Chapter 177: Harem King

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While the two sealed souls of the Heavenly Dragons bickered about some nonsense reason, Vali took the opportunity to take a better look at his 'fated rival'. Issei Hyoudou noticed the intense stare that Vali was directing at him and returned it, not knowing why exactly he was doing that.

"Heh… So you are my fated rival?"

Vali said while continuing to 'appraise' Issei Hyoudou.

"Fated rival? What the heck? Dude, I think you are reading too many Chinese novels."

Issei Hyoudou replied, thinking that Vali was kind of wrong in the head. His comment made some of the people around him chuckle. Most of them knew what Vali was talking about.

"He is talking about that because he is the host of Albion in this generation while you are the host of Ddraig, Issei."

Rias Gremory said.

"When they were alive, both dragons were known to be the strongest ones, under just Great Red and Ophis in terms of power. And they were fierce rivals at that too. A rivalry so strong that was passed down to all of their hosts since their imprisonment inside the Sacred Gears. Just like the Heavenly Dragons used to fight all the time, it is said that the hosts of their Sacred Gears are fated to fight each other too. I thought that we had explained this to you before."

Rias Gremory said again, explaining to Issei Hyoudou what Vali had meant with 'fated rival'. Issei Hyoudou nodded his head sagely, now understanding why Vali had said that and choosing to ignore the last part of his King comment. That fact was probably written inside one of the books that Rias Gremory had given him to read, but he was not a book guy and reading for too long always made him sleepy.

"Oe, Ddraig, why didn't you tell me anything about this before?"

Issei Hyoudou said while raising the arm that contained the Sacred Gear and talking to it.

"Because you are not strong enough, partner. And I told you to become strong because I was sensing the approach of white."

The mechanical voice of Ddraig came out of the red gauntlet while its green jewel blinked. Issei Hyoudou deadpanned at that.

"'White is approaching'? And I was supposed to know what or who white was? You shitty dragon… I will make sure to wipe my ass using my left hand for an entire week for that."

Issei replied to Ddraig while mumbling the last part in a somewhat incomprehensible tone. While the rest of the people around ignored or showed amusement at the interaction of the host/sacred gear duo, Vali frowned at Issei Hyoudou.

"You are… Weak."

Vali said while losing all the interest in the host of the Boosting Gear. Erik smiled after hearing that. One had to know that Vali was a battle-hungry person that was only happy when battling others. And for that, the stronger the opponent, the better for him. Due to his strong desire to rid the world of the presence of his grandfather, Vali needed to be strong, and to be strong, he needed challenges. That developed in him the mentality of a battle-maniac person that was always seeking strong opponents. Erik then walked to where the white-haired teenager was standing and put a hand on top of his head.

"Don't look down on him, Vali. You have to know that some months ago he was just a normal teenager that had no idea of the existence of the supernatural. Just like you, he has an ambition too. An ambition that is fueling his rapid growth for the last months."

Erik said to Vali, who was trying to get out of the forced head pat that Erik was giving him. But secretly, he liked that. In Vali's head, Erik was the perfect image of how a father should be and nothing like his old man was. Finally managing to get out of Erik's big hand, Vali shook his head to somewhat re-arrange his hair and then looked again at Issei Hyoudou, now with some renewed interest in his eyes.

"Really, Lord Ravenclaw? That is interesting."

Vali said while re-evaluating the host for the Boosted Gear.

"Issei Hyoudou, that is your name, right?"

Vali asked the brown-haired Devil, who nodded his head in confirmation.

"What is this ambition of yours that fuels your thirsty for strength?"

Vali asked Issei Hyoudou, who cocked his head to the side while interpreting the question that was asked him.

"My ambition?"

Issei Hyoudou asked back and Vali nodded his head, expecting a somewhat grand answer. But he was disappointed with it when it came.

"I want to be a Harem King!"

Issei Hyoudou said, declaring it in a loud voice. The boy's ambition was not a secret for those that knew him a little, but, even so, to declare it so boldly in a loud voice, some courage was needed. Even so, chuckles and giggles were heard around the group, relaxing the somewhat tense atmosphere that was up due to the close call that they had with 'death'. But the chuckles and giggles were not because of what Issei Hyoudou had said. It was because of the face that Vali was doing after hearing the answer.

"A Harem… King?"

Vali repeated slowly, still not believing in what he had just heard. Issei Hyoudou nodded his head when he heard Vali repeating his ambition. Vali couldn't believe it. The host of one of the most powerful Sacred Gear had the ambition of being a Harem?

"And why, please tell me, do you need strength for that?"

Vali asked Issei Hyoudou, still not understanding why would a person need the strength to have multiple women.

"So I can protect my family with it, of course. Teacher Ravenclaw told me that while Harems are somewhat a common occurrence in the supernatural world, so were the dangers in it. So, if I wanted to have a big family, I would have to need strength to protect it from any danger."

Issei Hyoudou replied to Vali like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Hearing that answer, Vali was stunned for a few seconds. Strength to protect his family. He, being a person that almost lost the only member of his family that cared for him, could sympathize with Issei Hyoudos's reason for desiring to be strong. Unknown to Issei Hyoudou, he had just won the respect of his new rival.

"Good. So let me test the strength that you have gathered so far, Issei Hyoudou."

Vali said with a small smile on his face while releasing his demonic energy, surprising Issei Hyoudou with the sudden behavior change. The brown-haired Devil immediately got into a fighting position while a mechanical voice coming from his glove announced 'BOOST!' for all to hear. The fight between the two hosts of the Heavenly Dragons seemed imminent, that is until a fist came down and hit Vali on top of his head, breaking all the momentum that had been built until now by the two teens.

"Ouch!"

Vali said loudly while putting his hand on his head and feeling the brand new bump that had been created by the impact. He then looked at the perpetrator of his new injury and saw that it had been Erik that had hit him in the head.

"What was that for?"

Vali asked with a wronged tone present in his voice.

"Behave, Vali. Or I will have to tell your mother about those magazines that you bought last time that you sneaked into the human world in North America."

Erik said to Vali with a smile on his face, making the white-haired boy blanch at that. Seeing that he got the desired reaction from Vali, Erik started to laugh at him.

"I am kidding, kiddo. I am just kidding. But I don't want to see you two fighting in a populated area, ok? Ask Albion and Ddraig about what happened the last time that they did fight inside a city next time you have some free time."

Erik said again while looking pointedly at the two teenagers, who nodded their heads in understanding without even knowing that they were doing it.

"Good! Now, Vali, didn't you have a job to do here for Azazel?"

Erik asked Vali, who nodded his head in response.

"Yes. I have to take Kokabiel back to him when you had finished."

Vali said and looked to the lump of red and purple meat that was still in the center of the crater.

"Or what is left of him anyway."

Vali added after seeing one more time what have been done to Kokabiel. Not that he cared. The Fallen Angel had never done anything nice for him. On the contrary, the only thing that he seemed to do and know was how to belittle anyone that was not a Fallen Angel. The Sacred Gear users that were human and frequented the Grigori were a constant target for his passive/aggressive bullying. The only reason that he, a half-human/half-Devil, had not been a target too was because of his status as a foster-son of Azazel and the strength that he had shown since the first day there.

*sigh*

Vali let out a sigh and walked to where 'Kokabiel' was, stopping about half a meter away. He then looked one last time at the host of the Boosted Gear, Issei Hyoudou.

"Anytime that you want to test your strength, let me know through Lord Ravenclaw. I will prepare a safe place for us to fight to our hearts' contempt."

Vali said to Issei Hyoudou, who nodded his head in understanding. Not that he would accept the invitation anytime soon. Issei Hyoudou knew that he had a long way ahead of him to be considered strong in the supernatural world. After receiving a nod as an answer, and giving one to Erik, Vali raised his hand and snapped his fingers, something that he would deny if asked, but had copied from Erik. After all, theatrics were important.

*snap*

A black and yellow magic circle appeared under Vali, covering him and 'Kokabiel' with its size. A few seconds later, the white-haired boy disappeared in the middle of motes of yellow and black light.

With Vali gone, together with what remained of Kokabiel, the teenagers soon started to divide themselves into groups to start to fix things up, with a group literally fixing things around the school that had been destroyed in the battle, while another group was rounding the bodies of dead and unconscious rogue exorcists.

When everything was almost done and cleaned, just then the reinforcements party arrived from the Underworld. Between then, as the leaders of it, were Serafall's pawns, Mary Read and Anne Bonny. Seeing Erik talking amicable with the teens and that things were already finished, both women started to immediately bark orders for the other Devils that had come with them to take the place of the teenagers and finish fixing things up. The two ex-pirates then walked to where Erik was standing and gave the man a small curtsey.

"Lord Ravenclaw, it seems that things have already been taken care of."

Anne Bonny said while giving the man a coquettish smile.

"Yes, Anne, they have. But I suppose that you have to get the resume of the happenings from the Governors of the territory."

Erik replied to the redhead woman with a smile too. Anne pouted at that answer cutely.

"Hmm... I just wanted to talk a little with you, my Lord~."

Anne said while batting her eyelashes.

"And you can talk anytime that you want, Anne. You know that I am always available to the family."

Erik replied to Anne with a smile, already used to the woman's antics. Behind Anne, Mary was rolling her eyes at her wife's antics. Anne giggled at that answer.

"Indeed you are, my Lord~. I will have to have a serious talk with my King and ask her to organize a private meeting. Now if you excuse us."

Anne said in a tone that gushed a hunger that could not be satiated with food. Giving Erik another small curtsey, she walked out to talk with Sona and Rias Gremory while being followed by Mary, who already looked bored out of her mind.

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