Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. I'm sorry for not updating sooner; I had a great deal to take care of after school ended for the year. Fear not, I plan to finish his thing, no matter how long it takes. Thank you to all who favorited and followed this!

Sennybe98 – Glad you appreciate it, had to think of someplace believable for Issei to train against the supernatural. And yes, Ryuu has become an Evil Dragon.

almustafahmed - Will do!

HolySheet – Why thank you! There are reasons, but I won't put it in a response like this to avoid spoilers. Thank you for the support, especially for understanding during finals.

NAFNAF509 - Glad you're interested. Yes, he's much stronger than in canon, but power comes at a price. There are many powerful beings in DxD, so it won't be as much of an issue in the future.

Kirinthor – Had to find a way for Issei to train without detection by the leaders of the Three Factions. Gladiator fights in prison seemed a good way to do that.

Karlos1234ify – Yes, it's justifiable. You're not wrong.

Ilikechocolate7100 – I'm inclined to agree

Sasuke75429 – I hope you're not disappointed with this chapter

Lovedash – Will do!

Guest – Here you go!

lord Rikudo – I believe I requested that people not ask me about pairings in reviews. If you're interested, ask in a PM.

ApathyZero – Thanks for the encouragement, glad you enjoy it

SeerKing – Finally updated. And from one author to another, please update your Sekirei story soon!

Disclaimer: See 1st Chapter

" " – Speech

' ' – Thoughts

( ) – Albion

"It's important to understand that Senjutsu is not just one singular art." Kuroka began.

"What do you mean?" Issei's confusion visibly washed across his face, something Kuroka was quick to address.

"There are many different jutsu's. Sejutsu specifically is the sum of hundreds of years of individual studies and variations of the same basic principle: the manipulation of one's life energy. With enough training, one could eventually control that of others, or use the collective power of many to achieve what would normally be impossible by any other means." She clarified.

"If it helps, you can think of it as library. Constantly being updated by books of new authors and revised as the older material becomes less relevant. Because of this, mastering Senjutsu is technically impossible as it is always changing."

"That's all well and good now, but how does that help us?'

"It means that instead of spending years training you to first use your life-force, we can skip all that and teach you only what you need to know to make your plan work. Which by the way, you still haven't decided to share with me."

'Albion?'

(Revealing my presence is unnecessary, though we need her knowledge to work to the best of your ability. If we explain the sealing technique all dragons have then maybe that will be enough. I think we can keep your sacred gear and holy aura a secret without consequence.)

With a sigh, Issei shrugged. "Aw, what the hell, you'd find out eventually. I'm half-dragon."

If his life was a cartoon, then Issei surmised that that the Nekomata's eyes should have turned into quivering, heart-shaped gems by now. Regardless, her eyes were twinkling more than they had any right to.

"YOU'RE A DRAGON!" Launching herself at him, Kuroka's cheeks had flushed and had started panting.

Tilting his torso to the side, Issei moved just enough to avoid a collision with an excited Nekomata. In turn, Kuroka slammed face-first into the wall behind him.

"Ow, nya, why'd you do that?"

"Answer why your heart-rate, breathing pattern, and tone have all drastically changed, and then I might give you an answer."

"You're no fun at all." Kuroka pouted.

"I've been in here for seven years. I'm not in a joking mood."

"You can't be serious! You're what, fifteen at most? You've been here since you were a child?"

"I'd tell you how old I am, but I'm not really sure. Haven't had a reliable way to tell the date while I've been here."

The now-subdued Kuroka was speechless. She had nearly been killed before arriving at her cell, she couldn't imagine surviving any longer than several days. Yet this guy had made it for half his life?

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Live in this hellhole."

Issei smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. "Survival is very different from living. Living is something I look forward to once I get out of here. To better reach that goal, do you mind if we begin?"

Still in shock over her cellmate's matter-of-fact attitude, Kuroka nodded and closed her eyes, trying her best to recall every technique that may have relevance to their plight.

Life in their shared cell was a nice change of pace for Issei. The next few months passed by relatively peacefully. After years of being unable to confide in anyone besides Albion, having Kuroka there to talk to as well as learn from. Though she did have her… quirks to say the least.

Issei wasn't clueless. While he was still out of his depth when it came to the fairer sex, he understood exactly what Kuroka was interested in. The morning after they met, he had nearly jumped out of his bed when he found that Kuroka had made her way into it and onto his chest. While he wasn't averse to physical contact, courtesy of Akeno's affections, his discomfort stemmed from the fact that in the process of climbing into his bed, she had crawled out of her only piece of clothing.

Ever since the day his father had let loose with his perverse imagination, Issei had been sure to passively control his body's desires. Due to his fledgling bond with Akeno, he had eased up on that control. Since they had been children, neither had been inclined to proceed any further than kissing, the most passionate of which was restrained to avoid teasing from their parents. Seven years in prison, both in and out of solitary confinement, hadn't done anything to help his restraint. Therefore, a naked Kuroka, was far beyond his limits.

Issei vowed to ensure that his pants were well-knotted and tied beyond Kuroka's ability to undo. The downside was that that it only made him more uncomfortable as his pants tightened.

Her sleeping habits aside, and apart from his training, they did establish a working relationship. Neither pried into each other's history, who had put them in there, or for what reasons. Though they didn't need to. Issei had fought enough Stray Devils on death row to recognize the fundamental energy signature of an Evil Piece. And he was sure that by now, she knew, or at the very least suspected, that he had a Dragon-type Longinus. While he had made great strides in his meditation, she had had to help him focus his own energy. Issei was sure that by helping him, she had seen more of his own life-force than he would have liked. If Kuroka wanted to bed him more than ever, she didn't show it. Well, she showed no more than the usual exuberance he was accustomed to.

Kuroka was conflicted now. If she was completely honest with herself, she was falling for the dragon-boy that she currently lived with. That was a problem. Even if the plan to forcefully seal their way out of Tartarus worked, her future was still at risk. While her life expectancy would increase drastically, she would once again be targeted by devils. The current Satans did not approve of the old Satans' support of Tartarus and had cut ties to the prison. As such, it was entirely possible that they did not know that she was incarcerated there. Remaining in Tartarus and staying alive with Issei was possible, but he was determined to escape and regain a life that was stolen from him. She couldn't bring herself to deny him the capacity to leave; she may be willing to kill to save Shirone, but she wouldn't survive by imprisoning her only friend.

The next issue was what he was. A dragon, or at least a descendant off one. Before the attack that wiped nearly wiped out her clan, Kuroka had heard rumors that certain energy linking techniques were based on the Dragons' Bond. In her curiosity, she had examined Issei's life-force while he slept. That confirmed he was a dragon, but also showed something interesting. While the existence of the bond was something she was skeptical about, she did observe a tendril of pure energy emanating from Issei and reaching in a constant direction, no matter what he did. It seemed… ragged, incomplete. It appeared to be in constant equilibrium, as it seemed to deteriorate but never diminish in strength. The end of it writhed and coiled as if incapable of remaining still.

If this was a bond, an incomplete one, then it did explain many things. Issei had a habit of trailing off, his eyes glazing over as he lost focus. She knew that something was triggering old memories. This happened often, but there was also the look of sheer loss, hopelessness and despair that he tried to hide. As if someone close to him was dead.

To the best of her understanding, if Issei was indeed a bonded, then the bond may have been incomplete when whoever it was died or ended it. In the first case, she was uncomfortable intruding on her memory. If it was the later, then she had no qualms with being there for him to replace that bond.

This brought her back to her first problem. She was a Stray Devil. She had no positive future to look forward to when they escape. She could be caught, tortured, or killed at any time and without warning. If she truly understood what the bond entailed, then her death would cripple Issei. That was something she couldn't live with.

"Something on your mind?"

The dragon in question was currently doing pull-ups from the exposed rafter in their cell. Kuroka's cheeks heated as she noticed that he was doing them shirtless, allowing her to observe his lean form. Every muscle cut and developed, skin moderately scarred, joints cracking as sinews were forced to stretch. She had seen his fights, she knew how strong he was. This was a body forged for war. Idly, she wished that same body would do wonders for her in the bed.

"Just thinking about what I'll do when we get out of this mess. I'm thinking I'll lay low for a bit, find some old friends that could hide me."

Issei grunted, in either exertion or understanding she didn't know.

Kuroka frowned. "What about you? You never talk about it. What will you do?"

"Go back home, assuming it's still there. Wasn't in the best shape when I left. If that fails, maybe do some traveling. I've got questions I need answering."

"Oh? What kind of questions?"

Issei ceased his vertical motions and dropped lightly to the floor. Not once did he look at her as he moved to his "brooding" corner as she named it.

Kuroka tried not to let it show that she was disappointed. It had been nearly two years since they had first met. She was nineteen now. She hadn't been able to truly confide in someone since she last saw Shirone. She had been trying to open up to Issei and learn more about him, but every time she tried asking about his life outside Tartarus, she was turned away. It wasn't even subtle! She had tried intermittently over the past two years to learn about him and still he became as talkative as a rock every time she got close to something personal.

That made it all the more surprising when he gave her an answer. "I need to look for some people. Some family friends…my deadbeat dad."

Kuroka immediately tried to backpedal. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"I never told you, so you couldn't have known. So it's not your fault."

"So… ready to get out of here?" An awkward response, but what could she really say after that?

Issei's eyes unfocused then zeroed in on here. "Maybe as soon as tomorrow. Mentally, everything's in order and I'm strong enough to seal you away for the trip."

Kuroka didn't much care for being sealed away in his array. She'd be in stasis, unable to sense the passing of time or any other sensation. If Issei died, she would never know that she died with him as the fail-safes destroyed the array's contents. However, after seeing him fight in the pit and evaluating his life-force, she trusted him to get them out of there. Sighing, she reminded him to try to make it to Kyoto. As another faction disapproving of the Tartarus system, they would be sheltered, at least for a time. As a Nekomata and a dragon hybrid, they would not be out of place among the various Youkai that lived there, making anonymity their greatest asset.

That night, after Issei had fallen asleep, Kuroka struggled to come to terms with herself. They may have made plans to escape but precious little after that. Would he let her stay with him? Would he stay in Kyoto where they wouldn't be bothered by other factions? Whether out of curiosity or desperation, she looked at his life-force one last time. However she felt before, she was even more conflicted after that.

"Are you ready?"

Issei smiled weakly. "I've spent more than half my life in here. I've been ready for years." Issei knew what was going on, for her, she would be in Tartarus for one moment, then after an indefinite time later, reappear elsewhere without knowing. Fear of the unknown, especially since sealing a living being inside a dragon's array was rarely ever attempted and mostly unsuccessful. "Hey." He grabbed her hand. "We'll be alright."

She took a moment then gave him a weak smile of her own. "Ok then, go ahead."

Putting his hands on her shoulders, he focused on her life-force and body, trying to memorize their condition and mentally defining them as one and the same. Once he was finished, he tensed and with a flash of light, Kuroka disappeared, the hidden glyphs on his hands glowing before fading as well.

(Well, that's step one. Now for that hard part.)

'No pressure right? I've got this.'

Using Kuroka's teachings, Albion had devised several exercises to practice in his mindscape, all of them required a combination of Divine Dividing and the sealing technique. By focusing on his life force and containing it in an extended seal, he would then use Divine Dividing to pass through dimensions then unseal at their destination. Once there, he would unseal Kuroka and make their escape.

This was also the first time he would ever manifest Divine Dividing in the real world. While he had attained Balance Breaker and Juggernaut Drive in his mental training, this would be the test as to whether or not he could maintain those skills in reality.

Taking a deep breath, Issei closed his eyes and took a moment to calm himself. With a mental command, Divine Dividing formed on his back. Instead of the white scales and membrane he was accustomed to, a white frame with glowing edges took shape. He grinned, summoning the Longinus was much easier than he had thought. Thankfully, there were no guards in the immediate area so the light attracted none of the ghouls and barely interested the occupants of the neighboring cells.

That calm, quiet setting was instantly shattered by Issei's next words.

"Balance Break!"

(Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!)

With a blinding flash, metal extended from the framework connected to Issei's back. White plate, sharp edges, gold spikes, blue gems. An intimidating figure, if anyone there wasn't instantaneously blinded by the bright flash. A terrifying roar, if anyone there wasn't immediately deafened by the explosion.

(If you're going to do anything, do it now Issei!)

'Alright, here goes nothing!'

The space around Issei seemed to contract then expand, alternating at an increasing rate. Not ten seconds after reaching Balance Breaker, the White Dragon Emperor was ripped from existence.

Kokabiel was certainly not a negotiator by trade. He felt at home on the battlefield, not at a peaceful meeting between two powers. However, the mongrel dragon he had imprisoned in Tartarus had broken out somehow, leaving his cell a wreck. No one had observed the escape, being disoriented from the explosion of energy. A flash spell? Impossible, dragons were notorious for incompatibility with every form of magic but their own. Senjutsu? Impossible, that cell had been initially designed to contain the stray Nekomata. He had no idea how the dragon had escaped, but now, his secret weapon was missing, with no way to find him. This left him with only one choice to put the dragon down before he could join any other faction.

"Please understand this from my perspective." He choked out. "This boy, even from a young age, was able to nearly decimate a town. Thankfully, there were no casualties aside from the Shinto assassins in the area."

"That means nothing to me. Japan is not in my pantheon's control nor do I have interest in helping you. If he did not hurt anyone besides those killers, then this boy is of no meaning to me." His companion was of petite stature, hooded in a silver cloak with a bow and quiver over her shoulder.

"Even if it means that your family will lose access to Tartarus? A prison that Hades created solely to hold the most dangerous of criminals? A jail meant to-"

"Spare me your justification, I have always expressed my position against that foul pit's existence. My dear Uncle made a mistake restoring that monstrosity, I would shed no tears if that facility," she spat, "ceased to exist."

"Please, I ask of you, hunt down and eliminate this threat. Several of my agents have stationed themselves around his former home in anticipation of his return, even if you drove him to them, the world would be in your debt." Waving his hands, four shapes materialized, small models of their living counterparts. Each was a Fallen Angel believing they acted on Azazel's orders, the fools. Beneath her hood, the Huntress scowled.

"You expect me to hunt a boy, and to cater to the needs of a man, two harlots with no self-respect, and a child! You take me for a fool, Kokabiel, it was a mistake for me to grant you your audience."

Kokabiel was desperate now. "This is no boy, he is a living weapon! He has never been defeated in the fights in the pit even while restrained and he has the respect of several deities. Even Ares has said-"

The hooded woman straightened. "Ares? That war mongering fool? He has a hand in this?"

Placing all his hopes on this turning point, Kokabiel decided to tell a lie concealed in truth. "Ares and several other war gods have all taken to watching each of his fights. Betting on him has brought considerable cash flow in the gambling that goes on. Ares has taken great interest in his capabilities as a fighter, especially one who was raised in that Hell."

The woman was silent for a minute, lost in thought before speaking. "If Ares has invested his time into observing this boy, then this is cause for alarm. My brother will undoubtedly seek this boy and convert him to his cause. I will take no pleasure in it, but I must deny Ares a new weapon."

His purpose fulfilled, Kokabiel grinned. "I am quite confident that you'll enjoy it. Tell me, Lady Artemis, when was the last time you hunted a Dragon?"

Kyoto has a population close to 1.5 million. Known as the City of Ten Thousand Shrines, tourism and travel bring the population even greater, even if temporarily. None of them, in their hurry and bustle, bothered to look up that night as space distorted, warped, then ejected a white-armored figure.

'Albion!'

(This is your first time flying isn't it? Calm down. Now, extend your light wings fully and glide for now.)

Issei did so and immediately stopped falling. Fear turned into wonder as he now observed the view of the city. 'Wow, this is amazing.'

(Congratulations on your first flight. Now, before you decide to partake in any excessive aerial acrobatics, I'd recommend you let the Cat out of her cage. And release my power, that technique has exhausted me.)

'Oops.'

Landing on the highest rooftop closest to him, Issei dispelled his armor. Making sure there was no trace of Divine Dividing or anything related to it, he spread his hands and tensed. One flash later, one disoriented Nekomata was sinking to her knees in relief.

"Hey, you alright?" Issei knelt down to her, genuinely concerned.

"I'll… be ok. But next time, I make the escape plan." Kuroka panted.

Issei shrugged. "There won't be a next time. I won't let myself by captured like that again." Turning away from her, he stepped towards the edge of the rooftop.

"Is there something wrong?" Kuroka rose shakily to her feet.

"Wrong? No, nothing like that." Issei was quiet, even more so than normal. "It's just… this is the first time I've seen the moon in years."

After making their way down to street level, the two were quick to find a quiet place to stay, even if only temporarily. While they would undoubtedly be able to blend in with the Youkai in the region, they didn't want to advertise their location to anyone willing to turn them in. By selling one of Issei's scales, they had enough cash to support themselves for a few days, but they made the best of it.

"I'm still confused as to why we're in a love hotel."

"Don't be like that, nya. We had to make ends meet somehow, nya."

"Enlighten me. I would've pried off another scale if I had known this was all we'd get for it."

"Well, I think that this place is perfect. It'll help."

"Help with what? I don't" Whatever Issei was going to ask was cut off as Kuroka pressed her lips to his. Issei's mind went blank. Everything he knew about the bond implied that any advances made on him by any other than his bondmate would fill him with revulsion. So why wasn't he negatively reacting to this?

Pulling herself away, Kuroka gasped for air. "So, was it as good for you as it was for me?" Her elation died down as she saw Issei's betrayed expression. 'Even after two years together, he still cares for someone else?'

"I… I'm sorry, I shouldn't have… I need to go." Kuroka ran for the door and out of the hotel, leaving a stunned Issei behind, still at a loss for words.

'Stupid, stupid!' Kuroka silently cried. 'Of course he'd react like that, even if our life-forces are beginning to resonate, I shouldn't have been so forward with him! We just escaped freaking Tartarus, there's no way romance is his highest priority!'

Lost in thought, Kuroka didn't notice that someone was approaching from behind her, though she did notice the blade pressed against her throat.

"Though you are an escapee of Tartarus, I cannot interfere with the dregs of a different faction. I will spare your life, should you tell me what I want to know. Where is the dragon child?"

Kuroka was now beyond terrified. She wasn't the target, Issei was! Even though he wasn't interested in her, she couldn't betray him.

"Withhold my quarry's location and I cut you down now. I'll find him anyway with enough time but it is your choice to die now or live to see another day."

'Issei, I'm sorry, but I don't want to die'

"Alright." Kuroka whispered dejectedly. "I'll tell you."

Issei had only taken the time to change clothes before chasing the Black Cat. 'Where the hell did she go? And why?'

(You weren't very receptive to her advances, so it's not surprising. Females are like that sometimes.)

'Don't stereotype, where is she? I've lost her scent and she's shielding herself.'

If Albion showed any frustration or amusement, he hid it well. (We'll find her if and only if she ever wants to be found. Worry more about who's clothes you've appropriated.)

'Putting clothes on a clothesline in this day and age is practically inviting someone to take them. Besides, I left a scale to pay for them. I'd say that more than fair compensation.'

(You need to work on losing that prison mindset. That mentality will one day get you killed. Now before you go, let's- INCOMING!)

Issei had been mid-jump between rooftops before being blindsided by a focused blast of power. Sent sprawling, he extended his wings in a hasty attempt to recover his balance. Growling, he looked back to the source of the attack, an auburn-haired woman on a flying, silver chariot. Gleaming in the moonlight, the style of her light armor and cloak was decidedly not Japanese. Trying to think of anyone he may have offended while in Tartarus who matched this woman's description, he came up blank.

"WHAT THE HELL? BACK OFF, LADY!" Issei roared. "WHAT DID I DO TO YOU?"

The woman scowled, marring her elfish features. "You gained favor with my worthless half-brother, Ares, by proving your worth in the pit. You clawed your way out of Tartarus and proved your worth as a legitimate threat. I am Artemis, goddess of the Hunt, and it is my right and jurisdiction to end your life, boy."

(We're in no condition to fight, RUN!)

Turning on his heel, Issei gained a running start before launching himself in the air. Taking advantage of the Kyoto skyline, he used as many buildings for cover as he maneuvered away from the angry goddess. Using every evasion tactic he could think of, he frantically used his fire as a smokescreen, banked into alleyways, and tried to avoid the hail of arrows that were cast towards him.

He thought he was in the clear until a searing pain emanated from his thigh. Glancing down, he saw his pants ripped over a seemingly shallow cut. Sadly, it seemed it would not stop bleeding nor give cause for the excruciating pain. 'Albion, what was that?'

(She's a goddess of the Hunt. Her arrows must change to potentially kill whatever beast she's tracking. In that case, her silver arrows are capable of killing you, dragonhide or not. The Cat will have to wait; your life is our immediate concern.)

Taking another glancing shot to his shoulder, Issei nearly tumbled out of the sky. Choosing to dive into another alley, he pulled up as he found himself at a dead end. Whirling, he found himself cornered as the goddess was already at the entrance, an arrow drawn on her bow and with a clear line of sight.

'ALBION, DO IT NOW!'

Artemis fired, her arrow splitting into a fountain of starlight that embedded itself into the wall. Issei was already long gone. Screaming in rage at her lost prize, Artemis guided her chariot into the sky as dawn began to break.

Meanwhile, Kuroka sighed in relief. She had been able to sense and track Issei, just in time to see him blur out of existence in what she assumed was the same technique that he used to get them out of their mutual confinement. 'Issei, I'm sorry. But I'm glad you're alright.' Moving back into the street proper, she retracted her ears and tails, and disappeared into the city.

Stumbling, Issei fell through the rift in space and crashed into the floor. This transport wasn't nearly as pleasant as the last, as Albion had forced it without him manifesting Divine Dividing, let alone activating Balance Breaker. All the energy had come from his seals, and it clearly didn't sit well with the young dragon. 'Albion, where did we go?'

(Somewhere in Kuoh, where I can't say. I'm… sorry.)

'Huh?'

(Forcing that… teleport… took a lot out of me. I'm… going to sleep now… Welcome… home.)

'Albion? Come on, don't pass out on me now!' Hearing nothing more than a snore from the Heavenly Dragon, Issei sighed and picked himself off the ground. Walking out of their landing zone, a small alleyway, he noticed that he was now in Kuoh's market district. 'Home.' Issei had dreamed of this moment for the best part of a decade. Taking a minute or thirty to breathe in the sights and sounds, he immersed himself in the busy crowds.

Wandering from place to place, he noted that everything was roughly the same, albeit smaller. Courtesy of growing up, he supposed. Eyeing the food stands hungrily, he was tempted to steal or barter with another scale. However, stealing didn't sit well with him, regardless of how he justified it and he didn't want to leave a trail of scales everywhere he went. In the end, he went hungry. He'd done it before, though that was small comfort.

After spending most the day in the downtown area, Issei decided it was time to return home. Turning onto the road that would lead to his old neighborhood, he passed by a woman that seemed to be handing out fliers to random people. Upon further observation, he knew that she wasn't human. She smelled wrong, though he didn't sense any hostility. The pattern she was using to hand out fliers was erratic, so he was mildly surprised when the… woman… handed him one as well, before she winked and walked away.

Issei frowned and looked at the flier. It was a magic circle, that much he knew but he couldn't recognize its owner. Assuming that it was a form of communication of some kind, he pocketed it and continued on his way.

Still thinking about who in Kuoh had ties to the supernatural, he turned onto his home street and gaped. All thoughts of the flier were forgotten. In place of his home and surrounding neighborhood, were a plaza and several multi-tiered buildings. 'What the hell happened here!' he complained. Stepping up to the gated entrance, he read the sign bolted to the entryway. "Kuoh Academy, huh? Rebuilt and reopened, now co-ed? I guess dad broke more than I thought if they scrapped everything for a school.'

Frowning and face palming, he cursed his idiocy. There had been no reason for him to assume that his home would remain exactly the way he had left it. Issei removed his hand, took a deep breath, and stiffened. 'Devils. Here? Can I get a break for once? This is dragon territory, what are they doing here?'

With nowhere else to go, he broke into a steady jog towards his old training grounds. Hopefully that was still a safe place for him.

Dinner was a messy thing. After catching and killing a deer, Issei had set to grilling and preparing his first meal outside the prison. Something that was both fresh and not the crap fed to him while in prison. Using some sticks from the clearing and his own flame, he was able to barbecue the meat.

It was delicious. Warm, juicy meat. Simple, but compared to the fare he'd had for the past decade, he didn't care. Engrossed with his meal, he didn't notice the wards around the clearing collapse. He did feel the arrow that went through his previously injured shoulder.

"I was wondering where you'd gone," a haughty voice spoke from behind him. Turning to see Artemis nock another arrow to her bow, Issei's heart sank. He was cornered.

"How… how did you find me?"

"I doubt you had the strength to go far, after using that technique once already to escape the eternal pit. I simply looked in every nearby town and city and scanned each location for faint traces of draconic energy. After all, your Nekomata friend was very forthcoming on how to find you."

"No!" Issei cried. "Kuroka, she... she wouldn't do that!" Would she?

Artemis shrugged. "It was betraying you or forfeiting her own life. I gave her no other options. She chose wisely."

Issei nearly fell to his knees. 'Is this it? Is this because of what happened in the hotel? Kuroka, I'm sorry, but why this?'

With both Albion and his Longinus beyond his reach, Issei extended his own wings to flee once more, only to scream in agony as a volley of silver shafts pierced the translucent membranes.

"Now, now, I can't have you running again. Once the other gods learn of your escape, it'll start another dispute of which side you'll join, and I can't allow you to join Ares." Artemis slowly moved toward him, as if her kill was already assured. "If it makes you feel any better, I won't take my usual trophy from your corpse. You're wings are in tatters, your body is failing, and your spirit is breaking. I take no pleasure in doing this, but it must be done."

Lifting her bow once more. She frowned as Issei began to crawl away, wings dragging in the dirt. In quick succession, she fired several arrows. Through his uninjured shoulder, his right hand, left leg, and both wing arms, effectively pinning him to the ground. "Still clinging to life? I admire your determination, but this must end."

Taking one last arrow, she sent it on its quiet path, directly through his heart, halting any further movement. Stepping to his body, Artemis was amazed that even with dozens of bolts embedded into him, he was still alive, albeit fading at a fast rate. With a wave of her hand, each arrow dissipated, turning to silver dust that vanished on the breeze. Issei visibly relaxed, as the enchanted arrows were carefully removed, and the pain ceased.

"I won't have my prey needlessly suffer." She said, not without compassion. "This place is meaningful to you?" Issei could only nod, not having the strength to do anything else.

"Then I shall rebuild the barriers and seal you inside. This will be your last refuge, as I leave you in peace. Do you have any last words?"

Issei strained to murmur a few words, causing the goddess to kneel beside him to understand.

"Akeno… I would have… liked to see… her. One last… time."

Shocked, Artemis recoiled. His last request wasn't for mercy or kindness. It wasn't even to spare his life. Just simple longing, burning desire to see someone he cared about. So many emotions burned behind his eyes, each she could identify without effort. They made it only harder for her to reply, "I'm sorry, but that is a wish I cannot grant."

Steeling herself, she mustered the resolve to stand, to leave him and not look back. Riding beyond the clearing, stopping only to erect wards that would prevent intruders from dishonoring his expiring body. With further consideration, Artemis set several barriers of her own, mainly to discourage anyone from entering, as was the custom to give to fallen enemies worthy of her respect. Her work finished, she mounted her chariot once more and disappeared.

Inside the clearing, Issei desperately tried to force air into his lungs. Blood spilled from his lips, warm liquid agitating his breathing even more. Without the strength needed to continue functioning, he began to finally succumb to his grievous wounds.

Unbeknownst to him or the goddess, the magic circle, still in his back pocket, began to glow with an intense crimson light.

AN: Once again, I am truly sorry for the delay. I had this written a week ago, but haven't had the time to edit and upload till now.

On another note, Artemis. I'm using her only as a way to kill Issei. Issei didn't have his Longinus active, so he didn't have the power to kill a god, especially a god who specializes in killing all kinds of creatures. Dragons do technically count as creatures, so in my mind it works.

On the other hand, this means that the next chapter is the first that lines up with the canon material. Dying and emotionally betrayed Issei. This means chapters should be longer and updated faster. Don't quote me on that, I do have other things IRL that may come up.

Thanks again for reading and please review! My drive to write survives on your feedback!