"So, now that everyone's here, let's start our first weekend meeting, shall we?"
Issei announced while looking at all the devils sitting comfortably around the new VIP meeting room on the sixth floor of his home, noting the crimson-haired Maou who had taken the spot on the lounge across the table next to his sister, looking quite relaxed and clearly enjoying the lively atmosphere. His maid, meanwhile, remained just as professional as she ever was standing behind him, having just finished serving snacks and drinks that she had prepared herself to everyone.
The two had arrived at Hyoudou Residence just as Issei finished gathering all the devils living in his home and the rest of Rias' Peerage, who had come over after school to have dinner with the whole family, for their first ever weekend meeting, something he genuinely hoped would become an annual tradition despite the whole reason he had created it in the first place. It was also the reason why while Sirzechs and Grayfia visiting wasn't part of his plan, Issei had no problem with them attending the meeting, having invited the two to join in himself.
He would just need to be very careful with his words.
"First thing first, as you guys can see, the house has gotten bigger since the last time we had a gathering." Issei began, referring to the club meeting they had held a few weeks ago at his home when their clubroom and the entire old School Building needed to be scheduled for cleaning. "And well… it's come to my attention that a lot of you are living alone."
"You think we should move in to live with you, Issei-kun?" Akeno raised her hand and asked with a small smile.
"That's right. I have talked to my parents earlier. They're fine with having more of my friends move in. Also, think about it." He nodded. "Wouldn't it be better for all of us to live close to one another? We're already like a family anyway, and honestly, the more, the merrier, right?"
"You really have enough rooms for all of us?" Kiba asked.
Instantly, Issei snapped his head toward him, pointing a finger directly at his face. "Not you, Casanova. I'm talking to the girls. You and Gasper stay right where you—" But before he could finish, a long, rolled-up sheet smacked him right on the shoulder, earning a chuckle from almost everyone in the room, except for Grayfia, unsurprisingly.
Ravel, holding the object in her hands, stepped forward with an unimpressed look as she unrolled it, revealing a hand-drawn map of the house that she had done herself on his question. As the blonde pinned it to the board next to him using magnet pins, Issei continued, pulling out from his pocket an extendable pointer.
"Well, all kidding aside, the answer is yes. We have plenty of spare rooms now, way more than we actually need." There was a moment of silence as everyone examined the map, taking in the sheer size of the new Hyoudou Residence and all the spare rooms it now had while Issei pointed around with the pointer "As you guys can see here, even if all of you moved in, we still wouldn't even cover half of the spare rooms we have right now."
Akeno hummed in amusement. "Regardless, that's quite the offer, Issei-kun. Inviting so many girls to live with you… what would people say?"
"They'd say I'm a damn genius." Issei let out a fake evil laugh before immediately dropping into a monotone, his face deadpan to express his annoyance. "But seriously, that's why I'm also inviting Kiba and Gasper, despite all the fantastic rumors people have come up with about us to satisfy their delusions."
Kiba chuckled, knowing exactly what Issei was referring to. "How thoughtful of you, Issei."
Gasper, on the other hand, hesitated, his eyes shifting nervously. "U-Um… I don't mind moving here, but… are you sure, senpai? P-plus, what about my stuff at school?"
"You don't have to worry about it. I can send my shadows over and help you pack your stuff to bring them here. We can set up in a room here on the fifth floor, if you prefer to be alone." Issei said, gesturing to that section of his house before turning back to the others "So? What do you all think?"
"I'll think about it, senpai," Koneko answered while munching on snacks.
"I mean… it can get a bit lonely being home all by myself at night. I think it'll be quite fun here." Akeno remarked while tapping her chin with a finger before asking "Maybe after the Three Factions meeting?"
"Sounds good to me. Just let me know when you're ready." Issei nodded to her before turning his attention to Kiba, missing the glare Rias shot at Akeno while the black-haired young woman simply smiled back.
"I don't see why not. I'll move in after the meeting as well." Kiba answered, making Issei nod his head to him.
"Alright, that's one thing done." Issei said after putting away the pointer "There's something I've been meaning to tell you guys."
Saying that, Issei held up his hand and flames erupted around it.
"That's your dragon fire, isn't it, Issei-kun?" Sirzechs asked, his expression becoming curious, but not surprised. While Issei had never used it in front of him, there was no doubt that Beowulf had already reported it back to his master. Moreover, it wasn't uncommon for Boosted Gear users to learn how to breathe and wield fire like normal fire dragons through training, so the fact that he could do it wasn't anything surprising for anyone.
"Are we… supposed to notice something different about it?" Rias asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion.
"Not this…" Issei said and made the fire disappear.
[Pact Switch]
Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) - Chaos Karma Dragon, Tiamat (Fire)
"This."
With that, flames erupted once more—but this time, they weren't the ordinary-looking red-orange dragon fire. Instead, Tiamat's signature fire, an intense blue blaze, roared to life from his hand, casting a cold yet mesmerizing glow over the room. Unlike before, the temperature in the room spiked sharply, an unmistakable contrast to the heat of Ddraig's fire.
It was something Issei had noticed during his time in the Snow Forest Red Gate, being that while Ddraig's fire caused more destruction, Tiamat's fire radiated more heat.
A silence fell upon the devils seated around the room as they took in the sight before them, the blue flames reflecting in their eyes. Eventually, after a few seconds, Sirzechs broke the silence as he leaned forward, speaking up with his eyes widening slightly in recognition.
"Is that… Tiamat's fire?"
"You can tell?" Issei asked, glancing at the flame flickering in his hand.
"I've seen her use it a few times before. She's the referee for the official Rating Games tournament," Sirzechs confirmed with a nod, making Issei raise an eyebrow. "Frank and the other members of the Crimson Emporium Supporting Unit also told me they saw you using blue flames of extreme heat during your time in the Snow Forest Red Gate. Given that you've met Tiamat, and her blue flame is unique among dragons, I figured there had to be a connection."
"Ah, I guess that makes sense." Issei mused before continuing. It was just as he had expected. "Anyway, this is indeed her flame, like… literally."
"How do you have it then, Ise?" Rias asked, her brow furrowing.
"Hmm, I don't know how to properly describe it exactly, but… I guess she 'lent' her powers to me after we met in the Familiar Forest a few weeks ago." Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Issei answered, reminding everyone of their last trip to the Familiar Forest to find familiars for him and Asia, who ended up with the Sprite Dragon Rassei.
""Wait, does that mean… that fire from earlier was actually the Welsh Dragon's fire?" Sirzechs asked, making every devil in the room turn to him before looking back at Issei in surprise and amazement.
"Yes. The truth is… it was another power that I got from one of the Rune Stones that I found in the Gates that I cleared by myself." Issei said, feeling quite fortunate that he had told Rias that the Shadow Extraction Rune Stone wasn't the only one that he found. "At first, I thought it didn't grant me any special ability, but after I was able to start talking to Ddraig a few days before we took the trip to the Familiar Forest, I realized I could… make a pact with him to use his powers."
[I can confirm.] Ddraig spoke up as Boosted Gear appeared on his left arm. [It seems that the ability my host gained from that Rune Stone would have granted him Boosted Gear's powers if he didn't already possess them. But since he does, it instead enhances all of the available abilities, on top of giving him the capability to wield my fire.]
"That's incredible, Issei-kun." Akeno remarked, her eyes gleaming with fascination.
"Yeah, but I can only make pacts with dragons." Issei explained. "Also, I can't force them to do it either. I need agreements from the dragons for our pacts to form. Ddraig didn't ask for anything in return, but Tiamat wanted me to find her treasure that he lost in exchange for her powers. It's a two-way deal, basically."
"Oh, so that's why she took you away?" Akeno asked, a knowing smile forming on her lips.
"Yeah, pretty much," Issei admitted. "She wasn't exactly happy about the fact that I couldn't return her lost treasures right away, but I was able to negotiate with her. Turns out she's a lot more reasonable than I expected for an angry, overgrown lizard."
[Don't tell her he says that, please.] Ddraig murmured, his voice carrying a forced chuckle.
"Either way, she agreed to the pact, and now I can use her fire." Issei nodded, letting the words sink in for a few seconds before turning his attention to Asia. "Asia, can you summon Rassei? I want to see if I can do this with any dragon, and not just the fire ones."
Asia blinked at the request but nodded. "Oh, okay."
Saying that, Asia held out her hands and cast the spell to summon her familiar. A small crackle of electricity filled the air before the little Sprite Dragon appeared in a flash, hovering between her palms before throwing himself toward her chest. Asia giggled softly, hugging him close as Rassei let out a small, contented purr.
"Issei-kun, do you know if there is a limit to how many pacts you can make?" Sirzechs asked, looking quite thoughtful. Issei, having fully expected such a question to be asked by the crimson haired Maou, had already prepared a perfect, reasonable answer for it.
"No, but going around making as many as I want wouldn't be a smart move." Issei shook his head. "Just to be safe, I think I need to get stronger before I can think about taking on more."
"That makes sense." Rias agreed. "If each pact grants you every ability of a dragon and you store them inside yourself, taking on too many too soon could put a strain on your body. It's just like how you need to train your body to be able to use Boosted Gear effectively."
"Exactly. I don't feel any different after making the pact with Tiamat, but better safe than sorry. Not to mention, I can only use one pact at a time. When I switch, I lose all the benefits of the previous one until I switch back."
With that, Issei turned his attention to Asia and Rassei, walking over and lowering himself onto one knee before the little Sprite Dragon. He held out his hand and spoke to him "Come here, little guy."
Rassei flapped his small wings as Asia released him from her hold. After looking up at his master and receiving a nod of approval, the tiny dragon fluttered down and landed on the floor. Slowly, he walked toward Issei, his eyes flickering with curiosity as he neared the outstretched hand, where Issei had already prepared the Pact Confirm window, displaying it just above his palm. He wasn't sure if Rassei could actually see it or not, but the little dragon suddenly came to a stop in front of him. To everyone else, it only looked like he was staring at Issei's palm with interest…
Then, without warning, Rassei let out a huff as he turned his head away proudly and flicked his tail, smacking Issei's hand aside with a quick lightning zap before taking off to fly back to Asia.
"Why you little…" Issei scoffed, but Rassei didn't seem to care at all as he nestled back into Asia's arms, looking quite pleased with himself. Issei just sighed, rubbing his hand before turning to Asia, giving her a meaningful look that she didn't need him to say anything to understand.
Asia nodded her head before looking at the dragon in her arms, stroking his head gently as she said. "Rassei-kun, why don't you make the pact with Issei-san?"
The little Sprite Dragon just let out a small purr, tilting his head as if considering her words.
Asia continued in a calm, soothing voice. "Issei-san just wants to see if he can make a pact with you."
Rassei held up his head slightly, as if to say Why should I? before shifting his gaze away.
"I bought you some snacks." Issei offered as he brought out from his backpack two bags of familiar treats that he had gotten from Zatoji the day before with Ravel's help. "If you want them?" He held them up, shaking them slightly so the contents inside rustled enticingly. That got the little Sprite Dragon's attention, evident in the way his tail waved around while his eyes locked onto the bags.
Issei could almost see the gears turning in the tiny dragon's head, grinning widely as he held out his hand once more "So? What do you say?"
Rassei just looked at him for a second before letting out a soft trill. Flying down from Asia's arms, he then landed in front of Issei and reached his tiny hand out. To everyone else, it only looked like Rassei was resting his paw on Issei's palm, but in truth, he was pressing the 'Yes' confirmation on the Pact Confirmation Window, seemingly knowing exactly what he needed to do.
[!] Notice - Pact Confirmed
You have made a Pact with the Sprite Dragon, Rassei [Lightning].
Current Pacted Dragons: 3/4
Current Pact Level: 1
[!] New Unique Skill Acquire
- Spirit Lightning (MP Cost: 200); Strike your foes with the lightning of a Sprite Dragon, bypassing physical resistance to the element and dealing bonus damage as [True Damage].
Scale with INT.
This skill will enhance offensive lightning abilities and magic with [True Damage]. The effect will be lost when Pact Switching to other Pacts.
[!] Passives Acquire
- Dragon's Resilience: Increases resistance to physical and magical attacks by 12%. This resistance increases by 1% for each additional dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
- Dragon's Might: Your true potential has been unlocked, allowing you to grow stronger with each level. HP now also scales with STR, MP now also scales with CHAR, and dragon-based attacks now deal a percentage of VIT and DEX. This effect increases by 2% for each additional dragon the Player makes a pact with, currently at 6%. This passive won't be lost when Pact Switching.
- Lightning Mastery: Through the pact with Rassei, a lightning dragon, you have gained mastery over lightning. All lightning-based skills and spells will have their MP cost reduced by 20% and deal 15% more damage, increased by 2% for each additional lightning dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
- Lightning Resistance: Through the pact with Rassei, a lightning dragon, the Player has gained lightning resistance. All lightning-based skills and spells will deal 5% less damage to you. You can also withstand high-voltage attacks and electricity-based environmental hazards. This resistance increases by 5% for each additional lightning dragon the Player makes a pact with. This passive will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
[!] Skills Acquired
- Lightning Imbue: Imbue attacks and weapons with lightning, dealing lightning damage equal to 5% of total ATK 2% [bonus True Damage] with a chance to [Paralyze] the target, increased by 3% for each additional lightning dragon. This skill will be lost when Pact Switching to dragons of other elements.
[This skill is enhanced by Spirit Lightning]
- Lightning Rush (MP Cost: 100): Infuse yourself with lightning, gaining 120% bonus movement speed for 2 seconds.
The bonus movement speed cannot stack with other skills that provide the same effect.
- Electrospark (MP Cost: 50): Your first 2 attacks within 5 seconds fire chain lightning on-hit, hitting up to 5 targets (including the attack target) for 300 flat damage and 270 bonus [True Damage].
[This skill is enhanced by Spirit Lightning.]
As the notification flashed before his eyes, so too did a blue aura with faints arcs of blue-white lightning envelop both him and Rassei, visible to the other devils in the room before dissipating into the surroundings.
"Thanks, buddy. I will make sure to buy you more treats from now on." Issei said, handing the first bag of treats to Rassei before rubbing his head as the little dragon started digging in. Looking at his hand, Issei then held it up and called for the power of his new pact after switching over to it, making mini-arcs of light blue lightning dance between his fingers while the rest of the room had gone silent, everyone watching him with the expressions on their faces varying from curiosity, intrigue to amazement.
Grinning, Issei then put his hands in front of him, palms facing each other. The light blue lightning dancing between his fingers flared as he put more MP into it, surging outward with crackling snaps as large arcs of electricity leaped between his hands. The air grew dense with the crisp scent of ozone, a faint static hum filling the room as the energy coursed up his arms, casting his features in a light blue glow matching that of Rassei whenever he used his lightning.
It seemed that despite being a young dragon, the little guy had granted him some surprisingly useful and powerful abilities. No wonder adult Sprite Dragons were regarded as top-tier among dragon species.
Sirzechs, who had been watching with a keen eye, was once again the first to break the silence as he spoke up with a thoughtful expression. "This is certainly much stronger than I expected. I take that the power of the abilities you gain isn't dictated by the dragons themselves?"
"Yes." Issei confirmed, nodding his head as he powered down. "No matter how strong the dragons I make a pact with, the powers I get will always be on my current level, not theirs."
What Sirzechs just asked him was something Issei had thought about before about the long-term implications of the Pact Levels system. What would happen when he leveled up his Pact with Ddraig to its maximum, whatever that limit was? Would it allow him to reach the same power Ddraig once had in his prime as a Heavenly Dragon?
Given that his power output was already higher than Rassei's. that might not be the case for the other Pacts, but he wouldn't rule any possibility out just yet.
"Then wouldn't it be a good idea to find, say… a hundred juvenile dragons and make a pact with all of them?" Xenovia suggested, her tone carrying an unusual mix of seriousness and excitement. "We can just bribe them with snacks just like this guy."
"Yeah, we can, but let's… save that idea for later." Issei replied with a chuckle. letting the topic settle as he glanced around the room. As exciting, and somewhat reasonable, as Xenovia's idea might sound since juvenile dragons were less picky and demanding than adult ones, it wasn't exactly practical for him currently.
For one, while it seemed he could make as many pacts as he wanted since the System didn't show him a set limit, he was still limited to switching between four active ones at a time, one of which was a seemingly empty occupied slot. Moreover, there was some truth behind his answer about training to get stronger to be able to handle more pacts. He would rather not push it and take one step at a time.
The last thing he wanted would be exploding like a bomb for holding too many powers inside his body without it being strong enough to hold them.
And most importantly, while young dragons had potential, adult dragons tended to have more developed abilities that were exclusive to them. Issei believed this was where the real strength of the Dragonsworn Class lay—in each and every unique ability that he got from each pact. Without them and the Passives, the skills he gained were basically just fancier and easier to use versions of magic spells.
N Noticing the empty bowl on the table, he wasted no time making his way over to it and picking it up before Grayfia could. With a small grin, he looked around the room and said. "That's it for me. I'll go grab some more snacks."
As Rias took over the meeting with the discussion about the prep work for the upcoming Three Faction Meeting at Kuoh Academy, Issei made his way toward the door and stepped out of the room. Entering the elevator, he pressed the button for the first floor of his house, making the doors slide shut with a soft chime.
The moment the elevator started moving, Issei let out a quiet sigh of relief.
[You handled that well, partner. Better than I expected.]
"Thanks Ddraig, and for backing me up as well there. Couldn't have done it without you." Issie said, making the Welsh Dragon chuckle in response.
As the elevator continued its descent, Issei allowed himself to relax finally. The whole meeting was only an excuse for him to make the Pact with Rassei and expand his arsenal as much as he could before the upcoming Ascension Quest, which he planned to tackle tomorrow night after he was done working for Aphrodite. Issei understood that to be able to do that, he would have at least talk to Asia, and it had led him to the decision of revealing his powers to his friends, focusing mainly on the more noticeable, outward aspects of the Dragonsworn class while still keeping the less obvious ones, like his passive abilities, to himself. It was the same approach he had taken with his shadows, ensuring everyone understood just enough so he could use them publicly without drawing more attention than necessary.
Telling his friends was one thing, but telling Sirzechs and Grayfia was an entirely different matter. Fortunately, the only thing he had to lie about was where the ability came from, while the rest was technically true. As long as he kept his explanations grounded in what they could see and verify for themselves, there should be no reason for them to dig deeper.
That was the plan, at least. If they did start digging deeper, Issei had a feeling there wouldn't be much he could do to stop them from approaching the truth about the System aside from keeping his mouth completely shut.
For now, though, they wouldn't ask too many questions while he ran around using abilities that gave off the same feeling as the ones wielded by dragons they were familiar with, would they? Issei mused to himself. The fact that they immediately recognized his blue flame to be Tiamat's flames all but confirmed they could do the same with the powers of any other dragon they knew. Moreover, given that there was an entire faction of dragons that had allied themselves with the Devils and that Issei fully intended to befriend them in the near future, it's probably the safer bet to give Sirzechs and Grayfia just enough information as well to keep them from prying too much into subjects he wasn't ready to tell.
[So, tomorrow, eh?] Ddraig then asked while Issei was filling the bowl up with whatever snacks he could grab from the kitchen cupboard. Considering that there were enough to last the whole house for a week, his options were plentiful. [You sure you're ready for that quest with just an additional Pact from a little Sprite Dragon?]
"Probably not, but we'll have to work with what's available. It's likely I won't be allowed to use my shadows, same as in the Tower of Ascension, but who knows." Issei admitted.
Closing the cupboard with a hand, Issei picked up the filled bowl and left the kitchen while munching on some potato chips. On his way back to the elevator, he met his parents, who were heading off for their weekend movie night in the new Movie Theater on the First Basement Floor. It was always good to see them taking time to relax while making full use of their new home, especially with how busy they had been with work lately.
Stepping into the elevator, Issei hit the button for the sixth floor, idly popping another chip into his mouth as the doors slid shut. The soft hum of the lift filled the brief silence before Ddraig finally spoke again.
[Well, let's just hope whatever's waiting for you in there is not gonna hit you harder than that guy in the Tower.]
At that, Issei just snorted.
It couldn't be any worse than Igris literally taking off his head with a single punch, could it?
Coming off a rather uneventful day at school, but a rather pleasant evening where Aphrodite had treated him to a delicious meal after finding out that he'd spent the afternoon assisting a Raid with their shortage of miners, Issei found himself sneaking into Kuoh Academy in the middle of the night. The guard on duty was an old man named Yamato, who spent most of his time at his post watching comedy shows on his TV, making it easy enough for Issei to slip past him unnoticed.
Moving swiftly through the empty school grounds, Issei made his way to the marked location on his System map, which led him to the basketball field inside the gymnasium. Sliding the window open, Issei climbed in, his footsteps echoing faintly in the vast, dimly lit space while his eyes scanned his surroundings, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary—at least, not yet.
"Well, I'm here. Where…"
Before Issei could finish asking the question, a portal burst into existence a few feet in front of him, its form reminiscent of the one he had entered for his Class Change Quest—though this time the swirling mass of energy was deep red in color, matching that of his Boosted Gear. Also, instead of arcs of lightning, it was flame that flickered along its surface, which gave Issei a basic idea of what was waiting for him on the other side.
"Alright. I guess this is it, Ddraig." Issei spoke as he summoned Boosted Gear, glancing over his shoulder toward the window to ensure the light coming from the portal wasn't drawing any unwanted attention. Fortunately, the school was empty at this hour (he had double checked to make sure), and the gymnasium was tucked far enough away from the schoolyard that it should remain out of Yamato's line of sight.
[Ready when you are, partner.] The Welsh Dragon replied, making Issei nod his head before crossing into the portal. A brief, familiar sensation of weightlessness washed over him as his vision was swallowed by crimson light, and when it finally settled, Issei found himself standing in a dimly lit corridor, with towering arches stretching high above his head, where a handful of red crystals served as the only sources of light.
Not that it was really a problem for Issei, his devil vision allowing him to see the massive door at the far end of the dark corridor, its surface seemingly marred by intricate engravings. With no other path forward, Issei wasted no time to make his way over to the door, placing his hand on its surface to try pushing it open.
The moment that he did so, however, the engravings lit up, revealing a dragon-shaped pattern as a crimson light spread across the dim corridor. A deep, resonant hum filled the corridor before the door slowly parted, revealing the chamber beyond.
The first thing Issei noticed as he stepped inside was the massive dragon statue on the other side of the room, its wings stretching toward the ceiling while its head loomed over a circular platform, with a single path leading to it. The chamber itself was vast, its walls lined with towering pillars that curved slightly inward, giving the space a cavernous yet enclosed feel. The ceiling was shrouded in darkness, with only the faintest traces of red light flickering like floating embers from unseen sources above. The floor seemed to be crafted from smooth stone, etched with intricate patterns similar to those on the door, though some had faded, as if worn by time.
"Okay, this is not what I imagined." Issei murmured as he continued to advance down the path, stopping only when he reached the center of the platform.
The moment that he did, a deep rumble reverberated through the chamber. Without warning, fire erupted around the edge, forming a ring of roaring flames that sealed him inside. The dragon statue's eyes flickered to life, glowing with an intense red light as the ground beneath Issei trembled before the platform started to slowly descend toward the abyss below.
[!] Quest started!
[Trial of Ascension] Quest has begun.
Survive for 10 minutes until the platform reaches its destination. [09:59]
The use of Shadows and HP restoration Items are prohibited from this point onwards.
"Now this is more like it." Issei smirked as the notification flashed before his eyes, just as several objects dropped down from above and landed around him with heavy thuds. After a short moment, they hissed open with bursts of steam, exteriors splitting apart to unfold like protective shells and reveal the mechanical limbs beneath. Each one stood towering over Issei, with dark, armor-like plating covering their mechanical bodies, gleaming under the searing glow of the flames surrounding the platform.
[Fallen Sentinels] – LV?
The moment that they all fully emerged, their glowing eyes immediately locked onto Issei. In perfect synchronization, they straightened and towered over at their full, imposing height. A low mechanical growl reverberated as steam was released from their cores before each Sentinel reached behind their backs to draw forth a different weapon. One wielded a massive battleaxe, its surface lined with glowing red engravings, while another carried a broadsword so long its tip nearly scraped the platform. At the same time, the Sentinel on his left brandished a halberd, whilst the one to its right carried a crossbow, its limbs shifting and locking into place with a sharp mechanical click.
Before Issei could make a move, the crossbow Sentinel fired and an arrow shot forward, cutting through the air with blistering speed.
Instantly, Issei reacted, brandishing Ascalon from Boosted Gear to intercept the incoming projectile mid-flight. A sharp clang rang out and sparks scattered from the impact as the bolt was deflected off, ricocheting harmlessly into the roaring flames that surrounded the platform.
"Bring it!" Issei challenged as he swung Ascalon down in an arc and pointed it at the nearest Sentinel. After its refinement by Vulcan into Ascalon [1, the sword of Saint George now boasted a far more formidable form. The blade was longer and broader, with a sleek silver sheen that reflected the holy aura surrounding. The crossguard extended outward slightly in an angular, almost wing-like design, while the handle had been lengthened and reinforced, making it suitable for both one-handed and two-handed use.
The moment that the challenge was heard, the Sentinels surged forward, with the one wielding the halberd taking the lead. It swung its massive weapon at Issei, dodged to the side, feeling the wind pressure as the massive blade whistled past, before countering with a swift, two-handed slash.
[Skill Activated] – Penetrate.
Ascalon bit deep into the stone-like shelf, but even with the enhanced cutting power, the blade didn't cut all the way through.
"Tch, tough bastard." Issei clicked his tongue, yanking Ascalon back just as the Sentinel retaliated with a thrust. He batted the halberd away and twisted around to parry a downward strike from the broadsword-wielding Sentinel that had closed the distance. The sheer force of the attack sent a jarring shock through his arms, forcing him to take a step back.
Before he could press forward, another bolt whistled through the air. Issei barely had time to tilt his head, feeling it grazed his shoulder guard as it shot past. He shot a glare at the crossbow Sentinel, but it had already reloaded, its limbs shifting with mechanical precision as it prepared to fire again.
[Skill Activated] - Lightning Rush
Faster than the eye could blink, he shot forward, leaving a streak of lightning in his wake as he closed the distance to the Sentinel before its next bolt could be loosened and slashed at its torso with the lightning infused Ascalon. The holy lightning blade carved a deep gash into the stone plating, causing it to lose it balance just long enough for Issei to twirl around and follow up with a second downward strike, sending its head flying with a thunder crack. The Sentinel collapsed with a heavy thud, sparks crackling from its exposed core.
A shadow then loomed over him, forcing Issei to dive forward to avoid the massive hammer that descended from above, striking the floor with a terrifying force, enough to leave behind a spiderweb crack on the platform.
Rolling to his feet, Issei then launched himself into the air, slashing Ascalon across its neck in a single decisive motion before the Sentinel could lift its weapon for another strike. He barely had time to land before another attack came from behind, twisting his body mid-air while shifting Ascalon in a reverse grip to block the incoming strike. The force sent him soaring back, but Issei immediately used his wings to catch himself in the air before he could be thrown off the platform. Locking his eyes on his attacker, Issei then shot forward once more, diving sharply to the side to avoid its massive sword before driving his blade into its core.
[Skill activated] – Spirit Lightning
A surge of blue lightning erupted from the strike, crackling violently as it overloaded the Sentinel from within. The stone construction spasmed, its limbs jerking erratically before its glowing eyes flickered and dimmed. With a swift yank, Issei pulled Ascalon free and kicked the lifeless machine off his blade, using the momentum to launch himself into the air just as the halberd-wielding Sentinel attempted to impale him from behind. Twisting in midair, he landed on its shoulder and drove Ascalon straight through its head. The Sentinel convulsed violently before its core rupture, sparks bursting from every joint as its body collapsed in a heap of rubble.
[Partner, above you!]
Issei barely had a moment to breathe before he heard Ddraig alerting him from Boosted Gear. Diving to the side, Issei managed to avoid another Sentinel as its encased form came plummeting down from above, his gaze snapping upward just in time to see even more of them descending from the darkness. Their massive forms crashed onto the platform one after another, their armored exteriors splitting apart with bursts of steam as they unfolded to their full, towering heights.
[Nine and a half minute to go, partner. Focus.]
"Wait, it's only been 30 seconds!?"
Issei asked in shock, blocking the strike from a Sentinel as it dashed at him with its massive sword, his eyes briefly glancing at the timer on the window that appeared next to him. Gritting his teeth, Issei pushed back the weight of the massive blade, sparks flying as Ascalon locked against it. With a sharp twist, he diverted the force to the side, causing the massive sword to crash into the platform instead. Seizing the opening, Issei shot forward, ramming his sword into the core before slashing upward, cleaving straight through its chest.
And so, for the next several minutes, the battlefield became a relentless storm of stone, teel, fire, and lightning. Each time Issei cut one Sentinel down, another fell down from above to take its place. Then another. And another. Every thirty seconds, another group of Sentinels, their number increasing by one each time, came crashing down from above even before Issei could finish clearing out the previous wave.
The timer ticked downward, but so did everything else - his stamina, his mana, the strength in his limbs. The sheer durability of each and every Sentinel meant that Ascalon's cutting power, which was further enhanced by [Penetrate] and the benefit of his [Shieldbreaker] title, were not enough for Issei to overcome their defense. Even if he aimed for their cores, a stab was not enough to completely destroy it, forcing Issei to rely on Spirit Lightning to effectively finish them off.
But every burst of Spirit Lightning, every continuous activation of a set of skills drained entire sections of his MP reserves, forcing Issei to use his mana potions to restore it. Without any of his two Fire Dragon Pacts active, the heat from the surrounding flames only made it worse, sweat dripping down his face as he fought on, muscles burning with every movement, with each swing of Ascalon feeling just a little heavier than the last.
And yet, only three more minutes had passed.
"Fine, you guys wanna play?!" Issei cried out as another group of taller, heavier Sentinels crashed down, their impact sending tremors through the cracked platform. Stabbing Ascalon down, he rushed forward, ducking beneath a massive battleaxe that whistled past his head before driving his fist into the Sentinel that attacked him.
[Pact Switch]
Rassei (Lightning) - Y Ddraig Goch (Fire)
[Boost!]
As a surge of power coursed through his body, a thunderous crack reverberated through the air as his punch smashed straight through the stone plating of the towering Sentinel, sending a spider web fracture splintering across its torso. The sheer force behind the attack sent the massive construct hurtling backward, skidding across the platform before crashing into the wall with a resounding boom, cracks spreading along the surface behind it.
Another Sentinel lunged at him, but Issei sidestepped at the last moment, letting the blade carve into the floor where he once stood before launching himself forward to drive his fist into the Sentinel's midsection. Stone crumbled around his arm as Issei punched into the fractured surface before twisting hard, tearing the entire construct apart with chunks of stone scattering across the platform as what remained of the Sentinel collapsed in a heap of rubble.
[Pact Switch]
Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) - Chaos Karma, Tiamat (Fire)
Another came from behind, its halberd swinging in a deadly arc. Issei turned just in time, catching the polearm mid-swing with one hand while the other extended forward, unleashing a torrent of blue flame at the stone construct. The Sentinel pushed forward, trying to overpower him, even as its plating was slowly melted under the intense heat. Tightening his grip on the halberd, Issei wrenched it from its grasp and spun, using the momentum to smash the weapon straight through its already weakened frame. The construct barely had time to react before its torso crumbled apart, flames consuming its core as it fell in pieces.
[Pact Switch]
Chaos Karma, Tiamat (Fire) - Rassei (Lightning)
[Skill Activation] Lightning Rush
[Skill Activation] Electrospark
[Boost!]
[Skill Activation] – Transfer
Dashing over to Ascalon with his lightning enhanced speed, Issei pulled the weapon free from the platform and hurled it at the nearby Sentinel, piercing through its core and sending out arcs of lightning that leaped between the surrounding Sentinels. The constructs convulsed violently as the electrified energy surged through their bodies, scorching their stone plating and rupturing their cores with sharp, cracking bursts. One by one, they collapsed, their remains smoldering as the last remnants of the transferred energy dissipated into the air.
Before the Sentinel Issei had hurled Ascalon at could even hit the floor, Issei had rushed toward to it and reclaimed his weapon to slash at another Sentinel that tried to shoot him with its crossbow. The impact sent cracks splintering across its frame before a burst of lightning ruptured from the blade, shattering the Sentinel into chunks of smoldering stone.
Several more minutes went by, with Issei cutting down Sentinel after Sentinel in an unending cycle of combat. His superior speed and maneuverability kept him from being hit, but every now and then a stray attack would graze his armor, sending sparks flying as he pushed himself even harder to stay ahead of the relentless assault.
[1:00]
As the timer ticked down to just 1 minute left, a single construct crashed onto the platform, its impact sending deep fractures through the already battered floor. Unlike the Sentinels before it, this one wasn't made of stone—its entire frame was encased in black metal, its surface gleaming under the ring of fire. Steam hissed from its joints as it quickly straightened to its full height, standing nearly three times the size of the previous constructs.
Iron Giant – LV?
The moment it fully emerged, the Iron Giant swung its massive sword, which looked more like an enormous slab of sharpened metal than an actual weapon, at Issei, who barely managed to throw himself to the side. The force of the swing alone sent a powerful shockwave that rumbled and cracked the platform even further, almost making Issei lose his balance.
Lightning crackled along the blade of Ascalon as Issei dashed at the towering metal construct from the side and swung his weapon in a horizontal arc. Before the lightning blade could find its mark, the Iron Giant twisted its torso, bringing up its colossal shield to block the strike. The impact sent a deafening clang across the chamber, and despite the force behind his strike, Issei barely managed to carve a scratch into the reinforced metal.
Before he could react, the Iron Giant retaliated, raising its shield up into the air to swing its sword at Issei. Even though he had brought Ascalon up to block, the impact still sent him hurling through the air while leaving his hand feeling numb. Flipping around in the air, Issei stabbed his sword down, forcing himself to stop just before he could fall into the ring of fire surrounding the descending platform.
[0:45]
[Pact Switch]
Rassei (Lightning) Y Ddraig Goch (Fire)
[Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Crimson Scale Mail]
Switching back to his Pact with Ddraig, Issei flared out his wings and shot forward like a crimson comet, donning himself in the full Scale Mail of his Level 2 Balance Breaker as his draconic aura erupted around him. The Iron Giant raised its shield to block his attack, but Issei suddenly veered to the right, then twisted mid-flight, executing multiple sharp turns in rapid succession to arrive behind the towering construct. The very next second, his fist slammed into its exposed side, the sheer force caving in the black metal plating and sending metal fractures splintering outward.
The massive construct staggered, its footing unstable. Not letting up for even a second, Issei grabbed onto its thick arm after catching himself on fire, locking his grip around the joints before twisting with all his strength—
[0:30]
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
CRACK!
As the entire arm of the Iron Giant was torn clean off, sparks and molten metal erupted from the exposed joint as the construct stumbled backward. With its balance disrupted, the Iron Giant tried to retaliate, swinging its massive sword in a desperate attempt to cleave Issei in two. But with only one arm left to wield its weapon, the motion was sluggish, and Issei easily shot underneath the blade.
[Boost!]
[Boost!]
Channeling all the stored power into his next attack, Issei drove his fist straight into the Iron Giant's torso. The impact sent a deafening shockwave rippling through the air as the force of the blow caved in its chest plate, massive fractures racing across its black metal exterior. Issei then pulled his fist back and struck again, this time with even more power.
The moment his fist connected a second time, he followed up with another—then another. His movements blurred as he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each impact sending shockwaves through the Iron Giant's already fractured frame. The metal construct tried to raise its sword, but before it could even lift its arm, Issei resummoned Ascalon and cleaved the entire limb at the joint, sending chunks of blackened steel flying in all directions.
[0:10]
As the timer ticked down to a single digit, Issei flared his wings out and shot into the air, flames roaring around him as he gathered an enormous amount of power for one final strike.
"GAHHHHHH!"
[!] Finishing move – Rage of the Fire Dragon.
With a battle cry, Issei shot down, rocketing downward like a blazing meteor that took the shape of a dragon and struck the Iron Giant square in the chest. The sheer impact sent a deafening shockwave through the entire chamber, the flames around the platform twisting into a massive vortex from the sheer pressure. With a groaning crack, the entire platform beneath them splintered and broke apart, tumbling into the abyss as gravity took hold, dragging both the broken Iron Giant and what remained of the crumbling platform into the darkness below.
[0:00]
The fire that surrounded his body subsided as Issei used his wings to stabilize himself in midair, watching as the shattered remnants of the construct disappeared into the darkness. The moment that the timer ticked down to zeroes, Issei found himself arriving in an entire new area, a vast, open space surrounded by walls of roaring fire, which radiated heat that felt overwhelming even with his fire resistance.
[!] Quest updated.
You have received A New Objective for the Quest [Trial of Ascension].
- Find the Flame
"Flame? What flame?" Issei blurted out in confusion as he read the texts hovering in his vision. "What does that even mean? Everything here is on fire!"
His eyes darted around, searching for anything that stood out. A path? An altar? Some kind of clue? But all he saw was fire, and more fire-
ROOOOOAAAARRRRRRRR!
The moment that his foot touched the scorched earth, a deafening roar erupted from within the fire, shaking the entire area like an earthquake. The ground beneath him trembled as something massive tore through the inferno, sending a shockwave of heat rippling outward.
"Are you fucking kidding me!?"
Issei shouted in utter shock as he looked up and saw a massive, clawed hand crashing down toward him from above, its sheer size casting a shadow over him. Using his boosters Issei shot backward just as the colossal limb slammed into the ground. The impact sent molten cracks splintering across the scorched earth, a wave of searing heat washing over him as chunks of smoldering rock were sent flying in every direction. Some almost crashed into Issei were he not already weaving through the air, twisting his body to avoid the fiery debris.
Once the dust and smoke finally settled, Issei finally got a clear look at what had just tried to flatten him.
A dragon. A massive, towering red Western Dragon, with a long neck, green eyes and golden spikes throughout its entire body.
"I HAVE TO FIGHT A DRAGON!? HERE!?"
[P-Partner, that's…]
"Not now, Ddraig!" Issei shouted as the dragon let out another roar, with the sheer force behind it alone enough to send a burst of superheated air slamming into Issei, making Issei brace himself in the air.
Before he could react, the dragon suddenly surged forward with terrifying speed and swung another massive claw at him, forcing Issei to cross his arms over his face and brace himself once more. Even then, the sheer force of the blow sent Issei hurtling through the air like a bullet, his body crashing through a jagged rock formation before he crashed into the ground, skidding across the scorched terrain before he managed to flip back onto his feet, his vision blurring as he struggled to steady himself.
HP: 9205 / 17500
"Guh… damn, that actually hurt." Issei muttered, shaking off the sting as he looked up to see the dragon looming over him, its sheer size making the Iron Giant from earlier seem almost insignificant in comparison. Issei tried to move, but the dragon had opened its maw, with flames building in its throat.
Using a quick Phoenix Shift, Issei shot to the side just as a pillar of roaring fire erupted beneath him, consuming the spot where he had stood only a fraction of a second ago. Some of the fire licked at his armor, making the plating sizzle from the sheer intensity of the heat while Issei the scorching air pressing against his skin beneath the Scale Mail.
"Alright, you overgrown lizard," Issei growled, rolling his shoulders as he steadied himself mid-air. "Let's see how you like this!"
[Skill Activation] – Dragon Shot
A crimson sphere of energy formed in front of him, crackling violently before he threw his fist at it, launching it straight at the dragon. The blast roared through the air like a meteor, illuminating the battlefield as it closed in on its target.
But as if to mock the manner in which Issei had launched his attack, the dragon also threw its massive fist forward and punched the blast head-on. The moment its colossal knuckles made contact with the Dragon Shot, a deafening shockwave erupted across the battlefield as the orb exploded, barely scratching the scale around its fist. It was only then that Issei saw the green jewel on the back of its hand, with his eyes widening in shock and realization as he slowly looked down at the gauntlet around his left arm.
"No, fucking, wa…"
[PARTNER! THAT'S ME! THAT DRAGON IS ME!]
Issei barely had time to process what Ddraig had just told him as an announcement of power being double that did not come from his Boosted Gear resonated through the air. The other Ddraig suddenly shot forward, its emerald eyes flashing as it launched its colossal fist straight at him like a meteor. Issei immediately tried to dodge, flaring his wings to propel himself to the side…
…but before the attack could land, the dragon exploded into a massive surge of fire. The sheer intensity of the eruption forced Issei to shield his face with his arms as heat waves slammed into him. Sensing something coming at him from above, Issei instantly raised Ascalon to block the incoming attack, causing sparks to erupt as his blade clashed against the weapon while a shockwave was sent rippling outward.
It wasn't until the flames had finally settled that Issei finally saw his attacker.
"What the—?!"
Staring back at him, holding in its hand another Ascalon, was himself.
"Sup." The other Issei said, smirking as he sent Issei crashing into the ground with a kick before pressing forward, flying down with his own Ascalon swinging in a diagonal arc. Gritting his teeth, Issei retaliated, meeting the strike head-on with his own blade.
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
[BOOST!]
No matter how many times Issei tried to boost up his powers to push back the onslaught, the other Issei matched it with his own, keeping himself always one step ahead. Over and over, their swords clashed in showers of sparks, each strike ringing out like thunder across the battlefield, but the other Issei pressed forward almost relentlessly, forcing Issei onto the defensive.
"Come on, man. You can do better than this." The other Issei taunted, his smirk widening as he sidestepped a downward slash, twisting his wrist to redirect the momentum and counter with a quick thrust. Issei leaned aside at the last second, narrowly avoiding the tip of the blade before retaliating with a sweeping arc that the other Issei easily parried.
And then…
Promotion – Knight
As the notification flashed before his eyes, the movement of the other Issei suddenly quickened, to the point that it became a blur for him. Before Issei could react, his opponent was already upon him, his blade flashing with unreal swiftness. A sharp sting tore across Issei's side as the other Ascalon carved through his armor, sparks flying as he barely twisted away in time to avoid a deeper wound. Still, the combination of both holy and dragon-slaying attributes burned at his flesh, reducing his HP by another 1000 points in less than a second.
Issei barely had time to grit his teeth through the pain before the other him pressed forward, his speed only increasing. The next strike came from above, forcing Issei to raise Ascalon to perform a desperate block, but the force behind the attack sent a shockwave rippling through his arms, his grip faltering just enough for the other Issei to seize the opening and kick his forearm. The impact rattled through his bones, forcing his fingers to release Ascalon as the sword went flying from his grasp.
Smirking victoriously, the other Issei twisted his body and thrusted his sword at Issei, his blade aiming directly at his chest.
Clang!
A sharp sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the air as Issei parried the thrust with the Kamish's Awaken daggers, knocking the other Issei back a little with the force behind his own strike. Without hesitation, he then slashed at his evil twin, but his opponent simply jumped back, effortlessly avoiding the attack while making a yanking motion with his hand with a smirk still plastered across his face.
Widening his eyes, Issei immediately forced his body to the side, dodging his own Ascalon as it flew at him from behind with the other Issei using Ruler's Hand to control it. Issei narrowed his eyes as the other Issei caught his sword, duel-wielding both Ascalon as if to mock his own duel-wielding of the Kamish daggers.
"What are you?" He demanded, his voice laced with frustration.
"Isn't it obvious?"
The other Issei chuckled, spinning the two Ascalon in a casual flourish before resting it on his shoulder. The red gauntlet of the other Boosted Gear gleamed ominously under the flickering firelight as he pointed it directly at Issei.
"I'm you… but not just any version of you—I'm what you should have been."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Issei asked, his grip tightening around his dagger.
The other Issei smirked. "You really don't get it, do you? Just take a look at yourself— sticking yourself in that half-baked version of Ddraig's Balance Breaker. You are weak." His voice carried an edge of disdain as he took a step forward before disappearing in a blur.
The moment that he reappeared in front of him, with Issei raising his daggers to block the two Ascalon as they came swinging down at him, an explosion of power sent Issei flying back and crashing into the ground. Looking up, Issei widened his eyes when he saw the other him donning himself in a full Scale Mail, but it was leaner, as if all but the absolute minimum armor required to fly had been shed.
BOOST!
The moment that the announcements rang out, the other Issei was already in front of him, swinging the Ascalon in lightning-fast arcs. Issei barely managed to intercept it, but his counterpart barely slowed down, the two holy blades a blur of relentless attacks. Sparks erupted between them as Issei tried his best to block and parry, but the speed his counterpart possessed was overwhelming, and since both Ascalon had far more reach than his own Kamish daggers, several of his attacks found their marks, cleaving into his armors with each brutal strike. Pain flared across Issei's body as his HP continued to drop, the holy and dragon-slaying properties of Ascalon slicing into his armor and searing his flesh with every wound.
Gritting his teeth, Issei attempted to push back at his evil twin, ducking under a horizontal slash and retaliating with a flaming kick aimed at his exposed side. An explosion of dragon fire was generated upon impact, the force of which sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
Promotion – Rook
The moment that the fire finally settled, Issei widened his eyes in shock as the new form his counterpart's Scale Mail had taken. The armor was bulkier now, its frame reinforced with thick plating while two huge shield-like hammers were attached to the gauntlets, one of which then slammed into Issei's face before he could react, shattering his helmet on impact and launching him across the battlefield.
Promotion – Bishop
Before Issei could even hit the ground, twin blasts of reddish energy with green outer layers streaked toward him, detonating on impact. The resulting explosion sent him hurtling backward, his armor breaking into chunks under the sheer force.
HP: 3100 / 17500
Skidding across the scorched ground, Issei barely caught himself before crashing again, his back digging trenches into the earth as he came to a stop. Groaning in pain with blood trickling down from the side of his face, his eyes narrowed as he saw his counterpart standing with a pair of cannons extending up from his back, its barrels still smoking from the heat of the previous blasts.
"You are even weaker than I thought." The other Issei said, rolling off his shoulder as red energy pulsed along his armor. "No wonder why Sieghart died that night."
"Shut up!"
Issei growled as he picked himself up, building up powers inside him to reform his broken Scale Mail. The moment that his face was once again encased behind his helmet, Issei shot forward, narrowly avoiding another twin blasts that his evil counterpart fired at him. The twin beams of red energy tore through the ground behind him, leaving a molten trail in their wake, but Issei continued his advance, closing the distance in an instant.
Clang!
Before his weapons could find their marks, they were both intercepted mid-swing as the other Issei raised Ascalon to block before twisting his wrist to push Issei back.
"Struck a nerve, didn't I?" Evil Issei mocked as he switching his armor to the normal Scale Mail, meeting Issei in another duel as the Sekiryuutei lashed out with a series of quick slashes aimed at his chest, but the evil counterpart had no problem weaving around the attacks "Everyone keep telling you it wasn't your fault, but we both know the truth, don't we?"
"You were there that night. You saw it happen. You let it happen."
"SHUT UP!"
"Sieghart died because of you! Because you were too weak to protect anyone! Not even yourself!"
"Here, I believe this is yours." The other Issei then stated humorously as he jumped back and flipped Issei's Ascalon up in the air and hurled it at Issei with a lightning fast motion, forcing him to dodge. The moment that it zipped by his head, the other Issei was right upon him, his fist cocking back to strike.
BAM!
Even though he had blocked it with his right gauntlet, the hit still sent Issei stumbling, but he quickly recovered, spinning into a counterattack. His counterpart blocked with Ascalon, the force of their clash igniting the air between them, sparks flying as their blades scraped against each other.
Before he could push back, the other Issei shot forward and headbutted him right in the face, breaking his helmet once more to send him stumbling back. Smirking, the evil Issei shot forward and drove his knee into his gut, knocking the wind out of him before following up with an uppercut. As Issei staggered, his counterpart capitalized on the opening, slashing upward with Ascalon and carving a deep gash across his armor.
"'If only I was a little stronger,' 'if only I sensed Baruka sneaking up behind Sieghart'… isn't that what runs through your head every night before you sleep?"
The other Issei's voice dripped with mockery as he stood over him, watching him as struggled to rise. Blood trickled from Issei's busted lip, his breath ragged as he reached his hand out for his weapons, attempting to use Ruler's Hands to retrieve just even one of them, but...
"Are you stupid or something? Can't you already see I can play that game too?"
His evil twin smirked and countered Issei's Ruler's Hand with his own, keeping Ascalon right where it is before stomping down on his hand, pinning it to the ground and forcing a pained grunt from Issei.
"You really think just fighting, just pushing forward, is gonna change anything?" The other Issei leaned down, his helmet opening to reveal the sneer on his face. "You think that by 'honoring' his memories by playing the hero, you can erase what happened? Make yourself feel better?"
He twisted his foot cruelly, forcing a pained grunt from Issei.
"Face it. You're just trying to run away from your own guilt."
Gritting his teeth, Issei clenched his other fist and tried to push himself up, but a savage kick to his ribs sent him rolling to the side. He barely had a second to recover before a boot slammed down on his chest, crushing the air from his lungs.
"Pathetic. How about I put you out of your misery?" His counterpart loomed over him, Ascalon gleaming as he leveled it at his throat.
[Boost!]
A pulse of crimson light erupted from his gauntlet, and with a feral roar, Issei twisted his body and swept his opponent's leg out from under him. As the other Issei stumbled, Issei shot up as he could and drove his fist into his chest with a cry of fury, sending him skidding backward.
Panting, Issei forced himself to stand, his armor cracked, blood dripping down his face. Every inch of him was screaming in agony.
"I'm… not done yet, asshole." Issei growled, recalling Kamish's Awaken with Ruler's Hand. As the daggers flew into his hand, the other Issei just looked at him for a second before busting out laughing, even doubling over to clutch at his side, as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Oh man, you're a funny guy, aren't you?" He laughed, right before the aura surrounding his body erupted into a violent wave of red energy.
Promotion - Bishop
The sheer pressure sent tremors rippling through the battlefield, the ground cracking beneath their feet as the backpack with twin cannons from before materialized once more on the other Issei's back. "Fun's over. I will just erase your pathetic existence from this world now. Say hi to Sieghart for me, will you?"
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!BOOST! BOOST!BOOST! BOOST!BOOST! BOOST!BOOST! BOOST!
DRAGON BLASTER!
With that announcement from the other Boosted Gear, the entire battlefield trembled as a cataclysmic blast of pure draconic energy erupted from the twin cannons, warping the space around it as it tore through the air. In the blink of an eye, everything in its path was annihilated, reduced to nothingness, as it sped toward Issei with a fury unlike anything he had ever witnessed.
Move. MOVE!
Issei summoned every ounce of strength he had left to dodge, but even then, he was not fast enough. The beam caught him mid-motion, and an unbearable agony ripped through his entire being as he was swallowed by the blinding inferno. His armor cracked, then shattered.. His vision blurred into pure white.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then—
"Oh hey, Issei!"
Hearing that, Issei fluttered his eyes open, only to find himself somewhere completely different. Gone was the battlefield, the shattered ground, the suffocating pressure of his counterpart's power. Instead, he stood before a small campfire, its warm glow flickering gently against the dark surroundings.
Disoriented, Issei blinked as he took in the sight before him while the campfire continued to crack softly, casting long shadows over the area, though beyond its light, there was only endless darkness. The air was a bit cold, but it was comforting, in stark contrast to the suffocating heat he had felt just moments ago.
Across the fire, seated on a log with his arms resting casually on his knees, was a man with long blonde hair. A makeshift fishing rod positioned next to him, its line dangling lazily into a small, unseen body of water beyond the campfire. His armor was pristine, clean to a fault, shining under the flickering flames, as if it had never been touched by battles.
"You don't look so good, kid." The blond chuckled as he leaned back and flashed a fabulous grin "But then again, I cannot expect you to always stay as fabulous as I am even in the most critical moment, can I?"
For a moment, Issei could only stare before he felt tears welling up in his eyes.
He knew that voice. That face.
"…Sieghart?"
Name: Issei Hyoudou
Race: Reincarnated Devil
Class: Level 50 Dragonsworn / Level 20 Shadow Monarch
HP: 15,252/15,252
MP [Current Attribute: Draconic/Demonic: 4105/4105
Title: Daredevil
Strength: 216
Vitality: 185
Intelligence: 186
Dexterity: 190
Perception: 170
Charisma: 160
Unique Class Skills: Fire Imbue (LV2), Shadow Extraction (LV1), Shadow Storage (LV1), Karma (LV1).
Active skills: Doubling (LV3), Transfer (LV3), Penetrate (LV3), Sprint (Max Level), Vital Slash (LV1), Jump (Max Level – Equipment Ability), Observe (LV2), Ruler's Hands (LV1), Phoenix Shift (LV1).
Active spells: Fire balls (LV3 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Firewall (LV3 - Fire Dragon Pact Affected), Lightning Strike (LV1), Water Blast (LV1), Earth Shield (LV1), ...
Current Pacts: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV2, Chaos Karma Dragon Tiamat (Fire) – Pact LV1
Current Active Pact [2/4: Y Ddraig Goch (Fire) – Pact LV2
Current Shadows: 240 / 240
Elite Rank Shadows: Lycaon (Knight), Tora (Knight), Blade (Knight), Vulcan (Knight), Tempest (Knight),Gladio (Elite Knight),Glacia (Elite Knight).
Items: Boosted Gear (LV4), Razan's Blade (LVMAX), Magitek General's Helmet (LVMAX), Palace Guard's Boots (LVMAX), Metal Gauntlets (LVMAX – Only one currently in use -Stats Reduced), Kamish's Slumber (LV?), Key to the Demon Tower, Ascalon (LV10).
Potions: Healing Potions x15, Mana Potions x15, Greater Healing Potions x10, Greater Mana Potions x10, Miracle Potions x3...
Gold: 550,120 (G)
Ultimate: Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker – Boosted Gear Crimson Scale Mail (LV.2 – Pact Affected)
Finisher: Rage of the Fire Dragon.
Sigils: Sigil of the Shadow Commander - Igirs, Sigil of the Shadow Ice Bear - Tank.
End of chapter 22