Author's note: Hey guys sorry for the delay, I had to rewrite most of this chapter because I didnt like it when I reread it as soon as I finished my advanced chapter... So yeah, hopefully it reads better here. Also, Chapter 42 was a chunky one, but Rias is finally here! Not much happened since they just met obviously, but she's finally here. Next chapter is the secret devil and maybe the start of the third task, or maybe not. Either way, chapter 44 will most assuredly have the third task.
Also, double release cause I forgot to update here, lol.
Celestial Ascendancy
Chapter 37: A Deal and Spars.
Grimmauld Place.
Elias Blake.
"We are finally official allies, Seekvaira," I smiled at the green-haired devil that sat in front of me. "And I genuinely hope this alliance goes on for many, many years."
Seekvaira returned my smile. I saw the usual calm smile on her, but I could feel the excitement in her eyes, "I hope that as well, my friend."
"Of course, Elias. What you brought today will sell exceptionally well in the Underworld. Even if we can't move it in large quantities, this will still be very profitable for both of us."
I nodded. It was true, after all. Honestly, the money was the least of my concerns in this deal. Sure, a sizable percentage would fill the family vaults. Still, I was far more interested in other aspects of our arrangement.
While Seekvaira couldn't speak directly for her father, Lord Agares trusted her enough to accept this alliance at face value. We weren't ready to align ourselves with him yet—the difference in our power made that too risky. It was a thin line to walk, but I wanted to establish our relationship with Seekvaira before anything else.
The deal was simple. She would receive wizarding products from us and sell them in the Underworld at whatever price she deemed appropriate. In return, she would pay us a percentage of the profits, either in Lilums, the currency of the Underworld, or in favors.
That was the best part for me. If we needed something unattainable in the Wizarding World, she could and would track it down, deducting the value from her owed sum. We still didn't know how much she'd charge since she had to discuss it with her father, but this arrangement already worked well for us.
Devil society revolved around two things: personal strength and contributions to the Underworld as a whole. With this deal, Seekvaira would rise above her peers since, according to her, no one else was paying attention to opportunities like this.
From what little I remembered from the anime, she was right. Rias and Sona had ambitions, but neither focused much on the logistics of achieving them. Sure, Sona was studying in the human world to learn how to run a school. Still, aside from being the Leviathan's little sister and highly intelligent, she had yet to make any real contributions to devil society.
"I'm glad to hear that," I said, smiling as I took a sip of tea. Across from me, Alivian sat beside Seekvaira, neatly arranging every product into a pile before a small magic circle flared to life, teleporting them away.
I wasn't sure if devils had some kind of hammerspace or were teleporting everything home.
Seekvaira nodded in satisfaction. I enjoyed reading her thoughts through the flicker of emotions in her eyes. The Everlasting Ink Quills surprised her a lot.
Apparently, older devils were remarkably old-fashioned, and having a self-replenishing quill meant it could be adapted for the special inks used in the Underworld. The Animation Sketchbook intrigued her, but not on the same level.
Considering that the Leviathan had her own TV show, I wondered if something similar could be used to introduce animated manga. I wasn't a hardcore weeb in my past life, but the idea excited me. It could revolutionize storytelling in the supernatural world for those interested in manga and light novels.
The enchanted ribbons earned no more than a glance, but she still seemed to appreciate them.
No, the product that truly caught her attention from the start was the damn chess piece. As I had expected, she was fascinated by the concept and realized its potential immediately. Chess was part of devil culture, and something as revolutionary as this would definitely be a hit in the market. She was so excited that it was easy to see.
"There is one thing, Elias," Seekvaira suddenly pursed her lips, a frown on her face. "I did some research on the fire you mentioned at our last meeting."
"Oh?" Hermione stiffened beside me, her grip tightening on her cup. The rest of us fell silent.
Iris's gaze sharpened, her shoulders tensing.
Sirius had a deep frown while Arcturus scowled. However, he kept quiet, likely waiting to hear the full explanation before making judgments.
From what I knew, he was like that. He always listened well before deciding on what to do, no matter the situation.
"Indeed, it was something that worried me quite a bit," Seekvaira nodded slowly, her usually beautiful face marred by the deep frown she was sporting right now.
"I can see two possibilities, and while none are particularly good, one is better than the other," she continued after taking a small breath, "The less concerning option is that this purple fire is some lost magic of your own kind."
Iris scoffed and I scowled, that wasn't particularly good, as Seekvaira said. The idea that Voldemort somehow stumbled into some forgotten magic wasn't exactly comforting.
That fire was bad news… I knew it inside my soul. The feeling it had was more potent than anything I had seen before. The fact that it could slow Phoenix's tears was something else.
"I know that wasn't what you hoped to hear," Seekvaira shook her head sadly before continuing hesitantly, "But the alternative is far worse.
If this is just old magic, this so-called Voldemort may have a few unknown spells at his disposal, but he should still be working alone. If it was like that, I would be sure you could take care of it yourself. However, the worst-case scenario is that he isn't the one responsible for that spell."
My stomach sank.
"That would mean he has outside help," I muttered, voicing the thought aloud.
Seekvaira nodded. "Exactly. If someone from the supernatural side of the world is with him, the problem becomes far more dangerous. If that is happening, you wouldn't just be dealing with an exceptionally bright and powerful dark wizard; you would be dealing with someone from the supernatural world, and that would mean he could be backed by some faction. And the ones I think are mad enough to try against the pact are… bad."
"What can we expect, then?" Iris asked, frowning deeply.
She was not actually angry with Seekvaira, I could tell. But the idea itself was unsettling.
"Purple fire is not normal among the supernatural crowd," Seekvaira admitted, her lips thinning. "And that is what concerns me. I did manage to find one potential lead. A Youkai from Japan is known for using purple flames, but from what little I could gather, he doesn't use them with any precision or control needed to do what you told me back then."
She shook her head. "Besides, it doesn't make much sense. Youkai rarely leave their homeland, and even if one did, it's unlikely they'd get involved in this conflict."
"So that option is probably out," Sirius mumbled with a frown, "What exactly is a Youkai, though?"
Seekvaira glanced at Sirius before she smiled wryly, "I always forget that you guys don't know much about the Supernatural World. Youkai are beings native to Asia; some of them are spirits, and others are monsters. They are surprisingly varied beings, but they all fall under the same classification."
"You can think of them as demons," the devil waved her hand dismissively, "but don't confuse them with my kind."
"But like I said, they rarely leave their territories, so they're not a group you need to be overly concerned about."
"Then what is the worst option?" Arcturus repeated, his voice colder, more demanding. While I didn't know him that much… I could see that he was disturbed by what we were hearing. We all were.
Seekvaira hesitated only for a moment before exhaling. "The worst possibility comes from our own Abrahamic factions," she admitted. "Purple fire, like I said, is not common—but there was a known user in the past."
"The most famous fire wielder of heaven is Archangel Uriel," she continued. "His flames are legendary, a devastating fusion of the holy element and fire that very few can withstand. However, his fire has never been described as purple." Her expression darkened. "Which means it can't be him."
I clenched my jaw. I never thought Wizards had something that angels would want. While the Church was undoubtedly capable of underhanded tactics, I doubted the angels of Heaven would involve themselves in something like this. It went against everything their religion taught, and I knew they could fall and become fallen angels, so they would not risk it.
"There was, however, an angel who wielded purple flames, Zadkiel."
Seekvaira took a deep breath. "He was an Archangel from Heaven, one known for his Mercy and distinct purple flames. Unlike Archangel Uriel, Zadkiel's fire wasn't purely destructive. It was known for its purification properties. However…" Her lips thinned. "He died during the Great War."
"Is returning from the dead not common in the Supernatural World?" Sirius asked, lifting his eyebrow.
I mean… he wasn't wrong. But Horcrux were special in their own way.
"It's not impossible," Seekvaira admitted, "But exceptionally rare. I personally don't know any being that can do so, and the only confirmed method of bringing someone back to life is another Longinus Class Sacred Gear, the Holy Grail. But if someone has been using it to do that, they are doing an excellent job keeping it secret."
She paused for a moment before sighing, "No, it's more probable that the person I'm thinking is responsible for that fire, The Witch of the Purple Flames."
"Who?" Sirius asked, brow furrowing.
"Walburga, no known last name," Seekvaira said grimly. "She's a magician affiliated with Hexennacht, an organization of dangerous and insane magic users."
She folded her arms. "She is the current wielder of the Longinus-class Sacred Gear, Incinerate Anthem. It is one of the most lethal Holy Fire abilities in existence. Unlike Uriel's or Zadkiel's flames, her fire is pure destruction, capable of easily incinerating even Ultimate-Class devils."
A cold chill settled over me. I had no idea how strong that was, but I knew I was outmatched even without the innate weakness to Holy energies.
"She's a lunatic," Seekvaira continued, her expression unreadable. "A fanatic of fire and destruction. We know about her because she was one of the main perpetrators of a major incident a few years ago. Her flames burn deep purple, and she has mastered them to the extent that even among Longinus wielders, she is considered extraordinarily dangerous."
Iris crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "Is there a way to confirm if Voldemort is working with her?"
Seekvaira shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no. While I suppose the Devil Kings keeps track of people like her, I cannot ask without exposing our friendship. And I cannot risk my family for that."
She said that her father sought the Black family against the pact, so it was understandable that she did not want to implicate her family.
She glanced at me, her gaze unreadable. "This is the most I can do for now."
I nodded in understanding. I didn't like it, but there was no way I could force her to help any further.
"If she is working with Voldemort, how bad is it for us?" I sighed, already dreading the answer.
Seekvaira let out a mirthless laugh. "I'd struggle to survive against her, Elias."
I inhaled sharply. That's what I feared.
But then Seekvaira surprised me by standing up.
"But there's some good news, at least," she said, brushing off her dress. "If she's working with him, she can't act like she normally would. She's a wanted criminal. The Grigori already see her as a major threat, and even the Devils consider her a high-priority target. Everyone will know where she is if she ever goes all out."
She smirked slightly. "And for all her reported insanity, I don't think even she wants the kind of heat that would bring."
Then, suddenly, her smirk widened into a full smile.
"Now, follow me."
I blinked. "Huh?"
"You are now my ally, Elias," She turned toward the door, her tone almost playful. "This is the least I could do."
We stepped outside into the wasteland in my trunk; it was the perfect place to let loose. Alivian walked ahead after a nod from Seekvaira, and I lifted my eyebrow.
"What is he doing?" I asked as I saw multiple magic circles appear below the dragon in human form.
"He is making sure we can go all out without messing things up; my Queen excels at defensive magic. I don't think there are many devils my age that can make him bleed." She smirked.
Seekvaira rolled her shoulders and then shot me a sharp look with her beautiful pink eyes. "I hope you don't disappoint me, Elias."
I couldn't help but smirk as my magic stirred to life. "Guess I'll just have to impress you, then."
With a flick of her wrist, casual as anything, a summoning circle flared into existence beneath her feet.
I didn't move since I didn't feel any kind of danger from it, and I was surprised to see her attire changing to something that fit the occasion.
She was dressed in a tracksuit, but I could feel it was special. I could feel the magic flowing to different runes sewn into the suit.
"Let's keep this to magic only for now," she said. "No need for physical combat yet."
I nodded. That suited me just fine.
With a snap of her fingers, a dozen small magic circles ignited around her, each glowing with condensed demonic energy.
Knowing the name didn't mean I felt revulsion toward the energy; oh, it felt wrong, obviously, but there wasn't that sickening feeling Voldemort had during the few times I met him. It honestly surprised me how he felt worse than a literal fucking devil, a creature of evil according to the myths.
The moment the first bolt of demonic energy shot toward me, I moved.
A flick of my wrist summoned a pumped-up shielding charm, a shimmering blue orb appearing on top of my body to deflect the spell. The impact sent ripples through the air, but I was ready, smirking; I waved my hand, and my blue flames sprang forth, a damn wall of fire flying toward her direction.
Seekvaira weaved through my attack; her speed surprised me even if it shouldn't have. Two more circles flared to life, launching compressed spheres of darkness in retaliation.
I didn't dodge.
Instead, I willed the air around me to freeze.
Ice surged through me, and in an instant, the dark energy she had sent was engulfed in a sudden cold snap, ice rapidly spreading outward until both spheres were frozen solid.
Calmly, I flicked my fingers, and the frozen orbs shattered into fine dust.
Seekvaira's eyes narrowed slightly, but she was unfazed. "Normal magic can't freeze spells."
I smirked. "That wasn't even the fun part."
Raising a hand, I reached for the Aetherium, and the air around me shifted.
The sky above dimmed as if the sunlight had been absorbed into my outstretched fingers. A faint golden glow flickered to life around my hand, and the moment I released it, a pillar of radiant fire erupted from the ground, roaring like a living inferno.
Seekvaira flinched. Hard.
Her normally composed expression twisted into something I had not seen from her, genuine alarm.
For a split second, Seekvaira's eyes widened. Then, space twisted around her.
The air shimmered, warping unnaturally as her entire body flickered like a mirage. The golden flames should have swallowed her whole, but instead, she vanished, slipping around the area of my spell.
An instant later, she reappeared several meters away, breathing heavily.
I blinked. What the fuck did she just do?
She took a second to steady herself before calling out, "What the fuck was that!?" her voice sharp, her body stiff.
I immediately dispelled the flames, the battlefield returning to normal except for the faint shimmer of lingering golden embers around us.
Seekvaira lowered her hand slightly but was still tense, her hands clenching tighter than before. "What… was that?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Light magic."
She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she took a slow breath, her posture still guarded as she studied me with a strange intensity.
"Elias," she said carefully, "do you realize what you just did?"
I looked at my girls. Then at my family.
Everyone just looked... confused.
"I mean... I used light magic," I said, slower this time, like I wasn't sure anymore. "Isn't that normal or something?"
Seekvaira's lips twitched, but not in a good way. Her eyes narrowed like I'd kicked a puppy.
"That wasn't light magic," she said, almost like she was offended. "Elias, That was Holy Magic, for Satan's sake."
Then she pulled in a breath, clearly trying to rein herself in.
I blinked. "...Huh?"
Alivian straightened from where he'd been waiting on the sidelines, his voice tense.
"Holy Magic? But how is that even possible, my king?"
He watched the scene with the utmost focus. I could see his slitted Irises watching the last embers disappear around his king.
Iris looked at me with wide eyes; she was good at playing dumb. "That… doesn't make sense. Wizards don't have Holy Magic, do they?"
"I don't," I said quickly. "I mean, I shouldn't. I have no knowledge of Holy Magic at all. I just… did it."
I'm a dumbass…
The Aetherium was more than I thought. The perk description said something about "smite some evil," but I never imagined it would actually work like this. It was clear that I didnt know everything about the Aetherium, and I needed to be careful when used against devils.
Seekvaira's frown deepened as she stepped closer, scanning me with a wary expression. "That's not how this works," she said, her tone sharp. "Holy Magic is exclusive to Heaven's faction. Angels, exorcists, and certain Sacred Gears imbued with divine power. Even magicians who study the divine arts can only wield Holy Energy through specific rituals."
"So, how the hell can I use it?" I muttered lowly.
I couldn't explain its origin, so I had to act like my life depended on it.
Seekvaira pursed her lips. "Do you really not know who your mother is?"
Something cold crawled up my spine.
It was clear that my existence was special ever since I was born. Having memories from another life was something out of the norm, but I had never thought about my parents that much. Even learning about Regulus was barely a footnote, but my mother was a complete mystery.
"My mother…" I swallowed. "I've never met her. I was left in an orphanage as a baby, and I only just learned who my father was. No one knows anything about my mother."
Seekvaira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Then that complicates things."
She glanced at the others. "I'm not saying this as a fact, but if Elias is capable of wielding Holy Magic naturally, then the possibility of him having angelic blood can't be ignored. He also has a weird feeling that I didn't notice during our last meeting."
I stared at her. "…That's ridiculous. Can angels even have sex?"
Seekvaira snorted. "With many purification rituals, they can make it work."
I frowned. "How the hell would my father sleep with an angel? He was just a wizard, and didn't you say that the factions shouldn't interfere with my kind?"
Seekvaira looked at me for a second, maybe longer, then let out a sigh.
"Either way... just try not to use that magic around us, alright? I don't think I'd walk away if you actually hit me with it."
I let out a slow breath and gave a respectful nod. "Yeah. Alright. I'll hold back."
She gave me a tiny smirk. "Good."
Then she dipped her head a little, almost respectfully. "Your magic's different now... stronger. Way stronger than before, Elias."
Her smirk widened just a bit more.
"That's good. We can improve it even more with training and constant battle. Is there any important event coming up?"
"We think Voldemort will do something during the Third Task... it should be in four months." I exhaled. "Do you think I'll be ready?"
"That's difficult to say," she admitted. "Normally, I would say no, but considering how strong you've gotten in such a short amount of time?" She tilted her head slightly. "Anything is possible. And you must know I will do my best for my first official ally."
She then stretched her arms slightly before giving me a sly smirk.
"I think that's enough about your magic, Elias," she said before turning toward her Queen. "Alivian, be a dear and test his hand-to-hand combat."
Then, she looked back at me, her eyes gleaming. "I noticed before... you're stronger, physically speaking, right?"
Alivian's lips curled into a sharp smile, and he nodded. "It will be my pleasure, my king."
He turned his piercing gaze toward me.
"Take your time, Elias," he said, stepping forward. "Try things out before I start. Give it your best."
Alivian rolled his shoulders before taking his stance. His sharp, slitted eyes studied me, not with amusement, but with calculation. He was measuring me with caution now.
I let out a breath, trying to steady myself.
I wasn't a fighter... not like this, anyway. My body was strong, stronger than it had any right to be… but experience? Training? That was a whole different story.
Flitwick had taught me the blade. Timing. Footwork. The rhythm of a duel.
But this? Bare fists, no spells, no steel?
This was something else entirely.
"Take your time, Elias," Alivian said, tilting his head just a bit. "You clearly are inexperienced in this."
I nodded slightly and breathed slowly to steady myself.
Then I intervened and threw a punch. It was simple and straight and targeted his chest.
It was clean, sure. Controlled.
But it's too soft, at least for a Dragon.
Alivian didn't even blink.
My fist made contact with his chest, but that was about it. No reaction. It felt as if I'd merely swatted a mountain.
He finally spoke after a beat, calm but firm, "You're holding back, my friend."
Yeah... I was. Instinct shouted at me not to throw punches at a dragon, even one in a human face. That presence of his, that aura … I felt its pressure against me, like a weight. It didn't matter that he looked human; he was still a Dragon.
But that didn't matter. I shouldn't be hesitating right now.
I was strong. Built to be. My body was a miracle of science and magic, fused into something not even I fully understood.
I shifted my stance, bouncing lightly on my feet, trying to shake the doubt out of my limbs.
My mind replayed the way Flitwick had taught me to move: the constant flow, never staying still.
I advanced again, delivering a quicker jab to his face. Alivian tilted his head to the side, barely letting my fist graze his cheek.
And he smiled. "Better."
I no longer dawdled. I punched again. More forcefully this time, my fists cutting through the air as I went through the motions
The first solid punch I landed was to Alivian's jaw. It wasn't a tap. It was a solid hit. A strike that made my knuckles prick, the impact rippling through my fingers, and a gust of wind flew from Alivian's head. Alivian barely reacted. But I saw it, the slightest twitch of his brow. The way his head moved slightly with the force as the veins on his neck bulged with effort.
"Not bad," he murmured, then he spit a glob of blood.
I grinned.
I kept moving and striking, each punch coming faster than the last. My footwork guided me, keeping me fluid. 'Keep the pressure on. Don't be predictable.'
I could feel the improvements.
Every punch I threw hit harder. Every strike was sharper, and each one landed with more force than before. Alivian, for the first time, actually started dodging correctly.
I grinned wider when I noticed it. His eyes grew suspicious.
But then, he started trying.
Alivian shifted. Not so much, just sufficiently to make the air around him change.
His posture eased, though there was a slight redistribution of his weight.
Before I could even think about it, his palm hit my ribs... not a punch, but it was a solid blow.
It wasn't painful, but I staggered in shock, panting for air. The feeling was unusual, nearly numb, yet my body responded in instinct.
Alivian's golden eyes glinted with curiosity as he took a step closer. "You're getting better," he commented calmly. "I'm not sure how you did it so fast, but you've caught my attention."
And then he moved, fast and with purpose. A punch to my ribs, my shoulder, my gut.
Each hit landed, but my body was prepared for it, absorbing the blow instead of yielding. My arms moved without my conscious input, finding the rhythm to block and respond, meeting the attack.
Iris and Hermione were watching, tense, the worry in their eyes clear to see.
I shot them a look.
I was fine. I was more than fine; I was enjoying myself.
Alivian continued to push me, his fists moving in faster, his blows hammering away. But I didn't crumble. I learned.
I barely evaded the first, then another strike came, and I evaded it once more, rotating my body. The next strike he made, I threw a punch along with it. Our knuckles cracked together. A stinging shockwave exploded between us, the sheer raw force of the punch creating a crater beneath us.
Alivian grinned. "Good, good," he laughed brightly, his eyes shining with anticipation.
We kept going. Fists met fists. Dodges turned to counters. I was adapting faster than I should have. I was keeping up. Barely. But barely was enough. For the first time, Alivian seemed totally focused.
But he was ultimately the experienced one. His subsequent success came all too soon. A blow to the chest, a second uppercut that saw my vision burst white, and I crashed to the ground.
I gasped on the floor, my body heating from the impact of the crash.
There was silence. Then, full-blown laughter. I couldn't help it; I laughed and laughed until it hurt more than the spar. That had been so damn fun, and I was already planning for a repeat.
Alivian offered me a hand, his smirk straightforward. "That was impressive, Elias. You are a beast of nature."
I grabbed his hand, letting him pull me up. "Not bad?" I muttered, rolling my shoulders. "You just beat the shit out of me."
Alivian chuckled. "You lasted longer than you should have, Elias."
I turned toward Seekvaira, expecting her usual calm expression. Instead, I saw something else. She hid it well, but I caught it.
She was unnerved.
"So, what do you think?" I smirked, hugging my girls as they threw themselves at me. Both checked my body for any injury, but I shrugged; they would not find anything there.
"I don't understand," Seekvaira said dryly, "I have a feeling you will be important in the future, Elias."
I laughed; she had no idea...
"Then it's a good thing we are allies," I smiled softly, earning a nod, "So, what do you classify me as?"
"High-class, easily," she nodded, "And that's only with your body; your magic is another thing."
"Then I hope I continue improving at the same rate," I said wryly. "I would prefer to be wrong and just over-prepare for Voldemort, but if Walburga is here in Britain, I wish to be ready. At least to force her to leave."
"That we do, Eli," Iris hugged me, "We will be ready, love."
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