Summer Break in the Underworld! My one month of training on Dragon Mountain begins now! Pt. 2

"Jeez! What the fruity flip just happened?" Michael groaned as he felt a little motion sick from the abrupt teleportation.

[Perhaps looking outside would be the best course of action. There seems to be a lack of motion from the train beneath us.]

"You're right. Do you think that someone is messing with train?" Michael asked.

[Don't make me repeat myself and actually look you idiot.]

"I was going to do that anyways, no need to boss me around, geez." Michael growled, "I have feelings too, Ddraig. You should be more sensitive towards my feelings and apologize right n-!"

[OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!]

*GACHA!*

"Whoa, Ddraig? It's looks like we're not in Kansas anymore." Michael stepped out the bathroom stall to find himself in a huge rocky mountain range with multiple cliffs and large mountains surrounding him. It was strange how got transferred to some faraway place like this where even the sky looked completely strange.

"This place…I can't put my finger on it, but it has this strange air about it that's making me feel strangely anxious. For some reason, I can't calm down…" Taking a few steps forward, Michael took a glance around and saw nothing but rocky terrain around him.

[Yes, I can feel it too. This area is steep with a high traces of dragon aura.]

"Dragon aura? So, do dragons live here?" Michael asked.

[Yeah, and based on how heavy the pressure is here, you can bet that there is probably a whole pack of different dragons inhabiting the area. Dragons tend to be territorial when it comes to land and will attack any intruders who traverse upon it. I suggest you exercise extreme caution.] Ddraig sound grave with his warning.

"Why so scared, I can take some of them out with my Balance Breaker." Michael proudly grinned.

[A balance breaker that could potentially cripple your body because you haven't fully controlled using it yet.]

"Pfft! Semantics. Besides, I'm not looking for trouble unless I have to. The person who brought us here surely has to be around, so I have to find them and force them to tell us where we are and take us back to the others. Simple." Michael coughed a few times to start his search.

[Michael, I'm serious you shouldn't attract any attention to yourself. It would be natural for dragons to live in different areas for independency, but if there's a cluster of them living together like this, then it's possible you may fight a whole tribe of-!]

"HEY! WHOEVER JUST TELEPORTED US HERE BETTER COME OUT RIGHT NOW! IF YOU'RE HERE SAY OR DO SOMETHING!" Michael shouted before laughing,

"There that must have gotten their attention."

[Your lack of tact really surprise m-! What in the world…] Sensing something approach them Ddraig paused before shouting, [Dammit, Michael, you basically gave yourself away to a nearby dragon!]

*STOMP!* *STOMP!* *STOMP!* *STOMP!*

"Don't worry Ddraig. We can handle anything that comes our way just like with Tiamat, oh. We just have to-DAMN! That's one big sucker! He's even bigger than that Tia-bitch!"

*STOOOOOMP!*

*ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!*

Rearing its head past a very, very large mountain, a fifteen meters tall, gigantic purple western Dragon. With the exception of its lower body, specifically its belly, the inner portions of his long tail and legs, that are beige in color, the majority of its body is covered in dark purple, draconic scales. On its head, it has a triangular head with yellow horns, a pair of large, keen red eyes with lavender sclera, and serrated yet sharp canine teeth. It also has claws with long sharp, yellow nails, on his hands, and large bat-like wings with rigid tips. Additionally, it wore black armored pauldrons that extend down to its arms and a loincloth decorated with metallic accessories. The dragon's form made it able to walk on two legs like a human.

[So, do you regret giving yourself away right now or should I just wait for things to get worse again.]

"Okay, he's a little bigger than expected, but it's still nothing I can't handle!" Michael cracked his knuckles and assumed his battle stance, "Hey, Lizard-face! You want a piece of me then bring it! I'm not afraid of a challenge against a dragon like you!"

[Dragon Booster!]

Upon Michael materializing the Boosted Gear, the dragon roared once more in response to the boy's hasty threat and breathed in to make its stomach expand in the efforts of unleashing a fierce torrent of flames.

"Yeeeeeha-!"

*GURGLE!* *GURGLE!* *GURGLE!*

Stopping in his tracks, Michael held his queasy stomach and muttered, "Wait! Time out! Time out! Oogh!"

[What is it? Why are you stopping?]

"Oh my maou… I I shouldn't have drank two liters of Iced Tea before we boarded the train." Michael gripped his stomach once more as it rumbled loud enough for even the dragon to hear.

"I can't fight like this. I have to go…" Michael looked over to the bathroom.

[No, you'll just have to hold it in. You're facing a wild dragon that's not going to just let you use the bathroom!]

"Tell that to him." Michael looked over his shoulder to spot the Wild Dragon waiting patiently. It appeared to stop its attack at the mention of Michael's inability to fight properly. Ddraig was speechless and didn't have any words to convey of his surprise only,

[Really, Tannin…]

"Who?"

[Nothing…just take your bathroom break already.]

"Thank you! I promise I'll be out to kick your ass as soon as possible!"

*SLAM!*

Michael waved at the giant dragon before rushing in to the bathroom stall. Standing through 10 minutes of waiting the dragon patiently waited for the boy to finish his 'business' but the loud sounds resonating from inside of it made it feel somewhat uncomfortable.

*POOOOOOOOOOOOOT!*

*POOOO!*

*PLOP!*

*PBBBBBBBBHT!*

The inappropriate noises didn't stop, but the dragon immediately felt something resonate from within the stall despite the ongoing sounds and breathed out a huge lick of flames that engulfed the entire bathroom stall.

*FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

"Haha! Too late!"

[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!]

From within the flames a voice laughed and a loud call was made before a pair of dragon wings swept aside the flames to reveal Michael's dragon armored form.

"I sure fooled you! I used the old bathroom trick to get enough time to transform into my Balance Breaker! Also, how do you like my sound effects? *PBBBBBBBBBHT!* *PLOP!* *PLOP!*" Michael openly mocked the dragon.

*ROOOOOOOOOAR!*

The dragon immediately charged at the boy without a second thought and began to bare its claws to rip the smaller sized teen into shreds.

"No response? That usually makes them pissed off, ri-?" Michael froze in place when he prepared himself, the dragon was already on top of him. He was almost frozen in place once his eyes met with the frenzied dragon's. The sheer intimidation shook him to his core.

[Michael, move!]

"…!"

It took Ddraig's calls to catch him up to speed, so that he could dodge the massive claws that were coming at him.

*FLAP!* *FLAP!*

*SMAAAAAAAAASH!*

Taking flight, Michael puts some distance between himself and the dragon and noticed how the dragon expunged the ground with a single hit.

"He's fast!" Michael breathed heavily.

[You ready to take this seriously now?]

"Up against this guy? Yeah. Let's do it." Michael banged his fists together before sticking his right arm out, "Ascalon!"

[Blade!]

Michael decided that using the dragon slayer weapon would prove enough to weaken the dragon. Using the jets on his back, he propelled himself at the crazed giant with his blade in hand to pierce through the monster's thick scales.

*SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!*

*GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!*

The dragon took in a deep breath of air to unleash a massive fireball, and this was before Michael could get even close to it.

"Dammit!" Forcing himself to stop mid-way, Michael fired a dragon shot to cancel out the ball of flames. However, the blast of draconic energy wasn't enough and only delayed the attack before it got overpowered.

Maneuvering around the fireball, Michael was in awe at the fire power. Whatever dragon this was it sure can breathe a powerful blast of flames. Getting back into the heat of combat, he once again used his jets to get into close range of the dragon to use his sword. The target had a larger body than him, so it would be an easy target to hit.

"Got you!"

*SWISH!*

"What?"

As Michael tried to thrust his weapon into the dragon's midriff it weirdly dodged his attack with blinding speed.

"How did he-?" Michael growled and tried once more.

*SWISH!*

And again.

*SWISH!*

And again.

*SWING!*

But the dragon would dodge the blade's thrusts and slashes with ease despite its big body. This confused Michael to no end, he was using his Scale mail's jets and even his touki to boost his speed, but nothing allowed him to keep up with the dragon.

"I don't get it. How can something that big be this fast?" Michael grunted as he decided to go with a different plan.

[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]

[What are you doing? This is too much for you to handle!]

"I'm about to keep up with him by powering the jets of the Scale Mail."

[That's still too much speed for you to handle. If you go straight at it, he'll dodge and you'll probably crash!]

"That's why it's up to you to steer for me. So get ready!"

[Michael, wai-!]

[TRANSFER!]

[JET!]

*THOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

"Hyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Moving ten times as fast as he did before, Michael propelled himself at the dragon with reckless abandon and tried plunging Ascalon through the dragon's scaly chest.

*SWISH!*

"That was better than before, I almost have him!" Missing by only a hair's breadth, Michael noticed how close he was to catching the dragon. However, he wasn't noticing the cliffside that he was about to crash into.

"D-Ddraig!"

[I know!]

*FLAP!* *FLAP!* *DOOOON!*

With enough force Michael's dragon wings flapped so hard that the intense air pressure destroyed most of the rocky cliffside. Back in action, Michael was already heading towards the dragon that was extending its stomach to release another raging torrent of flames.

*SWISH!* *SWISH!*

Two swings and he still missed the oddly quick dragon, and going through the same rough process of redirecting himself, he decided to come up with a plan while charging at the beast. The dragon was still in the process of extending its stomach making the fire ball it would release, a big one.

'I almost have him, but it's still not enough. Ddraig, make sure to send me up in the sky before he breathes fires. I have an idea.' Michael thought.

[Got it!]

"Let's see if you're quick enough to dodge this!"

*THOOOOOOOOM!*

*FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

Michael prepared another thrust of his sword as he came within close range of the dragon's head before a gigantic torrent of flames engulfed his entire form and almost literally the entire half of the rocky mountain terrain. But in the seconds before the dragon fired its breath, Michael with the help of Ddraig's steering used his jets and wings to propel himself upwards and started his descent down towards the dragon's head.

"Come get some!" Michael roared as he brings his sword down.

*GROWL!*

*GIIIN!*

Stuck in mid attack with its fire breath, the dragon twisted its head to block the incoming sword with nothing but its sturdy horns that extended to catch the blade.

"Wait can dragons use their horns as swords? Dude, that is so cool!" Sidetracked Michael wasn't paying attention to the massive dragon tail that was swung to crush his smaller body.

*BAAAAAAAAM!*

"Gooough!" The force of the tail damaged his armor and forced him to spew a mouthful of blood. Crashing into the bedrock ground didn't help with the pain either as he tumbled on top of it before forcibly being stopped by the wall of another cliffside.

*ROOOOOOOOOOOAR!*

Coughing up a fit, Michael forced himself up and shook his head, "Gah, that hurts like a bitch!"

[It's about to hurt a lot more.] Ddraig indicated to the dragon preparing another larger burst of flames.]

"Is this guy even a normal dragon? How is it even this powerful?" Michael twitched in pain as he woozily stood on two feet.

[A dragon is still a dragon. We are masses of power that can even crumble the most powerful of beings. This dragon is no exception to that rule.]

"So what you're saying is…" Michael prepares a massive sphere of dragon energy on one hand and slowly began to take a fortified stance,

"If a dragon is a mass of power, then the only way to completely defeat it is by fighting Power with Power!" Michael slowly poured in his touki into the sphere, then began infusing all of his energy into the needed attack.

[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]

[No that wasn't what I meant. What are you going to do?]

"I can't touch him with speed, and since he can't do much while only focusing on breathing fire than I better overpower him with something stronger."

[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]

Focusing, the sphere slowly levitates over Michael's fingers as he crams more energy into it.

[That's overdoing it! Your body isn't ready for this much power! This is the same song and story we've been doing since the beginning! Injuring yourself will only create more problems if this attack doesn't work!]

"Then I'll make it work!"

[That's nonsense! Just think about what you're about to do!]

"I am!" Feeling the weight of energy, he placed into the sphere, Michael began doubting the base strength of the attack and started comparing it to the dragon's last fireball.

'No, it's not enough! I need to put more into it!' Michael thought.

[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!]

[You're obviously not thinking about the whole picture!] Ddraig continued to berate the boy further despite the wild dragon nearing its final stages before releasing its fire breath.

"I AM! If I can't beat some random dragon then I'll never be able to catch up with Buchou and the others! I can't lose! I won't lose!"

[That's still not seeing the whole picture! If this attack won't work then you'll try again and again and then your whole body will break! Michael? Michael!]

Ignoring the dragon's words, Michael focused on placing more power into the growing mass of energy levitating over his fingers.

Everything was nearing the final stretch as both the dragon and Michael were reaching the peak of their stalled attacks. Both enemies were staring each other down, neither of them back down as the dragon's intimidating visage was matched with Michael's determined glare.

The fight was officially going to end.

"Dragon-!"

"Okay, that's enough."

A familiar voice echoed through the mountain range.

'Ero-Oss-?' Michael lost his focus upon recognizing the voice and was unable to control his compressed sphere of energy.

It was about to fire until a shadow emerged and quickly knocked the sphere of energy into the sky where it exploded in a brilliant red light.

Dropping out of his Scale Mail form, Michael fell flat on his bottom exhausted and looked at the dragon in surprise as it released a gigantic fire ball into the air above. It seemed even bigger than what he had guessed to have been if he were to clash blasts with it.

"Incredible."

"Yup, that's the power of a true Dragon King there. But you're no pushover yourself, Michael-kun~."

"Another familiar voice? Natsuru-senpai!?" Michael turned around and spotted that it was Natsuru who redirected his attack.

"Hello~!" Natsuru winked at her kouhai and helped him up onto his feet.

"Talk about cutting it close there, big guy." Flying off a cliff and into the mountain range, Azazel appeared and spoke with the 15 meter dragon.

"I only did as I was instructed. I held back my full power and showed no mercy. If you didn't want things to go that extreme, then you could have called off the exercise moments ago." The dragon responded with a rough yet honorable warrior tone; something that Michael didn't expect a wild dragon to have.

"True, but things were running smoothly until SOMEONE decided that crippling himself would lead to his highly improbable victory." Azazel held his head down before exhaling sharply, "Boy this is going to be a long summer break…"

"Oi! Someone explain to me what is going on, and where we are because I am freaking out and have so many questions! Where are we? How is Natsuru-senpai here? How are you here, Ero-Ossan? And what in the heck is that guy?" Michael breathed heavily after his outburst.

"Well, to answer your questions Michael, I decided to test you and see what power you can dish out while under pressure against an opponent who is leagues powerful than you, and much to my dismay it seems that we forcibly brought out your greatest weakness just now."

"My greatest weakness?" Michael arched an eyebrow.

"But first let's answer the other questions," Pointing behind himself, Azazel introduce the giant purple dragon, "This here is Tannin, a former vassal to the Red Dragon Emperor and a former Dragon King. He's known as the "Blaze Meteor Dragon" aka the Devil-Dragon. He was reincarnated into the highest class of devil an Ultimate-Class Devil for reasons that I don't necessarily care about explaining."

"Wait, so this dragon is actually a devil? An Ultimate-class at that too?" Michael was at a loss of words and gazed at the dragon in admiration and whispered, "So awesome…"

"It's been quite a while, Ddraig."

[It's good to see that you're still kicking, Tannin. I'm starting to feel a little nostalgic here…]

"Your right, but…" Tannin took a glance at Ddraig's possessor and crack what looked to be a smile, "Only this time it would seem that your user is as reckless than the ones before."

[You would not believe.]

"Hmmm…" Tannin took a closer look at Michael once more before looking a little reminiscent, "How odd the resemblance is really uncanny."

'That again? Why do people keep saying that?' Michael scratched his head while the two dragons continued to talk.

Hearing the two dragons share a moment, Michael looked at his boosted gear and growled, "Let me get this straight you knew who this guy was from the beginning?"

[Of course, it's almost hard for anyone to mistake the presence of their old vassal for anyone else.]

"So why wasn't there a little warning about this guy's status as a Dragon King?" Michael asked.

[Former Dragon King. I told you about the "Five Great Dragon Kings" before, right? Tannin here was a Dragon King back when they were the "Six Great Dragon Kings". The dragon called Tannin that was even recorded in the Bible is the very same person your meeting.]

"He's even mentioned in the Bible? Damn, that sounds so legendary." Michael gasped in exasperation.

"Legendary should fit a dragon of his caliber," Natsuru walked up and gazed upon Tannin's 15 metered visage, "[Blaze Meteor Dragon] Tannin. It's said that his breath of fire is equal to the impact of a meteorite hailing down from space to the earth. He's one of the few legendary dragons that are still active right now."

Looking at Natsuru in surprise, Michael was a little shocked at her knowledge of dragons.

But she interrupted his eventual response with a, "Yo~!"

"So why is Natsuru-senpai here?" Michael asked Azazel.

"She's here because I requested her to handle a job for me and this was just a simple task before she could take it. She's going to be staying in the Underworld for Summer Break, too." Azazel nodded.

"She's really coming with us that's great, but hold on what was the task that she needed to do."

*Boink!*

"Boop." Natsuru poked Michael's noise before holding her finger up to her lips and winking, "Poof!"

Dotting the lines together, Michael screamed, "Wait, you were the one who teleported me here?"

"It was quite easy. All I needed to do was get you alone and then poof! One captured Michael-kun has been bagged." Natsuru giggled.

"So even you were in on this, Natsuru-senpai?" Michael tiredly rubbed his head.

"It was all crucial for this first step of your training to properly use the dragon's power from scratch instead improvising like you usually do. And speaking of improvising, lets discuss your training over the break." Azazel crossed his arms and leaned against a boulder.

"This entire month, we plan to mold you into a proper user of the Boosted Gear and finally unlock the Welsh Drive. So that is the reason why we decided to get you the best teacher for the job to roughen you up."

"So is Shishou going to teach me?" Michael asked curiously, he was wondering whether or not Kai would train him since he could probably help him cross a certain roadblock to his training.

"Kai? No, he's a great teacher altogether, but he only taught you the basics of fighting. We're here to teach you how to actually fight like a dragon from a real live devil-dragon himself. Tannin please make sure that this brat learns how to use his dragon power from scratch, he may be the new Red Dragon Emperor, but he still has a ways to go."

Azazel shrugged.

"I'll be sure to whip him into shape. Don't forget Fallen Angel, I do this also because of Son Kai-san's request to personally train myself. Don't forget about whose territory we're in." Tannin earned a passive shrug from Azazel before turning to Michael, "So I get to train another youngling who harbors Ddraig in him. What a fortune turn of events."

Tannin said that happily while narrowing his eyes at Michael. The excitement in Tannin's eyes made Michael wonder about his safety throughout this entire training session.

[Go nuts with this kid. You can see that he can put up a fight, but he can be a bit of a wild card if not disciplined enough. He's a moron, so smack some sense into him if he gets a bit reckless.]

"Oi! At least say something positive about me at least!" Michael hissed.

"So, he's a wild one too, eh? Don't worry I have some experience dealing with younglings like you, and maybe by helping you train, then maybe you can help me with something in the process too." Tannin rubbed his chin and wore a more noticeable smile, "Yes, this ought to work out nicely. So, what do you say to actually training like a true dragon, youngling?"

"I say quit it with that youngling crap! I'm Michael Hanamura and I'm the greatest, not some kid!" Michael was already annoyed by that nickname.

"In my eyes, a little devil like you has a lot of bark, but less of a bite. So, in the end I envision you like a young dragon spawn trying to act tough." Tannin lowly chuckled.

"Oh, yeah! You just watch, I'm gonna complete my training and become an Ultimate class devil just like you one day. Then I'll become a Maou that will surpass you, Gramps!" Michael's declaration almost stunned Tannin and surprised Natsuru a little, but the former simply just laughed at the boy making him feel a little threatened.

"What's so funny!?"

"This one seeks to become a Maou with the power of the Red Dragon Emperor, too? Boy this user of yours is such an interesting youngling, Ddraig, and did I just hear you call me gramps?" Tannin referred to Michael's rude choice of a nickname.

"Yup because you're an old dragon recorded in the Bible and that book is super old. So yeah, Gramps. Also, I'm calling you this as fair trade for calling "youngling" is that good with you?"

"Kuukukuku! This boy has so much spunk! I can tell that this month will be an eventful one." Tannin guffawed so loudly that you can hear his laughs echo off the mountain walls.

"Seems like you two will be getting along for a while, so lets go to Rias' home. It should only be an 8 hour walk back. 3 hours if we quickened the pace by running." Azazel pointed to the east of the mountains.

"Wait, Buchou's home, so does that mean we're in the Underworld? That would explain why the sky looks all funny, but I thought that teleporting in the Underworld without proper transportation is illegal?" Michael looked around in wonder at the strange land.

"It is, and we did force you to come here, so you technically did as well." Azazel laughed.

"Really? Well, since we all came here together doesn't it mean we all illegally entered?"

"Nope. Just you." Natsuru giggled.

"Hubbawhat?" Michael did a double take.

"Hmhm~! I used the Fallen Angel's route to get here." Natsuru did the peace sign.

"I had a portable transportation device that allowed me to use the route while in the devil's route." Azazel pulled down his sleeve to reveal his futuristic looking pocket watch.

"That's so unfair! How come I have to be the only one who can't get off Scott free?" Michael complained.

"Don't be like that you're only on your first strike."

"And my last!"

"That too, but you have other matters to attend to like meeting up with your friends at the Gremory Mansion which is an 8 hour long trip back by foot." Azazel pointed to the east once more, "By foot. No flying or teleportation. By foot."

"Why are you emphasizing about feet? Are you going to be into feet now, Ero-Ossan? Because that's gross." Michael inched himself away from Azazel.

"Nope just trying to be subtle with something. Oh, by the way your training has just officially started and now you're going to climb down this mountain, run through the wild forests of the underworld and make it to Rias' home to catch up with the other in about 3 hours. So go!" Azazel shooed the boy.

"You mean right now? But I literally fought a former Dragon King can I just have a second to catch my breath?" Michael shouted.

"One. There you used up your second now go." Azazel shooed the boy once more.

"That's not what I mean Ero-Os-!" Michael shouted.

"Tannin." Azazel looked over his shoulder with a wide smile.

"On it."

*FWOOOOOOOOOOSH!*

"Gyaaaaaaa! Okay, I'm moving! I'm moving! Sheesh!" Michael cried as he narrowly avoided getting scorched by Tannin's dragon breath. Already scaling the mountainside, he began his journey down the huge mountain.

"So that's my que to leave, too. I'm going to be leaving for the human world once he returns to the others. I still have to look over Kiyo-tan's monsters back at home." Natsuru created a portal and proceeded to walk through it, "I'll return to help out with my guest once things really start."

And like that Azazel and Tannin were left to themselves as they look over the cliffside at the vast wild land that the Underworld had to offer.

"You forgot to mention to the youngling his greatest weakness." Tannin brought up.

"Nah, I just decided not to tell him. Makes things run smoother." Azazel said.

"How so? Wouldn't it be better to tell him about burdening his comrades should he injure himself like that?" Tannin looked over to the Fallen Angel with a hint of curiosity.

Giving a deep sigh, Azazel replied, "Just telling him isn't enough he has to learn by himself. It wouldn't change anything, he's willing to damage his own body all for the sake of protecting his friends. That's admirable the first few times, but after a while if he keeps doing the same thing multiple times then that admirable sacrifice will be looked upon as sheer madness."

It isn't normal for a person to just injure themselves for the sake of other all the time. Its noble to put others before yourself, but if its done constantly then its obvious that it's the first sign of madness. A sign that the person actually cares little about their own well being and find others suitable to take the hit for them.

"If he's willing to go to that extreme while fighting you all because he wanted to catch up with his friends then we have a serious problem to fix. Hurting himself won't save his friends, it will also hurt them in the process as well."

"Tell me do you feel the same way while you watch him hurt himself?" Tannin asked and watches Azazel say neutral once the question was asked.

"Who knows." Azazel created a magic circle beneath his feet, "Besides if he injures himself in a one on one fight, then he'll probably continue with hurting until he can't defend himself. You can return to your mountains and prepare for his training regimen. I still have to return to my student and figure out a way to explain why I kidnapped her boyfriend and stole her train's bathroom stall."

*Shiiiiine~!*

Azazel transported to the train station in the Underworld to meet up with the rest of the Gremory peerage.

"You may not show it, but I can tell you do care. If you didn't then you wouldn't have spotted this harmful problem the youngling puts himself through. Not to mention the concern in your eyes. Governor-General, you surely are starting to lose your rumored edge when around that child." Tannin compared Azazel's concern to his whenever he worried about his children.

Taking off, Tannin flew towards the main training ground Michael will basically be staying at for the rest of his summer. Catching the giant dragon soar through the sky, Michael looks on in amazement and excitedly chuckled,

"I can't believe I fought another Dragon King and an actual Ultimate class Devil! Man, this summer break is starting to look pretty alright!" Michael continued climbing down the mountain.

[Coming from the guy who would have destroyed his arm in a practice exercise.]

"True, but you never warned me about it just being an exercise." Michael coughed.

[If you knew it was an exercise from the beginning, then you would have fooled around as usual.]

"I-I would not!" Michael stuttered.

[You're terrible at lying… besides if you were getting knocked around while fighting serious then you probably wouldn't have survived fooling around. Tannin was barely using a tenth of his real power. Besides, it still doesn't excuse you ignoring my orders yet again.] Ddraig scolded the boy.

"You still mad about that?"

[…What do you think?]

"Look everything turned out for the best, so let's not worry about it."

[You can't think like that Michael. What if that was a serious fight and you decide that if one body crippling wasn't enough then how about more; how exactly would you hope to last in a fight if you destroy yourself right before the opponent?]

"That's because things won't end up like that because I'm the greatest." Michael managed to reach the bottom of the mountain and made long strides through the wilderness.

[Take this seriously! How do you expect to get anything done if you recklessly rush every fight with a all or nothing attack?]

"I get it! It may seem terrible at first, but it still might work! Just trust me, we've been through rougher situations and we manage to make it out just fine."

[That may be true, but how long do you suppose this streak of ours will last?] Ddraig questioned.

"Always with the foreboding questions with you, geez… Anyways summer is just now starting and we have everyone preparing for some serious training, so stop worrying." Michael looked ahead with a bright smile, "And besides what could go wrong?"

XXX

"—It's been quite a few months since Vali returned acting strange, right?"

"True, Sir Vali hasn't been the same since his fight with this Generation's Red Dragon Emperor. The fight could have impacted him more than we thought. He did force Vali into that damaged state."

"Doesn't it make you curious though?"

"What are you dribbling on about?"

"How this new Red Dragon Emperor could actually keep up with Vali. See how he acts and how changed Vali. Let's pay the Underworld a visit~!"

"As always you seek to bring more misfortune upon others, and let's say I wish to learn more about this new phenomenon with Sir Vali. How would you go about locating him without getting caught and causing a commotion?"

"Simple. Word gets around and these cute little ears of mine have picked up juicy information about a special party for the higher echelons of the devil society and…Bikou did mention that the Red Dragon Emperor is a servant to one of those famous devil households. Plus, to sweeten the deal, we also have an anonymous donator willing to provide a couple of boring old chimera to me with a steep promise to cause chaos in the Underworld."

"…"

"So, do I have your attention now?"

"We shall explore this option when the time of this party is nigh. Do not make any rash moves on your own, you stray black cat."

"Right back at ya, Miss Stuffy Britches. Fufufu! This will surely be thrilling, and, oh, how silly of me I almost forgot."

"What is it now?"

"Nothing, nothing~! It's just something that I had to remind myself if I ever returned to the Underworld."

"And that is?"

"Getting back what I accidentally left behind, my sister, nya~!"