Sonic: Thanks

Raitei410: I will try my hardest to destroy the harem route. As for Asia... I do have plans regarding that topic

I own what I own

Circuit 3

Meeting The Loyal Hound

A man with shoulder lenght crimson hair and blue-green eyes was sitting with papers on his hands. The man was wearing a white suit and a small purple tie with a ruby pendant on top of the tie and grey pants and black dress shoes. The room he was sitting in was intricate and classy, it was as if the room was owned by someone who was very rich. And indeed the man was, one of the richest, if not IS the richest in Hell.

The de facto leader of Hell, or more correctly the leader of the devils and in charge of domestic affairs. Sirzechs Lucifer formerly Gremory was reading reports that were given to him by the group who was in charge with the matter of the declining number of creatures who were in the Fammiliar Forest.

"So you're still reading that paper huh." Said a bewithingly beautiful and attractive young man appearing in his early twenties, with light blue eyes and green hair that is slicked back. He has a mysterious aura around him which makes him look slighly devilish.

Ajuka Belzeebub formerly Astaroth is the chief advisor for the tech departement and the creator of the evil pieces and rating game. The evil pieces which is the current solution for the declining numbers of devils due to the low number of birth rate by turning whoever and whatever being that was given this piece and turn them into devils.

The beings that are turned needs to be weaker from whoever hold the [King] piece who would either be a pure blooded devil or a high ranking devil. If the one who holds the [King] piece is weaker however, then the person who they are transforming won't turn into a devil. One of the most useful feature of this evil pieces are their ability to revive anyone who has died very recently and only if their souls hasn't passed on to the other side.

Sirzechs rubbed his temple with one of his hand while the other is still holding the papers. "To think that on her monthly leave someone decides to hunt on the Fammiliiar Forest... and you're sure that you couldn't track whoever entered the forest? From the flunctuation of energy you were able to track whoever did this right?" he asked his best friend.

Ajuka's face turned sour regarding that matter, "The magical circle was of devil origin that I can guarantee. " he pinched his nose and continued, "But it would seemed that whoever or whatever used it was interupted, making the precise location unkown."

The crimson haired man raised an eyebrow on his friends answer. "So you don't know where the person we are looking for is?" and to answer his question Ajuka snorts.

"The first people who would know and tells you would be that little group that you sent over. Because there was an interuption the magical energy that was used became erratic and wild, making it unable to actually transport the user to the location that the circle was first meant for." The green haired devil's frown turned into a smirk when he lifted a finger.

"I can tell you however that the person we are looking for are a human. Their exact number however, is unkown to even myself." Sirzechs looked towards his friend with surprise and a small smile formed on his face. "As expected, you are indeed very dependable old friend."

Ajuka showed a smug smile and pointed at himself "Of course! If I weren't dependable as I am, we wouldn't have gotten this far would we?" the two shared a small laugh before going back to the main topic.

Sirzechs was the first one to talk after the bout of laughter stopped between the two. "Now that we know that whoever used the magic circle is human, can we determine what they were after? The fact that whoever they are went to the Familiar Forest during Tiamat's leave couldn't possibly be a coincidence." He said while crossing his arms and leaning back on the lucious and comfy black chair.

Tiamat was none other than the Chaos Karma Dragon and one of the five Dragon Kings, the one and only female one at that and the strongest of the five. That by itself maked her one of the strongest dragons who currently roam free. She took part as the guardian of the Familiar Forest, the alpha of the forest that keeps the magical beings inside it tame to a certain level.

However there were months where she would leave the forest, this monthly leave would cause people who are guarding the outskirts of the forest to take action of making sure the beings inside it are tame to the same level that Tiamat does just by being there. Her presence as the Dragon King who rules overthe forest would make the monster inside it submit to her orders to a certain extent.

On this month during her monthly leave, the security of the Fammiliar forest is doubled and the entrance to the forest would be stricter than the usual, and that was talking a lot due to the fact that entry to the fammiliar forest is very strict from the beginning because it is the domain of Tiamat.

The reason for her monthly leaves were due to the fact that before the Great War one of the two Heavenly Dragons, Ddraig borrowed some of her treasure and never returned it. With Ddraig sealed inside the sacred gear known as [Boosted Gear] and unable to answer Tiamat's calls and question on this is a quote from Tiamat herself .

'How in the name of the fucking Biblical God did you lose the treasure that I lent to you, YOU FUCKING RED-SCALED, GREEN EYED, OVERGROWN LIZARD!'

That was exact quote, word to word.

"After two days I was able to pinpoint the exact location of where the human, or rather the magic circle appeared at." Ajuka then leaned on the bookshelf that was occupying the walls of the work scaoe of Sirzechs Lucifer. He took a random book from the bookshelf behind him and skimmed through it while continuing. "The south of the forest, thats where the magic circle appeared at, due to the interference and aild magic that fed it. With normal meand of searching, it should have taken at least a full week to decipher the location."

The Lucifer's smile never faded as he finished his best friends sentence, "But you who used means that are not normal are able to decipher it's location in just a mere two days." Ajuka closed the book he was holding and posed a question towards the leader of the devils. "So, whats in the report that you have in your hands."

Sirzechs eyed the report given to him by the scouting group that he sent and sighed, "It seemed that they didn't found anything on the West and North of the forest, the team on the south and east are still to busy with the magic beast that are acting violent and rampaging through their side of the forest. Either that or whoever we are searching are able to hide under the radar of high ranking devils... or powerful enough to kill them."

Sirzechs leaned forward, crossed his hand, and looked to Ajuka straigh in his eyes. "Whoever they are, they could be dangerous."

-(BREAK)—

I am definetly in a dangerous position.

Hello everyone, it's Etherea. To lessen the stress that I have right now I decided to make this comedy skit for you readers while breaking the fourth wall. Or so I say while playfully hitting my head and sticking out my tongue.

In reality I was being chased by a group of magical dodo birds and was currently running for dear life.

Two days after falling into the forest, I found out that every living beings in this forest was magical and abnormal to the normal human eye. Though mostly these beast aren't that different from the ones under the blue skies that I was from.

But my current body was weak in almost every aspect. I do not have the body that was made by my creator, the body which doesn't feel pain, doesn't feel tired, has amazing reflex, and strong in most aspects that is needed in fighting.

I jumped over a root of a tree and shot an orb of light on one of the dodo birds, though it did damage it the monstrous dodo bird didn't instantly die. I clicked my tongue and jumped to grab a branch in order to avoid the beak of a magical dodo bird, the missed attack tore the bark of the tree which made jump to another branch.

Normally the magical beast in the Familiar Forest won't be as rabid as this, but due to the absence of Tiamat and without the alpha of the forest they are as agressive as they could go. Packs would attack others where they would usually be passive.

As I jumped from branch to branch in order to avoid the dod birds, I started to lose them. As as I feel that I was far enough, I let out a vreath that I was holding and slumped on the branch that I was currently standing on. After being chased for hours without rest, I couldn't help but release a sigh of relief.

'I won't hunt those that goes in pacts untill this body could get stronger.' I told myself.

I felt a surge of energy and changed mine so that it matched the tree behind me. As soon as I did, in the sky a group of flying devils could be sighted. When they were gone, I returned my energy into normal.

Not long after I got in the forest I sighted the group. They mostly searched from the air and would only search on the ground when an energy that is abnormal appeared. On my case, it's when I don't mask my reading to make it the same as the area around me.

The first time I saw them was around a few hours after I got here, they went down and left as soon as I hid myself and masked my energy reading. As to how I hid my energy, I can only say that it was because my soul, or rather core, was flexible.

This was due to me being a primal beast that was more of a jack-of-all trades and master of none type of deal. I was made to do many missions, be it normal hit missions or the infiltrations that was ordered by the peculiar astrals who wants to know the skydwellers on their jurisdiction is doing.

Those peculiar strals were the more open minded and un-hostile towards the skydwellers.

I healed myself with [Sunlight] and jumped down. My stomach growled and held a hand over it. my original plan was to attack only a single dodo bird, but after I made contact with it, it screeched and called out it's bretheren. So I was easily overwhelmed and decided to run away.

As decided to never go near the dodo birds untill I reach a certain level of strenght, I went out in search of an easier prey. A bow appeared on my hand.

A golden bow where the upper and lower limbs each makes a 'v' so the bow itself creates an 'x'. The golden grip had was decorated with blue colored crystal. On each of it's limbs was colored black with blue ornaments that complements the golden parts which forms into the shape of wings. The bow itself was slightly taller than me, although this is the altered version since the original [Two Crown Bow] was much bigger than this.

But the one thing that a person would comment on would be the the fact that there was no strings connecting each tip from the upper and lower limb of the bow and the fact that I had no arrows on me. I then pulled the air, as if the string was there. Soon an arrow of light formed and it flew as soon as I let the imaginary string go.

The arrow flew fast and made no sound at all, it soon found it's mark and pirced a rabbit with horns. The horned rabbit ceased to move and the arrow disappeared into motes of light. As I neared to go get the result of my hunt however, a black hound went and snatched it. The hound that took it was wounded all over.

I clicked my tounge and aimed an arrow at the hound, it weaved through the trees, jumped on branches, hid in the bushes and came out faster than before while still holding the horned rabbit in it's mouth even though it was in a heavily wounded state. But not once did it escaped my sight. I poured all my strenght into pulling the arrow and letting it fly, as it was flying I did my best to catch up on it.

The arrow flew and turned into a line of white, and hit the hound's back left leg as it was jumping from another brach making it fall into the ground with a 'thud'. When I caught up, the arrow was gone and leaving a wound with blood was slowly leaking through it, just like all the other wounds that it has in it's body. the hound took a stance as it growled at me.

I however took the body of the horned rabbit that it dropped. I contemplated wether to finish the hound or not, 'This hound did tried to steal the rabbit...' I thought as I starred into it's ligt blue eyes that were brimming with hostility. The stalemate between us stayed and the tension between us grew.

I then saw something from he corner of my eye and quickly shot an arrow in the blink of an eye. The fox was stratled by my sudden movement, but the sound of another dying horned rabbit was music to my ears. I gave the hound a glance and moved my focus to the horned rabbit that I dropped on the ground to shot the arrow. The quick shot that I just did really put a huge strain on my right arm, while it doesn't mean that I would lose to the wounded fox, it would leave me wounded after the battle would be over.

And that would make me an open target for other predators.

So instead I decided to look at it in the eye and gave it a 'follow me' signal' by moving my head a little. This forest is harsh and brutal, I haven't slept for the two days since I came here and bags were starting to form under my eyes. If I don't focus for a second, a random beast could come and make me it's lunch.

The hound still glared and growled at me with hostility. I pointed at the horned rabbit and then pointed it at the hound, it tilts it's head in confusion but still looked towards me with hostility. I sighed and pointed at it's wound, dispelled the [Two Crown Bow] and the [Five Soul Staff] appeared in it's steed. "[Sunshine]." And the wound at the back leg of the fox healed along with every other wound in it's body.

The hound looked bewildered, and spun around looking at the place where the wound used to be located on. It stopped and turned towards me, lowering the hostility only lessened by a small margin. I sighed and once again and motioned it to follow me.

The hound still brimming with hostility, decided to follow me. I made a small smile, and ran to the newly hunted horned rabbit. after grabbing the dead horned rabbit, I brought the two horned rabbit in one arm and went to my current base of operation while being followed by the hound.

Minutes passed as we made the journey in silence, but not once did we lose track of our surrounding. We made into my current base of operations, which was a meduim sized tree with a man sized hole on it.

I walked inside and sat down, the [Five Soul Staff] disappearing and was changed with another of my weapons. A dagger made from purple jewels of untold origin with a golden edge, the handle was also made out of a gold colored material with most of the daggers blade that was made out of purple jewel being covered by the same gold colored material. While originally the pair of blades was the size of half a broad sword, it was now the size of a... kitchen knife.

I used the [Four Sky Blade] to skin and get the innards out of the horned rabbits. 'For such a weapon to be used as the replacement of a cooking knife... this is for survival so it's okay!' I assured myself. The fox was just sitting outside patiently. With the job of skinning the horned rabbit done, I dispelled the [Four Sky Blade] and changed into the [Ten Wolf Gun] to cook it.

The [Ten Wolf Gun] took the form of a white handguns with golden trimmings, be it the front sight, trigger, rear sight, it was all made out of a golden colored material. But I myself knew that the material that was used to make my weapons were stronger than that.

I aimed the [Ten Wolf Gun] at the meat of the skinned horned rabbit and shot it with a fire of low heat. 'Using the weapon as a replacement for a stove... this is for survival so it's okay!' I assured myself just like when using the [Four Sky Blade]. When it was done cooking, I gave one to the fox, it stared at it in curiosity and susicion before finally eating it.

We ate the badly cooked horned rabbit in silence. I stopped eateng for a scond, 'Ah... when was the last time I ate together with someone?' when I think back we didn't eat together in the orphanage that was ran by that Valper Galilei we would be given food and eat it alone in a room while being observed. The hound eyed me who stopped eating, when I realized that I muttered a small sorry to the hound and continued eating.

The feeling in my chest felt heavier then ever.

-(BREAK)—

"What are you doing Serra?" I asked towards the small girl in front of me.

She was doing various poses and exercises. At that time I don't understand why she had done that.

"Hm? I'm training!" she answered enthusiastically.

"Why are you training?" I asked again.

"To get stronger of course!" once again she answered with a smile. "If I get stronger then I'll be able to protect everyone on the orphanage. We're all family after all!"

Right as she finished that an older boy came and started brushing her hair. "Geez Serra, you sure are a hard worker. If so then I'll just have to train harder to protect you."

"Ah! You don't have to do that Edmond! Since I'll protect everyone you can just take care of the garden!" and soon they just started bickering with each other.

Serra was the first of the children to go.

-(BREAK)—

Unknowingly I had slept.

More likely I had passed out after eating the horned rabbit.

Was it poisonous? Did it had some sort of effect that knocks you out cold? This wasn't my first encounter with it's kind, but it was the first time that I ate it.

I was immediately set on alert, what happened while I was asleep? Of course I wouldn't know, due to being asleep myself.

But when I tried to stand up, I felt something heavy sitting on top of me. That heavy object being the black hound that was sleeping on top of me. It soon stirred awake thanks to my movements. The black hound looked straight at me with it's molten red eyes while slighly tilting it's head.

I stood up and streched my limbs, still wary of my surroundings. It seemed that nothing actually happened while the black hound and myself were asleep. It would seem that the forest has given me a well needed rest.

Unknowingly, it was due to the devils managing the small riot of those damned magical dodo birds.

I looked to the now not so hostile black hound and eyed it closely. It closely resembles one of those dobermans, but judging by it's agility and ability to have survived in this forest, it seems to be a more magical version.

Sadly my knowledge of magical beast were lacking, and thus I was unable to discern the species of the being that was laying in my current Hidey Hole.

Yes, my Hidey Hole. In my infinite wisdom as a primal beast who has been into countless battle field, I have decided to name this tree with a man sized hole of which is my current base of operation, Hidey Hole. It may not sound clever, but I was neither imaginative nor creative. I mostly lived by following orders and not think about them too much.

That and because my creator said that bases without a name aren't bases.

But the situation has changed... no, it changed years ago. It changed when I was sent here, to this world by my creator. But as I said before, I've only followed orders. Never in my life as an primal beast have I ever taught of doing something myself.

Well... except that one time were I decided to slaugther a few annoying astrals.

Was that what humans refer to as growth or evolution?

I closed my eyes and tried to think a simple question that most beings question themself with.

'What now?'

Trapped in a dangerous forest filled with magical beings, which is located in what I presume to be the Underworld, and what I also presume to be devils patroling the vicinity on certain times.

I'm not the primal beast that I was, my human body is weak, fragile, and can only channel a portion of the magical energy that my core has. The number of weapons that I can use and their respective abilities are weakened due to my body having to change their forms and sizes.

Even if I do survive in this forest, what would I do? Escape out of it and explore the Underworld? That idea by itself makes staying in this hell hole of a forest a better plan in general.

Staying in a forest filled with magical beast that will eat you alive, or escape and explore the Underworld where devils and the like seem to roam freely and potentialy suffer a fate worse than death.

I let out a breath, and opened my eyes. A blank and unreadable expression etched itself on my face.

"Guess I'll be staying here for a while." I muttered out loud.

At the very least, this feeling of freedom and the natural air was better than when I was on that damned orphanage.

As I finished gathering my thought, I felt a presence coming closer towards the Hidey Hole. I immediately went into a battle stance, with the [Four Sky Blade] appearing on both my hands as I went into a stance. The blade on my right was pointed downwards, while the one on my left was placed behind my head.

Behind me the black hound had stood up and was growling towards the source of the presence.

It felt as if the entire forest was silent, with the only source of sound being the rustling of leaves from the direction where the presence was coming from. Soon the presence made itself-themself known.

Them being a group made of three magical dodo birds.

I immediately felt a chill go down my spine, the last meeting with theese creature was one that I would rather not repeat. Because theese creature would call backup when facing any threats. Their strategy of quantity over quality is one that my current self is not able to handle.

If I had the full use of the [Three Tigers Axe] a single use of [Ground Zero] would definetly obliterate them. There would be a backlash, but recovering from it would be easy.

I tried to look for an escape route, only to see that all three of the magical birds are already rushing towards me as I think about the possibility of escaping. While initially shocked at their sudden attack, I was able to stop one of the bird's talons with the [Four Sky Blade]. One of the other two stopped their assault to face off with the black hound, the other one however managed to attack my side while I was holding one of them.

I was thrown and received a slash wound on my side, but I recovered from the throw right on time to dodge the attack of the first dodo bird and it flew past me. The two birds seeing me recover rushed once more. One from the front and the other from the back.

I fell into the same stance as before, but this time I made sure to make the outcome different from the last clash. Right as they were readying their talons to strike me, I struck them first. " [Carnage]." As I said the name of the skill, I tried to perform two strikes to each of the dodo birds that I was facing. Two of the strikes landed on each of the birds, while the other two missed because of the wound that they had inflicted.

However the two strike that had landed was powerful enough to send the two birds flying, stopping their rush and breaking their talons and wounding them. But my assault hadn't ended. To the downed bird, I threw the blade on my left with as much strenght as I could muster, which resulted in the blade lodging on it's body.

I recalled the blade to my hand. With the blade fading to thin air on the bird's body, more blood began pouring from the deep wound that I had inflicted. Thinking that it was out of commision for a while, I rushed to the other bird who had recovered itself.

We rushed towards each other, this time the dodo intended to attack with it's large beak. I crossed both blades in front of me and performed another skill. "[Gammadion Cross]." I said as I swung the two blades and forming a cross.

The bird's beak was harder than the talon that it attack with me before, but the [Gammadion Cross] was enough to shatter it as well as leaving a deep 'x' shaped wound on it's head, effectively killing it. I soon turned towards the downed dodo bird and once again throwing a blade towards it.

It didn't work this time however, as it used it's remaining energy of it's wounded body to dodge. It only granted him a few seconds in the world of the living, as the black hound mauled it's neck and killed it.

I looked towards the dodo that it had fought, and saw that it was in a similar state as the one before me. With the imminent threat gone, I did my best not to relax as I scanned my surroundings. Seeing and sensing that no more were coming towards us, I gathered and inspected the cropses of the three beast that we had killed.

During the inspection I found several wounds on the two that I had fought which I did not inflict. 'Perhaps they were already attacked before they got here. That would explain why theese three didn't call for backup, their pack was attacked so they ran away to safety and meeting the both of us was bad luck on their part.'

I once more immersed myself in thinking. 'Who attacked them? Was it the devils that kept patroling around here? Are they going to come over here? Should we run? Should we hide back in the Hidey Hole? I can mask my own energy to the area, and since the hound is from here it should be alright.'

So in the end I went back to the Hidey Hole carrying the corpse of the three magical dodo birds and masked my energy to the tree and hid inside. The hound followed me, but it didn't come inside and instead patroled around the tree.

Two weeks remained until the ruler of the Familiar Forest returns.