Eldritch 42

"You came to fight an Eldritch God....because of a dream?" Rias summarized slowly.

"You find that hard to believe?" Vali countered calmly. “This would seem almost typical for them, by the stories at least.”

"He has a point," Azazel pointed out before looking down at the hybrid. "You're lucky you didn't piss off the wrong people with this stunt though."

The Fallen leader had no idea how correct he really was, but Vali wasn't about to bring up the insanity of the aborted timeline that he remembered. Even Albion didn't know about that yet. "Look, I was sent an invitation to a fight. When I found a dragon posing as an island, I thought I found my opponent."

They all paused as ankle-deep water briefly flooded into the warehouse before washing back out into the bay.

"Speaking of which," Sona said, as they all felt a powerful weight in the air. "Perhaps we should ask this one about  his intentions."

Riashummed but didn't move. "What I don't understand is how the leader of the fallen angels is wrapped up in all this?" she asked evenly.

Azazel shrugged. "Vali here in my ward."

Both princesses raised an eyebrow at that vague explanation.

Vali sighed as he stood up gingerly, ignoring the pain in his chest and limbs. "I'm not a reincarnated devil, I'm half-human," he explained offhandedly.

"Oh," Rias said. "So, sacred gear can be born to human-hybrids."

"Still, those are rather amazing odds," Sona remarked.

It was clear they wanted to ask more questions, but also knew they were unlikely to get anything. "If you're wondering, I have no intention of helping the Fallen Angels wipe out the devils or anything like that. Not that Azazel here would ever want that," Vali explained as he began to walk out of the warehouse, the fallen and devils following and watching him carefully.

He stepped out to see a large figure looming over him, Uftang having reached the harbor and towered over everything.

The mouth opened, an ancient voice rumbling through enormous fangs. "Is there a reason for our squabble, Young Drakeling of Supremacy?" he asked with the grogginess only an immortal taking a long nap might exude.

"Right, who are you exactly? I apparently got the wrong dragon?" Vali asked calmly.

"I am Uftangshasut," the dragon answered, peering down at the hybrid with eyes that saw more than just sight. "Whom did you seek conflict with?"

"I've been having dreams for the past few days," Vali explained. "Of a great dragon at sea calling out for any that would fight him. That wasn't you?"

Uftang hummed like the rumbling of a tsunami before answering. "These visions are not of my making, for I have received them the same. The Eldritch nature of dragons gave you a glimpse at a message you did not read correctly."

"Are saying Vali's dreams meant something else?" Azazel asked, causing the conversing pair to glance back at him, Rias and Sona standing nearby as they listened to the exchange.

"The Leader of the Dead God's Rebellion, Sisters of the Satans," Uftang greeted idly. "I have dreamt of you three."

From a mortal, that might be creepy. From an eldritch, it was unnerving at best, but they chose not to think much of it.

"The sight this one sees in slumber is not the call of a challenge, but a request for aid. An Eldritch calls for help against a great sea dragon. His mind rationalized myself as the subject of the dream when he laid eyes upon my form," Uftang explained with a hum. "Not uncommon with young mortal eldritch, so new to our ways."

"I'm sorry about the mix-up," Vali said with a head tilt. "I don't suppose you know where I should have looked?"

"That sea dragon is not within any realms you may reach from this world, halfbreed."

They turned sharply as Rias saw a fairly familiar eldritch in human skin. "Oh, it's you," Rias recognized, relieved it wasn't an enemy. "I believe your name was Gact?"

"Call me as you wish, Ruinous One," Gactha said before her blank eyes looked upon Azazel with an unpleasant gaze.

"Hey, it's been a while," Azazel greeted with a smirk.

"I feel the urge to skin your fostered runt in front of your eyes for what he might have done," Gactha said as she looked at the White Dragon Emperor.

Vali felt something wash over his spine. Despite how she acted, he was almost positive this eldritch remembered the past timeline to some degree. She had been powerful. It was a shame he probably couldn't fight her without provoking the Eldritch Queen.

"But I have been ordered to "play nice" as the Kungur phrased it," Gactha added in disappointment.

"Ohhh, the Kungur?" Uftang said with an enormous grin on his visage. "And where might he be? I've been wanting to meet the Center's Center."

The non-Eldritch at the group were only vaguely surprised as the seemingly wise dragon shifted to a more playful attitude.

"He is calming down the Queen," Gactha answered flatly.

"When you say calming her down.....?" Azazel asked expectantly.

"He is reaching her center," Uftang said with a chuckle. "I can hear them, now that you mention it."

"You can.....hear them?" Sona asked, glancing back to dry land and wondering just how close they were.

"Do not bother," Gactha said. "Even across the vastness of the cosmos, All Eldritch Gods can sense when the Sultana and her Sultan join their flesh."

Rias blinked. "Question? Can they sense it when he does that with......anyone?"

Gactha looked her square in the eye. "Akeno seemed to enjoy learning of this facet of being intimate with the Kungur."

"Of course she did," Rias said with a sigh and a headshake.

"An exhibitionist's paradise," Sona opined as she looked up at Uftang. "Will there be any issue if we take the barrier down?"

The Eldritch God shook his head. "Fret not, O Devil of Water. Without the whelp picking at me, I can disguise myself without being seen as an oncoming disaster."

"Then I'll let my peerage know the danger has passed," Sona said before pausing. "Come to think of it, where is your own peerage, Rias?"

The daughter of the Gremory family scowled in concern at that, having wondered that her-

"We've been here the whole time."

Rias inhaled sharply and was just short of jumping out of her skin as she looked behind her to see a giggling Akeno, along with the rest of her servants.

All of them, and one more.

"Lady Yi?" Rias addressed in surprise, seeing Yidrah standing behind Koneko with a hand on her head, the neko raising a hand in greeting.

"Ohhh, Yidrah! I haven't dreamed of you in some time," Uftang greeted with a chuckle.

"Uftang," Yidrah greeted, not looking away from whatever work she was doing in Keonkeo's mind.

"Yo," Koneko said before jabbing her thumb in Yidrah's direction. "She wanted to be dramatic."

"A Goddess needs some flair," Yidrah said with a dismissive tone as she glanced at the devil princess. "Rias Gremory. I took the liberty of holding your peerage back in case the Sultana became involved."

Rias raised an eyebrow. "I appreciate the sentiment, but was she likely to?"

"Very," Gactha said gravely, making a shiver run up Rias's spine for some reason. 

"I'll assume you have this under control, Rias," Sona said, giving her friend a look. "If you need anything, we'll be nearby."

Rias nodded as she left, grateful for the offer, even if she had doubted Sona could help much if this somehow took a wrong turn.

Yidrah turned to Vali and Azazel. "You're both free to leave as well."

"Do give our regards to the royal couple," Azazel said with a smile.

"Wait a minute," Vali spoke up.

"Kid, stop while you're ahead," Azazel advised with a sigh, rubbing a hand over his face.

"You should heed his words, Vali," Albion advised, eyeing the presence of various Eldritch Gods with unease.

"Hmm?" Uftang looked down. "Ahh, the dividing brat speaks up. I heard about you getting killed in that war I slept through."

It wasn't surprising that an Eldritch god slept through the great war between the biblical factions, but it did take them a moment to comprehend that.

"I just wanted to ask, who was calling me for help anyway?" Vali questioned.

"They have many names," Yidrah began.

"Don't you all?" Koneko deadpanned.

The dream witch might just have smiled at the comment. "They are often known as the Lord of the Depths, a young Eldritch God that guards the deep sea rifts that lead to distant worlds."

Rias opened her mouth and closed it, sharing a look with the others. They'd address that another time.

Vali's interest peaked. "I thought you said this dragon was beyond reach from this world?" Vali questioned, glancing at Gactha.

"Beyond you, I said," Gactha corrected in annoyance. "But please, do make that venture and save us the trouble of your presence."

Despite everything, Vali seemed almost amused by her remark. "I suppose I should rest after this misadventure, "Vali agreed, knowing that Azazel ultimately was right. He shouldn't push his luck much more than this. "Until next time, Devils."

With that, both Vali and Azazel flew off.

"And yes, Rias, I did enjoy that," Akeno informed playfully as she stepped next to Rias. "Perhaps you should consider trying it?"

Rias gave Akeno a deadpan expression.

"She just wants to teach you to slurp a tentacle," Koneko remarked.

Rias resisted every urge to ask if tentacles actually had been involved.

"Hehe."

With that, the devil looked back up at the colossal dragon in the bay, chuckling at them.

"You devils are always most amusing, so uninhabited, unlike some mortals," Uftang said good-naturedly. "I shall take my leave of here. If the Kungur does not visit me with the Queen soon, I shall return to my slumber. I hope that you might still be alive when I awaken, young devils."

With that, the Eldritch God turned to leave, soon going from walking to swimming. With a shimmer, they saw him vanish and become like a tsunami, one rushing out to sea.

"I have to ask," Kiba said with a frown, looking at Yidrah. "How dangerous was that one? He was obviously holding back against that Vali character."

Yidrah chuckle. "He is comparable to Cthulhu at his apex."

"And why is he here anyway? Is he one of the Eldritch who came with the Queen, or has he already been here for ages?" Rias asked curiously.

"Oh no, he's just been taking a vacation here for a couple centuries," Yidrah answered, getting surprised looks. "Don't be so shocked. Earth is an interesting place, one guaranteed not to end while one slumbers for an eon or two."

"Well, I guess it wasn't too off the mark about calling him Godzilla," Kiba said in jest.

"He thinks he is Godzilla," Gactha informed flatly.

Every head turned to her.

"What?" Koneko asked blankly.

"Uftang thinks the Godzilla movies are based on him. He's rather proud of that," Yidrah informed. "We'd prefer if you didn't, as you might say, burst his bubble."

"Honestly, you could have just said they were inspired by him and we wouldn't have questioned it," Akeno helpfully pointed out with a smile.

Gactha and Yidrah shared a look.

"We should have thought of that," Yidrah commented, getting a nod from the priestess of Azathoth.

"Akeno, your ability to understand the Eldritch continues to concern me," Rias said, only half joking.

Akeno just giggled.

Meanwhile

"Oi," Issei said as he rubbed his forehead as he sat on a rooftop.

"You alright, Issei?" Yog asked in concern.

"Yeah, just some of that other timeline stabbing me in the brain," Issei assured.

"The one where you nearly died getting stuck between Uftang and Vali, or the one after that where Aza started mind-breaking some of the devils by accident?" Yog asked curiously.

Aza shifted her feet, a hand rubbing her arm. As did another tentacle that had absently emerged from her back.

"Believe it or not, the second," Issei said with a frown.

He didn't fully remember those events that never happened. Just images. Sona being sacrificed by her own deranged peerage, Koneko losing her mind and beginning to eat people, a vengeful and broken Serafall, and a few more things.

"Well, I'd say I'm not quite in the same class as the Satans yet," Issei mused as he recalled scenes of Serafall fighting.

"Definitely not Rias's brother. He's a super-devil," Yog informed helpfully.

".....Is that really what they call it?" Issei asked in surprise and amusement.

"Yep!" Yog informed, glancing over to the silent Daemon Sultana. "Anyway, I'll take my leave so you two can get to work on the makeup sex."

Neither party said anything as Yog left, the night sky twinkling above them.

Well, twinkling for them. Light pollution wasn't something they were affected by. Most Eldritch, especially the gods, could see the stars clearly through any atmosphere.

"I'm sorry," Aza said softly. "I hurt a lot of our devil friends with that."

"Yeah, you did," Issei agreed with a sigh. There was no point in sugarcoating. Without Yog and Yad, they would have lost their new friends and ruined a lot of the goodwill between them and the devils. But they did have Yog and Yad, and luckily Uftang appeared to be the reasonable sort.

....Some part of Issei was glad he was no longer human enough to be really, truly traumatized by what he recalled of the aborted timelines. He was bothered by them, but it was an...inconvenience? Something he would remember but also something he could get over, in any case.

"I knew there was something Yog didn't want me to peak at when she told me to reschedule my plans for us to visit Uftang. But then I saw that white wretch fighting Uftang, so I peeked, and I saw you.....dying, and I couldn't help it and-"

"Aza!" Issei spoke up before she kept going. "You're kind of destroying your human form."

Aza blinked and looked down. She had a crab arm for a right leg, and her left had mouths all over it. Her right arm had twisted and split into some weird parody of arms, and uselessly misshapen bat wings curled from around her back.

And one of her eyes had turned into a tiny green star of madness, bestowing insanity upon any weak-minded mortal unlucky enough to look upon it.

"Oh," Aza said absently as she began to reform her regular appearance, shaking her leg to get rid of the mouths and rubbing her eye to turn it back to normal.

"Aza, I get it," Issei said with a reassuring smile. "Mostly, anyway. I barely remember that first timeline. You got pissed that I nearly died. I got a little pissed over what would have happened to our friends. Especially Koneko. Dear fuck, that neko needs a break."

Aza still looked down as Issei spoke.

The Kungur sighed and rose, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Just... next time? Come to me before you go off like that, okay? We're eternal, we have Yad and Yog. We literally have all the time in the universe to figure out what to do with shit like that."

"I know, but you know that I can be....impulsive, I believe would be the word? Especially if its about you," Aza reminded apologetically.

"And I usually like it when you're impulsive! Just....remember, a lot of our friends are a bit more fragile than us," Issei requested.

"Okay," Aza said softly. ".....Issei, you know I'm not...human, right? Or anything close? I don't feel....guilty in the way you still might. I'm sad it upset you. I feel like I owe Akeno a favor for what happened to her in the other timeline. I feel like a genuine blind idiot for not seeing how doing all that would turn out. But I don't feel...guilt about what almost happened."

"Yeah, I gathered as much," Issei acknowledged, rubbing the back of his head. "Back before you made me an Eldritch? When I was just a horny bastard, happy to get a date? Well, I doubt that old version of me would have told Yog to make Vali remember what you did to him."

Aza blinked. "You did....?"

Issei chuckled sheepishly. "I told Yog to put the fear of Us into him. I wanted to make the asshole pay a little bit, even if it was just one big misunderstanding," Issei said as he reached down to take hold of Aza's hand. "Because, well, he upset you. And I hate seeing you upset too."

Aza smiled adoringly at him, leaning up to kiss him on the lips.

It was far more chaste than their usual shows of affection, but it was no less heartfelt.

"Huh. Maybe they won't have makeup sex," Yog remarked as she observed the pair from her own realm.

"Give them time, they'll probably start once they get home," Yad added in.

"Everything turn out okay?" Yog questioned to Yad.

Yad shrugged. "A few humans nearby took a hit to thier sanity. They might be joining someone's cult in the near future. Other than that? The devils will be fine."

"Good, we wouldn't want to damage the Kungur's toys," Yog said with a chuckle.

"He wouldn't appreciate you calling them that," Yad pointed out.

"Ahh, but Akeno would definitely appreciate it," Yog countered with a grin.

Yad gave her a look. "Appreciation is a very weak synonym for arousal."