Arthur blinked slowly as his vision blurred around the edges.
"Huh…?"
He muttered and looked around.
He was floating, weightless, silent, suspended in a surreal expanse of color and light, as if he were drifting inside a kaleidoscope where every second the walls moved, stretched, and collapsed in on themselves.
The stars pulsed and spiraled above him, below him was no floor, no sky, just infinite, turning colors.
He turned his body instinctively, trying to find his bearings, but there was no gravity, no resistance.
Just floating.
"…Where… am I?"
He whispered, his voice soft but echoing infinitely around him.
His chest rose and fell a bit faster as he tried to understand the sensation crawling under his skin.
"How did I end up here? And why does this place feel so… familiar?"
He muttered again, more to himself.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to dig through his memories.
This wasn't a dream, it didn't feel like a dream.
Arthur quickly focused and called out.
(Ddraig, you there?)
No response.
(…Ddraig?)
He strained harder, trying to feel the presence of his partner and friend.
Nothing.
A flicker of panic surfaced.
"…Okay… that's pretty concerning."
Before he could process that further, a low rumble vibrated through the very fabric of space behind him.
Arthur turned.
His breath caught in his throat.
"What the what?"
There, emerging from the swirling mist of the kaleidoscopic void, was a gargantuan figure.
A gargantuan red Western Dragon, its scales shimmering with a deep crimson hue that rivals Ddraig's.
Two sets of massive wings folded behind its body, each the size of city blocks.
A single, sharp horn jutted from its snout like a blade, and its glowing golden eyes were focused entirely on Arthur.
Arthur instinctively tried to move, summon his Longinus, do something, but his body didn't respond.
Not because he physically couldn't, but because every fiber of his being told him he shouldn't.
He felt like a singular bacterium standing in the middle of a cosmic storm.
The dragon exhaled through its nostrils, and a deep warmth swept across Arthur's face.
Its mouth never moved, yet its voice boomed through the space.
"Not bad... It seems you're doing well."
Arthur blinked.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to respond.
"W-Who… are you?"
The dragon gazed down at him, its stare like staring into creation itself.
Arthur felt bare, not in a literal sense, but as if every thought, every feeling, every secret in his soul had been laid bare and was now being quietly observed.
The dragon's gaze never shifted as it spoke again.
"I advise you to ready yourselves. Some things in your new reality are not what they seem. What you knew in your past, what you remember, will not match what is to come."
Arthur's brows furrowed.
"W-What are you talking about? What does that mean?"
The dragon leaned in slowly.
The very motion sent ripples through the space around it.
The air distorted, reality bending just from the movement of its colossal head.
Its eyes, now inches away from Arthur's own, seemed to peer further than even Ddraig ever had.
"That is all I will say for now... I've aided you in your journey long enough."
The dragon said.
"If you're able to survive what's to come… let's reunite at the end of the world."
Arthur didn't have time to process that cryptic message.
The dragon opened its jaws and before Arthur could react, he was pulled forward, weightless, helpless.
The last thing he saw were those golden eyes watching him without emotion.
And then...
DxD
Arthur jolted up from the bed with a sharp gasp, chest heaving, sweat clinging to every inch of his bare body as he stared forward in wide-eyed panic.
His heart pounded against his ribs, and his throat felt dry, as if he had just escaped drowning.
The room was dark, lit only by the soft, bluish glow of moonlight slipping through the window curtains.
From beside him, the blanket stirred.
"Arthur…?"
Lavinia's sleepy voice came, her words muffled and gentle.
She slowly sat up, pulling the sheets up to cover her naked form.
Her messy blond hair spilled over her shoulders in loose waves as she blinked and focused on him.
Seeing his shaken state, her expression shifted into one of immediate concern.
"Arthur… what's wrong? Did something happen?"
He looked at her.
His eyes were still wide, still clouded with information.
But slowly, his breathing eased, and he dragged a hand across his damp forehead, brushing his sweat-slicked hair back.
He exhaled, his voice slightly hoarse.
"…It's nothing, Lav. It's… just a bad dream."
Lavinia reached out toward him, resting her hand on his arm gently, and her gaze lingered on his face, studying him.
The darkness didn't hide the tension in his jaw or the beads of sweat still trailing down his chest.
"You're drenched..."
She said softly.
Arthur gave a tired smile, letting himself fall back against the bed with a sigh.
"It's nothing serious. Also, sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
He turned his head slightly to glance at her, only to find her already moving closer.
She lay down beside him, carefully pressing her body against his side.
Her hand reached up to brush back his damp hair, fingers combing softly through it as she looked into his eyes.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She asked, her voice was gentle.
Arthur stared at her.
The moonlight played across her soft skin, her eyes full of concern.
For a moment, he hesitated, but then he gave a faint smile, pulling her into his arms.
"Don't worry, Lav. It's nothing you need to be concerned about. I'm fine."
He whispered, his voice gentler now.
Lavinia nestled into his chest, letting her hand trace light circles on his skin.
She didn't press on, but she knew it wasn't just a bad dream.
Something had happened that was bothering him.
Still, she trusted him to let it go for now.
"When you're ready… I'll be here waiting."
She whispered.
Arthur tightened his arms around her, grateful for her presence.
They lay like that for a few minutes in silence, their breathing slowly syncing, heartbeats calming together.
Then, breaking the quiet, Arthur tilted his head slightly and asked with a teasing smirk.
"So… since we're both awake… how about another round?"
Lavinia blinked, pulling back to look at him in disbelief.
"Arthur, you're seriously asking that after waking up screaming?"
She said, lips twitching as a flustered smile formed.
He chuckled, the warmth returning to his voice.
"Thought it might help me relax. You know... emotional support."
Lavinia giggled softly, rolling her eyes.
"You're unbelievable. We were at it for hours. I'm still sore from earlier."
Arthur leaned in slowly, his tone dipping lower, playful yet intimate.
"Not even just one more? I'll be gentle."
She tried to maintain her resistance, biting her lower lip slightly.
"Mmm… I don't know… I'm not made of steel, you know…"
Without warning, Arthur shifted their positions, rolling them over so she was beneath him.
Lavinia let out a soft yelp, her silver hair spilling across the pillow as she stared up at him, slightly wide-eyed, breath catching in her throat.
"Arthur!"
She said, more surprised than angry.
He leaned down until his forehead pressed gently against hers.
His breath was warm, and his hand found hers and laced their fingers together as he smiled.
"Just one more, please? We'll cuddle afterwards. Promise."
He whispered, his lips brushing hers.
Lavinia stared at him for a moment, heart pounding, not out of fear, but something else entirely.
Finally, with a defeated breath and a faint smile curling her lips, she whispered.
"One round. That's it."
Arthur grinned, lowering his mouth to hers, and their lips met in a slow, passionate kiss, their bodies molding together once again.
...
5 Rounds Later.
The room was heavy with silence, the kind that only came after passion and exhaustion had taken their toll.
The air was warm and still, thick with the scent of sweat, heat, and intimacy.
Lavinia lay fast asleep, her body draped across the mattress, her pale skin glowing faintly in the moonlight seeping through the curtains.
Her messy hair was tousled, clinging to her damp forehead and neck.
Her chest rose and fell slowly, peacefully, her face softened in deep slumber.
The glow of satisfaction still lingered on her flushed features, her lips slightly parted as she murmured something unintelligible in her sleep.
Behind her, Arthur was awake, lying on his side and gently spooning her.
His arms wrapped around her waist, his bare chest pressed against her back, the rhythm of her breathing calming against his skin.
One of his hands rested on her stomach while the other was tucked beneath his head.
His fingers occasionally brushed her skin absentmindedly, small movements that hinted he was lost in thought.
(That dragon… Was that Great Red?)
That dragon had known him, it had seen through him as if his soul were a book laid open.
Its words still echoed in his mind.
("I advise you to ready yourselves. Some things in your new reality are not what they seem. What you knew in your past, what you remember, will not match what is to come.")
Arthur's brows furrowed.
(What did that even mean…? Different how? The people? The history? The future? Did it mean I changed something? Did someone else?)
His grip around Lavinia tightened ever so slightly.
And then he thought about Gasper.
The boy who had ended up in the wrong place in the wrong time.
Why was he in Ireland? How did he get there? What made him end his own life for nothing?
And yet…
He sighed quietly, careful not to wake the woman sleeping so peacefully in his arms.
(Am I prepared for all of this?)
He wasn't afraid to fight as he had been fighting all his life.
But this… Something different was happening, and he was uncertain.
(Do I have what it takes… to protect all of this? To face what's coming?)
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment, listening to Lavinia's steady breathing, and feeling her heartbeat.
He gently pressed his face into her damp hair, breathing in her natural scent.
The soft fragrance that grounded him back into reality, back into the warmth of now.
He let himself stay there for a moment longer, holding her tighter, burying his thoughts beneath her presence.
(Whatever questions I have… I'll deal with them in the morning.)
With one last breath, he settled himself in more comfortably, one leg entwining gently with hers.
He nuzzled into her neck, feeling her shift slightly in her sleep with a small hum.
A smile pulled at his lips as he whispered faintly into her ear.
"Sweet dreams, my Lav…"
He closed his eyes, the weight of tomorrow pressing against him, but for now, he let himself forget it.
Just for a little while.
DxD
The quiet European town slept peacefully.
The townsfolk, all resting after their daily work, were now resting asleep to see another day.
All was calm...
... Until it wasn't.
Then, without warning, the streetlights flickered before dying into darkness.
Every bulb shattered at once with sharp pops, and the silence deepened… then fractured.
From every corner, shadowed alley, and rooftop, they began to emerge, countless cloaked figures, silent and faceless beneath the hoods they wore.
Their movements were deliberate and unhurried, spreading around the buildings.
The flicker of red light began to pulse beneath their hoods, glowing eyes scanning every window, every doorway.
They stood still at first, dozens facing all directions as if listening to their next orders.
Then came the hiss.
One among them, taller than the rest, stepped into the center of the intersection.
His cloak billowed as he raised his head just enough to reveal a pale smile and elongated fangs beneath his hood.
"Remember... No survivors."
And then chaos descended.
The countless figures erupted, their bodies tearing apart into flocks of vampire bats and packs of black hounds that bled shadows with every step.
The air was filled with screeches, growls, and the sudden thunder of clawed feet slamming against stone.
Doors shattered open, and windows exploded inward.
Soon enough, screams followed.
Children cried, parents shouted in confusion, only to be silenced one after another.
The scent of blood began to lace the air.
From a high steeple overlooking the town square, a lone figure stood beneath the stone gargoyle.
He looked down upon the spreading carnage, the moon reflecting his eyes as fire and shadow tore through the homes below.
He said nothing for a long time, merely watching the streets be consumed by darkness.
Screams echoed upward, bouncing off the stone walls like echoes from the underworld.
Then, he spoke. His voice was soft and mocking.
"I wonder… how will you handle this news, halfbreed?"
He tilted his head slightly, below him, a small figure tried to flee, only to be caught in the jaws of a shadow hound that dragged them into the dark.
The hooded man chuckled beneath his breath.
"Such a shame I can't see the expression of your despair."
He turned from the edge of the steeple, his cloak swaying in the wind like black wings. As he stepped back into the shadows, his form began to dissolve into mist, leaving only the lingering sound of his fading voice.
"Soon, I can finally breathe in peace."
Below, the screams of the town did not stop.
They only grew louder.
DxD
Hello readers!
I am so tired...
It would be nice if somebody added this fanfic to their library and gave me their Power Stones...
Thank you everyone and see you later!