chapter 5

In the abandoned church a meeting was being held. The four fallen angels sent to investigate the sacred gear users of the town were all looking at one another as a question echoed in their minds.

'Did we fuck this up?'

To be honest, it was not entirely their fault these four were thinking thus. After getting to town they planned to immediately capture the sacred gear users to take them to Azazel, hoping to get some 'points' with the higher-ups in hopes of a promotion in the ranks, but the two targets were around the devils too much.

Without knowing what else to do they only had until this tonight to get some results since the former holy maiden, Asia Argento, reached Kuoh early Friday (today) and they had to bring her back by midnight at the latest. They COULD have just left like that, no harm done and they would have completed their mission. However, that would not be enough to impress the higher-ups so that they could get higher in hyerarchi as they so dearly desired. They wanted to stop being grunts, to be respected and looked up to by others instead of just being, well, what they were now. As such their leader, Raynare, came up with a plan.

They would capture both gear users tonight right under the devil princesses' noses! If they managed such a feat they would certainly be able to get a promotion because, if nothing else, it would humiliate the devils and that would make the cadre Kokabiel appreciate them a lot more.

However, the two users' sacred gears were still unknown and that could be dangerous since who knows what they might awaken. Worst case scenario they could even have a dangerous Longinus or something as destructive as one of the Four Fiends gears. As such, to minimize the danger for them as much as possible, they would just extract the gears from the two and then destroy the bodies.

Without a body or evidence, the devils wouldn't do much of a fuss and this group of fallen grunts would be able to boast that they brought back two new sacred gears for Azazel! And with the gears extracted they would no longer be a danger to Raynare and the others, making their job all the easier for it.

But, nothing quite goes as planned...

"Whose brilliant idea was it to bring FREED to capture the girl?" Raynare shrieked in outrage. She has had to babysit Asia during the day so she was already in a bad mood, she was not the gentle or kind type that would want to take care of this sort of thing damnit! The plan was sound so she let the others take care of it while she did her job as well as prepared the gear extraction device.

"Hey, it is not my fault the guy is insane! How would I know he is dumb enough to actually tell what happened to the second target?" Mittelt complained in anger. She just wanted a thug of sorts to take care of the heavy lifting for her!

Was it so bad that she didn't want to actually carry the girl home with her own two hands? She is a (self-proclaimed) elegant and charming lady, that sort of thing shouldn't be done by her at all.

"Besides, shouldn't the second target be with you by then?" Mittelt said, turning her glare to Kalawarner who scowled at the reminder. "What? Did the target not fall head over heels over your cow udders like all those losers you take to bed?"

"Shut your mouth, you jealous little flat-chested bitch. Don't judge my choice in partners, they at least have normal tastes instead of the pedophiles and lolicons you like to seduce! Besides, I know you take at least as many to bed as I do all the time so don't act like you are some saint or something." Kalawarner said to Mittelt who scoffed, it was not her fault she was made to look like a girl at only 13 to 14 years old, blame God and his wish to make 'new models'! "Besides, it is not my fault that the kid seems uninterested, he must be either gay or something otherwise how could he act like that? He is just a rude prick, he actually called me a whore."

'You do get things and presents for sex.' All three other fallen thoughts at the same time. It was a well-known 'secret' that Kalawarner's jewelry collection was given to her by men and women across the centuries. They were given one at a time and by now she had enough of those to compare with a devil princess, no small feat truth be told.

Not that such acts were unique or surprising. In fact, this was an actually rather normal practice amongst fallen angels, they were, ultimately, creatures of sin and blasphemy. Anything that could count as a big 'fuck you' to the big G up in the skies was a positive in their books.

"Regardless, can we please focus? Now the fish that escaped our net knows that we have his cousin. Who knows if he will tell or not about it to the devils in town." Dohnaseek, the only make amongst the four, said. "We should be ready in case the devils show up."

At that, the four had hard faces all around and they all wanted to curse at Freed for his actions. Had the crazy psycho just not answered the call things would likely be much simpler and they would have more options than the spot they were in now.

"All we can do is hope that the target is dumb enough to show up without protection. And if the devils come, remember to not try to kill the kings. The last thing we want is a Satan after us, we are no Cadre to be able to handle that sort of heat." Raynare said in slight fear at the end.

The four knew that at most they could face one of the devil kings, the two would be too much and they would most assuredly die if any Satan hunted them down. Right now the four could only hope that Ace would actually obey their demands.

///---///

In the underground dungeon of the abandoned church, Isane was not having the best of nights.

Screw that, she was having likely the worst night of her entire life!

And it started so well, she had gone to buy a new eroge that had just been released and she even managed to go secretly to buy it by claiming she was going out with Rias and Akeno, all to make Ace not find out and accompany her for protection (the less he knew about her fetishes the better, even if he was already perfectly aware of those).

However, while coming back home from her outing, she was attacked by a crazy girl waving light spears at her and some psycho that shot her in the legs and arms.

... Multiple times.

It was the worst pain Isane ever felt. She could only cry out in pain from it as she was dragged to this prison. She regretted a lot that she did not actually accept joining Rias's peerage during this week, she was offered it but she wanted to know the redhead better before agreeing and now here she was.

A weak human bleeding out because some psycho thought it would be a great idea to add holes to her.

CREAK

Lifting her head weakly Isane saw something rather unexpected.

It was a girl of about her own age, perhaps a year younger. She had long blond hair, green eyes, and a pretty face while actually wearing a nun's outfit.

She looked so out of place here that Isane could only stare as the girl put her hands over her mouth in shock before quickly approaching.

The girl said something Isane could not understand at all, but she could only assume it was Italian or french. It sounded like those languages, Isane supposed.

Then, relief. It was like warm water bathing her entire being, the relief Isane felt made her release an involuntary moan of pleasure as the holes left in her body closed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After she was healed Isane saw the girl say something and give an angelic smile, it was so pure and pretty that she couldn't help but blurt out.

"Marry me."

The girl tilted her head, not understanding Isane's words as Isane herself felt like hitting her head on a wall. She was not homosexual, at most bisexual with a preference for men by a large margin, so she couldn't figure out why she said such words, but that smile and the presence of that girl just made Isane want to say that as if it was the most natural thing to say.

It was a certain form of attraction that couldn't truly be blamed on Isane. This blond girl was Asia Argento, and, beyond her Sacred Gear, she had one more skill that was unique and extremely powerful under the right circumstances.

She was a natural Dragon Tamer.

With Isane possessing a dragon sacred gear, she was predisposed to feel closer to Asia naturally, even before Asia developed her skills. If Asia had actually learned about this skill and developed it, then who knows if she could order Isane around right now or not.

In this dubious situation, Isane could only try and check if her phone or any form of communication was left, but there was nothing she could do. Getting up she wanted to leave, escape from here, but the moment she tried to leave through the door Asia held her hand and pulled her back, shaking her head no.

Asia then got out of the cell and instantly there was talk outside. Clearly there were guards right outside so leaving now wouldn't be possible.

Feeling frustrated Isane sat on the floor and mumbled.

"... I am so weak."

///---///

It was now time.

There was only a single minute until the time limit that Freed arbitrarily stipulated, and as the clock kept going the four fallen were prepared.

That, of course, meant a single one stayed a distance from the front while all the stray exorcists, that were grunts for grunts (what an honor), in front of said fallen. Of course, the other three fallen were divided with two in the hall of the church and one underground just in case.

The four were fully prepared... to run away in case any of the devil kings showed up.

So, when a figure appeared approaching the front with a long coat covering its body while not exhibiting any trace of demonic energy, Mittelt that was sent to the front (a small punishment for failing to prevent Freed from being an idiot), was pleasantly surprised as she smiled.

"It seems like you came alone. That is great, a obedient boy is sure to be popular." Mittelt said with a laugh, happy that her target had clearly done as asked.

"..." The figure approached the center of the encroachment and Ace's voice rang out. "I am here, where is my cousin?"

"Oh, her? She should be downstairs, we are still finishing preparations for removing her gear so she is safe... for now. It is more than what I can say about you." Mittelt said and then laughed. "You humans are so stupid, you actually came alone as we ordered."

"It was a deal, after all." Ace answered simply. "I have to be in the abandoned church before the timer rings out as well as not bring or inform any devil and, in exchange, my cousin won't be harmed until I arrive."

The tone then changed as Ace spoke.

"But it by no means says I must enter the church from the front. You can kill them now, just leave the fallen alive if possible." Ace's voice rang as the figure showed a cellphone in the speaker in it's hand.

"Leave it to me, Master." The figure said and Mittelt was startled, realizing things were not going quite as planned.

"Kill it!" Mittelt shouted and several people aimed their light guns, shooting at the figure that showed a big smile filled with fangs.

///---///

"So you heard," Ace said, turning off the phone as he looked to his side to his servant who nodded.

"It seems your plan worked master. What are your orders?"

"Kill anyone that seems like a threat, incapacitate the fallen angels and a man with white hair and a clearly bad personality if possible, but kill if needed. I will take care of the rest." Ace said as he touched the stone wall, his alchemy finishing opening the cave he had dug directly under the church and at its basement/dungeon.

The one beside Ace gave a respectful bow and spoke.

"I will do as asked in a flashy way."

Ace just smirked a bit.

"Let me see it then, that buying you two was worth the work and effort." Ace said, making the servant bow to him before leaving from the hole.

///---///

An hour and half prior

"So, you want to trade with me again?" Carol questioned, making sure to understand.

"Yes." Ace said directly. "I want to buy autoscorrers. I am willing to get you four devils with at least one being something besides human before the turning."

"Humm, interesting. I can get you a few of them since I can easily enough rebuild them, but it would take some time to reprogram them to obey you." Carol said to which Ace shook his head.

"No need to worry, we just need to add to the contract that you are selling them to me in their entirety, including their loyalty." Ace said with a smile.

Carol looked slightly interested and after drumming her fingers in her throne for a bit she spoke.

"I can sell them, but only Leur and Garie. I can't activate Micha so easily and Phara's unique abilities are far too valuable and much trickier to replicate in a new body. If you increase the number from 4 to eight with at least three having a unique race configuration, we have a deal."

Ace, however, shook his head.

"It is a good deal, but the amount you require would need me to have more time. Two and a half months and you add in some Noise crystals as well, at least thirty of those as well as the control over them. And I will only provide you with two pure fallen for the other deal, one male and one female should be enough for you to study at any rate."

Carol thought for a bit, the prospects were unique and she could do with one less fallen, even if the timeframe of taking a few monts to get the devils was a bit of a pain. However, the deal was sound and, before long, she nodded her head.

"Very well, but I will need one hour to download the current body's memories to my system as to facilitate the process of reconstruction for me later. That is non-negotiable." Carol said. She could replicate the autoscorrers anyway so it wouldn't hurt her more than the time to obtain the materials to remake them, something simple for her.

"Pleasure doing business with you." Ace said, offering his hand for a shake with Carol.

In this one hour, Ace decided he should try and get even more, even if it was just a bit. As such he left the world of Symphogear and went to the world of Demon Slayer. Reaching it he thought on what he could get from here before he decided to say 'fuck it' and go to Kagaya.

The man was in a truly terrible state. His face was covered in purple scars and his eyes were already blind, but that was innevitable since it was part of the curse of the family. At least he was still better than he would otherwise be like if Ace didn't trade with him some of his own life span.

"Oh, Ace-kun. It has been a while." Kagaya said with his usual gentle smile as Ace nodded in a respectful bow.

"It has been too long, Kagaya-sama. I came this time to make a trade for something I need urgently."

Kagaya frowned a bit but asked.

"Did something bad happen?"

"My cousin has been kidnapped." Ace said directly.

Kagaya frowned but nodded his head.

"I see, if possible I would be more than willing to help. What do you need exactly?" He said with a serious tone, his concern and willingness to help shining through and showing why Ace considered him a truly qualified leader.

"I want to trade, for one day I want all the capabilities of one of your Hashiras. Their experience, physical fitness, everything."

Kagaya frowned at that but before he could answer someone spoke up.

"And what is it you offer?" Giyu Tomioka, the recently appointed Water Hashira, said as he went forward.

"It has been a while, Ace-kun. Sorry if this rude person hasn't learned his manners yet." Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira said as she also approached.

The two have been called regarding an incident in the mountains where they had just managed to kill the Lower Moon 6 and the news regarding Nezuko was found. It was not the best of situations for sure and all the Hashiras were moving at all due haste over.

"It has been too long, miss Shinobu, I see that you keep getting prettier and prettier. And Giyu, I see that you keep getting broodier and broodier. You do know that you are allowed to smile sometimes as well right? No one will tell others that you are able to do that, so your reputation of the Brooding king is secure" Ace said jokingly, causing Shinobu and Kagaya to chuckle slightly while Giyu frowned further and released a 'tch' sound. "Anyway, I have information to trade. I know the location and powers of the Upper Moon 6. Would this be a good enough payment for borrowing all the capabilities of a Hashira for a single day?"

In truth, Ace also knew the location and power of Upper Moon 2 as well as where the Upper Moon 3, 4, and 5 will be. But those he could trade away later.

Kagaya's eyes widened before he calmed down and spoke.

"Do you have more information?"

"Yes." Ace said easily. "I also know the location and powers of the Upper moon 2 as well as the power and skills of the Upper Moon 1, 3, 4, and 5 as well as the method to kill Muzan. But for those you would need to pay more."

Kagaya said nothing as he registered this information. Normally he wouldn't believe such claims, but he knew that Ace had some truly unique abilities and his years of experience let him be able to see through when someone was trustworthy or not, and Ace was someone that he felt he could trust! After a second he turned to Shinobu and spoke.

"Call all Hashiras present and the comunication division responsible for talking with the current and former Hashiras that are not around."

With this a flury of movements happened and after half an hour more detailed talks happened until-

"Ah, this is annoying." The voice of the former flame Hashira, Shinjuro Rengoku, came out of the crow that was serving as the middle point of the communications, interrupting the talks. "I no longer care about being a Hashira or whatever, we never make any progress for so many years after all. If this brat has information about the enemy that is so important, then take my skills away. I don't ever want to hold a blade again, so I don't care. Just give these fools the information you have about the Upper Moons and Muzan."

Ace stood there for a bit and just as he, after some deliberation spoke up.

"How about this, I will give you all the information I have and, in exchange, I will receive Shinjuro's abilities, skills, physical fitness, the potential for the blade, and everything else that made him beyond normal humans. Also, whenever a Hashira dies or after Muzan is killed, I will get all the accumulated experience and superhuman abilities of the dead Hashiras or the ones remaining including the mentioned regarding Shinjuro leaving only a normal human level of talent and physical fitness. Also, you will offer me the blood arts as well as the regenerative capabilities of the upper moon demons you defeat but not their weaknesses to sunlight or the necessity of eating human flesh. As winners in combat, everything of the enemy just like their lives belong to you so you can give what is useful for me in exchange for this sort of intel. After Muzan dies there will be no more demons, so there would no longer be any need for Demon Slayers or the powers of the slain demons here, however, in my world, I still have many enemies and monsters no less troublesome or dangerous than Muzan. Your abilities would come in handy then, and it would only be after you no longer has a need for them. Of course, if by then any of you desire to come over to my world instead of living in this one you can keep your current abilities and you will be my subbordinates at that time, and I swear to never order or request of you to do anything that goes against your morals or act against humanity. Of course, if I come across in my land something that could help you all in your fight against the demons I shall provide as extra compensation for your efforts."

Kagaya looks hesitant as he didn't want to impose his will on those who were in the frontlines working so hard to save others. He knows perfectly well how hard each and every single member of the demon slayer core worked to fight against the demons, how much training and effort they put into being able to defy the odds and defeat those monsters despite being purely human. However, regardless of his own thoughts on the matter, the Hashiras had their own say in this.

"WE ACCEPT." All the Hashiras, active and retired, without any hesitation, agreed to those terms. Not an ounce of doubt could be felt in any of them in that decision.

"You guys-" Kagaya said, slightly shocked at their decisiveness.

"Please do not worry, Oyakata-sama. This is a decision we all make of our own free will and is just a small sacrifice if it can mean our victory against those monsters." Sanemi, the Wind Hashira, said. His wild looks and presence calmed down as instead he focused on doing his duty properly.

"This is what we all should do if it means victory against the demons." Gyomei, the rock hashira, spoke in his usual deep tone. As the strongest Hashira in the core and someone who has suffered due to the demons his life was meaningless if it meant a chance to slay Muzan, much less what Ace requested.

All the other Hashiras expressed their agreement without any trace of hesitation even if it meant that they would be losing in the end that which made them special. They would not hesitate, not fear, and not look away if it means a true chance to defeat Muzan. Ace nodded towards them feeling that this is what true heroes should be like, nothing like the 'hero' faction at all.

"Pleasure doing business with all of you." Ace said with a serious but light smile before he began explaining all he knew.

All the blood demons arts of the upper six moons, the locations of the upper moons 2 and 6, the identity of the upper moon 1, and also about the uniqueness of Muzan's body and the method for killing him as well as the importance of training those capable of the Sun Breath as they were able to more properly face Muzan due to how their sword art was made specifically for it.

More and more information was said and noted, everything there was to know was explained, and as time passed the more solemn the Hashiras got. It was clear to them how terrible the enemy would be, how each of the Upper Moon could slay any of them if caught unaware or alone, but they also now knew how important this trade was.

With them knowing all the strange abilities of the Upper Moon demons and even the location of two of them, their chances of winning increased radically as they would no longer be caught by surprise by their strange skills and could plan an ambush!

"Thank you, Ace-kun. Without your intel, I can't imagine how tragic things would have turned." Kagaya said with a bow of thanks to which Ace shook his head.

"Please do not worry. It was a fair deal and I hope you all can defeat this evil, Muzan is not someone I would like to see survive in this world." Ace said, making all the Hashiras nod their heads.

With the deal done, Ace went back to Carol to receive his first true subordinates and, with that, he was now ready for what was to come.

Time to exterminate those who came after his family!

///---///

AN:

Hope you guys enjoyed it. I decided to show that Ace is not a fool and instead of going solo to fight he decided to get back up, and a backup that he can be sure of its loyalty and that also do not violate the terms of the deal from the previous chapter.

For those who are unfamiliar with Symphogear, sorry but you could always just go watch it. It is a great show and has 5 seasons with the autoscorrers being present in the third and fifth season somewhat. The two selected are the earth and water autoscorrer, check them out if you want a look.

In other news, working now on chapter 10 and am starting to work with the whole Shinmai Maou plotline, so hope you guys enjoy that one. And I decided on who the maid/slave will be so there is that.

Just wondering, should I go with the Hero Clan being descendants of the Greek Pantheon with them being somewhat like the Camp Half-blood of Percy Jackson (the Greek Gods are likely the horniest Pantheon and if someone tells.me they haven't produced any demigod in over a thousand years I will call bullshit), humans that are born with the ability to form contract with nature spirits, or just make it where they are something like a community created by SG user's in the past and they work somewhat like humanity protectors. I am willing to listen to advise.

Anyways, thanks for reading and until next time, peace.