Gaming Badly in DxD

-Zatren Fumigami-​

The Legendary Spear swung through the air, making it part and howl like a dragon's roar. Fitting, considering I was currently mastering both Heavenly Dragon's spears. Starting with Ddraig's one, since it was closest to completion.

My opponent was, apparently, one of the basic enemies of this dungeon.

'And here I thought I left these at the last Undead dungeon.' I mused, parrying a decayed steel sword, the rust left on the blade was sure to leave a nasty, probably infected cut if it reached. ''The good old tetanus build, respect.''

The skeleton I was fighting didn't acknowledge my words. Instead, it guarded with an equally rotten wooden shield. The clothes it was wearing felt redundant, considering their state, filled with cuts and deteriorated by the passage of time.

I bent my knees slightly before dashing in its direction. The force I applied to the ground was enough to leave a small crater, and no matter its guard or shield, the skeletal limbs could not hope to hold the next blow, as its defense crumbled with the sound of splintering wood and bones pulverized into dust.

Clack.

''…Hm.'' I frowned as the remaining lower half of the skeleton dropped to the floor. ''That's the… tenth one? I know it's not a competition, but I'll count them anyway.''

Just like those before it, the skeleton dematerialized into golden light; not even its clothing and armor remained, leaving behind a blood-red diamond and charcoal-black bones that were not anywhere near similar to the ones the skeleton had.

''That should be enough.'' I nodded, spinning the Red Dragon Emperor Spear like a parlor trick. ''…I really need another way to call these. Would Red Emperor work the same? Whatever. System, evolve this one, please.''

Red Dragon Emperor Spear(+10) is ready for evolution!

[All Stats Up (High)] has become [All Stats Up (MAX)]!

[Dragon Buster V] has become [Dragon Shockwave V]!​

''Ohoho, new toy~'' I sing-sang. Then, suddenly turned as I heard something creaking on the corner.

From a hallway, a shadow lurked. Its body was… wrong. It was like I was seeing invisible hands mold a pile of mud into a person-shaped piece of clay.

A cloak appeared on its back, but the being was faceless and completely black in color. Instead of a bald head, it had strands of mud that morphed and changed around as if trying to imitate hair blowing in the wind.

The sentient mud on his hands changed to form a pair of daggers. The thing disguised as a man 'looked' at me, and took a step forward, then another, but as it quickly charged in my direction, it vanished from sight.

''Sneaky one, aren't you?'' I smiled, turning my head sideways.

There it was, hands stretched with one raised arm, mud dagger glinting with the fading light of the sun, ready to strike. Yet, just before the constructs disguised as weapons could ever reach my skin, the shadow was pushed back as a wave of Reinforcement washed over my body with a bright orange glow.

''You are a… Shadow Servant, right?'' I wondered.

Basically, a Shadow Servant was supposed to be a sort of 'Incomplete' Heroic Spirit, and as such, couldn't deploy their full strength. They had no mind and barely any traits that reminded them of their intended tale. This one, apparently, was an Assassin.

In short, I always considered them a 'failed summon'.

Absent-mindedly spinning the newly evolved spear in my off-hand. The hide that made the handle felt smoother, and the spear tip was sharper than ever, glinting under the setting sun. ''I wonder who you could be, though. Maybe Hassan?''

The shadow stilled for a moment, and I blinked in surprise when it seemed to get… mad. The mud around it started evaporating, surrounding its 'flesh' the same way my Reinforcement did.

''Hit a nerve, did I?'' I chuckled, noticing how another group of armored Skeletons stepped into view. Some held shields, others bows, and there was a bulkier one with a great axe. ''Let's just get this over with. I want to see if there's a real Servant around here.''

Shadow Step answered easily like a well-oiled set of gears. I channeled Holy Power into the speartip for a change, and with a single swing, half of the Skeletons became nothing but evaporated remains on the street's asphalt.

-X-x-X-

-Assassin-​

''Find one of the magical signatures, and assess them.''

That was the command we received from her. The blinding red light took hold of our minds, and we did as told

Echoes of an objective, something important, but forgotten, rumbled in our mind. Strange.

We found one; it was easy to do so. Their magic was out. Exposed, but the way it was done... It was on purpose.

Our target was a male; he didn't cover his face, weapon, or attitude. Yet, as always, our memory would not provide us with a True Name for him. It was always hard to remember, especially without our m*t*3* there to guide us, to teach us.

''Come on, I'm getting bored here~'' The man exclaimed even as he was surrounded by a dozen Shadow Servants.

Their weapons were nothing like the real thing. No speech. No words. No more than puppets. Yet, in numbers, they could overpower a Servant without Name easily.

Not the case. Not here.

As the mud moved to strike, the man's eyes detected the threat, and he jumped over it. A single swing of his spear was enough to take the head off one shadow. In a show of acrobatics and speed, he dodged a multitude of arrows mid-air by twisting and turning his body, even parrying one as he fell.

And as he did…

''[Dragon Shockwave V]!'' A chill went down our spine.

It was unknown. Different. And we didn't like it.

The Shadow Servants and skeletons didn't either. The roar of a mythical beast echoed on the street, rattling buildings and ground alike. As if a small earthquake had just hit the street. From the corner of our eye, we even saw an armored Shadow suddenly turn to dust, along with a few others.

We didn't understand why; the answer was foggy, out of reach. We haven't found *0t*e* yet. We were twitchy, nervous.

Our fog started rolling from the alleyways. The sun in the sky was slowly setting, but if the man ever noticed it, then he didn't show it. His laughter echoed in our ears with cockyness, as he tore down Shadow after Shadow.

The Skeletons couldn't even properly approach him, and even a single sweep from his weapon directed to a Shadow was enough to reach the Skeletons and turn them back into golden motes of light.

Powerful. Like the King.

'Caster could have done better than skellies...' We thought, and then frowned. ''…What did Caster do?''

The thought entered our mind and escaped in a single second.

It was the mud. Our mind was always foggy, but now it was worse. We didn't like it. Not remembering was cold. And we hated the cold. We wanted warmth.

The warmth of *oth*r

Our fog was heavier now. Covering the street. Some of the Shadows stilled and slowed down. The man didn't. Each stroke of his spear was a Shadow with a hole in its chest, a missing limb, cut in half, headless.

Beastly, carnage, messy. We could appreciate it. The carnage and mutilation were the only things we remembered and embraced.

'The sun is going down…' We mused, staring at the ball of fire in the sky from our place in the mist. Unless we attacked, it would remain that way. Not even the King could see us if we didn't want to. 'The sun… It's warmth… Mot*e*?'

Clarity filled our mind.

Of course, we still had to find Mother. We craved it. Her warmth.

We looked down from our place on top of a building. The warrior had cleanly defeated his enemies, collected the void-like powder, the crimson rubies, and dark bones that served to empower us further. Probably to take back to their Master since they were summoned so late.

'…They could do.' Our eyes shone on the mist covering the streets as we stalked the oblivious Servant. 'Mother… He could be… Mother.'

Our mind felt clearer than ever. It always did when nighttime came.

Our senses told us they were a man, and they were never wrong, but a man could be Mother, too. We would cut him and embrace his warmth.

All of us.

…

As the silver-haired Servant moved, shadows, smaller in size and with glowing red eyes, followed them along. A dozen or so children, containing the wrath and loneliness of their abandonment.

Jack the Ripper was on the prowl, and they searched for their mother once more.

-X-x-X-

-Serafall Leviathan-​

''So, what do you think about your student, Ayuka?'' I asked as we walked the moon-kissed street.

The skeletons, no matter the variant, and those mud-like shadows didn't prove a challenge even to Ayuka's or my half-hearted effort. So, we didn't bother much with them; instead, I took the rare occasion that my friend was somewhat interested in a man to tease her.

Ayuka hummed as we turned a corner. In this half-destroyed city, with the fog that suddenly rolled around, it was difficult to see. At least for me, the scientist of devilkind walked the street with focused eyes, always knowing where to turn, calculated, no wasted step.

'The history of her life, really.' I huffed.

''He's remarkable for sure.'' Ayuka smiled. ''Truly, I have never thought that having a student would be this gratifying. However, I believe having him first was a mistake.''

I deadpanned because that's not what I meant with my question, but now I was curious about that last part.

''A mistake?'' I echoed, humming while I fiddled with my magic staff and kept a close eye on the fog. ''Do you regret teaching him?''

''Not a chance.'' The way the green-haired woman's lip thinned made me almost chuckle.

''Then?''

''I don't think I'll be able to find another student half as talented in… centuries.'' Ayuka sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. ''Maybe even a millennium. It's like tasting the world's greatest dessert and knowing no other one will be the same.''

I blinked, pausing my sly game for a while.

''You really have him in high esteem, hm? It's rare to see you throwing around praise so carelessly. Though it's only natural, I guess.'' I placed a hand on her shoulder—No, I didn't get on my tiptoes to do so—My grin returned as Ayuka stopped, looking me in the eye, which I took as a chance to wiggle my eyebrows at her. ''It's rare to see you going for something other than research and sciency stuff, A-yu-chan~''

''I feel like you're implying something here, Serafall.'' Ayuka adjusted her glasses, raising a curious eyebrow.

Of course, this dense woman doesn't get it. I swear, little Za-kun could bend the knee and ask to marry her, and the smart dumbass that is Ayuka Beelzebub would take it as some sort of political play, or even an experiment regarding the balance of the Underworld's politics after such an unexpected—

Ahh! Damn slow kissless neet! She's making me think about politics on my day off!

''I meant as a man, you dunce!'' I shook her shoulder, uncaring that the force I applied didn't seem to move the woman at all. ''He's a handsome, talented, carefree young man all sewn together into a fun package, isn't he? Doesn't that get your motor revving? Your blood flowing to your face? Do you even have estrogen in your blood, you oblivious genius?!''

Ayuka frowned, separating from my constant shaking before adjusting her lab coat. ''I do have estrogen indeed. It's a very common chemical found in the female body. However, I don't see what this has to do with anything?''

Unholy shit, I really needed to spell it out for her.

I clapped my hands in front of her face, making a whole spectacle out of it. I even used Demonic Power to make small shards of ice in the misty streets that surround my hands as if to bring attention to them.

''He. Likes. You. Dumbass~!'' I sang in a happy tone, shaking my body from side to side, and even did a small spin.

Silence filled the street. Ayuka blinked, even frowned in confusion.

I facepalmed.

''He likes you like a man likes a woman. Romantic, physical, emotional, passionate, carnal, sentimental interest. He wants you, and he's not subtle about it.'' I clarified in a tired tone, absolutely done with this woman's social unawareness. ''Honestly, did you think a red-blooded young man would look you, of all devils, up and down and not want something? News flash, Ayu-chan, the male population of our kind that isn't salivating over me, it's doing so over you. It cannot be that fucking hard to notice, can it?''

Ayuka's green eyes seemed to spark with recognition. Her entire body froze, and I swear her pupils started looping around like a slow computer trying to load up a program. Then, after an entire minute of silence, Ayuka held her chin with a deeply focused expression.

''I see…'' Was her only answer.

''Do you?!'' I immediately growled. ''Because I may need to get you a new pair of glasses! How do you go a thousand or so years of a dry spell and not get it when a young, cute man wants to take you for a ride? Heck, even I noticed the way he stares at me, and I may even take him up for—''

''The streets, plagued with such filthy language.'' I paused, mind going blank, and a smile on my face. ''Truly, your kind should beg for forgiveness. Not to me, but to God. Your presence... I already detest it.''

My pause and sudden smile were mimicked by Ayuka. Finally, someone had noticed the way we flaunted our Demonic Power around the street. This was a thrill I hadn't felt in well over a few centuries.

The thrill of a good fight.

I really, really hoped that these Servants could compare to the likes of that Archer. Because I was in dire need of a warmup.

So, as we stared upwards, a gargantuan man stood above us, on top of a plain, half-destroyed building. To compare, his arms were easily the size of my whole body; he carried around a red cloak and a golden staff that reminded me of the clergy, or a king of old.

His face was obscured by a sharp metal helmet, but his shoulder pauldrons were something the likes of Sirzechs would wear, with one giant horn on each shoulder, like that of a Mamut.

By presence alone, I felt the coldness radiating off the man like a blanket. The moment he took a step, the building below him crumbled, and a layer of frost appeared on the ground each time he took heavy step after heavy step while mumbling to himself. The way he clutched his staff felt almost like the man was praying.

''Oh, a mirror match~'' I spun my staff around, stepping forward while side-glancing Ayuka apologetically. ''Sorry, Ayu-chan, but I really want this one—!''

My head screamed danger, and I looked upwards, unbothered by the approaching wardrobe-sized man.

A pure 'arrow' of red energy directed itself to me from a far distance. A sure-shot, dead aimed at my head. If anything, it proved that the Archer's accuracy was nothing to scoff at.

Yet, the projectile fell to pierce the sudden gargantuan wall of ice that eclipsed any house surrounding us. The sound of an explosion and air being displaced made my veins fill with excitement. I had put a very good amount of Demonic Power into stopping the attack, and even then, the wall was half-crumbled, partially melted, and probably unusable to tank another hit.

''This will be fun!'' I said excitedly, pointing my staff at the mumbling man as the temperature dropped. ''Now, it's time for Magic Girl Levi-tan to put you evil-doers in your place~!''

-X-x-X-

-Rias Gremory-​

Getting a message from Mittelt was an oddity in and of itself. While I knew the petite Fallen was part of the circle of women that surrounded Zatren constantly, we still hadn't gotten to know each other all that well.

So, the fact that I got a simple text message, asking for me and Sona to speak with none other than the Leader of the Fallen: Azazel, who was apparently her father, too…

Well, it was a surprise.

It was twice the surprise when the man himself proposed the chat to be in our territory instead of neutral grounds. So, that's how it ended up, the three of us seated in the Occult Club's common room.

No bodyguards, no espionage. Simply a chat.

''Could you repeat that, please?'' I asked, simply befuddled.

A side glance at Sona proved to me that she was just as shocked by the proposition.

''We join forces, team up, however you want to call it,'' Azazel repeated, crossing his arms on his lap, gazing between his cup of tea and my eyes. ''Kokabiel has stolen classified technology and torn apart a hole in our overall workforce. Not only that, but he attacked one of yours, did he not?''

'So he knew.' Tapping my fingers against the armrest, I couldn't help but guess this was somehow Zuzu's fault. ''Indeed. However, what I don't understand is this sudden olive branch, Azazel. From what I know, even with Kokabiel gone, the Grigori have much more strength than us… filial relations notwithstanding.''

The golden glint in the man's eyes told me he understood what I meant. He was asking for our help, but that didn't mean that both Sirzechs and Serafall would also aid him, especially not after our decision to keep matters in our hands.

Even this meeting was a bold move from our part. No matter the reassurances, this was still two heiresses speaking privately with one who was considered a mortal enemy of devilkind for centuries.

''Yes, I understand that. Originally, I was going to ask the kid only, but he's currently MIA, who knows for how long. So, this works as my second option.'' The man shrugged shamelessly, an impish grin on his face. ''The way to completely obliterate Kokabiel's plans is not just to kill him. That would only leave every party with unease, and even if it's years, decades, or even a century down the line, the War may re-ignite all the same.''

Sona frowned, taking a sip of the offered tea. ''Then… Are we off to take a guess and say you're trying not only to make a right out of your rogue subordinate's wrong, but to put an end to what remains of the Great War altogether?''

''What about the Forces of God? Angels, Exorcists, the Church itself?'' I asked instead, because even if Fallen and Devils became allies, there was a missing piece.

Azazel took a deep breath, playing with his hands as if he were trying to hide something. ''The church and Heaven… Well, let's just say that they are not all that buddy-buddy with each other. They can be pressured into joining up.''

He didn't mention the greatest factor of all: God himself.

Yet, would someone like him also get tired of this back and forth between us?

If all came to be…

It was an amazing idea, but equally as risky. Especially considering the Old Satan Faction that would jump like sharks that smelled blood if this situation went poorly.

Yet, on the other hand… It was genius.

Because if our side, the side of the Four New Satans, managed to snatch this victory and truly make peace with Heaven and the Fallen… It would cement our position for centuries—No, maybe a millennium to come.

It wasn't just the allies we will gain in both Angel and Fallen; there will be so much territory that was otherwise compromised or fought upon that we could travel to. No need for meddlesome cautions around each other, and we will end up stronger by the three Factions becoming one big front for the 'Christian' Pantheon in case someone got any funny ideas.

''What if we fail?'' I asked because, as good as it sounded, we couldn't really hold the idea on a pedestal. It was good to consider the risks. ''What if, in the attempt to stop the war altogether, we end up re-igniting it ourselves? Just like Kokabiel wants?''

A heavy silence encompassed the room. My words had put the entire room in a doubtful mood.

Which was broken by Azazel's chuckles.

''Well, then we die, some sooner, some later.'' The black-robed Fallen shrugged. Practically unbothered by the notion. ''We just have to not fail. Easy as that, right?''

I shook my head, letting out a huff of amusement.

''I think I see why you get along with our Rook, now.'' Sona deadpanned, abandoning her tea in place of staring blankly at the man. ''That risky mentality is just like him.''

''Guess it is!'' Azazel slapped his knee, laughing boisterously. ''So, do I have your support in this? Oh, benevolent Heiresses?''

I shared a glance with Sona. Immediately, I could see the gears turning on my friend's head. With Zuzu out of the picture for a while, and the training he has put us through… this was the opportunity we talked about a week ago.

'We would not fall behind, my dear Zuzu…' I smiled, feeling an odd sense of warmth on my chest.

As in, a literal warmth.

Instinctively, I knew it was the blessing reacting to our intentions. Sona, too, frowned while placing a hand on her less prominent bosom.

'…A God of Abundance, was it?' I chucked, ignoring the odd look that Azazel threw at us for our behavior. 'I think I figured it out, how it works… To push forward and want. Always, and anything. No matter what it is... That is Abundance.'

''We accept,'' Sona answered for both of us. A glint of realization in her eye as she adjusted her glasses. ''It is in Devilkind and Fallenkind's best interest. We have no reason to disagree. So, shall we make it a deal?''

The older, more experienced man chuckled, already anticipating the words simply waved us off, ignoring the outstretched hand. ''Yes, yes~ You devils and your deals. The kiddo did exactly the same thing.''

'It does sound like him. Haa… Even if he's not here, he keeps being the main topic.' I shook my head with a chuckle.

Zuzu had already helped me with Riser, Koneko, and now he was doing the same for Kiba, trying to make him strong enough to fulfill his revenge. I have also seen that Gasper was a lot more outgoing after his 'social' training, too. And, if this went any further, then he was bound to end up helping Akeno, too.

Foolish paramour… Doesn't he understand that he will end up bleeding from both sides if he keeps going out of his way to help more and more people?

'Fortunately… I will be right there if—when he reaches his limit. To shoulder his burden.' I mused.

…

With the meeting coming out as a surprising positive, we got Azazel's contact after exchanging pleasantries, and I excused myself to my office, deep in thought.

Tomorrow at the latest will be when this battle will be decided. I knew I should feel nervous, maybe even scared, but…

I didn't. The opposite, actually. I was confident that we, as a group, as the family I intended this peerage to be, could do this. Especially when he had each other to help and rely on

…But now that I thought about it. Speaking of help.

I palmed the pocket with my phone, hesitating. We may not need the help, but having a popular and influential figure supporting our maneuver would probably do well to ease the news of this sudden alliance with the less enthusiastic of our race.

I typed the number in. The phone rang once, rang twice, and finally, it picked up.

''I have to say, this is a surprise…'' A man spoke, chuckling as if amused. ''What can a third son do to assist the victor of our little competition, Rias Gremory?''

-X-x-X-

-Zatren Fumigami-​

''You're good at this!'' I praised, turning around at the last second to dodge out of the way of a butcher knife. ''Ah, missed by a hair! How lucky of me!''

The shadows didn't answer. Unlike the skeletons and mud-like Shadow Servants I've been fighting for a while now, these ones were little, the size of a child.

The first time I underestimated one, I got a nick on my arm.

'Me, and my soft spot for kids. Being a dad surely doesn't help…' It was less annoying than it sounded. Because now, I decided to entertain myself with a small game of tag. '…Now your turn.'

Red eyes glowed in the dense fog. If I were just using my eyes, this would have been way harder, but with Senjutsu, I could sense way more. From the small figures of child-like shadows standing just far enough out of vision range, to one particularly powerful one that had only attacked once at the start before retreating into the mist.

'Yeah, I forgot she was there like five times now.' I ducked backward, evading another blade to the neck. Then, the small figure of what I would guess was a boy simply vanished the moment I pressed a palm to its chest and pushed upwards. ''Up you go, boyo!''

The reason for this little game of tag instead of just defeating them like the other shadows wasn't just because they were children. It was because of what I felt coming from them. From those little, half-vanished and half-present souls.

Unlike the Shadow Servants, these little ones were taken by the mud, not made out of it.

The shadows are angry. The shadows are scared. The shadows are having fun. The shadows are angrier now. The shadows are lonely. The shadows are cold. The shadows want to play.

The shadows are scared. The shadows want to go home…

The shadows want their mother.

'Partner…' Jinzui's soft words touched both mind and heart. She too felt the same I did through my Skill. 'As always, you wear your heart on your sleeve.'

Maybe I did, maybe I didn't.

''You won't catch me like that—Whoa, almost got me!'' I side-stepped as another shadow, of a little girl this time, ran past me with a kitchen knife.

It wasn't like these little ones were slow, either. It was surprising just how fast they could be, but I was used to my opponents being much faster already.

Before the little girl could turn around and try again, I put a hand on top of her head in an imitation of a head pat. ''There, there, good job!''

And like the boy, she also disappeared.

Strangely enough, I could see the Fog becoming less dense by the minute. Each time I 'played' with one of the shadows, it was like the one behind it was hesitating. The little girl I couldn't yet see was doubtful, even as a pack of three more shadows ran at me with blades of different types.

Yet, no matter if it was a serrated knife, a dagger, or a piece of cutlery. I simply dodged out of the way and pretended we were playing again.

It got especially hard to bear once I started hearing whispers.

A thanks here, a sob there, a happy laugh thrown for the sake of it.

One single whisper… it wouldn't affect me that much, but seeing a bunch of kids crying out as they played and eventually disappeared would affect anyone with a conscience.

…

''Your turn now, come on!'' I smiled encouragingly. My spear was long gone and turned into its chain form as I stared at the last shadow. A boy, smaller than the rest, with a bread knife in his hand—Which, to be fair, was almost a shortsword for the little one. ''Do your best, you can still catch me!''

The shadow… hesitated. Its glowing red eyes stared at the weapon in his hand.

And then dropped it.

Instead of a murder shadow in the size and appearance of a kid, it was simply a boy. The echoes of laughter rang in my ears, pleasant, happy, maybe with a choked sob in the middle.

This time, I telegraphed my dodge to the right, making the shadow throw itself at me, and barely catching me by the sleeve of my coat.

With a bright smile, I crouched down and patted the boy's head. ''Hey, you did it. You caught me!'' I praised, even if all of a sudden, I felt a tightness in my chest.

The shadow's glowing eyes, previously filled with violence, now stared impishly. He looked to the side, as if embarrassed by the praise, before hugging my arm tighter, clutching it like a lifeline.

''Thank you… for playing with us… mister…'' I clutched the boy's shoulder a bit too tightly, but if it pained him, he didn't show it.

''…It's nothing,'' I whispered to nothing, because in the time I said it, the shadow of the timid boy was long gone. ''…''

I got up with a sigh, and then turned, putting up a big smile I didn't really feel right now. ''How about you, little miss. Do you want to play, too?'' I asked, staring at the place in the fog where I knew the other child was hidden.

As if my words were the final key to a puzzle, the fog started dissipating, and with it, the hidden Heroic Spirit vanished too.

If I wanted to, I could catch up with her, but it would probably be better if I didn't. After all, all the Servants were corrupted by the mud of the Grail. So, unless I can find a way to get the corruption off them, they will probably react aggressively.

And, if I couldn't 'purify' her on the first try, or she was actually a threat to my life…

Well, I just didn't feel like killing a kid, honestly. Heroic Spirit or not.

''Haa…'' I sighed, looking at the beautiful full moon in the sky. With the fog now gone, it was much clearer to see where I was going. ''Hope those two are having a better time than me—''

Wooosh!

I blinked.

High in the air, several blocks away, was a massive pillar of ice which, not only had dropped the temperature several degrees, but had actually frozen part of the city.

I didn't even need Analysis to know it was a construct made of demonic power. And, even if it was far into the distance, the coldness it generated buffeted against my face, and even rustled my hair and coat.

''…And Ayuka is supposed to be much stronger than this? Serafall froze a literal city block.'' I deadpanned. ''And then I am 'absurd' and 'bullshit'? Just look at these people!''

With a mirthful chuckle, I walked into the main street. On a corner next to a lamppost was a bag I grabbed from an empty store. In which I was storing the bones, rubies, and embers that the enemies had been dropping.

'Let them have their fun. I'm farming materials, baby!' I cheered myself on and went in the opposite direction from the giant pillar of ice.

Because I genuinely doubted those two would need my help with some City-level threats.

-X-x-X-

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Author's Note:

I just have the feeling that Rias' POV just as Serafall's ends gives a bit of whiplash, considering the chapter ends with Zuzu's POV.

However, I did say shit was happening back in DxD, AND Zuzu's POV felt like the best place to end the chapter, because the heartfelt moment would lose some of its spark if Rias, Sona, and Azazel's conversation took place right before.

ANYWAY. If the scene with Zatren and the little shadow kids feels familiar, it's because it was inspired by a scene of a Manhwa called ''SSS-Class Revival Hunter''. Where the MC beats a Dungeon's Boss by playing hide and seek with it (The boss is a bunch of dolls of trapped kids, and you could beat the dungeon by destroying every doll, or PLAYING with every doll.

So, a little thing before I promote my : I have set a Christmas Discount of 25% on it, and it will last till the end of the month! However, IIRC, it's supposed to work on first-time subs? Idk, tbh, it's the first time I've ever done it.

In any case, that means if you go to my , which has 13 more chapters of this fic, and you haven't subscribed before, you have an (albeit small) discount waiting for you. (If the discount is not there, send me a DM, a private message, anywhere you can contact me, because I still have the code if it's necessary)

Discord Link: .gg/92Yt5wxeWN