Chains of Heaven.
A weapon forged by the gods themselves to shackle the Hero King, Gilgamesh—a Noble Phantasm designed to subdue divinity. The greater the target's godly nature, the tighter the chains constrict. Against mortals, though? They're just ordinary iron links, nothing more.
Legend says the Wise King and Enkidu once bound the Bull of Heaven with these very chains. Later, Enkidu even used them to halt Tiamat's advance on the Demonic Beast Front. Truly, Chains of Heaven is a weapon worthy of myth.
Not bad at all, Shuo thought, a grin tugging at his lips. In a world crawling with gods and devils, a chain that can restrain the divine is a beautiful thing. If a fight breaks out, just lock them down—easy, satisfying, and stylish.
After his afternoon tangled up with five girlfriends, dusk had crept over Kuoh Town. Shuo's system map pulsed with a new marker, pulling his attention away from the warm afterglow.
"I've got something to handle," he told the girls, pressing a kiss to each cheek. "Head home for now. I'll come see you soon."
"Need help?" one of them asked, reluctant to let him go.
He smiled. "Not this time. I'll explain later."
They pouted, cheeks puffed in mock resentment, but finally waved him off.
Shuo jogged across town, following the signal to a quiet bridge. There, silhouetted against the fading light, stood a girl in a Kuoh Academy uniform—long black stockings, delicate features, glasses perched on her nose. She was the very picture of a cool beauty, with an air of mischief that marked her as DxD's infamous "veteran driver"—Kiryuu Aika.
But tonight, something was wrong. Her eyes were vacant, her posture tense. Shuo's heart skipped—she looked ready to throw herself into the river.
He rushed to her side. "Aika! What are you doing?!"
She didn't respond, lost in some internal struggle. Shuo reached out, gently grasped her hand, and closed his eyes. Delving into her mind, he found a shadow lurking—a black cat, its blood-red eyes slit with a single, vertical line. It radiated malice, coiling tighter around her consciousness.
A chill ran down Shuo's spine. A black cat…? He didn't waste time pondering. Channeling his power, he forced magic into Aika, smothering the cat's presence, pushing it deeper, until finally, her mind cleared.
Light returned to her eyes. She blinked, saw Shuo holding her hand, and snatched it back, cheeks blazing. "N-Nangong-kun? What are you doing here? Where…?"
He just smiled, waiting for her breathing to steady. Once she seemed calm, he explained everything—how she'd nearly jumped, how he'd intervened.
"Jumped…? Oh. I remember now." She shivered, then managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Nangong-kun."
He nodded. "Have you noticed anything strange lately? Weird dreams, odd feelings?"
Aika's expression darkened. She hugged herself, silent for a long moment before finally whispering, "Every night, I dream of a black cat chasing me. It's always the same—I run, it follows, and I end up falling into water, drowning. I wake up terrified."
A black cat. Shuo's suspicion hardened. He offered a reassuring smile. "Let me walk you home. I'd feel better."
She shot him a sidelong glance, her usual sass flickering back. "What's this? We're not that close, you know. Why so nice all of a sudden? Planning to take advantage of me?" She grinned, then added, "Besides, I know you're tight with Rias and Akeno-senpai. Rumor has it you've even made a move on Koneko-chan. But with my laid-back style, I'm not worried about my chastity."
Shuo snorted. "You sell yourself short. If you put in even a little effort, you'd blow everyone away. Anyway, having a 'veteran driver' girlfriend isn't so bad. You're definitely on my menu."
Aika rolled her eyes, but a faint smile played at her lips. "To say something that scummy with a straight face… that's so you, Nangong-kun."
They strolled through the city as night fell. Sensing her lingering unease, Shuo steered them toward the riverside, hoping the city lights and laughter of couples would help dispel her shadows.
Aika eyed him, suspicious but amused. "Seriously, I can get home by myself. You don't have to babysit me."
Shuo didn't answer, eyes suddenly sharp, scanning the street ahead.
She followed his gaze—and her blood ran cold.
From the darkness, a monstrous black cat emerged. It was nearly two meters tall, fangs bared, eyes glowing an eerie green. Each step brought it closer, and with it, a wave of primal terror.
Aika's voice trembled. "That… that's the cat from my dreams! Am I still asleep?"
The beast's lips twisted into a grotesque grin as it stalked forward, savoring her fear.
Shuo stepped in front of Aika, calm and unimpressed. "So that's all it is? Just a mindless Stray Devil… You're the one behind Aika's nightmares, nearly driving her to suicide. Bastard."
Aika stared at him, realization dawning. So that's why he insisted on walking her home. Guilt flickered across her face—she'd dragged him into this.
Steeling herself, she took a shaky breath. "Nangong-kun, run! I'll hold it off!"
But Shuo just pulled her behind him. "Just watch."
His eyes flashed, crackling with lightning. In the next instant, a bolt of blue thunder tore through the night, slamming into the black cat with a roar that shook the bridge. The beast was reduced to smoking ash before it could even scream.
Aika gaped, stunned. "That… was that thing some kind of monster? Are you an exorcist? An onmyoji? For real?!"
Shuo grinned. "Something like that."
He explained the truth: the black cat was a Stray Devil, a twisted creature born of lost souls. He told her about the Three Factions, the world of devils and angels that lay hidden just beneath the surface.
Aika listened, awe and envy mingling in her eyes. "So your life's really that exciting, huh? Kind of makes me jealous."
Shuo leaned in, voice low and tempting. "You know, you could join us. Become a devil. Live a long, wild life—right by my side."
She considered it, lips pursed. "Becoming a devil… That actually sounds pretty good."
He smiled. "If you say yes, I'll even throw in a luxury welcome gift."
She laughed. "Alright, you've got a deal! I want in."
Without hesitation, Shuo summoned a purified Sacred Gear—the Black Dragon Pulse—from his system's storage. He explained its powers, its rarity, watching her eyes widen in disbelief.
"Wait, you're giving me something this valuable?"
He just winked, then instructed the system to bind the Black Dragon Pulse to Aika's soul. She gasped as the new power settled inside her, then turned to him, curiosity burning.
"Nangong-kun, why are you being so nice to me?"
He met her gaze, utterly sincere. "Didn't I say? I've got my eye on you. Treating my future wife well is just part of the job."
Her cheeks flared crimson. "W-wife…?"
Shuo chuckled. "Oh, and when you're ready, go find your friend Tsubasa—she'll take you to Sona. Just tell them I recommended you for your potential, not that I handed you the Black Dragon Pulse. Got it?"
He paused, then leaned in conspiratorially. "By the way, Tsubasa? She's my first girlfriend."
Aika's jaw dropped. "That sneaky Tsubasa! She landed a boyfriend and didn't tell me? Just wait until I see her…"
Shuo grinned. "Anyway, you're almost home. Don't forget to find Tsubasa tomorrow."
He turned to leave, but Aika called out, "Wait!"
Before he could react, she darted forward, pressed a quick kiss to his lips, then dashed off, face burning.
Shuo touched his lips, a slow smile spreading across his face as he watched her disappear into the night.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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