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○ Note: Relationship -> note has been updated, if you want to vote there to give suggestions feel free.

○ Temporary Note: Changes. -> I'm considering changing the previous chapters a little when I have more time: I'm going to put a temporary auxiliary chapter to inform what I intend to change.

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With the duel over, Sun Wukong decided to follow Indra to see what he planned to do with the young human. So after briefly saying goodbye to the Buddha he left.

As Indra withdrew with Leonardo on his shoulder, Buddha approached the young devil.

"I'm so sorry Nero." Buddha smiled apologetically.

"Leonardo counted with us and you just gave up!" Nero spoke angrily.

"It was the best thing to do, even if I continue the result would be the same." Buddha calmly explained receiving a questioning look from young Lucifer.

"You could have at least tried." Nero gritted his teeth.

"Śakra is not a simple opponent. Let's take your mythology for example, if he fought against the four current satans he would defeat them." Buddha patiently explained.

"This is impossible. My grandfather always boasted that he was a super devil and that only Sirzechs and Ajuka are worthy of trying to face him." Nero was reminded of his grandfather's confidence in his own power.

Buddha nodded. He mentally agrees in part with the statement as Rizevim has power worthy to be part of the current top 10 strongest beings, but he is far from being the strongest. He decides to explain to the boy to solve the misunderstanding.

"I'm considering the current four devil kings with satan class strength, if we consider the true form of Sirzechs Lucifer and a serious Ajuka Beelzebub then the result might change."

Nero took a deep breath and contained his previous anger.

"All good. But he promised that if I save the boy with my strength he won't meddle right?"

"Yes, Śakra is a man of his word. He will honor his promise." Buddha confirmed.

"Train me. Make me stronger." Nero looked at him with unwavering determination.

Buddha was surprised but interested after seeing the boy's determined gaze.

"Hmmm... our deal was just to fix your soul problem." Buddha pretended to be thoughtful.

"Yes, you've already done your part, but please teach me. I need more power." Nero bowed his head respectfully.

"Power isn't just about fighting, it's also found in the wisdom of how to avoid." Buddha spoke seriously.

"It doesn't matter what it is, I just wish to increase my power."

"Tell me boy, what are you going to use this strength for?" Buddha watches intently with a curious countenance.

"To get even stronger." Nero answer without hesitating.

"Interesting. Allow me to rephrase, what is your current motivation? Power for power will get you nowhere. And above all, if you lack adequate motivation you will give up in the middle of training."

After hearing this I reflect a little and give my answer.

"I need power to protect my brother and avenge my grandfather."

"But your brother has one of the thirteen longinus, someone with a weapon capable of killing gods needs no help. If anyone needs protection, it would be you."

"I know. Even so, as an older brother it's my responsibility to help Vali. And even if it isn't my responsability, I would still need to take revenge on our grandfather."

"What is the reason for this revenge? Pride or fear?"

"What?" Nero looks confused after hearing the question.

"Let's take your motivation as truth. You clearly want to be able to protect your younger brother because of the feeling of guilt caused by the failure to protect him and as for your Rizevim, I believe it is because of the fear of being subjected to his mental and physical tortures. You feel helpless for not having done anything for Vali and you want to take care of him now, you fear that Rizevim will take your life and it will be impossible to stop him in his current condition. Am I right?"

"Yes." Nero replies through gritted teeth.

"Boy, listen to me carefully because I don't want to repeat. You are not living, just surviving. The innate fear about your grandfather led you to the primal feeling of seeking power to defend yourself."

'It's easy to say, but in my situation it's hard to change. Grandpa put a remote bomb in my heart with his demonic power, if I don't find a solution I'm going to die... if I lose my usefulness I die... if I stop being interesting I die... if I to oppose him I die... damn it! I have to find a solution.' Nero thinks moving in circles, while Buddha just watches him in silence.

"Tell me Buddha, how am I suposed to live?" Nero looks at the god with frustration at his own situation.

"Only you have answer. You need to find your own reason for living, a personal goal, and not limit yourself to the feelings that come from interactions with others to guide the future of your own journey. You need socializing with others, but don't shape your life around someone else, your life is your most precious asset and you must take good care of it. Do not have a shallow life, try to not make choices that you will regret in the future."

"How the hell am I going to do this with my grandfather alive, he clearly kept me in the underworld to use me as a spy and I even have a time bomb in my body implanted by him. When I disobey or lose my usefulness he will simply eliminate me."

"I know your grandfather is terrifying to you and your brother, but you must live your life to the fullest. Improve and overcome him, your relationship with your brother must also follow the same principle must be founded on love and not guilt. As for the bomb, calm down, we'll find a way to solve the problem."

"You know how it's like to feel your heartbeat and at every thum you thinks it might be the last one before you explode? I don't think so, so don't tell me to calm down."

"There's no reason to freak out, it's not going to change your situation in any way."

"Being relaxed won't solve my problem either!"

"Boy, if there is a solution to a problem, you don't have to be nervous because it will always exist, and if there isn't, there's no reason to be nervous because you will never find it." Buddha smile gently.

"A practical solution is welcome." Nero frowned, clearly displeased with Buddha's mindset who just shrugs at the devil boy.

"I control aspects of light and soul so I might not be able to help you remove the bomb from your body, but other beings are capable of manipulating other concepts. You can enlist the help of someone capable of removing the bomb with magic, divine powers, or some other power." Buddha then looked seriously again. "Leaving the subject of the bomb, you really should take my advice in relation to your brother. Fix your emotions might help you control yourself and even get stronger."

"But I failed Vali, I could have done more..." Nero speaks with his head down as he clenches his fists, but is interrupted by Buddha.

"What could you have done? Adding the trauma of seeing his half-brother killed for trying to defend him or maybe increasing the psychological fear they both had of Rizevim. Accept it boy, there was nothing that could be done, maybe an escape made earlier but don't dwell on it."

Nero remain silent acknowledging that the god is correct. And he begins to reflect on some way to get closer to his own brother, with no result.

"How?"

Buddha remains silent waiting for the boy to continue.

"How can I approach him if I don't even know where he is at the moment."

"Don't worry about it, I know where he is. In fact most of the most influential gods know where he is, I'm surprised the angels and devils didn't find him." Buddha tries to act enigmatic, but is fixed the whole time with a look that certainly wants to pressure him to say the rest. "He is under the guardianship of Azazel, the governor-general of the fallen angels."

"It's safe?" Nero expresses genuine concern in the look that makes Buddha happy.

"Yes, he may be a pervert, but he just wants to study the sacred gears to better understand the god of the bible and help human progress."

Buddha smiled and put his hand on Nero's shoulder.

"All right, I decided that I will teach you. However, I'll have to teach you more about the world first before training your powers."

"Since knowledge is power I have no problem with learning, let's get started right away." Nero looked confident in himself.

"Let's start with basics. Tell me what pantheons you know, or rather tell me what religions you ever met." Buddha gestured for Nero to proceed.

Well I know about the devils, fallen angels and angels that make up Christian mythology. I met the God-King Indra of Hindu mythology. I met the founder of Buddhism and the Monkey King of Chinese mythology.

"I know the Christian, Hindu, Chinese and Buddhist mythologies." Nero answered honestly.

"In addition to them there are Norse, Greek, Japanese, Irish, Egyptian, Celtic, Persian and remnants of Babylonian mythologies." Buddha completed by listing the missing ones, surprised at how meager the boy's knowledge is, especially in not knowing the Norse and Greeks.

"Okay, but what is the importance of me knowing this?"

I want to train but because he insists on it... well I know it must have a purpose but I need to get stronger. I'll stick with what Buddha is saying for now, I agreed so I have to honor my commitment.

"Simple, if you know who you're dealing with your chances of taking advantage or getting what you want increase dramatically." Buddha explains calmly without being irritated by his new pupil's haste.

I just nod my head and ask how to proceed.

"Got it, what else do I need to know?"

"You must know that there are more factions outside the pantheons, among them are the Youkai, the Five Principal Families in Japan, and the various factions of mages existing around the world."

"Then..."

When I tried to speak I was interrupted by Buddha.

"Then you will need to remember who is the leader of each place."

"Well, the Christian one is the Big G and the Buddhist one is you." Nero readily exposes his knowledge.

"I see that devils, who haven't reached a certain level of strength, are still unable to say the name of the God of the Bible without feeling pain." He faces Nero amused with the situation and continues. "You are correct with your statements, continuing them the main chief gods that you need to remember from each pantheon are: Indra in Hindu and Chinese; Odin in Norse; Zeus in Greek; Ra in Egyptian; Lugh in Irish; and Ahura Mazda in Persian. As for the Youkais, do you have any idea who the leaders are?"

This question brings back memories, I remember how Sun Wukong answered Kuroka when she said her mother's name.

"The kitsune Yakasa and Nunarihyion are the leaders, respectively, of the Kyoto and East factions."

"Very good, you are right. Well how about starting to tell you something you're interested in, feel free to ask questions." Buddha sits on a bench as he gestures for me to proceed.

"Buddha, tell me important news about the supernatural world."

"Many events occurred recently, if you can specify your filter a little bit more, then I will be able to give you an accurate answer."

Hmmm... my immediate concern is for Vali and our grandfather, so the best option would be to get informations about my mythology.

"Alright, could you tell me about the supernatural events related to the biblical factions?"

"Of course, that's a lot easier." Buddha corrected his posture and promptly began.

"Well, one of the main recent events involving the supernatural world was the death of Kuoh's manager, Cleria Belial, which occurred last year 2002. The second important event occurred a few months ago, it was the inner Himejima clan massacre, in which the priestess Shuri Himejima was killed. Finally, the most recent event was the escape of your well-known nekomata who was classified as a rank SSS stray devil criminal because of the Naberius massacre.

"I already have an idea of what happened to Kuroka in the Naberius family, so could you please tell me more about the other events."

"Sure, then let's begin with Kuoh incident. First of all, what do you know about the city?" Buddha says.

I never had much information about recent news, but I could always read the records in the Lucifer family mansion. As far as I remember Kuoh is not part of the devils' territories in the human world.

"As far as I know, it's not any devil's clan territory. That's all I know about the place."

With his conclusions, he responds confidently only to have the same confidence destroyed in a matter of seconds.

"You just know that? Heck, you young people tend to like Japanese culture a lot. Strange that you don't know anything, don't you happen to have any interest in the human world?" Buddha looks on disapprovingly shaking his head at Nero.

"It's hard to hear the news when you live with an abusive and reclusive family that wants a rebellion and is considered a public enemy of your own race."

"Being part of Rizevim's family must suck, but that's okay, I'll start explaining. The territory in which the city of Kuoh is located belongs to the Youkai faction, it was ceded to the devils through a peace agreement made by the leader of the Youkais of Kyoto, Yakasa, and the four current Devil Kings." Buddha uses Buddhist magic to make a three-dimensional projection of the city appear.

"I don't understand why the Youkai signed this agreement. Why would they give one of their lands to another faction?"

"According to the goddess Amaterasu in my last conversation with her, the kisune Yakasa by her orders signed the agreement as a proof of peace with the devil faction. The agreement served as a test of coexistence in which the youkai ceded the land to the devils' management and the devils did the duty of protecting the city and eliminating stray devils in the area."

"It was a good idea, basically it's a transfer of the right to use the city along the duty of protecting the city. They basically delegated the task while testing us."

"Very perceptive my dear student, that was really the point of the agreement. Apparently the Devil Kings also noticed and assigned the territory to Diehauser Belial's younger cousin."

"The number 1 from rating games?"

"Didn't you say that you couldn't hear news?" Buddha looked at the boy strangely.

"I was isolated, but I didn't live under a rock. Besides, my father used to complain and mock rating games for using the evil pieces system."

"Well, that doesn't surprise me coming from Rizevim's son."

"Yes, he was a hypocrite. Even though he believed that humans are inferior, he had a relationship with a human to have my brother." Nero frowns thinking about Razevan Lucifer.

"Okay kid, moving on to the important part. The story told to the public is that Cleria Belial and a member of the church named Masaomi Yaegaki fell madly in love with each other, violating a taboo of devils not being able to be in a relationship with servants of god. For violating the taboo they were branded rebels, and both the church and the devils of Great King faction made a alliance together to eliminate them both."

"This is very suspicious. Even though the two broke rules doesn't seem like an adequate punishment, especially with Cleria being from the Belial clan and the underworld being in short supply of pure-blooded devils. What intrigues me most is the fact the Great King faction itself defends the need to maintain noble blood and killed one of the people who owns that blood."

"The case of the Cleria Belial was closed, but there is evidence that it was an armed murder different from the story told. The girl probably discovered something she shouldn't and they killed her to hide such information." Buddha has a look of pity while narrating the situation.

"I understand the church's actions, but the Great King faction's desperation to withhold this information only makes me more interested."

"I am also intrigued by the actions taken by the devils, but only those involved in the incident knows the truth." Buddha shrugs.

"If they were willing to provoke her cousin who occupies the current rank 1 of the rating games and one of the strongest devils around, this information should be valuable and useful." Nero grins greedily.

My grandfather didn't respect anyone in the underworld, mocking even the current devil kings. But I recall that he once spoke of Zekram Bael cursing him and considering him an annoying old man. If the leader of the Great King faction got such a reaction from my grandfather, it must be worthy to investigate further about this matter.

As I thought about future plans, Buddha's warning brought me back to reality along with a hit on my head.

"Don't bite off more than one can chew." Buddha comments after hitting the greedy little devil in the head with his divine weapon.

"I know." I rub my head after feeling the pain of the sudden blow. "Anyway, what was the result of the fight?"

"It was a predictable result when we think of the union of two factions against a devil and an exorcist. Cleria Belial and Masaoki Yaegaki were killed and the exorcists of the Protestant Church of Japan moved out of Kuoh Town for some reason, those were the two results that everyone knows. But according to some sources this conflict made it possible for the fallen angels to infiltrate in the city of Kuoh."

"I think now I have an idea about Cleria's case, but what about the next event." After a brief pause, I confirm the topic so as not to waste time being asked to specify. "Tell me more about the Himejima Massacre."