High School DxD: The Man Who Surpasses God

[THIRD PERSON POV]

A while later, the trio found themselves standing at the entrance of what appeared to be ancient ruins, the air thick with the scent of decay and damp earth.

The flickering light from Arthur's conjured fireball cast long, wavering shadows across the cracked stone walls.

They paused briefly to catch their breath. 

Arthur glanced back at the tunnel they'd come from, his glowing right eye scanning for any sign of pursuit.

*Sigh*

With a resigned sigh, he muttered.

"Looks like we lost them... for now."

He extended his hand with a magic circle on it, and the ground rumbled as a wall of earth rose, sealing the tunnel behind them. 

Belladonna sniffed the air, her nose twitching as she caught a faint scent.

Her gaze fell to the ground, where a dark, congealed blood trail stretched into the depths of the ruins.

"There's blood, and its still fresh."

She murmured, crouching down to examine it. 

Arthur grabbed an old torch mounted on the wall, igniting it with his fireball. He grinned as the flame crackled to life.

"Welp, no time like the present."

He quipped.

"Alright, team god slayers. Let's follow the bloody-bricked road to Absalom's Wonderland." 

He began walking but stopped when Griselda's voice rang out, steady but laden with surprise.

"You possess the 12th Longinus, Innovate Clear." 

Arthur turned to her, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Pretty surprising, huh?" 

Griselda crossed her arms, her expression shifting from surprise to something closer to awe.

"Surprising is an understatement. I'm dumbfounded." 

Belladonna tilted her head.

"Is it really that big of a deal?" 

Griselda's voice grew more animated.

"Big of a deal? Arthur possesses one of the tools capable of killing gods and demons! If fully mastered, it could reshape, or even destroy, the world as we know it!"

She gestured at him, her incredulity plain.

"And this 5-year-old child, which I still find hard to believe since he looks like a teenager, wields the power to let him impersonate God Himself! So yes, it IS that big of a deal!"

"..."

Belladonna blinked, processing the revelation before her eyes widened with excitement.

"Holy crap! No wonder you're so strong and confident! With that power, you could definitely stop Absalom if he ever shows up!" 

Arthur raised his hands in a calming gesture, chuckling.

"Whoa there, Bella. Don't get your hopes up just yet. I've only had this thing for a few months, and I've barely scratched the surface. I haven't even unlocked Balance Breaker yet. But hey, maybe I'll get a shonen-style power-up somewhere down the line." 

Griselda stared at him, torn between admiration and exasperation at his nonchalance. 

Turning back to the path, Arthur gestured for them to follow.

"Come on. We're wasting time talking about my so-called miracle powers." 

The three continued along the blood-stained trail.

The ancient ruins seemed to hum faintly with malicious energy, the air growing heavier the deeper they ventured.

Griselda broke the silence after a while.

"You know I'll have to report this to my superiors, right?" 

Arthur nodded, not breaking stride.

"Of course. I'd be more surprised if you didn't. Let me guess, they'll probably tell you to recruit me into becoming an Exorcist or something." 

Griselda's lips quirked into a small smile.

"Even if they didn't, I was planning to ask. What do you think?" 

Arthur didn't answer immediately, letting the question hang in the air as Belladonna took the lead, following the trail of blood deeper into the ruins.

After a moment, he finally replied.

"I'll think about it." 

Satisfied for now, Griselda nodded and fell silent. 

In his mind, Gaia's voice chimed in.

(Are you really considering becoming an Exorcist?)

Arthur's response was nonchalant.

'I don't know. Maybe. Like I said, I'll think about it later.'

Gaia sighed, her tone supportive yet resigned.

(*Sigh* Very well. Remember, whatever you decide, I'll back you up. Just… be careful, okay Arthur?)

Arthur smiled faintly.

'Thanks, Gaia.'

The three pressed on, the air growing colder and the runes etched into the walls glowing faintly, as though the bloody markings were alive and watching their every move.

[HALF AN HOUR LATER]

The three wandered through the tunnels, the dim, flickering light from Arthur's torch casting shifting shadows on the bloodstained walls.

The air was damp and carried the faint metallic tang of blood, mingled with the musty smell of old stone. 

As they moved deeper into the labyrinth, they encountered small groups of vampires.

Some attacks were swift and brutal, with Arthur's summoned minions tearing through their foes, Belladonna clawing and howling like a storm, and Griselda dispatching enemies with her Holy Sword in graceful, deadly arcs.

Other times, the trio opted for stealth, slipping past patrolling vampires and their traps with practiced precision. 

After what felt like half an hour of traversing the eerie maze of tunnels, Arthur noticed something peculiar.

A growing sense of déjà vu crept over him as he stared at the walls around them.

The bloodstains and runes seemed strangely familiar. 

Stopping in his tracks, Arthur turned to Belladonna, raising an eyebrow.

"Bella… are we lost?" 

Belladonna froze mid-step, her ears twitching nervously.

She scratched the back of her neck, avoiding eye contact.

"Um... maybe? Sorry about that. These tunnels are... kinda confusing."

She admitted, her voice sheepish. 

Griselda let out an exasperated sigh, her palm meeting her forehead with a loud smack.

"Unbelievable."

She muttered under her breath. 

Arthur, however, just chuckled, stepping closer to Belladonna.

He patted her head gently, ruffling her hair.

"It's alright. Happens to the best of us."

He said with a grin. 

Belladonna pouted, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

"I'll get us back on track, I swear!" 

Arthur smiled as he turned his attention to the glowing runes on the walls.

"We're probably not the first to get turned around down here. This place is designed to confuse and disorient. But don't worry. We'll figure it out." 

Griselda sighed again but softened her tone.

"Let's try to stay focused. Retrace our steps if we must, but we need to find the source of these rituals." 

Arthur nodded, extinguishing the torch and replacing it with a softly glowing magic orb to conserve resources.

"Alright, team. Let's take it slow and stay alert. This maze of tunnels might try to trick us again." 

With renewed determination, they pressed on.

Belladonna led the way with her enhanced senses, Griselda keeping her sword at the ready, and Arthur casting periodic glances at the walls for any repeating patterns or traps.

[ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR LATER]

"Oh my God."

"Holy crap."

"..."

The three reacted in shock from their concealed vantage point at the scene below.

The ancient catacombs were vast, like a forgotten cathedral buried beneath the earth, its grandeur corrupted by the macabre rituals of the vampires.

The dimly lit chandeliers overhead swung gently, disturbed by the flurry of bats circling the cavernous space.

The walls were lined with skulls embedded in the stone, grim witnesses to centuries of unspeakable acts. 

The giant circular platform in the center was surrounded by a grotesque pool of blood that shimmered eerily under the dim, flickering light.

The pentagram etched in blood on the stage pulsed faintly with dark energy as if resonating with the despair of the gagged and bound humans kneeling in chains.

Belladonna's claws dug into the stone floor, her teeth bared in a silent snarl.

Her golden eyes burned with rage as she took in the sight of children among the prisoners, their tiny frames trembling with fear.

"Monsters."

She hissed under her breath. 

Griselda's expression was grim, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword tightly.

"This… this is beyond vile."

She whispered, her voice filled with quiet fury. 

Arthur's gaze shifted to the old man standing at the center of it all.

His red eyes gleamed with malice, his scarred forehead catching the dim light.

The ornate ruby staff in his hand seemed to thrum with unholy power.

Arthur raises an eyebrow and thought to himself.

'Why does he look like that Snoke guy from Star Wars?'

He focused his right eye, casting Observe on the old vampire.

XxX

[REDACTED]

XxX

The blue screen flashed in his mind's eye again, and he sighed in frustration.

"Great. Another one."

He muttered. 

Griselda glanced at Arthur, noticing his irritation.

"I recognize him."

She whispered.

"That's Lord Manthar. He was once part of the Tepes Faction but was exiled for reasons no one's been able to confirm. I encountered him briefly during an investigation a month ago. He's dangerous." 

Arthur was about to ask for more details when Belladonna raised a hand, signaling for silence.

She pointed down to the stage, where Manthar had raised his staff.

The crowd of vampires immediately fell silent, their red eyes gleaming with fanatical devotion. 

"My fellow subjects..."

Manthar's old, rasping voice echoed through the catacombs, each word dripping with menace.

"... tonight, we celebrate the emergence of our lord and savior, Absalom!" 

The vampires erupted into cheers, their inhuman voices reverberating off the ancient walls. 

The humans, chained and gagged, let out muffled cries of despair, their tears glistening in the torchlight. 

Manthar continued, his voice growing more fervent.

"The Tepes Faction... the Carmilla Faction... and the world shall regret the day they turned their backs on our creator. They will kneel before us, the true rulers of this world. With Absalom leading our charge, not even God shall stand in our way." 

He raised his staff high, and the blood pool rippled ominously.

"Once the resurrection is complete, a new age shall dawn! A glorious age! An age that no man, god, or demon has ever imagined! The Age of Blood and Carnage! The Age of Absalom!" 

The vampires roared in unison, their voices merging into a chant.

"Absalom!"

"Absalom!"

"Absalom!" 

Arthur, Belladonna, and Griselda crouched low, their faces grim.

The scale of the operation was far greater than they had anticipated.

Arthur's mind raced, considering their options. 

"We have to stop this."

Belladonna whispered fiercely, her hands trembling with rage. 

Griselda nodded, her eyes locked on the prisoners.

"Agreed. But with numbers like this, charging in would be suicide." 

Arthur frowned, his glowing blue eye faintly visible as he thought.

"We'll need a plan and fast. Whatever they're doing, it looks like it's almost ready." 

The three exchanged determined glances, their resolve hardening as they prepared to act against the dark ritual unfolding below.

"Alright, team, here's the plan."

Arthur said, his voice low but firm.

"On my signal, we crash this party. Belladonna, you focus on evacuating the humans. Griselda, you and my summons keep the small fry busy. And I'll handle the old guy." 

Griselda's brows furrowed with concern.

"Are you sure about this? That man is no ordinary vampire." 

Arthur's glowing blue eye flickered as magic circles began to form around his hands.

"I've got this. After all, I'm strong."

He assured her, though the weight of the challenge ahead was clear in his tone. 

Before Griselda or Belladonna could argue further, a booming voice echoed through the catacombs. 

"Before we begin the ritual..."

Lord Manthar declared, his voice carrying a mocking edge.

"... I must address the matter that has transpired in this fine evening. Apparently, some rats scurry around our sacred gathering... And they are here among us as we speak." 

His crimson gaze swept the upper ledges of the catacombs until it locked onto the trio's hiding spot.

He raised his gnarled claw and pointed directly at them.

"Seize the intruders." 

A chorus of hissing erupted as dozens of vampires turned their attention upward and surged toward them like a dark, bloodthirsty tide. 

Arthur grimaced, muttering under his breath.

"Welp, so much for the element of surprise."

He clenched his fists, his magic circles pulsing with energy.

"Now!"

He shouted as his barrier engulfed the whole catacomb. 

The trio sprang into action.

With a burst of speed, Belladonna leapt from the ledge, her animalistic agility carrying her toward the chained humans.

Her golden eyes burned with determination as she dodged lunging vampires, slashing at them with her claws when necessary.

Reaching the prisoners, she tore through their bindings with precision, muttering soothing words to the terrified captives. 

"Shhh. It's okay, we're here to help you. We're getting you out of here." 

She instructed, her tone firm but kind. 

Griselda unsheathed Excalibur Destruction, the holy sword gleaming with divine light.

With a swift motion, she met the charging vampires head-on, cutting through them with deadly efficiency.

Each strike of her blade sent a flash of radiant energy through the catacombs, disintegrating her foes on contact. 

"Come, creatures of the night!"

She called out, her voice ringing with righteous fury.

"Let me show you the light of God's wrath!" 

At the same time, T-800 Terminators start shooting their futuristic weapons at the vampires.

Arthur stayed on the ledge, his eyes locked on Lord Manthar.

The ancient vampire didn't move, his expression one of apathy as if daring Arthur to come closer. 

Arthur extended his hand, and a swirling orb of fire appeared in his palm.

With a flick of his wrist, he launched it into the advancing horde, creating a fiery explosion that sent surrounding vampires flying.

As the dust settled, he teleported to the center platform, appearing just a few feet from Manthar. 

The elderly vampire's lips curled into a sinister frown.

"To think that such commotion is the cause of a human toddler. Tell me, boy, do you have any idea what you're up against?" 

Arthur smirked, his glowing eye flashing.

"I've got a pretty good idea. But thanks for the concern, grandpa." 

Manthar's crimson eyes burned with anger.

"You'll regret mocking me, child." 

Arthur prepared blue magic circles on his hands, summoning his floating weapons and preparing for the battle.

"Come on, you old fossil. Let's dance."

[AUTHOR'S NOTE]

Hello readers!

I need Stones of Power for creativity purposes.

Thank you everyone and see you later!