Seeing her brother glare at Tatsuya, Rias was worried that Tatsuya's past might have caused some trouble.
She had just informed her brother of her new peerage members a few hours ago. She was excited because she believed with Tatsuya she could beat the shit out of Riser and save herself from her marriage.
In her excitement, she blurted out the entire ordeal of how she met Tatsuya and his past as said by him.
Just as Rias was becoming fraught with nervousness, Sirzechs' frown eased as he smiled kindly.
"I'm glad that my sister has chosen a courageous peerage member." Sirzechs nodded in approval as the atmosphere eased, "I am, Sirzechs Lucifer, the current Satan and formerly Sirzechs Gremory, also Rias's older brother. I'm sorry for putting you on the spot just now, please excuse my manners."
His demeanor was full of nobility as he humbly apologised, not caring for the gap in their power and status.
"It is of no worry, as an older brother myself, I can relate to your concerns." He smiled gently as he glanced at Ichika.
Sirzechs looked at her and smiled as well, "Ichika Yamamoto? Sorry for the late introductions. I hope you'll take care of my little sister, sometimes she gets overly excited."
"Onii-sama!" Rias glared at Sirzechs who avoided her gaze coolly.
"Ah, I will!!" Ichika nodded and bowed politely.
"No need for formalities," Sirzechs laughed and waved his hand. His pleasant expression slowly faded as the look in his eyes turned sharp, "Let's leave pleasantries for later and discuss the issue at hand. I have gathered you all to make a few announcements."
The atmosphere tensed again as they realised they would finally be able to understand the reason behind the sudden meeting.
Sirzechs hologram lifted its index finger, "First, the management of Kuho belonging to Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory shall be temporarily relinquished-"
"Onii-sama!" Rias slapped her hand on the table abruptly, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Silence." Sirzechs looked at her coldly, "Let me finish, mind your behaviour in front of the current Satan."
Zeoticus and Venelana were surprised.
Sirzechs harshly scolding Rias? That was a sight rarer than a blue moon!
Rias was shocked as she slowly sat down and bit her lower lip. This was the first time she was being reprimanded so harshly.
But this only made her curiosity grow. She knew just how much her brother loved her, he was a Sis-con for heaven- cough hell's sake!
Just what had happened for Sirzechs to become so serious?
"Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri are to remain in Hell till further notice. You are to absolutely not wander alone and about. This is a warning to not only you but to all of Hell and its inhabitants for a short period of time."
"What exactly has happened, Sirzechs?" Venelana asked with concern and Sirzechs nodded.
"Something unexpected has occurred in the Human Realm."
"Are you talking about the flash of red light followed by the earthquake, Onii-sama?" Rias hurriedly inquired.
"Correct. That flash of red light was an attack."
"Attack!?" The members of the meeting were stunned as Sirzechs continued.
"An attack on Grigori, the major organisation of the Fallen Angels."
Sirzechs let silence overtake the hall as they digested the information.
While everyone was shocked including Tatsuya, only Ichika's shocked face barely concealed the twitch in her lips.
Her mind quickly connected the dots as she grew horrified.
"Why would someone attack Grigori? Isn't Azazel overseeing it? Who has the courage?" Zeoticus was stunned.
Sirzechs showed a rare sign of hesitation as he sighed before speaking in a low voice.
"Grigori has been annihilated. The upper echelon of Fallen Angels including Azazel, Kokabiel and Bareqiel have perished as well."
While everyone was stunned a small gasp escaped from one of the members of Rias's peerage.
"Akeno..." Rias didn't know what to do as she panicked.
Akeno's eyes were red but her expression was cold as she shook her head, "I'm fine please continue."
Her fists were clenched into tight balls.
Sirzechs let her take it in for a moment before continuing.
"The culprit has been named as the Soul Reaper based on the text visible on his robe. As for the reason he attacked Grigori..."
The Holographic Sirzechs raised his palm and there was a small metallic device on top of it. The metallic device shown before a holographic screen was shown on the palm of the holographic Sirzechs.
On the screen, there was a tall man.
He wore a long, black, tattered coat with a deep crimson lining. His long black hair fluttered due to the wind currents around him. The highlight of his appearance was a mask.
A bone-white mask.
The mask had two jagged crimson stripes running vertically over the eye sockets. The mask's mouth was lined with sharp, interlocking teeth, giving it a skeletal, menacing appearance. Narrow slits for the eyes concealed his gaze.
Ichika was inwardly bitter as she confirmed her guess. This was the exact mask Tatsuya wore while slaughtering the Whiteroom.
Who could this Soul Reaper now be if not Tatsuya?
However, something extremely eerie occurred as they continued to watch.
The Soul Reaper who had been silently gathering energy on the screen suddenly looked up. It was as if he was looking straight at them.
"I am a human."
A hollow voice echoed from the holographic recording.
The members of the meeting hall besides Grayfia and Sirzechs felt a chill go down their spine hearing the bone-chilling voice.
"This world full of impurities... I shall cleanse."
At this moment the masked man released the charged beam towards Grigori and the millions of humans below without any hesitation.
"May Heaven and Hell cease to exist."
At first, it looked like a single beam of compressed black and red light but soon the compressed beam tore through everything in its path before leaving destruction in its wake.
It didn't take much intelligence to understand what the goal of this Soul Reaper was.
Zeoticus was frowning hard as he slammed his hand on the table, "Insolence! Who does he think he is?"
"This... Onii-sama..." Rias and her peerage were horrified. Despite it being a simple holographic replay they could still sense the destructive force behind the attack.
"Does this guy want to..." She didn't dare continue her words but Sirzechs cared not.
"Yes, it seems like the goal of this individual is to kill all Supernatural Beings that are not human. In simple words, it's a Xenophobe with unbridled strength. Don't be afraid though, Ajuka and I can still easily handle this individual from our current knowledge. That energy strike took more than two hours to prepare and the only reason Grigori fell was due to not being prepared. Had they deployed all their defences at best a few low-level Fallen would've died." Sirzechs spoke calmly but a subtle frown lingered on his brows.
"Then what is the problem, Sirzechs?" Venelana asked softly. She was still processing the scene on the screen.
"Ajuka failed to trace him. We were going to track him when all his traces just vanished abruptly halfway. It seems like he's quite well-informed about Ajuka's abilities and has methods to counter them but I suppose if it weren't for such methods he wouldn't have even dared to attempt such a thing." Sirzechs snorted before shaking his head, "Most Supernatural Factions will be putting him on our Must-Kill list. Ajuka has also noted his energy signatures and should he appear anywhere in Hell he'd be instantly detected."
"That's not all, is it? A terrorist shouldn't be what's causing you so much of a headache." Venelana knew her son and could guess the real trouble behind the appearance of this Soul Reaper.
Sirzechs showed a frustrated look for the first time. Even when mentioning Grigori's annihilation he didn't appear emotionally troubled.
"The Soul Reaper has caused us innumerable troubles. He has attacked the human world along with Grigori. His actions have caused heavy stress to us Figure Heads. The Human world is not ready for the reveal of the Supernatural World yet." Sirzechs sighed, "We're using thousands of Devils and Angels to create an illusion of a big meteorite. Slowly we'll begin large-scale manipulation, perhaps also taking the help of Odin who specialises in such stuff. He should be able to manipulate the memories of the majority of humans subtly. We'll handle the rest. Despite all this, the damages can't be undone."
"Do we have any clues as to who this terrorist is or where he belongs from?" Rias asked in distress.
"For now we can assume he's a human from Japan as the text written on his robes is in Kanji but that is just speculation." Sirzechs shook his head, "For now that is all. You don't have to worry too much. Just stay in Hell for now and pass time. Soon we'll deal with this situation. I'm busy with time myself and will have to cut this meeting short. Please stay safe and take care, especially you my cute little imouto." Sirzechs smiled towards Rias.
"Ah, by the way. I would like to talk to Yamamoto-kun for a bit in private if that's alright."
"Sure, if he doesn't mind." Rias turned to Tatsuya who nodded with a smile.
Ichika seemed worried but Rias comforted her.
Zeoticus and Venelana glanced at each other with knowing looks as they dragged Rias and her peerage with them. Venelana in particular was excitedly conversing with Ichika.
Soon only Tatsuya and Sirzechs were alone in the room.
The silence lingered for a few seconds before Sirzechs smiled, "I hope you don't mind it."
"It's fine. You won't really gain much from my sister. We're clean." Sirzechs was a bit surprised seeing Yamamoto speak so bluntly, he hadn't thought Tatsuya would be this astute.
"Power with intelligence is the most scary thing hahaha... Sirzechs laughed lightly but his laughter slowly faded as he sighed, "I'm sorry."
"Your appearance is too odd. If not for your clean background I would've already killed you for being suspicious. Your sister is completely fine but the only anomaly is your strength. Why would you want to become a servant of my sister who is far below the current you? I'd like you to be frank with me."
The stage he had been setting for so long was slowly unravelling. Tatsuya smiled as everything was going to set in place.
Today he would erase his suspicious nature from the eyes of Satan. Sure not entirely but in Hell, Tatsuya should be safe for a long time.
"Have you heard of my past from Rias?" Tatsuya asked and Sirzechs nodded.
"To be more elaborate I noticed I was different from most people at a very young age. My strength was Divine and..." Tatsuya raised his palm as a small magic circle was created and a shard of ice materialised.
Tatsuya grabbed the shard of ice and slashed his own wrist under the disbelieving eyes of Sirzechs.
"You!" Sirzechs was surprised by his sudden actions and so was Grayfia who stood behind the main seat in a frozen manner.
Grayfia was about to help heal himself when she and Sirzechs noticed something incredibly bizarre.
The wound healed instantly.
They felt absolutely shocked as they raised their eyes and matched the gaze of the gentle Tatsuya who continued his speech, "My strength was Divine and... my life was seemingly infinite."
"No matter how wounded I am, I heal instantly, Tatsuya spoke softly.
"This..." Grayfia and Sirzechs looked at each other with absolute seriousness. The implications of this matter were far deeper than they had imagined.
"Is your regeneration infinite...?" Sirzechs could not care about the taboo of not prying into someone's secrets at the moment.
Tatsuya frowned and Sirzechs immediately spoke without hesitation.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. His demeanour was as kind as before but Tatsuya noticed the subtle shift in behaviour.
"It's not that," Tatsuya shook his head as he smiled wryly, he sighed in a helpless manner before raising his hand and ruthlessly stabbing his own chest.
"Stop!" Grayfia immediately muttered. They did not need him to torture himself to prove his loyalty.
Tatsuya pulled his hand out which was just shy of touching his heart through his shattered rib cage. But as if denying reality he continued to heal, albeit, in a slower manner than before.
"My heart." Tatsuya said, "Consider this my sincerity. Any wound around my heart takes longer to heal. I suspect if my heart is directly obliterated my healing would be of no use and I'd die instantly. However, I haven't and don't dare to test this."
Sirzechs nodded gravely as he smiled, "One last question Yamamoto Tatsuya, why have you joined my sister's peerage? From what I've heard you quite like hunting Fallen Angels and Devils."
"I don't 'like' hunting them. Knowing I was much stronger than those around me, I, as a child, played the role of the hero and went to save others in the night. It was inevitable that I'd encounter Supernatural Beings. My only mistake was sparing them in my early days. One of them came for revenge and targeted my family instead. My parents died. I was unable to handle such emotional stimulation and became uncharacteristically harsh with my sister. Later on, as I suspected she was kidnapped a few years ago by another one of the Fallen Angels I spared.... I... My reason for joining her peerage is after she told me about you, Sirzechs Lucifer."
Tatsuya took a deep breath as the husband and wife exchanged glances.
"I simply cannot protect her by myself without making her life miserable. I can't bear to see her live like that. If becoming a Devil servant under a supposedly kind Devil whose brother is the Current Satan offers much more reliable protection than myself... then why not? As for me joining the peerage, it's just to make sure my sister is safe and Rias wasn't lying about her kindness. The thrashing I gave her peerage was also a warning so they wouldn't mistreat Ichika."
"I have no other ulterior motives. Please just keep my sister safe. Even if you ask me to die I won't hesitate to do so." His words were filled with such conviction that even the centuries-old Devils felt their hearts soften.
Especially Sirzechs, who loved Rias immensely.
He could deeply resonate with Tatsuya's feelings.
"I understand," Sirzechs nodded with a solemn expression, "As long as you and your sister do not harm Rias or betray her I'll ensure your safety. That is my promise as the current ruling Satan."
Sirzechs motioned for him to leave and Tatsuya bowed gratefully before leaving.
Silence befell the hall.
"What a tragic story. The little hero turned ruthless as he realised he couldn't protect his sister alone and had to become one of the species he started hunting. Sirzechs sighed before turning to Grayfia, "Any abnormalities?"
The emotions from his voice disappeared as soon as it appeared.
For these half a millennium old Devils politics were far more important than measly emotions. Sirzechs wasn't just handling Hell because he was the strongest but also because he was an old experienced Devil.
"None. Pure human."
"He's a human with a seemingly Phoenix Family level of regeneration and divine strength as well. I've heard he quite literally demolished Rias and her peerage, how true is that?"
"I was observing the ordeal." Grayfia spoke coldly, "He used pure brute strength to overwhelm them. No trace of any supernatural energy. While Rias hadn't been able to use her Power of Destruction I suspect with her lack of control and power she wouldn't have been able to hit him. She really needs to begin training seriously."
"Don't blame her too much," Sirzechs smiled wryly, "From what you're saying he can probably contend with Low-Class Ultimate Devils, albeit, without magic, he'd be no more than a punching bag but-!"
Sirzechs smiled brightly, "Hasn't he just turned into a Devil? His potential is limitless Grayfia, limitless!"
Grayfia understood the implications.
If a Reincarnated Devil reached the peak of Ultimate-Class at a young age it would be a huge blow to the Conservative Faction of Hell that disdained humans and the peerage system.
Sirzechs eyes gleamed, "What a treasure we've found. Not only can we use him as a mascot for our goals but we can also gain more support. With him, at the front, we can simply demolish the reasoning behind the Old Factions' demands and shut them up. It'll give me quite a peaceful time. Also..." He smiled mysteriously and Grayfia rolled her eyes.
"Is it about Rias-sama?" She knew her husband all too well.
Sirzechs shrugged, "I've never wanted her to marry that chicken in the first place. How dare that imbecile even imagine sullying my cute little imotou?" Sirzechs snorted coldly, "Since I am no longer part of the Gremory Family I can hardly intervene in major matters. Rias's engagement was one of them. To Father, Rias marrying is an important matter as we can't have the Gremory Bloodline end with her. As the heiress it is inevitable that she has to take a husband and continue the bloodline."
Sirzechs sighed.
"The Phoenix Family is a good candidate for marriage even though I dislike that child, Riser. I did not have a sufficient reason to stop the engagement and my emotions aside if the Phoenix Family and Gremory Family combine it would only bring outstanding benefits. I cannot intervene in the old deal of the Family Heads."
"But now? Heh." Sirzechs smirked and looked at Grayfia with a perverted smile, "It doesn't seem like my sister dislikes him. Alas, had we found him before and could've bred a few children while he was still a human it would've brought us numerous benefits." Sirzechs cared not if he saw Tatsuya as a tool for breeding powerful children. "No matter, with the incident of this Soul Reaper the Phoenix Family will surely push for the engagement even further."
"Indeed." Grayfia nodded.
"Subtly push things forward between them Grayfia, I won't be able to return for a while considering the mess outside. I'm confident you'll be able to do as instructed."
"Isn't it just to push two young ones together? Leave it to me, my lord," Grayfia bowed elegantly as Sirzechs nodded with relief, "I knew I could count on you Grayfia."
With that, his holographic image disappeared and Grayfia too walked out of the room pondering how she should go about this matter.
What both of them weren't aware of was the pair of ethereal eyes that peered over them and overheard their conversation.
"Amusing."
Kaguya spoke softly as her figure vanished, pitying the two Devils that had fallen prey to the Anomaly's lies.
The Devils schemed behind Yamamoto Tatsuya's back not noticing the Soul Reaper watching silently from behind.
It aligned with an old saying-
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
-x-X-x-
'The Gremory sure are luxurious.'
I relaxed and laid down on the bed spreading my hands out. Ichika was out exploring the estate with Rias and the group. Though it's unpleasant how they're trying to extract information from her I can only ignore it. That busty milf Venelana... I'll pound the shit out of her when I get the chance.
I stared at the ceiling of the guest room in silence while waiting for Kaguya to arrive.
While I might not know what exactly they're talking about, simply showing my strength and regeneration has made me invaluable in the eyes of Sirzechs.
I had a general prediction of their conversation.
Though for safety purposes I still sent Kaguya over.
As an invisible entity with eyes and ears wasn't she the perfect spy?
Due to Kaguya being an Anomaly, she couldn't be perceived by those who weren't Heavenly Beings. That was why Ajuka shouldn't have been able to pick up my conversation with Kaguya and failed to trace my whereabouts as I fled.
"You were right." An ethereal voice whispered next to me.
I didn't need to turn my head to know Kaguya was now beside me.
"Was it as I said?"
"More or less. They plan to use you as a spearhead against the Old Faction. Hehe that Sirzechs seems to be planning to have you and Rias get closer. He's enticed by your bloodline."
"Everything went according to plan." I heaved a sigh of relief before smiling.
The moment I knew I was in DxD I had begun formulating a general plan.
I used Ichika as a younger sister not only to infiltrate Rias's peerage but also to stir a favourable position in the eyes of Sirzechs, one of the strongest beings in DxD. Now that I've gotten his interest I don't have to purposefully go after Rias.
Sirzechs himself would make sure Rias and I become a couple.
Not only have I gained a strong thigh to latch on to but I've also effectively caused one of the biggest changes to this world's plot. Issei will no longer join Rias's peerage and the Red Dragon Emperor will take a new path.
A path that I shall dictate.
There were ups and downs, especially having to make the risky move of destroying Grigori.
But I don't regret it, it was necessary.
Not only for the faint suspicion of being detected as the Anomaly but also to force Sirzechs to bring Rias back to the Underworld.
Earth was a cesspool of Chaos. Being in the Underworld would allow me to gain peaceful sustainability under the protection of the Crimson Prince of Destruction. Even if I'm somehow discovered as the Anomaly I can surely leverage this relationship I've built for a chance to escape and ensure my safety.
Everything I've done till this point was carefully calculated.
Why did I use such a dubious method to join Rias's peerage?
Why had I deliberately beat them all up showcasing my inhuman strength?
It wasn't for anything trivial like fun or showing off.
It was all for this private audience with Sirzechs to expose my 'Divine Strength' and 'Infinite Regeneration'.
Now I could peacefully bring changes to the plot step by step by messing with the characters. I will slowly begin by capturing the hearts of Rias, Akeno and Koneko.
All the while without being interrupted.
It'll be folly for Sirzechs to abandon an important political piece like me,
It wasn't that he no longer considered me suspicious.
Hahaha, even thinking that would be incredibly naive. I simply cannot underestimate these old scheming monsters.
It was because Sirzechs probably didn't even consider me as a threat.
His confidence laid in his status as a Super Devil.
A Being of Mass Destruction.
And me, Yamamoto Tatsuya?
Nothing!
An ant that he could squash at anytime.
And that was fine for the time being.
It is what I wish for.
Because once I gain enough strength...
A cold chuckle escaped my lips as I noticed Kaguya finish 'eating".
"Do you want to do it the old style?" Kaguya smiled softly and I rolled my eyes, "Sure."
She disappeared.
[Ding!]
[Annihilated Grigori! Altered the Plot of DxD! Calculating Rewards-]
[Major upheaval caused in the Human World. All Supernatural Factions have been alerted of the Soul Reaper. Major characters like Kokabiel, Azazel and Baraqiel have been killed along with thousands of minor Fallen Angels. Grigori an important faction to the plot of DxD removed. Reward-15000 World Essence.]
[Asia Argento was spared the fate of death as the Fallen Angels like Raynare and Kalawarner escaped. Rias will no longer gain the user of the Sacred Gear-Twilight Healing in her peerage. Reward-1000 World Essence.]
[Caused a major shift in the plot! With the escape of Raynare, the original tragedy of Isseï's death and the beginning of the plot have been altered successfully. Reward-5000 World Essence.]
[Interfered with the Alliance Marriage of Rias Gremory and Riser Phoenix. The Current Satan intends to have his sister marry you and interfere with the regime of the Old Devils. Reward-1000 World Essence.]
[Current World Essence-22,000]
How generous.
For some reason, I felt like Kaguya was giving me much more World Essence than I deserved.
[You do not need to feel that way, my dear Host. The essence source of this world is incomparably purer than the previous World. Even minor actions like altering the fate of Asia Argento and the like can give you thousands of units of World Essence.]
Kaguya, it's about time you explained how you'll increase my strength.
I was much more concerned about how much of my strength she could actually impact and increase. I've been thinking about it but after attacking Grigori I have come to realise just where I stand in this world.
With Garou's Physique alone I could fight High-Class Devils and demolish them. If I did my best I could attempt a prolonged battle against Low Tier Ultimate-Class Devils.
If I were to not use my abilities at best I could win but not be able to kill them.
But if I use my abilities...
My Hollow Mask amplifies my strength by 4x.
Godspeed allows me to move at incredible speeds and Whirlwind, which boosts my reflexes, will make sure most Ultimate-Class Devils can't touch me.
If I can ambush unaware Ultimate-Class Devils using Roy Mustang's Fire Alchemy I can potentially insta-kill Low Tier Ultimate-Class Devils.
Roy Mustang's Fire Alchemy and Gloves are a valuable asset.
I do not have to 'throw' or 'launch fire from myself, but rather explosive flames simply appear wherever I wish for them to at an instantaneous speed. Only a single moment is needed to incinerate a target, the size or location mattering little.
Kushina's Golden Vajra Sealing Chains should also be effective against most Ultimate-Class Devils considering not even a being of mass destruction like the Kyuubi could escape from them.
Ban's Regeneration makes me practically unkillable unless faced with conceptual erasure attacks or soul-based attacks.
Blood Manipulation is convenient. Soul Eater and Dream Dive are abilities I'll use somewhat rarely. I simply cannot allow my soul to wander in such a place,
That is all if I remember correctly...
Wait.
I feel like I'm missing something.
Ah-
Don't I have Spidey Sense as well?
I couldn't help but feel a chill go down my spine.
Hollow Mask and Godspeed combined with Spidey Senses...
"Am I not a bit broken... Kaguya?"
[I am pleased to serve my Host.]
Now tell me, how exactly will I grow stronger using World Essence?
My excitement was stirred, just from the unconventional abilities I had I could at least fight against weak Satan-Class Beings without dying. If I could also trap them and isolate them I could exhaust anyone to death with my regeneration alone.
And if Kaguya's amplification were to be...
A wide smile graced my lips.
[The amplification is nothing complicated, Host. Using World Essence I will simply double the amount of Demonic Energy you hold. Each amplification process will stack as you continue to double the amount of Demonic Energy you have. The price of each amplification also doubles as you continue to use this feature.]
I couldn't help but be shocked.
Doubling my Demonic Energy with each amplification?
Depending on the price I could quite quickly become one of the strongest in this world.
However, there was one problem.
The current Demonic Energy I held was nothing special. The Rook piece did amplify my physical strength but it wasn't by much. Apparently, my talent in magic was not as good as Ichika's. I was just your average run-of-mill Reincarnated Devil.
Even the Spiritual Energy I use for the Cero or Chakra for the Golden Chain, come from Kaguya's parasitic bridge connected to those worlds. It wasn't technically my own energy.
Just as I was pondering over my circumstances Kaguya's voice interrupted me-
[To make things easier for the Host, I have decided to quantify the power of the beings in this world.
This should help the host make accurate judgments while assessing the danger in most situations. Note- These numbers I have used are simply the estimate of the amount of Demonic Energy these individuals have. Skills or Abilities are not included so do not confuse these numbers with true Battle Strength. Consider it as merely the amount of energy these beings wield.]
Looks like you haven't been slacking off either, Kaguya.
I couldn't help but be appreciative of her help.
[No need for such pleasantries, Host. I am you and you are me. Your survival is my survival.]
My smile widened as Kaguya began to explain the power structure in this world.
[Low-Class Devil-1-10 units
Mid-Class Devil-10-100 units
High-Class Devil-100-1,000 units
Ultimate-Class Devil-1,000-10,000 units
Maou-Class-10,000-100,000 units
Super Devil/God-Class-100,000-1,000,000 units
Ophis / Great Red / Trihexa- 1,000,000+ units]
As I read through the power structure my lips twitched.
"Kaguya... How much Demonic Energy do I have?"
[...]
For fucks sake.
[3 units... Host.]
[Here is your character profile.]
[Host-Yamamoto Tatsuya (Adrian Frost)
Age-16 (22)
Race-Devil
Demonic Energy- 3 units
Skills- Soul Eater, Vajra Golden Sealing Chains, Roy Mustang's Alchemy and Gloves, Hollow Mask, Spidey Senses, Dream Dive, Blood Manipulation, Ban's Regeneration, Godspeed
Items- Dragon Balls (4/7), Grayfia's bra and panties, Invisibility Cloak, 499 Million Yen]
I scanned through the panel and sighed.
With a heavy heart, I smiled awkwardly.
"Uh, so how much for amplification?"
Supposedly she'll double my Demonic Energy after amplification but...
Fuck!
Yay, I have 6 units of Demonic Energy after who knows how much spent World Essence on one amplification!
I sighed again; doing that a lot lately.
"How much is the amplification cost?"
I was ready for the worst, after all, Kaguya did mention it would be expensive. If it was really too much then I'll just spin the wheel and pray for the bes-
Fuck, I can't even pray now, can I? How unluck-
[1 unit of World Essence.]
'....?'
For a second my thoughts froze as I stopped being playful. A frown involuntarily found its way to my face as I realised the implications of what Kaguya just said.
Ha...ha...ha-ha-ha-ha
Are you joking?
The thought slipped.
[No.]
Her blunt reply made me go blank for a second.
I shook my head.
....I was prepared to face some hardship in this world. After all, with all these broken characters possessing weird bloodlines and abilities, even I would have a hard time surviving.
But now...
If I amplify would you be able to conceal my mana fluctuations?
[500 World Essence.]
What about concealing my Demonic Magic after?
[1500 World Essence.]
A grin spread across my face, the ferocity of it nearly tearing the corner of my own lips. I wish none would ever be able to see the current expression on my face.
Sometimes it's just really hard to control myself.
"Amplify..." A whisper escaped my lips, "Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify! Amplify!"
I could feel my insides rip apart.
The entire essence of my body was completely restructured as Ban's Regeneration worked to keep me alive. My body was in a state of collapse. Before a single amplification could settle I haphazardly chanted the word amplification, as if caught in a mystifying spell.
****
A long while passed as I continued to stare at the ceiling in a daze.
The raging storm of mana inside my body began to settle down.
With anticipation, my lips parted softly.
"Character Profile."
[Host- Yamamoto Tatsuya (Adrian Frost)
Age-16 (22)
Race-Devil
Demonic Energy-3 →24,576 units
World Essence-3617 units]
I took a deep breath as my excitement settled down. My rationality took over once again and I began to contemplate.
I had amplified my Demonic Energy 13 times.
The cost went like this-
1→2→4→8 →16 →32→64→128→256→512→1024→2048→4096→8192
Total World Essence spent-18, 383 = 16,383 + 2000 (Hiding the process.)
Similarly, doubling my initial 3 units of Demonic energy thirteen times led to the current 24,576.
A Satan-Class Devil had Demonic Energy between 10,000-100,000 units.
My current Demonic Energy placed me at the lower end of the Maou-Class but I wasn't disheartened at all!
What made it exhilarating was the Hollow Mask!
The Hollow Mask increases my overall strength by four times and that includes my Demonic Energy!
That would mean Demonic Energy of 98,304 units!
With the Hollow Mask, my Demonic Energy soared to the absolute peak of the Satan Class!
Ban's Regeneration and Godspeed's reaction time along with Spidey Senses also gave me the confidence that I could fight with some weak Super Devils at best and escape with my life at worst.
The next amplification would cost me 16,384 units of World Essence which would also result in me becoming a Super-Devil, a God-Class Being!
Nonetheless, I should calm down.
Beings like Shiva, the Heavenly Dragons, Ophis and Great Red can still obliterate me. Sirzechs Power of Destruction still makes me wary. I can't afford to fight them for now. I don't know if they can kill me but sealing me for eternity would be effortless.
A day I never wished to see.
While Tatsuya was immersed in strengthening himself.
****
—On the other side of the Gremory Mansion—
Grayfia walked along the long hallway as she contemplated a strategy.
'I'll first gauge her impression of him and decide after.
If it's favourable I can move to the next step and if it's not....'
It didn't take her long to reach the dining hall where Ichika and Rias's peerage were having a variety of dishes for dinner.
'It seems like Sir and Madam have left. Did they find something out?'
She noticed there was a large tablet in the hands of Ichika.
The sounds coming from it made her raise a brow in surprise.
"That's one of the most famous Rating Games in recent years." Rias was calmly explaining as Ichika's eyes sparkled in excitement, "The one winning is called Sairaorg Bael."
"I don't understand how he's fighting, he doesn't seem to be using any kind of Demonic Magic, Rias-senpai. It's almost as if he's like my brother, born with great strength." Ichika pointed at the large burly young man with confusion, ''And Bael...?"
"Yes, he's my cousin from my mother's side." Rias smiled, "Actually Sairaorg was considered a failed Devil. His Mana reserves were quite pathetic, close to nil but instead of falling into despair, he has carved out a path of his own. The white aura you see around him is called Touki. It's what you would call life force. So the stronger he is physically the stronger his Touki. From a young age, Sairaorg has been extremely hard-working. He also recently proved himself by defeating his talented half-brother who was supposed to become the heir to the Bael clan and taking his place."
"Wow!" Ichika exclaimed in admiration as Kiba nodded, "I've met him once. He's quite kind and polite."
Koneko nodded alongside.
Only Akeno had a dazed look on her face. It seemed like she was paying attention but not at the same time.
She seemed lost.
Rias frowned inwardly.
'This is complicated. I just hope you can pull yourself together... Akeno.'
"Rias-sama. May I have a word with you?" Grayfia spoke softly and Rias was pulled away from her thoughts.
"Grayfia?" Rias was a bit surprised but nodded.
"I'll be right back, Ichika. Show her a few more rating games in the meanwhile, Kiba." Rias stood up and followed Grayfia out of the dining hall.
"What is it?" Once outside she asked curiously and Grayfia nodded.
"It's a message from Sirzechs-sama to you."
"Nii-san?"
Rias had a foreboding feeling.
"It's about your engagement... " Grayfia spoke slowly observing Rias's reaction.
Rias's face turned dark as she frowned.
"I'm sure there's still quite a bit of time..." Her voice became increasingly shallow.
"That's how it should've been Rias-sama but-!" Grayfia's voice turned sharp and Rias flinched, "The Phoenix Family have requested to push the engagement immediately. They might even visit formally tomorrow. The Human World is in chaos Rias-sama. Your request to remain undisturbed till the end of your University level of education is now annulled with your return to the Underworld."
"But it's only temporary as stated by Onii-sama! Once that Soul Reaper is caught won't we be able to return?"
"That is unlikely." Grayfia refused bluntly, "The entire Supernatural World has its guard up against this individual. He wouldn't show up anytime soon because he fears being caught or besieged. Had he possessed strength compared to Beelzebub-sama or Lucifer-sama it would've been a different case. Not to mention he has means to be untraced. In my personal opinion if the Soul Reaper intends to hide it might even take decades to find him. The adults are clear about this matter hence the Gremory can't decline their proposal in this matter as it wouldn't make any sense to do so. In sensitive times like these, it becomes increasingly important for the Heirs of Noble families to continue their bloodline especially... a sole Heiress like you."
Rias felt her heart drop. She might not be really clear about the situation but she too knew that the Soul Reaper wouldn't be caught anytime soon. The phrase, "Ajuka Beelzebub failed to trace him" was enough evidence for so.
"But..." Rias hesitated, "If I can beat him in a Rating Game? Wasn't that included in the clauses for escaping this marriage?"
"Can you beat him?" It could even be considered rude with how Grayfia was looking at her but Rias could only bite her lower lip.
But Grayfia wasn't going to stay silent.
"Not only does Riser Phoenix have a full peerage of talented members, including his sister Ravel Phoenix. Riser has the Immortality of the Phoenix Clan. Your current abilities and even Power of Destruction can't cause him significant damage for now. His Hellfire flames, an ability of the Phoenix Clan, has comparable Demonic Power to your own Power of Destruction and not only that..."
Grayfia's voice was like an echo of doom for Rias, "He has hand-to-hand combat training with Sairaorg Bael. Lastly, he has played a total of 13 Rating Games with a record of 9 wins and 4 losses, two of which were lost on purpose due to his respect for those particular households."
''Rias-sama, can you win?"
Grayfia pressed, her voice glacial, as Rias slumped into despair.
Her body trembled violently, fingers clawing at the silk of her dress.
"I... Will I even get time to train them?" Her voice cracked. "Ichika's talent for magic is exceptional, and Yamamoto, he's monstrously strong! He could dismantle half of Riser's peerage alone!"
"Yamamoto's strength is... considerable," Grayfia conceded, unexpectedly. Rias's breath caught hope.
"But that depends on the Phoenix Family. They will also have information about your new peerage members. Do you think they will allow it? Do not forget the goal of both the Gremory and the Phoenix is to form an alliance with marriage. Both want to see you lose Rias-sama. You're not against just the Phoenix Clan but the Gremory as well. At best you'd get a week of preparation. The marriage was announced more than a year ago... could it be we have to announce that the Heir of the Gremory Clan had been slacking off?"
"I thought I had time!" Rias hissed, humiliation scalding her cheeks.
Excuses curdled at her tongue.
"Is there... any hope to win?"
"Yes, you do." Grayfia nodded, "But! That is if your peerage can work in harmony and with every member being in their best state physically... and mentally."
The word 'mentally' made Rias freeze on the spot.
Akeno's hollow smile flickered in her mind. Her teeth sank into her lip until copper bloomed.
All of a sudden her tense and rigid posture relaxed as she seemed to fall into despair, "Then what should I do, Grayfia? I don't want to marry that arrogant playboy. I can't live happily with him and I can't accept birthing any children with him!" Rias was on the verge of tears and Grayfia felt it was enough.
There's no need to aggravate her any more.
"There's still hope, Rias-sama." Grayfia smiled as Rias's eyes widened.
"There is?"
"Provoke him. Force Riser into an immediate duel."
Rias was confused, "I won't pretend Grayfia but I don't think I can win. Riser's Immortality is incredibly infuriating and my peerage simply doesn't stand a chance against his peerage, especially when my Queen is in no shape to fight either. The only variable I can think of is Yamamoto but even if he's stronger than Riser how will he combat his Immortality?"
Grayfia couldn't help but smile mysteriously, "Rias-sama it is exactly Yamamoto Tatsuya I am talking about."
"What?" Rias was astounded, "What do you mean?"
"The Phoenix Family will most likely be visiting tomorrow, Rias-sama. When the time comes for discussing marriage you simply have to..."
As Grayfia continued to speak Rias was first shocked and bewildered; by the end of her words, her face was flushed red in embarrassment.
"But Grayfia!" Rias protested but Grayfia simply stopped her by raising her soft dainty hand.
"Believe in Sirzechs-sama."
Her words echoed as Rias looked frustrated, her face alternating between concern and embarrassment.
****
The artificial morning rays shone brilliantly.
"Yamamoto, wake up!"
A soft but stern voice echoed in the bedroom.
Rias looked at the sleeping siblings with complicated emotions.
So much had happened in a single day.
"Yamamoto!" Rias called out again, this time a bit more loudly.
Just as Rias was getting impatient she saw him slowly sit up. The golden rays of the sun fell softly onto his face making his chiselled features glow beautifully.
Drowsy onyx eyes peered at her. His gaze seemed to draw her in as Rias felt her impatience vanish. Perhaps, because of her conversation with Grayfia last night, Rias felt incomparably more conscious of his features than before.
Rias remembered that on the first day of school, Yamamoto was called the King of Kuoh. She remembered hearing one of her human classmates say how he emitted this wild but regal aura that made him seem untouchable, unlike Kiba.
Of course, at that time Rias and Akeno took those words with a grain of salt.
But now...
Rias saw him stand up.
His extremely tall frame towered over her.
For a split second, Rias understood the feelings of the human girls in Kuoh Academy as his glossy black hair fell behind his shoulders in an unruly manner and he looked at her with eyes full of indifference.
It was as if she didn't matter at all.
Rias felt stifled.
But that indifferent gaze seemed to be nothing but an illusion as he looked at her calmly.
"Good morning, Master."
He called her his Master.
But Rias clenched her fists into tight balls. The sarcasm in his voice was biting.
She knew she couldn't do anything. Tatsuya seemed to be one of those people that only respected those stronger than him.
'One day I'll make you call me Master with true affection!'
Rias swore inwardly.
She had won the hearts of all her peerage members one by one and Tatsuya would be no different.
"What has made you come all the way into our room, Gremory Princess?" The change of title was sudden but Rias understood the meaning behind his words.
To the Gremory who were like Kings or Emperors simply sending a servant to wake him up was enough.
Why had Rias come personally?
Rias hesitated before shaking her head.
"There's something I need to talk to you about."
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow in interest.
"It's important," Rias emphasised.
Tatsuya pointed towards the balcony and Rias nodded.
As they walked together with Tatsuya trailing a step behind he couldn't help but admire her buxom figure. Perhaps due to the laws of this world, he felt incomparably more attracted to these girls than the ones from Classroom of the Elite. It wasn't that they were more beautiful but that the charm they emitted was extremely fatal.
As they stood on the balcony Tatsuya felt the wind blowing gently.
They looked at each other in silence.
Rias was dressed in a simple manner but it did nothing to hide her charm.
Her striking red hair fluttered gracefully, framing her delicate face and accentuating her bright blue eyes.
Her attire was a simple yet elegant white dress with a subtle polka dot pattern. The dress featured a buttoned front, a modest neckline, and a black ribbon that added a charming contrast. She wore black thigh-high stockings, creating a blend of innocence and allure.
Seduction did not necessarily mean one had to dress skimpily or act like a slut.
It simply meant driving desire towards oneself.
And Tatsuya did nothing to hide his admiration towards her as she stood gracefully with her hand on the railing of the balcony.
Rias could also feel his gaze linger on her a while longer. A chibi version of her pumped a fist of success inwardly as she felt glad listening to Grayfia's advice.
She wondered how Grayfia predicted his tastes.
"I believe it's time you tell me what's bothering you now," Tatsuya spoke softly.
There was some tension between them at the moment but it was the pleasant kind.
Rias nodded and turned her head, looking at the vast territory of the Gremory Family.
Her eyes sparkled brilliantly, "Yesterday when I came to your house to turn you into servants- do you remember the question you asked me? A specific one."
"Hmm, is it about when I asked what your real purpose was when recruiting us?" Tatsuya followed her gaze, looking at the Devils flying about attending the gardens, carrying packages, and even riding carriages.
Perhaps nobility was not much different between Devils and Humans.
"Yes, about that. I would like to apologise, I hadn't spoken the truth entirely."
Rias had a serious expression on her face as Tatsuya narrowed his eyes.
"Of course, I did have my suspicions but it isn't pleasant being told this after crossing the bridge."
"It's not anything dangerous so I didn't think it would be important plus..." Her voice indicated frustration, "It shouldn't have been a problem for a few years at least."
"If it's really not dangerous then I won't mind. As long as Ichika is safe and cared for, I dare not complain." He smiled in a cordial manner and Rias was astounded at how the Occult Research Club thought he was an abuser at first.
Rias turned around with conviction as her eyes showed resolution, she patted her chest with force, "I, Rias Gremory, pledge on my bloodline and as the Heiress of the Gremory Family, I swear to protect all my peerage members from harm, even if it costs me my life!"
Tatsuya was surprised.
The pure look in her eyes, her posture, and her sincerity.
Tatsuya felt it all.
She was, after all, a High-Class Noble.
She wasn't trying to strike some kind of deal with him. Nor was she trying to leverage Ichika to force him to do anything. She genuinely cared for her peerage and it mattered not what her circumstances were, she would never force them to do anything.
Unlike the cunning and malicious Tatsuya, she was bright and pure.
In honesty, Tatsuya held affection for people with these traits.
In Classroom of the Elite, Tatsuya had genuinely wanted to befriend Hirata.
But in the end, it didn't work out.
Hirata had died by his own hands.
Would Rias' fate be similar to Hirata's?
Tatsuya did not know.
This world was full of danger and who would Tatsuya not sacrifice to ensure his own safety?
There existed no such exception.
The only way to avoid such a fate was to become strong.
Strong to the point he could decimate the entirety of DxD on his own.
Only those with power need not make troublesome choices.
They could simply do as they wish.
Tatsuya forcefully put a stop to his musings as he smiled in response to Rias's words. It was a genuine smile, the type of smile he usually showed Hirata and Horikita.
"Thank you."
He didn't say anything unnecessary but just these two words made Rias break out into a heartwarming smile.
It was an acknowledgement of her promise!
"Since my Master is in some kind of trouble, how can I not help? Do say." Tatsuya walked forward and stood beside her, his hair fluttering in a similar manner to hers.
This time the word Master had no sarcasm in it.
Rias looked at his handsome face in a daze for a brief second before coughing and clearing her throat. There was a faint tint of red on her cheeks.
''Ahem. First of all, stop calling me Master! It's weird." Rias shook her head immediately, "Call me Buchou like the others!"
"Alright, Buchou."
She continued, "I said that I had a tough Rating Game in the future, right?"
Tatsuya nodded.
"This Rating Game is actually against the Third Son of the Phoenix Family, the one I told you about when we arrived yesterday. Our families have proposed a marriage between him and me scheduled for a few years later. If I want to escape this marriage I'll have to prove my worth and defeat him in a Rating Game." Rias gritted her teeth, "Actually, due to that damned Soul Reaper I've been forced back to the Underworld. The Phoenix Family is capitalizing on this and forcing the marriage to go forward immediately. They'll probably arrive today."
"Is that so?" Tatsuya's eyes glinted.
"My peerage isn't strong enough Yamamoto, I know I shouldn't show such weakness in front of my own peerage member but I have no choice. I was irresponsible due to thinking I had enough time but for now, we stand no chance. Riser's Immortality is just too hard to counter. It's as if he can heal from anything instantly."
"Sounds intimidating but Buchou-" Tatsuya spoke, his voice soft, "Why have you come to me?"
Rias hesitated before telling him the plan Grayfia told her.
Hearing it Tatsuya immediately burst into laughter causing Rias to stomp in anger!
"Enough! Stop embarrassing me! I don't know why but Onii-sama says I should trust you. I know you're very strong but..."
"Rias." He called out softly as soon as he was finished laughing.
Rias was stunned, a faint blush crept up her face as she realised he was calling her by her first name in an affectionate manner.
But before she could come out of her stupor Tatsuya lifted his hand and grabbed her soft dainty fingers.
He pulled her hand towards himself and squeezed lightly.
"Rias, do you wish to marry Riser Phoenix?"
Rias instinctively shook her head in denial as she tried to pull herself away from his heated gaze; ultimately failing to do so.
*Thump!* *Thump!*
Her heart began to thump against her chest in an unruly manner, her blush began to grow.
"Then do you wish to take control over the fate of your own marriage?" The angelic voice caused Rias to shiver.
She nodded, her mind wandering about, wondering why Tatsuya's hand felt so soft to touch and why the warmth emitting from it made her comfortable.
Tatsuya smiled brightly.
"Then that is all." Tatsuya took a step forward, closing the gap between them causing Rias to feel flustered.
"Rias," He spoke her name again, "Your brother is the Current Satan, having withdrawn from Family Matters , He cannot assist you. The Gremory Family looks upon this marriage as favourable, your consent does not matter-They do not want to assist you."
As he continued to speak Rias felt a faint sense of loneliness surface in her heart.
Do I really have no one-
"But."
His words woke her up sharply.
"As long as I, Yamamoto Tatsuya, am alive... No one will be able to force you to do anything. I will be by your side no matter the situation. Even if there's no one you can fall back on to remember I will always be there."
There was frost in his eyes as he continued.
"If any young Devil tries to pressure you into something, I'll crush them all."
Tatsuya showed Rias a glimpse of his true self.
The overbearing sense of dominance in his voice caused Rias to feel weak. She should've scoffed. Called him a fool. Arrogant even. Tell him that there are many young Devils far stronger than the current her. Many young Devils she did not think he could defeat.
But all words died down as she gazed into his eyes full of confidence.
Most of his words felt nonsensical but.....
A reckless warmth unfurled in her chest.
No one had ever sworn to protect her in such a manner.
It caused her to feel happy and special. She did not want him to stop. She wanted him to stay like this forever. To vow that he would protect his Master with all his heart.
Her heart thrashed like a caged bird as she didn't dare continue to look into his eyes. She lowered her head and muttered a soft, "A-Alright." before pushing him away and walking away with a face that was the same colour as her hair.
Tatsuya watched her go with a soft gaze.
"How cute." He muttered before turning around and gazing at the Gremory Territory once more.
I should start working on the others.
His thoughts remained to himself as he realised that he only needed a few more nudges before making Rias fall in love with him.
It might've seemed easy, illogical even, that a High-Class Noble like Rias Gremory was so bashful and easy to infatuate.
After all, in the anime she even slept naked with Issei just to heal him without a single change in expression.
It might seem out of character at first but if one peered deeply from an omniscient view from above they would see the faint strings used to orchestrate this entire ordeal.
Like creating a play with puppets.
Tatsuya was under a time constraint.
To him it was all but possible for tomorrow a planet-buster-level Being to arrive and slap him to death, calling him an Anomaly.
Could Tatsuya slowly make Rias and her peerage fall in love with him over a long period of time?
Hmph!
It wasn't even a question.
But Tatsuya could not afford to do so.
What I lack is time.
Overwhelming Rias on their first meeting, showing her how weak she is and making her feel fear.
Attacking Grigori and Japan to ensure Sirzechs calls Rias back to the Underworld knowing the Phoenix Family would push the marriage; Making her feel-despair.
Joining her peerage to give her-hope.
Manipulating Sirzechs to propose a marriage between him and Rias forcing-affection.
Shoving the idea-that even if no one in the world would support her he would-down her throat-emotional support.
At the end of it, all was a simple emotion.
Love.
Lofty titles like Heiress of Gremory, Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess and Princess of Destruction made her seem high and mighty, aloof even, but all these titles were hollow.
At her core, Rias was just a naive young girl hoping to escape the politics of the Underworld, grow strong with her peerage, live freely, enjoy the joys of the human world and Japan... and choose her own love.
A soft smile spread across his face as he looked down towards the hard-working Devil servants.
Once he ensnared Rias with sweet lies it would be effortless to capture the rest of her peerage members and any future targets, granting him access to a steady stream of World Essence.
And by using Rias as a front he could create numerous 'Causes' to fight influential young Devils, giving him another source of World Essence.
Each step and action he took after entering DxD were all carefully chosen and interconnected.
An invisible spider web had been enveloping the Underworld string by string and now that it was completely formed-
It was time to let the bugs fall into an inescapable trap.
"The Phoenix Family should be arriving soon. I suppose there's still much left to do."
He whispered, his gaze drifting across the distant horizon of Hell.
In this Hell, I shall experience Heaven.
-x-X-x-