One-Punch DxD: NEO
Chapter 63: Recovering

So... A quick announcement. Considering the real life affairs overloading my plate, and how far this story itself has gone... I'm afraid I have to, hereby mark the Legacy story to be abandoned. Although I do not mind if there's anyone who wants to adopt it, picking up where I left off.

As for other story such as Iron Heart, RWBY: Redeemer, Gunslinger DxD; do not fret, they are still alive, but more like on hiatus, because my muse on NEO is still on full throttle. Thank you very much for those who had been supporting One-Punch DxD: Legacy, but it is time for this new ride. Cheers!

To read the flow of energy and become one with the flow…

Issei repeated that mantra as he recollected the experiences he encountered each and every time.

He did not know why he kept repeating this excerpt in his mind, but he felt as if it was very important.

There was another saying from his teacher, that one must learn to surpass death with sheer will to become something more on his own terms. It was something Garou learned from an enemy long ago…

It reminded him of something called the Forced Evolution Process.

This excerpt continued to repeat in his mind… he wondered why…

He could not mimic the techniques of others just as easily as Garou, which was why he decided to build on his current strengths instead.

His mind flashed to the time he was struck by the lightning of Magni and Modi.

It was a powerful lightning that could reshape the lands and paint the world in perpetual storm light. Issei clenched his fists as he envisioned the power of the thunder gods.

To feel the flow of energy and become one of it… the mimic the flow was but an extension.

Feel with his other senses other than sight…

Issei reached out with his hand, envisioning the lightning that roasted him through his armor. He could touch it… though there was something blocking his hand as he reached out. It was leathery and weird, very tensile and stretchy.

He slowly broke his hand through the barrier and grasped the lightning in his hand, the essence of Divine Lightning that lay only in the realm of the gods.

And when he did, he heard someone calling out his name.

"...Issei!"

Issei opened his eyes as he gasped, blinking at the sudden glare of the brightness of the ceiling light.

He blinked rapidly as he shook out the daze out of his head.

Where was he? What happened?

And…

When the blur faded, he blinked as he saw the light again. He could see the lightbulb past the glaring illumination. He wasn't as affected by the light, unbothered.

He looked around, seeing the girls around him.

Tsubasa was crying tears while holding his outstretched hand, Irina holding his other hand with tears as well.

"What… what… happened?" Issei asked, blinking again. Their faces were much crisper and more detailed than he remembered.

"Shhhh… Issei. How many fingers am I holding?"

Issei heard Kiyome's voice behind him.

He saw three fingers entering his vision from above.

"...Three? And… wait, what's that covering your hand?" Issei asked. He saw thick, rigid plates of organic gray covering the hand of who he presumed was Kiyome.

"I can show you later. What was the last thing you remember?" Kiyome asked.

Issei blinked as he tried to recall his memories. There was a battle… oh, he went with the others to rescue Stjarna but…

"Oh… shit." Issei remembered super Rizevim. "Shit…. Agh, goddamn it." Issei rubbed his hair. "What happened? How… am I still alive?" He remembered a lot of searing agony.

"Thank Stjarna for that. He broke you down and reconstructed your body via metamorphosis. Your body is now… part Stjarna, I suppose. You lost your eyes, ears, your skin… it was very bad." Kiyome explained as Issei saw the worried eyes of the girls.

"Shit… how long was I out?"

"Three days." Rias answered with a teary smile.

"...Oof. Alright, how do I look? Did I get anything new from Stjarna?" Issei asked.

"Well… your skin and your eyes received the most changes. Plus your nerves have been altered as well. I don't know how much of Stjarna's powers you got, but your sight should receive the most significant changes." Kiyome asked as Issei rose up, sitting on the bed.

"Also, um…" the beast tamer suddenly paused, looking awkward all of sudden.

"What? What is it?" Issei asked with a concerned look. He looked around and saw the girls were looking a tad uncomfortable as well.

The boy then sighed, "...Look, just spit it out. I'm sure-"

Issei paused when he was about to run his hand through his locks, which were not there. When his hand reached to his head - he felt a smooth skin instead of the bushy feeling of his hair. His eyes widened and looked around the room.

Now that he noticed - his father, Genos, Azazel, Tobio and Vali team were there. The former was hiding a small smile behind his knuckles, the second looked stoic as ever, while the rest of others were visibly struggling to keep themselves from laughing.

Koneko on the other hand, simply walked towards Issei and held up a hand-held mirror, allowing Issei to see the reflection of his state of being.

"No….. No! NO!" Issei's blood ran cold when he saw the state of his head.

His unbelievably shiny scalp with its reflected light stronger than the source..

"Yeah… You've been burned pretty bad there. While Stjarna managed to… somehow regenerate your cells…. Well, I guess it's not that perfect." Kiyome explained with an awkward smile.

In the place of Issei's hair, was a smooth bald head.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Issei's wail traveled throughout the entire laboratory, then all of the Grigori's headquarters.

His overdramatic scream broke Azazel and Tobio into laughter at his expense.

"BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Vali and his team broke into laughter, their mirth still drowned by Issei's vocalized anguish while Saitama started to snicker.

Even Arthur and Kuroka were holding their stomachs, Le Fay and Bikou joining in as well with teary eyes.

The girls only smiled at Issei's reaction as they started giggling at his dismay.

Issei's scream lasted for a while, leaving him huffing for breath, "Hah… hah… hah…"

"Are you done?" Vali asked with a shit-eating grin.

Issei flipped Vali the bird.

"Now you're truly your father's son."

Issei double-flipped Azazel with a frown. He then took another look at his appearance - aside from the loss of his hair, the rest of the changes were quite alright; his skin became a tad paler, and the pupils on his eyes became more like slits, sharper - giving some sort of animalistic vibe. For some reason, it was either him, or he saw some sort of 'colors' in the air around him, but that was a thought for later.

He then felt a hand on his shoulder, only to find his father smiling patronizingly at him.

"It's not that bad, son. Believe me, I've been there." Saitama nodded, "Just think about it - you don't need to worry about buying shampoo, combing your hair… Honestly, it's quite handy. Besides, I don't think your friends here have a problem with your current appearance, right?"

"Shut up. Unlike where you come from, we have magic! Please, tell me there's magic for this!" He begged as he turned to Rias and the girls.

"...And what would you give me if we gave you a spell for that?" Rias asked with a cheshire smirk.

Issei stared at Rias for a second before pouting in return, "I'm not becoming a devil. A Demon God, on the other hand…"

"Why not a Devil God? After all, apparently our ancestors are demons and-" Rias asked with a pout

"Rias, what about the curse on our bloodlines?" Akeno asked.

"Shhhh!" Rias turned to Akeno and shushed her.

"...What curse?" Issei asked.

Rias sighed with the cat's out of the bag.

"Let me take over from here." Azazel stepped forward.

Issei sat there as Azazel narrated the story of the Demons and their origins.

Issei blinked, dropping his jaws that there was once a peaceful race on Earth, with magic that was truly born on this world, their culture a conglomerate of tribes during a time where afterlives weren't so divided into black and white, heaven and hell.

He spoke of how Lucifer came to be, a descendant of Adam and Eve…

"...What?" Issei blinked. "Lucifer was a human?"

"Apparently, yes."

"...How the fuck did he become a Devil?"

Issei asked as Vali aimed an ear in their direction. Azazel did not explain this part, mostly because he was not asked.

"...God modeled the humans a bit after the demons, only in his image. Originally, humans were made with special abilities. Powers like the Demon Tribes and the Devil Clans." Azazel explained.

"...What?" Vali and the others were surprised, Saitama and Genos were intrigued.

"Wait, so… we were supposed to have special powers other than Sacred Gears?" Tobio asked. "What happened? Why… then why are we so powerless?"

"Lucifer's power allowed him to steal the grace of even the likes of an archangel. He was livid that the humans were banished from paradise in the beginning, so he stole the grace of an archangel called Xaphan and stole his way into the Garden of Eden to take the forbidden apples of wisdom. The apples were there to help increase God's intelligence and inspire new ideas, and they expanded Lucifer's mind to great heights, so much that he learned of God's sins against the natives of Gaia. It provoked God to seal the potential of the humans from that point on, modifying every human so that their potential would be… more limited." Azazel explained to the shock of the humans and the former humans.

"He then used the knowledge to experiment on himself to remove God's curse. He still kept Xaphan's archangelic grace, but he mutated himself into something different, the first proto-devil… hence the excerpt that Lucifer was a Fallen Angel in the Bible."

Azazel paused to let everyone take in the knowledge of the revelation.

"...Why the fuck didn't you tell us this sooner?" Issei asked, a sentiment shared by everyone.

"What good would this knowledge do? Michael needs all the help he can get to maintain Heaven. Knowledge of God's sins would only bring more pain and suffering, and nothing we can do will absolve this curse God placed on you all, a curse possible because he made the human race."

"You didn't even try to break it?" Issei asked, almost sounding betrayed.

"I can't. It is like trying to unmake what makes you human at this point. It is so fundamentally woven into your being that not even I can do it. And the curse grows stronger and more complex, more intimate with each generation. No one can do it. Not even Shiva or Indra can do it!" Azazel argued.

Everyone remained silent. They do not know how to react to that knowledge.

"...What happened to the demons? And what is it about a curse on the bloodlines?"

Azazel then explained how Lucifer went mad because of the experimental magics, how he allied with the Demons to expel God from Gaia, how he married Lilith, and how he betrayed the demons in a surprise attack in his insanity.

"...Holy shit." Issei felt like he was reading the diary of the worst sins a man committed, or more like a ledger of Hell accounting the darkest secrets of a species.

"...They were labeled evil for a reason. But the truth is much sadder than everyone believes… it didn't stop Lucifer and God from harassing the survivors for their secrets."

"Why did God try to steal from the Demons? Are you telling me that He's actually an asshole?" Issei pointed out.

"I… won't call him that, to be honest." Azazel replied, "Well, even gods have to start from somewhere. But as far as I'm concerned, Father was still a man who simply wanted to look out for his own people."

"By taking from those He wronged?" Issei asked.

"Yeah… I admit, even I don't know what goes on in His head half of the time. There is one angel that God confides His secrets to, but he's missing. Moving on… The reason why God wants their knowledge is because the magic of the demons defies the rules of modern magic and can perform feats beyond what we know, even now. The idea God got for the Sacred Gears came from the Mastema Tribe's texts, their scrolls on the possibility of turning the souls of others into weapons and the theories behind it."

Issei and the others were shocked.

"In the end, Father got what was coming to Him. And us… and the Devils… wasting away with our population dwindling while the Demons build their strength in Kthon." Azazel sighed.

"...Talk about finding the skeletons in your closet…" Vali commented.

"You have no idea. Genesis isn't as glamorous as the texts stated, trust me. We all had to go through terrible things to build even the concept of morality. The same goes for the Gods… we all have to start somewhere."

Everyone remained silent.

The weight of the sins of the past was heavy on their minds, the revelation too large for their minds to take.

"...Back to you… Do you feel alright?" Azazel asked, moving to another subject. "Kiyome told us that we expected you to recover in a week or so, but you came out earlier than expected."

Issei blinked as he looked at his hands, flexing his fingers.

"...I feel alright. A bit hungry but… yeah. Thanks for saving my hide, Kiyome. Literally."

He did not feel that different even with Stjarna's meat replacing his skin. He wondered why, though. Issei turned around to Kiyome behind him.

He blinked when he saw armor covering Kiyome. Her eyes were like Stjarna's golden yellow, her pupils a hexagram in shape with a yellow sclera. When she blinked, her eyes returned to her normal human eyes.

"...Uhhhhhhhh… okay. That's… what else did I miss?"

Smiling, Kiyome started to explain what happened after they returned from the enemy base.

Kiyome explained what she did, consuming the Stjarna Mutagen Cell that the larger Stjarna offered to her and transformed. She had all of Stjarna's abilities and his potential. The clone, the avatar of the larger Stjarna, then fused itself into Kiyome, giving Kiyome everything Stjarna had to offer.

Kiyome received Stjarna's last will, his memories and eldritch essence.

Issei clenched his fists when he saw tears streaming down her eyes.

"Damn…." Issei grimaced. "...I swear that we'll save him no matter what."

Kiyome looked at Issei and smiled. She nodded in silence.

"We're not done yet. The Underworld had gone through much as well." Rias added.

"How much?" Issei turned to Rias.

Rias then started to explain everything, everything she heard from Azazel and Sirzechs.

[EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!]

"WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA?! HE DID WHAT?! HE CAN DO THAT?! WE CAN DO THAT?!"

Issei and Ddraig shouted at Rias when she narrated the events through Azazel's and Saitama's mouth.

[You're lying! There's no way he can Boost himself a thousand times in one go! That is a recipe for self-destruction! You would blow yourself up with your own power if you tried!]

Ddraig shouted from Issei's red gauntlet.

Issie was extremely shocked to hear that his mentor arrived in the Underworld with the Hero Faction. He did not expect Cao Cao to turn to the dark side like this. He could not believe that Garou let himself seal himself to protect a village from The Hindhu's God of Destruction.

"I know… we couldn't believe it ourselves." Rias and the other girls smiled at Issei's lively reaction.

Brought back from the brink of death, and he was already being himself.

"No way! What else did he do?!"

Issei and Ddraig listened in as they took in everything.

How Garou summoned a black hole, sent Saitama to Oblivion and how Saitama returned from nothingness to their shock, how Garou summoned a spear and bathed the world in his power.

Issei took in every moment of it like he was listening to the most awesome bedtime story of all time.

Rias even showed a recorded video of the fight from the skies.

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!"

Issei nearly wheezed when he saw Garou.

"OH MY GOD! He looks… Holy shit! He looks so badass!" Issei pointed at the holographic image of the flaming skull demon god in the picture, forearms covered in crystal, five eyes on the chest, four bladed horns protruding from his skinless skull as crimson red gleaned from each of his skull sockets.

"I know, right?! He's so awesome!" Vali shouted, nodding frantically.

The girls giggled at his childish outburst.

"He does look cool. A bit scary, though." Tsubasa gave her input.

"He defeated my sister instantly…" Sona added.

"I still couldn't believe that he could use our powers so easily." Rias added as she watched Garou using the power of destruction along with other abilities.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGGGH!"

Issei clutched his head when he saw Garou create a blackhole, another living black hole into existence and collapsed it when Saitama was still inside.

Then the two ripped a chunk of the Underworld soil and threw it to the skies as they did battle.

Issei dropped his jaw when he saw Garou restore the ruined world back… and invigorated with new life.

[By the Dead God! How is that even possible?!]

Ddraig was left speechless in his gauntlet.

"Yeah, I know. He fixed and blessed an entire world. A lot of Gods and dragons can boast destroying the world, I know, but to nearly do it and fix it is another matter. What he used was the ultimate technique of my father somehow… I don't know how he even did it. I mean, my God, he is more God than any Gods out there, even my father." Azazel spoke his piece.

"Seriously?! Oh my god, he's so not getting away from this!"

He had heard the stories of his dad fighting his best, but to see it on screen was something else.

He saw the realm where he must reach, where the truly strong stood. And he would make sure Garou would show him how to reach that realm, especially the path of mastering every ability like that, it screamed to his inner chuuni.

[I severely underestimated your teacher.]

Ddraig commented.

Everyone flinched when they heard something from Ddraig.

"...Teacher?" Vali asked, his eyes turning owlish. It was the first time Issei saw Vali's eyes turning into that.

"...Yeah? He helped teach me his martial arts for about a week or so. Though he was a major asshole as he didn't complete my training."

Everyone, except Saitama and Genos, paused as they pieced his words together.

"That…" Vali blinked and shook his head, "Goddamn, no wonder you managed to achieve sub-species without me. When did that happen?!"

"Hey! When I was little! And like I said, he only taught me for a week or so!" Issei shouted.

"That's so unfair! It's bad enough you're the son of the strongest man in existence, but you got taught by the one guy that can use any power in existence?!"

"Hah! You're not a martial artist, remember?! You're a mage! His powers don't need something as uselessly over-complicated as formulas for it to work!"

Issei haughtily lorded over Vali.

"Screw you, you're not the only one that wants to become the most badass demon god!" Vali shouted.

Everyone watched the two boys bicker about bloodlines and unfair tutelages.

Azazel turned to Saitama… seeing him looking gloomy with an air of sorrow for some reason.

"Uhhh, what's the matter?" Azazel asked while the bickering elevated in the background.

"...You know, I did beat Garou back then… and stood up against him, you know?" Saitama gloomily reminded Azazel.

"Ah." Azazel didn't think Saitama was the kind of man that would be dejected by this - a man stronger than the Demon God, yet his son looked up to the latter more than the first.

He glanced at Genos, seeing the cyborg patting the baldy's back for support.

"Eh, maybe if you show him some… new tricks and stuff, he might look up to you more?" Azazel suggested.

"...Like?" Saitama asked as the bickering continued.

"Show him that you can use Boost… wait, you can teach others how to copy skills, right?" Azazel asked, earning eyes from Tobio and the rest of Vali's team.

"...Uhhhhhhhhhh…" Saitama rolled his eyes around, "...I don't think so…"

"...Are you sure?" Azazel's eyes turned owlish; the boys were now headlocking each other.

"Yeah… I kind of winged it myself when I used it for the first time." Saitama replied with a shrug.

Then the bickering reached a climax.

"You and me. Rematch in the training room." Issei demanded.

"Azazel wants us to spar to check your condition, anyways. I'll see you there, Baldy."

"Oh, you're on." Issei's vein bulged as inexplicable rage flowed through Issei.

"...Wait, your eyes just changed color." Vali pointed out.

"...What?" Issei blinked.

He looked at Koneko, the girl handing him a mirror.

Holding it, he saw his reflection again… seeing that his eyes were red for a moment before it swapped back to his usual brown.

"...Kiyome?" Issei turned to Kiyome.

He forgot that his eyes were not human eyes in the moment, that they were from an eldritch godslaying beast.

"Uhhhh… you can say that you got new colorful contacts?" Kiyome awkwardly suggested.

"That would make me more chuuni than Chuuni here, and that's saying something." Issei pointed a thumb at Vali who frowned at him.

"Either that or we'll have to wing it with magical contacts." She shrugged.

Issei never wore contacts before. He hoped it was not the kind that needed constant maintenance and cleaning.

"...We'll figure this out later. Alright, let's do this, Chuuni!" Issei shouted.

Both dragon emperors stood across each other, both readying their fists and spells.

Everyone watched from the sidelines, Saitama yawning as he scratched his bald head.

"...You know, without his hair… he really does look like Saitama." Kiyome whispered to Tsubasa.

Issei's eyes turned red with rage.

"I know, right? You really can't tell the difference." Tsubasa giggled.

"Shhh. Don't poke fun at Issei's worst fear." Irina joined in with a smile.

"Hmmm. He looks good even without his hair." Koneko commented with her tail swishing.

"My, yes - he looks a tad sexier, indeed; but I kind of like the hair better." Akeno was conflicted.

"Do we have a hair-regrowing spell?" Rias whispered.

"I think so. We should leverage it against him to date us at least. I call dibs." Akeno grinned.

"Tsk, I hate the boys' dibs rule." Koneko pouted.

Ravel had her own idea as she schemed a way to get ahead of them, plus Issei still owed her a date.

"...How're you holding up?" Issei asked Vali who prepared many magic circles around him, all aimed at his bald head.

Vali contemplated a response now that they were composed.

"Not sure… I kind of feel like I'm getting left behind in the dust." Vali admitted.

"Azazel's story about the demons getting to you?"

"More than you know… I just learned that my ancestor led to the damnation of my entire bloodline. That my true potential is forever sealed because of my great-grandfather's sins. I'm also kind of angry at myself when I realized that I am also using this as an excuse for my own weakness."

Issei relaxed his stance.

Azazel shifted, his lips curled into a sad frown.

"Huh… Normally, you wouldn't speak your mind like that." Issei pointed out. "You planning to reach out to them? From what I heard, they're tougher than angels and devils and pissed off like hell."

"Wouldn't stop me anyways. I now have another goal on my checklist, and that won't stop me from becoming the strongest. Anyways, enough talk, let's do this. I need to check if the donated meat crippled you somehow."

"Hah, now there's the Vali I know. You asked for it!"

Issei inhaled as he called upon the power of fire, his fists clad in dragonfire.

Vali unleashed his spells.

Flaming fists trailed in complex patterns of strokes, deflecting all of the spells that Vali could throw at them.

They would not use their sacred gears this time, not since the Devil in charge could shut down their armor with a flick of a thought.

Vali took flight as he summoned more spells, a barrage of lightning spells at Issei.

Issei knocked them all down with his dragonflame fists, the lightning reminding Issei of that one dream and the echo of Garou's wisdom.

He memorized the lightning of the thunder god brothers as he charged towards Vali.

Thunder Step

Issei heard Magni roar in his mind during the battle as… lightning crackled from his fists, his body now a bolt of light, a chaotic stroke of plasma drawn from one point to another.

The girls blinked when they saw Issei suddenly use the lightning element, the dancing plasma, Vali caught off guard when Issei slammed his electrified fist into Vali and launched him into the far wall, the room blinded by the light of lightning and drowned in the boom of thunder.

"Isn't that…?" Rias trailed off.

"That's… the same move Magni used against Issei before!" Irina finished.

They could not forget the roaring sound of thunder and the flashing blinding light.

"...Don't tell me…" Azazel blinked as he turned to Saitama. Saitama looked just as surprised. "...Maybe there's a chance you can teach him after all."

Vali coughed blood as he blinked, more shocked from seeing the lightning than the impact.

"...You… that's… how?!" Vali pointed at Issei, dumbstruck as Issei blinked.

The Red Dragon Emperor looked at his hands, seeing the lightning of the thunder god brothers dancing off his hands without direction and aim.

"Holy…" He looked at himself, wondering if he could do it. His entire form was now crackling with the norse lightning now. "I can do it now… I can do it now!"

"That doesn't answer the question!" Vali shouted. "I mean, how can you do that?! Is it the Wyrm's DNA?!" Vali shouted.

"...Is the lightning from Stjarna's DNA?" Xenovia whispered to Kiyome.

"Uh… I don't think so." Kiyome shook her head. "I just replaced the skin, muscles, and eyes. He shouldn't even be out this early, according to Stjarna."

Issei tore out of the cocoon days before the expected full recovery to everyone's shock. His hand broke through the membrane, spilling the embryonic fluids inside, although he was still unconscious.

"Maybe, but it's not what you think." Issei assumed his stance, divine lightning and dragon fire now dancing across his fists. "Garou taught me the secret of his trick. He told me he can copy any technique, even magic with a single glance with the application of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist. To read the flow of energy and become one with the flow… I couldn't copy things at first sight no matter how hard I tried, you know? He told me to use my other senses instead of sight and build myself up first. I think I finally got it, now…"

"What?" Vali blinked. "Are you telling me this… hack is from Martial Arts? You…! That's stupid! Awesome, I admit, but stupid!"

"He also said that copying the flow of energy to this point is very high level." Issei gave Vali a shit-eating grin. "And soon, I'll be able to use Magic without the stupid need for formulas! Who sucks at magic now?! I got God Lightning in my fists! Hahaha!"

Vali's face contorted with indignity as he inhaled. His fists clenched with a feeling of inferiority burning inside him.

This was meant to be an exercise to test Issei's performance to see if there were any bodily health issues.

Instead, they learned that Issei's performance was better than ever.

The spectators watched Issei re-engage Vali, the latter now swiftly overwhelmed.

"Roaring Thunder Dragon!" Issei laughed as he thrusted, plunging his fist into Vali's gut, lightning electrifying the cambian, his skeleton showing through his meat suit sporadically.

When Issei pulled back, Vali coughed, his hair now a silver afro, electric sparks dancing across his clothes and skin.

"...Damn it." Vali fell to a knee,

Taking out the rod of Asclepius, Asia ran towards Vali and started healing him.

As Vali coughed out the smoke in his lungs, he looked up at Issei's smug smile.

"You okay there?" Issei asked.

"...Not that much." Vali sighed as he stood up, now healed. "I feel like shit now that you're leaving me behind the dust."

"Hah! Need some help catching up?" Issei smirked challengingly as he offered his hand.

"...Why not? I can use it right now. Need to repay the old bastard tenfold. Especially without my Sacred Gear because of his cheat." Vali returned as he took it, letting Issei pull him to his feet. "...And I want in on those martial arts. I'm not letting you get away with using thunder god powers like that so easily."

Issei's smile widened as he saw an opportunity.

"Say please and call me master, first." Issei's grin turned shit-eating.

Vali responded by flipping a bird at Issei.

"What about Sensei?" Issei was enjoying this. He could hear Ddraig snickering inside his head.

Vali frowned, "Don't push it."

"Fine, fine. We'll start tomorrow. I'm hungry enough to eat a horse now." His stomach roared as if agreeing.

Issei wondered what he should pull Vali through. He just hoped that Vali wasn't the kind of person that could master things at a single glance like Garou.

However, he felt someone pull on his shirt.

He turned around, seeing Koneko looking up at him.

"...May I also learn those martial arts, please? Master?" She asked.

Issei stared at the girl for a second before he smiled and caressed the young Nekoshou's crown, which elicited a pleased purr from her. "Since you called me master, sure thing. I won't go easy on you, though, so work hard."

"Of course, nyan!" Koneko replied with a cute wink.

Issei blinked. Did Koneko actually wink? It was definitely cute, and working against his protective instincts.

"Alright, what else did I miss during these few days?"

Sirzechs sat on his throne.

There was a grand conference room where the four Satans would attend meetings with the heads of each surviving Pillar Clans, to discuss the current state of the Underworld once every ten years.

However, it was triggered again before another decade passed.

He was at a table where the other Satans sat by his side, Falbium, Serafall, and Ajuka, all staring at the heads of the other Clans - Bael, Astaroth, Abaddon, Phenex, Sitri, Agares, Gremory, and more.

"As the current Lu…" Sirzechs stopped midway upon hearing Alichino's remarks on him keeping the title of a man that sinned so greatly in the past.

"...As the current leader, the devil king, I want to first make a few announcements." Sirzechs inhaled. He closed his eyes as he readied himself for the backlash as his fingers gripped the handles of his chair.

"First, I understand that some of you are still in the mood to play politics." Sirzechs turned to the clans that favored the old traditions.

"I know that some of you want to use the world-changing incident against me, against us. I will acknowledge the glaring issues we've learned about our national security and… our own weaknesses against a greater threat, but even you all never expected something greater than the Great Red or Ophis to appear and… alter the Underworld forever."

The Nobles remained silent as they took in Sirzechs words. Sᴇaʀᴄh the NƟvelFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"... I ask that you rise above the need to play games and put aside our differences, and your prejudices. Because the Underworld is forever changed."

A large rectangular holographic screen appeared above Sirzechs.

It showed the battle between the two Strongest, the Strongest Man and the Demon God of Destruction and Change.

Sirzechs decided to withhold information on Garou, his name and origins.

"For the first time in history, a battle occurred on our soil, one so great that it nearly destroyed the Underworld. We have played speculation and inflated the threats of those among the Top Ten, the Gods and Heavenly Dragons able to destroy the World now and then, but we have never experienced a world nearly ending. Our world cracked like an egg dropped to the stone, set on fire on a scale we have never seen, torn apart. Some of you perished, am I correct?"

Some of the heads winced at the word.

The cosmic light and fire and the destruction of the battle killed many of the Devils. They could not forget the searing agony of the light burning their skin and muscles, burning their lives away, as well as the shock that they were brought back from the brink of death just like that.

"Many of our kind have tasted agony and death… before they were brought back to life by the Demon God. There is even a cult revolving around him, which is understandable considering his feats. Anyone would be in awe of such power and abilities that defy common sense. Tiamat reported sightings of new creatures, new variants of familiars that changed when the world was… blessed. For example."

The screen above showed a picture of a slime.

The nobles blinked.

The slime on the screen was not small. In fact, it was massive, large and wide as a lake.

"The giant slime is a primary example of altered fauna. We do not know what it could do, but I suspect that many would want to contract with slimes now." Sirzechs joked with humor, earning some smiles.

"There are reports of new fruits and plants, rich with energy. The soil is suffused with so much power that even ingesting it could grant health benefits, theoretically. There is still much that we do not know about what happened to the Underworld, and my friend Ajuka is working very hard to update us to the last detail. As for my next announcement… our military security. From this disaster, I learned that we can no longer rely on Peerages to defend our home anymore. The forces that invaded our realm rivaled the billions, the majority coming from damned spirits of our ancestors. We can no longer stay the same anymore… So I propose that, to reinforce our military and national strength, we create a training regimen for our soldiers to prepare them for the worst to come. And I use the powers invested in my position as Devil King to allow commoners to form their own peerages and provide them the necessary tools and means to elevate themselves to join the Rating Games. As well as the abolition of its class system based on noble bloodlines."

"Lord Lucifer, please wait one moment." Mordax Bael, The Head of the Bael Clan, spoke up with his raised hand. "Providing commoners with a peerage of their own? Surely you jest, by giving them too much power like us?"

"I am not joking." Sirzechs glared at Mordax. Mordax and the Nobles flinched when Sirzechs' aura flared, dying the color of the room crimson, oppressing the Noble Devils.

"I put the lives and safety of our world above petty traditions that hold us back. The invasion outnumbered us and endangered so many of our kind that I will not tolerate another word to preserve petty values over countless lives."

Serafall and Falbium were astounded to see Sirzechs use force like this.

Normally, this forceful method would lead to political backlash, but the disaster robbed the nobles room to retort or object against.

Still…

"This isn't a matter of 'pride' or 'traditions'. This is no longer about the past." Sirzechs continued. "This is about building a future, to move towards a tomorrow, a stronger culture that enforces unity, loyalty, trust between our kind. Purebloods or no, the danger showed that we can no longer hold onto such weaknesses anymore. If you want to object… Need I remind you that we value strength above all? Do any of you dare to object?" Sirzechs rose from his chair as his aura grew more oppressive, the color of the room now bloody crimson as his aura drowned the air, suffocating the Nobles.

His father had a hard time maintaining his composure, but stood strong for his son.

"I outmatch you all in terms of wit and strength. You seem to misunderstand something. There is no room for our 'games' anymore. The Underworld needs to evolve and adapt, and if I have to erase every single one of you for that to happen… need I say more?" Sirzechs warned.

The clan-heads did not dare to say a word, but they grimaced and scowled at the Crimson Satan.

"...Lord Lucifer."

However, there was one single devil who remained composed despite Sirzechs' aura enveloping the room. He was a middle-aged man with tidy black hair and a pair of peaceful violet eyes.

Zekram Bael - the founder of Bael clan, addressed the Satan with a dignified expression.

"I understand your concern about the current matter, and I concur that the time of the Underworld to change is drawing close, if not already here. However, I implore you to remember to carefully consider the consequences should you implement these…. Revolutionary plans you have in mind."

"Revolutionary… Yes, it is revolutionary." Sirzechs calmed down, sitting in his chair, releasing the Nobles of his presence. Some of them inhaled, sighing with relief. "Are you suggesting that I relax these changes? As the humans once said, time waits for no one. Are you saying that we have enough time for us to cater to the biases of the past?"

Zekram paused.

"...Is there something the matter, Sirzechs?" Zekram asked. "If you allow me to speak out of turn, you have never been this aggressive. Or oppressive. As far as I know, you were content with our ways enough to allow us to keep our statuses… yet you threatened our ways so readily."

Every noble head turned to Sirzechs with a questioning gaze.

"...I have learned about our past sins." Sirzechs sighed as he relaxed his tone. "I apologize if I spoke out of turn. In the chaos, Ajuka and I… faced a member of the Malebranche."

Some of the nobles widened their eyes, Zekram and Mordax included.

"...I see that some of you know more about the Malebranche than I do. We will talk after this." Sirzechs squinted at the Devils that reacted. Mordax blinked, unable to maintain eye contact with Sirzechs.

"His name is Alichino. The Demon of Infinite Faces… We fought the Demon… and learned of his powers the painful way. As much as it hurts my pride, he defeated me after he murdered the original Satans and claimed their souls."

The others were confused yet shocked, unaware of the Malebranche.

"To enlighten others, The Malebranche is the name of twelve ancient living weapons modeled after Sacred Gears. The Original Satans used them to kill God long ago… though how they elude my notice, I will have a word with those that do."

The suspected devils could not help but look away.

"He revealed the origins of our species. Our ancestry… and the sins of Lucifer. I was raised knowing the misdeeds of our kind, but to hear them from someone that lived through them possessed greater impact. What I would say would offend many of you, would force you in denial. Our ancestors were Demons, Christian Demons. And Lucifer was once a human."

There was a short pause at first, stunned silence

Then an ensemble of protests, singing a tune of denial and disbelief at Sirzechs.

"What ludicrous blasphemy are you saying?!"

"How dare you defile our memory of our founder?!"

"You must have gone insane from spending too much time with the enemies! Our Lord cannot be-"

"...Angels cannot lie without falling." Sirzechs glared at them, silencing their protests with his aura, his presence.

They snapped shut like frightened clams.

"I am no fool. I confirmed it with both Archangel Michael and Gabriel. They have no reason to lie and, unlike us, they are old enough to see Lucifer in person. Who do you think I will trust more? Politicians who arrange how we see Lucifer and his beginnings as they see fit, or those that witnessed history with their eyes, especially those that cannot lie?"

Every noble remained silent. They could not argue or manipulate the fundamental truths of their enemies, knowing how they function.

"...Well? How long have you kept this secret from me, Zekram?" Sirzechs stared at the only one that could contend with him on the political field.

"...What do you mean?" Zekram asked.

"You are one of the oldest Devils. I know you're old enough to see the war against God, the beginnings of our ancestors, even Lucifer's face once. How long have you kept the Malebranche from me? The secrets of our past from us?"

The silence between two of the Bael bloodlines was volatile. The nobles, the Satans, could see the wordless war between the two strongest political opponents.

"...I do not need to say why I had to keep the Malebranche a secret."

"Zekram!" One of the Nobles shouted.

"Silence. They are unsealed, and I do not need much to imagine their amount of disdain for us for sealing them for so long. They are no longer bound and they found a worthy host. If we do not do something, we will all die, and this time, none of us will return from the grave by the whims of a capricious Demon God." Zekram reminded the nobles as those that died grimaced.

"The Malebranche were made using the Agreas Crystals… although the Demons called them the Gifts of Gaia before we found a way to synthetically create them ourselves." Zekram answered.

"What are the Gifts of Gaia?" Sirzechs asked.

"...I do not know much about their culture, but I heard that before the time of Heaven and Hell, one of our ancestor race's role is to help the souls of the dead return to the planet in peace. In their time, they enrich the planet with the souls of the dead. And the planet was sentient at that time… though something happened to Gaia after God and Lucifer drove them away. The Gifts of Gaia were a boon granted by the planet itself, a priceless alchemical material with the potential for the transmutation of the soul, something that can create and forge new life, something with boundless potential. I don't know what forbidden techniques Lucifer used to create them, but I heard that he used the knowledge of the Agiel and Mastema tribe. Lucifer destroyed the experimental methods to create them because they had grown too powerful, they were a mistake. They could grow without limits, but they could not grow by themselves in return. That is why they need a worthy host, and why they are so powerful that even our founders fear them so much."

The nobles remained silent.

Everyone listened to the story, the flow of information that destroyed all they knew about themselves. They, even Sirzechs, took in the secrets of Zekram, the truth betraying their expectations.

"...So it is true…?" The nobles asked.

"Many societies are built on lies. It is unfair for immortals like us to fall prey to the same mistakes as mortals. It should be obvious since Lucifer has a history with sin." Zekram sighed. "But even I know that truth can destroy societies, destroy people. It seems that we no longer have the luxury to sustain the dream we lived for so long… Very well, I have decided to support your decision, Sirzechs."

Multiple gasps came from the nobles, the traditionalists.

"However, we will negotiate the terms. I agree that we cannot sustain ourselves like this any longer, and the time for games is over. But we still have the responsibilities as Leaders to maintain order and trust." Zekram stated his conditions.

"...I accept. However, I have another announcement." Sirzechs said. "I am abolishing the current Satan Systems. We will no longer use the names of the original founders as symbols of power, and we will replace them with new titles."

His statement sparked a greater outrage.

"Say…"

Issei returned home with the girls.

He was having dinner with his family.

The girls were there, some invited to join him, Sona and the rest of her peerage joining in as well. Genos was away to deal with the aftermath, helping Azazel check for any stragglers and analyzing the current state of the Underworld.

Black was there, munching away, sometimes stealing from Issei's plate, his hand swatted every time.

"Dad, since when can you use Boost? I know that you could… do some insane stuff when you fought GOD back then, learned to do some stuff, but seriously. How did you do that?"

The girls were listening, but they could not help but… steal glances at Haruka from time to time.

Haruka was wearing a kevlar bulletproof vest on her person, a katana and a magnum pistol on her hip. There was even a rifle slung behind her, a scope attached to the body.

They did not know that the matriarch had firearm training, and it was strange seeing her armed to the teeth… actually, it should not be considering their family's history, but they could not help but be amazed.

Especially during a time of crisis when there were undead and evil spirits still prowling about the world and the Veil.

"Well, uh…"

"...Please tell me you can teach others how to do that…" Issei's eyes became owlish.

The girls were amused when Saitama started to sweat, caught like a deer in the headlights.

"Uhh, first you have to… well… get a feel for how it works and stuff." Saitama's composure was already rattling despite still having his dumb poker face.

[Boost isn't a skill that you can just learn by getting a feel for it.]

Ddraig dryly commented from Issei's gauntlet.

[It actually annoys me that our legendary powers are being used so casually nowadays. It's not something mortals can learn from a glance!]

"But…" Tsubasa raised her chopsticks.

[I don't consider the baldy or someone that can turn into a demon god as normal people. I don't consider Saitama human anymore.]

"That is a fair statement." Rias chewed on a slice of unagi, she heard much from Vali and Tobio.

"You just get a feel for stuff like that and that's it? Really? Why can't I pull off cool moves like you then, huh?" Issei's owlish gaze grew more critical.

"Um… lack of practice?"

Haruka giggled upon seeing Saitama drowning himself in nervous sweat.

"Sooooo? Are you going to get your hair back?" Haruka asked.

Issei frowned.

Just when he forgot that he no longer had hair, the light reflected from his shiny head gleaming brilliantly.

"...Yes." Issei spat venomously.

"Which of you girls can restore my son's hair and his mood?" Haruka asked the girls.

Multiple hands were raised to the air - they belonged to Rias, Akeno, Irina, Ravel, Asia, and Koneko…. As well as Sona.

The other girls raised their eyebrows at the Student Council President, who looked quizzically in return.

"...What?" Sona asked, "I might know some spells that can grow Ise's hair back."

Saji was there… he was staring at Sona as he chewed his rice.

"So? What do you want in return? Like… a date? Or marriage?" Haruka asked as Black started snickering.

The black imp clutched his stomach as he broke into silent laughter, still taking in the sight of Issei now as bald as his father, a true splitting image.

There were several blushes.

"Well… maybe we'll consider it if he dates all of us?" Rias asked.

Ravel already had a scheme in mind as she smirked. She missed Koneko noticing her smirk, however.

When Akeno and Rias began to bicker after the former gave a teasing remark, Ravel discreetly proccurred a small vial from her dress. She unplugged the cork and stared at Issei's head, as the boy was attempting to placate the great ladies.

Meanwhile, Koneko took a deep breath as she activated her Senjutsu - she happened to sit closer to Issei, and a fiery blue aura began to gather on her palm.

Suddenly, Ravel splashed the content of the vial on top of Issei's head. At the same time, Koneko also sprung into action and applied her aura-coated hand on Issei's scalp.

Issei blinked when the liquid splashed onto his scalp.

Ravel remained silent as she watched the liquid… trickle down the ki barrier coating his scalp.

"...No cheating." Koneko stared at Ravel. Ravel puffed her cheeks, fuming red.

The girls stared at Ravel and then at Issei, Issei now staring at her.

"...Did you just try to splash a hair-growth potion over Issei's head?" Rias accused Ravel with an owlish gaze.

"...And what if I did? Issei promised me a date first." Ravel huffed with puffed cheeks, crossing her arms haughtily as the girls' fiery competitive spirits blazed.

Issei did remember that.

He scratched his head, feeling a little itch… wait…

"...Oh." Koneko realized that Issei's bald head started to sprout small hair follicles.

Saitama stared at the miracle of magic as he rubbed his own scalp. He imagined what would happen if he used something like that… he missed the days when he had hair.

He turned to Haruka and flinched when he made eye contact. Haruka was smiling, but her eyes darkly stated otherwise… warning him not to try it.

She liked her man better this way.

"Oh, look. His hair is actually growing back." Tobio commented.

"Tsk, and here I was enjoying the sight of Baldy 2.0." Vali frowned that the moment died too soon

Issei flipped a bird at Vali as Ravel had a devious idea.

"...My potion worked!" Ravel shouted. "So I call first dibs on the date!" She brazenly declared.

"WHAT?!" The other Devil girls were in an outrage, minus Sona. Tsubasa was feeling envious, being left out like this.

"No, you didn't! I did it!"

Everything turned to Koneko, the catgirl pouting at Ravel with defiance.

"Oh, really? What did you do?" Ravel challenged.

"I applied some Senjutsu chakra to stimulate Ise-senpai's hair growth!" The Nekomata argued with confidence.

"Huuh… Is that so?" Ravel squinted skeptically. "What's your evidence?"

"...What?"

"Evidence? Anything that can support that this…. Senjutsu treatment of yours work? Besides, I don't know if there is such a skill like that." Ravel challenged further, "In my case, I have my research notes and studies that can support my findings that my potion can stimulate one's hair growth. What about you?"

Koneko remained silent as Issei's hair continued to grow longer, slowly but noticeably.

The others watched as the air started to grow longer than his normal hairstyle, the brown hair slowly covering his face, ears, reaching past his neck.

Black was already cackling loudly in the background, rolling left and right.

"Err…. Girls? Ravel?" Issei asked, blowing through the constantly growing hair. "...How long is my hair gonna keep growing like this?"

Everyone stared at Issei as he awkwardly let his hair continue to grow without signs of ending.

"PFFFFFFF! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Vali started to break down laughing as Tobio joined in, snickering at the Issei getting more than he bargained for.

"Uhhh… Let me check my notes." Ravel ran away from the dinner table, heading up the staircase to the second floor.

Issei's hair was even reaching the floor at this point, past girl-length level.

Koneko grabbed a handle of Issei's brown hair strangs and rubbed it between her fingers out of curiosity.

There was a loud knock on the door, capturing everyone's attention.

Haruka immediately drew her marksman rifle with frightening speed as she aimed at the door, scaring the girls with how ready she was to resort to lethal force. The house was under extreme magical protection, holy wards, a magical barrier that rejects unauthorized entry, there was even a spell that would summon golems into the fray.

That still didn't eliminate the possibility of an intruder able to bypass the defenses.

",..I'll go get the door." Tobio rose from his seat and sauntered towards the door.

A few moments later, Tobio returned with an unexpected guest.

Issei pulled his overgrown hair bangs aside to see Tobio standing next to Crom Cruach, the latter now equipped with a wicked odachi slung behind him.

"Uhhhh… He said he's looking for the Strongest Man.,, and he said his name is Crom Cruach, the Crescent Moon Dragon." Tobio nervously glanced at the evil dragon staring directly at the baldy.

"...What are you doing here?" Issei asked as Crom turned to Issei.

"...What happened to you?" Crom asked back.

"Funny long story, but… you first." Issei gestured as Crom watched the hair continue to crow like wildfire.

"I suggest you consult with a capable sorcerer…. Strongest Man." Crom Cruach turned to the man in question.

"Saitama."

"Saitama." Crom nodded, "...I have watched you do battle against Garou and have seen the level of power I did not think was possible. Should you two not hold back, a single gesture of your true power would've destroyed the Underworld and everyone on it." Crom stated. "I have come with a request. I wish to know what it takes for one to reach said level."

"...Are you asking to become my apprentice or something?" Saitama asked apprehensively.

"No. While you're above me, your movements are terrible."

Saitama's head fell with dejected gloom, a sad air hanging around him to Haruka's amusement.

"...Oh."

"Well? Can you aid me in my quest?" Crom asked.

A great darkness washed over the continents of America.

Creatures of damnation flooded every state.

The states divided in both red and blue fought against the threat. Ironically, the states that advocated the widespread use of firearms were better equipped to deal with the undead, but not against the incorporeal phantoms that could shoot magic at them.

The only viable source of protection were grounds consecrated by Christian Priests long ago, churches and otherwise.

Within one of the rare consecrated churches, a pastor prayed before the statue of Jesus in the main room.

Behind him were the survivors, all praying for salvation in heaven, refugees lined up in prayer, young, adult, old, all of them prayed for salvation while an army of vicious evil was outside their door.

There were soil-possessed and wraiths banging on the cathedral doors, magic and fists banging on the consecrated wards blessed by the angels. The survivors would flinch and looked around anxiously whenever they heard the sound of the door creaking, the sound of the dust falling off the ceiling from the tremors of commotion outside.

Eventually, a soil-coated, deformed arm suddenly burst through the wooden door, eliciting panicked cries from the nearby survivors, who immediately withdrew further into the church, with the priest, brothers and the nuns doing their best to keep everyone calm.

"...Do not let us fall into temptation, but deliver us from evil..."

"...Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death…"

[Amen!]

As the others repeated the verses of prayer for the nth time, the pastor opened his eyes.

However, he was no longer in the cathedral.

I have heard your prayers for salvation, my child.

The Pastor looked up to see a shining light from above and… he was speechless.

"Good Lord…" The pastor saw the very figure of Jesus descending from heaven, his face was covered by a shadow lit by the divine light behind him.

I have come, to deliver you salvation. Will you take my hand and swear yourself to me?

The shadow-faced 'Jesus' asked, his pristine-looking mantle fluttering in his descent, offering his hand to the pastor.

"I… W-Will you save us?" The Pastor asked as tears streamed from his eyes, unable to contain the joy of having the Heavens answer his call.

No.

The divine man shook his head to the Pastor's shock.

You will save them, my child.

He pointed at the Pastor.

I will bless you with Divine power to save your flock. And you will be able to grant them a sliver of the power I bestow, the truly faithful. Do you accept this task before you?

The Pastor could barely utter a sound as he dropped his jaw in awe, to experience the joy and rewards of his faith finally bearing fruit after so many years like the Chosen few in the Bible.

"Y-Yes! I swear to spread your light as a servant of the Lord!"

The Pastor took the hand of the one he believed to be his savior with conviction, sealing the divine pact with the transcendent being.

The Pastor opened his eyes when he found the Divine Power coursing through him.

He inhaled as he received enlightenment, the message of his GOD's will flowing through his mind as he rose from Prayer.

"Yes… I see… I see the truth…. my GOD." The Pastor, Pilaro, understood.

That day, everything changed in America.

A darkness swelled in the country of liberty in the guise of divine light, a whole new kind of evil wormed its way into the human world.

To be Continued…..

Omake

The Archangel Michael, the de facto leader of Heaven and Christianity - considered himself as a rational individual. After all, he had a lot of followers in both Heaven and Earth to shepherd in the place of his late Father.

The work was tedious, considering Michael could not even hold the smallest candle to what his Father once was capable of. Thus he was eternally grateful for the presence of his brothers, sisters and fellow angels assisting him.

Speaking of his brethren - something about his younger sister had been rather… concerning, as of late.

Michael understood that Gabriel had always been a giddy, happy fellow. In fact, her positive attitude and outlook in life was one of many reasons he was still steadfast in his duty. That was why he could not help but notice the small changes in the woman.

First, she spent more time in the observatory room, the place where angels could peer from Heaven to the human world, particularly if they wanted to keep an eye on specific individuals. And whenever she returned, her smile was always more radiant than usual, as if she had witnessed something pleasing in the human world.

When Michael asked her about it, Gabriel openly admitted that she had been requested to keep an eye on an… interesting fellow. What worried him, however, was that Gabriel blushed and refused to disclose anything further when he asked about the identity of the said fellow.

Secondly, was when Gabriel returned from the human world one day…

"...Michael?"

The archangel blinked and turned to see his brothers - Uriel and Raphael.

"What are you doing here, brother? It is unlike you to sneak around like this. Outside of Gabriel's room, to add."

True to Uriel's word - Michael had been standing by the door to Gabriel's private chamber, peeping through the small opening.

Michael smiled apologetically and put a finger before his lips, gesturing to the other Seraphs to remain quiet. He then pointed into the inside of Gabriel's room, beckoning them to have a look.

Exchanging a quick glance, Uriel and Raphael approached closer and took a look of what transpired within their sister's room.

Gabriel was standing in the middle of her spacious chamber, clad in a simple white robe and slacks, a martial-arts Gi that humans usually wore. Her skin was covered in a light sweat as she took a deep breath.

The brothers watched their sister begin her transition of what looked like martial stances.

Michael blinked several times at her performance.

Right fist forward.

Forward kick.

Reverse inward kick.

Her next stance was graceful, moving in slow pirouettes, her hands gently flowing through the air like paintbrushes moved with calligraphic purpose.

"That's…. New." Raphael commented first as he subtly nodded his head, impressed at the performance.

"Since when has Gabriel been invested in martial-arts? I've never seen something like it." Uriel mused.

"I've seen some of the Eastern styles from those in the East, rare as they are." Michael muttered.

Then Gabriel exhaled.

"...Stigmata of Judgment."

She thrusted her palm flat forward. The three spectators saw something flashing from her palm.

On the wall she was facing, there was a clean, scorched mark the shape of the holy cross, smoke rising from the hole.

"Hmmmm. I think I've mastered the basic principle… should I try summoning the swords? Ahhh, but I'm in Heaven… no, the others would see it. It's too flashy. Ohhh, why do you have to make them so hard to notice? Maybe I should try the Gamma Ray Lance…"

Gabriel muttered, still unaware of her siblings watching.

They saw her summoning light spears, but they were not the kind they usually conjured.

The light was holy and yet they could tell that each of them was unique in composition. There was an aspect of the star imbued into each of them.

Each of the spears were double-lanced, a bright swirling core of green in the center.

They look a bit… cosmic in theme.

"...Since when could she do that?" Uriel whispered.

"I swore that was Ki. She learned Ki? We can use Ki?" Raphael whispered back.

Gabriel hummed to herself.

"Ohhhh, I don't know where to throw them. They'll explode if I throw it here… Ahhh, but I can't sneak to Earth today."

Michael, Uriel and Raphael exchanged glances - the fact that Gabriel considered to sneak under their noses was kind of concerning.

"...I wonder how he's doing down there." Gabriel mused as she looked at a random distance. "Maybe I should bring him some food… Maybe he'll come over if I give him enough." She giggled with a hint of mischief.

The other three Seraphs blinked at Gabriel's words - is she thinking of inviting someone over? Who is she talking about?

"This is just a shot at the dark from me, but… Judging from her expression, is she in love?" Uriel whispered.

"If she is… Dear Father, imagine the number of hearts crying out in sorrow." Raphael smiled as all three imagined their followers that looked up to Gabriel, even more than half of the angels, weeping with sorrow that Heaven's greatest idol is about to be taken.

"I am now interested in meeting this man." Michael smiled.

"Should we send someone?" Uriel asked.

"I feel like stalking her myself. I want to see what makes this man so special to catch her attention." Raphael admitted.

"Wait, she's coming over here! Hide!" Michael urged.

When Gabriel walked out with a towel slung over her shoulders, she found her siblings conversing just outside her room.

"...Pretend we are talking about something." Michael whispered before he quickly said the first words that came to mind.

"...Heaven, heaven."

The other two also appeared to be in sync.

"Faith, faith."

"Humans, humans."

Gabriel blinked at the words being exchanged by the other Seraphs, thus she decided to jump in, "Good day, you three. What are you talking about?"

They turned to her.

They realized something fatal.

None of them could lie.

Ever.

If they did, they would lose their place in Heaven.

They awkwardly stared at the cheery archangel, her head tilting to the left with a question mark above her head.

They immediately spread their wings and flew away. They apologized to her in their heads, though they would continue monitoring her.

It was now their newest hobby to inspect the love life of one of the oldest archangels.

So... Yeah, those happened. Thoughts of this one, people?

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