Chapter 262

"Dimori-kun. Lord Atid. Please calm down."

Igor was quick to shrug his shoulders and deny responsibility.

"Don't blame me, Lucifer. Atid started this whole thing."

Kuroka couldn't help but find this whole situation a bit funny. These two were like oil and water, yet they were also friends. It was a funny contradiction, but that thought quickly evaporated when she processed what the blonde said.

"Lucifer?!?!"

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|DxD|

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All eyes turned to face the young Nekushou. Her face was white from fright. Her tail stood ramrod straight, almost as if she was ready to escape at any moment.

Her high-pitched squeal of fright aroused a few snickers from the servants gathered around. Her mouse-like scream was especially endearing.

Sirzechs smiled helplessly and broke away from Yasaka. If he didn't do anything, this girl would certainly have a heart attack.

"Hello. You must be Kuroka. And you must be Shirone."

"?"

Shirone looked up from where she was eating. Her bright yellow eyes hovered over Sirzechs's form before she uttered one word.

"Hello nya~."

And just like that, she was back to eating. She harboured no thoughts about the strange people in the room. They didn't feel weird so it was fine.

On the other hand, Kuroka wasn't as casual as her sister. She knew full well the only person called 'Lucifer' was the leader of the Devils. But, what would such a figure be doing here?!

There was no time to figure it out. She could only quickly lower her head.

"Y-yes, Lucifer-sama. My name is Kuroka and I humbly greet you also on behalf of my sister."

At this moment, Kuroka was so nervous her verbal tic was nowhere to be seen. Her danger senses were blaring and her hair stood on end. If the current Lucifer bore ill-intent against her, there was no running, no hiding, and no escapi-

"?!"

Her body shivered when a pair of soft and tender hands touched her hair. Soon, those same hands cupped her cheeks and gently forced her to look up. She was met with the teary gaze of a woman, a fox yokai from the scent.

"You've suffered so much."

Yasaka felt sad when she felt how nervous Kuroka was. She could only imagine how if would feel if it was her daughter who was like this.

"I'm so sorry."

"..."

Kuroka was left in a daze when she was suddenly hugged. She couldn't remember the last time in her life where she was held like this. The only time she was held like this, the only time she felt this warmth was on the day before her mother died along with her father.

'I'm sorry, Kuroka. I'm sorry I have to place this burden on you. But…they're too close. I can't let them succeed.'

Her mother's silhouette slowly bled together with Yasaka's.

'I'm so sorry.'

"I'm so sorry."

This feeling, this contrast…she couldn't bear it anymore.

Drip…Drip…

Yasaka's embrace was warm and slowly, Kuroka found herself shedding tears. Those gentle hands circling her back were like bulldozers that dug away her defences.

"Onee-chan?"

Shirone could no longer sit still when she saw her sister cry. She immediately pushed off her chair and ran to her. The maidservant attending to the little Neko didn't hinder her. Like the rest, they watched this heartwarming atmosphere.

"Onee-chan. Don't cry. Don't cry, onee-chan."

The little six-year-old tugged at her sister's skirt, her eyes growing teary as well. Unwittingly, Yasaka also pulled the little Neko into her embrace, even going so far as to hug them with all of her tails.

"I'm so sorry, Kuroka, Shirone. But from today, I promise you will be safe."

Those words were like the final hit that cracked open the dam. Years of insecurity, fear, and sadness burst out at the critical moment. Kuroka could no longer hold it.

"Waaaaa…"

She wept. Her tears came out in droves. Yasaka's words directly triggered the deepest part of her. After their mother died, only she knew how much she suffered to keep her little sister safe. Only she knew what she endured under that man's knife day and night.

The only thing, the only thing that kept her going was her sister---the hope that Shirone and maybe her, might make it out and have a better future.

Now? Now it was here. It was here.

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|DxD|

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Yasaka's fluffy tails shrouded the two girls in their warmth. She comforted them like a mother, reassuring them of the better days to come.

But, there was a problem.

[Sooo…]

Igor watched the trio cry with a somewhat confused gaze.

[Do I eat or not?]

There was already a piece of meat in his mouth but he was afraid his chewing would disrupt the atmosphere.

[Should I?]

It wasn't that he was heartless. He was just really hungry. If he knew this scene would happen, he would've dished up and ate outside.

[If it wasn't loud, I would've used Instant Transmission.]

Unfortunately, that tell-tale high-pitched sound when he tore space would be more than enough to sully the atmosphere.

[Maybe if I leave quietly they won't notice?]

It was a good solution. If he used superspeed, they wouldn't even notice he was gone. So under Atid's curious eye, he began taking pieces of meat from a bowl and piling them on his plate.

The height soon reached the length of a person's face, something Atid would never accept. Igor wasn't the only one who was hungry. So he placed his hand on Igor's shoulder and glared at the blonde with a fiery gaze.

In those few seconds, an intense stare-down ensued where they subtly threatened each other through intent alone.

[Oh no you don't, Igor. Not under my watch.]

[Oh yes I will. Watch me do it.]

[I won against you before. I'll do it again.]

[Things change. I'll be the one who wins this time.]

[Really? Want to test that out?]

[As long as you're not pansy enough to chicken out.]

The two boys glared at each other, unaware the fragile atmosphere had long since been crushed by their battle intent.

[These idiots…]

Sun Wukong could no longer find it within him to interrupt these two. In a short span of time, they've nearly fought three times. Each time he tried to stop them, the time between their confrontation would shorten.

[They're always like this…]

These two could be the best of brothers and the worst of enemies within a snap of a finger. The only way they could ever go back to being brothers is if they fought until exhaustion.

Sigh…

He gave up. Separating them now would only lead to a worse confrontation five minutes later.

"Igor. Atid. Limit your fight to the skies. Don't harm the people or the environment."

Their agreement was swift.

""Got it.""

Su!…Su!

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|DxD|

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Beautiful cloudless skies, the warm afternoon sun, and a prime view of the mountains and valleys---the perfect recipe to relax under the shade of an umbrella. Unfortunately, two fighters decided to christen the skies with a fireworks display of their battle.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Two dozen minutes have passed since the surprising interruption. Igor and Atid fought to their heart's content after the old sage gave them the okay.

Yasaka, Sun Wukong, Sirzechs, Kuroka, and Shirone were outside watching the two boys fight. Sirzechs stood next to Sun Wukong with his arms crossed while Yasaka had the two girls to her side.

All of them watched with some element of interest at their fight.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Each clash caused explosions and shockwaves to resound like fireworks. No matter what one would say, watching two boys go at it with vigour was an interesting way to spend an afternoon.

"[BOOST!]"

CLASH!

They fought each other without any scruples. Their figures flickered in and out of existence, their attacks executed at speeds far too fast for the naked eye to see.

Atid had his sacred gear. Igor had his Kaioken. They were neck and neck. Their muscles bulged as they faced each other in a contest of strength. Neither was willing to let the other win.

"[BOOST!]"

"Times-ten!"

Gruuuu!

It was only fortunate these two kept their power within the confines of God Class. Otherwise once they entered their ascended forms, there would be chaos.

BOOOM!

The clash of their aura caused an explosion that forced them apart, but they soon charged at each other like magnets.

Su! …Su!

CLASH!

Their fists and kicks were like blurs. Sometimes their figures would freeze like a game with a high ping before they'd suddenly appear a few metres away.

[These idiots. Couldn't they just hold it in?]

Sun Wukong could swear he's aged by fifty years ever since these two brats got together.

[They better not cause any trouble.]

The moment he had that thought, he realised he was asking for the impossible. The first time they met, they fought and destroyed the canteen hall. Now he hoped they wouldn't destroy this villa. It'd be embarrassing if that happened.

[Atleast the little ones are enjoying it.]

Shirone and Kuroka were particularly engrossed in their battle, especially Kuroka. The power these two exerted trumped everything she'd ever seen in her life.

Their blazing figures, their speed, the power behind their strikes, all of it aroused something in her.

[This power…]

If she had this power…

*Clenches Fists*

…neither her, Shirone, and her mother would've suffered under that scum of her father and her master. If she had this power, she could've killed the entire Naberius, took Shirone, and walked backwards to her village without anyone daring to strike her.

"""..."""

Her fierce expression did not go unnoticed by the adults, especially Sirzechs. He was happy she wasn't broken, but…

Sigh…

[So many things happened without our knowledge. If we were a little more wary, the Naberius would've never been so bold.]

Just a teenager, yet her thoughts deviated far from girls her age. At an age where she should be thinking of makeup and beautifying herself, she harboured thoughts no one so young should ever have to hold.

"I want to get stronger!"

Her shout was startling. It was a declaration that came suddenly, but they could understand her feelings.

"Kuroka-chan. You're safe here. There's no need to worry-"

"No!"

She directly shut Yasaka off. Her mother said the exact same thing to her all those years ago and look where that got them.

"I have to get stronger!"

Devil wings formed behind her before she took flight.

Whoosh!

Dust and pebbles scattered when she took off. She flew towards the boys with determination.

"Wait! Don't-"

"Let her go, Yasaka. She must feel for herself if this is what she wants. Besides, the boys won't kill her."

"..."

Yasaka weakly lowered her hand under Sun Wukong's behest. She knew best how intense battles between powerful entities could be. Just the shockwaves from their strikes were deadly to those not strong enough to withstand them.

She could only hope nothing would go wrong.

[The world already took too much from them.]

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|DxD|

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Kuroka rushed towards the duo fighting up in the skies. There was a strong look of determination on her face, the desire to wield the same power as them transcending all reason.

[If…if I can just convince one of them…]

She might not be the best at sensing strength, but she instinctively knew those two were the strongest in the group. Even Lucifer with all his power couldn't contend with the sheer energy these two boys possessed.

*Flap!* *Flap!* *Flap!*

She soared high into the air until she got close to the scene of the battle.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Compared to the ground, the scene was chaotic. Each trade of their fists released brief, but bright sparks of energy. Powerful winds born from their shockwaves disrupted her flight. It felt like she was in a hurricane. The power she felt before could not compare to how dense it felt here.

The air itself was dense with their energy. Their power alone caused the turbulence in the vicinity to rise by several margins.

The wind violently blew her dress with such force it threatened to tear off her body. She instinctively closed her eyes, but it was the worst mistake she could make in such a situation.

Su!…Su!

Igor and Atid met once more in their continuous clash. Red and yellow met with their attacks at the ready. Their fists were reeled back and they struck.

BOOM!

The shockwave was strong yet contained. Under normal circumstances, these shockwaves would not exceed a few dozen metres. However, Kuroka was directly within thirty metres of them.

"Ah!"

The shockwave hit and jostled her organs. Internal injuries caused her to spit out a mouthful of blood. They were far too engrossed in the fight to notice her until it was too late.

Her cry allowed Igor to notice her, and his expression instantly darkened.

"Tch!"

He clicked his tongue and flashed over to this idiot. She was about to fall but he wrapped his arm around her waist and placed his other on her chest.

"You're injured. Don't fight it."

He applied pressure on her chest and directly infused her with some of his ki. His goal wasn't to heal, but to stabilise her, a process that was finished after a few seconds.

Su!

In an instant, he brought her to the ground and gave her a stern warning.

"Don't interfere. You'll die."

He said those few words and vanished into the skies once more.

Su!

The fight in the sky continued like nothing ever happened. The boys paid no attention to her, and this made Kuroka desire their power even more.

[I want it…]

Kuroka still felt muddle-headed even as Yasaka held her. The concerned voices around her grew weak, but she already knew what she wanted in her heart.

[I want…strength.]