Underworld, Satan Territory, Capital City, Lilith.
After Cao Cao's head fell to the floor, the room fell silent for a moment. The first to recover, however, was Azazel. In a blur of speed, he appeared next to Cao Cao's corpse, that was still seated at one of the empty tables, and reached into his corpse to extract the [True Longinus].
"Ha, Michael's gonna owe me one for this." Azazel exclaimed after securing the spear.
A moment later, he pulled out a device from one of his pockets and sealed the [True Longinus]. At the same time, Georg appeared next to Cao Cao's corpse with disbelief written all over his face.
"I knew leaving this to a human was a bad idea." An unfamiliar male voice said. "Good thing they didn't kill the only human in this plan that actually matters."
Wearing black armor and a cape, a handsome young man with brown hair that flowed down to his hips and bangs that covered his right eye, walked into the restaurant.
"Shalba Beelzebub." azazel said after the brown-haired man entered the restaurant. "I was wondering when you would show up. Katerea and Creuserey have already met their ends. Don't you think it's time for you to join them in the afterlife?"
"Don't lump me together with those weaklings, Governor-general of the crows." The brown-haired man, Shalba, said without even looking at Azazel. "You can Grieve later, human. The plan has not failed yet."
Snapping out of his daze at Shalba's words, Georg turned his wrath filled gaze toward James and his group.
"You'll pay for what you've done." Georg said in rage.
"You won't live long enough for that." James said as he appeared next to Georg with his sword piercing through his chest and out of his back.
Georg froze immediately. Then, with difficulty, he tilted his head forward and looked at the sword impaling him.
"It's too late." Georg said quietly before the light in his eyes dimmed.
And just as he said, a magic circle emitting an ominous aura had appeared in front of the rest of the group. Then, a figure wrapped in black chains and nailed to a cross rose from the floor where the magic circle was situated.
"How the hell is he here?" Azazel exclaimed after seeing the bizarre creature.
On the cross was a creature with the upper body of a fallen angel and the lower body of an eastern dragon. Nails with ancient runic inscriptions were driven into its arms, tail, and wings. On top of that, it was wrapped with chains and other restraint devices. Over its eyes was a blindfold, while tears of blood flowed from underneath it.
"What is that thing?" Sona asked with fear seeping into her tone.
"Samael, the Dragon Eater." Azazel said in a solemn tone. "But he should be sealed in Cocytus. Damn that skeleton. His name is written all over this."
"I don't' have time to be wasting with you and your conjectures, Azazel." Shalba said with a sneer. "I'm here for only one reason."
Then, Shalba pointed a finger at Ophis. When he did, Samael let out the most hideous scream any one present had ever heard. Then, its tongue shot out of its mouth toward Ophis, who looked completely unbothered and remained unmoving in front of Samael's attack.
"Are you fucking stupid!?" James shouted as he [Flash Stepped next to Ophis, wrapped an arm around her, and [Flash Stepped] away from Samael's attack.
Seeing James' actions, Shalba gritted his teeth. At the same time, Azazel sighed in relief. Meanwhile, in James' arms, Ophis looked at him with confusion in her eyes. At the same time, James was constantly [Flash Stepping] to avoid being caught by Samael.
"Ophis, I know you're strong." James said after feeling Ophis' confused gaze. "But that thing is literally called the 'Dragon Eater,' ya know?"
"Damn it!" Shalba shouted. "We cannot keep this up for long. He is going to be resealed in Cocytus soon. This useless fail... Urgh."
While he was complaining about Samael's inability to capture or kill Ophis, Shalba did not notice the threat in the form of Scathach that skewered him through the chest with her spear.
"Ignoring this Scathach was quite the oversight, descendant of Beelzebub." Scathach said calmly as she pulled her spear from Shalba's chest.
"How could this...?" Shalba began to question before he fell to the floor and his eyes closed.
After Shalba was dealt with, James, with Ophis in his arms, continued dodging Samael's attacks for another two minutes, or so, then the magic circle that summoned him into the restaurant was dispelled and he vanished back into the floor. At the same time, Azazel also moved to secure [Dimension Lost] from Georg's corpse.
"After recovering two of the top four Longinus, Michael's gonna owe me big." Azazel said with a smile.
"And I suppose you plan on taking all the credit for their defeat." James said, as he stopped next to Azazel.
"I would expect better of the Governor-General of the Grigori." Scathach said, as she also appeared next to Azazel.
"Haha... Of course not." Azazel said with a forced smile. "Naturally, credit will be given where it is due."
Hearing that, James and Scathach nodded in satisfaction. Then, James turned his attention back to Ophis who was clinging to him with no intention of letting go. Also, she still had a confused expression on her face. Well... not on her face but a confused glint in her eyes. Her face was still as expressionless as always.
"*Sigh* Although you probably would not have died." James said as he set Ophis back down on the floor. "But we don't know what the curse of Samael would have done to you. Since it is made of Big G's hatred for dragons and serpents."
Even though James was unsure if she truly understood, or cared, Ophis nodded to James' words.
"You're surprisingly well informed about Samael's curse." Azazel said. "You don't strike me as the studious type."
"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Azazel." James said. "You don't strike anyone, like, at all, as the researcher type, either."
"Touche" Azazel replied with a grin. "But why are you so informed about Samael?"
"After Ddraig awakened, and we had our first real conversation." James began to explain. Then, he looked at Scathach. "Our first real conversation other than licking each other's wounds after Master put us through hell, anyway. Ddraig told me that over time, I would gain a dragon aspect, which would make me susceptible to dragon slaying artifacts and such."
Scathach smiled slightly at what James had to say about her training from several years ago. While Azazel listened carefully.
"I see." Azazel said with a nod. "So, you researched everything that had a chance of killing you easily, huh?"
"That's right." James replied.
"Wait!" Issei shouted, interrupting James and Azazel's conversation. "Does that mean dragon slayer weapons are deadly to me, too?"
"Of course, they are you idiot." Skiadrum said in a sharp tone. "I already explained all of this to you."
"I probably wasn't listening." Issei said while scratching his head in embarrassment.
"*Sigh* Can I trade for a new partner?" Skiadrum said. "The cat girl would have been a much better choice."
"As much fun as it is to listen to Skiadrum bashing Issei." Akeno said while looking out the window of the hotel restaurant. "Isn't the temporary dimension that [Dimension Lost] created supposed to disappear when the wielder dies?"
Hearing that, everyone froze momentarily. Then, Azazel also looked out one of the windows.
"Shit!" Azazel grumbled. "It looks like they created an anchor for this little dimension. Four of them, to be precise."
"Great." James replied.
"But why would they trap us here?" Rias asked.
"They're probably attacking the capital." Sona replied.
"Then we need to get outta here fast, right?" Issei asked.
"Ise is right." James replied. Then, he began to give out orders. "Kitty Cat, I need you to use your [Senjutsu] to try and find those anchors."
Without hesitation, Koneko nodded. Then, she closed her eyes and began to sense her surroundings. At the same time, James looked at the others.
"Master and I will be one group." James said. "Azazel, I need you to go with Sona, Tsubaki, and Reya. Ri Ri, you take your peerage with you. Lancer, you lead Mizore and Moka. These will be the groups that will take out the four anchors. Got it?"
"Why the hell is this kid the one giving orders?" Azazel grumbled even though no one was paying any attention to him.
Before James could continue, however, his shirt was tugged. When he checked to see who it was, he was surprised to see that it was Ophis. In her eyes, she was asking the question, "What about me?" James could only smile wryly. Then, he picked her up and put her on his back, like a piggyback ride.
"You just need to hold on and enjoy the ride." James replied to the question in Ophis eyes.
In response, Ophis just nodded and wrapped her arms and legs around James' neck and torso, respectively. Then, shortly after James positioned Ophis on his back, Koneko opened her eyes.
"There's one on the roof, one in the underground parking garage, one in the plaza outside the front entrance, and one in the parking lot outside the rear entrance." Koneko reported.
"How are the enemies distributed?" Scathach asked.
"There are more concentrated around the anchor in the back." Koneko replied. "The rest seem to be guarded evenly."
"Good Job, Kitty Cat." James said and rubbed Koneko's head. "Then, Master and I will take care of the one out back."
"I knew you were gonna say that." Rias said with a wry smile. "But that's probably the best choice."
"Sona and Azazel nodded in response.
"Anyway, Lancer, you lead Mizore and Moka to the roof." James said.
"Understood." Cu Chulainn replied with a nod.
"Azazel, you and the Sitri peerage should go to the parking garage." James continued.
"That's fine by me." Azazel replied with a shrug. "How about you, Sona?"
"I don't see any problems, either." Sona replied while adjusting her glasses.
"And last but not least, Rias." James said while turning his attention toward Rias and her peerage. "Take your peerage to the front entrance."
"Will do." Rias replied. "Alright, let's go."
Like that, Rias rushed off with her peerage in tow.
"She's enthusiastic, isn't she?" James asked with a smile.
"Well, we can't fall behind, now, can we?" Azazel said as he began walking toward the exit of the restaurant.
"He's right." Sona said as she also began walking. "Let's go, Tsubaki and Reya."
Naturally, Tsubaki, who summoned her naginata, and Reya followed their [King]. Cu Chulainn, Mizore, and Moka also left the restaurant. Not before Mizore and Moka gave James a kiss, though.
"We're the only ones left." James said as he made eye contact with Scathach. "Shall we?"
James gestured to Scathach to take the lead as he spoke.
"You do realize that the concept of ladies first is useless on the battlefield, right?" Scathach asked with a small smile.
"Yes, but I know that if I tried to go before you, I'd have hell in training for a while." James replied with a smile.
"At least you learn quickly." Scathach replied.
Then, Scathach sprinted out of the restaurant. In response, James shook his head with a wry smile on his face while glancing discreetly at the corpses scattered around. Then, he vanished from his spot. After everyone except for the supposed corpses left the restaurant, one of them, Shalba, began to twitch.
"Ugh... Putting myself into a death-like state was a good idea." Shalba said as he rolled himself over. "I'll make that bitch pay for what she did to me."
As Shalba spoke, he carefully reached into a small dimensional pocket he created. When he pulled his hand out, he was holding an arrow that was smeared with a black substance.
"She may not be a dragon, but Samael's poison will still make her suffer." Shalba said as he stared at the arrow in his hand.
*Swish!*
The next moment, however, Shalba's head rolled away from his body. Then, James appeared next to his corpse and looked down at the arrow.
"Thats' really some nasty poison, just being near it is making me uncomfortable." James said. Then, like Shalba, he created a small pocket dimension and stored the arrow without touching it directly."
Mount Meru, Trayastrimsa.
*Bang!*
At the same time, a tall man with greenish-brown hair in a buzz-cut and lavender eyes wearing an Aloha shirt, loose shorts, and a jewel around his neck smashed his fist on the armrest of his throne.
"Are you telling me that he killed Cao Cao even after knowing that he had my backing?" the tall man, Indra, said angrily.
"Yes, Lord Indra." Sun Wukong said while bowing respectfully.
'Damn it, Kid.' Sun Wukong grumbled mentally. 'Couldn't you wait a few more days? Then I would have been out on a different mission.'
"Tell me, who was it that killed him?" Indra ordered.
"It was most likely a half-devil named James Alaverus." Sun Wukong answered.
"Then, go and take his head for me." Indra ordered while waving dismissively.
"I would recommend against that, Lord Indra." Sun Wukong said with cold sweat flowing down his back. "Jams Alaverus is the disciple of Scathach. And as I told you before, she is no longer bound to the Land of Shadows."
'Yeah, right.' Sun Wukong thought to himself while speaking. 'If you think I'll go and challenge that crazy bitch just because you told me so, you're going senile.'
'He's that crazy woman's disciple?' Indra thought to himself. 'Even if she is no threat to me, she could wreak havoc throughout my armies. Cao Cao is not worth it.'
"Very well." Indra said with a sour look on his face. "I'll make a complaint to that Devil Council or whatever it is called. I'm sure they would be thrilled to get rid of a half-devil strong enough to kill Cao Cao. Now, You are dismissed."