Saki spit a mouthful of blood . He struggled getting up but then a figure fell from the sky and smashed him.
The ground cracked and within it Saki lay barely unable to see what was going on . His consciousness slowly faded but then he felt a sharp pain on his chest. Someone was stepping on him.
" Is this really what you have to show for yourself filthy devil " He heard a female voice .
His eyes slowly regained focus and he saw a blonde haired girl with a pair of raven like wings on her back.
She held a hammer constructed out of light. She willed it to change shape and a spear was formed.
" Did no one teach you not to fly in the human world ? Or did you think it was safe because it was a neutral territory huh ?" The girl spoke.
Saki didn't say anything he just glared at her.
" Oh you see yourself as a tough guy right ?" She raised her spear the stabbed Saki's hand.
Saki grunted in pain but still maintained his fearless eyes.
" I hate those eyes . Maybe I will puck ..... " Suddenly a portal opened beneath Saki and they both fell . The fallen angel spread her wings about to fly but the moment she entered the portal closed above them.
Saki continued to fall and since the fallen angel was hovering she had created a distance.
Another portal opened and the fallen angel seeing this rushed to Saki but the portal closed the moment Saki exited leaving the fallen angel in the 2nd level dungeon .
Saki found himself back in the forest with the crater . His hand was bleeding profusely but it started visibly healing when he directed a large amount of his energy to his arm. He stopped when he stopped bleeding so as to not exhaust his energy but even then he had wasted about 80% . That is a lot to heal his wound that just came to show in terms of energy reserves he was below average.
He went straight back home and fell into bed without alerting anyone at home. He woke up later at 1 pm. His body had completely healed and his energy was back in peak condition. Saki learnt that Celestial energy was the one that did this. It was strong and fast and whoever wielded it did not have to worry much about injuries.
In fact his level was healing was bad compared to what the guide boasted of. Nevertheless he was still satiated with what he had.
He was also woken up by some good news.
[ Your chosen warrior has cleared the dungeon level 2 twice with a rating of A class ]
[ Do you wish to reward your chosen warrior ?]
' No '
Saki refused
[ The rewards are : Ragnar's journal ( A class ) ,30 boss points , 10 healing pills ( B Class ), Flash steps ( B class ). ]
' Guess it is grinding time. ' Saki thought.
He entered his training dimension and upgraded some things.
He upgraded the space in it with 10 boss points and used the remaining boss points to upgrade the dumbells making them now able to change shape or form .
At first he debated on upgrading the gravity but with the changing dumb bells he could make it into a wrist band which he did.
He tested the limit to which he could use in his body and the maximum was 40 kgs each hand . He toned it down to 20 kgs . His goal was not to tire himself out having weights that he could barely use but rather to have weights that made him mildly uncomfortable.
If training without weights alone made him suffer like that imagine if he trained with weights he could barely carry. That would devolve into suffering .
He started his daily training . His training lasted 2 hours longer than usual and by the time he was done he was drenched in sweat and panting heavily . Every fibre of his body screamed.
Once he started breathing normally he focused his accumulative energy into healing himself. Making him remain with 20% of his max output. People would argue that what he was doing was detrimental and stupid but to him and the S class Celestial guide would beg to differ.
The guide talked about using your energy constantly to improve one's on control and the quality of its energy .
His body returned to peak condition albeit with his energy low. He still did not feel hungry so he saw no need to get out. Instead he focused on studying what he received thanks to the fallen angel stuck in the dungeon .
He made an overview of all the books . Ragnar's diary and a mage's diary were now out of the question . They spoke of this individual's peoples life and what they experienced. He could not understand why their ratings was high.
For now flash steps technique and lightning sword arts were the best currently .
He read and thoroughly researched both of the books and after 12 hours he found a way to combine both of them.
Flash steps focused on speed and agility. Its footwork also confused the enemies while lightning sword arts focused on quick sword attacks often targeting vital spots to finish the enemy quickly. Together they were a force to be reckoned with.
He could start now but he was tired . He would do it another time.
Once he got out of his dimension he found out it was already evening. He walked to the kitchen and headed straight to the food. Miki was already in the kitchen preparing for diner.
" Ah Saki you have finally gotten out of that room " Miki said.
Saki gave out a sheepish smile.
" Yes auntie. "
" Good , come help me with cooking " Miki said. Her intentions were not out of command but out of helping. Saki loved cooking which was weird because he did not enjoy eating as much .
Saki could kindly refuse but he needed a break so he agreed.
" Good , how about you help me cook that chicken , you are good with meat after all " Saki begun working and the two had a symbiotic relationship in the kitchen.
After a while Miki stopped talking about food and started asking Saki how he has been.
" How are you liking Kuoh Academy "
" The people in it are unique and it has opened my world to some of the things I did not know but the classes are boring "
" Why are they boring ?"
" As you know I was homeschooled and mother taught me a lot . At first I used to think I was behind in studies compared to my peers in school but I have come to understand how wrong I was . Everything feels childish compared to what mom taught me " Saki said.
" What did she teach you ?"
" The usual Advanced calculus , astrophysics , Japan's history and law , Anatomy , Thermodynamics and my favorite was programming " Saki said with a bit of nostalgia.
Miki looked at Saki with shock . Those were things taught in university and even then people only focused on one.
" Was it hard ?"
" At first yes but it became very easy " Saki said.
' I was too busy thinking about the boy having friends his age I did not consider his education ' Miki thought to herself.
" Oh , if it is boring maybe I could request you skip a few grades " Miki suggested.
" No need , I will stay at my grade . At least I get to rest and sleep " Saki said.
Miki was shocked at his response but then a daring thought entered her mind.
" Do you like a girl in your class " She inquired with a look that made Saki regret what he said.
" No , If I develop a romantic interest you will be the first person I tell . That I promise you " Saki said this so that he could stop being asked about those things.
" Then I hope you deliver on it " She said.
Saki was a man of his word.
After cooking they soon set the table for food. Garou came to the dinner and they muttered a small prayer before eating .
The duo seeing Saki eat congratulated him and even forced him to eat more. After the diner was done Garou made a small remark that turned the mood somber.
" Where is Issei this days , He has stopped coming for dinner " He said. Missing a couple of diners was fine but these days Issei was never seen even before he became a devil.
" He is most likely at the Occult Research Club . " Saki commented trying to ease the father's pain.
Saki then tried to lighten up the mood by going to the kitchen and getting some well cooked salad for the both of them as that was their favorite dish . They forgot their worries and ate it. Saki seeing that they were fine walked back to his room after wishing them goodnight.
The duo was now left in the room .
" That kid really cannot bare to see us sad. He is a good kid " Miki said with a small pained chuckle.
" Yes , just like Issei , well that was until his accident 2 months ago. I am glad he did not die but ..... " Garou could not bring himself to say it.
" That accident turned Issei into a more cold person . He survived but I cannot help but feel that the Issei we once knew is dead . " Miki said trying to hide away her tears.
Garou momentarily got angry about to rebuke his wife but then he looked down and sighed . Miki after all spoke out what he truly thought . The perverted yet deeply caring son he knew died two months ago .
Meanwhile Saki heard everything due to his super hearing. The parents did catch something wrong with Issei but yet they could not bring up to say it because no matter what that was their child. As for him the moment Issei survived he always felt something was wrong with him . They were previously very good friends but as of now Issei could not stand him and he likewise could not stand Issei.
' I'll call Rias tomorrow to ask her if she knows a way to relieve the Hyoudou's pain ' Saki thought but as of today he would focus on resting first.
He took out the mages diary and slowly got engrossed in it. Apart from the spells this mage found out and created ,it also speaks of her life upto 300 years where it stops.
This mage certainly led an interesting life. In her world there was an apocalypse and for those next three hundred years she survived the world while growing stronger . She joined a growing empire in the wake of apocalypse and became its legal advisor and guardian.
Saki then went to Ragnar's diary . The first page itself shocked him .
Day 1 Year 2789 AP
Circe , the vile woman who proclaims to be my new master and adoptive parents has given me a book on which to write my life's tale. I do not get what this old hag wants
Circe after all was the name of the great mage and her date soon changes to AP on the 15432 day . But that did not mean anything. He continued reading Ragnar's journal. Ragnar wrote like a kid for the next 80 years of his life. He described how human life quickly faded yet he had not fully matured only a child that seemed 13 years.
He and Circe got a long a lot . He talks about the adventures he heard with her and the friends they made a long the way . On the 150 year he talks of how he and Circe were conscripted to the kingdom and where he learnt a valuable lesson
Day 54783 Year 2939
Today the usually non-violent Circe showed a side she was surprising . Today she and the world taught me a valuable lesson .
' Cruelty and fear is a tool meant to be used effectively '
And what a cruel show I have seen of today .
Saki was now fully convinced that Circe on the mage's diary and Ragnar of whom Circe spoke of were one of the same people . That meant her diary was not complete.
Saki continued reading Ragnar's diary . and it too ended at 300 years when he spoke of the coming technological era. He needed to learn more but as of now he had learnt something .
Circe and Ragnar had given him a new angle to work on.
' I have the mask of the unknown so why don't I use it to the fullest. '
Saki thought. A plan had already formed in his head. He would become both Saki and unknown.
Saki , the martial artist who used a unique martial art to fight
Unknown , a mask individual who is the master of swords.
It seemed he would only rest after killing Zoeticus. He hopped into the training dimension.
It was time to train Unknown.
He had already studied so now it all revolved on training .
After 30 hours or 15 hours on the outside of training , he got out after mastering the flash step. He had already mastered flash step but he noticed the more he increased his weights and used flash step the better grasp he had of it when he was of his normal weight .
His proficiency in the sword had increased . The system had released a new way of showing his status.
[ Saki Himejima
Plvl : 159
Proficiency :
Martial arts : D
Blade : E ]
That meant he was Adept at martial arts and an Amateur in the way of the sword.
Today he would sleep like a baby but just as he was about to go to sleep he heard a phone call . He picked his phone to see an Unknown number.
" Hey Saki "
" Hello ?"
" Its' Katase , your deskmate. "
" Oh Katase , How are you "
" I am well , I could not get you yesterday night "
" I was studying and when I do that I keep my phone away from me "
" Alright , no worries. Are you free today ?" Katase asked.
" I will be free at 5 pm but as of now I have some urgent business to do "
" Oh " Katase felt dejected.
" Yeah . I am sorry I will not be able to make it . " Saki said.
" It's alright " Katase said.
" Ok then see you at school " Saki said then hang up. He was drained and needed a sleep and anyone sleep deprived was always grumpy.
Katase had the other hang up and she felt sad and angry .
' Tch what an asshole ' She thought as she shoved her phone into her pocket.
Saki went to a deep slumber and only woke up at 7pm. He was once again woken up by the system prompts.
[ Your chosen warrior has cleared lvl 2 dungeon 4 times B grade ]
[ Due to being cleared constantly the rewards have been diminished. ]
[ Rewards : 15 Healing pills ( B Grade ) , 35 boss points ]
[ Lvl 2 dungeon and all other dungeons here on after have raised there difficulty . Rewards however will also be increased ]
[ Your chosen warrior has been gravely injured ]
Saki smiled at this news. That meant she was no longer a threat. He opened the portal and entered to find the fallen angel covered in her own blood and completely tired .
" You ! " She screeched as she tried to stand up but then fell down.
" Me . What's your name little girl " Saki asked.
" Little ? I was there when your grandparents still weren't born brat " Mittelt said angrily.
Saki went and kneeled down next to Mittelt .
" I can help you but that is if you help me " Saki said.
" I would rather die than cooperate with a devil " Mittelt said.
" Very well then " Saki stood up. He saw the defiance in the fallen angel fade as a portal opened and he stepped out.
He returned to training and after a few hours and he could see the defiance in her eyes was gone.
" Care to collaborate ?"
Mittelt look up .
" No , just kill me " Mittelt said.
Saki didn't say anything , he just opened the portal but Mittelt did not want to be left alone again , she could not bare being left alone .
" Wait ! " She said with all her failing voice.
" Help me get out and I will do anything " Mittelt said.
' I have no choice . Once he helps and I regain full strength I will slit his throat ' Mittelt thought.
" Good " Saki smiled. He then reached out his left hand to the portal and then pulled it back holding some rice . He walked to Mittelt and gave her the food.
Mittelt hesitated but ate it . The rice was heavenly perhaps because she had not eaten in a while. However the best part that she felt her energy returning and the wounds and cuts on her body slowly healed. Once she was finished she still looked battered but it was far better than how she was 5 minutes ago.
" How was it ?"
Mittelt did not say anything.
" I have helped you regain strength , now to give me something I want and I will release you no strings attached " Saki said.
Mittelt paled , was he perhaps after her body . There was no way she was sleeping with a devil.
" Information , I want all the information of the supernatural world "
Mittelt blinked .
" That's it ? "
" Yes , no strings attached " He said.
" Ok what do you want to know ?" She asked.
" What is your name ?"
" Mittelt "
" What kind of race are you ?"
Mittelt was surprised . He didn't even know about her race.
" I am a fallen angel "
" What is that ?"
" We are angels who have fallen from God's grace " She said.
" How ?"
" Due to having impure thoughts and mating with humans " Mittelt responded.
" Apart from lust how are you any different to angels ?"
" We do not have halos and our wings are black instead of white otherwise we are the same " Mittelt said.
" Hmm , tell me about the angels "
" They are self righteous pieces of shit . " Mittelt said angrily .
Saki chose to divert there. He had already heard enough . Angels and fallen angels were about the same.
" How did it feel falling from God's grace , physically and mentally "
" Physically nothing much but mentally it hurt a lot "
Saki noted that down .
" Tell me then about the fallen angels powers system "
" Unlike the devils our powers are based on our wings with 6 pairs of wings being the highest and a pair being the lowest. " Mittelt said.
' She only has a pair of wings yet was able to beat me to submission like that ' Saki felt threatened.
" Ok then tell me about the devils. "
" Aren't you a devil ?"
" Answer the question , tell me about their power system , their social hierarchy, how they make people devils and all of that "
" The social hierarchy and the power system are closely knit . There are low class devils , middle class devils , high class devils and the elite of the elite ultimate class devils . As for how they make devils they have what is known as evil pieces that high class devils are given to create their peerages or what I like to call slaves "
" Hmm and what do you know of the gremory family ?" Saki asked.
" The Gremory family are one of the 72 pillars of hell and currently one of the strongest family due to Sirzechs Lucifer , son of Zoeticus Gremory. Those cunning bastards are the worst especially the head of the family Zoeticus Gremory. Don't get me started on that Rias bitch, she likes to act the good girl but she will always be a whore and a devil above all else " Mittelt said angrily .
Saki was not affected by any of what she said.
" It seems you have a history with Zoeticus Gremory. "
" You could call it somewhat true . That bastard is the reason our fallen angel race has declined this much . He knows how to play the saint upfront but inside he is a monster. He fathers children with humans then kills their family and abducts the kids to use them as fuel for his sick purposes. He covets the position of ultimate class devil and he will do absolutely anything to acquire it and that includes fathering children so that he can get their devil power . Honestly what a sick man " Mittelt said.
" A guy like that cannot work alone I am certain he had help . Do you know whom it was ?"
" I don't know but from the intel I gathered the scientist was from the House of Naberius " Mittelt said.
" Ok then " Saki said.
He stood up and thought for a while.
Mittelt watched as he paced back and forth.
" Mittelt , how do I know you won't pursue me after this ?" Saki asked.
" What ? "
" Had you been and angel I would have trusted you but you are a fallen angel so I need certainty that you will not try to harm me nor my family "
" You can't just go back from your word " Mittelt said incredulously
" Yet I see those murderous eyes in you . I would be a fool to nurse back an enemy hell bent on killing me . You know who I am and can recognize me anywhere . You could kill me especially with the intel you have gathered " Saki said.
" I don't know .... "
" Those eyes show intelligence Mittelt you are smart . I am certain you have pieced everything together "
Mittelt looked up and a knowing glint appeared on her face.
" Yes . I figured it out. "
" Then you understand why I have to kill you " Saki said.
Mittelt gritted her teeth . She did not want to die . Her life so far had been meaningless especially under Raynare's thumb . Now she had only one option left , offer Saki her life.
" One last question . Would you rather be a slave or dead ?" Saki asked.
Mittelt looked perplexed but then those defiant eyes appeared.
" I would rather die 100 times over than go back to living a servant again "
" So you are a servant , It seems the eyes never lie " Saki said.
" Tch . "
" You are stuck in a tough position and that is why you attacked me in a neutral zone as you had dubbed , you wish for death and I am certain if I kill you you will be grateful instead " Saki said.
" But then again you could just let those beasts maull you if you truly desired death so what you do desire is freedom " Saki made another deduction.
" Hmm choices. I could grant you a painless death or I could help free you " Saki said.
Mittelt eyes glittered with hope when she heard that she could be free.
" What is the cost to freedom ?" She asked . She knew everything had a cost.
" I need subordinates for what I am planning and I think you would make a good addition to the team " Saki siad.
" Then that is no different to slavery " Mittelt said.
" No , I offer freedom but no one is ever truly free. You will be free to do what you want to do but there will be restrictions to that freedom for example you cannot kill me and you will have to follow some of my orders . In exchange for some servitude and restrictions I will give you power " Saki said.
" That is just a form of those devil slaveries " She said.
" How about this , You choose to work for me for one year and if you do not wish to do that anymore after one year you are free to go " Saki bargained.
" How do I know you will fulfill the end of your bargain ?" Mittelt asked.
" You don't , so what say you fallen angel ? " Saki asked as he extended his hand for a handshake. His hand caught on blue fire .
[ Void contract ]
A technique derived from Void martial arts. It was a contract seal that bound two people . Each had to offer something in exchange of something else
Mittelt look straight at the devil standing in front of her. Those eerie blood red eyes and his unsettling smile would make anyone choose death over a contract with him but Mittelt felt something different.
She stretched her arm and accepted the handshake.