Isaiah's mind raced through possibilities in the span of a heartbeat.
Ophis. The Ouroboros Dragon.
One of the most powerful beings in existence was floating in his private dimension that nobody should know about.
His gacha system had granted him the Infinity Castle as a unique ability. Nakime's blood demon art, transplanted into a form he could use through demonic energy. A dimension only he could access, existing outside normal space.
And yet here she was.
The girl's emotionless eyes tracked him with the focus of a curiosity, though her expression never changed. She tilted her head slightly to the left, the movement so minimal it might have been his imagination.
"You" she said. Her voice was flat, toneless, as if she was reading it from a script she didn't understand "Smell different"
Isaiah kept his hand away from where Yamato would normally appear. This sword against Ophis would be pointless—an insult, really. If she wanted him dead, he would be dead before his neurons could fire the command to move.
"Different how?" he asked, keeping his tone even and respectful.
Ophis drifted closer, still not moving any part of her body except her head as she examined him "You different"
Isaiah didn't understand what she meant but seeing her interest lose instantly, he didn't bother to speak unnecessarily.
"This place" Ophis continued, her gaze shifting to take in the impossible geometry of the Infinity Castle around them. Platforms floated at wrong angles, stairs led to nowhere and everywhere, doorways opened onto other doorways in recursive loops "silence, quiet..."
She looked back at him "Your home?"
The pieces clicked together in Isaiah's mind.
'She's not here to kill me. She's curious about this place, it resembles Dimensional Gap, although with a better infrastructure'
"Yeah. Do you also have a home like this?" Isaiah said carefully, feeling out the conversation like a man walking across thin ice.
"Red is loud" For the first time, something almost resembling emotion flickered across Ophis's face. Annoyance, maybe "Always moving. Always fighting. Wants me to fight back. I just want silence"
Great Red. The other Dragon God, locked in eternal conflict with Ophis over territory in the Dimensional Gap. Isaiah remembered the lore—their battle wasn't driven by hatred or ambition, but simply because Great Red who represented dreams and fantasy took the home of Ophis represented infinity and stillness, desiring only silence.
"That's why you're working with the Khaos Brigade" Isaiah said, not a question. "They promised to help you get Great Red out of your place?"
Ophis nodded once, a sharp dip of her head "Yes. They are loud too"
"If you want a quiet place to stay" Isaiah said slowly, an idea forming "you can stay in this place until you get your home. And you could stay as long as you like"
The words left his mouth before he'd fully considered the implications. Inviting Ophis to use his secret dimension as a refuge? That was either brilliant or catastrophically stupid, possibly both, but what could he possibly say? No, go back to your home. I ain't letting you stay for free.
But looking at her, this powerful being who just wanted peace—Isaiah found he couldn't bring himself to refuse her. She reminded him of Koneko in an odd way. Both sought quiet, both masked their desires behind expressionless faces.
Ophis stared at him for a long moment. Then, so subtle he almost missed it, her lips curved upward a fraction of a millimeter.
"Yes. I stay here for some time"
Before Isaiah could respond, she held out her hand. A small black orb materialized above her palm, swirling with concentrated power that made the air around it distort.
"My Snake" Ophis said "Letting me, use this quiet place"
Isaiah hesitated, then carefully reached out and took the orb. The moment his fingers touched it, the power flowed into him like liquid night. His demonic energy surged, his aura flaring violet-black before he clamped down on it with perfect control over it to use anytime he would want to.
'A Snake of Ophis. One of the most sought-after power-ups in the entire series, and she just handed it to me like a child sharing candy'
"Well, thanks for the gift"
Ophis nodded once more, then simply faded in sparkles. Not teleporting, not flying away, just ceasing to exist in that space as if she'd never been there at all.
Isaiah stood alone in the Infinity Castle, staring at his hand where the snake had merged with his being. With a single mental command, he could amplify his demonic power and his physical capabilities, beyond measure.
'I better keep this a secret' he thought 'If anyone learns that Ophis considers this place a refuge, if the Khaos Brigade discovers she's visiting my private dimension...But I doubt she would bring anyone from her group that she considers loud, in this place'
He shook his head. For now, he had training to do. And with this new power, he needed to recalibrate everything he thought he knew about his limits.
Isaiah summoned Yamato, the katana materializing in his hand, as he got to his usual training sessions.
---
Isaiah arrived back in his residence, the familiar transition from the Infinity Castle to normal space barely registering anymore. The encounter with Ophis still occupied his thoughts, but he forced himself to focus on more immediate concerns.
The house was still empty. Rayne, Ravel, and Latia wouldn't be back for another hour or so, which gave him time to prepare dinner. It was a small gesture, but one he'd found himself making more often lately. Taking care of the people around him felt natural, comfortable in a way that surprised him.
He moved through the kitchen, pulling ingredients from the refrigerator. Tonight he'd make something simple but satisfying—grilled salmon with roasted vegetables and a light salad. The rhythmic motions of cooking helped settle his mind, letting him process the day's events while his hands worked on autopilot.
'Who would have thought I will be getting Ophis's snake from herself. The very power, that most individuals in her group seeks, is gifted to me without an effort'
The sound of the front door opening pulled him from his thoughts. Three voices came through the hallway.
"Isaiah-sama?" Rayne called out "We're home"
Isaiah replied, flipping the salmon fillets with careful precision "Dinner's almost ready"
The three women appeared in the doorway, and Isaiah noticed the way their expressions shifted from tired to pleasantly surprised. Latia in particular seemed caught off guard, her usually composed features showing genuine appreciation.
"You didn't have to go to this trouble, Isaiah sama" Latia said, though she made no move to leave. Instead, she leaned against the door frame, watching him work with those sharp, analytical eyes.
"It's no trouble. I do it way more often than you think" Isaiah assured her, plating the food with care.
They settled around the dining table, the meal progressing with comfortable conversation about the day's activities. Rayne and Ravel discussed which dresses they bought, and clothes for Isaiah while Latia mostly listened, occasionally offering compliments about the well maintenance of the town's infrastructure and environment.
As they finished the main course, Latia set down her fork and fixed Isaiah with a hesitant look "Isaiah-sama..."
Isaiah looked at her, sensing a shift in the conversation's tone.
"Seeing your influence in the Underworld has grown considerably in such a short period" Latia's fingers traced idle patterns on the tablecloth, but her gaze remained focused "The nobility has taken notice. Some view you as a rising star, an example of what the new generation can achieve. Others see you as a disruptive force, too powerful and too independent for them to control"
Isaiah kept his expression neutral "And which side does the Astaroth Clan fall into?"
"Neither, officially" Latia smiled slightly "Publicly, we maintain polite distance given the Diodora situation. Privately... I think you represent something the older clans have forgotten"
"That's quite a way to look at it" Isaiah said carefully.
Latia continued, her tone becoming more serious "But there's something else you should know. Ajuka-sama has expressed interest in meeting with you. Specifically regarding your... unusual demonic forms."
Isaiah's hand tightened fractionally on his glass. Ajuka Beelzebub was a genius whose understanding of demonic energy and power systems was unmatched. Devil Trigger, the Assault Mode, the way Isaiah's abilities didn't quite fit standard devil templates—it would all be fascinating data for someone like Ajuka.
"What kind of interest?" Isaiah asked.
Latia assured him "Ajuka-sama isn't interested in controlling or dig too deep about you. He simply wants to understand and learn. Your transformations apparently display characteristics that don't match any known Sacred Gear or demonic transformations. In his own words, He's intrigued"
Rayne leaned forward, concern evident in her eyes "Is this something we should be worried about?"
"No" Latia said firmly, as she looked firmly at Isaiah "Ajuka-sama's interest is purely of curiosity. If anything, having his attention could be beneficial for a better understanding of Isaiah Sama's forms"
Isaiah considered this. Meeting with Ajuka Beelzebub was inevitable, really. The man was one of the Satans, and Isaiah's rapid advancement and unusual abilities made him a natural subject of interest. Better to control the circumstances of that meeting than have it forced upon him later.
"When does he want to meet?" Isaiah asked.
"He left it to your discretion" Latia replied "Though I suspect sooner rather than later would be appreciated"
"I'll reach out to him on my next visit to Underworld " Isaiah decided, as Latia nodded in affirmation.
The conversation shifted to lighter topics after that, but Isaiah noticed the way Latia relaxed slightly, as if delivering that message had been weighing on her all this time. She'd positioned herself carefully, carrying the persona of an heir of the Astaroth clan.
'I admire her dedication to the position she was just assigned to' Isaiah thought. 'She's not just here to observe the town or escape her clan's shadow. She's doing her best by making connections that will serve her later. There is no other explanation for why she would bring about my influence in Underworld before delivering me message of Ajuka. To be honest, she should be the given position of heir from the beginning, given her potential and dedication'
As they cleared the dishes, Latia insisted on helping despite being a guest, Isaiah found himself appreciating the fact that despite being a noble and an heir she find no repulsion against these tasks.
Later, as he prepared for bed, Isaiah's phone buzzed with a message from Rias: "Need you to come to the clubroom as soon as you arrive at school tomorrow. It's Urgent."
Isaiah stared at the message, an uneasy feeling settling in his mind. Rias wasn't one to use words like "urgent" lightly. Whatever this was, it was definitely going to be a troublesome day tomorrow.
He typed back a quick confirmation and set the phone aside. Sleep came slowly, his mind churning through possibilities, none of them particularly comforting.
---
The morning arrived with deceptive normalcy. Isaiah went through his usual routine, but the unease from Rias's message lingered like a shadow at the edge of his mind.
'What could be so urgent?'
He wondered as he made his way toward Kuoh Academy. The streets were filled with the usual morning crowds, students and workers beginning their day with no awareness of the supernatural events flowing beneath the surface of their ordinary lives.
Had something happened to one of Rias's peerage members? An attack? New intelligence about the Khaos Brigade? Or something else entirely—maybe related to the peace conference that had been successful?
The school grounds appeared normal as he arrived, no signs of unusual activity or heightened security. That ruled out an immediate threat, at least. Whatever this was, it was serious but not an active emergency.
Isaiah made his way directly to the Occult Research Club building, bypassing his usual stop at the main school building. His footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as he approached the familiar door.
He knocked twice, then entered without waiting for a response.
The scene that greeted him made him stop dead in his tracks.
The clubroom was crowded in a way he'd never seen before. Rias sat behind her desk, her expression grave. Akeno stood beside her, for once without her usual playful smile. Koneko occupied her usual spot in the corner, while Asia stood beside, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
But that was just the beginning.
Grayfia Lucifuge stood near the window, her silver hair and maid uniform immaculate as always, her presence alone signaling that this involved the Satans directly. Sona Sitri sat in one of the chairs, her expression stern and focused, while Tsubaki Shinra stood behind her carrying the same expression as her king.
And then there were the two who made Isaiah's instincts say we give up dude. You're on your own.
Azazel lounged against the wall, his casual posture at odds with the serious atmosphere. The Governor General of the Fallen Angels being here, in the ORC clubroom, was unprecedented. Beside him stood Benemune, the Fallen Angel Cadre whose presence radiated barely contained power, behind her charming smile.
Every eye in the room turned to Isaiah as he entered.
"So..." Isaiah asked, his voice cutting through the silence. His gaze swept the room, faces and positions, already preparing for whatever bombshell was about to drop "What's so urgent that everyone is here"
Rias stood slowly, her blue-green eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his stomach clench. When she spoke, her voice was measured but carried an undercurrent of shock that she couldn't quite hide.
"Isaiah... last night, the Old Satan Faction was wiped out"
. . .
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