Before we start, I want to announce that I'm looking for a Beta reader, that could fix my spelling and interpunction mistakes.
The ragged breathing of Freed was like music to Kiba's ears. His face held a derogatory smile as looked down on him.
Issei's eyebrows narrowed as they ran over the sword on the bed. Right before he touched it, Kiba spoke. –''I would be against touching it with your hands.''
Issei scoffed. –''It's an Excalibur, right?''
''Yeah, one of them.'' – His voice was filled with disgust, as he spoke.
''..Tell me your story.''
Kiba raised his eyebrows. –''Story?''
''Yes, you know, I am a terrorist mercenary, and what not, I'm asking yours now.'' – Issei rubbed the bridge of his nose, the headache was returning with a bang.
''...I come from a Holy Sword project. A failed one, that is. And yes, I am a former church member.'' – He answered, after seeing Issei wince. – ''The target of the project was to make ordinary people wield the holy swords. We were experimented on, but to say the obvious, it failed.'' – Kiba said, harshly. –''We were branded failures and ordered to be executed. My brothers and sisters, they jumped in front of the bullets and the helped me escape from the poison. I ran and ran trough the winter's forest, but the poison had seeped trough my lungs, and I fell down, I was dying. All of their sacrifice, it was lost in vain.''
''But it wasn't.''
''Right. Rias Gremory saved me on that day, and on that same day, I promised to destroy those swords.''
''...Revenge, is it?'' – Issei looked sad.
''Something like that.''
If not for the ragged breathing of the priest, the room would have been silent.
''Ehh, whatever. Want to go and kick Kokabiel's door in?''
'''..Kokabiel? One of the Fallen Angel leaders?'' – Kiba sounded bewildered.
''Yeah. That daft bastard is behind all of this.''
Kiba winced. –''But how do we find him?''
Issei raised his hand, as used two fingers, like a pistol, to point at the priest. – ''He probably knows. I can get information out of him.''
''Do you really think he will want to talk?''
''..I don't care. He will, however, talk.'' – Kiba grinned after hearing that.
Issei stepped closer to the priest. He raised the priest by his collar and threw him across the room, towards the chairs in the room.
''Get some rope and water, Kiba.''
Kiba couldn't wipe the smirk off his face.
He simply exited the room. When he returned, Freed was already being held in the chair by Issei.
They proceeded to tie him to the chair, in the most uncomfortable way possible. The priest was barely conscious.
Issei looked over his scars, and noticed the fact that Kiba had impaled him in such a way that it wouldn't kill him, but whoever, disable him.
Freed slouched his head, fading out of consciousness. Issei grabbed the water bottle that Kiba brought and poured it all over the priests head. He blinked furiously and looked up to Issei standing right in front of him.
''..You..again...'' – He could barely speak, his voice ragged by pain.
''Yes, me.'' – Issei imposed. –''I'll tell you something, Freed. We can strike a deal. You tell us everything you know, and I'll let you go.''
Kiba raised his eyebrows after hearing Issei speak the priests name even though he didn't tell it, but shrugged it off, for now.
''Nah...if I tell you anything...at all, boss will... kill me...''
Issei sighed. –''Your boss is the last thing you should worry about.''
The priest chuckled, dryly.
Issei, noticing that his consciousness was fading, brought out the knife in his boot and slammed down into palm of the priests hand. It was tied to the chair's armhold.
The blade softly slid into the skin, right between the bones, most likely severing a tendon or two. Contrary to what most people believe, you don't need much to make people talk.
If it comes to bending people to do what you ask it's a different thing, but when it comes to making people talk, lets just say, that people do a lot to get out of pain.
''AAAHHHRGGG-'' The priest screamed, and soon after started to cough blood uncontrollably. Most likely from internal organ damage.
''Talk.''
The priest spit at Issei. Issei scoffed and leaned close to the priests ear, brushing the white hair apart.
He whispered. –''You know, we have a lot in common, Freed. We could have been friends, even. But well, you made the wrong choice.''- Issei's voice turned cold as his eyes narrowed.
Issei grabbed the double edged knife in his palm and pulled it towards him. The priests hand, with a sickening crunch, split in half. An unbelievable amount of blood started to pour out.
Freed whimpered in agony. Issei exhaled deeply, as he span the knife in his hand.
''Ya know, I hate torture. For a long time, I hated the people who tortured me, but then I realized the fact that they just did what they were told.'' – Issei went silent as he used a bit of rope that was left to tie it around Freed's arm, cutting off the circulation of blood. –''I don't even hate that bitch who tortured me the first time.''
Kiba, who stood at the side, leaning on a desk with his arms crossed on his chest, was carefully eating up Issei's every word.
''...The second time was different. Those fuckers did it to emotionally and mentally torture my teacher.'' – Kiba noted that Issei's whole aura flared when he said that sentence. –''..And they succeeded. She traded her life for mine, she...she died because of me.''
Issei turned around and looked at Kiba. – ''I blamed myself. Somewhere along the way, I rampaged, I killed, I devoured till there was nothing left of them, meanwhile all the same, there was just broken pieces of me.''
Kibas eyebrows furrowed. - ''What are you getting at?''
''I went crazy in the darkness. I misunderstood. My teacher...didn't want me to take revenge. She didn't want that.''
Issei brought both of his hands to his face.
''Then...then what did she want from you?''
Issei kicked a chair that flew over the room. He turned around to face Kiba, once again. –''She wanted for me to live! To enjoy life! Her life, I was to live it for her! To do the things she couldn't.''
Kiba was speechless. For Issei speak his feelings, his past, it was something once in a blue moon.
''Bassicly, what I am getting at is this.'' – He pointed at Kiba. –''Are you sure that your sisters and brothers, are you absolutely sure that they wanted for you to take revenge?''
They both stood there, listening to the priest whimper.
''Just my 5 cents for you.'' – He smiled, rueful. –''I'll get back to work''
Half an hour later and 7 fractures later Freed broke and talked. He said everything. Kiba stiffened when he heard the name ''Balba Galilei''
Freed went under after talking. Issei raised the knife to his jugular when Kiba stopped him.
''What are you doing? I thought you said you'll let him go when he talks.''
Issei was visibly disappointed in Kiba after hearing that. –''This world ain't fair, prince.''
He scoffed. –''Let me do it. I started it, I'll finish it.''
Issei simply nodded and moved away.
All it took was a simple, yet beautiful stab to the heart and Freed was dead. The floor of the room looked like a slaughterhouse.
Issei simply sighed. –''Listen, I know people who can take care of this in matter of minutes.''
Kiba nodded.
Issei pulled out a cellphone from his backside pants pocket and dialed a number.
''Hello, Vasily. It's me, Ddraig.''
Kiba widened his eyes, because Issei was speaking russian. Not using the translator, but he himself, was speaking russian.
He proceeded to talk to the russian in a friendly manner. Then he asked.
''Do you have people in Japan?''
There was a short pause.
''Oh, great. Thanks, Vasily. '' –There was a short pause once again. –''Yeah, I'll contact you if I'm ever in Russia.''
The phone was lowered from his ear and Kiba spoke up –''How much will he need?''
''Ara, you understand russian?'' – Issei asked
''No, we have a translator, we understand every language.''
Issei slid his hand over his face in embarresment. –''...I forgat about that.''
''How much then?''
'Nothing.''
Kiba raised his eyebrows
''Vasily is an old friend. Russians are good people to have as friends. They do anything to help a friend in trouble.'' – Issei gave the phone to Kiba. On it was blank e-mail.
''Write your address, door number, everything. They will come, while we're gone and will clean up.''
Near a river, an muscular man with golden bangs sat by a river and fished. The darkness was illuminated by the blue-glowing wings that soared trough the air.
The man simply smirked when the boy landed near him. He was dressed in stylish black-red pants with a chain, a simple V-cut gray t-shirt and a jacket.
He ran his hand trough his silver hair and spoke. –''Yo, Azazel.''
''..Vali.'' – Azazel simply nodded –''Came to keep an old man company?''
He smirked. –''Something like that. Well, I came to talk.''
Azazel turned his head to face Vali. –''About what?''
He narrowed his eyes. –''You know what. The Welsh Dragon.''
''Ah.'' – Azazel clicked his tongue. –''What about him?''
''Is he strong?''
''..He is strong. Not stronger than you.'' - Azazel smirked -''But if you fight, you will most likely loose.''
''Are his parents special? Or is he just talented?'' – Vali grinned at the thought of his rival being stronger than him – it meant for a good fight.
''No. He has no talant. His magic reserves are almost non-existent. His parents are regular humans.''
''..Then why the hell are blabbering about him being strong?''
''...How about if he could access the Balance Break at age 15 as a simple human?''
''That's impossible.''
''But it isn't!'' – Azazel chuckled, seemingly happy. –''Well, now he is a reincarnated devil, and he's even stronger than before.''
Vali simply stood there, arms crossed and his eyes narrow, listening.
''The kid's a mercenary. The old-school type. Can fight with any weapon you give him, can command an army, uses dirty tactics, underhanded methods. The guy is pretty smart too, and can lie like a pro.'' – Azazel chuckled. –''I sent some of my best men to trail him, he just shook them off as if they were children.''
Azazel noticed the look on Vali's face.
''Oy oy, don't run off to fight him now!''
''...What a drag. He sounds like fun.'' – Vali snarled. –''What about his teacher?''
''She was called the Bloodhound of Germany.''
Vali sighed. –''Never heard of her.''
Azazel rolled his eyes. –''Last time I checked you weren't in the dark underworld business, so there isn't a way you could have heard of her.'' – Azazel looked at his wristwatch. –''Ehh, I have to go to pretend I'm a dumb-ass and that I don't know about Kokabiel's betrayal.
Vali nodded.
As Azazel was engulfed in a purple aura, he spoke –''Just do your job, don't fight him just yet.''
Vali shrugged. –''Yeah , yeah, whatever.''
Azazel facepalmed and disappeared.
Silently, trough the shadows, two people moved. One of them was barely noticeable, while the other had trouble keeping up.
They were inside an circle shaped building across the town from where the had a talk with Freed.
Every nerve in Kiba's body was tingling, because he will finally meet Balba, that shitty old man who experimented on his family.
Issei held a fist up in the air just before they turned a corner. Even without knowledge of military hand-signs, he knew what this one meant.
Kiba leaned against the wall and waited for Issei. Issei turned his head towards him, his eyes seemed weirdly focused.
He whispered. –''Two guards in the next room. Neutralize or kill, your choice.''
Kiba nodded and brushed off the feeling of wanting to answer with ''Yes sir.''
Issei first moved the corner and quickly, chuck a knife at the lightswitch. The lights went off and the room was engulfed in darkness. Kiba simply scoffed at the simple, yet brilliant manner he made sure the enemies won't notice them.
Issei went for the one on the far left, who was thrown into disarray from the sudden darkness.
Issei slipped behind him and backhanded the priest-clothed guard. He turned his head just to see Kiba kick out the footing of the other priest and deliver an elbow to his face.
The other guard fell limply to the ground. Issei moved to Kiba and as they proceeded further, Issei took the knife he had thrown earlier.
Issei didn't say it out loud, but the whole ''Devils can see in the dark'' was a pretty useful perk.
A few meters ahead they were met by a strong smell. Someone was brewing something, and if Freed wasn't lying, then it was Balba.
Kiba was ready to kick in the door, but Issei stopped him.
''Don't kill him.'' – As Kiba was ready to refute, Issei grinned. –''Not yet at least.''
They silently opened the door. The stench became heavier, as they noticed an eerie glow in said room.
Kiba's fists started to shake, as he created a sword in his hand. Then out of nowhere, a pistol was brought to both of their heads.
A priest stepped out of the dark. If you didn't go into full details, he was an old, out of shape man with glasses.
His laugh was disgusting. –''..Well, well, what do we have here? Two little sheep who came crashing into my little garden?''
Kiba's face showed off an disgusting look. –''Balba Galilei.''
He smirked. –''...You..I know you, just can't quite remember just who exactly..''
His perverted eyes went over Kiba's body, stopping at the sword in his hand.
He hit the top of his fist with an open palm –''Fufu, fate isn't it! It's you, the boy who escaped. How did you survive?'' – He asked, while his voice shook with excitement.
''..I was reincarnated into a devil.''
Balba laughed. –''I see, I see. Well, I suppose I should thank you. Without your bunch of failures, there wouldn't be any wielders.''
Kiba's eyes widened in shock. Issei simply scoffed with a poker-face. He allowed the priest to catch him ''off guard'', because he simply wasn't a threat.
He could disarm him in about 17 different ways.
17 ways without killing him, that is.
''WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU OLD BASTARD?''
''The experiment wasn't a failure. You were the failures.'' – Balba simply laughed as he watched Kiba's face contort in anger. –''Your bodies couldn't make enough of the needed element.''
Kiba's killing intent flared, as Issei hummed to himself.
''And so, I ripped it out of their bodies and combined it so it could be implanted. And so, it worked.'' – he smiled.
''I'LL KILL YOU!'' – Kiba screamed, as he was hit in the back of his head with a gun. He stumbled to the front slightly.
Balba took something out of his overcoat -''See!'' – He threw the object at Kiba. It bounced off his chest and hit the floor at his feet.
It was a small, blue ruby.
..And that was Kiba's breaking point. He simply spawned a sword under the priest that was holding a gun to his face. A giant one at that, splitting him in two.
''Kill them!'' – Balba screeched, as two more guards came out of the back.
''Ara ara, Prince, you are so wild~'' – Issei spoke in a girlish tone as he slipped under the arm of the priest holding a gun, kicked him in the knee and ripped the pistol out of his hands.
It felt light in his hand, a 9mm most likely, and like that, from point blank range, the small bulled went trough the goons head. The wall behind him was splattered in blood, as Issei with small, yet effective movement, span around and shot the other two who came from the back.
Balba's eye were stuttering all over the place from fear. Issei simply, without emotions shot him in the legs.
As he was falling over, Kiba lounged at him and kicked him in the face, sending him flying over the room.
With a load bang, Balba slouched over the floor.
Kiba moved back and picked up the blue ruby off the floor. He held it tightly in his palm, as he whispered. –''I told you I'll avenge you. No matter the price.''
Suddenly, the whole building started to glow in an eerie blue light. Ghost like white lights formed around Kiba. A second later, they became the form of people. They were young boys and girls.
''..Wha..t?''- As Kiba stuttered, tears started to drip from his eyes.
Something tugged at his jacket, and he turned around to see a little girl
[Don't fall on the path of revenge]
''..But.. I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO LIVED! I have to avenge you.'' – Issei simply stood back and looked over the emotional moment of Kiba.
He had been right. People who care about you rarely want revenge.
He chuckled at the thought of Gilgamesh, the only one who would probably want revenge.
[It's alright. You deserve to be alive.]
''..That's not true. You had bigger dreams than mine. Bigger ambition. ..Why me? Why not you?''
[It was our choice. It is fine for you to be alive. Don't worry about us.]
Like that, the ghosts of Kiba's past simply, silently hugged him. Kiba stood in the midst of them, quitly crying.
[It will be okay if we are together.]
Issei noticed a tear drip from his eye. –''What..the fuck?''
Ddraig laughed. [Even you partner? Ah, so sweet.]
Meanwhile, the spirits moved back from Kiba.
[You have to accept the holy-sword.]
[It's not scary.]
[Even if God is watching.]
[Our hearts are always…]
[ONE.]
Like that, they dived into Kiba and dispersed.
Ddraig laughed –[Hahahaha, he made it. The boy made it.]
Issei raised an eyebrow. –[Balance breaker. He made it.]
Issei couldn't help but smirk.
The sword in Kiba's hand glowed and then changed. The blade was engulfed blue flames. Kiba simply looked at Issei.
Balba stumbled to get up.
Issei smiled, ruefully. – ''I told you so. And now..Go get him.''
Kiba nodded and lunged at the now standing up right Balba. The blade went right trough his chest, breaking the ribs in the process.
He then was engulfed in blue flames. He spoke, while stuttering. –''Wha..What is this?''
''..This is their way of helping me. '' – Kiba looked him in the eyes. –''This is my Balance Break. This is my sword. THIS IS MY SIN!''
With the shout, the blue flames burned brighter and Balba was disintegrated.
He turned around and the sword's bright blue shine died down, only to become a calm blue colored blade.
''..Congrats Kiba.'' – Issei spoke, as he walked towards Kiba.
''..You said, that your teacher didn't blame you for her death.'' – Kiba spoke, quietly. –'''But I still feel at fault. I still feel at fault even now, after their blessing. How did you get over it?''
Issei's smile turned flat. After a brief silence he spoke. –''..I didn't get over it. I still blame myself. I still get nightmares. The only thing that changed is the fact that I don't go on rampages anymore.''
Kiba couldn't respond.
Issei moved closer and hit him on the back with his open palm. –''C'mon prince, we have to report back to Rias.''
As they stepped outside of the building and walked about 10 to 15 meters,both of them felt a crawling feeling on their skin from behind. They both span around and noticed the sky that was cracked right above the building they were just in.
The sky shattered and they were covered in an eerie purple glow. From there, a giant 10-winged fallen angel appeared.
He held an arrogant smirk as he looked down on them with red glowing eyes.
''Hello shitty brats, would you mind if we wait for your master?''
Kiba was frozen, while Issei stepped to the front with his now grown out white hair covering his eyes.
''Ara?'' – The fallen angel's grin changed into an even more shit eating one.
''Remember me, shitskull?'' – Issei spoke, roughly.
''..DDRAIG!'' – He laughed –'Little brat, you are still alive? Fufu, I thought you had put down the spoon like that red-headed teacher of yours.''
Issei's face showed no emotion as he pulled his hair back, revealing his eyes.
''Hahaha, you look even more feral than before. What, your master is gone and you went off the wall?'' – He landed a solid 10 meters in front of him.
''Look kid, shouldn't a mercenary want war? The business is way better then, isn't it? Plus, when I look at you, you remind of myself right after the first war. Eyes bloodshot, feral grin and scars. C'mon, join me.'' – Kokabiel showed his feral grin, his teeth sharp like sharks.
''We are NOTHING alike, KOKABIEL!''- Issei screamed, as a green light that was rivaling the purple glow was radiated from Issei's body.
''Balance Break.'' –He whispered, as Kiba's eyes widened.
[WELSH DRAGON OVERBOOSTER]
The ground shattered and Kiba was knocked back from the pressure. He flipped around mid-air and landed, his eyes wide like dinner plates.
[BOOST BOOOST BOOOST BOOOST BOOOST]
Issei lounged at Kokabiel who barely got enough time to roll away from Issei's right hook, as the building behind him was blown to pieces.
Kokabiel used one hand to push himself into the air and span to his feet, only to see an elbow from Issei.
He leaned backwards and by the skin of his teeth dodged it. Issei was carried beyond him by the force, and Kokabiel used that. He quickly span his body around in an inhuman fashion and grabbed Issei by neck in a chokehold. He pushed on the armor and he heard a cracking sound.
''Hahaha, brat, you have grown more powerful, but not enou-'' He was cut off as he felt pain that originated from his hands.
The next thing he noticed was Issei midair, upside down.
Kokabiel tried to block with his hands, but they refused to listen, falling limply at his side.
The ball of Issei's foot hit Kokabiel in the back of his head and he pushed into the ground, face down.
Issei quickly jumped on his back and as he was about to stab Kokabiel in the back of his neck, he heard Kiba.
''DODGE!''
Issei used his boosters and flew high in the air.
Where he stood a millisecond before was Kokabiels wings, sharp like claws.
He slowly got up cracked his neck.
''Game time is over.'' – He said, clearly pissed. He created a big spear of light and launched it at Issei.
Issei gave him another unemotional stare as he felt something different.
It was like an excalibur, only slightly different. Something sharper, maybe?
He was about to sidestep the spear, as it was cut in two by a blue haired girl in a latex battle suit.
She held a heavy grin on her face and in both hands he swords.
''Nice to meet the real you, Welsh Dragon Issei Hyoudou.''
The helmet changed to only cover the bottom part of his face. He eye-smiled the girl.
''Nice indeed, wielder of Durandell, Xenovia.''
A barrier appeared around them in a from of a giant dome. From behind Issei and Xenovia, stepped Rias.
''Ara ara, isn't it bad manners to start the party without the main guests?''
Kokabiel flew into the air. –''Well then, Miss Gremory, shall we start?''
She just grinned back with her arms crossed below her large breasts. Behind her stood the whole peerage and Irina.
''Hyoudou.'' – Xenovia spoke who was standing in front of him, showing off her backside, with only her head turned.
He looked at her.
''Will you help me?''
''No problem.'' – He eye-smiled to her. –''You're a power house, right?''
She nodded.
''Well then..-''Issei closed his eyes.
[BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST BOOST]
Xenovia narrowed her eyes from the intensity of the aura.
Issei simple walked up to her and slapped her ass.
''H-Hey!'' – She exclaimed, when suddenly she shuddered.
[TRANSFER]
''Aaaahhh~'' – She moaned, with a small blush on her face, as she felt power rush trough her veins.
She was quickly covered in a green aura, the same as Issei.
''C'mon, lets go kick some ass!'' – He nodded towards Kokabiel.
She simply showed a shit-eating grin. –''Let's.''
Yo. A little bit later than usual, sorry.
Xenovia is pretty cool, so I won't be doing anything like that in the previous chapter, don't worry.
What can I say?
Kiba, by killing Balba got a different Balance Break. Yes it is light and darkness, but only in with blue flames. Think something like Rin's sword from Ao no Exorcist.
I killed Freed there, because his appearance in volume 6/7 was pretty redundant.
Anything you want to say or ask? Leave a review or message me.
Till next time, blueprints out.
