1. The Demon
"Voldigoad."
Twin, cherry-red eyes, open to the sound of that name. The owner of said eyes looked rather laissez faire in his own actions. An elbow to his desk with his enclosed fist gently pressed against the right side of his face. To his left was the source of his attention.
"Yes?" He responds as if he already knows what is being asked of him. Hushed whispers bounce around the room and even less quiet answers follow.
"Question seven. Do you have an answer for—"
"The answer I believe you're looking for is welting." His words were dipped in an untold but not unfounded confidence. They were unmatched; unchallenged. This truth was one the class knew well.
"That is..." The teacher who called upon him prompted a slight pause. She gave the book in hand a quick look over and nods to herself, "correct, but please, Voldigoad. Do try to keep your eyes open for my lecture. If only to set a good example for your peers."
"Of course," Was the reply that grazed the teacher's ears. The woman seems to be satisfied and continues on with her lesson.
Few students turn to their fellow peer, whether in awe or anger. Only a handful glare. Burning holes to the back of his head and somehow he remained unbothered.
The atmosphere had already been set and there was nothing more that needed to be said. This was a common occurrence, if nothing else. He glances at the clock on the wall— something he finds himself doing more often. Less than ten minutes left for class.
A sudden mental chuckle follows. What he would have given to experience this in his first life. A simple school life, one not plagued with war and strife. Did he even deserve such a thing?
This life, he meant.
Anos Voldigoad; the man who crushed fate under his heel. Wiping clean such a providence from under his boot— he felt for one of the rare times in his new and old life; undeserving.
—————
Fate hated her. It just had to.
Power, fame and wealth. She had all three and more. Yet, misfortune followed her. Hunted her. Eager to rip her to shreds and leave her for the crows to feast upon.
And while it made for a good anime. She thought fate to be a curse and nothing more.
Rias Gremory was a girl who was also a devil. She was also extraordinary in her own ways. Someone who would gladly give her own life to those she held dear. A young lady of high class. A King with much to gain; and to lose. An heiress of proper upbringings, and upon the many regal titles— an otaku. She would never admit to the last one though.
Above all else, Rias Gremory was determined to change her fate. To destroy it with her own two hands. Leaving it in ruin, in its destruction.
'President,' Rias felt her small smile rise, somewhat, "you were right. The pervert does indeed have the scent of a dragon.'
Her Rook, Koneko. She mentally messaged her report, there was detachment in her voice which was oh so familiar to the red King. A tune that Rias wished to change but she had no such luck. Koneko was never one for needless chitchat. She was blunt in every sense of the word.
'Thank you, Koneko. Continue being my eyes and ears. If anything happens to him then inform me posthaste.' Rias regally gave her instructions.
The crimson King could feel Koneko nod, 'One more thing, President,' A slight pause, 'The fallen has eyes on him too. She's having him take her on a date later today.'
Rias felt her smile falter. Issei Hyodou, a target of the fallen? That was certainly interesting. It further served as more evidence that the boy had a Sacred Gear of some sorts, if nothing else.
Hmm. Thinking about it more, from what Rias knew. Issei was a shameless pervert. A massive lover of the jiggly flesh known as breast, and was wildly unsuccessful in his goal of being the harem king as he so eloquently put it. He was one-note in personality but Rias wasn't picky.
She originally planned to call the hopeless pervert to her office once the confirmation of the Sacred Gear was undeniable, but with a fallen angel in the mix... Rias thought it all over very carefully.
'President?' Koneko's voice attempted to lace itself in the closest thing that could be described as concern. She was waiting for her orders.
'Make sure he gets a flier. That is all." Rias spoke after a second and Koneko understood the assignment. Cutting their magical-mental link.
Rias only wanted one thing. Freedom. She deserved it. And few things would catch her attention until this want was finally satiated. Whatever happened at the end of the day was what would mark her new beginning.
She felt her heart beat a little faster, pleased with herself. Fate was in for a rude awakening. In more ways than one.
—————
Eighteen years. It had been eighteen years, and counting, since his promised reincarnation.
When Anos first gained his consciousness, the first thing he could recount was a door. The door to an orphanage of a church in northern Kuoh. He was a newborn in all but memory. Naked he was, and all too curious.
Being reborn— having to grow up again... it wasn't an issue, but the circumstances he found himself in were root for worry.
The world he now welcomed wasn't the one he was all too familiar with. Normally, that wouldn't be something to fret over, but it left him concerned. He could always do it again, reincarnate into the right world and leave this one behind.
No, this was different.
This world was different, a special occasion even. Something drew him to reincarnate here and by his past life would he figure it out. He would leave the cause for this puzzling occurrence bare and volatile in his reason destroying eyes.
Anos smiles. For now he'd enjoy a nice night to himself. A few hours had already passed since school ended for the day, so a walk in the park was due for him.
It was just some alone time to really pick apart his thoughts, but he really just wanted to kill some time in a setting that wasn't Kuoh Academy or his small mushroom gratin restaurant. The latter was seeing more popularity than even he expected. He'd have to thank a certain someone for that.
But that could wait.
A frown takes Anos' lips and his Magic Eyes dapples into the world. It was well into the evening, bordering night with the way the sun slowly swallowed up in the rising darkness. A few new presences made their way into the park.
Kuoh was ordinary, but only to those who looked at its surface. Anos was always one to peer into the abyss so stripping some of the world's secrets bare was never an issue.
This world of arcane and supernatural existences. They weren't one to one with what Militia created, but still, it reminded him of home. Hmm. He wondered about that. Now, more than ever.
Staying cautious didn't suite him. Simply observing is what he had done when dealing with this world's more secretive side. Now he was not so sure. He was no longer satisfied with being in the dark. Perhaps this was his chance?
The two arrivals in the park were students: one girl and one boy. One human and one fallen angel. The boy was a little younger than his current body. The girl had a few millennia worth of experience within her. Though, the most intriguing thing was the boy's source. The boy seemed to have rather weak magic, even in comparison to all other magical beings in this world.
Which, none could compare to Anos himself. Not even close. He'd hate to say it, but if he were an infinite ocean then everyone else would be meager droplets in his vast sea.
However, the boy's body had something akin to the presence of a dragon. A hidden gift. Going back to the girl. Beyond being a fallen angel— which this town saw an uptake of those these days— nothing special.
The girl's back faced the water fountain and her intent to kill was tangible even from where Anos stood. He suppressed his already suppressed magic as to not be noticed. Being reincarnated as a full human helped plenty.
"Would you die for me?"
The girl spoke with enough venom to cause a snake to snap its attention to her. It was cute to Anos. She'd have a long way to go if she had said those words to him and hoped for any sort of reaction, much like the boy in front of her.
A buzzing sound sailed through the air and the sound, along with the smell of fresh blood spilling, permeated the air. It reeked much like the spoils of war. Now the boy was steps away from death's door. All within seconds.
Was this world not at peace? Senseless murder on this lovely night in a park was unbecoming. Maybe this was the supernatural aspects of this world at play?
Anos felt a third presence just then and halted the use of his prized Magic Eyes. He had seen enough. He didn't need to step in. The third presence was one he was familiar with the most since they often convened at the school he attended. They could help the boy. Although...
Anos flared his magic and the sounds of flapping wings beat into the night. The girl from before is now pursuing him. Good, she took the bait. This should be fun.
"Who are you?" She lands with grace, at arm's length of Anos, her wings blending into the pitch-black night with her wicked words now aimed at him.
Her intent to kill might of meant something if she wasn't dressed like an underpaid dancing entertainer. You know the kind.
A fantastic figure for sure, he'll admit that much, but it was only effective against a lust driven mind. Anos had no such weakness. Needless to say, she looked like a clown to the man who once brought tyranny to its very extremes. She was a joke and Anos thinks he might be wasting his time.
He might as well indulge.
"Ladies first." Anos has the certain kind of smile that he knows will itch at the girl's flawless skin. At the same time, his eyes pierce through her, sending a slight shudder through her body.
"Raynare the fallen, your personal escort and mistress of death." She uttered her words in self-satisfaction and a bit of pride. Her wings flapped to emphasize her unique and mystical existence.
It was kind of her to go along with his suggestion, but it was laughable that she presented herself to him like this. And to claim such a worthless concept to him... Death was as meaningful to him as her childish greeting just now.
The act he could do without. She brought shame to all the traveling entertainers of the world.
That alone was worthy of death— in his opinion at least.
"I suggest you hold your tongue. Think very carefully about the situation you've found yourself in, crow," Anos figured one warning should suffice.
He needed her to know that no one else needed to die tonight. And hopefully she picked up on the idea. If not, then punishment was in order. Though it would be a waste in casting Ingall for her.
Raynare, as she called herself, looked deeply offended by the man before her. His lack of tact infuriated her more than his damn smile. Like he was in control and she was a mere pebble in his path. She would not have it. He was just a simple human with a bit of magic to his name.
And she didn't even know his name. He was a nobody to her. Yet, his words lingered in her mind. A mark to her easily shaken pride.
Anos saw the anger flash in Raynare's eyes. Her grip on her weapon of choice tightened. An oddly shaped spear of light. Her muscles tensed with her killing intent flooding the area. She aimed at his throat. A clean strike that would surely end him— or so she believed.
The truth is... she wouldn't get the chance. Not in this life, nor the next thousand to come.
He'd long predicted her moves faster than she could ever hope to make them. What she thought were mere seconds were an eternity to Anos. She was not only weak but slow. She wanted his death to be agonizing and long, choking on blood. She wanted to savor it and fuel her false belief of superiority.
So when he effortlessly caught her spear, and snapped it at the center in his grip; her expression was only vaguely amusing. Her scowl died down and her hands shook in fright.
Slowly, Anos reached out, his hand moved to be underneath her chin. Forcing her gaze to be upon him and him alone.
"Raynare," Anos practically purred as a shudder ran through her shapely body; she whimpered in his touch, "Let me be the first to show you why I was known as the Demon King of Tyranny."
—————
Rias came to him when he spoke his last wishes. Granting it was the least she could do. Having the fallen angel come to her territory was something already out of the ordinary. But killing the innocent citizens of her town was grounds for war.
She wasn't naive enough to the possibility of them doing something like this but she didn't think they were so foolish. Thinking these creatures were sensible was her first mistake and she'd figure out why they were so stupid as to do it under her watchful eyes.
But now, a resurrection was in order. This way she could save a life and make up for her mistake of getting a clueless boy killed. It wasn't without reward though. She was also getting a new member and figuring out what Sacred Gear he possessed.
It was a situation that everyone should walk away out happily. Everyone won in the end.
"Interesting."
"?!" Rias felt her senses scream at her. She snapped her attention to his voice, her Power of Destruction flaring violently around her. She felt something, deeper within her very soul, it screamed out to run and never look back.
"Voldigoad?" Rias stilled her gaze and felt panic amidst the fear yet her single word felt more confused more than anything.
"Hello," He greeted her simply, a charming smile that would send a lesser girl to her knees. Was this an everyday occurrence to him? She felt nervous under his gaze. His eyes, deep in crimson, akin to her hair. One could get lost in those cherry orbs if they could.
"Don't mind me," Anos looks at the chess piece in her hand. There was a glint in those eyes. Rias gripped the pawn piece tightly.
"Make your move."