Dance madly with all your strength,

tearing the ropes at last you can obtain freedom.

He glanced at the reflection. Sunken cheeks, a narrow slit for an eye. Condescending, cold, inhumane, untrusting, snake like eye. His eyebrows had become scarcer, his complexion cracked, the numerous scars weeping and inflamed. The skin across his chest, the burned sides were flaky, and pealing, like a snake. His muscle was solid and rigid, any unnecessary fat lost.

If he had to guess, probably 10kg off his usual weight. It was slowly, but surely coming off, not to mention his missing arm. If it was normal fighting, it would be a giant disadvantage, but not in his situation.

He looked at his stump of an arm, the blistering skin scolding red, still burning, still in pain. The metallic, unfeeling replacement laid in front of him, on the obsidian carved sink. After a while of staring, horns were starting faze in and out of frame. He narrowed his eye, moving his chin lower, glaring at the reflection.

There, now that looked like the villain. A monster. Someone who killed, destroyed, shattered. Someone who trampled the weak.

After a minute of staring, he sighed, putting his arm back in. After that, he put on his turtleneck, black shirt and swooped back his white hair. Without a doubt, he did look like a villain, if there was one in this world.

He noticed a presence behind him, even though his senses were very dull. His skills had been dissolving for a while now. He leaned to the side, looking over his shoulder. It was Gilgamesh, leaning against the doorway.

''Boss, it's time.''

He nodded, looking back at the mirror. -''Are they ready?''

''They certainly are.''

He turned around, cracking his wrist, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his left hand, his vision blurring.

''Will you speak, before we go?'' - Gilgamesh asked, looking down at Issei's eye.

He nodded, walking past him, and into the hallway. He could feel the anticipation in his bones. Obviously, the soldiers were ready, waiting outside. Waiting for him to speak, waiting for him to move. So he did, exiting the house, setting foot of his black boots on the marble outside. His footstep echoed, like the hammer of a judge.

And it was judgment time.

The verdict?

Death.

All of the soldiers looked at him, gathered around in the empty space. Some held guns, some held swords, spears. Some held nothing. However, everyone was dressed in black. Everyone had slim body armor around their chest. Everyone had some red on them. Everyone's eyes were narrow, glaring, angry. Ready.

They were ready for revenge. They were ready to fight back.

''A lot has happened to get this far. This...is a turning point. A point, that some...no, most will not be coming back from. Will you still, raise your weapons, to fight with...no, for me?''

''SIR YES SIR!''

The shout echoed.

Issei touched his face, smirking. -''Good. Kill. Destroy. Ravage. Fight your heart out.''

He waited for a second, before speaking, as the corners of his mouth pulled upwards, even more.

''Die for me.''

He went down the small stairs, meeting Vali, who was standing with crossed arms, throwing a questioning glance at him.

''Any questions before we go?''

''Remember that we have to have that rematch after this.'' - Vali smirked. -''I need to be the one who kills you, so don't go dying on me.''

Issei let out a small chuckle. -''We'll see to that.''

''You look sickly.''

''Don't worry, I've never been stronger than now.'' - He answered, turning to face Kuroka and Maria, who had arrived as he was talking.

''Here.'' - Kuroka raised her hand, and there was something red in it. -''You don't have anything with red, so I thought it would suit you.''

Issei took it with his real hand, realizing that it was a glove.

''Thanks.'' - He put it on his metallic arm, hiding it under the sleeve of his turtleneck.

''Hard to notice your real arm is gone.'' - She said, with a sad smile.

Issei wrapped his real hand around her, standing close. She was really warm. He lingered, not saying anything.

Maria made a coughing sound, raising her arm.

Issei felt the familiar pulling sensation, and put a kiss on Kuroka's forehead, closing his eyes. The familiar feeling of vertigo hit, right as he felt wind rustle his clothes and hair. He released Kuroka, opening his eyes. They were falling from air, once again. Kuroka looked at him, and he looked at Kuroka.

The fall ended, as they landed. Kuroka landed softly, while Issei's landing threw a spider web pattern under him. Something was dropped to the ground in front of him, a little bit to the front.

It was a kid, who had dropped a toy of some kind. Fear clouded his eyes, as the rest of Zero Army soldiers fell to the ground, all landing without problems. Before he could scream, or run away, he was gunned down. Issei remained standing, his arms hanging at his sides.

His red eyes, his sharp ears...the kid was a vampire, no doubt about it. Maria smiled, standing next to him. Her dark clothes fluttered, the white fur of her collar lining hiding her smirk. Issei could tell by her eyes though.

''What's the hold up, Issei-chan?'' - She asked, her voice sugar sweet.

''I can't sense where they are.'' - He answered, closing his eyes. The usual sense of direction, sense of killing intent...wasn't there. Only a dull throb remained, in its stead, reminding of what it used to be, but nothing now.

''Well, that's unfortunate.'' - She said, faking sincerity. -''I can sense the enemy. Kuroka too. Just follow us, then.''

Issei glanced at her, before turning around, facing his soldiers.

''Go wild!'' - He shouted, his voice gruff, raising his foot, and smacking it down. His soldiers scattered into every direction, bloodlust lingering in the air. -''Go die for me.''

Issei , Kuroka, Gilgamesh, Fleimel, Maria and Vali squad remained in the middle of the street. Issei faced Maria, as she hummed for a little bit.

''Ah...right. I thought so.'' - She said, her eyes going narrow.

''It's that old man, Issei.'' - Kuroka said, looking at him. -''He is moving further away, as we speak.''

Issei's eye went narrow. He cracked his knuckle just by straining it into a fist, and inhaled. -''Let's go. We'll take him down.''

''...Wait.'' - Kuroka spoke, before they could set off. -''I feel...something familiar. Shalba.''

Maria closed her eyes, opening them after a few seconds. -''...Yeah. You're right! I thought you killed him Issei-chan!''

She threw him a glance, staring straight at him, trying to make him uncomfortable.

''I guess he was tougher than I expected.'' - he shrugged. -''Not like it matters. Let's go.''

And they did, setting off towards the inner part of the vampire city. Maria floated, and so did Kuroka, while Issei and Gilgamesh ran along, kicking off the ground, leaping over obstacles in the way. Vampires were getting killed in the way, and they killed a few as well. No one had a chance against him. Issei landed, sliding a bit, glancing at Kuroka and Maria, who had stopped.

They were at a crossroad. They had stopped by a bridge, glancing into the distance. His glance narrowed, as he tried to focus his vision into the distance. After a few seconds of blurriness, the gigantic castle came into focus. He sighed, looking at the trio standing next to him. -''Shall we go?''

''You still don't feel it?'' - Maria asked, disappointed. Her sugar-sweet voice was nowhere to be found.

Without his mind grasping the situation, his body simply moved to the side, dodging a hit to his temple, his left arm punching the attacker in the gut. He didn't collapse, instead he remained hunched over next to Issei, staring up through his dark hair.

Once Issei's single eye met his two crazed ones, Issei brought his fist down on his skull throwing him into the ground. His leg raised high, he shattered though his head.

''This one isn't a vampire.'' - Issei stated, looking back at Maria, who wasn't really surprised, nor acknowledged what Issei had done.

Gilgamesh jumped forwards, slicing down another person who had tried to attack Issei, while Kuroka's and Fleimel's combined magic destroyed a few others. Khaos Brigade, obviously.

''Man, these guys are weak, has Khaos Brigade finally given up?'' - Vali spoke, floating mid-air.

Issei shrugged, beginning to move over the bridge.

''Wait-!''

He heard, from Kuroka, before the bridge was shattered, as he barely jumped into the air. Rubble, smoke, and pieces of flesh scattered into every direction, as Issei understood the threat through the smoke. The silhouette was way too large for a human.

[Grendel. He was dead.]

Ddraig, the dragon inside his mind, spoke. And at the same time, Grendel, the dragon who had just shattered the whole bridge, roared.

[VANISHING DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]

[WELSH DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]

The roar of their sacred gears echoed, as Issei punched the dragon in the face, but remained there, floating, because the punch had done nothing.

''Huh? This is all the mighty ''DDraig'' can do?''

He swooped his claw towards Issei, who used his dragon wings to go high into the air, as Vali attacked the dragon with magic attacks.

Mid-air, he began to fall down. His mind, removed from the current situation, called on the stolen weapon. The God-killing spear. The actual spear, that had killed the God.

The atmosphere changed in a second, as Issei pulled the spear out of nothing. The previously beautiful, sharp, brilliant even, spear was now dark and crude. Like a caveman's spear, carved from an ivory bone. The spear was just exactly that. A long, dark handle and a sharp point at the end. A tool to kill. Nothing more, nothing extra, nothing pretty.

Issei's boosters kicked in, as he rushed past Grendel, cutting into his arm, and he landed, sliding along the ground.

''So Rizevim was correct then. You actually stole Cao's sacred gear?'' - They glanced upwards, noticing the new person, standing on top of Grendel's shoulder. His silver hair fluttered in the wind, his ornamented cloak not having even a single speck of dust on it.

''Euclid, I was wondering when you'd show up.'' - Maria spoke, smiling. -''Isn't it boring to be the right hand to that old man?''

''What about you? What are you even doing?'' - Euclid asked. -''Who are you, even? No one sane knows. So who are you, Maria?''

''A monster of those days.'' - She smiled, raising her hand, motioning Issei to attack.

Grendel didn't act like he was hurt, as Issei's armor's single eye shone intently, before a white-gauntleted arm landed on his shoulder. -''I'll take care of this, Hyoudou.''

He pushed Issei back, gently, before stepping forwards, together with his ragtag team of helpers.

With a flick of his wrist, bunch of magical attacks went towards Grendel and Euclid, with a shatter of sound, like a lighting bolt. In that time, Vali spoke under his breath.

[EMPIREO JUGGERNAUT OVERDRIVE!]

His armor turned silver, instead of white, and he shot off, in a speed uncatchable by the eye, dragging Euclid along with himself, while his crew began to attack Grendel.

Issei looked at Maria, the spear disappearing from his hand, before jumping over the space where the bridge had previously been, as he dashed towards the castle. Of course, there were plenty of guards - vampires and Khaos Brigade, but they didn't matter.

The weak didn't matter, after all.

Before entering the giant castle, Issei looked back. The city was set ablaze, burning intently, enveloping the skyline in an eerie orange glow. With a kick, the giant door of the prestige, marble castle fell. He alone, was the only one necessary to conquer the castle.

A few guards jumped at him, but they were not a threat, as the spear that appeared in his hand cut down a few of them down with a single swipe. A vampire, who was a bit stronger than most of them was able to dodge, swiping his sword upwards, but Issei stepped on it, with his armored leg, shattering the blade, pushing the butt of his spear through the man's chest, flipping backwards, and cutting off the last attackers head, who had tried to sneak up. The rest stood back, firing magic at him that had literally no effect on his armor.

Maria, Kuroka, Gilgamesh and Fleimel to entered the castle, destroying the rest of the guards. The obsidian floor allowed their footsteps to echo loudly, although the sound was subdued from the outside's bustling. They stood in the middle of the first floor, facing a giant staircase. The throne room, obviously, wasn't here. This was a half-assed attempt to protect a place that wasn't important.

Kuroka closed her eyes, concentrating, as they stood in the midst of the dead bodies. Paintings hang off the walls, men with red eyes, pointy ears. Women, beautiful and pure. Of course, Issei looked at the beautiful, authentic design of the castle. Or rather, would ''palace'' be a better name, to call this place as?

''They are below.'' - Kuroka stated. -''They tried to hide it...but it is pointless.''

Issei raised his leg, and without waiting or saying anything, shattered the obsidian floor, falling further than he thought they would. He dusted off his turtleneck, and glanced forwards. A long, wide hallway remained, decorated with a red carpet that extended far into it. Issei realized that it was curling to the side, and lowering downwards, into the earth. Basically, a giant, round stairway.

''Hey...''

He heard Gilgamesh's voice. It was pretty hoarse, unlike his usual, cocky one.

There was a cross behind them. It stood in the back of the room, and there was a person hanged on it, upside down. Issei moved closer, looking at it.

The person who was hanged from it, upside down, had white hair. He was wearing simple, black pants and boots, similar to the ones that Issei wore. His right leg was straight, while his left leg was bent, the foot touching the man's other leg's knee, making an upside-down 4. Both of them were nailed into the cross.

His chest was bare, uncovering his scarred stomach, and the Zero Army tattoo. His neck was slashed, his legs tied behind his back with red rope. His left eye, through his skull, had been nailed to the cross with a large spike. The other one was glassy, reflectionless, unseeing. And on his head, there was a crown. Dark, made out of barb wire, but still, a crown. His expression had remained cold and stoic through the process of him dying.

Blood had pooled under him, coming from his neck, and dyeing half his hair red. Before the blood, only a number was carved into the ground.

XII

''Looks like they were expecting us, after all.'' -Maria spoke, chuckling. -''Is that suppose to be you?''

Issei glanced at her cute face for a second, before looking closer at his soldier. The man, that had previously served him, was being eaten by maggots. Familiar maggots.

''Shalba did this.'' - Issei stated, turning around.

Kuroka raised her arm, pulling the nails out with magic, setting the soldier down by the cross. She lingered for a small while, before closing that, what had remained of his eyes. As she raised up, she grabbed the dog tags off him.

Their footsteps, seemingly heavier and louder than before, echoed, as they stepped deeper into the underground facility. Many doors, that led to a bunch of branching paths. Issei trusted Kuroka, when she said that no one was behind the doors. They were empty. Well, at least no one alive was close to them.

The three women had taken lead, and when they stopped in their tracks, Issei had to, too.

''You smell that?'' - Fleimel asked.

Issei, as a matter of fact, didn't.

''Like rotten bodies.'' - Gilgamesh spoke. -''More of our soldiers?''

''There.'' - Kuroka pointed to a double-door hallway. Issei stepped forwards, lingering before the doors.

''Can you tell me exactly where he is?''

''...5 meters to your right, straight ahead.'' - Kuroka said, after closing her eyes.

Issei stepped to the side, cracking his neck, before simply dashing through the walls, leaving only rubble and dust in his path, until he reached Shalba.

His gauntleted fist crashed into his abdomen, expelling Ki the other side. Shalba didn't collapse, however, as he threw his fist back at Issei. He dodged, but he felt something stick to his armor's helmet.

Of course, it was those pesky bugs of his. He unleashed Ki from his body, but the bugs didn't scatter...they simply tore through his armor, beginning to eat at his flesh. Suddenly, Kuroka's palm swiped across his face, removing the bugs.

He had jumped back, now standing a few meters from Shalba. He twisted his back, looking at Issei, who was indifferent.

''You smell like Ophis, Shalba.'' - Kuroka commented.

''Oh, you.'' - He responded, realizing who Kuroka was. -''So you still remain by his side.''

''Sorry, for not finishing you before, and for making you suffer.'' - Issei spoke.

He reminded Issei of himself.

''Hehe.'' - He laughed, seemingly to himself. -''I don't mind. My bugs didn't die, did they? Because they can adapt to overcome. People can. I can, too.''

''So you got revenge on my soldiers, not me?'' - Issei asked him, looking to the side, as if he was bored.

''I killed 17 of your men. 17. How does that feel? Most of them were the ones undercover, but it wasn't hard to tell, not for my bugs.''

Issei turned his head towards Fleimel, whose arm was straining, pulled into a fist.

''Fleimel, you can kill him.'' - he answered, indifferent.

''Huh? Aren't you mad, Hyoudou? Don't you want to kill me? To make me pay?''

He remained indifferent.

''With pleasure, sir.''

She stepped forwards, while Issei dodged sideways, as a bunch of bugs tried to reach Issei, but he spat fire, destroying them.

Fleimel's arm wrapped around Shalba's wrist. He tried to move it, but couldn't.

''You aren't the one I want, girl!'' - He shouted, trying to tear off his grip, before throwing a punch with his other arm, but was unsuccessful, as Fleimel blocked with her other arm's elbow.

''Do it, already.'' - Issei commanded.

The place where Fleimel was holding began to burn, radiating away from his arm, towards his whole body. After a few seconds, his whole body was on fire. Engulfed, He shrieked, his voice disfigured, loud and eerie. He didn't stop screaming, the whole time he burned. His bugs tried to get away, but were unsuccessful, as they too burned, flying around like fireflies, before perishing to ash, not even hitting the ground.

They stood there, looking at Shalba on fire, for more than a minute. His before, standing statue had now become a crumbled man, on his knees, with Fleimel holding his arm up in the air. He had burned out, only a black, smoldered skeleton remaining. His organs had turned to coal, his blood evaporated, his clothes gone. She released his arm, allowing it to hit the ground, where it dispersed into ash.

As she stepped forwards, she stepped on Shalba's skull, and it too, became nothing more than ash.

Issei knew, how Shalba had felt. Issei was the villain, in his story. Like Issei had hunted down the men who worked for Levente, the same way Shalba had done to his men. The same anger that Issei felt against those who tortured him, Shalba had experienced it too. The same violence, that Issei had done to those who hurt him, was given further to Issei's soldiers, continuing the never ending act of violence.

The same strength that Issei tried to find, Shalba had tried to find. One succeeded, the other - didn't. Life wasn't fair, and god...

''God loves violence.''

Issei stated, turning around. Gilgamesh, Kuroka and Maria were simply waiting, as if they had just done some insignificant.

They moved further, going down the giant spiral, deeper and deeper into earth. The further they went, the less they heard of the outside world's violence, until finally, they didn't hear it at all, anymore.

In the end, the giant stairway came to a stop. This time, it was a giant cave. Modern, with paintings, marble, beautiful carpets and statues. In the distance, there was a giant one, with god.

At least, that what Issei had to think. They began to walk, in a normal, human speed. Maria and Kuroka remained at his side, while Fleimel went a bit to the left, as Gilgamesh went a bit to the right. Gilgamesh jumped a bit, feeling the ground under him.

''This is pretty much it, boss.''

Issei stared at the god's statue in the distance, looking to the sides, and then, at the ground. The red carpet extended towards the statue at the end of the room. It was on a platform, a bit off from the ground.

A few other stone statues stood on both sides of the carpet. Furthest away from the god's statue, were women and men, some peasants, some aristocrats, their arms and heads bent in exaggerated ways, while the rest were knights kneeling, their heads lowered, not worthy of being in god's presence.

God himself, was standing with both of his hands opened, wide towards them all. Both of his palms held a hole, so after his resurrection. His coat, white, flowing behind his back. His hair, perfectly caught in the moment. His eyes, they weren't as welcoming as his gesture made him seem. Slightly narrow, eyebrows upturned.

An arrogant stare of God, seeing only people unworthy in front of himself.

Issei's arm went back, his left leg sliding forwards, as the spear shot out of his hand like a javelin, completely shattering god's neck, sticking in the wall behind it. The head of God rolled loudly, along the quiet room, stopping with a clink by one of the knight's legs. The spear disappeared, returning to the space in Issei's mind.

''Stop playing games, you old piece of shit!''

He stated, his angered voice echoing throughout the room. His angered gaze lingered, before that old man appeared out of nowhere, his arms behind his back, his draping coat reaching the ground. His monocle reflecting light, so his left eye met Issei's right one.

''Welcome, Hyoudou Issei.'' - he said, with a calm voice. -''I was expecting you, I really was. You didn't die, and that's quite an accomplishment in of itself.''

Issei was about to attack, but Rizevim raised his hand.

''Isn't it ignorant to attack, before speaking? Think before you act, child.''

After he said that, Issei noticed the little girl, hiding behind him. Obsidian hair, albeit stylized a bit differently, upturned eyebrows, unemotional eyes, and of course - a gothic loli dress.

''This...is Ophis' power. She could blast you away with a wave of her hand...and she will.''

Issei shrugged. -''Is there anything else? Or can I kill you already, and find the Grail?''

''The grail? You've already found it.'' - Rizevim spoke, raising his hand, summoning a golden chalice in his arm. He shook it around, before making it disappear. -''I must say, though, it is every bit as powerful as the rumors told. You saw the dragon, there outside, right? Well, I revived him.

Issei heard growling from Ddraig, inside his mind. Well, that explains it, then...and it also proves how dangerous it is.

''We both want to same thing, right, Hyoudou? To awaken the 666, to bring terror to the world?''

''That's right, Riz'.'' - Maria answered, taking place in front of Issei, who remained standing his right side turned towards Rizevim. -''However, I will be the one to do that. It will be my doing, not yours, not Khaos Brigade's, no one elses but mine. You must understand, right?''

''It's all about reputation, then? Fame? You want to go down in history as the villain, not a villain? Hahaha!'' - He laughed, smiling. -''You're quite cute, you know that?''

''I'm too old for you, brat.'' - She responded, smirking back at him. -''Sorry, but we don't play well with other's. After the end of the world, a new world will be born...a world where the strong will rule.''

She walked to the side, attracting the Ophis clone's attention. Her eyes went wide, as she threw a magic attack that would be able to level the whole place towards Maria. Rizevim's gaze, turned towards Ophis' clone, surprised.

''Lilith!?'' - He shouted, before Issei's fist met Rizevim's head, throwing him into the wall, and Issei followed up, his kick going for his head again, about to smash it in...

But it was caught, and Issei's armor perished. His leg turned backwards, in a way it shouldn't bend, he blocked a punch with Ki-infused punch of his own back, and he was released, because Gilgamesh's sword swung down at Rizevim's arm.

Issei jumped back, getting caught by Kuroka, who instantly healed his leg. They both landed, a bit back, and Gilgamesh jumped away, going towards Maria.

''Heh, surprised kid?'' - Rizevim spoke. -''I have a special skill too. I can disable your sacred gear...and the other one, too. The one that isn't really your's.''

He was set on fire by Fleimel, who had sneaked up behind him. A giant fireball, making Issei and Kuroka recoil, but it wasn't enough. With a swing of his arm, the fire dissipated, and he was unharmed.

Issei shrugged, pulling on the neck of his black shirt, looking down. -''I guess I'm on my strength alone, again.''

He looked at Kuroka and Fleimel, who glanced back, not saying a word.

It wasn't a badly known fact, that Issei Hyoudou fought alone. He was stronger like that, always had been. He had become who he was, by his fists, and his fists alone. People came and went, helping here and there, but in the end - he was on his own.

Rizevim disappeared, but Issei knew exactly where has going for, raising his right arm before his left arm, catching a fist, there, where he couldn't see it - in his blindspot. His arm flexed, hearing the bones crack, spinning his body forwards, elbowing Rizevim in the forehead, hearing another loud crack. His abdomen flexed from his instinct, as Rizevim's fist connected, forcing Issei to back off. With his devil's power, his own muscle, Ki to reinforce his body, and his dull nerves, it still hurt.

His face scrunched up in pain, his right leg going high, but it was dodged, as Issei himself jumped upwards, dodging a swipe from Rizevim. He was way better at fighting than he had expected. Why?

Was he one of those ''perfect at everything'' guys?

A burst of magic went for his side, as he slapped it away with a Ki infused arm. His left, metallic arm went for Rizevim's face, but it didn't connect, as he grabbed it, smacking Issei in the face, breaking his nose. Isse exhaled, his mouth opening. His teeth revealed, sharp and bloody, as Issei headbutted Rizevim, making him recoil.

Issei jumped back, taking a deep breath as he did that.

He had to drop everything out of his mind. There was no need to think, for someone like him. Stronger, fiercer, angrier, faster. His eye narrowed, his muscle contracting, he had to get his head into the fighting.

Slowly, he began. A kick went over his head, as he exchanged places with Rizevim. His previous lighting quick attacks, were now slow, in Issei's mind. He predicted Rizevim's punch, moving in forwards, his right arm bent at the elbow, Rizevim's punch going just left of Issei's body, as he unleashed his elbow against the side of Rizevim's head.

He was staggered, as Issei used the chance to punch him in the stomach a few times, uppercutting him as he tried to escape. Rizevim didn't began to fall over, but caught Issei's arm.

He pulled back, easily with his strenght, and enveloped in a purple glow, raised his left leg to his chest, before straight-kicking him into the head, launching him over the hall, as he crashed through a bunch of statues.

He pulled himself up, noticing that he was bleeding from his mouth. Issei remained standing, touching his face with the gloved arm, and looking at it. He was bleeding from nose, but his face was numb. His whole body, too.

He flexed his back, feeling power surge through his veins. He was borrowing from Ophis' snakes again, even more than ever now. He could push himself to his heart's content. Disappearing in a flash, he and Rizevim were once again fighting hand-to-hand, one expert against each other, sweat forming on Issei's brow, but he wasn't backing down. With every punch they exchanged, with every kick he narrowly dodged, with every strike that connected to Rizevim's surprisingly sturdy body, he was coming back to life, as if being dragged out of water, closer and closer to surfacing.

With every punch, he became faster, stronger and more efficient. Their movement, like a beautiful dance, and the true victor was he, who remained alive after the fight.

Lilith's attacks were being suppressed by Maria, while Kuroka, Fleimel and Gilgamesh attacked, but nothing was working. Lilith felt indestructible. They moved around, exchanging magic blows that was cracking the roof, the floor, the walls...this place had to be reinforced with magic.

Issei, like a dog with his muzzle finally removed, began to overtake Rizevim. His movement wasn't as smooth as Issei's. His reach, even though he was taller, was shorter, he wasn't as flexible - and the most important part - he wasn't as sharp. His fighting instinct, that comes from living on the battlefield, from being in a constant state of fighting - it wasn't nearly as honed as Issei's.

And so it was, that Issei stood over Rizevim. He tried to get up, but Issei stomped him in the chest, not allowing for his movement, pinning him down to the ground with his boot.

He grabbed Issei's leg, but couldn't move it.

''Ridiculous...completely ridiculous...for you to be this strong.'' - He stated, but his tone wasn't anger...just amusement. -''Don't underestimate him...is what they say.''

Issei listened, but suddenly stepped back, staggering, clutching his chest, before puking up blood, over his own boots. His face scrunched up in pain, his ears ringing...before blood began to trickle out of the left one. He had to assume that his nose would bleed too, but it was already bleeding.

''You don't look too good, kid.''

Rizevim stated, getting back up. -''Thanks for letting me recover...fighting you is pretty exciting.'' His arm was broken, his nose too, bruised and bloody, one of his eyes swollen shut...but he would have gotten up and fought back again, even stronger.

''O-?'' -however, he fell back down, half of his head missing. Torn off, like a wrong page out of a notebook. Blood, spinal fluid and brain began to pool under him, as Issei looked, passive, blank. Rizevim Livan Lucifer was no more. The leader of Khaos Brigade, the mastermind behind it all, was no more. One of the biggest current villains...had perished, by the hand of Ophis.

He turned his glance to his side, having to lower it.

Ophis stood there, resting her arms at her sides, no emotions on her face.

''Why did you kill him?'' - Issei asked, glancing at her.

''Why not? He wasn't anyone important, in the end.'' - Ophis turned around, disappearing, and appearing next to Maria.

She froze, and so did everyone else...including Lilith.

She tilted her head, looking at Ophis.

''Rizevim is no more...come with me. You...have no need to be here.'' - She stated, reaching out with her hand, gently. Small, fragile dollesque fingers, same ones that had killed Rizevim, one of the ultimate devils.

She glanced at Rizevim's lifeless body, before turning back to Ophis.

''...Do you have snacks?''

''I, do.'' - She answered, moving closer, with her arm still extended.

Lilith grasped at Ophis' hand, with her small fingers, interlocking them. They stood next to each other, holding hands, like twins. Ophis glanced at Issei.

''Keep your promise, Ddraig.''

Issei nodded, standing with a bleeding nose, his chest raising and falling.

Ophis and Lilith disappeared the same way they had appeared.

''How very anticlimactic. Not fun.'' - Maria spoke, taking off her coat, that had been torn in various places. Under it, she was wearing something rather mundane, for her. black, skinny pants, high-heeled shoes, and a black turtleneck sweater, the sleeves a bit too long, contrasting with her white skin, and in turn - with her black fingernails. The scar on her neck was hidden.

She pulled the sleeves up, as she stepped towards Rizevim's body, kneeling over him. Her arms drove over his coat, tearing a hole in the middle of it. Her sharp fingers traced over his skin, stopping right where the ribs met, just below the solar plexus, before she rammed both of her palms into his chest, drawing lukewarm, dark blood.

With a loud crack, she tore open his chest, and drove her hands even deeper, messing around in his insides, searching for the Grail. Issei stood, his ears ringing, space spinning in vertigo.

''Issei.''

He heard, snapping out of the buzzing in his ears.

''Mhm?'' - He answered, looking at Maria, who was standing right in front of him.

The time had ran past him, without realizing.

She was holding the Grail in her hand, standing with a small smirk. The small, golden chalice looked underwhelming, even in Maria's petite, but covered in blood, hands.

''That jackass...'' - her small smile turned into a rabid smirk. -''This...isn't the full Grail.''

''What?'' - Issei's voice, cold, echoed.

''Calm down.'' - She raised her finger, as if to admonish Issei for his tone. -''The rest, isn't far. I can feel it now that I have a piece of it.''

''Why did he split it?'' - Kuroka asked, trying to wipe the blood off from Issei's face, but it was dried already, so Issei gently stopped her.

''Well, that's what we are going to find out.'' - She responded, with a playful sigh.

''Hey boss.'' - Gilgamesh touched Issei on the shoulder. -''Relax a bit...you're way too strung up. Your glance scares even me.''

Issei's lone eye met Gilgamesh's red eyes, both narrow, before softening a bit.

''You know how important this is to me.'' - Issei said, shrugging off his hand..

Issei looked back at the headless statue of Jesus, at the shattered statues of peasants and knights, before he exhaled, and followed Maria, his footsteps echoing, his now messy hair throwing a shadow over his eyes.

She stood, in the middle of the street, her small figure looming over a soldier of Issei, his teeth gritted, his gaze crazed. She lingered, before smashing his head in. Azazel had left in a hurry, looking for the Tepes leader.

Koneko raised her head, twitching, as her sensitive ears heard a scream in the distance, and she left in a hurry, towards them.

She couldn't sense Issei, nor her sister...so she did that, which she could.

Sirzechs' desk was clean. Empty. Not a single sheet of paper remained on it. A fountain pen, put down parallel to the ink, clean and tidy. A few books, stacked edge to edge, had still remained.

He was sitting at his desk, staring ahead, not really seeing anything. The clock kept clicking, being the only sound in the vacuum of the sound.

Until a knock broke that silence.

Without him answering, the door opened a short second later. He locked eyes with Grayfia, who entered the room, with Souji Okita in tow. He was still the same as ever, easily relaxed, even in this kind of a situation.

''Is it time?''

Grayfia nodded. -''Zero Army attacked, completely disregarding Khaos Brigade. I'm fairly certain they were after the Grail, after all.''

''...Anything more, that should be added?''

''Issei Hyoudou has the Longinus Spear, and Vali Lucifer is there, too.'' - Grayfia added, becoming silent.

Sirzechs got up, cracking his neck. His tall frame moved over the room.

''Let's go.''

He knew he had to end that, which was started by him, after all.

Writer's notes.

They say that in a human's body, every cell is replaced in 7 to 10 years. Brain is what, like 10% of the whole body? Maybe less? Than it would be pretty conceivable to say, that my brain has changed in these two months.

Anyways, its been over 2 months. Sorry. I had to write a thesis, I read a lot of books, and I got all of the achievements that Dark Souls 2:SOFTS has. I really am sorry, for making the few people who read this, wait so long. I didn't mean to, it just happened. I'm back, and I'll be swift this time around. I bought a mechanical keyboard, so it feels good to type, too.

Yes, there are a few things that have subtly changed, but nothing really big. I will explain a lot at the end. My feelings, and whatnot.

A lot of things happen in this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

Welcome me back, or hate me, in the review section! Thanks for reading.