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Imugi, the Dragon of the Earth

A few days had passed since Gabriel's visit and the entire encounter had stuck with Kouji through the days as he tried to navigate how he was supposed to go about processing everything. He had gone through the motions of making breakfast for everyone, accompanying them on their various activities whether as angels or as idols, however when he was by himself…things got complicated.

He had gone with Karina to speak to their human managers about their next comeback, stages they had in mind, concept ideas, costume designs, and Karina potentially starring in a new reality show. Being the leader of an idol group wasn't easy…she was up early in the morning and always the last one to go to bed every day. Kouji seriously admired how dedicated she was to being an idol seeing as it was only a side business.

Winter had dragged him along with NingNing to one of the largest bookstores he had ever been in. It might have been a library now that he was thinking back on it, but the place was massive nonetheless. Bookshelves as tall as the individual floors with escalators and elevators to the numerous amount of floors, Kouji even found several cookbooks for inspiration whenever the girls wanted to try different cuisines.

NingNing, in return, dragged them both to the shopping districts and picked out plenty more clothes for Kouji. His closet had turned from a single outfit she had picked out to an entire arsenal, ready for whatever occasion life had to throw at him. Everything from a beach party to a royal wedding all stuffed in the bags she made him carry for the entire 5 hour adventure that day.

Giselle…was the most nonadventurous of the girls. To Kouji's surprise, and rather pleasantly he might add, she loved to just stay indoors most days of the week and simply have her quiet time. She was more into calm activities. The two painted, played video games, even helping her build a computer with parts that she had picked out from all over the world. If he had known she was so into technology, he would've just stayed home with Giselle instead of being dragged to a book and fashion convention with Winter and NingNing.

Now though…Now he was be himself. Sitting by himself in the training area, Kouji looked up to see the gallery of Imugi Serpent Scales he had created, simply floating about all around him. Each varied in size, however he had been toying with the idea of size expansion correlating to the energy containement of each scale.

Math wasn't his best subject in school but it wasn't necessarily hard for him either. Energy couldn't be destroyed, and even if magic defied all laws of physics, the laws of nature were another thing entirely. If energy couldn't be destroyed, simply transformed, it meant there was no end to how much energy or magic these scales could contain. The hard part of figuring out how to go about this was actually the practical application rather than the theoretical aspect.

Kouji frowned and looked down at his notes. Over the nights he had experimented with Giselle and Winter on the upper limits of the energy containment amount. A fully charged blast of light from Giselle could be contained in a single scale roughly the size of his head, however as it turns out the scales could absorb more than just light. The ice magic from Winter was somehow safely contained in these scales as well. He put together that from all the times he had seen the shield in action…it didn't simply absorb or contain energy, it sapped whatever touches it of its kinetic energy. Throw a ball at the scale and instead of it bouncing away, the scale saps the ball of its forward momentum and the ball just drops.

He had never something have the capability of doing something like that. From all of his years as a human and even more so a scientist in training, kinetic energy had to be spread over an area that was soft enough to absorb it or simply wait for the kinetic energy to disperse by letting the ball bounce. Never before had he seen a solid object, something as solid as this glass, completely drain anything coming its way of kinetic energy before.

From behind him, Kouji heard the melodic singing of a familiar voice. "What are you doing in here? It's almost midnight."

Karina avoided all of the scales as she leaned over from behind, looking down at his notes. "Are those notes on your Sacred Gear?"

"It's something I've never seen before…" said Kouji. "They're basically batteries with a bottomless amount of containment. Would they shatter if I overloaded them with magic?"

"I don't know…" Karina sat down besides him, tapping at one of the scales. "To be honest with you Kouji, this is the first time I've seen someone use Serpent Phantasm the way you have. Most have just used it for what it was, a defensive shield. I've never seen someone use the scales individually for offensive capabilities."

"It's more then that," Kouji smiled, arranging the scales in a formation. "Shoot a beam of light at the one in front of you. Don't overdo it though."

"You sure?" asked Karina.

"Try it."

Karina held out her finger as a concentrated beam of light was absorbed by the scale.

"Now watch," Kouji waved his hand as the light absorbed scale floated to join the others, releasing the beam of light. Each scale connected to another until it formed a constellation. "I don't know much about constellations but…tadaa! Sagittarius."

Karina's eyes beamed with excitement. "It's beautiful…it's like I'm actually looking up at the sky."

"Best part is because it's a loop…the light still remains absorbed by the scales," Kouji closed his fist as all of the scales shrunk until the formed a bracelet that fell onto his palm. "Here, a present."

"A present? For what?" asked Karina.

"No reason," Kouji smiled. "It's nothing fancy or anything, I don't really have the finances to get you the real thing but I read that on Jupiter it literally rains diamonds. This was as close to diamonds as I can afford, sorry."

Karina watched in awe as the scales connected to form a bracelet around her wrist that perfectly molded to her size. And because it contained her own magic, it glowed whenever she looked at it.

"I also learned pretty quickly that if someone else's magic is in it, they won't disappear or break as long as they're in contact with the supplier's magic," said Kouji. "It won't drain you or anything but…merry early Christmas?"

"Christmas isn't until three months," Karina smiled. "But thank you Kouji. It's beautiful."

Kouji smiled and leaned back, laying on the floor. He had been in here for hours so he needed the company.

"Can I ask you something?" asked Kouji.

Karina laid down besides him. "Shoot."

"Back then…at the concert," said Kouji. "You said that if you guys carried out this mission, it'd be your last. What did you mean by that? One more mission and you'd be free."

Karina smiled. "We were thinking of asking Lady Gabriel to release us from our contracts. Being an angel is the best thing that's ever happened to me, to us…but Aespa is who we always wanted to be. We wanted to just be idols, where the biggest thing we had to worry about was whether or not the fans would like or next song…not whether or not we could save a life."

Kouji's smile was lost. "But then you met me…"

Karina pinched his cheek. "Don't go thinking like that. I'm glad we meet you. I don't know if you've noticed but the girls really like you, I like you too. If it weren't for becoming angels, we wouldn't have ever met you…and I'm pretty sure none of them regrets that either."

Kouji smiled. "What do you think's gonna happen…if I do manage to make Imugi submit? Has it ever happened before?"

"Once…" said Karina. "I've never seen him or even know if he's real, but there was a man a long time ago…a long time ago, who came into possession of Imugi before Valak. He was Imugi's vessel for centuries before Lucifer took it back to give to Valak when the war broke out. Whether or not that's true…well that depends on whether or not Lady Gabriel was lying to me."

"So someone actually did manage to make this thing submit," said Kouji. "I wonder how he did it."

"I don't know either," said Karina. "But we'll figure out a way. As for what you do after…I guess then you can see your family, right?"

Kouji grit his teeth. Was that what he wanted to do? Sure, he would love to see Irina and his father again…but would that mean having to leave Karina and the girls? They had shown him so much kindness and Gabriel even accepted him…could he really just abandon that and leave?

"Don't think too much on it," said Karina, sitting up and stretching her arms. "Get some sleep, tomorrow's a big day."

"It is?" asked Kouji.

Karina grinned. "We've all got the day off tomorrow…We're taking those bandages off."

…

Kouji stood nervously across from the girls. They had all gathered in the back courtyard of the hotel, a space that Karina assured was completely sealed away from everything and anything outside the confines of the bounded field Giselle had set up. In this enclosed world…nothing can get in, or get out.

"Are you ready?" asked Giselle, walking to him.

"As ready as I'll ever be," said Kouji.

"Remember that we've suppressed Imugi's magic for awhile now so it'll be like blood rushing into your body after it's been drained," She slowly undid his bandages. He had gotten used to them by now so it felt weird feeling the air hit his arms. "You might feel lightheaded or…well down right wobbily. It's like the worst hangover you've ever had."

"Giselle he's 15," said Winter. "He hasn't drunk anything yet."

"Well…that's not entirely true," Kouji sniffed.

"Oh Kouji, you bad boy," NingNing smirked.

"Whatever the case…" said Karina. "We'll be here if anything happens. Just be ready."

The bandages fell from his hands as everyone watched in eager anticipation. Kouji waited, fearing what Giselle had said…yet nothing happened. He looked down at his hands, imprinted with the marks from the bandages, yet nothing seemed to happen. It was definitely weird to see his own hands after having them on for so long, but he was-

His eyes shifted. Kouji dropped to his knees and held his head as a searing pain almost knocked him out. He stiffled a scream, however the pain was indescribable. It was like someone was sticking a brand right onto his brain…the worst headache he had ever felt before.

"KoujI!" Winter tried to help, however Karina held her back.

"Are you okay?" asked Karina. "Talk to me Kouji!"

"I'm…I'm fine…" Kouji gritted his teeth. He could feel it…a swirling mass of power stirring inside him. He could feel pieces of Imugi's mask forming on his forehead, however he forced it to subside.

He remembered this feeling. When Imugi possessed him to fight Jeanne…he had given to his instincts and surrendered control rather than fighting back. He wasn't letting that happen again…He had to fight back against this thing…fight back…fight back…

The golden scales of the snake had begun to form on his skin. The mask had subdsided its formation just stopping short of his nose, however the scales were another thing. They had completely encompassed his hands before they stopped.

Kouji's body spasmed, folding back as he let out a cry of pain. His own voice was distorted and hollowed, as if he was shouting through a fan as a child.

"Screw this!" Winter broke past Karina's hold and grabbed Kouji by the shoulders. "Kouji! Snap out of it! Giselle, help him!"

The pain stopped. Kouji panted as Winter held him.

"What…What the hell was that…" Kouji tried to catch his beath.

"That was all of Imugi's magic rushing back in you," said Karina. "We built a dam to stop the river…we just broke that dam. You felt all of Imugi's magic flowing through you all at once, something that you've slowly felt your entire life."

"That felt…weird…" said Kouji, clasping his heart. "Why did I feel so…sad?"

"Uh…Rina?" asked Giselle. "What is that?"

Kouji turned to see what she was looking at. It was the tree…the tree from his dream. He recognized the dark oak, the sheer size of it…and especially the snaking winding its way down the curvature of the tree and hissing as it advanced towards him.

Instinctively, the girls stood between Imugi and Kouji, Karina especially looked like she was ready to kill with two swords of light manifesting in her hands.

The golden scales on Imugi's body glistened as it approached the girls, tilting its head as it's golden eyes fixed on Kouji. "You've surrounded yourself with quite the formidable retainers, my young Master. I have to applaud you on your recruitment efforts."

"They're not my retainers," Kouji balled his fists and brushed past the girls. "They're my friends."

"Same difference I'm afraid," said Imugi. "You've also come quite a long way from that inferior being you were a mere week ago. You've done a commendable job, nephillim."

"We didn't do it for you," said Karina. "Why are you here? How are you doing this?"

The snake hissed.

"Suppressing my magic may have helped the young Master to focus solely on his Sacred Gear," said Imugi. "However the time will come when he will have no choice but to rely on my power. Tell me that wouldn't be easier, Master. The power of infinity, the very essence of the cosmos at the palm of your hands…that kind of power is something to be born with, not something to struggle to obtain."

"I don't want that," said Kouji. "It's what you did when we were at the concert…you're tapping into a psychic link."

"I'm impressed," Imugi hissed. "I've brought our inner world into the physical for but a moment…this is but only the beginning of what we can accomplish together, my young Master."

"I told you I'm not interested," said Kouji. "I'm going to make you submit to me…whatever it takes."

"A bold proclamation," said Imugi. "However very few have ever succeeded with such blasphemous declarations, I'm afraid."

"But someone did," said Kouji. "Isn't that right?"

"He was but the sole exception," said Imugi. "His heart was already tainted by the darkness…our goals were mutually beneficial. The same cannot be said for you, not yet anyway."

"You'll never have him," Karina pulled Kouji back. "Never. Not in this lifetime or any other…you're an existence that causes nothing but pain and suffering. Kouji deserves none of that."

"Oh?" the snake seemed to almost laugh. "You know nothing of his true heritage, do you? You claim that this child is some beacon of light, a paragon of hope…but knowing so very little of what it is this boy comes from. Perhaps then, you'll know that he is the perfect vessel for the Serpent."

"Nonsense…" said Giselle. "It doesn't matter what his lineage is, he's nothing like you Serpent."

"Is it true?" asked Karina. "You want to free Lucifer from his prison? Is this why you want to restart that cursed Demon clan?"

"A wish I have waited millennia to achieve is now so close to fruition," said Imugi. "The Serpent King will soon rise from the ashes…nothing can stop his ascension."

Kouji somehow smiled. He was putting together why Imugi was so deadset on restarting Valak's bloodline…to free Lucifer.

"You're lonely, aren't you?" asked Kouji. "All these thousands of years locked away, always trapped in a vessel who doesn't want you…you just want a friend."

Imugi's eyes narrowed, shooting forward and stopping right as it reached Kouji's face. It passed by Karina and the girls in the blink of an eye, staring Kouji in his eyes. Somehow…he wasn't afraid. He didn't know why, he should be terrified right now. He was face to face with the first Demon in creation…but he wasn't afraid at all.

"You would be wise to mind your tongue, my young Master," the snake hissed, bellowing its slit tongue. "As necessary as you are to me…I could always wait a millennia more for another meatsuit."

"No, you can't," said Kouji. "Whatever it is I am, I was created for the sole purpose of housing you. That's why you didn't let Jeanne kill me…why you allowed me to hear Aespa's psychic link…why you protect me. You need me…"

The snake didn't reply this time. The stunned expressions on Aespa's faces were distracting enough, however Imugi grinned.

"Whatever it is that you may want…if it doesn't align with what I want, I'm not going through with it," said Kouji. "But maybe we can be friends. I've got an entire organization of exorcists out for my blood not to mention heroes who want to slay me because I'm supposedly evil…I could use another friend to help me fight."

"Prove yourself worthy," said Imugi. "Prove to me that my choice in defending you wasn't a mistake. Humans are a dime a dozen…if you fail to meet my expectations, another will come given time."

Giselle's bounded field began to crack all around them, like a glass marble about to shatter.

"A storm is headed your way, my young Master," said Imugi. "Brave it, or be swept away in despair…either way, this should prove to be an entertaining test nonetheless."

The bounded field completely shattered. They were still in the courtyard, the lush green of the grass flooded them. The tree vanished as did Imugi, leaving the five of them alone once again.

"How…did it do that?" asked Winter. "I thought it was sealed in Kouji."

"Psychic projection," said Karina. "It projected the inner world inside the seal to the outside world using Kouji as an anchor…giving us a glimpse of what's inside and allowing us to communicate. I've never seen it work inside of a bounded field though. Magic of that magnitude…it's terrifying what the original Demon is capable of, even sealed away."

"What the hell were you thinking?" Giselle slammed her fist on Kouji's head. "Did you really try and make friends with a Demon? The first Demon? Do you have any idea how crazy that sounds?"

"Ow!" Kouji rubbed his head in pain.

"She's right Kouji…" said Karina. "Imugi isn't something you want to be so nonchalantly befriending…it'll take any opportunity it gets to manipulate and tempt you. Remember this is the thing that tempted Adam to bite from the apple."

"I know…" said Kouji. "But it makes sense, doesn't it? It doesn't want to be sealed away, especially inside someone who doesn't want anything to do with it. It misses its master…Lucifer. That's why it wants to free him, to be reunited with his friend."

"So that they can destroy the world and all the humans on it," said Giselle. "Kouji, Lucifer's disdain for humans is known by everyone, even us and we weren't even alive then. If he breaks free, Lucifer will burn this entire world and make sure each and every single human is eradicated from the planet, reduced to literal atoms. This isn't the time to be making jokes like that."

"I wasn't joking," said Kouji. "Imugi's lost, as lost as I was before I met you guys…it needs someone to guide it to a better path."

"You…really are still a kid," Giselle scoffed.

"Giselle, calm down," Winter took Kouji's arm. "I think it's kind of nice that Kouji wants to befriend it."

"Nice?" asked Giselle. "That thing will toy with his emotions and break him…How can you be so-"

"Enough," said Karina. "Bickering amongst ourselves won't solve a thing, especially after that."

Kouji smiled. "I'm sorry…but I think it's the right thing to do."

"I won't go as far as Giselle, Kouji," said Karina. "But you're being a little naive if you think that thing is seeking friendship…I'm not entirely sure such a concept is capable of being understood by that thing."

"It couldn't hurt to try, right?" asked Kouji.

"Actually it might," said NingNing. "Like…a lot, like global catastrophe levels of hurt."

It didn't matter what they say. Imugi may be some kind of monster and the first Demon, but he had to stay true to his beliefs. There had to be a way of making that thing submit to him…what better way than to just befriend it?

"Wait a minute," Winter's brows furrowed. "Did that thing say there was a storm coming?"

"There is."

The four jumped behind him to guard him as the sound of wings flapping heralded the arrival of…a nun? She looked to be in her late 20s, maybe early 30s? Her head was covered in a the church's head dress and her body adorned by a nun's uniform, something that Kouji had seen many times from his trips to Church with his father and sister.

"G-Griselda?" asked Karina.

"Griselda!" Winter ran over to hug the stranger.

"It's nice to see you again Winter," Griselda smiled and returned Winter's hug. "It's nice to see you all again as a matter of fact. It's been far too long."

"Tell me about it," Giselle hugged her this time. "I haven't seen you since Lady Gabriel's party. What's it been…20 years?"

"25," NingNing smiled. "How have you been?"

"I have been well," Griselda smiled. "Unfortunately…this isn't a a personal visit. Karina…I have the information you asked for."

"You do?" asked Karina.

Griselda nodded. "I dug through Heaven's archives as far as I could…I have information on Shidou Koujiro's childhood, prior and after he became Imugi's vessel."