Crom Cruach.
One of the Evil Dragons. A being whose very existence was a testament to the chaos that had existed before the current order of the world.
While most knew of the legendary Heavenly Dragons, Ddraig and Albion, few outside the highest echelons of power truly understood the threat posed by the Evil Dragons. They were creatures of pure destruction, entities that had waged war against gods themselves.
And one of them was standing before Euclid Lucifuge, casually admitting to the annihilation of the Old Satan Faction's infrastructure, was the strongest Evil Dragon in existence.
"You..." Euclid's voice trembled with barely restrained fury "You dare interfere with my plans? Do you have any idea what you've done? Years of preparation, centuries of accumulated power—"
Crom Cruach raised his hand, his golden eyes gleaming with malicious amusement. He stepped down from the throne and stood in front of Euclid "Yes, I'm quite aware. I must say, I enjoyed every moment of it"
The Evil Dragon began to circle Euclid slowly, his armored boots clicking against the floor. The sound echoed through the vast chamber, creating a rhythm that felt almost like a funeral march.
"Now then, tell me..." Crom Cruach continued "Why the hell did you summon Samael to the human world?"
Euclid raised a brow, as he wondered why he would ask about the most venomous of all dragons, whose very existence was anathema to dragon-kind. The weapon they'd deployed during the peace conference, hoping to use its power to wreck havoc.
"I came to your pathetic faction seeking answers" Crom Cruach's voice dropped to something deadly, his draconic aura intensifying until the very air felt heavy with malevolent power "I wanted to know why you would bring that monster into the human world. What possible justification could there be for summoning a being whose mere presence is like a curse to those who lay eyes on it"
The Evil Dragon stopped directly in front of Euclid, his eyes blazing with barely held fury.
"And do you know what I received in return for inquiring about that?" Crom Cruach's smile was absolutely murderous "Disrespect. Arrogance. Your pathetic subordinates looked at me, an Evil Dragon who has existed since their precious Devil Kings drew breath and they dared to dismiss me. They gave me no answers. Only contempt"
His fist clenched, and the temperature in the throne room plummeted as his power manifested physically "So I gave them what they deserved. Annihilation. Every single one of those disrespectful worms, I erased from existence"
Euclid's mind raced. This was worse than he'd thought. Crom Cruach hadn't destroyed the Old Satan Faction for strategic reasons, he'd done it out of pure rage. And that rage was now directed at him, the sole survivor of that massacre.
"So tell me, Euclid Lucifuge" Crom Cruach leaned forward, his face inches away "Why? Why would you bring Samael to the human world?"
Euclid took a breath, forcing his voice to remain steady. This was a knife's edge he walked, give the wrong answer, and he'd lead to a death battle and both of them might join his subordinates in oblivion. But perhaps... perhaps there was a way to turn this disaster into opportunity.
Euclid said carefully "It's to subdue...the threat that's growing stronger with each passing day. A reincarnated devil has been gaining power at an unprecedented rate, if I don't interfere he will soon rise above even the current Satans in strength...."
Crom Cruach's eyes narrowed with interest.
"His name is Isaiah" Euclid continued, sensing he'd hooked the dragon's attention "He wields a sacred gear that bears both holy and demonic power. In the short time since his reincarnation, he's accomplished feats that should be impossible for even a pure blooded high class devil. He killed Katerea Leviathan, one of the descendants of the original Devil Kings. And more impressively..."
Euclid paused, watching Crom Cruach's interest growing with each revelations.
"The White Dragon Emperor, descendant of the original Lucifer himself, after he entered the Juggernaut Drive was drawn to jaws of death"
The change in Crom Cruach's demeanor was immediate as his brow raised in amusement. The rage was now replaced by something far more dangerous, a genuine interest. His eyes gleamed with excitement, and a smile spread across his face that resembled anticipation and bloodlust.
"Is that so?" The Evil Dragon's voice carried a different quality tone "Tell me, devil... you speak the truth? Or are you embellishing yourself to save your worthless hide?"
"Why would I lie?" Euclid replied, his confidence growing as he recognized the shift in evil dragon's demeanor "That boy is even more of a threat than the current Satans. His spatial manipulation abilities alone make him nearly impossible to put down, and his power growth rate is unbelievable. At this rate, he'll become a force that no single faction can control"
Crom Cruach threw his head back and laughed full of genuine amusement .
"How amusing! Why didn't I come across him sooner!" He turned to face Euclid fully, his entire posture radiating excitement "A reincarnated devil with that kind of power? A boy who can push the White Dragon Emperor to the edge? Now that sounds like someone worth fighting. Someone worth testing myself against."
"I've been searching for strong opponents for centuries, Euclid. Real challenges, not the pathetic weaklings who populate this current age. And you're telling me there's a devil who can put a descendant of Lucifer who possesses Heavenly Dragon in such a state? I have to pay this boy a visit."
Euclid saw his opening and took it "If you're interested in fighting strong opponents, then perhaps we can help each other. Join forces with me, and I can guarantee you'll face not just him, but many other powerful beings. The current Satans, the Grigori's strongest, perhaps even the Seraphim if we play our cards right"
Crom Cruach stopped pacing and looked at Euclid with calculating eyes "You offer me battles worthy of my strength?"
"Not only that. I offer you a war with powerful individuals" Euclid corrected "One that will shake the very foundations of the supernatural world. One where you'll face opponents that will actually satiate your hunger for your battles. Isn't that what you truly desire? Not a mindless slaughter, but real combat against worthy foes?"
The Evil Dragon considered this, his expression thoughtful. Then his predatory smile returned, sharper than before as he roared in laughter.
"Very well, Euclid Lucifuge. I accept your proposition. You give me strong opponents to fight, and I'll lend you my power for your grand schemes" His eyes gleamed dangerously "Let's attack Kuoh then. That's where this Isaiah boy resides, correct? I want to fight him!!"
"Patience"
Euclid said quickly, raising a hand. The fact that Crom Cruach didn't immediately obliterate him for the presumption was enough to know that they now both were on the same page "Before we can make any significant moves, we need to ensure we have sufficient forces. We can't act recklessly"
"And where exactly do you plan to find these forces?" Crom Cruach asked, his tone suggesting he was humoring Euclid but would quickly lose patience if the answer wasn't satisfactory.
Euclid's smile turned cold and calculating "I know exactly where to look for them. But first, we need to wake someone from his slumber. Someone whose power will be essential for what I am planning for my next set of actions"
He turned to face Crom Cruach directly, his eyes gleaming in darkness.
"Tell me, Crom Cruach... you want to see the place where Dragons reach at the end, don't you?"
The Evil Dragon's expression shifted to something between surprise and intense interest "The end of Dragons... You know of such a place?"
"Indeed. And to reach it, to unlock its secrets and the power it contains, we'll need more than just the two of us. We'll need an army of powerful individuals. We'll need a well thought strategy. And we'll need..." Euclid's smile widened "We'll need to wake up Lucifer from his slumber"
Crom Cruach's laughter echoed through the throne room once more, but this time it was tinged with genuine amusement.
"You're more interesting than I gave you credit for, devil. Very well. Show me this path to the end of Dragons. You better introduce me the to battles you've promised me" His eyes blazed with a grin.
And somewhere in Kuoh, completely unaware of the forces gathering against him, Isaiah was about to walk into a future far more dangerous than he could possibly imagine.
But he'd win.
---
[ Black Dog Bar's Training Room ]
Isaiah's Devil Trigger form dissipated, the blue-black energy folding back into him like shadows retreating at dawn. His breathing was controlled, steady, a testament to the conditioning that came with his unique physiology.
Across from him, Benemune dissipated her light spears, which faded into specks of light before disappearing entirely.
The training room looked like a war zone. Scorch marks adorned the reinforced magically enhanced walls. The floor bore deep gouges and impact craters from their brutal exchanges.
The protective barriers had held, but barely...some sections flickered weakly, energy nearly depleted from containing the forces unleashed during their exchange.
"It was such a magnificent training session, don't you agree?" Benemune breathed, her eyes bright with genuine excitement "Azazel's reports didn't do justice of you, Isaiah-kun. You are far too motivated and stronger"
"I'm always motivated for more power" Isaiah replied.
Benemune laughed "You are so young and already capable of matching a Cadre-class combatant with barely sweating. No wonder everyone around you take such an interest in you"
She walked toward him, her movements once again adopting that deliberate sensuality that seemed as natural to her as breathing. When she reached him, she placed a hand on his shoulder with the casual familiarity of teacher acknowledging a talented student.
"We have much work to do, though" she said, her tone shifting from playful to serious "Your raw power is extraordinary, your spatial manipulation is genuinely impressive, and your combat instincts are way too sharp. But you're still rough around the edges in maintaining your Devil Trigger form. You rely too heavily on different abilities of yours, I think you should be more creative with using them in combinations"
Isaiah nodded. It was an accurate assessment, and there was no point in false modesty "I'm aware. Most of my combat experience has come from life-or-death situations. And I also think I relying heavily on using different sets of powers"
"Exactly. You fight like a survivor. But there's a difference between surviving mindset and conqueror one" Benemune's eyes gleamed with newfound interest.
She pulled back, crossing her arms beneath her chest in a way that drew attention to her blessed figure, a gesture Isaiah suspected was entirely deliberate "But that's for our next session. Right now, I want to address something else. Something I noticed during our fight"
"Which is?" Isaiah questioned.
"Your holy element" Benemune said bluntly "You can manifest it in your Sacred Gear, but you're suppressing it in your transformations. Why?"
Isaiah's expression remained carefully neutral "That's.....I can't say much about it. I haven't thought of seeing it a necessity"
"I'm sure it is. But it's also a tactical weakness." Benemune held up a hand before he could object. "I'm not asking you to explain your reasons, everyone has their secrets, and as I said earlier, I respect that. But I want you to understand something, Isaiah-kun. Power is power. Holy, demonic, draconic, whatever. And a warrior who refuses to use all the weapons at their disposal is a warrior who's holding off themselves"
She began to pace, her tone taking on a lecturing quality "The Great War happened because beings divided themselves by the nature of their power. Angels thought holy energy made them superior. Devils embraced demonic power as their identity. Fallen Angels were caught in between, rejected by both sides. And what did that dogmatic thinking accomplish? Millennia of pointless bloodshed"
Benemune stopped and looked directly at Isaiah "Now that God is dead, you are capable of wielding both holy and demonic power. That makes you rare. Valuable. But also dangerous, to yourself and others, if you can't integrate those aspects properly"
"So whatever psychological or emotional blocks are preventing you from channeling holy energy through your forms, I strongly suggest you work through them. Because one day, you'll face an opponent where that missing element would have made the difference between victory and death"
Isaiah considered her words carefully and only came to one conclusion : Holy Element was not part of his transformations. But that's not something he couldn't explain to Benemune. To her, all these forms was a result of his sacred gear.
"I'll think about it" he said finally.
"Good boy!" Benemune's smile returned, warm and approving "That's all I ask. Now, let's discuss our training schedule. I'm thinking three sessions a week to start, Monday, Wednesday, Friday evenings. Each session will focus on different aspects of combat. We'll work on your technique, your energy control, your sacred gear's possible attributes"
She pulled out a small device from seemingly nowhere, a compact communication terminal that looked like it combined magic and modern technology "I'll send you the details about them, Understood?"
Isaiah nodded.
"Excellent!" Benemune clapped her hands together "Now, one more thing before you go. Azazel mentioned you've been investigating certain... irregularities in the supernatural world. People and organizations that seem to be moving in the shadows."
Isaiah's eyes narrowed slightly "He told you about that?"
"Of course he did. Azazel and I go way back, and he trusts me implicitly. Plus, I have my own network of information sources throughout the supernatural world. If you're hunting shadows, I might be able to help. The Grigori sees and hears many things that others miss."
She leaned against one of the training room's damaged walls, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp and calculating "What exactly are you looking for, Isaiah-kun?"
Isaiah debated how much to reveal. Benemune had proven herself formidable, knowledgeable, and apparently trustworthy by Azazel's standards. But trust was earned through time and shared experience, not given freely based on recommendations.
"I'm looking into Khaos Brigade"
Benemune's expression grew serious "The Khaos Brigade?"
"Yes" Isaiah confirmed. "But there are pieces that don't fit. Connections that seem too convenient. Destroyed evidence that suggests someone with significant resources is cleaning up trails."
"Hm..Interesting" Benemune tapped her chin thoughtfully "I've heard whispers of their actions myself. Nothing concrete, but enough to make me suspicious. The reports of rogue magicians gathering in numbers that shouldn't be possible without attracting attention..."
She pushed off from the wall and walked closer to Isaiah "Tell you what. I'll keep my ears open. If I hear anything relevant, I'll pass it along. And in return, if you discover something significant, you share it with me or Azazel"
"That seems fair" Isaiah agreed "Though I should mention, if what I'm investigating is as serious as I think it is, sharing information could put you at risk as well"
Benemune's smile turned absolutely wicked "Oh, Isaiah-kun. I've survived the Great War, fought against the original Devil Kings, stood against armies of angels and devils alike. Risk is just another word for normalcy in my vocabulary. If someone comes after me because I know too much, well..." Her eyes glowed with power for a brief moment "I'll be happy to remind them why the Grigori's Cadre members are to be feared"
Despite himself, Isaiah felt a smile tugging at his lips. There was something refreshing about Benemune's confidence.
It was not the arrogant bravado of someone like Kokabiel, but the genuine self-assurance of someone who had tested themselves against the absolute worst the world could offer and emerged victorious.
"Alright" he said "Information sharing it is. Though I reserve the right to withhold certain details if they're too sensitive"
"As do I" Benemune agreed "Now, you should probably get going. I'm sure you have other tasks to attend to, and I need to repair this training room before Azazel sees it and complains about excessive property damage again"
She walked him to the training room's exit, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder in a gesture that managed to be both caring and somehow still subtly flirtatious, a combination Isaiah was beginning to recognize as simply part of Benemune's nature.
"One last thing" she said as they reached the door "Your Devil Trigger form....the way it layers over your other transformation rather than replacing it. That's not your sacred gear's power, is it?"
Isaiah paused, his hand on the door handle "No. It's not"
Benemune's eyes gleamed with curiosity, as she finally got some of his trust to reveal that "Well, that's another mystery to explore during our training. I look forward to unraveling all your secrets, Isaiah-kun~"
"I'll see you later, Benemune san" he said with a helpless sigh, opening the door.
"Looking forward to it!"
Benemune called after him as she went on to repair the damage they inflicted on this room.
. . .
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