Chapter 7

Trust in the Omnissiah.

The following day, Issari and I ate breakfast with a curious Kuroka at the table. Issari has haunted eyes, knowing that universe fully and has now undergone a new idea-changing process. She's still a pervert but now will try to be a bit more private than ever because of Slannesh and that pit.

We ate in silence before Issari finally said softly to us.

"I will never be them, Gregor-kun. I will try harder to be good."

Kuroka doesn't get any of that while I reassured my stupid best friend.

"We will never reach them, Issari. We don't have that crippling flaw in feelings that they do. Be who you are just don't ever think about those depths of depravity. I will help you like you me."

She smiled there brightly with Kuroka curious about the context. I smile more at Issari.

"You could be like the nuns, Issari. They were the coolest shit along with the saint you want to bone who we considered her to be with her badass detective girlfriend."

Issari brightened as she had loved the sisters of battle and their kick-ass ways. Issari asked with stars for Celestine.

"They all had white hair with that strength to resist them?"

I smiled more, showing teeth.

"Yes they did. Only one was hard confirmed to have fallen, and while there were probably others, she was the only named one. They were bad people and zealous to the extreme, but they fought monsters without flinching. My favorite normal person from there was a hero, too he just had crippling imposter syndrome. For all their evil, they had good there too and can be better than them while not ignoring their lessons that teach wisdom."

Kuroka kept tilting her head while Issari grinned.

"I want a white hair one but I want to be like you more than ever. You're choosing their way of war to keep us safe. I don't know if I could do that."

Kuroka wagged a tail in frustration.

"What are you both talking about, nya? Nuns? Making something nya? Your hero?"

I smile, as does Issari before I extend a branch.

"Bad Cat, we are discussing important things that help shape how we view the world. I will give you a hint for it. Imagine a sea, and remember that analogy because it will shock, horrify, and amaze you. I promise that you will get it then."

Issari grew determined.

"I'm joining the Legio Solar to fight with my Fabricator-General against them who threaten our world. With Iron and Blood will I stand."

Kuroka narrowed her eyes at me.

"What is her gear? This is turning weird, nya. Sexy, you're cool, but I'm not into cults. Aum was bad, and I didn't sign up for that, nya."

I understand her hesitation.

"It's not that Kuroka. Yes, my beliefs are going into the Legio, but you're never going to be forced to join the religious side. You know I haven't tried to preach to you and I tried to talk the pervert out of it."

Kuroka studies my face Before she repeats the request, with a softer face.

"What is her gear, nya."

I nodded to Issari who squinted before the gauntlet showed up. Kuroka widened her eyes in shock horribly as I explained.

"Kuroka, you're in a room with two Longinus users. I will trust you to keep that quiet but please trust me in return."

Kuroka looks at me then Issari in shock then smirked heavily in lust at me. Before she started sweating, glancing at an evil-faced Issari, who was undressing Kuroka with her eyes glinting as I smile.

"You have a pervert who is incredibly smart, Kuroka after you. I warned you she could be strong. We are a much better option to the other crew."

Kuroka sweatsfacing an extra horny dragon and looked at me to save her.

"I'll be good nya. This is game-changing with both of them are around again. I can see the potential here, nya."

I smile cryptically. Issari does, too. We smirk together. Kuroka whined out because that means a lot. Her ears flattened in some fear. But I see it, too in lust. She likes this more than fears.

"Will be good, Sexy. Chestnut, please, I didn't know, and I."

Issari purrs, and it's scary.

"I am the Red Dragon of Mars and will get this cat."

Kuroka whimpered more before she jumped out of her seat and then hid behind me, shaking. I snicker before I break up the horny.

"Down Skitarii. Cat will see your strength, but give her free will. Kuroka, I would like your help securing the station. Can your friend meet us today or Sunday for bodies and did Seekvaria have a bounty on the stray?"

Issari glares at me for stopping her hunt while Kuroka purrs nuzzling me

"She can meet you tomorrow as Grigori has her for today. There is a bounty and you are the best mate ever, nya! I'll set up wards to keep people out. My mate is super strong, nya!"

Issari growled like a dragon as I flashed her a warning. She continued growling at me making me narrow my eyes at her before she finally huffed out.

"My cat Gregor-kun. Stay away I will not be denied."

I snorted while Kuroka shook again.

"She is fine, Issari. Besides, she's helping you out in other ways as she has an Xbox. I have a potential bounty and I'll get your cheese swordsman. I also know of a blonde swordsman here who could use a good waifu."

Issari grins evil for double the swordsmen while Kuroka is looking at me with hearts in her eyes. Issari finally speaks in a very pleased voice.

"Your tribute is acceptable but I will be back and he can't protect you forever. I will be the strongest Red Dragon Empress. Gregor-kun, I need to get going my parents expect me back soon."

I snorted amusement as Kuroka kept shaking in that new knowledge. Issari had wanted to start immediately, and her hypno indoctrination had made Ddraig freak because it was more evidence. He quickly brightened up because this helped him, too as he hoped they could beat down Alby and knock some sense into her. He begged me to help him get his waifu not to kill him anymore. I don't have sympathy for an idiot but will try for Issari despite everything said idiot has done.

"I'll see you out and key you into the locks."

Issari glanced at Kuroka with pure lust before becoming professional. I got up to let her out as Issari followed behind me. Kuroka kept shaking in fear seeing Issari moving like a predator in training now. I keyed her into the lock, and she smiled evilly at Kuroka, who was watching from around the corner of the kitchen wall. Issari, however, smiled genuinely at me and hugged me around my middle section.

"You're the best Gregor-kun and I will stay with you till the end. I don't hate you for Alex as you are him now."

I hugged my friend back, whispering.

"I will tell her one day but probably not until she is ready."

Issari detached from me and then smirked again at Kuroka before she went out the door into the morning. I closed the door, and Kuroka whined out now that it was semi-safer.

"Please protect me my mate nya."

I snicker again.

"You called her weak without giving her a chance. You can suffer for that but I will help you out. I do have a question for you. Your friend Kalawarna what cadre was she in before being reincarnated?"

Kuroka tilted her head.

"She never said and doesn't say much about her past nya. Why?"

I frowned.

"I learned thanks to someone on high that the Aum attacks had supernatural backers. I need to know if she has any knowledge of cadre heads that could have supported that."

Kuroka widened her eyes and then grew incredibly pissed. Her eyes narrowed to slits, and her ears flattened in rage.

"Three other nekoshou from our small population died in that attack including the only male nekoshou and his two mates. One was my aunt and my mom nor my dad who was a former exorcist ever found out who was behind it. Who!"

I get more pissed because this screwed over the nekoshou too If this is Kokabiel.

"I have an idea but I need firm evidence if it is the person I have heard about. Whoever it is I will take my axe and make them scream in agony for this and I will leave three especially deep cuts on them for your aunt."

Kuroka kept hissing in rage. She was about to promise something to me, yet I stopped that.

"I do it because it's right not to get with you. You're incredibly sexy and beautiful but I won't do anything like that which might cause regrets. Don't offer it."

Kuroka's ears went up before she nodded.

"I won't offer it but I will help stop that sort of thing, nya. That's a ton better than the other crew who just wanted Chaos."

That confirmed it.

"We need to secure the station and get the bodies gone. I'll shower then go there. Are you permanently here, or are you a temp? I get it if you're not staying and I won't hand you over if the devils find out."

Kuroka thought there.

"Temp, for now as I promised not to get you into trouble too nya. I will begin to set up my wards at the station. Consider it a favor for my sister."

I nodded.

"Deal I'll be right there. Only go inside once I get there. I need to investigate the whole area and see what room we are working with. I will make something that will make us the most powerful group on the planet. I might be late because I need to visit a dojo and tell them I'm committed today for other things."

Kuroka looked at me for a moment before she smiled softly.

"I will believe it when I see it, nya."

She transforms into her cat form, and I open the door for her to do her work. I then rushed to shower and got ready to run to the station. I will apologize to Murayama if she is there at the dojo. If not, tell Ohashi-sensei to tell her for me.

The shower was fast, and I immediately started getting shoes and clothes on after being done. Kokabiel was worse here if this was him. Thinking of the people in the subways makes me want to saw off his wings and turn him into a servitor before making him slave away in a forge, never to see the light of day again. Koriel liked that idea, too and we laughed maniacally together, thinking of that idea.

We continue laughing at that image, and I might make that a punishment for truly evil fucks like Cao Cao if he is that along with Rizevim. I especially want to do that to Euclid whose shit is disgusting on a whole new level as Grayfia is not a toy. She is a professional maid that beats the shit out of her lazy sis-con husband. How the underworld ever functions without her being, there is a fucking miracle. Despite feeling extremely good from the shower heat and my idea for Kokabiel I have so many things to do today.

The jog to the dojo was quick, and I will escalate my training along with killing as many strays as I can to get stronger. I won't have a shred of remorse for strays that do what that fuck did to his victim. Mars shall have a Lord of Iron, and I will make that man-child's title into something good here. As I entered the dojo, I was surprised to see Murayama and Katase practicing in the ring. Murayama saw me and brightened but lost concentration and got whacked. She hissed, and Katase didn't smile in her victory. She, however, does look towards me.

She narrowed her eyes at me and I narrowed mine. We watch each other with lightning dancing between us before Murayama tried to stop her friend. The room temperature drops as Katase growled.

"The one who had potential yet lost it by hanging with a pervert."

I just raised my right eyebrow and that pissed Katase off. She advanced towards me with her sword raised. Murayama tried to stop her.

"Kat he isn't one."

Katase is not listening to that. She hates perverts clearly and now is against me. So, no kendo club. I can offer to spar with them for more pissed-off foes. Katase growled.

"He is one as no sane person hangs with a confirmed sex offender. Perverts deserve no hint of sympathy or kindness."

Murayama looks extremely torn here and begged me with her eyes not to take offense. I don't, but Katase needs to chill.

"You are wrong. Murayama-san, I was only here to inform you I can't spar today. Things have come up, and I will be unavailable until Monday."

Before Murayama could reply, Katase advanced towards me with her sword raised high.

"Fucking pervert! You had actual potential as a swordsman and instead, you slide on my friend to fucking peep!"

I am now very unimpressed yeah It doesn't look good but don't automatically assume something.

"Why peep when I can be productive on things like reconnecting with family, Katase-san? If you're implying that I would do that to family, I should beat you down to defend my cousin's honor. I'm not a pervert, and assuming shit like that will get you into trouble one day."

Murayama is horrified by the fact that was the reason I was sliding. Now her eyes hold genuine fear that Katase had poisoned the well between us. Before Katase could say anything, Ohashi-sensei spoke up. His face was very unimpressed with his niece's friend.

"I will allow an honor duel because you're out of bounds, Katase-san. You're my favorite student, but this is unacceptable for one in that position. Gregor-san has been nothing but respectful to you while you have not."

Katase growled her rage as Murayama backed pink-haired swordswoman finally spat out her apparent disgust for me.

"I'll beat down a pervert who thinks he's hot shit just because he can beat a newcomer. I will enjoy making you suffer."

Oh, you want to play that way, Katase.

"I issue the dual. If I win, an apology to me and my friend along with Katase-san apologizing to my cousin. All publicly because I would never do the insinuation that was made."

Katase grew even more pissed while Murayama is now utterly broken. I say to her before Katase could continue her shit.

"I hold nothing against you, Murayama-san. My issue is with your friend like how hers is with mine."

Katase spat to the ground.

"If I win, I want you to admit publicly you're a pervert and let me beat you black and blue whenever I want without fear of reprisals. You are a disgusting person hiding behind a mask."

I nodded.

"Agreed now swear it back."

Katase is extraordinarily arrogant.

"Agreed you are going down."

Ohashi gave me a wooden sword while Murayama was begging me to forgive her. I don't hear her as I will not be weak. If that title follows me, I will earn it.

I enter the ring and assume my stance in my dueling style. Katase was on the other side, with a bloodthirsty grin and smug superiority. I prepared myself for this as I would never peep on Akeno that's Euclid's level of shit. Ohashi prepared to speak, and Murayama was beside him on his right. She is distraught that this was done at all. Ohashi finally spoke.

"Begin. Best of two."

Katase and I watched each other with neither of us moveing. She is not going to be the aggressive one to try and weave a bullshit story. This is petty, and she must be highly arrogant with being Ohashi's favorite student and the kendo club head. Something must be the root of the hate because this is too personal. I, however, want her to see that she is wrong here so I make the move. Observing something, I think I saw.

I moved left without attacking and she moved to mirror me. We prepared to continue the waiting game before I finally opened with three sharp pokes, one to her center and two to her left. She caught each poke and then riposted before she began her attacks with three stabs in fast succession in three different directions. I caught each and then poked and exploited a thing I had indeed noticed. She favors her right hand badly. I poked towards her right hand, and she blocked it, but it proved she had a weakness. Her hand wobbled slightly in an unnatural way. It was swift and then hidden just as fast. So, she favored it heavily to cover that up. I, however, keep up the pressure. With five pokes that get her on the defensive. Before I strike with my first opening move.

Three chops that are all made on her right. Each blocked, but I stab twice, and I make another potential opening there. The stabs are making her expend more energy than before. She swung back and almost clipped me on my right leg. I blocked and then swiped and clipped her right thumb. She winced, and Ohashi called.

"1-0."

Katase grew more pissed but kept up her steely face. Murayama is surprised at the clip and I don't boast. We prepared again for round two.

We again eye each other however, Katase goes full-on aggressive right from the get-go and opens with four stabs toward my head. I block each one and then riposte her backward. She surprised me again and dodged left and whacked towards my left arm. I blocked, but I fucked up because she immediately went full berserker and kept up the aggressive moves.

Five more swipes each extremely fast and hard were made as I block them all, but it's speeding up as she whacks harder and faster between each strike. Each strike pushed me back. Katase went faster than ever after the five failed pissed beyond reason at my first blood. The blows continued to rain down, and I barely held them back. Each faster and faster. She is also growing wobblier in her right hand. Her preferred hand. So, I let her win this round.

She whacked me on my left arm extremely hard. Ohashi calls.

"1-1."

Katase doesn't gloat vocally either, but her smirk is pleased while Murayama is surprised I held out that long. Ohashi is looking at me in curiosity. There is no hint on his face of what he is thinking. I won't be kind here and I won't make Akeno suffer from my idiot self. Nor Rias as her hopeful look flashed before my eyes again. I hardened my heart to be the Lord of Iron she thinks I am. Katase is nothing compared to Riser, Kokabiel, Rizevim, Cao Cao, Trihexia or to any Xenos there might be. Be a Lord of Iron or nothing will happen well and leave weakness behind.

I finally said my first words since the challenge was made.

"Iron within, Iron Without."

Katase barks out, amused.

"You are plastic at best, pervert."

We get ready again as Ohashi watched.

"Begin."

I go all in on surprising everyone dropping from my dueling style to a style used by the Space Wolves. I opened it with three chops, all going after her right hand.

She blocked every move, but the randomness of the strikes, the lack of a clear path, and no discernible reason for the paths or hints threw Katase off badly. I kept up the pressure immediately because this was no game. I'm wasting time allowing her to make me angry, for Akeno's sake. She is wasting my time in trying to protect the world from the supernaturals that get away with their shit so God damn often that they think they are invincible. I will make them fear Iron and Blood.

My strikes are faster and faster with every single blow. Katase holds me back barely but falls back. Murayama watched in amazement, as did Ohashi. I keep up my attacks and keep pushing her backward. She catches a blow and tries to riposte me back, but I see the hand wobble horribly. I throw more brutal attacks at her and keep pushing her back before I see the worst wobble yet.

I then struck fully and whacked Katase on her right hand before twirling her sword out of her hands and to the floor. It clangs loudly before I point my sword against her heart. She is looking at me in wide eye horror and holding her badly hurting hand cradling it. Murayama is amazed by the swordsmanship and Ohashi watched with the most interest yet.

I glare at Katase with my red eyes making her back up again as I advance again to her heart. She is scared badly by this and gets ready to beg, but I stop her.

"You will do the deed in the school courtyard in full view of everyone. If you ever see anyone say my friend is a sex offender, you will crush that instantly and you will apologize to my cousin loudly and vocally. She is never going to have anyone peep on her nor will you. I will beat down anyone who does that. Don't test me because I'm not going anywhere but up. I am the Lord of Iron will. Understand?"

Katase kept shaking but responded.

"Understood."

I then withdrew my blade from her heart. Katase watched me with horrible fear but also a fascination and now lust. Murayama has pure hearts in her eyes. Ohashi just nodded his head in approval.

"Excellent matches. I will sponsor you if you desire. You have immense potential for swords and I only caught a single hint of that last style in something Scandinavian. Everything else was not known and I want to pick your brain on this because that style is fascinating."

I bowed to him and then presented my sword which he takes before I finally gasped multiple time. My legs and arms ache and Murayama tried to give me water, but I refused it with a hand before answering for Ohashi.

"I can share parts. I'm not nor will ever be a master in the ones I have been thinking up. I need practice, as does my friend. We want to become good at this and beyond and if my cousin will give me that title, I will earn it."

Murayama has more hearts than ever and was about to apologize profusely, but I stopped that with a small smile.

"We have no quarrel Murayama-san. I am happy to spar with you again. Other than the apology in the schoolyard for her, this is forgotten between us."

That made Murayama blush as she looked down. Ohashi is stone-faced again as Murayama finally mumbles out.

"I'd be happy to spar with you more. May I please have the right to call you Gregor-kun?"

I chuckled and nodded for her.

"Only if you allow me to call you Murayama-chan. Now I have to go and get something done before I meet my cousin and her friend for dinner later this evening. I'd be happy to learn the blade with you when I'm free."

She brightens while Ohashi was amused not hiding this. Murayama looked at me and nodded her head.

"Of course. Can we share phone numbers? I want as much practice as I can get to go to the pro leagues for sword dueling eventually. I want to learn the rapier style my uncle said you use. It looks like I could get used to it easily."

I smiled and then bowed to her.

"Teach me your style too in return. Knowledge is the key to understanding and I seek to get it all."

Murayama smiled beautifully as we shared numbers. Katase had been silent the whole time and I saw her eyes watching me with lust. I bow once we are finished, and I get ready to get actual work done. Murayama was beaming in happiness and Ohashi was back to his hard-ass self.

"I will get a wood rapier made and would like to see your chosen style at its full potential. You are interesting in many ways, Gregor-san."

I smiled slightly but nodded. Before I prepare to leave after forty-five minutes of wasted time. I expected Katase to say something before I left however she didn't say anything. Her eyes continued watching me as I waved to Murayama and then left rushing to the station.

It was a long fifteen minutes later when I got to the restroom near the station. A step forward toward it made me suddenly feel weird like I wanted to avoid the station. I tried to approach again but still felt like the place continued to feel wrong. Despite how wrong it feels, I finally get to the station's entrance, and that's where I finally see Kuroka. She is inside the entrance on the first landing looking at me with lust and an impressed smile.

"My mate is stronger than I thought, nya. You got through the wards. You must have something in your family that lets you power through nya. They are strong enough to keep regular humans out, and the wards shouldn't be noticeable for devils."

Clever girl before I shrugged.

"I have it in the family and I'm sorry for being late. Someone was petty and called me a pervert who would peep at my cousin. I beat that person down."

Kuroka was not upset but she does eye me more openly with lust again.

"It's fine, nya. I didn't go inside yet. I, however, am happy to see my mate has honor and will defend his family nya. Our kittens will have a good dad and protecting them is a checkmark on my list."

I snorted.

"You're just a horny kitty, but I wouldn't have my roommate any other way. Thank you for the wards. You will have to teach me that. Please key me into them so I don't feel weird?"

Kuroka keeps purring before she smiled with her teeth shown. She gestured to me to follow her, and I did, feeling utterly wrong to be here. The Bad Cat led me to a tree, twisted her left tail, and then a ward stone popped up from under the tree and gently took my hand before having me touch it. The feeling immediately slid away, and I shook my head at the strangeness of it. The stone dropped back into the earth, and Kuroka showed a new side of her as we entered the station with three balls of fire acting as torches.

"I'll try but you might not click with warding nya. It's a hard skill to learn and that is why master warders are extremely rare. Less than two hundred exist, and they don't share the skill easily. I know enough to get by but I am nowhere near a master in them nya."

We entered the tunnel and into the earth as we walked I prepared to see the bodies again. As continued down the hallway I started to feel sick imagining them and Kuroka saw that. She put a tail on my wrist as we continued deeper in.

When we got to the station proper I saw the body still there but now there were three massive rats on it. The new bright light made three rats scurry off it. Thank the Machine God they are not Skaven as those always creeped me out. Kuroka looks at the body and sees no limbs or head, along with the cut on the shoulder.

"What did he do to piss you off, nya?"

I looked at his body and not Kuroka.

"He kidnapped my best friend. I won't let anyone hurt her."

Kuroka widened her yellow eyes, horrified.

"He tried to hurt her!"

I nodded.

"He did. I won't let people like him do that again."

I moved past the body ignoring it while Kuroka followed me now sort of mad. The two of us began to explore the station fully. Thanks to Kuroka I learned it was one of five such stations abandoned in 2008 after the financial crisis. The city had cut back on everything and its subway was now down to three stations. They had bricked in the five now abandoned station tunnels, and no one entered them.

When the two of us found the second body Kuroka saw what I meant. I say a small prayer for her asking for forgiveness for not killing him earlier and not knowing where she had been taken. The Machine God whispers to me that she doesn't think I need that. She will get home thanks to me and that doesn't make me feel better. I, however, leave her there for now. Kuroka and I checked the rest of the station, and while there is a good amount of space here it is not enough for the reader in its current prototype form. I ask Koriel to rework the design down more if possible.

She says she will try but it soon became clear even then we needed a bigger place. There is enough room here for a shooting range and more storage space for wargear. Perhaps even a small space I can turn into a proper forge. Kuroka watched me throughout as I made mental notes.

"What is your gear? I have never felt it or read a description of it feeling like that, nya. No, Longinus is like that so what is it?"

I am silent for a second.

"It's like blade blacksmith but I can't say more until you know me. It is a Longinus and I will show you it soon. How many other strays are like this one in terms of relative strength?"

Kuroka eyes me a bit more watching for a hint of a lie.

"There are four others in terms of similar strength that are all pawns, nya. They are duo pairs of two brothers and two sisters. They don't do much without the other and are all a bit more dangerous, nya. One group is a gear user, and a magician while the other two are tengus. They are all recent strays and all plan to get into the bad side quickly nya."

I don't want to fight a gear user yet or tengus who are supposedly are good in melee. A magician is trouble too yet I don't want to fail that woman in the closet or people like her again.

"Please tell me where they are holed up. I need to improve, and I will accept nothing less than the best from me."

Kuroka nodded at the answer.

"The magician and the gear user are holed up in an abandoned warehouse in the nearby industrial district nya. As for the tengus, they are in an old house in the poorest section of the city. I only met the four once at our gathering place nya. There is a rule of it not to go after each other and we who don't do that put up with it because…."

I get the end.

"Everyone else is against you. I won't get you into trouble either. I have a question about the bounty size for this one, but I'll hold off on it. Thank you for helping me despite my hesitation in telling you everything."

Kuroka was surprised I got that part of stray culture that quickly. Her seeing my honest thanks makes her smile.

"I like you so far and you're inching up that list. I'm just used to no one getting strays, nya. The churches and Grigori have us as kill on sight and the devil nobility throws up many lies about us saying we only run because we are uppity and don't respect our proper superiors nya. They tell the commoners that we prey on their children and torture them. We good ones and even most bad ones don't do that as they are just like us nya. Yet the commoners believe it wholeheartedly. Its why we are so secretive about our stuff nya. I understand why you won't say much about your gear as trust is hard."

I feel pity for good strays before I looked around the room for any potential issues that might arise with building a base here. The Rats need to be exterminated and I want to trust her completely.

"I'll show you something soon that will make you like me more after. It is a thing very few will ever get. Issari is interested in it, but I told her it's not worth it."

Kuroka looked increasingly interested there. Issari was deeply interested in being a perpetual but the description of how your body feels like everything is on fire down to your soul had terrified her and Ddraig.

I will never encourage anyone else to become one. I don't regret it now, but I am feeling the beginnings. I will feel it fully eventually after everything is done. Issari won't get that till later. I think of what it would forever mean as you stay young while everything decays around you. Watching your family, not like that withering away from age. Kuroka saw the big sad starting to show and took my hand.

"It must be something that you didn't want, nya."

I never did, but you give up things you want for duty and others. I remember Rouboute who hates his position in life surrounded by the very things he despises and fought to destroy. That haunting line of his hits me again.

Why do I still live?

"I didn't want it and will never be easily able to get back what I gave up. Sometimes, however, the world requires sacrifices from you for others. I only wish for everyone to be safe. To not fear the void and the lingering darkness that is out there. I never do things for pure power and I fear I will one day lose that."

The Emperor was forced to do that. He's an asshole, but he was right in his assessment of the situation. Chaos was everywhere, and he could only trust a few and even then, Erda betrayed him. I understand how that hurts and how he tried, and while a tyrant, he was working to save humanity utterly from an uncaring universe. He probably, at one point, was like me in being hope-driven and not as xenophobic or hateful.

Kuroka squeezed my hand.

"I believe you, nya. You are a mystery wrapped in a puzzle and don't seem like few gear users. You don't have poor impulse control they do and I like that, nya. My last potential mate was strong but didn't have the half I like more with having a plan."

I don't have a plan, just a rough idea of one. Canon is dead and my former plan was to follow it to that beginning point and then follow along. But with how everything is going, I won't know what will come.

"I don't have a very long-term plan but I will continue to work on it. Right now, it's just an unescapable truth that life will never be perfect or easy."

I continued looking around, and when I saw everything in the station, this place would work for now. It was smaller than I had hoped but it would make a good bolt-hole and training space for Issari and me. After checking my phone, I see it's almost time for Akeno and I need to know the situation fully. I will come back here tomorrow with Issari and start getting her used to weapons from the far future.

Kuroka smiled when I told her I needed to go soon. She wished me luck when we exited the station.

"Good luck, nya. I hope it goes well. You're keyed in here, so it shouldn't be too bad coming back, nya. I'm assuming you will use this place to help train Chestnut?"

I nodded.

"I will and be training her on other things. Can you key her in next time we are here or possibly teach me to do it?"

She smirked at the request.

"I will try to teach you but I'm just an apprentice of it. My teacher was a peerage member that was stuffy nya. He died on the table of our king sadly. He was a rook that threw ward stones down trapping foes and then beat the shit out of them nya."

I chuckled.

"That's funny. I probably won't do well for a while. I, however, am here for a very long time and will need things to do. Thank you again, Kuroka. I'm probably not going to be big on magic, but it's better to learn counters to it. You want me to bring home dinner for you?"

She brightened there at free food.

"Any type of fish, nya. It's been so long since I've had a good fish. I was planning on doing a few things in the city today, too, but if you get me fish, I'll be happy, nya."

I laughed there.

"I'll get you some fish. I like burgers and fries, but sadly, I can't have many of those same with chicken nuggets."

We both get dreamy eyes over nuggies before. I'm ready for Akeno. Kuroka put her illusions on and then waved as she left. I like Kuroka here. She was nice, and while many would be staring at her chest, I didn't. Her eyes are better and showed me she was incredibly similar to her base reality self in terms of personality. It also refreshing to be able to act closer to my actual age with her. It's hard to sometimes not beat Issari up for her stupid kid stuff yet I wouldn't have my best friend any other way.

Akeno was meeting me at a small tea shop close to the school, and I was nervous because this could backfire horribly if I didn't play this right. I entered the shop and saw her in a booth that was separated from the rest of the shop by a small half-wall with cherry blossoms. She doesn't see me yet busy with her tea. I walked over to her and then took a seat opposite her, startling her. But upon seeing it was me, she smiled brightly in a genuine smile. She caught on my face the nervous smile.

"I am happy to see you, Lex. You look like you had a rough day."

I smiled and was about to say something, but a waitress came over and asked what I wanted to drink. I ask for water, please and the waitress left to get me that as I finally replied.

"I have had one. I was ultra busy last night and was talking with my friend for most of it. Then, I talked with a potential roommate that I'm looking into sharing the house I have right now, and it has been good so far. How is Rias-san? Is she still upset from yesterday? I didn't mean to upset her."

Akeno was worried about the roommate part. She, however, said to me after my water arrived.

"Rias is okay. She has been happy since she last saw you. Your first meeting with her and yesterday must have left you with a bad first impression, but she isn't a bad person. Her situation is complicated, and I think you know what I will ask Lex. Do you know?"

There it is, the inescapable question.

"I know however I'm so very lost."

Akeno grew both sad and relieved that I knew. She looked at me, and then the sound slowly died down before spoke to me with a face that hoped I didn't freak out.

"I'm what's called a devil, Lex, like the ones from the Bible. Rias is also one with her family being nobility and is why she has been treated like that."

I don't break my no expression face.

"Devil. So, like a demon and, you steal souls? I'd get how effective you'd be at that, Keno."

Akeno smiled at the teasing at the end then started giggling breaking the tension that had built up.

"Fufufu! I don't steal souls nor do other devils anymore. You're not mad, Lex?"

I do smile now.

"I'm not at all. My first encounter with the other side was entering a temple to explore something, and I ran into a Kitsune who threatened to hang me on the doors of said temple. I did research after the temple, and I have awful information because of how the internet is. I'm human, though so how are you a devil?"

Akeno grew ultra pissed at learning that was my first encounter with the other side.

"I'm what's called a reincarnated devil while Rias is a pure-blood one. I became one when I was ten Lex. They did more horrible things to my mom and me after you and your family left. They killed her and tried to do the same with me. All because of my bastard father. Rias is what is called a king and I'm her queen with the whole system used for reincarnation based on chess."

All information I know already.

"I see. I'm guessing that devils have different thought processes to humans."

Akeno takes a drink of tea before sighing in pleasure.

"We do. We feed our primary sins the thing that is most prevalent about you before reincarnation occurs."

I take a drink of water allowing me to hide that confirmation on my face. Yet Akeno hasn't being lusty since we met so what was her sin?

"Alright that makes sense. I have so many questions for you, Keno. I don't like the reasons I'm thinking of why Rias-san is like that. Nobles are rough for regular humans for devils, it must be worse. I don't like where my mind is going to because of that."

Akeno grew sad, too, and I saw what had likely bonded the two together.

"The nobles are worse, Lex. Rias is high nobility, and the pillars, which the noble houses are called, are brutal in their games. Rias gets targeted by them constantly because she doesn't have something from her mother's side of the family. I love Rias as my king and she does care about the four of us. It's just the remarks have taken a heavy toll on her. Please don't hate her for latching onto you yesterday as she was the happiest I have seen her in three years there."

I don't hate her this is sad and true because Akeno is also sad saying that. I remember Rias looking into my eyes with such wishful emotions of me. I don't want a noble daughter waifu and there are so many problems especially with me being a possible half-breed. I join the sad.

"I don't hate her for that. It's just that she was so down. I felt she was in something horrible for her, and she didn't know how to get out. When we first met, I felt like she was eyeing me like meat. I'm just a regular human, and if you are reincarnated, she may want to do that to me."

Akeno grew even more sad.

"She does want that badly. I stopped her from trying till you got an idea of what was going on and for you to have a choice. Lex, I won't lie our situation is bad yet I'd endure the worst of it willingly if it means you are free. You're my hero and I do mean that."

Oh, you bat rat cousin. You didn't mean to be what led her to me, and she was cruel in exploiting that faint hope.

"I'm not a hero Keno. I'm just an idiot with fragments of the past. I want to help you and her but I enjoy being human. I would not trade the moments of kindness I got in the hospital from people who cared and helped me as I rebuilt my life."

Akeno, it seems expected this answer of no along with the branch.

"You have already helped Rias. She began to practice more for the situation when we returned to our dorms. She really does want you, Lex. You are her Lord of Iron and inspired her train to train. She doesn't do that much because she is called weak so much. She desperately wants the small chance that you will return that to her. Please don't lead her on if you're not interested in her. I get why you did that, but it's cruel as she desperately wants a partner that is like you."

So, she has done it fuck. The situation is worse than I thought with her status, but she needs to help herself, too. She can't just rely on a single knockout piece. That was not fair to Issei or fair to Issari if she wanted that which she might not now.

"I just wanted her to realize that I would not help in whatever the problem is if she expected me to carry her. That's okay in online games for some people, but this is not that. She is welcome to join Issari-chan and me along with you in exercising. I want my friend safe, too and have been encouraging her to learn swordsmanship. First for regular creeps but after the kitsune and her threat for them too. I know we are at the bottom, but we shouldn't be at their mercy."

Akeno sighed, knowing that was the reason I did the thing with Rias.

"You are right, but it's still cruel if she thinks you're interested in her. No one has been like that before with her. Lex, your offering is good, but we need serious help. Our group, called a peerage, is in a horrible bind because of our king. She is in a betrothal contract with a very likely heir who is extremely cruel to his reincarnated pieces. The only way out is a game between our peerage and his. He has an almost full set, and multiple game wins while there are only four of us and we are rookies. We need help, and I get why she is desperate for the knockout piece. Lex, I will still protect you, too. Rias is now more determined than ever to have her Lord of Iron because you give her badly needed hope."

I get that it's extremely cruel, but she can't just be slothful there.

"I like redheads its my favorite type of hair. I don't want to lead her on, but it seemed to me that she was abusing your friendship to get closer to me. It's not an excuse for that thing, but I don't like that at all if it's true. She is in a hard place, but I won't reincarnate. I learned something from the crash. It changed how I see myself. I don't think I can reincarnate."

It's a good story for being a perpetual. Akeno looked interested in that admission on redheads and was extremely curious at the end.

"Why do you think that you can't? You and Rias would be a good couple and not just because of yesterday. You seem like you are sad too in several ways and that you regret something horribly."

I regret Kate and I falling apart because I didn't consider her feelings for our situation. I am beginning to regret that I'm immortal now. I get why Issei loves Rias but she is still a noble and still a young woman not used to love and how it takes many things to make it work besides pure hope. Yes she could bring resources and land to me, which would help immensely but I'd be abusing her for that and I'd never be able to forgive myself for that.

"The crash was bad, Keno. I found something in it that terrified me because it is not normal. I don't know if it is related to the other side and I can't tell or show it easily. It is hard to even get a guess of what it could do yet I believe I can't, given my limited experiments with it. Do you know how the system for it works?"

That admission made her very scared and I don't blame her. The doctor reports I did get access to were terrible with multiple things could have kept Alex down forever. He escaped that by the skin of his teeth. The reports also revealed why he was here with his family and not in the States. He was here because he asked his folks if they could see Akeno and her family. They must not have known because they had said yes. Akeno said finally.

"I don't. The system maker is extremely isolated in his dealings with people. He doesn't share information about it because of something that happened early on in the system's history. Lex, what is this thing? You're scaring me."

The fear is plain on her face.

"I'd have to show you it. I have never found anything like it before from the regular side. I don't want to ruin this with the request I would need to make. It scares me, too, Keno, if it leads to what I think it does. I might be a freak, Keno. A massive one as it changes how I see myself if it leads to the conclusion I have reached."

I have to show her and not here. Akeno softly says to me.

"You can't be as big a possible freak as me Lex. How extreme is the thing you have to do to show me? I can erase the memories of people here if need be."

That's still not right to them.

"I'd rather show it in private. Keno, I'm the bigger freak than you. This way, it's less work for you and less potential trauma for them if they somehow break free of it. I will need an incredibly sharp knife or a sword."

Akeno's face grew increasingly scared. The noise came back, and Akeno got the attention of a waitress and quickly paid for the drinks. After fully paying, she grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the shop.

She pulled me towards an alleyway nearby, and she threw up privacy spells with us in the furthest corner of the alley. She looked at me, and her eyes were frightened in the most extreme way.

"What is it, Lex? Please don't tell me it's you cutting yourself."

I shake my head.

"Not that way. I need a knife, Keno. I died in the crash. I came back and not the normal way after they restarted my heart. It woke something in me, I'm now different."

She looked at me, horrified at the admission.

"Please don't say things like that, Lex! If you are having flashbacks and your mind is making things up to cover you, I can get you help! Rias knows a good mentalist, and we can get that fixed fast! Lex I…"

I shake my head.

"I'm not lying. Please give me a knife, Keno. We are family, and family needs to stick together. I want to reconnect yet starting on not knowing this won't make that possible. You shared now it's my turn."

She quakes as I plead with my eyes. She reluctantly summoned me a sharp knife. I took it and cut a line across my left arm. Blood flows out for a few seconds before it starts to close and fast. Akeno watched in wide eye shock. I then cut off a finger. I don't scream, only whimper as blood spurts out. Akeno gets ready to scream only to stop when the finger reforms. Akeno watched in horror as that happened. I finally say.

"The crash was ultra bad, Keno I should not be walking yet I am because of this. It was weak at first then it got stronger and stronger. My conclusion is that I'm that. When I say, I'm here for a long time I mean it. I am a new freak."

Her purple eyes widen more than ever at the admission. She looked at the finger on the floor of the alley then my new one. Before, her eyes filled with such pity for me. Tears came to her eyes, and she pulled me in for a hug as she wept softly.

"That's why you think you can't. You think that you're that. Oh, Lex. I'm sorry! I didn't think that you."

I pat her back as I say softly.

"I don't think she could do it even if she wanted to or anyone else. They would torture me for the secret and experiment on me till they had it. Keno, you said they think differently than us, but if there is one thing everyone wants its this. I want to help you and Rias-san, but I can't be in her peerage if the system works the way of true reincarnation. This is my inescapable truth. It's fading, too the scar."

She wept more than ever and kept hugging me before mumbling.

"You're here forever and I will never lose you again. You meant it literally, I'm so sorry, Lex. I'll tell her she can't do that. She will cry as she wants her Lord of Iron to be with her in being devils. She wants a wedding with you yet you can't be a devil."

I look down because this will hurt her more.

"I'm still here, but I would be bad for her status. You can pass it off with a slim chance if I'm of the same race. I can't be if the system requires my heart to stop for a hint of time. I want her to be stronger so she can win this now that I know that. She will lose more if she goes after me. I got the feeling humans are seen as less than dirt by the supernatural world when the fox threatened me. I don't want her sundered from her family, who you said does try for her. Like how I'm sundered from the rest of them and my mom and dad. I will never see them again if I'm correct."

Akeno hugs me tighter than ever as I back up my statement.

"I have the hospital report and can share it with you. Its why I really think that, Keno. I really do want to help. I need to get stronger because they will all come after me if I'm right. I don't want to become a test subject or a prisoner of a powerful person yet I can't join the game that way."

She weeps again as that road is closed for Rias and her. I pat her back before she mumbled out.

"Do you remember your dad?"

I shake my head.

"I don't. I have pictures of him and Mom but nothing else, and with magic being real, I can't trust them if it's an illusion. I don't know anything about him."

Akeno hugged me tighter.

"There might be a way to help that isn't joining. He was incredibly private when we talked as kids but my father hated him and was always glaring at him. My dad is supernatural. I think yours was, too. Please take a DNA test today. You can get your redhead and safety Lex if you have who I think it is. It's the least that you deserve for this. He could be the key to our problems."

I don't like that line of thought because it makes him seem more likely. It could help me immensely if it's him but also paint a target on my head from several people especially if one of them gets upended out of a position of power by someone who isn't a pure devil. Yet it could help Rias get her a much better deal than Riser if it's him.

"I'll take the test, but I don't know about her if I am whatever you think it is. I don't want her desperation to be the foundation of anything we might have. She will regret it if it is correct. I would too, and I don't ever want more of them. It would stick with me forever if I am correct. That's especially wrong for her because she doesn't seem horrible, Keno."

Akeno had come up from my chest and put her hand on my right cheek.

"She is willing to do anything to escape this, Lex become anything for it. She won't regret you if you're truly this worried about her, even though she is a stranger who didn't get started on the right foot with you. You'd be our hero. I know that's not fair to ask you to do but never not think that you're not one."

I'm an idiot not a hero. I am stuck here because of a being more powerful than gods. Entrusted with gear that could destroy humanity if I was an utter bastard like the other person who enslaved an entire reality to them. Yet you give things up for others.

A soft voice hits my ear.

"You are one. You found me and are going to get me home. You are a true hero who will help all of us. I chose your God and you because you came into the darkness where I laid to stop evil while knowing you were not ready. I will never leave the new Omnissiah that knows what it means to be a true hero."

I am not one. Issari is the hero not I. I will never be Cain. I'm not the Omnissiah. I never finished college or made deeds of wonder. I was nothing but a failure in everything I had ever tried. How could I ever be that title or anything else? Yet Iron Within, Iron Without.

"I just want the real Rias. She can be whoever she is with me. I don't want her to betray who she is. I would never force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. I'm not a hero, Keno."

Akeno smiled softly into a bright smile as her tears for me dry.

"You are one, Lex. This could be something that makes you both very happy. You don't see it like how many people would. They would see it as a way to increase their power. You are thinking of her first. You want everyone to be happy but you. The world needs more people like you. Try for her and me."

I want to, but I remember Kate. She who was the brightest star in my galaxy. It's not fair for Rias to always be held up to that. Yet I need to accept that Kate isn't here. It is a new world, and I will never see her again. I finally let the beginning of her go.

"I'm going to try, but we must both do it. She can't eye me like meat and I won't lead her on. When can I take the test?"

Akeno brightened and then burned the finger before leading me to a wall area perfect for hiding a portal. She opened one up and stepped halfway through before extending her hand to mine. I will have faith in steel and hope I'm wrong. I take the hand and step through.