I slowly approached the old abandoned church, humming a tune, a light wind tugging at the edges of my robe. There was no tension - and why should there be? Here, in the body of Sirzechs Lucifer, I was far beyond the usual threats. The group of fallen angels and renegade exorcists who had settled in this church did not pose a threat to me.
Who are they, and who am I? - I chuckled to myself.
If I were a human in this world, I would probably be afraid of every dark alley and run away from canonical events. But now, with the power of Lucifer, I could allow myself a little liberty.
The church appeared before me in a deplorable state: peeling paint on the walls, cracks from which young trees were breaking through, moss clinging to the stones, and thickets of grass that gave the place an abandoned, almost mystical look. I wondered how to conduct a dialogue with this gang.
Reynal, Kalavarna, Donasik, Mittelt... They are used to intimidating the weak, but what will they do against me?
Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows. A young guy with white hair, red eyes and a crazy grin - Freed Selzen, a renegade exorcist. His clothes, reminiscent of a priest's uniform, were tattered, but he was clutching a lightsaber and a pistol emitting sacred energy. When he saw me, he froze, but then his face was distorted by a maniacal smile.
"Devil's spawn!" he hissed, his voice trembling with delight. "Have you completely lost your fear, if you are coming to me yourself?"
Before I could answer, he fired. Bullets of sacred light rushed towards me. I lazily raised an eyebrow, tilting my head slightly, and one bullet flew past. The others hit me, but only slightly scorched the robe, leaving black spots. I shook myself off in irritation.
"You'll have to pay for a new set of clothes," I said, my voice cold, but with a hint of sarcasm.
Fried burst into manic laughter, his eyes burning with fanaticism.
"You've become completely insolent!" he yelled. "I'll rip your guts out now, and you'll learn your place, devil!"
He fired again, rushing at me with his sword at the same time. For me, his movements were like slow motion. While he was running, I had time to think about my past life, how far I'd come, and even figure out what to do with him.
Too predictable," I sighed, deciding to end this farce.
I released my aura, focusing the pressure on Fried. His body fell to the ground, his face pressed into the asphalt. Under my impact, the ground around him began to crack, forming a crater. His cries of pain echoed throughout the area, bones crunching, muscles tearing, blood oozing from wounds. He was screaming so loudly that my ears were blocked. I stopped, looking at his motionless body.
Was it too much? No, he was alive.
I chuckled, thinking that pressure alone was enough for such trash. Serious opponents require tactics, but Freed? He was just fodder.
I formed a magic circle and scanned his memory. Most of it was filled with chaotic scenes of carnage and murder, but one memory caught my attention: Asia Argento would soon be arriving in Kuoh. I smiled.
Perfect.
Her sacred relic could be a way to strengthen Rias's team, and her healing abilities would be a perfect match for Sairaorg. Their personalities - kind, sincere - could create an interesting chemistry.
I wonder how they will get along? - I thought, imagining their meeting.
The church door creaked, and I looked away. Two people appeared on the threshold: a man in a gray coat holding a hat - Donasik, and a small blonde with two ponytails - Mittelt.
Their faces turned pale, their bodies trembled. Donasik swallowed, his eyes betrayed fear, and Mittelt looked as if she was ready to scream and run. I narrowed my eyes, and they froze, as if paralyzed. I slowly moved towards them, my steps echoing in the silence. I felt their rapid breathing, their hearts, ready to stop in terror. As I passed, I glanced at the church, not deigning to notice them. Their eyes followed me, full of a mixture of fear and bewilderment.
Inside, the church was in disrepair, rows of chairs covered in dust and moss, some broken, others overgrown with grass. I moved on until I saw them, Raynal and Kalavarna. They stood at the front, surrounded by a group of exorcists. Their arrogant, haughty faces changed instantly as they recognized me. Raynal paled, her eyes wide with horror, Kalavarna froze, her confidence gone. Behind them, the exorcists trembled, not daring to breathe. The silence in the church was deafening, broken only by my footsteps and breathing.
I remembered how this gang in canon had bullied Issei, despised Rias and her peerage. They had been full of impudence then, but now? Now they stood before me, and I could see their pride crumble under my gaze.
What a contrast, I thought, feeling a strange pleasure in their fear. It was a normal reaction - in front of Lucifer, even the most insolent of the fallen turned to dust.
I lazily sat down on one of the remaining chairs, crossed my legs and clasped my hands. My gaze, cold and disdainful, slid over them, as if they were nothing more than dirt under my feet. Reynal, Dohnasik, Mittelt, Kalavarna and the exorcists lined up in front of me like a parade, not daring to move. They waited for me to speak, knowing that my words were law here.
Reynal, still trying to hold on to her remaining pride, opened her mouth, but was cut off. Kalavarna and Dohnasik shot her murderous looks, silencing her. She slumped, her face filled with shock. I chuckled.
There is no unity in your gang, is there? Their disunity was obvious, and that made the game even more interesting.
I looked at the fallen and the exorcists, my gaze was cold, like an ice blade cutting through their confidence. The silence in the church was oppressive, their faces were a mixture of horror and despair. I slightly increased the pressure of the aura, causing their knees to tremble and their faces to become covered in sweat. Deciding to break the silence, I spoke, my voice was calm, but pierced with steel:
"If even one of you dares to escape, the entire Underworld will know of your pathetic attempts. I will personally make sure that there is no place left for you anywhere." My words hit them like a hammer. Their eyes darted around in panic, but I could see any thoughts of escape fading. Inside, I couldn't help but revel in their fear—their desperation was almost palpable. I glanced at Reynalle, and she flinched, her arrogance evaporating.
"Congratulations," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've got my attention. And now I'm here."
I decided to point at Dohnasik, who flinched as if he'd been struck.
"You. Bring the exorcist's body. Now."
Dohnasik froze, his eyes widening, but my threats had done their job. He hurried out, returning shortly with Freed's body, which he dropped to the floor, still shaking. I remembered that Asia wasn't there to patch him up, and lazily pulled a vial of Phoenix Tears from my pocket and tossed it to him. Donasik barely caught it, his hands shaking.
"Give it to him," I said, my voice turning ominous. "I don't want him to die too quickly. I have plans for him."
I said the last word in a way that made everyone shudder. Donasik, turning pale, forced tears into Freed's mouth. He began to recover, but remained unconscious.
Let him lie there, I thought, turning my gaze to the fallen. Their sweet, attractive appearance contrasted with their fear, and something in my gaze made them shudder.
"Reynal," I said, my voice cold as a winter night. "Come here."
She stepped forward, still trying to hold on to the last of her pride, her eyes blazing with determination. I grinned.
"On your knees."
Her face contorted in shock, and she opened her mouth to protest, but I increased the pressure. There was a crunch of bones, and Raynal fell to her knees with a scream, tears streaming down her face. The others paled, their eyes wide with horror. I looked at her, once proud and arrogant, now pathetic, broken, her face covered in tears and snot.
Here she was, the first villain of the arc, the one who had deceived Issei, killed him, and left a scar on his soul.
The thought of paying her back in kind warmed me from the inside.
"Whose wing do you work under?" I asked, my voice deceptively calm.
They were silent, their gazes darting, but my attitude spoke for itself. Kalavarna, breathing heavily, blurted out:
"Azazel! These are his orders!" If you touch us, it might cause trouble between the factions!
Her voice was trembling, but there was hope in it. I laughed, and their faces fell in surprise.
"Azazel?" I asked, raising an ironic eyebrow. "We're friends. We drink sometimes, discuss the future of the world. He'll understand."
I looked at Reynal, still kneeling, and added with a devilish smile:
"But you seem to think otherwise."
Reynal flinched, her eyes widening. Before I could press, she cried out:
"Kokabiel! These are his orders! We carry out his will!"
Kalavarna froze, her face expressing shock. Donasik and Mittelt stared at Reynal with traitorous anger. Their unity had collapsed like a house of cards, and I couldn't help but enjoy it.
Treachery is your element, isn't it?
"Kokabiel, then," I drawled, my voice full of mockery. "You know, he's not the type to value pawns. You're fodder for him, ready for slaughter. How do you like that?"
My words hit them like a whip. Their gazes, full of anger and despair, were now directed not at me, but at Reynal, who was sobbing, her face buried in the floor. And then an idea occurred to me. I leaned towards her, my voice became quieter, but even more threatening:
"Reynal, come closer. I don't care how you do it."
She crawled towards me, crushed, in tears and sobs. Her suffering gave me a strange satisfaction, and the looks of the other fallen, full of malice, only added fuel to the fire. When she was at my feet, I took her face in my hand, running my fingers over her tear-streaked and snot-streaked cheeks. The once proud, ambitious Raynal was now broken, and the sight warmed my soul.
"I want you to service me," I said, pointing to my trousers.
Her eyes widened in horror, panic engulfing her. The others froze, their faces expressing a mixture of shock and amazement. Mittelt, breathing heavily, blushed, her eyes shining with strange anticipation. I cast a cold glance at Raynal.
"No tricks," I added, my voice ominous. "Otherwise your head will burst like a watermelon."
She, pale, began to unbutton my trousers with trembling hands. I stroked her head, as if encouraging her, and added:
"Their fate depends on your efforts. Whether I let them go or not is up to you.
All eyes were on Raynal, her nervousness almost palpable. I leaned back in my chair, letting her continue, and thought about it.
Too far gone?
Perhaps. But in this world, weakness is not forgiven, and I am Lucifer, and I must keep them at bay. Asia will be here soon, and I will not let these pawns interfere with my plans.
***
I looked at Raynal, whose clumsy attempts were more irritating than enjoyable. Her movements were nervous, her teeth were clinging, and it all looked so pale that I felt nothing but mild disappointment. My gaze, cold and disdainful, reflected this, and she froze, her eyes filled with panic. Kalavarna and Mittelt, standing nearby, cast venomous and malicious glances at her. Their hatred for Raynal, once proud and powerful, now broken and humiliated, was almost tangible. They were even ready to offer themselves, if only to take her place, but I did not give them a chance.
I raised a finger, stopping Raynal. She flinched, her lips trembled, ready to shout something, but I did not give her time. A tiny, barely noticeable ball of energy, the size of a pea, formed on the tip of my finger. The next moment, he pierced her forehead with incredible speed, knocked out her brains, and her body fell to the floor with a mute look. Blood spread across the stone floor, a scarlet pool surrounding her head. The others froze, their faces white with horror, their breathing became ragged.
I lazily extended my hand forward, my voice was calm, almost gentle:
"Calm down. This does not concern you. I will let you live."
Their eyes widened in surprise, and they exhaled in relief, although fear still held them in a vice. I continued, my tone became businesslike:
"I will contact Azazel later. In the meantime, you remain under my wing. No tricks. You have already seen the consequences."
I nodded at Reynal's body, and their gaze involuntarily fell on her. The dead silence confirmed that they understood everything. I clapped my hands, trying to lighten the mood, and smiled:
"Well, since everything has been decided, we can relax, right?"
Their faces were completely confused, but I did not explain. Instead, I walked over to Fried, who was still unconscious. Focusing energy on the tip of my finger, I touched his skin, and dark, unknown symbols began to envelop his body, forming a magical seal. I turned to the fallen, my voice firm:
"This is to keep him from escaping. He is insane and does not fear threats. Keep an eye on him."
I pointed at Kalavarna, who flinched under my gaze.
"You are in charge now. You are responsible for everything," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Don't let me down."
She nodded, her voice trembling but full of determination:
"I will see to it, Lord Lucifer." I nodded, satisfied with her answer.
"I hope so. Now, I must go."
I turned and walked out of the church, humming a melody from my past life. The air outside was crisp, the sky above Kuoh was clear, and I felt strangely relieved.
Reynal got what she deserved, I thought, imagining how I would report what had happened to Azazel. We could drink a few glasses of his vintage liquor while discussing business. Sirzechs's memories told me that Azazel was a cunning and perceptive person, someone I had to keep an eye on. He could read people like an open book, and it was a little unnerving. But I shook those thoughts off.
If he started digging, he wouldn't find anything.
I scanned my soul again, relying on Sirzechs's knowledge. Everything was pure: the soul was dark scarlet, hidden from outsiders, the mind was protected from penetration. Even gods or other threats could not break through these barriers. But it was too early to relax. This world was full of dangers, and despite my strength, I knew that I was not omnipotent.
I need to get stronger, I thought, but how?
There was no answer yet, but I was sure I would find a way.
Asia would arrive soon, and I would take her under my wing. Her abilities would help Rias and Sairaorg. I smiled, imagining Sairaorg and Asia getting along.
It would be an interesting alliance.