Issei's POV
As I sit on my bed, I can't shake the confusion twisting inside me.
My emotions are a storm—chaotic and unrelenting—ever since Rias spoke to me. I know her words were logical, even necessary, but that doesn't make them any easier to accept. They stirred something in me, something wild and uncertain. I can't focus. I can't stop replaying them in my head.
Frustrated, I sit up straight, trying to push away the mess of thoughts clouding my mind.
Get it together.
Right now, there's only one thing I should be focusing on—my Sacred Gear.
If I remember correctly, to summon it, I need to visualize something powerful—something overwhelming.
So I close my eyes and concentrate.
I imagine a dragon, mighty and towering, crushing mountains beneath its claws. Fire pours from its mouth—blistering, wild, and untamed—capable of turning entire cities to ash in seconds. Its presence is monstrous. Terrifying. Absolute.
The deeper I sink into that image, the more my body reacts. My right hand starts to tremble—violently, uncontrollably.
Then, with a flash of scarlet light, it manifests.
A crimson gauntlet wraps around my arm, glowing with a fierce, otherworldly energy.
My breath catches in my throat.
It's real.
The Red Dragon Emperor's power is now in my hand.
I stare at the crimson gauntlet, awe-struck by the raw, living energy radiating from it. The intricate carvings, the pulsating glow—it feels like holding a force of nature itself.
Then, a voice rumbles from deep within the gauntlet. Beast-like. Ancient.
"Interesting... You otherworlders are truly something," it says, low and resonant, like distant thunder.
My entire body goes rigid.
That voice—it can only belong to one being.
Ddraig.
One of the Two Heavenly Dragons. The Red Dragon Emperor. The incarnation of destruction sealed within this Sacred Gear.
My throat tightens, but I quickly clear it. I need to handle this carefully. With as much respect as I can muster, I speak aloud.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Red Heavenly Dragon, Ddraig."
This isn't just awe. It's strategy.
In a world like this, Ddraig is my best shot at survival. Without his power, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't last a week. I need him on my side—not just as a source of strength, but as a partner.
And if I want to stay alive long enough to make sense of this insane new life, earning Ddraig's favor is the first step.
"You're one of the smart types, aren't you?" Ddraig said, amusement coloring his deep, rumbling voice. "Let's not beat around the bush. You need my help, and I need yours. So, let's make a deal—one that benefits us both."
That caught me off guard.
A dragon offering a deal?
In every fantasy story I'd ever read, dragons were prideful, ancient creatures that never lifted a claw unless it suited their immense ego. They didn't ask. They demanded. And they certainly didn't admit to needing help.
But here Ddraig was, doing exactly that.
I quickly shoved aside everything I thought I knew about dragons. That wasn't important right now. What mattered was the offer on the table. I needed to understand just how far this deal could go—what he could actually offer me.
So I asked carefully, "Do you know what I truly want?"
There was a pause. Then Ddraig's voice came again, lower now, almost fatherly—like an ancient mentor trying to guide a younger soul.
"You don't want to be trapped in Issei's body. Not when he eventually regains control. You want to stay… separate. Free."
My expression darkened.
He knew.
He knew exactly what was eating at me.
Because it was true—I might be wearing Issei's face, using his memories, but I wasn't him. And once the original soul came back—if it ever did—where would that leave me?
Would I be erased? Swallowed up? Forgotten?
That fear… that uncertainty… it wasn't something I could ignore.
And Ddraig saw right through it.
I hesitated, uncertainty creeping into my voice as I asked,
"Then… how are you going to help me?"
The question hung in the air like a fragile thread.
Silence.
Only the stillness of the room answered me at first, heavy and suffocating. Then, without warning, it shattered.
"Hahaha! HAHAHA!"
Ddraig's laughter boomed from the gauntlet, deep and thunderous, shaking me to my core. It was the kind of laugh that mocked and judged all at once. After a few moments, it finally tapered off, and his voice returned, sharp and condescending.
"Do you even know how to make a deal, boy?" he asked, clearly unimpressed. "You really are green."
His tone stung, and I felt the insult bite deep. My pride flared for a moment, but I forced myself to stay calm. He was right—I had rushed into this. Let my desperation overshadow my logic.
Grinding my teeth, I swallowed my frustration and asked the question that mattered most.
"What do you want from me?"
There was a pause.
Then Ddraig answered, and his voice was no longer mocking—it was intense, burning with ambition.
"Become the strongest dragon the world has ever seen."
The words hit me like a punch to the chest. My breath caught as I processed what he just said.
He didn't say "the strongest Red Dragon Emperor."
He said dragon.
That meant stronger than Great Red.
Stronger than Ophis.
He wanted me to reach the top of a mountain I didn't even know existed. And as the weight of that ambition settled on my shoulders, I realized something.
This wasn't just about surviving anymore.
This was about evolving into something legendary.
I pause, letting the weight of Ddraig's words settle in my mind.
The strongest dragon in existence.
At first, it sounds impossible.
But then I think about it… really think about it.
This body—Issei's body—holds immense potential. The potential of the Red Dragon Emperor. And now, with me in control, that potential is paired with my own will, my own ambition. My own vision.
I look down at the crimson gauntlet on my arm, the vessel of Ddraig's soul, and finally speak with quiet resolve.
"Yes. I'll become the strongest dragon if that's what you want."
Then, with a hint of curiosity bleeding into my voice, I add,
"But why? Why do you want me to become the strongest in the first place?"
Ddraig chuckles softly. "First, let's seal the contract. I'm not in the habit of giving away answers for free."
I nod. Fair enough. We already agreed on this. And from everything I know about Ddraig—from legend, memory, and instinct—he doesn't deal in deception. He's a dragon who honors strength, and strength born honestly.
A glowing red magic circle appears in front of the gauntlet, inscribed with intricate, ancient runes and the unmistakable pulse of dragonkind.
"Place your hand over the circle," Ddraig instructs, "and say, 'I agree to the deal.'"
I do exactly as told.
"I agree to the deal."
As the words leave my lips, the circle glows brightly, then vanishes in a flicker of red light. The contract is complete.
I lower my hand slowly, the weight of the pact still lingering in the air, and ask once more, "Now will you tell me? Why do you want me to become the strongest dragon?"
A low growl of thought rumbles from the gauntlet before Ddraig responds.
"Simple, boy. I've always dreamed of reaching the top… of becoming the strongest. But despite everything, I never had a chance of defeating ophis and great red.but after i get defeated by abrahamic God and seal in this sacred gear. I thought i never have a chance to stand on the top of the food chain."
His voice grows quieter, filled with a raw honesty that surprises me.
"but When I saw yours memories—issei strength, his potential—it reignited something in me. A hope I thought I had buried long ago. The dream of dominating everything, of standing above gods and monsters alike."
I stood in place for a moment, letting his words sink in. The truth behind them hit me harder than I expected. He wasn't just helping me out of kindness or strategy. He was doing this… because he wanted to chase a dream he had once buried.
"So, this is about your dream," I said, my voice laced with quiet uncertainty.
"Yes."
A silence followed. Not heavy—just thoughtful. Then, I asked the question that truly mattered.
"How do you plan to help me fix the situation I'm in right now?"
Ddraig's voice shifted—not the growl of a beast that ruled the skies, but the calm tone of an old sage imparting truth.
"First, you need to understand exactly what kind of situation you're in."
I said nothing, just listened.
"You don't have a body of your own to return to. You can't just create one or take over another like you did this time. If you tried, your soul would degrade—piece by piece—until nothing was left."
His words felt like iron shackles locking around my hope.
"So, your best—and only—option is to merge with Issei. Completely."
When I heard that, every instinct in me recoiled. The idea of merging… fusing… losing my sense of self and becoming something entirely new—something not me—it made my stomach twist.
"Is there… is there any other way?" I asked, barely able to keep the dread out of my voice.
His answer was blunt. Unapologetic.
"No."
I let out a long, slow sigh and asked the only thing left to say.
"Then… what happens to me after the fusion?"
"Either you'll become a completely new entity," Ddraig said, "or your personality will partially remain, coexisting with his—possibly even layered on top."
His voice grew colder.
"But all of this depends on your mental strength and fortitude. If your will is weaker… you could be completely consumed by Issei."
The finality of his words should have unnerved me. But instead, I found myself smirking inwardly. Looks like this is going to be easier than I thought. Overpowering a high school boy in mental strength? That was laughable.
But Ddraig wasn't finished.
"You'd better stop thinking this will be easy," he said sharply, cutting through my overconfidence like a blade. "You're underestimating how much mental strength he already has."
I scoffed, retorting quickly.
"Sure, he'd be stronger mentally if he had already gone through everything the original story intended for him. But he hasn't. He's still just a high schooler. If I strike while he's still figuring things out, I can win—easily."
There was a pause, then a low, rumbling reply.
"You might be right… but if I were you, I wouldn't underestimate him."
His words lingered, and I took a mental note. Underestimating someone like Issei could be a fatal mistake.
"Alright then," I said, shaking off the tension. "When do we start the merging process?"
"Today," Ddraig replied simply. "But don't expect instant results. The process will be slow—it'll take three to four months for your souls to fully merge."
I frowned. "Isn't that a bit long?"
"Boy, I'm talking about merging two soul sources. If I rush this and make a mistake, it could destroy both you and Issei—permanently. So yes, this much time is necessary to ensure safety."
I nodded, accepting the logic. It was better to be cautious when your very existence was on the line.
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you. What do I need to do in the meantime?"
"Simple. Let me do my work," Ddraig said. "And you? Go do some digital exercises."
"Digital exercises?" I repeated, puzzled. "What do you mean? Don't you need me for the merger to happen?"
"Boy," he said with dry amusement, "I reside in your soul. The merging process is internal. I don't need your conscious effort for that. So go train—mentally and physically. Prepare yourself. That will help more than you realize."
I sighed but didn't argue. He wasn't wrong.
And so, I started doing exactly what he told me.
[ Issei POV Ends]
Inside the vast dimension of the Sacred Gear, a massive red dragon soared through an endless crimson sky. His wings sliced the air with a majesty that spoke of power, age, and a forgotten glory. Ddraig—the Red Dragon Emperor—flew in contemplative silence, his mind lingering on a purpose that once defined him.
That silence was broken by a familiar voice.
"Ddraig… why did you lie to him?" asked Elsha, her tone laced with quiet confusion. The strongest female Red Dragon Emperor hovered beside him, her ruby-red armor glinting with divine energy. At her side floated Belzard, the strongest male Red Dragon Emperor before the current host.
Ddraig didn't stop flying. His eyes remained fixed ahead.
"Because it was the best choice we had," he answered, his voice carrying the weight of a father explaining a harsh truth to his children.
Elsha narrowed her eyes. "You could've told him the truth. Don't give me that 'best choice' excuse. You made a decision for him."
"She's right," Belzard added, his voice edged with accusation. "You didn't even try to explain. You just chose to lie."
Seeing his bluff being called, Ddraig didn't bother to defend himself. He simply remained silent.
Elsha sighed in frustration. "So, you're really going through with this merger plan?"
"Yes," Ddraig replied without hesitation.
Belzard stared at him for a moment, then chuckled softly. "You're really doing this, huh?"
"Yes," Ddraig repeated, this time with unwavering conviction. "This will create the strongest child I've ever had."
Belzard smirked. "Weird feeling, huh? Losing your title as the strongest Red Dragon Emperor?"
Ddraig finally looked at him, a rare flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. "I once thought you would hold that title forever, Belzard. But it seems… someone else now bears that crown."
Elsha's expression grew more serious.
"Just make sure you don't mess this up. I don't want to meet Great Red again just because of a mistake."
Ddraig gave her a solemn nod, fully understanding her concern.
When Great Red had intruded into the Sacred Gear, Ddraig had nearly panicked. For a brief, terrifying moment, he believed the Dragon of Dreams had come to destroy him. But he hadn't. Great Red had come not for Ddraig… but for the Outsider.
Even now, Ddraig could recall the immense pressure Great Red exerted. It was as if he were restraining himself—barely holding back the instinct to eliminate what didn't belong.
"I don't know why he held back that day," Ddraig murmured to himself, "but I never want to find out."
The sky remained blood-red above them, and the dragons continued their flight—toward a future uncertain, but brimming with unprecedented power.