Chapter 18: Fangs Bared

Waking up the morning after fending off Kuroka, Issei wasn't surprised to find Akeno in bed with him. At first, he was apprehensive at the thought of someone spotting them. It didn't feel right to be doing something like this within a guest's house. Akeno had assured him that they were Devils so this wasn't something to be ashamed of. Regardless, this didn't do much to alleviate his concerns. He was half-human half-dragon, after all.

Stirring awake, Akeno slowly opened her eyes before looking at Issei, giving him a warm smile.

"Morning."

"Morning." Issei couldn't help but smile back.

Akeno looked at the clock and decided that they didn't have time to loiter around in bed.

"We should get ready. Rias told me that we've got business to take care of today." She sat up.

"What're you doing?" Issei asked.

Akeno sighed. She had just realized that Issei wasn't even supposed to be involved since he wasn't a member of the Peerage.

"She has an announcement today. She hasn't elaborated on it, but I need to be away all day. That means that I'll have to leave you with Vali." Akeno crawled closer before laying herself on him. She needed to get her skinship time in before spending the rest of the day without him.

"So, in short, you're gonna miss me?" Issei chuckled.

"I'm so used to spending every day with you. It makes me sad to spend even three hours away from you." She intertwined their fingers.

"It'll be fine. I'll still see you after you're done."

"But that'll feel so long." Akeno mumbled. Her voice was so sultry, yet sad. She never failed to foil Issei's composure when she did that.

"It can't be helped. We've all gotta deal with stuff."

"That reminds me, what're you gonna do?"

Akeno was now feeling guilty. She'd coerced him into staying at the Gremory Manor, and now, he was here with nothing to do but stay within the presence of people that he didn't know.

"I'll most likely go visit Grigori. I haven't gotten up to it yet so it's time I did." Issei mused.

"Alright, have fun." Akeno nodded in satisfaction before leaving.

After breakfast, Issei went to do just that, leaving with Vali and Raynare to go to Grigori.

Returning to the Institute, Issei greeted many of the people that he had close ties with. Penemue, Armaros, Sahariel, and several others were among the folks that they went to see. Despite having to deal with several hijinks, they were happy to get some relaxing time with the Fallen Angels, enjoying the old homely feeling that Issei used to know as a child.

Before long, Issei had to fight off Sahariel, who was trying to make him stay for an experiment.

"You want me to do what?" The Red Dragon Emperor looked at the scientist incredulously.

"I want you to chomp down on these." Sahariel proceeded to clap two electric clamps together.

The moment the clamps touched, sparks lit up the entire room, blasting off bolts of electricity that lit several things on fire.

"Uh, how many volts are in this thing?"

"About 55 million." Sahariel nonchalantly replied.

"No!" Issei incredulously shook his head.

"Relax, you can wear your Balance Breaker, and you're half-dragon. This should be nothing." The mad scientist handed the clamps over.

"Touch me with that and you die." Issei narrowed his eyes.

Sahariel and Amaros weren't surprised with his choice of words. Issei really only regarded Azazel, Baraqiel, and Kokabiel as his uncles, since they spent the most time with him. Everybody were good friends to him, thankfully. And this was one of the reasons for that. Making emotional ties with people like Sahariel would make it hard to kill them.

"Oh, come on, don't you care about my research?"

"No, I don't. Fifty-five million volts…seriously?"

"It's to test the limits of a dragon's durability."

"Goodbye, Sahariel." Issei sighed.

Speeding away from him, he went to Azazel's office, where Vali and Raynare had headed off to before him. Entering the room, he found the two talking rather seriously. When the Red Dragon Emperor made his appearance, Azazel gestured for him to sit down.

"Am I in trouble?" He asked, jokingly.

"Well, that depends. Did you cheat on my daughter?" Azazel laughed.

"Dad." Vali sighed.

"Anyways, I have a bit of news. There've been a lot of rumors going around that you need to be aware of."

"Which happen to be?" Issei continued.

"Many of the devil higher-ups have their eye on you. I've done a bit of snooping, and as it would turn out, there are positive and negative aspects to this."

"Let me guess…" Issei sighed.

"Lynch. Lynch. Lynch." Ddraig chortled.

"This is serious, Ddraig." Albion reprimanded his counterpart.

"That's the bad part. Some of them want you kicked down several pegs for what you did concerning the Phenex Family's arrangement with the Gremory Clan. While I haven't heard of anything from the Phenex Clan, personally, they don't seem that mad. As for the positive part, many see you as an opportunity. A Red Dragon Emperor has never taken part in the politics of the Devils. Some see this as a chance to recruit you, especially now that it's been made clear that you are stronger than Riser." Azazel sighed.

"So, this is just another lecture?" Issei gulped.

"Yes." Azazel narrowed his eyes.

"I knew you were too quiet about that incident." Ddraig groaned.

"I'm your legal guardian and your godfather. It's my sworn oath to watch over you. You're practically old enough to make your own decisions now, but this was a risky move. All three factions have their own motives, but the Devils, in particular have dark motives. They didn't get their bad reputation out of thin air." Azazel crossed his arms, showing his displeasure.

"I know, Uncle, but you know how I am." Issei nodded, understanding where the Governor was going.

"I know you like to help people, and I've kept silent about many things, but you're about to dive neck-deep into matters that you won't be escaping from. When you pleaded to become an agent for Grigori, I only kept you on bodyguard and escort duties because I was afraid of something like this. You're considered a fourth party, unassociated with all other factions. What many don't know, is that you're affiliated with me, which is something that we need to keep secret from others. With that established, you host Ddraig, which makes things even worse. People will be wary of you and the more prominent you become, the more likely you'll be targeted. It's been confirmed that the girl that attacked the Party the other night was Kuroka, a stray SS-Class Devil. It's a no-brainer that she's with the Khaos Brigade and it would be stupid to think that she won't tell her compatriots about you."

"Where are you getting at, Uncle?"

"I'm saying that I want you to join the Alliance now. There's no other choice. If you're caught alone and unaffiliated, you're fair game for the enemy. If you join, you get the protection you need from me and allies and we can talk whenever possible. Now, the workload I'm taking on is increasing steadily and I can't always watch over you, so I need you to be near so that I can help when you call." Azazel leaned on his desk, seriously looking at Issei.

"Okay." Issei nodded.

"Okay?" Vali raised a brow.

His tone was too flat and simple. He clearly didn't think the answer through.

"It's not like I have anything to argue about. Just sign me up." Issei shrugged.

"This boy." Azazel sighed.

Issei didn't seem to think one bit. He was answering and moving impulsively as always.

"Uncle, it's exactly as you said. I'll be nearby to help and ask for help if I join the Alliance."

"Alright." Azazel sighed. He was feeling serious but his nephew just had to kill the tense mood.

"However, do not tell anyone about your parents." Azazel pointed his finger at him.

Issei was now understanding just how serious it was. Azazel only ever pointed his finger at him when it was an absolute command.

"Uncle, why do you and the others not want me telling people about my parents?" Issei asked.

"Your father was Ddraig's disciple. He made a lot of enemies, some of them dead, others hiding. Sins of the father, boy. That could happen to you. Your father's name was originally Enryukou. He wasn't recorded in myth because of circumstances but I assure you, the people that hated him haven't forgotten. As for your mother, she was one of the very few who obtained eternal youth. That's something others desperately want."

Issei knew that his parents weren't normal, but he hadn't exactly fully weighed out the scope of everything till now.

"I didn't tell you when you were younger because I was afraid you'd go looking for trouble or become afraid of the world. Now that you're old enough, I think it's fine to tell you now. Your parents never said anything because they wanted their secrets to die with them."

Issei only sat silently for a while, digesting this information.

"By the way, I've got this for you." Azazel manifested a mountain of letters.

"What are these?"

"Complaints about property damage. Now that you're a part of the Alliance, you've gotta own up to the damage you've caused. Stuff like the church that you blew up are all counted as bills and letters in this pile. Oh, and you've got some hate mail too, most of them from Phenex sympathizers. Good luck sorting them out. I've already taken the payments for damage out of your account." Azazel devilishly chuckled as he left the room.

"Damn you, Uncle." Issei growled, eyeing the large fine on the bill he was currently looking at.

"You're still the same, even after all these years." Vali sighed.

"Why is everybody sighing?" Issei sourly groaned.

"You're still so impulsive." The White Dragon Empress shook her head.

Issei didn't answer, not wanting to throw more fuel into the fire and start a fight.

"But I know that means you won't hesitate for the right thing." Vali gave him a smooch on the cheek while looking over his paperwork with him.

"So, what were you doing?"

"Nothing. Dad just asked me to help with a job." Vali sat on Issei's lap while filing his mountain of letters.

"Should I know about anything?" Issei got comfy as he looked at paperwork with one arm while holding onto his other girlfriend with his right arm.

"Well, I'll be away for a few days."

"Where are you going?" Issei raised a brow.

"I'm going up North, to Asgard. Since I'm familiar with the place, I've been asked to do a little bit of scouting."

"I'll go with you." Issei decided.

Vali flicked him on the forehead.

"Nope. You're in the Alliance now. You need to go where you're needed. You should know that free-roaming isn't allowed anymore." Vali frowned.

"Right…forgot." Issei facepalmed.

"Besides, I've done this thing before. Stop being so worried about everything all the time." Vali smiled.

"I can't help it." Issei shrugged.

Vali knew why. Issei was just too scared of losing anybody close to him. He'd already lost his parents, thought he lost Akeno, and then she left him to get stronger. She wouldn't be surprised if he had abandonment issues. The source of this problem was probably when she and Akeno nearly died in the forest. That incident had happened right before Shuri's death too.

"Look, I promise, I'll be okay. I'll be home right after the mission." She gently caressed his face.

"No, take as long as you need. Don't worry about me." Issei shook his head.

"Well, it's not easy on me either. I spent years away from you. You think I'm willing to stay apart for any longer than five days?" Vali giggled.

Before long, the pair had sorted out all of the property damage payments before leaving the Institution. When they returned to the Gremory Mansion, Akeno was already waiting, looking rather tense.

"Something wrong?" Issei asked as he sat across from her.

"No." Akeno returned to her natural smile.

"You look rather serious. Did Rias tell you something bad?" Vali started pouring tea.

"Actually, we've just been told that we're going to take part in a series of Rating Games amongst the Young Devils. The Kings are Rias, Sona, Sairaorg Bael, Seekvaira Agares, Diodora Astaroth, and Zephyrdor Glasya-Labolas." Akeno recounted.

"Those're some big names." Issei sputtered into his cup.

Akeno could only nod.

"It's really just a tournament to show off, isn't it?" Vali inquired.

"Pretty much. It's to get some energy flowing back amongst the masses and to get the interest of other factions. Not only that, but the elders are really just trying to see who they can invest in most in the future." Akeno agreed, disliking this whole situation but at the same time, understood its uses.

"So, who're you fighting?"

"Sona Sitri."

Issei figured that it would be someone else, like Seekvaira Agares but it really didn't matter to him. Based off what he knew, Rias's Peerage was at quite a disadvantage. They took brutish approaches and were heavy on powerplays. Sona was tactical, given some of the stories that he'd heard about her magnificent intellect.

"Well, has Rias been looking for more Peerage members? As it stands, you're pretty outnumbered."

Akeno was going to tell Issei that Rias wanted him to join, originally, but that wasn't proper. That was in the past now.

"She has, but nobody really fits the bill right now. However…there are a few people that've come forward about wanting to join her." Akeno mused, recalling the messages that had been sent to her King.

"So, what's your plan?" Vali asked.

"It depends on the rules and game type, really. Uncle Azazel has been appointed as our advisor, and he's been helping us with training for different situations, but aside from that, we're kind of in the dark."

"I guess that's enough for now." Vali shrugged.

"Tell me, will you be watching?" Akeno looked at the both of them.

"Of course. Dad already gave us the passes to go watch." Vali chippered up, smiling at her best friend encouragingly.

"Why do you look so nervous?"

"Well…I'm going to try it." Akeno shifted nervously.

"Try what?"

"I'm going to try using my Holy Lightning." The shrine maiden looked at the two, slightly nervous.

"Can you use it now?" Issei asked.

It was a touchy subject for her, he knew that. She had been experiencing issues with using those powers before, having refused to use them before it became apparently locked to her.

"I've tried and I can make a few bolts but it's not effective enough. That's why I asked my father for help. Maybe…maybe if something can snap me out of my funk, I can make it manifest." Akeno hypothesized.

She sounded more hopeful, rather than confident, but in the end, she was the only one that could make her powers manifest. Deciding that this was her own personal matter, Issei only nodded, wishing her the best of luck.

"Whatever happens, I know you'll do great." He gave her a hug, reassuring her.

"Yeah. I know that this time, we'll win." Akeno wanted to agree with him, but deep down, she was doubtful. She really didn't know if all of the burdens blocking her way were gone yet. Yes, she had forgiven her father, but had she forgiven herself? Without a doubt, she still hated her Himejima relatives for their warmongering and traditionalist dogmatism, but that never blocked her way before. There was something else that was limiting her, but what was it?

She wanted to know soon, because it was driving her crazy.

When it was time for the Rating Game between Rias and Sona, Issei was allowed to attend through recommendations. He'd been invited to watch the Game from the VIP box, courtesy of his connection to Azazel and Sirzechs. He had been bombarded by people interested in him when he arrived. He had conducted himself professionally, ensuring not to anger anyone. However, he felt disgust. He knew that may just wanted to get on his good side so that they could either deceive him or use him in the future. He knew their game after several situations where he'd been tricked before, and where he'd paid dearly for it.

"Welcome Red Dragon Emperor, please, have a seat." Sirzechs politely gestured to one of the seats.

"I am humbled by your invitation, Lord Sirzechs." Issei extended his hand, maintaining a serious expression.

"Pay no mind to it. I am also glad to see that you are joining the Alliance." Sirzechs shook it before everyone seated themselves.

"I would be a madman not to. I'd be happy to lend a helping hand."

"It reassures me that you believe so. Now, let us begin the Match. I'm sure that everyone is eager to see how things turn out." Sirzechs sat down, gesturing for others to follow suit.

Issei looked around through the corner of his eyes, identifying various attendees to be nobles of the Devil hierarchy and high-ranking Angels. Considering how new the Alliance was, he wasn't surprised that there were barely any deities and youkai present. The Biblical Pantheon had gained a vast number of followers from several other lands. Some saw this as them stealing worshippers, but Issei paid it no mind. At least that meant that hostilities would be lower, if not less complex.

Turning his attention to the spectacle before him, he looked on at what seemed to be a shopping district in Kuoh, which had been simulated by the Devils with utter perfection. Through various screens, he could see every one of his friends preparing for the game to begin.

"Hello, ladies and gentlemen, I, Grayfia Lucifuge, will be the Arbiter for this Match. For today's Game, the type will be a Classic Game. The goal is the elimination of the other Peerage's King, who you will have to locate. The base for Rias Gremory is on the second floor to the East of the District, located within the Book Store. The base for Sona Sitri will be on the first floor of the West Section. In addition to this, there is an additional restriction for this Match. The condition has been sent to both teams along with one bottle of Phoenix Tears. The time before the Match will be 30 minutes, where planning will be allowed. Contact with the opposing team is strictly prohibited and any contact with the outside will be counted against any who commit the act. Now, let the strategy meetings begin."

Issei wondered just what sort of plans were being put in place. Rias's peerage had a tendency to lean towards explosive battles, so restrained combat was a problem for them. Sona had a diverse skillset in her Peerage, being able to do many different things but she lacked specialties in a certain aspect of combat, especially brute force. In all honesty, Sona held an advantage over Rias, not only because of her tactical superiority, but because she was less predictable. The Red Dragon Emperor could only hope for the best, despite wishing both teams luck.

Upon the Game starting, things were going quite simple. Both Peerages were hammering at each other's ranks. Much to his surprise and excitement, Rias's Peerage had grown stronger. She, herself, had grown more capable of controlling her powers.

When Sona's peerage members: Ruruko, Reya, and Momo closed in on Rias's location, she had erected a barrier around herself, made from her Power of Destruction. It not only gave her solid defense, but it also kept others from even touching the barrier or they'd risk damage to themselves.

While that happened, Kiba led the assault on Sona, leading Koneko and Xenovia. Charging through the Mall, they encountered Saji, Tsubaki, and Meguri.

"Hello, Kiba, might we have some of your time?" Tsubaki readied her naginata.

"Sure. I wouldn't prefer it any other way." Kiba smirked playfully, drawing his sword.

Without another sound, all six engaged in combat. Issei was excited when he saw Kiba dual-wielding two swords that were of exceptional quality, given the massive aura around them that kept the weapons strong. Each time his swords struck Tsubaki's naginata, sparks flickered like the flashing of lightning. He could even see her weapon shake from the sheer force of his attacks.

However, Tsubaki stood strong against him, barely fazed from his aggressive assault. Using her Queen attributes, she sped around the area, as if playing a deadly game of tag with the Knight.

Whilst they fought, Koneko was having a spot of trouble with Saji, who'd used his [Lines] to restrain her. Of course, keeping them on her was his mistake. That was when Issei was surprised with delight once again. Erupting from her palms, were white flames that snaked around his wires.

"What?!" He gasped, yanking his lines free.

Koneko took a deep breath before opening her eyes. Reflected within were the ivory flames of her heritage.

"Senjutsu." Sirzechs narrowed his eyes in interest.

He was intrigued that after so long that the young Nekomata would awaken her powers, having feared them for most of her life because of her sister's deeds. Yet, she seemed to be courageously stable and in control of her emotions. It made him a bit proud of her, actually. He recalled the despairing and mute little kitten that he had rescued from long ago. To see her grow into a strong tiger brought a wide smile to his face.

Much to Sirzech's chagrin however, several of the nobles sitting behind him were making uncomfortable faces, disturbed by this development.

Koneko, seizing Saji's surprise as a chance, delivered a powerful punch that mixed her senjutsu into the blow, causing him to gag and spit. The host of Vritra dropped to his knees as his stomach was in all sorts of confused pain. However, he forced himself to recover and retaliate.

Wrapping a Line around Koneko's leg, he lifted her up into the air with a powerful swing of his arms. Despite balancing herself, Koneko was still vulnerable. With a mighty kick, Saji used all of his leg power to throw her into a wall, causing a large hole to be smashed into it.

"I didn't spend all this time doing nothing, y'know. I've been training non-stop for days like this. No matter what, I'm going to help the Prez take you all down!" Saji declared.

Clearly, there was more to his words than it appeared. He sounded a bit emotional, as if resolute. It didn't sound like a threat, but a declaration. Issei couldn't help but feel a bit of positive sympathy from wherever it was that Saji was talking from.

Azazel looked at Xenovia and found that her fighting style was odd. She was struggling not just against her opponent, but with herself too. Her hands were constantly shaking and Durandal's aura wasn't as radiant as before. If anything, it was barely present, existing only as a ghostly wisp around the blade.

When she swung her weapon, it produced no shockwaves, showing evident effort in the process. This made Issei wonder if she was losing control over the weapon or if it was reacting to something. Regardless, she was making progress with avoiding damage to the building.

The Knight parried and blocked swing after swing from Meguri, who was also using a sword, but it was clearly enchanted, as a normal sword would've shattered from contact with the holy sword. Dodging several slashes from Meguri wasn't a problem, but she seemed to slow down when returning the favor. Her swings weren't as precise and she wasn't putting her whole weight into it. Despite that, she still maintained her own footing against the opposing knight.

Aside from that, Gasper was still providing surveillance while Akeno and Asia stayed close to Rias, maintaining a solid defense.

"Red Dragon Emperor, what do you make of this situation?" Azazel asked out of the blue.

The boy knew what this was. It wasn't a question of Rias and Sona's peerages. Azazel wanted to know if Issei was capable of analyzing a situation. The Governor wanted to see if Issei had any growth outside of fighting.

He didn't have a full grip on everything, but he could at least put some stuff together.

"As it stands, the situation is ambiguous. Sona Sitri's Peerage has an advantage in the number of advances they can make, but Rias Gremory's Peerage has more power on their side of the playing field. The Match could go either way, really."

Azazel nodded, though to him, it was only a passable statement.

"Interesting statement. Then if you were to go after a person on either Peerage, who would it be?"

Issei had to think about that. Perhaps he was overthinking things, but it seemed as if he was taking more time than necessary.

"For Rias Gremory's team, I think Rias would be the prime choice, not because she's their King, but because she seems to be the linchpin that holds their team together. If she were removed, then the team would suffer an emotional blow and fall into disarray. As for Sona Sitri's Peerage, I believe Saji Genshirou is a prime target. Based off observations I've made, I believe that he serves as the emotional core of his group. He provides encouragement and emotional support and even has several skills up his sleeve. I think he should be the first to be targeted."

Azazel decided that Issei had passed his question well enough, but he needed to grow more. It was no secret to him that Issei was more of a brawn-type than a thinker, but he was mindful of emotional aspects and values.

"I agree, however, I believe that if Rias were to be eliminated, in a real-life setting, at least, then the group would fight even harder. They seem to care for their King like family, that would be enough to suggest that they would take an aggressive approach against whoever felled their beloved leader. I believe that they would lose reason and attack blindly. As for the Sitri Peerage, I think that there is an emotional balance all-around, but I do concur about Genshirou's targeting. His wide range of applications make him a dangerous asset on Sitri's side." Azazel responded.

Issei sighed to himself. Azazel was still doubtful of his tactical predictions, but he had his reasons. Even if he was his godfather, Azazel was still also his teacher.

As the Rating Game continued, Akeno took part in the Match once Gasper had been eliminated. After being pelted by volleys of garlic to play on his fears, he was barraged by camera flashes to stun him before Tsubasa and Ruruko finished him off, creating Rias's first loss of a Peerage member.

When Akeno entered the field, she obliterated Tsubasa and Ruruko from participation with an overwhelming net of thunder magic. Issei had honestly thought that her Holy Lightning would manifest but clearly, he was wrong. When she let her blast fly, she only soured in expression. Once again, she was unable to utilize the power of her bloodline. Forgoing that attempt, Akeno marched onward, ready to terminate the enemy. Taking to the air, she began scouring the Mall for the enemy.

Back where Kiba and the others were, the two teams were wailing on each other with close-quarters combat. With his Sword of Betrayer, he kept Tsubaki's assault force back with his holy-demonic swords. Out of everyone on Rias's Team, Kiba was most likely the greatest threat for a few reasons. He had holy weapons and most of all, he had control over them. Adding his sword skills and speed to that, he was the most versatile threat to Sona. It wasn't the others were inferior, but the fact that Koneko was a novice with senjutsu and Akeno lacked control over her powers, left them unable to capitalize on those potential edges.

Issei sighed. Things just never worked in time. Rias was already losing ground because of the sheer lack of numbers but was making up for it with explosive power. Sona was also playing it safe. She kept poking at them, trying to exploit weaknesses with round-about tactics. It was at that moment that the first Retirement came about.

Gasper, who served as Rias's eyes, was pelted by a rain of garlic at the grocery store right before one of Sona's servants finished him off with a lethal blow. Issei face-palmed. To think he'd get done in with such a simple tactic. He looked at Azazel.

"Weren't you supposed to help Gasper with his issues?" He frowned.

"We ran out of time, alright?" Azazel indignantly confessed.

Issei returned his attention to the Rating Game, watching intently as the match continued to escalate. Rias was managing to eliminate Sona's servants one by one, but at the same time, she lost several of her own. It had been a relentless game where each King exchanged one servant for another or more. So far, Xenovia, Koneko, and Asia had been claimed while Sona was only left with Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Reya. Issei had noticed that the one who'd stood out most in the Match was Saji.

He had used every ounce of his strength to try and win the Game for his King. He didn't know the story behind it, but because of Saji's fervor, he knew that it was utterly important to him and Sona. Why else would he fight until the bones in his limbs broke? He even overheard Sirzechs deciding on giving Saji the medal reserved for the one who'd made the most splendid performance in a Rating Game.

At long last, when the final bout was to begin, Rias and her Peerage were thrown onto a thin wire that determined their fate. Sona had revealed that she had a trick up her sleeve. Using her Sitri magic, she'd washed away all of the strength and stamina of her opponents through hidden magic circles that she'd kept concealed around the rooftop that she hid on. Splashing from the circles were enchanted tsunamis that swirled around Rias and what remained of her Peerage, throwing them around while tearing out their stamina and energy.

Sona had watched with stern eyes as she realized how close the situation had come to flipping against her. Thankfully, she had spent months developing this spell for a situation such as this. When she knew that Rias was her opponent, she knew that she was outgunned with firepower. That had only hastened the process that she used to perfect this technique, for it was her ultimate trump card now.

Left without any power to move or attack, it looked as if Rias had lost. She and the rest of her Peerage were writhing in agony on the floor, trembling and light-headed from all of the power that had been sapped from every fiber of their being.

"Damn it." Akeno groaned.

The listless despair and frustration in her voice made it apparent to Issei that the critical moment had arrived. She'd been agonizing over being unable to unleash her Holy Lightning for months. She regretted having lost touch with her power over Light and ever since she lost the Game with Riser, she'd tried to get it back. However, they both knew better. Akeno needed an emotional trigger to bring back those dormant powers. It had been lost with a great cause and it now needed great purpose to return.

Akeno growled and groaned in pain as she stumbled up. She could barely feel her legs, much less focus right now. Everything seemed so painful that even moving was a discouraging idea.

'I can't let it end like this. I need to win. Rias's dream is depending on me. I've finally patched things up with Father. I've let go of all my inhibitions. I can't lose again. I can't be set back again. I need my power. I need the gift my father gave me. I need Light! So, why can't I have it back?! What's stopping me?!'

As if time stopped, Akeno tried to think clearly and calmly. Her emotions had been so rampant lately, but she didn't say a thing. She didn't want to show this other side of herself, much less her inner thoughts.

Rias had already done so much for Akeno. She gave her a home; her family took her in and raised her like she was a daughter of the House. She had to repay her King somehow. Most of all, she needed to throw away this hurdle that was blocking her progress. She needed to finally assert that she'd let go of the past now.

Then there was Issei…

Suddenly, Akeno felt something. It was as if all those thoughts had chipped away at a wall in her mind. Behind that wall, were thoughts and reasons that she'd nearly forgotten as well as new thoughts that had newly formed in her mind.

That's right. She had been foolish to have forgotten about Issei. He was the reason why she'd been trying to grow stronger after all. She wanted to be stronger so that he wouldn't cry anymore.

New strength was welling within her, as if her body had pointed something out. She felt warmth engulf her as power returned to every cell in her body. With a violent burst, golden sparks showered off her. Haunting crackles and snaps bounced from Akeno's white aura as her violet eyes shined with supernatural radiance.

'That's right. I can't lose. I need to become someone that my mother would be proud of. That's why I wanted this power back. I need to be stronger for the others. I need to be stronger for Issei. I need to be able to stand by him. I need to be able to protect my family.' Akeno, using all of her strength, stepped forward.

Combining her Light powers with thunder magic, she blasted Sona with a storm that blinded the cameras. Within the blink of an eye, Sona was sieged with by thousands of lightning bolts, which connected with her remaining peerage members, channeling a web of lightning between all of Akeno's enemies.

Issei was elated to see this. At long last, she'd finally gotten her power over light back. She'd been hating herself lately for being unable to use those powers as of late. He'd spent a long while trying to help her. They'd spent hours a day training and contemplating towards a solution. Finally, their efforts bore fruit.

"She finally did it." Azazel muttered, proud.

"Like an ace in the hole." Issei nodded.

With that, the Rating Game had ended with Rias's side having overpowered all of Sona's pieces. Right when the applause of the crowds began erupting, Issei was approached by Ddraig.

'Issei, you feel that?'

'Feel what?'

'That dark presence. Are you telling me you can't feel that?'

Issei didn't feel a thing. Nothing was making his senses kick off. Nobody else was taking notice either. Ddraig even sounded angry with him.

'Where is it coming from?'

'By the hallway. Get on it.' Ddraig ordered.

"I'll be back in a bit." Issei excused himself.

Jogging out of the VIP Box, he looked in the hallway. There was nobody around. What was Ddraig getting on about?

'They're getting away. Get to the chase!' Ddraig snarled.

Just what had Ddraig in such an aggressive mood? Not questioning him, Issei began sprinting to his left, speeding through the bright hallways.

'What's going on, Ddraig?'

'I feel something sinister. I've only felt it a few times before. It came around when you were attacked by that Armored Devil. Whoever it is, is good at hiding their presence or they're the best at running away.' Ddraig explained.

'Then we need to get this place locked down.'

'We don't want to cause a mass panic and create chaos. Even worse, the enemy could attack and escalate the situation by capitalizing on that fiasco. We don't know who we're dealing with yet. Let's discreetly warn Azazel and the others after a patrol.' Ddraig rejected the idea.

Keeping up his pursuit without drawing attention, Issei could see a cloak running in the distance. With a final burst of speed with a jolt of mana from his feet, he turned the corner but when he looked around, the intruder was gone. Not a single person was in the hallway. It was so eerily silent that it was as if nothing had ever happened. There was no evidence of a presence and no tracks.

Sighing in frustration, Issei ruffled his hair. His diligence had become severely lacking, evidently.

'You've grown too lax with your training. If you'd been more diligent, you'd be able to sense a presence like that, already. I won't fully fault you since the intruder was clearly better than most of the people you've dealt with. Now, get back to the VIP Box before someone makes a commotion.' Ddraig sighed.

The Dragon's disappointment was kind of stinging to hear, but it was true. He'd been slacking off lately and not only that, but he knew that his limits weren't as high as he had presumed them to be. Perhaps spending time in the open world without being near Grigori had opened his eyes a lot. He'd failed to realize before that his head was much bigger than he'd thought.

He'd had a harder time than he should've with the Armored Devil. He'd failed to save Asia in time. He'd also let Freed escape.

'What's got you dwelling on this all of a sudden?'

'Well, it's just that I've been reflecting on what happened with the Armored Devil. I kind of got my ass beaten around.' Issei grumbled.

'It was your fault for not being diligent. You're not arrogant, but you've always had the habit of misunderstanding things and snowballing it. First off, your Boosting is still flawed. You haven't gotten to the point that you can boost your total strength in one activation. When you Boost, it hits a certain level before stopping there while your energy increases, not your actual battle power. You still haven't broken those limits. At the same time, you're still young and Azazel isn't as strict as he really can be with his training. Have you ever noticed that Azazel has never gone all out on you during training? Don't let the pity of others stunt your own growth. Besides, you're not a little boy anymore. You've already proven that you've got what it takes to deal with your own problems. It's up to you to take it from here.'

Ddraig had wondered about how Azazel had trained Issei. He didn't know if it was Azazel's subconscious pity for him or anything, but he actually seemed lenient. He'd allowed Issei to fall for small illusions that could hurt him in the long run. Issei was still greatly naïve to many things and as his partner, Ddraig needed to rectify that.

'Despite all his experience and above-standard skill and strength, he needs to shake that complacency off. War is coming and if he stays like this, he's going to get hurt, maybe killed. I promised his parents that I'd watch over him. He can't be protected by others forever. I'm thankful that he hasn't let his power completely go to his head, at least. Who knows what kind of battle-maniac he'd have become if Vali and I weren't around to keep it under control.' Ddraig thought to himself.

Issei wasn't arrogant by any actual means, but he'd grown too sure of himself. Not only that, but he'd failed to see past a few things that should've been obvious. He was too trusting and saw too many things at face-value. The dragon hadn't forgotten how Issei spoke during his fight with Riser, either. He didn't exactly sound humble, even if he was only trying to rile Riser up. Ddraig had grown to detest such behavior. It was different if the taunts were from a place of smugness, rather than just cheap provocation. So many of his hosts had died because of their arrogance.

Turning around, Issei nearly stumbled as he avoided bumping into someone.

"Uwah!" A yelp came out.

"I'm sorry!" Issei jumped back.

As he focused on who it was in front of him, he paled.

'Aw, crap.' He groaned, despite not losing his calm expression.

Standing in front of him were Ravel Phenex, Lady Phenex, and Lord Phenex.

'Are they going to kill me?' Issei wondered.

'No, they wouldn't dare do that now. Now that it's known that you've joined the Alliance, they're most likely not going to attack you instantly.' Ddraig refuted the idea.

"My apologies for my clumsiness." Issei bowed to Ravel, who was the one he nearly knocked over.

He had to be on his best behavior, lest he invite unintentional consequences.

"No, it's fine. I also apologize for my error." Ravel politely shook her head.

'Alright, gotta get out of here alive.' Issei thought to himself.

'Why are you being so paranoid?'

'Because I suck at politics and I don't want to fight a rich and immortal family. I'm still only one guy and I'm half-human at that. Besides, you know how some nobles are. They don't stop till they run you into the ground.'

'How did Azazel raise such a worrywart like you?'

'If anything, you helped raise me too!' Issei countered.

Ddraig went silent, realizing that he was also at fault.

'You're right…it was also my fault. By the heavens, what have I done? I helped raise a boy that gets confused so often. He won't take initiative. He even philanders around…' The dragon sounded like a parent who'd realized he had a criminal son.

'Need I remind you that you're the one that told me to date them all?' Issei growled.

"Oh my, I believe this is our second meeting. How are you? I am Ravel's mother." Lady Phenex extended her hand.

Issei shook it carefully. She certainly looked like Ravel, except older and more mature. He wasn't surprised. Devils had the power to change their appearances after all.

"I am honored to make your acquaintances." Issei shook her head before bowing.

"I was honestly surprised to hear that the Red Dragon Emperor had joined our ranks. I look forward to working with you in the future." Lord Phenex gave Issei a friendly smile.

"I feel the same way, Sir." Issei smiled.

"I hope there aren't any hard feelings between us. I realize that my son was rather out of line a while ago. It even forced your intervention when we should've taken the time to teach him better. For that, I apologize deeply. I understand that his language was less than satisfactory and his intentions were less than pure." Lord Phenex solemnly spoke.

"Not to worry. I've heard recently that he's turned over a new leaf. I was also out of line with my explosive approach."

"If you don't mind me asking, what is your purpose here today?" Lady Phenex asked.

"I merely came to spectate since I'd heard so much about the Young Rookies from the Underworld." Issei genuinely smiled.

"I see. At first, I was curious as to whether or not you were associated with a Peerage recently, as I wasn't sure of how you learned about the engagement." Lady Phenex chuckled.

"Lady Gremory was a friend of mine, so I overheard her situation and decided to help out."

"I see. Well, I certainly don't blame you. You definitely taught my husband a thing or two about intervening." Lady Phenex blinked at her husband.

The head of the Clan merely looked away.

"I deeply apologize for my crass behavior at the time. I realize that it caused many inconveniences for both families. Not only did I complicate politics and interfere in matters unrelated to my station, but I did it without any inhibition, regardless. For that, I offer my utmost apology." Bowing his head in a traditional display of regret.

Lady Phenex was still skeptical as to what sort of faces Issei wore, but for now, she was pleased with his modesty. With a passive shrug, she meant to reassure him that she held no ill will towards him.

"It's of no consequence. You taught my son and husband humility. Perhaps that's good enough. It certainly doesn't warrant any punishments. However, please be careful. There are many in our society who like to delve into darker dealings." She smiled kindly.

"I am humbled by your advice, Lady Phenex. I won't forget it."

With that matter blown over, Issei left.

'Alright, so they won't kill me…I hope.' He sighed a breath of relief.

'Maybe, but you need to keep your eyes peeled even more now. Your skills are growing dull. To think that a few months of school could make you lose your edge this quickly…' Ddraig sighed.

The cursed dragon just kept rubbing salt into that wound.

'I get it, okay. I need to start training again.'

'You need to reassess yourself and actually fully develop your powers. Now that you're ready, I'm going to verbally walk you through all the powers that I can remember. The only functions that you've unlocked from me are [Boost] and [Transfer]. There're quite a few more that you need to learn if you want to actually reach the point that you've been deluded into reaching.' Ddraig chuckled.

'Why did Uncle Azazel keep lying then? What was the point of it?' Issei asked.

'He didn't want you to grow to crave power. If you kept being defeated, you'd have become more extreme, and would've sought out even more power. Eventually, it would've escalated and you'd become power and battle-hungry. That's what he hypothesized, at least. Us long-lived folk have seen You wanted to be stronger and nearly lost everyone close to you. Azazel feared that those good intentions would become twisted and you might reach the point of no return. That was why he let you believe that you were stronger than you were to keep a healthy sense of confidence to keep away any hunger for battle and power. Still, you've grown to be mature and reasonable enough to avoid that.' Ddraig scoffed.

Despite his harsh criticism and cruel reminders, he was indeed proud of Issei for all of his hard work and development. It made sense, but in the end, Issei was disappointed in himself. He still had so far to go. First and foremost, he needed to be more perceptive in foresight.

'The reason why I'm so angry, Issei, is because I've never felt a presence like that since the end of the war between Heaven, Hell, and Grigori. That presence was foul and sinister. Sometimes, all it takes to kill a bunch of people is just 3 seconds.'

'Then why didn't the other high-level people sense it?'

'It's likely that person was able to use some kind of magic to fool them. Dragons and beasts have stronger senses of smell. My years of experience have allowed me to pick up on that aura.'

Issei didn't reply anymore, only reflecting on Ddraig's words. For there to be something to force Ddraig to be on guard, even intimidated, it was worth being fearful of.

"Azazel." Issei called his godfather.

"Yeah? Where are you? You ran off as soon as the match ended."

Issei relayed all that Ddraig had told him after their quick patrol.

"Alright. I'll talk to the others about this. For now, act like nothing's happened. Leave this to us."

Issei decided to go see Akeno. He still needed to congratulate everyone on their victory.

"Looks like you did it." Issei chuckled as he entered Akeno's waiting room.

"Issei!" Akeno flew into his arms in delight.

"You finally got it back!" Issei excitedly smiled, spinning her around in his arms.

He knew that she had wanted this more than anything. He couldn't help but feel happy for her. The queen only nodded, smiling giddily.

"I was wrong. I thought I wanted the power because I had repaired my relationship with my father. That was only partially true. The new reason why I wanted it back was because I don't want to just stand behind you anymore. When I saw how much stronger you'd gotten and how many chances I wasted to win back then, I decided that I needed to change. I needed a proper reason for my powers. My new goal is to be strong enough to stand next to you and protect the people I care about. I won't let you cry anymore." Akeno smirked.

The seductive look in her eyes made it clear that she wanted more than words of congratulations. She wanted a reward. Lunging forward, she overlapped his lips with hers. It was such a sweet taste that it melted bis brain. Issei was touched to know that he'd become a part of the source of her new goal. She was partly the source of his goals too. He'd grown stronger so that what happened to her wouldn't happen again.

"By the way, where's Vali? She's been gone for a while now." Akeno asked.

"I don't know. I'm kind of concerned too." Issei sighed.

"Maybe Uncle Azazel knows."

"I'll ask. In the meantime, we've gotta plan a celebration." Issei pepped up.

"Don't worry about that. Lord Gremory is planning a party for us later, so don't miss it." Akeno giggled.

"And then we can have our own private party." She sensually whispered into his ear. Her breath was slightly heavy and even a bit husky.

'She's gonna want a piece of you tonight. She's on an emotional high. Considering the libido of fallen angels, humans, and devils, she's probably going nuts right now.' Ddraig chuckled.

'We haven't gotten that far yet. These things take time.' Issei cleared his throat.

"Herbivore." Akeno grumbled, pouting.

"What?" Issei was horrified.

Had she read his mind?

"When you clear your throat like that, you start to think of ways of backing out." The young lady puffed her cheeks.

Issei blinked twice. Just how much had she observed him that she knew his habits to the note like this?

"That's why I'll gobble you up." Akeno then did the newest thing yet.

Peeling his collar down, she lightly nibbled his ear before licking his neck, dragging her tongue down.

'Control yourself. This isn't the time or place.' Issei scolded his inner beast.

His animalistic instincts were telling him to take her right then and there, but he remembered one of the first things his mother and father taught him.

'Be a gentleman and wait for the right time! You're a man, not a dog in heat!' He could imagine them scolding him.

True, he didn't want sex to be the only thing on his mind. He had a stereotype to defy…But no one said anything about messing around.

"I guess I do owe you a reward and congratulations." Issei nodded.

Akeno was caught off-guard. Issei held her lower back before letting the inner beast in him come out for a few seconds. Opening her collar, he bit down and sucked on her neck, holding her close as he moved downwards before taking a small bite near her chest. Blasted with a sensual wave, Akeno moaned as her face blazed hot from what Issei had just done. There was a small bit of stinging on the left side of her chest but even that was pleasurable to her.

"Issei?!" She yelped in a sexy tone.

"It's payback. I control myself pretty well but don't think I'll take everything lying down. I'm not a kid anymore." Issei chuckled.

Akeno saw herself in a mirror and blushed like a tomato as she saw a red hickey below her neck.

"I didn't bite high enough to get you caught but knowing you…" Issei brushed his hand on her lower back, sending shivers up her spine.

"You'd enjoy such a scandalous thing." He whispered into her ear.

Akeno shivered as the air went into her ear and shocked her.

"Eek!" She whimpered.

Akeno was completely confused, even stunned. Issei had never got this sensual, nor had he ever gone beyond tender kissing. Was this a result of her constant teasing? She had no idea. All she knew was that she was liking it. Perhaps she'd transformed him into a beast.

Akeno knew she was a sadist and a slight masochist. She just never knew how much of a masochist she was until now.

After giving his congratulations to the entirety of Rias's Peerage, Issei went to see Azazel. He had no intentions on confronting him about holding back all the time since it was already explained. That wasn't even relatively important to him right now. What he wanted, was to talk about the malice that Ddraig felt at the Games.

Finding him outside, he took his Uncle somewhere private to talk.

"I also have something new to tell you." Azazel said.

Issei hoped that it was something new.

"I've done my research and that Armored Devil was developed using science based from Sacred Gears. I don't know who's, but I can only tell that it's based off of equipment/armor Sacred Gears. Unfortunately, there was almost nothing left of it, so I can't deduce too much more from the existing evidence. For now, I'd watch out for anyone who's interested in Sacred Gears, if I were you."

"So, that includes you?" Issei chuckled.

"The make of the armor is visually similar to a scale mail. As my artificial Sacred Gear has proven, it's possible to do that. As for the aura that Ddraig spoke of, not one of us noticed it. Given how Ddraig was one of the strongest beings on the planet before being sealed, I'm not surprised. For now, we'll have to try and keep ourselves sharp until we find more information."

"By the way, where's Vali? I thought she'd be back already?"

"She's running an errand for me. Top-secret." Azazel sighed.

"I see. When will she be back?" Issei asked.

He hid it, but he was a bit disappointed that Azazel trusted her with so many important tasks.

"Don't tell me you're a clingy guy?" Azazel's lips curved into a massive grin, his eyes narrowing into a goofy fashion. If Issei didn't know better, it looked like he had a 'Troll' face.

"I'm just worried about her." Issei crossed his arms.

"Well, knowing her, she'd never let herself get caught or done in. She's too resilient and persistent not to come back." Azazel shook his head, knowing that Issei's fears were well-founded but not excessively necessary.

"Yeah, but what about the things that she can't handle?"

"We can only have faith in her, Issei. Vali's not weak." Azazel sighed.

Issei was silent for a little while before nodding. Azazel wasn't a fool and he certainly wouldn't risk Vali's safety over being whimsical. He could only accept his Godfather's decisions while having faith in Vali's abilities. He recalled only a small glimpse of Vali's power, but it was enough to convey to him that she would be fine against most threats. He hated to admit it, but she was probably stronger than him at this point.

Issei sighed. He really needed to sort himself out.

After several weeks passed and the ORC had returned to the Human Realm, Akeno had told Issei of the next opponent in the Rating Games. It was Diodora Astaroth. He was the relative to Ajuka Beelzebub, who was actually from the Astaroth Clan and the next to become the leader of the Clan.

On his way to school, he, Akeno, and Raynare were on their way to meet up with Asia. It had become a regular routine for the group since Raynare and Asia enjoyed each other's company. To be frank, Issei wondered if Raynare was going to move out. Her family had finally recovered so there wasn't much need for her to have to stay with him anymore. If he were to be honest, he'd miss her if she were to leave. It was still kind of open to suggest how he felt about her, though. At least he wasn't apathetic towards her.

"Morning, everyone." Asia called out as she walked out of the gates to her house.

"Good morning." Everyone returned the greeting.

Moving onwards, Raynare and Asia talked while Issei held hands with Akeno.

"Still no word from Vali?"

"Nope. I already talked to Uncle Azazel but he says it's a private issue." Issei whispered back.

"As much as I like monopolizing you, I'm a little worried for her." Akeno sighed.

Vali was like a sister to her; their bond having regrown in the past few months that they'd spent together.

"If she doesn't come home in two days, I'm going to look for her." Issei tightened his fist.

Akeno knew he was serious. The fiery look in his eyes didn't do much to hide the worry buried within.

"We'll go look for her." She corrected him.

"Yeah." Issei smiled at her gratefully.

Their attention was taken away when they heard Asia yelp. Snapping their vision ahead, they found Asia in the process of tripping over, only to be caught by someone. As if popping up out of nowhere the new person was sporting a calm smile while Asia was in his arms.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

This new guy had flat green hair and green noble attire that he recognized to be of the Devils' style. If Issei remembered correctly, this person was Diodora Astaroth. Issei had seen reports of him when he was still with Grigori.

"Y-Yes, I'm fine, thank you." Asia steadied herself before bowing in gratitude.

"I've been wanting to meet you for a long time, now." Diodora smirked.

"You are…?" Asia obliviously looked at him.

"My name is Diodora Astaroth. You saved me a long time ago." He smiled brightly at Asia.

That was when the Bishop's eyes widened.

"It's you…" She froze.

"Back then, I had been injured gravely but you came to my rescue and saved me. I tried to find you but you'd disappeared but at long last, I've finally gotten the chance to repay you, Asia Argento."

"Uh, well…I…" She stuttered.

Raynare glared at Diodora, however. There was evident animosity coming from her, judging by the look on her face. Diodora didn't pay any attention to her, instead, he serenaded Asia with flirtatious and lovestruck words. It was almost sickening to hear what he said.

"You're just as radiant and gentle as I remember. You had nary any indication as to who I was and you didn't question my identity. You merely used your kind hands and healed the gaping wound in my chest.

"I apologize but I really must get going." Asia whimpered.

She was so confused and intimidated that she could only try to find any reason to escape the situation. Her apparent fear looked overwhelming, given all the shaking and stuttering she was making.

Diodora only nodded.

"I understand. I will visit once more at a more opportune time. Well then, everyone, I bid you a good day and I hope to meet every single one of you again." He smiled before disappearing through a magic circle.

When the group returned to the ORC clubroom, they were greeted by a very shocking surprise.

What made him concerned was the fact that, apparently, he'd been sending Asia a ton of love letters for the past while. When Rias showed them all, the entire quantity spilled onto the coffee table like a hot mess.

'Okay, so the guy's a creep.' Issei made a spit-take.

'Wow…that's a lot. I count at least 324 letters.' Ddraig exhaled in surprise.

"These all came for you. Ever since you two met again at the Party for the Rookies Four, he's been sending them nonstop." Rias sat next to Asia.

The former nun looked disturbed, even terrified. Well, why wouldn't she be? An unknown man was barraging her with letters professing love and the like. She had no idea who he was and had only met him twice but his behavior looked borderline obsessive.

"You said that you and the others met him earlier today, too?"

"Yes, it was on the way to school." Asia nodded.

"How do you feel about him?" Rias asked.

"He's…I don't know…" Asia whimpered.

"I wanted to ask you that because recently, he's asked to trade Bishops. However, I have absolutely no intentions of giving you away. So, I refused him. You're a part of this family so don't worry. If he wants you, he needs to earn your consent." Rias tried to reassure the young girl, understanding how scared she must've been.

Issei could tell that something was off about Diodora. The way he smiled without flinching or breaking his expression, the way he obsessively pursued Asia, not to mention how he knew where she lived in exact detail. He hoped that his suspicions were unfounded, even though he knew better than to think otherwise. He'd seen this sort of behavior in the Human Realm before and it made his spine tingle.

"He's been pretty persistent, I'll give him that. However, I don't know much about him." Rias protectively held Asia.

"I promise, I won't let him lay a finger on you. We'll protect you the best we can." Akeno patted Asia's head.

"It's not that I hate him or anything like that. It's just…seeing him…" Asia trailed off.

"It reminds you of your past." Issei spoke, as if relating to her situation.

Asia meekly nodded. Issei was able to relate since he felt something similar. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Akeno was this example. He loved her with all his heart but just looking at her made him hurt. She looked so much like her mother, Shuri, that the sight of her reminded him of the role he played in her death. Akeno's warmth and tender care kept those dark thoughts at bay, but his mind would always persist in torturing him.

"Well, whatever the case, we need to put this issue to rest. Our Rating Game with him is going to be soon, so we'll settle this whole matter after the Match." Rias looked at Asia.

"Okay." She muttered in a subdued voice.

Just as Rias had said, the Match against Diodora Astaroth had come quickly. During the time before it came, everyone had undergone more training, with Kiba and Akeno showing the most growth with the [Sword of Betrayer] and Holy Lightning, respectively. Diodora was mostly an enigma so Rias and the others had to prepare for anything. Alongside them, Issei and Raynare would regularly join them, with the former attempting to sharpen his senses and thoroughly trying to master every skill that he had. Raynare was also trying to grow more dynamic with what she could craft from Light, wanting to harness her powers to their full potential.

Regardless, Rias and her Peerage had gathered at a Hall, waiting for the time when the Game was to begin. Asia had been nervous without end on that day. She couldn't stop herself from fretting at what could happen. Just seeing him threw her composure down the drain. She wasn't sure if she was afraid or just normally uncomfortable around him. It was actually bothering her now. She had spent so much time being willy-nilly. She'd been reflecting on the past battles and noticed that outside of healing, she didn't do much for the group in her opinion. Someone always had to protect her or come to her rescue. Issei and Raynare had to pull crazy stunts to rescue her from Freed. While training for the Peerage's first Rating Game, she couldn't even throw an actual punch, forcing Issei to teach her barriers. During the Rating Game with Riser, she had been used as the bargaining chip for Rias's surrender. Lastly, when Valper attacked, she had to be protected from his beasts, making her a burden for Koneko.

It brought her down to think so negatively, even if she was trying to stay positive. However, she understood that this had to change. In this Rating Game, she would try to erase that problem from herself. She hated hurting other people, but it was time that she had to be able to protect herself. To start that change, she had to tell Diodora what she thought.

When the magic circle shimmered to life beneath everyone's feet, their vision was changed to white as they were taken to the battlefield.

Upon arrival, Rias was perplexed. The area they were taken to wasn't like how it was supposed to have been. There was no stadium, there were no buildings, there were no spectators. There was only a wasteland. Dust clouds blew through the area where Rias and her Peerage stood, separating everyone. When the particles passed on, Akeno got a good look around. They were on a massive spit of land with destroyed shrines and temples spread out across the area. The sky was purple, with no obvious source of light to show the way.

"This can't possibly be the Arena." Akeno mused.

This was just too odd for this to be the official match. The long span of silence didn't help matters.

"We've been tricked. Everyone, be on guard." Rias concluded.

Just then, the Astaroth Magic Circle appeared on the ground. Walking through it, was Diodora and his Peerage.

"Are you kidding me? Is this really the battlefield?" Xenovia muttered to herself.

"Yes, this is the place." Diodora smiled, nodding without dropping his serene demeanor.

"That's an odd play." Rias narrowed her eyes.

"Not at all. This is actually quite ideal."

The Gremory Peerage instantly knew that something was wrong. The way he spoke was just far too fishy.

"Ideal for what?" Rias probed further.

"Ideal for your deaths." Diodora's smirk grew even wider as countless lights sprouted from around him in the air.

"These don't belong to anyone related to any groups that I know." Xenovia remarked.

"No, but we did see these circles before. They belong to the Old Satan Faction." Akeno answered.

"Which makes you an obvious traitor." Rias pointed out.

"I really don't care what you have to say to me. I'm merely here to claim my prize." Diodora snapped his fingers.

Simultaneously, his Peerage fired a hail of magic bullets at Rias and her Peerage. When the dust that was kicked up cleared, Asia's scream could be heard along with the loud clanks of metal.

"Uwaaaah!" She wailed in fright.

"Asia!" Akeno called out to her.

Hearing the sound of wind pass by him, Kiba looked to the air. Standing there, was Diodora who was dangling Asia. Bound in magical chains, she was left unable to move or resist, despite being fully conscious.

"I'll be taking my prize back now, Rias Gremory. You and the rest of your fellows can perish along with this government and Alliance." Diodora finally opened his eyes, revealing golden irises that leered with danger and cruelty.

Swirling deep within them, was sheer malice and twisted sadism. His grin turned into a sneering smile as he disappeared into a magic circle, taking his Peerage with him as several hundred Rogue Devils swarmed around Rias's Peerage.

"Damn it! We need to break through." Rias growled.

On cue, Kiba, Xenovia, and Akeno teamed up. Combining Light from Akeno, Durandal's cutting power from Xenovia, and an arsenal of weapons from Kiba, they showered the battlefield with a cyclone of shining swords that worked like a blender. Blitzing and shredding the enemy apart in a twister of blinding blades, Rias was proud to see the development that her precious servants had made. The swords of explosive light flew through the air, forming rings of blades that seemed to fly endlessly through the air until nothing was left in the sky.

However, the group was met with more Rogue enemies, who just kept appearing out of thin air. Not stopping there, the adrenaline of the situation escalated. Feeling something appear from behind, Akeno was about to attack until…

"[Dragon Shot!]"

A red beam of energy vaporized a fraction of the enemy's numbers.

"Issei?!" Akeno was stunned.

"Sorry I'm late but there was interference." Issei sighed.

"What's going on?"

"Talk later. We need to deal with this first." Sirzechs walked up behind him.

Opening his palm, his eyes gained a new and dangerous glint that few had seen in a long time. Bursting from a small sphere in his palm, Sirzechs' Power of Destruction shot out like serpentine rivers of black and crimson energy, tearing apart and atomizing everything they touched. In little time, almost everyone that attacked Rias and her Peerage was gone. With the second wave dealt with, there was time to understand the situation.

Turning to face her brother, Rias questioned him.

"What's happened? What's all this about?"

"We caught wind of this whole situation blowing over from one of our scouts. For a while now, we'd been investigating Diodora Astaroth. It started when the heir to the Glasya-Labolas Clan was killed in an 'accident' while Diodora's power climbed so quickly in such a short time. His obsession with Asia didn't help his case either." Sirzechs answered.

"So, we were bait?" Akeno concluded.

"Yes. It was my plan." A new voice echoed.

Swooping down from the sky, was Azazel, followed by a Vali.

"With Vali's help, we uncovered this whole crazy scheme and made a plan. We'd spring the trap laid for us and we would counter. Surprisingly, a ton of people from the Alliance agreed to join in on this whole shenanigan. So, as it stands, we used you as bait to draw the Old Satan Faction out, since they wanted to kill as many people as possible to create panic and dissent with the current government." Azazel groaned sternly.

Issei took one look at him and knew that his Uncle was in a powerfully aggressive mood. These moments were often rare, given how lax Azazel usually was.

"What would you have done if we'd been killed?" Akeno narrowed her eyes.

She understood Azazel's reasoning, but she wondered about his sense of accountability.

"Then I'd have lopped off my own head after kneeling at your families' graves." Azazel solemnly retorted.

Akeno thought it was a little extreme, but she knew that he didn't fool around when he talked like this. He took Ryuken, Reiko, Shuri's graves and deaths extremely seriously.

"There's a bunker not too far from here that you all can take shelter in. You haven't dealt with warzones just yet, and I don't intend for you all to start now." Azazel pointed East as he moved his finger to shoot an opponent down with a laser of light.

"So, you want us to just hide while Diodora does what he wants with Asia?" Akeno stepped forward.

"I'll be dealing with that." Issei cut her off.

"Then we're going with you." Akeno shook her head.

"Sorry, but you need to sit this one out." Issei shook his head.

"This place was created by the Longinus [Dimension Lost]. We have no idea what sort of nasty surprises the Khaos Brigade has put in here." Azazel added.

He recognized the effects of the dark mist that was made from the Longinus and understood that anything could happen here.

"All the more reason why we need to help. I'm not going to just hide while Diodora Astaroth has one of precious Bishops. You've seen that demented look in his eyes. He's going to do something horrible to her and I can't allow that." Rias turned to Sirzechs.

"Please, Lord Sirzechs. Not only has Diodora Astaroth colluded with the Khaos Brigade, but he has shown clear contempt towards the modern Devil Society as well as attacked a Peerage member of the Gremory Clan. That warrants force for restraint and capture. Isn't that one of our laws?" Akeno stepped forward, pleading with the man who was like a brother to her.

Asia was like a little sister to the Peerage, always trying to emotionally support everyone while healing them whenever she could. She couldn't be left to suffer at Diodora's hands.

Sirzechs only sighed. Still, he was proud to see just how strong Rias and the rest of Peerages' morals were.

"Alright, since you all insist on not backing down. Koneko can most likely track Diodora down if she uses her Nekomata powers. While we've been unable to pinpoint his exact location, we know that he was last seen near one of the largest abandoned Shrines. It's East of here."

"As one of the Leaders of the Alliance, I order you, Red Dragon Emperor, to accompany them. You'll go as well, White Dragon Empress." Azazel turned to Issei and Vali.

"Got it, Dad."

"Dad?" Rias blinked twice, trying to understand it.

"Azazel's my adoptive father." Vali shrugged.

That sparked a long pause of silence before Issei cleared his throat.

"Ahem. We need to get moving. The more time we waste, the less time Asia has."

Covering himself in fiery red light, metal clanked and clicked as Issei's brown eyes were covered with clear green lenses. Now clad in his Balance Breaker, Issei stared down the incoming horde of enemies, his fists sparking red.

"I'm not very tolerant of people like Diodora, so let's be quick about it and deal with him before things get worse." Issei growled.

He'd learned some information from Vali before he got here. Diodora had secretly set up situations where nuns would pity him and help him, only for his species to be revealed. Then, when they were excommunicated, he would pretend to 'save' them and instead, would rape them before manipulating them into becoming his servants. He utterly despised that loathsome piece of filth. He was going to thoroughly beat him into a bloody pulp when he saw him. To victimize and destroy lives and then trash their hopes and dreams…Issei, for the first time in a long time, felt true anger towards someone.

He didn't know what sort of enemies they'd face in the next few moments but he knew that he'd stop at nothing to help Akeno and Rias recover Asia before he'd have to add another failure to his list of losses.

Changes from the original Chapter 18:

Grammar Fixes

Dialogue changes to make it more concise

Ddraig tears into Issei a bit more. The reason why I did this is because of what I mentioned before in my previous Author's notes. Issei in "The Dragonic Will" was a Gary Stu. Now that I'm more experienced compared to back in 2016, I have a better idea of how I want Issei to be in this story.

I want all my Issei's to be set apart from each other in my DxD stories. "Heroic Calamity" Issei is a goofball with lifetimes of suffering to guide his decisions and he's an idealistic character who wants to see the good in things and push for the happy ending. "Grim Herald" Issei is extremely serious, always moving, trying to solve all the problems that come his way and trying to deal with problems that others aren't equipped for. He's a very complex characters that struggles with being who he wants to be and who he needs to be. Thus, this Issei is one that I'm trying to mold to be different from the others without taking him off the protagonist route.