/ "Dialogue." /
/ 'Internal Thoughts.' /
/ "Flashback Dialogue." /
Moose16364: My secret exposed. ASOIAF is my favorite book series of all time. A perfect story for ideas about nostalgia, pain, hype, and quotes. Big inspiration for this story, for sure.
Mount Meru towered as the highest peak across the vast realms of Hindu cosmology. It was the sacred domain of Indra, God of War, Storms, and Rain. At its summit, he sat upon his throne, eyes closed, palms pressed together in deep meditation.
Gods did not require meditation, but when they did, it brought clarity to their divine ambitions.
A grin crept across his face.
He exhaled slowly, then lifted his right hand to his forehead, fingers brushing the faint scratch that lingered there. A mark left not by accident, but by an opponent he had clashed with in battle.
Once the wound had sealed, his eyes opened.
"Your back, my son."
Standing behind him was a young man who bore a striking resemblance to his father. Clad in traditional armor, a calm strength radiated from within.
Though not a God himself, Arjuna was the son of one. No doubt a capable warrior, and a hero of his faith.
Neither entirely human nor fully divine.
"Our forces are ready for confrontation," Arjuna reported. "The skirmish you had in the Underworld against Shiva has rippled across the realm. Varuna, Mahabali, and Prahlada have declared their support for Shiva. Thankfully, there is no treachery among our allies either. Hanuman and Ganesha are marching with their armies." Then, he frowned, "Vishnu and Brahma remain undecided. But if they declare for Shiva…"
Indra spoke, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "They will not both declare for my enemy. One or the other, but not both. That would shatter the fragile balance we have all come to cherish. I would rather have Brahma, but we shall see."
He rose to his feet and placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder.
"This is your destiny, my son. You will ascend Mount Kailash. You will become a God, or a Buddha. It makes no difference to me."
Gods and Buddhas differed in title, yet their paths often crossed.
Deity's were born into divinity by right.
For Buddhas, the path was more complex. They came into the world as mortals, yet could ascend through trials, rising from the ordinary into the extraordinary and attaining a divine state. But this required immense will, wisdom, strength, devotion, and countless other virtues to complete such a transformation.
Few ever achieved it.
But Indra had faith in his son.
Arjuna swallowed and nodded. "I will not fail you." Then he added, "I also bring word from the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit. You were right. This Uchiha Sasuke, is without a doubt someone worth noting. The Great Sage trained him personally, just as he once trained me in my youth. Not even a week had passed, and I saw the human riding clouds, meditating on water, and even infiltrating King Enma's temple... and returning in one piece."
He paused.
"We should invite him here, along with our mutual mentor. After all, you and Sun Wukong go far back."
The God smirked. "There is no denying I am lacking company. The 'Monkey King', as I knew him, was my vanguard until Cao Cao came along. I am in need of a new one... and this boy has already impressed me."
Arjuna suddenly swallowed, "However…"
"However?" Indra raised an eyebrow. "What however?"
"Perhaps, in these circumstances against Shiva, it would be best to gather not just one human, but all of our... 'Hero' allies. We know where the spearman is currently imprisoned. One word, and we can call him back. Hades will not question your wrath."
Indra waved his hand dismissively. "I am done with the Children's Faction. They mean nothing to me now. A God cannot afford to be made a fool in the eyes of the people. That is the worst reputation of all." He stood tall as his voice grew sharper, "Cunning? Merciful? Mad? Sadistic? Wrathful? Angry? Lustful? Greedy? These—these are godly traits. But a fool? That is the lowest of them all."
There had never been a more complex and volatile time in the Hindu religion. War loomed on the horizon, both within and beyond. Two deities stood at the brink, but only one truly desired conflict.
Whoever emerged victorious would control not only the heavenly realms but also the vast multitudes who worshipped them.
Power. Endless power. An eternal life.
That was the goal. That had always been the goal.
Like humanity, Gods felt insecurity, dread, and doubt. They were not immune to fear. In truth, they suffered it more deeply. For the one thing a God feared above all else was the loss of power.
But this was not a struggle caused by many. The rising tension across the divine spheres had a single source.
One god. One ambition. One leader for the future of the Hindu religion.
Suddenly, the clouds above split open and divine lightning crashed down at the base of the mountain. A torrent of raw energy struck the ten thousand spearmen assembled below. Yet rather than destroy them, it empowered them. The lightning surged into their weapons, transforming ordinary spears into instruments of elemental wrath, crackling, sharpened, and made heavenly
As one, the soldiers slammed the bottom of their spears into the ground, sending a thunderous roar through the slopes of Mount Meru. The sound climbed all the way to the summit, carried to the ears of their God.
Indra smiled, basking in the resonance of loyalty and power.
Far below, at the base of his sacred mountain, he saw them gathering, the other Hindu Gods, standing in radiance, and behind them, the ten thousand spearmen he had spent years shaping, training, and perfecting.
It was a mighty host. An army forged by his own divine hand. Each warrior a reflection of his will. Each spear an extension of his wrath.
And yet, it remained untested.
Not because it lacked discipline.
Not because it lacked strength.
But because it was not enough.
He needed more.
More soldiers. More dominion. More power.
More.
"Uchiha... Sasuke."
"I need a minute..."
There had been much celebration and pride when Kiba, Issei, and Akeno passed their 'Middle-Class' promotion test. The moment they received their results, the Gremory manor lit up with one of the biggest parties it had seen in years. Many young devils gathered as well. Friends, comrades, and other peerages all came to offer their praise and anticipation for what was to come.
This was the final step before the ultimate goal, which was to become a 'High-Class' Devil. Earning that title meant more than just recognition. It meant breaking free from their current peerage, gaining the rank of 'King', and earning the right to form their own pod of Evil Pieces. But that test would demand more than power. It required battle, strategy, tactics, and further proven loyalty to the Maou system.
To everyone's surprise, Sasuke had shown up to the celebration, seemingly out of the blue. He walked down the grand staircase beside Akeno as if he had been there the whole time. He often avoided parties, even those meant to celebrate his own missions or a job well done, so his presence was a rare treat for them.
After that, everyone returned to the castle to rest. But the only couple among their group had gone back home, returning to the human world.
Then, he told her.
There was no good way of saying it.
And with him, there was no worse way either.
Akeno walked back into the room, her expression... unreadable.
But there was something about it that made him suspicious.
She crossed her arms and tilted her head. "You and Issei-kun have been spending a lot of time together lately. Rias was right, you two really are as thick as thieves." her tone suddenly dropped, "Tell me, did he teach you how to flirt... or just how to get caught?"
He frowned. "There are comparisons I can tolerate. That, is not one of them."
The 'Queen' looked away, one hand delicately covering her mouth.
"I had no idea..."
Sasuke stared, instantly wary.
"...that you..."
A strange, foreign pressure gripped his chest.
Uncertainty.
Emotions he had not yet felt in their relationship.
"...were such..."
An evil person? A liar? A betrayer?
His eyes remained opened.
Not fearing anything.
But concerned of what was to be said.
"...a whore..."
.
..
...
There was something off about that vocabulary. Such a strange word. He knew it existed, but no one had ever used it around him, let alone at him. And of course, he had never spoken it himself. Shinobi did not use words like that. It did not belong in a battlefield, nor in a mission report. It belonged to a world he had never tried to understand. It struck harder than he expected.
Not because it was cruel, but because he had no way of even calculating a response.
Sasuke remained silent, not out of guilt, but because he felt... strange.
He hated that feeling.
Akeno's voice softened, "I worked so hard, you know. All that time watching, waiting, being patient... and you barely noticed me. Then the Kyuubi flashes a few tails, and suddenly you are lying on your back, your legs spread so easily."
Teasing.
More, and more, teasing.
Though, he deserved it at this point.
But he would not back down from such inaccurate accusations.
"That is not what happened." he replied sternly, "Your imagination. It's far too vivid. It's not reality."
"Maybe I should grow a few tails," she mused aloud. "Would that get your attention? Or do you only fall for girls who crash through trees and growl?"
He stared at her, but she gave him no chance to reply. She circled around behind him, fingertips trailing lightly across his shoulders.
"I mean really, Sasuke…" Akeno purred, circling behind him. "You're still so quiet around me. So cold. I was beginning to think I bore you." Her breath ghosted over his ear, the smell of her perfume up his nose.
"But now I see… you only notice what bites first."
"If she bit," Sasuke said without flinching, "I didn't feel it."
Akeno's smirk faltered. "Oh?" She stepped back into view, tilting her head. "That must be why she left me this." From the table, she picked up the small mirror and let it catch the light, gleaming like a secret between them. "Do you know what this is?"
He nodded. "Hn. And what did you see in it?"
The Queen's smile froze. Her playful tone gone. "... You know what it is? Did she explain it to you?"
Sasuke looked away slightly, just enough to provoke her. "I figured it out."
Her voice softened. "... And what did you see?"
There's no denying that in relationships, couples tend to pick up traits from one another.
Even to his own surprise, he feels the urge to be just as whimsical.
With a shrug, he answered, "You looked into it, didn't you? You should know what I saw. I was hoping you'd be able to explain it better than I could."
She swallowed, "Was... was it me?"
He raised an eyebrow. "What I saw is between me, the mirror… and the Gods."
Akeno blinked. A joke, surely. The Uchiha never cared for any god.
"...You're not denying it," she replied, eyes narrowing. When he was silent, she tried again. "Only if it wasn't me."
He gave the faintest shrug. "Then why ask?" he said, voice quiet. "Unless you're unsure of what I would have seen."
The smile she carried faltered. Normally, it was her doing the teasing, the twisting, trying to push him. But, he had picked up on it, and now was intentionally trying to get her tino a state. For a second, it appeared as if she would relent, but she did not and instead stood her ground.
"I saw what I thought I should see… and hated how distant it was." he finally said at last, "And it disappointed me, because it wasn't near."
"...So it was me?" she exhaled, "It shouldn't have to be that hard to fish a compliment from you."
His eyes lingered on hers just long enough to make her believe, then drifted away, cold again.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" He smirked and added, "Does it really matter what I think? or what I saw?"
What he expected was a response, sharp, witty, playful, just as she always was.
Instead, she stood still. Frozen. Out of place. Out of mind. In deep thought. Her expression tightened into a quiet frown.
Sometimes, he forgot who Akeno truly was. A confident woman. A tragic one. Powerful, and still growing. Eccentric and social. Impressionable. And more genuine than most.
But also… deeply sensitive.
Her fingers brushed the mirror, "It means everything to me..." she said.
Yet, the words came out as if she was speaking to herself, or to a ghost, or to no one.
Through her past, her relationships with men have always remained at a distance. When her mother died, her father did too, in a way. And though she eventually rekindled her relationship with Baraqiel, there is always, and perhaps always will be, a deeply ingrained sense of disappointment, failure, and abandonment. He was not there in time to save her mother. Whether that feeling is justified or not does not matter, because that is how she feels.
Sasuke didn't speak right away. He felt the cold words, both from her and in the air. It was a bit ironic, since he typically spoke in patterns like that, while she just had to deal with it.
"I saw what I wanted to see. What I needed I needed to see. And for a moment… it made me forget everything I was supposed to be doing. Never in my entire life had that been the situation. Dangerous. That is very dangerous, and very peaceful." his smile came, as he took the mirror, "And the Kyuubi gave it to me. For you. I told her you ran this shrine and did not have one yourself. But I knew you would appreciate it."
There it was again, something that happened on occasion, but not enough to where she was used to it. A tug in her stomach, a knot that ached in a strange feeling of elegant pain. Those butterflies flew all around inside, and made her cheeks as red as they could possible be.
That put a smile on her face, just as expressive as his own.
"Ara ara," Akeno giggled. "It seems Lady Yasaka does have some interest in maintaining a cordial relationship between the three of us."
"What do you mean?"
"Let us just say..." Her grin widened. "She is very committed to making amends."
He looked at her, suspicious.
"She knows what she did was wrong," Akeno answered with a dramatic shrug, then paused, her cheeks lightly flushed. "But I relate, truly. Sometimes, around you... it's hard to hold back."
"I'm not a product," he muttered. "Are you saying she bought me off? Or paid you to stay quiet?"
"No, no, nothing like that. It was more of an understanding, ufufufu." she walked over to him, "And besides," she said, leaning in just enough, "Next time you see her... I am sure you will be broken in properly."
His eye twitched. "What does that even mean?"
Akeno winked. "Nothing, darling. Nothing at all."
She stood in front of him now, close enough for him to feel the faint warmth of her skin. Her fingers brushed his shoulder, then slowly traced upward. Without a word, Akeno stepped between his legs and placed her hands gently against his cheek.
Her eyes searched his face, not for answers, but for hesitation.
She found none.
Sometimes, she almost forgot that she had permission to be this close. He was always so reserved, so distant. But when they were alone, all she ever had to do was lean in, press just a little... and he would surprise her by allowing it.
"I think we need to have a very long conversation…" Akeno said, her voice dangerous, yet comforting, "Before I decide what to do with you."
"Do with me?" Sasuke asked, narrowing his eyes.
She smiled sweetly. "Yes, ufufu~ And you're going to hate every second of it."
He sighed. "It can't be worse than what I've already seen."
"I don't know... I have quite the imagination, we are both aware." she said mischievously.
Then she leaned closer, her voice quiet a whisper, "... Would you ever get married?"
It was such a simple question. The kind of thing couples asked each other when no one else was listening. Casual. Intimate. Ordinary.
And yet, for him, it felt like stepping into unfamiliar territory, not because he feared the answer, but because it reminded him that this was what people did when they allowed themselves to dream a little. He had spent so long thinking only in terms of survival and purpose. But now... she was here. Asking questions like that.
And he was still here, listening.
"…Not anytime soon." Sasuke replied.
Akeno tilted her head, amused, teasing, "I see. Waiting for the right person?"
"I mean," he clarified, "it's not something I've ever prioritized. But I wouldn't avoid it forever." He paused. "Even my father got married."
Her eyes lit up, "Hmm... so you would consider it." She leaned back slightly, studying him, "That almost sounded like a real answer. Honest. Maybe even... hopeful, ufufufu."
That did not seem so terrible.
At one point, when they first started dating, every question was a nightmare to answer.
"And what about children?"
Then, he looked at her, his expression unamused.
Akeno gave a small smile. "It's okay," she said softly. "You don't have to answer." but her eyes lingered on him, "I'm just curious, that's all."
Then, with a playful tilt of her head, she gave him a teasing grin. "Though now I'm picturing a little one with your eyes and absolutely no patience."
He was quiet for a while before finally saying, "It's not something I ever thought about before. My focus was always… elsewhere." a pause, "But yes. One day. Far down the road."
"Boy or girl?"
He looked away. "It wouldn't matter."
She gave him a playful nudge. "Men always say that. But I know better. My father wanted a son before me. And one after me. I remember my mother asking if I wanted a little brother. I was so excited." She leaned into him. "C'mon, Sasuke-kun. Humor me. A boy or a girl?"
He exhaled, long and quiet.
"It wouldn't matter."
When he met her stare and smile, he relented and thought for a moment.
Without going too deep into his imagination, a small smile touched his lips as the sight in his mind took root.
A tiny voice calling out to him.
Black hair.
Black eyes
And even, dare he imagine, a one-tomoe sharigan.
They had many innocent and soft features, as a child would.
But what manifested, and what put a true, genuine smile on his face...
...was her face.
A little girl running up, looking up at him.
When she opened her mouth to speak, the vision ended.
His smile faded, but the warmth lingered. A quiet euphoria still inside him.
"I would not be disappointed either way," Sasuke said truthfully. "Though... I would not mind a daughter. That would be nice." He looked away, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Growing up, I never wanted much. My father's approval. My brother's talent." he paused, then added with a softer tone, "But... I would want her."
Akeno blinked, being proved wrong. Yet, also loving his answer, "You know," she said sweetly "Sometimes you say things that make it very hard to play my usual games... that was beautiful." Her tone softened. "And if she ever exists... I hope she knows how lucky she is to have you." she paused, her mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Though I would like to meet her first."
For once, he did not have the almost-instinctual desire to rebuke her obvious playful flirting. Over time, he had come to understand that what made her happy was to be this way. It was her identity, what made her happy, and he had no intention of trying to change that. There was no need to poke fun at it, especially when all the affection was clearly meant for him.
Though sometimes, he wanted to join in on the fun.
When her hand lifted his chin up, he closed his eyes and their lips met, slow and uncertain at first, then more firm, more knowing. Neither hungry or wild, but calm and peaceful, as he preferred it.
But just as quickly, he pulled away.
"Sorry." Sasuke said suddenly, "About what had happened."
She licked her lips, "I already forgave you." Akeno replied lightly, "Next time, let me meet the other girl first." her eyes lowered, "Don't worry. I'm not that jealous."
They kissed again.
This time slower, deeper. No hesitation. No apologies.
"But I won't give you up so easily to just about anyone."
When Sasuke knew he had to tell her, he believed it might break what they shared. That the night would turn into something horrible, like it always had with Sakura. That honesty would drive a wedge between them. That it would end in cold silence. Distance. The quiet death of something that had been steadily growing like a sapling into a tree.
But instead, through their own playful words, through teasing, through pain, and through moments of empathy and consideration, they moved toward each other.
They were closer than ever before.
The Shinto shrine was an island, an oasis from the rest of the world. It had its own rules, its own principles, its own inhabitants. They spent the remainder of the break together there, neither leaving, only exploring, the shrine, the quiet land around it, and each other.
It was so remote that the city of Kuoh felt like an ocean away. And in their time at the shrine, the city itself had a demonic change.
Neither of them noticed it at first. Sasuke had not meditated. He had not cast his rain-sensory jutsu. He had no reason to.
When they returned to school on Monday, the shift was immediate.
The Uchiha noticed it first... the sheer numbers.
Devils.
Not familiar ones.
These ones paced the streets, flew above the rooftops, and filled the city like an army occupying a fortress.
Devils clad in deep green armor roamed openly. Each one carried a weapon, swords or spears, etched with demonic runes that pulsed with magic. Their faces were hidden behind expressionless medieval helmets.
On every cape, was the unmistakable crest of House Astaroth.
There is much silence on the way into the school. When he asks Akeno about the situation, she seems just as surprised as he is. But she does explain that she had seen Rias speaking with her brother often during their time studying for their promotion test. Likely, high level talks and meetings were taking place, but their King had neglected to inform her peerage.
She probably knew something was happening, but was unsure of how or when it would unfold.
Now, seated in class, his eyes tracked Hyoudou Issei, who looked just as uneasy, and very eager to talk.
"Days you've been here," Sasuke muttered, annoyed, "And you failed to mention your city would be overrun by Ajuka Beelzebub's forces."
Issei defended himself quickly. "Where were you? We were at your apartment the past two days. We thought you went on vacation with Akeno-senpai."
Sasuke blinked, momentarily dazed. "What? What happened to my apartment?"
"Sirzechs-sama demolished it. Turned it into a big hotel for all of us."
"You let him do that?" Sasuke asked flatly. "And I had no voice in this?"
The 'Pawn' shrugged. "Maybe you should stop avoiding him."
"What?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Who said I ever avoided him?"
"He did." His classmate answered with a laugh. "They all do. A lot of devil noble families ask about you." He rubbed his chin, "But if they met you, I think they'd be disappointed."
There was no immediate concern on the Uchiha's face. He always ensured there was nothing at his home of significance. What he did not expect was how quickly it had happened. The only reason he had not known was because he had been at the shrine the past few days. And before that, he had been gone, in Kyoto, and on the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit.
"Where's Ophis?" Issei suddenly whispered. "Is she safe?"
Sasuke considers simply not telling him. Just from how irritated he is, it is clear the lack of forewarning has already gotten under his skin. Then again, facing everything alone without a single person who shares his mindset would only make things worse. There is too much to manage by himself. Too much scheming. Too many lies. He needs at least one person to share some of the burden with.
"I left her with Kuroka. She will take her to Vali."
"Koneko-chan's sister?" Issei tensed. "Why the hell do you know her? And you trust Vali?"
"No," Sasuke replied. "But Ophis trusts him. And that is good enough."
"Azazel-senpai is still in the hospital," The devil said. "I visited him after we passed the test. He's conscious, but he cannot speak, and he can't even leave the bed." A croak of emotion crept into his voice. "But the look he gave me... he was proud."
"That is very heartwarming," He replied sarcastically. "But we have more urgent matters."
He paused.
"In the Underworld," Sasuke said quietly, "At that Accord, or whatever it's called. That was no mere coincidence. Ajuka Beelzebub is suspicious, there is no doubt about it. You're a fool if you think otherwise."
Issei shrugged, "Nah." he replied, bluntly, "I think he was just giving us praise. I've been blowing up in the world! They are going to write a book about me! An Oppai-Dragon, in fact. It's a huge deal. Everyone loved it... except Ddraig." he smirked victoriously, "You're just jealous the admiration isn't on you."
"You can have the praise. You can have all the devils, the humans, the spotlight. But Ajuka Beelzebub has his eyes on you... and you should know you are no match for him. In anyway, shape or form. Power. Intellect. I don't see you winning, alone." his eyes lowered, "The question is... can you handle the pressure? Against a Maou?"
The Sekiryuutei clenched his fists, "How can you even ask me that? I've stood up to devil society when they were wrong before. And you helped me."
Sasuke smirked, "Finally. You're taking this seriously."
"Yeah," Issei said with a smile, "but Ajuka isn't our enemy. He's just misguided. Ophis isn't an enemy either, and I hope we can convince him of that when we fight the Khaos Brigade again." He sighed. "It's not the same with Riser, but... no one is perfect or all knowing. Maou or not."
There was much to disagree with, but the Uchiha chose not to.
Instead, his mind raced, letting Issei's words repeat again and again.
There was a strange, almost twisted nostalgia as he thought about it. This would not be the first time, as Issei put it, that they had stood up to devil society.
The only other time had been against Riser.
Sasuke remembered it clearly, how he had given Issei a unique piece of demonic magic, one that had come from Euclid himself.
He narrowed his eyes, the memory returning with more weight than before.
Ajuka had been there. At that engagement party. And had witnessed the fight.
'Could it really have all started from that?'
The student council room no longer felt like part of an academic institution. And despite the number of individuals gathered within its walls, it had never felt smaller.
Normally, with the current president in charge, the room carried an air of academic bureaucracy and rigid professionalism. It was stern. Cold. Stoic. A place where the prestige of the academy was preserved above all else. And by extension, the one who presided over it was always defined by those very words.
However, never had it felt like this.
Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri stood at the front, composed and silent, while their peerages remained behind them in perfect and disciplined rows. Their shoulders were as tense as the air around them, their eyes uncertain but aware.
Irina Shidou remained near the back. She said nothing, offered no smile. Even faith, here, felt like a fragile thing.
When Ajuka Beelzebub rose to his feet, they all sat.
There was much to be cautious of in his presence. A Maou. Perhaps the second most powerful devil to ever have lived. A battle commander. An architect and inventor of systems. A strategist whose thoughts had shaped entire eras of devilkind. Even his walk was flawless, pristine. Control in its purest form. When he stopped at the head of the room, he said nothing. And though not the most beloved or adored among the Satans, he remained a figure that all admired, respected, and wisely feared.
He did not bring magic with him. He was the magic. His presence consumed the air, pressed against their lungs, wrapped itself around their bodies like a weight they could not break from.
Sharp. icy-blue eyes. Voice quiet, cold, and smooth. No effort. No raise in tone.
"You have all been chosen, or rather, accepted. Not because you are particularly strong. Not because you are particularly noble. But because you are loyal. And because I believe you are still young enough to learn what loyalty truly costs." he paused, walked slow, observing them all, "This school. This town. This fragile little peace you have been allowed to enjoy... it is an illusion. A bubble waiting to pop. And when it does... anyone could be your enemy. The truth is, you have all been operating at the bare minimum. And that is unacceptable for your stature."
Then, a different voice. A very bold voice spoke far too freely.
Genshirou Saji did not mean disrespect, truly, but he felt as if someone precious to him was being not-so-subtly insulted.
"We haven't had peace..." Saji said, steady, not defiant, just honest. "We've had war. All of us. At this school. Kaichou almost gave her life for every student here on multiple occasions." he looked down, somber, "I know we, as her peerage, are not up to par, but she has done her absolute best. And I think you saying that is not just unfair, but completely wrong!"
...
The silence that followed was immediate.
Sona Sitri looked as if she had been struck in the chest. Her eyes widened, not at what was said, but that it was said. She did not speak. She could not. Even her breath seemed to catch in her throat.
Every stare wandered toward her 'Pawn'.
The room felt even smaller.
Ajuka said nothing. He didn't look at Saji. He didn't move. He simply existed in the space, and that was enough.
The weight of that silence pressed down like gravity.
Saji swallowed, "…I apologize." he said quietly, eyes lowered. "I misspoke."
And then, the Maou continued, as if nothing had been interrupted at all.
"What you've seen, what you've survived, those were mere tremors. Incidents. The fire hasn't even started. Real war is not a test of bravery. It is the slow, systematic death of everything you thought would protect you. Friends, family, homes, principles. In real war, there are no student councils. No students. No justice. No human world nonsense, as you all pretend to have here."
That voice of his dropped even colder.
"Just ruins. and the fools who believed their pain was exceptional."
His eyes slid across the room, not stopping on anyone for too long, but no one could escape them either.
"Your classmates. Your teachers. Your neighbors. Perhaps even someone in this very room... can be an enemy."
A subtle smile, like frost forming on glass.
"The Khaos Brigade has evolved. They no longer hide in shadows. They wear masks of tradition and divinity. Cults. Shrines. Old-Gods long forgotten. These have become havens for terror. Sanctuaries of lies, betrayal, dealings, and treachery. Be wary of anyone who praises the old ways too fondly."
Then, his stared turned toward a 'Rook' belonging to Rias Gremory.
"Trust is not a currency we spend lightly. Certainly not on pagans. Within this organization, only the other Maous and those seated in this room are afforded such a courtesy. We are not a council. We are not a faith. We are an autonomous force with one directive, neutralize terrorism. Eliminate the Khaos Brigade wherever they take root and leaving nothing behind."
Rossweisse immediately took offense to his statement, but the stare from her 'King' pleaded with the woman not to make the same mistake Saji had.
Ajuka announced, his voice devoid of any triumph, or pride.
"Lord Lucifer-sama has authorized the formation of this anti-terrorist force. You, Rias Gremory, and your peerage, will serve as its vanguard. You will face the fire first. You will be the first to strike, the first to kill... and if necessary, the first to die. Your role, however, extends beyond combat. Diplomacy. Infiltration. And above all, preserving the dignity of your House. You carry a name that cannot afford to be diminished, not while you remain the sister of Lucifer."
Though it stung to be referred to only as Lucifer's sister, Rias did not protest.
"As for the heiress of House Sitri..." he paused, allowing the silence to speak before he did. Long enough to feel like judgment. "You will not serve as a vanguard. You are not prepared for it. Not yet. And I have no interest in watching pieces I have invested in be reduced to debris. Your peerage will handle logistics. Rearguard operations. Flank security. Barrier control. Transportation."
Sona frowned at that, but she had better sense than to complain.
"There is, I imagine, some curiosity regarding the large presence of House Astaroth. The answer is simple. I have conscripted the current Lady, Latia Astaroth, into this organization under my authority. Her resources, her reach, and her bloodline will serve functions far beyond conventional warfare. Those devils are not here to observe. They are here to serve. Their presence is not symbolic, it is a message. To every faction hiding in shadow, understand this, each of them is a light. And every light will be directed exactly where it is needed."
Hyoudou Issei felt a chill crawl up his spine as he met the icy blue eyes of the one now commanding them all.
Ajuka looked toward the back of the room. "Brave Saint," he said, the title dipped in subtle disdain. "You will fall under the vanguard as well. Lucifer-sama is attempting to persuade Heaven to send its finest. They will not. That much is clear, as you are already here. But they will send someone. When they do, you will be absorbed into their contingent."
Irina did not nod. She did not blink. She simply accepted it.
The Maou faced them and narrowed his eyes, "You will operate under my authority. Without question. Without hesitation. Without disobedience. You are not students anymore. You are not civilians. I am the magic-circle, you are the spell. I am the sheathe, you are the blade." his stare then pierced right through them, "The orders I give will not be suggestions. They will not be explained. They will be executed. You will be observant. You will be silent. And when I say strike, you will strike without mercy."
Around them, the air grew heavier, as if the room itself obeyed his command.
"You are not mere soldiers. You are not children. You are weapons. And I do not keep what does not cut."
There was silence that followed, but eventually, someone made a motion.
Sona Sitri never received the command, but this was her Maou, and she had the sense of a disciplined subordinate to know what was supposed to happen next, even if it was never asked of her.
She fell to one knee, head bowed low. Not out of fear, but out of understanding. And when she adhered to the Satan, her peerage followed in unison.
Then came Rias, and Akeno moved next, graceful even in submission. Kiba, Gasper, Xenovia, each followed like clockwork.
Not even Irina could hold out for long. She did not have the fortitude to resist. There was something in her instincts that screamed to obey, and so she did. This was not a pledge to a Maou. Rather, it was a kneel to Ajuka Beelzebub and the organization he was building.
The moment stretched endlessly.
Not one of them dared raise their eyes. Not one of them wanted to meet that glacial stare.
Ajuka opened his mouth, a genuine satisfied grin on his smug, arrogant face.
"Now, rise—"
[CRACK]
Before Ajuka could issue his first command, the doors burst wide open, followed by a violent sound that tore through the silence.
That ring, that boom, sudden and sharp, reverberated like a crack of lightning, sending a wave of vibration and pressure through the entire school. It shattered the eerie calm, and ripped through the submission they were giving.
A storm, had found its way inside.
Not through the sky, but through the door.
It did not announce itself with thunder. It did not need to.
When he walked, he was everything Ajuka Beelzebub was not.
The Maou commanded with silence. With control. With the weight of inevitability.
But Sasuke? Sasuke was pressure. He was static in the air. He was the scream of lightning ripping through the silence the moment he stepped inside
They heard his footsteps first, slow, deliberate, bouncing through the room like warning shots. He moved with no urgency, because urgency was for those trying to catch up. And he had no intention of catching up.
He saw them all kneeling.
Even Irina. Even Akeno.
She looked at him, eyes wide, knowing full well that his scowl was dangerous.
There was no doubt his lover wanted him to kneel, as everyone else had. For the sake of respect. For the sake of order. For the sake of her Satan—her Maou—one of her four leaders.
But he did not.
Instead, the 'Queen' only watched as his red and purple eyes scanned the room, unflinching, until they locked against the icy blue stare of Ajuka Beelzebub.
Sasuke's words broke through it all.
"I had trouble finding the way here. Now that I see it for myself... it seems nothing of value happened without me."
There had been a reason he was not on time.
Someone had placed an illusion spell over the room.
A powerful one. With the intent of hiding it from the outside.
Almost unseeable.
Ajuka replied, across the room, "You see nothing valuable. Then, perhaps you have not looked closely enough. Or you were never meant to. But no need to speak as if your absence was harmless. I wonder, are you so sure your presence will be?"
For everyone else in the room, the tension somehow grew worse. More awkward. More suffocating. All but Irina shared the same uneasy thought, Sasuke, despite being a vital, powerful, and respected ally, was speaking to a Maou. There were rules. Protocols. Ways things had to be done, properly and formally. This was not like the other Satans, who were more relaxed, even friendly. Ajuka Beelzebub was not. And Sasuke had just stared him down.
Someone had to do something, before the tension only got worse.
Leave it to Hyoudou Issei to break it all down with one of his sudden and upfront questions.
"Sooo... do we start training now, or do we just kind of wait around until terrorists show up? Also, uh... do we get uniforms? Maybe, like, ID cards? Lanyards?"
Ajuka turned his head slowly toward Issei. He didn't frown. He didn't glare. He simply regarded him.
"We don't need anything to identify ourselves. The world, instead, will have to identify themselves… to us."
The 'King' stood alone beneath the moonlight, a quiet smile tugging at her lips. Before her loomed the sleek, glass-fronted hotel, newly constructed, modern, and unmistakably expensive. It was one of the important hubs now, the designated living quarters for their anti-terrorist organization. And it had been built directly over the ruins of Sasuke's old apartment complex.
Which meant, of course, he would be living here too.
That thought alone made her smile linger a little longer.
After all, the human had never once allowed the devil inside his home.
"What are you doing?" came a low, stern, surprising voice from behind.
She jumped, nearly stumbling back, but caught herself, only to feel a familiar grip close around her wrist to keep her from falling in the street.
Sasuke stood there, annoyed.
"We're all moving in," Rias said quickly, trying to ease the moment. "Why?"
"I'm leaving."
The devil blinked. "What? Why?"
"I'm not living with all of you," He answered flatly. "I already don't sleep as it is. Having everyone running around will make it worse." He glanced toward the hotel. His voice lowered. "And I have no intention of staying under the same roof as someone like him."
The 'King' sighed. She knew this conversation was coming. There was no avoiding it.
"I know it's a change..." she said gently. "But you thought the same of Azazel. And look... you two became best friends, fighting side by side."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Then stepped in, too close.
"What?" his voice sarcastic, "Ah, right. My best friend." he waved his hand in dismissal, "And in case you haven't noticed, those two, they're a tad different."
The Uchiha could not hold back. He paced around her and eyed the street with absolute contempt, "He had you all kneeling. He has a God complex, that one. And you all ate it up. Pathetic."
Rias, however, crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, "He is a Maou. A Satan. One of the Four. We obey him just as we obey my brother." Her voice dropped slightly, "And in case you didn't notice... Akeno was kneeling too."
She had hoped that would change his perspective, ever so slightly, but she did not know him as well as she thought.
"That's even more pathetic," Sasuke replied coldly. "She's a half Fallen Angel. Surely, some of her must have come to the realization that she did not have to do that."
The 'King' looked down and frowned, "You can be so cruel," she mumbled softly. "You have no idea how devil society operates."
"And I intend to keep it that way."
Silence followed. His anger still lingered in the air, raw and visible on his face.
But when he looked at her face, and that small flicker of pain in her eyes, he realized then how awful those words had been.
Yet... he did not care enough in the slightest to apologize.
Nope, not one bit.
"Please," Rias said, voice softer now. "Don't go." Her tone faltered. "You're more important to her... and to us... than you realize."
Sasuke crossed his arms and grinned. "I'm not leaving you all. I'm just leaving this place." he glanced toward the hotel. "I'm going to Akeno's shrine. If she'll have me, I'll stay there. If not... I will have to sleep outside, though, that is no issue for me."
For a moment, she pondered on that thought. Her 'Queen' as well as this boy everyone had come to rely and trust upon. They were in a relationship, so it made sense. And he had already spent certain nights in her bed. But Rias had no idea what went on at that shrine. It could have been anything, and anything would probably be right. Sleeping. Nuzzling. Comforting. Dare she even think of more... less than innocent thoughts.
"You two… alone?" she repeated.
He raised an eyebrow, "Yes." he replied sternly, "Just us two. Alone. Why?" he questioned, "Is that now allowed for your 'Queen'?"
"N-no…" she said quickly. "It's just… I shouldn't be surprised. You two clearly care for one another."
"Hm."
He turned away. But before he could leave, her voice reached out behind him.
"I was hoping you would be here... so I could see you more outside of school."
It came out quieter than she meant it to, closer to a confession than a passing thought.
He glanced back at her, eyes narrowing slightly. Vulnerability lingered behind her pride. "Then come see me." "Stop waiting for things to happen. Make them happen."
She stared at his back, but instead of being silent, she pressed forward.
Sasuke looked down to see her arms wrapped around his stomach, a slight confusion, "What is it?"
Rias sighed, "Please." she said, "I don't know why you don't like Beelzebub-sama, but please, give this a chance. An open chance. This whole operation means a lot to my brother and to myself, I just ask that you try to be a strong part of it. If not for me, then for Akeno, because we will be fighting, and I don't want her to have you clouding her mind by not being there."
The Uchiha paused and thought about that for a moment. There was no doubt in his mind, more battles and wars were coming. That meant death, and death could come easily to anyone. Though the devils were strong, they were nothing compared to some of the figures he had seen within the Khaos Brigade. And if someone like Ajuka was leading them, that made it even worse. He would send them to their deaths, or worse, be the very cause of it.
And Akeno fighting under Ajuka? Being sent to her death?
'Over my dead body.' he thought with clenched fists.
"Fine." he relented, "I will give my trust to him. If it will make you that happy."
Though the real reason is to keep an eye on the Maou, that did make her happy.
But never would he let happiness lower his guard.
"You're telling me you actually trust Ajuka Beelzebub? Really?" Sasuke scoffed. "I thought you were the saner one in the peerage."
He stared at Koneko, visibly annoyed. That was rare. Of all of them, she had always been the one he could tolerate. But this? This was too much.
There was no way in hell Sasuke would ever trust that superdevil.
Koneko whimpered, "When I was young, I was interrogated for..." she paused and looked away. "I mean... I was..." another pause. "My old master had died, and the only two who cared for me were Sirzechs-sama and Ajuka-sama."
"What did Ajuka say?" he asked.
"Something about research. But when they wanted to kill me for what my sister had done... Ajuka spoke for me."
For his own gain, no doubt.
"Sirzechs-sama then gave me to Buchou."
That was it, then. There would be no convincing the Rook. It appeared everyone had an excuse to trust Beelzebub.
"Sasuke-senpai," she said softly, "please... be careful. She is dangerous." her eyes fell, "My sister... I smell her all over you. She left her scent... as a warning to other youkai and nekomata to stay away."
Now, even more irritated, he replied, "Did she now?"
"Why be with her?" The devil asked. "She is unstable. Untrustworthy."
He answered, "She led me to Sun Wukong. And... was very helpful."
"She is dangerous."
Was there a desire within him?
To tell Koneko the truth? To tell her that her older sister was, in truth, a loving sibling who had looked out for her and cared? Yes. There was. It reminded him of his own brother. The sacrifices made. The pain endured. All of it had been to keep Koneko safe, even if the damage left behind was irreversible.
He wondered if he should tell her.
But was it his place?
Did he have the right to tell this family that they should not hate one another?
If someone had done that to him and Itachi... it would not have ended well.
Maybe they needed help? Before it was too late. And someone ends up dead.
Sasuke cautiously chose his words, "Your sister... she is... complex. But I felt no danger."
Koneko frowned. "She..."
"I know," he replied. "You don't believe me. You don't believe she is anything other than what you've believed your entire life." He sighed. "And a part of you probably thinks that even trying to reach out is scary... and maybe you think Rias might be upset. I assure you, you are not in danger. Nor is Rias. Your sister is your sister. So I have no right to get in the middle. But if the day comes, and you wish to see her, to talk to her... I will help you. And I will be there to make sure it goes well."
"Do you think I should?"
At that moment, Sasuke realized how important he had become to the nekomata. This deeply personal and traumatic experience in this family was not something he ever saw himself intruding on, but now it seemed like she wanted his advice.
There is a genuine attempt to put himself back in her shoes. Back when he thought he knew everything, that every problem had a logical, obvious solution. But that is not the case. It never is. Everything just keeps getting more complex, with more questions than answers.
No different in either world, it seemed.
"The world is a complex, dangerous, and confusing place. You may live your whole life with one mindset, and then one day, one conversation changes it all. And before you know it, the world is not the same as you remembered. It is good. It is bad. It is scary. It is beautiful. But... it is the truth. And if the truth ever concerns you, then you should seek the truth. It will hurt. It will be sad. But... we all deserve to know the truth."
Koneko pauses, staring at the ground. Of course she wants to know the truth. But she also believes him when he says the truth is scary. In reality, she does not even want to try to know. Everything she has seen, witnessed, and been a target of, that is real. That is her truth. Even if things are not truly as they seem, it has left its mark on her.
But... with her confidence in him, she surprised the both of them.
"Lord Beelzebub... what of him? Tell me, Sasuke-senpai, is there a truth to him I should know?"
A sudden smile crept up his face.
"There is a truth," he replied. "I know there is. Give me time... and I will find it."
"Are you finally done meditating!?"
The Sekiryuutei stood, impatient in his crimson Balance-Breaker.
Sasuke and Issei had never trained together. Their fighting styles were completely different, and one of them had a Sacred Gear. That alone was enough to keep them apart. And yet, without warning, without reason, the Uchiha had told him to meet up for a fight he was planning. Not asked. Told. It was strange. The two had never shown much interest in spending time together.
Yet, this was not a sparring match. It was more about the shinobi testing himself against an opponent who had become worth testing against.
"This is about me, not you," The Uchiha declared, "I need you to come at me. And do not stop. Even if you miraculously land a hit on me, do not stop."
The 'Pawn' jolted, "What the hell does that mean? You think I can't touch you?"
"You can touch me all you like," Sasuke, "But if I were you, that is not what I would be worried about."
Issei observed slowly, 'That eneergy around him...' he remembered, 'It's like with Sairaorg-san. Touki, he called it.'
Through chakra meditation came senjutsu. Through senjutsu came Ki. Through Ki came a extraordinary level of control over one's own body.
And for the first time, Sasuke was prepared to try and utilize what he has learned so far.
"Here I come!" Issei replied, a smirk under his mask, "To wipe that grin off your face!"
[Welsh Sonic Boost Knight!]
There was no denying the 'Pawn' had come a strikingly long way since the last time he had fought the Uchiha. Most of the exponential growth had come after Kyoto and before the most recent Rating Game.
In the sky, the dragon moved like a shooting star, bouncing from point to point within their makeshift barrier. Hyoudou was faster than the Raikage.
Sasuke watched him, his eye tracking every shift, but this was not a test of perception. He looked at the sky. The distance. Above. He watched the blur of motion, the speed of light bouncing across the barrier, until it came crashing down toward him.
'Behind!'
He turned.
His feet slammed into the earth. His right hand shot up, caught the fist mid-fall. A shockwave burst around them. The dragon had descended. But Sasuke had not moved as the dragon had anticipated.
"With No Sacred Gear!" Issei shouted. "No magic!" He bit his tongue. "You were always strong, Sasuke, but I at least thought I could beat you with speed!"
The speed, the strength, the durability, and even the senses from the shinobi had all been amplified. An explosion of inner-power, stemming from the sheert amount of chakra he had poured into his meditation.
[Welsh Dragonic Rook!]
The shift in energy was immediate. Thick armor wrapped around his limbs, crimson and heavy. He was slower now, but stronger. He charged forward with a roar, his fist aimed straight at his classmate. But the moment he moved, his footing slipped.
'What was that?' Issei blinked, catching himself just in time to swing. Then it happened, something rare, something genuinely hilarious. The dragon burst out laughing. "Oh my god!" he shouted, standing tall in his armor, giggling like a kid. "Haha!"
Uchiha Sasuke, fast by any standard, though not the fastest, had stumbled. His feet skidded across the ground before he lost balance completely, tumbling forward and rolling until he was forced to halt his own momentum.
Not from a hit. Not from a trap.
But from the speed itself.
This was not teleportation with his eye, where space or objects were simply swapped. This was raw, unfiltered motion. A velocity that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed every movement technique in the elemental nations. No doubt comparing to Rock Lee, or the Raikage, or to even Naruto. And that was ultimately the goal. To get stronger, to be better, so that when they face, the outcome will be different.
However, he had a long way to go when it comes to mastering.
His footing had slipped, his body misjudged the momentum, and gravity took the rest. A misstep, a fall, and the ungraceful slam into the ground that followed.
It was absurd. It was real. And it was exactly what training was for.
There was a steep learning curve to moving at such high speeds. Even Sasuke had not anticipated how violently his body would react.
Issei roared, surging forward with both fists, and slammed them down onto the Uchiha's back. But instead of crumbling into dust or collapsing under the pressure, Sasuke dropped low and dug into the ground, holding his footing.
"Tch. Even Sairaorg would've felt that."
"You used your stronger power on him," Sasuke said flatly. "I was paying attention at that game, you know."
The 'Pawn' hated that that made him feel good.
But he declined to use his 'True Queen' form for the time being. It would be overkill for this level of training.
With a sharp twist of his body, the Uchiha drove his fist into Issei's chest. The impact was hard and felt through the barrier. The devil was forced back, his heels scraping deep lines into the dirt as he slid. He stumbled. His balance broke. His armored form toppled backward, landing hard with a dull crash.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, it was the Uchiha's turn to laugh.
A short, dry, chuckle, "Don't dragons fly? Why walk on two legs?" he questioned playfully.
[Change Fang Blast!]
[Welsh Blaster Bishop!]
No hesitation, Issei yelled, "Dragon Blaster!"
Sasuke considered dodging it. Despite its sheer scale, his speed made that possible. But another thought took over. He chose to endure it.
As the blast surged forward, bright, hot, and blindingly vibrant, he pressed both hands out, as if to grasp the dragon's power itself. The force hit him like a tidal wave, but his body remained. Not disintegrated. Not broken. Even as the heat wrapped around him, he stood his ground, withstanding the full pressure of the blast.
Eventually, the light faded.
The air stilled.
The Pawn screamed, "Are you okay!?"
That was the strange thing.
Sasuke looked down at his hands, scorched, trembling slightly, but intact. His body ached, blackened in places, the pain undeniable.
But yes.
He was okay.
And easily able to keep going.
Sasuke dashed forward, his speed slower, but able to be controlled. His eyes locked onto Issei's chest, his core, where the armor still held. Mid-sprint, he gripped his left wrist with his right hand, gathering senjutsu into his left palm. What he meant to do was simple. Familiar. Instinctive.
Chidori.
But something shifted, his Rinnegan flared.
Senjutsu surged through his arm, the energy condensing not into lightning, but into pressure. Dense. Refined. His left hand snapped forward, palm open, and slammed directly into the core of Issei's armor.
It took seconds, just seconds, for it to gather.
But when it did, something happened.
A propulsion. Not like Shinra Tensei, which exploded in every direction.
This was focused. Brutal. Singular.
A concentrated blast erupted from Sasuke's palm, driving into Issei's core with power so exact, the metal around it caved inward before it even had time to shatter. The recoil blew the devil backwards, the rest of his sacred-gear crumbling behind him. Though not in his [Rook] form, it had absolutely shattered his defenses, before he even had time to reinforce them.
That, was not magic.
That, was a jutsu.
The Uchiha looked at his smoky, red palm, 'A push...' he analyzed, 'But not like Shinra Tensei. Not scattered. Not wide.' he flexed his hand again, 'All of it, compressed into a single point. Pressed into contact. Senjutsu amplified it. It pushed through. Cracked his core. Launched him.' a grin formed on his face, 'A push that can be controlled into what I can touch.'
He clenched his palm, ignoring the pain.
'Something new... something... mine...'
Sasuke raised his open palm, and imagined using it once more. His fingers were spread, and it was almost like he was grabbing onto something.
"Let divine force flow through a single grasp..."
A proud smirk on his face.
"Shinra Shōjin (Almighty Palm Formation)."
"I would like to borrow Gasper Vladi."
The room stilled. No one responded right away. Even Gasper looked up in silent confusion, uncertain if he had heard her correctly.
She was a vampire, and had not been announced. There had been no message from her faction, no magic circle, no warning. Never before had someone from her country bothered to travel all this way across the human world. Though, it did make sense eventually. It was diplomatic, and the woman did not wish to intrude on devil territory, as they might take it as a threat.
"I am Elmenhilde Karnstein. Please call me Elmen."
This had come as a surprise to everyone.
Well, almost everyone.
During these trying times, not even smaller factions across the world could escape the violence. And currently, there was a full blown war going on in Romania. A bloody schism, like no other in recent years.
House Tepes, along with its vassals—House Vladi and House Manthar—had initiated war against House Carmilla, who in turn called its own levies, as well as House Karnstein and House Vordenburg, to come to their aid. The balance of power was crucial everywhere, so it made sense for each vampire faction, big or small, to take a side.
When she scanned the room, she smiled, clearly expecting this kind of stunned reaction.
"We do not wish to invoke the wrath of having outsiders meddle in our political world," Elmen said cautiously. "We only wish to recall one of our own, Gasper Vladi-kun, to tip the scales so that balance may be restored, and hopefully, a lasting peace will follow." she paused. "Though, I certainly do wish to impale Lord Marius before setting him ablaze."
Sona Sitri crossed her arms, "Tip the scales?" she questioned. "Do you mean to say your opposition has a Sacred Gear user of their own?"
The Vampire nodded, "Though we scorn the use of Holy Artifacts," she replied with clear disdain, "House Tepes has decided to abandon those values for the sake of power and victory. They have a user who possesses a Longinus. One capable of bringing great pain to our forces... and potentially, to those beyond our political realm as well."
Sasuke observed with suspicious eyes, but to his surprise, the woman never looked at him, 'Devious.' he thought, 'Not one to take lightly in politics.' Though, he has no concern for that world.
Of course, secretly, it had been his recommendation to set foot here.
He recalled the conversation:
"We have similar goals," he had told her. "You wish to end your war, and I wish to save the one who will cause you to lose it.'
"Those are similar, yes. But only one matters. Ending the war in our favor." Her voice, cold and spiteful, "What happens to Valerie-chan... I do not care in the slightest, truth be told. I only pretended to be her friend in hopes that she would feel guilty for helping her House. She is a half vampire, afterall. Her dying in this conflict would only serve a better overall purpose."
She turned away slightly, "As for Marius? He must die. Or be imprisoned. Or suffer. It does not matter to me how it ends, only that it does."
For a moment, Sasuke's anger had considered him letting House Carmilla be wiped out entirely.
This vampire, this manipulative, lying, hateful woman, made it easy. And it did bother him, deeply, that she spoke of Valerie with such cruelty.
But the alternative... was Valerie's death.
That, he could not accept.
"Valerie will live," he said threateningly. "Or none of you will."
Rias rubbed her chin, "You do not wish us to interfere, and that, I understand. However, we could potentially serve as an arbiter in a diplomatic role. That way, the dying could stop, and the conflict might be subdued. It may only delay the inevitable, but that would at least give you time to gather your strength and prepare for what is to come."
The Vampire declined with a light shake of her head, "No. We will settle our problems with our own hands. If you want to act as an advisor, then be my guest." she sighed, "The reason we are facing such unprecedented circumstances in this war is because the user of the Longinus is quite adept with its power. It enhances our enemies, turning them into..." she paused, struggling for the words, "We do not even know. In all honesty, our casualties are high. We have lost every battle. Every skirmish ends the same way."
Kiba frowned. "Which Longinus?"
A long, dramatic silence, building the suspense for when she revealed.
"... The Sephiroth Graal."
The room fell silent.
A Sacred Gear of mythic status, said to hold the power of creation and resurrection. It defied the rules of life itself. To some, it was a miracle. To others, a weapon more terrifying than any sword, beast, or god. The ability to restore what had been lost... or corrupt what should never have lived.
Both Xenovia and Irina gasped, "The Holy Grail... in the hands of vampires..." The latter said, "I should inform the Church about this... Lord Michael-sama will wish to know right away such a power is in the wrong hands."
"Please do," Elmenhilde replied eagerly. "And when they take it back, make sure they take the soul that belongs to it." she gave a sadistic, mocking laugh. "The poor girl who owns it is nothing more than a bed-slave to them. Valerie, of House Tepes. Her father had a fondness for breeding with the local humans, and out came her... along with those cursed cups they call holy artifacts."
"Valerie!?" Gasper's voice rang out suddenly, sharp and trembling, "No! Lies! Valerie was not born with a Sacred-Gear like I was!" his tone dropped, "But... I am glad to know she is okay."
"Not for long." She corrected, "I've seen her. She's barely conscious. I have no doubt in my mind that dog they call her brother will steal the power for himself."
The Dhampir clenched his fists, "No..." he said, his eyes stare over, "Buchou! Please! Let me go with her! I'll do it." he ran up to her, a sparkle in his eyes, "I have to save her! She's my friend, she was only friend there. It was because of her I made it the outside anyways. Even though I died, I never regretted of forgot the help she had given me."
Rias frowned, "Gasper..." she said softly. Though sympathetic, she stood tall, and refused, "I-
But before she could even announce her decision, one was made for her.
Ajuka Beelzebub spoke.
He did not raise his voice. He never needed to.
But the moment words left his mouth, the room fell into silence. Not just quiet, complete stillness. Like every breath, every thought, had been frozen from the sound of his icy-cold tone.
His eyes narrowed, and then he asked, very simply.
"Who told you to come here?"
That was not the question anyone had expected to be asked. No inquiry into the situation, or further context, but rather what had prompted the woman to come here, of all places.
For a moment, Sasuke thought the vampire would make a huge mistake, and look at him. That would be the end of it, he felt. However, she was much more cunning than he gave her credit for.
Instead of breaking at that second, Elmenhilde smiled and gave a nod.
"We knew Gasper Vladi had been reincarnated," she began, "And we heard of his performance in the Underworld's Rating Games had been stellar. Then, when Sirzechs Lucifer-sama announced a group to counter the Khaos Brigade—"
"The Khaos Brigade," Ajuka interrupted, his tone crisp.
He stared at her like a scalpel hovering just above skin.
"And what mention of them do you bring us? A schism between vampires is nothing of concern to us. You arrived unannounced. You passed through our barriers, and our wards. You are not here as a diplomat. You are here because you are desperate. Desperate people make poor allies."
Elmenhilde blinked slowly, "I-I came because I wanted to make peace with the Underworld, and by extension, the three-factions altogether. And hopefully build a bridge for a mutually beneficial relationship.
"No," Ajuka replied "You came because your war is already lost."
Despite the cold in the air, she felt the heat build up inside her.
Thankfully, she had a plan.
A barganing chip, of sorts.
"We have reason to believe," she began, her tone slow, "That the Khaos Brigade is backing House Tepes. Encouraging them. Fueling the war from the shadows.
Perhaps if Sirzechs-sama hears this, he will be more inclined to help."
Ajuka stilled. Not visibly. Not in breath or expression. But something in the air around him shifted. The atmosphere twisted, subtle but suffocating, as if the temperature in the room had dropped without warning. He took a single step forward. Not rushed. Not forceful.
And yet the space itself recoiled.
"Reason to believe?" he repeated, "That is the language of desperation. The vocabulary of those who cannot afford certainty. An empty phrase, dressed in etiquette, sent to knock on our doors." his eyes lowered, "You either believe… or you do not. So speak clearly, Karnstein. Or return to the corpse of your failing house, and rot beside your blood-drunk nobles."
Before Elmenhilde could speak again, Rias's voice rang out.
"I have to agree," she said sharply. "You came here and insulted my House. Gasper is part of my peerage. I won't hand him over like some—" her throat froze, realizing the train of thought.
The Vampire chuckled quietly. "Like some chess piece?"
All around the room the awkwardness could be felt. But no one was siding against Rias. Most of them belonged to the Evil Piece system, but even Sasuke, who was blank as ever, almost smirked from amusement at the rebuttal.
Ajuka declared, "The 'Bishop' will not go. Nor will we."
There was no room for question. As if it had already been decided, long before this meeting began.
"The Holy Grail," he said flatly. "I presume they're using it to eliminate your weaknesses. Immunity to daylight. Immunity to holy artifacts."
Elmenhilde nodded weakly. "Y-Yes…" she swallowed, trembling. "And something else. We… we don't know. Some of our own have abandoned Queen Carmilla. Traitors. I think they're being experimented on, but… I can't confirm it."
Ajuka's gaze didn't waver. "And your evidence?"
She hesitated. "Our fighters… they've been slaughtered. Mutilated. Some look like they were eaten by monsters. We haven't won a single battle. That's why we need Gasper."
The Maou merely shrugged. "I'm still not convinced," he said, turning his back to her. "At least, in the end, less vampires wreaking havoc among the populace."
Panic gripped her chest.
"Dragons!" she cried, desperate. "They have dragons! I've seen them with my own eyes! And it makes no sense! We vampires despise dragons. We've never worked with them, yet now they command flocks of them. There are rumors. Whispers. And nothing adds up!"
Ajuka rubbed his chin, "This Queen Carmilla," he said. "If we are to preserve her life and her rule, then peace with your faction... and all vampires... will be required."
"Yes. Yes! That is what we wish for." The Vampire replied, "My mission was for that."
There was no leverage in her words, only further desperation. Whatever was happening in Carmilla's court, it had grown dire enough to drive them into the arms of those they had long scorned. That alone told Ajuka everything he needed to know.
Beelzebub paced toward her, "This is not a negotiation, Karnstein. It is a reality you will learn to survive." a silence fell, "Your House will sign whatever treaty is placed before it. You will join our fold without protest. And you will adhere to the authority of Sirzechs Lucifer... as well as my own." then, he cut cold, "That is the cost of salvation. Compliance. Total and absolute."
The Vampire swallowed, "I-I am only an emissary. I cannot make such decisions on behalf of the Queen. And... as we are vassals to her, I cannot pledge myself."
When Ajuka's eyes narrowed, she clarified.
It almost like she felt obligated to do so.
"B-But we are in need of allies..." she assured, "I have full confidence in the wisdom and intellect of our leader. She will surely put away her pride, as well as our independence for the sake of peace. I-"
"There is no I," Ajuka interrupted, his voice like frost on glass. "There is only us. You and your Queen will understand that, when we have won your war for you."
Elmenhilde turned toward the room, the faces of everyone looking cautious and tense.
Then, her eyes locked onto Sasuke.
He stood, crossed armed, his displease frown as potent as though it was made of stone. He hadn't said a word, but she felt it, his disappointment. Not in her, perhaps… but in what this had become.
She felt it in her blood, her heart beating like a drum. The weight of history, the pressure of extinction. And there, somewhere deep inside her, a voice, cold, logical, survival-driven, told her what she had to do.
Even if it made her sick.
Even if it made her less.
She swallowed the shame.
And dropped to one knee.
"Then I pledge myself, as well as my House," Elmenhilde said quietly, her voice accepting the choice.
To the room, it appeared as a vampire offering her House to a rising counter-terrorist alliance.
But in truth…
It was submission.
To Ajuka Beelzebub.
"I will bring this to the Queen at once," she continued. "So we may pull back our forces and reorgan—"
"I command our forces," Ajuka interrupted, voice firm and immediate. "That means I command your forces. Now go. We will meet on your land, and I will send my niece to setup a post for our retinue."
Elmenhidle gave a stiff nod, but something still lingered in her eyes. "When I..." she paused, swallowing, "When I present myself to Queen Carmilla, I will tell her we are now sworn to the Three Factions and to this new group... but what exactly is this group?"
For once, Ajuka did not have words to rebuke. He looked at her. Then at the others. There was no answer. There was no name for them all. No banner. No formal structure. Just an anti-terrorist force assembled under necessity and silence.
Then, a voice broke the silence, answering it for all of them.
"DxD."
Everyone suddenly turned.
Koneko sat calmly, her expression unreadable. She had spoken barely above a whisper, but the words carried weight. No one laughed. No one questioned it. The name bounced through the room, each considering it.
Simple, strange, and yet... right.
Rias lips curved into a smile.
"Yes," she said. "DxD."
This story is moving.
I won't lie, lately there is a bit of writer's block, but I'm going strong. I have an outline, and it helps tremendously.
I've been lacking new jutsus since... forever. So now we have... Shinra Shojin.
In simple terms, it's like almighty push, except it's focused on whatever his left hand his grasping. All the energy, instead of being around him, is condensed into that one grasp.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for the reviews! Let me know what else you thought.