All Hell Shall Tremble (High School DxD - FGO Reincarnation Chapter 1)

"So Senpai, we're deploying tomorrow. The last battle. ...Are you feeling nervous?" Mash worried like the cute cinnamon she always was.

"Hell no!" I grinned wildly. There was nothing to fear after all. "I'm here, so we're going to win, remember." I hugged her to my chest.

"Hehe, yeah, I guess this would be nothing for Senpai." She giggles, a sound like angel chimes. All worry or fear evaporated from her.

She look up to meet my eyes, a content glow in hers. Mash stood on her toes and our lips met.


"Hey, kids, today's breakfast is HAMBURGERS!" Dulio Gesualdo said with a wide smile and laughted as the kids of the orphanage he returns to in his mission downtime, burst into cheers and ran up mob him for the food. "Hahaha, calm down everyone, I got enough for everyone around."

"Father Dulio!" The sister managing the orphanage Sister Claire glared, and she went to greet the venerated priest and Sacred Gear holder. "You can't just have them eating junk food first thing in the morn-OMPH!" The nun was silenced by a burger to the mouth.

"Now, now, Claire. You're only young once, let them have fun with a happy surprise like this every once in a while." Dulio said, before winking with one eyes, and making a shushing gesture. "Come on, it's will be our secret."

The kids looking at the interaction nodded, chuckled or copied Dulio holding up a finger to their mouth.

"Anph ifth Hi hold Hmher Greehelda hem shee chomes sho viheit? (And if I tell Sister Griselda when she comes to visit?)" Sister Claire said with a deadpan, then felt talking with a sandwich shoved in her mouth wasn't helping, and took the burger from Dulio's hand, and began to eat.

"Welp, you saw it here everyone, Sister Claire ate the burger, she approved of this plan, it was all her idea!" Dulio said quickly to which the kid laughed and cheered for.

"WAH!" Claire quickly finished her bite. "Father Dulio! You can't just throw the blame on me like always-GET BACK HERE, YOU MAN-CHILD! WHERE ARE YOU GOING!?" She cried out as she tried to grab the Senior Priest and Church Exorcist, but he childishly jumped away from her reach.

"Sorry, Claire~! I'll make it up to you." He said with an apologetic smile, before he winked and gave her a thumbs up. "And I'll have to do check up on your guest. He's still in his room?"

"Ah, he..." Clarie paused to chastise some of the kid, one even jumped on her back, so she held him so he wouldn't fall. "Yes, he only leaves his room to check out books from the church's library, or go to the bathroom."

Dulio's grinned back, his eyes widened at the pleasant surprise and nodded. Their guest had been catatonic and unresponsive since Dulio had found the poor hand all those months ago. To hear that he's finally moving out and about was goo news.

"Alright then, I'll be back a bit later." Dulio dashed away with some sandwiches left with him, ignoring Claire's cries for him being an irresponsible brat for the bad habit he was teaching the orphan kids.

Dulio however wasn't affected by her scolding, his smile shining on, as the kids were happy, well fed and playing, and Sister Claire didn't seem to be in a bind. She didn't even use her Sacred Gear on him, so he wasn't in too much trouble.

Reaching the room, Dulio opened it with dramatic flair.

"Good morning~, the Lord has brought us forth a repast! So what say you we fill up our belly my good man." Dulio even had some dramatic wind trailing through his hair, sash and jacket.

The man, undoubtedly a warrior of some sorts, with how tense but ready to move his body was. Black hair, brown eyes, a slight angular face, with features that seemed it they might be a coin flip between European or Middle Eastern.

In a sense the man, looked as average or common as can be, but his features were enhanced from how fit he looked.

"..."

Seeing the blank stare that greeted him, Dulio held up the paper bag, jangled it a little.

"I've got burgers."

The man nodded. His movement stiff, like he was considering every action.

"...Thank you." The man said, putting away the books. Dulio checked the titles, raising his eyebrows in mild curiosity.

"Oh? 'An Overview on the Paganistic Movement During The Second World War, And Its Relation and Impact to the Grigori and Hell'... That's a mouthful." Dulio commented, as he unwrapped the paperbag, and began to take out the burger and fries.

"It's too wordy and preachy when talking about the Church and Christianity, along with condemning the Devils and Fallen Angels, but it's consistent with the length of those bits, that I can just skip them for the important information. And the author actually had some decency to cite several Treaties that could further expand on the subjects he only touches upon, and overall it's good for getting a general picture of how things really went down, by the context of the Moonlit World actions on top normal history." The man said with a dry tone, not looking at Dulio, but rather unwrapping his burger and taking a bit. "It's interest to read about. Like how Thor actually struck down one of the Nazi regiments to send a message on how pissed off he was, at them trying to tie the Norse Pantheon to their movement."

"Yeah, there were plenty of unbelievable moments, the everyday man wouldn't imagine to have really happened." Dulio chuckled. "'Moonlit World'?" Dulio asked, as he ate his own meal with the man.

"Magic world. Supernatural world. Whatever you call the," he waved his hand in a gesture of pointing at nothing. "the people, places, factions or events that mundane people don't know about." He clarified.

"Well, Hidden Side is official how its worded, but Supernatural World works just as well." Dulio answered with a smile. "Although 'Moonlit World' is an interesting new one. Is that a common phrase for Magicians?" Dulio asked, trying to get to know the man.

Dulio found the man collapsed in a forest nearby, when he went on one of his usual treks around this town.

The Exorcist was treated to a humorous look on the man's face. The man blinked a few times, as if encountering something that really threw him off, before looking thoughtful and shaking his head.

"No. I don't know what Mages usually call it. We don't really mingle. ...Or at least I think they don't." He answered. "Different context probably." He muttered to himself. "Before you ask, Moonlit is reference to how the moon is used to illuminate things at night, and how people in the past used to view the night as where things of terror and mystery lied, and the moon was viewed as mystical, while also being a light source in the night."

"Ah, thus 'Moonlit'." Dulio nodded, taking some fries. "That's pretty poetic." He hummed while chewing.

"Not heretical?" The man raised an amused eyebrow. Before taking another bite of his burger.

Dulio chuckled in response.

"Some old fashioned priests might think that, but I'd like to think we shouldn't be hostile to others, if they have done us no harm. At least individually." Dulio said, and he knew he would have been reprimanded by the higher ups if they heard him say things like that, but screw them. Also talking with the man was enjoyable, as he was getting the guy to open up, so he felt like he was genuinely helping someone beyond just protecting them, or getting them to a healer.

"Nice sentiment, I guess." The man said.

"Thanks." Dulio grinned back. His bright cheerful smile making the man roll his eyes. "I wanted to ask if you're feeling well enough to walk around today. It's nice outside, no reason not to check it out, rather than just be confined to bed all the time." He said, trying to ease the man into being more lively.

"...Why did you help me?" He suddenly said, the air around him a tad... not colder, but more still, than before. "I'm pretty sure I was fine. I had no injures or wasn't suffering from anything life threatening."

Dulio blinked at that. "You don't remember?"

"..." The man tilted his head, raising an eyebrow.

"When I found you, you were unconscious, but then you woke up." Dulio said slowly.

"Really?" He furrowed his eyebrows in through. "I recall waking up here thought. Hmm, but..." I muttered.

Dulio hesitated for a moment, but felt the man was in good enough health and mental space to take this news. He did seem better now. More active, if lethargic.

"You woke up screaming." Dulio said, and the man stilled, blinked, then turned and stared at Dulio with absolute focus. "I didn't quite catch everything, but you were shouting about the Devils."

The man blinked at that. "Devils? I... don't know anything I'd call Devil. Well, maybe as a descriptor, but the way you're saying it..." He offered for Dulio to continue.

"You were swear at the Goetia, saying you'll kill them. Well, you were saying kill 'him' but well, you were hysterical at the time." Dulio said, while waiting tensely, worried that the man might relapse.

"I see." He held his chin. "Huh, yeah, okay that makes sense." He said nonchalantly. Dulio blinked at that. That was... way too much of an under-reaction than he expected. "Still, doesn't answer the question, why are you allowing me to stay here and not kicking me out. I can walk if that's what you're wondering, so no need to feel guilty about it."

Dulio chuckled at that sudden turn to hostility and pessimism, even if it was delivered with a cavalier tone.

"God taught us to be generous and kind to those in need. I'm imperfect, like all men, but I try to practice what I preach when I can." Dulio said sincerely.

"That makes you a shit ton better than any priest I've ever met." The man said with a slight upturn of his lips.

Dulio snorted, and tried to hide it under a cough, but the man was now smiling in amusement at his reaction.

"I wanted to ask you this, but there was never a chance. What's your name?" Dulio asked. "I mean, I assume Chaser is a last name?" Dulio then had a speculative look. "Or is it actually your first name?" He wondered.

"No, no." Chaser chuckled. "It's my last name. My first name is-"

Chaser's eyes widened as he jumped out of his chair. Dulio felt it at that point to. The first barrier around the town was broken, and the alarm was now being sounded.

Dulio and Chaser ran out to the hall, the chapel house door slamming open as hey reached it.

And beyond that they saw a giant monsters that has cornered the children, who were playing outside after having lunch.

The only saving grace was the dome energy shield made by Sister Claire that was with the children. Her Sacred Gear, Safe Harbor, created a zone where nothing can dangerous or harmful can reach those inside.

As for the monsters themselves, one looked like a giant draconic raven, and that was the only one to have a coherent form. The rest were all kinds of abominations.

A tall humanoid with black leather for skin, three faces seemingly joined together, with one of their arms overly large and grotesque.

Another was demon with multiple arms, holding red hot blade in each arm.

And the final one was some kind of fire goat demon with four arms, and its inside were on fire.

"Enemies of Humanity." Chaser froze, speaking in a cold almost detached tone. Chaser's words were lost to Dulio in his focus on his charges.

"That Demonic Energy! These are Stray Devils." Dulio noted, as he called on his Sacred Gear, the Longinus, Zenith Tempest. All weather was under his control, and so he summoned ice cold wind to freeze them.

Yet the fiery ones were so heated, they evaporated the water vapor in the air. In fact their increase flames and heat to offset Dulio, was impacting Claire's barrier.

He couldn't use his control over earth, as Clarie's Sacred Gear would try to protect against it, and fail thus disrupting the barrier. He can't move the ground under Claire and the group of kids, or the earth around the barrier itself, lest he disrupt it.

"Claire! Guys! Shit, hold on!" Dulio tried to summon wind to push the Strays away, but couldn't summon hurricanes or tornados, as they would be too strong for Clarie's barrier to withstand.

Yet as his wind was gathering up speed the multiple-arms Stray Devil's attacks were increasing, while the large armed on would punch the barrier, leaving a large crack in it. While slow, it's attacks were making greater damage, faster than the barrier than restore itself. The raven monster simple sat on top of the barrier, laughing at Dulio's effort to push them back.

"My, my, this is quite the predicament you find yourself in, Mr. Strongest Exorcist." A sultry voice called out.

Dulio and chaser look up behind them to see a woman with bat-like wings flying over the chapel.

"A Devil? How did you get through the barrier?" Dulio's eyes narrowed, a dangerous gleam coming to them. "You're responsible for them?" He asked, but it wasn't a question. He didn't know who this Devil was, or their powers, but it wouldn't surprise him that some of the Pillar Houses had some special skill to slip into area undetected.

"Oh? How could I control a group of Strays? I was simply in the area, and thought to... take advantage of an opportunity." She said holding a red chess piece. "My name is Sana Raim. Last heir of House Raim and I aim to revive that house." She grinned. "A Longinus Wielder seems like a great start for that."

"...Are you jok-" Dulio began to say. He understood. It was a set up. A hostage situation to force him to choose between protecting this little orphanage under his care, or submit to this Devil.

A roar came from next to Dulio. A sudden sound of such deep wrath, that it not only froze Dulio and the Raim Devil in their tracks, but also the Stray Devils. Their expression lost any enjoyment of what they were doing, simply looking at Chaser.

Only for Chaser to move, instantly slamming into the Raven Stray Devil's face, with a giant boulder axe-sword. The sudden attack threw the Raven Stray Devil back, head launched up screaming in pain, while it's body fell back onto the multi-armed Stray Devil.

"What the hell?! Who's that? There wasn't any information on him." Sana Raim cried out in shock. "Why didn't I see him!?"

A red spear that gave off demonic energy and killing bloodlust, simply appear mid-Chaser's jump into the air, and pierced into the large armed Stray Devil's shoulder. It lost its whole giant arm, holding the stump and wailing in pain.

Dulio looked at Sana's shocked face, and saw his chance, as she clearly did not plan for this.

He launched a giant ice pillar at the four-armed fire goat Stray Devil. The massive icicle bodied the whole Devil, making it into a smear on the flying giant ice spear.

As the giant raven devil fell on it's back, it flailed about, as it didn't have a chance to get off the ground. The multi-armed demon was crushed under its weight.

Chaser stabbed the axe-sword into the Raven's neck, then ripped it aside, decapitating the monster, then threw his hand up and a giant magic circle formed. He jumped off the monster as spiral of fire erupted from the magic circle, and slammed down into the both Stray Devils' bodies incinerating them.

The last Stray Devil was captured into a block of ice, and then broken to pieces by Dulio.

"Claire, kids, are you okay?" Dulio asked in a panic as he neared them. "Chaser, you alright?" The Strongest Exorcist looked toward the guest of his church, and ally.

Only to find Chaser holding that red spear from before, and an aura of death enveloped it, as red electrifying magical energy was bursting out along its length.

"Gae." Chaser spoke with such hatred, unlike the calm but sarcastic person from before, that Dulio felt wary of him. "BOLG!"

Chaser threw the spear, a shockwave rippled out, that had Dulio actually use his Sacred Gear to slow down the wind heading at him and his charges. The spear sent ripples in the air from its flight, as it moved so fast if caught fire.

Sana Raim, cursing out loud at the unfairness of her plan, and the unexpected situation, only had time to hear the sonic boom of the spear being thrown.

The next moment the Raim devil exploded into two piece. Blood didn't rain down, as it evaporated from contact with the spear.


"I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised." Dulio said. He stood next to Chaser as Exorcists deployed from the Church were moving about, inspecting things and making sure there were no other Devils in the area.

Their presence was reassuring for the people of this town, although not necessarily for the kids of the orphanage.

Dulio calmed them down by promising to stay a full week, rather than leave as he usually did, and play with them.

"Hmm?" Chaser looked at him questionably. Dulio couldn't help but smile at the man that fought by his side. His decisiveness stopped him to facing a catch-22 situation, that could have resulted in innocent lives lost.

Chaser had looked irritated since the attack, making others fearful of him. But Dulio could see how Chaser was constantly looking around for danger, or at the kids to ensure they're still safe. His actions of be so protective were admirable.

"The Raim Devil Pillar family trait is Parallel Temporal." Dulio began to explain.

"...They can move alongside time?" Chaser asked with a raised eyebrow, amused snark in his tone.

"Yes," Dulio continued with a smile, outright ignoring the sarcasm, even if Chaser's tone amused him. "They can slip outside of the normal timeline, while still stuck to it. That basically allows them to be invisible and intangible to all things. Some of them could even see through time, past, future, or the far away present."

"The dumb bitch said she was the last heir... and she was that incompetent with a power like that?" Chaser said with disbelief.

Dulio chuckled. "Devils might be powerful, but they are too prideful. Thankfully the Lord miracles protect us all."

"Your control over the elements was too organic. There was no artificiality of spellcasting in it." Chaser noted.

"You must be quite the Magician to notice that." Dulio said, and once more Chaser bit back a snort at being called that. "I am a holder of one of the thirteen Longinus. The Prison of Bright Heavenly Thunder, Zenith Tempest." Dulio said dramatically, making an echoing sound of distant thunder with his powers.

Chaser blinked at stared blankly at him.

"It's a Sacred Gear." He offered. Seriously, how isolated was Chaser to not know what a Longinus was. Thankfully, Chaser's eyes widened in recognition at the term.

"Ah, right. Divine Miracles, or God's Artifacts, I think one of the books I read mentioned them. So a Longinus is like a special type of Sacred Gear, or just a more rare stronger version?" Chaser asked.

"Yes, that's more or less what it is." Dulio said, waiting for Chaser's reaction. He liked Chaser, as he seemed like a good person. He hoped Chaser's opinion of him wouldn't change to one of greed or envy as he'd expect from a Magician. Nor did he want to be seen as some possible experiment.

And Chaser's reaction was...

"Huh," Chaser hummed and nodded. "Cool." He said plainly.

Dulio blinked at that.

Wait, seriously? A smile unconsciously came to Dulio's face.

"What?" Chaser raised an eyebrow at him. "Why are you looking like that?"

Dulio chuckled. "Nothing, Mr. Chaser." He shook his head. "I think I like people like you. You're a pretty good person."

Dulio expected embarrassment, confusion or annoyance at his honesty, as he usually saw with the priests, nuns or other Exorcists he interacted with.

Chaser's reaction worried him, as he looked... hurt. Guilty even. As if the compliment dragged a memory he'd rather forget.

He wondered if that memory had something to do with Chaser wielder Cu Chulainn's spear.

Yeah, he knew some Celtic mythology. It's pretty obvious Chaser was the Spirit Inheritor of the Hound of Ulster.

Cu Chulainn was famous for also having accidently murdered his son. If Chaser was his Reincarnation, that'd probably be even worse. Dulio thought.

"Thanks," Chaser said, while looking away. "You're actually a priest that's also genuinely a good person too."

"Okay, seriously did you have a bad interaction with a priest before, to give backhanded compliments like that." Dulio laughed, and Chaser chuckled.

"He was an annoying asshole that kept thinking he was write no matter the evidence to the contrary." Chaser said, a first clue about his past. "Thankfully I knew a few Sai-Christians that were a better example, so I don't view all of them that badly."

What was he gonna say instead of Christians? Dulio blinked at that.

"Father Dulio!" An Exorcist came up to them, bowing to Dulio, while giving Chaser a stiff nod of acknowledgement. "The Lord Archangel Michael is on his way now to meet with you about this assault, as well as to strengthen the barrier around this time. The Cardinals also wish to talk with you at your earliest convenience." The Exorcist having finished his piece, nodded and left.

"'Earliest convenience', huh?" Dulio said in a bummed out voice. "That code for 'come meet us now'." He leaned over and said to Chaser. "Buuuut~ I can probably push it off for next month." Dulio said with a mischievous grin.

"Isn't Sloth a sin?" Chaser deadpanned. "Also I feel there was something more important in that message."

"Not when it comes to those old fossils." Dulio immediately said back, before smiling widely. "And yeah, meeting Lord Michael is always a blessing. If there is one thing I'm grateful for my Longinus for, even with all the missions and heavy annoying responsibilities, it's that."

"I see." Chaser nodded, just taking in all this information, yet not giving much of a reaction. Dulio pouted. He expected some surprise or exclamation about how meeting an Archangel being a big deal. "I'm guess you're pretty high up in the Church's hierarchy if an Archangel is coming to check in on you." Chaser noted, before pausing suddenly. "...Would this attack be the start of a retaliation by Heaven on Hell?" He said with an indescribable tone. Like a mix between worry, dread and determination.

"No, no." Dulio shook his head. "The Three Factions, Heaven, Hell and the Grigori are in a cold war, and don't want it to get heated. We have been in a 'ceasefire' for officially more than five hundred years at this point, and no reason to officially end that." He frowned then. "While there are skirmishes like these every now and then, with all sides poking at each other, it won't amount to anything. At least I hope so." He looked at the kids being comforted and cheered by Sister Claire. "If war doesn't touch this world, then that would be for the best."

"And sometimes trying to avoid danger, leads people to be weak and thus suffer when something they are unprepared for arrives." Chaser's blunt statement cut through Dulio's heartfelt words.

Dulio chuckled and shook his head, but took the criticism on the chin.

"Wow, you're a merciless, Mr. Chaser." Dulio said back.

"Just realistic." Chaser said while looking at the body of Raim and the other Stray Devils being collected by the Exorcist. "I'm guessing the Devils will treat this attack as an independent actor that has nothing to do with them." His gaze turned to the transformed monstrosities. "Although I wonder why she didn't transform like them? Wouldn't she have been stronger in her true form? Or at least run away easier?" He wondered.

"From the homework I had to do on the 72 Pillars, I think the Raim died in the Great War." Dulio furrowed his brows in thought, while scratching his head. "And by that I mean the war between the Three Factions, not the First World War."

"Well, it came first so I guess it deserves the name." Chaser said back drily, making Dulio snort.

"As for the true form bit you're talking about," Dulio corrected. "That was her true form. Those Stray Devil just look like that because their Demonic Power of their Evil Pieces went out of control."

"Evil what?" Chaser raised an eyebrow.

The next words Dulio spoke were out of kindness, and they were ones he'd come to regret for years to come.

"Evil Pieces, dammable objects that can turn Humans or basically any species into Devils." Dulio shook his head into dismay. He didn't seen Chaser freeze in place, as he looked at Dulio with shocked wide-eyes. "It really is a pity that those people were caught up with all of this. You can never know if Reincarnated Devils have willing chose to accept the Devil's offer, or were forcefully turned."

"There are no conditions to being turned." Chaser spoke with heavily constrained anger.

Dulio looked at his friend worryingly. He had seen anger like this before, on fellow Exorcists that turned zealous. Or worse turned Stray in their want to slaughter Devils to the exclusion of all else.

"Sadly no, but!" Dulio quickly added. "They weren't killed by Holy Light, so their souls would be saved by the Lord. Hopefully their next life would be a kinder one." He smiled brightly. "No matter where they end up, be it Purgatory, or even Hell, as long as they pay their penance, they would get another chance at life, and then hopefully enter Heaven with the Lord's embrace."

"...And what happens had they been slain with 'Holy Light'?" Chaser asked pointedly.

"..." Dulio frowned, wondering if he should give some flowery explanation, but his friend was the straightforward kind of person. "Then they are extinguished. They suffer no more." He said it as much as he could. But he couldn't bring himself to outright say their souls are destroyed.

"How many of these 'Evil Pieces' do the Devils have?" Chaser asked, heated intensity subtly entering his voice.

"Every High Class Devil get fifteen piece, in accordance to the number of chess pieces, sans the King. After the Devil's Civil War, it was a method developed by one of the Satans to recuperate their population." Dulio said, but felt worried at Chaser's breath started coming in faster. "But they don't have an unlimited number." Dulio added quickly. "There are only so many High Class Devils, and as much as could just convert Humans in masses, they don't do that, or give these Evil Pieces to every Devil, since, as I said before, Devils are prideful. Thank god."

"And what causes that to happen?" Chaser shouted as he pointed at Stray's corpses.

Dulio raise his hands up in a calming gesture.

"Mr. Chaser, please calm down."

"Dulio, how, the fuck, do normal people transform into those thing, if they normally look like just everyday humans?" Chaser asked pointedly.

"Chaser, I understand you anger, really I do." Dulio placed his hands on Chaser's shoulder. Thankfully Chaser didn't push him away. "But no matter how angry you are, don't just run off to fight any Devil you meet. You'd just get hurt or worse. So please calm down and I'll explain everything, okay?"

"It's a control mechanism those damn Devil made." An Exorcist nearby interjected her opinion.

Dulio closed his eyes and held back a swear.

"What?" Chaser said.

"If a Devil is displeased with their servant, or they are harmed by them, that method is used to turn those Damned Reincarnates' Demonic Powers onto themselves, turning them into those insane monstrosities, and-"

"Sister!" Dulio cut off the Exorcist, with a pointed teethful smile. "Thank you for your help, please continue your duties."

"A-Ah, of course, my Lord." The Exorcist blushed and hurried on her way.

Dulio sighed, and focused back on his friend.

"Chaser..."

And whatever he was going to say was lost as the sky was filled with Light. The Archangel Michael had arrived.

As Dulio and the other Exorcists reacted to the Archangel's arrival with joy, reverence and awe. They kneeled or bowed deeply.

Chaser walked away toward one of the Stray Devils' corpse.

"Exorcist Dulio, it's good to hear you are well, and managed to repel this ambush without any tragedy." Archangel Michael said with his ever radiant smile, bringing a feeling of peace and contentment to whomever sees it.

"It couldn't have done it alone my lord." Dulio smiled and bowed his head. "What comes from this? Are we going to retaliate for this attack, or will the Devils throw this event from their hands?" Dulio asked, already more or less aware of the answer.

"The only Devil present was the heir of an extinct house. The Satan Government are likely to just plea that they had knowledge that this Raim even existed." Archangel Michael frowned as he looked down. "Or worse the Pillar Houses might ask for concession due to use actually ending one of their houses in a time where hostilities are 'officially' down."

Dulio blinked at that in shock. "Could they actually try that? That's absurd."

"The one technically that attacked were the Stray Devils, unacknowledged as part of the Underworld's rule, and outright expected by all to be hunted down. They might make the argument that you attacked her, even while she was trying to help, or that she was hunting down those Strays and you interfered with her duty and 'unjustly' slain her."

An ugly frown came to Dulio's face. "Politics."

"Politics." Archangel Michael sighed, before smiling. "Still, I'm glad you managed to stop this plot, and keep yourself and everyone else safe."

"I didn't really manage this alone." Dulio smiled. "Sister Claire protected the children, and if it wasn't for Chaser, I would have hesitated to act." His smile widened. "In fact it was him that gave me the opportunity to slay two of the Strays, and it was him that took down the Raim Devil."

"Oh?" Archangel Michael raised an eyebrow. "And who is this-"

"HEY FUCKING GLOWSTICK!" A viciously angry shout came from the prickly man they were just discussing.

The statement Chaser said caused everyone to freeze in shock. It's one thing to act disrespectful in the presence of an Archangel of the Lord. To address said Archangel with that disrespect? Madness.

The shock was long enough, that before their anger ignited at the offense, Chaser had reached the Archangel and shoved his blood covered hand in his face.

"Did you know about this?" Chaser shouted through gritted teeth.

"...The Evil Piece?" Archangel Michael wasn't usually one to be surprised. But this human's attitude was so outside the normal that... He wasn't offended, he understood anger. This man maybe lost people he loved to the Devils. But it was how... unaffected by this msn was by the Archangel's heavenly presence, that threw Archangel Michael a bit.

This is... kind of amusing.

"Yes. Did you fucking know about this?" Chaser growled out.

That less so.

"Hey, Magician, how dare you-!" The Exorcists have gotten over their shock, stepped up to apprehend Chaser. Dulio was looking at this situation nervously, half putting himself between his friend and his boss.

The Archangel Michael raised a hand, telling them all to stand down. This man's anger was likely one of his failure, thus the least he could do was face it.

"Yes, child. I know about these objects, and I'm sorry for who you have lost. I can not promise you that whomever they are will be saved, but I will endeavor to do so-"

"I haven't lost anyone to these!" Chaser said out loud, crushing the Evil Piece in his hand.

The statement threw Archangel Michael, Dulio and those listening for a loop.

"Then why are you angry, Mr. Chaser?" Dulio calmly asked.

"Why aren't you!?" Chaser shouted, making Dulio flinch back. "There are items being used to enslave countless humans, steal us, as thought we're prizes to be collected, and even drive us mad and turn us into weapons to be sent back to the our world. These items are held by fucking demons, and you're just standing here, talking about politics and upholding peace? Why the fuck haven't you knocked down the gates of hell already and destroyed whatever facility that makes these shitty things? It's made from a physical material, so it's being mined somewhere? So destroy every fucking vein, treasury and factory that hold these thing. They're called 'Evil Pieces' for God's sake!"

The words were disrespectful. They were abrasive. But the sentiment did exist in the heart of almost all Exorcists. Thus those present couldn't help but want to hear this exchange out.

"And draw the world into another Great War?" Archangel Michael asked with a firm but solemn and sad tone. "How many would die in such an act, all to appease your anger, child-"

"This isn't about me! Fuck, I don't matter!" Chaser shouted back, cutting off the Archangels.

This is a very bizarre experience. Archangel Michael couldn't help but think. Also, he couldn't help but notice the sheer pain and self-loathing in the man before him.

"It's about everyone else that's being sacrifice for this so-called 'peace'. Mankind is dying a slow death, where were everyone that could live and act to influence our future to a brighter tomorrow, being robbed from us." Chaser chuckled, a sound filled with disgust. "I bet every single person Reincarnated by the Devils either has a Sacred Gear or has some important government position, or a talent that could help humanity as a whole later on." His eyes narrowed in judgement of the Archangel, and said heavenly being was seen falling short.

Archangel Michael didn't know why the anger and judgement of this human in particular was affecting him so.

Almost as if he actually knows, speaks from the experience of carrying that weig-. Archangel Michael dismissed the thought, as it was too ludicrous.

"I understand your anger, yes, genuinely I do." Archangel Michael said, stressing the point. "But if the Great War starts again, it wouldn't just be the Fallen and Devils that would be our enemies. Heaven has gained many enemies during the Great War." He said, placing a comforting hand on Chaser's shoulders. "Humanity would suffer greatly if we restarted the war, and that is an evil act God won't condone or condemn mankind to."

Many of those listening cried at hearing God's mercy and care for them.

"The best action would be to act to protect the people here now. To protect them with our strength, so they may live happy, peaceful lives." Archangel Michael said, to the elation of the humans listening, with many praying at those kind words. "Thus, if you still wish to fight... would you act in God's name to protect humanity? Become one of his soldiers?" He asked. Silence filled the area.

Dulio had seen Chaser's strength, and would be glad to call have him as a brother-in-arms.

"Really? God wouldn't want the Great War to restart?" Chaser asked. "So the general of his armies isn't going to at least take the field to defend humans?" The question was spoken pointedly at Archangel Michael.

Through his centuries of speaking in His Father's name, even while it pained him, Archangel Michael answered without flinching or hesitating.

"Yes." Archangel Michael spoke. "I have my responsibilities in Heaven, where God needs me. That's why it's your hands, and others with that will, like you, that are needed to protect his flock."

The Archangel met the man's face. And blinked.

It should be impossible, yet it felt like Chaser could see through him. Through his lies.

"Fuck. That." Chaser pushed Archangel Michael's hand away.

"Chaser!" Dulio said in shock.

"If you're not going to act. If you're not going to do something about this shitty staus quo, I will." Chaser turned and began to walk away.

"Child." Archangel Michael spoke with kindness, that help the authority of a parent. "God does not want this."

Chaser paused.

He turned only his head and looked right Archangel Michael's eyes.

"Unless God Himself, comes down and tells me to stop, I won't. So keep your fucking opinions to yourself." Chaser spoke, magical energy exploding off of him. Killing intent burst out of him. A will strong enough that it made even the angry outraged Exorcist step back from.

"...Who are you?" Archangel Michael asked thinking of how to placate this man, or at least save face by making him look irrational. He hated himself for the thought, but the Heaven System needed faith. That was more important, than the wrath of one, admittedly, righteous man. "At least tell me your name, so I can address you." He gave the sigh of a disappointed parent.

"Michael." Chaser spoke, and for a moment Archangel Michael blinked in confusion.

Then the Archangels' eyes widened as he looked into the man's face.

"My name is Michael Chaser."

His expression, his determination. Archangel Michael felt like he was back in the Great War, as if he was looking at a younger version of himself, still full of will and fury. His eyes saddened with melancholy at seeing that in his man who shared his name.

"And I will save mankind." Chaser began to walk away.

His afterwards last words sent a shiver down Archangel Michael. As if he was watching a path he once rejected, be manifested in front of him by this strange man.

The words Chaser spoke then felt so true, that even if logically it was Archangel Michael's duty then to stop Chaser, to maintain peace... He didn't want to.

"And if I can't save it, I will avenge it."

AN: Okay, this is not gonna be a whole thing. Just two more chapter to set up this story and then back to NO CHILL for a bit, then finish up Eggplant. Two chapters. In and out. Very quick.