LightReader

Chapter 18 - Chapter 18 DxD Worlds

Third Person POV

The air of the Underworld was unlike anything Elysia had ever felt before. It wasn't thick with Honkai corruption like the remnants of her own world, nor was it sterile and controlled like the Fire Moth facilities she had only recently joined. Here, the sky itself glowed in hues of violet and black, scattered with constellations foreign to her eyes. Crystal-like structures floated lazily in the distance, while rivers of glowing magma flowed beneath obsidian ridges.

Elysia stepped through the dimensional circle with her usual grace, a faint hum on her lips as if she were merely strolling into a ballroom instead of a realm of devils. Her long hair swayed gently, catching the strange underworld light, and her pink eyes scanned her new surroundings with undisguised curiosity.

"Oh my my… what a dramatic place," she whispered, her smile soft yet radiant. "Such mystery in every rock, every flame… Fufu, Serafall-chan's home really is full of beauty."

She twirled once, letting her boots click softly against the black stone. Unlike most who would be uneasy stepping into such a dark realm, Elysia welcomed it with arms wide open, already thinking of ways to describe this scenery in her flowery style.

And then… the sky itself seemed to ripple.

A low hum reverberated across the plains. The dimensional circle behind her sparked violently, its glow expanding in a burst of crimson. For a moment, the entire area shivered under the sheer pressure of an arrival.

From the heart of the circle, a figure descended.

Jay.

Jay towered at a daunting two meters, his presence immediately suffocating the space around him. Draped across his shoulders was a long, tailored coat, black as midnight on the outside yet lined with deep crimson within, the faint red flashing like smoldering embers whenever the fabric shifted with his stride. He didn't wear it conventionally—the coat hung loose across his shoulders, the collar framing his neck like the crest of a sovereign, as though gravity itself dared not touch him.

Beneath, he wore a sleek black shirt, the material pressed sharp against a body carved into flawless proportions—broad shoulders, lean muscle that exuded raw strength without a trace of excess. The shirt tucked cleanly into fitted dark trousers, cinched by a refined belt with a muted metallic clasp that glinted faintly under the light. Every line of his attire spoke not of fashion, but of precision and authority.

When he walked, the coat's inner red shimmer trailed like liquid fire, a subtle warning woven into elegance. His boots struck the ground with measured weight, each step resonating more like a declaration than a simple motion. The ensemble framed him as something more than human—a balance of elegance, menace, and regality.

Masked in full, his face remained hidden, yet that only heightened the enigma. The mask stripped away distraction, leaving only his silhouette: impossibly tall, sharp, and commanding. To gaze upon him dressed like this was to feel the pressure of inevitability—an unspoken truth that this was not a man entering a stage, but a sovereign descending into it.

Elysia's gaze lingered the moment he stepped through the portal. The towering figure draped in black and crimson seemed to swallow the very scenery behind him, every detail of his attire flowing into one seamless image of power and grace.

Her lips curved into a delicate smile, pink eyes sparkling as though she had just stumbled upon a rare piece of art.

"Oh my… Jay-kun, you really do enjoy making an entrance, don't you? How bold, how striking… ara~ that mask of yours makes you even more enigmatic."

The words were playful, but her tone carried genuine admiration. For a fleeting instant, her breath caught—behind that elegance, there was a weight, a mystery she couldn't quite touch. And rather than frighten her, it intrigued her all the more.

A mask, hm? How curious.

He hides his face, yet not his presence. He cloaks himself, yet somehow shines brighter. Most men she had known clung to beauty like a weapon or begged for recognition with it. Jay… chose the opposite.

How fascinating.

The mask didn't make him less — it made him more. It forced people to meet his voice, his words, his intentions before they could fall to appearances. And Elysia, ever the seeker of hidden wonders, found that endlessly beautiful.

 "Of course. If I don't show up in style, people might forget how important I am."

Elysia chuckled, her laughter like chimes in the quiet air. "How shameless~. But it suits you."

Jay glanced at her, amused. She knew nothing of the reasoning behind the mask, nothing of the fact that a single glimpse of his true face could drive hearts into obsession. He kept that truth tucked safely away. After all… he wanted someone to fall for him, not for the beauty he carried like a curse.

Before Elysia could tease him further,

"Levi-tan~ Magical Arrival~!"

With a shower of glittering ice-stars, a girl in a flamboyant magical-girl costume twirled into existence. Her hair shimmered like midnight silk, and her wand glowed with sparkling blues as she struck a pose mid-air. The voice, playful and sing-song, belonged to none other than Serafall Leviathan, one of the Four Maou of this world.

She landed with a flourish, stars scattering around her. "Ta-dah~! Did I make you wait? Hehe, welcome to my world, Elysia-chan! And Jay-chan too~ ☆"

Elysia clapped politely, her smile widening. "Oh my, that was adorable! You look like you stepped right out of a fairy tale."

Jay folded his arms and chuckled. "…You are always energetic as always huh?"

"Mouu~ don't ruin it!" Serafall pouted, puffing her cheeks. 

"This is Levi-tan's magical girl identity! You have to play along, Jay-chan!"

Elysia tilted her head, a giggle slipping past her lips. "Ufufu, don't be so harsh, Jay-kun. She's delightful."

Jay sighed through the mask, muttering jokingly just loud enough for them to hear. 

"This world is doomed."

Serafall stuck out her tongue. "Ruuude~!"

Moments later 

It was Serafall's office—at least, officially. The architecture was grand, lined with obsidian pillars and runic wards glowing faintly on the walls, as befitted the office of one of the Four Maou. Yet the atmosphere inside betrayed the childish personality of its owner. Plush toys sat stacked against one corner, posters of magical girls were plastered boldly across what should have been dignified stone walls, and a rainbow-colored carpet clashed proudly with the cold black floor.

Jay remained standing, his tall frame casting a long shadow across the office, while Elysia settled gracefully onto a couch designed for dignitaries. Serafall, of course, spun her wand like a baton before hopping onto the edge of her own desk, legs swinging as she beamed.

Serafall twirled her wand idly as she spoke. "So, Jay-chan, why exactly did you want to visit my lovely home? You're not just sightseeing, are you? ☆"

Jay leaned casual as ever. "Sightseeing? Nah. I came here for something… or rather, someone."

Elysia blinked curiously, folding her hands beneath her chin. "Ara~? How mysterious. And what kind of 'someone' caught your eye, Jay-kun?"

Jay's tone remained playful, but the weight beneath his words was undeniable.

"There's a person here destined to stand at the center of this world's future. He's supposed to be "important", so to speak. But the path he's on? Full of suffering. Honestly, it's annoying just thinking about him. So I want to… confront him. See if he wants to handle the burden. If not…" Jay's hand flicked lazily through the air. "Then I'll take it."

Serafall frowned, lowering her wand. "Take what?"

Jay's answer was simple, but it struck the Maou like a blade.

"The Longinus. Boosted Gear."

The cheerful air cracked. Serafall's playful demeanor faltered instantly, replaced by sharp seriousness that befitted her title. "Jay… Do you even understand what you're saying? Longinus are weapons capable of slaying gods. The Boosted Gear is one of the most dangerous Sacred Gears in existence."

Elysia tilted her head, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Fufu~ so dramatic. A weapon that kills gods? How fascinating. But… what's a Longinus, exactly?"

Serafall turned to her, face still tense. "They're Sacred Gears of the highest tier. Artifacts born from the Biblical God himself, each with terrifying powers. The Boosted Gear… houses the soul of the Welsh Dragon, Ddraig. Its user can multiply power infinitely. In the wrong hands, it could destroy everything."

"Oh my my~" Elysia covered her lips lightly, her tone not fearful but fascinated. "A relic that carries a dragon's soul… and the power to slay divinity. How beautiful, in its own terrifying way."

Jay folded his arms, his masked gaze narrowing. "Don't misunderstand. I don't need it. But the boy who carries it? He's destined to be at the center of this world's future. The problem is, that the future is full of struggle and…. Honestly, it's frustrating just thinking about it."

His tone sharpened, a rare glimpse of seriousness breaking through the playfulness.

"So I'll confront him. If he wants to carry that burden, fine. If not… I'll take it myself."

Serafall's wand clattered softly against her desk as she leaned forward. "…And you would do this, why?"

Jay shrugged, the motion elegant, almost mocking. "Because I hate him. At first, I thought about stealing it outright. But that wouldn't be fair. I'll give him a choice. His fate or mine."

The silence that followed was thick until Serafall finally spoke again, her voice low. "…All of this, just for one boy?"

"Not just for him." Jay's voice carried an edge of command now. "I want you to call Rias and Sona. Bring their peerages too. I'll train them."

Serafall blinked. "Train them?"

"Yes." Jay's tone was matter-of-fact. "Rias is spoiled. She hides behind her peerage but has never truly fought like a leader. Sona is clever, but relies too much on intellect. Strategy alone doesn't win wars. They both need to grow stronger. I'll fix that."

Elysia let out a playful laugh, eyes shining. "Oh my~ Jay-kun as a strict teacher? Ufufu, how adorable. What fun this will be."

Serafall twirled her wand slowly, torn between amusement and worry. "…You'd really stay in my world, for one whole week?"

"One week," Jay confirmed. "That's all I need. And don't worry about time. The moment we stepped into this world, time in ours stopped. No one's losing anything. In fact…" His voice softened slightly as he turned his masked gaze toward Elysia. "…It's a chance for her to rest."

Elysia blinked, caught off guard for an instant before her usual smile returned, warm and elegant. "Ara~ Jay-kun, how thoughtful of you. If you keep speaking like that, I might start thinking you're sweet."

Jay scoffed lightly, looking away. "Don't make it sound weird."

Serafall burst into laughter, her wand spinning once more. "Levi-tan approves! ☆ If it's for So-tan and Rias-chan, I'll summon them here. But if you make my sister cry, Jay-chan, you'll answer to me."

Jay's grin was audible even through the mask. "No promises."

The three of them stood overlooking the glowing plains. Elysia hummed softly, already imagining the chaos to come. Serafall twirled her wand, half-excited, half-worried. And Jay, masked and unreadable, watched the horizon with calculating eyes.

A week in this world. A week to bend destiny, to test the dragon, and to break two heiresses into proper leaders.

The Underworld had no idea what was coming.

TBC

(AN: Plss Notify me if something Wrong and hope you enjoy)

More Chapters