(Kuoh: Peace Summit Room)
"But, I wonder if this new God would also prefer peace between you three?" Ichigo said, taking in the shocked expressions of everyone in the room and you could see each mind racing. The devout quickly went from shock to elation while the Devils and the Fallen grew concerned and worried. "Let's make this clear, I know that God CAN be reborn. Not when or how to make it happen, only that it CAN happen." That didn't seem to matter much to the group as he could see the start of a cacophonous argument right there as every leader opened their mouths. Before the first voice could ring out, Ichigo slammed an open palm on the table with a resounding crack that stole everyone's attention. "Talk, like reasonable adults. Does knowing about God's rebirth change the purpose of this meeting? Or does knowing that suddenly mean that you would rather restart the war?" They all became calm and returned to their seats.
"No. Though the Angels will always serve our lord, we personally do not seek war and conflict anymore but we will if our lord demanded it." Michael said, giving the first truly happy smile Ichigo's seen on him but earning uneasy looks from the Devils and Fallen Angels. "So, while I am still the leader of Heaven, our mission will be to make this peace one that even God would desire to keep." Michael declared with determined conviction and focus, a fresh change from the long standing sorrow and despair that seemed to be his default expression. That same declaration gained similar approving smiles from the other factions. "'Love one another as I have loved you', a commandment that we of Heaven and the Church have failed to follow all too often."
"And we can trace the Devils' prejudice back to the original Lucifer wanting to be the antithesis of God's try at 'absolute good' by becoming an 'absolute evil'." Sirzechs added, thinking back to one Devil he was certain was somewhere out there. "Who decided that all the Devils had to be like the original? We don't even ask for souls if it can be avoided."
"Sounds like we all might unite under a single God if this keeps up." Azazel said, almost laughing at the irony of the matter of faithful Devils. "But we're missing a few crucial details, like how are we going to manage this? We can already share our knowledge and resources, but something like this needs something far more substantial."
"Like political marriages?" Orihime suddenly chimed in. "I mean, the different soul races of the Gotei used to be at each others throats ten years ago. Shinigami, Hollows, Quincy, they hated each other and fought constantly. The Quincy were almost completely wiped out."
"And then one guy was born that was a perfect hybrid mix, brought them under a united banner, and married at least two members of each race." Uryu said. "Difference is that uniting under our dear Captain Commander was preferable to the stagnation of the Hollows and the parasitic tyranny of the original Quincy emperor. These guys don't exactly have that set of circumstances forcing their hand."
"Well... that's not entirely right." Azazel suddenly said, looking to the silver hair Fallen Angel. "Shemhazai, you're up." The Angel in question rose from his seat.
"While we of the Grigori have been gathering Sacred Gears, Longinus, Balance Breakers, and researching them all, we've discovered the existence of what can only be considered a terrorist group attempting to do much the same but with far more malicious intentions by gathering the more troublesome members of EVERY faction. They call themselves, the Khaos Brigade, and are led by the Oroboros Dragon God, Ophis." Hearing this sent a wave of shock and terror throughout everyone in the know.
"I remember seeing the name in our Dragon archives, but didn't think much of it." Ichigo said, thinking back on a book of Draconic mythical figures. "So how worried should we be?" He asked aloud, for the Biblical factions to hear but he was really asking one being in particular. His Oken scar throbbed as the Soul King's voice rang in his mind.
"Ophis itself is regarded as the embodiment of 'Infinite' for a reason. However, treat them as a child. They isolated itself and never truly grew up, remaining as innocent and naive as children. The real concern is whoever is trying to manipulate them." The Soul King's voice faded as Ichigo returned his full focus to the current meeting, where they decided to inform the other mythological factions of the terrorists but still had to show their own unity first.
"-so no, I'm off the table and already have a fiance in mind!" Serafall declared, glaring at Azazel.
"But think about how it looks politically." The Fallen Angel returned. "A Satan and any one of the Ang-" He was cut off when Shemhazai whacked him in the head.
"Sorry about him. The truth is I myself am married to a Devil, and he knew that." The Fallen Angel announced, much to everyone's surprise while Azazel was having a laugh.
"Why did you have to ruin my fun Shemhazai?"
"Because I don't enable your worst tendencies, and you know that."
"Well that settles matters between the Devils and the Fallen," Ichigo said, "but what about the Angels and De-"
"I offer myself to marry Issei!" Irina suddenly shouted, rather enthusiastically, making everyone look at her in surprise as she wore a growing blush. "I-I mean... if... he and Rias are okay with it."
"That wouldn't be a bad option." Sirzechs admitted. "The Gremory are an influential family and Issei, being the Red Dragon Emperor, will certainly become a major player in Devil politics later on down the line."
"Uhh, okay." Rias said while Issei was still processing Irina's declaration... and thinking something perverted. "But why though?" Irina's expression shifted to one of shame now.
"Truthfully, Issei, ever since we were kids I had a crush on you." She admitted, surprising the boy in question. "And I was elated to see you again, until I found out you became a Devil... and a huge pervert." Issei felt the word slam into his head. "It was easy to bury it under a sense of betrayal, like my friend turned his back on me, but... Orihime revealed otherwise." The Exorcist walked up to Issei. "I betrayed you, I let hate and prejudice keep us from reconnecting and making amends." She stood before him, throwing her arms out and opening her cloak to reveal her tight combat bodysuit. "To do that now, I offer myself in this political union to strengthen the alliance of the factions, and grant you permission to vent all of your frustrations onto my body." She said, blushing the whole time.
"WOAH! JACK-!" He yelled before getting punched in the head by Rias as she got between him and Irina.
"Down boy." She ordered. "And you, wait your turn. I've got dibs." She told the Exorcist, turning and sitting in Issei's lap.
"O...kay... I guess that settled that." Ichigo said, thanking everything he was calmer at that age. "Although, I was going to bring up the possibility of whether or not the Grigori would still be a separate faction."
"What do you mean?" Azazel asked as the three Fallen Angels looked to the hybrid.
"What if the new God apologizes for your banishment? What if you're accepted back into the Heavenly Host? They'd probably consider you as a valuable consult and advisor since you're all more in touch with Humanity than the other Angels. Really the only thing that seems to separate your two groups are a color scheme and a disagreement that you're both coming around on." That made the three Fallen and the two Seraphs look to each other.
"That... damn. That makes sense." Azazel admitted as Michael rose to his feet and walked over to the Fallen.
"I'd be elated to welcome you back my brothers!" He said with a smile, with Azazel keeping him at arm's length.
"Boundaries Michael. Get a rack like Gabriel's and MAYBE we'll hug." They were brought back to the meeting as they heard Sirzechs and Serafall laughing.
"This is the most entertaining meeting I've ever been a part of." He said, smiling in good cheer as the mood slowly affected everyone. "I'm not entirely sure how much is getting done, but it's certainly far more interesting."
"I can only hope telling those old codgers back home that I'm going to make a serious effort with marrying Ichigo will be a tenth as fun!" Serafall said between laughs, stopping when the temperature suddenly dropped... literally.
"Ah. I forgot to mention that." Orihime said, turning and doing apologetic bows to Rukia. "Sorry Rukia, first wife and chairwoman of the Brides of Ichigo. It slipped my mind to mention this at our monthly meeting." Rukia sighed as the temperature returned to normal.
"Serafall Leviathan." The Captain started, making the Satan straighten up unconsciously. "Three days after this, we will be having a meeting. You will meet the other sister-wives and you will make your case as to whether or not you will be accepted." Serafall nodded while everyone else turned their eyes on Ichigo.
"Yeah, they've been like that ever since I finished my training in Dun Scaith." He told them. "I don't argue, I just accept it. I'm too busy to really dictate my love life."
"Don't complain about having a harem you lucky-!" Issei was shouting before his face was hit with a ball of blue energy that wrapped around his head and turned into a rubber face mask.
"I was being lenient before, but what he was saying had nothing to add to anything." Ichigo said with a finger pointing at Issei as the Gremory peerage was trying, and failing, to get the elastic Kido off their friend. "Sirzechs, you can free his nostrils so that he can breath. And hurry, I don't think he can afford any brain damage." Sirzechs proceeded to do just that, creating a thin line of destruction magic to carve out the necessary holes to let his prospective brother-in-law breath. As he did, Gabriel raised her hand.
"Miss Rukia Kurosaki? May I join Serafall in that meeting?" She asked, surprising everyone... Issei almost lost his nose because of that. "I don't know what I might be able to offer personally, but I can at least serve as the political bond with the Angels.
"So, you don't care to marry out of love?" Rukia asked, feeling annoyed while Gabriel looked confused.
"But I do love him. I love everyone!" She said with a smile, making Ichigo and Rukia compare her to Orihime back when his harem was just starting.
'She's too innocent.' They thought as Serafall stood up.
"Now hang on you..." She started angry but seemed to trail off in thought. "Actually, I'm good with that." She said with a thumbs up... and a bloody nose.
'What was she thinking?' Some of the group thought as Ajuka took a stand now.
"Well, now that we've decided on solidifying some political alliances, I've got a few questions for the Gotei. If I may Ichigo?" He asked, Ichigo nodding to the Satan. "Can you explain why and how you had both the Sitri and Gremory peerages bugged for the past three years?" As he asked that, all the other Devils froze with the Angels looking shocked as well, but the members of the Gotei didn't betray any emotion. "I noticed it whenever I saw either of them, but it was so unfamiliar that I was having a hard time really determining the how. There wasn't anything on them, nothing mechanical or magical, and it seemed like it was inside them somehow? A theory that was confirmed in Sona's and Rias's report that they received a text on their phone telling them about Sellzen's ambush." Sirzechs and Serafall's expressions turned to angry stone while the Gremory and Sitri peerages looked horrified. "When I tried to have a sample recovered from them, I failed to find anything I could use for research."
"Yeah. We bugged them." Ichigo casually admitted. "A nifty invention of one of our scientists called 'Surveillance Bacteria', that they ingested. Usually with some treat Orihime made or from some of the spiked candy Koneko got from her mascot work with Soul Dragon Candy, one of our Living World businesses." The Gremory and Sitri peerages were trembling at how vulnerable they felt now. "Designed to self destruct and degrade completely once it sensed being outside of the body and were completely benign, only used for surveillance. Although I suppose he could alter them to be more like probiotics."
"Do you mind sharing a sample?" Ajuka asked, making the other Satans look at him incredulously. "It seems like it'll be incredibly useful for keeping tabs on the Great King faction." Ichigo released a groan of disgust.
"Those old fashioned pure bred fucks still trying to be a nuisance?" He asked before sighing. "Don't you have enough evidence to disprove any of their claims?"
"Sadly no, otherwise I wouldn't be asking for a sample."
"Ugh. Fine. We'll supply you the means to use it but leave the actual bugging to me. I'm certain my stealth forces are better than what the Devils can field." Ajuka nodded in acquiescence to the claim as Ichigo returned his attention to Sirzechs and Serafall. "No, I will not in anyway apologize for putting your sisters under such strict surveillance. You put them in my country, I know how big a siscon the two of you are, I wasn't going to take the chance of them getting hurt and you two rampaging throughout the Human Realm like wild beasts I'd need to put down. I believe you," he pointed to Serafall, "said, 'my favorite Berry wouldn't let anything dangerous actually happen'. Remember?" The two Satans released a sigh as they agreed.
"Thank you for watching over them." Sirzechs said. "Though I would appreciate it if you removed that bacteria."
"Already taken care of. They ate cookies with an antibiotic in the frosting."
"That's why we didn't get the left overs." Koneko said, understanding but more upset about being denied the cookies anyway.
"That reminds me. Xenovia?" Ichigo said to the Soul Reaper trainee, who brought over the briefcases. "Like I said, I'll turn over the research and Excaliburs after we removed anything that would've compromised the Soul Society. Also, a few of my researchers decided to take a crack at the swords and the crystals." Xenovia opened up one case, revealing dozens of blue Gene Crystals that Valper discovered, earning gasps of shock from all parties. "Completely artificial synthesized crystals, with an estimated potency of three times the latest version Valper made. Not a single scrap of a gene was taken from anyone else to make them." Xenovia then pulled out another case, unlatched a side, and slide it open to reveal three sword pommels, pulling out each one to reveal an Excalibur that Kokabiel stole. She did the same with a few others, revealing more Excaliburs, regular fragments and mixed fragments. "We may have gone a tad overboard."
"This... this is very generous Ichigo." Michael said, pinching himself at the veritable treasure trove that the Head Captain just handed over.
"Heaven is still the worst off of you three, this is to help level the playing field until God is reborn." Ichigo explained. "Besides, maintaining peace is one part friendly relations and one part war deterrents. And I'm going to station more Gotei agents in Kuoh to deter anyone that plans on starting a war in my territory." That statement made Rias shoot to her feet.
"Lord Kurosaki, Kuoh is my-!" She tried to say before the entire room was caught in a suffocating atmosphere, all the air shot from her lungs and all she saw was Ichigo's stare. It was not angry, it held no contempt, she couldn't even gasp for air or move as each of her peerage fell around her.
"If you cannot even breath, why did you think you could talk?" She heard as her vision began to black out before the pressure faded and the room filled with the sounds of gasping while she fell in a heap. Rias was always confident in her brother's power, but with that display of Ichigo's she began to doubt if even he could defeat the monstrous hybrid. "Sirzechs, I just remembered you didn't tell me who you were nominating as the new Overseer of Kuoh." The Lucifer flinched while Serafall and Grayfia sighed. "You didn't tell Rias she was fired did you?"
"Wha...?" Rias could only groan while Orihime, Grayfia, Irina, and Xenovia helped them all back into their chairs. Her brother sighed as he could no longer stall.
"Rias, in accordance to our agreement with Soul Society, Head Captain Ichigo Kurosaki deemed you ill suited to the position of Overseer of the Kuoh area and you have been dismissed." He finally said, the words feeling like ash on his tongue, and refusing to look at his sister. "Your replacement will be Sona Sitri of the Sitri Household. You are still permitted to be in Kuoh, but Sona is now in command." Sona stood, but everyone could see her trembling.
"I-I-I w-will d-do my b-b-best as o-ov-overs-seer." She said, still dealing with the aftermath of Ichigo's Reiatsu.
"There's one more question I have Ichigo." Ajuka said. "I noticed it around the same time you informed us about God's rebirth, but where are we right now?" When he asked that, the leaders just then noticed they didn't feel the magic of their barrier anymore.
"I moved the meeting to the Shadow Side of Kuoh." Ichigo said, using Fullbring on the curtains to reveal a completely empty space. "Like Shemhazai explained with the Khaos Brigade, I suspected that some folks that were less than thrilled about the peace summit would've made their moves and attacked us. Like some Old Satan faction members, overzealous Exorcists, or the more bloodthirsty members of the Grigori." Uryu pulled out a box with a button. "However, if we've settled everything we came here to do, than I declare this meeting over. All in favor?" He asked, getting a resounding aye. Uryu pressed the button and they watched the window and the darkness faded away, replaced by a gray film over everything and bloodstained ruined landscape as the four Sternritters were holding off an endlessly spawning army of robed figures and Devils with spirit arrows. Azazel asked the question most everyone was thinking.
"What the hell did we miss?" Uryu pulled out a radio that was connected to earpieces with each Sternritter.
"Report." He ordered, getting a bit of static before Liltotto's voice came through.
"Hey boss. After we sent you guys off, these robed figures showed up and appear to have taken the Vamp kid to use his Sacred Gear to freeze everyone." Hearing that seemed to have kick started the recovery of the Gremory group as the gasped and rose to their feet.
"Gasper! How dare they target my servant like this!?" Rias roared in anger with her red aura leaking out only to get an icy finger trailing down her neck, courtesy of Rukia.
"Calm down. You can't rescue your servant if you go in guns blazing and without a plan, no matter how strong your team is." The Captain scolded as the report continued, the Gremory heiress forcing herself to calm down.
"Then this skank calling herself 'Cunty Leviathan', I could've gotten that name wrong, showed up demanding where you guys were."
"Katerea Leviathan." Sirzechs said in disappointment. "So they really are turning against us."
"Only thing we got out of her before the fight was some 'world domination' bullshit. I managed to get the Devil and Angel guards out of danger since they were frozen and the only real problem is that one bitch. Can I eat know, I'm starving." She asked, earning incredulous looks from everyone except for those that knew her. Uryu released a sigh.
"Let's try and capture the Leviathan if we can, kill the rest." The Quincy ordered as he turned to Vali. "You wanna join me out there? You look pretty bored right now." The White Dragon looked to Azazel, who gave him an approving nod with Baraqiel joining the Quincy leader. Vali smiled as they rushed out with the dragon sprouting some kind of blue energy wings, almost obscuring the sight of a pair of jaws stretching out and biting through anything that was between the teeth while the air was filled with the cackling of electricity, the booms of explosions, and the sounds of crashing. What was formerly a stalemate between the four Quincy and the endless terrorists shifted into a one sided slaughter.
"Okay, while they take care of that, do you want to save your little Vampire?" Ichigo asked snapping the Gremory members from the horrific slaughter. Bambi was fighting a few Devils, now blowing people to bits, Candice was frying them with electricity, Meninas was tearing them apart with raw strength, and Liltotto was eating everything as Uryu now fought a tanned skinned woman with long brown hair wearing glasses and a rather revealing dress. The odd thing Ichigo and the other spiritually aware noted was that her power seemed to feel mixed in an odd way.
"Of course." Rias declared as the rest of the Gremory peerage stood by her side. "All of my household is precious to me and my own." Irina looked to Michael, asking permission to join them as she took one of the crystals and an Excalibur, now wielding her Mimic and a Rapid/Transparency in the form of broadsword with hole in the guard and a protrusion in the back. The Angel nodded as Irina smiled and joined the Gremory group. While Azazel gave Issei a couple rings he claims could help him control the Boosted Gear and Forbidden Balor View.
"Very well, Rukia show them the way." The Commander ordered his wife as he opened a Garganta. Rukia stepped forward, creating a platform of Reishi. "Xenovia? Did you wish to join them?" He asked the trainee as she wordlessly manifested the Durandal and joined the group.
"Follow me and stay close. If you fall off, there's no coming back." Rukia declared as she sprinted off, the group of teens following her and making sure to stay on the manifested walkway.
"Aren't you planning to head out yourself?" Azazel asked Ichigo as Grayfia was serving the remaining members another round of tea.
"Uryu can handle this. I don't want to ruin their fun so early."
(Old School Building)
The group of teens walked out of another tear in space, infiltrating the enemy territory and comparing the Garganta to their normal method of teleporting. Kiba summoned a Holy Demon sword, Akeno switched to Shrine Maiden clothes, and Issei had out his gauntlet to start raising his strength. Kiba and Koneko took point, leading the group down the hall, Irina and Xenovia were in the back in case of an attack from behind, while Issei, Rias, Akeno, and Asia were in the center.
"Here you go. Good luck." Rukia said, already walking away from the group, much to their surprise.
"What are you going to do?" Issei asked.
"To assist my allies. That's my priority, just like saving that Vampire is your priority." She said before flashing away. The group looked to each other and nodded before bolting down the hall. As they ran they saw the chaos erupting around the school grounds, the veteran Devils watching Katerea and Uryu fight with black energy serpents and blades of blue, while Issei watched Vali at work. They kept going until Xenovia spoke up.
"Third room on the right!" She called out. "That's where the most energy is located!" Choosing to trust their ally, Rias ordered Issei to promote to Queen so that he, Koneko, and Kiba could make the entrance. They broke down the door but didn't enter, growling in frustration at seeing Gasper tied to a chair with a dagger to his neck in a room filled with the robed figures
"Senpai! Koneko!" He called out as the rest of the group showed up. "Everyone! I... I'm sorry." He hung his head in despair and shame. "Just... just kill me. I'm nothing but a burden." He begged, breaking the hearts of his household. "You'd be better off with-"
"Stop talking like that!" Rias ordered, having enough with losses for the day. "You're my servant, my family, and I refuse to abandon you!"
"All I do is cause trouble, so don't bother with-" He argued back when suddenly the magician on his right was cut across the back, Irina appearing with the Rapid Transparency Excalibur in hand before thrusting the other forward as the Excalibur Mimic turned into a spear and stabbed the other magician in the throat. The rest of the peerage were just as shocked before leaping into action. The magicians stood no chance.
"Okay Gasper, let's get you out of that." Akeno said, stepping forward before noticing the spell at his feet. "Ah, so that's how they were doing it... and there's a barrier that Gasper's powering. He can't move from this spot." The queen groaned as she got to work trying to figure out how to undo it.
"Please, just kill me and get it over with!" The Vampire begged again. "If you don't, everyone will-"
"Dude! Shut up!" Issei roared out. "You're one of us, precious friends of the house of Gremory! You can't ask for a more loving household and master than the Prez! We won't kill you or abandon you just because you feel like a burden!" He held up his gauntlet and called out a blade, the Dragon Slayer sword Ascalon that he got from Michael. "And as a man, if you don't like something, you change it!" Issei dragged the tip of his index finger across the blade and cut himself, surprising the rest of the peerage. "Now come on. Power up and let's end this together. DRINK UP!" The Dragon shouted before shoving his finger into the Vampire's mouth. His body pulsed and his eyes flashed before exploding into a swarm of bats, overpowering and destroying the seal that held him in place. He reformed seconds later, with the time freeze fully dispelled. "I know Azazel suggested it, but I didn't think it'd be that effective." Issei said as he pulled out one of the two bracelets while Asia healed his finger.
"Now Gasper, I don't want to ever hear you talk like that again." Rias said, scolding the Vampire. "I want you to cause trouble, so I can scold you lots, then hug you even more. Because you're precious to me." She said before hugging her timid bishop. That hug was soon joined by Akeno and Koneko while Issei and Kiba just held his shoulders in solidarity. "Now let's get out of-" Rias was cut off by the sound of thunder, causing everyone to rush to the window again and seeing Uryu with his hands ablaze in Reishi, lightning striking around them, and Katerea falling to the ground, missing her wings and an arm.
(With Uryu)
The Squad 15 Captain watched impassively as the Devil fell, burned and smoking from the lightning she was struck with. The 'fight' was a non-issue for him, using the Almighty to stay ahead of every move she tried to make against him and all the magic that was used saturated the area with Reishi that he took full advantage of. He led her around until Candice was underneath and then allowed her to believe she caught him by turning her arm into a tentacle snare around him, boasting that she couldn't be cut. That claim was disproved as he manifested a blade of Reishi that slid through her arm like a knife through water and later her wings, just to add insult to injury. With that done, Candice unleashed a high voltage lightning bolt on the Devil, stunning and frying her into unconsciousness, leaving her vulnerable for Liltotto to gobble up.
'And successfully captured.' Uryu thought as he drained the Reishi in the magic gate, disabling it while still maintaining the Almighty, waiting for the actual threat. 'Now, here he comes.' He thought before flashing away, causing Vali to miss as he attempted to tackle the Quincy. "For the record, everyone in the Gotei has the ability to sense spiritual power, which is the basis for most everything." He explain to the Dragon, now clad in his white Balance Breaker armor, who he guessed was looking at him in excitement. "I kept track of you as you helped fight the magicians, then punched out Baraqiel. Not surprising honestly."
"What, can you see the future?" Vali asked, not serious but enjoying the banter.
"I paid attention to you during the meeting." Uryu explained. "You were excited to hear about God's return, you kept evaluating Ichigo every time Sirzechs and Michael showed him respect but were especially excited when he showed off his Reiatsu to that Gremory girl, and Orihime told us about the last time she saw you. You aren't the first battle nut she's met, just a bit more subtle about it. Pretty clear you were the traitor that caused this attack." Vali had the nerve to laugh.
"What can I say, peace is boring, but I don't care for conquest like Katerea did. Neither does Ophis." The Dragon claimed as everyone started gathering in the courtyard. "I just crave battle."
"How juvenile. I'm going to attack now. Block it." Uryu warned before flashing in front of Vali with a Jian made of Reishi in hand and the Almighty disable. Vali was thrown off by the honesty of Uryu's move and moved an arm to block the moment he saw Uryu's red glowing blood vessels, grunting at the force pushed him back a little. "I'm also guessing you're severely disappointed in Issei as a rival? Then how about this, I can arrange you to have a fight with Ichigo if you can push Issei to get stronger." Vali's mask betrayed no emotion, but the lack of movement told Uryu he had Vali's attention. "And here's a hint on how to do that."
(With Everyone Else)
"I suspected, but didn't want to believe it." Azazel said, as the whole of the Peace Summit bore witness. They all gathered in the courtyard, the last of the invading terrorists slain, watching the battle. Baraqiel informed them of Vali's betrayal and was being tended to by Asia as Uryu made a move that Vali blocked. "Hey, is that Quincy going to be alright?"
"No one else is going to die today." Ichigo said as if it was the destined truth. "Besides, Orihime can patch him up."
"So I've heard. You sure that girl doesn't possess as Sacred Gear?" Azazel asked, gaining an interest in Soul Society's abilities.
"Yeah. Besides, Sacred Gears are boring." The hybrid said, earning a shocked look from everyone that didn't personally know him. Vali then flashed as Uryu was struck by a beam of light, cutting off his arm, then kicking the Quincy down to the group. Orihime had Ventus catch him, before letting him down and immediately restoring his arm.
"Sorry Azazel, but everything about this is dull!" Vali called out. "Peace between the factions? You've always encouraged me to get stronger, but how can I in a peaceful world? And you, Issei Hyoudo, you're the embodiment of disappointing to me."
"What do you mean?" Issei demanded, walking forward and glaring up at Vali.
"I was born powerful, a descendant of the original Devil King, you were born the most subpar human." Vali taunted. "I know we're supposed to be contradictory to each other, but I never expected my destined rival to be so weak." Issei growled as he felt his anger build. "Getting mad? Maybe this might make you interesting, become an avenger."
"What are you getting at Vali?!"
"I'll give you a reason to hate me with all your guts. I'll take away everything you love here and now because you can't stop me. I'll kill your parents, your friends, but first..." he paused, as if he couldn't believe what he was about to say, "I'll take away the boobs of the whole Gremory peerage! Starting with Rias!" He yelled out, sounding embarrassed about that threat.
"What?" Virtually everyone asked as they tried to understand what Vali just said. Issei was utterly stunned.
"Th... that... that's not possible." He muttered, looking to Azazel, tears in his eyes as he refused to believe something so vile could be done. "Right?" He begged.
"Well... actually." The Fallen Angel started, breaking Issei's hope. "The Vanishing Dragon does have an ability called 'Half Dimension', which can warp the space he's in and reduce everything by half... so yeah. He could do exactly that." There was a pause as the bracelet around Issei's arm flashed as he was clad in his Balance Breaker armor. The veterans of the Gotei shot out their hands and manifested a massive spirit barrier, caging the two Dragons together as Issei roared in fury with his power skyrocketing.
"Seriously!? Because he threatened tits!?" Ichigo asked, shocked that this is happening over boobs.
"There's nothing Issei loves more than my sister's and breasts in general." Sirzechs answered as the other leaders added their power to the barrier.
"VALI!" Issei roared as he shot at his rival, instantly tackling the White Dragon and punching him. Vali immediately used his power to divide Issei's, but the manic melon lover still packed enough strength to crack both their armors with that attack. With each punch he threw, Issei swore to protect the boobs of each member of the Gremory peerage, until they both landed on the ground and Vali's armor fell apart.
"All that, just because I threatened some useless lumps of meat." Vali said, chuckling as he got back to his feet and purposefully goading Issei on even further. "How interesting." Issei saw a cracked blue ball, a piece of Vali's armor, and dove for it.
"Never insult the greatness of tits!" He roared, getting ready to fuse the gem with his own armor, only to suddenly feel his brain shake as a blow to his chin spun him around before falling unconscious. The armor dispelling and the bracelet falling apart.
"And that's enough of that." Ichigo said, his own fist glowing with power, before turning to Vali. "That's your cue to leave." Vali merely laughed.
"I-" He was immediately cut off as his head was blown off before he could manifest his armor again. Or at least, that's what he thought happened. The truth was that Ichigo immediately flashed behind him and pulled out his Witch Kit, a tool from Wing Bind made to battle Dragons, which was shaped like a black flintlock pistol with white horns akin to his own Hollow form's at the end of the barrel, and blue flames on the grip. He was stunned, both his battle instincts and Albion himself was telling him that Ichigo would end him the instant he did anything. And considering the beating he took from Issei, he couldn't think of any way out of this that didn't end without him either dead or severely crippled.
"Vali!" He heard someone say as everyone else saw a magic seal appear with a figure dressed in light Chinese armor coming out, wielding a staff. Next thing anyone noticed was another Ichigo appearing above him and kicking the guy in the head, sending him slamming down before Vali before yet another Ichigo appeared before him with his gun under Vali's chin and his foot on the other guy's neck. It was so fast, no one could even move.
"New guy, name and why you're here." The Captain demanded, keeping an eye on the guy's staff while the two speed clones disappeared.
"B-Bikou. D-descendant of Sun Wukong AHH!" He cried out as Ichigo applied more pressure on the now identified monkey Youkai for moving his staff just slightly. "I-I came to get Vali." Ichigo hummed before pressing more down on Bikou. "Gah! The Khaos Brigade are about to fight the Norse Gods and I came to get him!" Ichigo hummed again before pointing the gun to Vali's chest and shooting, just enough power to send Vali flying back before kicking Bikou into the Dragon.
"Now get out of my country." The hybrid ordered. "Next time you cause a mess like this again, I won't be so lenient." He warned as Bikou quickly cast a teleportation spell and vanished. Ichigo put his gun away and flashed back to Issei, where Orihime was examining him with the rest of the peerage crowding around. "What's the diagnosis Hime?"
"Just exhaustion. Nothing to really worry about." The teacher said, letting Rias cradle her pawn to her chest.
"Nice timing when you knocked him out." Azazel said as he, Sirzechs, and Michael came over. "Though I'll admit, I did want to see him try to fuse with that frag-" He was silenced as Ichigo punched him in the head.
"If you were less focused on Sacred Gears and more about managing your group you would've noticed Vali's betrayal sooner." Ichigo scolded while the Fallen Angel nursed his new lump. Ichigo then repeated the same action with Sirzechs. "The next time one of the Old Satan group pulls a stunt like that in Japan, I'll storm the Devil Netherworld personally and wipe out every adult descendant of the Old Satan faction."
"R-right. Sorry about that." Sirzechs said while Grayfia took the role of a concerned wife, nursing her husband's lump.
"Now, with everything settled on our end, we're leaving." Ichigo said, opening a Garganta for him and the rest of his group. "One of you keep me up to date with this. The Khaos Brigade is a threat we all must face." They began to leave before Liltotto stopped, and turned around.
"I almost forgot." She said before her mouth grew to titanic sizes and coughed out the Angels and Devils that Michael, Azazel, and Sirzechs brought with them. "Kept them safe in my non-digestive storage stomach when the Khaos Brigade attacked. Your welcome." She said before running to join her group.
"...That was gross." Koneko said while everyone else shuddered.
(Omake)
Uryu's Specific Advice
"Threaten tits." The Quincy said, causing Vali to retract his face mask.
"Huh?" He asked, using the only word he could actually form at the moment.
"I know, it sounds dumb, but threaten boobs. Threaten to take away the boobs of his peerage, specifically Rias's. Threatening to kill his friends and family won't have nearly the same impact." There was a pause.
"Please say you're joking."
"I wish I was."
Xenovia's New Sleeping Arrangements
"Alright trainee!" Karin called out, walking to Xenovia's dorm room in the Silbern fortress. "Time to get back.... to..." Xenovia had nothing to her room at the moment beyond a desk, bed, a closet filled with training uniforms, her Asuachi, and the Durandal, so Karin wasn't expecting much. But she wasn't expecting to find Xenovia cuddling with the large holy sword like it was a body pillow.
"Sorry... neglected... love you." She heard the girl mumble as she sleepily rubbed her face against the flat of the sword.
"This... is actually kind of sweet." Karin decided. "In a weird way." She let this go on for another five seconds, before kicking the bed frame so hard it flipped. Xenovia woke with a shout as the bed fell on top of her.
"Get up. Training starts now."
Issei Remembered Something
The Gremory and Sitri peerages were in the Student Council Room, doing the paperwork to officially name Sona as the new Overseer of Kuoh, with Orihime overseeing the process. After the fight, Issei needed a whole day just to be able to move again. Now that he was, Asia and Kiba were explaining what happened to Issei.
"-and everything was settled peacefully. Thank God. AH!" Asia prayed before getting a sharp pain in her head, seeing that clicked something in Issei's head.
"AHH!" He cried out, surprising everyone in the room. "I forgot to talk to Michael about Asia!"
"Uh... about what?" The former priestess asked, reeling from Issei's outburst.
"About your banishment and if he could make it so you could pray without getting headaches!" He kept yelling, raging about Vali and the Khaos Brigade making him forget things in the heat of battle, cursing out Ichigo for knocking him out for the rest of Michael's stay. While he did that, Orihime took out her cell and texted this very matter to her husband.
"Ichigo's got a direct line to Michael. He said he'd ask for you." She said, after receiving a text back.
"I'm still mad about it!" Issei returned.