chain she sent the arrowhead towards his neck but he dodged easily.

Not that the man behind him had the same luck as the Valkyrie almost had to stop her work again if Akeno hadn't intervened.

Another chain formed on her other hand to be whipped towards the rapier user who bashed it to the side. "You are certainly problematic." Commented the Queen as her eyes shifted to the left and she dropped to a knee as a sword passed by her head. Another sword was coming for her back but the second arrowhead pierced the man's heart before it got close. "And the rest of you are annoying. You all know you are going against the Gremory's interests, right?!"

Some stopped, others hesitated and that was enough for Akeno to know something was definitively amiss with the whole situation. She had little time to ponder as someone definitely wasn't planning to stop. The rapier was blocked by a chain wrapping on itself to make a shield but the man shoulder tackled it, ignoring the Lightning on his body.

Not that it worked as he planned as Akeno repositioned herself just enough for the impact to feel real while she could slip to the side using the man's back all the while the chain kept sending high voltages into her opponent's body.

Several presences moved around the battlefield but the ravenhead couldn't focus on all of them, she needed to trust her allies while focusing on guarding Rossweisse who kept working on the rune while not standing still as one devil managed to get through and tried to cut her head off.

Obviously that was disrupting her concentration but the Valkyrie didn't need to break the spell while dodging and kicking her attacker on the head. Another kept going for her back but a Thunder Sphere blasted him and another five away as Akeno landed beside her and sent her chain around.

"Sorry for dragging you into this!" Akeno sounded sincere as she tied someone's arm and kicked him away, ripping it off its socket.

"Don't worry." Rossweisse ducked and waved around a pair of knives before the chain returned to pierce the man's midriff. "I am used to Lord Odin and his more embarrassing tourist attractions. Personally I prefer fighting over another strip club." Confessed the white haired maiden as she jumped over a devil who took Lightning Sphere to the face.

Ripping her chain off the knife user, Akeno felt a blade slashing her leg while she dealt with another group getting too close. Her two chains danced as she sent them bouncing around, focusing more on protecting the Valkyrie, giving her enough room for the spell and to retreat if needed.

Her defenses were being truly tested as all the men present were capable enough to make every hit count so she turned with a kick to her new opponent's ribs which was followed by the chain's arrow head going straight for his heart.

That devil managed to dodge even if another behind him was hit on the stomach but the links quickly moved to tie themselves around him and send Lightning straight in his veins. Moving around, Akeno didn't hesitate to throw that guy at another who had a scimitar and then rushing in another direction to electrocute the next one.

Things only grew easier when she noticed the enemies' movements stopped at several points to allow for more guaranteed hits and more freedom of movement. Akeno didn't need to look as she knew Gasper was back and using his power in several directions at once, much to her surprise.

His presence was also split and then she remembered an ability the Bishop had. "Oh, it works like that too." The Queen managed to say before looking ahead and noticing a familiar face. "The problematic one is back."

"Sorry about Odin's orders." Rossweisse sounded annoyed, legitimately wishing to help but fearing one of her boss' familiars was around watching the whole thing.

It was and Akeno didn't blame her anyway.

Not when she was doing her best to locate Shirou faster. "Just work on the rune. I have back up." Forming another Raiden, the Queen charged to meet the rapier user who raised his sword in challenge.

Next thing he noticed the man had already been hit, like if time had been skipped for him.

It actually had stopped as a small bat on the ceiling, a small thing even for a bat, all black with a small batch of blond hair, red eyes let out an ominous glow, his sacred gear activated.

He was Gasper Vladi who was using his Forbidden Balor View all over the battlefield to help his companions once Akeno took over Rossweisse's defense. 'Here and here.' Two other bats, also Gasper Vladi, activated his sacred gear at the same time to stop two devils about to reach the Queen who dispatched them. 'I can also fight!'

As a dhampir Gasper had all the benefits of a vampire, including the ability to transform in a flock of bats capable of acting individually. The flock was constituted of 21 bats in total and the stronger he was the more the Bishop would be able to split himself into. All of them were him, all of them had the same mind and soul split into several bodies.

So all of them had Forbidden Balor View even if in this form Gasper could only lock one thing per bat. Its power wasn't exactly diminished as much as it was stretched into multiple forms, same thing as Gasper himself who couldn't do much as bats. He could speak with some effort but individually the bats were not that strong and neither could use magic.

However his sacred gear was still powerful even if almost everyone in the room was able to fight against it. 'You aren't touching Senpai!' Another bat locked another devil, his eyes leaving him as Xenovia used him as a springboard in the middle of her fight. 'Leave Sensei alone!'

That particular devil was a strong one so it took a second or two for Forbidden Balor View's effect to stick even if it was a second faster than the rapier guy from before. The rapier user wasn't down yet and a bat kept an eye on him even if the sacred gear was inactive. Gasper mana was split as well and he needed to pace himself after all.

As a dhampir his eyes were better than any common bat or specially bred magical ones. Bat-chan, Rias familiar for example, had excellent eyes that were better at night and Gasper's were even better at any time of the day.

Gasper as several bats had perfect vision and the only challenge he faced when splitting himself up was keeping control of so many bodies. When asked the Bishop would try to explain the odd experience but the hive mind of a vampire when transforming wasn't easily explainable.

It still meant as a flock of bats Gasper had eyes and all around the battlefield, his friends had three bats each ready to support while the other twelve marked the most dangerous devils and tried to keep them away for as long as they could.

However the twelve had to divert most of their efforts to protect Leysritt as she lacked Akeno's magic and Xenovia's sword to keep most of the small fry at bay.

She was surrounded and the warriors around her were some of the strongest opponents that the homunculus had ever faced. All of them were devils and masters of their styles who had years of training and coordination born out of duty. Sure some stayed back and stopped attacking the moment Akeno raised their challenge against Rias but the majority was still fighting.

And those who were afraid but refused to not fight to be called out on it chose to target Leysritt as their commander fought Xenovia and the most brave went after the Queen and Valkyrie.

There was a logic in that decision as the homunculus was unknown and not important in their minds. As far as things went they believed that if Akeno was being truthful than killing Leysritt wouldn't be a big deal since she wasn't a devil. It also made it look to their own companions they were doing something even if some were still reluctant.

But not reluctant enough to not strike when Leysritt offered her back but she had no choice. Using her halberd she spun in place to push all devils back but they were skilled and one charged with a long sword with a single edge and clashed with her armor. Thanks to it she avoided a major injury, gaining enough time to sink her weapon in the devil's gut.

The man bled but wasn't willing to quit, discarding his weapon and holding the halberd's head. He tried to hold her in place but Leysritt began to push with all her strength as more devils charged at from all sides. She punched some during her charge, the halberd's tip pushing through the devil's gut before he fell down hitting some furniture.

With his balance ruined Leysritt's weapon was freed and she quickly used its shaft to block a thin sword while another stabbed her shoulder. Grasping the closest object with a hand, the homunculus grabbed a couch and threw it at the man who stabbed her.

He retreated, taking his sword with him, dodging to the side as many evaded the flying furniture. None was hit but they gave Leysritt space, a mistake that the Divine empowered homunculus made sure to punish.

Quicker than ever before Leysritt sunk her halberd in a man's skull before cutting it from the side and cutting another's arm off. When she was about to be attacked from behind Gasper came to her rescue and she managed to turn and hit the man away with her weapon. Failing to kill him she still noticed he had dropped his weapon and kicked the sword just right towards another devil.

However the blow was easily paired and the devil sent a blast at her but otherwise not acting which forced her to notice that some devils were staying back. She was still surrounded but that gave her an idea so the maid charged towards the more hesitant devils who raised their weapons to meet her.

They never would as Leysritt used her halberd to vault over them and land close to a statue that decorated the place. Already many were flying in her direction even as Gasper stopped their time which was fine since she grabbed the statue and threw it at them. As expected some dodged but her free hand just grabbed another piece of furniture to throw as well.

And again and again, several times in fact as Leysritt moved around and grabbed whatever she could get her hand on. Many made contact either thanks to her strength, Gasper or because some devils actually moved to take the hit and themselves out the fight. Once again she made note of that, those would not be harmed.

The other would, those charging at her and others arriving from deeper in the manor.

There were at least 142 devils who worked for Lakmia in the manor that day, the woman using her villa as a headquarter for most of her operations secured the big number of employees and she called more from the Arena and other places just to be safe while the Magus of Swords was her 'guest'.

Of those every single one of them was a fighter so the last remaining devils called by Akeno's Thunder were obviously prepared for a fight. Seeing them coming from a hallway Leysritt took a second to throw a huge old clock in her direction before focusing again on those already attacking her.

Finally one got close enough for a slash but she easily dodged and her halberd met his shoulder twice before Leysritt had to rush ahead or be hacked into pieces. Ten men basically crashed in her previous position and she only escaped safely because Gasper had frozen six people who would have locked her down in a pincer maneuver.

Thanks to that space she managed to knock one of the hesitant devils down before using her halberd as a spear to kill a man looking at her with hatred. The expression may have been frozen in time but that didn't diminish its intensity. However, another took advantage of her decision to kill that man and grabbed her weapon, discarting his sword.

Halberds were heavier than normal spears and hers was made from a combination of metals that while not as strong as Shirou's special metal it was still heavier than most. Yet the devil was strong enough to raise her weapon against her just before the maid could get it back and take a swing at her stomach, sending her into a wall.

Armor or not the impact hurt but Divine mana still ran within the homunculus and her constitution kept her awake. Continuing unarmed was a terrible idea so the white haired woman grabbed a sword on the floor before rolling to the side and avoiding losing her head. The man who went for the kill paid with his life as an upward stab took his heart and lungs.

The change of weapons was noticed and soon more devils began to attack with renewed vigor while the one who took her halberd kept his distance to deprive the maid of her real weapon.

Four more were cut down before they realized their mistake; she wasn't just good with a sword, the homunculus knew how to use it better than a halberd.

Since she knew Shirou since childhood obviously Leysritt was quite skilled with all sorts of swords mostly because she was the only person Shirou could train with. His father used knives for support only, his mother wasn't a fighter and their siblings preferred magic so there was nobody else to spar against.

Nobody else but each other, even when the youngest man of the Emiya joined the kendo club of his old school. If anything that made things worse as he had to hold back a lot during those days. In consequence, Liz gracefully helped him train and practice every time he needed or whenever wanted to learn a new sword style.

Those days may be long gone but as a homunculus Leysritt couldn't forget those precious memories even if she wanted to. Just by holding a sword she could tell its weight, how to better swing it, how to parry or when to discard it and grab another just as the blade was about to break.

Fighting beings as strong as her was something Leysritt grew used to thanks to joining the ORC but never in high numbers and never so able.

That was their greatest advantage, every single devil in the building was a fighter used to that reality in a way or another and if she was alone the homunculus would have already been dead.

Fortunately for her that was where her friends came from and even divided they were trying to help each other; Gasper was taking most of the workload via his sacred gear and bats but Akeno took a second of her fight to send a huge sphere that exploded with Lightning to save Leysritt from some enemies attacking from the side.

Another sword, a heavier one much to her pleasure, ended in her hands just as she knocked out a devil who was trying to run from her. It was a favor as much as it was securing that the man didn't change his mind and stop hesitating. Also it got her in line of sight against the one who took her weapon.

The claymore in her hands was large and she used it masterfully but it was still shorter compared to the halberd and a man with a knife managed to come close to her neck. Maneuvering just right the stab landed on her armor and she took no damage before cutting the man in half with her sword.

After that she threw the weapon at the devil with her halberd, his suit turning red with his blood as she managed to hit his chest. The man wasn't out by any means, he was a strong devil and there were signs of Touki around him, but that slowed him down just enough for Leysritt to get close.

And close she got even as another devil got in her way and tried a swipe for her legs. He was faster than her but when his time stopped the maid jumped over him, grabbed his wings and ripped them off while using the man as a springboard. His scream when he returned to normal went ignored by her but others were already noticing the Forbidden Balor View.

Eventually someone would have to, it was always a matter of time. "The bats! Kill the bats!" Easier said than done. None of them was a magic specialist so their blasts were slow.

There was no mistake their attacks were still faster than a handgun but while the Bishop was split in several targets all of them were fast and could get out of the way even before the attacks flew in his direction the second he saw the magic circles beginning to form.

It wasn't like Gasper would stay still and give them a chance in the first place, his bats were always moving with one closer to the ceiling positioned above Akeno who protected him indirectly while she was guarding Rossweisse.

The other problem they had was that those that stopped to fire were some of the most aggressive warriors which gave Leysritt enough space to get her weapon back and once her halberd was in her hands she rushed towards the casters with cold fury.

As the warriors they were some successfully managed to react but only after the halberd decapitated one of them. Quickly they turned to Leysritt and mana exploded in her face but the homunculus ignored the burns and cuts. She had worse and there was no stopping until all of them were dead.

Cutting the leg of one down the maid charged and tackled another while using her halberd for defense. A few steps forward were followed by the back of the halberd sinking on the one leg and then shoulder to keep the man down while her elbow hit another on the chest. The second one shrugged off the blow and kept coming for a sword slash but the halberd was back for a defense.

The lock of weapons lasted barely a second before Leysritt relaxed her muscles just enough for the man to feel an opening.

It was a feint since Leysritt allowed the man to pull back and return for a stronger blow uncontested before moving out of the way. The man's sword hit his fallen comrade who was trying to get his own sword back. Previously the homunculus' foot was keeping him in place and only his arm was free to try something.

Now he was dead and the horror of his friend didn't last before Leysritt sank the halberd on his back. 'There are too many.' She wasn't used to her mind working as fast as it was, Divinity still running in her. It burned and the maid could understand why Medusa never did it before. 'Xenovia!'

She saw the bluehead locking in intense combat and didn't hesitate, the killing machine of the Einzbern giving way to the maid of Emiya and teacher of Kuoh.

Rushing to the closest enemy she could get, Liz cut off his arm and grabbed his shoulder to throw him in the right direction before dropping to a knee and blocking an attack which would cut her in half.

The devil thrown by the homunculus screamed in panic for while he was far too used to pain for it to affect him, he was never manhandled like the white haired woman just did, basically turning him into a dart that flew until he made contact with one of his allies with such force that send they both crashing just a few feet away from Xenovia.

The bluehead knight was mostly busy facing Xarth, their swords cutting everything around them apart except each other mostly thanks to Xenovia's techniques. Her skill with a sword was so high that despite her opponent being more experienced, stronger and faster he still hadn't managed to land a clean hit.

Nor did she most of the time and there was something odd about their fight. 'His movements feel… stiff and repetitive.' Xenovia thought while locking their blades for an instant where other devils began to charge to attack her from behind. 'Not now!'

It was then that Liz's delivery arrived and one of her attackers was sent flying while the others had to stop or be hit as well. Immediately after that Xenovia disengaged and her body exploded with Light as Durandal came for a hard swing at the men. A blade of pure energy manifested and while some survived, they only did so with severe burns.

The others were cut when their power failed but Xenovia didn't focus on that as she completed a spin and clashed the giant blade against Xarth who held his ground with gritted teeth.

'He is the real deal.' Of that the knight was sure even if the man's movements were wrong in ways she couldn't explain. Robotic would perhaps be a word but from what she saw on TV even robots could move more naturally. "Hey, you were an Arena fighter, right?" Instead of response she got a blast of demonic energy that broke the blade of energy.

Durandal clashed with the dual sword's lower half but it wasn't for long as both knew that the Holy Sword would break his blade if it lasted long enough. So the contest was brief, just enough for the Holy Energy to dissipate harmlessly just after the blade took most of it. Then the upper blade came with a vengeance for Xenovia's eyes but she expected that.

As the blade came she took a precise step to the right and turned her body exactly to let the edge pass along harmlessly while taking a swing of her own. Durandal's aura was discrete but active and Xenovia was sure that if it made contact the devil would be either badly wounded or dead.

It didn't as the man did a similar evasive maneuver but much less gracefully, the Holy Sword managed to tore his suit up a little but his arm was safe and he aimed a follow up on the bluehead's back.

Xenovia threw her own attack by jumping with Durandal aimed for the man's head in a slash similar to his own.

Both the fighters' eyes sharpened at the blades coming without fear but the man felt his life was in greater peril. His instincts had his wings pulling him away just as the swords were about to connect, Durandal coming close to his nose while his sword failed just before touching her cape.

A cut appeared between the man's eyes, just above his nose, while Xenovia landed in a crouch and springed herself in his direction for a stab. Spinning his blades to gain momentum and making his defense unpredictable, the old memories of the Arena told Xarth that his opponent would stop.

Xenovia didn't stop and her charge was completed with Durandal colliding with the devil's blade. For a moment the burly man believed he still successfully blocked the hit.

However the blade in his waist's left side had Xarth believing he made some sort of mistake. It was the most painful experience he ever had in his life and yet the man's face didn't change from an angry snarl. Still he waved and almost fell from it as Holy Energy coursed through his veins for the first time in his life.

Durandal was already coming back for another stab, the Holy Aura making the sword slightly taller. Her arms were shaking a little from Xarth's strength but she wasn't stopping.

Not until Shirou was safe.

Old instincts flared again and Xarth's wings had him retreating with a cut on his cheek that burned as much as the one in his waist. The man started to recall when the Matron spoke of the Mage of Swords' subordinate and the name of the weapon in her hands; Durandal the Peerless Sword.

A Holy Sword of high level that could harm the strongest of devils. A single direct hit would mean death for him, Queen Piece or not.

Two of Xarth's allies remaining in their section of the hall rushed to save their commander, Xenovia glaring as a man with a sword similar to an ax almost got her and another with a fencing sword but obviously sharper aimed for her chest as soon as she repositioned.

Xenovia dodged by moving her body to the sides before using her cape to impair the vision of the latter as the former came after for a side slash. Durandal met the bigger blade as her other hand used the cape as leverage to turn the thinner sword to the side so she could safely close the distance with the fencer.

When she was close the bluehead charged her cloak with Ki and used her momentum to lift the fencer over her shoulder for a throw. The devil tried to react but her Light made so there was no contest of strength when he grew weak. Just being around Xenovia was troublesome and the cape around his arm just made matters worse.

Durandal escaped the ax sword and its owner had to react quickly to his ally flying in his direction. He managed to get his blade out of the way and push the other man with his right arm.

"Get off!" Were the ax-like sword user's last words as Durandal came to his chest with Holy Energy to spare.

Xenovia made sure to sink her sword all the way through the devil and let the Holy Energy flow while she looked around. The number of enemies pestering her had diminished considerably and from her peripherals she saw most of Lakmia's lackeys were already out. She noted Leysritt had the situation under control while Akeno dealt with her own strong enemy.

'So just two more-' A spike of demonic energy cut her thoughts and Xenovia looked at the fencer upon feeling the danger coming from his direction.

Except that while the man held his sword close on guard he was doing nothing other than look at her fearfully as Durandal burned the corpse she was using as a shield.

When the fencer was cut into pieces by six flying blades of pure mana Xenovia realized the power wasn't coming from him. Forcing Durandal to destroy the corpse completely, the Holy Sword was quickly raised in her defense. She was too slow, at least too slow to get away unharmed.

Her combat uniform was damaged on her tight, shoulder and arm as it also failed in protecting its owner. Durandal for its part managed to do its work by blocking the blades going for her head and chest while her Ki kept her moving away when more blades flew in her direction.

The responsible for the fencer's death was no other than Xarth and for the first time in a long time his face showed his conflict. 'I killed an ally. A companion of war.' His mind wasn't in a manor or in Gremory territory.

No, it was in a wasteland where many men with armor fought and fought. Things were simpler in those days and despite losing most of his companions it was never by his own hand.

A blink of an eye later he was back to reality as he was flying a few feet above the floor with his sword resting in his hands. Mana surrounded him and flowed into his weapon where it was focused on the edges of his sword. He wanted to scream, to shout, to say sorry to a devil who was his ally and was killed accidentally.

Not really accidentally, he knew, but strategically. His mind thought about that particular advantage for a split second and his body moved without his input.

Xarth wasn't really the one driving.

'What was his name?' The man he once was managed to think for himself as grief pushed through the control on his mind.

For a moment he was strong enough to break free and escape the prison bars his mind became. Then he saw her, from the corner of his eye and standing in the shadows in a position only he could see and only because the Piece in his body drew attention to her.

The cage was shut tightly for there was only grief and that emotion, while strong, wasn't enough to free him.

"You are my Queen." Those words kept playing in his head. "And you shall do my bidding and destroy my enemies. Whatever it takes." Xarth heard the voice and could only obey.

And obey he did as defending his mistress home was more than an order, so much more. The compulsion to eradicate her enemies kept pounding Xarth's head and burying his conscience as demonic energy surged around him. Mana was channeled around his blade and he let it go towards the bluehead, not caring about anything else on his path.

Durandal vibrated as the dual swords slashed the air and released blade after blade of mana. Xenovia dodged the first ones until she saw the attack kill another devil.

"What are you doing?" She asked with fury. "You are killing your own allies!" Xarth didn't dignify her with an answer, he couldn't. His orders were absolute and more blades of mana flew towards Xenovia, forcing her to keep moving and killing more people behind her. "Stop!"

But the man wouldn't so she needed to act and her sword responded.

"Durandal!" And so a sword made of Holy Energy pierced through the rooftop of the manor but missed its quarry as Xarth dodged to the just in time to avoid being hit. "WHOOOOOOO!"

No problem for Xenovia as despite its size the weight of the weapon was still the same; perfect for her as Durandal could only be.

Much of the manor started being destroyed as the blade passed but the attack remained confined to just a few hallways beyond the main hall. It was still too big, big enough that even the bluehead's allies froze and started to pay attention to the blade of energy that started to bring the place down.

"Is she mad?" Rossweisse asked with a groan as the rune in her hand broke apart by the Holy Energies filling the place. 'This shouldn't be this hard as I am just looking for one person. Unless someone else-'

"We like to call her 'open minded'." Akeno replied with a chuckle as only one of her opponents remained standing and looked willing to fight despite the giant Light blade cutting everything.

The problematic devil had lost his sword and his body was falling apart with burns all around it to the point he was partially unrecognizable. He only had Akeno to blame and if she was honest with herself she had been trying to kill him for a while. Problem was he just refused to fall and if his expression at least changed for one of determination or pain or anything she would commend him for it.

But Akeno saw no emotion and that worried her. "Lakimia, what have you done?" Asked the Queen with gritted teeth before throwing her chains at him and at that point it was easy to wrap him on them. "Please stop. I don't want to hurt you anymore." His expression remained blank even as he charged.

Lightning ran through his body but he wasn't stopping, couldn't stop. All he had were his orders and old instincts that despite demanding him to surrender and accept defeat were ignored, leaving only the idea of killing Akeno as fast as possible. With her death there should be no more pain and somewhere in his mind he hoped his old team would pick him up after.

They had already left him once he joined the Matron, he had nothing, not even his name as he was a faceless soldier serving under the Matron of Runeas and doing her bidding as her secret Rook.

So he kept charging, his aura flickering and his power waning as the end was near.

Akeno threw him to the side with all her strength and the man flew until he hit a wall. "Still no reaction."

"What is in your mind?" Despite Durandal's energy flooding the area, Rossweisse wasn't distracted by it. However the way Akeno began to fight, almost mournfully, drew her attention. "Something is wrong with that man, I can tell. And he isn't the only one." The Valkyrie turned to Xarth, still in the air and avoiding Xenovia for as long as he could. "Do you suspect something?"

"I have no clue what could cause this but… Lakmia was Rias' favorite 'aunt' and even before kidnapping Shirou-kun she was already doing this to people…" While she glared at the problematic devil, slowly standing up despite new wounds and several broken bones, her hatred wasn't for him. "How did we miss this?"

Rossweisse had no reply but had a suggestion. "In any case, perhaps killing him will be a mercy. As a Valkyrie I can tell his spirit is broken." At Akeno's confused look, she added. "I can't see souls, not inside people's bodies. But the spirit, the emotions from people… Even you can tell, that man has nothing. And this… isn't how anyone should live."

Had not been by Odin's orders Rossweisse would have already acted herself to end his suffering.

"You are right. Finish the rune, please." With nobody else attacking and the fighting ending with their victory, nothing should get in her way.

And with so few enemies still standing Akeno didn't need to play bodyguard anymore either so she was free to charge straight towards the problematic devil who had managed to get up one more time.

The man barely reacted by channeling the last dregs of his mana into his fist and punching the ravenhead's direction. Akeno had no problem in catching the attack and tying the man's arm with chains before pulling him down. She made sure to also tie up his other arm before standing above him with the arrowhead of her weapon aimed to his eyes.

Even in those circumstances, with Lightning so strong that it was practically cooking the man alive being pushed into his body, the problematic devil kept fighting, trying to break free and attack Akeno one more time.

"Lakmia will pay for this." Were Akeno's last words to the man before the arrowhead of her chain grew into a nail she used to stab the man between the eyes. "I swear she will, even if it is the last thing I do."

Hatred burned in her heart and the True Hybrid wouldn't rest until it burned Lakmia, any previous respect and affection she had held for the woman turning to ash in that pyre until the man finally passed away.

Akeno noticed his peaceful expression and hoped it was real. "Rest in peace." She closed his eyes gently before her voice grew cold. "Unless she has a very good explanation, she will be screaming by the time I am done."

Her vengeful thoughts didn't last long as she saw Gasper's bats dodge the Holy Energy sword as the damage grew worse.

"Gasper, gather together and guard Rossweisse again! Xenovia, you are destroying everything and we don't know where Shirou-kun is! Stop!"

Upon the Queen's words the Holy Energy diminished and returned to its blade which gave Xarth the opportunity to finally counter attack. Akeno was about to go and reinforce Xenovia when her eye caught Leysritt still dealing with the last remains of Lakmia's forces and struggling a bit.

Thinking quickly and evaluating the situation she judged that Xenovia could still win without assistance while Liz could end badly hurt. Both were bleeding already but while the knight had just a few cuts, the maid on the other hand was struggling to stay on her feet while also keeping the devils at bay.

Clearly the latter was the one who needed most help so Akeno's chains flew in that direction, easily capturing one devil and taking him out of the fight before moving to the next. The chain in her right hand swiftly moved to protect Liz from above while the left took down another enemy.

They soon turned to the new arrival, horror coloring their faces as they realized most of their group were already defeated. 'Good, those have some emotion.' Akeno could already tell the clean up would be fun.

She was beside the white haired maid who nodded in appreciation before they pressed their backs together. Lightning Chains danced around them and began to attack everywhere all at once, the links ricocheting on the floor to keep up speed while the tip of the arrow pierced their enemies.

There were just two chains so the majority managed to defend or dodge but one advanced in the ravenhead's direction to deal with the threat, forgetting that they still had Leysritt to contend with.

The maid took a swing with her halberd and the man side stepped just before it was too late. His sword turned to challenge Liz but the chain came from behind and pierced his shoulder.

It wasn't only that one, many devils were suffering at the same time as Akeno made the chains bigger as their links danced around. Most of those men were warriors of the Arena once but the Queen of Gremory was already above them. Their defenses fell and the ravenhead dominated with her Element.

One or two were still strong enough to keep fighting or at least react despite Lightning punishing them at Akeno's command while others kept dodging the links at any cost. Those who managed to dodge the chains found themselves failing once they entered Liz's reach. And once their attacks began they couldn't stop or else the chains would come to finish them off.

For years the Matron's men had kept much of Runeas Underbelly in check. They had locked the criminal element through negotiation and respect for their leader but also by acting as enforcers when needed. More than one upstart or fool who broke the rules found themselves falling against their blades.

That meant nothing anymore as they were the ones finding themselves beaten. And by a much smaller force no less.

Akeno's arms danced with her chains and to finalize the few standing and their hopes were crushed every time one of them broke though the Queen's power only to meet a halberd to the face.

Finally one of the men in suit dropped his sword in surrender like a few others did before. The difference was that man wasn't conflicted about orders but instead realized they were soundly defeated.

Unfortunately for him Akeno wasn't taking any chances anymore and Thunder hit his chest, launching him until he crashed against the wall and lost consciousness. The Queen then gripped her chain again to whip it around and defeat the last three enemies standing before Liz tracked her down.

The ravenhead's targets were cut to pieces right before her eyes. "Him again!" She glared at Xarth, who was moving around like a mad man trying to kill Xenovia, and held back a curse.

"Down!" Liz pushed her friend to the floor again as the blades of mana kept going around.

"How is he still going?. His reserves are almost completely drained." Akeno wasn't talking to anyone but mostly herself as only she could feel how exhausted the man had to be.

"He is a Berserker of some sort. Perhaps he has a Madness Enhancement of some sort." Was the best explanation the maid could give anyway. The Divine mana that had sustained her for so long began to grow weaker and the homunculus was starting to feel more like her normal self. "Won't stop until he is killed."

By the look of conflict on Xenovia's eyes and Xarth's anguished expression, Akeno wished that the maid was wrong.

…

Xarth was lost in the battlefield, all his squad had expired and Xarth couldn't help but ask himself if those battles against his kin were in any way similar to the ones from the Great War.

His blades moved with desperation as his chest hurt more as his attack killed more people from his side. 'I am sorry.' He wanted to scream but couldn't, not while the enemy was still standing. The Holy Sword user came when he began to falter but his wings pulled him away in time.

Once upon a time he had a brother, both sons of the same father but different mothers. Their father was a loyal subject of the Maou and a commander of some sort despite not holding any power. They weren't Pillars after all, just devils who were born to serve the Pillars following tradition.

Legions were how those armies were called and only their descendants remained after the Great War. 'Did father die like this?' Xarth wondered between the fog of exhaustion and the curse of his Queen Piece. 'Against a Holy Sword? Or was it an angel?' Nobody told him, there wasn't a body to confirm one way or another.

The Legions were destroyed, most of the devil population was gutted and the descendants of the Original Maous were seen as weak. Sides began to be drawn once Sirzechs showed his power for the first time. Power was more valuable than coin and everybody knew another war was brewing.

'I am loyal…' Xarth managed to think while swinging his swords desperately. 'I am loyal.' He wanted to announce out loud, to shout to the Heavens and be free. 'I AM LOYAL!' Xenovia jumped in an entrance for the second floor and threw a slash that clipped his wing.

After the Great War it was like everything went wrong at once, devils began to accuse each other of disloyalty and blame was thrown everywhere. Gremory acted first in defense of their prodigious son and he didn't stay silent once threats were spoken out loud. Worse yet the oldest descendant of Lucifer, the supposedly Strongest Devil, washed his hands off them.

Ignoring the loss of his wing, Xarth managed to land safely despite exhaustion and the new burn that threatened to eat him alive. He could feel Holy invading his body and despite the man not wishing to do it, the Piece obeyed its King and to preserve his efficiency in the fight he cut the remnants of his wing off.

Who started the fight was irrelevant once the words had been said as neither Xarth or his brother would ever speak to each other after them. The lines had reached their small family and they couldn't compromise their beliefs. One brother spoke fondly of the future to come, a new order. The other spoke of legacy, loyalty and their father's legacy. So Xarth joined the Old Satan Faction and when next he saw his brother would be the last.

Xenovia was in front of Xarth in a flash, her Ki pulsed and banished the blast of mana he sent her way before she took a swing with Durandal. The blade's size was misleading and while he managed to block the Holy Sword his weapon was cut in half. No longer he had a dual sword but two swords in each hand, just like he had these days back in the army.

Keeping his vows was easy and the men around him were in high spirits during the first days. They trusted their leader, the new Lord Beelzebub, someone whose power could only be outshined by his intelligence. Xarth made true friends there, men who he was glad to serve with. Men who he wished he had died with.

Two swords clashed against the Holy one as Xarth found himself unable to use his most powerful technique. Not only was his mana too low, Bishop's reserves or not, unless his two hands were holding his sword he couldn't focus. However the two swords gave him a bit more freedom to maneuver and push Xenovia to the side with his superior strength.

For a slash on her back that she barely evaded enough for it to not be fatal. The bluehead countered with a leg swipe against his knees and the devil faltered and fell on his back.

When Durandal came for his shoulder, Xarth was already rolling away. "Give up!" Xenovia's voice carried resolve and pity mixed together.

Not that the man could tell, lost in the fight, lost in his memories.

The war wasn't long, at least for devils standards, which was mostly thanks to the several powerhouses on both sides. Soldiers like him were still important to watch their leaders' backs, secure retreats or guard important positions. While never promoted, Xarth grew enough he had been involved in several battles, losing friends, his new family, in several of them.

It was in the middle of all of those things he saw the body of his brother, killed by his new family. Not that any of them survived as their squads had crashed and killed each other until only Xarth was left standing. He was left alone to cry as the Underworld Civil War ended.

A swing at Xenovia's leg followed by a stomp on her chest when Durandal blocked his blade. The bluehead was pushed just a few steps back before countering attack with a growl and a huge blade full of Holy Energy. Xarth managed to partially deflect it with his other sword but it was costly since the Holy Aura grazed his skin again.

After losing everyone Xarth didn't know what to do with himself, all his family had perished and the cause he had fought for had ended up in failure. Rumors ran around that the New Maous were rounding up the Old Satan Faction's soldiers to send to the WIldlands and he didn't want to go. Fortunately he looked enough like his brother he could pretend he followed Gremory from the beginning.

Pain so great that almost made the devil cry ran across his whole being but he couldn't stop moving, not with the King Piece's orders still active. He began to swing desperately to get away from the bluehead but Xenovia was aggressive and threw a stab to his side. It was like the most terrible of poisons had been injected on his veins.

He didn't want much when he joined the Arena, just to get some money, meet a cute girl and start his own family. The last part was more out of duty than anything, Xarth had promised to name his children after his father and brother. Thanks to his life as a soldier, he dominated and quickly grew in fame until the Matron asked for a meeting.

'That was when the good days ended.' Xarth returned to the present as his body was still following the motions. Involuntarily he dropped one of his swords to hold his side while raising the other just in time to deflect Durandal. 'Lakmia cursed me, used me, enslaved me and now I will die for her without accomplishing anything…'

Another blow came and his remaining sword struggled as he felt his hand breaking because of Xenovia's blows. Body growing weak by the second, Xarth recognized the signs of his defeat, or better yet that he had no longer any chance of winning.

And if his mind recognized it, so did the Queen Piece but that made little difference, his body would keep fighting until his King ordered him to stop or until he breathed his last which would be a mercy at that point.

Mercy that he started to beg for. "Please…" Took all his effort to talk, something that obviously shocked Xenovia. "Please… Kill me… Please-" His will broke and his mind was lost as the Piece took over.

But an echo of his emotions remained as tears began to flee his eyes much to Xenovia's fury. "Blast it!" Clearly the idea of killing someone in his condition didn't please her in the slightest. "AKENO! CAN WE DO SOMETHING?!" Durandal held his sword in place as the knight held Xarth's shoulder.

He already knew the answer and was relieved when his fellow Queen understood the situation. "Whatever is controlling him isn't going to let you knock him out and force him to keep going." Every word was full of sadness as the woman which the man appreciated more than he ever would be able to express. "The only way to stop this is to put him out of his misery."

Xarth saw the fury on Xenovia's eyes give way to resolve, a resolve to give the warrior in front of her peace. He tried to say he was grateful but the bluehead mustered all her strength and threw him as far away as she could manage. With how weak his body was, it was several meters away, enough space for her to do what she had to.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Holy Aura poured from Xenovia and Durandal burned with its owner. Akeno and everyone else shifted gears and tried to stop her attack from demolishing the manor but she had no ears. "Durandal!"

By her command Durandal unleashed Roland's secret art and manifested itself as a giant sword just not big enough to scratch the ceiling as Xenovia held its power back and the blade above her head with both hands. It was massive and so powerful that motes of light like rainbows fell around the area like snow in a peaceful winter.

"Durandal." Xenovia sounded calm but the power in the word was real and the sword reacted to her intention. "Ultimate Unbroken Hallow." Then she attacked and Xarth couldn't help but smile. "Send this warrior to his true resting place!" The tower of light began to descend to cut him down and the devil couldn't be happier.

There was no dodging that and the Queen Piece knew it, just by standing close to that most Holy of Lights his body began to truly fall apart as the attack came closer but instead of feeling excruciating pain all he felt was peace and relief as his sword remained firm on his hand.

Durandal was a Holy Sword in the end and its duty was to save. That wasn't just a MIracle but its function and for those who asked for release, Durandal would gladly give them a painless end.

"Thank you."

…

The giant sword of light crashed with the walls of the building but went no further as Xenovia's opponent turned to ash through her Light. It was a close fight for a while and the bluehead was wounded but victory was hers. The devil also had been strong and while he didn't fight with honor there was no denying he was skilled.

'Why do I have this bitter taste in my mouth?' Xenovia didn't really need to ask, she realized during the fight that her opponent wasn't really her enemy and neither had full control of his actions.

Someone surprised her and everyone else by running towards the beam of Holy Light and diving into it. "Rossweisse-san!" Gasper shouted allersted the others who it was.

Gritting her teeth Xenovia reined Durandal's power with the stubborn sword, a little more tame after a job well done, allowing it with the grace of a racing horse who just won a grand prize.

The sword of Light vanished and all raced towards an unharmed Rossweisse, one hand resting on Xarth's ashes while the other held a Primeval Rune. "Shite." The Valkyrie couldn't help but say out loud.

"Are you insane?" Xenovia was angry and couldn't help herself, arriving just ahead of the others. "Were you trying to kill yourself or something-"

"His soul was worthy of Valhalla." Rossweisse cut the bluehead off with a solemn expression.

Akeno stopped Xenovia from saying anything else with a frown. "I thought devils couldn't move on to any Afterlife."

"But his soul was worthy and… I thought I could help him." Rossweisse raised her hand to show sparkles of light different from Durandal's in a more darker color. "This is what remains of his soul." They fell apart on her hand, the silver haired woman closing it sadly. "Holy Sword or not, it shouldn't break like that… Is this why you devils can't move on?"

All of Xenovia's rage became dust in the wind at hearing the Valkyrie's sadness. "Is there anything we can do?" Rossweisse offered her a sad look.

The sound of clapping and a familiar voice cut off any response. "Bravo! Bravo! So that was the power of Durandal the Peerless Sword! What a treat." And it was coming from the top floor of the manor. "I was so shocked that I needed a moment to catch my breath after that one. As expected of the Mage of Swords' followers."

Everyone quickly stood close to each other in a semicircle to look up at the new arrival, the owner of the manor herself. However there was a distinction that eliminated any shadow of doubt that Akeno may have had. She wasn't dressed to talk or do business, she was dressed for war.

Lakmia Gremory wasn't in one of her elegant dresses that the Matron of Runeas should possess but instead she was in armor of the sort that was practical and light.

It had no plates and most of its pieces weren't connected by anything leaving some openings for her tights, which showed leather pants, and beneath her shoulders. But her gauntlets easily reached her biceps meanwhile the boots ended above the knees while built to not impair her movements.

The chest piece wasn't that big, perfectly covering her breasts, waist and shoulders with smooth pads that looked to be divided in its own sections and could stop a few blades easily by themselves.

Her generous bosom rested comfortably on its chest piece as the thing was made to give them plenty of space while its shoulder pats were connected to a long red cape that marked her as Gremory nobility.

Completing her look was a confident smirk on her face as she stood there at one of the entrances of the third floor with her hair tied into a topsy turvy tail to keep it out of the way.

Worse of all things was what the girls saw in her left hand, resting on its scabbard. "That is the flower sword!" Xenovia raised Durandal at Lakmia with clear harmful intent. "What have you done to my Master?"

Lakmia smiled and shook her head. "Is that the way to talk with someone after you invaded her house and caused this much damage?" Waving her hands around, she ignored the gazes of contempt, hatred and apprehension she was receiving. "Just fixing the walls is going to be a bother. Not even amounting to how much replacing the furniture is going to cost. Tut tut tut."

"Lakmia, enough games. WIth just what I saw here, this is more than enough for an investigation." Akeno took charge and stepped forward, a chain already prepared.

"My, my, where has the respect gone? Rias' Queen or not, you aren't on my level, you know? None of you are." She looked around smirking and studying each one of them. Of all of them, only one looked fresh and her hands were busy with a spell Lakmia couldn't recognize. "Huh, are you going to insist on that if I tell you that everything I did was for the Gremory's sake?"

That was as good as a confirmation on Liz's book so she pointed her weapon at the woman. "Give Shirou back. Now!"

For a moment Lakmia looked offended by the other woman's demand but just for a moment until realization descended on her. "Hmm~ You are really loyal to your Master, aren't you. Does he trust you with his secrets?" Suddenly everyone started to get a bad feeling and Gasper couldn't stop himself from taking a step back. "You know, I don't like women but… if it is to have the Mage of Swords, perhaps I should get one of you. But which one?" Her eyes shifted to Xenovia. "One has Durandal." Then to Liz. "And the other is far stronger than the average human. So much stronger." She couldn't help but lick her lips. "Perhaps I can try girls, after all. A woman has needs and the last few centuries have been a little boring."

"Lakmia…" Akeno started to understand what was happening and she couldn't help but let out a growl of hatred. "Have you Reincarnated people in secret? Have you been enslaving all of them?"

Raising her free hand, the Matron had only three fingers up. "Just three, not much. Although you all managed to kill two of them. Such a shame." Shaking her head, she looked legitimately sad. "They were so loyal, so useful. True assets for the Gremory." Her smirk turned into a gentle smile. "Much like the Mage of Swords will be, once he is properly convinced."

"You bitch!" Xenovia roared as her Aura exploded in fury. Gasper and Akeno had no choice but retreat a little while Rossweisse and Liz watched the bluehead getting ready for battle. "Return my Master or else!"

"Oh, or else what?"

The former Exorcist let out a feral grin. "We are leaving either with him or with him and your head."

"Kinky~" Then a wave of dark red energy began to assault the entrance hall, the darkness so strong that it actually swallowed Xenovai's Light much to everyone's surprise. The King Piece on her chest pulsed as after several years she finally had the opportunity to test its power. "Don't you want to join my peerage? We just got a few spots open~"

Gulping after feeling the other woman's power, Xenovia let more of her Ki and Durandal's power wash the place. She was fighting against exhaustion and frustration but refused to give up without a fight.

Both powers clashed for a few seconds until Lakmia let hers return to her body. "Not bad, not bad."

Not liking the look Lakmia was giving her friend, Akeno let her own power flare. "Where is Shirou-kun?!"

"Emiya Shirou is a stubborn fool but soon he will be one of us, a devil."

"You think Rias will let you get away with this? She is going to be livid." Unfortunately that wasn't what worried Akeno at that moment as Lakmia's eyes never left her friends.

"Why would she be upset? If she likes him enough for rumors to say that she loves him then she will be thanking me after he is a devil. Even if he has to be coerced into giving up his secrets." Her eyes kept bouncing between the maid and the knight. "These two certainly look like they will appreciate becoming devils as well. Why was my niece hesitating?"

"You lost any right to be Rias' aunt." Akeno didn't know about the King Piece or its dangers but every instinct told her that allowing Lakmia to Reincarnate anyone was a terrible idea.

"I got a signal." Cue to Rossweisse to whisper by her side, a bright rune resting on her right hand and pointing to one of the hallways deeper into the manor. "If he is really here…"

"Ask her." Liz suggested the blunt approach.

One that Akeno saw no problems with. "Is Shirou-kun still in your manor?"

"Huh, it depends if you are going to cooperate or not." Lakmia's answer was whimsical as much was dangerous for all parts. "If you prefer to keep your hands clean, I suggest you and Gasper leave, Akeno. After signing some contracts of course." Definitive confirmation the Mage was in the manor but the woman kept going. "But if you insist on getting into the way of the Gremory's future, well… My Bishop will have to change your memories a little, just a little."

"She has no plans to let us leave." Rossweisse was referring to herself, Xenovia and Liz at any rate.

But that statement finally got the Matron's attention. "And who are you again?"

"Gasper, go to Gremory Castle and get Zeoticus-sama, quickly!" Akeno didn't waste time and the Bishop was in sync with her, opening his wings and flying to the exit in less than a second.

Lakmia was faster and was quickly in front of Gasper to deliver a back hand that sent the Bishop to a wall.

"Gasper!" Akeno failed to hold back her panic as Xenovia raised Durandal and attacked the Matron with no hesitation.

Her first swing was vertical and Lakmia avoided it with a short sidestep that left her open for a follow up and Xenovia wasted no time in pulling Durandal back. However something happened and the former Exorcist slipped on some blood, her eyes growing wide as her legs spread in a perfect split.

The smile of amusement on the Matron's face was obvious to even those who didn't know her as she moved her free hand to grab the bluehead only to suddenly jump back as Akeno's chain almost grabbed the limb.

Following that interruption came Leysritt with her halberd to her side for a thrust that was deflected by the redhead's sheathed sword before its handle collided with her stomach. Her armor cracked in several places and homunculus couldn't help but bend over because of the impact, leaving herself open for Lakmia who was moving for her neck.

Akeno came for the save again as her chain tied itself around the maid's waist and pulled her back just in time. "Don't rush like that." She criticized both her allies but Xenovia was still shocked.

"I haven't slipped like that in years." The bluehead showed her balance by easily getting up despite still stepping on the same pool of blood that made her fall in the first place.

The ravenhead couldn't blame her. "It isn't your fault, it is- Thunder Spheres!" The Queen unleashed her power as Lakmia began to charge towards them.

The older woman waved around the four spheres before doing a front flip to avoid the last one and close the distance with the other three women. A mighty kick sent the Queen flying while her still sheathed sword bashed Durandal down and her free hand punished the homunculus to the ground.

"If it is to Reincarnate someone, I suppose the Owner of Durandal is the better pick." Commented the Matron as her hand moved to grab Xenovia only to move a little too slow as the bluehead retreated. "Careful, dear." Not that she was worried as the knight almost fell again thanks to some pebbles.

However by that point Lakmia's attention had shifted for two other targets; Gasper was flying to the exit at full throttle while Rossweisse made a mad dash for one of the hallways of the manor.

Both were going in complete opposite directions and despite her speed Lakmia couldn't reach both fast enough unless something distracted them.

There was a good reason her title was Thousand Ruin, her eyes already locked on the best route to stop both of them, immobilize Gasper for a few seconds and take out the long silver haired woman at the same time.

So Lakmia accelerated in a diagonal line that would have her on Rossweisse's position in a moment if she played her cards right, her mana affecting the whole hall as the possibilities and variables began to change wherever she passed.

Coming close to a chair she bashed it all with her sword before kicking another sword that was unseemly resting on the ground after its owner's death. The huge chair flew in the Bishop of Gremory's direction and Gasper could do nothing when it got in his way, hitting his head.

If Gasper's situation was weird to any observer then the events surrounding Rossweisse were just as bizarre since the Valkyrie was about to enter the hallway when the sword Lakmia had kicked connected with another two swords before hitting a wall and appearing on her way just above her left eye.

The Valkyrie reacted, quickly spinning in a heel to avoid the sharp weapon and certain death when she detected the devil's presence and grabbed the sword mid air to block Lakmia's attack.

Sparks flew close to Rossweisse's face as Gasper collided on the floor and the others quickly turned to watch as the six blades of Shirou's creation were stopped by a single weapon on the Valkyrie's previously free hand.

"And who are you again? We haven't been introduced." The Matron commented as she pushed her sword down with both hands.

"Do you even care?" The Valkyrie managed to ask as she recognized the woman's eyes full of contempt and superiority.

Behind her, the redhead heard her scabbard hit something. "I suppose not." In a fast maneuver Lakmia pushed Rossweisse's sword down and moved her blades to stab the Valkyrie, with six of them any damage would be crippling or fatal.

Something the silver haired woman realized quite quickly and stepped back to avoid the hit only to be met with multiple stabs coming in her direction. Moving around two more, the third was repealed by her borrowed sword which opened the way for the Valkyrie to hit the devil with her shoulder.

There was some surprise on Lakmia's face as she recovered her balance but it lasted milliseconds before she opened her wings to dodge a slash from the borrowed sword in a counter.

Only for another sword to be flying in Rossweisse's direction so fast that the woman was forced to roll to the side as the devil came down from a slash of three blades at once. Fortunately for Odin's bodyguard three or six blades didn't change the fact that Lakmia's sword was light so blocking was easier than it should be.

Her eyes focused on the devil above her, Rossweisse still used her peripherals to see that nobody had thrown that sword in her direction unless someone was pretending to be dead or something of the like.

That momentary distraction was what Lakmia needed to kick the borrowed sword away and dive for a stab on the Valkyrie's shoulder that would deprive her of an arm. Reacting quickly, Rossweisse jumped back several times while creating runes on her back to pull her away as the redhead smiled and threw another swing at her.

Only to be stopped by Akeno, Xenovia and Leysritt attacking together, something that Lakmia saw early enough to pivot on her swing to keep Durandal away and catch the halberd with a hand.

Nothing protected her from the Lightning Chain tying itself around her and Akeno unleashed a discharge strong enough to fry the women alive.

Only for it to not happen as demonic energy exploded from Lakmia's body and broke the chain before she threw the other two fighters away. "Your chains are still too weak, Akeno!" Her sharp eyes noticed Gasper getting up and grabbing a piece of wood she threw at the Bishop.

Gasper heard the shouts of warning and managed to move to the side only to stumble and fall on his knees which caused the projectile to sink on his back and tear part of his wing apart.

The boy cried and the older devil laughed. "No no no, I need to finish this before you get the family here. Hahaha." Lakmia retreated at Xenovia's attempt to cut her in half, landing close to Xarth's ashes. "After all, it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." Looking around the Matron frowned for a moment before shrugging. "Looks like you provide the bodies to make my story more convincing."

"What are you-"

"Akeno, hush dear, you are acting like a child. Not seeing the full picture." With a wave of her hand a magic circle began to disrupt the ashes until something emerged from it. "For the Gremory's sake it is best if the Mage of Swords becomes one of us and since neither of you are going to be good children and cooperate, I will have to take extreme measures." A Queen Evil Piece appeared on her hand, glowing in an ominous red light.

"Akeno, that Evil Piece feels wrong." Xenovia observed and the Queen couldn't help but nod as everyone could feel far too much demonic energy coming from that Piece.

"Isn't that normal?" Being the first Evil Piece she saw, Rossweisse couldn't say one way or another.

"No. It has a Geass on it. A really strong one." Leysritt, an Einzbern homunculus, noticed immediately.

Shaking her head, Xenovia looked at the wounded Gasper before focusing back on Lakmia. "You know what she can do, Akeno. Tell us so I can cut her head off." Durandal's Aura pulsed with the bluehead's bloodlust.

"It is rather rude to talk about someone right in their face, you know?" Lakmia said playfully. "Well, not that it matters anyway, Xenovia Quarta, none of you are strong enough to beat me."

"Too arrogant, mostly what I expected from devils, really." Rossweisse couldn't help but say, earning the redhead's attention once more.

"Hmph. You should stay silent girl. You are not part of the Mage of Swords retinue nor is involved with any of our business. Perhaps I won't even waste time changing your memories." It wasn't the first time she said something like that and everyone began to understand Lakmia's plan. "Either way, one of you is going to tell me how the Mage of Swords is avoiding Reincarnation or you will become the corpse to sell the story that he was kidnaped. Either way, Akeno, don't worry dear, you and Gasper will be just fine after a beating or two."

Xenovia tried to step forward and attack again but the ravenhead Queen placed an arm in her way. "You really think any of this is going to work?"

"Why shouldn't it? After all, sometimes bad things happen with good people." More demonic energy poured from the woman, far more than Akeno had and that was concerning to her friends who knew the depths of her power. "It is all just a matter of Luck."

…..

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