The helicopter touched down just outside the outskirts of an Irish town.
From there, they caught a taxi into the city proper, the driver only giving them a single odd glance before focusing on the road.
Arthur sat by the window, watching the scenery pass with quiet curiosity, while Dulio excitedly leaned forward in his seat as the first signs of city life came into view.
As they stepped out of the cab and onto the stone sidewalk, Dulio stretched with a big grin.
"Ah, smell that? That's the aroma of potential culinary perfection. I think I caught a whiff of Irish stew and maybe some soda bread. We have to stop and eat first."
Arthur, hands in his pockets, glanced toward a row of quaint shops and warm-lit restaurants lining the street.
"I don't mind a bite. I haven't eaten since sunrise."
He said casually, rolling his shoulders.
Behind them, Jeanne furrowed her brow and crossed her arms.
"Shouldn't we be investigating the situation first? This isn't a vacation."
Siegfried groaned.
"Don't be such a bore. We can multitask, eat and plan."
"Excuse me for being serious about our actual mission for once."
Jeanne snapped, clearly irritated.
That was all it took for them to start going back and forth in rapid-fire jabs.
Arthur sighed and turned to Dulio, his voice dry.
"They seriously act like an old married couple."
Dulio grinned without missing a beat.
"I've got a theory that they're just closet lovers."
"WE HEARD THAT!"
Jeanne and Siegfried shouted in unison, both rounding on them.
They finally settled into a rustic little pub-style restaurant tucked on the corner of a stone alleyway.
Their table was by the window, and the four of them sat down, menus already in hand.
Dulio grinned like a kid at Christmas.
"Alright, ladies and losers, place your bets: is the food gonna be good, or not?"
Arthur grabbed a glass of water and downed half of it before answering.
"Hopefully it's better than what they served at the Vatican."
Jeanne ordered a Colcannon and Potato bread, Siegfried ordered Irish stew, Arthur stuck with an Ulster Fry, and Dulio ordered one of everything with zero shame.
As their food arrived and conversation shifted to casual remarks, Arthur finally leaned forward and looked at Dulio.
"Alright, seriously, what's the game plan?"
Dulio wiped stew from the corner of his mouth, then grew just a little more serious.
"So here's the rundown. According to the latest reports, our targets were last seen here in the city. No clear motive, no open aggression. But some weird stuff's started happening ever since. Disappearing homeless guys, and shadows moving where they shouldn't. The local priest stationed here are clueless, but the signs are there."
"Sounds like the usual cult stuff."
Siegfried muttered.
Jeanne set her spoon down.
"So what's the approach?"
"We split up. Jeanne, Siegfried, you two take the south end of the city. Residential zones, marketplaces, and small houses. If anything feels off, follow it. Arthur, you're going north. That area's more isolated. Has an old cathedral that's not been in use for years, and several Celtic ruins nearby. If these cultists are going to hide anywhere, it's probably there."
Dulio said.
Arthur gave a small nod.
"Fine by me."
Siegfried squinted at Dulio.
"And you? What's your plan? Sit around stuffing your face with plates?"
Dulio blinked.
Then smiled, leaned forward, and said flatly.
"Yes."
Siegfried made a dadpan face and Jeanne sighed in exasperation.
"You are supposed to be leading this operation, you know."
Arthur chuckled under his breath.
"I agree, you're basically handing us all the grunt work while you walk around like a tourist."
"Correct. But I will be listening in and watching through further updates on the mission. I'm not completely incompetent. And besides…"
He looked at Arthur.
"Stick around me long enough and I'll teach you the real secrets of being awesome, Arthur."
Dulio said with a wink.
Arthur gave a deadpan stare.
"I'll pass. I'd rather die than be you for even a second."
In his mind, Ddraig grumbled.
(Partner, please don't become stupid like him. I beg you.)
(Yeah, duly noted.)
Arthur replied with a slight smirk.
After a satisfying lunch and an exchange of light insults and mild banter, the group stood from the table and exited the restaurant.
Dulio yawned dramatically.
"Alright, alright, team. Time to work off that excess energy. Go on, shoo, do your part. I'll be… quality checking the rest of the food here."
Siegfried rolled his eyes, and Jeanne muttered something about reporting for misconduct.
"Guess I'm on my own."
Arthur adjusted his hoodie and turned toward the northern street.
"Don't die on the first day, Art."
Jeanne called with mock cheer.
"Try not to get caught making out behind the dumpster."
Arthur shot back over his shoulder.
As they all walked in different directions, Arthur to the north, Jeanne and Siegfried to the south, and Dulio strolling off humming with yellowman sweets in hand.
DxD
The cathedral was steeped in a haunting silence, its stained glass windows long shattered and its pews broken and rotting from years of abandonment.
The cold air carried a heavy scent of mildew and incense, like ghosts of sermons past still lingered within the stone walls.
Arthur's boots echoed faintly as he moved through the main aisle, stepping around fallen debris and half-burned scriptures.
He glanced at the ruined altar ahead, eyes scanning for signs of movement, and muttered under his breath.
"Man, this place gives me the creeps."
(You don't say. Though I've seen worse. This is just your run-of-the-mill haunted building with a touch of horror drama.)
Ddraig replied, his tone dry.
Arthur looked up at the collapsed remains of a massive cross, twisted and broken across the altar.
"Hey Ddraig. Why would these exorcists bail on their faith just to hang out in a dump like this?"
He asked quietly.
(Could be anything, really. Some lose faith, others fall out of grace from sin, and then there are those who see something they were never meant to see… things that make them rethink everything.)
Ddraig answered.
Arthur paused, hands in his pockets, and stared at the shattered cross.
"Something dangerous, huh?"
He looked around the cathedral again with more scrutiny.
His boots scuffed to a stop as he noticed a slanted crack across the old tiles, leading to the altar.
Then he let out a low whistle, eyeing the vandalized crucifix.
"Man… that's just disrespectful. Disfiguring a holy symbol like that."
His tone shifted, sharper now.
"But you know what's worse?"
He turned his head slightly, his voice dropping.
"Spying on people in the dark like a predator."
There was a rustle of cloth as a figure stepped into view, dressed in black priest robes, his face calm but eyes cold.
More figures followed, emerging from the shadows behind shattered columns and broken pews.
Arthur slowly stepped back, raising an eyebrow as they began to encircle him, light weapons drawn and glowing with holy energy.
"Oh boy. Ain't fair ganging up on one kid. But hey, maybe that's your kink or something."
Arthur said with mock disappointment.
"You accursed son of Satan. You will die here and now."
One of them hissed.
They opened fire. Light spells, searing bolts, holy bullets, an explosion of light burst toward Arthur.
Dust and gravel flew everywhere as the blasts rocked the cathedral.
The force shook the very foundations, and visibility dropped in an instant beneath the thick cloud of smoke.
Silence followed, then a gust of wind swept the smoke aside, revealing Arthur, standing exactly where he was, unharmed, his hoodie fluttered slightly from the pressure.
He smirked.
"Is that all?"
The exorcists shouted and charged, wielding light blades and shouting scripture as they lunged forward.
Arthur moved like a blur.
His feet twisted, body low, ducking under blades, pivoting between two attackers, and lashing out with powerful leg strikes.
One kick sent a man flying through the benches.
Another spin-drop flattened two at once.
"Man, you guys are in way over your head."
Arthur said as he swept another attacker off his feet.
(Do not let your guard down, partner. Overconfidence can cloud one's judgment.)
Ddraig warned.
Arthur nodded slightly as he sidestepped a light sword and cracked his knee into another exorcist's ribs.
"I know. I can sense their strength; none of these guys are special."
As he tossed another man aside, a ripple across the floor caught his eye.
The shadows where he had just stood suddenly moved, slithering like liquid, reaching for his ankles.
Arthur jumped, flipping into the air and landing atop the crumbling podium.
"What the hell was that?"
Below, the spot he just left writhed with darkness, shapes moved beneath the floor.
"That's not regular shadow magic…"
Arthur muttered.
Another exorcist came charging from behind, screaming.
Arthur turned and swiftly disarmed him with a clean elbow strike and sent him flying back through a pillar.
Then the shadows behind him surged again, tentacles of dark mass whipped up into the air, and lunged at him.
The remaining exorcists cheered.
"Yes! End him, brat!"
Arthur clicked his tongue and summoned Excalibur Mimic in a flash of light.
The sword shimmered as it shifted into dual blades, and with a single flourish, he spun and cut through all the tentacles behind him.
"Sorry, I'm not into tentacle porn."
But the tendrils didn't stop, they reformed, striking again with greater aggression.
Arthur dodged through the attacks, then made a beeline for the exorcists still standing.
His strikes were ruthless, efficient.
He gave no quarter, not even to the ones unconscious on the floor.
They were all dead within moments.
All except one, the lead priest, who had begun casting another holy spell, his hand glowing with light.
Arthur twisted Excalibur Mimic into a spear and threw it, its handle elongated midair, and pierced the man's shoulder, pinning him to the cathedral wall.
The priest cried out, writhing, trying to dislodge it as Arthur approached.
But Arthur's attention was now elsewhere.
The shadows writhed again, only this time, from the curtains.
A presence stood there, hidden, but watching.
Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"That's no exorcist."
He darted forward, aiming to close the distance fast, but a dark barrier erupted in front of him.
Arthur skidded to a halt.
"Huh? You really think this is gonna stop me?"
He summoned the Boosted Gear gauntlet onto his right hand.
[BOOST!]
[PENETRATE!]
With a single punch, the barrier shattered like glass under a sledgehammer.
He lunged through the fragments, hand already gripping the neck of the figure inside.
He yanked the person forward and into the open sunlight pouring from the cathedral doors.
Arthur blinked.
It was a boy around his age.
Messy black hair, malnourished skin, and eyes that darted in fear.
His clothes were ragged, torn, and dirtied, like he hadn't bathed or eaten in weeks.
His fingers clawed at Arthur's arm, struggling to breathe.
"What the hell…"
Arthur muttered.
But he didn't lower his hand.
Instead, he slammed his forehead into the boy's skull.
The boy went limp immediately.
Arthur let him fall to the ground with a grunt.
Then, without missing a beat, he turned on his heel and walked toward the pinned priest, who was still gasping and clawing at the spear in his shoulder.
Arthur crouched in front of him, smirking coldly.
"Well then, Mr Ex-Priest. Let's have a little chat, shall we?"
DxD
Hello readers
Gimme your Stones now! pLEASE?
Thank you everyone and see you later!