P.S this story starts a few years before the start of our favorite DXD verse!
AND I DON'T OWN ANY DXD MATERIAL, ALL CREDIT TO THE ORIGINAL WRITERS!
"Talking out aloud"
'Thinking with ones mind'
"Spirits inside the sacred gears talking"
Without further delay, lets start the chapter!
Familiar Forest
It had been about thirty minutes since the group had begun their journey inside the familiar forest alongside Zatouji. The aspiring familiar master showcased many different kinds of familiars to the group of Devils. While many familiars amazed the newer Devils, none they had looked until now had given them the nudge to make a pact with them.
"Where are we going now?" Issie asked Zatouji curiously. He would be the first to admit it, he was scared at first, going into the forest that is home to various beasts and monsters, however, that fear soon turned into excitement when he saw latest familiar. The familiar was similar to a rooster that had shrunk down to half its size and had red feathers.
The familiar peaked Issie's interest specially since it embodied his favorite color red, however, the thought of having a rooster as a familiar killed that interest. Imagine being made fun of in the supernatural world because the familiar you had a pact with was a chicken. He didn't even want to think about all the teasing he would get from people like Kenta and Akeno.
"Currently we are travelling to the southern parts of the familiar forest, towards the ravines to be exact. There perhaps we might be able to find the familiar you are looking for. What was the phrase you used to describe the physical appearance of your potential familiar, sexy and powerful right?" Zatouji replied with a cheeky grin of his own.
"Alright!" Issie cheered on as he thought about the familiars he potentially would be finding in the ravines. He truly was excited now since for the last couple of minutes, he had yet to face a familiar. Actually, he had yet to see another familiar other than the rooster he saw at the start of their expedition. It was a fact that bothered Zatouji but for the life of him he couldn't come up with a proper explanation as to why he wasn't able to show the group of Devils more familiar, despite taking them to highly populated parts of the familiar forest.
"Tsk… What is the point of finding something like that! I think the others have quite clearly informed you that you can't have a powerful familiar right now. Maybe later in your life you can find the familiar of your dreams. Perhaps it would be for the best to focus on familiars you can find and form pacts with" Kenta replied irritably at that.
Before Issie could reply, the familiar master jumped in the conversation, "You will never know of your limitations unless you try your luck against someone! It maybe true that the young Devil over here might not be able form a pact with the familiar we are going to visit, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't give it a go. If nothing else, meeting the familiar could tell us which kind of familiars would be willing to form contracts with him" Zatouji dismissively replied.
"On a separate note, What is the strongest familiar that houses in the familiar forest?" Yumi curiously asked the familiar master.
"There are quite a few strong familiars in this forest, however the strongest have to be beings that are dragons or part dragons in nature" Zatouji replied with a thoughtful look on his face.
"Wait you can make dragons a familiar?" Issie asked in shock.
"You can but as you will find out soon enough… Dragons are quite powerful species. Even the lowest class of Earth dragons could rival high class Devils when angered. That is not to mention high class Dragons who could rival ultimate class Devils and Dragon kings who could rival our current Satans" Zatouji informed Issie like a teacher explaining things to the students on a field trip.
"Wait they are that strong?" Issie asked in amazement. A part of him felt quite proud when he heard how strong some of the dragons are. Wait, didn't he housed a dragon in his sacred who was supposed to be stronger than even the dragon kings!!?!?
"That they are. However, the might of even the dragon kings fail in front of Draig, who was said to be among the strongest dragons in the entire supernatural world" Rias replied as if she was able to read her pawns thoughts.
"Draig?" Zatouji asked with some uncertainty in his voice.
"My pawn is this generations Red Dragon Emperor" Rias proudly informed the aspiring familiar master. However, to her dismay and then confusion, she didn't get the awed reaction she had been expecting from Zatouji. Rather she found complex a fearful and then an urgent expression forming on Zatouji face.
"That would probably answer most of the troubles we have been having tonight in the familiar forest" Zatouji urgently replied while urgently taking a look around his surrounding. As if a prey was looking out for its hunter.
"Is something wrong Zatouji?" Marid by this point had stopped walking and was looking curiously towards Zatouji. His eyes shining briefly as a result of him applying his sensory skills around the surrounding area. Sensing for any sneak attacks on their group.
Yumi and Kenta realizing what Marid was doing, applied their own sensory abilities to their maximum to locate any potential attackers. However, like their master, their efforts yielded no results. To their further confusion, they sensed nothing at all around them, nothing at all.
"Nothing is wrong for now" Zatouji gulped nervously as he regarded the Marid Gremory for a moment. "But that doesn't mean we won't face any problems soon enough?"
"What do you mean?" Rias asked Zatouji curiously.
"What I mean is having the Red Dragon Emperor with us is the reason we have been having trouble locating any familiars in the deeper parts of the forest, where mind you most of the familiars reside" Zatouji explained to the group of Devils.
"What does me having the Boosted Gear is connected to us having trouble finding familiars in the forest?" Issie asked in confusion, not understanding the subtleties of demonic and draconic energies and their effects on other supernatural beings.
"What he means by that Issie is the fact having the Boosted Gear changes your demonic energy big time. With the Boosted Gear, your very essence excludes a mighty presence of domination and power which has a massive impact on monsters and other supernatural beings. Eventhough you haven't reached power nowhere near Draig had in his prime, the Boosted Gear gives its wielder a subconscious ability to emit is aura of domination through the sacred gear. You can consider this ability part of the Boosted Gear" Marid explained to a shocked Issie.
"So your saying having the Boosted Gear makes other supernatural beings fearful of me?" Issie asked in a conflicted tone. Sure, having a bunch of people fearful of him was something he would rather enjoy having if he were to be in a video game. But in real life, he didn't like the ability at all. Sure, he was a pervert and wanted a harem, but that didn't mean he wanted to have a group of women who would unwillingly service him out of fear or obligation. Similarly having the ability that resulted in people being fearful of him just didn't sit right with him. He wanted to be loved and wanted to love people back. He wanted peace in his life and his world so that he could just do what he loved doing the most in this world, enjoying some nice Oppai.
Rias as if reading her pawns mind like an open book, just smiled and squeezed his hand in a comforting manner, "You don't need to be fearful of your sacred gear my Ise. While the Boosted Gear does grant dominating aura to its wielder, it is not enough to strike fear in their opponents, well until the wielder purposefully use that aura as a sign of intimidation"
"Rias is right Issie! Now that I focus all my energy on yourself, I can sense the aura of domination coming off you. If it was coming from an amount that could effect even the weakest of the supernatural beings then people like me and Koneko would be affected first considering our sensory capabilities are way sharper than most supernatural beings" Kenta calmly told Issie, who himself took a breath of relief.
"Wait if Issie-kun's aura of domination isn't powerful enough to effect the familiars in this forest then what is effecting it?" Akeno asked Kenta in confusion. Her question got everyone's mind working.
"It is simple then we have someone over here who has an aura that is causing such a reaction out of the familiar" Marid replied with an amused smirk.
"Do you know who could this person be?" Zatouji asked the Marid cautiously.
"I am looking at my primary suspect right now" Marid replied with an amused smirk as he looked over towards his own Rook.
"Wait you think I am causing such a reaction out of these familiars?" Kenta exclaimed aloud.
"After the Boosted Gear, you are the only one in this group that releases such an aura from their very being" Marid responded with an amused chuckle this time after seeing scandalized look he got from his Rook.
"I am a very calm guy who barely loses his cool…" Kenta begin but he was interrupted by sounds of chuckles from the group, Adara obviously joined the group at laughing at Kenta. Even Koneko let out a smirk at seeing the pure hypocritical sentence from Kenta.
"You are many things Kenta-san, but a liar is not one of them" Yumi replied with an amused smirk as she giggled alongside the group.
"Looks like the cat is out of the bag Kenta" Akeno teased Kenta which resulted in him getting a small blush.
"But Lord Marid is right… There is a beastly aura emitting off you which is stronger than Issie-senpai's aura" Koneko simply replied. Her reply raised a few eyebrows since most people in the group were under the impression that Koneko would never use her Nekoshou powers. However, seeing are using it, even in the small capacity showcased to the group, especially Rias that she was slowly moving past her fears.
"I believe it would be best if we came back to the topic at hand and do something to contain the demonic aura" Zatouji this time spoke to the group in pure desperation.
"Perhaps it would be best for us to apply barriers around us to prevent further leak of Kenta's demonic aura" Rias spoke calmly before signaling to Akeno to create a barrier around the group.
"I get why you want the aura contained as soon as possible since it would make finding a familiar for others almost impossible. But why the desperation?" Kiba asked the familiar master curiously.
The familiar master who saw the barrier being erected around the group sighed a breath of relief before calmly replying to the Gremory knight, " It is because a dominating aura is a sign of intimidation to most supernatural beings. While some grow fearful of it others…"
"Find the aura as a sign of a stronger opponent. Someone to test their strength against" Kenta completed Zataouji's sentence with a serious look.
"Exactly. Since we are in the familiar forest and the supernatural beings who reside over here are more feral than regular supernatural beings, there was a very high chance that someone would have attacked our group had we came anywhere near their territory" Zatouji calmly responded to Kenta.
"Out of sheer curiosity… who is the strongest supernatural being lives over here?" Issie asked the aspiring familiar master.
"The strongest living here… hmmm" Zatouji gained a thoughtful as he thought about Issie's question.
"It would have to be either the Dragon Queen Tiamat or the Hydra from the Greek Mythology. Both of whom reside on the southern and the western side of the forest, respectively" Zatouji replied to the shock of the group.
"Dragon Queen Tiamat lives in the familiar forest?" Marid replied with a shocked expression. After all he wasn't aware of that little fact.
"That she does. Her territory is in the southern part of the forest" Zatouji calmly spoke.
"Who is this Tiamat?" Kenta asked curiously, having never heard of someone named the Dragon Queen Tiamat during his time in the supernatural world.
"Tiamat is one of the five dragon Kings who has been active since ancient times, Kenta. She is an immensely powerful dragons who could rival even the current Satans. It was said she was once a friend of the Red Dragon Emperor until their friendship turned sour" Yumi calmly explained.
"What happened between her and Draig?" Issie asked meekly. His fear of dying returned when he found out that the person who hate him might reside somewhere near to where he was.
"No one knows. What we do know, ever since that moment, Tiamat has hated Draig. Her hatred carrying towards the Red Dragon Emperors once Draig got sealed in Boosted Gear" Zatouji replied with a thoughtful look. During his life, he has had the honor to meet the Dragon Queen Tiamat on multiple occasions, however, never he had asked her about Draig. Probably a smart decision on his part since there was a chance, she would kill him in a heartbeat.
"We should probably run then" Issie said in a hurry before sprinting off, away from the group.
"Issie!!" Rias called her pawn out, but Issie was already out of hearing range by this point.
"We should go before he catches someone's attention" Kiba suggested to the group. Rias and Marid agreed before leading the group deeper into the forest to look for the perverted Gremory pawn.
Later
An extremely exhausted Issie finally arrived at a lake somewhere in the middle of the forest. He didn't know for how long he had been running for but the sheer fear of dying again had him running away from the place where Zatouji had pointed out to be the place of residence of both Tiamat and the Hydra.
'I hope I am far enough to not be in danger' Issie thought to himself all the while doing his best to catch his breath. Despite having unnatural physical attributes due to his conversion as a Devil, the run he had made had drained his stamina.
Soon after catching his breath, his eyes finally caught onto the scene in front of him. A beautiful clear lake in the middle of the forest reflecting rays of the artificial moon of the underworld. The sight was so peaceful that it made him forget about the potential danger he had been running from.
"Its so beautiful!" Issie mumbled aloud, his feet moving on their own towards the pond. As if something was calling out to him, yet he didn't hear a sound, just his temptation to go near the lake.
As if on cue, Issie saw a shadow appear in the pond. Rather than fearful of it, he was rather intrigued and attracted to it for some reason. The reason for his attraction became apparent when the shadow within the lake grew only to produce a being rising from the lake.
"Ohhhh a hot babe! Thank the Satan for letting me find such a hot familiar!!!" Issie exclaimed as he saw a beautiful being coming out of the lake with her back turned towards him. The figure emerging from the pond had a slim athletic body and the most beautiful sparkling blue hair he had ever seen.
His exclamation caught the ears of the Devils and the familiar master who were on the hunt for him.
"Issie where have you been!" Rias pouted cutely before squeezing Issie's cheeks as a form of punishment. An act that Issie found extremely cute while Asia found herself feeling an emotion, she didn't think she would ever feel… Jealousy.
"Buchou cant you see! I found the familiar of my dreams!" Issie exclaimed as he pointed towards the beautiful figure still rising from the pond.
"Huh" at that the gaze of the entire group turned towards the being Issie was pointing out.
"Oh those are the Undines. They are a species that usually reside near water. They are actually part of the same family as the Veela's! Both species having an unnatural allure to them because of their God like body" Zatouji identified the potential familiar for the group.
"I know right she looks so perfect" to the amusements of many, Issie was almost drooling at the sight of the Udine emerging out of the pond.
However, Zatouji almost had a wicked smile on his face that was border lining on laughter when he realized Issie hadn't recognized that the most crucial part of his ideal familiar was still missing, "Undines are described as humanoids with blue sparkling hair and the body of a female martial artist."
"Wait… Humanoids?!?" Issie froze as he questioned the familiar master urgently. However, before the familiar master could reply, the Udine in question turned around to face a now shocked pawn.
"Hey there! My name is Valkost and I would love to be your familiar!" The Udine now identified as Valkost spoke with a toothy grin and a masculine voice while regarding the Gremory pawn. His eyes showed amusement when he saw Issie's reaction.
"What the hell?!?" Issie exclaimed aloud as he got the frontal view of the Undine and to his horror, there was nothing feminine about it. Rather Valkost had a chiseled swimmer's body and some hair on his chest. Valkost masculine side was further enhanced by his chest hair, a small beard and a noticeable bulge in his shorts.
"You don't like what you see?" Valkost teased Issie further by flexing his swimmers body.
"Your dream familiar huh Issie?!?" Marid teasingly called while snickering. Both Rias and Akeno couldn't help but join Marid as well.
"Hell NO!" Issie declared as a small blush appeared on his face.
"I mean it does fit the bill doesn't it Issie? Slim body, hour glass figure and a beautiful head of hairs. Ticks all of your boxes" Kenta pointed out in amusement at which Issie couldn't do nothing to stop his face from going complete crimson.
"I wanted a beautiful chick as my familiar! Not that!" At that Issie rudely pointed at the Undine in question. Something the Udine took offense.
"What's wrong with me huh? I am powerful and have an incredibly attractive aura to take anyone without sufficient mental resistance off guard. It is one of the reasons why my species are the most sought after familiars in the underworld. Even some of the Fallen Angels and other species that reside in the underworld have made pact with my brethren's!" Valkost spoke with a narrowed gaze which seemed to scare Issie quite a bit.
Issie couldn't help but gulp in nervousness as he comically looked around the group to have someone help him out. Luckily his own master decided to take some pity on him, "I can assure you Valkost, my servant didn't mean no disrespect to you or your kin. He merely was surprised by your appearance. Since he is new to the supernatural world and is not aware of the Undines and the service they can offer to their pact beneficiaries" Rias formally apologized to the Undine on her pawns behalf. However, she quickly threw Issie a look, telling him to apologize the Undine as well. Something Issie did with incredible haste.
"Honestly its fine! I was just surprised by someone not knowing about the Undine's in the underworld!" Valkost waved off Issie's apology, much to the Devil pawns relief.
"The way you say it would mean the Undines are one of the more sought out after familiars in the forest. Are they truly this sought out or are you just winding up Issie just because he disrespected you and your kin?" Kenta couldn't help but question Valkost's claim about his kin.
"I don't speak in delusion when I say how much of a requisite my species have become in the current underworld. Our species are not only known for producing powerful familiars who are quite capable in battle but also possess ability to psychic manipulate other beings rather easily. It is something of an unspoken fact among the familiars at how many high class Devils come to get a Undine as a familiar for themselves only for them to use them in their rating games and training sessions. However, even after the positive influence of the current Maos in the underworld, there have been Devils who kidnap younger Undine's from their nest only for them to be used in some form of experiments. Afterall the blood of an Undine is highly sought after due to its magical composition" Valkost explained to the group of Devils who just listened in, slightly horrified at what they just heard. Kenta for that matter was shaking in rage. Afterall he too had gone something familiar in his childhood.
Marid, who subconsciously noticed a rise in energy from his Rook understood Kenta's rise in anger, he proceeded to grab Kenta's shoulder in a comforting manner, as a means to reassure his Rook that he wasn't alone anymore. Yumi, who also sensed the rise in Kenta's demonic energy clasped her hand with his as to show her own support to the Rook.
Kenta, who was suitably caught off guard by the silent support shown by Marid and Yumi, could only manage to give them a appreciative nod after taking a few deep breaths to recompose himself.
"That's horrible! Have you done something about it?" Rias asked with a horrified expression.
Familiar master, who was listening in on the entire conversation responded to the Gremory heiress, "As a result of the recent kidnappings, I have made deals with various stealth type familiars to keep an eye on the outskirts of the familiar forest! I have also written a letter of assistance to the Lord Lucifer's entourage! His aid would help us end these barbaric attacks on the sanctuary many supernatural beings call home" in the end Zatouji looked towards Marid in a pleading manner. His unsaid request was quite simple, to have Marid put in a word with his father regarding his problem. Considering it was a problem that could accelerate into something quite big, Marid had no problems in undertaking such a responsibility.
"I will make sure someone with enough authority will take a look at this problem and work towards resolving the issue as soon as possible" Marid replied with a head nod while mentally making a note to talk to his father and other Satans regarding this problem the next time he meets them.
Zatouji and Valkost, who were grateful for the son of Lucifer in helping them protect the familiar forest, bowed to Marid as a sign of respect. Marid quickly waved them of but any further opportunity of conversation was stopped when a blob of green landed on Kiba's head out of nowhere.
"What the hell is that?" Issie exclaimed as he practically saw a green slime raining down on the group.
"Those are the pesky slimes!! The bane of this familiar forest!" Valkost the Undine spoke in disgust before getting out of the way of an incoming blob of slime coming his way. To the surprise of many, Valkost showcased incredible agility by expertly dodging the slime before jumping back into the lake, away from the slime.
"Why did he just run off? These slimes don't look that bad" Issie spoke in some comical amusement.
However, his amusement was wiped out when he heard a yelp from Asia.
At the sudden cry from Asia, both Kenta and Issie turned around with incredible haste before summoning their respective sacred gears to protect Asia. Much to their horror, Asia had one of those slimes attached to her Kuoh academy uniform, burning it away right in front of their eyes.
"Asia are you hurt" Kenta asked worriedly before attempting to back hand the slime away from Asia. To his shock, the slime actually latched onto his hand and grabbed a vicious hold on his face.
"What the hell!" Despite Kenta doing his best to get the slime off his face, all his attempts ended in failures.
"What is happening over here?" Rias asked in the most graceful way possible, after all she was caught by the slime as well. Much to her irritation, the slime that had attacked her had binded her hands together, making her unable to use magic. Akeno and Koneko were caught in the same position, with the slimes binding their hands together before dissolving their clothes into nothing. A quick look around the field told her that everyone other than her pawns were caught in a similar position with the females of the group having been binded against their will and their clothes being disintegrated into nothing while the males of the group had slime over their heads, capturing their heads in a painfully secure lock to ensure no one could escape.
"I have no idea myself; these things shouldn't be here!" Zatouji replied thoughtfully, not really bothered by the predicament he was caught in.
"Then why are they here all of a sudden?" Yumi asked in desperation as she did her best to stop the slime eating off her clothes which would soon expose her modesty out to the world. Unfortunately, once the green slime had attached itself to her body, like rest of the girls, none of her magic worked against the slime.
"I don't know now lets see…" Zatouji spoke thoughtfully as he took in a large breath to try and get a hint of something. And a hint he got when he caught the scent of a certain mischievous familiar.
"That would make sense" Zatouji exclaimed aloud as he figured out the reason of the attack on them.
"Would you mind bringing us into the loop Zatouji?" Marid spoke in frustration at this point sine he to was cuffed against his will.
"Not at all my Lord. It looks like a certain Bakeneko was behind such a prank!"
"Bakeneko? What are they?"
"Bakeneko are similar to Nekomata Youkai but specifically refer to transformed domestic cats with supernatural powers in Japanese folklore. They are known for playing pranks and being mischievous everywhere they go!" Zatouji replied sagely. Not even bothering to get the green slime off him knowing that the slime was no danger to him and would eventually let go when it would have had its own share of fun.
"I swear when I get my hands on one of these cats I will beat them to hell" Kenta grumbled in annoyance.
"Keke" as if hearing Kenta's threat, the Bakeneko who was behind the entire mess came near him only to use a magic circle deposit even more slime on Kenta who by now was drowning in slime.
"For fucks sake!"
"I don't know what is going on but this truly is a miracle. For me able to see such wonderful female bodies" Issie exclaimed in pure jubilation as he was the only person not affected by the green slime and hence was able to take in the heavenly sight of two of the most beautiful women in the entirety of Kuoh all in their natural glory. Not to mention he was getting to see Asia and Yumi and Koneko in their birthday suits as well, despite the best efforts of the former two to cover themselves from the perverted pawns gaze.
"Ara Ara these binds are so aggressive. If we weren't caught in such a position, I might have just considered to make them my familiars" Akeno spoke in a seductive tone as she too worked hard to free herself.
'Yumi-san and Asia are rather busty. They may not have a body that could rival Rias Buchou or Akeno senpai, but there is no denying that they have a perfect frame for a high school teenager. Koneko-san also has a rather cute body' Issie thought lecherously in his head as he drank the heavenly sight in front of him mean while doing his best to not get a nose bleed.
"What even are these things?" Yumi asked aloud while struggling under the binds slime had placed on her. Despite her best efforts she was to escape, she was completely unsuccessful like Rias and Akeno before her. To her further embarrassment, the slime was eating away her clothes, just like the clothes of every other girl in their group.
Her question was answered by the only person part of the group who wasn't panicking or trying to find a way to get out of the hold these vicious slimes had placed on them, "These creatures are known as slimes and they are subspecies that dissolves clothing, building a symbiotic relationship with tentacle creatures, which are fond of the secretions of women, making it easier to hunt" calmly informed the group, even though most of his own face was covered in a savage headlock by the slime.
"Any way to get rid of them?" Kenta asked agitated at this point.
"Hmmm yes there is one" Zatouji spoke calmly yet again, something that infuriated Kenta to no end.
"Which would be?" Kenta gritted his teeth in frustration by this point.
"Slimes are weak to highly conductive energies, like flames and electricity" Zatouji rolled his eyes at Kenta's impatience.
"Kenta!" Marid simply said aloud. No other words needed to be said as the very next second Kenta summoned his sacred gear in its ring form to create a fire ball to clear out the slime of everyone in his vicinity. Much to Adara's amusement who found the entire event rather funny.
"Take this" Kenta's fireball exploded outwards, destroying the slime on his face and on the body of the Devils near him, freeing them in the process.
After getting free of the slimes held on him, his eyes burned to seek out the main culprit behind this entire problem. His senses turned to their max as he searched for the Bakeneko who had caused them so many issues. His heightened senses alerted him to something moving towards his west side. He focused on the approximate spot only to find a rather big dark haired cat weaseling away.
"I got you now" Kenta growled after it before leaping towards the Bakeneko in question. As if sensing being pounced on, the Bakeneko jumped away at the very last second avoiding Kenta with a hair's breath.
"Kekeke" the cat giggled, swaying its tail teasingly before running off deep in the woods.
"I am going to kill that cat when I get my hands on her" Kenta grumbled before running after the Bakeneko.
'First time running after a pussy?' Adara teased Kenta with a very suggestive grin on her face.
"Shut up Adara" Kenta growled as he partially transformed himself to catch with the surprisingly agile creature.
The change in Kenta's aura must have been sensed by the fleeing Bakeneko since after a quick glance towards its chaser, it significantly increased its speed.
"She is getting away" Kenta spoke in frustration as he did his best to keep up with the nimble monster from the Japanese folklore.
Despite the creatures best efforts, Kenta slowly started to gain ground on her as their chase led them into the denser parts of the forest. Soon, the high speed chase led the Bakeneko into a dead end corner with no escape routes.
In rising panic, the cat tried to climb up the tree to escape its chaser however, a well-timed fire dome from Kenta cut off that escape route for the cat too. Even though the fire Kenta had constructed with the help of Adara was instructed not to harm anything or anyone it came in contact with. In simpler terms, the fire acted more as a dome of light than a dome made out of the most destructive element to exist.
"What do you have to say for yourself" Kenta spoke seriously as he let out a small growl. The reaction for that growl was immediate as the creature from the Japanese folklore let out an aggressive hiss while getting into a defensive position.
'So what now? Are you going to kill the poor thing?' Adara couldn't help but ask her host about the faith of the creature in front of her.
'I don't want to kill it! While I am annoyed that the cat was able to get the best of me and was able play such a stunt on all of us! I don't want to hurt the poor thing. Maybe scare it a little or something' Kenta telepathically replied to Adara with a tone that told her he was a little hurt by her assumption.
'Then what would you do now? From where I am standing the cat is backed into a corner and quite literally scared for his life. Your immense frame and dominating Ki isn't doing anything but intimidate the poor thing' Adara calmly pointed out to Kenta.
Kenta couldn't help but agree with Adara's perspective, the poor feline was indeed scared to death. She was defensively crouching up against the tree while using one of her forward paws to threaten swinging in the air and hissing and growling at incoming Kenta. But Kenta, who was part of the same family tree as Bakeneko, knew it was scared of him. Not to mention the fear he could see in its eyes was rather numbing. The look he got from the feline reminded him of his younger self when he was originally kidnapped from the safety of his home. The fear he felt after he saw his mother die and yanked away from the place he considered a safe haven, that's the same fear he saw in the Bakeneko's eyes.
Kenta by this point was so deep in thought that he had stopped walking towards the feline, much to her confusion. Adara who was accurately aware of Kenta's thought decided to not intervene, wanting to see how her host will move forward.
What felt like hours for the scared Bakeneko was merely ten seconds after which point Kenta receded back into his human form, reeling in his dominating Ki to appear as not threatening as possible.
Kenta kneeled beside her in the most non-threatening way possible and looked deep into its eyes. In an attempt to find out whether or not the creature had truly surrendered or was waiting for him to get his guard down only to wreak more chaos. All that suffering and pain definitely taught him something. To his desolation, he only saw resignation of defeat from the familiar.
After letting out a sigh, Kenta proceeded scratch the feline behind its ears, earning a small 'Nya' in response. Out of all the things in the world, the one thing he didn't want beings look at him as was fearful, respectful sure, but not afraid of him.
Bakeneko, at first was hesitant and as if sensing Kenta's attention, melted into his touch. The familiar proceeded to let out a few purrs as well, much to Kenta and Adara's amusement. However, that amusement turned into shock once Bakeneko bowed to Kenta.
'I think the cat is accepting you' Adara helpfully pointed out to a confused Kenta.
'Accepting me as what, as a Kuroshishi?' Kenta couldn't help but ask his host in confusion. Kenta was knowledgeable in many domains but social interactions wasn't one of them.
'More like accepting you as a master' Adara replied with a smile.
"Me! A master?!? You cant be serious!" Kenta almost shouted in shock. At first Kenta had thought that Adara was just messing with him but a deeper bow from the Bakeneko confirmed Adara's words.
'Why don't you make it your familiar? That's what you came here for right?' Adara asked rhretorically as she sensed confliction in Kenta's mind.
'I did but this…' Kenta begun but couldn't find the words to explain his thoughts.
'Sudden? I know but having a familiar is part of the underworld's culture. After skimming through your memories, I know you don't like the idea of having servants, especially how you were treated in your captivity, but this is different. You don't have to be like those monsters. You can set your own example of how you want to treat beings you make a pact with. Yumi, Marid and others also have familiars, but they aren't like the monsters you have dealt with. If they didn't follow the path those monsters take why do you think you would. You are surrounded by great people who go through life following paths of morality, follow them' Adara advised Kenta softly. She knew his conflict with the servant master and familiar system. After all she knew him better than most people, maybe even better than himself.
Kenta thought about it deeply, but in the end he sighed in acceptance. Deciding to take Adara's sound advice to heart and make the Bakeneko his first familiar. He would not be like the others who treat their servants and familiars like slaves. He wont be like them! He would be better than them!
Back with the others
"Ara Ara I was having so much fun with this" Akeno, now finally free, used her lightning to electrocute the slimes.
"Finally" Rias exclaimed as she then too joined Marid, Akeno and the others in wiping out the slime.
"Wait don't do kill them all" Issie looked at the scene utterly horrified. His future familiar was getting exterminated right in front of him.
"What do you mean these things attacked us and basically stripped us from her clothing?!?" Rias asked her pawn, a bit bewildered by Issie's attitude.
"That's exactly why don't want you killing them" Issie spoke almost desperately.
"huh?" Rias halted her onslaught to turn back to her pawn to see what her pawn was getting at.
"Rias Buchou, I have decided I want to make this slime my familiar!" Issie spoke seriously much to the shock of people around him.
"He cant be serious!"
"Pervert"
"Oh boy"
"I think I am just going to ignore what he said"
"Guys I am serious!" Issie spoke louder this time with utmost seriousness.
"You want to make thatyour familiar?" Kiba replied back with a look that suggested that he was seriously considering if Issie had lost his gravy train.
"I am very serious about it! This is the familiar that was meant for me! I want to make this my familiar" Issie proclaimed his intention out to the group yet again.
"Hohoho I have never seen someone so adamant about making a pact with the familiar forests most useless familiar" Zatouji chuckled aloud as he found himself out of the slimes hold.
"That makes the two of us" Marid joined the familiar master in his bemusement at Issie's demand.
By this point the only blob of slime that was still alive was stuck to Asia's body as every single other blob of slime was either destroyed or electrocuted beyond any measure by the Devils.
"Issie, while I am very lenient about the decisions my servants make but I can't let you make that slime your familiar. It has absolutely no use to you and frankly speaking it is an abomination against women" Rias spoke seriously as she threatened to wipe out the very creature Issie wanted to make his familiar while protectively covering her body, after all the slime had destroyed a good chunk of her uniform. Had she not, her assets would be on display for the world to see. Yumi, Koneko and Akeno were in the same boat as they did their best to cover themselves. Well everyone except Akeno who was loving the embarrassed blushes that came across Marid and Kiba's faces as they glanced at her in her current predicament.
"Please let me change your…" words died in his mouth as Issie found himself getting heavily electrocuted causing him to loose his grip on Asia and fall down on the ground.
*ZAP* Another bolt of blue lightning emerged out of nowhere, this time striking the slime on Asia's clothes. The suddenness of the attack resulted in Asia letting out an undignified yelp, much to her further embarrassment.
"What the?!?" the group, now alerted, turned their heads in all directions, looking for the assailant that struck both Issie and the slime. Luckily for them, the assailant didn't made them look for a long time since soon after he landed on top of one of Asia's shoulder, revealing his existence to the group of Devils.
"Is that a" Yumi began identifying the creature that just landed on Asia's shoulder but she was too shocked to complete her sentence.
"A Dragon" Marid ended up completing Yumi's sentence as he too looked forward towards the dragon in surprise.
The dragon in question was a very small blue scaled dragons with two small wings. In size he was smaller than a size five soccer ball.
"Hohoho, who would have thought the young bishop of the Gremory heiress would attract a sprite dragon" Zatouji bellowed with laughter. He was thoroughly amused and, in some form, pleasantly surprised at seeing a sprite dragon finally taking a liking to a Devil.
Like all the other Dragons, sprite dragons were prideful creature who never yielded to beings who were weaker than them. However, due to them being identified as a Dragon and having a small frame, they were highly sought after familiars by the Devils.
"Sprite Dragons?" Yumi asked aloud, not really accustomed to the species.
"Sprite Dragons are normal tiered dragons that can generate powerful blue lightning. Due to their small size, they are perfect to make a familiar pact with. Though, for that to happen, you would have to tame the sprite dragon in question as a child because sprite dragons become uncontrollable in their adulthood. However, this little sprite dragon seemed to have taken a liking to your bishop Rias Gremory. This is a very rare sight indeed" Zatouji explained to the group who began taking in the sight of the blue scaled dragon that was sitting protectively on Asia's shoulders.
Asia couldn't help but marvel at the sight of the dragon. Ever since she was part of the church, she had been told about Dragons and their Lords apparent disdain for them but seeing a dragon up close, she couldn't help but admire their beauty especially of the dragon that sat on her shoulders. His diamond like scales, adorable little wings and his emerald red eyes looking protectively around her. She couldn't help but admire the creature.
"How is it rare to have a sprite dragon willingly submit to someone?" Kiba asked curiously.
"It is rare because Dragons are usually prideful creatures who never yield or follow someone unless they like/respect you or you are stronger than them. For a dragon to willingly attach themselves to someone like this is a very rare event. Perhaps it was attracted to young Gremory bishops innocence. It has been stated that there have been events in the past where a dragon gains a unnatural need to protect someone they find pure" Zatouji theorized aloud.
"That would psychologically make sense. Dragons are beings of chaos and domination so it is not hard to believe they find pure hearted beings peaceful and hence are attracted to them" Marid spoke with a thoughtful look on his face, much to Asia's further embarrassment.
"I want to make him my familiar" Asia relayed her wishes to the group as she petted the dragon on her shoulders. An act the dragon thoroughly enjoyed.
"That's a great choice" the familiar master spoke approvingly. Rias couldn't help but agree with the familiar master's words.
"In the name of I, Asia Argento and Devils everywhere. I command you to accept this pact to be my familiar forever!" and soon Asia was able to make the pact with her first familiar. Her companion until the end of her life.
Soon after the completion of the magical pact between them, the sprite dragon proceeded to jump off the ground and into his masters awaiting arms. He snuggled inside Asia's warm embrace and let out a few cooing sounds, indicating to the group that he did find the embrace a place peaceful and to his liking.
"Hey get of Asia's chest that spot is for…" Issie, who finally recovered from the lightning strike from the sprite dragon, couldn't complete his rant as he was electrocuted by the sprite dragon in question.
"You both look good together. Looks like you found a worthy companion Asia-chan" Rias proceeded to congratulate Asia. Soon the entire group joined Rias in congratulating Asia for making a pact with such a capable familiar. Well all but one congratulated.
"So, what are you going to name the little thing?" Zatouji couldn't help but ask the young bishop.
"Name him?" Asia asked as she tilted her head cutely.
"Oh yes. It is something of a tradition among Devils that once a Devil successfully recruits a familiar they name them, as a way to honor and welcoming them" Zataouji explained with a smile.
Asia hummed as she adoringly looked at her familiar. Soon a smile graced her features as she proceeded to hug her first familiar, "I will name you… Kassie".
Noone asked the reason why she named her familiar that, after all they had a pretty good idea as to who the familiar was named after.
"That is a wonderful name" Rias replied with a smile as she hugged her Bishop lovingly. In the act Kassie actually got in the middle of her and Asia's breast. An act he thoroughly enjoyed.
"That hard scaly ball destroyed the familiar of my dreams. If Asia wasn't so attached with it then I would have booted him to the other side of the forest" Issie grumbled aloud, still upset all of the slime was destroyed.
Much to his further annoyance, Rassie proceeded to shock him again with his lightning. Others could only chuckle at the amusing sight in front of them.
Soon after, they saw Kenta returning from his chase alongside a creature that looked to be a dark furred cat to most of them and oddly familiar.
"Looks like you brought back a friend" Marid couldn't help but comment aloud.
"Yes, after I cornered her, she gave up and willingly submitted herself. Keno is now a familiar of mine" Kenta announced to the group before glancing towards his new familiar who was enjoying all the shocked expressions she was getting.
She particularly was overjoyed when she heard a comment regarding her beautiful feline features from Akeno as she proceeded to go and affectionately rub her forehead against Akeno's bare shins.
"Tonight is one for the ages. Not only two of the servents of the Gremory family were able to find a worthy familiar for themselves, the familiars themselves were extremely unique and hard to get. This truly is night I will never forget" Zatouji exclaimed aloud at the end of what he could call a very successful night.
"You can say that again" Rias spoke with a small smile as she patched up her clothes. She won't deny, she was a little bummed out that Issie wasn't able to get a familiar of his own but she was truly happy for both Kenta and Asia.
However, despite her best efforts, her thoughts kept on darkening when she kept recalling the conversation, she had with Sona a few weeks ago.
'What am I thinking? Father will never force a marriage on me while I am still in school' Rias waved off her concerns with a head shake before taking her and Marid's peerage back to the human world. Not knowing that in her thought, she had unknowingly challenged the Gods of Irony, the Gods even Marid had come to fear.
Chapter End
Well there you have it people. This is the end of this chapter and the end of the cool down chapters. From next chapter onwards we will be moving onto the second arc of the story. Trust you all are going to enjoy it very much!!
Furthermore, I wanted to inform you all that I have changed my upload schedule. I will now be uploading this story every month on both my fanfic and webnovel pages. Any further updates regarding the update schedule would be on my profile on fanfic!!
Furthermore, before I end this chapter, I just wanted to urge you all to please COMMENT on the chapters and let me know what you all think. Please write constructive criticism so I know where I am lacking or if my story has some plot holes. These help me greatly improve the quality of my chapters.
Also, Happy Holidays and see you all next year! Hopefully lol!
Until then stay safe and have fun!
DGZalama out!
Words:- 8220