"I can't believe you kept all of this a secret from me," Rias said.

"I didn't want to say anything until I had something concrete," Issei replied. "Can you do it or not?"

"My familiar is looking for the house," she said. "Are you certain that-"

"A hundred percent," he cut her off. "Yuuma saw this house in her nightmares. It must be where the boss is."

"But why would she have nightmares about that?"

"I don't think she worked for them willingly."

"But-" suddenly, Rias shut up. She rose from her chair. "She found it."

"Alright."

"Let's go."

Issei frowned. "Now?"

"No time to waste. Let's end this."

Rias created a magic circle.

Something weird was going on here. Shouldn't they prepare for a fight first?

He joined her in the circle. They flashed away.

Issei looked around. He was standing in a forest, but he wasn't alone. Dozens of people were there. He recognized the entire peerage of Sona and Rias, but also a lot more people he couldn't place right away.

"Ise-kun."

Someone embraced him.

"I-Irina? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here on Heaven's orders." She smiled.

"Wait a sec."

There were a lot of people here. He had assumed they were all devils, but he was wrong. They were angels, fallen angels and devils.

"Temporary truce," Rias explained. "To deal with this threat."

"Wait a second. You knew?"

"Of course I knew. I'm not an idiot. We've been searching for their headquarters for a while. And then you just walked in with the solution."

"Damn." So he wasn't the only one keeping secrets?

"MacGregor has analysed the barrier," a devil reported. "There is something off about it."

"How so?"

"It seems to be blocking something."

"Hm," Rias frowned. "That must be why we couldn't find them before. Can you take it down?"

"Anything can be taken down with enough firepower."

"Get it done."

Issei looked. Only now did he see there was a house here. Well, more of a mansion really. And he could indeed feel a magic barrier around it. But not for much longer. Everyone assembled and unleashed their magic.

The semi-transparent shield appeared momentarily. Then, cracks appeared. Soon, the entire barrier was disintegrating.

"Let's go," Rias said.

They entered the house behind about ten devils.

Fighting broke out, but it was pretty clear their side was winning. Their surprise attack with the combined forces of the three factions was overwhelming the enemy.

"Let's spread out," Rias said. "We need to find him."

"Agreed."

They split up. Asia and Ruruko stayed with Issei.

Soon, he found a staircase to the basement.

When they followed it down, they found a large door.

"This is it," Issei said.

The strong aura was unmistakable. William had to be behind this door.

"I'll go first," he told them.

"Are you sure about this?" Ruruko-chan asked.

"Stay close behind me."

Issei opened the door. The room was dark. He slowly took a step inside. Which turned out to be a mistake, because the door slammed close behind him.

"Fuck."

He banged on the door. "Asia? Ruruko?"

No reply.

The lights turned on. Issei turned around.

An older male was sitting on a chair, his feet on the table. He seemed completely relaxed.

Issei didn't really know what to expect. Not this, that's for sure.

William was a tall guy who looked to be in his forties. His black hair was streaked with grey. One eye was blue, the other was milky white. That eye had a rather prominent scar running over it.

He looked a bit like the cliche bad cop that betrayed the hero's in the end.

"Ise-kun," the man spoke. "How nice of you to join me. I assume you're not here to talk about my proposal, since you've brought company."

"It's just a matter of time before they break through that door," Issei warned him.

"I know. So let's talk. There is no need to fight."

"Fine." Issei sat down on the other side of the large table. "What are you? A Fallen Angel?"

"I'm an Exousia."

"A what?"

"An elite angel tasked with restraining rogue Sacred Gear users," he explained.

"I've never heard of that," Issei said.

"I'm not surprised. They were a well preserved secret. God swore that the Exousia wouldn't be used in the war when he created us. That's why the other factions let him. We were neutral, focused on our task."

"Then why are you attacking us?" Issei asked.

"Because one day, a Sacred Gear user went wild and we put him down. It turned out to be a half-devil."

"I take it that didn't go over well?"

"No," William said. "The devils were livid. They said God had violated the neutrality agreement. They started to hunt us down."

"But God must have-"

William slammed the table. "The moment it happened, God turned his back on us," his voice was growing louder and angrier. "We were thrown to the wolves, left to die. I swore I'd have my revenge."

Issei frowned. "But God is already dead."

"I know. Who do you think killed him?"

"What? No, that's impossible."

Wiliam leaned back in his chair. "Do you know how Sacred Gears are created?"

"Not really," Issei admitted. Where was this going?

"They are forged at the Spiritforge. The same forge that creates Holy Swords. The forge runs on blood. Sacrifices."

"Blood? But…"

"Yes. The Blood Spirit is very old. It is her power that makes the forge run. She was trapped inside the forge thousands of years ago."

"But if she's a Blood Spirit, then…"

"She must have imbued you with a sliver of her power."

"Why?"

"Because she wants to keep forging. Sacred Gears can't actually change wielders with a snap of your fingers. A new sacrifice must be made. That's why you die when your Sacred Gear is taken out and transferred to a new person. You serve as the sacrifice."

"Who's doing all those sacrifices?" Issei asked.

"There is a cult around the Spiritforge."

"It's here? On Earth?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Well why are you telling me everything else?" Issei asked. "I still don't understand what all of that has to do with me."

"The tools that are created at the Spiritforge can kill God. If they have the right power. Right now, only the Longinus can do that, and a couple special weapons crafted for the Exousia."

"Like yours."

"Yes. But mine was broken afterwards."

"But why did she choose me?" Issei asked. "Why give me this Bloodbound power?"

"Because she wants you to stop me."

"Stop you from what? You already killed God."

"He may be dead, but his influence on our world isn't."

"Sacred Gears?" Issei asked.

"Yes."

"I still don't understand." His head was starting to hurt. Why were they talking? What side was William on? Were there even sides here?

"My plan is quite simple," William explained. "I'm gonna extract the Sacred Gears from everyone and lock them away. No one will ever wield an SG ever again."

"But if you extract them-"

"They will die, yes. Unless… they are healed by a powerful SG."

"Twilight Healing." Issei was starting to understand where this was going.

"Yes. It has a Balance Breaker that is powerful enough to keep someone from dying after their SG is extracted. But without the sacrifice, the SG loses its power. It cannot bond to a new wielder, since there is no sacrifice. It becomes a useless piece of junk."

"So you're not gonna kill anyone?" Issei asked.

"I have no desire to kill innocents. It's not their fault that the SG bonded with them. But SGs are a threat to this world. Anyone who has one can use it to abuse others."

"But how is that any different from devils abusing humans?"

"Because we can do something about it. I can't exterminate the devil race. But I can lock away all Sacred Gears."

"So what do you need me for?"

"To step aside."

"What?"

"You think this is about you? I just need Asia. But you keep protecting her."

"But… what?"

"I can't move," William said. "My hands are tied."

"How so?"

"My aura is quite easy to notice. As I'm sure you've felt already. The leader of the Exousia, Caleb, wants to continue his mission. He thinks I'm a traitor."

"That's where the scar comes from."

"Yes. It takes weeks to set up a proper barrier that can hide my aura well enough. I cannot move directly like this. So I had to use proxies to get to Asia. People like Raynare and Diodora."

"So all of this…"

"Was never about you," William finished. "You're a pawn. But you're a pawn that's in my way. Now, we do not have much time left. With the barrier down, Caleb will find me soon enough. Hand Asia over so I can complete my mission."

"Activate her Balance Breaker and use it to extract every single SG?"

"Yes," William confirmed.

"And the Balance Breaker? How will you activate it?"

William's eyes darkened. "Some sacrifices must be made."

"What are you going to do with her?" Issei demanded.

"Don't tell me you would risk the whole world for a single girl?"

"Hey, she's really cute," he argued.

"Idiot. Sacred Gears are a threat and must be destroyed. Surely you don't think a single girl-"

"You will not touch her," Issei proclaimed.

"This is exactly what the Blood Spirit wants. For you to protect her. So she can keep sacrificing-"

"And that is exactly what I will do. I'll always protect cute girls."

"Oh my God, you can't seriously-"

A loud bang disturbed them.

"I think we're out of time," Issei said.

"If you think-"

Another bang, louder this time.

"This isn't over," William warned him. He cast a circle and stepped in it.

Right when it activated, the doors burst open.

"Ise-kun."

He was embraced by a girl. And then another girl. And then another.

"Hey, don't hoard him," Ruruko-chan said.

"Calm down, everyone," Issei said.

When they were assured he was okay, they released him.

"Do you know who this guy is?" Ruruko asked. "He just appeared out of nowhere and broke down the doors.

Issei looked at him. It was a tall guy with a military buzz cut. He wore a white shirt and jeans with a chain dangling on the edge. He looked a bit like Vali, but older and with different hair. And with a much more powerful aura.

"Where the hell is he?" the man demanded.

"You must be Caleb," Issei said.

"Yes I am," the man confirmed. "Where is he?"

"Teleported away."

"Damn that slippery eel."

"Did you capture some of his people alive?"

"Yeah, but they all have amnesia. Or they are lying."

"Oh their memories aren't gone," Issei said. "They are just suppressed. With some techniques you can get them out."

Caleb frowned. "What kind of techniques?"

"Well, how are your dating skills?"

"Come again?"