All Hell Shall Tremble (High School DxD - FGO Reincarnation Chapter 3) - Incomplete (Patreon)

AN: To by dearly beloved Muse. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU!!!

===

A ship can't have two captains. Cao Cao thought, while keep his expression calm and confident as usual.

At the moment, the Leader of the Hero Faction, was watching a spar between Michael Chaser and Vali Lucifer, in a joint team exercise between The core members of the Hero Team and Vali Team.

Michaels Chaser's introduction into the Hero Faction was not as Cao Cao expected at all.

That first meeting felt more like Michael recruiting them to see if they are worth joining him, than the other way around. Cao Cao felt that they should focus more on appealing to his hatred of Devils, rather than espousing the glory of humanity, and it seemed to have worked.

But that was it. It seemed so. Cao Cao could feel it in his gut, Chaser seem annoyed with them. Looking at their group with a sense of 'you will do', rather than joining them in their glorious cause.

And then there was Michael's attitude after joining. He wasn't bad or disruptive, or anything. Chaser didn't constantly demanding to fight Devils, or strong opponents, like Jeanne or Heracles, as Cao Cao expected.

Rather Michael's actions put Cao Cao on edge because...

Michael Chaser was diligent.

Extremely so.

When he joined their group, he came with ten Magicians from the Golden Dawn. All talented or with a valuable skill, or Sacred Gear.

One was even the Descendent of Nicolas Flamel! Cao Cao thought.

And supposed Michael was only in Golden Dawn for four months, yet he managed to connect and convince that many talented people in three months.

Greog had done his research on Michael Chaser once Le Fay's friend contact her, about joining their group. Meredith Oridinton was prim recruitment material. A lone genius, and likely an underappreciated one, only used for one skill and not praised for it. Just expected to do what was expected of her. And one holding a Holy Relic Sacred Gear on top of that. But Michael got to her before anyone even knew she existed, or the truth of her Sacred Gear being a Holy Relic.

But if it had just been his people skill, Michael would have been valuable as a possible member, but not worth much as a fighter. Yet Greog found out through his old connection to the Golden Dawn, that Michael would ace all his exams, or complete his research papers, with little to no class attendance.

The tests should have been shielded from divination, and the organization took precautions about changing exam questions and randomizing papers, after Michael's display of Seer talent.

He still did his work without any mistake or delay. There was seemingly no foul play, thus leading Greog to speculate that Michael... used his precognition to just watch a possible future version of himself studying, and just copy that information to mind.

It was a terrifying possibility for its implication. Cao Cao thought. How much ahead does he see?

Not just that, but ever since he gained the Incineration Anthem, Michael was showing visible growth in their training sessions with Heracles, Siegfried or Jeanne. Without using any of his Runes, to physically enhance himself, he was growing stronger and faster.

And that's not to account for how he instructs and teaches those he spars with, actually helping them get stronger. Heracles actually seems more calm down, taking more time to think and strategize, deploying his Sacred Gear with more finesse. He didn't simply fire his explosions from his aura, right away with every hit, but take his time to make feints, mini-explosions that accumulate damage, before a stronger finish, as he was building energy in the back ground.

And when Michael actually used the rest of his magic skills, in conjuncture with his Longinus, he was a whole different level of monster. It was like facing a god of war.

Even Cao Cao wasn't sure, if a full fight between the two of them were to occur, who would come out on top.

It's why he would go to his Lord Indra for extra training the past month.

And in that time, what Indra said, worried Cao Cao even more.

"Huh? The fuck? Is that... No, no. Feels the same but not. Did Samildánach make another kid he didn't tell anyone about?" Indra looked bemused.

"Lord Indra?" Cao Cao said.

"Boy," Indra gave him a pointed look. "That mortal, be careful around him. He carries hell of an aura of death. Practically drowning in it. Wouldn't be surprised if he was born in the middle of a war. More than that though," The Hindu War God smirked. "That guy, Michael, heh, of all names. He is the type others tend to gather around, and he doesn't need brainwashing drugs to do it. Sure that guy would use anything to win, but for the most part, no matter how he acts, he doesn't approve of evil methods he doesn't act out himself. The hypocrite." The god laughed. "So be sure not to show that side of your researches, otherwise there won't be a Hero Faction after that, and then I'd have to get involve. And that would be annoying."

The message of Lord Indra was sent loud an clear. Don't let Michael take over the Hero Faction, something Cao Cao wouldn't have allowed anyways. And his lord's observations were indispensable as well.

To think Michael Chaser wasn't a Spirit Inheritor of Cu Chulainn, like they theorized before, but a son of Lugh, or even more possibly, an Avatar? It sure made his skill and power make more sense.

Greog's efforts to look into Michael's past revealed that he used to be in contact with the Church's Strongest Exorcist, before having a falling out about Devils' having and using Evil Pieces, even to the point of admonishing the Archangel Michael himself.

It was... actually something Cao Cao couldn't help but respect, as it was a commendable thing to be enraged about.

Jeanne had question Michael about that day, as even if she was no longer an Exorcist, standing up to, and trying to scold the Leader of Heaven's Army was definitely something the Reincarnated Maiden of Orleans couldn't fathom.

"How many are your experiences with Stray Devils that you'd just snap and shout at the Leader of the Seraphs?" Jeanne had asked.

"You misunderstand," Michael shook his head. "That day in that town was the first time I encounter and saw Devils and Stray Devils." His statement froze Jeanne.

"W-Wha... and that was enough for you to be enraged enough to try and chastise the Archangel you're named after?" Jeanne cried out, in utter shock.

"Don't see how the name thing is relevant but yes." Michael said, before giving Jeanne an intense look. "Heaven and the Angels exist to protect and guide mankind. They're suppose to be our role models, our aspirations. If the ones we're suppose to look up to to guidance and protection fail in that duty, then they are useless and unneeded. If the Archangel won't be enraged for mankind's sake, then I will more than do so."

Jeanne... looked at Michael with something akin to reverence from that day on. That his hatred of Devils was just that instinctive for a first meeting.

It actually worried Cao Cao that their connection to the greater Khaos Brigade as a whole might be compromised. Yet when brought up in discussions, Michael simply rolled his eyes.

"I understand working with people I don't agree with, or dislike, but it's best that neither I nor Meredith, are to attend those meeting. I get that the various groups of Khaos Brigade share resources and information, so for the sake of that relationship, let's avoid me meeting any of those 'Old Satan Faction', shall we?" Michael had said with a forceful close mouthed grin.

As much as Cao Cao wanted to show his authority, he was pretty sure a meeting between say, Michael Chaser and Katerea Leviathan, wouldn't end with the usual showboating and posturing like when Heracles engages with others members of Khaos Brigade. It would definitely result in the two clashing in a fight to the death. And Cao Cao was pretty sure the Old Satan Faction would be the one to lose an essential member, and become an antagonistic group they'd have to go to war on.

Back to the spar in front of him, Cao Cao watched Vali in his Balance Breaker was flying about trying to hit Michael, only for the Incineration Anthem Wielder to dodge and weave in the air with his wings of fire.

Michael's clothes had Runes sewed into them to increase his speed, power and durability. His Longinus was granting him flight, flame control and a spear that seemed to be made of solid flame.

Vali on the other hand was keeping up with the white armor form of his Longinus, Divine Dividing's Balance Breaker, and his natural abilities and strength as a Devil. No, it would be better to say that it was Michael who was using magic abilities and spearmanship to keep up.

Yet one wouldn't think so from looking at their fight. Over and over Vali would try to get in close to hit, or at least tag Michael with contact in any sort, for his Sacred Gear's ability to take hold. The ability to divide the opponent's power and add it to their own.

However Michael made such attempts an unforgiving endeavor. Every flight dive or attack was dodged and countered. Every close up brawl was not only avoided, but Vali took a hit to a vital area, that he felt even while armored. The Purple Flame Spear seemed to deliver more damage that the power behind it showed, and that's not even to get into the dangerous effect the Holy Flames have on Vali due to his Devil physiology even if he's a Half-Devil.

"Tsk, are you only going to keep buzzing around without attacking?" Vali said with a slight growl of annoyance, in the lull between strikes.

"Please, keep coming and try to your luck." Michael said with a small smile, not being moved by Vali's words at all.

Vali seemed to act irrational, and dashed forward.

Then midway he smirked as a Norse Rune made of Demonic Power, formed on his armored chest. It was a simple Ehwaz (shaped "ᛖ") Rune. The Rune of horses, transportation, movement and change for the better. A Run that was great to use for massively enhanced speed in short distances.

Michael only had a moment for his eyes to widened, before Vali slammed his fist into his chest, and held him from his shirt.

"Got you." The silver-haired Half-Devil said with a smirk.

[Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide]

Immediately the White Dragon's power struck Michael, and since the Longinus was its Balance Breaker form, there was no ten second time limit between uses.

"It's insanely difficult to write Runes with just magical energy, but I eventually figured it out, even if it takes a while to write them." Said the confident Vali, smirking.

The Flame Spear and wings shrunk till they disappeared.

And that was all that vanished.

Then the other Runes hidden in Michael's clothes glowed in activation.

Michael grabbed Vali's wrist that was holding him.

"Wha--"

Dozens of punches hit Vali in the face, followed by a knee to the stomach, and an elbow to the back of the head.

The face helmet was broken from the punches showing Vali's face. The knee to the stomach, had him coughing up spit and blood.

Vali's combat instincts finally kicked in, as leaned away, and tried to make some distance, but Michael wasn't letting go of his arm.

Vali dodged the elbow drop, and when he failed to pull away, throw a punch with his other hand.

Michael leaned away from the punch, grabbed the other arm, locking it under his shoulder, holding the other arm. Now both of Vali's arms were sealed.

Michael pulled Vali in and head-butted him.

"GAH! You--As if that hurts." Vali cried out.

Michael head-butted him again.

Now rather than scream Vali just let his head go back, and when Michael pulled him in for another head-butt Vali threw his head forward, to meet the head-smash with his own.

Everyone watching witnessed at the brutal scene of two people smashing their heads together.

Even Jeanne, or others watching of the same fantasies, expecting them to accidently kiss, grimaced at the blood pouring down their faces, from the constant forehead hits.

At some point from the repeated head-butts, Vali's eyes were covered in blood, causing him to blink.

And in that moment, when their heads were about to slam again, Michael pushed himself to fly up, making Vali's eyes widen from the miss, and continuing forward from the momentum.

Then Michael let go of Vali's arms, flipped himself over Vali, and spun to face his back.

Michael grabbed Vali's white armor wings, with energy feathers. A Thurisaz Rune (shaped "ᚦ") shining in in front of both palms. A Rune mainly used for creating destruction.

And as his hands grabbed the wings' base in at the shoulder blades, those shining Runes phased into the wings.

And blew them up from the inside.

"AAAAAAARGH!" Vali cried out, as Michael ripped his wings and threw them away.

Vali tried to spin to attack Michael, only for Michael fly and move with him, staying behind him.

Then Michael held Vali in a full nelson, and dived bombed them into the ground.

The ground shook and cracked from the impact, shooting up a cloud of smoke into the air.

Immediately a figure jumped out of the smoke. It was Michael taking a combat position, to ready himself, before waving one hand, creating new Runechain spells, as he waited for his opponent.

The smoke was blown away from a swing from Vali's good arm. The other fell low, his shoulder dislocated.

A Vali's blood-filled grin couldn't be any wider.

"HAHAHAHAHA! You really are hell of a savage, Cu Chulainn." Vali continued laughing as he gathered up his Demonic Power for another go. "How? How did you overcome the effect of my Divine Dividing? I definitely felt Albion's power take hold."

"Not Cu Chulainn, just similar skill set." Michael said back. "And as for your Longinus, I didn't overcome the effects. I just cornered and quarantined them to one set of my powers, so the Divide effect would only happen on that. I made your power only affect Incineration Anthem." He smirked.

Vali and those watching were shocked by this explanation. That he had a counter to Vali's power, from before he experienced it, wasn't unsettling.

"How?" Vali asked.

"I'm not some expert at using Future Sight mid-battle or anything, but predicting what you're gonna do, and seeing a second or two into the future, means I can have countermeasures set up, and kept aside just in case." Michael said back. "After that, since your Dividing effect was in use, and my Longinus was out, thus with both our Sacred Gears out of the picture, we only had our own powers and skills to work with. You reacted fast and if it had been anyone other than me, you might have managed to gain some ground."

"You took out your own Longinus to keep fighting?" Vali asked with a crazed smile, a mix between exhilaration and disbelief at his opponent's brutality.

"If you're nothing without a Sacred Gear, then you're just a gimmick. And once a gimmick is figured out, it no longer becomes dangerous." Michael said back right away, making those with Sacred Gear flinch at the words.

"Easy for a Son of Lugh to say." Greog muttered from next to Cao Cao.

"Are we all not Descendants of mythical Heroes, who are also the Inheritors of their Wills?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow.

"Cao Cao?" Greog looked at his leader intrigued, yet inspired by his words.

"Are Sacred Gears, are mighty, but they are not the only reason for our strength." Cao Cao smiled toward Michael. "I suppose it doesn't hurt to train our other strengths, so as not to have them dull." He suggested, making the idea sound as his own.

"Heh, of course." Greog smirked back. "Yeah, guess with our newcomer, we should set a good example, and not laze around."

Cao Cao nodded, as the sentiment spread across his ranks.

Good. Morale is rising, and hopefully that will cause others to seek Michael for further aid in their training, thus he won't have time to interrupt and rework our plans. Cao Cao thought, as he balanced leading his comrades, not letting Michael get further influence in the Hero Faction, while not antagonize him.

"Vali, I think we should call this match to a close." Cao Cao pointed with his spear at the White Dragon Emperor's surroundings. "I would say, a victor has been decided."

Vali looked around him to see a circle of Runes faintly glowing, only to light up once he noticed them. The Bounded Field sprung up and shrunk till Vali spread his arms to grab and halt it from squashing him.

"Vali!" Bikou, one of Vali's team members, and a Descendant of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, cried out in worry.

"Vali-kun!" Kuroka, another member of Vali's team, and a Nekoshou, a rare variant of a Nekomata looked like she was about to step in.

Without a word, Michael waved his hand to the side, fingers standing out, like he was cutting something with a knife-hand and the barrier vanished.

"Oi, what's the idea?" Vali growled out, yet was breathing heavily as he was regaining his bearings. His team membered came to the field to check on him. "Hey, we're still in the middle of a battle."

"I'd say that's a good point to end it." Michael said.

"Yeah, listen to him Vali~." Le Fay said playfully as she began casting healing spells.

"Tsk," Vali clicked, his tongue, but relaxed as the mood was ruined, the spar was officially over. "You really are glad to win in a cheap way like that." He said to Michael who walked over to Vali and his group.

"While I'm sure you'd have loved for this fight to end, with both of us just out of mana completely, and just slugging it out with our fists." Michael said with a knowing smile. Vali growled and looked away.

"Wah?! Is Vali blushing?" Kuroka asked in shock.

"Shut up." Vali said back, not looking at the Catgirl.

"This spar was open to all abilities. We didn't have limits or handicaps. So sorry, I'm not going shounen battle on you." Michael replied.

"Argh, I guess that's the best I can expect from you trickster types." Vali grunted before looking at Michael and smirking. "But at least you know how to throw a punch, and aren't afraid to get in close and bloody. You better be ready, because next time, that trick of yours won't work."

"And you better not think that Dividing my power, will give you the win." Michael smirked back.

The two warrior stared at each other with respect, as they nodded at one another. Acknowledging the other and their next spar to come.

"I'm glad this training exercise went well." Cao Cao said as he approached the group. "Vali, have you considered my proposal for a team-up?"

"Huh, that." Vali grunted, then he noticed Michael take a vial out of his inner pocket, give a nod up to Vali, and chuck the vial to him. Vali caught it and raised an eyebrow.

"Healing potion. Flamel made it." Michael said.

"Hmm." Vali grunted, popped the cork and chugged it down. His wounds disappeared in moments, and he could feel the healing spells now refilling his stamina instead. All too quickly Vali was back to full health. He looked to the side to see Michael drink a potion of his own. Vali didn't question how the vails didn't break from their spar, he could feel the mini-pocket space opening and closing, when Michael put his hand in his jacket's inner pocket.

"Vali," Cao Cao spoke. "Your thoughts? It would allow our teams further chances to train and improve together. And that way, more options for stronger opponents would be open to us."

"You're annoyingly insistent as usual, Cao Cao." Vali said before glancing at Michael who was being looked over by the redheaded Holy Nails Wielder. "I'm still undercover in the Grigori, I suppose the upcoming Khaos Brigade crashing the Peace Summit between the Three Factions, would be a good time to confront Azazel with the truth. As well as to see how strong the my rival is."

"Do you actually need to?" Michael spoke up. All eyes turned to Michael, as he usually stayed out of the team's operations, doing his own thing. "If you're going to break away from the Grigori, you not being there can work just as well, as fighting them in the open, to tell them you're quitting their organization."

"I'm not just going to run and hide with my tail between my legs." Vali frowned, but kept listening. His respect for Michal was enough for him to at least hear the other warrior out.

"Not saying run, just that the Old Satan Faction's attack is a good distraction, while both our group work on our mission." Michael explained.

"What are you talking about, Michael?" Cao Cao asked, his eyes narrowing just a tad.

"That tracking divination spell for the Holy Relics. I finished it." Michael casually said, making Cao Cao and the others blink at that. It took them a moment to get out of their frozen confusion to realize what he's saying.

It's a world wide search spell, how could he finish it already? Cao Cao thought.

"Wait, wait, wait! You're talking about the Sephiroth Graal and the Shroud of Turin?" Le Fay asked in surprise and curiosity at how her fellow Magician accomplished such a feat so fast. Finding hidden Sacred Gear, especially Longinuses was not a simple task.

"More or less. It's a spell that would use the resonance of the present Holy Relics to reveal the location of the last two. The Spear, the Cross and the Nails should easily be able to find the Grail and the Shroud." Michael replied.

"So, it is possible that it might not work?" Cao Cao slowly asked.

Michael shrugged. "We're all present, no harm in giving it a shot." He then turned to Vali. "So, what do you say?"

"Hmm..." Vali thought for a moment. "If it works, can you guys go?" He told his team.

"What about you, Vali?" Arthur, heir of the Pendragon Family, and the one titled the Strongest Holy Sword User, asked.

"I can't just disappear, it would look suspicious to Azazel, and thus to the leaders of Heaven and the Underworld." He shook his head. "Plus, ending things without saying anything just pisses me off. So no, I'm telling Azazel of my new team to his face."

"Wow, Vali-kun. How manly~." Kuroka teased.

"Yeah, these things are best done face to face. If you're ending a relationship, just say it straight out." Bikou nodded, with his arms cross.

"Oh? And what would mister virgin monkey know about ending relationship?" Kuroka smirked.

Bikou jumped back flabbergasted. "Wha? Hey! I'll have you know--"

"You are strong."

A calm voice sudden appeared out of nowhere, and cut right into the festive mood of building comraderie.

Suddenly there was a small black haired girl standing among the two group. A feeling of Divinity, Dragon and Power emitted from every fiber of his being. Her very presence alone announced that fact, without her even having to show it, power up or flare her aura. Her power was of such magnitude without any effort.

She was staring right at Michael, standing mere inches away from him.

"Help me slay Baka-Red." She stated. It wasn't an order or a request. Just a statement. Like she did not know or understand how to ask something with the option of someone refusing.

"Ah, Lady Ophis, Michael here is our newest comrade. He already agreed to help us aid your cause." Cao Cao said to pacify things, and calm down tensions. Everyone around took a step back, clearing the field a little. Not that it meant much before the Dragon God, but their survival instincts insisted they do this at least.

Cao Cao looked at Michael trying to convey to him to not antagonist the Dragon God, or worse, declare her an 'Enemy of Humanity' like he did the Devils.

"Ah, that's good then." Ophis nodded. She didn't take her eyes off Michael.

Everyone could see Michael tense every muscle of his body, looking like he was about to bolt away by instincts. No one would have faulted him for doing so. In fact it was the natural reaction.

Michael's reaction was of turning fully to face the Dragon God, and crouching down to sit on the ground cross-legged. Cao Cao held back an eye twitch at Michael just doing the opposite of what any sane person would do.

"Who are you?" Michael plainly asked.

Cao Cao's eye twitched.

Why did he ask such a stupid question, that could potentially antagonist the Dragon God!? Cao Cao mentally cried out in a mini-panic.

To the shock of those present, Ophis copied Michael by siting down and crossing her legs too. Her panties were showing, but no one dared to comment.

"I, am Ophis. I, am Ouroboros. I, am Infinity, the Infinite Dragon God. Ophis." She introduced herself, repeating her name.

"A being who's the Embodiment of Infinity." Michael blinked at that. Looked to the side in thought. Nodded. Then reacted. "Woah." He summed up everything he felt in one single word.

"Woah indeed." Ophis nodded in agreement.

...What the hell is happening? Was the general thought of those watching.

"First, before anything a little fashion tip. If you're trying to pass off as human, humanoid, or just presentable, you need to cover your chest fully, not just put tap on your nipples." Michael said, and it took everything in Cao Cao's self-control not to lose his balance and faceplant from Michael's words to the god damn Infinity Dragon!

Others however did not have that self-control. And their bodies littered the ground, as they fell from their shock.

Why the hell are you trying to order the Dragon God around for, Michael? Are you insane!?

"Ah." Ophis said in thought. She was quiet for a moment, before nodding. "I, see. I, understand." Ophis said. "Behold."

Light shimmered down Ophis' body from her neck-tie. Clothes formed over her bare skin, covering up her chest and stomach completely, completing her outfit from a mock-gothic lolita black dress, to an actual gothic lolita black dress.

"Impressive." Michael nodded with a incredulous looked on his face. "You literally just threw divine Authority and magic power at the World to reality would just give you a dress. I mean, I've heard of people using their power for mundane stuff to make their lives comfortable, but damn."

"Yes." Ophis nodded. "Because I, am the Infinite. Thus the world obeys me and becomes a tailor."

"Oookay, putting that bit of existential dread to the side." Michael said to himself. "Also could you sit in seiza? People can see your panties like that."

Michael told off the Infinite Dragon God again. The Hero Faction and Vali Team experienced another minor heart attack.

"Ah, very well." Ophis nodded, and sat on knees, resting on her legs.

"Now, how can I help you, Lady Ophis? If there is something troubling you, I don't think I'd have the strength to help you." Michael said honestly.

"You are strong." She said plainly, the pointed at the rest of the Hero Faction and Vali Team. "They are strong." She looked at Michael again. "Enough strong people, can beat up Baka-Red."

"And who is this 'Baka-Red'?" Michael asked.

Ophis frowned, her expression changing for the first time.

"He is Baka-Red." She said as if that explained everything. "He's noisy. He took my home. I want my silence back."

"Lady Ophis speaks of the Great Red. The True Dragon that is the Embodiment of Dream. One could even say he's to Dragons, what Dragons are to mere mortals, the Dragon of Dragons. He's even called the 'Apocalypse Dragon' due to his immense power." Cao Cao explained, looking at Michael straight into his eyes, trying to convey the seriousiness of this situation. "He has invaded Lady Ophis' home, the Dimensional Gap. The true aim of all the Khaos Brigade is to aid Lady Ophis in the task of driving him off her home."

"So," Michael turned back to Ophis. "You want him gone because he took away your home, or because he took away your silence?" Michael asked, then raising a hand up before Ophis could repeat herself as her answer. "What I mean is, which would you rather have back more, your home or your silence?"

"My silence." Ophis said definitely.

"Hmm, alright." Michael nodded and stood up. "Cao Cao, when's the Peace Summit?"

"Um, in about a week. Why?" Cao Cao asked, losing his mask of control for a second.

"Oh, good. We have time." Michael's expression brightened. "Come along, Ophis. Let's try and see if we can make you some cosy silent zone." He began to walk away.

"...What?" Cao Cao said.

"Hmm, yes. Silence is cosy." Ophis nodded and followed after Michael.

For a while all the Hero Descendants, Spirit Inheritors, great Magicians, Sacred Gear Wielders and others stared at the scene in silence.

Then Meredith moved and followed after them in a hurried.

"Ah, Michael! Wait for me."

Silence fell back on the two group.

"I'm gonna have to check this out." Le Fay left, with a worried Arthur following after her.

Silence filled the area once more.

"...Cao Cao." Greog said slowly. "What the fuck just happened?"

Cao Cao gathered his thoughts, reviewed them, then nodded.

"Michael is going to attempt to grant the Infinite Dragon God's wish. Let's start evacuating in case he fails." Cao Cao said and just walked away.

Everyone broke into panic at that point.

=x=x=x=x=x=

Surprisingly and somehow completely as expected from Michael Chaser's antics, he succeeded in granting Ophis' wish.

He created a Bounded Field that completely isolated her from the World, akin to the Dimensional Gap, then taught her how to do it herself. He insisted that she learned, and even threatened Ophis that he's take away her Silence if she didn't learn how to do it herself.

Cao Cao experienced another shock of terror, but then Ophis agreed all the same, almost sounding like a whiney child when asking Michael not to do that.

Michael just headpatted her, and said he was just making a point on how it's better for her to know how to attain her goal by her own hands.

Cao Cao stopped bothering to worry about Michael's life. Either the idiot would succeed in his communications with Ophis, or he would die.

Now it was finally time to recruit the Holy Grail Wielder. Or rather rescue.

It appeared that the holder of the Sephirot Graal was a Dhampir. Not just any Half-Vampire, but the daughter of King Tepes, the leader of the Tepes Vampire Faction.

Valerie Tepes was their target today.

The Hero Faction will be going to Romania to get the Vampire Princess, while Vali Team will be going to Japan.

The holder of Veronica's Veil was surprisingly living in Japan, yet far away from any supernatural action. He liked in a small town called Mori, in the Hokkaido region. A boy by the name of Shoto Arakawa.

He lived a blissful life unaware of any dangers or truths about the world. Then again the power of the Holy Shroud is to turn prayers into reality depending on the strength of one's feelings. It absorbed all the negative emotions, all the evil energy of the world devouring them to turn it into energy that enacts Miracles. There are no limited, but the strength of  Shroud Holder's wish.

Not only that, but Shoto was the Spirit Inheritor to Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, the man who was the leader of the Shimabara Rebellion. Leading an uprising of Japanese Roman Catholics against the Shogunate only to meet a tragic end. That's who Shoto inherited the will of.

Yet Shoto's life from what they had been able to investigate was one that did not have any hardships beyond those common in daily life.

Michael did not hesitate to give the order for his recruitment when Cao Cao questioned him.

Cao Cao had praised Michael for doing so. He had agreed with that decision, even if he offered it to Michael as a test. While Michael looked disgruntled, he still went ahead with making the right choice. Shoto's power can help humanity as a whole, and that would be all the payment needed for taking him from his peaceful life.

While Cao Cao had requested Michael be there for the recruitment of Shoto, he refused. Saying that someone like Shoto needed a gentle recruitment, so Kuroka and Le Fay should be able to present a comforting impression to ease the boy into things, with Bikou and Arthur only there in case of emergency.

As for their group consisting of Cao Cao himself, Greog, Michael, Perseus, Connla and Jeanne. Michael categorically refused Heracles' participation, even with the possible need the Greek Spirit Inheritor's strength.

"This is a stealth mission. We are trying to avoid fighting as much as possible. Everyone here has the capability to run away should they need it, and the temperament to do so."

Cao Cao wanted Heracles there, because he expected their stealth plan to fail, in which case, they might as well, show those monsters who hunt humans for their blood, to know their weakness. Michael told Cao Cao that he'd break Heracles' if the Hero Faction Leader insisted. With Heracles in the room.

Heracles said he had a stomachache and couldn't participate that day.

Cao Cao decided to be... gracious, and allow Heracles to take a break.

The simple fact of the matter is, there was going to be a fight in between the Vampire Factions in Romania that day. That's why Cao Cao wanted the extra manpower. In case they stuck around while the fight is occurring.

"Alright, we're in." Greog said, as the group found themselves in a wide suite room, except thematically looking like a Victorian era bedroom. "Your coordinates were perfect, Michael." Greog couldn't help but smile at how well their magic collaboration was going.

There was a small window covered by red curtains. A large and wide bookshelf filled to its capacity with books, and a small fireplace. Along with other items and things one finds in a lady's room.

"Thanks." Michael said, keeping an ear out, while focusing on the bed. Or rather the person in it.

"W-Who? Is someone there?" A groggy voice spoke from the bed. Valerie was waking up.

"Good morning, Princess Valerie." Cao Cao eloquently spoke, putting on a charming smile.

"E-Eh?" Valerie quickly woke up, at the unfamiliar voice. Looking around to see a group of unknown people in her bedroom, looking at her with curiosity, or distain as that one blonde woman was doing. "W-Who are you?"

"I am Cao Cao, and we are the Hero Faction." Cao Cao said with grandiosity, he was in his element. "And you, Valerie Tepes, holder of the Sephirot Graal," Valerie's eyes widened at them knowing that, since such information was only known by her father and brother.

All of the Vampires she empowered, were ordered to be asleep to receive the 'blessed blood of the ancestor' as her father had told them. A con to hide the truth of her power, lest her position in the Tepes Faction actually gains some prominence. Something a Dhampir like her doesn't deserve as her brother constantly reminded her.

"Have a choice to make." Cao Cao said.

"A... Choice?" Valerie said warily. This was another group that just sought to use her power. But... would it really be any worse than her life here in the Tepes Castle to begin with.

"Yes, you can either come with us. Be free from this life of torment you endured here, or--" And whatever it was Cao Cao was about to say, was not meant to be.

"Hi!" Michael said brightly getting in Valerie's face, and before she could comprehend the actions of this new person, she was swept off her feet in a princess carry. "We're rescuing you, like the dragons of old rescued princesses. Sorry but you don't have a choice. You will be pampered. Do not resist."

"Eeeek!" Valerie felt her face turn completely red.

W-W-Wait! Rescued? Dragons? Bu-Bu-But! Valerie's thoughts were in disarray.

"B-But dragons didn't rescue princesses. They kidnapped princesses!" Valerie cried out, trying to make sense of this sudden bizarre turn.

"Michael... What are you doing?" Cao Cao said patiently.

"Corrrrect~. Pretty and smart. Gold star for the good girl." Michael said, patting her head. Valerie started to feel dizzy from how much blood was rushing to her head. "And I'm just getting a move on. Her life here is shit, we'd have to be exceptional catastrophically braindead to treat her worse than the assholes here, and they're suppose to be her family." Michael said with a frown.

"Um, Mikey," Jeanne spoke up, sounding unsure of Michael's attitude. "She, she's Half-Vampire, you know."

"She's Half-Human, that's all that matter. Everything else is extra cosmetics." Michael said back nonchalantly.

"You... want me for the Sephirot Graal." Valerie said, the conversation helping her get her bearings back, as she had a slight scold.

"That's right." Michael said with straight honesty, as he smiled at Valerie. Even though she frowned at the answer, she couldn't help but blush at the handsome face so close to her. "Think of it as equivalent exchange, you get to live this place, see wonderful sights, taste delicious foods, have joyfully memorable experiences, get headpats for being the goodest of good girls, and in return you help us, fuck over the entire Devil Race. Sounds like a steal, right?" Michael grinned.

"I, but... what do you me--EEEK!" The blushing Valerie tried to formulate a question, when Michael moved her around, and threw her on his shoulder, in a fireman carry.

"Alright we got her consent, let's get a move on. Greog." Michael said, to which Greog began to fill up the room with mist.

"I... don't think that counts." Jeanne had said.

"Nah, it totally counts. Right, Valerie?"

Smack.

"Kyaaa!" Valerie shouted in embarrassment at having her butt smacked.

"M-M-Mike-MICHAEL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Jeanne shouted, blushing and losing her composure.

"Michael, just because I put up a sound barrier like planned, doesn't mean you have to test them." Greog said with a sigh.

"What is even going on anymore?" Perseus said shaking his head.

"Why does his instincts as Cu Chulainn have to arise now of all times?" Connla shook his head in embarrassment and disappointment.

"...This is fine." Cao Cao had a serene smile.

"Still not Cu Chulainn and Jeanne--Hmm?" Michael paused... and started groping Valerie's butt.

"Kyaaa!" Valerie cried out.

"Michael!" Jeanne cried out.

"Hey, Valerie, are you missing any part of your Longinus?" Michael asked, and the jovial mood turned serious.

"A-Ah, yes." Valerie said, pushing through her heavy emotions. "My brother, Marius, had took one of the Grails I can manifest to experiment with them. I can handle one being gone, but I don't know for how long, or what he would do with it in his possession."

"Hmm, I see. Give me a second." Michael then closed his eyes, gathered his Od, and when he opened them, his eyes had a subtle divine glow to them. He looked around for a moment, before focusing on one specific place. "Greog, get ready to open a portal at these coordinates." Michael told him where to open the portal.

"Um, Mr. Michael?" Valerie nervous said.

"Just call me Michael, since we're on the same side and all." Michael said with a happy grin.

"W-What side is that?"

"The one that has fun, and and the one that makes Devils' lives hell. Heh." Michael chuckled to himself.

"O-Oh, okay. But... why are you still groping my butt!" Valerie cried out.

"That's what I want to know! Have you been seduced by that blood-sucker's b-b-butt, Mikey!" Jeanne said.

"It's just Booty Inspection." Michael said, while watching Greog make the portal, mentioning for him to hurry up.

Greog stopped looking at the scene playing out behind him, and focused on his work.

"My b-butt doesn't need to be inspected!" Valerie shouted.

"Y-Yeah! Don't be seduced by the Vampire Butt, Micky! If you need to inspect one, you can inspect mine!" Jeanne shouted.

Silence fell on the room.

"I-I'm trying to save the comrade from falling to the dark side!" Jeanne said to justify herself.

"Right." Greog said trying to act like their highly important rescue mission, was turning out into a weird adventure.

"Sure." Connla said unconvinced.

"Of course." Perseus added, not meeting Jeanne's eyes.

"Everything is fine. All according to plan." Cao Cao breathed in, with his mindfulness technique and relaxed.

"Found it!" Greog called out, as the group got ready.

A portal opened to show a place that was a mix of a stereotypical lab and a dungeon. Their target, Marius Tepes was berating some scientist minion with a cup in his hand. A Holy Grail.

"W-what the!? Who are--!" Marius shouted upon seeing the mist portal.

"GET OVER HERE!" Michael thrust the hand he was using to grope Valerie's butt. The one covered gloved and covered with bandages up to his shoulder underneath.

The glove disappeared in a sparkle of magical energy as it was a projection, and from the purple glowing enflamed hand, shot out a chain made of solid fire.

It wrapped around Marius Tepes' neck and arms, before firing multiple new fire chains from the chain-links, that stabbed through the hearts of all those present in the lab, turning them to dust.

Then Marius was pulled back screamed in terror and pain, as he felt the Holy Flames touch upon his being, yet not kill him. The pain was biblical.

"Thank you~." Michael took the Holy Grail from the crying Marius' hand, and floated it in front of Valerie. "Here you go, princess."

"Uh, t-thank you." Valerie grasped the Holy Relic and it disappeared into her being. She sighed, as she felt like a pressure, an ache she didn't realize was there was finally relaxed. Like a muscle strung for too long. "I--eeep!" Valerie found herself in a princess carry once more. "W-Will you stop manhandling me?"

"Can't. You're too cute." Michael said casually, throwing the Dhampir off her train of thought every time. She was never give any affection like this in her life. The only time she remember something close to this comfort, was with her childhood friend Gasper, and it was more her teasing him than the reverse. "More importantly, do you want to kill him, or should I?" His merryman face disappeared to show the ruthless warrior under it.

"!" Valerie wasn't focused on her brother though.

But regaining her lost Holy Grail, she had full access to her powers again, and while they were kept locked down, some things were revealed to her, without activating her Longinus. Like her Spirit Sight.

"Y-You...!" Valerie's eyes were widened in pure shock and astonishment as she looked at Michael. The vision that she saw clinging to Michael's soul were... haunting. "How... how are you sane?" She said on the verge of tears. Her question and tone, confused the Hero Faction members.

"...You can see them, huh?" Michael huffed in quiet amusement. "Of course the Sacred Gear that interferes with Life and Death can see it. Don't worry, they're just memories. Strong ones but still just remnants." He explained.

"But how can you deal with all of them?" Valerie asking, hoping to understand. What this man before her seemed to see, seemed to far outweigh the spirits that cling to her soul and mind, pulling at her sanity, when she interacts with the Principles of Life and Souls.

"Because it's my duty to carry." Michael said gently, before nudging her to his shoulder. "Now," he gestured with his head. "What to do about him?"

"..." Valerie didn't know what to do.

Her brother... He was family. Or at least they were suppose to be. But he never so much as thought of her as such, or even came close to treating her like a living being, a fellow vampire deserving of basic respect or empathy.

And yet... she couldn't find it in her heart to slay him.

The castle shook, making Valerie look around in worry.

"It started." Cao Cao noted.

"We need to leave, if we're not participating in this." Greog said.

"What's happening?" Valerie asked in confusion and nervousness.

"War." Michael said, turning the Vampire Princess's attention on him again. "War is happening between the factions. The Carmilla Faction is attacking with their full force, thinking that they have the upper edge and element of surprise given the sudden attack, and how the Tepes Faction had been quiet these past few years." Michael said, before giving Marius a smirk. "But of course, the reason for that is because you were modifying the Vampires here to be stronger, have draconic traits and remove their weakness to sunlight... but you didn't manage to get most of your combat forces. More like only a quarter. Maybe less?" He smirked at seeing the expression of shock on Marius' face.

The reason for the Carmilla Faction's attack was the mission Michael sent Meredith on a few days prior.

Michael sent Meredith to Queen Carmilla to 'advise' her to act on her intel of the Tepes Faction raising their forces to overtake the Carmilla Faction. But that while they are empowering their soliders with all manner of abilities from their 'necromantic' experiments, they will be vulnerable, and an easy target for the Carmilla Faction surprise's attacks.

Of course, there no ruler in their right mind that would accept 'advise' from a complete unknown, that just appeared in front of them one day. And the price for this 'service'? The possibility of having a connection and amicable relationship with the 'superior' Vampire Faction, the Carmilla Faction.

However, Meredith of course had her Alphecca Tyrant out the whole time. Not making anyone suspicious of their presence. Not having the Vampires or their servants question why Meredith approached them, appearing out of nowhere, carry all this news an information on the Tepes Faction. Nor why her 'advise' was so 'sensible' and 'appealing'. Nor why Queen Carmilla saw no need to turn Meredith into a Vampire Subordinate, or a thrall to ensure her loyalty. They all accept Meredith's words, and decided to act on them on their own.

Thus the attack right now.

"Leave him." Valerie spoke.

"Hmm?" Michael turned to Valerie.

"Just... leave him here. With everyone else. Whatever ends up befalling them it would be a consequence of their own actions. There's... No need to anymore." Valerie said, having made her decision. "Right?" She looked at Michael intuitively.

"Sure." Michael nodded. "Let's go home then."

"Home..." Valerie tasted the word on her mouth, unsure of what it would feel like in the new place she was going to reside.

Michael had said she was going to be pampered, but... that was just him, whatsitcalled?, sweet-talking her.

Marius tried to cry out after Valerie. To cuss and curse her for her betrayal, her weakness, her patheticness.

Only for a flame chain to wrap around his mouth, and burn his tongue.

"We're really just leaving him?" Perseus asked as they were going through Greog's mist portal to leave Romania behind.

"Yep." Michael said, as he passed through the mist portal. The fire chains connecting him to Marius cut off, only leaving the chains tying up and gagging the Vampire Prince up.

The others look on with apathy or disgust at the Vampire as they left, or with pity in Perseus' case.

Cao Cao took a moment before he passed through the portal, looking closely at the flame chains holding down Marius.

"Michael is quite crafty and cruel, doing what he wants to do anyways. Just going on technicalities." Cao Cao chuckled to himself. "It's simply your bad luck to meet us this day, Marius Tepes. Curse yourself for having a Half-Human sister. And then curse yourself more for never showing her kindness, that's why you will die today.

As if with perfect timing, or in response to Cao Cao's words, right after the Spirit Inheritor finished speaking, the flame chains acted. They spread out, then turned around and struck Marius Tepes.

All four limbs were cut off with the stumps cauterized.

Marius couldn't even fully scream as his mouth was burned.

"That sorry state is the fate you've inflicted on yourself, for the cruelty you cause anyone with human blood, Vampire." Cao Cao said, walking through the mist portal without looking back.

This state of affairs can't continue. Cao Cao thought. The role of who leads and who follows needs to be decided firmly between me and Michael, and it needs to be decided soon.

An hour later, someone would break into the room to find Marius alive, but in a sorry state. They were Vampires from the Carmilla Faction.

=x=x=x=x=x=

"Hello, Michael! Are you hungry? I made some ramen!" Shoto announced with cheerful loudness, as he ambushed Michael in the kitchens.

"...Afternoon to you too, Shoto." Michael said in a dry tone, as he saw that Shoto was only holding one bowl. "And where's your lunch?"

"Oh, I already ate this is for you." Shoto presented Michael the delicious noodle soup dish, with a wide joyful and welcoming smile.

Michael stared at the teen's happy face and extremely loud energetic aura, and sighed.

"Alright." Michael took the tray with the bowl on it, and gestured with his head. "Follow me."

"Okay!" Shoto said, and the moment Michael's back was turned, Shoto pumped his fist in a guts pose. Michael pretended not to notice that.

Michael lead Shoto to a private area, on the roof of his lab, that he tends to head to for solitude, and for the nice few.

Michael sat down, with Shoto sitting opposite to him, just resting his head in his palms, while humming in a carefree manner.

Shoto Arakawa was a teenager in his second year of high school. His lithe form belied his age, making him seem younger than he was, and his extremely feminine features could cause other to easily mistake him for a girl, if not for his wardrobe. Even his voice had a high cute yet gentle pitch to it. His long hair was held in a ponytail, reaching his mid-back, even when tied up.

Not only was his face still soft and round in places, but his narrow waist, and wide hips, could make him be a very convincing cosplayer, something he's actually known for in his school, and very much encouraged by his female classmates in the theater club. Shoto wasn't part of the theater club, but they keep inviting him to help them out constantly, using every excuse under the sun.

The Holy Cross holder looked away from the cheerful teen, and simply began to roll up the noodles on his fork, and began to dig into his meal.

"Hmm?" Michael blinked as he tasted the noodles with steak pieces.

"Is something wrong?" Shoto sat up, asking shyly.

"The soup is spicy." Michael noted. "Did you ask someone to know I prefer that?"

"Ah, yes! I asked Ordinton-san how you'd like your meals, and she mentioned that some stuff like anything with noodles, you prefer spicy, but like in the sauce taste, not the spiciness itself." Shoto fired up his explanation, and started recounting when he ask Meredith about Michael's preferred food, then about how Meredith found him in the kitchen wondering on what to cook, then... "So, so, so!" He was jumping in his seat in excitement at telling his story, making one mistake his age for being much younger, than the seventeen year old he was. "Just like a good meal can bring people together, I think if you get people to just sit at the same table, the possibility of them walking away as friend, from zero to one percent, and from there we can keep working to make it a hundred percent reality!" Shoto finished his speech, with a happy smile and a clenched fist of determination.

"Very inspirational." Michael deadpanned, rising the bowl up to drink a bit of the broth to thin it out, and have more of the contents visible. He placed the bowl down, and to the side a bit, using a handkerchief to clean his mouth.

"Um..." Shoto looked thrown off, as Michael wasn't reacting to his speeches as people usually would, either awed, introspective, or confrontation which usually lead to more discussion and then reconciliation.

"Shoto," Michael spoke, throwing the tissue into a trash can next to them. "Thank you for the food." Michael said gently. "But I'm not changing my mind on sealing the Devils to the Underworld, just because of a good meal." He said with crystal clarity.

"But why?" Shoto called out, almost sounding like he's desperate. Michael wondered if this is the first time the boy struggled to convince someone, or met someone that was just plainly not moved by his words. "You care about freedom, right? Then shouldn't all other species have the right to live and go where they want if they are not hurting anyone." Shoto then quickly added. "And I get that the Evil Piece system is bad, but it can be changed, it can be made unneeded if we help the Devils find another way to repopulate their race. There are always bad people, but that doesn't mean you could color everyone with the example of the worst around. Us humans too. We have also done some pretty bad stuff."

"And I don't care." Michael's blunt tone shut Shoto off, making the teen sit straight back in alarm. "Yes, humans do enslave each other. Yes they do commit horrific acts on one another. Rape, murder, torture of all kinds. However, I don't see at all how that's relevant to allow Devils to continue doing the same to us. More importantly these aren't acts that are somehow universally accepted, so we should 'be okay when others do it to us'." Michael rolled his eyes. Shoto shrunk in his seat a bit. "At the end of the day, the common sentiment upon us, is that we want everyone to be treated fairly, be able to life a fulfilling, meaningful and happy life. We don't like when other humans are mistreated, and while we try to come up with all kinds of reasons on why we don't act, we do prefer a world, where bad things don't happen to others more often than not." Michael said. "The existence of humans who commit evil, does not give permission nor right to have evil done onto mankind."

"Sorry," Shoto crossed his arm, looking like he was hugging himself, while leaning on the table. "I just... I don't think we should do bad things to stop more bad things happening." He said in a low voice, looking away,

Michael sighed, starting to feel guilty at Shoto's dejected frame.

"Sit up." Michael commanded.

"Eh?" Shoto looked confused.

"Up," Michael gestured with his hand, making a blinking Shoto follow in order, yet looking confused on the point of them. "Back straight, face forward. Just because someone disagrees with you, doesn't mean you should give up like that."

"Um, y-yeah!" Shoto said, regaining his enthusiasim quickly. "So, you're starting to consider what I said?"

"Not one bit."

Shoto faceplanted onto the table.

"Why!?" Shoto cried out cutely as he sat back up.

Michael chuckled, before giving the boy a more gentle smile. "Shoto, I want you to think on something. Do you eat meat?"

"Um, yeah." Shoto then looked more firm. "But I know this argument. Killing animals might be cruel, but we still need to out of necessity. That's why we should respect every animal we raise and kill, as their sacrifice isn't something we should ever take lightly. That cycle of killing and eating, is also what makes us a part of nature, so we must be grateful to each part of that cycle, as eventually, we will also die and return to nature."

"Alright," Michael nodded. "Now I want you to imagine that tomorrow a phenomena starts happening to cows around the world. They start to be able to make human sounds. They start to show sapience, and the ability to think about themselves and their future. And the first words they speak is," Michael gazed straight into Shoto's eyes. "'Please don't eat me'."

Shoto shook in his seat. As someone so empathetic to other around him due to his powers, he could easily imagine that situation. A feeling of dread engulfed him.

"Scientiest around the world try to understand what's happening? Is this real or a hoax? Are these really cows or some other kind of creature that looks like them? And is this phenomena contained or spreading? More importantly, how do you think people will react?" Michael said, to the paling Shoto. "People who advocate for animal rights will shout to the roof tops, that they were right, that their cause is just, that people should stop eating meat world wide. Others will shrug and say that, that humans have been eating meat since forever, there's no need change unless the situation becomes inevitable, or someone else interferes with food products like the government.

"Then there will be those that try to say that this 'sapience' in an animal is unnatural and we should find a way to stop it. There would be those that care, but not enough to change their entire life style, so they just switch exclusively chicken and bacon instead of beef, and say they have done their part. And their will be those that say an animal gaining sapiance is a danger to humanity's continuation, and advocate for all types of cattle, to be genocide, so the ethical dilemma of interacting with a sapient race we used to feed on for sustenance, could be avoided all together." Michael finished explaining. "In that type of situation, what would you do? What would be acting in accordance with nature?"

"I..." Shoto gathered his thought, then looked up with determination, forcing a smile on their face. "We should help them. If they are able to talk, communicate and think like us, then we shouldn't eat them. That would be monstrous."

"And," Michael continued. "What if one of your friends thinking talking cows is monstrous? What if one of your friends that is a vegan is killed by one of those cows, while they are scared and confused? Or in a more simple matter, what about the farmers that will now be out of a job for good, as they can't raise cattle without this new situation that makes herding unworkable? Or what about the people world wide that would starve to death due to inevitable overreaction of how to deal with this unprecedented situation?"

"But that's wrong! People... can't act on fear like that. And... we live in a time where we should be able to find an alternate solution if we get our heads together." Shoto said back.

"Maybe," Michael said while looking away. "Yet, from that example you can see the sheer chaos that would arrive from that hypothetical scenario. Now imagine if those cows can fight and kill us, or even have special abilities designed specifically against us, like a radiation gun or something."

"Wait." Shoto furrow his brows in confusion. "In that analogy... Devils are talking cows?"

"Humans would be the cows in that example." Michael corrected. "Of course, for that analogy to work, there would have had to be the option to not need to interact with the cows at all, because we can go to another planet with no cows native to it." Michael then shook his head. "That metaphor went on for too long and it's breaking. What I'm trying to say is..." Michael grew quiet for a while. "Shoto, this isn't something that the others asked me about, but do you know why out of all the supernatural races in the world, I only classified the Devils as Enemies of Humanity?"

"Um, yeah, Jeanne mentioned that you called them that." Shoto held his chin in thought. "Thinking about it, aren't Vampires the same? They could turn people into more Vampires. Werewolves too, right?"

"Yes, but that's not enough for me to think of them as that type of a threat." Michael shook his head. "I tend to categorize other people, this includes different races or otherwise generally like this." Shoto frowned, like he was about to protest Michael narrowing and placing people in boxes like that. He once knew a Student Council President that considered people to be either 'productive members of society' or 'failures' with no in-between. It was quiet the difficult challenge for Shoto, back in primary school, to prove to his senpai that people can always change for the better, and that they are not just cogs in a machine. They were free beings with the right to live their lives and find their happiness. Then Michael spoke. "First there are those who are friends or more. Those tend to be people I think of more in a personal capacity, but it could also apply to, for example, a race that share a harmonious relationship with humans, where both of us either need, or just plainly improve each other from interacting with one another."

Shoto sat back and waited at hearing that.

Well, that's not so bad. Shoto thought.

"Then there are those that are Allies. A person or a group with a symbiotic relationship, or just one where we can work together for a common goal. That's usually the more common relationship people and in this case humans have with one another, or other races, such as the Angels. In theory at least."

"Wouldn't the Angels be our friends?" Shoto interjected.

"Friends don't let friend be enslaved." Michael deadpanned.

Shoto winced. "I don't think they are letting us, so much as not actively... oh, okay, I'll be quiet now." At Michael's dry looked, Shoto couldn't help but shrink in his seat, as he couldn't find a good argument for defending Angels about letting Devils use their Evil Pieces on unsuspecting humans.

"After that there is the Neutral category. People we just exist with and around. They are neither enemies nor allies. Just those we act out the concept of 'live and let live' with. Youkai fall into this category. They aren't our allies, but that doesn't have to mean they are our enemies either. Sure their are some who are bad, but on a whole, they just want to live on their own. They can feed on humans for example, but they don't actually need to, so the peaceful ones, who are the majority, just try to live side by side, or in hiding away from us. This category is the largest and most common relationship, and it's the best in my opinion. We don't have to be friends or allies with everyone, but if we can all live on the same earth without being hostile and just prosper on our own, that would be fine." Michael said.

"Yeah," Shoto smiled at that mental image. "But making friends would be more fun." He grinned widely.

"Yeah, probably." Michael smiled, before having a more solemn look. "Then we get to the last two categories. Threats and Enemies." He said. "Threats are just people or races who are naturally antagonistic to humans. They doesn't necessarily mean all of them, but their race's attitude toward us as a whole. Vampires are an excellent example of this. They are a race that needs us for sustenance. They can infect us with vampirism, but it's not something they would willingly do easily, and that method isn't fast enough to propagate their numbers far. They could become an Enemy, if their numbers were large enough, but they wouldn't wipe out humanity as they need us to survive. Same thing with any being that lives by feeding on humans, that parasitic relationship is the very reason, they won't wipe us all out, even if they are strong."

Shoto gulped at the heavy tone, this subject changed to. "If something like that is only a Threat, then... what do you think of as an 'Enemy'?"

Michael took a long breath, and a moment to gather his thoughts.

"You know..." He began. "Compared to the New Satan Faction, the ones in power now, I actually prefer the Old Satan Faction."

"Huh!? But why? They want to restart the Great War!" Shoto cried out.

"Because at the end of the day, they are just a Threat to Humans, but then again so many other things are like that. And Threats can just be dealt with. You just need the courage and willingness to fight, and that's enough. The Old Satan Faction? Ultimately, they're just Stronger Vampires. No, they don't need to feed on blood, so they are better Superior Vampires. At the end of the day, we can just fight them, and it's fine. But the New Satans?" Michael tilted his head. "Another hypothetical." Shoto groaned. "Don't worry, this one doesn't have cows." Michael chuckled. "Imagine a Scientist.

"He's working on finding a new energy source. Completely limitless clean energy. He's been researching this all his life. He's so close to finding an answer, but he doesn't have enough time. The only thing left is to compile his work, publish it along with his personal notes so the future generations could complete his work. In comes a Devil offering him an extension of his life through the Evil Piece."

"That's good!" Shoto said excitedly.

"The Devil asks the Scientist to take all his time to finish his work, and it takes two more decades before he's finished. And by then people accept that he had died and disappeared without leaving anything behind."

"That's bad." Shoto said dejected.

"The Scientist is able to finish his work, and it's completed due to discovering the missing piece. Magic. And through that he can give not only all of humanity limitless clean energy, but open the door to discovering the using Magic once more."

"That's good!"

"However the Devils tells the Scientist that releasing his work would expose the masquerade, which would be against the rules. The Devil doesn't want to be the one baring the responsibility of revealing the Supernatural to mankind, and be under the scrutiny of his leaders, the Satans. Said Devil also tells the Scientist, that not only have people forgotten the Scientist, but that him appearing now would raise questions, since he should be dead, but that he can't use a fake name as people would suspect that he stole his own work. This would all simply happen because that Devil doesn't want to rock the boat."

"That's bad."

"However until humanity discovers magic on their own, the Scientist can keep work in reserve and even provide the Underworld with his work, so it can be put to use. Also should the Scientist disagree the Devil would force him to make a working model of his work and release and sell it in the Underworld, while patenting it using his own name. The Devil's that is."

"That!... That's scummy. That's a scam! And how come he's saying to wait till we discover magic, when the scientist guy discover magic through his own work!" Shoto argued.

"And that's exactly it." Michael pointed out. "You can make the argument that those who are turned into Devils wouldn't change as people, that if they want to help humanity, then they can continue to do so. But there are social structures that would be enforced on them. Not only that was eventually they will lose touch with other humans as they experience the longevity of Devils. People care about dogs that become their pet, as they live with them, and would mourn their loss, but people don't care about dogs as a race beyond wanting them around, for the possibility to like one specifically and keep them around. Except in this case, you can make the dog to have the same lifespan as you, and in turn they also suffer from being unable to relate to other dogs."

"Comparing people to dogs... doesn't sound right."

"Yeah, because they shouldn't be. But that's basically what humans are to Devil. An annoyance. A funny monkey that can do tricks, or a possible pet. But ultimately, we are not equal, otherwise they would respect our autonomy."

"But wait, Evil Pieces don't translate to--"

"Every major international company that you know or heard of, be it in videogames to clothes, or even housing, are owned by Devils." Michael said to a stunned Shoto. "And you can bet the CEOs of those companies were turned into Devils, if they were 'bought out', or given a firm talk about who's really in charge." Michael leaned back into his chair. "By the way, every example I using are for Devils who don't hate humans, or out to enslave or oppress us. Simply put their very self-interest will have them act in a way that screws us, because of the basic fact that a Devil will prioritize himself and his race first. I'm not even mentioning those who abuse the Evil Piece system from all the obvious way it could be abused."

"B-But then they're not evil. Just trying to live their own lives." Shoto protested.

"And it's that very desire that crushes human life and potential. Simply put, the reason why I view Devils as an Enemy of Humanity is that their very presence threatens the erasure of Humanity's existence, be it race, culture, believes or free will." Michael said. "After all, if Devils mass produce Evil Pieces, they can turn all Humans into Devils in a generation or two."

"B-But they can't do that. Surely there are other factions that would stop them." Shoto argued.

"Yes, and thank God for that, but just because some supernatural faction opposes Devils, doesn't mean they side with mankind. This is a problem we must deal with ourselves." Michael said. "Besides, my solution at least avoids war and mass slaughter. Yes, we'll antagonist the Devils and possibly the Fallen, but it's not like we're friends anyways. Heck, we'll probably gain Allies should we succeed."

Michael looked up and took a deep breath. He looked at the noodle bowel that was starting to cool, and placed a Rune on it to heat it back up, and keep the warm temperature constant.

"Ah, sorry. We were talking for so long, when you're suppose to be having lunch and--"

"It's fine." Michael smiled and shook his head. "This talk was coming for a while now. I don't mind it." He then glanced at the bowl now giving off low bit of steam from being warmed up. "Did you pray to cook a meal that would get me talking to you?" He asked.

"Ah! No!" Shoto said enthusiastically, even crossing his arms in an 'X'. "Praying for myself is a big 'no-no'. I just pray that I make a meal you'd like, or that the food I make will make the person who eats it happy." Shoto said with a content smile, while looking down. "Ah, well, I did pray for myself once, but it was to be able to feel others emotions, so I know who needs help."

"Are you a housewife?" Michael deadpanned. "And that prayer was just a way for your to continue on your quest to be the ultimate goody-two shoes. Don't act like that's selfish."

"Ahahaha, yeah a lot of my classmates say that too." Shoto laughed while rubbing the back of his head. "But when people are happy, they are more amicable to talking, to sharing new ideas, that why," Shoto looked up, and his bright smile was shining. The image of a shroud floating like a hagoromo, a celestial robe, appeared behind Shoto for a moment like a see-through illusion before vanishing in the sunlight glare. "I want everyone around me to be happy. If people are happy, a brighter tomorrow can be reached."

Michael blinked at those words, then looked at Shoto more seriously. There was an unexplained emotion in Michael's eyes.

Shoto's express slowly went down, as he couldn't understand Michael's reaction.

"Shoto..." Michael said with a frown filled with concern. "Where did you learn that?"

"Um," Shoto blinked at the non-sequitur. "My grandfather." He said, smiling at the memory. "We used to play a lot together when I was a kid. Before he died, he used to tell me that my bright smile can save anyone from despairing. He said it was my gift." He looked up toward Michael, his cheerful wide smile coming back in full force. "That's why I need to face whatever the future brings with a large smile, so I can pull anyone up from sadness and make everyone happy. That way, the better can become better for everyone!" He bashfully looked aside, looking like a blushing maiden. "I understand that that's unrealistic, but that's no reason not to keep trying till I succeed." He looked back at Michael, pumping his fist in a guts pose.

And in response to those heart-filled words, Shoto was met with that unexplained expression once again, that made the bottom of his stomach feel hollow.

"...I really hate 'great power, great responsibility' mottos." Michael sighed with a heavy scowl, and Shoto didn't understand why, but it felt like his chest was slammed. Michael's words felt like a condemnation. "Seriously, 'keep smiling till everyone's happy'? Was he trying to curse you?" He grunted.

"Hey!" Shoto shot up, slamming his hands on the table, an emotion he rarely experienced returning to him. Anger.

And it's because of it, he understood Michael's previous expression. Pity.

Guilty and shame welled up in Shoto's chest, as he sat down.

"Um, sorry, I didn't mean to blow up like that. B-but I won't accept anyone disparaging my grandpa!" Shoto said hotly.

"I'm sorry." Michael said with a bowed head.

"Eh?" Shoto was so thrown off by the gruff and stern Michael sudden switching to being regretful like that. "Um, ah..."

"Shoto, I'm not trying to insult your grandfather or his memory." Michael said, looking stare at Shoto with firmness yet also concern. "However, I think you might have misunderstood him."

"What?" Shoto frowned.

"Hear me out," Michael raise a hand up, before Shoto could protest, asking him to wait and listen. "Your grandfather clearly loved you, if you think so fondly of him. However, there is no parent on earth that would want their beloved child to be a martyr. No one wants their kid to constantly sacrifice themselves forever for the sake of others." Shoto wanted to protest those words, yet kept quiet for now. Michael's words seemed... sincere. "Words like that? They are meant to be aspirational, and the thing about aspirational speeches is that, they aren't suppose to be a dogma."

The declaration seemed to silence the world, from Shoto's perspective.

"We are human. We are flawed, we make mistakes, we mess up our judgement, but as long as we have a good ideal as our north star, we can steer our way back to the right path. And the thing about north stars, they are meant to guide us, but if we actually reached them..." Michael gave Shoto a sad smile. "The heat of the star would burn us."

Shoto felt like the world around him was falling from under him. His chest was feeling tight. There was a ringing in his ears, and his heart was so lou--

SMACK!

"Hey. Hey, look at me."

Shoto suddenly noticed Michael next to him, holding Shoto's face in his hands.

"Breathe, breathe. You know the four by four breathing?" Michael asked and Shoto nodded. Michael's hands were roughed, but surprisingly warm. "In, one, two, three, four. Hold, one, two, three, four. Out, one, two, three, four. Hold, one, two, three, four and repeat."

They kept the breathing exercise up for a little while, before Michael suddenly moved away from Shoto's sight.

"What is that?" Michael said pointing at the table.

"A-A table?"

"Color. Say what it is, and what color." Michael order.

"Um, blue, it was painted recently?"

"Enhanced to look like that. Next, that?"

"The ramen I made?"

"Ingredients?"

Michael kept that up for a while, with Shoto answering him, and before he realized it, his heartbeat was normal again, and the ringing in his ears was gone. His eyesight returned to normal, rather than zoomed in like it was before.

"I'm, I'm fine now." Shoto said, blushing at how close Michael was, as he examined him.

"Seriously." Michael sighed. "What are you, a maiden about to have a fainting spell from being 'overwhelmed'?" Michael let off a half-chuckle.

"Hey, I've played Victorian ladies before, and it was never like that." Shoto protested.

"That's not what I mea--Never mind." Michael smiled dejectedly and shook his head.

Michael took his seat again, facing Shoto, and Shoto found he missed the warmth of Michael next to him. It was... a first, seeing some look that concerned for him. Yes, he had other worry about him before, but Michael... He seemed so antagonistic and even delinquent at times, but deep down, he seemed to care about others around him. Shoto found himself smiling at Michael's annoyed attitude, before wondering why he liked Michael's concern over others before.

...He didn't ask me to wish for something for him. The thought came to Shoto involuntarily. He shook his head to push the thought away.

"Shoto, feeling better?" Michael asked.

"Yep! Thanks to you!" Shoto gave him a thumbs up and his trademark cheerful smile.

Michael didn't smile back looking concerned.

"It's okay not to be happy, Shoto."

"Huh?" Shoto blinked. Where did that come from? He looked at Michael with confusion.

"People should feel all their emotions." Michael said, leaning down, to rest his elbows on his thighs, and look at the ground. "The reason why problems come up, is because people repress the experiences and emotions that came from them. They force themselves to be happy, when they should be sad, or angry, or afraid."

"But--!"

"I said you misunderstood your grandfather's words." Michael said, the words he was about to say next, felt so important, Shoto instinctively quieted to listen. "Because while you're busy wishing for everyone's happiness... Who's wishing for yours?"

A strong feeling welled up in Shoto's chest. It rose up to his throat, then face, like rising steam, and now his eyes felt like the beginning of being watery.

"Ahahaha, I'm fine, Michael. After all, I'm the one with the superpower after all. Ahahaha!" Shoto looked to the side, as he rubbed his eyes. "Urgh, dust here." He said.

"The barrier I put up removes things like dirt and the like, keeping this place, quiet, peaceful and also clean, so we can eat here." Michael said.

"Heek!" Shoto crouched down, head on the table with his arms around him, covering his head. "Ah, man, I'm starting to feel sleepy." Shoto said out loud.

Then the Shroud holder felt a hand resting on his head, gently rubbing his hair.

"Shoto, if someone was having a funeral for their parents, they shouldn't try to force themselves to be happy. They should let themselves be sad, and cry their heart out. They need to acknowledge their grief and express it, rather than let it fester. Same thing for anger, contempt, jealousy, or fear." Michael slowly said. "I'm not saying that they should act out in destructive ways, emotions are meant to be expressed, and they can do so safely without bringing others harm. That's why it's okay to feel down, or listless, and apathetic. It's not okay to drown in those emotions, forcing yourself to feel nothing but them. Indulging in your misery for example, would be bad. But everyone should feel their emotions, let them flow." A soft smile can be felt in Michael's voice. "All of it comes and goes in waves. That's just how life is."

Shoto's sleeves were wet.

When Michael moved to remove his hand, Shoto spoke up.

"Wait." Shoto said. "Can you... keep doing that? My mom... she used to..."

Without saying anything, Michael kept petting Shoto's head.

=x=x=x=x=x=

A red faced Shoto was walking through the halls of Hero Faction headquarters without a destination in mind.

His mind kept going to Michael's soothing words and gestures, a while back.

He wasn't used how to react to Michael. He disagreed on the idea of sealing off the Devils unilaterally like that... but more he wanted to help the people in front of him.

When he told Michael that he can feel other people's emotions, he didn't mention that Michael's emotions caused Shoto the most amount of concern.

Michael for all his level-headedness was the biggest concentration of Rage and Guilt Shoto had ever seen. Thankfully he can't be harmed by other's emotions, but he can understand the intensity that they are experiencing those emotions. Yet throughout all those negative feelings, Michael still took the time to worry and care for Shoto.

Shoto wanted to repay that kindness but how?

I wished I could make Michael happy. Shoto thought with a frustrated pout at not having an answer right away.

Unbeknownst to the Holy Shroud Wielder, his emotions were strong enough to be registered by his Sacred Gear, thus for a small moment, the Shroud of Turin activated, and lead Shoto's aimless wandering to the dormitory.

=x=x=x=x=x=

Valerie Tepes was sitting comfortably in her comfortable bed, in her nice and colorful room, in her comfortable fluff pajamas.

And she was pouting fiercely. While being comfortable.

Yes, ever since she was kidnapped from her home, her new life in the Hero Faction's headquarters was a nice and cosy. She could eat whenever she wanted, she could walk anywhere in the compound, and even had scheduled trips in the Human World. Yet, it was technically a chained life, but it was far, far, far, far more than she experienced living in the Tepes Castle.

People here were wary of her at first, or lowkey aggressive, or just overtly hostile, which was refreshing to actually deal with. Although that was just Jeanne who didn't seem to like her.

Then there was Michael Chaser. The name of her virtue's defiler. Yes, she thankfully still had her purity, but now after the story of her rescue--Kidnapping!--went around, some of the people here were calling her the Vampire Butt Princess behind her back! That her derriere was able to charm even the stalwart Michael Chaser himself.

Valerie wanted to shout that Michael was a pervert under his mask of "seriousness" or "professionalism", but no one would believe her.

If only there was a way to get back at him. Valerie thought, imaging scenarios of tricking or punishing the handsome--dreadful man.

The door to her room opened to reveal a dark blue haired...boy? Yes, boy, who was deep in thought.

Upon noticing her, the boy looked around in confusion for a second, before quickly leaning back into the entrance he came in from, with sheepish look on his face.

"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to barge in. I was just lost in thought, I ended up wandering here." He said while rubbing the back of his head. "I'm Shoto! Arakawa Shoto! Nice to meet you." He said with a bright smile.

"Oh, it's alright." Valerie said with a kind smile. No need to be rude to innocent cute strangers. "My name is Valerie Tepes." She introduced herself. "May I ask, what happened to have you so distracted, Mr. Arakawa?" She asked.

"Ah, please, just call me Shoto. I mean, we're the same age and all." He said cheerfully, his attitude raising Valerie's mood. Shoto then frowned as the problem he was thinking on came back to mind. "I was just talking with Michael, you know. Michael Chaser." Valerie stilled at the mention.

What are the odds? She thought.

"Oh, and what seems to be the problem?" Valerie asked for the sake of getting information on her butt handler--Enemy! Her enemy.

Shoto sat down with Valerie, the air around her so comforting and welcoming, as he started talking, telling her of the wide and ranged discussion. Valerie nodded here and there, asking for clarification at time, but getting the gist of their argument.

"I just want to try and make Michael happy, but I don't know how to help." Shoto spoke with a sigh, as he laid out his problem.

"...I know how you could cheer him up." Valerie smiled. This wasn't her normal gentle smile. But one that hide evil machinations.

"Really?" Shoto asked with starry eyes.

Valerie remembered when she used to dress up her childhood friend Gasper in all manners of cute girly clothes. She remember how shocked and embarrass members of the Tepes Family were who fell for Gasper's looks, thinking he was a girl. They were some good times, and still are when it turned out her friend had survived his escape. Albeit as a Devil servant for the Gremory Princess now.

"Oh yes. Tell me... have you ever tried a dress before?" She asked slowly.

"Oh yeah. Multiple times for theater play." Shoto nodded like an excited puppy.

"Then this will be very fun." Valerie said with a smile.

For me. The Vampire Butt Princess was laughing manically in her mind.

=x=x=x=x=x=

"So!" Meredith said as she sat with Michael in his usual private area for lunch.

"Hello to you too." Michael said, eating the noodles Shoto had made and blessed earlier, while trying out his powers.

The Holy Shroud Wielder was unlike what Cao Cao or the Hero Faction expected at all. While convincing him to work with them wasn't hard, the word was a natural cheerful kid, that wished everyone he met a happy day, or good luck, etc. and it all came true due to his unconscious use of his Holy Relic Sacred Gear.

Shoto was the type of kid who wanted everyone around him to be happy, to the point that his bright attitude was infectious. It made the 'serious' members of the Hero Faction and Vali Team not always comfortable around him, as he didn't see the point in fighting, or 'being mean to one another'. Shoto also didn't seem to get that some people liked to spar together.

"So?" Michael asked Meredith. "Everything went according to plan." He said with a nod. "By the way, how was the Evil Extraction Spell going?"

The Carmilla Faction attacked the Tepes Faction with full force, while the Tepes Faction had nearly all their Vampires strengthened by Valerie over the years, and some were further enhanced from Marius Tepes' experiment.

The Carmilla Faction's element of surprise sure gave them a good head start, but the unexpected strength of the Tepes Faction made the fight much more difficult. Because of how committed both sides ended up being to the battle, due to the aggression of the other, both sides suffered heavy losses.

With the Church notifying about everything that happened in Romania minutes after the battle began, it's likely that in the near future, the Vampire Factions will cease to exist.

"Yes... Except I don't recall in the plan anything about playing with a Dhampir's butt!" Meredith slammed her hands on he table dramatically. "Also yes, I finished the spell with the help of Greog and Le Fay, Kuroka is now 100% a Nekomata again, although it seems she can still used Devil Magic for some reason, and don't change the subject!" Meredith glared fiercely, not realizing her scowl only looked more cute.

"It was an important butt--I mean, an important part of the plan." Michael said as he took in another forkful of noodles with steak pieces, vegatables and spicy broth.

"How?" Meredith said forcibly as she pouted.

Michael calmly finished chewing, put the fork down, and the noodle soup bowl to the side.

"I didn't want Cao Cao to control her." He said plainly. It was only them within the area, and Michael had a Bounded Field up for extra privacy and protection as well.

"You don't trust him." Meredith said, confirming what she already thought, Michael felt about the Hero Faction's leader.

"Cao Cao is a good tactician mostly. He's a good charismatic leader, with a powerful Sacred Gear." Michael explained.

"The most powerful." Meredith clarified, as the True Longinus was universally accepted as the Strongest Longinus and Sacred Gear.

"Debatable." Michael shrugged.

"Which could be stronger?" Meredith tilted her head.

"A combination of Divine Dividing and the Boosted Gear. Shame about the latter's wielder." Michael said casually.

"Ah. Yeah." Meredith shuddered as she read, and worse saw the fight between Vali and the Red Dragon Emperor. It was one thing to appreciate the sexual appeal of the opposite sex that you're attracted to. But Issei Hyoudou takes it disturbingly far. "Back to the point?" Meredith said, trying to steer the conversation back.

Michael nodded. "The point is Cao Cao on paper seems like a good leader."

"But...?" Meredith waited.

"But I don't think he's serious about the stated goal of this group." Michael frowned, and clarified what he meant. "Or rather, what he's serious about, isn't the protection of humanity from evil or antagonistic supernatural creatures. Rather it feels like him, Heracles and Greog are too hung up on the idea of being 'Heroes'. They're fighting to attain glory, and quite simply that's gonna blow up in everyone's faces." Michael rested his head against his hand. "Imagine for instance, we went with that plan to draw out the Great Red for Ophis to fight. Boom. Earth's fucked. Everyone sees us as 'terrorists'," Michael made air-quotes with his hands. "And the Three Faction peace not only gain legitimacy, well, more legitimacy but more allies as well." Michael shook his head. "I'd ask why no one tried to just grant Ophis' wish of giving her, her 'silence', but the obvious answer was because they wanted to use the promise of future help to keep using her, and dragging her along."

"I still can't believe, you can just..." Meredith tried to find the words to describe Michael's relationship with Ophis now, before throwing her hands in the air and giving up. "You're basically her caretaker. She does whatever you want, and listens to everything you say!"

"Ophis is a simple being at her core. She's basically the strongest being in existence compared to everyone else. That's why the concept of deception never registered for her. She's so strong that, why would anyone be stupid enough to trick her or lie to her." Michael had a gentle look on his face. "But for all her want of silence, she just wanted a home, because the silence was the only familiar and comforting thing equated to a home, so she wanted that back. After that she wanted to experience things, and life again, but at her own pace, that's why she bothers listening to me. So since I gave her the ability to have her home wherever, whenever she wants, she sees me as a source of knowledge for experience she might like to, well, experience."

"Right..." Meredith nodded, and was quiet for a moment. "We moved too far from the topic of you molesting Valerie."

"Curses. Foiled again. You're too sharp for me, Meredith." Michael said with a casual nonchalant tone, never losing his smile. Meredith clicked her tongue, and frowned, yet inside she couldn't feel mad at her king, and her... She blushed, too embarrassed to voice it.

If he wanted to grope a butt, I'd let him use mine. She thought.

"So?" Meredith pushed her thoughts aside, to focus on the topic.

Michael stood up, moving toward Meredith's chair, taking her hand to get her to stand up, then sat on another chair, while pulling her onto his lap.

"M-Michael!" Meredith squeaked.

"I wanted to seduce Valerie." Michael said bluntly.

"E-Eh?" Meredith blushed, both at the position and what Michael was saying.

"Well, not necessarily." Michael tilted his head. "Her life, I'd expect from observations and postcognition viewing to be a drab, boring and of course, painful everyday life. So, I thought to shock her with simulation. Energetic interactions, actions like they might be out of the romance novels she once read."

"So... you were just acting." Meredith said, with a skeptic yet maybe hopeful voice.

"Half and half." Michael waved his hand from side to side.

"Which is it!?" Meredith cried out, pouting.

"Meredith..." Michael said slowly, smiling and hugging the redhead closer to him. "I haven't really thought of if I want a relationship, or what form it would take. Last time..." The pained looked that came to Michael's face made her heart ache. She wanted to heal him, to support him.

Even if it meant... if that's what he wants, what knight would act for the sake of their king. Meredith said to herself trying to shape her resolve.

"Michael, if that's your wish--"

"Meredith." Michael interrupted with a small smile. "Valerie having friends, not being depended on Cao Cao, and helping us save humanity is the good outcome from all of this. Trying to seduce her, or maker her dependent on me... I'd rather not resort to those options, but I will take them should needs must." He said firmly. "I don't want to hurt you, so I won't go for those for the most part. But if you can, be her friend. That would be enough."

"I'll do it." Meredith nodded, feeling at ease once more. "E-Even help you with the other option." She blushed while looked away.

"And who knows, maybe you'll like Valerie's company." Michael chuckled.

"How so?" She looked back, eyebrow raised.

"She's sheltered, very much so. She'll look to you or any other experienced girl for guidance." Michael smirked, mischievously. "The faces she makes when startled are hilarious."

Meredith found herself matching Michael's playful smile. She couldn't help but feel teasing the new girl, and potential lover of the same man, to seem very entertaining.

"Oh, I will definitely take care of her then. Big Sister Merry is on the job." Meredith said with a proud nod. "...There is something else." Meredith said looking concerned, holding Michael with a tighter grip, almost like she was afraid he'd vanish. "Are you okay? I mean, Ophis'..." She said, not wanting to speak of the Dragon God's power, as Michael seems fine so far. "I've heard on how many other don't react well to Ophis' Snakes, that they end up over taken from the inside, or their Sacred Gear rages out and breaks."

"It's fine." Michael smiled warmly at her concern. "Thankfully Ophis was willing to be patient with me, and let me study and modify the Snake she gave me." Michael had a complicated look on his face at the mention of his new power-up gift. Like half-amused, half in disbelief, half wonder what he's life is, and half thinking it's ironic. "I told you about how my Magical Energy flows through my body like its own nervous system, right?"

"Yeah, the odd condition of your spiritual pathways." Meredith nodded.

"Well, ever since I gained the Cross, my body had been changing, adapting more to how magic normally works." What Michael wasn't saying, was that his body was getting better at handling magic as it is used by beings in this world. That his body was adapting to see and make his Magic Circuits into a more natural part of him, rather than a tacked on system that needed him to make a mental trigger to turn on. "Ophis' Snake ended up evolving those pathways into, well, a Divine Core basically." He chuckled. "Some old powers that I didn't think I'd ever freely use again, I can access once more. It should make things in the future be... interesting."

"You mean your power from Lugh's side?" Meredith asked. It was the most prevalent theory on Michael's occasionally divine abilities, or the reason for his insane learning speed.

"My, someone's noisy." Michael smirked. He never confirmed one way or another, what he's relation to the Celtic God of Light was. "When more importantly..." Michael leaned closer, their faces inches apart, making Meredith's breath hitch. "Does my knight need me to take care of her?"

"Eeep!" Meredith began to shout, only to stop herself, and whisper-shouted. And then afterwards, remember that there's a Bounded Field to block sound, and hide them. "I, um, Michael, I, I want... uuuuu." Meredith bite her lower lip, her words lost and unable to be formed.

"Merry," Michael leaned in, their nose touching, their eyes only able to see each other. "Use your words. What. Do... you... want?" Michael whispered, before speaking next to her ear. "Say it." His low whisper was a command.

"I,... Kiss, maybe, yo--OOOMPH." Meredith barely got the words out, before her lips were taken by Michael's own.

Her hips grinded against his lap, as his hands roamed her derriere.

The two were lost in tasting one another, for a few moments, before Michael took Meredith to her room.

=x=x=x=x=x=

Cao Cao thought long on how to deal with Michael.

The thing was, Michael's plans and vision was advantageous.

But it's not heroic. Cao Cao thought. It felt too cowardly, too much focus on cloaks and daggers.

Yet it was meticulous in how to deal with the Devils.

By the time, the hammer of judgement fell on them, they wouldn't realize they've been hit.

After listening to Michael's plan to seal off the Underworld, that it was possible to do so using the powers they collectively have, some protests came up.

"What about the souls of the dead? The Underworld serves as their home." Valerie had pointed out. A point that Bikou and Kuroka agreed with. Youkai were naturally sensitive to the ongoing of the spiritual side of things, and the natural order.

"What about the souls of sinners? Yes, good people go to heaven, but what about those who deserve hell, or need purgatory to get another chance?" Jeanne pointed out.

"Can we just talk with these Akuma, and maybe solve this peacefully? Surely they'd understand how bad it is, if they keep taking humanity's best and brightest." Shoto offered. "Maybe we can even ask other gods to help them. Like love or marriage goddesses! Making kids is in their domain, rights?"

""No, Shoto!"" Multiple people shouted at once, having had this argument before.

"Devils suck!" Cried out Kuroka.

"They have literally made enemies out of almost everyone during the Great War, due to their heinous behaviors." Jeanne explained. "The phrase 'deal with the devil' literally comes from them, because dealing with them in any way voluntarily will screw you over, and even involuntarily."

"The only race hated more than Devils are the Vampires, and they, heh, well, they aren't gonna be a Faction anyone cares about soon." Said Greog.

"Also Akuma are demons for Yomi. Devils are the Christian demons from the Bible. So please refer to them as that. The differences matter when you deal with different races." Arthur added.

"Ah! Thank you, Arthur-san!" Shoto said excitedly. "But still, isn't there another way...?" He looked toward Michael with hope.

"Sorry, Shoto, but Devils literally propagate a pyramid scheme all existing to steal mankind, or any other race's potential. Like someone said before, thank god they are too prideful to use the Evil Pieces to their fullest extent." Michael said. "However, you all bring up good points. I didn't think of them in my haste. Give me a minute."

Then Michael really sat quietly for a minute.

"Wait, is Michael, like, genuinely gonna think up a solution right on the spot--" Heracles began to say.

""SHUSH!""  Meredith and Le Fay shushed the boisterous hero. Others watched silence and in anticipation.

Michael had the ability to think multiple train thoughts at once, and speed up his thoughts. So when he said to give him a minute, he genuinely meant it. He was thinking up of a solution at that very moment.

"Alright." Michael opened his eyes to bated breaths. "Here's what we need to do. Not seal all the underworld, but make access to the human world be through very strict gates. Gates that would be under the control of..."

Death Gods. Gods of the Underworld.

That was the answer Michael arrived at. To meet up with all the strongest and more prominent Gods of Death and make a deal with them.

With how many pantheons the Devils had pissed off over the millennia it was a very viable plan.

Simply put rather than seal off a whole dimension powered by Ophis' energy, they can just limited travel between the two dimensions, to a limited number of access points, Underworld Gates, to act as the doorway between the Human World, and the Underworld.

The Underworld Gates would only be available for Gods of Death. That way each soul can head to its rightful pantheon's underworld. And if the Devils wanted to enter the Human World through the Underworld Gates, they'd have to do so through a Death God's permission, something extremely unlikely given the Devils' history with, well, everyone.

The problem lied in that the Devils could then access the Human World by going to Hell, the actual location, as that would be the Underworld Gate for the Abrahamic Religions, and since the three Abrahamic religions don't have a Death God, there would be no one to guard that point.

Except of course, Michael can custom make that opening to a place that can act as a choke point for the Devils. A place that the Hero Faction and Angels can use to keep the Devils struck in the Underworld.

Although it would depend on if the Angels would help us, or be against us, given their new peace treaty. Another point to this plan was that since the Grigori's headquarters was also in the Underworld, that meant it's possible to not only seal the Devils to the Underworld, but the Fallen Angels as well.

Cao Cao even spoke with Lord Indra of this plan, and the Hindu War God laughed wholeheartedly at it.

"Are you serious? Really? HAHAHAHAHAHA! Seriously Cao Cao, you better step up your game, or I might start favor this Chaser rather than you. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA... Well, obviously not. That mortal's attitude annoyed the hell outta me. Well, as long as he doesn't overstep his bounds, I can ignore him. Ultimately this all works in my favor. He really didn't think on how this would impact the Humans once the Gods see that only the Angels stand between them, and a new buffet of potential worshipers?" Indra smirked on in amusement. "Fuck it, I'll talk to Yama and Enma of this plan of yours. Go talk to them 'officially'. Consider that two Death Gods in your corner."

Cao Cao nodded at that wisdom. He understood. Michael's hatred of Devils, was blinding him to other potential enemies. But it meant that humanity's heroes would have ample opportunity to rise up and show mankind's superiority.

And should the Angels try and stop us after closing the Underworld for the Devils, except for the Hell Gate?

Then the whole world would see how the Angels truly are. Pawns of the Devils in the end.

Right now, Cao Cao had returned from his meetings for alliance with the Hindu and Buddism Gods of Death with success. Of course, his success is owed to Lord Indra for greasing the wheel and giving him the chance for those meetings, but Cao Cao would like to think the two Death Gods were convinced by his speech further, to see like they were accepting a good deal.

Then travelling with Arthur Pendragon, Cao Cao met with Donn, the Irish God of the Dead, and Arawn, the Welsh God of Death. Both said they would consider his proposal, if their group managed to gain the agreement of Hades and Hel, the Greek and Norse Death Gods respectively.

The more diplomatic members both the Hero Faction and Vali Team, went to meet up with other Death Gods. Last Cao Cao checked, Greog and Michael have already met with Ereshkigal from the Persian Pantheon, and Hel of the Norse Pantheon, and have gained their agreement.

As if summoned by the thought, mist rolled up near Cao Cao as a portal was formed by the Longinus, Dimension Lost, where Michael and Greog passed through.

"Greog, Michael, welcome back. I heard everything went well." Cao Cao asked out of politeness and to share in the good mood.

"Yeah." Michael nodded. "Sorry for not being talkative, but I'm gonna head to sleep. Greog see you tomorrow for Hades. That should be the last of the major ones, we can then contact Unknown Dictator."

"Right," Greog nodded, while forcing himself to smile. "Thank you for your hard work. I'll see you later."

Michael nodded and left.

The moment he was gone, Greog slumped in his seat, panting from exertion.

"Hmm? I thought you would be able to handle the pressure from Realms of the Dead by now." Cao Cao said in jest.

"The pressure of those places are difficult on living people, but I was able to adjust with Dimension Lost after a while. It's the fact that Michael can go through them so frequently without something like that, that's insane." Greog said.

Cao Cao nodded in agreement. All the other members that went to meet a Death God only met with one, and those sturdy enough two. Only Cao Cao managed to travel to four Death Realms.

"We met up with Ereshkigal, then Hel, and then the Morrigan." Greog recounted.

"Hmm? The Morrigan? That wasn't planned." Cao Cao narrowed his eyes, surprised at this sudden turn of events. It's still fortunate if they managed to convince the Celtic Goddess of Death, but that such a thing happened without planning it beforehand is concerning.

"Yeah," Greog sighed. "We were suppose to come back two day ago, but Michael suddenly said he had a good feeling about the Morrigan, and we sent her a request for a meeting." Greog explained. "But Cao Cao, the meeting with Hades, you need to go with Michael."

"Did something happened?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said the meetings went well, as they had accepted. Did the Morrigan refused?" He wondered if Michael's surprised gambit flopped.

"No, no, she accepted too. It's just..." Greog struggled to find the words. "Death Gods act weird around Michael."

Cao Cao blinked and looked intrigued.

"Weird how?" The Hero Faction Leader asked.

"Well for starters, first when we met Ereshkigal..."

=x=x=x=x=x=

The Persian Underworld was usually a realm of shadows, cold and darkness. It was a quiet realm where only the Goddess of Death resided, spending her days in solemn solitude. Long past were the days of her worship, yet as an Ancient Gods, one of the first to rule over the realm of the dead, her power was undeniable in her territory.

By her will alone, Kur was meant to be silence for the rest of eternity.

And that silence was disturbed that day, when Michael and Greog came.

"Holy shit, is there no end to these shades?!" Greog cried out, as another group of beings made of shadows were burned by the Hero Descendant's Fire Magic.

"Greog, wait, stop." Michael held a hand up in front of the Magician. "I don't think they're attacking us. Try using Wind Magic, to just wave them away or around us."

"Hmm, worth a try." Greog said and did so.

Surprisingly that was enough, as the shades were simply flailing and running around in a panic. Other beings living in Kur with more intelligence were distinctively running away from the pair.

"Okay... That's weird. Wonder what spooked them?" Greog said.

"I guess they're not used to seeing living people here. It's been a while since that happened." Michael said back.

"Indeed." A voice heavy with divinity and authority slammed down on the pair, nearly making them buckle and fall to the ground. "I had wondered why Kur was so noisy today. I did allow you come here, but I wasn't expecting you humans to be so loud and rude."

Before the Hero Faction members, a figure floated down from above. A divine figure of dreadful beauty.

Ereshkigal, the Persian Goddess of Death.

"Or rather you are so noisy." She said pointedly toward Michael. "Maybe I should cut you down for disrupting my Kur this much. You're a shitty guest walking around with all of those around you."

"Ah, Lady Ereshkigal, we didn't cause this chaos. The shades simple acted out on their own. Michael here didn't cause this, I do so swear." Greog said kneeling and holding a hand over his heart. "We came to meet you with peace and sincerity, in our thoughts and actions. Of we did something to upset you or the shades we didn't know about, we apologize. Right, Michael?" Greog gritted his teeth while looking pointedly at his companion. "Whatever that caused this, we did mean it."

"Child of Faust's blood, your mortal living eyes do not see what mine do." Ereshkigal narrowed her eyes at Michael.

"I'm sorry for the noise, Lady Ereshkigal, but if you are seeing them, I can't do anything about them." Michael said with a casual shrug, not showing any warriness at all, even in the face of an irate Death Goddess.

"You can let go of those Remnants." She said, much to Greog's confusion. "Although with all that guilty you carry, I guess that's impossible. Seriously, why are there so many?" She cried out, before letting a long sigh. "If this was me from before I would have just killed you both to end this annoying meeting already." She looked at Michael with irritation and narrowed eyes. "Yet for some reason when I look at you, I feel wanting to hear you out. How about I accept your deal, and you spend eternity here with me as an apologize for this insult?" Ereshkigal smirked, before realizing what she said, and shook her head, a light flush on her face. "What's with me today?" She muttered.

"Ah, sorry about that Ere--Lady Ereshkigal." Michael said, rubbing the back of his head. "Should I die and end up in Kur, you may do with me as you wish. As for them?" He looked down for a moment, a melancholic smile coming to his face, before he looked back up at the goddess again. "I'm afraid carrying those emotions is my duty. I will not forgo this weigh." He said with a sincerity Greog didn't hear from him often.

"...Fine." Ereshkigal scoffed, as she turned and walked to her home, mentioning for the humans to follow her. "The sooner you finish spouting your proposal, the sooner you leave."

=x=x=x=x=x=

"Then there was the trip in Helheim..."

=x=x=x=x=x=

Unlike their travels in Kur, the journey through the Realm of the Norse Death Goddess, Hel was much more calm.

In fact, it was deadly silent. Not a single dead spirit, or Draugr warrior appeared in Michael and Greog's paths.

And when the two Hero Faction members met Hel...

"You poor, sweet child." The Norse Death Goddess had approached Michael, and cupped his face. The moment she had seen the Holy Cross holder, she began weeping, tears framing her face. "Why do you do torture yourself so? Can you not see you have burned yourself enough, carrying weigh? You can rest here, can you not allow yourself to do so?

"Sorry," Michael gently held the goddess's hand, and pulled them down. "But I still have something to do. I can't abandon them. Those forlorn wishes... their existence must be validated."

In response, Hel hugged Michael and cried harder.

Of course, she did agree to their proposal later on.

Greog was confused as fuck throughout this entire trip.

=x=x=x=x=x=

"And finally there was the Morrigan." Greog said.

"I didn't think the Celtic Goddess of Death had a realm of her own." Cao Cao asked.

"She technically doesn't, since the Irish and Celtic Pantheon share many domains and realms, but she still has a greater Authority over Tech Duinn than Donn does, technically." Greog clarified. "After we left Helhiem, Michael took us to Britain as he wanted to check it out for sightseeing. I thought we should celebrate since we got two Death Gods approval, but we ended up going to Ireland due to our boat going near a storm--I dunno why Michael decided for us to go by travel boat, he said it fit the mood--and we ended up running into the Morrigan then."

=x=x=x=x=x=

As the Hero Faction pair stood before the Phantom Queen as she sat at a table by the river, simply watching moving water, and the valley after it.

"Your war is over child." The Morrigan spoke, her voice holding a charming quality, that can seduce anyone who hears it, from wanting to go on living, just to hear it more. "Shouldn't you rest by now? In fact," she smiled, her eyes twinkling with otherworldly knowledge. "This second chance you've gain, this miracle... Should you not cherish it more?"

"I lived for a reason." Michael said, his voice more solemn and harsh than when he spoke to the other two Death Goddess. "I'm alive now for a reason." He looked up to the Morrigan and spoke so fiercely it almost sounded like a growl. "Living a 'good life' isn't enough. Being happy or content isn't enough. This life of mine needs to be meaningful. It need to justify why I'm here." Michael's eyes glowed with power and divinity. "That I can't rest. I won't stop for as long as my body can move."

The Morrigan laugh out loud in mirth.

"So different from Lámhfhada, yet so alike." She smiled as she looked at Michael. "I can see why he allowed you to use his power." Morrigan said. "I know of your quest, and I offer my aid for good or for ill. Let's see how far your spirit will take you this time."

=x=x=x=x=x=

"And that's everything." Greog finished his retelling. "Whatever life Michael lived before he joined us, before he appeared in that town the Strongest Exorcist lived in, it must have involved hell a lot of fighting and war. That's the only explanation I can think of for why Death Gods seem either freaked out by him, or pity him."

"...He might not be a son of Lugh." Cao Cao's eyes widened as he said to himself in deep thought.

"Cao Cao?"

"Sorry, Greog. It's just that, the words of the Celtic Goddess of Death, they had quite the implication." Cao Cao smirked. "How fascinating."

He couldn't help but marvel at how similar he and Michael turned out to be, when he learned of this. As holder of Longinus and Holy Relics, maybe this similarity was meant to be, so that in their inevitable clash for leadership, there would be no excuse for the loser.

The meeting with Hades should be interesting. Cao Cao thought.

"But what's these 'Remnant', the Death Gods keep saying are attached to Michael?" Greog said. "The only thing that comes to mind, are ghosts in a sense. Not spirits that continued to exist in the living world, but rather the beings, like Youkai, that are made up emotions left over by those who died, and the emotions lingered to strongly attached to a place, or had violent deaths."

"In which case, it might be the case that the guilt Michael feels from growing up and participating in a war is the reason why those ghosts attached themselves to him." Cao Cao then frowned as he thought of something. "However, we should have felt if those Remnants are around. My Spear should have reacted, and tried to exorcism just from proximity."

"Not unless Michael is shielding them to keep them around." Greog offered an explanation.

"...Chief Mourner’s Crucified Stand of Purple Flame." Cao Cao said with wide-eyes after a moment.

"The other name of the Holy Cross. You're saying him carrying those 'Remnants' is why it chose him?" Greog asked, surprised, and intrigued by this likely connection.

"It could be," Cao Cao said. "It even seems like it was fate." He smiled. "Let's message Lord Hades for a meeting. I will be attending like you suggested. The experience should prove enlightening." He could even outright asked the Greek God of Death on these Remnants afterwards, since messaging to other Gods of Death about one of his own subordinates would look bad. Like there was disunity in their faction.

=x=x=x=x=x=

Cao Cao looked at the letter in his hand with confusion.

It was from Hades, telling the Hero Faction that he was contacted by Hel, and approved of their plan.

However, Cao Cao wasn't sure how to feel about it, since Hades gave the stipulation that had they visited his realm with 'The One Carrying Thousands of Remnant Wills', he would have taken that act as a declaration of war, and destroyed the Hero Faction.

Thus Hades sending his approval by mail, was him giving the Hero Faction face, so as not to see them as enemies.

However as glad as Cao Cao was for how successful this plan was coming so far, he couldn't help but feel worried. Why would Hades be wary of Michael--because that's obviously who he was referring to--that he'd avoid meeting them all together.

That reaction from Hades of all people. Someone in the Top Ten Strongest Beings in the World. That... worried Cao Cao.

I am Michael's superior, right? If not then the Holy Lance more than makes them equals... right?

Discontentment grew in Cao Cao's heart.

=x=x=x=x=x=

Magnus Rose was a CIA agent for the American government. He was an intelligence officer working for the CIA branch related to Supernatural incidents.

It was his job to find supernatural threat, identify and relate them to his agency. He protected the United States in the shadows from something the common man, and sometimes the common agent can't comprehend, so they can live blissful, peaceful lives.

And he had been caught.

He knew of the common mage tactic of 'Scry & Die', and any Government Magician worth his salt has his detection and protection against such tactics.

However, everyday Magicians generally don't expect to deal with Longinus Sacred Gears, and once in a century Divination Geniuses.

Magnus was sitting on a chair in a dark room, with the light on him. In the shadows were other Magicians, and the only other person he would see was the one who succeeded in catching him off guard.

"So, when does the torture start?" Magnus said nonchalantly, as he eyed the leader of the group that ambushed him.

Michael Chaser.

A ghost that appeared in the town of Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Italy, home to Dulio Gesualdo, the Church's Strongest Exorcist, and Wielder of the Second Strongest Longinus, Zenith Tempest.

Michael wasn't really anything to take note of. Except someone ballsy enough to walk up to the Archangel Michael, and call him out on being a lousy protector of mankind, is bound to be on some list somewhere.

After that Michael joined the Magician Organization ,Golden Dawn for a period of almost six months, and vanished. That again wasn't anything to write home about, since many wannabe Magician quit once they realize how tough learning magic was. Or they bite off more than they could chew in their training, research, quest, etc.

Except, once again, Michael trigger a flag for observation, due to his talent in Divination. That's something the U.S. government would naturally keep an eye on, as one of those 'just in case' situations.

And the moment he finally acted in someway, it was to catch the agency off guard from the get go. Magnus thought disapprovingly, as he was disappointed in himself. But he wasn't gonna buckle under the pressure from some guy, and kids with superpowers than brains kidnapping him.

"You know, you also need better chains." Magnus said, as the ones holding him were standard Anti-Mage handcuffs, but he trained to get out of those. If one of them makes the amateurish mistake to gets close, it would open up a chance.

"They don't need to work for long." Michael said. "Just long enough for you to hear what I say, and then report it to your bosses."

That sent Magnus up short.

"...And you couldn't have just have called to set up a meeting?" Magnus raised an eyebrow.

Michael shook his head. "It's for the best that our organizations aren't seen as being friendly or in contact for plausible deniability."

"That's assuming whatever you have to say, my bosses would agree with." Magnus pointed out.

Michael smiled and spoke of a plan.

A Grand Plan.

"...You're insane." Magnus couldn't help but say on instinct. "Something like that isn't going to work. The Satan Government wouldn't just allow it. Heck, my bosses wouldn't allow it as we're allies with them, so we're obligated to inform them. And I don't think you understand my power. I don't have the reach to manipulate the internets like that."

Magnus couldn't believe Michael wanted him to hack both the Internet, and the DevilNet at the same time.

For DevilNet it was to release a manual on how to achieve Balance Breakers, and for the Devils on Earth to receive news on catastrophes in their home land, that would gallivant them to head to the Underworld to make sure their homes and families there are safe.

And for the Internet, Michael wanted him to break the masquerade. To reveal the existence of Magic and a guide on how to start learning it.

"In reverse order, not alone, no. If we work together we can compile the list of every Devil living in our world, and tailor-make the news for them when it's happens. As for your bosses, well, not abiding by any secrecy while delivering this info could be seen as negligence, since they might want to act on this information, as it could be beneficial for the U.S. government. So, you'll have to report this talk of ours straight to the top, to the Head of the CIA, who would immediately talk to the President. The real Head, of course, not the public one. Since Mr. Clancy is one of the few people in a top-level position in your government and intelligence agencies not to have a contract with a Devil. Thus hopefully no information leak." Michael said pointedly.

Magnus was worried about another kind of information leak in the CIA from what Michael just said. The secret True Head of the CIA isn't too surprisingly for mages to find out. All different government intelligence agencies around the world, tend to have a public leader for official records, and a secret one, in order to effectively deal with supernatural threats.

It's Michael knowing how many people with Devil Contracts that's a concern. Although for someone planning to send all Devils back to the Underworld and more or less seal them there, Magnus supposed that would due diligence for him to do.

"What makes you think the United States government will want to work with you on this?" Magnus was more free with his questions, since Michael was so open with his answers.

"There is no government in existence that wants to be autonomous and self-governing, that would allow a foreign power to have control over their institutions, along with trade and, or cultural centers." Michael said back brutally. "How many insurance companies, trade companies, or electronic companies are owned by Devils in the United States?" He said with a raised eyebrow.

And Magnus understood why Michael wasn't making this deal with him, even if he needed his power.

Because the bosses would accept Michael's deal, so I'll work with him regardless. And just like he said, there is no alliance or friendly contact with the Hero Faction, beyond me at this point. Magnus narrowed his eyes at Michael. Plausible deniability indeed. Should their group fail or break down, we get away scoff free. How far ahead did this man plan?

"And how are you going to get Death Gods, of all things, to work with--"

"Hel, Hades, Yama, Anubis, Izanami and many others numbering over a dozen Death Gods, far more than is needed, but a welcome nonetheless for better chances, have already agreed." Michael said with quiet assurity.

Magnus' eyes widened and his face paled.

This? This wasn't some hypothetical by some could-be terrorist group, but an actuality that could happen. The whole world will change forever. ...I never thought I'd say these words, and I really wish I didn't.

"Do you understand what will happen? The impact from this--" Magnus felt his cuffs come undone. He saw it was Michael dismissing them with a wave of his hand. He was being sent back?

"So be it. Whatever the result." Michael said back with a harsh look. "It would be a shit lot better than living enslaved by the Devils." He growled. "Whether those chains are gold or invisible doesn't matter. They're still chains."

"And those caught in the crossfire? Not all Devils are evil like in the Bible. Some have families here, and just want to live in peace." Magnus argued. "What about those who already married and human, and are just living here?"

"Are you seriously trying to play literally Devils' advocate here?" A blonde woman, in orange armor said with disgust on her face.

Michael raised a hand and she stepped back. Magnus made note of her to look up later.

"People will be hurt regardless. Some by change of any kind. And some, nonetheless, by doing nothing and allowing the status quo." Michael said, before narrowing his eyes. "I don't need some moralizing bullshit just because now when people get hurt, it would be by actions taken, when before you and others could dissuade your guilt because 'this is just how the world is', so your inaction was fine then." He said with a play-mocking tone, before his voice returned to it's serious tone once more. "The simple fact of the matter is, people get hurt and die everyday from hundreds of different actions and interactions. If after this, someone wants to come after me, then so be it. I accept the consequences." He said with a conviction, that set Magnus on edge. This wasn't someone willing to negotiation, but someone who will act for what they believe in, and damn everyone else. "If it makes you feel any better about the 'Devils with families', I guess we'll have to see what their priorities are when the chips are down. The 'family' they settled down with, or their home in the Underworld."

Magnus frowned at the words. He was always someone who took his job, his duty to his country seriously, and Michael does raise good points. But... he couldn't accept how cruel and callous his actions were.

He wanted to refute Michael's words, but his duty stayed his tongue. He needed to go back and report all of this. Antagonizing his capturers won't help.

Then Michael's phone rang, and a Rune shined on the back of his hand. Michael activated the spell that showed a small image of a... map with a beacon sending a signal. Magnus tried to see what that map was. Maybe he could use his Sacred Gear on the cellphone to trace the signal--

"Greog, please send Mr. Rose back. It seems something had come up." Michael said.

And Magnus power was cut off from the mobile. Michael looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and an amused scoff.

"What happened?" As the Dimension Lost Wielder spoke, Magnus found himself covered in mist.

The last words Magnus heard before he found himself in his previous location were:

"That cat went to do something stupid. ...I feel like doing a little trolling."

The next moment, Magnus found himself back in the diner he was in.

Magnus looked around, and nothing was out of place. No one even noticed him, or were disturbed that he disappeared and reappeared.

Magic Field. He noted.

It looked like Michael and his group covered their tracks. Magnus looked around for cameras in the diner and the area around him, and was about to edit the footage should it showed his disappearance.

He found the footage of him there, was of him eating his usual meal. Checking the time for his kidnapping and return, he found he was gone the exact length of time, he usually took to eat his meal here.

Magnus was impressed by Michael's professionalism, but annoyed that now he'll have to quietly report this whole thing to the CIA Head, without having had lunch.

=x=x=x=x=x=

Kuroka could admit to herself that she didn't plan this out, as well as she could have. But then she was always a cat of action, not thinking.

Which... probably didn't lead to her making the best decisions, but this time it really was warranted. Michael's plan was coming along fast. Really, really fast. She had to act now to get her sister back, before Shirone become beyond her reach forever.

The spell that Michael, Greog, Le Fay and so many other terrifyingly smart Magicians were working on, that had input from Death Gods of multiple Pantheons was going make it near impossible for travel between the Underworld and the Human World. Even powerful artifacts like the Longinus Dimension Lost, might no longer be able to do so.

She had to act now to get back her sister.

Yet when Kuroka baited Shirone to come after her, she wasn't alone. The Red Dragon Emperor and his master, that damn Gremory Princess followed, along that bored Dragon, Tannin.

Thankfully Bikou had come with her, along with Meredith Ordinton. The Holy Nails girl from the Hero Faction, tended to work with Vali Team a lot, as a way for both groups to stay in touch. Odds are, it was Chaser's way of keeping tabs on Vali Team, but Kuroka didn't care about that, only that she had extra hands to help her.

Meredith was ordered by Michael to hide her Sacred Gear real abilities (except in emergencies), and only used the Holy Aura aspect of it. But that alone was enough to keep Issei Hyoudou at bay thus far, after he achieved his Balance Breaker, by poking his King's breasts.

Meredith looked annoyed all the while, like she could have done something to prevent this but didn't.

[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]

The Boosted Gear had annoyed as the crimson armor covered up Issei, and with a shout, he fired a blast at the barier Kuroka had erected to keep this fight hidden.

Kuroka's purple mist which had poisoned and incapacitated Shirone and Rias was blown away, along with the barrier.

"I won't let you take Koneko!" Issei declared. He dashed forward, and threw a fast punch before Kuroka could react.

Only for multiple barrier to appear in front of him, and as he broke through them one after another, he slowed down, with his attack losing momentum, till he stopped at the last one, cracking it.

"E-Eh? Why does it hurt?" Issei said, as he jumped back looking at his armored fist to find it smoking.

[Partner, those barriers are made up of Holy Power. Be careful of that one with the Iron Crown.] The sealed Red Dragon warned.

"Iron Crown?" Issei looked at Meredith. "Yeah, she's definitely tough. She has that Oujo-sama look, that's unfased by everything so far. But!" Issei made a fist in determination. "I'll just overcome her Holy Power like I when I fought Exorcists or Fallen Angels before!"

Meredith sighed. "Welp, guess we lost."

Issei faceplanted from his enemy just deciding to up and leave. It felt like his passionate will was ignored entirely.

"Wait, seriously! Just like that!" Issei cried out.

"Kuroka, let's retreat for now." The bastard noble said.

"NO!" Kuroka cried out, looked at her little sister with a desperation, that had Shirone blinked back in surprise. "Shrione, please listen to me. You don't have to be a Devil anymore. You don't have to be enslaved to that Gremory Devil either." Kuroka pleaded. "You have to come with me. Soon, the Underworld--"

"Kuroka." Meredith flared her magic power in full, showing how much she had been holding back in this fight. Her nails shined with greater holiness and intensity, as the Holy Relic holder was ready to use her Sacred Gear's real power, should the need arise. "Do not speak one more word. Flighty as you are, you know the consequence you face should you babble on like that, right?"

"I, but..." Kuroka gritted her teeth.

"Hey!" Issei Hyoudou cried out, interrupting them. "Is that anyway to treat your own comrade?" He asked in disbelief. "Pretty girls shouldn't fight. It would just cause their beautiful boobs to be sad too!"

Any seriousness from the situation was lost due to Issei's words. Meredith and Kuroka expression fell to a deadpan one.

"Errr, that is..." Issei seemed lost for words at Meredith disappointed teacher look.

"I'm harsh with my comrade because we are comrades. We're suppose to stop each other from making a mistake, after all." Meredith ended up saying.

"And what mistake is that?" Rias asked as she stood up, now fully dressed again. "What is Vali Team's real goal?"

"World peace." Meredith said with a wide fake smile.

""Eh?"" The answer was so unexpected, Issei and Rias were shocked.

"There is no way that is real!" Rias cried out.

"That battle freak would rather destroy the world than have it, have peace." Issei echoed the same sentiment.

Meredith laughed at their reaction. When she was done, she turned to the white haired Catgirl turned Devil.

"Shirone, or Koneko, whatever you call yourself." Meredith addressed Rias' Rook. "You know, we're not really suppose to be here. But your sister cried over and over begging us to come take you away to safety, so why are you so hellbent on staying over there?"

"I wasn't crying!" Kuroka objected.

"Big sister," Koneko started talking.

"Shirone." Kuroka looked back to her little sister, hope, desperation and fear warring within her.

"I..." She struggled, yet pushed herself to stand up, making her friend look at her with concern. "I'm home here." Koneko said, her eyes shining with resolve. "When you left, overtaken by the world's evils from Senjutsu, I was alone and afraid. I was supposed to be punished because you killed our previous King." Kuroka flinched as if struck, but kept herself looking forward, ready to take on any hate Shirone would direct at her. "Yet rather than be executed, Lord Sirzechs saved me. Rias took me in as family, gave me food and a home. She and everyone else in the Occult Club made me feel like I belong! I... I was going to leave with you to protect them, but..." her eyes became watery. "I want to stay! I want to keep living as Toujou Koneko!"

Issei and Rias smiled warmly at Koneko reaffirming their connection to one another.

Kuroka's eyes widened. It felt like her heart was stabbed by those words.

And yet, the elder Nekomata heartened her heart, clenching her fist, as she was determined to get her sister back even if she became hated by her for it.

Bikou ended up jumping back into the scene on Kuroka and Meredith's side, with his opponent, Tannin, landing on Gremory and her Peerage's side.

"Hah man, I tried, but I can't stall this anymore ladies." The Monkey Youkai, descendant of Sun Wukong, had said. "Time to bounce?" He said, looking at his two comrade's reactions, as it would be Meredith's Holy Aura to protect and cover them, while Kuroka's Youjutsu would allow them to teleport away.

"That was a very heartfelt speech, kittycat. Rias you are truly luck to have a subordinate like that." The flapping of wings. A condescending voice that sounded like one who always knew a secret you didn't. "And I'm afraid if you want to escape, you guys should have ran away earlier." It was the General Governor of the Grigori, Azazel.

Meredith immediately pressed a panic button the instant the newcomer's presence was revealed.

At Azazel's side were the two Satans, Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan.

"Bravo Koneko-chan~! That beautiful declaration was so good, it filled up my Yuri Meter enough to summoned me! Magical Girl Levia-tan!" Serafall cried passionately as she had her transformation sequence, now dressed as a magical girl. "In the name of justice and love~ I'll stop the evil-doers!" She then looked to the side dejected for the second. "Now if only So-tan was the one to fill up my Yuri Meter."

"Rias, Issei, Koneko, you all did well." Sirzechs said, patting his little sister's head, and nodding at both Issei and Koneko. "Thank you for guarding them Tannin."

"Onii-sama." Rias greeted him with joy and relief, even if she wished to handle this herself. Then again, they had already won, before her brother's arrival.

"Hmph, I did it on a whim." The Blaze Meteor Dragon grunted, but nodded at the Crimson Satan in acknowledgment all the same.

Youki immediately tried to cover the Vali Team members and Meredith, only to be blown asided by the energy of the two Satans and Fallen Angel Leader.

"This... is bad." Bikou said, sweating a bit.

"Bikou, Merry, sorry, I messed up." Kuroka said, pale faced and shaken.

"I'm afraid this is the end of the line SS-Class Wanted Stray Devil, Kuroka, the Black Cat." Azazel looked on with interest. "Although I suppose you need to be a Devil to be a Stray."

Shock erupted across everyone's faces.

"So before, when she said Koneko doesn't have to be a Devil, she meant..." Issei said slowly with wide-eyes.

"So it seems, this is quite the unexpected turn, and I can't wait to find out how Vali managed it. You'll help, right, Black Kitty-chan?" Azazel said with a smirk, toward the now hissing Kuroka.

Suddenly a small magic circle appeared next to the ears of Bikou, Meredith and Kuroka for an instant. It was a telepathic spell relaying a single message.

"Play along."

Meredith smiled at the familiar voice.

"Hoo? What are you smiling about?" Azazel said, noting her expression. "Do you think the true power of Alphecca Tyrant will be enough for you to escape?"

"The true power of Alphecca Tyrant? You mean, she wasn't using the real strength of her Sacred Gear?" Rias asked in shock.

"Yeah, that thing is pretty nasty, far beyond just making nail-like constructs with Holy Aura in them." Azazel, the Sacred Gear expert explained. "However whether she learned to access that power now, or she needed time to gather up energy to use it, if you know about it, you can avoid it. Oh Sirzechs, Serafall, if those nails approach you, destory them immediately, or they can rewrite your concepts."

Issei was about to ask what that meant when a slow maniacal laugh filled the area.

"My, my, look at that superiority, these Devils so assured of their bonds and victories." Said the voice.

"Who's there?" Sirzechs asked, instinctively placing himself between Rias and whatever this threat is.

"It would be a shame if--"

Suddenly someone was standing behind Koneko.

"Someone were to steal those bonds. Zabaniya--!" The figure's arm was covered in glowing magic circles, before he then thrust his hand through the Catgirl Devil's back.

"KONEKO!" Issei and Rias's screamed.

Blasts of water and holy light attacked the spot the assailant was at, while making sure not to hurt Koneko.

"--Just kidding!"

Yet in the next instant, Koneko and the attacker were gone, standing next to Kuroka and her group, with the attacker holding a shocked Koenko in one arm, and with the other holding up high was...

"That!" Issei cried out in shock.

"K-Koneko's Rook Piece." Rias looked like her world was flipping upside down. The Gremory Princess watched as Koneko's devil wings appear, then broke away, and right then the connection between King and Rook was irreversibly gone.

"What did you do?" Sirzechs asked with narrowed eyes. This newcomer felt stronger than the rest of the intruders present, but not someone for Sirzechs to fear. Yet something about him, a stronger Holy Aura about him, set the Satan Lucifer on edge.

"You! Who are you, villain!?" Serafall said dramatically, while making a barrier to seal off the area, in case the fight got big.

"Casanova." Michael Chaser gave Shirone who was restrained with a magic spell to Kuroka, as he stood to face the leaders of the Christian Underworld. "I, am the Hero Descendant of Giacomo Casanova. The Adventurer of Love. The Connoisseur of Beauty. The Man who bedded a thousand women. The One and Only Harem King, CASANOVA!" Michael declared lying very easily. The shock at his revelation made even Vali Team and Meredith stare wide-eyed in confusion. "And through the power of Netorare I will save mankind! Beware Devils of the Underworld, from here on out, you're not steal humans for your Peerages anymore. We are stealing the Reincarnated Devils back! And your MILFs too!"

Silence fell on the battlefield. The ancient beings of Biblical mythology were stunned. Even the Dragon could not comprehend what he was seeing.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"WHAT?" Issei was cried out loud, the first one to react.

"It's Dark Issei!" Rias cried out.

"A Dark Issei has appeared!" Azazel cried out.

"To think that an Evil Issei can exist." Tannin said with wide-eyes.

"So that's an Issei that walked the Path of Darkness." Sirzechs looked on in shock.

"E-E-Evil! The Ultimate Evil has arrived. The Destined Enemy of All Magical Girls is here!" Serafall cried out hysterically.

"...What the fuck is going on?" Bikou asked.

"We get the hell outta here, while they are distracted, that's what." Meredith whispered back. She noticed how Michael arrived. Greog's mist was usually visible, but he and Michael were training to make it invisible, but it took longer for manifest, and to do so under the nose of Satans' noses, they'll have to prepare to escape at any moment, while the Underworld Leaders are distracted.

"That's right!" Michael shouted with a wide grin. "Say good bye to your boyfriends and husbands, because Casanova is here!" As he stepped up, the Evil Piece in his hand was turned to dust as in it's place was a Spear made of Purple Fire.

Azazel, Serafall and Sirzechs eyes widened in realization. This Casanova was the wielder of the Longinus, Incineration Anthem.

"Would you all stop saying he's 'Evil Issei'! I'm right here." Issei said. "Although seriously this is freaky. More importantly what did you do to Koneko, you bastard!"

"Please, being called the Evil version of someone by Devils just sounds like an oxymoron." Michael scoffed. "As for what I did? I Stole away her Evil Piece." He said to the gasps of Rias and Serafall. "And so, she's no longer a Devil, now she's ours." He smiled, pulling his head back in a malevolent grin.

"You won't take Koneko away!" Rias declared stepping up wrapping in her Power of Destruction.

"Yeah, give her back you NTR Bastard! Even if that trope is hot." Issei said back.

"Issei!" Rias called out.

"Sorry!"

[Partner, be careful! That man's flames are far more dangerous that anything you've dealt with before.] Ddraig said.

"That is the Incineration Anthem," Sirzechs said stepping up. "A Longinus that specializes in making Holy Flames. All of you should step back, it's time for us the grown ups to do our part."

"That's right! And! My one true love is So-tan! So there's no boyfriend you can steal me from!" Serafall declared while waving her 'magical wand' around.

"Okay, seriously, let's stop joking." Azazel said, while chuckling. "There's no way someone like Giacomo Casanova of all people would be revered by humanity enough for his Spirit to live on."

"And yet here I am!" Michael said out loud, one hand, close into a fist on his waist, the other gripping his spear tighter as it's form was becoming more solid, with less flame flickering out. "Why wouldn't Casanova be seen as a Hero?" He said bombastically. "To live the live all men dream of! To bring the fantasy of lonely women everywhere to be stolen away from their mundane lives, that is why! I! Came!" He said with power in his voice, that made it seem it was born out of passion. "Just as I NTR'd the Holy Cross from its previous wielder, I will be doing the same to your women." He pointed his spear at Azazel. "And next time you see me, it will be that your secretary on my lap!"

"...Oh shit, this might be real." Azazel noted he might have discovered a real opponent to his... everything.

"And as for you!" Michael focused on Serafall.

"Heek! N-No, I have nothing to worry about! I have So-tan! The power of Yuri will protect me!" Serafall declared desperately.

"Oh please, you're a magical girl, so you should know." Giant Purple Flame Tentacles formed around Michael, as he grinned and laughed maniacally at Serafall's panicked expression. "NTR and Tentacles! Those are the weaknesses of Magical Girls, and those are the powers I command!"

In an instant, the Flame Tentacles burned away Serafall's barrier and ice, like it wasn't there, and replaced the barrier to one under Michael's command.

"HEEEK! Zerky, save me! This is too much for me!" The Satan Leviathan, a leader of the Devil Race, hide behind her follow Satan. She was crouching and covering her head, sharing like a little girl.

"S-Serafall was defeated so quickly." Issei said in awe and horror.

Michael turned his focus on Sirzechs.

"Hmph," the Satan Lucifer smirked. "I'm afraid you have nothing to scare me with Casanova. Even with your Longinus, those flames won't be enough against me, and," Sirzechs released his aura. "There is no way I'll allow you to steal Ria-tan."

"Hell yeah!" Issei said out loud. "You'll never get your grubby hand on Bouchou's breasts! In fact, I got to them first."

"I-Issei!" Rias said blushing. "I'm glad but not now!"

Issei was ignored by Michael and Sirzechs.

In response to Sirzechs declaration, Michael said two words.

"Balance Breaker."

All the flames along with the heat suddenly vanished. There was only the now orange burned spear in Michael's hand.

"Cuimhneachán ar an Pire Buana." He said calmly.

Tannin was the first to attack. His draconic instinct warning him the danger this man posed.

Michael didn't react. He didn't move.

There were solid thin walls now of 'purple energy', dividing Michael and his group from the devils. The purple walls even surrounded each devil individually. Sirzechs moved, protecting Rias and found he needed to constantly keep his Destruction Aura up acting like a shield to counter the persistent purple walls.

BAM!

Tannin's fist slammed into the barrier, before instantly pulling his hand back, showing it was burned, with some bones visible.

They weren't 'purple walls' but Purple Flames.

"Don't touch them!." Tannin shouted to Issei who was about to punch the flames surrounding him. "Those flames of his, right now they are so dangerous even a single touch can burn away your soul."

Sirzechs clicked his tongue.

"What?" Michael chuckled. "Are you wondering why your little bullets aren't having an effect?"

Sirzechs eyes widened.

"Nii-sama?" Rias asked.

"I realized some miniature Destruction Bullets earlier, yet when they came close to him they--"

"I Stole them." Michael lied. He simply had invisible flames around him so intense, any Demonic Power that would come into contact with them would be erased from existence. "Simply put their power is now added to mine."

"You're lying." Sirzechs said back with narrowed eyes.

"Sure, whatever you want to believe." Michael then turned and only now did the Devils notice that the members of the Vali Team had disappear in the fight.

"Hey! Where did you take Koneko-chan!" Issei shouted.

"Give her back!" Rias wanted to rush in, but her brother held her back.

"It doesn't matter anymore." Michael told them with a smirk. "None of you ever realized the danger you were in. The moment you saw me, you've already lost. She's already mine."

"What the hell does that mean?" Issei said growling his teeth.

"I Stole her." Michael said back. "My very being Steals love and affection for women around me. The more I use my power around them, even if they are not the target, the more they want me to Steal them away, their hearts longing to be mine."

Issei, Sirzechs and Serafall paled. Surely that had to be a lie, but their opponent already did the impossible by removing an Evil Piece and returning Koneko into a full Nekomata.

"My face, my body, my voice, my smell, my touch. Just being in my presence once ensnares a woman's senses. Captivates them forever, like an ear worm of a song, it stays in their mind. That Black Cat is already mine. And now that I Stole something from the White Cat, she will want me to Steal more till I take all of her." Michael then extended a hand in Rias' direction, as if he was offering it to her for a dance. "Even the Crimson-Haired Ruin Princess over there, the process already started. I Stole her Rook," Michael grinned at the look of horror in their faces. "And now bit by bit I will overtake her thoughts, her emotions, even if it all starts with hating me and despising me. And then one day," Michael closed his hand into a fist. "Her Heart, her Boobs. Will. Be. Mine." He declared, before shrugging. "Although I'm an ass man, and her butt is definitely better than  her breasts."

The response to this statement were:

"I, who am about to awaken, am the Heavenly Dragon who has stolen the principles of domination from God."

"Ruin the Extinct!"

"MAGICAL GIRL DREAM MODE: ONE THOUSAND PERCENT FULL POWER! MY SO-TAN YURI LOVE IS ETERNAL!"

As the three Devils broke the Purple Flames containing them, Michael fell back, an invisible mist taking him away, while leaving a final message broadcasted by magic.

"Through the Power of Netorare, We Humanity are Unstoppable! We will Steal all your Reincarnated Devils! Your resistance only makes us harder! We are the Hero Faction, Beware our Dicks!"

Now the Satans, Azazel and Tannin had to contain an enraged Red Dragon Emperor, which they eventually did with the help of Rias' boobs of course.

=x=x=x=x=x=

"PFFT-HAHAHA! For real? Seriously, couldn't they at least confirm what I'm saying. Hahahaa, seriously the Red Dragon Emperor might be done for this generation from this? Hahahahaa!" Michael laughed out loud to himself, before a cough next to him, brought his attention back to Vali Team and the Hero Faction around him.

"M-Michael, all the things you said back there..." Meredith asked completely red faced.

"Casanova?" Cao Cao looked on with a raised eyebrow, trying to look stoic, but his shaking shoulder showed his true feelings.

"Hey, I figured it fit the theme." Michael said.

"'W-We a-are the Hero Faction. Beware our'--HAHAHAHAHA!" Greog couldn't help himself as he kept on laughing, falling to the ground and hitting the floor.

"Really, Mikey? Really? You told us all about how we need secrecy, and our first impression needs to be important, and this is how you introduce us to the world at large!" Jeanne cried out.

"Hey, I left an impression and now they will definitely will underestimate us." Michael said, before looking at Cao Cao and grinned. A similar grin was on Cao Cao's face as he nodded in understand. "Besides, all the pieces are now gathered. Once we hit them, they won't have any time react, before they could comprehend our true threat level, we would have already won."

=x=x=x=x=x=

A few weeks later, when the Young Devils matches were continuing, as the Old Satan Faction interrupted the match between Rias Gremory and Diodora Astaroth, a secret incident, away from the public eye occurred.

A catastrophe that no one anticipated for prepared for happened.

A mist powered by the Holy Shroud spread across the Underworld.

The floating island of Agreas that holds the crystals for creating Evil Pieces, along with similar earth veins in the Underworld all were covered by the mist of the Dimensional Lost.

And in the next moment, the floating island disappeared leaving the Devils that were on it panicked and confused.

The Agreas and all the crystal earth veins appeared in the Dimensional Gap. And in the next moment, they were erased by a blast from the Infinite Dragon God.

As the New Satan Government tried to reel in chaos and react to this situation, a new catastrophe immediately occurred.

Reincarnated Devil all across the Underworld had achieved the great power of Balance Breaker, and rebelled against their masters.

Devils across the world, were returning to the Underworld in response to these disaster in fear and worry for their family, their homes and people, adding even more to the chaos and confusion.

And that... was only the beginning.

===

AN: Yeah, I'm... done. This isn't the original ending I had in mind, but I don't know how to pivot to it, and I ran out of juice.

So I'm posting it here till I regain the motivation to continue.