Greco-Roman Underworld, Throne of Hades
"Nico," a man sat on the throne holding a bident. The man had shoulder-length black hair and extremely pale skin. He wore a black suit. His pitch-black eyes looked up from his tablet as another man who looked like a miniature version of the man on the throne kneeled in front of him.
"Father," Nico said. "We've detected a massive amount of power entering the Underworld."
"Do you recognize this power?" a woman asked. She had back length blonde hair that curled at the end and electric blue eyes. She wore black robes and had a miniature three-headed dog sleeping on her lap.
Nico shook his head.
"My lord Hades. Should we not investigate this?" the woman asked.
Hades placed a hand on his chin as he thought of what to do next. An explosion rocked the entire throne room, causing Hades to hop to his feet.
"Nico. Take Persephone and find the troops," Hades said as he grabbed his bident.
"Father?"
"Do it," Hades ordered. Nico nodded and ran over to Persephone, grabbing her arm.
"Hades?"
"Just go!" Hades said. Persephone frowned but nodded. She yanked her arm from Nico's grasp and placed a hand on his shoulder. The two disappeared in a flash of violet light.
Hades stood as the door to his throne room began to glow red. The doors burst open as they corroded into nothing. A hooded figure walked into the room and cast their scarlet gaze on the God of the Dead.
"Who are you to dare attack my realm?" Hades said, flaring an aura of power that shook the entire Greco-Roman Underworld while pointing his bident at the hooded figure.
"Surely, you didn't forget about me Hades?" the figure said in a silky, smooth voice.
Hades' eyes widened in surprise and slight terror.
"You?"
October 13, 2019, Hyoudou Manor, 7:25 PM
"Do we have everything?" Haru asked. Irina paused before looking down at her backpack.
"We have the pills. Sleeping bag for you to lie down on. A couple of snacks which include some Doritos, a couple of boxes of Poki, some Funyuns, several cups of ramen and I think Asia said she is bringing a magic-powered portable stove," Irina said as she rezipped the backpack back up.
"I'm done!" Asia said as she ran over wearing a green hoodie and black track pants. "I'm ready!"
"Asia?"
The three turned to see Kanata standing in the hallway.
"Where are you guys going?" he asked.
"Nii-san needs me to go with him and Irina to the Underworld to help him achieve a new form of his Balance Breaker. Since I'm the team healer, I kind of have to go," Asia said.
"Oh. I understand. Have fun then!" Kanata said, though his posture slouched a little.
"Kanata. I'll only be there for a couple of hours. After that, I'll be back here," Asia said, walking over and planting a kiss on his cheek.
Kanara smiled a goofy smile before nodding.
"She has him wrapped around her finger," Irina whispered to Haru.
Haru just nodded, holding himself back. Asia dating someone was still something he and Naru had to get used to.
"You ready?" Haru asked.
Asia nodded.
"Remember. Form a Transportation Circle and don't—!"
"Don't specify the location got it," Irina said as she formed a blue magic circle that enveloped the three and they disappeared in a flash of blue light.
Kanata just stood there awkwardly before downing the rest of his water.
"I DID IT!"
He turned when he heard Sakuya's voice coming from the basement.
Right. Got to unlock my gear! I have to prove myself to be enough for Asia! Kanata thought as he ran to the basement.
Appalachian Mountains, Monongahela National Forest, Virginia, US, 5:30 AM
A flash of blue light illuminated the forest as every animal in a fifty-foot radius froze, sensing the change in the air. Irina, Haru, and Asia appeared in a clearing in the middle of a group of pine trees. Asia spotted a deer running off as soon as she made eye contact with it. A soft orange glow cast its light on the trees.
"Come on. I see a cave off in the distance," Irina said as she began to walk. She summoned a sword. Its blade was silver and shined with a soft white glow while its guard was gold and with a black handle and a small blue gem on its pommel.
"What's the sword for?" Haru asked as he and Asia walked behind her.
"In case there's bears," she said.
Haru and Asia nodded as they approached the cave. The cave itself was dug into the cliffside. The opening was large enough to allow for a full-grown man to enter with very little difficulty. The cavern was larger than what the entrance had suggested as the inside was at least 20 feet in height. The length of the cavern was 100 feet to the back which was a dead end. The floor was littered with the bones of small animals, suggesting that something had made its home there. Irina unzipped her backpack and laid out a sleeping bag.
"Are you two ready?" Haru asked as he took off his shoes and laid down on the sleeping bag. Asia and Irina nodded.
[Irina. As Haru expels the pieces, you'll need something to contain them. Do you have a box?] Ddraig asked.
Irina paused for a moment before accessing her pocket dimensional storage seal and pulled out an ornate mahogany box.
"I got you guys," she said.
Haru nodded.
"Let's get started," Haru said as he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"Wait!"
Haru opened his eyes and they widened when he felt Irina's lips press up on his own. She pulled away and had a large blush on her face as she smiled shyly at him.
"For luck," she said.
Haru nodded mutely, equally as red before returning to focusing on entering his soul.
Haru's eyes snapped open as he looked around. The ground underneath him shook as Ddraig landed next to him. The dragon looked down at Haru with its green eyes.
"So, where are they?" Haru asked.
[There not here. We'll have to make our way deeper into your soul.] Ddraig said as he looked around.
"Hmm, at least we know they're here," Haru said, pointing at the massive dark tendrils the dotted the skies of Haru's soul landscape.
[That looks… imposing] Ddraig said as he sensed out the tendrils. His eyes widened when he felt Trihexa's maddening aura inside of them, gaining ground. Haru looked around as he saw a portion of his soul crumble.
"We need to move fast," Haru said as he spread his wings. Ddraig nodded and followed after him. Haru marveled at how much his soulscape resembled Kuoh. Everything was in the right place from Kuoh Academy to even his house. The only difference between his soul house and his real house was that this house was the house he had before its renovation into a massive mansion-like complex.
[Partner]
Haru stopped when he heard Ddraig's voice. The dragon was a little ways behind him and just hovered in mid-air.
"Ddraig?" Haru asked.
[This is as far as I can go in terms of following you. Only you can enter this portion of your soul.] Ddraig said.
"What will you be doing?" Haru asked. Ddraig nodded his head towards a massive lake that stretched on for miles. The lake was unnatural for it wasn't filled with water. It was filled with wispy mist-like energy that was black and red with hints of green shimmering within it.
[I'll be providing you with power to achieve your task] Ddraig said.
"See you on the other side," Haru said, floating back over to him and holding his fist out.
Ddraig smirked and bumped his fist on Haru's.
[See you on the other side, Partner] Ddraig said. Haru flapped his wings and took off in a burst of speed farther into Kuoh.
The surroundings blurred around Haru as he stretched his senses to look for the pieces. The area shook as Haru felt his soul get weaker. He gritted his teeth. How was he supposed to find them in an area as large as this? They could be anywhere.
As Haru paused to get a bearing on his surroundings, a blur slammed into him, sending him crashing into the pavement below. Haru groaned as he looked up at the sky. His eyes widened when he saw who attacked him.
"You," Haru growled as he stood.
A woman with raven hair and violet eyes hovered above him. She wore two leather straps to cover her large breasts while a thong-like piece held around her hips by three thin straps covered her crotch. Black gloves ran right up her arms with small lengths of chains hanging from them and shoulder guard-like objects rested on her shoulders with three large spikes sprouting from her right shoulder. She also black thigh-high heel boots. But her most prominent features were the pair of black feathery wings that sprouted from her back and the black veins that decorated her skin. The woman held a sadistic grin on her face.
"Hello, Haru. Come for another date with little old me?" she asked.
"Raynare," Haru said, his anger growing by the second.
Raynare grinned as she formed a massive black light spear and threw it at Haru. Haru scoffed as he easily dodged the spear. He summoned the [Boosted Gear] and appeared in front of Raynare, planting his fist in her face.
Raynare crashed into one of the houses below and groaned in pain. Haru slammed his foot into her liver, causing her to cough out blood. He removed his foot and Raynare curled into a ball at his feet.
"You're not even worth Boosting," Haru said darkly as his eyes flickered between black and white. He summoned Ascalon and bisected her, sending blood spraying everywhere.
Raynare's face was frozen in pain and horror as her two halves began to flicker and transformed into a pawn piece. Haru grabbed the piece and tried to call upon the power Ddraig mentioned. He felt it. Haru put all of his efforts into pulling on it and after several minutes of effort, managed to draw upon a substantial amount and forced it into his pawn piece. The piece in his hand glowed brightly before crumbling into dust.
"One down. Seven to go," Haru said as he picked up Ascalon.