500 gems = bonus chapter
Advanced chapters at:
patreon.com/posts/eminence-in-dxd-129508530
***
After dodging a couple of very dense and fast balls of water, Emeric was finally able to wait out his friend's raging emotions. This time, she was playing hard to get, and apparently embarrassment had its place. Sona wasn't always the most liberated demon in that regard. Although, as if the ancestral feature of Prince Sitri, namely an instinctive understanding of "sex", should have given her "courage" in this regard.
They had tacitly made a pact to keep their trio's behavior more "modest". Especially since Emeric himself was going to be very specific about what he would do in the future. Well, dosage. Now he would not be engaged in "entertainment" almost around the clock. Once Emeric knew the forbidden fruit, he couldn't imagine his life without it.
After catching her breath, Sona continued the conversation as if nothing had happened.
«I wanted to propose to you... - Sona crumpled awkwardly, which was not her usual behavior. - I realize you might not take it well.....
«Come on, spit it out.
This kind of dancing around a topic of interest was not a common occurrence. Sona knew from her conversations with him that he wouldn't be moved by such things.
«Ichika Hyodo. You lucky bast- - She hid her remark behind a fake cough. Apparently, her emotions had risen to the surface. - Rod Sitri has a lot to offer you for her....
Sona stopped talking abruptly as she sensed a change in the atmosphere of the room. The very air seemed to stiffen with her suggestion. Actually, she knew that the chance of success was close to zero. Even an ordinary demon wouldn't change the possessor of a Longinus, or rather if anyone but Emeric had one. And specifically Emeric had always been a toy-hungry demon. She had once tried to pry his toy from his sister, and when she had tried to call her brother, he had simply dissolved her in the power of destruction. Not for herself, not for people, as they say.
But the temptation was too great. Greed made her whimper, so great was the potential payoff. She dreaded to think when his "dragons" would be known in most of Hell. She wouldn't be spared, either; she and the Gremory family were close allies.
The atmosphere had cooled down a bit. If someone other than Sona had suggested it to him, he would have started to tear the place apart, but it was his friend, after all. And he partially understood her, or rather his inner demon did.
«Eh," Emeric sighed sadly and stood up, unbuckling his belt. - What can you do...
Sona recoiled from him like a stung man.
«What are you doing?!
«Like what? - He stared at the report in feigned surprise. - Aren't you going to rape me?
Sona began to adjust her glasses with trembling fingers.
«Are you out of your mind?! - Her red cheeks spoke of all her emotions. - Why would I rape you?!
«Why why? - Emeric began to slowly pull back the strap of his underwear while Sona tried her best to cover her eyes with her hands. - Don't you cosplay Vikings?
«What does this have to do with Vikings?! - Sona felt like she was going to faint from the emotions that were overwhelming her. Mostly anger, but there was a good deal of embarrassment, too.
«Isn't this a brutal robbery attempt? - Emeric made a face as if he had discovered America. - I thought you were going to rape me like a good Viking after this. - He shook his head slightly. - I thought it would be better to give you the second one, and then, if I liked it, I'd give you the first....
Emeric had already started to fully pull back his underpants, but Sona, who resembled a ripe tomato with her face started to scream:
«I got it! I got it! Just put your damn pants back on!
Sona let out a sigh of relief when she saw him pull his clothes back on.
«Couldn't you just say it like a normal person?!
«I respond normally to offers of the same kind. Not to your porn you call a "proposal". - He said back to her.
He put a clear and bold end to the discussion. Such an "incident" should knock the ground out from under his friend's feet and end the discussion before she pissed him off more. He had never been a great strategist, but he could read people perfectly and, like a true trickster, just flip the table of cards over. No normal chess player could play without a board, if he had more than a dozen pieces and tactics. Take your opponent off balance and finish him off before he comes to his senses, that's Emeric's favorite tactic.
He looked thoughtfully at the board of pieces, which Sona surprisingly hadn't reached for today. It was strange, a game of chess was a part of her even in conversations with her family.
He seemed to be beginning to understand exactly what had prompted Sona to make that ridiculous suggestion. And he was genuinely glad for the change in his friend, despite the not so pleasant "proposal".
«You've realized you've been playing too much, haven't you? - He took a small sip of his Nescafe. Couldn't she even get a decent tea before she tried to rob him?
«What do you mean? - She followed his gaze and saw the untouched board. Sona nodded. - 'I have no chance at the Young Demon Gathering,' Sona sighed sadly and then nodded to him. - You were referring to my imbalance in the retinue, weren't you?
«Exactly," he nodded in affirmation. - You've recruited an entourage with a wide variety of abilities, so that you have 'lockpicks' for all occasions, but..." - Emeric chewed his lips. - The Ranked Game, or regular battles, has nothing to do with your favorite chess. You've become hostage to your way of thinking...
It was hard for Sonja to accept this fact, after all, she had always been proud of her entourage and its diversity, but...
«I'll just be broken," she looked him straight in the eye. - I'm woefully lacking in brute strength. Sairaorg Bael or you," Sona grinned bitterly. - You'll run over my retinue without even noticing. It doesn't matter how many 'scalpels' I have, a regular hammer has always been the most effective weapon....
Emeric answered nothing to her bitter speech. After all, it was the absolute truth. Sonya simply lacked the brute force in her retinue to break the king. The Ranking Game lasts until the king is defeated, but Sonya is not destined to end such a game. Even if she somehow manages to bypass his pieces, which is almost impossible to pull off with Valerie, who is almost as strong as him, she will not "eat" him. Even if the whole bunch pile up, Emeric is confident he can handle them.
Therefore, not only basic greed but also simple necessity was at play in her past proposal. To rise in Hell, you have to win the Ranking Games. You enter the food chain when you reach the right age, and there you join the hierarchy. Those without power will not be taken seriously. That's the way it's always been and that's the way it will be. Because that's how demons work and live. Listen to the strongest, in their society "the strongest" was his sister, so she was the most important Lord of Hell.
He didn't know exactly how to help her, or what advice to give. There were some good figures in her retinue, but they were still too weak. Ichika was in about the same situation, but she had more potential, it's not for nothing that Longinus users try not to touch, even when they are young. These "people" are capable of becoming many times stronger in a very short period of time. You either kill him right away, or don't touch him, in the third option, in which you cross his path, you need to immediately prepare a will. Any god can't be one hundred percent sure of avoiding retaliation from a Longinus user. There have been numerous precedents.
Unfortunately, Sona didn't have any Longinus in her retinue, so she wouldn't be able to grow in strength quickly. She had a good level herself, but that's about it. He or Valerie could easily deal with Sona.
In short, Sona has almost no options. She mostly loses with a bang at the future Gathering of Young Demons, which allows these very demons to declare their ambitions.
The Young Demon Gathering is the first official event in the lives of demons of noble descent. It brings together all the representatives of Hell, including such bigwigs as the heads of the Great King's faction and the New Lords themselves. Such an event allows them to bring their ambitions into the light and dictate their intentions for the future of Hell. All the "elders" evaluate the "youths" and afterwards their first ever Ranking Games begin.
Such Ranking Games allow you to establish a hierarchy among the generation to finally give official permission to participate in other games. After such games, the vast majority of young demons immediately go into battles for ranking. And the "first" place is given the right to throw a challenge to any representative of the ten strongest kings in Hell. In the absolute majority - it is a loss of a young and confident demon, but there were certainly cases of victory and "robbing" place in the ranking.
This was Emeric's best chance to break into the big scene of Hell. To beat all the "youngsters" and then challenge someone from the Big Ten.
And this Gathering was even more significant, because to the complete surprise of everyone around them, several heirs of the Pillars would participate in these games, and not the weakest, it should be noted. No, it's not uncommon for a Pillar heir to participate, but not so many at the same time. Much less "which ones"!
Himself. Emeric Gremory, younger brother of Aldis Lucifer and heir to the Gremory family.
Sona Sitri, younger sister of Serafall Lefiafan and heir to the Sitri family.
Diadora Astaroth, heir to the Astaroth family, the lineage from which Ajuka Beelzebub came.
Zephador Glasea-Labolas, heir to the lineage of Glasea-Labolas, from which also came one of the Lords, namely Falbium Asmodeus.
The four of them are representatives of their faction, that is, the New Lords. All of them are heirs, who will most likely lead their Pillars in the future. Only Emeric and Sona are friends with each other, the others are rather loners.
And in opposition to them are the heirs of the clans who represent the Great King Faction, the most powerful faction in Hell.
Sigvaira Agares, heiress of the Agares family, which comes right after the Great King's family.
And, of course, the heir to the Bael family. The line of the Great King. His cousin, a rising star like him, Sairaorg Bael.
In the upcoming Young Demon Gathering, the heirs of the two most powerful factions of Hell must meet. That is why these games are so important, not only for the young demons, but also for their families.
Emeric was tantalized by the excitement of the coming triumphs. His blood was boiling. His fists were clenching by themselves, and his heart was ready to jump out of his chest. Oh, what to show them all ...
Sona watched melancholy as her friend was already destroying his enemies in her mind. She had never doubted Emeric. She should have such prowess...
«Given the latest situation in the overall rankings, this training camp will be even more important.....
Emeric paid attention to Sona's words. There was something he didn't understand...
«What do you mean? - He shook his head questioningly.
«Well," Sona shrugged her shoulders. - The situation with the Emperor, you understand.....
Emeric stared back even more perplexed.
«I don't get it," Emeric increased his focus on Sona. - What about the Emperor?
«Wait," she looked at him with the same perplexed expression. - Don't you know that?
He was starting to get a little annoyed. Emeric was usually the one who pissed off everyone around him like that.
«You know," he emphasized the word with a hint of emphasis. - What?
Sona checked once more to see if he was messing with her. It seemed like he really didn't know that...
«Emeric," they stared at him like he was gravely ill. - Two months ago, Dichauser Belial, King of the Ranked Games, Eternal Top One, or else Emperor. - Sona spoke those words through force. It was obvious how hard it was for her to say them. - Disbanded his entourage and announced the complete end of his career. Dichauser Belial cut all his ties and left for an unknown destination. Hell had lost its best King...
***
Don't forget to donate gems.
And subscribe at:
patreon.com/FanFictionPremium