Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.
A few moments after Sirzechs left the stage, the Stadium was still in an uncomfortable silence.
"Did That young man just challenge Lord Lucifer to a duel?" A devil who appeared to be middle-aged asked the woman sitting next to him.
"Yeah." A female devil with an appearance in her late twenties replied with a nod. "But why would he do that? Isn't challenging the strongest devil in history suicidal?"
"Even if it is, he had to." An elderly male devil said from behind the first two. "Like he said, this would make him appear weak. And there are undoubtedly people who would try to take advantage of that, even if it's not true."
The first two devils nodded, though they were not exactly sure how true that statement was. To them, like most devils who grew up after the last war, the thought of challenging one of the Satans was such a foreign concept that they could not even imagine someone else doing so.
While conversations like this were going on, some just as tame as what was mentioned above while some were much fiercer and filled with confrontation, the group who came to support James were having their own conversation.
"*Sigh* I can feel his anger from here." Venelana said while her gaze switched between James and the tunnel that Sirzechs left through. "Still, I can't believe this happened, in public anyway."
"James might have been a bit out of line, though." Zeoticus said with a slight frown on his face. "Challenging Sirzechs like that must have undoubtedly been a humiliation for him."
"Oh, and my James wasn't humiliated?" Leona growled as she stared daggers at Zeoticus. "I don't know if you haven't noticed, or just decided to look the other way. But ever since James declared that he wanted to be the strongest, Sirzechs has been looking at and treating him differently."
Instead of responding, Zeoticus could only lower his head and exhale a sigh of resignation.
"Grandma." Millicas said while tapping Venelana on the arm. "Why are Father and Big Bro James going to fight? Aren't we all family now?"
After hearing Millicas' question, Leona immediately calmed herself down and smiled at Millicas while Venelana smiled as well. Rias on the other hand began to blush slightly with a happy smile on her face.
"Family..." Rias muttered quietly.
"Well, Sweetie, that's complicated." Venelana said while stroking Millicas' crimson hair and looking into his red eyes. "I'm sure your mother will come by soon to explain a few things to you about this."
Millicas nodded in response. Even though he knew that when his mother came to talk to him about things, it would result in a lecture, a lecture that he was not looking forward to, he knew that this would be something important.
'*Sigh* I hope Millicas will be alright.' venelana thought to herself. 'I already knew she was on the verge of ending things with Sirzechs. And to be honest, it brings me a measure of grief to lose a daughter-in-law like her. But I would never be selfish enough to ask that she stays in a situation that is clearly bringing her pain.'
At that moment, Ajuka tapped his finger on the microphone in his possession, regaining the attention of everyone watching the ceremony around the Underworld.
"Please, if everyone would calm down, we'll continue the awarding of James second set of [Evil Pieces]." Ajuka said into the microphone, in his usual tone.
'*Sigh* My old friend, no matter what your intention was, this little stunt was more detrimental to your status than you could have ever imagined.'
Unlike everyone else, Ajuka knew that Sirzechs had intentionally turned on the microphone before he spoke those damning words. Or rather, he had deduced as much. He could see from Sirzechs' eyes, the pressure he was putting himself under as he thought of James surpassing him one day, an outcome that his pride would not allow.
After regaining the crowd's attention, Ajuka asked James to do like he had done the first time he connected with his [Evil Pieces]. And just like he did a little over three years ago, James held the case with the [Evil Pieces] in one hand while he placed the other onto the [King Stone]. When he did, the fifteen [Pieces] in the case began to glow in a dusk pink color. Then, after a few seconds, the glow began to dim. In its place, a set of dusk pink [Evil Pieces] were tucked securely into the case.
"No mutated pieces this time, huh?" James said as he looked over his new [Evil Pieces] with a satisfied smile. "Well, it's not like I expected to get one this time, anyway. The chances of getting them are supposed to be low, right?"
"That's right." Ajuka replied, even though he knew James was speaking rhetorically. "Besides, with your current strength, the chances of you needing a mutated piece to recruit someone is quite low."
James nodded in response while his gaze remained on the case. Then, after a few moments, he looked up with a big, bright smile on his face. As he turned his head towards Ajuka, he extended his right hand again.
"Please, allow me to extend my gratitude towards the Satans and the Devil Council for bestowing such a reward upon me." James said in a happy tone. "With my strength, and the new strength if will bring to me, I promise to do all that I can for the Underworld and devil society's benefit."
With James' declaration, Ajuka reached forward to shake James hand while the crowd exploded into cheers once again.
Underworld, Grigori Territory, Grigori Headquarters.
In the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels', Shamhazai's, office, three fallen angels, Azazel, Shamhazai, and Baraqiel were watching the broadcast of James' award ceremony. As soon as it ended, Shamhazai, using the remote, turned off the monitor.
"That kid, Sirzechs, just what was he thinking pulling a stunt like that?" Azazel asked with his usual, shit eating grin on his face.
"That's one of the major flaws of the devil race." Shamhazai said while shaking his head. "Every devil is deeply connected to at least one of the seven deadly sins. And their actions are often influenced by that sin."
"I know." Azazel said as he waved off Shamhazai's comment dismissively. "It seems that the years without war made that brat relax a little too much. When he was first named as Lucifer, he would have been nothing but proud that there was a young devil with that kind of strength."
Shamhazai nodded to Azazel's statement. At the same time, Baraqiel was frowning.
"What's the matter, Baraqiel?" Azazel asked, already knowing the answer to that question.
"That boy..." Baraqiel said apprehensively. "He's dangerous. It's clear that his main sin is that of wrath, correct?"
"That's right, it was in the report we received after the Evil Dragon attack on that school." Shamhazai replied.
"Then, what if he loses control and goes on a rampage?" Baraqiel asked. "The people around him would be in danger."
"*Sigh* Are you still sour that you were put in your place after you tried to slap you daughter?" Azazel asked with disappointment in his tone. "Stop trying to cause trouble. We all know that you were in the wrong back then."
"Instead of playing conspiracy theorist, why don't you just go and apologize for doing something stupid." Shamhazai said. "I mean, what would Shuri think if she could see you acting like this."
"Not to mention the punishment you would receive for trying to slap Akeno." Azazel said sternly. Before he continued, however, his expression changed into a teasing grin. "Or maybe you would have been looking forward to that punishment?"
Contrary to his appearance of a tough, no nonsense, middle-aged man, Baraqiel began to blush like a school girl when his fetish was pointed out and made fun of by his former leader and brother.
Heaven, Sixth Heaven.
Like the members of the Grigori, the Four Great Seraphim were also watching James' award ceremony.
"I know we're in an alliance now." Uriel said with a slight frown on his face. "But the thought of a new devil with that kind of power makes me a little uneasy. What if they go back on the treaty?"
"All we can do is have faith." Raphael said in a serene tone. "Suspecting allies that have given us no reason to do so is not what we should be doing."
Instead of responding, Uriel gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. It was no secret, in heaven or the Underworld, that Uriel was completely against the forming of this treaty. He had never, and with good reason, trusted the devils or fallen angels. However, he was convinced to give peace a try, until they were betrayed, at least.
"I say this from my own personal experience." Michael said in his usual tone with a kind smile on his face. "That boy, James Alaverus, is not like any other devils that we've met. He is a young man with a kind heart."
"That's right, James is a good boy." Gabriel chimed in with her bubbly personality on full display. "Oh, I know. Why don't we invite him to heaven, so that the two of you can meet him for yourselves."
Thinking that her idea was amazing, Gabriel stood, with her wings extended and began to clap her hands. Meanwhile, her three brothers could only look at her with exasperated doting smiles on their faces.
Human World, Greece, Chiron's Personal Sub-Dimension.
"Kuroka just sent us some news!" Le Fay said as she rushed into the training grounds.
Hearing his younger sister's voice, Le Fay's elder brother, Arthur Pendragon, stopped his sword fight with Vergil and turned his attention to her.
Not only Arthur, but all of the members of Vali's team stopped their training to hear what Le Fay had to say.
"So, what is it?" Vali asked as he walked toward Le Fay.
"It would seem the Red Dragon Emperor, James Alaverus, was just granted a second set of [Evil Pieces]." Le Fay replied. "And she thinks that his next peerage will be filled with some pretty strong people."
"How does that even work?" Bikou asked while scratching his ear with his little finger.
"I don't know, but that Ajuka Beelzebub is a genius." Vergil said. "I'm sure he had something to do with it."
Vali and Arthur nodded in response. However, Vali did so with gritted teeth.
"Damn it, he's already strong enough to fight Crom Cruach, and now this?" Vali asked while clinching his teeth. "I thought I was catching up to him when I broke through to the minor-god-rank and created my [Empireo Juggernaut Overdrive]."
"Don't forget, though." Arthur said with an impassive expression on his face. "He's got something similar, right? The [Tyrant Dragon Domination Drive]."
"Also, according to Kuroka, he's inching closer and closer to the major god-rank." Le Fay said.
"So what?" Vali growled. "No matter what, I'll catchup to him and defeat him."
"That's the spirit, disciple of mine." Chiron said with a smile. "Just make sure that you keep improving and one day, I'm sure it will happen."
'Though I say this to motivate him, I am not sure how true my own words are.' Chiron thought to himself without losing his smile.
"Alright, everyone, back to training." Chiron said as he returned to the place from which he usually watched the youngsters spar.
Like that, Vali, Vergil, Arthur, and Bikou returned to their training/sparring, while Le Fay prepared to go back to doing what she was doing before Kuroka's communication came through.
"Oh, Le Fay." Chiron called out.
"Yes?" Le Fay asked as she turned to face the old centaur.
"How goes your control over Gogmagog?" Chiron asked with a smile.
"It's great!" Le Fay said excitedly. "I've gotten to the point where I can..."
While answering Chiron's question, Le Fay unleashed a torrent of words and excited squeals, to which Chiron simply smiled.
Underworld, Gremory Territory, Alaverus Estate.
Shortly after James received his second set of [Evil Pieces], James was also presented with the territory he should have received years ago. Since he was given the opportunity to choose, he chose the former Lucifuge Territory, under Grayfia's insistence. Although it had been unoccupied for centuries, it still had some of the Underworld's best caches of resources.
Now, with Irene and the Vampires having been teleported back to his Estate in the Human World, James, his parents, the Gremorys, the Sitri's, Grayfia, and the three peerages decided to stop by the Alaverus Estate in the Gremory Territory.
"*Sigh* It will be a shame to see you all go." Venelana said while hugging Leona.
"Don't say that like you'll never see us again, Lana." Leona said with a smile. "It's not like we could hide even if we wanted to. We'll be family soon enough, right?"
"What do you mean soon enough?" Rhea asked with a snort. "We've been family for decades now."
While the mothers of the three families were messing around, James, Scathach, Cassiel, Grayfia, Zeoticus, and Dante were talking about the development of the territory. They discussed having a manor built, what industries they should try to specialize in, and what industries from other Houses they should allow to settle I their territory, among other things. James, on the other hand, was beginning to lose his patience.
'Why am I even sitting here?' James asked himself as he scanned the faces of those discussing the territory management. 'I'd much rather be training.'
"James, are you listening?" Cassiel asked, noticing that James had become absent minded.
"Honestly, I've been checking in and out for a while now." James replied with a wry smile on his face. "I mean, I know I'm the heir to the Alaver..."
"Hold it right there." Cassiel said. "As the strongest member of the Alaverus House at its inception, it's obvious that you will be the head."
"I'm sorry, come again?" James asked with confusion in his tone.
Then, James once again scanned the faces of everyone who was included in the discussion. When he saw them, all nodding in confirmation, his eyes began to shake while he began to sweat profusely. In short, James was having a panic attack.
"What, wait, wait!" James said frantically. "there's no way I can be the head now. I have so much time left to grow. On top of that, there's no way I would last if I had to stay at home and do paperwork, and..."
At that moment, James realized that everyone around him was smirking. Even the normally expressionless Grayfia and less expressive Scathach were finding enjoyment from his panicked state.
"You all were fucking with me, right?" James asked with a deadpan, before disappearing from his spot a moment later.
*Swoosh!*
The next instant, the sound of a hand swatting at the place where James' head was a moment ago could be heard.
"Watch your language, young man." Leona said as she appeared behind the seat James was just sitting in.
"In any case, were just messing with you." Zeoticus said with a chuckle. "No matter how capable you are, it's too early to install you as a family head."
"Sairaorg would be an exception, I guess." James replied while signaling that he was sorry to his mother.
"That hasn't exactly been finalized." Zeoticus replied. "But yes."
From there, the discussion continued. Eventually, after getting the preliminary plans out of the way, everyone decided to call it a night while returning to their homes. Naturally James, his parents, Rias, Sona, and the members of the three peerages decided to return to the Human World.