BOLD - ISSEI SPEAKING

BOLD ITALICS - GREAT RED SPEAKING

CHAPTER 4 - Abandonment and Resolve

"Why did this have to happen to my Issei? He's just a boy and he's already fighting for his life. What kind of world is this?" Ophis roared with tears streaming down her face. "I think it's time we let Issei go to the real world. He's not safe here anymore. The Khaos Brigade will surely come back and find some way to kill Issei," Great Red reasonably argued in an attempt to comfort Ophis.

"You can't mean… No! I object! He's MY Issei! I… I-" Ophis cried out as she began to squeeze the passed-out Issei. "I mean exactly what you think. Issei is capable of hiding his presence, and he is extremely strong. Did you see what he did to the white dragon emperor? He can definitely fight some of the strongest beings without difficulty. It's just numbers that are the problem. Furthermore, If we just shelter Issei, what kind of dragon will he become? The dragon of babies?" Great Red continued to argue as his soothing voice began to morph into a ferocious roar.

Great Red was extremely concerned about his son too, as he didn't want anything to happen to him. But, he also believed that Issei would be weak if he didn't live a normal life. Ophis blatantly rejected the notion of sending her son away, but she knew that if she didn't, he could end up dead. The thought of that nearly made her freeze.

Ophis continued to sulk, wanting to do something for her little Issei. She seemed to be as still as a statue while hugging Issei, aside from the tears flooding down her cheeks, dripping out into the vacuum of the Dimensional Gap. "Goodbye… My son."

This was the last time Ophis would feel emotion for a long time. In a short bit, she would revert back to being the feelingless dragon of infinity that inspired fear into people's hearts, but Ophis didn't want that. Issei was the first thing that she felt she wanted to protect, but she knew that the more she loved him, the more she had to let him go. For his safety, Great Red and Ophis began preparations to send Ophis to Tannin's territory.

3 Days Later - Tannin's Territory

When Issei finally woke up, he noticed that he was in an infirmary. He looked around to see 2 clear-plastic tubes stretching over behind him, where he noticed that were connected to the wounds he had received from Kokabiel. Although dragons can regenerate nearly any wound within a fraction of a second, Issei was only 5 years old and has not learned to channel his energy for regeneration.

Issei then got up and ripped out the tubes. "AH-" the lady standing next to the doorway yelled. She was in a white and red nurse outfit and had a brunette ponytail. She wore a hat that had a red cross on the front. She also housed quite a well-endowed chest. If anyone was going to nurse him back to health, he would want this lady to do it.

"WHY WOULD YOU JUST RIP IT OUT LIKE THAT? THE WOUND COULD HAVE EASILY REOPENED AND YOU WOULD HAVE DIED! YOU'RE THE MOST STUPID FUCKING KID I'VE EVER HAD THE DISCOURTESY OF MEETING!" The infirmary worker yelled. 'Yeah… I take that back' Issei thought to himself. "Well anyway, what happened after I gave out?" the five-year-old boy asked, wishing to be spared from further verbal abuse. "Well, we found a summoning circle in the main entrance, and an injured boy coughing up blood appeared. There was a note attached to you as well. It had a seal, and the front was red, "For Tannin".

"Tannin… Oh Yeah, that's the blaze dragon guy mom told me about. The last thing I remember is being in my mom's arms as she was crying…" Issei somberly recalled. "You will probably have to see for yourself," the buxom nurse responded.

"Well, I'm out of here. It hurts really bad, but I don't have a choice. I miss my parents though… Speaking of which, where are my parents?" Issei asked as he looked out of the open window to his left. When he looked out the window, it hit him. He was in the real world. Like, it wasn't just a void. It was real. Issei then immediately passed out due to this realization.

Issei had never been in the real world in his 5 years of existence. The beauty of the velvety purple sky, the mountain ranges along with the rivers that raced through the lands, and the natural smell that protruded through the window completely removed Issei from the world, as if he had experienced heaven.

About 2 hours later, Issei woke up in his nursing bed to the nurse sitting next to him. Issei's mind felt sluggish due to the lingering effects of the shock Issei had experienced. Issei rubbed his eyes and rose from his bed sitting straight up. "Seriously. Don't rip out anything in you, unless you have approval. Just for next time," the nurse worriedly remarked.

She wasn't too concerned because his vitals were fine as soon as he dropped. She just figured that it was added fatigue due to him ripping out those tubes.

"Well, I need to go home. My parents are probably worried, but first, where am I?" Issei responds to the nurse. "You are in the Dragon nursing facility in Tannin's Territory of the underworld. I don't know who you are or what business you have with Tannin, but all I know is that you're a young dragon, and young dragons need to be taken care of," the nurse responds with a glint of care in her expression, attempting to prevent Issei from doing anything rash.

Issei then releases a little bit of his aura, attempting to scare the nurse and prove that he's not some baby dragon. Unlike Vali and Shalba who couldn't sense Issei's aura due to the Dimensional Gap, the nurse recognized Issei's power. It was the aura of infinity and the aura of dreams. She remembered these auras from the time Tannin took some dragons to see Great Red roam in the Dimensional Gap, and the times Ophis came to the underworld and did as she pleased, which was normal as far as Ophis went.

The nurse knew who this kid was, and had about the same reaction Kokabiel did. She was pretty much dead on the floor for about 15 seconds. After regaining the little sanity she had, she bolted towards the door. Issei just chuckled at this but soon realized his mistake. If people could sense his parents' energies and began fearing him, he would become known even more, and as such be targeted.

Issei was very sharp and mature for a 5-year-old. This is likely due to his draconic instincts, and how a dragon's body internally develops faster than a human, devil, or anything of the sort.

Issei heard the nurse from the other room, scrambling with what sounded like a phone, as he heard "T-t-t-Tannin-sama. Gre at Red- Oph- come h-h-here. NOW!" Issei heard a slam, then the sound of high heels clatter on the floor as the nurse sprinted away.

A summoning circle appeared on the floor in front of Issei. Issei wondered if it was Tannin. If it was, Tannin could remove the seal, as it was probably intended for him. "Who are you and what are you doing in my hospital?" the velvet dragon with yellow horns and deep purple eyes in a humanoid shape aggressively questioned.

"Oh, I'm just your average dragon. I got injured while fighting the Khaos Brigade, but I drove them away," Issei retorted with a grin on his face. 'That ought to scare him' Issei thought to himself. "The Khaos Brigade? Do you mean those monstrously strong upstarts that want to kill Great Red? Speaking of Great Red, the nurse I was talking to said Great Red's name. What's your connection with Great Red and Ophis?" Great Red asked with a slight shift of aggression in his voice.

'Shit, this backfired,' Issei thought to himself. Issei was trying to hide the fact that Great Red and Ophis were his parents, but he just gave it away. 'A dragon's proud nature can be a true pain in the ass. Well, it would be best to tell him the truth, but swear him to secrecy. I could also ask Tannin to read the letter, having nothing to hide,' Issei thought to himself.

"Promise not to tell anyone," Issei asserted to Tannin with a crescendo of aggression in his tone. "Well, this is regarding Great Red and Ophis. If you truly do know them, I can see why you'd want it hidden. Alright, spill it, kid. I promise not to tell anybody. On my life," Tannin argued with extreme confidence in his tone. Issei knew Tannin wouldn't lie, as he was a dragon. All dragons are true of their word, it's how they're made. "Very well. My name is Issei. As for my relationship with Great Red and Ophis, they're my parents…," the 5-year-old dragon god etched into Tannin's mind. Issei though, clenched his fist as he mentioned their names, as Issei believed they abandoned him.

Tannin's reaction began with complacency. 'A son? Of Great Red? Of Ophis?' Tannin thought at first. It took him a couple of seconds to comprehend the meaning of this as he began to sweat. He didn't pull a Kokabiel and pass out, but he was still in an extreme state of shock.

"I didn't mishear you. Correct?" Great Red asks, in confirmation of his worst fears. "Nope. I meant what I said. You want proof?" Issei exclaimed before letting a decent bit of his power out. Tannin subconsciously dropped on his knees in fear and asked, "What is a superior being like you doing here?" "Well, I got messed up pretty badly by the Khaos Brigade, as they came to the Dimensional Gap and tried to kill me. Next thing, I woke up here," Issei explained.

"Oh yeah, can you remove the seal on this note? It seems to be directed towards you. It was stuck to me when I got teleported here, apparently," Issei graciously asks Tannin. "Anything for you, young-lord," Tannin chivalrously responded. Tannin was a firm believer in chivalry, and that if one is stronger than you, it is your duty to do their bidding.

"Young lord? Not bad," Issei mockingly stated while Tannin was breaking the seal on the note. The seal contained immense power and resistance, but Tannin could handle it. The seal shattered, releasing a small shockwave into the air, and Tannin read the letter aloud.

"Dear Tannin,
Please heed our call to help. Our son, Issei, has been targeted by the Khaos Brigade, and we need help sheltering him from them. Please take him into custody and train him, but him to live a double life. Change the memories of a childless couple in the human world into believing that Issei is their son, and have Issei live with them. Also, have him attend human school and participate in social events. After all, all children need social time. I understand you may be concerned with why we chose not to live with Issei and give him to you. To reiterate, Issei is in danger whenever we leave him alone, and you are the most dependable dragon in existence. Please keep him safe, teach him about dragons, and try and invoke his true power.
With Much Thanks,
Great Red & Ophis"

Tannin was in shock of this letter, as he was going to have to train this boy. Issei unexpectedly let out a sob and began sniffling. Regardless of if it were for his own safety, he was just abandoned by his parents. He would never be able to cheer, laugh, cry, and be happy with his real biological family. "Are you ok, young lord?" Tannin asked, trying to uncover the source of Issei's troubled face.

Issei's sobbing halted, as a little aura began to excrete from Issei. His hair covered his eyes, as he got up from his bed and walked outside of the hospital. Tannin was behind him but said nothing as he felt the murderous intent in Issei's aura. Tannin knew that disrupting him would lead him to his death.

Issei sprouted his golden wings, as Tannin was in awe of the beauty emanating from them. Issei then flew to the nearest rurual mountain and released an incredible amount of aura. The mass Issei produce was his aura, but it had a completely different vibe to it. It was formed with pure rage. Imagine being abandoned by your parents because you aren't strong enough to protect yourself. It would make anyone lose their shit.

Issei's energy alone completely enveloped the mountain, then in a fraction of a nanosecond, the mountain just disappeared. It was just gone. No debris, no explosion, no shockwave. Only a huge crater left in the mountain's stead. Tannin nearly passed out in both fear and awe. No child, let alone being in all of existence had the capability of this.

But, Tannin was an opportunist. As Issei likely couldn't control the power he just displayed, Tannin tried to deduce Issei's true power is. 'I am the Blaze Meteor Dragon, Great Red is the dragon of dreams, and Ophis is the dragon of infinity. So what is Issei?' Tannin thought to himself

This discovery had to wait, as a passed-out Issei laid in the middle of the newborn crater. Issei then woke up a couple of seconds later and quietly sighed "So much better," as the tension from his aura released with each gasp. For a 5-year-old, this power was not only unheard of but Issei's general expression and life outlook represented that of a teenager.

Tannin then said, "Young master, you will be in my care, as it is your parent's final wish for you. You may call me Tannin, but Tannin-oniisama wouldn't hurt. I will train you to be the strongest dragon, no, the strongest being in existence." Tannin asked for the sake of asking, "What is that power you displayed just now? You just vaporized the whole mountain without a trace." "Oh, that? No clue. I was just really mad," Issei responds without a care in the world. He is just a 5-year-old, he obviously wouldn't know what that power was, just as Tannin thought.

"Well, no matter. Let's go to my lair, you will meet the other dragons your age and we will get your home in the real world setup as well," Tannin remarked. Issei had a bright expression on his face until Tannin said "home in the real world". Issei was still depressed at the fact that his parents had abandoned him, but he shrugged this off, as there was nothing he could do.

All Issei worried about was if he was abandoned for his safety, or if it was because he was a nuisance or weak. Issei thought himself to be quite upstanding and nice, but maybe he was unconsciously hurting his parents. He shook this notion off and responded to Tannin, "Yes sir!"

Time-Skip 2 Years - The Human World

Issei grew up under Tannin's gruesome onslaught of training. Issei, as strong as he already was, needed discipline. He learned how to control the elements of fire and lightning to their utmost limit, but he couldn't draw out the power that he released at the mountain. Tannin was disturbed by this, but there wasn't anything he could do. Tannin figured Issei needed some sort of catalyst, but building basic skills was more important than learning some power like that, as Issei wouldn't be able to control it.

Issei also learned the basics of magic itself. He learned how to create summoning circles create barriers, and even illusions. Although Tannin taught Issei magic, he also taught him hand-to-hand combat. Issei mastered his "Shooting Star" as a finishing move. Issei could now go toe-to-toe with people like Sarafell Leviathan or Ajuka Beelzebub.

Tannin instructed Issei not to draw out his dragon form, as powering up in his human form would help master his dragon form. Issei, not knowing how to use his dragon form, disregarded this and trained in human form as he was told.

Issei also grew to resent his parents. To him, they were all he had, and to be abandoned the way he did with no answers really affected him. The only thing Issei wished for was his parents to tell him what really happened, but these feelings were eventually forgotten due to the hatred Issei built.

"I'm home!" Issei Hyodou exclaimed throughout a small shack in the nearby suburbs of Tokyo, an area called "Kuoh". "Welcome home honey!" A brunette lady with a brown ponytail and a stripped periwinkle sweater with black jeans exclaimed in response. This lady was Issei's human world mother. Issei's new last name was "Hyodou", making Issei's name "Issei Hyodou".

Issei sat down on an ebony-legged white leather-padded dinette chair with his new parents at a dry-brown circular wooden dinette table. By this point, Issei was 7 years old and had stowed away memories of his biological parents in the back of his mind as he grew to further resent them.

Issei then dug his teeth into some fresh Japanese curry his new mother had prepared him. Contrary to his thoughts, he enjoyed his new family more than he thought. He reverted the memories of his new parents back to what they were prior to Tannin altering them to have Issei seem to be with them since birth. He then changed their memories to make it seem as if they adopted Issei, so Issei would feel their bond is real, and not forged.

Issei's new father walked down the stairs, clad in a white sweater, black jeans, slicked-back black hair, and had a bunch of wisdom hairs glistening through the pitch darkness. He said "Hey Issei! Welcome Home!" Issei felt nothing but love for his new parents. He felt nothing but true warmth and no conflict from his new family.

Issei had been living with his new family for about 6 months, due to his training with Tannin. Part of Issei's training was to live independently off the land. He made his own food, shelter, and did whatever he wanted aside from meeting with Tannin for long hours each day for rigorous training.

As for his new living space, it certainly took some getting used to, as Issei was used to the infinite Dimensional Gap and the large landscape of Tannin's territory.

Issei's new house was 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. He lived upstairs in the room across from his parents. He had his own bathroom and walk-in closet, but his room felt extremely claustrophobic for him.

Following cleaning the dishes, Issei walked up the wooden stairs into his room wearing a warm smile.

In the Dimensional Gap

"WHERE IS THAT FUCKING KID!" The White Dragon Emporer roared, flaunting a grotesque scar on his stomach.

CHAPTER END

Sorry for the delay guys. I've been writing this for 5 whole days! This chapter took a lot of thinking as it surfaced a lot of exposition as to Issei's character, his life, and his relationship with his parents.

HOLY SHIT! 3k Views and 90 Followers! I DON'T DESERVE THIS HOLY SHIT!

Seriously, thank you to everyone that's been reading this. I appreciate it more than anything in the world. This is my first fanfic, and I expected nobody to read it, but this support provides fantastic motivation to keep working.

Ik this is similar to Son of the Dragon Gods, but it's just my spin on it. It will diverge shortly. The next arc will be a battle with the Khaos Brigade. Following that, time skip to High School where he meets Yuma~Chan. Shit gonna end differently.

If you're wondering about Issei's power, this probably took the most thinking as to what kind of dragon he will be. I'll give y'all a hint

When Issei did the explosion thingy on the mountain, what do you think happened to the mountain?

Alright, I made y'all wait long enough with the second harem member.

Harem #2: Kuroka

I personally think Kuroka is an under-explored character who is hot as shit. That's why Kuroka wasn't in the fight vs Issei. She probably would have died lol.

I currently haven't thought of the rest of the chars, but a couple of the chars that 99% most likely WON'T be in it are

Koneko, Ravel (chad issei ain't into kids), Asia, and Xenovia (both of em won't be in the story)

Well, that's it for now. Until sometime later this week!