Chapter 5, let's go! Chapter 4 was one of the biggest pieces I ever wrote, so to see it received so well warmed my heart. This is not as long as the last one, but still longer than the usual, I imagine. Now guest reviews!
JaceStrne
Damn, that was a review alright. With the OG Bartender, I felt we were missing a lot of that character interaction, of Issei and the leaders just hanging around in Issei's bar. It was mentioned, but not shown, and that bothered me. So first three chapters signify time passing, as well as characters bonding. Still, DxD is an action series so I can't just use your suggestion, as good as it may be XD. I do hope you'll enjoy this chapter tough.
Jehu
I hope I can hold it.
I OWN NOTHING! I'M BUT A HOBO THAT SNEAKS INTO THE LIBRARY AND WAISTS TIME WRITING THIS INSTEAD OF WATCHING PORN!
"Hello there." - regular talking
"I am with you, partner." - sacred gears talking
"I can win I feel great!" - inner thoughts
This chapter was beta read by Marethyu. Thank you for your awesome work!
Ravel was confident in their victory. How could she not be? Her brother's peerage was in full number, all more than combat-ready. Sure Rias could try to hire a fighter, but with Gremory fortune out of reach, and Lucifer having to maintain neutrality in the matter, the best she could get was a big-mouth who couldn't fell a low-class devil at the best of days.
They got a last-minute alert that Rias did indeed acquire an additional fighter. Riser barely glanced from where he was getting… serviced by Yubelluna, and simply dismissed it, and Ravel was too busy getting her temples massaged by Mihae. He even decided to give Rias some prep time after the Game started.
Safe to say, everyone was in a good mood inside the school council building, with only Isabela doing some warm-ups. Riser was not trying to get himself distracted by Ni and Li, who demanded cuddles, and Ravel had to admit to herself, maybe it would all go smooth.
Then came the FIRE.
First retired were Ile and Nel. But before it could be announced, Marion and Mira followed. Ravel was hugged and shielded by her brother, but she still saw it all. Karlamine, gone. Siris and Xuelan with their rook defense. Both gone.
Mihae tried to shield with magic, but while the flames were stopped, the heat was not, dropping her quickly. Pawns followed, and at last, even the Bomb Queen herself, fell victim to the deep crimson flames.
Ravel loved fire. As a little girl, she relished the feeling of embers dancing on her fingertips, the pleasant heat coursing through her veins. When she got her wings, she could not be happier. The warmth assured her she would always be safe and protected from all harm.
But this fire… This inferno was so much different from hers… This crimson blaze, with black wisps mixed in between. It instilled in her the terror her body never knew before. The sweat running down her back, the scorch of burns, even as they healed… For the first time in her life, sparks did not amaze her but filled her instead with fear. Fear of pain, fear of burning. Fear of turning into ash and nothingness.
She hoped the peerage made it safely to the sickbay, while her brother used his wings to both shield them and lift them above the flames, devouring half of the battlefield. Both of them tried to locate the source, and once their gaze landed on the roof of Rias' base, they froze. One in terror, the other in awe.
Issei was tired. Maybe he should have meditated longer. Dragon Aura was easy to draw on if you used it. And he did not. With Ddraig sealed, he did not have access to it, his modified parts barely producing enough to draw in supernaturals. Probably how Azazel stumbled upon his bar in the first place.
He had to concentrate to draw it out, hence the meditation. As he inhaled and exhaled, more and more aura escaped and spread in a thin layer over the opponent's half of the field. He just needed enough for flames to spread, not to burn. He also knew better than to draw upon Ddraig's flames. His control over them would be very rusty, and the last thing he needed today was to burn a hole into the Dimensional Gap.
So he drew upon his own flames, which while still potent, were not nearly as powerful as Ddraig's. The fire breath might seem impressive, but to be honest, he just spewed a ball of fire out of his mouth, which ignited the aura he dispersed. Like hell a human could spew flames for a full minute, he too needed oxygen.
He turned towards the gathered devils behind him, and he had to smile at the awe on their faces. Usually, the only one awed by his flames was… her. Still, since not one devil seemed horrified to see him, it showed that they were indeed too young to know or remember the Red Trial. Riser… probably was not. He listened to the announcer, most likely Grayfia slowly lists off all the pieces he took out. Everyone except King and a bishop. Now things were getting interesting.
Ravel was in awe at the mythical figure that stood before her. Sekiryuutei, THE Red Dragon Emperor. Carrier of one of the two strongest dragons in this world. She heard stories of how the Welsh and Vanishing Dragon killed the four Satans, and how God of the Bible sealed the two beasts.
But to hear stories and to see them come to life before your eyes are two entirely different things. She looked up at her brother, expecting something similar on his face. What she found was fear.
Riser remembered. He remembered what happened 10 years ago, when Sekiryuutei, barely a teen challenged each of the Three Factions to provide a champion for a trial by combat. He remembered seeing the Dragon King being dragged out of the arena, half dead.
He remembered the anger that filled him, watching the Devil's champion, Ultimate Class Tannin get defeated, only to rise again, only to be knocked down once more. That same anger was boiling, slowly rising through the fear, and making him scream out loud.
"SEKIRYUUTEI!"
He dropped her to fly on her own and launched himself straight towards the armored figure. The Dragon Emperor simply raised his arm, using a bulkier than normal vambrace, covered in red glow to easily intercept the punch.
Her brother ignored the smashed hand, immediately using his left to throw as much fire as he could straight at the helm. It did not damage, and the Sekiryuutei seemed to get tired of just taking hits, and decided to dish one as well. Well aimed blow straight to the solar plexus.
Riser was blown back but used his wings to right himself, before once again, moving to charge, straight into the wall of flames. He felt the blistering heat, and while his own flames moved to heal him, it just never seemed to end. He realized that Sekiryuutei manipulated a sphere around him, and he began flapping his wings, trying to disperse the flames.
"It is as I imagined. You remember, don't you."
Riser tried to respond, but the flames suddenly grew more potent around him, his fire just barely managing to stop him from being devoured.
"Then you must also remember what fate befell your champion."
Riser tired once more. He flared his power, for just a second Hellfire making the vile flames back off. Only for them to return, with a vengeance.
"I can still up the ante if you want. Up to the flames that managed to singe the Blaze Meteor Dragon."
Riser tried. Riser screamed and kicked. Raiser failed. Issei stood by and watched the devil struggle, all while, listening to Ddraig's satisfied preens. But it was interrupted by a sloppy fireball, lobbed at his face.
"Stop this! Brother will surrender so please stop it!"
"No can do, little bird. I won't be killing him, that would be counterproductive. But, he must speak those words himself."
Ravel faced the sphere of crimson and black, raising her voice so it could reach her brother.
"Riser! Please surrender!"
"Ravel you were not there! Kumamoto, the Red Trial, you weren't there! What he did-"
"It is not worth your life! I don't care what he did, I care to still have my brother in one piece! Think of Yubelluna, of your peerage! Think of mom and dad!"
Riser tried one last push. He ceased almost all resistance so he could gather what power he had. Hellfire surged, pushing back against the walls surrounding him. But, it was in vain. All it did was made the opposing flames more intense, his hands no longer regenerating. He knew what Ravel said was true. And he knew what he had to do.
"I surrender!"
All flames ceased. He fell to the ground, feeling his limbs regenerating fully, yet, the heat felt uncomfortable now. He desperately needed an ice bath.
"Riser Phenex forfeits. The winner of this Rating Game is Rias Gregory."
Almost immediately all the remaining participants were teleported out of the arena. Except for the Sekiryuutei.
"Well, I knew this was gonna happen. Wanna pop open a dragon gate real quick?"
"Nope. My deal was to help you cut a Phenex down to size. I'm going back to sleep."
"Wha- DDRAIG! You can't just let devils capture me!"
"Like you did not let me get sealed? FOR 10 YEARS?! I think a decade in prison will do wonders for you."
Of all the times for this to come bite him in the ass. Issei resolved himself to fix the relationship with his partner as soon as he got out of the next one. Luckily Ddraig did not take away the Scale Mail, otherwise shit would have really hit the fan.
On his own, as he was, there was no way for him to open a Dragon Gate. His aura reserves were depleted since the start, and Ddraig cut the supply of his. His magic ability was abysmal, nor was probably any spell to get him outside.
That left him with only one option. And it was a sucky one too. He expanded his senses, using some boosts on his rusty senjutsu skills.
The defenses placed against it were strong. Probably placed there the moment his cloak dropped. To break through, one would need to pierce them with the might of a dragon, while using enormous amounts of Ki. Issei did not have those reserves anymore. But, as part dragon, what he had was a pretty long lifespan. He should have enough at least, might be cutting it a bit close.
Issei delved into a trance-like state, ignoring the magic circles that signaled the arrival of various troops, all surrounding him, but clearly keeping their distance.
"Red Dragon! On behalf of Mao Lucifer, we command you stay put! Dispel the Balance Breaker, let yourself be chained and we can solve this peacefully."
There was no reaction.
"Red Dragon! Are you-"
Suddenly the green glow of gems on the armor was shifted to bloody crimson. Even people who knew nothing of Ki or senjutsu could see the aura of energy increasing and condensing. Some units fired spells and projectiles, but nothing got through. Finally, the Sekiryuutei moved, a single slash of claws on its gauntlet opening a swirling gate, cutting right through the defenses of the arena. In the next second the gates were already closing, and the Red Dragon Emperor was gone.
Sirzechs had high expectations for the fighter, expecting him to be the MVP, taking out the majority of the peerage, maybe even defeating Riser by himself. But the moment the cloud dropped, dropped was the facade of the unbiased leader, and what replaced it was the true Lucifer.
In the next few seconds, he already instructed the erection of anti senjutsu barriers. He requested anti-dragon artifacts that have not been used since Tannin became a devil. When the fires wreaked havoc on the battlefield he canceled that order, instead requesting as many troops to be brought in as possible.
In the roughly eight minutes it took for Riser to surrender, around 200 troops were ready, with more on the way. but he sent only half inside, the rest securing a perimeter, in case Sekiryuutei decided to go on a rampage.
First of his fellow Satans to respond was Sera, already on the way with her peerage, and what soldiers she could pull. But by the time he received responses from Falbium and Ajuka, the Sekiryuutei was already gone.
Quickly excusing himself to his mother and father, the only remaining spectators, he found the first suitable spot to teleport directly to where the Stans conducted most of their meetings, the great palace inside the Underworld capitol, Lilith.
The moment he entered he faced all three of his co-leaders, all with their game faces on.
"Why was he here? And how did he escape?" Straight to the point.
"Through my contacts in the human world, I've managed to secure an additional fighter for Rias"
"Sirzechs-"
"I know. I did not make any deals myself, that was all on Rias. Anyway, until he revealed himself, I had no idea of his identity. As for how he escaped, his proficiency manipulating and converting his own life force was not unknown."
"I think we should count ourselves lucky he didn't go into Juggernaut Drive."
"Who was the contact, Sirzechs?" Of course, Sera had to ask that question. The other two Satans looked at him as well.
"It was a human in Kuoh."
"We need a name, Zechs. This is no time for secrets, we need to run background on this guy, where he was, what he's been doing."
"You're not gonna find anything." Sera looked at him, and he could see realization dawning on her.
"What makes you say that? We are devils, our information network is vast, our resources more so."
"Because both the Gremories, and myself ran background checks on him and found nothing that could ever link him to the supernatural."
"I'll run them again. Just give me the name." Sirezchs was backed into a corner.
"His name is Issei Hyoudou."
Rias was jolted out of her thoughts by her mother. She stepped on a balcony, seeking a momentary break from the celebration party. The griffin that was meant to take her away and back to the human world circled the sky, and for a single second Rias imagined herself on its back, with a dashing figure, clad in the armor of crim-
"Everything alright my dear?"
"Yes, mother."
"My my, so formal. No ka-san the time?"
"Well, we are at a social gathering are we not? You taught me to call you so yourself in this setting."
They both allowed themselves a small laugh.
"Rias, I think you can garner why I sought you out like this."
"You want to know the identity of Sekiryuutei?"
"Not at all, I imagine that someone who's been hiding for 10 years won't just show their face to some devil youth. No, what I wish to ask you is who is the person that got you into contact with the possessor of a Longinus."
Rias looked to the side, hoping against hope that her mother would drop the question. But her mother wasn't like that. She gently grasped her face with her gloved hands and made her look deep into the violet eyes that she herself lacked.
"Now listen here, Rias. 10 years ago biblical factions were almost driven out of Japan, by a three-person team. And the vanguard of that team was none other than the Red Dragon Emperor. This is not something to cover up. No matter who you are shielding, their safety is much less of a priority than knowing if there was gonna be a second Kumamoto Raze."
Rias could not believe the history her savior carried with him. Almost driving the Biblical factions out of the entire country? But wait…"
"What happened at Kumamoto?"
Just by looking at her mother's eyes, she could tell that was a hard question to ask.
"As I said, Devils, Fallen, and exorcists were all being driven out. Regular priests were allowed to stay, and no churches were harmed. But all military personnel were being moved. The Shinto faction organized for everyone a safe passage to neutral or home territory in the city of Kumamoto. One moment everything was fine. The next, half the city was up in flames. A lot of lives were lost on all sides."
Rias was afraid to ask.
"And the culprit…"
"Shinto faction accepted the responsibility and was planning to give the instigator over, to punish as the Three Factions saw fit. But the negotiations were intruded upon, by the Sekiryuutei. He ousted himself as the culprit and demanded a trial by combat to clear away all guilt. Of course, no one champion from one faction could be decided. So each of the three sent out their own. And they all lost."
Rias could not believe it. Someone could defeat three champions of the Biblical factions, at once?
"How did he do it?"
"A story for another time. Now, who gave you the contact."
Rias spoke the name. And Venelana's eyes, though surprised for a moment, hardened almost immediately. She excused herself and left so she could prepare for a trip to the human world.
The Satans were preparing to split, each with their tasks in mind, and preparing for the public outcry at re-emergence of the Sekiryuutei. Tannin was a popular figure in the Rating Game circles, and when it became public knowledge that the man who almost killed him was walking around, masses would demand blood. But just before they each said their goodbyes, Leviathan received an important message.
"Shinto faction is asking for an urgent meeting."
"Probably to protect their interests, and wash their hands over this whole mess."
"Sera and I will meet with them. Falbium, you put together a task force that will work on tracing Sekiryuutei. Ajuka, Tiamant is in your debt. Ask her if the other dragons might know anything."
The two Satans teleported, while Sera sent instructions to the Shinto delegation where to meet. They had a minute at best before they arrived.
"Zechs…"
"I know. I wish to know also. But this is bigger than Karaoke nights. If he won't give the information willingly, we might have to press for it."
Sera wanted to argue. She wanted to keep Issei and the bar as they were, a place where she could drink the tasty Magical Girl cocktail, listen to Issei sing, and gossip with Grayfia whether the bowtie made him look cool or nerdy.
But, she was a Mao. She had the entire faction to think off. So, for right now, she had to freeze her personal feelings and think of the greater good. It hurt to do so, but if Issei could help them…
In walked the representative of the Shinto, and it was none other than the god of storms and seas, Susanoo, one of the Shinto trio.
"Susanoo-dono, how can we help you?" Sera tried the polite way, bowing her head respectively at the god.
"By giving us the Red Dragon Emperor." No such thing was given from the storm god, who looked to be mighty pissed.
"Sorry, but we do not have the custody over Sekiryuutei to just hand him over."
"Bullshit you don't. He fought in your Rating Games."
"Unofficial game that was, and he fought as a contracted fighter with no ties to the faction whatsoever. As we speak our head of Military Affairs is assembling a task force to track him."
"But not capture him?"
"We all remember what happened 10 years ago. Capturing him without Ultimate class backup would be disastrous, and Ultimate class will never get permission to cross borders, so we will call them in only when he is in our territory."
"As a Shinto representative, we demand that upon his capture he be given to us. He is an important and only witness in a trial that has gone unresolved for far too long already."
Susanoo did not look ready to take no for an answer. And Sera honestly did not have any solid reason to deny him. Red Trial washed him of all guilt over deaths in Kumamoto, so even if families demanded his blood, in the eyes of the law, he was innocent. There was only one thing that could be done. Stall.
"We will consider your request and will send you our answer in the shortest possible time. This is something all four Satans should debate over."
Susanoo grumbled angrily and a few sparks of lightning flew out of his nostril. But they were immediately caught by Sirzechs, and promptly disappeared, the small application of his powers. Even Susanoo would hesitate to throw down with the one who reality itself declared is of the Ten Strongest Beings residing in it.
"We'll be waiting for your answer.'' With that he turned and left, leaving the two Satans to take a deep breath, out of mental exhaustion and relief that he did not make a scene.
Issei appeared inside his home, dead on his feet. He barely had time to engage all the defenses that made his house as hidden as possible, before he sat down in a meditative position, and finally let his consciousness slip.
He shaved a good two-thirds of his lifespan, basically burning off all he managed to regenerate in the last 10 years, and a bit more. It was much harder to renew life force by oneself, and he was gonna have to be super careful from now on. But all that could wait, he had a relationship to fix with his left hand.
That sounded so wrong.
Diving deeper he arrived at the soul room that housed the very essence of him, who was Issei Hyoudou. Of course, with seals removed, it was once more bathed in flames, signifying him as the possessor of the Boosted Gear, and one of the two Dragon Emperors.
It took a while to locate Ddraig, the dragon pretending to be asleep, while hidden in the flames. But Issei found him. And upon that, he laid beside his partner and started talking.
"Remember when I awoke you? An eight-year-old, suddenly wielding one of the most powerful Sacred Gears. I freaked out. And you were silent, for I was still too weak. Hell, I almost got snatched by the Church. Georgie knew, even back then. And Irina thought I was the coolest thing next to her dad."
Ddraig pretended to sleep on, but Issei knew he was listening.
"But then the Himejima's came. Convinced my parents I was chosen for a special program in Kyoto, but they told me the truth. Of what I am. Of who you are. Irina cried, and Georgie was mad, but I was so eager to learn, to become stronger. So off to Kyoto we went."
Ddraign grumbled, but his eyes were still closed.
"Then I trained. And trained. And trained some more. Yas had to put me together almost every night, and Inari kept chiding me, but I could feel myself becoming stronger. Until one night, I dreamt of dragon flight. And suddenly we were partners."
More grumbling from the red lizard and Issei could almost catch a few words, like 'brat' and 'stubborn'. he had to smile, and he had a feeling Ddraig might be as well.
"Those were good times. Learning with Inari, playing with Yasaka. Talking with Amaterasu. But then it was time for the mission. And like the good soldier I was, I did everything as they told me to."
"Stupid."
"Yea, I was. I should have asked more questions. Be more aware. But I was not. I was obedient, I was strong, and I was blindly in love. Just what they wanted."
"The Kyuubi had no idea-"
"I'm not blaming her! I could never! She was as much of a victim as I was. Hell, I can't even blame Inari, he was more obedient than I was. If I was perfect, Inari was one in a million, better than perfect. Stronger, smarter, more loyal."
Issei stood up and started pacing.
"Aye. He would kill himself if the Trinity even hinted it would please them."
"He was so proud that me and Ama were friends. He was so happy for me and Yas. When did it all go wrong?"
"You know when."
"Yea. I know."
Ddraig could no longer hold back. With a swipe of his mighty hand, Issei was sent flying.
"YOU SEALED ME! FOR TEN YEARS! I COULD NOT HEAR, OR SEE, OR FEEL! JUST AN ENDLESS LOOP OF DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES!"
"I did."
"AND IF WUKONG WOULD NOT FORCE YOU TO, WOULD YOU EVER UNSEAL ME?!"
"I would not."
"WHY?!"
"Because I was a coward. In a week, I lost almost everything. All I had was you. And frankly, I was ashamed of that."
"Ashamed of me?!"
"NO! GOD, NO! I was ashamed that after losing everything I've worked for, the only thing that was left to me was you, the one thing that I never asked for, and arguably did not deserve. I have to have been the most pathetic Sekiryuutei in history, almost killing myself twice, with nothing to show for it. All my hard work for nothing, all left to me were dead god's hand me downs."
"But why keep me sealed for ten years?"
"Ama. She did something before we left. She promised to wipe the records of me, completely off the book, if I left as soon as possible. I had nothing left in Japan, it was a good deal, so I took it. But before we left, she drew a 'friendship symbol' on my left hand."
"Wouldn't I know if something was there?"
"You didn't notice Yaska's promise seal."
"Touche. When did that one disappear?"
"About a year after we left. Even willingly exchanged seals need renewing from the source."
"And hers…"
"On the day she married."
Silence hung in the air for a few moments, before Ddraig spoke once more.
"Partner, I'm sorry-"
"Don't. It was for the best. I have already broken my promise, I had no right to ask her back. They had a child, you know? A little Kyuubi, named Kunou. Apparently, in his will, Inari asked me to take care of them both."
"And will you?"
"Yes. I am already prepared to start moving resources to Kyoto. I need to find a good property first, but liquid assets have priority."
"What about the Devils? They'll seek you out."
"Probably. I bet Sera is already waiting at the bar. Too bad, but recovering from punching that hole through the arena will have me out of commission for a week at the least."
Ddraig now looked as close to sheepish as a dragon could.
"I'm sor-"
"No, I should say it first. I'm sorry that I sealed you with no explanation. We were partners, and I betrayed you."
Issei got on his knees and let his forehead touch the ground.
"I beg for your forgiveness, Y Ddraig Goch, and I ask that we be partners once more."
A heavy claw was placed on Issei's back.
"I forgive you. And I myself ask forgiveness for leaving you to escape on your own. And, there was not a time in our 14 years together, that I did not consider you my partner."
"Partners forever?
"Aye. Partners forever."
So, how was that? Issei and Ddraig's convo gave me a bit of a hard time, almost had me thinking of saving it for chapter 6. But no one would like that, so I went with it. Still, I like this chapter, and the next one should be fun as well. READ. REVIEW. Let me know what YOU think, and we'll read each other next time. NPGamer out.
PEACE!
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