"That sword is called the Stormbringer."
A familiar voice informed him from behind, making Issei smile as he turned around to see Horace Morgan Winston, the senior Evaluator of the Crimson Emporium, walking over to him. The devil wore a polite yet warm smile, his hands folded neatly behind his back as he came to a stop beside Issei, his eyes shifting to the broadsword displayed before them inside the protective glass case.
To say it was an impressive weapon would be an understatement. Even without using Observe, Issei could feel the overwhelming aura radiating from it. The broad, slightly curved blade gleamed with a deep emerald sheen, while the hilt flared outward with wing-like designs around a small gemstone set into the guard. The handle was wrapped in dark, tightly braided leather, and the pommel culminated in a sharp, pointed crystal that appeared to be made of the same material as the blade itself.
"It's said that one can summon a storm with just a swing of this fine weapon." Horace continued, making Issei turn back to the sword with his eyes widening slightly in amazement, looking at it with even more respect. "My master forged it from the remains of the boss inside the most recent S-rank Gate cleared in Europe, a victory achieved by Diehauser Belial-sama and his Peerage."
"Yeah, I read about the Raid on the news. They're the current Rating Game Champions as well, aren't they?" Issei asked, with Horace nodding his head in confirmation before he continued with another question, noticing the absence of a price tag. "How much for this sword, Horace-ji chan?"
"One billion yen." Horace answered, making Issei choke a little in response. "It's a one of a kind weapon, after all. Not something you come across every day."
"Yeah, I think I'll pass on this one then." Issei grinned slightly before turning fully to the devil. "It's been a while, ji-san. It's good to see you again."
"Likewise, Issei. I'm glad to see that you're in good spirits." Horace returned the greeting with a warm smile of his own while shaking hands with Issei. "You must be here to see my master, yes?"
"Yeah, Zeoticus-san mentioned he had a few new items in his workshop to show me." Issei nodded with a slight grin. "I heard the trade deal with Lord Hephaestus and the Olympian Forge went really well."
"And I have you to thank for that, Issei-kun,"
At that, Zeoticus made his entrance, joining the conversation as he stepped out of the elevator with a smile on his face and strolled toward Issei and Horace. The senior Evaluator offered his master a respectful bow of his head while Issei grinned and extended his hand forward, letting Zeoticus take it into his own hand for a handshake.
"Glad you could make it, Issei-kun. I actually thought you'd be tied up until noon, considering my wife had plans to give you some dancing lessons today."
"She did, sir, but I declined. Dancing isn't really my thing." Issei replied with a light chuckle. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"Not at all. In fact, you're right on time. Another shipment from the Olympian Forge will be arriving shortly." Zeoticus said, glancing briefly at his wristwatch. He gestured for Issei to follow him. "Come, you'll want to see this. We've got some rare materials and a few items straight from Lord Hephaestus's personal workshops."
"Sure. Lead the way."
"Oh, by the way, Zeoticus-san." Issei called, stopping Zeoticus before he could turn around and start walking away. "I have been thinking… Can you make a staff to hold this for me?" Issei asked, summoning the Orb of Avarice and handing it over to Zeoticus, who mused.
"It's for your shadow… the one named Glacia, isn't it?" Zeoticus asked as he looked at the Orb, with Issei nodding his head in confirmation "Sure, I can do that. I actually had a few ideas in mind when I saw you giving this to her during the Kuoh Battle."
"How mu…"
"It's fine." Zeoticus shook his head and interrupted Issei with a small smile before he could ask how much for his service. "Come to my office tomorrow. I will have the staff ready for you by then."
"Thank you, Zeoticus-san."
Handing the Orb of Avarice over to Horace, Issei followed Zeoticus outside as the man turned on his boots and led Issei and Horace out of the showdown. The three exited through a side door and arrived at a wide, open courtyard, where a group of uniformed employees were already gathered, ready to unload the arriving cargo.
"Ah, right on time." Zeoticus said with a satisfied nod, directing their eyes toward the purple sky above them just as a red portal opened in midair. From it, a convoy of Pegasi-drawn carriages emerged, their wings flaring as they glided smoothly across the sky before descending. The lead carriage, marked with the sigil of the Olympian Forge, touched down first, its wheels barely making a sound as it settled on the stone tiles before the door opened, allowing a muscular man to step out and greet Zeoticus with a handshake.
"Lord Zeoticus." The man said, addressing the crimson haired devil with a professional air about him "Shipment secured and delivered without incident."
"Excellent. Your punctuality is always appreciated, Jacob," Zeoticus replied, giving the courier a nod as he took the digital clipboard handed to him. While Zeoticus and Horace began reviewing the manifest, Jacob turned his attention to Issei, giving him a quick once-over before offering a respectful nod.
"You must be Hyoudou Issei," Jacob said. "Heard your name a lot during this trip, sir. It's an honor."
Issei smiled, nodding his head as he shook hands with the older man. "Nice to meet you."
"Here you go, Jacob. It seems everything is in order." Zeoticus said, handing Jacob back the digital clipboard. At his signal, Horace gave a brief before motioning the waiting employees to start unloading the cargos, carefully moving crates and reinforced cases off the carriages and into the building. Each container bore the sigil of the Olympian Forge etched in gold. Some appeared to be packed with raw materials, from glowing minerals harvested from Gates to ingots of divine metal. Others held neatly secured racks of weapons and armors, wrapped in layers of enchanted cloth that was clearly designed to protect both the valuable items inside and the transporters during transit.
Issei could have sworn he heard a faint whooshing sound, like wind swirling inside one of the containers, but he decided to keep his curiosity to himself. Who was he to question what kind of materials Zeoticus, Hephaestus, and their craftsmen had been working with?
His attention, however, then shifted to a nearby container being carefully lowered onto the ground using a forklift. It held several glass vials filled with a strange green liquid, each one softly pulsing with an eerie glow.
"Those are concentrated essences extracted from Keres, battlefield spirits of famine and disease. Once processed, there's no deadlier poison in this world to coat a weapon with," Horace explained as he walked up beside Issei, prompting a small nod of understanding from the younger man.
And then the realization hit him, harder than a punch to the face from Igris.
"Wait, what did you just say, ji-san?" Issei asked, whipping his head toward Horace so fast the older man actually blinked in surprise. "You said those concentrated essences were extracted from…"
"Keres, Issei." Horace confirmed with a slow nod. "In Greek mythology, they are vengeful spirits of the dead, daughters of the Primordial Goddess Nyx. They are known to battlefields and areas with violent deaths and bloodshed, drawn to the suffering of the dying."
But the rest of the explanation fell to deaf ears as Issei stared at the vials, with the pieces starting to click together in his head.. That was it. That was why that place had been so damn familiar. He had read about it before, back when he was brushing up on Greek mythology.
The Keres… no wonder why he could not find any information about them among the list of registered Gate monsters.
Because they were never Gate monsters to begin with. They were creatures from Greek Mythology.
And that damn Labyrinth, the basement floor of the Demon's Castle that changed itself to try to kill him… it was never an Instance Dungeon.
It was THE Labyrinth.
"Is there a problem, Issei-kun?"
"A moment, Zeoticus-san." Issei said hurriedly, already fishing his phone out of his pocket. He quickly dialed a familiar number, walking a few steps away from the others to stand off to the side, tapping his foot impatiently against the stone tiles as he listened to the repetitive ringing.
Finally, the call connected with a soft click, and without waiting, Issei quickly spoke. "Aphrodite-san, can I ask you about someth—"
Before he could finish the request, Issei felt a light tap on his shoulder and spun around, finding himself staring into the familiar playful and amused smile of the goddess of love as she stood there behind him with her phone in her hand.
"Aphrodite-san!" Issei blurted out, half smiling in an attempt to cover his surprise.
"What… what are you doing here?"
Instead of answering his question, Aphrodite just playful tossed a look over her shoulders, the smile on her face widening as Issei followed her gaze to the carriage convoy parking in the courtyard. It was then that Issei saw the smaller, but fancier carriage that was drawn by two white Pegasi, the same carriage that he had ridden in on his first trip to Olympus.
"Oh… right."
"I actually planned to come over to Gremory Residence later to see you, but I guess meeting you works even better." Aphrodite said before she noticed the look Issei had on his face "What? You're not thinking about spending your entire summer vacation without me, are you?"
"Absolutely not, Aphrodite-san." Issei answered with a sheepish laugh, making Aphrodite beam at him. "I'm just surprised to see…"
"Zeoticus!" Aphrodite then called as she spun around and grabbed his arms, leaning in so close that he could feel her breasts around his bicep "Can I borrow Issei for the day?"
"Sure, Lady Aphrodite. Have fun then, Issei. We can go over the items later." Zeoticus responded as he exchanged a look of amusement with Horace before both men went back to their business. With a satisfied hum, Aphrodite turned and cheerfully pulled Issei along by the hand toward her carriage.
"Uhm, Aphrodite-san… where are we going?" Issei asked.
"Olympus. We are going to see Aglaea." Aphrodite answered with a playful smile "I called Serafall earlier. Apparently, they're planning to throw a party next week for all the young devils who'd attended the Young Devils Gathering later tonight. And it has come to my attention, after another call to Rias, that you told her you didn't have a suit. She thought about ordering one for you, but I insisted on making sure you'd look the part myself."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Now hop in, I'd teleport us to Olympus right away, but I want to spend some time hearing how things have been going between you and Akeno first." Aphrodite said. "And don't even think about leaving out the juicy details, okay?"
"J-Juicy details? Aphrodite-san, we have only kissed like… a few times." Issei stammered, slightly flustered as he took his seat inside the carriage. Aphrodite stepped in after him, and the moment the door was shut behind them, the white Pegasi gave a resounding neigh and lifted off from the ground with a powerful beat of their wings. The carriage glided upward smoothly before soaring into the purple-tinted sky, quickly rising above the Crimson Emporium as they passed through the portal out of the Underworld.
"So, you two have only gotten that far, huh?" Aphrodite said as she sat across from him, resting her chin on her hand with an exaggerated sigh of boredom. "I suppose I shouldn't expect much from two teenagers fumbling their way through romance. Still, it's kind of disappointing coming from the future Harem King."
"Uh, I mean…"
"That aside, when are you gonna ask the next girl out?" Aphrodite cut in, waving his words off like they were unimportant. In response, Issei just blinked, which made Aphrodite give him a stern look "Don't give me that look. We both know who I am talking about."
"Rias, you mean?" Issei asked while scratching the back of his head "I don't know. I mean… I also like her too and all, but I just asked Akeno out. We have only been dating for like a few days. Would she be mad if I…"
"Something tells me she isn't going to mind. If anything, the fact that you asked her out first means that she has already achieved a victory over Rias. Trust the goddess of love to know when the hearts of two maidens are flustered for the same man." Aphrodite said with a pleasant smile. "And if you want to be the harem king, how about trying to be a little more confident, hm? It always amazes me how men like you charge headfirst into danger without blinking but second guessing yourself and everything when it comes to us women... but I guess that's also part of your charm."
Issei felt his shoulder slump a little as he groaned out. "It's not that easy, Aphrodite-san…"
"Of course it isn't." The love goddess replied, waving her hand airily. "But nothing worth having ever is. Besides, you've already got their hearts halfway in your hands. All you have to do is hold on before they slip out of your fingers."
"So… am I just going to walk up to her and ask her out then?" Issei asked unsurely.
Aphrodite rolled her eyes in good humor. "Might work. I mean… using the same approach you did with Akeno could do the trick. That was a bold move from you, but it worked, so I'll give you credit for that." The goddess of love giggled and then continued "But, if you want, I think you could try a different approach. I'm sure that you … Again with that notebook? Are you taking notes again?"
"Well, it helped with my first date with Akeno-san, so I figured—" Issei said, looking up from his notebook to see Aphrodite giving him a half-amused, half-annoyed look.
Before he could continue, Aphrodite casually snatched the notebook right out of his hand. After quickly flipping through it, finding her advice for him on how to give Akeno the best first date written on the first few pages, Aphrodite then held up the notebook and a bright white flame erupted from the center, consuming half of it in a blink of an eye. Issei could only watch in silence as Aphrodite opened the window and tossed the burning notebook outside, leaving it to disintegrate in the dimensional gap between the Human World and the Underworld, leaving no trace behind.
"You know what, Ise? Just for Rias… do whatever your heart tells you. Pick the moment that you feel is right, and ask her out. I'm quite confident that she'll say yes. As for Akeno, I think she's just gonna have a good time flaunting the fact that you asked her out first to her best friend." Aphrodite giggled, just as the carriage finally arrived on Mount Olympus. For a moment, Issei was silent as he stared out the window and took in the grandeur of Mount Olympus once more, watching as a flock of Pegasi soared across the sky with their riders before nodding his head with a smile.
"Should I tell Akeno first then?"
"If you want. But the decision is yours, Darling. Just don't overcomplicate it." Aphrodite smiled. "By the way, what were you trying to ask me earlier again?"
"Oh, it's… something that's been on my mind for a while now," Issei began, his expression turning more serious as he knew he had to choose his words carefully. "And also, I think I might have a few favors to ask of you, Aphrodite-san…"
Later that night, Issei found himself following Rias and the rest of the Peerage toward the grand Amphitheater in Lucifaad, the original capital of the Underworld, after leaving the train that had taken them from Gremory Station to attend the Youth Devil Gathering. Much like every other formal event they had attended, they were all dressed in their school uniforms, which had pretty much become their default attire at this point.
"Kyah! Rias hime-samaaa!"
Almost immediately upon their arrival, they were swarmed by mobs of devils, men and women of various ages, though mostly those who appeared to be around their own. The crowd screamed in adoration and admiration as they rushed toward them, particularly eager to get a photograph with Rias or her signature. The security detail for the event did their best to hold them back, but it was clear that there was little they could do in the face of so many overly excited fangirls and fanboys.
"Senpai, allow me." Issei shouted to Rias over the excited screams and hollers. At once, numerous of his shadow troopers took shape, holding their arms out to keep the excited mobs at bay and form a clear path for Issei and the rest of the group to continue toward the Amphitheater without further trouble.
"Thanks, Ise," Rias beamed, flashing him a warm and grateful smile as they headed further inside, with Issei recalling his shadows just before the door slammed shut behind them.
After a moment, the Peerage entered the elevator at the end of the hallway to ascend to the top floor of the building. As the elevator door slid shut with a soft click, Rias turned around and spoke to them seriously.
"Everyone, I'll say it one more time. No matter what happens, stay calm. No matter what is said toward us, keep your heads cool and avoid starting a fight. The devils we will be meeting soon are our future rivals. We must not present ourselves in an unsightly manner… not just to them, but to the higher-ups that will be watching."
They all nodded, with Gasper and Asia doing it a little more nervously than the rest, though it was clear they understood the gravity of her reminder. Soon enough, they finally arrived at their destination, stepping out into a grand hallway, where they were greeted by an employee who gave a bow towards Rias. "Welcome, Gremory-sama. Please come this way."
Everyone followed the employee down the hallway, finally arriving at a room at the far end. As they approached, Issei noticed a group waiting outside, and his gaze immediately found the towering figure of Sairaorg Bael, who was clearly standing and talking with the members of his Peerage.
"Sairaorg!" Rias called, acknowledging her cousin with a smile as they approached the other group.
"Ah, there you are, Rias." Sairaorg grinned, nodding his head to Rias as their servants greeted one another with a friendly air about them. "We've been waiting for you. Everyone in there looked like they wanted to rip each other's head off, so we decided to head out here for some fresh air."
"Is it really that bad?" Rias asked with a frown before she turned to her servants and introduced Sairaorg to those who hadn't met him "Everyone, this is Sairaorg Bael, the heir of the Bael Devil Household. He's also my cousin."
"Nice to meet you, everyone." Sairaorg grinned, nodding his head to those who bowed their heads to him before shaking hands with Issei. "Aah, it's good to see you again, Issei. Defeating Kokabiel of Grigori and the Hakuryuukou, a descendant of the original Lucifer… those are some impressive feats. I gotta say you've been making quite a name for yourself. And congrats to your promotion."
"Thanks, Sairaorg-san." Issei smiled and nodded, noticing that Sairaorg's grip wasn't as strong as it had been when they first met, but it was still quite firm.
"So, do you want to go in or…" Before Sairaorg could finish, a tremor suddenly ran through the hallway, causing the floor beneath their feet to subtly shake. The Bael heir only looked half-amused, clicking his tongue in annoyance as he turned his gaze toward the door his peerage was standing next to "And that is why I advised not putting them in the same room with one another before the official meeting starts. Come on."
Half of the tables and chairs were overturned, and the rest were either cracked or destroyed outright. Decorations lay scattered or scorched, and in the center of the room, two groups of devils stood facing each other with hostile glares, their weapons and magic ready to strike. One side was led by a devil with dark skin, light markings across his face, and wild green hair that stood on end. His sharp green eyes were locked onto the group across from him with obvious disdain and a confidence that bordered on arrogance.
The other leader, meanwhile, was a beautiful young woman in her late teens with long, pale greenish blonde hair, long slit pink eyes behind a pair of stylish glasses. Unlike her opposition, who dressed flashily, she wore an elegant blue robe adorned with refined accessories that screamed nobility. Her expression was calm, clearly unwilling to back down. At her side stood a handsome young man in a butler uniform, and while he looked nothing out of the ordinary, Issei could immediately tell he was a dragon.
"Zephyrdol, are you seriously doing this? Do you want to die here? You know even if I kill you, I won't even be scolded by the ones in charge." The female devil stated coldly.
"Hah! I'll say it again, bitch! I said I'd teach you a lesson here!" Zephyrdol laughed, clearly not feeling threatened by her words "The Agares heiress, Seekvaira, really doesn't like walking around with her guards, does she? Is that why you're still a virgin? Haven't let any man get near you, have you? Tch, all the women from the Maou families stink of virginity and act like they're better than the rest of us. That's why I offered to hold a special opening ceremony just for you!"
"I guess it can't be helped." Saying that with a sigh, while Zephyrdol and Seekvaira Agares as well as their Peerages continued to glare at one another, Sairaorg walked forward and spoke up loudly so everyone could hear his voice while wearing a pleasant smile on his face. "Seekvaira, princess of the Agares family and Zephyrdol, rebellious son of the Glasya-Labolas family… you two have caused enough troubles for this meeting already. If you keep pushing further, then how about I become your opponent? I know this is quite sudden, but this is your last warning. Depending on your next words and actions, I will use my fists without mercy."
Immediately, Seekvaira and her peerage backed down, their expressions easing, albeit a hint of nervousness as Sairaorg swept his gaze past them. Zephyrdol and his group, on the other hand, bristled with even more aggression than before.
"Who the fuck are you calling the rebellious-?!"
But Zephyrdol never got the chance to finish. In a blur, Sairaorg shot forward, his fist slamming into Zephyrdol's face with so much force the poor devil was sent flying across the ballroom before crashing into the far wall with a deafening boom, knocking several chairs and tables on the way. The impact left cracks spider-webbing through the wall before an entire section of it collapsed, leaving Zephyrdol to slumped onto the floor, completely unconscious.
Wow, that was fast. Issei mused while looking at the Bael heir with even more respect than before.
So that was the strongest young devil.
"Devils of Glasya-Labolas." Sairaorg spoke in a firm tone as Zephyrdol's servants looked at him with boiling anger. "Your master has been warned, and still he chose to act. I will not tolerate any more unsightly behavior from you or anyone else in this room. I also suggest you attend your master no. The Maou will be arriving shortly, so make sure Zephyrdol recovers first."
Reluctantly, the Glasya-Labolas devils rushed to their unconscious master, allowing Sairaorg to turn his attention over to Seekvaira and speak to her.
"There's still some time before the meeting starts. Go fix your makeup. Next time, try not to let idiots get under your skin next time."
"I understand." With that, Seekvaira and her servants left the room quietly.
Sairaorg returned to his Peerage, and from that point on, the tension in the ballroom slowly died down. The cleanup crew arrived soon after to repair the damaged furniture and wall, while various high-ranking staff members took care of rearranging the space to something more presentable.
In the lull that followed, Issei and the rest of the Gremory Peerage also found themselves mingling with Sairaorg's Peerage, with the initial awkwardness for the new members quickly replaced by casual conversation. It wasn't long before the Sitri Peerage arrived as well, with Sona offering a polite greeting to both Rias and Sairaorg before her group joined in, the three Peerage settling into a friendly atmosphere as they talked and waited.
By the time the Maou arrived, Zephyrdol and Seekvaira had returned to the room, the former of whom and his Peerage did their absolute best to avoid Sairaorg, not that the Bael heir seemed to really care.
Soon enough, Issei found himself standing behind Akeno as their group formed a line behind Rias, who had joined the other Peerage leaders at the front. Together, they stood facing the four Maou and a number of high-ranking devils seated at the head of the room. Among them, and beside Sirzechs and Serafall, Issei recognized only Ajuka Beelzebub, whom he'd met during his Practical Test of the Middle Class Promotion Exam. Sitting beside him, meanwhile, was without a doubt the Maou bearing the title of Asmodeus, a bald devil with a neat goatee, whose half-lidded eyes and slouched posture made it seem like he was just seconds from falling asleep.
Compared to the others, he looked almost harmless. Though knowing the devils sitting next to him, Issei had no doubt that he was also an incredibly powerful devil.
"Well met, everyone." Sirzechs began in a composed voice after all the heirs and heiresses had introduced themselves, with the last one in the room being Diodora Astaroth. For some reason, Issei didn't like him one bit, even more so than Zephyrdol, who seemed to be just a straight up jerk. "I will get straight to the point. We are all here tonight to evaluate the noble leaders of this generation."
"As you all already know, this world is facing a crisis unlike anything we have ever encountered before. Even though we have made peace with our past enemies and formed alliances with them, we still face external threats that endanger the world that we have worked for. The six of you and your peerages represented the next generation of our Faction, who possessed outstanding strength and skills. As such, I aim to have you compete with the hope that through the experience, you'll grow stronger and prove yourselves ready for the responsibilities that will one day rest on your shoulders."
"Are you suggesting a Rating Game Tournament between us six, Lucifer-sama?" Sona asked.
"You're correct. Although it will be an unofficial tournament, I plan to make it an exhibition event. Moreover, the leaders of our allies will also be invited to watch the Games. It'll be a great opportunity for you six to showcase the strength." Sirzechs nodded.
"Lucifer-sama, will we be joining the battle against Khaos Brigade as well?" Sairaorg asked in a firm tone "And what about the rumors that the one who's responsible for Gates working with them."
"We can't say for certain just yet." Ajuka spoke up, and Issei could have sworn that he saw the Beelzebub Maou casting his gaze briefly over to him "However, we would like to keep you young ones out of this fight for as long as possible."
"With all due respect, Beelzebub-sama, but I cannot disagree more. We might be young, but we're at least as skilled as any other devils." Sairaorg said "We can contribute to this fight."
"I respect your courage, Sairaorg, but should any of you rising stars perish, it would represent immeasurable loss to us Devils as a whole. You hold the future of our faction in your hands, and for that reason alone, you must be protected." Ajuka replied calmly.
"…Understood, Beelzebub-sama." Sairaorg closed his eyes and nodded. The look on his face, however, showed that he was clearly not satisfied with the answer he was given.
Sirzechs offered a gentle smile to ease the tension. "Now, I'd like each of you to share your dream—your goal for the future. Why don't you start us off, Sairaorg?"
"My dream is to become Maou." The Bael heir said it without hesitation, his voice strong and certain.
"Hoh. No one from the Great King Bael Household has ever been able to accomplish such a feat." One of the devil higher ups stated, though it was clear he and the others were impressed by Sairaorg as well as his determination.
"Once the devils of our Faction see that I'm worthy of the position, it will happen." Sairaorg finished.
"Such ambition suits you well, Sairaorg." Sirzechs smiled before looking at his sister. "What about you, Rias?"
"My goal for the near future is to live as the head of the Gremory Devil Household, and win in every Rating Game I participate in." Rias said with a hand on her chest. Her voice was calm, but the confidence behind it was unmistakable.
Sirzechs looked pleased with her response, nodding with approval, while Serafall clapped her hands enthusiastically. "That's my adorable Ria-tan! So cool! You're next, Sona-chan!"
Sona adjusted her glasses slightly before she stepped forward and spoke in her ever composed tone. "I want to establish a Rating Game school in the Underworld."
"Well, there are already facilities where one can learn about Rating Games, aren't there?" One of the higherups asked.
"Yes, but those schools only accept High-Class Devils and Devils of privileged social standing. The school I want to build is one where Low-Class Devils and reincarnated Devils can also attend without being discriminated against." Sona spoke firmly, with Serafall nodding her head along with every word she said. The other Maou also looked intrigued and even impressed by her idea and conviction, but the rest, however…
[Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!]
They all erupted into loud, mocking laughter.
"Impossible!"
"What nonsense!"
"I see. So the Sitri heir is nothing more than a daydreaming little girl!"
The scornful comments filled the room, their tone dismissive and openly derisive.
"Hm, for the Sitri heiress to speak of such a ridiculous dream… good thing we arranged this meeting before the formal debut next week." Another devil made the comment, But Sona stood her ground, unfazed, her eyes never wavering.
"I'm quite serious." She declared. Serafall also nodded energetically in agreement.
Dying down from his laughter, one of the superiors spoke with a finger pointed at her.
"Sona Sitri-dono. Low-class Devils and reincarnated Devils merely work for their masters, high-class devils, and are chosen solely for their talents. Wouldn't the creation of such a school be disrespectful to the noble families who uphold prestige and tradition? No matter how many claim our world is entering a period of change, not all change is good. Teaching mere low-class devils is hardly your place…"
Standing next to Issei, Saji broke the silence that had fallen upon the Sitri Peerage, who all looked like they could barely keep their anger in.
"Why do you guys keep ridiculing Kai—Sona-sama's dream like that. Why do you just decide that it won't come true!? We're not joking around!"
"Watch your words, young reincarnated demon." The devil who had spoken up earlier warned in a dead serious tone "Sona-dono, it seems your servant has not been properly trained."
"… I apologize." Sona closed her eyes and spoke calmly, "I'll talk to him later."
"Kaichou! Why!?" Saji protested, even as the other members of the Sitri Peerage grabbed his arms and shoulders to hold him back. "These devils… they're mocking you—mocking our dream! Why do you remain silent!?"
"Be quiet, Saji. This is not the place to be showing that kind of attitude. I just told them my dream. That's all."
"A quaint dream, I must say," one of the devils sneered with a mocking chuckle. "Perhaps you'd be better off-"
And that was the moment the atmosphere in the room shifted.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop slightly as Serafall slammed her hand down the table before her, so hard that it was a surprise to Issei that the piece of furniture didn't just break into two. The smile she wore earlier was completely gone. Her presence, usually bubbly and light, had darkened and exuded a presence, not overwhelming, but incredibly scary, that even made some high-class devils tense up.
"That's quite enough. If my Sona wins magnificently in the upcoming tournament and proves her conviction to make her dream come true, then you old geezer won't have anything to complain about, will you?" Her eyes narrowed sharply, locking onto the devils who had mocked her sister. "From where I'm standing, it just looks like you're here to bully her. And while I usually try to play nice… I've only got so much patience. Keep pushing, and I'll have to do some bullying of my own."
At that, the room fell silent. The devils who had been so vocal moments earlier swallowed hard, clearly unsettled by the sudden shift in Serafall's tone. No one dared to respond.
"Hmmm, considering the passion you have just shown, I believe this is an ideal opportunity to let your actions speak for your conviction." Sirzechs stated, his soothing voice easing the deadly silence that had befallen the room while Serafall just huffed and sat back in her chair "Rias, Sona… for the tournament, why don't the two of you face each other first?" he suggested, turning to them with a gentle nod.
At that, Rias and Sona turned to one another in surprise, though there was a clear spark of mutual respect in their eyes as they silently accepted the challenge. Behind them, their Peerages exchanged looks as well—each side already bracing themselves for the clash that was sure to come.
"I see… so it will be a showdown against the Sitri Peerage." Azazel nodded, rubbing his chin as Issei and the Gremory Peerage gathered around him in the garden of Gremory Residence. It was the morning after the Youth Devil Gathering, and the match between Rias and Sona had been scheduled for August 5th, which was just two weeks away.
"I was told this morning that each member of the Sitri Peerage has already set off for their own training. It seems they even prepared strategies before the tournament was officially announced. You can probably guess who kept them informed about the Youth Tournament." The Governor-General chuckled humorously, making the Gremory Peerage look at one another and share a small laugh. "Regardless, even compared to the Bael Peerage, the Sitri are exceptionally determined and disciplined. They don't underestimate anyone and especially not you guys."
With a flick of his wrist, Azazel summoned a stack of documents, which landed on the table beside him with a quiet thud, catching the attention of the group.
"That's why you're going to have to train hard over the next two weeks," He continued, picking up the first page. "As the one in charge of your progression, I've personally set up your training regimens and objectives. Each of you are gonna have to work your asses off, not just to beat Sona and her Peerage, but to put on a damn good performance as well."
"Sensei." Issei asked, raising his arm into the air like they were in class. Considering that Azazel was also their chemistry teacher at Kuoh Academy, they might as well be. "Am I allowed to use my shadows? I mean... won't it be unfair for Sona-Kaichou and her Peerage to have to take on an army of over three hundred undying soldiers and us at the same time?"
"You're not wrong. I heard some had voiced their concerns whether or not this would be a fair match." Azazel nodded his head with a small chuckle "An army of over three hundred undying shadow soldiers is, frankly, an absurd advantage by normal Rating Game standards."
"But here's the thing… Do you think Sona Sitri would back down from a challenge just because it's unfair on paper? Not a chance. Let's be clear—the Sitri Peerage doesn't want you to hold back. For the audience, the Tournament might be just entertainment, but for them? It's where they put their pride and dreams on the line. They'll want to beat you at your strongest. If you go easy on them, that's more insulting than just trampling over them with an army."
"Plus, if there's anyone among the six of you that can come up with a strategic method to counter an army of shadows, it's her." Azazel continued, looking over to Rias "Which means you'll have to start coming up with counter-strategies for anything that she might throw at you. Two weeks of training won't make your Peerage significantly stronger than hers, not when they're just as, if not more, dedicated to their own training… but Issei remains your best chance at beating them. My estimation right now is that he might be even stronger than Sairaorg right now."
"I am?" Issei asked in surprise.
"But don't let it get to your head," Azazel said flatly. "It's just an estimate, and I've been wrong before. Besides, raw power isn't everything in a Rating Game. That's why I've got training plans tailored for each of you. First is Rias."
"As I already said, you're gonna need to work out countermeasures for Sona's strategies against your Peerage, especially ones aimed at Issei." Azazel said, handing Rias a note "On paper, the only problem that you have right now is your quality as a king. You already have the potential to become one of the highest-grade devils, but you told me your wish was to become even stronger than you would in that future, right?"
"Yes." Rias answered, nodding her head determinedly.
"Then follow everything on that sheet, all the way up to battle day." Azazel nodded.
"I have to say… this is a bit intense." Rias noted, but her words were clearly not a complaint.
"Basic training might've been enough under normal circumstances, but you're also aiming to raise your power significantly, so I created that schedule specifically for that goal. Spend your mornings honing your demonic power, and your nights focusing on strategy. I'm confident you'll figure out how to showcase the full potential of your servants, while standing with them on the battlefield." Azazel nodded before he looked over to Akeno. "Next is Akeno."
"… Yes." The Priestess of Thunder replied quietly, as if she already knew what was coming.
"You just have to accept the blood that flows through your veins." Azazel said, handing Akeno her note "I watched the tape of your fight against the Phenex. Sure, you beat their Queen—but let's be honest, that fight should've ended with a single strike of Holy Lightning. Instead, you limited yourself to just your lightning magic. If you keep denying it, then you'll never be able to bring out your true power."
"…I never want to rely on that power."
"No one said you'd have to, but if you don't accept it, you'll be nothing but a hindrance to others in the upcoming match." Azazel stated firmly "The Sitri are giving it their all. You think you can win without giving it your all as well? At the very least, show them some respect."
"Akeno…" Issei murmured, though it seemed she had accepted her note without any more objection.
He wondered if he could talk to her about it later.
Then Azazel moved on to Kiba Yuuto. "Next is Kiba. First, you need to be able to maintain your Balance Breaker for a full day. To that end, you will be training under your master again, won't you?"
"Yes, Okita-sensei said he would teach me from scratch again." Yuuto confirmed as he took his note from Azazel, who nodded his head in agreement.
"Good. Souji knows what to do with you even better than I do, so I will trust him to handle your training. As for you, Xenovia." The Governor General then turned his attention to Xenovia "You need to start thinking with your head, and to be able to wield Durandal better than you do now… once you have mastered it, you'll need to learn to wield another Holy Sword."
Xenovia blinked in confusion. "Another holy sword?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of that." Azazel smirked in return. "You are next, Gasper."
"Y-Yesss!" Gasper flinched, squeaking like a frightened mouse. Azazel sighed at the reaction.
"As you can probably guess it yourself, your biggest problem is your scaredy cat nature, since your linage and Sacred Gear put you at a great starting point otherwise. Once you learn to stand against the enemy without fear, you will be a formidable fighter." Azazel said, handing Gasper his note "Your training is simple for now. The plan is to make you less of a shut in. At the very least, you gotta be able to be around other members without slowing them down."
"Yes."
"Asia, you need to work on the range and effectiveness of your healing power." Azazel looked over to Asia and continued "Your healing power is already among the best there is, but it won't do you or the others any good if you need to be right next to them to heal their injuries. You need to learn how to project that power at a distance, fast and accurately. Thus, since your opponents are your friends at school, you'll also have to make sure your healing doesn't accidentally help them too. If Gasper's issue is fear, then yours is kindness. Funny, isn't it? The Bishops of the young Gremory Peerage, both held back by their own personalities."
"I mean, when you put it that way…" Issei chuckled.
"Now, Koneko." Azazel proceeded to the white haired girl, who had a sullen look on her face. "I've got zero complaints about your qualities as a Rook, but the Peerage already have a number of members better suited for close-range combats than you."
"I know…" Koneko replied nonchalantly.
"Your case is similar to Akeno. You just have to accept who you are."
In response, Koneko simply nodded as she took her paper from Azazel without a word, then turned and walked away. The Governor General just sighed before he turned his attention over to Issei.
"Now, last up is Issei…"
"Actually, sensei..." Issei raised his hand with a somewhat nervous chuckle, even as a giant, fifteen meter tall western purple Dragon descended down from above and landed before them.
"Six days!?" Rias repeated in surprise, as she stood behind Issei in his room at Gremory Residence, watching him pack his backpack for the trip.
"I'm sorry, senpai… I, uh… I already promised Lady Aphrodite yesterday. Seriously, I had no idea we would spend our summer vacation preparing for Rating Games, so I thought it'd be fine for me to go to Olympus for a few days and do some work from the gods there to earn their favors." Issei replied as he zipped his backpack shut and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Don't worry though, I'll make it back in time for the party next week. And if Tannin still wants to train me by then, I'd be happy to be his student."
Issei said, chuckling a little as he remembered the conversation he had earlier with Tannin. Apparently, Azazel and Sirzechs had contacted a former Dragon King, also known as the Blaze Meteor Dragon, to act as his instructor for his time in the Underworld. From how fired up the dragon had been to take him as his student, Issei felt bad for putting him on hold.
Not to mention spending time with a fellow dragon, and possibly forming his next Dragon Pact with him would be amazing. Another Dragon or not, a pact with Tannin would surely give him some amazing abilities and extra firepower.
Rias crossed her arms with a sigh, trying to hide the slight pout forming on her lips. "I know. I just didn't think she'd take you away for almost a week."
"I didn't either, to be honest. But she's not someone who would take a no for an answer. Plus, working for Lord Hephaestus isn't something I can turn down either. Did you know he has his own Raid Team? With luck, I might be able to join them on a mission." Issei said as he stood up and slung the backpack over his shoulder. "Don't worry, senpai. I'll be sure to keep up with my training while I'm there. I won't slack off."
"I know. It's just… not being able to see you for a whole week…" Rias said softly, her tone dipping as she casted her gaze away.
With a warm smile, Issei walked over to her and put his hands on her arms, holding her gently while looking directly into her eyes as she turned back to him in surprise "Hey, I don't want to be away from you either, but a promise is a promise, one that I made to a deity. Knowing that you'll be here waiting for me to return, it's the reason I'm okay with going."
[Smooth, partner.]
'Oh, shut up, Ddraig.'
"Ise…"
"There's something I want to tell you as well, but let's wait till I return, okay? I'll stay in touch. Call me if anything happens, and I'll return in a heartbeat." Issei grinned, making Rias widen her eyes slightly in surprise before nodding her head. Issei then brought himself over to embrace her, with Rias wrapping her arms tightly around him for a moment before letting go.
As Issei walked outside, he wasn't surprised to see Akeno standing there, waiting for him in the hallway. She had a smile on her face, but it was a sad one. Issei had a feeling that it wasn't just because he was going away for a few days.
"I guess you've already figured it out by now that I'm the daughter of a Fallen Angel?" She asked him, with Issei nodding his head slowly in confirmation.
And it wasn't just any Fallen Angels either, but Baraquiel, one of the leaders of Grigori beside Azazel.
"I have… and it doesn't change anything between us." He said, smiling warmly at his girlfriend, who turned her gaze to him. "I will accept you, no matter who you are, Akeno."
For a moment, Akeno didn't speak and just stood there to look at him, emotions swirling behind her violet eyes. Then, she took a step forward and embraced him, her head resting against his chest as Issei wrapped his own arms around hers comfortingly.
"The question now is whether you'll accept who you are, Akeno." Issei said softly. He could feel Akeno shift slightly in his arms, but she didn't back away from him. "Whether or not you'll use that power is entirely up to you. No one can force you to do that, and it doesn't define who you are either."
"I… I just… I can't forgive him…"
"If you want to talk about it, I'll be right here next to you to listen when I get back." Issei smiled, stroking her hair before pulling back from Akeno to see her giving him a small nod.
"Do you really have to go?" She asked, lips curving into a faint smile finally.
"Bad things happen to those who break promises with gods, so if I don't want to step on a Lego when I get out of bed in the morning, yes." Issei said with a light chuckle, making Akeno giggle softly in response. "I'll be back before you know it."
"I'll hold you to that, Issei-kun."
Akeno smiled before the two shared a soft kiss. After a moment, Issei pulled away and turned on his boots to head off, waving his hand at Akeno before heading down the stairs.
With a small smile still lingering on her lips, Akeno turned her gaze towards his room, where Rias was standing after finally opening the door.
"Thank you for not interrupting us, Rias."
Rias, leaning casually against the doorframe, smiled back at her best friend. "You deserve it, Akeno."
"Hmm, I wonder how far this set me ahead of you now, Rias." Akeno said with a teasing smile, making the crimson haired young woman narrow her eyes slightly at her. "You're going to need to step it up soon, if you want to compete with me."
"Just you wait, Akeno." Rias scoffed, but there's nothing but a competitive spirit behind her tone "Come on. We've a busy week ahead of us, and I think I can use your help with my training."
"So do I, Rias." Akeno nodded.
Outside, Issei used teleportation magic to teleport to Olympus, arriving at the back garden of a massive, extravagant, but beautiful mansion. The garden was lush and looked well-kept, surrounded by towering trees and vibrant flowers, many of which Issei recognized to be roses of various colors, though most of them were red roses.
"Did you know these flowers were born from my divine blood?" Hearing that voice, Issei turned around to see Aphrodite walking toward him with one hand behind her back and the other brushing over the petals next to her. "Roses, especially red ones, are a symbol of love and beauty, both of which I am well known for."
"I can see that…" Issei smiled before reaching his hand out to catch a ball of golden yarn that Aphrodite brought out from behind her and tossed his way. At first glance, it looked normal enough, but Issei could feel divine magic radiating from it.
[!] You have received a Key Item
Yarn of Ariadne.
A magical item woven and blessed with divine magic by the Goddess of Labyrinths and Paths. Ariadne. This item was used to guide the Greek Hero Theseus through the deadly Labyrinth of Crete built by the inventor Daedalus to slay the legendary Minotaur before helping him find his way back out.
It was, however, also a reminder of the abandonment that Theseus repaid Ariadne with. Though she had risked everything for him, he left her behind on the island of Naxos without a word. Ariadne might have found eternal happiness with her husband, the God of wine, Dionysus, but the pain of a broken love still lingers within every thread.
"You owe me big time for that. Ariadne is a good friend of mine, but I could tell just holding that ball of yarn stirred up some painful memories for her. Though, I'm more surprised that she still kept it." Aphrodite said with a wry smile as Issei studied the ball of yarn before putting it away.
"Thanks, Aphrodite-san." Issei nodded "And about the other favors…"
"Look, Ise. I don't know where you're going, but that ball of yarn gave me a pretty good idea." Aphrodite said, holding up her hands. "I don't know what you are going to do or how you even manage to find your way down there, but I'm not gonna ask… However, I expect a good explanation when you return. You can do that much, can't you? Coming back in one piece?"
"Yes. I won't die down there. You have my words." Issei said firmly. "Remember to…"
"…cover for you when someone asks? Don't worry. You can have my words as well. That also means you owe me twice now, and I'll expect some proper pampering when you get back." Saying that, earning a small chuckle from Issei, Aphrodite then summoned a bento box wrapped in pink silk cloth adorned with rose patterns and offered it to him. "Here, I also made this for you. There are twelve portions inside it, enough to last you six days. Just… don't eat them all at once, understood?"
"I… you really don't have to, Aphrodite-san." Issei said, accepting the box from her. He had prepared food and plenty of water for the journey, but nothing could really beat homemade meals, especially ones that were made by the goddess of love herself. "But thank you. Really."
"Just be careful down there, okay?" Aphrodite asked, looking visibly concerned. Issei nodded after putting the bento away into his backpack. "Good. Now go. Before I start getting all sentimental and make you stay for lunch."
Smiling, Issei walked back to the teleportation magic circle on the ground and activated it again, leaving Olympus in a flash of crimson light after waving his hand goodbye to Aphrodite. Arriving on the outskirts of Kuoh town, Issei He slung his backpack off his shoulder and opened his inventory, storing it away along with everything inside before taking out a familiar red key.
"Ready, Ddraig?"
[Let's do it, partner.]
With a confident nod, Issei held out the Demon's Castle key, causing a portal to tear itself open before him. Crossing into it, Issei found himself standing inside the dense, oppressive darkness of the Labyrinth that rendered even the night vision of a Devil ineffective. Rough stone walls stretched endlessly in every direction, and the only sounds that could be heard were the soft echo of his own footsteps and distant grunts of Keres and who knew what else.
Holding up his hand, Issei casted a spell that made a flickering orb of flame hovered over his head casting warm, wavering light over his surroundings before reaching into his inventory to bring out the ball of yarn Aphrodite had borrowed for him from Ariadne.
"So, how do I use this?" Issei murmured before unfurling the thread, letting the ball fall from his hand and drop onto the cold stone floor. The moment that it did, the ball shot forward, unfurling itself further while rolling smoothly down the corridor before disappearing behind a left turn at an intersection, leaving behind a thin trail that glowed faintly in the darkness "Cool."
Bracing himself as the Labyrinth suddenly rumbled beneath his feet, Issei drew Kamish's Awaken Daggers from his inventory and gripped them firmly in his hands. Since the Labyrinth could shrink its corridors down to limit the movements of his weapons, short-reach weapons like a pair of daggers were without a doubt his best option. Following the glowing golden thread on the stone floor, Issei soon picked up his pace and broke into a run, boots pounding against the stone as the fire orb trailed behind him and illuminated his path.
Into the darkness he went…
To the center chamber of the Labyrinth.
For the first time since the Sleep Disease was discovered, a patient had woken up from their slumber.
"Miss Ingvild, it's time for your daily medical checkup." The nurse said softly as she pushed open the door to the private room that had remained untouched for years. The light sterile scent greeted her as she stepped inside, clipboard in hand. The curtains were drawn just enough to let the morning light filter through, casting gentle rays across the pristine floor. The life-support machines beside the bed stood silent, as it had been since morning…
…and for the first time in a hundred years.
But when the nurse looked toward the bed, her steps halted as she widened her eyes in a mixture of shock and horror.
The bed was empty.
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil / Dragon
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 28 Shadow Monarch
HP: 20,015/20,015
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic] : 5430/5430
Link Gauge: 120/120
Title: Champion of the Dragons
Strength: 242
Vitality: 201
Intelligence: 215
Dexterity: 206
Perception: 186
Charisma: 176
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV3), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV4), Transfer (LV4), Penetrate (LV4), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV1).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV4 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV2 – Lightning Dragon Pact Affected), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1, Rassei (Lightning) – Pact LV1.
Current Active Pact [3/5] : Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV3
Current Shadows: 281 / 340 (Wolves 29. Panthers 18. Shadow Troop 118. Shadow Elementals 27. Magicians 34. Shadow Elves 42. Fallen Angels 13.)
Elite Rank Shadows: Lycaon (Knight), Tora (Knight), Blade (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight), Gladio (Elite Knight), Glacia (Elite Knight), Katerea (Elite Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV5), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), Dragon Knight Boots (LVMAX), Dragon Knight Gauntlets (LVMAX – Only one currently in use -Stats Reduced), Kamish's Awaken (LV?), Key to the Demon's Castle, Ascalon R1 (LV40), Orb of Avarice, Yarn of Ariadne.
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 5.550.120 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected), Soul Link (LV1).
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon (Crimson Scale Mail), Twinflare (Soul Link), Hammer and Anvil (Soul Link)
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear - Tank.
End of Chapter 27