Disclaimer: I do not own DxD or anything else that's just as awesome.
Author's Note: I have finished editing and have re-posted this chapter.
I'm glad that the majority of individuals liked the last chapter. I had a few concerns regarding Issei's strength, as they believe I have made Issei just a strong as Ophis. However, if you paid attention to Ddraig's comment on Issei's strength, he only said that Issei had the POTENTIAL to defeat Ophis, not that he is actually stronger than her.
As for Issei being affected by light spears: Angels are not impervious to light spears themselves. Light spears are just extremely effective against devils, and as Issei is part devil, human, and as well as angel, one can infer that light spears can still hurt him. (When his guard is lowered, of course).
Shout outs to random people:
To Blue Eyes White Knight (BEWK): I'll assume you are the original character creator who created YGO characters like Edgar Knight, correct? ;)
To Shadow-Vaner: I have provided a full explanation for your question above.
To BrokenLifeCycle: Thanks for your reviews on capturing the ideas that I wanted to portray.
To Ddraigtrueemperor: Thanks for your praise and feedback.
Again, thanks to all those who reviewed and support this story. Anyways, here's chapter 4!
"Ddraig talking"
[Sacred Gear Talking/Juggernaut chant]
"Voices of past possessors talking"
"Thoughts of characters"
Chapter 4: BLESS YoUr NAME (Pellekofficial's version)
"Mmm... Eh?" Raynare woke up to the warm, sunny rays that shined on her face. Opening her amethyst eyes, she found herself in a soft bed with a tall glass of water beside her on a nightstand.
"Where am I?..."
Getting up, she winced in pain as her gut wrenched. Lifting the blankets, Raynare noticed that her S&M outfit was also gone, replaced with pure white pajamas, and that she had bandages wrapped around her abdomen.
Feeling parched, she reached for the glass of water just as the door to the room opened, revealing a slightly disheveled Issei holding a tray of food. The teen only wore a white t-shirt and a pair of black shorts.
"Oh, you're awake. Good morning." Issei commented casually as Raynare tried to conjure up a light spear, only to wince in sharp pain as she collapsed back onto the bed.
Sighing, the prince of devils lazily moved the glass of water and placed the tray onto the nightstand, ignoring the hate-filled glare of the fallen angel.
"What did you do to me, filthy human?" Raynare hoarsely snarled as she struggled to scratch Issei, who easily dodged the weakened girl. "How dare you touch me when I am helpless?"
Issei gave her a deadpan look just as Alas=Ramus suddenly barged in, hands on her hips as she jumped onto the bed, pointing a accusing finger at Raynare. Her light violet eyes were filled with anger as they pierced into Raynare's purple's, cowing even the battle-hardened fallen angel.
"Shut up! The better question is, how dare you try to hurt my cute little brother?" Alas=Ramus fumed as she began to pat Issei's head incessantly, who maintained his neutral face.
Raynare finally saw the bloody bandage on his right thigh, where she had pierced him yesterday. "Also, he even brought you into our home to heal you, because he's such a kind-hearted person! You should feel very ashamed of yourself, fallen angel-chan!"
"Plus," Alas=Ramus then pointed to Raynare's pajamas. "My brother's too good-natured to even think of bothering a woman, no matter how deceptive nor ill-mannered they are! And I was the one who changed you and applied those bandages, not him! Be grateful that Issei didn't destroy you on the spot for trying to hurt him!"
Normally, Raynare would have felt bad at this logic as she was the one at fault here. However, her fallen angel pride prevented her from apologizing to the Red Dragon Emperor. Raynare had failed her mission in eliminating the target.
"Shut up! He just got a lucky hit on me! I didn't think a human would have already unlocked their Sacred Gear to that level, so I was incautious! But the next time won't be the same, I can promise it!" Raynare slowly trailed off when Issei and Alas=Ramus began to laugh loudly. "Why? What's so funny?"
Both Issei and Alas=Ramus smiled simultaneously, but it was a smile that was devoid of any humour.
"I'm not human, Raynare." Issei grinned darkly. "I'm part-angel, part-devil, and part-human. It was foolish of you to assume that I was a full-blooded human at sight. That was what led to your defeat, as I had mastered the Boosted Gear ages ago, which is why I also have already achieved its Balance Breaker."
The fallen angel was shocked. "Impossible! The higher-ups never gave me any information on this!"
"That's bullshit!" Raynare spat in disbelief. "There has never been a case in history of a three-blooded hybrid! How is this possible?"
Alas=Ramus shrugged. "It's your choice to believe it or not. Anyways, my Otōto and I have to head to school now. Once you feel ready, you may leave anytime."
The living fragment of Yesod Sephira turned towards the door. "However, I will also warn you this. If you ever try to harm my kawaii Otōto again..." A sudden burst of power came from Alas=Ramus, chilling Raynare to the bone. A aura of cold, yellow light enveloped the teacher in training.
"I will kill you myself."
Sighing again, Issei watched as his sister finally left his room. Turning to Raynare, he said, "I know how you fallen angels work, which means that nobody at the school will remember you and that all traces of you have been erased. Either way, you can report to your higher ups if you wish, but remember this warning."
Suddenly, the prince of devils reached out and gently patted Raynare's head before leaving as well, making her blush. Turning to the tray of food and the glass of water, the fallen angel couldn't resist but to help herself to the delicious-looking food.
"Maybe I should take some time off..."
"Partner, was it really worth it to let that fallen angel live? She now holds some valuable information against you." Ddraig asked as Issei munched on a piece of toast on his way to school. Ignoring the large groups of fangirls outside the schoolyard, staring at him like a piece of meat, the prince of devils savoured the taste of the simple food.
"Honestly, Ddraig, it doesn't matter if she knows that I'm the Red Dragon Emperor or not." Issei replied thoughtfully. "I already know that the fallen angels are plotting something big."
"However, Raynare wouldn't know anything about that since she was sent on a suicide mission with false information. I'm only curious as to why, so I'll still question her regardless just in case she knows anything." Issei continued.
"Also," Issei added after a brief pause, a flash of green light came from his pupils, illuminating the teen's expressionless face. "I'm certain that nobody within the fallen angel faction could defeat me. Not even their strongest leader."
After a moment of awkward tension, Ddraig grunted. "I swear, that cocky attitude might get you killed someday. It's still better to be cautious, partner."
The teen was silent for a moment. "...Agreed."
Issei's thoughts then began to wonder. He remembered the day the Boosted Gear suddenly activated when he was only 9 years old, and how proud his mother and father had been when he panicked and had shown them the strange gauntlet that was now his left arm.
Crying in fear, Sadao and Emilia comforted the child and told him about his true heritage. About how he was unique, and that a child born with three different bloods within them was not a thing to ever be heard off. Starting then, his supernatural training and education began.
Issei then learned a lot in the two years before his... Incident. Emilia had told him how she was a half-human, half-angel hybrid and the daughter of the archangel, Michael. Sadao had revealed that he was the original Satan, the first devil who had fallen out of heaven with his second in command, Alciel, who was now known as Ashiya.
Issei remembered how nice his godfather was, although he thought that Alciel was quite weird for always worshipping his father. Of course, Sadao and Emilia also described how Alas=Ramus was actually a piece of the fruit from the tree of life, which took a slightly longer time to explain as it involved a lot more lore and history.
However, in that span of time, Issei learned almost everything about the two factions... The 72 pillars, the Great War, the identity of Ddraig and the Boosted Gear, the current leaders of each faction, underworld table manners, the seven levels of heaven, etc.
Needless to say, Issei was quite an expert on the topic of the supernatural world before his tenth birthday.
"Issei!"
The Red Dragon Emperor was interrupted from his thoughts when he saw Rias Gremory running towards him, her peerage in tow. Issei resisted the impulse to run, as he already felt the Gremory peerage keeps sticking their nose into his life; too much for their own good.
"Hello Rias." Issei replied cordially as he stopped. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"...You know, I wasn't going to ask you for anything, thank you very much." Rias replied with a cool stare as Koneko, Yuuto, and Akeno caught up to them.
"..." Issei was silent as he gave her a deadpan look.
"...Okay, maybe one thing." Rias admitted. "I was going to make you an offer of whether or not you would join my peerage. Your presence would make us a lot stronger if we had the Red Dragon Emperor on our side."
Honestly, Issei didn't give two damns about Rias and her peerage. They were quite disrespectful on their first official meeting, for one, and Issei preferred to keep a low-key profile. Aside from that, Issei just really didn't like any of them at all, except for Yuuto, who was alright.
However, Issei was still someone who believed in second chances... To an certain extent. Maybe they got off at the wrong foot on their first meeting, but it doesn't mean that they still couldn't become friends. Also, Issei has never been in a peerage before, since he had never thought about creating his own in the past.
However, the cons still outweighed the pros in the end. Like Ddraig had told him, it was better to be more cautious for now.
"...I'll have to decline, I'm sorry." Issei shook his head. Rias's expresson turned into a disappointed one, before her turquoise eyes suddenly narrowed as she looked down.
"Damn it. He's too powerful to overcome and force reincarnate now. If only Issei was a weak, stupid pervert, then he would've been so easily to control." Rias thought.
"However, maybe if I drag him with us long enough, then he'll be more lenient."
"Well Issei, would you like to instead accompany us in keeping the peace around Kuoh, then?"
Issei looked into the redhead's eyes, which told him that she wouldn't take a no as an answer no matter what. Sighing, the teen's shoulders sagged in defeat as he didn't want to deal with any more problems.
"But I think just dragged myself into another mess..."
"Stray devil Viser, you betrayed your master and ran away to fulfill the lustful wants and needs that have consumed you." Issei watched lazily as Rias berated the monstrous female devil who had the shape of a chimeric centaur.
Rias had invited (forced) him to go along with everyone else to a abandoned building in order to eliminate a stray devil. Feeling that their target was too low-leveled, he bought a issue of manga to read as he knew the other devils could easily handle it.
"In the name of the great Marquis of Gremory, be gone or face your death!"
The stray devil laughed, unashamed as she began rubbing her breasts in front of everyone. Like centaurs, she was naked from the waist up. "Shut up you little slut. You're just jealous because your breasts will never be as luscious as mine!"
Rias blushed angrily, glancing over to see if Issei noticed. However, the teen was currently too engrossed in the newest issue of D. Gray-man and ignored his surroundings. "This is your last warning! Go back to your master now or be destroyed!"
Sighing, Issei flipped a page of the manga. "I wish they'd stop being so noisy. Also, I promised Alas=Ramus that I'd be home before 7:00 today. I hope they hurry up in dealing with this."
"Alright Issei, watch this." Rias commanded as Koneko, Yuuto, and Akeno got into ready positions. Issei frowned as he looked up, having been interrupted at a good part in his manga. "Since this is your first time observing a peerage in action, examine how each member of my family fights according to their reincarnated piece."
Watching each one of them attack the stray devil, Issei couldn't help but be slighty impressed at the effects of the evil pieces. The Red Dragon Emperor watched the other members easily beat down the beast, quickly leading it to the final blow.
"...And I, the king." Rias told him as she charged up a magical blast, erasing the abomination from existence. "Any questions?"
"No." Issei shook his head. "That was quite an impressive job, though. You've trained your peerage well. See you all tomorrow." Rias blushed at the praise, placing a hand on her cheek and sighing happily.
However, she was so caught up in his words that she didn't even notice him leaving. Koneko, Yuuto, and Akeno also sweatdropped simultaneously, all thinking about how Rias had fallen hard for the teen.
Just what were they going to do with her in this state?
"Hmm?" Issei had been walking home when he felt a eerie presence within a house he had walked by. Turning around, his eyes narrowed when the smell of fresh blood reached his nose.
"Ddraig, do you sense that as well?" Issei asked the dragon.
"Yes, I do. It feels as if something inside has already killed all its inhabitants and is still there. Are you suggesting that we check it out?" Ddraig questioned.
"You already know." Issei smirked as he ran towards the house. Kicking open the door, the teen observed the amount of gore splattered across the wall. "Geez. Someone certainly made a large mess."
Walking into the living room, Issei felt a great rage build up within him. He observed the three bodies messily crucified to the wall, riddened with cuts and gouges. The signs of torture were obvious, and how that the three individuals did not have a fast death.
However, it was not the deaths of the adults that angered him; It was the last body that stabbed at his heart.
A child, with haunting hazel eyes and brown hair just like his, was staring lifelessly as his mouth was open in an unheard scream. He couldn't have been older than the age of 10, maybe 12.
Groaning, Issei clutched his head in sudden agony. The angelic and demonic blood within him was beginning to conflict again, causing him to start losing control of himself to two different personalities.
His demonic side was telling him to disregard the worthless humans and laugh at their plight, while his angelic side wanted to bring justice to the culprit by annihilation while tending to the bodies. However, his human mentality was being torn apart by the two conflicting elements.
"Partner! Are you okay? Is the split happening again?" Ddraig asked worriedly.
Finally, Issei straightened up, his hair overshadowing his eyes. "Yeah Ddraig, but it's okay now. I know what I have to do." He walked closer to the bloody and heartbreaking scene.
"I'm sorry." Issei whispered to the bodies as he sensed a presence crawling up from behind him, attempting an ambush from the back. "...Did you do this, Mr. Exorcist?"
The presence stopped moving from being found out. However, he began to laugh manically instead, adding fuel to Issei's rage.
"Well, well, well. Those are some good senses, you shitty devil! And yes I did, that's what this shitty family deserves for calling on devils!" The exorcist laughed as he brandished a blade of light in his right hand and a exorcist gun in his left.
He had white hair and wore the clothes of a priest. "My name's Freed Selzan, what's yours shithead? Let's have a dance of death together!"
"...My name's Issei Maou, your demise." Issei calmly said before suddenly turning around, swinging his right fist. Freed was shocked by the speed as he received the punch in the face, throwing him back against the staircase.
Spitting out blood, the stray exorcist grinned madly as he pulled himself up. "I like you, shitty devil! Eat this!" Freed began spamming rounds from his exorcist gun, forcing Issei to jump behind a couch to avoid fire.
"Seriously," Issei rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Even the Ghostbusters weren't close to being this annoying."
Getting annoyed from one of the shots messing up his hair, the teen finally activated his Boosted Gear. Issei's hazel eyes burning with anger. "Prepare to die!"
[Boost!]
"Huh?" Freed drawled as Issei suddenly jumped out at lightning speed, getting under his guard and throwing him a jab in the gut, winding the exorcist.
"You stupid shit!" Freed swung his light sword madly as Issei knocked the gun from his hand. The exorcist received another surprise when the teen blocked the blade with the Boosted Gear, giving Freed a savage knee to the groin as he pulled the sword away from him too.
Issei blankly stared at the fallen man, who was currently cradling his crotch. The Red Dragon Emperor was fighting with a cold, controlled fury as he let his demonic side take over. Issei wasn't even planning on using his Balance Breaker to win this fight.
The Prince of Devils decided that he was going to beat Freed Selzan to death with his bare fists.
[Boost!]
"Damn you!" Freed spat as he slowly crawled up. Charging at Issei, the exorcist was sent flying back by a front kick. "Argh!"
"...I'm going to kill you. Slowly." Issei whispered, allowing his dark side to completely take control. Freed felt a sense of dread as a sinister aura began to exude from his opponent, giving the stray exorcist chills.
"And not just that. I will also avenge this family." Freed began to crawl back in terror as Issei slowly approached him, finally understanding what true fear is.
"I will break every single one of your bones. I will gouge your eyes out."
"I will rip you apart."
[Boost!]
Freed began to scream when he was trapped against the wall, seeing Issei's slow approach. A dark stain appeared between the stray exorcist's pants.
Emotionlessly, Issei launched a rapid series of pile drivers to his opponent's face. It made Freed scream harder as the punches landed with sickening crunches and snaps. Feeling bored, Issei decided that it was time to end this pitiful fight.
Picking Freed up by the neck, he began to choke the former church warrior with his left hand, cutting off his screams.
"Scum like you don't deserve to live." Issei began chuckling insanely as Freed was forced to look into his eyes, which was filled to the brim with madness. However, the teen was interrupted from his work when he heard a voice call out from outside.
"Father Freed-san?"
"No!" Issei' eyes widened in shock as his arm slacked, his angelic side taking over. The dark aura faded just as quickly as it came. "No! It can't be her! Not now!"
Feeling Issei's grip slip, Freed took a gulp of air as he caught sight of his opponent's face. "This piece of shit knows her? Maybe I can use this to my advantage..."
"Asia!" Freed changed his voice from a mad murderer to one of a innocent and terrified priest. "Asia! Help me! This devil killed all the members of this house by torturing them to death! Help me!"
"You lying bastard!" Issei spat out as he wound back his arm to let his demonic side deliver the final blow. However, he heard Asia's gasp of horror, which stopped his attack. "Damn it!"
"Issei-san?" Asia placed a hand over her mouth in shock.
"Asia! He's lying! He's-" Issei was cut off when the blonde nun suddenly charged up and slapped him hard across the face, causing him to throw Freed down, knocking the exorcist out.
Touching the place where she had hit him, Issei's expression also changed into one of shock. "Asia..."
[Reset!]
Tears were running down the girl's face, her emerald eyes reflecting hurt and betrayal. "I can't believe I trusted you, Issei-san. You were a monster all along. I thought you were a good person."
Issei's hair shadowed his eyes again as Asia lifted her hands to the fallen exorcist, a soft, green light emanated from the rings she wore.
"So she had the Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing..."
Finally, Asia slung Freed's arm over her shoulder, leading the exorcist out of the house. Looking back to Issei, Asia's voice was one of hate and spite.
"Next time, Issei-san, we will get you back for this. Remember it."
Issei continued to stand for a long time after she left. "...You foolish girl."
It took a while, but Issei eventually got all the bodies off the wall and buried them. Calling Rias using the house's phone, the teen told her all that had happened within the house, with Rias telling him to go home as she will have the club members come and deal with everything else.
Rias and her peerage operated under their alias of the Kuoh Academy's Occult Research Club.
Saying thanks, Issei hung up. Maybe they weren't so bad after all.
It was almost midnight when Issei finally got home, and he knew that Alas=Ramus was going to give him a earful in the morning. However, she would understand the circumstances behind his tardiness, so Issei didn't worry about that too much.
But what he did worry about was Asia. How in the hell did an innocent girl like her become affiliated with bastards like Freed? Hopefully, they wouldn't use her as bait against him, although Issei had a bad feeling in his gut about it.
"I'm home!" Issei wearily called as he entered his house, which was completely dark. "Looks like Alas=Ramus is already asleep..."
However, what he wasn't expecting to see was Raynare asleep at the kitchen table. She was dressed in her casual schoolgirl clothes instead of her S&M outfit. "Huh. She didn't leave yet. That's also quite surprising."
Issei also noticed that Raynare had prepared some delicious looking food, which was now completely cold. It was probably in the hopes that he would return earlier today. Smiling softly, he sat down across from her and popped a piece of fried shrimp into his mouth.
It was a little cold, but was still quite delicious.
"...I'm... Sorry... Issei-sama." Issei raised an eyebrow at hearing her sleeptalk.
Reaching over instinctively, and beyond his self-control; he began to gently stroke the fallen angel's head. The Red Dragon Emperor admitted that Raynare was still quite attractive, even for being a murderous and deceptive girl on their first date.
However, he sweatdropped when a perverted look replaced her peaceful sleeping expression. "Issei... Ah... You pervert... Don't touch me there..."
Sighing, Issei stood up and gently carried the fallen angel to his bed. Placing her onto the mattress, the teen pulled her slippers off and pulled up the blankets with care.
Walking out, Issei was still unable to wipe the small smile off his face as he closed the door.
"Women, there's no understanding them. They can be trying to kill you one second, then making it up to you the next."
Stretching, Issei prepared to sleep through another night on the couch.
AN: Finally, I've finished! However, I personally don't like this chapter as I felt the plot didn't really budge from last chapter, as well as the first half of it being quite slow. (My opinion)
Aside from that, I still liked my own Freed bashing. Did everyone else enjoy it? XD
Remember to read x review! ^_^
See you all next chapter! Happy Remembrance Day!