Split second decisions, things that didn't matter in the slightest. For some reason or another, the lucid memory of Margit flashed trough his mind.
The women who had trained him, kept him sane. Well, if Issei had to guess, it was very simple to understand why he had seen her back in his mind. Her fluttering, red hair. His mind felt a bit foggy, so he couldn't quite place when that particular scene of her had struck him so deeply.
..Most likely, as he saw her from behind and below, that particular time was a time that she had saved him.
She always did...and the scene of her motivated Issei to keep on fighting. To become stronger. To never surrender...with everything on the line.
..And that was how Issei lived. With everything on the line. With the odds stacked against him...because he could always rise as the underdog.
Success ,happiness, and true victory had never suited him...at least, as far as he could recall.
This rather random thought of his inter lapped in a fraction of a second. This fraction of a second didn't matter at all.
Issei's ear began to ring as they exchanged blows. The imitation of a black hole they had created imploded on themselves.
Both Issei and Saiaorg were thrown backwards. Issei span around midair and grafted trough the cracked pavement with his armor's claw, as a way of stopping himself.
Saiaorg simply landed on his feet and slid the few dozen meters away.
The crowd roared from this attack, the stadium shook and the dust still hadn't calmed down, as it span around the two of them.
''..That punch of your's...it's a ki attack..and yet you can't use touki like I can.'' – Saiaorg spoke as the ground around him shattered even more and his hair rose up. His body was covered in touki..the same touki Koneko used.
Issei sighed. –''...So that's what happens when a talented person hones his body to such a degree.''
Saiaorg nodded. –''Indeed. A true master of the art can unlock and control his Ki even without the inborn ability to do so.''
As the man before him declared that, Issei let out a chuckle. Saiaorg stared at him.
For a second. His eyes widened and he stepped forwards.
Not backwards, but yes, forwards.
Issei's and Saiaorg's arms crossed and they punched each other in the face. Issei lost the ability to see and hear for a second as the Ki blast shook him to his core. He stumbled backwards and blocked a punch with his elbow on pure instinct.
''..Your instinct for attack..is remarkable.'' – Saiaorg commented, giving Issei enough time to recover.
Issei didn't responded, he simply stepped forward and threw punches. Punches that Saiaorg easily parried and dodged.
Issei understood that he was too slow.
[BOOOST BOOOST BOOOST BOOOST]
The sacred gear roared as his attacks turned into blur from the viewers standpoint...but it didn't stop at that. Issei became faster and faster every second.
His attacks held an intricate kind of pattern. Saiaorg could notice that Issei had a pattern, but he could not predict it.
Suddenly, an attack connected. Saiaorg was thrown sideways as he felt the ringing in his ears. The same white fumes appeared from Issei's fist as he awkwardly pulled it back. Saiaorg lunged for the ground as Issei's scale covered leg went over his head.
Issei went forwards with the momentum and landed a few meters away.
''...You simply expel the touki out of your arm, don't you?''
Issei smirked and disappeared.
''Promotion, Knight!'' – He shouted, a mere millisecond before.
Saiaorg readied his guard..but he was wrong on the part of which to protect. Issei kicked out Saiaorg's leg and brought his arm straight down on his side while Saiaorg was still mid-air.
He crashed into the ground once. The second time his body touched the ground he was already on his feet.
The stadium was silent as he slid the few meters. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Issei.
Issei disappeared once again.
Saiaorg caught Issei's punch and pushed it away...but the force was unbelievable. Issei's core would have been ripped in two if not for the armor.
Saiaorg searched for the doubt, he expected surprise, but he didn't find any as Issei round-house kicked at his face.
Saiaorg shouted and caught Issei's leg. In a one, circular sweeping motion, he span Issei around, but before he could release him, Issei spun around and used his other leg to kick at Saiaorg's face.
He barely leaned his head downwards before the same sonic boom and white fumes accompanied the kick.
He released the leg by throwing him at the ground. Issei's arm touched the ground and he flipped to his feet.
''...Ki blasts..without the control over it.'' – Saiaorg sounded confused. And he was, indeed.
''..There's nothing to it. I'm a simple fake. I can't control it. I can simply push it out...After the first time, it was just a matter of finding the right amount of pushiness versus the limb.'' – Issei chuckled. –''..Too much and the limb goes flying off.''
He rose his left arm and cracked his fingers, trough the gauntlet that covered them.
''..I simply found this ability when I understood that I need more power to my punches. My opponent, of sorts, had a very thick skin..a normal punch didn't do. This kind of a punch..'' – Issei's fist began to fume slightly. –''..did do the job...although the first time was rather painful.''
Saiaorg listened to the way Issei spoke. –''Your way of speaking is weird. Has anybody ever mention that?''
''..What do you mean with that?'' – Issei spoke, but he didn't lower his guard.
''You speak like an old man. But not all the time. When you describe things, like you just did. The time in the young devil meeting. Are you hiding something?''
''..Nothing in particular.'' –Issei responded, indifferently. –''..Yes. One person has mentioned that. My late teacher...from who I also inhereted this fighting style mine, that you can not understand.''
''..So you noticed.'' – Saiaorg let out a small sigh. –''..Not that it matters.''
And like that, he charged at Issei, who simply narrowed his eyes once again and counter charged him.
Koneko was sitting, cross-legged on the cracked pavement. Her eyes were closed as she focused on the energy around her body.
On the lower end of basics, the Ki was the energy around everyone. Ki was found everywhere. It is the life energy. Nothing more, nothing less. Everything has life energy.
Koneko inhaled deeply and focused on absorbing the life energy around her. Her arm had a big scratch, and her knee was bruised, now taking the color of blue and black.
''..They're coming, Koneko.'' – Gaspar spoke, from behind her. He was put up on guard duty..with his magic talent Koneko didn't need to worry about detecting enemies.
''..Got it.'' – Koneko responded and focused on it. She felt 2 enemies. – ''Only two...If we took out two, Issei took out 1, and 2 are coming...where are the last three enemies?''
''..With Saiaorg?'' - Gasper asked, seemingly anxious.
''..No. It's a strict 1 versus 1. I can feel the energy in my bones.'' – Koneko said, with her eyes closed.
Indeed, she could feel it. The overwhelming clash of powers just a kilometer or two away...she had to fight the desire to focus on the fight...she could hear the distant clashing of metal.
She shook the feeling off and got up. She opened her eyes and saw the two enemies coming to the two of them.
''..Gasper. Stay back and try to not get into their range.''
The Horseman and his companion, the feminine looking bishop introduced themselves once again.
Koneko remained silent..and so did Gasper.
''..Rook and Bishop, right?'' – Furcas asked with a sliver of annoyance to his voice.
''..Do we really have to do this?'' – Koneko asked.
''..Fight? Of course.''
''..No. I mean the dull introductions and the fake good manners. Can we just fight?'' – Koneko responded, with a low tone.
''..Hahaha.'' – Furcas laughed. –''Very well. Come at me, rook!''
He said and raised his lance. He looked at the bishop, seemingly exchanging a plan in that one glance.
And like that, the knight charged at Koneko, leaving a blue trail in his wake.
In that moment, maybe, if Koneko had more time, she could have done something differently, but she couldn't.
..It was too late when she understood it.
''GASPER!'' – She screamed, as the knight just passed her, charging towards the bishop.
He raised his arm and didn't budge. The split second decision of him was to try and stop the knight.
..There's a possibility that could have worked. Gasper had the talent, he could have created a miracle.
..But he couldn't do that without his power. Without his Forbidden Valor View.
Koneko kept looking at Gasper, as he was thrown into air, half-skewered.
''..H-huh?'' – He asked, with his eyes unfocused...he was clearly in the state of shock...and he was wrapped in the white light and disappeared.
[A Gremory's bishop has been resigned.]
Koneko's slender fingers pulled into a fist. Her eyes, previously hidden by her hair, shone in a yellow daze.
''..I'm going to kill you.'' – She declared and disappeared, charging the enemies in godspeed.
The bishop jumped back, but he couldn't escape. In the last second, he took away her powers.
''Furcas, help me!'' –He screamed.
''..Doesn't matter.'' – She spoke, right beside him. Her ears and cat tail was gone.
She simply knew, from her intuition, that the knight was right behind her. She grabbed the staff that the bishop was holding and kicked him into the stomach, throwing him over herself at the same time.
Furcas stopped and galloped right past her, without attacking...he didn't want to harm his teammate.
..in this split second, Koneko spun around and lunged at the bishop with a straight arm.
The bishop tried to use last second fire magic attacks, but Koneko simply charged trough them. Her skin was burned quite severely, and so was her school uniform.
...and like that, she used her arm to impale the bishop. He coughed blood on her and looked at her with wide eyes.
..She narrowed her and pulled her arm out of his abdomen. The arm was covered in blood, making her fingers stick to each other.
[Saiaorg's bishop has been resigned.]
The bishop disappeared and Koneko turned around to face the knight. Her ears and two tails returned.
She simply noted to herself that she was right about the bishop's powers.
She brought out her two karambit knives and span them around.
''..You are a lot different than your bio said.''
''..That bio must be old then.'' – She responded and charged at the knight in a speed that couldn't be traced by a human's eye.
The metal sparks and the metal clashing sound rebounded through the field.
Koneko was reinforcing her two blades with the Ki, that she wrapped in.
''..Your power is like Saiaorg's.'' – The knight said, making Koneko stop mid-attack.
She jumped upwards and span midair.
The knight, however, jumped into air aswell.
Just where he had been, ice spikes appeared.
''..Combining magic and Ki, huh.''
''..Yes.'' – Koneko responded, with a bit of ridicule to her words. –''..I can use magic, unlike your master.''
The knight grunted and lunged at Koneko, who stopped his lance by crossing her two blades and kicked upwards.
The lance was thrown into the air and Koneko used her other leg to jump into the air. She twisted her body and kicked at the knight's face.
White fumes appeared from the impact and she was thrown backwards while the knight was thrown to the front.
She landed on all fours, like a cat, and threw herself after the knight. The knight was armored, and that hindered his movement. Koneko was ready to smash him into the ground, but she stopped just a millimeter before a spear that came from her side.
The pale horse galloped right past her with the spear pointing out of his blue-white mane.
The side of his lance had cut her stomach. She focused on the wound and it grew shut in a few seconds.
The horse stopped right in front of his master.
Koneko grinded her teeth.
It was the worst match-up possible for her. The horse and the lance gave him extremely long reach, while she didn't have any reach at all.
Furcas got up on his horse and took the other spear. He span it a few times and then he spoke up, in a tone that would make a person's skin crawl.
..but not Koneko's.
''The time for games is over. I'm going to go all out.'' – He spoke as the horse began to spark blue and white even more than before.
Koneko smiled. –''..Your voice is too weak to intimidate me.''
Furcas on looked how she put both of knives in her shoes and got into a fighting stance.
''Your stance.'' – The knight spoke. –''..that's the first time I've ever seen someone use a stance like that.''
Koneko didn't respond, she simply smirked.
In her mind, she repeated the stance that was taught to her by Issei.
''..This stance is rather interesting, but it works in certain times...this was something I copied off Margit, she didn't teach it to me. She either didn't want me to know it, or she didn't have enough time before she..you know, died. I saw her do it a few times...and I read about it from her journal.'' – Issei said, as the rain hit his face. It was one of the days in the training that it rained without stopping, but they both didn't mind. –''The one thing extremely different from other techniques is the fact that you use only one arm.''
He raised his right arm straight out to the front and pulled his palm into a fist. His other hand went behind his back. He slightly bent his knees.
''..This is the stance.'' – Issei simply told her. –''...but of course, for someone like you, this pose can help you focus on your breathing and Ki distribution. I can't do any of that, but anyways, try to attack me.''
She had stood up and she faced Issei.
She lounged at him..
..but stopped, because his fist was right in front of her face. She tried again...and the same thing happened.
Issei dropped the stance. –''It's kind of like that. You know, you can also make the opponent focus on your right hand and you can do something else with your left...although the more experienced enemies might not fall for it...while the less experienced might think you can't do martial arts if you use that kind of stance..because it goes against the basics.''
Koneko inhaled deeply and the touki that was covering her body began to burn even more intensely.
The pale horse charged at her without a sliver of hesitation...and Koneko matched the lack of hesitation with her stance. She didn't budge an inch.
Just as the horseman closed in on her, she simply let out Ki from her foot. It shattered the ground beneath them like a spider web, and yet she remained unfazed.
The horseman didn't loose his footing. He span his lance around and stopped it in his palm. He quickly let it down in a way that he targeted Koneko. The hair on her neck rose from the feeling of imminent death.
..She fought against the desire to flee with everything she had.
..And it happened like that.
Blood splatered, her teeth struck each other as she didn't let out a single weep or cry.
It was over in a single instant.
Koneko was clutching her profusely bleeding arm while the horse galloped to the front...as his master fell off. The heavy sound of metal, as it hit the ground echoed over the field. He remained in a puddle of blood that flowed from his head. His eyes didn't show anything, as they had become simply white...and he was wrapped in a light the same tone as his eyes.
[A Bael knight has been resigned.]
The horse disappeared from the field after it's master...but before, he lingered, just enough to look at Koneko with his hollow gaze.
Koneko's knees almost gave out as she grabbed the lance still stuck in her arm.
The exchange lingered in her head.
As soon as the lance went trough her arm she had grabbed it and had spun her body just a tiny bit, so the lance went trough her fist and bicep. She had grabbed the spear and pulled on it.
That action had made the knight lean his body just enough for Koneko to reach him.
And she did. In that instant her other arm extended straight at Furcas's forehead and she let out as much Ki as her arm could handle without destroying itself.
...That kind of shock to the brain could potentially kill someone...but she didn't mull over it too much. She did say she would kill them, after all.
She pulled at the spear as quick and powerfully as she could. It was out in an instant, but she screamed in pain and fell to her knees.
With shaking hands, she brought out the Phoenix tear and poured it over the limp arm...and she focused on healing it. She knew she had to get back to Rias, because with that kind of a wound she wasn't able to fight even half to her own strength.
The viewers of the game were mostly focused on the main fight, but looking from a near by onlookers point of view it would have been weird.
The mountain of a man, Saiaorg, their idol, was in his element, fist fighting, and just had revealed his trump card, the Nemena lion, and yet there were no cheers. The people were silenced by the sheer force of the fight.
It was unheard of for Saiaorg to be pushed back in a fight. He was able to dominate with his hands only. With his fist of steel, he had singlehandedly beaten the fake inheritor of the throne and taken back his rightful place...but yet...the meager pawn of Gremory was pushing him back.
Sparks shattered all over the field, whirlwind of dust, armor pieces and blood surrounded them as they moved in god-speed. The sound of clashing metal echoed against the far stadion walls.
Saiaorg raised his guard, readying himself for another barrage of well-coordinated attacks, but was blown backwards.
Issei's arm had come down in a simple arc, devoid of any kind of technique. Just a simple, power filled fist.
He clutched his chest and spit out blood.
''..Ah...I guess..I deserve this for holding back myself.'' – Saiaorg simply chuckled.
He knew he had to become stronger to overcome the man in front of him. His small frame was fooling a lot of people...but not Saiaorg. He knew, by the exchange of their fists, that Issei was convicted to win.
No one needed to check his conviction because Issei didn't think twice about it. He simply is devoted to his conviction.
Saiaorg pulled in all the Ki he could and expended it around his body. His arm was wrapped in the Ki, and thus, he began to move it.
Saiaorg stepped towards Issei and he responded to him by also stepping in. Their fist raised in sync, and their punches crossed.
Saiaorg punched Issei in the stomach, while Issei's fist came down on his chest - right where the jewel of his armor was.
Saiaorg understood what Issei was doing with his punches, and he unleashed his Ki in a whirlwind pattern.
..At the same exact moment, Issei's arm flashed in a bright red light. Issei spoke something under his breath, something that everyone, including Saiaorg missed.
Issei was blown backwards. Shards of his armor rained over the field as blood splattered from his helmet.
And the same was to be said about Saiaorg. His armor cracked and crumbled. It turned to pieces and simply peeled off his body.
[A Bael pawn has been resigned.]
The lion didn't speak a word. Saiaorg smashed his feet into the ground and stopped himself from sliding any further.
Issei's heel scraped the surface and slowly stopped himself. With his back arched, he simply stood for a second, before falling to his knee.
It had been while since he had felt pain on such a level. His organs, his nerves, his spine and brain, everything was shaken up from that single punch. He felt a stinging, pulling and a burning sensation from all over, but his left arm began to ich.
His red armor crumbled into dust, revealing the blood and sweat covered figure of Issei.
He coughed up blood and stood up. The armor under Issei's balance breaker was torn to pieces, but still holding together.
They both looked at each other.
Issei looked at his own left arm. The blue and black spider web pattern had returned to it.
''..Shit.'' – He touched his side. It felt numb, but not in a good way. His spleen was always banged up to hell from all the fighting he did, but it seemed like it had given out after that Ki attack. He was probably bleeding inside his stomach.
He closed his eyes.
...The far away sound of clashing blades came back to him. Metal versus metal, man versus man...the smell of blood, iron and burning sand engulfed him...
Everything that he had experienced. His concentration and will came back to him, strong as ever.
And he came back to present.
His eyes had become sharper.
''...The spirit of a thousand men.'' – Saiaorg spoke up. –''...Even though you speak and act in a way that doesn't befit a knight...you spirit speaks otherwise.''
''...Don't paint as someone honorable, Saiaorg.'' – Issei spit out towards him.
''..Haha.'' – He chuckled. –''..What do you say...let's end this on a honorable note, shall we?''
Issei didn't respond.
''..Man versus Man...without the power ups or boosts. Simply..a honed body versus a honed body. Spirit versus Spirit.''
''...Saiaorg...I'm not...'' – Issei responded, but Saiaorg rebutted him.
''..In the name of our convictions...Mine is to become the strongest Bael to ever exist. I will become the Great King who will be remembered for ever...''
''...My conviction doesn't matter...however...I will never give up on it. That's the only part of it that you need to understand.''
Saiaorg smiled and threw away his shirt. His build was even more solid than you would assume with his shirt on. Like a Greek god, he cracked his neck. Various cuts, scratches covered his body. A burned bruise had formed on his chest, right where Issei had punched him in their previous exchange.
Issei felt obligated to do the same...and thus he did. The shredded armor and blood soaked shirt stuck to his chest and arms as he pulled it off.
The blood had pooled on the left side of his stomach, just under his ribs...other than that..only every other scar on his body was uncovered...and the same with the two tattoos.
The ink one and the grafted, Zero Army one.
''...They suit you.'' – Saiaorg spoke, with an expression Issei couldn't read.
He chuckled. –''..Your scar lacking body is the opposite for you.''
Saiaorg gave him an amused smirk...and his eyes widened.
Issei had closed the distance between them in a matter of an instant. His left arm extended, going right after his face.
Saiaorg extended his own arm and their forearms blocked each other out. From the distance that they were next to each other, Issei kicked his knee up towards his stomach, but Saiaorg guarded that with his massive palm. Issei was pushed back, but he quickly back flipped, as the sole of his boot went just past Saiaorg's jaw.
Issei's kick was not sharp enough...because of the pain he was suppressing. The skill he had taught himself to block out pain and fear was subconsciously limiting his normal movement.
Saiaorg's kicks and and punches came after him relentlessly, as he dodged them while dodging back. A few hits got trough his guard, resulting in a few broken ribs. His sense of distance was lost in the fight and thus his back hit the stadiums wall.
Saiaorg smirked and charged at Issei. With the split second of time he had, he decided to take the chance.
Issei jumped at the moment that Saiaorg striked. His left foot blocked Saiaorg's fist, and he used the momentum to spin around and kick at Saiaorg's face.
The foot connected, but Issei was caught by the same arm he just had kicked back. His back hit the wall and cracked it...together with something in his back.
The hit to Saiaorg's face broke his nose and splattered blood all over the left side of his face and slowed him down for a second.
..And even though Saiaorg had the angle and situational advantage, Issei prevailed.
His arm came from the left side, Saiaorg's blind side and just as Saiaorg's fist was about to connect to Issei's face, he heard Issei whisper.
''Phantom bullet.''
Everything in Issei's radius shattered and Saiaorg's punch was stopped.
He was thrown backwards with the force of a bullet train and smashed against the concrete ground. His body didn't stop and kept sliding over it.
Issei banged his back against the shattered wall. After a few hits, he began to walk forward, seemingly after hitting something from his shoulders back in place.
He stopped to cough up blood and hid his left arm behind his back.
It had charred black and blue to his shoulder. It grew numb, but was still movable, if the situation asked for it.
Saiaorg slowly got up. His face covered in sweat and blood and he was breathing heavily...the signs of a weakness finally appeared.
Issei exhaled heavily...he had once again pushed his body over the limits...to failure.
[...Now...what was that attack?]
[He used it once before when he destroyed Saiaorg's armor ...although with the Balance Breaker.]
[I assume he blew his own magic circuits in the process this time. So basically, he had used his Balance Breaker as a safety switch between the magic force and the blow back. This time the magic rebound hit his arm...thus rendering it to dead flesh.]
[...I thought he couldn't use magic?]
[What he did was forcing condensed magic out of his arm into a single spot. It takes zero skill...should he have any – he wouldn't have problems with the blow back to the arm.]
The three over-lookers of the game discussed.
Koneko meanwhile had stepped further away from the battleground. The shaking of the stadium had died down a little bit earlier...she simply assumed that Issei had began to talk about something.
..He usually did talk in midst a fight.
She stepped inside silently, still clutching her arm. She was met by Rias and Akeno, who were standing on the second floor.
''..Koneko.'' – Rias spoke, in a low tone.
''Sorry. I had to come back, I couldn't hope to hold down anyone in my current condition.'' – Koneko spoke.
''No, it's not that. I'm surprised, really surprised. Did you really defeat 4 Saiaorg's pieces?'' – Rias asked, with a smile.
''Only 3. Gasper took down one as well.''
She chuckled. –''So he really did become strong as well, didn't he?''
''He did. He was brave.'' – Koneko smiled.
''..Can you move your arm?'' – Rias asked.
''..Not really. It basically turned to mush from what I did earlier...I need some time recover.''
''How much?''
''..Too long for me to recover in this game, I think.'' – She responded, with a sad smirk.
''I see.'' – Rias nodded. –''Then that will be all I neeeded from you this match. You really outdid yourself this time.''
Rias raised her arm and said, with a smile. –''Rest now.''
''You mean..?'' – Koneko asked and was wrapped in a warm, soothing light.
Rias simply nodded and watched as Koneko disappeared.
[A Gremory rook has been resigned]
''Was that the right decision?'' – Akeno asked with a slight smile.
''Yes.'' – Rias responded, showing zero doubt in her decision. –''As a king, I need to do the right thing.''
''..As a normal king.. that is the wrong decision.'' –Akeno responded. –''You have chosen to be a selfless, kind king.''
''..Is there anything wrong in that decision?''
Akeno smiled. – ''Nothing at all. It's simply something rather unseen with kings these days...any days, actually.''
Rias smiled at her. –''...Someone has to show the way, don't you think?''
Akeno suddenly widened her eyes. –''..They are coming.''
''How many?''
''Two. A women and a man.'' – Akeno responded.
''The queen and the rook?'' – Rias pondered out loud..until a rather womanly voice responded.
''The queen and the rook.'' – The women and the man had entered the castle. The women was quite beautiful while the man was quite tall...and lanky.
''..I didn't think you would come. Weren't you under orders from Saiaorg to keep at bay?'' – Rias asked, grasping at straws.
..And she was right.
''Yes. He did say to stay out of it and keep at bay for the time being...however that all changed in the fight he is currently in. I have decided it is time to act.''
Rias smiled with narrow eyes. –''So I assume my pawn is stronger than you thought.''
''False.'' – The lanky rook responded, with noticeable anger to his voice. His eyes were narrow and dark...almost beast like. –''That man is nothing but a disgusting fake of a Dragon King. It makes me sick to think he could be classified as one of us.''
Rias smiled, without losing her composure. –''Of course, I know that. I don't deny it..and neither does he. But so what? A win is still a win.''
She chuckled.
''Don't get ahead of yourselves.'' – The queen of Bael responded with her arms raised. A clutter of magic was shot out of her arms towards Rias.
She didn't budge.
A metal clatter sound was heard just before the attack was launched. The simple clattering sound was created by Akeno's two bracelets that were around her wrists.
The magic pressure exploded as the magical attack that was shot at Rias was simply blocked and scattered into every direction.
The castle began to glow in a dark red glow. Rias's hair rose up in the air as the red afterglow of the Gremory destruction magic enveloped her body. Her eyes began to glow red.
The lanky rook narrowed his eyes and something changed. Rias didn't know what, but without even charging her magic to half it's power she shot a ball of her Destruction magic at him.
..but before hitting him, the ball of energy was swallowed in a black hole and was shot out of the same one, right at her.
Akeno quickly blocked it as her 6 wings appeared from her back. And she charged magic attacks against the two enemies.
Rias and Akeno didn't need to talk about it – Rias needed time to charge her attack, and thus, Akeno was giving the time. She was using the lightning magic that was from her father's side.
Of course, she couldn't handle it without Azazel's Balance Breaker bracelets.
The lanky man turned into a dragon and jumped at them. Akeno grabbed Rias's shoulder and teleported them away from the rook and continued to rain the lightning attacks upon them.
When suddenly Akeno stopped and stepped aside.
With wide eyes, Rias shot out a sphere of devil magic. On it, only a small resemblance of the red color remained. It was dyed in black.
''PERISH!''
The Queen raised her special power – black holes – to defend against it...but that was a mistake from the beginning.
Inside the hole, the sphere grew bigger and bigger, until she couldn't contain it. The container began to spill outside, devouring her and the power she held dear.
She tried to escape, but couldn't.
Suddenly, one of her arms pealed off her shoulder.
Screams of pain echoed over the castle as she was enveloped in a white light.
[A Bael Queen has been resigned.]
At the same time, the Dragon that was beneath them roared. In a fit of rage, he mauled over to her and Akeno, but he was a lot faster than the two of them had predicted.
Rias was still recovering from the magic attack she had used earlier and thus, wasn't able to defend herself.
The dragon mauled over them, and all Akeno could have done to change the result of this attack was to use her body as a shield.
They were knocked aside, trough the pillars.
Rias only understood what had happened after the dust setlled. Akeno was covered in blood and wasn't able to move. Her body had been crashed in the process.
''A-Akeno!'' – Rias stuttered slightly, the outcome of this had destroyed the fake confidence. She raised a Pheonix tear, but Akeno slowly pushed it aside.
With one eye open, she spoke. –''..D-Don't need it. It wouldn't be enough anyways. Survive.''
With those words, she was wrapped in the white light and disappeared out from Rias's arms.
[A Gremory Queen has been resigned.]
The dragon roared, with pure bloodlust, seemingly happy with what he had done.
Rias stood up, and her narrow eyes turned crimson. The magic pressure was blown out of this world.
She didn't mutter a word as she unleashed a hell of magical energy against the agile dragon.
The two of them were blown back once again.
Their fists had connected once again, but they both still stood high. Issei's was breathing heavily, but so was Saiaorg. He was grinding his teeth because thee pain was so unbearable, while Issei still held an ambiguous, almost emotionless look on his face.
''..Don't tell me this doesn't excite you?''
''It does. But it has to end. Soon.'' – Issei spoke, as he clutched at his side.
He was in pain. His insides were burning from the fight. He was sweaty and he felt a chill down his spine. With every movement it felt as if someone was tearing him apart from inside, but he still stood his ground. He knew that he had let it carry out for too long.
He closed his eyes and pulled in a lot of air into his lungs, dismissing the coughing reflex that came from the wounds.
His eyes narrowed and he simply focused on Saiaorg. No one else mattered. Nothing else mattered.
The background blacked out, the sounds quieted down until they turned to silence. Everything around him was swallowed away. His breathing slowed down as he felt his heartbeat calm.
It was only him and Saiaorg who were standing against each other.
Pure focus, that Saiaorg understood in a heartbeat. He rose his arms and nodded once. –''I see. I will answer you with all I have.''
Issei's usually dull and expressionless lips pulled upwards, into a small smile.
''..In a different life, we could have been best friends.'' – Saiaorg spoke, before his battle spirit was released. His and Issei's spirit clashed and raised dust.
And they lunged at each other. Issei didn't hear or even mind the crowd, but they had gone silent once again. Even they understood that this the end.
As they glided right at each other, their eyes met.
It was as if the time itself had slowed itself down so they could acknowledge each other.
Issei's front foot slid over the ground as he put it down, hitting up a trail of dust behind him.
Saiaorg's foot simply shattered the ground as he brought it down to halt himself. Their punches crossed and they both leaned their faces away. Their fists past each other and they locked at elbows.
But as Saiaorg had more power to his punch, Issei's arm was yanked backwards and his balance was taken away from him. From the inertia, his body was spun around.
Saiaorg smiled and threw a full-powered punch at the backside of Issei's head.
And just as quick as Saiaorg smiled, the smile was taken away. Issei's left leg slid over the ground, giving him enough power to spin himself back towards Saiaorg.
He leaned his head back, bending in a rather creepy angle as he grabbed into Saiaorg's arm that was mid punch.
The ground shattered beneath him. The previous sound of a sonic boom exploded at their feet and Issei's knee rushed upwards.
With a loud crack Issei's knee connected to Saiaorg's face. He stumbled backwards, the previous punching motion cutting off...and yet, he didn't fall to his feet. Issei simply stomped his foot down on the ground, but still, his balance wavered.
Saiaorg's eyes had become dull, and yet he stepped at Issei once. Then again. And last time. Issei simply stood, looking at him. Saiaorg was a meter away from Issei.
His fists of course didn't raise.
The massive man fell forward and Issei caught him on his shoulder. As soon as Issei's knee connected he was blown out completely...and yet the pure will of the fight didn't let him disappear. He lingered, unconscious on the battlefield.
''You goddamn idiot...you already will be remembered as the strongest Bael.'' – Issei said as Saiaorg was enveloped in bright white light.
[THE BAEL KING HAS BEEN RESIGNED! TEAM GREMORY HAVE WON THE GAME!]
The announcer screamed, as everything returned to Issei's perception...but the people didn't scream or roar. They weren't as happy...but slowly..people began to clap.
On Issei's face, a lukewarm smile appeared. This was just how life was suppose to be.
...but that train of thought stopped as soon as he felt a violent pulling sensation..something that had never experienced before...it was a forceful teleportation.
Like that, he disappeared from the field...in a purple light.
Rias's clothes were teared in many places, the same as her body, but after two Phoenix tears it didn't matter much...only her endurance wavered.
The dragon didn't even respond to her magic attacks because of his anger. Trough the rampaging he didn't feel pain.
As Rias jumped sideways, dodging his tail's swipe, she almost fell over when she heard the announcer.
[THE BAEL KING HAS BEEN RESIGNED! TEAM GREMORY HAVE WON THE GAME!]
The dragon didn't care for it at all...but was stopped just before he jumped at her. Chains appeared from the air and held him down. Rias stumbled backwards and fell over.
A few seconds passed and she was suddenly teleported away from the field. As the fatigue and stress rushed off, her blood loss made her be moved to the medical bay.
Just before she passed out, she saw a nurse looking down upon her. Something blurred her vision...and she understood that she was crying.
A fist slammed down against the table in the VIP viewer lounge. Sirzechs, Grayfia, Azazel and Odin were speechless.
''Who was it?'' – Sirzechs asked, visibly angry. –''How was it possible?''
Sirzechs was speaking with a devil that was responsible about the game. The devil was sweating and shaking...and he couldn't respond.
''Calm down, Sirzechs. Screaming at the guy will do nothing except give him a heart attack.'' – Azazel spoke.
Sirzechs massaged the bridge of his nose.-''..You're right. So, any ideas?''
''P-P-Probably just as the game ended t-they pulled him out...just when the Rating game's magic barrier switched to the regular one...in that sliver of a second he was pulled out of the game and away, sir.'' – The devil stuttered, but still got his point across.
''..To where?''
''..We have no idea, sir.'' – He responded.
''Fine. Go back and find out.'' – Sirzechs waved him away.
The man bowed as low as he could and ran off.
''..It was the Chaos Brigade, wasn't it, Azazel?'' – Sirzechs asked.
''Yes. Let the mages backtrack his location and we will go after them.''
''It might be too late then, kids.'' – Odin spoke up, with a slight smirk on his face.
''Don't get ahead of yourself, old man.'' – Azazel snickered. –''I don't see the kid dying any time soon.''
As soon as Issei landed, he knew he was on his own. He coughed up a bit of blood.
He looked up. Nothing but vast, unexplored space was around him. The sky had an eerie, red and violet glow to it...and looking at it made Issei slightly dizzy because it reminded him of a kaleidoscope.
''..The fucking Dimensional Gap.'' - He muttered to himself.
..And he felt people behind him.
He turned around to see who it was.
12 eyes met his gaze.
Issei smirked.
''Who are you...to dare to summon me against my will?'' – Issei asked, with a voice devoid of emotion.
The 5 men and 1 one women laughed. The man in the middle of them, who was wearing a modified school uniform, stepped to the front. He had glasses and black hair.
''I am Georg Faust. The descendant of Johann Georg Faust. We are from the Khaos Brigade...specifically, from the Hero Faction.'' - He smirked. –''We will ask you to do one simple thing.''
Issei's eyes narrowed.
''..Join us.''
''...HahahahAHAHAHAHAHA!'' – Issei began to laugh. –''..Or else?''
''You will die as you stand.''
He raised his middle finger, but in the motion of that, he touched his chest, right on the place that Kuroka had bitten. –''Do you not know who I am? I am the leader of Suicide Squad...your threats hold no meaning to me..''
''With one foot in the grave you still act so arrogant?''
''With One foot in the grave I can still kill you all twice over.'' - Issei said, as his eyes opened wider and his mouth pulled into a grin that uncovered his teeth. -''Leave me alone.''
''I see. It leaves us no choice. If we let you be, you will pose as a threat to our leader.'' - Georg Faust answered and began to radiate killing intent.
One of the Hero Squad stepped forward and created a giant ball of fire, that he threw at Issei.
''...Ddraig...force it.''
The ball of fire was disintegrated as the 6 people were blown back by pure energy. They all landed on their feet a few meters away.
[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
His back straightened, as he looked at the enemies...and the usual green glow that his eyes had...now had turned red.
Issei cracked his finger.
The ground shattered as he charged at the fire magician.
The fire magician wanted to step back, but yet, his feet didn't want to listen. They became wobbly and unresponsive.
The biggest man of them all, who was wearing an armor that was somehow reminiscent of the ancient Rome, stepped forwards, but Issei span around, kicked him the chest, and continued his charge.
His fingers wrapped around the man's neck.
Like a doll, he was pulled into air.
A cracking sound echoed over the empty sky as Issei crushed his neck. He stomped his foot into the ground, and threw the man at Georg Faust, using the body as a meat shield.
Issei felt a sharp feeling of dread from the man with the demonic sword in his hand.
As his anger grew, his sanity began to slip away.
yo. How are you?
Took longer than I anticipated, but I had some shit at school and whatnot.
Would guys like shorter, but more frequent chapters better? Or should I stay like this? I could go back to about 3k words/10 days, not this 7k/23~ days.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it. Can you name the 6 people are attacking Issei?
Tune in next time for some angry Issei. Or rather...Ddraig.
Btw, I think I will rewrite the 1st chapter of this fanfiction.
Thank you for reading, please leave a review if you enjoyed it~