3rd person POV:
Subaru natsuki sat on his bed with the bag that had came with him to this unknown world resting on his lap.
It didn't look special, on the contrary it looked worn and dusty. The black fabric it was made from looked as if it had been through war and back, the white straps were dull and supported multiple small cuts while the chains looked rusted.
But its outside appearance couldn't define its true value. Placing his hand on both sides and closing his eyes, he began channeling his will into it.
Suddenly, two glowing runes lit up on each of its side under his palms and everything turned white. It was a rune called [Geymir] that was made to create a pocket storage, a subspace of sorts.
The bag was actually a prototype for testing but it was later replaced with a better version of the rune, capable of being written on the body.
'I couldn't use the runes inscribed on my body because I was stripped of my divinity, making the runes useless In the past. Thus, the reason I used this only remaining prototype.'
He slowly opened his eyes inside of a blank, white space that looked the complete opposite of his spirit boundary and because of that He couldn't help but wince at the sight.
His spirit boundary or inner soul was empty and dark with only the two cores and a small glimmering star. But the subspace?
It was a mess.
Clothes, snacks, basic necessities, trash. everything was scattered, floating around in the white space. Subaru sighed and rubbed his nose, taking a deep breath before swiping his hand in the air.
The moment he did that, a small blue hologram appeared infront of him, there were multiple slots flashing on it with different items stored in them.
'This is the only feature that's better than the upgraded version. I can see everything that's stored in the bag using this screen unlike the body drawn one that didn't have this.'
He thought, finger swiping the blue screen, looking for something, anything that could help. In the large pile of stored objects, two things caught his eyes.
[Name: Serpents tooth
Type: Weapon
Class: dual daggers
Rank: D
Durability: 87/300
Conductivity: Good
Description: daggers made from the broken fangs of a black serpent, the blade still contains the will of the serpent, giving it the ability to generate venom.
(Weapon is currently damaged and sealed. Effects have been reduced.)
Effects:
[Venomous bite]: upon cutting, the blade releases a neurotoxin that slowly reduces the ability to control one's body.
+3 strength
+5 speed ]
the daggers he used against the huntress, serpent's tooth.
Even after he engraved the self repairing runes on it, the metal never accepted it. As if something inside the blades was blocking the flow of his Devine power.
'What could be the reason? I have never experienced something like thi-!!!'
Then, a vivid memory came from the deep corners of his mind, the memory of a similar experience. He had buried it deep inside his brain since it was connected to a deep regret.
A promise he had broken to a warrior, a opponent.... a demon of the underworld. The moment he first realized that gabriel wasn't who he thought.
Flashback:
In a desolate plain where only the ashened grounds and ginormous mountains were visible for miles. The sky was black not from the night but from the smoke of countless volcano eruptions taking place every second.
It was hell. Or just one of its layers. In the ruined land stood three figures. Two of them wearing the devine shroud that seemed to radiate power beyond whatever had been before.
Their faces were shown, revealing them to be none other than the apostle Peter and apostle Daniel. They both had grown up, their features hardened not from age but from experience of battles and near deaths.
Their expressions were tense, jaw clenched as they stared wearily at their foe.
A tall muscular figure with a dark complexion, broad shoulders and a bare torso revealing rippling muscles and glowing green tribal markings.
He wore black pants made out of demon fur with bandages tying the ends on his ankles, a nagamaki with a long curved red gripped handle was tied to his back, resting calmly inside the black sheath exuding the aura of a starving beast ready to be unleashed
His silver hair long and lustrous, reaching the back of his knees, his piercing sapphire eyes with vertically slitted magenta pupils stared with no hint of malice, only bravery and determination to protect what he cared for.
Two long ethereal horns the same shade as his eyes Protruding from his forehead. A wide grinned filled excitement and confidence was plastered on rugged and masculine face, revealing fangs.
"So! You are the one's that have been hunting down the demons. My name is rudger, the chief of the ashen mountain's oni tribe!"
He spoke in a excited and cheerful tone, making the already tense kids become even more guarded. This was the first time that a demon hadn't attacked them at first glance ever since they entered hell through the gateway.
"...I have heard... about your purge."
The oni said, the cheer in his voice dulling, his grin turning more solemn. Then, a overwhelming amount of pressure descended upon the two. The sudden shift in atmosphere made the tense boy jump back and assume a fighting stance.
The oni's grin returned full force, eyes burning with a new found determination. he inhaled deeply before shouting at the top of his lungs.
"I, RUDGER! THE 27TH CHIEFTAIN OF THE ASHEN MOUNTAIN'S ONI TRIBE! CHALLENGE YOU BOTH TO A DUEL!!!!"
At his declaration, the young apostles froze like statues. Duel?
Both of them?
[Name: Subaru natsuki
Age: 15
Race: Divine-Human
Class: Saint
Lv:52 (32,147/52,000)
HP:65,300
DP: 11,650
Strength: 177
Speed: 225
Endurance: 192
Intelligence: 44
Points: 65 ]
[Name: Luster Leonhardt
Age: 16
Race: Divine-Human
Class: Saint
Lv:57 (47,987/57,000)
HP:62,870
DP: 13,720
Strength: 202
Speed: 232
Endurance: 198
Intelligence: 48
Points: 88 ]
The brothers connected by blood glanced at eachother in confusion. They have studied the entire demonic bestiary and oni's were only 4th tier demonoids.
The bestiary catalogs the demons in a total of eight tiers.
Tier 7 to tier 5 are labeled as [Demonlings]. They are mindless monsters that move on only instincts, killing everything that looks different from them. Tho, they can be controlled by demons of higher tiers.
Trolls, goblins, orcs, ogres, lizardmens, golems, hell hounds and such are put in these tiers.
Tier 4 to tier 2 are labeled as [Demonoids]. They are sentient and malevolent beings capable of using dark arts related to their specific species.
Onis, succubus, incubus, titans, gorgons, spectres and such are put in these tiers.
Tier 1 are not labeled. They are listed as separate individuals.... the seventy two demon kings. Or just seven demon kings since the rest killed eachother.
Why? Simple. Because they too were selected just like the twelve apostles. But unlike the apostles who were chosen by the blood, the demon kings took the most basic approach....
THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!
Seven demons were chosen by the sins birthed by the fallen angel. Thus, the seven demons were categorized as separate individuals in a special tier... The sin tier.
Then there's the final one. A tier that belonged to a single being. A single entity that was capable enough to demolish the entire hell all by himself.
The apocalypse tier: Hell king Lucifer.
But the confusing part was the fact that the onis barely qualified for tier 4, possessing the ability called demon horns which increased all of their capabilities by a large margin.
But it wasn't enough for even the strongest among them to be capable of defeating a apostle gone through their second ascension. Beating two at the same time is as possible as an ant lifting an elephant.
"That being said! I wish to make a deal as well with the two of you!"
The oni chief continued, his tone serious all of a sudden. Daniel, the more calmer of the two raised an eyebrow at the hell dweller's proposition.
"A deal? What kind of deal? Just so you know, we don't bargain with the demons."
He spoke, steel in his voice as he stared coldly at the oni, who smiled in return.
"No matter the outcome, I wish for no harm to come to my tribe. If I win. You will leave this mountain."
The apostles blinked in surprise, not expecting that kind of answer. Daniel managed to compose himself and gave him a carefree smile.
But that smile couldn't hide the tension behind it Not created from the presence of the demon in front of him, but from the bloodlust flowing from behind him, aimed directly at the oni who ignored it like it was nothing.
Daniel slightly glanced back at the apostle who exuded the intent to kill the demon in front of them. Shadows of his hood had devoured his face only showing the glowing golden eyes peering through the darkness, burning with hate.
Coughing to maintain his cool, Daniel looked at the oni again, raising an eyebrow he asked a question of his own.
"And what if we win? Can we kill your tribe then?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT! AS I SAID, NO MATTER THE OUTCOME NO HARM SHALL COME TO MY TRIBE!"
Rudger yelled in defiance, his voice firm and filled with conviction to protect his people.
Daniel wanted to continue the conversation with the strange fellow but his next words were cut off by a low and rage filled tone.
"Bullshit. And why do you think we are going to play along with your stupid games?"
Peter spoke, the bloodlust permeating the toxic air of hell, forming a thick layer of pure rage around his body.
"Why should I let any of you live? Knowing full well that you are going to end up killing the humans if we left you alive?"
Under the intense glare of the boy, rudger did not falter even once. He remained firm, letting out a slow exhale, he spoke.
"My tribe has never, and will never cause harm to humans. That is why we live on the ashen mountain."
"DONT FUCK WITH ME!!!! YOU THINK I'D BELIEVE A DEMON-!?"
Peter's hateful words were stopped when a strong gripped his shoulder gently, but it had a strange tension in it. Daniel didn't look at him, letting out a tired sigh, he finally spoke.
"He's telling the truth. The ashen mountain's oni tribe has never been to the human world, nor have ever had a confrontation with any exorcist."
His voice was soft but it carried a weight. A weight that made peter shut up. Returning the ability to continue the conversation that was cut short.
"So, what will we get if we win? I don't you have much to offer."
Daniel asked again. To his question, Rudger reached behind his back and took off the nagamaki from his back and presented it to the duo.
"This is akujiki. A blade that has been passed down to the chosen chieftain. This blade possesses many abilities, being forged from the remnants of the sin of gluttony. If you win, this sword and my life.... are yours."
"..."
The two remained silent for a few moments. But, to Daniel's surprise, Peter took a step forward and slitted his palm from which, red and black threads burst out, wriggling and Coiling like thin worms before flowing out and began to coil and solidify into a sword.
The blade seemed less forged than birthed, a dark relic of obsidian and solidified blood. Its main length was a slick, void-black metal, webbed with subtle, bronze-pink veins that rippled along the flat like frozen capillaries.
Where the metal met the air, a razor-thin edge of luminous crimson glass flared with a soft, pulsing luminescence. Near the base of the blade, this crimson edge broke free, curving upward into an aggressive, thorn-like talon before tapering down to a lethally sharp tip.
Above the length, the hilt flared into a asymmetrical guard composed of layered, dark chitin that curled outward like hardened carapaces. Embedded at its center lay a glowing, tear-shaped core—crimson and eye-like—that throbbed with a faint, internal heat.
Wrapped in twisting organic strands of black steel, the grip stretched upward toward a hooked, claw-like pommel, crowning the weapon in a silhouette designed solely for destruction.
"Hey. What are you waiting for? I really want to try out this thing and also get that my new sword from him."
Peter, finally getting out of his rage induced silence. Decided to choose violence. Again. Daniel blinked, dumbfounded before chuckling and stepping next to him.
"Sure, sure. But whatever you say, I'm taking that nagamaki."
Rudger smiled and raised his arms above him. Grabbing the sheath with one hand and the grip with his other, he slowly pulled the curved blade out. Its obsidian blade devouring whatever light around it.
"It seems like you have accepted my deal! Then let us begin!"
He said with excitement and enthusiasm before dashing forward at blinding speed. Peter's eyes flicked to Daniel who was also looking at him. They both nodded and simultaneously charged forward, cracking golden lightning surrounding them.