DxD: Lost in Time

"Why do you want to be an ally of mine? Do you have an ulterior motive against the devils?" Serafall's sharp gaze bored into me, her voice laced with suspicion.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "Let me explain myself entirely, and then we can decide whether or not we're going to form an alliance."

She nodded silently, her expression unreadable. The weight of her gaze was suffocating, but I pressed on.

"You could say I have ulterior motives, but not against all devils. I've noticed that some devils don't go around destroying everything in sight like I initially thought they would. That observation led me to an unexpected conclusion—" I paused, making sure I had her attention. "Not all devils seek world domination or the enslavement of mankind."

Serafall's brow arched slightly, her skepticism evident.

I continued, "To prove this theory, I interrogated the devils I defeated in combat, gleaning whatever information I could. They revealed something curious: the existence of two factions within devil society. From the names alone, it was clear they were enemies."

"So," she said, her tone still icy, "you want to know which faction I belong to?"

"Yes. Depending on your affiliation, I may require a contract to secure our alliance."

"And what if I told you I was from the faction you despise most?"

I smirked faintly. "That's impossible. The Old Satan Faction wouldn't have let me breathe for even a second."

"Clever deduction," she said, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "Fortunately for you, I'm from the Anti-Satan Faction. But you still haven't told me why you want this contract."

"I want revenge," I said, my voice firm, "against the Old Satan Faction. They've taken more from me than you can imagine."

Serafall crossed her arms, scrutinizing me. "Your determination is commendable, but determination without strength is meaningless. Throwing yourself into a conflict like this would only get you killed."

"You're right," I admitted, clenching my fists. "I don't have the power to back it up yet. But that's why I'm here. Allow me to demonstrate my current strength. Then you can judge for yourself how far I can go in five years. Is that acceptable?"

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You're really trying to court death, aren't you? Fine. Show me what you've got, but don't make me regret this."

Without hesitation, I leaped into the air, utilizing the Sky Walk technique to stabilize myself midair. My feet spread apart, and I cupped my hands to my right side, channeling my energy.

"KAAAA... MEEEE..."

A ball of blue energy began forming in my palms, its light gentle yet commanding.

"HAAAA... MEEE..."

The orb grew brighter, more volatile, as it pulsed with unrestrained power.

"HAAAAA!!!"

With a mighty cry, I released the beam, its radiant energy tearing through the air. The destructive force left a trail of devastation in its wake, the shockwave pushing against me as I hovered in the air, a smirk tugging at my lips.

The technique wasn't without its risks, but after years of training in Ki control, I had managed to perfect it.

Serafall tilted her head, impressed. "That's... quite the display. Your destructive capabilities rival that of a newly minted High-Class devil. With time and training, you might even reach the pinnacle of this rank."

"Only the initial High-Class level, though," I clarified.

She blinked. "Wait... is that how you classify strength? Did you come up with that yourself?"

"Sort of," I said with a shrug. "Now, are you willing to make the contract?"

She sighed, her gaze softening slightly. "Fine. But first, tell me your name."

"Hisashi Ito. It's a pleasure doing business with you."

"Serafall Sitri," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And the pleasure is all mine. Having a promising talent throw himself at my feet like this... must be my lucky day."

A magic circle materialized before her, its intricate symbols glowing faintly.

"This is a temporary contract," she explained. "Conditions must be met for both parties to be freed from it."

I nodded. While the idea of being bound to someone like a puppet made my stomach churn, I didn't have much choice. At least I had chosen Serafall. She was the lesser of two evils and my best shot at protecting my mother if I failed.

Hours later, the ritual was complete, but Serafall didn't leave immediately. She lingered, her expression contemplative.

"I was planning to get myself a new sword and train for a while," she said suddenly. "If you're not busy, care to join me?"

Her offer caught me off guard. Was she testing me again? Probing for weakness? I wasn't sure, but I decided to play along.

"Sure," I said. "But I'm guessing your faction's situation is... less than ideal right now?"

She chuckled. "That's an understatement. Many of our devils have gone missing, likely captured or killed. Surveillance on Earth has increased significantly. The perpetrator must be found—or eliminated. And yet, here you are, alive and well."

"Barely," I muttered, staring at the ground. "If not for my powers, I'd be dead a hundred times over."

Unbidden, memories of my first encounter with devils flooded back to me.

---

Flashback

Blood. It was everywhere. The metallic scent filled my nostrils, making my stomach churn. My hands trembled as I stared at them, stained crimson.

"Is this... blood?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

I had warned the captives to cover the children's eyes, but it did little to ease the horror of what I had done. Turning to the cage, I found the prisoners huddled together, their fear of me surpassing even their fear of the devils.

"Pardon me," I said hesitantly, fumbling for the keys I had taken from one of the devils. "I'll set you free and be on my way... if that's okay."

The lock clicked open, and I stepped back, giving them space to flee.

"You've never killed before, have you?" a soft voice said.

I turned to see a woman with purple eyes and green hair, her expression a mix of gratitude and unease.

"It's my first time," I admitted. "I've always hated devils, but... I never thought I'd kill a being so similar to a human. Maybe there's something wrong with me."

She shook her head. "The fact that you're reflecting on your actions proves otherwise. Thank you for saving us, even at the cost of your innocence."

---

The memory faded, leaving a hollow ache in my chest.

"Hey," Serafall said, snapping me back to the present. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I lied. "Just how I can get stronger."

"What do you mean?"

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Hey guys, I found was able to find someone to show me the ropes in refining my work. I hope you like it.