Chapter 13: Aftermath and Revelation
Chapter 13: Aftermath and Revelation
- Sora Heiwajima –
Sora entered Shizuka's home, feeling a sense of intrusion. He gently opened the door, careful not to disturb the slumbering form of their colleague, Chihiro. Fortunately, Wizardmon had the wisdom to ensure she remained in a deep sleep. Still accepting the supernatural world, Sora couldn't bear the thought of exposing another friend to its dangers, especially with his limited strength.
"Sorry for intruding," Sora quietly muttered.
Shizuka, carrying Chihiro, looked back at him. "You can wait for me on my couch while I care for Chihiro."
Sora nodded in agreement. However, he couldn't help but express his concern for Shizuka as she got involved in these unknown, perilous affairs.
"Sure, but Shizuka, do you want to know the truth? You can honestly remain ignorant of this side of the world."
Shizuka, who returned from her room, crossed her arms and stared at Sora, her expression resolute. "Don't worry; I'm very certain about this. Chihiro and I would have died if you weren't there with us, Sora. I want to know more, and remaining ignorant honestly scares me. What would happen if we encountered another situation like that or our students? I want information about those devils and possibly gain strength against them."
Sora recognized the bravery in Shizuka's decision and the trauma they had all experienced. He mulled over her words and realized she deserved to know the truth about the supernatural world. After all, it was only fair to be informed, especially when they were thrust into a dangerous, unfamiliar reality.
Sora eventually broke the silence. "Fine, you're right, but it won't be easy, and I'll refrain from revealing the most major secrets. I'll introduce you to the general situation of the supernatural world and our current predicament."
Shizuka's relief was evident as she smiled at Sora. "Thank you, Sora. I mean it."
Sora took a deep breath before continuing, his voice steady and composed. "Okay, Shizuka, the world you've stepped into is part of what's known as the other side, a supernatural realm filled with all sorts of creatures and factions. It's a place where angels, demons, magic, gods, yokai, and other mythological beings exist.
Shizuka listened intently, absorbing this new information with curiosity and a hint of trepidation.
"Within this world," Sora continued, "there are different factions or pantheon, and many of them operate in secrecy to maintain a balance. The supernatural world remains hidden from regular humans.
Shizuka nodded, now understanding the terminology. "So, what about these devils we encountered today? Are they a faction within this world?"
"Yes and no. This is another can of worms…" said Sora as he patted his forehead.
"What do you mean, Sora?"
"Before we talk about them, I'll have to talk to you about the Three Factions War and the devil civil war."
Shizuka's eyes widened with intrigue as she leaned in, eager to learn more.
Sora continued, "The Three Great Factions War was a monumental battle between the Biblical Faction of the supernatural world: the Angels, the Fallen Angels, and the Devils. These factions are linked to various mythologies and religious beliefs, making it quite complicated."
Shizuka nodded, indicating for him to continue.
"At some point in the past, the four original Satans (Lucifer, Asmodeus, Leviathan and Beelzebub) desiring world domination led the Devils against the Biblical God and the Angels in Heaven as well as Azazel and the Fallen Angels from Grigori in the Great War, the latter of whom retreated prior. The Four Great Satans eventually died in the Great War after more than half of the 72 Pillars and a majority of the armies of Devils that served the High-Class Devil Clans of the 72 Pillars were wiped out. "
After they died in the Great War, a group of their descendants of the Four Great Satans intended to carry on their legacy by gathering the strong supporters of the original Four Great Satans and finish what they started, the Great War, to realize the world domination ambition of the Original Satans. Their intentions, however, were opposed by a particular group of Devils, the Anti-Satan Faction, who wanted to ensure the survival of the Devils as a species, thus disapproving of the continuation of the Great War.
This disagreement eventually caused a civil war between the Devils, ultimately leading to the defeat of the Original Satans' descendants. Following the defeat of the descendants who were forced to retreat to the back part of the Underworld, their names became titles for the new rulers of the Devils, while the Original Satans became known as the Old Satans."
Shizuka was shocked by this piece of history. "T-t-this is so—"
"It's quite remarkable, isn't it? I, too, was taken aback when I first learned about this. Following the Civil War, the devil population experienced a significant decline, leaving their community in panic. Compounding this issue, devils are known for their longevity, but their birth rate was alarmingly low, making the conventional methods of population growth ineffective."
Sora continued. "They continued to struggle for a few years until the emergence of the Evil Pieces System."
"Evil Pieces System?"
"Yes, while the evil pieces system was a blessing for the devils, it was a curse for many individuals worldwide."
"How come?" asked Hiratsuka, startled by Sora's declaration.
"The system of Evil Pieces, devised by Ajuka Beelzebub, the current Beelzebub, was established to replenish the dwindling Devil population after the devastating Great War, which had resulted in the loss of countless lives."
"These Evil Pieces are typically distributed to Pure-blooded High-class Devils, also known as nobles, enabling them to amass their followers of servants. Consisting of a set of 15 chess pieces, they possess the power to reincarnate individuals into Reincarnated Devils under their command, regardless of whether the subjects are willing or not."
Shizuka's eyes widened, looking both astonished and horrified by this revelation. She leaned closer to Sora, her voice filled with a mix of shock and concern.
"The Evil Pieces system... It sounds like a double-edged sword. While it helped replenish the devil population..."
Sora nodded solemnly, acknowledging Shizuka's concerns. "You're well aware of the predominant stereotypes associated with devils. Thanks to this new system, many noble Devils have become wilder, arrogant, and greedy in their pursuit of recruiting the most powerful individuals under their command."
He continued, "The consequences for humans, especially the Sacred Gear users, were significant.
"Sacred Gear?" interjected Shizuka with some curiosity.
"Don't worry, I'll explain that shortly. In any case, those who were reincarnated as devils often found themselves embroiled in power struggles among these factions. Numerous races were forcibly transformed into subservient beings under the dominion of these mighty devils, effectively having their lives controlled by their masters. Human beings, too, became instruments in the larger machinations of their devil overlords."
Shizuka felt a surge of empathy for those affected by this system. "That's... horrifying. So many people were stripped of their free will and forced into a life they never chose."
Sora's expression turned sombre, and he nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right, Shizuka. It's a cruel system that treats humans and other races as expendable resources. Fortunately, not all Devils embraced this tradition. Some, like the Gremory family and its allies, believe in forming partnerships with their servants rather than treating them as mere tools."
"That's a relief, I guess…"
"Let's return to the matter of our attackers," Sora continued, his voice growing more resolute.
"These individuals are commonly referred to as 'stray devils.' They are Reincarnated Devils who have deviated from their masters, pursuing their own selfish desires. In the absence of the restraining influence of their masters, their unchecked powers can escalate to a point where they pose a significant threat. The Devil community regards this situation with the utmost seriousness and any Devil who goes astray is typically dealt with swiftly, often facing execution on the spot."
"But the one we fought mentioned something about having someone pulling the strings, didn't they?" Shizuka recalled, thinking back to her encounter with Hekz.
Sora nodded in agreement. "You're right. I provided you with the standard definition of stray devils given by the devil faction. However, each case of betrayal varies, with some devils turning against their masters to escape abuse, while others succumb to the allure of newfound power, and so on."
"So, what does this mean for us, then? Can we be sure that Kuoh will remain safe?" Shizuka asked, her tone tinged with nervousness.
Sora took a moment to consider the situation regarding Kuoh. As he recalled, Kuoh was originally a territory once owned by youkai, but it had been temporarily loaned to the devils. However, following the demise of the former devil owner and her exorcist lover, who had uncovered the secret of the King piece within the Evil Pieces System, her entire peerage had been mercilessly slaughtered by higher-ups in the devil faction, and the cause of their death was declared because of their forbidden love.
Kuoh was now ownerless by default, and no one was actively monitoring the area for potential threats. Sora's thoughts briefly wandered to Serafall, who had been attending their school incognito, but he quickly pushed that notion aside.
No one should be able to claim the territory until the appearance of Sona Sitri and Rias Gremory, that is, until five years or less. In conclusion, Kuoh is currently unsafe, and it looks like he has to intervene.
"…Not really safe." Replied Sora as he explained the situation honestly. Of course, he omitted the King piece scandal to Shizuka, whose face paled.
"But don't worry, I will protect Kuoh with my Digimon!" said Sora as he reassured his friend, who suddenly became curious at the unfamiliar term.
"Digimon?" asked Shizuka cutely.
"Right! I almost forgot to introduce you to them and the Sacred Gear system."
Sora took a moment to explain the Sacred Gear system to Hiratsuka, breaking it down in an easier way.
"Shizuka, in our world, there exists a system known as the Sacred Gear system made by the Biblical God to help humanity fight against the supernatural realm. It grants its users unique and extraordinary abilities. These abilities can range from enhanced physical prowess to elemental manipulation, healing, or even more exotic powers.
These Sacred Gears are pretty diverse, and there are different classes and categories, each with its own distinct powers.
"This is incredible!" thought Shizuka as she examined her body, wondering if she was also gifted with such ability.
"Indeed, but there's a catch. Sacred Gears can be both a gift and a curse. Some, known as Longinus, are incredibly powerful but often have significant risks or drawbacks.
Sacred Gears are highly sought after by different factions in our world, such as Angels, Fallen Angels, and especially Devils. Each faction has its own agenda for using these artifacts, leading to conflicts and power struggles. Due to their unique abilities, people with Sacred Gears often find themselves in battles and confrontations." Said Sora with exhaustion.
"So, these devils' greed for us humans is because of our potential Sacred Gears... Does that mean you have one, too?" asked Shizuka curiously.
"A Sacred Gear? I possess the Annihilation Maker, which allows me to create many creatures based on my imagination. So, the Renamon and Wizardmon you encountered were my creations, and I've categorized their entire species as 'Digimon' or 'Digital Monsters' that inhabit the digital world." Responded Sora with a smile.
"It's quite surprising... I had no idea you had such a vivid imagination to create such well-defined monsters."
Sora chuckled as he shared his creative process with Shizuka, "Hahaha, yes, I drew inspiration and even established a complete lore and system for their existence, which makes it easier for me to create them..."
But his cheerful tone shifted as he fell silent. Shizuka, noticing the change, inquired, "Sora?"
Unexpectedly, Sora summoned his Sacred Gear, which appeared differently from its usual Digivice-like appearance—before him hung a singular blue crystal shard suspended in the air. Perplexed and curious, Sora cautiously reached out to touch the shard, and it began to shift and change.
To Shizuka's delight, they saw numerous Digimon appearing inside the crystal. She asked with wonder, "What is that, Sora?"
Sora paused, contemplating the situation before offering a possible explanation, "I believe this is the crystallization of the Digimon I created. The world, the story, and the system of the Digimon that I shared with my Sacred Gear have made this possible. It appears to be a small world or a database that will make it easier to bring my creations related to Digimon creatures to life. I'll need to discuss this with Wisemon and Datamon when the opportunity arises."
"Then again, I'm certain that what I've seen so far is just the most primitive or basic function of these shards. I'm still in the dark about their full capabilities," Sora expressed with a hint of frustration.
As he contemplated the situation further, Sora couldn't help but think, 'It would be nice if my Sacred Gear had its own consciousness and could provide more insights...'
He then decided to experiment by willing another shard into existence. This time, a blank shard appeared beside him, devoid of life and content.
"Interesting," Sora mused before dismissing his Sacred Gear.
Shizuka, who had been engrossed in the Digimon within the crystal, noticed Sora's decision and asked, "You're done with your experiment?"
Sora agreed with a smile, "Yes, it's getting late, and I'm feeling a bit drained from all the talking."
Shizuka nodded, "Oh, I see. I'll get you some water and prepare a futon for the night."
As he considered her offer, Sora replied, "Sure, thank you once again, Shizuka."
She smiled warmly, "Don't worry about it. You've been a tremendous help."
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[Author's Note: Sora will introduce more types of monsters beyond Digimon in the future! As for when? I have no idea, but it's a promise! I'm very open to suggestions on this matter.
Returning to my first fan fiction (FF) after a long time feels a bit strange. I'm a little rusty regarding the DxD and Digimon series, so I apologize for any inaccuracies in those areas. Please don't hesitate to point out any mistakes in this regard.
~I might also go back to some previous chapters and update them~
(And please, go easy on me !)]