my new life in highschool dxd

I sighed, reflecting on the past few days since our intense battle with Grayfia. While I had undoubtedly grown stronger and gained valuable experience, it was clear I still had a long way to go. Facing someone like Grayfia had shown me the vast difference in our abilities, and it took both Issei and me to win. Knowing there were others even stronger than her was a humbling realization.

Speaking of Issei, he was currently in the dungeon, training hard to become even stronger. I smiled at the thought of my determined little brother. Right now, I was walking with Yue, our adorable little sister, who was happily licking her ice cream. We had spent the afternoon together, and now we were heading to Azazel's place.

Kousei:How was your day, Yue?

I asked, ruffling her hair affectionately.

She looked up at me with a big smile.

Yue:it was fun, big bro! We had art class, and I drew a picture of us with a big dragon!

I chuckled.

Kousei:That sounds awesome, Yue. I bet it looks amazing. Did you get to show it to your friends?

She nodded enthusiastically.

Yue:Yes! They loved it. Miss Kaori said it was the best drawing of the day.

Kousei:That's my little artist

I said, giving her a gentle pat on the head.

Kousei:i'm really proud of you, Yue.

As we walked, we eventually arrived at Azazel's place. He greeted us at the door with his usual smirk.

Azazel:Hey there, Kousei, Yue. How's it going?

"Pretty good," I replied, handing Yue a small toy I had picked up for her earlier.

Kousei:Yue had a great day at school, and Issei's training hard

Azazel nodded.

Azazel:That's good to hear. Come on in. We have some things to discuss.

Once inside, Azazel led us to the living room. Yue immediately went to play with her new toy while Azazel and I sat down to talk.

"So," Azazel began,

Azazel:the Shinto faction sent their regards to you and Issei. They've even scheduled a meeting with you.

I raised an eyebrow.

Kousei:A meeting? With who?

Azazel leaned back in his chair, a serious expression on his face.

Azazel:With Susanoo, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi. The heads of the Shinto faction.

I felt a knot form in my stomach. Meeting with such powerful deities was both an honor and a daunting prospect.

Kousei:When is the meeting?

"In a few days," Azazel replied.

Azazel:They're interested in your progress and want to discuss future collaborations.

I sighed.

Kousei:I see. It's a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest. Meeting with the heads of the Shinto faction is no small matter.

Azazel gave me a reassuring smile.

Azazel:You'll do fine, Kousei. You've proven yourself in battle and shown that you have what it takes. Just be honest and straightforward with them.

I nodded, trying to calm my nerves.

Kousei:Yeah, you're right. I just need to stay focused.

Azazel then shifted the conversation.

Azazel:it is for the situation in the underworld, your stunt had quite the impact. The Naberius clan has been dealt a significant blow, and there's a lot of tension among the elders.

I frowned.

Kousei:I'm not surprised. Those filthy elders are the reason I refuse to make any connections in the underworld. They're corrupt and only care about their own power.

Azazel nodded in agreement.

Azazel:True, but your actions have forced them to reconsider their stance. The Shinto faction's involvement also adds pressure. They're not happy with how things have been handled.

"Good," I said firmly.

Kousei:Maybe this will make them think twice before trying to slaughter innocent people again.

Azazel leaned forward, his expression serious.

Azazel:Kousei, you and Issei have made a lot of enemies. The elders won't take this lying down. You need to be prepared for whatever they might throw at you next.

I nodded, feeling the weight of his words.

Kousei:I know. That's why we're training so hard. We can't afford to let our guard down.

"Exactly," Azazel agreed.

Azazel:But remember, you're not alone in this. You have allies, and we'll support you however we can.

I smiled, grateful for his support.

Kousei:Thanks, Azazel. It means a lot to us.

As we talked, Yue finished playing with her toy and came over to sit on my lap.

Yue:Big bro, are you going to fight more bad guys?

I hugged her tightly.

Kousei:maybe, Yue. But don't worry, I'll always come back to you.

She smiled, resting her head on my chest.

Yue:I know you will.

Azazel watched us with a soft expression.

Azazel:You have a lot to fight for, Kousei. Don't forget that.

"I won't," I said, looking down at Yue.

Kousei:I won't forget.

As we were about to take our leave, the door creaked open and a familiar figure entered the room. To my shock, it was Vali. It had been a long time since we last saw each other. She had grown taller and a lot curvier, but she still wore that cold, emotionless expression.

The last time we talked was during the Shibuya incident, when we were fighting a mad scientist who created monstrous experiments. Yue was one of them, and Vali had opted to end Yue's life due to what she could potentially become. For that, I made sure not to talk to her again, effectively ending our friendship.

Azazel sighed, clearly sensing the tension. "Oh boy," he muttered, before making a quick exit to give us some space. I couldn't blame him.

Kousei:hello there, Vali

I greeted her, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Vali's sharp eyes scanned me, noting the immense aura around me.

Vali:You've gotten stronger

she remarked, her voice as cold as ever.

I nodded, keeping my expression guarded.

Kousei:Yeah, I have. And it seems like you've changed a bit too.

She shrugged, her gaze briefly softening as she looked at Yue.

Vali:I see you're still taking care of her.

I felt a surge of anger but forced myself to stay calm.

Kousei:Of course I am. Yue is my sister. She's family.

Vali sighed, looking somewhat remorseful.

Vali:I didn't come here to fight, Kousei. I just wanted to talk.

I crossed my arms, giving her a skeptical look.

Kousei:Talk about what, Vali? About how you wanted to kill Yue because of what she might become? Because she was an experiment?

Vali's expression didn't waver.

Vali:You know as well as I do that those experiments were dangerous. I was thinking of the greater good.

Kousei:The greater good?

I scoffed.

Kousei:Yue is an innocent child, Vali. She's not just some experiment. She's a person with feelings, hopes, and dreams.

"I know that now," Vali admitted quietly.

Vali:I've had time to reflect on what happened. I was wrong.

Her admission caught me off guard. Vali was never one to admit mistakes easily.

Kousei:What made you change your mind?

Vali glanced away, her cold demeanor cracking just a bit.

Vali:seeing what you've done for her. How you've protected her and helped her grow. I realized that maybe I was too quick to judge.

I softened slightly, still wary but willing to listen.

Kousei:So, what now? What do you want from me, Vali?

She took a deep breath.

Vali:I want to make amends. I know I can't undo what I said or did, but I want to help. I want to be there for Yue, and for you.

I was silent for a moment, considering her words.

Kousei:It's not that easy, Vali. You can't just walk back into our lives and expect everything to be okay.

"I know," she replied, her voice sincere.

Vali:but I'm willing to earn your trust back, if you'll let me.

I looked down at Yue, who was watching us with wide eyes. She didn't fully understand what was going on, but she sensed the tension.

Kousei:What do you think, Yue?

Yue looked up at me, then at Vali.

Yue:Can she be our friend again, big bro?

Her innocent question made my heart ache. I sighed, looking back at Vali.

Kousei:It's not just about me, Vali. Yue's safety is my priority.

Vali nodded, her expression resolute.

Vali:I understand. And I promise, I'll do everything I can to protect her.

I hesitated for a moment, then extended my hand.

Kousei:Alright, Vali. You can help. But remember, I'll be watching you.

She took my hand, her grip firm.

Vali:thank you, Kousei. I won't let you down.

We stood there for a moment, the tension slowly easing. It wasn't going to be easy to rebuild the trust we once had, but for Yue's sake, I was willing to try.

Azazel poked his head back into the room, a grin on his face.

Azazel:Looks like you two are making progress.

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips.

Kousei:yeah, we're working on it.

Azazel chuckled.

Azazel:Good. Now, why don't we all sit down and discuss our next steps? We've got a lot to prepare for, especially with the meeting with the Shinto faction coming up.

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination.

Kousei:Sounds like a plan.

As we all sat down to talk, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Things were far from perfect, but we were moving forward. And with friends, old and new, by my side, I knew we could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

In the grand hall of the Underworld, Sirzechs Lucifer stood alongside Serafall Leviathan and Grayfia, facing the assembled devil elders. The room was tense, the atmosphere thick with the weight of recent events. At the head of the elder council stood Zekram Bael, his stern gaze fixed on Sirzechs.

Zekram spoke first, his voice carrying authority.

Zekram:Sirzechs, Serafall, Grayfia... the recent actions of the horizon avenger and the red dragon emperor have caused quite a stir. They bested the Naberius clan's assault squad and even managed to defeat Grayfia, our strongest queen. This cannot go unaddressed.

Sirzechs sighed, feeling the weight of the situation.

Sirzechs:Zekram, I understand the concern. But let's not overlook the context here. The Naberius clan was given permission by this council to slaughter the Nekoushou, who are allied with the Shinto faction. That alone was enough to provoke a conflict.

Another elder, Azkit Naberius, stepped forward, his face twisted with anger.

Azkit:They killed my brother and humiliated our clan! They must be brought to justice!

Serafall's icy blue eyes flashed with annoyance.

Serafall:Justice? You mean retribution for an act that your clan initiated? The horizon avenger and the red dragon emperor were defending the Nekoushou from an unjust massacre. They were within their rights.

Zekram raised a hand, silencing the room.

Zekram:The issue is not simply about retribution. It's about the potential ramifications. The Shinto faction allowed us to use Kuoh as our territory. Any conflict with them could escalate into a full-blown war, which would be disastrous for our race.

Grayfia, still recovering from her wounds but standing strong, added

Grayfia:The horizon avenger and the red dragon emperor were clearly acting on behalf of the Shinto faction. They were not rogue elements but sanctioned operatives. Attacking them could be seen as an act of war.

Sirzechs nodded.

Sirzechs:Exactly. We need to approach this with caution. Retaliating against them would not only endanger our relations with the Shinto faction but could also spark a larger conflict that we cannot afford.

Zekram's expression softened slightly, though his eyes remained hard.

Zekram:So what do you propose, Sirzechs? We cannot let this insult stand, but we also cannot risk war.

Sirzechs took a deep breath.

Sirzechs:We need to open a dialogue with the Shinto faction. Explain our position and seek to mend relations. At the same time, we need to hold the Naberius clan accountable for their actions. They overstepped their bounds and endangered our entire race with their reckless behavior.

Azkit Naberius's face turned red with anger.

Azkit:you would turn on your own kind to placate outsiders?

Serafall stepped forward, her voice cold.

Serafall:This isn't about turning on our own. It's about recognizing that actions have consequences. The Naberius clan acted without considering the broader implications, and now we must deal with the fallout

Zekram considered their words, his expression thoughtful.

Zekram:Opening a dialogue with the Shinto faction is a wise move. But we must also ensure that such an incident does not happen again. The Naberius clan must be brought in line.

Sirzechs nodded.

Sirzechs:Agreed. We will handle this diplomatically. I will reach out to the Shinto faction and arrange a meeting. In the meantime, the Naberius clan will face consequences for their actions.

Azkit Naberius looked ready to protest, but Zekram silenced him with a look.

Azkit:This council will support your efforts, Sirzechs. Ensure that this matter is resolved without further bloodshed.

Grayfia, despite her injuries, stood tall.

Grayfia:I will assist in the diplomatic efforts. We must show that we are willing to make amends and prevent further conflict.

Serafall added,

Serafall;And I will work to stabilize our internal affairs. We need to present a united front, both to our people and to the Shinto faction.

Sirzechs felt a wave of relief wash over him.

Sirzechs:Thank you, both of you. This will not be easy, but it's necessary for the future of our race.

As the meeting adjourned, the devil elders dispersed, still murmuring among themselves. Sirzechs, Serafall, and Grayfia remained behind, exchanging weary glances.

Sirzechs:We've averted a crisis for now

Sirzechs said quietly.

Sirzechs:But we need to stay vigilant.

Serafall nodded.

Serafall; agreed. We can't let our guard down.

Grayfia, ever the stoic, simply nodded.

Grayfia:We'll manage. We always do.

As they left the hall, Sirzechs couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. The path ahead was fraught with challenges, but with allies like Serafall and Grayfia by his side, he knew they could navigate the treacherous waters of diplomacy and emerge stronger on the other side.

Vali Illustration