"What did you say?"
Tatsuya's demand came sharply and Rias seemed confused.
She began speaking again, "The known Dragon Kings are Tiamat, Yu-Long, Vritra—"
"No—The last part!"
"As of now Tiamat, The Chaos Karma Dragon, is said to be the strongest Dragon King...?" Rias wondered why he seemed startled but he didn't have the heart to explain anything to her right now.
The title Chaos Karma Dragon boomed inside his mind like thunder.
"Yamamoto?" Rias asked in concern and Tatsuya was shaken out of his thoughts.
He looked around and saw everyone glancing at him with concern.
Smiling, he shook his head.
"I'm just worried about our safety. I've heard that Dragons usually don't care about other races and cause large-scale destruction in their battles. Especially Ddraig and Albion, the Heavenly Dragons."
"Well, they did suffer the consequences for it. They were sealed in Sacred Gears. You don't really have to worry because Tiamat wouldn't kill anyone, not while staying in the Familiar Forest in the Underworld. Just don't touch her treasures."
"Buchou, how strong is a Dragon King?" Ichika asked curiously and Rias thought about it for a second.
"I don't exactly know but the Heavenly Dragons Tatsuya mentioned are stronger than Maou-Class Devils like my brother and the Dragon Kings are just a step below them. I guess Dragon Kings should be about as strong as Maou-Class Devils, the current rulers of Hell."
"That's amazing!" Ichika showed fascination.
"Interesting..." Tatsuya nodded when suddenly an old man appeared in front of them.
He was leaning onto a tree as if he were there from the beginning. He looked like the grandfather of Ash Ketchum which made Tatsuya feel weird.
|Gerald— 1,377|
This unassuming old man is an Ultimate-Class Devil?
"Heiress of the Gremory?" He spoke, adjusting his cap, "It's been a while…" he paused before looking at Ichika and Tatsuya, "They are…?"
"Indeed, Familiar Master," Rias nodded her eyes full of pride, "My new peerage members. They are here to find Familiars suitable for them. They're siblings, Yamamoto Tatsuya and Yamamoto Ichika."
Both having been called bowed slightly in greeting.
"Polite young fellas eh?" The Familiar Master smiled kindly, the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes compressing as he did so.
"I wish you luck so take care. The forest is full of both kind and dangerous beasts, prey and predators alike. The more you wish to gain the greater your sacrifice." He spoke softly, "Will you go alone or…"
"We'll go together," Tatsuya pulled Ichika next to him.
"It's better to go alone, the fewer the variables the higher the chance of finding a familiar with more affinity towards you. Though, I suppose if you insist…" Seeing the look in Tatsuya's eyes the Familiar Master did not continue speaking.
He did not notice the odd looks he got from Rias and her peerage for calling Tatsuya weak.
"Ah, young people…" he sighed, "Since you're newly Reincarnated Devils stay cautious and if you feel like you're in danger just shoot a fireball or something in the sky. I'll come to help you."
Tatsuya nodded before waving his hand towards Rias and the rest.
"Good luck!" Rias cheered as did Akeno. Kiba smiled while Koneko munched on chocolate cookies she got from who knows where.
"Let's go!" Ichika tugged at Tatsuya and they both began heading inside the forest.
All of a sudden the Familiar Master spoke again.
"One last thing, do not provoke the Chaos Karma Dragon."
His words made Tatsuya pause in his tracks. He turned his head around and smiled gently.
"Of course."
…
The inside of the forest was even more grim.
Eerie silence stretched endlessly with dark eyes glowing scarily.
But none of that bothered Ichika or Tatsuya.
"What was that reaction earlier?" Ichika was quite surprised to see Tatsuya get agitated, even if it was only for a second.
"Nothing to worry about," Tatsuya said, not answering Ichika. He glanced at her for a brief second before looking away.
Ichika frowned but stayed silent—she knew better than to push when his tone went flat.
Is someone watching us?
Tatsuya would not silence her for trivial reasons. He quite clearly indicated he did not want the topic to be brought up.
"We'll separate from here," Tatsuya patted Ichika's shoulder, "Don't force it, if you find something suitable to bond with give it your best."
"Ah? Alright." Ichika nodded and walked away, albeit at a slow pace, admiring the forest.
Tatsuya watched her leave indifferently.
Give me her exact location.
[That'll cost you 50 units of World Essence]
That's fine, I'm willing to gamble with this amount.
[Alright]
Tatsuya's intentions seemed to be predictable but unknown at the same time.
A crimson thread materialized, snaking into the gloom. The deeper he followed it, the fewer creatures crossed his path as if they did not dare encroach upon this piece of land.
And soon he found himself standing in front of a large cave with a dark entrance. The crimson thread he had been following vanished as smoothly as it had appeared.
…
Tatsuya stepped into the cavern without hesitation.
[A barrier has been placed.]
He barely acknowledged the notification. It was expected. Tiamat—the Chaos Karma Dragon—was deciding what to do with the lowly intruder that dared to set foot in her domain.
The tunnel twisted and turned, the temperature plummeting with every step. Frost laced the walls, shimmering under the dim light that filtered through cracks in the rock. A biting wind howled as he reached the end.
His breath hitched—not from fear, but from sheer, undeniable awe.
High atop a throne of gold and treasure, glistening like a hoard stolen from the gods, sat a woman unlike any other.
"How did you find my dwelling, boy?"
A cold, melodious voice resonated through the cave, as smooth as silk yet laced with unyielding authority. Tatsuya's eyelid twitched slightly at the sheer presence behind it.
Seated upon the throne was an ethereal barefooted beauty—icy-blue hair cascading down like a waterfall of moonlight, framing a face that held neither warmth nor cruelty, only sheer, indifferent regality. Her sapphire eyes glowed in the dimness, twin pools of depthless ice, unreadable and piercing.
The dark fabric of her bodice clung to her form, accentuating every curve, while intricate frost-like patterns shimmered faintly against the material. A white mantle draped over her shoulders, contrasting starkly against the dark blues and blacks of her attire.
One long, bare leg crossed lazily over the other.
Every motion exuded effortless sensuality.
Not calculated, not deliberate.
It was simply who she was.
A goddess.
A dragon.
|Tiamat— 98,799|
(Image)
Tatsuya had to activate his Blood Manipulation ability to prevent his dick from betraying him. The sheer allure of her existence was overwhelming.
Tiamat was probably the closest Tatsuya was to witnessing a 'Jade Beauty' without actually visiting a Xianxia world.
And yet, the stronger his desire grew, the calmer he became.
He would not forget his true purpose for coming here.
He bowed politely.
"Yamamoto Tatsuya."
Tiamat arched a delicate brow. "State your purpose, young Devil. What drove you to set foot into this Queen's domain?"
Her voice sent a shiver through his spine—not of fear, but of something far more dangerous.
He had to control himself.
"Become my Familiar, Tiamat."
A single moment of silence.
Then—
BOOM!
Frost exploded outward as a wave of pure Draconic Energy crashed through the cavern. The temperature plummeted further, ice rapidly forming beneath Tatsuya's feet, creeping up his legs like shackles of frozen steel.
"Audacious!"
Her voice thundered, shaking the walls of the cave itself.
Yet, despite the absolute dominance in her presence, Tatsuya did not kneel.
His feet were frozen, his breath visible in the frigid air, but his spine remained straight.
"Naïve child," Tiamat's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You dare insult this Queen with your pitiful strength?"
The corners of Tatsuya's lips curled upward.
"Is a Low-Class Devil unworthy?"
For the first time, Tiamat paused. The overwhelming pressure dissipated slightly, curiosity flickering behind those icy eyes.
Then—
BOOM.
The cave trembled as the Demonic Energy around Tatsuya surged.
From a mere ripple, it started as a small puddle, swirling around him like a rising storm. The ice at his feet cracked, a faint mist rising as his energy burned through the frost.
"If a Low-Class Devil is not worthy…"
The puddle expanded, surging outward into the form of a small pond.
"Then how about a Middle-Class Devil?"
Tatsuya's robe began to flutter, the rising force distorting the air around him.
A deep hum resonated through the cavern.
Tiamat's gaze sharpened.
"If a Middle-Class Devil is still unworthy…"
The Demonic Energy swelled again.
From a small pond to that of a flowing river.
Tiamat's expression betrayed the faintest glimmer of surprise.
"Then how about a High-Class Devil?"
The cavern shook.
Loose stones cracked and tumbled from the ceiling as his aura continued to surge, the sheer pressure distorting the very space around him. The frost coating the walls melted away in an instant.
"You…" Tiamat's eyes narrowed.
But then—
Tatsuya frowned.
"If a High-Class Devil is not worthy…"
The flicker of surprise in her eyes deepened.
Then—
A tidal wave of Demonic Energy erupted outward like a detonation.
The river began surging, turning into a large lake.
Vast and deep.
Her lips twitched slightly.
Her eyes no longer held disdain.
It was intrigue.
She was the Chaos Karma Dragon, the strongest Dragon King. She had long sensed the presence of the Devils that had come to find new Familiars. She had also immediately noticed his surprise at the mention of her title.
She had also gotten the gist of his identity—
But that was why it didn't make sense at all.
What kind of Reincarnated Devil started out as an Ultimate-Class Devil? That too a human?
"If an Ultimate-Class Devil isn't worthy…"
"...?"
Tiamat, who was waiting for his answer, froze upon hearing those words.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!
The cavern roared as his Demonic Energy transcended.
An ocean.
The force of his power shattered the remaining frost at his feet, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the cavern floor. The very air trembled, pressure crashing against the cave walls like a raging storm.
CRACK.
Tiamat's barrier—formed of her own Draconic Energy—quivered under the weight of his sheer force. The shimmering ice-like barrier wavered, fractures forming along its crystalline surface.
Tatsuya's voice resonated through the chamber.
"Tell me, am I worthy now?"
Tiamat stared.
A Maou-Class Devil.
Impossible.
Devils who reached this tier were legends. Beings of immense power, forged through centuries of battle, political struggles, and mastery over their own existence.
Yet here stood a newly reincarnated Devil, radiating power on par with Maou-Class beings.
It made no sense.
Her sharp sapphire gaze locked onto his.
He did not falter.
Slowly, she descended from her throne, gliding through the air until she hovered before him—just inches apart.
Still not touching the ground.
As if the very concept of standing on solid ground was beneath her.
The silence stretched between them, thick with tension before Tiamat decided to speak.
"Not worthy." She smiled, "I do not why you pretend to act like a weak Low-Class Devil under the command of Rias Gremory, nor do I care. Yamamoto Tatsuya, if strength was all it took then I would've been claimed long before you could even dream about it."
She wasn't wrong.
And Tatsuya knew this.
There were many beings stronger than Tiamat in the World of DxD. If simply defeating her allowed anyone to gain a Peak Satan-Class Devil she would've been recruited by someone long long ago.
Heck, Sirzechs himself would've tried taking her away.
But Tatsuya never intended to subdue her with strength.
If that was really all it took he could've used the Hollow Mask to show her he was equal in strength and beat her down with the various abilities he had.
But there were two reasons why Tatsuya wouldn't take that route.
First equipping the Hollow Mask may have chances of him being discovered by Ajuka. He should've noted down the energy signatures the day Tatsuya destroyed Grigori.
Second, it would be futile.
He was smart enough to realise the significance behind Tiamat's retreat into the Familiar Forest.
She wasn't staying here for some retarded and foolish protagonist to come to claim her as her familiar just because he was slightly stronger.
In a sensible world, such things did not ever occur.
Every individual has their own goals, motivations and rules they abide by.
Simply being Fictional Characters does not invalidate that fact.
Taming her would not come from simply strength, there needed to be willingness as well.
"Is that so?" Tatsuya's smile returned, "Then what if I say I have something that could convince you, Chaos Karma Dragon."
"Convince me?" Tiamat chuckled, "That is highly unlikely boy… However, if you can bring back all the treasures Ddraig, the Heavenly Dragon, borrowed from me I might consider it." Tiamat threw down an impossible condition.
Her treasures were long lost for ages, no one would be foolish to undergo such a task.
Tatsuya raised his palm and under Tiamat's curious gaze, a single long golden thread materialised. The golden thread swirled around, as in complete control of Tatsuya.
The Chaos Karma Dragon froze as it stared at the strand of pure Chaos.
Her entire body as if transformed into a sculpture, remained wooden. She looked at the swirling thread with immense greed.
She snapped her head towards Tatsuya in awe, hiding the fear in her eyes.
"Chaos Energy! How is this possible? Why can you control it!?" Tiamat's goddess-like demeanour was nowhere to be seen as she questioned Tatsuya anxiously.
Her eyes had never left the thread of Chaos from the beginning.
Seeing Tiamat's reaction, Tatsuya's face morphed into a grin.
His plan had worked.
The Chaos Karma Dragon could indeed value the Chaos he and Kaguya usually collected.
Or rather, she should have close ties to this energy based on her title.
"Don't even think about it." Tatsuya's frosty voice caused Tiamat to flinch.
Despite the strength Tatsuya had shown she was sure she could overpower him. She was planning to steal the strand of Chaos.
Tiamat herself was a greedy, vain and arrogant dragon who cared little about morality.
No one knew the magnitude of the allure Chaos Energy held to her, the Chaos Karma Dragon.
This was the reason Tatsuya deliberately revealed his strength. Tiamat would've attacked him the moment the strand of Chaos was revealed otherwise.
"Calm down first, since I've come to you surely it's not just to tease you, right?"
"Indeed…" Despite saying so, Tiamat's eyes were transfixed on the strand of Chaos.
Seeing this Tatsuya closed his palm as the strand of Chaos disappeared.
"You…!" Tiamat came back to her senses as she jumped back in wariness.
"How can you manipulate Chaos? Who are you? Are… are you related to 'Hīm'?" Tiamat's voice was trembling in disbelief.
She looked at the man in front of her with terror.
An ageless Dragon, Tiamat had witnessed many things.
At the beginning of the world, beasts roamed about and there was no Order.
The world was full of Chaos.
To Tiamat who had been born with an affinity to Chaos her days were filled with pleasure as she absorbed the threads of Chaos and grew stronger.
But her days of enjoyment came to an end when she witnessed a mighty being forcefully constraining and capturing all the Chaos in the world.
From then on the fate of all beings was slowly manipulated.
Chaos was no more.
The Beast of Apocalypse who was similar to her, was long sealed away and the world had been forced into Order.
She had once tried to see if she could re-create Chaos but she was immediately threatened by the Dragon God of Dreams.
Tiamat had found herself stuck in a cage.
A cage she could never hope to escape from as there was no longer any free Chaos for her to absorb.
She could no longer grow stronger.
What was even worse was that besides her and the Great Dragon of Dreams, none seemed to be aware of the existence of 'Hīm'.
And Tatsuya caught onto this detail.
His eyes narrowed sharply with frost as a bewildered Kaguya floated next to him.
"You… You know of Hīs existence?" Tatsuya spoke mysteriously, playing along.
He was quite sure that this 'Hīm' was none other than the Heavenly Spirit.
Tiamat was shaken.
He knows! He knows!
To Tiamat only a being of Chaos like her, or the hand of 'Hīm', the Great Dragon of Dreams were aware of its existence.
So why did this lowly Reincarnated Devil know of 'Hīm'?
"Who are you!?" She asked for the third time.
"I see… so 'He' was unable to hide his traces. I was wondering what your connection was to him." Tatsuya shook his head as he looked at Tiamat deeply, "Do you know how this World has come into existence?"
Tiamat shook her head.
"The World is born through Chaos," Tatsuya linked his hands behind his back, speaking in a profound manner, his eyes showing hints of reminisce, "And after Chaos, the World lives through Order."
"Order and Chaos co-exist, neither can be abandoned. The existence you speak of is the personification of Order."
An ancient dragon that had been walking the Earth from before the age of Babylon, her wisdom could not be questioned.
"Are you… Chaos?"
Her voice was tinged with horror.
She had seen the actions of 'Order'.
That day she had realised the feeling of being an ant.
But her gaze still held questions as she looked at Tatsuya.
"I am not my true self." Tatsuya understood her caution and explained, "I am but a small fragment of my former self. After failing to subdue Order I was destroyed and crippled, Order took my place and has been reigning ever since."
Tiamat felt surreal as she realised she was being dragged into a game of cosmic beings. This Tatsuya Yamamoto was not relevant, he was clearly just a shell for Chaos to hide in.
Tiamat gritted her teeth as she looked at Tatsuya. Her eyes were full of complicated emotions.
"Then what is it that you seek from me, Lord Chaos?"
"Obedience."
Tatsuya's voice echoed in the cavern as Tiamat flinched.
"Order is in a vulnerable state right now, if I can quickly grow back to my former self the world will once again be corroded with blight." Tatsuya spoke as he extended his hand towards Tiamat and painted a bright future, "Order has created the Great Dragon of Dreams and Great Dragon of Infinity to act in its stead which hinders me from freely acting, thus my current state."
Tiamat felt her heart thump as she imagined the world would revert back into one where Chaos was not restricted.
A world without Order.
A world where Chaos thrived.
"Will you follow me and act per my commands?" Tatsuya spoke softly as Tiamat looked at the several strands of Chaos floating on top of his palm with reverence.
She slowly nodded.
"...I shall now belong to you, Lord Chaos."
Several strands of Chaos erupted from his palm in response to her words and rushed towards the stunned Tiamat. They drilled into her and Tiamat felt a blush creep up her face as she felt herself submerge in the feeling of pure bliss.
How long… How long has it been since I have felt this kind of embrace?
She had almost forgotten about the intoxicating feeling of growing stronger.
Tatsuya watched her Draconic Power increase incredibly fast.
|Tiamat— 98,799 -> 101,799|
Just from the three strands he had given her, her Draconic Energy rose by three thousand.
She was now no longer a Dragon King.
She was Tiamat.
The Third Heavenly Dragon.
________________
A/N— Hope you enjoyed because I definitely did writing this bullshit hahaha. I just find it very convenient she's named Chaos Karma Dragon. It'd be a shame if I didn't use her. Also next chapter is... Heh, you can check the title on Patreon for a hint.
Read Chapters Ahead— Patreon.com/AlmightySkyDxddy
Powerstones for more chapters :)