A/N HOLY CRAP! In 2 Chapters somehow over 100 people have already followed this story. I'm a new author so something like this is seriously incomprehensible. I'm so thankful that people are willing to read this story in progress and would like to see another chapter. It's truly truly motivating to see something like that. THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE ! (Is that fast? I think it is...)

HAPPY EASTER! (God damn I need to set up a damn schedule already)

I'm truly sorry about the wait, I ended up scrapping and rewriting the chapter and during this time I also got lazy and procrastinated for God knows how long, so yeah I'm actually a dumbass. AND OF COURSE SCHOOL SUCKS SO BADLY D,: Fucking AP tests and SAT.

And before anything else first and foremost I need to give a huge thanks to Nate Eaton and Xerzo LotCN. Mainly since they were the main people that was pushing me to get off my lazy ass and write the chapter.

As far as the story goes I would like to try something a little different. I would like to try and switch perspectives and point of view depending on the situation, for example in a battle it will be a third person omnipotent kind of thing, actually it will be third person for the most part. During some emotional things or big events I will likely switch to first person to a specific character

BIG WARNING THIS CHAPTER WILL BE EDGY ASF, Sorry, I really want to lighten up the story but we need to wait another few chapters and I PROMISE that it will become more comedic and light hearted. It won't always be this serious i promise

IMPORTANT: Issei will eventually go to school just give the boy some time, we have one more cast member coming in soon.

And how the Devil could wield a light spear will be explained in future chapters, trust me it's not just a random fuck up i made when writing it. IT's meant to be a "wtf since when could devils hold light spears"

Some people want to know the backstories behind everyone, well I'll tell you now they will be revealed eventually but it will take some time because even Vali's goes pretty far back. It would need to be at a time when telling the story would make sense, like during the peace treaty arc or something along those lines.

Once again I would like to thank everyone that Review and Read this story, a special thanks to everyone for reviewing. If you have any questions that you would like to ask or want to say something about the story feel free to PM me, I will gladly answer the questions you guys have for me.

Remember how last chapter I said this one would be short? Yeahhhhh, it's not short. Sorry about that, or you're welcome? I don't know if you wanted a short or long one.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Highschool DxD or any of it's characters, anime, manga, LN etc.

"Character Talking"

'Character Thinking'

[Ddraig Talking In Issei's Mind]

{Albion Talking In Vali's Mind}

"Emissary Arts"

*Action*

Important

(Name) - Character/POV switch

Chapter 2: The Reaper, Part I

"Monster…"

"Please have mercy!"

"Just kill me already…"

"GET AWAY YOU DAMN MONSTER"

"What the hell are you?!"

"Please spare my wife and kids, they did nothing wrong…"

"Let me die, I have nothing left anymore."

"You were supposed to save us…"

"Why don't you do us all a favor and die already?"

"You were just a bonus."

…

His brown and red eyes fluttering open, Issei looked around him into the menacing, creepy, yet enchanting, dark abyss that he was surrounded by. It was pitch black, nothing and no one else was there, it was only him left with his thoughts. The area practically begged for someone to go insane. It seemed as a place where one would lose themselves before quickly succumbing to madness. Lunacy and Insanity calling from every corner, another victim arriving within its grasp.

Despite the pure evilness that was emitted from the area he didn't have a single reaction to this. He didn't flinch or even show a noticeable expression that could give off how he felt. It seemed that he felt nothing, he was completely empty from the previous onslaught. He wasn't ready nor did he want to explore the unfamiliar territory. For all he knew it could be another nightmare…

For what felt like an eternity he was assaulted with nightmares, unending and unrelenting. Each getting progressively worse as they continued. When he believed that it would be over or that nothing could be worse, he would wake up to a new one that shattered his expectations in all the worst ways possible.

They were targeted dreams, each hitting a different thing he had either feared or treasured. It was like a skilled swordsman that toyed with their prey, hitting them where it hurts before finishing them.

It was beyond draining to deal with them, with each one even more tiring than the last. Having your heart ripped out and crushed in front of you from the horror is something that couldn't possibly be exciting.

It would've driven any weaker man to insanity after the first few. But here he was now and still somehow holding onto his sanity, albeit not by much. How much longer he could hold to the fragile part of him was unknown, but regardless he wasn't ready to give it up.

Glancing around he began hovering around to try and find a way out. The place in general still gave him a very eerie feeling, as if something very bad will happen if he stayed around for too long.

His instincts had been honed from years and years of battle and life or death situations. He had been trained to have instincts beyond logic and reason. The effort was far from being in vain, he couldn't keep count of the amount of times that the little voice in the back of his mind had saved him from either certain death or stupid decisions. With all sorts of flags going off now meant that nothing good could possibly come from sticking around longer than he needed to.

Speeding up his flight he quickly traveled around the area, surveying for any kind of exit, anything to get him out of the cursed place. He is met with disappointment after disappointment, with nothing appearing in the endless darkness. While traveling through the barren land a bright light shoots directly into this eyes. Slightly blinding him, Issei reflexively activating a defense barrier of sorts and readying all kinds of weapons while adjusting his eyes to the discovery. Carefully training his sights on what blinded him he spots a very small gleam in the distance.

As he flew closer a unkempt medieval bridge had begun to form. Weeds sticking through the cracks, and ivy growing along the sides and over the small walls, scattering along the pathway. The brightness hadn't yet died down and once the bridge had finished coming together, Issei was hit with a full blast of blinding white. Luckily all of his enhancements were powerful enough for him, unlike before to not be blinded by it. At the end of the bridge he was able to make out some type of structure.

'An exit?'

Flying towards the far too radiant lights, he is able to pick up more and more details of just what the hell it's coming from. The area surrounding him begins to get illuminated and a door coming into sight.

Before him is quite the grand spectacle.

Coming to a stop in front of the ancient door he studied its ominous features.

What stood before him was a giant doorway worthy of a kingdom, except it's in the middle of nowhere, connected to nothing with bright light coming through the edges. It is completely wood with planks going in X patterns along the front. It has a large wooden cracked cross on the front on the middle of the door almost spanning the same length and width of the door itself. To the left of the cross underneath one of the boards is a purely black door. It lacks any detail or anything resembling interesting. The same color as a moonless night, it screams plain and simple more than anything. Yet has a strange alluring call. Despite the basic look, it's practically yelling the need to be opened, to be touched, to be recognized.

Issei not in the right mind puts his hand on the knob that had appeared out of nowhere, also of the same inky hue. Suddenly the dark handle morphs and instead it completely encapsulates his hand, like an iron glove welded onto a human's skin.

"?!" Issei screams aloud, however no one is listening. He tries to pull his hand free, using all of his might to get released. The darkness doesn't budge, instead it feels as if the grip around him is getting tighter, the harder he pulls the harder it pulls back, never wanting to let go.

"Get off dammit, Forbidden Arts: Greater Strength!" Magically enhancing himself, he tugged even harder, however the shadows become stiff around his hand. As if his hand were buried in concrete.

The substance was now pulling him, it was pulling him towards the demented door. The entrance was becoming distorted, it seemed like a portal to another dimension, a pitch black hole with purple wisps dancing around.

The purple wisps flew towards him as they gathered around his struggling form.

A wisp doing the unexpected dashed into him, leaving its position in a split second.

Upon its entry Issei became dramatically weaker, physically his whole being became overall more fatigued and sluggish.

He was now grunting as the task became significantly more difficult. Escape was quickly becoming out of reach.

But it wasn't done yet.

The other wisps followed suit, floating into him, with each entry causing more and more weakness to form within him.

Rapidly he was losing the fight, his feet were no longer able to keep him in place and he was getting dragged inch by inch.

Oddly enough, it didn't just sap away his strength, but it even took away his magical prowess with his enhancement becoming undone. His ability to resist swiftly was broken down as he now lacked any power to keep going.

Before Issei knew it, he was completely pulled into the void.

He was being forced through the dark abyss.

Looking around for a possible clue as to what was happening he spotted nothing. The pull was going faster by the moment, he couldn't tell by objects moving by, rather by the increasing pressure he felt on his tugged arm.

Eventually he comes to a stop with the substance receding and dissolving into a goop, dripping off his limb and falling to the ground, getting reabsorbed into the nonexistent ground. Shaking his hand, attempting to get feeling back into it, he didn't have long before getting blinded by a bright light.

Instinctively moving his hands over his eyes he squints at the overwhelming glow.

The light dying down Issei lowers his hand, and slowly opens his eyes as to make sure he doesn't become deprived of his vision again. Carefully looking around he can see trees, flowers, and bushes around him, with dirt beneath his feet, and a small playground further to the right.

"Why am I in the park?" asking to seemingly no one, as he walked around the area.

While observing his surroundings he notices a group of thuggish looking men in a circle. Curiosity obtaining the best of him, he goes towards them…

"Don't you dare try to touch her." someone growled, it was low but Issei's sensitive ears were able to pick it up. The voice held anger, bloodlust, but most importantly was that it was seeping with a rabid intent for murder. His eyes widened when he heard this. Quickly vanishing then reappearing to get closer, but when he landed close to them, the scene had changed.

Instead what was there were pools of blood, severed limbs, disemboweled humans with large gaping holes within their stomachs. To the side the saw a few other men with their throats ripped out and another with what appeared to be a stump of a man with his head caved in.

'Why do I feel as if I remember this from somewhere.' Issei thought, he had no idea what was happening and no recognition to the events laid bare before him. For all he knew, he was most likely just dreaming of some bad, cliche, edgy and cheesy romcom. (A/N There probably aren't any romcoms like that, are there?)

The scene changing once again before his eyes, were now four beauties huddled around a boy lying on the ground, drenched in blood, however it was not his own. It was the life sustaining liquid of others.

'What happened this time?' Issei walked over, now noticing the woman, "Ddraig, Irina, Vali, Albion, what are they doing here?"

Hovering on top of them he looks over to see who the boy is, but to his surprise, the boy lacked a face, skin being the only thing there. He had brown spiky hair, and was wearing a simple civilian attire.

All of a sudden however, Issei's head began to pound, as if someone took an icepick to his brain. Stepping backwards, he gripped his head in agony. His eyes closed tight, his lips pursed in pain, with the knuckles on his hands going white.

"Wow do you not remember or even recognize this?" a man with a monotone voice laced with sarcasm, suddenly appearing, "it's no surprise really knowing about you and all."

Opening one of his eyes and turning his head towards the voice, through gritted teeth he questions "What are you talking about?" Issei hated to be toyed with, he disliked it when people were vague or unclear with what they were saying, or when they said something as if he should know it when he didn't.

The man was lean, with an average, yet slightly thin face, and build. His hair was in a bowl cut with his eyes, unmoving, dead. As for his attire, he was wearing a plain black polo over loose jeans, with boots on his feet. His hands in his pocket he looks carefully at Issei before his lips curve upwards.

"Ya really don't recognize anything?"

"Just tell me."

"Tsk Tsk, you know patience is a virtue, and so is intelligence which you clearly lack." The man scoffing at the boy's lack of restraint. "Here let's play a game, if you win I'll tell ya everything ya want to know."

He didn't have the patience for this crap but at the same time he knew that he'll get nowhere from just telling him to spit it out.

There was no way he was going to play a game with him.

Issei's eyes narrowing on his target he quickly dashed at him with his fist cocked back, going for the stomach. If he wouldn't talk normally than a little pain always helped.

To his surprise, the man simply caught his fist as if it was nothing.

"Yare, Yare, this is why I hate playing with little kids, they don't know about talk first shoot later. Too aggressive, mhm, too aggressive"

Not wasting a moment Issei used his momentum to swing his leg at the man's head.

Releasing his fist the man disappeared from sight, Issei missing his enemy completely.

Before he could register everything that was going on he heard talking from behind him, "Ya see I'm not really in the mood to fight, so can we just call it a day and go back to my game, it's less tiring and you can find what you need to know and I won't need to brawl with you. It's a win win in my book."

Not listening Issei quickly kicked off went in for another punch. However, the last second before colliding he disappeared and went for his side, this time the man made no motion to catch or even block the impact.

Issei had gotten him, or so he thought.

Instead of sending him flying back he simply phased right through him. Flinging his arms forward he springed off of his hands on to his feet to regain his footing.

"Ya know ya can't hurt your thoughts right?"

Failing to hear his words Issei continued his onslaught of misses, the man didn't move one bit as everything simply passed right through him.

With none of his punches or kicks connecting, he jumped back before summoning a ball of fire the size of a house in his hand, condensing it to the size of a matchstick he threw it at the ground beneath the figure.

A large blaze of fire erupted from the point of contact, engulfing and disintegrating everything that it touched. The dirt and the trees in the radius were gone without a trace.

All that was left was a deep crater and the man hovering over the spot where there was once ground.

"Maybe if ya try a little harder you can catch me, but who knows, feel free."

Gritting his teeth together Issei went back to attempting physical tactics, increasing his speed even further. Flying and dashing around him trying to land a solid hit on the man. But of course nothing was successful.

Stopping in his tracks he begins trying to analyze the situation. 'It's impossible to hit him with anything tangible. Neither my normal attacks or magic will work on him. Is there anyway possible that I can do something to him? I don't care for beating him, just something that will have an effect on him.

"I swear kids like you never learn until something happens to you, I just gotta force ya then." Disappearing from sight, he appeared right in front of Issei with his arm stretched out to the side.

Expecting a special magic spell or attack of some sort, Issei held his arms up in front of his face and tensed his muscles for the oncoming attack.

Bringing his arm across, the man back slapped Issei across the face.

*DON*

An impact that could be heard around the world had made its appearance. The slap sent Issei flying through the park, going through several trees and buildings before the man appeared above him and kicked him into the ground causing Issei to get straight down, forming a crater at least 60 meters deep.

Picking up the boy he swung him around before throwing him up, jumping up to follow his momentum he kicked his body to the side and disappeared once again using a barrage of hits to send him once more to the ground.

*DON* *DON* *DON* *DON** DON* *DON* *DON* *SMASH*

Finishing off this combination with an elbow to his chest, rocketing Issei's ragdoll body once more into the ground only to form an even bigger than last time, a dust cloud forming and obscuring view in its wake.

As everything settled Issei was lying the crater with multiple rips in his clothes and heavily bloodied. One of his eyes were swollen shut and he was breathing heavily after the beat down he received. His arms were shattered, with several of his ribs being broken. The amount of internal injuries he had received were far too many to count including but not limited too, lacerations, a destroyed liver, a ruptured kidney, and major hemorrhaging.

The man was crouching and smiling down at him. "Wanna play now?"

The only reaction he got to this however was a spit in the face, a thick slimy and bloody concoction.

Wiping the liquid off of his face he chuckled at the continued resistance from the physically broken boy. "You show guts kiddo, I can forgive that one."

"Also if ya wondering ya can't touch but I can, it's pretty obvious for anyone that isn't completely retarded. If I'm not mistaken, I don't remember being able to ever physically touch or feel my thoughts and imaginations. No matter what, ya can't do a damn thing about them, but they'll always be able to lift ya up or hurt ya in ways only imaginable."

"But even then coming to a conclusion like that is utterly stupid and completely wrong. Now what could the magical man possibly mean by this?" he said while pointing to himself and having magic dust appearing around him.

"Well kiddo I'm glad you asked because allow me to teach you." The dust exploded into smoke with the man now standing in front of a black board on a small wooden stand with wheels.

Grabbing a pointer stick he struck the board and pointed at words that said…

…

I am more than just your thoughts.

"Do me a favor and shock me, say something intelligent."

"..."

"Yeah never mind, I'll just put the stuff away" With a clap the blackboard and stand had vanished back into thin air.

Walking away to take a seat on a rock he relaxed before looking back at Issei.

"Well whatever, I'll play nice, to put it simply this was you yesterday. When you killed the men in the park for threatening your mates." his smile had not left his face.

*Mumble*

"What did ya say?"

"You're... wrong... it can't be... I don't even remember…" Issei mumbled, pain was coursing through his body but that didn't mean he couldn't talk.

Or rather he shouldn't be able to, the last few hits had messed up his lungs and windpipe badly. But how could he not say something when being accused of committing such an atrocity? Issei's mind didn't want to believe the possibility of it truly being him.

"Oh come on, don't tell me you're that delusional, seriously did ya hit your head or somethin?"

"You're… lying… I never… did that…"

"Geez maybe I hit ya too hard, here why don't ya see for yourself?"

Issei's eyes narrowed in a way that said and how do you expect me too?

"Ahh I almost forgot about ya condition right now, don't worry I can fix ya right up!" snapping his fingers together a green light appeared over Issei. Causing all of his cuts to miraculously close and the pain for the most part to instantly disappear. But this didn't change the immense exhaustion he felt.

Snapping his fingers once again Issei was back, standing on normal ground and not laying 400 feet in the ground. Looking around it seemed that everything was restored back to normal.

"Alright with that out of the way now take a look." he gestured towards the scene of the crime.

Following his hand his eyes landed on exactly what the man said, 'Impossible, there's no way.' his eyes widening and his pupils dilating, taking a step back. 'I've done everything I could, I've sealed most of my power, I've learned to control my emotions better… I would never hurt someone, not if they're pure evil. Even if they are, I don't know if I could even bring myself to that point again… Ddraig, Albion, Vali, and Irina would have stopped me before I can even do something like that… right?'

"See I wasn't lying, but ya know I was really hoping I could see that new form your working on, It looked so damn cool and oh boy was I ready to see what it could do. Still disappointed that it stopped before we could get there but there is always next time I guess."

"How… can… this be? This must be a trick, a cruel joke or just a bad dream…" Issei reasoned standing still staring at nothing. He still couldn't believe that he would do such a thing, especially after all this time...

But then it struck him, the memories, the feelings, the anger, was all flooding back into his memory. Everything from the event came back to him. From the shopping escapade, to the extra eventful meal, and finally to his rageful destruction. This was no dream, or lie, this was the reality of what happened. Everything was making sense, the darkness, a place hallow with no future, his anger. The shadows that pulled him, where his anger took him. Finally his destination, the realization of his actions.

Issei fell on his knees in defeat, with his head slumping forward, his bangs covering his eyes. His eyes did not close, they were still the same, locked open in shock.

The space around Issei began to crumble away, with the scenery cracking then breaking away.

"Ah it looks like my time is up, well I'll see ya next time oh great emissary" the man courteously bowing before he too broke away and disappeared into blackness.

Issei didn't even react to anything happening, he was too lost in the situation, his thoughts drifting from one to another, even if it didn't make sense. All he knew now was that he had murdered humans in cold blood, there had been other alternatives. He could've used his magic or anything else to wipe their memories and set them on a different path. Rather he had killed them with no qualms or remorse. Eventually he too faded away, his vision going black, while losing consciousness.

Scene Break

Sitting around the kitchen table were Issei's beloved, all with plates of breakfast in front of the. However, the plates were just sitting there, no one was really touching it… besides Irina who acted as if nothing was wrong. The air was dense and filled with a sense of dread and contemplation, the atmosphere was awkward at best, deadly at worst. It was suffocatingly silent with Irina's fork contacting the plate and her chewing being the only source of sanity.

Everyone had roughly the same idea in mind. It was unspoken between them but a few glances and nods every so often was all they needed to know what the other was thinking. But what in the world could be confusing their minds?

"Areggh you guysh gonmna finilish *swallow* your food?" Irina said with her mouth full of eggs and bacon, before doing the smart thing to chew then speak.

The comment caused Irina to get 3 annoyed glares from each of the girls.

"Are you serious? No really, are you that concerned for your breakfast?" Vali squinting her eyes, threatening pain if she was given the wrong answer. She was dumbfounded, here they were sitting around, in an easy to read mood and all the brown head idiot wanted was more food.

"After everything that happened yesterday, the only thing you seemed to be worried about is the food of yours and not the only thing that any of us actually love." Ddraig growled, having the same opinions as Vali only added fuel to the quickly growing flame.

"Irina, are you asking for pain?" Albion sighed as she shook her head, she knew what Irina was trying to do. But with the way everyone was now, her timing couldn't possibly have been worse.

"I mean the food is delicious and all, it would be quite a shame if it went to waste…" Irina looked down towards their plates ignoring the hardening glares being sent at her.

"You little…" In Vali's mind Irina had said 'Please hit me Valiara-sama'. She slammed her hands on the table, hard. Standing from her seat she was now staring at her with a promise of death at best.

"Do you really want our food that badly?" Ddraig with venom seething through her voice. She was daring her to answer that question with a yes.

'Geez you guys don't understand a thing'

Irina suddenly her expression hardening and her soft hunger filled gaze gone without a trace "What do you think will happen if Issei saw us like this and we treated him like some kicked puppy or we were awkward around him?"

Seeing the girl suddenly turned serious was a bit of a surprise to all of them, Irina would rarely not be childish. Even in life or death situations she would still act like and 8 year old, unless it was sex then she was a nymphomaniac. But seeing her joking side gone meant that whatever it was she wasn't fooling around and from here on out meant every word she said. When she was like this everything was carefully calculated, precise, elegant, and deadly accurate, whether it be her observations or deductions.

"Well obviously he wouldn't like it, he doesn't appreciate pity, and always tries to seem strong and confident." Vali answered taking a seat because she knew that she would get real answers, and not badly timed jokes.

"More than that he would probably want to hide whatever is bothering him even more than before." Ddraig beginning to pick up on the trail that they were going down.

"Precisely, Issei is strong, powerful, fearless, and anything that is remotely the same. But above all else he is selfless, the kind of person that would lay down his life for us at any moment without a second thought, even if we did the worst things possible to him. If we broke his heart, betrayed him, hurt him in way unimaginable he would still be there for us no matter the cost." Irina listing the obvious traits of Issei.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Vali deadpanning at her. It's not like she didn't already know that. The years she spent with him proved the everlasting care and love he had for them. The amount of times he got injured and hurt beyond comprehension in order to protect them, the ones he loved, was innumerable. He would go out of his way to make life as easy for them, often doing missions while they slept so that they wouldn't be bothered the next day to do them.

Albion who had been mostly quiet up to this point decided to interject into the conversation "It has everything to do with this. Think about it, strong people don't like to seem weak to others. The feeling of pity is instead felt as an insult, the idea of someone else feeling bad for them is unacceptable. Issei is selfless obviously, but what does that mean for us? If he saw us worrying for him he would do everything in his power to prevent that from happening. Why do you think he doesn't tell us his problems or always seems says he's okay even when death is an inch away. It's because he doesn't want us to worry. He wants us to be happy no matter what, anything that prevents us from being so, he will stop or eliminate. Issei is just that kind of person."

Ddraig despite being wise beyond most supernaturals even the smartest, still couldn't wrap her head around such a simple idea and questioned "Well what do you expect us to do then?"

"Treat it like nothing has happened and that he is the same lovable closet pervert that he is." Irina said shrugging her shoulders.

"Then what? We just let him suffer by himself? We don't even try to do anything?!" Ddraig began to get impatient and angry with the lack of action they were taking to fix this whole thing.

"Of course not, we will do something but we can't add to his already overloaded plate with him worrying about us."

"..." Ddraig went silent at this. She wanted to do something so badly for the man she loved, the desire was there but Irina had a point. There must already be a million things on his mind, it would be selfish to try and push this and make him worry more than he already does.

"Unlike any other time this happened, there's nothing we can do." Albion added, treating the situation as something completely different when it should be the same as the others.

"But why is it so different this time…" Vali leaning back into her seat, started to ponder on their words. It's not like she didn't know this already. She wasn't and idiot, in fact despite being a battle maniac she could be considered a genius for her intelligence. It's not like this kind of thing has never happened before, but why this time is it so different from the rest… What makes this one incident so much worse than anything else. Usually they would force out his problems and then comfort and cuddle him and whatever else happens, happens.

Irina having read Vali perfectly based on just her expression suddenly asked "Vali when does Issei usually relapse?"

"In his sleep, or when he kills or hurts another being that has a mind and can think."

"Exactly, whenever his past began to come back to him, at least one of us was there to snap him out of it, and immediately give him relief. Or when he began to change we would be able to drag him out of it and return him to normal. So what is it this time that is different from the others?"

It came to Vali, everything began to make sense in her mind "I got it, we weren't able to bring him back because this time he was too far gone and we needed to use the sealing spell. During the spell he is unconscious until his energy stabilizes and returns to normal."

"Do you remember what happened on the way back?"

"Of course I do…" Vali gritted her teeth as she was reminded of the trip back to Grigori from the park.

FLASHBACK

"ISSEI!" All of the girls quickly ran to his side, hovering over him their expressions were full of regret and sorrow. Thoughts raced through their minds. Sad speculations on what if they hadn't took this route. What if instead they had just teleported back, or went the normal way instead of taking the detour. Guilt began to build amongst them. None of this needed to happen, what if they just flashed their auras to scare them away. Normal humans would have run away if they were to get a face full of any of them releasing even a tiny portion of their strength. But what did they do instead?

It was unforgivable what they did. They just stood there in a stupor watching as he exterminated them. They didn't even move to stop him, or restrain him. It's not like they wouldn't have been able to with all the power they have together. But for whatever reason they just let him fall off the cliff to insanity.

Guilt was a powerful feeling, but it was also very common. No one is spared of it, whether it's over a previous action, hurting another, or even being unable to say goodbye to a person that had passed away. However, the guilt felt when knowing you could've done something for someone but didn't, and because of it they suffered, is not a light load even for the strongest of people…

But this wasn't the time to contemplate…

They needed to get him out of here as fast as possible, no matter what. Any thoughts and regrets they have can be dealt with later, the only thing that matters is that they get Issei back somewhere safe.

Azazel's Office

"Ahhh nothing beats seeing big boobs while having no work!" the fallen angel governor exclaiming to no one as he is literally stuffing his face with laminated breasts from pages in his magazine.

"I should probably thank Shemhazai again for taking my paperwork." he considered for a moment, "actually, no, then I won't be able to see all these girls if I'm thanking him."

Elsewhere:

ACHOO

"Ugh I think someone is talking about me" said a man with short white hair reaching his jawline and in purple robes befitting of royalty.

"I will get Azazel one day for pushing his work on me." he grumbled before going back to siphoning through the heaps of papers scattered around his desk.

Azazel's Office

BANG

"Ugh now who is interrupting me." Azazel groaned while closing and putting down his magazine. "I didn't order any pizza, at least knock if it's for me." Rubbing his eyes he gets a clearer sight of just what is in front of him. It's his son, his daughter, the heavenly dragons, and an airhead.

"You know, knocking does the same job and it's a lot less noisy and is a nice gesture, anyway what brings you guys he-" suddenly he cuts himself off as he finally gets the whole picture of what's before him.

Sure it's the same people but not as one would expect. Ddraig head is down with her fists turning white and her shoulders shuddering. Vali's whole body is shivering with her arm across her face, her teeth are gritted tightly as if to try and draw blood. Irina had a dead expression with tears falling down her face at rate that doesn't seem to be slowing down. Albion simply looked dead, with her face conveying no emotion. But most importantly, she's carrying what seems to be a dead body.

"Ah Issei, I suppose he went at it too hard last night and now he won't wake up? Well I mean for a growing dragon something like that should be expected. He is quite the active lad with being able to tame you guys. I'm surprised you can still walk after that kind of thing. Hey you wanna tell me wha-"

CRASH

Before being able to finish the sentence a powerful fist made its way to Azazel's face sending him into the wall creating a large crack into it.

Unsurprised from the sudden attack he pulled himself out of the wall and began patting the debris off of his clothes. "You know that was pretty uncalled for."

"Stop fooling around you damn crow."

*Gulp* Azazel was receiving a frightening look from Ddraig, one that said 'If you keep doing this I will rip off that little thing you call your pride and burn it to a pile of ash.'

To further show her seriousness, Ddraig quickly flared her aura with a resounding [BOOST!] filling the room.

"Would you mind getting serious now or do you need to spend some time with your dead father?"

Coughing into his closed hand, Azazel walked towards the group. Stopping in front of them he put his hands in his pocket and shifted his weight onto one leg and asked "Well what happened now?"

'What's wrong with everyone, it's like Issei is dead, but I can tell he isn't, his aura is still there and visibly he's breathing fine.' Nobody in the group seemed in the right mind to answer the question. Living for as long as he has, he was able to get a certain grasp of their emotions. Guilt, Anxiety, Sadness, Anger, and more complicated feelings was all the he could obtain. Whatever it was that happened, must have had some kind of unintentional backlash. But what in the world could have possibly happened for everything to end up like this?

…

…

…

…

*Sniffle*

…

…

…

…

…

*Whimper*

…

…

"Albion, can you tell me?" To him she seemed the only one 'intact enough' to tell him what he needed. It's not as if she didn't look like she wasn't in pain but compared to the others she seemed the least out of it.

…

…

...

Albion breaking the silence recounted the story of what had happened. She told him the quick version of everything as she herself didn't want to remember the entire fiasco, skipping over most of the date but going to great lengths to explain what had transpired in the park.

After hearing the full recount Azazel stood in silence with his eyes closed to try and go over everything again in his mind. 'So the kiddo finally snapped. To think they even used the sealing spell to put him down… ' It was a rare moment for Azazel to quitely contemplate to himself. He was usually laid back and always wearing a smirk to boot. But all of his playfulness was gone and was replaced with a look of serious thought.

"His aura felt malevolent and dark. It didn't carry that same warm feeling, rather it was heavy and oppressive. Even now with his aura subdued, you can still feel the weight of it, as if it hasn't gone away at all, as if it's trying to hide." Albion emotionlessly restating facts, she felt useless. All she could do was watch him suffer, what kind of lover was she?

'How much will you suffer Issei before it is enough?'

Albion has been with Issei through a lot, she found out about his past and pity was a soft term for how she felt. Despite being alive for less then two decades, he had already experienced cruelties that many people that have been alive for centuries, have not and likely will not face. The man she loved was being played like some puppet in a terrible play. It was like people couldn't get enough of his sadness, as if someone just wanted to hurt him more and more, to see how far they could take it before he breaks.

"Let's lay Issei on the sofa." Azazel coming out of his thoughts with an idea. Walking towards the group, he picks up the resting boy before carefully laying him along the silken mattress.

The girls follow in suit, now huddling around the couch to stay as close to Issei as possible. To them it felt necessary to be by his side, not emotionally but physically too. They relied on him just as much as he relied on them. They were each other's lifelines, they were like life support to a dying patient. They needed it to survive, if you removed it, they, just like the patient, would shrivel up and die.

Azazel put his hand over Issei's forehead, "Data Reveal: Aura". He then moved away from him as a shroud dark black miasma began to release from every pore of Issei's body. Within seconds his body became almost unseeable as the gas like substance covered him.

'What the hell is this?'

"Purification" Azazel stuck his hand out with a white wisp coming from it before attempting to latch on to the murky smoke. The second it came into contact, the wisp disintegrated into nothingness.

"Stabilize" A green aura began emanating around Issei before quickly being quenched and subdued by the miasma, going back to where it came from.

"Overhaul" This time nothing happened.

"Divinity" Once again no results, if anything the darkness seemed to be growing thicker with every spell.

"Tranquility" The miasma was now beginning to thicken into a liquidy substance, some of it forming into small drops, falling to the ground before evaporating.

Azazel was getting frustrated, he was using spells that would normally dispel negative emotions and calm them down, at the very least it was supposed to keep it from getting any worse. The exact opposite happened with nothing getting better, and everything taking a bad bad turn. He even used more power than necessary to try and make the spells stronger but nothing seemed to work. By no means was he weak, and neither were the spells, but whatever this was, it needed to be eliminated.

Each of the females by Issei's side saw Azazel's futile attempts to help the boy. This further increased their sorrow. One's aura was determined by many different factors, however the color of the aura was often times a representation of how a person felt emotionally. It was an outward representation of a person's inside. Issei's aura was absurdly dark, it spoke of despair and decay. The negativity rolling off of it was too much. No one should feel this way no matter what.

Often times the aura of a person would just be a darker tone of another. If a person was going through extreme sadness they would have a dark blue aura. If they were vengeful it would be a dark crimson. But black, what was that supposed to even mean. The color itself is the absence of light, no color coming off because of them being absorbed. What horrors must he truly be going through for it to a hue darker than black itself.

Spell after spell, Azazel continued to try and use new and improved magic to try and lift at least some of the burden off of his surrogate child. Time had proved again and again that nothing will work.

Ddraig fed up with not being able to do anything suddenly turns into a red mist before rushing into Issei, passing through the murky fog.

(Ddraig)

Please wait for me darling, I'm coming for you.

I didn't know what I was thinking but this seemed like a possible solution. Since I'm still bonded to his soul I should be able to enter his dreamscape and possibly see what's wrong. I'm doubtful though… Of course I can talk to him in his mind but it was always when he was a complete mess like he is now that it became impossible.

*Cough Cough*

Ugh What the hell is this crap. It's like inhaling smoke, and not even the good kind. It's so hard to breathe in here, it's so suffocating, it's only getting worse the further I go. The darkness is endless, it looks like it's going on for an eternity. It's completely dead out here, I can't even see a single trace of light in any direction.

Wait what is that? I came to a stop before a giant door. It was eerie to say the least, with black being its primary color. Purple wisps floated and strayed around the door, bobbing in various directions at seemingly random times. The door itself didn't have any details with it, except at the very top. Hovering over the top was the skull of a ram. Points and sharp edges being its defining features, and an evil aura exuding from the object.

*Scream* *Sob*

Issei?! Is that you? What's wrong?

I'm coming for you! I quickly rammed into the door full power, not caring if I shattered it in millions of pieces, if anything that would be what I was expecting to happen. Huh? I just bounced off the door like nothing. Let's try that again.

[BOOST!]

*SMASH*

What is this door made out of?!

[BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!] [BOOST!]

Just, Break, Already, you fucking door! Why won't this door break, Issei, what is happening that I can't even enter any deeper into your mind. How bad is it that your emotions are this strong to keep me away?

*CRACK!* * RUMBLE* * CRACK!*

Dammit what is happening now?

Seriously why are there things coming from freaking cracks in the ground. There are things way more important I need to do then deal with these damn things.

There are so many coming from the ground, and their getting created all around me. And what the hell why are there small ones and huge ones? I eyed them up and down, none of them looked particularly strong.

Just because there's a lot of doesn't mean shit if you don't have the power to do anything. I just need to get to Issei.

Here they come, I can't hold back, I just need to clear them out as fast as possible

I jumped in the air and immediately took out the ones that were foolish enough to think that in air they would have some kind of advantage. Kneeing the first one that was about to pounce on me, with it disintegrating into nothingness.

Using my momentum I launched off and pushed punched another one with all my strength back down into the ground. When it hit the ground it took out several out with it.

I need to hurry up already! I'll incinerate these foolish creatures. Inhaling I let the air churn within me and turned it into a fire waiting to be released. Exhaling I made sure to get as many of them as possible within the fire radius.

Getting a nudge in the back of my mind that something was coming, I sidestepped just in time for a small figure to dash past me, well aren't you just impatient, don't worry I'll take special care of you, now die. I karate chopped it's neck, decapitating its head clean off of its body.

Time to finish the rest.

Snapping my fingers a large magic circle encompassed a good amount of the charging enemies.

A large sphere of fire formed around me before expanding to cover the area within the magic circle. All the dark forms were vaporized at the touch of the spell.

"RAHHHHHHH" the large beings formed an inky ball of energy inside the heart like gap in their stomachs before sending it straight at me

Learn to not scream like that when you're trying to get someone by surprise, it completely destroys the illusion .

"Dragon shot, rapid fire" forming a finger gun I took aim at the flying orbs before firing condensed dragon shots at each one.

*BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM*

These small ones are no trouble for me but first I need to take out the big ones to keep any more random blasts from catching me off guard.

Landing on the ground I put all my weight on my right leg before pushing with all the strength I had to close the distance between me and one of the big monsters. Reeling my fist back and let it loose aiming for it's chest. My fist went right through its chest with a large gaping hole appearing around my hit. It fell backwards and dissolved into goop, fusing back with the ground

How many more are there?

I scanned the area but something didn't seem right. It was as if I didn't kill any of them and if anything there were more than before.

These things just don't know when to give up do they?

"Dragon shot, evening storm." I pointed an open hand towards the sky and let out a large dragon shot straight up. Before any of them could realize it my attack had already began to take shape. My dragon shot split into many smaller orbs and rained down killing all of them in the process.

Issei I'm coming for you.

I flew with all my might straight at the stupid door hoping to break it but...

"KYAH" *SNAP*

Some dark thing just latched onto me! Why can't I rip this thing off. It's holding on to me so tight, It's getting so hard to breathe with this damn thing.

Get off of me dammit!

No matter what I do this thing won't get off of me. Wait why am I suddenly higher than the door?

"AAAHHHHH"

It's dragging me away. GET OFF OF ME!

ISSEI! ISSEI!

*GASP*

Quickly opening my eyes I scan my surroundings. What? I'm back in the Grigori. But just a moment ago I was in Issei's mind. Did I get pulled out of there and why the hell am I lying on the ground.

Wait that's right Issei, is he awake now?

Whipping my head towards the sofa I quickly look in the hopes of him finally coming back to his senses. Oh, he's still asleep, of course he would be, how could he even wake up.

A Few Hours Later (Third Person POV)

After the complete failure of attempts, and their attempts seemingly making it worse, they decided to just lay off and leave him be in a room with someone watching over him. They took shifts with everyone switching in and out every so often. Albeit none of them wanted to leave him alone, but they all knew what one another wanted. Because of this mutual understanding they gave one another time to spend alone with his sleeping form.

Switching in and out it eventually became Vali's turn to watch over him, coming into the room she watched him carefully for any disturbances.

'Nothing…'

That was a good sign for now, his aura had receded back into his body and at this point he seemed to be just sleeping.

Walking towards his bed she sat at the foot of it to keep a close watch on him. If anything, there was no way she'll let him down this time.

….

As the time ticked by she couldn't help but slowly fall back into her state of guilt. How could she not at this point?

The cause of if was right before her, her failing to act is what led to this. Her state became gloomy and regretful, the only thing that was on her mind was the boy that laid on the bed.

(Valiara)

"Issei I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"

I don't know what took over me but I was overcome with the urge to bury my face into him. Did I want comfort? Is it because of my self pity that I need to feel him somehow? It's all my fault that this happened anyway…

Maybe I just don't want to face it, I would rather have him bring me into his arms as he whispers my fears away.

I don't know what happened but my head felt something soft yet firm. I looked around to see what it was. It was Issei's chest. He wasn't awake, I could feel his chest slowly rise and fall as he breathed.

*HIC*

What was that? Turning my head to the noise all I could feel was my heart crackling to little pieces. There he was, my darling Issei, shedding tears.

Why does my heart hurt so much. Why is my heart screaming like this. I hate this feeling. But it feels cold. Oh God I feel cold. It's so cold here, what's wrong with me.

Issei warm me up like how you always do.

Issei my face feels wet, can you please wipe it away?

Be the big softie you are and whisk your princess away. Tell me it's alright…

"Issei, Issei, Issei, I'm sorry." I don't know why I said it outloud, he can't even hear me. My face feels weird, my eyes are tingling and there's something going down my face. I rub my eyes, and look to see what it was.

"Uuc...uuu...hic…" I couldn't hold back any longer. I pushed my head right into his chest.

*Drip Drip*

Issei I don't know what to do. What would you do in this situation? Would you cry like a child or would you try to tough it out? Issei I don't know why but I feel so weak… what's wrong with me right now. Please don't cry, I love you so much Issei.

It hurts you know? To see your loved one cry before you hurts, but you would know that well wouldn't you. You were always there when I was at my lowest, you were there to reassure me that I'm not some monster produced to kill. I'm sorry…

Even though you are crying I can't do anything. I'm so useless aren't I? You're right there but I can't reach you. You're so close yet so far. It feels as if we are a worlds apart. Nothing I do will let you hear me.

Please come back to me darling… Embrace me so I can feel that strong reassuring hug that you always have. Show me that there's nothing wrong with me. Tell me that it'll be okay in the soft caring tone you always use. Soothe my pain, make it all go away with your loving smile. Just give me something… anything… You're there right?

My heart… It's shattering Issei. It hurts. Why does it hurt. I know I've told you before but darling it really does hurt. It's painful… it stings so badly. How do you deal with this? I can't even hear anything or feel anything.

Hey, Issei? You're not angry with me right? You don't hate me do you? If you did I don't know what I would do… Issei don't hate me… It was a mistake, I didn't mean for things to become like this…

I never wanted to let people close to my heart, I put up a cold exterior to keep others away. I didn't want to get hurt… You're still there right? You're listening to me right? Right Issei? Right…?

'Heh I love you Vali!'

Issei…

'You mean so much to me, that you don't even realize all of it'

I'm sorry…

'I'll never leave you!'

…

What's wrong with me…

Issei please wake up soon, I need you so badly…

'Huh' I felt warmth on my hand. Slowly warming me up from the outside in. I wonder where it's coming from. Oh… Issei, there he was still sleeping but as if he could hear my thoughts he's still here trying to comfort me.

FLASHBACK END (Back to third person POV)

The memory had effectively killed the conversation from there. No one was in the mood to talk anymore.

All the girls became wracked with guilt and could no longer even focus on reality. They began spacing out and falling into their own thoughts.

A cycle of blame and what ifs were the main ideas but beside that nothing else really lingered. They hung their head downs in shame with even Irina no longer poking at the food.

They knew they needed to help him get over his past demons but how could they do that, but what they needed now was to make sure that Issei didn't do anything foolish in his despair.

SCENE BREAK

Issei's eyes shot open, his body quickly moved up at an inconceivable speed, getting ready to attack.

'Ah so it was just a dream.' lowering his hands down and inspecting his hands

Normally what someone would see is their hand, with the skin and little divots in all the places that they remember. However, Issei couldn't help but have his eyes gaping at his own. His hands were rapidly changing back and forth from the normal reality to blood soaked hands. These images were flashing through his mind and imprinting themselves on his vision. It seemed so real.

People were popping up and disappearing in his mind. Humans, Devils, Angels, Fallen Angels, and many other supernatural beings and entities. One by one they entered his mind with a happy and almost peaceful look before transforming into a hideous mess of blood and dismembered organs

"What did I do…" His aura was becoming unstable and his voice quivering.

The thoughts were going to drive him mad. These weren't just any random people, He could clearly remember them, they were victims during his darker days. Good or evil he still remembered their faces and how he killed them. Never once were the kills peaceful or fulfilling. They were heavy and no matter how many times he had done it before, it never got easier, if anything it became harder and harder and harder.

Tears were forming in the teenager's eyes as memories piled up, one on top of another.

At this point they were no longer limited to death, no they were now consisting of his many atrocious acts. The unrecognizable bodies, the bloody and gurgling screams, everything was hitting him hard. His eyes became bloodshot as he hands moved to his head.

"I DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN!" his inner demons were playing tricks on him. They were preying on him like a lamb walking into a den of wolves. They were circling him from the shadows. Ready to pounce at any moment.

His aura began growing, a dark and ominous feel encapsulating the room. "I ONLY FOLLOWED ORDERS!"

"I JUST WANTED THE BEST FOR THE WORLD!" he truly was losing his sanity.

"I DIDN'T WANT THIS. I JUST WANTED A NORMAL LIFE!" his fingers were digging into his skull, drawing blood from where his fingers pierced his skin.

"WHY COULDN'T I HAVE DIED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO!"

"WHY WAS MY HUMANITY STOLEN, I COULD'VE BEEN WITH HER BUT NO, NOW LOOK AT HOW EVERYTHING TURNED OUT!" He hysterically shouted, clawing into the sides of his face.

"YOU BRING ME INTO YOUR WORLD JUST TO BRING ME NOTHING BUT AGONY, WHAT DID I EVEN DO! YOU BROKE YOUR PROMISES AND HANDED ME TO THE LIONS!" He couldn't stop, to him everything was pain, and pain was everything.

"What even is right and wrong? What is correct to someone is completely wrong to another. Does being right give me the ability to take another life? Or does being wrong allow someone that is right to take their life? They say being moral makes you feel happy, while being immoral makes you feel uneasy or upset. Yet why do I regret what others say is right and take pleasure in the things they say are wrong. Is there even such a thing known as wrong? If anything it is right versus right. Was I wrong or was I right at the end of all of this?"

"I just want to help, I never meant to hurt people, no matter what I did people got hurt and there was nothing I could do to change that…" the aura stabilized with most of it dissipating but the amount that remained gave a depressing atmosphere.

"I'm worthless, I don't even know why I live, I'm alive but I couldn't live, but I was able to survive because I destroyed and killed until I could." Hunching down on his bed with his back against a wall, he brought his knees up tt his face and wrapped his arms around them. "Why couldn't I have just died so long ago." The door to his room had opened with a silhouette coming from into the dark room, but he was so caught up in his own pity that he didn't even take notice it.

"Why do the girls even love me, a stupid thing like me. All I do is kill and kill, there's nothing good about me. Maybe it's just out of pity… I wonder what would happen If I died, I'm not dumb enough to kill myself, but would I even be missed?" Issei wrapped his legs closer, as he monologued to himself.

"Maybe if I disappear this world could be better. Maybe if I vanish from sight and watch from above the world would become better. Imagine all the good that could come from this. The outcast finally disappearing off of God's earth.."

"Maybe if I left I would stop bringing all those around me down, all the girls will be able to move on and find someone better, one that is innocent, honest, and just overall an improved version of myself. Heh what a thought, to think I've fallen this far. How fucking pathetic, to even think of th-"

*SMACK*

Interrupting his thoughts a wild hand came from thin air and slapped Issei across the face, or rather his head since his whole body was cocooned. The surprising attack didn't allow Issei to brace himself, causing him to be knocked off the bed in a rough fashion. Crashing into the floor he rubbed his face as he looked for his assailant.

"Vali?" His eyes widened at the girl standing in front of him, but what surprised him was the expression she was making,

Her head was hanging low, her bangs coming down stopping just before her eyes. Her teeth were clenched together, with huge water wells forming into the creases of her eyes. Her form was shaking and as she gritted her fists, her nails digging into her palm. Was this an expression of anger or sadness? Or a mixture of both?

Through gritted teeth she spoke, "Do you really think that disappearing will solve anything? How do you think the rest of us would feel if one day we couldn't find you? Do you think we would celebrate or have some kind of fucked up party? No, we would look to the ends of the earth to find you, with our journey ending only when we find you. Do you really think we would be happy if you weren't there for us anymore? How do you think I would feel?!"

Crouching down to his level, and grabbing him by the collar she began screaming "DO YOU KNOW HOW BROKEN I WOULD BE?! DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW BADLY I NEED YOU?! ISSEI I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT YOU HERE! YOU'VE DONE SO MUCH FOR ME EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T NEED TO, YOU BROKE PAST MY WALLS AND GAVE ME WHAT I NEEDED TO BE NORMAL AGAIN. AND NOW YOU JUST WANT TO LEAVE MY LIFE?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" her emotions erupted like a wildfire, bottled up feelings simmering to the top. She had held back how she felt for a while now but to no avail. Once it started coming out, It would keep coming out until it was all gone. Letting go of his collar she started banging on his chest.

"I HATE IT SO MUCH! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS INSIST ON HELPING US BUT ALWAYS TRY TO HIDE HOW YOU FEEL? IT'S NOT FAIR! I WANT TO HELP YOU SO BADLY BUT YOU ALWAYS TRY TO HIDE HOW YOU FEEL AND I FUCKING HATE IT SO MUCH. DO YOU KNOW HOW HELPLESS I FEEL WHEN I SEE YOU SUFFER BUT I CAN'T DO A DAMN THING ABOUT IT? YESTERDAY DO YOU KNOW HOW TERRIBLE I FELT WHEN I COULDN'T DO A DAMN THING TO HELP YOU?!" Issei simply listened as she poured out her emotions to him. He lost the feelings in his limbs as he did his best to hold back any reactions.

She lost the strength to keep hitting him, and instead buried her face into his shoulder but continued to speak.

"It really hurts you know? Not being able to help the ones you love. Watching them suffer like this really hurts. It killed me to see you like that and it kills me now knowing that you think this way." Vali ranted, trying to collect herself, but her thoughts were in such disarray that she had trouble formulating a proper thought.

Her voice was heaving and choking with the passing of every few words.

"Why do you try and hold everything in by yourself? Don't you love us? You're supposed to rely on those you love and let them become a pillar of support for you. Everytime you suffer, I suffer too. Whenever you go through pain do you think I feel nothing? I don't know If I could stay sane if one day I woke up into a world without you. It would be terrible knowing that you weren't there by my side. It's a thought that sounds so hellish and scary, it's like a nightmare that would never end. I can't do it without you Issei, I JUST CAN'T."

Her voice was quivering and trembling. Her body shook violently at the thought of losing him.

"Please Issei, don't leave me" Vali quietly whimpered

Issei gently wrapped his arms around her back. Soothingly rubbing her back as she cried her soul out for him.

"I'm sorry Vali, I'm sorry for everything, for causing you this pain, for never being completely honest, and for being so selfish to even consider something like that." He brought her in closer.

"Why would you even think of doing something so stupid?"

"I do this because I love you and the others, I only want to bring you guys happiness. I don't deserve someone like you. I'm just a monster that kills a-" a small growl from Vali quickly shut him up and prevented the thought from getting any further attention.

"Don't you ever say that to me, don't you dare bring that up ever again."

How could he think that? With all the good he's done for people.

Issei took a quick gulp as he wasn't ready to face her wrath.

"I promise to be more honest with you and to rely on you guys more okay? Also I promise to do anything to make it up to you." She lifted her face to see a soft yet genuine smile coming from Issei, giving her the most reassuring feeling she has felt in a long time.

"Issei I love you so much, you don't even understand." Vali smashed her lips into Issei, projecting all of her feelings into it, her love, her passion, her fears, her insecurities, everything laid bare in the kiss.

Breaking away after a few moments, "I love you so much too Valiara" he breathed out.

Using her first name brought a small pink tint to her cheeks as embarrassment flooded her system.

"God you're really an idiot sometimes." Vali said while she crossed her arms and looked away while pouting in an adorable way.

"What should I do then?" Issei asked in a teasing tone.

"Stop doing things like that."

"Ah alright my bad, to think I could be so bold to say that and stay to close to you." As Issei tried to get up and remove her, she gave him a look that said 'don't you fucking dare', while wrapping her legs around him, bringing him even closer to her.

"I swear to all that is holy if you leave that spot I wi-"

Chuckling Issei stopped trying to move away and instead just sat back down, "Well aren't you quite indecisive, do you want me to stay or go?"

"stay... with... me…" Vali said while looking down.

Her reactions to all of this had brought peace to Issei's distraught heart. The reassurance he was given was more than enough to wipe the foolish thoughts right out of his head. Vali had seemed to know what to say when it mattered most. Voicing the opinions and thoughts that for a long time she had kept behind closed doors, unwilling to let anyone into her heart.

Her arms snaked around his back and held onto him. The touch brought a serene and calming feeling to the both of them. At the moment they wanted nothing more than to just sit in the middle of the ground and enjoy the presence of one another.

There was nothing rushing them so they did just that.

Staying in the position they slowly relaxed into the other's comforting hold. They both treasured moments like this, the times when you can just stay close to your lover with nothing else to bother you was something they wouldn't trade in for anything.

"It feels so warm being like this with you." Vali said softly.

Issei didn't respond to this and rather tightened the grip he had on her delicate body, pulling her even closer.

Any closer at this point and they would practically be wearing each other.

"Neh, Issei."

"Hm?"

"Can you kiss me again?"

"Geez your so needy." Despite the comment, he slowly moved in to kiss her on the lips again.

Softly coming together they continued their show of affection for a few seconds before breaking apart again.

"You know you like it though." Vali said while grinning.

"I don't ever remember saying I didn't." Leaning in again he placed a small kiss on her forehead, before resting his own forehead against hers smiling gently while looking deeply into her eyes.

"Vali I feel kind of tired again."

"But you just woke up." Vali giving a confused look.

"I know but that still doesn't change that I wanna go back to sleep"

"What are you going to then?

"I think I'll go back to sleep and then we can do something when we wake up."

"Okay… wait did you just say we?"

Instead of responding a good idea came to mind and instead he just gave her a smile.

Issei removed himself from the comfortable spot, getting a groan of displeasure from the beauty. He then picked her up in a bridal carry before laying her on the bed getting a cute squeal of surprise. Laying down beside her he took a blanket and spread it over them,

The poor girl all the meanwhile was blushing a violent red color at the sudden contact and new closeness to Issei. However this made her happy, it was rare for her to get private and alone moments with him. So she made sure to treasure every moment she was able to get.

Snuggling up and enveloping each other in a warm embrace.

Their breathing fell into rhythm as they slowly drifted off to the land of dreams. Before they fell asleep Issei kissed Vali on the forehead and quietly whispered to her, "I love you Vali."

With her eyes still closed and a pleasant smile adorning her face, she softly mumbled back "I love you too Issei." Taking the moment to snuggle her head closer into his chest.

"VALII!"

The unison scream woke up the sleeping pair, gradually bringing them back to their senses.

As Issei sat up he rubbed his eyes while letting out a yawn. Blinking a few times he was able to see the developing scene before him.

Standing at the door was Ddraig, Albion and Irina with expressions that didn't look very happy. They were twitching in anger with their aura rising to show the new tension. Issei paled at the new sight and quickly whipped his head to his side when he heard what seemed to be stifled laughter.

'Ah fuck'

Vali also sat up but instead of being worried she was instead smiling wildly, while having a hand placed over her mouth, with small chuckles escaping every so often.

Millions of thoughts ran through Issei's mind, most of them being, 'How did this happen?' and 'How can I avoid certain death in this situation?'.

Hell Hath no fury like a jealous girl's rage.

"Vali I thought we had an agreement?" Albion said with an expression all too kind to be true.

Her laughing slowly but surely coming to an end she responded while scratching her head nervously "Well you see I kinda forgot."

"Mouuu, that's not fair Vali, we agreed that you would let us know when to come." Irina said while pouting and pointing an accusing finger at the "forgetful" girl.

"You little…" Ddraig said under her breath, if listening carefully, one can decipher the words she were saying, and they were not at all pleasant, they would easily put the words of a raging devil to shame.

"It's not my fault, I couldn't help but forget while in the moment." Vali said with an exaggerated yet insulting tone.

With an evil smirk, Vali quickly grabbed Issei by his shoulders and pulled him into a deep kiss, adding fuel to the already raging fire. This left the girls slack jawed at their interaction. Even Issei wasn't expecting this, Vali was very brave and often did this to tease the others but at a time like now… She wasn't suicidal was she?

Breaking apart from the kiss Vali had a gleaming smile, while the Ddraig, Albion, and Irina seemed to be burning in rage. Dark auras came from each of their body and quickly filled the room, growing more potent and stronger by the second.

'Is she trying to kill us both?!' Issei thought incredulously at the developing scene.

Vali then out of pure spite pulled Issei in to her bountiful chest and squeezed the life out of him.

"Issei I'm sooooooo scared, they're trying to kill me." Vali said as she put a hand to her forehead and looked as if she was going to faint.

'Oh God she is trying to get us both killed.' panic was quickly starting to set into Issei's mind.

Ddraig's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates while watching her rival doing this. Shaking with rage and a burning intent to kill the "amnesiac" before her.

The room suddenly felt warmer, much much warmer. At the same time colors on the wall began to give off a orange hue. Walls aren't supposed to do that right?

"Aw crap." Issei gave up, he already knew what was coming and he also knew that he'll be in a world of pain soon enough. Resigning himself to his inevitable fate, he let himself relax into Vali's chest.

*BOOM*

A bright light flashed through the room, when it died down what was left in its wake was Issei and Vali now seperated laying spread eagle with their eyes swirling. Their clothes were singed and smoke was coming from their mouth.

'Why does this always happen' Were Issei's last thoughts before right back to where he came from.

Waking up from his slumber, Issei rubbed his eyes as the memories of the morning came back to him. Sighing, he checked his clothes to find them all repaired as if they were brand new.

Unsurprisingly he found three of the four girls to be sleeping on their usual spots around him. That's odd, Vali wasn't there.

"Morning Issei, how was your nap?" Issei turned his head to the right and saw a brightly smiling Vali tied to the bedpost.

"It was alright, I'm gonna go assume that they didn't want you near me for now?"

"Yup, they were pretty rough and aggressive but I'm here now, it's pretty comfortable if you have the right position."

"That's all your fault, I hope you know that."

"I do, but it was so worth it."

"Are you sure about that."

"I'll do it again when I get the chance."

"Is it really comfortable?" Issei deadpanned, he knew for a damn fact that her butt was getting sore.

"Of course it is."

"Really?"

"..." Vali looked away as she moved her arms uncomfortably, her arms were tied behind her back by the wrists to the corner of the bed.

Face-palming himself, he carefully removed himself from his spot as to not wake up the people beside him. Turning and moving his body with the slight shifts of the other girls like a professional.

Making his way over to her, she gave him a small pout and puppy eyes that were begging him to free her. This brought inner conflict to him, either he let her stay there and get his ass kicked by her when she gets freed, or free her and get his ass kicked by the sleeping beauties when they wake up.

Looking again at Vali, she tilted her head and puffed her cheeks in an adorable way.

"I'm such a sucker for this." Issei shaking his head, he untied the rope binding Vali and then gave her a small peck on the lips.

"Yeah you are, but that's why I love you so much." Vali standing up while shaking her hands to try and get any kind of feeling back into them.

"Yeah, yeah." Issei wrapped his arm around Vali's waist and brought her into his chest, burying his face into the crook of her neck.

"You smell nice." Issei said as he inhaled, taking a large whiff of what seemed like strawberries.

"You can't just do that so suddenly..." Vali mumbled under her breath, heat quickly rushing to her face.

"You're really cute when you act shy like this." Issei saying whatever popped into his mind.

Vali quickly buried her face in shoulder while muttering some incoherent words.

"What was that?"

*mumble*

"What?"

"I said it was nothing…" Vali murmured, her face getting redder by the second.

"If you tell me, I'll do something nice for you." Issei whispered in a husky voice, bringing his mouth close to her ear and giving it a lick.

Vali's face was as dark as a tomato, muttering something under her breath.

*RING RING*

"Tch" Sadly his phone rang before he was able to go any further.

Issei walked over to his nightstand and grabbed his buzzing phone. Vali glanced at him with a curious look.

'Azazel? What does he want now?'

He never called his phone, especially when it was important. Rather he would send someone to get him. Because after all, you can't talk on the phone and focus on your dick at the same time.

Pressing the answer button, he brought the phone up to his ear, "Yeah?"

"I found out some interesting things that you might be interested in, come drop by my office when you're done. Also am I interrupting anything?"

Issei glancing back at Vali who was twiddling her fingers while looking nervously down responded "Not really, do I need to come down right now though, or can I take a few minutes?"

"Take all the time you need kid." Azazel said with a hardy laugh and an all too knowing tone. "Just be sure to come down since I seriously think you'll be intrigued by this kinda stuff."

"Alright, I'll see you in a bit." Issei clicking the end call button on his phone before setting it back down on the nightstand.

"Ah so where was I?" Issei said as he sauntered back over to the blushing mess.

*mumble*

Retaking her by wrapping his arms around her back, she looked up at him bashfully from the sudden movement.

"So my princess, would you like to tell your knight what you said?"

"No…"

"Hmm how about now?" Issei said as he began to glide his hand down her back in a soothing way.

"Unhhhh, it's embarrassing Issei…"

"It's okay, you don't need to be embarrassed telling me." Issei chuckled while planting a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Issei, this is too much…"

"If you tell me, this we be all over, you just need to say those few words from before."

"Issssssseeeeeeei."

"Yesssssssss?" Issei said as he brought his face closer to hers, looking at her through his red and brown eyes to her entrancing hazel orbs. Their faces were mere inches apart, their breathes landed and spread along each other's facial grooves and features.

"B-B-Baka..."

Issei's smile grew with it threatening to spread past his cheeks. 'SO CUTE!'

Puffing her cheeks slightly she finally complies as she turns her head away "Fine, I'll tell you, if that'll get you to stop…"

"I will, I will, so what was it."

"I said, this is why… *mumble*"

"Huh, I didn't hear that." Issei slightly turning his head to hear her better.

"I said, this is why you're… *mumble*"

"Vali I can't understand you when you mumble like that."

"I SAID, THIS IS WHY YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE FOR ME!"

Issei jerked his his back, slightly shocked from the comment and sudden burst of boldness.

"Vali…"

"Issei…"

"Why are you guys yelling." Came a yawning voice from behind them.

'Oh shit.'

"Vali, change of plans, I have to go head over to Azazel's office. I'll race ya there."

"Wait what?" But before she knew it, he already ran out of the room with the door swinging open.

"Huh, Vali how did you untie yourself and where's Issei?" Another sleepy voice asked.

Finally processing the situation Vali yells "ISSEI YOU DICK" quickly following his lead and sprinting out of the room at full speed.

*SLAM*

Pushing a door open with far more force than necessary, Issei appeared in front of Azazel's desk.

"So you wanted to show me something?" Issei asked as he looked at Azazel tinkering with a new artificial sacred gear.

"Ah you're here, just give me a second and I'll show you." Azazel picking up what looked like a small dagger and moving it the side, he then leaned over to open a drawer with folders any files. Taking a folder he closed the drawer shut and placed it in front of Issei.

Opening up the cover he went to the first page and said "You've been wanting to learn some more magic right."

"Of course, anything new that can give me more stren-"

"Yeah yeah, I get it, anyway this here is a special book that is rumored to have the roots of magic itself." Azazel pointing at a picture on the paper while cutting off Issei, not wanting to hear a whole speech about protecting those he care about or something like that.

Issei's eyes began shining stars, he giddly asked "REALLY REALLY, WHEN CAN I GO?"

"As soon as you want, however you'll need to take this map with you." Turning the page over, he took out the new one and handed it to Issei.

"The place is in the middle of some uninhabited Island just north of here. But it's invisible to normal people, and you can't reach nor enter it without having the map. So think of it as your key and guide, in and out of the place."

"So can I leave right after we're done here?" Issei asked now drooling at the thought of new and powerful spells.

"You can, also where are the other 4-"

*BOOM*

"Does that answer your question?" Issei chuckled at the perfect timing they always seemed to have.

"Yes kid, yes it does" Azazel said with his head in his hands, this meant more repairing and more paperwork.

'I swear to my dead father, these guys are really going to be the death of me…'

END

A/N ANDDD THAT's A WRAP FOR THIS CHAPTER. We got some interesting things going down now. Some magical novel with the roots of magic itself?! How will this affect our hero, find out next time on Corru- Okay screw that crap. Guys if you didn't notice, compare this to last chapter, this one is formatted the opposite. Last time it was fluff then edge, now it's edge then fluff. What will it be next time?

First let me say this, some of you might say that Irina and the other characters in general are very OOC, like her having a serious side and her being smart, what is this nonsense. Well let me explain this first, Different environments and different situations will cause a person to grow up differently. Like If you took the same person, and they grew up in a church, and in another universe they grew up as a mercenary, I can guarantee you that their personality will be so damn different.

And we are coming close to getting a new character. You'll probably meet the person next chapter idk. We shall see when I end up writing this.

Serious question, make sure to answer this, as this is very important for the kind of chapter you'll be getting next time. Would you rather have the lead up to the battle and the battle be 2 different chapters. Or do you want 1 giant chapter with both? Tell me in reviews and PM's for what you want. AND ONE MORE THING. Give me some cool attack names. Like something badass and nerdy. The best ones I'll be using in my story for some coming fight scenes.

Thank you for reading, please review, favorite, and all that jazz.

See ya next time!

Chibi3x :D

Current Harem: Irina, Vali, Ddraig, Albion, ?

Maybe: Kuroka, Trihexa, OC spirit weapon thingy (kinda like Est and Restia from Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance)`

Honesty I've mostly decided the harem so yeah, but if you want to go recommend then feel free to. Just if it's a serious recommendation make sure to include a valid reason and not just because you like them.

AND ALL OF YOUR REVIEWS AND MY ANSWERSSSSS:

Guest: Yeah he's a savage boi, he likes but hates murdering people. You'll see lol. They were assholes so they so deserved it. Nah they'll be plenty, I can't ake the story to edgy or people will hate it

xxLastSoldierxx: Yikes, sorry if you don't like the idea of them being female but it is my story. Yes in the story and in most fanfics they are indeed sealed in. But again this is a fanficion where I make the rules and can come up with some random reason as to why they can walk around freely and not be locked in. And Vali's name is extended sir, And why would I spoil all the fun from the get go. It's more fun for people to develop their theories and have them proven right or wrong. Also everything will be explained eventually

Funnybones123: Thanks so much! Fleshing things out is a struggle but reading thing like this really helps me!

R0ck3tFiRe: He'll be oing to school trust me, I'll just need a few more chapters and his ass is grass. You'll see what happens to the poor boy, and man if only it was that simple. Thank you for the compliment!

Guest: Not a plothole but a plan for the future

I may love or hate you: Yeah I don't see it done much, giving them human forms, they're always casted away as just weapons so I wanna give them a little more life. I'll reveal everything eventually don't worry. Haha thanks for defending me 3

GearRex5: Thanks so much man, glad to see that you have hopes for this chapter. Yeah that'll be explained at a later date but I will drop hints to satiate your hunger until the full reveal of his past.

Dominus1389: Because i need to limit the harem count, because more than I'd 6 would be far too hard for me handle, I'll end up casting away some of the characters and barely mentioning them in favor for another. No one will get equal screentime and its just not fair. I'm already struggling with 4 lmao.

Nate Eaton: Thanks so much! Man I need more inspiration like this, this is what drives me to write.

Xerzo LotCN: Ew NTR is blehhhh. I am thinking aobut pairing RIas with someone because I don't want to have to deal with a flirtatious Rias after our poor boy Issei. Honestly making her seem like human garbage is not really in my favor and neither is making her seem annoying. Poor Ise has a lot more coming to him

OechsnerC: IT IS CONTINUED!

Rawrking: Yikes no can do, if you don't like it stop reading please. If you want ot criticize please tell what I can improve on to make it a more enjoyable read for everyone.

AnimeA55Kicker: You'll see how he became one, Yeah the title before was a mouth full, prety happy with the new one though.

Dragon Bone Z: I'm still rolling with original idea we talked about, I just haven't had time with classes and for that I sincerely apologize. If you don't mind, can you please explain the main points of mythology that is crucial and that should be included for it to be effective.