"I suppose it will be like this, then."
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky at blinding speed, aimed straight for her.
"Quick," came the calm reply, and she sidestepped the strike as if it had been nothing more than a gust of wind.
"Your turn."
A shockwave detonated as she surged forward, red hair a streak of motion. The fist that hit him landed like a cannon blast, a single, brutal blow that sent the thunder lord flying.
The strike had been unexpected. He had relied on his speed and power and failed to anticipate such speed and force.
"Cough, cough…" he wheezed as he rose, astonishment bleeding into his voice. "Such strength. Forgive me — it seems I underestimated you."
"We'll continue," came the icy answer.
She dashed again, but this time he braced himself. Dozens of lightning bolts screamed toward her like a deadly rain.
"These bolts are saturated with holy energy to the maximum," she muttered, analyzing in a heartbeat. "I don't know what will happen if they hit me…"
A flurry of crimson slashes cut through the air, each one unmaking a bolt as if slicing thread.
"I'll finish this quickly," she promised.
Baraquiel's POV
At first he'd thought her nothing but an arrogant brat—then a surprisingly arrogant demon. Now she moved with a terrifying ease. She wasn't straining; she was simply dominating the fight.
A magical summons interrupted that thought.
"What is it, Azazel? I'm occupied," he groused.
"This is important," came the other voice. "A warning, since you're close. A child named Rias Gremory—the heir of House Gremory—has the same apparent age as your daughter. Do not underestimate her. She unleashed destructive magic that annihilated a two-hundred-meter radius. Several High-Class, a few Ultimate-Class, and even Excalibur bearers were wiped out. Baraquiel? You listening?"
"…Azazel, I don't want to be pessimistic, but I think I'm fighting that child," he admitted.
"What!? Why!?" Azazel demanded.
"It seems she forced my daughter into a contract in exchange for saving Shuri," came the terse reply.
"Hold on. I'll be there soon."
"Finished your call?" the small voice asked, breaking through the line.
She sounded innocent. The little monster—no, Rias Gremory—smiled and spoke plainly.
"I gave you room to talk. Now I'll push a little harder."
Something red blurred toward him with the speed of a bullet.
"Shit!"
The impact felt like a cannon. Rias's fist smashed into him with the force of an artillery round.
"Done," she declared, curious and almost childlike—Rias Gremory, a four-year-old terror.
"N-never… I won't let you enslave my daughter," he snarled through grit teeth.
"Oh please. It's obvious I'm stronger, and I won't mistreat her," she replied coolly.
"Never," he snarled again.
Akeno screamed and ran between them.
"Dad, stop!" she cried, putting herself between the crimson-haired girl and her father.
"Get away, Akeno!" he shouted, fear and anger tangled in his voice. He flinched at the thought of what the demon child might do.
"What's wrong, Akeno-chan?" the girl asked, tilting her head.
"I… I accept," Akeno blurted out, voice small and resolute.
Those words struck like ice.
"Really!? Yatta!" The little girl jumped and celebrated like a child receiving candy.
They stared at each other—then at the scene around them—awkward silence settling until she remembered to speak politely.
"Ahem. I mean… welcome, Akeno-chan."
"Please, take care of me," the little girl answered, still trembling.
Rias's POV
Yatta.
Finally—my first servant. I acted arrogant on purpose, to show confidence, to make it easier for her to agree. It worked. The pact is sealed, and nothing will happen to her.
A distant shout tried to break the moment, but it was hollow.
"I don't accept that!" he yelled, voice fading behind them, but it didn't matter.
"All right, Akeno-chan," she said, eyes bright. "From now on you'll be my Queen. When I gather my Evil Pieces, you will be reborn at my side."
"Eh… okay." The little girl's voice was soft—utterly adorable.
Alongside her and Sona… perfect.
A mischievous chuckle escaped somewhere nearby. A small, miserable laugh.
…Ah.
That laugh. It was mine.
Shuri's voice trembled. "I'm starting to rethink this. I'll try to convince him—"
A magical circle hummed into being and a figure stepped from it—Azazel, leader of the Fallen Angels.
"This is interesting," he murmured as he approached.
Pleasure flickered across his face. "It's an honor to meet the genius of House Gremory in person. A four-year-old who can exterminate Ultimate-Class—truly remarkable."
"Hmph. Thanks for the flattery," she sniffed. "But what do you want? I don't think you came just to meet me."
"You're right," he answered. "I know you were exiled from the Underworld, so I have a proposal: what do you think about coming under the care of the Fallen Angels?"
"Eh? I accept—what a tempting offer. But what do you want in return?"
"You," he said simply.
Silence fell.
"Azazel… you're hopeless," someone muttered in the background.
He blinked, startled.
"Daughter—stay away from that man!" Shuri cried.
"Domain ex—" Rias began, ready to escalate the situation.
But Azazel hurriedly raised his hands, sensing the enormous magic she was gathering.
"No—wait! Not like that." He quickly explained, while carefully tracking the red aura swelling around her. "I'm curious about your bloodline and abilities."
"My abilities?" she echoed, annoyed.
"Yes. Each of them is unique, and you have many. I'm curious about your body and its secrets."
"Keep talking like that and I'll turn you into tiny pieces and feed them to an animal," she threatened, deadpan.
"Apologies—it's custom," he stammered.
She considered it a moment, then shrugged. "I won't refuse a few tests. But I set the limits."
"Of course," he answered smoothly.
To be continued.
Thank you for the support
Captain: Psychokore
You can watch advance episodes here ---> [email protected]/Gatoferoz