Gladio Bael, Lucky or Unlucky? -
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His fight with Regulus had led to him revealing Ultimate and Eight Gates. Lord Zekram commanded him to never use the latter in public unless his life was in danger when he was informed of the potential damages to Gladio's body past the fourth stage. The explanation that Gladio felt himself pass his first bottleneck and believed that he could do so for others had been accepted and believed when he'd Unlocked the Potential of all present.
Lord Zekram informed him he may call upon him to do the same for certain others, and he should not reveal that he could do so to people outside his Peerage or the senior members of the top 5 families below the Bael Clan in the Great King Faction. Which was fine, he didn't plan to reveal it unless he had to.
Which brought him to the present conversation.
''You say you wish to create the strongest Peerage, but what does that mean?'' He was asked by the First Generation Bael.
''Are we alone?'' He asked and his ancestor waved his hand a flash of magic in his palm and he felt the room shift slightly.
''No fear of eavesdropping my boy, speak freely.'' Zekram said and he took a deep breath as he made either a major error a major and successful gamble.
''I have a system in my brain. Like the sacred Gear System, it rewards me for achieving certain feats or milestones It seems like it can retroactively alter parts of history. Such as giving me more than one Mutation Piece. It also gave me something I really did not expect, and if I'm perfectly honest you're probably the only person who would be able to help me since everyone else who could would likely murder me on site for just having it.'' He raised a hand, channeling Demonic Power and the Room filled up quickly with Flies. It was mildly satisfying watching his ancestor's stoicism fail when he used King of Flies. The Flies vanished as he stopped channeling Demonic Power.
Zekram finally noticed he'd dropped his glass of wine, and spilt it over him. He cleaned it magically with a wave of his hand before taking a few calming breaths.
As if to accentuate his shock, he actually blessed himself, did the cross motion and took the headache. Lord Zekram finally looked at him with something other than shock.
''What else do you have?'' Asks Zekram.
''The Humans have this gambling device called a roulette wheel. That's basically it, except I mentally pay up some of the rewarded points for each achievement or feat I've finished successfully and it's random. The system says some things have a higher chance of landing than others, and about a fifth of them have exactly 0.001% chance of landing, King of Flies was one such thing. The more significant or difficult achievement I complete successfully, the higher the points reward.'' He explained.
''And what do you have other than what you've already shown?'' Zekram asked again.
''Some kind of massage talent, a silver tongue, and some kind of charm ability. There's another one I have, but it's blocked somehow. Like in order to fully use it, I need to either reach a new standard, or break my next bottleneck. The System said it was called All For One, but that was it, no idea what entails.'' He said, no way in hell he was saying he could take or copy sacred gears and Clan Traits until he was sure his Ancestor wasn't going to screw him over and that his value was too high to squander in isolation.
''You have given me much to think about, leave me, I will call upon you when I have processed this.'' Lord Zekram said.
Gladio nodded, then bowed his head and departed.
Time to train, he'd piss father off doing it, but the old fuck was too busy.
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Arriving at the Gremory Estate, he was led to the main lounge where he was met by his aunt and uncle-in-law.
''Welcome Gladio, it's been a while since you've visited us.'' Aunt Venelana said as she embraced him, pushing his head into her ample chest. Thank god he wasn't going through puberty yet, that'd get a reaction that would be quite embarrassing.
''Is there something the House of Bael needs from the Gremory Clan?'' Uncle Zeo said.
''Aunty Vene actually, and my father doesn't know I'm here. I need to speak with Sirzechs very quickly, as in the Beelzebub Clan is going to be angry and it can't wait quickly.'' His aunt and uncle frowned but uncle Zeo didn't question and left the room.
''Why are you here alone without your father's knowledge?'' Aunty Venelana asked.
''I've either made a very bad decision, or a very good one. Call it insurance.''
Zeo returned shortly afterwards with Sirzechs, Aspasia, and Grayfia.
''Can I help you with something cousin?'' Zechs asked, and Gladio took a quick breath before raising his hand activating King of Flies.
Once the swarm vanished, Sirzechs turned to his wife and then Grayfia. Both women gave pale-faced nods. ''How?'' Zechs tone was serious so he explained clearly and quickly.
Once he was finished he unlocked Aspasia's latent potential and Aunty Vene's as proof.
''You informed the Great King?'' Sirzechs asked.
''If I suddenly vanish for an extended period you know who's door to kick down.'' He summarised.
''What do you need from me?'' Sirzechs asked.
''Training mostly. I'll be frank, father complains a lot. Never apparently got over having aunty Vene be better with Power of Destruction than him. The old man is always too busy, which leaves exactly three other people with Power of Destruction, and I highly doubt Rias is proficient enough to teach me, so that leaves you and Aunt Vene. Now while you are perhaps closer in potency since we both have mutated Clan Traits, you are also Lord Lucifer, leaving Aunt Vene as the only real candidate to train me. Father would never agree to it unless it was made publicly and refusing was worse than accepting.'' Says Gladio.
''You're very smart and mature for seven.'' Venelana smiled.
''I'll be eight soon enough and based upon the last few birthdays, it'll be a grand spectacle. Make the offer then.'' Gladio felt himself being summoned.
''I must go, Lord Zekram is calling. Please, speak of this to no one else, hopefully this is all unnecessary, but on the off chance it isn't, at least you know my value.'' He activated his Magic Circle and teleported to the edge of Bael Territory in the thick woodlands area before a Magic Circle appeared at his ear.
''Boy, where are you?'' Father demanded.
''Edge of Bael Territory father, been running it for a short while.''
''Well get back here now, the True King wishes to speak with you.'' Father hung up without another word.
''Asshole…'' He grunted before teleporting home.
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Zekram Bael, Uncharted Waters -
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For the first time since the prelude to the Civil War, Zekram was in uncertain and uncharted waters.
It was all very hard to believe.
But to have King of Flies? A system that rewards achievements and gives such an absurd gift? It was somehow less outrageous than Gladiolus having King of Flies. Which led to him having two options.
Keep the boy under wraps for as long as possible and potentially squander the chance at improving the bloodline for the next generation, or carefully nurture him from a distance at the risk of losing him but greater chances of new rewards.
He hated gambling, it's why he liked to occasionally rig the Rating Games. But a stronger heir, means the Clan and the Great King Faction benefits. To not take advantage would be folly. To not benefit would be downright stupid.
So he'd make use of the boy, nurture him as needed, but otherwise leave him to his own devices. At least until he had more information. He'd give the boy some autonomy, but not too much. By the life of Lilith did he hate unknown meddling more than he did the wilfully blind. He didn't know if this was Ophis playing a prank or a dream. He wasn't sure which was worse to be perfectly honest. Either of those two or the possibility it was actually real.
''You have rendered your decision, honored one?'' He turned to focus on his topic of internal monologue.
''You've put me in a uniquely difficult position, my boy. I can't say I like the deal of someone unknown and powerful enough to put a system in someone's brain and reward stuff like King of Flies, but I also can't not take advantage. It benefits the Clan first and foremost, and to ignore it would be folly of the highest order. To that end, I will enable you somewhat. Does your system tell you anything about these achievements you need to complete?'' He asked.
''Yes and no, for the most part it's done retroactively. There's a pattern there, some of it seems to be personal, physical, intimate, and some of it's just outright hidden in metaphors. But for a small few at the moment, I know what I need to do. Completing my Peerage seems like a hidden achievement. I received points for reincarnating Regulus and Kuisha with One Pawn Piece. But not for making Regulus my first Servant. The System also informed me previously that my first tier of few tiers of System Roulette are negligible short-term gain, more long-term investment gain.'' He hummed thoughtfully, before pouring himself a glass of water.
''What about training? Any quests there?'' He asked after a few measured sips.
''Just a few. I suppose the big two are beating Dragon Mountain and finding an innovator in Power of Destruction outside of the immediate line of succession. Which feels oddly specific now that I say it out loud.'' Yes, it did.
''I'm not prepared to permit Tannin's mountain just yet. Let's build towards that. For now, your father won't like it, but I will have Venelana train you, but speak to no one about your system. Not even your mother or father.'' He instructed.
''As you wish my Lord.'' Gladiolus looked conflicted as if he wasn't sure if he should speak up.
''Speak child.'' He said gently.
''I just got a new quest. Stealing the Red Dragon.'' That made him snap back to attention.
''Meaning what?''
''I know where to find Boosted Gear, I know who has it, and I know how to get it.'' Zekram smiled.
Regulus Nemea and Boosted Gear?
He'd have to see this personally.
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Gladiolus Bael, Thief in the Night -
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The Hyoudou residence was deathly quiet. A sleeping spell cast by the First Bael dropped them cold.
Inside they quickly located Issei and Gladiolus activated All For One. He'd never liked MHA so he'd never bothered to read anything about it, but he knew the names and abilities because of a perverted friend. So the fact that his hand was glowing purple meant nothing to him as a light left Issei and entered his body.
''It's done, I have Boosted Gear, but it's blocked. Like All For One is once more.'' His ancestor narrowed his gaze before relaxing.
''I sense no Draconic aura or presence,'' Zekram admits.
''Then let's leave.''
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-||- Feat(s) Achieved -||-
Steal Boosted Gear without Killing Issei, 500 AP Granted, 750 Total AP.
Become Zekram Bael's Heir Apparent, 250 AP Granted, 1000 Total AP
Achieve at least 1000 AP for the first time, 0 AP granted, 1000 Total AP.
-||- Logging off -||-
Okay, so there had to be something he wasn't aware of, because he didn't imagine that there wasn't something being gained by achieving a 0 AP achievement. There had to be something he wasn't seeing yet.
The question was what, though?
He pulled his Stats up with a thought.
-||- User Stats: -||-
Name Gladiolus Bael
Species: Devil (Pure-Blooded)
Clan: Bael
Clan Trait: Power of Destruction (Mutated), Liontaming, King of Flies
Rank: High-Class Devil
Servants: 2 Pawns
Power-Level: Upper High-Class
Potential Power Level: Mid-Tier Satan Class
Reputation: Semi-Famous Clan Heir
Age: 7
Titles: Prince, Heir of Bael
Equipment: Regulus Nemea, Boosted Gear (Blocked)
System Rewards: Silver-Tongued (Passive) Lv-1, Dancers Grace (Active) Lv-1, Observe (Passive) -Lv1, Charm (Semi-Active), Eight Gates (Support), All For One (Passive),
Potential Unleashed (Support),
Senju (Active),
Massage King (Passive), King of Flies.
Total AP: 1000
Huh, so a few things had changed. He now had a list of System Rewards earned, and he also had his potential go up from just Satan Class to Mid-Tier Satan Class, and his King of Flies was listed on both System Rewards and Clan Traits. It also listed that he has the BG, but that it was blocked.
Whatever that meant, he'd find out eventually.
He might live to regret telling Zekram about the System, but as things stood, there was every possibility of the cold war shattering and heating up in Zekram's eyes, so having a descendant capable of pulling miracles from his ass was absolutely essential.
But he could think about this in the morning.
Gladiolus finally closed his eyes and went to sleep.
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Gladiolus's eyes had opened as they always did at five in the morning. He'd dressed, teleported to the edge of Bael Territory, and begun to run. He had then done that for forty-five minutes, circling the edge of the Bael Territory border twice before heading back, getting some push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, and bag work going, before bathing for ten minutes and then heading down to the dining room for breakfast. He couldn't slack off; he wanted to get Touki, and he wanted to reach physical perfection as quickly as possible. The sooner he became the strongest youth, the better things would go for his future plans.
It was annoying, having the mind of an adult but the body of a child. He tended to forget that when people looked at him, they saw a child. A very mature child to be sure, but still a child. Maybe 13 at the earliest would be when he could begin building more than the foundation for his Peerage. He'd likely have Kuisha and Regulus for years and years, before he began to add to it again.
Ah well, in about a weeks time he had something to look forward to, even if he found the spectacle over the top and a little too grand….
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(Author's Note:)
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Would've completed this sooner but between food poisoning and packing for the weekend I had to delay it a bit. Anyways, we are approaching time-skips; maybe in about two or three chapters, we'll skip to about Gladio's twelfth or thirteenth birthday, after that the fun begins. It'll be an interesting year or two after that, because I've got every volume of DxD and Slash/Dog on my phone. So I can read and write as needed. Anyway, um, there is something I want to bring up: I have chosen the Peerage because it represents the best kingslayer group I can think of. One Thing I plan to do is have him participate in Rating Games.
So, we need heavy hitters, specialists, and versatile jacks of many trades. But I just know that somewhere, somehow, someone's going to get a bug up their ass about something regarding the Pieces and who gets what. It might be the fact that Sieg and Jeanne aren't Knights or Rooks; it might very well be that Ingvild Leviathan is a Rook, or it could be the fact that Kuisha is a Pawn and she, like Regulus, took up one Pawn Piece.
I ask that you cut me a little slack; this is the first time I've written a System fic, and I'm finding my rhythm. Plus this is alternate Universe DxD. So not everything will be the same as canon. I've also expanded the Wheel, and since I lost a bet with a mate recently, his price was me letting him and the rest spin the wheel as it was.
Suffice it to say, when the mate in question spun it…
Jesus Christ on a cross.
I'm not revealing it till the 5th chapter comes around, but that first one, for him of all people to spin and then land that? I actually cried, like legitimately cried because King of Flies plus that? Oh fuck me, shit's going to go nuclear fucking firestorm bigger than Sirzechs in True Form before Gladio hits puberty if it ever gets out he's got that and King of Flies. Which means that Gladio has to ramp up his training and follow it zealously for the next six years. And that second one? Dear god, those two together, plus King of Flies?
I'm crying just thinking about this and writing about it in this Author's Note. Also, sound off on things to add to the wheel in comments. If I like it enough, or it hasn't already been added, I'll add it to the wheel. I'll take anything really, just so long as it isn't too fucked up or will get my content flagged for one reason or another. There will be rare instances when it goes at four or higher, usually around one and three. Moving on, before we do the time-skips, we will meet Georg, and we will also meet Ravel Phenex. We won't be recruiting them, but we'll meet them. There's a Bael tradition involved as far as Georg's meeting is concerned.
Ravel will be his wife; I'm biased towards her, admittedly, but to be honest, it's the most realistic match for the cunt that is Lord Bael. Ravel possesses Immortality, Aerokinesus, and Hellfire; that's three separate Clan Traits. She is also her parents' fourth child, the fourth. Now, put yourself in his shoes; you have a son, and he has the ear of the man whom you worship right down to his excrement. Gladio also has a mutated version of your Clan Trait, the Clan Trait of his mother, and high and potent Demonic Power, and he presently has one Longinus in his Peerage and actually possesses two.
Can any of you really say that Ravel Phenex is not the optimal choice for a Bael's wife in the eyes of Lord Bael? A Child with potentially five Clan Traits vs a child that might at best inherit three? We all know Lord Bael's a cunt, that's never been in dispute, but when it comes to prestige, power, and noble bullshit… ugh, whatever.
When we reach 25 AP feats, something will change. You'll find out what when you do, but for now, I will see you guys at the next chapter…
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