Drive for Power.

Now that Kurayami finally managed to relive most of their worries, he felt a lot better. He was back on time and none of them was dead which was what worried him. After they all got their worried out they all waited for some actual stories of his time with Ophis.

Both he and Ophis sat next to each other at the table as they explained some of the events that happen when they fought. Kurayami coughed as he started to explain just how strong Ophis was.

"Well in those three years it was nonstop fighting for the two of us. Even our mating times were part training I guess. Ophis is way stronger than I am as I never managed to hurt her even once. As we are connected at the soul she learned from all of your and my abilities."

They all looked at Ophis who was leaning on Kurayami's right shoulder with a happy smile. They all had a lot of unique abilities and he claimed that she managed to do what took them years. They all wanted to start training again as they felt jealous of her.

Raynare and Esdeath as two battle junkies now saw her as a rival. The stronger the foe you train with the faster you can find ways to better yourself against them. As such, they both wanted to start training with her immediately.

Esdeath smiled with pure battle intent toward Ophis. The Dragon God noticed it but did not think it was anything worth noticing. She was already analyzing all of the females her mate had gathered and she thought they were decent.

Still, the one who had the most talent of all of them was Akeno. As someone connected to Kurayami's soul she knew just how it felt. Akeno's soul was turning as black as Kurayami's as she had been in contact with Kurayami's soul for 9 whole months.

"Would you spar with me?"

Ophis stopped daydreaming about why Kurayami's soul was so powerful and glanced at Esdeath. She looked the girl over and noticed everything about her.

'A Seraph, possessed by a Demon and at the border of becoming a Semi-Super Fallen Angel. She will die if I so much hit her.'

"You're too weak. Finish devouring your Demon first and you might survive. Even Kurayami bones cannot take my strength and break when we fight. If I so much hit you, I am afraid I would run my arm through you."

Esdeath frowned as it felt that she was still a few years away from finishing devouring Algor. The blasted Demon that tormented her day in and day out and never left her alone. With pure will alone she quieted him down as she looked at Ophis with a determined look.

"What will it take for me to take someone like you on? If Kurayami can do it, I do not see why I cannot."

Ophis glanced her over and decided to let her know her thoughts.

"I am a Dragon God, and I already struggled to hold back. As I am now, it would take someone as durable as Great Red or Kurayami here to last with me. I can give you some advice though. Go through your first Sublimation and you will be finished sooner. That is a change that affects the body and soul."

Azrael had only told Kurayami as he knew that Kurayami was going to go through it. To them, it was a new term that they wanted to know about. Each one of them was interested so Kurayami decided to explain it.

"It's not so much a secret as something that is just not known. Any species can go through it, but it's not an easy thing to go through. My first one was in Tartarus after I ate a Galaxy Apple. It pretty much is a painful evolution at the genetic level."

He glanced at Kuroka as he held her hand. That memory he saw in those trials of the soul was something he never wanted to see again. Kuroka felt he saw something involving her so she held his hand with both of hers.

He sighed as he spoke about that experience.

"The apple I ate made forced me to look at the things I fear most That was you all hating me and watching Kuroka being ravaged in front of me. It took Rebellion and Submission to keep me from going completely berserk."

Kuroka got up from the table and rushed to his side as she hugged his head between her bosom.

"That must have been terrible to watch. I and you shall never allow such a thing to happen so do not even think about it. The only man that can touch or see my body is you."

He smiled as he was glad that she was so comforting. Now that he thought about it, he still had some Appels left. He had eaten 5 more in that time so that lowered the court to just 24. He used 5 for each of his familiars which lowered the number to 19.

"Oh, right I still have some left of those cursed things. It was the key that let me become a Semi-Super Fallen Angel."

Esdeath was the first to volunteer.

"I will take the thing. I need to get this fucking Demon out of my head as soon as possible. Not before eating him though."

Raynare was the same.

"If she is going to take it, so will I."

He brought out two of the beautiful, but cursed apples and handed them one each. When they held them, they both noticed a familiar aura in them. Raynare glanced at Kurayami who brought out another apple to look it over.

"These feel like Nyx."

Kurayami nodded as he spun the appel in his hands.

"She is the one who grows them. She eats 30 of them a day as a snack."

Hearing that made both girls look at the apples in their hands which were considered powerful means to power. Nyx merely eats them as snacks which made them respect the goddess a little more. Grayfia looked at the apple in Kurayami's hand as she was also interested.

"Master, can I request one. I have been in the Satan class and I have not improved since. Like I reached a hard limit."

Kurayami looked her over and noticed something.

"I think it has to do with the fact you are a Devil. Devils were created by Lucifer from the body of Lilith. As you were born, you could grow to your current level, but can't grow more."

Grayfia nodded with a bitter look on her face.

"I never noticed a thing when I was young as my power seemed to grow more and more. Eventually, I reached the Satan class, but I reached a limit."

Ophis glanced at her and agreed with Kurayami. He tossed her the apple which she held in her hands as if it was fragile.

"If you want to get stronger, break the limits of your race. Become a Super Devil as they have truly broken free of the limits imposed by their race and maker. You need to do the same."

Latia was a natural Devil was going to have the same issue, but it was still a ways off.

"I need it as well. I may only be in the Ultimate Class, but I would like to be prepared. If I have to become a Super Devil I will do it gladly."

He tossed her an appel as well as he knew that they would need it. Kuroka was still hugging him and smiled as she kissed his neck.

"I don't need any of that. All I need is you, I might grow my 4th tail this time."

There had never been a 9-tailed Nekusho, but Kuroka just maybe would be the first. Her species on its own was powerful and talented, and she was also a Devil. As long as Kurayami's aura entered her body directly, she would get stronger.

Hearing her say that made them all feel a little jealous. She had it so easy as Kurayami's aura had a special effect on her. Amaterasu saw that they had chosen to take them so she deiced to do the same.

"I may be a goddess, but any power is more power. I think I have gotten 32% stronger just by being closer to the Sun so maybe the apples will have an interesting effect."

As she was closer to him he passed her an appel as well. Annabeth held her hand out as it sounded interesting.

"If what Latia and the humans say is true, there are at least 36 Civilizations in our Galaxy. Better to get stronger before they come knocking."

Kurayami passed it to her, but it made Ophis interesting.

"You know I have never left this Solar System. I could have if I wanted, but I never saw a point. Maybe these aliens have sweets I have not tried."

Latia perked up at the idea.

"Or never before seen technology."

Lavinia thought of something that truly got her interest.

"Would these aliens use magic or some other source of power? Like those novels, you read Raynare."

Kurayami squinted his eyes as he looked at Raynare. He did not know she had a secret hobby.

"What novels?'

She sighed as he would keep bugging her for it.

"Cultivation novels ok. I like them despite the characters lacking any brain cells. It is a really fun topic and I tried to copy or make a technique like it. I have had some moderate success."

Akeno rolled her eyes.

"Oh right, you named it Draconic Death Emperor Revolution Creed. It was kind of funny seeing you sitting in a Daoist position as you tried to use magic to cultivate. You even started to yell out 'COURTING DEATH' as you spared with us. Brother, I will also take the appel."

He passed one to her as he looked at Raynare. Her face got bright red as she covered her face.

"Vritra dared me to do it."

Vritra the one responsible coiled around her as he flicked his tongue.

"It was all in good fun."

He turned to look at Kurayami and Ophis with some respect in his gaze.

"Kurayami, I thank you for helping me claim my 5th soul shard. While you were gone, Raynare went on and claimed the last one. My soul is once again complete."

Kurayami waved him off.

"If you get stronger, Raynare get's stronger. You had the most unique abilities among the Dragon Kings so of course, I would help. Ophis, any words?"

Ophis shook her head.

"There is nothing to say. As long as the girl gets stronger, so will he. That is all there is to say and I say she is close to materializing him once again."

Vritra vanished once more as he returned to his own little realm in the Sacred Gears. Kurayami glanced at Natsume who had not said anything the whole time.

"Natsume, you have been quiet. Something bothering you?"

Natsume hugged Griffon as she looked away.

"Kind of. I mean I have unlocked my 4th pair of wings, but I seem to be the weakest. My power does not grow quickly at all and it seems that you turning me into a Fallen Angel was useless."

Ophis glanced at her and saw the issue.

"I see. You lack drive and a craving for power. That is what is hindering you. You don't have the drive to want power as you just want a simple life. As much as Kuroka wants the same she desired power to protect herself and her family. What do you want girl?"

Kurayami did not say anything as it was true. Ever since he knew Natsume, she had been a normal girl. She still trained with Grifon, but unlike the others, power was not her goal. he thought of what drove him to pursue power like it was the holy grail.

He wanted to be the strongest as being weaker than someone meant he could once again be a slave. Raynare wanted strength to live up to her grandfather and surpass Kurayami.

Esdeath hated the weak and hated being weak so she sought power. She also wanted to get rid of Algor and devour him to prove her strength. Akeno wanted to always stand at Kurayami's side so she wanted to become as strong as possible. She also enjoyed learning new magic types that required power. Making curses was also fun so she loved learning about them.

Lavinia loved magic and wanted to be better than even Akeno. Kuroka just wanted to be strong enough to protect herself and her future kids. She was already imagining what it would be like so she squeezed Kurayami's neck a little harder.

Grayfia just wanted to be the strongest maid as her master should not take action against weaklings. As long as she was strong enough, he would not have to bother. Annabeth merely wanted to surpass her mother as she loved the feeling of getting stronger.

Latia was similar to Raynare as her uncle Ajuka was a Super Devil and she wanted to achieve the same. Amaterasu had no grand drive to want to be stronger, but she still trained her swordsmanship to perfection.

One could never be prepared enough so power was a necessity. As for Natsume, she only trained as it was all the others did. She wanted to join in, but she did not have a grand drive for it. She looked at everyone around her as they all had some goals which she lacked.

She wanted to be good enough so she closed her eyes and looked at Kurayami.

"I want the appel as well."

He did not give it to her though as he was not sure she could take it. Noticing his hesitation made her look down.

"I can do it. I know I can."

He brought another and passed it to her.

"If you are sure, take it. All of you need to be ready as things will be both painful and violent."

"Master, you forgot your slave."

Walburga pulled on his sleeve making him look down at her.

"Walburga, you really are a masochist. Not even my father is that bad."

She looked bright red as she hugged his arm tight.

"I want an apple. I like the sound of the pain."

He looked at her and grabbed her by the back of her neck and sat her on his lap.

"You little bitch. Take it."

She held the appel like it was her key into Heaven. He pushed her off him and got up.

"Well, time to take a tour of the base. I have been gone for 5 months and I want to see how much progress has been done. Not to mention I have to let everyone know that I am back. I go to check up on my Death Squad. I will not be happy if they slacked"

Everyone stood up as they did not want to be left behind again. It was time to let him know what they had done to the Moon while he was gone.