Before we start the chapter I just want to update something real quick over here. From now on Rias and Sona will refer to their older siblings by either Sirzechs-sama/ Serafall-sama (In a formal setting) or brother/sister (In a informal setting). I would love to continue my charade of using Onee-sama and One-sama to pay homage to what the original characters do in the light novels and anime but I have decided to change it otherwise. Hope you guys understand!
Without further delay, lets start the chapter!
Hyoudou Household
Sounds of chatter and laughter echoed throughout the halls of the Hyoudou household. The reason behind it was simple, Occult Research clubroom was going through its regular yearly maintenance on the day, and Rias needed a different location to hold their meeting which is where Issie and Asia suggested their house. Considering since Rias also lived there now, Rias was more than happy to have the club meeting at Issie's house.
Inside Issie's own room sat the entirety of the Occult Research club; Rias, Akeno, Asia, Kiba, Koneko, Yumi, Kenta, Issie, and his mother who was clearly having the time of her life being the perfect host to her sons school friends.
Miko Hyoudou was gutted that Marid, whom she had heard so much about through Asia and Issie, wasn't able to attend the small party Miko Hyoudou had decided to throw for her sons friends. Rias had smoothly given her the excuse of Marid being summoned by his parents about something important regarding their family but it was all a ploy. After all Marid was simply too busy with finalizing the last few details about the meeting with the Olympians.
Much to Issie's own surprise, his mother was more than delighted to host Issie's friends for the evening. So much so she had decided to bring out the family photo album. Something everyone but Issie found adorable.
"And this is where Issie was trying to bath himself for the first time. He was four years old at the time" Miko Hyoudou teasingly pointed out a picture of naked baby Issie to the girls of the group, much to Issie's horror.
"Mom noooooooooooo" Issie immediately tried to jump on the family album but was immediately held down by Kenta, who was having too much fun on Issie's expense. It also went without saying that he had to keep Issie down since Issie was still getting used to his power. Him unlocking a pseudonym balance breaker during the Riser rating game had given him a serious boost, to the point even simple actions like patting someone the back could now feel like a firm slap … at least for the normal humans.
"He looks so cute doesn't he Asia!" Rias cooed over Issie's pictures.
"I agree too, baby Issie looks so cute" Asia agreed with a slight blush on her face. Her child like innocence still ever-present on her face.
Issie couldn't help but relax after looking at the scene.
So much had changed for him in the last few weeks. He had gone on a date and the said date, that had turned out to be the daughter of THE AZAZEL had tried to kill him under false pretense. He found out that every single supernatural world he had heard stories about was actually exsisted. He found out that the beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on was a Devil and then got turned into a Devil by that said woman before taking his revenge on his first date by beating her to a pulp. He had met the Leviathan Satan and humbled a fried chicken in the form of Riser Phoenix as well. Not to mention he had two beautiful women living with him, and SLEEPING IN HIS OWN BED. Issie felt like his life was a rollercoaster now. He has come to accept his abnormality at this point and is fully prepared to adapt to any other curve ball his life throws at him. He would be ready for it, with his friends by his side.
'Life is good now… perhaps too good' Issie smile despite feeling heavily embarrassed.
"And now let me show you Issie's pictures from his first day of school" Miko Hyoudou, Issie's mother, announced out of nowhere, bringing Issie out of his trance.
"Mother!!" Issie yelped out, taking his mother off guard much to his embarrassment.
After taking a moment to recover he reminded his mother of the tea she still had on the stove which made his mothers eyes comically wide.
Excusing herself from the group, Miko Hyoudou hurriedly went to the kitchen to check on the tea she had clearly forgotten about. Asia, who found herself smiling as well at the situation, left the room to help Issie's mother, to whom she had gotten extremely attached to over in the last few weeks.
"You have a very sweet Mother Issie-san, being able to share such happy moments with your loved ones is a incredible feeling" Kenta laughed as he tried to convince a thoroughly embarrassed Issie.
"I have to agree with Kenta my Ise. Your mother is incredibly sweet and loves you dearly" Rias smiled at Issie.
Issie opened his mouth to argue about her tendency to embarrass himself in front of his friends, something she had clearly done to him in front of Matsuda and Motohama, but he kept his mouth shut when he saw everyone agreeing with Rias and Kenta's perspective.
It took a moment before it dawned on him that most of his friends didn't actually had the perfect childhood, not even close. All of them had went through some kind of severe trauma which eventually led them away from their family's while he instead enjoyed a life of comfort, peace and love. Despite the hardship he had recently went through, Issie was forced to admit that he was indeed very lucky to have such a family.
"Issie-san what is this?" Kiba's unnaturally calm yet sharp tone cut through the peaceful atmosphere of the room.
"Hmmm?" Issie, not realizing the subtleties of the social setting, turned around as if nothing was wrong and looked at the picture in the photo album Kiba was intensely looking at.
"Oh that's my childhood friend Rin-kun. He moved away with his family a few years ago. This is a picture from their living room" Issie answered back honestly, not having any reason to hold back any information.
In the picture you could see a baby Issie sitting alongside a chestnut haired boy, both of them having their arms slung around the other person while sporting wide smiles. However what was off note in the picture was a rather interesting looking sword in the corner of the room. A gold sword with a black and gold sheath giving it rather an intimidating yet cool look.
"What about this sword?" Kiba asked intensely, not revealing the swarm of thoughts raging within his mind.
"Oh that sword belonged to Rin-kun's father. He used to carry it with him all the time" Issie replied honestly.
"What sword are we talking about here?" at this point, Kenta and Yumi clearly got curious about what kind of a sword had Kiba so riled up. It didn't help that Rias and Akeno were sparing Yumi and Kiba nervous glances.
"Wait is that a hol." Whatever Yumi meant to say died in her mouth since Kiba rudely closed the book.
"Thank you so much for sharing your childhood with us" Kiba handed back the photo album to Issie with a fake smile.
At this point Miko Hyoudou and Asia returned with tea and refreshments for the group. Much to their surprise, Kiba politely declined the food offered, claiming that he just remembered something he needed for school before taking a quick exit much to the confusion of most people in the room.
"Whats wrong with Kiba-kun, I have never seen him like this?" Issie asked curiously as he looked at Kiba walk out of the house through his window.
"I am sure it is just the long day" Rias replied back with a smile, a smile that hid the worry she felt for her knight. Unlike Issie, she had indeed understood the importance and hence the reaction of Kiba after looking at that particular sword, after all that sword was no ordinary sword but a holy sword!
Group enjoyed the rest of the evening with their gracious host, while doing their best to avoid talking about the missing blonde knight from their group.
Soon enough it came that time where Devils started to leave for the evening. Koneko and Akeno got summoned to their usual contracts, leaving behind Rias, Asia, Issie, Miko, Kenta and Yumi.
"I think we should go too, Lord Marid wanted us to do something before we leave for the meeting" Kenta spoke to Yumi while the only human in room was busy gushing over Asia's profound beauty which made the former nun blush profusely.
"You should head home, I need to check in on Kiba first" Yumi sighed but was firm. She had to check in on Kiba first. Eversince she was reunited with Kiba in Sona's hidden underground medical facility, she knew that Kiba still kept the chip on the shoulder from that night. The night where they lost everyone. All their brothers and sisters. And while she did get occasional nightmares about the night where all of her brothers and sisters were brutally killed, she had come to accept it but looked forward to meeting Bishop Galilei, the man that ordered the killing. The day she met that man, that would be the day when she will take her long awaited revenge for her fallen brothers and sisters.
Kiba on the other hand still carried a chip on his shoulder. Blaming himself for the incident that night. 'Perhaps if I was strong enough to use an Excalibur maybe our siblings would still be alive' Those were the words Kiba had used when he opened up to Yumi about that night shortly after being reunited with her.
Yumi had scolded him fiercely about it; taking the blame for something he had no control over but that night Yumi saw anger, no…. untamed rage that still hid behind her baby brothers personae. Rage that took over his rational every time he got involved in any church related activity. May that be a rouge exorcist or holy swords or priest in general. Kiba hated them all with a passion of a thousand suns.
Rias knew Kiba the longest in the group and knew of his tendencies as well. So when Yumi announced her intention of meeting Kiba before she retired for the night gave Rias a sigh of relief. She knew if anyone could help Kiba move past the events of the night, then it was Yumi as she had went through the same event like Kiba.
"Thank you!" Rias gave Yumi a thankful nod for her noble intentions.
Yumi smiled in response before taking her leave with Kenta right behind her, leaving behind Rias, Asia, Issie and his mother all on their own.
"Honey I am home!" Sound of patriarch of Hyoudou household entering the house echoed in the room, making Miko get up from her seat to greet her husband who had just returned after a day of work.
Rias smiled at Issie and Asia following his mother downstairs, seemingly unaware of the darker tensions rising again. Rias could only hope that nothing came out of it. She enjoyed her peace and with her life finally getting back on track, she wanted to enjoy it a little more before chaos entered right back into her life.
Unfortunately for her, Chaos had already walked into her life and was spreading its influence unlike anything she could have imagined.
Later
A few hours after the Occult Research club meeting had ended, Rias called upon her and Marids peerage late in the night to eliminate a stray Devil immediately on the express order she had received only a few moments ago from Lord Gremory himself.
"Why did you had to call us this late? Its almost midnight" Kenta yawned as he walked out of his transportation circle alongside Yumi.
Both him and Yumi walked out at the sight of the entire Occult Research club present. Most of them showed signs of sleepiness, all except for Kiba who looked uncharacteristically lost in some thought and Issie who was just parking his bike on the side of the factory after he received a call from Rias.
"Whats with the bike and the wrapped up package?" Kenta asked Issie while pointing at a package that looked to be carefully wrapped up in a cloth.
"Oh that's the payment from my client. I finally managed to land a client and he gave me a painting as payment!" Issie announced proudly, earning congratulations from the rest of the group.
"Congratulations Issie-kun"
"Congratulations Issie-san"
"I am proud of you my Ise"
"Ara Ara congratulations are indeed in order Issie-kun"
Issie blushed slightly at the thought of earning praise from his fellow friends. While busy embracing his moment, Issie forgot to take notice of Kiba, who still looked spaced out. Something that had concerned Yumi.
Even after hours of trying to talk to Kiba about the holy sword and their past, Kiba still looked spaced out and indifferent to almost everything. It almost felt like his priority had completely changed. Something that was an incredibly dangerous concept in the world of the Devils. Especially since one wrong step in contrast to the command of your master could have you labelled as a stray Devil.
"I am actually kind of surprised that you were able to land a client. Considering your tendencies to get distracted I had almost thought it would take a while before you will land your first client" Kenta spoke a little too honestly.
"Aye what does that mean?!?" Issie snapped back in anger.
"I think what Kenta-kun wants to ask that what did the client asked of you?" Yumi helpfully interjected before Kenta and Issie get into a shouting match. Her mind temporarily switching focus from Kiba to Issie and Kenta.
"Oh he was an old man that just wanted to talk to me about life and stuff" Issie answered back with a smile. Still not quite believing he was able to get a contract on his own.
"Oh that's nice" Rias replied with a smile but something about this felt odd to her. After all it was a weird request to summon a Devil only as a talking buddy. Most people, especially in a country like Japan, wont summon a Devil for such a simple task considering their stereotypical reputation among the humans.
'Maybe I am thinking too much into this. Not every person is the same so its understandable sometime people will request Devils assistance with jobs that are usually not the norm' Rias shrugged internally, not reading too much into it.
"Alright, the reason I called you over this late in the night is because I have been given a order by the Lord Gremory himself to eliminate a stray Devil tonight. Based on the recent events, my Lord Father has completed extensive background check onto this stray Devil and has been able to confirm that this stray was just a low class Devil before betraying his master. Meaning it shouldn't pose a threat to us, but that doesn't give us the liberty to be careless in this situation" Rias brought the group to order, displaying her leader persona to the Gremory Devils.
"Alright then lets to this!!" Issie cheered before running into the abandoned factory the stray Devil was living in; leaving behind a group of amused Devils.
"Lets end this quickly so that we can get a proper nights sleep" Rias spoke with a smile, her tone laced with amusement that perfectly hid her motive of providing Marids peerage with as much time as possible for rest before they depart from Kuoh to attend the meeting with the Gods.
It didn't take the group long enough to find the stray Devil. The horrific smell present inside the factory almost immediately confirmed to the group of the location of the Devil. It also help that there was physically no debris inside the factory meaning that the group was easily able to locate the stray Devil peacefully sleeping inside a hole in the ground that it had created for itself.
"Kiba" Rias called on her trusted knight to quickly finish the job.
However, the said trusted knight was lost on his own thoughts, something that worried Yumi greatly as she was the first to notice Kiba's absent mindedness.
"Kiba!" Rias called out to Kiba again, shaking the Devil Knight from his stupor.
"huh Yes Buchou!" Kiba frazzled, replied a little too loudly, loud enough to wake up the sleeping stray Devil.
"That blood crimson hair, you must be from the Gremory House" Stray Devil was immediately on his guard. He hadn't thought he would be discovered this early, hence why in his carelessness he never erect any wards that could help in his concealment.
He now understood was a terrible mistake.
"Stray Devil Clegane, I, Rias Gremory, am here to kill you on the orders of Duke Gremory. As a result of your betrayal of your master, you have been sentenced to death" Rias Gremory announced to the stray Devil, her authoritative tone hiding her annoyance of Kiba's out of character absent mindedness. She would been well on her way home with her peerage had Kiba had been more attentive.
"You can go to hell with that crazy bitch that was once my master!" Stray Devil Clegane howled in anger before unleashing his demonic aura, displaying his true form. His once humanoid figure now turned demonic, or more accurately demonic ogre. His height rising from 5 feet and 10 inches to 18 feet while his limbs extending to a unnatural degree providing extra range for his attacks. Not to mention the crazed look its eyes.
"Issie start boosting up your powers for a dragon shot, Kiba and Kenta take care of its limbs, Yumi and Koneko distract the stray so that others can land a hit and Asia please be ready to heal anyone if needed" Rias calmly dished out orders to the group of Devils under her command.
"Hai!" Everyone sprouted into action. Rias had intentionally kept back Akeno from the attack. Apart from the fact that adding Akeno into the attack would have been a overkill, she wanted her to take charge of the ongoing situation and change plans if needed while she undertook the responsibility of something far more important, keeping a close eye on her knight who had kept her worried the whole day.
She was surprised when she was contacted again by one of Kiba's regular clients about him not reporting for his contract. Rias was surprised but apologized for the client before completing the contract herself free of charge because of her knights insolence.
Rias knew Kiba's mind was still troubled by the holy sword he had seen in the picture but she had thought he would get over it, especially since Yumi had gone to talk to him about it. Yumi's conversation clearly didn't work.
As expected, the battle was extremely onesided. With Issie staying back to boost up his power for his dragon shot, others played their part expertly as well. Yumi and Koneko danced between the strays long limbs while Kenta kept on landing solid hits on the stray Devil. The stray Devil was almost had given up his will to fight when he saw Kiba darted sideways, to attack one of its limbs that had just missed Yumi's darting figure.
The stray Devil smiled in glee as he saw Kiba overlapping Koneko's own defensive maneuvering. Without wasting another moment, the Stray Devil Clegane used all of his strength to punch the very point it believed Kiba and Koneko will overlap.
"KIBA! KONEKO! WATCH OUT!!" Rias exclaimed in horror, being one of the first people on the battle field to notice the threat.
"Huh!" Rias scream brought Kiba back to the battlefield and what he saw only made him grimace.
"Kiba-kun" Koneko grunted as she collided with Kiba during her evasive maneuver to dodge the strays punch.
"Shit!" Kiba cursed as he prepared himself to take the strays strike head on.
Fortunately for him, the strike never landed as Kenta had come to their rescue. The former Youkai lion had jumped in the last moment to push Kiba and Koneko out of the way, leaving him the sole person on the receiving end of the strike.
"Adara now!" Kenta commanded his sacred gear spirit who in turn summoned a powerful flame barrier which was able to block the stray punch, but unfortunately wasn't able to do nothing about the aftershock of the attack that threw Kenta into the other side of the factory, into the wall.
Despite knowing that the punch couldn't have caused some serious damage to Kenta, the group couldn't help but shout their concerns aloud.
"KENTA!!!" Akeno, Rias, Yumi and Koneko shouted in unison.
"Take that! That's what happens when people mess with Clegane! You guys would be first before I pay back my dues to my former master" the stray Devil snarled arrogantly, thinking he had dealt with the group.
Oh how wrong he was because in the next second, the group was attacked from all side, demonic lightning strikes, a boosted dragon shot, and light and fire arrows. Each one of them landing flush on the stray Devil which only increased its scream even further.
The bombardment lasted the whole minute after which the Stray Devils body was full of holes.
"Please kill me…." Clegane, the once prideful stray Devil was brought to its knees, begging for the pain he had been suffering to end.
"Gladly" Rias replied coldly before summoning a ball of destruction to eliminate the stray Devil.
"You guys didn't have to do all of that for me… that punch didn't do any damage" Kenta walked out of the debris with the sheepish look on his face. In that moment he couldn't help feel a little awkward. On one hand he was extremely touched by the fact that Rias and the rest of the Devils looked at him as one of them, like a family, and were ready to carry on with assault had the stray Devil wasn't already on the verge of death. But on the other hand the same reason made him feel a little awkward as he had never had shared such a bond with someone else, let alone with a group.
"Kenta-san are you alright?" Yumi asked worriedly. She was not the only one as Akeno wanted to ask the same question but held herself back due to situation. But the situation didn't stop her from looking over Kenta's body looking for any injuries. Much to her relief, Kenta didn't sustain any damage due to the stray Devils attack. The only thing that might have symbolized Kenta suffering attack was a thick layer of dust on his clothes and body.
"Yes, I am completely fin.... AHHHHSSSSUUUUUUHHHHH" Kenta sneezed loudly before he could complete the sentence.
An act that everyone found hilarious causing everyone to either laugh and aloud, in Issie and Akeno's case, or smile in the case of Yumi and Koneko.
However, the light mood was disrupted at the sound of slap echoing throughout the surrounding.
Turning around, the group saw Rias standing next to Kiba with her right hand suspended in the air with Kiba looking down on the ground with resolve in his eyes.
"What was the meaning of this Kiba. Your mistake could have caused some serious injuries to both Koneko and Kenta! What do you have to say to explain yourself" Rias sternly scolded her trustworthy sword.
"I apologize for my lapse of judgement Buchou. I will make sure it does not happen again" Kiba neutrally spoke before turning around to leave.
"Kiba!!" Issie called out before Kiba could leave the lot, "Whats wrong Kiba? Talk to us man. If its something bothering you we can work it out together. We are friends after all!" Issie spoke passionately.
"Friends?! My you are passionate Issie-kun" Kiba chuckled but his tone held a edge that none but Rias had seen from the knight before. "But Buchou is right, I was wrong today and I will try my best to amend my ways" Kiba left after saying so.
"KIBA!!" Issie proceeded to follow him but was stopped by Rias.
"Leave him be for tonight Issie" Rias sighed as she replied to Issie's unanswered question.
"But why is Kiba acting like that today? I have never seen him act like that to anyone!" Issie asked in shocked tone while looking at the area where Kiba once stood.
"It is related to his past Issie. His and Yumi's past to be exact" Rias answered solemnly before her gaze turned to Yumi who simply gave the Gremory heiress a nod before following behind Kiba to talk to him again.
"What do you mean?" Issie asked in confusion.
"Come I will tell you at the house" Rias replied before summoning a transportation circle for her and her peerage.
Marids House in Kuoh
Sound of the pleasant bell ringing roused Marid up from his musing about the last batch of concoction he made for the Gods of Olympus.
"Who is it this late?" Marid briefly wondered considering not many people knew about his current address. His moveable home was kept hidden from even the most curious eyes so someone entering the wards at this time of the night was mildly surprising.
His surprise turned to amusement when he saw the person on the other side of the door.
"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise. Please Sona come in!" Marid welcomed Sona with a smile into his house.
"Thank you" Sona replied while taking a look around the house. The house that Marid earned on his own hard work and merit.
"So what can I do for you Sona?" Marid asked, bring Sona out of her musings on her childhood friends success
Sona stood there for a moment before answering Marids question with a straight face, "Big sis came to me earlier today. She wanted to meet me before the meeting"
"Yes, my father and Serafall- sama have finally confirmed the timing of the meeting. Me and the rest of my peerage, except for my second Bishop, will leave for the underworld tomorrow evening" Marid replied calmly. He knew their was underlying tension in his tone. It was hard not to have it considering the outcome of the meeting will shape the underworld for eternity… for good or for worse, that was meant to be seen.
Marid calmly led her to his backyard, the one that overlooked his gardens and all of his creations in there.
Sona, again couldn't help but get mesmerized by the sight. Every time she had seen this view she felt astonished and proud. Proud of what Marid was able to accomplish on his own. It also gave Sona a sense of relief about her own potential. She was glad these were the heights that she will be able to accomplish with hard work instead of becoming a prize possession of some high class Devil that thinks more from his crotch rather than his brain.
"I just wanted to say good luck to you before you leave for the meeting" her cheeks getting a tinge of pink as Marid took a seat on one of the chairs he had summoned.
"Owee is So-chan getting worried for me?" Marid cooed, teasing Sona with her nickname Rias. had come up with during their childhood.
"Shut up Marid!" Sona hit him in response, but it didn't stop a small smile adoring her face, something Marid found incredibly cute.
"The Olympians have never truly respected the Devil race. Diplomacy with them has always been... strained. Arrogance cloaked in divinity." Sona carried on, days of worry had finally caught upto her.
"And yet here we are, trying to talk peace with Olympians instead of trading fireballs." Marid nodded in understanding.
Sona paused for a long moment before speaking softly, "Serafall is leading the delegation. She's strong, yes... but emotional. She is prone to theatrics and can play the fool sometimes to ease tension, but the Olympians... they may not appreciate that."
"Sona, your sister is a highly respectable diplomat and warrior. She won a war against the Old Satan Faction alongside the current Satans and has kept peace in our world for the last few centuries. Taking apart the foolish actions from Lord Barbatos heir and his friends, Devils are being looked in a more respectable light in the current world. Most of that credit goes to your sister and the rest of the Satans" Marid spoke calmly, trying his best to placate Sona's worries.
Sona nodded absentmindedly. She understood what Marid had said but she still couldn't shake that feeling of something dreadful might be coming their way. This wasn't like her usual self, worrying about international politics but this was different.
"You are worried." Marid deduced correctly as he looked at Sona.
Sona glanced at him briefly, "I'm... cautious. This conference will shape the future of the Underworld. If things go poorly, it's not just our leaders in danger. The ripple will reach every house, every territory."
"You could just say you're worried about her." Marid spoke gently. Knowing how much Sona loved her sister, despite constantly complaining about getting embarrassed by her sisters actions.
"She's my sister. Of course I am." Sona spoke coldly but her voice slightly cracked under the emotion she had buried within herself over the last few days.
A beat of silence followed as neither Sona nor Marid spoke. Sona found her eyes flickering towards Marid before snapping back to view of his garden which was beautified by a lovely fountain right in the middle of it.
"And I suppose you're not worried about anyone else who's going?" Marid asked teasingly, his face gaining that smirk he was known for having.
"No more than necessary." Sona did her best not to look at Marid in that moment.
The conversation again found itself in a comfortable silence. Silence that was broken by Marid with words that truly shocked Sona.
"I'm nervous too, Sona." Marid spoke softly, sincerely.
Sona couldn't help but snapping her head towards Marid in shock. The young Devil that personified confidence was nervous. That wasn't possible.
Marid continued with a rare vulnerability, "I've fought monsters. I've trained under the strictest of teachers. But gods? Gods are unpredictable. Still... I have faith in myself. And in her. My godmother isn't the type to fall apart when things get rough!"
"You're confident. That helps. But confidence doesn't shield against divine wrath." Sona countered gently.
"No, it doesn't but with a good plan and a great peerage we might just be able to do the impossible there" Marid grinned at the end, causing Sona to shoot him a questioning look.
"Besides... think about the headlines: 'Marid Gremory, Slayer of Gods, Beloved of the Underworld.' I might need to start working on my autograph." Marid grinned at the end before leaping out of his chair to dodge a jab from Sona.
"You're an ass." Sona rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile appearing on her face.
"Guilty. But at least I got you to smile." Marid grinned wider.
The atmosphere in the room turned lighter after that. Sona felt her tension and worry slowly starting to wither away. She hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.
"I would have you know that it is almost certainty that there will be a contingent of Gods and heroes present at the meeting. Perhaps even a small battalion of Spartans and the Athenian army. Killing a God wouldn't be as easy as you think" Sona spoke with a tone filled with amusement.
"A bunch of supernaturally trained Spartans couldn't do anything against anyone from our side. Besides I am expecting Serafall to head there with a small contingent of Devils as well" Marid replied dismissively before continuing, "However as far as Heroes and Gods are concerned, apart from the original Perseus and Heracules, there are simply no heroes that exist that could pose a threat to me or Serafall. Gods on the other hand though….. It will be difficult but me alongside Serafall-sama and her peerage, we should be able to get one of them" Marid spoke speculatively towards the end, but with confidence.
"You are sure of your power" Sona replied with a raised eye brow. She always knew Marid was going to be a extremely powerful Devil considering who is parents were but Marids current statement had left her at odds. Technically it could be possible, Marid could have enough power based on his potential and training (based on his own words) to support Serafall-sama and her peerage in a fight against a God, but she couldn't help but look at Marid with some measure of lunacy.
"Don't look so judging Sona, I am far more powerful than you think I am!" Marid chuckled at the look Sona was giving him.
Sona, undeterred tried to push on, "And how powerful you are exactly?"
Marid chuckled before taking a curious look, deciding whether to satisfy Sona's curiosity or not. At the end he decided to give in, "I will say this, I am the only youth Devil that could qualify for the Ultimate Class Rank right now"
Marids answer left Sona stunned.
'No it couldn't be possible… right? There was no way Marid could be that strong! But he did leave on his 'training trip'. But surely that couldn't have resulted in Marid gaining such strength.. But what about his fight and dismantling of Zill and his clan' Sona's mind was filled with such thoughts, trying to comprehend such a revelation from Marid. But in the end her pride didn't allow her to simply accept Marids words. She wanted proof but before she could say anything, Marids phone rang.
Marid looked at the caller id before answering the call, "How's my favorite Christian doing?" Marid smiled when speaking to the caller.
Sona was stunned for a moment when she heard Marid utter those words. That stun turned to shock before turning to cautiousness considering the change of emotions she saw on Marids face.
"I am sorry but could you please repeat that!" Marid gritted his teeth in anger and frustration.
Sona could only look in shock as that anger on Marids face only grew..
Outskirts of Kuoh
A quiet stillness hung over the streets, but Kiba Yuuto paid it little mind. His steps were sharp, his hands balled into fists at his side. His chest rose and fell with every heated breath, and his eyes were dark, cold pools brimming with the storm inside him.
Damn it…
He replayed it over and over in his head. His laughter with his comrades, his siblings and the orphanage they all grew up at. All of it now tasted bitter. He had let himself forget—forget the true weight he carried, forget the vow he made the night his friends were slaughtered in the Church's cruel experiment. The vow to kill Valper Galilei.
"Valper…" he hissed the name like poison, his voice trembling with rage. His footsteps echoed against the empty asphalt, each one more forceful than the last. "How could I have… wasted time? How could I allow myself to—"
"Kiba!"
The familiar voice cut through his spiral. Kiba froze, shoulders stiffening as he turned. Yumi Kiba, his fellow knight and comrade, stood a few paces behind him, her breath uneven as though she had been running to catch up. Her soft brown eyes searched his face with concern.
"You walked out without a word," Yumi said, her tone firm but tinged with worry. "Everyone noticed. What's going on with you? You've been off since Issie's house"
Kiba turned away, unwilling to meet her gaze. "This is nothing you need to involve yourself in, Yumi."
"Don't brush me aside Kiba!" Her boots clicked against the pavement as she closed the gap between them. "You might have forgotten but I suffered with you in the holy sword experiment. You've been carrying something heavy for a while now, we both have…. I can see it every time you force a smile. It is destroying you"
"Perhaps it is you who have forgotten what we have been through Yumi. All our siblings, our childhoods have been ruined by that man Valper. Fate has given us this one opportunity to get our revenge and while going out there to find Valper, we are sitting here doing nothing!" Kiba snapped at Yumi.
"No Kiba, it is you have forgotten the promise you made me and to the rest of our siblings before we found a opportunity to escape! Do you remember what we said! 'Run away Isaiah and find a joyous life to live. We will live through you from now on!'" Yumi snapped back with uncharacteristic venom which made Kiba flinch. "I have not forgotten a thing Kiba. Our siblings, our time at the orphanage where everything was perfect. I haven't forgotten anything but unlike you I refuse for that night to hold me back! I will abide by the promise that we made with them. To live a joyous life but don't forget should I get the opportunity… I will have my revenge against Valper but that revenge will not come at the cost of my current family!"
Kiba was stunned at Yumi's monologue. Who knew she still carried a chip on her shoulder like he did but unlike him she had decided to also honor their promise to their deceased siblings.
'Maybe that is something I need to do as well' Kiba wondered for a second but before he could anything he froze.
Both Yumi and Kiba froze because at the instant a foreign power bled into their surrounding.
It wasn't demonic magic they were used to, it was holy magic. A suffocating wave of divinity expanded from somewhere nearby, and in seconds the quiet street was engulfed in a barrier that sealed off the night. The air crackled with hostility, prickling against their skin.
Yumi's eyes widened. "A holy barrier?! Here?!"
Kiba's teeth clenched. "No time. Let's move!"
Without hesitation, both devils sprinted toward the source. The stench of blood grew stronger with every step until they burst into a narrow alley illuminated by flickering lamplight.
And there he was.
A young priest lay sprawled on the ground, his lifeless eyes staring at nothing, his robes soaked red. Looming above him, grinning with a manic gleam in his eyes, was Freed Sellzen. His white priest's robe was stained with blood and soot, and in his hands gleamed something that made both devils' hearts stop—
A fragment of Excalibur.
"Yo-ho! What do we have here? Two little devils out for a midnight stroll?" Freed's voice rang with lunacy, his grin stretching wider as he rested the blade casually against his shoulder. "Guess I should've expected pests to come sniffing once I made all that holy racket."
Yumi's eyes hardened as she slid into a battle stance. "Freed Sellzen. Drop the weapon and surrender. You're violating more than just Church's laws tonight."
Freed tilted his head back and laughed, wild and sharp. "Surrender? To the pretty little devil knight? Oh, you're adorable! You think I give a damn about rules? Look!" He waved Excalibur, its holy light casting fractured shadows across the walls. "Do you know what this is? Excalibur Rapidly! Forged from the original holy sword itself. Ain't it beautiful?"
Yumi's lips tightened. Kiba's expression, however, was something far darker. His eyes locked on the blade, and his hand trembled at his side.
That sword—its light was the same that had cut down his friends, the same cursed steel that symbolized his torment. The sacred gear within him, Sword Birth, pulsed in resonance with his rage.
"You…" Kiba's voice was low, cold enough to bite. "How dare you… how dare you wield that blade!"
Before Yumi could react, a glowing blade of demonic steel manifested in Kiba's hand. With a burst of speed, he launched himself at Freed, his sword slashing down with enough fury to shake the air.
"Whoa-ho!" Freed jumped back, Rapidly's edge clashing with Kiba's conjured blade in a shower of sparks. "What's this? The knight puppy's got bite tonight!"
"Yuuto!" Yumi cried, but she was already moving, her own gauntlets already summoned, as she cut in from the side.
And thus the fight erupted.
Steel rang against steel in the narrow alley. Freed darted between them with manic laughter, Excalibur Rapidly glowing with holy light as it slashed and thrust at blinding speed. The sword's property allowed its wielder to move and strike faster than the eye could follow, and with Freed's unstable energy, it was like fighting a rabid animal.
Kiba's swords shattered one after another under the holy light. Each time he summoned a new demonic blade with Sword Birth, Rapidly carved it apart, fragments scattering into glowing dust. His frustration grew with every break.
"Tch!" Kiba snarled, summoning a longer, heavier blade and swinging it with all his might. Freed twisted, Rapidly flashing to parry and shove him off-balance.
"Your toys can't keep up with the real deal, pretty boy!" Freed mocked, his voice cracking into laughter. "You call those swords? Trash! Garbage! You can't beat Excalibur with your fake knock-offs!"
Kiba gritted his teeth, ignoring the sting of the insult. He adjusted, changing his tactics—shorter blades, faster forms, shifting as soon as one broke. He wasn't fighting to overwhelm but to hold Freed down.
That gave Yumi the opening she needed. While Kiba bore the brunt of Freed's madness, she slipped around the edges, probing with precise thrusts from sword constructed by her own magic. Her movements were clean, sharp, and efficient, her eyes scanning every flaw in Freed's wild style.
"Keep him busy, Yuuto," she muttered under her breath.
Kiba heard her and tightened his grip, his blades clashing harder against Freed's to funnel the priest's focus.
Then Yumi saw it. A tiny opening in his guard—the way he overextended whenever he swung Rapidly upward. If she timed it right—
She darted in, her sword flashing for his exposed side.
But just as her blade closed the distance, a harsh static noise echoed from Freed's pocket. He froze for a split second, then tilted his head as though listening to an unseen voice.
"…Ah. Yeah, yeah, I get it." His grin widened again. "Boss calls. Gotta scoot!"
He flicked a small object from his robe. Yumi's eyes widened. "Flashbomb—!"
The alley exploded in blinding white light.
"Damn it!" Kiba cursed, covering his eyes as the force knocked him back. Yumi staggered, teeth grit against the ringing in her ears. When the light finally faded, Freed was gone.
All that remained was the corpse of the priest and the lingering sting of holy energy in the air.
Kiba's sword crumbled into motes of light as his hand shook with fury. "He… got away." His voice was raw, venomous, trembling with rage.
Yumi dismissed her construct slowly, her eyes on her comrade. "Yuuto…"
But he didn't look at her. His gaze stayed fixed on the ground where Freed had stood, his hatred burning hotter than ever.
"Valper. Freed. Excalibur…" His whisper was more a vow than words. "I WILL DESTROY THEM ALL!!!"
Hyoudou household
It had been nearly a hour since Issie, Rias and Asia returned from their stray Devil hunt. Soon after their return, Rias decided to tell them about the true reason about Kiba's anger. Kiba and Yumi's past.
She decided to not hold back anything and be truthful to her two newest servants. She felt conflicted about telling them Kiba and Yumi's past without their express approval but something within said she needed to have all of her peerage at the same page to counter whatever faith will throw in their lives this time.
Unsurprisingly, both Issie and Asia were horrified and heart broken when hearing about Yumi and Kiba's story in full. They felt pity and sympathy for them and vowed to make it up to them the next time they saw the two devils.
So with a heavy heart they decided to turn in for the night. It was well past midnight at that point and they school in the morning.
But before they could get some shut eyes, Rias received magical communication from Marid. She wanted to decline but knowing the hour she knew it would be important so with a sigh she answered.
In a flash Marid and, to her shock, Sona's hologram appeared in the room.
Both Marid and Sona were not really shocked by the scene they saw on the other side of their video communication, but they were not in the mood to joke around considering what they had to share with Rias at the moment.
Noticing their expression as well, Rias decided to start the conversation with the most obvious question, "Considering both of yours facial expressions and the hour I feel like whatever you both have to discuss cannot be held off till morning?" Rias questioned with raised eyebrow.
"Quite" Sona replied sharply which raised Rias's eyebrow even further.
"I received an informal notice from a friend, Kuoh is going to have three exorcists from church coming to talk to us about something important" Marid decided to rip the band-aid right off.
Their was silence from Rias's end until the two high class Devils heard three words, "What the Hell?!?!"