One-Punch DxD: NEO

Chapter 107: Unexpected Counsel

Destruction ravaged the once splendid Silver mansion, the culmination of the silver adonis, made with his sweat, blood, and the ability to be everywhere at once alongside the power to transmute anything into precious metals.

The statues of a silver macho - melted, decimated, broken and defaced.

Holes and destruction adorned the walls and vaults that once held valuable treasuries and artifacts.

Remains of advanced machinery and drones were lying around, broken beyond repair by the powers of the cultists, magicians strengthened from borrowed power, evil power from an outer GOD, the machines joining with the bodies of cultists slaughtered in the crossfire, blood mixing with the machines of war as the battlefield was replaced by a fight between titans.

Lucifer arrived to plunder from an unsuspecting fool that held a treasure that belonged to him, something that blasted Solomon had taken from him.

He had been blessed with the power of a true GOD - a being that should have reigned over this world, one that embodied everything he fought for, a truly pure being that deserves his everything.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!"

Many of the cultists Lucifer brought were decimated, vaporized so thoroughly not even a speck of their ashes remained.

The silver thing he fought was tenacious yet faltered against the Sacred Gear he plundered from an unsuspecting unworthy human boy, one that could create cursed spears like Sword Birth to swords.

She would face the angels while he would deal with this creature, already inside the mansion as he engaged against the creature.

He expected to erase the creature from existence at the slightest glimpse of his new power, the power to bend the cosmos like paper, folding reality into whatever form he pleased.

Then he lost his right arm.

"You foolish slave who surrendered to a power greater than your own thinks I do not know where it came from?" The silver-coated being taunted, holding the devil's severed arm.

Lucifer unleashed the full power granted to him, bending reality, splitting atoms, rending space as he channeled his GOD's power to erase this creature from existence.

Only for it to survive, struggling like a cockroach, bleeding from the many cursed spears impaling his body. It was hard enough to put him down.

Then the creature unleashed its next form.

"I have witnessed your GOD's full might. I have seen him destroy worlds, I've seen how he empowers others, how he could make even the meekest humans into a great threat against humanity. I don't care how many years you surpassed me in age, you will never surpass me in knowledge and experience, you who have failed yourself and your people."

Before, he was just a silver thing. Now, he was radiant - an aurora of the silver spectrum of colors, multiple shades of the silver color coloring his aura.

"I have thoroughly prepared for this day."

The spears were vaporized when he transformed. He was bigger, more powerful, and the ambient light of his radiance burned him as if he was too close to the sun. He can hear the whispers of his GOD demanding to kill this creature, a genuine threat. His power was waning in front of this creature.

"An upstart loser that doomed the future of humanity thinks he can beat me? Grovel and know your place."

"How dare you-?!"

"Whoops, let me pass through for a moment."

Lucifer's world then exploded in pain as his entire frame received blows from head to toe, a million strikes in a single time frame. In addition, that voice came from behind him, and the metal creature was not in front of him anymore.

Then he felt a massive force gripping the back of his skull.

"I've tried this with one of your descendants, though calling them descendants is a crime at this point after I've seen you."

Lucifer felt the power of this thing being infused into him.

"Behold the power of Mithril Sperm."

Then it happened, it felt like a sun exploded in his chest. It was like he was facing God, the Biblical God again. Even though he was infinitely more powerful than his weak, pathetic self, he felt the power of this being burning him inside out.

Not just him, the power… he could feel the power within him being…

"W-What are you doing to me?!" Lucifer roared.

"Have you ever received an exorcism?" The Mithril abomination asked.

Every fiber of Lucifer's body was glowing with the radiance of Mithril.

"I'm going to do what the foolish religion of this world's God cannot and demonstrate the true meaning of the word superior. Now burn, you inferior excrement of the past."

Lucifer screamed. He could hear the power of GOD inside him scream alongside him, his existence, his soul burning, the pain accompanied by the agony of something important being torn from the root of his being.

His power, the strength he regained and the one he gained were slipping from him, being burned away by this abomination's light. He grabbed the hand gripping his head and tried to pry the fingers off, but the creature was too strong.

If he did not do anything, he would be destroyed. No, he refused to die, not when he was free from the Hell of his creator!

Interrupting them, the walls of the mansion exploded again.

Four angels tumbled across the battlefield in two groups, two in each.

Lucifer saw Gabriel and Uriel one one side, their Brave Saints on the other. The devil saw his chance. He summoned a magic circle under their bodies.

Mithril Sperm immediately caught on what Lucifer was planning before he sneered, "...You coward."

Lucifer smirked, the circle would detonate in a cosmic explosion that could vaporize a large area.

His smirk faded when the creature smashed his spine before releasing him, causing him to cough a blood-filled curse before he fell into a portal he opened before falling on the ground.

The circle erupted in a brilliant explosion of cosmic light as Lucifer fell on the two archangels, the sight of their surprised faces delicious to see as he descended upon them with a smile he could not see without a mirror, the worst smile someone that returned from hell could make.

The explosion left as soon as it came, leaving Mithril hugging the disciples of the angels, taking the hit to protect them from the spell.

He turned around to face Lucifer, only to see him holding the neck of Gabriel while pinning Uriel down with his feet.

"So this is your ploy. As expected of the worst being that has ever lived." Mithril remarked.

"Lady Gabriel!"

"Lord Uriel!"

Both Seraphs were already suffering injuries from their fight against Morgan.

However, Lucifer grinned, he was not finished with them. Suddenly, the radiance of heaven that Lady Gabriel constantly emitted was gone. Mithril widened his eyes as Gabriel's aura diminished greatly.

Then suddenly, Lucifer's missing arm was regrown, a new limb formed from an ethereal cosmic substance, the fallen one brimming with more vitality than before as if rejuvenated.

"I am humanity's salvation. Their savior!" Lucifer declared as he threw them aside. "A creature that is not even human thinks he can criticize me?! ME!? A CHOSEN ONE OF GOD?!"

"A puppet playing messiah on a mountain of corpses? That is a concept I've never seen before," Mithril remarked as he stood.

"Let go of them, you bastard!" Nero roared at Lucifer, about to run towards him, but was stopped by Mithril's large, muscular palm.

"Amusing. If that is what I think it is, I will ask. You think you can save the world with evil?" Mithril accused.

"Good will forever live in the shadow of evil. That is the truth of this world! Only through this can I become a savior!"

"...You're mad." Mithril spoke, confounded in truth by Lucifer's mindset.

Mithril understood that Lucifer was so desperate for power that he was willing to throw himself to the deepest pit, not realizing the damage he would inflict by the end of this - to the point of disregarding anything if it was weak, despite the necessity of the concept of good. He understood why the Demons hate Lucifer so much that they hate even his descendants.

"Say what you want, I am right. If you dare resist, their necks will be on your hands." Lucifer chuckled with a tone of arrogance. "Good will only bring you misery and pain. Look at you all, held back by compassion for them. I can just snap their necks without-"

A flash of light blinded him for a moment before, his body stiffed, the familiar feeling of petrification paralyzing his muscles.

Lucifer immediately undid the transmutation and clenched his hand to break Gabriel's neck, only to realize that he was missing his other arm and the leg that was stepping on Uriel was gone by the knee.

"...Tch, you and your bag of tricks…" Lucifer growled as he saw both Uriel and Gabriel were safe behind Mithril, being tended by their Aces.

"No matter! Fall before the power of GOD!"

OxO

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!"

Lucifer opened his eyes, screaming as he shot up from his bed, returning to the waking world. Breathing heavily, he ran his hand through his bare, chiseled torso to find them covered in sweat, but otherwise nothing else was wrong. He then ran his hand through his locks that were also drenched in sweat.

The echoes of phantom pain struck him the next second as memories of his second round with that bastard arrived.

Even with the consolation prize he claimed from the foolish angels, the abomination crushed him. Each of his strikes were heavy and shattered his bones, that thing's abilities burning away his connection to the blessing his new master imbued.

He had never endured such humiliation from the Demons and in Hell… the memories of his condescending gaze made his blood boil with rage and indignity.

His musing then was interrupted by another figure who woke herself on his bed.

"Mmmm… Is something wrong, love?"

The woman by his side crooned. Her hair was long, raven black - strands falling down to her neck and shoulders as she straightened her head. Her beautiful face was like a snake - sharp, seductive, perhaps even poisonous; her sharp red eyes gazing at Lucifer as she woke up, unbothered with the red bed-sheet falling off, revealing her bare form.

It was obvious what they were doing together in the bed before they slept.

"...It's nothing." Lucifer lied.

"You need to do better than that. You need rest to recover your power." Morgan Le Fay smirked knowingly as she caressed Lucifer's back and shoulders.

Soon, grunts and moans of pain came from all directions, weak and almost a whisper.

Decorating the walls of Lucifer's bedroom were the bodies of women, still alive, naked and bound by metal cuffs to the walls in a spread-angled position, while others that could not fit the walls were hung by the chains from the ceiling. In addition, those who were strapped on the walls also had to deal with the pain and discomfort of wall-dildos stuffing their lower holes; while those who were hung also had dildos strapped around their hips as well.

They were fine women of various races that fitted Lucifer's tastes, be they human or not, he did not care.

Lucifer clutched his chest, remembering that his power still needed to recover.

"Yes…" The devil sighed before he laid himself back to bed. Morgan's smirk widened and took that as a cue to drape herself on top of him - her body glowed with magical energy which slowly seeped to the devil.

As Morgan began to kiss and service him with her mouth, and her hands roamed around, Lucifer relaxed some more - reminding himself that his earlier misadventure did not end up with a total defeat.

At least they managed to claim what they sought, the thing Solomon took from him.

They managed to escape in time with Morgan threatening to level the entire complex, including the pitiful Archangels and Reincarnated Angels before teleporting them away, even though they lost all of their forces, it did not matter.

Now that they had The Book… Lucifer only needed the 'key' to access its power, then he could unleash the same cataclysm in the Great War.

Only there would be no God to balance the scales.

"We appreciate your attendance, Rias Gremory, Sona Sitri, Riser and Ravel Phenex, and their entourages."

A Mastema demon greeted the Heiresses, both Sona and Rias dressed in black gowns, with their respective Queens wearing something similar - funeral attire appropriate for human culture. Riser and Ravel Phenex were with them, joined by Yubelluna, dressed in black suits and dressed according to human tradition.

The demon - clad in a formal black and white suit, was pale white, a specter of flesh, two horns curled from the top of his brow. He bowed before the Devils.

When he opened his eyes at them, the girls were shocked to see pure blackness in his gaze, no light whatsoever, giving him an eerie vibe.

The funeral was large.

The skies mirrored gray gloom, clouds blocking the afternoon sun, leaving the skies in a pale white.

This was no cemetery, it was a wide, grassy plain, verdant green as far as the eyes could see, yet there were many, many black stone coffins were set in a row, stretching as far as they could see, the guests attending were many.

The soldiers that warred with them were present, in black suits and black ties, in white dresses, some females wore translucent black veils, many chairs were set up before a large podium.

A long table clothed in white held plates of food, fresh, aromatic smoke still rising from the roasted meats placed alongside the vegetable dishes and other appetizers.

There were mastema demons and… Grim Reapers. Sona and Rias remembered that Grim Reapers walked with the Mastema Demons when they first arrived. They wore their skull masks, but they were also in suits. Was the Greek Pantheon also in league with the demons?

The attendees were talking with each other… Two of the female soldiers, Kate and - much to the devil's surprise, Natalie, were beside a coffin.

They were staring at a tombstone with bitter emotions.

Sona and Rias blinked owlishly at Natalie; they swore that the woman was killed… but they remembered that the Demons could revive the dead when they recalled how Alqalba callously said that they would revive the Devils if they did die.

How they revived a person who was a mangled corpse, previously - perhaps they would be enlightened for another time.

"Please, mingle with the guests. Talk with them. Some do not know what you are, rest assured." The demon gestured with a hand towards the funeral.

"...How many?" Riser asked.

"From around the world? Two hundred and forty six, for humans." The demon gestured to the far right.

Following his direction, they saw… non-humans. Rias even saw elven ears amongst them.

"The savagery of the Devils does not end with just humans." The Mastema demon explained. "They will know what you are. But rest assured, this is a funeral. They will not lash out at you verbally if you know how to conduct yourselves."

"...Who are they?" Sona asked, afraid but prepared for the answer.

"Reincarnated Devils. The Zygotes… freed them from their slavery and have been taking care of them. We are planning to undo their unwanted devilhood after the funeral," The Mastema answered.

"Undoing… You mean extracting their Evil Pieces? Is that even possible?" Ravel could not help but wonder.

"Indeed." The Mastema Demon answered. "Did you consider that perhaps… There are those that never wished to become a Devil in the first place? Even if it was forced upon them?"

"As a matter of fact, we are aware there are such cases." Riser was the one who replied, "However, don't even dare to think that we coerced our servants. We never turned them against their will…." He blinked and glanced at Rias, "...Unless under life or death situations."

"...I never assumed such atrocities on your side." The demon bowed. "I just want you to know this. I believe in responsibility, that those who dare to cross lines must be prepared to face the consequences. Especially a practice that can be abused as a way to imprison their victims into slavery disguised as blessings. There is no responsibility in the Rating Games you invented. I want you to know that. There is no option to go back. Once anyone is part of the games… there is nothing that would let them go. A trap. A prison."

The high-class devils did not say anything else in return as they proceeded towards the funeral services, taking seats among other attendees.

Men, women, and even children who glared at them with disdain and distrust. Some even automatically shrunk, prompting their friends to wrap their arms protectively around them.

Rias and Sona were not sure what to say or do, but a look and subtle head-shaking from Riser prompted them to steel themselves and focus on the proceedings.

It was an awkward silence where the Devils endured the whispers and hostile gazes of the attendees.

They could hear their words…

"They must be the Devils that Commander John…"

"Why are they here?"

"Don't they know when to take a hint? They shouldn't be here. They're tainting the funeral."

The Devils could only endure their aversion and disdain in this environment. Their disdain was probably well-earned, and the devils could not find the proper words to defend themselves from such hostility.

"Rias…" Akeno whispered.

"I know. This is something we must see through."

Eventually someone approached them.

It was a girl, young, preteen. She had orange short hair and blue eyes, in a black skirt and knee-high socks and black plimsoll shoes and she was walking towards them with small timid steps.

"...Are you here to take us back?" She asked.

Rias felt… harmed by that question. It was sad to hear that the first question from a child was if she was here to kidnap them.

"No." She shook her head as she knelt down until she and the girl were at eye-level, giving her a soft smile. "...I'm here to pay my respects."

"...Really?" The girl asked.

"Yes." Rias nodded with a smile, "What is your name?"

The girl hesitated for a second before answering, "Hannah...I heard from the adults… they say that you're a good Devil…"

"I am."

"...But they do not believe it…"

"...Do you see me as a bad Devil?" Rias asked.

"The bad devil… that the good soldiers killed had the same smile like you're having now. He was kind and friendly at first when he took us from the orphanage, like yours… then…"

Rias' smile faltered slightly. Her kind was renowned for deception… to think that it would be so bad that even her most sincere expressions would be called into question.

"...I'm sorry." Rias regained her firm expression, bowing her head deeply. "I mean it. I'm sorry for everything everyone here went through."

"...Why? My friend… is already dead," The girl asked.

"...Because I care." Rias answered, meeting the girl in the eye. "...I want to remember everyone here… Is there someone you lost?"

The girl stared at Rias in silence.

"...My friend… Angela." She looked downcast. "...She was always there to protect me from the bad man… she didn't make it…"

Rias' arms slowly reached out.

The girl and the adults flinched, the adults were prepared to take out their hidden weapons inside their clothes, but they did nothing else as they did not sense hostility.

The girl was surprised when Rias… hugged the girl and pulled her close.

A few reached out for their pistols hidden in their suits on reflex until they understood her actions.

"...I'm sorry…" Rias smiled sadly. "She is a wonderful friend… I want to know more about her, please. Would you like to tell me about her?"

The girl slowly broke - her tears dropping as she could not resist the warmth washing over her. Eventually, the girl returned the hug and the dam broke, all while Rias took in all of her grief, sorrow and relief.

OxO

Irina sighed as she leaned back against the backrest of the bench at one of the local parks in Ashgabat, looking at Turkmenistan's clear blue sky and glaring yellow sun. The vast greeneries around her helped in abating the heat somewhat.

She, Xenovia and the rest of others were allowed to explore the city of Ashgabat, to relax and spend their remaining time in this city before they returned home. The Zygotes no longer had any more hostility towards them, though they still kept an eye on them just in case.

Irina's lips pursed as her hand caressed the spot where she had been impaled previously. The wound had healed completely, albeit she would still feel a phantom pain every now and then.

The group decided to stay at the Hotel, to recover from the stress of the battle they fought before they returned to Kuoh.

"...Irina, are you okay? Are you in pain?"

Irina glanced at Xenovia, who just returned with two cones of soft-cream on each hand.

Irina smiled a little, "I'm okay, Xenovia - just a bit queasy." She replied while accepting the treats from her partner.

The pair of reincarnated angels then sat there in companionable silence, idly licking at their soft creams every now and then.

"...What a trip, eh?" Irina tried to strike a conversation.

"Indeed." Xenovia replied as she took another small bite of her soft cream, licking the residue cream off her lips, "I thought this was going to be a quick search and rescue operation."

"Yeah… It was something, alright." Irina added with a sigh.

"...Humans…" Xenovia looked at her ice cream. "...Seeing them makes me wonder…Have we been wrong all along? What should we do… when we have to face the humans that our order… has wronged in the same way?"

Irina turned to her friend.

"What do you mean?"

"...Like Issei… Or… what should we do if everyone learns that God is dead, and our religion is a lie, but… On a much bigger scale?"

The thought filled Irina with dread. The Seraphs had been forced to make hard decisions to keep the power and faith in Christianity in order to protect their collective… Should the whole world find out about the truth behind their religion…. Neither of the girls wanted to imagine the ensuing chaos.

While the girls' minds were filled with uncertainties and questions, another voice suddenly interrupted their muses.

"Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?"

The bench was fairly long, enough to fit four people. Irina and Xenovia turned to see a man - dressed in a simple white shirt with matching pants and sandals, wearing a cream-colored fishing hat to shield his head from the sun.

He was holding a bag of grains on his lap, which he would take a small amount in his hand before spreading them on the ground before him, attracting a flock of pigeons and doves in the process.

Irina and Xenovia found themselves confused - the man did not look anything remarkable, or to be precise, it was hard to make out any distinguishing features to remember by, aside from his middle-aged looks and his shoulder-length brown hair.

Neither Irina or Xenovia had ever met this man before, yet they felt like they had known him for a long time. Moreover, the air around them suddenly felt cooler - just the right heat to be warm and comforting despite the sun glaring above them. They also felt… peace. They could feel their hearts being so tranquil near this man, as if being around him alone could soothe all of their worldly concerns.

"It… It is, yes." Irina ended up replying out of courtesy. "Do you live around here, by any chance, sir?"

"Just another humble traveler, my dear." the man replied, "Are you two ladies here on vacation?"

"Um…. Kind of." Irina awkwardly glanced at Xenovia, who could only return the gesture with clueless looks. For some reason, albeit they did need to act like they were on vacation, they both felt bad for hiding their real reason for coming to this country.

"...Your soft-cream is melting." The man idly remarked.

Both girls blinked and noticed that their treats began to melt under the sun, they quickly licked and devoured the overflowed cream before they could mess their hands. They ended up blushing a little when the man chuckled at their small antics.

The man then threw another handful of grains, causing more birds to flock around. Irina and Xenovia then watched the man holding a small amount of grains on top of his palm and simply sat there. A few seconds later, a few birds landed on his forearm, picking on the treats; even one of them landed right on his lap, eating directly from the bag, yet they did not seem bothered or bothering the man, as he used his free hand to gently stroke the bird on his lap.

"...Excuse me, but may we know your name, sir?" Irina asked, increasingly curious about the man.

"Hmmmm… Nazara. Emmanuel Nazara. May I know yours?" The man answered.

"Irina Shidou."

"...Xenovia Quarta."

"Lovely names. Pleasure to meet you both." The man - Emmanuel nodded with a bright smile.

Both Irina and Xenovia found themselves increasingly calmer the more times they spent with Emmanuel, who then offered them a fistful of grains. When they took another look, both girls noticed that the man's palms were wrapped in bandages.

An old wound? Irina and Xenovia decided not to pry.

"Would you like to try? They are very ravenous and adorable around this time."

The man's voice shifted Irina and Xenovia's attention away from the bandaged hand - they exchanged glances before they eventually saw there was no harm in indulging the stranger. They accepted the grains on their palms and not even ten seconds later, birds began to flock around them, startling them a little.

The girls found themselves enjoying their bird-feeding, giggling and laughing at the ticklish sensation on their skin as some of the birds perched on their limbs, shoulders, even their heads. Eventually, the birds seemed to have had enough and began to fly away, leaving only some pecking on the ground.

Irina, Xenovia and Emmanuel had returned to simply relaxing while feeding grains on the remaining birds.

"How was your first time feeding wild pigeons?" Emmanuel asked with a small grin.

"...It was nice." Xenovia found herself replying first with a smile on her face.

"Yeah, the birds were so cute!" Irina replied next with a newfound cheerfulness.

"I am glad that you are feeling better now." Emmanuel nodded.

"Yes, thank you for… The experience, Emmanuel, sir. It's very relaxing." Irina replied with a small blush.

"Good to get your mind off troublesome things. It seems you two still have some worries?" Emmanuel asked the girls.

"Well… I won't say we don't, but we can't possibly impose on you." Irina refuted politely.

"Nonsense, I don't mind. Besides, a good talk can set the mind and heart back on the good path…. If you don't mind an old man like me listening, of course." Emmanuel implored.

Irina and Xenovia shared another look, contemplating Emmanuel's offer. It was strange - they only knew him for half an hour tops, yet they found him trustworthy, as if he would do them no wrong.

Not to mention, something in Irina's gut told her that this might be a once in a life-time chance for her to share what was weighing her mind.

Biting her lips so she could wet them in her mouth, Irina took a deep breath before speaking.

"...I found out that someone I looked up to… did some really bad things." Irina sighed. "He was very, VERY popular with people, good people… though it turns out that he was a conman. And his children are forced to play along with the fraud he made… Albeit for the right reasons, as strange as it sounds. I'm just… worried… what would happen if the people that were lied to, found out the truth?"

"They would be understandably angry." The man answered with a solemn nod. "It's only natural - true sincerity means to accept the ire and press forward. However, it is important to not let the good people be consumed by it. It wouldn't be hard if someone with bad intentions took the chance to sway them down the wrong path, or the good people to be destroyed by the explosion of negativity. But if you want to lessen and overcome the inevitable, be sincere and build relationships with them. Help them with their problems, connect with them, prove that you aren't what they think you are. Show them who you are as much as you can before the time comes. Even when the truth comes out… they will trust you. That is one way to earn redemption, an honest way."

Irina and Xenovia stared at the man for a moment.

"...I didn't think of it that way…" Irina hummed in thought.

"What you fear is facing judgment for crimes you are not truly a part of." The man continued. "Because of that, you hate yourself. You are now unsure of what you are doing anymore, because you believe you are one of those that deserve to be condemned, correct?"

Irina and Xenovia nodded slowly, surprised and immersed by the man's wisdom.

"You do not know how to redeem yourself, but the first step is to overcome the hate for yourself. Punishing yourself will not redeem, only hurt yourselves more than necessary. To be punished is to let others punish you, a right that is never for the punished to decide. Self-loathing is nothing more than an escape, to turn away from your fears. That will only make the betrayal worse during the inevitable. Forgiveness is the key here."

Irina and Xenovia blinked at the last line.

"The first step… is to find the courage to forgive and ultimately love yourself. Not in that way if you catch my implied meaning," Emmanuel chuckled, receiving an odd look from the girls before he continued. "...By doing so, you can spread that love and forge bonds with people around you. Accept the worst parts you are afraid to face. Guide it, nurture it, refine it, then those parts will help you be better. It will be a hard road, but if you find enough strength from the love you discovered… you will find the strength to overcome yourself…. And what will come."

Irina and Xenovia looked down, digesting Emanuel's words.

"Look for the heaven within, not without. After all, true strength and enlightenment exist only in your heart. To gather the resolve to find it… that is up to you."

Emmanuel got up.

"I hope my words are of great help to you. Do you feel better now?"

Irina and Xenovia exchanged another glance, but they were smiling this time.

"I think I do… We do."

Emmanuel nodded, "Remember this, Irina Shidou, Xenovia Quarta - whenever you encounter doubt, rest and remember all the good you have achieved, whether through your own merits or from the help of others. Yesterday is your history. Tomorrow is a mystery… but today is a gift. That is why we call it the 'present'."

"...Wait… Did you quote that from someone? I think I've heard it somewhere before." Irina accused Emmanuel.

"...Perhaps." Emmanuel chuckled. "The point is, define yourself in the present. That will determine your future."

Irina and Xenovia stared at Emmanuel and nodded with determined looks on their faces.

Nodding in approval, Emmanuel tipped his hat, "Have a wonderful day, my friends. May the future bring you many blessings. May peace be with you always."

Irina and Xenovia stared at Emmanuel's retreating back for a few seconds, then they looked down to see a new batch of fresh soft-cream in their grasp. They immediately looked up to see Emmanuel nowhere to be found.

It was strange… they could not even sense him anywhere nearby.

"...Xenovia?"

"...Yes, Irina?"

"Do you think what I'm thinking?"

Xenovia contemplated, staring at her new soft-cream for a second before taking a bite, chewing the soft cream in her mouth.

"...Finish this soft-cream and go back to others?"

Irina blinked at her partner, before she looked at her own soft cream.

"...You know what, let's just do that."

OxO

The fading, orange light of dusk finished setting in the distance.

Rias waved the girl goodbye, the girl shyly waving back with a small smile as she ran towards the adult soldiers, most likely her caretakers.

"...Wonderfully handled. Worthy of praise." Riser complimented Rias.

"It wouldn't be enough… Everyone here is hurt by the nobility. I… am ashamed to admit that I am unskilled on how to resolve the bitter scars left by our kind." Rias sighed.

The intense, watchful gazes in their direction somewhat lessened, but they were still wary of their actions.

"Aiyo, it's not easy, girl. When the worst things happen to a guy, and the guy finds out their memories got wiped, what else do you expect from them?"

The Devils were confused by the new voice.

They looked behind, seeing a familiar face.

The African with the black afro, wearing a suit, yet he was casually laid back in his seat with one foot over the other. His mien looked welcoming, casual amber eyes gazing at them with a lazy smile.

"...I remember you…" Rias remembered that man being part of the special unit, next to the human that could use fire magic. He tried to put a bullet in Yuuto, though.

"Jamal Kuta, mage unit elite special forces. I'm the buffer, yo." The man gave a double-peace sign.

"Special forces…. Color me curious, but how did you people manage to abduct so many of our people without our notice?" Rias asked.

"You heard from the commander, captured the brats and iced the rest… though for a more detailed report, they are fucking pussies." Jamal snarked. "If they brought it up, they're gonna be investigated. Not to mention, they're stupidly proud. As in, they're willing to go that far to maintain their image. Can't you believe that? That, and we sent threat letters as insurance."

Rias and Sona could somewhat agree that the nobles of their society would rather risk an invasion at their doorstep, than allow the public to perceive them as weak. There were only a handful among the 72 Pillars whose powers could match their pride.

"...As for breaking in, let me say it. Their locks are fucking outdated as hell! They rely on magic for everything! Hell, even their spells are outdated! The magitech and strange eldritch charms we got broke them so easily it is not even funny. We could practically waltz in and murder them on the spot and get out."

Rias was well-aware of that part - she still vaguely recalled the sensation of the injections, the horror of her home infiltrated by strangers.

"Well, sorry it had to happen to you." Jamal apologized. "But we all got our stories. As for now, the guys in charge like to preach fairness on both sides, so why not? I'm giving you a shot since you outsmarted our boss three times, yo, and buried things under the bridge. So, what's it like? We spent a lot of our time and energy killing the shits of your society, so I decided to be curious about your best. What's this Rating Game shit like for you people?"

The man spoke very crudely, yet they could understand him.

"You speak rather crudely for an American, but I will indulge." Riser decided to take the lead. "It is like your… sports, the National Olympics in comparison. Wealth and fame are involved, and it increases one's political standings if looked favorably by the people. However, it is much more intensely physical. The safety boundaries are less restrictive so that we could prepare ourselves for combat outside of sports."

"So like gladiator blood sports on a national level?" Jamal summarized.

"We have measures in place to prevent deaths and other irreparable damages." Riser explained.

"...I am curious about your mage unit. What's with those tattoos?" Ravel pointed at Jamal.

The black tattoos were etched in his skin, they could see swirling patterns on his neck while the rest disappeared under his tuxedo.

"Kthonian mystic arts. They inscribe the spells in our bodies so we can instantly cast them without chanting. Ain't enough time to be schooled right and jamming it in our heads won't work. Said our minds aren't hardy enough for that voodoo stuff," Jamal pointed at his neck tattoo. "It doesn't end with the skin. Our bones got carved up too, yo. More strength, harder bodies, all that stuff. The mage unit is for the lucky people with more knacks for magic. Turns out my ancestors were voodoo shamans."

"Interesting…" Riser rubbed his goatee. "So you are of a magical bloodline?"

"The bloodline ain't worth shit enough. We ain't talented enough to be considered 'proper magicians' by your standards." Jamal rolled his eyes. "We're like discarded leftovers. The Agiel activated our dormant bloodlines to put us to work. Otherwise, I'm nobody without their help. My brother on the other hand turns out to be the luckier one, though… though that luck ain't without a price."

"...Was he…" Sona dared not finish her sentence.

"Had a Sacred Gear in him." Jamal answered. "Abducted and sold off by Devil slavers. Heard he got sold to a girl King… he did not make it."

"...I see…" Sona understood. "How did you know he died?"

"Because we nabbed the bitch, and she spilled the beans before I capped her ass. Got it all live. She wanted his Sacred Gear. She didn't get it, she messed up the ritual and he paid the price for that. But enough about little me. So, what's it like? Being raised with a golden spoon in your mouths? Because what you're trying ain't for pampered kids like you."

Rias exhaled, ignoring the jab against her up-bringing, "Rather than saying as far as being fed with a golden spoon, I'd say we are blessed to be born and raised by good families who taught us values in bonds, honor and camraderies. Say what you think about us, but I love and am proud of my family, my adorable servants included."

Riser and Sona nodded in agreement.

"So you want to be like Martin Luther King, huh? Why are you so interested in us? If your kind is so high and mighty, why bother with humans in the first place other than repopulating?" Jamal asked.

"Because believe it or not, devilkind and humanity's growth as species actually go hand-in-hand." Rias smiled, "It's true that some of us may have imparted knowledge to humans, but a good chunk of our current culture and life-style are influenced by human inventions. I even dare say that you humans are more creative in harnessing the knowledge and power we've given you in the first place. Without humans, our cultural progress and technological development might have been delayed by at least several centuries back. So believe me when I say this, we devils - at least us here, admire and respect humanity's growth and potential."

Jamal stared at Rias, only to find sincerity in her eyes. A few seconds later, he snorted and broke into giggles.

"Wow, girl, your head is right in the clouds. You talk like a five year old when she finds a fairy tale book for the first time to show off to her parents."

"Again, believe me - I've seen things that might be even more unbelievable than this fairy tale you have in mind." Rias replied.

"Hah, you talk tough for playing Princess Peach." Jamal joked.

"This Princess is not without a hefty backing." Rias chimed.

"I'm jealous. It'll take me some time to cast spells like you can. Though that might change once I get into the Aegis program."

"Aegis program?" Sona asked. "As in Pandora's Aegis?"

The heiresses would be fools to not be aware of the happenings around the world, especially the rise of an organization that took the mantle of defender against those touched by GOD and Khaos Brigade.

"Yeah. This voluntary test is also a merit test. To see whether we are green to get the full super soldier treatment. Heard the asshole God that made us cursed us, so we're going to get that removed to join the fight for reals."

That sparked curiosity within the Devils, hearing about the Demons removing the curses of the Biblical God on the humans.

"...I can guess that the treatment is exclusive." Akeno remarked.

"No chance for you, girlie. We're super exclusive, and your kind hasn't passed all the checkmarks yet."

"...You said the next test is no longer for us… then who is it for?" Rias asked.

"That ain't for you to know. You're in the green now… but don't let that lower your guard. That's all I have to say."

"Jamy, what are you up to, talking with the bat family like you're all buddies?"

Arriving, Kate and Nate sat down next to the African.

"Hey, we cool, we cool. We ain't fighting no more, so no harm in getting to know each other. Nate, Kate, you cool though gals?" Jamal asked.

"We're cool… for now. What are you kids talking about with Jamy here?"

"Some things. By the way, I swore I saw you die. How did you get revived?" Ravel asked to Natalie.

"Oh, the Mastema embedded soul gems in our ribcages." Nate thumped her chest. "That way they get our souls to implant into new bodies in case the old ones get too messed up. Honestly, if we really wanted you girls dead, we wouldn't waste our time with the kidnapping. This is like a joint military training session for both sides at the end of it. Maybe a Rating Game for you people."

Now that they thought about it, the entire battle was like a giant Rating Game in a sense. One with the Peerages having to go rescue their Kings from the enemy bases…

"Oh, enough talk. It's starting." Kate pointed at the podium, where a Mastema demon appeared on the scene.

This time, the speaker was a pale female with glowing red eyes and spiral horns curling and twisting up from both sides of her brows, her face like a pale ghostly beauty that enchants all those who gaze on her.

She wore a black tuxedo on, however the tightness around her bust was empathizing.

"Attention. Attention." She called out to everyone present, bringing them from their conversations and activities to pass the time.

"We have all gathered today for one duty that is overdue. We can only apologize for not upholding this honored tradition sooner. But at least the names etched in these stones will rest, knowing that they have been avenged by your efforts." The woman gestured to the graves neatly lined in rows behind her.

"Their souls may be in heaven and their bodies are useless to the dead. But it is the act that counts. To show respect to those long gone. A ritual to finally let go of those that passed on.

"Here, may they watch the stars every night, the beautiful radiance of dawn and dusk… I know the journey was hard. For everyone present. It will be harder for the few here from this point."

The speaker looked at Rias, making eye contact.

"But as the human phrased, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. We have a surprise for you." She smiled.

"Please stand before the grave of those you hold dear, my friends. You will regret not doing so."

The invited Devils were curious.

The humans listened to the Mastema Demoness. The soldiers persuaded the children and civilians mingled amongst them to listen as their legs carried them towards the graves, chattering with curiosity on the surprise, splitting up to stand before the grave of their choosing.

"We cannot bring back the souls from Heaven." The Demoness explained. "Your creator will never let us touch his realm no matter what, and they have perished for too long… their connection to Gaia is gone. Souls who are in peace will not want to return to the living to suffer the burdens of life, even at the behest of their loved ones. To force such selfishness would bring them suffering. However..."

She clapped her hands together. Every Mastema Demon present also clapped their hands and closed their eyes.

The dusk-lit sky shone as the caskets radiated, eldritch and arcane engravings and mystical symbols carved into the stone coffins flashed into visibility, lights descended from the nightly heavens and struck each of the graves in a dazzling display that shocked everyone present.

Rias and Sona widened their eyes when they saw the sparkling outlines hovering over each gravestone.

"...Anna?" John Solomon uttered when he saw the spirit of his wife, his family staring back at him.

[John…?]

"Angela!" The little girl that Rias spoke to cried in tears at the sight of her friend.

Many voices cried out at the sight of the passive specters hovering, tears running down their eyes as they saw the spirits of their loved ones returning.

The Demonesses did not interrupt, letting the humans spill all of the emotions bottled from their worst moments.

The Devils were surprised to see the ghosts of the dead returning from Heaven, the gloom they expected from a funeral supplemented by brightness and the joy of reunion, even if it was temporary.

The Demoness stepped down from the podium, stepping down to the grass to watch the humans.

"...This is unexpected." Riser spoke with wonder as he leaned forward in his seat.

"Are these souls summoned from the afterlife…?" Sona could not help but muse.

"If they could do that, why couldn't the Church do it?" Rias asked a good question.

"That is a good question." The demoness responded as she turned towards them. "They cannot. The Angels cannot move the souls of Heaven. Their Father won't let them. Heaven won't let the Creator's children steal the souls of Heaven. He fears being betrayed so much that He was willing to tie the hands of his children even after His death. A pathetic man obsessed with control over all else."

Rias and Sona were glad that Irina and Xenovia were not around to hear the last bit. "Then… Won't the angels notice about these souls missing from heaven?"

"This is more akin to a projection." She turned her head towards them. "A way of communing with the dead. We use their remains, or what we could salvage to form a connection with the spirit. Unfortunately, we can only use it for one day… The ritual turns the medium to ashes to break through the taboos. The souls are still in heaven."

"I see…" Ravel rubbed her chin in thought.

"...What is the point of inviting us here in the first place?" Akeno asked.

"What do you think?" The woman asked.

The girls remained silent.

"...May I ask for your name, dear madam?" Riser asked.

"Qarausa." She bowed slightly.

"Qarausa. From the debacle you sent upon us, I am under the assumption that your kind values healthy independent thought."

"You assume correctly." She smiled.

"I am surprised that you're not as spiteful as I've heard. That you can speak with me so amicably," Riser remarked.

"Oh, we despise you and your kind for many reasons. Ignorance is one of them. But our standards differ from those usually consumed by their emotions… Would you care to conjecture another reason why we despise your kind?" Qarausa asked.

Rias, Sona, Yubelluna, Akeno, and Ravel could feel the tension. Like the Demon was testing Riser to pass a daring game.

"...Is it related to the dead?" Riser guessed.

Qarausa did not answer.

"...You can speak with the souls of the dead… You are attuned with them more than just conversation." Riser continued.

Qarausa still did not speak but her smile rising was indication.

"...You can see the memories of the dead, can't you?" Riser concluded.

"You are better than I thought. You have my respect, Riser Phenex, one who overcame our trial." Quarasa bowed slightly. "To answer your question, in truth, not only can we see the souls of the dead, but we also… attune with them. A tradition of the Mastema to carry and pass on the torch from generations… But during the Great war, we were unprepared. We bore witness to all of the crimes of your ancestors in such detail, we felt the pain and tragedies so intimately, no words spoken through lips could express the horrors of that time in such magnitude… How can one see so much evil in a species and expect that such malevolence could bring a spark of hope?"

Her words reminded Rias and Sona of Ersi's, how he phrased the words 'ocean of blood' when describing their kind and their evils.

"That… is a question I cannot answer," Riser looked down.

Qarausa smiled again, "Perhaps the answer might come to you in time. Do not misunderstand, while we believe in our stance against your kind, we are not afraid of being proven wrong. We move to the means of a proof, not an end. Even though we believe that you would never pass this test considering the level of ignorance and naivety..."

Riad and Sona understood that she was jabbing at them.

"There are rewards for passing the test, but I believe the true victor deserves something special. We shouldn't lie, the girls did not pass. You did."

Rias and Sona frowned at her direct insult.

"Let me give you a reward that measures your worth."

The pale Demoness took something from the shirt of her tuxedo, from between the crack in her breast's.

She handed something to Riser.

In her hand was a black stone, a rough chunk of rock… But a rock that was radiating a powerful, fiery presence.

In the rock, a feather indented its shape.

It was a feather fossil.

"What is this?" Riser asked.

"A Phoenix fossil. One with the soul of a Phoenix trapped within."

"...A relic of the Phoenix?" Riser asked with a bewildered look, his hands were trembling a little as he accepted the rock from Qarausa.

"How could this be…?" Ravel could not help but wonder as she stepped forward to have a closer look at the fossil.

Rias could understand Riser and Ravel's reactions, since she received some lessons about the Phenex clan when she was still betrothed to him. To put things simply - the Phenex household worshiped the Legendary Bird, many theories suggested that their ancestors received a blessing from the Immortal creature, resulting in their descendants' power over fire, wind and regenerative healing factor.

"The Phoenix is almost impossible to kill. They moved from Midgard to Muspelheim after they decided that they had enough of being hunted for their… Essences. This was one of the stubborn few that stayed. Only to become a victim of the Gorgon."

Riser looked up, "Excuse me? Medusa attempted to hunt the Phoenix?"

"Yes. The legends of The Great Sage Equalling Heaven inspired her to attempt one of the several methods of immortality. She attempted to convert the petrified Phoenix into an elixir using Eastern Alchemy, distill and refine the raw material into a digestible consumable… Sadly, she failed. She was stuck with the soul of the Phoenix, weakening her greatly instead as it burned her insides constantly. That was how Perseus was able to slay her - she was not at her best when they battled."

The Devil girls were shocked to hear an untold story of the Gorgon's saga.

"How did you know all of this?" Ravel asked.

"The Phoenix told us. We can communicate with souls, remember? This one wants to live, but is afraid to find out whether or not it could be Reborn from melted stone… If you want, I can make it into a golden pill that allows you to inherit the Phoenix's power. Think of it like a… raw, wild Sacred Gear that must be tamed to use," Qarasa offered.

Riser swallowed a lump - the power of the Phoenix on the palm of his hand. He could only imagine what kind of new heights he could achieve.

"But I don't understand. How did the Gorgon defeat the Phoenix? Could it be weaker than…" Ravel asked.

"No, she did not battle the Phoenix, she hunted it. She struck after its rebirth and turned it to stone while it was still weak and young," Qarausa corrected.

Both Ravel and Riser grimaced with rage at the audacity of the Medusa dishonoring the idol of their clan's worship.

"Then… how did you get the fossil?" Ravel asked an important question.

The devils were curious how then Demoness got such a rare treasure.

"It was from Hades. It is a very sturdy soul, part of his prized treasures. He donated it to us as a suggestion for a reward after discussion with Lady Eistheth. He cannot use it, even he would be harmed. And his pride won't let him… it was originally meant for you."

Riser stared at Qarausa before he turned to Ravel.

Ravel was stunned by her answer, hearing that the Demons on their side would go this far for them.

"But it seems that you already have in possession of another divine bird of fire…" Qarausa squinted at Ravel. "The Sanzuwu? How did you get the divine sunfire bird?"

Ravel was surprised to hear that the demoness saw through her. It was from Silver's treasure vault; Silver boasted how he raided an ancient chinese emperor's tomb for that one.

"That's… classified."

Riser cleared his throat.

"...The offer is irresistible, and I thank you for giving me a gift that was originally meant for my sister, but… May we have time to think about this offer?"

Riser's reply caught Ravel, Sona and Rias off-guard. The old Riser would have accepted the offer without a second thought.

"Interesting, I never knew you had such temperance. Very well, it doesn't matter. Even without me, there are others that can do what I do. Find an Eastern Alchemist, though be wary. Some might try to pilfer your prize."

"I will keep that in mind, thank you for this generous gift, Madame Qarausa." Riser bowed slightly after carefully handing the fossil over to Yubelluna's care.

"Be warned. If you consume it, you may suffer like The Gorgon. But unlike her, you can inherit the power…. If you can tame it. If not, it would burn your Devilhood and soul, your body reduced to refined ash as soil for its rebirth."

"...Why not make it into a Sacred Gear?" Ravel asked a good question.

"Are you sure that is what the Phoenix wants?" She asked.

Her question left Ravel in silence as a contemplation.

"The Phoenix made a pact with us. This is the only way it would consider whether its new host would be worthy of its full power. It does not want to be a Sacred Gear. It is already traumatized enough, being trapped in a rock… Ah, apologies. I must proceed with the next ceremony. May you be wiser in our next meeting."

Qarausa ended her sentence with a smile, before she walked off to attend the next procedure of the ceremony.

It was later at night, where Rias and Sona were sitting at the bar on the Hotel's mezzanine floor.

The funeral ceremony went on without a hitch. After the souls of the deceased had gone back to heaven - not they ever left in the first place, Rias and Sona then found themselves requested to give a few words as a part of eulogy by Qarausa.

Despite their effort at sincerity, their impassioned speech was not really received with much optimism. While the audience gave them applause, both heiresses could tell that the gesture was merely out of courtesy, and many of the audience were sporting looks of mild skepticism as they clapped at them.

Hence, Rias and Sona were nursing a glass of non-alcoholic champagne. They were finally allowed to retire for the night, as well as enjoying the Hotel's service and amenities while their servants were allowed some free time. Riser and Ravel had returned to their personal quarters to ponder on the demoness' offer to transform the fossil into an 'immortality pill'.

Downing the remaining drink in her glass, Rias sighed, "...I think I should be nicer to my brother more."

Sona paused when she was about to take a sip on her own champagne. She pondered for a bit before she downed her drink, then replied, "Right, he is in charge of domestic affairs, which means he has to deal with the nobles the most… The nobles who were pretty much responsible for this whole madness in the first place."

"I don't think he's incompetent - managing dozens and tens of nobles is not a simple chore, but is it really possible for us to miss such corruption and misconduct for centuries?" Rias spoke with a mild frustration.

"They might answer with 'Diodora Astaroth' in our faces like an attack," Sona remarked with dry bitterness. "Not to mention, the Old Satan Faction was brewing a rebellion under our noses for so long… and do you remember about Kuroka's circumstances?"

"Yes… It's easier to chalk-off her rebellion as a case of power-induced insanity than to say that she killed her King to protect her little sister…" Rias sighed.

"Makes us wonder how many others were mislabeled as rebels…" Sona sighed.

Their spirits were low… It was probably the intentions of the Demon Lords that opposed their race, wanting to show them the evils of their kind in the most shocking and depressing manner to break their souls.

"My, are you two alright?"

A new voice asked the girls, who looked up to see the bartender looking at them with a concerned look.

Rias and Sona quickly put on a small smile, "Yes, we are alright. Can we have another round, please?"

The bartender - the man in his early 30s with brown hair smiled kindly, "Coming right up."

A few minutes later, Rias and Sona were served two glasses of the prettiest-looking drinks they ever saw. Carbonated water filled with ice-cubes that seemed to be glowing with some mint leaves on top.

Rias and Sona then turned to the bartender, "This… is not our drink from earlier, is it?"

"Personal recipe, it's on the house. Have a taste, ladies. You have my word, you won't regret it."

Rias and Sona wanted to rebuke, but they could not detect or sense any ill-intent from the bartender before him. They exchanged glances and shrugged, choosing to trust the man before them and took a sip from their new drinks.

When they swallowed, Rias and Sona's eyes widened - that was the most refreshing drink they ever had. Their throats and bodies felt as if they were having a cold, spring water after spending days under blistering heat of wasteland. Before they knew it, they had already downed their glasses and only realized that there was not a drop left only after a second of swallowing nothing.

Rias held her fist before her mouth, while Sona pressed her hand against her chest - both ladies held down their burps from coming out loud. With their refined dignity, they turned to the bartender, "Um, can we have another round of this, please?"

The bartender merely smiled and procured another round for them, "Take it slow now, ladies. This type of drink is best being savored."

"Yes, of course. May I know what this drink is, Mr…?" Rias noticed the bartender had no staff-ID on his person.

"You may call me Emmanuel, dear. I'm just a stand-in for a friend who cannot make it to tonight's shift."

"Thank you, Mr. Emmanuel. This drink…. is delicious, may I know the contents?" Rias asked with wonder-curiosity in her eyes."

The Bartender - Emmanuel, placed a finger before his kind smile and He gave a playful wink, "Ah, but that will be telling. And, I am a bit embarrassed with this one - It is still incomplete, but I will let you know when the day comes."

The drink that surpassed the finest foods and drinks in the Underworld was incomplete? Rias and Sona could not imagine it.

"I… See, thank you for entertaining my question." Rias could only dumbly reply as she and Sona marveled at their drinks again. They could feel their mouths water at the mere image of the perfected one.

"So, what has been troubling you? My drink might lift your spirits, but… Sometimes the best remedy is a good listener."

Rias and Sona stared at Emmanuel for a few seconds. Looking at their drinks, they relished the small sips they took before the former finally spoke.

"It's just… Kind of family issues. Thank you for listening, Emmanuel, but we can't bore you with our personal stories."

Emmanuel snorted, "Nonsense - though, perhaps I am but a stranger, to you. Nonetheless, there are many occasions where people have come and gone to this establishment to share their woes and stories instead of a drink; and not to toot my own horn, but I consider myself as a good listener. Tell you what - I shall be a listener, an outlet for your worries, if you'd like. And whatever comes out of your lips shall stay between the three of us here, I swear on My Honor." Emmanuel finished while placing His bandaged hand over where His heart is.

For some reason, Rias and Sona found Emmanuel's words so very convincing that - after fidgeting a little on their seats, Rias and Sona shared nods of agreement.

"Well… We got… in a disagreement with someone." Rias phrased her worries. "...Actually, are you a part of this place's….. 'staff'?" she made an air quote with her fingers at the last word.

Rias asked since they were in a hotel run by recruited Devil victims with anti-devil guns and supernatural augmentation and training.

"Ah, in a way… I am familiar with the 'upper management.'" The Man admitted. "Not in the way you think, though. I was never a part of the whole 'let's break into the homes of loving parents and kidnap two children to see if the society of a certain species is beyond saving in a grand test.'"

The Man quoted back with His fingers with a knowing smile, earning quiet giggles from the girls.

"But I know what motivates them. It is a terrible thing, to be robbed of their loved ones, and then the memories of them without knowing why. It is like throwing salt at a heavily wounded man as an insult. I think they want you to feel the same tragedies. There are times where your enemies try to project their worst moments onto those they perceive to be in the wrong… Like they are telling a story with their actions and the emotions they bring out of you. A story they want you to see without recognizing it, so that you can understand them in their shoes without knowing it."

Rias and Sona stared at the Man, pondering on His words.

"...I see. I never thought of their actions as projecting…" Sona hummed in thought.

"Then… you probably know what is wrong…" Rias sighed. "We tried our best to console them. We even conversed with the deceased spirits… not even the dead look at us in the same way. They don't hate us, but it's like looking at us brings bad memories."

"Ah, the funeral." Emmanuel nodded.

"I… Just don't know what to do. I don't… know what we need to do to cross this burned bridge without falling into the ocean of blood like that one guy said…"

Rias and Sona were at a loss. They were outwitted in more ways than one, they were left with clues, that guy Chester even gave direct hints in their faces, and they… fumbled. They said the worst things they could say without thinking, mostly to expose their true beliefs and motivations.

Emmanuel hummed while rubbing His chin before He replied.

"...I think they do not like how you defend how you see yourselves and your society as a whole. They want to see strength, not brute power. But true strength. They will not abuse your vulnerabilities, but exploit your weaknesses. The two are different. To stand up and challenge the insurmountable, even if you struggle and might fail, there is a purity that they desire to see. Anything that… gets in the way of that purity is a flaw that they might… condemn."

"...But…" Rias grimaced. "...I… Don't think I have that strength they want to see…"

She was not Issei. And…

"They want you to hate yourself." The man continued.

Rias blinked and looked up at him.

"Well, some of them do. I can see that you are conflicted by the horrors, they do not separate you or the worst of your people due to how easily you accept many of the Devil's culture as... normal without question. For not seeing and questioning, too easy to be swayed. You do not know how to overcome that, you rely on phrases from the elders, political hear-says, in your life to defend the flaws as inevitable, as something necessary, to avoid tackling the problem… That is the trap."

Rias and Sona's looks shifted as if they caught something.

"Although…. I have to say that the upper management might have missed the time factor and don't have the patience to consider that. Changing millenia, or even centuries-worth of culture and tradition takes time, nothing can refute that. I guess they have been rather unfair to blame the younger generations for the sins of the bygone era."

Emmanuel folded his arms and shrugged before continuing.

"They are comparing you with how fast humans change cultures in centuries, how many civilizations rise and fall in the years. That is one of the flaws you accept without question as normal in your eyes and refuse to change. Treating it as unfairness without considering a solution is another way of them criticizing your weaknesses," Emmanuel pointed out.

"That's…" Rias and Sona did not know how to answer that since the lifespan of human countries were drastically shorter, civilizations undergoing major political restructuring faster than what the Devils could achieve.

"Though I will admit that there is a point you have missed. The difference between Human and Devil civilizations are your lifespans. The lifespan of a people reflects the stubbornness of a culture's to survive, how long an empire can stand without crumbling. Especially rulers and nobles that can live forever. Change is good for something that almost never changes, to break away and become something new and better. Anything that stays the same for too long will decay into something worse," Emmanuel pointed out. "But that might also be considered as a flaw, one that you are not challenging. I can hear them say 'You had all of this time to change, but you didn't' if you pointed that out, and then something along the lines of 'you waste your years like your wealth' or something to demean you."

For some reason, Rias and Sona could imagine hearing that from one of the Demon Lords, either Ermias or Ersi.

"But that mindset is a mistake, unfit for someone like you. To overcome the demons, you must rise above yourself. The first step... is confronting your weakness and accepting yourself. Not to loathe, but love yourself. Only then will you find the strength to see and overcome their traps."

Emmanuel uncrossed his arms.

"And never, ever, answer with excuses. Face the world with resolution to move forward. That is the answer."

Rias and Sona found themselves nodding at the words from the Bartender, but Emmanuel sensed there were still some last shreds of doubt in their faces.

"...You have people who you love, and they love you in return; do not be afraid to rely on them." Emmanuel smiled.

Rias and Sona found themselves smiling as images of their friends and families appeared in their mind - a certain brunette young man in particular. In Sona's case - she sensed something tugged at her chest for some reason.

"Even the strongest man needs support. He has a family, after all… Ah, it seems my shift is over." Emmanuel smiled sadly as he looked at the nearby clock. "Anything else I can help you with, ladies?"

Rias and Sona blinked and realized that they have been talking for a while.

"No, we'll be fine, Mr. Emmanuel. You've been a great help." Rias smiled sincerely, "Forgive us for not formally introducing ourselves, my name is Rias Gremory."

"I am Sona Sitri, it is a pleasure to be acquainted with you, Mr. Emmanuel." Sona followed suit as she and Rias extended their hands.

Emmanuel smiled, He clasped and shook their hands gingerly. Rias and Sona found His hand to be impossibly gentle and warm.

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Gremory and Lady Sitri. Please send My regards to your friends and family, I would love to meet them."

"And I think they would love to meet you too."

"May peace be with you always." Emmanuel gave one last smile and nod before he vanished by the door leading to the backrooms.

OxO

Emmanuel closed the door as he turned around to face the being hidden there.

"Ah, are you here to hand me my daily wages, my good sir?" Emmanuel chuckled as he bowed with a hand on his chest.

The demon facing Emmanuel had five eyes, one in the center, the other four arranged in the constellation of an X. He wore a suit made of black and blue, the 'fibers' of his attire bristling as if alive, revealed to be moving, animated nanobots.

The demon bowed in return.

"I… I didn't expect to receive your visit. You've come at an awkward time," the demon actually sounded rather nervous at Emmanuel's presence.

"Forgive Me for coming unannounced. I was enjoying the hospitality of this world's modern society. It is… nice." Emmanuel replied with a fond smile. "...But I'm afraid it's My time to leave."

"Already? Why leave so soon? Come, please rest. We would be more than happy to serve with hospitality … Come to think of it, where is Gaius Magnus? I thought he is blood sworn to guard you at all times," the demon asked while briefly looking around.

Emmanuel blinked owlishly before his expression shifted into mild awkwardness, "Oh, um… Well, about that…"

"Milord!"

Both Emmanuel and the demon turned towards the door leading outside, where someone was knocking loudly. The demon quirked several of his eyes at Emmanuel, who sighed with a sheepish expression before he proceeded to open the door, revealing a tall Caucasian man wearing a suit. His expression was a tad haggard, as if he was exhausted.

"...Good evening, Gaius. Peace be with you." Emmanuel greeted.

The newcomer - Gaius, sighed with an unamused expression, "Peace be with you too, sire, but it wasn't very nice of you to leave me behind at the airport after I had told you to wait while I'm looking for a taxi!"

"Didn't you receive my text message?"

Gaius sighed in exasperation, "I told you to wait because your cell-phone cannot receive any service yet. I was going to provide you with the local SIM card before you disappeared!"

Emmanuel blinked owlishly again in confusion, "...Wait, so is that why I cannot use my cell-phone? No wonder I couldn't call you earlier. I thought My cell phone broke, or had some bad signal."

Gaius groaned as he massaged his forehead, "...May I know how you have been traveling around?"

Emmanuel's expression brightened slightly, "Oh, that's easy. Look over there."

Emmanuel pointed towards a bicycle that was being parked at a nearby lamp-post.

"...Where did You get that bike from?" Gaius asked.

"I ran into this fine place that rents out bicycles for tourists and locals. I managed to rent one until tomorrow at a discount price." Emmanuel replied with a small grin.

Gaius wanted to retort, but soon found himself unable to drag the conversation any longer. "...Fine, no matter. So now that you are here… I assume you are done with your business?" The former centurion then turned to the demon, "Good evening, sorry for the inconvenience, Sir Tittivilus."

"It is no problem, Sir Magnus. I see that you are tired… Would you like a room for two?" Tittivilus offered.

Emmanuel wanted to refute, but seeing that Gaius had spent the whole day searching through the city for him, the guard had more than earned a good rest. Eventually, He sighed in acceptance.

"...Yes, a room for two sounds lovely."

Nodding at the confirmation, Tittivilus was about to call a staff before he paused and turned back to address the new guests, "Ah, before you leave, a question. Do you wish to remain anonymous and unseen?"

Emmanuel curtly nodded with an apologetic smile, "If that's not too much trouble."

"Not that I mind, but… Forgive me if I sound pressuring You, Sire - but the people under my care would greatly appreciate Your presence. They've gone through ordeals, and Your audience can grant them hope they sorely need." Tittivilus implored.

Emmanuel looked down in thought, staring at the scar on His palm which He idly brushed with His thumb. He believed that it was still too soon for Him to announce His presence, but He also understood Tittivilus' enquiries. Back in the day - He had been living according to the plans and duties given from His Father; but now that He was pretty much independent…

The Once and Eternal Messiah then met Tittivilus' eyes, "...Bring Me to them. Though, I'd appreciate it if you can keep this arrangement a secret. It is still not the time to reveal Myself yet."

Tittivilus nodded with a smile on his face.

Far in the outskirts of Ashgabat, in the desert sands, two voices bickered.

"The principles behind this formula aren't enough, the fluctuations alone will trigger their sense."

The two young children of the Demon Lords were standing behind a giant rock in the desert.

Drawn in the sands around them were estranged symbols, each interconnected by lines, pathways that swerve and flow like rivers carved through the land, an mystical array that combined the formations of Eastern Sage Arts with Western Arcane principles.

"Mm… Figures. You're basing it on previous spells used by saboteurs in the Great War."

"What if I fold this rune here with the Schrodinger causality?"

"Not even you can manipulate space time to that extent. Creating a temporary parallel timeline to create a pathway is too much. And I thought you're supposed to be a genius."

"Oh ha ha. All of the vermin in the city are hijacked by Agiel parasites as their eyes and ears, there are hidden Demiurge sensor towers pinned in each cardinal point around the city, and there are detection runes inscribed in who knows where. I can't even use clairvoyance without getting caught. Oneiromancy is out since we have never met the person. There are too many minds here, and it takes too long to sift through them all."

The two young children were discussing how to infiltrate a city protected by the Demons. They were miffed that an empowered Oni and a squad of hostile magicians managed to get through while they couldn't. They were not sure if the mysterious powers of this GOD was hiding their presence or that their parents allowed them to enter as a part of this great test.

It was customary for young Demons to endure the unexpected in their tests to instill adaptability.

"We should at least try something. Why not the… mirror dimension?" Zelel suggested.

"Location spells don't work in the mirror dimension!" Duon reminded. "It can't exactly translate to the material dimension easily! My affinity with that dimension isn't that high!"

"Shadows?"

"Won't work. His unique essence wouldn't leave such an imprint in the shadows for us to follow. He is The Holy Man, remember?"

They were attempting to locate and find a certain man that could help them with their quest.

He was one of the few ideas Duon and Zelel came up with to help the Devils, since That Man was heavily revered in Kthon despite being the child of their race's archnemesis. Someone that not even the Demon Lords would cross out of sheer respect.

"I don't even know what that man is doing in there. It was hard enough to find him with this compass."

Duon took out a compass. The needle was made of bone, brown hair wrapped around the needle, the needle sitting in the center of a round, black slate, a golden divination rune etched on it to point in the direction of that Man. This was one of the only methods they could use to locate him without detection. It was a dragon bone needle compass with the hair of their target wrapped around it.

"...May I have a look at that compass?"

"Hm? Oh, sure."

Duon then handed the compass to an open hand. Both he and Zelel then blinked at the unfamiliar limb. They looked up and saw the very Man they were looking for, smiling at them, standing beside them, his shoes stepping on the experimental equations they drew on the sands.

"Jesus Christ!" Duon exclaimed as he jumped away in surprise.

The Man silently chuckled good-naturedly, "Indeed, I am, son. Peace be with you."

"...What… how did you…" Duon pointed at Jesus.

In return, the Man gave a V-sign in response.

The pale-skinned and pale-haired demon in human form knew implied meaning.

"My powers are a mystery. How I refined it, is a secret history. But today… My silence shall be your gift."

"Not cool. Tell me." Duon frowned using human lingo.

"Ignore Duey. The museum and historians did say that you are prophetic among other abilities… Do you know why we're here?"

"Don't ignore me and tell me." Duon pressed.

In return, Jesus chuckled at the synergy between the two young demons.

"...I may have a hunch or two. Anyway, there's still time before sunrise, would you like to join Me for breakfast? We can talk over a nice, warm meal."

"I… we appreciate the offer, but… I am afraid that we have to decline," Zelel explained.

They do not want to be discovered by their parents this soon which would lead to immediate expulsion.

"Oh, don't be so modest. I can tell who your parents are, though I did not expect that Ermias has such a wonderful girl as his daughter. As for your mother, well, I didn't think she would get along with him but color me surprised with the wonders of love." Jesus complimented Zelel, who was not sure how to react, before He turned to Duon, "...And you, kind boy, please; be more honest with yourself. It is not good to hide your insecurities in a mask of arrogance. Mixed with a tinge of humor."

Duon blinked.

"How… I… hahhhhh." Duon sighed. His casual mien shifted to a more serious grimace. "Your foresight surpasses my expectations."

"You are very concerned about your father, you just don't know how to express it that well. Your parents won't know about this. I know their tricks better than you think." He winked.

The children were at a loss to hear that. Their parents were the most powerful amongst their kind, their strength fueled by their determination, from the war. They did not think that even the holiest human could defy them with his mysterious powers.

"...Then… Alright." Duon sighed. "...Would You help us?"

Jesus only replied with a beaming smile.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

In a moment, a flash of Divine light consumed the three. The three were no longer in the desert.

To be Continued….

Omake

"...Wow, you're stronger than you look, sir."

Saji praised as he watched Emmanuel - the custodian who introduced Himself after He helped spotting Saji bench-pressing 200-pound weights, tidying up several weights and equipment at least as heavy as the one Saji bench-pressed earlier.

Long story short - in the light of the recent battles, Saji was determined to grow stronger that he decided to do some late night work-out, bench-pressing and weight-lifting until his muscles failed him, prompting Emmanuel to step in and volunteer to help Saji finish his work-out regimen.

Once his training was done, Saji was about to repay Emmanuel's assistance by helping him out cleaning up, when the Latter easily lifted up heavy dumbbells and equipment despite his lean build.

"Thank you. I was born and grew up in a family of carpenters, son." Emmanuel replied as he placed the weights on their racks, "I am no stranger to heavy-lifting."

Saji then watched Emmanuel finishing up, while sitting on a bench to rest up his sore muscles. Emmanuel soon returned with a bottle of water in hand, which the Pawn accepted gratefully.

"Thank you sir. Sorry for the trouble." Saji said with a small bow of his head.

"Think nothing of it. This is why I am here." Emmanuel then took a seat next to Saji, "...So, mind telling this old man why a young man like you is overexerting himself instead of sleeping this late at night?"

Feeling that he owed Emmanuel at least some answers, Saji bashfully rubbed his nape, "It's err… It's a rather silly story, I believe."

"Try Me." Emmanuel shrugged. When Saji raised his eyebrows, Emmanuel held His hand up and placed His other hand over His heart, "Everything will stay between the two of us, I promise. Man to man."

Saji was skeptical, since Emmanuel was practically a stranger - but damn, why was He looking so convincing?

After contemplating for a few moments, Saji decided to take a leap.

"Well, the thing is, there's this girl…." Saji began, eliciting an amused look from Emmanuel, "To put it simply, she's the most amazing girl I've ever seen, and I messed up recently. I mean, I get it that she didn't blame me - that's just how great she is, but I feel like I have to be better for her, y'know?"

"Hm, young love - how wonderful." Emmanuel commented sincerely. He then rested His chin on His palm, "I think you're doing great, a little too excessive, maybe - but you are more or less on the right track. So… Tell me more about this girl."

Like a switch flipped - Saji found himself relaxing a bit more. He actually loved this part, where he could brag about Sona, and how much he adored her.

"Hm, where to begin? Right, so she is a year older than me - she's smart, she's pretty…"

OxO

"...Then I will sweep her off her feet-"

"...Whoa, whoa, whoa. Son, we might have to go back a little."

Emmanuel, with His ever-patient, albeit a little strained smile on His face, interrupted Saji's tirade about Sona by holding His hand up.

To his credit, Saji actually stopped mid-sentence and waited for Emmanuel to carry on.

The Man then exhaled through His nose as He propped His hands before His face.

"Allow Me to summarize your story so far, feel free to correct Me if I'm wrong."

Emmanuel began, and continued when Saji nodded in return.

"So you are so in love with this girl that you are willing to work your way up and support her dreams despite the odds given by people around her - those parts are still wonderful, by the way." Emmanuel pointed out, "...And your plan to claim her hand in marriage is by, basically impregnating her and convincing her that you will take responsibility, thus having what people nowadays call a 'shotgun wedding'?"

"Yes!" Saji declared with starry eyes.

Emmanuel closed His eyes momentarily before placing His hand on Saji's shoulder, "...My boy. I am not one to criticize, but… That is one of the most reckless, most foolish ideas I have ever heard in My life… Are you sure you didn't consider that she might spite you for doing that without consent? Did you consider her feelings? A child is a very serious matter, not something to be treated as an excuse to claim your soul mate."

To his credit again - Saji actually paused when he opened his mouth, before his expression went thoughtful on Emmanuel's input, "...Y'know, it does sound stupid when you said it like that, somehow."

Emmanuel could not help but snort, "Is that so? Have you told anyone about this before?"

Saji shrugged, "Well, I guess I told one or two guys from my school and all they said was 'good luck' or something…" He then shook his head, "But come on, to be honest I'm kind of at the end of the rope here. Did you know that this girl said that she prefers guys who are as smart as her? I can't just make a nerd of myself - but dammit, I love her so much!"

"...Right." Emmanuel shifted on His seat as He held up a finger, "...Okay, hear Me out - how about this…"

The next fifteen minutes were spent with Saji listening to Emmanuel's words of wisdom - the former would listen and nod every now and then at the Latter's words.

"...So, what do you think?" Emmanuel finished with a smile on His face, as He watched Saji digesting His words.

"I see…. That means I need to make my intentions clear to her! Tell her how I feel towards her first!" Saji spoke with an enlightened expression.

"Um, pardon me - what?" Emmanuel blinked.

"Of course she never looked at me, it's because I kept chasing after her even without saying anything clear! It all makes sense!" Saji then stood up from his seat and clasped Emmanuel's hands, "Thank you so much for the talk, Mr. Emmanuel! Now I know what I must do!"

Emmanuel was still bewildered at how Saji ended up with such a conclusion; that He only realized that the young man had run off after gingerly shaking His hands.

"Have a good night, Mr. Emmanuel! Let's talk some more later!"

"Ah, wait - that's not….!" Emmanuel was about to reach out when Saji had already vanished by the door,

Emmanuel then sighed in resignation as He gazed at the ceiling, finding Himself wondering if there was still some higher power that could answer His next prayer. Eventually, He clasped His hands together.

"...May peace be with him always."

Happy New Year 2025! Chapter 108 and 109 are available in my (P). atreon ^_^!