Part 8 - I checkmate you in one move...

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***

That was the end.

Albion had already done his job, though it was hard to keep him under control. I don't know what that had to do with, perhaps his almost limitless Power, or some sort of mental magic. But...I feel like he's kind of thrown off control? I'll figure it out later.

And it'll be good if he doesn't go against me immediately after he drops control....

But that was the end for the troops at Jade Mountain.

I watched with my familiar the end of the battle between Sitri and Agares. Both sides had already used their trump cards and were completely exhausted. The Sitri had even used the Nereid's Kyrie Nereid's Longinus. Didn't expect it. It did change the outcome of the battle, but the Water Demon clan didn't hit the main troops in time, so the Agares had time to bring reinforcements and hit the rear.

Do I have any doubts about whether I'm doing the right thing? No, not anymore. Even though I am still young and my opinion, as well as my whole outlook may change, I think I am doing the right thing. I'm eliminating future competitors who, for now, have more Power and Authority. Soon there will be a real massacre at the Jade Mountains, where thousands of creatures will die on my order....

Do I doubt my decision to completely rebuild the world? Right now, not at all.

Still, it is necessary to start small, and not rush headlong into the flames as I did in the last world. The power levels here are completely different, even my evolutionary Gias might not help....

In the meantime.

Let's get started.

Next to my demonic eagle, which is my familiar, sat a small black squirrel, Venelana's familiar. However, they weren't moving right now, but rather watching the progress of the battle.....

- Are you sure it's going to work? - Venelana asked me, lying comfortably on top of me.

- Yes. Besides, Kimimaro and Kairyu would have to perform something like this sooner or later, so why not now? They can handle it, and if the Pillars on the borders see movement, we'll be right there,' I replied, stroking her silky flaxen hair.

- Why didn't Roigan let her out? You know she won't stay here for long,' Venelana said, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head on my stomach.

- I think the influence of Sitri and Agares has reached these lands, so they could have known about the coup. Or Zekram could have planted that information on them himself through his men. If they find out we have the Belphegor heiress, we'll be enemies of at least three of the Pillars,' I replied as I continued to stroke her silky, lavender-scented hair.

- But eventually, if this continues, she'll just run away,' Venelana laughed mischievously.

- I already know what she'll do so she won't be bored,' I grinned, 'But before that, let's see how our troops are progressing.

- Or maybe...they can wait...a few minutes...' Venelana raised her violet eyes, biting her lower lip, raising her hand to her cheek.

- If only a few,' I grinned and eagerly took her neck and pulled her to me. Her hardened nipples pressed against my chest, and her other hand was almost touching my groin.

Still, we were beyond amused and after a few minutes we did stop. But the flushed cheeks and excited looks told me we'd be back at it.

- Khan, come forward,' I ordered my servant with the help of my familiar, who flew over to them.

- Aye!' they answered me over the comms circle and immediately disconnected.

***

Jade Mountains. Lelouch's army. The day before the battle.

Shouts of laughter could be heard everywhere and there was none of the depressing pre-battle atmosphere the army was used to. Small campfires, around which individual battalions gathered, were discussing all sorts of things. Some wanted to build their own shop or shop after the battle. Some missed their family and wanted to return. But no words of condemnation were heard against their Lord for sending them to this battle. Perhaps they understood him. Perhaps they didn't know how he would react to a negative response, even if not openly. But one thing Kimimaro knew for sure. If any of them went against the Master, he would immediately kill him...or them....

Ever since Lord Lelouch had saved him in the forest then, and hidden him from the Nebiros trackers, Kimimaro had had fewer nightmares of the laboratory. The colours of a boundless life were returning to him gradually, but even for that he would be forever grateful. Oh, and he had been made his personal Servant. For that, any demon of Low, Medium, High class would cry tears of joy to the High for such trust.

Kimimaro sat alone at one of the fires near the main tent, where Han and the rest of the generals of this military operation were now located. Pale skin, bright green eyes, handsome features, and what made him stand out from the other demons were the two red dots on his forehead and the same colour markings under his eyes. White as snow, his hair reached his shoulders, which was split in half in the middle of his head.

He was the only one in the squad that would soon be replenished with new servants of Lord Lelouch already under Kimimaro's command. His squad would be dressed in unusual and different attire: a loose-fitting white coloured shirt with a wide inverted purple bow at the waist. Knight is the future 'title' of all who will be a personal member of the Lord's troop.

Though it was artificially created, but that didn't mean that Kimimaro felt no emotions and was completely indifferent to everything. Though his senses have been 'dumbed down' during the time spent in Nebiros' laboratory, but Kaguya is absolutely sure that Lord Lelouch will help in bringing back new colours of life. And progress is already being made! Although it's not going as fast as Kimimaro had hoped, but it's happening! Which means Kaguya is on the right track. He will follow his new Master into the Abyss to fulfil his desires and goals. Just as Master Lelouch fulfilled his...

Perhaps because of his cold and somewhat detached attitude, except for Han, who is also a Servant of the Master, no one wanted to approach Kimimaro. He has only recently turned fifteen, and he is already one of the strongest Demons in the army, capable of facing off against the Supreme.

Of course, I'm nowhere near the level of Mistress Venelana and Mister Lelouch. They are unreachable, but I will do my best not to be a burden to them. I'll be their first Sword! No, the strongest Sword of Lamperouge!

But Kimimaro's musings were interrupted.

- Kimimaro! - he was called from the chamber. From the sound of his voice, it was Han.

Kaguya rose from his seat and glanced at the other demons that looked in his direction. They flinched and immediately looked away.

Am I scaring them with something?

Kimimaro pulled back the curtains of the tent and stepped inside. The place was quite cosy and warm because of the Dragon Flame lighting up every corner of this room. The first thing Kimimaro noticed were the unfamiliar faces.

Eight black wings behind his back, he is a High Fallen. Had the Master managed to recruit someone from them as well?

There was nothing remarkable about the Fallen One's appearance, except for his bright red eyes with black pupil. His black hair was short and unkempt, and his facial features were sharp and wild. The same colour as his hair, long robes covering all parts of his body where his arms were hidden in the sleeves. The predatory gaze of red eyes immediately dug into Kimimaro's calm bright green eyes. But Kaguya noticed something else...

The unknown man lowered his hands down and faintly began to concentrate the Power of Light. But Kimimaro noticed this and was on standby, so he immediately rushed to attack.

Forming a blade from his bone in his right hand, he was instantly in front of the Fallen, who didn't even move. His calmness was answered by the Black Sand that encircled Kimimaro's body parts, emanating from the gourd behind Han's back.

Brown eyes took in Kimimaro's questioning gaze seriously, and Han's red marks seemed to flick away from his cheeks and relax.

- Snotty's not bad,' the Fallen One said, continuing to stare at Kimimaro with his red eyes.

- What does that mean, Han? - Kimimaro asked coldly, already knowing how to get out if Han betrayed him.

- 'A test, Kimimaro, calm down,' Han sighed, gradually removing his sand, but seeing Kimimaro's look, he continued, 'Mr Lelouch organised a test for you. He wanted to see how you would perform in a situation like this. And you met his expectations,' Han smiled slightly.

- And what were his expectations? - Kaguya asked, calming down. He could see when they were telling the truth and when they weren't.

- You'll find out,' Han grinned, 'The Master will talk it over with you. Naturally, when I report it to him.

- So he won't be present? - Kimimaro asked with slight resentment.

- No,' Han closed his eyes, only to open them again a moment later, 'I present to you one of the generals of this operation, Magnus, the Eight-Winged Fallen.

The Fallen One smiled predatorily and offered his own hand to Kimimaro. Kaguya shook it, squeezing it lightly as Magnus did.

- You're not bad, snot. Maybe after the battle we can duel? - Magnus asked with a wild glare, hoping to hear one answer....

- Sure.

And Magnus heard it....

And Kimimaro only smiled slightly, seeing Magnus' reaction.

Maybe he'll be my first, as the Master said, friend...?

But Kaguya decided to turn his attention to another guest in this room. And if Han himself hadn't turned his heads towards him, Kimimaro wouldn't have even noticed him. He was completely suppressing his energy, as if he wasn't here at all. As if he was one with the nature that had granted him his hiding place....

An unremarkable black zip-up jacket covering half of his face, the same colour trousers and trainers. Slightly ajar amber eyes looked at Kimimaro intently, as if searching for something in him. His black dishevelled hair was so unkempt that it was already sticking up. At his forehead, however, his fringes were parted and fell to either side, framing his sharp features.

- He'll do fine,' he said in a voice that was calm but not creepy.

- Yeah, I think so too,' Han nodded to him, 'Meet Kairyu.

- Kairyu Bakudo, nekomat,' Kairyu introduced himself and extended his frail hand to Kimimaro, who shook it in greeting. Despite his skinny hand, Kairyu took Kaguya's hand firmly.

- Kimimaro Kaguya, High Class Demon,' Kimimaro nodded.

- Now that you've all met,' Han looked round at everyone, 'I think it's time to discuss the important details of the fight.

***

The Wolfhounds at the base of the army rammed into the troops, sweeping the Sitri Force and Agares out of the way. The demons, backed by Magnus' squad, attacked the enemy from the sky, and were met with concentrated mana charges from the enemy shooters.

Was this the first time the opponents had seen such demons? Beasts? They didn't even know who the Volkolaks were and mistook them for demonic beasts, and they paid for it. The creatures in the guise of Wolf and Bear knocked down all the barriers placed in their way by Agares' troops with just physical strength.

Screams of pain, fear, despair could be heard from everywhere, the air was literally saturated with these emotions, but it did not bother Kimimaro. He swiftly and swiftly, as always, passed through the enemy units towards his goal. Kaguya was serious about his mission, for this was the first serious assignment given to them by their Lord.

And he had finally found his target.

The body of another downed enemy flew towards Kimimaro, but he dodged it, focusing his attention on his opponent. According to the data Han had gathered for them, it was a Demon of the Agares side branch, wielding the clan's ability - Time. A special barrier where time flows differently than outside.

The demon of pleasant appearance with pale grey eyes and brown hair, warily looked at Kimimaro. Although Valei Agares was strong, but he wasn't stupid and arrogant towards his opponent just because he was a Demon. Still, arrogance could also ruin any Demon....

The aura around Kimimaro was so dense and terrifying at the same time that Valay thought for a moment that someone at the level of the head of the Pillar had arrived on the battlefield. But Agares was attentive to the clothing, which clearly did not favour nobility, so he decided to put forward his assumptions aloud.

- Excuse me, are you one of Lord Lucifer's servants? - Valais asked, hoping to hear a 'no'.

But Kimimaro didn't answer anything, and just continued walking slowly towards Valay.

- You may have misunderstood everything... - Valay didn't have time to finish before he had to activate his generic ability and get out of the way of the attack.

- WHAT!!! - Valay thought in a daze as he saw that the bones coming out of his opponent's body were not affected by the barrier.

Kimimaro's bone coming out of his right arm lightly touched Valay's neck. Valay immediately spread his pair of wings and accelerated himself with the wind to get out of the line of attack.

- He didn't get to the bone,' Kimimaro thought regretfully with a slight wince.

- He's not one of Lucifer Lord's servants. There weren't any Demons with such abilities. Someone from Sitri's servants? Or had another Pillar joined the fight for the Mountains? - Valay carefully looked directly at Kimimaro, who seemed to be standing in a relaxed pose with bone swords in his hands.

- I need to finish the battle quickly to show the Lord what I am worth. His Time doesn't affect my Genome, if my guess is correct, I will win,' Kimimaro was fully focused on the battle.

Kaguya immediately rushed to attack, using all the speed available to catch Agares off guard. Valais was able to dodge thanks only to his barrier, concentrating demonic energy in the right places.

- So, to fend off my attack, he'll need to infuse his barrier with mana at the points of attack,' Kimimaro realised, and immediately stopped beside one of the corpses.

Valay was puzzled. His enemy could have ended the fight if he had continued to attack so intensely, as Agares was quickly running out of mana as he did various tricks with his barrier.

But now he was witnessing another miracle....

Kimimaro stabbed his bone swords into the two corpses that lay nearby and threw them towards Valay. Agares immediately dodged the corpses, noticing black lines spreading across their bodies from where they had been wounded. Kimimaro rushed to attack, and Valay was already oblivious to the corpses that the change was happening to. And for nothing. From the dead demons, their own bones flew towards Agares, forming long spears that attacked him from behind.

Valay only noticed this when Kimimaro's bones were already several metres away from him.

- He can control the bones of the dead? 'This is the first time I've seen such a sophisticated ability,' Valay reasoned worriedly, 'He attacked me from different directions to understand the properties of my barrier. If I expand the radius of Time and strengthen the mana at the points of attack little by little, I won't be able to defend myself against his attack. Is that-' Valay didn't have time to finish his thought as he was already attacked.

Valay expanded his barrier to its maximum and began to deflect the attack from several directions, moving out of the line of attack and pouring almost all of his remaining energy into the barrier.

He was able to dodge the first attack of bones coming from the corpse. He was able to dodge the second one as well, but it took a large amount of mana. This was what Kimimaro took advantage of. Kaguya immediately found himself in front of Agares and watched him pass through the barrier much easier than he had in the past.

- So my hunch was correct. He can control the entire area of the barrier, but it won't have much effect unless he fills it with mana,' Kimimaro thought with a calm expression as he passed through the barrier.

Kimimaro's bones immediately travelled towards his lower neck and were already at Valay's throat.

- The end...' Valay finished his thought, 'Forgive me, my Lord. I failed in my task....

When the attack reached Valay's bone, he immediately felt a change in his body. It was as if his bones were being pumped with someone else's mana, and it was already a moment before they would burst from the power of the energy. And so it was.

The bones exploded in Agares' body, and his body immediately collapsed and no longer moved. Kimimaro immediately raised his bone sword and stabbed it straight into Valay's heart.

- I have won. I have completed my master's task,' Kimimaro thought with a smile on his lips, 'During my time in the master's castle, I have learnt how to control the bones of another's body. To do so requires great concentration and large amounts of demonic energy. It was only thanks to the recently absorbed magic stone that I was able to pull this off with the bodies of my enemies.

Kimimaro, swaying slightly, continued to attack into the enemy camp. Wearing his bone armour that was literally coming out of his body, Kaguya rushed into battle.

- I wonder how the others are doing?

***

Kairyu was sitting on one of the rocks near the river, he was bored. All his natural energy traps were already activated and all the Demons were dead. Han had said they were one of Sitri's strongest units, but Bakudo didn't think so.

They couldn't counter his seals with anything but one Demon. And that was the one that was heading towards him now. To lure them away from the battlefield, he had to plant the misinformation that he was one of the Agares and that he had stolen samples of Gore ore.

- Thank God I waited for him,' Kairyu sighed, rising from his seat.

A Demon emerged from a small wooded area that had been covered in trap seals up to a point. Black hair with blue curl tips reaching down to his cheeks. The same colour as his hair, eyes and neat facial features. Rich, loose blue robes, clearly designed for battle.

- You've been walking a long time, old man,' Kairyu said calmly, about to lead the Demon out before the fight began.

- 'You didn't let me know where to wait for you, boy,' replied the Demon Sitri, who was scrutinising his would-be opponent.

- 'Provoking didn't work,' thought Kairyu, 'Your entire squad is dead. Don't you want to go after them?

- No, boy. I'm not going to die today. First, I'll show you, cheeky boy, how to treat adults, and then I'll cripple you so that you won't be able to walk. After that, I'll take you to Sitri's castle and torture you there until you tell me who sent you, you lowlife,' the atmosphere in the clearing grew heavier with each word of the Demon, and the trees and grass began to sag under Sitri's power.

- What a powerful Aura,' Kairyu reasoned calmly, 'Yes, the brother of the head of Sitri is not bad. I think he was superior to not only his faction, but most of the other Agares as well. With him, Sitri's victory would be assured. Although I've been given the task of apprehending him, I'm not going to limit myself to that. In the name of the Lord, I will kill him right here and now.

- All right, then. Just tell me your name so I know who I'm killing at least,' Kairyuu said, jumping down from the rock to the ground.

Even though I already know his name from Han's data, it's necessary to support Agares' fictional story.

- So you don't know? - Demon was genuinely surprised, but after that he smirked slightly, - Salvion Sitri, brother of the head of the Sitri Pillar, Supreme, - Demon introduced himself completely officiously.

- You may call me the Third. That's enough,' Kairyu said, preparing for battle.

- Will you tell me who sent you? - As soon as Salvion said that, dozens of different spells from the circles Kairyu had formed immediately rushed towards him.

Sitri immediately took out a few bottles of water from behind his belt and poured them onto the ground to provide finer control over the element of water. Mastery of Water is a generic ability of the Sitri Pillar, which is also tied to the healing of all demons.

All creatures are made up of water, meaning that by affecting water, it is easier to heal any creature. The Sitri clan has built a huge number of hospitals and medical facilities, because of which it is popular among all walks of life.

- But before you die, I ask you, what is a Nekomat doing in Hell? - Salvion asked, forming a water wall that took on all the attacks.

- 'Damn, looks like my illusions aren't as good as I thought,' Kairyu thought worriedly, 'Then make me, old man,' Bakudo smirked.

- 'I will,' Sitri replied and began to create several dozen water needles from the puddle.

Kairyu is the last survivor of his Nekomat clan, and the fact that he is still a male is rare. Nekomat are one of the types of youkai capable of wielding Yojutsu. With this unique Yōkai magic, he is able to summon various circles of defence and attack spells. As well as unique types of magic such as poison mist, illusion control, and more. Kairyu used this Power to create an illusion around himself, revealing to everyone that he was a Demon.

Kairyu didn't put up any defence circles, but went for a frontal attack, aiming to take the enemy by surprise. But that's what Salvion was waiting for. As the needles of water whistled near Kairyu's face, Sitri created a five metre sea serpent from his puddle of water, which immediately rushed to attack. But the last member of the Bakudo clan wasn't so simple. Salvion's water attack hit the blue flames of the youkai that were coming out of Kairyu's circles.

Salvion witnessed a demonstration of Kashya power.

Kashya is one of the senjutsu techniques that can summon blue flames by controlling them with one's hands. This technique is specifically for 'evil forces': Demons, Evil Dragons, Fallen, and Vampires. This blue flame will burn until it burns its victim to the ground.

But Kairyu's flame was weak and could barely contain the sea serpent that Salvion was abundantly pouring demonic energy into. Because Kairyu didn't reveal his Nekomata Appearance, his Powers within are restraining themselves and not coming out fully.

- I seriously underestimated the old man. I should rethink my strategy,' Kairyu thought and retracted his flame, immediately moving out from under Salvion's attack.

No sooner had Bakudo prepared his next attack than needles of water flew at him from behind.

- He created needles at such a distance from the river? - Kairyu was perplexed, turning around and creating several protective barriers.

But no sooner had they touched the barrier than they disappeared.

- A trap! - But no sooner had Bakudo dodged than something heavy flew at his face.

The last thing Kairyu saw was a fist making contact with his face. Bakudo flew back a few dozen metres, knocking over numerous trees in his path. And Salvion leisurely began to approach the boy, creating a water whip in his hand.

- Is he afraid to take his form? - Sitri thought, but he could not think further, because of the blue flames that struck him from all sides.

The water cocoon protected him from all the flames. With a slight wave of his hand, clearing away the dust that had formed, Salvion saw Kairyu unharmed. His amber eyes with the elongated pupil seemed to burn even brighter than before. Sitri sent several water sickles in his direction, only to see them immediately disappear.

- WHAT? - Was Salvion shocked, but the answer came to him on its own after a few moments.

The next attack didn't keep Kairyu waiting, and only then did Sitri see his fists covered in a thin layer of golden energy. And the nekomat himself was moving at an incredible speed, making his movements seem blurry.

- Touki? This nekomat is the first one since OWLs that I've met in battle with this energy. Back then, I miraculously survived the fight with that monkey. Let's see what this...' before Salvion could finish his thought, the Third's fist was in front of his face.

- HOW?! So fast! - Salvion was genuinely surprised, as he hadn't seen his opponent move at all.

When the fist was only a centimetre away from Sitri's face, the image of the 'Third' immediately disappeared, replaced by the familiar empty clearing where they had started the battle.

- An illusion? Abyss! - Salvion swore, unleashing his Force and Aura around him, trying to get out of the illusion.

And when the illusory image of the clearing disappeared, what he saw was... The Oblique....

Sitri continued to stand in that spot with his water whip in his hand, looking straight into the bright amber eyes of his opponent. The pupil stretched out even further, cat ears appeared on the top of his head, and four black tails peeked out from behind his back...

The sleeves were raised so that the claws, which were several centimetres long, were visible. The top of the jacket was unbuttoned so that a bloodthirsty grin could be seen.

- LOOKS LIKE YOU BROKE OUT OF MY ILLUSION, OLD MAN! - came a loud and growling voice from the direction of the Third, to which Sitri flinched slightly.

- Four tails at that age? That's impressive. If I can survive this battle, however, I will definitely go see that old monkey. Maybe he'll tell me something new about Senjutsu, if I can beat it out of him...' Sitri thought worriedly to himself.

Meanwhile, Kairyu folded his fingers between them, pushing them upwards. His eyes blazed even brighter, and his bloodthirsty grin grew even wider.

- Forbidden Technique: Expansion! - Kairyuu shouted with the same grin, while Salvion watched what the opponent's technique was.

Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Kairyu takes a low stance, sticks out his claws, and with the same bloodthirsty grin, starts moving.

A step...

Salvion's instincts literally scream immediate death if he doesn't turn to his right side. Sitri obeys his gut and turns round with his hull. Salvion felt that if he was a mile of a second late, he would be immediately cut in half. Sitri had never felt as on the brink of life and death as he did now....

Second step...

Salvion manages to create a water shield on the spot where he was recently standing. But the shield was immediately destroyed as if it never existed. Sitri's heart is pounding frantically, and fear and shock are clearly visible on her face. It was only due to blind luck unknown to anyone that he had survived now.

Step three...

Salvion feels a touch on his neck.

Then his temple.

But he can do nothing. Nothing...

Something sharp jabs into his temple and immediately pierces his head with a swift movement. The last thing Sitri felt on his deathbed was that his neck was twisted. And then darkness...

Three steps executed - the Expansion technique leaves no one alive...

Kairyu sighed tiredly, his mouth filled with acrid smoke, the paralysing poison created by the Yojutsu that had paralysed Salvion when the illusion had been cast on him. And Bakudo applied it back when he attacked Sitri with blue flames.

What about the Expansion technique? A forbidden clan technique created by the very first Yokai Bakudo. It created a special barrier whose victim could not leave it until the creator ran out of ki or was unable to continue maintaining it.

This barrier was an incredible concentration of ki, allowing him to move freely within it with incredible speed. To perform this technique required an enormous amount of energy. And due to his near perfect mastery of Yojutsu and Kashya, Kairyu is able to ideally perform the technique of his dead clan.

Bakudo sat down under a tree to replenish his ki reserves with a meditation technique. He buttoned his jacket and straightened his sleeves. Then he sighed tiredly and closed his eyes.

- Mister, can you hear me? - He turned mentally to the leaflet, which was scrawled with magical structures invisible to the human eye. And on the back of it was the coat of arms of the House of Lamperouge.

- Yes, my flyer seems to be working perfectly. Even the sound is much clearer. So, who was it? - Lelouch asked on the feedback.

- As you surmised, it was Salvion Sitri - the brother of the head of the Pillar.

- Well, that's both good and bad. Alright, Kairyuu, you have another hour to do some recon.

- Yes, Master, it will be done,'' Kairyuu said obediently.

- Good. See you later,' and Kairyu felt a "switch off" on the backside.

Bakudo sighed again. He had an hour to spare to continue the task....

***

- The battle is over,' Han stated the obvious fact to his partner Magnus.

- It was boring,' the Fallen One said, not enjoying the fight.

- There are only small remnants of the units left, which Kimimaro and Kairyu will take care of with the support of the Wolfhounds,' Han continued, knowing that Magnus was listening attentively.

- Those Wolfhounds are strong,' Magnus smiled approvingly.

- Yes, the Master has taken them in for a reason. They are strong fighters in deed, as they have shown in battle,' Han crossed his arms.

After a short silence, Magnus decided to speak.

- The Abbadon left early in the fight. Ehhh, the Master will be disappointed we didn't take at least one,' Magnus sighed, rubbing his neck, a habit when he was worried about something.

- True. But we have another mission now, since we've already completed the first one,' Han nodded towards the dead Demons.

- Are we going now? - Magnus asked.

- Yes, the Master has already sent me the coordinates of where the Dragon King Tiamat might be. I remind you, Magnus, that we will not fight her. Our job is to find her exact location and head back,' Han snapped into Magnus' red eyes.

- Yes, yes, as much as I want to fight her, I know she'll finish me off,' Magnus sighed sadly, but he perked up immediately, 'But that's okay, it'll be a while before I'm stronger, and when I'm stronger, we'll fight her! - mad flames of fire played in Magnus's eyes, and his hands began to itch by themselves....

- Ohhh, okay, let's go,' Han activated the teleportation circle and Magnus entered it immediately.

- Finally, Dragon King Tiamat, we're coming for you!

***

A few days later. Not far from Ladon's cave. Interlude - Lelouch Lamperouge.

I approached the small humble cottage that Khan had built for Leila. Ladon had often informed me that it overlooked a small clearing near her home, tucked into a small wooded area. The dragon, like me, assumed she was training. And that training lasts from one day to the next. Day and night.

Lucifer, until a month ago, summoned the Pillars and other clans to battle the Fallen and the Angels. We, though an unofficial Clan, also sent our forces there under the command of the head of the Pillar Andrealfus - he is subordinate to Gias. I was not going to take part in that massacre, as I already know how it will end. With the death of Biblical and Lucifer.

Though I didn't want to send Venelana there, she talked me into it in some...interesting ways. First she pressed pity, then she said she wouldn't talk to me, and then she proceeded to go after every Demon's carnal desires. Of course, even after the incredible sex, I was reluctant to send her there, but the weighty argument in the word 'Power' influenced my decision. I knew that sooner or later what everyone calls 'growing up' would happen.

When you want to go out and take down a couple of monsters on your own to show how good you are. But because she absorbed that magic pebble, she became more confident and begged me to let her go. I think she probably went herself, even without my permission, but something kept her from doing so. Perhaps the fact that she's a Lamperouge now? I'm not sure. It's only in battle that any creature, regardless of race, becomes stronger.

I even had to send Roigan, as she begged me too, so she and I agreed that she wouldn't use the Rift, at least not in large amounts, in public. She was so happy, like a child. Though if you count our ages, both Venelana and Roygan, and even me, are children. Though I'm older than them mentally, but still. I hope they don't die in there...though I've given them 'emergency summoning' flyers straight to Ladon. If anything, they'll activate it immediately.

Now to digress. I think most of the Pillars only went there to personally witness the death of the Demon Progenitor and Creator. Those whom I have subdued Gias can mentally summon and command me to see the picture through his eyes. This happens for a simple mental reason.

Every time I use Gias on someone, their brain channels and their very structure change dramatically. And when I order someone to obey, he and I become, shall we say, one. I can freely look through his memories and so can the subordinate. But of course, he won't do it unless I let him.

Why am I bringing this up? It's unambiguously simple and scary. Albion has met Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor. Even as a subordinate of my Gias, I couldn't just order the Dragon to show his memories. Perhaps it was due to his almost limitless Power again. In fact, he and Red had been fighting for a long time. Just stopped for a while for their own reasons and changed their location. Probably the reason being to take care of their own dragons.

In a nutshell, Albion reset my control. It seems I disturbed the White during their battle with the Red, so Gwiber flew long to fulfil my last order. Praise for...who? That Albion forgot about me and continued to fight Ddraig. I wouldn't be surprised if they show up during the Battle of the Three Factions. And even if they do, and even if they show up near my troops under Venelana's command.....

Those lizards will remember not to piss me off.

There are a couple of ways to subdue them.

Like using Gias and Tiamat, who I made a contract with yesterday...

But I don't need that white lizard anymore. Its venom is enough for thousands more creatures of this world, and its scales are already in the production of armour for my Knights. I decided not to invent anything extraordinary and gave a name to my future personal Servants, as in the past world of the Emperor of the Holy British Empire.

Right now, the most dangerous opponent is Zekram. Even though I have subjugated most of the Inferiors in my territory to strengthen my counter-intelligence, but Bael still finds loopholes to reveal information. First of all, when we want to find any information about the Kin, we turn to who?

That's right, the Inferiors. Why?

Because they are ready to kiss their feet for the 'honest noble word of the High', who promised to make them servants in the castle. At the moment, the Inferiors are about seventy per cent of the Inferiors. It doesn't even stack up. Seventy per cent of the Inferiors are willing to give their lives for a paid job and a roof over their heads. On the one hand, you can understand them, but they are demons, after all! Proud, pompous, independent, arrogant - we are the strongholds of sin!

What will happen in a few hundred years when everyone will be shouting that we need 'democracy' and 'freedom'. I think it will happen in the next hundred years for sure. When the Low and Middle get tired of the rule of the Highs and revolt. And if it happens of their own free will...well. Then I'll make sure they'll be grateful to me for 'supporting' their ideas.....

At the moment, I have a few main objectives. The first is to destroy Raychem Fenex, since he found out something about Belphegor, claiming that it was me, the lowly one, who destroyed practically the entire Pillar. How did he find out? I think Zekram had a nasty hand in it. Seriously, Reichem said so to the High Ones in Lucifer's palace, where they were discussing military strategy in the War. But no one backed him up, just like I thought they would. The Highs are the epitome of hubris and arrogance, most of them, but they are not stupid.

My victory over Zekram's punitive force, the military operation against Sitri and Agares, and then in a few more months the incredibly rapid settlement and subjugation of the lands all made a difference. My reputation in the public eye went from contempt to fear and caution. On top of that, most people didn't even just believe it. This was even better. I'm not going to get involved in this truly, as one might put it, battle royal.

The smart ones will sit back and look to capitalise. The strong will prove their superiority and push with all their might. The weak will hide and look round to avoid detection. My House is not weak, but at the same time, it is not as strong as House Bael, who has the strongest and most disciplined army in Hell. Zekram has tamed his subordinates well.

The second challenge: to rise to the top during this massacre. Most of the Pillars were reluctant to act before because they were afraid. After all, every time there was a skirmish between the Pillars, and it reached Lucifer, then he would send an army of House-Slugs. Their armies are strong, and the heads of the Houses are almost the strongest Demons in the Underworld, except Lucifer naturally.

And after Lucifer's death, there will be no one to serve them, and they will pose no threat. For now. Until Rizevim sits on the throne and settles things. But I don't think anyone will take his words seriously. Yes, they will give the impression of submission, but no more. These proud Highs will not take a twenty-year-old boy seriously. Although there would probably be Lucifuges on his side, but even they wouldn't be enough to settle all conflicts.

Leila's house was completely covered by Ladon's barrier, so only Venelana and I, and Leila, respectively, could pass through it freely. Knocking on the metal door of the one-storey cottage, no one opened it for me. Well, thank you.

I heard sounds behind the house and immediately realised where one of the most beautiful girls named Leila was. She had placed her own barrier in the clearing, the origin of which I didn't know. It was made up of all the different spell structures of other barriers, creating a new barrier unseen anywhere before.

But it wasn't just her ability to learn the barrier that I was impressed with, it was the amount of demonic energy in the clearing. Very powerful energy...

After rebuilding some of the barrier's structures, which came easily to me thanks to Gias, I calmly entered it and saw everywhere...flames. A huge amount of flames covered the training glade, almost blocking the view of where Leila was now standing. But slowly the flames were going away and gave me a view of a panting Leila.

She was dressed in a black latex costume, showing off all her gorgeous charms. Leila curves up like a cat, giving my eyes a great view of her soft sirloin, but her blonde coloured hair slightly covering it.

With a light cry, she immediately rushes into the air with her wings made up of the same fire and puts her arms out to the sides. Fire immediately poured out of her hands in different directions. And I calmly stood still, leaning on a tree with my arms crossed, watching the movements of her gru...ahem, fighting skills, yes.

When she was done, she immediately lowered herself to the ground and with graceful beauty and even posture, walked towards her bench that stood a little further away from the clearing. She stretched her arms up and her latex garments showed off her gorgeous waist and firm thighs with a squeaking sound.

As she walked towards the bench her large sirloin hemispheres swung from one side to the other, which made me involuntarily admire yet another beauty in my lands.

As she began to remove her costume and showed me part of her smooth back, I decided to call out to her:

- 'Privet...' before I could finish, she was immediately beside me and pinned me against a tree.

Of course, I could have reacted and calmly dodged the lunge of her short demonic knife, which she immediately put to my throat, but I didn't.

- Impressive. Leila Fenex,' I said again, staring into her cold blue eyes, which flashed with recognition, and a few seconds later she flushed.

- L-Lelouch, it's you. P-I'm sorry, please, I didn't think you were...well...' Leila couldn't find the words, and she didn't react in any way to the fact that I'd said her last name. No one but Fenex is capable of wielding Fire like that, as she recently demonstrated, so it's just a guess.

- It's nothing, Leila, it's fine,' I replied, glimpsing the neckline of her voluminous breasts.

She noticed my gaze and glanced down, and then blushed even more and turned away, covering her size four, maybe even bigger, melons.

- N-Don't look,' she tossed to me, starting to change.

- Hmm, okay,' I hummed, turning away, wondering why she was hiding her lineage. There were plenty of assumptions, but I wouldn't ask Leila about it personally, I'd find out later. Tell someone there, whisper to another, pay a third and that's it. New information in your pocket. You just need to know who you should ask and who you shouldn't.

- B-Everything,' Leila said a little nervously, still a little embarrassed. There's a red one standing there.

She's still in the same homemade black dress with a white blouse underneath. That's what I first met her in when I first came into this world. And I wouldn't say this outfit is all that different from the latex costume. You can see all of her charms in both.

- Maybe we should sit down,' she suggested after a few seconds of silence. She seemed to understand why I was silent and waiting. Still, this was her territory, albeit formally.

- Yes, thank you,' I replied and sat down on the offered bench.

The bench was small, so her thighs were in contact with mine, which made me feel a change in my bottom for some reason. Really? Only by touching, albeit with such a beautiful girl, my body is unable to hold itself together? Easy, Lelouch. That's it.

- You never came to the castle, - I stated the obvious fact, waiting for Leila to continue.

- Yes, I'm sorry. It's just...' she immediately grew sad, intending to continue, but I interrupted her.

- Don't. If it still hurts. Don't,' I put my hand on hers, making her flinch slightly.

- Thank you, Lelouch,' Leila said, smiling brightly and putting her other hand over mine, "You're probably the last person I'll ever be close to..." she looked with her bright blue eyes straight into mine.

We were silent. This silence lasted for me as if forever. I was drowning in her blue eyes, moving closer to her, but I was brought back to reality by her voice.

- I... Fenex...' she said, immediately averting her eyes.

- And what? - I asked, not understanding her reaction.

- But what about... you hate them,' Leila was about to cry, but I took her by the shoulders and shook her slightly.

- Leila,' I sighed, 'The fact that I hated them is in the past. You had nothing to do with their sins. You can wear the name Fenex with pride, wanting to cleanse not only them, but to leave your name in history by that very name,' he told her in a serious voice, looking straight into her worried face.

The past owner of the body...disliked Fenex, shall we say. Their House is not only the strongest in Hell, but also the most prosperous in recent times due to the production of an extract called as Phoenix Tears. What his hatred has to do with, I have never been able to fully find out myself.

My memories of that day were only fragments, but I realised that Erhard wanted to forget that day. As I remembered, some Fenex heirs were lusting after my sister, so I decided to stand up for her. Erhard was only strong in the physical plane, as well as strengthening his body with demonic energy. So he was quickly put in his place, and Venelana immediately stopped communicating with them when she saw that he had been beaten. I mean me, but past me. As weird as that sounds.

I don't know what I told Leila about the Fenexes, I can't remember, but if that's what she thought, I was clearly exaggerating when I told her about them. I've got one of Rayhem's concubines under Gias's control (not really) and nothing...

- I-It's like that,' she smiled modestly, looking at me appreciatively.

- When did you awaken the birth ability? - I asked after I calmed her down.

- When...you left...after the funeral...' Leila said quietly, but I heard her, "I was overwhelmed with emotion then, but I could barely contain myself from showing it to you," she glanced at me, 'Because I knew it was hard for you too. And after a while, my emotions got the better of me and burst out of my body in the form of flames. But it didn't burn me then, it just gave me the warmth I was missing,' Leila folded her arms across her chest.

- I see,' I sighed, 'Is that why you didn't come to me?

- Yeah, I didn't know how you'd react. Just... Oh...' Leila "oops" sweetly as I put my arm around her shoulder and pulled her to me.

- Leila, forget it. I can't just pick up and leave a wonderful girl like you,' I said softly. Maybe 'girl' doesn't sound too appropriate, because she's older than me by...how much? - You, my family, and there's no way I'm leaving you.

After I said that, Leila couldn't help herself and wrapped both arms around me, covering her face in my left shoulder so I wouldn't see her tears. I only stroked her soft hair, which, even in sweat and dirt, still smelled wonderful.

- I won't leave you, Leila,' I whispered aloud to Leila. When she heard that, she hid her face in my shoulder even more.

I was once a naive boy like that, but things have changed.....

Once upon a time, I even liked these...creatures....

But now...you will destroy them....

It will be the beginning of your awakening, Lelouch Lamperouge! Soon...

I almost flinched. What was that? I heard someone's voice, but I couldn't hear exactly what was being said....

Maybe I'm going crazy.

HOW MANY HAVE DIED FOR YOUR AMBITION, YOU DAMNED DEMON.

YOU'RE NOT A GOD. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO EVERYTHING.

IT'S GONNA END SOMEDAY, LAMPEROUGE.

Denying such thoughts, I continued to comfort Leila Fenex. For now...

And then it will be Lamperouge....