Chapter 99: Strengthening The Peace Treaty
Izashi stood tall, his crimson gaze sweeping across the battlefield with the air of a ruler. His battle with Vali had been brutal, and while Vali's defeat seemed inevitable, the sheer difficulty of the fight had been something even Izashi hadn't fully anticipated. The pain of combat lingered in his muscles, but it was the afterthought of what had transpired that truly lingered in his mind.
At that moment, a thought that had been brewing in his mind solidified like concrete. He was certain that his brother, Sirzechs, would never suspect him of anything regarding Grayfia's disappearance. Not yet, at least. Sirzechs had no idea, and even if he did suspect something, there was no way for him to act on it unless he received undeniable proof.
The only person who could expose him to Sirzechs was Zeoticus, their father. But that would be complicated. Zeoticus hated Izashi, a deep and bitter loathing that had only grown over time. The old man had never forgiven Izashi for taking his position as Clan Head of the Gremory Clan. And to make matters worse, Izashi had taken something far more precious to Zeoticus: his wife, Venelana. The very woman who had been the heart of the Gremory family was now part of Izashi's growing harem.
Izashi couldn't help but smirk at the thought. He had declared Grayfia his personal maid, and not long after, Venelana had joined the ranks of his women. The drama, the complexity, and the sheer chaos of it all was something that amused Izashi to no end. Of course, Zeoticus wasn't exactly thrilled about it, but the man's hate only made his victory sweeter. If Zeoticus wanted to complain, let him. Izashi had no fear of the old man.
However, what concerned Izashi more was how the situation with Grayfia was unfolding. While Sirzechs remained unaware of his wife's disappearance for now, he wasn't so naive as to believe the secret would last forever. Eventually, the truth would catch up to him. It was just a matter of time, and when it did, Sirzechs's reaction would be... interesting. For now, Izashi was content knowing that Sirzechs wouldn't even think to question him about it. Not yet.
As Izashi mulled over his plans, he was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a figure from the sky. The newcomer landed on the battlefield with a soft thud, his feet touching the ground with a distinct sense of awe. Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor, had been flying alongside them during the fight, watching everything unfold from a distance. His eyes were wide with amazement as he glanced around, his mind still reeling from the sheer power of the battle he had just witnessed.
"Man… that was… insane!" Issei muttered under his breath, his voice full of disbelief. He had never seen anything like it before, not even in his wildest dreams.
Ddraig, the dragon that resided within Issei's Sacred Gear, chuckled in amusement. "Well, you did just see one of the most powerful displays of force in this world, so yeah, it's pretty insane. But you'd better get used to it. If you keep hanging around people like Izashi, this won't be the last time you witness something like that."
Issei, still awestruck, nodded absentmindedly. His eyes were glued to Izashi, who was standing in the center of the battlefield like a king. "Yeah, but… how does someone even do that? What kind of power is he using?"
Ddraig's voice took on a more serious tone. "That, Issei, was Juggernaut Drive. It's a state that both you and Vali can achieve with your Sacred Gear, but it's not without its cost. You activate it by drawing upon a massive amount of energy, pushing your body to the limit."
Issei's eyes widened as he absorbed Ddraig's words. "Wait, Juggernaut Drive?"
Ddraig snorted. "Yes. It's the ultimate form of your sacred gear. But here's the thing—you're trading your life force for that power. In a way, you're sacrificing your life just to tap into that energy. The more you use it, the closer you get to burning out completely. And the worst part? You can't maintain your own mentality while using it. It's a berserk state, which is why it's so dangerous."
Issei's face paled. "So... it's basically a one-way ticket to death unless I have control over it?"
"Exactly," Ddraig replied. "And for some reason, Vali was able to keep his mentality while in Juggernaut Drive. I've never seen anything like it. I don't know how he managed it, but it was impressive."
Issei rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So, that's why Vali was able to push Izashi so hard… But Izashi didn't seem to be in any danger of losing control. He handled that fight like it was nothing."
Ddraig hesitated. "Yeah, that's what really threw me off. I thought Izashi would have to resort to using the Dragon God's power—the Golden Energy—just to survive that battle. But he didn't. Instead, he used his devil powers, and it worked. I don't know how he pulled it off, but it's clear that Izashi's strength goes way beyond what we're seeing here."
Before Issei could process this, the ground beneath him trembled as several figures approached. Sirzechs, Azazel, and Michael were among the first to arrive, their presence filling the air with a calm yet commanding aura. They had just signed the peace treaty, and the weight of their decisions hung in the air like a thick cloud.
Michael stepped forward with a friendly smile, though his eyes were sharp and calculating. "Well, it looks like the alliance between the three factions is officially formed. As the head of the Angels, I can speak for all the angels in Heaven—we're committed to peace with the Devils and Fallen Angels. No more fighting between us."
Azazel gave a nod of agreement. "Yeah, I'll back that up. As long as everyone sticks to their word, we won't have any issues."
Sirzechs followed suit, his expression calm but serious. "And for the Devils, I can speak for us as well. We've got peace on the table. The Old Satan Faction, however, is another story. They're not gonna play nice, no matter what we try. I'll do my best to deal with them, but it's gonna be a tough fight."
Azazel and Michael exchanged glances, both understanding the delicate nature of the situation. The Old Satan Faction had deep roots in the Underworld, and their traditional values were nearly impossible to shake. But with Sirzechs at the helm, the majority of the Devil faction was already on his side. The real battle would be against the Old Satan Faction, and the other factions were prepared to back Sirzechs in any way they could.
Izashi stood quietly, observing the proceedings. His face remained impassive as Sirzechs turned to him, as if sensing something unspoken between them. "You're not going to participate in the youth gathering, are you, Izashi?" Sirzechs asked, his tone casual but with a hint of understanding. "After everything we've just seen, it wouldn't be fair for you to take part."
Izashi smiled, his expression almost amused. "Nah, I won't be taking part. You know why."
Sirzechs chuckled. "Yeah, with the power you've shown today, it'd be a slaughter. No one stands a chance."
Izashi gave a small nod. "Exactly. I don't need to show off more than that."
Sirzechs didn't press the matter further. He already knew how to handle the situation. "Well, with my and Serafall's recommendations, the other Devils will agree to your exemption. It'll be smooth sailing."
Izashi didn't miss a beat. He turned his attention to Michael, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "So, when am I getting my tour of Heaven?" he asked, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Michael raised an eyebrow. "You want a tour? The doors of Heaven are always open to you, Izashi. Just say when, and I'll make it happen."
Izashi grinned. "Great. I'll be there next week. I'll make sure to drop by for a visit. Thanks, Michael."
Before Michael could respond, Izashi's focus shifted to Azazel. "Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about," he said, his voice turning more serious.
Azazel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What's up?"
Izashi's expression grew solemn. "Akeno… she's a half-Fallen Angel. Her father is one of the highest-ranked members of Grigori. I want her to be reunited with him. Can you ask him to meet me at the entrance of Kuoh Academy tomorrow?"
Azazel stroked his chin, thinking it over. "Well, I can technically order him to come. I've got that kind of authority." He paused, eyeing Izashi curiously. "But why now? What's going on?"
Izashi's smile was small but genuine. "I just think it's time for Akeno to reconnect with her father. That's all."
Azazel shrugged. "Fair enough. I'll let him know. He'll be there tomorrow."
Izashi's grin widened, and he clapped Azazel on the back. "Thanks, I'll see him tomorrow then. Later!"
Izashi didn't wait for Azazel to finish his sentence. As Azazel was about to mention how Baraqiel would be busy, Izashi leaped into the air with a powerful flap of his wings. He was already flying away, the wind whipping around him as he soared off toward his next destination.
Azazel watched Izashi leave, raising an eyebrow at his sudden departure. He couldn't help but let out a sigh, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his voice. "The youth nowadays, honestly, no patience at all. I guess I'll have to be the one to convince Baraqiel to show up at this school tomorrow."
The others standing nearby shared a look that spoke volumes. It was an unspoken exchange, one that conveyed their collective thought: "Look who's talking about impatience."
They all knew Azazel far too well. Issei was the only one who wasn't quite as familiar with the intricacies of Azazel's obsession with Sacred Gear research, but the others knew that Azazel had his own version of impatience.
If he found a clue about Sacred Gears or something related to his research, Azazel would throw all sense of patience out the window. His hunger for knowledge was like an unquenchable thirst. The man would dive headfirst into any new discovery with the same urgency as someone desperate for food after days without it.
Azazel noticed the glances from everyone, the side-eye looks and subtle eye-rolls, and couldn't help but sigh again. He leaned against a nearby pillar, rubbing his forehead. "Okay, okay, I know. I get it. You're all thinking about how I don't have much patience either. But trust me, this is different."
Michael, who had been silently watching the exchange, sweat-dropped as he heard Azazel's words. He couldn't help but think to himself, 'Yeah, no one can pull off the 'impatient' act like Azazel can. He definitely fell from Heaven because of Lust—whether it's lust for knowledge or something else. Both of them are equally unnatural.'
Azazel could feel the weight of the stares he was receiving, especially Michael's quiet assessment of him. He squirmed a little under the gaze of his companions. It wasn't like he'd done anything wrong… well, nothing that wrong.
"Look, I didn't do anything yet!" he said defensively, hands raised. "You guys are all just giving me these looks like I've already messed up."
Issei, who had been mostly silent throughout this interaction, took the opportunity to slip away, leaving the group behind. He had his own priorities—mainly returning to Asia, who had been frozen in place thanks to Gasper's Sacred Gear. It seemed that the Time Stop ability Gasper had used had finally ended.
As Issei walked off, heading toward Asia, the others began to move as well. The other individuals who had been frozen by Gasper's Sacred Gear were now starting to recover, stretching and looking around, some shaking off the effects of the stasis that had kept them still for what felt like an eternity. The peace that followed the battle was surreal, considering just how intense everything had been up until now.
Meanwhile, Izashi had arrived back at the old school building. He entered with a sense of calm confidence, his expression softening as he spotted his three women sitting together in the familiar corner of the room. Rias, Akeno, and Kuroka were seated with Gasper, who still looked a little nervous.
Rias and Akeno's eyes lit up when they saw Izashi walking toward them, their faces breaking into bright smiles. Kuroka, on the other hand, simply smiled faintly, her gaze full of quiet amusement. Izashi couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for them as he approached. Without saying much, he wrapped his arms around each of them and pulled them close, his lips pressing against each of their foreheads in a tender kiss.
The room felt warm and comfortable, and despite everything that had just transpired, it was nice to be surrounded by his beloved women. "It's good to see you all safe and sound," Izashi murmured as he held them close.
But then, his expression shifted slightly, his voice lowering to a near-whisper. Still loud enough for all of them to hear, he added with a mischievous grin, "Let's head back to the mansion. I'm sure you all know exactly what I'm talking about."
Rias and Akeno's faces flushed a little, their cheeks turning a soft pink as they exchanged a glance. They knew exactly what Izashi meant—after all, it wasn't as if they hadn't shared intimate moments with him before. Their excitement was palpable, though they still looked shy about it. Kuroka, however, was a different story. She wasn't shy in the slightest. A sly grin spread across her face as she leaned closer to Izashi, her eyes gleaming with a more direct kind of desire. It was clear that, at this moment, she was just as eager as he was. She was practically vibrating with anticipation.
Izashi felt a heat rise in his chest as he noted Kuroka's unfiltered reaction. She always was the most straightforward of the bunch, and right now, it was impossible to ignore the lust in her eyes. She wasn't hiding it at all. Izashi felt his own desires stir at the thought of returning to the mansion with them, his pulse quickening with anticipation.
"Let's not waste any more time then," Izashi said, the playful tone still in his voice. Without another word, he scooped up Akeno and Rias, one in each arm, and flew out of the school building. Kuroka followed along, walking at her own pace but clearly eager to get to the mansion.
When they arrived, the atmosphere in the mansion was completely different. The lights were dimmed, and the air felt almost… charged.
Izashi noticed something so he told the girls to go inside their rooms as he told them that he could come soon while he went towards his own personal room.
And at this moment, inside Izashi's room, the scene awaiting him was carefully crafted. Venelana, Izashi's mother, lay on his bed in a seductive pose, her body draped in skimpy clothing that was clearly chosen with the intent of enticing him. Her outfit was light and revealing, designed to show off her curves in the most flattering way possible.
As Izashi entered, his eyes locked onto Venelana, his lips curving into a slow, satisfied smile. She was clearly waiting for him, and the way she looked made it impossible for him to hold back the rush of lust that surged through him. She knew how to push all of his buttons, and it was evident from the way her eyes shone with desire that she knew exactly what she was doing.
But Venelana wasn't the only one dressed to impress. Grayfia, who had been waiting for him as well, was standing nearby, a little bit more reserved in her approach but no less alluring. She wore a tight red top that clung to her figure, its fabric stretching just enough to highlight her curves. The top was a little short, exposing a fair amount of her midriff, which only added to her charm. Her skirt was short as well, the hem brushing the tops of her thighs in a way that was subtly teasing without being overt.
The sight of both women—Venelana in her provocative pose and Grayfia in her enticing outfit—was enough to drive Izashi wild. He felt his body respond to the allure of both women, and his mind couldn't help but race with all the possibilities of what the night would bring.
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A/N: I hope you all liked this long chapter.
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