Ch 45 Part 2

Underworld

With Diodora

Trigger Warning

Meanwhile, in a secluded part of the underworld, the stillness of the night was shattered by a rush of shadows. Diodora was spit out of the gathered shadows, his form battered and bruised, he can barely hold himself together as he stumbled forward. He had been unceremoniously expelled from the battlefield, thrown into the middle of nowhere by thats Naruto.

'THAT FILTHY HYBRID! HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE TOUCH ME! ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON RENI, I'LL TEACH YOU A LESSON! I'LL MAKE YOU WATCH HER SUFFER UNDER ME AND ONCE SHE GAVE UP, I'LL REMIND HER OF YOU AND BREAK AGAIN!' Diodora raged as the pain from his injuries was searing, each movement he made sending waves of agony through his body.

Clutching his side, Diodora activated his teleportation circle, a complex pattern of runes glowing beneath him. The air around him shimmered, and in an instant, he was whisked away, reappearing in the grand hall of his family estate. The Astaroth mansion, with its towering columns and dark, gothic architecture, loomed over him, a stark contrast to his weakened state.

As he staggered inside, the echo of his footsteps on the marble floor was the only sound. The grand chandeliers cast long, ominous shadows that seemed to dance mockingly around him. Diodora's vision blurred as he made his way through the hall, each step a testament to his stubborn will to reach his quarters. Just as he was about to collapse, the sound of hurried footsteps reached his ears.

"Diodora!" a stern voice called out, filled with a mixture of concern and authority.

He turned slightly, his bloodshot eyes meeting the gaze of his stepmother (father's bitch in his honest opinion), Verena Juro. She has an attractive figure. Her long, dark hair flowed down her back, and her piercing blue eyes were now narrowed in worry as she took in the sight of her stepson's battered form.

"Diodora, what in the name of the Maou happened to you?" Verena demanded, her voice a mixture of anger and genuine concern. She closed the distance between them swiftly, her hands reaching out to steady him as he swayed on his feet.

Diodora grimaced, brushing off her hands. "It's nothing, just a minor setback," he muttered, his voice strained with pain.

Verena's eyes flashed with irritation. "A minor setback? You look like you've been through hell and back. Don't try to brush this off as if it's nothing," she snapped, her tone brooking no argument.

"Shut up, why the fuck do you bother playing nice with me? My father is not here to impress." Diodora roared, he's not going to allow some random bitch to belittle him just cause he is injured. He is diodora ASTAROTH! HEIR OF THE HOUSE!

"Shouldn't I care for you if your father is not around?" Verena asked in a hurt tone, her eyes, once filled with worry now filling with hurt.

"Oh yeah? You really wanna care for me?" He asked mockingly, his power surprisedly back. He can feel his body repairing itself faster than he ever could. He was on his way to rage fuck Petra as her healing juices work well in these circumstances.

But in the current scenario, he had a better choice and noticing his left hand, he saw the Ouroboros symbol on it glow as his body healed. 'So that's how it is,' he smirked with satisfaction. His eyes gleamed maliciously as his gaze returned to Verena.

Verena looked up, a sense of foreboding settling in her stomach. "Yes?" She answered doubtfully, dreading what will happen. As Diodora mentioned, her husband is not home and she knew no one will save her from the Heir's wrath/lust if it comes to that as they gave up on him and let him do his thing. Even her husband stated the same.

"Chloe!" Diodora called. His Queen appearing in an instant in front of him, kneeling obediently.

"Your orders?" she asked in a blank tone.

"Pin Verena to my bed, she wants to care for me." He said, his face forming into a face splitting eerie smile, that gave chills to Verena and before she can react, Chloe was in front of her, catching her hands and teleporting her to Diodora's room and she proceeded to pin Verena to Diodara's bed as ordered, ignoring the woman's plight.

Diodora appeared, like a stalking predator, his clothes vanishing as he inched closer to the bed and Verena's clothes also dispersed with a single touch from the Astaroth Heir. Her body in full display for Diodara to feast on.

"Diodora, please, don't!" Verena pleaded. She doesn't want to escalate this knowing full well her husband won't care for her now even if he comes.

"What's the matter, you said you wanted to 'care' for me." He said with his eyes opening to give a once over to Verena's body. "You have such a fine body and strong spirit, 2 things I love in women. You can 'care' for 'me' all you want." He said, his gaze going down to Verena's honeyspot and as the animal he is, he spread her legs and aligned his member, ready to ram full force, to blow the daylights out of this bitch who dare to think low of him.

He hoped to save this for Reni, but he could practise what he wanted to do for her he guessed and as he was about to ram in, "Schemer," that one, cold emotionless word stopped Diodora, his face paling as he turned to face the petite infinite Dragon Goddess, who is floating in front of his bed, not caring for the nudity or the circumstances.

Her presence was ethereal, almost surreal, as she floated - her expression impassive, her piercing, emotionless grey eyes boring into Diodora's.

"Schemer," Ophis called again in her childlike voice, devoid of any inflection. "You are injured. Who did this?" She asked, straight to the point.

"..."

"..."

He blanked for a second, the petite dragon staring at him, unblinking. His mind kicked into overdrive and Diodora forced a smile, though the pain from humiliation made it hard, he managed. "Ah, Ophis, it's nothing. Just a minor accident during training."

Ophis' eyes narrowed slightly, a rare show of suspicion. The intensity of her gaze was almost tangible, pressing against Diodora like a physical weight. "You lie. Tell me the truth."

Diodora's heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his expression serene. He knew that Ophis, with her detached and analytical nature, would not be easily fooled. "I assure you, it was merely an accident. I slipped and fell on a sharp edge. Truly, there's no need for concern."

Ophis floated closer, her presence overwhelming and suffocating. The air in the room seemed to thicken, making it harder for Diodora to breathe and Verena fell unconscious. "I do not believe you. Who attacked you?"

Diodora's mind raced. He knew revealing the truth would have dire consequences. He maintained his calm facade, meeting her gaze directly. "Ophis, I swear, it was just an accident. Please, you have my word."

Sweat began to bead on his forehead, but he held his ground. He knew showing weakness now would be his undoing.

Ophis continued to scrutinize him, her eyes never leaving his. The silence stretched on, filled only with the crackling of the fire. The pressure of her gaze was almost unbearable, and Diodora felt as if she could see right through his lies.

Finally, she sighed softly, a sound almost imperceptible but carrying a weight of disappointment. "Ok, Schemer. I believe you this time. Remember, I will know if you lie to me."

Diodora exhaled slowly, relief washing over him like a tidal wave. He had managed to convince her, at least for now. "Thank you, Ophis. I won't disappoint you."

Ophis turned away, her figure beginning to dissolve into the void, but her presence lingered, heavy and oppressive. "Tell me if you encounter anyone interesting, Schemer. Don't break my trust."

With that, she vanished, leaving Diodora alone with an unconscious Verena in the flickering light of the fire. He slumped on Verena, the tension slowly ebbing from his body. He had escaped this time, but he knew he had to be more cautious in the future. Ophis was not one to be easily deceived, and her eyes would always be watching. The crackling of the fire seemed louder now, a reminder of the precarious game he was playing.

His interest lost in Verena, he moved to other matters: planning. He's the schemer after all.

In Kuoh

At Naruto's call, all the members moved closer, forming a circle around him. The air was thick with the lingering magic of their intense spar, and despite their exhaustion, each member's eyes were alight with determination and curiosity.

Rias and Sona stood at the forefront, their expressions a mix of competitiveness and respect. They knew this was more than just a critique; it was an opportunity to learn and grow from someone whose strategic mind and combat prowess they both admired.

Naruto took a deep breath, his gaze steady and encouraging. "First of all, I want to commend all of you for your efforts today. You pushed yourselves to the limit and showed incredible determination. That's the spirit that will lead you to greatness." He started.

He turned his attention to Rias and her peerage first. "Rias, you and your peerage have made significant strides since our last session. Your coordination and teamwork were impressive, especially the way you and Akeno combined your attacks."

While Rias chest swelled in joy, Akeno smiled, a hint of pride in her eyes. "Thank you, Naruto-kun."

Naruto nodded. "However, there were moments where you relied too heavily on your individual strengths. Remember, the strength of a team lies in its unity." He turned to Koneko.

"Koneko, your strength is formidable, but you need to work on integrating your attacks with the rest more seamlessly."

Koneko's cat-like eyes narrowed thoughtfully, a subtle nod indicating her understanding. "I'll… work on it." She said in a daze as she felt intoxicated by the subtle healing aura coming from the blonde.

"Kiba," Naruto continued, turning to the knight, "your speed and precision were excellent. You created opportunities for your teammates with your quick manoeuvres. But don't forget to communicate those openings more clearly. A split second of hesitation can make all the difference."

Kiba's usually calm demeanour was touched with a hint of determination. "Understood, thank you, Senpai."

Naruto then shifted his focus to Sona and her peerage. "Sona, your strategic mind is a powerful asset. Your ability to read the battlefield and adapt your tactics is impressive and improved." He turned her Queen.

"Tsubaki, your leadership and command of your sacred gear were crucial in holding your team together under pressure."

Tsubaki's eyes reflected pride and a hint of gratitude. "Thank you, Naruto-kun."

"However," Naruto continued, "there were times when your strategies were too rigid. Flexibility is key in battle." The King and Queen nodded.

"Tsubasa, your agility and ferocity were on full display, but you need to be more aware of your surroundings and your teammates' positions."

Tsubasa nodded, her expression resolute. "Understood sir."

"You did well, Momo. Try to improve your Attack variety," Momo bowed in understanding.

Naruto's gaze softened as he addressed the entire group. "Remember, the goal of these exercises isn't just to win. It's to learn, to grow, and to become stronger as a team. Each of you has unique strengths and abilities. When you combine those effectively, you become a force to be reckoned with."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "Let's go over some specific moments from the spar. Rias, when you summoned that wave of destructive energy, it was a powerful move, but it left you vulnerable for a moment. Always have a contingency plan."

Rias nodded, her eyes reflecting her determination to improve. "I understand. I'll work on that."

"Sona, your command to disrupt our formation was spot-on," Naruto said, turning to her. "But when Kazehana redirected Koneko's punch, it created an opportunity for a counter-attack that you missed. Being able to capitalise on such moments can turn the tide of battle."

Sona's analytical gaze turned inward, processing his feedback. "I'll pay closer attention to those opportunities."

Naruto's tone shifted to a more encouraging one as he continued. "Kana, Saeko, Alice, and Reni – your coordination was excellent. You supported each other and adapted to the situation well. Kana, your wind barrier was particularly effective against Koneko's strength. Saeko, your speed and precision with the katana and Crystals kept Akeno's lightning at bay."

Kana and Saeko exchanged a glance, their expressions reflecting their pride.

"Alice," Naruto said, turning to the young Pawn, "your agility and combat instincts were impressive. You kept Tsubasa on her toes. And Reni, your support spells were crucial. The barrier of ice you conjured around Alice allowed her to focus on her offence."

Alice and Reni both nodded, their eyes shining with joy.

Naruto took a step back, his gaze encompassing all present. "You've all shown incredible growth, but remember, there's always room for improvement. Continue to train hard, push your limits, and learn from each other. The bonds you forge here will be your greatest strength." Everyone gave a happy cheer.

"Rest your bodies well. You earned it!" He said and the group began to disperse, Rias and Sona approached Naruto, their expressions thoughtful.

"Thank you, Naruto," Rias said, her voice sincere. "Your feedback is invaluable. We'll continue to improve."

Sona nodded in agreement. "Yes, your insights are always enlightening. We have much to work on, but I'm confident we'll grow stronger from this."

Naruto smiled warmly at them. "I have no doubt you will. Remember, I'm always here to help." He said encouragingly as they dispersed.

As the last rays of the setting sun bathed the training grounds in a warm, golden light, Naruto's peerage gathered around him, their faces reflecting a mix of pride and 'exhaustion'.

"You all did well. Let's head back. Your reward is long due," Naruto said, his voice filled with satisfaction. With that, they teleported to their residence.

And Cut!

That's it for this part folks.

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