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Hell Knight Ch. 7 (Unbetaed)
🕑 Added 2023-01-29 01:06:59 +0000 UTCHell Knight
By: Bubbajack
Editors/Co-author: IcySnowSage, First Hassan
Note: Special thanks to our Super Donors Ben Wanless, Bobby Glass, CrazymanDK, Jac, Jareth Norris, Meraj Alimi, and Selmephren.
Ch.7: Hell on Earth.
Demonic incursion. Another term for an invasion from Demons from the infinite planes, of the endless realms of the Abyss. Izuku didn’t need to think. This, not heroism, was what he’d been training for. He held out his hand and called, “Fate-chan!”
“Right!” The blonde didn’t hesitate, transmogrifying into his Blackblade in a flash of light and flying into his waiting hand. Summoning up his Wondrous Battlemap, Izuku teleported Edelweiss in front of the Vrocks and moved Serendine in front of the Dretches.
“A little bit of warning next time would be appreciated Zuzu!” the Drider sniped as she tore through the leathery hide of the lowestliest class of demons with her taloned fingertips, gouging out the eye of one even as she disemboweled another, her webs tying up another two to finish off at her leisure as she tripped one with her legs before crushing its skull to pulp with her bulk before she destroyed her remaining adversary with a prick of her finger… and watched as it writhed in pain from the poison she’d injected into it.
“No time!” Izuku replied as he moved to intercept the ‘invisible’ Barlgura. He stabbed forwards with the blade, goring one in the stomach while they still thought he couldn’t see them. Then he twisted the blade and dragged it to the left through the guts of the body of the demonic ape. Watching with grim satisfaction as the abhorrent monster tried and failed to hold its innards inside itself with both hands. The second of the duo was on guard now, growling at him as it circled around him before it beat its chest, much like the more common ape. ‘Well if you're just gonna stand there’ Izuku thought to himself “Conjure Stone Spike,” He subvocalized.
Spikes of stone shot up along the ground, some of them impaling the Barlgura through its feet and legs. It howled in pain, blood and ichor that sustained its physical form pouring from its wounds, even as Izuku ran from the top of one spike to another, all while infusing Fate’s sword form with energy, her edge icing over with frost moments before he took his foes head.
Taking a moment to catch his breath as the adrenaline from the fight started to ebb away, Izuku looked back to see it raining Vrock parts. “Good job everyone,” he looked back at his new classmates to see everyone, even his new sensei looking at him in a state of shocked horror. Izuku clicked his tongue in irritation, ‘Oh, right, forgot about them.’ He let Fate fall out of his grasp, where she changed back to her human appearance. Raising his hands in supplication, he approached saying, “I can explain…” That’s as far as he got before his new sensei had him tied up in capture tape, glaring at him with two crimson eyes as his messy hair flowed above him.
“Izuku Midoriya, you're under arrest for murder,” Aizawa stated.
“Murder, with what bodies sensei?” Izuku politely inquired.
“What do you mean what bodies? Obviously, those… ones?” Aizawa looked behind the boy to see no remains of the massacre the boy and his associates just committed, just puddles of green slime. Pulling the boy close with his capture tape, Aizawa growled, “What did you do, problem child?”
“My job sir, my actual job. I just killed a bunch of demons…" Izuku paused as he glanced behind the man. Something seemed off. He did a quick head count. Then he asked in a borderline frantic tone, “Where the Nine Hells is Kirishima-san?”
Everyone started looking around, yet no hide nor crimson hair could be seen of the boy who could usually and quite boisterously be spouting of ‘manliness’. “I don’t see him anywhere,” Mina said. “He’s not the type to run and hide.”
“I was afraid of that,” Izuku flexed, snapping the carbon fiber capture tape like it was made of aged papyrus. “That likely means this was just a diversion while a Succubus came in and ‘collected’ trophies she deemed worthy,” He muttered aloud to himself. “She probably teleported somewhere nearby,”
“Midoriya-san,” The raven-haired Momo Yaoyourouzu asked, “How do you know all of this?
“I was trained to know all of this Yoayorouzu-san, now quiet please, I need to concentrate.” Izuku requested. Closing his eyes, Izuku felt around in the air for recent traces of teleportation magic. He found it easily enough, a small closing hole near the back of the bleachers. Pushing his magical senses towards it along with his magic. Izuku attempted to force the teleportation back open.
Everyone could feel it, whatever Midoriya was doing was causing an electrical charge in the air. The hair on the back of their necks was standing up, and a chill filled the air. Then before their very eyes a pentacle burned itself into the ground in flames. “Circle of Binding,” Izuku intoned as if in a half-trance, even as his female allies came up to him and placed their hands on his back.
“Careful Alfadar, do not overdo it,” Edelweiss said worriedly even as she used his pet name.
“This is nothing, I’ll be fine dear. Reverse Summoning,”
For a moment, nothing happened, but then, a pink-skinned bat winged voluptuous woman, thing, appeared in the circle. Licking her lips even as she noted where she was and the current position she was in. dragging a talon down her bottom lip, she let out a silky laugh. “Oh, I see. You reversed my own teleportation spell and used it to capture me. Clever boy… very clever indeed. So clever. Such a smart boy deserves to be rewarded… Oh yes… Why don’t you come closer hmm? And I’ll show you all kinds of appreciation?”
“Silence harlot!” izuku snapped, his tone frigid, and his usual timidity a memory in the face of his true enemy. His face set as hard as stone behind his mask, Izuku spoke in a tone that would brook no attempts as deception. “What did you do with my classmate? Speak now, plainly and swiftly and I shall send you back to the Abyss from whence you came painlessly.”
“Via beheading like so many of your ilk Hellknight?” The succubus scoffed knowing what their kind considered painless.
Izuku shook his head, “Banishment spell,” He replied, “Now, what say you?”
Quenya was surprised for a moment, but hid it well. No Hellknight had ever offered to just banish a demon before. Usually they took a sort of grim satisfaction in their deaths. ‘This one is either very clever, green, or sincere… I’m not sure which.’ She thought to herself. She smirked. ‘Let’s find out,’ “You offer me a painless banishment to my home realm in return for the boy? Hmm tempting…”
“You said the boy… meaning you’ve captured others… a girl? More than one boy?” Izuku was quick to latch onto the succubi’s turn of phrase.
‘He is clever,’ Quenya noted, clicking her tongue in annoyance even as she crossed her arms over her bosom, “You're too smart for a mortal so young.”
“It's a gift, now let me rephrase. You return your hostages, and I’ll send you back to the Abyss painlessly via banishment spell.”
‘He’s smart, he knows if he banishes me, I can’t return for another century unless I am summoned to this realm,’ Quenya thought to herself. Mulling over her options, she came to a decision, “Very well mortal I will agree to your terms,” She held up a talon, “On one condition,”
“Which is?” Izuku said warily.
“I wish to make a bargain with the Archdevil you’ve made a pact with,” The demoness replied demurely.
Izuku blinked under his mask before he shrugged, “Your funeral,” With a snapp of his fingers the hellknight summoned the two way mirror to his side. Looking at Edelweiss he said, “Watch her,” before walking off to make a call.
Glasya picked up almost immediately, “Izuku, what’s wrong? I sensed agitation through our link.”
“Promise not to freak out?” izuku asked.
Narrowing her eyes dangerously, Glasya all but demanded, “What did you do this time Izuku? Summon another dozen women or so to your growing harem?”
“No… and it's not a harem…” He grumbled.
“You did something otherwise you wouldn’t be asking me not to get upset… so, what did you do?”
“I just fought off a demonic incursion.”
Glasya didn’t say anything. She just stared silently, her face not even twitching for a long time. “Shit,” Izuku cursed, “Did this thing just break? Is the picture frozen or something?”
That snapped Glasya out of her daze, “A… Demonic… Incursion? Did I hear that right?”
“Yes, It was probably just a scouting party. It consisted of six dretches, two Vrocks, two Barula, and seemed to be led by a succubi which I captured.”
Glasya sighed, “You almost had me Izuku but nobody captures a Succubi.” In response Izuku turned the mirror showing the demoness in the circle of binding. “How in Baator did you?!”
Izuku just shrugged, “It’s me?”
Glasya just threw her head back and laughed, “Yes, of course it is, I should know better by now. Did you just call to brag?”
The Hellknight shook his head, “No she kidnapped some of my classmates, but has agreed to give them back on the condition that she gets to talk to you.”
“I’ll be right there,” She said, cutting the connection without preamble.
There was a sudden flash of fire, and Glasya stood there in her leathers and crimson cloth, a scourge, her symbol of power, hanging from one hip. She looked him over, giving a small sigh of relief that he was unharmed before she marched up to the edge of the binding circle. Sneering she said, “Well well, looks like my Hellknight caught a big fish. One that wants to be released now that it's been caught. But I can’t help but wonder, what’s in it for us? And more importantly, what’s in it for the fish?”
“Lady Glasya,” The succubi bowed respectfully. “I merely seek your boon for our mutual benefit, you understand?”
“From where I’m standing, you are in no position to be making bargains demon,” Glasya replied, eyes narrowing as she rested a hand on her coiled scourge. “Now, tell me why I shouldn’t send you back to the Abyss in pieces as a warning to the rest that this realm is mine, and mine alone?”
“Sometimes Lady Glasya, you need to use a small fish, to catch a bigger fish,” The demon replied.
“Go on,” Glasya replied she said slowly.
The demoness did so, “One such myself and others of mine ilk can easily ingratiate ourselves with both the Devils of foreign courts and the Abyss just as easily. One such as yourself could find a use for one such as me, no?”
“What do you think, Izuku?” Glasya asked as the hell knight had come to silently stand beside her.
“She’s not lying… most of her kind don’t bother with diplomacy anyway,” He replied from behind his mask. Thankful it granted him truesight.
“Ah yes you… you are just so… so interesting!” The succubi said her eyes alighting on Izuku as she amorously licked her lips. “Oh, what I wouldn’t give just to taste you, just once!”
“My Hell Knight, is not your snack!” Glasya hissed.
The succubus shook her head. “No! Nonono! I wouldn’t kill him! Never kill him! He is far too precious a resource to waste. Far, far too precious,” She batted her eyelashes at him. “Someone like him needs to be handled tenderly and with care, doesn’t he?” she cooed as she put her arms under her bosom making them look even bigger.
“I accept your terms!” Glasya snapped, a contract appearing in front of succubi which she promptly signed,“You will act as my spy, letting me know in advance when other demons or devils intend to make a move on this plane. In return, you return my hell knights classmates and he won’t torture you before killing you,”
“He promised to banish me back to the Abyss, actually Lady Glasya,” Quenya added with a playful smirk on her lips as she looked at the Archdeviless.
“Of course he did,” Glasya muttered under her breath. “Fine, I’ll agree to the terms my Hellknight made prior to my arrival. Count yourself lucky. He isn’t the type to torture prisoners Succubus.”
“Yes my Lady,” She smiled at Izuku, her pointy teeth somehow warming her visage. Her golden eyes flickered like a blazing fire as she said to him more than her, “I consider myself very fortunate indeed to have met the young Hell Knight this day.”
“Since you consider yourself so fortunate, you can run off and fulfill your end of the bargain right away.” Glasya replied, with a slash of her arm dispelling the circle of binding.
“Right away mistress,” Winking at Izuku she said, “I’ll be right back cutie, try not to miss me too much.” She then disappeared in a flash of blue flame.
Izuku stumbled as Glasya punched him in the arm. “What was that for Glasya-hime?”
“For flirting with the enemy that’s what! I don’t know how or why, but whenever you summon something, it always ends up being female and for some reason or another ends up falling for you. I don’t know if it's magic, or your innate charisma but it's beginning to annoy me. Edelweiss, Serendine, and Fate I could accept, I picked them out as your companions. Even that failure of an Archwizard was acceptable, but a Succubus? Really? A Succubus Izuku?”
“I didn’t do anything though! I didn’t want to kill her I admit because well… because unlike all the other demons she actually seemed intelligent and wasn’t all murder murder kill kill faster pussycat faster, but I didn’t expect that kind of reaction from her.”
“Izuku… I keep telling you friendship, kindness, all of that is a commodity one can’t afford in Baator… and one certainly can’t afford it in the Abyss either. The fact you didn’t gruesomely kill her probably confused her. Mercy and hell knights are practically anathema to each other.”
“Oh… well, she’s not as pretty as you, or as strong as Serendine even but she seems… pleasant at least. In the ‘I’d rather talk than kill you’ kinda way.”
“Well at least you haven’t fallen for her charms,” Glasya said relieved.
“No, I don’t know her that well yet… she seems to have fallen for mine though… I didn’t even know I had any… should I be worried?”
Glasya scoffed, “A Succubus is flirting with you and wants to sleep with you? Yes, extremely. She probably just wants to kill you.”
“Right, soul sucking kiss,” Izuku nodded.
There was another blue flash of flame, and the succubi reappeared with a shell shocked looking Kirishima, another boy with his body covered in metal, and lastly…
“Nejire-sempai?” Izuku asked, concerned “Are you alright?”
The older girl blinked, staring at Izuku as if she were dreaming. “Izuku-kun?”
Hesitantly taking a step forward, he nodded, “Yes sempai, it's me, your alright now I promise,”
Upon hearing his words, Nejire’s eyes filled up with tears and she collapsed into a heap as she started crying. Izuku caught her before she hit the ground, and she clung to him as she cried. Izuku glared up at the demoness, expecting to see her smirking but he saw an annoyed grimace instead, “Some of the minions I had in reserve were about to… breed with her when I arrived.” Izuku noticed her talons were slick with blood as she carried on, “I took care of them, they will no longer be a problem.”
“I see… thank you," Izuku replied with a nod.
Crouching down, the demoness placed a hand on the crying girl's head, and she glowed pink for a moment before her body went lax, and a pastel mist was pulled up and away from her head when she pulled her hand away.
“What did you just do?” Izuku asked, his tone dangerously low.
“I am a dream demon sweetie, the difference between dreams and memories are thin. I just turned these recent horrific memories into a bad dream for your little concubine here,”
“Thank you?”
The succubus smiled showing her pointed teeth that somehow softened her visage. “Just proving my worth,” She then leaned in and whispered into his ear, “My name is Qinyera, call me when you need me, m’kay milord?”
She pulled back and cocked her head to the side as she smiled even as Izuku looked shocked. Demons and Devils did not give out their True Names. They guarded them zealously. Yet this one just handed it out to him so easily. ‘Is Glasya right, does my summoning of someone force them to fall in love with me?’ He wondered to himself. He nodded jerkily, “I-I’ll do that if I have need of your services… as a spy of course.”
“Of course,” Quinyera replied. Standing, she said, “Now if you would fulfill your end of the bargain?”
“Kirishima-san, take Neijare-senpai and…” Seeing the boy was still staring listlessly ahead, he raised his voice, “KIRISHIMA-SAN!”
The redhead jumped, and immediately assumed a boxer stance, “Hmm what? Where the fuck are they?! Who the hell else wants some huh!”
“Kirishima-san you're fine, I’ve handled the problem,” Izuku told him calmly.
“Midoriya-san… You… they… they were everywhere man! They just swarmed us! One minute I was with everyone the next I was surrounded and fighting back to back with Tetsutetsu just to keep the bastards away from us.”
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Izuku said, “I understand Kirishima-san, you did well. Now, I need you to take Tetsutetsu and Nejire-sempai while I finish up here, can you do that for me?”
“R-Right, sure. No problem,” The redhead said stooping down he picked the girl up in a bridal carry, before nudging Tetsutetsu forward with his foot.
Turning to the demon he said, “Ready to head home?”
“Before that, a freebie if you will, a little nugget of information you overlooked.”
“Yes?” izuku replied, perplexed.
“Did you think mine was the only raiding party sent?” Seeing the look of horror crossing the boy’s face, Quinyera reached out and pinched his cheek in an affectionate manner, “Oh that sweet naivete, that absolutely scrumptious innocence. I think that’s why I fell for you faster than an Archon falling from Celestia down to Baator, hehe.”
“How many more raiding parties are there?” Izuku asked, his skin turning white as chalk from the shock.
Quinyera shrugged in a very human-like gesture, “I don’t honestly know, I just received my orders to obtain people from this school as it seemed to be where prime…” She pursed her lips before she continued, “Breeding material could be obtained,” She clapped her hands, her talons clinking together, “But this is the job for a spy no?”
Izuku sighed in physical pain when he realized, “It's going to be suspicious when you come back with no captives isn’t it?”
“Oh don’t worry about that,” She assured him waving a hand, “I’ve got it more than covered,”
“What did you do?” Izuku demanded.
“Nothing that voids or breaks our contract, I assure you,” Quinyera promised him in a soothing tone. “Besides, I like you, it wouldn’t do for me to sour our relationship before it can really begin, now would it, master?”
Izuku sighed again, he knew he had lost this round. “If that’s all, I’m going to send you back now.”
“Please, and do feel free to call on me whenever you feel the need, master~r,” Qunyara purred.
“Banishment,” Izuku said as he did his best to ignore the mounting headache behind his eyes. Turning around, he found his classmates just staring at him like fish out of water. It was the invisible girl Tooru Hagakure who summed up the entire situation best by saying, “Umm… I think I speak for everyone when I ask, what the hell just happened, Midoriya?”
Sighing for the umpteenth time in a couple of minutes, Izuku tried to run a hand down his face, only to touch the spiral grooves of his mask. ‘Looks like I’ve got some s’plainin to do. Joy.’
(...)
“Let me see if I understand this correctly,” Nezdu began as he sipped his tea in front of Class 1-A, with midoriya Izuku being held in his homeroom teacher’s capture tape. “The school was just attacked by demons, Izuku-kun and his companions are trained demon hunters, and he killed them while saving his kidnapped peers. Is that correct?”
“Yes sir,” The Hellknight replied. “I was trained from the age of about ten or so to kill demons, you’ll notice they aren’t people with mutant quirks, because they didn’t leave bodies behind just ectoplasm.”
“Yes, I noticed,” The rat-bear-ermine thing replied. Looking at Eraserhead he inquired, “Why is midoriya-kun tied up, Aizawa-san?”
“That’s because he’s clearly a threat,” Aizawa replied, “Surely you don’t believe this whole demon nonsense sir? Clearly the boy is deranged.”
“Oh, deranged is he?” The Principal retorted, “Then how do you explain what happened to the bodies Aizawa-kun, the recent rash of kidnappings, the gruesome cannibalistic murders that we have attributed to Moonfish being more active than usual?”
The hero grimaced. “I don’t know sir, but surely it can’t be demons? There must be a more logical explanation?”
“A wise man once wrote that when the logical answer has been omitted as unlikely, the remaining answer, no matter how illogical, must be the truth.”
“Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes,” Aizawa grumbled under his breath. “How can we be sure this wasn’t the act of moonfish or a villain with some kind of copying quirk similar to Ectoplasm?”
“A quirk that copies mutants specifically? Quite specific wouldn’t you say? But not improbable I admit,” Looking at the young boy he asked, “Midoriya-kun do you have any proof of demons existing?”
Izuku sighed, he knew this was coming. “I do, but your not gonna like it Principal Nezdu,”
“What do you mean by that dear boy?” The intelligent ermine asked.
In response Izuku looked at Glasya who looked to be seconds away from flaying Aizawa alive for daring to bind him in her presence. “Glasya-hime?”
“Yes, Izuku?” She knew that tone, he needed a favor.
“I need you to take us to Avernus,”
She stared at him silently for a moment before she said, “Absolutely not! Are you insane?! Did that Succubi actually manage to charm you into senility or something?” She said, shaking him at the end.
Izuku shook his head with some difficulty due to the shaking, and replied, “N-No! They need to… see it for themselves Glasya-hime! They need to see… The Blood War!” Glasya stopped shaking him and held her in his arms just staring at his face, the determination blasing in his green eyes, “It's the only way they’ll believe me, and you know it.”
“Damn… Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!” She said punctuating every curse with a stop of her foot like a petulant child… and also gouging a deeper and deeper hole in the floor as she did so. “Do you have any idea what you're asking?”
“I do,” Izuku replied, with a solemn nod.
Glasya crossed her arms, “You want to take weak, pathetic fleshbag, deadweight mortals, to the frontlines of the Blood War?”
“Yes, that’s the only way they’ll realize what we’re up against,” Izuku replied.
“I can’t even guarantee I can protect them, Izuku, not there!” Glasya argued.
A voice that sent shivers down Glasya’s spine when she heard it, replied, “But I do think I can manage however,”
Glasya turned to the person she knew was there leaning on the wall near the door, in resplendent clothing, holding a ruby rod in one hand. She nodded respectfully. “Father,” She then spoke every word chosen carefully. “You’ve been absent from Baator of late,”
“Daughter, I had… other things occupying my attention.” Asmodeus replied easily before his gaze flicked over to his daughter’s Hellknight. “You must be Izuku Midoriya, my daughter's hellknight.”
Flexing his muscles again, Izuku shredded the capture cloth he was bound in, and approached the Lord of Baator before bowing at the waist lowly, and replying, “Friend actually, it is nice to finally meet Glasya-hime’s father in person, I’ve been looking forward to it!”
‘He’s going to kill him,’ Glasya thought horrified, ‘I’m going to be able to do nothing but watch as he gets atomized. Izuku you should’ve bowed and scraped you idiot!’ She thought to herself amazed at the audacity at which he spoke to deities.
“Straighten up boy and take that mask off, let me get a good look at you,” The Archdevil of Baator demanded.
Pulling down his hood, and taking off his mask Izuku stood smiling in front of one of the most feared entities in all the realms. Asmodeus for his part, just chuckled impressed by the boy’s courage as he ruffled the boy’s messy green hair, he commented dryly, “I had no idea my daughter had a thing for boys who were shorter than her,”
“Papa!” Glasya shouted in embarrassment.
Izuku chuckled a bit himself, “You are Glasya-hime’s father alright, you have her humor.”
“That is where you're wrong dear boy, she has my humor, not the other way around.” Asmodeus replied with an airy sigh before becoming business-like, “But we can catch up later. For now, down to brass tax, you want to go to Avernus, yes?”
“Yes sir,” the Hellknight requested.
Asmodeus stroked his thin pointy beard, “Very well, this is a school, a place of learning, I’ll assume field trips are not uncommon. I do believe it is time for one,” Taking on a scholarly air, he spoke to the class, “Come along students it is time for a tour of what you know as hell or in your native dialect Naraka, but what is more commonly called Baator by its native residents. Come, come, gather round, Professor Asmodeus has much to show you all, and much to teach.”
It was then that Principal Nedzu cleared his throat, “Excuse me, but a few questions before you abscond with my charges if I may?”
“Of course my finely dressed Mustelia,” Asmodeus said, “Do feel free to speak your mind.”
“If you are willing, I would like to gather all available faculty and have them join you on this venture. I would also like to include the secondary Hero Class, including the Hero Support Students of Class 1-H as we may soon have need for anti-demonic weapons. If you think it may be too difficult to protect such a large group, please let me know now,”
That won’t be a problem,” Asmodeus assured him, “Gather your faculty and students to the we shall leave once all are assembled.”
“Oh, oh, Asmodeus-sensei I have a question?” Mina Ashido said, raising her hand and waving it around wildly.
“Yes, Ashido-san?” Asmodeus replied amused, taking her appearance he thought to himself, ‘No wonder the boy wasn’t intimidated by me, if his classmates look like her,’
“You're the king of Naraka right?” She inquired.
Asmodeus nodded, “Essentially, yes.”
“So doesn’t that make you King Yama?” She asked for clarification.
The god-king of Baator nodded, “That is an overly simplified, but more or less correct assumption Ashido-san.”
Mina continued mainly to herself, “And Midori is basically dating your daughter… Dang Midori, respect. You got guts dating the princess of Hell.” She gave him a thumbs up as a show of respect.
‘Midori?’ Glasya thought, before she turned to Izuku and said, “Another one?”
Izuku just sighed, “It's complicated,”
“I can’t wait to hear your explanation for this one Izuku,” Glasya said as she pierced him with her gaze alone.
“Oh, it's a bit embarrassing,” Mina said for him, “He melted the practical exam stage with an overpowered use of his quirk. Made it rain acid, it melted everything… including my clothes by the time he found me.”
“You got pics right?!” Mineta said, “Please tell me you got pics man!”
“Why is there a goblin in the classroom?” Glasya commented.
Running a hand down his face, Izuku replied, “He’s not a goblin, I think, just a short pervert named Mineta.”
“I don’t care what you call it, I know a goblin when I see one,” Glasya replied, “Even one several generations removed from its genepool.”
“Glasya-hime can we not right now?” Izuku asked tiredly, for today had already been a lot for him. He didn’t need to bring his annoying classmates' parentage into question.
As if sensing his irritation, the Archdeviless relented, “Fine, but I highly suggest you keep the females here away from him. He might… do something to them.”
In response to her warning, the girls in class scooted their desks as far away from Mineta as they could. Much to his protest. “I’m not a rapist! I just enjoy the female form!”
“Yet,” Glasya retorted, “Your not a rapist, yet,”
Asmodeus clapped his hands, “As amusing as this little boke-tsukkomi routine has been, I believe it's time for you to gather your people for our little excursion Principal Nezdu,”
Of course, I’ll have them gathered in the front within the hour,”
“Excellent,” Asmodeus said as he made to leave the classroom. “Come daughter we have preparations to make,”
Glasya hurried in his wake, “Yes Father,” She shot a glare behind her at Izuku letting him know their discussion was far from over.
‘Oh dear, Glasya-hime is upset with me. Well, I’m sure somewhere out there, somewhere in the Crystal Spheres, someone is worse off than I am right now,’ Or at least he silently hoped so. Yet, judging from the way his companions put their hands on his shoulder in reassurance, he wasn’t feeling very lucky at the moment.
(...)
House of Lord Sirzech Lucifer:
Sirzech was disturbed at a lot of things that had happened recently. While he didn’t feel quite happy taking orders from another. Hell he fought a civil war to get his freedom of choice. He did have to admit that the person Asmodeus left in charge of war was quite professional and downright polite when it came to his suggestions and maneuvering the troops around Hell. Lilith had never been safer recently with crime plummeting to almost zero.
A magic circle appeared in front of his desk and Sirzech recognized the family seal emblazoned on the circle. Sirzech smiled wondering who of his family was coming to visit him right now. He could use some relief from all the stress he was going through right now. He beamed going full bro-con mode when he saw his sweet little Rai-chan had come to visit her big brother! Opening his arms wide and invitingly, Sirzechs said, “Ria-chan, this is an unexpected but welcome surprise! Have you come to ask your super awesome big brother for advice? Normally I shouldn’t, but since it’s Rai-chan…” He paused, noticing she was just standing there, with her hands at her sides, her bangs covering her eyes. Reaching out in concern he asked, “Rai-chan, is everything..?”
“What did you do onii-chan?” Rias’ voice was cold and harsh and she refused to look at him, even as she stood there, rigid with anger.
“I…I don’t know what you…” Sirzechs got out only to slump back in his throne when his adorable little sister slammed her hands on his desk so hard, a pair of spider web cracks formed beneath her palms. She then locked eyes with him and her glare was full of wrath, hatred, despair, and unshed tears. With the Power of Destruction gathering around her, she yelled at him, “What. Did. You. Do?! Who did you piss off, you incorrigible lout? What could you possibly have done, to get my Peerage scattered to the winds?!”
“They’re gone… all of them, scattered?” Sirzechs asked lowly. He expected them all to be gruesomely killed, not this. In a way, this was worse for Rias. If her peerage died, she would grieve, yes, but she could eventually replace them because the Evil Pieces would be returned to their respective King. But with them gone and her not knowing where or how to locate them, this was the worst case scenario. Rias was alone bereft of her pseudo-family, she was all by her lonesome. ‘Meaning even if she wanted to, there is no way she can get out of her engagement to Raiser,’ The neo-lucifer thought to himself with a grimace. Steepling his fingers, he told his distraught sibling, “Rias, much has changed in the Underworld while you’ve been away.”
“What… what do you mean, what does this have to do with my Peerage?” Rias inquired.
Standing and sweeping his cape behind him, Sirzechs replied, “Everything, follow me, its easier to show you then tell you.”
Confused, mainly due to her brother being so serious which was practically unheard of to her, Rias followed behind him dutifully. He led her to a balcony not far from his office and threw open the double doors. Heading out onto the veranda, he said, “Look below,”
Doing so Rias gasped. For the area for blocks around her brother’s workplace had become a veritable fortress. Moats of molten lava, walls of obsidian, held shut by interlocking gates of some strange iron, and fire that glowed a hellish red lit the skies from towers and braisers as Devils and other things that looked like Stray Devils patrolled the ramparts around her brother's workplace. Looking from the hellish scene back to her brother she managed to get out, “What… What is this? Since when was Asmodeus-san this… proactive at his job?”
“Since he was replaced by someone who took his job much more seriously than Faibum ever did,” Sirzechs said with a sigh, “Said our security was laughably lax. Within the first week, he found and eliminated over one-hundred spies within the standing armies ranks. He did not care whether they were pure blooded devils or not, or whether they were heirs to houses or who they reported to. If they were not loyal, they were made an example of. He killed them, slowly, with the power of Holy Light.”
Rias went green at the thought. Holy Light was akin to poison to Devils, for a devil to willfully inflict another with it was to consign them to a slow and painful death indeed. “What is this persons name? And why did Fabium step down as a Satan?”
Sirzechs laughed humorlessly, “Step down? No Rai-chan you misunderstand, Fabium was murdered.”
“What? He may’ve been lazy but Faibum was still a Satan, he couldn’t have been killed that easily!” Rais denied.
“He was, I was there, I saw him get turned into so much dust which just a touch, I still have nightmares about it sometimes…” Sirzechs admitted to his little sister.
“You… you couldn’t stop Fabium’s killer Sirzechs and you were in the same room with him.”
Looking his sister in the eye for the first time since coming onto the balcony Sirzechs replied, “Rias, he forced me to kneel before him with just a word,”
Rias’ mouth dropped open upon hearing that. For someone to be strong enough to force her brother to submit with their presence alone? How strong must they’ve been? She shivered as it reminded her of her own encounter with… ‘Could it have been the same Devil?’ She wondered.
“It was the same person,” Sirzechs confirmed, “Elegant clothing fit for a king, ruby rod tipped staff, bleeds a lot?”
“Sirzechs, who is he? Why did he come after me?” Rias asked.
Running a hand down his face, Satan Lucifer replied, “From what little we can gather he’s a God of Devils from another dimension. And we pissed him off, by planning to capture and interrogate his daughter after Sona and Serafall went missing for a week.”
“Well, I did tell you it was a bad idea Sechy,” A familiar voice spoke up from inside his office. One which caused the Satan to scowl. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for you Serafall,”
“And I blame you for forgetting we had a 2:30 appointment,” Serafall retorted. “Also, all I actually did was find my own Peerage member, something you and the others had been bugging me to do for ages if you’ll recall Sechy,” Serafall pointed out, while joining the two Gremory siblings out onto the balcony.
“Yes, but you decided to make a contract with the… knight of that girl, brought her father down on our heads, and then sold Rai-chan’s peerage down the river styx!”
“It was you!?” Rais could hardly believe it. That Serafall of all people would be the one to do this to her, she practically looked up to her like her own big sister.
Serafall grimaced, but nodded, “Serafall won’t deny it. She did do it, yes. It was that, or risk your brother dying in our confrontation with ‘that Devil’,” She looked Rias in the eye her amethyst hued orbs were cold as she continued, “I am sorry, but Sirzechs life has more weight to it and is more valuable to the underworld as a whole than that of your Peerage. Even if I was given the choice to make again, I would make the same one. If we lose Sirzechs, the Underworld will be thrown into chaos,” Serfall walked to the edge of the balcony resting her arms on the stonework as she continued, “What you don’t understand Rai-chan, is that the peace we have down here, is tenuous at best. It teeters on a knife's edge. On one side is us, the New Satan Faction. On the other side, is a faction led by one known as the King of the Underworld. Should either side show even a hint of weakness, the Underworld will plunge into another civil war like what was seen between us and the Old Satan Faction before you were born,”
Rias blanched, she knew of the Underworld Civil War. Her brother, Serafall, Fabium, and Akuja were the victors of that conflict and became the New Satans as a result. For another conflict of the same scale to break out in her lifetime… The very thought horrified her. “What does protecting my brother have to do with me though?” She asked weakly.
Looking at her out of the corner of her eye Serafall replied, “That Devil, he took something from everyone present. From Fabium, he took his life. Akuja lost some of his vaunted intellect, and he was going to kill your brother outright until I intervened. I told him the best way to hurt Sechy was to hurt you, apparently the best way to hurt you was to scatter your peerage,” She then turned and faced the girl directly arms wide open, “So now Rai-chan knows everything. She can blame me if she wants, she can even attack me in retaliation, Serafall won’t stop her, she deserves it, what she did was terrible and cruel. Even if it was necessary to ensure the safety of the underworld.”
“I… want… I want to hate you!” She said to Serafall. “I want to hate you so much!” She stood there crying, as she continued, “But, knowing all this, I just can’t do it! I can’t hate you for doing what you had to to protect as many people as possible! It sucks, it's not fair, but I also know you did the best, possibly the only thing you could do at the time,” Rias fell to her knees and proceeded to bawl. “I don’t know if they’re safe, I don’t know if they're warm, or eating right. Is Kiba still obsessing over Excalibur? Is Akeno getting hurt unnecessarily? Where did Koneko run off to? Is she eating a balanced diet and not just sweets? Is Gaspar alright? Is he wearing clean clothes? I don’t know the answer to any of these questions and it terrifies me!”
“Rais, what about Issei-kun, you never mentioned him?” Sirzechs noted.
Sniffling and wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, the heiress to the Gremory Clan replied, “Issei’s fate was the worst of all I think. He was forced to fall in love… with one person! All thoughts of having a harem are completely gone out of his head!”
“Wait, so he’s still around?” Sirzechs asked for clarification.
“Yes, though I hardly if ever see him, he’s too busy with his girlfriend these days…” She seemed disgusted at the thought.
“Oh thank Lilith,” Sirzechs said in relief, “I thought your peerage was completely gone! At least Issei is still around,” Wiping some sweat from his brow he said, “For a moment there, I was worried you wouldn’t be able to defend yourself should the need arise or if a rating game came up. You should be fine though, I mean, Hyoudou-kun has the Boosted Gear. He alone should be able to defeat Raiser’s Peerage if it comes down to it, right?” Seeing neither woman agreeing with him he asked again, “Right?!” Still no response, at which he deadpanned, “Seriously the kid can handle this right?”
“Hell no! Issei is weak! He’s a new devil and even with the Boosted Gear his reserves are pitiful! If he has to fight Raiser’s Peerage alone, he’ll die!” Rais snapped in response.
“Father Lucifer help us all,” Sirzechz swore under his breath, “So that’s it then? My dear, sweet, Rai-chan is doomed to marry that sleazebag Raiser? Who has his own sister as a part of his Peerage?”
“I’m right here onii-san, you don’t need to rub it in!” Rias yelled at him. “I know I’m as good as doomed,” She sulked.
“Actually,” Serafall said, having a eureka moment, “I might have a way to get Rai-chan out of her engagement, and apologize for causing this mess at the same time!” She looked at the Gremory siblings and said coyly, “That is, if Rai-tan and Sechy want to hear Serafall out of course?”
“Absolutely-” Sirzechs began only to be cut off by his little sister,
“We would Serafall, Sirzechs and I would love to hear any idea you have that could possibly save my future, isn’t that right onii-chan?” she asked her brother as she smiled at him. It was a smile that promised death if he didn’t agree.
“Y-Yes of course!” Let it be known that Sirzechs didn’t survive a war and become a Satan by being an idiot. “What do you have in mind, Serafall?”
Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, the leader of D.I.C.E. laid out her plan, “I shall have my new Queen fight in Rias’ stead. Once my Queen learns what has happened, being the knight sworn to protect that they are, they will no doubt feel obligated to defend Rai-chan’s honor. However I must ask, would Rai-chan be against marrying my Queen in place of Raiser Phenex?”
“I um… I don’t dislike girls, Serfall, but I am obligated to produce an heir as the heiress to the Gremory Clan,” Rias pointed out.
‘I knew it! Queen Evil Pieces really ‘are’ meant for girls!’ Serafall thought pumping her fist in vindication before she said, “Oh no, Rai-chan misunderstands, my Queen is a boy. A very cute, if slightly effeminate boy, but still a boy.”
Rais was surprised for a moment before she closed her eyes and replied, “First let's see if he can even beat Raiser and go from there shall we?”
Serafall readily agreed. “Of course Rai-chan,” ‘Everything is going according to Glasya’s plan,’ Serafall looked over the changing landscape of the underworld wondering how much longer it would be till one of the other pantheons took notice of what was going on down here. ‘I only hope Malphas-san knows what he’s doing, and can get everything in place in time,’ Turning to Sirzechs she said, “Well, looks like we’ll need to reschedule Sechy, if I don’t leave now, I’m going to be late for the taping of magical Girl, Levi-tan.”
“Wait, what about your report?” The Lucifer called.
“I left it on your desk!” Serfall called over her shoulder, “Burn after reading as always! Bye!”
Sirzechs rubbed his temples. I hate reading her reports, they never make any sense until I manage to crack whatever hairbrained cypher she comes up with. Before that, it just sounds like cutesy gibberish.”
“Do you think Serafall’s plan will actually work onii-chan?” Rias asked as she looked out into the distance, staring at nothing in particular.
Standing next to her and putting a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, Sirzechs told his sister, “Knowing her like I do? It’ll probably work.”
Giving a halting sigh, Rias said, “I guess all I can do right now then is wait, and hope everyone is alright. Wherever they are.”
“You’ve raised them to be strong,” Her brother assured her, “I’m sure wherever they may be, they are all fine.”
(...)
The first lungful of air Izuku took in Avernus had him coughing. The scent of ash, sulfur, fire, and the iron tang of blood hit his nose. He repressed his gag reflex and looked back smiling when he saw Glasya putting a hand on his shoulder in concern. “This place could use some air freshener Glasya-hime.”
The demoness scoffed. “I suppose the scent of brimstone and your enemy's blood is an acquired taste.”
“You could say that,” Izuku agreed as he walked across a carpet of bones. “The decor has much to be desired too,”
Glasya rolled her eyes, “I’m sorry darling is Grand Ganagol not in style anymore on the prime material plane?”
“I’m afraid you're almost a millennium out of date Glasya-hime,” Izuku shot back shaking his head as if in disappointment, “I mean a river of blood, fireballs and ash perpetually raining down from a blood red sky? That’s just so cliche, not to mention kinda tacky.”
“Oh no, we aren’t in style anymore!” Glasya said as she dramatically threw a hand over her head as if she were about to faint, “Whatever shall we do?” Her delivery was flatter than the ground they were walking on at the moment, peppered as it was with quartz crystals and bits of obsidian.
“Like Ohmygosh! You can totes tell how much those two love each other!” Tooru Hagakure squealed to herself with her hands on her cheeks that were inflamed with a blush no one could see. “The way they bicker back and forth like an old married couple is like, so adorbs!” She sighed to herself saying, “Wish i could find a guy like him.”
Glasya stiffened in her step. For a moment she had forgotten she was back in Baator, with her Father of all people, not with Izuku, alone in the safety and security of his apartment. She dared glance back at her father only to see him looking more amused than anything, “Oohoh, don’t stop on our account, do go on,”
“Come along Izuku. Let’s scout ahead.” Glasya said as she took him by the arm and took flight, her wings creating a plume of dust and ash.
“Oh did you see how she reacted after she remembered you were there?'' Tooru nudged Asmodeus playfully, “Tried to act all prim and proper, heheheh. So cute!”
“Isn’t she just?” Asmodeus said wistfully. “So willful, just like her mother,”
Aizawa barked out, “Enough! This is not a sightseeing tour! We are now in what should be considered a combat zone, everyone stay on your toes.”
Outside of Aizawa, the entire faculty including Midnight, Present Mic, All Might, Vlad King, Class 1-B, Ectoplasm, and Powerloader, his apprentice Mei Hatsumi, even some Pro Heroes such as Endeavour, Mt. Lady, and Kamuei Woods, the Wild Wild Pussy Cats, and Thirteen had shown up on this expedition.
“Before we head off my little mortal morsles, a few ground rules. Don’t eat anything, unless I tell you. Don’t drink anything, unless I tell you. Do not separate from the group. Do not engage in any fights. Keep your heads on swivels for fireballs and quasits. Any questions?”
Iieda raised his hand, “Sir, why was Midoriya allowed to go on ahead with your daughter if we were not supposed to separate from the group?”
“Because we needed someone to scout ahead and I trust my daughter and him to do it, provided they aren’t too busy sucking each other’s faces of course,” Asmodeus replied with a dry chuckle. “Any other questions? Yes you, the walking fireball.”
“Endeavor,” The Number Two Hero corrected. “Am I correct in assuming you are the leader of this place?”
“In the flesh more or less,” Waving his arm grandiosely outwards he said, “Welcome, to Baator! The place where all the souls of the faithless go when they pass.”
“If that’s true,” Mineta mumbled to himself, “I’m going to start going to shrines regularly.”
Other students mumbled their agreement. Ibara Shiozaki, the vine haired girl of class 1-B though, felt vindicated in her faith. She had often been mocked in her youth for the fervor of her faith. Yet now? Here she stood in a realm that stood as anathema to those very beliefs. Proving that to believe in nothing was to risk certain oblivion. Thus, she at least, felt no fear as she walked down the ashen path strewn with quartz, obsidian, and brimstone. For in her head, she repeated over and over, ‘The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.’
Asmodeus almost smiled when he saw some celestial archons flock his way. He could feel the prayer of the faithful from one of the students. Oh what a deal he would make today!
Some of the students looked in awe at the biblical angelic people flying towards them. Ibara could only smile.
Mina chose the moment to speak up, “Uhm Lord Asmodeus. If this is hell. Dare I ask why there seem to be angels here?”
Asmodeus’ smile grew, “Why of course my dear. You see the lords of Celestia or heaven if you prefer. Made a deal with me. I get all the souls of the unfaithful and they can use my armies and my first domain to wage a war against the demonic scourge. Honestly I came out on top in that deal but only because there are so many of you mortals who lose faith in the gods. Ah science. How I enjoy your progress.”
As he said that two beautiful angelic women with onyx black hair and wings as white as snow landed in front of the group. One of the winged ladies spoke up, “Lord Asmoedues dare we ask why one of our flock is here in Baator? Surely you would not break the treaty over one soul?”
Asmodeus straightened his back and seemed to tower over everyone as he looked at the celestials, “Perish the thought celestial. I am merely offering a grand tour of my realm to a world that has just recently been invaded by demons. Surely even you would not allow these poor mortals to suffer under the demonic plague?”
“We would not, no. However we must ask that you allow at least our faithful to leave. They have caused no transgressions and do not deserve this punishment. Here child Protection from Elements!”
Ibara actually felt the pressure of the hot and musky realm leave her. Her throat cleared and she felt as if she was breathing fresh air near a spring. She bowed politely, “I am a simple follower of my lord. I pay my gratitude to you envoys of his greatness.”
“Nonsense little lamb. It does us good to know the a lord of Celestia here. May his presence shine brightly upon you. Though to inform you he takes on the form of Ilmater in Celestia.”
Ibara nodded along happy to know her lord took on many forms in other realms as well.
“Does the lord have any missions for this faithful? Without hurting others though. I took a vow of pacifism.”
Denki shivered in terror. If Ibara truly was a pacifist he wondered what her sadism with her thorns would be like.
Asmodeus only smiled. He wondered how many souls would come to worship him from this small adventure. After all, if a god exists and so does a devil. He wondered about the deals people would make with him. Oh it did his heart good. Though that may also be Asia healing his true form still. Best decision he made besides having his daughter if Asmodeus had to say himself.
As the Celestials left Ibara could only smile happily at having her faith rewarded. If she paid attention a little she may have noticed that her body was glowing slightly. A blessing of the faithful is their own just reward.
The other students and teachers wondered what or who else they would see on this trip.
All Might gulped wondering how many villains and civilians got sent to this hell hole.
(...)
Izuku floated wobbly beside Glasya as she flew through the ash laden air. After a moment of tense silence, she looked back at him and remarked, “Did none of them teach you how to fly properly with magic?”
“Not really?” Izuku replied as he wobbled around in the air like a pig on thin ice.
Glasya sighed, for now was not the time for an impromptu flight lesson. Yet it had to be done. For Izuku’s safety if nothing else “Okay then. Imagine yourself in a bubble,”
“A bubble?”
“Yes a bubble, in this bubble you control your weight and movement. Can you do that?” Glasya asked.
Izuku closed his eyes. He imagined a black sphere around him about a foot away from his body. He imagined himself standing upright in this space. He heard Glasya comment, “Good, you're a quick study,” Izuku opened his eyes and looked down to see he was now floating upright just as he envisioned.
“Yes, I did it!” Then, he fell. Or he would have, had Glasya not snatched him out of the air.
“Don’t stop concentrating on the spell, you dolt!” she hissed before she sighed, “Try again,”
The Hellknight did so, and this time, he made sure not to focus on his mental image. “Good now,” Glaysa moved just out of reach, before motioning him over, beckoning with a single finger, “Now come here, my green-haired little Giacomo Girolamo Casanova.”
“R-Right! Okay I-I can do this.” The Hellknight said to himself slowly inching forwards only to jerk back to narrowly avoid a naturally occuring fireball.
“You’ll have to move quicker than that snail's crawl Izuku,” Glasya half-mocked him, “Goodness I didn’t think I’d ever see anything in Avernus moving slower than a Dretch, but you just might’ve managed it.”
Screwing up his face in a scowl, the green-haired boy blasted forward like a cannon shot barreling right into the princess of Baator. “There, fast enough for you?”
“Good boy,” She purred in his ear, “Now you know that spells are powered by more than just words and will, but also intent and emotion. See?”
As he held her in midair Izuku nodded, “Yeah… We should probably get back to the others, right?”
“Aww, what’s the matter? Don’t you want to stay like this for a bit?” Glasya whispered, her voice as smooth as silk and tempting as alcohol to an addict.
“I would, but I’m more concerned with how we’re floating in the open air, likely making a fine target, and we’d be a pair of sitting ducks if something decided to attack us.”
After a moment Glasya sighed before flicking him in the forehead with a clawed finger, “You really need to learn how to read the mood dear. Being so logical all the time is no fun,” She grumbled.
“I’m sorry?” He apologized, confused at what exactly he was apologizing for.
“Don’t be,” Baator’s princess grumbled, “Your most likely correct,” huffing she said, “I can’t believe I made a fool of myself in front of Father.”
“I don’t think he cares? He seemed more amused than anything. I mean, you are his daughter after all,” Izuku pointed out.
Glasya took flight and this time, Izuku was capable of easily following her. “Yes, exactly. That is why I have always been held to a higher standard. Why when I rebelled and skirted the laws of Baator one time to many, he forced me to become an Archdevil. Others would be honored, to be put in my position, to me it was both a literal and figurative prison. For Malbolge is a prison realm, and I am it's warden,” She paused, glancing behind her pleased to see him able to keep up with her. “But then one day, I was handed the key to my cell by a nervous little boy, one who has become very important to me… but has also become a crutch, an exploitable weakness,”
Izuku stopped, floating in midair, and Glasya did the same, “What are you trying to say Glasya?”
“That, for the second time today, Izuku, I am utterly terrified of losing you. The first was with that tramp of Succubus, but here, in Baator, on Avernus, with my Father around… I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever been more afraid… angry? Yes, when Mother was killed and Father imprisoned, not killed the perpetrator, but fear?” Glasya shook her head, causing her locks to flail around wildly, “No, and this fear could cloud my judgment at a crucial time… What should I do, Izuku? I don’t want… to throw this… whatever we have away but this fear is a weakness I can’t afford to have! Not here, not in Baator. If this continues, I’m as good as dead.”
Izuku did the only thing he could think to do at that moment, he hugged the demoness next to him for all he was worth. “I can’t really begin to understand what you're feeling, but I do know that I don’t want to lose you. Glasya-hime, even though I know you can’t be around all the time, I can’t imagine cutting you out of my life entirely. You're too important to me. So for now, please, just trust me. We’ll make it through this,” He took off his mask so he could see him smiling up at her, “Besides you owe me a personal tour of Malbolge once this is all over.”
“Okay,” Glasya said after a moment. “We’ll somehow make it through this and then I’ll give you and all your little haremettes the grand tour of Malbolge. I promise, and as you know, I keep my word.”
“You just had to use the term haremettes didn’t you?” Izuku said, letting out a sigh as he did so. “Honestly I don’t know why you feel so threatened by them anyway,”
“Who says I feel threatened by those children?” Glasya sniffed haughtily.
“Glasya,” Izuku deadpanned, “It's as obvious as it is pointless. You’re probably thousands of years older than all of them, not that I care at all,” He denied emphatically, “I happen to like older more experienced women,”
“Nice save,” She told him, patting his head approvingly, before she asked coyishly, “Does this mean I should be concerned about you seducing your female teachers then?”
Flushing the demon hunter gave back as good as he got, replying with, “No of course not, they lack the horns, wings, and tail. None of my fetishes are being met.”
“Oh I see now, you just want me for my body,” she joked as she held a hand to her chest in mock offense.
“No, your body is just a nice bonus,” Izuku assured her. There was a moment of silence before the two shared a laugh. Once they’d settled down, Izuku decided to ask a poignant question. “Glasya-hime, how do you know when an invasion is happening on Avernus?”
I’m assuming you mean besides the mass explosions, overflowing of the River of Blood, the thunderous clanging of weapons and armor, and endless cries of death?” Glasya asked as she raised an eyebrow.
“Besides the obvious, yes.” Izuku replied, nodding.
“The great horn, Havok on the Brass Citadel, would be blown by the ruler of Avernus, Zariel.” She replied as they winged their way towards a tower of scorched bronze. Suddenly a sound like a trumpet mixed with that of a thousand stampeding elephants was heard all at once.
Izuku looked at Glasya and asked, “Does it happen to sound something like that?”
“We need to get to the Brass Citadel now!” Glasya said in a near panic before she picked up her flight speed.
“What about the others?” izuku asked as he looked back worriedly.
“Father will no doubt have teleported them into the Citadel,” Glasya replied without looking back, “Hurry!”
As the duo flew through a cloud of hot ash, Izuku saw what had made the princess of Baator so riled. There on a beach head not too far away were longships made out of what looked like living flesh and bone, they opened upon beaching on upon crossing a dark bracken sea and from their innards hundreds of thousands of demons of all shape, size, and rank poured forth forming a living chaotic tide of bodies that were rapidly making there way to the Brass Citadel. ‘The Blood War, that was supposed to be on hold for a century, is back on,’ Izuku realized with grim determination as they hunkered down at the top of the Citadel, and prepared for s siege.
(...)
Words: 10,401 Number of Pages: 24 Date Completed: 1/28/2023
(...)
AN: Welcome one and all to Chapter Seven of Hellknight. It's been awhile but it's good to be back. I do hope everyone enjoys the developments in this chapter. I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on the subject. Now, I’m gonna hand the mic over to Snowy and Hassan.
Snowy:
Hassan:
Alright, that should do it for us. Till next time everyone, this has been an icysnowsage, First Hassan and Bubbajack Production! Peace!
