×Chapter 216× Tree Of Life:Yggdrasil

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*DxD World*

*Human World*

*Japan*

*Kyoto*

*Youkai Kingdom*

*Yasaka's Palace*

Ciaa and Crissy who heard all this were beyond baffled and speechless, they couldn't believe that something like that was going on under their noses.

A grand war, of course they knew of that, they were supposed to be team leaders on the forefront of their Luminous Era organization.

But they didn't know the reason for it all, it was something so big, changing the universe, soon all beings will gain power and the power structure of the world would immediately shatter like glass.

This was way bigger than any of them, way way bigger, right now Ciaa was feeling a bit faint, how was she going to explain all she heard here to the other Pope's.

.'Now I understood why his grace wanted us to go with him to the summit, it truly did broaden our horizon and allowed us to see the truth, of the ants we really are.'Ciaa thought with a faceful of stress and tension.

Haile lift Kunou into his arms casually."So that's basically it for that, but I think that before all this we have to have an outing of sorts, how does the beach sound?."He asked with a smile as he looked at Kunou.

The girls eyes lit up at that, a day at the beach, Kunou raised her fist."Yahhh, I want to go with big brother, can we!?."She asked excitedly.

."Sure, if everyone is in agreement, we can have it tomorrow, I'll just summon all the other girls here, the location is a surprise though."Haile said as he placed a finger on his lips with a mysterious smirk.

Everyone glanced at each other which confused Haile, Nalisa facepalmed."Master why are you so powerful, all plans just seem to be useless infront of you."She said with a soft glowing smile.

."Huh, what'd I do?."Haile asked looking around at the other's, he can't remember doing anything wrong, or did he.

Nalisa shook her head."Nevermind that, but maybe you should give Rias and Sona a bit of time, they're busy in the underworld."She said thoughtfully.

."Hm, those two, their on clean up duty huh, I'll give them a bit...they might need it."Haile said also thoughtful as he smiled gently, he knew exactly what might had happened.'Oh boy.'

~~

*Underworld*

*Grimory Territory*

*Grimory Household Ruins*

Out in the wreckage and ruins of the Grimory Mansion were two figures, both women with slender and curvy builds, asses like *pow* and boobies like *badoom*.

One was seated with her head held low and the other standing over her with a pale face and aghast expression, these two were Rias and her mother, Venelana.

.""Mother had sex with Haile"".

Rias gazed at her mother with contemplation and said nothing, on the other hand Venelana who was looking down took her silence as anger/shock etc.

."I'm so sorry Rias, mother's so sorry, it's my fault, my selfishness, would you ever be able to forgive your mother."Venelana said with tears in her eyes as she pleaded for forgiveness, she tightly clutched her necklace within her palms.

Rias coming back to reality held her head as though with a headache."Dammit mom, I told you to stay away from him, I warned you of what could happen, now look."She said exasperated as she sighed.

At that, Venelana remained silent as the tears just continued to flow, what could she even say to that, she was completely in the wrong, how could she justify sleeping with her daughter's boyfriend.

There was nothing she could possibly say to defend herself, but she was extremely surprised with how calm Rias was, it was as though she already knew before hand.

."R-rias, could you already...?!."Venelana looked up stunned making eye contact with her daughter for the first time.

Rias folded her arms under her breast as they jiggled."Of course I noticed, as a fellow woman also in love, how could I miss your eyes whenever you see him."She said."I just had faith that you were a more mature and strong willed woman...I guess you proved me wrong."

."But I..I...*sigh*.."Venelana tried to defend herself but in the end just gave up, as what was the point, she still did wrong no matter the reason.'I just wish I could explain.'

Seeing her mother's unwilling expression Rias could only shake her head."Look mom, as you already know, Haile isn't just your average man, he's a literal God, God King to be exact."She said with an odd glow to her eyes.

Venelana looked at her confused, Rias rolled her eyes."Soo, it means in general he is not someone that would settle for one woman for which you already know he has a few already, though it would be weird, but I guess I could grow to accept it eventually."She said compromising, she loves her mother after all.

One of the conditions for joining Haile as his Supreme Wing Goddess, especially one in his closer court was that she cut ties with all her family, he and the Pantheon would be placed above everything else.

Though she had indeed accepted at that time, deep in her heart she was still unable to completely let go of her parents, so now even though it sad for her father who disappeared, at least she'll always have her mother with her.

Closer than ever at that, sharing the same man, she'll have to take time getting used to that fact but if she still wanted that connection with her mother she has no other choice.

Venelana covered her mouth as she cried even more, her beautiful face was smudged with her tears."Truly, Rias, do you forgive me?."She asked with a shaking voice.

."..Yeah, I do, anyway even if I don't, what can I do, you're still my mother and I love him very much still, I might as well get it off my chest now."Rias said as she smiled, though it falter slightly as she thought of her father."I do wonder where dad went though..*sigh*."

~~

*Underworld Forest*

For away from the Grimory Territory a familiar red head man could be seen aimlessly wondering through a forest, his eyes were dull and his face wrinkled.

This man was non other than Zeoticus Grimory, a man now lost, "abandoned" by his family, hopeless, broken and just defeated, he even appeared to have aged like a human, like time was finally catching up to him.

As he walked his mouth moved just slightly as he appeared to mutter something under his breath, constantly the same thing.

."...Haile..it's..your..fault..Haile...it's...your...fault...Haile...it's...your...fault."Zeoticus murmured as he walked and stumbled, then suddenly he came to a stop infront of a large tree.

The three was extremely tall, somehow even taller than all the trees around it, it's bark unlike the other's brown was somewhat green and mossy.

And most unusual it had no leaves at all, though it still stood tall and strong surrounded by trees of green, suddenly..

.""Young devil, for what good reason have you returned to me after so many millennia"".

With a deep and mesmerizing voice the tree shook gently as it spoke, it was the voice of an awe-inspiring oldman with a low tone and booming resonance.

Zeoticus clenched his fist tightly and grinded his teeth as an internal struggle appeared in his eyes.

.""I sense a great hatred within your heart young devil, what is it that has made even you so, a kind hearted man to come to me after so long"".

Hearing that it was like the final straw that tore, Zeoticus snapped."I NEED POWER, I CAN'T DO THIS, I CAN'T JUST LET HIM HAVE HER, I CAN'T, I CAN'T, PLEASE, GIVE ME POWER!!!!."He roared out with heartbreaking sadness as his tears quickly soaked the dirt belong.

The tree seeming went silent for a moment before it spoke again.""What would you do with power gained young devil"".

."...I...I...*growl* I will take back everything he took from me, all of it!!!."Zeoticus said with hatred, he looked up to the sky."Please help, I need the power to kill a God!."

.""..Ok, I can offer you such power, but what would you offer me in exchange for the power to kill a God, equivalent exchange is the game"".

Zeoticus gained a determined light in his eyes."I offer you my soul in exchange, after my revenge, you can have my soul."He said firmly.

The tree went silent again.

.""Young devil, I'm afraid your soul alone is not equivalent to the power of a God, let alone a power above it, what else can you offer to the trade"".

At that Zeoticus faltered as he felt a dread in his heart hearing that, it hit him hard, it meant that even his entire existence was still not equal to the power of Haile.

.""It was not my intention to bruise your ego, it was simply a truth told after analysis, the laws of equivalent exchange is to be followed when making a trade with the Great Tree Of Yggdrasil"".

Zeoticus looked at his fold fist as he hesitated for a moment before he grit his teeth."...Would this suffice.."He asked in a low tone as he opened his palm to reveal a tiny flickering red ball.

The old tree of life shimmered for an instant, then one of its branches moved and outstretched towards the small red ball.

.""My, a soul so small yet so bright, for innocent is of the highest value, this soul alone will suffice"".

Once more Zeoticus hesitated but steeled himself.'He would want this as well, if he was given that chance, he would have agreed.'He thought as tears gathered in his eyes, he wasn't given any chance when they claimed his life.

.""Young devil, for you have made the ultimate sacrifice and traded with the great tree of life, Yggdrasil, I now bestow upon you, the power.....to kill even a God"".

Suddenly Zeoticus started to glow in a blue hue, he levitated off the ground as the light around him warp like heat was being released from his body.

Looking himself over Zeoticus had a look of awe on his face, he was almost in a state of disbelief."Is..Is this how it feels to be like him, to be a God?."He asked in a mild shock, it was like a high.

.""Correction, that is how it feels to wield an extraordinary might above that of the divine, my last trade was merely for an eye, but you gave me a soul and did not seek infinite knowledge and wisdom"".

Zeoticus was amazed, he clenched and released his fist several times, he felt like he could do anything."Anything at all, I am a God, I am a GOD!."He bellowed out as a large smile stretched across his face, but at the same time the tears flowed for the sacrifice.

.""Young devil, allow me to give you a warning, the heights of existence is greater than you can imagine, there are beings that just should not be poked and things that shouldn't be tampered with, or else consequences"".

Though the Yggdrasil trees said that, at this point Zeoticus couldn't hear any of it, he was completely engrossed in his new intoxicating and overwhelming power.

."I will have my revenge, I'm sorry that I did that to you child, don't worry, I will follow you soon after."Zeoticus said as he hovered in the air, then without even looking back at the Yggdrasil tree he disappeared.

The tree of life didn't even bother to say more, it has stood there rooted in the underworld for hundreds of thousands of years, soon it will move to another location.

~~

*Grimory Territory*

Walking through the ruins of their territory were Rias and her mother Venelana, they held hands appearing like true mother and daughter as they walked around.

."I still can't believe this, is this really our streets, our houses, our home."Rias said as he looked around at the unrecognizable landscape."This is truly..."

Venelana sighed."Horrible, just like that they came and destroyed everything, all the newborn devil's were killed, an entire.. new generation *sob*."She said as she couldn't help but cry for them.

Rias stared at the ruins and bit her lips, she started to feel a bit guilty, after all it was her fellow sister that caused this to happen, that created this tragedy selfishly.

."They didn't deserve this, not at all, it's wasn't fair that this to happen to them, it isn't"Venelana said sadly.

Rias hesitated for a moment but then sighed."Mom, what if I told you that Haile is, in a way involved in this disaster, would you believe me?."She said softly as she stepped forward.

."Impossible, why would he want to do this, he would not do something like this."Venelana immediately denied it shattering that notion and the very thought, she didn't even want to consider that possibility.

Rias smiled wryly as she couldn't help but chuckle."If I was not close to him and knew certain secrets then, I can't lie, probably would react the same way, love is a dangerous drug after all."She said hugging her breast.

."Rias, are you saying that he did it, you can't just say something like that without evidence, what if someone heard you."Venelana said hurriedly as she looked around, but unintentionally in doing this saw caught a familiar silhouette in her peripherals.

Venelana's body trembled instinctively as she turned to the direction, her breath rushed and her heart clenched.'W-what was that?.'She thought, she could've sworn she saw.."him" and even felt an intense hatred.

."Mmm, what is it mom."Rias said as she noticed her sudden odd behavior, she glanced to where she was looking but didn't see anything.

Venelana shook her head."..It must be my imagination."She said softly, but within she was still a bit worried."Let's go back to everyone Rias, your brother is dealing with the people and talking to nobles."

Rias nodded as they head back with Venelana, on the way Rias got curious about something.

."Oh yeah, mom do you thing that he's truly going to war, did he finally snap?."Rias asked, she too had seen the broadcast that day, it was a new side to her brother.

Venelana nodded her head."I'm afraid so, not even I could stop him now, it seems that even Grafia isn't coming back, with the loss of..little Millicus he just feels alone."She said, then looked at Rias."Maybe you could-."

."No, I can't do that, it would not be genuine, it would just feel like I'm doing it so my brother wouldn't war with my boyfriend, either way, if two men wants to duke it out, what could we do."Rias said casually.

Venelana wanted to say something to that but before she could speak a blue teleportation circle appeared infront of them, it carried the symbol of the Sitri Household.

*Shhh*!

Stepping out the circle was Sona by her lonesome, she smiled seeing Rias."There you are Rias, is everything settled on your side?."She asked, then she looked Venelana."Hello Lady Venelana Grimory."

."Hi Sona, how are you, haven't seen you in awhile."Venelana said greeting her warmly, then she shook her head."Also I am no long a Grimory or a Lady, my marriage with Lord Grimory has been destroyed."

Sona was surprised at this, she glanced at Rias who played with her hair casually, Venelana instinctively grabbed her necklace which prompted Sona to look at it with a deadpan expression.

."Don't tell me, that-that man is unquenchably insatiable, is he never satisfied, do I have to really hide my mother from him as well."Sona said as she pushed up her glasses, she shook her head and sighed.

Rias chuckled and Venelana was embarrassed as her cheeks reddened, she covered her face from the shame.

."*Ahem* Anyway Sona did you look into what I asked you, I didn't see them anyway around."Rias said taking on a serious expression, along with some worry.

Sona nodded."Yes, they're fine, it's seems that when your territory was attacked to protect Gasper and Koneko, Riser's little sister Ravel Phenex took them to the Phenex Household."She said.

."Oh good, Phew, that would've been bad if something had happened to them, Gasper is Haile "disciple" and you know how much he loves Koneko."Rias said relieved as she wiped a sweat from her forehead.

Sona nodded at that."Unfortunately the underworld would've disappeared, the Khaos Brigade would disappear but who knows what else would be collateral."She said, imagine being so powerful, that you have to worry more about the collateral than the person.

."Hahaha, yeah..., we should go see them, just incase that other idiot has any ideas."Rias said meaning Riser.

Sona shrugged."Probably, but I don't think he'd be so stupid, he should know better."She said casually, but then again, it Riser their talking about.

Venelana hearing the two talking about Haile felt a bit uncomfortable, how she sees him and how they see him seemed to be two completely different perspectives.

She began to wonder if Rias was telling the truth from before.'No way, it's impossible.'Coming to that thought she instantly crushed it again, she didn't even want to consider it.

~~~

*Phenex Household*

Over at the Phenex mansion, it was still the same as always, completely untouched by time and war, as though even the walls itself could regenerate, like them the immortal Phenex.

In a room two small little people could be seen, thse two were none other than Gasper and Koneko who was standing by the window.

Gasper paced back and forth as he nibbled on his fingernails, one could sense the nervousness and fear from him.

Koneko glanced back at him."Don't worry Gaspy, I will protect you no matter what, I promise."She said calmly.

Hearing those calm words from Koneko Gasper felt a bit ashamed, after all his master went through to teach him to be a man, he's still like this, a wreck.

.'No, I can't remain like this, I..I have to be better, I can't disappoint master and Koneko, I have to be a great man, just like master is.'Gasper thought as a determined light flashed in his eyes, he clenched his fist and stood still.