Beta read by Shigiya
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-Grigori Headquarters, Underworld-
The Underworld, as previously mentioned, was about the same size as the Earth, but it had a vastly larger amount of landmass. Of course, that was the generally agreed-upon term. Many suggested the underworld to have another layer within it for the other gods from different pantheons.
This dimension's large landmass was due to there being no oceans separating the continents, instead, there were many lakes and some seas scattered around the underworld like a planet-sized spider web.
With its large surface area, not all territories were ruled by the Devils but instead other species like the Fallen as well.
After his banishment from the heavens by his father, Azazel had taken it upon himself to build a home for his future brothers and sisters who joined his side and cause.
Upon the free lands in the underworld that remained barren with no powers ruling over it, they've created resorts for allied species who worked alongside them and their new home.
Soon their numbers increased with the birth of half-fallens and other pantheon denizens who joined their ranks.
From all of this, his once small tag team group grew up into a behemoth, even successfully establishing itself as the third faction, the Grigori.
Azazel always felt proud whenever he flew over his territory and marveled at how far they had come.
Of course that all changed with the Great War. To say that it was a difficult battle would be an understatement.
It was a complete massacre on every side.
His once proud nation, populated by millions of his fallen brethren had now shrunken down to the size of a few hundred of thousand, which to this day, continued to diminish at a slow and constant rate.
He despised the war but he knew that it was unavoidable in some cases.
If he hadn't participated in the last one then their numbers would have now been in the few hundreds, if not extinct.
They did not suffer like the devils who had lost their leaders in the final battle and whose numbers had gone down to a few thousand. But they were lucky to have someone like Ajuka Beelzebub to increase their number back up.
They already surpassed both the fallen and angel numbers combined. What was worse was that his species could only rely on existing angels to fall to increase their population.
He had made plans to study the evil pieces. And he could only do that when both their factions were on friendly terms.
Proposing a peace treaty between the 3 major factions was easier said than done. Both Michael and the four current Satans were not opposed to his proposition. But that couldn't be said for everyone else.
Kokabiel was heavily against this idea, to the point of almost rebelling against him, some of the Vatican's high-ranking members were opposed on the angel's side and a majority of the noble clans of the devil's as well.
Many believe for things to be perfect as it is. They did not want to change it after everything that happened during the war.
"But this is only temporary and incredibly fragile," Azazel said to himself. "Look at me getting all philosophical all of a sudden. Hahaha, it is what it is, and all I can do right is ensure everything goes smoothly."
He flew over to the main Grigori compound, his twelve wings proudly stretched behind his back, signifying his strength as a seraph, a being on par against Satan-level opponents. Though he still fell short with the likes of Sirzechs and Ajuka, those two were monsters even among devils.
"Now where to find Baraquiel..." Wondered Azazel as he flew from the main building to the training area. "Probably over there with Vali, beating the devil out of him."
As was about to leave the area, he crossed paths with a patrol group that he recognized. "Oh, if it isn't little Raynare and her cronies!"
Across him was a group of 4 fallen angels performing their routine patrol. The leader, Raynare was clad in black, strap-like objects—resembling leather—around and under her breasts, a thong-like piece held around her hips by three thin straps, gloves that ran right up her arms with small lengths of chains hanging from them, shoulder guard-like objects on her shoulders with three large spikes sprouting from her right shoulder, and black thigh-high heel boots.
She was an incredibly attractive lady who had long black hair and shared the common feature of all fallen, violet eyes
"A-Azazel-sama!" She grew flustered at seeing him, her previous arrogant and mature look doing a 180 and becoming docile and shy. 'She couldn't be more obvious.'
"How is the patrol going? Heard you are doing a good job. Keep this up and I might send you on a personal mission on my behalf." He motivated her on her task. Might as well use her attraction to him to his advantage and use it to make her work harder and grow in strength.
He wouldn't use it for nefarious reasons, but this would benefit her in the future.
"O-Of course, Azazel-sama! I'll do my best!" She exclaimed excitedly.
She looked both adorable and incredibly sexy when she puffed out her chest, making the leather straps dig in deeper into her breast. 'I wonder if those two strands of clothing hold on.' He always appreciated a wonderful view when given the opportunity.
'But they still pale in comparison to Gabrielle.' She was the epitome of every kind of beauty known to women. God, he wished he could grope those breasts once in his life, without having Micheal chop his head off.
Oh right, most fallen were generally sexually attractive whether they wanted to or not.
"Hahaha, that's wonderful, do me proud and continue with your duties now."
"I...I thank you for the encouraging words l, Azazel-sama!" With that said, Azazel gestured to them to continue with their work and continued his search.
"Now where was I?"
Grigori Headquarters, Underworld, Training area
The Grigori training area was divided up into 6 areas.
Each area held a different biome, some were mountainous, and others had a forest and even a plain desert.
In the Mountainous training area, large quakes could be felt throughout the area. With cracks splitting the ground into pieces.
The sky of the underworld was covered in black clouds expanding for kilometers on end. Thunder boomed, each of its sounds reverberating in the air, shaking the ground itself.
In the distance two figures could be seen battling each other, their might and strength reaching the realm of godhood.
One of these figures was a middle-aged looking man, sporting a beard and a stern face. Behind his back, twelve wings were put on display. A Seraph-level being, similar to himself and Shemhazai.
He was none other than the Lightning of God, a former Cadre level angel and now the vice governor-general of the Grigori.
Baraquiel.
[Lightning Spear]
He used his trademark lightning powers to form a spear and launch it at Mach speed towards his opponent.
The spear was larger than himself and radiated power, containing enough destructive capabilities to turn an entire building to dust.
As it tore through the air, its momentum and power suddenly decreased in half.
[Divide]
[Divide]
[Divide]
His opponent, this era's current White Dragon Emperor, intercepted the attack and reduced its threat with his Sacred Gear.
Mechanical wings blazing in blue light, he dashed forward, obliterating the spear from existence with a punch!
The shockwave from the impact dispersed the air but the ominous black clouds remained.
But he could not react fast enough for Barachiel, now clad in lightning-like armor, to reach his side and side kick him on the side waist, where his defense was the lowest.
"Argh!" He released a grunt of pain before hurling down the ground at breakneck speed, forming a crater ten times his size. "Albion, analysis."
His Light Wings flashed, followed by Albion's voice. 'A few torn muscles, broken collarbone and a bruised kidney. Nothing you can't recover from.' Albion reported, not sounding the least bit afraid or concerned from the fight.
"Hahaha, now this is what I call a fight! I can't help but wonder how much more brutal it will be against Red!" Vali shouted joyfully out loud and coughed up some blood in the process.
'I might have forgotten to tell you that your lungs were damaged as well.' answered Albion, that overgrown lizard was making fun of him.
Vali took a few breaths of air and looked up at where his opponent was.
Baraquiel was not done yet, for he had another attack prepared for him.
[Lightning Spears Volleys]
This time, hundreds of spears started raining down from the black clouds, each spear larger than him and carrying an equal amount of devastating force.
The sky became illuminated with all the white light.
Vali quickly stood up, calling back his [Light Wings] and rocketing up to the sky forming a deeper crater.
He summoned every ounce of his stamina, devil powers and natural magical power to perform one of his currently strongest abilities.
[Half-Dimension!]
Reality itself started to bend at his fingertips.
The kilometer-wide sea of black clouds grew smaller and smaller. The same happened with the many [Lightning Spears].
But it could not successfully stop the attack, merely reducing its power.
A machine gun like noise came from the impact, generating a sea of dust and debris with Vali taking the brunt of what was left. "RaaaaaAAAAAGGGHH!" He screamed and pushed his armor to its absolute limit.
His [Balance Breaker] armor started suffering from cracks and dents but it didn't shatter under the unending barrage of spears. "That's all you got!?" Challenged Vali.
Despite the bravado and confidence, he showed on the outside, he knew on the inside that he couldn't win. The man hadn't even used his [Holy Lightning] yet he still gave him a rough time.
'Do not grow intimidated by his prowess, Vali. With the speed at which you are improving, a year will prove enough to stand against this man on equal footing.'
A year, huh? Still too slow. He needed power, a lot more power if he ever hoped to achieve his dream.
Baraquiel creased his brows a bit and readied himself for launching another attack.
"..."
Clap!*
"..!"
"I believed that this had gone off for long enough. Please don't kill the kid." A voice interrupted their duel, completely ruining the mood and shattering the tension between them.
"Azazel..." Baraquiel wondered what the man wanted, he was a bit frustrated that he interrupted the beatdown he was giving Vali for his near battle against Akeno and the injuries he dealt with one of her friends. "Do you require something?"
"We need to talk, privately," Azazel mentioned to his side.
Vali, while dissatisfied, could do nothing against his orders. So he remained silent and focused on recovering. Baraquiel did not try to teach him a lesson, so he just gave him a beatdown in the form of a training session. Because he knew what kind of person Vali was.
Persistent and stubborn to the bone.
He was a jerk but by no means evil.
...
Grigori HQ, Azazel's office
The inside of the governor of the fallen faction was not something one might expect from a leader but rather a mad scientist's lab.
Medical pieces of equipment, surgical tools, unfinished inventions, and literally a wall made out of shelves filled with his research books and some sacred gears put on display.
On his desk were his latest project, a mechanical bionic arm, and a strange golden spearhead on the side labeled 'Downfall D'.
'At least he keeps everything tidy' Thought Baraquiel as they both took a seat on the sofas with some alcohol poured for them by one of the robot machines.
"What is this about?" Asked Baraquiel.
"You did not check up on your family. Else you would have known about [Delete Field's] new host.
"My family issues are for me to handle, Azazel." Though he did not show any facial changes, his voice carried a hint of warning. He was warning him to not meddle much. "You don't have to trouble yourself with my issues."
They both went down in a minute-long silence.
"I'm sorry." Said Azazel quietly.
Baraquiel was surprised by the sudden apology, it came out of nowhere. "For what? I do not believe you had any reasons to apologize."
Azazel's gaze was fixed on his clenched fists, eyes flickering in regret and self-hatred. "I am the reason why this all went down. That day I could have handled the issue with foreign matters alongside Penemue and Shemhazai.
"Why go so far, I could have done it myself. Yet in my paranoia and laziness, I proceeded to call you for backup when it was completely unnecessary. If because of my selfish action that your family was attacked, it is because of me that you nearly lost them and I should be held accountable for everyth—"
"That's enough Azazel."
Baraquiel raised his voice at him, cutting him off from finishing his speech. "I do not blame you the least bit, brother."
"The attack happened because of me instead of you. Shuri and Akeno became enemies of their clan because of my existence. They never hid their intentions of getting rid of them one way or another, they always made it apparent." Anger crept inside his voice. "I knew that, yet I still failed to protect them when I promised I would. I am not worthy of them, I am a failure!" He lashed out at himself in self-hatred.
"Then why don't you go meet them?" Azazel asked the main question, again.
"I..."
"I am afraid that they might hate me, reject me. I tried many times to go up to them, yet my body trembles when I think about it. My mind shuts down, anguish and terror fill my mind." Tears formed in his eyes as kept talking. "I do not deserve them!"
He blamed no one but himself.
"I heard from Vali that little Akeno used [Holy Lightning] while protecting Hachiman." This seemed to shock Baraquiel, as his eyes opened wide open. "She used the ability you taught her without any reservations nor prejudice. Doesn't that show you how she didn't reject you? How you still have a place in her heart."
Baraquiel became speechless but hesitation and uncertainty still heavily clouded his judgment.
"Did she really?"
Vali may be a jerk but he isn't a liar, so Azazel was sure of that.
"Yes, she did. Instead of drowning in regret and self-hatred here, go out there and meet your wife and daughter for once." He got up from the sofa not even touching his drink and pocketed the 'Downfall D' labeled spearhead before reaching the main door. "Don't be a coward."
With his piece said Azazel left to manage his other responsibilities. The final decision lay in his brother's hand, not his.
He hoped things would improve from now on.
{Break}
-Kuoh, Hachiman's room-
These last few days have been hectic. I nearly got screwed over twice by some strong jerk and found out some mysterious organization had some grudge against me cause I apparently stole something from them. And worst of all, the would-be anime protagonist's main rival had me on his radar!
Is this 'fuck Hachiman over' week!? I had not even properly started school let alone my club before my ass nearly got fried.
'At least I have Vritra now to help me out.' That was the only positive point. A many thousand-year-old dragon was a major boon no matter what scenario one found themselves in.
'Happy to help out, partner.'
Waking up, I was surprisingly warm and sweaty. Like someone had covered me in blankets while sleeping in a hot room. But I also felt...heav...y.
Alarm bells tolled inside my brain, signaling me of an impending doom scenario soon to come. 'I can't move my arms.' It was almost like they were entangled against snakes.
'I can try to deny it as much as I want to but I can't change reality, curse you God of hentai!'
Indeed it was as I feared, opening my eyes I was greeted by the heavenly sight of both Akeno and Rias sleeping soundly by my side, and do I even need to mention if they were clothed or not?
Just like me, they were all very sweaty but it didn't seem to bother them as it did for me. I could feel every inch of them with my arms, even their heartbeat from how hard they held onto my arm.
Sweat drops traveled from their necks to their breasts and nipples, which were heavily pressed against my arms, before touching my arms.
They looked both innocent and absolutely sinful, granted I am a clear-minded and logical individual but I was still a teenage boy with strong hormones.
And little Hachiman Junior was growing a bit rebellious.
'Think about a naked dude, think about a naked dude...how about Totsuka-NO! He shall not be sullied!...and it will only make it worse. Ah! A naked Zaimokusa.' That thankfully calmed Hachiman Junior for now but I needed to free myself quickly.
Trying to move my right arm first from Rias, my hands I accidentally touched something very intimate...something a bit hairy...'Oh, so she does not shave down there?'
She sensed my touch and in her sleep started to move her hips back and forth.
'AAAAAAHHHHH! DON'T PANIC!'
Being a former avid manga and light novel reader, my mind went through hundreds if not thousands of similar scenarios and how they all ended.
With the MC either being a Chad and giving no fucks, but unfortunately, I was surrounded by girls who could fry me up in a single attack.
MC grew flustered and embarrassed before running away, no I wasn't that kind of guy.
MC gets caught by a childhood friend or another girl who opens the door to call me for breakfast and when seeing the scene calls me a Baka and slaps me? Nope, those girls were already on my bed.
Or worst of all I get caught in a catfight when they both wake up.
My hands felt something wet...
"Aaah~" A silent moan escaped from the mouth of the now heavy-breathing Rias.
'Ah, who cares! I must do something before it's too late!'
I came up with a plan, a path that no other dumb anime protagonists have ever even thought of in their less than bright minds. I wake up each of them at a time and...pretend to still be asleep!
Yes, when one of them wakes up first and sees that everyone else was still sleeping, they would most likely quietly leave the room to prepare themselves for school and not raise a scene.
I wiggle my hands, desperately trying to ignore Rias's stimulated part and pinching her thighs, hard. "Mnng."
Okay, she was waking up, now pretending to sleep, Hachiman!
I heard her release a cute yawn and stretch her legs a bit, she then sat herself on the edge of the bed.
So far so good.
She stayed there for a few seconds, probably letting her mind catch up from her slumber as well.
I sensed her turning around and staring at me and Akeno, 'Please don't get angry, please don't get angry, please don't get angry!' I prayed fervently.
Then two weights pushed themselves around my pillow, probably her hands and she was most likely on top of me. 'What are you doing?' I did my best sleeping expression not giving away any clue.
She came closer, I could feel her hot breath on my face with strands of her hair falling to the sides. Her fingers then caressed my cheek, then proceeded to gently gloss over my lips.
I had a baaaaaad feeling about this.
She then proceeded to gently peck me on the cheek, then kissed it again, again and again. With each of her kisses, she grew less hesitant and more passionate and slowly began coming closer to my lips. 'They are soft.'
Until she kissed the corner of my mouth did she stop. For some reason, I could feel both her hands shaking, like she was holding back. Her increasingly heavier breathing did not help either.
"Hachiman..." She said my first name which she never did before. "Soon..." What?
'Is she turned on by my previous action!?'
Thankfully, she got herself back into control and got off of me and the bed. I heard her wearing her clothes and silently opening and closing the door.
I was safe, the Tiger was gone, and all that was left was the Dragon...or crow in this case. Akeno despite being THE most perverted individual he knew of, surprisingly looked innocent and cute in her sleep, if you could ignore her body that is.
Growing used to her sleeping with me when we were little and when she used to experience nightmares. Holding her as she calmed down became a regular thing. It took a year before her nightmares stopped appearing.
I did not wake her up like Rias, she most likely was tired from what happened yesterday, so I just waited for her to wake up.
It didn't take much longer, as a miko she was used to waking up early and I only wanted for five minutes before she woke up.
Just like Rias she released a cute yawn and stretched her arms. And again just like her King, she came on top of me, close to my face.
I didn't have to wait for long before I felt a minor peck on my lips. Unlike Rias, she lacked any sort of hesitation and was more firm and direct.
Gradually her mouth pressed more firmly against mine, her tongue teasing my mouth and forcing it open. She did not hesitate to explore every inch and corner of my mouth.
Her gesture was wild and hungry, her arms circled around my head pushing it further against hers.
'How does she expect me to stay asleep while she's doing this!?'
I was no stranger to Akeno's affection, but lately, she has kept getting bolder and bolder. 'Probably due to Rias.'
She kept on ravaging my mouth and my lips for the last few minutes before stopping. I could feel her hands circling my abdomen, I did my best to control Hachiman Junior but it was a lost battle.
Thankfully I heard my mother's voice calling me from the other side telling me to get ready for school.
Akeno ceased her actions reluctantly and left the bed.
This day just started and I was already tired, at least I had the club activities to look up to. Wonder what kind of requests I'll get.
As Akeno opened the door I heard her saying.
"You can stop pretending Hachiman-kun or else I won't be able to hold myself back, fufufu." she said while closing the door.
'You know, even if I'm technically a soul stuck in a gear and a dragon at that, I can't help but grow jealous of your love life.'
Shut up Vritra.
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The next 5 chapters of Snafu, Harry Potter and my 3 other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post monthly commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.