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Chapter 29: So a Dragon, Devil, God, and Fox...
There was an intense standoff that could be felt in the room as the goddess and Ruby stared each other down. The other dragons being reincarnates felt a sudden rise in aggression out of their control, but Ruby and the other supernatural entities knew very well the cause of this tension. Cultural history would dictate that gods of the heavens and demons of hellish origin were natural enemies. While not false, it was not the exact truth. It is natural in cases that demons can never conquer the heavens as in the classic case of good versus evil.
The gods' in their superiority of all reality only have one to contest them on equal ground: the dragons. Gods and dragons have always been natural rivals since time immemorial. Whether it be on the side of good or evil, it never mattered. This feud went beyond the likes of good and evil and rather it was about whether order or chaos was the deciding power. In almost every case of a god and dragon encountering each other, especially if they are on a similar level, they have fought for who was the ultimate among them.
So it was that instinctual aggression that gave rise to Ruby's power as she stared back at the goddess. To her, the goddess was an entity that she had to eliminate via her instincts, but Ruby was able to hold it up. The blonde woman who once entered with a happy cheer, frowned at the dragons in the room, and a cold gleam appeared in her crimson eyes projected at Ruby who was the strongest dragon in the room.
"Ah, Lord Kurama," the goddess spoke, her tone flat with hidden venom as she kept the stare between herself and Ruby, "I was not expecting so many - dragons here. What a... nice surprise."
"Ruby is a good friend of the family, Ereshkigal." Yasaka informed gesturing to the Red Dragon Empress. "She was more than welcome to bring her own friends here for Kunou's birthday."
"Right... that's... fine." The identified death goddess of ancient Uruk said, her left eye twitching as she had the urge to attack with so many dragons around her.
The platters full of plates piled with steaming cooking were slightly shaking from the strain in Ereshkigal's arms, but not from fatigue. She barely kept her voice as neutral as possible with the two kids and their parents in the room. There was mighty need in the deity's body to smite the dragon before her. It didn't help that Ereshkigal's own past encounters with dragons never went so well. Motherfucking Azi Dahaka and Crom Crouach coming into Kur and wrecking the cages she spends so long to build for the souls of the departed. Do they know how long she takes building those!?
Meanwhile, Ddraig was relaying his encyclopedia-like knowledge when the goddess' name was revealed to Ruby as she kept the glaring contest with her species' natural rival. According the Welsh Dragon of Domination, Ereshkigal was one of more older gods of Middle East and part of the Sumerian pantheon that ruled Uruk, which would later become Babylonia. The only pantheons that could possibly exceed them in age were the Americans or the Hindu patheon. In fact, it was from this pantheon that may have indirectly led to the founding of the first Biblical beliefs in humans, though it was only after the end of Gilgamesh's reign as king. The blond goddess before her was the Sumerian's death deity, a powerful one due to her domain and a supreme ruler of Kur, one of the deepest hells in the supernatural.
Now with Ddraig's great lore and wisdom out of the way, that begged the question from Ruby? How and/or why was an ancient death goddess all the way across the world here. Ruby knew she was definitely missing something, and she directed her stare to Kurama demanding for answers.
The nine-tailed fox sighed. "Ruby, meet Ereshkigal. It's complicated really, but let's just shorten it down to the fact she is Shirou's girlfriend."
"Don't you mean our future daughter-in-law?" Yasaka cooed, her ears twitching at the thought.
"Really?" Sirzechs said in a rare moment of bafflement towards his rival. "You having a goddess as a daughter-in-law? Ha-ha, you certainly have your hands full! How is the Sumerian pantheon taking this?"
"Surprisingly neutral." Kurama said. "Ishtar is the only one supportive of it, so all around it's a plus. I don't really care. Means less trouble and paperwork for me."
Sirzechs nodded sagely at the last sentence. No matter how powerful one was in the span of reality, there is one bane to topple them all. The dreaded paperwork and its magic ability to grow without anyone noticing.
The comment from Yasaka did a one-eighty on Ereshkigal's mood in an instant. Her sour demeanor ignited into a full body blushed, turning her peach skin into a glowing scarlet. Words the death goddess tried to convey only came out in sputters in her embarrassment. She only composed herself in time to make sure not to drop the food she was carrying.
Ruby sighed in exasperation. Great, now she was having trouble actually staying mad at the goddess. Despite her inner dragon snarling at the deity in front of her, she could not bring herself to be mad at such cute shyness. There was a term for it, but for the eternal life of Ruby she could not remember it.
"Ere-onee-chan's such a dere-dere." Kunou said in a fit of giggles.
"Nice one." Naruto cheered with a thumbs-up to his little sister.
'Ah, that's what it was.' Ruby thought with a mental snap. 'She's a total dere.'
"K-Kunou-chan, don't say stuff like that." Exclaimed Ereshkigal.
"But it suits you so well." Teased Kurahime, giggling behind the palm of her right hand.
"She's funny." Millicas commented until he received a light scolding from Grayfia upon keeping his manners towards people... even as an amused smile came to her usual stoic face.
Kushina did not bother to add in her own words, seemingly contempt to wait for dinner to arrive. The smirk on the redhead's lips told her own amusement at Ereshkigal's embarrassed plight. When she and Kurahime had heard that their twin brother Shirou had a girlfriend, they were at first murderous. They were both on the point of ripping the 'whore who has corrupted their precious brother' if said girlfriend didn't meet their requirements, goddess or not. Ereshkigal had passed the sisters' deadly test with her shy, yet cheery attitude that, as Kunou has dubbed, makes the death goddess a total dere-dere.
"Oh, how wonderful." Jeanne congratulated, somehow projecting a ray of light. "Are you looking forward to your wedding? When is it?"
Jeanne didn't pay much attention to the hostilities between the dragon and the god, too enraptured in the fact the woman before her was going to be married into this nice family of kitsune. Sieg could only smile at his lover's antics. It was in her title as a saint and she was already had a bright personality one could say can be manifested as a marshmallow. Cute, soft, and sweet in one. The saint's praise has the effect of making steam blow out of Ereshkigal's ears and her breathing became a bit heavier.
"Jeanne, I think she's going to faint if we tease her more." Sieg told Jeanne.
Jeanne gave a quizzical look. "Tease? What do you mean, darling?"
Sieg could only sweat drop. "Don't ever change, Jeanne."
"Ereshkigal-chan, is everything alright?"
The new voice, masculine tone with a deep pitch came from just outside the room from the door Ereshkigal walked through. They slid open once more, revealing a newcomer of young man seemingly in his early twenties. His parentage was obvious with the crimson color of his short hair from his father and the golden eyes of his mother. He stood the tallest among his siblings at six feet in height and shared Yasaka's face with Kurama's jawline. None of his kitsune features were showing, making him look genuinely human. Catching the eyes of everyone and making Yang struggle to keep in her laughter was the apron the second son of Kurama wore. It was a full body apron colored black with red edges and words sown into the fabric.
"'I am the bone of my skillet.'" Ruby read with a quirked eyebrow, glancing to the leaders of Kyoto.
Yasaka smiled. "It's a family thing."
"I'm here with lunch." The man greeted. "Ah, we have guests. Konnichiwa. My name is Shirou Otsutsuki. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance."
"S-Shiwou-kun!" Ereshkigal stuttered in surprise. "S-Sorry. I didn't give them appetizers yet because we were caught up in talking."
Shirou gave a comforting smile. "That's alright. We have guests here, so we can serve it with the main course. Wouldn't want to needlessly waste food, and you did cook it yourself."
Ereshkigal made a complicated expression, but the comedic sight of her face continuing to create new shades of red said it all. Quicker and with grace no human could possess, Ereshkigal had laden the table with dishes she had been holding the entire time. Everyone's eyes were automatically drawn to the food set before them, especially the still warm scent wafting into their nostrils. The dragons on the table looked like a ravenous pack as their eyes dilated into slits. Yang, Blake, Jaune, Nora, and Ruby shamelessly lickd their lips and exposed an array of sharp teeth ready to chow down. The rest were more reserved, but there was a strain on their faces to hold back.
The appetizers of Ereshkigal's cooking were all of native Japanese. One plate was filled to the brim with cups filled with tofu misozuke, a cheese made from tofu aging in miso for an extended period of time. Ereshkigal had added her own flair to the simple dish by garnishing it in herbs from the Mediterranean. On another plate was atsuage, deep-fried tofu with a golden brown texture that immediately catching Nora's interest when the orangenette tried to get a quick steal only for Ren to quick swat it back. Sirzechs had tried his own, but a stern glower from his wife put him in his place. However, the atsuage was placed alongside bowls of dipping sauce made with soy sauce, mirin, and daishi. Next to the atsuage were grilled peppers called ground pork, onions, and eggs grilled a nice shining brown to go along with the dip.
Placed down by platter in Ereshkigal's hands were what caught the dragon's more carnivorous appetite. It was the large plates filled with ikayaki, large squid heads grilled to perfection and filling the room with their succulent scent teasing the dragons to devour them. It was accompanied by gyoza stuffed with shrimp by what Ruby could smell from it, and teriyaki sauce for dipping. This lining of grilled squid practically glittered in gold in Ruby's eyes, nearing her to salivate like a panting dog. She wasn't the only one, and multiple thumps were heard as the pride of dragon accidentally released their tails that began to wag uncontrollably. Even Sieg and Ren, the most stoic could not stop how their bodies reacted, and Jeanne looked like she had sparkles in her eyes.
Shirou reached his hands outside the room into the hall where he brought in plates and utensils, both chopsticks and western make, for everyone at the table along with cups of green tea. None of at the table moved for the food as if they instinctively knew they had to wait for some unspoken signal to dig into the cuisine before them. Naruto for his part was impressing his siblings and parents holding himself back, but there was something off when he had to distract himself with paddle ball that was bouncing at an alarming rate.
"Must... not... be... impulsive." Muttered Naruto, beads of sweat going down his forehead.
"P-Please enjoy it." Said Ereshkigal, standing apprehensively beside Shirou.
Hands blurred across the table trying to stack their plates with as much food as possible. Sirzechs and Grayfia went for the tofu and dipping while the latter handed Millicas his own share. Ruby's pride as expected emptied the ikayaki and gyoza for the delicious meat. They were barely able to keep themselves from going feral since they were guests. Once Ruby acquired her share, she cut and stabbed a piece of an ikyaki head and brought it to her mouth. She moaned as the grilled squid melted in her mouth, and she couldn't bring herself to done it one go. This masterpiece needed to be savored.
Similar reactions went across the table. Naruto could not keep in his excitement as ate the deep-fried tofu soaked in the dipping sauce, and his kitsune features were released in their golden splendor, his nine tails waving behind him. Blake's cat ears twitched erratically and her dragon tail wagged, a happy smile on her face as she tasted the best seafood she's had in a long while. Kunou and Millicas were enjoying their meal, and even sharing pieces between them. Ruby paused in her chewing as she caught Kunou feeding Millicas with a piece of tofu misozuki held by a pair of chopsticks. Millicas accepted it eating the offered food and Kunous giggling.
Ruby's high on the delicious food was momentarily swapped away by ungodly amounts of irritation. If it wasn't for the ikayaki in her mouth, her calm would have shattered. The cup of green tea in her right hand was not so lucky growing cracks from Ruby's sudden stronger grip.
"The food is wonderful, Lady Ereshkigal." Grayfia complimented, wiping her lips with a napkin.
"Thank you." The death goddess said, hugging Shirou's arm. "They really like it."
"I knew you could do it." Shirou supported with a wonderful smile towards the blonde Sumerian goddess.
"Is she a wizard, Ruby!?" Nora exclaimed, downing her third cup of tofu misozuki. "Cause damn that is some good food."
"I am siding with Nora on this one." Pyrrha added while trying to feed Jaune with her own share. "I've never had an appetizer so heavenly."
"Funny you say that." Ruby said with an awkward chuckle. "You see, Ereshkigal here is a goddess."
Like a light switch, the mood around Remnant natives died down to a shocking stop. Mouths open for another morsel were left frozen, and Weiss was unlucky enough to be drinking her green tea and went into a coughing fit. Jeanne and Sieg's reactions were more tamed as the saint's posture straightened and the bruenette dragon widening his eyes since they had knowledge of the existence of multiple gods. All at once, WBY and JNPR trained their eyes on Ruby, who seemed abashed by the looks from her pride. This was after all their very first time meeting an actual divine entity.
Yang laughed nervously. "You're pulling our legs here, right?"
"No." Ruby said with a straight face. "This is an actual goddess. As in an all-powerful being that quite literally exists on a different plane on a higher scale than humans can. They socialize themselves in pantheons based on the very religions they create, and they can number from as few as ten to literal hundreds. Ereshkigal comes from the Sumerian pantheon, one of the oldest on Earth, and is their death goddess and ruler of their Underworld."
'Thank you, my personal encyclopedia.' Ruby thought.
[Fuck you, brat.] Ddraig swore, flipping Ruby off within the Sacred Gear.
"Uhm... hi?" Ereshkigal greeted with a nervous wave.
The Remnant natives only stared at Ereshkigal in a mix of awe, apprehension, and shock. Jaune, Nora, Blake, Weiss, and Yang were the most outspoken of the group with their hanging jaws and shaky fingers. Ruby exchanged glances with her pride and only sighed at their reactions. This was going to happen one way or another, even if the possibility was slim. To be fair, this was Ruby's second time meeting a god; the first being Amaterasu a year or two ago.
"Calm down, guys and gals." Ruby coaxed, using Senjutsu to calm their nerves down. "She isn't going to smite you. Gods are more... weird than you think."
'And if she tries, it will be a fight on her life.' Ruby added in an afterthought.
Her words calmed her pride's nerves, if only a little. Ereshkigal also seemed less apprehensive with the dragons not so jumpy in her presence. She never liked it how mortals feared her as if a single mistake will make Ereshkigal send them to Kur. That was Ishtar's shtick in the whole subjugation of mortal kind, but since the founding of the Biblical religions such as actions from the gods were practically forbidden per Yahweh. A sudden funny memory came to mind when Ereshkigal remembered Ishtar trying to seduce Adonai to lift his ban, but only met a rain of light spears by Heaven's forces. These days, her twin sister had a phobia for white feathers.
"This is their first time meeting a deity?" Sirzechs wondered as they all went back to the delicious appetizer. "But by the looks of it, these 'dragons' have never even thought of their existence until now. Isn't that strange?"
Ruby resisted scowling and mentally went on a cursing tirade. That look in Sirzechs' eyes said differently. He knew who she really was. He now knew that she was a foreigner from the other world, and with the help of his wife had connected the dots to know that she is the current Red Dragon Empress.
Not wanting to give Sirzechs the satisfaction of a response, Ruby went back to eating the delicious seafood appetizer, which served as a cue for her friends to also continue. Ereshkigal's bright smile returned seeing their more than satisfied expressions from tasting the food she made herself. It took a while to actually be able to cook, but Shirou was always helpful and so wonderfully patient in teaching the goddess. Just another reason to love her kitsune more.
To their eternal sorrow, the appetizers diminished away into nothingness. There was not a single person sitting at the table that did not want have the urge to weep a tear. However, there was also a sense of excitement for if that was the appetizer what did the main course have in store.
"Did you like the food?" Ereshkigal asked timidly. "I tried my best!"
"That was great, Ere-chan!" Cheered Naruto.
"Fu-fu, I can't wait to have another gourmet chef at home once you marry Shirou." Teased Kurahime.
"I can't lie and say that I'm not looking forward to it as well." Added Kushina, resting her chin on her knuckles.
Shirou clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Thank you for your compliments to my fiance. Now, let us enjoy the real course."
The second son of Kurama momentarily stepped out of the room to go grab something. When he came back in pushing a five layered cart, Ruby and the others had to squint their ways from the golden god rays emanating from the source of whatever Shirou brought in. Once the 'light' dimmed down, they all felt enlightened what their eyes beheld. If Ereshkigal's appetizer was a masterpiece, then what lay before them had to be of divine make.
Lost in their awed trance, none of them noticed Shirou and Ereshkigal replacing the empty appetizers for the main course of the day. Naruto was given five heaping bowls of ramen, each with their own flavor. Wooden plates featuring different sushi rolls accompanied by soy sauce and wasabi scattered across the table. Each person, except Naruto, was given a large, black pot hot to the touch filled with sukiyaki that included tempura shrimp and tonkatsu cutlets layered over thin, white noodles. Served alongside it was a plate mentaiko sprinkled with red seasoning, rice beside a vegetable and beef curry still hot, and a box of unagi. All of it was literally glittering gold before their eyes, and the chef responsible for this miracle smiled just as usual as he and Ereshkigal sat at the opposite end of the table together with their own meal of a shared hot plate topped with a cooked egg.
"What do we say?" Yasaka said, eyeing her family.
"Itadakimasu!" Cried the Otsutsukis, the Gremory family, and Ruby.
The others could not say the prayer even if they understood it. To them, it was the permission to dig right into glory manifested as food. It did go into a mess of food flying all over the place. So heavenly was the food before them that the more more ravenous eaters knew instinctively they had to savor this divine cuisine. Either with chopsticks or other utensils they took appropriate morsels into their mouths. As they slowly chewed to relish the unrivaled, perfect flavor that is Shirou's divine culinary skills, their happiness seemed to radiate itself into soft puffs of flowers around them. Occasionally, the couples at the table such as Jaune and Pyrrha or Jeanne and Sieg or even the married duos such as Sirzechs and Grayfia would have their lady partner try to feed their lover. Truly, a wonderful experience for the lovebirds in the room.
They feasted on the dinner for what felt like blissful decades, but when the last morsel was consumed they felt it was too short. Still, it was a wonderful feeling to no longer be famished anymore, especially for the dragons and their impressive appetite. Shirou did not think twice as he gathered the empty plates, bowls, and dirty utensils onto the cart to be carried into the kitchen to be washed.
"Wow, I have to hand it to you, furball." Sirzechs complimented, getting a knock on his temple by his wife for his favored insult to Kurama. "Your son really knows how to cook. He outshines some of the best in the Gremory estate."
Considering the size of a demon pillar's estate was equal to some of the largest human countries, it was quite the hefty statement.
"Of course, he got the talent from myself." Yasaka beamed with pride. "Ku-kun can't cook to save his own life. But my son Shirou has already surpassed me in the kitchen."
"...You didn't have to bring that up..." Kurama grumbled under his breath, a cloud of shame hanging over his head.
Ruby chuckled at Kurama's misfortune. It was always so hilarious to see the strongest Yokai brought to heel by his own wife, especially since he could not launch the Red Dragon Empress with a blast of gravity in Yasaka's presence. A smile grew on her lips remembering when Kurama was put on 'couch' time, and the look of misery on his face since then. She also counted herself fortunate to not stay for Yasaka's howls of bliss ringing through the city of Kyoto the following two nights. But by Great Red did Ruby almost have a heart attack when she heard Kunou say that they were trying to give her a new sibling. Her innocent Kunou-imoto was too young for that.
"Welsh Empress," Grayfia said, immediately getting Ruby's attention with a glare, "Lord Lucifer requests an audience with you. In private of course."
Taking a look around, Ruby found that Sirzechs was absent. Her ears picked up the playful chatter of Millicas and Kunou not too far from the dining room, but she could not find the Super Devil's presence. Ruby locked her emerald-ringed silver eyes back on Grayfia, who did not sway under Ruby's gaze.
"Why should I!?" Ruby said, her tone so flat to suggest to underlying menace hidden beneath it.
"Please consider it." Grayfia insisted, a hint of desperation in her voice. "We hold no ulterior motive. He - We need your help."
'Probably to bail that Gremory princess out her marriage.' Ruby thought. 'She won't learn anything and go back to being that lazy, no-good idiot relying on her peerage instead of getting stronger herself.'
Ruby was about to decline, but she felt a hand lay on her shoulder. She turned to the direction to find Yang staring back at her with a knowing smile. The blonde had heard the conversation and the plead from Grayfia for Ruby's help.
"Go on. We'll wait for you here." Yang said. "You always wanted to help people."
In that moment, Ruby felt herself leave the present and go back to a memory in the past. A time where she was more innocent in nature before realizing herself as the Red Dragon Empress. She remembered being so enamored by the heroic tales of her mother as a Huntress, and that she promised to be an even better Huntress than her. The notion of helping people... it sparked something in Ruby she thought was long lost.
Ruby glanced to Kurama. "Sensei?"
Kurama shrugged. "Go ahead, brat. Maybe you can get something over Sirzechs in this."
"...Fine." Ruby consented. "Lead me to the walking tomato of destruction."
Grayfia gave a sweat drop at the unique insult for her husband, but nonetheless stood up and gestured the Red Dragon Empress to follow. As they walked through the hallway, Ruby peeked in one room where it served as a play area where she found Millicas and Kunou playing with some each other with either toys or small shows of their power. She had to force herself forward and not go in there to interrogate Millicas about his intentions. Soon, Ruby and Grayfia arrived at a porch that was one part of an enclosed garden, one of many in Kurama's palace. There she saw Sirzechs admiring the lilies and the white flowers showering under the sunlight. His blue eyes landed on Ruby and he gave a small smile.
"Hello... Red Dragon Empress." Sirzechs greeted. "Last time we met, you made the entire council piss themselves. Some were calling for a bounty to be put on your head for that."
"I also seem to recall I verbally tore you apart." Ruby shot back.
Sirzechs chuckled nervously. "So... you were Rias' trainer for the better part of a month. It was only until Grayfia fetched them from that 'other' world. Your home, I presume?"
"Yes." Ruby confirmed. "But you're wrong in thinking that I trained Rias. So I owe you nothing. She was an annoyance at best."
Sirzechs cheek twitched. "She... means best."
"Oh yeah, let's talk about your sister for a moment." Ruby said. "Let's see. Ah, I first met her when she infiltrated my room and tried to reincarnate me in my sleep. Too bad for her that I am too powerful for her to ever do that, and not in another hundred years or a thousand would she ever be able to do so. Then let's look at Rias' peerage for a moment, but all I see from them is a bunch of abandoned pieces that she never fixed. People with trauma that Rias, as their so called beloved King, never helped them with. Never once improving themselves, much less Rias being up to standard to what I would expect from the sister of the most powerful devil ever.
"It makes you wonder really. Has your sister ever done anything by herself? Have you, Sirzechs, been holding Rias' hand? Or has it always been her peerage to answer her problems. All the Gremory princess is good for is throwing out that 'oh-so-amazing' Power of Destruction like a toddler holding a gun. Not very like you, isn't it? I would call them subpar, but that would be too nice. The whole peerage is wasted talent, but your sister..."
Ruby gave a pause to gauge Sirzechs' reaction. He never moved from his spot, but his hands balled at his sides. His face went through phases of regret and anger before finally settling on one emotion: shame. In that moment, Ruby didn't see a man in his twenties, but an entity who has existed far longer than she has. She sees a devil who has seen too much of the evil of the world and is trying to bring more good into it but is far too tired to do so. Grayfia looked to her husband, a sad frown marring her face, but internally she was weeping seeing her dear Sirzechs so vulnerable.
"Just say it." Muttered Sirzechs, holding his head down.
"...is absolutely pathetic, spoiled, and possibly brain dead." Ruby said in a blunt manner. "She has a Knight with two Sacred Gears yet uses one, has a nekoshou that refuses to use Senjutsu, and a fallen angel that doesn't even use her holy magic. And yet, she comes to me and some unfortunate souls for power when her all of her life's problems that she refuses to do herself are right front of her.
"Some can say that I am biased since I am the Red Dragon Empress, but that wasn't enough for me. I was born with this gift, so I improved on it. I made myself stronger to be worthy of the title of Welsh Empress. I earned this power through blood, sweat, and tears, and it infuriates me that people like Rias can take for granted. She could be a true star among this generation if she worked to improve her power, but all she has become is canon fodder. I don't think it looks good if the King is weaker than the peerage servants. It's either a miracle or a scam that she is High-class.
"You know what is the worst part about it? Rias is a symptom of the Underworld society as it is now. It still clings to its false sense of superiority when has had so many chances to be humbled. Maybe there are devil like you who know how the world works, who want to make the world better, but there is just so damn few of you. Say that I help you with your sister's marriage problem. Will you keep holding her hand, letting her ego kill herself."
"No, I don't think I should." Sirzechs lamented, glancing to Grayfia for a moment. "She's a young lady now, but I just could let her go. On some level, maybe I knew doing everything for her was a huge mistake because I can't always be there for her. I should've known that, and yet... I decided to be selfish in raising Rias as I did so it could numb the pain."
At Ruby's silence, Sirzechs continued. "What do I have to do? What do I do so you can save my sister for just this one time? Say it and I'll give it."
"...Why?" Among all the things he expected, Sirzechs did not think of Ruby herself asking the questions. "Why do you let them do that do you? Why do you let them walk over you like a welcome mat? You're better than that!"
"What are you saying?" Sirzechs said in bewilderment.
Ruby's face scrunched up in rage and before he knew it she rose her head to the air. Her lips parted in a raging roar followed by an inferno of rose-red flames firing into the air to prevent any property damage. The heat was enough to to make Sirzechs and Grayfia sweat.
"I respected you!" Ruby exclaimed, glaring at Sirzechs while pointing at him with a golden clawed finger. "When I heard stories about you, the hero of the Devil Civil War, the devil with the dream for a kinder world, I looked up to you! I still do, but not Sirzechs Lucifer! Sirzechs Lucifer is a pushover and a coward! He lets corruption fester in the society built upon so many sacrifices. He lets the selfish bastards get away with their crimes for their own amusement. But Sirzechs Gremory was the hope of the Underworld! He would never let that happen! He would make sure those who dared to overstep themselves, whoever dared to revel in cruelty and greed, were never a problem! So where!? Where is Sirzechs Gremory, Champion of the Great War, and her of the Civil War!?"
"I refuse to bury more bodies." Mumbled Sirzechs, his blue eyes dimmed to reveal the tired man behind. "You have no idea those wars were like for me. Too many of my people do I see dead in front of me. Too many times did I find myself knee-deep in corpses of my friends. Your words cut deep, Red Dragon - no - Ruby, but I have scars that run even deeper. I don't want to be that Sirzechs Gremory again."
A glint of the light caught Grayfia's attention, and her eyes following it to it splashed on the grass below. Her eyes widened realizing it was a single tear crying from her husband. Automatically, her hands came to her mouth her mouth to stifle any whimpers, and she had to turn her head away. The strongest Queen felt like she failed as a wife if she couldn't see the sorrow her husband suffered everyday.
'Sirzechs, why did you not tell me?' Grayfia thought. 'Why do you not let me help with this pain?'
"Three." Ruby declared, a complicated expression on her face. "Three actions you must perform if you want me to help your sister."
Sirzechs took a deep breath and looked to Ruby, finding no lie on her face. He reached into one the pockets of his pants and pulled out a roll of paper that unrolled itself. It was a Geiss Contract, a construction of magic that sealed two people in a deal via a signature of blood from both. Not even someone like himself would escape unharmed if he ever went back on his word.
"I'm listening." Sirzechs said.
Phew. That is kinda intense. Here we have pure boi Shirou. Inspired by Shirou Emiya, but the only thing he has in common is pure kindness, a Rin-lookalike finance, and divine cooking. He is just more a side character in this case, but a welcome.
As for what I am doing with Sirzechs, it is the first step in my way of redeeming him since he's one of my favorite characters and I really think the franchise could have explored more into Sirzechs' character. He basically created and led a revolution for a better devil society that was more peaceful with the rest of the world. This makes him oddly human in my opinion compared to other devils.
What I am actually doing with Sirzechs is to fix him into someone who really looks like he has been through terrible shit since living through two wars. Honestly, his true personality would be more similar to Itachi, a pacifist who saw the terrors of war and desires peace. I am planning for Sirzechs to repair the mess that is the Underworld society. I know Ishibumi isn't that big on world development, but when you look in-depth into devil society in DxD... Wow, the only thing I've seen that is as suspiciously ridiculous was when the United States somehow voted a walking orange into executive office.
For example, the Evil Piece system is a Bethesda-level mess of exploits that no doubt devils, especially High-class and ancient ones, are abusing the shit out of for their own greed. This is something that is definitely slavery because there is no consent in the reincarnation process, they literally cannot disobey their masters thus have no freedom, and are always low-class despite the fact that a good amount of them can technically be considered High-class in terms of actual power level. If a servant devil revolts, they can't win in a court because High-class have all the authority and when they become Stray Devils they are forced to turn into monsters. It doesn't matter if a low-class is High-class in power or not, they are still treated as low-class and it is all up ancient devils, who are definitely corrupt, to decide to promote them or not.
That is what I want Sirzechs to ultimately do. To realize that his dream of a better world is close to falling apart because of his negligence. When he finally comes to that realization and sees how he has been manipulated by most of the elite, he will snap. And you will all see my opinion who Sirzechs Gremory truly is.
I thought up more ideas for stories for your input for.
Vali Has a Yandere, a Highschool DxD story.
-Summary: A SI story of a heavy otaku girl reincarnated as the first daughter of Sirzechs Gremory and Grayfia Lucifuge seventeen years before canon. Realizing where and she's born, this intense fan could not be more happier and finds this to achieve her dream. First was screw over Rias. Second, take Issei's Sacred Gear. Thirdly, fight and marry Vali Lucifer because he's the best and needs the love. Yandere Female OC. Not for Rias fans.
Demon Corps of the Gotei 13, a Kimetsu no Yaiba and Bleach crossover.
-Summary: Yoriichi died in the arms of his brother, not by the blade but rather old age. He was more than ready for death, always humble throughout his life knowing his legacy continued on in his students. However, the journey of Yoriichi Tsugikuni would not end in death. For him and the rest of the Demon Corps through the following centuries, death will be the beginning. Yoriichi-Centric, OP. Featuring regular cast as time passes, especially Inosuke, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Nezuko, and all of the Hashira.
God of the Blade and Sun, a Kimetsu no Yaiba and Highschool DxD crossover.
-Summary: Issei missed his brother since he graduated from high school. He always traveled the world, only sending letters, and rarely coming home. But he still loved him. He was the best, always unbeatable with the bokken in his hand even against adults. After becoming a devil, a whole lot bizarre stuff was happening to him, especially when his big brother Yoriichi came home with a surprise. "I'M AN UNCLE!?" Yoriichi-centric. Uncle Issei. Minor crossover with Grand Order.
Up next is Chapter 30.
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