After the talk with his grandfather and cousins, Romonus steeled himself to take on the responsibility he would obtain. While his two cousins would help him hold down the fort, he would be on the front lines with the lives of over a million Devils who made up the remaining Legions of House Bael on his shoulders.
On his own, he no longer had much opposition in DxD except for a few mighty beings. Great Red, Trihexa, Ophis, and the three Trimutri who could fight against him. He didn't know what they could do so Romonus didn't become arrogant because of his Pride.
So many had perished in the Great Wars that most Clans couldn't even support having them, except for the wealthy Clans. House Bael was beyond rich, so their forces were properly armed. When he took over the Clan, he planned to help Miria revive her Clan by resurrecting her Father and Mother.
With House Amduscius revived, he would gain more allies than he already had. It would also help Miria overcome her shame of not being able to save her Father even though she had been on the battlefield when he died.
As for Vespera, she just wanted her Mother and Father back, along with Shirone, Akeno, and Kuroka. The plan was for Valerie to bring them all back once he became Lord Bael, as he didn't think it would be easy to bring back long-dead beings.
However, Enuncia did not obey the laws of reality; it made them obey. Until then, Romonus prepared himself for the day of his coronation. Demaenetus was still acting as Lord Bael for his failure of a son, Azland, and wanted out. He sent a message to the entire Bael army—the 100 Legions they still had, which totaled a million Devils. They were to gather at the Bael Castle, where Romonus would receive the status of Lord Bael from him.
It was also where every other Lord Bael had received their position from the previous. Zekram rarely visited, but this time, he would be present against his wishes. This day was planned for three weeks to give Demaenetus the time to set everything up. The Legions of House Bael covered an extensive territory so they never gathered together except during war or when the next Lord Bael took office.
The latter was happening, and since it was not a Ball or a party, no outside clans would be invited, only the forces of House Bael and Romonus' family. In the three weeks of his coronation, he entered the Time Chamber again, adding another year to his age, making him 22.
He took everyone with him as a year was a great time to train as a group. Romonus felt that his abilities became even more refined at the year mark of his training. His Sparda Bloodline still had plenty of power to tap into. Though slowing down a bit, he still had more to discover.
Rias, who was his twin while not possessing his bloodline, much like their brother Sirzechs, had her genes as a Devil mutate further. The drastic change caused her strength to skyrocket, and her desire not to be left behind drove her to improve.
Plus, he had trained her as harshly as he could since, as his twin, she could not be weak. Rias, Latia, Seekvaira, Venelana, Roygun, and the Devil girls, as he called them, wanted to experience the same, so they drilled just as hard.
Valerie did her best to master her Sacred Gear further to draw out more power from them, but Romonus stopped her. She had done enough, and now pure effort would be needed to improve them.
Kuroka, Shirone, and Walburga, the fake Nekomata needed to draw more power from their species. More tails would make them stronger, and Shirone grew a tail in 6 months, making her number reach 7.
The rest of the girls and Romonus' students had similar improvements, and after they emerged from the Training Chamber, they were to relax until Romonus' coronation day.
---
When the day arrived for Romonus to become the Lord of his Clan, he was ready. He was already wearing an Archaon with his helmet off in a room of the Bael Castle. Behind him, his cape billowed as a living extension of Archaon.
It reminded him of the cape of Spawn which he quite loved. Romonus looked at himself in the mirror as Archaon was truly the best wear for the occasion. The shimmering black and purple armor glowed with Demonic Mana as Romonus gazed into the mirror.
As he prided himself on his appearance, Venelana was dressed in a long purple gown with her hair up, which made her look even more alluring. She wore several natural jewels such as rings, hair ornaments, necklaces, and her dress. She levitated in front of him as she combed out his beard and even fixed his hair. He let her do as she wanted because Latia and Seekvaira were fussing behind him, looking for faults in Archaon. A thought the Living Armor found deeply offensive, but let them.
Kharn and Grimaldus were seated on his shoulders while Azi Dahaka was on his head. Venelana, Romonus, and the rest of his lovers were not alone, as several maids were rushing around, helping his lovers all get dressed with him.
Miria was sitting nearby in a set of armor once belonging to her Father. She had it refitted to suit her, but wearing it made her feel closer to her dead Father. Just as she let the negative thoughts win, she heard Romonus speak.
"Do not worry, Miria. I promised to return your family, and that is what I will do?"
She smiled as one of the maids fixed her long purple hair into its usual braid and even waxed her Oni horns. Something Roygun taught her.
"I know you will. It just hurts to wear this armor; he died in it. I had to forge it again from what remained, but I still feel parts of him linger. If I close my eyes, I think I can remember his scent, how his beard pricked my cheeks as a child, or how his voice sounded.
I still remember it all. I miss him. More than I miss my Mother."
The maid helping her sniffled upon hearing that. Romonus had not asked about her Mother, as she only spoke of her Father. He decided not to ask as Valerie turned to her.
"I swear to do my best."
Miria grinned, showing that her teeth were sharper than normal.
"I know you will."
Valerie smiled as the maids braided her long blonde hair. She turned to Vespera, who, unlike her, was dressed in black armor suited more to a Vampire Knight than a Queen. Vespera was quiet as the maids fixed her hair to avoid getting caught when she placed her helmet on.
A helmet modeled after a Shin, a black hound. Something, Vespera noted was how she and Miria had a style.
"You and I are quite similar, Miria. Though, unlike you, who received the love of your Father, I grew up with my evil grandmother."
Miria smirked.
"That evil grandmother whose body you now own."
With a grin of her own, Vespera nodded.
"Of course."
Some maids felt quite scared, as most of these women were beyond mighty. Each one had the same power as a Super Devil, above or beyond Satan's Class strength. As for Romonus, several maids shined Archaon with a polish Romonus made himself. His sword, Ruin Maker, received the same treatment on a table.
The blade weighed almost 2 tons, so almost 12 maids had to use their magic together to move it. While they shinned the sword, Venelana, who had finished with Romonus, smiled at him.
She didn't care that their relationship was sinful or wrong; he was her son, and that is why, as a lover, he was the best. A notion only a sinful creature like a Devil could justify.
"I am so proud of the man you have become, Romonus. I could not be more proud of you."
Romonus reached down and held his Mother's shoulders.
"And I could not be more thankful to have a Mother like you. My talent came from you; if I was born to someone else, I am sure I would still be stuck in the Ultimate Class."
With a smile that spoke of pride, Venelana held his clawed gauntlet.
"A Mother wants the best of all her kids. I am glad you managed to help RIas reach where she is now."
Rias had several maids do her hair and makeup. She wore a deep Crimson dress that matched her hair with blue enchanted gems all over her body. She sighed to herself, hearing her mother.
"It was not easy, let me tell you. It took your divorce for me to find my fire."
Venelana smiled.
"I'm glad I could help. I won, and you did, too. Still, I am thankful to hear you say that, but with your drive, even if you were a commoner, your drive would have gotten you there Romonus. If you reached a bottleneck, you would find a way."
Rias smiled as the maids fussed with her hair and finished applying the eye shadow and lipstick. Everyone was fussed over, but Silvana was much like Romonus, Miria, and Vespera. She was dressed in her own Living Armor, Ernaline.
Unlike Archaon, who was male like his master, Ernaline was female like Silvana. Her head was on a table as the maids fixed her hair while others treated her armor like Archaon. Silvana's eyes moved to look at Romonus.
"We all became this strong because of Romonus, especially you, Valerie."
Valerie blushed at the praise.
"I am not so great."
Everyone turned to her as if she had said something dumb. This caused her to blush even more because if not for her, none of them would be immortal or as strong as they were—not even Romonus, as her Sacred Gear was the biggest asset they had.
Roygun tried to give her more pride.
"Girl, see it like this. No one else could control your Sacred Gear as well as you do because of who you are. Valerie, you are special, more than you realize."
Serafall pointed at herself.
"You made me even stronger by unlocking my latent Gremory ability. With all the training, I already joined the ranks of Ajuka and Sirzechs."
Latia had more to say as well.
"You made my Agares and Astaroth traits even stronger; I am as strong as I am because of you, and we are immortal, too."
Valerie smiled as everyone needed her no matter what she thought.
"Thank you."
Everyone spoke at the same time for her.
"Not a problem."
---
After 30 minutes, when everyone was prepared, Romonus looked around the room. Latia, Seekvaira, Venelana, Rias, Roygun, Natsume, and Serafall wore fancy gowns to impress. Silvana, Miria, Vespera, Akeno, and Itsuki all wore armor, with Itsuki using her Abyss Side Balance Breaker, a unique armor set to stand out.
Kuroka, Shirone, and Walburga were dressed in fancy Kimonos made in Japan by the semesters of the gods. Not one of them dressed the same, but preparations were done from the look of things.
Using magic, the maids picked up Ruin Maker and floated him to Romonus. They all bowed as he reached down and took his blade before placing the now living weapon on his back. The blade's spirit spoke to him in a teenage-like voice.
'We killin?'
Unlike Archaon, who was mature, Ruin Maker was like an angsty teen who only wanted to kill. He could focus on things, but like a little boy, he only wanted to do what he liked.
'No.'
'Awww.'
Hearing the voice of his younger brother, Archaon sighed like a disappointed elder.
'If I had known he would end up like this, I would have preferred him to stay nonsentient.'
Romonus didn't mind it.
'I think it is fine. Though-'
When he gazed at the Curse Shield on his left arm, he, Archaon, and Ruin Maker watched carefully. A silent rage seethed from the artifact, asking for more violence than Ruin Maker.
Romonus shook his head as he focused. As the maids began to step out, he first turned to his lovers.
"This is it; I will be Lord Bael from this point. I will be in charge of the largest standing army of Devils. And will be able to sign the deaths of millions with my words. No pressure."
Akeno chuckled as she looked at Romonus, looking at them all.
"You COULD do that already with a wave of your hand. Just now, your status will match your power. Azazel has been wanting to make me the next Governor General; with that, I could have control over the armies of Grigori."
Romonus smirked, thinking of his best friend.
"Azazel is here, right?"
Akeno nodded.
"Yup, he would not miss this for the world, though you will see him after."
Romonus looked up at the ceiling. He had spent the past 22 years training to reach this point, and he took a deep breath as he looked at everyone.
"I am ready."
Natsume, dressed in a dazzling brown dress like her hair with Griffin on her shoulder, smiled.
"So am I. We all are."
Latia, Rias, Seekvaira, Venelana, Miria, Silvana, Valerie, Vespera, Shirone, Kuroka, Walburga, Akeno, Roygun, and Serafall all followed him as he stepped out of the room. When he opened the double doors, Demaenetus, Sairaorg, and Magdaran were waiting.
Demaenetus walked toward Romonus and patted him on his armored pouldron.
"Are you ready?"
Romonus patted his grandfather on the shoulder.
"I am."
Demaenetus smiled with pride.
"I am proud of you, Romonus. The best grandson I could ask for."
Venelana pouted.
"What about me, your daughter? His Mother."
Demaenetus shook his head.
"Don't push it, you birthed him, and now he is fucking you. Not like I am one to judge."
Venelana smiled as it was still funny just how much incest happened in the Devil clans. Sairaorg and Magdaran choked on their saliva, but Romonus didn't mind them. He smiled even as Demaenetus stepped aside to let Romonus and his lovers walk. This room was where every future Lord Bael prepared themselves to walk out to the balcony to face their legions.
Demaenetus often dreamt of being Zekram when he received his 250 Legions. That number was a mere 100 now, but those who were alive now were elites among elites. Demaenetus touched his chest as Romonus walked out onto the balcony with his lovers.
When Romonus stepped out, he instantly saw exactly One Million Devils in black enchanted armor standing before him. His lovers did not speak, and they stood next to him. Romonus walked forward as each Devil looked up at him.
He eventually stepped on the ledge before he walked past it, walking on the air. He raised his hands as he unleashed his Demonic aura, causing each of the 100 Legions of Devils to buckle under the pressure for a few moments.
The sheer weight of his Demonic Aura was so extreme that it felt like he already was a Demon God. Romonus took a deep breath before he restrained his aura for a moment. He amplified his voice with magic to be heard at total volume.
"I am Romonus G. Bael. Thus far, I have not competed in Rating Games; I have not wasted my time on the game of children and schemers. I have been doing one thing this entire time: training.
I never missed a day when I did not feel like my bones were breaking, my muscles tore, my ligaments stretched, my nerves fried, and my mind and soul burned. I would do it again a thousand times, leading to my strength.
My grandfather, Demaenetus Bael, the second greatest Lord Bael, passed this title to his son, Azland Bael, a great failure. He brought shame to House Bael and the status of my family. I am here to change that and be the next Lord Bael."
Romonus stopped speaking as he looked at the captivated Legions of Devils.
"No. I changed my mind. I am not to be called Lord Bael. Why be a Clan Lord when you can be more?"
His aura began to rise once more, causing the vast Underworld to tremble at the sheer power he had acquired.
"From this day to the end of my reign, I am Romonus: The Demon King Of Destruction."
At his words, it seemed as if the world welcomed his rule, as the fake sun in the sky went out like a light bulb. To replace it, the Underworld's proper purple-glowing sky took its place. However, the shade matched Romonus' energy perfectly.
He could even feel the Underworld reach out to him as it responded to his call. Every Devil in the Underworld could feel the switch in power. The gods who had their Hells and Underworlds could feel as if the Underworld itself began to reject them.
Romonus didn't speak as he gazed at his Legions. He motioned for them to kneel, and as one, they all did. When they kneeled, they roared out his name.
"ALL HAIL DEMON KING ROMONUS!"
Having over a million Devils who had been fighting for 10,000 years yelling his name caused the land to shake. These elites had survived the millennia of the Great War, Civil War, and Wars against other Pantheons.
Romonus basked in the glory of these troops, yelling his name. With a surge of his aura, he spoke once more.
"TELL ME! WHAT DO YOU DESIRE!"
As one, they answered.
"WAR! BLOOD! BATTLE! GLORY! A GLORIOUS NEVER ENDING WAR!"
Romonus yelled back.
"THEN WAR IS WHAT YOU SHALL GET! AS YOUR DEMON KING, IT IS MY OATH AND DUTY TO GIVE YOU THAT WAR!"
He banged his fists on his chest plate, causing what felt like Earthquakes to blow from him. His voice echoed through the Underworld, causing every being to hear him.
"AS THE UNDERWORLD BEARS WITNESS, I, ROMONUS, SON OF HOUSE BAEL, GIVE MY OATH! IF WAR IS WHAT YOU DEVILS OF WAR WANT! THEN A WAR TO END ALL WARS IS WHAT YOU SHALL RECEIVE! TELL ME ONCE MORE! WHAT DO YOU DESIRE!"
His soldiers bellowed at his words.
"TO MARCH TO WAR IN YOUR NAME! THE FIRST DEMON KING!"
Romonus gave one last message in an eerie, quiet tone that caused the moments to seem too slow.
"Then war, you shall get."
His 100 Legions began to roar his name as they smashed their weapons on their shields. His three heavily tattooed wings emerged from his back as he basked in the glory. As for his Lovers, they were all stuck staring at him, some in deep love, others in lust, or just in shock and awe. He truly was the First and Greatest Demon King Of The Underworld.
(I mean, in DMC, Mundus created a nightmare who could destroy the infinite Underworld. If Romonus can't do something like that with the Sparda bloodline, he would be a damn failure.)
(P-atreon.com/A_Real_Werewolf234)