(Gladio Bael POV)
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Gladio looked at the scene before him with indifference; he didn't recognize any of the devils lying torn to shreds and dead. Which means they were strays, Old Satan Faction, or Extra Demons. He highly doubted the third one, because Extra Demon Houses were a lot tougher than your standard 72 Pillars family. Maybe not stronger, but certainly tougher endurance-wise.
In the end, it mattered little.
What did matter was the culprit before him.
One Lion of Nemea.
Regulus roared angrily.
''Easy boy.'' The Longinus snapped its head to look at him and gave him a menacing growl.
Regulus tensed as he approached, but Gladio never took his eyes off the Longinus. Maintaining eye contact with the Lion every step of the way until they were inches apart.
Gladio sighed as he gave the Lion a knowing look.
''You did right by him. You avenged your master, but now we're in uncharted territory. I can give you a life beyond your current existence. Come with me, and I'll protect you. Make sure this sort of crap doesn't happen again.'' He held his palm in front of Regulus.
The Golden Lion hesitated before pressing its face into his palm. Gladio retrieved one of his Evil Pieces and held it out before Regulus, who hesitated a final time before placing his paw on top of his palm.
And with that, Regulus Nemea became the Bael Pawn. Unlike in Canon, though, only a single Mutated Pawn Piece was required instead of seven unmutated pieces.
Now all that was left was going to see father.
Oh joy.
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Gladio looked upon the whole scene before him with even more indifference than the last. Father was pacing around nervously, wringing his hands. The First Bael meanwhile seemed mildly amused.
''What do we do?'' Father finally asked.
''I don't believe we need to do anything. From everything I've been told, no one else knows about this, so we can keep this a secret until we decide it's time to reveal it.'' Says Lord Zekram.
''Is that the best course of action?'' Father asks, seeking confirmation.
''I don't want anybody outside our faction finding out about this; only members of the Great King Faction may know, is that understood?'' Lord Zekram looked at him expectantly.
Gladio spared his father a glance before turning back to focus on Zekram.
''I understand your position perfectly, Honored Ancestor.''
Zekram nodded approvingly. ''You may leave us now, Prince Gladiolus. I'm expecting great things from you in the future.'' Says Zekram.
''I won't disappoint you, come Regulus.''
''Cheer up, Lord Bael, your son has the distinction of being the first Pure-Blooded Devil in history to have a Longinus. It really is incredible: a Mutated form of Destruction and his mother's Lion taming ability, and a Longinus that cost only one Pawn Piece.'' Says Lord Zekram as he closes the door.
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Gladio looked upon the screen before him with mild confusion.
...
...
...
-||- System Online -||-
-||- Feat(s) Achieved: -||-
Reincarnate Regulus Nemea: 100 AP
Reincarnate Regulus Nemea using the Systems gift: 200 AP
Attract Zekram Bael's interest: 100 AP
400 Total AP
-|| Would user like to see his stats before using SP Roulette? -||-
Sure, he guessed?
-||- User Stats: -||-
Name Gladiolus Bael
Species: Devil (Pure-Blooded)
Clan: Bael
Clan Trait: Power of Destruction (Mutated), Liontaming
Rank: High-Class Devil
Servants: 1 Pawn
Power-Level: Upper High-Class
Potential Power Level: Satan Class
Reputation: Semi-Famous Clan Heir
Age: 7
Titles: Prince, Heir of Bael
Equipment: Regulus Nemea
Total AP: 400
-||- Would user like to spin AP Roulette? -||-
Why not?
-||- Because the user has only just booted up the System, there are restrictions on the things AP Roulette will unlock. For the moment, Category 5, Tier 1 is the only level available. Would the user like more information? -||-
He really should, but for now let's just get it over with.
-||- Category 5, Tier 1 costs 50 AP per spin, spinning the wheel -||-
Reward:
Silver-Tongued (Passive) Lv-1: You have a natural grace and charm; when people hear your voice, they are drawn to it, and listen more keenly than they otherwise would. This stat is enhanced by certain other rewards and can provide reciprocal bonuses. Spending AP can temporarily boost experience gain in the skill, and can only be used once every five levels. In order to upgrade this skill, using it to complete negotiations will actively level up the ability. While using it to make a convincing argument will increase the discount to upgrading it.
-||- Free Bonus Spin for users first time -||-
Reward:
Dancers Grace (Active) Lv-1:An always-on ability, Dancers Grace gives you the fluidity and grace of movement of the finest dancers. Depending on your Speed, Power, Dexterity, and Agility, this can be a powerful tool in battle; otherwise, it relies on your Charisma and Dexterity to affect you outside of combat.
-||- User has used 50 AP, 350 Total AP remaining, would user like to spin again? -||-
Sure.
-||- 50 AP paid, 300 AP Remaining -||-
Reward:
Observe (Passive) -Lv1
Observe allows the user to acquire information on any target in front of them including their personality, loyalty, mood, and other standard information. At higher levels, more information is revealed and in greater detail.
-||- 300 AP Remaining, Spinn again? -||-
No, he needed to table this for now, and decompress.
-||- Shutting Down for now -||-
Well, that was certainly something.
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(POV Shift: Zekram Bael)
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He'd left the Bael Castle with a few simple directives for his descendant.
He wanted regular reports on the progress of Gladiolus as well as Regulus Nemea. And only the Lords of the top five families within the Great King Faction; Paimon, Beleth, Purson, Asmoday, and Balam would be permitted to know about Regulus. Additionally he would see to it that better instructors would teach Prince Gladiolus.
It was truly lucky, that only one Pawn Piece was needed to reincarnate the Longinus Spirit. But it was also odd. Granted it was a Mutation Piece, but that didn't reslly account for everything. Ordinarily he'd ask Astaroth about it, but he wanted to keep Regulus Nemea quiet for as long as devilishly possible.
Still, perhaps a closer eye was needed. He wasn't overly fond of Zaelaxus, the man was about as intelligent as a Hellfire rat. By and far his dumbest descendant yet, and that was saying something, considering the chaos the ''reign'' of Zaelaxus's great-grandfather Zexal.
Maybe he needed to spend more time at his old castle. If only to ensure a proper Great King is cultivated.
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(POV Shift: Misla Bael)
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She was petting the Lion, she couldn't help it, he was adorable. To think her son would inherit her Clan Trait and mutate the Bael Clan's Destruction. Gladiolus had the Power of Nothingness, alternatively known as Power of Void.
Only Sirzechs could boast a stronger form of it. The Gremory Clan Trait had mixed and mutated with Destruction to give Lord Lucifer Primordial Destructive power. But her son had changed in the last year and a half.
Throwing himself into training, he trained relentlessly and it concerned her. He came back exhausted and that concerned her more than anything. If he was just training his Demonic Power it wouldn't be such a concern for her, but the way her baby boy looked afterwards...
He wasn't merely training his Demonic Power, he was training physically and coming back bruised and tired. Zaelaxus was of little help, she might have to go over his head and speak directly to the Great King. But she also knew she couldn't not support her son. She cared for her husband, she truly did, but the reality was that he was a terrible father and Gladio resented him.
How long until that resentment turned into anger? Into hate? Her baby boy already viewed his surroundings with cold indifference.
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(POV Shift: Gladio Bael)
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He'd learned a little bit about his system, and from everything he'd gathered, the System Roulette had six tiers per category, but the risk didn't really start to appear until at least Tier 5 Category 5, because according to the system, by that point he'd risk getting abilities with a step cost, or troublesome requirements.
Additionally, most of the quests or feats would be hidden until he reached Tier 6 of Category 5. Because according to the system. That's when the game really began. And most of the abilities he'd unlock now had high long-term potential, low short-term reward.
It made sense, he supposed; the rewards were an investment. Dancers Grace and Silver-Tongued would level up and grow as he did. Every difficult negotiation would stack up, while using Dancers Grace in battle and in other scenarios would level it. But the amount required to level Dancers Grace would gradually become steeper.
He couldn't say he liked the whole situation, but as Sairaorg said.
Fights not over till its over.
He'd conquer this system and the world. He'd reach the pinnacle of his species, and He'd shatter that ceiling. He'd
-||- Feat achieved! Find your resolve! O SP granted -||-
Oh, now that's not funny at all.
Ah well, at least the future wouldn't be uneventful. Time to train hard...
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Author's note:
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Writing about the Bael Clan was my first foray into DxD fanfiction. The last Bael fic I did was supposed to be the final one I wrote for a Bael MC.
But if I'm to write a DxD Fic with a system, I see no better place to start it than with the first foray into DxD fanfiction I did. But this will be the absolute last time I write a Bael fic, except maybe a Devil born into another clan with Bael Ancestry.
Anyways, I'm currently concussed, and this was completed at the start of the year, so happy new year, here's to 2026, and with any luck those miserable pricks Newcastle United will get relegated and my Black Cats will stay in the Premier League.
2026 will also be something of an Anniversary for me. Marking the fifth year of me updating monthly.
See you guys at the next chapter.
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Join my Discord via this invite link:
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Special Thanks to Mitchell Howard, David Martinez, ROGUE505 Saver, Mathew T Linderman, Luck George, Kyle Diano, Julien, Morgan Sinn, Tom A, Nicholas Berenguer, Arimar26, Robin Kristiansen, Dragon emperor87, Vlone_Icy, Daniel Setchell, James Fleming, Zero 12995, Spencer Davidson, Rowdy_Rich, James Lloyd and reikon aijin for their support on P-atreon.
And also a big thank you to Cody, Luci Alarra, TJ Cruz, Kunta, Availon90, Gavin Barclay, Dragonslayer29, Jacarya Robinson, Nathan Just, Francisco J Guzman, Axlii, Reece Hutton, Ken Harris, Zeldris Wrath, Duy, lonelynib _, Austin, D3EATH707, Cutler1812, Aleksander_402, Lewis Wilson, Profound Magician, Arzard, HxC 740 VxD, Attila Kovács, Ruby Uzumaki, Mudit Chadha, Maciek, Joao Goncalves, Dwhateverprof, Jibreel Kamal, Luis, Luis, Zeca, Bent, Jason, Solus 1994, Evil King, Manuel, Benoit Valtin, Craig Butler, Joseph Brann, Cristobal Ahumada, Nathaniel Lessord, GGbeejee, Beastmode2003, Trey-Way, FisherKing711, Calvin Ellis, adrian szydlowski, Birhaledin, and Robert Hernandez for their past support on Patreon.
The next Chapter is currently available on my relaunched and rebuilt P-atreon, to access simply search the following link, but without the dash between the P and A, Two tiers with the same benefits but different contexts. The chapters on P-atreon will be published when the chapters following them are done and dusted and ready to publish over here on this site.
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