CHAPTER 27
As the events with people in the general area of Kuoh were happening, back at the wide room in the church the light died down, allowing the Devils and Raynare their sight again.
Their eyes landed on Issei immediately, making the afforementioned people to slightly gasp in awe and surprise.
The brunet stood imposingly, almost proudly, covered from head to toe in a shiny, metallic, crimson, draconian armor, with a very long, thin, pointy tail that started from the base of the armor's neck. On either side of his mid-back, there was a propulsion of some kind, in the shape of a wing, all crimson in colour. The eyes of his mask were the same shade of dark green as his own original ones. There were dark green jewels on all his joints and a big one at the center of his chest. Surprisingly, the armor didn't make him overly bulky.
Just imposing.
On a side note, Issei still kept a hold of the sword in his right hand.
Even through their amazed minds, the Devils and Raynare could feel the amount of power Issei emitted as he clearly glared at the downed Dohnaseek through his mask.
With a nary a sound, the armored brunet turned his gaze at Raynare, who suppressed a flinch at the notion, before he looked at the device Asia was crossified on.
He noticed that his friend was dressed in a frilly white nightgown that reached her ankles and showed the minimum amount of cleavage possible. Seeing her serenely smiling face made his already bleeding heart to ache even more.
His only solace was that Asia was unharmed, unlike Raynare.
None of the conscious people blinked.
Yet, in an impossible show of speed, Issei was right before the downed Dohnaseek, using his tail to lift the horrified Fallen Angel by coiling it around his neck in an almost crashing grip.
And that was done without a sound, making everyone that wasn't Issei shudder in fear of the unknown.
Then, noiselessly, he walked towards the stupefied Raynare, stopping an arm's length away, with the struggling in vain to escape from his tail Dohnaseek behind him.
With two nonchalant swings of his sword in an 'X' motion, Raynare was freed from her shackles, collapsing on her knees with a surprised, yet cute "Eeeep!" yelp, before she stared up at her armored rescuer in a mixture of awe and amazement at his skills, as well as gratefulness and confusion for rescuing her in the first place.
Dohnaseek grunted in pain as he was forced forward and on his knees, facing his fellow Fallen Angel, albeit with his eyes closed.
"Heal her." Issei's even, yet imposing voice was heard for the first time since entering the room, without releasing the Fallen Angel from his tail. In fact, it seemed that his grip tightened around the other's neck.
Another pained grunt escaped Dhnaseek's mouth as he shakily raised both his arms and a soft, green glow emanated from the rings on his fingers.
Raynare closed her eyes and sighed in relief as all the pain and her wounds evaporated in mere seconds.
In the meantime, Rias and her Peerage approached them, with the redhead using minimal amounts of her Power of Destruction to erase the unconscious exorcists from existence on their way.
The Devils were whitnesses in a front row seat of Twilight Healing's amazing power, which made Raynare as good as new.
As the female Fallen Angel basked in her well-being, Issei moved to the front of the crossified Asia, ignoring Dohnaseek's pained grunts coming from behind him.
He raised his left hand and touched the nun's right cheek so softly, as if she would break like a porcelain plate, should he touch her just a tiny bit roughly.
When he retracted his hand, he turned his head to his right, where, from the corner of his eye, he could see Rias and her Peerage wearing unreadable expressions. "Rias-san, will you do me a favor?" he asked evenly.
"As long as it's in my capabilities, of course, Ise." Rias confirmed with a nod of her head, hiding her emotions behind a mask of professionalism.
Issei returned his gaze at his dead, yet smiling friend. "Would you, please, reicarnate Asia-chan into a Devil, when I give her back what belongs to her?" he requested politely, yet evenly, all the while ignoring the Fallen Angel's increasing struggle from befind him.
Rias and her Peerage were surprised by his request, even if they somewhat expected it.
The redhead smiled kindly as she spoke from her heart with a matching tone. "Of course, Ise. It will be my pleasure to have Asia under mine and your protection. And, to tell you the truth, her Sacred Gear will be an invaluable asset in the future."
The armored brunet nodded in acknowledgement of her words, inwardly appreciating her honesty. "Thank you, Rias-san. Both for your acceptance of my selfish request and for your honesty." he spoke evenly, his eyes never leaving the face of his blonde friend.
"What about the scum in your tail, Ise-kun?"
All heads turned to the approaching Raynare, whose disgust over the struggling Fallen Angel was palpable, if her tone and expression were anything to go by. She stopped at a respectable distance away. She may trust the brunet, but she didn't feel the same way about the Devils behind him, even if they seemed indifferent to her presence.
In fact, the chick in the miko outfit gave her a complicated gaze, as if trying to sympathise with her.
Raynare didn't want anyone's pity, so she purposefully ignored the Devils' stares, focusing on her armored rescuer as she crossed her arms under her breasts, making them more prominent in the process. After all, her leathery outfit, apart from her mid-thigh high, high-heeled boots, was barely considered as such, since it covered the essentials.
The female Fallen Angel ignored the heated glare she received from the short whitenette.
In response to Raynare's earlier question, the brunet surprised his audience by dismissing his Scail Mail and, with it, the pressure he emitted while wearing it, making the Devils and Raynare breath a light sigh of relief.
Dohnaseek was on his hands and knees, coughing and gasping violently to regain his lost breath.
Issei turned around, sword in hand, his eyes on the kneeling Fallen Angel. "I'll do to him what he did on Asia-chan, albeit way worse." he finally responded, his tone changing to an emotionless one to hide his boiling fury.
Unsurprisingly, Raynare seemed happy to hear that, if her vindictive smirk at Dohnaseek was any indication. "As the Dragon in your Sacred Gear said earlier, give him hell, Ise-kun!" she cheered him on.
The Devils sweatdropped at her antics, even if they agreed with her.
"You know something, Raynare?" Issei asked her evenly, his eyes not leaving his target.
The Devils and the female Fallen Angel took several steps backwards at his words, due to a strange, yet overwhelmingly bloodthirsty aura, almost suffocating them.
It was pitch black, coated in etherial blue and blood-red.
None of the people present had ever heard or read about this kind of aura before.
"I wasn't asking for your permission." Issei continued where he left off, raising his sword to chest-level on his right, while, at the same time, stomping his right foot on his target, due to the latter seeming ready to regain his barings, making him fall flat on his stomach with great force. "I was just stating a fact. This bastard dared to kill Asia-chan, right in front of my eyes to boot. I won't kill him. Rias-san will do that. I'll just make him wish he was never born."
As the brunet spoke, the aura around him enveloped him in a swirling pillar that reached the ceiling, making the bloodlust in the air incease to suffocating levels.
Then, Issei made an announcement from inside the pillar that sent uncontrollable shivers down everyone's spines.
"Cleave the moon in half, Zangetsu."
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM
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With a certain duo, there was another pause in their game.
Both felt the sheer amount of bloodlust in the air, lasting for merely two seconds.
Not to mention the explosion they heard, which might have been spectacular to whitness up-close.
On a side note, now that they thought about it, it should be impossible to hear and feel things outside of a barrier. So, either the barrier had fallen, or the Hyoudou boy was just that powerfull to bypass a barrier's restraints with the ease of breathing.
They glanced at each other in seriousness, contemplating on interfering with the situation at the church.
However, no matter how much they wanted to, they thought better than to reveal themselves so prematurely.
The time for that would come, sooner or later.
After all, a third party had been busy around Europe as of late, no doupt being up to good.
So, as cringe-worthy as it was, they should wait.
Patiently.
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After what had happened a small while ago, Sona didn't want to take any other chances.
So, with the help of her entire Peerage, she erected a barrier in the SCO to keep themselves safe from similar phainomena happening again.
She was so sure that their barrier would hold strong, that neither Sona herself, nor her Peerage were ready when they felt a wave of suffocating bloodlust wash over them, making them choke on their own saliva.
Also, whoever was standing, they collapsed on their hands and knees.
That said, all of them couldn't stop their expressions from becoming absolutely terrified.
Including Sona.
Thankfully, it lasted for only two seconds.
However, the explosion that followed made them all jump to their feet on high alert, inspite of their states.
Sona knew she was making a rush decision due to her worry for her childhood friend, but didn't want to risk said friend's life.
"Tsubaki, everyone. We're going to the church." the SCP -short for Student Council President- ordered strongly as she stood up and fixed her glasses in a swift motion, leaving no room for arguements on the matter.
"Yes, Kaichou." all of her Peerage chorused, albeit with audible reluctance.
In a matter of two and a half seconds, all of them had gathered together and, with a flick of Sona's and Tsubaki's fingers, they disappeared in a teleportation circle.
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When they emerged from the circle, Sona and her Peerage found themselves just outside of the church's barrier.
The sight before them managed to surprise even Sona, even if the SCP somewhat expected it.
There was no church in sight, only a crater in its place.
Sona didn't want to waste any more time and she started walking, taking the lead towards the crater. She noticed that she didn't feel the usual chills upon being in close proximity to holy grounds.
Probably because the establishment for producing said chills was no more.
And, despite her purposeful stride towards where she could feel her friend's and the bloodlust's whereabouts, Sona's mind was sharp enough to notice a serious detail.
How did those waves and the explosion bypass the barrier and were felt throughout Kuoh?
Sona knew she wouldn't get an answer any time soon, but also knew the culprit behind that question, who was probably too preoccupied to notice such details.
Since the distance to the crater wasn't all that big to begin with, the Sitri Peerage arrived there in a matter of seconds.
There was still dust in the air, obscuring their view of whatever was happening down there.
To her inner relief, Sona detected the signatures of Rias and her Peerage, as well as two Fallen Angels. One of whom, much to her curiousity, wielded a Sacred Gear.
"Everyone, be on alert. We're going down there." Sona ordered in the same way as before as she unfurled her wings and took flight towards Rias' location.
Saji was about to protest, but Yura's strong grip on his shoulder made him stop in his tracks. With an almost inaudible sigh of defeat and trepidation, he followed the rest of the Peerage, flying behind Sona.
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Rias coughed in her hand several times to get rid of the dust inside her lungs, hearing her Peerage and Raynare do the same thing.
When the explosion of power and bloodlust happened, they were all thrown all the way back to a wall, which, a little painfully for herself, Raynare and Yuuto, stopped their flight.
The dust had somewhat cleared at her position, but it was still pretty thick where her contracted magician, Asia and Dohnaseek were.
Her senses tingled when she felt a familiar signature, accompanied with several others, coming her way. She didn't dare to sigh in relief at the unexpected back-up.
After all, the redhead could tell that Issei was just getting warmed-up in whatever he had planned for Dohnaseek.
"Rias."
The redhead turned her head to her right, where she heard the call of her childhood friend. "Sona." she responded in kind.
Sona and her enturage took a moment to observe the well-being of Rias and the rest.
"What is the Fallen Angel doing with you?" Sona asked the immediate question in her usual tone as she fixed her glasses. For the moment, she ignored Saji's blatant ogling of the almost nude female Fallen Angel.
Raynare did too as she spoke. "I'm on Ise-kun's side, Sitri." she said harshly as she crossed her arms under her breasts, gaining the attention of everyone there.
Saji almost flew away from his nosebleed at the sight, had it not been for Yura having a strong grip on his shoulder.
"Raynare is considered a rogue, along with the rest of the group here." Akeno explained softly as she looked at said female. "Although, unlike her and Dohnaseek, the rest are not alive. Soon, Dohnaseek will have the same fate, if the bloodlust coming from Ise-kun is any indication."
At the last of her words, all heads turned to the clearing dust, watching as three bleary sillouettes slowly came into view.
One was cleary still and crossified. The second was standing and stepping over the third, holding something in both hands.
'Wait...Both?!' the Gremory Peerage thought collectively in confusion.
Sona and her Peerage were even more confused, but decided to stay silent in anticipation.
Suddenly, a shockwave erupted from a mere wave of the standing figure's left arm, clearing the dust all around in less than half a second, making the Devils and Raynare to shield their eyes with their forearms in protection.
When they looked again at that direction, they all gasped in a mixture of awe, amazement, comprehension and fear.
What greeted their eyes was Issei imposingly stepping on a barely conscious Dohnaseek, who was flat on his stomach, with Asia being crossified and unharmed behind them.
However, what drew their breaths out of their lungs was another thing entirely.
The brunet held a massive, cleaver-like, black sword with a big handle and no guard in his right hand. In his left, there was another sword, also black in colour, that resembled a khyber knife and it had no guard as well, but was significantly shorter, almost as long as one of his arms.
(A/N: Again, google Ichigo Kurosaki's true Shikai to get a visual of the swords.)
Both swords were as magnificent as they looked absolutely deadly.
The Devils and Raynare were left speechless just by looking at the swords.
Without uttering a word, Issei forcefully rolled Dohnaseek on his back with his foot, making the Fallen Angel grunt in pain.
Then, much to the fascinated horror of the audience, the brunet started slicing the Fallen Angel, who could only scream in unbearable agony, in several parts of the latter's body.
It was quite clear that this was pure torture.
Especially since Issei allowed his prey to heal himself and repeated the process from the beginning.
When it happened for the third time, Saji and Nimura couldn't stop themselves from vomitting.
The rest sympathised with them, especially Sona. She knew she would have to comfort her Peerage after such a brutal display of violence.
Rias too, but in a way smaller degree. After all, her Peerage had experience in violence of some kind in their pasts.
It didn't help that Dohnaseek pleaded for his death after the fifth time, crying like a lunatic child as he did so.
That said, if anyone paid attention to their surroundings, they would have seen Akeno and Raynare being aroused at the sight before them. Understandable, since they were both sadists, albeit with also masochistic tendencies. The display they were whitnessing made them want the brunet in their clutches.
The horrible display of violence and dominance ended at the tenth repeat, which was when Dohnaseek was about to pass out from mental and physical exhaustion.
Upon seeing Issei going towards the crossified Asia, noiselessly as ever, Rias walked her way to the pitifully whimpering Dohnaseek, the rest following behind her in a respectable distance.
The redhead didn't even bat an eyelash as she erased from existence the Fallen Angel at her feet with her Power of Destruction.
Two rings, glowing a soft green light, were left where Dohnaseek's ring fingers were. Rias picked them up, knowing what was following next.
The entire Devil entourage and Raynare watched in silence as Issei's swords reverted back to the short sword, with Sona and her Peerage being a little underwhelmed at the sight.
Then, the brunet cut off the chains of the weird cross-device with two swift swings in an 'X' pattern, before, in a fluid motion, he sheathed the sword on his waist.
He was so quick with his moves, that he managed to catch Asia in a bridal carry as she fell from her restraints.
Turning around, he searched for a clean spot to place his friend, but found none, since the whole place was destroyed by the release of Zangetsu's true form. His eyes fell on the redhead Devil, who was looking at him with a complicated gaze, as were the others behind her. His heart clenched at the looks of fear from some of them, but he didn't show any outward reaction to that.
"Rias-san, is it possible to reicarnate Asia-chan while I'm holding her?" the brunet asked hopefully, his expressionless mask breaking for the first time after his rampage.
Rias thought about it for a moment, before she shrugged cluelessly. "I don't know, Ise."
"Can you try, at least?" he probbed with another question in the same manner.
The redhead sighed in defeat, knowing that there wouldn't be a way to convince him to place the nun on the ground. "Fine."
His small smile at her acceptance, accompanied with a soft, grateful gaze, made several hearts to skip a beat. "Thank you, Rias-san."
The redhead fought down the creeping blush on her cheeks as she stepped forward and magically produced a crimson Bishop Evil Piece. She figured that Asia's ability with that specific Evil Piece and a little training would skyrocket in the future. Hopefully, the excommunicated nun would be ready when her personal problem knocked her door.
Putting those thoughts in the back of her mind, Rias put the rings on each of Asia's index fingers. Then, she released some of her demonic power to start the reincarnation ritual.
After a moment, a magic circle appeared under hers and Issei's feet, baring the Gremory crest, indicating that it was time to reincarnate the girl in the brunet's arms.
"I, order you, Asia Argento, in the name of Rias Gremory. Rise, my Bishop, and enjoy your new life as my servant." at the end of Rias' chant, the Evil Piece sank itself in Asia's chest.
A moment passed, before some colour returned to the blonde's skin.
When Asia groaned cutely as her eyes flattered open, Issei's soft expression and smile brightened considerably.
Several females felt their hearts skip some beats at the sight.
In the end, Rias had one thought in her mind as Asia and Issei had a tearful and touching reunion, for all the trouble this mess had caused.
"Totally worth it!"
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Author's notes.
I don't know about you guys, but I felt the hair on my entire body stand at attention in some of the scenes in both chapters.
Some of you seem to feel underwhelmed with the story. Others outright flame it. The latter of whom know that Issei will eat the flames you spout and that I don't care for your baseless accusations for my story.
I never said that I'm a great writter. Average at best, so don't expect a masterpiece.
When this story started I was inspired from several stories from both Highschool DxD and Fairy Tail universes. So much so, that even now I consider it to start a story for each universe, with Issei and Natsu being the MCs for their respective universe. However, since I got back to work, full time at that, it's very difficult to even continue this one from chapter 37 I have in my laptop. I haven't found the time to do so and it makes me sad, angry and, most of all, frustrated that I can't find time to write properly.
As for why Issei makes huge mistakes, inspite of the huge amount of power he possesses, the answer is quite simple; he's just a fucking teenager that just fully entered the Supernatural World. Ddraig and Zangetsu may give him advice from time to time, but they aren't all-powerful and all-knowing. Powerful MCs at their teenage years don't become wise in just a year. That's not how it works. People make mistakes and learn from them. The same logic applies to my story. If you don't like it, just leave it be, or make valid points for constructive criticism; not just 'Issei's a wimp and angsty for a powerful MC' kind of comments.
Anyway. I don't want to go on a -larger- rant that won't have any effect on you or the story, so I'll leave it at that for now.
A special thank you for the person that volunteered to be a beta reader for this story! However, unfortunately or not, depending on the point of view, I don't need a beta reader, for now. That said, I won't outright reject their offer. We can communicate via PMs about anything the aforementioned person, or even each and every one of you, want to discuss about this story and anything else that might come to your minds.
Just know that my answer to your PMs may come at an odd time for you because of the time difference with Greece.
Have fun, stay healthy and see you all next time.
PS: My sincerest regards to the people of Beirut -the place where the humongous explosion occured-. I cannot financially contribute to the wounded people or the families that lost loved ones, so it's the least that I can do; send my regards on behalf of every sensitively conscious person from Greece, including myself.