The morning sun filtered softly through the silk curtains of Lucien's bedroom in his newly claimed estate. He slept comfortably at the center of his king-sized bed, surrounded by the warm, steady breathing of his peerage members Yamato, Ghislaine, Rangiku, and Yue all sprawled around him, caught somewhere between exhaustion and contentment. For the first time in days, peace reigned.
Until the door exploded open.
"Lu-Luuu~!"
A glittering missile of magic, sparkles, and raw affection launched across the room and tackled Lucien with a gleeful squeal.
"Serafall?!" Lucien gasped as he had the wind knocked from his lungs as his honorary 'hell mom' buried him in a crushing hug.
"You're such a meanie!" she pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "Running off to claim your territory without saying goodbye to your darling magical girl hell mother!"
The girls stirred. Kuroka cracked an eye open, blinking blearily. "Just Serafall," she mumbled, promptly flopping back onto her pillow.
Serafall's bright sapphire gaze sparkled with curiosity as it swept over the bed's other occupants. "Ooooh~ And who are these lovely ladies sharing your bed, Lu-Lu~?"
Lucien groaned. "Here we go…"
One by one, he pointed them out. "My Rook, Yamato. My Knight, Ghislaine. My Queen, Rangiku. And my Bishop, Yue."
Serafall let out a low whistle. "Strong and gorgeous? Look at you… turning into your father, minus the maid obsession."
Lucien chuckled. "Give me time."
Serafall's grin widened. "Still, they're impressive. I hope my little Sona finds peerage members like yours."
"She will," Lucien promised, voice warm and sure. "She's the smartest among us."
"Aww~ You're the best hell son ever!" Serafall giggled, pulling him into another squeeze.
⸻
Breakfast & Plans
They migrated to the estate's sprawling dining hall, where a lavish breakfast spread awaited. Lucien took the head seat at the long, dark-wood table, his peerage settling around him while Serafall floated between chairs, stealing bites from others' plates.
"I need to increase the population," Lucien said between mouthfuls of flaky croissant. "Turn this whole territory into a paradise — arcades, theaters, comic shops… everything."
Rangiku paused, a piece of toast halfway to her lips. "You mean… an otaku utopia?"
Lucien grinned. "Exactly."
Serafall bounced in her chair. "Yes! A magical girl café should be first on the list!"
Ghislaine smirked. "Can't argue with that."
Lucien leaned back thoughtfully. "Back in my last—" He caught himself. "Back in the day, I thought of creating the Isekai Investment Fund. I want to bring it here. Small manga studios, unknown web novelists, aspiring comic artists — all supported under one roof."
Yue looked intrigued. "You want to grow a culture?"
Lucien nodded. "The Underworld deserves more than just war games and ancient politics. We need stories. Dreams."
Nobody knew what he meant by "back in the day"—and none suspected just how literal he was being.
Serafall's voice cut in. "Lucien. The other noble houses are talking. A lot. Some are scared. Some… are circling."
Lucien's expression darkened. "Because of the peerage?"
Serafall's playful tone faded. "Yes. You have five monsters in your peerage — and they're not even at their peak yet. That scares the Old Guard. They're used to measured progress, not meteoric leaps."
Lucien's thoughts drifted back to a question he hadn't dared to say aloud earlier. Was this about Ophis?
The System responded instantly.
System Notification: Hidden Thread Expansion – Ophis Observes
"Host. You asked if this was connected to Ophis. That answer remains yes."
Lucien's steps slowed as they began moving toward the training hall.
"Following the summoning of Rangiku Matsumoto, Ophis took interest. She did not mark you with hostility… only recognition."
"Recognition for what?"
"A shift in balance. Your presence here breaks the intended progression of this world. You summoned warriors without limiters. Gave names that defy native soul laws. Your territory's signature no longer belongs purely to this realm."
Lucien's breath caught. "So I've painted a target on my back."
"Yes. But not just for enemies. For entities who do not follow gods. For beings who remember before creation had borders. Ophis is one of them. She is not hostile… but she is curious. And in her curiosity, others may awaken."
A pause.
"This is why Grayroad remains."
Lucien's fingers curled at his sides.
"Got it."
"Final note: The Draconic Favor you now hold is fragmented — born not of pact or contract, but acknowledgment. The Dragon has circled. The Serpent waits. Proceed with caution, host. You are no longer invisible."
He glanced toward the distant mountains. For just a moment, he imagined black wings eclipsing the sky. No roar. No wrath.
Just stillness.
And with eyes ancient enough to watch stars die.
⸻
Training Grounds — Peerage Sparring Begins
The atmosphere changed the moment they stepped onto the training field — open, wild, and thick with lingering battle mana. Stone columns, weathered and ancient, circled the arena like silent sentinels. Softly glowing containment runes hummed across their surfaces, promising safety, but also challenge.
Lucien walked beside Rias, his gaze drifting to her Knight.
"You know…" he mused, lips twitching, "Yumi looks like someone mashed together Mordred from Fate and Aiz Wallenstein from Danmachi."
Rias arched a brow, smirking. "And your Knight looks exactly like the Sword King Ghislaine — and even shares her name. Yue's got Arifureta written all over her, Rangiku screams Bleach, and Yamato? Please, she might as well shout 'One Piece!' with every punch."
Lucien coughed into his hand. "Okay. Fair."
Kuroka strolled up behind them, stretching lazily beside Lucien's peerage. Her tail flicked with idle amusement. "She's strong," she purred, nodding toward Rias. "But her team's still green. They hesitate. You can use that."
Yamato cracked her knuckles, her eyes gleaming. "Then let's fight them. Strength grows fastest when swords meet."
Lucien grinned, shadow energy curling faintly beneath his eyes. "What do you think, Ri-chan? Friendly peerage spar?"
Rias shrugged, her long crimson hair catching the breeze. "Fine. But one of yours sits out."
Before anyone could respond, Kuroka raised a hand. "Pass. I want snacks, nya."
Lucien tilted his head. "You sure?"
"Snacks. Nya." She said it like it was a sacred oath.
Lucien turned toward the sidelines. "Serafall, want to referee?"
A delighted squeal pierced the air.
"I thought you'd never ask~!" Serafall shimmered into view in a flash of stardust, now wearing a magically conjured referee's outfit — complete with a glittery whistle, striped skirt, and starlight knee-highs.
She spun dramatically, struck a pose, and winked. "But careful, Lucien~! If you keep asking me for favors like that, I might just fall for you~!"
Lucien blinked. "Please don't."
Rias groaned. "Please don't."
Serafall just giggled, twirling her whistle. "Let the battles… BEGIN~!"
The peerages moved into formation, the training ground crackling with anticipation. Weapons shimmered into being. A breeze stirred the grass.
But just before the first clash, Kuroka's golden eyes snapped to the treeline.
There it was again.
That scent.
Old. Twisting. Watching.
Familiar in a way that scraped at memory, yet wrong — impossibly so.
Her tail twitched once.
She said nothing.
But her gaze lingered.
⸻
Knight Battle: Ghislaine vs. Yumi
The instant the whistle blew, steel clashed like thunder splitting the sky.
Yumi darted forward, her blade a blur — precise, elegant, and fast. Every movement was honed with the fury of Mordred and the agility of Aiz Wallenstein. She fought with the pride of a knight and the instinct of a predator.
But Ghislaine was a storm given form.
Swift. Relentless. Purposeful.
Where Yumi danced, Ghislaine hunted. Every swing of her blade carved the air with brutal grace, and each step forward forced Yumi to yield ground.
"Your stance is too open," Ghislaine chided mid-duel, parrying a slash and countering with a shoulder check that nearly toppled the younger knight. "Tighten your guard. Let your blade speak before your feet do."
Yumi blinked in the middle of a retreating pivot. "You're… teaching me?"
"Improving you strengthens Rias' team," Ghislaine replied, calm amidst the storm. "And a better fight sharpens me."
Their blades sang, echoing across the field like a duet of warriors seeking meaning in violence.
Even Serafall, now lounging in the air with sparkly pom-poms, couldn't help but cheer wildly. "Kyaa~! This is peak Knight energy!"
In the end, Ghislaine claimed victory — her blade at Yumi's neck, her posture still and composed, offering neither cruelty nor condescension. Only respect.
Yumi lowered her sword and bowed deeply, sweat clinging to her brow.
"Thank you… for the lesson."
Ghislaine nodded once. "Grow from it."
⸻
Rook Battle: Yamato vs. Koneko
Two Rooks stepped into the ring — small in size, titanic in presence.
The clash was immediate.
Koneko surged forward with raw Senjutsu, fists laced with spiritual energy. Her strikes were tight, refined, backed by years under Rias' tutelage and the emotional weight of reuniting with her sister.
Yamato met her with serene fury.
Where Koneko was fire forged in hardship, Yamato was steel shaped by will. Her Armament Haki shimmered faintly over her limbs, black and radiant, like molten obsidian cooled under divine pressure. Her footwork was impossibly light for someone of her strength — each step as precise as a sword slash.
Blow after blow echoed through the field. The ground cracked beneath their feet. Dust rose in swirling clouds. Every strike sounded like titans wrestling in miniature.
Koneko snarled, unleashing a rapid flurry — only to be met by Yamato's unshakable calm. One counter. One downward strike. One breath.
Koneko dropped to a knee, panting, her shoulders trembling.
A hush fell — broken only by the soft pat of footsteps.
Kuroka crouched beside her sister, gently brushing the bangs from Koneko's eyes. Her voice was low, warm. "You did great, Shirone. Big sis is proud of you, nya."
Koneko didn't speak. But a small, rare smile touched her lips.
And that, to those who knew her, said everything.
⸻
Bishop Battle: Yue vs. Gasper
The final match opened in stillness.
Gasper's shadows flickered nervously. He looked unsure, lost.
Yue approached slowly… and embraced him.
"You don't need to fight me," she whispered. "I know what it's like. To be locked away. Feared. Forgotten."
"I… I was always scared I didn't belong," Gasper whispered.
"You do now."
Silence fell. Even the wind stilled.
Gasper didn't run. He hugged her back.
Rias swallowed hard. "What happens if the vampire world learns she's here?"
Lucien's crimson gaze didn't flinch. "Let them come," he said.
"The old world's time is over."
Queen Battle: Rangiku vs. Akeno
The sky itself seemed to react when Rangiku and Akeno stepped into the center of the field.
Akeno's smile was serene, but her violet eyes crackled with barely restrained power. Sparks of sacred lightning danced between her fingertips, the ground beneath her feet singed with each pulse.
Rangiku rolled her shoulders, an easy confidence in her step as frigid mist curled around her body. Frost crept along the earth in thin, intricate webs of ice, and each of her breaths came out in visible puffs.
"This should be fun," Rangiku mused, drawing her Zanpakutō in one fluid motion. "Let's see how Kuoh's Queen stacks up."
Akeno's grin widened. "Don't hold back now… I won't."
Without warning, the arena erupted into chaos.
Akeno unleashed a storm of crackling lightning spears that split the air with sharp shrieks, bolts raining down from the sky in erratic, jagged arcs. Rangiku danced between them, ice blooming at her feet with each dodge. The few that got too close were met with defensive bursts of snow, redirecting or freezing them mid-flight.
"You move like a noble," Akeno noted, voice calm even as her next barrage surged toward Rangiku. "But your magic—"
"—isn't as delicate," Rangiku interrupted, slicing upward with her sword. A gust of freezing wind surged forward, enveloping Akeno's lightning and slowing its advance.
Steam hissed between them as the elements collided.
Then Rangiku vanished in a blur of speed, reappearing at Akeno's flank. The shrine maiden barely deflected the strike, sparks flying as blade met reinforced barriers of light.
"Clever," Akeno said.
Rangiku grinned. "And getting warmed up."
For several minutes, ice and lightning clashed in a dazzling ballet — one graceful and cold, the other wild and electric. Frost spread across the field while blackened scorch marks seared the earth. Every time Akeno tried to overwhelm her, Rangiku redirected the flow — twisting pressure into finesse.
Finally, both women landed across from each other, breathing lightly but intently, each with a thin trail of blood at the edge of their lips.
Serafall blew her whistle with dramatic flair. "Time~! Draw!"
Rangiku sheathed her blade. "Fair result."
Akeno nodded. "You're dangerous. I like that."
The two shared a quiet, respectful look — not friends yet, but no longer strangers.
Lucien, watching from the sidelines, smiled. His Queen had just earned the respect of everyone present.
The crowd exhaled as one. Even Lucien nodded in satisfaction.
And in the distance, Kuroka's gaze remained sharp — but she kept the disturbance to herself.
For now.