Okay bringing it back. I've been on a roll despite the number of my stories actually increasing. So let's just keep it going. In case you guys don't know the order of my story updates they go: 1. Red Dragon Of Golden Light 2. Red Dragon Of Stupidity 3. Lone Dragon Emperor 4. A Fool's Heart.

That's the basic order. So after this will be A Fool's Heart and Red Dragon Of Golden Light (which I am REALLY itching to get to).

Anyway, we're continuing off the cliffhanger from let time. Will Issei be able to defeat the Stray? How will he accomplish such a feat? Can he really do it himself? Time to find out, this time, on Dragon Ball Z!


-SCENE-

In the dead of night, 2 individuals stood in the middle of a circular clearing. A boy and a man. A human and a "Devil." The boy stood silently with the moonlight directly above him, casting a dark shadow on the front of his form. The man who was kneeling in the center of the clearing also had an unnatural shadow cast around his entire body. It clashed with the moonlight in an eerie manner. It was as if his entire being was being encompassed by darkness. It looked that way on the outside, at least. Although, the God that this man worshipped would likely say that the same darkness was reflected on the inside as well.

That is, if he could, of course...

[Boost!]

A bright, green light flashed from atop the boy's left arm. Out from the back of his hand spawned a red gauntlet that covered his entire hand and stopped just short of his elbow.

The night was quiet. Only the distant sounds from outside the forest, and the little sounds from the critters within it, broke the silence.

The Stray that kneeled in the center of the clearing stood from his spot.

[Boost!]

The Stray stretched his body and cracked his neck eerily.

[Boost!]

He removed his chained crucifix from his gloves and slowly placed it over his neck without hesitation. Steam arose from his skin as the cross burned him, and his blood leaks and stains into his black suit. Yet, the Stray does not even flinch. The crucifix reflects the moonlight softly.

[Boost!]

The Stray pulled off his dark-grey, cotton gloves and slid them into his right suit pocket. His hands were obscenely burnt, as if they were dumped in acid everyday. The reason why was obvious.

The Stray then reached into his left suit pocket and retrieved a pair of black, leather gloves to place over his hands.

[Boost!] [Explosion!]

The Stray turned to face Issei, whose body has been making various announcements for the past minute. The Stray's red eyes glistened through the darkness of his form, piercing into Issei's soul.

"...So, you've come to me then?..."

Issei's eyes had their own subtle, green glow, his determined gaze setting itself into the Devil's own.

"..Even now, you shine ever brightly….. As I thought, you have come here with the intention of killing me, haven't you….. You have only further proven my point, murderer."

"The only murderer here is you."

The Stray pulled his fedora slightly forward, covering his eyes.

"Hmph... To you, perhaps. Those who associate themselves with the forces of evil have the tendency to view the world through their own subjective experiences. To you, I am a murderer. But that is only because you do not adhere to the divine arrangement of the Lord. I, however, do. Therefore, the only murderer here...is you."

"You're the only one who has killed innocent people!"

Issei shouted at the Stray passionately, but the Devil appeared unfazed. The Stray outstretched his arms as he looked up into the starry, night sky.

"Innocence is something assessed through the eyes of the Lord. It couldn't be something you would know. Those who take the lives of the innocent are worthless. Those who take the lives of sinful humans are indeed still murderers, that much is true. I very well be that sort of "murderer." However, I became a murderer for the sake of providing judgement and preventing the deaths of the truly innocent. Those who are destined to remain innocent. I've don't it all for the sake of divine justice."

"..You think you're God?"

"I am his servant."

"...Says the former Devil slave."

BREAK!

—The ground beneath the Stray cracked under the pressure of his foot as he launched himself towards Issei, at full speed.

[Dodge!]

Issei dove foward at the last second, straight to ground, as the Stray whipped past him into the trees. Cracking and breaking sounds far behind Issei followed. Issei's body landed on the ground painfully.

"Urgh…"

[Up, you fool! He is already above you!]

Foom!

Issei was given no time to react as the Stray appeared above, floating over the forest with an entire tree held over his head.

"OOAAH—!"

The Stray threw the tree straight down at Issei. Issei quickly dodged, rolling onto the floor once more.

DOON!

'U-Unbelievable! This is how strong a Devil is?!'

[At this point, you shouldn't even question it. —Nor do you have the time to! He's coming!]

Issei instinctively rolled away from his position, only for the Stray to descend upon the ground and create a crater thrice the size of Issei just from the impact of his legs.

DOOOOON!

'I can't get hit! If I get hit, I'm done for! He's too strong! This is too far above my level! He makes the Nightwalker beast look like a joke! It's like I'm a duckling fighting a bear!'

Issei stood up and took his best stance. The Stray lifted himself from the crater slowly, his menacing, red gaze locked onto Issei and never separating from the boy.

'Ddraig, be honest…. What do you think my chances of winning are?'

[Mathematically, 30%]

"Hahaha!"

Issei laughed unintentionally. A bitter smile stretched onto his face.

'..Ah… So that's how it is…'

BREAK!

The Stray launched himself from the crater and towards Issei at full speed again. The moment he reached the boy, he sent a flurry of attacks that Issei could only dodge at the last second. The attacks were so fierce that there were some hairs flying off Issei's head and scratches appearing on his cheeks from the sheer pressure of the punches.

'Too fast! Too strong! I can't even attack!'

Issei was progressively being pushed back to a large boulder about twice his size. When his back finally touched the rock, the Stray sent a powerful strike aimed directly at Issei's head. Issei ducked before the strike could reach him, and the large boulder behind Issei cracked in half.

BREAK!

The Stray reared back his arm again and prepared to send another strike at Issei below him, ready to pound the boy into the ground. Issei slid out from between the Stray's legs, effectively dodging the attack and ending up behind the Devil. The Devil spoke darkly as he retracted his fist from the cracked earth.

"Foolish boy. You may have the mind of a Devil, but you've the body of a child. I was the [Rook] of that disgusting vermin from my past. My strength compared to your own is just the same difference as between an adult and an infant, perhaps more. Even with your powers, you're no match. Taking that body simply for a petty disguise, it seems to have backfired for you."

Before the Stray could say another word, Issei grabbed onto the Devil's caffs and used all of his might to quickly pull the Stray's legs out from under him, then tossing him away like a ragdoll. The Devil however immediately extended his wings and spun himself around, landing effortlessly on 3 of his limbs like a superhero would.

The moment he landed, the Stray flew straight at Issei like a speeding bullet. Issei acted on instinct and threw his fist forward, colliding with the Devil's face. The sudden force of Issei's punch and the Devil's momentum clashed, causing them both to have a violent physical reaction. The Devil's flight was cut short and his body spun into the ground where it bounced violently. Meanwhile, Issei's small body was almost thrown back, with his entire left side being thrown off balance thanks to the collision.

BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!

"Urgh…"

Issei held his arm in pain from the impact.

'Ow! The only reason I did that is because the Boosted Gear is indestructible…. But if I wasn't boosted fully, that could've broken my arm! ...or ripped it off...'

The Stray struggled to lift himself off the floor as blood poured from his nose and covered most of his face.

[Take the initiative! Any chance you have must be taken!]

'Right!'

Issei took his chance and ran at the Stray head on. The eyes of the Devil pierced straight through Issei, causing him to feel a subconscious fear build up within himself. The enemy he was up against was a Devil. The embodiment of evil as ordained by God. A murderer much stronger than he was. It made him unbelievably afraid.

—But that doesn't mean he was going to stop.

Issei reared back his fist and unhesitantly sent his strike for the Devil's face. The Stray seemingly made no attempt dodge.

DON!

Issei's fist connected with his cheek.

[Wait! —No, you fool!]

It was too late for Issei to realize it. His instincts simply weren't refined enough.

Grip!

Before Issei could move, the Stray already had a tight grip on his throat. Issei's small body was lifted into the air by the Stray and held onto tightly by his neck.

"For you to steal the body of this child…. Have you mongrels no shame?"

"URGH—! GRRGHH!"

Issei couldn't respond, he didn't even have the luxury to. He choked and grunted while struggling in the Devil's ironclad grip. He kicked at the Devil's face and chest, desperately making attempts to escape.

"For the sake of this child, I will end this as cleanly as I can…. Though, you will most definitely suffer for it…. At the very least, in respect for this boy, please die quietly..."

Issei's attempts at escape were only becoming erratic and uncoordinated as he began to lose more and more oxygen. He couldn't break the Devil's grip no matter how tightly he wrapped his hands on the Devil's forearm. Even as he began to dig his claws into the Stray's suit and into skin, there was no give. Saliva and tears leaked out from Issei's face. His vision started to become blurry and his eyes were turning bloodshot.

[Partner! Do not lose consciousness!]

"...GGHH…. AAGH…"

'...Think!... I...have to think!... I can't—! ...Not here!'

Issei struggled to think as the oxygen in his brain progressively diminished. He attempted to scour through the memories of everything he learned in his training up to that point.

Just as Issei was about to lose consciousness, his dojo master's words repeated in his head.

("Listen, Issei. Judo is about how you can use someone's else own body against them. 'Stability' and 'Kuzushi.' Leverage and balance. Even a child can face an adult. It's hard, but it's possible. Even if that seems ridiculous. You are proof of that Issei. If someone has you in a hold you can't break out from, use their own hold against them. Get creative. If none of the techniques I've shown you work, just remember those basic principles. Take control of the situation. You have a strong spirit, Issei. Something like a lion or dragon's spirit, haha! A "fiery" spirit, I guess. So don't ever think that just because someone stronger has got you in their hold means that you can't get out of it. Just...try not to be too brutal, yeah? In tournaments, that's not gonna fly…. And to be honest, sometimes, you scare me, haha…")

[—!]

Something sparked life within Issei. His bloodshot eyes strained open as he set his gaze on the Stray. Before the Devil could react from shock, Issei made his move. Issei raised his legs and wrapped his entire body around the arm of the Devil that held him up. He clung onto it like some sort of animal would with a tree branch. Then, using all of his strength, Issei began to push his weight into his stomach by bending his body inward.

"Wha—?!"

Issei held onto the arm tightly and pulled his body inward towards his chest, almost like a fetal position, and effectively broke the Devil's arm by bending it too far, too quickly.

BREAK!

"AGH!"

The Devil immediately dropped Issei and held onto his broken arm that was visibly bent out of shape.

Thud!

"GAHAAAA—!"

Issei harshly brought air into his lungs as he landed on the floor. He painfully gasped and coughed on the floor while struggling to pick himself up.

"Grrr…. RRRRRGGGHH!"

The Stray grunted while holding his arm, before forcefully pushing his elbow back and returning his broken bones to their original place with another loud crack. But the arm did not work as intended and simply fell limply to his side.

"Rrrrgh! Worthless…. You…"

"Ha, hah... Ugh.."

Issei finally was able to catch his breath as he rubbed his sore, red neck. He and the Stray glared at each other sharply.

"You—! ...It seems even in a child's body you are resourceful. But you are a fool! Do you believe I cannot kill you only using this arm— Guh—! Bleh—!"

The Stray growled at Issei, but for some reason, he suddenly hunched over and vomited blood.

"D-Damn! This accursed body—! Do not worry, my Lord! I shan't allow something so miniscule to betray my dedication to you!"

The Devil said that fiercely while hunched over. Issei was then made aware of something vital thanks to Ddraig.

[Partner, his power is diminishing.]

Ddraig was right. Even Issei began to see it clearly. The Stray was bleeding from his mouth, ears, and even his right eye. There was sweat all over the Devil's face and his sclera were being dyed red. He's becoming weaker. Issei moved his eyes down to the Devil's chest area. There was a streak of steam arising from that area, in the place where the cross was coming in contact with his body.

'This is..! He's getting weaker! The cross is making him weaker!'

[Indeed, partner. Devils cannot stand the effect of holy objects and prayers. This fool has been weakening himself from the start. If he continues to fight you while he bearing that crucifix, he will surely die.]

'T-Then..! In that case!'

[—Don't even think about it, partner. That won't do. A game of endurance wouldn't be in our favor. This Devil is much stronger than you and has higher endurance than you. Do you believe that he does not realize what's happening himself? He has already acknowledged it. He will no longer take any chances with you. You can only expect him to go all out from here on out. We have already had one close call. He will kill you faster than you have the opportunity to turn this into an endurance match. He's not afraid to let you hurt him for the purpose of getting you closer to him. This time, he will aim for your life, unhesitantly. So giving him more time and more chances to do it by forcing an endurance match, that would be the worst decision to make. It's unfortunate, but the fact that you came to such a conclusion only shows how inexperienced you are. ...Then again, to have the cunning thoughts that you have, at your age, is still extraordinary.]

'Grr! Then what do I do?! Just tell me what to do!'

[Hmph, foolish boy. The crucifix damages him. What do you think you should do?]

'Rrgh!'

Issei looked back at the Stray who was breathing heavily.

'The cross hurts him... It burns him and makes him weaker…. I can't turn this into a long fight, and he won't let me either…. If that's the case, then…'

"Ptu!"

The Stray stood up straight and spit out a wad of blood, seemingly recovering from his condition. Not physically, but perhaps he gained his bearings.

'Then…. I'll just have put as much of my power into a punch, a that'll push that cross straight in his chest!'

[I suppose that should do it.]

'If there's something better then tell me! I'm starting to get annoyed by you!'

[Hmm... No. I hadn't realized it before, but the strategy I had in mind won't actually work. You are not on the level of possessing such an ability. Unfortunate. If you could Transfer that power, it would work perfectly. An easy victory.]

'Ability? Transfer?'

[It is not of our concern, yet. For now, we have to focus on what you can do. In this case, your route is the best course of action to take. Concentrate your power into a strike that will land the crucifix directly onto his chest. The power of the strike combined with the effect of the cross should blast through his body and defeat him effectively enough. Although, I don't expect him to die from it. But if he is defeated to near death, then he will surely concede— or should I say, surrender, on our terms.]

'What terms?'

[Threaten to take his cross from him. Once he is immobile, he will not be able to defy you. He may try to act irrationally and violent in response to your threats, but with his damaged body, he won't be able to do much.]

'Then what? Just leave him alone?'

[Indeed. But you must return him his cross.]

'What?! Why?!'

[Think about it, boy. He should be satisfied once you return it. I would imagine that he would curl up like an infant with his cross in hand, the artifact slowly killing him as he clings to it. All that's left for us to do then, is leave him to die. Unless you wish to watch him die?]

'...That…'

[Not now. Prepare yourself. 'Zealous' is moving.]

Just as Ddraig said that, the Devil began praying with the cross that burned his hands through his gloves.

"O' Lord, give me your strength, and I shall give you my blood. Please, allow me to rid the world of this guilty existence in thy name. Even if you must rip my soul from this foul vessel, give me the power to take its life in exchange for my own."

'Ddraig, what is "zealous"?'

[It refers to an unhealthy devotion to one's beliefs; obsession. This Devil is "Zealous." A fitting title.]

"..In the name of Jesus Christ.."

'You named him?'

Just as Issei questioned his partner, the Stray finished his prayer and prepared himself for an attack.

"Amen…"

[He's coming!]

(—!)

The Stray jumped towards Issei with only one of his arms functioning properly. He swung at the small boy who dodged his every attack. Issei noticed that the Devil's speed had decreased considerably. Issei could dodge the attacks with less effort now, but that doesn't mean it was easy. The Stray also began relying on his legs much more than he had before, swinging them over Issei's head as a part of the flurry of attacks.

'He's open now! I can attack!'

As the Devil sent a haymaker to Issei, Issei pulled onto his arm and quickly placed his leg behind the Devil's caff. Then, he quickly put his hand on the Devil's throat and sweeped his leg out from under him, slamming the Devil into the ground by his neck. This was an advanced foot sweeping technique.

'De Aishi Barai!'

DON!

"AAGH!"

Issei took the chance of the Stray being taken to the ground and started striking its head consistently.

DON DON DON DON DON DON!

The Stray bled profusely from his head, even more so than before, but Issei's onslaught was halted by Ddraig.

[Enough! Back, you fool!]

Issei immediately reacted and jumped off the Devil's chest.

'What?! Why did you stop me?!'

[You were careless. I could sense his bloodlust, he was a mere moment from taking your head there. You should've just made for an attack on the cross that's sitting on his chest. Or at the very least, you should have taken the cross from him. You got carried away. Set your priorities straight, lest you're graced by the presence of death.]

'But, I..! Grr...Dammit!'

The Devil brought himself up with a palpable fury. He was growling like a mad dog. A familiar sound then emitted from the gauntlet.

[Reset!]

'Wha!?'

[Partner, your power was reset to the 5th boost. You no longer have the power from "Explosion." Your speed, stamina, and strength have decreased slightly. Soon, you will "burst" and then fully reset.]

'No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Come on, I needed that!'

[You don't have much time. I suggest you end this quickly— No, now.]

Issei dashed at the unprepared Stray. The Devil's anger was momentarily replaced by shock when Issei quickly appeared in front of him and sent a strike straight towards his chest, or more specifically, the cross on his chest.

DON!

"GUOUGH!"

Blood spat out from the Devil's mouth as he slouched over painfully. —A perfect hit, right on top of the cross. A sizzling sound came to Issei's ears as the Devil's chest came into contact with the cross and his body began shaking.

[Show no mercy!]

Issei reared back his fist and punched the Stray once more. Twice more, thrice more. Many times more.

DON DON DON DON DON DON DON!

"BLEGH!"

Over and over, Issei sent punches onto the Devil's cross, causing it to collide with his chest. The Stray vomited more and more blood with every strike. Issei didn't even realize that a human body had that much blood in it.

The Devil's body shook violently and he lost his footing, falling onto his knees. Unmoving. It almost seemed like the Devil was dead.

Issei inhaled and exhaled heavy breaths. There was a bit of the Stray's blood on his face too. He used his thumb to wipe some of it off, only causing it to smear. Issei looked down to the Red smudge left on his fingers.

"…."

Issei began to feel disgusted, and disturbed. He had just ruthlessly beat a man down with no hesitation.

He remembered the force, the impact of the strikes as they rippled up through his arms. Some parts soft, some parts solid, but everything made a noise when he hit it. —Sizzling, cracking, breaking, spewing... The Devil's blood painted the grass below the two of them. Some of it was even glistening from the moonlight. Crimson, glistening in the moonlight, dripping down every single blade of grass that it landed on...

...The visual reminded Issei of something from his recent past.

That's right. The crimson which glimmered in the night's sky above his hometown.. Crimson hair, like blood...

...All of this blood that was spilled was from inside of the Devil's body. And Issei was the one who brutally forced it out...

Issei was starting to feel sick.

[This isn't the time, boy. This creature is not a "man", he is a "Devil." Close your heart to these feelings.]

'Yeah... I-I know...'

Issei attempted to steel his nerves. His hands were shaking. His subconscious wrought conflict and guilt within him. This caused him to make a reckless decision.

'...I'll do it..in one strike…'

Issei readied his gauntlet.

[Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!]

He boosted 3 times in 30 seconds. He was already past his physical limit for boosts.

Because of his inner turmoil, Issei hesitated to strike.

'...C'mon! Do it..! H-He..! He's a murderer! He's a monster! You..! You have to do it!'

Issei steadied his shaking gauntlet, and after enough pause, sent his strike towards the Devil's chest. But Issei's hesitation would cost him dearly.

Just as the strike was about to make contact, the Boosted Gear made an announcement.

[Burst!]

—And Issei's strike was easily caught in the Devil's palm.

...

"...Ddrai—"

Issei couldn't finish his statement as blood spilled out of his mouth. His power had fully left His body. The Stray held Issei's gauntlet firmly in his grip, and his red eyes pierced straight through Issei's soul.

[You fool! We've underestimated him! I didn't realize his madness ran so deep! He shouldn't have been able to move, even think! Get away! You can't get hit—!]

DON!

—But the Devil's fist had already planted itself firmly into the boy's abdomen.

"GAHAAA—!"

The air was ripped out from Issei's lungs and the blood splurted out from his lips due to the impact of the punch. His small body hunched over painfully and fell to ground while holding his stomach. Pain and despair filled being as his strength completely faded away.

'...Only one hit….'

Tears fell from Issei's eyes as he realized the inevitable, grim outcome while in atrocious pain.

—One hit. One hit was all it took. Ddraig was right. Truthfully, Issei was no match. He lost the moment he took even one hit. Ddraig's dreaded words, even after a full 2 and a half years, continue to replay in his mind.

Perhaps this was the moment that he realized that it would haunt him for eternity.

([You're only a Child. There's simply nothing you can do.])

"….Uuugh.."

Issei groaned in pain as tiny, constant breaths of oxygen briefly entered and exited his lungs. He slowly lifted his trembling body to try and balance himself on all fours. Painful wheezing and a lost sense of balance were the only senses that Issei properly registered.

The Stray stood over Issei's fallen body.

"You… Scum….. I...will not fall here! I….will fulfil the Lord's demand!"

The Stray wobbled in place as he struggled to remain standing. Blood was leaking from almost every section of his body. He was coated in his own blood, giving him an odd, crimson glow from the reflection of the moonlight.

The Devil finally balanced himself enough to prepare a strike. He was aiming to take Issei's head.

"I won't allow…. something like you….. to prevent me from dealing... the Lord's justice!"

—Time moved in slow motion as the Devil's hand descended over Issei's head. The boy's short and tragic life flashed before his eyes.

His mother. His father. His friends. And even his current family.

Akane. Satoshi. Maki.

Will he be buried alongside his parents? He'll be the only one with a body in his coffin.

No, maybe not. This Devil may not leave a trace of his remains behind, so it might not even be something he should worry about.

Would anyone cry for him? Maki certainly would. That is, if she even understands why he's gone. At this age, she most likely will, to a certain extent. He wonders about his aunt and uncle though. His grandmother might not be able to take it. She might not have the strength. In fact, she'll likely follow Issei into the grave.

—Right before the strike, could descend onto Issei's neck, he was brought back into the past for just a few mere moments.

("Ise! Dinner is ready!")

Said Issei's mother, his father at the table with him. The image of his kitchen flickered from one scene, to another place entirely. A familiar place. A place similar to the kitchen he was viewing previously, but with one clear difference. The people who resided in it. The man reading the newspaper did not look exactly like his father. The woman cooking did not look exactly like his mother either. And there was also a small figure in one of the usually empty chairs.

The image of his mother turned to face Issei as it flickered between images. When her visage was fully turned, Issei was met with something that woke him from his mental slumber. Something recent... The faces in the room finally became clear to his eyes.

("How was your first day at your new school, Ise-kun~?")

The members of his current family.

[—!]

—The strike did not reach Issei's head, because his eyes and gauntlet both suddenly shined a green light, and his body launched himself away from his position, flipping in the air and landing with a slide across the ground. He landed on all fours like some sort of animalistic gymnast. All of those movements took place in only a second.

"What?!"

SHIN!

The gauntlet released a light that became brighter and brighter the more the seconds passed.

"...I refuse…"

Issei lifted himself up with his arms and his head hanging down limply in an almost ghoulish manner, power inexplicably growing from within him.

"What?! What is this?! What is happening?!"

Issei slowly lifted his head and his green eyes immersed the Stray in an immense subconscious fear that he felt through his skin.

"I refuse…...!"

The Gear made an announcement, and Issei was engulfed by a pillar of green light.

[Boosted Gear - Gift!] [Second Liberation!]

"...to die heeeeeeeeeree!"

SHIIIIIIIIN!

The bright light flashed through the forest and shot up into the night's sky. Issei's gear then began to change form. Ten golden spikes emerged from different spots and certain parts of the gear became sharper. Even golden colored marking appeared around the gauntlet's jewel and emitted a yellow glow. A second jewel spawned beneath the first one as the pillar of green light continued to shoot out from Issei's body and into the stars.

—The facade of a dragonic beast presented itself before the Devil's eyes.

"What is this?! What are you?!"

[Explosion!]

SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!

[Partner! You have reached your second evolution! This is meant to be the final evolution of the Gear and yet you've reached it already! You've skipped any other prior evolutions that could have come before, as if it was forced out from the Gear strictly by your own will! I have never witnessed such a development! As I thought, your potential is that of a monster! Wait—! Do you feel that? Partner!]

The strong gusts of wind created by Issei's ascending power lifted his clothes and almost made him seem like he was floating. Issei's eyes continued to emit an eerie glow, suggesting that he was now on some sort of "autopilot."

Issei lifted his gauntlet and aimed straight at the Stray. The boy felt something building up from deep within him, and his arm started to become heavy. Small particles of red light began to gather in the palm of his gauntlet with a subtle hum.

"You—! You monster! Worthless beast! So you've finally decided to burn yourself with your power, and this child along with you?! You think that you'll kill me?! You think you will take my life, my purpose, from meeee?! NO! I will kill YOU! It is I who will take your life! You worthless heretic!"

The Stray foolishly flew towards Issei with reckless abandon.

[Partner!]

Issei didn't answer his partner or his enemy. He simply kept his aim trained on the Devil who was quickly approaching. A small ball of light no greater in size than a golf ball hovered in his palm.

"You refuse to die?! Even I, more than a being like you—! FOR THE SAKE OF MY LORD..! IT IS I, WHO REFUSES TO DIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!"

The Devil prepared to strike Issei from above, finally taking the boy's head.

[Partner!]

Until Issei's voice robotically uttered a certain phrase, causing a red beam of energy that engulfed the Devil's entire right half to shoot out into the sky.

"Shot."

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

…..

…...

Sss

Within the silent forest, only a sizzling sound could be heard. The dust that pervaded the clearing slowly began to clear. The battlefield gradually became visible, along with the Devil who stood before Issei.

"...A... Ah..."

The sound of a groan which was barely uttered out.

When the dust cleared around the silhouette of the Devil, his body was fully revealed.

—The entire right side of the Devil's torso, including one half of his head, were missing.

"...Ah…. Lord…"

And so, the Devil, "Zealous", dropped lifelessly to the ground.

Thud!

….

...

...

[You have won, partner.]

….Thud!

Issei fell to his knees after finally having returned to normal. His body felt amazing. He felt stronger than he ever has been before. He felt an overwhelming sense of adrenaline, not a single trace of pain left his body. He felt aware, he felt awake. He felt like he could do anything. He felt "alive."

And yet, he also felt weak.

His heart felt "weak", his soul felt "tired." His mind was exhausted, his head felt dizzy.

—And most of all, Issei felt disgusted.

He had finally done it. He had killed a man. This person that lie before him, he was brutally killed, by Issei's own hand. —A child killed this man. Issei killed this man. And no one would know. This man is certain to never to be seen again, by anyone, his life gone into night.

...Issei felt like he was about to vomit. Was it exhaustion, or...

[Enough, partner. Close your heart to it. You mustn't allow these thoughts to prevent you from doing what is necessary. This Devil was nothing but a murderer. A beast, who felt no hesitation to kill you. Beings like these, show them no sympathy or compassion, for they will not show it to you.]

….Issei was silent.

"Where was it?! I didn't see the origin point!"

"It's still south! We have to keep going this way!"

"That red light..! It lit the entire fucking sky! It had to have been a flare of some sort! Was someone calling for help?!"

"They could be fireworks. There was a green light too."

A rustling was heard deep within the trees of the forest, followed by voices. It was the authorities coming to investigate.

[It seems our encounter was much too flashy. Hurry, partner. We should depart from this place. I'm not sure how long the power you've unlocked will last. All I know is that your phyiscal collapse will be painful and harsh, especially considering that you fired a "Dragon shot" in such a state. I suggest we use this opportunity to return to your home, discreetly.]

Issei stood up unsteadily. He quickly ran into a different part of the forest as he made to move around the group of police that were fast approaching.

'...What do I do now, Ddraig?..'

[The same that we've done before. Clean yourself up. Though, do not expect your bruises to fade. I'm sure you'll be able to hide the bruises on your stomach, but not the marks from your strangling. Not for long, at least. And certainly not from that adoptive father of yours. He is a tad too observant for our own good. You should come up with a story about an encounter with the "man" who attacked you earlier. We may have wanted to avoid attention and not be considered a "hero" who saved that boy, but at this point, we don't have a choice. That "uncle" of yours will surely find out if you try to hide it. So we'll just have to accept the attention for now.]

'What about his body? He's a Devil, what happens when they look at his insides?'

[A Reincarnated Devil's anatomy is practically identical to a normal humans. They were once human after all. The only problem are most likely his wings. He did not have them extended at the time of his death, but even still, it's an issue. Ultimately, however, I do not believe that it will become the greatest issue.]

'Why?..'

[Should a Devil happen to be searching for this Stray, which can be assumed quite easily, they will surely find a way to manipulate the situation in favor of themselves. If it appears that they have realized that these authorities are in possession of the body, they will most certainly interfere and not allow them to keep it for long. At least, the truth of this situation will most definitely not come out.]

'I can't believe I'm saying this…. but let's hope there was one of them around...'

[Agreed.]

—With that, it was finally over.

The Stray, nicknamed by Ddraig as "Zealous", was no more.


DxD

"Nii-Nii! Aaaaah~"

Maki fed Issei a marshmallow while the two sat on the couch together.

—It had been a few days since the incident with the Stray Devil, "Zealous." Immediately after this event, Issei returned to his home and secretly patched himself up enough to fool his family. And in the morning, as they were requested, the family visited the Aichi prefectural police department in order to give Issei's full story. Issei fabricated a story involving the boy he saved in which he "encountered and was attacked by the man who kidnapped the boy." He explained that the reason he didn't state before that he was attacked during this encounter was because he didn't see the man's face and thought it wouldn't make a difference. To which, Issei was scolded for hiding that fact and his injuries. Thankfully, they still seemed to believe the boy.

The police ended up "revealing" to Issei and his family that there was someone they found last night matching Issei's description as the suspect, dead. They conducted a short investigation overnight to confirm whether this suspect was their killer or not. Once the authorities "realized", with surely no occult influence of any kind, that the dead man was the killer, Issei got what was coming to him. He was rewarded.

"Ah, look! Nii-Nii is on TV!"

Maki pointed at the television which had a news program playing on it. Arguably the very program that Maki's parents were waiting for as they entered the living area from the kitchen. The television showed footage of Issei receiving a medal.

[...The boy known as Hyoudou Issei, saved the young Satoru from his kidnapping and carried him all the way towards his home, which was miles away! He later provided a description of the suspect who attacked him, which was later confirmed to be the killer and found dead due to some sort of explosion. The courageous boy was then later rewarded with a medal by the Aichi's prefectural department commissioner for his bravery. By this point, he's already received nationwide recognition and is soon to be recognized by the prime minister for his efforts in an official event on Saturday.]

—The report didn't include the full truth. According to reports, the killer was caught and the "autopsy was performed." But those humans didn't actually have the body, nor did they perform any sort of autopsy. The beings who had the body merely convinced the authorities that they did. At least, according to Ddraig's deduction, this was the one and only outcome.

Satoshi sighed from beside the couch.

"Issei-kun really has become somewhat of a celebrity, huh. Who would've thought he would receive this much attention? I assumed that it wouldn't step out beyond Aichi and the recognition would end with the medal, but now it's national news and we're even going to meet the prime minister on saturday for it. Honestly, who could've thought something like this would happen? It's so surreal. I can't help but have my pride overwhelmed by disbelief. It really doesn't feel real at all….. Well, at least Issei-kun has become a "hero", right?"

Satoshi smiled as he looked down at Issei. Akane sat beside the children on the couch with a kind smile.

"Your Mama and Papa would be proud of you."

She rubbed Issei's head as he smiled sadly. When Akane removed her hand however, she gave Issei a stern look.

"Buu~ut, like I said before, you can't ever do something like that again, okay? I know what you did was amazing, but... you can't go risking your life like that. You weren't even supposed to head off so far into Nagoya in the first place. You may have gotten lost on the way to whatever store you said you wanted to go to, but that doesn't mean you should keep walking farther and farther to find it. Just….don't do something that dangerous again, okay?"

Issei nodded his head. Sometimes he forgot about the complex lies he cooked up to cover his story.

Then, something caught Issei's ear.

[The details regarding the killer's death have not been fully uncovered at this time, but according to authorities, the investigation is still underway. As for the children that went missing, the authorities and the families of the children have been holding out hope that they will soon be located, but as of now, the only assumption may be that the children are sadly no longer with us….. In other news, a scientific research facility in Tokyo has…]

Issei's gaze glued itself to the lifeless pair of hands he had lying on his lap. The outcome to this entire situation was exactly as expected...

Ring-Ring~!

"Oh, dear, that's probably Ise-kun's "shishou." He might've seen the program by now."

"Hmph, took him long enough. Doesn't that man ever watch the news? He's probably freaking out. Something like "Do you know how much publicity this is for the dojo?!", or something similar."

"Oh, come now. Cut the man some slack. It's a good thing anyway. If not for him, Ise-kun may not have been able to get away from the man you know?"

"Haah... I suppose so."

Akane returned to the kitchen to wash some dishes while Satoshi went to answer the phone. It was quite obvious what Issei's dojo master's reaction was based on how Satoshi was keeping the phone a few inches away from his ear.

"Nii-Nii! Tokatsu!"

Issei was snapped out of his daze by the voice of his cousin and changed the channel back to a kid friendly program that the girl liked. Maki crawled into Issei's lap and brought her bag of marshmallows with her. She offered Issei some, but he didn't want any. As Maki lost herself in the program, Issei was stuck thinking only about the event even more.

He still hasn't been able to sleep properly since then. Day by day, he remembers it clearly, over and over again.

Issei caressed the large strangle bruise on his neck that was now wrapped in bandages he received after going to the hospital the next morning.

'...Neh.. Ddraig…'

[What is it, partner?]

'I…..did a good thing, didn't I?...'

[Mm. Indeed, you did. An exceptional feat, especially at your age. And that isn't even considering the real feats that you accomplished.]

'Yeah…. You're right, huh…. I did a lot….. I unlocked a new evolution of my Gear, I killed a dangerous Stray Devil all by myself…. I became much stronger and broke past my limits, leaving more possibilities for the future. I unlocked a new ability. I skipped all the other potential evolutions…. And the evolution that I reached is the last one before this ["Balance Breaker"] thing you keep mentioning…... I did some really amazing things for my age, huh?...'

[Yes.]

'...Yet, somehow…. I don't feel proud of any of it…'

[..?]

'You want me to be honest, Ddraig?... You know what I'd rather have?...'

[What is that, partner?]

Issei looked up at the ceiling vacantly. The voice of the deceased "Zealous" replayed a certain message in his head.

("Hm? The children? It is obvious, isn't it? I've been killing them.")

.

'...I'd rather this all...never happened in the first place.…'

—From that day forth, Issei felt a strange, heavy weight continuously resting upon his shoulders.


End

Damn. That's a conclusion I can sit with. First two conclusions really weren't satisfactory. Glad I came up with this one. So yes, Issei wins and he essentially becomes a national hero. Don't think that's over the top or anything. It isn't unbelievable. Shit like that happens in the real world. Not the Devil shit but the public hero shit. I mean think about it, there are some fuckin crazy people out there who just do the most courageous shit. I'd say the most recent example is that man Shawn who saved all those people in a McDonald's by fighting off an active shooter. AND he raised a shit ton of money for the victims and went on TV saying he wasn't a hero. What a fucking legend. Point is, the idea of some young kid saving another kid from a kidnapper and walking home with him is not the craziest shit that could happen. It happens in our world a lot too. And of course most of those people are recognized nationally for their actions. Same with Issei, especially since he's so young. So he's a little famous. I mean he ain't gonna become some sort of international star but people will know of his name for a couple years I would guess. One of those things ya know? Especially since these kinda things don't happen in Japan.

Also, there wasn't a lot of actual fighting in this chapter when you think about it. But y'know that's intentional. You see, this chapter had to be more centered on strategy and tactics because in terms of pure battle prowess Issei was just NO match for Zealous. Issei had to make use of all of his cunning. And you can see that when he's finally hit by Zealous and taken down in ONE HIT. Zealous was a [Rook] after all. He excels in brute strength and he was strong enough to kill his master and the rest of his peerage with just brute force. And he only became stronger when the restrictions on his strength were removed thanks to becoming free. So there's just NO WAY Issei could've won normally. If not for that evolution to his gear and the fact that Zealous was so crazy that he allowed himself to become inevitably weaker for the sake of his religion, he would have died. An evolution he forced out using only his will. It takes quite the monstrous possessor to do that, especially at that age. Issei's potential is quite the thing.

Also, something funny I just realized, but Issei ended winning against zealous and unlocking a power that would've helped him defeat Zealous much easier in the first place if he had it. If he had gift already then all he would have had to do was transfer enough power through the cross with his strike like he did with Raiser in cannon. Cruel irony.

Anyway, tell me guys what you thought about everything. Did you like the way the fight went down? Did you enjoy the Stray known as Zealous as a villain? Did you like the conclusion? Did you like this mini arc? Did you like Maki? Lol yeah right everyone loves Maki. It's the law.

Read, Rate, Review go crazy.

Stay frosty.

[P.S. Zealous obviously isn't his real name but you can call him that. For all intents and purposes.]