Chapter 82: Elves

Chapter 82: Elves

Some of you may have noticed; I previously posted an NSFW story as a companion story of NEO story, consisting the explicit scenes that took place off-screen in NEO. However, the website tore it down because the story's content was too, well, explicit.

I might sound that I'm complaining - I understand this site has rules and all, but I'm pretty sure there are at least one or two stories out there that are just as explicit, if not more than my One-Punch DxD: NSFW. Why are they still standing? How does that work?

Anyway, enjoy!

They were all surrounded.

Assassins entered in from the enemy side slowly closed in on them step by step, their eyes and auras filled with the intent to end their lives.

Issei sniffed the air for a moment, smelling their scent.

"...You reek of the Trihexa." Issei knew from being around the 'child' as the Demons call it, the one that began and ended the Trihexa Death Plague.

"Good nose." One of them admitted.

"But it isn't exactly the Trihexa, isn't it?" Issei could tell.

Because he smelled the similar scent from Kiyome, the exact same scent from her power and his arcane vision could see the similarities.

The Dark Elves stopped, their murderous aura interrupted.

"...You took the cells made from the Son of the Trihexa. I heard he goes by Djall now."

Azazel, Sirzechs and his Peerage, Vali and his group, and Rossweisse gave Issei their attention.

"What?" Azazel blinked as he looked back at the Dark Elves.

"You were given the cells not from the corpse parent, but the living child of it. Though, I'm not exactly sure how powerful he is right now compared to the actual Trihexa. If I had to guess It didn't grant you as much power. Though the other benefits are easy to see. Since I heard that one of you survived decapitation and escaped with their head in their hands."

The reaction of the dark elves was silence, but their refusal to look away from Issei confirmed their truth.

"Since when are you a detective?" Vali asked as he summoned Divine Dividing.

"Since I have a nose like a Hellhound. Knowing Stjarna, they won't die even if you take their heads off, and their reflexes are annoyingly fast."

"Well, ain't that comforting?" Bikou twirled his signature Bo around, "An opponent that doesn't die from head loss? First time I'm fighting one."

"What about the Phenex Clan?" Le Fay asked as she aimed her wand at them.

"They don't really count." Bikou argued, "After all, a good hit from Arthur's sword is enough to take them out. I wonder if your sword can work on these guys."

"...I'm looking forward to finding out." Arthur merely replied as he unsheathed his Caliburn.

The vanguard of the dark elves wore a helmet made from an insectoid exoskeleton, covering half of her upper face, only her mouth exposed enough for them to see her grit her teeth.

"Kill the outsiders! Show them the Power of the Beast!" The leader shouted as the dark elves moved forth with disciplined silence, their intent roaring their desire to murder.

"Protect the Elves! Don't let any of them reach the Queen!" Sirzechs shouted to his Peerage.

His peerage already went into position, Bahamut, the golden sacred beast of the seas, and Surtr the second went to the front, Okita behind them, Beowulf and Enku behind Okita and Matthers in the farthest back as the long-range fighter.

They went between the Dark Elves and the Royal Family as they clashed.

Vali and his group intercepted those on the opposite side of the flank, the group of dark elves exchanging blades and spells as Vali entered his Balance Breaker.

The rest - Issei, Rover, Kiyome, Griselda, Asia, Azazel and Rossweisse were delegated on the defensive perimeter around the elf VIPs, along with Ikala.

The battle had begun between the assassins and the Midgardians, the High Elves now the spectators to their irony.

Albeit, the high elves were not the only spectators as Djall watched from the corner with interest. He was in the throne room now, following the assassins after Ikala alerted the guards.

The crimson-haired one was watching, not acting. Was he not using his power to overwhelm them to conserve his strength for the real battle?

Again, Djall had plans for this one.

The one with the katana one of the swords reminded him of the creations of the Hellsmith, Muramasa.

A vastly inferior version of his current creations, especially after his transformation.

However, the dark elves showed their abilities when their bodies turned into shadow and started using their shadow magics.

When they were in shadow, they could dodge and evade the strikes and magic spells of the outsiders, blade phasing through their bodies, fists passing through the dark effigies of their forms harmlessly.

It was nothing more than an illusory trick of invincibility no, there was some form of intangibility in it by hiding a portion of themselves in the shadows. Djall could improve upon this.

Then they started incorporating his power.

"Die!" The leader started using unorthodox techniques when she threw something over Okita.

Okita quirked a brow when his eyes spotted a crystalline sphere, which then exploded in a flash of light.

In that instance, she grinned and stabbed Okita's shadow with her poison blade.

Blood flew from Okita's neck; the sight drew shock from everyone.

Okita stumbled back and placed a hand on his neck, blinking.

"Alfheim shadow magic. If I hit your shadow, I hit you."

Unfortunately, she spoke in Alfheim. Okita could guess what she said, however. Then he noticed a foreign substance infecting his veins, a sensation he knew too well.

"Their blades are poisoned!" Okita shouted.

He channeled the power of the 100 Yokai Parade within him. It was not as if they had the power to cure the poison, but the accumulated power of a hundred spirits dwelling in his body should be enough to resist the poison.

Yet the poison was vicious. He could feel the Yokai within him struggling.

The other Dark Elves still standing unleashed the Trihexa's, or Djall's, power, one growing dragonfly wings, another transforming their legs into digitigrade hooves, and another growing four mantis arms with serrated blades that gleamed like metal.

Rossweisse dueled the one with the mantis blade arms. Her rate of attack increased, pressuring Rossweisse as she blocked and parried with her shield and spear.

"Your power has indeed grown with the Beast in your blood But!"

The mantis elf grabbed the shield with two of her four pincers and pulled Rossweisse in while thrusting her daggers at the Valkyrie.

But Rossweisse broke out of the grapple and shield-bashed her weapons out of her grasp and rammed her spear into her heart.

The mantis elf coughed as Rossweisse lifted her and summoned five simultaneous fire spells and blasted the dark elf, launching the charred elf towards the wall.

"Even I can see how unsynchronized you are with your new powers."

Even they could see how little they mastered their new powers. They could not incorporate Stjarna's powers into their fighting style flawlessly.

Souji retreated while summoning a Nue and Oni to keep the leader occupied while MacGregor and Asia hurried to make a first-aid treatment for the poison.

The dark elves fought valiantly. Some of the ones still standing lined up and poured all of their transformed and new limbs into offensive magic, swirling magic forcibly compressed into a vortex, and fired at the group.

But Asia raised a barrier and blocked the attack, the impact shaking her barrier and vibrating the room, leaving cracks in her defenses.

Kiyome dueled with one in combat.

"How can you have that power?! We are the first to inherit the beast!" The Dark Elf shouted in a tongue Kiyome could not understand as they dueled.

They used each of their new abilities to Djall's interest as his eyes trailed towards them.

They both weaponized their arms as they clashed, yet Kiyome's metal-claw hands surpassed the elf's insectoid armor and blades. He wondered how Kiyome could have come up with the metal claws in the first place like him, though.

In terms of power and compatibility, Kiyome surpassed the elves. The dark elf had more experience, but the girl still surpassed her in skill, a mix of human techniques and his powers, as she cleaved through the dark elf in twain with a blade of bone jutted from her elbow.

The way it gleamed around the edges

It was interesting, microscopic razors rotating around the contour of the blade, the serrated teeth slicing through the assassin's like butter, armor and all despite the magical nature of her armor, slicing her in half as her organs fell out.

In the end, the Dark Elves were overwhelmed, some dismembered and mutilated.

Arthur decapitated his foe as her head rolled on the floor. The way the severed head glared at him while seething

"Consider me amazed. Never have I seen a head glaring at me with such vitality." Arthur pushed his glasses up, satisfied with the answer he got.

He slashed behind him, cutting down the headless body of the severed head before it could backstab him as it collapsed, bleeding.

"...Please, have some tact. We know you can move your bodies remotely."

Those that were not dismembered recovered from their injuries, wounds closing and burned skin flaked off, replaced with new, stronger flesh.

"...Surrender," Azazel warned as he snapped his fingers.

A golden coating of light spread from underneath Azazel's feet, covering the floors and crept up the walls towards the ceiling, surrounding them, imprisoning them all in golden light.

Djall grimaced as he was forced to jump down from his hiding spot, landing on the golden coating as it reached the ceiling covered the flat surface above.

"I know how your magic works. This barrier will stop you from using your shadow magic to-"

Azazel twitched as he turned towards Djall's direction.

"...Something is there. Another one of you?"

Djall clicked his tongue again, realizing that the light was also a motion detector. Seemed that he had overstayed his welcome and got caught. First time that happened to him both refreshing and invigorating, forced into a precarious position, the rush of knowing he could no longer hide.

He did not want to reveal himself this early he wanted to watch some more; but then again.

Azazel's eyes continue to stare directly at him.

Deciding to answer the fallen, melding into existence, Djall made himself known as he dropped from the wall.

Three eyes, two eyes with sigma symbols tattooed on the left and right iris, a hexagram for the third eye. Wearing casual clothes from Midgard, he walked, no shoes, bare feet touching the light-covered floor.

He stared right into Azazel as his throat clicked in a rhythmic tune, a tune that Issei, Kiyome, Azazel, Asia, and Vali knew so very well.

"He's not one of us." One of the Dark Elves admitted with confusion.

"What is he?" Another whispered in Alfheim.

"...Stjarna?" Kiyome asked.

An overwhelming sense of emotion and shock flowed through them as they reunited with the one they failed to save questions and confusion filling their heads when they saw him in this very room.

Like why was he here? Was he not meant to be at the enemy's base? Under the enemy's control?

There were so many questions, they could not respond.

But the dark elves saw an opening. They immediately rushed towards the Midgard group with wild abandon.

Okita, Vali, Beowulf, Arthur, Bikou, Griselda, Enku, Rossweisse, and Azazel moved fast even as they turned into shadow.

They were torn, beaten back, blasted apart, cut down.

But a few of them could teleport, disappearing in a puff of black smoke before reappearing behind their targets.

"NOBODY MOVE!"

One of them got Asia, a blade to her neck. The girl looked startled - there was a hint of fear on her face, but the girl then quickly calmed herself down. Her eyes scanned her friends - she subtly nodded to Issei who silently asked her to stay calm and trust him. She then sent a mental command for Rassei to remain on stand-by.

The Imoogi was still in her hair, waiting for the signal to free his mother.

The other two assassins stood near the hostage as they raised their weapons defensively.

"...You know how this goes, outsiders." The assassin warned with the blade pressed onto her jugular.

Djall stared at them, his eyes laid on Asia. A certain emotion stirred within him the more he processed their actions.

"If you want someone to blame, blame the stranger for distracting you. And-"

Everyone froze when they felt it. When it exploded out of him.

Bloodlust.

Murderous intent as vast as the ocean suddenly flooding the throne room, even the Queen, who was standing as spectator, reacted to it with horror in the face of such primal hostility.

It spilled from Djall as his eyes stared at the assassin holding Asia hostage, so much that the room was dyed metaphorically red, redder than even Sirzechs' hair.

Ddraig and Albion - all the way from within their confines in their Longinus gear, were intimidated. A fear that they could not understand, the fear of prey cowering before the face of death, for they knew what it was to be in the face of a predator that can consume dragons like snakes to rats.

"...Let. Her. Go." Djall threatened as his eyes bored into dark elves' terrified ones.

His irises, pupils, expanded until it covered all of his white sclera black.

On instinct, the assassins released Asia - who was still stunned at the bloodlust, and dropped their weapons.

Out of all those present, the dark elves were trembling the most, even the ones that fell trying to reach the hostages, even dismembered, were the most paralyzed, for they could feel the connection now.

"You You are the" The Dark elves immediately understand from the power within them reacting to the bloodlust, shrieking within their bodies. They knew from their instinct what this creature was.

The source of their power.

Immediately, they fell on their knees and bowed before the three-eyed beast.

"W-We beg for your forgiveness, Spawn of the Beast! Please! S-Spare us!" The leader whimpered with a tone no one expected to hear considering her previous arrogant tone.

Everyone was flabbergasted at the development. However, before anyone else could have spoken, the door was slammed open, revealing more guards armed to the teeth.

When Djall looked at the guards, high elf, in the finest silver armor and weapons royalty could craft, his bloodlust ceased.

He blinked and looked around he looked confused. As if he snapped out of a trance.

"What the?" Djall muttered as he looked at his hands.

"...Stjarna!" Kiyome called out. Djall looked back at her, then back at the guards that entered the room, moving past Azazel's angelic golden coating of light without difficulty.

"My fun is ruined." Right hand raised, Djall's smashed through the floor, collapsing his foothold as he fell below as the stone rumbled and cracked.

"Stjarna!" Kiyome ran after him and jumped into the hole.

The girl chased after him as she landed on the pile of marble rubble beneath, surrounded by more confused elven guards rushing to the aid of their Queen. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, trying to find him, the one she failed to save.

However, despite the powers given to her she could not see him.

She could not smell him.

She could not hear him.

She could not feel him.

This time, he left her he left them on his own. How could she not notice him all this time

"Stjarna! Come back!" She cried out, tears slowly trickling down her cheek.

Djall could not understand why she called him Stjarna. It resonated with him but that was not his name. He could feel it.

Djall clicked rhythmically as he jumped out of the window, wings sprouted from his back.

It was time to withdraw for now, to gather his thoughts, as he soared through the starlit night of Alfheim illuminating the heavens.

The throne room within the Palace of Eternal Light, to put it simply, was filled with a tense atmosphere after the attempt on Titania's life.

They cleaned up the mess and imprisoned the dark elves. Amazingly, none of them were dead despite the brutality they received.

Unfortunately for Okita, the poison was still in his system despite the emergency treatment. It took Kiyome to analyze and synthesize the anti-venom with her powers to expunge it out of his system, a nasty substance designed to liquify his organs.

It was only half-effective due to the hundred Youkais nesting within Okita's body.

Titania was with her daughter alongside the Midgardians that helped save their lives.

They watched as the royal advisors, the Dukes of Andlang, discuss the current situation in a panicking frenzy.

"What were they thinking?!"

"The dark elves have gone even bolder!"

"We should prepare our army to launch a preemptive strike on those darklings!"

"With the power they have? Have you gone mad?! We should consolidate and surmount our defenses and prepare for the worst!"

"Rather, what was with that that. Abomination!?"

"Alright, alright, I think all of us need to take some 'chill pills.'"

Suddenly, an unexpected voice was heard, prompting everyone to turn and see a young elf sitting next to Titania, who was not nearly as surprised as everyone else.

The Midgardians stared at the young, casual child, sitting with his feet on the table and hands behind his head. The most defining trait of the boy was a pair of antlers on his head.

That, and he wasn't even sitting in the chair. He was sitting on empty air due to his small height.

"Greetings, everyone; or since we have guests from Midgard, the better term would be.. Yo, wassup?" the boy greeted with a cheeky smile.

"...Haaaaaaahhhhhhhh." Ikala rasped as she rubbed her forehead.

Titania on the other hand, simply sighed with a wistful smile as she casually smacked the child's head.

"...Okay, uh, who's the kid?" Bikou decided to break the ice.

"Your Majesty Oberon!" The rest of the elves scrambled over their seats so they could either kneel or bow before the newcomer.

"...Your Majesty?" Vali and Issei gave the child their undivided attention, squinting with all of their focus.

The child, a king no matter how they saw him, they could not really see him as a ruler.

The other midgardians also shared their sentiments.

"Yes, it is I, the one and only Oberon - King of High Elves extraordinaire, at your service!" the child - Oberon hopped so he was standing on his chair and gave a theatrical bow.

"Correction." Titania sighed as she smacked his head again. He was still smiling. "King of the Wood Elves."

"That too!" He giggled.

Sirzechs and Azazel exchanged a glance, wordlessly asking Azazel if that really was the king. Sirzechs pointed at Oberon while Azazel shrugged.

"Anyways, as King, I shall use my Kingly powers to calm the situation! By saying that we might be screwed and it is all the fault of Midgard!" Oberon declared to the bewilderment of the Midgardians.

"...Okay, who thought it was a good idea to make that guy king?" Issei asked.

"Just kidding!" He bonked his own head and stuck his tongue out. "For realsies, let's be real! We need your help."

His playful smile fell as his face turned serious.

Very serious and stoic.

"Titania's sister, Sycorax is making some big plays. Yeah, the balance is disturbed by you Midgardians, but then again, we are also to blame for being content with the balance of our kind for so long. We're not used to change at this point, which is concerning. Especially you, Beast girl." Oberon pointed at Kiyome.

"...Me?" Kiyome pointed at herself.

"You have the kid's power in you, yet it's not like the one I see from the shadow elves. The power they have is, eh, incomplete. Yours" Oberon quirked an eyebrow, "Well, if I had to say, it's like either you were blessed by Djally or he somehow turned you into one of him. So, what's the story between you two? Because if there is, by any chance, romance involved, I will remind you that he isn't even one year old. And if you somehow had a hand in this mess"

The look in Oberon's eyes became sharp - sharper than any boy of his appearance should have.

"...Well, simply put we will turn you into nourishments of the World Tree itself." Oberon finished with a sneer.

Kiyome's expression went uneasy while Issei's expression went hard - while he did not like the subtle threat Oberon gave to Kiyome, he could not refute his point at the same time. The others exchanged glances, realizing that every elf in the room was expecting an answer.

Eventually, Kiyome composed herself and met Oberon's orbs with hers.

"This is Quite a long story, perhaps all of us should get ourselves comfortable." the beast-tamer proposed.

In the blink of an eye, Oberon's sharp expression suddenly relaxed, as if he was not hostile in the first place, "Sure thing! Bring in some refreshments and snacks, please!" He called to the random attendants while clapping his hands.

They blinked, just registering the king's sudden order before they bowed and went out the door.

Kiyome sighed as she braced herself to explain the story between her and Stjarna.

Around fifteen minutes, she explained her story between Stjarna, now holding the name Djall, much to the intrigue, amazement, and horror of the elves not in the know.

Rossweisse also listened, intrigued by her account of the story. She did not know how personal it was for Kiyome, the girl that met the Son of the Trihexa and the Messiah and how she felt as if she was part of the blame for Stjarna's tragedy.

For letting him fall back into the hands of his cruel creators.

"...Wow" Oberon stopped sipping his soda.

Yes, soda. It was a soda bottle in his hands.

"...By the sun of the nine realms and the world tree I gotta say I didn't think that the kid raiding our kitchen had that kind of weight. Seriously. And I thought it was a good idea to try and instill our love of vegetables into the meat-lover." Oberon remarked.

Everyone blinked - Kiyome and Issei exchanged glances before the former replied, "...Excuse me, what?"

"And the kid never knew Popeye the Sailorman, to boot!" Oberon exclaimed while throwing his hands up.

At this point, Issei turned to regard Ikala and Titania while pointing at their king questioningly. The two ladies could only nod their heads in small embarrassment.

"Yeah, he was raiding our kitchen while you were having dinner. No joke," Oberon said with a serious face. "So, tell me. What do you think happened to him? Because he sure as hell doesn't remember you and I am pretty sure he isn't under some kind of mind control. I don't see anyone that raids the kitchen for food being under that kind of spell."

Azazel then cleared his throat, "Well, putting the kitchen raid detail aside. We have no real conclusion. If possible, we'd like to take this Djall into custody so we can learn more about him."

"...It's Stjarna."

Everyone then turned to Kiyome, "That Djall His name is Stjarna. Something has been done to him, turning Stjarna into this Djall somehow." She concluded with a resolute tone.

"...Are you sure? Do you even know him when he doesn't know how to speak?" Oberon asked Kiyome. "What do you know about the man-eating wyrm that fell into your backyard anyways other than his habits and dislikes?"

Kiyome opened her mouth for a moment. Nothing came out, not a single retort, the silence growing the more she attempted to excavate her memories.

"...I"

"You call yourself a beast-tamer, yeah? You don't seem like one since you cared more about yourself than your beasts. He's not a pokemon, you know?"

Issei could not believe that the child reached the same opinion of pre-Stjarna Kiyome.

"Yeah, you bonded with him at the last moment, but that doesn't mean you know everything about him. From what you told me, he is always a meat-eater, and he isn't as intelligent as Djally here. I don't disagree that something has been done to him, but even I can see that there is a lot of independence coming from him. Maybe if you ask him nicely, he might tell you."

"...Might tell us?" Vali asked. "What makes you think that?"

"He defended the girl over there, didn't he? Let out one helluva bloodlust." He pointed at Asia.

Everyone understood his reasoning as they looked at Asia. Kiyome almost pouted when she realized that he cared more about Asia than her to react like that.

"You can say some of Stjarna is in him, but right now, he is Djall. I worked with animals for a long time, and we have a species that can forget things very easily and develop different personalities. Coming from personal experience, it's better to work with what you got," Oberon suggested.

"Work with but" Kiyome was baffled.

"He's still an infant, you know? It's not like he lost that much."

"An infant" Kiyome muttered thoughtfully before a clarity came to her. Her confused expression shifted into something with more possibilities to explore.

Seeing Kiyome's expression, Oberon nodded before he relaxed on his seat, "Well, with that one out of the way Who are you guys, again?"

Some of the elves sighed in exasperation at their king. Ikala rubbed her forehead in a mix of exhaustion and embarrassment.

The Midgardians stared at the child for a moment as they realized that they did not introduce themselves to the child king.

"Well, guess I'll start." Azazel volunteered.

Another fifteen minutes later, Oberon listened like an excited child hearing an awe-inspiring tale when each one introduced himself.

"Ehhhh, Azazel? The Azazel? The one that killed a crap ton of-"

"Let's not go there." Azazel interrupted, which Oberon accepted easily enough

Arthur introduced himself to everyone.

"Oh, I wondered why you looked familiar. And the sword, is that the one Nimue made?" He asked.

"Nimue?" Arthur blinked.

"Yeah. Excalibur."

"Excalibur is made by my Father." Azazel said.

"Nah, typical bullshit Christian propaganda. It's made by Nimue! Fairy-made! God drove a lot of the fairies out so he could plagiarize their work. You really think that guy is capable of that? I mean, if he is, every angel in heaven would've had an excalibur in hand!" Oberon laughed.

Azazel was about to retort, but he stopped himself when he processed Oberon's logic. He then wondered if Michael was aware about that.

Soon, everyone else finished their introductions. By then, most of the elves were eyeing Issei and Vali.

"Of all visitors, I sure as Hel of Helheim wasn't expecting two hosts of Heavenly Dragons coming here." Oberon remarked, "The White Dragon Emperor being a human-devil hybrid there is already pretty terrifying, and the red dragon one."

Oberon narrowed his eyes slightly at Issei - as if the King was judging him.

"...Yeah, I still can't put my fingers on what in the Nine Realms you really are. You look pretty much human, yet I also can sense the power of the Welsh Dragon, and my ancestors forbid, a demon, and?" Oberon then shook his head, "Goodness me, you are really one piece of a complicated puzzle. What did your parents feed you with?"

"Call me a fun experiment from experience and coincidences," Issei smiled wryly.

"They're really back from their hidey hole called Kthon? And you Devil bloods are still alive?" Oberon pointed at Sirzechs and then at Vali.

"Seems that you're familiar with our Ancestor race" Sirzechs mentioned.

"Of course! The Demiurge helped teach the fae the powers of creation!" Oberon smirked and placed his hands on his hips. "...But back to the dragon scenarios, you're not going to ravage Alfheim or something to settle your boring, repetitive rivalry, right?"

"Eh, I'm not into the destined rivalry schtick." Issei waved off. "Vali is for some reason. Mostly because he's bored."

"You are making me sound like some battle-lunatic, Ise." Vali groused.

"What, you're not?" Issei quipped.

"Now, now." Titania interrupted with an amused tone, "I can lend you boys a space for your length measuring contest. I, however, am rather curious with you." She turned her eyes at a certain holy maiden.

"M-me, your highness?" Asia pointed at herself as she was caught off-guard.

"Indeed, young lady. Asia Argento, correct? Titania earned a nod from the young angel, "Not only do you possess incredible healing powers - your energy signatures are clearly of Alfheim origins. In fact, your wings highly resemble those of the ancient faes. Considering that you are a reincarnated angel, suffice to say you have me curious about your origins."

"U-Ummmm" Asia looked at Issei for support.

"I'm afraid that is another long story, my Queen. You wanna hear it?" Issei asked.

"Of course. We have some time. It is best we use it to prepare and understand each other before we move."

The dinner meeting lasted longer that night.

"...Your husband is here."

Grayfia wondered how she was already so used to Djall barging into her room to talk unannounced.

"I see." Grayfia needed a few seconds to process the information, before her expression grew concerned as she walked towards him, "Is he alright? Who else is with him?"

She was surprised that Djall already found him out.

"Others. They." Djall trailed off, his eyebrows furrowing when he recalled his episodes when he laid his eyes on the female with brown and the other with golden hair.

"...I know you somehow called them over. How else would they come here?"

Grayfia twitched.

"I sensed it the moment you asked me where we were. I played along wondering if my senses were wrong. I was right"

"...Did you tell my brother?" She asked, pensive.

"No."

She blinked, "Why?"

"Because I'm against you being locked up here against your will in the first place because of an impossible, insane desire."

Grayfia was surprised, refreshingly shocked by this one's independence.

"I need a 'favor.'" Djall then asked.

Grayfia then blinked, not expecting the intelligent creature before her to request a 'favor', "...What is it?"

"I have a problem I cannot fathom. I lost control It has never happened before. When the girl with the yellow hair was being threatened I saw red. And I can't remember anything from that short period before I regained my clarity, when the dark elves were already kneeling before me. I want to ask, do you know what's wrong with me?"

Grayfia stared at Djall, of all things she expected from him, that was definitely not among any of them. "...Right, I believe I need a proper context of what happened. Would you care to sit down? I'll see if I can procure some tea for us."

"Blegh..." Djall made a face that reminded her of Millicas when he was misbehaving.

Like not wanting to eat his vegetables.

"...Why are you smiling?"

Grayfia blinked at Djall's question, realizing that she was indeed smiling, albeit lightly. "...Nothing. Pardon me, my mind suddenly drifted elsewhere. Anyway, please take a seat for now."

Djall tilted his head, but obliged as Grayfia went through the cupboards.

As she was searching, she heard Djall's finger tapping on the table. He was definitely as restless as a child.

"...You know. Your brother wants me to convince you to I'm not exactly sure what he wants from you," Djall called out.

"I think I know what he wants." Grayfia sighed as she took out a small amphora and opened the lid, seeing the usual leaves she likes.

"He wants me to return to the Grayfia he knew. The ruthless warrior that served the Lucifer bloodline though Euclid seems to want me to serve Rizevim with him."

"You don't want that." Djall commented.

"Correct."

"Why?" He asked.

Grayfia closed the cupboard as she brought the amphora and set it on the table. She took out the leaves with a spoon and placed them in Djall's cup.

"The Civil War. How much do you know about it?" Grayfia asked as she began to brew.

"A failing government collapsed because it was degraded. A waste of energy and flesh, people on one side fighting for a corpse whose ideas make no sense." Djall replied.

Grayfia could not help but snort as she poured into the cups, "Crude, but not incorrect." She then brought the tray over and joined Djall on the table.

"...I was on the side fighting for the corpse."

Grayfia picked up a cup and offered it to Djall. Djall slowly accepted it and sipped.

"So you were meat." The beast remarked.

Grayfia quirked a brow, "...In a way, I admit I am. And by meat, you mean?"

"Someone with eyes, yet blind. Can think, but can't make sense. Illogical, annoying. Better to kill and recycle as food than to talk to."

Grayfia sighed softly at Djall's words, "I think they are called 'people'."

"People." Djall repeated the word with furrowed brows.

"Not everyone deserves to be labeled as 'meat', even if they are hard to communicate with." Grayfia further added.

"So everyone fantasizes killing someone, and would if they could?" Djall then asked.

"That's" Grayfia trailed, unsure of what to say in return.

"I was raised surrounded by mentally ill magicians and otherwise. Is every human being like them?"

Grayfia suppressed a groan - she forgot to take into account Djall's living environment.

XoX

Meanwhile, Sirzechs was listening in from afar in the palace. His peerage, Azazel, Issei and Kiyome were also around him to learn of what was happening.

"...Grayfia is talking with Djall."

Sirzechs said while listening further.

"Can you share what you see and hear with us?" Kiyome asked.

"...I don't know"

Kiyome grimaced. She had an idea when she recalled how Stjarna connected his mind with hers.

She walked up to Sirzechs and placed her hand on his nape and concentrated, slithering nerve tendrils onto Sirzech's skin, and under it to his surprise when their neurons connected.

And Kiyome could see him now through someone else's eyes.

"...I watched my father's subordinates through the vents." Djall continued.

"They would either practice their magic speak their fantasies of killing famous legends like this Serafall of the Sitri meat line. Or talk about their experiments on human subjects to pass the time."

"Please don't tell me you're planning to eat Serafall?" Grayfia did not fail to notice his calling Sitri a 'meat line.'

Djall remained silent, "...Maybe a bite."

Grayfia then let out a silent groan. Djall's eyes slowly veered away from Grayfia's judgemental eyes.

"A smaller bite?"

"What do you have against her? Did you meet her and she somehow scorned you because you dislike the concept of magical girls?"

"Magical girls? As in Witches?" Djall tilted his head.

Grayfia furrowed, "Answer my first question."

"I just want to compare her taste to Zekram's."

Zekram's name alerted Grayfia and Sirzechs, the missing Head of the Bael clan.

"Zekr No. No, no. Please, don't tell me that you"

Grayfia couldn't bear to finish her sentence, imagining the horrors the man, no, monster across her inflicted upon him.

"Didn't kill him."

Then that fear died just as fast, much to Grayfia's and Sirzechs' surprise.

"He was murdered by one of the Abaddons. I stumbled upon his corpse when I visited the Nobles with Euclid. I only sampled his corpse a little. Has a bit of that alcohol in his system, but tastes way better. Very good meat, premium-raised meat. My impression of the noble bloodline as 'meat lines' came from meeting them."

"Oh" Grayfia was starting to understand how he came to view the Devils as "Who killed Zekram?"

"Some annoying meatbag named Bedeze, I smelled the blood on his hand. I dislike him and his group the moment we met eye to eye. The next time he calls me a mindless beast, I will butcher and roast him alive. After feeding him his own intestines."

In the Palace, Sirzechs' Aura flared, crimson lightning crackling from his body much to his peerage's fear as they backed away from him.

"Mordax you bastard." It was the first time Issei saw Sirzechs' calm face warped by anger to this extent.

Wrinkled, creased features and gnashing teeth revealed, it was a terrible sight.

Honestly, he was a bit terrified.

"That's I am conflicted, because a part of me wants that to happen to him," Grayfia confessed.

"I would've devoured them all if it weren't for Uncle. He needed their help. I didn't understand why until you came along. I thought he was going to rob them blind or turn them into experimental guinea pigs or something."

How she wished that was the case as Grayfia closed her eyes, imagining the ideal scenario

"...But I think we are moving off topic too much." Djall noticed. "The point is, I like the taste of noble devils. I think they're nothing more than premium livestock raised on the finest foods and living environment. Which is why I want to taste at least one Satan for comparison."

"...My husband is a Satan," Grayfia reminded.

"That won't stop me."

From the palace, Sirzechs' rage calmed almost replaced by disturbance from hearing Djall's desire to taste him like an appetizer.Follow current novels at novelhall.come was reminded when her mind wandered to the cave, all of the aquatic creatures Stjarna captured and preserved there

Is this how Stjarna would've become if raised differently?

"Agh Damn it." The professor nearly cursed. "There has been much unrest and supernatural undeath since then. I had to barricade myself in a hidden safehouse from time to time when so much is happening. A lot of ancient, forgotten locations were stirred as if someone kicked the hornet's nest. This one is the most peculiar, it was found by a bunch of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators."

The professor led them to a store room.

Crates stacked upon crates, some with the lip open, revealing ancient relics of the before times covered in the rust and erosion of time, scars of their battle to survive the passage to the present.

In the center was a display case, a rectangular glass container placed on a pedestal. Issei switched to arcane vision, seeing invisible runic sigils painted on the glass, glowing like torchlight.

"Ever since Hell was let loose, I managed to get into contact with a couple of magicians. This glass container is enchanted with wards to contain whatever power this ancient skull has."

Within the container was a skull.

A human skull, soil begrimed its features, dirty brown filling the cracked eye sockets.

For some reason, they could sense as if the skull was looking at them.

"The paranormal investigators donated the skull to the museum in Europe, but"

"It's cursed, isn't it?" Issei concluded.

"Yes. At night, around the eve of midnight, those near the skull suddenly suffered terrible hallucinations and collapsed on spot. We already have twenty-two cases that need to be solved. We need your help to identify and absolve whatever power held within this ancient skull."

"Sorry to ask this, Professor But what about you? Have you come near this thing recently? Did you suffer any hallucinations?" Issei asked the older man.

"Thankfully, no. When I made a pact with Ms. Gremory for the first time, it appears I receive some sort of protection from minor curses like hallucinations. Am I right, Ms. Gremory?" the professor turned to Rias, who nodded in return.

Issei raised his eyebrows at Rias, who looked a little smug. "That's one of the perks of making a pact with high-class devils, Ise. Depending on the number of contracts, my clients can receive some forms of blessing - whether it's fortune or protection."

"Uh huh Don't think that's enough for the world I know. So back on track - so you are saying something is wrong with this skull over here. Did you learn anything else before we came here?"

"Regretfully, no." Nishiura shook his head slowly.

Without another word, Rias approached the display - opened the glass container so she could have a direct look at the ancient cranium. Ravel and Millicas were also not far behind her out of curiosity. Issei on the other hand, made sure that Nishiura would not get caught in the crossfire in case things went south.

After a few seconds of scrutinizing the skull, Rias then reached out to imbue some demonic power on the skull, hoping to see some reaction. However, upon touching the bony surface, the empty eye sockets suddenly flashed, causing Rias to flinch and pull her hand back.

"What the-?!"

The room was then engulfed in crimson light. When Issei regained his vision, however - Rias, Millicas and Ravel were nowhere in sight.

"...Eh?" Issei rubbed his eyes.

They were gone. He switched to various visions and looked around, his pupils and irises changing shape and color with each vision mode.

Not even the eyes of the Trihexa's child could detect them, even up and down.

"...Professor. Where did the paranormal investigators find the cranium again?" Issei asked just in case.

Nishiura shook himself out of shock upon hearing Issei's question.

"...Within the middle of a pumpkin patch in the woods They found it by detecting abnormal EM waves"

"EM WavesShit." Issei cursed, "I think we're dealing with a ghost. A very old one, probably" Issei concluded, knowing the patterns.

"You've encountered ghosts?"

"When I was little. In a haunted house with a special ultimate class ghost and then killed Evil Hell Ghosts when hell broke loose." Issei then shook his head, "But anyway" He then attempted to reach Rias, Ravel and Millicas telepathically.

It was a simple communication spell he learned as he placed the circle on his ear. He should be able to reach wherever they are on Midgard at least-

[...Boy.]

Issei flinched. He got a connection. But the voice coming from the connection did not belong to any of his friends.

"...This is new."

Issei had never heard of magical phone calls being hijacked like this. He knew because he asked Azazel, and even he couldn't hijack magical communications because they work on a different principle.

"...How did you get into this transmission?" Issei asked.

[Hehehehe. A rude boy. Is this how the living today treat the bones of their ancestors?]

Issei blinked as he turned to the skull. For some reason, he could feel the bone smiling at him.

"Shit. Alright, where did you take my friends?"

[A very rude boy. Where are your manners to your elders?]

Issei skewed his lips. He could crush the skull, but he had absolutely no idea what this thing could do.

"...Hah. May I request where you took my friends, ancient one?"

[Your friends hehehehe. My slumber is disturbed, and I am a little cranky. I hope you don't mind your friends entertaining my little games.]

The words caused Issei's aura to slightly leak out of his sheer rage, "...What did you do to them?"

The owner of the voice was silent for a second before replying.

[As I said, I'd like to play a game. Their bodies and souls are safe, and I haven't played since I ran out of nutritious toys that kept invading my territory.]

Issei wasn't sure what he meant by 'nutritious,' but he had an idea it might involve the spirits of the damned.

Issei took in the voice's words for a moment before his fury turned into something more akin to irritation, "...What are you, Jigsaw? Where did you send them to? What do you want with them?"

[Again, I just want to play a game. If you win, your friends will return to you safe and sound. If you don't. They will stay with me, until we return to my home. However, keep in mind the longer they stay with me. Let's just say that they will have the most unpleasant experience.]

Issei scowled before he sighed and picked the skull up. "Hey, professor. Where exactly did you find this thing in Europe? I'm gonna need directions." He turned towards the archeologist in the room.

Time to call the others for transportation.

XoX

"...What in the blazes?"

"Where are we?"

Rias, Ravel and Millicas opened their eyes and found themselves no longer standing in the museum with Issei and Professor Nishiura. In addition

"...What happened to our clothes?"

They were not naked, fortunately.

But their clothes they were nothing more than primitive, medieval, makeshift blankets of rags stitched into a mockery of modern fashion, clothes of nothing more than a mismatch of colors, dirt and grime stuck within the cotton. Millicas himself was also wearing a dirty white dress, baggy brown shorts.

Their shoes were nothing more than leather wrapped around their feet.

[Welcome, devils of. Gremory and Phenex Clan - didn't expect to see devils from more than one noble family. What an exciting time you must live in, I am very jealous.]

Rias, Ravel and Millicas then immediately ignored their state of clothing and focused on finding the source of the voice with a triangle back-to-back formation.

[Save it, you won't see me anywhere. You three are in my world now. It has been a while since I had fun since the last time I slumbered. Let us learn about each other until I am laid to rest once more.]

"As lovely as it sounds, I believe it's a common courtesy for the host of Wherever this is, to show their faces and introduce themselves to us first." Rias remarked without lowering her guard.

[Unfortunately, my undisclosed identity is the main topic of tonight's itinerary.]

The voice echoed, causing Rias to grimace slightly.

[Allow me to explain what you three have to do as simply as possible; you will follow this road until you reach a village, and your task is. Find out who I am. That will be all - simple, no?]

Rias, Ravel and Millicas blinked at the instruction given to them before the Phenex girl replied, "...I beg your pardon?"

[You heard me. Now, move your feet! Night's wastin'! Quick tips - if I were you, I would keep a low profile and avoid contact with the villagers. If it's worth anything, the village is not that big, so you won't waste too much time exploring for clues! Please, enjoy yourself! There will be a reward depending on your performance!]

"Reward? W-Why are you doing this?" Millicas asked the voice in the sky.

[Why? Oh. poor, naive boy raised in the upper class. My story isn't as glamorous as yours. Come find out who I am and you might find your answer.]

The three gave each other uneasy miens.

"...What are we dealing with?" Rias muttered.

"Oh oh, uhhh it is a human skull so a ghost?" Millicas guessed.

"A ghost? Really? That's okay, that is fair." Ravel admitted. "But Lord Issei never told us about a ghost that can do this"

"Must be another special case." Rias concluded. "A ghost with abilities undiscovered Let's play along for now. Issei is not here, I'm sure he will do whatever he can to help us."

XoX

Meanwhile, Issei with the cursed skull in his hand, was standing in the midst of an abandoned field.

[...Well, I didn't expect you to finish your part so soon. You are not a devil, are you?]

Issei stared at the skull - which was apparently the real source of the voice.

"Not even you can tell the difference? I get that a lot from the living folks, you know?"

[In any case, well done. Now it's all up to your three friends to complete their own part of the game.]

"I thought you said you'll spit them out when I return you to your resting place," Issei reminded.

[Is that what you should say to a ghost that cannot pass on to the afterlife? Even if it wants to?]

Issei paused for a moment as he switched visions again, staring at the skull in detail

"...You are bound to this place by a lot of negative energy."

[Correct.]

"...First time I saw something this strong. What class are you? High-Class? Ultimate?"

[I do not know. I never engaged any powerful entities to test my full strength. I fed upon the malicious spirits of Hell when they decided to loiter around my grave. I grew much stronger from that but their essence will not help me find peace. And I think eating them further cemented my hold onto the living world, as they bear the malicious energies of Hell. I cannot even enter the Veil between life and death anymore.]

"Ah. Then the normal rites won't work on you We will need to find out your name the hard way for it to work, don't we?"

[Indeed. You are quite well-versed in this matter, aren't you?]

Issei simply nodded, "Mhmm - but seriously, where did you take my friends?"

[Let's say I'm giving them a quick tour down to a memory lane]

XoX

"...Lady Rias."

"Yes, Ravel?"

"Are we In some kind of horror story?"

"From the looks of things? Most likely, yes."

At the moment, in the strange land - Rias, Ravel and Millicas were hiding in one of the alley-ways in the village per the mysterious voice's direction. It did not take long for them to make their way to the said village, exploring the settlement, however.

"What is wrong with these people?" Millicas could not help but ask in a warry tone.

They were, for a lack of a better term, rabid.

They were more animal than human, drunk on paranoia, fear, all sense of reason shut down in mob mentality.

Torches, pitchforks, angry murderous intent directed everywhere like toxic radiation, the 'villagers' scoured the streets in search of something.

"Ummm I think we are in the medieval ages." Millicas pointed out. "Is this what humans were like in the old days? I read something about this before."

"I refuse to believe that we traveled back in time because of some ghost. That is too absurd even for me," Ravel stated.

"Maybe not in time, but" Rias peeked out of the alleyway.

"COME OUT, YOU HERETIC! COME OUT AND FACE GOD'S JUSTICE!"

The trio found themselves shutting up and took a step further into the alley upon hearing the villager's thunderous voice. They watched as a small group walked past the alley they were in with murderous looks on their faces.

"Anyway, we can't just stay here." Rias remarked as the mob went by, "Let's start with this building - there's an open window up there."

Ravel simply stared at the open window a couple of stories above her, before she grimaced, "...Darn, did that spirit have to seal our devil powers away?"

Upon the beginning of their quest, the devils learned that they could not utilize their powers as devils, which included their ability to fly to shorten their trip. They had been trekking their way on foot.

Rias and Millicas, on the other hand, nodded at each other before the latter pressed her back against the wall and prepped her hands together, as if preparing to receive something. In response, Millicas stepped on top of Rias' waiting palm - who quickly threw her hands up at the same time the boy leapt upwards. The force and momentum of Rias' assist allowed Millicas to catch the windowsill in a single leap.

"I got it!" Millicas said as he pulled himself up with ease, his days of doing pull-ups bearing results.

As he opened the window, he saw

A man was sitting on the bed. Hugging his knees he was staring at Millicas.

"...Hello?" Millicas called out.

"...Hello." The man was emaciated. It was the first time he saw a human so thin-looking.

Millicas slowly crawled into the building and beckoned Ravel and Rias to follow-suit. Rias helped Ravel go up with a similar maneuver she used with Millicas - unfortunately, Ravel's less athletic constitution prompted Millicas to reach down in order to catch her by hand.

Rias ended up having to wait on the ground while Ravel and Millicas had to procure some items to help the heiress to climb her way up.

Millicas and Ravel then came up with an idea by tearing the curtains, tying up the long fabric together into a makeshift rope for Rias to latch on as they would pull her way up. It took a few minutes and some effort, but they eventually regrouped in the room where the emaciated man was still watching them without a word.

"...You picked a bad time to visit my humble village." The man weakly smiled at them.

They were wary of this weak, malnourished man.

"...Do you know what's happening?" Rias asked.

"Heh. Well a small food shortage, a little plague here and there a humble blacksmith thought he could help using other means than simply praying to someone they have never met face to face With some effort, that humble blacksmith tried to summon and well, bind the Devil a little. Hoping to see if the Devil can do something about our village's problems where God can't."

They stared at the man. They did not think that a man like him could do something like that.

"The Devil did have some knowledge he could impart on me for a small favor I saw no problem with it. I burned the village's church in the dead of night. The Devil kept its word and I helped apply his knowledge on crop fertilization and rotation. But Then the inquisition came. Found out what I did turns out God is real and saw what I did. And ordered my execution I did what I had to do for my village. They were praying to two sticks crossed together and nothing good came out of it is it so bad that I tried to do something about our problem other than praying mindlessly to a force that would rather watch us suffer than prosper?"

The devils only listened without a word, their expressions were that of pity.

"...Will you allow us help you?" The youngest in the room spoke, gaining a slightly alarmed look from Rias and Ravel.

"Millicas!"

"...Heh. Where would I go? The inquisition is everywhere. I'm not safe anywhere"

"What do you want to do?" Millicas asked again, ignoring the look from his aunt.

"...I'm already a dead man. But" The man looked up. "...Follow me And sorry if I am a burden. I haven't eaten in days since this madness started."

The man managed to stand up, but his footing was not steady. Millicas then went in to support the man.

"Wait, just a second." Ravel called out, "Are we really doing this?" She gestured at the emaciated man. "We have an investigation to do, and all of this seems pretty abrupt."

"But he needs help." Millicas said.

"But"

"OPEN THIS DOOR!"

The Devils jumped at the voice of the mob and their banging at the door of the room.

The devils peeked out the front window and saw the torchlights heading their way.

"...Alright, do you know where we can go?" Rias asked.

"If we're lucky, you kids might be able to make it to the next village." The man said.

"...What about you?" Rias asked.

"...I'll be alright."

"I'm afraid that's out of the question." Millicas retorted, "We can't leave you here."

Rias then mildly glared at her nephew, "Millicas, we can't bring him with us! We can't use our powers!"

"That's not an excuse for us to leave him to those people." Millicas argued back. "I'll take responsibility for him, big-sis Rias. Please trust me!"

Rias and Ravel wanted to argue, but the noise behind the door grew louder. "...Very well, we'll take him with us." She smiled slightly at Millicas' look that did not expect her agreement, "As a matter of fact, I'm actually proud of you, if not for our own situation."

The emaciated man glanced between the trio with amused looks, "...You three are unexpectedly kind for devils."

Rias snorted, "This is just the result of good parenting. Anyway, we need to move!"

Everyone then nodded before Rias took a look outside the alley window where they came in. Once she found the coast was clear, Rias then used the same curtain as the makeshift rope to climb her way down, followed by Ravel and the emaciated man while Millicas kept watch the banging door.

Seeing the wooden door would not hold long against the angry mob, Millicas proceeded to use a nearby chair and place it against the doorknob, hoping it would buy them some more time, since the emaciated man was struggling to keep his hold on the curtain while climbing down.

Things soon escalated when the blade of an ax suddenly made a hole on the door, as the angry mob outside was out of patience and decided to break the door down to pieces.

"They are about to get in!" Millicas shouted.

Seeing the man was still mid-way, Rias then called out to him, "We are running out of time! Just jump down!"

The man blinked at the urging, then he looked at the sight of Rias and Ravel waiting below with open arms. He glanced up again to see Millicas nodding to him from the window, before he finally braced himself and let go of the curtain, letting himself to fall down.

It was only thanks to Issei and Black's rigorous physical training, combined with the man's rather light-weight body, that Rias and Ravel could catch him free-falling without much difficulty. Once they were settled, they could hear a loud noise from upstairs.

Meanwhile, Millicas saw the door finally break down and the angry villagers burst in, just when their guest had made the landing. Seeing that he had no time in climbing his way down, with the villagers approaching, Millicas decided to take a gamble - he jumped down, nearly catching his aunt off-guard as he landed on top of him.

"Oof!" While Rias was able to catch Millicas into her arms - not only she had yet prepared her footing, Millicas weighed more than the thin man she caught just now, causing her to fall on her rear.

"I-I'm sorry, big-sis" Millicas apologized as he quickly got up and offered his hand.

"Nevermind that" Rias grunted slightly as she accepted Millicas' hand to pull herself back to her feet, "Those people are still after us. We need to move now! I'll take point; Millicas, Ravel, I need you to guard our rear."

"Yes/Understood!"

It was a dangerous gamble, sneaking past the angry mob, some luck, they managed to reach the road.

"There he is!"

But that was when their luck expired.

"Run!" Ravel cried out as they fled with the stranger hobbling with them.

Torch lights closed the distance, the fanatical faces of the mob illuminated, revealing the absence of reason and compromise, all of them led by a single man with a crossbow in hand.

The string released a 'thwang' sound.

"Agh!"

The man cried out as he collapsed.

"Mister!"

Millicas ran to him.

He saw blood staining the base of his spine.

"Ahaha this is where we part ways, kid." The man weakly smiled.

"What? B-But-" Millicas stammered as he grabbed his hand.

But the man threw his hand off.

"Like I said. I'm a dead man either way."

The bolt bit into the base or his spine. From that point, his legs no longer function.

"But" Millicas could not utter another word as Rias grabbed his waist and pulled him away.

"Millicas, we have to go!" Rias shouted as they ran.

"...What's your name, Mister?!" Millicas shouted.

The man laughed as he rolled over. He then unbuttoned his shirt and took off his clothes.

[I curse thee.]

Rias and Ravel stopped when they heard an otherworldly voice.

They turned around to the man. On his naked belly was an alien magic circle of unknown make despite her knowledge.

[For thou spit on my good will, trample my soul with spite unearned.]

The magic circle started to glow crimson.

[I curse thee.]

The mob stopped when the air turned hot, the sigil on his stomach started to conflagrate in burning orange.

[My love scorned in the name of delusion, I shall repay thee with rage and ire, and show thee a fire greater than the light you see true.]

"W-What is he saying?" Millicas asked.

Ravel and Rias recognized the language. The only language that they could not decipher, one spoken by Ersi.

[I shall scorch thee, break thee, destroy all thy see as true with thine life and soul, you bodies broken and trampled like my faith in men. I burn, I die, I turn, I rise! May your cries be my truth, your death a revelation to the false light's deception!]

The man burned, eldritch green flames consuming his flesh as he laughed.

"Go, my friends!" His voice was now ghastly now strangely familiar.

His wail now a spectral echo as the flames exploded, expanded into a phantasmic blaze bearing the shape of a giant pumpkin.

"I'll hold them off! And let the name Jack strike terror in you heathens on this hallow's eve until armageddon!"

"Die, you monster!" The inquisitor held a holy cross of silver at the flaming specter.

That did not protect him from the pumpkins fiery breath as he engulfed the man in flames, reducing him to ash and charred bone much to the horror of the mob.

"Go!"

The devils could not help but stare at the scene in stupor, the flaming ghost pumpkin continuing to burn the mob with sweeping flames.

Watching enough, they turned and ran. Millicas could not help but wonder when he heard the man's name.

XoX

"So how do you do that thing with the teleportation and"

Issei sat cross-legged with the skull on his lap with nothing better to do but to stare at the pumpkin patch.

For now, all he could do was trust his friends to find out the spirit's name.

[That is a question not even I can answer.]

The skull answered.

"Come on. I want to see if I can pull it off."

[Can you?]

The skull asked again.

"I'm a special case. I want to find out the hard way."

[Interesting Now that I look at you more closely, you almost remind me of someone I met long ago]

"Really?"

[Yes. I did recall making a small bargain with a paranormal entity when I still had legs. I thought he was a Devil at first but the more I compare him with the devils in me]

Before the skull could answer, three bodies fell in the middle of the pumpkin patch.

"Kyaaaa-oof!"

"Ahhh!"

"Doof!"

Issei stared at his friends.

They landed atop each other, Rias at the bottom and Millicas at the were all groaning, back in their normal clothes.

[Ah. You're finished. Well, kids? What is my name?]

"W-what? Where are we now?" Ravel asked as she looked around.

"Ise?"

"Ise-senpai!"

"Where have you been?" Issei asked with a relieved tone as Rias, Millicas and Ravel joined to hug him.

"I'm not sure, but a few minutes ago we ran, then there's this green flame consuming us, then the next second We are here!" Millicas explained quickly.

They broke the hug and then froze when they saw the skull.

[I hope you don't mind my appearance. I haven't eaten in years.]

Millicas perked.

"...Mr. Jack?" Millicas asked.

The skull smiled - to be precise, they felt it was smiling at them.

Rias and Ravel stared at the skull.

"...You're that man? The" Ravel trailed off.

[The humble blacksmith. I am I seem to have forgotten my name. I needed help remembering who I was. To move on. There's no one for me to punish anymore]

"Mr. Jack" Millicas' expression turned into a thoughtful frown, as his mind traced back to the past events.

"...What was that? The magic carved into your chest." Rias asked.

[Something the Devil or I think he was a Devil taught me. He said to utter the incantation at hallow's eve if I were to be wronged. Then vengeance shall be mine I didn't think it would work back then. It was exhilarating, burning the dogs of the church for a time, murdering exorcists, the inquisition then there was silence and peace. I like pumpkins I always loved to carve faces into them and show them to my parents. They're the only things keeping me company in my loneliness.]

"Pumpkins?" Millicas then blinked at the mentioning.

Issei, Rias and Ravel stared at the young boy - albeit the latter widened her eyes as she also connected the dots.

"...You are the Jack O' Lantern!" Millicas snapped his fingers and pointed at the talking skull.

The name of the most famous figure in Halloween failed to enter their ears.

"...Wait, what?" Issei looked back and forth between the skull and Millicas.

"The Jack O' Lantern! Uh, your full name is Jackson Heirsmith! Mama read me stories of you every Halloween! Though no one knew what really happened. Some say you tricked the Devil and cheated death, others said the Devil cheated you"

[Human superstition nonsense mixed with facts.]

Jack O Lantern chuckled.

[...But I thank you now I can finally move on But]

"...But?" Issei quirked a brow.

[...I am conflicted. I wanted to see my parents in Heaven. But a part of me can't stand to rest in the heaven that wronged my village. For killing me just for burning a primitive shrine to that stupid god but I don't know if I can face my fellow villagers. I'm not sure if they're up in heaven or burning in hell. And I'm not sure if God will send me to Hell for what I've done.]

"God is dead, you know?" Issei snarked.

The skull went silent for a few seconds before replying.

[...Seriously?]

"Yeah. Archangel Michael is running the show up there now. Maybe you can take this chance to gloat in the faces of everyone up there. That's what I would do if I were in your shoes." Issei tempted the skull.

[Hmph.. Fuhahahahahaha!]

The skull then let out an uproarious laughter.

[Well, I guess I can use this opportunity to brag Farewell, children. Know that I will be watching over you I leave you with my pumpkins, Millicas. Make yourself something delicious from the plants I grew with care.]

The skull then emitted what appeared to be a viridescent mix of ethereal light and smoke that raised up to the night sky. Once the light show ended, the skull crumbled into dust in Issei's hands.

"Jack O' Lantern. Who would've thought?" Rias remarked as she sighed in relief. "Now that I think about it, the clues that we saw before we returned here should've been obvious."

"Yeah How's your real proper ghost experience?" Issei smiled at Rias.

"Terrifying Unexpected I don't want to go through that again." Rias muttered under her breath.

"What actually happened before you guys got here?" Issei asked.

"To put it simply, we were brought to the past. By the way, good job in answering the riddle, Millicas." Rias complimented her nephew.

"Wait, what? You mean, time travel?" Issei blinked. "Isn't that like top forbidden secret magic or something?"

"I'm not sure if it really is time travel, but if it is" Ravel grimaced. "...I'm going to bring purified salts with me from now on."

"Good idea."

"I'm just glad we all made it back in one piece." Millicas replied with a tired smile, before he looked around, "Actually Where are we again?"

"Back in the same place in Europe where the investigators found the skull speaking of which," Issei looked at the pumpkin patch.

"Want to take some pumpkins with us?"

Bonus Omake

What the hell

Those three words rang within the minds of Issei Hyoudou and Vali Lucifer when they were brought to Princess Ikala's bedroom.

"...What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get this over with." Ikala said without even looking at them.

The reason - the elf princess was lying on her stomach on her bed, just as naked as she was earlier when Issei and Vali confronted her on the rooftop. She was burying her face into her pillow while she bucked her hips to show her shapely rear for both boys to see.

Issei and Vali exchanged another glance - Seriously, what the hell is wrong with her?

The boys then glared while occasionally elbowing each other, silently arguing who should break the ridiculously awkward atmosphere.

"I'm spent talking sense to her. You do it now."

"Me? You are the one who can speak elvish. You go talk to her!"

"You can speak Latin well enough. That will do."

"Fuck you, it was your idea to check on her that got us in this situation in the first place!"

"No, fuck you! You're about to throw me under the bus just now! This is your punishment!"

"What are you doing just standing and whispering?!" Ikala snapped, her flustered face was peeking from the pillow she buried herself into, "How long do you want me shaming myself in this pose!? I don't care which one of you wants to take the first turn, or both of you come to me all at once! Just swear to me you will not divulge what you saw to anyone!"

Since she was lashing in elvish, Issei was the only one who could understand her. With Vali raising his eyebrows at him, the red dragon had no choice but to bite the bullet again.

"...Okay, look." Issei sighed, "When you agreed to take us to your room to talk things out, I literally meant that we simply talk things out. You tell us what happened, we will listen, and we will not exploit anything out of you!"

Ikala glared from the pillow, before she slowly got up and sat on her bed, covering herself with the pillow she was still hugging.

"...R-really? You two didn't ask me to bring you here, just so you can have more privacy while violating me?" the princess asked as her hand slowly reached her blanket, her expression was still rather skeptical.

"Yes!" Issei replied with increasingly frustration, "I have a girlfriend for fuck's sake!" He deliberately omitted the plural to avoid any further misconception, "Seriously, what kind of this. 'Arts' about us humans have you been reading!?"

Ikala simply stared at Issei and Vali as she used the blanket to cover herself better. Eventually, her blush deepened - most likely from the embarrassment of her misunderstanding. "It seems you are not lying. Then I might be asking too much, but can you two turn around? I need to get myself dressed."

"...Haaaah." Issei held Vali's shoulder as they both turned around.

"...What is wrong with her?" Vali whispered.

"I have no fucking clue. This is too messed up."

"And here I thought you might have an elf girl in your little harem."

"Har har. Honestly, while having charms of her own she's not my type. This is the line I cross with the girls I cross paths with."

"Hoh, so you do have lines."

"And you have too many lines, ass-man."

"Boob freak."

"Gay Prince charming."

"Magical boy Isami."

Issei's vein nearly popped at the mention.

"Okay you can turn around now."

Issei looked back, seeing Ikala dressed. She got off the bed and walked towards a cupboard as she opened it and took out

Wait, Issei swore he saw Japanese on it.

Ikala walked over to Issei and handed the magazine to him.

Issei stared at the magazine and accepted it, furiously flipping the page

It was a hentai magazine, starring elves.

In various, sexually assuming positions. Not to mention the setting was where the humans enslaved the elves into their play things.

"...Father brings a lot of souvenirs back from Midgard" She muttered and looked away.

In response, Issei and Vali simply burned the whole pile without another word.

"...And he gave one to you?" Issei asked.

"No I found it in my mother's room"

"Err And why'd your mother- You know what, forget it, I don't want to know anymore." Issei shook his head, "Can we go back on track, please?!"

"...Can you keep what you saw a secret?" Ikala asked.

"Yeah? You and the Dark Elf, right?" Issei asked.

Ikala nodded.

"...Yeah, we can do that"

She sighed with relief, "...Thank you now um. Can you two leave for the time being? I need to recollect my thoughts Oh, and you should make sure that nobody sees you leaving my room, or they will misunderstand."

Issei then beckoned Vali to leave. The latter sent one last glance at the princess before he followed Issei outside.

"Well, what did she say?" Vali asked.

Issei sighed, "...Apparently that stupid king made many of his own people believe us Midgardians as a bunch of maniacs with elf-fetish." His reply earned a quiet 'oh' from Vali. "Anyway, let's get out of here for now, we can talk with the princess later."

When the two boys turned to head back towards their quarters, however, they froze when their eyes landed on Titania herself, who had been staring at them. They maintained their stare-off for a few seconds before the queen of elves' lips grew into a smile.

The sight of the smile, however, caused Issei and Vali to inwardly sighed in defeat.

Man, I wanna go home.

The omakes end up being longer than intended, but... Well, thoughts of this chapter, everyone?