Finally done, a good 16k word chapter to end the Phenex arc. Possibly the longest chapter I have done to date.

Now, to clear out certain doubts, and address some issues.

1 - Issei haters - So, guys. I'm not going to just remove Issei. I will slowly mold him into a better character - or at least attempt to. Sure, I might not succeed, but this is my story, and If you don't like it, you really don't have to read it. Sure, letting me know this bit in reviews is completely up to you, but you will definitely be ignored henceforth.

2 - "Make the harem bigger" - One word, No. I might change members, but the size is stayin'.

3 - Update soon - You really don't need to spam this in chat. I am physically incapable of updating at a fast rate. Though that doesn't mean I'm not writing, far from it.

Finally, I'd like to bring your attention to my personal discord channel which is : / / discord . g g / JtfKxYW

It's called 'CruelRuin's Lounge' and is open to all. It's a pretty chill place, and we have people like Rifatalam, CrazeRajat and Infamous Storm already in there. Join, hang out with us, chill, discuss shit. Absolutely open-for-all.

Extra AN - I had to add this because of all the flaming comments about Issei and how I'm making Naruto a 'side character'. I'm not going to justify myself, but I'm going to point out the fact that I have already said this will be a long-running series. Naruto has already made alliances and friendships with other creatures and pantheons that will slowly show up in the fic. And as for Issei, well, fuck guys. I didn't know you all hated the MC of the VERY FUCKING FANDOM YOU'RE READING STORIES FOR!

Trust your author a bit. I know the plot looks a bit frazzled right now, but that's mostly because most of the pieces aren't even on the board yet. All will become clear in time, for those who are staying. And if you're not, I'm sad to see you leave.


"No."

"But at least hear me out!"

"No."

"But-"

"No means no, Sona. I will not hear of this again."

Sona grit her teeth in a mix of exasperation and helplessness. In her little proclamation, Aria Phenex had managed to remove any chance of Issei gaining help from the Devil faction. Any help offered to him would be help offered to the opponent of the true demon's brood, and that wouldn't fly too well with the council. They may hate her guts, but her power was absolute, and the underworld was a society that revolved around power.

Issei was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and by extension, so was Rias.

"You know well enough that he won't run away from this, no matter how hard you try to push him out of harm's way!" Sona countered. If the statement had any effect on Rias, she hit it well behind her impervious façade. Removed from her peerage, she shrunk back into the regal princess of the Gremory clan.

But that didn't mean she didn't care, far from it.

"Issei cannot fight Riser. I trained him for a week before the fight and found a lack of any magical capability. He'd need years of training and conditioning to even stand a chance against the devil who forced Sairaorg Bael to a draw."

Sona shook her head. "But you know as well as I that he will fight. Your entire life is on the line, Rias. At least let me give him a fighting chance!" she practically begged at this point. Rias was her rival, a measuring stick for her own personal growth, and also her closest friend. She did not wish for someone so close to her to become a sacrifice. To enter a loveless marriage merely because of a century-old marriage decree.

"I'm actually counting on him to fight. Riser is smart, he'll make it quick. When this ends, I'll transfer Issei to my brother's care. I'm sure he'll be grateful to have the wielder of a Longinus in his peerage.

Sona couldn't believe what Rias was saying, but the defeatism in her tone, as well as the mention of actually giving up one of her most valuable peerage members drove the reality of her situation home. Her hands were tied, as they had been since the day she was born.

"What about your brother? Can he not oppose this? He's a bloody Satan for crying out loud – the only one who actually matters!"

Rias gave Sona a look that chilled her to the spine. "My brother is a Satan, yes, and that is the one reason why he cannot interfere. Nepotism is the bane of our kind, and breaking my contract with the Phenex would definitely be seen as a sign of such. It would cause unrest within the council, and that…well, you know where that leads."

Sona was grasping at straws at this point. "What about Aria Phenex? Riser doesn't want you to be his wife, couldn't she do something here?

"She have me not one, but two chances at breaking the contract. It isn't her fault that the member of my peerage with the most potential of beating Riser is completely untrained. Plus, being the true demon, she doesn't have a stake in the underworld's politics, she has public influence, and this is all she can do with it."

Sona sighed, "You've given up already, haven't you? You're refusing any help you're given, you're denying Issei of any and all remaining forms of help. You just want this to end, don't you?"

Rias didn't answer, but her mere silence was no less than a blatant admission of guilt.

"Well, since you've decided to speak for both Issei and yourself, I'm not going to involve myself any further. Though to be honest, he might have already found help. I mean, he isn't in Kuoh anymore"

Rias' heart skipped a beat, "Did you get a familiar to tail him?" She asked, getting a nod from Sona and a lighthearted chuckle.

"Yep, and I'm actually quite surprised where this little… adventure… of his is leading him. After all, it isn't every day that a bona-fide devil takes a bus to Mt. Fuji."

Rias' eyes widened in surprise. "Mt. Fuji? He's going there? Not Kyoto?"

Sona shook her head, "Nope, definitely Mt. Fuji. He's actually already there right now. I had to retract my familiar before his bus passed the divine boundary, lest she fall prey to its radiance. The fact that he – being a devil – could pass through the divine boundary means someone from the Shinto pantheon approved his entry. Surprising, isn't it?"

Rias was silent for a moment, then without warning, she burst out into a genuine, startled laugh. This surprised Sona. A second ago, Rias was the very personification of defeat, but suddenly, new life seemed to fill her frame. she herself couldn't help revel in her friend's newfound hope.

"To find tutelage with the Shinto pantheon despite being a devil. Only you could pull that off, my cute little pawn."


Metempsychosis

Chapter 4


Mt. Fuji, the most revered mountain in the entirety of Japan. A place that Issei had only ever seen in books and never had the luck to visit. Recently, he had come to know that other than Kyoto, it was the greatest hotbed for Shinto activity.

And he was headed straight for the heart of it.

"I'm actually quite surprised that you made it this far without any opposition." Naruto spoke from his seat. Issei's task was to meet him at the Kusushi shrine, the closest to the mouth of the volcano. He could tell that Naruto had decided to travel without him to the mountain to hide the fact that Issei was training under him. From what he had heard of the Kyoto faction, they legitimately despised devils.

And yet Naruto was being treated by the monks in the shrine like royalty.

"I myself thought Sona would try to offer to train me, but that was a bit too wishful." Issei whispered. While he understood that Sona and Rias were rivals, he also believed there was a close bond of friendship they shared. Offering her help was the least Sona could have done in the current situation.

"Don't hold it against her, Issei. Her hands are tied; as any help she'd provide you could be seen as her aiding Rias. At least she had the forethought of having her familiar tail you."

Issei shot up from his seat. "Familiar? Where?" He yelled. Naruto motioned for him to calm down, and with a moment's gap, Issei followed.

"I had a clone on the same bus you took here, it detected a familiar in the vicinity. Considering the familiar was one of the Sitri household, only she could have sent it. Of course, it cannot pass through the divine boundary surrounding the mountain. It would die. Hell, any devil below ultimate-class would." Naruto explained, causing more questions to pop into Issei's mind.

"But if that's the case, why am I here?" Issei questioned. Naruto opened his mouth to answer, but that opportunity was taken up by a newcomer.

"You're here because you are invited, same for Naruto." A young man answered. If he was a monk, he sure had a weird way of showing it. His hair was long and well-kept, and he wore clothes that resembled those of a shut-in otaku having making his first foray into the known world. A trench coat three sizes too big and wonky, huge glasses. His build was hidden under the many folds of his coat, but his hardened, scarred face showed that he was not someone to be trifled with.

"You're late, as usual." Naruto commented, bringing a frown onto the newcomer's face. The man chose to ignore Naruto, instead choosing to study Issei. He took only a moment to announce his displeasure with a half-hearted grunt.

"This is the wielder of the great welsh? What a shame. He doesn't even look like he could last a minute against one of my avatars, leave alone any of the national defense divinities."

Issei sprung to life at the casual mention of his weakness, a few choice expletives ready to be rapid-fired from his mouth, but a casual wave of Naruto's hand stopped him before he could spew venom. "He is weak, yes, we know. I wouldn't have brought him here is he wasn't. The main question is; how much do you think he can improve in the span of a month?"

The man cupped his chin and gave Issei another thoughtful stare. "He could become great, if given time. His only faults are lack of training and weak reserves, and both can be trained. His potential is almost infinite, and his power will grow exponentially." So there was hope for Issei yet, maybe he had gotten off on the wrong foot with this guy.

"But the possibility of him becoming the equal of an ultimate-class devil in a month is very slim."

Ah, so the man was actually a bitch.

Naruto chuckled, "Yeah, thanks for confirming my suspicions. Though you'll have to excuse me if I still plan to ask for your help in training him."

The man sighed, "A deal's a deal, Naruto. It pains me that you'd use one of the favors I owe you on something this trivial, but my word is my law, and I must abide."

Naruto grinned, "Thanks, I knew I could count on you. Now, shall we proceed?"

The man nodded and waved his hand in the air in a circular motion. As he did so, arcane energies sprung from the tips of his fingers, escaping into the surrounding air like a miasma of power. Within a mere moment, their surroundings transformed from the insides of a peaceful shrine into the very heart of an active volcano.

Issei was understandably cross about the whole affair, and his scream let the world know of his displeasure. But once he realized that he was standing over lava that refused to even melt through his shoes, he calmed down.

"Shock value aside, welcome to the heart of Mt. Fuji, this will be your training ground for the next month." The man spoke to Issei, who dumbly nodded along.

Naruto chucked a three-pronged kunai as far as he could, disappearing in a flash of gold light. "Issei, to fight a Phenex, you must understand how he or she works. Unlike the Gremory - or Bael, for that matter – who rely on absolute burst-damage to quickly overpower their foes, the Phenex have always been known for their sustainability as well as the ability to nuke their opponents down. Their bodies are flames, and your fists are actually the poorest weapon you can take against them. But given your current circumstances, they'll have to do." Spoke the yet-unnamed man.

Naruto, meanwhile, stood on the other side of the lava-filled pit. He activated his Rinne-sharingan, and allowed the basic, skeletal structure of the Susanooh to form. Golden, ethereal-looking bones stretched over his body and rose to the size of a small house. On the other side of the pit, Issei gulped in fear.

"So, the only way you'll be able to take down enemies who can regen faster than you can damage them is through pure burst damage. You need to strike hard enough to completely overwhelm their capability to heal. And with your sacred gear, you have the potential to do so."

Another Naruto appeared outside the Susanooh. Having left the sharingan-creation to one of his clones, Naruto began to walk towards his two companions.

"But that isn't as easy as it sounds. The Phenex are both fast, strong and extremely defensive. To beat them, you'll have to counter-draft them, you'll have to create a lineup of abilities that take them down, you'll have to itemize correctly, your draf-"

The man got cut short by Issei's raised arm, "I have three questions. One, who are you? Two, why are you explaining everything to me in videogame terminology? Three, what in the name of the Satans is that monstrosity?

The man sighed, "That 'Monstrosity' is one of Naruto's techniques. He calls it the Susanoo – a name that I hate for personal reasons – and this watered-down version of it will test your offensive output. If you can break it, you stand a chance. To reward you, there's something inside it that might be of interest to you."

Issei squinted, getting a better look through the translucent bone-structure of the Susanoo. And confirming the man's statement, there was definitely something in there of absolute interest for Issei.

Inside the Susanoo stood a blonde girl with some of the greatest… assets… he had the honor to ever behold. The only thing between him and a good view of those glorious breasts was the translucent, ever-shifting patterns of the Susanoo's body itself. Oh, the things he could do for those amazing oppai!

The man standing next to him cleared his throat, unnerved by Issei's sudden change of expression. "I explained it all to you in videogame lingo because teenagers like you find it easier to understand, or so I believe."

"And also because he spends ten hours a day playing DoTA" Naruto chimed in, finally regrouping with his companions. "Also, the Susanoo will not attack you, and if you can break it, your training will be complete."

Issei was confused for a moment, "So, I just have to keep hitting the Susanooh till it breaks? I mean, I could do that all day. There must be some kind of catch here?!"

The man standing next to him chuckled. He raised a hand, and the same magical powers from before coalesced into his outstretched palm, forming a plain, Japanese Katana. "Quite perceptive, Issei. The catch is simple. You'll have to attack the Susanooh and destroy it while also fighting me. I will be holding back, of course, but I might accidentally still kill you, so treat this like a proper life or death battle."

"Yep, or your dreams of becoming a harem king will always remain mere dreams." Naruto added, causing the unnamed man to grimace. The man drew his sword and walked a few paces away from Issei, pointing the unremarkable blade straight at him in a proclamation of war.

"As for my name… you may call me Stormbringer. Now, young Issei, draw!"


"And that's the current state of the Fallen?"

"… Yes?"

"And you wish to ask for Naruto's help in dealing with this because?"

"We're not capable of dealing with this ourselves."

"And remind me, who let this minor example of insurrection become so dangerous?"

"…me."

"And yet you think he'll help you?"

"One can always hope."

"You hope too much." Spoke Naruto, stepping out of his room. He had Hiraishin-ed back mere moments ago, but he knew well enough who Raziel was talking to. It wasn't easy to forget the voice of Azazel.

It was his true weapon, after all.

"…how much of that did you hear?" He asked, Naruto shrugged. He took a moment to savor the panic-stricken look on Azazel's face. It wasn't the kind of panic born from surprise, but the kind that accrues over time. It was – to Naruto – priceless.

"Only the last bit. His power signature didn't register till mere moments ago." Raziel stated in her usual, monotonous voice. She'd gone shopping when Naruto wasn't around, and he liked what he saw. A white turtleneck and black pants? Impressive.

"Then met me run the current situation by you." Azazel cleared his throat, his face contorted into a grim, blank slate that was extremely out-of-place. "The last time we spoke, Kokabiel was a small issue. That has changed."

Naruto raised an eyebrow in interest, he took the seat next to Raziel, who have him a warning look. He chose to ignore it, intent on finding out the root cause of her worry himself. Azazel was more than willing to Oblige.

"It's about Kokabiel. His actions have exceeded our estimated damage thresholds. He's stolen something that might currently make him the greatest threat to the three factions."

What an explosive way to begin things.

"He's stolen an artefact that was placed in our keeping before the fallen…well…fell. A blade once wielded by the first archangel, the chained sword: Bloodthorn."

That confused Naruto, a blade wielded by the first angel? Bloodthorn? These were things he knew nothing about. The apprehension on Raziel and Azazel's faces – on the other hand – convinced him that whatever else these things may be; they were bad news.

"As such, he's hidden himself too well for us to find. He's is the refuge of someone far more powerful than us – maybe even god-level." Ah, there's the cinch. Azazel might be powerful, but he wasn't as strong as many of the multiple gods and buddhas that still persevered from the age of gods.

And not all of them were happy with the influence the Christian pantheon held, fragmented as they might be.

"But our major concern is the sword, and the entity sealed inside."

Okay, now that was a twist.

"What entity are we talking about? I'm not sure I know of it." Naruto countered. Azazel shook his head while Raziel chose to look at the ground.

"The creature sealed in that sword is definitely one of Christian origin, but at the time of its sealing, things were different. It is a creature of great power, an asset from the war against demonkind, yet with one flaw." Azazel shivered, as if remembering something horrifying. "He was the first archangel, and there were only two others who held power greater than his. But as every prototype, he had a fatal flaw, one that made god seal him away."

"God's own glory, the Judgement, Amenadiel."

It was Raziel who finished, her tone was equal parts reverence and fear. For one of the seraphs to have such a tone was alarming. The expression of deference on her face served to increase the gravity of the situation. He had seen that look on the faces of many an angel when she herself strode the field of battle.

Such a look was only reserved for those who possess absolute dominance.

"Let me guess, Kokabiel plans to unseal this… Amenadiel. So, how do we stop this?" Naruto asked, breaking the silence that had fallen over the room. Azazel shook his head and resumed his explanation.

"Well, that's the reason this is getting a lot more urgent. We believe that Kokabiel might be setting his eyes on Kuoh for the unsealing ritual."

Naruto stared at him for a second. "Isn't that good for us? We can set up defenses, make sure that this city is his burial ground."

Azazel shook his head, "Naruto, if he's being hidden by a higher existence, we won't even know he's here till he's ready to show his hand. Plus, him doing the ritual here could lead to a new great war. That's not an outcome we can deal with."

Naruto nodded, that would be…bad. "So, what does he need to unseal the big dude?" The dejected look on Azazel's face told him that is wasn't anything good. "Don't tell me he's some sort of vengeful spirit that you need a blood sacrifice to free." Raziel's quick wince was enough to tell him that his guess hit very close to home.

"A sacrifice, yes. The terms are variable. It could be a blood sacrifice, could be a relic of great power, could be many, smaller sacrifices. The third is the most viable, because the others don't come across often, or are willing to become sacrifices."

Azazel nodded, "And sacrificing the town of Kuoh won't only bring back Amenadiel, it would also start a war. The kin of the Satans would make for worthy sacrifices, and that has to be prevented at all costs."

Naruto sighed, "Then go to Sirzechs, or Michael. Why are you asking me for help when this is a matter that concerns all three of your factions?"

Azazel grimaced, "I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that. The existence of Amenadiel is a secret held by the angelic factions. I'm taking a great risk by telling you of it. If I told Sirzechs, he'd have to notify the council to militarize. That could very well spark a war in these troubled circumstances."

Naruto was grasping at straws. He wanted nothing to do with this. His focus was on a greater, unseen foe; somebody who wouldn't need a superchanged angel to help wipe out the world. He needed to be secretive, to build his forces from anonymity. To help here would jeopardize his anonymity, and he couldn't let that happen – at least yet.

"What about Michael?"

"Do you really believe devilkind would allow the forces of light to set up a garrison in Kuoh without a real reason?"

"Point taken."

There was silence for a few moments as Naruto processed all his options. He could choose not to help and risk another war. He would survive and re-create his forces. But he didn't know how much more time he had before his enemies would make their moves. A war between the strongest occult factions would be a perfect time for any and all miscreants to barge in and take control, old and new gods included.

Or, he could help Azazel, get this over with, and deal with the fallout like a respectable adult – by running away.

"I'll see what I can do, Azazel, but I make no promises."

"That's all that I can ask of you, Naruto."


"It's been two weeks, Issei."

"You don't have to remind me, shitty dragon."

"Someone has to point it out. Two weeks and you can barely hold balance breaker for ten minutes. You'll need a better way to counter the Phenex's flames."

Issei grunted. His mindscape was not the most interesting place to be in. All it held was him, Ddraig, and the endless darkness that surrounded them. His lack of surrounding made it rather hard for him to ignore the gigantic dragon coiled up in front of him.

"I can't concentrate on defense, Ddraig. I haven't even put a dent on Susanoo. It's hard enough to get away from Stormbringer long enough to attack that blasted skeleton."

Ddraig chuckled. "Sure, you might be able to gain enough strength by the end of this month to one-shot a Phenex. Though, how would you even get close enough to land a sure shot without getting burnt to cinders?"

Issei shrugged. "I don't know; I guess scale mail will have to do."

The dragon laughed openly, flaring his wings in exaggeration. "Kid, your Scale Mail can't even block Stormbringer's sword, and that's just your regular everyday katana. The flames of the Phenex would melt through it like a hot knife through butter."

Issei shook his head in dissatisfaction. "Then what's the point of even using it? How worthless are your scales if they cannot even resist fire?"

Ddraig roared without preamble, knocking Issei a good ten feet back using mere sound. "Don't you dare disrespect my scales by comparing them to yours, fledgeling!" He yelled, putting the fear of god into Issei. The boy almost pissed his pants, but the curiosity that came with the statement helped him continue.

"What do you mean? Isn't Scale mail supposed to forged out of your scales?"

The dragon shook his majestic head, a human habit that didn't seem to suit the majestic creature much. "No, fledgling. Those are your creations, your own scales. My scales could take the flames of gods such as Vulcanus and Apollo almost unscathed. Yours pale in comparison, for our scales grow tougher as we grow stronger."

"How much stronger do I have to get to be able to block Riser's flames?"

Ddraig was silent in thought for a moment. "You'd have to be able to hold scale mail for an hour before you could stop the fires of the weakest Phenex. For someone of the blonde brat's caliber, you'd have to hold it for a day."

Issei shook his head. "That sounds impossible. I'd have to be many, many times stronger than I am now to manage that. I guess this really is a suicide mission for me."

Ddraig snorted. "It seems you're one of my typical custodians. If you can't brute-force your way through a problem, you give up. It is times like this that make me miss Davion, he knew how to use his brains."

Issei raised an eyebrow. "Davion? Was he one of your past wielders?" A nod from Ddraing confirmed his assumption.

"Davion's situation was once a lot like yours. He was borderline powerless when he was thrust into a world of war, and he had to get stronger to use my powers. But unlike you, he had something that set him apart from all my wielders – even the strongest ones."

Issei glared at Ddraig, "And what's this 'thing' he possessed?"

Ddraig gave Issei a baleful look. "Unlike you all, he wasn't a complete dumbass."

Sudden resentment aside, Issei continued. "How's not being a dumbass going to help here? If I wasn't a dumbass, I'd already have given up on this whole situation!"

The silence he got from Ddraig was palpable. "Well…that was a rather astute observation. So, you do not believe you can win here?"

Issei shook his head. "Not only is Riser a monster, he has years of experience on the field of battle that I lack. I cannot make up for it in a month, no matter how hard I try. The only thing I do have in my favor is you, and the fact that he does not know how I fight and what all I can bring to the table. Even with that, my chances of victory are very, very low."

Again, silence.

"W-wait, so you aren't a complete dumbass?" Ddraig asked, genuinely shocked. If Issei felt belittled by the dragon, he didn't show it, instead wearing a mask of morbid curiosity.

"I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, Ddraig, but I can put two-and-two together easy enough."

He didn't expect Ddraig the almighty dragon to collapse in a fit of laughter, but that is exactly what happened. Now, this was getting absurd. He was a weak devil, sure. He wasn't smart, or athletic, or good looking, or even talented. Still, he wouldn't let someone be so condescending without any real payback.

"Oi! You oaf! You may call me dumb, but I'm not the one locked forever inside someone else's body!" He commented, finally getting Ddraig to shut up. The dragon would have reprimanded him, but seeing the kid take offense to his earlier actions was already priceless enough.

"My mirth wasn't meant to disrespect or belittle you, Issei. I was happy that after centuries, I have finally found a partner who can actually think for himself."

Now that confused Issei. "Your past… tenants… couldn't be that bad, could they?"

Ddraig gave him a deadpan look. "Most of them were too dumb to even figure out body armor. The ones who did never were able to figure out the process of putting it on. Sure, they might have had more initial power than you, but having some smarts is vastly preferable to that. Twice so with the potential that you humans enjoy."

Issei grimaced. "That makes me feel a bit better and all, but how's that going to help? Riser's power is not something I can equal in the given time. What am I supposed to do?"

Ddraig locked eyes with his partner, no humor left on his visage. "Issei, did you know that all dragons except for Albion and me have special powers?" he asked, Issei shook his head, just as he had expected. "Tiamat could control the very sea, while Vritra had scales that could never crack. Me and Albion never had either, but it was us who rose above those others. We fought with our claws and fire against them and their mythical powers, and we prevailed. Do you know why?"

"We won because we used our minds."

Issei was a bit confused, so Ddraig continued. "Take a drake of the sea to a desert and you have the advantage. Drop a mountain on the drake whose scales you cannot cut through, and you have already won. If you can't rip through them, pierce them. If you cannot fly over a mountain, fly around it, not through it."

Issei nodded. "That rhetoric might hold up for you, but you have to remember that I do not have the same strength that you have. I cannot drop a mountain over Riser. Our battle will happen in a closed arena, so I cannot even drag him into an ocean.

Ddraig let out a small growl. "I'm not asking you to do either of those things, Issei. All I'm asking you to do is start thinking. You lack defense, and what exactly can help you with that?"

Issei thought about it for a moment. "A suit of armor would be worthless, considering I have scale mail. A shield? But what good can it to against the fires of a Phenex?"

"Get a magical shield, then. Ask Naruto to provide you with Davion's shield. That thing was immune to most types of fire, and would definitely hold up against Riser's flames."

Issei grunted, "But I'd have to re-learn how to fight. I've come a long way with my style in these last two weeks, I can't let that go to waste!"

Ddrain shook his head yet again, "A shield isn't like a sword, Issei. While it takes practice and training to use a sword, a shield is a weapon of instincts. It exists to protect and, on the off chance, bash your opponent's face in. You already do both with your bare fists, it would only be stronger with the presence of a shield."

Issei nodded. "If I could get this shield, my chances of surviving Riser's initial onslaught would increase. Though, I have one question about the shield you mentioned." Ddraig nodded, signaling Issei to proceed.

"Why does Naruto-sensei have Davion's shield?"

Ddraig was silent for a moment before he responded. The response was enough to burrow a deep-seated seed of fear into issei's mind.

"He took it as spoils of war from the carcass of Davion… after he slew both me and Albion, manifested in this realm."

Yeah, apparently Naruto was a lot stronger than he had imagined.


"Do you really have to do this, Riser?"

Yubelluna's worry showed on her face, its mere presence making Riser re-think his actions.

"I still don't get what the big deal is, guys. The dragon brat wasn't able to do jack shit when we fought him, what chance does he stand against Lord Phenex?" Mira asked. In her mind, she had a point. She was able to grievously injure Issei mere seconds into their fight. Though she hadn't ever managed to land a clean hit on Riser in the year she had spent as part of his peerage.

But she didn't know Naruto Abbadon, neither did most of her fellow peerage members.

"Call me by my first name, Mira. And if it was just a fight against Issei, I would have no worries." Riser countered, confusing his peerage, save for Yubelluna.

"He has no one to train him, Riser. He can't substitute with anyone else either. What exactly is it that's got you so scared? You've been like this ever since the rating game. You have been training without us, your regeneration is always at its limit, what are you so scared of?" Mihae asked, and it was a very legitimate question. Never in her life as one of Riser's bishops had she seen him scared. Whenever he went into battle, he stepped forth with power, determination, and the assurance of victory. He had faced Seekvaira Agares and come out on top. He had gone toe-to-toe with the monster who was Sairaorg Bael and forced a draw.

And here he was, scared of a puny low-class devil.

"Your assumptions are incorrect, Mihae, though your observations definitely are. I'm scared, but not of Issei." Riser took a deep breath. He had promised Naruto that he wouldn't tell anyone in the underworld of his continued existence. That didn't mean he couldn't drop hints, though.

"I'm scared of the person who my dear sister has roped in to train him."

There was surprise, there was confusion, but there were no objections. Aria was known for her whimsical ways and her complete disregard for those in positions of power. She was known to stay away from politics. Her proclamation after the end of the mock rating-game had come as a surprise for even those who knew her the best. What didn't come as a surprise was the that it was - first-and-foremost - a challenge.

But was it a challenge to Issei? Was it a challenge to Sirzechs? Or was it a challenge to someone else entirely? Well, that was a million-dollar question.

"This… person. He or she's the one that Lady Phenex is trying to challenge, isn't it?" Mira asked, getting a nod from Riser. Of course, to most, the conditions of the fight looked rather lopsided. Except, if there is one thing that the underworld knew, it was that Aria Phenex loved fair fights.

And she would never place her own side on higher footing.

"The person who she's challenged is the same man who trained me and Yuna in our three-year training trip of the Human realm. He's the one who helped Yuna get over her crippling fear of men, and he's the only person to have ever bested my sister in fair combat."

"Worst of all, I know that if there's someone who can draw out Issei's vast potential, it is him."

Shock. Pure and absolute, all-encompassing shock manifested on the faces of his peerage as they realized who Riser spoke of. The devil who beat the True Demon, the one hailed as only the Archdemon. His name, removed from Devil history by those of the elder council - long supposed to be dead.

The unknown hero of the great civil war.

"I see it has finally dawned on you, the identity of whom I now face, even though through a proxy." Riser stated, and his peerage nodded. The ground rumbled and in the distance, he saw the creatures he had come to fight against.

Two dragons, nameless ones. They were nothing compared to the dragons that her sister had fought, but neither was Issei much when compared to the ancient wielders of the boosted gear.

These dragons were to be his prey, and soon, Issei would follow.

"Just…be safe, you understand?" Yubelluna mouthed as she planted her lips on his own. He looked at his peerage one last time as they moved in to hug him. This was his family, and he wouldn't let any marriage contract take them away from him. Even if it meant reducing Rias Gremory to a political and social pariah.

Even if it meant killing all who stood in his way – devil or not.

"I'll be fine. I'm the scion of the Phenex and the younger brother of the True Devil. Plus, I have you all to come back to."

Flames erupted from his skin in torrents, and the flame guard singed the earth around him. His flames would never hurt his peerage, just as he wouldn't. They each held his tears, and that was a bond his flame respected. His wings came next, one flap from them propelling him high into the sky. From there he could see the carnage caused by the rampaging beasts better.

Dragons were called the very personification of destruction, and from his vantage point, he could see why. Miles of decimated land surrounded the two warring drakes, and once he joined in, that was sure to increase.

As he launched himself towards the two dragons, he thought of Issei, and a laugh came to his mind unbidden. As the dragons finally noticed him, a last thought crossed his mind. Somewhere out there, Issei was being trained by Naruto.

And he'd rather face ten dragons than be in Issei's shoes right now.


"This is absurd."

Issei skid to a stop, ducking as Stormbringer's sword passed mere millimeters above him. He barely had the time to breathe before he was forced to jump back again as Susanoo's gigantic, skeletal arm was buried into the ground where he stood but a few seconds ago.

"You chose this, Issei. Naruto said you could keep the Drakeblood Aegis if you were able to take down Susanoo while it also attacks you." Stormbringer commented, moving in for another swipe of his sword. Issei blocked it, preparing for Susanoo's next assault. It came mere seconds afterwards, but this time, Issei was ready.

Boost!

The release of energy was enough to knock Stormbringer back a few feet. It created enough space for him to concentrate on his major enemy. He transferred all his boosted energy into his Gauntleted hand and as Susanoo's fist descended, it met his own.

Cracks appeared on Susanoo's fist, and Issei felt a second of elation before the spiderweb cracks began to mend. He would have tried to put in another boosted blow, had he not been forced to raise his shield and defend against Stormbringer's blade.

And what a shield it was.

Thick red plates, forged in the shape of a dragon's scales, bordered by a thick bevel of gold. It was a Kite shield, and in his hands, it felt perfect. Such was the Drakeblood Aegis; a shield forged out of Orichalcum and tempered in the blood of an elderwyrm. The shield was immune to most forms of fire, thus making it the perfect tool to fight the fire of a dragon.

Or a Phenex, for that matter.

"That's the fifteenth time you've boosted since we started, Issei. That's ten times more than what you were able to do three weeks ago."

Issei grunted, "It still isn't enough. I've seen Riser in action. I'm still at least four boosts lower than how powerful he is in his base state."

Stormbringer sighed, "We've already had this talk, Issei. Strength isn't everything. You have grown in strength due to this training. The fact that you now move and think like a warrior, though, is your greater accomplishment."

Issei shook his head, dejected. "That might be true, but the more I think about it, the less I believe I can win against Riser. For one, I don't even know the extent of his abilities. I didn't even know that the Phenex could use wind till Naruto sensei told me so. If I cannot make myself stronger than him, I cannot outbalance his versatility."

Stormbringer scoffed, breaking Issei out of his monologue. "Issei, the lack of information goes both ways. Sure, the power of the Boosted Gear is well-documented in history, but the balance breaker it provides depends on who the wielder is as a person. As such, I don't know any other wielder of the Boosted gear in its illustrious history who was capable of using it in methods quite as… unorthodox… as you do."

Issei looked at him in amusement, "Sure, as if you've faced any other wielders of the boosted gear before." To his surprise, Stormbringer nodded.

"I faced two wielders of that weapon in my life, and one of them died by my hand. He was an overly zealous man with nothing but the lust for battle on his mind. He challenged me, and I slew him."

Issei gulped. He knew that Stormbringer was holding back against him, but to hear that the man had fought and killed someone who had unlocked the full potential of Ddraig's sealed power.

"The second one, well, I married her. I even offered to turn her into a minor god, but she wouldn't have it."

Okay, now that was unexpected.

"You married a wielder of the Boosted Gear?" Issei asked, weighing each word on his tongue. Something about the idea itself seemed almost revolting.

"Ah, yes I did. She was such a charming lady, and powerful to boot. My other wife, Kushinada, never got along well with her, but it was a disagreement I learnt to live with... for the both of them. I still miss her dearly."

Issei saw the pain in Stormbringer's eyes. It was the same expression he had seen on himself in the mirror the day after he lost the rating game. He truly loved the woman.

"What was she like?" He asked, bringing Stormbringer's attention back to the present.

"She was… feisty, yet calm. Beautiful, yet deadly. Strong, yet cunning. She was the person who would celebrate the loudest, yet also the person who wouldn't make a single noise for days. She was a woman of contradictions, and I loved her all the more for it."

Issei nodded, there was nothing more to say. He understood Stormbringer because he too felt the same way. Except in his case, he could do something about it.

"Hey Stormbringer, do you reckon you could teach me how to manipulate wind like you do?"

The mere mention of his powers brought the man back to the present. Of course, Issei would notice his powers, he was counting on it. But this early? Well, the kid was full of surprises.

"Why exactly would you want to learn how to control the wind?" Stormbringer questioned. Issei looked at him with devious eyes, the kid had a plan.

"Fires need wind to spread. If I could disorient Riser's control over his wind, I could take him by surprise."

Of course, the age-old technique of starving a flame till it dies.

"That won't work, kid. The Phenex are flame. They do not need wind to propagate fire, though they can use high concentrations of gases to cause explosions."

Issei shook his head, "Sure, but it would get rid of another one of his offensive abilities, as well as create an opening to me to capitalize on."

Susanoo stared at the kid, he was willing to completely switch up his style merely to gain a momentary advantage showed how desperate the kid was to win.

To rely on unexpected techniques to win the hardest of battles, Issei reminded him quite a bit of a certain blonde devil who he now considered a close friend.

"Tell you what, Issei, if you're able to take down Susanoo, I'll give you a gift. Something that will give you a slight edge in your fight with Riser. What say you?"

Issei raised an eyebrow, "What's in it for you, though?"

Stormbringer shook his head. "Well, it's an all-or-nothing deal. If you cannot destroy Susanoo, not only will you forfeit your life to me, but you will also have to train under me till you are worthy of joining my vanguard forces." It was a gamble, and he expected Issei to think it over for a while. Sadly, Issei didn't have the time to ruminate over something so simple. He had just been offered an advantage, and he needed every single advantage he could get if he was to beat Riser. If he lost here, it would mean that he didn't have it in him to challenge Riser either way. So why bother thinking?

"Boost!"

Well, guess that worked for an answer.


"You've got to be shitting me."

One day. Yes, one day was all that was left before the fated battle that would decide his sister's future, and he had just received the news that Riser Phenex had single-handedly killed two lesser drakes in the human realm. If he had any hope that Rias' pawn would be able to pull out a surprise victory against the Phenex, it had completely evaporated.

Speaking of said pawn, Issei was completely untraceable. Sure, Rias – being Issei's king – would know where he was at all times, but that did little to erase his feeling of guilt at not being able to help them in any way.

All because of Aria.

To the casual observer, her challenge looked like a personal stab at the Gremory household, and – by extension – him. But that wasn't the case. If anything, the challenge was merely thrown for the sole purpose of binding his hands. Why? Because Aria knew him too well. She knew that had she not limited his scope of action, he would have intervened and stopped the marriage one way or the other. But that itself was where the problem lay. Aria herself was completely opposed to this marriage.

So what exactly was her motive?

When she had stepped into the limelight after the rating game, Sirzechs was sure that Aria was going to denounce Rias and break the contract. But no, she did the exact opposite. She made it worse. If Riser won the rating game, Rias would become nothing but a slave for the Phenex. Her social standing would be lower than Grayfia's who – despite her marriage to him – could never take on his family name, neither could she ever truly claim to be his betrothed.

Nor could she claim to be a mother to her son, instead being delegated as his maid.

Such were the traditions of a society built on power and birthright. It was at times like this that he wished Naruto was still around. He knew that he, of all people, had no right to grieve for the lack of his past mentor, especially with him being – in part – the reason why Naruto had decided to leave the underworld in the first place.

Had Naruto been given the power he deserved, the council would never have taken control of the Underworld. They'd never get to lay down the rules that their world was re-built on. They'd have the society that Sirzechs envisioned, something closer to humanity, where devils would be worth none but their own worth.

Where birth wouldn't decide the course of one's life, where all devils would be treated as equals.

But he had shot that chance in the heart. His jealousy and plotting had removed his strongest piece from his hand at a time where his presence was most crucial. And it doing so, he also lost the second piece he hoped to acquired, one that was now causing him the biggest headache he had faced in a millennium.

Aria Phenex, the woman who the council once asked him to marry. One of the two people he could never win against. A monstrous existence with a peerage to match and wit that exceeded her beauty.

Sometimes, he wondered what would have happened had he decided to pursue romance with her instead of Grayfia. Would Naruto still be with them? Probably. Would he even succeed before she incinerated his dick, balls included? Unlikely.

There was a light knock on his door, a mere formality that his queen – and wife – chose to adhere to. As she walked in, he gave her a glance. Grayfia Lucifuge, still as perfect as the day he first met her. So calm, so dedicated, so easily willing to go down on one knee for anyone above her stature, yet so ruthless when it came to matters of importance. Truly, he couldn't wish for a more perfect wife. He never regretted the fact that he had to ruin someone else's relationship to claim her. No matter what the cost, she was worth it.

And there was only one other woman who could ever compare to the perfection that was her, and that woman would be forever out of his reach.

"My Lord, should I retrieve Lady Rias' pawn? I have learnt of his location, and it would be prudent of either me or you to personally go and retrieve him."

The statement caught Sirzechs' attention. "And where exactly is our little dragon training that he needs to inconvenience us to retrieve him?" he asked. Grayfia have him a reprimanding look. Of course, such a tone wouldn't fly with her. The fact that she did not verbally oppose his cockiness, meanwhile, showed that there were more important matters at hand.

"Hyoudou Issei has spent the last three months in Takamagahara. More precisely, he was last seen entering through the gateway on Mt. Fuji. I hope you understand the implications of that, Lord."

Sirzechs' blood froze. There was only one entrance to Takamagahara on Mt. Fuji, and the god who claimed that entrance was one that Sirzechs' had the displeasure of meeting when they tried to make a grab for land in Japan. Even using his force, all he was able to weasel out of the god was one singular town. Had he used force that day, he would have ended up dead.

After all, one didn't fight the Shinto god of war and live.

"He's… training with Susanoo. How is that possible?"

Grayfia shook her head. "Susanoo might hate devilkind, but Rias tells me that there might have been a mediator that could have arranged for it. I have personally met the person once, only in passing, and I didn't think he was impressive enough to warrant the attention of a god."

"He must have been bloody impressive to make Susanoo overlook the fact that Issei is a devil." Sirzechs muttered. The Shinto faction hated the underworld, and for good reason too. The borderline extinction of the Nekoshou was a byproduct of devils and their disdain for anything that wasn't… well… them. Susanoo had been the lividest of their pantheon. When devils marched down the streets of Kyoto, he was there to meet them.

And he made sure that devilkind paid for its crimes in blood.

"He has occult powers, yes. But other than his appearance, nothing about him really stands out." Grayfia insisted, steel in her eyes. She had had enough of being talked down to, and Sirzechs took this as an opportunity to back off.

"What was it about his appearance that was so striking to you?" He asked, using a far more placating tone to frame the question. Grayfia looked down for a second, a rare moment of demureness seeping through her stern façade.

"He looked remarkably like Naruto, going as far as to share his first name."

For the second time in an hour. Sirzechs froze.

"L-like Naruto? You're sure they're not one and the same?" he questioned. Grayfia nodded instantly, calming his rapidly-beating heart a little.

"His essence feels human, and his powers are a mere trifle when compared to Naruto Abbadon." She spoke. "Plus, he didn't recognize me, nor was there any concealment. I'd know, I spent centuries of my life with him."

Sirzechs sighed. "It's a shame. It would be amazing to have Naruto back, if not a bit too opportune." Grayfia nodded in agreement, not even noticing the momentary grimace that appeared on Sirzechs' face at her rare display of enthusiasm.

"As for now, I believe It would be best for me to go and retrieve Issei. The underworld won't be able to function properly if you were to suddenly lose a few limbs." Grayfia said. The lack of mirth in her tone made it clear that neither was her statement a joke, nor was it something he could oppose. So - as any dutiful husband would - he nodded, letting her do as she pleased.

As she left the room, Sirzechs picked up the photo that sat on his desk. It was one of five copies of a magic-lithoraph from when they were training under Naruto. It was a pretty picture, all things said. It was also the only photo of all of them that survived the war, and it pained him to see how much they had changed since. Gone were the genuine smiles, replaced with ones manufactured to reassure the general populace while lying to their faces. Gone was the lack of consequence, replaced by varying degrees of guilt and agony.

Gone was the happiness, replaced by a mere void of emotions.

"Maybe I'll go pay this man a visit after all this blows over."


"As promised, the Drakeblood Aegis is now yours to keep"

It was still Hard for Issei to believe. One whole month had passed by, and he had gained power to show for his troubles. He had taken down the Susanoo, and Naruto had kept up his side of the bargain.

Now, it was Stormbringer's turn.

"Issei, give me your hand."

Slightly nonplussed, Issei did as was asked. Without warning, Stormbringer brought out a small knife from the folds of his coat and sliced his right thumb open. Before Issei could express his shock, the man had already pressed down his thumb on Issei's forearm and drawn the Kanji for anger, 悻

"You are now marked as one of my aspects, and it is a power that is not bestowed lightly. You have impressed me with your will to adapt and grow. I'd rather not see that potential squandered, but you have chosen to stay loyal to your king. It is heartening to see that loyalty still exists in the hearts of the young."

Issei stammered. "T-thank you, Stormbringer. But how will this help me?" He asked, as the bloody symbol disappeared, leaving only a faint red trace behind.

Stormbringer wiggled his index finger. "You'll know when the time is right. Thankfully, you're already capable of harnessing my gift. As I promised, it'll give you an edge against Riser. If you can harness it, that is."

Issei grimaced, "of course, with you two, everything is a mystery. At least tell me how to activate this!"

Naruto shook his head. "Trust me, it isn't hard to activate. Just remember, fight with your emotions, and they'll lend you strength." Issei rolled his eyes, he was so done with these cryptic assholes. But he did owe them. Thanks to this month of literal hell, his body could now do things that he once couldn't dream of.

Beating Riser was still a long shot, but now, the sliver of possibility had widened enough to let him through. With a great deal of difficulty and a decent bit of luck, the fight could be his.

"I trusted you two to train me, and I will trust you when it comes to this. I cannot thank you enough for your tutelage, Stormbringer." The man in question chuckled, while Naruto looked downright pissed at Issei for not mentioning him. He would have said something to that effect, but was stopped by the appearance of a magic circle between them. Issei's present company stiffened as Grayfia emerged from within the red light of her summoning circle. And then, she bowed. Not to Naruto, and definitely not to Issei.

She bowed to Stormbringer.

"Greetings, lord Susanooh, I have come here on the behest of Lord Lucifer to retrieve Lady Gremory's pawn."

And that's when it all clicked.

"Y-you are Susanooh. You are the god Susanooh." Issei enunciated, disbelief slowing his tone to a dwarl and leaving him slack-jawed. Then, the realization that he had been training with a god set in, and finally, the fact that he was blessed by a god's blood. origins.

Susanooh, meanwhile, nodded to Grayfia. "He's a good lad, devil. I'm quite saddened that a man of such devout loyalty is a part of your ranks. while originally he was a follower of our faith, I shall let it go, for I have had the chance to train him in our ways."

"And we are grateful to you for it. Now, we must take your leave." Grayfia bowed yet again before grabbing Issei's hand and teleporting away.

As the crimson light of the magic circle faded, Susanooh turned to face his friend. "She was the one, wasn't she? Truly a dame to kill for."

Naruto nodded, "True, she was a better companion than I deserved. I cannot blame her for me leaving the underworld, though. She was merely the last straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak."

"Ah, of course. You should know that when things do eventually take a turn for the worse, we'll be there, right behind you."

Naruto chuckled, "I'm counting on it, Susanooh. After all, two of my future knights still do work for you. I thought that losing them to me would teach you not to gamble on fights, but I guess the people who say that gods cannot change who they are speak the truth."

Susanooh let out a throaty laugh, "I couldn't help but make a bet, Naruto, else what reason would you have to fight me?"

"I'd spar with you either way, but you really like fighting when the stakes are high, don't you?"

"Well, what can I say? It ain't a fight until something Important's on the line." Susanoo countered.

"Well then, by that logic, Issei's going to put up one hell of a fight, isn't he?"

"He's a little bit of me, a little bit of you, and has more pent-up sexual frustration than a rabbit in mating season. He has a strong opponent, his friend's future is on the line, and so is his dream of becoming a harem king. You bet he'll be fighting with everything he's got."

Naruto nodded, "he's also pissed that my clone got destroyed when he decimated Susanoo. He's gonna get back at me for that, I just know it." Susanoo merely chuckled.

"Well, it wasn't like you were expecting him to create an attack strong enough to destroy a cliff face, were you now?"

Naruto shook his head. "No I wasn't, but I'm glad he did. It'll give him a fighting chance, and that's all I can truly ask for."

"All we can do now is watch."


The world of devils had always been one of power in numbers, even before the peerage system. Alliances forged strength, and individual talent was always second to the power of a team. It was the very same reason that made the fight between Riser Phenex and Rias' pawn one of the most anticipated fights of the year.

Lilith, the capital of the underworld, the home of the largest arena made by devilkind, was abuzz with anticipation. The arena was booked-out. Anyone who was anyone was there. Those who couldn't attend had their eyes glued to screens, watching the pre-fight fanfare with bated breath.

The camera, held by a flying familiar, passed over the VIP booth, and the populace were greeted with live footage of the satans, the heads of the houses Gremory and Phenex, the True Demon, and the young princess of the Gremory house.

Said princess was impassive, her face devoid of all emotions. That was her masterful façade, one created to dupe the public into believing that she was perfection itself. That she was – by birthright – a creature far above the common riff-raff.

But behind the façade, her mind was in turmoil.

Despite her wildest hopes, Issei had shown up to fight. She and her peerage weren't allowed to see him, even though he had spent the last day in castle Lucifer itself. She had no idea if her precious pawn had grown enough to survive the power of the Phenex lord. In the back of her mind, she hoped he hadn't. Riser would have the decency to end the battle fast. He wouldn't suffer, and it would be over.

But on the off-chance that his training had borne fruit, it would become worse. She had seen recordings of the fight between Sairaorg and Riser. Such power shouldn't belong to high-class devils. They were beings that deserved the title of Ultimate, and in the battle between the two…monsters, it showed.

Such power couldn't be gained in a month, no matter how hard the training, no matter who oversaw the training.

Behind her, Akeno was equally troubled. She was the one who had initially trained Issei, and she knew that he had no magical or physical power to speak of. He was merely a normal human teen till mere months ago, and now, he was slated to face off against one of the underworld's own prodigies.

Generally, this wouldn't be an issue. But this was not a rating game. Injuries sustained here would be real, and death was always a horrific, but real threat.

"Here comes Riser."

Sirzechs' observation brought both Rias and Akeno out of their ruminations, and true to his word, Riser was walking out of his corner of the arena. He was missing his trademark casual clothes, instead dressed in the fine, golden-black raiment that his sister was so fond of. But it wasn't the clothing that caught their eyes. That honor belonged to his scars. Scars that were inflicted by dragons.

Dragons that he had murdered with his own hands.

There were two of them, and his flames had not healed them. It was possible that he hadn't let them heal, choosing instead to wear them as a badge of honor. There was one on the bridge of his nose, and one over his right eye. It was possible that there were many others under the many layers of cloth that he wore, but the presence of the two prominent ones was enough to show the world exactly who he was.

Riser Phenex, the Dragonslayer.

The crowd erupted. This was their chosen champion, and it wasn't hard to see why. It was in all this hubbub that Issei finally walked out of his own corner. So diminutive was his presence that his entrance went unnoticed till he was right in front of Riser.

Rias hadn't seen him in a month, and it was an understatement to say that he had changed.

He wore a casual half-sleeved shirt and a pair of track pants, his hair was unkempt, having grown over the month. In contrast to Riser's flashy appearance, he looked extremely out of place. But his muscles had grown. Any seasoned fighter could tell by his gait that the boy knew both positioning and posture. His confidence had also grown by leaps and bounds, as he didn't break away from Riser's gaze.

He had become a warrior in his own right.

"It seems Naruto has trained you well, Issei." Riser commented in a volume too low for the crowd to hear him.

"He wasn't even there for the majority of my training. He just dumped me with his friend and left. He came back once a week to check on my progress, but that's about it."

Riser was confused. Sure, he didn't doubt the effectiveness of whoever Naruto had hustled into training Issei – the results were clear to see, as long as one knew what to look for – but he knew how good a tutor Naruto was. So why did he get someone else to teach Issei in his stead?

"That's… a shame." Riser commented, genuinely sorry. Issei had toughened up, sure, but if he didn't have that element of unpredictability that Naruto imparted on all his students, was he even worth fighting?

"Is there anything else we have to do or can we just get to the fighting?" Issei asked. Riser was a bit shocked about how straightforward and confident Issei was being, but he decided to entertain the boy a bit. Even he was anxious to end this.

"No, we can begin now." Riser said, and he barely got his flames up in time to block Issei's Gauntleted fist.

What he didn't expect was the power behind the blow.

Riser was sent spiraling into the walls of the arena, his body embedding itself in the wall. He hadn't expected that, not one bit. And it wasn't till he re-considered Issei's question that he realized what his opponent had just pulled.

The bastard had been boosting before the battle even began.

"Naruto might not have trained you, Issei, but the beginning to our fight has proven that you've already learnt the core tenet of his fighting style." After all, who else would waste power before a fight just to get an unexpected pre-emptive blow in?

"You move fast, I wanted to take you off guard. Guess my reflexes still aren't as good as yours."

Riser let loose a mirthful laugh. "Well, now that we have all the niceties out of the way, we can truly begin."

Huge wings of fire erupted from Riser's back as he willed a gigantic fireball into existence. As he fired it at Issei, He blasted forward, following the fireball on its way towards Issei. He expected the devil to dodge sideways, and he has prepared to follow suit.

But he was surprised again when his Fireball hit solid metal and – instead of leaving it a melted puddle – dissipated into mere embers. His course was set on collision now, and he willed more flames into his hand, expecting to cut right through the shield that had suddenly appeared on Issei's left hand.

His flames went out right as they hit the shield, but the force behind the blow sent Issei tumbling back a couple of feet. He regained his balance just in time to dodge the continuation of Riser's assault.

"Boost!"

Issei's power signature doubled in scale, and mere milliseconds after that, a punch backed by all that power buried itself in his abdomen, and the result was spectacular.

Riser's flame guard broke, and he was flung thirty feet vertically. He broke a few bones, but his regeneration would take care of that. His wings stabilized him, and as he straightened, he saw Issei fly towards him. He dodged, and Issei was unable to follow. Before Issei could turn, Riser had already created space between the two of them.

"A valiant effort, Issei, but you lack speed." Riser stated, as five balls of flame gathered around him, slowly unveiling themselves to be humanoid shapes that resembled him. "You might be able to trade blows with one of me, but that won't get you far against my fire remnants!"

It was one of his signature moves, one that he had developed after seeing how efficient Naruto's clones were in combat. While they did not enjoy the same autonomy that Naruto's clones had, they were also indestructible as long as he had the mana to feed them.

The five remnants and Riser rushed towards Issei, and the tide of battle turned. The shield he wielded was, in the end, still a mere shield. There was no possible way he could fight against the onslaught of six opponents faster than him at the same time. And five kicks and a double-handed punch later, Issei went hurtling into the ground at a breakneck pace. He crashed into the ground, kicking up a huge could of sand. Inside, Riser felt his power diminish.

"Scale Mail!"

Or not.

As the dust settled, Riser got his first look at the Boosted Gear's famed balance breaker. In the stalls, Aria smirked. It didn't look quite as impressive as she remembered, but it proved that Issei's training had definitely paid off.

"Boost!"

And suddenly, Issei's power exploded. He disappeared from Riser's view. His remnants moved into defensive positions, but it was worthless as Isse charged right through them, his shield covering his armored form. Said shield was bashed into Riser, who held it back with his arms.

"I knew that I wasn't as strong as you from the very beginning." Issei spoke, as he kicked Riser, who blocked with his arm. The leg broke through Riser's flame guard with ease, and then proceeded to shatter his forearm. Used to the pain, Riser used his other arm to punch Issei in the face, the force of the punch breaking the two apart.

"I knew that I wasn't as fast as you as well."

Riser barely got a breath in edgewise before Issei closed the gap between them again. His bone hadn't even begun healing, and he couldn't block. He saw Issei raise his shield, and then, he felt pain, once on the hit, and twice when he crashed into the ground.

"And now I know that I can face you as an equal." Issei concluded.

Riser slowly got up from the cracked ground and gave Issei a smirk. "You've come far, Issei. But this isn't nearly enough." Riser spread his arms, and his power started to rise. The flames around his body grew, and so did his wings, gaining more corporeal, limb-like forms.

"Feast your eyes on the power of the Phenex! Combustion Reactor!"

And then, there were flames.

The entire arena was covered by a gigantic, expanding ball of flame with Riser at its center. Issei survived the flames, thanks to Drakeblood Aegis. Then something unexpected happened.

Instead of dissipating, the flames started to compress.

The process took less than a few seconds, but the result was clear. Riser had compressed all his flames into his body, and the resultant form he acquired was every bit as impressive as Issei's scale mail. Riser's body now had a dull-red glow, like that of ember, coupled with telltale veins of fire, ready to burst into flame at a moment's notice. It formed a flaky armor over his body, and completing it was a crown of flames that framed his head. His wings were now actual limbs instead of the fiery, formless appendages that they once were.

In that moment, Issei knew that he was fucked.

Riser was on him before he could even blink. He didn't even see Riser attack, and the pain from his vicious backhand registered before he could even comprehend the actual attack. He didn't hit the ground, instead coming to rest on Riser's outstretched fist, his scale mail cracked, preventing his spine from following suit.

"You might as well give up, Issei. If I could access this power when fought Sairaorg, even he would stand no chance." Riser murmured in a hoarse, light voice, right as he appeared in front of Issei and planted his fist into his gut. In the span of the next fifteen seconds, Issei was assaulted by a bevy of fire empowered kicks and punches. He was nothing more than a ragdoll at this point.

And then, Riser let him go.

Issei bounced off the floor twice as his body came to a skidding rest. He still clung on to his scale mail, for if he let it go, the next attack would outright kill him. Riser floated down to the ground a few meters away from him, a sorrowful expression on his currently-demonic features.

"I am cinder, I am ash. Your loss was decreed the moment you decided to fight me. Now, forfeit, and let us end this farce."

Issei was silent, and the only reason people knew he was still conscious was because his scale mail was still on. In the stands, Rias shed a tear. Deep in her heart, she wanted Issei to give up. Sure, he had come far, but the unexpected power that Riser demonstrated completely shredded any chance of victory that existed.

Such was the general consensus of the audience as well. There was pin-drop silence, a show of respect for the boy who had gone from a low-class devil who couldn't even fight one of Riser's pawns into a man who could evenly trade blows with any high-class devil in existence.

"This doesn't make sense."

The attention of every single person in the VIP box shot towards the person who dared break the silence. Their eyes found Aria Phenex, and they found her troubled expression extremely out-of-place on her stately face.

And then Akuja chimed in. "…he's not boosting, so how is this happening?"

The other Satans then chimed in, "This power… it feels foreign, yet familiar. Why does it fill me with such dread?" Sirzechs commented as a chill went up his spine. The kid's power was growing steadily, unlike the explosive growth that followed a boost, but no less potent.

And then, the first drops fell to the sandy ground, surprising every single devil in attendance.

"It is…raining." Serafall commented, not able to believe it herself. "It isn't supposed to rain today, we control the weather, for fuck's sake!"

But Rias noticed none of this, all she saw was Issei, who was now getting off the ground. And she could swear, at that very moment, she heard what he was saying, even from hundreds of meters away. And she wasn't the only one, for the entire attending audience heard it too. A voice that was barely above a whisper, yet clear for all to hear.

-"I am thy instrument, thy weapon, thy sword"-


"Is this really the end, Issei?"

"…He's too powerful, there is nothing I can do."

"That may be true, but you are nothing less."

"Tell that to my body, it won't allow me to stand anymore."

"That can be amended. All you have to do it tell me how you feel."

"…it's that easy? Well, I feel disappointed."

"Disappointed, in whom, may I ask?"

"Myself. One month of training with a god, and I still cannot win."

"You had a month, he had years. You've done well with what little was thrown your way."

"Are you trying to console me?"

"Far from it, I'm trying to tell you that disappointment isn't what you should be feeling right now."

"Huh? But why?"

"Because you aren't pitiable. No, that would be your master."

"Rias… I have failed her."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"It… makes me feel angry."

"Angry at whom?"

"The world? The devil society? The houses that bound this infernal contract?"

"How about the fact that no matter how good you become, the pure-blooded families will never see you as a worthy groom for Rias?"

"It makes me livid… it makes me…"

"…want to kill someone?"

"Maybe."

"You see, Issei, that's what you lack. You face your opponents without the will to kill. You face them without anger. And let me tell you, that is not a courtesy that they will ever repay."

"So, you're saying that I should hate the people I'm fighting?"

"No! Far from it. Hate breeds hate, but anger…well… anger brings out strength."

"There's a difference between the two?"

"Yes, kid. Hatred is what causes wars, anger is what ends them. Hate fucks shit up. Anger? Well, Anger gets shit done."

"…"

"So, tell me, Issei. How do you feel?"

"I feel angry; I feel bloody fucking angry. I want to tear down this contract, and then do the same to Riser's father, then to Rias' father, then to the council. I want to tear down this establishment and make something anew, but most of all, I want to beat Riser's face in and make sure I don't fail Rias."

"That is good, Issei. Now, you are ready for my gift."

"…Susanooh, that's you' isn't it?"

"Yes, child. Now, repeat after me."

- "I am thy instrument, thy weapon, thy sword"-


He got up without any trouble, and his posture straightened. All the while, his power continued to rise, threating to spill, like a vessel filled beyond its limits. It was a feeling Riser knew too well, for his current form, self-dubbed 'Charred Bloodline', worked on the same principle. Except, the power that filled Isse was neither his base power of devilkind, neither was it the boosted energy of dragonkind.

No, this energy was divine by its very nature.

- "I am thy power, thy strength, thy mind"-

Issei was up now, and the rain was getting worse. In her seat, Aria suddenly cackled with glee, realizing who the power belonged to. She had challenged Naruto, and this was the response he had sent her.

- "I am thy soul, thy body, thy senses"-

There was thunder, and the arena shook as it struck. Steam formed whenever a drop of rain hit Riser, and by all means, he should have attacked. But it felt wrong, it felt dangerous, it felt like his actions would be punished by a being greater than him, and he wasn't too keen on facing someone like that. Not yet, at least.

- "I am anger; I am the fear of thy enemies."-

Rias felt it at last, a power completely foreign to her, yet something that shone through the clouds of her mind like a bright ray, a ray of hope. There was a loud rumbling, and a bolt of lightning thrice the width of the others struck Issei, engulfing the arena in bright, dancing light.

- "I am thy aspect; I am thy wrath"-

What the lightning left behind made Issei's Balance breaker pale in comparison. While the armor of the dragons was still the base of Issei's ensemble, it was overtaken by thinner, grey plates. From the back of his helm grew a long, mane of white hair. The helmet itself was much more detailed, with streaks of color that resembled Japanese war-paint. A crest of the sun appeared on the helm, representing the land of the rising sun.

But the most unnerving thing about this new form were Issei's eyes. There was an ethereal, white glow emanating from his eye sockets themselves. Riser liked to look into the eyes of his opponents as he fought, and being denied his battle ritual unnerved him to no end.

That, and the fact that Issei was now just as powerful as him.

-"I, am you."-

"…Susanoo… he made Issei one of his aspects." Gasped Sirzechs, and the poignancy of his statement wasn't lost on his present company. A devil with a longinus was considered a power piece, no matter what peerage he was on. A devil who was a god's aspect? Well, that was borderline unheard of. A portion of a god's power, bequeathed on another creature, given willingly. That was the power of an aspect.

And like fine wine, it only got better with time.

"Now, Riser. Let's dance."

There were no wings on his back, but Issei didn't need them either. The lack of appendages simply made flight easier for him. He was the Storm god's aspect of wrath, and the sky was his very domain; as were the seas. Yet, the scion of the Phenex met him blow for blow. No longer was this a fight between two opponents of differing power-levels. Each blow was met by another of equal intensity. Fire and wind battled for dominance, and the outcome depended solely on either skill or the element of unpredictability.

"This is the fight I wanted!" Riser exclaimed in sheer, undulating joy as his fist found purchase in Issei's face. The aspect of Susanooh deigned not to reply, instead bashing his shielded fist into Riser's face. The two flew back, creating a few meters of distance, right before they shot at each other again.

Each punch made the last one feel like a gentle caress, each kick shattered armor and bone. The fight had devolved into an absolute slugfest. Issei's shield negated any ranged attack Riser could muster, and Issei's fighting style's depended on getting close and personal. Riser's Fire remnants manifested and died within seconds. Issei's speed and the fire-dispelling powers of his shield completely nullified any advantage they offered.

And he felt good because of it. He hadn't faced an opponent that could push him so far in months. He loved every second of the fight, but he couldn't keep this up forever, and he knew that neither could Issei. He couldn't keep on feeding his regeneration, and he was sure that Issei couldn't go on for much longer either.

"I'm gonna end this now!" Issei shouted from the other end of the stadium, having created distance faster than Riser could follow. Issei was charging something, and Riser knew that the boy had come to the same conclusion that he had.

"Give me everything you have, Issei-boy!" Riser shouted. A gigantic ball of flames appeared in in his outstretched hand. It then proceeded to compress itself till he was holding a small ball of pure white flames the size of a golf ball in his fist. He held it for a second, waiting for Issei's attack, because if Issei was able to raise his shield in time, the attack would be an absolute failure.

"Here goes!" Issei yelled, as his armor dematerialized. He had externalized all his power in the gem of his boosted gear, leaving almost nothing running his body. He raised his right arm, exhausted beyond measure, for his final attack.

"Altered Transfer: Ravager!"

His gauntlet fired a wave of absolute power, and this was the exact moment Riser was waiting for.

"Magma Axis!" He yelled as he flung the little white-hot ball of flame at Issei. It cut a little hole through his wave of power as it fired through, but it couldn't completely negate the massive amount of energy fired his way. Issei was too drained to dodge. So they both chose the same course of action.

Stand and take it like a man.

The Magma Axis hit Issei a second before his attack landed on Riser, and as it struck him, it expanded. While Drakeblood Aegis prevented him from outright melting, it could not do much to stop the pain.

And Issei fell, a mere millisecond before his attack hit Riser.

To say that Riser felt pain was an understatement. The wave of power could simply not be stopped, and it swept him right through the barrier protecting the civilians. It didn't stop there, though, as it took him over the stands and outside the arena, and even then it wouldn't cease.

Riser was manhandled through a skyscraper, then another one, then three more, before he knew no more. But even though he knew that every single bone in his body was broken, he had kept up his name as both the Dragonslayer and the brother of the True demon. For while it utterly destroyed him, he had already defeated the prison of Ddraig, the great welsh.

Issei Hyoudou, a man worthy of the titles he would one day hold.


"I lost, didn't I?"

Issei had woken up a few minutes back. Even getting up was a pain, especially with the slowly-receding burns that covered almost his entire body. He was surprised to see Riser in the hospital bed next to his, sipping his food from a straw. He looked at the state his opponent's body was in and winced. He had blasted the man's body with the power of twenty-four boosts, compounded by Susanooh's power.

He would have felt bad, but Riser's Magma Axis was no less powerful.

Riser nodded, or as close to it as he could get with that gigantic plaster on his neck. "You went down a few seconds before me."

Issei pointed at Riser's injuries. "You healed from this during the fight. What happened to your regeneration?"

Riser chucked, a physically painful action, but he did it nonetheless. "Fighting you taxed me very hard. You broke a bone with every punch you landed, so I had to overuse my regeneration to stay in the fight. It'll be a week before my body can heal itself again. So, I'm just going to have to rely on tears to heal. Too bad I don't cry much."

Issei smiled, melancholy evident on his face. "Well, you'll have your time before the marriage, I suppose. You better treat her right, Or I'll come back stronger, and with a vengeance."

Riser gave him another chuckle. "Yeah, about that…"

"That's your job now."

Issei almost jumped off his bed when he heard Rias' voice behind him. His balance was restored when Rias wrapped her hands around him, and his mouth met her own. For a moment, Issei experienced heaven.

And then came the pain.

"Ouch! Rias! It hurts!" He yelled as Rias broke contact giggling all the way. There was a smile on her face. Not one of the fake smiles he was used to seeing, but a rare, genuine one. That was the last nail in his coffin of failure.

"I-I'm sorry, Rias. I tried my hardest." He whispered, tears welling in her eyes. Rias cupped his face in her hands gently, and for the second time in the day, she locked her lips with his own. And this time, there was no pain to break them apart.

Sadly, there was Riser.

"Get a room, you guys." He mumbled, surprisingly bashful. That worried Issei. He had just kissed Rias in front of her to-be husband, and the only response he had was to tell them to get a room? No righteous fury of the Phenex? Nothing?

"Am I missing something here?" He asked. Riser sighed as he righted himself in his bed, wincing at the pain as his body groaned in resistance.

"Yeah, as I was telling you, the contract is now null and void. Rias is free to marry whoever she chooses, as long as she can keep her family from making more contracts."

Now, Issei was just confused. "Wait, did you ask Aria to break your contract?" The shake of Riser's head served to confuse him further. Seeing all this, Riser chose to continue.

"My wish was to join her peerage, and so I did. I'm Aria's first pawn, though it only took one of her pieces to add me to her peerage… shows how far I still have to go."

Rias nodded. "If you remember what I told you about peerages, Issei, you'll remember that the king has the power to veto, abet, or outright null any and all dealings of his underling."

"And that's what happened. Two days ago when I woke up, Aria made me her pawn. My first request was to annul the marriage contract between me and Rias, and she was happy enough to acquiesce."

Issei was silent for a moment, trying to break down everything he had just heard. "So, basically, your fight against me was a farce?"

Riser shook his head again. "While I chose to fight you because you showed the most potential in her peerage, your performance ended up being crucial to the decision." Issei's confusion persisted, so Riser continued. "The Phenex and Gremory could have petitioned against the annulment. Unless Rias joined the peerage of an Ultimate-class devil or higher, It would only prolong her freedom for a few years."

"But you changed that. You made the Gremory family walk away from the petition."

Issei was stunned. "H-how? I lost the battle against you, even after being trained by a god. How could I change this decision?"

This time, it was Rias who stepped up to answer. "Issei, your value as a piece was high before the battle, but after the battle, you've become one of the most sought-after devils in the underworld. For the two days you've been out, I've received many requests from both High and Ultimate-class devils to trade their pieces for you. Some are even offering their entire peerages for you."

Riser nodded. "Before the battle, you were simply a devil who couldn't control his own longinus. You effectively shut up every naysayer when you activated balance breaker without even the slightest bit of trouble."

"But the real clincher was when you revealed your possession of Susanooh's aspect of wrath."

Issei looked at Riser dumbly, "Yeah, so? Even with all that, you still beat me."

Riser's face went grim, "Issei, with your final attack, you flung me two miles away from the arena. Had I not been in my Charred Bloodline form, that attack could have killed me. You've been a devil for a few months, I've been one my entire life. The fact that you were able to decimate me in such little time speaks of your potential to grow. And with a dragon and the aspect of a god inside of you, the sky's the limit."

Rias nodded in agreement, "If I married Riser, my entire peerage would come under his control. To the Gremory house, that was an unacceptable loss. Hence, they seceded. Plus, marriage would place me in the True Demon's control, and the underworld is loath to give her more power. That explains why Riser had to basically create such a spectacle to join her peerage without getting her charged for nepotism. After all, someone who can beat the crimson emperor and a god's aspect deserves to be part of the True Demon's peerage."

"So, basically, you lost the battle, but in losing, you won."

Issei was silent for a moment, lost in his thoughts. Then, suddenly, he laughed. He kept laughing for a good ten seconds, and both Rias and Riser slowly joined in.

"It was a good fight, Riser. I'd like to fight you again somkeday." Issei spoke, his laughter finally subsiding. Riser nodded, sharing the sentiment.

"We will fight again, Issei. Aria will be training me for the Young Devils Gathering. We will fight again there, so bring your A-game!"

At the mention of Aria, Issei realized that he had yet to thank her. When he asked Riser where she was, all he got was a sagely shake of his head and a single-sentence answer.

"She's off to see someone, and you know exactly who I'm talking about."


"So, you're sure you don't want to join my peerage?"

"No, my primary goal is to study Naruto. While joining your peerage sounds enticing, I'll have to respectfully decline."

"You're no fun, Raziel."

"Work comes before play, Aria."

Of all the things he had expected to come home to, this wasn't one. Sitting in his lounge were Aria and Raziel, both his one-time rivals, and both having fought each other on numerous occasions.

And they were getting along well enough to share tea.

"Oh, Naruto. You're here." Raziel spoke, making Aria turn around and acknowledge his entrance. The smile on her face was unnerving, even borderline predatory.

"Naruto. You didn't tell me you were living with two women, one who is a young devil and the second who was once your rival from the heavenly host." She spoke, her tone enriched with sweet venom. Oh, this was not going to be good.

"I-I guess you're here to talk about the fact that I got Susanooh to train Issei?"

Aria got up from her seat and moved into his proximity. From this distance, he could smell the tea in her breath. "You just made Issei the central focus of the devil society. You know how bad this can be?"

Naruto nodded, "He'll either fall victim to the underhandedness of devil politics, or rise up to be a leader. Either way, he'll serve his purpose."

Aria hissed. "What about your plan? What about the army you plan to create? Is throwing the underworld into chaos how you'll get devils to follow you?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, Aria. The devils will never follow me into battle unless I can give them a symbol, a symbol who they can rally behind. And my own work is not done. I cannot be that symbol for each faction."

Aria was growling at this point. "And you plan to make Issei one of these symbols?" Again, Naruto shook his head.

"I will not make these symbols myself. All I'll do is place the seeds and water them. In the end, it is up to them to either grow up and lead, or wilt and die."

Aria was about to respond, when holy lightning sparked outside the house, and out of the light came a panicked Azazel. Her thoughts were put on hold as Azazel delivered the worse bit of news she had heard since the letter that proclaimed the second world war.

"Naruto! It's Kokabiel! He's stolen two of the Excalibur fragments. He's heading towards Kuoh!"

"Well, shit."


And that's that.

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