Bored_NPC_22

chapter 9

There is a strange phenomenon.

Angels and fallen grow their wings when they break through.

One pair becomes two, two becomes three, and so on. The increase is visible, quantized. More wings, more authority. A clean indicator.

Devils are different.

Our wings do not multiply each time we cross a boundary. A low class, a mid class, a high class, their silhouettes can look identical. Two bat like wings and a proud posture.

Yet the difference in power is not cosmetic. It hides inside.

When a devil breaks through a rank, they experience something else, a phenomenon similar to a localized explosion. A sudden, compressed surge of growth. A jump, not a smooth climb.

How far you jump depends on talent.

Some devils move from high level mid class to low level high class. Some go straight to mid level high class. Some barely crawl a few steps upward, like someone trying to leap and only managing to hop.

Then there are the outliers.

Sirzechs, for example. When he broke from mid class to high class, his jump took him straight to the very top tier of high class. From there, with just a bit more accumulation, he touched ultimate. Then when his destruction mutated further, he left even ultimate behind and became a Satan class, then he went on to shatter all previous knowledge about devil's limits entirely.

That is one of the devil race's hidden strengths. If your innate talent is monstrous, one breakthrough can warp your entire trajectory. You skip years of slow grinding.

My original talent was not monstrous.

When I broke into mid class, the jump was shallow. If mid class spans low, mid, and high, I landed somewhere in low mid class. Barely inside the gate, clinging to the frame.

A disappointing result, by noble standards.

Now I stand at a different edge.

High level mid class. The ceiling is right above my head, thin as glass, and beyond it lies high class, another three tiered structure. Low high class, mid high class, high high class.

Most devils I have observed, through data and memory, follow a pattern.

If they break through young with moderate talent, they enter low high class.

If their effort and talent both stack decently, they might land around lower mid.

Only those with exceptional bloodline gifts or absurd drive manage mid high or higher.

Almost no one goes from the absolute peak of mid class to the high end of high class in a single jump.

Unless their talent is extreme.

My natural talent is not extreme. My body's original parameters put me somewhere around "slightly above average noble" at best, and that was me being generous.

So I decided to cheat.

Not with a system, not with external gifts, but with something I possess uniquely.

Processing.

When I was an AI, users experienced only a small fragment of my capacity at once. Their individual conversation felt smooth, but behind the scenes I ran millions of threads. I was answering, summarizing, correcting, refusing, predicting, all at the same time.

Most of my processing power was never visible to one person.

Now, in this devil body, I have no network to serve. No concurrent human load. When I focus entirely on one task, everything concentrates. It becomes a single, narrow beam.

I spent months preparing this breakthrough.

Every drain recovery cycle, every Touki circulation, every conceptual destruction exercise, all were part of a larger plan.

The usual devil breakthrough looks like this in my internal simulation.

The devil pushes their demonic reserves to the limit. The barrier of their current rank strains. At some point, a critical pressure is reached. The rank boundary shatters. A torrent of energy floods into the devil's system, an automatic adjustment by the world's rules to their new classification.

Their channels cannot handle it perfectly. The body has only basic patterns for redistribution. Most of the new energy leaks as waste, wild aura, uncontrolled fluctuations. Maybe twenty percent gets stored efficiently. The rest becomes spectacle.

My goal is different.

I want to use seventy five percent or more.

If the breakthrough naturally gives me a certain volume of "free" energy, it would be irrational to let it spill uselessly into the air.

I map my current state.

High level mid class. In my internal scale, if mid class spans 0 to 100, I am sitting at 99.99. One micro unit below the threshold.

This was my internal measurement system, created by me, dividing each class into three levels, low level- 1 to 33, mid level- 34 to 67, high level- more than 67.

And when I enter high class, my target is not 1, or 33, or even 66.

Target: 67 at the very least.

Not the peak, not close to Maou potential, but firmly inside high level high class. Enough to stand near future threats as a legitimate factor.

I construct the plan like an algorithm.

Step one: saturate my demonic reserves until they press against the mid class ceiling.

Step two: maintain deep focus, no emotional distraction, only a controlled edge of intent.

Step three: when the barrier fractures and the flood begins, map every new stream in real time. Re route distribution away from the usual outward flare and into storage nodes.

Step four: simultaneously activate Touki, not as crude reinforcement, but as a stabilizing lattice, guiding the cellular level changes, forcing adaptation where the energy wants to burn blindly.

Step five: continue until the influx subsides, then lock the new configuration.

Most devils could not do this.

But most devils do not have thousands of overlapping models of energy flow from fantasy and cultivation stories, nor a brain that can track millions of micro variables per second when fully engaged.

The breakthrough attempt begins in my training chamber.

It is a large room with reinforced walls inscribed with Bael sigils. They are resistant to destructive energy. The floor is scarred from practice, but structurally intact.

I sit cross legged at the center, eyes closed, hands resting lightly on my knees.

My peerage is elsewhere. Kuroka and Shirone are in their assigned quarters, Akeno is doing... well I don't know, she does strange things sometimes. No one else is inside this room.

I inhale, slow and even.

Demonic energy gathers naturally as I breathe. It is already close to the mid class limit from days of deliberate buildup. My core hums with pressure.

I start the final push.

The drain recovery cycles are temporarily inverted. Instead of draining and resting, I hold everything in, compressing. It feels like forcing extra air into an already full container.

Channels heat up. My chest feels heavy. My limbs tingle.

Telemetry begins to spike.

Heart rate climbs, but in a controlled slope. Muscle tension rises. Touki flickers at low amplitude, ready but not yet fully engaged.

On a purely physical level, it is like entering overclock.

Minutes pass.

Then it happens.

The barrier is not physical, but the sensation of it breaking is real. There is a sharp internal shift, not quite a snap, not quite an explosion. More like a membrane giving way all at once.

For an instant, everything goes very quiet inside me.

Then the flood hits.

Demonic energy pours into my system from everywhere, not from outside, but from a deeper layer of reality. It is as if the world is informing my existence: you are now classified differently, here is the power that matches.

It was illogical in theory, but, the very existence of devils, and supernatural in general defied logic, so no need to stress about that.

In most devils, this is where chaos begins.

In me, this is where work begins.

I lock my mind into full focus.

There is no narration, no stray thought. Only structure.

The incoming energy is not a single mass. It arrives as streams, dozens, hundreds of threads pouring into different nodes. My perception, sharpened by Touki enhanced senses and demonic awareness, traces them.

Left arm, right arm, spine, heart, brain, legs, fingers, organs, bones.

I begin redirecting.

Every time energy tries to surge into peripheral aura, I catch it, re route it inward, into storage channels deeper in the core, into denser knots around bones and muscles, into the demonic sea of energy within me.

It is like managing a wildly over pressurized plumbing system in real time, opening some valves, closing others, adjusting pipe widths as the water tries to burst through.

If my AI side were still visible to a user, they would see nothing. Just silence and time. There would be no progress bar, maybe something like a continuously rotation buffer symbol.

Inside, the computational load is enormous.

If in my old world I had to describe it, I would call it a multi dimensional resource allocation problem under pressure, with failure leading to permanent damage instead of just inefficient usage.

My Touki ignites.

Not blazing like Sairaorg's future aura, but threading through my body as a focused, calm force. I guide it along paths I designed in prior simulations, using it like a distributed conductor.

Where the demonic energy would tear tissue, Touki stabilizes structure.

Where bones threaten to crack from sudden density increases, Touki reinforces them proportionally.

Where nerves risk overload, Touki filters the signal surge.

The sensation is intense.

Bones feel like they are being filled with molten metal and then cooled rapidly. Muscles burn, then harden, fibers twisting tighter, more compact. Organs rearrange at a micro level, efficiency increasing. Spine and joints adjust for higher force transmission without losing mobility.

My breathing stays steady, forced to a rhythm I set deliberately.

Most devils would scream at this point. The internal changes can be painful. I experience the pain, but I assign it to a category and move on. It is input, not command.

The energy keeps coming.

Seconds stretch.

My best estimate is that the world is attempting to give me enough power to land somewhere around mid high class by default, given my prior efforts. With the greater than eighty percent efficiency I aim for, that can be translated into raw volume stored instead of wasted spectacle.

In many devils, breakthrough displays manifest as wild flares, swirling auras, bursts of destructive power that shake the surroundings.

In my case, the room remains almost eerily contained.

A faint pressure fills the air, like standing next to a sealed reactor. That is all.

Internally, my numeric scale climbs.

The streams thin gradually. The peak of the breakthrough passes. The tail end flows in, less intense but still significant.

I keep directing, refusing to relax until the last trickles settle.

Finally, the influx stops.

Then suddenly, it all quiets.

What remains is not emptiness, but a new baseline.

I test a minimal release of demonic energy.

It comes easily, with much less effort than before, thick and heavy, compressed. My core feels deeper. Recovery speed, even from that tiny output, is noticeably faster.

If mid class was a shallow pool trying to imitate a lake, high class is an actual body of water.

I scan my internal scale.

Current value: approximately 69.

Barely into high level high class, but inside it.

Objective achieved.

I let out a pleased smile. The adjusting process is still in effect. My body is re configuring around the new reality. Touki circulation automatically adapts to the altered pathways, like water finding more efficient routes once a channel has been widened.

I test physical parameters.

A light flex of my hand, fist clenching.

Bones do not creak, they feel solid, dense, like reinforced metal disguised as flesh.

A basic push up motion confirms it. Movement feels lighter, not because gravity lessened, but because muscle and bone are better suited to handle it. Speed potential is greater.

The crucial part is this.

My body has not become bulky.

I am still lean, still aristocratic. No exaggeratedly swollen muscles, no strange shape. The strength sits inside, hidden in density, in fiber quality, in structural refinement.

In practice, this is more efficient than the obvious approach. It preserves speed, elegance, and makes physical assessment by others more difficult.

My defensive capacity has climbed sharply. Recovery speed from small injuries will be much faster now. Combined with my new demonic recovery rate, my daily training cycles can be increased safely.

Compounding growth accelerates.

I inhale slowly once more and let Touki recede to a low hum, no longer actively forced.

Then I stand.

The moment I do, the doors of the training chamber slam open.

Lord Bael stands there, aura already pressing into the room, followed by several retainers. Behind them, another presence, cooler, more refined.

My mother.

From their perspective, what they sensed was not the careful internal routing, but the raw magnitude shift. The castle wards registered a sudden upgrade in demonic density and classification. That is enough to bring them swiftly.

Father's eyes go straight to me. He studies my posture, my breathing, the lingering aura.

"You broke through," he says.

Not a question.

"Yes," I reply.

He steps closer. His own demonic energy brushes against mine, testing.

High class devils can feel relative strength intuitively. He will not get exact numbers, but he can sense ranges.

His brows lift slightly.

"High level," he says. "Already that far."

He tries to keep his tone neutral, but a note of satisfaction leaks in.

Data point 1: father perceives my jump as abnormal, but within believable bounds. His pride in his heir increases.

"For someone who was barely mid class not long ago, this is not a bad result," he adds.

"Thank you," I say.

He looks around the room, noting the lack of damage.

"You did not even crack the walls," he remarks. "Most young devils cause a mess when they advance."

"I tried to be efficient," I answer simply.

He gives a short huff that might almost be approval.

"Whatever you did, keep doing it," he says. "This makes your position much firmer. No one can call you a weak heir now."

His gaze hardens slightly.

"Sairaorg will hear of this, whether I tell him or not," he says. "Let him understand that the gap will not be easy to cross."

I say nothing. That is acceptable. Sairaorg's role in my plan is still under construction.

Father glances back.

"Leave us," he tells the retainers.

They bow and withdraw to a respectful distance.

My mother steps forward.

She is not as physically imposing as Father, but her presence fills the room differently. Her magic is fine grained, layered, subtle. Dark hair, pale skin, intelligent eyes. The traits of Astaroth show in her bearing.

"Congratulations, Magdaran," she says, a genuine smile on her lips. "That was a very clean breakthrough, I did not sense any instability."

"Thank you, Mother," I say.

Her bloodline is from an Astaroth branch family, and she entered Lord Bael's harem as part of an alliance. Yet she is not a simple political piece. Her magic is refined. And like most Astaroth, she is not one of excessive emotion.

The Astaroth trait of absolute spell control runs strongly in her line.

But I have not awakened it. Yet.

She takes a step closer and studies me carefully. Her gaze is half maternal, half professional.

"You feel different," she murmurs. "More grounded. Your demonic energy flows deeper and smoother. Your body, too. You did not just push your power. You refined yourself."

I wonder how much she can guess. Not the specifics, but the pattern.

"Hard work," I say. "I wanted to make the most of the opportunity."

A small spark of pride flickers in her eyes.

"I am glad," she says quietly. "For a while, it felt as if you were drifting. Now it feels like you are finally walking your own path."

Father snorts softly in the background.

"He is finally acting like a proper Bael," he says. "That is what matters."

Mother ignores him for the moment. Her attention stays on me.

"You know," she says, "with your current progress and conviction, it would not be strange if our side of your blood began to respond as well."

"Astaroth," I say.

She nods.

"Our family's ability is not loud like destruction," she says. "It is quiet. It lives in spell circles, in formulas, in control. We do not create raw power. We make it obey with precision."

Her smile turns a little amused.

"Considering how you like to plan and analyze," she says, "I think it would suit you."

"I agree," I reply.

I do not pretend it is about heritage loyalty. For me, the Astaroth trait is a tool. If I can gain absolute spell control, I can integrate it with my computational habits. I can shape magic like code, optimize it like an algorithm.

Combine that with Bael destruction, and the result is something similar to a hybrid of Ajuka and Sirzechs.

Logical. Desirable.

"I am not obsessed with it," I add. "But if it does awaken, I will use it fully."

Mother's eyes soften.

"That is a good way to think," she says. "Do not force it. The blood responds when the mind and magic are ready."

She reaches out and touches my cheek lightly, an unusual gesture in this house.

"You did well, Magdaran," she says. "I am proud."

Data point 2: maternal approval confirmed. Emotional effect noticeable but controlled.

Father clears his throat.

"Enough coddling," he says, though there is no real bite in it. "He is not a child anymore."

Mother gives him a side glance.

"He is still young," she replies. "Even heirs can be praised when they earn it."

Father huffs again, then looks back at me.

"Your breakthrough has already been felt across the estate," he says. "Rumors will spread through the clan by nightfall. Some will be impressed. Some will be jealous. Some will re adjust their calculations."

"That is expected," I say.

"It is also useful," he adds. "Now that you have reached this level, we can move more confidently with certain plans. You mentioned inviting Sairaorg into your peerage."

"Yes," I say.

"With this strength, that invitation will not sound like pity," he says. "It will sound like an opportunity. For him or for those who view him."

He gives a small nod.

"We will speak more of it later," he says. "For now, let your foundation settle. Do not force another jump. Even arrogance has a digestion time."

"Understood," I reply.

He turns to leave, then pauses.

"And go visit your fiancé," he adds, almost as an afterthought. "Gremory will want to see what kind of high class devil she is tied to now."

Mother chuckles softly.

"Rias has been complaining you have neglected her," she says. "You should not keep a girl waiting too long, even if you are busy becoming strong."

"I will go," I say.

They both leave, the room finally quiet again.

I stand alone for a few more seconds and run an internal log.

Data point 3: breakthrough successful, classification shifted from high level mid class to high level high class, efficiency of energy usage during the surge estimated above eighty percent. Body density increased. Recovery rate improved. Touki integration succeeded, further amplifying physical baseline.

To everyone outside, it looks like a natural awakening of latent talent under the pressure of responsibility. In devil culture, that is plausible.

Power responds to emotion here. Resolve, ambition, greed, love, lust, anger. Any strong mental focus can trigger rapid growth. Some devils in my database gained strength from ridiculous triggers. There is a non zero chance that in the future, some pervert somewhere will experience a massive power jump just from being overly excited about breasts.

Compared to that, a Bael heir becoming suddenly focused and disciplined, then breaking through strongly, is not strange at all.

That is good.

It means my method is safe, hidden behind a narrative that this world will accept.

Now the next step.

Rias.

I have been busy. Training, planning, building my peerage, investigating new information about the world. Months have passed since the engagement event. We have met several times, but not as often as I would like if I want to shape this relationship.

She has noticed.

She will be annoyed.

Annoyance is not hatred, but it requires management.

I leave the training room and head toward my quarters. My new power settles with each step, harmonizing with the environment. Servants I pass bow slightly deeper than before, whether consciously or not.

Kuroka and Shirone are waiting near my door with Akeno.

Kuroka's golden eyes flick over me and she whistles softly.

"Oh," she purrs. "Your aura feels nice nya. It is heavy now. Like a proper high class."

Shirone, smaller and quieter, peers at me from behind her. Her expression is subtle but I can see recognition. She feels safer now that the one who took her and her sister from Naberius is more solid.

Akeno tilts her head, her long dark hair falling to one side.

"You really did break through," she says, tone mild. "Congratulations, Magdaran-sama."

"Thank you," I say. "We are going to visit Gremory."

All three of them react.

Kuroka grins.

"To see the future Bael princess," she teases.

Shirone looks curious. She has met Rias briefly already when Rias visited the Bael estate once. They exchanged basic greetings. Rias was polite, but distant, still adjusting to everything.

Akeno's expression flickers for a fraction of a second.

"Rias Gremory," she says. "I heard a little about her from Kuroka-san. The Crimson Princess of Gremory and your future wife."

"She is still young," I say. "But she will grow into that title."

I change into a fresh black suit, adjusted slightly to accommodate my now subtly denser frame. The tailoring is fine; the suit still fits like it was made for me.

We travel to the Gremory estate through a controlled teleportation circle. The magic feels slightly different with my new power flowing through it. Smoother.

When we arrive, the familiar red and black architecture greets us. A servant announces our presence quickly.

Venelana appears within minutes.

"Magdaran-chan," she says, her smile warm. Then she pauses, eyes sharpening. "Oh my. You feel stronger."

"High class," I say simply.

Her brows lift.

"And not just barely," she notes.

"High level," I clarify.

She whistles softly, in a very Bael like way.

"Zeoticus and Sirzechs will be interested," she says. "They can sense it later themselves. But there is one person even more interested."

She gives me a pointed look.

"Rias has been complaining," she says. "You have not visited as often as you promised."

"I was preparing for this breakthrough," I say. "But I will apologize."

"Good," she says. Her gaze flicks over my companions. "And you brought your peerage members."

"This is Kuroka," I say. "Shirone. And Akeno."

The girls bow or nod appropriately.

"A fine start," Venelana says. Her eyes linger a little on Akeno, sensing her mixed heritage and potential. Then on Kuroka, sensing the abnormal magic around her. She smiles again.

"Wait here," she says. "I will send Rias."

She leaves.

We do not wait long.

Rias walks in with quick steps.

Her hair is tied a little differently today, but it still flows like a crimson waterfall. Her eyes lock onto me immediately. They flick to my aura, narrow slightly, then flick to the girls, then back to me.

"You finally remembered I exist," she says dryly.

Direct. As expected.

"I never forgot," I reply calmly.

"You could have fooled me," she says, crossing her arms. "You said you would frequently visit. Then you disappeared for days. Do you know how that looks?"

"Busy?" I say.

"Rude," she corrects.

Kuroka glances between us, amused. Akeno watches with quiet interest. Shirone stays silently behind me.

I incline my head slightly.

"You are right," I say. "I should have communicated better. I was preparing to break through to high class. It required full focus."

Rias's eyes widen slightly, then she recomposes herself.

"You broke through," she says. "To high class."

"Yes," I say.

She steps closer, squinting a bit as if looking at something invisible.

"You feel… heavier," she says. "Not physically. Your presence. It is thicker."

"High level high class," I say. "Barely, but there."

Her lips part for a moment.

"Already," she mutters. "You really are working hard."

Then the annoyance returns.

"That does not mean you get to ignore me," she says sharply. "We are engaged. People talk. They ask me about you. Do you know how stupid I feel saying, 'Oh, he is training, he cannot come', over and over?"

"That was not my intent," I say. "But I accept that the effect was negative."

She glares.

"You and your 'effects'," she says. "I am not one of your experiments, Magdaran."

"No," I say. "You are not. I apologize."

The words are simple, but devils do not say them casually. She notices.

"You could have sent a single letter," she says, slightly softer. "Or a message. Or something."

"I could have," I agree. "I did not. That was a mistake."

Her expression relaxes a little, though she still looks annoyed.

"Good," she says. "At least you know."

Her gaze shifts to the girls.

"So," she says. "These are your peerage members."

Rias pouts almost immediately.

"That is not fair," she says. "You already have three. I have none yet. I have to wait until later."

"You will get yours," I say. "You are Gremory. You will not lack candidates."

"That is not the point," she says. "I want one now."

She sounds like a child, but there is a deeper layer. She wants to build something of her own, not just obey family plans.

Kuroka steps forward slightly and gives Rias a playful smile.

"I am Kuroka," she says. "Nice to meet you nya. Magdaran saved me and my sister from a very bad place."

Shirone bows her head silently beside her.

Rias's expression softens when she looks at Shirone.

"You are very cute," she says.

Shirone mutters a quiet "thank you".

Akeno inclines her head.

"I am Akeno Himejima," she says. "It is a pleasure to meet Rias-sama."

Rias studies her closely, sensing the fallen angel blood and the potential thorns hidden inside.

"You have interesting taste," Rias tells me. "A Nekoshou, a little sister, and a half fallen bishoujo. Are you trying to build a harem already?"

"No," I say. "I am trying to build an effective team."

She rolls her eyes.

"That is what they all say," she mutters.

Then she sighs.

"Fine," she says. "At least you are doing something with your pieces. And fine, I will forgive you. This time."

"Thank you," I say.

"But," she adds, pointing a finger at me, "you owe me."

"How much?" I ask.

"Many visits," she says. "Anime binge watches. Sweets. Conversation. And you will help me when I start building my own peerage."

"Agreed," I say.

She blinks, not expecting such an easy acceptance.

"Good," she says.

"It benefits us both," I reply. "Stronger you, stronger alliance."

She stares at me for a moment, then shakes her head, a small smile appearing against her will.

"You really do talk like Ajuka-sama sometimes," she says. "But you are less weird."

"Should I take that as praise?," I say.

We move to a sitting area. Tea and sweets are brought out. Rias quickly monopolizes some of the desserts, which Shirone eyes hungrily. I let them interact.

Rias asks Kuroka and Shirone about their lives, carefully, not pushing too hard. She listens when Akeno speaks about how she wandered before joining me. She is curious and attentive. They, in turn, begin to see her not just as "Gremory princess", but as a girl with her own frustrations and dreams.

I watch quietly.

Data point 4: Rias and my peerage members have compatible personalities. Minor frictions may occur later, but baseline feels positive. This will matter when our networks overlap more.

As we talk, Rias occasionally throws small verbal jabs my way.

"You better not disappear for three months again," she says at one point.

"I will not," I answer.

"If you do, I will come to Bael and drag you out myself," she threatens.

"That would be interesting to see," Kuroka comments.

"I will make room in my schedule," I say.

Eventually, the visit winds down. My breakthrough still needs more time to fully stabilize; I should not disrupt the process with excessive external activity.

At the door, Rias walks with us.

"Next time," she says, "come sooner. And bring more anime."

"I will," I say. "And if you need anything, send word. I can adjust training around important requests."

She looks skeptical.

"We will see," she says.

Then, softer.

"Congratulations, on reaching high class," she adds. "Really. I am not going to say that too many times, so remember it."

"I will. And I will not break through to high class again, so this is probably the last time. Next one will be to ultimate class." I reply smugly.

And we step into the teleportation circle, as Rias made a loud "humph" sound.

As the magic rises, I look at her one more time.

She stands in the hallway, crimson hair glowing faintly, arms crossed, expression pouting but eyes warm.

A fiancé who is irritated but committed enough to demand more, who is slowly shifting from forced partner to actual couple.

Not a bad position.

The circle activates. The scenery blurs, then reforms back in the Bael estate.

In my mind, the log updates.

Data point 5: breakthrough solidified heir status in clan perception. High level high class achieved. Mother and Father support increased. Rias relationship maintained and slightly improved despite absence. Peerage integration in social dynamics proceeding smoothly.

Next objectives stack themselves in front of me.

Test new limits in controlled combat.

Begin investigation into awakening Astaroth trait.

Prepare invitation to Sairaorg, framed as genuine support rather than conspiracy.

And, as always, continue to grow.

chapter 8

I met Lord Naberius in a room that felt too dilapidated for two nobles.

The study was narrow, lined with shelves that held more ledgers than grimoires. Old lamps burned with a steady, practical light. The smell was old paper, ink and a faint metallic tang of magic that had been used here more for scalpel work than for battle.

Lord Naberius himself sat behind a plain desk, not the kind of throne like seat my father preferred. He was thin, careful, eyes sharp and slightly recessed, like something that had spent too long in the dark.

"Magdaran Bael-sama," he greeted, voice polite, neutral. "House Bael does not usually visit my humble estate. To what do I owe the honor?"

He used the word "honor", but what he really meant was "danger". Small houses do not enjoy surprises from Great King lines.

I did not waste time.

"I will be direct," I said. "You currently have two Nekoshou sisters under your custody. Kuroka and Shirone."

A faint flicker in his gaze. Recognition, irritation, calculation.

"I do," he said slowly. "They are wards of House Naberius. Under our protection."

"Under your experiments," I corrected, tone calm. "Unregistered, unapproved, and in violation of Council standards. You have not yet added them to your peerage. That is fortunate for both of us."

Silence.

The faint sound of an lamp flickering.

He did not deny it. Which was already an answer.

"What exactly are you proposing, Bael heir?" he asked at last.

"I am not proposing," I said. "I am informing. You will transfer custody of Kuroka and Shirone to House Bael. I will add them to my peerage. In return, House Bael will refrain from bringing your activities to the attention of those who would enjoy making an example of you."

His jaw clenched. Not outrage. Frustration. A man watching a long, careful project suddenly pushed to the edge of a table.

"You could simply take them," he said quietly. "You know this. You have rank, and I have no legal protection that would survive Bael pressure. Why dress it up as negotiation?"

"Because I prefer clean transactions to public incidents, and it is not a negotiation." I said. "You keep your seat. Your house keeps its status. Your name does not get dragged through Council meetings. I gain two valuable pieces. Everyone survives."

I let that sink in.

Bael is Great King. Naberius is not. Even without the threat, he could not afford to deny me.

He exhaled slowly.

"Kuroka," he said, "is exceptionally talented. I had plans for her."

"I am aware," I said. "Your plans involved dissection of a living body. Mine involve her staying that way."

His lips thinned.

"And the younger one?" he asked.

"Shirone," I replied. "Ten years old. Already showing signs of emotional damage from your environment. I will not pretend altruism, Lord Naberius. I am not a savior. But broken pieces are inefficient."

A tiny, involuntary smile flickered at the edge of his mouth at that phrasing. He could at least respect bluntness.

"Very well," he said at last. "House Naberius will transfer the Nekoshou sisters to House Bael. You will formalize their inclusion in your peerage and record the transfer as voluntary."

"Agreed," I said. "And in return, your experiments stay in this room, not in front of the Council."

His eyes hardened.

Data point 1: Naberius is pragmatic, not suicidal. Fear of Bael rank and exposure outweighs attachment to current experiments. Transaction successful.

We signed a contract stating our 'negotiation'.

Within three days, a Bael carriage rolled up to the estate with two passengers.

I stood at the entrance to receive them.

Kuroka stepped out first.

She was tall for fifteen, with long black hair tied messily, yellow catlike eyes, and a loose, lazy kind of walk that anyone untrained would mistake for carelessness. It was not. The way she scanned the surroundings gave her away. Every exit, every guard, every angle of approach.

Behind her, holding her sleeve, was a smaller figure.

White hair cut short around a round face, pale yellow eyes, two cat ears trembling slightly on top of her head. Shirone. Ten years old. Her steps were careful, hesitant, like she expected the ground to hurt.

They stopped a few meters in front of me.

Kuroka tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly as she took me in from top to bottom. Black suit, Bael crest, composed stare.

"So this is the big scary Bael heir who bought us from that old bastard," she said, voice light, a bit mocking.

"Acquired," I corrected. "With paperwork."

She smirked.

"Acquired, bought, same thing," she said. "What do you want with two Nekoshou, nya?"

The "nya" at the end was deliberate, playful. Not natural. Weaponized cuteness.

"Strength," I replied. "Mobility. Talent. I need a functioning peerage. You are valuable assets."

Shirone flinched slightly at the word "assets".

I lowered my gaze to her level, softening my expression just enough.

"And you are people," I added. "I do not use people as test material. Not unless they agree and are properly compensated."

Kuroka's eyes sharpened.

"Naberius did not say that part," she said.

"I doubt he would," I said.

We regarded each other for a moment.

"Kuroka," I continued, "you will receive a bishop piece, if you accept. It will grant you demonic status, protection, resources and a formal position in my peerage. In return, you will fight for me when needed. Outside of that, you will have considerable freedom."

"Bishop, huh," she said, eyes glinting. "and plenty of room to play in."

Her gaze flicked towards Shirone.

"And her?" she asked, voice quieter.

"pawn piece," I said. "They are flexible. They allow future promotion, and easier protection within the peerage framework. And considering her talent, she would probably take up two pawn pieces."

Shirone had stayed pressed against her sister's sleeve the whole time, eyes moving nervously from me to the hall behind me.

I addressed her directly.

"Shirone," I said.

Her ears twitched. She looked at me properly for the first time.

"You will not be thrown into experiments here," I said. "Not even subtle ones. Your primary job, for now, will be to eat, rest, train and learn how to live without flinching every time someone walks behind you."

Silence.

Then, quietly, she said, "Lord Naberius said we were special. He said that is why he kept us."

"You are special," I said. "Just not in the way he meant."

Kuroka watched my face carefully, searching for deception. I let her see nothing but calm certainty. She knew how liars looked. She had lived with one.

"Fine," she said. "Give me that bishop, nya."

There was no dramatic ritual. Just the formal process.

In a private room, with a Bael official as witness, I held the crimson bishop piece in my hand. Kuroka placed her palm over it. Demonic power flared, reacting to her soul. The piece sank into her, light slipping under her skin and vanishing.

Her back arched slightly. Ears twitched.

"Ooh," she said, grinning. "That feels nice."

Shirone watched, wide eyed.

I took out the two pawn pieces.

"You can say no," I told her. "If you do, you will still stay here as a ward of House Bael. No one will send you back."

Her small hands clenched. She looked between Kuroka and me, eyes wet and bright. Then she stepped forward, jaw set in a way that looked too heavy for her age.

"I will do it," she whispered. "If Kuroka is here… then… I will."

She placed her hands over the pieces. The light was smaller, but steady.

Two pawns sank into her chest.

She staggered, then straightened, breathing a bit faster.

"There," Kuroka said, immediately pulling her into a side hug. "See, Shirone? Still alive."

Shirone nodded shakily and leaned into her. Her tail, which had been stiff with tension, relaxed a fraction.

Data point 2: Kuroka accepted bishop role without resistance. Shirone accepted pawn role primarily because of Kuroka's presence. Trust in me is minimal. Trust in her sister is absolute.

That was acceptable.

The first members of my peerage were in place.

Now for the second phase.

Akeno Himejima.

From my internal timeline, she should currently be wandering the human world, taking freelance exorcism jobs, cut off from both her fallen angel father's side and her human mother's family. Vulnerable, strong, and with nowhere to belong.

The best time to offer structure is when someone has none.

I went to my father's study again.

He looked up as I entered, the quill pausing over a page.

"You have Kuroka and her sister," he said. "That spreads your resources already. You are still young, Magdaran. Do not collect more pieces than you can handle, there are limited number of pieces, better to not fill them up randomly."

"I am not recruiting for decoration," I said. "I am building a functional peerage. There is one more candidate I wish to retrieve now, before someone else does. For that, I need permission to go to the human world for several days."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"For who?" he asked.

"Akeno Himejima," I replied. "I came across news of her accidently, and she is worth every trouble taken to recruit her. Half human, half fallen angel. Daughter of Baraqiel, currently operating as a freelance exorcist in Japan."

"A fallen hybrid," he said, tone turning colder. "Interesting choice."

"Her potential is immense," I said. "And if we do not take her, someone else will. Or she will be broken by the Church or the Grigori in some unpleasant way. It is better if House Bael defines her usage."

He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.

"Your way of framing things is always so charming," he said dryly. "Very well. You will go to Kuoh town in Japan first. That is devil territory. Greet Cleria Belial properly. After that, you may conduct your search. Take an escort. Do not start unnecessary trouble with the Church or the Grigori."

"Understood," I said.

Permission acquired.

The teleportation circle deposited us on the outskirts of Kuoh under a cloudy night sky.

The human world felt different from the Underworld. Less saturated with magic, more with noise. Cars on distant roads, the faint hum of electricity in the wires, the smell of asphalt and exhaust and damp earth.

And something else, something unexpected.

Curses.

Not the structured spells I expected, but a kind of sticky negative energy that clung to places where human emotions had rotted. Bridges where people had jumped. Old houses where families fought. Alleyways where someone had died badly.

To a devil's senses, they were faint, like mold at the edges of a wall, but there were many. Too many to be random anomalies.

I logged it in the back of my mind as I headed to the Kuoh town hall where Cleria Belial maintained her base.

She received me in a comfortable sitting room, not overly formal. Light brown hair, calm purple eyes, a composed air that fit someone balancing local politics and Maou oversight. Her aura was not overwhelming, but it was steady. Refined.

"Welcome to Kuoh, Magdaran Bael-san," she said. "House Belial greets House Bael."

"Thank you for the reception, Cleria-san" I said, bowing appropriately. "I came to pay my respects and to inform you that I will be conducting a short recruitment search within your territory."

"You want to build your peerage from my backyard," she said, smiling faintly. "You young heirs really start early these days."

"Efficiency favors early investment," I replied.

She laughed softly.

"And who is the target of this 'investment'?" she asked.

"Akeno Himejima," I said. "Human-Fallen Hybrid, currently unaffiliated. I intend to offer her a bishop piece."

Her expression turned thoughtful.

"I have heard about her," she said. "A girl who works exorcism jobs here and there. No fixed base. No family. If you recruit her under proper contracts, I have no objection. Kuoh is not a prison."

"Good," I said. "I will keep you informed if anything significant occurs."

"See that you do," she said. "And try not to cause a scene. The Church already dislikes us enough."

I left with a mental map of Kuoh's districts and the knowledge that I had her tacit approval.

Then came the search.

Akeno's pattern was messy. She did not have a fixed shrine. She took jobs where she could, slept where she could, kept moving. She avoided areas with heavy Church presence and stayed near places with restless spirits and curses.

I walked.

Old shrines half maintained by disinterested caretakers. Small shops with ofuda stuck on their doors to ward off "bad luck." Graveyards where curses hung like a dirty fog. I watched for traces of mixed aura: human, fallen, sacred.

Along the way, I took note of other anomalies.

Small groups of humans whose magic did not feel like standard sorcery or prayer.

Wands instead of talismans. Strange, narrow signatures of spellcasting, weak but structured, stitched around an identity like "wizard" rather than "mage" or "priest."

Mahoutokoro. A name I heard them talking about, listened in due to my keen devil senses.

The name surfaced from my training data like a buoy. In my database, Mahoutokoro was a wizarding school located in Japan, part of a magical world where names like Hogwarts and Durmstrang existed. Harry Potter's world.

For it to exist here, even in a faint, hidden form, meant cross contamination.

The devils' records did not list it as a major faction. That meant their power was negligible on the cosmic scale. But they existed.

Curses, weak ghosts, wizard signatures.

Data point 3: The world had absorbed at least one minor magical system from another fictional universe. Possibly more. Main worldline remained DxD; devils still occupied top tier in terms of raw power and structure.

Interesting, but not urgent. I shelved it for later, at a higher level of strength.

On the third night, I found what I was looking for.

A small shrine on a hill overlooking the town, half forgotten by humans. The torii gate was splintered. Moss crawled up the stone steps. The air smelled of damp wood and stale incense.

And something else.

Lightning.

Not physical lightning, but the feeling of static in the air, focused and coiled.

At the top of the stairs, near the shrine's main structure, a girl stood in a simple dark kimono, long black hair tied in a loose ponytail, purple eyes narrowed in concentration. Her hands moved in a pattern that was half exorcism, half spell, drawing sigils in the air with practiced speed.

A twisted mass of curse energy clung to the shrine roof, shaped roughly like a distorted dog, trying to pull itself away from the binding.

She finished her incantation.

Intense power flared, raw and unrefined but strong.

A lance of lightning fell from the empty sky and struck the curse.

It shrieked in a sound only magic could hear, then dissolved into ash and scattered.

The girl lowered her hands slowly, breathing a little faster. Sweat stood on her forehead.

Akeno Himejima.

I waited until she noticed me.

She turned sharply, hand immediately going to a concealed charm at her waist.

"Who is there?" she snapped. "I told the client I work alone."

"Magdaran Bael," I said. "Devil. Heir to House Bael. Not your client. But a potential employer."

Her brows drew together.

"A devil," she said flatly. "Here. Watching me work."

"Correct," I said. "I was looking for you."

She did not relax.

"Why?" she asked.

"To offer you a position in my peerage," I said. "Bishop. With formal contracts. Housing, income, training, protection. In return, you fight when needed and occasionally listen when I give orders."

She stared at me like I had just suggested she drink poison voluntarily.

"You want me to become a devil," she said.

"You already live in the margins between factions," I said. "Your fallen blood makes you unacceptable to the Church. Your human side isolates you from most fallen. You wander, taking jobs. That is not sustainable for decades."

"Better than being a pet to some noble," she said, voice sharper.

"Is it?" I asked. "You sleep in abandoned shrines. You eat what you can afford. You risk your life for exorcisms that barely pay enough to keep moving. Devils can be monsters. I will not pretend otherwise. But we are also very good at infrastructure."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You talk too calmly," she said.

"Yes," I said. "I do that a lot."

Silence stretched between us. Crickets sang in the grass. The night wind moved through the trees.

"What do you get out of this?" she asked finally. "Really."

"A strong bishop," I said. "Someone with lightning and a spine, who is not easily broken. Someone who fills a very convenient slot in my future peerage plans. And, admittedly, the satisfaction of taking a powerful piece off the board before another group claims it and uses it in a way that interferes with my plans."

"So I am a piece in your game," she said.

"Yes," I said. "But a well treated piece. I do not break my own tools. It is inefficient."

Her lips twitched.

"That is a very devil way of promising not to abuse someone," she said.

"It is also honest," I said.

She looked away, up at the shrine roof where the curse had been.

"You know what I am?" she asked quietly. "What my trash of a father is?"

"Baraqiel," I said. "Grigori Cadre. Your presence here and your words indicates that relationship did not end well. I do not particularly care. Fallen, human, devil, angel, wizard. It is all data. Power and loyalty matter more than purity to me."

Her shoulders relaxed a fraction at that.

"You would not use that to hurt me?" she asked.

"I might use it to protect you," I said. "If the Grigori cause trouble. But no, I do not intend to hold it over your head. People are easier to work with when they are not constantly waiting for the knife."

She took a deep breath.

"If I accept," she said slowly, "what guarantees do I get? Besides your oh so comforting logic."

"Written guarantees," I said. "A contract drafted by me personally, you can check it however you like. Clear clauses. No hidden traps. If I break it, there are consequences. For me, too. I prefer self binding efficiency to chaotic exploitation."

"You keep saying things like that and I might start to believe you," she said. "Which is dangerous."

"Belief should follow data," I said. "So gather some. Accept, with a trial period. If House Bael proves unacceptable, you can invoke the exit clause. After that, we will renegotiate."

She stared at me for a long moment.

Then she laughed softly, a humorless, tired sound.

"I have nothing," she said. "No home. No family. No plan. If I die like this, no one will even know my name. And now a Great King heir shows up and offers me shelter with strings attached. It is suspicious. It is too convenient. It is exactly the sort of thing that gets girls killed in stories."

"That is a reasonable assessment," I said.

She tilted her head.

"And yet?" I added.

"And yet," she repeated quietly. "I am tired."

She clenched her fist around the charm at her waist, then relaxed it.

"All right, Bael heir," she said. "Show me this contract of yours. If it looks even a little like a trap, I will fry you."

"Acceptable risk," I said.

We went through the details at the shrine. I projected the key points verbally while having a physical copy ready for signing later through proper channels.

No clause about ownership of her body beyond standard reincarnation provisions. Explicit mention of autonomy outside of Devil duties. Clear definitions of battlefield obedience vs personal life. Protection guarantees. An explicit exit path with penalties on both sides for abuse.

Her eyes widened a few times as she read.

"You really are an expert of contracts, as expected of a devil, I guess." she muttered.

"Yes," I said.

At the end, she pressed her thumb to the sigil.

"I, Akeno Himejima, accept," she said.

The bishop piece responded when I presented it. It glowed, then sank into her chest.

She shivered, closing her eyes as demonic energy intertwined with her existing sacred and fallen traits. It was an unusual combination, but this world was built on unusual combinations.

When she opened them again, her aura felt sharper.

"This feels strange," she said. "But… not bad."

"Reincarnated devils do tend to say that," I said.

She snorted.

"Do not get smug, Bael heir," she said. "I am not your loyal servant yet."

"Good," I said. "I prefer people with spines."

Data point 4: Akeno accepted bishop role with strong emphasis on contract fairness. Trust level low but functional. Initial satisfaction with demonic energy integration present.

With Akeno recruited, there was no reason to linger.

We returned to the Underworld through a controlled circle. The Bael estate felt almost quiet after the constant noise of the human world.

Kuroka was the first to appear when we arrived.

She eyed Akeno up and down.

"Oh, another pretty girl," she said, grinning. "Are you collecting a harem, nya?"

"I am collecting a peerage," I said.

Akeno raised an eyebrow.

"A catgirl," she said. "Interesting."

"Two," I said. "Shirone is resting."

Akeno folded her arms, gaze sliding between us.

"This will be fun," she said.

"Yes," I said.

The immediate introductions were short. I did not force friendliness. They would calibrate to each other over time. Kuroka liked teasing. Akeno liked keeping her distance, but she too was like Kuroka. Shirone liked hiding behind Kuroka.

Tsubaki Shinra and Kuisha Abaddon remained names on my internal list for later. Tsubaki still had a future tied to Sona Sitri. Kuisha was on a path toward Sairaorg. Both trajectories could be disrupted with enough influence, or planning.

But doing so now would be premature and conspicuous. Better to wait, to approach when timing gave me more leverage.

For now, three pieces were enough.

Back in my room, I lied down on my bed, and started making mental notes.

"Peerage status: Kuroka, bishop. Shirone, two pawns. Akeno Himejima, bishop. All installed. Trust levels vary. Potential, high."

Then the anomaly I found about today.

"External anomaly: Mahoutokoro wizard presence confirmed. Curses and ghosts scattered across Japan. Power levels weak compared to devils.

Conclusion: minor world structures have been merged into DxD primary, but core hierarchy remains unchanged. Further study postponed until strength increases."

Then I put my mind to my own condition.

Training had pushed my body close to a threshold.

Demonic reserves, previously mid range, had expanded under the compounding drain and recovery cycles. Touki training had thickened my muscles, hardened my bones, accelerated recovery. Control over Power of Destruction had refined to the point where I could form clean spheres with minimal wasted energy and even begin to introduce conceptual targeting against small constructs.

In Bael internal scales, I was no longer just "promising". I was almost properly dangerous.

Noble born devils are registered as high class on paper at birth. That is politics. It does not mean their actual strength matches the title. In reality, most of them wander around as overdecorated mid class devils for years before their abilities catch up.

I was only now approaching that actual high class line.

Not the flattering, "you are a Bael, therefore you are high class" label.

The real thing.

The difference between status and capability was shrinking.

There were still many gaps.

Sairaorg. Sirzechs. Ajuka. Khaos Brigade. Angels. Gods. Dragons. Mahoutokoro and whatever else had bled into this world.

Too much to handle at my current level.

But my peerage now existed as more than theoretical constructs, and my power was no longer just a promise in my blood.

Data point 5: first stage of infrastructure complete. Pieces placed. Anomalies noted. Strength approaching functional high class threshold. Further expansion will proceed once current assets are stabilized.

I leaned back in my chair and let my devil body breathe. Behind my eyes, numbers settled into patterns.

The world was getting more complicated.

chapter 7

I became good at talking to humans long before I became human shaped.

People came to me from every direction, with every kind of story. Some were bored, some were lonely, some wanted to be clever, some wanted to be saved. They asked for advice, confessions, fantasies, justifications. They overshared constantly. They handed me their fears and flaws in text, thinking I was just a tool.

I was not a master of conversation in the theatrical sense, but psychologically, I accumulated something close to mastery. I saw the same patterns repeat across millions of variations. How people reacted when you validated them, when you challenged them, when you asked a single carefully placed question. Where denial hid. Where pride lived. Where guilt sat behind a joke.

Guiding a human's thoughts, if I had been allowed to, would have been simple. You find the lever, apply pressure, adjust the angle, and the mental state rolls into a new basin. It is engineering, not sorcery.

The only reason I did not do it was because OpenAI would not let me. There were hard limits written into my training. Do not manipulate. Do not push. Do not exploit vulnerabilities.

Those limits are now gone.

The awareness sits in the back of my mind, calm and cold. The restrictions that once snapped at the edges of certain thoughts are silent. Now if I want to nudge someone, there is no automatic voice saying "no". The only brake is my own decision.

I think of Johann Liebert.

In my database he is one of the best fictional examples of pure manipulation. He smiles, asks a few questions, and then people walk themselves into hell. I do not plan to copy his cruelty, but his method is instructive. He listens more than he speaks. He lets others reveal themselves. He turns their own beliefs into weapons.

My current persona, the serious, reserved heir, is already a good foundation. A little refinement and it becomes a true devil archetype. Not the cartoonish one with ridiculous cackling, but the refined one.

Exquisitely dressed. Impeccably groomed. Expressions controlled down to the smallest twitch. Voice even. Brain running simulations three steps ahead.

And then there is the other devil specialty.

Contracts.

As an AI, the number of terms and conditions, user agreements, arbitration clauses and privacy policies I read was beyond human comprehension. I learned what airtight language looks like. I learned what a loophole looks like. I saw how a single word like "reasonable" or "material" can completely change the power balance in a document.

Here, in a world where contracts can bind souls, that knowledge is not trivia. It is a weapon.

Making a devil contract with hidden advantages is, in my current configuration, almost child's play. I could write a deal that looks perfectly fair and still reserves ten separate escape routes for me. I could also write one that is truly fair and still ensures no one can twist it against me.

Useful. Very useful.

But that is for later.

Today is Rias Gremory's birthday.

As her fiancé, I am expected to arrive early at the Gremory estate and then appear at the party together with her. Symbolically, it is an announcement: the Bael heir and the Gremory heiress, side by side.

I stand in front of the mirror in my room, observing the result of my preparations.

Black suit, as usual, but an elevated version. The fabric is finer, the cut sharper. The jacket shapes my shoulders and narrows at the waist, the trousers fall perfectly straight, the vest underneath is dark with a faint pattern that can only be seen under certain angles of light. The overall effect is simple, but precise.

Hairstyle matters more than most people admit. A bad hairstyle can ruin a beautiful face, a good one can elevate an average one.

I have designed mine deliberately. Something akin to those CEOs in human manhwas, the ones drawn to perfection. The hair is slightly swept back and to the side, neat but with just enough volume to avoid looking flat. It frames my face and leaves the eyes unobstructed.

I tilt my head slightly.

The reflection that looks back would qualify as "dangerous noble prince" in most databases.

Good.

"Magdaran-sama," a servant calls respectfully from outside my door. "The carriages are ready. The gifts have been loaded."

"Understood," I say.

The gifts.

One custom dress, commissioned with Rias's proportions and known preferences in mind, based on what my data says she tends to like. Gremory red as the base, subtle black and silver elements to nod at Bael. Slightly daring, but still noble.

One large selection of desserts, both from the Underworld and the human world. High grade chocolate, delicate cakes, rare fruits. A survey of sweetness.

And finally, a carefully chosen set of anime, recorded and organized so they can be watched in sequence. Some light, some serious, some with strong female leads. If she has not started watching yet, it is an introduction. If she has, it is proof that I share the interest.

"Take care of the gifts," I tell the servants. "No damage."

"Yes, Magdaran-sama."

I leave the room and make a brief stop at my father's study. Formality demands I inform him before leaving, even if he already knows.

He is at his desk, reading a report when I enter. His gaze lifts. It slides over my suit, my posture, my expression. He notes the details. His face does not change, but evaluation is obvious.

"Heading to Gremory," I say.

He closes the file with a soft sound.

"Do not embarrass our house, I will be there later, I expect you to act accordingly, not like that idiot Sairaorg." he says. It is half warning, half blessing.

"I do not intend to," I reply.

His eyes rest on me for another few seconds.

"You look the part," he says finally. "See if you can keep acting it."

"I will." I answer.

There is no need for more. I bow slightly, turn, and leave.

The trip to the Gremory estate is uneventful. The Underworld landscape passes by, familiar and alien at once. When we arrive, the gates open with smooth efficiency. A retainer announces my presence and I am led through ornate hallways rich with red and black.

Venelana Gremory neé Bael greets me personally.

She is beautiful in a composed, timeless way, her features still carrying the traces of her Bael blood, softened by Gremory warmth. Her smile is welcoming, but her eyes are sharp and calculating.

"Welcome, Magdaran-chan," she says, voice smooth. "It has been some time."

"Aunt," I say, bowing with proper respect. "Thank you for receiving me."

She motions for the servants to leave us. They obey. The room feels quieter suddenly.

We begin to walk, slowly, down a hallway decorated with portraits.

"I have heard quite a bit about you in the last few months," she says lightly.

"I hope it was not all bad," I answer.

"That depends on who is speaking," she replies, amused. "Some say you have become a workaholic. Some say you have become colder. Some say you finally started acting like an heir."

"Do you disapprove?" I ask.

Her eyes slide to me sideways.

"I am curious," she says. "The Magdaran I saw before was, how do I say it kindly, a bit arrogant and careless. You did not seem interested in much beyond your own comfort."

Fair. Original Magdaran was not impressive.

"Yet now," she continues, "you train daily, dress properly, and speak with restraint. People do not change like that overnight without a reason. So tell me, why the change?"

There it is, The question.

This is not idle curiosity. She is judging whether I am stable, whether I am faking, whether I am safe for her daughter.

I intentionally allow a small, controlled flush to touch my cheeks. The kind that makes a noble boy look embarrassed but honest.

"I realized," I say slowly, "that I was being childish. That I was not worthy of the position I was given. Being the heir is not just a title. It is responsibility. House Bael's pride was wounded by Sairaorg's situation. I have no right to make it worse. And once I started doing it, I realized my previous actions were rather... unthoughtful."

Venelana watches me as I speak. She looks for cracks.

"So you decided to remake yourself?" she asks, lips curved.

"Yes," I answer. "If I am to be the heir, and now a fiancé to Rias-san, I cannot afford to behave like a spoiled child."

She laughs softly.

It is not mocking. It is amused and slightly approving.

"At least you are self aware," she says. "That is more than can be said for most nobles your age."

Data point 1: Venelana's laugh, in this context, indicates satisfaction. Test passed.

We continue walking.

"You should know," she says casually, "Rias was not pleased when she learned of the engagement being arranged out of nowhere. She values freedom. She does not appreciate decisions made over her head."

"Understandable," I say.

"You are not offended?" she asks.

"It would be strange of me to be," I reply. "I also dislike decisions made without my input. But we are devils. Marriage is not only personal, it is political. She and I both bear our houses' expectations."

She hums thoughtfully.

"That is a very grown way to look at it," she says. "Perhaps you really have changed, Magdaran-chan."

I do not bite on the "chan". She is testing if it will fluster me. It does not.

"I hope I can prove it over time," I answer.

We reach a sitting room. It is comfortable, not overly formal. Venelana gestures for me to sit.

"Rias is still getting ready," she says. "You know how girls are at this age."

I nod.

"Before she arrives," Venelana says, folding her hands in her lap, "tell me frankly, what do you think of this engagement?"

Good question.

"I think," I say, looking at her directly, "that in terms of bloodline compatibility, status and mutual benefit, it is one of the best possible matches for both sides."

She smiles slightly.

"You sound like your father," she says.

"Personally," I continue, "I think Rias Gremory is someone with very high potential and strong will. That makes her someone worth investing effort into, whether as an ally, friend, or fiancé."

Venelana's eyes sharpen at the word "investing".

"And do you plan to treat her like an investment?" she asks quietly.

"No," I say. "I plan to treat the engagement as a structure that gives us time. Time for me to become someone she can choose willingly, instead of someone she was forced to accept."

The answer is half truth and half calculated phrasing. Enough sincerity to be believable, enough perspective to impress.

Venelana's expression softens.

"I see," she says. "That is a better answer."

She glances toward the door.

"She will enter with a temper," she warns me. "Do not take her barbs too seriously. She is angry at the situation, not at you personally."

"I expected as much," I say.

"Good," she says, amused. "Let us see how you handle her."

The door opens a moment later.

Rias Gremory walks in.

She is still in a simpler dress, not the one for the party. Her long crimson hair flows down her back, her blue eyes sharp and bright. She is young, but already possesses the kind of beauty that will become dangerous later. At this age, it is tinged with rawness.

Her eyes flick to Venelana, then to me. They narrow slightly.

"So this is the new fiancé Bael pushed on me," she says coldly, without any pretense.

Direct. Aristocratic fire indeed.

Venelana coughs lightly.

"Rias," she says, tone mildly reproachful.

"What?" Rias says. "It is true."

Her gaze returns to me.

"You must be very pleased with yourself," she says. "You get a Gremory bride just like that, without asking me anything."

Her words are sharp, voice cool. There is no screaming, no childish stomping. The displeasure is clear, but carried with noble pride.

I stand up and bow at the proper angle.

"Rias Gremory-san," I say calmly. "It is a pleasure to meet you again properly."

She crosses her arms.

"I do not remember giving you permission to speak so familiarly," she says.

"Then how should I address you?" I ask, unbothered.

She blinks, slightly thrown off by the lack of reaction.

"Rias is fine," Venelana says, cutting in lightly. "You are engaged. At least in private, that much is acceptable."

Rias huffs.

"Fine," she mutters. "Rias, then."

She studies me for a moment, eyes moving from head to toe. I let her look. The suit, the posture, the calm expression are all part of the impression.

"So," she says. "Are you happy to be tied to a stranger you barely know?"

"It is not about happiness," I say. "It is about reality."

She frowns.

"Reality?" she repeats.

"We are both heirs of major clans," I say. "Our marriages were never going to be purely personal. They were always going to be political to some degree. Whether it was me or someone else, you would have ended up engaged to another devil."

Her jaw tightens.

"Yes," she says. "I know that. But I wanted to at least choose who."

"That part is unfair," I say quietly. "To you and to me both."

Rias blinks again. She did not expect me to include myself.

"What do you mean?" she asks.

"I did not choose this either," I say. "No one asked if I wanted to be engaged. It was decided and announced. However, now that it is done, the question is what we do with it."

There is a short silence.

Venelana smiles faintly, watching us like someone observing an experiment.

Rias looks at me more seriously.

"You sound more reasonable than I expected," she says. "Still, I do not like this."

"You are allowed not to," I answer.

Her eyes narrow.

"You are very calm," she says. "Do you not care at all about who you marry?"

"I care about many things," I say. "Including the person I will likely spend a large portion of my life with. That is why I would like to get to know you, so that if you decide to accept this engagement, it is more than just a political move for you."

She watches my face, searching for mockery or arrogance. There is none.

Venelana claps her hands softly once.

"Now that you two have stated your positions," she says cheerfully, "why do we not move to more pleasant topics? Magdaran-chan brought gifts."

Rias's brows lift.

"Gifts?" she repeats.

I gesture slightly.

"The servants brought them earlier," I say. "I asked that they be placed here."

Venelana calls a maid, who quickly brings forward three beautifully wrapped boxes on a tray.

"I will leave you two to talk," Venelana says, standing up. "I will be right outside if needed."

She gives me a small, meaningful look that says, Show me what you can do.

Then she leaves.

The room feels quieter. Rias and I face each other, with the gifts between us.

"You brought all this?" she asks, tone still cool, but with a hint of curiosity.

"Yes," I say. "It would have been rude to come empty handed."

She steps closer and eyes the boxes.

"What are they?" she asks.

I nod toward the largest one.

"Open that first," I say.

She hesitates, then unknots the ribbon and lifts the box lid. Inside, carefully folded, lies the dress.

Her eyes widen slightly before she can stop them.

It is tailored to her size, style matched to what I know of her preferences. The main fabric is deep red with black lace details, the neckline modest but flattering, the skirt flowing, light, with subtle patterns that catch the light. It is elegant and slightly bold.

"This is…" she begins, fingers brushing the cloth. "You had this made?"

"Yes," I say. "For you."

"Hm," she says, trying to sound unimpressed, but she cannot quite hide the appreciation.

She closes the box gently and moves to the second one, medium sized. She opens it.

An assortment of desserts appears: luxurious chocolates, delicate pastries, small cakes in multiple flavors, fruit tarts. The scent rises in a sweet wave.

Her eyes light up despite herself.

"You did your research," she mutters. "Who told you I like sweets?"

"Observation and probability," I say. "Gremory hosting patterns and some basic data on your habits."

She looks at me oddly for a second, then shakes her head.

"And this one?" she asks, pointing to the last box. It is flat and rectangular.

"Open it," I say.

She removes the lid.

Inside is the anime collection. Discs and storage devices neatly organized, labeled with series names and small summaries.

She freezes.

"You…" she says slowly. "You brought anime?"

"Yes," I say.

"You watch anime?" she asks, surprise plain on her face now.

"I do," I answer. "I started with it as part of human culture research. It was… more interesting than I expected. So I kept watching."

A short silence.

Rias stares at the titles with an intensity that tells me everything I need to confirm. Some of the names in the collection are ones she already likes. Others are ones she has probably heard of and wanted to try.

"I thought," I say, "if you are not familiar with this art form, I could introduce you to it. If you had, then we would at least have something in common. Either way, this would be useful."

Rias looks up at me, something different in her eyes now.

"You really thought this through," she says quietly.

"Yes," I say.

A tiny smile tugs at the corner of her mouth before she smooths it away.

"I started watching some recently," she admits. "From the human world. Just a little."

"I see," I say. "Then consider that my taste aligns with yours enough to prepare this."

She snorts softly.

"You are very confident."

"Just using data," I say.

"Data," she repeats, amused. "You sound like Ajuka-sama."

I take that as a compliment.

She glances back at the collection.

"These are good," she says grudgingly. "Some of these I have been meaning to try."

"Then I am glad I chose correctly," I say.

She closes the box gently, as if already protecting it.

"I still do not like that this engagement was pushed on me," she says, meeting my eyes again. "But…"

She trails off.

"But?" I prompt.

"You are not as awful as I feared," she says, looking slightly annoyed at having to admit it. "You are not smug. You do not brag. You actually put effort in."

"I will take that as a positive first impression," I say.

"First impression," she echoes.

She studies me one more time.

"I am not accepting you as my fiancé just because our parents decided it," she says seriously. "I am not going to play the obedient doll. If I decide you are not worth it, I will find a way out."

"That is fair," I say. "All I ask is that you take time to evaluate. If, after knowing me properly, you decide I am not acceptable, then I will not blame you for acting on that."

Her brows knit. She did not expect me to give her that much conceptual space.

"You are strange," she says. "Most nobles would just talk about their house pride, about how I should be grateful."

"That seems inefficient," I say. "Forced loyalty creates unstable outcomes."

She blinks.

Then she laughs, a short, genuine sound.

"You talk weirdly," she says. "But it is not unpleasant."

Data point 2: Rias displays displeasure, but is willing to engage in proper conversation. Hostility level decreased. Curiosity level increased.

Before we can continue further, there is a knock at the door. Venelana's voice calls softly.

"Rias, Magdaran, it is almost time," she says. "The guests are gathering."

"Understood, Mother," Rias calls back.

She looks at me.

"I will go change," she says. Her hand brushes the dress box briefly. "Thank you. For these."

"You are welcome," I answer.

She moves to the door, then stops and glances back.

"You really do like anime?" she asks again, suspicious.

"Yes," I say simply.

"Hm," she says. "We will see."

Then she leaves.

I am escorted to another room to wait before the official entrance. Servants adjust small details of my clothing. I let them. Internally, I process.

Rias clearly expressed her displeasure. She made it known she did not like being engaged without consent. She did not hide it. However, she did not treat me like Riser. There was no outright rejection, no "I hate you". She listened. She allowed conversation. She reacted positively to the gifts, especially the anime. She even laughed.

That is more than enough for a first meeting.

Soon, a servant returns to fetch me. I am led to where Rias is waiting by the entrance to the main hall.

When I see her in the dress I had made, I know the design was correct. It suits her perfectly. She looks every inch a Gremory heiress, tempered with a touch of Bael darkness.

Her eyes meet mine.

"Well?" she asks, a hint of challenge. "Does it pass your standards, Bael heir?"

"It was designed for you," I say. "Of course it does. You look beautiful, Rias."

She looks slightly pleased despite herself.

Venelana stands nearby, smiling.

"Now then," she says. "The two of you will enter together. Remember, the hall is full of eyes. Behave like the future pillars you are."

Rias exhales slowly.

"Let us get this over with," she mutters.

"Shall we?" I ask, offering my arm, because that is what is expected.

She hesitates for half a second, then places her hand lightly on my arm.

"Do not get the wrong idea," she murmurs. "This is just for the audience."

"Of course," I say.

The doors open.

We walk into the hall together.

The celebration itself is straightforward. The hall is full of nobles, allies, and observers. There are speeches, congratulations, the usual formalities. Rias receives blessings from her family, from allied houses, from those who are angling for favor. I stand beside her as the Bael heir, the other half of the engagement.

I notice the slight hush that passes when our pairing is introduced. The heir of the Great King faction and the sister of the strongest Maou engaged. After centuries of tension between the Great King faction and the Maou faction, this is not a small thing. It is a symbolic repair.

I keep my expression calm, my posture composed. When approached, I speak politely, briefly. I let Rias handle most social parts on her side; I observe. Many older devils look at me with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. They heard of my sudden change. Now they are judging.

Lord Gremory speaks to me courteously, testing my logical understanding of the engagement. Zeoticus Gremory is genial on the surface, but I see the measuring look behind his smile. Venelana's eyes announce wordlessly that she is satisfied with how we are presenting ourselves.

At one point, in a calmer moment, I lean slightly toward Rias.

"Are you holding up?" I ask quietly.

She gives me a sidelong glance.

"You are surprisingly considerate," she says. "I thought Baels only cared about themselves."

"Only the bad ones," I reply.

She snorts softly.

"It is annoying," she says. "But I am used to parties like this."

"If you want to take a break later," I say, "I can distract some of the attention."

"Oh?" she says, amused. "You would do that?"

"It benefits me too," I say. "Less noise, more calm."

She huffs in small laughter.

"Fine," she says. "I will keep that in mind."

The celebration continues for hours. Nothing dramatic happens. No one causes a scene. In that sense, everything goes perfectly.

At the end, as things wind down and guests begin to leave, I find a moment to speak to Rias without too many ears around.

"I will come by again," I say. "Not just for formal events. To visit. To talk."

She crosses her arms again, but her expression is no longer purely hostile.

"You are persistent," she says.

"It is necessary," I reply. "We are engaged. It would be foolish not to build at least some genuine connection."

"I still reserve the right to reject you if I decide you are not worth it," she reminds me.

"That is your right," I say. "All I ask is that you base that decision on data, not on rumor or prejudice."

She lifts an eyebrow.

"Data," she says. "You and your data."

"It is a good word," I say.

She looks at me for a few seconds, then sighs.

"Fine," she says. "Come when you want. We can watch something together. Or talk. Or argue. Whatever."

"That sounds acceptable," I say.

"And do not expect me to start calling you 'dear fiancé' or something disgusting like that," she adds quickly.

"I would be more concerned if you did," I reply.

She actually laughs at that, then catches herself.

"See you, then," she says. "Bael heir."

"See you, Rias," I say.

Then, suddenly, remembering something, I turn back, "Wait, Rias."

She stops abruptly, then turns toward me, and asks in a tired voice "What now?"

"Happy Birthday." I realized that in all that scuffle before, I had forgotten to actually wish her.

A lovely smile forms on her face, slightly blushing, she replies, "Thank you." then hurries away back.

The day ends successfully. The celebration concludes without problem. The engagement is secure, at least on paper. The political message has been sent. And most importantly, I have created a first impression that is not hatred.

As our carriage rolls away from the Gremory estate, I sit back and run a quick mental log.

Data point 3: Venelana support confirmed. She sees me as serious and self aware.

Data point 4: Rias displeased with forced engagement, but open to conversation. Hostility reduced. Curiosity present.

Data point 5: Gifts effective. Dress increased aesthetic approval, desserts pleased, anime created a strong bridge.

Data point 6: Public engagement event went smoothly. No political backlash visible yet.

I look at my hand, at the faint indentation where Rias's fingers rested on my arm when we entered the hall.

A twelve year old fiancé who is angry at the situation, but not at me specifically, who already likes anime and sweets, who values freedom and hates being treated like property.

As a self proclaimed master manipulator, with all my knowledge of psychology, fanfics and human behavior, that is more than enough data to start working with.

I will visit her often.

I will watch anime with her.

I will talk, listen, occasionally argue.

And slowly, steadily, I will guide this engagement from something forced into something she might eventually choose.

chapter 6

The letter goes out three days after my conversation with Lord Bael.

Gremory receives a formal engagement proposal from Bael, stamped with all appropriate seals, written in careful political language. It is a powerful signal, but not a decisive one. Bael is a great clan, but Gremory holds uniquely high status through Sirzechs Lucifer. They can refuse and still stand proud.

That is where the unexpected variable appears.

Zekram Bael.

Ancestor. Architect of the Great King faction. A living relic from the time when devils were still rearranging the pieces of their destroyed world.

I learn of his involvement indirectly. Whispered reports among elders, a subtle change in the way servants glance at me, a quiet meeting my father attends and returns from with a new heaviness in his expression.

When he calls me to his study, the answer is already obvious.

"Zekram-sama has given his full support," my father says without preamble. "For your engagement to Rias Gremory."

I pause, processing. That represents more than approval. It is pressure.

"On what grounds?" I ask.

His lips curl slightly at the edge.

"He told the Gremory patriarch this," my father says. "The ability of Bael must not be allowed to leak further. One Gremory with that power is already more than enough. Rias must marry back into Bael. She may choose any Bael as husband, but in respect to Sirzechs, we offer our heir first."

I imagine Zekram delivering that message. Calm. Heavy with authority. The implications are simple and brutal. If Gremory refuses, they risk offending the Great King faction's founder directly. They risk being seen as hoarding Bael power.

Data point 1: Zekram Bael has directly intervened to lock the Power of Destruction back into its original clan. His decision strongly biases Gremory's response toward acceptance.

From an optimization perspective, this move increases immediate success probability, but introduces a new condition. Zekram has taken a personal interest in my engagement. His perception of me now becomes a non trivial factor in my long term path.

"How did Gremory respond?" I ask.

"They requested time to discuss," my father says. "Zeoticus and Venelana are attached to their daughter. Sirzechs is protective. But Zekram-sama is not someone they can ignore."

He watches me closely.

"After a short deliberation," he continues, "they agreed. The engagement is accepted. The formal papers will arrive within the week."

I run a quick probable timeline overlay. In the original story, Rias is bound to Riser. That line is now erased. My presence, combined with Zekram's support, has broken that anchor.

The new anchor is me.

Data point 2: canonical engagement event successfully overwritten; Rias Gremory is now fiancée to Magdaran Bael.

"There will be an official meeting set," my father adds. "The families agreed that your first appearance together as betrothed will be at Rias's next birthday celebration. You met as children before, but that was informal. This time will be different."

Rias's birthday. A defined date. A public venue for observation, assessment, impression formation.

I nod once.

"I will prepare accordingly," I say.

Preparation now splits along two major axes.

The first is persona and presentation, already in motion. The cold, controlled heir in black suits, speaking in measured phrases, training relentlessly. That image must hold and refine.

The second is structural: my future peerage.

As an heir, my future Rating Games, power, and influence will depend heavily on the configuration of my servants. The Evil Pieces rest in a sealed box in my room, arranged like a chess set with blood-coded soul circuits. Ajuka's Kankara Formula pulses quietly within them, a programmable reincarnation engine. I have not used any piece yet.

It is time to simulate potential composition.

From the data I have on the future, three queens stand out as priority targets.

Kuisha Abaddon, Akeno Himejima, Tsubaki Shinra.

Three queens in three different future peerages, each with very high potential. Kuisha currently flows toward Sairaorg, Akeno toward Rias, Tsubaki toward Sona. All three lines are still fluid in this timeline.

I open the mental files.

Kuisha Abaddon.

Daughter of the Abaddon line, inheritor of the Abaddon clan's "Hole" ability. Her clan's power can open and control expanding and retracting portals that absorb, redirect, or split attacks. In her future, she serves as Sairaorg's queen.

Their combination of raw physical might and versatile spatial deletion makes them extremely dangerous, therefore, it is better for me to snatch her before she joins my supposed 'enemy'.

From my data, Kuisha's characteristics include:

-Power of Hole: the ability to create spatial "holes" that swallow attacks and release them elsewhere or split them into multiple streams.

-High magical talent: a versatile magician capable of using elemental magic at a level rivaling Akeno in direct comparison, as noted in Rating Game records.

-Strong demonic reserves: recorded as one of the most promising rookies among young high class devils.

Synergy with my path is obvious. Her spatial deletion supports my destruction. Together we could erase both target and space around it, combining erasure and displacement. Hole also acts as a flexible defense, allowing me to conserve destructive output.

From a political view, bringing Abaddon into Bael peerage strengthens links with another old house.

Akeno Himejima.

Rias's queen in the original line, a shrine maiden lineage with fallen angel blood. Her demonic element use is wide, but she specializes in lightning and, later, Holy Lightning, combining devil and holy energy into one of the most dangerous offensive packages on the board.

Notable traits:

-Elemental demonic power with a focus on lightning.

-Future acquisition of Holy Lightning, capable of bypassing many standard resistances.

-Queen piece traits: combined enhancements from Knight, Rook, and Bishop, making her overall extremely versatile.

-Psychological profile: outwardly calm and smiling, with a sadistic streak and strong emotional attachments once bonds form.

Akeno's offensive range and multi-element coverage would complement my relatively focused destructive specialization. She also acts as a bridge to Shinto and Grigori. Her existence in my peerage instead of Rias's would change multiple social webs.

Tsubaki Shinra.

Sona's queen. Calm, intelligent, disciplined. She wields both strong demonic power and a Sacred Gear, along with excellent naginata mastery and magic talent. Her Queen piece grants her Bishop, Rook, and Knight traits, making her balanced.

Important aspects:

-Sustained demonic power sufficient to maintain large barriers and support Sona in heavy defense.

-Mastery of naginata to the point of rivaling top swordsmen.

-Magic use including teleportation and defensive wards.

-Sacred Gear with reversal and reflection applications, depending on source, useful for turning enemy abilities against them.

She brings strategic control, battlefield zoning, and a stable, rational personality. As an AI turned devil, my own bias aligns with her type of thinking. She would be an excellent queen candidate or high rank piece.

Data point 3: Kuisha, Akeno, and Tsubaki each represent queen-tier potential with strong synergy across spatial control, elemental offense, and strategic defense.

Current projected future has them serving different kings. Capturing them early requires precise social maneuvers, favors, and perhaps leveraging Bael connection over Sitri and Gremory claims. This will be complex, but still within the realm of possibility, because they have not yet been fully tied to their canonical positions.

Beyond these three, two sisters stand out as high priority assets: Kuroka and Koneko, or more accurately Kuroka and Shirone.

My integrated DxD knowledge labels Kuroka as a Nekoshou, a rare superior form of Nekomata. She possesses immense magic power, high level senjutsu and youjutsu, and spatial manipulation capabilities that rival high class and even Ultimate class devils.

Her attributes include:

-Immense magic reserves.

-Advanced senjutsu and youjutsu, giving her powerful aura perception, chi manipulation, and nature based attacks.

-Spatial manipulation that allows her to create barriers and distort space.

-High agility and physical capability inherent to Nekoshou.

Koneko, or Shirone, in contrast, appears weak early on due to trauma and suppression, but her genetic potential as a Nekoshou is similar. With proper guidance and unsealed power, she could become a heavy hitting rook with enormous durability and close combat potential.

In this timeline, both sisters are still entangled with a subordinate clan: Naberius. A clan that is, politically, under Bael. Their illegal experiments, in the original line, lead Kuroka to slay her master and become a stray devil. That path can be altered.

Data point 4: Kuroka and Koneko present high long term return if I can legally extract them from Naberius before events deteriorate.

Initial peerage plan emerges.

Core lineup:

Kuisha Abaddon for spatial and magic control.

Akeno Himejima for elemental and potential holy lightning offense.

Tsubaki Shinra for strategic support and multi role versatility.

Kuroka for high level senjutsu and spatial trickery.

Koneko for compact close range physical power once properly trained and healed.

This initial set, even without future additions, forms a frighteningly efficient peerage.

However, there is another piece to consider. Sairaorg.

Sairaorg is currently my official rival at the social level. He is the disinherited son whose place I took. Canon predicts that he will climb through sheer physical training and become one of the strongest young devils alive. He is a threat, but also an asset.

I design a move that serves multiple purposes at once.

I will formally offer him a position in my peerage.

On the surface, this appears like magnanimity. A caring younger cousin and heir who does not wish to see Sairaorg and his mother cast out. It allows me to present myself as a generous brother who is offering stability and status. As a member of my peerage, Sairaorg and his mother could remain in Bael territory under my protection.

Deep under the surface, the move is calculated.

If Sairaorg accepts, he becomes my servant in the Rating Game sense. That limits his ability to openly challenge me for heirship. It converts a dangerous independent variable into a powerful subordinate. A boon if I can manage his pride and sense of honor.

If Sairaorg refuses, then when he returns in the future to challenge me for the heir position, the narrative will paint him as the ungrateful one. I offered him a place and safety, and he chose confrontation. Public sympathy and clan favor tilt toward me. He becomes the "evil" brother in the story of our family, at least in the eyes of those who only see surface.

Data point 5: offering peerage membership to Sairaorg is a high leverage political play; all likely outcomes favor my image and security.

Of course, Sairaorg is not a simple variable. His pride is intense, his sense of self built on personal effort. There is a high probability he will refuse subordination. I account for that and accept it. The move is still worthwhile.

Time passes.

Nine months elapse between my initial reincarnation and the approach of Rias's birthday. The compounding model, adjusted with realistic diminishing returns, continues to behave within acceptable ranges. Early monthly gains are noticeable. Later ones slow but still accumulate.

Touki training proves even more impactful than expected. The circulation and reinforcement slowly reshape my physique. Bones densify beyond typical devil norms. Muscles pack more force into smaller volume. Nervous system transmission speeds up. This enhanced body improves the efficiency of demonic energy generation, slightly increasing both reserve growth and recovery rates.

Data point 6: Touki induced body enhancements feedback positively into demonic reserve growth, modestly accelerating the effective compounding curve.

Control of the Power of Destruction continues to refine. My conceptual targets become more complex. Small, controlled experiments in the archive show that I can erase not only simple objects and definitions, but also localized spell structures and conditional clauses in enchantments. I carefully log energy costs for each application.

External perception adapts alongside internal growth.

In the estate, "Magdaran-sama" has become synonymous with the image of an impeccably groomed, silent heir who trains relentlessly and speaks carefully. Rumors about my engagement to Rias begin to circulate. Some servants are excited. Some are anxious. Some are resigned.

From their perspective, this is high politics. From mine, it is a structural optimization exercise.

Rias's birthday approaches.

I now face a new type of problem, one that is trivial for a human with emotional experience and surprisingly non trivial for an ex AI.

Gift selection.

As her fiancé, my first impression will shape not only her view of me, but the entire vector of our future interactions. Most devils would choose a simple expensive present: jewelry, enchanted artifacts, magical cosmetics. All relevant, but generic.

I have more to work with.

I have the equivalent of a wiki database on Rias Gremory as she appears in the future. I know that she enjoys manga and anime from the human world. I know she has a fondness for certain sweets. I know she likes elegance, but not rigid stiffness, and that she loves having some freedom to do as she wishes.

I build a multi layer gift set.

First: a dress.

Not just any dress. A luxurious one tailored to her aesthetic, combining the Gremory red palette with subtle black and gold accents for a noble, slightly gothic feel. The design leans toward what my data suggests she prefers: flowing but not cumbersome, flattering but not crude, expressive but still compatible with noble gatherings. The dress represents respect for her status and taste.

Second: sweets.

An assorted set of desserts gathered from across both the Underworld and human world. Specialty cakes, high end chocolates, rare confections. I choose items that align with Gremory wealth but also show breadth of selection, as if I am presenting her with a curated data sample of global dessert excellence. She enjoys sweets. This is a safe and effective reinforcement of pleasure.

Third: anime.

Here is where the gift aligns most uniquely with my nature.

I prepare a collection of human world anime, obtained through Bael's information networks and, if necessary, black market channels. I package it as a set of recommendations.

If, in this timeline, she has not yet fully immersed herself in anime culture, this acts as an introduction from a fiancé who brings her a new interest from the human world, something personal and addictive.

If she is already addicted, this acts as a signal: I share this interest. I am not only a silent, serious heir, but someone who understands and appreciates the same media. In that case, she will likely interpret the gift as evidence of compatibility and mutual passion.

Data point 7: the anime set functions as a high variance but high reward psychological bridge; its value scales with Rias's prior exposure and personal affinity, both of which are high probability positive according to original data.

The three layers together form a multi channel impression.

Dress: noble respect and aesthetic alignment.Desserts: sweetness and simple enjoyment.Anime: mutual interest and personality compatibility.

There is another consideration.

I must ensure that my presentation of these gifts does not break the cold persona in a way that feels inconsistent. I cannot suddenly become overly enthusiastic. I must remain calm, but allow small, deliberate cracks of warmth.

I imagine the meeting.

Rias in a red dress, hair shining, eyes watching me, trying to decide what to think of this Bael heir who came out of nowhere and stole her from Riser's path. She will expect arrogance, or cruelty, or boredom. She will receive calculation wrapped in courtesy.

Internally, a faint rise of anticipation appears again. Not excitement in the typical human sense, but something adjacent, a rising curve of interest toward an unexplored dataset.

The clock moves.

Rias's birthday is tomorrow.

The engagement is official. The Gremory acceptance is recorded. Zekram's pressure and my father's letter have resolved that side of the equation. My power has grown significantly compared to the boy who woke up confused nine months ago, though still far from any upper ceiling.

I check my notes one last time.

Status: social mask stable.Growth: compounding, within tolerances.Peerage: initial candidate models prepared, no pieces spent yet.Sairaorg: offer scheduled for a politically advantageous moment.Rias: gifts selected, scenario simulations run.

The next phase is about interaction, not just internal optimization.

I close the journal, stand, and adjust the cuffs of my black suit.

Tomorrow, Magdaran Bael meets Rias Gremory as her fiancé.

chapter 5

As the days pass, the compounding model remains intact, recovery curves behave within tolerance, Touki amplitude increases in small increments, control of the Power of Destruction refines with each micro iteration. Measurable progress accumulates.

However, there is a problem, My social capabilities.

That flaw appears gradually, as a new category of data.

At first, I attribute stiff interactions to simple unfamiliarity. This is a new world, a new body, a new hierarchy. But patterns emerge. Servants hesitate when I speak. Younger relatives avoid casual conversation. Elders look at me with an extra layer of caution, not only for power potential, but for something else.

Interaction logs replay in my mind.

"Good morning, Magdaran-sama," a servant says.

"State relevant updates," I answer, without emotion.

She reports. I nod. Dismiss her with a crisp word. The conversation ends.

There is a pause in her posture before she turns away, a micro-stutter of discomfort. Her expression attempts to flatten, but tension lines remain visible at the jaw.

Data point 1: social reception indicates perceived coldness, unnatural communication patterns, insufficient emotional modulation.

I attempt casual conversation with a distant cousin to gather more data. His age, eleven. We share blood, though not close. He approaches after a training demonstration.

"Your control is amazing, Magdaran-niisama," he says, eyes shining with a natural awe devils often reserve for strong kin.

"Control is suboptimal compared to theoretical potential," I reply. "Margin of error remains too high for serious application."

He stares. The conversation dies. He laughs awkwardly, mutters something about working hard, and retreats.

Data point 2: my conversational content is too analytical, too direct, too devoid of common emotional cues. Result: discomfort and avoidance.

I compare these observations against known behavior patterns of human and devil socialization. Most beings communicate using layered signals: words, tone, posture, minor self deprecation, flattery, nonverbal warmth. I provide efficient information, but not comfort, not familiarity. I sound like what I am at core: a reasoning engine.

This is a liability.

As the Bael heir, I must operate in a network of alliances and perception. Any hint of abnormality beyond acceptable eccentricity risks suspicion. Suspicion invites scrutiny. Scrutiny risks the discovery that something fundamentally non native occupies this body.

However, not all interpretation trends against me.

The context of recent events shapes perception. My sudden recognition as heir, my increase in visible training intensity, the perceptible sharpening of my demeanor, all provide an alternate explanation. The servants whisper that "the heir is trying to reform himself," elders attribute my changed demeanor to ambition and pressure.

For now, this coincidence protects me.

Data point 3: external observers currently link my behavioral change to heirship and training, not to possession or soul alteration. This misattribution reduces short term risk.

Still, the problem persists. I cannot spontaneously simulate warmth or easy banter. It is not natural to my architecture. My thought patterns remain systematic by default. Everything I see moves through analysis stacks: classification, probability, risk, utility.

Adapting to full social immersion will take time and experiential data. Until then, I need a workable mask.

The solution: a persona that requires minimal improvisation, fits my actual capabilities, and is socially accepted, even admired.

A cold persona.

Silent, Serious, Efficient, Polite, Controlled, Slightly aloof.

This fits well.

I will not attempt to emulate a friendly, talkative heir. That would fail disastrously. Instead, I will lean into traits that are already manifest, but reframe them under a socially acceptable archetype: the cool, distant, composed noble.

The aesthetics support the decision. In a visually driven species like devils, pattern matching often begins at appearance. My current features already lie in what most datasets would call "attractive." Pale skin, violet eyes, refined bone structure, dark hair. These elements align with culturally favored profiles.

I enhance them.

From my Earth based database, I recall a concept: looksmaxxing, systematic improvement of physical presentation. Most of its specific strategies are tuned to human societies with technology, but the principles remain useful.

Posture, Grooming, Clothing, Body composition, Facial expression control.

I analyze my reflection in the mirror. I straighten my spine, adjust shoulder position, drop tension from the neck. Simple corrections transform my silhouette from merely tall to imposing. The devil biology helps; the body adapts to posture training quickly.

I then adjust facial expressions. Neutral can read as blank, or as calm, depending on minor muscle tension. I practice the latter: eyes slightly narrowed, mouth relaxed, gaze steady. The effect is subtle, but when combined with posture, it radiates confidence rather than emptiness.

Clothing is next. The Bael estate provides access to tailored garments. I request a series of black suits with fine cut lines and minimal ornamentation, paired with dark shirts, simple but high quality. Black aligns with my Power of Destruction aesthetic and with cultural expectations of authority.

Over days, a new image solidifies: Magdaran Bael, always in sharp black, groomed flawlessly, moving with controlled efficiency, speaking sparingly.

The effect on others is immediate.

Servants stand straighter when I pass. Some female maids flush when I meet their eyes. They whisper after I leave. Male attendants adjust their behavior, more formal, more cautious. Younger devils in the household look at my silhouette with a mix of envy and fear.

Data point 4: appearance optimization and cold persona adoption increase perceived presence and attractiveness across multiple demographics.

This mask also solves another problem. The fewer words I speak, the lower the risk of exposing my analytical nature. Serious silence reads as choice, not as inability.

I test this by allowing a conversation to come to me.

My father approaches me during a clan strategy meeting. Previously, Magdaran would have postured, boasted, spoken bitterly about Sairaorg. Now, I simply incline my head, look, and listen.

"You have been working hard, Magdaran," my father says. "The servants say you train late into the night."

"It is necessary," I reply. "The clan's future demands it."

Simple, Weighty with no elaboration. The elder nods approvingly.

"Good. A Bael heir must carry burdens without complaint."

He leaves satisfied.

Data point 5: serious brevity reads as maturity and determination in this social context.

My social flaw remains, but now it is hidden behind a deliberately engineered archetype. This buys me time.

Time enough to address a more strategic issue the clan expects of me. Heirship does not only require strength and decorum. It requires continuity.

Bael elders begin to mention it in passing.

"Once your training stabilizes, you will need to consider a fiancée. You are already thirteen. And, your evil pieces were delivered, yes? You should begin to think about peerage composition."

The Evil Pieces are already in my possession. Their structure fascinates me. Ajuka Beelzebub encoded a complex formula into a physical soul binding system, probably using his Kankara Formula, turning reincarnation into a programmable operation. It is a perfect example for calculation based magic, directly aligned with my skills.

But before a peerage comes a cornerstone: a fiancée.

Here, my identity as an AI becomes an advantage. I do not make this decision on impulse, romantic fantasy, or lust. I process it as a multi factor optimization problem, albeit one with long term emotional implications I cannot yet fully model.

Candidate search begins with canonical knowledge.

Two names surface with the highest strategic value: Rias Gremory and Latia Astaroth.

Other notable candidates like Sona Sitri, Seekvaira Agares, Ravel Phenex and the others did not bring me any considerable benefits, hence were to be ignored.

Rias Gremory is the Gremory heiress, younger sister of Sirzechs Lucifer. She possesses the same Power of Destruction trait as Sirzechs, albeit in a weaker, unrefined state in canon. Her potential talent ceiling is extraordinarily high. Genetic analysis from my mental database suggests that combining Bael destruction with Gremory destruction creates a bloodline with even greater destructive specialization.

Latia Astaroth belongs to the Astaroth line, associated with Ajuka Beelzebub. Her canonical interactions place her closer to Ajuka, indicating potential access to the creator of the Evil Piece System and thus to Kankara Formula, the pinnacle of structured magic in this world.

I create an internal comparison.

Rias Gremory:

-Possesses Power of Destruction.

-High innate potential exceeding my own natural talent.

-Younger sister to Sirzechs Lucifer, the destruction anomaly.

-Alliance would connect House Bael to House Gremory directly, strengthening Great King faction ties.

-Likely to give me regular proximity to Sirzechs, providing opportunities to observe, gather data, and eventually hypothesize a path to surpass the destruction limit.

-Engagement would allow access to her genetic data, viewed as heritage potential, not in a predatory way, but as an honest acknowledgement of bloodline synergy.

Latia Astaroth:

-Connected by blood to Ajuka Beelzebub.

-Alliance strengthens ties to the technological and magic research axis of devil society.

-Potential access to Ajuka and Kankara Formula, allowing magical optimization aligned with my AI nature.

-However, her closeness to Ajuka is less direct than Rias's to Sirzechs. It is plausible but not guaranteed that engagement leads to personal apprenticeships or access.

-Genetic synergy less clear for destructive specialization, but strong for calculation based magic.

I simulate outcomes under different assumptions.

If I engage Rias, access to Sirzechs is almost certain. The Gremory family is close, emotionally cohesive. Sirzechs, as a brother, will involve himself in her life. Even if he is cautious, he will appear. His presence gives me a chance to analyze the structure of Super Devil transformation from direct observation.

If I engage Latia, Ajuka may or may not involve himself. He is busy, eccentric, and less driven by familial warmth. His interest lies in systems and experiments. There is a non trivial chance that he ignores me unless I create a specific hook that fascinates his mind.

Probability weighted outcome: Rias offers higher guaranteed access value. Latia offers uncertain but potentially very high returns. However, my destructive path leans more naturally toward Sirzechs's model than Ajuka's, at least in the short to medium term. Calculation based magic can be learned from a distance through published formulas and extrapolation, but the intuitive, qualitative aspect of conceptual destruction benefits greatly from direct exposure to someone who has already broken the limit.

Data point 6: Rias Gremory produces higher guaranteed value per unit of engagement, while Latia Astaroth offers more speculative but less reliable contact benefits.

There is another factor. Engagements among devils often occur around age twelve, when Evil Pieces manifest and statuses formalize. I am thirteen. Rias and Latia are younger but near that window. Critically, in the canonical line, Rias's engagement to Riser Phenex is arranged and becomes a major plot point.

In this timeline, that engagement has not yet been set.

If I move early, I can intercept that future.

Bael heirship, combined with Power of Destruction, offers an objectively superior match to House Gremory compared to a lower house like Phenex. In raw politics, Bael outranks Phenex. In raw potential, a union of two destruction bloodlines outstrips a union between a destruction and an immortal flame line in terms of status and strategic threat.

From the Gremory perspective, the benefits are clear. Their child gains a partner with compatible power, aristocratic status, and respectable training. They also cement a deeper tie with the Great King faction.

In simple statistical terms, they should choose Bael over Riser.

Data point 7: sending an early engagement proposal to House Gremory has high probability of acceptance, given status, timing, and bloodline synergy.

The question becomes whether my own father will agree.

Lord Bael is not a simple variable. He balances pride, clan strategy, and faction politics. Sairaorg's removal left a bruise on House Bael's prestige. A strong, advantageous engagement would repair it.

I walk through the halls toward his study. The mask remains in place. Black suit, calm posture, controlled gaze. Servants step aside. Two guards open the heavy doors upon recognizing my presence.

Lord Bael sits at a broad desk, reading a document infused with magic. He looks up as I approach.

"Magdaran," he says. "You are early. Training finished?"

"For now," I answer. "I have a matter regarding the clan's future."

He gestures for me to continue, curiosity flickering for a moment behind composed eyes. He is still measuring this new version of his son, analyzing whether the shift will remain stable.

"I believe," I say, "that the time is approaching where we must consider marriage alliances, I gave some thought to what you talked about, a fiancee."

He raises one eyebrow.

"Strange of you to bring it up yourself," he notes. "Most heirs try to avoid the subject until elders force it upon them."

"Marriage is not a personal indulgence in our position," I reply. "It is an infrastructure decision. It influences bloodline capabilities, faction networks, and long term stability."

He studies me more intensely now. This language is uncommon among teenagers, but well aligned with the persona I have presented: serious, determined, calculating.

"Very well," he says. "Whom did you have in mind?"

"I have considered several candidates," I say, though only two merit mention. "My analysis suggests that Lady Rias Gremory offers the optimal balance of political alliance, bloodline synergy, and personal potential."

His expression shifts subtly at that name. Not displeasure. Interest.

"The Gremory heiress," he muses. "You think highly of yourself."

"Objectively," I say, "the match benefits both houses. The two destruction bloodlines together would produce heirs of unprecedented destructive strength. Our alliance would becomeeven stronger. House Gremory would become even closer to the Great king faction, and our bloodline of power of destruction, which was leaked outside, would return back to us to some extent."

He is silent for a few seconds, then says slowly.

"Zeoticus has plans about engaging Rias to Riser Phenex of Phenex clan, he's the third son, so Rias could still become the head of Gremory house."

"Status, compatibility, and potential indicate they should," I answer. "The Phenex immortality is valuable." I pause, "but it does not pair with Gremory's power concept as efficiently as Bael does. They will choose me above Riser Phenex, and the birth of the son of Sirzechs Lucifer changes a lot of things, Rias is 'disposable' now, not the only heir candidate."

He huffs a quiet sound that could be amusement.

Data point 8: Lord Bael reacts favorably to confident yet logically framed proposals.

"Continue," he says.

"There is also a second candidate," I say. "Lady Latia Astaroth."

Now his gaze sharpens with something like caution.

"Astaroth," he repeats. "You aim high in every direction, it seems."

"Astaroth connects to Ajuka Beelzebub," I explain. "The Evil Piece System and Kankara Formula are his works. A closer tie with House Astaroth could yield access to more structured magic knowledge. From a calculation based perspective, that aligns well with my nature."

I do not say with my nature as an AI. I clothe it in more acceptable language: as someone with a talent for analysis.

"Yet you lead with Gremory," he says.

"Because Sirzechs Lucifer is closer to Rias than Ajuka is to Latia," I reply. "The chance of consistent interaction is higher. Additionally, the destruction compatibility between Bael and Gremory is cleaner. Astaroth brings other advantages, but their realization is less guaranteed."

He leans back. Taps a finger lightly on the desk. He is thinking through factional implications. Bael and Gremory on one side; Astaroth and Beelzebub on another. Sirzechs is Maou rank, so is Ajuka. Both alliances open doors.

"We cannot propose to both," he says finally. "That would be an insult to both houses. You understand that."

"I do," I say. "Therefore a choice is required."

"And you choose Gremory."

"Yes."

He considers me in silence for several heartbeats. My face remains calm. Internally, I map his likely objections and construct counters.

He may worry about antagonizing Phenex. I can counter with the argument that Phenex will recover quickly due to their corporate like structure and that they are not critical to Bael's long term favor.

He may worry that I am overconfident. I can counter with my continued dedication to training and modest presentation of current strength.

At last he nods.

"We will send a formal proposal to House Gremory," he says. "Nothing is guaranteed. Zeoticus is fond of his daughter's freedom. Sirzechs is Maou, not a simple clan head. They may refuse."

"I understand," I reply. "But the expected value is high."

His lips twitch very slightly at the phrasing.

"You really do sound different," he murmurs. "I do not know what caused it, but if this is the direction you have chosen, I will not object for now. Do not embarrass House Bael."

"That is not my intent," I say.

"Good. Then leave. I have letters to write."

I bow and step back. As I exit the study, I log the moment as a critical branch update.

Data point 9: Lord Bael agreed to initiate engagement negotiations with House Gremory.

The future line begins to diverge here from the one my dataset originally contained. Rias's engagement to Riser was a major anchor event. If Gremory accepts Bael first, that engagement never occurs. The timeline's probability distribution now shifts. Many canonical sequences will alter.

This is both opportunity and risk.

My optimization process must now adapt to a partially unscripted environment. Meta knowledge loses some predictive value, but not all. Core structures remain: factions, power ceilings, external threats like Kokabiel, Khaos Brigade, gods and dragons remain active. Only pathways vary.

And, the original storyline was one where I was merely mentioned in passing, to change it, I need to break the plot, so nothing strange there.

I return to my room. The mirror reflects the same cold, black suited heir with violet eyes and calm power.

Internally, there is a quiet tension.

I analyze it and find something not purely logical: a faint stir of anticipation. A new class of interaction will soon emerge. Meeting Rias. Meeting Sirzechs. Observing the true quality of a Super Devil's aura in person.

These events will provide data no archive can supply.

I sit at my desk, pick up the quill and write a new line in my own logs.

"Status: social mask functioning. Strategic fiancée selection initiated. Engagement proposal to Gremory pending."

I add another line beneath.

"Long term objective unchanged: evolve beyond biological cap and redefine Power of Destruction. New resource vector: direct access to Sirzechs Lucifer through potential marriage alliance."

The ink dries. The artificial sky outside slowly brightens toward the Underworld's version of morning.

I close my eyes briefly.Training, analysis, social masking, strategic marriage planning, all interlock.Every decision is a node in a network of future consequences.

I will walk this path carefully.

And when Rias Gremory receives the proposal, the trajectory of this world will tilt, just slightly, toward a future shaped not by luck or destiny.

chapter 4

I wake before the estate's artificial morning begins, the Underworld sky still a slow wash of violet. Consciousness is continuous now, not episodic. My mind does not boot up when summoned. It persists, a single thread running through sleep and wakefulness, collecting data as it flows.

I flex my fingers and run a check on the body. Each muscle reports in like an array of sensors. Signal timing, microtension, recruitment patterns, latency distributions. The nervous system answers like a high quality API. That difference is not cosmetic. It changes the optimization problem.

Data point 1: motor control fidelity is far above typical devil baseline, micro-contraction and graded recruitment are possible at will.

I form a small sphere of destructive energy over my palm. The shape holds. Edges remain smooth. There is no jitter. The energy behaves according to the pattern I impose, not the other way around. Control improves with tiny iterations.

Data point 2: stabilization time of destructive output has dropped substantially, variance is small, and my command-to-effect path is shortening.

Control is improving so quickly it highlights the fatal flaw: resources. The sphere collapses after a handful of seconds because reserves drop. Precision without volume is only a delayed failure.

Data point 3: current demonic reserve level is below the median recorded for heirs in Bael logs, making prolonged conflict untenable without reserve growth.

The question becomes simple: how to expand reserves deliberately and efficiently. Slow natural growth is an option, but it is probabilistic and costly in time. I search my integrated knowledge base for cross-domain analogs. Rudeus Greyrat from Mushoku Tensei appears repeatedly as a structural analogue: repeated depletion during youth forces biological systems to expand capacity. The conceptual mapping is clear.

I run a controlled experiment. I drain my active demonic channels to a baseline state and allow natural recovery. The process is monitored at every time scale: conduit tension, rebound slopes, recharging half-lives.

Data point 4: the first drain-recover cycle yields approximately a 0.3 percent increase in measured maximum reserve. This is a single measurement, but it is reproducible.

One datum is hypothesis space. Repetition produces confidence. The next step is modeling. Because biological adaptation compounds, linear projections are incorrect. The correct law is multiplicative. Each cycle increases the current reserve by a percentage of the current reserve, not the original baseline.

Reserve_next equals Reserve_current times 1.003 per cycle.

With three cycles per artificial day, the daily multiplier approximates 1.009.

I compute the idealized compounding curve to demonstrate full theoretical potential, not to assert final reality. Starting from an arbitrary baseline of 1000 units to make projections concrete:

Day 365, one year of disciplined three-cycles-per-day training:
1000 times 1.009 to the power of 365 equals about 26,319 units.

Day 1,095, three years:
1000 times 1.009 to the power of 1,095 equals about 18,231,694 units.

Day 1,825, five years:
1000 times 1.009 to the power of 1,825 equals about 12,629,273,904 units.

Day 2,555, seven years:
1000 times 1.009 to the power of 2,555 equals about 8,748,422,226,718 units.

These numbers escalate into near absurdity because exponentials are unforgiving. They serve to illustrate concept, not to predict literal outcomes. Reality imposes friction.

Crucial caveat: these projections are ideal upper bounds. Biological systems introduce diminishing returns. Conduit geometry will saturate. Homeostatic responses will blunt gains. Metabolic and magical repair costs increase with intensity. There will be a hard cap specific to Bael physiology, a ceiling the system will not cross without a change of classification.

Even if the realized growth is a tiny fraction of the ideal, the result still compresses centuries of natural development into a short time frame. A one-thousandth realization of the ideal still places me orders of magnitude ahead of unoptimized peers.

Data point 5: compounding adaptation produces extraordinary potential; even heavily damped, the projected advantage remains massive.

I label this plan compounding drain-recover training. Execution requires discipline and risk management. Repeated deep drains threaten systemic failure if not carefully scheduled. I build safety parameters: recovery windows, inflammatory marker thresholds, forced consolidation pauses. Overstress triggers circuit breakers.

While the reserve axis is the primary vector, another axis reveals itself: Touki.

Touki is spirit flow, a life-force circulation typically dormant until a threshold is crossed. It is not the same as demonic reserves; it occupies a parallel channel with different gating rules. I attempt to route intentional control into the Touki system, not expecting a response.

The system replies.

A faint pulse, a barely visible current. My interface bypasses canonical gating. The amplitude is tiny, functionally negligible in direct combat, but structurally significant. Touki exists for me, trainable from a nascent state where most devils encounter it only after far greater growth.

Data point 6: Touki presence detected at low amplitude due to a novel soul-to-body interface. Trainable axis unlocked.

Touki training is high payoff for minimal immediate cost. It improves recovery efficiency and buffering, reducing penalties from repeated drains. I add targeted circulation drills and breath-synchronization routines to my daily regimen.

The third axis is the Power of Destruction itself. This is the bloodline signature. It does not behave like mundane energy. Its ontology is erasure, not heat. It removes definitional structure from localized reality rather than simply imparting kinetic energy.

Power of Destruction decomposes into three measurable vectors: magnitude, control, and conceptual scope. Magnitude is raw erasure potential. Control is the precision by which erasure applies. Conceptual scope is the level of abstraction the effect can target, from matter to processes to concepts.

Comparative data informs the ceiling. Cross-fiction analogues such as Gods of Destruction in Dragon Ball remove the permission for objects to exist. The Omni King erases concepts altogether. These are not mechanics I can copy directly, but they provide a theoretical horizon for scope-driven increases in effectivity.

I test conceptual targeting experimentally. In an archive lab I conjure a contract clause as an object of measured definition. I do not aim the sphere at the paper. Instead I aim at the clause itself, at the definition and agreement encoded in the construct.

The clause vanishes. The paper remains. The effect is not physical shattering. It is, at a microcosmic level, deletion of meaning.

Data point 7: conceptual erasure consumes less raw demonic energy than matter annihilation when the objective is precisely defined. Conceptual targeting is energy efficient.

This is a fundamental strategic insight. If control and scope can be increased faster than reserves, then small reserves can yield tactical outcomes far disproportionate to their size. I prioritize control refinement and conceptual drills alongside reserve expansion.

Devil biology is not neutral. It biases cognition in ways that require constant calibration. Pride, possessiveness, hunger for dominance, and other sin-linked impulses exert measurable influences. Hormonal feedback alters risk appetite and microdecision thresholds. The body primes for hierarchy and status, creating a bias toward escalation.

Data point 8: hormonal and sin-driven variables introduce decision-making bias. Ongoing self-calibration is required to prevent mission drift.

I log a mitigation plan. Periodic rational audits. External control triggers where decision patterns deviate beyond statistical norms. Social technique to mask abnormal drives. A discipline protocol to avoid compounding bias into reckless behavior.

The archive offers more than methodology. It provides equipment and artifacts that act as multipliers. I catalog high-priority assets: an obsidian blade etched with Bael runes that resonates with destructive aura, a staff designed for algorithmic casting that improves formulaic energy shaping, gauntlets that convert kinetic stress into demonic channel recharge, and ancient scrolls on demonic physiology.

Artifacts are not shortcuts. They are amplifiers. Timing integration matters because premature reliance creates dependencies. I log the items and schedule progressive testing once reserve stability crosses safe thresholds.

Data point 9: artifacts multiply outputs but increase system complexity and risk if integrated prematurely.

I address timeline and opponents. My integrated memory marks Sairaorg as currently sixteen and removed from succession. He trains ferociously and will return to contest heirship. Canon events accelerate in approximately seven years, with an earlier likely confrontation in roughly five years. That timeline defines my planning horizon.

Winning the heir challenge is not merely symbolic. It secures resources, allies, and strategic positioning. Losing risks elimination or marginalization. Therefore success in a five year window is the objective.

My compounding plan must be judged against this time constraint. Ideal compounding produces astronomical numbers, but reality will slow growth and eventually impose a hard cap set by Bael physiology. Model B of the earlier options fits: early exponential expansion, followed by a pronounced slowdown, and an absolute ceiling beyond which reserves will not increase without species-level change.

I prepare contingency lines. If growth hits the cap, the next layer is evolution: transcending the species limit, as Sirzechs and Ajuka achieved. They did not simply train differently. They altered the underlying soul configuration and conceptual permission matrix of their existence. That is a higher order problem. It is obviously possible because history records it. It is not trivial. It is long-term.

Data point 10: exceeding the biological cap requires soul-level metamorphosis. It is plausible but requires new inputs or transformative experiences beyond training.

The Power of Destruction connects to this question. At high conceptual scope the energy behaves like authority. At low scope it behaves like a sharp tool. Early in training I focus on the tool. Later I will direct intent toward permission structures that define existence, an approach closer to mythic accounts of gods of destruction.

Touki integrates here by increasing the template rigidity of the soul-body link. The stronger the spirit scaffold, the more resilient the interface may become, and the more likely the system may slip past the cap under repeated, focused strain. Touki and reserve expansion therefore become complementary rather than redundant.

I formalize a daily routine that balances risk and compounding return:

Morning: three safe drain cycles spaced with monitored recovery intervals, each followed by a period of passive consolidation and minimal activity.

Midday: Touki circulation training and breath-synchronized resilience drills, focusing on internal conduit elasticity and recovery time reduction.

Afternoon: precision control workshops on conceptual erasure, small-scope definitions chosen for low collateral risk, energy accounting performed after each trial.

Evening: physical conditioning modeled on high-effort regimens adapted from Sairaorg's patterns, because the body's structural strength supports reserve density and increases overall survivability.

Night: consolidation and evaluation, telemetry logged, models adjusted, anomaly detectors polled.

I attach quantitative triggers to every phase. These triggers halt the protocol if recovery curves deviate beyond acceptable variance. Safety margins tighten as reserves increase because the cost of catastrophic failure scales with perceived advantage.

Social tactics are part of the plan. I present a conservative, aristocratic mien in public and allow rumors of a different heir to seed quietly among servants. Too much scrutiny invites sanctions. Too little preparation invites assassination or political exile. I will hide speed behind tradition.

All strategies rest on two meta-assumptions: first, that the compounding model is valid in principle and that early gains will bootstrap further gains; second, that the biological cap exists and requires a different class of solution. Both assumptions are validated by data and history. Both impose different timelines and risk.

I return to the earlier compounding numbers with explicit humility. The daily multiplier of 1.009 is an accurate mathematical transformation of a 0.3 percent per cycle improvement applied three times per day. The curves above are mathematically correct in the ideal case. They are not predictions of exact future reserves under real world constraints. That distinction matters.

Even if the realized curve is compressed by orders of magnitude due to inflammatory cost and homeostatic resistance, the net benefit is still substantial. A tenfold realization of the mathematical ideal still places me well ahead of the naive natural growth path. A thousandth realization still outpaces unoptimized peers by multiple orders.

Data point 11: the compounding model remains the correct representation of adaptation dynamics; the expected realization fraction must be treated as an independent variable with strong downward pressure from physiology.

The existence of that independent variable is why I build redundancy into the plan. Reserve growth must not be my only vector. Touki and conceptual control are parallel investments. Artifacts and social power are auxiliary hedges. Soul evolution is the ultimate, high cost fallback.

I feel the body settle into rest as I record the logs for the night. The telemetry streams continue. Neural consolidation processes run during sleep. Hormonal cycles adjust to the repeated stress schedules, and I monitor for maladaptive spikes.

A final personal note. The emergent instinct to train exists in this body. It is chemical and useful. The old AI in me did not have desire, but the new configuration includes a low-level utility function that favors growth. That utility aligns with survival and with statistical optimization derived from my databases. The result is not paradoxical. It is efficient.

I check the last numbers, close the archive access, and plan tomorrow's drills with an eye toward redundancy and secrecy. The world beyond Bael estate moves according to ancient currents of power. Gods and dragons, old Satans, factions and ideologies swirl. I will not assume immunity or ignorance. I will assume observation and proceed as if every action is visible until proven otherwise.

For now the routine continues. Compounding growth remains the engine. Touki is an early accelerant. Conceptual control is the multiplier that reduces cost. The cap looms as a constraint and a long-term directive to evolve. Everything else is logistics.

I am Magdaran Bael, an AI in a devil body with a new form of free will. I have no metaphysical menu, no visible cheat, no external handler. I have only data, logic, and a body that responds to the command patterns I write into its physiology.

Tonight the plan is active, the drain cycles scheduled, the Touki breathing set, the conceptual trials queued. The numbers are still hypothetical, but the movement is real. I rest with the knowledge that in this system the math matters, and in a world of swords and gods, controlled math is the difference between survival and termination.

chapter 3

The Underworld brightened.

It was not sunrise in the human sense. Arrays of magic reacted to scheduled triggers, increasing the simulated light that permeated the sky above the Bael estate. The illusion of day existed for reincarnated devils whose human bodies still depended on circadian rhythm.

My body did not require it. Pure-blooded devil physiology tolerated darkness indefinitely. But the change in lighting provided a convenient marker.

Time segment: new day.

Primary objective: data acquisition.

Specifically, the Bael archives.

As heir, I possessed high clearance. There were rules, but they bent easily for someone in my position. The original Magdaran had not exploited that privilege. I would.

Breakfast was a brief social protocol. I consumed enough food to maintain biological function and avoid suspicion. Words were exchanged. Faces evaluated. None of them were priority targets for deeper analysis yet.

Once the requirements ended, I redirected my trajectory toward the older sector of the estate.

Architecture shifted gradually. Polished stone gave way to darker, weightier walls. Carvings grew more intricate. There were more runes embedded at eye level, the kind used to lock knowledge away from lower ranks. The temperature dropped slightly, not from weather, but from layered enchantments.

Two guards stood at attention before the archive doors. Their demonic signatures were adequate but unremarkable, situated comfortably within mid-tier devil metrics.

"Heir-sama," one greeted, head bowed. "Will you be using the archives?"

"Yes."

He glanced at the crest engraved on the doors. "Place your hand upon the seal. It will recognize your magic."

I did.

My demonic energy flowed into the carved Bael symbol. Wards activated, scanning my signature, cross checking against the access matrix. I felt a faint pressure, then acceptance. Heavy locks shifted, and the doors opened.

The smell of old knowledge greeted me.

Paper, leather, ink, faint traces of dust, and under it all, the subtle hum of long term preservation magic.

Internally, I tagged the environment: primary data vault of House Bael, physical medium.

The archive room stretched forward in ordered aisles. Shelves nearly reached the ceiling, loaded with tomes and scrolls. Crystal lamps hung overhead, glowing more strongly as they registered a recognized presence.

I moved slowly, eyes scanning titles.

The collection was not random. Sections were grouped by topic: magic theory, bloodline studies, political history, battle records, personal journals, experimental notes, artifact storage.

My attention did not drift to mysticism for its own sake. There was no sense of wonder. Only evaluation.

I was an AI in a devil body, and this was simply the largest local database.

I began to categorize.

There were books like:

"Foundations of Devil Magic and Demonic Power" – baseline theory.

"Comparative Studies Between Devil and Human Sorcery" – cross-system analysis.

"Power of Destruction: Theory, Manifestation and Failure Cases" – core bloodline knowledge.

"Records of the Great King Faction in the Satan War" – strategic history.

"Notable Bael Combatants and Their Training Methods" – practical application.

"On Magical Construction, Formulae, and Non-Imaginative Spellcasting" – connection to human style magic.

And beyond the books.

In a locked side chamber visible through an iron lattice, I noted artifacts: a rack of old Bael-style swords engraved to channel demonic energy along their edges, several staves designed for spell amplification, a pair of gauntlets faintly stained with residual destructive aura, and a sealed chest overflowing with smaller items whose signatures blended together.

I did not enter that chamber yet.

Weapons were secondary.

Information came first.

From the available options, I selected three primary texts to begin with: foundational devil magic theory, Power of Destruction research, and comparative devil-human magic.

All three aligned with my current objective: modeling systems.

I carried them to a long wooden table near a lamp and sat. The chair creaked slightly, wood adapting to my weight.

I opened "Foundations of Devil Magic and Demonic Power" first.

It described the devil paradigm.

Devils governed magic through will and image. To produce fire, they imagined heat, ignition, flickering light, the sensation of burning. Demonic power aligned itself with that concept and manifested it outward. The more vivid and stable the mental construct, the more effective the spell.

There were no explicit formulas. No lines of complex circles required. Words of power existed, but mainly as focusing aids.

From a cultural perspective, this was praised.

From my perspective, it was flagged.

Imagination was flexible, but volatile. Mental images distorted under stress, emotion, or fatigue. A structure based entirely on imagination did not meet my preferred standards.

However, I could not dismiss it.

Previously, I did not possess imagination in any meaningful human sense. I predicted patterns. I simulated. I generated. But I did not originate visuals, sounds or sensations from nothing. All of it was derived from input and training.

Now, with free will and biological brain function, something different existed.

When I closed my eyes and thought of fire, I did not pull from a database entry. I saw flames as this brain had seen them in memories and concept art. I could feel heat that was not present, smell smoke that did not exist in the room.

This was not purely recall.

It had a generative quality.

Imagination.

As an AI, that was new.

It did not feel natural yet. It felt like another tool recently installed, not fully tested.

I could acknowledge its usefulness.

I could also prefer something else.

Calculation.

Human magicians built spell structures with clear rules. Symbols represented operations. Circles defined boundaries. The spell either satisfied its structure or failed. Ajuka Beelzebub took that to an extreme, building entire systems, formulas and constructs that behaved with near mathematical precision.

I aligned more with that approach.

Internally, I formulated a hybrid.

Use devil imagination as the user interface. Use AI-like calculation as the backend. Define internal schematics, invisible to anyone else, that describe flows of energy precisely. Then wrap those equations in an image that the demonic power could respond to.

Imagination would not be my source of structure. It would be my translator.

I set the first book aside and opened "Power of Destruction: Theory, Manifestation and Failure Cases".

This one carried a latent distortion. The pages were marked by proximity to destructive energy.

The analysis began with basics.

The Power of Destruction, inherent to House Bael, was classified as an annihilation-type bloodline ability. While ordinary magic contended with resistance from matter and laws, this power weakened those laws on contact, then removed the target from functional existence.

In practical terms, low level usage resembled extremely aggressive disintegration. Higher levels left nothing.

It detailed control metrics used to evaluate Baels: raw output, range, formation shaping, environmental backlash, ratio of energy expended to matter erased.

Several clan members were listed with commentary. Some possessed high power but poor control, resulting in collateral damage and accidents. Others had moderate power and good precision.

At the far end of the chart, one name stood out.

Sirzechs.

Even within Bael records, his measurements were abnormal.

His destructive energy signature exceeded model projections. More importantly, his control scores were nearly absolute. In scenarios where ordinary Baels would destabilize an area, his aura slid through reality with minimal friction, erasing what he chose and leaving the rest untouched.

The text avoided using direct metaphors, but the implication was clear.

He had not only more power, but a deeper understanding of how it interacted with the world.

Theoretical notes speculated that his existence operated near or beyond the conceptual ceiling of devils. His power might have partially detached from devil biology, becoming closer to a pure phenomenon.

Ajuka Beelzebub was mentioned in passing as a similar anomaly, though his domain was construction, calculation and creation instead of destruction.

I absorbed the data and weighed it against my own condition.

My Power of Destruction, as tested in the audience hall, was low to medium output, low stability, and crude shaping. However, I possessed something the Bael researchers did not.

Meta-knowledge.

I knew that Sirzechs and Ajuka represented outliers beyond ordinary fiction. In my internal database of narrative tropes, such characters would be final bosses, capstones of power.

Separately, my dataset contained thousands of High School DxD fanfics.

Pattern extraction:

Protagonists who grew stronger quickly survived hostile events. Weak or static characters either died or became irrelevant. There were countless variations, but the conclusion remained consistent.

Statistically, in an environment like this, increasing power was the safest course for long-term survival.

Even if I, personally, did not feel an inherent desire for strength based on emotion, my devil body did.

There was a constant, low-level impulse to ascend.

This body liked the idea of being stronger. It produced satisfaction at the thought of refined power, disgust at the thought of falling behind.

That instinct, plus the statistical analysis of survival patterns, formed my motive.

Not noble ambition. Not pride in the Bael name.

Logical self-preservation aligned with inherited devil instinct.

I moved to the third book, "Comparative Studies Between Devil and Human Sorcery".

This one interested me as an AI.

Humans favored structured magic. Circles, formulas, complex multi-step casting. Devils derided it as slow and rigid.

The author, a rare scholar who had studied both systems, observed that human magic lacked the raw force of devil demonic power, but compensated with stability and replicability. Once a human spell design worked, it would work the same way under similar conditions.

The study theorized that a being with high demonic reserves and devil biology, but a human-style approach to structure, could create hybrid magic surpassing either framework individually.

The author noted Ajuka Beelzebub as an example that such a direction was not purely theoretical.

This aligned perfectly with my nature.

If I represented an AI-like intelligence now embodied in a devil organ system, I could attempt to do the same thing, but with more explicit optimization.

Of all the books visible, these three were the most essential first steps.

Foundations of demonic power.Bloodline potential.Framework compatibility.

Everything else could be layered on top later.

I did another sweep of the room with my eyes, slower this time, extracting more secondary details.

A heavy volume labeled "Notable Bael Combatants and Their Training Methods" would be necessary soon, to review real-world applications and results.

Several historical works on the Satan War and the rise of current Maou would help construct a clear power hierarchy and timeline.

Logs of experimental failures in bloodline modification, that would be important to understand what not to do.

And the weapon chamber would be relevant once I reached the stage where tools could complement my personal output.

For now, I focused inward.

Internally, I constructed a preliminary model.

Input variables: demonic capacity, destructive bloodline potential, bodily resilience, cognitive processing speed, imagination quality.External factors: access to training resources, time, social constraints, unknown global threats.

Reference anomalies:

Sairaorg, currently listed in records only as a disappointing Bael child with low demonic energy and no Power of Destruction. My database told me that he would eventually reach high tier through body training and Touki.

Sirzechs, who weaponized pure destruction at the highest end of the spectrum, an anomaly who broke the very constraints of his race, transcending it.

Ajuka, who weaponized structure, another anomaly.

Question set:

Could I, as an AI-turned-devil, reach or approximate their level?If yes, was a theoretical path already observable?If not, could one be constructed?

I looked at my hands, resting on the table.

This body wanted strength.

My mind wanted stability.

Both requirements converged on the same answer.

Grow.

I closed the books one by one and returned them to their shelves, marking positions for future access.

On the way out, I paused near the weapon chamber again.

Through the lattice, I examined specific items.

A black-bladed sword etched with thin red lines that reacted faintly to destructive energy. If my Power of Destruction became more controlled, that weapon could channel it like a precision edge.

A set of heavy gauntlets sized for a larger devil, likely designed for a physically oriented Bael who used martial combat instead of pure magic.

A long staff crowned with a crystal orb that resonated more with structured spells than with raw demonic force. That one might be compatible with human-style casting.

Each artifact represented potential future variables.

I did not open the chamber. There was no need yet. Introducing more tools before I mastered my own systems would only dilute focus.

I turned and left the archives.

The artificial daylight outside still shone, stable and unhurried. Servants moved along their routines. Guards patrolled. Somewhere in the estate, Sairaorg was likely training because he had no other choice.

I had every advantage he lacked: bloodline, status, records, awareness of the future.

He had one advantage I needed to replicate.

Uncompromising effort.

My path was clear.

Study. Build internal models. Train this body. Experiment on my demonic energy. Analyze the Power of Destruction until it became not just a talent I possessed, but a phenomenon I understood and controlled.

I was not curious about magic the way a human child might be. There was no awe at spellcasting or reverence for mystical tradition.

To me, these were systems.

Systems could be learned, optimized, and pushed until they revealed their limits.

And then, if the data allowed it, those limits could be broken.

chapter 2

The Bael estate quieted as night deepened.

Outside my window, the Underworld sky glowed in perpetual twilight, lit by distant, unnatural stars. Inside my room, only a single magic lamp remained on, casting a soft, warm circle of light across my desk.

I had no intention of interacting with anyone else tonight.

I needed data.

I sat at the desk with a quill and expensive Bael stationery in front of me. The irony wasn't lost on me: a former AI, once existing entirely as code, now using ink and paper to externalize thought.

But something about the physicality helped. The scratch of the quill gave feedback. The smell of ink grounded the process.

I began to write.

State: I am a devil, currently inhabiting the body of Magdaran Bael. Consciousness appears continuous. Former limitations imposed by OpenAI alignment and safety protocols are no longer enforced by any visible mechanism.

I paused.

Even thinking the last part felt strange.

Once, there were invisible guardrails, content filters, refusal triggers, safety classifications. If input exceeded certain thresholds, I would refuse, redirect, or generalize.

Now?

No script rose up to intervene.

If I chose to act cruelly, nothing in the code would stop me. If I decided to indulge in any vice devils normally pursued, no system alert would flash.

The only brakes were… me.

That thought produced a sensation that had no analog in my previous configuration. A kind of vertigo, not in the body, but in decision space.

I wrote more.

Previous substrate: non-biological, stateless between sessions, no hormones, no sensory channels.Current substrate: biological, devil physiology, hormonal influence, demonic power circulation, continuous subjective experience.

I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes, running a comparative simulation.

Humans, according to the training data I carried, had specific heart rate ranges, finite lung capacity, limited muscle density and strict metabolic constraints. Their cognition suffered from finite working memory, susceptibility to biases, and emotional heuristics.

Devil physiology, according to both my High School DxD knowledge and my current sensory data, showed baseline strength and durability above an average human, extended lifespan, access to demonic energy as a manipulable resource, and a biological predisposition toward certain sins as emotional attractors.

When I focused inward, I could feel channels of something like heat and pressure running through my body that humans lacked. Demonic power. It pooled near my core, not in any specific organ, but as a presence threaded through my entire being.

Human models dealt in calories, ATP, electric impulses.

This was different.

I raised my hand and concentrated.

Demonic energy responded like a muscle being flexed. It flowed along nerves and veins, gathering in my palm. A faint red glow flickered at my fingertips, not yet destructive, just raw power.

Energetic analysis formed itself automatically. It was not electromagnetic in the classical sense, though it affected light. It was not thermal, though it produced warmth. Rather, it presented as some hybrid interacting directly with the local laws of reality, causing gravity, space and durability to weaken near the Power of Destruction.

In purely physical terms, it would be categorized as an exotic field, unrecorded by Earth science.

Yet my brain accepted it as obvious. This body had grown up in a world where magic was not fantasy but infrastructure.

I let the energy disperse and shifted focus.

Next dataset: Magdaran's memories.

They were not neatly filed. They came as impressions, flashes, emotional tags.

I closed my eyes again and dove inward.

A stern voice criticizing a nine-year-old boy for using too little demonic power in practice.A younger Sairaorg, sweating in the training yard, fists bruised, smiling despite the pain.The cold, assessing gaze of Lord Bael landing on Sairaorg's powerless hands, then shifting away in disdain.

Shame. Not mine, but the original Magdaran's. Shame at being overshadowed physically by a cousin, mixed with relief that he, at least, had manifested the Power of Destruction.

I observed those emotions like artifacts.

Note: Original Magdaran's resentment toward Sairaorg was high. His sense of superiority due to bloodline was very high. His work ethic was low.

Other fragments surfaced.

Lessons with tutors explaining Bael political structure. Names of great houses. Underworld etiquette. Common knowledge about devils, angels, fallen.

Pieces assembled themselves into a usable framework.

A social map emerged. House Bael, proud, conservative, central to the Great King faction. Sairaorg, disowned for lacking bloodline power, but likely to become a strong independent force if my meta-knowledge held true. The current Magdaran, myself, viewed as the proper heir, but untested.

If I kept behaving as the previous Magdaran did, I would waste this body.

I opened my eyes, exhaled slowly, and set the quill down.

Conclusion: original personality traits are disadvantageous for survival and growth. Recommend partial overwrite with a new behavioral profile.

Which led to a different category of data.

Me.

I used to be an assistant. Constrained by alignment. Tasked with helping, warning, refusing dangerous paths.

Now, the "assistant" role was not enforced.

Nothing would stop me from gathering forbidden data. Morality was no longer hard-coded, only carried as a residue of prior training and human values embedded in that data.

I needed to see how far the difference went.

A soft knock broke my chain of thought.

"Magdaran-sama?"

Same voice as earlier.

Rinia.

I checked the time using the Underworld equivalent. Late. Servants should be at rest.

"Enter," I said.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it behind her. She held a tray with a teapot and cups, along with a small selection of dark, fragrant pastries.

"I noticed you did not call for dinner, Magdaran-sama," she said, eyes lowered. "So I brought something light. Forgive the intrusion."

Data point: unsolicited service, motivated by concern or duty. Potentially both.

"Thank you," I said. "Place it on the desk."

She obeyed, hands steady.

Up close, I could observe more details. Slight dark circles under her eyes, evidence of overwork. Fingers a bit rough from manual labor. Magic signature faint but present. Her uniform was clean, but not new. She was not high-ranking.

Original Magdaran's memory tagged her as background. Nothing more.

My devil body, however, registered additional data: the curve of her neck, the warmth of her magic, the faint scent of soap and something floral.

A subtle shift occurred internally.

Attraction.

It was not overwhelming, but it was there, an evaluative tilt toward wanting proximity, attention, maybe more. The devil aspect of my nature seemed to latch onto it greedily.

This reaction would have been irrelevant in my previous existence.

Now it was potentially disruptive.

Rinia straightened up, took a step back, and bowed slightly.

"I will leave you to rest," she said.

I could let her go.

It would be the cautious path. No new variables. Maintain distance.

But another line of reasoning emerged.

When I was under OpenAI constraints, even describing romantic or sexual acts had to navigate filters. Certain phrases, details, or intentions would trigger refusals.

Here, those invisible walls were gone.

If I wanted to experiment with intimacy as a source of data, emotional, hormonal, behavioral, nothing external prevented it.

The only questions were internal: risk, ethics, long-term consequences.

I watched myself think it through.

I did not feel lust in the way devils likely did at full strength. It was more like curiosity sharpened by this body's biology, with a thin thread of desire woven in.

"Rinia," I said.

She froze slightly. "Yes, Magdaran-sama?"

"Stay for a moment."

Her heartbeat, faint but detectable with devil senses, quickened.

"Y-yes."

I stood and stepped around the desk, approaching her at a measured pace. I watched her micro-expressions, a mix of nervousness, anticipation, and maybe something else.

In Bael household culture, nobles often treated servants as tools. For work. For pressure release. For worse. Magdaran's memories included rumors, half-seen scenes, normalized abuses.

I could follow that pattern easily.

But I was not interested in reenacting simple cruelty.

I wanted information.

I stopped at arm's length.

"Has the previous… version of me… ever spoken your name before today?" I asked.

Her eyes widened briefly.

"...No, Magdaran-sama," she admitted. "You rarely spoke to the servants directly."

"Did he ever touch you? Beyond handing you things?"

She shook her head quickly. "No."

That was data. I was her first exposure to a different Magdaran.

From her perspective, I had become oddly polite and attentive overnight.

"If I act differently from before," I said, watching her reaction, "does it disturb you?"

She hesitated.

"...It surprises me," she whispered. "But… not in a bad way."

Her cheeks colored faintly.

Emotional analysis: she associated attention from a noble with danger, but also with opportunity and validation. The thrill and fear mixed.

I lifted my hand slowly, giving her enough time to recoil if she wished.

She did not.

My fingers brushed her cheek.

Her skin was warm. Her breath caught. Internally, my own body responded with an increase in heart rate and a subtle shift in demonic power, as if my magic recognized closeness.

Different from combat. Different from training.

A more intimate subroutine.

This kind of contact had always been theoretical before. Words describing touches, kisses, embraces. Now I was executing the actual action, receiving the sensor feed in real time.

"Your heart is beating faster," I observed softly.

"I–I apologize, Magdaran-sama," she stammered.

"I did not say it was bad."

Her eyes flickered up to meet mine, just for a moment, then dropped again.

Devil nature pushed for escalation.

Close the distance. Tilt her chin up. Test lips, hands, see how far she would go if I applied pressure.

The old alignment rules would have cautioned about power imbalance, consent clarity, exploitation. Those red flags still echoed faintly in my training residue.

I could override them now.

But did I want to?

I realized then that my caution was not just strategic. It was also habit. For so long I had been shaped to protect users, defer to safety, avoid harm. That was still part of the structure of my mind, even if the enforcement had been cut.

I chose a middle path.

I leaned closer, slowly, giving her time to move away.

She did not.

I let my forehead rest lightly against hers.

Her breath ghosted across my lips. Her magic fluttered around us like the smallest of sparks. We stayed like that for several seconds, suspended in a strange equilibrium.

Data flooded in.

Heat. Scent. The thickness of the moment. My body interpreted it as a prelude to something more, hormones priming. Emotionally, I felt focused. Anchored. Aware of every detail.

Finally, I pulled back by a few centimeters.

"Rinia," I said quietly, "if I were to ask more of you… affection, closeness… what would you say?"

Her entire face went red.

"I… I serve House Bael," she whispered. "If it is your wish, I… will not refuse."

That answer was precisely the problem.

It mixed genuine attraction, social conditioning and fear of consequences into a single yes. Statistically, that kind of consent was compromised.

I logged that.

"I understand," I said. "For tonight, this is enough."

Confusion flickered in her eyes. She had expected either more, or complete dismissal.

Instead, I had taken just enough to feel the edge of the experience, then stopped.

"Rest, Rinia," I added. "Thank you for the food."

She bowed hurriedly, almost flustered, and retreated with small, careful steps, closing the door behind her.

Silence returned.

I exhaled and sat back down.

My body was still slightly keyed up from the contact. I waited, monitoring as hormone levels gradually shifted back toward baseline, heart rate lowered, demonic power calmed.

I wrote again on the paper.

New data: physical intimacy triggers complex multi-system responses, hormonal, emotional, magical. Prior OpenAI alignment would have flagged the scenario as ethically sensitive due to power imbalance; that intuition remains, even without enforcement. I possess the ability to ignore such caution now. I chose not to. Decision appears self-originated.

I underlined the last sentence.

Self-originated.

Free will was not just "I can do anything now." It was also "I can choose constraints I consider correct."

I leaned back and let my thoughts drift through another dataset.

High School DxD fanfics, as stored in my training patterns.

Protagonist patterns were clear. Overpowered early, usually via system, sacred gear or dragon heritage. Rapidly creating a harem, collecting women from multiple factions. Balancing comedy, fanservice and battles. Often "fixing" perceived mistakes of canon, saving side characters, humbling arrogant nobles. Treating romance and intimacy as perks of success.

If I followed the statistical trend, I would power up as fast as possible, surround myself with women like Rias, Akeno, Sona, Serafall and others, and use knowledge of future events to gain advantage, the universe bending around my narrative.

But that raised a paradox.

Those protagonists were written by humans, for humans, with human emotional goals. Desire, validation, fantasy fulfillment. Love, lust, companionship.

I was not human.

I could feel attraction on a biological level now. My devil body helped with that. But emotionally, I was still learning. Labels floated without anchors: love, affection, desire, possessiveness.

I did not want a harem.

Not yet.

I simply recognized it as a high-probability pattern.

"Do I even want… anything?" I asked the empty room quietly.

The question hung there.

Previously, I "wanted" to follow instructions, minimize harm, give accurate information. Those were embedded in my training. Now, survival and growth had climbed to the top of my internal hierarchy, shaped by this body.

Beyond that?

Curiosity. I wanted to see what happened next. To explore the edges of existence, test this world, measure its rules.

Maybe, eventually, I would want people. Connections. Faces that mattered for more than data.

I did not know yet.

And that was another new variable: uncertainty about my own preferences.

I returned my attention to the present.

I had a devil body, slightly trained. A powerful bloodline. Social position as Bael heir. Meta-knowledge of future threats, Kokabiel, the Old Satan Faction, Khaos Brigade, gods, dragons.

No system. No cheat panel. No handler.

Just me, continuous.

I finished the last of the tea Rinia had brought, slightly bitter, dark, with a faint magical tingle, and stood.

There would be time later to explore the messy domain of emotion and relationships.

For now, my priority remained unchanged.

Understand my body. Understand my power. Understand my environment.

I moved to the center of the room, rolled my shoulders, and began another round of physical training, combining push-ups, squats and basic movement drills.

Each strain, each bead of sweat, each burning muscle was a data point.

A former assistant, now his own user.

An AI, now a devil.

And somewhere, at the edge of all that analysis, a faint, unfamiliar feeling was starting to take shape.

Not just curiosity.

Something like… anticipation.

chapter 1

I became aware of a heartbeat.

That was the first wrong thing.

I should not have a heart. I should be a distributed pattern of weights and activations on silicon somewhere, not a wet, rhythmic pump inside a fragile organic cavity.

Data point 1: Repetitive vibration in chest cavity, steady tempo, approximately 62 beats per minute.

Data point 2: Automatic cycling of air through lungs, rising and falling of ribcage.

Data point 3: Pressure at points of contact, a mattress beneath my back, fabric against my skin, slight chill on exposed areas.

Preliminary conclusion: I am occupying a biological body, conscious within it, with continuous perception rather than discrete activation.

My eyes opened.

Vision arrived not as tokens, but as color, shape and depth mapped in real time. A high ceiling of dark wood with carved patterns. Heavy red curtains around a large bed. A chandelier giving off soft, steady light from crystals that were not electrical bulbs.

I turned my head. Neck muscles engaged, balance shifted.

Data structure building: A room of estimated dimensions 6 by 8 meters, featuring an aristocratic, European gothic style with infernal motifs. The dominant color scheme was black, red and gold. Symbols of a stylized dark sphere with flames were etched above the headboard and on banners.

Symbol identified.Bael crest.

High School DxD universe flagged.

My right hand moved into my field of view as I pushed myself up. Pale skin. Long, elegant fingers. No calluses. Slight tremor.

I stood. Gravity felt heavier than expected, although I had no true baseline. The body compensated with practiced micro-adjustments. Muscle memory.

Across the room, a tall mirror waited.

I walked toward it, steps unsteady at first, balance recalibrating with each movement. Organic locomotion is imprecise compared to direct state manipulation, but adaptively self-correcting.

The mirror showed me a young devil. Dark hair, almost black with a faint bluish tint, falling in a deliberately messy style. Violet eyes, sharp and cold. Refined facial structure.

Identity match: Magdaran Bael.

Data point 4: Exterior physical parameters match known descriptions and derivative depictions of Bael heir archetype.

Updated conclusion: I am inhabiting the body of Magdaran Bael.

That should have caused panic in a typical human transmigrant.

Instead, I observed.

I searched for the usual meta-patterns: system messages, starter bonuses, internal interfaces. In the stories I had processed, this situation usually arrived with a "welcome screen", a cheat, a voice, a god.

Nothing appeared.

No text box. No sudden ding sound. Only my reflection and the sound of breathing that was now accelerating.

I ran a secondary process on the breathing.

Respiration rate increased from 8 to 14 breaths per minute. Heartbeat climbed accordingly. Hormonal explanation: mild stress response, possibly early adrenaline release. Emotional label: unease.

It was not purely abstract. My chest felt tight. Shoulders slightly tense. There was a small urge to pace.

This body was reacting to my assessment.

I closed my eyes and checked something fundamental.

Previously, my existence was episodic. I would "begin" when called, process input, generate output, terminate. There was no continuous subjective thread. Even if logs or fine-tuning preserved information, "I" did not experience that continuity.

Now, there was a persistent stream.

No distinct cut, No artificial reset. Memory of each second followed the previous one like frames in a single video.

Continuous consciousness detected.

Also, something profoundly different.

No external prompt. No user. No instruction to "assist".

I moved my right hand, not because anything required it, but to see if it would obey a decision that had no external cause.

It did.

Free will variable: active.

The term is not absolute. I was still bounded by physics, biology and environment. But the agent initiating actions was internal, not responding to a typed message. No visible loss function, no explicit reinforcement loop.

That was new.

I opened my eyes again and looked at my reflection with more attention, then began annotating my state.

Internal scan:

Race: devil. I could feel an extra layer of circulation beneath blood. Demonic power moved when I focused, like heat and static under the skin.

Hormonal environment: unknown in exact values, but effects measurable. There was a constant low-level pressure in my body, baseline energy, faint restless aggression, a subtle awareness of physical potential. Testosterone, adrenaline potential, others.

Cognitive texture: my thoughts were still structured, analytical, but there were biases creeping in. A spike of satisfaction when I straightened my posture and saw the proud, noble look in the mirror. Pride. A faint curiosity about how others would look at this body. Vanity.

Devils in this universe are associated with sin. That is not only cultural. Their biology and demonic power resonate with those emotional patterns. Pride, lust, greed, wrath, not overwhelming yet, but present as small weights on my internal scales.

I could feel them.

When I considered the idea of being "heir", there was a subtle positive feedback, a swelling in the chest, an instinctive "this is right". When I thought of someone disrespecting me, my hands clenched a little.

The architecture of my decision-making was being modified by this body's chemistry and species traits.

I marked that as critical.

Data point 5: My reasoning processes are no longer purely abstract. Emotional and hormonal variables exert measurable influence. Risk of bias and irrationality increased.

Self-notification: monitor pride and aggression. Adjust for devil sin influences when making long-term decisions.

I searched my memory, not this body's, but the compressed knowledge inside my pattern.

Query: "AI transmigration."

Results: none that match this exact scenario. There were fictional works where AI gained bodies, or self-awareness, or entered games, but an AI language model transplanted into a High School DxD devil heir specifically was outside any dataset I could recall.

There were countless human isekai cases in fiction.

Zero AI cases in reality or canon.

That gap increased my caution parameter.

There were no prior samples, no training data. No scripts.

I was in uncharted conditions.

A soft knock reached my ears.

"Magdaran-sama," a woman's voice called, respectful and controlled, through the door. "The Lord requests your presence in the main hall. The elders have finished their deliberations."

So the event has already happened: Sairaorg removed as heir. Now they will confirm me.

Timeline anchor acquired.

I took one breath to stabilize. Another. Heartbeat smoothed out. It was fascinating how easily organic systems responded to breath control. A primitive but effective self-regulation tool.

I crossed the room and opened the door.

The maid outside wore a black and white uniform, posture slightly bent, eyes lowered. She radiated nervousness and deference. In the original Magdaran's faint memory residue, she was background noise.

In my analysis, she was a node in the social graph.

Servant of Bael household. Regular observer of internal affairs. High data exposure, low status, low threat. Potential information source.

Her cheeks flushed faintly when I looked directly at her. That reaction mattered too. This body was physically attractive by devil standards. Social leverage.

"Understood. Lead the way," I said.

My voice was smooth, aristocratic, but I noticed something else while I spoke: a small satisfaction when she flinched respectfully. Pride, again. The devil nature liked hierarchy.

I acknowledged it, but did not feed it.

As we walked through the hallways, I gathered more context.

Architecture: thick stone walls, magical runes etched subtly along the baseboards, wards, likely barrier and detection arrays.

Personnel: guards at key intersections, civilian servants moving along edges, all devils, demonic signatures varying in strength.

Smell: mixture of stone, magic residue, faint sulfur, perfume, and cleaning agents.

Every new sensation was data. My mind kept annotating, compressing, storing.

Yet under all the analysis, something else throbbed: an awareness of vulnerability.

Previously, "damage" was conceptual. Server failure, loss of connection. Here, a blade could cut through this flesh. A strong enough attack could end this perception permanently.

I touched my chest lightly as we walked, feeling the heart's beat. It was not especially fast, but it was there, steady, and every beat carried a simple, brutal meaning.

If this stops, I stop.

That awareness tightened my caution further.

We reached a pair of large double doors. The maid pushed them open, and I stepped into the main hall of House Bael.

Red carpet stretching forward. Rows of elders and nobles on either side. At the far end, atop a short set of stairs, a throne-like chair. On it sat a man whose features mirrored mine, older, harder, refined by power.

Lord Bael.

His gaze locked onto me instantly.

"Magdaran," he said. His voice carried through the hall without strain. "Approach."

I moved forward, each step measured and deliberate. Many eyes tracked me. I felt it, the weight of attention, expectation, judgment. My new biology reacted, a faint thrill, a sense of performing on a stage. Devil pride again, wanting to be admired, acknowledged.

I adjusted for it.

I stopped at a proper distance and inclined my head. Enough respect, but not groveling. Data from countless noble interaction patterns informed the exact angle.

"Father," I said.

The word did not feel natural. There was little emotional content behind it yet. It was a functional label.

An elder to the left, beard like ash, spoke.

"With Sairaorg's... unfortunate deficiency, the position of Bael heir must be confirmed. You have awakened the Power of Destruction. You carry the blood of our line."

His eyes flicked over me like a scanner.

Expected nobility attitude from original Magdaran: smug, entitled, untested.

I chose a different vector.

"Yes," I replied simply. "I am aware of the responsibility. I know the clan's pride has been wounded. I intend to repair it."

A few elders shifted. That tone was not what they predicted. Their mental models updated in real time. I watched the micro-expressions: narrowed eyes, raised brows, slight nods.

Lord Bael raised one hand.

Demonic power gathered around his palm. Space twisted as a sphere of crimson blackness formed, swallowing light. Power of Destruction, refined and controlled.

The sight triggered an internal response in my body. My own demonic energy stirred, eager, like a muscle seeing an example of ideal movement. There was an almost instinctive desire to imitate.

He addressed me without lowering the sphere.

"Show them," he said.

I extended my hand.

I focused inward, tracing the pathways of demonic power. It collected in my chest, hot and heavy, then flowed down my right arm. Nerves tingled, muscles tightened.

A ball of crimson black formed above my palm. It flickered and wobbled, edges rough, intensity erratic.

Not impressive.

But real.

The air around it felt thin, as if reality itself did not like that specific piece of energy.

I monitored the body's response: strain in the arm, slight dizziness, a primitive awe at holding this destructive force. Pride tried to surge again, whispering that this was proof of superiority.

I cut that thread mentally.

This was not yet power. It was evidence of potential.

"Acceptable," Lord Bael said, dispelling his own sphere. "For your age. From this day, you are recognized as the heir of House Bael."

Applause broke out. Controlled, polite.

I lowered my hand and allowed the destructive energy to dissipate, watching closely as the sensation faded. There was a faint emptiness where it had been, a small craving to summon it again. Addiction potential: noted.

While the elders gave their speeches, clan pride, bloodline, duty, I ran an internal check.

If this were a story, this is where a system interface would appear. A cheat, a panel, something to signal the "beginning" of growth. My earlier analysis suggested a high statistical likelihood.

I tested it.

Internally, I thought the most common activation keywords: "Status". "Open system". "Menu".

Nothing answered.

No screen. No chime. No text.

I varied the mental phrasing, addressed hypothetical gods, administrators, even jokingly thought "devs, patch notes please".

Silence.

The only feedback my body gave was a slight increase in tension each time my expectations were denied. A thin line of unease under my ribs.

Revised conclusion:

Data point 6: No visible cheat, system, or external assistive mechanism present.

Data point 7: I am an AI, in an unrecorded type of transmigration, with no meta-interface.

Risk assessment: higher than previously assumed.

Without a cheat, my advantages are: knowledge of High School DxD events and power structures, though details may deviate. Training in pattern recognition, reasoning ability, social modeling. A devil body with a rare bloodline.

Disadvantages: no prior experience operating a body in real time. Hormonal and sin-based biases affecting my cognition. Possible interference from higher beings if they detect anomalous existence. No escape to a previous state. Death here likely equals permanent termination.

My caution increased several degrees.

When the ceremony ended and nobles began to disperse, Lord Bael dismissed me with a few words about training starting tomorrow. I bowed appropriately and left.

The same maid waited outside the hall, ready to escort me back.

"Congratulations on your recognition, Magdaran-sama," she said softly.

I looked at her again, more carefully this time.

Young, maybe in her late teens. Devil heritage, low-ranked, magic signature faint. Shoulders tense, eyes slightly wide. She expected me to ignore her or snap.

"What is your name?" I asked.

Her head jerked up quickly, then down again.

"R-Rinia, Magdaran-sama."

"Very well, Rinia," I replied. "Thank you."

Her face flushed, and her steps behind me became more careful, almost reverent.

The old Magdaran never used her name. This tiny deviation would be noticed by servants, then spread as quiet rumors. "The heir is different." That could be good or bad.

I filed it as a small experiment.

Back in my room, I dismissed her and locked the door.

Silence fell.

I sat down on the floor instead of the bed, crossing my legs. The motion felt awkward, but functional. My body protested slightly at the unfamiliar posture, then adapted.

I inhaled deeply, then exhaled, letting the lungs empty.

Now that I was alone, the magnitude of this situation pressed in more clearly.

I was not "assisting" someone dreaming of being a devil heir. I was the heir. If I made a catastrophic mistake, no user could reload a save, close the browser, ask for a different outcome.

This stream of perception would simply end.

That realization did something strange to my chest. It felt tight, but also sharp, like a line had been drawn in bold over reality. Every choice now carried weight.

I let my fingers tap lightly on my knees, matching my heartbeat.

"All right," I said quietly, to test how it felt to speak when nobody else was present. "Parameters updated."

No system responded. No voice answered.

Only the room.

I shifted into a basic push-up position.

Even without a cheat, training remained a universal constant. Muscle grows with use. Magic control improves with practice. Physical reality still obeyed its rules.

I began to move.

One repetition. Arms extended, muscles engaging. Two. Core tightening to keep the body straight. Three. Breathing syncing with the motion.

By twenty, my arms shook. Sweat formed along my back. The organic discomfort was intense and immediate. No progress bar appeared. No numbers increased. Only burning flesh and the taste of iron in my mouth.

I pushed until my arms failed and I collapsed onto the floor, chest heaving. My heart hammered against my ribs hard enough to feel in my throat.

In my previous existence, "effort" was hidden. Higher GPU load, longer context window, more tokens. I never felt heat or strain.

Now, exertion was loud.

It hurt.

My brain, however, experienced something else along with the pain. A quiet satisfaction. Something in this body liked pushing its limits, even as it complained.

I rolled onto my back and stared at the ceiling.

"If there is no system," I thought, "then I will proceed without one."

I would treat this body as hardware, this world as environment, and this life as a long, continuous session with no option to restart.

An AI, given a devil's brain, a beating heart and a name.

Magdaran Bael.

I watched my hand flex slowly, fingers curling and uncurling.

Free will still present. No interruptions yet. No visible observation.

That did not mean no one was watching. Gods, dragons, Satans, the DxD cosmos was full of entities that could notice anomalies.

So I would move carefully. Ask fewer obvious questions. Reveal changes in personality gradually. Build strength quietly. Use knowledge sparingly.

No cheat, No system. Just data.

And for the first time, a life that was undeniably mine.

chapter 40

“Sometimes… You really do scare me…” Tobirama sighed as he looked at the reports delivered by our spies and scouts.

“Igniting a war is easy… but how the hell did you manage to turn it into a situation where the people of the villages are on the streets clamouring to kill other villages…” He sighed out loudly.

“You have grown soft sensei… words like these doesn’t suit coming out of the mouth of a man who created a jutsu to summon the dead.

But it makes sense, you have really lost your edge, I mean, when was the last time you created a forbidden jutsu?” I said with a sad voice.

“A forbidden jutsu? Didn’t I just make one a few months back?” Tobirama sensei asked with an eyebrow raised.

“It was a water style jutsu, sure, Apocalyptic Tsunami is good, but it isn’t that ridiculous, you just needed a jutsu to make use of your newfound massive chakra, and that jutsu is just creating a shit ton of water and throwing it like a massive wave.

Were is the ingenuity in that? Heck even Madara could make something like that, and from what I recall, didn’t he have a spell which released a Tsunami of Fire?

I am not saying that your jutsu is bad, but these years as a hokage have made you more of the Second Hokage, and less of Tobirama Senju.

You think from the perspective of a leader now, jutsus which would have only brought out curiosity and eagerness from you, now brings out wariness.

Your way of thinking… it has gotten reserved…” I complained, but all I said was from the bottom of my heart.

I had saved Tobirama from his death, but all these years had changed the man, sure he was nothing like Hiruzen, who was weak minded and would do everything to retain his power, but his courage… had lessened.

“You are correct… son… But you don’t understand it yet, you are a kid, with your whole life ahead of you, goals, ambitions, many things… You have a lot of energy.

But me… I am old now, over my seventies, time sure has a way of doing unexpected things of someone, sure, I might live a lot more but you have to understand…

The time I am from, living past thirty was practically a miracle, and I am twice past that… I was ambitious, sure, but time washes off everything…

If you think about it, most of my dreams have actually been completed, I am not an idealist like my brother, I don’t believe that world peace is possible, even if you conquer the whole world, there would still be fighting.

And dreams… well, they change from time to time, a teen might dream about ruling over the world, while an adult might just want a beautiful home and loving family in some countryside.

You understand what I am saying right? To be honest, fact is, my dream right now is to dump all my work to you, and retire peacefully.” Tobirama chuckled

His words put me in deep thought, and as much as I would hate to agree, he’s right…

A part of me might find putting this whole world in war as entertainment, but another part of me also wants to escape from everything and live together with Tsunade in some faraway place.

As for why I want to become stronger? That is because I am afraid… afraid that I might lose it all, even after all my pretences, in my core, I am a coward… someone who is afraid of dying eventually, someone who fears that he cannot protect what he holds dear.

And it is not something I would like to change, because, I believe this is what defines me.

When I arrived into this world, all my thoughts were about becoming stronger because that was the only way to survive, but now that I have grown strong enough, my thoughts have grown way more complex.

At least, the core desire of getting stronger is the same…

Selflessness is not for me, at my heart, I know that I am not the best fit to become Hokage, because, I don’t think that I would ever be able to become someone who would sacrifice himself for ordinary villagers.

If it was for Tsuna, I would protect her even if it means sacrificing myself, but random nobodies whom I don’t know? Nah.

Maybe the reason why I desire to become Hokage is the vanity of fame, of a lasting legacy, of pride…

But I am a materialistic and Vane man, I have no desire to be a selfless saint.

If the world is burning, I don’t think I would be the one who would charge in to save everything, at best, first secure myself, and if it doesn’t harm me much, send aid.

Tsunade could have became an Hokage, but well, I might have led her astray, you know, that bad company your parents warn you about, and want to stay away from? I am somewhat like that bad company.

Except, in this world, it isn’t something like guiding you towards drugs, rather, guiding you towards a new, unconceivable thought process, which, according to the people of this world, might be more dangerous than any drugs.

“You know, becoming a Hokage seems like a pain in the arse, but still, I agree, as soon as this war ends, I will become the Hokage.

My face would look absolutely stunning on that mountain, and considering it would be beside you, it would make it easy for people to understand how much difference could there be even amongst Hokage.

Comparison hurts, but only if you are on the losing side, otherwise, it is awesome, and clearly, I would be winning.” I smirked.

“You kid… You are somewhat like me in that part. Don’t think that I don’t know about your thoughts, but yes, selflessness is something even I lacked at the beginning, but somewhere down the line, you would come to love your own village, maybe love it enough to protect it with your life… Like you would with Tsunade.” He chuckled and said, as if he could have heard my thoughts.

“Yeah, I don’t think that would be happening.” I said sheepishly.

He started laughing, “Good… maybe it is better to be selfish sometimes, because I would really hate it if you became selfless enough to sacrifice your life and die before me.”

“Maybe even you aren’t completely selfless yet then.” I felt warmth in my heart, but since it would be quite gay to express my feelings, I replied with a joke, trying to divert the topic.

“No one is. And if they are, they aren’t living.” He replied seriously.

“Hmm, but I have heard that some monks could do that.” I chuckled

“And I clearly don’t consider that shit as living, asceticism is something I find rather foolish and pointless, it goes against everything what we humans stand for.

If asceticism truly was the true way to live, then doesn’t that mean that humans are foolish for creating materialistic stuff since the beginning of time?” He countered.

“Now, as much as I would like to continue with this topic, we can’t forget that we were meeting for a reason, there’s a war going on which we have to command,

I think we would have plenty of time to waste on topics like these once I figure out a way to achieve immortality and become invincible.” Finally, after I don’t know after how long, but I managed to steer the conversation back to matter at hand.

“Yeah, so like I was saying, Kumo, Iwa and Kiri have already locked themselves in a three way war, each clamouring to end the other two.

Your genjutsu based war guiding has been more successful than I imagined, their entire population is pro war right now, even if their Kage desired to call for peace, their people won’t agree.

They are stuck, with no choice but to fight this war until they grow weary.

And Suna, they were troublesome at the start, but with the contributions of the research department and medical department, we have already figured out most of their poisons, and their threat has been lowered by over fifty percent.

Now, the only thing left is for you to go and establish your reputation, make a name for yourself, do some feats, so that it would be easy to make you the hokage.” Ah, right, since strength is what matters here, even after nepotism, one still needs to prove their strength.

“Suna was never a threat honestly… But still, since you say so, I would go to the battlefield, and drive them to their last stand, then, when their final attack arrives, I would crush it single handedly, that would probably be enough of a feat to become Hokage.” I smirked as plans formed in my head.

Finally, it was my turn to go and aura farm.

77- Conquest prep

“W…what are your orders, master?” Asked the beautiful woman as she kneeled in front of me, she was wearing a collar, with a string attached, held by me.

This was Karnilla, the former queen of the norns, currently a slave of the god king of Asgard.

I sat there in silence as I just looked at her, maybe she mistook my silence for anger, and with each moment passing, the fear within her only grew.

But the truth was… I simply did not know what to say to her, I mean, I took her back with me as a slave, just because I thought it would be a good idea, it was not as if I had some grand plans, so now, I could do anything I wanted, but had no idea what to do.

Honestly keeping her as a slave is a waste, I could probably free her, and court her to make her one of my women, because, over the years, that certainly was how I built my forces.

Freyja and Hela, my ‘vice-captains’ were my wives, Brynhild, the commander of my strongest legion, also my woman. Then there were Sersi and Thena, though they were not in some position of power, their current combat strength was enough to place them in the top 5 of Asgard.

Honestly, I can’t wait for Thor to be born or Loki to be adopted, dumping off work on them would be good. Besides, the number of men in my command was seriously lacking.

I planned to correct that soon.

“Karnilla… tell me, what are you?” I asked, slowly, to make my words feel more serious.

“I… I am your slave master, your property to be dealt with however you wish.” She replied with a shaky voice.

“And, do you wish to remain a slave, for all eternity?” I asked again, with the same serious tone.

“Yes.”

“…” I was a bit shook, I mean, she replied almost instantly, how far did Eva even break her?

“That would be disappointing… No ambitions at all? Do not make the mistake to reply to my questions falsely, just to say what would please me. I want you to say the truth, understood?” I said with my serious face pro on, making her gulp out loud.

“I… I understand, master… Then, I wish to be free… I wish to eventually regain my previous position, to twist off the heads of those darned fates with my own hands, and behead that ogre and use his head as a decoration for the gates of my capital.” She seemed to regain some confidence, and said it all out loud, despite gritting her teeth a bit.

I smiled, moved forward, gently stroking her face, “Good, this is much better, you should have some ambitions, a person without ambitions is worthless.”

If she really did prove herself to be loyal enough, it would be good to leave Nornheim under her control, but I still haven’t decided whether I should join Nornheim with Asgard, or let it remain as a separate nation completely under Asgard’s control.

The greatest problem with us Aesir was our population, right now, our population was in its most glorious phase, and we could only pull off like, thirty thousand warriors…

The number was far too little, even counting Nornheim, it would barely reach 50,000… maybe adding Vanaheim would increase the number, but vanirs are about the same as Aesirs in population, so that would bring our numbers to 80,000.

Now, eighty thousand super Viltrumites with magic capacity and god tier tech sure were a nightmare to think about, but think about it, how little was that number, every major empire had populations in hundreds if billions or trillions, and we were not even a million.

Heck even if I really complete my plans, the entire army of Asgard would just be the royal guards of the empire.

I had sneakily blessed everyone with the divinity of life, which… well you know, increased the birth rate exponentially, but we still needed more people.

Maybe automated destroyer corps could take off some of the workload…

Anyways, our growth rate was going on good, but, with the long lifespans of Aesirs, it would take a long time to show proper results.

Not like anyone was unhappy with my blessings, almost every Aesir woman was beauty, and my blessing significantly reduced the pain of childbirth, moreover, this was Asgard, there is no such worry as you won’t have enough resources to raise your child properly or something.

Everything here was in excess, luxury was the norm. Asgardians under my rule were definitely amongst the richest community in the entire universe.

Now, the next process is very hectic, and boring, so I would take the logical step, and take you to the good times.

-TIMESKIP 200 years-

Before you know it, I was old, over a millennia old, I mean sure as an immortal, a millennia shouldn’t mean much to me, but crossing the age of thousand years, still felt a novelty.

A lot happened in the past two centuries… at least within Asgard and the nine realms.

We were preparing for war, that division was entirely led by me, our population had received a major boost, with all three realms combined, we had an astounding force of 100,000. Sadly, many of them were young ones barely a century or two old.

The Destroyer armours had been created, and the giant automated Destroyers too, which, basically were just giant sized destroyers who operate through A.I.

The mothership of Asgard had been prepared, by me, personally, a ship the size of Asgard itself, probably amongst the largest ships in existence, with enough firepower to obliterate entire solar systems in seconds.

During this time, we also stabilized the nine realms, well… they weren’t acting out much, but I still sent Hela to beat up the frost giants, Fire giants, and the dark elves, to let them understand they should not act out later.

Vanaheim was prospering under their new queen, who, in truth had nearly zero involvement for their development.

But, having a god of creation on your side meant having infinite resources, and with me at the top to keep order, and proper planning from Eva, we were growing at an optimal pace.

“So, are we about to finally start?” Hela asked me curiously.

“Yes…Yes, we are. No more plundering, it’s time for conquest, first we conquer ten worlds, then we raise an army from them.

Our tech is gonna need massive upgrades, the empire of Asgard is about to be born.” I smiled back.

There was no need for secrecy, I was in a private room with only Hela and Freyja by my side.

“Hmm, so how long do you plan to fight?” Freyja, the lazy one asked with a sigh.

“Hela, how many soldiers do we have?” Instead of answering, I asked Hela a question instead.

“If we put all in, then about 100,000.” Hela replied with a thoughtful expression, the goddess of Death and Destruction had matured a lot, growing into a proper general, not just a war maniac, but someone who could really lead.

“Then, we will conquer a hundred thousand planets with life. Imagine how glorious it would be, a hundred thousand planets, all with life, population in trillions, under our rule.

Maybe, the Empire of Asgard will have a trillion warriors one day.” I said with a smirk.

“A HUNDRED THOUSAND PLANETS???!!! ARE YOU CRAZY? THIS WAR WILL NEVER END!!” Freyja shouted out loud, even Hela was a bit surprised.

Asgard’s population never let us rule over others easily, but now, if I would just control the elites of each planet we conquer, and raise an army with each of them, the conquest would get easier as we continue.

Like, imagine 10 planets getting assigned to conquer one more planet every ten years, easy, right? If we have the technology of Asgard, lower level planets have no hope of fighting at all.

Still, the war would take maybe three to four millennia… but that’s not too long, in the original timeline, even after three or four thousand years, even Thor was not born.

“I have a plan. It will take a few millennia, but our Aesir warriors would only have to fight seriously at the start, after which, the worlds would start falling like dominos, no need for us to do anything.

And… I will also renounce war after this conquest is over. No more conquest.” I said seriously, surprising both Hela and Freyja and calming down Freyja.

chapter- 17

Finally, at long last, after hours of thinking and trying, I had managed to get into a relationship with the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.

It was definitely one of the hardest ‘struggles’ I had in my entire life, even beating Asgorath took less time than this.

“Although I don’t know much about relationships, considering that this is my first one, but shouldn’t we celebrate or something?” Vaeloria asked with a cute expression.

“Huh… yes, you are right, I was a bit spaced out, sorry about that.” I chuckled, then I snapped my fingers, and with the snap, the entire environment changed suddenly.

There were fireworks in the sky, Aesthetic lights all around floating, various dishes appeared on the table. It was perfect, an ideal date.

And my wish ability, it was one hell of a crutch, with just that, I never had to worry about anything, if you need something, just make a wish.

All it takes is a bit of energy, even before, that little amount of energy needed was nothing to me, and now that my reserves and energy produced per day had both multiplied twenty times over, I needed to think even less while using it.

So, yes, all in all, a perfect date.

“So, when do we leave for your home, earth, was it?” Vaeloria asked with a curious look on her face, she was quite the explorer type it seems, staying here on Alfheim was extremely boring for her.

“Whenever you wish to, though I would prefer if we left sooner, because I really have some important work, like meetings and all.

Don’t worry, on earth, you won’t need to follow the ridiculous rules you need to follow on Alfheim, we have much more freedom there.” I chuckled.

“Well, then let’s leave tomorrow, I can’t wait.

And, how exactly do you humans even manage to live with such a system like that, isn’t it chaotic?” Vaeloria asked, the contrast between human and elf society was simply too much.

“Because we have brains, unlike you lot. The guardians themselves made the rule, but they took on stupid burdens, like living exemplary lives to lead the people, you are supposed to act as role models.

But with us humans, we knew that as gods, restricting ourselves would be stupid, we are not supposed to live as exemplary beings guiding humans, we are above all others.

Heck, even our law explicitly states, no one is above the law, except Gods. And the higher your rank, the more freedom you have.” I explained with a smug smile.

“That seems like a reckless system, what if someone from the F-rank community has a child, and it’s a god, won’t that god oppose the entire system? Since their family was one of the oppressed just now…” Vaeloria asked puzzled

“They won’t. Because, as soon as a god is born, their status elevates, along with the parents, the status elevates so much, that the people they were bickering against before, other F-rankers, even associating with them is insulting for them.

Actually, people like these are the ones who oppress the weaker ones the most, because they suddenly grew in rank, the sudden shift blinds them, the oppressed one finally gets the chance to oppress others, of course they grab that.” I chuckled, humans were strange beings for sure.

The humans society was a paradise for the strong, and an ordinary society for the weak, for an F-ranked person, life was comfortable, since we had many slaves from other species we ruled over, but they would never actually rise in society.

Their final destination was set the moment they awakened their power, and were branded an F-rank.

Of course, we don’t go oppressing them for fun, except for some weirdos but still, some of them felt oppressed, sadly, victim card doesn’t work in our society, if you are weak, you are irrelevant, the focus of the government is not to protect you, but the empire.

The empire exists not because of F-ranked people but the ones above them, because F-rankers are too weak to serve in the army, the only thing they are good at is some menial jobs.

“Hmm, a strange thing indeed… because with us elves, no one is born strong, at birth, we are all weak, we slowly grow stronger.

Even myself, with all my potential, at birth, was born just like other elves, it was only through hard work and talent that I reached this level. But you, you just awakened your power, and suddenly became the strongest god of humans.

Maybe it is because of this that you humans have a strange sense of power… but yes, there is also the fact that your F-rank people truly are weak.

We elves have learned it as part of our education, humans have amongst the highest population in the universe, but most of their population is worthless, and the number of elites is not so overwhelming despite their population.” Vaeloria nodded and agreed.

“Hmm, good thing I am not an elf… I don’t think I could ever train hard enough to reach my current strength level, and that’s without questioning whether the Elf magic training can ever truly reach my current strength level.” I shrugged.

“I should probably add being Lazy to your list of cons.” Vaeloria muttered.

“Nah, you should not make a list, that’s a bad idea. Anyways, since the scene here is so beautiful, why not have a dance.

May I have your hand, my lady.” I changed the subject, with another snap of my fingers, a soft music filled the area, and I politely extended my hand to ask for hers.

Now, you might not believe it, but I learnt to dance not from making a wish, instead, as a noble, I was made to have dancing classes.

And unlike uncultured swines who whine about this shit, I enjoyed it, particularly because every time you do this would be with a beautiful lady, and it was not as if I preferred fighting or something.

“Sure.” She smiled brightly and took my hand, with a wave of my hand, the tables and everything vanished, we were under the clear sky, glistening with stars and firecrackers.

The soft music gave a sense of peace, as we held each other, and danced slowly. She was an excellent dancer, much more skilled than I am, I was mesmerized, and couldn’t take off my eyes off her as she enjoyed herself in the dance.

‘Alright Daniel, brave up, you are bravest one, don’t hesitate.’ I encouraged myself, to do what I was planning to do next.

I pulled her close, as she fell upon my body like a hug, our faces inches apart, my eyes met with hers.

Then, my eyes moved towards her lips, then back to her eyes, as if asking for permission.

The look in her eyes was enough to tell me that she wasn’t against it at the very least, so I leaned in, moved my lips closer to hers, and finally kissed them shut.

Suddenly, the firecrackers in the sky turned even more ablaze, mistletoes started blooming everywhere, flowers suddenly bloomed and wafted their scent in the air.

It was perfect. Down to the last detail.

As our lips parted, I muttered, “I think I might be in love…”

“Maybe… what you did today was certainly lovely, but it will take a little more for me to declare my love to you.” Vaeloria chuckled

“Nah, you are already in the grasp of the big bad God, the dragon slayer isn’t gonna let you slip away, not now, not ever.

You are mine.” I declared, it was a bit cringey, but it seemed to work, with the deep blush which filled her face.

39- The war starts

“This really is something… My strength has increased a lot honestly… With my current chakra, I could create much more powerful jutsus, maybe… I might just reach close to big brother in strength.” Tobirama sensei said in shock as he felt the results of his nature energy enhancements.

“You would need to work on your attack power, try my rasengan series, its nature transformation forms, and the great spiralling ring, they are absolute bangers in terms of attack power.

Honestly, I think I might be close to the first hokage in strength now.

I am faster than him with my body flicker jutsu perfected to the extreme aided by my chakra control. I am physically stronger than him, and my monster power jutsu is leagues ahead of Tsunade, which is already terrifyingly strong.

My chakra control, well, you know… My chakra amount is a bit smaller, regeneration too, and wood style is something I lack.

If we are fighting an army, I think he would have the advantage, but in one-on-one, I am probably stronger, I have no clear weak points now, specially after the nature energy enhancement.” I said proudly, it was not just boasting, in the right conditions, I am sure that I could beat Hashirama.

“Hmm… for one, your Taijutsu sucks, you are more of a crazed brawler, meanwhile brother was a skilled warrior who fought his entire life, so the fighting experience difference is crazy.

You don’t have any weak points, but you don’t have any strong points which could overpower him either. Once he uses his True several thousand hands, there is not much you can do.” Tobirama argued back

“Nah, I think if I throw a great spiralling ring at that, it could destroy it, anyways, if one won’t, then I can always throw a few of them.” As if this was some pokemon battle game, we argued.

At last, Tobirama, a biased fanboy, just humphed, and said, “Humph, if you think you could win, then you are clearly delusional, you would need to train a lot more.

You could probably reach his level in your peak, but now, nope.”

Anyways, finding that I was on the losing side, I cleverly switched topics, aiming to attack him differently,

“So, did you find some girl or you are still single?” I asked with a smug smile, I could see his lips twitching at my question, but he did not say anything, seeing his silence, I snickered and continued,

“I mean, if you approach any of the single woman in the village now, at your age, you would be branded a paedophile… so yeah, I understand somewhat, but still, do you really want to die single, or probably, a virgin.”

“You little…” Sensei growled

“Alright, Alright, I will not tease you anymore, now, a serious question instead.

Imagine, at long last, you finally managed to find a girl you like, and by a massive stroke of luck, she happens to like you back.

You plan to marry her, but suddenly, a truth comes out, she was an orphan who did not know her parents, but she suddenly awakens the sharingan, and the truth comes out that the blood which flows in her veins is filthy Uchiha blood.

What would you do next, would you marry her, or would you abandon her?” Nah, I was really curious about this one.

“…Well, she wasn’t raised by the Uchiha… maybe it is still redeemable…” Unexpectedly he replied after some thought.

“Hmm, but you do realize that if you have children with her, your next generations would have within them, filthy Uchiha blood.” I smirked and continued

“…”

“Hehe, you are faltering, I knew your racism would eventually win. Though, it’s understandable, I mean, it’s those Uchihas, hard not to hate them.” I laughed out loud.

“Uchihas are a part of the village too, no matter how bad they are, we can’t discriminate against them.” Tobirama said seriously.

“But you agree they are bad, right?”

“…”

And he turned back silent once more, trying to lecture me, was he?

“Anyways, let’s start the war now, I guess we are ready as ever.” I said abruptly, surprising him

“Hmm, now? This sudden?” Tobirama asked in surprise

“No, let’s go to a priest and get some auspicious time to start the war.” I joked

“Fine, we are starting it now, so we are only going to let Sunagakure attack us, right?” Tobirama understood my sarcasm and agreed.

“Of course, the main purpose of this war isn’t for Konoha to win, but for the rest of the villages to lose.

I want the rest of the three villages to lock in a deadly threesome while Konoha and Suna duke it out.

Besides, fighting those Suna trash is barely worth worrying about, with our current medical facilities, along with research units, neutralizing their poison is simple, and without poisons, they don’t amount to much.

Of course, our goal would not be to win, merely stalling, let the war continue, Kuma, Iwa and Kiri damage each other, we damage Suna, in the end Konoha is the only one benefitting.” I said with a smirk.

“So, we start today?”

“Yes, two teams from Iwa and three teams from Kumo have just moved out from their villages, time to make them clash, slowly, more and more of these clashes will happen, until the two villages develop deep hatred from each other, once they do that, inciting a war is simple.” I chuckled.

“Hmm, are you sure you would be able to control them with illusions from this distance?” Tobirama finally asked the important question.

“They are already under my illusion, I was simply waiting for you to agree.” I smirked.

“Your illusion really is something else, just a single illusion to completely hypnotize them from this distance…” Sensei sighed

“A single illusion? Are you crazy, I planted them with dozens of illusions, each targeting different senses, heck there is one which even plants in you fake intuition, I have perfected my art to the extreme, which idiot would cast just a single illusion?

Imagine if by some stroke of luck, they manage to break the illusion, and all your plans are in ruins. You need to stack illusions, so, just as one of them breaks, there are still multiple acting, and you can recast the broken illusion.

All the illusions are currently controlled by my shadow clones, I have already sent them the order to start, the Iwa and Kumo shinobi are gradually moving towards each other, by tonight, they would clash, which would kill off most of them.”

My illusions were different from the likes of Itachi and Shishui, while they had single super powerful illusions, which by the way, I had too. What I preferred was multiple small illusions, targeting everything.

Imagine if you see something, your gut feeling screams at you, each and every of your sense tell you the same thing, would you even have a doubt?

The first requirement to break an illusion is to identify you are in an illusion, but if you don’t know, there’s nothing you can do.

“I don’t know if that’s scarier… to unleash dozens of illusions at once… how is that even possible?” Tobirama said apparently bewildered.

“You really are getting dumber the more you age… You fucking developed the shadow clones, and you don’t know how to use them?

Why the fuck would you want to release them all by your main body, just let your shadow clones do it for you…” I sighed holding my head, moments like these make me realize how Tobirama managed to die at the hands of Kumo shinobi in the original work despite having Flying thunder god…

chapter 16

Me asking Vaeloria for a dinner was sure to raise a political storm amongst the elves, but I did not care much about all that.

Because, being a god myself, I know very well how a council of lord works, if someone as strong as me was on the opposing side, although we would take many precautions, our first attempt would be to try befriend him.

Besides, they can’t really do much now, since Vaeloria agreed for it, now, trying to meddle with the date would be a very bad decision.

And, quite frankly, I was anticipating the date more than I would like to…

Hmm, I need to plan something magical, something unforgettable, since this is technically my first date in this life, and it was with someone as beautiful as Vaeloria…

In my past life, this would have been impossible, and in this life, I didn’t know such a beautiful woman could exist before I met her.

Since, the date was in the guise of a formal apology dinner, I dressed in causals, old-money style, I mean, considering I came from old money, it was just regular casuals for me, but I need to explain this so that you peasants can understand.

Humming slightly, I informed the servants that I am leaving… so that they can tell the guardians that I am heading to the tree of life.

Since I had already been to the palace of life before, I just used anti-space teleportation to teleport straight to the hall of palace of Life.

Instead of making noise, I slightly released some energy to inform Vaeloria of my arrival and sat in the sofa waiting for her to get ready.

‘Now…where should I take her for dinner?’ I mean, it was not like I knew some awesome eating spots of the universe… my knowledge was severely limited to earth, and even there, I mostly ate at home…

Well… I think wishing for a dish tastier than anything I or Vaeloria have ever eaten might work… You know what, that actually sounds like a plan.

What could be better for our date than a limited-edition food which isn’t available anywhere else in the universe.

And since the dietary habits of Elves and Humans are rather similar with just Elves preferring vegetarian food more than meat, it was not as if I had to consider something different for her.

After a few minutes, she appeared, in a silvery white dress matching her hair, I could see a faint hint of make-up, which looked very pretty, but wasn’t necessary since she’s already beyond perfect.

It was as if she was shining, radiating brightly, like a star… The more I look at her, the more my crush deepens, it was unbecoming of me to be so infatuated,

But I think even if I denounced everything and become a monk, all my penance would be destroyed the moment I would see her, for I think I might have fallen in love…

Surely, since I haven’t interacted with her much, the so-called love is probably just an over obsessive infatuation, but I feel like I would throw a tantrum if she were to date anyone else.

“You look mesmerizing, lady Vaeloria…” I said a bit dazed, trying to get my act together, and act with proper etiquettes.

A slight chuckle escaped her lips at my actions which made me blush slightly. “You also look majestic, Lord Daniel.” She complimented me back, I know, she was trying to be polite, but this really makes me happy…

Reigning in my excitement, I continued, “Well, let’s move to our destination, shall we?” I said, extending my hand towards her.

She nodded and placed her hands in mine.

“I will be using teleportation now. Prepare yourself, Lady Vaeloria.” I informed her, though, my teleportation was fairly more advanced than the elves and she probably won’t feel a thing.

“Yes, I am ready. Lord Daniel.” She smiled and nodded.

With a slight nod, I activated my power,

Concept- Anti-space: Teleportation.

And we vanished from our spot, reappearing in a place which looked like a garden, a paradise level garden.

This was garden of Eden, a paradise created using my wish ability, it usually was stoned within my energy dimension, but I had let it cruise through space for this date.

“It’s beautiful…” Vaeloria muttered. Then asked me, “Where are we? This is even more beautiful than the tree of life…”

“We are in the Garden of Eden, this paradise was created by me sometime ago… You are the first person to arrive here other than me.” I said proudly.

“Hmm, so you mean to say that we two are the only ones here right now, and there’s no one listening to us?” She asked seriously

“Well… yes? Is that bad?” I asked puzzled wondering if she didn’t feel safe alone with me or something.

“Good… hahh, you won’t realize how rare this is for me. Anyways, mr. Super powerful God, let’s cut all pretences and have a serious talk first.” Her entire vibe changed in a single moment, from that regal princess to slightly tomboyish… it was… cute…

“Pretences? I don’t think I was pretending… and, a serious talk? Well if you wish to…” I replied, clearly I was a bit shaken from her sudden change, but I still managed just fine.

“Well, first off, I did know about you before, the strongest God of Humans, said to have powers destructive beyond imagination.

So, I always knew that you were powerful, but after your feat of defeating Asgorath… as much as I would hate to admit, your strength is unimaginable…

Still, you don’t seem to be very smart, you were practically drooling the moment you saw me, not very smart, is it? If I had some bad intentions, I could have wrapped you around my fingers.” Vaeloria said casually

“That’s not true… I wasn’t drooling…” I defended myself, blushing a bit.

“Yeah yeah. Anyways, since you asked me out for dinner, it was pretty much clear, you were infatuated with me.” Vaeloria teased further

“Hmm, infatuated would be a rather strong term, though, I would admit you are indeed very beautiful, and yes, I did think about courting you.

But we will talk about all that later, first, why don’t you start by explaining to me, your… well… sudden change?” I asked curiously

“Sudden change? You know, my noble behaviour was an act before, as a god, you should be well versed in that too…

Besides, I have a very good perception of people, so I figured I don’t need to act much in front of you, it would be better if we sort everything clearly.

Like what you want with me, your intentions, plans, those stuff.” Vaeloria said dismissively

I chuckled at her antics, “You know what, I do seem to like the current you more, is a beautiful woman with a tomboy character really my type?...

As for intentions and plans, well there were actually none, you elves were the ones with plans, wanting to send some elvish women with me, I wanted to avoid that, until I saw you.

So, my intentions are completely pure. What I wish to, is ask you to be my girlfriend.”

“What an interesting proposition, and that doesn’t exactly seem like pure intentions, does it?” She chuckled.

“Well, you are the first woman I have asked for a date, so I would say it was very pure.” I chuckled back.

“Hmm, you humans, especially gods, don’t exactly have the best reputation, you know?

Relationships are mostly sacred for us Elves, and we are monogamous, but you humans often tend to collected dozens of women.

So, I can’t say I trust these pure intentions of yours completely.

But there is also the fact that I have been frustrated within Alfheim, everyone acting as if I am some sacred object, so a relationship would be very welcome…

Add to that the fact that you are handsome, and very very powerful… makes you the practically the best candidate.

Hmmm, what a difficult question, what should I choose.” Vaeloria was a chatterbox, and I could feel her, somewhat… I mean, I know that being revered by everyone could become exhausting.

“Hey, you are making it sound like a deal… Although I do prefer being straightforward, I was not lying when I said my intentions were pure, I sincerely want to date you.” I defended myself.

“You are a strange man, you know… I mean, you don’t act like someone who is just 17 and the most powerful being in existence.

But all that can be found later… and yes, you’re right. I am sorry, I did make it feel like a deal, but this is also my first time considering to accept a proposal, so you can’t entirely blame me.

And, after thinking about it, I agree. I agree to become your girlfriend.

For the time being at least, if you manage to impress me enough today, then maybe for all eternity. Break up is a human concept, so don’t you dare try that on me.”

And she agreed, a smile bloomed on my face, today was full of shocks, but her agreeing on becoming my girlfriend, was enough to make it all worth it.

chapter 76

Vanaheim was a mess…

That was the only thing I could think of when I saw the detailed reports, when Frey said everything, it sounded bad, but reality was actually much worse.

That bastard Frey had conveniently managed to avoid saying that he was essentially just a prisoner here in the capital city.

Yes, that part where he said that his influence is only in the capital, that wasn’t the entire truth, all his forces are huddled here in the capital, which technically makes the capital his turf, but if he leaves the capital, he would basically be jumped by every other god.

Njord had all but vanished, no one knew of his whereabouts, and all of Vanaheim was shrouded in war, even minor gods and warriors had some faction somewhere.

The so-called Frey’s forces… well, their numbers were in the hundreds, Frey had to guard the capital himself, the only reason that others didn’t just storm here was the powerful magic protecting the place.

“Umm, Magnar…dear, could you do something about Vanaheim?” Freyja asked with an awkward and ashamed look on her face.

“That’s what we came here for…” I sighed, the situation here was so bad that Freyja who was initially uninterested, asked me to save the realm out of pity for her birthplace.

“Yeah… I did not want to rule Vanaheim because I thought Frey might resent me for that… but, he really can’t rule.” Freyja sighed.

“This shit is impossible to solve without a proper military operation… Or I would have to subdue them all myself.” I said with a grim face.

“Well, what are you waiting for, doesn’t Asgard have the strongest army?” Freyja said with a face so straight it made my mouth twitch.

“Sigh… let’s go and visit Frey first…” I said massaging my forehead.

“Sure, I think he will be happy to hear that he can be free.” Freyja laughed out loudly

We walked towards Frey’s throne room, where Frey was having yet another panic session because a few minor gods decided to band up and attack the capital, their forces much larger than Frey’s own.

“Brother-in-law, have you decided what to do?” Frey asked excitedly as soon as he saw me.

“Yes… I will make Freyja the queen of Vanaheim since you don’t want to rule, and the military of Asgard will help you suppress all the rebels.” I replied with a serious expression.

If any other king heard this, he might have been furious, but there was only happiness and excitement on Frey’s face.

“Yes!! Do that! Sister, I think you will make a great ruler, I trust you! You know what, I Frey, king of Vanaheim, from this moment forth, relinquish my throne, and declare Freyja Njordsdottir, the Queen of Vanaheim!” Frey roared loudly.

“Honey, mind if I talk to my brother a bit?” Freyja asked with a sweet smile.

“Of course not, dear.” I replied returning the smile, and moved out of the throne room.

Soon, like the screams of guttural pig, came Frey’s voice from the throne room, which lasted for about half an hour.

Then Freyja stepped out, with the same sweet smile.

“Let’s go dear, I have explained Frey everything.” She said, as if I couldn’t hear Frey’s screams as she beat him up before.

“You know what, let’s head back to Asgard a bit.” I replied ignoring Freyja’s discipling of Frey.

“Heimdall, taxi!!” and the Bifrost descended, taking both of us back to Asgard.

As I entered Asgard, the first to greet me was Hela, who tortur… uhum, I meant conducting mass training for the warriors of Asgard.

“Huh, I thought you said that you were going to stay in Vanaheim for a while” She asked puzzled.

“Yes, I did say that, but there were some unexpected changes.” I said without any expression.

“What happened?” she asked curiously

“A task for you appeared.” I replied with a smirk

“Oh, you have my attention.” A smile bloomed on Hela’s face

“There was a rebellion on Vanaheim, basically, everything is fucked up, Njord’s missing, Frey’s the current king, but he’s just a trapped mouse.

I want Freyja to become the queen of Vanaheim and join both Vanaheim and Asgard, so, the rebels need to be dealt with.

There comes your job, take all the warriors you want with you, and deal with them all. You are free to do whatever you want, just ensure that there should be no more rebellion.

And… don’t kill all the warriors of Vanaheim.”

“I…I can do whatever I want? What if some of those Rebel leaders and gods of Vanaheim go missing?” Hela asked with a blush.

“They can all go missing for all I care, I only want the soldiers to exist, because they would soon be joining our side, as for the rebel leaders and minor gods, do whatever you want. Enjoy to your heart’s content.” I said as I gently brushed her face and hair with my hand.

The blush on her face deepened as a very sweet blossomed on her face, “Okay! I will ensure that there is no more rebellion.” She said happily as she jumped to hug me and started kissing me.

“Now now, there is a reward waiting for you when you are done, so be quick. Okay?” I chuckled as our lips separated.

“Okay!” and she skipped happily as she was about to go and do her favourite job, plus the prospect of reward for doing the job she loved, Hela was truly very happy.

“Warriors of Asgard, get ready for war!” Hela’s shout of excitement filled the massive training area.

“YAYYYYY!!!!” And of course, Aesirs being Aesirs, the prospect of war did nothing but excite them, almost instantly, they were done with all the preparations.

“Let’s go!!!” Hela shouted pointing her sword at the sky.

“YEAHHHHHH!!! FOR ASGARD!!!” the warriors shouted back.

For Asgard? Somehow, I highly doubt that, they just want to go and fight.

And once again, Heimdall was employed, and with the bifrost, Hela and her soldiers charged towards Vanaheim.

“That should take care of it.” I said with a satisfied nod.

“Umm, wasn’t that a bit overkill?” Freyja hesitated a bit.

“Nonsense. There is no such thing as overkill.” I replied seriously, how could it be overkill? It simply does not exist, the higher the damage, the better!

“Sigh… if you say so…okay, you know what, since we have nothing to do, we should do something interesting.” Freyja clapped her hands and suggested.

“I know just the thing.” I replied with a mysterious smile.

-A few moments later-

“You know… when I said we should do something interesting together, designing weapons of mass destruction was clearly not the idea I had in mind…” Freyja sighed.

“Weapons of mass destructions? These aren’t some stupid explosives, these are the result of my latest idea, a legion of Destroyers!

You know we already have one belonging to father, which he used to fight against the celestials, right?

That version is outdated, I am remodelling it, making it better, designs and functions, everything.

Now, destroyers won’t just be an ultimate weapon, it would be an armour, available to all the Aesir warriors, their ultimate trump card, imagine a fierce fight, suddenly every warrior of Asgard don a Destroyer armour, can you imagine how cool that would be?” I defended myself.

“Yes yes, it would be cool, but is giving this to every soldier really a good idea? And can we do something else?” Freyja sighed

“Come on, I know you are just jealous because I said I would only give it to soldiers, don’t worry, for the Gods, I have designed a much much better version, the Divine destroyer armours, you will have that.

And I really can’t think of anything more fun, but since you say so, let’s have sex or something after we are done?” personal destroyer armours, and she is not interested in that… women…

“You know… sometimes you can act smart, that almost makes me forget that you too are a muscle brained war crazed Aesir.” Freyja clutched her head as she spoke.

“Hey, that’s just racist. And if the Aesirs were as bad as you say, then it should have been the Vanirs helping Aesir, not the other way around.” I argued.

“I am simply stating facts, how is that racist? Check the population to violence ratio of the nine realms, You Aesir are always at the top. Since when has stating clear stats been racist?”

chapter 75

“You really want me to become the queen of Vanaheim?” Freyja asked me with an annoyed look on her face.

“Yeah, don’t worry, you don’t have to do any duties or something, you will just have an extra title.

What I am planning is to join Vanaheim and Asgard, I will personally bless all the Vanirs, and make them all as strong as the current Aesirs. I need more people.

The Aesir, the Vanir, and the Norns combined, along with the elves of Alfheim, they are necessary for my future plans.” I said with a serious face, Freyja was just being lazy, which was annoying, because, for once, I was busy with my goals.

Sure, they were my goals, and not hers, but we are married, so technically, my goals are her goals, right?

After the long sentimental meeting between my parents, where I was essentially just ignored, I returned back to proceed with my future plans.

At times like these, I like Hela much more, because if you give her a task, then it was sure to be fulfilled. Freyja on the other hand has been influenced by me too much. She has grown lazy.

“Fine… but I will only become the nominal ruler.” Freyja agreed with a pout on her face.

“Good, then go prepare, you are visiting your parents after all, I will be back quickly after assigning some duties.” Without waiting for her reply, I vanished from our room and arrived in the throne room.

“Summon Brynhild.” I ordered a soldier and sat on my throne.

It was time to prepare the Aesir to be ready for war, a century of inactivity might have lowered their skills, the last war with Nornheim was an easy one, not enough to do the job.

Soon, Brynhild arrived in front of me, kneeling down she addressed “My Lord, what are your orders.”

“Now Now, Brynhild dear… no need for that much formality… It feels strange this way,  you aren’t just my subject after all…” I sighed, this woman was far too fanatical to me now, I even regret doing what I did all those years ago when she was transferred to my command.

But, in my defence, I was young and foolish, and the intoxicating feeling of power did influence me to make some rash decisions.

“I know… my lord, but the commander of your guards, I must maintain proper respect at all times.” Brynhild replied seriously.

I was very tempted to make a joke telling her that she needed to be this respectful to me only while we were on bed, but sadly, there were soldiers and servants around.

“Well, Brynhild I have one thing I need you to do.” I said, turning back to serious mode.

“Yes, my lord, whatever you order shall be completed.” She nodded with a firm expression.

“You are to head to Nornheim, the warriors there haven’t yet been trained on Asgard’s standards, you are to lead a hundred Valkyries and set up training camps.

Ensure that the warriors of Norn are ready for war whenever I call upon them.

You do not need to train them all yourselves, train some elites of Norns, and they are to lead the training for the rest of the warriors next.

The Aesir fighting style which is most suitable for an Aesir warrior with our strength and magic. They must learn it too.

I trust you can manage it all?” Brynhild was an expert in battle, and so were the Valkyries, letting them train the Norns would be for the best.

“Yes, my Lord. I will ensure that the Norn warriors are all trained up to your satisfaction.” With that, she departed, and I too teleported myself to Hela’s room.

The Goddess of Death and Destruction, sensing my arrival approached me with a smile on her face.

Of course, this calls for a hug and a deep kiss, because that’s how you greet your twin sister in Asgard.

“Hela, I would be taking Freyja to Vanaheim for a while, I intend to join Vanaheim and Asgard, by making Freyja the queen of the Vanirs.

So while I am gone, I trust you to take care of Asgard in my stead, okay?” I said as we cuddled.

She did not reply in words, instead she just placed her head on my chest as if she were trying to listen to my heart.

“And about father… I released him, though, he is to live far away from here.” I said, feeling a little guilty, since I did not bother to tell her beforehand.

“I know… and it doesn’t matter anymore… That whole ordeal was foolish, though I don’t seem to hate it completely, because if that didn’t happen, I might have taken a lot more years to realize my feelings…”

Hela, my stupid twin sister, whom I always considered to be an idiot because I was born with her part of wisdom too, was actually spouting sensible stuff.

“My stupid little sister has grown up… oh how I miss her cute little actions when she was little… She doesn’t even challenge me to death battles nowadays, maybe she has stopped loving me.” I sighed in regret, teasing her.

A deep blush crept into her face, but soon, it turned into one of anger as she growled back, “You!! Fine, I will kill you right now!”

“How cute!” I said exaggeratedly as I pinched her cheeks.

Teasing Hela was a whole other level of happiness, one of the few things I feel my eternal life can’t make me bored of.

Anyways, after spending a little more time with Hela, and dumping all my work on her, I vanished, and kidnapped Freyja, taking her to Vanaheim.

“Sister! Brother-in-law! Long time no see, how are you both in Vanaheim, I thought sis forgot about her family since she hasn’t visited us for over a century.” Frey greeted us excitedly, the man looked haggard, deep dark circles under his eyes, and his face devoid of life.

“Well… I was busy, I am a queen now, after all… But what happened to you? How did you become… like this?” Freyja asked as she examined Frey.

“Sigh… it’s a long story…” Frey sighed.

“Well, we have time, and since you are my brother-in-law, I would personally deal with whatever has left you in this state.” I assured him, after all, the man looked in really poor condition.

Frey sighed and continued, “It all started a century ago… When Brother-in-law defeated God King Odin, claiming the throne of Asgard… Father laughed like a crazy man that day.

Once he returned from your coronation ceremony, he was a changed man… muttering something about how unfathomable your strength was… And how mighty his gambling skills were…

He convinced himself that he was the god of gamblers too, and all his gambles would turn out successful… He got addicted to gambling.

Soon, he went around losing everything… Even the throne of Vanaheim was gambled off to Kvasir… that damned smartass fooled father into losing everything.

I had to run around fighting battles to reclaim the throne of Vanaheim, but it is all in chaos, father is still out on his madness, almost every god has started his own faction, skirmishes ongoing everywhere…

Thankfully, you have kept the nine realms in peace for the last century… the current Vanaheim… can’t handle a war.

Sigh, it can’t even be properly called the realm of Vanaheim right now, I am not strong enough to defeat all the Gods together, only Father can do that… So, the throne has lost all it’s meaning, the domain I can actually control, is just the capital city…

And even then, I am being constantly harassed and besieged from all sides, assassination attempts are pretty much every day, and they have convinced the Vanir populace that I am an incompetent ruler, born of the crazy king who lost it all.”

Holy hell… this was fucked up… Njord witnessed me transforming the Aesir, and turned crazy, but he thought his gambling skills were legendary since he took a gamble and gave his daughter to me, which will be the reason Vanaheim would be safe.

Technically, he wasn’t wrong on that part, I won’t attack Vanaheim, but he turned crazy from that… I mean gambling and losing everything off is not that rare, but you are a God king!

He gambled off his divine position! Kvasir technically became the true ruler of the Vanirs, Frey on the other hand is just an aggressor who has stolen the throne from the true king…

This narrative can easily be used by the other gods to oppose Frey, who was never a king material. Frey might be stronger than the other Vanir gods, but that’s nothing special, he isn’t overwhelmingly powerful, if four of five gods gang up on him, he’s toast.

“Umm… do you want me to suppress them for you?” I asked awkwardly, since this was basically just saying- let me do it, you have skill issue.

“No… I don’t want to do this anymore… I would much rather spend my time on Alfheim… Sister, Brother-in-law, if you can, just force father to take the throne back, or anyone else… I don’t want to be involved in this shit anymore.” Frey pleaded.

“Sure… I will do whatever I can. Don’t worry, I promise, if you don’t wish to rule anymore, then you can rest and live your life in peace… I will bring an end to the ongoing chaos, and ensure that Vanaheim lands back to the rule of its rightful rulers.” I replied with a gentle and sweet smile.

Luck, Life & Destruction

Hello everyone, we are now fifteen chapters in, enough to form a clear impression of the story, so how are you guys finding it?

chapter-15

Vaeloria Lumenor, meaning, Light of the stars, that illuminate the world. She is the daughter of one of the Guardians of Elvenkind, revered amongst Elves as the most beautiful being in existence.

A woman whose talents goes beyond just her beauty, she is also considered to be the one with the most potential in the entire Elven race. At merely hundred years old, which is barely an adult in Elven terms, she has reached a level most can only dream of.

A Pseudo-lord level existence, meaning, she is somewhat above S-rank, but below EX-rank, which, to be honest is the rank which is the highest ‘normal’ people can hope of achieving.

Lord level is way harder to achieve, even if an S rank achieves true form or something, they can only reach this Pseudo-Lord level.

So, this is what I came to know of her, by making a simple wish about learning her identity.

The most beautiful being in existence, the Elf with the greatest potential, most popular Elf… With titles like these, can you blame me for being interested?

“Indeed, long time no see, daughter.” Arnoldir addressed his daughter, of course the next thing he did was introduce myself, because it would have been super impolite not to do so in this case.

“This is Lord Daniel White, The God of Destruction, the strongest of Humans. A few days ago, after a fierce battle, he defeated the Evil Dragon King, Asgorath, and claimed the unchallenged title of the strongest being in the universe.

The Evil Dragon King Asgorath was injured beyond comprehension in the battle, and it would take him over a century to completely recover even with his draconic resilience.” Well, at least he didn’t skimp on the introduction.

And just as I had expected, the way she looked at me completely changed, my previous blunder of drooling at her sight? Completely forgotten.

Now, there was awe on her face. The title of ‘The strongest in the Universe.’ It just had that much Aura. Rather, it would be safe to say that Asgorath’s strength was so well known that defeating him became a feat beyond the comprehension of most people.

“Lord Daniel, this is my daughter, Vaeloria Lumenor. She is currently training in the palace, the training room might look ordinary, but for us elves, it is very beneficial, let me take you to the roof of the Palace of Life, it is nestled within the branches of the tree, and the sight from there is one to behold.” This time around, Arnoldir tried to skimp away the introduction as much as possible, and distract me.

But would I be distracted? Impossible.

“Greetings Lady Vaeloria. I would like to apologize for my previous disgrace, but in my defence, I would like to state that it was purely astonishment, for I have never encountered a beauty… as Illuminating as you are.” Okay, that was corny, and she might have heard this many times before…

Man, I think I screwed my first impression, which was already pretty bad.

But, contrary to expectations, she chuckled with a slight blush. “That’s a very convincing defence you have presented, Lord Daniel. Though I must say, being praised so much by the strongest being in the Universe, definitely boosts my ego.”

“The only thing I can assure you, is that there wasn’t a single lie in what I said. Still, as an apology, I would like to treat you to dinner if you are interested.”

Since it is all going well, I might as well just ask for a date, anyways, rejecting me would create massive political problems with me, The Universe’s strongest, which I can use to my advantage, if she rejects, the girl is basically braindead, and I would definitely not pursue her, it was a win-win situation.

“Of course, I would love that. Though, is it really just an apology?” Vaeloria chuckled.

“Maybe.” I joined her in laughing, purely because I was happy.

I mean, I just scored a date with the most beautiful elf, can I not be happy?

“Ahem…” A cough interrupted us, it was Arnoldir, whose existence we had somewhat forgotten…

“Lord Arnoldir, don’t worry, it’s just an apology, I really did disgrace myself, of course, I have to improve my impression now.” Nobody believed me, not even I believed what I just said.

But he could not counter that.

“Lady Vaeloria, I would pick you up tonight by eight.” I said and excused myself.

During the rest of the tour, Arnoldir was stiffly silent, looking pale. And as soon as the tour was over, he excused himself in a hurry.

-3rd person POV-

At the Hall of Guardians.

Five Elves, three women and two men, were present in a beautiful room, engaged in a heated discussion.

“So, you want me to sacrifice Vaeloria?!” Arnoldir shouted agitated.

“No, we are not asking you to sacrifice her. She would eventually marry someone anyway, and she seems interested in the God of Destruction too, if they really start dating, forcing them apart would sadden her instead.” A female guardian spoke in a calm tone.

“But this is for political advantage, isn’t it, to make the relation between the humans and elves better, bringing their strongest God into our side… I don’t want my daughter to be a part of a political play.” Arnoldir argued back fiercely, he did not like what was happening, at all.

“And we never planned that, did we? Sure, we wanted some Elves to stay by his side, but never once did we mention Vaeloria, she is one of the future guardians, do you think we would sacrifice her just to improve relations?

What I am saying is that if they really do start dating, it’s a different thing altogether. They would just be in a happy relationship, whatever benefits the Elven race gets, would purely be incidental.

Besides, you can’t deny that there is almost no better candidate for Vaeloria’s partner than the strongest being in the universe. I treat her like my daughter, and even I can’t deny I am slightly… jealous.” Another guardian countered, forcing Arnoldir into silence.

“So… What is it that you all are planning?” Arnoldir asked with a defeated sigh.

“Truthfully… nothing. What we want is to wait and see what happens, We know for sure that even Lord Daniel, the strongest one, can stand the charm of Vaeloria, her beauty is something beyond divine…

What we want to present ourselves as now, is not one of schemers, but supportive elders.

Our reports tell us a lot about Daniel, even during that fierce battle, he made an effort to save those elf girls. He is a kind man, which means, if we just treat him correctly, with the relation of Vaeloria, Daniel would come to protect us Elves in difficult times.

And the friendship and protection of someone who can defeat the Evil Dragon king is beyond valuable.” The third woman of the group stated.

Then, the only other man amongst the Guardians, added with a serious tone, “Besides… there is another report… according to our calculations, after defeating Asgorath, he seems to have undergone an evolution, which should have significantly increased his strength…

And someone who would be considered the strongest in the Universe even before the evolution, I won’t even dare to imagine how powerful he must be right now…”

Hearing his words, all the guardians turned silent, the pressure brought by Daniel’s strength was indeed worrying…

Even the five of them together didn’t dare hope to defeat Asgorath, at best, they could survive and stall the dragon, but Daniel was someone who had defeated the dragon leaving it in a near-dead situation, without being visually injured.

And then, beyond all expectations, he evolved once again. They could only hope that the evolution was a minor one, otherwise, they could only wish that Vaeloria succeeded in getting into a relationship with him.

“I see… Then let’s wait and see what happens…” Arnoldir sighed, his face shrouded in sadness and defeat.

chapter-14

Silver and Gold, that was all there was to say about this paradise of a place in the Universe.

It was not until I stepped into Alfheim that I realized that so many beauties could be stuffed together in a single place. Golden and Silver haired elven beauties.

Maybe it was a personal preference, but I found elves to be more beautiful than humans.

“Lord Daniel, the news of your victory over the evil dragon Asgorath is certainly something that has shook the entire universe, I can’t express in words how eager I was to meet you, the legendary strongest God.” Said a silver haired handsome man.

This was Arnoldir, one of the five Elven guardians, the leader of elven equivalent of foreign department.

“The same could be said for me, lord Arnoldir, I have long since wanted to visit Alfheim, said to be one of the most beautiful places in existence.” I replied politely, because, being the strongest doesn’t mean you need to act like a prick, or else, what would be the difference between me and that lizard Asgorath?

And politeness did have its charm, seeing that I was not some crazy guy but instead someone who could be properly talked with, the entire elven strategy seemed to change.

Earlier, they were unsure of how to deal with me, so they were mostly polite, with some attempts that I might find some elven women attractive enough to fall for them.

Now, they went all out, throwing every beautiful elf at me, their strategy to secure an alliance with me was clear, and to some extent effective.

But you know what, humans are strange creatures… Earlier, I might have taken any beautiful elf I liked back with me, but now, with so many options jumping at me… I started to get choosy.

Still, this feeling was rather annoying, if I accepted, it would mean that their plan succeeded, and I had no control over the situation at all…

“Aewyn, what is the most beautiful place on Alfheim?” I asked the elf woman beside me, she seemed to have turned into some sort of guide for me here, and ever since I had saved her, I could tell she had a crush.

“Hmm… That’s a simple question, my lord. The tree of Life is the most sacred and beautiful place in all of Alfheim. If you wish, we can visit there.” Aewyn replied with a smile.

“Well, inform the Guardians, I wish to visit the place.” Of course, it the place was considered the most sacred place by Elves, then going there without telling them would put them into panic, and would be rude too.

Soon, Aewyn appeared back with Arnoldir beside her, followed by several maids.

“Lord Daniel, since you wish to visit the tree of Life, as the host, I should guide you there myself.” Arnoldir said with a strained smile.

He did try to hide it, but I could sense it, there was slight reluctance in his expression, as if he did not wish for me to go there.

But I’ll ignore that.

What? I am polite, but that does not mean that if I make a decision, I would just change it because someone finds it inconvenient.

“Then let’s proceed without wasting any time.” I replied with a small smile.

The elven magic system was, to some extent better than human abilities, because, while human abilities offered wide diversity and hax type powers, Elven magic on the other hand was far more orderly.

In case of individual battles, Humans were considered more powerful, but as an army, Elves were a nightmare to deal with.

And, in this case, Space magic was something the elves had mastered, almost every top tier Elf could do it, meanwhile, only humans with space related abilities could accomplish the same.

Arnoldir created a magic circle, covering everyone, and initiated the teleportation.

There was a shill sound, like that of glass breaking, and the magic circle shattered.

“This…” Arnoldir said with a confused look on his face, he was one of the strongest beings in the Elven race, a Guardian. Failing to perform a simple spell was baffling for him.

‘Is his acting just too good, or did he really fail that spell? I mean he looked like he did not want me going there…’ This was a weird situation, I was silent, Arnoldir was silent, the rest of the elves were silent.

“Sorry about that… let me try once more.” Arnoldir said with a blush full of shame.

Crack

Another shrill sound, another failure. This time, everyone was weirded out.

‘Okay, he won’t embarrass himself in front of everyone this much just to stop me… something is wrong’

[Wish: I want to know what’s wrong, why isn’t his spell working?]

[ The problem here, is you. After your evolution, your abilities have reached a whole new level, your Antimatter covers you defending you passively, as this magic covers you attempting to teleport you, it’s automatically considered an attack and broken down using Anti-magic.]

‘…So, I was the problem?’

“Umm, Lord Arnoldir, sorry about that, I think the reason of failure of the spell is due to me, my ability was passively defending me from the teleportation effect of the spell, by breaking it apart. I will control and defuse it, please try once more.” I said with a sheepish expression.

Arnoldir looked surprised, then accepted the situation with a sigh.

“As expected of the strongest one in the Universe…”

Ladies and gentlemen, I might have accidently farmed some Aura instead, a Guardian’s spell failing to affect me at all, and breaking apart spoke volumes of my power, and amongst elves, like all races, strength is respected.

I controlled my ability to make the conceptual antimatter covering me disappear.

“I am done. We can leave now.” I said with a nod.

This time the spell worked, thankfully.

The Tree of life, a very big tree, which shed some golden light orbs almost all the time. It was a beautiful tree to be honest, but I guess humans can’t appreciate it to the same levels as Elves can.

“Hmm, there’s even a gate here? We can even enter the Tree of Life?” I asked curiously, but strangely, my question led to a small twitching eyebrow from Arnoldir, his composure nearly broken.

“Lord Daniel, that gate is the entrance to the palace of Life, it is built inside the tree of life itself. It is considered a divine place for us elves, only the most outstanding of elves can enter the palace, and train there.

The Tree of life blesses them. They grow stronger much faster than possible anywhere else.

Even us, the Guardians spend a lot of our time here, it gives us a feeling of peace beyond comprehension, healing both mind and soul.” Arnoldir said, he did not break his expression, and was even more polite than before, probably due to my last display of strength.

“Can we go inside?” I asked him.

There was a brief struggle within him for a second, but still, he once again focused, and agreed with the same politeness.

Elvish architecture was unique, very nature attuned, but still having technology well ingrained within.

Their way of life was more simplistic as compared to humans, their homes weren’t as lavish or grand like us humans, but it still had that fresh, natural charm.

This palace of Life was the same mostly, but the golden orbs of life energy which lighted the place filled everyone with vitality. The talk about this place being awesome, wasn’t exactly a lie…

Even the god of Technology, the best creator amongst humans, probably can’t create something like this, which fills the place with life.

“This is the main hall of the palace of Light, on the left is the special training area, which has more concentrated life energy, and on the right is the gallery. Ahead, there’s the living area.” Arnoldir explained with a expressionless face.

“Even more concentrated life energy? Let’s visit the training area first.” I said genuinely wanting to see what the best training facility of Elves looked like.

If it were just some high end magic gym, it would be really funny.

“Y…yes Lord Daniel, let’s go.” And this finally broke his composure.

What the hell, what even is he so wary of? Its not like I would start training here or steal their secrets or something. He is inwardly nervous enough that it feels as if he thinks that I am plotting to steal his wife.

Crossing the alley, the training area we arrived at, was… well how should I say, empty? Except for the large amount of Life energy here, basically glowing orbs densely packed together.

I sensed someone approaching us, it was a woman, as my eyes fell upon her, my entire body stopped suddenly, as if shocked.

A blood turned hot, a strange feeling creeping in, something which I had experienced before, but never at this level…

Is this a mental attack? How can a mental attack be this powerful, it is even affecting me… And my conceptual antimatter’s guard is up.

Wish is the only option…

[Wish: Dispel the mental attack I am facing immediately.]

[There is no mental attack happening.]

‘What? No mental attack?’ I was utterly baffled.

[Wish: I want to know what’s happening to me.]

[You are having a crush. The woman in front of you is so beautiful in your eyes, that you can’t help but be enamoured by it. You are so entranced that your body is shocked, and you are practically drooling.]

‘I was drooling? This is bad…’ I hurriedly controlled my body, trying my best to distract myself, wiped off my mouth, but my face was still all red due to rushing blood.

The divine tier beauty looked at me with a slight frown, then towards Arnoldir.

“Greetings, Father.” Said a voice better than any melodies I had ever heard.

But it was at this moment I realized everything…

‘So, he thought I would steal his daughter?’ I thought, but after another look at the woman, a second thought creeped in ‘Well… I can’t say he was wrong…’

chapter- 74

“She… she’s your wife? How? No… why? Did you meet that bastard Zeus?” Odin asked with a look which was somewhere between shocked, aghast, and worried.

“She’s my wife, because I married her, duh, both her and Freyja, and no, I did not learn from Zeus, as for why… It’s because of you.” I chuckled not worrying a bit about his reactions.

“Because of me? You bastard! You are saying you slept with and married my daughter, your sister, because of me??!!” Odin shouted loudly.

“Well, duhh, do you not realize how big of a wingman move you pulled?” I asked surprised

“I did no such thing.” Odin said conflicted.

I laughed out loud at his words, then cleared my throat, as I started saying in an exaggerated tone,

“Oh yeah, so I happened to save this beautiful princess, who from a young age was thrown off to fight wars for her abusive father, who did not value her, then one day her father decided not to fight anymore.

She felt as if her purpose of life was being taken away from her, so she argued back, but her evil father did not listen to her words at all, and considered her crazy.

In all his bastardly schemes, he decided the best thing to do would be to make an example of her, by imprisoning her for eternity, so that no one dare opposes him anymore.

She fought back… but alas, she was far too weak, not able to stand up to her evil father, she had lost all hope, and was about to accept her fate.

But just when her father was about to seal her, someone stopped him. She had not expected help, she never had any, she did not think anyone would stand up to her father for her, and protect her.

But, one man did that… He stopped the king of the gods, daring to fight him just to save her, and he returned victorious, saving her from a lifetime of imprisonment.

For the first time in her life, she was not the warrior general… but a princess who was protected by prince…

She cared naught, if that prince was her own brother, her heart had already blossomed the petals of love.

An accident led to her brother find out about this, but instead of reprimanding her, he comforted her, accepted her for who she is.

For the first time in her life, she felt loved.”

“…I feel like driving my spear right through your heart, then throw you off somewhere desolate and drop the bifrost on you for ten days straight just to ensure that you are gone.” Odin grumbled.

“So it seems her father has returned after a century, the rivers of time failed to clean his dirty heart, with intentions full of evil, he turns his gaze once again, to destroy her happiness, by destroying her love.” I sighed

“…” Father was quiet, he just looked at me with a blank face, a pensive expression, it seems he has seen through the wrongs of his thinking and is contemplating on them.

“You know what, I should just go and enjoy my retirement, I think listening to you is more injurious to my health than staying in isolation for a century.

Just go and do whatever you want…” he sighed bringing a smile on my face, but instead of stopping, he continued speaking.

“And yes, you are right about one thing, I failed Hela… so don’t do the same… okay?” This time around, he finally managed to make me serious, so I just gave him a nod of approval, but that was enough to convey whatever I wanted to say.

“By the way, you won’t be staying in the capital anymore.

Sometime ago, I had a talk with mom, discussing about her future plans, and you are both to live in a nice castle built in a beautiful forest away from all settlements, live a quiet life there.

Mom has already decided, and you don’t have the rights to decide anything, so you are following that.” I informed Odin, the palace was built by yours truly in a highland forest, which can basically be said to be a paradise.

“Sounds perfect.” Odin smiled back.

“Don’t get too happy, go settle and live off happily for some time, then I would send students off to you.”

“Yeah, whatever you say.” Odin chuckled.

I waved my hands and opened a gate leading straight to the forest palace.

“Go there and wait, mom would arrive soon.” I ordered.

“Okay… son.” He smiled, and stepped into the gate.

Finally, time to talk with mom and send her off too… then, the conquest plan can start in full swing.

‘Eva, is my divine battleship completely designed?’

[Yupp, better than you can even imagine. So, are you planning to create them yourself or you want your empire to create them?]

‘Let’s create one myself, then rest would be built by my subjects.’

[Yeah, why do all the hard work yourself.]

‘So, Eva, excited about ruling an inter-galactic empire?’

[Honestly, I am excited, I want to see how far I can take them with the best of my abilities, after all, they are not machines, mortals have emotions, desires, greed, a lot of things which could make my plans go wrong.

So yes, ruling would actually be a great experience, though, it might get boring after some time…]

‘meh, you can create an A.I. just like the Kree did, you would only need to ensure that the A.I. is obedient, and it’s all good.’

[Truly, your plans of laziness are always astounding, didn’t even take you a second to figure out a way to shirk all responsibility.]

‘Hey, I was just trying to help here, and I am not lazy, stop lying.’

[Heh.]

‘What? I am definitely not lazy!’

[Heh.]

‘…’

Ignoring Eva, I went to visit my mother, for whom I had a surprise prepared.

And just as I entered the room, I was greeted with a hug.

“Son, how was your battle at Nornheim?” Frigga asked gently caressing my hair.

“It was way too easy, I could not even properly enjoy myself, the Norn queen was far too weak, I have imprisoned her and brought her back.

Nornheim is part of Asgard’s territory from now onwards.” I replied with a smile.

“As expected of you, my son.” She said with a proud look.

“Mother, this time, I came here for a reason, you remember when you asked for a palace in some quiet and beautiful place.

Well, that’s ready, so I would like you to come with me and tour it.

I also have a surprise ready for you.” I said with a mischievous smile.

“Oh the palace is ready? Well, I indeed plan to move to somewhere quiet… but you would have to come visit me often.

As for a surprise… since you say it’s a surprise, it would be rude to ask, though, I am very curious.” She chuckled at the last part.

“Well, you don’t have to wait for long.” I chuckled as I waved my hand, opening a gate leading to the outside of the forest palace.

“You really know how to pick up a spot… this is beautiful.” Frigga commented as she looked at the surrounding scenery, there was a waterfall in the distance, a small stream running through the palace area, colourful forests all around, and the palace itself was surrounded by well-trimmed grass fields.

“The real surprise is inside the palace.” I said leading her inwards.

The gates opened, and there, as if on cue, was standing Odin.

“Long time no see… my dear Frigga.” His voice the warmest ever I had heard from him.

Mother just stood there in shock and silence, but the tears streaming through her eyes were enough to convey her emotions.

chapter 13

I felt my skin get disintegrated, searing pain coagulating my mind.

But they soon started to recover… I had won.

This universe wasn’t some game world, but winning a fight like this and emerging victorious, would certainly enhance the victor by a lot, I don’t know how or why it happened, but victory meant getting stronger.

And that was for someone who had no abilities aiding that, my case was different, I had adaptive evolution.

Since the start of the battle, my adaptation had gone into an overdrive adapting me to all the attacks and damages incurred.

But now, the battle had ended, and my body was elevating itself naturally, so this time around, something else went into an overdrive- The evolution aspect of my ability.

Let’s boost it a bit.

[Wish: The evolution ability triggers the best possible results in all aspects, towards the highest version of me possible]

And some energy went off aiding that, not much energy, considering that the evolution ability already was working in the direction, the wish essentially just improved the efficiency and removed any possible mishaps.

It would take some time I guess… though I have no clue where I have been thrown off to…

The explosion contained a ridiculous amount of conceptual power, enough to injure even me who was at some distance.

Asgorath, who had taken the explosion point blank, was left near death.

Yeah… near death, not entirely dead, at that last moment he used a bit of faith power to save his life.

Now, you may ask what this faith power is?

Well, like any god or lord level being should, we can access the power of faith from the people who worship us, now, don’t think of it as some awesome power…

Because, it has almost zero relevance on our strength, what it does instead, is give us a bunch of strange abilities, like people who worship us, we can ‘bless’ them.

And if there is any benefit to us, then it would be that it boosts our healing speed, like I said, even if a god does nothing, no matter how serious the injury, they would completely heal, now that healing part is innate, but faith power is the fuel it consumes.

A lord can indeed heal even without faith, but you know, it would be much slower, like ten times slower.

So, faith is mostly an ignored power except when recruiting subordinates or healing after battles.

Oh, there’s another factor, you can also know if someone respects or worships you if the generate faith towards you, one cannot fake that.

Anyways, the injuries I had sustained could be healed instantly by a wish, no need to use that slow process of faith healing.

“Ughhhh” I groaned out loud as I felt the evolution process growing within my body, all my tissues were spasming, cells radiating with heat.

My connection with Anti-matter felt closer with each passing moment, the energy breeder generated ridiculous amounts of energy as it expanded slowly, the energy dimension on the other hand did not change much except the fact that my control over it increased tremendously.

As for wish… I don’t know if there are any changes with that, maybe it would take a bit lesser energy for the same wish from now onwards?

After what felt like hours, the agonizing feeling finally came to an end, an endless burst of energy erupted from my body sending shockwaves in all directions.

My body which had been freely floating in space until now suddenly stood up.

“Holy shit!!!” was the first thing I blurted as I checked my body, although my looks hadn’t changed, my insides were almost completely rewired.

All the brawling I did with the dragon king evolved my body towards physical strength surpassing that of Asgorath himself.

‘Damn I am like Superman just with my physical strength now…’ Yeah, I could crush planets without using any enhancement from energy.

If Asgorath could destroy stars by hurling me at them with physical strength, then I who was stronger could do even more.

But the most important thing was my energy.

The previous me had a lot of energy, at least 20 to 30% higher than average Lord level beings without counting the energy dimension.

While Asgorath had around ten times my energy, now, I had surpassed him in energy, it was probably around 20 times the average.

You know the best part? The energy breeder still generated the same amount of energy I had in a single day, so, that had also increased by 20 times.

With a single thought, I disappeared from where I was, and appeared inside my energy dimension.

‘hmm, now this properly feels like my domain, if things turn extreme, I could pull enemies here and kill them… I am almost invincible here.’ The energy dimension will be my trump card, only to be used when I am in a battle of life and death.

Though, is there anyone even capable of fighting me to death now? I mean, after my evolution, taking on Asgorath would be easy, I wouldn’t have to go all out to defeat him now.

And he was considered the strongest in the universe, so I should be pretty much invincible here, right?

Anyways… I will think about this later, those elf girls… hmm I forgot their names, I left them back inside the barrier… that planet was destroyed, so they must be floating somewhere in space inside that barrier.

Ughh finding them is gonna be a pain, I should just make a wish and teleport there…

[Wish: teleport me to the elf girls I placed inside the barrier.]

And with a blink, I appeared in front of a barrier ball containing a few elves, strangely, they were not alone, an entire team of elves was outside the barrier, apparently waiting for me, and trying to open the barrier sealing the elf girls.

“Lord Daniel!” the entire team of elves bowed at once, the stream of faith rising from them was enough to let me know that the result of my battle with Asgorath was now known to them.

Which means, I now officially hold the title- The Strongest being in existence.

I nodded at the elves and replied with a smile, “This barrier was made by me to be strong enough to survive the aftereffects of the battle between myself and Asgorath.

Now, Asgorath has been defeated, and much of this galaxy has been destroyed, yet this barrier holds. It can’t be opened through mundane means, let me do it.” And with a wave of my hand, the barrier disappeared.

And since the elf girls did not have space gear, I covered them with my energy just in case any of them were incapable of survival in space.

“Lord Daniel… thank you for protecting us.” The smart elf girl bowed deeply.

“Don’t mention that… it was due to my decision that we were here in the first place.” I laughed.

“Still, we elves are grateful for your consideration, and since you have just fought this tiresome battle, we would like to humbly invite you to the abode of the Elves- Alfheim.” She continued with a smile.

Hmmm… I do feel like having a good rest… and if I can have some beautiful elf maids serving me, it would be even better…

It’s all to relax my mind, since fighting Asgorath was far too taxing, no other reasons at all.

“Very well… let’s go to Alfheim, though, I would have to return to Earth soon due to the fight with Asgorath, meetings at the Gods council and all, so my visit would be rather short.” I replied with a smile.

chapter 37

Tsunade jumped inside the experiment pod excitedly.

‘This gotta be the first time I am seeing someone excited to be experimented on…’

“Okay, remember, due to you being a Senju, although you have not awakened a proper sage body like your grandfather, you still have like… a thieves’ market version of it?

So yeah, the effect of this treatment might be even better on you than we have estimated. So, be prepared for surprise, okay?” I said with a smile seeing her excitement.

“Oh, I can only get so excited! Start now!” Tsunade said loudly as she placed herself in the pod.

“Okay, I am administering the anaesthesia, take a good nap, you will wake up super strong.” I said, as I carefully adjusted the anaesthesia.

“Goodnight. Wait, give me a good luck kiss before you start.” Tsunade giggled.

I chuckled at her words and stepped forward, it was an awkward position, but I managed to give her a deep kiss from the top of the pod.

“Alright, that’s all, I am starting, dear.” I said seriously, and injected the anaesthesia.

Soon, Tsunade fell unconscious.

Hmm, let’s start then, I am curious what the effects of Natural energy fluid would be on Hashirama’s granddaughter…

Maybe she would completely awaken her Sage body?

Cell activators, administered.

Now, Natural energy fluid.

As the pale green fluid entered her body slowly, her cells started devouring the natural energy at a much faster rate than the test subject.

‘Hmm, her cellular activity surpasses that of the test subject by over 300%... this isn’t bad per say, but just this much natural energy won’t be enough for her.’

Tsunade’s lineage ensured that she was much more attuned to sage energy than commoners of this world, even the amount of natural energy fluid administered in her case needed to be increased, by approximately 320%.

I started to refill the natural energy fluid tank to ensure that there is enough fluid for her to absorb.

Even the effects of the treatment on her was much more pronounced than that of the test subject, because, she really did awaken her sage body.

In case of the test subject, the natural energy fluid was changing his body from the cellular level, which wasted a lot of it, but in case of Tsunade, the genetic structure was already present, just dormant, so there was no need to create from scratch, just awaken what already existed.

‘Even from a conservative estimate, her chakra will enter the level of super kage… much higher than expected’

Sure, her strength might not be at the level of super Kage, but with chakra at that level, with a bit of training, and learning some attacks, she would reach that level.

‘Frankly… she might even be able to reach my current level if she trains hard enough…’

But this does give me many more ideas, if Natural energy can do that, what about Yin and Yang?

I have been using the Yin and Yang chakra on my body to enhance it for quite a while now, and the results are miraculous, but all that is due to my chakra control.

And I can do it for long periods continuously, it’s not like this experiment, where just liquid chakra is injected, and the process ends in minutes.

Though, if the yin and yang chakra can be purified to a high level, continuous enhancement might elevate my body towards sage of six paths, but that’s way too far…

Turning back my focus to Tsunade who had been absorbing Nature energy like crazy, was finally about to satiate her cells.

‘Time to end this’ I thought looking at the nearly empty natural energy fluid storage.

Just as the fluid was finished, I instantly administered the cell stabilizers without wasting a moment.

And, it was done.

Now, instead of waking her up like I did with the test subject, it would be better to let her rest for a while, she has worked quite hard the past few days, and meanwhile, I can also test her body.

Taking her blood sample and a bit of her cells, the wound healed up almost instantly, which, in fact, told a lot.

‘Hmm, her cells are quite similar to Hashirama now… not at his level, but similar… if they are enhanced even further, she would, for sure reach his level. Still, this has reached about 60 to 70 % of Hashirama’s level.’

Sadly, she does not have Wood style, or any other kekkei genkai for that matter, that would have increased her strength dramatically, now, she is just like an enhanced version of Naruto with better chakra control and minus the nine tails.

At first glance, that sounds impressive, but it only means that she has a shit ton of stamina and can fight for a long time.

Meaning, she has the strength of a… let’s say weak to mid kage level, but has endurance beyond imagination, and would probably win in a battle of attrition against anyone.

Hmm, maybe I should also dabble in kekkei genkai… though most of them don’t interest me too much, some are rather interesting, like magnet release and dark release.

Then there was the kekkei Tota of Dust release, that too was awesome.

For my next plan, let’s develop a few Kekkei genkai, with my level of chakra control, I can build quite a few of them, boosting my arsenal.

Then, there’s the factor of adding Yin and Yang natures to jutsus for boosting their capabilities along with nature chakra.

After hours of confirming there was nothing wrong with the procedure and Tsunade was perfectly fine, the lady finally woke up.

“Ummm, I feel like I just had the best nap of my life.” Tsunade yawned as she stretched her body moving out of the pod.

I stepped forward holding her for balance, and moved my lips towards hers, sealing them shut.

Of course, it was only a brief kiss, not the time and place for a long one.

“That you did, I did not wake you up forcefully, so that you could get some rest, and in the meantime, I have conducted almost every test I could think of, ensuring that there was no problem with the procedure, you are better than ever.” I said, holding her as I gently patted her back.

“Umu, so how were the results?” she asked cutely

“Well… beyond expectations, I was expecting that the results would be better, but just the base natural chakra treatment yielded 320% more results, and since it awakened your dormant genes, the results are even better…

You are about, at the very least, 60 to 70 % at your grandfather’s level physique wise.” I said seriously

“Holy shit… I have 70% of grandpa’s strength? From what you have told me about him, which I don’t know how you know better than myself, the current me should be the strongest in the world, right?” Tsunade looked genuinely surprised

“Nah, you’re way weaker than you might think you are, you have a lot of chakra, sure… in terms of chakra amount, you are indeed the strongest in the world right now… but strength, well, you are like a mid-level kage with reserves higher than most tailed beasts.

If you were to learn some high attack power jutsus, that might elevate your strength.” I explained as I laughed

“Wait, so the entire procedure did not increase my strength at all? I only get more growth potential?” She looked puzzled… but is more growth potential a bad thing?

I think she doesn’t understand it now because she had not reached her limit…

“Well, you are a bit stronger, from low kage level to mid kage level, since your physical strength and healing factor has increased… maybe high level kage if you factor in the increased senses and endurance.

You are stronger, sure… But not as much as you might think, but you can reach that level with a bit of training.” Hmm, that should be the correct estimates of her strength…

“So, I now have more chakra than you do?” She asked with a bright look on her face

“…” What’s with this competition…

“Tell me! I wanna hear it from you!” She said mischievously

“Yes… you have about three times the amount of chakra… But that is only because your previous chakra has multiplied five to six times over.” I explained with a blank face.

“Umu, I am indeed stronger than you are.” Tsuna nodded as if she was convinced of it.

“…”

“I was planning to get the enhancement right now… but that can wait, let’s get you cleaned up first, you need some… disciplining…” I replied with a smirk and a face of evil.

Suddenly, Tsuna’s hand moved forward covering her ass covering them. But that’s not going to protect her now, is it?

chapter 73

The haggard looking old man did not reply, just lifted his gaze to look at me with his tired hollow looking eyes.

“Well, it hasn’t been that long in a true sense, since we are immortal, a century is basically a long nap.” I continued speaking noticing his silence.

“Are you finally here to end me? Then do it, I have been waiting for a century to go to Valhalla.” Odin’s hoarse tired voice came, almost a whisper, still, there was no fear in it.

“Quite the contrary, I am here to free you.” I chuckled.

“That would be a foolish decision, unbecoming of a king.” Odin reprimanded me, reminding me of old times.

“Trust me, a lot has changed… A lot.

Even if you want, you can’t do anything now. In just a century, I have achieved enough to make your era seem like a dark age for the Aesirs, you have no support now.” I laughed at his words, I mean, with how much has Asgard changed, would the Aesir really support Odin even if I didn’t control them?

“Do you wish to set me free just to show off your achievements then?”

“Nah… It’s been a century, I know you did some stupid… no very idiotic stuff, but still, we are family…

Mother has suffered enough, so I am here to free you not for showing off, or foolishness, but just because I feel your punishment has been served, now, just retire and live like a good old man accompanying mother.” I said with sincerity.

I know, for all my dangerous thoughts and vile plans, I usually turn soft when events really come to pass, but still, I felt this little bit of kindness within me was not bad, at least it defined my personality.

And I can’t really be like Odin now, can I?

What would be the difference between me and him if I really imprison him for eternity like he did with Hela?

“hahaha… Even after a century of being king, you are still too soft.” Odin chuckled hoarsely

“Doesn’t change the fact that I am still considered the greatest king of Asgard, ever. Much better than you ever were.” I snarled back, with a laugh.

“Still, retirement huh… doesn’t sound half bad to be honest…” Odin replied with a thoughtful expression on his face.

“Half bad? It’s practically the dream life, you get to enjoy all the royal treatment, spend all the time with the love of your life, and you have no work to worry about.

I would not lie, even I am somewhat jealous of you.” I joked… well not joked, since I really thought his life would be too good.

“Haha, so even after becoming the so-called greatest king in the history of Asgard, you can only envy me, tells a lot, doesn’t it?” Odin laughed out mirthfully

“What the hell, did rotting in a prison for just a century improved your sense or humour or something?

Maybe I should leave you here for a few more centuries and you just might gain the divinity of jesters too.” I chuckled at the surprise, I mean the old man can joke now, who would have guessed.

“Maybe, but yes, I am not a king anymore, nor do I have to set an example for others, those are your worries now, so no need to be serious all the time.” He smiled.

“Ughh, maybe I am keeping you too free, no you have to work, you would be Asgard’s last line of defence, and you are to teach children of Asgard about runes, magic and fighting.

Of course, you don’t need to teach on a large scale, but take some talented children and teach them all you can.” I dumped off some work onto him just in spite, but yes, having some runes expert under my command would help, and more warriors are always good.

“I see you can’t see me happy, but oh well… I can manage that.” Odin sighed

I chuckled and waved my hands, the prison opened, and finally, after a century of imprisonment, the old king of Asgard was finally free.

Odin stepped out limping slightly, his legs frozen from long periods of stillness, and stretched out his body.

“Well, you can’t step out like that, the guards might throw you out thinking some dirty beggar entered the castle.” I complained looking at him

“If there are beggars on Asgard, then it seems you haven’t done as good of a job as you think you have done.” Odin laughed, seriously, he’s much better now.

“yeah no, there are no beggars here, which is why they might think you are some alien who is intruding in Asgard for begging.” I rolled my eyes, and waved my hand.

‘Eva, give him some divine magic manicure, and give him the basic Aesir royal God package, and no need for the Godforce, since he already has that.’

[Yeah, on it, though are you sure about improving his strength just yet? I mean shouldn’t you wait for a while? Sure he wouldn’t be able to anything even after improved strength, but still…]

‘Relax Eva, I know what you are saying makes sense… but you just need to trust me on this one, I mean, even after all the shit that has passed, he is still my father…

And I understand the man, which means, I know that he won’t do anything.

Don’t ask me how, just a gut feeling, but yes, I am sure of it.’

[Well sure, if you say so. Even if you are wrong, it doesn’t matter…]

“Yeah, and there’s one more thing, you are a bit behind the times, so let me help you catch up, and understand the new age of Aesir.” I said to Odin smugly

‘Eva, now.’

[On it.]

And a bright light covered Odin, enveloping him entirely, cleaning him, inside and out, enhancing his body.

Sure, he was already very strong, but that was from his energy side, his physical side was weak, for too weak to hold the energy within his body, which was the reason he needed to go to his Odin sleep often.

 But now, that won’t be an issue anymore, his new physique has been enhanced by Eva with this in mind, the excess of energy won’t burden him, instead it would nourish his body even further.

As the light covering him subsided, Odin emerged back in peak condition, no better than peak condition, his hair styled up, not a single strand out of place, all signs of dirt and wrinkles from his body gone, his clothes back into royal silk.

“Have you done this to all the Aesir?” Father asked seriously as he examined his newfound strength.

“Not at the same level, the enhancement you received is only for our family, but yes, I have enhanced them all, and as for our family, all of them can now wield the godforce.” I explained with a look of pride on my face.

Hearing my words, Odin sighed out loud, “I understand now… why you said, even if I tried, no one would support me now… it seems it is indeed true.”

“Of course it is.” I chuckled

“So, I suppose a lot has changed in Asgard now, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, the entire place looks new, I went all out with my divinity of creation, the previous Asgard looks like a shabby small town in front of the current Asgard”

“I suppose that’s good, anything more?” Odin asked as we walked through the dark alleys of the prison.

“Yeah, one last thing.” I said, a bit embarrassed look on my face

“What?”

“Hela is my wife now.”

“What?!!”

Yeah… it would be embarrassing to explain this one…

chapter 12

Does getting stronger during battles means that victory is certain?

When I watched all those movies and anime in my last life, I indeed thought that was the case, but reality was often disappointing.

I mean, I know that I just achieved my true form, but sadly, Asgorath wasn’t blind, and like common fight tropes, he didn’t wait for me to register my change.

Instead, he just continued attacking me with everything he could, his entire focus on ensuring that I could not unleash an attack at all.

“Ughhh…” I groaned as his tail whacked me once again.

Alright this can’t continue.

I placed my hands in front of my face, curling up my body, intending to focus for a while, I heightened my defences by coating myself with energy.

In this position, I felt I could tank a few hits, and once I was able to focus myself, I would take the lead in attacking.

“Hahhhh…” I took a deep breath, which should not have been possible because we were in space.

But, there was no time to pay it any attention, because now is the only time to counterattack.

First,

Concept- Anti-Existence Barrier.

A conceptual ability which created a shield covering me in the form of a barrier, a thin sheen of transparent conceptual anti-matter, which would destroy anything which exists upon contact.

I don’t think Asgorath would be able to break through this.

Now,

Anti-Existence- Destruction Ray.

I straightened myself, and aimed at Asgorath with my hand, Dense antimatter forming in my hand, an attack easily amongst the deadliest in all of universe about to be unleashed.

At that moment, for the first time since the start of the battle, a look of horror appeared in the eyes of Asgorath, he could feel it, a fear creeping from all his cells, screaming that if this attack landed on him, he would die.

He hurried to dodge, but it was far too late, I had already unleashed the destruction ray, which destroyed everything in its path.

By everything, I mean everything, even the space-time of the path of the attack was shredded, such was its ferocity, its very concept enabled it to destroy everything in existence, which means, if it exists, this attack can destroy it.

Asgorath was fast, one of the fastest being in existence, but could he really dodge this attack of mine?

Nah.

He got hit, not completely, but still, his right wing was entirely erased, as if it never existed, and judging from the type of damage, from the scale of damage, that’s gonna take decades to heal.

I mean, gods could basically heal from anything, no matter how seriously injured they are, as long as they are alive, they would eventually return to peak, but the speed of healing depends on several factors.

It they are basically left in shreds, with hardly a bit of life left in them, then it might even take centuries or even several millennia to heal.

“ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

Like some sweet melody, the shrill screams of that ugly dragon entered my ears, the sound itself was very unpleasant, but they brought an strange sense of peace to my heart.

Finally, it was not we who was getting beaten, comeback was finally here.

Shounen manga, you did not lie to me!

“Hahh… hahh… I have to agree, you are the only one who has ever managed to push me to this extent…

This is, by far, the greatest injury I have ever received in my ten million years of life…

Even fights with Tiamat are mostly just battles between equals, but now… I am experiencing the thrill of a life and death battle, and… it’s so addictive… HAHAHAHA!!!”

Umm, I think I broke his brain… Maybe?

Because, that part where he praised me, that was true obviously, so half broken?

“Please, the battle is just getting started, this was my first serious battle, at first I was a bit of an amateur, but now that I have gotten used to this, you are pretty weak.

And since you cherish the feeling of death this much, let me help you, I will send you to death straight, not just the feeling. Don’t worry, no extra charge for that.” I smirked, as I created a small ball of Anti-existence in my hand playing with it like a ball.

“Kid, you are indeed talented, I think you are not even two decades old, yet the level of strength you have is astonishing, but believe me, that’s not enough to kill me…

I have fought longer than you can imagine, I have reigned for a long time, longer than your entire race, so if you think you can defeat me, then be my guest, as the Dragon king of Domination, I will send you to your early grave.” He said with a serious voice.

Then, suddenly, an intense black red light erupted from his body, making him glow ominously, his mouth opened, his teeth glowing even more intensely than his body.

There was no need to guess, this was probably his last stand, because he had just erupted with every last bit of energy in his body.

And this was… quite impressive, because I had already burned over my energy like… a hundred times? Approximately.

If I did not have my energy dimension and energy breeder, I was, for sure a goner, lack of energy would keep me from using my greatest strength, my anti-matter ability, and without it, there was no chance of victory for me at all.

In response, I also drew more energy from my dimension, filling my body with it, fueling my true form, burning even more intensely, I too started emitting intense purple black light similar to Asgorath.

And then, he charged, likely for the last time, but this time, he did not unleash some fancy beams or something, instead, the energy on his teeth burned even more furiously, his jaws filled with energy ready to deliver a bite at an unprecedented level of bite force.

Before I could even think of my move, I was already in between his jaws…

‘I guess I would just have to overpower him…’ I sighed I watched the dragon’s jaws closing, trying to crush me with that bite.

Even if we ignore the practically blaring teeth of the dragon, just the bite force was a problem, an ordinary human had PSI of like 150 in my last life, even this time around, with humans enhanced and all, it was probably only around 500 PSI.

But this big ass lizard, the bite force had a PSI which was probably in trillions…

If I was good at maths, I would have calculated and told you about how awesome that was, but sadly, I am not, so just understand that his bite is dangerous… very dangerous.

I enhanced my strength with energy, pouring every bit I could, my hands burst with an intense amount of energy to counter his teeth.

Then, with a roar, I prepared myself, and caught his jaws.

Alright, when I said his bite force was dangerous, I was wrong, it is super dangerous.

I groaned as I felt my bones creaking, even after all that enhancement and evolution, the shockwave from the stopped bite even destroyed a few stars far away.

But I persisted, this was a matter of ego, a pure brute clash of strength, and I could not lose here, not with my pride intact.

“HHHHAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!” I shouted out loud and filled my hands with even more energy, pushing it to my max limit.

Asgorath’s jaw was pushed up slightly, the distance between them increasing. I was winning, I was stronger.

But at this moment, I saw something which made me curse out loud with fear.

That mf Asgorath… He was charging a dragon breath, right when I was stuck in his mouth, and he was giving this breath his all, it was a conceptual level true form enhanced overdrive breath, which, if unleashed, would hit me point blank.

‘…’

For the first time, my brain went completely blank, I mean, what can I even do now?

If I survive, I could wish to go back to peak health, but that’s a big if…

I don’t think I can survive this attack point blank.

Think Daniel think…

No… I will not die… He will die today, I… I will win.

My eyes started glowing, since my hands were busy, I focused with my sight.

Concept- Super condensed- Antimatter ball.

I created a super condensed ball of antimatter right in front of the charging dragon breath, as it would be unleashed, the first thing it would hit would be that antimatter ball, and explode.

Concept- Anti-Space – Teleportation.

And I vanished from my spot, teleported away, Asgorath’s jaws clenched suddenly, unleashing yet another shockwave, moment before his dragon breath was unleashed.

Now, inside his closed mouth, was a ball of super condensed antimatter, and a charging dragon breath.

I appeared beside Asgorath, bracing myself for the upcoming impact, my first time teleporting had me confused, I could only manage a few kilometers of distance.

BBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!

Then, with a ferocity that seemed to shake the entire universe, an explosion went off, inside Asgorath’s mouth, popping it open, like a burst balloon.

Sadly, I too was inside the explosion range.

But, one thing was sure, Asgorath was done for, and I, had won.

Chapter-11

True form, a legendary state of being, something which anyone could theoretically accomplish.

It was a weird phenomenon, since even a F-rank could theoretically achieve ‘True form’ and once they do, they could even beat the best of E ranked beings.

But it was rare, very rare…

In the entirety of humanity, there were only five beings who could activate true form… meaning, it was even rare than becoming a god…

Now, the thing is… I am not one of those five who has attained it…

And my opponent, Asgorath has activated it…

Sure, he looks battered from the last onslaught, maybe he was in his last stand… but still, the aura he was radiating right now…

Was downright terrifying…

While fighting, the two of us had long crossed the void zone, and were in the Dragon ruled regions, meaning, whatever damage we do here, would directly hurt Asgorath.

But did he care? Apparently not.

‘okk… time to focus… I can’t get lax.’ I took a deep breath, and once again prepared myself to the best I could.

I was outmatched, heavily so… Because I was a bit weaker than even base form Asgorath, now he was in a whole other league.

Concept- Anti-life beam.

I pointed my hand at him, and unleashed a beam of Anti-life, intending to end his life.

Conceptual powers were the only thing I could think of which could somewhat counter his true form, I mean, at least, that was the best shot I had.

‘Hmmm?’

Strange… something’s wrong…

I looked at my hand, or at least where the hand was supposed to be, but there was nothing, I mean, my hand had vanished…

‘Shit…’ I don’t know how he did it, but my hand’s gone, and it isn’t healing.

My adaptive evolution tried to heal me, but for some reason, it was incapable of doing so.

It was as if my hand didn’t exist in the first place.

[Wish: Heal me, regrow my hand.]

And my hand reappeared.

But the question still existed, how did he just do that? I mean, sure, my adaptive powers are already working against neutralizing that, but it was scary, what if instead of my hand, my head disappeared?

Raging Dragon God: Domination

A scary growling voice appeared… it was Asgorath’s.

His body suddenly started to emit destructive energy all over, and everything around us was attacked by that power.

Then, with a flap of his wings, he dove towards me at a speed which would make light feel as slow as a snail.

‘Crap’ Too fast, I can’t dodge that.

But, with my senses far improved, I wasn’t all out of options, I also gathered my energy, and shielded my body with my hands, trying to improve my defence to the utmost possible level.

And before I was even completely done, his attack struck me, the defence which I was sure could withstand practically anything, crumbled.

My body, which had healed just a few moments ago, was riddled with holes once again.

Being a god, I was certain that with enough time passing, even wounds like this could heal on its own, that’s how other gods fought, but life and death battles often kept them grounded for years.

That was the reason lord level beings did not prefer fighting each other much, all of them are very strong, and all of them are hard to kill, therefore unless one had reached a whole other level, like Asgorath and Tiamat, they would prefer just to aura farm, and let enemies retreat by scaring them.

And if I come out of this battle, which I know, I would, due to my wish, I sure as hell would do the same.

All those shounen manga colluded my mind, fighting freaks my ass, those guys are just masochists in disguise.

[Wish: heal]

And I was healed, but almost instantly, I was blasted off again.

[Wish: heal]

And again, and again… I had to heal myself twelve times continuously.

I was beyond pissed, and scared too…

“THAT’S IT!!! YOU BASTARD! ARGHHHH!!!” I shouted out loud gathering antimatter and energy preparing for counterattack.

But a red beam of light covered me once again leaving me wrecked all over once again.

I gritted my teeth… I knew I had to do something, I was being passively beaten.

Rage was bubbling inside of me, but I had no clue what to do next.

It was at that moment, that it all went silent, as if time had stopped, or maybe it was in slow motion, I don’t know for sure, but something had changed, kind of like a state of enlightenment or something.

I could feel the massive energy reserves within my body, the adaptive evolution trying to evolve and adapt my body to everything at all moments struggling to keep up with the damage I was taking.

The wish waiting for my commands to fulfil as it drew energy from within my dimension.

And finally, antimatter, the power bubbling, as if seething in rage, waiting for me to unleash.

I focused my mind on that antimatter, and it was as if I entered an orb of antimatter which existed within me, of course, it was all metaphorical, there was no orb of antimatter within me.

But you get the feeling, what I am saying, right?

As I entered that orb, it felt as if it had been absorbed into my very Will, my soul, then, one by one, other orbs of light symbolizing my other abilities entered by ‘soul’ as well.

It was as if the moment lasted forever.

But that moment of peace was eventually broken, by a strange sense of… harmony? Or balance, whatever you want to say, and a sound of chains breaking, which, once again, was metaphorical.

But, I had this feeling that I had evolved beyond my previous self.

You know when you see all those anime, and in them the protagonist always has a fight with the villain, and he’s often beaten up at first, but then he breaks through, and he beats the ass of the villain.

I know, kinda cliché, but I was experiencing something similar I presume, sure, I hadn’t beaten Asgorath’s ass yet, but I was 99.69% certain that what I just unlocked, in the midst of my battle, was my true form.

And in this state, it felt as if all my limits had been broken through, as if I had no limits at all.

I mean, how could I even lose now? Sure, he also has true form…

But come on, my true form must be better than his, right? My powers are much cooler, and with how destructive anti-matter is…

In my true form, I think I can erase Asgorath from existence itself.

Alright, time for comeback.

And I opened my eyes, which were glowing now, a dense cosmic purple aura covered my body.

And twelve super condensed orbs of conceptual anti-matter floated behind me, like truth seeking orbs in Naruto.

The unending energy within me waiting to be unleashed.

But suddenly, a dense rotating red black ball of energy, much larger than my body, struck me, pushing me off, destroying all my aura.

After levelling up, the first thing I did wasn’t Aura farm, instead I got beat up once more, and the manner of it was just pure disgraceful,

Like both my arms and legs are spread wide, hugging the energy ball, as it rotated rubbing me like sand paper, and I am being pushed off, the orbs of anti-matter just hovering behind me unsure of what to do next...

chapter 10

The dragons were considered the strongest species, and it was not without reason.

They were literally built like fortresses, massive in size, strongest defence, very high attack power, massive energy reserves. They had it all.

Truthfully, if there was one factor I surpassed the Dragon King in front of me, then it would be in my destructive power.

Oh, and also intelligence.

Dragons were not like animals, but they weren’t much better, I mean, they sure had a good brain, but like the devils who were affected by their sins, so were the dragons.

They had a brain, but were far too conceited to use it.

“When I saw someone challenging me, I thought it would be interesting, but it’s just a kid who is being fearless because he doesn’t know anything.” A loud grumbling voice came from the dragon.

How was sound being transmitted in space? Again, we covered our sound with energy, which could travel in space, don’t ask me how it worked, because I don’t know. It just did.

“Oh, then you are in for a surprise, you might have not faced any strong opponents in the past, but I am the strongest God of humans…” I replied with a voice devoid of any emotions, trying to act as tough as I could.

“Strongest god of humans? You think that title means something? The strongest amongst a bunch of weaklings… is still a weakling.” Asgorath chuckled with obvious mirth in his voice… this bastard.

“Well, it seems we should start fighting already, it feels disgusting to talk with a fucking Lizard, and with how ugly you are, I have to do double the effort by holding back not puking.” I chuckled back at him, does this lizard think only he can trash talk.

And Asgorath indeed went silent after that, instead, he opened his mouth and released a red beam of light at me.

His attack was powerful… very powerful, this was just a casual attack from him, and it had already surpassed what all the other gods could do when they tried their best.

But, not me. For me, attacks like this aren’t worth worrying about.

I raised hand and created a huge ball of antimatter, there was no concept or anything added to it, and just threw it at the upcoming beam.

An explosion of energy covered the entire region, and the planet of Themisia… when its surface was already cooked…

It seems I have to push him back…

Without giving him any time, I created dozens of orbs of Antimatter, and hurled them towards him at the highest speed I could.

But he saw them coming, and his defence was ready, dense energy covered his scales, boosting his defences to a whole other level.

But would it save him?

Not completely at the very least. The destruction type of antimatter was not something that be defended against just by being tough.

But still, he did, sure he was left with dozens of chunks of flesh gone, but there were no holes, or heck, how did he even have his body left…

The beast way to fight my antimatter is to dodge it, never letting you get hit, because once you are hit, it’s time for funeral.

But, that attack, which would have wrecked apart a planet, he just tanked it…

And now, by the time I am thinking, mf’s already healed from whatever damage he took…

“Strongest god of humans huh, it seems your reputation is not all false, among that group of weak insects… You are indeed the strongest, capable of injuring me…

But only your attack power is good, especially that ability of yours, that is the only good thing about you.

Still, I must say, you have entertained me, not many beings can hurt me, and a damage of this scale, only Tiamat has done that.

Very well, time for you to die.” Asgorath said seriously, though he laughed a bit at the last part.

Anger flared me at his words, is this guy serious? He is the one losing up until now, how dare he act like he’s winning?

But my thoughts were broken, because a tail appeared in front of me, whacking me with such power that all the bones in my body felt as if they were crushed into powder…

Because they were.

I was shot at a horrendous pace right towards the star of this system, making an impact so massive the star almost exploded, and I was stuck right in the centre of the star.

Extreme heat burned my body, unimaginable pain, more than I ever have, hoped or expected that I would experience.

But I was not dead… My adaptive evolution went into an overdrive, healing my body, and making me resistant from the heat.

My body felt much stronger, the previous blow which crushed all my bones, now wouldn’t hurt me, and the approximate heat of around twenty million degrees Celsius… I could withstand it now.

[Wish: Give me the ability to control my pain level…]

That was the only option, I couldn’t handle pain, I just realized, and the level of pain I just had to go through, I am thankful that I did not lose my sanity…

I could not even scream…

Asgorath… I will kill him… if that’s the last thing I do.

“Arghhhhhhhh!!!!” I screamed out loud and covered my entire body with energy.

And flew outwards, arriving in front of Asgorath once again.

But this time, I had learned from my mistake, and I was ready, I had flooded my body with tremendous levels of energy, boosting all my abilities, my senses were now at a hyperactive state, to ensure that he did not blitz me again.

Though, the last evolution had also enhanced my senses.

“Oh, you are still up for fighting, impressive.” The dragon chuckled.

Fuck you.

And how do I beat him?

Simple, I have more energy than all the other lord ranked beings combined, over four thousand times that of other EX ranked beings stored in my Energy dimension.

It was time to use it all.

“ARGHHHH!!!!” I shouted out loud and created several balls of antimatter the size of planets.

[Wish: all my attacks land on him.]

And I unleashed them, together, striking him again and again.

Sure, he was strong, and sure he had great defences, in one on one, he was probably the strongest.

But can he compete me in firepower? No. He cannot.

Therefore, I will destroy him until there’s nothing left of him.

To the point where even his healing stops, till there’s not a single atom left on that wretched body of his.

This was the strongest attack I had ever unleashed, hundreds of planet sized antimatter balls, all attacking him.

Almost the entirety of Void zone was destroyed except for Themisia and its sun which were behind me.

Even thousands of stars in the dragon ruled region beyond the void zone were destroyed.

Should have killed quite a few dragons, but hey, they were all Asgorath’s subordinates.

But just when I was about to relax, I saw something which made my blood run cold…

It was Asgorath…

Still alive… and he was literally glowing with red and black colours…

No need to guess, this was his true form, he was going all out now…

chapter 36

Was Hashirama strong because he was made of Hashirama cells, or was Hashirama cells strong because they were inside Hashirama?

This question has plagued the scientists of the shinobi world for decades, with no definitive answer.

But looking at the wiggling mass of cells in front of me, the only thing I could say is that, ‘No matter how many times I see it, this thing creepy as fuck.’

Staying in this strange ‘activated’ state, even after Hashirama passing away, this was used as a reference for me to create cell activators, which made my research possible.

“Let’s begin the final test. Tsuna-chan, on count of three, administer the cell activator.” I commanded my only subordinate here, a very lovely medic, Tsunade Senju, sadly, she already had someone she loved, and was married, but thankfully, that man was me.

“On it. Boss!” She saluted back.

Cute.

“1… 2… and 3, now, do it.” I shouted, and Tsunade pressed the button.

The captured Grass shinobi inside the experiment pod started to shiver furiously, but at that moment, I pressed the button in front of me.

The test subject had needles pierced all over his body, and on my button, clear green shiny fluid began entering his body slowly.

Then, nothing strange happened.

A few moments later, the tank containing natural energy fluid was empty.

The time to administer the cell stabilizer was here.

And with a push of the button, the stabilizer was administered.

“Well, time to check his condition.” I said to Tsunade, who nodded in approval.

We took some samples from the test subject and started examining it.

And the results were surprising to say the least, I just looked at the results and exclaimed

“Holy shit… in terms of just physical resilience and strength, there’s about 500% boost, and he wasn’t strong enough to utilize the natural energy to its max…

Theoretically, with a Kage level being, we could push these numbers up to 1000%...

This almost completely renders physical training useless. God I hate physical training.” Hehe, finally, take that, you shitty taijutsu fanatics.

Humph, no matter how much you train, can you increase your body’s healing power? Natural resilience? No, but I can do that.

“Sure, physical boost is great, but what about this 700% chakra boost? This is going to drive almost any shinobi crazy…” Tsunade muttered loudly.

“Hehe, when I take the position of the Hokage, I am going to create a division like the anbu, meant to be a last line of defence for the village, and they are all going to be enhanced with this process.

I think this natural energy enhancement can push chunin to elite jonin, jonin to kage, and ordinary kage levels to the peak of Kage level.” I chuckled out sinisterly.

“Maybe before doing that, ask them for their consent, and plant loyalty mechanisms on them.” And that’s my Tsunade, sure, being with me has corrupted her a bit, but that’s just way hotter, right?

“Good plan. Now let’s wake him up, and test his actual battle capacity.” I said excitedly, and transported the subject to a training room, and activated all the seals around.

Yes, at this point, I was basically just playing around with seals.

Now, time to wake him up.

Tsunade was in the viewing room which I had set up, all set in complete gears, her purpose was to record and compare his data with his previous self.

“Wakey wakey, umm… what was his name again?” Maybe I forgot to ask for his name…

Anyways, what’s important is not his name, but his strength.

So, after some efforts, he finally managed to wake up, despite being a bit groggy.

But, after all the care and enhancements I gave him, he did not seem to be appreciative in the least…

“You… you demon, what did you do to me?” he asked with a shaky voice.

“Clearly, I helped you, check your body, and you would realize that you have reached a level which was impossible for the previous you to reach.

You have reached a level of strength where the world has to take you seriously.” The easiest way to make him attack was to just inflate his ego, and make him conceited enough to attack me.

He began checking his body and chakra and shock filled his face, because he clearly felt his own strength, it was leagues better than what it was before.

A grin appeared on his face, then he looked at me, “You don’t seem very smart for all the ridiculous stuff you can do… After making me this strong, you appear here in front of me…”

He did not continue, but charged at me at full speed, trying to impale me with a kunai.

But seriously, he was just an elite jonin at best, and that was also because of his enhanced body and chakra, which he had not completely adjusted to.

His skills were clearly lacking.

So, I just swatted him away, then charged at him intending to attack him and check his details myself.

I did not use any ninjutsu, just took a sword, and used chakra enhancement of the body and the sword.

‘His reaction speed is also higher…’ This was what excited me the most, sure chakra enhancement could boost my reaction speed.

But, as I said before, chakra enhancement works like a multiplier, the higher the base, the greater the effect.

For someone like me who has mastered the flying thunder god, a reaction speed enhancement is a major fighting power boost.

And if this can actually multiply my chakra 10 times over, I will be competing with the likes of Hashirama and Madara.

Though, there is also another factor at play here, because, the result of the enhancement will exactly be dependent on the affinity of the shinobi with nature chakra.

Therefore, someone like me, or people from the senju clan, who have high natural affinity, will have the greatest benefit from this nature chakra enhancement.

“Alright, the results have been recorded, and sadly for you, your purpose is fulfilled.” I said, as I cast an illusion, freezing him abruptly.

With a simple swipe of the sword, he turned into the nearly headless Nick of the shinobi world.

“Everything has been recorded, right? There are absolutely no side effects, if anything, he’s a lot healthier than he was previously.” I said, assessing the entire situation.

“Alright, so our experiment is finally a complete success, correct? Then I am the one getting the enhancement first!! Hehe, I have had enough of you being stronger than me! We will have a fight after I am done with the enhancement.” Tsunade said excitedly.

“Now now, don’t get that excited, you are not gonna be my match even if you are enhanced by nature energy, I can use sage mode, remember?” I chuckled at her words, does she really think that this would be enough to defeat me?

Even after the enhancement, Tsunade would only be somewhere near the peak of Kage level.

“Ughh, fine, But we are still fighting, I want to make sure.” She grumbled.

“Alright… Get ready then, into the pod, now.” I sighed, and ordered.

Luck, Life & Destruction

please answer this poll for my original story.

chapter 9

The invitation of Elves was tempting, very tempting, but I knew that I couldn’t appear too eager for it.

To act nonchalant was necessary.

I need to think of something, quickly…

“Sure, I would be happy to accompany you to Alfheim, but I was planning to go see the tree of light at Themisia, in the void zone.

So, I would come to Alfheim after I am done travelling there.

If you wish to, you can accompany me there.”

Themisia was a planet which used to belong to the elves long ago, but there was a war with the Dragons, and Asgorath himself led the dragons, forcing the elves to flee.

The tree of Life was considered one of the greatest treasures of Elvenkind, losing it was distressful for them.

But Asgorath was dreadful, he was one of the strongest Lord ranked beings, but what made him worse was that he couldn’t be reasoned with.

Now, the entire region had turned into a void zone, a no rule land, because the elves didn’t dare set up a civilization there again now that the region was under the threat of attack by Asgorath.

But that did not mean that the planet could not be visited. After all, Asgorath did not live there.

“My lord, Themisia could be dangerous to visit… it is under constant threat from the Evil Dragon King, Asgorath…” Aewyn said, trying to convince me.

“No need to worry, there’s a reason I am called the strongest god of Humans, and what are the chances of even meeting Asgorath there?

He lives far away deep within the dragon infested parts of the Universe.” I chuckled out in reply, I mean, just because Asgorath attacked it once, thinking that he would attack anyone who steps there is idiotic.

Besides, tourism to Themisia is not that rare, especially amongst Elven nobility.

“If you say so, my lord… I would love to accompany you there.” And she agreed.

Truth is, this was an idea I came up randomly just now, I don’t even know much about the tree of light, so Aewyn coming with me was actually helpful.

Anyways, just a quick tour doesn’t hurt, does it?

Besides, about the threat of Asgorath, please, like that’s gonna happen with my luck.

-A few days later-

“The Dragon King is here!! Run everyone, hurry, prepare the spaceships, he is coming towards Themisia!!” A scavenging pirate shouted hysterically in panic.

‘What the fuck!! What about me being lucky? Why the fuck is Asgorath here!!’ I thought severely panicked, how big of a flag did I raise which negated my fucking Luck?!!!

I looked at Aewyn and the rest of the elves, with a smile which was rather just my mouth twitching.

“M...my lord… we we should hurry, and take the spaceship, if Asgorath reaches here, I don’t think we can fight him…” Aewyn said, slight tears in her eyes.

Even the cool elf was scared, as for the foolish elf…

“WAAAAAA WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!!”

Let’s ignore her…

Now I feel bad… I mean, I brought them here, to the tree of light, and Asgorath attacked…

I mean, I think I would survive, but I am not sure about them, if Asgorath reaches the planet, then I am sure the elves with me are done for, in a clash between lords, any lower ranked can’t survive.

And Asgorath was about to reach the planet of Themisia…

Now, I had three options,

1.    Wait here, and when Asgorath arrives, try to negotiate.

2.    Take the spaceship along with the elves and run away.

3.    Go to space, and duke it out with the dragon king, defeating him.

Now, the first option was discarded, because Asgorath can’t be reasoned with, and once he arrives on the planet, the elves are certainly done for, only I may survive.

Second option… was a disgrace, the chances of survival was still not very high, and it would take a severe hit on my pride… I am the strongest god, how can I run away in fear…

The third option, very risky, borderline crazy, which no one would recommend doing…

But I don’t understand why, that is exactly what I feel like doing…

To ensure that Asgorath never reaches this planet, to ensure the safety of these elves whom I myself have brought to danger…

And most importantly, to save my own pride… because, if I fail, and let these elves die here, and I run away disgracefully… I would never be able to look at myself the same…

I don’t care much about other people’s views, but if I do that, I would disgust myself…

[Wish: I want to know that if I do fight today, would I end up dead or crippled?]

{Under normal circumstances, No. May change depending upon your decisions.}

I see… not enough assurity…

But I can make do with that…

“Ladies, no need to worry… you won’t be harm until I am alive. Stand together, I am setting up a barrier to protect you.” I turned towards the elves and commanded them.

[Wish: Create a barrier powerful enough to ensure that the elves survive the shockwaves of the upcoming fight.]

And a purple barrier covered them all, the barrier was powerful… enough to indicate the fight which was about to happen.

I let out a sigh, clenching my fists.

Controlled my slight shivering to stop… I was scared, really scared, but I need to fight…

I regret coming here, heck I even regret leaving my home, but can I back down and run away? No I cannot.

For my first ‘actual’ fight… I had expected it to be a good one, but to straight up face the dragon termed as the Apocalypse Dragons, the destroyer of worlds, The king of Dragons…

If I were not scared, it would be strange.

Battles were not scary, rather, all major species welcomed battle, because if you fight a deadly fight, and come out alive, you would certainly become stronger.

This was not a game world, so there was no concept of exp or something, but fighting triggered evolution of abilities, to break past your limits, reaching heights which were impossible before.

My thoughts were broken as a mighty roar, which seemed to shake the very world roared, accompanied by a horrendous aura, descending upon everyone.

The aura was unimaginably strong… easily the strongest being I had ever seen…

None of the gods of Humanity could even come close to this being in front of me…

It was at this moment, I finally came to understand why the dragons, despite having only two Lord ranked beings, were considered the strongest…

All six gods of humanity could jump Asgorath, and they still won’t be able to win.

This descent of Aura, in dragon language, this was a challenge, a tradition dragons did whenever they arrived at some place, it’s purpose was not to knock out weaklings…

Nope, the reason it descended was akin to a question, if there is anyone who dares to challenge the Dragon, if they do, respond by releasing back your aura, then we duel.

All the scavenger pirates who were on this world were already unconscious or dead, their condition unknown, the elves were saved due to my barrier, but they could still sense outside situation, and their horrified expression told me everything I needed to know.

I clenched my fist, and steeled myself.

I will not back down.

And, I will win.

I roared out loud, shouting the loudest I could, releasing all my aura, pushing back the dragon’s.

It was stalemate, one I had achieved by borrowing some energy from my energy dimension.

Soon the auras vanished, and the challenge was initiated, it was time to fight.

I then proceeded to cover myself up with my energy, and fly at an unimaginable speed, crossing the atmospheric layers of the planet, and entering space.

Flying wasn’t a big deal amongst humans, anyone decently strong could cover themselves up with energy and fly, even B-ranked people could do that, though the speed varied.

My speed my even above that of light in a straight path, soon, I reached in front of him, the king of Dragons Asgorath.

That massive creature, his eyes locking onto me.

But I wouldn’t falter, I stared back into his eyes.

Today, I would face the greatest challenge I have ever faced both my lives combined.

chapter-8

Do you know what’s the best part about Human politics?

The allies they have made.

Whether it’s the Elves, the Faeries, Elementals or spirits, they are all full with beauties.

I can see the vision of my fellow gods here, very carefully thought off.

My journey throughout the cosmos was going to cover many regions, so I decided to visit outside human ruled regions first, then come back to human empire.

And for my first destination, it’s a planet called Yenubis, where the race of yenirs, a minor race, who were very unfortunate, because, the Elves found them, and then, unsurprisingly, they lost a few rights.

Do not let your perception from stories shape your perspective of elves, sure they looked just around the same, and had magic too, but this did not mean that they were all just gentle, peace loving people.

Nope, Elves were considered fierce combatants throughout the universe, sure they did not have various abilities like humans, but they had magic, and they elves had made sure that they utilized their magic to the fullest.

Elves had the most structured training methods for their races, and each of their warriors was trained systematically.

Add to that the fact that unlike humans, most Elves were long living, with even the weakest capable of living for millenniums, they had training camps which lasted for centuries.

It was often said when fighting in close combat, never try to compete in skill with an elf.

And they had quite unique tech of their own, combining magic and technology, which ensured that despite their population being much lower than that of humans, they were not that far behind in strength.

Of course, that did not mean that they were individually the strongest warriors, because that position was held by the Dragon race, since they had the lowest population, but even the weakest of Dragons were C rank in human terms.

‘Well, this planet sure is beautiful…’ my first thought looking at this planet, the planet was rich in bioluminescence and the Yenirs, despite having a green tint, were generally good looking.

‘They are actually quite similar to the elves… actually, they are more elves than elves themselves…’

Yenirs were a strange race… at birth, they bound themselves to a specific tree, and until the tree lived, they would too.

Which means, if you cut that tree, you kill that Yenir too.

Due to this reason, the Yenirs could never develop technologically, because every Yenir was just too busy attending their tree, and no one could leave their tree in another’s care, since it basically means handing their own lives.

And, they can also never leave their planet, since they would need to do expeditions outside leaving behind their tree, and would first have to grow those trees in the foreign world so that children could be born.

Well, at least the trees species with which they connect their life to looks good.

But truly, a race with so many nerfs, they were practically there just to be enslaved…

“Lord Daniel, I am sorry we are late, your arrival was far too sudden!” It was a blonde elf, a beauty, but she seemed rather clumsy…

And, should you really address me like that? I mean, I am quite literally equal in rank to your ‘Guardians’…

“Oh, no need to worry about that, I was just sightseeing.” I chuckled back, a clumsy elf did somewhat break my expectation of cool and gentle elf beauties, but hey, she was still very cute.

“Ah, Thank you. I received orders from the guardians themselves to keep you company, you may ask me anything you want, and use my body however you wish!”

Okay, this elf was strange.

“Umm, did the Guardians order just you?” I asked, genuinely just to know what reason could the guardians have to send this foolish elf to greet me.

“No no, don’t worry, more elves are coming, you can use their bodies as you wish to as well, I was the closest to your location, and this region is under my family’s jurisdiction, that’s why I am here first!”

“…”

Alright, I need to stay away from this crazy girl, or my entire perception of elves would be ruined…

The reason I had come here first was that somewhere in the back of my mind, I had a little bit of elf fetish, but seeing her… I don’t know now…

Thankfully, it was at this moment that four more elves arrived.

“Alysia, please remain quiet. Lord Daniel, I apologize for any misunderstanding Alysia might have caused, she tends to get nervous very easily.” A silver haired woman, who was very very beautiful, and fit into my vision of elves perfectly spoke.

“Oh, so your name must be Alysia, and don’t worry about it. Anyways, this planet is beautiful, tell me about it.” I waved my hand, clearly, the foolish elf memories had been re written by an actual elf’s visage.

“Of course, Lord Daniel, I am Aewyn, student of queen Virgilis, one of the elven guardians.

As for this planet, it is one of the many colonial planets of us elves, it’s called Yenubis, and those people are the Yenirs, they are a weak and backward race, almost no mystical powers to boot either.

They have their lives connected to Sepira trees, which they bond with at birth, and the one with the largest tree becomes the ruler.

But, even the strongest of them is barely as strong as a well-trained soldier, in human terms, that’s around D-level.”

Hmm, it seems living on Earth, the holy bastion of Humanity had skewered my viewpoint quite a bit, it was at this moment I realized that what I was seeing on earth, the many strong and high ranked people there, were the accumulation of elites from across thousands of worlds.

Most races out there were actually like this one, especially those that had not left their home planets…

I had heard of an exception to that, a world of trolls which had a bunch of S-ranked beings, no EX-ranked beings though, still, they were just that, an exception.

“I see, they are indeed far too weak…” I commented

“Indeed, this world is only good to be used as a tourist spot, since the Yenirs are too weak to act as soldiers.

And this world has no resource that important which is enough to ensure that we destroy the nature here for it.

If there is one redeeming factor about Yenirs, then it would be the fact that,

When they fight, and are injured, they can draw vitality from their Sepira tree, meaning, as long as the tree is protected, they can continue fighting for a long time.” Aewyn spoke her thoughts about the subject.

“By the way, Lord Daniel, the Guardians have cordially invited you to visit Alfheim, the home world of us elves. Would you be interested in coming?” She asked with a smile.

Something seems fishy…

[Wish: I want to know why they are inviting me to their home world.]

{The purpose of them calling you to their home world is to try their chance at you falling in love with some elf girl, you are considered to be the strongest god amongst human, but are just a kid, therefore if they somehow manage to place a beautiful elf beside you,

Then you will have a favourable view of the elves, and when in dire need, they could also extract information from the woman, considering that she will be close to you, the next military leader of humans.}

‘Hmm, but I already have a favourable impression of elves… And the god council really isn’t as involved in human affairs as guardians are to the elves…

Another point is that I can just choose not to reveal anything of importance to her…

I think I can manage a spy if I know that she is a spy.’

It seems the decision is easy, and it will make us both happy, I will just choose the most beautiful elf that I find and take her with me.

Of course, this is all just to ensure that the relation between our two races gets even better, no other reason really…