Today, a Sunday, the house was a haven of warmth against the gray drizzle outside. Raynare was out with Kalawarner, scouting "Church activity" (code for tracking Irina's movements), their devotion ensuring updates via coded texts.
Mittelt was at the arcade, her illusions likely winning her plushies, while Asia napped upstairs, her latest cookie batch cooling on the counter, the scent of vanilla mingling with rain.
Luke lounged in the living room, flipping through one of my manga volumes—some shonen tale of gods and rebels, his chuckle low as he muttered, "Mortals dream of my fall, yet miss the tragedy."
Mom and Dad were at a community center potluck, leaving us alone, the TV muted, rain pattering like a metronome.
I sprawled on the couch, soda in hand, my Intelligence replaying our spar—the mud, the flames, his veiled Strength cracking my armor but forging trust. His Best Friend score was a quiet victory, but his true power—3000 stats—loomed like a mountain I couldn't climb. Yet. Ddraig rumbled, amused: "He's a star, you're a dragon. Keep burning, partner—he's watching."
The Gamer System's chime cut through the quiet, a blue screen flaring with an urgency that made Luke glance up, his obsidian eyes narrowing. He couldn't see it—none could—but my "hunches" were legend now. Gamer's Mind steadied my pulse, the soul-erasure restriction a cold chain around my words.
System Directive: Rekindling the Primordial Flame
Alert: Cosmic imbalance detected. The Great War's scars demand restoration. User required for resurrection protocol.
New Quest: Lilith's Dawn
Objective: Resurrect Lilith, Lucifer Morningstar's first love, fallen in the Great War alongside him. Locate her essence (scattered in the Netherworld's Heart, a forbidden realm beneath the Underworld) and utilize Resurrection Sacred Gear to restore her to full health. Ensure discretion—her return must remain hidden from all factions, including allies.
Rewards:
Lilith becomes your Best Friend (80/100 relationship score; unlocks forbidden knowledge and infernal alliances).
Lucifer owes you two favors (callable at any time, no limits).
Failure Penalty: Lilith's essence destabilizes, triggering a Netherworld breach; -50 to all stats, permanent -30 Luck.
Time Limit: 7 Days
Activation: Coordinates to Lilith's essence provided upon acceptance. [Y/N]
The screen's weight sank in—Lilith, the first woman, Lucifer's love before his fall, a figure of myth woven into the Great War's tapestry. Her death had fueled his rebellion, her essence a fractured relic in the Netherworld, a realm even devils feared.
The rewards were staggering: another best friend at 80/100, her knowledge a key to secrets older than Heaven, and two favors from a transcendent king whose 3000 stats could reshape worlds.
Failure risked chaos—a breach that could unleash horrors worse than Diodora's depravity. Ddraig growled: "Lilith's fire rivaled his. Resurrect her, and you bind the Morningstar tighter—but tread light, partner. The Netherworld eats heroes."
I selected Y, the vortex stirring in my mind, coordinates burning. Luke's gaze sharpened, his Intelligence catching my shift. "Another hunch, boy? Your eyes burn like mine did before battles."
I stood, forcing casualness, the restriction binding my tongue. "Yeah—Underworld errand. Solo job. Gotta dip. Keep the house standing, Luke?"
He leaned back, manga forgotten, a smirk playing. "Solo? You're reckless, but I trust your fire. Go—I'll play cousin for your parents." His score pulsed, a brother's faith.
I texted the girls—Raynare, Kalawarner, Mittelt, Asia: "Quick trip, back soon. Hold the fort." Raynare's reply was instant: "Again? You're killing me, lover. Safe."
Asia's followed: "Be careful, Issei! Cookies waiting!" Mittelt sent a dragon emoji, Kalawarner a fist.
I stepped into the backyard, rain soaking my hoodie, and activated the teleport—reality folding into the Netherworld's Heart.
_________________
The Heart of the Netherworld
The transition was a plunge through ice and ash, the air turning thick with sulfur and the keening wail of lost souls. The Netherworld's Heart was a cavernous abyss beneath the Underworld's deepest strata, a realm where light died and despair took form.
Jagged spires of blackened crystal jutted from a floor of molten obsidian, rivers of liquid flame winding through, the air pulsing with a heartbeat-like thrum—Lilith's essence, a fractured ember in the void.
My agility landed me on a crumbling ledge, Boosted Gear glowing crimson, Phoenix Force's 10% weaving cosmic flames around my fists, Twilight Healing's golden fields shimmering faintly.
Observe scanned the desolation: spectral wisps—Nether Wraiths, Level 20, stats 40 (HP 2,000)—drifted, their moans a psychic assault (Gamer's Mind negating). The coordinates led deeper, a labyrinth of flame and shadow. Ddraig hissed: "This place is death's cradle. Her essence is close—feel the fire. But watch—ghosts guard their queen."
I moved, my agility silent on molten ground, Phoenix telekinesis bending flames aside. A Wraith lunged, claws raking—my Endurance shrugged it off (HP 15,800/16,000), Twilight Healing mending instantly. Boosted Gear doubled—"BOOST!"—to 2x strength, claws shredding the Wraith (HP 0/2,000). More swarmed—five, then ten—psychic screams testing Gamer's Mind (HP 15,500 from grazes). I unleashed a Phoenix-boosted destruction blast, vaporizing them (0/2,000 each), MP dipping to 15,500/16,000.
The Heart deepened, spires tightening into a cathedral of flame, Lilith's essence a glowing ruby orb atop a pyre of charred bone. Shadows thickened—Nether Sentinels, Level 40, stats 80 (HP 4,000)—hulking wraiths with scythes of black fire.
One swung, scythe slashing my arm (HP 15,000); I countered with Dragon Scale Mail, tripling to 3x Strength, claws rending its core (HP 1,000/4,000). Phoenix warp slowed its allies (3-second lag), annihilation fields disintegrating three (0/4,000 each). The last charged, scythe piercing my side (HP 14,500); Twilight healed, claws finishing (0/4,000).
The orb pulsed, unguarded. Resurrection Sacred Gear activated, golden threads weaving through the void, my core straining (MP 14,000). The pyre cracked, flames parting, a figure coalescing: a woman of unearthly beauty, raven hair cascading like night, eyes twin embers of crimson, clad in flowing robes of shadow and fire. Lilith, first woman, Lucifer's flame, reborn—her aura a tempest of defiance and love. She knelt, gasping, her voice a melody of ash and silk: "The void... lifted? Who dares?"
Observe revealed:
Name: Lilith, First Flame
Level: Transcendent
HP: 40,000/40,000(suppressed)
MP: 20,000/20,000(suppressed)
Strength: 250(suppressed)
Endurance: 250(suppressed)
Agility: 230(suppressed)
Intelligence: 300(suppressed)
Luck: 180(suppressed)
Abilities: Infernal Ember (fire manipulation, soul-binding flames), Primordial Will (charisma aura, mental influence), Queen's Veil (stealth, illusion).
Thoughts About You: "A mortal with dragon's fire, pulling me from death. Courage or folly? Worthy of trust?"
Relationship: Neutral (50/100)
"Issei Hyoudou," I said, offering a hand. "Resurrected you—Lucifer's call, in a way. The world's changed, Lilith. Great War's over, but shadows linger. Come with me—stay hidden. My place, disguised as... Lila, a friend. No factions, no wars, just sanctuary."
Her ember eyes weighed me, her Intelligence dissecting. "Lucifer... lives? You know him." A pause, then a nod, her form shimmering—robes becoming jeans and a blouse, aura veiled to 100 stats, human-like. "Lila, then. Lead, dragon."
The teleport pulled us back, rain-soaked Kuoh reappearing. Five seconds passed—Asia's cookies untouched, Luke in the living room, manga open. His eyes snapped to Lilith, recognition flaring, then softening—pride, love, pain. "Lilith..." he whispered, standing.
"Lila," I corrected, voice firm. "She's a friend, crashing here. Keep it quiet—both of you."
Lilith—Lila—smiled, a queen's grace in a mortal shell. "Luke, is it? Time has softened you." Their hands clasped, unspoken history crackling.
The girls returned—Raynare's spears half-formed, Kalawarner's fists clenched, Mittelt's illusions flickering, Asia's fields glowing. "Another guest?" Raynare's devotion held, but suspicion flared: "Another ancient? Issei's playing with fire."
"Lila, meet the crew," I said, easing tension. Asia offered cookies, her warmth disarming. "Welcome! Try these—they're fresh!"
Dinner was chaos—Mom and Dad back, accepting "Lila" as Luke's "sister," their questions dodged with Lilith's Intelligence weaving tales of "family travels." Luke's score held, his glances at Lilith heavy with unspoken vows. Nights passed, Lilith blending—sparring with Luke (veiled flames clashing), charming Asia with ancient hymns, teasing Mittelt's illusions into art. Her score climbed—60/100, then 70, as we talked under stars, her Primordial Will sharing tales of Eden's fall: "I chose love over chains. Lucifer was my fire."
The seventh night, Lilith pulled me aside, rain pattering. "You risked the Netherworld for me, dragon. Why?"
"For balance," I said, Gamer's Mind steady. "And... Luke needed you. So did I, maybe."
Her laugh was firelight. "A brother, then. My trust is yours." Her score hit 80/100—Best Friend sealed.
Quest Complete: Lilith's Dawn
Rewards:
Lilith becomes Best Friend (80/100).
Lucifer owes two favors (callable anytime, no limits).
Luke joined us, his hand on my shoulder. "Two debts, Issei. Name them when you will—the Morningstar pays in full."
The house hummed—dragon, saint, fallen, and the first flames of rebellion. Excalibur loomed, but with Lucifer and Lilith at my side, the dragon was ready.