DxD: Lost in Time

I woke up the next morning to find Serafall hovering over me, ensuring I was up. She was practically bouncing with energy, while I was still adjusting to reality.

Yes, I did sleep next to Serafall. No, I did not touch her.

Maybe I stared at her breasts for too long—hence the blushing mess she had become—but I have control.

Serafall pouted, arms crossed under her chest, which only made things worse. "You know, I could've just let you touch them instead of you giving me that look."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "What was I supposed to do when they were so close to my face?"

She giggled but didn't press further.

With that minor distraction out of the way, my thoughts turned to more pressing matters—this war. I needed to devise a plan to end it quickly, preferably before things spiraled out of control. There was one thing, however, that confused me.

Zakraem Bael.

A corrupt man, maybe he is. The kind of noble who would run over others if they stood in his way. His influence ran deep, his ambitions even deeper. If left unchecked, I don't know what he would do next.

What will I do with the Cleria Belial incident? That's many years into the future to have to worry about right now.

Still, strategizing wasn't my only concern. I needed to visit my mindscape.

Cultivating during the war was out of the question. It would expose too many secrets. Cultivation wasn't just a method of growing stronger—it was a sacred art, a way to harness energy at its most efficient and pure form.

If the Devils ever discovered it, it wouldn't be long before Devil Gods became a reality.

That was something I could not allow.

Maybe I could trust a select few with the knowledge, but at this moment? The only ones I trusted were Serafall and, by extension, her parents.

Such is life… [AN: Don't get me started, pal.]

Yet, as these thoughts settled, a strange feeling washed over me.

It felt like… someone was connecting with me.

A voice, distant yet familiar.

I understand your pain.

I blinked.

[AN: "..." He ain't talking about me, right? Right?!]

With my final thought, I felt the familiar pull, then the world shifted.

The Frozen Lands stretched before me once more, an endless expanse of ice and snow. It had been weeks since I last came here, yet the place remained as hauntingly still as ever.

A presence flickered behind me.

My instincts roared to life. I grabbed my Zanpakutō in a split second, spinning just as a figure lunged.

A cloud of dust erupted where I once stood. Through the haze, a silhouette burst forward, closing the gap with terrifying speed.

I flipped mid-air, twisting until I was upside down—just in time to lock eyes with a crazed red gaze.

A wicked grin, sharp enough to split his face in two.

Then, the blade came down.

My blade.

I barely managed to block as our swords met in a clash that sent shockwaves through the frozen wasteland. The force alone knocked us both back.

I twisted mid-air, landing smoothly on my feet like a cat. That was dangerous, a mistake that could've gotten me killed. If I attempted something like that in a real battle, I'd need to incorporate Sonidō to make it viable.

A chuckle.

"Well, I guess you haven't gotten enough battle experience for that."

I looked up to see Yuzūi, rubbing the back of his head nonchalantly.

I scoffed. "Well, thanks for stating the obvious."

"You're welcome, anytime."

Fuck this guy.

He scratched his head in mock embarrassment, as if my irritation was nothing more than an amusing side effect of his existence.

This guy was like a mosquito. No matter how many times you tried to kill one, those bloodsuckers just kept coming back.

They don't sense your intent to kill. They don't care about your irritation. Maybe they do it on purpose.

"..."

Yuzūi's smirk twitched, and I got the feeling he knew exactly what I was thinking.

I sighed. At least he isn't a woman. That'd be even worse.

He suddenly narrowed his eyes at me. "I don't like that look you're giving me, partner."

I shrugged. "And you think that creepy smile you flash every time we fight isn't unnerving?"

A pause. Then—

"Fair enough."

Silence settled between us.

I took the moment to reflect on how far I'd come. My cultivation was progressing well

Perhaps too well.

Had I started before my rebirth?

"Hey, Yuzūi."

I broke the silence, eyes still trained on him.

"How was I able to create you without Reiryoku from a Hollow?"

A question born from curiosity—an itch at the back of my mind. My lost memories.

Yuzūi smirked, folding his arms as if amused.

"Well, you did the craziest thing imaginable, at least, from your perspective."

He took a step forward, his grin widening.

"Thirteen years of boredom drove you to seek power. To escape that mundane space. The only natural power you knew at the time was from Vizards. Plus, you had just recently finished watching the show when you died."

I listened, intrigued. My lips curled upward. Go on.

But Yuzūi fell silent.

My eye twitched. He was toying with me, probably trying to annoy me for fun.

I glared.

He smirked.

A long, agonizing pause… then he finally continued, seemingly satisfied with whatever game he was playing.

"Anyway," he drawled, "you theorized that Hollow Reiryoku is born from primal instincts and the emotions tied to them. Fear, anger… despair."

He paused, his voice dropping to something cold.

"Like the despair you felt when a certain bitch left ya'."

The venom in his words was almost palpable. A slow-burning hatred.

More lethal than any python's bite.

I raised a brow. If what he's saying is true…

Then Yuzūi hates my ex-girlfriend even more than I do.

His fists clenched for a moment before he shook it off, continuing.

"You prepared a vessel to contain this Hollow Reiryoku. By fusing your normal Reiryoku with the Hollowfied variant, I was born."

His smirk returned, pride glinting in his crimson gaze.

"However, that wasn't enough."

I frowned. What does he mean?

"In fear that I'd cause problems like Ichigo's case, you created me as a Zanpakutō and an additional—"

His words were suddenly cut off.

A shift in the air.

A presence.

Something, or someone, had arrived.

How can there be an intruder in my mindscape right now?!

Panic surged through me, but only for a brief moment.

Then… nothing.

No hostility. No threat.

Instead, there was a strange familiarity.

It felt like I had just uncovered a hidden part of myself—as if I were on the verge of finding a missing puzzle piece.

And then, I saw her.

A woman.

She had long, flowing black hair and matching dark eyes. Her pale skin contrasted against the cold surroundings, delicate features giving her an almost ethereal presence.

A faint smile tugged at her lips as she gazed at both Yuzūi and me with a calm expression.

…What the fuck?

Before I could speak, she addressed Yuzūi first.

"I am by no means a leash, Yuzūi. I was a necessary step to balance. You and I know that very well."

I stood there, dumbfounded.

A necessary step to balance?

What the hell does that even mean?!

I turned to Yuzūi, my frustration mounting. You don't just drop information like that without warning, dude!

"I know already. Jeez!" Yuzūi groaned, rubbing his head as if this was old news.

The woman finally turned her attention to me.

And when she did… something flickered in her expression.

Hurt?

Why?

Her next words hit harder than I expected.

"How could you forget about me?"

Her voice was soft, almost… disappointed.

"I was with you after Yuzūi came into being."

And just like that, another mystery unfolded before me.

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Happy Reading Everybody!

I hope all is well.