Seeing I made no real progress in the Body of the Everflame cultivation. I decided to tackle something productive. The anticipation was eating at me, and I needed a distraction that would actually advance my goals.
With nothing else to do until tomorrow's fight, I decided to check on my other projects.
The failed cultivation session had left me restless, and examining my work in the Celestial Workshop always helped clear my head.
I closed my eyes and reached into the Celestial Workshop, letting the familiar starry void surround me.
My active projects floated in the darkness like glowing constellations, their progress bars slowly ticking down toward completion.
[Sacred Gear Extractor: 6 days remaining]
[E.V.E.: 5 days remaining]
[Zodiac Pieces - Virgo Hektos / Rainbow Flames of the Dark Princess: 29 days]
The Zodiac Pieces.
I moved closer to examine the project in detail. Twelve unique artifacts floated in a circle, each one slowly taking shape as the Workshop's power worked to bring them into reality.
I'd based the abilities on something from my knowledge in my past life - the familiars of Akatsuki Kojou from Strike the Blood. But instead of summoning external familiars, the Zodiac Pieces would manifest those abilities directly through the bonded individual.
It had been three weeks since I'd started their manifestation, and the progress was visible. Each piece was roughly forty percent complete, their forms becoming more defined as the days passed. They looked like crystalline fragments, similar to devil pieces in basic concept but far more intricate in design.
[Zodiac Pieces - Virgo Hektos / Rainbow Flames of the Dark Princess: 29 days]
Fifty days total creation time. It seemed like a long time, but considering what it was designed to do, it was actually reasonable. This wasn't just a simple enhancement item - while it starts as weak it was meant to grant limitless potential to whoever bonded with it.
Especially if you thought about the familiar abilities as each of their abilities were insanely overpowered.
Anyways.
I'd started with Virgo for a specific reason. This piece would grant the power of Hektos - a familiar with abilities that went far beyond simple elemental manipulation. The Virgo piece would allow its user to manipulate the very laws of nature itself, bending reality to their will in ways that most supernatural beings could only dream of.
But that wasn't even its most terrifying ability.
The key power of Virgo Hektos was causality manipulation - the ability to cut through anything. It could cut through space, time, magical bonds, even abstract concepts like luck or fate. Combined with an already formidable defense system that could adapt to any threat, it made for a nearly unbeatable guardian ability.
And according to my knowledge, that was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to this familiar's true potential. The deeper abilities would have to be discovered through experience and growth.
It was perfect for Rossweisse.
As a Valkyrie, she already had an affinity for magic and combat, but more importantly, she had the discipline and wisdom to handle such overwhelming power responsibly. The ability to manipulate natural laws would complement her existing magical knowledge beautifully, while the causality cutting would give her an edge that could defeat even the most powerful opponents.
Most importantly, it would give her the strength to stand beside me.
After Virgo was complete, I'd start on the next piece. Maybe Aries for Hayama, or Leo for Koneko. Eventually, I'd have a complete set of twelve, each one representing a different aspect of power and potential.
It was about time I started increasing the strength of those I cared about. The supernatural world was becoming more dangerous by the day, and I couldn't protect everyone myself. They needed to be able to stand on their own.
Especially Hayama.
He was the only family I had left from my old life, the only connection to the parents I'd lost. He'd served the Mishima family faithfully for decades, and now he was serving me with the same unwavering loyalty despite everything that had changed.
He deserved it too.
It would still be some time before I could attempt to revive my parents.
But until then, Hayama was all I had left of my original family. I wouldn't let anything happen to him.
=====
3rd POV
The sound of footsteps echoed through the marble hallway as she adjusted the navy blazer of her formal business suit, the fabric crisp and professional. The outfit was a stark contrast to her usual magical girl attire- tailored jacket, knee-length skirt, white blouse with a silver pin bearing the Leviathan crest. Her twin tails were pulled back into a more conservative style, though they still bounced slightly with each step.
The headquarters security protocols were absolute - no teleportation circles, no spatial magic, no shortcuts. Everyone, regardless of rank, had to walk through the main entrance and navigate the corridors. Even the Four Great Satans weren't exempt.
Her fingers drummed against the leather portfolio tucked under her arm. Inside were the preliminary proposals for the peace treaty negotiations, including the detailed framework for using Mishima Corporation as the neutral mediator. The paperwork was extensive, but that wasn't what occupied her thoughts.
Instead, she found herself thinking about So-tan - about the guilt that had weighed on her conscience for years. When she'd accepted the position of Leviathan, she'd known it would mean leaving behind many of her responsibilities to the Sitri clan. What she hadn't anticipated was how much of that burden would fall on her younger sister's shoulders.
So-tan had taken on the role of clan heir with characteristic determination, but at a cost. Work had become her entire world - managing clan affairs, attending endless meetings, handling political negotiations with the precision of a master strategist. She'd buried herself so deeply in responsibility that she'd forgotten how to simply live.
The guilt of that realization had been eating at her for months. Her precious little sister had sacrificed her youth, her happiness, her chance at a normal relationship, all because her older sister had chosen duty to the Underworld over duty to family.
But then Leon Mishima had appeared.
The boy had proven useful, and more importantly, he'd made So-tan happy. For the first time in years, she'd seen genuine joy in her sister's eyes - not the satisfaction of a job well done or the pleasure of solving a complex problem, but real, honest happiness. The memory of So-tan's flushed cheeks and carefully hidden smiles brought warmth to her chest.
Maybe she could finally forgive herself for the burden she'd placed on those young shoulders.
Heavy double doors marked the entrance to the meeting chamber. The guards nodded respectfully as she approached, their expressions neutral. Being one of the Four Great Satans meant that even casual movements were monitored and recorded.
She paused at the threshold, checking her reflection in the polished metal of the door handle. Professional. Composed. Ready to discuss the most important political development in centuries.
Time to see what the others thought about their newest potential ally.
She pushed open the doors and stepped into the circular chamber. The other three Maous were already seated at the polished obsidian table, their expressions serious as they reviewed documents spread before them.
"Serafall," Sirzechs looked up from a report, his crimson hair catching the light from the magical crystals overhead. "Right on time."
Ajuka didn't look up from the papers he was examining, his green hair falling across his face. "We were just reviewing the latest intelligence reports on our potential mediator."
"Leon Mishima continues to exceed expectations," Falbium added, his usual lazy demeanor replaced by focused attention. "The boy's track record is quite remarkable."
"The intelligence networks are buzzing," Ajuka continued. "Every faction has spies watching him now. The power he displayed in both incidents has made him a person of extreme interest across the supernatural world."
"Which makes him perfect for our needs," she said, setting her portfolio on the table. "A mediator who commands respect from all factions through demonstrated strength. Someone too powerful to intimidate, too useful to alienate."
Falbium straightened slightly. "There are risks. His rapid rise in power, the divine artifacts, the corporate influence - he's accumulating resources at an unprecedented rate."
"Is that a problem?" Sirzechs asked.
"Not necessarily. But we should be aware that we're dealing with someone who could potentially become a threat if relations sour."
"He won't," she said with confidence that surprised even herself.
Ajuka raised an eyebrow. "You seem remarkably certain of his character."
"I am." She thought of So-tan. "And besides, he has too much to lose now to risk making enemies of us."
"Explain," Sirzechs requested.
A small smile crossed her lips. "Let's just say he's developed some very strong personal connections to our faction recently."
"Interesting," Ajuka mused. "Personal stakes often make the most reliable allies."
"Then we're in agreement?" Sirzechs asked, looking around the table. "We proceed with the proposal to use Mishima Corporation as our neutral mediator?"
"Agreed," Falbium nodded.
"Seconded," Ajuka added.
"Motion carried," she said formally, though her mind was already elsewhere.
As the meeting concluded and the others began gathering their documents, she found herself genuinely curious about Leon's true capabilities. The reports painted a picture of devastating power, but there were gaps. Questions about how he'd acquired divine artifacts, how he'd grown so strong so quickly, what other abilities he might be hiding.
Not that it mattered, as long as he continued to make So-tan happy.
But if he ever hurt her precious little sister...
She stood and smoothed her blazer, the professional facade hiding the fierce protectiveness beneath. Leon Mishima might be powerful enough to kill gods and command respect from all three factions, but if he broke So-tan's heart, he'd discover exactly what the Leviathan's wrath felt like.
Ice cold and absolutely merciless.
"Serafall?" Sirzechs called. "Are you coming?"
"Yes," she replied, tucking her portfolio under her arm.
Just thinking about the future.
But she kept that thought to herself.
A future where her sister was happy, the supernatural world was stable, and Leon Mishima continued to prove himself worthy of the trust they were placing in him.
For everyone's sake.
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