And I'm back with the next chapter, sorry for the delay. And I hope you enjoy, see you at the bottom!!!'Thoughts'
'Entities'
'Normal'
Chapter 9
A couple weeks had passed since the incident. Currently we see one Issei Hyoudou once again trying to use magic, though this time he was practicing with wind. He had managed to successfully summon lightning a few days ago, and now he was trying to manipulate the air around him to make a tornado. Progress was somewhat decent, but still pretty slow compared to where he would've wanted it to be at this point. The wind slowly circled in a five meter radius from him yet he couldn't quite pick up the speed necessary to do anything more than create a slight breeze.
Wind enhancement had been so easy, yet this, this was on another level.
'Damn it! How the hell am I supposed to do this?' thought the sekiryuutei. He eventually stopped after another hour or so as he felt his magic energy had essentially depleted as much as it could without him fainting.
Trudging his way down the dirt path back towards his room to get ready for dinner, as he walked past a cliff Issei noticed his teacher gazing at the stars with a wistful look. Deciding to leave him alone, Issei continued on his path until he arrived at his destination. Upon reaching his wing of the castle the young Red Dragon Emperor decided to take a shower before heading to the dining room. As he stepped into the bathtub and turned the water on, letting it trail down his body soothingly, he reflected deeply on what had become of his new life.
From never once even believing in a fake world since he was eight years old, to now being the wielder of an ancient power that could potentially upset the balance of the world, it was a change that while strange was not unwelcomed in his boring life.
Various topics went through his mind until he landed on his teacher. Gin Lucifer, the son of the original Lucifer morning star. It had been quite the surprise but lost it's value with how his life's been as of late. Though when asked of who the mother was, Gin would instantly shut him, or rather anyone really, down.
Believing he had been in the tub for long enough, Issei got up and out before draining the water and washing off with a towel.
Exiting the bathroom and redressing himself in fresh clothes, the brunette left his room as he made his way towards the dining hall. Appreciating his view of the ladies as he did so.
Making his way, Issei walked down large corridor after corridor until his ears picked up on an unfamiliar voice shouting. Turning his head, curiosity got the better of him as he approached the increasingly louder argument taking place in the throne room.
Turning a corner, Issei spotted little Kunou eavesdropping from behind the door and decided to listen in with her as he snuck up behind the kitsune before imitating the youkai and pressing his ear to the door. Only making eye contact with the girl for a brief moment.
"All I'm saying, is that a marriage between our children would be greatly beneficial. The future of the royal line will be secured, my family gains prestige, everyone is happy." said the same voice from earlier.
Marriage? What marriage?
"And I'll say it once again, we will not force our daughter into an arranged marriage unless she herself agrees. And she is also at the tender age of four while your son is 19, we will not grant this marriage just to satisfy your greed and selfishness." came Gin's voice.
"We of the Kurama clan have been of great service to this faction for centuries. It is well within our rights to request of a chance to achieve union between the clan and the kingdom's royal family."
"Need I remind you whose court you are currently standing in? Know your place Lord Kurama, and good night. This meeting is over." Queen Yasaka's voice ordered.
Hearing the dismissal and realising what could happen if they were caught, Issei quickly boosted before grabbing Kunou and jumped up, extending his draconic arm and latching onto the ceiling. The massive doors opened just in time as a crimson haired kyuubi kitsune stomped out with a scowl apparent on his face, he wore a red kimono which held his family crest. A ninetailed fox which howled at the full moon.
As the youkai went further, no other occupant came out of the room and the doors were closed once more. Taking the chance, Issei used lightning and wind enhancement magic before dashing off into a different corridor.
Upon reaching the giant set of double doors that was the dining hall entrance, Issei slowed down to a halt before gently placing the kitsune princess back down on her feet.
"You alright Kunou-chan?" he asked. The toddler was quiet for a moment as she just stared at the ground before she slowly looked up, eyes slowly welling with tears.
"Tou-chan and Kaa-chan are always getting into fights with other people who ask about me marrying. They're always really tired after and I wanna help... what do I do?" she asked adorably.
Issei didn't know how to respond to that, comforting wasn't really his strong suit and he didn't know much about politics to be able to give her anything solid anyway. But he had to try didn't he? The laws of the universe dictated that cute animal girls must always be cared for in times of sadness lest he suffer eternal damnation.
"Listen, I'm not really the best guy to ask these kinds of things but just know that none of this is your fault so don't feel like it is. It can happen to anyone, hell, I bet it happened to your mom before your dad came around, so just trust them alright?" he said earning a nod from the girl.
"Now let's go and get some food." as they made their way through the doors they were greeted with the sight of three blue haired men arguing, a common sight nowadays.
"For the last time salmon sashimi is better!" Asura yelled.
"Che, no way in hell dumbass! Lobster is the most delicious food on the planet!" Grimmjow shot back.
"Oi oi oi, nothing beats a damn juicy and rare cooked steak." Ban defended his dish.
Issei feared they might start getting physical soon, which was a real possibility considering the sins' habit of problem solving through their fists.
"Boys!" all noise quieted at the sound of the youkai queen's voice. Turning around, Issei came face to face with both his teacher and said teacher's wife as the pair made their way towards the table. Both were tired, they hid it very well yes but Issei was sure of it. He knew exhaustion when he saw it, however upon looking closer he could see a glint in Gin's eyes. He was scheming something and Issei just hoped he wouldn't be at the core of it all... again..
Dinner was mostly a peaceful affair with much small talk and a little bit of banter until eventually everyone decided to go to bed and retreated to their quarters for the night.
"Issei could you stay for a moment?" Gin suddenly asked as he stopped walking. Their rooms were in the same direction and Yasaka had decided to take Kunou to bed early tonight so she had left earlier, leaving only teacher and student in the large hallway.
"Hm? Sure sensei what is it?" Issei asked as he also halted and faced the Lucifer.
"I know you and Kunou were listening in on us back in the throne room." he said as Issei froze.
'Fuck me I'm busted.' he thought.
"Firstly I'm not mad nor do I really care, in fact that actually makes this easier since I don't have to explain as much." the sekiryuutei sighed in relief.
"Alright well what is it?" he asked again.
"The man you saw storm out earlier, his name is Kurama Kenshin of the Kurama clan. They are a clan of powerful kitsune youkai who have been loyal members of the court for years and they're damn proud of it. Kenshin has been trying to establish a marriage contract between his son Ryuga and Kunou for the last year talking about how "beneficial" it would be but we're not stupid, despite their loyalty, the Kurama clan is full of greedy brats. Which is why none of them have ever married into the royal family despite it all, and the only reason he's pushing for this is so that he can gain some more prestige." Gin explained before allowing Issei to comprehend his words.
To Issei, this sounded like something he had often heard happens to families of high standing and royalty so he merely nodded his head, letting Gin continue.
"Now recently I've been digging around and I've found out something rather interesting. It would seem that fool has been doing some under the table deals with a certain magicians association that don't exactly have the cleanest record last I checked. They're called Hexennacht, it's members consist of top tier stray magicians who use a different kind of magic, curses.
"Curses?" Issei asked as Gin nodded.
"There are two types of curses, the first is used by gods as a way of punishing mortals. The second is a branch of magic, how it works is quite simple really, a practitioner will take one specific subject or element to study and they will become the embodiment of their curse, I once fought a member who used the truth curse, if I had told a lie than I would've been turned to stone." the sin of wrath revealed.
"T-turn you into stone? Is that even possible with how strong you are?" Issei asked a little perplexed.
"That's the power of curses, it transcends barriers created by gaps in strength. It's an ancient practice but not many use them anymore due to the consequences. Your curse doesn't just affect your opponents but they can just as easily take you down as well. There have been many cases of fire curse users incinerating themselves but it doesn't change the fact that they can take you with them." Issei was starting to see where this was going but asked anyway.
"Why are you telling me all of this exactly? There's nothing I can do that you can't." he questioned with sneaking suspicion as Gin just smirked.
"See... that's where you're wrong my dear disciple."
[Line Break]
"How the hell did I end up here damn it." the boosted gear wielder cursed at his luck as he thought back to why he was currently on the rooftop of the Kurama clan's main family.
"My hands are tied. I am the Queen's husband and the Kurama family are too deeply engraved into the government for me to just eliminate him without causing Yasaka-chan trouble. Being strong does not place me above law, I need presentable proof in order to erase him without backlash. However, you're a different case. You're not aligned with any of the factions and additionally, you're the Red Dragon Emperor who just so happens to be my student. If you can find any sort of evidence then I can take care of the rest, just the smallest trace of treason and I can push back any court member."
Those had been Gin's words to him when he asked why the sin of wrath wouldn't exact his wrath personally. It wasn't that he wouldn't but that he couldn't, Issei really hoped he wouldn't have to get involved with anything political in the future.
As the sekiryuutei quietly and carefully scanned his surroundings, he noticed a sudden shift in the air before instincts kicked in as the roof started to crumble into dust before his very eyes. And the boosted gear was manifested in an instant.
*Boost*
As he landed on the ground Issei wasn't given a moment of reprieve as he immediately ducked to the left as a cloaked figure leapt out of the shadows, right arm outstretched in an effort to just touch him.
The stranger's momentum kept him up in the air just long enough for Issei to kick him away, sending the figure flying before they landed at the base of a tree though that quickly changed as soon as the figure's right hand touched it and disintegrated it within seconds causing Issei's eyes to widen.
*Boost*
"So the legendary Red Dragon Emperor is in a backwater country like this? My my what a surprise this is, oh this mission just got so much more interesting." a voice was heard coming from the cloud of dust that the collapse of the rooftop had caused.
"Che" Issei couldn't talk his way out of this, so all he had to do was fight them while extracting information, simple right? Oh wait, that one guy can turn him to dust with a touch, was that his curse ability? He was beginning to think that he himself was cursed with the shittiest luck in the world.
*Boost*
In an instant, Issei focused wind magic into his legs as he seemingly vanished only to reappear directly above where the roof had been a moment ago. Taking a deep breath, the brunette let out a roar befitting a dragon as a stream of fire exploded out of his mouth.
A shadowy blur escaped just in time to avoid being hit before Issei was upon him with a devastating heel kick prepared only to be launched back by a sound wave. Luckily he was able to regain his balance mid air before unleashing a pair of crimson dragon wings and keeping himself uplifted, a trick he had picked up not too long ago. Once again rest was not an option as the sekiryuutei had to dodge that troublesome right hand a second time before landing on a nearby roof.
*Boost*
"Oi! Who the hell are you guys!?" Issei demanded as he prepared a magic circle before taking aim.
"Huehuehue, well now that would just be cheating wouldn't it? And where's the fun in telling you anyway? It's so much more fun when you try and guess, besides, we're here on an assignment. And we can't just let you ruin it for us, our lives are at stake here too." the sound user replied.
*Boost*
Now that the dust wasn't in the way, Issei could get a clear view of the threat. His short purple hair was spiked up like a blazing flame, mirth filled hazel green eyes stared at him with an annoying gaze wearing a simple amethyst colored wizard robe over slim fit black under clothing.
"An assignment? That means you aren't from here..." the brunette thought out loud before realization struck him. "You guys are from Hexennacht aren't you!?" he demanded.
*Boost*
"Well now, it seems you don't have as much shit for brains as I thought!" the magician laughed mockingly.
"Lucio that's enough. Eliminate him now." his partner ordered as the now revealed Lucio pouted in annoyance but complied as he got into stance. "Spoil sport." he muttered before dashing towards the sekiryuutei.
*Boost*
Seeing that his enemy was closing in too fast, Issei retook to the skies as Lucio punched the spot he was just standing in before the building met the same fate as the first roof, vibrations echoing through the entire structure before crumbling down like a jenga tower. Immediately as Lucio landed a purple magic circle with a demonic diamond design in the center appeared as the curse user was launched into the air with a sonic boom, ascending as he reached an altitude almost twice as high as Issei before flipping vertically, a second circle appeared at the base of his feet as it sent him flying directly at the Red Dragon Emperor with terrifying velocity.
*Explosion*
Thinking quickly, Issei formed a magic circle which cackled with red lightning before firing a bolt straight at his target. Seeing this Lucio just smirked as he twirled once again before kicking his left foot out to the side with another circle forming at his heel and propelling him to the right, dodging the magic lightning completely.
'This annoying son of a-' Issei's thoughts were interrupted as the curse user jabbed the air and cast a circle at his fingertips that fired sonic waves forcing Issei to have to throw a fireball at it which resulted in an explosive collision that sent both opponents flying.
*Reset*
"My head..." Issei groaned from his position on the ground before he slowly got up.
Blinking the spots out of his vision, Issei's eyes darted from one end to the next as he looked for any sign of the Hexennacht member. Confused and wary at not seeing anything, the brunette turned his head to the other hex user who just pointed up... directly above him.
Looking up, Issei was greeted with another round of sonic waves that he immediately blocked with a magic circle. The amount of power in the attack forced him onto one of his knees as he struggled to keep the barrier from breaking.
*Boost*
'God...damn...it!!' the sekiryuutei screams in his mind as he pushes with all his might.
"Oh come on. Surely the legendary Red Dragon Emperor must have more to offer than this right? Just try harder!" Lucio encouraged as he bounced around in the air before sending an even stronger sound wave.
*Boost*
"Heh, oh just you fucking wait you purple piece of shit! I'll kick your ass!" Issei yelled as he continued to struggle against his opponents power.
[You will not be able to survive if you keep going at this rate.] A deep baritone voice boomed within Issei's mind.
'D-Ddraig?' the teen questioned in slight surprise.
*Boost*
[Yes it is I partner, now, if you want to get out of this alive than you are going to have to trust me here.] The welsh dragon responded.
'Well what the hell is it!?' Issei screams in his head as he was pushed deeper and deeper into the ground.
*Boost*
[Do not get too riled boy. Now, the thing about curses is that they always have a major consequence for using them... do you see how his arms and legs are slowly starting to buckle and shake?] The heavenly dragon asked.
Issei transferred some of his power into his eyes as they glowed green, granting him a much greater vision than before. Looking closely at Lucio's limbs, he noticed that with each hop his legs would quiver, with each sound wave his arm would vibrate.
Absentmindedly, Issei noticed the seal of the Kurama clan on a sealed scroll in his robes.
'Yeah...yeah I see it! So what about it?' he inquired.
*Boost*
[That is his weakness, the power of sound is often underestimated. Add to that the dangerous nature of curses and it'll make any foe a formidable opponent. His magic does not rely on decibels or tone like standard sound magic. No, his sound curse powers his vibrations therefore causing any solid object to destabilise and crumble. However, in doing so this has the added effect of reflecting some of these vibrations back to wherever the magic point originated from. With this one it is his limbs. He cannot go on forever Issei. And you must exploit that.] Ddraig explained.
*Boost*
'Alright then, what do I do?' the brunette pleaded.
[You have one more boost before you unleash the explosion, when I give the go, you must summon every bit of wind magic you can. Create a rough exterior of a tornado and I shall do the rest. But I warn you now that this will feel like you're being torn apart. Now Hyoudou Issei, are you ready?] The red dragon of domination asked.
"Che. I was born ready you overgrown lizard!" Issei shouted his answer.
"Huh? What the hell are you going on about down there? Did you hit your head too hard or something?" the magician mocked.
*Boost*
[Now Issei!]
"Alright asshole let's tango!" Issei screams as he focuses most of his magic reserves into this spell.
*Explosion*
Winds started to howl as dust particles started to circle around Issei's body. The winds went faster and faster as a green essence slowly came off of his body and into the body of winds themselves as a F2 scale tornado was formed, bathed in an ethereal green light.
*Transfer*
The tornado continued to circle faster as Issei screams in concentration. Lucio stood no chance from his position in mid air as he was pulled into the storm, spinning and spinning as the sekiryuutei continued to force it all out until he had an idea.
Outstretching his arms, crimson flames sprouted from both his hands as Issei spun in place in the opposite direction of the dangerous winds. His flames grew like wildfire as they engulfed the entire tornado.
As several guards finally arrived on scene they could do nothing but spectate and watch in awe as the majestic storm of crimson fire and glowing green winds continued to spin.
The painful screams of the sound curse user could be heard as Lucio was burned alive and shredded by the beautiful force of nature.
*Reset*
The effects were immediate as the storm lost all power. Issei finally stopped screaming as he fell unconscious, the burnt body of the Hexennacht member falling like the dead weight it was as it landed and bounced on the ground limp.
Soldiers gathered around the two bodies as they looked unsure of what to do.
"Step aside." Immediately the orders were followed as queen Yasaka and Gin Lucifer made their appearance. Deciding to take the chance and vanish, the other member of the Hexennacht turned around only to meet one of the last people he wanted to see right now face to face. Asura, the king of the nekomata and the sin of sloth.
"And just where do you think you're going?" the blue haired youkai asked as his eyes morphed from hazel to red with three tomoes circling the pupil as he gazed directly into the magician's eyes.
"Go on...sleep." he ordered dully as the curse user collapsed in a heap.
Meanwhile, Gin checked the damage sustained in the area and he had to admit, for how magically deficient the boy had been he sure knew how to make a show. The sin of wrath watched with slowly narrowing eyes as he could see Kurama Kenshin make his way over with a deep scowl on his face and carefully concealed nervousness. The audacity of this man, no this creature, was astounding.
Looking down, Gin noticed a scroll clutched protectively in Issei's hand. Upon closer inspection his eyes widened as it held the seal of the Kurama clan on it. Carefully extracting it from his student's grasp, Gin unrolled the piece of parchment and read its contents. As he read more and more, the sin of wrath could only smirk wider and wider.
'Gotcha.'
Turning towards the agitated Kurama clan head who dared actually raise his voice at his wife, Gin unleashed waves of power off his body as all attention turned to him. Leveling Kenshin a hardened glare, he slowly took a step forward. Step after step he made his way towards the poor fool until he was standing directly in front of the man.
"Kurama-san, would you care to explain what this is exactly?" the white haired half devil asked, enjoying the look of fear that slowly crept up the kitsune's face.
"Gin-kun? What is it?" Yasaka asked her husband. The sin of wrath simply smirked before handing her the parchment. In a last ditch effort, Kenshin lunged for the paper in the queen's hands only to lose his hand in a flash as Gin summoned a black katana out of seemingly thin air.
The head of the Kurama family screamed in pain as he was quickly detained by the guards.
Taking that moment, Yasaka glanced down at the contents in her hands. And unlike her scheming husband, the more she read the angrier she got.
"This...this is treason! A funding agreement with the Hexennacht!?" she cried in fury as her words shocked all those in the area.
"Lock this traitor up this instant! He'll be interrogated first thing in the morning!" she ordered her men.
As all the soldiers shuffled around in a hurried frenzy, Gin looked down at his student who had been put on a stretcher to be taken back to the palace for rest.
'You actually did it... way to go kid.' he thought.
Well that's over. I thank all of you who have waited patiently for this chapter and I'm terribly sorry for the wait but I just didn't have the motivation to write. I'm starting to get back into it though so who knows when I'll update next. Anyways, be sure to favorite and follow if you haven't already and leave a review on what you liked, didn't like, and a way to improve.Also, join our DxD discord server for some fun!!Link : [ Discord. gg/xEApPAS ]