Isaiah's Room, Gremory Castle:
The Next Day, Morning:
Isaiah's POV:
"I thought we'd find you here." Akeno said as soon as she walked into my room and I chuckled, not turning around as I kept staring down at the crimson roses below the balcony of my room.
They were called the Roses of the Fallen Gremory, the prized flowers of House Gremory that only grows in the Gremory Territory.
I didn't move as Akeno and Kuroka hugged me from the sides, wrapping my arms around them before I chuckled as a third pair of arms wrapped around me from behind.
"I didn't think you'd be here." I said as I turned my head back, Tsubaki not answering as she kept her face buried in my back.
"Hey, before I forget, I'm taking all three of you on a date." I said as I turned back to the roses and Akeno hummed.
"Oh? Are you finally realizing how much you've neglected your girlfriends?"
"Well, that and I've realized I've never actually wine-and-dined any of you probably, especially Tsubaki since we just fell for each other." Tsubaki just giggled as Kuroka smirked before she spoke.
"So, is that one big date or separate ones?"
"Unless you guys wants one big date…"
"Nope, three separate ones sound good. I want a picnic." Kuroka answered instantly, making me chuckle before Akeno spoke.
"Another fancy dinner would be nice."
"Just a movie night would be fun." Tsubaki spoke up, surprising Akeno and Kuroka as I chuckled and nodded.
"A movie night sounds like fun." I said with a smile before I grunted as I got a double gut punch from both sides, making Tsubaki giggle as the other two pouted.
"Don't worry, after the dates, we can do one big movie night together with NO funny business." I added as I turned to Akeno, who just pouted as Kuroka and Tsubaki giggled.
"So, what's the verdict?" I asked and all three sighed at my words before I heard a fourth voice behind us.
"You're needed in court to be judged by the 72 Pillars for your murder of a member of the Six Houses of Lucifer." Sirzechs said behind me and I smirked as I activated Air Current Sense, feeling the guards already surrounding the castle as well as Okita and MacGregor waiting behind him.
"Yeah, sure thing. Come on." I said with a smile as I pulled away from the girls, who tried to speak up, but I just silenced them as I smiled.
"Don't worry, it won't take me long. We can have that movie night tonight." I said with a smile and Kuroka sighed as she nodded, Akeno and Tsubaki still looking a bit nervous as I turned and walked towards Sirzechs. He sighed as he waved his hand, a group of guards quickly rushing into the room as I smiled and raised my hands.
"Isaiah Azathoth, you are under arrest for the murder of Lord Diamante Fleurety and will be sent to a trial where your future will be judged by the 72 Pillars of the Underworld." I just smiled as I followed them out of the room, walking out to the courtyard where everyone else were waiting. Venelana and Grayfia looked upset at what was happening as they held back Rias and the others, but the one that sent a chill down my spine was Zeoticus.
He had a stoic expression, but nothing but cold anger burned in his eyes as he stared at the guards, who didn't say anything as he just watched me walk with them.
"Do you have this?" Was all he asked as I walked past him and the only answer I gave was a chuckle, making him shake his head with a smirk. The lead guard pulled out a pamphlet with a sigil on it, which I recognized as that of House Bael's, before we disappeared in a flash of purple.
Royal Court, Lilith, Underworld:
As we reappeared from the teleportation crest, I looked at the building in front of me.
It looked like a typical court building, except for the fact that it looked about three times bigger than a regular one and that there were guards upon guards around it, all of them standing on guard as soon as I appeared.
"Hello there!" I waved with a smirk, none of the guards moving as they gripped their spears tightly before the ones behind me pushed me to start walking. I just chuckled as I started walking, paying no attention to the groups of reporters around me trying to get me to speak with them.
As we walked into the court, I whistled lowly at the extravagant halls, which were filled with tapestry that featured four men dressed in regal garb fit for an emperor.
"Pretty impressive, huh?" I said with a smirk, only to sigh softly as none of them answered.
"Don't worry, guys. I'm not going to kill you guys. I only punch the shit out of pure-bloods." I said with a smirk, but it was useless as none of them answered before I shrugged.
Meh, silence is fine with me.
Finally arriving at our location, we stopped in front of extravagant black oak double doors with gold designs of demons on them. Two guards were stationed next to the doors and the head guard nodded at them, both men nodding as they pushed open the doors.
Walking through the doors, I smirked as I saw the three rows of people sitting around me, with five thrones on a platform above them and an even larger golden throne on a raised platform slightly above the four others.
Sitting in the four thrones were the four Satans and Lord Agares, with Serafall giving me a cheerful and I chuckled as I returned it before I glanced up at the larger throne. Zekram was sitting leisurely on it and he smirked amusedly as I stared at him.
He may think that this all is going all part of his plan, but this time, someone else will be taking control of this chess board now. After all…I know a few things about him that he wouldn't want anyone to know.
I was led to a wooden podium in the middle of the room, my hands shackled to it as the guards bowed to Zekra, who nodded and waved his hand for them to leave. As they closed the doors behind them, I heard the sound of a gavel banging once before I looked up and saw Lord Agares standing up from his throne as he cleared his throat.
"Great Lords and Ladies of the esteemed 72 Pillars. We are gathered here today because of certain events that happened yesterday. The murder of a member of the prestigious Six Houses of Lucifers. Although his family were former enemies of ours, we can't deny that he was a pure-blood devils, those chosen by Lucifer himself." I couldn't help it. I snorted slightly, making the devils give me disapproving glares as Lord Agares just continued.
"And yesterday, his life was reaped away by the criminal standing before you. Isaiah Azathoth, a prized reincarnated devil amongst House Gremory, killed Diamante Fleurety, the last heir to House Fleurety, in cold blood during their match. Isaiah, how do you plead?"
"Not guilty." I said with a smirk, the devils all shouting at me before they all grew silent as Zekram raised his hand with a smile.
"Continue, Juvano."
"Thank you, my lord." Lord Agares bowed his head before turning back to me and beginning with the trial.
"Now, let's us start with the first piece of evidence." As the trial went on, I had to stifle my laughter.
Every bit of evidence they had was all focused on trying to make me look like a ticking-time bomb and they just had to throw in the fact that I was friends with Kuroka, someone who had already killed a 'noble' member of the pure bloods.
"With these piece of evidence, it is undeniable, my dear Lords and Ladies, that while Isaiah Azathoth is impressive to have reached Minor God Class in less than a decade, his power has gone to his head as he now thinks that he is above all of the Pillars. A thought process that cannot be allowed as another civil war will lead to an even bigger loss to Devilkind. As such, we, the Pillars, hereby declare Isaiah Azathoth, Vassal of House Gremory, guil-!"
"Okay, look. Here's the thing." I cut off Lord Agares, everyone looking surprised as I stared up at them.
"I beg your pardon, boy?" He asked and I chuckled as I rolled my eyes.
"We all know how this trial is going to go. You all will find me guilty and I'll be sentenced to death or imprisonment. Then, when I'm on death's row, Lord Zekram will come and give me an ultimatum of freeing me in exchange for me becoming his personal slave. How far off the mark am I?" I asked, no one daring to speak yet I could see I was right as I stared up at Zekram, who was just smirking before he spoke.
"Let's say hypothetically this goes as you have just explained. What does speaking out now going to help you?"
"Let me go right now or else, I'm broadcasting every bit of information I have about the King Pieces to the entire Underworld." Nothing but utter silence. Some of the lords looked confused at my words, but most of them looked shocked at hearing me say that, with Ajuka finally paying attention and Zekram's smirk disappearing as he just stared at me with a stoic expression.
"What are these King Pieces?" The Lord of House Vapula asked and I chuckled.
"Why don't we ask Lord Zekram?" I said with a smirk, everyone turning to Zekram before they began whispering as they all noticed that he didn't have his usual smirk on.
"How do you know about that?" He asked lowly and I chuckled before a feral grin appeared on my face.
"Well, it was either that or your connection with a certain Cleria Belial and her unfortunate death." Here, he along with those lords under the Great King's Faction according to my studies with Venelana, grew wide eyed at my words, Lord Belial also looking shocked as now even Falbium was awake and listening to my words.
"What do you mean by that, Isaiah?" Sirzechs asked with a frown and I chuckled, not turning away from the subtle glare Zekram was aiming at me.
"You thought that you could play chess with me, so let's play chess. You let me go right now or else, rebellions will tear through the Underworld because of what I have. The ball's in your court now." I said with a serious look, Zekram and I just staring at each other as we ignored everyone around us before he smirked.
"Let's say you do have this information. What proof is there that this information wasn't just forged by you?"
"Oh, there's no proof, but the fact that you're even considering this thought process means that you're worried there might actually be a bit of information that you don't want to be made public." I said with a grin, Zekram's smirk fading as we just stared at each other before he snapped his fingers and the cuffs fell off of my hands.
"Isaiah Azathoth, you are free of all charges. Now leave." Everyone, and I mean everyone, looked shocked to see THE Zekram Bael relent and I chuckled as I rubbed my wrists.
"Ohohohoho~! Oh no, we're not done here, dear Zekram." I said, to everyone's shock, and Zekram glared down at me.
"I've already let you go, boy! Do not test your luck!" He snarled before he shrank back in his seat as the entirety of my aura was released, the podium all but eviscerated as I glared up at him.
"You dared to try and make me your slave, SO NOW YOU WILL LISTEN AND YOU WILL FOLLOW, MONGREL!" My True Voice boomed as I snarled, no one daring to interrupt as the Four Satans looked far too interested to let me do as I please.
"Firstly, Kuroka Toujou, my Queen, is freed of all of her charges and no one will be allowed to try and arrest her for some secret award you are giving out. Secondly, House Azathoth is hereby raised to the rank of Ultimate Class King as of today. I want this agreed to and in written form by tomorrow along with copies for Lord Lucifer, Lord Gremory and Lord Sitri or else, by tomorrow's time, a second civil war will be ripping through the Underworld and House Bael will be losing a lot of social power."
"Preposterous! You expect us to appeal to those demands?! Just your second demand alone would put your social influence on the same level as the Great Lord Bael!" Lord Agares shouted, but I ignored him as I just stared the glaring Zekram down, who didn't say anything before I chuckled.
"Fine then. I, Isaiah Azathoth, hereby declare war on the Underworld!" I exclaimed, the lords and ladies exclaiming at my words before I grinned as I created a Holy Blade in my grasp.
"We can't allow you to do that, Isaiah." Sirzechs finally spoke up and I looked down to see all Four Satans standing up, the Pillar Lords finally realizing who was helping them as they shouted at them to kill me.
"By all means, Sirzechs go ahead and kill me. Just know one thing. I may die here, but can you do it to Rias?" Was all I asked and he frowned at that as I chuckled.
"Besides, my heart is connected to a series of trigger runes spread throughout the Underworld. As soon as I die, all of what I spoke of will be sent throughout the Underworld and I will be treated as a martyr by all of the common devils as riots rip through the lands. Now let me ask you this, can you, in your conscious mind, kill thousands, if not tens of thousands, of innocent devils who have been treated unjustly by the higher-ups, knowing that your precious little sister, as well as everyone you know, will be pissed at you for what you did? Can you do so knowing that Grayfia may not even look at you after today? Can you kill me, knowing that you're killing the Big Brother Isa of Millicas?" I asked and he just kept staring, not answering before he sighed as he lowered his hands.
"No, but I can." Ajuka chimed in as he raised his hand and I chuckled as I felt my demonic energy turn against me, pinning me to the ground.
"Lord Ajuka, of course. I should have expected you to do so, but let me ask you one thing. Have you even noticed something weird?" I asked and he frowned slightly before his eyes widened as he looked around, staring at the walls that were layered with Gremorian, Enochian and Divinitin runes.
"I made them yesterday and supercharged them to their utmost limits because I knew that I was going to be put on trial today. A single rune has enough Holy power to disintegrate ten Satan-Class devils and there are about 1500 written down all around you. I'm certain that you and Lord Sirzechs can survive it, but can the rest of the prestigious members of the 72 Pillars?" I asked with a smirk and some of the lords tried to run away through the door, only to be repelled as a weak blast of Holy energy sent them flying back.
"'Repel' and 'Enhance Shock' runes in Gremorian combined with weak 'Demonic Energy to Holy Energy conversion' written in Divinitin. Weak enough to not kill you, but you'll regret wanting to leave." I said with a smirk as Ajuka just stared at me before he lowered his hand, with me sighing with a smile as I stood up from the ground before looking back at Zekram, who just stared at me before he sighed.
"Fine, the documents will be delivered to you tomorrow." He said and I smiled as I nodded.
"Good! Also, I'll be holding to that little bet of ours that we made!" I said with a smile as I waved, the lords near the doors getting out of my way as I snorted and placed my hand on the door. In the blink of an eye, all of the runes cracked before shattering, the energy stored inside them dispersing into thin air as I opened the doors.
"See you all!" I waved with a smile before the Azathoth crest appeared under me and I disappeared.
Sometimes, future knowledge can be useful.
Gremory Courtyard, Gremory Castle:
As I reappeared in the Gremory courtyard, I smiled as four different teleportation crests appeared behind me before the Four Satans appeared from them.
"So, will you two tell us why we had to standby and watch Isaiah play Zekram like a fiddle? Not that I didn't mind the entertainment, but I would like to be informed more than just a few hours beforehand." Ajuka said with a frown as he looked at the triumphant looks of Sirzechs and I.
"I came to Lord Sirzechs late last night because I knew that Zekram would try and circumvent around the bet us two made before the tournament. That's also why I spoke about that information about Cleria Belial and the King Pieces."
"So, you do know what the King Pieces are and what truly happened to Cleria Belial, don't you?" Serafall asked with a smirk and I just chuckled as I shrugged.
"Let's just say Kuroka had a lot of inside information that she wanted to use to clear her name." I said with a smile and Falbium chuckled.
"And the runes?" He asked and I smiled. "Nothing more than weak Devil Repellent runes written in Enochian. That's why Lord Gremory didn't look worried when I said I added Gremorian and Divinitin to it. They would still hurt the average Devil, but even as many as there were, it would do nothing more than a few burns to the average High-Class Devil. That's why Lord Gremory didn't look as nervous as the other Lords." I said with a smile and he burst out laughing, surprising us all as he shook his head.
"You have had this planned out for a while, haven't you? The demands you gave Zekram were not spur-of-the-moment demands." He said and I nodded with a smile.
"I've been planning this for the past year, but I needed Zekram to make the first move and he did. Now that I as well as House Azathoth are ranked on the same level as House Agares and since I'm a Vassal House of House Gremory, that means that any decision House Gremory now makes that I find beneficial to both Houses will have enough weight to it that it's nearly on par with that of Great House Bael's. Combine that with the fact that the Sitri-Gremory faction and the Four Satans always agree with each other…" I trailed off and the dots connected as Sirzechs laughed and Serafall giggled.
"I'm starting to wonder if you may not have some devil blood in you after all, after all." Ajuka said with an amused yet impressed smirk and I shrugged with a smile before we started walking towards the castle.
A/N: Another chapter, another day!
Anyway, there's the trial and I told you guys that I would explain Nephilim Monarch this chapter, but next one along with a five-chapter trip to the past.
Now, then, let us go and continue to the next one.
Read, enjoy, review and until the next one…
Ba-Bye~!