The Lucifuge estate buzzed with orchestrated chaos as the preparations for the upcoming banquet reached their peak. Outside, snow glistened in the cold morning light, a stark contrast to the warmth and tension simmering within the grand dining hall. The air was thick with anticipation, and the table in the heart of the manor, a long stretch of obsidian stone, gleamed in the soft, early light.
Lucien sat at the head of the table, an imposing figure, flanked by his two fiancées: Albedo, poised with a serene but possessive air, and Velzaria, whose proud presence radiated power. In his lap, Kuroka nestled comfortably, her playful eyes glinting as she absently twirled one of her tails. Her gaze occasionally flicked to the other members of the room, but it was clear her focus was on Lucien.
Around the table sat a mix of trusted allies and family: Grayfia, Rias, Venelana, and Souma Kazuya. Along with them were his and Rias' peerages Yue, Ghislaine, Yamato, Rangiku, Gasper, Yumi, Koneko, and Akeno. Each of them had a role to play in the day's events, and the subtle hum of conversation filled the room, blending with the clinking of silver platters laden with enchanted dishes.
"How are the final security confirmations?" Lucien asked, his voice steady, though there was an edge of quiet authority. He sipped from his fireleaf tea; the warmth of the brew was a stark contrast to the icy landscape outside.
Souma conjured a floating blueprint of the estate, the shifting lines of light forming a clear and detailed map of every room, every passage. "Security enchantments are fully integrated. Guest flow paths are mapped to ensure minimal interference, and aura dampeners are positioned strategically throughout the estate." He paused, glancing around at the gathered faces. "We're rotating houseguards every hour to prevent any gaps."
The door opened silently, and Narberal entered smoothly, her presence as efficient as it was elegant. "Grayroad has arrived," she announced, her voice devoid of unnecessary flourish, her golden eyes glowing faintly as she observed the room.
Grayfia nodded, her expression soft but serious. "Thank you, Narberal. Please make sure everything remains under control."
From the doorway, Grayroad phased into view, his spectral form appearing as effortlessly as always. His presence was a shadow in the room, his voice a silk thread unraveling in the quiet. "I'll ensure no threats reach the threshold," he intoned, his cold, calm voice carrying across the hall. "One cloaked intruder from House Varnis was intercepted an hour ago. He has been… quietly removed."
Rias frowned, her brows furrowing as she glanced at Lucien. "Already?" she asked, her tone laced with the sharpness of someone who refused to be caught unprepared.
"Subtle chaos is still chaos," Souma responded coolly, glancing at his notes before placing several scrolls next to his plate. "We've accounted for infiltration threats, but there's always room for more surprises." His voice was steady, almost detached, but there was a calculated precision in his words. "Now, let's discuss the most likely intrusion points."
Narberal, as if anticipating the conversation, glided to the front of the room, her eyes glowing with a faint, unsettling light. "Illusion wards are reinforced," she said, her voice carrying the quiet weight of someone whose authority was unquestioned. "Dreamwalkers and memory thieves will be repelled… with prejudice." There was a cold edge to her words, a reminder that nothing would be allowed to slip by.
A flickering projection of Lilith appeared above the floating rune disk, her ethereal form projecting the most critical data. The holographic system interface displayed a warning:
[Probability of violent escalation: 89% if Makima is seated within line of sight of Esdeath.]
Lucien didn't even hesitate; his response was immediate and effortless. "Put Riser between them," he commanded, his tone smooth and calculating.
Souma smirked slightly at the suggestion, the hint of amusement in his normally calm expression. "That way, everyone wins."
Laughter erupted around the table, a ripple of shared amusement and relief. Even Grayfia couldn't hold back a small smile, her eyes softening as the atmosphere lightened.
But Lucien's focus remained on the task at hand, and despite the laughter, his mind was already calculating the next move. He had learned early that true strength didn't come from the ease of the situation but from the resolve to face the challenges ahead.
Shadows and Sparring
Later that morning, Lucien stood in the training hall with his and Rias' peerage.
He worked on his refined version of Eternal Dusk Domain that he had formed the night before in his solo dungeon run. He activated his Domain, and an eerie silence descended as shadows rushed toward him.
Yue narrowed her eyes, her mana flaring instinctively. "It feeds on emotion," she murmured. "On terror."
Ghislaine, ever vigilant, raised her sword. Her senses sharpened, her instincts attuned to the growing power. "It's evolving," she said, warily, stepping back.
Lucien clenched his fist, his shadowy energy swirling around him like a living thing. "Then I need to master its hunger." The domain pulsed, deepening in its dark resonance.
Yue, her posture tense, observed the growing shadows. "This... is dangerous."
"I know," Lucien whispered. "But if I'm to wield it, I must understand its essence."
In the distance, a swirl of black tendrils formed as shadow beasts took shape, crawling from the darkness. Lucien's eyes glowed faintly, his will pressing against the fabric of the world around him.
The beasts circled their prey, lightning and flame, before dissipating as Lucien released his breath. "I must control it."
Elsewhere, Lucien trained alongside Rias. Their spells interwove crimson destruction and umbral binding, swirling in a helix of raw legacy.
"You're syncing," Lilith observed. "Lucifuge and Gremory resonance approaching dual-cast threshold."
Rias grinned. "Guess we make a good team. I can't believe you're trying to make a domain."
Lucien retorted, "I can help you try to form one once I finally get the hang of it, Ri ri."
Synergy and Strain
The training hall trembled under the heavy pressure of their combined magic when Yamato entered, wooden club resting across her shoulder. Her expression was sharp, yet her voice carried a hint of pride.
"You've all learned to shape your energy… but your spirits are untrained. Power without presence is nothing."
She struck the floor once, the sound echoing like thunder. A ripple of invisible force washed through the room, pressing against their cores.
Yamato, "I will teach you the basics of Haki. There are three forms of Haki: Observation, Armament, and Conqueror's Haki."
"Observation and Armament are the easiest two to awaken. You all have seen me use two forms of Haki. From me infusing my weapon with Armament or using the Observation to dodge attacks."
Her gaze shifted to Kuroka and Koneko. "You two already use something close to Haki with your use of Ki and Senjutsu Youjutsu. But this… this teaches you to command the world around you."
At her guidance, everyone gathered Rias, Lucien, Akeno, Rangiku, Albedo, Velzaria, Yue, Yumi, Gasper, and Ghislaine. Each focused on channeling their mana inward rather than outward.
"Listen," Yamato continued. "Feel the pulse of your spirit. The moment your fear fades, your Haki awakens. "
A pulse of force erupted from her sharp, clean, and regal. Several stumbled; Kuroka hissed, Akeno's lightning faltered, and even Velzaria's draconic pride cracked for a heartbeat.
Lucien's shadow rippled. He met Yamato's gaze and pushed back, the Eternal Dusk stirring in defiance. For a brief instant, their wills clashed his darkness against her storm and then stabilized.
Yamato grinned. "That's the spark. Now feed it."
Hours passed in meditation and sparring. Rangiku focused her aura into a condensed point, Ghislaine blended sword intent with pulse control, and Rias' crimson power flared, interlaced with flickers of invisible pressure. Even Kuroka's aura sharpened, a predatory poise hidden behind her playful tone.
By the end, faint waves of spiritual pressure filled the hall, a quiet proof of awakening.
"Listen," Luicen called for everyone's attention. "We will practice Haki every day from now on, along with our normal training. Even if we can't awaken Conqueror's Haki, the other two forms will be helpful for us.
They all agreed before going back to training, while Luien pulled up the system interface.
[System Log – Lilith Interface]
[New Subsystem Unlocked] — Skill Assimilation: Cross-Origin Mastery
Ability: Allows synchronization and adaptation of unique combat systems acquired from summoned entities.
Progress tracked across all party members.
Haki Synchronization Detected
Lucien Lucifuge: 12% Awakened — "Presence of Will" unlocked. Rias Gremory: 7% Awakened — Emotional Pressure detected.
Kuroka Toujou: 5% Awakened — Instinctive Flow enhancement.
Yue: 4% Awakened — Mana Resonance identified.
Ghislaine Dedoldia: 8% Awakened — Sword Intent Amplification.
Rangiku Matsumoto: 3% Awakened — Spiritual Density rising.
Velzaria Tiamat: 6% Awakened — Draconic Aura Conversion.
Albedo: 4% Awakened — Obedience Transference trait discovered.
Notice: Latent compatibility detected between Lucifuge Magic and Haki-type Energies. Further training recommended to unlock "Dominion of Will."
The War-Wife Test
"Enough training," Grayfia declared. "Time for etiquette training."
With a silent nod, Venelana joined her, summoning Kuroka, Albedo, and Velzaria into the Solar Hall. The room was bathed in the soft golden glow of morning light, its walls lined with centuries-old tapestries and portraits of past Gremory and Lucifuge bloodlines.
"Loving a devil king is not enough," Grayfia said. "You must match him in vision… and outpace him in restraint."
Venelana, sitting gracefully across from them, sipped from her glass of crimson wine, her expression one of approval. Her sharp eyes flicked between the three women as Grayfia continued, recounting stories of diplomatic subterfuge, battlefield etiquette, and assassination attempts all delivered over tea.
"Sometimes," Grayfia whispered with a knowing smile, her voice lowering as if sharing a secret, "you destroy kingdoms by dancing well and saying nothing."
The women sat in rapt attention, absorbing each lesson. Velzaria, ever the proud warrior, muttered, "This is harder than fighting dragons."
With a calm smile, Albedo replied, her voice steady as stone, "That's the point."
The atmosphere was tense, charged with anticipation, as Grayfia continued teaching them the delicate art of devilish politics, the dance of restraint and subtlety that could break or build empires.
Narberal entered just as Grayfia finished one of her stories, carrying two obsidian boxes with perfect poise. The atmosphere in the hall shifted slightly at her arrival, her presence marked by an unspoken reverence. She placed the boxes before the women and opened them.
"Battle gowns," she said softly, her tone cool. "Personally enchanted."
Albedo's gown flowed like liquid void, the obsidian fabric shimmering with intricate filigree and death-spell wards, each thread pulsing with dark magic. The gown itself looked like something out of a nightmare, a dress that felt as much a weapon as it did a statement of power.
Velzaria's gown, by contrast, was infused with dragon-scale motifs and infernal runic stitching, a design passed down through Ddraig's bloodline. It was regal yet fierce, radiating the ancient might of dragons and gods.
The three women didn't speak a word. They simply nodded in silent understanding, their shared respect for their roles evident in the stillness of the moment. This was more than a gown; it was a symbol. A symbol of power, grace, and the weight of the roles they were about to undertake.
The Guests Are Coming
As the morning turned to afternoon, magical orbs around the estate flickered with images of the upcoming banquet's esteemed (and dangerous) guests. Each vignette was as cryptic and chilling as the next:
Makima walked through a devil marketplace, her heels tapping like execution drums against the cobblestone streets. The air around her was heavy; no one dared to make eye contact with her. She radiated absolute control, bending the world around her without even lifting a finger.
Esdeath, the Ice General, stood in front of a display of swords, coldly examining her choices. "Which one screams grace and intimidation?" she mused aloud, her voice calm yet commanding. Her general attempted to answer, but his voice froze in his throat as her boot turned the floor beneath him into ice.
Mio Naruse, a fiery and fierce heir to the Naruse family, examined two dresses with a critical eye. "If he's dangerous… I should wear this one," she said to her maid, holding up a dress that looked more like an elaborate ribbon than anything else. Her maid blinked, confused, before nervously agreeing.
Magik sliced a rift through Limbo with a bored expression. "This better not be boring," she said, her eyes calculating, always on the lookout for potential trouble or intrigue.
Isabella Osa, the one with the snow-white braid, twirled it with a carefree smile. "Been too long since I crashed a noble party," she muttered, an unmistakable thrill in her voice.
But it was the last vignette that sent a chill through the room.
A gray-skinned girl, wrapped in a midnight-blue cloak, stood alone atop a cliff, her amethyst eyes glowing beneath her hood. A faint six-point sigil pulsed on her forehead before fading away. "Let's get this over with," she sighed, her voice laced with disdain. "Father insists I evaluate this… fiancé."
Behind her, the air shuddered with dark energy as Trigon, a horned, fire-wreathed figure, loomed ominously. His voice rumbled like thunder, "If he hurts you, Raven… I will burn reality."
The orb sparked with red static, signaling an overload of energy.
Lilith's calm voice echoed through the room, flickering briefly: "Threat Level: Multiversal Cataclysm. Father: Trigon. Daughter: Confirmed Fiancée Candidate."
Lucien's blood ran cold. "...I'm going to need stronger wards."
From across the room, Kuroka grinned wickedly. "Or a wedding ring blessed by apocalypse gods, nya."
Opening Chimes
The atmosphere inside the estate shifted, tension hanging thick in the air. Souma shuffled the floating charts, his hands precise as ever. "We've calculated seatings to minimize incidents. Makima is not within five rows of Esdeath. Riser remains the central buffer."
At that moment, Narberal entered the Solar Hall with perfect poise, as always. "The first carriages have arrived," she announced, and the air was thick with anticipation.
Magical chimes rang out across the estate, signaling the arrival of the first guests. Wards shimmered, magic-laced walls shifted, and the scent of roses and jasmine filled the air, a welcome fit for royalty.
Grayfia, always composed, moved toward Lucien, her motherly care never far from the surface. She adjusted his collar with a gentle but firm hand.
"Walk like a prince," she murmured, her voice warm but heavy with meaning. "Rule like your father. But Lucien..." She leaned closer, a rare tenderness in her eyes. "...love deeper than any king ever dared."
Outside, beneath twin pale moons, the first monsters dressed in finery stepped onto House Lucifuge's ancestral grounds, each more dangerous and beautiful than the last.
The banquet had begun.