Human World, Japan, Kuoh.
When Zest returned to the living room, she was followed by five young people, a black dog with red eyes, a hawk, a small white cat, and a small, masked, four-horned beast.
The first, a handsome young man with short black hair and pale grey eyes, stood at 5'8" (1.74 m), had a lean build, and wore a bartender's attire. This was Ikuse Tobio, the leader of the Slash/Dog Team and the possessor of one of the thirteen Longinus, the independent avatar-type [Sacred Gear], [Canis Lykaon], [Canis Lykaon], or Jin as Tobio calls it, took the form of the large, red-eyed dog that followed Tobio into the living room.
Next was Lavinia Reni, a beautiful, buxom young woman with long flowing blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes, who exuded the vibe of a gentle older sister. She wore standard magician robes with a hood on her back and stood at 5'7" (1.7 m) tall. Like Tobio, she also wielded one of the thirteen Longinus, [Absolute Demise].
Third, a beautiful, young woman standing at 5'3" (1.61 m) with a curvy figure, brown hair tied in a ponytail, and wearing what appears to be a secret agent's uniform. Her name, Minagawa Natsume, and she is the wielder of an independent avatar-type [Sacred Gear] that carries the spirit of Kyuki, the Fiend of Deviousness. Her [Sacred Gear], who she nicknamed Griffin, took the form of a hawk and sat on her shoulder.
The fourth of the young people was Samejima Kouki, a handsome man who looked like your typical Japanese delinquent with a small white cat laying on his shoulder with its tale wrapped around his neck. Like Tobio and Natsume, he also wielded an independent avatar-type [Sacred Gear]. This [Sacred Gear], in the form of the cat laying on his shoulder carried the spirit of Toukotsu, the Fiend of Ignorance. Though Kouki calls it Byakusa.
The last member of the Slash/Dog Team was a beautiful, young woman with European facial features, dark blonde hair tied in two ponytails, and heterochromatic eyes. Her left eye being black, while her right is light blue. In her arms, she carries a small, masked, four-horned beast that she named, Poh. This beast, or Poh, is yet another independent avatar-type [Sacred Gear], and it carries the spirit of Toutetsu, the Fiend of Gluttony.
After entering the living room, the five members of the Slash/Dog Team scanned the room. Then, when they saw scathach, except for Lavinia, they all shuddered. Lavinia on the other hand smiled when she saw Vali.
"Va-Kun, you beat us here." Lavinia said as she rushed up and hugged Vali.
"Let go of me, Lavinia!" Vali said, struggling to free himself from the magician's grasp.
"That's not very nice, Va-Kun." Lavinia said with a slight pout. "You're supposed to hug me back and tell me how much you missed me."
"So, you want me to lie to you?" Vali asked while continuing to struggle.
"Va-Kun, you're such a Tsundere." Lavinia said with a bright smile.
"That's not a sight I was expecting to see today." James said with a smirk while watching Vali struggle to free himself. Then, he shifted his attention to the rest of the Slash/Dog Team and stood up. "Slash/Dog Team, I'm glad you came. I'm James Alav... Ugh... James Sataniel, the commander of this task force."
As he spoke, James approached Tobio with his hand extended. At the same time, he paid attention to Jin, who was staring at him intensely.
"It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Ikuse Tobio." Tobio introduced himself as well, accepting James' handshake. "I hope we're not late."
"No, you're not late." James replied with a smile. "There actually should be two more who have yet to arrive."
After saying that, James then looked at Michael and Gabriel with a questioning expression.
"*Sigh* They should be here soon." Michael said. "He probably got distracted. So, we sent Griselda to bring him here."
*Ding Dong!*
As if it were waiting for Michael to say that, the doorbell rang once again right after his words fell. Like she had done the previous three times, Zest headed to the front door to escort the visitors into the living room. At the same time, Grayfia began preparing tea. While the tea was brewing, she headed to the kitchen to retrieve snacks for the guests.
A minute or so later, Zest returned with Griselda Quarta, who most of James' peerage had met in Heaven, and a handsome young man with blond hair, green eyes, and wearing priest attire. On top of that, he had a halo floating over his head and twelve pure white wings on his back.
"Dulio, please put your wings away." Griselda said. "There would be a lot of people in the living room, space is probably tight."
"Sorry, Sister Griselda, I forgot." Dulio Gesualdo, the young man who just entered the living room said with a smile while retracting his wings.
"So, this is Dulio Gesualdo, the Joker of the [Brave Saints] and the wielder of [Zenith Tempest], the second-ranked Longinus." James said while scrutinizing Dulio. Then, he looked at Michael and continued to speak. "But I thought he was only at the peak of ultimate-rank, or a ten-winged angel."
"Allow me to answer that." Dulio said with a gentle smile. "On my way here, while I was handing out food to orphaned children, I felt the love of the Lord. Then, the number of my wings increased."
"Uh... Sure." James replied awkwardly. "Go you..."
Most of the devils, other than Asia and Xenovia, felt about the same as James about Dulio's explanation. However, Asia and Xenovia felt as if they completely understood what Dulio meant.
"Anyway, it's a good thing that your power has increased." James said with a smile. "Since I planned on making you the vice-commander of this task force, Dulio."
James' declaration came as quite a shock to everyone in the room.
"I would have bet all the money I have that you would have made Scathach your second in command." Azazel said with his eyes wide open.
James shook his head in response to Azazel's words. He could also see that everyone else was just as surprised.
"As much as I hate to admit it, even though she is one of my [Queens], Scathach is by definition, my servant." James said in an apologetic tone while looking at Scathach. "So, she is not suitable for that position. Instead, along with Irene and Evangeline, I will be looking to her as an advisor."
"That makes sense." Sirzechs said with a nod. "But why did you choose Dulio? Not to say that he isn't worthy of the position. But with Chiron here..."
"The last time we met Chiron, he made it clear that he only intended to train the next generation." James said, interrupting Sirzechs. "So, it wouldn't be right to push him into a position that he clearly does not want."
Hearing that, Chiron nodded at James appreciatively.
"Then, what about Vali?" Bikou asked while pointing a finger at Vali, who was still being smothered by Lavinia.
Everyone else turned their attention to Vali as well. Then, when they saw him flailing his arms in Lavinia's embrace, they had to try very hard to not laugh aloud.
"There are two reasons, actually." James said, replying to Bikou's question. "The first, I don't want it to be known that the Vali Team and the Slash/Dog Team are part of this task force. It would be better if both of your teams sent us info secretly. That way, Rizevim wouldn't know when we were onto him."
Everyone from both the Vali and Slash/Dog Teams, other than Vali and Lavinia, nodded in understanding.
"And what's the second reason, nya?" Kuroka asked curiously.
"it's because Vali's personality sucks." James replied with a smile and a shrug. "He's somehow too aggressive and emo at the same time. Not really great leader material."
Once again, everyone nodded in understanding.
"James, you bastard!" Vali shouted. Then, he looked at the rest of his team. "And why are you bastards agreeing with him. I'm not emo!"
The rest of the Vali team looked away. They could not make eye contact with Vali at the moment.
"Anyway, how's Valerie?" James asked, completely ignoring Vali.
"Yea... Yeah, how is Valerie?" Gasper echoed.
"She is doing well." Chiron replied with a calm smile. "She has improved in the use of her [Sacred Gear]. Plus, she is no longer as affected by the voices of the deceased."
"I'm so glad." Gasper said with tears in his eyes.
"Do you think she's good enough to bring one more person back to life?" James asked with a solemn expression on his face.
"Perhaps." Chiron replied. "But why do you ask."
"I'll explain it later." James said. "Once we're done hashing out the details for our little task force."
Chiron nodded in understanding. Then, the group's attention was turned back to the reason they were all called to meet.
"Like I said, our goal is to find Rizevim." James reiterated. "Thanks to the All-Father, we know that he stole some research on Trihexa's seal. If Rizevim is as unhinged as I think he is, he's probably using that information to find Trihexa."
"Why would he do that?" Gabriel asked while tilting her head cutely. "Trihexa is really bad news."
"Because my grandfather is a lunatic." Vali said, finally freeing himself from Lavinia. "The only thing he cares about is causing suffering. That's what he thinks a devil should be, after all."
"*Sigh* Unfortunately, that's the same behavior he exhibited when he lived in the Underworld as well." Sirzechs said in a solemn tone.
"Has Euclid Lucifuge said anything?" James asked.
"Nothing." Sirzechs replied. "The only thing he ever says anything about is taking Grayfia away from a traitor like me. And how I must have deceived her into betraying the Lucifer Clan."
"Did I hit him too hard?" James asked himself aloud. "When I bitch-slapped him, did he get brain damage? Is this my fault?"
"Wait, you bitch slapped Euclid?" Vali asked incredulously. "You're talking about that arrogant guy whose nose was always so high up in the air?"
"You know his sister is standing right there, right?" James asked, pointing at Grayfia who seemed completely unfazed.
"And?" Vali asked in a completely uncaring tone.
"Like I said, not leader material." James said, shaking his head.
"Just answer my question, damn it!" Vali barked.
"Yeah, I bitch-slapped him." James replied. "It was at the end of Crom Cruach and I's first fight. Euclid showed up, spouting some shit about half-breeds. Since I was tired of hearing shit like that, I kinda snapped and bitch-slapped him, breaking his neck in the process. Luckily, we have Asia. Otherwise, he would have died."
"Ahh... That was a good fight, we should do it again." Crom Cruach said happily. "And you, White Dragon Emperor, have you grown stronger? I would like to fight you again, as well."
Vali could only grit his teeth with anger flashing in his eyes. The first time he met Crom Cruach, in the Tepes Castle, he was absolutely devastated. Crom Cruach did not even take on any of his draconic traits. Yet, Vali was easily defeated. Granted, he was only at the ultimate-rank back then and he did not have full control of his [Empireo Juggernaut Overdrive], either. Still, the defeat was quite humiliating for Vali.
"Oh, we'll fight again." Vali said through gritted teeth. "And I'll show you how strong I've become."
"I look forward to it." Crom Cruach replied with a battle thirsty grin.
*Clap!*
"Focus!" James shouted. "Damn battle junkies."
"Wow, really?" Mizore asked in an incredulous tone.
"Hello, Kettle?" Moka said while putting her right hand to her ear as if she were making a phone call. "This is James. I'd just like to say...You're black."
With that, the room descended into uproarious laughter. Then, after the laughter died down, the continued to discuss what the task force would do, how they would do it, scheduled joint training sessions, discussed where the entire group could train together, etc.
"Wait!" Shion shouted, catching everyone's attention. "What are we calling this task force?"
Everyone froze when they heard that question. And considering that one of the less intellectually gifted people was the one to think of it when no one else did made the people that know Shion feel a little depressed.
After that, several names were thrown around before ultimately getting rejected. Then, Koneko raised her hand.
"How about DxD, meaning Draconic defenders." Koneko said with her usual deadpan.
"Why Draconic Defenders, nya?" Kuroka asked curiously.
"Because we have four of the strongest dragons I the world on this team." Koneko said.
"Now that you mention it, we have the Red Dragon Emperor, the White Dragon Emperor, the Cresent Circle Dragon, and the Chaos Karma Dragon on this team." Yasaka said with a nod.
"Plus, we have the Gigantis Dragon, the Shadow Dragon King, and the Prison Dragon." Azazel said with his usual shit eating grin. "The little kitten has pretty good naming sense."
"Don't' call me that." Koneko said while giving Azazel the stink eye. "Only James-Nii can call me that."
"Irene was also once a dragon." James said with a smile. "And she was about equal in power with a dragon king, too. Good job, Kitty Cat."
In response to James' praise, Koneko smiled. Before she could be happy for too long, though, she was shaken. When she looked to see who was shaking her, she saw Ophis pouting at her.
"Me too." Ophis said.
"Of course." Koneko replied with a nod. "We've got the Infinite Dragon God on the team, too."
Then, Koneko handed Ophis one of her snacks and the group continued to discuss the details of their cooperation.