The sky was clear, with white clouds rolling gently across the heavens.
A cool breeze rustled through the tall trees guarding the Pendragon family cemetery.
Arthur stood in front of a white marble grave marked with elegant inscriptions.
At its base, he placed a bouquet of sunflowers on his mother's grave.
"Hey, Mom… It's been a while, huh?"
Arthur said softly, standing with his hands in his pockets.
His voice was calm, but underneath the surface, it trembled with something unspoken.
He knelt briefly, his fingers brushing against the cool stone of the grave before settling beside the bouquet.
"You won't believe what's been happening lately."
He murmured.
"The Church tried sticking its nose in our business. Found out about Excalibur Ruler and now they're trying to rope me into their little fan club."
He let out a small, bitter laugh.
"Crazy, right? I ended up agreeing. Thought it might be… I don't know… fun, I guess. Joining your old job. I used to imagine myself doing this when I was little... or little-er."
He paused.
"Guess it's like the old saying, like mother, like son."
Arthur looked down, his eyes focused on the engraved name of Artoria Pendragon.
"I'm gonna be walking the same path you once did. Fighting for the little guy and preaching the word of our Lord and Savior. But…"
He went quiet, the wind answering in his silence.
"...I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. If I'm living the way you wanted me to live. If you'd be proud of the way I've turned out."
He clenched a fist for a moment, then relaxed it.
"But I'll try. I'll keep going. I'll get stronger. I'll make sure that, wherever you are… you'll be proud of me."
Behind him, the voice of a maid called out over the cemetery grounds.
"Young Master Arthur, the helicopter is ready."
Arthur stood slowly, giving one last glance at the grave.
"Looks like I'm off now... Thanks for the talk, Mom."
He whispered.
He turned and left, the scent of flowers trailing behind him.
As he reached the estate's helipad, the whirring of rotor blades grew louder. The helicopter has the Pendragon insignia along its side.
Standing nearby were Uther, Kay, and little Morgan, all waiting to send him off.
Uther was dressed in a formal coat, a sealed envelope in his hand.
"Arthur, I have already contacted the Vatican's head council of your arrival. This is your letter of recommendation. It verifies your identity, your lineage, and your right to wield Excalibur Ruler. Present it to them when you arrive."
Arthur took the envelope with a nod.
"Thanks, Uncle."
Kay stepped up next and smiled, offering a fist bump.
"The next time we meet, I will surpass you, so be ready. And don't do anything stupid while you're gone."
Arthur smirked and bumped his cousin's fist.
"Heh, how could I? I'm leaving all the stupid with you."
Lastly, Morgan walked up to him with a frown on her face.
"You better send letters of your adventures, Brother Arthur."
Arthur looked down at her and smiled as he ruffled her hair.
"Of course I will, Le Fay. I promise."
She hugged him tightly around the waist, and Arthur hesitated only a second before returning it.
After their goodbyes, he stepped into the waiting helicopter.
The engine roared to life, wind kicking up across the landing zone as the craft lifted into the air.
He leaned back in the seat, his fingers brushing against the envelope in his pocket.
As the Pendragon estate grew smaller in the distance, Arthur stared out the window, his eyes fixed toward the horizon.
Next stop: Vatican City.
Arthur smirked as he gazed upon the land.
(Look out, world. You're about to meet the Son of Satan.)
DxD
A warm Mediterranean sun bathed the marble buildings of Vatican City in a golden glow as the rotors of a transport helicopter began to echo across the fortified courtyard of the Vatican's private heliport.
Standing assembled just outside the landing pad was a group of exorcists in formal combat attire, both men and women, ranging from veterans with long service to young trainees barely into their teens.
The group buzzed with quiet curiosity as the aircraft drew closer.
One of the younger exorcists, a boy with a silver cross hanging from his neck, turned to the man in front of the line.
"Deacon Ewald, who is this individual that we're greeting? He must be someone incredibly important to warrant this kind of reception."
Ewald Cristaldi, a black-haired, middle-aged man with a sword sheathed on his hip, kept his eyes forward as he clasped his hands behind him.
"You'll see with your own eyes soon enough. All I can say is the recruit is from the Pendragon household."
He said calmly.
Gasps and murmurs ran through the line.
"A Pendragon?"
"As in that Pendragon?"
"The line of King Arthur?"
Cristaldi gave a slight nod, continuing.
"And he is also in possession of one of the lost Seven Excalibur fragments… Excalibur Ruler."
More hushed awe.
"No way…"
"I thought it was lost many years ago..."
"Is it really back in circulation?"
One of the adult nuns at the end of the line chuckled, adjusting her long white veil as her arms rested at her sides.
"I wonder what your expressions will look like when you meet him."
She said.
Next to her, a blue-haired girl about twelve years old, wearing a short combat habit reinforced with light armor, looked up with wide, inquisitive eyes.
"Sister Griselda, do you think this Pendragon guy wouldn't mind if I take a look at his Excalibur?"
She asked.
Griselda Quarta smiled warmly and patted the girl's head.
"Why don't you ask him yourself when he arrives, Xenovia? And speaking of the Devil, here he comes."
She looked toward the sky as the distant sound of the chopper grew louder.
The helicopter descended smoothly onto the pad, its engines whirring to a stop as the side doors slowly opened.
The exorcists stood at attention, forming neat rows as the dust from the landing blew past them.
From within, a figure stepped out.
A thirteen-year-old boy, quite tall for his age, his posture relaxed yet confident.
Red hair that reached his shoulder, piercing green eyes scanning the group before him.
He wore a crimson hoodie half-zipped over a black shirt, reinforced black pants tucked into sturdy combat boots, and fingerless gloves wrapped tightly around his hands.
The instant his foot touched the ground, the air around them changed.
A wave of crimson red pressure exploded outward like a shockwave, heavy, overwhelming.
Several exorcists dropped to one knee, gasping, while others gritted their teeth just to stay standing.
Even Griselda herself widened her eyes slightly, shifting her stance. Xenovia's hands trembled as she clutched her sword.
This wasn't killing intent.
It wasn't even malicious.
It was pure, unrestrained power.
An unfiltered aura that blanketed the area in a suffocating heat.
Each step Arthur took intensified the pressure.
To those watching, his figure seemed to blur and twist in the oppressive atmosphere.
His silhouette warped into something... demonic.
A tall devilish form with sharp horns curling from his head, three sets of dark wings unfurled behind him, and a long tail sweeping the ground behind each step.
But that wasn't all.
Behind him loomed an ethereal image of an enormous red dragon surrounded by living fire, its wings stretched over the skies, its jaws wide open as if roaring silently for all to see.
Its massive eyes locked onto the crowd like a predator assessing its prey.
Several exorcists gasped, and some dropped their swords.
Xenovia stood frozen, her mouth agape, her eyes wide.
Her mind struggled to form a thought until two words finally surfaced.
"…T-The Devil…"
Arthur stopped in the middle of the group, and the pressure vanished in an instant.
Everyone dropped to their knees or stumbled back as if the weight had been physically lifted off their shoulders.
The exorcists gasped for breath, their hearts pounding in their chests, staring at the boy like they had seen a demon… or worse.
Arthur pulled his hood down, revealing his relaxed smile and wild red hair that glistened under the sunlight.
He rubbed the back of his neck and gave a small, sheepish laugh.
"Yo. The name's Arthur Pendragon."
He said casually and gave a short wave.
"I'm also called the Red Dragon Emperor and a Cambion. Let's all get along, okay?"
Dead silence followed.
No one moved.
The Red Dragon Emperor had arrived.
And the Church would never be the same.
DxD
Hello readers!
Sorry I missed yesterday's chapter.
This chapter is pretty short because I'm having trouble with new ideas.
Please give me your power stones for more inspiration.
Thank you everyone and see you later!