DxD: Chapter 96/100

Chapter 96: The Fall

More than 7,000 Cursed Children flew across the entire Tokyo area, dispersing to search for other cursed children.

Inside the shelter.

Miko came to Lynn to renew her Blessing.

She was also prepared to contribute, but before that, she wanted to level up.

Recently, she had been actively hunting cursed spirits in the main world whenever she had time to gain experience.

Now, she felt that the experience from low-grade cursed spirits had nearly reached its limit.

Miko took off her clothes and exposed her back.

Yotsuya Miko
Low-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Strength: S999
Agility: S999
Durability: S999
Magic: S999

Inherent Skills:
[Yin-Yang Eyes] (omitted)
[Spirit-Seer Devil] (omitted)

"No wonder you're ready to level up, Miko."

Lynn gently patted her back and updated her Blessing.

All attributes were already maxed at S999. If not for Saeko's [Yearning for Killing] ability, which allowed stats to break past the limits, Miko's ability values would've already hit their ceiling.

However, thanks to the [Spirit-Seer Devil]'s soul devouring capability, she was able to push her stats to the top before leveling up.

Miko let out a sigh of relief seeing her completed stats.

In truth, she had been ready to level up for some time but waited until her stats were fully maxed.

Now…

"Master, please upgrade me!"

Lynn didn't hesitate.

Level Sublimation.

A flash of light burst behind Miko.

New Blessing information appeared.

Yotsuya Miko
Mid-Class Devil
Race: Devil
Master: Lynn Valefor
Strength: I0
Agility: I0
Durability: I0
Magic: I0

Inherent Skills:
[Yin-Yang Eyes]
Spirit Vision — Increases the speed of magic growth

[Spirit-Seer Devil]
Spirit Targeting — Enhanced damage to spirit-type beings
Spirit Control — Forcefully manipulates spirits
Spirit Devouring
Devil Transformation — Closely linked with Spirit Devouring; upon transformation, all latent spirit energy is released

Development Ability:
Soul-Soothing — Exerts a deterrent effect on spirit creatures via [Yin-Yang Eyes]

"Not bad. That development ability suits you perfectly."

Lynn copied the updated Blessing and handed it to Miko.

She got dressed and reviewed the details.

"Mid-Class Devil…"

She had finally caught up with Utaha-senpai.

Miko clenched her fist and felt the power surging through her body.

"Hah…"

Mid-Class Devil.

She never imagined she'd feel this much stronger than before.

"Soul-Soothing…"

Her amber eyes shimmered slightly.

"Yin-Yang Eyes… it really did evolve."

Watching Miko complete her upgrade, Mahiru showed a hint of frustration in her eyes.

Falling behind again…

But—

She had only met Lynn a little later than the others.

Her stats were nearly maxed out and she was already on the verge of leveling up.

She just needed to grind a little longer.

"Haaah—how nice. I wonder when I'll get to level up,"

Yuuko floated midair, tapping her finger against her lips.

Seeing that, Lynn recalled Seitenshi's plan.

Once it was executed, the Tokyo area would be flooded with Gastrea.

It would be a monster feast.

Even Stage IV Gastrea could appear.

Saeko and the others would certainly gain more than enough experience to level up.

Saeko might even reach High-Class Devil in one go.

After the upgrades were done, Miko and the others also headed to the Tokyo area to bring back scattered cursed children.

Tokyo.

In a somewhat bustling shopping mall.

A white-haired girl with ragged clothes and a bandaged face stood silently near the glass railing.

A wooden sign hung from her neck, and a chipped ceramic bowl sat at her feet.

I am a cursed child from the Outer Area.

People passing by glanced at the sign and cast disgusted looks her way.

But since there were too many security cameras around, they merely scoffed, muttered insults, and walked away.

The white-haired girl didn't react.

She just opened her mouth slightly, and a soft, sweet melody flowed from her throat and echoed through the corridor.

Dingling—

Suddenly, a crisp sound rang from the ceramic bowl.

"Ah! Thank you!"

The white-haired girl lit up with joy, but when she bent down and reached for the bowl.

It was just a can tab.

Her expression dimmed.

"Haha! Still falling for that!"

Two young men passed by, laughing as they wrapped their arms around each other.

"You never learn!"

"It's funny though, right? I do this every time I visit!"

"Like anyone would want to keep them around!"

Clearly, this wasn't their first time harassing her.

The white-haired girl forced down her emotions and kept singing, hoping someone would listen.

But judging by the empty bowl, her hope was in vain.

Just then, Saeko entered the mall.

She glanced at the two young men and instinctively licked her lips.

Although Lynn had left the task of wiping out humanity to the Seitenshi, he had told them.

For now, they could do as they pleased.

So…

Killing a few humans wouldn't matter, right?

After all, it was hard to suppress that urge when faced with scum like this.

Swish.

Saeko drew her sword!

A flash of light, and the two young men were sliced clean in half.

Blood splattered across the corridor.

"Ah…"

"Eh?"

The blind white-haired girl froze, startled.

"I-Is it… a Gastrea?"

Tap.

A hand gently landed on her head.

Saeko knelt beside her and spoke softly.

"Little one, want to come with me?"

"Eh?"

The white-haired girl panicked a little. "M-Me?"

Saeko thought for a moment, then rephrased.

"Will you become part of my master's peerage?"

The girl exclaimed in disbelief and nervously asked,"Peerage? Even like this... is that okay?"

She couldn't understand why anyone would invite someone like her.

She couldn't even see.

Scenes like this played out all across Tokyo.

The Cursed Children acted freely, striking down humans at the slightest provocation.

They showed no restraint.

"Ahhh!! The cursed children are attacking humans!!"

"They're attacking people!"

"I told you, they're monsters! Should've been eliminated long ago!"

Thud—

The man's head hit the ground before he could finish his sentence.

A Cursed Child flapped her wings and flew off in another direction.

His words were just too disgusting to bear.


---

Seitenshi stood before the French window, gazing down at the chaos of Tokyo.

There was no sorrow on her face.

Only a sense of liberation.

"Whatever happens to humanity… doesn't matter anymore."

Meanwhile.

Tendo Residence.

Tendo Kikunojou's brows remained furrowed upon learning of the unrest in Tokyo.

"The cursed children... have they gone mad?"

Daring to rise against humanity?

"As expected, we can't trust these monsters."

Tap tap.

Suddenly, the sound of crisp footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Tendo Kikunojou looked up, surprise flashing in his eyes.

An unexpected guest had stepped into the Tendo residence once more.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 97: Wish

Kikunojou sat silently on the tatami, staring at the approaching figure. After a long pause, he finally spoke in a deep voice, "I didn't expect you to return."

Tendo Kisara grinned, a terrifying gleam flickering in her eyes as her hand rested on the hilt of her blade.

"Old dog… you never thought this day would come, did you?"

Tendo Kikunojou remained composed, sitting upright as he calmly responded, "It seems your time away from the Tendo family has given you some courage."

Her sudden return was unexpected.

But he wasn't afraid of Kisara in the slightest.

After all, she was just a child who hadn't matured.

"Still so arrogant."

Clang—

Her demon blade was unsheathed, a cold glint flashing across the room, reflecting Kisara's twisted expression in its steel.

"Die!"

Tendo Kikunojou immediately held his blade in front of him. Though his eyes were clouded with age, a fierce glint surged within them.

He stood up abruptly, drawing his own blade.

"Kisara, don't forget you're still using the Tendo family's swordsmanship!"

"Heh…"

Kisara sneered. A black flame suddenly erupted across her body.

[Sword Ghost]

Shura Devil Mode!!

[Revenge Devil] Activated!

Her pupils shimmered with blood.

There was no need for declaration.

Standing before her now was an enemy.

The Queen of Revenge—Target locked.

Special attack against designated enemies—Activated!

Buzz—

The air trembled violently!

Kisara burst forward, moving at blinding speed as if she'd entered overspeed mode. In a flash, she was already in front of Tendo Kikunojou, and the demon blade Snow Shadow slashed upward from below!

Tendo Kikunojou's pupils contracted!

The blade in his hand shattered on contact. The air around them seemed to split apart in a clean line!

In the next instant, Kisara stood behind him.

She stared down at the tiny drops of blood on her blade, her eyes flashing with sadistic satisfaction.

Tendo Kikunojou's eyes widened. His lips trembled.

Pffft—

A fountain of blood exploded, staining the wall red.

"H-How… how is this possible…"

His eyes were filled with disbelief as his body collapsed with a thud.

Even in death, his eyes remained wide open.

"Heh…"

Kisara sneered.

It felt good.

But not enough.

Not enough!

Swish.

She stepped out of the room, blade in hand, walking toward the rest of the Tendo family.

Everyone she encountered was cut down without hesitation.

The Tendo household was soon filled with screams!

"Kisara! I'm your brother!"

"I was wrong! I know I was wrong!!"

"Kisara! Please!"

"Spare me—!"

Slash—

Kisara's expression remained blank as she ended another life.

Huff—

Walking out of the Tendo family gate, Kisara exhaled deeply.

The Tendo family.

Annihilated.

Hmm…

There should be one person left.

Her.

But—

The surname "Tendo" was meaningless now.

Kisara muttered to herself, "I wonder… what's Lord Lynn's surname?"

It was time for a name change.

Click!

Suddenly.

A young man in black ran over, looking flustered. He paused the moment he caught sight of Kisara.

"Kisara?"

Then his gaze dropped to the blood-stained demon blade in her hand.

Rentaro's expression changed drastically as he rushed toward the Tendo residence.

Moments later.

He returned, face grim and eyes bloodshot.

He glared at Kisara.

"Tendo… Kisara!"

He clenched his fists, voice trembling as he called her name.

"Why?!"

"Why would you do this?!"

Kisara looked at him coldly. "Isn't revenge perfectly normal?"

Rentaro let out a bitter laugh, trembling with rage.

"This kind of unjustified slaughter—!"

"I absolutely cannot allow it!"

Kisara sneered, as if looking at a complete fool.

What she did...

Did it need his approval?

Her expression blanked out, her tone turning cold and dull.

"As for me…"

"I truly despise those self-righteous types."

Boom.

Her black hair whipped wildly in the wind, black aura coiling around her body. The whites of her eyes were gradually dyed pitch-black.

She raised her sword and pointed it directly at Satomi Rentaro.

"If you've chosen that side…"

"Then you're also an enemy."

[Sword Ghost]—Shura Devil Mode.

[Revenge Devil]—Target marked: Satomi Rentaro.

Queen of Revenge: Special attack activated!

Devil Transformation: Final Evil Finisher!

All physical stats increased drastically!

The more evil the intent, the faster the transformation completes!

Whoosh.

Kisara vanished like a gust of wind, disappearing from Rentaro's vision in an instant.

Rentaro's pupils shrank violently. His prosthetic eyes zoomed in, trying to track Kisara's movements.

No!

Nothing!

Still nothing!

Clang—!

His combat instincts made him raise his arm in desperation, blocking just in time.

The sound of metal clashing rang out.

His sleeve tore open, revealing a glowing blue mechanical prosthetic!

"Oh?"

Kisara showed a flash of surprise.

She hadn't expected Rentaro to be hiding something like this.

Nor had she expected the prosthetic's quality to be so high.

But—

She had no intention of facing him head-on.

She twisted her body.

Using her sheer speed, she slipped behind Rentaro.

Swish—

A blade pierced straight through his chest!

Cough!

Blood gushed from his mouth, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He never imagined the always-sickly Miss Kisara would have this kind of terrifying strength.

"Satomi Rentaro…"

"Take your hypocrisy…"

"And join that old bastard Tendo Kikunojou in hell."

He should be waiting for you there.

...

The Tokyo Incident left everyone in fear.

People hid inside their homes, eyes filled with dread, constantly cursing the Cursed Children.

A few days later.

The riots began to die down.

Among the survivors, some brave individuals stepped out to check the situation.

The streets were quiet and desolate.

But—

There were no signs of any Cursed Children.

The survivors breathed a collective sigh of relief.

"If only those Cursed Children stayed gone forever…"

"Damn it! What the hell's the government doing these days?! What are the police even here for?!"

Just as their curses echoed.

---

Seitenshi's Residence.

Seitenshi opened the sealed records of the Legacy of the Seven Stars.

Then—

The first official conscription order was issued.

"Phase V Gastrea is landing in Tokyo. All citizens are to report to the frontline for combat!"

When the order came through, the survivors were stunned.

Them? Fight on the frontlines?

What a joke!

"Why should we be the ones fighting?!"

"What's the government even for?!"

"Where are the Cursed Children?! Let those monsters go fight the Gastrea!"

"Yeah! Only the Cursed Children can fight those things!!"

A new wave of protests erupted…

But soon after, they realized something horrifying.

The Cursed Children.

Were gone.

Just as they'd wished.

Completely disappeared.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 98: Fall Of Tokyo

That day, humanity finally remembered the terror of the Gastrea and the humiliation of being ruled by monsters.

After losing the protection of the Cursed Children, exposed to the Gastrea directly.

They felt fear, firsthand.

"No! No! I don't want to fight the Gastrea!!"

Panic consumed the masses.

"Where are the Cursed Children?! Call them out to protect us!!"

"Please, please! Cursed Children, protect us like before!!"

"Come out—hurry!!"

"Yes! Yes! We need to pass the Cursed Children Human Rights Law! We must guarantee their rights!"

They began preaching fairness.

They even started advocating for Cursed Children's rights!

But—

Again.

It wasn't regret. It was fear.

They begged relentlessly, offering promises and benefits.

But the Cursed Children never appeared.

The city fell silent… then erupted in a wave of curses.

Their ugly nature resurfaced once more.

"No! No! I want out of Tokyo!"

That one sentence seemed to snap everyone out of it.

Stage V Gastrea.

They couldn't possibly win!

Escape!

They had to escape Tokyo!!

The people scrambled, dragging their families, rushing to the airport.

To Osaka! To Sendai!

Anywhere but Tokyo!

The city descended into chaos.

But even so.

Not a single high-ranking official came out to stop them.

Because…

There was only one left among them.


---

Seitenshi stood before her window, silently watching the chaos unfold in Tokyo.

Her expression was blank.

There was only disappointment.

But—

"No…"

"No one is leaving Tokyo."

---

Swish—

A blood-stained blade sliced through the air.

Airport.

Kisara wiped her blade clean and stood at the forefront, with a group of winged Cursed Children behind her, blocking the exit.

"No way forward."

Her cold voice echoed throughout the airport, sending chills down everyone's spines.

Especially after she had just killed someone in front of them.

And.

"T-That's… the winged Cursed Child…"

Someone's voice trembled.

The winged Cursed Children were unlike the others.

These ones would really kill them.

But behind them.

A wave of Gastrea was closing in.

And besides…

They had numbers.

They had power.

"Charge!"

"To hell with it! I'm getting out of Tokyo today!!"

Slash.

Blood splattered across the terminal.

Kisara and the Cursed Children didn't hesitate.

Their blades fell!

One after another!

There were only two choices:

Die—

Or become Gastrea and turn into experience for the devils' blades!

Tokyo: Entry only, no exit!!

A besieged city.

No one would be spared.

Terror silenced the people.

Behind them—Gastrea.

Before them—devil-transformed Cursed Children.

They were trapped in despair.

At the same time.

Lynn was reincarnating over 200,000 Cursed Children.

He summoned more than 200,000 Evil Pieces at once, pouring his magic into them.

The next moment.

Power.

As if an endless wave of energy surged forth!

The surging demonic power erupted from Lynn, warping the very air around him.

Lynn clenched his fists, heart pounding.

One step closer to the Maou level.

A few days later.

Stage V Gastrea.

Zodiac: Scorpio.

Landed in Tokyo.

Gastrea the size of mountains, clad in dark shells, slowly advanced toward the Tokyo area.

Humans trembled in despair.

They wanted to run but couldn't.

As for fighting back?

Just looking at the approaching Gastrea made their legs go weak.

They couldn't even think of resistance.

Why…

Why did the Cursed Children leave them?

Why…

Why won't the Cursed Children protect them anymore?

Wasn't protecting humanity.

The Cursed Children's atonement?

They were sinners!

So why should they be punished!!

Even now, there was no repentance.

Only resentment.

Scorpio moved slowly.

But the vanguard it released was enough to destroy all of Tokyo.

Phase I. Phase II. Phase III.

Even Phase IV Gastrea flooded into the city in droves!

Without the Cursed Children to protect them.

Even a Phase I Gastrea was enough to tear through an ordinary human like paper.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

At that moment.

Tokyo was filled with screams of despair!

Seitenshi looked down at the chaos in the Tokyo streets with no emotion.

She had completely lost hope in humanity.

Even at the end.

They only knew how to curse and resent.

Humans like these.

Were not worth saving.

Seitenshi turned away, without hesitation, and faced Lynn sitting in the office chair, his violet eyes calm.

She lowered her head.

"Forgive me, Master Lynn… I was too selfish."

Lynn crossed one leg over the other, his fingers spinning a pen casually.

He said nothing.

Humans would eventually perish.

In the end, their only value.

Was to become permanent Gastrea spawn points for his Peerage.

On the other side.

Seeing Lynn remain silent, Seitenshi's heart filled with fear.

She bit her lip, her face flushing red. Then, trembling, she slowly removed her purple dress, revealing her delicate, perfect figure.

She knelt on the ground, lowered her head.

And performed a flawless 3-point dogeza.

"I'm sorry, Master Lynn."

Her voice trembled, but she didn't stop.

"This is the only way I know… to atone for my sins."

She understood.

Her repeated selfishness had gone too far.

She had to atone.

But she couldn't think of any other way to redeem herself.

Because.

She couldn't imagine what Lord Lynn lacked.

Even her body.

Already belonged to him.

But this—

Was all she could offer.

Her soft voice quivered as her pale skin was tinged with shameful pink.

"I… I've studied a little… specifically for this…"

"I hope I can please you."

Oh?

Lynn raised an eyebrow with interest.

His eyes roamed slowly over her trembling body, causing every inch of her skin to flinch.

He stood up, stepped before her, and looked down upon the kneeling Seitenshi.

"Then…"

"Let me test—"

"Your results."

"Y-Yes! Mmm…"

Downstairs.

Humans wept in despair.

They couldn't escape the Gastrea infection.

Their bodies twisted and transformed in agony.

Upstairs.

Seitenshi moaned in devotion.

Her voice sang of devilish rebirth and damnation.

Tokyo had completely fallen.

From top to bottom.

(To be continued.)


Chapter 99: Isayama Yomi

Tokyo area.

Poof—

Saeko cut down a Gastrea and glanced around.

Then, she sent a message in the group chat.

Busujima Saeko: No human survivors found in the port area.

That message confirmed that another area of Tokyo had fallen, with no survivors left.

So far, Tokyo had completely become a paradise for Gastrea.

Without the protection of the Cursed Children, even a Phase V Gastrea like Scorpio didn't need to fully enter Tokyo—it was already flattened by the swarms of minions it summoned.

Sigma Man: At this rate, let's start forming groups to grind experience.

Sigma Man: We'll clear out part of Tokyo first.

Sigma Man: Remember to switch to iron weapons.

After posting the next Peerage mission in the group, Lynn stood in Seitenshi's office, still in his pajamas.

He gazed out the window at the expanse of Tokyo.

"What a holy land for farming experience…"

Lynn sighed as he watched Gastrea occasionally appear in the streets below.

And then…

He looked off into the distance.

Phase V Scorpio was slowly making its way toward Tokyo.

Estimated arrival: about four days.

Tokyo dungeon BOSS.

That's the name Lynn had given it.

The Peerage's next target—level grinding!

There was no way they'd miss such a massive source of experience like Scorpio.

Moreover…

Lynn looked at his panel.

The [Apoptosis Genome] was faintly flickering.

Perhaps completing this ability required a Zodiac?

In that case, it must be defeated.

As for the Cursed Children in the other areas of the Black Bullet world, Lynn had already handed them over to the 200,000 Cursed Children in his command.

Among them were a few familiar faces—like Enju Aihara, for instance.

But…

There weren't any particularly special ones.

Lynn had already expected that, so he wasn't disappointed.

In short.

With 200,000 lower-level devil soldiers and more Cursed Children who would be reincarnated as devils later, it was more than enough to flatten this world.

Lynn only needed to wait for his Peerage to harvest enough experience and then ascend to the level of Maou.

So—

While his Peerage members were forming parties and grinding, Lynn returned to his main world.

Meanwhile, the Black Bullet world was in complete chaos after Tokyo's fall.

Osaka.

The high-level meeting of the Association had fallen into silence.

"Didn't Tokyo request support from the outside?"

They looked confused.

In the blink of an eye, a city that had managed to preserve human life had been overrun by Gastrea.

Not a single bit of news had made it out.

Shiba Heavy Weapons.

Shiba Miori stared blankly at the headline about Tokyo's fall, her delicate fingers tightly clutching the newspaper in her hands.

At the same time.

Two hundred thousand Cursed Children were deployed across various parts of the world.

---

Shuchiin Academy.

Faculty Guidance Office.

Natsuki Minamiya stared at Lynn, her eyes filled with irritation.

"You actually remembered to come back to school?"

Lynn sat down in front of her and shrugged. "I couldn't help it, I've been really busy lately."

"Busy?"

Natsuki sneered. "Busy building your harem?"

Just thinking about the girls around the academy made her furious.

This lustful devil was seriously corrupting the atmosphere of Shuchiin Academy!

Lynn raised both hands. "Hey, hey, how can you call the Peerage of a devil a harem?"

"It's family, family!"

Natsuki kept sneering. "Heh… what's the difference?"

"Well, at least it sounds better."

"…"

Looking at Natsuki, who had gone speechless, Lynn made another invitation with a smile:

"How about it, Natsuki-chan? Want to become part of my harem—err, Peerage?"

Natsuki's face instantly darkened.

This lustful devil clearly almost said harem!

He wasn't even trying to hide it!

She stood up and swung the folding fan in her hand.

"You shameless, lustful devil!"

Snap!

A crisp sound rang out in the office.

But—

The folding fan didn't strike Lynn's head as expected.

Natsuki looked at her folding fan. It seemed to have hit an invisible air wall. Her expression subtly changed.

Has this lustful devil grown stronger again?

To the point that he can now release magic power so casually?

Natsuki frowned. "I'm asking seriously, don't you think your growth speed is a bit too fast recently?"

She was truly puzzled by this rate of increase.

"Wanna know?"

Lynn grinned. "Join my Peerage and I'll tell you."

Natsuki looked away, replying flatly, "Not interested."

"Just a reminder," she added, tapping the desk with her folding fan and creating a sharp sound.

"As a devil, your Peerage members should at least have decent quality, right?"

In other words, stop bullying the ordinary students of Shuchiin.

"Looks like Natsuki-chan doesn't trust the strength of my Peerage…"

Lynn stroked his chin and then suddenly suggested, "How about expanding our previous cooperation and having my Peerage help you?"

Hmm…

Although Utaha and the others had traveled through two worlds by now, they still didn't fully understand the situation in the main world.

Having them follow Natsuki and gain experience would be beneficial.

And while grinding, they could also earn rewards.

Even though the Peerage currently held two worlds, there were still no extraordinary items to offer.

"You sure?"

Natsuki opened her folding fan, covering the lower half of her face, eyes filled with doubt.

Just those students like Kasumigaoka Utaha?

But…

She did need help.

And she was too lazy to deal with the official forces.

Although Lynn was a devil, they had worked together for a long time and understood each other well.

After thinking for a moment, she nodded.

"Fine. But…"

"You'd better not hold me back."

Lynn smiled silently.

He was confident in Utaha and the others.

"Alright, back to business—what do you need me to do?"

Lynn sat up straight, looking her in the eyes.

"The Grade 1 cursed item we applied for previously—"

"It's arriving soon."

Lynn raised an eyebrow in surprise.

He'd been so busy in the Black Bullet world lately that he'd almost forgotten about it.

They didn't wait long before someone knocked on the office door.

"Come in."

Swish—

The door opened.

A beautiful girl with flowing black hair like a night waterfall walked in.

Her amethyst-like eyes drew attention immediately.

"Isayama Yomi. I came from Kyoto."

Natsuki gave a brief introduction.

Lynn looked at her, and saw the [Demonic Chess Piece] on his panel light up.

Another potential Peerage member.

But right now, his Peerage already had enough members.

There were still millions of Cursed Children waiting to be fed in the Black Bullet world.

So Lynn wasn't in a rush to recruit more ordinary members.

Of course.

If the opportunity presented itself, he wouldn't turn it down.

Isayama Yomi was direct and efficient.

She took out the Grade 1 cursed item she was carrying.

"Word-Spirit: Twisted Mirror."

Isayama Yomi placed a cracked bronze mirror on the table.

"This mirror is the true form of the Word-Calamity Yokai, sealed away by the legendary Abe no Seimei."

Yomi calm, cold voice introduced the Twisted Mirror.

Lynn listened for a moment and got a general idea of its ability.

"It can distort the outcome of reality to a certain extent…"

After finishing her task, Yomi prepared to leave.

Lynn handed her a devil's recruitment leaflet.

Yomi's expression shifted subtly as she recognized it.

As someone from an official organization that dealt with the supernatural, she naturally knew a bit about devils and angels.

"This…"

Yomi looked at Natsuki.

Natsuki glanced at Lynn, then sighed, "Take it. It might come in handy."

Even she was a bit confused by Lynn's current level of power.

Having that leaflet might save her life in a pinch.

Although.

There was a good chance that if the moment came, she'd be dragged into Lynn's Peerage.

After some hesitation, Yomi still placed the leaflet in her pocket.

After she left, Natsuki didn't look too pleased.

"You're targeting someone again, you lustful devil."

Lynn shrugged. "Call it a precautionary move. Who knows, maybe something will come of it?"

---

Black Bullet World.

Lynn handed the Twisted Mirror to Miko.

"Distort reality?"

Miko blinked, confused.

After thinking it over, she turned her attention to a Gastrea.

Normally, it would crawl through the alley ahead.

She aimed the Twisted Mirror at it and focused her thoughts.

The Gastrea, which should have gone through the alley, crashed into the wall.

Miko's eyes lit up.

"So that's how it works!"

Yuuko floated over with an envious look.

"When will I get a weapon?"

Everyone had switched to iron weapons.

But this was just a workaround for now.

Lynn stroked his chin, deep in thought.

The Peerage's weapons needed to be upgraded soon.

Aside from the Twisted Mirror that Miko just received, even Saeko's blade was still just iron.

Other than being able to suppress Gastrea regeneration, it provided no additional bonuses.

He couldn't help but think of the artifacts in the main world.

Hmm…

Sacred Gears were rare.

You only found them if fate allowed it.

If only there were a world specialized in providing weapons…

A few days later.

Lynn's Peerage began their preparations to hunt the Phase V Scorpio.

Before the battle.

Lynn updated the blessings of his Peerage members.

Saeko, Utaha, and Miko all had significant boosts to their stats.

Except for Yuuko, Hana, and the newer members, the rest had advanced to Intermediate Devil level.

It was worth noting that Shiina Mahiru's Agility and Magic had both reached S-rank.

Shizuka's Durability had also reached S.

"Phew…"

"Finally a Mid-Class Devil!"

Shizuka was naked, holding her updated blessings in hand. She stretched lazily.

Then she cracked her shoulders and arms, sighing, "I'm so tired~"

Mahiru clutched her blessings info and let out a small sigh of relief.

Even if she wasn't as fast as Saeko and the others, at least she wasn't too far behind.

"Alright."

Lynn clapped his hands.

"Next—let's begin the Scorpio raid."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 100: Goddess of Wisdom

Outskirts of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.

Lynn stood quietly with a group of his Peerage members.

In front of them stood the massive figure of Scorpio.

"So big!"

Shizuka stared in awe, took a step back, and quickly hid behind Saeko.

Saeko glanced at her speechlessly but didn't say anything.

After all, Shizuka was a [Recovery Devil]. As long as she did her job as the nurse, that was enough.

Saeko retracted her gaze and focused on Scorpio. Her thirst for battle surged uncontrollably.

But…

Before that, they needed to clear out the surrounding monsters first.

Saeko looked at the Gastrea charging toward them.

Her target was a Grade IV.

Miko looked a little worried.

Her ability as a [Spirit-Seer Devil] was extremely effective against spiritual beings.

But when it came to physical combat…

She was completely lacking!

It felt like she was the one gaining the least from this monster feast.

Yuuko was eager to go. Her eyes were filled with nothing but excitement.

In any case, Gastrea couldn't see her.

Seeing that they were all ready to charge in, Lynn waved forward.

"Let's go! No opponents ahead of us!"

As soon as Lynn spoke, Saeko bolted forward like an unleashed beast!

Along the way, she cut down a group of Grade I, II, and III Gastrea in succession, charging straight toward the higher-grade ones!

Now equipped with a forged weapon, Saeko was like a goddess of slaughter!

If gods stood in her way, she'd cut down gods. If Buddhas blocked her path, she'd kill Buddhas.

Kisara scoffed and dashed forward, unwilling to be outdone.

Her swordsmanship had always been exceptional. Before becoming a devil, her weak body limited her to brief bursts of strength.

But even then, she could injure a Grade IV Gastrea with a single strike.

Now that she had undergone Devil Transformation, Kisara's combat power had only grown stronger.

Mahiru and Utaha also began making their way toward the Grade IVs.

After all, they were all Mid-Class Devils. They couldn't let Saeko and Kisara steal all the spotlight.

Only Miko looked around awkwardly before grabbing Hana's arm and speaking righteously.

"Hana, let me help you level up!"

"Huh?"

Hana blinked in surprise, then smiled happily. "Okay! I finally get to fight alongside Miko!!"

She placed her hands on her hips, full of enthusiasm, and pointed at a Gastrea ahead. "Let's go take down that big one, Miko!"

Miko followed her gaze, and her eyelid twitched before she forced a smile.

"Um… Hana, that one's still a bit too much for you."

"How about we start with that instead?"

She pointed at a slightly larger but still manageable—Grade III.

"Eh?"

Hana blinked, confused. "But it looks so small…"

"It's fine!"

Before she could protest, Miko dragged her off to pick a fight with the Grade III.

Meanwhile, Yuuko floated in the air, occasionally picking fights with the Gastrea to collect experience.

Although the Gastrea couldn't see her, she also couldn't instantly destroy any above Grade III.

Besides…

Leveling by herself was just more efficient.

Everyone in the Peerage was working hard to gather experience.

Except one person.

Shizuka stood beside Lynn, waving her fists.

"Go get 'em, everyone! I've prepared enough recovery items for all of you!"

Lynn's eyelid twitched. He raised his hand and gave her a hard smack on her plump rear.

Smack!

The crisp sound was strangely satisfying.

"You should be grinding too!" he said unhappily.

"Hmm…"

Shizuka rubbed her behind, then reluctantly shuffled off to pick a fight with the Gastrea.

A short while later, the battlefield was filled with shouts like:

"Thunder Strike!"

"Come on! Let me kill you!"

"You're an enemy too?!"

Lynn observed the chaos for a moment, and after confirming that no one was in any real danger, his gaze shifted toward Scorpio.

With every step Scorpio took, the [Apoptosis Genome] on Lynn's panel grew brighter.

He was very curious, just what kind of change would this ability undergo once Scorpio was defeated?

---

At the same time.

After handing the cursed item to Lynn, Isayama Yomi didn't return to Kyoto immediately.

Although a Grade 1 cursed item did require the escort of a senior official, that wasn't her main reason for being here.

She had come to Tokyo for another mission. Delivering the cursed item was just a side job.

Coffee shop.

A petite, slender girl sat across from Isayama Yomi.

She wore a beret that gently covered her light golden hair, and her clear purple pupils shimmered with intelligence.

Isayama Yomi took a sip of coffee and said calmly, "Miss Goddess of Wisdom, please explain the situation."

"Iwanaga Kotoko. Just call me Kotoko."

Iwanaga Kotoko smiled lightly, her demeanor refined and noble.

"Alright, Miss Kotoko."

Isayama nodded and stared directly into her eyes.

Kotoko sighed. "You've barely touched your coffee since arriving, and you're staring at me like you're interrogating a suspect. How rude..."

"Apologies."

Though Yomi said the words, her expression remained unchanged. Her eyes never left Kotoko.

"Alright, alright..."

Kotoko raised her hands in surrender, then stood up and said, "Instead of listening to me talk, why don't you see it for yourself?"

---

After passing through a barrier, an unassuming shrine came into view.

Yomi's expression grew sharp.

Kotoko said, "When I noticed something wrong here, I had them seal it off."

Yomi looked up, her gaze serious.

A demonic aura surged into the sky.

And...

"...As expected, that is the aura of Hagoromo Gitsune!"

Yomi's heart tensed.

Clang.

She instinctively drew Ranguren and prepared to investigate.

Kotoko quickly pulled her arm back, speaking with a complicated expression, "Are you really going to just charge in?"

Yomi paused, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

Kotoko's mouth twitched. "Are you sure you can handle it alone?"

"Shouldn't you report this to your department?"

Kotoko's emotions were clearly unsettled.

If she hadn't been drawn in by Yomi's identity with the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Division, she never would've brought her to a place like this.

And…

Did she just say Hagoromo Gitsune?

Wasn't that a renowned youkai?

Could a high school girl like her really deal with something related to that?

Yomi hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know..."

"But if we wait any longer, I'm afraid it'll be too late…"

Her expression was firm, eyes filled with determination.

Truthfully.

She was confident.

She had already resolved six incidents involving the scent of Hagoromo Gitsune on her own.

It wasn't a problem.

But still...

She couldn't guarantee she'd never fail.

Sigh… stubborn girl.

Kotoko had a headache.

If she'd known, she wouldn't have gotten involved in this mess.

"But don't worry."

Yomi suddenly thought of something and decided to reassure Kotoko. She pulled out the devil flyer Lynn had given her.

"What's this…"

Kotoko blinked in confusion.

"Devil summoning leaflet."

"As long as I inject magic into it, a devil will appear to assist me."

"Of course…"

"There'll be a price afterward."

"Huh?"

Kotoko was stunned.

You're a human. And an exorcist. And you want to summon a devil...?

Even though she wasn't all that familiar with devils, she'd heard a bit from the youkai.

Still...

This was the first time she'd seen something like a devil summoning leaflet in person.

Well—

Even if relying on a devil was disgraceful for a human, at least it was still an option.

At the very least, Kotoko felt a bit more at ease.

Of course…

That depended on whether the devil was strong enough.

"Alright! Then focus!"

...

Black Bullet World.

The sky had grown dark.

Saeko and Kisara were still fighting.

The two had, at some point, started to compete with each other in unspoken understanding.

Other areas were handled by Utaha and Mahiru.

Seeing that they were all panting with exhaustion, Lynn clapped his hands and called them back.

Next—

It was time for Scorpio.

"Leave the remaining Gastrea to Hana and the others."

All the high-level Gastrea had been eliminated.

The leftovers were perfect for Hana and the other Low-Class Devils to train on.

The raid on Scorpio wasn't suitable for them.

Not only were they incapable of damaging it.

Hana's chaotic use of brute force made it painful to watch.

Lynn was honestly worried she'd end up slipping and launching herself straight into Scorpio's mouth.

For the Scorpio raid, he would take the lead.

Partly to test his current strength.

And partly because of the [Apoptosis Genome].

But before that.

He needed to replenish his magic.

Looking at Saeko and the others crying out for food, Lynn began magic replenishment for them, one by one.

"Eh? Why is it always like this…"

Shizuka puffed her cheeks in frustration.

Ever since everyone in the Peerage found out that Lynn's magic replenishment had the same effect as her recovery items.

Her handmade supplies had been completely abandoned.

"I worked so hard to make them…"

She complained while joining the line, looking at Lynn with hopeful eyes.

Utaha rolled her eyes at her and muttered, "Aren't you the same?"

You don't even use what you make, yet you expect others to drink it.

Before long.

Magic supply complete.

Everyone in Lynn's Peerage turned their attention to Scorpio.

Saeko's eyes grew solemn.

The casual air from earlier had vanished.

No matter who you were, facing a beast of this scale would make anyone tense.

Just rolling over could collapse an entire area.

"Hahh…"

"So it's finally time…"

Utaha gripped the Devil Tome tightly.

She wasn't even sure whether her strongest lightning strike could damage it.

As if sensing the group's gaze, Scorpio paused for a moment.

Then it opened its massive mouth and let out a roar.

"YIIIIIIIIIIIIII——"

The sound was sharp and piercing.

The air trembled, whipping their clothes into the air.

Lynn frowned.

That cry…

Sounded more like weeping.

(To be continued.)