Kazuya took a step back and closed his eyes for a moment.
The space around him distorted as if it were made of liquid glass, and in the blink of an eye, his body was enveloped by a flash that consumed him entirely.
When the light dissipated, he was already somewhere else.
An immense white room, as vast as a basketball court, stretched out around him. The silence was profound, and the echo of his footsteps sounded as if the entire space was designed to amplify every noise as he began walking toward the center of the room.
At the center, a single platform rose.
Kazuya let the air escape slowly, almost in a melancholic sigh.
It was impossible not to remember. How many times had he stood exactly here, surrounded by magical circles and the anticipation of a new servant? Good times… times that wouldn't return, but that he could still feel as if they had happened yesterday.
He looked at his own hands and then at the polished floor that reflected his image.
The [Fate], Chaldea's original summoning system, obviously still existed, but in that world, its function was disabled. Even so, this room seemed the perfect place for what he had in mind.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"So, let's begin…" As he murmured, he had already fully decided which Servants he would summon, and this would likely be his last summoning for a long time. He had no intention of using his unique ability again until he resolved all the pending matters that still tied him to this world.
Opening the transparent interface that floated in front of him again, he activated his [Telos Karma]; probabilities bent, fate realigned, and all possibilities converged into a single outcome: exactly the Servants he desired.
Then, the notifications began to appear, one after another, in uninterrupted succession:
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Mashu Kyrielight!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Artoria Alter (Lancer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Ozymandias (Caster)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Miyamoto Musashi (Saber)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Oda Nobunaga (Archer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Semiramis (Assassin)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Arjuna (Archer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Nero Claudius (Saber)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Medusa (Rider)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Enkidu (Lancer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Morgan [Lostbelt] (Berserker)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Kulkulkan [Lostbelt] (Foreigner)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Quetzalcoatl (Rider)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: BB (MoonCancer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Leonardo da Vinci (Caster)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Medea (Caster)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Gilgamesh [Female] (Archer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Tamamo no Mae (Caster)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Merlin (Prototype)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Nikola Tesla (Archer)!]
[Congratulations to the User for Acquiring a Summon: Medb (Rider)!]
The light intensified, and a final message, larger and in golden letters, appeared at the center of the screen:
[Special Summon Acquired Successfully: All Knights of the Round Table!]
In the next instant, dozens of magical circles appeared around the platform, spreading across the room in perfect symmetry. Each one glowed with intricate runic patterns, lines of light snaking across the white floor like living currents.
Kazuya felt heat rising through his hand, where the Command Seals began to burn faintly. The mystical mark glowed a deep red, as if responding to the call he had made.
A low sound, like the beating of a distant drum, echoed in the air.
Then, pillars of magical energy rose from each circle, shooting toward the ceiling like columns of pure light. The air trembled, the mystical pressure so strong that the entire environment seemed to distort, and then, one by one, the pillars dissipated.
In place of each beam, a figure emerged.
His heart beat faster as he reunited with his old companions.
.
.
.
.
.
The Underworld never slept.
Even in the dead of "night," the landscape was illuminated by the distant lights of cities that resembled human metropolises, but with skyscrapers of impossible shapes, suspended bridges defying gravity, and rivers flowing like glowing veins through the land.
This was the Underworld's capital, Lilith.
At the center of one of the most important districts stood an ancient and imposing structure, its black walls seeming to absorb light.
The headquarters of the Four Maous.
The building blended the luxury of a palace with the cold functionality of a headquarters. Wide corridors with polished floors reflected the supernatural glow of crystal torches, and the doors were reinforced with protective runes that pulsed from time to time, emitting a low sound, almost like the beating of a heart.
At the end of the last corridor, two double doors, made of a dark material like obsidian and studded with golden demonic symbols, opened into a spacious office.
There, the atmosphere was entirely different from the rest of the building.
The space had walls covered with shelves filled with grimoires, documents, and relics in reinforced glass cases. The scent of ancient parchment mixed with the faint metallic aroma of magic. A large window behind the main desk revealed a panoramic view of the city, lights flickering like constellations.
The center of the room was dominated by a hand-carved black wooden table, large enough for everyone to sit comfortably. The surface was covered with floating three-dimensional maps, magical diagrams projected in the air, and neatly organized stacks of sealed reports.
And on that unusual night, all four Maous were present.
On the left, Serafall Leviathan, known for her energetic and even childish demeanor, was strangely silent. Her gaze, usually sparkling, was serious, fixed on the documents in front of her, as if each word added weight to her shoulders.
Next to her, Ajuka Beelzebub manipulated a magical hologram, his fingers moving with precision, adjusting runes and numerical codes spinning in the air. His face maintained its usual calm, but there was a subtle tension in his eyes, the kind of detail only someone who knew him well would notice.
On the other side of the table, Falbium Asmodeus leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, but without the lazy air that had made him famous. A serious and contemplative demeanor replaced any sign of disinterest; his eyes followed every word spoken, as if already weighing decisions that hadn't yet been made.
Finally, at the head of the table, Sirzechs Lucifer maintained impeccable posture, but his expression was grave. After a month in the hospital, he had fully recovered alongside his wife, but his power continued to wane day by day. To his despair, he had tried everything to hide this fact from the others, and though he had succeeded, he needed to be cautious in this urgent meeting to ensure none of them discovered it. He broke the silence with a heavy sigh, the sound laced with bitterness.
"…It's my fault. My fault… and my sister's. It's because of us that this is happening."
Serafall raised her gaze, surprised, and furrowed her brow.
"Sirzechs, don't say that." Her voice, though soft, carried firmness: "No one, absolutely no one, could have imagined that Ryougi Kazuya was… so powerful. And even less that he was… monstrous to that extent…"
Falbium let out a slight huff, uncrossing his arms to gesture.
"'Monstrous' is an understatement." His half-closed eyes opened a bit wider, making it clear he was genuinely impressed: "In just two months… he built an organization that rivals any faction established for centuries. And that magic of his… summoning mythological and legendary figures as if he were calling someone for tea… it's completely unfair…"
Ajuka, who until then had been moving his fingers over the magical hologram, stopped and leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh.
"That's not even the most impressive part. The most absurd thing… is that he can maintain those summons indefinitely."
Serafall blinked, confused.
"Indefinitely? You mean… without needing…"
Ajuka nodded, interrupting her with a slow wave of his hand.
"Although I don't know much about Ryougi Kazuya's magic, it shouldn't be much different from other summoning magics. Normally, any type of summoning magic requires a constant flow of magical energy to keep what was summoned in the world. It's a continuous, heavy expenditure… even for experienced mages, maintaining just one powerful being for long periods is already exhausting…"
His eyes gleamed with scientific interest.
"In other words… the amount of magical energy he possesses is… immense. Honestly, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say… infinite. Since he managed to maintain someone like that Red Lancer capable of defeating Indra and Scáthach herself, who basically exterminated the Celtic Gods…"
The words hung in the air.
For a few seconds, no one said anything. The only sound was the faint hum of the magical diagrams projected on the table.
Then, Sirzechs raised his gaze, and for the first time in that meeting, his eyes carried something more than concern: there was a cold, murderous intent in them: "We're straying from the main issue… we need to decide what we'll do about our relations with the other factions, which have rapidly deteriorated due to the rise of Chaldea…"
The past month had been a true hell for the Underworld, both literally and ironically. All the factions they had ties with had cut connections, fearing being listed as potential enemies of Chaldea. As if that weren't enough, many adversaries took the opportunity to launch attacks, both economic and military, against their faction. Fortunately, Ajuka and Serafall had handled the crisis efficiently…
Serafall let out a long sigh, shifting her gaze to the window behind Sirzechs.
"The truth… is that we don't have many options. Azazel has already cut all political ties with us. He says he wants to maintain a 'friendly' stance, but… that's just a facade. Azazel is a scientist at heart, and with the technology demonstrated by Chaldea in the last month, which has practically united all of humanity under its banner, and with some interest of his, I doubt he'll lift a finger for us while Chaldea is on his side…"
She paused briefly, as if trying to find some positive angle, but ended up letting out a short, bitter laugh.
"Michael and the Heavens?"
She shook her head.
"They definitely won't listen to us. I even tried… I even sought out that wicked woman who loves to play innocent to secure a meeting to ask for their help, but even that didn't work…"
Her fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"The Youkai… well, they already hated us for everything that happened with the Nekomata. I tried everything to gain Yasaka's forgiveness and was making progress toward a possible alliance, but now that they've allied with Chaldea, her response is that she won't form an alliance with us under any condition…"
Serafall took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing only to tense again.
"And, to make matters worse… the Japanese Gods sent an ultimatum. They want us to completely withdraw from their territory within a month. Otherwise… there will be war. When we made the agreement with them years ago about ceding control of Kuoh, we should have expected that sooner or later this would happen, since we basically threatened them into giving up the territory back then. And now that they have powerful allies, if a war breaks out, we're destined to lose…"
Silence fell over the room like a weight. As she spoke, Serafall's usual vibrant energy faded, replaced by a shadow on her face.
Falbium, who had remained silent until then, leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"At this rate, we'll be cornered… No allies and so many enemies… this is bad…" he said, his voice deep but unhurried: "As much as I dislike the idea… maybe we should try the most obvious path."
The truth was that due to the arrogance of many demons in the past and even today, they had made many enemies; Olympus, the Egyptians, and even the Chinese were part of that list.
Ajuka raised an eyebrow, curious.
"And what would that be?"
"Arrange a meeting with Ryougi Kazuya…" Falbium let the sentence hang in the air, as if it were the most logical thing in the world: "Resolve the disputes directly with him. At the very least, understand what exactly he wants. It's not wise to have an enemy with unlimited resources and the willingness to use them…"
The air in the office grew heavier.
Sirzechs lowered his gaze for a moment, and when he looked back at the others, there was something different in his expression, one that could truly be called terrifying!
"You're suggesting… that we ally with the man who…" He paused, clenching his fists under the table: "…who put us in this situation in the first place?"
His voice sounded harsher than he intended. Falbium furrowed his brow slightly but didn't retort.
Sirzechs continued, trying to keep his tone formal: "I know it was my fault for not investigating him properly and for stirring up a hornet's nest out of selfishness. But I can't accept the idea of extending a hand to someone who has already clearly shown no interest in us. I believe it would be too humiliating…"
Serafall bit her lower lip before speaking, her voice tinged with frustration:
"I know I said it wasn't your fault, but I take it back! That pride will kill you one day, Sirzechs! In fact, if it weren't for your pride and your sister's, which dragged you into this, we wouldn't be in this situation…"
She let out a sigh and continued:
"On the other hand, I tried to fix things and did what you suggested, Falbium-chan… Believe me, I already tried." Her eyes turned back to Sirzechs, colder than usual: "Two weeks ago, I asked my little sister to intervene. She went to him personally, carrying a proposal for a meeting…"
She gave a faint, humorless laugh.
"The response was simple: 'No interest.'"
Sirzechs fell silent at the words of his fellow Demon King…
The silence returned. Ajuka interlaced his fingers, resting his chin on his hands.
"Although I don't care much for politics and have no interest in these matters, recognizing the gravity of the situation, I may have a suggestion… Considering the circumstances… there's a method that, though outdated, has worked countless times in history to seal unlikely alliances: a political marriage."
The words hung in the air for a few seconds. The silence was broken only by the distant sound of the wind against the window.
Sirzechs narrowed his eyes.
"Are you serious?"
Ajuka tilted his head slightly.
"Just pointing out possibilities. Based on Ryougi Kazuya's behavioral pattern… he resembles Solomon far more than any conventional ruler. He has several women, declared wives, and companions. It's likely that if we offered the hand of someone from our side… he would at least stop to listen. Maybe even accept a meeting. And, who knows… an alliance through this."
Falbium raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms.
"That sounds desperate… and ridiculous."
Ajuka gave a wry half-smile.
"I agree. It's obviously a baseless and even foolish idea. But…"
He didn't finish.
"…But it's worth a try," Serafall interrupted, her voice firm enough to make everyone turn to her at once.
The three Maous stared at her as if she had just announced she was moving to the Heavens. Sirzechs blinked slowly, incredulous, while Falbium voiced what everyone was thinking:
"Wait… are you offering yourself for this?"
Serafall took a deep breath, her serious expression contrasting with her usual playful demeanor.
"We don't have many options. Even if it's a stupid and baseless idea, as Ajuka-chan said… at least this way, Kazuya might show some interest. No matter how slim the chance…"
The room grew even quieter, as if everyone was processing the weight of her statement.
Meanwhile, a certain emotional turmoil could be seen in Serafall's eyes…
She wasn't naive enough to confuse politics with romance, but she wasn't blind to reality either. When Ajuka suggested the idea, she had weighed the pros and cons, and to her own surprise, she hadn't dismissed it immediately. Ryougi Kazuya was handsome, absurdly handsome from the photos she had seen of him, and his power… well, it was the kind of strength that made even a Demon King think twice before provoking him. Her beloved little sister, Sona, had even commented once or twice that he was "quite interesting." And Serafall wasn't foolish: if even little Sona admitted that, there was something there worth noting.
Of course, there was the "detail" of the incident between Kazuya and Rias, the spark that ignited the current situation, leading to his confrontation with Sirzechs and the political crisis now suffocating the Underworld. For many, that alone would be reason enough to never even consider any approach. But Serafall…
She understood. If she were in his place, manipulated into becoming someone's servant against her will, she would have reacted even more violently. In her mind, that wasn't just justifiable—it was almost inevitable.
Still, for this kind of situation, there was a line she would never cross: if it were any other presumptuous old god, like Odin, for example, she would rather die than get involved. The mere thought sent shivers of disgust through her.
And above all, there was the real reason behind her willingness. Her Sona-tan. Her adorable, intelligent, and ambitious little sister, who wanted to continue studying in Kuoh to deepen her knowledge and achieve her dream. Serafall knew that if the territory were lost or if war broke out, that dream would be destroyed. For Sona, she was willing to cross any boundary, to make any sacrifice. Even if it meant entering an alliance as unlikely and risky as this.
Deep down, Serafall had already made her decision: no matter how humiliating it might seem to others, if it secured her Sona-tan's future… she would do it.
After a few moments of silence, Ajuka sighed, closing his eyes for a moment before sliding his hand into an ethereal space that opened beside him, an almost invisible tear in the air where geometric symbols spun silently.
From there, he pulled out a long, narrow box made of a material that looked like glass.
The surface emitted a soft glow, shifting between shades of emerald green and gold.
He placed the box on the table with a dry clack, drawing everyone's attention.
"This…" he said, lightly tapping the lid with his fingers: "Is the result of all my scientific research and even my work on magic… and, of course… a complete set of Evil Pieces."
Falbium raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised: "I never thought you'd part with that…"
Serafall touched the glass: "You want… me to take this to him as…"
"A dowry…" Ajuka interrupted, cutting to the chase: "Kazuya has shown genuine interest in Azazel's research. If Azazel fascinated him, imagine what something like this, combined with Evil Pieces, could interest him as well…"
Sirzechs, who had been silent until then, clenched his fists, his jaw tight: "Are you telling me… you're going to hand over the fruit of your life's work to a man who could be our mortal enemy?"
Ajuka looked at him, unflinching: "I'm saying that if we keep thinking of him only as an enemy, we've already lost. This isn't weakness. It's strategy. If he accepts this gift, it will be impossible for him to ignore the gesture. At the very least, he'll hear what Serafall has to say… Besides, set your pride aside for now, Sirzechs. In the situation we're in, this is the only option we have."
"You're not at 100%, and just Serafall, Falbium, and I won't be able to handle all our enemies, without allies and being targeted by multiple factions economically and militarily… I estimate that if things continue like this, in two years, our society could collapse, if we don't perish at the hands of Chaldea for everything our kind has done to humans…"
"Although we've done a great job trying to prevent demons from going to the human world and abusing ordinary people or those with Sacred Gears, many didn't listen, and they ended up being wiped out by Chaldea. Tens of thousands of demons were killed. It amazes me that they haven't eliminated us altogether for not following their rules. But that could happen at any moment…"
"That's why we're in a desperate situation. We have no allies to turn to, and there's a sword pointed at us that could come down at any moment due to the arrogance or mistake of someone from our kind…"
"You're not stupid; you must understand what I mean…"
Serafall kept her gaze fixed on the box for a few seconds. A mix of tension and determination formed on her face.
"…I understand…" Her voice sounded firm: "So… let's do this…"
The silence that followed wasn't tense…
From that moment on, everyone knew the proposal had ceased to be hypothetical.
________________________
(A/N: Author's Note
Hey everyone!
This chapter was originally supposed to cover the whole summoning process, but then I thought: it would get REALLY boring for you to read, and for me, it'd be a pain to write that same old opening scene of Kazuya reuniting with his servants over and over again... So I decided to skip that part.
The meeting in the underworld was necessary to set up the latest plot involving the demons, who are desperate because of the mess caused by other factions allied with Kazuya. Basically, he undermined the Demon Faction, became allied with all the factions close to them, and thanks to the friendships he formed with their leaders, pulled them out of the alliance. That left the demons desperate, and they decided on an arranged marriage. And since Kazuya is basically the "second coming of Solomon," the idea didn't seem that ridiculous — but seriously, Serafall took it so seriously that she volunteered to be Kazuya's wife. I think everything was clear in the chapter, but just wanted to reinforce it.
Oh, and just so you know: Yasaka, Serafall, Gabriel, and of course Kuroka, are my favorite girls from DxD.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Next up, things are going to move faster: we'll have a quick demon-related plot, then the Chaos Brigade arc, finally Ophis will appear — and by the end, Kazuya will be wrecking all his enemies, spend a year dealing with the ExE Gods, and then try to move on to other worlds.
DC and Marvel? Tensura? Maou Gakuen?
Not sure if I'm going to bring in any girls from those universes anytime soon, actually I'm thinking of doing a separate Lemon story just about Kazuya and his servants to post here and there. What do you think?
I'll try to speed up the pacing from now on, less filler and more action!
Thanks so much for the support, you guys rock!
Also, if you want to read up to 20 advanced chapters of the story and support the project, check out my Patreon:
My Patreon: patreon.com/Adam_Kadmon
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Thank you so much for your support, and see you in the next chapter!)