The Wandering Devil
Chapter: 42
Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD or any other universe used in this story.
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.
(The Demon Lord Gremory)
-{Gazef Stronoff}-
Smoke rose from the eastern district, ash filling the once calm dark sky. The stars covered by clouds of darkness forming.
Gazef grimaced as he moved through the chaos-filled streets of the capital, his hand never leaving his sword's hilt. He was in the middle of where the attack had first struck.
Through a stroke of misfortune or fortune, he had been nearby. Even as the large spell made a dome of fire around the area. And it was all due to the fact that he had been searching for the mystery mage.
He'd been searching for Zephyrion, wanting to speak further and perhaps get to know the impressive mage better. Having powerful friends never hurt and he admittedly wanted to try to recruit him.
Because of that he was thrust into the middle of a demon attack.
Citizens fled in every direction.
How did this happen?
Walls existed for a reason.
A guttural roar snapped his attention back to the immediate danger. A lesser demon, standing nearly eight feet tall with corrupted flesh and burning eyes, emerged from the smoke ahead. Civilians screamed and scattered.
Gazef's blade was already out.
Gazef drew his blade in one fluid motion.
"Stand down, demon." He tried, mostly to gauge if these Demons had intelligence. Which wasn't a good thing if he remembered correctly.
The creature roared and swung. Without another word, Gazef closed the distance. His sword, enhanced with martial arts, met the demon's claws in a shower of sparks.
The creature was strong, but it lacked finesse. Within moments, Gazef had opened its throat with a precise cut, watching it dissolve back into the infernal realm it came from.
That was the scene that followed as Gazef quickly went about destroying the Demons that were appearing in great numbers.
The guards around were few and quickly found themselves dead at the claws of the rapidly forming group of Demons, leaving Gazef to cut through their ranks.
He had to wonder if this was an attack, Perhaps from the empire? Or the multiple threats that had been rapidly rising up.
It felt unlucky and he truly felt bad for his majesty.
All the recent events had taken a toll on his health. With the nobles making his job even harder and now all these problems rising up. The normal men that stood in the army simply weren't prepared for this.
Gazef swung his sword in a blur through another demon.
"Impressive swordsmanship." The voice came from above.
Gazef looked up to see a figure descending from the air.
The figure landed with calculated grace. He appeared humanoid but unmistakably inhuman, wearing weird clothing that looked oddly formal for a battlefield.
His skin had a dark tone and his face was covered by a laughing mask. Most unsettling was the silver tail that emerged from behind him, covered in metal plates and ending in six sharp spikes.
"I'm guessing you're the cause of this?" Gazef said seriously.
"How astute." The Demon replied sarcastically.
"Care to tell me who has decided to attack the kingdom of Re-Estize?" Gazef questioned seriously, ready to attack at a moment's notice.
He could already tell he wouldn't win.
"I am Jaldabaoth," the demon announced with the confidence of nobility. "Demon Lord of the Gremory clan."
Gazef's mind raced.
Gremory clan?
He'd studied demonology as part of his training, but he'd never encountered any mention of such an organization. The formal way this demon carried himself suggested high rank, but the claim seemed fabricated.
Demons weren't common anymore. Rarely seen.
By the sounds of it, this Demon thought highly of itself and by the way it was controlling lesser Demons showed it had a high ranking.
"I've never heard of any Gremory clan," Gazef replied, raising his sword into a defensive position.
Jaldabaoth smiled behind his glasses. "How refreshingly honest. Most would pretend knowledge they lack to appear competent." He adjusted his mask with one finger.
"Tell me, Demon. Why do you attack this city?" Gazef asked, ignoring his words.
"Can't a demon enjoy some causeless destruction?" Jaldabaoth questioned with a heavily amused tone.
"Yes, most would. From the knowledge I've gained about your race." Gazef replied, trying to bid some time. "But you don't strike me as that type of demon."
"Oh? What an impressive little brain you've got. Most would find it easier to assume I am merely here to spread chaos." Jaldabaoth replied.
"If you're here for a reason, then there is a way to stop this madness." Gazef replied.
Jaldabaoth hummed. "Since you're so eager to indulge me with your hospitality, warrior, you wouldn't happen to have encountered a young man with unusual magical capabilities recently? Perhaps someone who stands out even among your kingdom's population?"
Gazef wracked his mind.
A newcomer, one with unusual magic.
"Perhaps someone who your little human mind can naturally sense is magnificent. A being that you feel the need to bow down to." The demon questioned.
Gazef became baffled.
A thought of a crimson haired man had begun to form in his mind until that comment.
"You're going all this to find someone?" Gazef asked in disbelief. "People are dying."
"As tends to happen." The demon replied. "They'll all die eventually. Age, fever or by a rival kingdom perhaps. Besides, it's not the only purpose of this. But you can stop this."
"I don't make a habit of giving information to invaders," Gazef said. "How about you lodge a formal request with his majesty and retreat your forces from our kingdom."
While this situation was bad, it was obvious a lot would suffer if it didn't stop.
"Pity. I had hoped we could handle this civilly." Jaldabaoth's tail swished behind him, those metal spikes catching the light from burning buildings. "Very well. I shall extract the information I require through more direct methods."
Gazef didn't wait for the demon to make the first move. He launched himself forward, martial arts flowing through his body as he aimed a devastating thrust at the demon's center mass.
Jaldabaoth caught the blade between two fingers.
"Flow Acceleration," Gazef invoked, his nervous system accelerating as he pulled back and struck again with inhuman speed.
This time Jaldabaoth stepped aside with casual ease. "Martial arts. How quaint."
The demon's counterstrike came faster than Gazef could follow. A backhand sent him flying across the street, his body crashing through a merchant's stall before rolling to a stop.
Gazef struggled to his feet, tasting blood. This demon was operating on a completely different level than anything he'd faced before. But backing down wasn't an option.
"Greater Ability Boost," he activated multiple enhancement arts simultaneously.
He charged again, this time reading Jaldabaoth's stance and searching for any exploitable openings. His blade found nothing but air as the demon moved with liquid grace, always one step ahead of his attacks.
"You're stronger than expected for a human," Jaldabaoth observed conversationally while avoiding another flurry of strikes. "But ultimately..."
The demon's hand shot out, gripping Gazef's sword arm with crushing force.
"Fortress." Gazef induced.
"...inadequate."
Pain exploded through Gazef's arm as bone creaked under the pressure. He tried to break free, but Jaldabaoth lifted him off the ground with one hand.
"Penetrate, Sixfold Slash of Light!" Gazef roared and the Demon backed away.
Six slashes appeared just a moment later.
"Impressive." The demon admitted, his tail slashing out and sending Gazef rolling away. "But not enough."
Gazef let out a grunt.
He wasn't going to win.
The Demon was hardly trying and hadn't even bothered using any spells.
Still.
"Full Throttle!" Gazef roared.
He wouldn't be deterred.
He blurred towards the Demon.
"Such determination."
His tail zipped out and Gazef barely dodged, falling as claws wracked across his skin, blood pouring out from the wounds.
Gazef swung with all his strength.
The demon dodged.
"Still not good enough for your magic though." Gazef gritted out, attempting another sixfold slash.
"I wouldn't want you dying so quickly."
Gazef found his sword clattering to the ground and once more, his throat began to be crushed by an iron clad grip.
"A magical sword, hmm. I suppose you must be rather highly ranked." The Demon mused.
"Now then, since we've gone through our lesson on how far beneath you are towards my own power. About my earlier question-"
A massive fireball erupted in the sky above them, the explosion so bright it turned night into day for a moment. The shockwave sent debris raining down, and Jaldabaoth actually looked up with interest rather than concern.
A massive wave of magic struck forth.
The Demon's grip lessened and Gazef kicked, barely escaping his grip and backing away rapidly.
Jaldabaoth barely paid him any mind.
Through the smoke and falling ash, a figure descended from above. He wore a dark mask that covered the upper half of his face, but his crimson hair was unmistakable.
Gazef's heart lifted despite his precarious position.
He was certain this was Zephyrion. But why was his hair black? Perhaps some sort of illusion magic? And why the mask? Was he trying to keep his identity unknown?
What had the young man been hiding?
Despite his questions, he felt a small bit of hope.
Zephyrion had proven he was stronger than him and he hadn't even seen any of his magic. That fireball had been massive and that wave of magic had cut deep into the ground.
It was third or even fourth tier magic.
A powerful magic caster and a talented swordsman. It could just be enough.
Gazef quickly attempted to retrieve his sword.
-{Zephyrion Gremory}-
A Dark Lord and now a Hero.
Talk about a wide job difference.
It seems I just made it in time.
I looked down at the masked Demon with a long tail that made me feel… a hint of Deja Vu?
I adjusted my mask firmly. I had managed to snag one from an abandoned merchant post in the chaos.
While I didn't need one, I had decided I didn't want to be identified if I helped. I had put a minor illusion on my hair since I was probably one of the few beings with that blood crimson hair.
Just in case they linked that to the explosive spell I had used outside of the wall.
"A newcomer?" The demon spoke, but I could see his tone was confused. As if he didn't know what to make of me and was trying to discern what I was.
An actual Demon huh?
He was powerful.
That much I could sense, my instincts going haywire in front of the masked Demon.
Besides the fact he was treating Gazef like a child.
I observed him silently.
In truth, had it not been Gazef being attacked I probably wouldn't have gotten involved. This wasn't my world and I had no idea how strong a "Demon" was.
I looked over Gazef.
He was bleeding from a nasty wound that could be traced to the claws the demon was sporting.
"How intriguing," Demiurge said, his voice carrying genuine curiosity.
I landed silently, my boots barely making a sound against the cobblestones.
"I'm glad you enjoyed the display." I replied. "Now would you mind departing?"
"I don't think I will." The Demon titled its head. "You aren't human. In fact, I'd almost say you're a dem-"
Without hesitation, I launched into action.
I opened with a massive explosive spell, rocketing toward the demon in a brilliant flash. He moved with liquid grace, sidestepping the explosion while already beginning his counterattack.
A magical circle formed and from that Dark flames erupted from his hands that I barely managed to conjure a shield of hardened earth to absorb the impact. The force still sent me sliding backward across the street.
The flames licked out and buildings around us were destroyed.
Gazef attempted to go back in but a quick swipe of the Demons' tail sent him flying into a building with an almost contemptuous ease.
I spun, releasing a torrent of lightning that lit up the entire street. The demon managed to weave through the bolts that exploded on contact behind him, but I could see him taking the assault more seriously now.
"To think someone so strong was hiding in plain sight." The Demon said, his hand raised. "Control Demon."
For a moment, I felt something trying to take a hold over me. And in that moment I felt the slightest bit of genuine fear. Before it was crushed under a wrath that swelled up.
I stopped destruction from welling up, deciding to keep that under my sleeve.
The Demon had its head titled in surprise.
"Expulso."
A beam of force erupted out.
The Demon slipped out of the way, looking at the spell curiously.
The wall behind him erupts out.
"Without a magic circle?" The demon hummed, his fingers twitching. "A different type of magic?"
"Confringo, Bombarda Maxima."
Two powerful spells strengthened by my genuine wrath erupted out, the two spells were packed with demonic energy that made the air around them fizzle.
The demon's aura intensified, the temperature around us dropping noticeably.
His tail swished behind him as he observed my power with clear interest, then raised his hand.
"Wall of Hell." he intoned calmly.
Power filled the area.
A barrier of infernal flames erupted between us and a large explosion of fire combusted out. Forcing the both of us back. The entire area was obliterated, any demons nearby obliterated while Gazef managed to back away.
He was using powerful spells. Stronger than the arcane guild said was even recorded.
Was this an attempt to hide history or just one of those moments where I've stumbled upon a threat that hasn't been seen in recent history?
Either way, the demon blurred towards me in a streak of red and what followed was a battle that I genuinely had to focus on. My muscles burnt and I pushed myself to the very limit.
I had only met less than two people who had pushed me to this level in recent times.
Our battle became a dance of fire and shadow, spell and claw, across the war-torn street. Every exchange sent shockwaves through nearby buildings and I quickly realized that while I was holding my own, the demon was still holding back.
We smashed through buildings and Gazef didn't even try getting involved.
I responded with a combination attack, elemental ice forming spears that I launched while simultaneously casting a shattering spell to explode them mid-flight, creating a deadly spray of magical shrapnel.
I had quickly come to realise the Demon had some sort of immunity to fire.
Which was totally cheating. I mean, who even gets such a perk? Being immune to an entire element that I mostly use? Where was my demonic resistance?
The demon gestured dismissively. "Aspect of the Devil"
His form shifted slightly, becoming more imposing as his defensive capabilities increased. The shrapnel bounced harmlessly off his enhanced hide while dark energy shields absorbed the rest.
Dark energy practically exploded off him.
"Fireball," he cast casually, sending a sphere of concentrated hellfire streaking toward me.
I barely rolled aside as the spell detonated behind me, the heat singeing my cloak.
"Command Mantra: Kneel," the demon spoke, his voice carrying supernatural compulsion.
I felt the spell trying to worm its way into my mind, but my demonic heritage provided some resistance.
Still, the mental pressure was immense.
I gritted my teeth behind my mask, realizing I was facing something far beyond what I'd initially estimated. This demon was operating on a completely different level than anything I'd encountered before.
"I rarely do this, but the supreme one did ask me to look out for talent." The Demon said. "Why bother defending this city? By the looks of it you're hardly acquainted with this city if you desire to wear a mask."
"How about you retreat and I'll consider?" I questioned.
He had taken his place on a roof above, staring down at me while flames licked at the surrounding and for a moment it almost felt as if he was showing off.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. Oh well. I suppose it's time to get serious. Who knows? Perhaps someone will come along to save you." The demon mused. "You have proven yourself capable, let's get serious shall we?"
The power radiating from him suddenly doubled, then tripled. The overwhelming aura of strength made it clear he'd been testing me rather than truly fighting.
"Hellfire Lance."
A massive lance of the same demonic flames that burnt hotter than mine zipped out, forcing me to drop as it tore through multiple buildings with ease.
"Hell flame."
A small black ball dropped onto me and I raised a barrier of magic, modified from the wizarding worlds shielding charm which had proven but then the barriers I could summon before.
The ball exploded out and I was pushed down the street, directly through a building.
By now, we had done more damage than the dozens of demons causing chaos. Half the secluded town within the strange ring of fire was alight with flame.
I quickly picked myself up.
Yep.
This was going to require being serious.
I was holding off on my destruction for now, since it was a last resort in honesty. With someone this dangerous I didn't want to take the chance of wasting my demonic energy.
The Demon was immediately blurring down the street.
My hand opened and my eyes narrowed, bolts of fiery red orbs appeared within my hand. Five of them, making a haze of power that spread off my hand and exploded out.
It was safe to say I had been experimenting with wizarding magic. My attack power had increased exponentially with the dungeon to help me see what worked.
A multi-casted Confringo.
The fizzling bolts containing explosions zipped out through the air, leaving bright streaks of light in their wake and converging on the Demon who raised another wall of fire. A blinding flash accompanied a massive explosion of power.
Undeterred, the demon stepped off the roof and the street went quiet. Heat bled from his aura.
His mask had a few cracks but other than that he had escaped unharmed.
Another magical circle formed and Hellfire crawled towards me in a raging inferno.
Protego Maxima spread from my palm in a ribbed dome, then Fianto Duri locked it and Salvio Hexia made the air in front of me ripple. To his evident surprise the powerful spell was rebuffed.
I snapped my fingers and the cobbles under him buckled. A quick Deprimo drove a crater into the street while Reducto punched channels through the collapsing stone.
He blurred his sheer physical might far surpassing my own.
The fact I was keeping up was all my training in the dungeon.
This Demon was hitting far above Dumbledore from the wizarding world. His spells were powerful and his power clearly surpassed my own. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy was potentially touching into the ultimate-class.
Still, I had more abilities than him.
Confringo and Expulso followed quickly as the Demon was still in the air. One bloomed in orange shards, the other detonated in a concussive white flash that folded a storefront.
The Demon created another wall of hellfire that consumed the spells and immediately answered with a spear of black fire.
Smoke billowed out from a quick spell and I blurred away from the building, watching it explode behind me.
My blood thrummed and despite the situation, I was having fun.
I raised both hands. A wall of river water surged from the ruptured mains and wrapped him. Glacius hit it mid flow and the sheath flashed to ice. Duro hardened the ice to something like stone.
Which didn't hold up for long as it cracked a moment later.
I shoved a lance of lightning through the crack.
Fire exploded out and the Demon's body rose into the air with a laugh. Below him a large explosion of ice, stone and lightning erupted.
I didn't hold back, water swirled and with a quick spell a massive wave of ice was sent towards the Demon.
He spoke a command that made my knees want the ground. I tasted copper and forced air into my lungs.
He cut the massive wave of ice in half and shot towards me.
I planted a hand. Stone surged up as a ring of pillars. They floated in the air and Depulso fired them in sequence like ballista bolts. He weaved between them, only for a second Depulso on one of them to hit him in the chest with a mighty crack.
His mask cracked, he exploded into the air with his wings behind him.
"You truly are powerful, let me honour this and show you a true threat!" His voice boomed.
The demon rose higher into the air, his wings spreading wide as dark energy began coalescing around him. The temperature dropped noticeably as he began channeling something far more dangerous than anything he'd used before.
"Meteor Fall," he intoned, his voice carrying across the entire district.
The spell name alone sent a chill down my spine.
Above us, the sky began to darken as massive chunks of stone and fire materialized in the air, each one the size of a building.
They hung suspended for a moment, radiating intense heat and magical energy.
This wasn't just a powerful spell. This was city-destroying magic.
He was in the ultimate-class..
Destruction well beneath the surface of my skin and the fun I had been having diminished.
It was to give this everything I had.
-{Demiurge}-
Demiurge could admit that perhaps a tenth tier spell had been overboard.
He had been tasked with putting on a show though and it wasn't going to connect, his mind was already planning to destroy most of it in the air and used the rest to form a powerful attack on the surprisingly strong being below.
Demiurge had multiple tasks that were on his mind when he used this spell.
Assessing if anyone would come out from the works to help against it, putting on a show so when Lady Momon came to drive him away she and this being could become allies. Leading into this being"s servitude. Along with the reaction his spies would get once word of it broke out.
Many other smaller means that he had thought about once meeting the rather strong being below.
While he was strong Demiurge certainly didn't need a spell of this level to dispose of him. He was much stronger in general, while the enemy showed a surprisingly battle intellect and a strange wide variety of magic. Demiurge had pure power and his own intellect.
As the spell came falling down, Demiurge frowned.
Perhaps getting a name for his lady would be appropriate. He would recognise if it was from anyone who could be used to further his lady's agenda. Perhaps even his master's when he could find the other Supreme Being.
"How rude of me." The Demon voices. "I just realised we forgot to exchange names."
As he went to deal with the massive destructive spell above, he called out. "I am Jaldabaoth of house Gremory."
His response was met with a massive amount of power as a vortex of destruction exploded out in strange static arcs, his body shuttered and Demiurge felt genuinely threatened.
His mask cracked and his hair rapidly began changing colour into a blood crimson colour.
Demiurge felt his heart go still and a sharp pain shoot through him, as if he was stabbed. His sharp mind had figured it out in a split second. Why was there someone so strong when his spies had told him there wouldn't be.
Only one being could alter a stage set up by another being.
A supreme being.
Demiurge for all his intelligence genuinely choked on air for a moment.
"Gremory? Weird. I guess you can just call me Zephyrion."
Demiurge felt his heart lurch as his mind came to a screeching halt. His fists unconsciously snapped shut, blood instantly flowing out from wounds that appeared from his sharp nails piercing his skin.
Time came to a crawl and horror spread through his existence. The pieces snapped into place.
The heartless Demon genuinely felt like he wanted to cry for the first time in his existence. The Supreme being who had become his new Father after taking an interest in him when he had joined the guild.
Demiurge considered ending himself right there, but could only stay still as pure destruction rampaged below, before beaming up into the sky like a tree with arcing branches.
His mouth opened, but his words came up short.
How did he fix this?
His intellectual mind went to work.
"My Lord!" He began to call.
Demiurge needed to fix this mess. His main goal that had been shared with all of Nazarick. To find their beloved supreme Lord and he had been fighting him all along.
That's when a truly massive snake bit into his side and pushed him towards the beam.
Demiurge scowled, slapping the beast away and narrowly avoiding what would be death.
"Supreme one!" He tried to shout.
There was no reply.
-{Satomi Suzuki}-
Satomi raced toward the area where she was expected to stage a confrontation with Demiurge.
Damn it, Demiurge.
She had instructed him to create a spectacle, not obliterate the entire city. Perhaps he assumed she could easily counter such an assault? She certainly possessed the capability, but it carried considerable risk.
This attack would undoubtedly erase most of the city...
Another complication was the fact that Demiurge was clearly engaged in combat with someone. Someone far more powerful than anticipated, judging by the massive explosions she had witnessed.
While Demiurge didn't appear to be operating at his maximum capacity, she couldn't risk compromising their entire charade.
She understood this invasion was extreme, this would no doubt cause deaths. Even with the racial limiter that kept her emotions hard to reach. She felt bad… but it truly served multiple purposes. It would aid her search for Zephyrion, with Demiurge claiming his secondary identity while she assumed a name he should recognize.
Suddenly, a crimson beam of spiraling energy lanced upward into the sky, causing her to freeze just as she prepared to counter the massive spell descending upon them.
What was that?
The spell was obviously powerful.
Realizing that a battle was underway and that one of the powerhouses she had suspected might emerge after this test was likely involved, she raced toward the scene, leaving Evileye behind.
That came even more apparent as it collided with the massive meteorite, promptly basting through and completely erasing everything the strange black red energy came into contact with.
"…"
Just what tier of magic was that?!!
Her speed exploded and she rapidly approached where she saw Demiurge floated.
-{Gazef Stronoff}-
Gazef felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead.
This… was true power.
He had thought he knew the word and its limits.
Even being surprised by that mage he had met at Carne, that had been within the confines of what was possible. But this was a different level, a level he genuinely didn't think existed.
He had known the mysterious swordsman named Zephyrion was strong, even with his boosts he would have lost and that wasn't even considering his magic which he assumed would be in the third or even fourth tier.
"…"
This was above that…
This had to be in the upper tiers right? Beyond the fifth Tier… the Demon was certainly operating beyond that. And the fact Zephyrion was keeping up genuinely baffled him.
He had decidedly left the battle after realising he stood no chance, the best he could do was clear up the demons that caused chaos.
-{Zephyrion}-
Sparks of destruction crackled around me.
My Basilisk hissed, telling me of her success. As expected the poison wouldn't kill him. But I imagine he was feeling it.
"Please-" the Demon started, his voice completely different.
A spark of pure destruction raged out towards him and he narrowly avoided it.
For some reason the Demon didn't retaliate as I exploded up, my own leathery wings bursting out of my back.
"My Lord-"
Another beam exploded towards him, its speed was far greater than my other attacks as it devoured the air and the demonic power it contained was substantial.
The Demon seemed to be genuinely panicking over something, his composure flying out the window as he tried to say something.
For some reason, I didn't think it was fear. He was still able to avoid my blasts even if he had stopped attacking.
I continued my assault, beams of destruction carving through the air with deadly precision. The Demon desperately weaved between them, his movements increasingly erratic as he tried to speak.
The area was filled with static beams of destruction that lingered, creating a web that limited his movement of time.
"Supreme One, please!" he called out, his voice strained as another blast of annihilation energy barely missed his wing. "I serve-"
I didn't let him finish.
A concentrated bolt of destruction erupted from my hand, forcing him to spiral sideways to avoid being vaporized. Whatever game he was playing, I wasn't interested in hearing it.
"You brought this on yourself," I said coldly, charging another attack.
"Please allow this lowly servant to explain." The Demon's voice cracked with what sounded like genuine desperation. "I was searching for-"
Another beam silenced him as he twisted desperately out of its path. This time, the edge of the destructive energy caught his mask, and the ornate covering began to crack and splinter.
The Demon seemed to realize his mask was failing. With a sharp intake of breath, he reached up and pulled the damaged thing away entirely, revealing his face for the first time.
I froze mid-cast, the destructive energy dissipating around my hands.
The face looking back at me was... familiar.
Not in the way of someone I'd met, but in a deeper, more unsettling way. My mind reeled as I tried to place the features, the dark skin, the neatly combed hair, the intelligent eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.
Why would I have seen him before though? I hadn't been in this world for more than two days.
Suddenly more masked beings arrived wearing maid outfits, about to attack.
The Demon's head shot towards them.
At that moment, yet another newcomer made themselves known. Exploding into the area in a rather dramatic entrance, dressed in a sleek heavy black armour that covered their distinctly female form.
"Jaldabaoth!" Her voice thundered. "I have come to end your-"
She saw me and all her momentum was stolen, her body losing its stability in the air and promptly performed a roll in the air, spinning then landing to and through a window on the other side of the street.
There was a moment of silence.
"Right…" I commented.
I was confused.
Sparks of destruction erupted around me.
Nonetheless, these were my enemies and judging by how these maids positioned themselves. They were with the strange-looking Demon. It was just as well as they all seemed to prepare attacks…
Only for each of them to stiffen as they seemingly realised something.
Something was obviously happening but being so outmatched, I decided to get the first hit off. Multiple arcs of destruction spiralling out of me and attacking the Demons.
"Z-Zephyrion!" A female voice called, sounding tragically hopeful and desperate.
I paused. "You know me?"
I don't remember being familiar with anyone besides Gazef and Climb.
My guard remained up.
She took off her helmet and I decided that I definitely didn't know the gothic beauty staring back at me, yet, she seemed to. By the way her eyes greedily drank me with an obsession I couldn't place.
"I've been looking for you!" She all but squealed.
I took a step back. "And you are?"
She seemed to realise something. "Ah-right, you must not recognise me. Try not to freak out but I'm Satomi!"
I went to reply with a cold annoyance to what was perhaps some sort of mimic monster, only to have a huge revelation.
That demon…
An image flashed through my mind.
Demiurge?!
She put up some sort of spell
"What?" I questioned, genuinely baffled.
Why did the Demon look like the floor guardian from Nazarick? And then Satomi? Had I been caught in some sort of spell, perhaps one designed to make me lower my guard?
"I'm Satomi." She said quickly. "I know this may come as a shock, but it's truly me. I've been looking everywhere for you. I-im so glad." Tears began to well up with genuine emotion.
"How-if you're Satomi, tell me only something she would know."
"You bought a bunch of P2W items to annoy me, we met through a demonic contract and began playing Yggdrasil together. You like fire magic. You can travel worlds. You're from the demon house Gremory-"
"What the fuck?" I exclaimed. "How?"
She became more timid. "I-I'm not sure how this happened."
Demiurge suddenly jumped towards us, the maids behind him.
He kneeled before me, his head lowered as if he had lost everything. "Let me offer my deepest and most apologies my Lord, Truly I am a fool who can not match the sheer intelligence of a Supreme Being. I am unfit for my role. For that I gladly forfeit my life for even daring to lash out at a Supreme being and my Master."
Demiurge's articulate voice was drenched in shame. A complete difference to the careless tone of the demon I had fought just minutes ago.
I sent a slow look to Satomi's, whose face had turned completely different. A mature face of a different person. Except with a blush and an embarrassed shine in his eyes.
"It's fine, I was wearing a mask and an illusion." I replied. "It's not like I had much clue of what was happening. I only arrived in this city a day ago."
"Still, I should have noticed your majesty no matter the form, especially with such intelligence shown in the way you fight! The strange and powerful magic you use! How could it not be the excellence of a Supreme being." Demiurge lamented, his teeth gritted. "Such a shame could never be forgiven."
Of course I knew the lore Satomi's friends had added. Did that mean the NPC was operating on that lore? Was he the only NPC with Satomi? Had they seriously somehow come to life?
It wasn't out of the question, especially with my situation and the fact Danmachi had been a fictional world. But how was this possible? And why did Satomi look like that in that case.
"Well, I forgive you. And by the sounds of it, if I'm so powerful. That means you couldn't have known, since I desired to be hidden." I said, easily using his logic.
Satomi looked at me as if I was sent down from Heaven to save her.
"I-yes…" he breathed. "Even so, I wish I had known. To raise arms against a Supreme Being and especially you my Lord…"
"It's okay." I reassured him. "It was fun."
He paused, before smirking.
"As expected of his Lord."
I turned back to Satomi.
"So what's going on?" I questioned.
She perked up and flushed. "Uhm."
"That reminds me, we're in the middle of a play my Lord. We should make a tactical retreat before all progress is lost." Demiurge said, looking around.
"I've set up an anti-scrying area." Satomi said. "Evileye and Nabe will be catching up soon. We should make the best of this. Now we've found Zephyrion. This is a success, but I imagine people will be coming to our location immediately."
Demiurge and the maids nodded.
"So it would be best we work the rest of this situation to our favour for a complete victory instead of allowing the humans to realise they've been toyed with." Her voice was cold and intelligent sounding. "Demiurge, Pleiades retreat. I'll stay, with the story of me and Zephyrion pushing the Demon Lord Jaldabaoth back. That does leave a lack of witnesses…"
"What about that human my Lord?" Demiurge turned to me.
"In my time here, I've befriended him. I came to his aid more out of curiosity than anything. But he will trust me for it. He will act as a witness to my fight and my word will be enough for… Momongas help in your defeat." I said, probably saving Gazef's life from the crazily strong NPC.
I didn't know what was going on, but Satomi was my friend and I couldn't deny a weight was lifted at her survival. It made sense why her previous body couldn't be revived.
Demiurge looked at us in awe before bowing and promptly vanishing.
The maids lingered but quickly followed.
"So…" I began. "It's good to see you again."
Satomi sighed and her facade melted. "It's good to see you as well, I-i have missed you."
"I've missed you as well… i was rather surprised when I came back to find you dead." I replied uncertainly, gauging what she knew.
Her eyes widened. "I died?"
"Yes." I revealed, observing her curiously.
So she didn't know.
"So this is real." She whispered.
"It most certainly is. Imagine my surprise when I came to hang out only to find you gone." I responded with a frown.
She came closer to me. "Did it bother you?"
Her question was asked with a strange emotion.
"Of course it did. Our time was short but hanging out for a change was nice. There was no sign of how you had died. I had to leave the world before doing something I regretted." I replied truthfully.
She smiled.
"Between me and you, I tried to revive you."
She looked shocked. "With those peerage piece things?"
"Yeah." I grinned.
She blushed. "Why would you waste it on me?"
"You're my friend and I felt a rare connection with you." I replied, looking at her. "I truly am glad to see you, even considering how insane this situation is."
She smiled.
Gazef chose that moment to come around the corner in the distance.
"Perhaps this talk is better saved till after we deal with this." I said seriously.
She nodded and put her helmet back on.
Judging from the power I sensed.
We had a lot to talk about.
Demiurge and the maids quickly made themselves scarce.
I turned to Gazef.
I wanted to get this over as soon as I could.
Satomi and I needed to have a serious chat.
Because seriously… what the hell?
-END-
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