No reviews this time around, folk! But I have some other news! The next chapter of Solomon Game, Chapter 52, is actually going to be posted on P tre*n ! This means that anyone who takes the two bucks pledge can gain access to it and read the next chapter early before I get to post it here for free! As such, however, there is now going to be an official minimum of 2-weeks between chapters. If you wish to wait for it to be posted here for free, then that is more than ok with me, but if you wish to spare two bucks to show some support and, as such, gain access to Chapter 52 before I release it in at least two weeks, then go ahead!
As a reminder, you can find a link to my down at the bottom of the chapter.
What does it mean to be alive? To be born, live, and die? To be human? Well, many people say many things about this cycle. When we are born, it is the greatest act of creation. A miracle to be born. Everyone knows there are millions of swimmers aiming for the price, but only one makes it. It is a miracle to be the winner. Then comes living, where one must live one life as one wants, making sure one regrets nothing upon death.
Death is the end of their journey and the start of their existence in the afterlife. Death is blameless. Birth and living are not. A person cannot choose if they will be born or not; they just are. A person often cannot control their life either. Things just happen. And when they happen, it is out of their control and in the power of others. That is what George Merrygold experienced from a young age. He never chose to be born, let alone be born blind.
But he didn't allow this disability to hinder him. He rose above it and trained in the arcane. His blind eyes could not stop him from reading the texts, even if others had to read them for him for a while. Now, he was more than just a confident magician - he was a powerful one. And standing here, within this very room, told him as much. Where was he? Simple: He was back in the underworld, having attacked one of the hiding places of the Great King faction. The Satans had yet to get here, giving him a free hand to do as he pleased.
He killed almost everyone inside. They were merely members of branch families, with little involvement in the scandal but with involvement nonetheless. George was here with a mission, however. Officially, there are 9 King Pieces, but he knows that the Great King Faction was able to create three more without Ajuka Beelzebub's knowledge. How, he doesn't care. He knows Danbooru had one, which they destroyed before their final act, and he destroyed one as well.
Ajuka had retrieved the originals, but that meant there was one final King Piece out there, in the hands of the Great King Faction or who knows where. Part of his rampage was to locate this piece, hence why, among the bodies he had left, he allowed two members of the Bael branch family to stay alive. Badly wounded but not in immediate danger.
"Talk," George demanded coldly.
"You want the last King Piece…" One of them figured out. "You…You are the one responsible for this! For our downfall! Do you even fathom what you have done?!"
"Because of you, our faction is finished! Ajuka Beelzebub announced its dissolution, meaning there is no Great King Faction no more! " The other picked up. "You brought shame upon us! You wretch! You half-breed! Tell us now, who was your master-"
Suddenly, before the man could speak more, George summoned his magical circle underneath him, and chains of light wrapped around the man, burning his flesh. He screamed in pain from the spell, his colleague watching in horror. "H-Holy Magic?!"
"In the hands of humans, it is weaker than the one used by angels. Even more so in the hands of someone with no faith and a devil hybrid like I," George explained. "It is not potent enough to kill, but still potent enough to hurt. Badly. Now, I will repeat myself for a final time before I use other means to see you join your comrades."
"F-fine!" The one chained said, then the chains around him broke. "The final King Piece is with…It's with the Head of the Paimon House."
"You-"
"Thank you for the information," George replied. "Now, onto something else…" He fished a picture out of his pocket, showing it to the men. "Where is she?" The eyes of the two were wide in surprise.
"W-why do you have that? What business could you have with her?!" The one that wasn't chained asked, barely able to process what he was seeing.
"My business is mine alone, so you either talk or-"
"Wait…Wait, wait, look at him!" The one he chained spoke, looking at him closer. "My word, the rumors were true! He is-" Suddenly, the chains were back, but this time, they pierced him right through the chest. The man choked on his blood as his lungs were impaled clean through. "I thought…You couldn't-"
"The magic itself? No, but I can get a bit creative." George replied, then he pulled the chains away, letting the man fall to the ground, deceased. "I guess that answers to the fact that I am not a man with a lot of patience. With the Great King Faction gone, who had the gall to imprison me and sell me to the fucking North Koreans of all people on this planet, there is no one really in my way. Even the former head of the Bael House is no more, and his son…Well, I don't think I have to worry much about him. Now, would you consider being more cooperative than your friend here was, or do I need to bring the chains out again?"
"I'll speak! Just…Please, let me leave this place alive." The man replied, and Geroge nodded his head.
"Then speak."
Right after the man had spoken, George made to leave the hideout, existing outside on the border region between Hell and Helheim. The wind was frigid and unforgiving, and George figured it was only worse in Helheim proper. Yet, as he took distance from the hideout, the smoke began to filter out, along with the screams of the man within. He had what he wanted. He held every single piece in more than one sense of the word. Reaching into his pocket, he got the King Piece. The INTACT one, which Danbooru had. He asked him for it and explained to the man the reason for his journey.
He had to do this. He might be blind, but by GOD, he was not stupid. He knew that even with the King Piece, he stood no chance against the many defenses and the entirety of the troops under the command of the Bael House. No, he had to wait.
George knew how to be patient. But that being said, that isn't to say he couldn't at least stick close. He will ensure he will be close enough for when the moment arises. All he has to do is wait for a flash of red.
Another day, another round of training under the belt. Issei was absolutely beat as he finished his training for the day, especially since Solomon banned him from using any skill! The wise man wanted Issei to focus on raw stats, which is why he had been fighting Dummy since morning. It was now evening, and he could really use a pick-me-up.
Yet, the results were there. He couldn't deny them in any shape or form. His new cap was 200, so Solomon wanted him to train hard to reach it. On the surface, however, although nothing was changing except the draconic stuff, Issei did notice the more subtle changes. Heavier things before became lighter as his STR went up, and things hurt less as his DUR went up as well. He was able to move and act a little bit faster each time his AGI went up as well. His INT and WIS also showed improvement, as he could understand things in his textbooks for Kuoh way better!
Anyway, he had gained 10 points of STR and 18 of DUR - Dummy hit like a motherfucker! - 9 AGI, 2 ACC, 4 WIS, 2 INT, and 1 CHA. Since no proficiency was increased, he only gains the default 800K, which, thanks to his bonuses, is increased to 4096800.
Congratulations! You are now level 47!
And another level in the bag. Good, that was good. The conference was still some time away, meaning that he had plenty of time to reach level 50, and hey, he might be able to go further than that. But for now, after getting some Phoenix Tears and getting a shower, he simply collapsed on his bed, opening his stat page. He had a few Stat Points, namely, eight of them to spare.
Solomon would talk his ear off if he spent the emergency 20 again. So, best invest those wisely. Oh, who was he kidding? Time to bump INT and WIS first! He wanted to get them higher due to how useful they had proven so far. First, he brought WIS to 150, given how that stat also gives him bonus EXP, thanks to his ring.
That alone took 10 points. Next, he dumped 16 into INT. "Alright, time to see what else I can increase to the- GAH! Fuck, my head! What is-"
Since your MGI, WIS, and INT had all reached the value of 150, your [Mythical Affinity] perk has hereby evolved into [Height of Arcana]
[Height of Arcana: The highest level a person can achieve or be born with in terms of their magical talent. You gain 200% more EXP on all of your Magic-related skills. Additionally, you now have access to Supreme Magic.
"What the…What is Supreme Magic?"
"Well, my student, it is not an individual magic. I am telling you that much." Solomon's voice explained. "Supreme Magic refers to the strongest spell within every single magic. None matches it. I will also forgive your reckless spending of stat points this time, given what it has brought to us."
"Thanks? I guess this bonus in my magical capabilities is good and all, but how do I access this supreme spell?" Issei asked.
"You most likely first to have to max out your proficiency with a specific magic. Fire is the closest one to that ideal, so I'd suggest you focus on that one next training session."
"Roget that, Solomon." However, until then, he has trained enough for today. He would have been satisfied with just calling it a night right then and there, but something popped up before him.
ALERT!
Your dungeon is now complete! After a long period, all mechanics, bosses, and so on have finally been generated. However, now, with the completion of the dungeon, you must select a location from which the dungeon will be accessible to enemies to enter.
And most likely perish before your many creatures. Now, what does this mean, and how do Dungeons ACTUALLY work? When in your favor, dungeons are a way to generate EXP by, well, killing anyone foolish enough to venture inside unprepared. Simple, right? However, the EXP gained from the dungeon is affected solely by perk-based bonuses.
Further details will become available when a location has been chosen. Do note that in order to move the main entrance, you must do so in under a day; otherwise, you will be fined 10% of your EXP for every day you are late finding a new location.
"Oho! Now that is what I am talking about!" Issei cheered, seeing the announcement. This meant that his entire dungeon was now complete, and he could start welcoming intruders inside. That was quite the stuff-
"Ise!" Suddenly, however, Michael stormed into his room, looking distraught. "Forgive me if I am interrupting something, but I come to you with urgent news!"
"What is it, Michael? You look a bit pale."
"Ise, forgive me; I promise to make this right as soon as I can, but…I got news from the Church. They will be sending Durandal…"
"Well, that is great! Xenovia is bound to be thrilled to get her sword back and-"
"Along with the exorcist priests from the orders of the Crimson Legion, Sons of Cain, and even the White Doves," Michael explained to Issei, who still looked a bit confused. Seeing this, Michael was swift to clear the fog. "You see, Ise, our exorcists exist within several orders. Each order has its ranking in the structure of the Church, assuring them certain benefits and perks. Since the formation of the Church, many orders of exorcists have existed, and today, there are around twenty of those. "
"And the ones you listed are coming as bodyguards to the sword, correct?" Michael shook his head.
"The Church…I only learned not long ago, but the Pope, who is currently in power, was unable to convince the entire Church to transition to a more peaceful mindset, where they would accept the presence of fallen angels and devils. A schism has taken place, and the Vatican erupted in a small riot. The ones who broke off, wishing to continue fighting, name themselves the True Sons of Christ. A rebel faction made up of no less than five orders of exorcists. It is an issue that Heaven will take appropriate measures to remedy, given their crimes."
"Crimes? If schism alone is a crime, then why'd you let Martin Luther push through with the creation of the Protestant Church?"
"That is not the crime, Ise, no. Heaven doesn't condemn schisms, for at the end of the day, all sides serve the one true God. No, their crimes are different. From my understanding, this has been in the works for a few months, and the rebels had managed to steal several holy artifacts right from the Vatican's vault. In doing so, they have slain others and stained the holy grounds of the Vatican in blood. They brought death and violence where there was supposed to be none and broke their oaths. And I fear that, among the stolen artifacts, is also Durandal." Michael explained further. "They intercepted my message, stating I wished the sword to be delivered to you for Xenovia Quarta to use it, and now they are marching here to do what they believe the rest of the Church too cowardly to do: Purge the non-believers."
"You mean…They are coming here to attempt to slay us?" Issei stated, but then he chuckled briefly. "Forgive, Michael, if the situation sounds a bit ludicrous to me in a way that makes me chuckle, but…Don't we have three of the strongest beings out there here? If they come, they'd be coming to their deaths."
"I understand your point of view, Ise, but unfortunately, I am not allowed to fight," Michael added.
"But why?" Solomon asked, his voice coming from thin air. "Lord Michael, your holiness, you were once a leader in God's divine army! It was your blade that saw Lucifer driven out of Heaven, yet you say you cannot fight?"
"I'm afraid that with God's death, I was forced to resign from my position as leader of Heaven's leading general. I cannot fight those people with the intent to harm them, let alone kill them. Such actions would blacken my wings." His explanation was reason enough if Issei were to give an opinion. If Michael no longer had the divine right to battle, given his position and race, then he couldn't fight even if he wanted. Odds are those rebels will not listen to his authority now, either.
"Still, we have Sirzechs and Ajuka." Issei reasoned, but then Solomon chipped in.
"I doubt you can rely on them as well, my student."
"What?"
"Solomon is right. The treaty we are going to sign has a clause that, under those circumstances, can allow individuals from other factions to attack those deemed as rebels or rogues from the other without repercussion. Still, the treaty has not been signed yet. If the two satans were to attack those rebels now, the few left in the Church proper who were unsure of their standing might use this as an excuse to turn as well and convince the Church that it is an attack on the Church and Heaven. They'd use their actions as a pretext for war."
Issei rubbed his face, feeling a small headache kicking in. "So, let me guess. You came to me because any faction does not bind me."
"Indeed. As much as it shames me to say this, your position gives you the perfect position to defend yourself to whatever extent you deem fit. If you were to kill them all, the Church would have only you to blame, and even then, you have the full right to claim self-defense. They are coming to purge you and your group, after all."
"What if they sent more agents? Do I just see them to their graves as well?" Issei asked but noticed Michael's flinch. "Forgive, Michael, if I sounded cruel."
"No, it's alright. I know this cannot be avoided, given the situation. It will not be easy, knowing there will be a slaughter, but I will take solace in believing theirs was due justice. I just ask that you do not torment them. Give them a swift end if you must."
"That much I can offer," Issei stated, a smile on his lips. "This is perfect, you know? My dungeon had completed itself not long before you stormed in. This is the perfect chance to see what it can do and how effective it may be. What am I to expect from those exorcists?"
"The three orders that are coming are part of the Church's elite. They are men and women who devoted themselves entirely to God, wielding the latest equipment and being aided even more by enchants and spells. The Sons of Cain, especially, are only sent when dealing with Ultimate-Class devils."
"That good? Well, I thought humans had more limits."
"Faith can give the heart the power to endure many things, Ise. The Sons of Cain have undergone several alterations to their bodies to be able to stand against such foes. What kind? I am not at liberty to reveal it. "
"I see. Well, all in all, it should prove itself a worthy challenge for the defenses of my dungeon. When are they to arrive?" Ise asked the angel.
"Soon. They are moving fast, using private means of transport. If I were to estimate, they will be here in several hours."
"Then I best prepare. Leonna!"
The maid opened the door and appeared in his bedroom. "Master."
"Sent a message to Rias, telling her to bring her entire peerage to my dungeon. It is for their protection, given how the enemy is after Xenovia as well."
"At once!"
"And Leonna? Notify the leaders of every region. It is time they prove their worth to me and cull the coming enemy."
"At once, Sir. I promise there will be no failure on our part, and we will not allow them to reach this level."
"Good. To be fair, I have been itching quite a bit to see my dungeon finally complete. But first, let me choose the entrance to it. Given how those people are coming here, they must have the intelligence telling them where I live…I will put the dungeon entrance in the house."
"Move it, move it!" Approaching Issei's house, per Michael's warning, several men and women wearing various robes were surrounding his home. A barrier had even been erected over the entire neighborhood, placing them in a separate space to act without worrying about exposure. The exorcists were wearing different robes, representing their order.
The ones wearing red and black robes were the Crimson Legion, an elite order that boasts the most members of all orders within the Church. The next ones were the White Doves, who wore white robes with feather-like decorations. This order of exorcists stood out as both an elite and support order, as they specialized heavily in healing and support magic. But the final group was the best of the best.
The Sons of Cain. They were easy to spot, given their red and golden robes, yet the most striking detail was the cross tattooed on their foreheads in red ink. Quite the striking detail. There were at least a dozen or so from every group, along with someone else, dressed in a more casual attire. Casual, yet not normal by general standards. They wore a white suit with golden detailing, and they had short, blonde hair along with heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one green. However, the most striking detail was the sword on their back; Durandal was with them.
"Bishop Crane." One of the exorcists addressed the younger man. "We have surrounded the home of the Red Dragon, where information states he harbors the witch, Asia Argento, along with several unholy beings, including a descendant of the original Leviathan, Ingvild Leviathan."
The man, named Crane, clicked his tongue in annoyance. "What filth. So much sin, gathered in one place, is begging to be purged! Break the doors and spare no one!"
"But, Sir, what about the information that states Lord Michael to be here, along with two of the satans?" The exorcist asked.
"They won't act so long as we know our target. Politically, they can do nothing unless they risk jeopardizing the treaty they care so much about. Their hands are bound, meaning they will be forced to watch as we slaughter the Red Dragon and his lot! Now, attack!" The exorcists broke the door to the house, storming inside. They went into every room, turning the lights on and trying to find anyone, but…
"Bishop Crane, the house is empty!" One of the exorcists shouted.
"Empty?! Impossible! There must be a trick at play here; there is no way they cleared out of this place." Crane reasoned, then looked at the stairs leading down to the basement. "The basement. Of course! Everyone, to the basement! There is no other place they could be hiding in!"
Listening to his orders, the exorcists went to the door of the basement, opened it, and stormed in. However, realization quickly dawned on them about the place they entered. "What in the name of the holy trinity is this?!" One of the older exorcists there gasped, and Crane made his way in as well. Only they were not inside a basement. Looking back, Crane saw the door still there, his troops slowly entering the space they stepped in. They were inside a clearing, surrounded by a forest, with one singular path cutting through the trees toward somewhere. As more and more of their own came inside, Crane looked around.
"How is this possible? Is this some kind of pocket dimension?" He asked, yet looking back, he saw the door still intact, giving them the option to escape. "The door is not vanishing."
"What kind of witchcraft is this?" Another exorcist asked. "This place is massive! I've never seen something of this scale before!"
"Is this the power of the Red Dragon at play?" Another asked. "To be able of such a feat…Bishop Crane, perhaps we should-"
"No!" Crane shouted strongly. "We will not retreat nor call for back-up! What we have is enough. The Red Dragon…This may very well be his domain, but that also means he is cornered! Don't you see? He is here! And if he is here, then so is his group of heretics! We will march forward and locate the hiding place of the enemy!"
"Yes, Sir!" The exorcists replied, and then they all began to advance further down the path through the twilight-lit woods surrounding them. Many looked up at the sky, seeing the eternal state of twilight it was in. They were advancing at a steady pace, yet suddenly, the howling of wolves cut through the silence of the woods.
Many exorcists got into formation, drawing their weapons, and not a moment too soon. Yellowish eyes peered through the woods as many wolves began to growl and bare their fangs at the exorcists. But they were veterans, and as the wolves began charging in, they began firing their weapons.
"Wolves! Everyone, get into position!" Crane ordered, and as the wolves drew close, he drew a second sword from his hip, along with a standard-issued exorcist gun. He began to cut and shoot the wolves along with the rest of his troops, but the wave that was plaguing them seemed endless.
And wolves were not their only enemy.
"Gah!" Suddenly, several exorcists fell to the ground as arrows pierced their bodies.
"What?!" The rattling of bones echoed with the howls as skeletons wielding bows and arrows, some riding on wolves, began to attack from the woods as well. Members of the White Doves were swift to attend to their wounded, removing the arrows and using their healing magic to bring them back to fighting conditions. The fighting dragged on for longer, yet the exorcists proved their strength.
Eventually, no more howling was heard, and the skeletons were easily killed. Against someone of less experience, this might have been a difficult assault, yet to them, this was not a great chore.
"Tell me, what are the damages?" Crane asked.
"Arrows pierced some of us, but our healing has already brought them back to fighting condition." one of the exorcists replied. "We also checked the arrows. Normal, no poison."
"Good. Then we move onward. Heh." Crane chuckled as his group continued onward. "If this is all the Red Dragon has to offer, then this is bound to be easier than expected! Just some mutts and sacks of bone."
"Michael, can you please explain to me who this guy is? He is giving me serious Riser vibes, and that is not a good thing." Issei, who was standing atop his throne within the fortress, as told by Leonna, asked from the angel present in the room. Everyone was there, having gathered there to gaze into the pool of water that resided on the floor. Large marble columns held the ceiling high, with crimson drapes decorating them and dim light illuminating the room from torches. Most of the light came through the windows, yet it barely made a difference.
"That'd be Bishop Crane. He was an orphan, taken in by the church. I do not know much about him, but I do know of him since he volunteered for quite the experiment."
"What kind of experiment?" Kiba asked, but then his eyes saw what Crane had in his possession. "Is that Durandal on his back?"
"What?! Impossible! Artificially created Holy Sword wielders cannot use Durandal!" Xenovia shouted, leaning over the pool of water. "Is he a natural like me?"
"No," Michael replied sternly. "He is not. He was tested, and he was not. No, instead, that is the nature of the experiment I was speaking about. They are trying to enhance the process of creating artificial wielders for Holy Swords like Durandal to enable more people to wield it. I do not know the precise details of it, but looking at this, they seem to have seen some success."
"Hmm. This cannot be a full success." Issei stated, watching. "Otherwise, he'd have taken Durandal out. Yet, he used normal weaponry. Simply welding Durandal doesn't drain the body, does it?"
"It doesn't," Xenovia answered. "Durandal is…hard to manage, I admit, but it doesn't drain the body of anything."
"I see. Then I guess we need only to wait and see. After all, I think the Naga will take good care of them. Michael…You don't need to be here when it happens."
"It is my failure that saw this happen, Ise. Watching those souls be forsaken…Is the least I can do to repay the sin of neglect I committed." Michael replied, keeping his eyes on the action. The group had found the walls with the inscriptions of the monster within. "As much as it pains me just to watch…"
"What is this place?" The group had entered the garden of the naga, looking around. Tall hedges and multiple columns of marble stood proud, hiding the beast hiding within.
"I don't know, but something doesn't feel right here." Another one said, and then the hissing began. "What was that? It sounded like-"
"Watch out!"
"What- AHHH!" Before the exorcist could dodge, the naga leaped at him from within the hedge, closing its maw around him. The man's blood spilled everywhere around his mouth as his bones were crushed and then swallowed, followed by the naga standing tall above the group, hissing at them.
"Monster! Monster!" They shouted, and then everyone got their weapons out, attacking the naga. Their swords and guns did damage, yet the naga fought on. It slithered with unnatural speed, and when it seemed to stop, it used its tail and swiped at them, managing to knock two of them back into the far wall.
It hissed at another exorcist, the man raising his gun to shoot the naga, yet the snake-like creature spat a thick stream of venom at the man. "AHHHHHHH!" They screamed as the venom made their flesh boil, causing it to rot and decay.
"Hold on!" One of his comrades rushed to him, attempting to provide healing. "Sir!"
"I know!" Crane shouted, reaching for his sword of light, and then he charged at the naga. "Strike it from the side!" He ordered, and the exorcists obeyed, causing a distraction. Crane used this chance to leap up and slash the naga across the eye, blinding it in one eye. The naga hissed in pain at the wound, yet it still saw Crane on the ground and spat out more venom. Yet, in doing so, an exorcist spotted the glint in its mouth.
"There is a key in its mouth!" The man shouted, and then he rushed toward it. The naga attempted to strike him with its tail, but the man leaped up and dodged, followed by him throwing his sword into the naga's body. The exorcists were starting to get over their initial surprise, and their attacks became more organized. The naga found itself surrounded by various attacks from all sides.
A loud hiss echoed as the naga spat venom all over, but it failed to see one thing…Bishop Crane got underneath its head. "Take this!" He stabbed his sword through the naga's head, causing it to spasm before it collapsed on the ground, dying as green blood spilled from its wounds. Crane went over to its mouth, prying it open and grabbing the key.
"So much for your naga, Ise," Rias commented.
"Oh, don't worry about it. He isn't done." That, and he got the EXP from its kill. Only one person had actually died, namely the one it ate. But another one was barely hanging on. Still, the EXP he got was decent. Those exorcists were worth 10K each. The EXP was being stored, and it was going to be affected by his perks once the dungeon did its job in full.
"Sir!" A member of the Doves shouted for Crane, who went over to them, seeing their wounded comrade. The others were already being healed and recovering, but that person's flesh and skin…Crane could see bone in some areas. "Our healing isn't strong enough…He's fading."
"Then we best don't torment him any longer." Crane took out his gun and shot the man, sending him to the afterlife. Some of the people there were shocked, yet Crane continued speaking. "We cannot afford to be slowed down! The loss is tragic, and I pray for the peace of our fallen comrades, but we must push onward. The enemy commands monsters of various kinds, meaning we must be extra careful and-"
"Sir, behind you!"
Just in time, Crane dodged underneath the tail of the naga. "How?! We killed it!"
The body of the naga began to get up, and everyone looked at it anxiously. But then its skin started to break apart, along with flesh, and two arms became visible. The naga pushed with one final effort and broke out of its shell. This was stage two. The naga now possessed a humane torso and arms. However, the monster didn't attack right away. Instead, it slithered to the center of the garden, to one of the pillars, and grabbed it with its hand. Applying pressure, the pillar began to crack until it broke, revealing a giant spear fit for the monster.
"Oh my," Sirzechs said, surprised by this. "It has a secondary stage?"
"Damn right, it does! Naga is the first major protector of the dungeon, so I thought I'd design it with a surprise second stage in case of anything."
The naga swung its spear in a wide arc, managing to slash off the head of an exorcist. That made three victims so far. The creature began to use its spear to counter the exorcists, who could no longer land effective strikes on it. It grew faster and stronger. Crane, however, was not pleased by this. "We will not be slowed down!" He declared, then grabbed Durandal. "Charge at it!"
The naga fought well, as the enemy charged at it and attempted to take it out. However, in their assault, another fell to its spear, pinned to the ground. Yet, before the naga had a chance to pull back, Crane slashed at it…With Durandal. The naga's hand came right off, losing the spear. The creature hissed in pain, holding its severed stump.
"Die!" Crane shouted as he swung Durandal horizontally across the naga's lower body, cutting the creature in two.
"Motherfucker! That sword is good." Issei commented. "Naga…You did well." Four victims fell to the naga, netting Issei 40K EXP in waiting.
Crane put Durandal down, stabbing the sword into the ground as the monster faded to dust. He was letting out labored breaths as his group was regrouping after the losses. Four people had lost their lives already. "Sir? Do you require healing?"
"I am fine. Just tired." Crane admitted, then put Durandal back on his back. "Everyone, let's go!"
Looking at the back of the garden, he saw the portal forward.
"Toward the next trial."
"Well, what do you know? They actually got past the naga!" Issei stated in slight awe. "I guess I was overconfident. Still, they did better than I thought. I am not so sure my lich is going to last long, provided they figure out how to defeat it. That one is a gimmick."
"Again, I apologize for the trouble, Ise. I doubt the naga can be replaced." Michael apologized.
"Do not worry. It will regenerate itself over time. It should be back in a day or two." Issei reassured the man. "Now then…Let us see how they deal with the lich."
The group was swiftly teleported before the giant tower of the lich, with Crane stepping forth with the key. Once he twisted it, it vanished, and the doors of the tower opened. Torches lit up instantly, welcoming the group inside. It was a tall tower with a circular staircase going up and several corridors leading away from it. Yet, at the top, he could see the ceiling or flooring of the last floor.
"Sir?"
"Be vigilant," Crane told his group as they advanced up the stairs. They walked slowly, trying to watch out for traps. However, one of them gazed curiously in one of the connected hallways, seeing a strange sight.
"Sir, there seem to be shelves full of books in this tower." The exorcist stated, then went to them. This drew the attention of the others, but upon getting close to the shelve, the man noticed it was shaking. "Huh?"
Then, several books flew out, opening themselves. "My God, they are possessed!" The man got his gun out and started to shoot them, yet one of the books shot a projectile of magic at him, sending him back over the railing of the stairs. "AHHH!" The man fell to his death, landing with a sickening crunch at the bottom of the stairs.
Yet, his screams did their job. More books flew out from the hallways, flooding the bottom section of the tower.
"Rush up! Sons of Cain! Use magic to burn them!" The Sons of Cain did as instructed, conjuring fire magic ahead of themselves to clear out a path. Yet, as they took advantage, they lost sight of one of their own, who was struck by one of the books over the head.
"Ugh! Wha- GAH!" They didn't get to finish as they looked back, seeing another skeleton there, wielding a dagger with which it stabbed him.
"Undead behind us!" Another shouted, alerting the group. True, undead skeletons were climbing up the stairs along with them, trying to reach them. The one that got stabbed was tossed to the side, down to his demise as well. That made six victims thus far.
"Up! UP!" Crane shouted, and the group rushed up, pushing through the books. The undead were being left behind, especially as the exorcists shot them, managing to kill several of the monsters. Yet, upon reaching the top of the stairs and finding themselves in the largest and highest room, Craene was swift to pull one of the shelves down on the stairwell, blocking it. "There! We are safe now."
"Heheheh. Do not think so, interloper." The group turned as chills ran down their spines, seeing no one else in the room apart from a skeleton sitting upon a throne dressed in fine robes. Yet, as its eyes began to glow and the creature floated, the exorcists knew they were dealing with yet another monster. "You dare come this far, trespassing on my master's domain. Unforgivable. I will ensure your transgression is paid in blood." Conjuring a specter, the lich summoned a barrier around itself.
"Attack!" Crane ordered, and the exorcists began to attack the lich, who tanked the strikes with no effort. The barrier around him negated their attacks. Crane, however, seeing this, grabbed Durandal again. "Out of my way!"
"Durandal?" The lich gasped, seeing the sword and being forced to fly back. "Oh no! I know better than to get close to a holy blade, given my undead nature. Rise, my servants!"
Suddenly, several summoning circles appeared on the ground as multiple ghouls manifested in the room. "Shit! Kill them all! Don't hold back!" Crane ordered, and an all-out brawl started between the exorcists and the undead. However, during all of that, the lich stood motionless, watching.
Crane grits his teeth in frustration, however. The lich was too powerful, and as he tried to charge at it, more undead got in his way. Durandal made quick work of them, yet the lich remained untouchable! Or was it?
Crane knew better. He was better! He grinned widely, his attention turning to look around the room. The walls were bare, safe for some drapes with a dragon emblem above the throne. The shelves of books were all over but hid nothing. The throne, however…Crane knew something was up. The creature before him was a lich. An undead sorcerer who separated their soul from their body, granting them eternal life. If the phylactery, where they kept their soul, were to be ruined, they'd perish!
So, with that in mind, as the undead gathered, he adjusted his grip on Durandal and threw it at the throne.
"What?! You figured it that quick- Ugh." The lich grabbed his chest and fell to the ground. "My…Soul…"
"Oh, shit, he figured it out faster than expected," Issei commented. "The lich is normally impossible to damage in any way unless you got some real powerful stuff. That barrier is just too powerful. Still, its phylactery is hidden in the throne. Few would think the weakness of the enemy is in plain sight. This Crane guy is no fool."
"He has been taught by the best the Church had to offer," Michael commented. "He is well-versed in many things, Issei, including knowledge of monsters. The fact that he figured out the weakness of the lich and where to look is a testament to his skill."
"He seems like he'd actually be worth some time. But tell me, does this lich of yours have other tricks? Because it seems like one straightforward fight to me." Raynare commented, making Issei chuckle.
"Of course he has. Though, it isn't a resurrection like the naga."
"You are done, you unholy wretch," Crane stated, then kicked the lich in the chin, making him fall to the ground. "Now, tell us how to reach your master."
"Hahaha…" The lich laughed. "You think…I'd let you get to my master so easily? You lot…ARE NOT WORTHY OF HIS TIME!" The lich's body caught fire, blue flames erupting and engulfing the room. Crane recoiled back, stepping away from the intense heat. "I will burn down this entire room with you all in it! My life is meaningless!"
"This monster is no short of a zealot!" Crane remarked, then spotted something. Light, coming from behind the throne, broke. "Everyone! Move the debris from the throne away! Now!" The exorcists did as ordered, moving the stone away and exposing a new hallway. "Through here-"
"Sir!" Two of their people had been caught by the flames. "Sir, help!" Their robes were burning as the flames were consuming them, but worst of all, the lich, covered in fire, got behind them, grabbing them and throwing his burning body over them, covering them in fire. "BISHOP CRANEEEEEEEE!"
Without looking back, Crane sealed the hallway, cutting the flames from reaching them. With those two, they already lost eight people. "Sir…The lich…It brought ruin upon itself to try and kill us…That is not natural behavior for such a creature."
"It doesn't matter. We continue onward and-" Suddenly, Crane's breathing hitched. "What is this?"
Three gateways were before them, along with a pedestal holding the bottom part of a crystal of some kind. The exorcists looked at the gates, trying to make sense of them, but few could so much as guess what this was. Three gates, all leading to different locations. From one gate, hot and damp air came through. From another, the smell of decay. And from the last, the coldest of winds.
"What is this? Is this some kind of game to this sinner?! What is this?!" Crane demanded.
"Three gates?" Akeno asked. "My, I also wonder what those do."
"They lead to different places, of course," Issei answered. "And all three places must be conquered before they can step foot in this specific part of the dungeon's realm."
"What a defense system. I am guessing the crystal we see there is the key to coming here?" Issei nodded to Ajuka.
"If they complete it, they will be able to reach here. But I doubt they will come in big numbers. After all…I have my other servants waiting for them."
Ultimately, the exorcists split into three groups, each going their separate ways. Crane went with his group, which was made up of mostly Sons of Cain, through the gateway that reeked of decay. And the smell was well-earned. They woke up in a graveyard, underneath the shadow of a large, crumbling tower made of red brick. "What is this unholy magic?" Crane asked as he looked up.
However, time was short. All around them, laughter echoed as the graves around them radiated with green mist. The armor that decorated the statues seemed to come to life, picking up weapons as five spectral monsters stood before them, brandishing weaponry. "We are the five lost warriors! We are…The Five Phantom Knights!" And then they attacked, with Crane and his group drawing their weapons.
In another location, where the air was so cold it froze your very blood, another group ventured deep within a large cavern. Only that, upon entering, they were met with a giant creature standing before them. White fur and features that seemed a mix between man and gorilla.
A Yeti.
"Attack it!" The leader ordered, and the exorcists were able to kill the yeti easily. "Heh. It wasn't so strong. Alright, let's advance and-"
"GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAA!" Suddenly, an earth-shaking roar made the cave tremble to its core, sending chills down the spines of the exorcists. Then multiple roars came in reply…
"My God…"
Where the air was damp and hot, it bore no wonder the last group expected a warm place. To their surprise, it was not as such. They awoke inside a labyrinth, and as they traveled within it, they were not met with any enemy. No, instead, something else threatened their lives. Traps of all kinds.
Slime that made them stick to the floor or walls and fire and poisonous darts were but a few of the dangers they faced. Yet, traps didn't cause any casualties. Eventually, the group seemed to have reached the end of the labyrinth. There, they spotted a creature with horns on its head.
"A minotaur? Huh. Classic, considering the location." However, one of his comrades saw better.
"No…" The creature rose from within its wooden cage, slowly lifting its axe and gazing at them. It's four hooves digging the group in preparation. "That is no normal minotaur."
"What in tarnation-?!"
"HUAAAAAAAAAAA!" The creature that burst through the wooden bars of its chamber was no minotaur. It had the head of a bull, the torso and arms of a man, yet the lower body of a horse! It was akin to a mix between a minotaur and a centaur.
The Minocent.
"Oh boy, they are not looking too hot," Issei commented from the viewing room as they watched from all three perspectives.
"Phantoms, yeti, and even some kind of hybrid monster…" Ajuka remarked. "Fascinating variety of monsters. Especially the hybrid. Truly, there must be no limit to the abilities you possess, Issei Hyoudou."
"The only limits are the ones I currently have. But even then, my imagination is the biggest limit." Issei added.
"So much violence…" Gasper said as he watched, but upon seeing a guy ripped in two by the Minocent, he hid in a box. "I think I will stay here until the bloodshed is done."
"It is either they all die, or they succeed, somehow, to advance further," Issei commented. "I am willing to say they won't get past the three regions. Who wants to bet against me?"
"You are on, Issei," Sirzechs stated, taking out a fat stack of money.
Within the labyrinth, the Minocent lay slain. Its body had fallen to the ground, with a horn and two legs cut off. Many exorcists were harmed badly…more were now dead, their corpses littering the room. Only four survived, with only one healer left. "What…A monster…" One of them commented.
Suddenly, the wall at the back of the Minocent's room fell apart, revealing a swamp beyond it. "Come on." The healer said, trying to pick up the others to go further. "We need to move onward."
However, in other places, others didn't have the same luck. The group dealing with the cold cavern found itself facing a monster unlike none other. A yeti the size of ten yeti put together. The creature was surrounded by its young, yeti they'd consider normal in size. The exorcists looked up the creature with fear.
Then it roared at them, and the fight continued.
"Ugh! Damn you!" The last of the phantoms cursed Crane as he swung Durandal, killing another one of the ghosts. None of his group were lost, merely hurt, but not badly. He had taken out Durandal from the start. "You will never survive the true guardian of this realm." The last phantom warned him.
"Then where is it?" Crane asked, putting the sword at the neck of the ghost. "Tell me now." Yet, the ghost merely laughed.
"Atop the tower overlooking this graveyard." Then, the spirit grabbed the sword and drove it into its neck, vanishing.
"Damn him! Choosing suicide…Well, I guess he was already dead anyway. Everyone, keep moving! We need to reach the top of that tower!"
Back to the group at the icy planes, they had managed to slay the giant yeti. It was not easy. Many of them were crushed to death by the creature or eaten, leaving only five standing. Those five advanced forth as a staircase revealing itself in the wall. Yet, as they climbed higher and higher, the temperature dropped sharply, more and more.
But eventually, they arrived at their destination. A large chamber, with the ice reflecting the lights outside, dancing in a hypnotizing spectacle. But before them, the true guardian of the key leading to Issei stood upon her floating throne of ice. Her skin was an unnatural blue, and her hair was like fine threads of ice.
"So, you are the only one who survived…A waste." She said, then, with one motion, the fight was on.
"What in the name of the Lord above is-"
"WRRRRRRRRRIIIIII!" The group led by Crane had managed to climb to the top of the tower, which was not easy, but once they reached there, all they found was a strange cubic device. But upon touching it, it unleashed the creature inside. A large, gigantic, one-eyed creature with a vertical mouth. It resembled a squid-like being, as it had several tentacles stretching all the way to the ground below, yet it just floated. Its skin was white as ash, and its eye was red and crying blood. Its awful wails pierced their ears, causing them to cover them each time it wailed.
It spewed fire at them, and its tears burned like boiling water. But they will fight…They will survive…They had to.
"AHHHH!" So Crane jumped into combat with Durandal.
"Is it just me, or is he getting slower?" Issei asked, watching Crane fight the Ur-Ghast.
"He is," Kiba added. 'It seems like the weight of Durandal is dragging him down, but he was fine not long ago."
Michael sighed. "This means the process is not perfect. Whatever they did to him to enable him to wield Durandal seems to be highly temporary."
"Well then…Hopefully, he will have enough steam left by the end of this to bring us that sword. I swear, that weapon alone carried them far." Issei added.
The battle against the Ur-Ghast was bloody. The creature didn't go down no matter how much they wounded it, and even blinding it did nothing to stop its rampage. Eventually, however, it couldn't bear the damage anymore and fell to the abyss below. Upon its defeat, a portal opened for Crane and his surviving group, along with being given a piece of the crystal.
However, when they returned to the main room, they were met with a sight that chilled him to the bones. Literally. "W-what is this?" He asked, his voice shaking.
Before him stood one of his men, holding another part of the crystal, but…They were frozen solid! Their skin was an unnatural color, and they were just standing there, unable to move. Their hand was stretched, having the other piece of the crystal, which Crane took, but then the frozen man collapsed and shattered on the ground.
"Damn it…" Crane swore.
"What could have done such a thing, Sir?"
"I don't know. Yet, it doesn't matter." He went to the pedestal, putting the fragments in. "Now, we must wait for the final group. Hopefully, they will be back swiftly and-"
Suddenly, the gate that the last group went through opened again. "Sir…Look…" Through it, they saw the mangled bodies of their comrades, standing within a land covered in charred mud.
"No…Grrr. Charge in!" Crane ordered, bringing his men to a swamp covered in smoke and the smell of sulfur. Upon looking around, he saw fire erupting from the ground, but worst of all, he saw what killed his men. "A…A Hydra?!"
"A creature of the Greek mythology…tricky to kill," Kiba remarked.
However, that was what Crane knew as well. His men didn't. The hydra left its heads exposed to be cut, and his group cut them left and right, thinking they were killing the Hydra. They were being slaughtered left and right, with the hydra's middle head spewing fire at them.
Crane fought well…but ultimately, he was the only survivor. He drove Durandal through the heart of the hydra, prevailing, but as he walked back with the final crystal fragment, opening the gate to Issei's fortress, all he found himself in was a clearing surrounded by thorns.
"I must say…" And there, he was waited upon. "You persevered well." Xantor greeted Crane and only Crane. Everyone else was dead. "That sword of yours…It doesn't belong to you."
"As one of the only people currently able to wield it, it does!" Crane declared, brandishing Durandal against Xantor. However, the final guardian boss merely shook his head.
"You won't be able to beat me in that state of yours." Xantor reached around him, picking up his shield, a round one made after the spartan design, and a large sword. "But have it your way! I will personally take your head to my master's throne and watch it roll at his feet. Now…On your guard!" Xantor was first to swing his sword, sending forth a powerful gust of wind that took Crane by surprise. Yet, using Durandal, he stood his ground, and then he charged at Xantor.
Xantor, for his part, didn't attempt to dodge, and as Crane attempted to strike him with Durandal, going for a vertical slash from above, Xantor merely put his shield up, managing to catch the attack and push Crane back. However, as his shield was away for a mere second, Crane took his gun out, firing several shots at Xantor. The being flinched from the attacks, yet they made no further damage. His armor was strong.
Stomping the ground, Xantor buried his sword into the dirt and grabbed another weapon from his back. A spear of gold was drawn, and he positioned it in his hand before throwing it at Crane. Crane noticed the spear coming out and was able to predict the incoming attack, allowing him to dodge out of the way. "You missed!"
"I do not miss," Xantor replied as Crane looked back at the spear, his eyes widening as the weapon exploded behind him, sending him flying to the side until he, unfortunately, made contact with the wall of thorns.
"AHHHHHHH!" The thorns dug into his back, creating several wounds that bled on the ground. Xantor walked toward him, looking at Crane as he attempted to pick up Durandal, yet he seemed almost unable to lift the blade. "Come on…Not now…"
However, his attempt was cut short as Xantor stepped on Durandal and then grabbed Crane by the hair. The man screamed as the being lifted him, yet he was not without tricks. Grabbing his gun, he attempted to shoot Xantor again, but the being grabbed his gun and yanked it out of his hand, then aimed it at his thigh. "You dared to trespass here, on the domain of my master. The penalty for such transgression is death. Slow or swift, it is our call to make. However, I congratulate you for getting this far. The men and women who died thus far must have been the best your faction had to offer, were they not?"
"What…Does it matter to you?" Crane asked, gazing into the unnatural eyes of Xantor.
"It means that, despite our failure to stop you from reaching thus far, our efforts were not for nothing. Granted, the Ice Queen is bound to hear from the master about her actions. Don't know whom I mean, knave? She is one of the three bosses, guarding her own section of this realm. She froze all of your men to statues, shattered them, and then spread their powdered ice across her realm. Yet, she sent you a statue with the crystal to proceed further! Had you faced her as well before coming to me, you'd not be here now! What was going through her head, I cannot fathom, but she will answer for her antics." Xantor explained. "As for you? You will not live to see the morning sun." He raised his blade, ready to take Crane's head. However, at the last moment, the blade stopped. Xantor stopped.
He threw Crane on the ground. The man looked up in confusion. "Pick up Durandal. You may have a chance to save your life. My master is summoning me, along with you and that sword."
"Your master…The Red Dragon Emperor!" Crane gasped in realization. "What could he possibly want with me?"
"That is not for you to question, knave. You either obey his summon, or I will slash you in five pieces right where you stand!"
"God fucking damn it, Ice Queen!" Issei swore as he watched Sirzechs count his newly acquired money. "I will need to talk with her…"
Michael cleared his throat.
"Oh…Right, my apologies for taking His name in vain there, Michael."
"All is forgiven," Michael added. However, not long after their exchange, the door to the throne room opened, and Xantor walked inside, carrying Crane by the back of his shirt, with Durandal TIED to his hand using the same thorny vines that the outside is composed of. He then threw Crane at Issei's feet, and the man was forced to look up to see the master of the place he found himself in.
But upon looking further, he saw another being there. "L-Lord Michael!" He gasped in surprise. "You really are here? I thought the information was wrong! No, it doesn't matter! Please, Lord Michael, I beg your aid! Help me defeat the enemy that has revealed itself before us, and-" He then spotted the others. "The Satans, Sirzechs Lucifer and Ajuka Beelzebub. The Witch, Asia Argento. Xenovia Quarta. Ingvild Leviathan. This is- Lord Michael, explain yourself!"
"I do not need to explain myself to the likes of you!" Michael replied strongly. "It was only by my request that you were brought here, alive, so that I may do this." The angel walked to Crane and grabbed Durandal's handle. The thorns faded under his palm, and he was able to get the sword without so much as a struggle. "Xenovia, please walk forward, child."
Xenovia did as asked, going to Michael, who presented her Durandal. She took the sword in her hand and effortlessly lifted the blade. "Durandal…Thank you, Lord Michael."
Crane was slacked-jawed at this. "This is insanity! Durandal is a sacred treasure of the Church - unfit to be wielded by the hands of a fallen whore, who crossed sides with the enemy!"
"Watch your mouth!" Issei shouted, grabbing his attention now. "Bishop Crane…Had it been up to me, you wouldn't be here, before me, now. But Michael asked me to bring you at least here, and I told Xantor the same. But I won't tolerate you insulting those under my banner. They are my friend. I won't stand to you insulting them."
For defending her, you have gained 3 RP with Xenovia Quarta.
Crane, however, merely grit his teeth and growled. "I do not take orders from you, sinner! You are NOTHING! Before the might of the almighty Lord, no being can stand fighting! You will be smitten with His holy light from above the moment you leave this wretched place! And you, Michael, what I see here confirms our fears! You betrayed us! You are no different than a Fallen Angel now! A disgrace!"
"The only one who has fallen from grace here is you and your lot, Crane!" Michael shouted at him. "You think I do not know what you have done? Your actions put the peace we are trying to establish at risk! You killed your brothers! You stole from the Vatican - from Heaven! And yet, you still claim to be the righteous one? Hypocrite! The reason I asked for you to be brought here is to judge you myself! I wanted to see if there was even a shred of humanity worth saving in you, given how you were always a brilliant student…I see now that my decision was wrong. Crane, you do not believe in peace! You refuse progress! This treaty would rid us of fear and paranoia, bringing the world closer against greater foes-"
"What foe could be greater than the evil lurking in the underworld?!" Crane asked, shouting at Michael. "They are the evil! Them! Not us! We did what we had to do to carry on the will of God-"
"Your God is death," Issei revealed, making Michael flinch as he boldly revealed. Of course, Ravel and Mit, who were in the room watching, were taken aback by this.
"Blasphemy! Utter blasphemy! How dare you claim such a thing! Nothing but lies spoken from a serpent's tongue!"
"It is true, Crane," Michael stated, getting his attention. "You know that I, at the very least, do not speak lies. What Issei here is saying is true. God perished in the battle against the Dragon Emperors, along with the four original Satans. His last act was sealing Ddraig and Albion in their Sacred Gears."
"God…is dead…Then what have we…Why are we even…If he is gone, then everything we've done is pointless!" Crane shouted. "Pointless! Why serve the Church if the Lord is no more? I have dedicated my life to Him, and you are telling me he is not even there?! This is…This is…"
"The way it is. Michael here is doing his best to fill that void. Now, Crane, tell me: Where are the others hiding?"
"W-what?"
"If you tell us where the other members of your rebel faction are hiding, Crane, we will let you leave with your life," Michael stated. "This is your last chance. If you tell us, you need not die here. So long as you keep what you learned secret, swearing so before us all, and reveal where the others are, you can hope for tomorrow's sun."
"You want me…To say where they are?" Crane asked but then began to laugh. "As if! If everything you say is true, then we have no more reason to FEAR you! I will not talk! You can kill me if you want, but I won't-" Suddenly, however, Issei grabbed him by the head.
"If the you here refuses to speak, perhaps the one within you would be more talkative?" And then he activated his [Mindscape].
However, what he found was not what he expected or hoped. He saw Crane standing at the base of a large wooden cross in the middle of an empty meadow. It was like everything he had was his faith. He walked up to him, seeing the inner self of the man looking up at him. "You desire to know where the others are…Yet what good would that do? What of their fates?"
"It seems the inner you is more…cooperative."
"The mindscape…So this is what this is. Indeed, our inner selves are often different from the real us. Those who mastered accessing this place became one with their inner self. They have no conflict. But me? My being is torn between duty and faith. What you spoke with is duty. I am the faith. I obey the laws set by Christ. I will tell you what you want to know in exchange for one thing."
"A trade? We already offered you your life." Issei stated.
"That is the issue. Red Dragon…I beg of you…"
"Kill me."
Back in the material world, Issei finished interrogating the one within, then took a few steps away from Crane, facing Michael. "They are hiding in the Alps, northwest of the town of Aosta. They have a base there."
"I will send the exorcists we have left, along with Heaven's own soldiers. We will take action. Their innocence is gone."
"You…You read my mind?!" Crane accused.
"No, I merely went inside of it. There, the inner you told me what I wanted to know. Granted, until now, I didn't know how torn a man could be from their true self. Crane, you gave me valuable insight." Which translates into 2 WIS and 1 INT point for him. "Michael, given what he said and what we saw, what is your verdict?"
"He didn't tell us willingly. Issei…Do what you must." Michael turned his gaze away, unable to look at the upcoming scene.
"Xantor," Issei called out to the boss.
"At once, Master." And Xantor drew his sword.
"No…No, Lord Michael, please, this is too much; I don't-" Crane's words, however, fell on deaf ears as Xantor swung his blade, and on the ground before all of them, his head rolled on the ground, blood pooling on the stone flooring.
"A cruel fate. But one he brought upon himself." Issei stated.
For the display of power you have presented, by commanding the death of a man who crossed you, you have gained 2 RP with Akeno HImejima, 5 RP with Raynare, 3 OP with Mit, and 4 RP with Ravel Phenex.
You have successfully defeated the invaders! In total, you have acquired a total of 370 EXP from the exorcists alone, with Bishop Crane offering 50K EXP. The total EXP, without the bonuses, is 430K. After applying valid EXP bonuses, the total is 860K.
"Leonna, ensure this is cleaned," Issei ordered the maid, then turned to the others. "It's over."
"I will deal with the rebels. Ensure this doesn't happen again." Michael stated. He then retreated with Sirzechs and Ajuka to another chamber to resume talks. This incident had most likely made things more complicated.
Wishing for some alone time, Issei went back to his room. He needed time to think.
"You are troubled, my student," Solomon stated. "What plagues you?"
"I didn't feel anything when I ordered that man to be killed," Issei replied, answering his mentor. "Solomon, I know that I have that skill that allows me to always keep my wits about me, but…Was I a monster when I ordered that man to be killed while showing no remorse for my actions?"
"Quite the question, Ise. This is a question that leaders ask themselves often. Many kings and emperors, leaders of tribes, and so on, always ask themselves such questions. Before, however, when you killed your enemies. Before and after meeting the Stray named Danbooru. Tell me, did you feel anything?"
"I didn't. But back then, I didn't have the doubts I do now. They were Stray Devils. Had I left them alive, they'd have attacked innocent people all over Kuoh. I spoke to Rias before at the Academy. She told me that the number of disappeared dropped sharply, mainly the fact that no more Stray Devils meant no more people being killed by them."
"There is one answer to your question, Ise. Had you left them alive, others would pay the price for your inaction. I know it sounds cruel. Either way, your hands will be stained with blood. But to truly protect those you care about, you need sometimes to be the monster. Do what others do not dare to, for the sake of survival and seeing those you care about through the worst." Solomon stated.
"But what of the others? I don't think Asia appreciated what I just did." Issei voiced his worry.
"You worry about their opinions? Can't say you are doing something bad, partner, but you did nothing wrong. They will understand that, in your position, you are forced to do things they might not agree with. Things you might not like doing. But at the end of the day, I think the lesson Solomon is trying to impart is simple."
"Namely?"
"Issei, my student, sometimes ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves."
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