Human World, Hanging Neck Island.
"What the hell is that thing?" Yusuke asked after the smoke from Acnologia's entrance cleared.
"That is Acnologia." Koenma said from outside Irene's barrier while he was being carried by Ogre. "By the way, would you mind letting me in?"
"Um... Me too, please." Ogre chimed in.
With that, Irene opened a small hole in the barrier, allowing Koenma and his attendant to come inside.
"So, who... or what is Acnologia?" Kuwabara asked with a bit of fear in his tone.
In response to Kuwabara's question, Koenma began explaining what he knew about Acnologia while Irene supplemented the story with some knowledge of her own.
Meanwhile, the conversation between James and Acnologia continued.
"are you really arrogant enough to think that you could even defend yourself against me with your power sealed like that?" Acnologia asked disdainfully. "That kind of arrogance and pride is the reason why all dragons should be wiped from existence."
"Yeah, yeah, that's a real interesting take on things." James said in a disinterested tone. "But seriously, why would you even think that I didn't have a way to disengage the seal if I knew that a battle with you and that fuckboy Rizevim could happen at any time?"
"What the hell did you just call me, you little bastard?" Rizevim shouted as he flew through the opening in the roof. "And you, I told you to wait until the tournament was over! Your fight could ruin all my plans, you big, stupid lizard!"
"Oh, wow, is this my lucky day?" James asked with an excited smile on his face when he saw Rizevim. Then, he continued with a contemplative expression on his face. "I read the paper this morning, but I didn't see any advertisements for a BOGO sale. Maybe it's one of those flash sales I've heard about."
"Be gone, insect." Acnologia said, addressing Rizevim and ignoring James' taunt. "I've followed your plans for long enough. But I will not allow a weakling like you to dictate when I can fight to kill a dragon any longer."
"If you won't stop right now, then take it somewhere else." Rizevim said with a frown. "The tournament was just about to get to the best part."
As Rizevim continued to hurl abuse at Acnologia, the black dragon was clearly becoming more irritated. In fact, if Rizevim continued for much longer, James was certain that Acnologia's irritation would turn into rage.
'Hmm… Ddraig, is it just me or is Rizevim trying a little too hard to get our fight away from the arena.' James asked internally.
"[Yeah, it's not just you.]" Ddraig replied. "[In fact, he's trying way too hard.]"
'That's what I thought.' James said. 'But why?'
"[No clue.]" Ddraig replied nonchalantly. "[Piecing together my foe's motives was never my strong suit.]"
'Yeah, you were more of the "hit it 'til it breaks" type.' James said in agreement. 'But, If my guess is correct, this arena, which is new for the tournament, has something to do with Rizevim's plan to unseal Trihexa.'
"[If you are right, what are you going to do about it?]" Ddraig asked with a grin.
Sporting a similar grin, James answered his partner's question.
'Well, I think I'll take a page out of your book, Partner.' James said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"[So, then, hit it 'til it breaks?]" Ddraig asked with his grin transforming into a full-blown smile.
'Yup, hit it 'til it breaks.' James replied.
Human world, Japan, Kuoh.
While James was confronting Acnologia and Rizevim, a young man with red eyes and gold-blond, spiky hair, wearing a suit of exquisite golden armor was slowly approaching Kuoh from the north. However, before he could get too close to the town, he was stopped by a pair of people, a man and a woman.
"You mongrels dare to block my path?" the blond man, Gilgamesh asked in an irritated tone.
"Master, I don't like this guy's attitude." Cu Chulainn said with a frown on his face. Then, after flourishing his spear, he glared at Gilgamesh and continued. "Maybe we should give him ma little attitude adjustment."
"Indeed, his manners are quite lacking." Scathach replied, brandishing her own spear.
"You mongrels would dare to correct this king?" Gilgamesh asked with a chuckle that hid no small amount of malice. "Then, allow me to show you your place."
With that, several dozen glowing, golden portals opened in the sky behind Gilgamesh. Then, from each portal, the blade of a weapon, whether it be a sword, an axe, a spear, or many others, poked through each. A moment later, the weapons were fired at the master-disciple pair at high speed.
Instinctively, Cu Chulainn prepared to avoid the incoming weapons. However, he was swiftly stopped by Scathach.
"We have to block or deflect them." Scathach said, taking her stance and materializing a second spear in her off-hand. "If we dodge, there is a good chance that they will damage the town."
With Scathach's reminder, Cu Chulainn planted his feet and prepared to face the onslaught head on.
Human World, Japan, Kyoto.
Waiting just outside the Youkai Sub-Dimension, Yasaka breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the arrival of Mizore and Moka. Although she was still stronger than the two girls, though not by as much as she thought, she knew that if an enemy were to attack Kyoto, she would be its last line of defense.
"I'm glad you two came." Yasaka said with a smile.
"Of course, we'd come to help after getting Irene's message." Moka replied with a nod.
"That's right." Mizore replied as well. "Besides, we have a lot of good memories in this city. So, there's no way we'll allow it to be destroyed."
"Really, I seriously doubt that you have what it takes to stop me from doing that." Sai an unfamiliar male voice.
Looking in the voice's direction Yasaka, Mizore, and Moka saw a tall man with long, blond hair, and red eyes with slitted pupils approaching the entrance to the Youkai Sub-dimension with casual steps. At first, they considered that he might be part of the Hero Faction, seeing that he was wearing a gakuren. However, considering that he was giving off the presence of a youkai, they quickly threw out that idea.
"Who the hell are you?" Mizore asked with hostility in her tone.
"Oh my, how terribly rude of me." The blond man replied with a smile. "My name is Kuyou, one of the few nine-tailed foxes that still live to this day."
"Kuyou? I've heard rumors about you." Yasaka said. "One says that you are a descendant of Tamamo no Mae, but I seriously doubt that to be true."
"Indeed, that is far from the truth." Kuyou acknowledged. "Rather, I disdain her. Nothing she does is for the sake of justice."
"For justice, and how is attacking the Western Youkai Faction under Rizevim's orders just?" Moka asked with a frown.
"First of all, I do not follow that man's orders." Kuyou said, correcting Moka's statemen. "However, I do agree with him to some extent. This world's power structure must be rewritten. There is no reason that the weakest of all races, the humans, should be the dominant race in this realm."
"Oh, great! He's one of those types, isn't he?" Moka asked while placing her right hand on her forehead.
"I know, right?" Mizore added. "And let me guess, you're the type who thinks that only they can lead the world in the right direction, right?"
"Precisely, with someone like me shepherding them, the humans will lead much more fulfilling lives with justice in their hearts."
"Yeah, I think I've heard enough." Moka said. "Can we just get to kicking his ass, already?"
"Very well." Yasaka said with a nod. Then, she began amassing an obscene amount of energy, using her connection to the leylines. "I'll create a barrier to separate the three of you from the city. That way, your battle won't alarm the normal humans."
"Alright." Mizore said while coating her hands in ice and shaping it into claws.
"Yeah, let's get started." Moka said, materializing gauntlets and grieves on her arms and legs.
Human World, Japan, Kuoh.
Approaching Kuoh from the direction opposite of Gilgamesh was a tall, muscular man with a blond beard and radiant blue eyes. To anyone who did not know his identity, he would appear to be a god of some sort. However, to those who recognized him, he would be considered one of the worst traitors in the history of the Underworld.
This man was Mundus, one of the original Lucifers fiercest generals. However, at the end of the great war, while Lucifer was badly injured, though he would have recovered from such injuries, after his battle with the Biblical God, Mundus was the one who dealt him the fatal blow. Though it is mentioned in the Underworld's history books that Lucifer was unable to recover from his injuries.
In fact, the reason that the truth never came out was that Lucifer somehow managed to seal Mundus away just before he breathed his last breath. Then, believing that the news of Mundus betrayal would destabilize the Underworld even more, the upper echelon of the devils sealed away the truth.
It was not until after the Devil Civil War that Rizevim found the sealed Mundus and released him. After catching him up to speed, Rizevim made it known that there were now three devils, including himself, that surpassed his father in power. In doing so, he convinced Mundus to work with him to bring chaos to this oh, so stagnant world.
In return for Mundus assistance, Rizevim would give him free reign over how the Underworld would be managed going forward.
"There are so many weak humans in this town." Mundus said as he looked over the town of Kuoh. "Why do we even allow them to exist?"
"I don't think that's something you have any say in." Dante replied, walking casually toward Mundus with his sword, Rebellion, resting on his shoulder.
"Indeed." Vergil added. "Not to mention, you interrupted our spar with your presence. Something you should undoubtedly be punished for."
Looking over the two young men, Vergil andante, Mundus recognized them as half-devils immediately. However, when he realized who they were exactly, he smiled widely.
"Well, if it isn't the half-blood sons of the traitor, Sparda." Mundus said with a chuckle. "After I sent those devils to your home and they killed your mother all those years ago, I stopped paying attention to any reports about the two of you."
Immediately, both Vergil and Dante were angered when they heard that Mundus was responsible for their mother's murder, with Dante being visibly angrier. Then, they both readied themselves to fight, before charging forward with their swords drawn.
Underworld, Satan Territory, Lilith.
Like the few conflicts that were slated to begin in the Human World, several important cities in the Underworld were also facing attacks from Rizevim's forces. On top of that, Euclid Lucifuge had been released by a spy Rizevim had planted in the Underworld's highest security prison, though he was killed by another guard before he could release any more prisoners.
In response, the remaining members of James' peerages, Rias and her peerage, as well as Sona and her peerage were dispatched the several battlefields in the Underworld to stop the chaos from spreading. Even Ravel and her newly forming peerage were also sent to Lilith to work with the Devil army that was defending it.
"What are all these monsters?" One of the Underworld's soldiers asked as a battalion of monsters grew from the ground between the two opposing forces.
"I don't know, but this scene looks familiar, somehow." Another soldier said with a contemplative expression on his face.
"That's not important right now." A third, higher ranking member of the Underworld army said in a reprimanding tone. "What we need to figure out right now is, whose side are those monsters on."
While the Underworld soldiers were discussing the appearance of the monsters, a trio of young males and females walked through the army's ranks. When they arrived next to the commanding officer, the leader of the trio, Ravel Phenex, spoke to alleviate his worries.
"There's no need to worry, captain." Ravel said calmly. "These monsters were created by my [Pawn's] [Sacred Gear], [Annihilation Maker]. So, they are definitely on our side."
"Ah... Lady Ravel, I understand." The commanding officer said in a relieved tone. Then, he turned back toward the battlefield, where Ravel's [Pawn], Leonardo's army of monsters was about to make contact with the opposing forces. "In that case, I will make sure to coordinate the army's movements with the monsters."
"Good." Ravel replied with a nod. "In that case, I'll leave Leonardo in your care for now."
After receiving a nod in reply, Ravel then turned to the two members of her peerage.
"Leonardo, you haven't been training with us long enough for me to send you into the fray to fight alongside your monsters." Ravel said before stroking the younger boy's head affectionately. "So, for this battle, I need you to just hang back and command your monsters, okay?"
"Okay, Big Sis." Leonardo replied with a slight smile on his face.
After the Hero Faction's attack on the Underworld, Leonardo was captured alive by James. Then, after he went through Grigori's mental rehabilitation, he was accepted into Ravel's peerage. Unfortunately, the mental trauma he was put through in the Hero Faction was not so easily healed, resulting in Ravel becoming his pillar of support. Thus, Leonardo eventually took to calling her "Big Sis."
"Kokoa, you'll come with me." Ravel said, turning to her [Knight]. "We should be able to do a lot more damage to their forces if we fight up close."
"Got it." Kokoa replied with a nod.
A moment later, Kokoa summoned her familiar, Kou, and transformed him into a longsword. Then, she, with Ravel following closely, made their way into the midst of Leonardo's monster army, just waiting for the chance to strike a blow to the enemies of the Underworld.