High School DxD: The Man Who Surpasses God

[ARTHUR'S POV]

An hour after breakfast, we found ourselves in the back of a taxi heading toward the nearest train station.

I glanced down at the envelope Granny had handed me before we left.

5,000 euros.

Even I find it a little excessive.

When I'd asked her why she was giving me so much, she'd simply smiled and said.

"It's from the townsfolk's donations to help the children. Use it wisely."

As the train station came into view, I couldn't help but silently thank Granny again in my heart.

As the taxi pulled up to the train station, I double-checked my belongings—or rather, the lack of them.

Everything I needed was safely stored in my Longinus, which worked as a personal storage system too, keeping my hands free from carrying stuff.

After buying tickets for the train to Romania, the girl and I boarded and found our seats.

She was visibly excited, her golden eyes darting around the cabin like a curious puppy.

"Do you think they'll have chicken on the train?"

She asked, nearly bouncing in her seat.

I chuckled.

"You and your chicken obsession."

Her enthusiasm was contagious, but I had to focus.

"So..."

I started.

"What's the plan once we reach Bucharest?"

She perked up.

"At night, we investigate. From what I know, the culprits are most active then."

I nodded thoughtfully.

"Sounds a little dangerous, but I've been through worse. In the meantime, we should look for clues during the day. There's bound to be something if we dig deep enough."

The train's whistle blew, and soon we were off.

An hour into the ride, the initial excitement had worn off, and boredom began to set in.

I leaned back, watching the countryside blur past the window.

"This is going to take hours."

I commented, breaking the silence.

She nodded, staring at the ceiling.

"Yeah… Where's the food service at, anyway?"

We fell quiet again, and I took a moment to gather my thoughts before speaking.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly did these guys do to you that made you hate them so much?"

Her playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a somber expression.

She stared at her hands for a moment before sighing deeply.

"A couple of months ago, I was known as the youngest fighter of my pack. I could use Feral State at a young age, something that's rare even among adults. 

She began, her voice soft.

"Life was simple back then. We were traveling from town to town, enjoying Greek dishes like Greek meatballs or Soutzoukakia Smyrneika. But… I always preferred KFC."

She admits, a faint smile appearing.

I couldn't help but smile at her small confession, but the weight of her story pulled me back.

"One day..."

She continued.

"A group of cloaked figures approached our pack. They demanded we serve their cause, promising to fulfill our wildest desires in return. The alpha refused outright. There was no way we were going to bow to anyone, especially suspicious strangers making empty promises."

"But they came back."

She said, her voice tightening.

"I was minding my own business, walking around town. All of a sudden, one of them approached me, promised me the one thing I wanted most in the world."

"What was it?"

I asked, my voice curious.

She hesitated, her gaze dropping.

"A family."

She said quietly.

"I… I grew up without parents. The pack raised me, but they didn't see me... as me. To them, I was just a prodigy, a prized member of the pack, not a person. So when they dangled the idea of a real family in front of me, I…"

Her voice cracked slightly.

"I fell for it like an idiot."

She paused, collecting herself before continuing.

"They told me to create a distraction in Athens. I thought it was harmless, just keep some people busy for a while. Making a ruckus and a few property damage. I didn't know what they were planning. When I went back to our temporary camp, I found…"

Her fists clenched.

"A Spartan from Olympus was there. He was slaughtering my pack. The cloaked figures had kidnapped humans and killed a couple of important figures elsewhere, framing us for it. The Spartan accused us of cooperating with them, and the alpha…"

Her voice wavered.

"The alpha took the blame to protect us. They killed him in front of the whole."

She lifted her hair, revealing the branded Omega symbol on her nape.

"When the Spartan left, the rest of the pack turned on me. They knew I'd been the one to help the figures, even if I didn't mean to. They branded me, stripped me of my name, my home, everything."

I sat in stunned silence, the weight of her story sinking in.

"But, I didn't succumb to guilt and self-pity."

She said, her voice brightening slightly.

"I've spent months tracking them down. I fought them once, but I was outnumbered. And then I met you, even if we almost tried to kill each other. Now I have a chance."

She smiled at me.

"Happy to help."

I said simply, returning her smile.

Hours passed in relative quiet, the occasional clatter of the food service cart breaking the silence.

She gnawed happily on a stick of beef jerky while I sipped on a bottle of water, watching the world roll by outside the window.

After a while, I broke the silence again.

"Hey… what exactly should I call you?"

She tilted her head.

"I don't know. Anything, I guess."

I thought for a moment before offering.

"How about... Belladonna?"

She stared at me, then smiled softly.

"Belladonna…"

She rolled the name on her tongue before nodding.

"I like it. Thanks."

Her gratitude made my chest feel strangely warm.

In the back of my mind, Gaia's voice chimed in.

(Smooth. Real smooth, Arthur.)

'Shut up, Gaia'

I thought back, annoyed.

(Oh, I can already see it. After all of this is over, she'll fall head over heels for you, and then…)

Gaia's tone turned mischievous.

(... she'll thank you with all sorts of perverted things.)

Ignoring her, I turned my attention to the window, watching the scenery pass by as the train carried us closer to our destination.

[MANY HOURS LATER]

[THIRD PERSON POV]

The train screeched to a halt, and the intercom announced their arrival in Romania.

Arthur and Belladonna stepped onto the bustling platform, stretching their legs after the long journey.

The moment they exited the station, they hailed a cab bound for Bucharest.

The ride into the city was an awe-inspiring journey.

The mix of historical architecture and modern vibrancy captured their attention.

Belladonna's eyes lit up when she spotted a KFC restaurant, her excitement bursting out in a squeal.

"Chicken Nuggets!"

She was halfway out of the cab before Arthur grabbed her wrist, pulling her back into her seat.

"Focus."

He reminded her, his tone firm but not unkind.

"Remember, we're not here for sightseeing, and we've got less than two hours before sundown."

Belladonna pouted but nodded reluctantly, settling back into her seat.

Their first stop was a local hotel to drop off their belongings.

Once their room was secured, they began their investigation, scouring the streets of Bucharest for any clues or rumors of strange happenings. 

Most of what they found was frustratingly irrelevant, ghost stories meant to scare children, wild UFO sightings, and the occasional eccentric rambling.

Their patience thinned quickly, but they pressed on until the sun dipped below the horizon.

[TWO HOURS LATER]

Under the cover of night, the two regrouped at the KFC Belladonna had eyed earlier.

She tore into her chicken nuggets and a bucket of fried chicken with unrestrained glee, while Arthur settled for buffalo wings.

Between bites, they discussed their fruitless day. 

"Today was a total bust."

Arthur admitted, rubbing his temples.

"Just old ladies pinching my face and trying to pair me up to their 'cute' granddaughters." 

Belladonna sighed, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Lucky you. All I got were stories about aliens and a creepy guy who might've a pedophile. I managed to call the police on him just in case."

They sat in disappointed silence for a moment before agreeing to try again tomorrow. 

They stepped out of the restaurant, chatting about other stuff.

"Can we have KFC for breakfast?"

Arthur cannot help but chuckle a bit.

"Heh. Is KFC all you think of?"

Belladonna looks at him, offended as she raise her hand on her chest.

"Hey! Not everything has to be KFC. I'll have you know that when it all comes to chicken, I am a connoisseur. I don't just eat chicken, I savor it, admire it, and-"

Belladonna suddenly froze, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air.

*Sniff*

Arthur noticed her shift in demeanor immediately.

"What is it?"

He asked, his tone serious.

Her gaze hardened as she replied.

"Blood."

Arthur tensed.

"Lead the way."

Belladonna took off at a blinding pace, Arthur following close behind.

They weaved through intricate alleys, climbed over a few fences, and scaled a low building before coming to a dark, narrow alleyway. 

A trail of blood gleamed faintly under the moonlight, stretching deep into the alleyway.

Arthur looks at Belladonna and warns her.

"Get ready. I get the feeling this is gonna be a tough one."

Belladonna nods, her claws and fangs emerging as she prepared to fight.

Arthur summoned a glowing blue magic circle in his palms, readying his spells.

They both walk catiously into the dark alleyway, the moonight their only source of light. 

I less than a minute, their eyes widened in shock as they witness a horrifying sight.

A cloaked figure bent over a lifeless body, its fangs deep in the victim's neck.

Around the figure is several more corpses of its victims.

The figure released the body, letting it slump to the ground, and turned to face them, its glowing red eyes locking onto theirs. 

Arthur felt his heart raced as he instinctively used Observe' only to be surprised at the result.

XxX

Name: [REDACTED]

Race: [REDACTED]

Level: [REDACTED]

Health: [REDACTED]

Mana: [REDACTED]

Stats:

- Strength: [REDACTED]

- Dexterity: [REDACTED]

- Constitution: [REDACTED]

XxX

'What the fuck?'

The vampire sneered.

"You shouldn't stick your noses where they don't belong."

It hissed, then focused on Belladonna.

"Especially you, stray mutt."

Belladonna's growl deepened, but before she could retort, Arthur launched a Thunderbolt.

The vampire dodged effortlessly, transforming into a swarm of bats that surrounded them.

Arthur and Belladonna swung and swatted at the bats to no avail. 

Reforming behind them, the vampire lashed out, kicking Arthur into a stack of trash cans.

Belladonna lunged with claws bared, but the vampire evaded her attacks with ease, delivering a brutal backhand that sent her crashing into a wall.

"Hmph. How foolish."

Arthur recovered quickly, spotting a nearby dumpster.

He hurled it at the vampire, who blocked it with a dismissive wave.

The distraction worked, however, allowing Belladonna to unleash a howl attack, slamming the vampire into a wall. 

Seizing the opportunity, Arthur pressed his hand against the wall, summoning a magic circle.

A sharp burst of icy energy encased the vampire's body in ice, leaving only its head exposed. 

Arthur hurried to Belladonna's side, helping her to her feet.

"You okay?"

He asked.

She winced but nodded.

"Yeah, don't worry. I've had worse."

The vampire, trapped but unnervingly calm, smirked at them as they approached.

"Your flimsy magic cannot contain me, human."

Arthur's voice was firm.

"Shut it, asshole. Now, tell us where are the humans you've taken. And what are you planning with them?"

The vampire's smirk widened.

"No matter what you do, you can't stop the inevitable." 

Dark shadows began to swirl around its body.

"Not even God himself."

Belladonna lunged, but an invisible force threw them both against the alley wall. 

Before the shadows consumed it entirely, the vampire's voice echoed through the alley.

"For Absalom."

The figure vanished, leaving Arthur and Belladonna dazed and confused. 

Sirens wailed in the distance, drawing closer.

Arthur snapped to attention, quickly incinerating the bodies and blood trail with a Fireball spell to erase any evidence. 

"Let's get out of here. Now!" He said, pulling Belladonna in a princess carry.

She was surprised by his actions, but kept quiet as they disappeared into the maze of alleys. 

Unbeknownst to them, a feminine figure watched from a rooftop above, her silhouette illuminated by the moonlight.

A golden cross around her neck and an ornate sword on her hip. 

"How interesting."

She murmured to herself, a small smile playing on her lips before she turned and vanished into the night.

[AUTHOR'S POV]

Hello readers!

My brain needs sustinance in the form of Power Stones.

Thank you everyone and see you later!