Aye, it's me again. Hewo.
Anyways, the reason this particular chapter has been delayed is quite simple actually, I couldn't figure things out. This chapter's content has actually been changed 2 times before I started to write it down. So things were going to be hella different then it is now.
Vali Lucifer found himself standing in front of the Three Great Onee-Sama's of Kuoh Academy, Rias Gremory, the Red Haired bombshell with porcelain skin and blue eyes, Akeno Himejima, the perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, a woman of alluring beauty, originated from Japan. The last of the three, Souna Shitori, originally known as Sona Sitri in the Underworld.
It seemed Rias couldn't handle things between them in the lunch break, as she demanded him to come after school hours. She freaked out after hearing him finding an interesting subject on his first day in Kuoh, Hyoudou Issei, an anomaly as he coined. Unexpectedly high amounts of condensed Holy Power, in comparison to a normal human being, oozing out from the boy.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Rias, Sona." Vali said as he made himself comfortable, accepting a cup of tea from Akeno herself, in return gave her a smile. It was true that he missed them, after their separation 5 years ago, he hadn't seen any one of them. They'd grown so much and became fine ladies on their own.
"The pleasure is ours, Vali. We have so much to catch up on, I'm sure you have many stories to tell us." Rias replied on behalf of them, with a smile of her own. She still remembered the times they would play house, with her arguing over who would be Vali's bride. Thinking about those brought a smile on her face. Those two were cousins in all but blood.
"I do have interesting adventures, but those are for another time. Pray tell, Rias, have you two formed your own peerage? I'm literally dying to meet them." Vali had said that in a manner that made both Heiresses have an unpleasant smile, Vali and his antics were tiring at worst, mildly annoying at best. Power this, strength that, quite similar to a power-driven Demon in a certain game.
"Actually… I have an incomplete set. My Rook, Toujou Koneko, is a Nekoshou. My Knight, Isaiah, or should I say, Yuuto Kiba, is a Sacred Gear user, Sword Birth to be precise. You already know Akeno, my Queen. I've acquired a Bishop, Gasper Vladi, who's been sealed for his own good, a Dhampir with a unique Sacred Gear, Forbidden Balor View."
Rias stopped at mid sentence, should she say that she has a pawn of eight? No less that said pawn is actually Vali's destined Rival? On one hand, Vali should be able to realize her Sacred Gear and demand an explanation. On the other hand, He wouldn't leave Rias alone, for having a spar and quite possibly injure Yue critically. This would prove to be an obstacle she has to overcome.
"Vali… I have to state that, if you make a move on my Pawn without my permission or knowledge, we will have a long talk, understood?" This slightly surprised the bishounen, nevertheless, he wouldn't do such a thing as that. He put a great deal of care in the heiresses, betraying their trust wasn't something he wanted to do at the moment.
Rias inhaled a deep one, this was gonna take a while.
Just as she was starting to inform Vali about his Rival, someone knocked the door. Implying that person to come in with a soft voice, the Red-head sat deeply on her couch, pinching the bridge of her nose. She knew who it was on the other side of the door, reading their Magical signature before answering.
"Good Evening, Buchou. I've finished handing out the fliers…" The intruder was no one other than her Pawn, Yue Kazegawa. A girl of seventeen, with silky pink hair reaching down to her waist, her petite figure adding cuteness to her overall appearance. Her face showing a sign of surprise, her light yellow eyes fixated at the unknown boy. Pulling out her white hoodie over her head, Yue made her way to the couch Sona and Akeno were sharing.
"Great timing, Yue. Thank you for finishing your assignment quickly. Now, I want you to meet someone. My childhood friend, Vali Lucifer, heir to the Lucifer Household and possessor of the Longinus, Divine Dividing. From now on, he will be studying with us in Kuoh Academy." Rias should've known the chaos this was going to cause, telling a newly reincarnated Devil such as herself that her Rival was leagues above her and she knew that said Rival personally.
Vali was analyzing the situation. Why would Rias tell this girl that he is the current Hakuryuukou? Being a true descendant to Lucifer should be enough for situations like this one. It was interesting, however, as always, He had to be cautious. Rias' warning was another thing, this seemed suspicious even for him.
Yue, on the other hand, was compressing the intel she had acquired. Her Rival? She heard that right? Even then, she couldn't help but admire that her Rival is surely a Bishounen, very handsome and charming. It would be alright if he didn't hate her guts, and spoil them to the damned floor, on their very first encounter.
'My will, Ddraig. I want to be buried under a Ramen store.' All of the sudden, Yue had lost her will. She couldn't blame herself, her destined Rival, the one she would clash against in a battle of death, turned out to be a freakingly overpowered Anime protagonist.
['Oh come on… You'll hold your ground against him just fine. Trust me I got this."] Really helpful, what was the Welsh Dragon going to do? Pop out of the Gear and smack him right in the face, probably not.
"I… Um… Igottagoprezhaveanicedaykthanksbai." Faster than light, the poor girl tried to excuse herself. Only to be stopped by a strong force pulling her from the collar of her hoodie. That said force was no one other than her senior, Himejima Akeno.
"Now now, adorable Yue, won't you say at least hello to our guest?" Sensing a great opportunity to tease her kouhai, Akeno didn't waste any spare moment. It was like pitting lions against each other, but Yue herself was just a plaything against Vali. Not that she would let him lay a finger on her.
Defeated, lost and afraid nonetheless, the girl complied. Like, what could be any worse than death? Then again, she didn't want to taste that feeling until she found the recipe for The Perfect Ramen, an obsession becoming not a dream but a goal. After that, she'd be okay with anything.
"Not that anything makes sense right now, but I gotta ask this. Are you, perhaps, the Red Dragon Emperor, no, the Red Dragon Empress?" The boy asked that rather nonchalantly, as if even she was, he wasn't interested at all. That tickled her a bit, underestimating her? She wasn't anything close to being prideful, but Ddraig's influence and his strength had made her a bit cocky even for a newly reincarnated Devil.
"Eh… Yup. Your Rival, in the flesh. What're you gonna do? Tear me into pieces?" Yue implied sarcastically, even if she didn't show that she was afraid, Vali could sense the tenseness in her voice. It was a good opportunity to have a closer look at his Rival, however, he couldn't break the promise he had given to Rias.
"Where's the fun in that? Rather, I'd like to see your growth. You're pathetically and severely hopeless against me now, Rival. I have other candidates that I can call my actual Rival, shame, truly." Stating that he could very well end her existence right now, Vali frowned. Why would it have to be this girl? Couldn't his Rival be someone that had an abysmal growth?
Something in his speech made Sona Sitri curious. 'Other candidates' was a vague term, even for a straightforward person like Vali. Interesting.
"Sona, do you remember the boy that challenged you in a chess match?" Vali's words were greeted with surprises from the Two Great Onee-Sama. They both know that in chess, Sona was unrivaled, let alone to be put in a hard situation by a highschool boy.
"I do, Hyoudou Issei from class 3-3. In yours, Akeno's and Tsubaki's class. What about him?" Fixing her glasses while replying, Sona made her stance. She couldn't sense anything off of him, why would Vali be interested in that boy?
"I'm sure that you've seen that orthodox cross of his. I have a feeling that he's aware of our existence as Devils. Furthermore, I'm in the opinion that he has either a Sacred Gear, or has some connections with the Vatican. He practically is a beacon of Holy Energy." Vali dropped the bomb, earning a suspicious glare from Rias, an earnest smile from Akeno and a confused look from Sona. They hadn't expected this.
"This is a matter that Sona and I have to look into, Vali. Thanks for the warning. Regarding the boy, does anyone know anything about him?" The Leader of the peerage exclaimed with a serious tone, which could be understood as none of them had felt anything regarding the boy in question.
"I don't either, Rias. We should've done our research regarding the town before you arrived, Vali. Hyoudou Issei might be a threat that has foreseen your arrival, hence Rias and I should take a primary stand on this cause." Sona's words wouldn't have made sense in normal circumstances, however, the life at stake was the only heir of Lucifer.
If something were to happen to him, the Underworld would drift into carnage in such speed that would embarrass the Civil War. The truce between the Old Satan Faction and Anti-Satan Faction is still shaky as ever, having lost the only heir from the Lucifer line would result in a turmoil that would bring the extermination of Devils as a Race.
"The question would be, how?" Sona Sitri began to concentrate, to find the answer.
Directly confronting the threat doesn't seem to be the perfect choice, even if Hyoudou Issei isn't aligned with a faction, he is still a foreigner in the Devil territory. Even though he turns out to be innocent, there is no way of reporting this to their superiors, which would then mean that with the Arrival of Vali, something threatening had made an appearance.
Silently solving the problem wouldn't be the answer either, especially against an enemy they know little to none. Is Hyoudou Issei an agent of terrorist forces? Perhaps a spy sent by Heaven? No, none of those answers made any sense for her. Taking into account that Hyoudou had never been involved in any supernatural affair would be the icing on the cake.
A mercenary that has been hired by Fallen Angels? If that was the case, then Grigori wouldn't have sent their own brethren to cause conflict in Kuoh. The Fallen Angel incident regarding Yue wouldn't have happened and they would still be under cover.
The last possible option is that Hyoudou Issei is just a clueless human, not even realizing the powers laid dormant in himself. This could be the best explanation Sona could make for the time being, however, this theory is proven to be false by Vali as he seems to be aware of their existence, regardless, still interacting with them.
His awareness of their existence denied the very possible chance that he is innocent and clear, or at least that was what the Underworld would've told them in their defence. Exterminating a likely innocent boy just because he is aware of Devils and possesses a strange influx of Holy energy doesn't make their actions just and fair.
Everything would be up to Vali and his stand, as they've perceived the threat upon his arrival. If he agrees to inflict the correct measure, then Hyoudou Issei would be exterminated in a second notice. Truly, their system of justice had proven to be not so fair in countless instances, and Hyoudou would be another instance where the Cruel in Devil would come to play.
The only possible way to come out of this standoff, would be the possibility that Hyoudou Issei aligns himself with the Underworld, or already in alliance with another faction. A pure human without any backgrounds would stand no chance against the Underworld, even if the said boy is innocent.
From the looks of it, Sona Sitri had to deal with an unforeseeable amount of headaches just because the boy contained Holy Energy.
After school hours, Hyoudou Issei found himself in a dire situation. Thinking about the game he and the President shared, meanwhile it's true that a little game of chess wouldn't hurt both parties, he was quite intrigued about it. The whole ordeal began in a state of his own foolishness and quite interestingly, boredom.
Thinking about the game actually made him smile a little, never he would've thought that out of all people, Kaichou herself would challenge him for a match. Unexpected, but welcomed nonetheless. Kaichou had an amazingly sharp mind, as she demonstrated by wrecking the whole deck with his pieces, cornering him and ending the match in an instant.
Her prowess in managing the White squares and analyzing the game further before his moves was simply breathtaking. He had to learn that technique, or at least know its basics until he could counter it with his own technique. Their match had left an impact on him. If she could use her strategies and analysis to that extent, what was she truly capable of as a Devil?
Chess itself isn't a game about defeating the opponent as many would disagree, rather, it mainly concerns the opposing parties to develop their abilities through having an unofficial warfare. Sharpening the mind and utilizing it to its fullest, cornering the opponent and reacting to unexpected strikes. It is one of the many ways of showing the individual's strength.
Issei himself had realized that in his early years, through constant practice, trial and error, failure and the sweet feeling of success. His mentor was a great player and his thought process was unpredictable, one moment of opposition, in another, preservation. The teen had known that, in chess, nothing could be any more dangerous than unpredictability. The same rule applied to life itself, as many would fear the unknown.
There is an endless sea of possibilities in a chess match, if you make a mistake, there is always a way to fix it. In a game of chess, no one is safe from defeat, only a small number of people are actually capable of being left undefeated before their retirement. The reason for that is, they've been made aware of this fact, even in the most dreadful situation, there's a way to reach out to that tiny little light.
This match could have a domino effect in his life. Hakuryuukou's arrival at Kuoh, Sona Sitri herself keeping an eye on him, Increasing tension among the Factions. Even if he said to himself that he wouldn't delve into the world of Supernatural again, it has been dragging him back, it's inevitable for most individuals. Then again, he wasn't one of the most. He possessed something, the only example of its kind, a weapon many would seek for.
"Mister! Please take a flier! It will grant your wishes." A rather irritating voice pulled him out of his own monologue. Turning back to the source of the voice, he spotted a rather interesting existence. A Magical Girl, handing him a piece of paper capable of granting his wish. Funny enough, he hadn't had any wishes lately, still, he was quite intrigued when he analyzed the flier.
The Demonic Crest of House Sitri, embedded on the surface of the paper. Coincidence? Maybe. It was interesting to see that this is the way they find their contracts, handling their fliers to humans, carelessly. Kuoh may be their territory, but that didn't mean there hadn't been any threats or people aware of Supernatural. He himself had known a handful of people that knew their identities, Vali's arrival would probably force them to make a move.
Still, he pocketed the flier. If his assumptions were correct, then he could successfully summon Sona Sitri herself. Probably to ask her to play a match against him when his parents are away. Even if she is a Devil, an important heiress at that, this wouldn't mean he would cut connections with her. As his mentor said, "A Chess rivalry is rare to be found." Maybe, he could find a rival in Sona Sitri.
This would mark the first of many mistakes he would make, as far as he could possibly imagine. Letting a Supernatural Creature come by this close to him would prove to be a fatal mistake, yet that didn't bother Issei. He knew it firsthand that every being had their own share of kindness and evil and Sona Sitri was no exception.
Nevertheless, Issei kept on his way, listening to the beautiful breezes and clashing tides, courtesy of Gaia to humanity. For now, he just had to be extra careful, no need to worry about faction clashes for the time being, as he had no part in them.
'You know what, I may have miscalculated a few things…' As it can be seen by the explosions caused by certain light spears around him, Issei knew that he screwed up something along the way, otherwise he wouldn't be targeted by an ugly looking crow with no sense of etiquette.
"Hey, do you mind if I ask you something, like why do you try to blow me up?" Swiftly evading another Light Spear coming towards his way, the brunette lightly shouted to the sky, not that he expected an answer though, this action was totally done out of reflex..
"Ants should stay as ants, now begone!" The figure floating above him answered in a rather feminine voice. The flame inside him ignited as Issei reflexively dodged another Spear without even knowing its direction. For a mind that had seen horrors of the war, this was child's play for him.
Formulating a plan of his own, the brunette continued to wear down his opponent, according to his two cents, the Fallen wouldn't be able to keep up with his stamina, allowing him to answer her assault with his own, and blowing the decisive strike on her face.
Being targeted out of nowhere was actually not that much shocking, as he was accustomed to being constantly on edge because of his past actions. The question would be how did they notice him, as far as he was concerned he had a good reputation among the Grigori, this as well due to a few favors he had done to the Governor-General in the past.
Then it crossed his mind, the Supernatural did not know the entity named Hyoudou Issei, they only knew a certain Spear-Wielding Human that brought carnage and demise upon them, his time with the faction did last long, however, it was true that he was still sought with red notice by the Underworld, upon a mistake he had made in the past.
However, nobody knew his life as the shy highschool boy Hyoudou Issei, save a few certain individuals linked with him. The brunette had made sure that he could step back from the Supernatural for good, and people that knew his identity were like brothers and sisters to him, they would rather commit Seppuku than reveal him, the trust he had in them was unshakeable.
He shall not fall, that would be an embarrassment to all he had done until now. From being the terrifying beast-boy to being finished by a Fallen Angel, how ironic would that be. However, Issei did not like irony, especially if it concerned his life.
As another Light Spear grazed his cheek, Issei had known that time had come for him to end it. The longer they continue this fight, the merrier the outcome would be for him. As Devils would probably notice the barrier around the park and probably screw him up when they find out that he's the culprit behind this.
"Just stay in one place! Can't you see that I'm trying to hit the spot?" With somewhat an erotic tone, The Fallen shouted towards the boy. If he cooperated, she wouldn't need to waste her energy! But no! He refused to die like he should. Persistent ones were always the hardest to deal with.
"You know, I can say the same to you! But whatever, this ends now." Instantly, the brunette stopped dead at his track. His words and actions didn't make sense for the Fallen, according to Grigori's information, he should be a normal human boy that had a Divine Gift, which shouldn't have been awakened by now.
Her mission was to inspect the suspect, and if possible, bring them to Grigori for Azazel to examine, not go on a killing spree with the list in her hands. However, this boy was simply too cautious to be left alive, and thus, Raynare, acted on her own, to eliminate the threat. If only she knew how wrong she was.
"The Lance that Shines to the End of The World: Rhongomyniad!"
Since her birth as a Fallen, Raynare had seen many wonders of the Human Realm. She had seen kingdoms fall and rise, Emperors come by and leave just like they have come. As a top-notch assassin that has been honed by the great minds of Grigori, there had never been a mission that she couldn't accomplish on her own.
Loyal and Fanatic to the core, just like her leaders would expect her to be. Even if that was in her nature to betray and deceive as a Proud Fallen, Raynare just couldn't throw away the only place that accepted her, and she called it home. The Watchers of the Children of God, Grigori.
Alas, for the first time in her life, Raynare knew that she screwed up big time. She had heard about that human, who assassinated countless of Supernatural creatures, regardless of their race and position. Wielding his Holy Spear, becoming the very source of destruction to those who target Humans.
It was him and his companions that rose the Humans as a faction, made them to be feared, showed the Supernatural to not meddle with their lives. Equipped with an arsenal to clash with every kind of Supernatural entity, The Boy had his fair share of inflicting punishment and chaos to the intruders.
"The Lance that Shines to the End of the World: Rhongomyniad!"
Rhongomyniad, the Sacred Lance King Arthur had used in his life-time, according to the Welsh Legends. Though the Spear was said to be a non-magical construct, unlike Excalibur and Caliburn. Instead, Rhongomyniad is blessed by the Lady of the Lake, and has gained immense Holy Energy, an attribute that, in normal conditions, the Lance should not possess.
Formerly in the possession of the Pendragon family, Rhongomyniad is said to rival the Demonic Spear of Reverse-Causality: Gae Bolg. The properties of such a mythical construct should not be underestimated, Rhongomyniad, even in the weakest state, is said to be an Anti-Fortress weapon.
However, that was not the main reason she had feared. Even if somebody possessed Rhongomyniad, they couldn't fulfill the Lance's ideals, not everybody could use it properly. Only those with utmost Holy Energy and Worthiness were chosen to wield the Mythical Spear. Their ideals should match with the Lance in order for them to utilize the Spear to its fullest.
This boy, however, had accepted the Lance as a part of him, showing unparalleled strength and unheard abilities the Spear had not shown before. As if the Lance had reshaped itself to his preference, accepting his ideals to raise the Humanity above, on the same ground where Three Factions stand. For Rhongomyniad to accept the ideal Future he has imagined for Mankind, is an achievement that could not be replicated.
"Release the Restraints, Palamedes, Mordred. This is another battle of personal gain, O' Rhongomyniad." The Restraints of The Holy Lance and Sword of Promised Victory, for one to awaken their power, they need to unseal the Relics, one by one, each with their own conditions.
Palamedes stands as the battle must be one-on-one, without intruders and allies. Whereas Mordred stands for the battle to be against Evil. Apart from those two, The Lance contains 10 more restraints, if half of the Restraints are unsealed, Rhongomyniad gains the ability to cast Pillars of Pure Light, each having strength of thousands of Light Spears.
However, this particular limitation wouldn't work on special circumstances, such as this one. Revealing the name of the Lance would unlock the ability beforehand, for just one time use in every reveal, whereas weaker, but definitely enough to burn the little crow in front of him to crisp.
"Begone, Fallen." Raynare, unable to move, due to shock and power he displayed with a flick of his wrist, succumbed under the Ray that originated from the tip of the Lance, shattering the barrier in the process. This magnitude of Light would be seen from everywhere in Kuoh, so it was just a matter of time for Devils to come here, which meant that he should quickly run away from the commotion he made.
"Welcome home, dear. We were about to leave with your father, wanna come with us?"
Already leaving? That didn't seem too normal, they would usually spend their evenings at home, rarely going out together and spending their time with Issei. However, they could do whatever they wanted. He could have that chess match today, without interruptions.
"Uh… Where are you two heading? As far as I remember today isn't a special day." He wasn't lying, but he could've forgotten something that they arranged, nevertheless, he was curious.
"Oh it's nothing like that Issei, Today is not a special day. We just want to have some fresh air with your father. Maybe stop by the neighbors when we come back." Okay, that didn't sound too bad, but he had unfinished business. He would've liked to go on a walk with them if it weren't for the fact that he had caused some mess and had to fix it in a way.
"I see, thanks Mom but I'm gonna pass. I will, probably, invite a friend of mine over after your leave." Issei could swear that his mom was going to tease him to no end, but decided not to. He didn't want to do anything like that, just a harmless chess match between him and Kaichou.
"Okay, have fun honey. Remember to apply protection, heh." Winking and having her playful smile intact, She implied what she had in her mind with a mischievous tone, which caused Issei to blush faintly. Really, even if he had tremendous power, he was still shy and couldn't hold a conversation at that level.
"I won't do such a thing…" Even if he wanted to.
Figuring out it would be best to wait for them to leave,Issei seated himself on one of the only couches their living room had to offer. Their house was not that big, but it was comfy and didn't shine out that much in the neighborhood, something that Issei liked, living like this had a peaceful aura around it.
It was clear as day that Issei was quite curious about the tactics Shitori-Kaichou could show, he could feel that she was accustomed to play as white, as White offered much more flexibility when it came to being the aggressor. So many opportunities, and all laid out in a single match of chess.
When he thought about the game they shared, Issei realized something very critical. Kaichou had used a technique to corner him instantly, but she needed to wipe clean his assets for moving crosswise, his Bishop and Queen. Even if they traded them out, She had an upper-hand as her play relied on crosswise movement.
On the brink of the match, he had no pieces to move on White Squares crosswise, which halted his defense briefly as Kaichou continued to increase the pressure on his King. Her assault was beautiful in every sense. He couldn't imagine using his Bishops so gracefully without the use of his Knights.
How could he even counter a strategy like that? Sona Sitri handled him in around ten moves, changing the direction of the match with one little detail he had slipped.
Issei knew the importance of Bishops in High-Level, but for someone that practically used Knights to breach defenses for so long and planned the short term victory, he couldn't realize the effects her Bishops had on the stage until the last minute. Kaichou used her keen intelligence and divergent tactics to divert him from the fact that her Bishop had already finished the game.
Truly, he had much to learn from the President of the Student Council.
'Well, I should prepare some tea and snacks, I wouldn't want to disappoint Kaichou, would I?' Upon their leave, Issei already started to get things done as quickly as possible, as he had limited time until his parents came back from their little walk.
He had already arranged the table, with his chess set nicely spreading onto it. He knew that Souna would choose White again, so he made her place as comfy as it could be. This match would prove to be exciting, he could feel that even now. So many possibilities, so many openings and the sweet feeling of victory, he wanted to taste it against the President.
Of course, Issei had another business with the Sitri heiress, that Ray of light couldn't come from nowhere, right? He needed to have them realize that it was him who turned the Fallen into dust, with his Rhongomyniad. Even if they possessed him no danger, that didn't mean they wouldn't alert their superiors, which would do more harm than good.
This would actually put him in a dire situation than he had ever been before, not because the Underworld would be on his tail, but due to the fact that His parents would also be in danger. That Issei will not allow to happen, even if he, due to unfortunate circumstances, passed away, or worse, became a Devil in order to serve their goals, the Hyoudou Family had no part in any of this.
'I've messed everything up in such a way that I might need to deal with every single Abrahamic faction out there due to what I did today, Yikes. Nevertheless, Tonight, I'll settle the score with Devils, and tomorrow, I'm gonna bunk off. The day after, I dunno.'
Bringing the snacks and carefully placing the hot tea on each side of the table, Issei knew that preparations were over, now it was time to summon the one and only Princess. Grabbing the flier he pocketed earlier, Issei knew the exact keyword he needed to summon her.
"I want to have a great match with your most skilled chess player, Sitri Household."
'Another note? Why? I suppose that Devil-Kings are not happy the way we are governing the town. Nevertheless, I have to report the incident that happened earlier the day. Meanwhile it's true that he couldn't find the culprit behind it, this should not be kept hidden, as it would hinder the already jeopardized trust they have in us.' Fixing her glasses, Souna Shitori began to officially write the report they have to hand to the Maou of Foreign Affairs, Serafall Leviathan.
'Date: 22th of May, 2018.
Location: Kuoh
Authorities: Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri
Kuoh, Devil Settlement in Japan, governed by Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri. Abiding by the Devil Constitution and Orders of Maou, Rias Gremory and I, Sona Sitri have come to hand in the monthly report. This report contains the aftereffects of the Fallen intrusion to the Territory.
On the name of Sitri Household, I can assure the Maous and the Council that there has not been casualties on either humans or on our Kin. Moreover, Rias Gremory, daughter to Zeoticus Gremory and Venelana Bael, has acquired another peerage member.
One that will rise the Devil Faction as a whole on the political ground, Yue Kazegawa, second grade student in Kuoh Academy. Acquired as "Pawn of Eight" Yue Kazegawa is officially declared as this Generation's Red Dragon Emperor, being the owner of Boosted Gear.
I, Sona Sitri, have as well a possible pawn candidate that would strengthen the overall dynamic between the peerages. My first impressions are that the candidate too possesses a Draconic Sacred Gear, possibly Twice Critical or A set of Vritra Gears.
Moving on, The arrival of The Heir Of Lucifer has been successful. Upon the wishes of the Old-King, Rias and I have been trying our best to keep him entertained and accompanied. Lucifer himself has a keen interest in some of the humans here, we expect him to at least acquire another member to his peerage.
Additionally, there has been a recent issue that has us intrigued. On 22th of May, Monday, 2018, we have detected an anomaly spreading around Kuoh. An entity with utmost Holy Energy, enough to engulf a Fallen Angel in a Ray of Light, effectively neutralizing the said Fallen. Rias and I will investigate further and notice you of the breakthroughs, your Majesty.
Sincerely,
Sona of the Sitri Household.'
Effectively finishing the report on her hand, Sona could now catch her breath. This amount of work and stress, it wouldn't be in vain to say that she was used to it, a bureaucrat she had been raised as. For sure, it made her look like she had actually considered becoming one. However, she had a brighter dream that spread out to her whole being.
Underworld as a place had been full of Royalties and as such, the ones with power would acquire what they wanted, even the laws benefited the rich and Noble. Sona Sitri did not like that, at all. She had seen many bright children's light fade away as they were not noble, they couldn't get the education they needed.
Even if she was from Royalty, she had emphasized with the commoners, becoming a listener and a sister to them. She was quite concerned with the lives of the poor, as the elegant lady she is, she couldn't turn a blind eye on them. She had to get involved in some way or another, to actually build up and educate the commoners and show their potential to the Whole Underworld.
It was the main reason she had applied to govern a town like Kuoh, this experience would prove to be priceless and would actually build her reputation in the eyes of the Council and Maous. Sooner or later, she would have enough influence to realize her dream, which would come in the form of a School, with the principal being none other than her.
Those particular reasons formed her stern and hardworking personality, she couldn't spare her time, not even a second, even if she was sure that she would live the rest of her life doing nothing and attending the meetings as the Sitri Heiress, she could go on without having any responsibilities. However, she refused such a dull life, she may have come from Royalty, but that didn't mean that she would embrace the traditions and obey without any questions.
She had to change the system drastically and to do that, she needed to have influence and strength as a Devil, cause even if she was young, power meant everything in Devil Society. If you have power, then every opportunity would come at your feet, including this with being from Royalty, one would even write the entire constitution from the scratch and Council would not dare to speak against it, that had already happened, courtesy of Bael Household.
"I want to have a great match with your most skilled chess player, Sitri Household."
"Hm? Usually, I wouldn't need to answer the summons, but this one seems to have only reached me, as per the wish of the summoner, I, Sona Sitri, obey thy command and fulfill your wish, contractor."
Weird.
For her to be summoned. To a place she did not expect, honestly.
The home of Hyoudou Issei, the boy that has been constantly on her mind as of late. Due to the amount of work he has unknowingly put on her shoulders, she could not find the fault in him, the beauty had to admit. Nevertheless, he too, unknowingly proved her assumptions that he is aware of their existence but rather tries to co-exist with them, a Noble behaviour he has shown.
"Hello, Kaichou. Mind sharing another game with me?" The boy exclaimed with his smile intact, Sona couldn't find any trace of uncertainty behind it, even if she tried. This summon had come at the perfect time, as Sona could further examine him and his plans, if he has, of course.
"For a human, you're not too surprised to find that your School's Council President is a Devil, but I think you already knew that, am I wrong, Hyoudou-san?" Her determination had shown and her stern face rose again, with a hint of curiosity behind her violet orbs. Hyoudou Issei, an enemy or an ally? That question would soon find its solution.
"We can discuss these matters whenever you want, Shitori-Kaichou. However, you're not wrong, I've known that You and Rias-san are Devils, and also your most recent addition, Lucifer-kun." He spoke the truth as he knew, and gestured for Souna to have a seat against him, to fulfill the contract, they needed to have a chess match, which Souna caught up.
"I want to know the details before we begin the game, Hyoudou-san. Rias and I have to determine whether you're an ally or an enemy against the Underworld. You need to answer cautiously and honestly, if you choose to not cooperate, the Underworld would need to take action against you." The beauty made herself and her goals clear, this contract would give her something more valuable than any kind of payment, a piece of intel that is priceless.
"Sure thing. I knew that you would want to do that because that is the exact thing I would've done in the same condition. First and Foremost, No. I don't possess danger or any kind of aggression towards the Underworld or her allies, I swear in my family's name and my life." Issei couldn't bring himself to include his family, as he might need to retaliate against the Underworld in the most unexpected situation.
"Secondly, I'm sure that you've seen that Ray of Light that I knowingly caused today." Now this is novel for Sona, she expected him to be the culprit, but it was only a possibility. The beauty kept her face clear of emotion, and asked him silently to continue.
"I'm sorry to say that, but your defences are pretty much breachable even for the weakest of Angels. If you are tasked with governing Kuoh, then you need to defend her citizens as well. If somebody else had been attacked, they would've bit the dust already." He made his intentions clear that he cares for the lives of the commoners and normal, something that made Sona Sitri briefly emphasize. He had a point, though.
"I agree, Hyoudou-san. However, Rias and I will be more careful as of now, due to Vali Lucifer's arrival, we need to strengthen our defenses and make him comfortable as much as possible." The beauty replied with her tone unchanging, hints of honesty and determination spreading all around.
"You can already see that I'm involved with the Supernatural, however, I neither plan to take any action against the Underworld nor her citizens. If anything, I want to co-exist with your kind and protect the Human Lives that are at stake." The brunette spoke with a voice that promised quick and painless retaliation to those who meddled with the lives of Humans, as his first priority is to realize the dream he holds, a fair and just world that merges the both kinds and establishes peace and prosperity.
"I can say that I'm delighted to hear that, Hyoudou-san. However, Rias might need to hear this first-hand. Would you mind coming to Occult Research Club tomorrow?" At last, her assumptions about the boy had come to fruition. Hyoudou Issei can be a great ally to Sitri and Gremory households if he agrees to cooperate in certain situations.
"Actually, I was thinking of skippin-" In mid sentence, he stopped. Not because he had forgotten something, but due to the intense glare he had received in response. He should've thought that being aware of their existence does not change anything, because Souna Shitori is still the Presidentof the Academy.
"Okay… I'll drop by and give my regards." Issei was so sure of himself that Kaichou would at least give him some spare time, but that didn't seem to be the case. He had another Light subject on the way, something that could've been prevented if not for his callousness.
"Moving on, I feel the need to say this. Yue Kazegawa's demise is on me, Kaichou. Had I arrived sooner, I would've burnt that Fallen before she could've had the chance to strike her. I've scouted her for at least a week and I have to tell you this, that girl possesses something incredibly dangerous that Grigori is sending their brethren to assassinate her day after day." The brunette made his feelings about the one life he couldn't save from their demise, alive she might be, but without her humanity, a servant to the Underworld…
That made things awkward for Sitri heiress, he blamed himself for Yue's initial death? Why? He wouldn't be able to monitor her 7/24 and provide enough protection. Last but not least, Hyoudou Issei implies that he was able to take on several Fallen Angels and managed to come out on top against them. Interesting, for sure.
"I'm sorry Hyoudou-san, but I couldn't understand you. Can you give more details about what you meant by having her demise on yourself?" Sona asked the obvious, she needed to know about his abnormal Supernatural side, to actually know whether he would pose a threat against someone like Vali.
"I've tailed Yue since I felt something strange from her. Draconic Energy, something that I haven't felt since eternity. As I'd tasked myself with protecting my kin, I needed to provide enough protection over them. I got proved right when I saw the first Fallen Angel hovering above her. It kept going on for at least a week, no matter the outcome, they always came after her. Grigori didn't seem to give up on the girl and I think they wouldn't have gone for her extermination had I not intervened." Issei had hung his head down in shame, he knew from the beginning that this task would cost him something.
"You could've just come and ask for our help, Hyoudou-san. We could've provided her with a shelter and ask our Maou to have a talk with the Governor-Generals of Grigori. That way, we could've prevented those events from happening and Yue would still be alive, as a human." Sona Sitri made an implication that he had a fault in it, however little it is.
"Pfft. Don't make me laugh, Sitri. You would bury your face in shame had you known how many humans had passed away to Supernatural circumstances in this town, during your reign in this town. Wait a minute and I will show you." Blaming him? As someone that had practically wasted all his life to have the Supernatural to not intervene with the lives of Humans, Issei was the least one to blame. If they want to rule, then do it rightfully.
His whole endeavor changed, when the topic came about his insecurity and callousness about not informing the Heiresses about the issue, Issei got angry and… disappointed? Sona couldn't comprehend what he tried to say and decided to do the only right thing, nothing.
"Here. Read it and see how much you've screwed up." His tone radiated anger and frustration, much of which was directed to Sona, though.
'Akihito Tanaka, 26, Male, Targeted due to his involvement with Youkais and Kyoto. Exterminated by Onis'
'Eiko Suzuki, 9, Female, Exterminated by Fallen Angels. Reason; Possession of a Divine Gift.'
'Chiyo Suzuki, 28, Female, Mother of Eiko, Exterminated by Fallen Angels.'
'Eichi Suzuki, 28, Male, Father of Eiko and Husband to Chiyo. Exterminated by Fallen Angels.'
'Ena Yoshida, 17, Male, Caught by Winds of Revolution, Status; Unknown.'
'Hanaka Watanabe, 20, Female, Neutralized by K**** B****.'
'The unfortunate ones below are the result of a Devil, an entity specialized in Memory Alteration.'
'? ?,? ?, Female, Exterminated, Reason; Unknown.'
'? ?, ?, Female, Exterminated, Reason; Unknown.'
'? ?, ?, Female, Exterminated, Reason; Unknown.'
'? ?, ?, Female, Exterminated, Reason; Unknown.'
'? ?, ?, Female, Exterminated, Sexually Assaulted, Reason; Unknown.'
'Chitose Kiryuu, 16, Female, Exterminated, only one to possess remains, Reason; Unknown.'
'Aika Kiryuu, 18, Female, Gravely Injured, sister to Chitose, has been treated by Fallen Angels to restore her identity. Status; Alive.'
'? ?, ?, Female, Exterminated, Reason; Unknown.'
The list kept on going, in each case something marvelous happened. Their remains, buried under the Kuoh Cemetery as nameless orphans, most of them were younger girls and some of them were religious, an important note it seemed. Eventually, Sona came to a halt.
'Veyrion Vapula-Haures, Heir to Haures house, ?, Male, Exterminated by Hyoudou Issei, Reason; The Culprit behind the Memory Alteration Incident.'
'I can't believe…' Even if they didn't know each other personally, almost all heirs would often hear about one another. They had a few rotten apples, but to think that one of the heirs would cause that much mayhem and in a place that was ruled by Devils.
"For your interest, Kiryuu sisters are students in Kuoh Academy. At least they used to be, if not for the fact that Aika herself possessed a Sacred Gear that prevented her from being erased, I wouldn't have enough proof to deduce my theory that innocent people were slowly being wiped out without a trace."
"I knew what I saw, Sitri. The agonizing scream from Aika was the icing on the cake, and nobody remembered her sister, apart from her. I know that Aika tried to reach out to both you and Rias, but that didn't prove to be enough. From that day, I have been searching for that bastard."
"Chitose's remains were the only clue I had, I knew it would be in vain to look for someone who would actually cooperate with me. I took Aika on my side and began to investigate. Days after, I had found that Chitose was not the only one. She was a victim of a scheme that turned out to be bigger than I had thought of."
"These people, those girls, they are innocent. Yet, here we stand, we do not even remember them. They could be one of the people we held dear in another place, another time. That man had stolen everything away from them, then it is only natural for me to retaliate in the most appropriate manner."
"When Aika first approached me, I did not remember her either, her presence had already faded away. However, I chose to believe in her, to help her. She told me about Chitose, and I showed her the nameless burials, one of which we learned belonged to her sister when I made her read these documents."
"Aika will return to Kuoh shortly after her recovery is completed, I will personally retrieve her from Azazel, and no, I am not in alliance with Fallens, I just simply know The Governor personally. When she returns, you can confirm that this event indeed happened and I didn't just assassinate one of your precious heirs."
"About Veyrion, I erased him. Every single idea he claimed to be his, I stole away from him. Made him taste the feeling he inflicted upon the innocents, I do not regret what I have done and if something like this happens again, I will take action, regardless of the circumstances."
Issei finished his explanation, an assassination about one of the influential devils of the Underworld. He had his reasons, and they were just and fair. However, Underworld would see this as an action against herself, and would forever defend her citizens, no matter the allegations and actions they took against other factions.
Sona, however, would absolutely not let that happen, ever. Hyoudou Issei did what he believed was right and it is right. The Devil in question has committed a crime that can't be defended in any possible way, not even Haures or Vapula would identify themselves with someone so wicked and cruel, even if it is the nature of Devils.
"Tell me more about Aika, Hyoudou-san. How can we help her? Rather, is it possible to help her?" One thing Sona Sitri absolutely loathed was the feeling of uselessness, there would always be a way to reach out to someone. No one is truly alone and it is not shameful to ask for their assistance.
"Aika? Even her parents do not remember who she is. Can you imagine what it feels to have never existed in the world? I can't think of any way you could help her, Kaichou. Maybe when she returns, you can assist her to adapt her new life, other than that, I don't think so."
'To have never existed?'
Something in this magnitude would crumble her whole being. Even if she isn't dependent on anybody, Sona couldn't think of a life without the annoyance of her sister, the education Lord Sitri imposed on her, and the friendship she shared with Rias. How would she fare?
She could, however, Aika is a completely different person she does not know about, someone that did not even know Supernatural existed before she was attacked by Veyrion. The pain that comes through losing her sister, her parents, the only ones that would forever care about her, does not even recognize her, terrifying for a typical High-school girl.
"I want to know, how many of these incidents happened and for how long?"
"128 cases, primarily girls and high schoolers, in the span of a month. This is only from the Memory Alteration Incident. What would happen if I counted all the cases? Let me answer that question right away."
"Four Hundred and Thirty Three cases, Four Hundred and Twenty Five deceased, in the span of Three months. All in Kuoh, every single one of them has allegedly been eliminated by Supernatural forces."
"The remaining 8, who are they? Do you know who they are?"
"I do, but do not worry. You will meet with them shortly, out of those eight, Aika and I are not the only ones you personally know. I advise you to be careful, Sona Sitri."
.
.
.
"Because I am not the only one who knows your identity."
Idk what I have done with this chap, But I think it gud.
So, here is a clue, and some explanations.
Issei likes snow, that's the clue.
Secondly, I personally think that this route is simply the best to follow. When I began writing this chapter, I had something in my mind to follow through, however, I realized that I could complicate things further without relying on plot that much and I decided to have Aika in, and developed her character from the beginning.
What I had in my mind was vastly different than what this chapter contains.
I.e; Issei would not directly confront Ray, instead would head home, then go out to have some fresh air, encounters Vali, they pretty much hang on and then Ray pops out, Issei simply goes boom boom with Rhongo and Vali goes wow.
Second Idea; Issei had a different SG when I began writing CL, but I changed that to something else that I think would make more sense, and more unique. He's practically screaming I contain Holy Energy, but other than Rhongo and his Amulet, he does not possess anything Holy, that is the second clue and explanation.
Third things third, things are going to be really messy in this route, with skirmishes and possible assassinations of high commands, or not. It really does not depend on anything tbh.
Also, Idk what I did but I don't think Sona is Sona anymore, I'll fix it in the next chap, which would bore witness to Aika's arrival, the chess match(finally), confrontation against Rias and co. Vali being Vali, as usual. And some boom boom momentos.
The last Clue, he does not possess any kind of Artificial or OC Sacred Gear, the SG itself is not used in Canon that much, so yeah, I wanna develop it.
Anyways kthxbai
Read and Review cuz it makes me hapi.