Sirzechs suddenly felt a sharp pressure on the side of his head, like something is drilling into his skull.
He stiffened, then slowly turned his head.
Serafall Leviathan was pouting.
Her cheeks were puffed out, arms crossed, eyes narrowed that practically screamed introduce me right now or else.
Sirzechs winced.
"Ah… right."
He cleared his throat and raised his voice.
"Arthur."
Arthur, who was in the middle of playfully ruffling Millicas' crimson hair, paused and looked up.
"Yeah."
Sirzechs gestured Millicas toward Rias.
"Go back to your aunt for now, Millicas."
"Okay, father."
Millicas scampered back, still grinning.
Sirzechs opened his mouth.
"Arthur, I forgot to mention. This here is-"
He stopped.
The space beside him was empty.Before anyone could react, a burst of sparkles exploded directly in front of Arthur's face.
*Cough!* x5
Arthur began coughing as he tried to swat away the sparkles from his face.
Serafall had somehow teleported directly in front of him, standing barely a step away, beaming brightly.
"Nice to meet you, Arthur! I am Serafall Leviathan! But you can call me Levia-tan, the main heroine of Miracle☆Levia-tan, the champion of truth and justice!"
Then, with dramatic flair, she spun around, summoned her wand in a flash of glitter, struck a flashy peace-sign pose, and declareds.
"So beware all evildoers, for if you all commit any misdeeds, then in the name of the stars, I shall punish you!"
She pointed the wand directly at Arthur, sparkles raining down.
"..."
Arthur stared at her after managing to get rid of the sparkles before he finally spoke.
"Okay... Nice to meet you, I guess."
Serafall's smile widened.
"But, I gotta ask. That thing you just said."
Arthur continued, tilting his head.
"Yes? It's pretty good, huh? I made it myself!"
Serafall leaned in eagerly.
"No, that's not it. It's just..."
Arthur shook his head.
"That line was definitely from Sailor Moon."
Serafall gasped as if she'd just been stabbed in the heart.
"Excuse me?!"
Arthur shrugged casually.
"No offense, but... I don't even watch Sailor Moon, but I think I've heard that line before. Also, I've never even heard of Miracle☆Levia-tan. Is it based on Sailor Moon or something?"
Grayfia's eyes widened.
Sirzechs' jaw dropped.
Rias whispered.
"Oh no."
Serafall stared at Arthur for a few seconds and took a very slow and deep breath.
"…Did you just call my show a ripoff?"
Arthur frowned.
"I didn't say that... But if you're saying it, then maybe it is a ripoff. Your words, not mine."
That was the wrong answer.
Serafall's bangs shadowed her eyes as the room's temperature dropped several degrees that everyone can see their breaths from the cold.
"Take that back."
Arthur, who was mildy surprised by the sudden change of temperature, leaned forward slightly.
"Uhh... What was that?"
In the next instant, Serafall grabbed Arthur by the front of his red hoodie and began shaking him violently.
"TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK! TAKE IT BACK!"
Arthur's head rocked back and forth.
"W-Wait, hold it! What did I even-"
"MY SHOW IS NOT A RIPOFF!"
"I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS A-"
"YOU IMPLIED IT, MISTER!"
"I WAS ONLY ASKING A QUESTION!"
"YOU GLARED AT ME WITH JUDGMENT!"
Sirzechs stood halfway out of his seat.
"Serafall-"
Grayfia grabbed his sleeve.
"I think it's for the best to not intervene."
Victoria stared in stunned silence.
Valerie looked between Arthur and Serafall, panicking.
"S-Should we stop them?"
Lavinia sighed.
"No. Give it a few minutes."
Arthur finally managed to grab Serafall's wrists, trying to diffuse the situation while still being shook around.
"Would you mind calming-"
That only made it worse.
"DON'T EVER TELL A WOMAN TO CALM DOWN!"
"I'M TRYING TO BE POLITE!"
"YOU'RE MOCKING ME AND MY LIFE'S WORK!"
"I'M NOT TRYING TO-"
"YES YOU ARE!"
"I'M REALLY NOT!"
"DON'T LIE TO YOUR GODMOTHER, MISTER!"
"W-WAIT, WHAT?! SINCE WHEN ARE YOU MY-"
"DON'T TALK BACK AT ME!"
The room remained silent as Serafall continued berating Arthur, shaking him, and accusing him of crimes against magical girl culture, while Arthur desperately tried to reason with her using logic, which only further fueled her rage.
Sirzechs watched the scene unfold, hands covering his face.
"Why do I get the feeling that this is my fault?"
He muttered.
An hour later, the tension in the room had finally settled into something awkward but survivable.
Serafall sat beside Sirzechs now, arms crossed, cheeks puffed slightly as she huffed in lingering irritation.
Sirzechs leaned a little toward her, lowering his voice.
"Are you okay now?"
"I'm okay. But Arthur, you really should think twice before saying mean things to a lady's dream."
Serafall replied, turning her head away with a dramatic hmph.
Arthur sat across from them on the sofa, his red hoodie rumpled, hair messy, and his overall appearance screaming 'I have survived something traumatic'.
He lifted his right hand weakly and gave Serafall a thumbs-up.
"Duly noted. Mouth shut from now on."
Serafall glanced at him, then nodded once, satisfied.
She leaned back, then casually added.
"Honestly, Tori-chan should've taught you some proper manners. Especially when it comes to ladies."
Arthur hand twitched but said nothing.
Serafall's mood shifted almost instantly as her eyes lit up.
She leaned forward with renewed excitement.
"Speaking of Tori-chan..."
Sirzechs' ears practically perked up.
"Where exactly is she? I really want to meet the girl who secretly gave birth to you into existence without this awkward strawberry knowing. She's one of the only Exorcist that I befriended, you know."
Serafall asked cheerfully, clasping her hands together while mildly insulting Sirzechs.
Sirzechs didn't pay attention to Serafall as he felt his heart beating in anxiety of the idea of meeting Artoria again.
Grayfia's eyes widened a bit from the thought of meeting her love rival.
Even Rias looked curious at who is the lady that wooed her big brother.
Everyone's attention turned to Arthur.
But Arthur didn't answer.
He slowly lowered his head, his crimson bangs shadowing his eyes, his shoulders tensed, and his hands, resting on his knees, clenched so hard his knuckles turned pale.
The room felt colder, but not literally this time.
Lavinia noticed first as she leaned closer, her voice gentle but worried.
"Art?"
Valerie followed immediately, scooting closer and touching his arm in silence.
Watching Arthur's expression made Sirzechs feel a strange heaviness pressing against his chest.
Grayfia sensed it too, her instincts telling her something is wrong.
Serafall's smile faded slightly, her playful demeanor slowly vanishing.
Arthur inhaled deeply and exhaled loudly.
Then he stood up, turned toward the door and walked a few steps before stopping. Without turning back, his voice carried through the room, calm but serious.
"To those who are Ultimate-Class and beyond, follow me. The rest of you stay here."
There was no room for argument in his tone.
He gestured toward Victoria without looking.
"Victoria. Please accommodate the guests."
Victoria immediately bowed.
"Yes, Master Arthur."
Arthur reached for the door, opened it and left.
Sirzechs' chest tightened painfully.
He didn't know why, but dread crawled up his spine.
Serafall stood abruptly, her expression unusually serious.
"Let's go."
She was already moving.
Sirzechs rose next, followed closely by Grayfia.
Lavinia hesitated only a second before standing and bowing politely to the others.
"Excuse me."
She followed after Arthur, her steps quick.
The door closed behind them.
Silence filled the room they left behind.
Venelana looked at her husband.
"Something serious must've happened."
Zeoticus nodded gravely.
Rias hugged Millicas closer, unease written all over her face.
"What's going on? Where are they going?"
All eyes turned to Valerie.
She sat there, hands clasped tightly in front of her.
She hesitated for a bit before speaking.
"Sorry, everyone, but… I can't explain it unless Arthur says it's okay."
Millicas tugged at her sleeve, looking at the door with wide innocent eyes.
"Where's big brother going?"
Valerie looked toward the closed door, her red eyes reflecting quiet worry.
"The place where Arthur's story began."
DxD
Arthur stopped at the edge of the mansion's front yard, where the neatly kept sunflowers ended and the open space can be seen.
The dusk breeze brushed past him, stirring the sunflowers gently, but he didn't react.
He stood there, back straight, hands at his sides as the others slowed to a halt behind him.
Sirzechs was the first to speak, his voice careful, uncertain.
"Arthur… why did you bring us out here?"
Arthur didn't answer right away.
He stared forward at the soon-to-be evening sky, then slowly turned his head just enough for Sirzechs to see his eerily calm expression.
"You wanted to know where my mom is, so I might as well tell it to you rather than someone else does."
He paused, then added flatly.
"But I figured it's better to tell you out here. Less chance you'll blow up my mansion when you hear it."
Sirzechs was confused, Grayfia frowned slightly, Serafall tilted her head, and Lavinia stayed silent, her eyes fixed on Arthur's back.
Serafall forced a small laugh, clearly trying to break the tension.
"Hahaha. Geez, Arthur, what's with all the suspense? You're making it sound like Tori-chan is dead or something."
Arthur didn't laugh.
He slowly turned fully to face them.
His silent gaze settled on Serafall, unblinking.
The playful smile on Serafall's face faded.
"She's not dead... right?"
Serafall asked again, more carefully this time.
Arthur exhaled through his nose.
"At the night of my thirteenth birthday, a group of cloaked Devils invaded our home."
He began, his voice was soft.
Sirzechs stiffened.
"They burned it to the ground, setting everything on fire. My mom protected me from the blast, but she was wounded in the process. Despite it, she kept fighting anyway. She hid me in a closet and told me to wait. Told me if she doesn't come back, I run away."
Arthur continued.
Lavinia's hands curled into fists.
His fingers twitched slightly at his side.
"I could hear everything. The fighting. The explosions. The screams. The fire burning away my home."
Grayfia's eyes widened.
"Arthur…"
Arthur swallowed once, then continued.
"I didn't give a damn for my life at that time. I thought if I stayed, my mom would die. So after I convinced Ddraig to help me, I broke out of the closet to help her."
His voice remained steady, but something darker crept beneath it.
"And when I reached the front yard, I..."
Arthur paused and no one breathed.
"... I saw my mother with a blade stabbed through her chest, and collapsed right in front of me, bleeding."
Serafall's hand flew to her mouth.
"I tried to help her. I tried to stop the bleeding. I didn't know what to do. That night, I was powerless. But after everything I did, she..."
His jaw tightened.
"She died."
Silence crashed down like a weight.
Grayfia blinked rapidly.
"W-What…"
Serafall stared at Arthur, eyes wide, the last trace of her usual cheer completely gone. "Artoria…"
Lavinia lowered her head, her chest aching for Arthur's loss.
Sirzechs didn't speak.
He couldn't even breath for a few seconds.
Suddenly, various images formed in his mind of distant memories.
Her stubborn glare when they first met.
Her amazing laugh when he did something embarrassing or stupid.
Her beautiful eyes when they stare at each other lovingly.
But now, all of it drowned beneath imagined flames and blood.
(Artoria… is dead.)
The realization hit him hard unlike anything else he endured during the Devil Civil War.
Sirzechs' legs gave out.
He dropped to one knee in the grass, one hand bracing against the ground as he struggled to breathe.
His shoulders trembled violently.
Grayfia rushed to his side.
"Sirzechs."
He didn't respond.
His eyes were unfocused, tears blurring his vision.
Arthur looked down at his father kneeling in the grass, then slowly shifted his gaze to Grayfia, his face still unnervingly calm as he spoke.
"Grayfia... did you ever have any siblings within the Lucifuge Clan?"
Arthur said.
Grayfia was silent, and after a moment she nodded slowly, sadness filling her expression as she answered.
"Yes, I did… I had a little brother, but he died during the Devil Civil War."
Arthur nodded slightly, as if confirming a detail in his mind, then continued without hesitation.
"Did this brother of yours looks like he's in his early twenties with silver hair that is tied in a braided hairstyle and red eyes?"
Grayfia's eyes widened as shock washed over her.
"Yes, he did."
She whispered.
Arthur's eyes never left hers as he added the final detail.
"Is your brother's name, Euclid Lucifuge?"
Grayfia sucked in a sharp breath, her composure breaking as disbelief overtook her.
"H-How do you know that?"
She asked, her voice shaking.
Serafall stiffened, while Sirzechs slowly lifted his head, his eyes locking onto Arthur as if feeling that he's about to hear something worse.
Arthur didn't answer Grayfia's question.
Instead, he said something far more devastating.
"Your brother is alive... and he is working for Rizevim Livan Lucifer."
Arthur said calmly.
His words hit the Devils like a truck.
Grayfia staggered back a step, her hand flying to her chest as she muttered in disbelief.
"Euclid… is alive?"
Sirzechs' lips parted slightly as his thoughts spiraled.
(Euclid… is working for Rizevim.)
Serafall's face darkened, her eyes shadowed as she understood the implication behind Arthur's words, her fingers tightening around her wand as everything was piecing together.
Arthur continued, his voice unwavering.
"Not only that... It was your brother who led the Devils to invade my home."
Grayfia's eyes widened in horror as she clamped a hand over her mouth.
"N-No... that's not possible."
She whispered, shaking her head.
"And worst of all..."
Arthur added, looked directly at her shocked eyes.
His green eyes cold and absolute as his last words were the final nail to the coffin.
"It was your brother that killed my mother."
Grayfia's knees buckled as the truth in Arthur's gaze crushed any hope of denial, tears welling in her eyes as she trembled.
"I... I-I can't..."
She muttered, her voice breaking.
Serafall said nothing as a sharp crack echoed, her wand snapping cleanly in half from the force of her clenched grip.
Sirzechs remained kneeling, his crimson hair falling forward to shadow his eyes completely as his voice escaped in a low, broken mutter.
"Euclid..."
*BOOM!!!*
Suddenly, a suffocating dark red aura of Demonic Power erupted from Sirzechs, swallowing the entire front yard in a violent pressure that crushed down like a tsunami.
The air screamed as the ground cracked beneath his feet, the grass flattening as everyone present tensed instantly, their instincts screaming danger, all eyes snapping toward Sirzechs as his blue eyes burned with unrestrained fury.
HE.
IS.
PISSED.
Inside the mansion, servants froze mid-step as the walls trembled.
Across Avalon, Devils, Youkai, Exorcists, and even civilians felt it all at once, an overwhelming pressure that made their hearts race.
To them, it felt exactly like another catastrophic attack.
Alarms blared as Counter Corps members moved into action almost immediately, weapons summoned, magic circles flaring to life as squads mobilized throughout the city.
"What is this?!"
"What's going on?"
"Another attack?"
"This pressure…"
"It's overwhelming!"
"Where is it from?!"
"Everyone, get ready!"
Sirzechs' Demonic Power surged higher as he straightened from his kneel, the air distorting around him as if reality itself was struggling to withstand his rage.
His aura carried killing intent, the immeasurable power of a Satan-Class Super Devil pushed dangerously close to losing restraint.
Before Grayfia and Serafall could attept to stop Sirzechs, Arthur moved.
In a blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of Sirzechs and calmly placed a hand on his shoulder. gripping it tightly.
"Sirzechs..."
Arthur said calmly.
Sirzechs' gaze snapped forward, his glowing blue eyes met Arthur's green ones.
Arthur's gaze narrowed, their round pupils tightening into sharp slits as something dominant and destructive surfaced beneath his calm exterior.
"Calm down."
Arthur's words were gentle.
What followed was not.
A titanic bright red aura exploded outward from Arthur, drowning out Sirzechs' Demonic Power in an instant.
The oppressive weight vanished, replaced by something far superior.
It wasn't rage.
It wasn't destructive.
It was absolute Domination.
Grayfia gasped as the pressure shifted, her gaze locked on Arthur.
Serafall instinctively stepped back, her expression tense as she thought.
(What in Lucifer's name is this?)
Lavinia's breath caught in her throat as she felt it, not crushing, but commanding.
Sirzechs' demonic aura was forcibly suppressed, pressed down as if commanded to kneel.
Across Avalon, the sudden change was felt immediately.
The Counter Corps froze mid-movement.
"It's gone."
"That aura…"
"Wait a minute."
"It's different."
One of them exhaled in relief.
"That's the Commander."
Another lowered his weapon.
"So the threat's already handled."
"It seems so."
Soon, murmurs spread through the city.
"It's Arthur, Avalon's founder."
"Our commander has saved us again."
"Avalon really is a safe haven."
Back in the front yard, Sirzechs stood frozen, shock rippling through him as he realized something.
His own Demonic Power, the pride of his existence, was being completely suppressed by his son.
He looked at Arthur.
For just a moment, Sirzechs didn't see his son, he didn't even see a person.
Arthur's silhouette twisted in his vision, casting the shadow of what a true Devil looked like in Sirzechs' mind.
With halo-like horns, a powerful spear-like tail, and eight massive wings unfurled behind him.
Behind Arthur, thousands of silent silhouettes stared forward, their presence heavy and watchful.
Among them stood two unmistakable forms, Belzard and Esha, their shadows standing at Arthur's side.
And at the center of it all, towering above every shadow, stood one of the Two Heavenly Dragons.
The Red Dragon of Domination glared down at Sirzechs, his presence predatory and absolute, like an apex predator locking eyes with potential prey, waiting, daring Sirzechs to make the first move.
The message was unmistakable.
"Make one wrong move, and you're not gonna like how this ends."
Ddraig's expression says it all.
Sirzechs took a deep, steadying breath.
Slowly, he relaxed his shoulders and allowed his demonic power to recede completely.
He nodded once, firmly.
"Okay... I-I'm fine for now."
Sirzechs said, his voice filled with hidden rage but controlled and restrained in front of his son.
Arthur stared at him for a long moment longer, then nodded in return.
"Good."
The bright red Dragon Aura vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
The shadows dissolved, Ddraig's presence fading back into silence.
Arthur's eyes returned to normal, the slitted pupils rounding once more.
The tension evaporated in the now-quiet yard as the sun has set in the horizon.
*CLAP!*
Arthur clapped his hands together, and a cheerful grin spread across his face as if nothing monumental had just happened.
Arthur said brightly, turning to everyone
"Well then, who wants to stay for dinner?"
He began walking casually toward the mansion.
"I'm cooking tonight."
DxD
Hello readers!
Give me a prayer... And Power Stones.
... Please?
Thank you, everyone, and see you later!