Perxy

My oc Zephyros and his wife Derkila using the base from @IlitiaForever from Twitter.

The Naberius Clan: The Hounds of the Netherworld

The demons of the Naberius clan are guard dogs, hounds of prey, and hunters—the noblest of the Netherworld. Consequently, they maintain rituals that are at times pompous and at others exceedingly cruel, alongside demands and traditions that no one else truly understands.

* Like canines, they possess prominent fangs and a jaw that opens laterally. Without the physical human/demonic restriction of their cheeks, their mouths open into wide, predatory maws. Their lips are thick and match the color of their gums, with corners that often act as a canine extension of the jaws. Some Naberius possess more expressive corners, while others carry a perpetual look of having "smelled filth."

* At clan galas, clothing is not the point of judgment; instead, it is the intensity of their gum color. A healthy Naberius has gums of a purplish-black or deep blood-red. If a Naberius is ill or "weak of spirit," their gums grow pale.

* Because their canines grow continuously, there is a monthly ritual where adolescents must grind their own teeth against volcanic stones. Failure to do so prevents their maws from closing properly, which is considered an unpardonable lack of discipline.

* Along the edges of their noses, they have small freckles that act like the whiskers on a canine’s snout. To the naked eye, the Naberius are simply considered "freckled" demons, but these are actually extremely small, functional sensory whiskers.

* One of the cruelest rituals occurs when a pup is about to enter adolescence. Naberius are born with long ears and long tails—tails so long they are difficult to manage without tripping, and ears so heavy they are usually flopped down. Because of this, pups often run on all fours until their bodies grow and their legs match their arms in length.

* To transition into adolescence, the ears are cropped short against the hair, and the tail is docked entirely. Every year, a Naberius must "dissect" their tail to keep it extremely short or non-existent; the tail is only allowed to grow in its entirety once they are adults who have achieved perfect mastery over their emotions.

* A Naberius who lets their tail grow prematurely is seen as an "emotional exhibitionist." It is believed that someone with a long tail is incapable of hiding their intentions, as the tail betrays instinct. If a young Naberius disobeys a direct order, the punishment is not the whip, but a ban on docking their tail for a month. Walking anywhere with a long, clumsy tail is the ultimate humiliation: it shows the world you are still a "pup" who hasn't learned to walk on two legs with dignity.

* Every Naberius owns a unique collection of muzzles for different purposes. Even children are taught to wear them from an early age. They are not seen as demeaning; on the contrary, they are viewed as the final vestige of a hound's self-control.

* Muzzles made of reinforced leather that completely hide the nose and mouth (leaving only the eyes for expression) are used when a Naberius prioritizes the safety of what they protect over their own, especially when they feel their mana is about to overflow.

* Muzzles made of reinforced iron bars that reveal their long canine teeth are a clear signal: "Do not approach today, or you will regret it." These muzzles vary and are worn as naturally as one would wear a bracelet; for them, it is as natural as breathing.

* Instead of titles like "Father" or "Son," the household uses ranks that determine who eats first and who watches the gates:

* Fenrir (Patriarch/Matriarch): The only one with the right to leave their neck completely bare and go without a muzzle. They have the freedom to bite the necks of their pack to punish or subdue them.

* Sköll and Häti (Parents/Elder Siblings): Adults or young adults who have mastered their Cerberus. They are in charge of disciplining the youth. They wear muzzles that open like a mouth to train their pups. Sköll is the rank for adults, and Häti for elder siblings. They are addressed by these titles rather than their names.

* The Ülfs (Pups in training): They have no official name until they pass their first tail dissection. They are treated with absolute coldness so they learn that excellence is the only way to receive attention. They are usually carried by their Hätis by the scruff of the neck—a delicate area that breaks easily. This forces the pup to strengthen their neck to avoid pain; while the damage isn't severe, it feels like the sharp prick of a cat’s claws.

* "Play" for a Naberius is indistinguishable from a real hunt. They do not play with balls; they play at killing. These hunts take place every full moon once an ülf can stand on two and four legs.

* A Sköll releases a miniature version of their Cerberus into the mansion’s labyrinthine gardens. The children must track and bite it without being detected first—an ambush. The winner earns the right to choose their next gala muzzle or a ration of high-quality magical beast meat.

* They wear reinforced leather bite-guards on their arms and attempt to tackle one another. Only jaws and brute force are permitted. This is the only time growls and noise are allowed; it is their emotional safety valve. Pack participation is encouraged to strengthen bonds through dominance and submission.

* Laughter is seen as a loss of jaw control and a sign of weakness. Instead, Naberius substitute laughter with a sharp "click" of their fangs. The more clicks, the more amused (or dangerously sarcastic) they are. It is a metallic, predatory sound that only another Naberius would recognize as humor.

* Clicks also serve as auditory threats toward other Naberius when words fail but they are not yet ready to resort to a submissive neck bite.

* Before adolescence, adults practice total submission with the pups. The goal is to teach the pup not to panic when they lose a fight. A Naberius pup must learn to remain perfectly still while an adult’s fangs are at their throat. If they struggle, the adult squeezes harder (never to kill, but to assert dominance). Only when the pup relaxes does the adult let go, creating demons who are incredibly cold under pressure.

* Despite the cruelty of training, when a pup is ill or has suffered a traumatic tail-docking, the pack shifts drastically. The adults lie on the floor, forming a physical ring around the pup. The little one sleeps in the center, protected by the body heat of the elders and their Cerberus, which act as a wall of fire and shadow. No words are spoken—only the rhythmic sound of collective breathing. For a Naberius, this protective silence is the highest form of love.

* Naberius do not howl wildly at the sky; their howl is an internal vibration that travels through the ground and structures of the Netherworld. By pressing their neck or cheek against the floor or a stone wall, they emit a frequency that travels through the demon world’s crust.

* While phones may lose signal in caves or pocket dimensions, a Naberius’s howl always gets through. To a Naberius miles away, this isn't felt as a sound, but as a specific tingling in their facial "freckles." Because these howls travel on frequencies common demon ears cannot process, a group of Naberius can plan an ambush right in front of their enemies while appearing to stand in absolute silence.

Chapter 3 posted fully on AO3 here a small sneak peak!

"You didn't come here to play," Jazz whispered, realizing his own hands were starting to shake.

"No. I have come for something that belongs to you," Iruma finally showed his canines in a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Your debts to the casino owner, your black market contacts... and your loyalty."

"And if I refuse?" Jazz tried to regain his mocking tone, but his hiss sounded weak.

"You can't anymore," Alice intervened from the shadows, his voice a mocking hiss. "We let you win so much that, legally, you are now the owner of a debt you cannot pay. Iruma-sama has just bought your contract from the house for a fraction of what you 'won' today."

Jazz looked at the table. The chips. The gold. They weren't his prize. They were the links of a chain he had put on himself while he laughed. Iruma hadn't lost once; he had simply been paying the price of his new acquisition. Iruma extended a gloved hand over the green felt, sweeping Jazz's cards away with disdain.

---

"What...?" Lied pulled harder, his tail twitching frantically.

"That is the problem with wanting it all, isn't it?" Iruma commented, his voice now sounding deeper, almost vibrating. "To pull your hand out, you would have to let go of the card. But if you let go, you lose the game. You are trapped by your own greed."

Lied began to sweat. He struggled, twisted his wrist, and used his feet to brace himself against the table, but the jar felt as heavy as if it were anchored to the center of the earth. He looked at Iruma and met those blue eyes that no longer seemed like those of a prey. They were two pits of absolute conviction.

hehehe Fangs Beneath the Antlers moodboards goes vrrrrrooooomm

(Mairimashita Iruma-kun Dragon AU Fanfic)

Iruma dies, and returns—but not to the demon world.

A new world awaits him.

Filled with fire and marks of love. Where his parents are… lost kings?

Oh no!

Now Iruma is a dragon!

Iruma was unconscious.

Iruma lay on the ground, unconscious.

His stomach was bleeding from the open wound.

Iruma was losing too much blood.

Iruma was dying.

Iruma was…

[~]

A small dragon yawned sleepily as it stretched its neck and let out tiny whimpers. It blindly searched with its snout for an opening from the shelter of its mother, emerging from the immense fur the dragon possessed. It looked around the dark cave as if it were a brand-new playground. Before it could jump from where it was, a snout full of teeth grabbed it by the base of its scaly neck and placed it between powerful paws. Its father, already awake, had caught his hatchling just in time before it could go out to play unsupervised.

The large purple dragon with long white horns licked the hatchling’s cheek, earning a small complaint in response.

— Iruma~ look how much you’ve grown!

The little dragon turned its head toward his father, who watched him with sharp golden eyes full of tenderness. Soon after, a furry snout caught the hatchling’s attention—his mother had woken up, and now both parents were hugging the chubby little dragon who wanted to go out and play. Outside, a fierce storm raged, the perfect weather for a little dragon like Iruma.

— Eh?

He woke up abruptly in a soft bed with gentle sheets, while the strange undead alarm roared, trying to wake Iruma. He shut it off before fully realizing it, and suddenly everything came crashing down like a brutal wave of reality.

He was in the palace, dying and bleeding out, while his crowns fought for him… so why was he in his old room? Why was he alive?

The strangest part came next. He looked at his hands and saw dark, pearl-blue stains. When he raised his hand to his face, he realized they were scales. And his nails—longer, sharper, almost bestial.

He rushed to his feet and hurried to the full-length mirror, freezing the moment he saw himself.

He was still Iruma. Iruma Suzuki. But… why did he have pearl-blue scales around his face, hands, and neck?! Why did he have long fangs and beast-like claws?! Was he evolving or something?!

First, he had awakened from what should have been certain death in what he assumed was the past. But now he wasn’t sure what he was seeing—he wasn’t a demon. Everything about him reminded him of… a beast.

— Iruma-kuuun!

His grandfather’s shout snapped him out of his thoughts. When he turned around, he was shocked to see whitish scales around his grandfather as well, while Opera retained their usual appearance.

— Oh? Did you sleep poorly? Are you feeling well? You’re paler than usual.

— Grandpa, I think I had a very strange dream.

— Oh?

— Don’t worry, let’s go have breakfast!

Iruma was confused, of course, but he didn’t dwell on it too much. He forgot everything the moment he sank his teeth into the delicious food Opera had prepared. While the two dragons talked about their new day at school, Iruma wondered what kind of timeline he was in. If he asked his grandfather directly, things would probably get even stranger than they already were.

So he simply got ready and put on his Babyls uniform—ready to face the new beginning of his new life.

Halfway there, the wind began to rise and dust lifted into the air. Thousands of dragons started taking shape in the distance, beating their wings as they approached the impressive school. Iruma stared in awe as dragons of countless colors appeared, almost as if he were dreaming.

— Ah, right, you’ve never seen another dragon before, have you? When we found you, you couldn’t even turn back into your true nature! How sad.

Iruma could only nod vaguely, then blinked and turned to look at his grandfather—only to notice a long, white, scaly tail swaying behind him.

Eh? Me? Nature?

He didn’t understand anything. Opera narrowed their eyes, staring directly at Iruma, and Iruma stared back in disbelief. After a moment, both disappeared, and Iruma walked inside, trying to pass as a nobody—he didn’t want attention at all.

The walk to the auditorium was strange. Very strange. Babyls was even bigger now, and why the hell were two-meter-tall dragons casually walking through the halls? Thankfully, he wasn’t the only one walking in a humanoid form.

When he reached the auditorium, he was surprised to see the roof open and dragons descending to perch on limestone ledges, surrounding what were essentially bleachers for humanoids. Iruma sat among them and smiled briefly at a gray-haired dragon who looked back at him in surprise, blushing slightly.

On the stage stood dragons three times larger than the students, with imposing horns and malicious eyes. The one who stood out the most was a dark purple dragon with two massive upper fangs. With an annoyed snort and a puff of smoke, it silenced the entire auditorium instantly.

Iruma smiled, amused. That had to be Kalego in his draconic form.

— Iruma-kuuun!! Your grandpa is here!!

Eh?

— My dear grandson is attending this wonderful school this year!

Eh?

— Look how adorable he is!! I’ll hand out photos later!!

Nobody wants that!

Iruma curled into himself and sighed. Even in another universe, his grandfather would brag about him no matter what. Purson looked at him curiously, then at the great sage dragon. The dragons roared, slamming their tails against the perches like cheers. Kalego roared once—and silence fell immediately.

— Let the scholarship student come up to the stage for the welcome speech!

— Iruma-chi!!

Iruma desperately wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Still, he stood and walked firmly toward where the great dragons observed the young hatchling.

There was something about him that made every dragon lower themselves as he passed. All the students noticed it. The teachers stepped back to make way. Kalego stared at him with glowing eyes and growled, baring all his fangs. Iruma didn’t even blink. Though frozen in front of the dark purple dragon, Kalego sniffed the young hatchling and reluctantly stepped aside.

When Iruma stood before everyone, thousands of sharp eyes watched him expectantly. Iruma was frozen—but he hadn’t become the Demon King for nothing. Even before thousands of giant lizards, he would not retreat.

— Babyls is known as the most prestigious school in the Netherworld—and I ask, who says that? Those who failed its trials, or those who climbed to the top and roared in triumph after graduating with all the knowledge the teachers entrusted to them? Thus, the school holds secrets, passageways, and mysteries. But who are we to… uh… dim our inner flame in the face of uncertainty? Let us shine! Raise your claws and shout: “We are ready to fight and devour!”

The entire auditorium fell silent. Even the low rumbling of the dragons stopped. Sharp eyes fixed on him. Iruma was sweating with fear—but he had lived through far worse on his long path to becoming Demon King.

A single roar broke the silence, then hundreds more, filling the stadium with cheers and claws slamming against perches in encouragement. Iruma stepped down stiff-legged, trembling slightly.

A magma-red dragon stopped in front of him in the courtyard. Its long tail ended in a dagger-like blade, adorned with two pierced rings. Its long horns curved backward. Iruma would recognize his boyfriend anywhere.

Asmodeus Alice was a volcanic dragon, proud of his beautiful red scales and large obsidian-black teeth. Iruma watched as the dragon fixed his gaze on him.

— That speech was supposed to be mine. It was stolen. And Igneous dragons do not take kindly to having our jewels taken from us. So! Prove how powerful you are to steal my moment!

Dragon scales were fireproof, but there were certain special flames capable of piercing them. Asmodeus wasn’t thinking clearly. He opened his jaws, his throat glowing gold as his body generated the necessary fire.

Iruma hissed softly. His eyes sharpened like a cat’s, claws tensing.

Damn it. He had been the Demon King after years of fighting in the Netherworld. Until a few hours ago, he still was—until the ambush. Damn it! The confusing memories and that strange dream could go to hell!

As Alice pointed his long tongue at Iruma and the other students watched, Iruma lost himself for a moment. Acting on pure instinct, he lunged fiercely at Asmodeus’ snout, his claws scraping and piercing through the thick layer of scales just enough to distract him.

When Asmodeus moved, roaring in irritation, the fire extinguishing, Iruma bit down hard on his snout, sinking his long teeth in and making the Igneous dragon bleed with ease.

Everyone froze in shock. Asmodeus stopped, stunned.

The armor of the Igneous dragons was the hardest in the draconic world.

And Iruma had pierced it effortlessly.