287 Team DxD's Base

Dimensional Gap, Team DxD Base.

Mid-morning of the next day, the residents of the Alaverus Estate, minus Scathach and Evangeline, Dante, Lady, Issei, Asia, Irina, and Genshirou teleported into the middle of a wide-open grassy field. As they looked around, they noticed that there were other terrains such as mountains, forests, rivers, etc. Directly behind where they started, there was a large, six story building.

"Damn, they really went all out with this, huh?" James asked as he scanned the surroundings with his eyes and perception. "We can train for a fight in any kind of terrain here. There's even a fake cityscape if you go far enough that way."

"Seriously?" Issei asked in amazement.

"The range of your perception is crazy as ever, James." Akeno said with a smile.

"How did they put all this together in two weeks?" Sona asked while looking around this newly created space.

"Evangeline already answered that question before." Sona said with a shrug. "Ajuka Beelzebub is a cheat. That [Kankara Formula is unfair to any other mage."

"Indeed." Tsubaki said with a nod. "It's quite the impressive ability. Being able to break down and analyze magical phenomena in such detail is any mage's desire."

"Hmph!" Irene snorted enviously. Then, she turned her attention to James. "So, did you forget to get Tatsuya and Miyuki?"

"No, they're having some issues with their aunt." James replied with a shake of his head. Then, with awry smile on his lips, he continued. "She's not exactly happy that the Yotsuba Clan heir became a devil."

"So, what are you gonna do about that?" Irene asked curiously.

"We'll be making a trip to Tokyo after we're done here." James replied with a shrug. "She may be their aunt, but that doesn't mean that she can hold my people against their will.

"We, does that mean I'm going with you?" Irene asked curiously.

"Of course." James said with a nod. "You're the [Queen] of their peerage, after all."

"I see." Irene replied as she glanced at Erza, who was talking with the other girls.

"Don't worry, Irene." James said with a gentle smile. "I won't keep you away from Erza too long."

Irene could only sigh in response. Although she hated the fact that she could be read so easily, she would never deny that she wanted to spend time with her daughter.

*Clap!*

James clapped loudly once his conversation with Irene ended. Hearing that loud and crisp clap, everyone turned their attention toward him, as well.

"Alright, everyone!" James said with his voice raised. "The others should be here soon, but until then, you can explore the sub-dimension as you please."

After a short cheer and splitting up into smaller groups, most of the crowd took off in different directions. Then, James, Irene, and Elaine were left alone in the spot where they arrived. Then, the trio made their way toward the building that would serve as the office and recreational area for Team DxD.

"Six Floors, huh?" Irene said as she observed the outside of the building.

"There's a basement, too." James corrected. "The basement has a gym and a hot spring bath."

"I see." Irene replied with a nod and a smile after hearing that there was a hot spring in the basement.

When the trio entered the building, they were amazed. They walked into a fully furnished common area. There were TVs, video games, pool tables, a bar, and a fully stocked kitchen visible just after entering through the front door.

"*Whistle* The Council and the other Satans really went all out when it comes to comfort, huh?" James said with an impressed expression on his face.

"Well, considering that we're gonna be the ones protecting the realms from serious threats, I think it makes sense." Irene replied.

"True." James said with a nod.

Then, the trio began to explore the building. They decided to first go down to the basement and work their way up. And just as James said, there was a gym and a large hot spring pool that had been divided by gender in the basement. On top of that, there was a swimming pool on the side of the gym.

"This pool..." Irene muttered.

"Yeah..." James said with a blank gaze.

Although the pool was set up next to the gym, it was decorated for recreation. On top of that, the decorations were so over-the-top, they did not know what to say. Everything was accented in gold. On top of that, there was a slide, a high-dive platform, lap lanes, and other recreational pool activities set up.

"Let's just continue our tour." James said in a tired tone.

Although he spoke in a tone like that, James was absolutely thrilled when he saw the grills and ventilation that was set up off to the side of the pool.

Next, James, Irene, and Elaine made their way back up to the ground floor. And as they explored, they noticed that other than the common room, there was an office for both James and Dulio. Plus, using magic, there was quite the wine cellar behind the bar.

"Well, I'm not complaining." Irene said as she looked at all the expensive wines in the cellar.

"Just don't get too wasted." James said with awry smile. "You never know when we'll get called into action."

"Who do you think I am?" Irene said with a scoff while resting her left hand on her waist.

"Someone who got so wasted that I had time to draw on her face with permanent marker." James replied.

Irene immediately blushed in both embarrassment and rage when James brought up that incident. Meanwhile, Elaine was curious about the details of that incident, though she had no interest in experiencing it.

After that, the trio walked up the stairs to the second floor. From here on, all the floors were more or less the same. The second to six floors all had a smaller common area with a kitchenette, a few card tables, and a big-screen TV. They also all had a large number of bedrooms, which were all identical in dimension. Though, half of them were inverted in layout.

There was one bedroom on each floor that was different, though. On each floor, there was a larger, more luxurious room at the end of each hallway. These were naturally for the leaders of the team. One of the details that the group discussed during their first meeting was who would be the sub-leaders other than Dulio.

Although James would be the commander, and Dulio would be the vice-commander, it was agreed that both Vali and Tobio would be sub-leaders of the team since they already lead their own teams. So, James, Dulio, Vali, and Tobio would each get their own special rooms in the base. As for the fifth of the master bedrooms, Azazel had somehow inserted himself into the team as an advisor, claiming that Grigori's presence in the team was too small.

"That Azazel is one cunning crow." Irene said with a sneer. "We all know that he only wants to be on the team so that he can research all the dragon-type [Sacred Gears]."

"I know, right." James said with a chuckle. "But at the same time, no one would debate his words. I mean, a leader-level powerhouse from both Heaven and the Underworld were part of this team. And other than Slash/Dog Team, Grigori didn't have a presence in DxD."

"What about Vali Team?" Irene asked. "Isn't Vali Azazel's adopted son?"

"But Vali betrayed Grigori during the peace conference." James pointed out. "So, Vali is technically an independent force."

"That's true." Irene said. However, before she could say more, both she and James looked in the same direction.

"Looks like the first group has arrived." James said with a smile. "Though, I'm not thrilled about one of their arrivals."

With that, James, Irene, and Elaine made their way out of the base. When they arrived near their own arrival point into the sub-dimension, they saw the Slash/Dog Team, Azazel, and Baraqiel.

"Yo, Azazel!" James shouted as he approached the new arrivals.

Hearing James' shout, the group turned toward the source of the shout. While most of the group acknowledged James in some way, either with a nod or wave, Baraqiel looked at James with discontent in his gaze.

Seeing the hostility in Baraqiel's gaze, Azazel could only shake his head.

'I beg you, Baraqiel, don't provoke him.' Azazel thought to himself. 'You were in the wrong last time for trying to slap Akeno. On top of that, it was also your fault for not trying to reach out to her in all those years. You didn't have the right to try and be a parent after all that.'

"Father-in-law, why so serious?" James asked with a slightly unhinged, yet friendly smile. "You should smile more. Do you want me to help you with that?"

In the next instant, James was standing in front of Baraqiel with Sixth Sense and Carnage's tips stuffed in to his mouth. However, in a superb show of skill, the swords' edges and tip had not damaged Baraqiel in the slightest.

"With these, I could put a permanent smile on your face." James said with a friendly smile. "What do you think?"

With James' actions, the atmosphere around the group froze. Meanwhile, Baraqiel could only look at James with fear.

"Now, now, James. I don't think that would be necessary." Azazel said with a smile. Though there was cold sweat running down his back. "If Baraqiel was smiling all the time, it wouldn't match his image, would it?"

In response, James stopped to contemplate Azazel's words. Then, after a few moments, he nodded in understanding. James then removed the swords from Baraqiel's mouth in a smooth fashion without cutting him in the slightest.

"That's true." James said, materializing an oiled cloth in his hand. Then, as he began wiping down his swords, he continued with a bright smile on his face. "But Baraqiel, if you ever raise your hand to one of my women again, even if it is your own daughter, smiling permanently will be the last of your worries."

Although Baraqiel wanted to get angry and lash out, he simply nodded his head. He knew he was in the wrong for what happened last time he met Akeno. In fact, he had regretted it ever since. However, he had left such a poor impression on both James and Akeno that he doubted he would ever get the chance to apologize to his daughter.

"Now, now, Father-in-law, you shouldn't look so gloomy." James said before patting Baraqiel on the shoulder. "I've prepared quite the surprise for you, after all."

James then turned away and began talking to Tobio and the rest of his team as if he hadn't just threatened one of the leaders of Grigori. Although the five youths of the Slash/Dog Team were utterly confused, they still chatted with James in a harmonious manner.

Meanwhile, Azazel approached Baraqiel and patted his shoulder.

"Just look at it this way." Azazel said with a smile. "At least you know he's strong enough to protect Akeno, right?"

"*Sigh* I guess... That's all the positives I can take from this meeting." Baraqiel said with depression in his tone.

A moment later, while James and Irene chatted with the Slash/Dog Team, and Azazel tried to console Baraqiel, another teleportation circle appeared nearby. When it vanished, seven people, four men and three women, appeared.

Immediately after they appeared, two of the women, Scathach and Evangeline, approached James.

"So, I guess everything is taken care of." James said as Scathach and Evangeline approached.

"Correct." Scathach replied.

"It was more work than I expected to set the devices that stabilize and camouflage this space, though." Evangeline added.

"Either way, I'm glad to have you two back full time." James said with a smile. Then, he turned his head to the rest of the new arrivals. "Sirzechs, Ajuka, Serafall, Issa, it's good to see you again."

While Sirzechs and Ajuka nodded in response, Serafall pouted at James with tear filled, red eyes. At the same time, Issa could only sigh at his [King].

Since another chapter of Madoka Magica was released today, James could guess why Serafall was upset, though he chose to ignore her for the moment. Then, he looked at the last visitor.

"So, you brought him, huh?" James said with a smile.

"That's right." Sirzechs replied with a nod. "Though I can't imagine what you would need this criminal for."

"You'll find out soon." James said with a mysterious smile on his face. Then, he turned his attention to the criminal Sirzechs mentioned. "So, how has prison life been treating you, Yaegaki, Masaomi?"

Instead of waiting for Masaomi's reply, however, James flared his demonic energy, signaling everyone it was time to stop their explorations.

"You're calling everyone back?" Irene asked.

"Yeah, the rest of the team should arrive in a few moments." James replied with a smile.

Over the next few moments, the groups that the devil peerages broke into returned. When Rias group, which consisted of Rias, Akeno, and Koneko, returned, however, they saw Baraqiel, someone that they would rather not see.

"What is he doing here?" Akeno asked with venom in her tone.

"Calm down, Akeno." James said, appearing behind Akeno and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I invited him here."

"Why would you...?" Akeno began to ask before she was interrupted by another teleportation magic circle.

When the newest magic circle disappeared, the Vali Team appeared. However, there were three extra people who arrived with them. And these three people caused four of those present to freeze in disbelief. Then, the three unexpected arrivals shouted happily at the four stunned people.

"Gasper!"

"Masaomi!"

"Akeno! Baraqiel!"