Hours after my scuffle and possible partnership with Lucifer and Alastor, I was driving leisurely down the street in a black sedan. After trying to quell the anger of a pink tornado with some honey words and Level 10 charisma, I decided that an extra vehicle would improve our traveling capabilities. So, I located a gassed-up and functioning vehicle using my god-like perception (Looking around).
After making sure it was clear of the undead, I drove it back to the awaiting Humvee. On my arrival, I quickly found myself in a pickle.
Who was riding with me?
Obviously, to quell any anger and possible stabbings, mainly from Shizuka and possibly Saeko.
I decided to issue a draw using long and short sticks.
After a few quick rounds, the game selected the people riding with me.
Miku, Yamada, Rei, Alice, Taniuchi, Ophis.
I was somewhat worried about Alice's safety and placed her within the heavily armored vehicle. So, I promised her some sweets and got rewarded with bright eyes and a smile. Initially, she looked like a kicked puppy when I decided to place her within the armored transport.
Having an extra seat, we decided to give it to Kawamoto.
After we had everyone situated, I had noticed Miku eyeing the passenger seat beside me; I could almost see a twinkle within her eyes as she hurried over to it. At the time, I imagined she was expecting an easy sneaky win, but a higher power thwarted her plan. Surprisingly, a petite Dragon-Goddess named Ophis decided to teleport and capture the passenger seat. I almost burst out laughing, seeing the comical look of despair on Mikus's face as she dejectedly took the chair behind me.
Soon after, we drove down one of the main roads leading toward Saya's parent's mansion. As I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, I avoided or tried to deter the ever-increasing stare from Ophis in the passenger seat. Ever since the skirmish with Lucifer and Alastor, she had been on edge, which is odd considering she was one of the Top Ten strongest beings in DXD. Also, when I was retrieving the Sedan, she had tagged along and was sticking extremely close to me. She even decided to sit on my shoulder, her fingers combing through my hair as she continued to stare at me with an unreadable expression. At first, I brushed it off as Ophis being Ophis, but when we left the decimated area along the ride, she decided to lean over the center counsel and place her face in the crook of my neck.
She sniffed my neck.
Then she fucking bit my skin.
The sudden action caused me to almost swerve off the road, causing a few cries of panic in the back as Ophis retreated to her seat. I was confused, so I asked Teresa about it.
Suspiciously, she brushed it off as a 'Dragon teething phase.'
I don't believe that for a second.
[I-I'm not lying.]
(I heard that! I heard that stutter!)
[N-No, you didn't!]
I smirked as I continued to follow the Humvee down the road. We casually drove around abandoned vehicles and undead as I continued my inner convo.
(I know that Ophis is at least a thousand-year-old Dragon God. There is no way that she's in a 'Teething Phase.')
[I-I-I...Plead the fifth!]
I scoffed and pouted but felt hope renewed when an angel answered my plea.
{Host, Ophis has placed a mark on you.}
[Traitor!]
(Mark? What kind of mark?)
{She's marked you as a potential mate.}
I blinked at my system's sudden words and snapped my gaze over at Ophis. She was still staring at me, so I felt something akin to a jolt of electricity parade through my body when our eyes locked. A feeling of warmth spread into my chest, and a familiar sense of 'excitement' started to overcloud my mind.
(W-What the fuck is this?!)
{Host, Ophis, is currently trying to activate the mark.}
I felt my eyes widen as I watched Ophis's silt-like eyes contrast, a deep and dragon-like growl emitting from her throat. As the atmosphere between us got hotter, I quickly spoke to Teresa within my mind.
[Babe! I need help!]
[Hold on, I'm placing a spell upon it.]
I waited with bated breath; I had to switch between watching the road and prying Ophis from pulling my arm towards her. Each time I would yank my arm free from her grasp, she would growl in response, her cheeks flushing with blood on each attempt to grab me.
Suddenly, a wave of something akin to relief washed over me, and heat within my body vanished. Immediately, an icy chill invaded the air, and an unsettling chill traveled throughout my core. I heard a deep and graveled growl in the seat next to me and noticed a purple mist developing within the car.
"A-Atal, what's happening to Ophis?!"
I have no idea Yamada, but not's anything good.
{High levels of magic have been detected. I advise immediate action.}
I gulped and cracked the window, ensuring that all the mist left the car. I could faintly hear about 4-other buttons frantically pressed, followed by the familiar sound of gears rotating with windows down. I licked my dry lips and peered over at Ophis.
[I saw Death, and Death stared back.]
I was silent, for I was staring at the face of Death.
Ophis's eyes were almost hollow in appearance, her slit-like pupils were constricted to thin lines, and small ebony-colored scales started to form on the sides of her face.
"Hey...Ophis."
She didn't respond.
I took a deep breath, slowly reached over the center console, and placed a hand on her head. The purple mist around her vanished almost instantly, followed by the icy chill within the air. Ophis's eyes blinked rapidly in confusion as she craned her head up to stare at the hand atop her head. I smiled as I noticed the scales slowly disappearing from her skin and pulled my hand away.
Alas, I had made a mistake.
Ophis captured my hand with hers in a blink of an eye and placed it back atop her head. My smile turned into a wry grin as Ophis closed her eyes in contempt, her head gently shaking back and forth as my fingers combed through her hair locks.
[Headpats are the best.]
{Excellent work sir.}
I shook my head and refocused my gaze to the road, one hand trying to control the wheel, while the other was petting the head of a Dragon God.
(My arm is starting to hurt.)