It felt hopeless, to stop Yasaka, that is. She was rampaging, draining the power from the natural laylines that were basically infinite.
Loki teleported himself and Issei away somewhere and was blocking following with complicated norse magic. If Issei was alright, then Azazel wouldn't worry, but Issei was hit by Samael's poison, so he was either dead or out of his mind, screaming in pain.
Cao Cao was a prodigy, a one in a billion human. Azazel was sure of that now. His concentration was slipping and he was tired. More tired than he had been in hundreds of years. Sitting in a throne and donning the mantle of ''Governor'' had surely taken away something from him.
And now he knew what it was – the ferocity, the power and endurence that he once had had. His DownFall Dragon armor was scratched up and he had very small cuts on him that were stinging and making him dizzy, but he didn't protest.
The dimension was crumbling, but Cao Cao wasn't letting up, as even Azazel and Saiaorg couldn't bring him down together.
...but, the disguise of being untouchable was fading. The confident, fearless guise was done, as he was tired as well, his hair sticking to his face.
Vali was off holding Yasaka at bay, and Azazel was ready to do something stupid...
...if he was stabbed, then Saiaorg would have time to strike. And if Saiaorg would even touch a single finger on Cao Cao, his bones would shatter and come flying out of the other side.
...but, fortunetly for him there was no use for it, as someone busted in the dimension. Someone big. Someone giant.
Azazel and Cao Cao backed away from each other, looking at the beast.
''Is that the Great Red?'' – One of Saiaorg's peerage asked loudly, but it wasn't. This dragon wasn't red.
It was green.
Yu Long?
And who was that, jumping in the dimension from the hole?
''Oy oy oy, Vali, we need to go. NOW!'' – Bikou shouted, jumping over at Vali, together with Arthur, and they teleported away.
The small statue landed, and made a che sound with his mouth. The pipe fumed slightly, as he turned to face Cao Cao.
Yu Long attacked Yasaka, pressing her against the ground.
''Hey Geezer, look out!'' – Azazel shouted, as he simply, without a care spun around and blocked Cao Cao's spear.
Cao Cao looked downwards, his eyes meeting the shade-covered eyes of Sun Wukong, the king of monkeys.
He chuckled and blew some smoke from his pipe. –''A thousand years too early to fight me, young one.''
''It seems that way.'' - Cao Cao jumped back, sighing. –''...I guess this fight is over. Oh well, at least I got something I wanted...and I saw Yu Long in real life.''
Like that ,he disappeared, and the dimension began to crumble.
''Old man Wukong, can you help Yasaka?'' – Azazel spoke, turning over to him.
With a nod, he turned towards the golden 9-tailed fox.
Loki had calmed down. He was hurt, he was tired and his magic reserves were depleated. He had rested for ten or fifteen minutes. The dimension was his, his alone. No one could teleport into his dimension without him allowing it. No one could teleport out.
Issei Hyoudou was somewhere to the north, probably puking blood all over the place, dying the grass or marble red. Was there even a reason to go and finish him? He had heard of how hard he was to kill. Like a zombie, like a worm he struggled through the dirt, refusing to die.
He didn't want to fight. However, he did have a last, single trump card in his sleeve.
He teleported forwards, until he saw him.
Blood was everywhere, as he had predicted. He hadn't predicted the amount of damage around Issei. The marble was shattered and littered with holes, the few statues, arcs and houses were demolished.
Hyoudou himself was screaming incoherently.
Loki could only understand a few of the words. Something about strength, something about being sorry. Some names.
''...Sorry...I'm sORRy mArGiT...'' – He screamed, his voice breaking down mid sentences. Other words he was saying, those were slurred. –''I...I..I-...BelONG ON THIS SIDE...I promiSED.''
Loki sighed, his face covered in disgust. He landed, maybe 40 or 50 meters from Issei, who was still oblivious to him.
He stepped forwards, listening to Issei's mumblings.
''I-... be a HERO... .nononononNO.'' – Issei screamed at the sky, trying to get up. –''I am the viLLAIN... ''
His steps echoed over the marble ground, as he moved closer.
''...All which is inheret...shall disolve...''
Was Hyoudou quoting something? Loki could have sworn he had heard those words somewhere before.
''...He who is conceived in a cage...'' – Issei stuttered, looking at his fingers. –''...yearns for the cage...''
A few meters had remained between Loki and Issei.
''Have you gone completely insane, Hyoudou?'' - Loki asked, laughing.
He froze, turning his head in fear, his voice cutting off. Like an animal caught in the headlights. His single eye shone wide and dull. The other one was empty and dead, hollow and black. Unnaturally wide open. It made Loki uncomfortable.
''It's over. The end of the line.'' – He spoke, looking at the confused and disorientated Issei, who suddenly...
...snapped.
''IT WAS YOU. YOU, YOU, YOU. YOUR CAGE, AND YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TOOK HER AWAY!''
The sudden change in magical energy blew him backwards, as Issei was getting up, slowly.
His armor was cracked, dirty and it creaked, as Issei moved. The armor looked clunky, as if it was working against the wearer.
''I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU, LEVENTE, I'LL KILL YOU, ILL DESTROY YOUR BODY, I'LL SHATTER YOUR BONES, I'LL CARVE OUT YOUR HEART, I'LL DEVOUR YOU...I'll kill anyone and everyone who you have ever loved, cared or spoken to...''
Issei screamed at Loki, who was bewildered. Who the hell was Levente? He raised his hand, and that was enough to shoot a burst of magic towards the unstable Hyoudou. It would be enough.
Issei disappeared from sight.
''Huh?''
Issei's fist struck Loki's face, throwing him through a few buildings. He quickly got up, looking at Issei.
He was covered in purple aura, screaming his head off. Mumbling, incoherently, once again.
''The abyss...the abyss...''
Loki raised his hand, snapping his fingers, and without a seconds delay, with a loud crack, the 3rd child of Fenrir appeared – his hidden trump card.
In matter of seconds the small Fenrir-like creature was about to bite down on Issei's face, but that didn't happen, as Issei simply stepped to the side, and brought his fist down on it's head, shattering it into the ground, throwing a shock-wave around himself.
''This isn't possible...'' – Loki widened his eyes. –''Just how much power did Ophis give you? Answer me!''
''I'll RIP your hEAd off, you piece of shit!'' – With a crack of his fingers, Issei had seemingly teleported towards Loki, still covered in the purple aura of Ophis.
A single kick shattered Loki's ribs. A single punch broke Loki's nose. A single jab, and Issei had torn out Loki's left eye.
Suddenly he stopped, clutching at his head, screaming.
''Teacher, teacher, teaCHER IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS!''
He began to wildly swing his arms around, seemingly fighting something off. What was it?
''GET OFF ME, DON'T TAKE MY MEMORIES! I NEED THEM!''
Loki recovered, sending a wave of magic that Issei punched away, immediately recovering from his delusions.
But well, that was his plan all along, as his loyal Skoll attacked Issei, jumping on him, pinning him to the ground, but he tried to hold his mouth open with his hands.
''You won't get my body...I ATE YOU FIRST-!'' – He shouted, forcing Skoll's mouth wider and wider, until it whimpered and tried to jump back, but Issei didn't allow it, as he grabbed it by the neck and punched it right in the teeth.
Something in it's mouth shattered and Issei grabbed it. With a single swing, he drove it through Skoll's skull, killing it instantly.
He took a single step forwards, as he tried to stand up, but fell over, but as he did, he swung his arm forwards and Loki didn't understand what happened until it was too late.
''...How does pOISOn taste, you bastard?'' – Issei asked, his single eye becoming narrow, his lips stretching to the sides,pulling into a creepy smirk.
He looked downwards, his eyes going wide. A single, long canine teeth was stabbed into his midsection. The fang-like teeth was able to kill gods. He wanted to scream, but didn't, as Issei had finally gathered the few bearings he had left and had gotten up.
He leaped onto Loki like a mad animal himself, both of them tumbling on the ground, as Issei grabbed into the fang and pushed it deeper into Loki's stomach.
''This is impossible-!'' – He shouted, grabbing Issei by the face, two of his fingers slipping into the empty space that had remained in his eye's stead.
Issei shook and brought his fist down onto Loki's face, shattering his skull. And he did it again. And Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again.
Unrelenting force of pure anger and despair, trying to piece together something, anything that made sense. And for Issei, it made sense to kill Levente again, just as he had done before.
He didn't question how Levente had become alive again. He didn't question why he had felt the need to break off a teeth and stab Levente with it. It felt natural.
So, he contiuned to do what he had promised.
Loki's grasp had released a long time, but Issei continued to hit him. There was nothing but him, Loki, no, Levente, and the checkered ground, walls and sky.
''Why wont you die, huh? Why do YOU HAVE TO HAUNT ME WHEREVER I GO? I JUST WANT TO KILL YOU AND BE DONE WITH IT!'' –Issei grabbed Loki's face and twisted his head to one side so far that it snapped.
His vertebrae had cracked. Levente(?) was dead.
So why couldn't he stop? He tore open Loki-, no, Levente's rib cage and pulled out his heart, throwing it away. His insides had turned to sludge anyways, from a previous blow.
He stood up, but tripped and fell over, once again, cringing and screaming in pain.
It hurt so, so, so much. This was how dying felt. This was death. But he didn't want to die, he couldn't die. Yet.
''Someone...some...one...'' – He screamed.
No one will save you, Issei. Help will not come. It was your fault I died, you didn't help me. So why should anyone help waste, garbage, trash like you?
Her voice was sugar-sweet to his ears. Even though she was saying words like that, as she sat down onto Levente's ravaged corpse. Wearing the same slim-fitting clothing as she always did. Having that comfortable, self-confident look on her face. Those same blood-red, narrow eyes.
''...I tried. I tried so hard. I never screamed back then, when they killed you. I was strong. I never allowed them the pleasure of hearing me scream. Or beg, or plead.''
''It's never enough with you. You are a loser, after all. Always a second too late, things, of all importance are always slipping right between your grasp. You always manage to fuck it all up.''
It was true. Margit never lied, after all.
Issei laid on his back, staring into the dark sky. The gray clouds were dripping with rain, and he simply let them drop on his face.
''Not going to say anything?''
''...I have nothing. You are right. I was a failure. I was born like that, I will die one.''
''Right. Then die.''
''...I'm sorry, teacher. I am truly sorry.'' – Issei spoke once again. Even the rain couldn't mask his tears. Something black was leaking from his empty eye-socket, while only tears leaked from his unhurt eye. –''...I tried so hard, I tried to do what I promised, but I'll die here...''
He stopped speaking, his single eye going wide, as if he had finally understood something. Groaning in pain, pushed his upper body up. –''I CAN'T DO WHAT I PROMISED IF I DIE HERE-!''
He shouted, but that was cut off, as Margit had laid on top of him with her knees on his chest, her long fingers wrapping around Issei's throat.
''Sshh. It's over.'' – Margit wringed his neck. –''You don't need to be in pain anymore. Rest. You deserve it.''
His breath cut off. He became light headed. The colors washed away, the light, the dark, everything, everything went dark.
Was this death? Nothingness?
Suddenly, a raging fire. The familiar warmth, the same one, the same primordial fire of one of the strongest dragons.
[DON'T YOU DARE TO DIE ON ME, PARTNER!]
Was that...Ddraig?
[SNAP OUT OF IT, ISSEI HYOUDOU, NO, BLOODHOUND THE SECOND!]
''Aaaaaaahhhh...Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh...''
With a cough, Issei Hyoudou came to. There was no Margit to choke him. It was just his mind trying to fuck him over. The clouds still remained checkered. The ground, and everything else wasn't anymore.
The ugly checkers had fallen back.
The pain, on the other hand, hadn't. His head hurt, as if he was getting stabbed repeatedly, without stopping, in the brain. His nervous system was a wreck, and it felt like his blood had turned into acid, his heart, that felt like it was being crushed, was circulating the acid around his body.
...had that poison seeped into it as well? He was shaking, his face was flushed and he was cold and hot at the same time. His left arm was stiff. He knew he had a gaping hole in his face.
He pushed himself up, in a sitting position. He looked at Levente.
He, of course wasn't there. He was out of his mind, while fighting. He had killed Loki, with his own two hands. His disfigured corpse was a few meters away, while his insides were in a small radius around him.
Everything had been a fucked up delusion of his fucked up mind. Of the cage, that was mind. The bodies, his teacher, the clouds, the sky...even Levente.
But there was another thing. Ophis.
Issei clutched his head. The pain suddenly doubled when he thought about Ophis, and her power.
''Ddraig, what happened to my body?''
[You died. Well, almost. Twice. Ophis used her snakes, a lot of them, to give you power. To reinforce your body, your muscle fibers, your bones, your magical circuits even, your Ki channels, everything.]
''Wh-what do you...mean with ''reinforce''?'' – Issei asked, stuttering. His mind was slurring, it was hard to form coherent sentences.
[Millions of small Ophis snakes wrapped around your muscle fibers and everything else. They are now fused together.]
''...Like a parasite?'' – Issei asked.
[Like a parasite yes, but it...benefits you hugely.] – Ddraig stumbled with words, as he groaned. –[Without her, you'd be dead.]
''I figured that much.'' – Issei spoke, trying to remain conscious. His fuzzy, unfocused sight was going black, white and red with every heartbeat. Even torture hadn't hurt that much.
[...partner, it hurts. It hurts very much. But, we can survive. We just need medical help.]
Issei's mind couldn't comprehend what Ddraig was pointing to.
[Call Kuroka. Or Fleimel. Or both.]
The fog cleared up, as Issei tried to stand up.
That didn't happen, as he fell over, puking more blood, so he fell on his back, reaching for his neck.
''I won't call Kuroka yet. She can't see me like this. Remove the armor, partner.''
[Can't. The armor is stopping you bleeding from the 3 gaping holes in your stomach.]
Right. Loki's magic had penetrated his defenses. But that pain was nothing, compared to Samael's curse.
With great difficulty he pulled the wolf's tooth amulet and banged it against the ground numerous times. Could it reach to Fleimel, from where he was?
Where was he at, anyways?
After 10 or so times, his arm gave out and went limp, so he remained, looking up into the sky, feeling the heavy droplets of rain, watching the checkered, black and white clouds. Those too, were probably his delusion. What kind of clouds were checkered?
She appeared, a few tens of meters away from Issei. It took her about 3 seconds to realize what had happened.
She instantly appeared next to Issei, leaping to her knees. Her usual, stone-cold, uncaring demeanor was gone, as her eyes widened, her hair beginning to stick to her face from the downpour.
''...Issei...you...'' – Her voice cut off. She didn't know what to do, what to say.
''Fleimel...heal my-''
He was cut off by Fleimel suddenly grabbing his head, and looking deep into his eyes. Or rather, the socket of his left eye.
''Don't look. It's disgusting.''
''Are-are you...?'' – Fleimel began to hyperventilate. This wasn't good.
''Calm down. I won't die, if you listen to me.''
''But-but, w-w-what can I...?''
''LISTEN TO ME!'' – He shouted, or at least, tried to. –''I was poisoned by Samael. It's a very potent poison against dragons. Now, I will tell you what to do.''
''Yes, sir.'' – She answered, finally snapping out of it.
''Use your...gear to heal my stomach wounds.'' – Issei commanded, and she did. They grew shut in a few seconds from the green glow.
The armor that had saved Issei countless times now disappeared from his body and he felt like a ton of bricks had been removed from his body. But he was weak. An inch movement felt like him being teared apart.
''Now, try to heal my eye.'' – Issei spoke, his voice faltering.
There was nothing there to heal, but Fleimel tried. The gentle, green glow did nothing to help the gaping black hole, since his eye had basically rotten and turned into liquid that had poured out of his eye socket.
''Shit, fine, help me.'' – Issei signaled, as he tried to stand up.
The pain was excruciating, and he would have fallen over, if Fleimel hadn't wrapped his hand around her shoulder, and her hand around his waist.
''Now, teleport us to old home base. To my room.''
Fleimel looked at Issei bewildered.
''Do it.''
She nodded, and the world around Issei twisted and bent out of shape, out of proportion. By the time his feet hit the ground, he was puking again.
''Issei...'' – Fleimel held him up.
''I'm fine, trust me on this.'' – Issei spoke, as he looked around. It was the same old metallic hallway as always. Only the bustling was gone. Three years of walking around these hallways, it felt nostalgic.
Issei moved forwards with the help of Fleimel, until they reached massive metallic door with a passcode. Issei hesitated before punching in the right combination.
[4713]
Why did he hesitate anyways? Right, his mind was fuzzy.
With a beep and a metallic sliding sound, the doors opened. He looked at his room. How long had he spent in it? Countless hours, just training on the empty space on the rooms far back corner, where an old sandbag hanged, and a few metallic bars were welded to the ceiling.
Half of the room's walls were covered in books. The bed in was queen sized and covered in the same old, black sheets. The nightstand still had a book with a bookmark in it. The main desk had a few smartphones on it, ones he had used in missions or to check his various bank accounts.
He stopped reminiscing about his, or rather Margit's old room. After she died, he moved in. In her will, he was left as the successor of Margit the Bloodhound.
The will that he had to write as well. What had he written in it? Simple. He left the money he had made over 3 years and everything else he owned to Kuroka. He didn't write anything else in his will.
There was no need.
When he felt Fleimel pushing on his back, he moved forwards, into his room. A year or so had passed since he was last there. The table tops were dusty, but not overly so. It meant that the facility still had a running electricity.
''First, I need to get to the bathroom.''
Fleimel blushed a bit, but didn't object at all. As soon as the doors opened, Issei turned to the left, where a mirror was. He raised his hand, and drove it over the dusty glass.
He was struck with a sudden wish to puke his wrenched guts out. It was disgusting, the hole in his head, that is. It was unnatural, since the only other time he had seen an eye socket like that was when a person's eye got blown out by a 5.56 caliber bullet. A long streak went down over his cheek, the skin looked as if acid had burned it.
He touched the upper part, studying the hole.
''Fleimel, is this...bone?'' – He asked, scrapping the top part, but his hand was stopped by Fleimel's gentle touch.
''Don't touch it. What if it gets infected?''
[Concentrate partner...]
Ddraig spoke in his head, with his naturally strong, deep voice.
''Right...'' – Issei nodded, and opened the cabinet below the mirror. Sudden feeling of coldness assaulted his fingers. It was a fridge, after all. –''Fleimel, help me with carrying this.''
Issei pulled out two bags from the cabinet and handed one of them to Fleimel, who was still holding Issei up-straight.
They somehow got back to Issei's room, and he was dropped into the leather chair that was by his desk, as he dropped his bag on the desk, gesturing for Fleimel to do the same.
''Margit had basically anything a person like us would need. Painkillers, antibiotics, bandages, surgical tools...'' – He spoke, opening one of the bags and pulling out two blood bags. –''See, even this. I lost a lot of blood...''
He hanged the bags on a metallic desk lamp he had screwed to the large desk. He tried to stab the needle in his vein himself, but his hands were shaking too much, so he asked Fleimel to do it.
She did it instantly, with practiced ease.
He used his free hand to open the other bag, pulling out a needles and a small bottle with warnings all over it.
''Fleimel, fill the needle and give it to me.'' – He said, as he used a thin belt, wrapping it around his bicep. He took the back needle, this time full, and stabbed it into his veins, emptying the needle into his bloodstream.
He threw the needle on the table, and grunted. A minute or two passed in silence.
''Issei...what was that?'' – Fleimel spoke up, disrupting the silence.
Issei grunted once more, shaking his head. -''It wont be enough.''
His hands were still shaking, but he could do it himself, as he popped another needle's protective plastic guard, and stabbed it into the small bottle. He filled the needle to the brim, stabbing it into his arm once again, and emptying.
''...Whatever you just took, you took about 300 grams of it. Tell me.'' – Fleimel...ordered?
Issei closed his eyes, releasing the belt around his biceps, and throwing it on the desk, together with the needle. He looked at the blood transfusion bag, noticing only a sliver of it was gone.
Of course, blood transfusion took a few hours.
''What. Was. It?'' – Fleimel leaned closer, looking Issei in the eye.
''Methadone.'' – Issei answered, nonchalantly.
''...huh?'' – Fleimel's mouth remained open for a small while. –''You are going to die. That's an overdose. I can't heal something like that...''
Fleimel quickly jumped up from her seat, but Issei grabbed her arm with his free one. –''...What you don't know that I was in pain for a long time. After I used balance break for the first time, it damaged me. Inside and out. Ever since then, I began to take painkillers, because it hurt.''
Fleimel sat down, quietly.
''I was in pain. Partly, because of what happened to her, but mostly because my body was a mess. My nerves, my muscle, my bones. It was like I had been hit by a semi-truck going at 200 miles per hour. Because of that, I began to take painkillers.''
Silence followed, as Issei stopped talking.
''It started with oxycodone. After a while, it was never enough. Then it went to morphine. When morphine wasn't enough...I would have probably turned to heroin, but Maria helped me with that, giving me the one that didn't have a high, but only the painkiller effect.''
Fleimel looked at the ground. –''...Still...taking that much is deadly.''
''Not for me. You wouldn't believe how strong my painkiller tolerance is.'' – He tried to joke, but broke into a coughing fit. –''As you know, it takes about an hour to kick in...so, I'll probably try to sleep a bit, I hope the blood will be transfused by then. Please stay here and monitor me, I don't want to die in my sleep. Will you help me?''
Fleimel sighed, driving her palm through her short, black hair. –''You know I can't refuse you.''
Issei smiled a bit and then he passed out on the desk. Fleimel took his pulse, realizing it was pretty low. His blood pressure was as well, no doubt about it. She sighed, once more, looking through the bottles upon bottles of various pills and liquids, trying to decide what to give to Issei.
She found a bag of saline, and hooked that up to Issei as well. Now all that remained was to wait.
He was out of it. Honestly, he knew it was hopeless. The prideful statue had crumbled, as he walked with a limp. His back was hunched, from the pain. His glasses had fallen off sometime around the time Issei had shattered his organs.
He had won.
Georg injected another phoenix tear into himself with the pistol-like injector, but it was useless. The damage was far too great.
He dropped it down, and continued to walk towards him.
He felt sad – after all, he wouldn't see Cao Cao anymore. His last minutes in this life would go to make sure that Issei Hyoudou would never recover, even if he survived. That whatever the plan was, that it would never succeed.
He would never stand next to Cao Cao proudly, like he had before.
He coughed up more blood, but he was here. The start of the territory or Satan himself. The demonic energy barrier around it was child's play. Even for a dying Georg. With a single touch, the barrier tore open, as if welcoming him with open arms.
He could teleport maybe a few times, before he would die. So, he decided to be careful. He teleported a few kilometers into the territory, hiding behind a beautiful sakura tree, observing the castle.
The guards were pretty much everywhere, but he was using the last of his magical reserves to hide himself. After noticing a specific balcony at the top of the castle, he teleported on it, and opened the doors to inside.
It was a prestigious, expensive bedroom. Was this where Satan slept? He closed his eyes, feeling the surge of energy stronger than anything. He tried to teleport towards there, but something went wrong, as he tripped, smashing himself against a wall and puking a bit of blood.
He couldn't teleprot anymore. So he went on foot, leaning against the hallway walls. He had arrived at the doors and opened them.
The crimson-haired devil raised his head, he hadn't expecting any guests. His eyes widened, but he wasn't scared, or angry. He simply spoke.
''Who are you?''
''Georg of Khaos Brigade.'' – He responded. –''Or more specifically, the Hero Faction.''
''The one that is lead by Cao Cao?'' – Sirzechs implored.
''Yes. The same one.''
''So, why are you here?'' – Sirzechs asked, unamused. It was obvious he was hurt.
''The fight in Kyoto turned bad. For both sides. Hyoudou basically killed me with a punch.'' – Georg smirked. –''But I poisoned him with Samael's curse. If it was any other wielder of the Boosted Gear, then that person would die in agony, without a chance of survival.''
''...but?'' – Sirzechs asked, his eyes narrowing.
''Issei Hyoudou is abnormal. If someone can survive Samael's curse, then it is him. He always refuses to die...and besides that...he has an army behind his back.'' – Georg observed, as Sirzechs' eyes went from narrow to wide, and his poker face turned to anger. –''...and behind your back. Yes, all this time, he has been scheming something.''
Sirzechs didn't answer, his mind racing, figuring out things, connecting the dots.
''There was a purpose to him becoming a...'' – Georg's words cut off, as he fell face front towards the ground with a loud thud. His heartbeat had stopped. A puddle of blood began to from under him, as Sirzechs snapped his fingers.
Grayfia appeared from seemingly thin air. She looked at the dead body, and at Sirzechs. –''Serious?''
''Very. Get Rias to me, get the maids to clean this up and I need to know the situation in Kyoto. As soon as you, please.'' – The please sounded very heavy, more like a order, than a plea. -''We need to create a game-plan.''
She nodded, disappearing from the room.
Sirzechs got up. The papers from his table fluttered into the air, the coffee table shattered against another wall.
''You piece of trash...''
Waking up felt different than most times. Colors, sounds, light only then the whole picture combined. His body was still slugishly heavy, and his heart was beating hard, but slow in his chest.
''Wake up.'' – The rather strict voice of Fleimel, asked once again.
''Yeah...yeah..'' – He spoke, but his voice was unusally raspy. He blinked several times, as the world focused, him noticing Fleimel looming over him, as she took out the needles from his arm.
He noticed the empty blood and saline bags.
''Thanks. How long was I out?''
''Just short of 8 hours.'' – Fleimel spoke, her rather high-heeled boots made clacking sounds as she walked around.
His back was stiff, his muscle rather unresponsive. The pain...was mostly just throbbing and simply annoying, if compared to what is was previously.
Unfortunately, it didn't mean he was cured, or that the poison had left his system. It simply meant that methadone worked as intended.
He got up, wobbling and limping, but he could move on his own.
''I'll go to the bathroom and take a shower. If I'm gone for more than 20 minutes, come and knock, see If I'm not passed out.''
It didn't take that long, as Issei was out after 15 minutes, just dressed in his boxers. His body had new scars, especially two burned ones on his sides.
''Everything ok?'' – Fleimel asked.
''Yes. I'm weak, tired and dizzy, but I didn't puke or pass out.'' – He said, limping over to the closet that was in a corner of his room. He opened it, and was pleasantly surprised about the fact that dust hadn't assaulted the closet nearly as much as it had done with everything else.
The clothes were mainly in dark colors. Even had some navy camouflage stuff, and a few skirts. After all, more than half of the wardrobe wasn't his. All of Margit's worldly possessions were left to him. Including the clothes.
Fortunately, she wasn't girly at all with the way she dressed. Most pants, even if they were slim, they weren't too skinny, and the hoodies and jackets were mostly for males.
He took one of the various black t-shirts, a black hoodie and one of slim navy camo pants. He put it all on, with mild difficulty and found some socks and black, same old style boots he liked to always wear.
All that was left was his left eye. He found a bunch of medical eyepatches, and figured it would do.
''The worst part about this is the fact that I lost about 50% of my field of view. Fleimel, come over here.'' – He spoke, signaling to his left side.
She did, and raised her hand towards Issei's face.
''Fuck, I can't see it. Depth of field and field of view...this is pretty bad for fighting...''
Fleimel wanted to say something helpful. –''Don't worry, your teacher taught you how to fight in the dark, right?''
He chuckled. –''...I never got how to see the vibrations and locating by sound...''
Fleimel shot him an unsure glance.
''Whatever. It's fine, loosing only a single beats dying.'' – Issei spoke. –''However talking with Kuroka won't be fun.''
Issei went into the bathroom and drank water from the tap.
''It's been about 9 hours since my disappearance.'' – Issei spoke, stretching his arms and back. –''...What excuse could I even use?''
''Try to think. You know I'm not good at giving advice.'' – Fleimel responded, this time in her usual, stoic voice. – ''Or are you having problems with your thoughts? Missing memories, maybe? If you do, then there are probably...''
''I'm fine, Fleimel. Don't worry. '' – Issei smiled, but it didn't calm her down at all. –''I'm just tired, that is all. Hard to think straight, you know.''
Silence enveloped the room, as Issei tried to think. When fighting, Vali came betrayed Khaos Brigade and helped Issei. He had a Senjutsu master with him. It would be plausible, wouldn't it?
''C'mon, let's go, I have an idea.'' – Issei spoke, slowly moving over to Fleimel. –''Do you know where the-''
''I can teleport you where you want, you just need to visualize the location.'' – She spoke, stepping next to him, and took something out of her pocket. -''Here, I took this from the ground when I found you.''
It was the wolf's tooth. Issei took it, nodded, and put it around his neck.
He wrapped his arm around Fleimeil's waist and closed his eyes, visualizing the rooftop where he and Saiaorg had sparred. No, that didn't work, what if they were there at the time of teleportation ? Killing Saiaorg and his peerage to cover up would never work.
Besides, in that state Issei couldn't hurt Saiaorg, not to mention killing him.
So, he imagined the rooftop next to the one where he had sparred.
''Let's go.''
After a slight pulling sensation, and the world being shifted and bent before his eyes, his feet touched down on a rooftop next to the hotel he had stayed previously. The rooftop he was standing on was higher, and the rooftop of the hotel was empty.
Issei slid his arm off from Fleimel and went over to the edge, simply kicking off and jumping over the few meter distance.
A sharp pain his head and his legs became weak. Was it the poison? As soon as he had flexed his muscle, pain radiated through his body.
The landing would be though...
...but Fleimel caught him mid-jump, as she appeared from thin air, wrapping her hand around his waist, and landing gently.
''Don't push yourself too much now.''
Issei looked to the side on which she wasn't, and spoke under his breath. –''I'm not some old man, Fleimel.''
She released him, looking away.
Issei stepped forwards, moving inside. The lobby was empty. The rooms were empty as well, even his, and the Gram was gone. Issei sighed, walking upstairs.
He opened the doors, Fleimel was obviously there, the ends of her simple, black coat fluttering in the wind.
''Now what?'' – She asked, obviously knowing the result of Issei's search.
''Let's go to Kuoh. Maybe I can bullshit my way back.'' – Issei spoke, as he walked over to Fleimel and wrapped his arm around her. –''Let's go.''
The world once again disfigured in front of his eyes, and he felt a pulling sensation, as his feet landed on a white ground.
White?
He looked at the ground, realizing it was snowing. Nice December snow.
''What date is it today, Fleimel?'' – He asked, looking into the air. He was standing on an empty street, a bit away from the school.
''December 20th, I believe.'' – She responded, placing her hands into her coat's pockets.
''I see.'' – Issei spoke, lowering his head and beginning to walk towards the school, Fleimel followed, walking a slight distance behind him.
He found it odd. It was the evening, snowing outside. So why were the streets so abandoned?
''Fleimel, are we inside a barrier?'' – Issei asked her, not looking backwards.
''Can't tell unless we close in on the sides.'' – She responded. She of course could stamp her foot against the ground and create a giant shock wave of fire. If the fire would hit a barrier, she would know it.
However, that kind of magic would alert people to their presence. Or rather – her's.
It didn't take long for Issei's shaky gait to reach the school gates. Issei stopped in his tracks, looking up at the school building. He closed his eyes, listening.
It was a clear silence. Not a living soul, not a single, livid voice.
Issei turned to face Fleimel, sighing. –''Go get Kuroka, and report back to Maria. If the Wolf's tooth touches the ground even once, come for me.''
''Yes, sir.'' – Fleimel responded. –''How deadly can we be?''
''Remove everything in your way to me.'' – Issei responded, his voice going as cold as the snow beneath his feet.
Fleimel nodded, disappearing.
Issei turned to the gate, straightened his back and walked inside. He was feverish, his arms and legs were shaking and he was simply in pain – but, he couldn't show it.
Right, because he was The Ddraig, Bloodhound the Second.
He walked over the empty schoolyard, his footprints parting the snow, creating quiet crunching noises.
The doors to the old school building opened soundlessly, as Issei dusted off the small snowflakes off his hoodie. His footsteps echoed as he stepped up the stairs. His thoughts were swimming, his senses and instincts were dull.
The main doors opened with a metallic sound and Issei stepped stopped a few steps in, looking straight ahead.
Rias was standing, leaning against her wooden desk. Her eyes widened slightly, but then they returned to a normal,rather relaxed expression.
''We thought you died.'' - She spoke, imploring. –''Where were you?''
Issei scratched the back of his head. –''With Vali. Bikou helped me. Turns out he is great at Ki manipulating. ''
''Why the eyepatch?'' – Rias asked, looking at the left side of his face.
''My eye is gone. Samael's poison devoured it.'' – Issei sighed, dodging her glance. –''Doesn't matter.''
''You know, ever since the day you appeared through those doors with my brother, I've been wondering about it. Was it a good decision to make you my pawn?'' – Rias chuckled. –''Sure, I am now considered the strongest youth peerage, and I am famous. But you never liked it all, right?''
''Yeah. Fame was never my thing.''
''Another thing I've been thinking about is the amount of times you've lied. The time after Saiaorg's rating game...that church and those fallen angels that were killed...the thing about being drugged, and abandoning being a terrorist. All that was a lie.''
''Yes. I lied.'' – Issei stated, without hesitating.
The time to lie and pretend was over. The mission...was a failure on different fronts. Success on others.
The doors behind him opened.
''DON'T MOVE!'' – Kiba shouted, pointing his sword at Issei's back. Xenovia walked forwards, and raised her sword to his throat.
Sharp holy and dragon-killing energy assaulted Issei, but he felt dull.
Akeno and Gasper walked inside, passing Xenovia and Kiba, taking position next to Rias. Koneko wasn't there. Had she not recovered from her previous injuries?
Issei raised his arms slowly, staring straight at Rias with his single, narrow eye. He remained silent, trying to judge the situation.
''Call your brother, Rias.'' – Akeno spoke to her. –''We don't know what kind of back-up he has, or how strong he is.''
''Look at him. His arms are shaking and he is sweating profusely. He can't defeat us now.'' – Rias spoke, walking over to him, but Xenovia raised her hand, so she wouldn't come too close. –''Issei Hyoudou. Or would you rather like Ddraig better?''
''I don't care.''
''Tell me. Was all of this...the year you spent as my pawn, the year you spent training Koneko...was all of this just fake?''
Issei sighed, but then he grinned. –''You really don't understand anything. Nothing. Not a single thing.''
Rias' eyes widened.
''Did you really think that I, out of all people would be one to do such a stupid plan as to attack The Gremory? Besides, why would I? What purpose would attacking you serve?''
Her eyes widened from sudden clarity. –''So...the attack...''
''Hahahahahahaha!'' - Issei bursted into laughter. –''Yes. Everything, since the beginning was set-up. You were simply too stupid to realize it. I became a devil on purpose.''
Issei felt Kiba's anger and killing intent without seeing his face.
''Yo Kiba, didn't you say you'd kill me if I'd betray you? What are you waiting for?'' – Issei chuckled, looking at Xenovia.
Her glance was cold, but calm. To pull off an escape right there, in his condition, it would take something underhanded.
Issei lowered his arm slowly, as Xenovia stared at him. He moved his palm, touching his left eye's eyepatch. –''Xenovia, want to see what is under here?''
She shrugged. He pulled the eyepatch off.
The empty, black hole surprised Xenovia, and that was enough for Issei.
His left arm caught Xenovia's arm, and he pulled her towards him, spinning on his heel, blocking Kiba's sword with Xenovia's.
A single swing of Issei's fist was all it took, as Kiba crashed against the doors, and went further, taking the doors with him.
In that second, Issei spun around, his elbow cracking against Xenovia's face.
She stumbled back, as Issei grabbed the sword out of her hands and jumped upwards, his legs wrapping around her arm and shoulder. As they went down to the ground, Issei spun around, dislocating and shattering her shoulder and arm, in a single, swift motion, ending up with Xenovia face down on the floor, with Issei triumphantly standing on her shoulder with one leg.
He grabbed her hair and slammed her head against the hardwood floor.
He inhaled deeply, as if in pain, and turned towards Rias, a magical seal shining in her hand. This meant that Sirzechs was coming.
Lightning sparked from Akeno's hands, illuminating the room, but Issei was gone from the spot where he had been earlier.
A single glance at Gasper scared him. He was unable to do anything, not even move.
Paper's scattered, Rias' desk went flying across the room, as Issei had seemingly teleported towards her, enveloped in a purple glow. His arm grabbed into her throat, banging her against the wall.
In a second, he had flipped her around, and turned his back against the wall, using Rias as a shield, holding her in a choke-hold.
Sirzechs appeared in the room. His eyes widened, and then turned crimson. Like a roaring fire, he was looking at Issei.
Honestly, he was afraid.
But, his body was already shaking.
''RELEASE HER NOW AND I MIGHT GRANT YOU A SWIFT DEATH!'' – He shouted, raising his arm.
He stepped forwards, but only a single step.
CRACK
Rias screamed in pain. A few of her ribs broke, as Issei had punched her in the side. He showed his teeth, smirking. –''Don't fucking play with me Sirzechs, do you think I won't kill her?''
''You wouldn't dare...''
Issei punched her in the side again, this time she screamed louder. –''You know Sirzechs, a broken rib can puncture the spleen, lungs and even the heart. Her insides seem awfully squishy...
...I wouldn't move if I was you.''
Issei raised his arm, ripping the Wolf's tooth off his neck and letting it hit the ground.
Now, he only needed to wait.
Suddenly, his ears began to buzz and he felt the warm liquid trickle down his neck. He touched it, looking at his fingers.
Blood.
Of course, the poison was still in him, and he had used Ophis power to move as fast as he had.
A few seconds passed in extreme tension, as Issei gulped. He could feel the irony taste of blood climbing up his throat...and the pain. The throbbing pain was turning into a stabbing pain.
''Who was it, that told you?'' – Issei asked, smirking. –''I can't see you figuring this out yourself.''
He had insulted Satan himself, whilst holding his little sister hostage.
The height of arrogance, honestly.
''Georg. He stumbled in, bleeding all over the place, spouting things about you. True things, as it turns out.''
''How the hell did he survive?'' – Issei asked, his eye narrowing.
''He didn't. He died a few seconds later, splayed out in blood like an animal.'' – Sirzechs answered, but the usual tone of his voice was gone, anger was in its stead. –''I assume it was your doing. He did say he injected you with poison. Is that why your eye is gone?''
Issei nodded. –''Samael's poison is deadly to dragons. However, I can't be killed.''
''Height of hubris, Hyoudou.'' – Sirzechs chuckled, disgusted. –''Especially when you say those words in your state.''
Issei narrowed his eye further, the gaping hole remaining wide open, since his eyelid had rotted off as well.
Rias widened her eyes, feeling Issei's grasp weaken.
Issei brought his free hand to his mouth, but blood splattered from his throat as he coughed, going between his fingers.
He blacked out for a second or two, enough for Rias to elbow him in the stomach. He didn't feel it, and Rias hurt her elbow more, but was able to escape his grasp.
The world came back to Issei a second later, as he kicked off to the side, crossing his arms infront of himself.
The wall behind him disappeared from existence, as Sirzechs had fired a magic shot at him, and his whole body shone with a purple aura.
The wall infront of him shattered like glass, as Issei ran right through it, flying through the air, and landing in the snow, rolling over and trying to get to his feet.
The more of Ophis power he used, the more it hurt.
It hurt so much.
He glanced upwards, a crimson magical barrier had surrounded the school.
''Ddraig, Balance Break!'' – Issei shouted, running forwards. If it was him in a balance breaker, then maybe, just maybe, he could shatter the barrier. However, there was no response.
''Goddammit, Ddraig, answer me!''
The legendary dragon didn't, and Sirzechs was right behind him.
Maria stood infront of the school gates. An extremely strong barrier had surrounded the school.
Fleimel widened her eyes. Gilgamesh simply sighed. Kuroka looked scared.
''This wasn't here before.'' – Fleimel spoke. –''Should I try to force it with fire?''
''No, you shouldn't. This is a barrier made by Sirzechs himself. It is extremely strong and you can't break it. Not you, not Gil, not Kuroka, not even Issei-chan. However, those with Gremory blood can walk in and out without problems.'' – Maria walked forwards, the sound of heels was muffled by the snow.
She raised her hands, keeping them together. She looked back and smiled. She widened her hands in opposite directions, and a hole appeared in the barrier.
She didn't tear it.
The barrier allowed her to pass.
She raised her left arm in a fist, and cutely touched her head with it, showing her tongue. –''I wonder why?~''
Fleimel saw Issei in the distance and ran towards him, so did Gilgamesh, but Maria teleported next to Issei.
She looked at Sirzechs and smirked.
Sirzechs looked at her and then at Issei. And then at the long-haired girl with cat-ears, who stood infront of Issei, whilst he coughed up more blood.
To his left, a girl with short, black hair stared him down, her fists straining. To his right, a man dressed in black, similarly to Issei, but much more stylish. The blond's red eyes didn't blink once, as he simply stared at him.
And then the girl with her almond-shaped eyes, cute smirk and equally cute dress. She raised her hand showed a ''peace'' sign with one. –''Do you understand now, dummy~? It was a setup from the beginning.''
''Maria.'' – Sirzechs simply stated. –''Now it makes sense. Why I couldn't find you...you were under my nose the whole time. With Issei?''
''Of course.'' – She spun around on her heels. –''Why would you think Issei would hate me? I only played with him a bit and gave him a fun and interesting life.''
''...Goddammit...'' – Sirzechs sighed, raising his hand, but a small voice disturbed them all.
''...Wh-what is going on here?''
Issei raised his head. Of course, it was Koneko. Her hair was ruffled up, her clothes seemed oddly thrown together.
Her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open.
She was looking at Issei and her Sister. But without her, there were three more people. Issei had spoken enough about Maria that she knew at first sight.
Maria locked eyes with her and smiled cutely. –''Ahhh, you are Kuroka's little sister! Ain't you cute!''
She squirmed, acting completely out of place...just like always.
Issei walked towards her, and so did she. Her gait faultered, as she slowly talked.
''No...no...you told me you quiet this whole Mercenary ordeal...you told me you hate Maria...that you are...''
''I told you Koneko. I am a monster.''
Issei shrugged, but Koneko's eyes widened even more and she let out a gasp when she noticed Issei's eye,
''Wha-''
''It's fine.'' – He responded, with a gentle smile and raised his arm towards her. –''If you want to – you can join me – the Suicide Squad...the Zero Army.''
Koneko was at a loss of words. Rias Gremory had saved her from certain death, that her big sister would have brought her.
But now, her sister had come back. Teached her how to control her powers even. And Issei...her teacher...
Had lied. About everything.
The choice was obvious.
''I WONT LET YOU, ISSEI HYOUDOU.''
Before Koneko could answer, Kiba's voice echoed from the Old School building. He jumped down from the shattered wall. His nose had a small strip of blood coming from it, and his left eye was beginning to swell shut.
He raised the golden sword in his hand. –''YOU WON'T TAKE AWAY MY ONLY FAMILY...THIS IS THE LAST THING I HAVE IN THE WORLD...''
He turned to face Sirzechs, who seemed...surprised.
''I promised you, right?'' – Kiba smiled. –''That I'll become stronger and defeat Issei Hyoudou, if he ever betrays your sister.''
He turned towards Issei. Kiba kicked off, dismissing the scream from the old school building.
''DON'T, KIBA!'' – Rias had screamed.
Sirzechs raised his arm, shooting a ball of his demonic destruction magic. It would obliterate Issei.
''huh?''
Only that sound was able to escape his mouth, as Maria jumped forwards, extended her hand and hummed cutely. –''Bang~!''
A red ball of magic energy met with Sirzechs' own...and on impact...they collapsed on each other and nothing happened.
Kiba closed the distance between him and Issei in a matter of a second. Issei pushed Koneko back and stepped forwards, his whole body giving off a purple glow.
Kiba was sure he had gotten Issei.
But Issei's arm raised in a speed that his mind couldn't register.
Issei's open palm drove right into the middle of his chest, digging deep into his skin, bending and malforming his ribcage.
The sword flew into a random direction, stabbing into the ground.
Ki shot out of Kiba's back, from the power of Issei's attack and he simply dropped to his knees.
He was done. Over. Defeat. Unable to defeat Issei Hyoudou.
He fell over, face first into the snow. Only then he realized how nice the snow felt on his swelling face...wait...
Was snow always red?
''KIBA!'' – Koneko screamed, punching at Issei, but suddenly she lost the feeling in her legs and fell over.
Only then did she realize that Kuroka had struck her in the back of her neck using Ki...and she blacked out...only seeing the oddly...sad, she wondered, face of her sister.
Issei almost fell over, but was caught by Kuroka.
Maria skipped back over to Issei. –''That's that.'' – She spoke, looking down at Kiba.
She raised her hand, about to teleport away, but a voice stopped her.
''How did you block my attack?'' – Sirzechs implored, not understanding at all, still bewildered.
''In magic, there is this theory, that if two completely the same, the same type, origin and power attacks meet each other, then they lock each other out and nothing happens. The attack is blocked completely...'' – Maria smirked, as she signaled to Kuroka, and they began to sink into the ground. – ''I know, I know...It's impossible, from me, right? Wrong...
...little brother.''
Her green eyes began to glow red, and they disappeared completely, as Sirzechs was left to stand in the evening snow.
DON
DON
DONNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
What a thing to reveal in a cliff-hanger, isn't it?~
Thank you for reading, my dear readers. As I said, thinks are happening. Ophis' power will be explained soon, don't worry.
Also, a long chapter, about 9k words.
TheLaughingStalk - Thanks for the review. I really enjoy your reviews, you know. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, since this is no way in hell a ''nice'' chapter!~
1337Pwny - Eh, I was drunk and dumb, it felt like a cool thing to do~
Please leave a review with your thoughts, opinions, emotions, questions, anything! I really like reviews, you know! (Haven't been getting a lot of those recently ｡ﾟ(*´□`)ﾟ｡ )