Akeno and Sona slipped out of Tenra's room, the air heavy with secrets too big to carry.
It was too much, too fast—they'd need time to let it all sink in.
"You shouldn't have told them so soon."
Grayfia's voice was cool, almost detached, as she stood beside Tenra.
Tenra shook his head, silent.
If there was any other way, he'd have spared them this knowledge. But for Rias's sake—and their own—he'd made his choice.
His trip to vampire territory was set in stone. He owed Valerie a promise, and he needed the Longinus she guarded.
With crisis lurking around every corner, Tenra needed more power—much more.
He let out a slow breath, forcing his mind to settle.
The God of the Bible weighed on him, but he'd survived worse odds before. He could survive this, too.
No use worrying about things he couldn't change. Tonight, sleep was the only plan.
Rias and Yubelluna wouldn't be coming over, Ravel and the others had retreated to their own rooms. Was he really going to sleep alone?
Tenra glanced at Grayfia, dismissing the thought.
"Maybe I'll go find Venelana…"
He murmured, then scooped Grayfia into his arms and vanished in a flash—straight into the Sancta Diabolus Ecclesia.
"DXD: Infinite Loot System"Two Days Later
"Rias, I'm leaving the house in your hands."
Tenra was geared up and ready, saying his farewells to Rias and the girls.
This time, he'd be taking Gasper, Yubelluna, Xuelan, and the rest of his retinue, plus Ravel, Mittelt, and Kalawarner—the three fallen angels. Rias and Sona's groups would stay behind.
"Come back soon. If you need anything, call."
Rias fussed over Tenra's collar, the picture of a devoted wife.
Tenra grinned, kissing her forehead. "Don't worry. As soon as we wrap things up, we'll be home."
He shot a quick glance at Akeno and Sona. Both gave subtle nods—they understood.
After one last round of goodbyes, Tenra didn't linger. With Gasper, Yubelluna, and the others in tow, he set out.
Vampire territory lay deep in Romania. Without teleport coordinates, they had to travel the old-fashioned way—a private charter jet, reserved just for them.
The plane lifted off, slowly disappearing into the clouds as Rias and the girls watched from below.
"Hey, Gasper, come play with us!"
"Ile, Nel… I'm not in the mood. Go bother someone else."
"Still thinking about your friend? Relax! With Tenra-sama and us on the job, we'll bust her out for sure!"
"Come play, or we'll cut you!"
"…."
A few hours still separated them from their destination. In the plush cabin, Ile and Nel were back to pestering Gasper, while Tenra and the others tried to catch a nap.
Tenra noticed Tosca sitting quietly beside him, her mood off.
"What's wrong, Tosca?"
"I want to pay my respects to Isaiah and the others…"
Her voice was soft, shadowed by old grief.
Tenra's eyes gentled. "Once we finish up with the vampires, we'll go together."
He pressed his forehead lightly to hers; Tosca closed her eyes and melted into his arms.
The rest of the flight passed in silence. Hours later, they touched down in Romania.
Tenra gazed out at the familiar, yet somehow changed landscape.
Years ago, he'd come here chasing rumors of Sacred Gear and training. He'd traded a Phoenix Tear for a lead, only to get ambushed by vampires and dragged into their territory.
Prison had brought him to Gasper and Valerie. He'd seized Gasper's Sacred Gear—Forbidden Balor View—and started down the road to true strength.
Now, years later, Tenra was no longer that solitary, powerless boy.
He had loyal companions, formidable strength, and nothing left to fear—even from the vampires who ruled the night.
After a brief rest in town, Tenra, Gasper, and the girls set out again.
Vampire territory was hidden deep in Romania's ancient forests, shrouded in perpetual mist, cut off from the world. Ordinary people couldn't find it; even Church exorcists had never uncovered its secrets.
The landscape had changed, but Tenra and Gasper remembered the escape route. They flew for hours, finally spotting a patch of land lost in the mist.
"This is it."
Tenra's lips curled in a slight smile as they landed.
"So this is vampire country? Let's go, Tenra-sama!"
Ile and Nel bounced forward, eager to dive into the fog. But as soon as they stepped in, sharp whistles sliced through the air.
"Scatter!"
Tenra and the girls leapt away just in time—iron spears shot from the mist, stabbing the ground where they'd stood.
"Who dares trespass on vampire territory!"
A harsh voice rang out. Vampires materialized from the gloom, cold and bloodthirsty, fangs bared as they encircled Tenra's group.
"So many vampires!"
"Hey, Tenra-sama, can we chop 'em up? Please?"
Ile and Nel's eyes sparkled as they whipped out chainsaws, itching to try them on real vampires.
Tenra knocked them both on the head. "Behave, you little devils."
He turned to the ring of vampires.
"I'm Tenra Kamiyo of the Phoenix House. These are my companions and servants. I need to enter your territory to handle some business. If you'll let us pass, I'd rather avoid pointless fighting."
"Tenra Kamiyo? That monster from the Phoenix House?!"
"You're kidding! Why would he come here?"
"No way. He's lying!"
Despite Tenra's introduction, the vampires bristled, suspicion and anger rising.
Yubelluna stepped forward, frost in her eyes.
"Are you questioning our master's identity?"
She unleashed a wave of magic—powerful enough to make the air vibrate.
Since Tenra had granted her Dimension Lost, Yubelluna's strength had soared to Ultimate-Class Devil. The vampires recoiled, faces pale.
"P-please wait here. We'll report this immediately."
A vampire who looked like a squad leader stepped forward, voice trembling.
He could feel Yubelluna's overwhelming power, and the restrained aura from Xuelan and the others. At last, he began to believe.
If this really was the monster from Phoenix House, they were hopelessly outmatched.
Tenra waved Yubelluna back, smiling.
"Go ahead. Just don't keep us waiting too long."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (50+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!