A few mundane hours had passed. Issei had ate a bit of food, had done some smalltalk with some of the peerage members of Saiaorg. But now, when he was left alone, Issei felt something was wrong, as he stared the mirror in his hotel room.

The mirror on the wall.

He disliked mirrors. For some backwards reason, for him, it felt as the mirror could reflect his inner world.

It started after Maria's torture, almost 4 years ago, now. He saw her most times. Her slender, ice cold fingers wrapping around his neck, or his eyes. So for a good while he avoided them. It was a simple fact, and thus, he, in his life. simply compensated for that.

Walking by mirrors? He would not look at them. A mirror in his room? He would cover it up...although there were times he simply shattered it...that passed. He became ''normal'' against mirrors, and was able to use them in due time. It happened a while after his second torture...but that fear was washed away by Kuroka's gentle hands.

That meant something was wrong now. He stared at the mirror and it stared at him. A flutter of white hair, and he froze.

Without turning around, he knew who it was. It wasn't Margit. It wasn't Maria. It wasn't Levente.

It was he, himself.

He turned around, regretting it. He saw himself, standing with his hands into his pockets. Wearing the same white shirt, and matching black, slim pants and dress shoes as he had previously. His white hair was pulled into a spiky bunch at the back, while his front bangs ended a bit above his dull brown eyes.

He smirked. His lips were pulled into a sharp downwards curve, showing a bit off his teeth. His eyes were slightly narrow, his eyebrows upturned.

''Hey, do I look as evil as you when I smile?'' – The real Issei asked himself.

''In most cases? Yes. Your eyes scare people.'' –The ''Fake'' him responded. –''Well, rather you – as a person, scare others.''

''...I guess that makes sense.'' – He responded, dropping himself down in a chair. –''So, why are you here? Why is my mind making me see hallucinations again?''

The ''fake'' Issei propped himself up on a desk, crossing his right leg over his left. –''Well, you know it as well as I do. Mind is a fragile thing. It can be bent and pushed only so far...until the marbles scatter.''

''If that is the case, then why is it happening now? I haven't been doing any pushing for quite a while.''

''Don't pretend.'' – ''Fake'' Issei flashed a disgusted expression. –''Your headaches, that you so happily have named migraines. Do you not realize they are the same ones that you got after the first time ''Balance Broke''?''

Issei remained silent.

''Of course you do. You simply deluded yourself to believe everything is alright ,and that if you keep pushing yourself, you will be able to make everything alright. Ignorance a bliss, or whatever the hell else. You were dead for a small bit, when Herculas smashed you into the ground. He shook up your brain pretty good, while you were in that tin-can suit of yours. Stupid, stupid, stupid.''

''So, my mind decided I need to hear myself called stupid?'' – Issei chuckled. –''I realize that. My body isn't a weak human's anymore. I became a devil, whose lifespan is more than enough...''

''Don't you realize it yourself, Issei? Me? '' – He grinned, showing off the canine-like teeth. –''It is not working anymore. The plan...has failed. Yes, your lifespan might be increased a thousand times, but it doesn't matter. Your soul, your body is still being eaten alive.''

''I'm fine.'' – Issei responded, nonchalantly.

''Fuck you. ''You're fine''? The same kind of fine way back when? What is it going to take, huh?''

''What?'' – Issei asked back, his eyebrows upturning.

''I'm asking you, what do you need to see and feel to understand? Do you need to begin to shake uncontrollably? Do you need to sweat coldness? Will you understand when your fingers are unable to grasp small objects? When your limbs refuse to listen to your brain? When you begin to piss brown? When you begin to bleed from your eyes, ears and mouth as well? When your organs begin to shut down one-by-one?'' – By now, the ''fake'' Issei was shouting. –''Or how about pain? Will you finally admit it when you will begin to feel pain so severe you will need to inject Methadone to get rid of it?''

''It won't happen.''

''It will. Your bones and your muscle will break down. You will begin to black out again and get small, partial seizures.''

''...What do you want me to do?'' – Issei asked the ''fake'' him.

He got off the table, walked over to Issei and grabbed his hair. –''I WANT YOU TO ADMIT THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE DYING! YOUR BODY WILL NOT LAST.''

''...''

Silence followed, until Issei jumped up, grabbed the ''fake'' Issei by the throat, and pushed him backwards, until his back hit the wall.

''Listen...brain. I am fine.'' – Issei spoke up, anger to his voice. –''...because I don't need this body for long. I only need it for a year or two. If it perishes under it's own weight then, if it collapses, if it burns to ashes then, so be it.''

''...Fucking idiot.''

''I am. And because of that, I will keep on pushing it until nothing is left. I have a year or two left in me, right?''

''...Or course. You will be in pain. Your nails will begin to peal off, your eyes will fail you. The muscle you have built will simply rot, and your bones will grind to dust. You will experience memory loss, blackouts...but you will manage for a while.'' – ''Fake'' Issei sighed. –''It's unfortunate...but well...nothing I can do help a dumbass. Suit yourself. ''

Issei blinked, and the fake him had disappeared, like he hadn't been there to begin with.

Probably because he really hadn't been.

Issei walked up to the long mirror that spanned a bit of the wall.

He raised his fist, and struck the mirror. It shattered.

He looked at his fist. It wasn't bloody.

''Lucky...'' – He stated to himself, and fell into his bed. It was nighttime anyways.

When he realized what was happening, he was in a dream. An unfortunate dream. Most people would call this a nightmare.

He was standing in a sea of blood, knee deep. Only the dark red blood flowing from his mouth, nose, ears and wrists. For some reason or another, his wrists were cut open.

He raised his hands, looking at them. The flowing blood passed over his palms, through his fingers, dripping down into the dark red, thick sea. His fingernails were gone, leaving only rotten skin.

He looked down on himself, his muscle was gone. He was skinny. His bones were poking through his rotten skin.

He simply observed.

The horizon was gone. He was standing in a middle of an unending sea of blood. The horizon was simply blank. The sky was covered in checkered, black and white clouds.

Disgusting, loathsome clouds.

A rusted, grated sound came from his lungs as he tried to take a breath. He didn't mind it, as he remained standing amidst the sea, looking into the blank horizon, where the unfortunate clouds met with the sea of blood.

The sea's level raised, slowly, from his own blood.

Slowly, slowly. It raised up.

It felt like an eternity, as he felt the blood creep up his thighs, then over his crotch, then over his midsection and his lowered arms.

For Issei it felt like a million years had passed.

It was just him, the soundless vacuum, the sea of blood and the ugly clouds.

Once it reached his neck, he began to wander – what will happen when the blood reaches his mouth?

And it did. The blood pushed into his mouth, into his nose. He grasped for breath, as the coppery, slimy liquid poured down his throat. Only his dull brown eyes, and his white hair remained above the liquid.

And he woke up.

Sounds of traffic outside of his window. Sun was trying to fight its way back inside the room, as morning had come. Issei found himself curled up in a ball on top of the bed. The blankets were soaked in his sweat, as was his body and hair.

He took a shower, put on another pair of slim, black pants and a white shirt. He found a black, simple hairband and tied his hair into a small, spiky ponytail. His bangs fell over his eyes a bit.

He put on his usual tie-up boots. He hid a knife in each boot just to be safe, because he knew this would be the day to fight.

He stepped outside and ran into Saiaorg's queen, Kuisha Abaddon. Her blond hair that was tied in a ponytail and her baggy, light color clothes made her appear...very relaxed.

''Oh, Hyoudou. You're up this early?'' – She asked, her eyes meeting Issei's. –''You look tired.''

Issei gave her a small, fake smile. –''Stayed up for a bit too long, Abaddon. You know how it is. Do you know where Saiaorg is?''

She nodded. –''I'm going to him. Want to tag along?''

''If you are going there, then I'll just be a bother.'' – He scratched the backside of his head.

''It won't be like that. I just need to drop a report about magical energy around Kyoto to him, and that's it. Let's go.''

Issei shrugged and followed her. A few turns, twists and doors, as they arrived to a studio-tier room, with a giant window to the city. His room was expensive, but this one had to be much more so.

He raised his hand towards Saiaorg, who nodded, and went up to the window, while Abaddon gave her documents and spoke a bit with him.

Normally Issei didn't like standing next to windows such as that, exactly because they were so big – you could get shot from everywhere and anywhere. He observed.

...and his vision blurred, as he focused it on the further-away buildings and their windows. He grabbed his face and rubbed his eyes.

''Issei, come. I need to show you something.''

''Mhm.'' – He turned around, and walked over to the desk, propping himself down on one of the chairs.

Saiaorg had a map laid out on the glass desk. Graphs and lines were covering it, nothing that Issei could understand from the glance of it. It certainly wasn't any military jargon, symbol or denotation, so he guessed it was the Devil's language.

''So, what is it?'' – Issei asked, still staring at the map.

''Right, I'll explain it.'' – Saiaorg answered, understanding that Issei didn't know how to read the text in front. –''Basically, all of these crossing lines are from where my bishops and queen felt the magic move. Basically, magic signatures, or hotspots. They show how the magic fluctuated and moved over the past few days.''

Issei glanced at the map again, his mind overlooking the places where the lines crossed the most – there were two such spots. –''So basically, the points where the lines cross the most are the places with the most energy?''

''Yes, exactly.'' – Saiaorg nodded, pointing to one of the two points where the lines crossed the most. –''This one is null, because it is one of this city's natural power wells. But this one isn't.''

He spoke, pointing to another one. It was a bit off from the city's center, judging by a map it was on a low point of Kyoto.

''So this would be it, right?'' – Issei asked.

''Yes. This would be the most probably spot where we could find Yasaka. Or rather, the Khaos Brigade.''

Issei smirked. –''So you couldn't just wait, huh?''

''No.'' – Saiaorg let out a small chuckle at that remark. –''I just couldn't help but feel sad for little Kunou, you see. So I did all I could.''

''That is thing you would do, I know.'' – Issei's lips pulled into a small smile, but his eyes remained dull and cold. –''So, when are we going?''

''In about 30 minutes. You didn't eat yet, right?'' – Saiaorg asked, meeting Issei's cold eyes.

''I didn't. 30 minutes it is then.''

The group teleported near the spot that had the most magic signatures. For Issei's amusement, it wasn't a run-down factory, or anything of a sorts. It was a coffee shop.

''That's pretty cute.'' – Issei spoke, joking. –''The mighty Khaos Brigade's base is a coffee shop?''

Saiaorg sighed, looking from behind Issei. -''Maybe it was wrong?''

Issei jogged over the street, not minding the traffic. –''One way to find out!'' – He shouted back at Saiaorg, who sighed once again and raised his arm, signaling his peerage to follow.

Issei opened the doors, walking in. It was empty. He looked around the normal looking coffee shop. The small tables, faint smell of coffee beans. Everything as it should be, except for the desolate state it was in.

Saiaorg and his peerage soon followed in.

''This is pretty odd.'' – Issei spoke to Saiaorg. –''A coffee in Kyoto would never be empty. Ever.

''Of course. Something is off.''

''Saiaorg-sama, I think we walked into a different dimension.''

''Oh, so it must be ''Dimension Lost'' wielder then.'' – He nodded. –''Yes, yes. Makes sense.''

Issei grabbed his hair. The fact that he couldn't notice that, did it mean he was getting dull? His senses were not as sharp?

His thoughts were disturbed by a shadow that lurked inside the coffee shop. All of them froze, at once.

It wasn't an enemy like usual. Even though there were times that Issei fought against inhuman enemies, like zombie-like, rotten corpses and other monsters, they never, ever were this inhuman looking. Completely covered in black, bathed in it. Glowing circles for eyes, standing on all fours, or even more legs. They were like dirty, black larva covered, mutated animals.

One of them leaped at Issei, but he dodged. –''What are these things?'' – He asked.

''Can't tell. First time I see them.''

Issei dodged one more time, and kicked the beast in it's stomach, throwing him towards the opposite wall, where it shattered through it.

''They are not that strong...so I guess...animal versus animal.'' – Issei raised his hand. –''Echo!''

The recovered beast roared in a voice that was completely foreign, but it's statue was torn apart by giant jaws, coupled with white furr.

''GRRRRRRRRR-!'' – The white, one-eyed wolf stared down at the other shadow's lurking around, showing his teeth. The biggest difference was the wolf's sheer size. If before it was undersized, now, on all fours, it was about the same height as Issei. His length was about 4 meters.

''Echo, I know you have waited long for this...GO WILD!'' – Issei shouted, as the wolf leaped at the shadows with extreme ferocity.

As the owner of a familiar grows stronger, so does the familiar it self. Coupled with training...Echo was now dangerous to the average devil, not to mention some shadow monsters.

Echo growled, as his sharp teeth sank into what appeared a throat from one of the shadow monsters, as he leaped through a wall with the shadow, the other monsters followed.

Issei and Saiaorg stepped outside. It wasn't the Kyoto they were at before. It was a fighting field. Cracked, old bricks for a road. Nothing but a desolate wasteland for a miles in every direction.

Outside a group of people were floating mid-air. Sitting on thin air, was a small boy. A rather slim, but still muscular man with an oldschool chest-piece armor stood with his hands over a wooden staff, that was resting perpendicular over his shoulders.

''Yo, Red Dragon Emperor. It's nice to finally meet you in person.''

''And you would be?'' – Issei asked, simply observing.

''Bikou. A descendant of the Sun Wukong, King of Monkeys.''

''It's a pleasure.'' – He said, rising his hand and half-saluting in a relaxed manner.

''Likewise.''

Next to him, was an extremely elegant man in a suit and glasses, a strand of his blond hair covering a bit of his face.

His eyes, as they pierced Issei's statue seemed...displeasured. As if Issei was the one spoiling the view, as if Issei was a bother in the scenery.

Out of his place, like a rabid, stray dog between lions.

Behind them a short, petite girl with short, golden blond hair pulled into small twin-tails floated upside down. Her shirt was scrunched up at her chest, revealing her hourglass mid-section and navel. Her hands were in her small jean short pockets, and he took one of her hands out, as she noticed finally reacted to Issei.

''Red Dragon Emperor!~'' – She shouted, childishly, waving her hand. –''I'm a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig fan!''

Issei's eyes pulled into a murderous grin, while his lips pulled into a curly, triangular smile. –''...Want an autograph, maybe?''

''Sure!'' – She answered cheerfully, skipping around her teammates and landing on her feet, awkwardly. She dusted herself off, and skipped over to Issei.

''I'm Yano!'' – She answered cheerfully, before biting her upper lip, not catching the fact that Issei was joking. –''No, no, I mean I'm DreamTaker!''

Issei let out an amused chuckle. Did this girl really blurt out her name on accident? She spun around, and raised her shirt. Issei's expression didn't change, while Saiaorg's and his peerage's certainly did. Wide eyes, slightly open mouths.

Issei leaned downwards, looking at her perfectly curved midsection and toned navel. Her body was interestingly developed. She was probably a 70-50-80.

''What about it?''

''Autograph, there!'' – She responded to Issei, with childhood-like innocence and anticipation to her voice.

''Can't do that without anything to write with.'' – Issei responded, looking back up at the small boy, who remained emotionless and the rest of the Khaos Brigade. They looked simply embarrassed.

''Ah~. Of course, I have a marker around here somewhere!'' – She said, releasing her shirt and reaching into her back pockets, pulling out three markers. One was red, one black and one blue. –''Which one do you want?''

Issei scratched the behind of his head. Was this really happening?

''Red, then.''

''I knew you'd pick it!'' – She answered, handing Issei the marker. As their fingers touched, she blushed and squirmed. Issei remained half poker faced, half amused, as he leaned down and began to write on her stomach.

She was squirming, as he wrote ''Red Dragon Emperror'' with big letters, and under that ''DDraig''.

She looked at it and pouted. –''Write it in Japanese as well!''

Issei sighed, and wrote ''Sekiryuutei.'' in the japanese alphabet.

''There. Done.'' – Issei spun the marker around his fingers with ease, as the small girl cutely skipped around, showing off the autograph to Bikou, who simply sighed.

''That will wash off, girl. Sure you want it only there?'' – Bikou asked.

''Oh-'' - The girl, Yano, froze and turned around, skipping back Issei, as she took a small book from her behind, most likely it had been lodged between her shorts and underwear. –''Right. I almost forgot in excitement, I wanted it here as well.''

She handed Issei the book. He glanced downwards, and broke into laughter. –''Hahahahahaha! What is this, Bikou? This is way too surreal!''

The small book was a diary, the cover was a mix of light pink and white and opening it, Issei went through pages that the girl had written. First one even had her birth-date. And it meant that she was 15 years old.

Yano in front of him pouted, as Bikou scratched his head and sighed. –''Can't help it. She is a fan of yours and really wanted an autograph. She harassed us all until we gave in...''

Issei smiled, as he found an empty page and scribbled in the same thing he had done on Yano's stomach. Under that, he wrote ''You are cute!'' and drew a small, chibi version of his armor.

He sighed playfully and gave back the book, looking at Bikou with one eye closed. - ''What a care-free leader you are...''

Bikou shook his head, as he responded. –''Nah, I'm not the leader. Vali is.''

''Oh? How is he doing? Recovered from me shattering his confidence?''

Bikou smirked. –''Of course. He is better than ever. You kicked him into gear and gave him motivation. Your next fight will be on more of an even ground.''

Meanwhile, Yano was jumping around and spinning on her heels, as she blushed and fumed, clutching her diary to her chest.

Issei smirked. –''He isn't the only one who has improved.''

''So I've heard. You can use Ki, right? Then I can test it out.''

Issei smiled, his posture slightly shifting, although he remained with one hand into pocket, other spinning the red marker. –''Where is he, anyways?''

''He and Cao Cao are dealing with some things, so we will be the welcoming party.'' – Bikou responded, as he landed, but suddenly he and Yano froze.

''Bikoushii, why? Why? Why is Georg comming?'' – She shouted. –''He said he would only put up the barrier and not intrude on my time with the Red Dragon Emperer!''

''...He is still angry. I understand.'' – Issei raised his hand, but suddenly, a barrier appeared in front of them all, blocking a giant ball of magical energy, throwing dust everywhere.

Once it settled, a whole battalion had arrived. Floating clothes, mostly dark colors. Georg in the middle stared down Issei.

Bikou was holding down Yano, who was visibly upset by Georg's actions, as she was kicking and shouting something, but that sound was drowned out by someone else.

Extremely sharp killing intent radiated from no-one else than Siegfried, as he raised his sword. –''...For my comrades.''

Issei smirked, cracking his index finger. –''For my disciple.''

[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]

The magical shield shattered, as Issei jumped through it, landing in front of Siegfried, as he hit the ground, dodging a kick from Issei.

As he came back, his Gram went for Issei's throat, but that was easily dodged, by Issei's flexible leaning to the side.

He wasn't expecting another sword to come at his side, as he kicked off the ground, but suddenly was thrown backwards by a whirlwind that came out of the sword.

He hit the ground once, twice, and the third time he was on his feet, coming to a dead stop, looking back at Siegfried, who was simply waiting.

''Even though that woman was annoying and Hercules had more muscle than brain...they were still people for who I cared. You will pay, Issei Hyoudou.'' – He spoke, chivalrous like a knight.

Issei raised his hand and lowered every finger, with the exception of his middle one. –''Like I care, dumbass.''

Two more white, dragonic arms appeared from Siegfrieds sides, as he launched himself at Issei.

[BOOOST BOOOOST BOOOST BOOOOST BOOOOOOST]

The ground shattered around them, as Issei had used his [Phantom Bullet] skill that was like a shield that reversed an attack.

As Siegfried was flunged backwards, Issei followed, completely oblivious to what was happening around them.

Saiaorg's peerage was battling with the people that Georg had brought along, and Saiaorg himself was surprised. They were not some lackeys that had no skill. It was the opposite – they were skilled and most likely brainwashed in some kind of a way. Most of them attacked using various kinds of weapons, including their sacred gears and magic.

Saiaorg leaped forwards, shattering an attackers arms as he blocked, and then he brought down his fist on the dome of his head, killing him instantly. He spun around, as his high-kick knocked off the head of another attacker, flipped forwards and brought his fist down into another attackers face, destroying it with a sickening crunch. He looked around, as his peerage were fighting the same way he was – without mercy. Although they didn't have such an easy time with them.

Suddenly, Saiaorg roared. –''BALANCE BREAK!''

The gold armor appeared on his body as soon as the golden lion had appeared on the field, and that was just barely enough to block the extremely long staff that almost loped off his head.

The ground behind him shattered, as he was became airborne, as used his Ki strikes to parry the attacks.

As he landed, he immediately jumped into the face of the attacker – Bikou. His staff was a staff out of the old legends – the ''Ruyi Jingu Bang'', or rather ''the Golden Hooped Staff'' that could extend itself indefinitely.

''I heard about you, Great King. You can also use Ki, but you can't use magic. Such a shame.'' – He smirked, continuing to attack. With every attack from the staff, Ki expelled, and Saiaorg was getting pushed back.

The legends stated that the staff weighted thousands of kilograms, and by the force of the impacts – Saiaorg had to assume that legend a truth.

His eyes narrowed, as he inhaled and slammed his front leg into the ground, as his right fist met the staff coming at him.

The staff was thrown upwards, while Bikou still held onto it, as the whirlwind of Ki expelled from Saiaorg's fist and he stepped forwards, completely changing the flow of their duel – now it was Bikou on the defense, as Saiaorg used various combinations of punches, kicks and strikes of Ki to push him back.

Georg's eyes focused only on one foe – on Issei, as he blindly fired various mixes of magic towards Saiaorg's peerage – he simply waited for a good opportunity to strike at Issei.

He looked down at the kid, that he was protecting with magic, and spoke to him. –''Hey, create more monsters.''

He didn't answer, but obviously listened, as more shadow lurking monsters appeared around them. Only a blur of white furr was fighting the most of them. Growling, jumping around and shooting white electricity from it's mouth...savage, like a wild animal, with it's single red eye shinning...just like it's owner.

The four swords relentlessly swiped at Issei, as he tried to get inside of Siegfrieds guard, but he was too fast and too agile – and too skilled with the four blades, that he barely had enough time to figure out the angles and dodge them, not to mention counter-attacking.

[BOOOST]

Issei transfered Ki to his legs and disappeared, reappearing behind Siegfried, as he went in for the kill with his claw-like gauntlet, but he immediately leaped backwards, cracking the ground where he was previously and stared down Siegfried.

Even though his back was turned to Issei, the two extra arms were facing him normally. He turned around, smirking. –''These arms are special. Joint limits don't exist. Are you ready to die, Hyoudou?''

[BOOOST]

''Hahahaha.'' – Issei laughed, his face being hidden by the helmet of his Balance Breaker armor.

''What is so funny?''

[BOOOST!]

''You don't understand a single thing.'' – Issei waved his hand, dismissing him. –''Kids like you shouldn't even mess in the business of grown-ups.''

That had struck a nerve, as Issei smirked behind the helmet, seeing Siegfried charge him in godspeed.

He took a deep breath.

[TRANSFER!]

Issei's helmet disappeared, as Siegfried only noticed Issei's dull but narrow eyes and his mouth, that was wide open, showing off his canine-like teeth, and spitting a giant wall of flames towards him.

He kicked off backwards, but his eyes went wide, as Issei jumped through his own flames.

''Wha-!?'' – Siegfried muttered, as Issei's straight palm went for his neck, and he could only raise his sword to block.

DONNNN-!

As his gauntlet struck the sword, it went flying away, stabbing into the ground a few meters away, as Issei kicked off with his left leg, striking Siegfried in his side, but the Ki simply shattered his dragon arm, that was used to block the kick.

Siegfrieds left arm, coupled with the sword went for Issei's leg, but he jumped upwards, flipping over Siegfried, and grabbing into the clothes that covered his shoulder, as his sword struck the ground, creating a crater in the ground.

Suddenly, Siegfried was airborne.

'Huh? What the hell was that strength?' – He thought, as he pointed his Balmung sword towards Issei, who was using his boosters to reach him.

As the whirlwind from his sword ravaged through the air, Issei's devil wings appeared and he disappeared from view, until Siegfried felt a hit to the backside of his neck.

He was sent flying towards the ground in terminal velocity. He pointed his third arm towards the ground, and spoke out it's name.

'' Dáinsleif!''

An ice pillar appeared in a angle from the ground, as he landed on both legs on it, sliding down it.

[BOOOOST]

[TRANSFER!]

A raging fire enveloped the bottom part of the the ice pillar, melting it, but the last part of the fall was enough for the highly trained Siegfried to easily land, especially because he was boosted two times, with the use of his four arms.

Issei, instead of following, flew higher into the air in godspeed, leaving a trail of red in his wake.

Siegfried landed, throwing dust and rubble around himself, as his legs shattered the ground beneath him.

He looked upwards, raising his sword, just in time, as he saw Issei dropping down from the sky in terminal velocity, spinning around, as he crashed onto Siegfried at terminal velocity.

He blocked, holding his Gram with one by the handle, and other pressed against the side of the blade, as the Ki from Issei's kick was blocked by the aura that radiated from the Gram, although it began to throw dust and rubble around them, even going as far as disturbing the people fighting around them.

Issei backflipped, landed, and threw a right hook, but suddenly, his vision stumbled, as the sound of the world disappeared for a second, as he retreated, leaving an afterimage of himself behind with Ki.

He looked down, seeing a cut in his leg armor, as it dirtied his shinny scale-mail with dark blood.

Issei looked back at Siegfried, who smirked. A smirk that was similar to his own, as he stood, holding six swords, each in his 6 hands.

Like a freak of nature, like a spider, he stared down Issei. By Siegfried's legs, a small, interesting looking pistol fell with a silent thud.

''Chaos Drive.''

He had injected himself while Issei was flying in the air, most likely.

Issei made a ''che'' sound, as he quickly dashed to the side, as ice pillars with sharp tops appeared from the ground.

The good part was this – demonic swords weren't a weakness to devils, so he could still fight. It was a like curse, yes, but a little bit of pain and blood couldn't stop him. Not in the past, not in the present.

He dodged around the ice pillars, until the appeared around him, blocking off escape, as Siegfried leaped at him. In that split of a second, he calculated.

It would take too long to melt the ice.

It would be a gamble to try to shatter the ice with Ki, he didn't know what kind of an ice it was.

To take head-on 6 swords, and a man of his skill that was boosted 4 times was asinine.

So, this was the only option, as he turned around, fear clouding his face.

As soon as Siegfried was in his guard, Issei whispered, as his arms raised up.

''Promotion, rook!''

The two demonic swords in Siegfried's real hands were parried upwards, the second pair of swords in the two arms below his real ones were parreid to the sides, but the third pair of swords went on unblocked.

Issei twisted his body a bit, as the two swords shattered through his armor, impaling through his midsection.

They both froze, as Siegfried smiled. –''Your downfall was the arrogance and complete ruthlessness you showed.''

A bit of blood flowed out of Issei's helmet openings, as it disappeared into red dust. Issei's face was revealed, blood was flowing from his nose and mouth. His eyes, hidden behind his messy white hair, he spoke. –''My ruthlessness has only ever helped me.''

''You deserve to die, for you walked down a cursed path. I believe I only know not even half of the atrocities you have done in your short life, but you are a monster. Death in battle is only kindness from me, Hyoudou.''

''What I have done is an inescapable crime, that I agree on.'' – Issei chuckled. –''And even though you how ruthless I am, you still don't finish the job. This is the reason you still are a child...

...AND YOU WILL REMAIN ONE, FOREVER!''

Issei's arm went for Siegfried's face, as he tried to block with the arm that held Gram, but it was torn off, as Issei's gauntleted arm grabbed into Siegfried's face and with a sickening crunch, as Siegfried's spine split from his head, he tore Siegfried's head cleanly off.

Issei's eyes, bloodshot met with Georg's eyes, that burned with furry, as Issei changed the grip and rose up Siegfried's bleeding head by his hair, as the two swords remained in Issei's body.

A mix of various kinds of magic shattered towards Issei from Georg, who was screaming in despair, most likely.

Issei stepped forwards, relased Siegfried's head, grabbed the Gram and swung it towards the incoming magic.

With a deafening explosion sound, dust and rubble flew everywhere, and Issei used the small time window to pull out of the swords. Because Issei knew where to get stabbed to not touch any organs, he was one of those people who could do something so ruthless without batting an eyelid.

He groaned in pain, as the blood began to dirty the cracked ground, and knowing he had to stop the bleeding, he did the only thing he could. He inhaled air and exhaled fire onto the blade in his hand.

The handle was digging into his skin and he began to sweat. The blade began to shine from the head, as he placed to on one of his stab injuries.

His teeth clenched, saliva splattered and his vision flashed to white. His thoughts turned to mush, as for a second it felt like he was standing in the sea of blood again.

Maria's smirk flashed before his eyes.

That's right.

This pain is nothing.

The dust and rubble cleared, as his back straightened. The four injuries that were bleeding before were burned shut by a flaming side of a demonic sword's edge. He stared down at Georg, speaking up. Gram was extended towards Georg, as his Balance Breaker armor remained on, slightly cracked in some places, only missing the helmet.

''You'll play with me, right, G-E-O-R-G-CHAN?''

He shouted, dashing towards him, after whispering only two words.

''Promotion:Knight!''

Writer's notes.

Yo. How are you? This chapter seemed odd to me, the writer. Because Kuroka is not there, is it wrong to add a girl to Vali's squad? I think not. So, welcome Yano.

''Using a power beyond a person's capabilities destroys them.'' - fiction always goes by these rules. I have only showed some small things that happened to Issei, but oh boy, do I have a treat for you. Body in DxD is more a like a vessel for the soul. But the soul can be cursed. So it works like this.

How did that one song go? ''It all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down, it all returns to nothing, I just keep letting me down...''

I think.

pffft.~

Did you really expect that there would be no consequences to Issei's vs 6 Khaos Brigade member's fight? haha.

Thank you, everyone who reads and leaves a review! I appreciate that so, so much! Leave any questions in the reviews as well, I answer with private messages in most cases!

Oh, and please check out my other stories, if you enjoy this one!

[More specifically, my one shot called ''The end is where we began''!]