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As evening approached, it was time for the Devils to fulfill their contractual obligations—As usual, Mika didn't participate, a fact that no longer surprised anyone.
His strength had been proven in battle, his victories witnessed firsthand.
They had all seen him defeat Kokabiel—in their eyes, he was practically a Satan-class Devil. This powerful being wouldn't be bothered with—mundane tasks. Therefore, no one questioned his absence.
After Rias assigned their duties, the Occult Research Club was deserted, save for Mika, lying on the sofa.
"It's strangely quiet," Mika murmured, looking out the window as dusk settled. "Time for some…contemplation."
He lay back, his hands behind his head, his gaze fixed on the ceiling, his thoughts wandering.
"According to the original story, the peace treaty between the Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels should be happening soon. And that's when the Khaos Brigade will attack. And Vali, the White Dragon Emperor, believed to be an ally by Azazel, will betray them and join the Khaos Brigade."
The Khaos Brigade was a group of Stray Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels who sought to create their own world, a new Earth under their control.
Vali's betrayal stemmed from his Devil heritage. He was, after all, considered the strongest White Dragon Emperor by Azazel, due to his unique bloodline – a half-human, half-Devil hybrid, a descendant of the original Lucifer.
This wasn't the same Lucifer as Rias's brother, Sirzechs.
Vali's bloodline came from the original Lucifer, the one from the Bible, one of the original Four Great Satans, who had all perished in the ancient war against the God of the Bible.
Their descendants, lacking the power to inherit their titles, had merely adopted their names.
The titles of the Four Great Satans, once positions of power, had become honorary titles—and to pure-blooded Devils, who valued their lineage above all else, this was unacceptable—
—The descendants of the original Satans had betrayed the Devils, joining forces with Stray Angels and Fallen Angels to form the Khaos Brigade.
Vali, carrying the blood of the original Lucifer, had also chosen to betray the Fallen Angels, though he hadn't truly escaped Azazel's control, eventually returning.
However, in this upcoming conflict, he would be an enemy.
"Vali, the White Dragon Emperor, Issei's destined rival—He's not someone I should deal with. I'll leave him to Issei. As for me… I suppose those 'Old Satan Faction' Devils will be my next targets." Mika smiled, thinking about his potential adversaries.
He wasn't concerned about the Khaos Brigade's attack—they were no match for him, not even worthy of being considered a true threat. However, they would serve as convenient stepping stones for his level up—
—He estimated his current power was roughly equivalent to a Dragon God, which meant those he targeted would, in a way, be honored to face him.
Mika grinned.
He didn't particularly choose his targets—as a traveler between worlds, he had no shortage of potential opponents. He simply selected those who were already his enemies, based on his current circumstances.
And now, as a member of Rias's peerage, he was part of the Devil faction.
Therefore, his targets would naturally come from the Devils' enemies. Of course, there were other considerations, other alliances and rivalries to take into account. He would choose his targets carefully, using a process of elimination.
Like now, for instance. His current targets were those whose power barely reached the Satan-class.
"I wonder if I'll encounter her... Ophis, the Infinite Dragon God. I believe she's also part of the Khaos Brigade," Mika mused, searching his memories.
His knowledge of High School DxD came primarily from the Anime and Fanfiction.
He wasn't entirely familiar with the later antagonists, which was why he couldn't rely solely on his memories, preferring to treat them as references, not definitive guides.
Many of the series he remembered were still ongoing when he was transported to this world.
Who knew what new characters or plot twists the authors would introduce?
Naruto, for instance, the later arcs completely different from the earlier ones—If someone had traveled to that world, relying solely on their knowledge of the early parts of the story, they would have been in for a rude awakening.
This was why he had to be cautious, treating his memories as mere suggestions, not absolute truths.
However, certain events, like the Khaos Brigade's attack, were practically inevitable.
They wouldn't simply allow the Three Factions to form a truce, it would complicate their own plans.
As for Ophis, Mika remembered her as a rather naive and easily manipulated individual, her position as the Khaos Brigade's leader more of a figurehead role than a true leadership position.
However, she was incredibly powerful. He estimated that he would need to reach the Ninth Sense with his Cosmo to even approach her level—and even then, he wouldn't be a match for her. To defeat Ophis, he would likely need to master the Ninth Sense.
As for Great Red—he would likely need to reach the peak of the Ninth Sense to even challenge him.
Victory was far from guaranteed...
He was still a long way from the pinnacle of power in this world.
————
Comparing the power levels of the Saint Seiya and High School DxD universes, Mika estimated they were roughly equivalent.
While there were realms beyond the Ninth Sense in the Saint Seiya world, only a handful of beings had ever reached them.
And in the High School DxD world, he had read in fanfiction about a being who had supposedly defeated even Great Red, even managing to—decapitate him.
Such a feat suggested a power level far surpassing that of a Dragon God—
Therefore, the two universes were, in a sense, balanced.
And in this world, besides the two Dragon Gods and any other unforeseen powerhouses that might emerge, he wasn't afraid of anyone, not even those considered among the world's top ten strongest. Only Ophis and Great Red were truly beyond his reach.
However, this wasn't surprising. After all, even in the original story, the gap between Ophis, perpetually second, and the true top tiers, was immense.
But he couldn't simply ignore her—
—While Great Red resided in the Dimensional Gap, unconcerned with the affairs of this world, Ophis had been expelled from that realm and, longing to return, had been manipulated by the Khaos Brigade.
"I'll have to be wary of Ophis's involvement," Mika mused, reviewing his plans, his potential allies and enemies. His next move was to wait, to enjoy his normal life, until the Three Factions' meeting, the Khaos Brigade's attack.
However, he still had one more task.
"I promised Issei a new training method. I can't make empty promises. I wouldn't want to become the kind of…manager I despise, all talk and no action." Mika shook his head and turned inwards, refining the idea he had proposed earlier.
And so, he resumed his daily routine: enjoying his time with his friends and companions, the simple pleasures of school life, and then, during classes or in his free time, focusing on his research, developing the bloodline awakening technique for Issei.
However, this peaceful routine didn't last. One evening, Issei returned from a mission with startling news:
He had encountered Azazel, Governor General of the Fallen Angels.
And it had all started with a regular client.
Issei had recently acquired a—loyal customer, someone who summoned him almost every night. They had even teased him about it, joking that he finally had a fan, though it was a man: He would summon Issei in the middle of the night to buy him bread, or to accompany him on fishing trips, or for various other trivial errands. This had, however, allowed them to become acquainted.
And tonight, he had summoned Issei to—play video games.
Issei, a fan of games himself, had readily agreed.
They sat together, controllers in hand, their competitive spirit growing with each match.
After losing yet another round, Issei, demanding a rematch, had been about to grab his controller when the man's words stopped him cold.
"Oh, still eager for more? Then let's have another round, Issei…or should I say…Red Dragon Emperor?"
Issei froze, dropping his controller and leaping back, summoning Boosted Gear and adopting a fighting stance. Thanks to Mika's training, he was no longer the naive, inexperienced Devil he had once been. He was now a capable warrior.
"My, my, such impressive reflexes." The man, seemingly unfazed by his reaction, simply clapped, his voice filled with amusement.
"Who are you?" Issei demanded, recognizing the man's face, though he couldn't place him.
"I am Azazel, Governor General of the Fallen Angels. It's a pleasure to meet you, Issei Hyoudou, the Red Dragon Emperor." Six pairs of black wings unfolded from his back, a clear display of his power and status.
"What the—?!"
————
Back at the clubroom…
"BAM!"
"That bastard!" Rias roared, slamming her hand on the table.
"The meeting between the Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels is scheduled to take place in this city, but not now!"
"For the Governor General of the Fallen Angels to intrude upon my territory, disrupt my operations, and approach a member of my peerage without permission—he clearly has ulterior motives!"
She had recently been informed about the upcoming meeting between the Three Factions, a summit to discuss their future relations and hopefully establish a lasting peace, a consequence of Kokabiel's actions. This news had made her nervous. As the host of such an important event, she couldn't afford any—complications. And now, Azazel's sudden appearance only intensified her anxiety.
"I've heard Azazel is interested in Sacred Gears. He's likely after Issei."
"So, he's targeting my junior? Perhaps I should—eliminate him," Mika said, his voice serious, though his eyes twinkled with amusement.
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