Basement – Training Room
"Well, now that we've calmed down, let's start with the revelations," said my father, sitting cross-legged on the floor. I sat by his side, and the two demons stood in front of us.
"Daddy, who are they?" I asked, clinging to his arm.
"First of all, Issei, you have to know the family's biggest secret," my father began, standing next to the other two men.
"Huh?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"We are demons," he declared, spreading his wings—followed by the other two.
I was shocked.From my father's back sprouted seven pairs of bat-like wings. The two strangers each had six pairs.Fourteen wings for my dad.Twelve for the others.
Against all odds, I was thrilled.
"Wow, that's great!" I exclaimed excitedly, eyes sparkling. "And... what's a demon?"
"Well, you see, a demon is…" My father launched into an explanation. For about fifteen minutes, they tag-teamed it: Euclid explained the three factions' history, Rizevim handled the Sacred Gears and Longinus, and finally, Dad told me a secret that could reshape the entire world if revealed.
"So Issei-chan, do you have any doubts?" Rizevim asked, grinning.
"Let me get this straight," I said, trying to organize it all."You're demons—supernatural beings who opposed God and became his mortal enemies. Dad was the original demon and spread the idea of freedom of opinion, which caused 20% of all angels to fall, creating the Fallen Angels.
Then, together with his seven generals, Dad founded the Underworld and the system of the 'Seven Princes,' alongside the rising 72 demonic pillars. The Fallen formed Grigory, a research-based organization that eventually became their own state.
Meanwhile, God and his Seraphim stayed in Heaven, forming the three major factions.
There were two wars, the Great Wars. In the first, the Princes Amon, Mammon, and Belphegor died. Grigory's original leaders were wiped out and Azazel took over. Heaven lost eight Seraphim, leaving only Raphael, Uriel, Gabriel, and Michael.
Then came the second war, where all factions joined forces to stop the Two Heavenly Dragons: Ddraig and Albion. While the Seraphim, Grigory's leaders, and the Four Great Maous fought them, you and God teamed up to seal the Dragon God Trihexa—the Dragon of the Apocalypse.
Despite Trihexa's overwhelming power, you distracted him while God cast a forbidden seal to trap the beast.
And when it was all over, just as the truce was about to break...You ATE God."I stared at him in disbelief—not at the story itself, but because he actually ate Him whole.
My father.Is a cannibal!
"I am not a cannibal, Issei. I simply absorbed his power while I had the chance. His disappearance wasn't part of the plan," my father answered, a nervous twitch forming at the corner of his mouth.
Wait.How did he know what I was thinking?
"You're wondering how I can read your thoughts?" he said, amused, smiling. "You see, I am the opposite of God. God's role is to illuminate the path for humanity. My role is to tempt them from it.
And to tempt someone... you have to know everything about them.That's why I can read people's thoughts."
Whoa.My dad is amazing!
"Uhyahyahyahyahyahyahya! Your son is amazing, Satan! He understood everything the first time!" Rizevim said, staring at me with wide eyes.
"Of course. After all, he's my son," Dad said, beaming with pride.
"By the way... who are you guys?" I asked, a bit more confident now.
"Oops! We forgot introductions," Rizevim chuckled, spreading his twelve demon wings."I'm Rizevim Livan Lucifer, but you can call me Uncle Rizevim, okay?" He winked and stuck out his tongue.
"I am Euclid Lucifuge," the younger silver-haired man said, bowing formally.
"But you can call him Onii-chan," Rizevim interrupted.
"R-Rizevim-sama!" Euclid cried, clearly embarrassed.
"And I am Satan, your father," Dad said, unfurling all 14 of his wings in full glory.
"Wow..." I whispered in awe.
No wonder.I was standing in front of a survivor of the 72 Demonic Pillars, the son of Lucifer, and the Original Demon!
"So, son, don't you think it's a good idea to introduce yourself as your mother taught you?" my father asked gently.
Oops. I forgot!
"E-Eto... I'm Hyoudou Issei. I hope we get along well, Uncle Rizevim, Onii-chan!" I said, bowing.
"O-Onii-c-chan..." Euclid stuttered, a HUGE smile spreading across his face.
"What a cutie!" said Uncle Rizevim, lunging toward me... but—
I instinctively released my aura and glared at him coldly.My eyes turned red.
I don't like being called a monkey. It just feels weird.
"KYA! What a terrifying look!" Rizevim cried, trembling with excitement—on top of a still-stunned Euclid.
"Issei, calm down," my father ordered, his aura suppressing mine effortlessly.
My consciousness returned. My aura faded, and my eyes returned to normal.
After Uncle Rizevim got off Onii-chan, we headed up to the dining room for lunch. Later, we returned to my room to continue talking.
Issei's Room
It was a large room with windows facing the garden, a king-sized bed (yes, I know, way too big for a kid), a bedside table, a wardrobe on the right, and a table with four Victorian-style chairs in front of the bed. Mounted high on the back wall was a 42-inch plasma TV.
"Let's get back to our earlier conversation," said Onii-chan. "Issei-sama, what can you tell us about Sacred Gears?"
"Well..." I began, eager to show what I'd learned.
"Sacred Gears, also known as 'Artifacts of God,' are powerful items granted to humans by the God of the Bible. He created them as a way to perform miracles on Earth. No two of the same type can exist at once. If one is taken from its user, the user dies.
Only humans or human hybrids are born with them. Angels and Demons can obtain them by reincarnating humans, while Fallen Angels developed a ceremony to forcibly extract and possess them.
God never foresaw reincarnation, which is why demons and Fallen can even use them.
Among all Sacred Gears, thirteen stand out—the Longinus. These are powerful enough to slay beings with divine rank. Only one of each can exist in time and space.
The thirteen known Longinus are:True Longinus, Zenith Tempest, Annihilation Maker, Dimension Lost, Boosted Gear, Divine Dividing, Regulus Nemea, Canis Lycaon, Sephirot Graal, Incinerate Anthem, Absolute Demise, Innovate Clear, and Telos Karma."
"Incredible," Onii-chan said. "We only explained it once and you've already memorized it."
"Very impressive," Dad agreed.
"Uhyahyahyahyahyahyahya! Amazing, Issei-chan!" Uncle Rizevim cheered.
"Uncle Rizevim..." I asked innocently.
"Yes, Issei-chan?" he said warmly.
"Do you think I have a Sacred Gear?"
"I don't know. Do you want to find out?"
"Yes!" I shouted, practically bouncing.
"Hehehe, calm down first," he chuckled.
I took a deep breath.
"Now, think of the most incredible thing you've ever seen."
I focused—on the moment my dad revealed his wings.
"Now raise your hand and shout: 'Sacred Gear!'"
I raised my left hand, closed my eyes, and yelled with all my might.
"SACRED GEAR!"
Suddenly, my arm felt heavier. Just slightly.
I opened my eyes...And there it was.
A crimson gauntlet covered my entire arm, ending in a sharp point. Embedded in its palm was a glowing green gem marked with a strange symbol.
Euclid Onii-chan's mouth hung open.
My father looked to the ceiling and quietly muttered,"Fuck you."
And Uncle Rizevim...
"Euclid, grab this old man—he's about to faint," he said just before collapsing.
PUM.
"NOOOOO!" I shrieked, shaking him back and forth. "Uncle Rizevim! Wake up!!"