Chapter 63: Mindful Observations

Ichigo floated within the Irameron, suspended in a boundless sea of roiling heat and light that burned through the entirety of the dimension’s time and space. And it wasn’t fire in the conventional sense, there was no elemental combustion nor flint and tinder to light the flame; instead, it was the way his demonic essence chose to express itself in its most primal state. Pure, unadulterated demonic energy pulsing across a false firmament fashioned from Ichigo’s own will.

And the cosmos around him churned violently, surging and circling, being pulled into the crushing gravity of his own body, like a proto-star in the instant before ignition. Every current, every spiral of infernal energy bent inward toward a singular purpose: tempering his physical body to withstand the weight of his own power, lest it fall apart.

Demons, were not creatures who possessed power in the way Devils did, hoarding it in their blood or cultivating it through lineage and ritual. They were their power. Consciousness crystallized into their very energy, to transcend physical limitations and exist beyond the confines of form and shape.

As such, existence, for a Demon, was no longer a matter of housing the self within flesh, but of allowing a simulacrum of a body to exist as a convenient sheath, a mask worn so reality would not tear itself apart in their presence.

In some ways, it was similar to the existence of the Shinigami and Hollows in the Shinto pantheon. The nonphysical energies of the Human Soul exist beyond the physical planes, but powerful Souls could condense their energies into spiritual bodies that can exert tangible influence on both the spiritual and physical planes.

And the stronger and denser the spiritual energy, the more powerful that influence became. It was why Captain and Lieutenants wore limiters when they visited the human world, lest their spiritual energies adversely affect the living.

Demons, while not exactly the same, were somewhat similar. The key difference being that they were their power, not just a Soul exerting its own spiritual pressure. And, of course, the consequences of a Demon’s energies affecting reality were far more egregious and dangerous. The Human Soul was a natural thing; Shinigami didn’t taint reality with their presence.

But a Demon? It’s very presence warped localized time and space, infecting it and corrupting the conceptual reality until naught but fear, despair and other vile things remained.

Which is why having physical bodies were so important for monsters like him. It was what protected the world from him.

And it was painstakingly designed and sculpted down to the microscopic level by his own will. Every cell, every structural binding of matter and magic, had been shaped with deliberate precision, tuned to withstand stresses that would annihilate lesser beings by simple proximity. Even then, even so meticulously made, it was still not enough to carry the burden of his power. Aberration amongst even Demons that he was. It was annoying to admit, but there were times when Ichigo’s immense power proved to be detrimental.

His physical body had to be tempered beyond the norm, steeped and hardened within the sea of his demonic essence until it could bear his metaphysical weight without cracking. Otherwise, if he were to ever exert power beyond what his body could endure, Satan in full would explode outward, detonating with the fury of a hell-infused nova.

So, he endured the pressure within his inner sanctum, allowing the sea of demonic energies to scour and refine him, even as the Irameron responded instinctively to every adjustment he made. The pocket dimension pulsed in rhythm with his thoughts, reshaping itself around his focus, accommodating him as naturally as lungs accommodated breath.

Unfortunately, because of how long, demanding and arduous the process was, Ichigo found himself dreadfully bored. Luckily for him, no longer constrained by the limitations of a physical brain, he could extend his consciousness through time and space.

With conscious intent, his mind reached beyond the Irameron (crossing the dimensional barrier that was pressed up against the pocket realm) and into his other less private realm of Infernity.

And in one single second, he went from being utterly alone within the furnace of his power, to having the entirety of his kingdom exist inside his mental scape.

Every iota of the realm blossomed into clarity within his mind’s eye, layered atop one another in a dizzying cascade of sensation. He felt the press of hundreds of millions of lives; he heard the murmur of their thoughts and tasted the emotional undercurrents that flowed through cities and wilderness alike.

Within its own domain, a Demon was omnipresent by default. Infernity was not just the land he ruled; it was his infernal Will made manifest, an extension of his consciousness given shape and geography. He could, if he allowed it, perceive everything at once - every footstep, every whispered prayer, every heartbeat that called his name.

Though he usually didn’t.

Chiefly because it was, in a word: loud. Too loud. Ichigo didn’t like having to be hyper-aware of everything going on all at once. It was very jarring and distracting.

Sera, on the other hand, adored it. She loved knowing every little secret in her realm and pulsing her presence through all the dark nooks and crannies of every mind. Ajuka was very much the same, though for different reasons. Each and every single person in his realms fit like a gear, serving an intended purpose for specific outcomes.

Sirzechs, on the other hand, could hardly care to look deeply into his own personal realm. No, he was far too obsessed with his family to pay that close attention to his denizens. Not that he wasn’t attentive or that he was a neglectful ruler; he just couldn’t be bothered to lower his gaze into their personal lives. Sin of Pride and all that. And most other Demons were like that as well, happily ignoring their citizens and usually content to harvest the negative energies they produced.

And as for Falbium… well, most of Falbium’s personal realm was empty. Unlike the rest of them, Falbium was too lazy to restrain himself completely in own realm. As such, anyone under Ultimate-class who found themselves spending too long in the Sin of Sloth’s domain ended up falling to the ground in an enchanted slumber.

Because of this, Ajuka had to create special barriers around the edifices of the respective Ministries of Offensive and Defensive War.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for Falbium’s brilliant mind and unwavering loyalty to the Empire, Ichigo was certain that he and the other Satans would have strangled the Sin of Sloth out of sheer frustration.

But he broke his thoughts away from his fellow Crown Princes and focused back on Infernity. Very quickly, he took note of all the powerful Ultimate-class beings who dwelt within He saw Humbaba sitting at the edge of a creek amongst the Forest of Cedar Ichigo had willed into existence for his Rook. The ancient giant sat peaceful and still, completely at odds with his fearsome visage. With a lick of amusement, he watched Saviġuk merrily chase down a giant ice bear through a boundless field of snow.

To the north of where his Knight hunted, he watched as a giant phoenix with feathers of white and blue fly on icy winds; each flap of its wings sending crystalline blizzards over glaciers and snowy peaks. And so many other wonderous and powerful things that inhabited his personal corner of the Underworld.

Though a certain part of his mind focused on the center of his realm, where the titanic Sapling of Yggdrasil towered far into the sky, piercing well past the clouds and into the cold drift beyond the sunless atmosphere of the Underworld.

Briefly, Ichigo considered psychically reaching out to the mythical tree, but something deep within him, that integral part of his instincts, told him now was not the right time.

So instead, his attention returned to the realm at large. His injuries had reflected onto the realm, and while not significant, it was still quite noticeable. There were pockets of unstable and highly volatile magic that had caused storms, quakes and other paranormal phenomena. He had to fix all that damage done and stabilize the realm.

And as he was doing, another part of his mind focused on one person in particular.

Meril.

Even while maintaining awareness of everything else, he listened as she and her retinue of secretaries worked with ruthless efficiency, dispatching summons to every noble within Infernity. He was both impressed and appreciated the proficiency and alacrity that his employees carried out his orders. He was also very amused.

Meril had decided to repeat his orders verbatim; she had even attached her own memory of his threatening to hunt down and kill anyone who dared to refuse his summons.

And as said summons spread, Ichigo felt the reaction ripple outward.

Across the numerous nobles who existed in Infernity, both vassals and independent minor houses alike, anxiety bloomed first, sharp and immediate. Confusion soon followed as most nobles scrambled through their memories, wondering if they had erred without realizing it. Guilt and fear surfaced in others; those keenly aware of the corners they had cut, the laws they had bent and the quiet crimes they had assumed would never draw his attention. And then there were the handful of spies who reacted with outright panic, minds racing as they assessed whether their secret allegiance had finally been exposed.

But all of them were terrified. Because Satan had called.

Satisfied with the fear and intimidation sown, Ichigo let his awareness expand further still, reaching beyond Infernity into the greater Devil Empire. His mind brushed against billions of souls scattered across the Underworld and its adjacent realms and dimensions, manifesting wherever the Satans exerted their dominion. He perceived their territories as overlapping constellations of power, each shaped by its ruler’s nature and will.

Naturally, not all welcomed his gaze.

The surviving powerful Demons concealed themselves, folding their domains inward or erecting metaphysical barriers that distorted perception and deflected intrusion. Sand this was true of many of the Pillar Lords as well, as their ancestors had layered their realms with warding magics of impressive sophistication. Of course, none of it was enough to stop him outright, but sufficient to signal that his presence was noticed… and unwelcome. He could have forced his way through if he wished, but for now, his mental attention was fixed elsewhere.

In the single second it taken for Ichigo’s mind to encompass and contain the entirety of the Satans’ Empire, the bulk of his psychic presence made for the Bael territory.

Old Bael thought he could intrude into Infernity? Well, Ichigo would happily return the favor.

The moment his presence brushed against the independent space-time of the Bael territory, he immediately felt Zekram Bael’s essence saturating the fabric of the realm, a vile pressure woven deep into reality itself. And not only did the First Pillar’s existence rest upon the land of his personal domain; it had anchored itself deep into the Underworld, festering and gnawing away like a parasite.

Ichigo did not announce himself with words.

He surrounded the territory with his presence, letting it coil and tighten until the sky of the Underworld grew thunderous and scorching hot. Zekram became aware instantly. Where the ancient Demon’s intrusion into Infernity had been subtle, an insidious and slow invasion, Ichigo made no effort at discretion. His Will pressed forward, vast and volcanic, and the clash that followed was immediate.

Demonic Will met Demonic Will.

Zekram had the advantage of being entrenched in his own domain. This was his realm, the font from which his power flowed, fortified with ages of preparation and paranoia. His defenses rose instinctively, layered barriers of authority and corruption snapping into place as he pushed back against the intrusion.

But his opponent was Satan, and this one was far more powerful than the one written in the annals of history.

Ichigo’s presence ground forward, sheer magnitude overwhelming millennia of finesse as he shattered his way past the magical lines of resistance. And the Bael territory groaned and shook as Satan manifested his rage against its master.

Very quickly, as his senses tore through demonic fortifications and evil magicks, Ichigo sensed the very core of the Bael territory, Zekram’s own inner sanctum. He hurled his Will against it, causing powerful tremors to rip through the ground and sky to burn red, but Zekram fought back fiercely with his own Demonic might.

The first Demon was no pushover; it had survived the reign of the original Satans and the Great War and emerged even more powerful than before. And even then… there were the countless wars it had been through long before it had ever taken Lucifer’s hand. No, Zekram Bael was monstrously powerful in his own right.

Ichigo could readily admit that he could not overpower the First Pillar in a contest of Wills, not when Zekram was entrenched in own realm and font of power. If Ichigo truly wanted to defeat Zekram and pierce his own inner sanctum, Ichigo would have to bring his physical body and bring down the full weight of his power. But that wasn’t Ichigo’s purpose with this sudden attack on the oldest Demon.

But as his assault continued, Ichigo became aware of other presences watching from afar. Ancient Demons like Mephistopheles and Gremory paused in their seclusion, curious and wary. He even sensed the keen eye of Grayfia watching with tacit approval. He could even feel the edges of some of the more powerful Fallen Lords from the other side of the Underworld drawn by his sudden expression of power. But above them all, the darker presence of the other Crown Princes sat heavy and foreboding. Yet no one intervened. No one dared.

Red lightning split the skies of Bael territory as the Sin of Wrath raged through reality. Bolts crashed into the earth with apocalyptic force, ripping through soil and stone alike. Crops withered to ash in seconds. Animals fled in blind panic and turned berserk, falling feral on anything that moved. Mountains cracked and heaved, fragments torn free and suspended in the air by sheer metaphysical upheaval.

And despite it all, Ichigo still restrained himself.

He could do more. Far more. But wanton destruction on that scale would only inconvenience Zekram at best. And if the ancient Demon got serious, if it truly decided to fight back with all its might… well, a full clash between them would more than likely be cataclysmic for the Underworld, even though Ichigo was significantly more powerful.

Though at that point, the other Satans would certainly get involved and restrain them both for the sake of the Empire. But also, Ichigo had no desire to bring any more suffering to the denizens of the Bael territory than he already had. Even though he took special care to ensure no one was killed in his display of power, injuries for many would be impossible to avoid. Nothing a little magic couldn’t fix, but, nevertheless, the message had to be delivered.

His patience had run dry.

Ichigo’s mind continued to press against Zekram’s, and from their continued psychic clash he could feel the ancient Demon’s anger and fury at him boiling through. Ironically, it only served to further fuel Ichigo’s power as his Sin gorged itself on Zekram’s indignation and rage. The Great King was not used to being challenged, and so publicly at that too.

This humiliation would be remembered for centuries.

After several more moments of heavy content between them, Ichigo was finally content with having vented his temper and deliberately allowed Zekram to finally push him out his domain. Ichigo could hear him bellow in fury as the Great King’s Will shoved against his mind and pushed him out of the Bael territory.  

Despite the show of immense demonic power, Ichigo couldn’t help but be amused as he pulled his presence back into the Irameron. From a certain perspective, he rightfully viewed the Pillars as beneath him. They were far weaker than him and inconsequential on the grand stage of greater cosmos. At the same time, Ichigo was sovereign over the Devil Empire. Even if he cared nothing for titles and formality, his position in society required respect. And if the Pillars wouldn’t give respect to him, Satan demanded that they then give him their fear.

And even if Ichigo found all this Dark Lord posturing nonsensical, he understood its necessity. He had an Empire to protect. He had a family to look after. He couldn’t afford to take half-measures anymore. He couldn’t afford to be reactive. He needed to be proactive and preemptively strike out against all those that would threaten him and his.

The hours ticked on in the Irameron, and slowly, Ichigo’s body fully acclimated to his own power. It wouldn’t be much longer until he returned.

======

“Well, that was amusing,” Sirzechs said to himself from his throne in Yfel, even as he peered through dimensions and into the frantic repercussions of Ichigo venting his temper.

On his own throne, Ajuka sat with his usual neutral expression. “But also, consequential.”

Sirzechs dipped his in acknowledgement. Ichigo’s very public attack on the Bael territory, particularly against his ancestor Zekram, would send shockwaves through the political theater of their shared Empire. The Great King held immense political clout and influence, he could easily use the sudden incursion from one of the Crown Princes to throw the Empire into chaos.

It would be child’s play for Zekram to disrupt trade and economies and render mass panic amongst the commoners. Luckily, Sirzechs had already flexed his metaphorical muscles on the surviving ancient Demons and told them that unless they want all out conflict with the Satans, they best keep out of the current conflicts of the Empire.

Of course, Zekram’s intrusion into Infernity was a personal matter between him and Ichigo and technically did not cross the line Sirzechs had drawn. But it was as Ajuka had said, Ichigo could take care of himself and did not need the other Satans looking over his shoulders.

Even if Sirzechs would like nothing more than to go and give his ancestor a good wallop!

Sirzechs let out a tired sigh. “Mercy is such a burden, old friend.”

Ajuka merely raised a single brow in response. “Which is why our ancestors so vehemently denied it. They were never very talented at carrying anything but their own egos.”

“Too true.”

It was the great crux of their station. In their aspiration to be better than their predecessors, who had nearly driven their kind to extinction, the current Crown Princes had willingly bound their own hands. They essentially ran an authoritarian government, true, but they weren’t monstrous towards their own kind. At least, they actively tried not to be. They wanted their people to have a sense of safety and security under their shadow, not outright terror and dread.

The Demon Lords of the Old Empire were monsters, plain and simple. And so, the Devils of then were as much victims of the depraved madness of the original Demons as the rest of the cosmos were.

Unfortunately, Devils were still the byproducts and descendants of those Demons. To crave power and control was as natural to them as breathing was to humans. As such, too often did the Pillars and other Nobles tiptoe over the line the Satans had drawn, and too often, had he and the others been lenient in their punishment.

“Ichigo did well,” Ajuka then said. “Even if Zekram were to retaliate, it would not be to the detriment of the Empire as a whole. Regardless of his enmity and injured price, even Zekram would not allow the powerbase he has so painstakingly laid to be exposed to the machinations of the Old Satan Faction and the new danger of Khaos Brigade. He will pick and choose his battles with Ichigo with subtle care. Besides, I have faith in our youngest sibling. He can take care of himself.”

Sirzechs let out a thoughtful hum as he pressed his fingers together. “I cannot help but feel that we are fighting on too many fronts, Ajuka.”

“We are,” Ajuka said plainly. “And we have no one to blame but ourselves. The issue of the ancient Demons is one we should have addressed centuries ago, but we grew content with the growth and stability after the introduction of the Evil Pieces. We were too cautious of disrupting our hard-won peace.”

Sirzechs brows furrowed. Ajuka, as usual, was right.

“You overcomplicating things, Sirzechs.”

And as he met Ajuka’s eyes, Sirzechs allowed himself a moment of self-reflection. Was he really overthinking matters? They were being pulled in many different directions… but that wasn’t anything new.

“Do you really think so?” he asked sincerely.

“Yes,” Ajuka replied, in a dry voice. “If the Void and its Other wanted us destroyed we would not be having this conversation.” Sirzechs mouth parted but he quickly shut it. There was no denying that. “Whatever game they are playing, it seems to revolve around Ichigo, and not his demise.”

Sirzechs nodded grimly. He hated admitting it, but there was nothing more they could do to help Ichigo when it came to the Divine Dragons, they were powerless before their nigh-omnipotent might.

“As for our renewed offensive with the Old Satan Faction,” Ajuka continued, “we are winning that front. It is costly and the rate of attrition has exponentially increased due to the Void’s blessings on our enemies, but not to the extent where we are presented with a sudden defeat. Even then, of the five of us, only Falbium is ever-present on the front lines.

“We have continuously routed out their bases and strongholds, we’ve captured Katerea and dealt a crippling blow when you and the Summit destroyed her armies. And soon Shalba and Creuserey will come out into the open as that stupid nephew of mine continues to feed them false intelligence. Not to mention Ichigo is now making preparations to strike against the Lucifer boy and Khaos Brigade.”

Sirzechs nodded along. “Yes, and both Michael and Azazel have shared intel on how they have located and destroyed several Khaos Brigade strongholds in their territories. It’s somewhat worrisome that so many Humans have allied together against our mythos.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Ajuka said. “Without the Heavenly Father to control and dictate the resurgences of the Longinus-class Sacred Gears, Humanity was bound to rally around their strongest champions.”

“Speaking of which,” Sirzechs said, “has Azazel contacted you about the Sacred Gear system?”

And at that, Ajuka’s mien became annoyed. “Unfortunately, yes. I am still peeved that you and Ichigo so agreeably volunteered my time on that project. Two projects, actually.”

Sirzechs rolled his eyes. “Well, for the continued reincarnation of Sacred Gear humans, we need a functioning Sacred Gear system. It was a win-win for all sides. And as for a method to reincarnate Souls into Angels, well, if it meant sealing away the threat of Rhongomyniad away for good, I’d tape a halo to your head myself to achieve that end.”

Ajuka’s gave him a minor glare before letting out a soft sigh. “They are obviously withholding much of the mythic code that went into establishing the metaphysical engine that is the Sacred Gear system, but I’ve gleaned enough to know that it will require some sort of divine impetus to function properly.”

Sirzechs frowned, that would not be easy to replicate. It’s not like one could just go to the local bazaar and pick up a source of divinity from a stall, after all. “Any chance to circumvent that?”

Ajuka frowned. “I cannot say, not without accessing the totality the arcane work. Rightfully, Michael and Azazel are keeping it out my hand.”

As Sirzechs opened his mouth, Ajuka immediately cut him off with a curt “No.”

He pouted somewhat childishly. “I didn’t even say anything!”

“I cannot replicate the Sacred Gear system and create a version for our own species,” Ajuka said wryly. “Hell’s consistent taint and presence over our species’ souls would prevent another power from inserting itself. Individuals may be brought in, yes, but an entire systemic overhaul? Impossible.”

“Unless we break free,” Sirzechs said ruefully.

“Unless we break free,” Ajuka concurred. “And the only way to truly break Lucifer Pact is-”

“For us to apotheosize,” Sirzechs quickly finished.

It was the age-old issue. To gain freedom from Hell, from having every single Demon and Devil immediately condemned to the Fire upon death. Unfortunately, he and Ajuka had long concluded that the only way for that to be possible was if both of them were to become Divine Demons, sitting beyond the realm of Time and creating an alternative afterlife for their species. Luckily, the addition of Ichigo into their ranks had hugely increased the chances of that happening. Hopefully, one day, they would be a divine triumvirate, a pantheon of Demons.

But that was far off into the future, they had more immediate and pressing concerns.

Of those pressing concerns…

“Oh, that’s right,” Sirzechs said to himself as much as he did to Ajuka. “I need to tell Ichigo that Sera finalized the trade agreements with the Fallen. With the Fallen now being allowed passage through Mulach, Ichigo can now freely travel to Malebolge and Kokytus. He can hunt Sinners to his heart’s content.”

“And more prudently, investigate the use of the Chthonic realms as means of transportation for Khaos Brigade,” Ajuka added smoothly.

“Yes,” and Sirzechs touched a finger to his lips. “Which does beg the question how they are accessing the Realms of the Dead in the first place. There are indeed some ancient pathways long forgotten to history, but they would still need a point of entry.”

Ajuka let out a hum. “Well, Sera’s operatives have confirmed that Indra has been utilizing the so-called Hero Faction is some mercenary like fashion.”

Sirzechs raised a single eyebrow in question. “You think they’ve been going in and out of Naraka?”

“It stands to reason.”

“Hmm,” Sirzechs rubbed his chin as he considered possibilities.

Ajuka tilted his head and gave him a look of exasperation. “Sirzechs, you cannot possibly be thinking…”

He shrugged in response. “It’s worth considering. It would require some cooperation from Azazel, but if we built a waystation in Malebolge that allowed access to certain points into our territory and we ‘conveniently’ lost control of it…”

Ajuka pinched the bridge of his nose.

Sirzech clapped happily. “Well then! Best run it by the others and then have Ichigo trotting off to the Fallen lands as soon as possible!”

“Before that,” Ajuka cut in, “don’t you think we should take advantage of Ichigo’s little display?”

Sirzechs eyes lit up delighted. “Oh, what have you in mind?”

 “The Nobility will be clamoring for assurances that the Satans haven’t suddenly turned hostile towards the Houses, particularly those aligned with the Great King.”

Sirzechs understood immediately. “You think we should do the opposite and take a few dissenting heads? To keep them in line?”

Ajuka nodded. “As of late, we spend more time looking outside our borders than within. Perhaps a stark reminder is needed that we're not as distracted as some would think? Merciful that we strive to be, we are still tyrants.”

Sirzechs tapped the arm of his throne and stood up in one fluid motion. “An excellent idea, it’s been too long since we had a good purge! Oh, but Falbium is not going to be happy with the extra work.”

“Falbium is never happy,” Ajuka pointed out dryly.

“Hah, true! Oh, but we'll have to create lists of who we can and can't kill with impunity. Bah! To thik I'd live to see the day murder became boring!”

======

Idly aware of Ajuka and Sirzechs sitting in the dimension of Yfel, Ichigo resisted the temptation to join them. He was still busy tempering his body and, just as before, it was quite grating and monotonous. To wit, it was dead boring.

So, to entertain himself and pass the time more easily, he once again set his mind beyond the Irameron and into Infernity. At the very least, he wouldn’t be picking fights with ancient Demons this time.

But as his mind swept past into Infernity, he didn’t cast his senses wide across the realm; instead, he narrowed his focus deliberately, homing in on a familiar, sad little knot of activity in the city of Grevex.

That dainty, rundown down house he had given to the two castaway heiresses. However, as he did so, his attention was grabbed by the rather boisterous activity coming from behind the house, namely, the backyard.

Much to Ichigo’s amusement, the wild grass in the backyard had grown back. Which wasn’t all that unusual because, to be frank, that’s what grass did. But when exposed to the thick and potent ambient magic of Grevex, well…

Ichigo watched a touch bemused as the thick mats of verdant blades writhed and coiled through the churning soil and weeds as wide as his wrists snapped and curled with obvious malicious intent as they surged toward three figures who were very clearly regretting their life choices.

Ichigo watched from nowhere and everywhere at once as Kiba moved first, his posture low and forward, swords flashing in wide, controlled arcs that sheared through entire swaths of vegetation. Each strike was clean and economical, his feet adjusting instinctively as the ground shifted beneath him, but even as the severed stalks fell away, Ichigo noted the problem immediately: the cut ends pulsed and shimmered as they began to regenerate almost at once.

“Tch! Issei!” Kiba barked, already pivoting to intercept a cluster of vines lunging from the side.

“I got it!” Issei shouted back, the Longinus Boosted Gear flaring as he unleashed a focused burst of dragon fire from his open palm, not wild or explosive but concentrated enough to scorch the growth into blackened stumps that hissed and smoked as they died for good. He swept the flame low and wide, teeth clenched as sweat beaded along his brow, clearly straining to keep the output steady and small rather than overwhelming.

Ichigo nodded – well, he thought about nodding since he really wasn’t present – as he sympathized with Issei. Having more power than control was an all too familiar experience for Ichigo, after all.

And, to Ichigo’s quiet satisfaction, the third of them, Saji, didn’t waste the opening.

Thin, almost hairlike lines snapped outward from his Sacred Gear, an exaggerated black wristband woven of dragon scales. And Ichigo vaguely recalled memories Tiamat had shared with him of the defeated Dragon King Vitra. The glowing, razor thin lines wove through the green chaos with surprising precision as they wrapped around thicker, more aggressive tendrils that resisted Kiba’s blades and Issei’s fire. The moment they connected, Saji braced himself, boots digging furrows into the earth as he leaned back and began to use his Sacred Gear drain them of their life force and energy. The young man’s jaw tight as he grunted with effort as the magical plants thrashed violently in protest.

“Now!” Saji growled, voice strained.

Kiba was already moving, swords blurring and blazing with Holy-Demonic energy as he severed the weakened vines at their base, and Issei followed up immediately, sealing the wounds with fire before the wild plants could reconstitute themselves. The sequence flowed without discussion, each of them reacting to the others’ movements rather than commands, and Ichigo felt a flicker of approval curl through him.

Even though Saji was of a different peerage, the teamwork the three boys were showing was flawless. Ichigo was more than impressed. He knew shoving them into a hostile living environment would produce results!

He felt very vindicated.

“Why does this stuff grow back faster every time?” Issei complained as he stumbled back from a sudden lash of grass that slashed his chest.

Saji huffed, redirecting several lines to intercept it. “I don’t know, but I’m starting to think it hates us personally. How does Gobdad just walk through this like it’s nothing?”

“Focus,” Kiba snapped, even as he ducked under a whipping vine and rolled, coming up on one knee before driving both swords down into the ground to pin a cluster of roots in place.

Ichigo’s attention lingered on him for a brief moment, and then he peered beyond the flesh and into the boy’s soul. There was still a hefty bit of anger there, but he noted how the edge that once dominated Kiba’s presence had dulled into something steadier. Or, more appropriately, it had settled into a more focused sharpness. One with more drive and singular purpose.

Yes, the darkness was still there, buried deep, but it no longer bled into every motion. He could only assume that Rias had taken his advice to heart and truly been a guiding King for her Knight. Even though Kiba still held a great ambition for power, it was more muted now. Less consuming.

However, Ichigo was broken from his musing as the ground shuddered.

The grass parted violently as something far larger began to rise, roots tearing free of the soil with a wet, grinding sound as a massive sunflower-like creature unfurled itself, its thick, black stalk twisting skyward while jagged and dull yellow petals spread wide around a pulsing, unnatural core. The ambient magic spiked sharply, and he felt the pull of rage ripple outward from the colossal plant.

Huh… an angry flower. Even for Ichigo, this was new.

Saji froze. “Uh… was that always there?”

“They’re evolving!” Issei shouted, as he stared wide eyed as the monstrous sunflower began to glow an eerie yellow.

Kiba was quick to react as he lunged forward, seized both of them by the collars, and hauled them backward just as a giant vine slammed down where they’d been standing, pulverizing stone and earth beneath. The impact sent a shockwave through the yard, knocking loose debris into the air and causing the rickety house and fence to shake rather precariously.

A part of him started cheering for the flower, because if the random evil flower managed to damage the house and property, Ichigo would have an excuse to visit some new tortu- he meant training on the teenage Devils.

The sunflower monster let out a low, grinding sound, somewhat akin to a whale, as smaller vines began to coil outward from its base, and Ichigo started to wonder just how much further this would escalate because the flower was starting to put out magical energies of an upper Mid-class Devil, bordering on High-class.

Actually… now that he thought about it, where did it come from? Ichigo was sure he would have remembered ordering either Meril or Gobdad to summon forth some giant rampaging flower. Maybe it was a random mutation brought upon from the consequences of his injuries leaking affecting Infernity’s magic?

‘I’ll have to check in with Meril about this later.’

And just as the boys regrouped, weapons raised and breathing hard, Ichigo allowed part of his focus to splinter away towards another group of young Devils.

On the second floor of the old house, looking down at the battle through the large bedroom window, Ichigo observed the two heiresses and their Queens.

Rias stood forward, arms folded as she leaned against the sill, her demonic aura steady and dense in a way it hadn’t been before, while Sona watched beside her with her usual composed focus, glasses catching the light as she adjusted them absently. Ichigo didn’t need to probe deeply to see the change; both of them carried their power just a bit more naturally now. After all the conflicts and battles he (via Meril) had thrown them into, their auras now clung to them with a potent edge.

His experienced eye could easily tell that they had crossed well into the middle range of High-class Devils, a meaningful step as they edged closer to the threshold of Ultimate-class.

At their current pace, if he continued having the girl and their respective peerages put through the ringer, they would be strong enough within the next six months to survive combat drills against his Reaver Titans without being instantly crushed. That alone spoke volumes about their growth. They still weren’t at the top of their generation, what with Sairoarg Bael still being an anomaly, but they were definitely above the average line now.

“Issei’s gotten much better at controlling his fire,” he heard Rias mutter as she rested her chin in her hands and watched the boys battle in the backyard. “He hasn’t even touched the walls this time.”

“Don’t remind me,” Sona replied with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t even want to imagine the conversation with Lord Ichigo if we somehow accidentally burned down his house.”

Honestly? Ichigo would find it damn funny. He would make a big show of being angry and threatening to have the bunch of teenage Devils sleep on the streets… maybe for a day or two before finding them new lodging, but yeah, he’d mostly find it funny.

Tsubaki then tilted her head, eyes narrowing as the massive sunflower reared back and slammed a vine into the ground. “I don’t remember that being there before. Do you think it just… grew?”

Akeno hummed thoughtfully, a slow smile curling at her lips. “I’m more curious about what else is hiding in the grass. Do you think Gobdad put it there as a test?”

Tsubaki tilted her head in thought. “It could have been Lady Meril too.”

“Pfft,” Akeno scoffed. “As if that stuck-up bitch would ever lay her perfectly manicured hands on a dirty plant.”

Ichigo’s brows shot up - well, his psychic ones did, anyways. But where did that sudden burst of hostility come from? As far as he knew, Meril was the consummate professional.

Rias turned away from the window and frowned at her Queen. “Akeno, how many times to I have to tell you not to be rude towards her? She’s Lord Ichigo’s right hand, no matter how much you dislike her less than welcoming demeanor, you can’t outright insult her. If Lord Ichigo found out, he’d make our lives even more of a living Hell.”

Yes, yes he would. And that was exactly what he was going to do when he got out of the Irameron. That being said, he was glad to know that Sirzechs’ sister did possess some modicum of wisdom and insight. And she was using it to reign in her own Pieces too.

Akeno held her King’s gaze for a brief second before looking away, a touch of irritation flashing through her eyes. Ichigo frowned as he saw it.

Ichigo’s senses surrounded the girl, and he took in the sight of her. She really was incredibly beautiful, with her long black hair and soulful eyes. He could see why that Issei kid always had thoughts of her on his mind. That being said, she looked nothing like her father, which meant she must have taken after her mother and the human side of her family.

But then Ichigo peered past the flesh and noted her demonic power. She had grown to the very upper limit of Mid-class, brushing against the threshold of High-class. In fact, Ichigo could sense that she was quite ready to cross that boundary… actually, she should have already. Was she holding herself back? Or was it something else?

Baraqiel’s words surfaced in his thoughts, the Cadre’s eager, even pleading, request that he keep an eye on his daughter and take care of her. And Ichigo also remembered his blunt refusal. He hadn’t lied when he said he wouldn’t grant her special treatment, and he still believed that coddling her would do more harm than good, yet that conviction did nothing to dull the weight that settled in his chest as he looked closer.

Beneath the amusement in her eyes and the teasing lilt in her voice as she spoke, her soul was a tangled mass of pain and resentment, grief twisted into something broken and jagged. There was anger there, yes, but it was laced with a poisonous sense of abandonment and a quiet, keening loss that ached consistently.

And from the sorrows of Akeno’s soul, he instantly recognized an all too familiar shadow. The wretched despair and misery of watching your own mother’s murder.

And it was in that familiar twinge of agony and crushing grief that Ichigo felt a pang of kinship.

She’s only eighteen, he realized. The same age as Yuzu and Karin.

He sighed to himself; a sense of unexpected empathy and solemn weight filling him.

And as the girls attention drifted back to the battle in the backyard, and they continued their observations of the boys, Ichigo watched on idly. Though, as he did so, his senses kept drifting back to Akeno… as she would laugh at something she herself would say, and he couldn’t help but notice how the smile never quite reached her eyes, how the persistent gloom that leaked from her soul colored her magic.

And he noted how her Fallen heritage only worsened it, amplifying those powerful emotions stemming from love and aiding her demonic magic in churning them into resentment and bitter anger. And through it all, Ichigo found himself exhaling slowly, not in frustration, but in something closer to quiet sadness.

Rias has her work cut out for her with that one.

The conversation amongst the girls drifted for a few more moments, light and aimless, until Ichigo heard his own name and began to pay closer attention.

“… how violent that surge was?” Sona said, folding her arms as she watched the chaos outside. “That was entirely different to all the other strange ongoing reported in Infernity. It was very clearly Lord Ichigo exerting tremendous power. I’m positive he was in some sort of great battle.”

Ichigo stared impressed at Sera’s little sister. That’s exactly what happened, well, with the addition of a few details and context, such as him being blasted by divine energies and being forced to take his true form to cleanse his being from said energies.

“…Do you think he could’ve been hurt?” Rias asked quietly, her gaze drifting back toward the window.

Sona scoffed almost on reflex. “It’s Lord Ichigo. I doubt-” but she paused, lips pressing together. “Well. There have been rumors. About the Old Satan Faction making moves against the Crown Princes. There are even rumors about the civil war restarting soon.”

Ichigo felt like rolling his eyes. He had told the others that they should make the renewed war with the Old Satan Faction public knowledge weeks ago! He couldn’t believe his fellow Satans still hadn’t bothered telling the wider populace. He’d have to do it himself when he was back into the swing of things.

Tsubaki tilted her head. “But if a Satan were injured…, how would they go about even recovering, I wonder? I mean, something as insanely powerful as a Satan being grievously wounded be an egregious thing. I imagine Phoenix tears and conventional magical healing would be useless.”

Akeno let out a low laugh as she crept up behind her fellow Queen. “Hoping to play nurse to our legal guardian.”

Tsubaki went beet red and jumped away. “N-no! Of course, not!”

Rias also sputtered and let out an indignant cry, “Be serious!”

The dark-haired girl immediately hugged Rias from the side and leaned in close. “Oh, but Buchou! Imagine the possibilities! Our Red-Haired Princess in a scandalous nurse cosplay, tending ever so loving to the wounded Prince, rubbing his nude body down with a wet cloth and-”

And Riad jumped out of her arms with a strangled cry. “A-Akeno!”

And the Fallen-Devil hybrid girl let out a cackle. “Oh, you’re actually imagining it, aren’t you!”

And given how Rias’ face had matched her hair in color, it was obvious that yes, she was imagining it.

“But hmm,” Akeno cupped her cheeks with both hands. “I wouldn’t mind running my hands over that man myself.”

And just like that, whatever empathy and kinship he had felt for the young woman vanished on the spot. Some part of him felt that this was all Sera’s fault. Her and all that damn fictional media she was always publishing with his likeness!

Fucking Sera!

At the same time, he couldn’t help that lance of vexation as he beheld the four teenage girls all with dusted pink on their cheeks, three of whom looking like they got caught with their hand in the cookie jar and the fourth egging them on salaciously.

But then, he suddenly had an idea.

A very wicked idea.

Without shifting his attention from the scene, he nudged the ambient magic of Grevex, letting it flow a little thicker, a little meaner, and he poured it all into the rampaging sunflower outside. At once, the odd monstrous plant froze, before it started glowing a yellowish-golden hue and vibrated rather violently. It bulged quite suddenly, and the stalk began to thicken, the petals spread wider and glowed more menacingly, and it rose to triple its height, utterly towering over the musty old house.

“What the fuck!” Issei’s cry came from outside. And from within, all four girls stared shellshocked as the sunflower reared its core and began firing off a series of golden lasers at the boys below.

“…You have got to be kidding me,” Sona said flatly.

Oh, but Ichigo wasn’t done. His mind brushed the plant, and he gave it an outright command. The plant itself had no idea what or where the dark presence came from, but the thing obliged enthusiastically as thorn-choked vines slammed through the outer walls of the house, splintering wood and stone as easily as paper. Windows shattered inward, shutters tore loose, and the girls’ startled shouts cut through the air, sharp as they unleashed a tirade of rather unladylike insults.

Was it a dick move on his part?

Yes, it absolutely was.

But Ichigo had made it clear the young Devils put under his care would, under no circumstances, be enjoying the experience.

“No!” Came Issei’s desperate cry. “Protect the oppai!”

And Ichigo couldn’t help the laugh that came.

======

A/N: On one hand I was kind of iffy about this chapter because for all that's being said, not much is happening. Save for the whole psychic battle between Ichigo and Zekram. At the same time, this allows for the next chapter where I can have Ichigo openly take the offensive against Khaos Brigade and the Old Satan Faction! Oh, and the Nobles in Infernity who suddenly have Hellfire to worry about!

From a narrative perspective, it is interesting trying to balance two characters that are essentially the same; Ichigo and Satan.

Have a lovely weekend, see you next week!