() - Good old Ddraig!

**- Call

Italicized - Thoughts

Bold - Description.

[]- Sounds.

"" - Talking.

A teenage boy, around 17 years old.

He had chocolate brown hair and yellowish eyes. And a really shitty haircut with twin tails.

From what we could see, he was lying in a red landscape. It looked like, Mars.

The landscape was full of Crimson-Red flames, But the boy didn't seem bothered by it. If anything, it was calming the boy down. He was sleeping.

The sky was blood-red, it looked like a galaxy.

Suddenly, A mighty voice spoke.

"Tell me, boy, are you afraid?" The voice spoke.

The teenager woke up. But his eyes showed no emotion.

The only person that was in the space was the teenager, nobody else. Who said that?

The teen looked up into the sky, his face and eyes still showed no emotion.

A tear showed up into the sky, and the tear widened.

Out of the tear came a massive red western dragon with a large horn on his snout. It had 2 sets of wings and golden eyes. At least from what the boy could see. It looked like the dragon was about 100 meters in overall length.

"Scared? Who even are you?" The boy asked as he looked at the dragon.

"Ha! You still can't recognize me at first sight. Even after all this time." The dragon spoke.

The boy took a minute to think. He finally found out who the dragon was. He had trouble speaking, his legs were trembling for some reason...

Eventually, the boy finally gathered up the courage to speak.

"G-Great.. Red?" The boy muttered.

"Ah, so you do remember..." The now known, "Great Red" spoke.

The dragon finally decided to turn its head to the boy, slowly flying down to the ground.

"Boy, or should I say, Issei Hyoudou, do you know why I am here?" Great asked.

The boy's face finally showed a tinge of emotion. He was... confused, however.

"Sigh~ I'm sorry, I don't know." Issei responded

"Hmm. I've been watching you ever since you were born. You're a very interesting person, you know that?" Great Red said.

Issei's eyes widened at what the dragon just said. But he composed himself, at least to some degree.

"Uhm.. Is that a compliment?" Issei asked.

"Yes! You should be honored! After all, you got a compliment from such a mighty being." Great red said.

"You know Issei, Ddraig knew what he was doing when he chose you. You soon caught my interest after I first saw you. I sensed great potential in you. So I made a decision, YOU will be my host. I will give you a chance... to see if you are worthy of ME." Great Red said with pride in his voice.

Issei's eyes looked like dinner plates... Did he hear the dragon correctly? He was going to host The Great Red?

"Huh?! What are you talking about?!" Issei yelled.

"Sigh~ you will soon understand." Great red said.

The dragon's body started glowing Crimson-red. I condensed itself into a small red and gold orb.

The orb soon made it's way to the teenager.

It floated in front of him for a while.

All the boy could do was... stare! for some reason, he couldn't move!

Finally, the orb moved. It moved into Issei's chest. Words cannot describe how much pain the boy was feeling... It was immeasurable.

After a minute or so, the orb disappeared. It was in the boy's body. However, it was dormant. He would have to awaken it.

He woke up.

"GAHHHH!"

Issei was seen panicking and breathing heavily in his bed.

The windows in his room were closed, and so were the blinds. But a small ray of sunlight was emanating through the windows, due to one of the blinds being left sideways, unlike the rest.

It was about.. 6: AM in the town of Kuoh.

Issei's room looked like a mess. There was clothing thrown everywhere, his desk was piled with complete homework and school textbooks.

But that wasn't the main concern. That was Issei... He looked... terrible.

His eyes looked red and were extremely puffy. Did he cry himself to sleep?

His skin held tons of bruises. There were cuts on his skin and blood stains under those cuts.

He looked extremely pale, indicating that he hadn't been getting much sunlight lately...

His eyes, it held no emotion... He looked like tears weren't the only thing that was coming out of his eyes... Blood too?!

He looked like he was going to end it all.

He was in an extreme state of depression. He had been getting nightmares. About them...

Issei barely had the strength to even speak.. but he still tried nonetheless.

"H-He...y Ddraig? can you h-hear me?" Issei managed to mutter.

Issei heard a loud yawn inside his head. Of course, it was his partner, and friend, Ddraig.

"Yes partner, loud and clear." Ddraig said.

But something was off... Even Ddraig didn't sound right. He wasn't depressed. Rather, he was feeling terrible for his host.

(I know, it's weird that I'm talking to you this way... but I don't have the strength to speak. Aside from that, did you see that dream last night?) Issei asked.

Ddraig's eyes widened at the sudden memory he had. It was Issei's dream.

(Yes, I did. However, don't think otherwise, the being you call "Great Red" really chose you as his host...) Ddraig said.

They both couldn't believe it. But they both still had questions... WHY?

(Sigh~ normally, I'd say you should train to awaken this gear. But in your state, I would not recommend that.) Ddraig said.

Issei slowly but surely turned his head to his left arm. He didn't want to admit it. But he was right.

Nobody knew how... But Issei slowly got up from his bed and stood up. It was a miracle how he didn't fall down in pain.

He was wearing a simple white T-shirt. And black shorts.

His legs were trembling, How did he not drop to his knees in pain? I mean, his condition was terrible.

Ddraig saw what his partner was doing, he immediately tried to stop him. So he spoke.

(Issei please, don't do this to yourself. Don't make yourself suffer anymore. Just rest!)

Ddraig looked like he was about to cry if you saw his face. He actually cared deeply for his partners'- No, friends well being. He hated seeing him in his current condition... If only he could help somehow. But he couldn't. He was just a soul sealed in a Sacred Gear. Nothing more.

Issei was the only host who saw Ddraig as a friend... rather than a tool for fighting. He couldn't bear it. He just wanted to help his broken friend... But how? He could literally do nothing. Absolutely nothing... what a friend he was. Truly the worst.

(Ddraig, please. I'll be fine, I'm just going to go use the bathroom. I can't just stay in my bedroom all day.) Issei replied.

Issei's condition was so bad that he couldn't even talk... Just what could have caused such despair in the boy? and why?

Issei walked out of his room, with his legs still trembling, He walked down the staircase... his hands were being dragged against the cold, metal railing.

It was still pretty dark in the Hyoudou Residence. Regardless if it was morning.

He walked past the room of Rias Gremory. The door was left open. Issei decided to step in. Because, well... nobody was in the house. Except for Issei.

The room was luxurious. There was a white and gold king-sized bed in the top middle part of the room. Right across from the bed, was a 75-inch flatscreen TV.

On one side of the room, the wall was just a window. Showing the entire view of The Town of Kouh.

on the other side of the room, was a large bookshelf. It was filled to the brim with books based on different types of legends and mythologies.

And next to the bookshelf, was a white and gold couch. It was made out of an expensive type of leather. With a small blanket on the couch, hanging from the back of the couch.

Issei stood there for a few minutes. Just observing the room he was now in.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally decided to walk out. He nearly fell twice while walking out of the room.

He took a couple more steps out of the room. Finally making it to the bathroom.

Issei walked in, turning on the light the second he walked in. Issei just stared at himself in the mirror. He looked horrible. If anyone saw him, they would think he had gone through hell. Absolutely war-torn.

I don't understand... why did this happen? what did I do to deserve this? Is it because I'm a pervert? Because I'm nice? Just why? Haven't I suffered enough? Maybe if I just end It all. They would feel even a little remorse. Even the smallest? Issei thought.

Ddraig had enough.

(Issei, I'm sorry, I couldn't help but listen to your thoughts. But please, I beg you... Don't think like this... You're thinking of ending it all? For whatever reason your "mates" did such a thing, I promise you, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE NICE. THERE IS NO WAY THAT'S THE CASE. Don't ever go thinking like that again. Please, stop.) Ddraig roared.

Issei heard what the dragon said. He knew he was right. But he had no response. Not even a thought.

The boy took off his shirt for whatever reason. But his torso looked... terrible.

There were 8 black spots surrounding his torso. 3 spots on his stomach, represented a triangle.

There was 1 black spot on each of his shoulders.

There was 1 spot on each of his elbows as well. in total, 2 spots on each arm.

And finally, a massive black spot on this back.

If you haven't guessed by now, the spots are the evil pieces. They malfunctioned for a reason I will get into in the next chapter. And now, It's absorbing his life force.

(Partner, If you don't do something about those pieces. You will die a painful death in three days.) Ddraig said in a sad voice.

Wow, they couldn't believe it, is this how Issei was going to die? just like this?

Issei already tried contacting everyone he knew for help. But nobody, not a single would answer when he most needed it.

Gasper was in the hospital with Valerie, waiting for her recovery

Azazel was almost always in the Grigori, due to recent events with his faction.

Sirczechs, Grayfia, Michael, and Vali, were all busy with something related to the three factions.

Rossweisse was called back into the Norse Pantheon by Odin, It had something to do with the seal trapping Trihexa, or 666.

The ORC? You'll see.

And the student council was far too busy with their king's project.

In the end, nothing could be done. Issei was just going to die a sad, and pathetic death. And nothing could be done.

(Well Ddraig, It was nice knowing you, Maybe when I die... They'll realize what they had done. And just feel a little remorse... I just wanted to feel loved. And instead, I because their shield, just someone they could use. In the end, I'm worthless.)

Ddraig heard what the boy said. And he was right. He couldn't do anything. He was going to die.

But neither of them knew. He was already awake.

End. I know, There are a lot of unexplained things. But I promise it will all be answered in Chapter 1. This is Chapter 0.