One-Punch DxD: NEO
Chapter 80: Searching

Knock, knock.

The sound of door-knocking was heard, followed by the door opening, revealing Euclid Lucifuge in his splendor, tidy and immaculate self with a tray of teapots and cups. He entered a lavish bedroom where her sister sat on the small table near the queen-sized bed.

Grayfia was clad in her signature maid outfit. Her face was a neutral mask as she regarded her brother approaching her.

"I am glad to see the clothes fit you, sister." Euclid smiled as he placed the tray on the table before he poured each cup on, "You've always admired maids since we were children, after all. I hope it's to your liking."

Grayfia's expression went slightly sour as her brother sat across from her. "It would've been perfect if I was aware that I was putting this on myself. Please don't tell me that you changed my clothes when I was unconscious?"

"Dear me, no." Euclid retorted with a mix of small mortification and amusement as he placed his hand on his chest. "I know we are not on the best terms, but you know me better than that, sister. Worry not. The women who changed your clothes were the servants I hand-picked myself."

Grayfia then watched Euclid take a sip of his tea.

"...How are you faring, dear sister?"

Grayfia's jaws tightened ever so slightly as she was feeling conflicted - despite the atrocity Euclid had done, his tone clearly showed that he was still the same boy who always went after his big sister's back long ago.

"...I am not happy. How are you faring?" Grayfia decided to play along. Euclid would not listen to her demands to be free in this situation.

"Oh, I am glad you asked. Ever since my newest master met the woman, things have been well. The Trihexa cell, well I am sure you are aware, was her invention. I have injected hundreds of units of the Trihexa cell into my DNA. I am more powerful than you can imagine, dear Sister."

"You… How many?" Grayfia asked with concern.

"More than six hundred after the cells were perfected," Euclid said with pride. "You wouldn't believe the power. It just flows through you. The feeling of all natural imperfections rectified… well, as much as possible."

"Powerful enough to stand up to my King?" Grayfia asked with a quirked brow.

"That… well… Is a good question. I've lost a bit of confidence after a couple of defeats. That one Demon Lord, I swear to Lucifer, I will have my revenge. Luckily, I may have found a way to enhance myself further… though my young master keeps scolding me for my laziness. Even though the scientific path is much more costly to pursue in my defense."

"...Your young master… tell me about him."

"Oh, him. He has his flaws. He is more beast than man due to his parental lineage. I am unsure how much of Christ's humanity seeped into him, though. He has a strange, flawless mix of savagery and refined intelligence coupled with a potential for greatness unlike anything I've ever seen… though I suggest you don't insult him or anything. He has a bad habit of eating almost anything, even if they stand on two legs."

"I see you've been treading on dangerous endeavors again, Euclid." Grayfia remarked, her hands holding on to her dress tightened slightly.

"Indeed. Yamata No Orochi… did you know that Master Rizevim gave the ancient dragon to him as a familiar?"

Grayfia blinked when she recalled Euclid talking about that thing, "...It was his?" She asked.

She couldn't hide her shock when she heard that it was that young man that made Orochi into the thing tearing her husband's Peerage apart.

"He modified him. Orochi was feral and impossible to control. But the young master… bonded with that hydra. He said that each of eight minds were conflicting with each other and disrupts all coherent thought, leading to its feral state. Who would've thought? We have a three-headed dragon here, and he didn't say anything about that… probably to protect himself in a sense. Or it might be personal. Anyways, he fixed Orochi by setting up a Hive Mind link after we enhanced him with the Trihexa Cell…"

"Hive Mind?" Grayfia kept hearing much about the Hive Mind these days. It was a running theme.

"Their separate minds are now one. Bonded with the Young Master. They can communicate with each other across the realms seamlessly, and Orochi has picked up the young master's knowledge and understanding of the arcane and his own powers. Which is most likely why Orochi became what he is. I did mention that I had to borrow Orochi, right?"

"Indeed, I remember." Grayfia nodded.

"I had to bribe him with a special experimental surgery. It is something like a Sacred Gear, but… much more dangerous. GOD invented it and parted with the knowledge onto us based on the Sacred Gear system."

"What did you bribe him with? I cannot imagine something like your young master would want to lend you something like Orochi."

"It is a special project. I surgically implanted the Aberration made of the Lernean Hydra into Orochi, in the form of a pulsing core."

Grayfia's eyes narrowed, remembering the appearance of the monster that fought her comrades, "I see… the Lernean Hydra… How did you come across it?"

"That is a secret I will not tell.'

Euclid simply smiled while sipping his tea one more time, before he picked out his locket watch to look at the time.

"...It has been a pleasant talk with you, sister. But I'm afraid my duty calls for me. Do enjoy the rest of your tea. At the very least, you will not leave this place for any time soon."

Grayfia did not reply as she simply watched her brother leave the room. She sighed, not in the mood to drink before she stepped up and approached the sole window of her room, gazing outside.

Her eyes wanted to see natural beauty outside to take her mind off her predicament.

Instead, there was a young man staring right back at her in the eyes through said window with his three eyes, the third with a hexagram on the iris. His hands were stuck to the glass, his body was as still as the walls and the furniture, lifeless, unnoticeable.

She was so stunned that she could not even muster the energy to let out a shriek.

Djall, on the other hand, simply stared at her through the glass before he spoke, "...May I come in?"

Grayfia blinked - it took a couple of seconds for her to register the creature's question before she wordlessly, but cautiously opened the window before taking a few steps back.

The young man crawled into the room like a spider with four legs. The way he moved unnerved Grayfia. The human form moving in such unnatural animalistic ways, the way he sniffed the air, tasting it with his tongue flicking out, like a snake.

He rose to his two feet. Then his head turned around completely, one hundred and eighty degrees, before the rest of his body rotated with it.

She was having a hard time keeping her composure. There was something…. Simply utterly unnerving when she laid her eyes upon this new arrival.

The thing in the shape of a human walked up to her. She flinched when he pressed his hand against her cheek.

She winced when he scratched her cheek and placed his finger into his mouth, tasting her blood.

"...You are not interested in courting your brother?" The man accused.

Grayfia blinked once, twice, before replying, "...I beg your pardon?"

"I am unfamiliar with this concept of 'courtship,' so I asked around. You taste like you really don't want to be here."

Grayfia's face paled at the mere idea of 'courting' her brother. Discipline built by strict training over centuries was the only thing that prevented her from retching all over the floor.

"...I am sorry, but is he really…?"

"Your presence triggered something in him. He now reeks of a… disgusting excitement and… I don't know the word, but it smells so wrong that I wonder if someone killed Uncle and replaced him with something wretched."

"But… I…"

"He was annoyingly vague when I asked why he wanted my friend to rampage in a random location just to bait some meatbags out into the open. When my friend informed me through our link that he was finished, I had a human send me here in secret from the Underworld to spy on him, and then I saw you. You are someone else's wife, correct? Is it normal for your kind to steal the courted? And mate with siblings?"

Grayfia did not expect the 'young master' her brother mentioned to be this frighteningly independent and observant. He was a creature that could take action when necessary, she could tell.

One of many talents like Euclid said.

Seeing that the woman in front of him was having trouble answering his questions, Djall eventually sighed, "...I don't know what you weak flesh think. Honestly, I think you're making him creepy," Djall accused. "When I saw him bringing you here earlier, he was emitting weird smells."

"I'm making him creepy?! I… He is always like this! No, he just got worse in the centuries!" Grayfia blinked at that, "...And what smells?"

"Strange odors. I don't know how to describe it, I am still months old. Please tell me that you know how to make it go away," Djall almost begged.

"...I think I know what you mean…" Grayfia had a good idea. It involved erections and fantasies. "But I don't think I can… if it is what I think it is…"

"...Tell me which organ it is coming from."

"Why?"

Djall's left hand grew metallic claws, speaking his intent.

Grayfia imagined the one between a man's legs falling off.

"I don't think he'll appreciate it being cut off."

"Tell me."

"I will not."

"Why? He kidnapped you, stole you from your… 'family.' Don't you want revenge?" He asked.

"He is still… my little brother…"

Djall stared at Grayfia for a few more seconds before he gave a longer sigh.

"Whatever. Ugh." Djall pinched his nose together. "I shouldn't have lent Orochi if it would lead to this." He walked out the window.

Grayfia then watched Djall jump off the same window where he entered from before she sighed.

What a weird conversation….

Speaking of leaving - as much as Grayfia wanted to leave this place and return to her family….

She looked out of the window, and she grimaced at the sight of a barrier surrounding the entire fortress - the magic power fueling the bounded field was dense enough to be visible by the naked eye. Scanning the barrier at the distance, Grayfia tracked the barrier to be centered around a dragon whose appearance resembled some kind of a tree..

That thing was flying without wings like the very air was carrying it around.

The first glance around the terrain implied that her room was rather isolated within the building complex.

Not only the dragon with the barrier - Grayfia could not escape without learning anything about her current location; the security network, the amount of enemies residing, their powers and abilities, etc.

She also knew that her King and others were formulating a plan to rescue her, but that notion filled her with anxiety as much as hope did. With the amount of unknown odds surmounting against them, Grayfia Lucifuge could only hope for the best possible outcome.

"What the shit…?" Saitama uttered.

The halls of the floating castle were less three dimensional corridors and more like the realm between realms, corrupted and twisted.

Saitama looked up only to see a reflection of himself looking 'up' at him… then that reflection smiled.

Sinisterly.

It creeped him out.

Walking sideways, tilted ninety degrees, surrounded by a lake around them, the skies above them a cluster of kaleidoscopes of refraction of different stone paths. Spiral, oblong, vertical, horizontal, some facets of the refracted sky showing the reflection of the group walking towards somewhere from a different angle.

The waters around them hid another cluster of pathways, shimmering glimpses of different biomes and landscapes it dissipated and reformed into another picture.

"What is this?" Azazel asked, intrigued by the chaotic, yet mesmerizing sights.

"Koveran's security measure. The security outside the fortress is misdirection, meant to lure and capture anyone that dares to come uninvited. Do not stray, or else you might end up a corpse." Eistheth warned as her heels clicked against the pavement, the tapping of her shoes creating echoes that seemingly distorted the realm like a stone disturbing the surface of a pond.

"It looks so trippy." Issei commented.

"Only those used to Koveran's antics can navigate through this realm." Eistheth commented.

"Tell me more about this Koveran, the guy with the colorful rorschach face." Azazel asked.

"Chaos Magic… despite how he looks and behaves, he is a genius of a different sort. He rose to the position of Demon Lord very fast and surpassed the previous one."

"His parent?" Sirzechsl asked this time.

"No. Of common birth. We do not subscribe to nepotism. His comrades are mostly his friends who he introduced his Chaos Magic to. It is not a path many would consider as it has the tendency to… warp the mind."

She stopped. Her hand reached out and grabbed something.

A door appeared, shimmering into existence, revealing itself as she opened the door.

"...We are here."

Inside was an office with her kind's decor. Her desk was sculpted with scalene shape, on the desk were scrolls and tomes, archaic. She raised her hand at one as the scroll flew into her grasp.

Vali peeked over the shoulder to see the contents of the scroll. The words… rolled up when she placed her finger on it and swiped up.

"...Is the scroll an IPad?" Vali asked when he saw the foreign letters fly up the edge as new words rose from the bottom.

"The idea is the same. We do not like too much clutter, not to mention that it's unhackable." Eistheth used modern words to their surprise.

"What are you reading?" Sirzechs asked.

"Confidential information."

"Even to your allies?" Azazel asked.

"It is one of our agreements with Ermy to move forward. We cannot divulge too much to the Devils in their test."

"...Test? What test?" Sirzechs blinked before he asked.

"You're already taking it," Eistheth answered. "Telling would defeat the point, don't you think?" The demoness smiled enigmatically.

Sirzechs grimaced a little.

"You're not used to taking tests once you're an adult, correct?" She sensed. "Age is but an obstacle to overcome no matter the number."

"...May I at least have some hints?" Sirzechs pried.

"Show your worth." Eistheth answered. "Prove to the old veterans that they can abandon their oaths to avenge their fallen, avenge those scarred by Lucifer and his legacy."

"Is that Adamic?" Issei asked as he peeked over her side to glance at the shoulder.

"...How much of this can you understand?" Eistheth asked out of curiosity as she handed him her 'IPad' scroll.

He took the parchment and read it. Azazel and Sirzechs glanced over Issei's shoulder.

"...Can you read this?" Sirzechs asked.

"Father damned even his angels not to read or speak Adamic," Azazel sadly revealed. "But…"

"...Something about… The Musaezam…" He squinted.

"Ohhhh." Eistheth nodded, impressed. "Our word for the Great Enemy. The word there means, 'the greatest enemy', however."

"GOD…" Michael whispered…

"You people like your titles, huh?" Issei noticed a theme.

"We put a lot of importance on titles. More than you know. Like Michael's title, God's Devoted Murderer. Samael, the Betrayed Son, Bearer of the False Light's Spite. Azazel… God's First Abandoned Son. The First Fallen."

"...Isn't Samael the First Fallen?" Vali asked.

"Samael didn't fall, he was consumed by madness not his - broken." Eistheth scoffed. "Azazel fell on his own accord. Not just his wings being painted black. He fell on his own after Heaven rejected him."

Azazel's face twitched at the mention, "Are you all operating on your own to deal with GOD?" He accused to deflect the point.

"We are," she answered. "...But I was bound under a Blood Oath not to say."

"A Blood Oath? Why?" Azazel asked.

"Under an ally's request."

"You made friends with others?" Sirzechs asked.

"I can't tell you about that." She shook her head. "This is the first time we're dealing with a True GOD as our enemy. He is eccentric in his own right, but he is very creative. And he has a talent for waging war against the strong."

"...The report said something about positive progress to locate the Musaezem…" Issei mentioned.

Eistheth remained silent as everyone stared at her as the weight of Issei's declaration sunk in.

"...You have exceeded expectations… Your affinity with humanity's true language is greater than I thought. No… It is growing as we speak…" Eistheth remarked as she gazed at the Red Dragon Emperor with increasing curiosity.

Michael was the first to approach her.

"Please… I understand what it means for you to be bound by a Blood Oath." Michael pleaded. "I… no, all of Heaven must know where the enemy is hiding. Anything… to stop him from corrupting more innocent souls."

"Innocent…" Eistheth repeated.

"...What is happening?" Issei asked.

"...You don't know?" Eistheth asked Issei.

"Know what?"

"Oh, they are protecting you." Eistheth nodded. "GOD is corrupting the humans around the world. He is granting them power, vitiating them with his will. He enlightens them with the harsh truth of the supernatural world, truth mixed with the venom of falsehood and misdirection. He is aiming to destroy Heaven by shattering faith in Christianity."

His eyes, Vali's eyes, everyone's eyes were flung completely wide. Issei and Vali turned to Azazel as he clicked his tongue.

"...We adults have to act the part. This isn't something violence can solve," Azazel admitted.

"How bad is it?" Issei asked.

"We're trying to figure out a way to save those touched by GOD. We cannot remove his power from the victims… so we are working on alternatives."

"That's…"

"It isn't something you can help with. Let us deal with it." Azazel responded.

"Hmmmm… I guess I can tell you of our progress… It wouldn't affect the Blood Oath." She mused, "...GOD is not anywhere in this galaxy. He is not in the Dimensional Gap, regarding distance."

"Where is he, then?" It was Genos to ask this time.

"...We are not sure. Where was GOD hiding when you faced him?" Eistheth asked.

"He was trapped in the Moon." Genos answered. "We didn't have the means to locate him or scan extraterrestrial objects at the time."

"Ahhh, interesting. I would like to meet the one responsible for trapping the Musaezem…" She mused with interest. "We do not believe that he is operating outside of the Milky Way. Believe me, our Astromancers are at work. The Dimensional Gap might be nothing but a wasteland where gravity does not exist, but we have our ways of sensing intruders there… Right now we are peering into alternative dimensions. Carefully. He does not like the eyes of others on his person."

"How do you know that?" Genos asked.

"One of our Seers turned into a husk when he found GOD. We barely saved his soul."

Her words caused concern to grow in their hearts.

"We are attempting to locate him indirectly this time. He is a being capable of manipulating reality at a level once seen when Atharv battled against the Primal Seed. But enough about this… Xelar. I know you're listening. Sirzechs needs your help."

Eistheth looked behind them. Everyone followed her line of sight, only to see the largest of the Demon Lords standing behind them.

The demon lord was wearing an arcane robe of black and gold, holding a giant tome wrapped in chains. How something of that size could get behind them without them noticing, no one knew.

"It is a pleasure to introduce myself to you properly, Sirzechs," Xelar chuckled, "Xelar Horis Surgat. Lord of Alteration, Master of the Arcane. I am requested to craft you an item to locate your wife using the old magic."

"Oh…" Sirzechs was surprised, before he schooled his feature and returned the greeting, "The pleasure is mine as well, Lord Surgat. I am Sirzechs Gremory, and I am grateful for your assistance. What do you need from me?"

"I will need something personal from you. Something that binds you to your wife. The strongest binding material would be… your heart. Or your son's."

"...I beg your pardon?" Sirzechs could not process the last two things the giant demon requested.

"Are you joking?" Michael was the one that asked.

"No. Your son's heart will bring the item's power to its maximum effect," Xelar did not joke.

Sirzechs' Power of Destruction flared up from his body at the notion of his son becoming a sacrifice. Narrowing his eyes, he then turned around. "Coming to you people for help has been a mistake."

"Our kind can replace the heart instantly if you wish. Forgive me, but we are not bound to such limitations of the flesh. The heart does not equate to his life," Xelar explained.

"That is still pretty fucking extreme," Issei pointed out.

"If it is worth anything, I swear upon my life and honor that nobody's life shall be in danger in this endeavor to find your Queen." Xelar declared with a small sigh.

"I am imagining the boy on a sacrificial altar and an athame in hand in the process," Vali added his input.

"An athame is needed for ritual surgery," Xelar added.

"No, no! I will not have my son's heart removed to find my wife! Just… take mine instead," Sirzechs pleaded as he exhaled all of his rage out.

There was a small silence between them. Xelar then took something out of his sleeve.

It was a pulsating object, spherical, branch-like veins of blue covering an orange core within the leathery epidermis, held between finger and thumb due to his large size.

"This will be your heart's replacement. It will also give you…. Additional strength," Xelar explained. "Regeneration of the organ will be impossible. This is a ritual of sacrifice, the greatest sacrifice of the self. It perfectly embodies the concept of sacrifice to achieve an impossible goal."

Sirzechs stared at the item in his hand, "...Is this the only way?" He asked.

"I know many spells and rituals, including some locator and divination techniques. But the more conventional ones will not work. I have tried."

Sirzhechs inhaled and exhaled slowly.

"...Alright… I am ready."

"Hold your tongue." Xelar took out an athame, a crimson ceremonial dagger imbued with symbols and characters they could not recognize, the handle gilded in gold.

"Would you like to lay down?" Xelar asked.

Sirzechs did not think that he would have to undergo satanic surgery just to find his wife. Then again, he would do anything to ensure her safety… almost anything.

This was a cheap price to pay for his love.

"I would like to do it standing." He clenched his fists.

"Hmmm, you're starting to get it." Taalmara pointed out.

Xelar approached Sirzechs with the crimson athame pinched between his large fingers. He undid the few buttons of the Satan's dress-shirt to expose the latter's toned chest, and pressed the blade into the exposed skin.

"Wait, wait, wait. You're not going to use any sort of medication to numb the pain or something?" Issei asked upon not noticing any anesthetics.

"This is a ritual of sacrifice. He must endure it for the magic to work. Sirzechs. Do you swear under the Blood Oath to bind yourself to your love through the agony, through this sacrifice?" Xelar asked the Satan.

"...I swear I will do more than that if it is to find her." Sirzechs answered with resolution.

"Then under the eyes of our honored ancestors, with the binding vows of Olam, I consecrate this oath!"

Everyone winced when he dug the blade into Sirzechs' chest, bone and muscle split apart as Sirzechs nearly caved in from the pain, as a few trickles of blood flowed freely past his lips.

Arteries and veins severed with surgical precision, Sirzechs underestimated the surgeon's accuracy in removing his most vital organ.

Despite his size, Xelar was meticulous and fluid as he carved out his chest and plunged the blade into Sirzechs' heart.

"Sirzechs ko urin fa lasvyazy Ican no qaltang-..."

Xelar began his mantra as the magic poured through the blade into the organ as Sirzechs convulsed, feeling Xelar's power… agonizingly coursing through his being. It was more than just a surgical removal of Sirzechs' organ, it was a permanent sacrifice of the self, a tribute to the greater powers for his wish.

The others watched with a mix of morbid fascination and concern.

Genos was simply watching in silence, his stoic serious expression never once faltered.

Saitama was watching with narrowed eyes - not liking the sight before him.

Azazel was curious about the process.

Issei felt like he was back in Bernael's pagan room with the skins of humans and angels.

Vali was slightly disturbed by the gore and graphic imagery.

Michael was a bit mortified as it reminded him of his time being tortured for years when he was captured by the demons in his darker years.

Sirzechs tried to remain on his feet even as Xelar ripped his heart out, athame blade still in the beating, pulsing organ.

The Satan felt… cold.

So this was what being near Death's door felt like.

The world dissipated into a fading blur, his hold onto consciousness dangerously thinning, at the cusp of snapping permanently before he fell to the darkness of Tartarus where Hades would judge his soul.

Knowing Hades, he would throw his soul to Malebolge due to his famous disdain for Christianity.

Considering the truth of God and Lucifer… honestly, he could not blame Hades now.

Yanking the blade out, Xelar crushed the heart in his grip, yet not a single drop of blood escaped through the gaps between his fingers.

When he opened his hand, what remained of the flat of his palm was a pendant, a crimson faceted jewel tied to a string of iron.

"...It is done."

With his other hand, Xelar plunged the artificial heart into Sirzech's chest wound, pushing it in with his giant finger. The Crimson Satan staggered and dropped to the floor, wheezing and gasping for breath while clutching his chest.

The others quickly hurried over to check on Sirzechs' condition, and much to their astonishment, no injuries were seen.

Sirzechs winced as he clutched his chest.

The foreign object wormed inside him, he could feel it.

Branches entangled with the severed blood vessels, knits and knots connecting, tied together.

The first pulse came, warmth flowing, banishing the cold grip of death.

The second pulse came, a severe agony of heartburn searing inside his chest.

The third pulse, a fading heartache, a breath of relief gracing Sirzechs as his strength returned.

No, he could feel the strength of the artificial heart, the power from it as he slowly rose to his feet.

His vigor was… rising? There was a weight in his mind that he never knew was there lifting, his body felt much lighter than before as his power surged.

"Sirzechs! Are you alright!?" Michael shouted as he and the others ran to him.

"Holy shit, you tanked a satanic heart-ripping ritual like a boss!" Issei commented as he scanned the Satan. "How are you feeling? Any heart problems?"

"I'm… surprisingly, I feel great. Better than before." Sirzechs admitted.

Genos knelt before Sirzechs, then the former's eyes lit up, and performed a full-body scan.

"Average blood pressure is rising, your pulse is stabilizing. Brainwaves nominal, healthy." Genos then turned his scanner off, "It appears Xelar has kept his word. The artificial heart is working just as fine, if not better compared to your original one."

Saitama, on the other hand - once he knew that Sirzechs would be fine, he turned towards Xelar, "...Well, what did you find out?"

"Nothing." Xelar pinched the pendant between his finger and thumb, offering the blood jewel to Sirzechs.

"Smear what binds you and your wife on the jewel. Her possessions, a lock of her hair… or the greatest fruit of your love. A drop of blood from your son."

Sirzechs stared at the pendant, "...And then what should I do?"

"Offer your prayer and connect your thoughts with your love. You will not learn of her location instantly, however. It is to avoid the barriers the Great Enemy placed to hinder our clairvoyance. If you wish to locate which realm she is in, go to the Dimensional Gap and dangle the jewel before the entrance to a realm. It will react to the path towards the realm which she is in like a compass. Trust in that amulet. And once you need it no more… you can either insert it into your new heart and reclaim the missing piece of your being. Or offer it to your wife."

Sirzechs stared at the amulet for another second before he nodded at Xelar, "...Thank you for your help. I will not waste it."

"Be warned. The dangers you will face might not be what you will expect. The one known as Euclid Lucifuge might not be the only foe you will face."

Everyone took Xelar's words to heart as they nodded to each other.

It did not take long for Sirzechs to acquire a small blood sample from Millicas, who was more than eager to help once his father explained the purpose. At the moment, everyone was situated back in the conference room to see whether Xelar's amulet was working or not.

"...Do you think it will work?" Issei asked.

"...It has to." Sirzechs clasped the blood jewel in a grasp of prayer.

He closed his eyes and attempted Xelar's instructions with all of the hope in his reserve.

He prayed hard with a hint of desperation that he could reach Grayfia.

However…

[Why do you drink this?]

He was looking at a black-haired young man with three eyes. He was standing on a couch in a squatting position, swishing something between his puffed cheeks.

He is still speaking somehow despite his mouth being occupied.

"I do not understand this… 'tea.' The flavor is mellow and doesn't fill my stomach. It's like you're all forced to drink it for so long you just can't stop."

Sirzechs stared at the scene in confusion. His confusion vanished when he felt his mouth moving.

"It is not easy to explain." Grayfia spoke as Sirzechs felt his lips twitch into a smile.

Grayfia?

Grayfia blinked for a moment - Sirzechs then saw his vision darting left and right, no doubt that Grayfia was startled upon hearing his voice.

…My King?

Grayfia! You can hear me? I… this is…

My king! I… how?

"Is something wrong? You just twitched suddenly as if something bit you." The man across from her asked.

Sirzechs then watched through Grayfia's rapidly blinking eyes.

"Nothing. It's just…"

Please maintain your composure. I will explain soon, but currently, I managed to connect my thoughts, or mind, with yours. Who are you talking to?

Sirzechs asked, with a tinge of nervousness and alarm.

He is… Euclid's charge, my… conversational partner at the moment. We have been talking in our spare time as of late… he is a surprisingly interesting young man. Although he has his flaws.

"...You are nervous." The young man squinted at her.

"My apologies… it is just… I realized what my brother sees me as… and I am afraid that he might… force himself upon me." Grayfia deflected his inquisitive queries.

What was that?

Grayfia took a sip from her cup of tea - disguising herself swallowing a small lump upon sensing her King's agitation and worry in her mind.

"...I am not sure if he is the kind of person that would resort to that. But if it comes to that… tell me what I should cut off to make him not creepy." The man swallowed the thing inside his cheek.

What did he swallow?

My favorite tea. I was entertaining him about Devil culture. He wants to know why our kind acts the way they do… It is not easy to answer his questions some of the time.

"Thank you… May I ask you something?" Grayfia asked.

I am going to ask him where I am - She informed Sirzechs.

"Ask."

"...Where is Euclid keeping me?"

"Does it matter?" Djall asked.

"You… are the first… closest thing I can call a friend I've made since I arrived here. And I've seen how the servants react whenever I ask about you. They did not want to speak about you… And then they looked afraid. They don't enter the room anymore, just teleport my needs into these walls."

"...That's because I ate their comrades."

There was silence between the two.

"...Excuse me?" It was the first time Grayfia heard something so morbid spoken in such a casual tongue.

"I ate some of them. When I'm really hungry. Or when I'm hunting for big meats, I snack on them when they're in the way," the young monster replied without missing a beat, with no remorse whatsoever.

"I… See." Grayfia lied - she still could not understand his line of thought.

"I don't see you as meat, if you're wondering." Djall assured as if sensing her fear.

Grayfia bit back a scoff, "Thank you, that's very reassuring."

"I can sense the 'sarcasm.'" He spoke as if adding quotes to the word.

Grayfia simply shrugged in return, "Yes, you caught me. But you still haven't answered my question - where are we?"

"Don't know." Djall answered.

"...What do you mean you don't know?" Grayfia asked with narrowed eyes.

"Does it look like I have a map of the land in my head?" Djall asked. "I used a human acquaintance to get here with his strange… Sacred Gear. He cannot get me very close here. He dropped me somewhere outside the barrier Ladon set up."

"...And how did you bypass the barrier?"

"Ladon's barrier is strong, but he himself isn't. Dragons are easy to threaten once you know how to… string their fear as they say," Djall smiled.

Grayfia blinked at the name - Ladon. The memory of her studies back in the day recognized the name of the dragon who guarded the Golden Apples of Hesperides in Greek myth.

"I do hear the meat bags in this place calling this place 'elfland' here and there, and something about capturing high elves for some 'private experiments.' The meat bags here, do not care about the lives of others. You think they are victims but they are also predators that prey on others, not for sustenance. I deem them as meat because I like to keep reminding them what they are. Prey that pretends to be predators. Weak flesh playing the feet of the strong."

Grayfia stared at the young monster.

It was a lie if she said that she wasn't disturbed by his mindset.

"...I think I am starting to understand how you think." She underestimated him in more ways than one.

His mindset was not savage, it was on a dangerous path.

"Why do you… not see me as 'meat?'" Grayfia asked.

"Hmmmm. Well, we're talking for once. And I sense no… enmity when we met eyes. Most of those working for Uncle and Dad see me with ill intentions ever since I met them… I don't know why."

"I… see." Grayfia might have an idea.

"...I want to know… ah." His head perked up, his eyes rolling around the room as if looking for something that she could not see. "Seems he finally noticed my sneaking around. I'll see you later. I want to hear about your history in the 'great war' and 'civil war.'"

Grayfia merely nodded and silently watched Djall leaving the room by jumping out of the window.

She waited for another minute after the door was closed before she sighed in her seat.

"...Did you get all that?" Grayfia spoke in a low tone.

Yes, I did. But seriously, who in blazes was that?

"…Djall. He calls himself Djall. The Son of the Trihexa and the Messiah, the child of corpses. He accompanied Euclid back at Lilith." Grayfia replied.

Yes… I remember he was the one who protected Euclid from Philomath's psychic assault. But never mind him for now. I believe we have some ideas of where Euclid is keeping you at. Stay safe and wait for us. We will bring you back soon.

Grayfia sighed, "Please be careful, Sirzechs. We have no idea what Euclid has at his disposal… How is everyone doing?"

They are well and missing you. I have to go for now. Stay safe. I love you.

"...How did you find about this place?" Euclid asked as Djall squatted on his chair.

He did not sit on it, his feet on the cushion as he squatted down.

"Orochi told me."

"I didn't tell Orochi anything. I didn't know that he could even talk."

Djall opened his palm, the flat of his hand facing the ceiling.

Euclid quirked a brow before he felt something rummaging in his pocket. He looked down to see a serpent slithering out, jumping to the table between them as it slithered towards Djall.

The flat of his palm opened, a mouth on his hand, teeth and tongue, as the serpent jumped towards his palm, entering the mouth.

The scene left Euclid speechless at how dangerously clever Djall was becoming.

"I had Orochi plant this in your pocket in secret." The hand-mouth closed. "You said a lot of embarrassing things in your spare time… so I had to see why you're like this."

Euclid frowned at his charge before he finally sighed in defeat. "And you just have to give my sister hints about this place… It won't surprise me if my dear sister has figured out where we are. Well, at least she still has no means to contact outside help… I suppose it's that time already. For your… sex education."

"Bonds that lead to copulation are all I can understand from this 'sex education.' Besides, I have to ask you this. Why?"

"Why what?" Euclid blinked at Djall's question.

"Why pursue the affection of someone that will never accept you?" Djall immediately slashed at Euclid's heart with the sharpest question.

Euclid's expression darkened as his aura flared up slightly, "...I believe that is none of your business, young master. Now, I suggest you prepare for your next schedule."

"You act like I'm trying to kill you. It's funny, seeing you this… Irrational," Djall sounded amused while Euclid felt irritation from being pushed to the defensive. "She will never do or become what you wish."

Djall immediately went straight to the point, a direct critical strike.

"...You don't know that," Euclid refuted.

"I tasted her blood. I taste only fear, worry… sadness. I think that is sadness. There is no joy in her. She does not want to be here. She is suffering because of you. You're not trying to experiment on her like the meatbags following you, you don't want revenge for her leaving you. What are you trying to achieve by keeping her in that room like a precious… toy?"

"She's not a toy." Euclid warned.

"Then unlock the door and let her out."

"I… I cannot."

"...Do you want to turn her into your pet like the clones?"

"What? No!" Euclid shouted.

"Then what?"

"...I… you don't understand… This is personal…"

"Why is this bothering you? I do not understand the problem."

Euclid nearly bit his tongue at Djall's barrage of questions.

It was hard to answer them, the questions he did not want to face and answer. As doing so meant he would have to confront his own reality… Euclid inhaled and shook his head, trying to calm himself.

"Young Master… This is… something I always wanted. You will not understand unless you're older."

"I thought that term is reserved for naive children unaware of sex, drugs, and murder."

Euclid almost laughed at that quip.

"It… is a matter of loss… I don't know how to explain it myself."

Djall tilted his head.

"...Are you trying to restore something broken?"

Euclid perked.

"Yes, yes! Something like that." Euclid took that question as his way out. "...I want us to… be a family again. My sister, you should've seen her when she was at her prime. She was… strong. Charismatic… beautiful…"

"She does not want to mate with you."

Euclid's eyes twitched at that sudden response. That… aroused something strange within him…

"...The point is… I want us to be together… like those days… the days where everything was simpler."

"Isn't that impossible? How old were you back then?"

"Well… I understand that we've aged but…"

"In mind, not just body. She moved on. She is married. She is not the person you love… no, no, not the right word… Idolize. Yes, idolize. She is not the person you idolize anymore."

"There is still some of that person left within her. I just know it," Euclid argued.

"But she is against you. Absolutely against you. She will get out the first chance she sees and leave you behind."

"...I know… Young Master. I know I've been relying on you much these days, but… will you help me convince Grayfia otherwise?" Euclid asked… honestly for the first time in his life.

With a level of sincerity that he hadn't mustered since he was a child.

Djall just stared at him. He did not say anything. He simply stared at Euclid as if trying to burn him alive with his eyes for daring to ask something he could not do.

"...Your request is so ridiculous, I don't know how to express myself other than looking at you like a failed experiment."

Euclid felt insulted by that remark.

"You talked with her. She… well, she trusts you most out of everyone here."

"You are asking for the impossible… I am not skilled in… talking like that."

"It's called Persuasion."

"Persuasion… persuasion… Persuade?"

"Yes." Euclid nodded.

"I cannot 'persuade' her. I am not that ignorant."

"Please? I can help you… you're an intelligent child. I am sure you can figure it out."

Djall tilted his head, humming to himself. His throat clicked in a pondering rhythm. It was a bad habit that Rizevim failed to resolve.

"...I will consider this as a learning experience." Djall smiled.

Euclid blinked. Why did Djall smile?

Djall hopped from his seat and crawled up the wall. Euclid watched as he opened the vent and crawled inside…

"...What?"

He did not even bother to use the door like a normal person.

"...Alfheim."

Sirzechs concluded.

"Alfheim? That land of the elves? Are you sure that she's there?" Rias asked her brother.

Issei and Vali were surprised to hear one of the nine realms coming from the Satan's lips.

"High Elves are extremely rare outside of Alfheim even by supernatural standards. They are like extremely rare commodities and this… Djall spoke as if the magicians are planning on experimenting on more than one," Sirzechs explained.

"...And if you're wrong?" Issei asked.

"The pendant should react and point to Grayfia if she is in that realm. Otherwise… We'll have to search all of the other realms."

"Then we will need a professional." Azazel surmised.

"Eh, I'll get Odin." Saitama raised his hand. "Knowing him, he has a lot of free time in his hands."

He whipped out his phone from his pocket and started dialing a number and placed it on his ear.

Everyone waited as the Baldy heard a click.

"Yo, Odin. Yeah? Yeah, you got me. It's work as usual. Need a favor here. Are you free?"

It was kind of bizarre seeing a normal man talk so casually with the Chief God of the Norse Pantheon like he was his homie. Sᴇaʀch* Thᴇ ɴovᴇlꜰirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

"Of course you're free, I know you. I'm not that dumb." Saitama sounded irritated, "Need help with something. A buddy of mine got kidnapped in a place called Elf lime."

"...Alfheim." Genos dutifully whispered next to Saitama's ear.

"El vine." Saitama corrected (tried) while glancing at Genos, who shook his head.

"Alfheim."

"Alvin."

"Alfheim."

"Aphlegm."

Looking at the man and his cyborg friend going back and forth about the correct pronunciation and spelling, Azazel rolled his eyes and finally snatched the phone away from Saitama.

"Speaking for us, and sorry for Saitama's poor memory, we need a way to get to Alfheim. You're the only one we know that has the most authority over access across the nine realms." The fallen spoke while turning the loudspeaker on.

[Hm, I can certainly help you with that. However, there are things I need to tell you about it.]

Everyone drew in closer towards the phone in Azazel's hand.

[Alfheim… What do you know about that realm? There is no substantial record of that realm's history, correct?]

Azazel did not speak, knowing the answer.

[The Elves have been wary of outsiders since the old days, the warring days. Even after they had agreed to cooperate with Asgard, they were reactive to our visits and never made contact more than necessary. They are conservatory in nature, very stubborn when it comes to their traditions. The dominant races there are the High Elves, the Wood Elves being the more common variety. They do not have much active interaction with the other realms unless it is for specific reasons… Or their young ones decided to leave their nests to explore.]

"And the Dark Elves?" Azazel asked.

[Hmmmm… They are quiet in their caves and tunnels, though they have the tenacity and nature of vermin when they decide to stew in their spite. No one knows what they're up to… but if I hazard a guess, I surmise that you have evidence that the Khaos Brigade is negotiating with the other realms now.]

"We have a hint thanks to the old Demons. Euclid Lucifuge kidnapped Sirzechs' Queen, and he's most likely in Alfheim as we speak." Azazel replied.

[Ohhh… hmmm. Didn't think there was someone like that. My memory recalls that they are… siblings, correct?]

"If this is what you're insinuating, I suggest you stop before you give the children terrible imagery." Azazel remarked, seeing the faces of contorting disgust from Issei and Vali.

[Alright, alright, I'll move to the next point. If the elves in Alfheim are negotiating with the likes of Euclid Lucifuge, then we from Asgard cannot stand idle too. Allow this old geezer to at least assign someone to be your guide.]

"Let me guess. Thor? Brynhildr?"

[Not that I don't get your angle, but the likes of Thor and Brynhildr might revive their traumas! My assistant is staying at your place in Japan, no?]

Everyone glanced around, albeit Saitama immediately knew who Odin was referring to, "...Rossweisse?"

[One and only. That lass might be young, but she's been my aide long enough to drop by Alfheim once before. I will assign her and one more fellow to be your guide.]

"Alright. Thank you for your assistance. This might be our one shot to locating the true enemy pulling the strings." Azazel nodded.

[Hmmmm, I know what you mean. But are you going to bring Saitama? You did tell me that he is way stronger than the Great Red, correct?]

Azazel sent the man in question a quick glance. Saitama shrugged in return.

"...Saitama's presence is the only wall stopping GOD from destroying us all. You've seen the video, correct?"

[Yes, a battle worthy of the Halls of Valhalla. The worthiest tale to speak for centuries, but not something I want happening in any realm. I can imagine the death of Asgard if Saitama and the true enemy fought there.]

"I'm tempted to bring Saitama with us, but it leaves a sour taste in my mouth to leave all of the work to an overpowered Baldy. And Euclid has a potential hostage…" Azazel scowled - his expression was also shared with Sirzechs.

[Ahahahaha! Well-spoken! Yes, Saitama should be reserved for the strongest of foes!]

Odin laughed heartily.

[We can't let one man do all of the work! It is against us Asgardians to be treated like milksops! I'll call you once the guide is there. Pick your team, Azazel. This will not end well for the unprepared.]

"We will. Let us know how Asgard will act once we confirm our suspicions." Azazel nodded as he ended the call.

Within his private chamber, Mordax Bael was speaking into what appeared as an antique telephone on the table before him, with the crest of Bael clan and Abaddon clan hovering and overlapping on the phone's speaker.

[So it is decided, then?]

Bedeze's voice could be heard from the telephone.

"Yes, we cannot waste this opportunity. While Sirzechs and his allies are too preoccupied with the Lucifuge, we shall proceed to deal with our loose ends." Mordax replied, "How is the preparation on your end?"

[I have prepared the best units for our operation, Lord Bael. Rest assured that you will not need to worry about that harlot anymore soon enough.]

Mordax nodded, "Good to hear. However, there's one detail that concerns me. Our intel also suggested that this so-called Strongest Human will be assigned to guard our target. Will that be an issue?"

Bedeze lightly scoffed in return.

[Please keep yourself composed, Lord Bael. He's only one man. All we need to focus on is to eliminate our loose ends. Even if I do end up confronting this so-called Strongest Man, I merely need to send him to the depths of my Hole. He will not be any trouble for us.]

"He also contributed to the destruction of the Underworld." Mordax reminded.

[Any power idiot can pull that kind of feat, Lord Bael. As far as my experience as a Rating Game champion has taught me, battles are more than a simple display of raw power. You said it yourself no? That we have survived and persevered against adversaries that should have been more powerful than us. This is nothing much different.]

Mordax remained quiet for a few moments, digesting Bedeze's input. Eventually, he nodded, "...Very well. We shall wait until we receive confirmation when those fools from this Alliance are making their move. Best of luck, Lord Abaddon."

[Glory to Lucifer, Lord Bael.]

"Take me with you."

When Issei informed the girls of everything they discovered, Kiyome stepped up with resolution.

The girl with brown-hair curled into twin tails locked eyes with her long-time friend.

"...Alright."

"It is something I have to do, and Stjarna might not be the same person we know-" Kiyome then blinked when her brain just finished processing Issei's reply, "...Wait, really? Can I?"

"It's like you said just now. Looking back at what Grayfia told us about who and what Djall is… I also feel that you are our best chance to get through to him. And handle him when the time comes."

Kiyome clenched her fists as she inhaled.

"Alright… Honestly, I'm surprised that you're coming with another strike team. Last time, you only came along with Vali to watch over me and Stjarna. And you nearly died." Kiyome pointed out.

"Yeah, I know. I think I proved myself this time with the Trihexa Death Plague. This time, we're rolling with the strongest peerage of the Underworld in terms of power. Vali and his team are joining us, too. Not sure who else to bring with me since this is very high-level."

"No shit, kid. You're not going in without adult supervision, you know?"

The door to the room was opened, revealing Black Sperm walking in.

"Black." Issei greeted, "We're just talking about the upcoming rescue mission. Any of the Big Bads coming with us this time?"

"For security reasons, and the fact that the baddies can pop out of portals at any moment, don't think so. The Big Bads are doing stuff at the moment."

"Like what?"

"Handling Underworld security and stuff. I'm being put to work big time, you know? The Church folks are battling Nazis, as we speak."

"For real?" Irina spoke up this time.

"Yeah. No use hiding it. All of the ugly parts of humanity are rearing their heads now with GOD juice pumping in their systems. Anyways, got a surprise for yah! Rover! Do the thing!"

Everyone was confused. They looked around, seeing no friendly neighborhood baddie-erasing dog.

"Nyah?!"

However, Koneko yelped when something lifted her skirt…. And then lifted her in the air. Everyone was stupefied at the sight of the young Nekoshou being lifted by some kind of invisible force.

Black sinisterly giggled when the 'thing' keeping Koneko suspended in the air suddenly shimmered into existence.

All eyes in the room then became as wide as saucers when Rover revealed himself as the one responsible for lifting Koneko up. The girl yelped when Rover tossed her up as she landed on his back, floofing his fluffy black fur with her rear.

Arf!

Rover barked as his tail wagged, all six eyes looking at them expectantly.

"...Black? Explain." Issei broke the silence as the Nekoshou slowly realized that she was riding on the dog's back.

"They say that viruses help accelerate the evolution of life and stuff, sometimes involving social darwinism and all that survival of the fittest jazz. This is basically it, Rover got something from surviving the Trihexa Death Plague, name still pending." Black explained, "So, in short, Trihexa genes are wack, yo. Thinking of some awesome pranks with this."

Issei's lips slowly rose into an excited smile while Koneko stiffened, trauma mode setting in as her face paralyzed in realized horror. Rias slowly flew over to Koneko and gently carried the Koneko statue down.

"...What else can he do?" Akeno asked.

"Rover, do the Spiderman thing!"

Rover barked before he waddled to the wall.

Issei's eyes moved up when Rover started scaling the wall like the famous wallcrawler. Everyone stared at Rover as he sat on the ceiling, looking 'up' at the children upside down.

"...Holy shit."

Both Issei and Kiyome muttered the exact words. The latter then slowly turned to the former who met her gaze.

"Can you please, please lend Rover to me for just a month?" Kiyome's eyes looked hopeful.

Issei could see the 'please let me have your dog' Kiyome resurfacing through those eyes.

"Hah! Hell, no!" Issei cheekily grinned. "But we're taking Rover with us. Let's see how Orochi likes Spider Rover when we knock on their door."

To be Continued….

Omake: Millicas' Observation Journal - Case 2: Yuuto Kiba

"...Kiba."

"Yes?"

Issei smacked his head.

"Ow?" Yuuto rubbed his head. "What was that for?!"

"For all of the boys in school. I mean, how the hell did you not land a girl before Muramasa?"

Yuuto replied with a small sigh, "Because I was a secretly emo-teenager who was idiotically blaming a few pieces of enchanted steel for ruining his childhood life."

"...Dammit, I actually forgot about that one. But seriously, what the actual fuck is with your luck with women?" Issei muttered under his breath.

Issei watched from his position - a beautiful brown-haired office-lady lounging… sensually on the couch before them.

Her white shirt was a few buttons too loose as she smiled at their direction.

"...We do not touch our clients, you know?" Yuuto reminded.

"But still! You're the envy of all teenage boys. Well, 99 percent of them. Honestly, if Black sees your clientele, he's gonna make your life hell."

"Which is why I always triple check whether he's stalking me to work." Yuuto joked.

"How are you boys doing back there?" The woman asked.

"Almost done, ma'am!" The Knight replied with his signature pleasant tone as he turned the stove off.

Millicas just finished pouring over a glass of iced tea as he brought it to the living room where Yuuto's client was.

"Here you go, Ms. Mika!" Millicas offered with a beaming smile.

"Aw, aren't you a sweet little one~?" Yuuto's client - Mika, swooned as she gingerly accepted the beverage and ruffled Millicas' crimson locks.

"Are all of your clients hot single women?" Issei asked as he was stirring more dishes in the sizzling pan.

"Issei, even my luck with women has limits." Yuuto remarked with a sigh

"But still, how many of them are women?"

Yuuto could only come up with that reply, "...Damn."

Issei finally done with his current task, he turned around to take a quick look in the living room, only to see Millicas was sitting on the couch with Mika's arms placed around his smaller shoulders.

"Hee… So you are the next heir to your family?" Mika's expression looked like she wanted nothing more but to glomp on the boy sitting next to her.

"Indeed! Although, I still have to wait for another long time, since my aunt is currently the next heiress! Then, I still have to prove myself as a worthy heir after her." Millicas replied.

"Oh, really~?"

Issei's nose caught something. He sniffed a couple of times and found a particular scent coming from Mika.

"I'm totally going to root for you, Millicas!"

Issei then saw Mika pulling Millicas into a hug, with the boy merely giggled in return.

"Oh, and is it true that you Devils accept… more than one woman in unholy matrimony?" She asked.

Issei sensed a shift in a direction as the scent reminded him of something adulterous.

"Well… I guess? I did hear that my grandfather has more than one wife, after all." Millicas replied with his finger on his chin.

"Hmmm, since Devils cannot age… Would you… like to be my patron from now onn? I would like to have an adorable little boy visiting occasionally."

"Kiba," Issei whispered. "Please don't tell me your client's a shotacon."

"That's… no?"

"You don't sound sure. Why don't you sound sure?"

"I mean, our relationship is always platonic."

"But she's blushing. Hard. And-"

However, the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Oh, they're here!" Mika chimed as she unwrapped her arms from Millicas as she ran to the door.

"Welcome, everyone!"

After the door opened, more female office workers walked inside, leather purses dangling from their shoulders, pantyhoses stepped in, blouses that barely covered their sacred gardens entering their sight as more beauties entered the household.

"Hello, Mika-chan!" One of them, a blonde, approached Mika and they both kissed each other's cheek. "Ohhhhh, you're right! He is cute!" One of them cooed at the sight of Millicas.

"Were we expecting guests?" Issei asked Yuuto in the kitchen.

"...Not that I know of." Yuuto blinked, realizing that they did cook a bit more than should have been. "Uh-oh…"

The woman flocked towards Millicas and started pampering the son of the Crimson Satan.

The women were pinching the boy's cheeks with coos and smiles implicating more than just adorable affection.

"Uh, hey. What's with the gathering?" Issei called out to the women.

"Oh, today just happens to be our regular get-together." Mika waved off, "I hope they are not intruding?"

Issei glanced back at Yuuto, who was a little out of depth. The Knight only gave a wry smile and helpless shrug.

"Yeah…. Just take it easy, okay?" Issei turned to the females flocking in the living room, who finally noticed his presence.

"Oh? What's this? Another cute devil you summoned, Mika?" one of the women asked, "Well, not that cute, but look at that bod~" She looked hungrily at the muscles visible through Issei's uniform.

Issei could sense the serial predator from this one.

"B-Big bro…" Millicas called out blushing upon being surrounded by so many women.

"Millicas, just wait there, okay? As for you ladies-" Issei was about to address the women when one of them - the blonde one came up to him and proceeded to hug him from his side.

"Ohhh, can you give your big sister a bit of that eternal Devil beauty, little guy? I can… make it worth your while."

Seeing the woman's face was almost glued on his, Issei gently pushed the woman away, much to her chagrin, "Yeah, sorry, lady. But I'm not a devil. I'm just a tag-along."

"...Really?" She sounded surprised.

"Yeah."

Even though he was now part Demon-ish.

"Big Brooooo… help meeee…."

Millicas was now drowning in boobs when Mika hugged him from behind, his head between her breasts.

Now they understood their dilemma when a few approached Yuuto, women desperate for relationships preying on the youths.

"Awww, he's so pretty~" A woman with black hair tied into a bun and a moderately ample chest approached him.

"I heard from Mika you're popular at school. I hope you don't mind a few more in your dating spree." Another one, a red-haired beauty with short tomboyish hair attempted to seduce.

Though Issei could not help but laugh at their misconception that Yuuto was a Chad. He was a Virgin still… inside and out.

The doorbell rang again, prompting Issei and Yuuto to turn to the door.

"...Were you expecting someone else tonight, Mika-san?" Yuuto asked.

"How strange," Mika hummed as she unwrapped her arms from Millicas and walked to the door. She looked through the peeking glass.

She blinked rapidly as she turned to Yuuto.

"Um, excuse me, there is… is he an acquaintance… of yours?" She asked them with a face of furious red.

"...Excuse me?"

Yuuto and Issei walked up to the door as she stepped aside. Issei looked through the peeping glass first.

"...Oh, damn." Issei grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.

[AIYAIYAIYAIYAIYAI!]

The dubstep music blared to life as all female eyes turned to the stranger…

Their jaws almost dropped off their hinges when the most masculine male walked into their rooms, so tall…

Bulging with rippling muscles…

And his face was so…

"...Mika… Is he… another Devil?" The blonde was starting to hyperventilate at the sight of the adonis.

"I… I…"

"Ladies." Silver set down the radio that was still blaring his favorite theme song and approached them. "I hope you don't mind the surprise addition. Why go for boring virgins when you can have… this?"

His muscle arms flexed, arms bulging with increased girth, his shining silver pecs bouncing with rippling rhythm.

And the women were already swooning with enraptured eyes at the unseen level of masculinity.

At the door, two familiar faces peeked inside.

Issei caught the two tiptoing towadds Yuuto's side.

"Pssss. Isaiah."

Yuuto pulled his eyes from the silver macho practically stealing his client from him to the girls sneaking towards him.

"...T-Tosca? Muramasa?"

Muramasa cheekily grinned and winked at him.

"Why are you… did you put Silver up to this?"

"We made a bargain. I get the list of your 'clients' to the Black abomination and he gets to 'NTR' and 'cuck' you of your women." Muramasa replied with a knowing smirk.

"W-We cannot let you continue this sinful life, Isaiah! We will set your life straight, whatever it takes!" Tosca declared with a blush and trembling eyes

The silver-haired girl reminded Issei of Asia, a innocent girl with a crush.

"But… Black will stake out my clients now. You know what he'll do with that knowledge!" Yuuto pointed out.

"A small price to pay when all of your clients are fertile, unmarried women." Muramasa waved off.

"Fear not, Isaiah! I'm not going anywhere away from you!" Tosca boasted, albeit her face was still flustered.

"But… this is…" Yuuto stammered for once, completely defeated and overwhelmed.

"It's not like I sold your soul to the proverbial Devil or anything, right~?"

It kinda felt like they did in a sense.

"PFffffffffffT!"

Issei busted down into snickers, laughing inside his stomach at Yuuto's dumbfounded silly face. It seemed that Yuuto was finally paying the price for his lady killer luck.

Meanwhile, Millicas was staring at the gleaming silver pecs with a different kind of awe.

"Wooooooooowwwww… I want to have muscles like that when I'm older…"

Issei eyed the young boy with small concern, but he soon sighed and patted Millicas' head, "...Yeah, if you work hard. Probably you will get there."

So we have an evolved Rover and... Yeah, thoughts?

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