Highschool Dxd: NEXT
Announcement:
First, I just realize that I am not good with describing the appearance of a character, so I decided I am going to use other characters from other series, of course, I will change some of their facial features, abilities, and their background, so I hope it's acceptable.
Second, so the inhabitant of the new world will know the concept of magic, but they have an entirely different concept from the world which Issei came from. Most of the new world magic will be based on abilities from DOTA 2 hero. So those abilities DO NOT belong to me.
Finally the third, I am going to use Grammarly app to fix some mistakes in the story so I hope it can help reduce the number of mistakes in the story.
Chapter 1 part 1
First Arc: The End Is Just another Beginning
-Somewhere in the forest-
Issei POV
As the sun rises and getting brighter with each passing second, I, Hyoudou Issei woke up. I am currently sitting down below a tree, in the middle of a forest. It's a sunny day but not too hot so overall it's a very nice weather. But there is one question in my mind.
-Where am I?-
(Looks like you already awake Partner)
"Umm, Ddraig do you know where we currently are?"
I asked my Partner the question that I think is the most crucial right now.
(Sorry Partner, I honestly do not know where we currently are but if what Great Red told us is true, we are probably in another world)
Ah, that's right! Great Red did tell us about sending us to another or something like that but is this really another world? I don't see any difference from this world with earth, I mean, if this is truly another world shouldn't there is something different about it?
(Whether this a new world or not, let's push those matter aside, Partner there are things that I need to tell you)
"What is it Ddraig?"
(Well, before Rias tried to end your life, I told you that she took back her Evil Piece right?)
"Yes, I remember you told me that, you also said that my stability was falling apart"
(Well here's the detail, before Rias and other succeed to end your life, Great Red, who sense his underling was in danger, teleported you to Dimensional Gap and not only stabilize your body but also completely heal you)
True that I am no longer feeling any pain from the battle against Shiva, but I feel like there is still something missing, not my Pawn Pieces, I already know that Rias took them back. It is as, somehow, my power is missing, gone without any traces.
(You notice it huh? Well, because originally you rely on your Evil Pieces to not only to stabilize your body but also as a basic component for your Triana and True Queen Mode, you basically lose those modes and you also lose your ability to Promote. Of course, you can still access your Balance Breaker and Diabolos Dragon Form, although the overall power is still lower than before)
(Of course, you don't lose the entire devil trait, one of them is that your ability to bypass language barrier is still with you although you still have a little vulnerability against Light element)
Is that so? So I still have some devil trait. Then is there any way for me to recover my lost power?
(Yes, remember when I told you Great Red use his power to stabilize your body? Well, you just need to get used to it to regain your lost power, though you won't be able to regain your Promotion ability, Triana, and True Queen, Great Red's power that resides within you open up a possibility to gain something better than your old power, well at this point you just need to train yourself to return to zero)
"So basically, I am currently in minus area, but I could return to zero by training my body, and if I could control and mastered Great Red's power within me I could get to plus area?"
That doesn't sound too hard. I just need to to do just train myself right? True that I don't have any specific talent like that stickman, Kiba but if it's about effort, I won't lose to anyone.
(Kukuku, now that's the spirit. Back to the first point, maybe we should try to explore the forest? Who knows maybe we could come across someone or at least something)
"Good Idea Ddraig"
After I said that, I stand up and start walking into the forest. The forest is quite big as it took me roughly a couple hours to past it before I finally found a plain with a road that, as if, split the plain into two. This is perfect, the fact that there is something like a road here means that there should be an intelligent creature here. Looks like if I follow this road it could lead me somewhere. I don't have a watch but I know judging from the location of the sun, I know that the time is probably around 15-16 PM
When I was thinking which way I should take, I saw smoke rising. The location of the smoking area is probably around few kilometers from here.
"There is something happening there Ddraig"
(This is truly saving us a lot of time trying to find a settlement. Let's go, Partner)
[Balance Breaker]!
After I activated my [Balance Breaker], I spread my wings, activated my booster on my back, and start to fly with a blinding speed towards that smoke location. Judging from the distance and the speed at which I am currently flying it probably only takes a couple of seconds to reach that location and sure enough, within a couple of seconds, I reach my destination. It looks like a small village and it looks like there is a battle going there, after I pay a closer look, looks like the village was under attack by some sort of small green creature that deeply resembles Goblin, no, those creatures are no longer resemble a goblin, they are Goblins though I also spotted few larger one probably around 1.8-2 meters tall are they some sort of sub-species of Goblin? This is quite a surprise.
"Wait, are those goblins?"
(Well, they do resemble was turned a lot, no, the way more correct phrase would be 'they ARE goblin and I believe those larger one are called hobgoblin. Partner you never saw a goblin before right?)
"Yes, this is actually my first time ever to seeing one"
(Well then listen to me, goblin is an extremely weak species although their large number sort of make up for their low physical attributes, it didn't save them from going extinct, in fact, they are the first species to went extinct when the Great War started)
Pushing goblin matter aside, the village is defended by a number militias, even though those militias look like stronger and better equipped compare to the Goblin, because each militia has chain-mail, a shield, and a sword compare to Goblin who only have a short sword some even only using a club, the militias were being outnumbered by at least 1-3. What's even more surprising is that those militias are human.
-Wait a minute, those are human right?! I mean, what else could it be except human?-
Looks like the militias is losing this one, the proof is there is already a number of burned house and as the militias slowly getting killed one by one, I know I have to step in to help them. I close my wings and starting to dive down to the battlefield below me. Of course, I use my booster in order to increase my falling speed, I intend to land and stomp that large goblin that currently walking slowly towards a girl with blue hair in the middle of the village.
*DOOOON!*
That instantly kill that large goblin, his large body is instantly flattened. Cracks spread through out the village from where I landed and because of that every single human and goblin stop their fight just to look at me and slowly their face turn from surprise to a complete fear in a second.
"Now then, who's next?"
-Acuius Kingdom, Harmal Village-
Lizie POV
As the light of the sunrise fell on me, I, Lizie Lopse regain my consciousness and finally, I woke up. There is a lot of work today too, I can't afford to play around and do nothing and it's not because I am a very diligent person, it's because I have to work to get food for me and my sister. Life's been very hard ever since my father was forced to join the conscription to fight in the yearly war with the Dragon Empire. It's not just my father, almost every single adult male, was forced to join the army and when the war ended my father didn't return. Since then, my mother worked very hard to feed both me and my younger sister but one day my mother died, there is no specific reason of her death, she is simply died because of starvation and overwork.
Death because of starvation and overwork is not something uncommon in the villages of Acuius Kingdom. There are many reasons for why this happens;
First, is that every time there is a harvest we have to pay a tribute of 40% of the total yield to the noble who owns the land. This may don't sound much to most people and this lead to the second reason.
Second, is because of the constant war against Dragon Empire. In every single year, Dragon Empire will always declare war against the Acuius Kingdom in harvest season and because most farmers were forced to join the conscription the yield is very small,
The third is because of the taxes, there is two kind of taxes, the first is a yearly tax that we pay once per year and second is a tax when we are about to enter a city. The second tax is not a problem because they tend to stay the same, the problem is that the first tax keeps getting expensive with each passing year for no clear reason except to found Acuius Kingdom policy.
I hate those nobles, I really do. They treat as nothing more than a plaything, a slave that they can use. I am not the only people who hate those nobles, almost every commoner hates them but we cannot voice our opposition or display our hatred in front of them because they won't hesitate to whip, torture, or even kill the commoner and it's not like we need to provoke them to torture us, there are many occasion if they saw a beautiful maiden in the village, they will take her and turn her into their plaything and sex slave.
Another reason why almost every commoner hates them is that they did not do their obligation to protect the commoner from the bandit, Dragon Empire raiding party if Dragon Empire and the Acuius Kingdom is currently at war with each other, or attack from other species.
Whenever we, the commoner, ask them for help, they always answer that they have a much more important thing to do. I am actually curious about what is their problem, like why couldn't they help us.
But, hey I am just a normal village girl, a commoner at that. My mother, before she died, always said that commoner and the noble is very different.
-I know there are many things a noble must do, but can't they at least try to protect us?-
"Lizie, bring that that water over here!"
Ah, that's right I was tasked to fill this pot with water from our village's well. Everyone has their own task to fulfill and those who don't finish their job won't get any food.
"Right away!"
As I said that I quickly pick up the pace. After I deliver that pot of water to Mr. Lopez, I quickly take another pot to fill with water for Mrs. Sare who lived on the opposite side from my house.
-Right there are still 14 pots to be filled and delivered to other villagers. I have no time for thinking about noble-
Right after I fill the pot with water, I quickly ran to deliver them to Mrs. Sare whose husband had died. The reason of his death is same with my father.
"Here's your pot of water Mrs. Sare"
"Thank you very much Lizie, sorry for troubling"
She said it with a heart-warming smile.
"Please don't worry about me, Mrs. Sare"
I am trying to put an assuring smile, as some sort of proof that I am okay.
"Just don't overwork yourself okay? You are still young you know"
So she is worry that I am going to overwork myself like my mother but for my sister I have to work hard, I also must not show my tired face to her.
"Please don't worry about me Mrs. Sare, even though I look like this I am quite strong you know"
I said that in a humorous tone while making a pose to show my arm muscle, even though there aren't any and right after I said that, there is a ringing sound of a bell.
I know that sign, in fact, everyone knows this, it's a sign of the village is under attack!
I am no longer paying any attention to Mrs. Sare but instead just storm out of her house and saw that some adult male already picking up the equipment provided by provided by the noble, although most of them are already rusty.
I also realize that the goblin is coming from the east side of the village while my house is south the south the fight itself is already reaching the plaza, which is central , of our village, so I have to go to my house by going around the village through the west. Looks like the alarm system is a little bit late but I don't care about that.
-There is no time!-
I run as quick as a possibly can, I don't care by the fact that some militia is already getting killed, I don't even care about the smoke rising from one of the houses from my village, I no longer care about the screaming around me. I only have one thing in mind;
Save my sister, Sizi.
When I reach my house I saw that the door is already open and when I take a look inside of my house there is no one there.
-She must be run out to find me!-
Realizing this, I quickly run to the while screaming her name.
"Sizi! Sizi!"
After continuously calling her while searching her, I finally hear her voice.
"Onee-chan!"
She ran to me
"Sizi!"
I also quickly ran to her but before we could embrace each other, a goblin showed right behind her while raising his sword and…..
*STAB*
From that moment everything that's precious to me is dead, I am can't say anything, the word and the scream are locked in my throat. The goblin himself doesn't care about her and just pull out his sword to find another victim.
If only those nobles actually doing their job, my sister, Sizi, would still be alive right now. No, not only that my father would also still be alive and my mother wouldn't have to overwork herself. If only those nobles doing their job properly.
I approach my sister and hug her corpse. My tears flooding out from my eyes
"I-I am sorry Sizi, Onee-chan has failed you"
Then, I saw a hobgoblin, walking towards me with a big club in his hands. I don't dare move, I just sit there while holding my sister.
-Someone, anyone, please save us-
Before the hobgoblin reaches me, there is a sound like something just land on him.
*DOOOON!*
The red armored figure raised his body to a standing position. For me and the other villager, he is the savior that we have been waiting for.
"Now then, who's next?"
For the goblin, that is their death sentence but for us the villager, those words are the words of salvation.
Normal POV
There are only a few things that the goblin had in mind and those are killing, eating, and reproduce. Of course, they are capable communication among them and over all they are capable of staying out the way of the strong and respect the strong one among them. Although the goblins knew that the red armored figure is capable taking all of them at once, they are still too stupid to understand what that means.
So 10 of them charge at the red armored figure, 3 of them are a hobgoblin. That was an idiotic decision.
"fools"
Lizie, who was hugging her dead sister on the ground right behind the red armored figure, heard that small voice from the red armored figure.
As the goblin charge at him, Issei creates 10 small versions of his dragon shot, of course, this dragon shot is far weaker the average dragon shot usually shot before even the goblins can get close to him, he fires his dragon shot at them.
The dragon shot, flew at the blinding speed and before even the humans and the goblins knew what happened, the charging goblin literally vanish as the testament of the amount of damage Issei deal to them all but that wasn't the only reason of why the goblin was covered and shaking in fear, it was how Issei easily killed the charging goblin. Now they knew and believed that Issei could if he wanted to, killed them. So now they only have one thing in mind….
"Run away!"
As the goblin escaping and running away from their death-bringer, the villager began to surround Issei and voicing their gratitude to him. They didn't even care about the burning house behind them.
What they didn't know however was that the goblin didn't retreat without purpose, of course aside from saving their lives. They retreat in order to report to their king, Goblin King and what everyone didn't is that Issei was sweating profusely under his armor.
-Uwaaa, so embarrassing!-
(Get a grip, will you! You already become a center of attention once, what's so different here?)
"Well, that is that this is this. After all, I barely know this person"
As Issei and Ddraig arguing in Issei's mind, the sound of cheers and gratitude towards him began lowering, and then there was an old man, the village elder, walking towards him.
"Thank you very much for saving our village!"
The village chief said that while bowing down deeply. That manner of saying thanks remind Issei that of a Japanese, but of course Japanese manner of saying thanks was out of norm while the way of this village chief saying his gratitude towards Issei was as if he could as anything he wanted from them.
-U-uwaaaa, I am so nervous-
(Just answer him!)
Under Ddraig pressure, Issei answer the village elder.
"*cough cough* please don't worry about it elder"
"U-umm may we know of your great name?"
After hearing village elder request, Issei, as if thinking about something, looked at the sky above him, it's almost night time and the sun was almost set on the horizon.
(I think it is okay to reveal your real name, it's not like there is anyone in this world that know your name anyway)
Ddraig is right, he thought. As the villager's anxiety grew in anticipation to learn their Savior's name, Issei answered.
"My name is Hyoudou Issei"
-Somewhere on the road to Harmal Village-
General of Acuius Kingdom, Agrave Evar, was leading his men, which number around 100 men to a village named Harmal, previously there have been reported that there was a large group of goblin attacking and pillaging the surrounding villages around the city named Centralum.
Because of some debate and argument between Noble Faction and Royal Faction, there is some delay in sending an army to defend the surrounding villages. The Noble Faction insist that the Royal faction should be the one who sends their forces because the city belongs to one of the noble who sided with the Royal Faction, Royal faction, on the other hand, argues that the noble who owns the surrounding villages should be the one who sent the army. In the end, though, Royal Faction agreed to send their General, Agrave Evar to do the mission while the noble will send out an army of 100 men for Agrave to lead.
Agrave knew there was a reason of why the nobles from the Noble Faction insist for the Royal faction to send him and why they only send a hundred men despite knowing it's reported there is over 150 Goblin spotted in the area. They intend to get Agrave killed during the mission in order to weaken the Royal Faction power.
-Bastard!-
He curses those noble because these soldiers are just a bunch of amateur, men who were forced to become a soldier, men who just started to learn how to use sword, spear, and shield. The kingdom was dying and most people in the capital already knew this.
The price for the slow response from the government was that 2 villages were already burned to the ground. Now Agrave hopes that he didn't late to save Harmal.
-In the forest near Harmal Village-
After the goblin from the raiding party from Halmar finished his report to his king, who was currently standing before 5000 goblin, all of them are better equipped than the raiding party, among them there are a large number of hobgoblins, goblins who ride a wolf called goblin rider, and there is also a number of goblin shaman, Goblin who specialize with spellcasting ability.
"We march to that village!"
The 5000 goblins began preparing themselves to march to Halmar Village.
-Halmar Village, night time-
Issei POV
After they finished thanking me and praising me, the village elder asked me to follow him to his house to discuss my reward for saving them. From their name, I learn that these people didn't follow the same structure of Japanese, so they end up calling by my first name. I could ask them to stop calling me by my first name, but it would be rude, so in the ultimately I let them called me Issei.
"Issei-sama I believe that if we can pay you with approximately 2000 bronze coin, although if we can gather all the money from this village I believe we could double that amount"
There was no hesitation in his voice clearly he is ready to pay me with everything he had. Honestly though, even though I need money, currently I need information about this world as much as possible, after all, knowledge is power I learn that through a hard way by facing Cao Cao.
-I wonder what happens to him-
"Elder-san, I really don't need that amount of money, what's more, important for me is—"
"Issei-sama! I know that you think we need the money more than you, but you are our savior, if we can't at least reward you, then we won't be able to sleep at night"
"W-well if you insist then I shall gladly receive it"
Well, what else can I do besides except take it? Money aside, I need to ask him about the surrounding area.
"Elder-san there is something that I need to know, can you help me?"
"Please don't hesitate with us Issei-sama"
From there, Elder begin to tell me about the Acuius Kingdom and just how much of a self-serving dog their nobles are, Dragon Empire to the west, Alliances to the north, Holy Kingdom, Elf Kingdom, Holy Sanctuary, the relation of each nation, their currency. They also told me about, the orc, goblin, demon, undead, dragon, and finally about magic and the 12 Gods.
Their magic is very different from the magic where I came from, in this world, they have 4 tier of magic, Low-tier magic, Mid-tier magic, Top-tier magic, and God-tier magic. Most mage can only spell at most Low tier magic, although some could cast Mid-tier magic. Some powerful Dragon king could cast Mid-tier Spell some even reach Top-tier Magic. God-tier, however, is a magic that only a god could cast.
I wanted to as of why they knew the Japanese language, but I know that wasn't the case after I pay a closer attention to their lips, I know that they are speaking a different language from me. It must be because the devil trait that still I possess.
From all those things he said to me, about the kingdom, and everything I finally accept that this is indeed another world. I almost freak out when I confirm it, but I am trying my best to hold it.
-I must keep my demeanor, I am better than that-
"U-umm, Issei-sama may I know where you from?"
Right, I forgot to tell you that I am already take off my helmet, I didn't take off my armor though because, under this armor, I am only wearing short brown pants and a white shirt, I would like to ask them a set of clothes if possible.
"Ddraig how do you think we should answer him?"
"Elder-san, I am, more or less, a traveler"
Before we could continue our discussion, someone opens the door.
"Chief there is an army that arrives and the general wanted to meet lines
After the man said that me and the village elder, stand up from the chair and go outside to meet the general. I, of course, wear my helmet again.
"I welcome you, Agrave Evar-sama, to our small village"
Looks like the village chief knows about him, well, of course, he knew because he is the General of Acuius Kingdom, in another world, he is the servant of one of those self-serving dog. Agrave looks like is in his mid-3o.
From the looks of the villager, they don't seem like Agrave very much, their expression is as if telling that there is no longer point of him being here and that he should just go back home.
After elder is done introducing me to Agrave-san, he immediately hold my hands and say;
"Thank you very much for saving this village Issei-dono"
"Please don't worry about it, Agrave-san, I am just doing it is only right to help those who are in need"
After all, I do receive some reward from doing it, so being thanked this much, making me feel bad about it but before we can continue our discussion, there is an interruption.
Coming out from the woods is an army of goblin.
Normal POV
As the goblin formed their line into a battle formation, where basically they were packed shoulder to shoulder, there wasn't any tactic present it's more just a brutality in forms of an overwhelming number. In front of this army stood what they know as Goblin king.
Goblin King didn't possess strength like a hobgoblin, he didn't have the ability to cast a spell like a shaman, or even ability to ride like goblin rider. What they did have however was the ability to learn and leading, a goblin who had this ability or talent were very rare and those who had it can form an army that could potentially threaten a kingdom.
Knowing this, Agrave knows that he and his army didn't stand a single chance against them, but if he failed to stop them here, that army could grow in size and possibly grow large enough to threaten the Acuius Kingdom.
If Agrave and his army had no chance, then there was only one hope left. The villagers already knew about this and turn their head to their savior.
"Issei-dono, I hate to admit it, but can you once again help us?"
Agrave said that while bowing his head, it was quite a surprise to think a general of a kingdom, would lower his head to someone.
"Don't worry Agrave-san, it is only right to help those who are in, however,
Even though Issei was wearing his helmet, Agrave knew that Issei was smiling when he said that.
"Now then, let's face them"
Agrave rally his men and then they follow Issei from behind, even though Agrave and his men have horses, they decided that they won't use them because Issei chose to walk by foot.
When they were around a hundred meters away from the goblin army, they could see a mocking expression on the goblin face and there is even some laugh from goblin side. Well, who could blame? Currently, Agrave army was outnumbered by 1:50 and a little bit lower than that if Issei is included. But that was just the surface.
"My name is Hyoudou Issei, I suggest that all of you turn back now"
"HAHAHAHA!"
If before one could hear a quiet laugh, this time one can hear a thunderous laugh of goblin.
"Stupid human, think he can scare us! AHAHAHA!"
The goblin king didn't stop his laugh but when he did, however, he felt quite angry because some mere human dares to stand before him. Under his fit of rage, Goblin king ordered his troops to charge.
Some Agrave's men clearly felt afraid of what they saw in front of them, Issei however stood tall without any fear, hesitation, or despair.
"Agrave-san, dealing with a fool is tiresome indeed"
"huh?"
Agrave didn't know how to response to what Issei just said but what Issei did next, he will never forget it.
[Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost!]
After those sounds, Issei's power increase tremendously then, he open his helmet, where Agrave could finally saw Issei's face, but before he could take a good look of his eye, another sound appear.
[Flame Blaze]!
From Issei's mouth came out a stream of fire that is large enough to devour entire goblin army and in an instant, the entire goblin was turn into ashes, but the flame didn't stop there, the fire continues and hit the forest where the goblin came from and the fire instantly burn the forest down.
It was truly an unforgettable scene that will forever print in their memory and every single people who saw this know one thing.
Hyoudou Issei was a man who would shake the entire world in the future. What they didn't know however was Issei conversation with Ddraig this whole time
"Damn it Ddraig why you told me to tell all those embarrassing line!"
(Shut Up! It's not like you have a better reply yourself)
-Original World, Hyoudou residence-
Vali POV
"Wait, what do you mean Issei is already dead?!"
I, Vali Lucifer, asked that in disbelieve.
Author Note:
For Lizie Lopse, just imagine Xenovia with longer hair and with much more feminine altitude.
For Agrave Evar, just imagine Craft Lawrence from anime Spice and Wolf but with black hair and much more ripped body.
If you have any suggestion for the story please tell me in review section.
Thank you very much for reading my fanfiction.