Throne & DxD

Hello fellow adventures, here is another story of Kio's life in the Throne of Heroes. Next ch will be ch 3 the beginning of the High school DxD story line, Stay tuned. I do not own anything in this Xover besides my original characters. Please leave a comment on what you think of the story so far. For Fame and Glory. 

Interlude

Inside the treacherous Dead Man Spire, "Damn that girl!" His gaze was that of a dead monster, laying on his back and chest with multiple stab wounds. Kio's face scrunched up and frowning in an unbridled fury from his own weakness.

"Oi Kio if you keep fighting like that, you'll never become stronger. Calm yourself and turn that anger into power and determination, instead of wallowing in despair," Mysterious Argo T (or M.A.T as Kio started to call him) strolled over to Kio and placed his arm around his shoulders, "Believe me when I say this power in any form won't get you to your goal. It all comes from your heart and the will to be yourself."

"Grrr. Can we just get going now?" Kio turned away in resigned displeasure. ("Ever since Bell had pushed him down, he is unable to understand why he had been so furious. Was it pride perhaps? He didn't know for sure, but it pissed him off beyond anything he had ever felt before.") M.A.T turned to Kio with a smirk and a gleam in his eyes, "I think this is enough dungeon crawling for today. We have been at this for a week or two now. So, it would be good idea to take a few days of rest and recovery."

His voice conveyed a sort of finality that was not normal in the lighthearted man, but he did have a point. The dungeon had changed drastically as they ventured further upward. It used to be a forest but after the first few floors it had become a rocky wasteland with hills dotting the landscape. It was weird how much light was here, even though there was no sun.

…

Since when did the ground become so uneven? the boy pondered.

"For a while now, Kio!" the fairy retort.

"Thank you, A.R.C"

"Oi, stop dazing off we need to head back, or there will be hell to pay." M.A.T commanded

-Line break-

Back at the Throne, Kio faced towards the sky as his features became dull to the beauty that befell him, a scene he cannot realize. "Damn, I'd kill to see the sky."

"Don't be so sad boy," Medea, the veil that normally covered her face was gone. Her heart shaped face with a sharp chin that was molded by her lavender hair that allowed for this witch's lilac eyes to glow in the moonlight. Sitting next to him, she laid her hands on his head stroking his head, motherly. Her voice somber, "You remind me of myself in a way."

He turned toward her, "You're not really the best example." He speaks in a clear deadpan. A faint blush crept around her face as she turned flustered at the comment, "You know that's not what I mean." She looked back at him, a frown etched on her face, "You're trying to live up to us when you know that is not possible."

His face flicked away from her, yet she continued nonetheless, "Kio, you're not a heroic spirit. You. Are. Human. I need you to remember this, I can't let you follow the path that…" her tears swell up as she continues "I cannot let you follow the path that we, as heroic spirits have taken. We are not great examples for you, yet we try our hardest to teach you. And no matter how annoying Mysterious Argo T is, if that is what he calls himself now, you need to follow his advice because he understands what I really want to say more than anything." Medea looks down at Kio to see him resting peacefully. She looks at him melancholic, "I wish you well child."

-Line break-

It had been a week since Kio was back inside the dungeon. M.A.T wouldn't let him enter without supervision, and if he did then, Kiyohime would know immediately. It would have been better to not get on her bad side if he could. The dungeon had become more damp with the rocky walls, the ground holding many puddles, and the slabs of rock that were the ground turning to gravel as they moved forward. The monsters had changed as well with the goblins staying back on the previous floors compared to the ones here. It wasn't too long before the monsters started to appear, ready to fight. They were mostly a blue and/or green scale with their top halves being human with pale skin, their glowing red eyes dull to the world around them. Unkempt hair, scaly skin, and long snake-like tails. A.R.C gave extra details about their bodies, but they were just called Lamia. Their bodies were outlined in a murky purple hew.

Lamia (Deathless)

STR: D LUK: E ME: E

AGIL: B+ END: C

"Don't get ahead of yourself kiddo," M.A.T taunted. "It's better to wait for the monsters to attack and learn their patterns before they learn yours."

Kio grimaced, yet he kept his guard up for the monsters were approaching. It went for a stab with its tail that Kio swiftly dodged. Before it could recover its tail back, it was sliced off with a flick of Kio's dagger and the following punch to its throat. The boy noticed that M.A.T is holding a few back with just his bare hands, but due to this distraction he was hit by another lamia on his chest. It was not a moment later before he had decapitated the snake creature.

The jab had only been a flesh wound, but his pride was shattered, nonetheless.

"Kio, are you alright? You cannot let yourself get distracted during a battle!" M.A.T exclaimed.

"Damn it, can you let me be. It's frustrating to be constantly coddled by all of you who have lived your lives, and I know that you are my mentor, but aren't we supposed to be partners as well? If you cannot treat me like an equal in this dungeon, then I don't know if I can trust you. Heck, I don't even know your name." Kio shouted at M.A.T

After killing the last monster, Kio storming off on his own. M.A.T shocked by the boy's statement, lost him in mere seconds, like he vanished without a trace.

Somewhere else on the dungeon floor, Kio stopped running. "Well, I guess I fucked up bad didn't I" speaks after cooling down "Affirmative!" A.R.C retorts deadpan. "You didn't have to answer me, you know!"

Moving closer to an unknown caver where several lamias had been roaming around. The caves split into a maze of tunnels with multiple layers that he had never imagined it could have been. Demon crabs and snakes lined the tunnels, even though they were weak individually they had power in their numbers. It was only luck that allowed him to find a small safe place.

"So~, how are you holding up?" a familiar eerily voice whispers in his ear.

"Oh, fuck me," Of course Fae Bell would be the very think to find him at his lowest. He doesn't need eyes to see her smug smile and teasing demeanor contrasted her terrifying nature. Everyone told him to never trust a Fae.

"Ew. Like I'd want to be with a stupid human, but lucky enough for you I have a have a little job for you. Little Kio." she spoke with venom oozing with every word.

"Why do you even need me? Aren't you all powerful?" He snarled back at her. She was acting suspicious. Fae Bell didn't strike him like the kind of person to trust him with a task. "A.R.C got any advice?" He whispered, "I'd suggest you do not make any deals with her or else there will be dire consequences." she warned with a grim tone.

"I don't have to do anything for you Fae. I'm going to start heading back to the surface now, (if I ignore her then she will just leave me alone. I can't take her on alone and I have no guaranties that she won't just kill me for denying her.)"

"Ara~Ara little Kio do you think these tunnels are natural. They twist and turn, bending your sense of direction, like a certain bull monster's labyrinth." Kio interjects, trying to grab her collar, in a low voice full of anger "Don't you dare call Asterios a monster!"

"Oh, Scary, Scary. Anyways, you're stuck here until you complete my quests, or I'll just take your name. Hmm, I'd love to have a new pet. Don't worry~, I'll make you into my pet even if you fail."

"Oh shit" he thought "Oh, shit indeed. Another yandere acquired" the fairy giggled at his shocked expression.

"Now's not the time A.R.C. I'm pretty much boned beyond belief and I blame Merlin completely, might as well try to do what she says. If I turn into a fae though, everything I work so hard to achieve will be for nothing!"

Contemplating on what his next step would be. "I'll do it on the condition that you leave me alo-, GRAH!" A serrated slash cut through his side gushing large amounts of blood. He coughed, his body shaking in shock, the pain clouding his thoughts.

"You're a shameful, vile, disgusting, pathetic little human child. Don't you dare try to bargain with me. You can't even imagine the power I wield. Your only bright future is to become my dog for all eternity, and I hope you understand that this offer is a gift that I am only willing to give you, because you're valuable in the eyes of others. Now get out of my sight before I put your head on a pike and use your corpse as a makeshift magecraft wand." Her voice shakes the cavern, killing some of the monsters in the vicinity.

A.R.C rushes between Kio and Fae Bell, trying to shield him from another attack. A sinister smile creeps along Fae's face "Oh! What's this? The useless little nobody what to protect her boy toy?" With fire in her eyes, A.R.C stood firm. "I swear, you lay another hand on him, I'll make you regret it." Fae's laughter echoed through the chamber, a sinister melody that sent shivers down A.R.C's spine. "You? Protect him?" Fae sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. "You are nothing but a pitiful imitation of life, a mere collection of codes and magecraft, it's a pathetic act." A.R.C enraged by her words "This is not an act! I'll always be there for him, I'm his partner, his supporter, his friend and his family. That just proves I have a heart, a soul. Unlike you, who has nothing.

Fae laughs uncontrollably, borderline maniacal, "Let's see how long that last?"

In an instant he was teleported to a large room. Before he could even move a sharp pain pierced through his body like a thousand suns had traveled through-out his nerves. Touching his side, that which Fea Bell had attacked, the slash had been haphazardly cauterized with fire magic that stopped the bleeding. "This is exactly what she wanted, me at my weakest fighting against a monster that completely outclassed me with no hope."

"RUN KIO GET AWAY FROM THERE!"

His body evaded out of the way on instinct. *KRACAANG!* A large blade, ripping outward as he flinched back in fear. "It's a little test for you~. Kill the beast and get a reward. To fight is to accept, to run is death. Choose wisely little Kio~." Fae's disembodied voice echoed in the room.

After getting over his initial shock, he grabbed at the ground for rocks and gravel, holding his sword up in a defensive posture. *Whirr* A slash come out of nowhere, the boy arched his back to evade a blow from what seemed to be a sword. Being distracted a shield bashed into his face, causing heavy damage to his small body. Rolling with the blow a large gash throve across his face, dripping blood.

"Damn! A.R.C can you give me a reading on this thing," He threw a small rock straight in front of him. Colliding what sound to be metal

"It is a large knight with a long sword and a shield on your right."

Dark Knight: Seringal (Deathless)

STR: A LUK: E ME: C

AGIL: D END: B+

Kio dashed underneath the next slash sliding forward at impressive speeds. *clink* another rock made contact as it hit the wall in front of him. In a split second he slammed his foot into the wall catapulting himself to the knight slashing his unguarded back.

*CRASH* "Huh?" Kio's sword had shattered on impact. *Gah* the flat of the knight's blade slammed into his chest, throwing him backwards as his whole body spun.

"KIO! YOU NEED TO RETREAT AND RECOVER. THIS THING IS WAY TOO STRONG! A.R.C worried about the current situation.

On the verge of collapsing, his voice speaks out: (Blood is seeping from my eyes, as a large bruise formed along my chest. 3, maybe 4 ribs broken; with this much kind of damage, if M.A.T doesn't find me I'll die. "Ha, hahaha," for some reason I can't help but laugh, "I am Kio HanBin, Apprentice of the Throne of Heroes, trained by the heroes and villains of the past. I won't lose to some round table reject in a battle to the death. I shall become worthy; No, I will become worthy."

"That imp isn't going to take my soul, NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE AWAY WHAT IS MINE AGAIN!" I rushed forward invigorated, my heart pumping a thousand times faster than any spar I had ever been in. If I am unable to use weapons or martial arts against this thing, then I'll have to use something else.)

A.R.C confused at what the boy was thinking, suddenly realized his intention, "Are you out of your mind? Merlin told you that you shouldn't use magic outside of your mindscape due to your lack luster control. There is an 80% chance you'll blow up the limb and a 20% chance that it will succeed." "It's that or death and I'm willing to take that chance, A.R.C." *Whiff* the knight slashes swept under the boy, although he evaded them by jumped over it. *Crash* a swift follow-up with kick into the knight's ankle, sending a stream of pain up the boy's leg. He clenched his teeth, no broken bones but that wasn't something he'd like to repeat.

"Mrhrmm." A metallic hum came from the knight; pain, anger, sadness, or annoyance the boy couldn't tell. But damage is damage all the same and if it could be hurt then it can be killed.

He concentrates: (A trigger is what all magecraft users use to start their craft. Before this I had not created one due to Merlin wanting me to learn control over my energy before even learning the basics and then he giving up entirely due to my lack of talent. We barely made it through reinforcement before he decided it was pointless, but I need it now more than ever.)

*Whiff* the Knight rushing forward, his large blade being dragged along the ground.

NOW!

It overextended its attack with a powerful upwards slash. Dodging the attack, inches away from his body, the boy took the opening and delivered a thrust kick infused with aura to the back of the knight's knee joint. Causing it to kneel on the ground. Kio had one chance, or it would be his death. The howling of the wind flooded his body with energy beyond belief. He makes an eerily grin, channeling it all to his back he roars out.

"MANA BURST!"

Placing whatever remaining aura left into his broken blade, restructuring into a sword of red and black. The explosion of magic energy propelling him forward, the knight does not move an inch, as if he has accepted his fate and admits defeat.

-IMPACT-

*CRASH* they collided with one another; the resulting explosion of energy consumes them both.

-Line break-

Running frantically through the corridor, even with his intuition skill it had taken him way too long to find Kio. "Damn it Kio, if you get yourself killed, I'm going to be erased from the throne by everyone there!" It was at that moment he witnessed Kio on the ground burnt and bleeding out, the large knight looming over his body. The Knight's body was crumbling, half of its torso was gone.

The knight disintegrates into dust, its voice echoes though-out the room, a large sword shaped as a demon's wing left in its place. M.A.T was astonished by what he perceived "Kio, you did this!?" he rushed to Kio, who is still knocked-out, "Damn it we need to get out fast. I'm glad that my Noble phantasm is able to teleport us o-, Gaaaaah!" it had only taken a moment for the boy's arm to fall off completely.

"Ah, oh well at least he is extra crippled now." Fae had arrived, picking up Kio's severed arm. *Sniff, Sniff, Sniff* she inhales the burnt flesh, licking her lips, her body shivers in delight. "Ah! Dungeon Fried Human. My favorite!" As she was about to take a bite from Kio's arm, in a swift and decisive motion, M.A.T's mace sliced through the air, separating Fae's head from her body in a single clean stroke. The head tumbled to the ground, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief, frozen in a final expression of surprise.

"I just had about enough of your shit, little one." retrieving the arm, he lifts Kio into his arms and starts glowing "Lead me, my thread. For glory and victory! Ariadne Aporito Hades!" A red thread appeared, forming a path for him to follow. "Come on, let's go home" Walking towards the exit, an unnervingly voice echoes around them "Oh My, that wasn't very HEROIC! Decapitating a pure maiden like myself. What has the world come too?" Fae appeared behind them with a vile grin on her face.

"Oh, not surprised?" she questioned. "I have seen my share of gods and monsters, nothing surprises me," he retorts. "Gods, Monster. My dear littler hero, I AM WORST! As she speaks, a dual-voice between man and woman was heard, in a distorted manner. M.A.T brought up his guard, shielding Kio's body, prepared for what is to come next. "You know what? This got really dull, really fast. Leave." She snapped her fingers, light enveloped both the man and boy, diapered without a trace.

Fae Bell went back to her space, creating a bed out of nothing, laying and staring into the abyss. "He barely survived this time, even being injured and fighting the Mid-Boss at his current level. *maniacal giggling* Get stronger, My Kio, get stronger for my sake!"

Inside an empty void Kio comes face-to-face with the Dark Knight, its body starts to shift, Kio takes a defensive position. A hollow voice breaks though the helmet "Ch-Child, No, Young Warrior. Thank you for freeing me from his HELL. But I beseech thy, release my king from his shackles, free him from this never-ending nightmare."

Kio wakes up and finds himself in a futon, as he tries to rise from the bed, pain shoots through his body like lightning. Every movement sent waves of agony rippling through his senses, and he winced as he realized the extent of his injuries. His limbs felt heavy and sluggish, his muscles protesting with every attempt to move.

Covered in bandages, Kio's body was a testament to the fierce battle he had endured. But it was his once-severed arm that throbbed the most, an unbearable pain causing him to shifting him back and forth of conciseness. As he grappled with the pain, A.R.C materialized beside him, her digital voice filled with reproach. *Bonk* "YOU IDIOT!" Tears swell in her eyes, beating Kio over the head with her tiny arms. "Your actions were reckless and foolhardy," A.R.C admonished, her expression flickering with disapproval. "Using magic of that magnitude, with no control whatsoever. Did all the training and sparring leave you brain dead. You could have been killed."

"Sorry, but there was no other way. I realize the risk and acted accordingly. This only means I'm still not strong enough." He said as if he was sinking into depression. Before A.R.C tries to say something, multiple voices shouting can be heard outside. She few to the window to see what was going on. She witness M.A.T sitting in a seiza position, his head hung down, a group of spirits gathered around him, their voices raised in anger and frustration. Minamoto no Raikou, Nightingale, Leonardo da Vinci, Shirou Emiya, and Kiyohime were among them, their expressions stern as they berated him for his failure to protect Kio.

"What the hell happen!? You were supposed to keep Kio out of life and death situations. But now look at him, he was almost broken again." Nightingale yelled out. M.A.T remained silent, accepting his punishment. "What should we do now? Kio is in no condition to continue his training!" Raikou concerned. "Best we can do for now is to have Kio fully recover. Then we will discuss further on Kio's punishment." Shirou says with a stern look.

"I'll take it, it what I deserve for acting a fool!" Kio said, as he staggers and limps towards the group. Both Nightingale and Kiyohime rushed to his sides, supporting him as they continue walking. "My dear child! You should have stayed in bed you in no condition to be out. Raikou scolds him with concern on her face. "I'm fine! MamaRaikou, there is something I must do." smiling

They placed him in front of M.A.T, Kio got on his knees and smashed his forehead into the ground, surprising everyone. "I am so sorry for the way I have acted that time, M.A.T. I was not in the right head space and I lashed out at you. I let my anger get a hold of me, this is my fault. And you have every right to be angry with me. I am truly sorry." Spoken full of sorrow.

M.A.T patted Kio's head and lifted him up, a sense of relief washed over the group. The tension in the air seemed to ease slightly as M.A.T wiped the blood from Kio's forehead. "There's no need for that, Kio," M.A.T said, his voice soft but firm. "I understand your frustration, and I forgive you. We all make mistakes, but what's important is that we learn from them and strive to do better."

Kio nodded, full of gratitude and understanding. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with genuine remorse. "I promise I'll do better from now on."

M.A.T smiled warmly at the boy before turning to address the group. "There's something I need to confess," he began, his tone serious yet earnest. "Hiding my true identity was wrong, and I apologize for deceiving you. With that being said, "clearing his throat "So, you are the human that has entered the domain of legends. My name is Theseus, welcome to the Throne Of Heroes! My friend."

Kio realizing his name "I see, that is why you were hiding you name." In a low tone. "That's correct, before the day we meet, I saw you playing with Asterios and he was happy. I did not want to take that away from him again." Theseus said with sorrow in his voice. "Have you talk to him about what happened between you two? The boy asked, "No, I have not. To tell you the truth, I regret that day. Slaying him, my biggest regret."

"Then how will you ever move forward if you don't confront your past?" Surprised, Theseus broke into a smile, "Wise words, wise indeed. Maybe one of these days Kio, but not today."

"Then when you're ready, I'll be there by your side" Kio smiled. With everything settled the group went inside Kio's villa to eat, drink, and relax.

Chapter End