The wind whistled, as Issei stood with a brooding expression. Slight blue stripes under his eyes made him appear simply...tired. He looked at his right arm and extended his fingers. A short while later, he began to crack them down with his thumb, as if prying deeper and deeper into his memories with every finger cracked.
He was obviously distant and completely out of it, as Kuroka shrugged and let out a small sigh. She knew exactly how much pain remembering gave Issei. It was both, his mental and physical state that suffered.
It wasn't hard to understand that as well...a person who can't sleep when the full moon is out, just because of his memories.
He began to talk. –''It was a mission. Maria sent us on it. It was some mercenary rivalry and because of that, she sent basically the whole Suicide Squad. We were going to be a glorified piece of display...there only to show off and scare them.''
Issei's speaking was slow and fragmented, but he carried on.
''She assured us that killing would not be necessary.'' – Issei cracked his index finger again, effectively dislocating it.
CRACK.
''She was wrong. That women, for the first time in her life, was wrong.''
Issei used his other hand to move the finger back in place.
''And it happened like that. One moment we were in a helicopter, and the other, we were shot down, fighting against an army. Our squad of 14 people were slowly killed. The short range guys were killed first from the absurd amount of gunfire alone. Then everyone else...excluding me and Margit.''
''We fought relentlessly, and I think it would have classified as mass murder or ''mass destruction''. I was barely concious from the exhaustion by the time the main group arrived to the scene, but I remember it really, really clearly, Margit's expresion when she saw who was behind it. Her brother...who took away her will to fight completely..and she colapsed over me.''
Wracked with grief.
''..Why?'' – Koneko asked, after Issei stopped speaking.
''She was a...let's say, a geneticly modified soldier. She didn't know her real parents, but she had fought for a specific place, for a specific time period. One day something bad happened and she almost died...but fortunatly she was recovered by Maria. Margit always asumed that she was the only survivor of the accident that led her away from that specific place.''
Koneko remained silent, as Kuroka looked downcast, staring a single point, already knowing where the story was about to go.
''I woke up in total darkness. That was how I spent the first 5 days, just listening to the silence...and eventually, to my teacher's screams. Margit didn't actually scream the first two days of torture. She began to scream at the 3rd.''
CRACK.
Issei cracked a different finger, as his eyes narrowed. –''It turned out that it wasn't a single person. It was on change. Men, women...they simply enjoyed torturing, as everyone had a single quirk of his. One had an infatuation with water, as he liked to almost-drown me...another, with nails and hammers. A women enjoyed humiliating me to no end, saying that I am weak, useless, pathetic...and Levente, the main bastard himself...he cracked his fingers. Like I do.''
CRUNCH.
Issei cracked a different finger. Kuroka, now with narrow eyes...simply shook her head.
''I didn't scream. I didn't scream the whole two weeks they tortured me. I didn't let out a single word, plead or sound. I locked out the pain of nails, knives, punches, getting my bones broken and me getting waterboarded, drowned...''
His words became silent, as he decided to not mention everything else that had been done to him.
''They starved me for 7 days, fed me and then starved me again.''
Koneko was shaking, with wide eyes.
''That was probably why I killed him, Margit's brother, in such a fashion.'' – Issei chuckled. –''Anyways..at the end of the line, I was completely out of it. I was floating, not even understanding what I was. The lack of sleep, the darkness, the pain...It was too much. I stopped responding completely at the 2 week mark. My marbles were long gone, as It had became a simple blur.''
''Issei...'' – Koneko said, wanting to stop Issei.
''I'm not going to stop talking. You...have really taken a liking to me teaching you...but you have to understand the simple facts...that I am not the man you think I am.''
''I'm not going to go too much into detail how it became what is was, but in the end, when Levente finally ended Margit, and she died in my hands...I went berzerk...As only her death pulled me out from the depths of my mind, where I had locked myself in, so I wouldn't go completely insane.''
CRACK.
''But I did. I went insane. I destroyed everything around me. Ddraig forced balance breaker and that was how I overpowered my torturer...and became the torturer myself, degrading him into the tortured one.''
Issei's middle finger popped with a loud sound, as he bent it out of it's socket.
''There is a lot I don't remember anymore from that time. I, however, remember breaking most of Levente's bones, then ripping his legs and arms off. Then, in the end, I tore the heart out of his body and ate it raw.''
POP.
Issei's finger went back in place, as Koneko's eyes couldn't get any wider and she couldn't mutter a single word.
''Why? I don't know. Back then, I only wanted revenge for everything. For her death. For taking away every single piece of my dignity, pride...for taking away my strength.'' – Issei smiled at Koneko. –''I am a monster, after all...it felt right...to devour him.''
''I...I...'' – Koneko tried to say something. Anything. She wanted to tell Issei that he wasn't a monster, tell something to calm him down...anything.
But she couldn't. Her lips refused to move.
Issei smiled. A wide, aloof smile crossed his mouth as he nodded.
He waited for a few seconds, and turned to face Kuroka. –''I will leave you two alone, to talk it out. Alright?'' – He smiled gently at her, as he said that.
Kuroka gave him a smile back. –''Mhm.''
Issei nodded and turned around, with his hands in his pockets. He reached for his clothes and pulled them over his scarred back.
Koneko remained motionless, as she gazed at Issei walking away, until Kuroka pulled her into a hug.
''..He gets like this..when specific dates come around. It's very hard to to cope with them. He relentlessly blames himself for everything, the fact that he was never able to protect what he needed to protect the most...that single fact broke him the most.'' – Kuroka whispered into Koneko's ear. –''Broke him beyond repair. That's who he is.''
''Sister...I couldn't speak. I wanted to say something, but I couldn't.'' – Koneko answered, the pitch of her voice was off.
''I don't blame you for that..after all, you are crying.''
''huh?'' – She mumbled, as she touched her face, feeling the warm liquid pour down from her eyes...and in realizing that single fact, she couldn't even say a word more, only her sniffling remained.
''..There, there.'' – Kuroka said, as she pulled her little sister into a hug.
The wind was a lot stronger on top of a building than it was on the ground, and this went double for corporate buildings.
Issei sat on the edge of a 50 or maybe 75 story building, looking downwards.
What he had spoken, left a bad aftertaste in his mouth. Sure, one could argue that telling what happened, so blankly, without remorse, wasn't a good way to go about it, but Issei was fine with that.
He wanted for Koneko to understand exactly what kind of a person he was. Half-measures didn't work, and if she would find out that later, it could bite him in the ass.
Issei touched his face, pulling back his messy white hair.
The sinking sun had left a small line of red in the horizon, as the night took over, covering the glassy sky in darkness and a tint of blue.
Issei was staring at the bustling city, the people who were going on about their business, some without a care in the world.
Issei sighed. –''Here to talk, or to kill?''
''Talk.'' – The man behind Issei responded, with a chuckle.
He sat down next to Issei and took a deep breath, as the wind rustled his golden bangs. His eyes met Issei's and he widened his own, for a brief second.
''You look like shit.'' – He stated. –''Something bad happen?''
''Not really, Azazel.'' – Issei responded and turned his gaze back to the city.
He nodded. –''Well, I lied to cover your ass.''
Issei chuckled, amused. –''Of course, I know that. If not, I would probably be dead or in the process of it. I might not be good at magic, but I can sense people.''
Azazel scratched his head. –''That's interesting, in all honesty. How?''
''It's kind of an passive ability I've developed from the constant ''on the edge'' feeling I had to have previously.''
''I see.'' – Azazel smiled. –''So, the way you got Koneko Toujou, or rather Shirone, to unlock her powers and start to use them, was by using Kuroka?''
Issei remained silent for a while. –''Indeed. I brought them back together.''
''But Kuroka is living with you, correct?''
Issei's head turned and his brown, but now sharp eyes narrowed on Azazel. –''She is.''
''I see.'' –Azazel responded, with a gentle smile. –''Why the hostility?''
Issei cracked his index finger. –''Sorry. I know that you wouldn't do anything with this information...but still, I have to warn you.''
CRACK.
''Don't try anything. I will do anything to protect her.'' – Issei smirked, revealing his teeth. –''...And you don't want to see me do anything for someone.''
Azazel sighed. –''It hurts that bad for you, does it?''
Issei's eyes widened in bemusement, as Azazel simply smiled at him, once again. –''I won't say I understand, but I can feel for you. Don't worry, I won't do anything against you...you seem too paranoid...is this about your teacher?''
The bustling sounds of the dying down city, the car noises of people going home from their normal jobs occupied the silence that followed.
''What scared me the most was how fast everything came crashing down.''- Issei began speaking. –''At the time, before the death of my teacher, it was a sweet spot. I was becoming strong, Margit was teaching me, I was doing good work and getting paid and awarded for it. There was no torture, no pain...but I was still balancing, like on a castle made of cards...I was on that top card, balancing on a single leg and scissors in my hands...and fuck if it wasn't horrifying as the cards below me fell, all in a single instance.''
He sighed, as Azazel was concentrating on listening to him.
''After all that...because of that complete unexpectedness, that support being ripped from under my feet...almost everything being taken from me, that I am paranoid...It's who I am.''
Silence enveloped them two once again, as the cold wind tore by them.
Issei began, after a small while. –''After my ''initiation'' to Suicide Squad, I was a mess. It was a dull, throbbing feeling, that went away slowly, with every mission. The border for my morality, between ''bad'' and ''good'' was blurred with every coming day...until it disappeared completely. I didn't see it as doing anything bad, I simply did.''
Azazel let out an understanding sigh. –''I am the Azazel of the bible...and as a fallen angel, I have done my share of things that I would never say to the public, but I did them...those things, because I had to. I did what was necessary. Wouldn't you say that you had to do the same thing, kid?''
Issei smiled for a second. –''No. You did it for the good of the people, for the fallen angels, but I did for myself. It was all selfish, it was all for me, for my well-being, something I did so I wouldn't have to feel pain.''
''It's understandable. Do you actually think someone would blame you for trying to dodge the grasps of pain and suffering? Life isn't a novel, in which there is a ''good protagonist'' and the ''evil'' antagonist. In the end, your life is meant to be lived for yourself.'' – Azazel gazed at Issei, who was now looking at the moon, as it's half-eaten state was trying to fit trough the dark clouds. –''I would say, that those who can put others above themselves in such a fashion are the damaged ones. The instinct to protect yourself is above compassion.''
''...It's possible that you are correct, old man, but still, wouldn't it be nice if I could have been the hero, the guy who was able to stand against these people?''
''We're all mad here, Issei.'' – Azazel cackled. –''If I would think about the possibilities, about the things I did wrong that I could have done better, I would never stop dreaming.''
''This is real life, huh.'' – Issei let out a small chuckle at Azazel's expense.
''Indeed.'' – Azazel smiled. –''It was a nice conversation...if you ever need the help, don't be scared to ask for a favor or two.''
Issei rubbed his eyes for a bit. –''I already owe you, don't I?''
''Ah, of course.'' – Azazel smirked. –''A person like you is very useful, but I will spend my favor rather dully.''
Issei sighed. –''What is it?''
''I want you to not attack, if Vali comes around, asking for you.'' - Azazel smiled, as he looked at Issei's surprised expression. –''But instead, just listen to him. After you listen, then you can attack.''
''C'mon, do you think I don't listen before attacking?'' – Issei asked, with a hint of humor to his voice.
''I always thought ''attack first, ask second'' was your mantra.'' – Azazel jabbed back.
Issei let out a chuckle. –''I guess. Azazel, did something happen?''
''Well...the rook that your master got is the old bodyguard of Odin. What you don't know, is that she fought against the evil god Loki, who escaped. Of course, my top men held him back.''
''Loki? The evil god of the Norse? – Issei's eyes narrowed. –''What was his objective?''
''...To cause havoc. He wants to release the end of the world.''
''Remind me again, why are the ones who want that are always the old ones?'' – Issei snickered.
''Hell if I know. Maybe they are tired of this world.'' – Azazel said, as he looked into the horizon. –''I might be old, but I am not senile. The next time you see him, he probably will be with the Khaos Brigade...and something is happening inside. Something not good.''
''A coup d'état?'' – Issei spoke, not taken a second to figure it out.
''I think so.'' – Azazel sighed. –''Ophis is a creature that is immensely powerful, but lacks the social understanding and so ''she'' can be quite usable and lead astray.''
''I should kill them.'' – Issei blankly stated. –''It's disgusting, to use Ophis like that...to dirty that pure creature.''
Azazel let out a laugh, a truly amused laugh. –''Would that solve the problem?''
''It would, but I am not that strong.'' – Issei smiled blankly. –''So I guess I should focus on what's to come.''
''Listen, Issei, when, not if, but when it will all come down, there will be blood. Something big is brewing, and you, as much as you don't like to be in the spotlight, are a target. They will want get their hands on you...either to kill you, or brainwash you. You defeating Saiaorg, what you did against the Khaos Brigade...it would be wise to keep your eye out for trouble.''
''I am always doing that, old man.''
Azazel got up. The scenery had changed in the few tens of minutes they were sitting and talking. The sun had sunken below the horizon, the blue sky had turned colder and darker, as the surrounding estate buildings now had bright lights shining from their many windows.
Issei exhaled, seeing a small cloud form from his breath.
''..It's going to snow, probably.'' – Azazel stated, as he turned his back to Issei, walking away. –''I'll leave you to your own thoughts.''
''I appreciate it.'' – Issei said, to now no one, as Azazel had teleported away.
He remained sitting there, overlooking the city, slowly, as the bustling grew down, as the lights shut down, the traffic almost disappeared, the crowd shifting, as only a few remained, while the delinquents came out of hiding, thriving in their own environment.
And Issei decided, then and there...that it was time. Time, to do what was necessary.
The silver haired man stood in a field of bodies, his white armor tarnished by crimson. His usual, scornful gaze overlooked the field, the burning trees and the amount of the mingled, dead bodies.
He scoffed, making his armor disappear, revealing his black jacket, white shirt and black pants, with a chain on the side, and boots, that resembled Issei's usual ones.
''Why did I even bother to help you?'' – An unenthusiastic voice spoke, from behind him. The male was holding a golden staff in his arm.
Vali smiled. –''Sorry Bikou. Can't hold back my strength.''
''...You...'' – Bikou grinned. –''Anyways, let's go back. The attacks are a lot stronger than we anticipated. What do you think about it?''
''Sirzechs is getting desperate.'' – Vali stated, and raised his arm over his head, stretching it. The fabric of his jacket limited his movement and was noticeably stressed.
''That jacket is getting too small for you.'' – Bikou stated, letting out a small chuckle.
Vali...was a lot more muscular now. His shoulders, his back, his legs, arms, chest, everything was thicker and more solid...
Because he didn't see any other way to match his rival.
''Bikou. It's going to happen soon, right?'' – Vali spoke, his eyes narrowing a bit.
''Yes. The movement is huge – Shalba, Diodora, Cao Cao and what's left of his gang...and the fucking Norse God, Loki.'' – Bikou responded, pausing in the middle of his speech, to put an emphasis on his point.
''...We will be fighting soon, Hyoudou.''
Vali spoke, before sinking into the ground with Bikou.
Kuroka heard the doors open with a small clicking noise, as Issei walked in, without making a sound. Her hazel eyes met Issei's, and he smiled gently at her. She was sitting in Issei's bed, cross legged, with her back against the wall.
Kuroka pulled her face into a small pout, and brought her own gaze downwards, as if telling Issei to follow it.
And he did, only to find Koneko, wrapped in a ball, like a small cat, with her head in Kuroka's lap. She gently touched her head, and Koneko's eyes flickered open.
She blinked a few times, and then stretched herself upwards, arching her back like a cat, in a rather cute manner.
Issei meanwhile had sat down in a chair, across from the two sisters.
''...Issei.'' – Koneko spoke, with an ambiguous expression on her face.
''Mmm?'' – He hummed, signaling that he was listening.
Koneko squinted a bit against the sun rays coming in from the window.
''It's morning.'' – She stated.
''It is.'' – Issei let out an amused chuckle. -''Anything else simple you've noticed?''
Koneko smiled. Genuinely smiled. –''That I don't mind.''
Issei looked at her, his eyelids pulling closer and the smile turning into a slight frown.
''I don't mind your past, Issei.'' –Koneko said. –''I spoke with sister about this. You...think of yourself as a monster, right?''
Issei smirked and nodded.
''You aren't one for me. With time, you will become better...you abandoned the path of evil...so it doesn't matter anymore. This choice was easy...the hard part was hearing what they did to you. They were the real monsters, you only fought back.''
Issei looked down, dodging her understanding gaze, because it felt wrong for him to be receiving that...adoration, that understanding, that...acceptance?
''..Nietsche once said –''He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.''
''But you didn't become like them. You don't simply torture people for the hell of it.'' – Koneko said.
''He also said – '' And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.''. Back then, I understood who I am at my roots. I am evil, Koneko. Can you actually accept that? That your teacher, mentor, is a monster?''
Koneko frowned and got up, out from the bed and slowly walked over to Issei...who could only twitch for a second, as Koneko hugged him. –''...I don't see you as a monster...but if you do...then I accept that...teacher.''
Issei's arm still frozen in place, in an awkward manner, slowly wrapped around Koneko's arched back.
After a few seconds she let go.
''...This is a bad decision.'' – Issei said and chuckled, as he scratched the behind of his head.
She smiled. –''But it's my decision. It's already day, so I'll go to school...one of us has to, after all, don't you think?''
Issei nodded. –''Because I, however, will now sleep.''
He said, and jumped into the bed, in an acrobatic manner.
''Hey, really?'' – Kuroka said, as she was thrown into the air by the force the mattress gave back from Issei's jump onto it.
''Yes.'' – He said, with his face against it. –''Goodnight.''
A few seconds later, he began to snoore.
''Did he really?''
''Fall asleep?'' – Kuroka finished her sister's sentence. –''Probably. He can do th-''
Suddenly, silence. Kuroka jumped up, grabbing onto Koneko, and quite literally flying trough the window, shattering it with her shoulder.
A second later, the house exploded into smithereens and fire enveloped the are around them. The eerie silence, excluding the sound of crackling fire, didn't match anything else.
Koneko, now understanding what happened, understanding the peace that was ripped away from them in matter of seconds, screamed.
''ISSEI!''
A man above, laughed. Kuroka's eyes focused on him, as he smirked.
''HAHAHAHA-'' – His black cape fluttered in the wind, as he crossed his arms, remaining floating above them. –''Was that all that the Bloodhound is capable?''
His gaze lingered for a while at the wreckage of Issei's previous home, but then turned to face Kuroka, who was now standing up, her eyes covered by her long, flowing hair and Konkeo, who was sitting down, keeping her back up with her hands.
''White and Black hair...'' – The man said, as if pondering. –''Who are you two?''
Kuroka's arms pulled into fists, as she looked upwards, her hazel eyes pulling narrow. Her voice, loosing the gentle timbre, turned ice cold...so cold, that Koneko jerked at it's sound. –''Don't dare to talk with me in such a tone, you dog. Who are you?''
The man froze up, for a second, after such a reply. -''I am Shalba Beelzebub. The real, the true Satan of the underworld.''
Kuroka let out an annoyed chuckle. –''And? What do you want from us? Or rather, tell me a single reason why I shouldn't kill you right now?'' – Her smile curled upwards, revealing her teeth.
''Ha.'' – Shalba threw a single chuckle over his lips. –''Immature little bitch, you dare to talk back to death? Doesn't matter either way...that damn useless Astaroth got so scared of the Red Dragon Emporer he barely took a step away from me...so I had to take care of the trouble. It's funny, isn't it?''
He paused and looked Kuroka right into the eyes and licked his lips. –''He died quite easily, together with his parents, no? You, however, seem like a fine piece of meat.''
''Iiiiiiidiot~.'' – Kuroka stretched the first vowel of the word, as she raised her hand. –''First, this isn't the real world...his parents are fine...and the Bloodhound isn't as easy to kill as you think...Is this a different dimension created by a sacred gear?''
''Good looking and smart as well?'' – Shalba smirked. –''Definetly a good women.''
Kuroka cracked her index finger, like Issei did. ''-You piss me off.'' – She said, as she stepped forwards, looking up towards Shalba. –''I guess I just have to kill you.''
Her eyes shone, as Shalba fired a bolt of light at her.
As the light reached it's target, it exploded, throwing rubble and dust everywhere. Meanwhile, the fallen bricks and support material was thrown in a circular pattern.
Shalbas eyes narrowed, after the dust dispersed. –''Che.''
The white hair of the Red Dragon's Emperor, or rather, Issei Hyoudou fluttered, as his torn clothes were dirty from the rubble. He was standing towards Kuroka and Koneko, his back turned to Shalba.
''Issei, you're alright...'' – Koneko responded, the color returned to her face.
A stream of blood was coming from his hair, slowly sliding down over the right side of his face. –''Sorry for being out for so long.''
''No, I'm sorry. I had the time to help only Koneko.'' - Kuroka answered, seemingly ashamed.
Issei nodded, with a small, gentle smile. –''Of course. Your sister takes priority, besides, I am fine. You and I, we have to protect her, right?''
Kuroka let out an amused chuckle. –''What? Like parents? ''
Issei smirked at her. –''You always wanted to be my wife, right?''
Issei span around, raising his arm on reflex, as he heard a crackle.
The light attack coming towards him was rebounded back, as in red light, the gauntlet on Issei's arm appeared.
[DRAGON BOOSTER!]
Shalba dodged the blast of light, surprised.
''Don't disturb me while I talk, dog!'' – Issei shouted, as he leaned his head backwards, looking at Shalba's bewildered expression.
''Was that Phantom Bullet without saying it out loud?'' – Kuroka snickered.
''Mhm.'' – Issei responded, as his expression became serious. –''This is a fake field, right?''
Kuroka nodded. –''Something like the Devil Game fields...your parents are safe.''
Issei nodded, and turned his gaze to Koneko, who now was getting up from the ground. –''Go to Rias. Find out what is happening.''
Koneko nodded, and looked upwards at Shalba who was now enraged. His fists were shaking from anger.
In that sliver of time, Issei had already hand-signed to Kuroka. –''Report to Queen Bitch.''
Kuroka snickered as they both shared a gentle smile, nodded and disappeared, while Koneko began to run away from Issei, after he nodded at her.
Issei's neutral, if not happy, expression was wiped from his face instantly. He turned around, looking up at Shalba, raising his hand, the bones in his palm cracked. –''Shalba...I'm angry right now.''
Magic circles appeared behind Shalba, as incredible amount of devil magic hit the place where Issei was standing, enveloping it with flames.
Shalba's gaze suddenly flickered upwards, as Issei was now right in his face. His eyes widened, as Issei backhanded him into the head, throwing him towards the ground at terminal velocity.
Shalba's crash took a few houses with him, as Issei landed on the ravaged ground, not having used his wings, only a simple jump.
''And it just so happens that I can't control myself when I am angry.'' – He jumped, shattering the ground. Shalba jumped away, but that attack of Issei's was just a fluke.
CRACK
Some bones of Shalba's face cracked, as he was thrown against the ground from Issei's kick. He rolled a few times and when his momentum stopped, he got up.
Issei remained standing, looking at him, the messy white hair covering his face, hiding his expression. –''Dog. Your reason to be here...is it the Gremory?''
Shalba wiped the blood off his face, or at least tried to, as he spit out his answer. –''Don't call me, the True Satan a dog, you dragon trash!''
Light, mixed with devil magic rained upon Issei, who without saying a single word dodged them all. He back flipped into air, bending his body sideways and landing a few meters to the side.
''Shalba.'' – Issei began speaking. –''I could have done this differently...because I understand that you have a mission...but you intruded on me and my ''family'' of sorts.''
Issei's index finger cracked. –''Kuroka even acted in my stead...she isn't as cruel as she acted, HOWEVER..''
Issei cracked his neck by leaning his head to the side, in a quick movement. He sighed, and then Shalba froze in fear.
His eyes, dyed by red light, widened as he stood, unable to move a muscle.
''I AM.''
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
Blazing blur of red disappeared and appeared in front of Shalba in a single blink of an eye, smashing trough the magic circles that Shalba was able to put up in time.
''GUHHHH-!'' – Mix of bile and blood splattered from his mouth, as Issei wrecked his stomach with a single fist.
''You will receive no mercy.''
Shalba fell to his knees, unable to take a single breath.
Issei, remaining standing next to him, spoke up. –''That was only a simple punch. Sirzechs was able to dodge it. Can you really call yourself the real Satan like this?''
Shalba was finally able to take a breath and coughed, before speaking. –''D..DON'T DARE SPEAK OF THAT CRIMSON BASTARD IN FRONT OF ME, TRA-''
Issei grabbed him by the throat and raised him above the ground, letting his legs dangle like ragdoll.
Issei exhaled, slowly. –''Don't misunderstand. I am not doing this for the Satan. I am doing this for myself. Blame eeeeverything on yourself.''
Shalba's eyes widened, as Issei's palm flexed and cut off the oxygen completely. His hands tried to pry open Issei's grasp, but it was futile.
''Let's play, Shalba.''
Limp like a ragdoll, Shalba's body shattered trough a row of houses, as the sensory overload of pain made him borderline out of it all, but he still felt the grasp of the monster who was beating down on him.
Issei grabbed him by the face and with his boosters powered fully, he dragged Shalba along the ground, tearing his armor to shreds.
Issei released Shalba and allowed him to slide along the ground for a few more meters, himself using the boosters to fly upwards.
Shalba coughed up blood and raised his arm towards Issei. –''Beelzebub...''
A horde, or rather, army of bees began to appear out of nowhere, flying towards Issei, who falling back to the ground, simply shredded trough them without a care in the world.
White fumes expelled from Issei legs, as he landed on Shalba's knees.
With a popping noise they were bent backwards and completely shattered.
Shalba screamed in utter pain, his eyes going completely blank.
The bees that the Beelzebub had the control over tried to attack Issei, but it was pointless.
[BOOST BOOST BOOST]
As Issei slammed his foot down, the Ki pressure of Issei's balance breaker burned the bees around him, turning them charcoal.
Issei turned around and looked at Shalba, who was trying to shuffle himself away on his arms.
Without a care in the world, Issei walked over to Shalba and leaned down next to him. He sighed and yanked Shalba's arm upwards. –''..Maybe something like this?''
CRUNCH.
''AAAGHH-!''
Issei snapped his finger back towards his palm.
CRACK.
Shalba let out a muttered scream, as another finger of his was bent in an impossible angle.
''There are about 206 bones in the human body, isn't that correct? Now then, real Maou, lets see how many I can break until you die.~''
Issei hummed, as he cracked the remaining fingers on Shalba's palm and moved upwards along his arm.
Shalba, however, was barely lucid.
Koneko kicked trough a horde of coated enemies, some small fry, as she continued her journey towards the school. With practiced ease, she leaped on top of the old school building, because it was where she had sensed the most magical energy.
She wasn't wrong, when she noticed the carnage behind it.
Kiba and Xenovia, who both were bleeding, but still fighting a person with 4 arms, a sword in each hand, while the new rook, Akeno and Rias were exchanging magic blows with...
Diodora, who was obviously enhanced with the Ophis' snakes.
The veins around his eyes and forehead were bulging, and his eyes were bloodshot.
His magic attack strength was close to Ultimate Class devil's, as he wasn't stopping using Ophis power.
Koneko exhaled and focused, figuring out what to do...it didn't take long. Koneko's tails and cat ears appeared, as she still unnoticed, hiding her Ki, launched herself towards Diodora.
She pulled back her hand and extended her fingers.
''Remember, if you can do it stealthy, then do. Neck, eyes, spine, heart. Target those.'' – Issei's voice echoed in her mind.
Without a sound, she tore Diodora's neck in half, in a single swipe.
The battlefield went quiet, as Koneko landed near Rias, while Diodora fell to the ground, without a sound.
Koneko, whilst covered in blood, spoke up. –''Issei is fightnig Shalba right now.''
''Shalba Beezlebub?'' – Rias made a double take.
She nodded. –''He's fine, didn't seem like a threat at all.''
Koneko glanced at Kiba who was using a golden sword to fight the 4 handed man...who was currently bringing one of the blades down at the knocked down Xenovia..when that arm froze just enough, so she could get up and leap away.
Koneko smiled a bit, understanding that it was Gasper, who was hiding in the shadows.
Rias slapped herself on the cheeks a few times and then narrowed her eyes. –''Akeno and I will cover Kiba, Rosswei exchange with Kiba and Koneko, can you help them?''
She nodded, and just as she was about to attack the 4-handed man, she jumped upwards on reflex, as Rossweise put up a barrier in front of Rias and Akeno.
A burst of magic exploded and left them speechless, only to look at who it was.
Two men in modified school uniforms. One was with black hair and glasses, the one who used the magic, and the other, with with narrow eyes, black hair and holding a spear by his side.
A spear that sent shivers to Koneko, who landed on all fours behind her peerage.
''Hold them back.'' – Cao Cao said to George. –''I will take care of Hyoudou.''
He disappeared, leaving Koneko in fear...but there was no time to freeze up in a middle of a fight, that was something also taught to her by Issei..and she didn't want to disappoint him.
She jumped in to help Kiba, with a blade pulled from her sneaker, as the rest of the peerage tried to hold off George.
''..73. Only 73?'' – Issei spit out, coldly. –''Hey, hey, you still there?''
Issei asked, as he got up, stepping off from Shalba, who was now a mess of broken bones and blood.
''...You don't...understand...I am the true Satan...that fake one...will never lead the devils to glory...I will...I'll show them all!'' – He slowly stuttered, puking blood along the way, in a pathetic display of weakness.
Issei's words came out harsh, without mercy. –''Drown in your ideals and die, trash.''
His foot, that was about to stomp Shalba's head in, stopped, as he jumped back, using that same leg.
A spear stabbed into the ground, just where Issei had been previously.
A few seconds after that, Cao Cao landed gently and grabbed the spear, stepping in front of Shalba.
''..Was being so cruel necessary?'' – He asked.
Issei didn't respond.
''I see.'' – Cao Cao shrugged. –''Let's start then.''
The balance breaker armor crumbled to dust, however, it was exactly because Issei wanted it to disappear. The gauntlet remained on his hand.
[BOOST]
''...Promotion, knight.''
''This is your answer?'' – Cao Cao smiled.
''Your spear is a one shot kill. It will destroy my armor. As long as I am a devil, I cannot escape death upon impaling.'' – Issei answered, and brought out a straight-edged knife out of his boot. –''So I am getting rid of anything that would weigh me down.''
Issei's brown eyes met Cao Cao's gaze.
He looked downwards at his left arm...and cracked his middle finger. –''Margit...give me courage!''
He disappeared, as Cao Cao did the same.
Metal clashed, sparks , white smoke and dirt were thrown everywhere, as they both moved in speeds that surpassed any human being.
Cao Cao spun his spear around and threw beams of light at Issei who was keeping his body low, sidestepping and outrunning the light, as it wrecked havoc behind him.
A thrust of the strongest spear, as Cao Cao appeared right in front of Issei, who didn't waver.
His black t-shirt touched Cao Cao's spear as Issei had dodged and span around, whilst midair.
Cao Cao widened his eyes, as Issei's back faced him for a second...and Cao Cao quickly pulled back his head, as the glint from Issei's knife caught his eye.
A few thrusts, that seemed like a single one and a few swipes of Cao Cao's spear, that Issei either dodged, parried or ducked under.
Issei backed off, while Cao Cao followed, as Issei quickly touched his feet and threw something in the air.
Issei kicked the dull-part of the spear as and spun around midair, kicking down with his other leg.
Cao Cao shifted his head to the side dodging it...but it wasn't enough, as Issei caught the thrown objects, as they fell down, and swiped them all down at Cao Cao, who jumped back, as Issei released the objects in his hands towards him.
Cao Cao parried two of them, and caught the third in between his inder and middle finger.
While he understood that they were knives, Issei had backed up and jumped on a roof of a car.
Cao Cao smirked and threw it back at Issei, who used his straigh-edged knife to parry it into the air.
''Finally...you won't disrespect your teacher.'' - Cao Cao spoke, as he touched the small cut on his cheek.
Issei let out a chuckle and jumped into the air, as the car was blown into smithereens by Cao Cao's light attacks.
Author's notes.
Been a long time, hasn't it? Anyways, I'm in a bit of a rut, but I tried to deliver as good as I could. I like to think it's good like this, but my dear readers, you be the judge of that.
I wanted to do this for a long time...you know, this sudden attack, with zero warning shots. Yes, it is the guy with the dimensional sacred gear who did that. After the fights will be over, I will explain it in the story a bit more~
About Diodora - did he really die? Yes. The bastard was trash from beginning, he didn't even deserve such a painless death.
To people who want Issei to become healed, to get over his problems and insecurities...Hahahahaha~~~
There are no breaks on my suffering train...it get's slightly better, of course...but with every uphill, there comes a cliff...or something like that.
As always, thanks for reading, please leave a review if you liked it, disliked it, or have anything to add, subtract or ask!
See you next time.
ps. 350 alerts. Is this real life? My story is on page 1 if sorted by everything, if you put only to show M content. Thank you all, without you, I wouldn't have this.
