Chapter 1
The sky of the Underworld stretched out in dark reddish tones, painted by an eternal twilight that gave way neither to day nor night. Through the windows of the estate, the soft glow of torches and magical crystals lit the hallways with a warm amber light, contrasting with the somber landscape outside. Esdeath walked down the corridor, her sky-blue hair glowing faintly under the golden light of the lamps.
With firm steps, she stopped before the wooden door that led to her mother's office. She knocked three times—softly—and from inside, Serafall's cheerful voice responded:
"You may enter."
Turning the handle, Esdeath calmly stepped inside. The office was filled with bookshelves crammed with grimoires and ancient scrolls, and a dark oak desk covered in documents. The atmosphere, though solemn, felt cozy due to the warm lighting that clashed with the crimson sky outside. Serafall looked up and frowned in confusion, seeing the sky-blue-haired, red-eyed girl who had just entered.
"Hmm? Who are you?" Serafall asked, tilting her head. She didn't recognize the girl standing before her, though those red eyes felt familiar.
Esdeath gave a playful smile. "I'm your daughter," she replied calmly. "I dyed my hair."
"Akane?! Seriously?!" Serafall nearly jumped out of her seat, eyes wide in shock. "I can't believe it! What happened to my little girl?"
Esdeath let out a soft chuckle, enjoying her mother's reaction. "I don't want to be Akane anymore," she explained. "That name belongs to someone who no longer exists. I've changed, Mother. From now on, I'm Esdeath."
Serafall fell silent for a moment, gazing at her daughter with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy. She stood up from her chair and walked over to Esdeath, studying every detail: the sky-blue hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders and the red eyes that now gleamed with icy intensity.
"Esdeath…" she repeated, trying the name on her lips. "It's a strong name. It suits you. But I can't help feeling like I've lost my little Akane."
"I'll always be your daughter," said Esdeath, gently taking her mother's hand. "But I've changed. My power has grown, and so has my identity. From now on, I am Esdeath."
Serafall squeezed her daughter's hand—a gesture full of love and acceptance. "I understand," she replied softly. "If this is the path you've chosen, I'll support you. Though... it'll be hard to stop calling you Akane."
"You can call me whatever you want," Esdeath said with a faint smile. "But to the rest of the world, I'm Esdeath."
Serafall sighed, then returned to her usual playful grin. "My powerful daughter with a new identity! Even if you change your name, you're still my adorable little girl."
Esdeath let out a short, defiant laugh. "We'll see how much you still think that once you realize how much I've really changed."
"I look forward to it," Serafall said, gathering some papers from her desk. "But tell me—what brings you here today? I'm sure it's not just to show off your new look."
Esdeath's face turned serious, her red eyes glowing with a cold glint. "You're right," she said, folding her arms. "I want to talk about a recent encounter. I saw Rias Gremory... and a young man who was with her."
"A young man?" Serafall asked, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "Who was he?"
"They called him Sengo," Esdeath answered, recalling the white-haired boy with intense red eyes. "But I later found out his real name: Senji Muramasa."
Serafall's face lit up with unexpected emotion, like a child receiving a gift. "Senji-chan! I can't believe it!" she exclaimed joyfully. "You found him! What did you think of your father during that little encounter? Is he as handsome as I remember? Did he say anything exciting?"
Esdeath remained impassive, a faint smile on her lips, though inside she felt a storm of conflicting thoughts. She knew how much that man meant to her mother, how much she had idealized him in her mind. However, she chose not to share the cold response she had received from him.
"It was a very brief encounter," Esdeath replied calmly, choosing her words carefully. "We only exchanged a few words."
Serafall didn't seem to notice the caution in her daughter's voice—or perhaps she deliberately ignored it. In her mind, she was already crafting a romantic image of the reunion. "He must've been as surprised as you!" she said with a melodious laugh. "He was always a bit distant, but I'm sure he must've felt something special when he saw you. You're his daughter, after all!"
Esdeath nodded, hiding the true words from Sengo that still echoed in her mind:
"Oh? Did you come seeking some fatherly love from me? Sorry, but I have no interest in such things… even if you were my daughter."
The coldness of those words had left a faint mark, but she wasn't about to let her mother know. Serafall's smile was too radiant to shatter with the truth of that encounter.
"Maybe," said Esdeath, shrugging. "Who knows what he was thinking at the time?"
Serafall gave a small hop, approaching her daughter and holding her hands. "Oh, Akane! I'm so happy you found him. Isn't it amazing? Destiny is giving us another chance to be a family!"
Esdeath gently pulled her hands back, keeping her expression serene. "Maybe. But I'm not drawing any conclusions from a casual meeting," she said, giving a slight bow. "If you don't mind, I'll head to my room to rest. It's been a long day."
"Of course, dear!" exclaimed Serafall, beaming. "Rest well, and don't forget to dream of something sweet! Maybe next time you can give him a hug for me!"
Esdeath simply nodded, turning toward the door. As she left the office, she felt her mother's loving gaze on her back. She closed the door behind her and paused in the hallway, staring out a nearby window at the dark red sky of the Underworld.
"Even if you were my daughter…"
She repeated Sengo's words to herself. Is this the kind of man my mother fell in love with?
Yet she didn't let that thought turn into resentment. She was no longer the innocent girl seeking approval from an absent father. She was Esdeath Leviathan, and she would forge her own destiny, no matter the past that tied her down.
With one final glance at the horizon, she made her way to her room, leaving behind the echoes of memories and her mother's fantasies.
The next day...
The dark red sky of the Underworld watched over the training of Alexander Gremory and Esdeath. In the Gremorys' private courtyard, the two faced off—Alexander gripping his katana tightly, while Esdeath watched him from a distance, her red eyes shining with excitement.
"I hope you're ready, Alexander," Esdeath warned, raising her hand. In that instant, her eyes began to shift color, transforming into a luminous sky blue—signaling that she was channeling her ice magic.
Without warning, Esdeath summoned a barrage of ice stakes, forming midair like razor-sharp spears, glistening with a chilling glow. They flew at Alexander at impressive speed, like a rain of crystal arrows.
Alexander focused, his violet eyes tracking each projectile with precision. He raised his katana, slicing through the ice stakes with clean, exact cuts. Shards of ice fell all around him, creating a frosty mist in the air.
Clang!Clang!
The sound of steel slicing through ice echoed across the courtyard. The katana in his hands remained firm, showing no signs of strain. Alexander moved forward, dodging and cutting down each attack without breaking rhythm.
Esdeath, now seated cross-legged on the ground, watched him with a playful smile, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. Her eyes still glowed sky blue, a testament to the power of her magic.
"You're doing well, Alexander," she said in a praising tone. "Your reflexes have improved a lot since the last time we trained."
Alexander landed softly after dodging one last attack, keeping his guard up. He took a deep breath, then gave a small smile. "Your ice attacks are stronger than before," he admitted. "It's a good challenge—though your smile is still the scariest part."
Esdeath chuckled lightly, pride flashing in her eyes. "You haven't seen anything yet, Alexander. We're just warming up."
Meanwhile, in the outside world, specifically Takamagahara. A completely different battle was taking place. Under a clear blue sky, a sacred field had become the training ground of a young girl with light blonde hair. Her golden locks fell in soft waves that flared in all directions, and her violet eyes sparkled with a defiant gleam as she faced her opponents.
The girl was Izayoi Saigou—a monstrously strong teenager facing the Shinto gods themselves without showing the slightest sign of exhaustion. One by one, each god fell before her as if they were mere obstacles. A god clad in golden armor tried to attack her with a divine spear, but Izayoi caught it with her bare hand, shattering it with a smile.
"Is that all the gods of this world have?" Izayoi asked with a mix of mockery and disappointment in her voice. Her movements were fast and precise, as if she anticipated each strike with ease. Her overwhelming strength made even the most powerful gods tremble before her.
From a shaded spot beneath a tree, Senji watched the spectacle with crossed arms and a satisfied expression. The wind rustled his white hair as his red eyes followed Izayoi's every move. A proud and amused smile appeared on his lips.
"I expected nothing less from you, Izayoi," he thought. The girl's strength was a constant reminder of her wild, unrestrained spirit—something that had always fascinated him. To him, watching Izayoi crush the Shinto gods wasn't just entertaining—it was proof that she was destined for something far greater.
"If she keeps this up," Senji murmured to himself, "soon there won't be a god or monster that can stand against her."
Izayoi took down the last of her opponents—a god who charged her in a final desperate attempt. She effortlessly dodged him, then with one quick motion, sent him flying into the air, crashing him to the ground. She stretched, rolling her shoulders as if she had only just finished warming up.
"Senji," Izayoi called, turning to her mentor with a bright smile. "Who's next?"
Senji chuckled softly and walked toward her, shaking his head. "You've left the gods speechless, Izayoi. Maybe it's time to find more... interesting challenges."
Izayoi crossed her arms, raising a brow. "More interesting? If you have something in mind, just say it."
Senji looked at her with a cryptic expression. "Oh, I definitely do," he replied, his eyes gleaming with mystery. "But you'll find out in due time."
Side Story: Will You Be My Queen?
Senji walked the streets of Kyoto under a gentle rain that soaked his cloak. The sound of raindrops tapping against the pavement echoed through the quiet air, while the faint glow of lanterns reflected in the wet streets. It was a typical afternoon—until something made him stop.
A presence.
Senji turned slightly, sensing the figure of a woman walking just behind him. At first, he thought she was just another passerby, but then he noticed that unlike the others, she wasn't rushing.
The woman wore an elegant kimono in dark blue and deep red, adorned with a subtle four-petal design on her left shoulder. Her black hair, neatly tied into a low bun, contrasted perfectly with her serene bearing.
She was staring directly at him.
Senji frowned, feeling the weight of her intense gaze, and finally, the woman broke the silence.
"…You're strong," she said quietly, almost whispering, her eyes scanning his chest.
Senji raised an eyebrow, completely thrown off by the comment. He wasn't used to being described that way—especially not by such an enigmatic woman. He turned fully to face her, curiosity growing.
"Will you be my Queen?"
The question came with the same calm tone as before, but this time the words seemed to fill the air with an unexpected weight.
Senji's face shifted into a mixture of confusion and surprise. What kind of game was this?
"What?"
The woman, without losing her composure, simply looked him in the eye, waiting for a response with an amused smile.