Battlers and Preparation

(Isolated Mountain Area: Barbatos Territory)

The mountain range was normally quiet and serene, filled with pointed mountain peaks that was dotted with the occasional patch of shrubbery and archery targets. The Barbatos clan were all dedicated archers, an oddity of the Netherworld as archery required tremendous effort and focus, something anathema to demons. Only one other group of demons found a true thrill in hard work and effort, and two of that group were practicing right now under the tutelage of one of the few they called 'Mother'.

"Come you two!" Bachiko Barbatos called out. "That's only 250 meters out!" The woman was pretty short, even shorter than the disguised forms of the royal twins, with long magenta hair tied in twin tails with ties that resembled arrow feathers, her eyes matching that color with a second ring within her iris. She wore a short sleeved pink frilly dress with stripped stockings and bow tie shoes, a toothpick held in her teeth while she happily munched on crackers.

"We got it mom!" Iruma and Irumi returned, taking their time to get the perfect shot. This was usually how Bachiko trained their archery skills; starting from 200 meters with both stationary and moving targets along with a few that require multiple simultaneous bullseye shots, before opening up the next set at another ten meters out. The current targets were on rapidly rotating and spinning wheels within wheels, something the twins were very much okay with. The two fired five bolt each, with all ten striking their targets easily. The end result had Bachiko beaming with pride, anything less and she'd chew them both out for getting lax in their archery.

"Good job you two." She said with a smile. To most, she was a demanding brat despite her age. To those that managed to succeed in becoming her students, she was a stern and caring mother figure, making sure her kids were prepared for anything. The result eventually had the twins refer to her as 'Mama Bachiko', something she actually takes great delight in. This did however spark a rivalry with a different high ranking demon that fawns over the two, but she was far more irritating. "By the way, I hear that it'll be time for Battler Recruitment soon. Still planning on joining that Magical Apparatus Battler?"

"Yep," the twins said as they dispelled their bows while Iruma took over, "it'll keep our friends together and we'll be able to help improve life for Netherworld society."

"Plus, an Archery Battler would never take off and the more we avoid musical themed ones the better." Irumi continued. "Mama Poro would take things way too far if joined any one of them." All three demons nodded in agreement that Amduscias Poro would do as such, either by making them the center of every performance or by excessive fan love. Poro was passionate about her love for Derkila, his children, and all things pertaining to music, taking great pride in being the music teacher of the twins and a surrogate mother. Poro may be annoying, but Iruma and Irumi still love her.

"I'm well aware and I don't hold it against you." Bachiko told them before pointing at the two with her index and middle finger with her thumb extended out and a smile on her face. "But I am expecting you to make things very exciting." The two nodded with enthusiasm.

"Will do mom!"

(Bablys: The next day)

Before students were open to go out and join whatever Battler they wanted to the first years were subjected to the 'Rookie Hunts', an hour long period where the upperclassmen could use whatever means they wanted to try and recruit new members. Yes, this included mind control magic, drugging students, and physical trauma to get prospective members to join. It was a brutal practice that was natural to the Netherworld where the weak had no rights and they all aimed for the most promising first years they could snatch up. Iruma and Irumi were the highest priority seeing as they were both He(5) ranked. So it shouldn't much of a surprise that when this started, Alice and Sabro were ready to protect their lord and lady and had already built quite the body count.

"Any sign of slowing down?!" The shield called out, bashing another group of upperclassmen with a gray tower shield before slamming a bronze mace into them. "We're supposed to meet up with Kirio-senpai soon, right?" Around them was a wall of fire that Asmodeus was maintaining to keep the more timid upperclassmen away while Sabro dealt with anyone gutsy enough to brave the flames. Clara and the twins contributed to this by making s'mores and devi dogs with the barrier's heat.

"Just twenty more minutes you two!" Iruma called out, before catching a familiar scent. "One moment." He then bolted from the safety of the barrier and rushed off.

"MASTER IRUMA!" Alice and Sabro cried out as the entire group chased after him.

"Will Iruma-kins be alright?" Clara asked as they ran, Irumi calmly munching on her devi dog.

"Yeah. Alice and Sabro are just making sure the other students don't get hurt too bad." The princess told her as they caught up to her brother, who was happily greeting his fiance. Unfortunately, the promise of such a valuable recruit overrode a sense of self preservation as a group of upperclassmen charged at Iruma and Ameri. Once they were about a meter away, Iruma pointed his finger at them.

"Libera." He calmly cast, sending out a large dragon made of azure lightning that blast through the entire group. All of whom would have to be sent immediately to the hospital. While that WOULD have gotten him in trouble, Ameri and the teachers would later agree that this display pacified many of the more aggressive upperclassmen and made the rest of the hunt far quieter. "So anyways, I hope you aren't mad about my decision." The prince said to his betrothed, knowing she was hoping he'd join the Student Council just so they'd spend that much more time together.

"It's fine Iruma." Ameri said with a sigh while the other council members did clean up... and looking to scold Iruma for the trouble. "Just so long as you keep your other promise."

"Yes yes, the sky will alight with flowers of exploding flames." Iruma promised as the rest of his group caught up. "I'll see you later Ameri." He said as he rejoined his friends and sister. "Now let's go. We've kept Kirio waiting long enough."

"We've done all the paperwork right?" Irumi asked as they started making their way to the Magical Apparatus Battler room. The prince pulled out the completed sign up form for him and his sister, Alice and Sabro pulled out theirs, and Clara pulled out a paper that said 'Same as my friends!' and covered in doodles of them playing together. "Okay, we're all good. Let's go turn them in." The princess declared while using magic to fix Clara's form. Five minutes later, they approached the Magical Apparatus Battler room just in time for it to explode.

"Making he should would with less explosive material." Iruma suggested as they sped up to the still smokey and dusty room.

"You say that and yet you promised Ameri you'd make those fireworks." Irumi reminded as they reached Kirio, hunched over and coughing up some blood. Irumi immediately went over to help him recover. "Kirio, you must take better care of yourself." The princess chided the frail demon as the group set about cleaning their Battler room. Well, Sabro did while Alice did his best to keep Clara from breaking something. The room was lined with various different objects, a couple bookshelves, a work station, and not much else aside from a copious amount of dust that Sabro was collecting.

"So, what were you messing with this time Kirio?" Iruma asked before noticing a bunch of violet colored pieces that reminded him of a 3D puzzle. "Was it this?" The prince asked as he started reassembling the pieces.

"I've been trying to perfect Gabuko." He said, pointing to a curtain that Clara pulled aside and revealing some type of steam engine machine. "It's meant to enhance one's magic, but I'm having a hard time assembling the core."

"Is it meant to look like a heart?" The prince asked, holding the completed heart in his hands.

"Yes it is!" The upperclassman said, gaining a second wind as he marched up to Iruma and gingerly took the core from him. "I guess all that time repairing what you break has paid off." Iruma could only give an embarrassed laugh, thinking back to many times he broke something and had to put it back together. While the prince had his flashback, Kirio was explaining how Gabuko was supposed to work to the rest of the group. Clara was the only one that didn't follow, trying to see if it could make a nice kaboom with Gabuko. Shortly after that, they would spend their days testing and experimenting to create fireworks and a proper safe way to launch them, all the way to the start of the Battler Party.

(13's Dinner: Babel Tower)

The 13's dinner,set in a lavish dinning room with a table made to sit the numerous demon lords, a gathering of 13 of the most powerful and capable demons in the Netherworld. The various heads of state that obey and enact Derkila's will throughout the Netherworld, without whom all the burden would crash upon the king's shoulders. All of them loyal to him without question and hesitation, ready to serve their master in whatever capacity they had to.

"Alright you idiots. What's wrong now and why can't you fix it yourselves?" And Derkila has never had one set of 13 he ever liked. Mostly he finds them all to be annoying and incompetent for never truly understanding what it means to lead, being trapped in old ways or misunderstanding what it means to be the Demon King. The only ones he actually likes are his top 3; Sullivan, Beliard, and Levi, and Asmodeus Amaryllis but that's because she's the only other person that fawns over his children as much as he does. Everyone else thinks he needs to stay in the office to do his job while Henri keeps trying to get him to reconsider Iruma and Ameri's engagment.

"Please my lord." Started Astarou. The demon was deeply tanned with his black hair done in dreadlocks. He wore skin tight black clothes with a see through jacket over top and gold bracelets and necklaces. "It appears Glasya still isn't-"

"Glasya is busy attending to lord Derkila's will." Belzebuth stated. He was the eighth of his family line to hold the position as spokesperson of the 13. He was tanned with blonde combed back hair wearing armored armbands and a red and black mantle over his dress clothes. "Let's focus on what we need to do first." He glanced at his king, hoping to keep his lord in a good mood lest he just decide to leave.

"If I may then," spoke up Behemolt, "the over hunting of food is the most critical issue." Behemolt was an old and fat demon, resembling a pink blobish pig with a round nose. "At this rate, we'll soon be starving." He said while eating a whole bucket of fried fowl drumsticks. As he was reaching for a new one, Derkila flicked out his fingers and summoned the last few to his hand.

"Then I decree you go on a diet until you resolve the issue fatty." The king declared, popping the small(to him) bits into his mouth. "Either by restricting the amount hunted or by finding us new food items to consume." Behemolt looked mortified at the prospect of dieting, but could not defy his king. "Next."

"W-well," Astarou stuttered as he was now concerned about incuring his master's foul mood, "money hasn't been flowing like it should, your grace." Derkila turned his sight onto the demon. "It seems that illegal trade has been on the rise."

"The same goes for illegal entry with high ranked demons." Said Henri Azazel, a tall demon with long crimson hair tied into two ponytails and pointed fox ear tips with a small beard on the chin that wears a business suit with glasses. "The border situation is growing dire."

"The East is getting dangerous too lord Derkila." Said Amaymon, a wolf man demon with blue fur and purple and yellow eyes wearing a black vest, light colored pants, and a necklace with four gold keys. "What are-" They froze feeling a dark energy flood the room, all coming from their king.

"Seriously? Why do I have you idiots if all you're going to do is tell me about how you're failing at your jobs?" Derkila growled as all the crowns jumped out of their chairs to kneel before the king. "I don't want to hear about problems, I want to hear about how you SOLVED THEM. Prove that you idiots actually deserve these chairs." He never raised his voice, that made them more fearful. "Track the criminals, find their hideouts and contraband, and do whatever it takes to fix the issue with the least amount of damage. Prove yourselves capable so I don't have to micro manage everything. Am I clear?"

"YES MY LORD!" They all exclaimed.

"Good." Derkila rose from his throne. "Now, I have Sully, Levi, and Beliard working on a special project for my children's coronation. Once they're revealed, I'll be entrusting a few projects to them. No objections?" No one said anything. "Good. Amaryllis? Poro? I know you want to see this." He asked a beautiful demoness with pink hair and a revealing dress to show of her voluptuous figure, Asmodeus Amaryllis, the Crown of Lust, and a tall slender man in a pinstrip suit with two toned hair in a long pony tail with a single horn jutting from his head, Amduscias Poro."

"Thank you my lord." The two said, rising as their king walked past them and ready to join the Three Greats on the floor above. No one noticed the smirk on one of the crowns as he checked his phone and sent a message.

(Babel Tower: 666th level)

The moment Derkila and his entourage came out, they were greeted to the sight of the three top advisors of the king. Lady Levi, a fair skinned demoness with aqua blue hair, wearing a blue jacket over a white turtle and a long skirt and aquatic accessories, Lord Beliard, a tanned and short demon with a thick gray mustache and eyebrows with multiple piercings and tattoos under his black and white suit split down the middle with a pink tiger themed shirt under it and a white fedora that his horn wrap around, and Lord Sullivan. For a long time, they and a few others were partaking in a very crucial mission, something of the utmost importance to the Demon King.

"Do you have it?" Derkila asked his three most loyal and capable.

"Yes my lord." Levi started. "It took many years, but it was worth it."

"I'm sure we could get more, but the deadline is fast approaching." Beliard continued.

"We'd best get started now before we run out of time." Sullivan finished.

"Indeed. With the Battler Party starting soon, I'll need to decide this sooner rather than later. But for now, let's get to work." The three nodded and pulled out three briefcases, filled with pictures of Iruma and Irumi.

"Collage time!" All six demons cheered as they began looking through all of the pictures to figure out a good placement and pattern.

"AHH~! They were so cute in all of these outfits!" Amaryllis squeed as she pulled out a few of the prince and princess in various outfits she had them try on for their first banquet. "I can't wait to help my daughter pick out her wedding dress! Can't she marry Alice already my king?" She begged the father of the future bride.

"As much as it pains me and so many others, not until they graduate Amaryllis." Derkila answered. "Though, I really want to see that too~!"

"Oh Leiji. Why did you have to screw things up back then?" Levi bemoaned, not the first time she complained about her grandson messing up his meeting with the princess.

"That reminds me, how have they recovered from what Iruma did to them?" Sullivan asked his dear friends. Levi's grandson wasn't the only one to screw up that day.

"Razberry's actually gotten better at his slight of hand tricks after he recovered." Beliard answered. "His hands got really flexible after all of those broken bones healed."

"And Leji said that his brush with death gave him new inspiration for his art." Levi answered. "But he hasn't given up on Irumi."

"And my grandkid wants to play with Iruma again. Thinks his new shuffling technique could win him something nice."

"Both of them barely survived last time and they still want to try?" Sullivan asked. "They're gutsy. I'll give them-"

"WAHH~ WHY DON'T THEY WANT TO BE DEMDOLS!" Poro cried, holding a collection of pictures of the twins playing various instruments. "My babies could rule the people's hearts instantly if they took the stage~!" Poro curled up into the fetal position. "I want to keep them to us Del-chan, but their talent needs to shine!"

"They'd probably fix a few problems that way, but I won't force them Poro." Derkila answered, snipping out a few of Iruma and Ameri as they practiced dancing. Soon the door opened up to reveal Henri again with a few demons from the Border Patrol.

"Lord Derkila, please excuse-" the man started before seeing the pictures of his daughter on her dates with Iruma, causing his glasses to shatter.

"And that's why you weren't invited." The king dryly said. "Now what are you doing here?"

"Y-yes. Forgive me my lord." Henri said, regaining his composure and trying to avoid looking at any pictures of Iruma and Ameri together. Over ten years and he still tries to deny it. "Anyway, Lord Sullivan. You've been formally accused of illegally trespassing into the Human World." The head of border security stated while pulling out an arrest warrant, shocking the room. "Please come with-"

"Sully~." Everyone inside froze, turning to the Demon King. "What did you do?" Sullivan trembled, knowing he was in trouble now.