Issei once again was thinking about his life choices...all the times he had survived and risen above everything that the world threw at him...for it all to end in the spotlight of high-level devils.

About 2, if not 3 hours had passed as he simply walked around the big, expensive floor, shaking hands and talking with them, and he loathed every second of it.

Team Gremory had won the rating game against Team Bael, and Team Astaroth won against Team Sitri and that meant that now it had come to a fight between Team Gremory and Team Astaroth.

Of course, high-level, noble devils couldn't do it without their parties and celebrations.

..And then his time to escape came – Issei slipped between Rias and some douche bag devil and disappeared in the crowd.

He ended outside of the ballroom, on a hanging balcony that was quite large, but quite empty as well.

He went over to the edge, leaned on the railings with his right hand and sighed...deeply.

A mysterious view came into his view. It was a late evening, but the nights aren't always black in the underworld, as the horizon in his view was red, if not purplish. The glow became brighter, the further it went into the air, before the clouds cut it off.

Two weeks had passed since Kuroka had began to draft magic circuits in his arm. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt, both of which fit his body perfectly, on regards of the Gremory family. His left arm remained inside of the pants' pocket at all times, because it was wrapped in bandages under the shirt...He still had problems with grasping things and moving it.

He sighed again, and his eyes moved to the left side, where Koneko leaned over the railings with both of her arms. She was wearing a white dress and her hair was in a pony tail, while her bangs were pushed to one side, covering her left eye a bit.

She sighed.

''..I hate these things...can't we just beat Astorath into the ground without this rich people pretext?'' - Issei asked.

''...That would be lovely. '' – Koneko responded and smiled a little. –''Although, did you see the Astorath heir?''

Issei shook his head, denying it. –''Is something wrong?''

Koneko waited a bit before answering, as if trying to weigh the pros and cons of telling Issei. –''He seems off...my nekomata powers are not good enough to sense what exactly, but he seems wrong.''

Issei smiled a bit, for Koneko's surprise. –''Diodora has become a lot stronger in a very short amount of time..and as these high class douches don't train, so you could only assume one – he was somehow strengthened by outer power.''

Koneko flickered her eyes at Issei. –''How?''

Issei sighed again, because frankly, he didn't want to talk about her again. –''Some time ago, I talked with Maria about the Ouroboros dragon. She told me that the folk tales are, that the Ouroboros dragon can give her power to people on her free will.''

Koneko widened her eyes a bit, but then she narrowed them and nodded. –''..Makes sense.''

''Is it not quite rude to skip greeting with the people for who this whole celebration was created?''

Issei narrowed his eyes even more and turned around. That slimy voice and disgusting tone of voice..it could only be him.

Issei's brown eyes met Astorath's Diodora's narrow eyes.

Even his eyes were as slimy as a snake's. His hair was blond and he was wearing noble attire. He smiled, seemingly gently, but it rubbed Issei the wrong way.

''That's interesting. If they threw this party for you, then that means this is a loser celebration.'' – Issei responded, offhandedly.

Diodora scoffed, lightly. –''Your tongue is as sharp as I've heard. It's interesting to see people who are so arrogant.''

''I am arrogant because my power allows it.'' – Issei responded. –''Something people like you could never understand.''

Diodora went silent for a second or two. –''..Hmph. I don't think anyone requires you to be so vile in this civil celebration...besides, there is a beautiful lady by your side...Koneko Toujo, right?''

Diodora, having said that, extended his arm towards her.

Kuroka frowned and looked at Issei...who nodded.

''..Cut the shit, bastard. We know you are with Khaos Brigade.'' – Koneko responded, in her usual cute voice.

Diodora was bewildered for a split second, before returning to his calm mannerism.

It was a split second, but Issei and Koneko noticed it easily.

They both smirked in a creepy way, and Issei quickly grabbed into Diodoras arm and shook it. –''..Anyways, it's a pleasure to meet you, S-I-R Diodora. I hope our game goes down without a hitch.''

Diodora slapped away Issei's arm the second he understood what happened. –''..Don't touch me you dragon filth!''

Issei froze up for a second and then he smiled. –''..Be happy I can't kill you right here and now. Because I would, in a heartbeat.''

''..Get the fuck away from here. '' – Koneko said..and Issei blurted into a fit of laughter.

Diodora frowned and turned to walk away, but before he began to walk, he spoke, not looking back. –''I'll remember this.''

For the laughter, Issei was dunked in the side, but he didn't react to it at all.

''..Your nerves are healed fully?'' – Koneko asked.

''Aye.'' – Issei responded, after his laughing fit ended. -''..You sounded bad-ass. I liked it.''

Koneko sighed. –''How long do we need to be here?''

''..Hell if I know.''

They both overlooked Diodora, as he walked towards the men's bathroom.

Issei smirked, but before he could even step forwards, Koneko grabbed his wrist.

Issei looked back at her, looking down into her hazel eyes. She frowned a bit. –''..What are you planning?''

Issei smiled and his eyes appeared a lot calmer. –''I only want to talk with him. I don't want to fight tomorrow. It will be boring...and he's a criminal.''

''..Look who is talking..'' – Koneko jabbed at him.

''..Ouch.'' – Issei responded and closed his eyes for a second. –''Trust me. I will simply talk with him.''

Koneko released his arm, fully knowing that whatever will happen there, will not be only talking.

Issei stepped forward, without looking back, as his fairly fast steps crossed the ballroom quickly.

He pushed open the doors with his right arm and stepped inside the male bathroom.

Of course, the bathroom was quite vast and the tiles, porcelain sinks and toilets were beautiful. Just exactly like the usual standard for these high-level devil celebrations.

..It just was a shame that Issei would break some of them.

Diodora was standing at one of the many, lined up in a row, porcelain sinks. He was looking at himself in the long mirror that stretched over the whole wall, above said sinks, as he was washing his face.

He was seemingly so absorbed in himself, that he didn't notice Issei coming towards him.

At the last second, he turned his head towards Issei. –''Wha-?''

Blood splattered towards the long mirror, dirtying it, as Diodora's words were cut off before he could even think of saying them.

His head hit the mirror and cracked it, sending a spiderweb pattern around the area where his head had ended up.

Issei was simply standing there with his right extended in the angle that required for the previous hit.

His expression was rather blank and his eyes were apathetic.

Diodora widened his eyes and jumped backwards, as Issei pursued him with his right arm raised, while his left remained motionless, still resting in his pants' pocket.

''What are you doing, you dragon filth?'' – Diodora growled, with narrow eyes. -''I will not stand for th-''

Issei once again cut him off, by bitch-slapping him and smiling.

''..Do something against me, then.'' - Issei smirked and narrowed his eyes. –''Oh right, you can't.''

Diodora, with a growl punched forwards at Issei, who simply dodged and punched him in the stomach.

Issei was used to hit abs, he didn't expect simple mush to be where resistance should be.

Saliva splattered from Diodora's mouth on the expensive tiles as he fell to his knees and clutched his stomach, weeping in pain.

''..Truly pathetic.'' – Issei looked down upon him from above with narrow eyes, enjoying every second.

He leaned down and grabbed him by the mouth. –''I know you are a fake...and I want you to listen very care-''

Diodora's eyes narrowed at Issei and he tried to uppercut Issei, who simply leaned his head back, and he brought it back down, headbutting Diodora.

Issei suddenly got up from his crouching position and pulled the dazed Diodora upwards – for a second, until Issei pushed him away, towards the bathroom stalls and backhanded him in the face.

Diodora, almost falling over, tried to hit Issei with his fist, but he was kicked in the chest, throwing him against the stall door.

As soon as his back hit the doors, Issei without stopping or waiting grabbed him by the throat and pulled him into the air.

''Be quiet when I'm talking.'' –Issei narrowed his eyes and smirked, as Diodora's eyes were clouded with fear. There was no doubt about the fear he was feeling. –''..Understand that we know you are working with Khaos Brigade..''

Issei stopped his sentence, as he sniffed Diodora. –''..I can even smell your filth...Now. You will do as I say, got that?''

Issei tightened his grip around Diodora's neck. –''It's very simple – you will forfeit this game. After that, I don't care on what you are planning to do.''

''..F-F-fuck-'' – Diodora tried to spit over his lips, mustering the last of his pride as Issei simply sighed.

''If you don't, I will break every single bone in your body.'' - Issei stated and smirked, revealing his canine teeth.

He released Diodora and punched him in the stomach again, only this time he didn't allow Diodora to fall to the ground – Issei pushed him towards the sinks.

Diodora caught onto one of them to hold himself up, and as he turned his head to see what Issei was doing, he only noticed the fist coming down at his face.

The sound of shattering porcelain echoed trough the bathroom, as Issei had punched Diodora's head trough one of the sinks.

He ended up sprawled over the porcelain tiles, unconscious , with a broken nose and a bleeding face.

Issei quickly turned to walk away, as the bathroom doors opened. He looked at the man in the suit and gently spoke –''..Help him, he slipped.''

In the moment that the visitor looked at Diodora, Issei was already gone.

He parted trough the crowd and ended up meeting with Rias Gremory. Koneko threw him a doubtful look.

Issei smiled and looked at Rias. –''..How long do we need to be here?''

''Stop acting like a child, Issei.'' – She smiled a bit. –''It's our responsibility to meet and greet with these devils.''

Issei scoffed. –''Fine, fine.''

''What you did was the biggest, most moronic thing you could have done in that situation. Do you even comprehend that, Issei?'' – Rias Gremory was scolding him.

It was the next day after the pre-fight party. The fight didn't happen, nor was Diodora found anywhere. Not him, not his peerage – they were gone without a trace.

Issei was standing by the window sill, inside of Sirzechs' Office. Sirzechs himself was sitting in his chair, spinning a pen in his hand, while Rias was standing with her hands crossed on her chest, staring at Issei.

''You knew that he was in with Khaos Brigade and yet you didn't tell us...you waited a day.'' – Sirzechs sighed. –''You do realize that this makes me assume that you are somehow connected to them?''

Issei scoffed. –''It's dumb. Even I realize that if we had gone with the fight, then only thing that could have happened were for them to ambush us once the game starts.''

''Of course, but you could have just told me!'' – Rias exclaimed, seemingly unimpressed with Issei's choice of punishment for Diodora. –''Now he will come and try to take revenge!''

Issei looked at Sirzechs, who was holding an ambiguous expression...then suddenly, his face lit up. –''Ah. I see. You actually want for him to come after you. Why?''

Issei smiled. –''I guess I do. He isn't a threat for me...besides, it's easier that way – he will come after me with a herd of enemies – maybe one or two from above him. It's like killing two birds with a single stone.''

''..Fair enough.'' – Sirzechs answered.

''But brother, that's—'' – Rias turned to Sirzechs in protest, but he simply smiled at her, and then turned to face Issei.

His eyes narrowed. –''..But this will be the last time. Next time something like this happens, or you know something we don't – you come to me. Got that?''

Issei looked Sirzechs into his blue eyes. –''..Fine.''

Sirzechs turned away from Issei. –''As long as that's clear..''

Rias looked at Sirzechs, and then at Issei.

''Ah, and Rias – you need to introduce your new rook, right?'' – Sirzechs asked.

''Yes, brother.'' –She responded with a slight smile.

''..You can go back then. I need to speak with Issei in private.''

''In private? Why?'' – Rias was confused. –''..What is it that I can't know?''

Sirzechs sighed lightly. –''There is a lot you don't need to know. Please, go?''

He smiled gently at Rias.

''Of course, if you want me to.'' – She said, sighed as well and teleported away, as her crimson hair fluttered in the magical pressure.

Issei's body language became more aggressive, as he stared at Sirzechs. –''What do you want from me?''

Sirzechs spun the pen around a few times more, and stopped. Completely. While he was laid back in his chair before, now the gentle, relaxed posture turned into a completely serious one.

''I need to know something from you.'' – Sirzechs said, and his eyes stared right trough Issei. – ''You were healed by someone before we arrived back in the Dimensional Gap, correct?''

''Yes, I was.'' – Issei responded, without stammering.

''By Kuroka, the SS level criminal?''

''Yes.''

Sirzechs paused, wondering about the ease of which Issei responded. –''How did she knew to find you?''

''Hell if I know. Something to do with her mastery of Senjutsu.'' – Issei responded, nonchalantly.

''..Were you close with her previously?'' – Sirzechs asked.

''Not really. We fought together, lived together for a while. Nothing beyond that.''

Sirzechs scoffed. –''..Are you sure?''

''Yes.'' –Issei responded without a single stammer or doubt. –''Is that all?''

Sirzechs nodded and threw a piece of paper towards Issei, who caught it with his right arm.

''A teleport scroll.'' – Sirzechs smiled. –''..I trust you know how to use one.''

Issei nodded and put some of his energy in it...and disappeared.

From the shadows, out stepped Azazel.

''He didn't detect you, right?'' – Sirzechs asked.

''Of course not.'' – Azazel waved him off.

''..He was lying, I trust it?'' – Sirzechs asked, as he sink back into his chair.

''No, he wasn't.'' – Azazel responded. –''What he said was 100% true.''

Sirzechs narrowed his eyes. –''And you are sure about that?''

Azazel threw him a scornful look. –''..What, do you think I would lie to you, after sighing the peace treaty?''

Sirzechs hesitated. –''Alright. I will trust you.''

Azazel nodded.

''However...I will not let anything like this slide again. I don't want to become the fool in the end.''

Azazel smirked. –''I wouldn't want it any other way.''

Sirzechs looked at his desk for a second, as if trying to decide on something.

He looked back up at Azazel. –''Care for a drink, or are you in hurry?''

''I'm never in a hurry if I can have a drink, you know. '' – Azazel smiled and sat down across from Sirzechs, who pushed his paperwork out of the way and took a bottle of whiskey from the bottom of desk, together with two glasses.

''Do you have any ice to go with it?'' – Azazel asked, jokingly.

''I can create them with magic.'' – Sirzechs smiled and created a few ice cubes from thin ice.

Azazel smiled. –''It's very convenient.''

Issei's messy white hair was covering his eyes, while the black hoodie that he had pulled up, covered everything else. His mouth held an apahatic expression. He was wearing slim, black pants and his usual boots.

He was slightly leaning in his body and his body language, for anyone who could read it, uncovered anger and the will to attack.

Across from him, a short girl stood, stretching her arms.

Her almond-shaped, bright green eyes narrowed a bit, as she looked at Issei's frame.

Of course, she was dressed cutely. Her red, oversize wool sweater, that uncovered her pale shoulder and covered her thigh-gap, black shorts and her checkered thigh-highs. Around her left thigh was a black choker that barely held onto her slim legs.

Another black choker, or rather a black collar was put around her neck, covering her scar.

Her straw-yellow, long hair was tied into two twin-tails.

Maria's lips pulled into a curly smile and her pale cheeks pulled upwards.

Together with her small nose, she looked like a cute asian girl that was cosplaying...but that was only how she looked.

Issei cracked his finger and lunged at her without a sliver of hesitation or intention of going easy on her.

Issei closed the distance between them in a matter of an eye's blink, as he span around and his leg went for Maria's face. She raised her hand to block it, without moving her body, as Issei pulled back the kick and spun around, as his fist passed for her face.

She leaned towards the punch as it passed just by her nose and she raised her elbow.

Issei quickly jumped back and slid backwards across the dirt.

''Your movement is quicker – good.'' – She stated, in her usual, particular voice that was hard to describe. It's tone, timbre or something was so soothing to the ears that she could be saying anything, complete gibberish even and yet it still would be a pleasure to listen.

Issei didn't answer and charged her again.

His foot hit the ground and he was flew trough the air, spinning around. Maria's eyes widened a bit as Issei's arm extended in a grabbing motion at her face.

Her expression returned to the curled smile as she caught Issei's arm by his wrist.

She didn't expect Issei's left arm to come for her a split-second later. His arm went past her face and grabbed into her shoulder.

In that sliver of time Issei had grounded himself and his knee already rushed at Maria's stomach.

Issei's knee flailed past her stomach, into the air.

In that instant Maria had used her grip on Issei's right arm to push him to his side, throwing of his trajectory.

She leaped back, without a sound, seemingly with no effort, landing a few meters away. It almost looked like she had floated.

She nodded. –''Haaaa..that was something Margit used in her way of fighting, was it not?''

''..I can't do it as well as she could.'' – Issei responded, still hiding his face behind his hood and messy hair.

''..Okayyy, I'll go now.~'' – She stated and cutely hit her rather flat chest two times, as if cleaning the dirt of her sweater.

The ground cracked under Issei's foot, as he smashed down and leaned his whole body sideways, dodging a kick. A kick so fast he couldn't do anything else.

His ribs felt the impact of this dodge as he used one hand to throw himself into the air, and as he landed he kicked back in the same instant.

His kick crossed Maria's and they locked each other out...only diference was that Maria's leg didn't go numb from impact.

''Kakaka, that dodge was a specialty of Margit as well. How many of her moves have you gotten down?'' - She tilted her head sideways as she asked, her green eyes going wider from curiosity.

Issei leaned into his knees and without saying a word, he shattered the ground, throwing dust everywhere.

Maria smirked and looked upwards, just where Issei appeared. It was very easy to tell that the shattering of ground was a distraction.

His right hand was cocked up high with his fingers straight while his left was hidden behind his back

''Huuh!'' – Maria smiled and let out a cute sound as she watched Issei soar trough the sky.

He grinned and white fumes shot out of his legs, changing his trajectory and speeding him 10 times over.

A split second didn't pass as Issei's arm was already pushed trough Maria's chest, and the impact split the ground in two behind them.

Blood didn't really splatter from her wound that much. With his arm still thrust trough Maria, Issei leaned up and looked at her cute, pale face from up close.

Her insides were soft and warm, even though her arms were cold.

She smiled and raised her hand, pulling back Issei's hood.

Her gaze lingered in Issei's brown eyes as she took hold of Issei's arm and pulled it out, slowly.

''Ahhhh~~'' – She moaned slightly, as the motion made a squishing sound and some blood splattered over her sweater. She licked her lips and her eyes went narrow.

A second later, her wound grew shut, without leaving a trace of an injury.

''..Good boy, Issei-chan.'' –She said and smirked.

Issei looked at his hand and stepped back.

It was dyed by red blood.

''That was one of her favorite moves.'' – Issei stated to Maria, as he looked over the damage he caused to the surrounding area.

''I know.'' – Maria answered and grabbed Issei's arm with her long finger, pale fingers. Issei only then noticed her matte black nail polish. –''..Let's get back to my Office.''

They teleported instantly. One second they were somewhere in rural Canada, fighting and the next they were back in Issei's hometown, somewhere underground, in her ''office''.

The walls were a light shade of grey, but her walls were barely noticeable from the stacks of books over them. In one of the corners, a computer with many monitors stacked in a hexagon were throwing off a blueish light.

Overall, her room had an murky feel to it, almost like a coffee shop somewhere downtown.

''Wash your hands.'' - She said and waved towards the sink.

He did.

She smiled at Issei with her eyes closed and waved for him to sit down in one of her big armchairs. He hesitated before doing so.

''Status update.'' – She spoke, when Issei sat down, as she herself went to make coffee for the two of them. She began the process of making real coffee.

Issei brought both hands together, not minding the fact that his left hand was shaking. –''My arm's muscle and nerves are good, only the magic circuits are left to graft in. A few more and it will be done.''

''Good.'' – Maria answered, as she brought out two mugs from under the desk at which she was standing. –''..What about your head?''

''..It hurts from time to time.'' – Issei said with a blank expression. –''It's more of a migraine if anything.''

''Don't lie to me.'' – Maria answered, using her ''cute'' voice. –''I know it's something more.''

Issei sighed. –''Yes, once in a while it feels like someone is probing my brain with a rusty nail.''

Maria smiled, most likely from the fact how amusingly Issei described the feeling. –''I see. I could get you medication...like before.''

Issei lowered his gaze, looking at his bruised fingers. –''..No need.''

Maria poured hot water inside of the mugs after putting in enough coffee and hummed a bit. –''How about others around you?''

''...Well.'' – Issei threw his thoughts around inside of his head, trying to decide where to start. –''You already know about Diodora..so I'll just speak about this. Sirzechs is on to me. He knows Kuroka healed me, I told him that much, but lied about the part where I said that I didn't know how and why she healed me.''

''Hmh.'' – Maria nodded and began to bring the mugs towards Issei.

''Azazel was there, hiding.'' – Issei smirked. –''..but he lied for me, otherwise I would already be attacked by Sirzechs...so now I owe him one.''

''It's good that you got a good standing with him, ka ka.'' – Maria chuckled as she put the two mugs on a small coffee desk between him and herself and then she pulled her teared shirt over herself and dropped it over the back of Issei's chair.

The act revealed lace underwear and Maria's pale, petite body, at which Issei didn't raise an eyebrow.

Maria walked over to the big closet, stretched over the only wall, that didn't have any bookshelves. She slid the giant doors to one side, and it revealed a walk in closet.

Maria disappeared into it for a minute or two.

''What if I hadn't?'' – Issei asked.

''I have 47 different plans should that situation arise. Don't worry.'' – Maria answered with a muffle voice, from the walk in closet.

''I wasn't.'' – Issei brushed her off and took a sip from the mug of hot coffee. It was bitter and smokey, but still slightly sweet. –''...Your coffee tastes good.''

Maria appeared from the closet with a cute, black gothic dress with straps and no shoulders.

She dropped herself into the chair across from Issei and took a long sip from her coffee. –''I know. The coffee they sell here is pretty bad.''

Issei nodded. –''Anything else you want from me?''

''How about Kuroka-chan?''

Issei's eyes narrowed a bit, before answering. –''She can manipulate the ''space'' well, although ''time'' has a short limit.''

''How short?'' – She tilted her head.

''3 seconds at max.'' – Issei said and looked her. Maria's eyes widened a bit.

''That's more than I though she could.'' – She smiled. –''Good.''

''..Oh..and there is a single thing more.'' – Issei said, after a short of while of silence. –''Kiba got a dragon slaying sword.''

''Ascalon?'' – Maria asked and took a sip of her mug.

Issei nodded. –''Most likely. How did you know?''

''I heard that heaven was moving the sword around.'' –Maria dodged the question. –''..Is it a problem?''

Issei took another sip of his coffee, emptying the mug. –''He isn't. I am strong enough.''

Maria raised her eyes and locked them with Issei's. –''You are.''

She confirmed Issei's statement. His eyes widened a bit, not believing that Maria was complementing his ''strength''.

''I'm going now then.'' – Issei said and got up.

''Before that.'' – Maria spoke. –''...Don't try to use that ''spear'' of yours anymore.''

Issei froze. –''Why?''

''You can't...and you will never be able to use it unless your body gets modificated. For now, you only cause unneeded pain for yourself.''

''I knew that.'' – Issei stated, with his back to Maria. –''Yet I still tried.''

''It doesn't matter.'' – Maria chuckled. –''We will ''take'' that spear when times comes...besides - keep on practicing Margit's moves. It's good that you finally began to use them.''

''Mhm.'' – Issei responded with a nod and walked off.

When Issei exited her room, Maria shrugged her shoulders and pulled up her slender legs, under herself. –''...Become stronger...my Issei.''

Issei opened the doors to the Occult clubroom, expecting it to be empty, as it was almost always.

He was wrong.

Instead, there was a girl with long, silver hair changing her clothes.

She froze mid-closing her white bra and looked at Issei who still held a rather emotionless expression.

She stepped towards him and raised her hand.

For a second, it soared trough the sky, crashing down at his face.

Issei caught her wrist before her palm could hit him.

''..No. This isn't a damn anime for you to slap me now. Sorry for barging in, I didn't know you were changing.''

''..Ah.'' – The women widened her eyes in surprise. –''..That's..''

''..Besides, you now are showing me more cleavage then before.'' –Issei stated and looked down at her breasts.

She quickly pulled back and began to put on a clothes whilst Issei turned his back to her.

The rustling sound stopped and Issei turned around – the women was now dressed in a suit and had a small blush.

''You are Rossweisse, right?'' – Issei asked with a collected expression. –''..The new Rook?''

She nodded.

''..You are?'' – She asked and looked at Issei for a quick while, until she made an expression that would receive a light-bulb on top of her head. –''..Hyoudou, the pawn?''

''Mhm.'' – He made the sound to confirm her words.

''You look a lot different when not...'' – Her voice trailed off.

''When not fighting?'' – Issei asked.

''Yes.'' – She responded, unsure.

Issei smiled a bit and sat down into his usual sofa. –''..so they say. Want to introduce yourself?''

She leaned against Rias' desk and crossed her arms. –''..I am Rossweisse, previously I was the body guard of Odin.''

''..So you are a Valkyrie?'' – Issei asked, after listening to her.

''Yes, I am.'' – She smiled slightly. –''What about you?''

Issei smirked. –''..It would be better to not know about me. It's a long story.''

''I'm interested.'' – She said and pushed a strand of her long, silver hair behind her ear. –''I saw your fight.''

''..So you are interested in the scars?'' – Issei looked at his bruised fingers again.

''Kind of.''-She responded, seriously. –''..I'm more interested in your strength.''

''..I was a mercenary for a while. Got hurt, hurt other a lot more. Ended up here.'' – Issei stated, blankly.

''That is the shortest description of someone I've ever heard.'' – she stated.

''If you want more from me, you are going have to pry it out.'' – Issei stated and got up. –''..I don't like to talk about myself to strangers.''

He walked over to the doors. –''Tell Rias I went to train.''

He shut the door behind him, leaving Rossweisse with a slightly open mouth...she wasn't expecting an answer like that.

It was evening, and the evening was quite cold in their usual training field, outside of the city, in the middle of a small forest.

Koneko was sparring with Kuroka, both of them dressed in their usual training clothes. It had become a routine thing to do with her sister.

She guessed that it could be called ''family bonding''.

She quickly back-flipped and dodged a kick from her sister as she pursued her relentlessly, using Ki attacks and elaborate combos.

After a while, they took a small break and Koneko drunk some water from a water bottle nearby.

Her eyes wandered over to Issei's shadow, who was only wearing shorts and moving in a weird way, as if dancing.

He was sweating profusely and the trees around him were shattered. He span around and dropped to the ground for a second, using only one arm to push himself back up.

In the motion, Koneko noticed his closed eyes.

He raised his arm and jabbed his straight palm straight out forwards and a small amount of Ki shot out of his palm...it was as if Issei was trying to sharpen it.

''He's remembering and shadow-learning his teacher's moves.'' – Kuroka stated as her two tails fluttered around.

''..Moves?'' – Koneko asked.

''Yes.'' – She moved her cat-ears. –''She had created elaborate ways of attacking back then, even had named some of them...but Issei had never learned them like this.''

''Why?'' – Koneko asked, confused, because Issei truly held his teacher in high regards and learned everything from her.

''...One was that he wasn't strong enough to use them...because they require magic or Ki... and the other..well...he wouldn't like it if I told you.''

''..I see.'' – Koneko stated and frowned slightly...realizing that she still wasn't told everything.

''..I guess I can tell you.'' – Issei stated and Koneko jumped a bit. He had stopped his regime in that small while.

''You sure?'' – Kuroka asked.

''Yeah.'' – Issei said and drunk from a water bottle. –''..the reason is.. the moves that Margit used to fight..most of them were used by another person.''

''Who?''

''..Margit's brother.'' – Issei stated and his eyes narrowed.

''...She had a brother?'' – Koneko asked. –''..but what's the problem then?''

''..Yeah. She had a brother. His name was...Levente..'' – Issei responded as his words became cold. –''The problem is that piece of shit killed her.''

The atmosphere become cold as ice...as Issei's eyes narrowed even more and he cracked his finger.

''..Does that mean..that Margit's brother was the one who tortured you and her...to her death?''

Issei nodded. –''..And then I ''devoured'' him.''

''..De-devoured?''

Koneko asked, stuttering on that single word.

''..I devoured his ''strength'' to regain mine.'' – Issei stated with a quiet voice, as his eyes glanced away from Koneko's.

YuukiAsuna-Chan - Tada, Maria-chan is here~~

Char2335 - His goal is still unknown to everyone except Maria and Kuroka and his other close underlings...but you can try to guess it.~~

Akairyuu Truong - Fit tomboy loli's are a thing bro, but you can imagine she doesn't have one if you get so sad over it, pffft~

Riku SAM Jamilion - Congrats, you realized that Maria is a Sue...yes...she is very strong. And the thing about Issei taking care of enemies...Issei is taken as a body-guard more than a peerage member...remember the first chapters?

Rianeal - You probably didn't read further than chapter 3 , but I don't write like most fanfictions. It's on purpose. Check my profile. I wish I could improve my sentencing and word knowledge, though. Thanks for the constructive criticism.

sergio iribas - Thank you for saying that! It's nice to know someone from places like that read this work!

And thanks everyone, for reading and reviewing...you do realize that I am not far off from the first page on reviews? I am on the second page if searched by favorites, reviews and follows...I couldn't be here without you!

About this chapter...let's see. I tell you who killed Margit. I show Maria. I show Issei training.

I show Diodora's ass get handed to him. (don't worry, when you push people like that into a corner, they come back out swinging...and that's what he will do!)

It's all in the days work.

Next chapter will probably be the start of Volume 9 from the novels.

Thank you for reading and leave a review if you liked, disliked or have any questions!

See you next time.