Guess what this is. A note!
Hello everyone! Been a while, hasn't it? Happy New Year and all that. Sorry this update took a bit longer than usual. I was occupied with the holidays, sister had a wedding, and I was working on ToS and BSWR. Now, I had a Christmas special for this story but I didn't get very far with it. I might post it in a future chapter as an omake or I might just post what I have on the forum. It's really up in the air with me, honestly.
So this chapter is 18k long, but officially roughly 12k. Why? Because I have a special surprise for all of you at the end of the chapter. I sincerely hope you like it. I also challenge anyone to make a story of it. It doesn't have to be Predator Issei. It could be revolving around Canon Issei. But do hit me up if any of you decide to make a story of it. I would DEFINITELY love to read it.
Right, this chapter concludes mostly the follow-up regarding the Rating Game. That's the reason why its rather short. Now that it's out of the way we can move forward and I can begin the Excalibur arc. Hooray!
Let's see... next... ah. I'll be making profiles and general information regarding the other seven Predators and will be posting them on my forum. They should be up by the next chapter... should be.
A lot of you have asked questions about my lore. Though I do plan on explaining things in the story sometime in the future, I'll be taking a moment to answer two questions. If you're not interested, feel free to skip to the story right here.
What are the Dra'cueri Gifts?
Like stated in the previous chapter, there are seven of them. Each one takes the shape of a glowing, bright as all hell dragon wing. They are described generally by the characters as "geometrically designed shapes fitting perfectly together to resemble a wing". So we got boxes, triangles, and a few curves that mean SOMETHING in mathematical terms when analyzed. But I leave the description vague for you, the readers, to come up with your own interpretation.
Now, each Gift has two functions. One passive and one active ability. The passive ability means the Gift doesn't need to "come to life / blaze to life" for the owner to use it. Whatever the Gift is, its passive ability is to ALWAYS maximize the potential of skill the wielder has relating to the Gift. So, like Issei's Gift of Flight, it maximizes his skills in transportation. For Siegfried and Artemis with the Gift of Craft, it maximizes their capabilities of crafting anything.
Active abilities means the user must pay the toll to use, but in doing so the Gift breaks the limit placed on the wielder and grants the ultimate privilege in all things relating to the Gift. For Flight, it is to fly with only the wielder's coping abilities as a self-restriction. For Craft, it is to perfect any creation with only time as a restriction. There are other Gifts, but I don't plan on revealing what they are until later.
Anyone can obtain a Gift... provided they are human. Why only humans? Because in my stories humanity is at the bottom of the food chain and to obtain a Gift is like a trophy for getting from the bottom to the top. But just as there are seven different Gifts, there are seven different methods in order to obtain them. And these can only be obtained by suppressing a Primordial being. Meaning, getting them to either surrender or outright killing them through seven different methods. Now we move to the second question.
What is a Primordial being?
They are the Lawmakers. They are the representations of concepts, physics, metaphysics, and mystics. To best explain, let me drag up one Primordial being who has appeared in this story.
When the world was nothing more than hot magma, 'he' appeared. He is the cooling cycle of the planet in which began the first steps needed to begin life. He is [Terraforming]. But, people tried to come up with an explanation for how this Law came to be. There are numerous myths and legends to explain it and the story of Odin is but one of them. "Odin" is a god created by humanity as a means to explain how the world came to be. He is given life based on the prayers and tellings humanity has given him. Therefore, "Odin" is nothing more than a skin.
So, [Terraforming] comes along, kicks Odin out to the curb, and then takes his place. No one notices the difference. HOWEVER, while multiple worlds exist with each world having its own Odin, there only exists ONE [Terraforming]. Because he is the Law in which ALL worlds follow.
That, good people, is a Primordial being.
So having that said, I have one question for all of you. Now that you know what a Gift is, and that you have a vague understanding of a Primordial being, what does it mean for Issei to have not only gotten the Gift of Flight from Ddaig but to also usurp his powers?
Please enjoy the story.
Beta (kinda):
Third Fang
"…What."
Rias, in all honesty, didn't know how to react as soon as her Pawn and Bishop returned on their first job. Akeno had finished with her task and was about to take up a few of Issei's contracts when the pair had walked in. Asia didn't have her usual smile and Issei had a distant look in his eyes, as if something was haunting him.
She immediately asked what was wrong, and Asia was the one to share the story while Issei sat on the couch. He looked… tired, if such a word could be accurate enough.
When the story was done, Asia moved to his side and slid her fingers through his. He looked her way once, offered a small smile in thanks, but then slipped back into his thoughts.
Rias leaned back in her chair as she felt the world begin to spin. "This whole time… the Dragon Slayer has been in my territory and I never knew about it. And he's been making contracts with Yuuto and Koneko…?"
She didn't know if she should be angry, but she definitely was frustrated. Unfortunately, she couldn't find the reason within her as to why she was frustrated. The fact that one of them had been in her city for an undisclosed amount of time or that she hadn't known about it and sent two of her Pieces without looking into it, she didn't know.
"Well… Ise-kun, what did he want?" asked Akeno with deep worry. Her lips were pressed thin when he didn't respond; never a good sign. "Ise-kun."
"Sorry, Onee-sama," Issei blinked a few times while giving a sigh. "I was just thinking about tonight. What did you ask?"
"Exactly that," the Queen responded patiently as she took her seat on the opposite couch. "What did your senior want? I don't believe for a moment he came all this way just to apologize."
"I asked him if he knew anything about Rolan's plan for making more Predators," he began while using his freehand to dig through his pocket. "Siegfried doesn't agree with the Sixth and thinks if he wants to make more, then we should try to improve ourselves first."
Issei pulled out a large black orb from his left pocket. She was mesmerized by it at first glance, at how it seemed to absorb the light around the room. Her instincts as a Devil was also telling her of the dangers this… thing possessed. It was making her heart race and skin tingle. Whatever that was it gave her the same feeling she had whenever near anything relating to God of the Bible.
It was her natural enemy.
"Ise-kun…" Akeno had her back pressed against the couch as her brows were scrunched up. Her hands were tightening along the hem of her skirt. She was feeling the same as Rias. "What is that thing?"
Issei juggled the little orb in his hand. "Vorpal, the Dream Devourer. It's a weapon Siegfried made and modified from its original version to sync with my Sacred Gear. He says it's able to cut through anything that's not supposed to have ever existed in the world. Let's see… he said anything related to magic, gods, Angels, Fallen, Dev…ils… Oh. I'm sorry everyone, I didn't realize you were uncomfortable with this. Asia, are you okay?"
"Eh?" the blonde beside him blinked. "I'm fine, Ise. Why do you ask?"
True to her word, there was nothing wrong with Asia. She looked just the same as she did when walking into the clubroom. Issei looked to be just as immune to the dangers of Vorpal, but Rias just chocked it up as him being more experienced with such threatening things. Maybe because Rias was a full-blooded Devil? And though Akeno was a Reincarnated Devil she did have a sum of Fallen blood in her. Perhaps Asia didn't feel anything because she was once fully human?
But that didn't make sense. Asia is now a Devil, Reincarnated or not. That little orb should be as much of a danger to her as it was to Rias.
"Vorpal?" asked Akeno. "You mean like the Vorpal Sword from Lewis Carroll's Jabberwock poem?"
"…Vorpal's a real thing?" asked Issei as he looked at the black orb once more. "I thought he was just a senile old man who gave it some random name. Like his Gram… That's not a real weapon… is it?"
"Oh dear…" Akeno could only sigh.
"So you accepted something like that without a second thought?" Rias groaned as she leaned forward. "Ise, you should have left immediately and informed us about this. They can't be trusted. Why would you accept something like that from him?"
"Because, master, I need this!" he growled and nearly stood in outrage. It got her to tense and press herself to the back of her chair. He stopped himself and curled his fingers around the orb. "Sorry… Buchou. I'm not happy about this either. I want nothing to do with them at all. But there are things… things that I can't tell you. You are my master and if you ask I will tell you. But… it would be best that you never do. Please understand. I had to accept this as Eighth Predator…"
Issei had snapped. At her. He had directed his negativity at her and she took the brunt of it. She was reminded in only that one glare how he was something she could never fully control. Only an invisible thread that was a promise kept him from tearing her apart.
She had thought she knew the depths of Sona's warning. She had just corrected herself.
"Just…" Rias tried to find her fortitude as a King again. "Just understand I'm not okay with this, still. I really do wish you could have discussed this with me first. Not as your master, Ise, but as your…"
His… what? Friend? Lover? Consort? What was she to Issei when she wasn't his King? She didn't know the answer to that.
"Oh man…" grief shook him as he gripped his head with both his hands. "That reminds me! Sona is going to kill me!"
…It also irked her how Sona had a tighter leash on him and she was hardly ever present!
"What else can you tell us about… that," Rias asked.
Issei calmed down and fiddled with the orb again in his grasp. "Siegfried said I need to install it and give it time to adjust. And that… something is going to happen the next time I use Promotion."
"I don't recall you ever using Promotion," she retorted. "Well, it's not like you've ever needed to. Did he ever specify what it was that will happen?"
"…He did not," Issei looked away as the realization kicked in.
One would think to read the instruction manual before accepting a weapon that will be fiddling with the core of his abilities. Rias was liking this even less.
"Another question," inquired Akeno, "how exactly does one install a Vorpal Sword?"
Issei also didn't have the answer to that.
"Oh for the love of…" Rias found herself groaning with a headache rising. "Ise… is there anything you learned at all from this little trip?"
"Maybe it's a suppository?" giggled Akeno.
"DON'T EVEN JOKE LIKE THAT!" Issei was out of his seat.
Akeno tilted her head in innocent confusion as she gave him one of her mirthful smiles, "Who said I was joking, Ise-kun?"
"Um…" Asia look over at Rias, "Buchou? What does that mean? Is it something I can help with? If it is then I'll be more than happy to help Ise!"
"Well I wanted the rights to do that to my adorable little junior," Akeno gave her most evil cackle to date. "But if Asia-chan wants to then I guess I can be the assistant. I shall go fetch my ropes. We can't have him squirming during the procedure."
She stood, as if she really were going to one of the spare rooms to fetch her equipment. But then again… this was Akeno talking so she might really be doing just that. Naturally, Issei leapt in front of her and tried to stop her.
While Akeno and Issei were playing their little word game (with Akeno winning as always), Rias gestured for Asia to come closer to the desk. The petite Bishop approached more curious than ever by the fact whatever was going to be elaborated should not be spoken about in open air, even when the other two in the room already knew such tender information. Asia leaned over the desk, Rias leaned forward, and the explanation was given.
Asia's face heated up so red and so quickly steam nearly shot out of her ears. Her hands shot to her own rear out of natural reaction. "W-W-W-Wuah?! B-B-B-B-But… W-W-W-W-Who w-would... In a place like t-t-t-t-t-t-t-that?!"
Rias leaned back in her chair and shared further details, this time aloud for everyone to hear. "Well, in some cases taking a normal pill orally wouldn't—"
"SHE DOESN'T NEED TO KNOW THIS!" Issei wailed. "AND IT'S NOT A SUPPOSITORY! IT'S… huh…?"
Issei's attention went back to the Vorpal orb in his hand as though it was the small device that called for him. His brows scrunched as he brought it closer to his face, as though he was having difficulty hearing it. As if it could talk in the first place. Perhaps it could; there was a faint glow at its core that was blinking in some sort of rhythm.
"Ise, what is it?" Rias asked aloud.
"Ohhhhhhhhh…" Some sort of revelation swept through Issei as he lowered the sphere and summoned a gauntlet in his opposing hand. "So that's how. So much better than what Onee-sama recommended."
No one had the chance to question him further. He brought the Vorpal directly into his gauntlet, shattering the luminous green gem on the back of his hand. The black orb slipped in perfectly.
Issei bared fangs as his eyes shifted to their rightful draconian nature. He couldn't help but grab on to his arm as the black orb began to radiate a prism of colors. Rainbow waves of energy coursed through the armor akin to the lines of a circuit board and then reached out onto Issei's skin. They watched helplessly as it crawled up his arm and began to consume the remainder of his body.
"ISSEI!" they all shouted but didn't know what to do.
"It's… all right…" he hissed in pain but gave them a grin.
[BEGINNING DIAGNOSIS]
Rias heard words, but it wasn't a voice. It was monotone and didn't carry any form of tone. It didn't so much as speak as it just shared information for her to interpret on her own. Almost like she was reading directly from a book.
[RUNNING DIAGNOSIS. SCANNING STATUS OF HOST. REGISTERED; ONE, ISSEI HYOUDOU. SCANNING CONDITION OF PHYSIOLOGY. REGISTERED; 87% REPTILIAN, DRAGON-CLASS SPECIES; 10% ELEMENTAL, DEVEL-CLASS SPECIES; 3% MUNDANE, HUMAN-CLASS SPECIES. HOST IS IN ACCEPTABLE PHYSICAL HEALTH.
[SCANNING CONDITION OF MENTALITY. ERROR. MENTALITY OF HOST IS UNSTABLE. CORRUPTED DATA FOUND. VIRUSES DETECTED WITHIN VORPAL SYSTEM: TYPE-OPPAI. ACTIVATING ANTI-OPPAI VIRUS PROTECTION. RESUMING DIAGNOSIS. ERROR. VIRUSES DETECTED WITHIN VORPAL SYSTEM: TYPE-OPPAI. REACTIVATING ANTI-OPPAI VIRUS PROTECTION. ERROR. VIRUSES CAN NOT BE REMOVED. REMOVE AT COST OF HOST HEALTH: Y/N?]
"What?!" Issei had no idea what was going on. He didn't understand the majority of what the Vorpal had said. But he did know something bad was going to happen to him if he let it continue. "No! Don't do it!"
[REMOVING SAFETY LOCKS ON VORPAL SYSTEM]
"I SAID NO, DAMMIT!" Issei shouted into his left hand.
[ACTIVATING PURGING SEQUENCE: UNIT-ISSEI REPELLANT]
Issei began to cry. Rias could somewhat understand why. He was such a pervert even his brain was infecting this… computer? What exactly was Vorpal? She thought it was some magic instrument. Regardless, it would seem even the Dragon Slayer had predicted this and placed some sort of anti-virus system specifically designed to battle Issei.
At this point Rias sat back in her chair with a warm cup of tea Akeno had just poured her. The Queen rested against the desk with her own cup in hand. Asia had her hands close to her chest but she too was against the desk.
All three of them were watching in bewilderment. Rias would even say she found this somewhat entertaining.
[DELETION OF VIRUSES IN PROGRESS… ERROR.
[ERROR. ERROR. ERROR. VIRUSES CANNOT BE DELETED. WARNING. VORPAL SYSTEM IN CRITICAL RISK. WARNING. MAIN HUB BREACHED. WARNING. PROCESSOR BREACHED. W-WARN-NING. CO-RE A-AT-T R-R-I-S-SK…]
It then just sizzled out in a series of small sparks, followed by a trail of smoke rising off the surface of the jewel.
They all watched dumbfounded. Issei shook his gauntlet a few times, trying to get it to work again. He tapped a finger on the surface of the gem… only more sparks lit up before going dead.
"Did you… break it?" Rias put her tea down at this.
[REBOOT SUCCESSFUL]
It came back to life in a flash of colors as the circuitry weaved through Issei's skin once again. He jolted fiercely enough for him to fall to the floor. It had been unexpected…
…And Rias could have sworn a lot more forceful than last time. As if the thing had come back with a vengeance.
[SKIPPING SYSTEM SCAN OF MENTALITY OF HOST. PROCEEDING WITH NEXT PHASE. SCANNING QUANTUM IDENITY CORTEX CONDITION. QIC SYSTEM STABLE. LOCATED MODIFIERS; CLASS: EVIL PIECES. REGISTERED; EIGHT PAWN PIECES. ANALYZING CONDITIONS… REGISTERED; FOUR STANDARD EVIL PIECES, FOUR MUTATED PIECES]
This would be the first time in history Rias ever did a spit-take. The tea splashed over poor Asia's side. She distinctly remembered resurrecting Issei with all eight of her Pawn Pieces, yes, but they were the normal Pieces anyone else received. At what point in time did four of them mutate? She gravely underestimated how powerful Issei must have been if it would have required four Pawns to have mutated.
Another thought; what if she didn't have the power then to resurrect him? What if back then she needed the four regular Pawns and four Mutated Pieces? Issei wouldn't be here…
[SCANNING DEFIANT INSTRUMENT OF PHENOMENON. REGISTERED; SACRED GEAR, TYPE: LONGINUS, CLASS: WELSH BOOSTED GEAR. STABLE. ACCEPTABLE CONTIDION]
[SYSTEM SCANS COMPLETE. DIAGNOSIS COMPLETE. ASSESSMENT: HOST IS IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION. CLEAR TO ENGAGE INSTALLATION OF VORPAL SYSTEM. BEGINNING INSTALLATION. ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIX HOURS]
"What?!" Issei shrieked and jumped back up to his feet. He seriously just lay there the whole time while it finished its scan. "But that's… forever!"
Rias did the math in her head, "That's almost six weeks, Ise."
"Six weeks?!" he yelled further and then began to talk to the Vorpal jewel. "Can't you speed things up sooner?!"
She was amused at how he believed this thing was able to talk to him. It was a machine from what she could tell.
[REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGED. RECALCULATING ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME. CORRECTION MADE. ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: SIX MONTHS]
She quirked a brow. She noticed how it didn't share the time in hours like before.
…Maybe this thing did have a personality of sorts?
"Six months…?!" Issei sank to his knees. "That's way too long…"
[ERROR. MALFUNCTION LOCATED WITHIN CALCULATIONS. READDRESSING… COMPLETE. ESTIMATED TIME OF COMPLETION: SIX WEEKS]
"MAKE UP YOUR MIND!"
[VOICE COMMAND NOT RECOGNIZED. SEEKING SIMILAR COMMANDS… BEGIN SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE: Y/N?]
"NO! NO, NO, NO, NO!"
[ACKNOWLEDGED. BEGINNING SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE. COUNTDOWN IN TEN... NINE… EIGHT…]
Issei began to panic. He even tried to rip the Sacred Gear off his arm but failed to realize it was sealed there permanently. He put it between his thighs and tried to use the strength of his back to pry it off. Nothing was working.
Rias sighed and decided enough was enough. "Issei… you know that thing's messing with you, right?"
[VOICE COMMAND RECOGNIZED. SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE ABORTED. RETURING TO INSTALLATION…]
"…To think someone like the Dragon Slayer had a sense of humor," Akeno mused.
Asia, however, gave a heavy sigh as she too sank to her knees. "Thank goodness. I thought Ise was going to lose his arm…"
Issei fell to his knees as he dismissed the red gauntlet. The glowing circuitry over his body slowly sank beneath his skin until it could no longer be seen. "This was so not funny…"
Rias leaned further in her seat until the chair began to recline back. If the Dragon Slayer thought any of this was funny… it wasn't by a long shot. On normal circumstances the situation would have been tossed as typical hijinks befitting Issei's life, but when it came from one of those who make a black spot on her adorable Pawn's heart… there were no kind words that came to mind.
"I believe we've all had enough for one night…" she exasperated after a very tired sigh. "Why don't the two of you go home? And Ise… would it be fine if we can all stay the night at your place? I believe your protections far surpass any of mine and now knowing the Second is here…"
"Y-Yeah…" Issei rubbed the back of his head. "You're always welcome, Buchou. You guys have keys so feel free to come whenever you want."
"Thank you," she replied with a small smile. "Go on ahead. I'll wait here for Koneko and Yuuto to come back."
Issei nodded and looked over at Asia. She came to his side at the ready. They both said their goodnights as they began to make their way out of the clubroom. Rias couldn't say she noticed any change between them, and yet there was something… different between them. Something intimate with the way they walked together. They were just as close to another as they had always been, yet there was something she couldn't see that wasn't there before.
Whatever it was… it made Rias' heart hurt.
"Issei…" the calling of his name came out of her mouth without her realizing. Some innate feeling to draw his attention to her, to simply look at her, forced her to call for him against her consciousness.
He turned and blinked. His expression was level and nothing but professionalism. Like how a servant should behave towards their master. So very unlike the intimate and welcoming looks he gave to Asia… to Koneko… to Akeno… to Yuuto… To everyone but her.
"Yes, Buchou?"
Buchou. Not Rias.
"No, it's nothing," she shook her head. "Have a good night."
He stared a little longer as if expecting her to retract her words. Only a few seconds of lingering attention. With nothing progressing, he nodded in politeness and went back to leaving the room. He even opened the door for Asia like a gentleman, who smiled at him in return.
And he smiled back at her in a way that made Rias flush in jealousy. But it was a feeling she hadn't a clue where it came from. She quickly shoved such feelings down her throat and tied it down with a metaphorical string.
"You're so sad to look at it hurts, Rias," Akeno stated in a dry tone akin to how one would state the conditions of the weather. Alone with her King, she dropped the persona of the Queen. "To think the apple of desire, the Rias Gremory, would be jealous over the least desirable person in school."
Rias' brow twitched. Yes, Issei was, literally, at the bottom of the popularity charts, but that didn't mean he couldn't be desirable. He had his good points. A lot of bad ones. A lot. But those good things about him overshadowed the bad. Akeno knew this as well; hell, the sadistic Queen had told her about her nefarious plans to kidnap Issei, tie him in the interrogation dungeon at the base of their mansion and… the better details were best left unsaid.
So to call Rias out on it irked her when Akeno was in the same boat. "…I have no idea what you're talking about."
But her pride wouldn't allow her to admit it.
"Of course," Akeno teased with a smile. "So it wouldn't mean anything to you if I tell you the latest gossip running through the rumor mill? Such as a certain someone from the student council having the hots for a certain Reddobura?"
A second twitch from the same brow. Rias had indeed heard of another one of Kuoh's most desirable girls having a sudden interest in Issei. News had spread quickly and students had inquired the source, Tsubasa herself, and the Rook denied nothing. She even glorified Issei and stated she hoped she was good enough for the infamous member of the Perverted Trio.
"No, not at all," Rias denied further and hid her disdain by drinking her tea… which had been empty for quite some time.
"I imagined so," Akeno played along. "Oh that reminds me. There is another rumor quite a number of the first-years were considering confessing to him. I believe some of the more daring were wanting to call him 'Onii-chan' and elaborated how they wanted to be pushed down by his big, strong, muscular body."
A third twitch. "Is that so…?"
Akeno wasn't done. "Oh yes. His classmates were absolutely stunned by how in shape he was when they saw him walk in this morning in Kiba-kun's uniform. It's amazing how a simple change in attire can draw in the eyes of so many girls; they might even be willing to overlook his vulgar behavior or use it in their favor. And I do believe it'll continue to grow because a certain someone within this room swapped all of his uniforms with better tailored ones while he was gone. I won't say who."
Akeno snickered akin to chime bells. By this point Rias couldn't stop her hand from rubbing her temple.
"Not to mention I might actually lose him to Sona of all people," she eventually caved and just went along with Akeno's teasing. "The idiot doesn't realize what he's done with her. If the Sitri family finds out…"
"Rias… exactly how serious are you about him?" the smile dropped as Akeno asked her dearest friend in a serious tone.
"…I… want him to… look at me as he would with you," she shared after some thought. It was never easy putting such foreign feelings into words. She didn't believe they were the most accurate, but they were satisfactory enough to make the point.
"You mean full of absolute lust as he stares at my breasts and only my breasts?" the Queen retorted with some mild amusement. "I believe he already does that."
Rias shook her head. "He calls you Onee-sama and means it. You are something special to him. Do you know what he called me during the Rating Game? Master. It made me feel very… distant with him. I'm worried… that's all he thinks of me as. Just as his master. Not Rias."
"…Perhaps then you shouldn't have used him," Akeno couldn't withhold the sharpness of her tongue. No matter how much she loved Rias, she couldn't believe her friend went that far with the heartbroken Pawn.
Her words hurt Rias she couldn't help but flinch. She always regretted taking advantage of Issei like that. She was desperate to the point of panicking, and she dared to say the alcohol had a part in persuading her that night but nothing could be further from the truth. Rias was only thinking of herself and put the bare minimum of thought in Issei's wellbeing.
She played with his heartstrings, made him fall to his knees and swear fealty to her through charming words. She took full advantage of his weak constitution in his greatest moment of need. He swore to be her ultimate weapon in exchange for… what? To patch his bleeding heart?
Rias knew better than anyone she had no idea how to do that. She had lied to him, never once believing her own words on that night. Issei had followed her every command and performed past her expectations, but what had she done in return to him? Another night to lay with her? Such simplistic pleasures were only distractions for the flesh. They did nothing on the matters of the heart.
"Akeno… what should I do?"
The Queen could only shrug. "I can only suggest you be honest with him from now on. And apologize. They won't fix the problem, but it's a start. Then, maybe, tell him how you really feel. I'm sure he'll treat you the same, for both good and bad reasons, but Issei is very understanding. I believe that trait is why Koneko-chan and I fell for him as well…
"Putting that aside for now… What are we to do about Issei's senior?"
*Scene*
Three days later…
Issei had no clue what he was staring at. He arrived to school at the normal time, departed from Asia as a group of girls wanted to talk to her before classes, and he entered the main building with the intentions of switching his shoes. But when he opened the locker, a flutter of colored envelopes fell out with plenty more crammed in the small box. Now, he had seen such a situation many times in Kuoh Academy, manga, anime, and some of those drama shows he watched as a guilty pleasure. And may the great elder gods of debauchery condemn that filthy handsome Kiba for going through this nearly every day with his own locker.
Issei recognized the old 'confession letter(s) in the shoe locker' tact. But something wasn't right. This was his locker. Sure, he received a few since his first days in Kuoh Academy, but they were one or two a month. The girls who wrote the letters never had any interest in him to begin with and used him as some sort of rite of passage with what click they hung out with.
There were also the letters of hate and death-threats he received when he was inducted into the Occult Research Club. Better, when he was given permission to be close to 'Gremory-oneesama', 'Himejima-oneesama', 'Kiba-kun', and 'Toujou-chan'. It was like when he started to get help from 'Shitori-kaichou' back when he was a first-year.
So Issei took this with a grain of salt when he gathered the envelopes and stuffed them in his bag, proceeding through his routine to begin the school day by first swapping out his shoes. When he had time he would sit down and read all of them and decide for himself which ones he should approach and which ones he should discard. But knowing his luck all of them would have to be neglected.
He knew there were several eyes upon him, some hiding within crowds and others hiding behind clearly visible corners. What he didn't know was the level of disappointment they all had when he turned away to head towards his classroom.
*Scene*
"Do you know anything about this?" Sona asked when their daily review of the Phenex-Gremory Rating Game was concluded. She pulled an application from a file on her desk and handed it over to Issei.
Issei blinked when he looked it over. "What… is this exactly?"
It wasn't a question of its legibility. They both knew exactly what it was as everything was neatly filled out for even the greatest of simpletons (Issei) to understand. Still, Sona responded, "That is an application to register a new club, Ise. It still needs the final seal from the student council to make it official. They do qualify to have enough members to get started… and this far into the year they can't receive a part of the school budget and have submitted all activities will be funded by the members themselves. One of the teachers has even submitted himself to be the moderator. Everything is in order and would be accepted… but…"
It wasn't unusual for a cult of students to gather and form a club as a place of worship and discussion regarding another student. Nearly every member of the Occult Research Club had one, excluding both Bishops and Issei; but Asia was still new, none of the students knew Gasper existed, and Issei was the least favored person on the face of the planet. Even Sona had one such club dedicated to her 'fans' worshipping her. Though who the hell approved it without her knowledge is still a mystery she had yet to solve.
As of now, Issei was now part of that list. The Legion of Hyou-Doers was the name of the applying club. It made her head hurt. But it was a better name than the Kiba-Koos. Whatever the fuck a 'Koo' was.
"Oh yeah, I heard about that!" Tsubasa said aloud as she finished gathering her things. Most of the members had left. Some hadn't even bothered to show up knowing Issei would be there. But Tsubasa made sure to be present at every chance. Especially after finding out Issei would be the one going over the performances in the game.
…Only, Issei was as much of an idiot as everyone had first thought. He lacked all forms of common sense and showed little to no signs of intellect during his high school career. It was an apocalyptic day in the student council when he beat Sona in the game of chess. To outsmart the smartest person in the entire academy, who had the rights to boast she knew more material on a subject than most of the teachers… they believed he was a supercomputer in secret. Issei was seen in a completely new light. They couldn't be any more wrong.
When Issei was up in front of the monitor displaying the game he participated in, he failed to elaborate how he came up with such strategies. His general reply to anything was 'it felt right'. When footage was shown on the enemy side he couldn't see during the game, he drew in a blank in understanding their strategies.
But throw in the offer to return one confiscated porn magazine… Issei suddenly had the ability to completely unravel the mindset of Raizer Phenex, give suggestions on what they should have done, and evaluate every microscopic detail regarding his peerage members. And for some H-game, he turned it into a very organized and understandable lecture. Points were made, examples were given, demonstrations and emulations were performed…
…And he even made a model of the battleground the day before today with perfectly detailed figurines of every participant as he reenacted the battle down to the last performance.
"I really hate this guy…" groaned Saji for the umpteenth time. Out of everyone in the peerage, he was the only one to show his displeasure for the Gremory Pawn. Only because they had yet to reveal his true identity. No one wanted to see the last few minutes of the Rating Game nor did they want to state the elephant in the room. He was simply left in the dark.
"I thought about joining," Tsubasa continued. "But when I went to apply and saw the members…"
She just left it open as a blank.
"So it's a… fan club… for… me?" Issei couldn't believe it.
"It would seem so," Sona regained possession of the application and tucked it back in its folder. "…Or it could all be a ruse. Do you recall the witch hunt in your first year?"
As if he could ever forget. Back in his first year he, as well as Motohama and Matsuda, had received confession letters. He was told to meet some girl behind the gymnasium. Only… when he got there (having met up with his buds as well), they were ambushed by a horde of students who had enough of the Perverted Trio.
They chased him down for twelve freaking hours throughout the city. He never once got the chance to slip away with his Gift of Flight as someone always had an eye on him.
"Well…" Issei scratched his chin in thought. "I'm not sensing any danger coming my way. So I don't think they'll be doing anything like that. I don't even feel like they'll do anything as bad as hurting my feelings. Huh. So this perk is useful for things like this too… I could always go see for myself and go from there."
"I would like to accompany you then when you do," Sona pressed her glasses. "Not that I doubt your credibility to flee, Ise, but I would like to avoid another riot like that again."
"They meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school," Tsubasa, once again, shared what information she knew. "Mondays to discuss what Hyoudou-sama had done during the weekend, Wednesday to discuss what he has been up to in school for the week, and Friday to confirm Wednesday's details as well as giving assignments for the weekend."
"…And you're not a member?" the ever-smiling Tomoe asked with skepticism.
"I said I was interested in joining," Tsubasa denied nothing.
"Then there might be some credibility to those letters…" Issei said aloud mainly to himself.
"Letters?" asked a set of four; Sona, Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Saji.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah. When I arrived to school this morning I got a bunch of letters stuffed into my locker. I had asked Buchou and the others if they could help me go over them… But they all gave me really scary looks. I mean, even that damn handsome gave me a look as if he was ready to kill someone! Sure, they all agreed to it, but they were only interested in the names of the girls. I'm a little worried they might do something… The hell is up with that?! Uh, Sona, is there any way you can instead?"
"The hell?" Saji jerked in. "Aren't you dating Argento-san? That's what I've been hearing anyways. And you beat Kaichou at chess! And you want more?! Isn't stealing Kaichou away from me enough?!"
Sona pretended to not have heard anything he said. Second, Saji's 'secret' admirers Ruruko and Momo looked at another and gave a unified sigh.
Issei stared at the only male member of the Sitri group. "Eh?! Of course it's not enough! My ultimate dream one day is to inherit a peerage of my own and fill it with beauties for a harem! But I'm nowhere near close to fulfilling that dream yet. Besides, Sona and I are strictly just friends."
Once again, the members of the Sitri Peerage were completely blown away by how… surreal the great and dominating Red Dragon Emperor was. Once again the amount of flaws he showed in his words and actions brought him down to their level. He was simply an idiot with far too much power in his hands, in their eyes anyways.
"Well…" Tsubasa tried to keep the light for her hero from dying. "I suppose that means there's still a chance for me…"
"I think it would be best if you review all the letters yourself, Ise," Sona spoke. "They are all addressed towards you and I believe it would be inappropriate for an outsider like myself to hear of their intentions. You'll have to see for yourself if they are worth your response."
"Ah, I see… I think…" Issei said to himself once more before asking something else. "Is this from personal experience, Sona?"
"…That's for my discretion, Ise," was all she replied.
"Um… Right, right, of course," Issei forced himself to look away from the intense glare she was giving him. "So… about that club…?"
Sona shifted in her stance as she crossed her arms. "Seeing as it is Friday, your fan club should be gathering after school. If you're set on this, then I will accompany you."
"Please and thank you, Sona!"
"Right, now that we have a few minutes left before lunch ends," Sona reached over her desk and pulled out her bag sitting on her seat. "Would you mind accompanying me for a moment? There's something I wanted to ask you."
"Ehhhhhhh?!" Saji leapt from his seat and flustered. He nearly bit his tongue as he tried to find the right words to argue. "K-K-Kaichou! You're seriously not walking to class with—"
"Whosoever I choose to spend my free time with is of no concern of yours, Saji," Sona responded with a cold and strictly professional tone. It made him freeze over and nearly crack by how intentionally apathetic they were. But, she believed, a point needed to be made else he make a fool of himself… again. Oh yes, she was fully aware of his feelings towards her.
"Y… Yes Kaichou…" Saji eventually said and took his seat. It didn't stop him from giving Issei a noteworthy death-glare.
However, the Gremory Pawn was completely unfazed by what Saji threw at him. The Sitri Pawn was virtually harmless compared to the likes the Eighth Predator had confronted. Therefore, Issei was only away Saji was looking at him and nothing more.
In a few seconds, after a few words in departure, the two were walking down the hallways towards their respective classrooms.
"So, Sona, what's up?" he asked as he hug his bag close to his chest. Within the confines sealed a few magazines and games the disciplinary squad had confiscated. And they were his once more! Now the tricky part was to enjoy these things without Asia—
Oh wait. He made a promise.
Suddenly Issei was on his hands and knees. All the strength in his body was sapped away as his energy was being rerouted towards fulfilling what he was about to say next. "Wait. Sona. T-There's something I need to say first…"
She had no idea how it had turned into this. But she long learned to stop trying to figure out what went on in his head. Anything can happen. She preferred to not know what it was. "…Yes?"
Slowly, he rose back up to his feet. She couldn't help but raise a brow as she saw the streaks of tears falling down his face.
"A-About our deal… You… don't… have to…"
Sniff.
"You don't… need to… show me… a-anyt-t-t-thing…"
At first she had no idea what he was referring to. But then, after running the last few meetings they shared through her head she recalled what she had promised him. Her face nearly went green. She had been dreading that promise and didn't sleep a wink on the night after the deal was made. She would keep with the promise; she had her pride and honor— neither of those two things would let her break her oath.
"…We can talk about that later," she decided to shove the matter aside and go back to what she wanted in the first place. Lunch was almost over. "I know it's not my place to ask about the affairs of another King and their peerage. However, Rias did mention in passing none of you have been accepting any contracts since the beginning of the week. I won't ask what happened. But… is everything okay?"
He was finishing wiping away the last of the blood that leaked from his nose with a napkin he had brought with his lunch. She… wasn't going to ask why he was bleeding either. "Oh… uh, that. We… had a problem with Asia's first client. Everything's fine. But Buchou right now is rewriting the summoning tags so certain clients like that one don't call on us. Until she's done we're not accepting any clients. I don't know how long that will take, honestly."
She nodded in acceptance. There have been a number of reports where some clients were unruly and demanded much of the Devils they summoned. It was why there was a filtration system installed once a King started accepting summoning contracts. Some humans that wanted certain things were redirected to other Kings who specialized in that demand. And sometimes, though rarely, those clients weren't rerouted.
Were it any normal peerage, she would have believed him. But Sona knew better. She saw the way he behaved in response. They were small details such as the twitching of his lips, where he was looking at, and how his fingers clenched slightly against the leather bindings of his satchel. Were it some normal deviant of a client who wanted his way with Asia, Issei would be a lot… louder in his displeasure. Instead, he was keeping his anger in check.
This was twice now he's lied to her. All within the same week.
She knew it had something to do with them.
*Scene*
"Good evening Bu—" Kiba Yuuto began his normal greeting once he stepped foot inside the Occult Research Club. However, the sight of arguably the most powerful Pawn in existence stopped him in his tracks. His first thoughts were to share a glance with Koneko, but the white Rook was not present at the moment.
"…Why is Ise-kun crying this time?" he couldn't help but ask, already knowing the answer will be having to do with the Pawn's perversions. He didn't know why he asked. These things had happened so many times to the point where asking out of courtesy was pointless.
"Issei, my love," Rias and Akeno weren't paying him any mind. They were too busy reading from a large pile of letters dumped on top of the president's desk. "I had been wrong about you all along. Ever since I saw your finely chiseled physique I knew under the guise of a pervert was a true Adonis…"
Akeno picked up another letter and read at a random place, "…how your eyes have my drawn like pools of melted chocolate in which fills me with the carnal desire to devour you whole…"
Another letter from Rias, "…your voice like an angel singing soothing hymns with each passing word…"
"…your laugh makes me swoon over in delight…"
"…strong arms to shove me down and… oh wow…"
"…tongue to force my lips open and ravage my mouth however it pleases you…"
Yuuto had heard enough. They were all love letters addressed to Issei… so why was the Devil who so strongly desired to have a harem this distraught? He didn't understand.
Like any good friend, Yuuto walked over to his fellow male Devil and patted him on the back in both comfort and congratulations. "Well, well, Ise-kun. It looks like you're one step closer to achieving your harem."
Issei's response was to sob that much harder, enough for the tears to start producing a puddle below his fetal-positioned body. He began to rock himself back and forth in an attempt to comfort his own being.
It was then Koneko arrived, completing the roster for the Occult Research Club. In her hands was a small bag of cookies with one half eaten hanging by her lips. She looked once at Yuuto in her usual silent greeting, looked at Issei, blinked once, and then proceeded to move to her regular spot on the couch to finish her snack. She said and did nothing else. She didn't seem to remotely care in the slightest about the weeping Pawn rolling around in the middle of the room.
Asia was fiddling with her fingers, unsure on how to comfort Issei. There were a few crumbles of papers around her with her notebook open filled with small notes Yuuto could make out as genuine compliments… like the ones found in innocent love notes. It would seem she had thought to write one herself but had, perhaps, failed to find the right words or gave up seeing as the letters themselves were doing the harm. She could only sit there in worry on the couch.
"…I don't understand what's going on," Yuuto finally said after his mind had to take the moment to analyze the situation. The processed data came up inconclusive. The little metaphorical hamster running in his brain had stopped dead.
Rias looked up at him through the lenses of her fake glasses. With a pompous smirk, she flicked one page up at him for the taking. Curious, he approached the desk and skimmed over the letter. They were like the countless hundreds he had received throughout his career in Kuoh Academy and couldn't understand what was so wrong. They were all nonsensical sweet nothings and confessions of teenage love. Some were shallow, some were immature, some were actually genuine, and the rest was all nonsense. Once again, typical teenage love.
That is… until he got to the end of the letter and saw who signed it.
He blinked. No… it couldn't be…
He put the letter down and pulled out another one, ignoring the drabble of the message itself and went straight for the name. Finding what was needed, he put it down and picked up another to repeat the cycle. It went on and on until he was ten pages in and did he finally realize something.
…Every single one of them was written by a guy.
"And to think I was actually worried," Rias said as she leaned back in her chair, a victorious smile plastered on her face.
"And to think I was going to skin some girls alive," Akeno said simultaneously mixing her voice with that of her King's. She did so purposely for everyone in the room to question whether or not they had heard her correctly.
"…What was that, Akeno?" Rias couldn't help but question it anyways, sensing the cold murderous intent slipping through her Queen's lips.
"Oh, nothing Buchou," said Queen returned with an innocent smile.
Regardless, Yuuto could now understand why Issei was crying a river and ruining the carpet. As the living incarnation of sexual prowess, Issei had driven his entire soul into seeking a harem of beautiful girls. It was why he was so accepting of becoming a Devil. Yuuto still remembers how unfriendly Issei had been until Buchou had mentioned in passing when one ranks up high enough they can inherit their own peerage. Issei immediately dove into his work right after that and was tied with Akeno on getting the most amount of contracts every week.
By the looks of things, all his efforts did work… just not in the way he wanted and ended up exploding in his face.
"They're all dudes…" he heard Issei speak between sobs. "T-They call themselves the Hyou-Doers! I'm not someone's donut!"
"Right, that," Rias began to elaborate while making gestures with her hands to put emphasis in her story. "He came running straight here from the main building, crying the whole way. He practically threw himself before my feet and begged for the… 'nightmare to go away'. You should have seen the mob that followed him to this building. You just missed them as Akeno made them leave. Sona sent me a short text shortly after and explained to me Issei here has a new fan club dedicated to all things relating to him."
"…Filled to the brim with male students?" Yuuto asked.
The King nodded as she removed her glasses and placed them inside their case.
Any further discussion was put on hold at the glowing light of the magic circle in the corner of the room. Brows were raised at the interruption. They weren't expecting any guests… the only group Yuuto could think about that would appear had to belong to the Rating Game committee or perhaps a member of the Gremory clan. Perhaps, even, King Lucifer himself would appear.
"…Sitri?" Rias' brows knitted in confusion as she watched the circle form into the corresponding sigils. Someone of the Sitri family was traveling from the Underworld to meet with her. She couldn't possibly fathom who or why.
As was the norm of their people, Devils couldn't just make a normal appearance when being summoned. They always had to do something extravagant. Even Rias bathed herself in red phantasmal light when appearing during her rare summoning contracts. The Phenex family loved to bathe their selves in their fire. Quite possibly the only exception to this would be Grayfia, who simply chose to appear as is… But then again, the Strong Queen herself needn't any flash to warrant any spectacular attention when she herself was a presence to behold.
For this particular person appearing, a glitter of stardust, hearts, and rays of rainbow waves lit up the room as the small figure stepped through the dimensions. She was short, quite busty for someone her size, and dressed head to toe in a frilly pink outfit crossing that of a school uniform and a battle gown.
"Prepare to be amazed, everyone! Magical girl Levi-tan is here~" sang the young lady who stepped out of the ring, spinning around for her skirt to twirl with her, and making a pose for all of those within the room to admire her.
The majority of the Gremory Peerage were on their feet at the appearance of such a character.
"Leviathan-sama!" Rias stepped forward to welcome one of the Yodaime Maou. Outward appearance aside, this was one of the Devils that ruled over their entire society and demanded the utmost respect. She was a Devil not elected by the majority on popular vote through being the most charming…
…She was one of the four leaders for being the most powerful and most vicious of all the Devils.
"Hi there, Rias-chan!" Serafall Leviathan skipped her way over to the Gremory Heiress and gave her greetings. "Everyone. Sorry to stumble here on short notice."
"It's no worry, Leviathan-sama," Rias gave a warm smile. "But… if you're looking for Sona you might want to check the Student Council office."
"I was trying to get in there but So-tan rerouted the network to have me tossed in the middle of the Mediterranean!" Serafall pouted and stomped her feet. She then blinked and corrected her stance. "I-I mean… I'm actually not here on a visit. I'm here on official business. Sirzechs-chan wanted to be here with me but he's currently having his hands full back in the capital."
Ah. They had all known sooner or later someone big would be making an appearance since the Rating Game. Since Issei openly revealed to the entire supernatural community the existence of Predators there were bound to be repercussions. Serafall Leviathan, the Satan in charge of international affairs, would be that such person to approach, it would seem.
"Akeno, please prepare some tea for Leviathan-sama," Rias instructed, to which her Queen gave a bow and went to work immediately. The red-haired King returned back to Serafall, "Please take a seat wherever you prefer, Leviathan-sama."
"Mou~" Serafall puffed her cheeks when she plopped herself on the couch. "Call me Levi-tan or Serafall! I know I'm here on business but there's no reason to be so stuffy about it."
"Yes, yes, of course," Rias humored and gestured for her Pieces to position their selves around the room much like how Grayfia and Raizer were present. "Now, to what do I owe the pleasure to be in the presence of the great Leviathan?"
Upon being served tea by the Queen, Serafall puffed her cheeks once more yet said nothing to correct Rias a second time on how to address her. "Rias-chan, I'm here to ask you a few questions as well as your Pawn. Is he by chance available?"
No one said a word as their eyes shifted over to the Pawn still crying with a bleeding heart in the middle of the room. How Serafall had been able to miss his presence was an anomaly.
Or perhaps she did notice him. Serafall took another sip of her tea and waited patiently for Rias to respond. She did ask if he was available, not if he was present.
Rias did her best to keep a straight face and keep the red shade of embarrassment from being revealed. Of all the times someone had to pay a visit it had to be when Issei was having one of his mental breakdowns. Granted, these happen on a regular basis… but still.
"I-Issei…" she did her best to keep up the smile. "Your King is in need of your presence…"
There was an audible sniff as Issei stood from his place at the side of the table. He stood tall, giving a salute to reinstate his obedience for her, and yet he continued to sob. "Y-Yes Buchohooohooohoooouuuuuu~"
Rias couldn't stop her hand from cupping her face in grief.
Serafall Leviathan stood and approached the Pawn; there was something in her eyes with the way they lit up at the sight of him. They were twinkling with praise, and at the same time narrowed in jealousy. She was not conflicted on the two emotions— she simply chose to express the both of them at the same time without shame.
"So you're the great Red Blur…" she said in a low tone as she leaned over to get a closer look at him. Her crystalline blue eyes peered up at him without her adjusting her stance.
Issei blinked when he wiped away the last of the tears. Immediately his eyes zoned in on the magical girl, particularly her attire and what curves the dress emphasized. He needn't have to look at her assets directly to get a full-view of them. True, they were nowhere near as bountiful as Rias' or even Akeno's, but given her small height and petite stature her bust was more than generous. Add in the innocent and adorable look she had in her eyes and in her behavior… she was a totally hot babe straight from one of those eroge he frequently played.
Be that as it may, he did not miss how her threat-level towards him was just as potent as it was with Grayfia Lucifuge. That is to say, this girl had the capability of keeping up with him and could potentially deal some serious harm should anything break out. He would be victorious in the end, but the toll would be stupendous. Dare he say the feeling of animosity was just one shade darker with her than compared to Grayfia? It felt that way, but he wasn't certain.
"Oh, um, hi?" he ended up sputtering like the excited horn-dog that he was. He was too engrossed with the size of her breasts while fantasizing what he would do to them instead of worrying about a cataclysmic death match that would destroy the whole region. "It's nice to meet you?"
She hummed to herself and took the moment to cycle around him, examining every detail about him through her narrowed eyes. She even went as far as to grab his arm, lift it above her head, examine it closely while squeezing the muscular flesh, knitting her fingers to test the tenderness. Her head nodded once, in neither approval nor disappointment, before she cycled back around to his front. With her observations done, she posed with one fist at her hip and a finger pointed directly at him.
Her boobs jiggled. He pretended to have not noticed.
But everyone else saw. Asia and Koneko puffed their cheeks in irritation. Akeno's smile grew while her fingers threatened to crush the tray in her grip. Yuuto could barely withhold his unamused laughter. And Rias tried her hardest to suppress her brow from twitching.
"I so declare, Red Blur, this magical girl will not lose to the likes of you!"
"…Eh?" Issei blinked as he was brought out of his fantasy regarding this magical school girl calling him 'Onii-chan'. Even as her threat level was through the roof he couldn't do anything against his nature as a pervert. Regardless, her declaration for war made him reevaluate her from scratch. "Sorry… what are you getting at now? Leviathan, was it? Sorry, but who exactly are you?"
The room couldn't be any quieter at that moment. The Gremory Peerage (sans Asia) flinched by his words. Rias was dreading herself. Of all the things she had taught him about the Devil civilization she neglected one of the most important things. And she was not just referring to the Yodaime Maou.
She was referring to Magical Girl Levi-tan. Everyone knew about her… or else.
No one moved. Not even Serafall. She was petrified. Nay, it was as though all of time seemed to have ceased to progress around her. All signs of life was gone from her.
"Um… hello?" Issei leaned forward and poked her cheek. Something in the workings of the World must have broken and he had a feeling he had something to do with it. After all, all of sudden she wasn't registering to his Predator senses.
"HOW CAN YOU NOT KNOW WHO I AM?!"
And suddenly, his senses kicked off in the red zone as she came back to life. She was not furious, just more so surprised by his ignorance. Still, he had the feeling the entire building was going to be obliterated in an instant unless someone did something to calm her down.
"L-Leviathan-sama," Rias tried to plead with her. "I'm afraid the fault lies with me. I neglected certain parts in his education on Devil society. He's only been a Devil for two months…"
The Gremory King stood and went to both their sides. "Ise, may I present to you one of the Yodaime Maou, one of the leaders of all Devils, Serafall Leviathan."
Issei blinked once only from being startled by the value of her title. It would also explain why she felt so powerful according to both his draconian and Predator senses. He turned towards her and gave a courteous eastern bow of respect. "It's nice to meet you. Hyoudou Issei, Pawn of Rias Gremory."
"Oh how very polite~" Serafall smiled brightly. She cupped her hands together and returned the bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well Hyoudou Issei-chan. I'll be in your care for this— THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE FOR!"
And just like that, like a frazzled child realizing she had been tricked, her personality completely switched.
She went back to her previous pose— hand on her hip with a finger pointed at him. "Now where was I…? Oh, yes! Red Blur! I refuse to accept you as the more popular among us! M-My fans are just going through a trial, do you hear me? They will come back to my side once they realize the errors of their ways!"
He had no idea what she was talking about. But she kept calling him Red Blur. Did that mean she was talking about his heroic identity… or that ludicrous anime character?
"Am I… missing something?" he asked of his master.
Rias began to elaborate calmly; thankfully, Serafall was waiting patiently for this. "Leviathan-sama is also known as Magical Girl Levi-tan back in the Underworld. She has a show dedicated just for her; and on occasion she will perform concerts for all her fans. She's the closest thing to a pop idol the Devils have."
"…Uh huh…" Issei nodded once and continued to stare at his master for further explanations. Never mind one of the most powerful and ruling Devils was a pop idol… of all things. He wasn't seeing the full picture.
Sera fall took this moment to explain things clearly. "My show was ranked at the top of the charts on the entire Devil network. Your disgrace of an anime didn't even make it past the top fifty. But then you go and pull that stunt at the Rating Game. And then all of a sudden your show jumps through the charts and knocks mine down to second place?!
"Not to mention the merchandise! Do you have any idea what you have done? Red Blur merchandise was being swept off the shelves like crazy in every store down in the Underworld! To the point where you couldn't find anything. Suppliers couldn't keep up with customer demand. So now we have back alley dealings in every city with smugglers acquiring your merchandise from the human world. There's a crime syndicate dedicated to just getting the stuff and has quickly become more powerful than the local enforcement could control. Marshall Law had to be issued to stop this new crime wave of smuggled figurines, coffee mugs, and plush toys!"
She needed a moment to calm down… but not before muttering quietly to herself. "And there's been talk Sunlight Studios has been given the clear to make another season plus a movie. I can't possibly imagine what kind of cybernetic warfare is going to erupt in the coming days just to leak those episodes…"
"Is… that why connection to the Underworld has been cut off?" Akeno couldn't help but speak up. It went against regulation for the Queen to speak without the King's permission, but the… lunacy of the situation demanded of it.
"Well… only half, really," Serafall shrugged as she reverted to a more calm, yet chipper, personality. "The other half of the reason is because Hyoudou-chan scared a lot of people by his performance in the Rating Game. Riots broke out from fear and confusion. This has also been happening in the human world as well, but I've heard things in Japan are especially out of order, especially in Kyoto. The House of Lords, Pillar leaders, and the Satans had to gather for an emergency meeting. I'm here to carry out the decision made in the meeting and to… evaluate Hyoudou-chan personally."
Her eyes changed. She dropped the persona of a playful girl and took up the mantle of a leader— one filled with such charisma and authority that transcended anything Rias could pull off. One who had the responsibility and duty to rule over millions of citizens with every decision either being beneficial or destructive on a whim. One who understood being such a figurehead meant protecting those people even at the cost of her life. At the same time, she was more.
She was one who knew what he was and was more than prepared to face him if the need demanded of her. She was not intimidated by him being an Ultimate Killer; Serafall accepted his power for all it was worth.
Likewise, Issei's eyes focused on hers and hers alone.
"First and foremost," Serafall began, "Predator Hyoudou, what were your intentions when you revealed yourself at the Rating Game? Being recognized as the Red Dragon Emperor would have been more than enough to give you attention and merits, but why did you reveal yourself as Eighth, the Dragoon?"
He put his hands on his hips as he closed his eyes. His brows furrowed in irritation. Not because of Serafall's question, but because of the answer he would provide.
His eyes opened. Hate was filled to the brim in his gaze. Enough to make even Serafall react. She willed every fiber of her being from retracting a step— a reaction enforced by her survival instincts. But she was not perfect. Her eyes widened ever so slightly.
"I've had things taken away from me. And I'm tired of it. So very tired. Revealing who and what I am was a threat being made to the other seven. If they so much as try anything… I will kill them. It can't be any simpler than that."
His hand reached for Rias'. Hers was reaching for his at the same time. They met together and clasped onto another in firm union. Slowly, like watching ice melt away, Issei's rage was being replaced with…
His eyes moved throughout the room. They stared at each member of the Gremory Peerage. With each passing glance, with each heartfelt smile being returned onto him, his expression softened into tenderness.
His rage was being replaced with… love.
"I have something to protect," he went further. "You know… I was excited about being a Devil because I could have a harem. While, yeah, I still want one, just being with hot babes wasn't the reason why I wanted it. I wanted… companionship. I wanted to wake up with someone at my side. I wanted to walk down the stairs and be greeted with a good morning… not empty silence.
"I have a family. I am very content with my life right now. And I will do anything to make sure I never lose them. I've already lost too much. I won't let it happen again."
Rias squeezed his hand just a little bit tighter.
Serafall was quiet for a moment. Her crystalline eyes never moved away from his. His words cycled through her mind for some time before she gave him a smile. It wasn't one of her childish ones. It was a smile that spoke of sympathy— a smile that had suffered the same tragedies and horrors he had gone through.
"You pass," was all she said.
"I passed… what?" he asked and went to scratch his head. But he found his hand was trapped within Rias'. It wasn't his intention to reach for hers, but rather it was a necessity his wounded heart demanded of him against his knowledge. He stuttered an apology as he broke his hand free from her grip. A heavy blush dyed his cheeks.
Rias couldn't help but giggle at his bashfulness.
"I had ten questions for you to answer," Serafall elaborated. "But you managed to answer all of them in that one statement. Dragoon-chan, you are absolutely loyal to your master, Rias-chan, and to her peerage. And we know Rias-chan is always faithful to the Devils so there's no need to fear of you becoming our enemy at any point. I've decided you are not a threat. We would love to have you as our ally and wish to open negotiations for any potential future of service exchanges.
"And as a token of good will, we, the Devils as a whole, do acknowledge you and your power. In response, we have taken measures to grant you the appropriate privileges to fit one of your status."
"L-Leviathan-sama!" Rias blanched. "Does this mean…?"
"Yup!" Serafall responded with a large smile as she summoned a scroll from a conjured magic circle. It was tied together by a ribbon that probably cost the net worth of his house and bound by a crest of four creatures made out of solid gold. She handed it over to Rias.
Rias fumbled with the bindings. She was anxious almost like a child on Christmas morning. She was shaking with anticipation. Likewise, the other Devils of her peerage circled around her so to get a read on the scroll. But when she opened it for everyone to see it, Issei and Asia were unable to read anything. The contents were written in some sort of archaic squiggles, to which Issei could only assume to be the written language of the Devils.
Serafall noticed his clueless look and explained things herself. "Dragoon-chan, upon recognizing your title as one of the world's Ultimate Killer, we hereby promote your status from Low-class Devil to Ultimate-class and bestowed the title of Demon Lord within our society. Here forth you are—"
There was no warning. His hands were gripping on her shoulders and locking her in place. With a crazed, almost savagely carnivorous look, the living embodiment of sexual desire that was Hyoudou Issei was not looking upon the vessel that made up Serafall Leviathan. No, he was staring into the depths of her soul.
"Y-You mean I can have a harem?!" The question went beyond some child's wish to receive their desired toy. Or for a man lost in a desert to receive a drink of water. There were no words capable of describing the solemnity of his desires.
For the first time as long as she could remember, Serafall was very, very, very scared.
"Acutally, Ise," Rias spoke up as she continued to read the fine print of the document. "There are some… restrictions you will need to overcome on your own. It says here that while you are recognized by the Devil society as Demon Lord of all Devil affairs and territories governing Japan… all of your privileges that come with the title are on temporary hold until you can prove capable of handling the burdens that come with the job."
"Eeeehhhhhhhhhhhh?!"
Rias nodded and rolled the document back up. "Ise… do you understand what this means? It… it means you will be in charge in running all of Japan! You will be the acting viceroy, only directly under the Maous themselves! That's on equal grounds as the Archduke!"
Akeno hummed as she tapped a finger on her chin. "But… Buchou… don't viceroys have to be members of royalty? At least that's how it works in the human world."
Rias blinked. The scroll flashed open as her eyes spotted the subsection in less than an instant. Her eyes darted back and forth as she reread the section once, twice, and a third just to make sure.
"L… Leviathan…-sama…" she gradually lowered the scroll down as she looked at one of her four kings. "What does this mean? That Issei must be supported by a member with pure blood?"
"…Oh dear," Akeno said as her heart dropped to her stomach. The same reaction spread to Koneko and Asia. They knew what it meant.
…Except Issei, who was too busy looking between both parties in hopes someone will explain why he can't have a harem.
Leviathan answered Rias with a sweet smile, "Well, those sticklers wouldn't accept Dragoon-chan as their superior without a fight. They argued about tradition this and that, about having an outsider with no knowledge, upraising, and experience regarding Devil customs. So as a compromise we agreed he must marry into a pureblooded Devil family. Don't worry though, your parents are taking care of that part~"
Rias' face turned as crimson as her hair. Both in rage and in embarrassment. First, she couldn't believe her parents were already arranging another marriage for her. However, it was mixed in with the feelings of being forever bound to Issei and how much it made her heart flutter. She could say, without a doubt, having him as a husband was… appealing.
But marriage was too soon! She was still just a teenage girl!
Meanwhile, it had taken Issei a little bit longer for him to put the pieces together. By the time Rias was starting to calm down, his reaction made her blush return. "M-M-M-M-M-Marry B-B-B-Buchou?! T-Then that means… with the white dress… and white laces underneath… and then after the ceremony comes the honeymoon… and then at night…"
He gave a twisted grin as he began to cackle and drool.
Oh by the four horsemen, Rias knew what he was imagining as if he was sending subliminal messages directly into her brain. The scene played in her head… the poses they would make… Well, it was a good thing she was flexible otherwise that particular stance wouldn't be possible.
"K-K-K-Koneko-chan…" Rias' mind was brought back to reality as she saw her Rook plant a right hook directly into the Pawn's solar plexus. And down he went. He looked up at the white-haired girl with pleading eyes. "Whhhhyyyyyyy?"
Koneko did not dignify him with a response.
At the side, Asia was trying her best to hold back the tears. And Akeno was giving Rias a knowing grin… as if she knew Rias was fantasizing at the level Issei would have with any other girl. She found it impossible to be able to look at her Queen in the eye; the sadistic girl would just never let it down.
The only one unfazed by the proceedings was Yuuto, who was purposely distracting himself by reading the scroll so to not get involved unless absolutely necessary. Secretly, he believed Issei deserved whatever wrath the girls would unleash upon him. Reap what you sow, and all that.
"This is more of a trial phase than an actual promotion, all things considered," spoke Serafall, who was also ignoring a groaning Issei on the floor. "While he does possess the title of Demon Lord, he will have to prove he is worthy and capable of maintaining the responsibilities that come with it. And if he can't, we are prepared to give him something better fitting his abilities.
"Dragoon-chan," she turned and leaned over so to speak directly at him while he was still recovering from a shattered spine. "While you will still be serving your King, you will have to find a way to carry out the duties of a Demon Lord. This includes the defending of your territory, appropriating resources to maintain your finances, monitoring all activity happening within your lands, and fulfilling the special summoning tasks required of a Devil of your rank. You'll also have to learn how our society works as a whole. This includes mannerisms, politesse, etiquettes, history, current affairs, foreign affairs, and economics. It's a long and hard road, Dragoon-chan. I strongly suggest starting first by making your own summoning circles and having your familiar distributing them all across Japan."
Steadily, his fragmented nerves were regenerating to the point where he could stand back up, albeit a little wobbly. Serafall even helped him up— how kind of her.
"Only then can I get my harem?" was the only thing he asked.
"Only then can you receive your peerage," she replied with a nod.
"Challenge accepted!" he said with a raised fist in the air and a foot planted on the coffee table. "But wait. I don't have a familiar. How do I get one? And I don't know how to make magic circles."
"Well…" Rias spoke up, "normally we would wait a little bit longer until you're more accustomed to being a Devil. But… given the circumstances, I suppose we can have you looking for a familiar. There's a forest in the Underworld where you can claim your own. I'll see if I can get a reservation from the Familiar Master. But don't hold your breath, Ise. He's always booked so it might take some time."
"Hmmm…" Serafall tapped her chin. "I think I can help with that at least. But I'm not doing it because you're the Red Blur! Remember, you are my enemy! I'm only doing it because you're the only thing So-tan ever talks about in her letters."
Issei had no idea who she was referring to at first. But… given the energy signature and how familiar it was… "Wait… are you by chance related to Sona?"
"Yup!" her eyes lit up like stars at the mentioning of the Sitri Heiress. "I am So-tan's big Onee-chan!"
Now that came as a surprise. Given her… height and childish personality, one would think the age was reversed. Seriously, Sona was the polar opposite of Serafall in every way. Every way. Sona was at least average in height, was nothing but stern and professional in everything she did (he wouldn't be surprised if there was a set procedure in how she brushed her teeth), and her breasts were not as bountiful as her sister's.
He shivered. For whatever reason it felt like he had just called upon Death itself by his thoughts.
"Huh, if I knew that I would have called her over…" he got off the table and flipped open his phone. "I mean, it makes no sense not seeing a relative when they come to visit."
Rias wanted to correct Issei as to why Sona avoided Serafall like the plague. But she could never dare to do so in the presence of the aforementioned person. She will have to wait until Serafall left to discuss things with Issei.
Serafall pouted and crossed her arms, "I was going to but then she had to play a mean trick on me and throw me in the middle of nowhere. By the time I figured out a way to break through her spell and enter the student council office she was already gone. Apparently Aju-chan's little brother got a little brave and requested one of Sona's engagement trials. So she's back in the Sitri House playing chess with him."
"Ajuka-sama's brother…?" questioned Yuuto to Akeno. "Wait. Hasn't the Astaroth heir been missing for some time?"
Akeno nodded and whispered back, "Apparently he returned while we were at the training camp. I heard a rumor he lost most of his peerage… The Astaroth family are keeping mum about the deeper details."
While Issei was capable of hearing all of this, he didn't think anything of it. Instead, his focus was locked on Serafall's words. "Engagement trial? You mean someone's asking for Sona's hand in marriage?"
Rias knew where this was going. Slowly, as to not alert anyone else, she began to creep her way towards Issei's side.
"Yup," Serafall nodded before giving a heavy sigh. "She's never going to find a man at this rate. But better for me! See, Sona's pretty smart. She only agreed to marry someone who's smarter than her and challenges any suitor that comes her way in a game of chess. They'll only be able to marry her if they win. But Sona will forever be mine because I'm the only one who has ever beaten her at chess. Ever!"
"First Buchou and now Sona-kaichou…" cried Asia, who could not find a footing in her so-called relationship with Issei. It seemed for every step they made together, someone else was already five steps ahead.
"Really?" Issei scratched his cheek as he recalled what transpired earlier in the week. He mostly began to mutter to himself, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "That can't mean Sona and I are… Cause the other day we were playing and I manag— Erk!"
"Oh look at the time," Rias spoke up as she put all the weight of her body on her left foot… with the heel digging into Issei's toes. "Thank you for coming Leviathan-sama, and I'll be more than sure to help Ise prepare for when he becomes Demon Lord. But if you'll excuse us, we have several clients waiting for us and we do need to keep with the schedule. Please say hello to my brother for me."
Let it be reminded Issei could have avoided any harm coming towards him. From Koneko's punch to Rias' foot smashing his toes. But he didn't. Because he firmly believed they had a reason for doing it— mostly because he screwed up somewhere. Now… if only he ever learned whatever triggered these repercussions he might be able to stop them from happening.
But he did take Rias' subtle hint to shut the hell up.
However, Serafall was anything but stupid. Childish, sometimes immature, but she was an aged creature with centuries of experience on both the battlefield and in politics. She knew people of all kinds inside and out.
"You managed to… what?" she asked in an even tone. There was no playfulness. There was no room for argument. Her question wasn't a demand. It was a threat.
The tables were turned as Hyoudou Issei, a Predator, virtually the most powerful being on the face of the planet, was given the fear of Serafall Leviathan shoved down his throat.
"Who won your chess match with So-tan?" she asked further as she stepped closer to him. The air grew very cold. He could see his own breath. Her eyes were glowing with power as now it was she who was baring into his soul. "And if the answer is anyone but my So-tan then you and I are going to have a problem. Understand?
"And, please, don't lie to me. I can tell if you do."
*Scene*
"Are you sure about this?" asked Tsubaki to her King as they were being led by the Sitri butler to the parlor room, where the Astaroth heir was waiting.
"I've never denied a challenge from any of them before," returned Sona. "Besides, I have a few questions I would like to ask him. I've a feeling I know where he's been this whole time."
News had yet to reach most ears about the return of Diodora. Nothing except the inner circle of the Pillar families had heard about it, and only through rumors. The Astaroth family was keeping quiet about seemingly everything regarding his absence. Only the family and, perhaps, the Satans knew what had become of him.
Rias wasn't the only one to come to the impression Diodora had been intercepted by the Predators. The description Asia had given to describe the Devil she helped in which got her expunged from the Church fit the Astaroth heir perfectly. And knowing his… tastes, he wouldn't let a maiden like Asia out of his sights and would go after her to add to his peerage. But given Asia was a part of the scheme of unlocking Issei's Predator perks, the other Ultimate Killers wouldn't tolerate any variables and would remove them.
At least, that was her theory. The timing was also a little too convenient.
"But… something doesn't seem right," Tsubaki spoke further. "The summons said it was from 'the sole proprietor of Astaroth conglomerate'."
"There are a lot of things wrong," Sona retorted. "Mostly the timing. He's never had any interest in my family affairs and I've never once shared a word with him. I don't recall ever meeting once either, even when our families are somewhat close. As for the summons, I think it's quite normal. Do you recall the second son of the Halphas Maphas clan? I think he's the current lord now. Anyways, he boasted every title he possessed when he asked for my hand.
"The current lord of House Astaroth is bedridden. And Lord Ajuka cannot interfere in the affairs of his former house as he is Beelzebub. It's not unreasonable to place all ownership of the Astaroth resources in the hands of the next heir. However, it is curious as to why he's not the current head if so."
Lucius, the Sitri Butler, opened the door and gave a gesture for the two girls to enter. When they did, they were greeted by her challenger, who remained in his seat with his legs crossed and back straight poised and regal. He was dressed in modern attire of a red button-down, a black vest with gold embroidery, slacks, and loafers. A hand was waved for them to draw closer in welcoming motions.
Except, Sona could not move another step. This was not the Astaroth heir.
"Hello again, Madam Sitri, and a pleasure to meet you, Madam Shitori," so greeted the last person on the planet she wanted to run into.
Sixth Predator, Chase Lance Rolan.
The Servant of Oppai
Part 1
Sakura didn't know what to make of the black tag with the white magic circle. Some little girl was handing them out in the middle of the market plaza. She had thought they were coupons of some sort and didn't think much when she accepted one. But to find it an occult magic circle startled her. Though her grandfather didn't give her much of an education when it came to being a Magus, she recognized the authenticity of the magic circle. It was a genuine instrument of formalcraft.
And this little girl was handing them out like free samples.
Only, when Sakura turned back around to inquire further of the little girl… she was gone. There wasn't a trace of her. Sakura had only looked away for a second.
She supposed there was nothing she could do except hope and pray people from the Magic Association don't catch wind of this. Pocketing the formalcraft tag into her pocket, she carried the remainder of the groceries back home. Shinji and her grandfather would be home tonight and Sakura was forbidden from going to the Emiya estate due to tonight's ritual.
The Holy Grail War was about to begin and Sakura was being forced to partake.
*Scene*
In the crypt of the Matou basement, the Summon Servant ritual was commencing. Placed on the center of the pedestal was an ancient mirror the Matou resources had uncovered in ruins dating as far back as Ancient Greece. That was to be the catalyst for the Servant she was to summon. Her grandfather speculated the potential Hero to be summoned was more than likely to be Perseus or one relating to his legend.
Honestly, Sakura didn't care. She wanted nothing to do with this Heaven's Feel ritual. But she had no choice in the matter. To defy her grandfather was impossible. She couldn't even choose death. His worms were inside of her. If he so chose, he could control her like a puppet.
She wanted nothing to do with the Grail War. However… she secretly had a wish. She wished to be free of this place. To be able to live a normal life. To, perhaps, have a life with her precious sempai…
Unbeknownst to her, the tag she had tucked away in her dresser three floors above began to glow. It burnt to a crisp as the magic sealed within it had been used.
The summoning circle began to alter. The lines began to cross as though they were serpents slithering here and there to find a more comfortable area. Even the glow changed from a pearly white to an eerie crimson. The pentagram had become an archaic symbol she couldn't understand, but she recognized the primary symbols that made up the foundations of the spell. After all, they were the same as the tag that little girl had given her.
The light died down when a figure appeared at the center of the circle.
"This is freaking awesome!" shouted the young man with childish enthusiasm. "My first contract as a Demon Lord! Hi there! My name is Hyoudou Issei and I— oh holy hell, what the shit is that stank?!"
This… was a legendary being who had surpassed the limitations of humanity to earn a place in the Throne of Heroes? He was… a teenager, probably the exact same age as she. He was clearly of Japanese descent with his bodily features and not to mention the modern school uniform.
Her grandfather gave a sneer. He shook his head as he examined the Servant she had summoned. "We've been cheated. What a disappointment. Everything was perfect but something had to have interfered. No matter. Throw him over to Shinji until I can learn further on what went wrong."
"Sorry, but uh… Ojii-san," the young man waved a hand to stop her grandfather from walking away. It made her heart skip a beat with the lack of respect he displayed towards the old worm. "Only the summoner gets the deal. If this Shinji fellow wanted to make a contract with me then he would have to had summoned me instead."
"Hmph," Matou Zouken gave another sneer and continued to make his way towards the stairway. "There are ways to fix that."
Sakura didn't say anything further. She didn't look at her Servant in the eye as she turned away to fulfill her grandfather's demand. With the limited magecraft of the Matou, she began to fiddle with the Command Seals on her left hand. The Crest Worms shivered under her skin but obeyed her will. She would sacrifice one of them to make the Book of False Attendance.
"Hey, I need to ask you something," her Servant spoke up.
She didn't look at him, but she delayed her spell long enough to hear him out.
Issei shifted his weight. There was an atmosphere of uneasiness cycling around him. He displayed expressions of confusion, disgust for the environment he was summoned into, and… concern? Not pity. Concern, worry, care.
His voice was quiet, but demanding and grave. "Did you summon me to free you?"
Her eyes widened as her head snapped to his location. Her spell was halted. A sense of… hope slithered through her being, but it was only a small ember. The fire of her want was crushed by the decade of malevolence she had long ago accepted. There was no hope of freedom. Even if she were to win the Grail.
He gave her a smile. "Yeah, that's what the call told me when you summoned me. Don't worry. We can figure out a price afterword."
She shook her head. A tiredness she was most familiar with swept through her body. She began to speak as though it were a mantra, but in a sense it was to someone in her position. "You can't. No one can defy Grandfather. I must carry on the Matou line…"
He frowned. He raised his hand in the air and muttered something under his breath, some sort of command if she were to guess since the levels of prana spiked enormously around him. He snapped a finger; a red wave of warm… air blew by her. She didn't sense anything happening, but then again she wasn't a very sensitive sort of magus. The only way she would have known would be to analyze any anomaly among the Crest Worms. And they didn't react at all.
"My summoner's oppai, please tell me," he spoke with his eyes focused intensely on her chest. "What is it she desires?"
Sakura gave him a curious look, wondering for only a moment if he was crazy. Well, he did possess a ridiculously high Mental Pollution skill. He must have been if he was talking to her breasts of all things. Regardless, she dismissed his behavior and restarted the spell to creating the False Book.
"…What kind of sick fuck breaks a beautiful hot babe like you?" Rage filled his voice. His teeth clenched as she saw his eyes shift from mundane brown to a luminescent green. His pupils altered to befit that of a serpent's. His fists shook as power began to leak within the room. Sparks of crimson energy emitted from his being as the ground underneath him began to crack by some unseen pressure.
"Why?! Why are your oppai so hurt?! Oppai need to be loved! Oppai need to be respected! What that monster did to you as a child! What your foster brother did to you repeatedly?! I CAN'T FORGIVE THEM FOR DISRESPECTING THE GREATNESS AND BEAUTY THAT IS OPPAI!"
The space binding the entire Matou manor together began to shake. Sakura lost her balance and fell back. The Servant before her began to change his physical appearance. Scales, fangs, claws, and leathery wings replaced his humanoid features. The air turned a shade of red as his prana came flowing out of his body in a great flood.
Something appeared in his hand. A cylindrical metal tube about the length of his forearm. His Noble Phantasm? A black blade sprouted from its end, stretching to the length of his entire arm. The worms inside of her painfully began to squirm. That weapon in his hand was what they feared. It was in their cores to know that weapon would be their bane… whatever it was.
Issei's eyes zoned in on a space in the ceiling. But he was not looking at the stones… he was looking past them…
As if he could see Grandfather.
There was no sign. A beam of crimson energy was thrown out of his extended limb, directed towards the area he was staring at. The blast made her ears ache as the crimson rays drilled a hole through the building with no resistance whatsoever.
He lifted his weapon up, bent his knees, and then flew into the hole he made faster than she could have perceived.
An unsettling silence lingered in the crypt. Only the sound of her flesh being fiddled with by the Crest Worms could be heard.
Suddenly, she arched her back as pain unlike any other consumed her. This feeling of being burned from the inside was only comparable to her first few days when being thrown into the basement of the Matou crypt. She tried to scream. And perhaps she was. But everything was a blank as nothing existed within her world except for the pain.
Just as quickly as it came, it stopped.
Sakura's body collapsed onto the cold and unforgiving floor. Her body felt numb. Her mind felt like it was in shambles as everything was spinning. The strain was far too much for her to handle. The darkness consumed her as she was swept away into a dreamless sleep.
It would only be until the morning did she learn the Crest Worms were no longer present in her body. As if they had never been there to begin with…
*Scene*
Emiya Shirou couldn't move. The black beast before him was unlike any other he had ever come across. Lancer, Archer, and Saber were Servants of overwhelming presence. Any of them he could say without a doubt were leagues beyond him as by just standing near them he could tell they were above anything a human could ever hope to achieve. The gravitas a Servant exuded from walking made him feel inferior in every possible way.
Then, there was Berserker. Whatever foundation he had on the idea of Servants were completely blown out of the water as soon as the black giant materialized. He was a god of destruction given corporeal form. Every bit of his body radiated a desire to kill all of them. There would be no reasoning with him. There would be no way of evading him. Once his Master let him off his leash, Berserker would be upon them.
"Berserker," the white haired girl, Illyasviel von Einzbern, gave the sweetest of smiles that would normally be ideal for someone of her appearance. But it only made Shirou shake. "Kill them."
It would be inaccurate to say Berserker roared. Living creatures roared. Humans and animals alike could make the sound. No, the gut-wrenching noise screeching out of Berserker's lungs was a herald of the demise fate had already decided upon them.
He charged down the hill at a speed that should have been impossible by his size. In less than a second he would be towering over them. Shirou barely had the chance to realize what was going on. Saber lifted her sword and bolted out from his side to match the monster.
Something beat her to it.
They only saw a streak of… rainbow light coming from high above the heavens. It couldn't have possibly been a meteor that had conveniently crashed precisely at the point where the hero Herakles was charging at. No, fate was never that nice.
Plus, the meteor jerked forward right before it was about to crash against the ground. As if all the momentum had been transferred towards its sudden new trajectory, defying all manner of physics, it crashed into Berserker. The ground erupted as a shockwave exploded upon contact. The unmovable Berserker was forced to take steps back from the strike.
"Wow that was close!"
When the dust settled, Shirou could make out a pair of florescent rays of multicolored energy made out of lines and shapes like the most intricate magic sigils and formatted at precise measurements to shape into a pair of wings. Before he could see anything further, the flicked once as if to stretch before retracting into the shoulders of the figure's back.
The figure was… a school boy, of all things. A Japanese school boy at that.
"What in the world…?" was all he could ask.
Berserker growled and moved to annihilate the interceptor, but his body moved no further than an inch. His body tensed, coiled and ready to spring once given the chance. However, his Master was keeping him from doing so.
"…Who are you?" Illya asked through narrowed eyes. "Why did you interfere?"
"Yo!" the young man greeted with a raised hand. "So I'm Hyoudou Issei, recently appointed Demon Lord of all Japan. But… according to the little voice in my head… I've been summoned into this Holy Grail War under the Class of Rider."
Illya's brow raised slightly in skepticism. She, as well as everyone else among the party, didn't believe a word he was saying.
"As to why I'm here," he continued with a slightly more serious tone. "I'm trying to fulfill the contract with my summoner. She's asked me to watch over that guy over there and to make sure he doesn't go kick the bucket or anything while this War goes on."
He pointed a thumb over his shoulder… one with pinpoint accuracy as it was directed at Shirou's exact location.
"Look," he went on as he placed both his hands on his hips. "I really don't want to fight if it can be avoided. And, personally, I would like to get this job done as soon as possible so I can get my payment and fondle my summoner's breasts as much as I want. So if you don't mind, turn back around and just walk away."
"Berserker…" Illya sighed. The joy she had in watching her brother die would have to be put on hold, it would seem. "I'm not in the mood for this. Kill him first."
There was no roar this time as Berserker brought his weapon down in a flash. The speed of his weapon created a vacuum of wind that blew away all else within the vicinity. Shirou brought his arm up to cover his face as he was pelted with debris of all kinds.
And then, impossibly, Berserker was knocked back as a twice as powerful shockwave struck his abdomen.
Issei stood firm. His humanoid flesh was replaced with draconian scales as a pair of crimson gauntlets coated his arms up to his elbows. He had just punched Berserker while his other hand had deflected the axe-sword. But he was not unharmed. Trickles of blood flowed down his face while his armor had suffered large cracks.
And yet, he smiled. "Sairaorg-san hits harder than you."
Berserker growled and brought his weapon around once more. Shockwaves shook the area as the two clashed against another. Berserker rampaged, swinging his weapon around recklessly and without form. His only goal was to turn his target into a smear of blood. His attacks were vicious, relentless, and unpredictable.
However, Issei was able to keep up. He moved before the blade could clip him. He redirected attacks and countered with his own. But it was Berserker's whiplash by his unreal strength that was hurting Issei. For no matter if the blade was redirected, the wind would splice open what area the blade passed by.
With another clash, Issei drove both fists forward to shove Berserker away for but a second. The hero's chest caved by the impact, but it did not slow him down. His feet slid against the ground and he leapt forward to continue his barrage.
But that moment of space was just long enough…
"Balance Breaker!"
When Berserker brought his weapon around to cleave his target in two, it was halted in place by the crimson gauntlet. The impact created a crater. And yet, Issei did not move from his spot. He stood, unbending, and pushed back.
Now, his body was clad in the crimson armor from head to toe. Golden spikes protruded around his joints while emeralds shimmered radiant energy around his limbs and torso. The air around him vibrated with power that suppressed the maddening aura Berserker had.
"H-H-H-H-H-Hax!" shouted Illya as a heavily shaking finger was pointed at the Rider Servant. Her eyes were as wide as saucers with an expression as though her entire world was flipped. "Hax, I say! No one said you can summon the Red Blur in the war!"
It was Issei's turn to roar. It was triumphant, inspiring, and victorious. His voice brought strength to the virtuous and weakened the wicked. Simply hearing it made Shirou stop shaking.
And how could he not? He knew who this individual was. The Red Blur was his ideal icon! He was a true Hero of Justice in the modern age. This was the being Shirou aspired to become one day.
Issei's claws dug into the stone of Berserker's weapon and shattered it in his vice grip. At a speed that made him renowned as the Red Blur, he brought his fist around to pummel Berserker. No one could see where his attack struck. The arm simply vanished as several places over Berserker's body were cratered and bent. The mad warrior brought his arm down to smash into the crimson hero's side, but that limb too was shattered.
"Dragon Shot!" cried Issei as he brought his fist around once more.
A ray of crimson energy was fired off as his fist made contact with the monster's face. Berserker's head was completely incinerated.
His body fell over in a lump of disfigured and smoking flesh.
Yet, Issei continued to stare down at the body of the madman. As if he was expecting it to get back up.
"Vorpal," he commanded and extended his arm. A slot under his wrist opened up and out slid a cylindrical tube for his hand to grab. Without any other command, a black blade extended from the hilt.
"Wait," Saber spoke up for the first time since the Red Blur's arrival.
"He's not dead," the crimson Servant turned his head only to address her while keeping his attention focused on Berserker. "He will get back up."
"W-What?!" Illya shrieked. "How do you know what his Noble Phantasm is?!"
"…Noble… what?" the Red Blur looked back at the white-haired girl and tilted his head in cluelessness.
Saber lifted her weapon. Wind stormed around them as the sheath of invisibility was lifted. Her sword, a radiance only comparable to the first rays of the rising sun, was pointed at the back of the draconian Servant.
"Saber, what are you doing?" Shirou asked.
Saber's face was murderous.
The Red Blur turned completely to look at the Servant of the Sword. "I'm not your enemy. I don't want to fight a bishojou-sama like yourself if it can be avoided. So please don't give any intentions of killing me. Besides, I'm not interested in shorties."
"Did you think I would forget you, Rider?" Saber's grip tightened to the point where her arm was shaking. Her teeth were grinding in absolute loathing. "I don't care if you are him or another copy from the Throne; yours is an existence I cannot allow to carry on. You are the adversary of the chivalrous code, a dishonor to Ddraig for possessing his power! You are the enemy of women everywhere and I will not forgive you for what you did to me!"
"…Eh?"
"Saber! What are you—" Shirou tried to snap her out of… whatever it was she went on about. But it was too late. She kicked off the ground and charged at the Red Blur like a speeding bullet.
Blades of gold and black clashed. Rather, some unseen force was keeping the two from colliding. The black blade was devouring the light of Saber's weapon while her Noble Phantasm was shining to push away the darkness. Both existences were a contradiction of another. Neither could meet no matter how much the other pushed.
Issei tried anyways. But the best he could do was shove Saber aside and try to gain some distance. He moved when she brought her weapon back around to carve into his armor. He knew when she feinted and knew where to counter her strikes. But it wasn't like he could read her movements. It was obvious she was far more skilled in swordplay than he was; the Rider was more so reacting upon instinct than reading the flow of the battle.
She clicked her tongue in agitation when her decisive blow turned into a small clipping against his arm.
"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!"
Yet, somehow, it was more than enough to turn the tides of the battle in her favor. That small nick made him reel out in pain. Smoke released from the scratch as his flesh under the armor was beginning to burn. He couldn't help but release his weapon to grab his arm upon reaction.
Saber took this chance to swipe at him.
Those wings of multi-colored symbols lit up from his back. When Saber brought her Noble Phantasm around he was within her range to be cut no matter how fast he had been previously. However, the blade only cut air as he simply vanished.
…Because he stood twenty meters away.
"Seriously, what the shit ojou-sama?!" he reeved in agony. "What did I ever do to you?! I'm trying to help you and your Master!"
Saber brought her radiant blade back up as she readied herself for another strike. "Your actions may seem heroic but your purpose is most vile! Did you not share with us the illicit payment you were to acquire once this affair was over?"
"You're crazy!" he argued. "I'll have you know everything is heroic if you are giving your life all in the name of oppai! Everything I've done for the world has been in the name of oppai! When there is evil, there will be oppai that are in danger! If my summoner's oppai want me to protect her sempai, then I will face all the evils of the world for them! Hear my words, ojou-sama, I will grope those double-D oppai if it's the last thing I do!"
…What?
Something wasn't right. This… This couldn't be the Red Blur. This must have been some kid cosplaying in the armor. Right. That had to be it. The Red Blur didn't fly around the world, stopping wars and crime of all kind, just for the sake of… breasts. He did it because he was a Hero of Justice!
…So Shirou chose to believe in order to keep the light shining for his hero.
"Your words are a verdict you've set on yourself!" declared Saber. "That is all I need to hear. You will face your punishment and atone for your crimes by my blade! I will send you back to the Throne for what you did to all those girls and to Irisviel!"
Illya turned ghastly pale as her eyes were locked upon Saber's form. "…Mama?"
The Red Blur groaned as he readied for the next round. To the side, Berserker's head was nearly done regenerating. They had less than a minute before it would be complete. The levels of prana spiked in the air was the Red Blur lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. Crimson sparks lit up as a wave of red energy spread around the area.
It completely washed over Saber, not affecting her from whatever magic he had tried to unleash. She took that as the trigger to initiate her attack. With a Prana Burst, she fired off at him faster than previously before.
"What?!" the Rider cried in disbelief; not for her increase in speed but because his spell was ineffective. "No way! Even Li Qin was affected by Bilingual!"
Once again, black and gold clashed as the two battled. Saber's eyes shone with determination and righteous fury while Issei's narrowed in desperation. He was faster and stronger than Saber, but she was by far the better fighter. Even with his… ability of foresight, what she assumed to be some personal skill, she was turning this into a sloped battle.
If she could stop him from using the full potential of his Noble Phantasm… she could win.
"BOOOOOOOOOST!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
The air turned thick. It slowed the speed of her movements down considerably. Her eyes widened by this impossibility. His power had jumped levels beyond comprehension. The prana he was releasing should not have been possible. Unless his Master was some phantasmal being or even a Dead Apostle he shouldn't be able to produce such quantities of prana.
He snapped his fingers once more when he had the chance. A wall of crimson energy splashed out and pushed Saber back. But like a blanket it wrapped around her, coated her armor, and seeped into the fabrics. She could feel the unnatural energies of her adversary invade her body.
"Ojou-sama's oppai," he began to ask.
Her eyes widened with recognition.
"What will she be doing next?"
Tears threatened to break from her eyes as all of her secrets were being whispered back to the Rider. Her heart was not being forced to tell. No. It was, of all things, her breasts the usurper of Ddraig was speaking with.
"RIIIDDDEEERRRRR!" she cried in fury and brought Excalibur down to cleave him from his shoulder to his waist.
This time, he was more than prepared to avoid. Her moves were expressed to him before she could prepare the first step of initializing it. Even if she should suddenly shift her attack or even swing at random, he would still know of her intentions because it was she telling him. This was the witchcraft she was more than familiar with.
His attention was diverted for only an instant. The Berserker was rising.
"I really don't have time for this," he sighed. "But I'll always have time for this!"
After dodging the next futile strike, he tapped her shoulder.
Cold sweat broke through her brow as she knew what was to come next. Her arms were already moving to cover what she could.
He snapped his fingers once more.
Her armor disintegrated into motes of dust while the fabrics of her dress was being shredded into strips far too small for her to be able to sew back together. She was rendered nude by his abominable witchcraft. Her Magic Resistance could not protect her since he enhanced the potency of his spells to counteract her defense.
"RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRR!" she cried out in a voice worthy of signaling the Seraph of Justice himself to come down and smite the draconian Servant.
"Aaaaaaannnnnnddd… memorized!" he paused for only a moment to capture her nude figure. She knew every detail had been observed no matter how hard she tried to cover what little modesty she could. In most cases, she wouldn't care and would use this opportunity to strike him down. But because it was him, she felt the need to cover herself as a last stand against the epitome of perversity.
"You know, I take it back ojou-sama," he said as he rubbed the underside of his helm in a manner one would rub their chin. "You're more of a petanko than a loli."
She could only glare at him in her absolute hatred for this creature.
His wings blazed once more and then he was gone. It took a moment for everyone to realize where he had transported to.
"Hey, wait!" Shirou tried to buck around as the Rider picked him up and slung him over his shoulder. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry, but my summoner wants you to live," Issei stated as they began to fly up into the air. Below them, Berserker looked up at them as he prepared to jump for the lucrative height. "Don't worry, loli-ojouchan won't do anything to Saber-ojousama. I can just tell."
He didn't get any much of an explanation as he was too worried about Berserker. The mad Servant fired off the ground at them like a rocket. He would reach them in but a second.
Except, Issei wouldn't allow that. With his wings blazing a little brighter, they flew away at a speed that could only be described as a crimson shooting star in the night sky.
…Leaving Saber alone with Illyasviel.
"Saber-chan," the homunculus made her way over towards the Servant of the Sword. Any embarrassment was gone as Saber stood without a care for her nudity among the presence of an enemy Master. She was more than willing to fight without any covering if she must.
Illya wasn't in the mood to fight any longer. There wasn't a point to fight Saber anyways now that Shirou was gone. Besides, there was something else she wanted to talk about.
"What did that so-called hero do to my mother?"
