(Old Title: Rise To The Top! Part 2!! [This one is DxD, not the first part]

New title: The Path To The Strongest)

"..... GAH!!" Koneko awakes out of shock, discovering her body covered in blood of demons rampaging in a destroyed civilization "what happened?!"

"Ah, finally awake?" Ethan raised a brow, his back being supported by a debris. Elms had his army go swoop the entire floor out to exterminate pest controlling the lands so that he would proceed once finding a entry permit "you've been out cold for a few days now."

With her covered in disgusting blood, she recoiled back and covered her private parts out of trauma from that perverted dragon, Koneko thought of Ethan being one. He refused to take initiative...

"Please, why would I worry my own urges with a war going on? I refuse to take part until I finish my job."

A bit hurt, but relieved of this. Must be the fact she's always chased by an unreliable dragon wielder most of their freetime, now that she's with Ethan... there is no time to lay rest and enjoy peace, not even a smidge of it. Koneko learned a repeated pattern whenever Ethan wakes up in a new day: run, pushups, squats, and situps. An everyday process of him exercising normally with a mix of shedding blood on the field, a torture to a weak-minded person. In Koneko's eyes, Ethan was no different than a robot repeating actions. A same routine devils have a hard time committing with, yet were outmatched by one human who literally lost limbs to stand where he is today, and if that's not enough to root for Ethan, then what is? Koneko questioned 'why?'. Why does a man such as Ethan desire to grow without taking a breather? What is his goal? Unlike Issei, Ethan takes restless actions everyday just to see the world glisten in smile and in safety of millions of innocent children. He is more on the side of humans than any mythical species.

"Hm. You got taller, and uh... more developed." He was surprised to see a new person standing beside him, 'slightly' taller than last time she was seen awake and grew wider and thicker to be considered a small rival to Issei's harem "you hungry?"

Stale bread, dried jerky, and warm water were mostly served. Not enough nutrients but enough energy to keep going. Phew! Man, these two need a shower. With the current technology displayed here, it is impossible to get a droplet of water before it dries up immediately. Unless there's another solution to this.

"Ume..." Ethan needed a favor from his spirit

"No! No way I'm being treated as a machine! I'm a spirit, a frost queen at that! I can rebel!" She stated, flipping the birdie "I rebel! Cunt!"

".... well, we're out of choices. Gonna have to remain in sweaty clothes until we're done here." Ethan summoned his swords, following the trail left behind of his soldiers "Njal, have my back?"

He grunted, lifting the pillar and following behind his king to act as a support. A heavy support at that. Koneko sighed in a exhausted manner, everyday: eat, fight, rest, sleep, repeat. It's always that and nothing else, no filler between rest and just sit around until exhaustion takes affect on the two. Much different than she was with Rias and her friends, much, much, much different. With Rias: she never had to worry trivial encounters or any political issues, just snack on candies or chocolate and she'll be good from there. With Ethan: endless fighting, little to no rest, stale food and warm water. But his strength is nothing to laugh at, he climbed his way from enduring pain to psychological issues, Ethan earned his title as World's Strongest Human - until a match is settled between him and Cao Cao. Cao Cao currently holds the title, Ethan has yet to be announced but earned from many eyes of his comrades. Hours later, the two carried home a hog big as Njal that came from the wild. Meat. Meat is back on the menu.

"Finally, nutrients." Koneko drools out of sensational hunger

A good thing the shop carried spices to add flavor instead of eating it pale.

"Dig in." Some culinary knowledge passed down from Sona provided him well with this moment, sure does come in handy

Gorging down plates full of meat, Koneko went through at least 10 plates full of thighs, breasts, legs - depending which she desired the most. Ethan was only satisfied with 6 plates unlike the bloated cat sitting besides him. Figured after a full meal, Ethan called it quits in hunting today and only focused on chatting with Koneko. Didn't seem to fond of the idea, though. No rush, Ethan stated. Guilty to silent him that way, she rather did find it soothing to know Ethan.

"My sister is worried about you, by a whole lot." She says

"... how so?"

"Kuroka lost sleep, driven to deprivation because of you. No letters, no calls, no updates, no visits. Sometimes she sneaks into your room, hoping you would be there sleeping soundless. From her own words, I repeat: her own words... she says: 'wherefore art thou romeo?'. What, you two been into Shakespeare lately?"

Chuckling, he replied...

"No. She rather read them to me earlier this year, going from Sonnet 1 to Sonnet 46 in a couple nights."

"Oh my goodness. She likes to pamper you."

"Shut uuuup." They both laugh, releasing joy in a fucked up place

"Do you return those feelings? I mean..."

Ethan kept silent, pondering if he could ease Koneko into releasing her side of the story that day. So he did, gently. Silver tongue. Poetic enough to amaze Koneko.

"I did..... it felt.... good to do so. Haha, Kuroka can be feisty but sure has a lot of positives on her side... and back...... oh god...." Ethan turns his head away in embarrassment of what he meant "to answer: I am still plenty in love with your sister, Tsubaki, Ouga, and...."

"Akeno, right?" Ooh! A nerve she struck. And not good one "oops. I'm sorry. I-"

"No need....... be honest with me, did I ever scare you - everyone - that day? When I went on a rampage against the fucking leader of Fallen angels?"

Scared? Meaning being stricken by fear?

".... I was scared of you. Knowing your potential, I was afraid the peerage will be next in your hit list." Koneko shook her head "now that I grew closer to you, you're not that bad of a guy. Granted you could've started a war with the Fallen Angel's but you did it out spite for the leader berating your late lover... still though, pretty fucked for what you did. I'm ashamed for never approaching this close to you, that day, I thought you were a massive pervert in secret - desiring to join them... perverted trios.... *shivers* yet not you were. How do you keep it bottled up? What's your secret?"

"Please. Keep it down, will you? Let's say I wasn't ready to move on, for my life to move forward without Delilah. Up until my awakening, I figured.... if I truly loved her, I have to move on.... painful, yes, but it's a must." Ethan glances at the sky - or so what's left to be one, hallucinating that small, fragile boy looking over the grave of his late lover "there are times I wish it was me or that I joined alongside her... but fate had other intentions for me, giving me a life of torture."

A man of desire, this one has got to be the greatest in his list.

"Tsubaki, Olga, what have those two been up to?"

"Uhh... Tsubaki... she uhh... filled the hole inside her heart."

"To who?"

"Kiba..."

The prince of Kuoh Academy... until Ethan came along temporarily, crowning him Kuoh's most prized possession in terms of grades, small frame, fragile, and quite a cute baby face.

"That's funny. He finally beat me in something that I caused unintentionally. Good for him." Ethan laughed, proud of his friend winning a girl's heart "say, how close is she to him?"

"I wouldn't say she feeds him or massages her entire body on him (unlike to someone), I could pinpoint it as a slight flutter in her eyes whenever his presence is around. My theory is... she's got a crush on him where yours is love... skinship love and pure love." Koneko scoffs as her eyes remained deadpanned "Kuroka has yet to move on - you know that - Issei claimed to someday win her heart but has repeatedly failed to oblivion and been flat out... rejected. In her words: 'he will come back... back into my arms'."

How sweet. Kuroka really sure has this love locked onto Ethan. Akeno? Don't know, let's ask Koneko about it.

"Akeno... she seems off. And I don't mean in a physical way but mentally, when I ask her about your presence, she can't find the spot where to locate memories of you. Days and days, Akeno remains clueless on who you are and what you are to her in relationship status... like memories of you were extracted completely out of her or possibly locked away by an unknown event. Do you have any recollection of anything strange going on at the battlefield that day?"

"No. After I was healed by her, I went back to finish the fight. I swear I had nothing to do with her." Ethan lied beyond what he's done in his life ".... how is she though?"

Changing the subject... is he lying? ~(Koneko)

"Akeno's sometimes question about a boy in her dreams, judging by that statement, it must be you but either way... 100% healthy. No problems with peerage around her nor has she caused any. Don't get me started with Issei's love-dovey moments spent with her alone, it irritates me how they can casually perform such actions in everyday rooms we all use. Asia is dying to see you again, so is Rias. They all are (except Akeno, me, and Gasper). I appreciate if you took a break and return to see how everyone's doing."

Can't. There are more important tasks to manage than-

______

"I'm scared." Well I'll be damned, Ethan questioned his actions stepping beyond the door of Issei's new home down in Kuoh. My, a huge house it is "maybe this is a terrible-"

"No, no, no, no." Koneko pulled him back to the front porch "you called off the training, came here, and now you're chickening out? Fucking pussy! Facing death is never a problem, but reuniting with friends and family's are?"

"Fuck! Okay! Give me a second..."

"Second passed, get in there." She pressured, and will continue to do so if Ethan doesn't bust his ass through that door

Ding-dong

Waiting, waiting, and waiting. Nothing came. Another doorbell rang and both waited for the results. Didn't take long for a familiar orange haired to frankly swing the door open in annoyance of awakening her from Issei's bed despite being fucking Christian. If god were alive, he or she...... IT would be disappointed in her by a lot.

"A... E... Ethan?" Irina felt hallucinated, refusing to believe her childhood friend stood in front of her "is it really you?"

She closes in, cupping his right cheeks and caressing it repeatedly before realizing he's the real deal, he did come back after running away from that incident. A sensation of relief and comfort, Irina burst into tears as she forced her entire body on him, squeezing the ever life out of him.

"It's you... it's really you...." She says "wwaaaahhh!!"

"Ethan made a girl cry. How cruel." Says Koneko, entering the mansion "*inhales deeply* right, this is a smell I missed, deeply. I wanna see if my stash still remains."

Cut to half-an-hour later, Ethan got caught in quite a pinch of the two peerage: Rias' and Sona. Boy, they are quite ecstatic to see Ethan Elms in the flesh after his departure at the world wide meeting that took place a week ago, since then has the world became peaceful as the magic world intended it to be. All it took was one frightening human to threaten a family who wronged him. Anyways, Rias, and Sona both sat dramatically with glasses shining behind a ray of light while the rest stood there dumbfounded with a new and improved Koneko and same old, same old Ethan. Except... they're still in shock of his new transformation even the gods managed to witness right in front of them, to think the vibes he gave out were similar to a Youkai Fox and can't lie that comparing to even the leader of the 'West Youkai Faction'. Perhaps surpassing the fox woman. At last, the true love of his life hurdled it's way over to him at top speed it can produce, jumping fiercely high into the air without hesitation of death below as it knew Ethan would catch him easily: Coco. Ethan's favorite cat. He snuggles and snuggles repeatedly inside his owner's own arms again, even crying loudly. They both missed each other and longed to be together once again.

"I missed you too, Coco." Said Ethan, landing a kiss at his forehead "so.... what did I miss?"

"First off: who the fuck is that?" Sona questioned at the tall, white haired girl with nekomata ears twitching

"Oh... that's Koneko....." Did they misheard him? "Is something wrong?"

Silence became loud as no one dared to mutter a word or have a follow up question at Koneko who now grew taller, possibly landing at 169 centimeters than before where she became appointed as one of the shortest people in the peerage - landing at 143 centimeters. But that's not all! Data says here her body measurements were around B67-W57-H73 cm, with this new Koneko, that moved up to B80-W58-H77 cm. Can't forget her hair grew longer, not by much, maybe at least another 4 inches of hair. Koneko's appetite remains the same, personality, that same poker face, and her favorite things. Nothing's change except her physical state. Issei fainted due to a weak heart no longer flowing blood through as his brain quit processing the information it cannot comprehend.

"What the fuuuuck..." Kiba and Rias muttered in unison

"I'm being made fun of, aren't I?" Her instincts never failed in any situations... unless ambushed but that's not the point! "Fine. I'll just... watch Devitube!"

"No, no, no! You're good! No one is judging your appearance, all is good." Says Akeno

"Yo, Saji and I are back- oohhh, what the fuck? Who's she?" Loup rudely points at Koneko

"You dumbass." Kiba sighed

Later

"Oh... oohhhh.... OOOHHHHHH-!!"

A moment later

"Rude comments aside, second: what brings you back?" Rias went after, asking this sudden visit

"Koneko figured she would plan this out for me into this, I second that. Plus, I want to hear stories of you growth... and the times you done without me." Ethan's lips curled up softly

Off we go to this: Issei traveled to Kyoto and fought a man named Cao Cao, captured a Unicorn, met a Leviathan member, fought Sairaorg in a battle, Issei has gained a few powerups and so did the rest, Sona went through a similar journey just that it was mostly paperwork with coming into play whenever Rias asks for help. Then their most recent event happened to be Kamish's wrath, it greatly took a toll out of everyone that it compared their training as a joke in Kamish's eyes. It only seek out Ethan, the greatest threat to him.

"How about you?" Tsubaki fed the man some snacks

"Me...?" Ethan went over the times he almost died, about being trapped in a world, experiencing losses, gaining new strengths but in the return of disaster, spirits, Norse Mythology, came into contact with Gods, defeated armies that stretch far beyond what the Underworld or the Heaven can produce, grew older than anyone, and discovered mysteries "frankly, that's everything I could say. Not much after that besides Koneko being dropped into my arms... thanks..."

"No problem!" Rias grinned, in a teasing manner

"Fuck you." Says Koneko

"Now, now. Koneko, sit. Ehem... Ethan, what is your greatest achievement ever accomplish? Mine is touching titties.... every day.... hell yeah." And back we go, witnessing Issei's original intentions

".... I don't know..... if I were to say.... it'd be that I'm still alive. Alive through those dark times, alive through those good times. It's all I ever ask for." Truth be said, just know you're lucky to be alive, you only have one life. If you fear death, then pray it does not catch up to you quickly "I'm starving, what are we eating?"

They all gazed at each other, perhaps a small feast down at the underworld should do the trick. The leader of the Underworld was informed of Rias' current situation and is in dire need of a feast to celebrate a returning member of the peerage, despite not being bound by one, who cares to be honest. The boys were back, back continuing their little D&D campaign after the cutoff of Old Satan faction raiding earth. After the arrival, devils sensed the human contrasting a power similarly held by their leader, perhaps even beyond that point. To Ethan, his stereotypes of devils were portrayed differently than he thought of. He thought of demonic forms incapable to comprehend towards the human mind but what Ethan's seeing now has thrown him off that carriage, everyone almost looked human... I say almost. Some may probably been human before; Issei and Sanji for example, those two are reincarnated devils. Although, despite everyone having the appearance of humans, Ethan still favors his world but will become welcoming of the Underworld. Devils avoided the Human whenever he tried greeting them, it's a familiar scene Ethan had not faced in a long time... it hurted his insides to witness an unfortunate nostalgia once again, thinking he escaped from it by climbing up. He guesses no matter what you accomplished in life, with power, you will still be feared.

Can't say it's pleasant seeing this ~(Ethan)

I'm sorry, master ~(Elle)

It's the benefit of the road to the strong. You're feared ~(Ian)

"Rias, is that you?" A woman who clearly looks very much like Rias but with shorter flaxen hair and violet eyes, wearing clothes that may be a tad bit revealing than Rias "oh my, I should've prepared a gift for your return.... hm? Is that...!"

The woman, in a rush, stepped inside Ethan's personal space and began inspecting his body and power. Coming into the conclusion, she said...

"You're that human Rias' been mentioning a lot lately, I sometimes mistaken it for a crush." The woman blurted

"Mother!" Off the two went, Rias pushing her into another room while as the rest were guided into the dining room "mother, why!?"

"Well, do you not have a thing for that human?" She asked

"He is not 'that human'. His name is Ethan. Ethan Elms, mother. And there's no thing between me and him, not a chance, we're just friends... friends that known each other for so long." Rias curled her hair, fluttering a bit "I swear."

"Okay, first: you're definitely not fooling anyone. Second: I said the same thing to your father, believe me. Rias, honey, if this tension continues on between your friendship - your life you build alongside him - it could end in shambles if you don't pour out these feelings you're holding back. But another thing: why are you hesitating to even pour them out?"

"..... can this be a secret only us two can share?"

"Make that three." A silver-haired maid happens to be cleaning the room "go on. I don't mind."

".... okay. Akeno.... lost her memories of Ethan. I mean everything. Not a single drop of him is left. That's not Akeno, she cannot forget that easily about Ethan. It's almost as if something g had intervened between the pair and made the former lose a part of them. Whatever magic this was, it may perhaps be related to Ethan. Although a speculation, I wholeheartedly trust Ethan not daring to commit such an act...."

"Okay, strange, but what does this have to do with you not proposing to Ethan?"

"It