The evening breeze began to blow through the docks of Kuoh, carrying with it the salty scent of the water and the rhythmic sound of waves against the concrete.
The orange lights of the street lamps flickered here and there, reflecting on the wet asphalt like lazy fireflies.
It was a silent corner of the city, far from the bustle of the commercial streets.
A good place for someone who didn't want to be found or simply needed silence.
Kazuya walked slowly along the waterfront, hands in the pockets of his perfectly tailored black blazer. The fabric of the white linen shirt beneath it seemed untouched by the wind. His tailored trousers struck the exact balance between sophistication and mobility, for someone who had literally fought one of the world's strongest beings, his clothes didn't even seem wrinkled.
He let out a sigh and raised his eyes to the sky.
The sky had a deep blue hue, almost purple, as the first stars began to appear among the darkened outlines of the clouds.
The moment to talk with Azazel had finally arrived. Now, more than ever, he knew the leader of the Fallen Angels would take him seriously—after all, defeating Sirzechs wasn't something that could simply be ignored.
And perhaps that was precisely why the meeting location had been changed to the city's docks.
Originally, it was supposed to be at one of Azazel's bars, a more relaxed, almost informal setting, but, curiously, right after he released the video of Sirzechs' defeat on the Devilnet, recorded through a simple spell he had in his arsenal, the address changed.
Coincidence? Hard to believe.
In fact, he could already imagine how Azazel would react: always diplomatic, he'd probably try to convince him to return Sirzechs and Grayfia to the Underworld. Peace was the Fallen Angel's main goal, and anything that threatened that fragile balance was something he'd treat as top priority.
If his memory was correct—and it rarely failed him—it was exactly this kind of vision that led Kokabiel to desert, taking some subordinates with him. They didn't accept this forced peace.
Treaties, alliances, and diplomatic agreements meant nothing to them.
What they truly desired was war.
The eternal battle between Heaven, Underworld, and Grigori… for Kokabiel, that was the only legitimate path.
But well… that wasn't his problem.
Not for now.
In the end, Sirzechs and Grayfia showing up at his house was an unexpected gift, a political card handed to him on a silver platter, which could now be used both against the Underworld and, perhaps, against Azazel himself.
Speaking of the two, initially, he only wanted to defeat Sirzechs to take his place as one of the world's most powerful beings and make his own organization finally be taken seriously. However, after what Sirzechs said about the death of his older sister, he quickly decided he wouldn't let it slide so easily. He hadn't killed them yet because, for now, they were more useful alive than dead, but he was still pondering a "suitable" punishment. For the time being, he had completely stripped Sirzechs of his [Power of Destruction], stealing it for himself through some 'magecraft' spells he created through trial and consistency, made possible by his personal ability, [Pioneer of the Stars], which made everything possible for him…
Additionally, he had also copied all the memories related to spells and magical arts that both demons possessed. Although it took some effort to convert that knowledge to his own [Magecraft] system, in the end, it wasn't exactly difficult.
Having access to the greatest mages of a far more complex universe than this one, adapting the content was almost trivial.
The basis of this world's magic essentially revolved around "drawing" with imagination and magical energy a magic circle that represented the desired effect—it was almost too simple, to be honest. Of course, there were differences between methods, varying by species: demons used pure imagination, humans relied on calculation, other races followed their own formulas. In the end… it all boiled down to different paths to the same destination.
But, above all, the most important thing was having managed to spread a [Queen] from his ant-shaped microgolem system throughout the Underworld. From it, an entire network began to expand at an accelerated pace, and, of course, every movement, every word, was being closely monitored by [Minerva], his artificial intelligence.
This breakthrough was only possible thanks to the [Transport Circle] he learned from Sirzechs' memories.
With it, he could now teleport directly to the Underworld whenever he wished.
In parallel, he also spread the ant microgolems in the human world, expanding his system across the planet and tasking it with discreetly monitoring human society, ensuring that ordinary people weren't in danger and verifying if the factions were truly obeying the rules he imposed when he posted the video of Sirzechs and Grayfia's defeat, especially the one about not involving humans in their selfish ambitions…
Kazuya sighed, and with that, buried his thoughts like sinking stones into the sea.
It wasn't time for strategies or projections.
The breeze blew more firmly again, pushing back some strands of his white hair, and he resumed his steps with natural ease.
The minutes passed in silence, broken only by the sound of the waves and the distant metallic clink of ropes hitting rusted masts.
The smell of salt and oil still lingered in the air, but there was something comforting in that monotony: a sense that the world, no matter how chaotic, still turned.
That's when he saw him.
The figure appeared a little ahead, near the end of one of the more isolated piers. A tall man, appearing to be in his mid-twenties, though Kazuya knew his real age was in the thousands, was sitting on the edge, holding a fishing rod. His relaxed posture completely contrasted with the gravity of that night. The light from the lamp above him revealed black hair with a golden fringe and a well-groomed goatee, framing a calm and ironic smile, almost paternal.
He wore a long brown coat, open at the hem with a wide high collar, as if ready for both a parade and a war. The black bands on his arms and the belts around his waist weren't just for style: they seemed part of an identity that blended practicality with eccentricity. Gray trousers and brown shoes completed the look, unpretentious yet striking at the same time.
It was Azazel, the Leader of the Fallen Angels.
And, of course, he was fishing.
Kazuya paused for a moment, observing the hook submerged in the dark water.
Noticing his presence, Azazel turned his face with that same lazy smile and waved with his free hand.
"Yo, Human-kun! You finally made it…" He said, as if they were meeting at an ordinary café.
"Azazel…"
Kazuya raised an eyebrow, stopping a few meters away.
"Are you going to tell me there's a celestial fish hiding down there?"
Azazel chuckled softly.
"With luck, maybe I'll catch some patience. Or who knows, the answer to my chronic headache."
"You'll need a much bigger net for that…"
Kazuya approached slowly. He stopped beside the Fallen Angel, watching the fishing line sway with the current.
"So, you decided to meet me alone, on an isolated dock, in the dark, where no one would hear even if I threw you into the sea. Very smart move. I admire your courage…" He said calmly.
Azazel didn't respond immediately. He just slowly reeled in the fishing rod, turning the reel in silence, as if pondering the question more carefully than he let on.
"It might look like I'm taking a risk…" He said finally, in a casual tone: "But I believe you wouldn't kill me out of the blue like that. If you came to negotiate with me, it's because you want something."
He paused briefly, his eyes still on the line in the water.
"Just like I have an interest in your Longinus…" He continued, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth: "I think when both sides have aligned interests, it's hard to call them enemies, don't you?"
"As expected from one of the greatest minds in the world…" Kazuya commented, casting a sidelong glance at Azazel before continuing, with a slight smile on his face: "You're right. I have no interest in making you or the Fallen Angels my enemies."
"Oh?" Azazel began to pay more attention to him, turning his gaze with genuine curiosity.
"That's good news…" He said ironically, with a slight tone of interest in his voice: "I wouldn't want to be an enemy of the so-called Red Dragon Emperor. Or, I suppose that wouldn't be your title…? Since I don't think you possess the Boosted Gear, considering that from what you showed in the fight, you can only have one of the Sacred Relics that I'm almost certain is the [Holy Nail]…"
"Is that so? Can't I have both?" Kazuya smiled, calm, almost teasing. He wasn't the least bit surprised that Azazel knew which Longinus he had after using it to fight Sirzechs—after all, the Fallen Angel was an expert on Sacred Gears.
Then, he raised his arm.
In that instant, a red gauntlet materialized, enveloping his forearm up to the elbow. Green and gold details pulsed in harmony along the armor, while the central gem vibrated with an intense glow, a deep emerald hue, almost alive.
Azazel, who until then had only been watching the sea where he was fishing, turned completely upon hearing his words. His eyes widened instantly, and he murmured breathlessly: "…Boosted Gear…"
For a moment, his usually carefree, ironic, even mocking face froze in a rare expression: genuine surprise.
In the end, Azazel sighed.
But it wasn't a sigh of frustration or fear; it seemed more like that of a teacher faced with a promising student who had just turned the board upside down.
"Two Longinus…?" He muttered to himself, shaking his head, almost in disbelief.
"I've never heard of such a case."
Although there were rare records of individuals with more than one Sacred Gear, never had there been mention of someone possessing two Longinus-level ones.
It was… unprecedented.
"There's a first time for everything," Kazuya said with a half-smile: "Besides, originally, I only had the Boosted Gear."
He paused briefly, as if recounting an old story.
"But over time, I ended up finding the Alphecca Tyrant. As you must know, it's a high-level Sacred Gear… and somewhat peculiar. Unlike others, it chooses its bearer, much like the Incinerate Anthem…"
Kazuya looked at the sky for a moment, thoughtful.
"It started moving… from host to host… until it ended up with me, and in my hands, it evolved into a Longinus. With its power, it's hard to classify it below one of the original Thirteen Longinus."
"Indeed… You're right. I guess you're lucky, huh? But you're quite talented to have upgraded your Sacred Gear like that…" Azazel said, scratching his goatee while casting a more attentive look at the [Boosted Gear].
His gaze narrowed slightly.
Something was off.
Ddraig, the Heavenly Dragon of Domination, was silent, and that bothered him. Having dealt with Vali, the bearer of Albion, he had learned one thing clearly about Heavenly Dragons: they were never quiet. Especially Ddraig, known for being even louder and more impulsive than his "white" rival. He would likely have at least greeted him… And more, he felt no trace of consciousness within the Sacred Gear created by his father, as if it were empty of Ddraig's presence, yet still existed…
But before he could investigate the oddity he stumbled upon, the boy completely dematerialized his Longinus.
"Thanks for the compliment. But well…" Kazuya said, flashing a slight smile: "Now that we've established we're not enemies…"
He crossed his arms, adopting a more direct posture.
"I'd like to get down to business, if possible."
"Well, that's why you called me," Azazel said, scratching the back of his neck: "What can I do for you…?"
"I'm here to propose an alliance."
Azazel raised an eyebrow, surprised but not exactly shocked.
"Oh?"
"Since you're interested in my Longinus…" Kazuya began, in a calm and controlled tone: "And I know you're a scientist obsessed with studying Sacred Gears, I propose the following:"
He paused briefly, looking directly into Azazel's eyes.
"I'll let you research both of mine. In exchange… I want access to your own research on Sacred Gears."
Azazel stared at him for a moment, the silence broken only by the gentle sound of waves crashing against the pier's pillars. The fishing line remained taut, swaying slightly with the night breeze.
He sighed and scratched the back of his neck, looking at the water in front of him again, as if the words came with the slow movement of the rod in his hands.
"I won't deny I'm interested," he said casually, but with a slightly sharper gaze: "Especially considering your Balance Breaker is a subspecies… a classification I've been studying closely lately."
The line gave a small tug, but Azazel didn't even react. He was more focused on the conversation than the fishing.
"And honestly? I see no problem sharing my knowledge if I can study your Sacred Gears in return. It's a fair trade."
He then let out a heavier sigh.
"However…"
His eyes, previously lazy, turned to Kazuya with seriousness.
"I'll be blunt. Defeating Sirzechs like that… and then publicly releasing the video… You want to be seen as one of the world's strongest to be recognized and taken seriously—a very well-executed intimidation tactic. And after that, you declare you're on the side of humans… making it clear your goal is to protect them."
A faint, tired smile appeared at the corner of Azazel's lips, as the distant sound of a seagull cut through the pier's silence.
"That, I understand."
His gaze was now firm, analytical.
"But to fulfill that purpose… what are your plans, Kazuya?"
In truth, when he received Kazuya's call for a meeting, even before the video of Sirzechs' humiliation was posted on the Devilnet, he hadn't taken it too seriously. He thought it would just be another informal meeting, maybe a chance to chat with the newest Boosted Gear bearer… and perhaps get something interesting out of it over a drink at some bar, with casual conversation.
But after witnessing with his own eyes what that white-haired boy had done—not only defeating Sirzechs but turning the battle into a public spectacle—Azazel began to take it with a different level of seriousness.
Because it threatened the peace he was trying to create between the factions.
After all, what he wanted, more than anything, was to continue his research in peace. To better understand Sacred Gears, unravel the mysteries behind subspecies, anomalies… unexpected evolutions. He liked to believe that, above all, he had the soul of a scientist.
And scientists, above alliances or rivalries, valued their research, sought knowledge, and everything else.
But he feared the boy beside him might be like the mysterious Hero Faction, whose goal wasn't something "good," especially since they had allied with the Chaos Brigade, a terrorist group whose true objectives were still unclear… In fact, it hadn't been long since he learned about both groups.
He didn't want to ally with a terrorist. No matter how polite or rational he seemed.
Meanwhile, after hearing Azazel's question, Kazuya let out a calm, almost resigned sigh before responding with controlled firmness:
"All I want… is for humans to be free from the selfishness of supernatural beings. For them not to lose their lives to whims, invisible wars, or power games they don't even understand. I know I can't save everyone—that would be foolish. But I want to do my part, in the best way possible…"
A brief silence fell between them, filled only by the ambient sounds.
"That's my goal…" He concluded, with a firm yet serene gaze.
Azazel observed him for a moment, analyzing more than just the words.
"I see… So, deep down, you have an aversion to supernatural beings in general?" He asked calmly.
Kazuya shook his head slightly, denying it.
"No, that's not it…" He murmured, looking away for a moment, as if weighing his next words: "I don't hate them…"
Then he looked back at him directly, with calm eyes but filled with conviction.
"Does that answer satisfy you?"
Azazel raised the corner of his mouth in a wide smile, letting out a low laugh that echoed among the pier's wooden piles.
"Hahaha!" He said, shaking his head, still laughing: "You're really interesting, Human-kun. Yes, your answer satisfies my curiosity. I accept the alliance you proposed…"
Kazuya maintained the same slight smile, merely tilting his chin.
"Good. I'm not one to waste time with bureaucracy. But let's get to the details: you'll have unrestricted access to everything I've gathered about the Longinus. In return, I want complete copies of your studies on Sacred Gears…"
Azazel wiped his hands on his trousers, still smiling.
"Deal. But with one condition: you won't want everything at once. I need a schedule." He pointed to the fishing rod: "I'll give you half of my research first as a gesture of good faith, and then we'll exchange information once a month. What do you think?"
Kazuya nodded and said:
"I also demand a mutual non-aggression pact: none of your people will attack those from my Chaldea, and you'll stop using humans for your selfish ambitions. In return, I won't interfere with your experiments, as long as they respect humanitarian boundaries—they must consent willingly and not be manipulated or forced. If I find out that's happened, we won't be allies anymore…"
Azazel clapped his hands, amused by the sharp precision of the agreement.
"Excellent. I like how you think, Human-kun. We have a deal, then."
He extended his hand, the tips of his fingers glowing slightly under the yellowish light.
Kazuya smiled, approached, and shook Azazel's hand firmly.
"It's a pleasure to collaborate with you, Azazel."
Azazel released his hand and gave a smile.
"The pleasure is mine…"
Afterward, the two spent more time talking, this time delving into the practical details of the alliance.
_______________
(A/N: Good evening, everyone! How are you all doing?
Thank you so much for the suggestions you gave me on the last chapter — seriously, they've been a huge help!
The next chapter will be released later tonight. Originally, it had around 8,000 words, but I decided to split it into two parts to keep the pacing more enjoyable. In this upcoming part, the meeting with Azazel comes to an end... and just a heads-up: expect the unexpected!
Right after that, we'll dive deeper into Kazuya's memories, exploring his dream connections with the Servants. We'll also be introducing a few new faces. And get ready, because when Kazuya's first life is finally revealed, it's going to be dark — even disturbing. Don't expect anything light.
The mystery behind his reincarnation will start to unfold more and more, and you'll begin to understand why the Fate Gacha "helps" him so much... and why his power is the way it is. Everything will be justified in due time.
I wanted to build this slowly and naturally, because I'm not a fan of dumping all the lore in a single chapter. For me, that completely kills the fun of discovery.
Also, we'll soon see the reaction from the Underworld, since Kazuya is still holding Sirzechs and Grayfia — and as some of you noticed, I've already taken your suggestion and removed Sirzechs' Power of Destruction.
As for the chapter title? Azazel is one of the most famous Fallen Angels in mythology, known as the Fallen Seraphim of Weaponry and Weaponmaking. He is known in the Order of Iscariot by pseudonyms such as Scapegoat of the Tanakh, Guardian of Mount Dudael, Lords of the Watchers, Great Smith of the Fallen, etc., as well as many other titles and epithets. So I used one of them as the chapter title.