Picking up Pets.

When Kurayami, Ophis, Vijar, Kuromi, Rebellion, Submission, Shin, and Xargomoth appeared above what once was the City of Parris. Now it was a smoldering wreck and that was not a result of the battle between Kurayami and Satanael.

Kurayami saw that the creature he was after had not left yet. It went back down into the catacombs to sleep after it fed on the souls of the people of Paris.

"Seems my Black Nightmare awakened early and has trapped the people here until he feeds on all of them. More importantly, he is as strong as Azrael. This bug guy has been feeding."

Ophis whistled at the destruction.

"You know, our fight caused way more issues than just the destruction of Texas. It seems mana had risen to double old levels and old monsters like this guy are waking up. When he is done with Paris he won't stop wiht just that."

Kuromi did not know about this guy.

"Another difference between our Time Lines. This guy did not exist or he awoke. Just how many secrets does this world hold?"

Rebellion gazed at the giant figure resting at the deepest part of the Catacombs.

"By the looks of it, quite a few. Master, I feel this creature will make a fine addition to your familiars."

Vijar was silent as he flew in the sky.

"What creature did this and can I have one?"

Kurayami explained what a Nightmare was.

"A Nightmare ranges from Cyan, Blue, White, and Black. They are born from huge gathering sights of death. The higher you go in the rankings, the more need to die to form a nightmare. Black Nightmares are rare beyond measure. This one formed during the plague and fed on the souls of those buried down there."

Kuromi was curious about something.

"What about WW1, or WW2? Those battlefields must have resulted in many Nightmares."

He nodded.

"You are right. Most of those Nightmares were eaten by this guy. It seems that he awoke from time to time to reach to cannibalize his own race. Otherwise, those Nightmares would have been tamed by cursed mages. It's why you don't see much from Nightmares these days."

Vijar wanted to look for one anyway.

"Are there any White Nightmares at least?"

Kurayami spread his sense and he found that there was one surviving White Nightmare from WW2 hiding in the Underworld. It was out in the far reaches of the Underworld, so Kurayami would get it later for Vijar.

"You can have a White Nightmare, but they are not easy to control. They feed on your soul power and if you can't feed it they will eat your soul whole. For now, time for me to awaken this guy."

They all landed on the ground and noticed a giant hole leading down into the depths of the Catacombs. Kurayami knew that Nightmares normally looked like wolves from Cyans to White, but Black was different. They took the form of what they desired and this one looked like a knight.

"Stay here Vijar, come on."

He jumped into the hole followed by Kuromi, Ophis, his two-weapon spirit,s, and Shin. When they landed they could now get a good look at the nightmare. It was sitting on a black throne as its whole body seemed to be made of Black condensed flames.

It was holding a giant sword in its right hand as it slept. Kurayami walked toward it until he was standing in front of the creature. He noticed what was wrong with him at a glance

"He is overfed. He is sleeping to deal with the extra energy from the souls he has eaten. He is in pain."

Xargomoth shook his head in pity.

'He has been used to feeding on weak souls over time not all at once or one big soul. Eating so many souls at once must have been a shock to him. Will you help him?'

"Of course Xargomoth, that is why I came here."

Kurayami placed his hand on the Black Nightmare's chest and began to send his energy into it. The effect was nearly instant as the wild energy from the souls he had eaten began to settle down and be absorbed.

The creatures burning hand grabbed Kurayami's wrist and leaned in to look at his face. Kurayami looked into its eyes and saw pure battle intent. It was thanks to Kurayami, but Black Nightmares never submitted to anyone wiht out assessing their worth.

Not even to the son of Death. It let go of Kurayami's hand and grabbed its sword as the flames roared from his body. Kurayami nodded.

"Attack me all you want. If you can wound me, you can eat my soul. If you can't wound me, you become my familiar."

The Black Nightmare's aura flared widely as it put all of its might into one swing. If it could not harm Kurayami with this attack, it would submit. Ophi smiled as she waited for Kurayami to show this creature why it could only give up.

The Nightmare swings down on Kurayami's head with a swing that would destroy all of Europe and maybe more. Kurayami set up a giant barrier around Paris as a destroyed city was already destroyed.

When the sword hit Kurayami's skull it shattered into pieces without coming close to cutting him. A giant explosion of black flames erupted as the sword was made from the Nightmares flames

The entire city of Paris was incinerated, but Vijar was left unscathed as a shield formed to protect him. The Nightmare looked at its sword and knew that it did not stand a chance. It took the knee and plated what remained of its sword on the ground.

Kurayami sighed a pact wiht the Nightmare and thought of a name.

"I name you, Achlys. It means darkness in Greek."

That seemed to be accepted as the Nightmare felt pride at the name. However, when it felt the energy flowing from Kuraymi's soul, it entered his familiar space to feed on it. Kuromi sighed as she wondered if there was more they needed to do.

"Any more things on your bucket list dad?"

He nodded.

"Only one thing. I got to pick up Ladon and once we do that we are done. While Azazel prepares the party and the girls get their family or friends invited, I just need to have fun."

Ophis smiled.

"I am kind of enjoying this. However, it is getting kind of boring."

Kurayami knew it was true.

"I will go this last part alone wiht just Shin, Xargomoth, Rebellion, and Submission. You and Kuromi can go on your own as I don't want to force you to follow me around. Can I ask you to take Vijar with you?"

Ophis floated up to get him

"That is fine with me. I will get ready for the party."

Kuromi had something to do as well.

"I also need to get ready if we are going to Hell. The party will be in a few days and we will be training again for 6 months before heading to Hell. Might as well enjoy it for now."

She and Ophis left, but just as Kurayami asked they took Vijar with them. Now that most of his goals were finished and he just needed to collect Ladon he also had to get ready for the party. He knew it was going to be a giant party as a sign of status.

"Rebellion, Submission, you interested in going alone?"

They both shook their heads. Submission looked into his eyes with pure respect.

"We are soul-bound spirits. We are most happy to be near you."

"My sister is right master, it is terrible to be away from you, but we will obey if you want it."

He did not mind it at all.

"Not at all. Come on, let's get my pet."

They vanished in a flash of black flames as they appeared in the middle of the Garden of the Hesperids. Kurayami did not have to look far as he saw what he came for Ladon, the enormous dragon, coiled around a five-story-tall apple tree, every bough glittering with golden apples. They looked like real gold which made Xargomoth recognize them.

'The apples of immortality?'

Kurayami nodded.

"Yup. I am taking them to see if I can grow an orchard of them. For now, let's awaken him."

Ladon had a serpent's body that was as thick as a booster rocket, glinting with coppery scales. He had more heads than anyone could count as if a hundred deadly pythons had been fused together. He was deeply asleep though.

Then the shadows in front of them began to move. There was beautiful, eerie singing, like voices from the bottom of a well. Kurayami glanced over and saw 4 figures shimmering into existence. Four young women looked very much like Zoe the annoying former captain of the Hunt.

They all wore white Greek chitons. Their skin was like caramel. Silky black hair tumbled loose around their shoulders. They looked just like Zoe—gorgeous, and probably very stuck up.

However, they looked deeply afraid instead and not of Kurayami. One of them floated in front of Kurayami as her dark eyes seemed terrified.

"Please help us."

Kurayami had a guess why.

"You saw Satanael didn't you?"

She nodded.

"He came and took father. The device he built to keep the sky up is failing and will crush us soon. We can't leave."

Kurayam looked up the mountain and saw a dark machine that was sputtering in failure. Kurayami held his hand up and created a pillar that was much stronger than the device Satanael used.

"There, not leave. I am taking Ladon."

She seemed shocked, but she bent forward to sow some cleavage to him.

"We can make it worth your while to take us with you. What is hotter than 4 nearly identical sisters."

Rebellion walked forward with a look that can kill.

"The master is not interested. You are too weak, not to leave."

They backed away as Rebellion was terrifying. They retreated away as they knew their charms were useless. When they were gone Kurayami glanced at Ladon and without care woke him up.

"LADON. WAKE UP!."

Everyone watched as Ladon twisted and tuned waking up. The dragon stirred, glittering like a mountain of pennies. Ladon was writhing now, a hundred heads whipping around, tongues flickering and tasting the air. Kurayami stepped in front of Ladon where the dragon looked right at him.

Without care, Kurayami and Xargomoth unleashed their full aura on the Evil Dragon. Just Kurayami would have been enough as no dragon on a lower level could resist the orders of one stronger.

Landon opened his mouth to speak, It smelled like acid which made Kurayami glad to have a poison damage dealer.

"This aura,... you're a Dragon God. The thing on your shoulder is a Demon. I smell something...different. Delicious even."

Kurayami crossed his arms as he offered Ladon something perfect.

"My aura helps creatures evolve. Even Ddraig accepted my offer, want to meet him?"

Ladon was an evil Dragon, but it be foolish to reject the offer of a superior breed of Dragon.

"I, The Insomniac Dragon swear on my name to serve."

Once he accepted the pact Kurayami knew it was time to go home. First, he ripped the tree out of its roots and stored it in his cross. Ladon felt his bindings to the tree break and the also felt the power course through his body and soul.

Ladon felt forced to enter Kurayami's familiar space or he would explode. Kurayami released Ddraig who rebuilt his body better than ever.

"What do you need master?"

Kurayami shook his head.

"I don't need much right now Ddraig. I plan to let my families run lose on Earth for the next few days. Do you have any goals to complete now that you are free?"

Ddraig thought about it as he was not from this timeline.

"Maybe. I would have wanted to defeat the Vanishing Dragon, but that seems petty now."

Kurayami understood.

"Well, have fun."

Kurayami released all of his familiars except for Ladon and Achlys. They need time to evolve and adapt o their new power.

"You all are free to explore or go anywhere in the world for the next week or so. However, when the party starts, be ready to gather."

'YES, MASTER!

They all spoke in the beat tongue and went in different directions to do just that. As for Kurayami, he had no other side quests to complete.

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