Rebirth
Raynare, back in her Yuuma disguise, is wandering the streets of Kuoh and has a completely different demeanor than before. She is nervous, afraid, and sweating a little. She remembers what that voice told her, she has to make contact with Issei and lure him to the spot she was told about. The heat of the day isn't helping either so she decides to take a seat on a nearby bench and waits for there to be no people.
She pulls out her phone, takes a breath, dials Issei's number, and waits for it to be picked up "Issei, it's Yuuma…I really need….(Sobs) I need your help, Issei!" she cries into the phone.
Issei doesn't respond on the other end of the phone as Raynare gives him a sob story about her being kidnapped by bikers and being held hostage in an abandoned building somewhere in town. It's a bad story, especially since she can name the place she's at, but Raynare is sure it'll work.
On the other line, Issei simply says "I'm on my way, Yuuma…" before the lines go out.
Raynare puts her phone away and sighs "That should that virgin over there. I suppose that means I should meet him there." She says as she makes her way there.
In the abandoned church, Issei is cloaked in the shadows as he puts his phone away and his eyes glow red behind the darkness. Azazel and the other three fallen angels look at him as he gazes back at them.
He begins walking forward "I don't know what she's up to, but Yuuma's going to screw with me again." He says.
Azazel looks at Mittelt, Dohnaseek, and Kalawarner as if they know about it, but they swiftly deny any knowledge of anything that Raynare is plotting. Issei emerges from the shadows and his eyes revert to their normal color but he is now wearing a new outfit consisting of a leather version of his Kuoh uniform with the addition of a red chain coming from his pocket, a red rim around the collar, boots in place of his normal shoes, a new sleeveless red leather vest with buckles around the shoulders under his black jacket and he now sports two wings with feathers as black as night. When Issei was reborn, this was the outfit he found himself in, a choice of Azazel's.
He seems to be normal but he looks at his hands and notices the changes to his body, like how he now feels stronger and the addition of wings in perplexing to him. Issei practices moving them and then trying to fly but is having difficulties doing so as he falls over.
His new allies, under duress, are embarrassed over this with Kalawarner stating "I can't believe this kid is calling the shots for us." And her two comrades nod in agreement. Azazel is still here as is Vali and they are reminded this is a punishment for their plot.
Sucking up her pride, Mittelt walks over to Issei and begrudgingly gives him advice about flying with his new wings. But Dohnaseek and Kalawarner are still unwilling to help their new commander but have little choice. They approach Issei as well and want to know what his plan is.
After some more trial and error with flying, mostly error, Issei is then asked the question by Dohnaseek "So, what's the plan, new boss? You got one, right?" and Issei doesn't have an answer.
Issei just stands with a stupid expression on his face and just babbles "Well, the plan is uh…We'll go in and then we'll…" and immediately his subordinates lose any faith they had. Vali just stands to the side and Azazel chuckles a little.
Very green and on the spot, Issei takes a moment to think but then actually begins to formulate an idea and his stupid expressions turn to one of confidence instead. But before they do anything, Issei has to learn to use his powers first, at least in a basic form.
At the Location
Raynare returns to the chamber-like area where Issei is supposed to be at in a little while. This is due to the fact it is actually underground near the docks and the entrance is found in a warehouse. Though she doesn't understand why she has little choice in the matter after being threatened.
After returning to the location, Raynare announces "Hey, I did what you asked me to. I called that idiot over here, so I can go now?" But no one answers her. Annoyed, she just sits on the ground and waits for anything to happen.
It seems that Freed has left this place since she hasn't heard anything from his annoying voice or his perversion. Thinking on it, little about what is going on makes sense to Raynare because that voice did sound familiar but didn't give off a truly menacing presence. Moreover, Issei being the one they want makes little sense.
Her train of thought is interrupted when she hears the sounds of footsteps approaching. She looks and sees what appears to be Freed approaching and sarcastically says "Well it's about time you came back I was getting…." And then before she can finish, a dart hits her neck and she sees a shadow approaching as her vision goes blurry and she falls over.
Outside
Issei and Mittelt are the only two to arrive outside the building that Raynare mentioned over the phone. The two of them stand in front of the building and Issei takes a moment to think "Let's see, if I'm doing this right, then there should be guys hiding behind this door." He looks at Mittelt to ask her "You ready for whatever's behind here?"
Mittelt just shrugs and answers "Who cares what I think…you're the boss right now." And summons her pink holy spear and readies to fight. Issei holds out his arm and concentrates for a moment and then a flicker appears in front of his hand. After a moment, a holy spear begins to form in his hand, a bright green one that has a unique head resembling a roaring dragon. Mittelt is actually a little impressed with his progress.
The two then burst through the doors and Issei expects this to go like an action movie with a gang of yakuza-like guys with various weapons. However, the only things they find are an entire supply of crates inside of a musky warehouse.
Mittelt simply sighs when this anti-climactic entrance goes nowhere "What now, great leader?" She casually asks with a smirk.
Issei, now on the spot, keeps a calm expression and looks around the area for a bit and then answers "There has to be another door somewhere. If there wasn't, then Yu..I mean, Raynare should be making noises or trying to come at us."
Mittelt shakes her head and tells Issei "Look, kid, she's not dumb and your idea is stupid."
Issei gets a little frustrated at his ally and retorts "Kid? You've got the body of a middle schooler, and your tits are tiny."
Mittelt's face turns red and she gets visibly angry and then things go to hell when she and Issei start yelling back and forth at each other. Issei and Mittelt raise their spears towards each other after it begins to escalate about Issei being a virgin and Mittelt not being nearly as cute as a girl at Kuoh that Issei has his eyes on, among many (specifically, Koneko).
Mittelt, fed up with Issei's mockery, throws her holy spear at him but he ducks and then the holy spear shoots into a dark area of the room and then a loud grunt is heard and blood spatters are heard. Issei then takes his holy spear and throws it by Mittelt's head and another grunt is heard with more blood spatter.
Mittelt's eyes look around and she announces "Four!" with Issei following the same move but he announces "Five!" and then, Kalawarner and Dohnaseek both enter the warehouse through the roof with circular platforms collapsing as they enter and each one makes a crushing noise as they impact the ground, the sounds of people screaming are heard.
Issei looks nervous and he trembles a bit, like he's just experienced something horrible. But his teammates, on the other hand, simply group up with uncaring looks.
Dohnaseek simply looks around the room and tells his boss "I don't know if we got all of them, but it was a good plan. I'll give you that." While Kalawarner simply nods slightly with an agreement since Issei's plan worked. All head did was draw out the hiding minions with his and Mittelt's arguing while Kalawarner and Dohnaseek were floating outside, watching them and waiting for the numbers to pop up, the higher the number, the bigger of a hole had to be cut.
Mittelt walks over to inspect her shot and walks by a small scene of gore and blood under the debris created by her comrades. Issei looks at the opposite end and sees a very similar sight, but slightly more gruesome as there is more gore and blood as he covers his mouth.
Mittelt sees a rogue priest wearing a black mask with a hole in his chest and is bleeding profusely. He, and his allies were working for Raynare but left when Azazel found out of fear for their lives since he mentioned he wasn't a fan of insubordination. She looks at the half-dead man and snickers "See what happens when your cross us?" she mockingly tells the priest and then proceeds to kick him in the wound causing to groan louder in pain.
Issei sees this cruelty and immediately shouts "Mittelt, don't do that! He can't even move!" which causes Mittelt and the other two look at him with a bit of surprise.
Kalawarner is the next one to speak up when she explains to Issei "Kid, these guys betrayed US. They were working for us and ran with their tails between their legs with things got bad. So, frankly, they deserve what they get."
Dohnaseek seems to agree with Kalawarner and Mittelt kicks her victim once again but Issei remembers Azazel's confidence in him being the leader.
Issei looks at the violence around him, and then puts on a fierce expression "Nobody's torturing anything, and that's an order!" he states to his teammates who all show slight respect in his tone but it is shown with slight shock.
Issei, feeling the adrenaline, then makes another order "This guy is still breathing, so he can tell us where to go and find Raynare. So, you know, killing him would screw us over."
Mittelt smiles, looks down at the priest, and then tells the injured man "You heard our boss, so spill it, or else." She summons her spear again and points it at the man's face.
Issei is not okay with torture, but interrogation is a different story. The man doesn't take much to say where the secret door is, inside a crate with a silver lock on it. After the man gives the information, Issei orders Dohnaseek to help him get treated, which he does without protest but not liking it. Mittelt and Kalawarner find the crate and there is a panel inside it, with a skull on it, and a bad one at that.
Opening the panel is simple since all that's required is a holy spear as an opener and a ladder is right below, like getting into a sewer. The smell doesn't help either, but Issei isn't bothered by it too much. Mittelt and Kalawarner visibly hate the smell, but have to suck it up and follow Issei since he's the boss.
Down below, Issei and the two girls find themselves inside of a dungeon-like tunnel with torches and scribbles on the wall. Issei walks in the front to make sure he sees what's going on in the front at all times since he wants to settle things as quickly as possible.
Mittelt and Kalawarner stay behind a little further from Issei to talk about him in secret. His plan at the entrance to the warehouse worked well enough, but it feels too easy to them, like an amateur was in charge of those priests and that they were infinitely disposable considering the terrible position they were in. Issei doesn't consider this at all due to his stress and anticipation.
A little ways into the tunnel, Issei hears crying and he immediately starts running because he can tell that it's the sound he remembers coming from his phone call. Mittelt and Kalawarner's talking to each other seemingly distracts them and they can't hear the crying at all.
Issei runs up to what appears to be an exit tunnel and he fumbles near the end of the pipe and nearly falls over a ledge, which is only a few feet deep. But below the ledge, is an area that looks like a temple with two waterfalls of green water and a stone walkway without any railing. On the other side is another entrance, the right side is just a wall with mural of a beautiful woman with curly blonde hair, twelve black wings, and large breasts completely nude, which catches Issei's eyes as he walks over to it and gazes at it.
"Man, what I'd give to actually see the real deal." He says to himself in awe. But after this distraction, Issei hears the crying once more and turns to the final side of the room and sees who he came for, Raynare, but she's in her Yuuma guise and has a chain around her body which binds her to a circular platform that she looks upon.
Issei is hesitant for a moment, but he runs over to her and she looks at him "Issei, I knew you'd come for me." She says with a hopeful smile on her face.
Issei thinks his dates with her, the necklace she gave him, their kiss, and his happiness at having a girlfriend, but it hits him that it was all a huge lie again. He continues moving down the walkway until he finally reaches her.
Raynares looks at Issei with loving eyes as she tells him "I just knew you'd save me. I never doubted you."
Issei trembles a bit and mutters "Why did you take it so far?" but she looks confused until Issei looks at her and plainly states "Azazel told me everything, Raynare. You cut the crap now."
Feigning ignorance, Raynare continues the charade "I don't know what you're saying. Issei, I'm your girlfriend. I love you."
Hearing that phrase "I love you" stings Issei a lot and he snaps "I said cut it out! That's an order!"
Yuuma then puts on a surprised look and then her look changes to one of more cynicism when she replies in a more straight tone "Just because Azazel made you the leader of those scrubs, doesn't mean you can order me around."
Issei had hope in his heart that at least some parts, even a tiny portion of her feelings were real. But then she just says "I'll bet that you wished you got to second base before he told you. Of course, you were so boring and so desperate; it was easy to mess with you. Even now, I bet you're looking at me…" she then stands and begins walking towards him despite being chained up "With your little wick ready…" and then puts her hands on him without him doing anything to resist as she whispers in his ear "…And not realizing that I'm an illusion."
Issei's eyes widen and a blade pierces his stomach from behind by a sword with a spiral around the blade and the hilt. Raynare just smiles as she is also pierced by the blade and even begins laughing as she fades away while her grin turns sadistic.
Issei falls to his knees and turns his head to a man with a psychotic grin on his face, the rogue priest Freed Sellzen and he is holding the sword that pierced Issei moments ago.
He holds the sword up "You like? This baby is called Excalibur Nightmare, and well, I think you get what it does."
Issei stand back up and realizes that his wound isn't actually that bad. He looks at Freed and demands to know "Are you working with Raynare? Where is she!?" and Freed whistles a bit and Issei's fortitude.
Freed is about to answer when he hears more people coming and looks at Issei to say "Well…that's all folks." And then pulls out a different sword as he disappears from sight.
Issei appears frustrated and slams his hands against the ground and makes cracks with his fist. But then he hears a voice telling him "What's wrong, Issei... letting a little breakup ruin your day?" and he turns around to see Raynare, the real one, being followed by Mittelt and Kalawarner.
He runs up to her and then grabs her clothes and shakes her a bit "Stop screwing with my head!"
Raynare pushes him back and rebukes "Back off, virgin! It wasn't my idea to lure to this shithole! I got dragged into this place and then that piece of shit Freed drugged me and stuffed me somewhere." Despite her anger, Raynare is telling the truth since Mittelt and Kalawarner confirm that Raynare is telling it this time.
Issei tries to hold back his anger and just what's to know who kidnapped her in the first place, but what Raynare tells him is shocking.
She takes a breath and explains "Okay, so I followed Freed down here and then he attacked me. But when I woke up, I found out Lord Azazel caught on to my plan, and then you know the rest."
Mittelt and Kalawarner both lose the color in their faces when Raynare explains who the person was that arranged this event. Issei also looks even more shocked than the other two.
Raynare looks at them and wonders "So what's got you both afraid?"
After a moment has passed, the sound of clapping is heard and Azazel emerges from seemingly out of nowhere to congratulate Issei. He is looking rather pleased and says "Nicely done, kid. I thought you'd be a decent leader, but you went a killed all those rogues, made it here without too big of a scratch, and didn't get single subordinate injured. That's pretty impressive for a first time."
Raynare bows to him and pleads "Lord Azazel, I did what you asked of me, right? So now am I forgiven?" Issei sees that Raynare's fear is genuine and it looks like Azazel was the mastermind of this event.
Issei, full of questions, asks the governor general "Lord Azazel, what's going on here?"
Azazel explains this was just a setup to see if Issei's leadership skills were up to snuff, and it was a simple setup, he still did was expected and then some. Apparently, he also got the rogue priests to work for him.
Issei, a bit disgusted with the priest thing, asks "If this was just a setup, then why did you let us kill those guys? It sounds like you wasted for something stupid?"
Azazel shakes his head and replies "No, Issei, I never had an expectation for you to kill them nor did I think wouldn't take out a few of them. However, I also never expected you to massacre them all. I mean, a few sure, but killing all thirty was a bit much I'll admit."
At hearing that number, Kalawarner interjects by stating "Lord Azazel, we only killed about eight or nine of the rogue priests and we didn't fight anymore on the way here."
Azazel looks a little confused and adds "But I did see a big bloody mess on my way here…did they go mad and attack each other."
Issei jumps in and is a bit disgusted by Azazel's attitude towards the dead people over this petty test but the governor general explains to Issei "When you're a leader, you have to make decisions. Now, I'm not the violent type. I prefer non-violence, but there is a time and a place for it. When you're commanding, that time is when you choose it."
Issei can now see that Azazel is far from a saint and even though they still have a lot in common, he realizes that working for him may entail stuff that he may not be proud of. But then Azazel moves Issei to the mural of the woman with wings and looks at it while saying he had it made specifically for this test for flair but plans to keep it.
Azazel tells Issei with a smile "Issei, of all things I've ever wanted, of all the harems I've created, this is one woman I've wanted more than any other I've ever met. But despite my efforts, my prayers, and all the pain I've endured…(becomes a little sad) I've never even seen a single ounce of her breasts."
Issei empathizes with his commander and comforts him "Sir, I had no idea..I'm so sorry about that."
Azazel wipes his face a bit with a single tear falling from the memories of this woman. But then, he gets back to the topic. Because even though he has an idea of what happened to the rest, there is one thing bugging Raynare.
She stays in her bow and asks "But even if that's true, Lord Azazel, why would you give them an Excalibur?" Her question gets Azazel thinking almost immediately which makes them wonder.
Azazel then answers "I never gave anyone an Excalibur. If I had one, I wouldn't give it to a rogue priest who I didn't trust in the slightest." He looks at Raynare with an unusually serious look "Are you sure it was an Excalibur and not a regular holy sword?" to which Raynare assures him it was a genuine Excalibur.
Issei also adds "Yeah, and I got attacked by a guy who made a fake Yuuma and stabbed me. He said it was called Excalibur Nightmare." He reveals the wound on his body.
After a minute of thinking, Azazel decides he needs to talk to his allies about it, but also tells Issei "It sounds like you handled it well enough and that's good for now. As for these three and the other one, they're yours to do with."
The three other fallen angels are shocked by this, especially Raynare who looks afraid because Azazel iterates "I do mean ANYTHING, Issei. You can have them wear sexy outfits, make them cook for you, make them strip, let you ride them, or you could even kill them."
Raynare breaks out into a nervous sweat because Azazel isn't kidding and she can't deny him. Issei sees her fear and is almost tempted to do the worst after playing him.
But Issei sighs and then makes his order "I want Mittelt and Kalawarner to leave and move into a place near my house. Same goes for Dohnaseek. I'm gonna need you guys close by me. As for you…Raynare."
Raynare looks as if she's ready to run away for her life when Issei makes her order known "You're going to stay with me in my house."
Azazel pats Issei on the shoulder and nods giving his approval and then states it to three "Issei's orders are only second to mine. If he tells you to do something, it's the same as an order from me. If I hear that you aren't listening to him, then you'll be severely punished." After making this clear, Azazel leaves the area.
Mittelt and Kalawarner leave with Issei's permission and that leaves him alone with Raynare, the woman who pretended to be his girlfriend. Issei, despite his hurt feelings, simply orders her "You'll stay with me and my folks. I'll need your help with this fallen angel stuff."
Raynare won't admit it, but Issei's relatively simple condition is her greatest relief all day. Without any other words, Issei and Raynare leave the area without looking back.
Somewhere else, Azazel is in an office-like room in a chair with Vali nearby with Vali wondering "You think it was a good idea to give that Issei guy that kind of power? He seems too green to me."
Azazel just smiles and answers "Sure he is, but that only means he's got more learning to do. Besides, he's young and got a lot of vigor." But after thinking on the Excalibur incident, Azazel knows that the church is likely to get involved and then tells Vali "I need to me another favor. I want to whip Issei to proper fighting shape. He's going to need his power awakened soon if we're dealing with who I think we are."
Vali shrugs and leaves the room with a content grin but Azazel also tells him to give Issei a day or two while adjustments are being made.