Chapter 161

Everything starting from the incident at Asia's apartment was a downward spiral.

Asia was kidnapped by a potential– No. She is definitely kidnapped by a psychopathic murderer

The Devils are mobilizing against him after Koneko, one of Rias' Peerage members, had died and Ray was painted as the perpetrator.

Lastly, involvement of Vali and his group since Kuroka is out seeking vengeance for her little sister's death.

As for Ray, he had been holing up in the mansion. He isolated himself with a wall pushing everyone aside as the weight of reality crashed against him.

For the first time since his reincarnation he felt helpless. So utterly helpless that his brain just stopped thinking and continued to brood in his negative thoughts.

"You know that hiding in your shell like that wouldn't fix anything, right?"

Ray didn't lift his head up to look at the owner of the voice that approached him. He curled up at the corner of the attic unresponsively.

*Sigh*

"Ray. It's normal to feel helpless against an opponent that is stronger than you. But that doesn't mean you should just give up on everything."

"..."

Ray didn't respond as she got closer and sat next to him.

"Even I, who is stronger than you, would feel threatened by those Hunters. Muchless a fledgling like you." She said in a coaxing manner while trying to be as soothing as possible.

"They are not stronger than us, per say. Rather, it's the works of conceptual effects. The invisible rules that governs the dimensions. Not even us, being shackled by the concept of dimensions could escape those laws that govern the realities."

"The Hunters are an elite faction formed with one sole purpose. To eradicate us, the Eldritch race. Born with godlike power capable of shattering dimensions and the potential for limitless growth, our very existence is seen as a existential threat. To them, we are not beings but forces of chaos, our nature defying the boundaries of reality itself."

"Naturally, as specialized group created with sole purpose to eradicate up. The have the ability that make them the bane of our existence. The conceptual abilities they armed themselves with made it possible for them to hunt us down as their prey."

She sat by his side and simply talked although Ray still did not make any response. She is not discouraged and continued.

"Funny isn't it? Our kind in their hubris to pursue their entertainment had in return created weapons capable of shedding our superiority."

Ray is still silent.

"However, as I said. Their power is not simply raw power to overcome. They may have transcended their humanity to join the rank of our lesser kind. However, you as my kin stood higher than them in hierarchy. What they have, you have more. The only thing you lack is experience and control of your enormous power."

"You mean… I could kill that bastard and save Asia?" He lifted his head up from his curled body with a ray of hope in his eyes.

"Not could. But you definitely will. Now stop being depressed like that. You look pathetic." She huffed and dragged him out from the little corner he was hiding at.

"Right. I am stronger and better." Ray mumbles under his breath and about to jump off her arms and bolt off to save Asia when Serina catches him by his neck.

"Where are you going?"

"Err… save Asia?"

Ray turns his head looking at Serina in confusion. Serina in turn rolled her eyes at him.

"Did you not hear what I said? You lack experience and control of your power. Especially the latter one. It's so severe it's not even funny and going right now will only get you killed." She shakes Ray who is caught in her hand to shake some sense into his thick skull.

"But, mom. We don't have time to wait! What if he tried to harm Asia?" Ray argued.

It's a fair point that Ray raises especially how brutally the Hunter had butchered Issei and Koneko.

"I doubt she would be harmed." Serina said with certainty which confuses Ray.

"While the Hunters acted no different than bloodthirsty madmen. They still have conscience and humanity inside them. The reason why Asia wasn't killed when the two Devils did was simply because she is still a pure human. Added to how kind and pure hearted she is. Her safety will at least be guaranteed."

"But…"

"No more excuses, young man. You are coming with me to train and master your power." Serina cut him off and dragged his feline ass off the attic and met his worried family first.

———

When Ray got dragged by Serina to meet his wives and daughters.

"We are glad you are alright." Morgan stated with a look of concern especially what had taken place with Kuroka and Asia.

Even the usual bratty Sirin stayed silent although she seemed to be fidgeting on her seat.

"What should we do about the Devils?" Ravel raised the question as from her observation, the Devils already gathered their force in Kuoh Academy to avenge for the death of Issei and Koneko along with Vali's team skulking in the town waiting for opportunity.

Before Ray could say ignore them. Serina interjected with an idea.

"They would make a good training target for you." She said with a sinister smirk.

"Aren't they a little too weak?" Ray couldn't figure out why Serina would choose those natives as his target.

"Precisely because they are weak, they are chosen. Remember, you need to learn to control your power not to unleash them merely through instinct. As such, they are the perfect target to practice on." She explained.

Ray could understand her reason. Although, he never was able to control his power all this time and had been using them through his instinct alone? Then what about all his training in the past to attempt to control his own power?

Ray glances at Serina to ask his question but she seems to have read his mind which he didn't find weird at all considering who she is.

"You did, Ray. However, the shadow manipulation and everything else you had been using is merely a superficial form of your true power." She enters a lecturing pose as she explains again. "Remember that you had only been able to use a mere fraction of your. You need to access the greater source of your power and control them to win against your adversary. Naturally, to do that you first need to merge with your true body." She ended with a rather dramatic tone although Ray looked hesitant.

"But, you should know I am not ready yet."

"Time waits for no one, Ray. Your soul might still not be ready to fully merge and command your full power. However, just a portion of it should be sufficient."

"Just a portion of it?" Ray mutters and considers the suggestion while Serina nods in affirmation.

"Yes. Just a portion of it."

On the side, the silent crowd that didn't butt in and opted to just listen due to their lack of understanding on the topic of the Eldritch God. However, Morgan sensed a strangeness that she can't put her fingers on.

Can't Serina do it for Ray? Defeating the kidnapper herself instead of Ray? Surely someone even more powerful than Ray and older could achieve it easily.

She guessed that this may be a test from Serina. A controlled test to stimulate Ray's growth as Ray had a smooth sailing life so far and hadn't met any obstacles to challenge him. But something tells her that there is more than what meets her eyes although she didn't call it out yet due to her lack of evidence to say she is trying to harm him.

—————

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