KingVessel: Now for all you've been waiting for. Excalibur Arc is now underway!

Chapter 19: Omen!

Just some minutes before his alarm would set off, Issei Hyoudou mumbled as he hugged the large pillow in his bed. Surprisingly, the 'pillow' hugged back, tickling his neck with constant breezes.

The moment Issei woke up, he instantly identified the scent... and squeezed his intruder's ass, prompting a small moan as she woke up as well.

"...oh, up already?" Rias Gremory mumbled as she pressed her nude body against Issei's as he started kissing her neck while moving his hand to hug her closer as she started to writhe.

"I am now." Issei gave her right breast a teasing bite before sucking on her nipple. "When did you get in here?"

"I teleported in a while earlier and just felt like sleeping together with you. Do you know how handsy you are in your sleep?" Rias teased only to moan as Issei grazed her nipple with his teeth and made her wrap her legs around his waist.

"We still have some time." Rias murmured as she started to slowly grind her crotch against the bulge she could feel, letting her smirk grow as it grew in size and heat. "How about a little romp to start the day?"

Issei's answer was to flip her over until she was beneath him and start fiddling with his pants. If there was ever a better way to deal with morning wood-

"Good morning, Ise-kun!" Asia Argento's voice came through from the other side of his door, effective killing the mood. "It's time for our usual training!"

"Oh, I completely forgot about that." Issei murmured before sending an apologetic look down at Rias. "I usually train her in the mornings."

Asia knocked on the door. "Are you still asleep?"

'It'll be bad if Asia enters and sees Rias-senpai like this!' Issei turned and shouted back at the door. "'morning, Asia. I'll be down in a little bit."

"Asia, I'm in here, too~!" Rias called out with a very teasing tone obvious in her voice. "Be a good girl and wait at least 10 minutes for us, okay?"

"Wha-?!" Issei didn't have time to say much more before his door was suddenly kicked in, nearly being ripped away from the doorframe from how hard Asia had been on it.

Looking down at the naked Rias and the obvious tent in Issei's pants, Asia let out a growl terrifyingly accurate to a real dragon's before stepping in and swiftly taking off her t-shirt. "I'm getting naked, too!"

"A-Asia?!"

"At this rate, she's going to be in the lead!" Asia quickly pushed the surprised Issei back onto his bed. "This is far more important than some training, anyways."

"Well said, Asia." Rias nodded in approval as she kissed the blonde girl's cheek, flustering the blonde girl as her confidence fled as swiftly as it arrived.

'Oh, well. It's not like I'm actually against this.' Issei thought as he watched Rias easily dominate Asia in a brief kissing session. 'I'll still have to fix that door though. Still, how was Asia strong enough to break through an enchanted door?'

"Hey guys!" Issei waved as he met up with friends later at the school. "Did you guys enjoy the tapes I sent you about the Rating Gam-?!"

Issei's words were suddenly cut off as Tomoki Sakurai landed a double kick on his face, launching him backwards. Clutching his bleeding nose, Issei practically snarled as he got up to face them. "What the fuck?! Did you wake up wrong or something?!"

"The one who woke up wrong..." Motohama Nakakuni whispered as he snuck up behind Issei to grab around his chest. "...is you!"

Matsuda Takumi nodded in approval as Motohama subjected Issei to a brutal suplex, before approaching Issei as he and the bespectacled boy exchanged high-fives. "You bastard. Gremory-senpai invited you to watch a game which had several hot chicks fighting each other, and you didn't have the decency to invite us?!"

Issei caught the punch that would have broken his nose, wincing as he was sent back a few inches while still holding Matsuda's fist. "It was a sudden thing! I literally just got invited minutes before the Rating Game happened! Sitr- I mean, Shitori-senpai wanted me there for moral support!"

""DO WE LOOK LIKE WE GIVE A SHIT FOR YOUR EXCUSES?!"" Matsuda, Motohama and Tomoki roared as one as they launched themselves at Issei, swiftly devolving into a cartoonish dust cloud of pain and violence.

"Good morning, Asia-sempai." Sohara Mitsuki greeted, serenely dragging the hesitant nun along with her as the latter fretted at the violent scene. "Don't worry about those idiots. They'll be fine."

"So, this is how it's gonna work." Issei said with him and most of the other members of his Horde surrounding him. "The Summer Island Boss is a dragonoid with a sword-"

"And here's a picture of Issei back in elementary school!"

"Ara, ara~! He's stark naked~!"

"He's so adorable."

"Ero-senpai's raw and uncut past."

A vein threatened to pop in Issei's forehead as Miki Hyoudou displayed most of Issei's very private childhood photos to Rias and her club. Matsuda and Motohama's constant and horribly hidden snickers didn't help.

"This was way back in kindergarten." Miki cheerfully supplied. "He was already chasing after girls' butts."

"Little Issei..! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...! Little Issei...!"

Issei was a tad worried about Rias at this moment.

"I understand exactly how you feel, Rias-san!"

'Asia, too?!' Issei flat out abandoned his plans and gawked at all the girls surrounding his mother.

"Asia, you understand, too? I'm so glad."

'Ok, I have to deal with this now-' "KIBA?!" Yuuto raised an eyebrow at Issei's direction and dodged his charging swipe, keeping a solid grip on Miki's other photobook. "Who gave you that photobook?!"

"Your mother did." Yuuto cheerfully replied as he easily dodged Issei's swipes while idly flipping through the pictures. "What's the matter? You're acting like I'm the one who's going to be teasing you instead of-?!"

Yuuto froze as something in a particular photo grabbed his attention, his smile instantly fading into a grim frown. "Hyoudou-kun! This photo..."

"Huh?" Surprised by the sudden change in behavior, Issei looked over Yuuto's shoulder. It was a picture of little him and another boy his age with purple eyes and orange hair tied back, "Oh, that's an old neighbor of mine. We used to play as superheroes together, but one of his parents got transferred for work, causing them to have to move abroad just before we entered kindergarten together. Rin was such a cool guy to be with-"

"What about that sword behind the both of you?" Yuuto cut Issei off as he pointed an ornate sword hung up behind them.

"Huh?" Issei hummed as he tried to jog his memory. "I think Rin's dad owned it... Maybe he was a collector or something..."

"...or something." Yuuto snapped the photobook shut and handed it back, his usual smile still absent. "This was a Holy Sword."

"Holy Sword?" Issei took the book and opened it again to survey the picture, thinking back to that maniac he'd briefly fought in the church. "Like that insane Exorcist's lightsaber?"

"You mean Freed Sellzen?" Yuuto scoffed. "That man's Light Sword being compared to a Holy Sword is like an ancient musket being compared to an Austrian Assault Shotgun."

"...Moto!" Issei turned to address his bespectacled friend. "When did you get Kiba to start spouting gun terminologies like you?!"

"Are y'all ready?! We've finally reached the finals! Red vs Zaz! Readyyyyyyyyy, Fight!"

It was a public game center, with people using both consoles and VR sets to participate in a fighting tournament which had five million yen as the prize. It was a long, grueling battle but now, the finals were here.

Zaz went for two overhead kicks which got promptly got blocked, prompting Zaz to drop to his hands and spin about, landing rapid kicks against Red's guard.

"Zaz makes the first move!"

Red dropped his guard and suddenly launched into a barrage of powerful punches that slammed against Zaz's own guard.

"W-What an incredible flurry!"

Breaking free from the onslaught, Zaz launched into a spin, landing much stronger kicks than before at Red, who broke through it and landed a punch on Zaz's shoulder, only to be counterattacked with a kick to his neck which nearly landed, but gave an opportunity to slam in an elbow that launched him far.

"It's an all out slugfest!"

Zaz launched into a straight right punch that Red diverted and followed with a left hook into Zaz's jaw. However, Zaz rolled with the hit and spun along, using the momentum to land a devastating kick to the back of Red's head.

"Wow... What a fight! We have just learnt that these two are both actually using the VR sets! Does this mean we're watching actual martial artists with movements as fluid and powerful like those?!"

Red and Zaz punched each other in the chest before Red tried to swipe at Zaz's head, only for Zaz to dodge under and knee Red's stomach, launching him back until Zaz's own head was grabbed, allowing Red to knee him in the face, causing him to recoil but allowing him to deliver a kick into Red's jaw.

"Are these two truly equal in skill?! Will this battle end in a draw?!"

As if protesting the announcer, Zaz suddenly launched into a barrage of punches far stronger than Red's which broke through his guard and left him open for a double hammer fist which finished him off.

K.O.!

"...d-down in seconds. The champion is Zaz!"

"Are you kidding me?!" Issei took off the VR set to glare at the screen showing his defeated character, only for his eye to twitch when 'Zaz' made a 'come over here' motion. "Hey. He's calling me over! Can you tell me where he is?"

"Zaz started right at the opposite side of the bracket, so..." The curvaceous employee, who had green eyes, long pink hair and a hair clip in her hair with thick black swirls circling once then pointing downward, hummed in thought before replying. "He'll probably be in G branch."

"Thanks." And Issei headed off, weaving through the halls and people until he nearly bumped into a man.

"Easy there, Red." The man spoke, instantly getting Issei's full attention. He was a tall man appearing to be in his twenties with an average build, black hair with golden bangs and black goatee. One thing that struck him was how his royal purple eyes seemed to remind him of Akeno's amethyst eyes and Raynare's electric purple eyes.

"How do you know to call me that?" Issei asked in suspicion, only for the man to point at the name tag still attached to his shirt.

"I'm Zaz." Zaz pointed to his own nametag. "Let's go grab a snack, kid."

It turned that Zaz was a pretty cool guy to hang out with. Although Issei considered his laugh a bit annoying.

In the end, he and Zaz had exchanged numbers as gamer buddies, with Issei now rushing home to escape the sudden rain.

"Huh?" Issei halted outside his house to see Yuuto standing outside the door, letting the rain soak him without care. "Kiba, what are you doing outside in this weather? Come on, let's get insid-"

"Hyoudou-kun." Yuuto suddenly spoke, his tone a lot colder than the rain pouring on them. "Did you know all about the Virtues and Vices? When either a Fallen Angel or Devil is born or created, one of those Vices become an essential aspect of our selves. What do you think we in Buchou's club represent?"

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" When Yuuto showed no signs of saying nothing more before he got an answer, Issei acquiesced. "Well, Rias-senpai is clearly Greed. Akeno's definitely Lust. Koneko-chan... I'd wager either Gluttony or Wrath. As for you, you're obviously Pride or Lust, you handsome bastard."

"Pride, huh..."

"Kiba, did something happen?" Issei laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder, only for the blond to smack it off. "The hell?!"

"Hyoudou-kun. Sorry, but you're actually wrong where it concerns me." Yuuto turned to look at Issei, conveying a burning rage that had been reignited after years of smoldering. "My Vice is actually Wrath and thanks to that Holy Sword, I finally remembered my reason for becoming a Devil."

Issei frowned in confusion. "You mean for Rias-senpai, right?"

"No. I only entered this second life for the sake of vengeance." As Yuuto clenched his fist, his Killing Intent leaked out, making Issei feel like there were swords scraping their edges all over his skin, just a twitch from running him through. "The Holy Sword {Excalibur}. As long as I draw breath, I aim for it's destruction."

And with that, Yuuto left, leaving a horribly confused Issei in the rain.

"Holy Sword, huh? That's what Yuuto said?" Rias said to Issei and Asia in his room. After entering his home, he'd been shocked to see Asia healing an extremely injured Koneko, who'd gotten it from an earlier battle with a Stray Devil Now with Koneko gone, Rias sat to explain to Issei and Asia. "Unlike a weapon which wields {Light}, a Holy Sword is directly imbued with Holy Power, making it capable to severely burn a Devil with even the tiniest of scratches and completely cremate them if a lethal blow is struck."

"That's horrifying." Asia gasped in horror.

"How common are these weapons?" Issei asked.

"They're not common in the slightest. If they were, the Great Biblical War wouldn't have ended in a stalemate." Rias shook her head. "However, the number of people who can safely wield them is just as low. That's why years ago, the Church attempted to artificially create beings capable of wielding the one of the world's greatest Holy Swords. Wielded by King Arthur himself, {Excalibur}."

"Eh?!" Asia exclaimed in awe. As an Italian former nun, there was no way she wouldn't have ever heard that name. "{Excalibur}?! The Sword of the Chosen King?!"

"Indeed." Rias nodded in confirmation. "The Holy Sword Project happened several years ago in complete secrecy. I've been told that it was a complete failure."

"And Kiba..." Issei trailed off.

"Yes. Yuuto... is the sole survivor of that experiment." Rias sadly confirmed. "And I say 'survivor' because everyone else were disposed off as a way to be rid of defective goods. When I met Yuuto and accepted him into my Peerage, he swore an Oath of Vengeance at the moment of his death. That hatred of his never quite disappeared, but it was pushed back and buried for such a long time, until..."

"I see." Issei got up and retrieved the picture that had set Yuuto off earlier. "Kiba saw this picture and said it was a Holy Sword."

"So this is what reignited his Wrath." Rias narrowed her eyes and surveyed it. "It's not as powerful as {Excalibur}, but he's right. This is a Holy Sword. {Hauteclere}, I believe."

"I used to go to church with Rin and his family a few times back then." Issei sighed. "Who knew something that powerful was so close by at the time?"

[What does that say about me, then?]

Issei chuckled at Ddraig's words. [True. You're way more powerful than that sword.]

Rias hummed before shrugging. "Well, this isn't something I can do anything more about tonight."

With that said, Issei and Asia gawked as she proceeded to pull off her nightgown in one fluid motion. "Let's call it a night."

"Why are you taking off your clothes?!" Issei asked in shock, even as his eyes greedily drank in the lovely sight of her midnight blue underwear matching with her pale skin.

"What do you mean 'why'?" Rias tilted her head as she unclipped her bra. "You of all people know that I can't sleep unless I'm naked."

"No, I mean- Why here in my room?!"

"Because I'm sleeping with you, obviously." Rias answered as she shrugged off her bra and playfully tossed it over Issei's head.

"Me too, then!" Asia pouted as she swiftly removed her pajamas as well. "I won't hand Ise-kun over to you!"

"Asia." Rias didn't have any of the welcoming demeanor she had before. "I think I've indulged you quite enough. Please let me have him tonight."

"I refuse!" Asia didn't back down. "I have the right to fawn over Ise-kun too!"

The two glared at each other so hard that sparks began flying between them before Rias turned to face Issei. "Well, let's have Ise decide then."

"Eh?" Issei blinked in surprise before smiling in perverted amusement. "Choose? I'm obviously having you both!"

Two cloaked figures wandered into the churchyard of Kuoh's church, showing surprise at the destroyed building.

"It's quite rundown." The first figure muttered, a bit of blue hair peeking out of her hood.

"I heard that this was where some Fallen Angels were defeated by the current Red Dragon Emperor..." The other figure spoke up, her high voice contrasting her companion's deep voice.

"He's awfully late." The first figure pulled back her hood, exposing chin length blue hair with a green fringe. "Are you sure we're supposed to meet him here?"

"Of course, I am!" The other pulled down her hood as well and flipped out her long chestnut hair which had been tied into twin tails. "I used to live here in this area with my parents! See?"

She showed off a picture to her companion, which was the exact same as Issei's picture.

The rain fell on Yuuto as he walked. He had no destination so he had no worry, letting the rain splatter uselessly against his simmering anger.

'Forgive me, milady. Forgive me, Koneko. Forgive me, Hyoudou-kun. But my anger won't quell itself. I can't be at peace living for my comrades until I avenge their deaths...'

An Exorcist stumbled out of the nearby alley, his bleeding wound obvious even in the night rain. "H-Help me!"

Yuuto blinked idly before approaching the Exorcist as he fell down. Once close enough, the Exorcist raised a shaky hand, hoping for help, only to be denied when Yuuto's foot crushed his head easier than a bat smashing into a watermelon. "Wretch. Did you not recognize who you were pleading help from?"

"Yahoo!"

Yuuto drew a sword instinctually from the Killing Intent he felt, growling as a familiar silver haired Stray Exorcist appeared before him. "You...!"

"Been a while, huh?" Freed Sellzen crowed, just as insane as he last was to them as he stabbed a sword into the dead Exorcist's back and leaned on it like a walking stick. "Well, well, would you look at that~ It's the scumbag Devil, codename: Prince Scumbag."

"Freed Sellzen!" Yuuto growled. "What are you doing back in Kuoh?"

"I can barely hold back my tears from this fateful reunion~!"

"What a coincidence. I can barely hold back a smile." Yuuto dismissed his sword and called out another instead. With a flash of light, {Flame Delete: Katana Form} appeared in his hand. "A fallen priest who not only possesses a habit of attacking innocents, but also got away from me after hurting my comrade. You're easily number two on the list of people I want to kill."

"Well, that's great news!" Freed cackled in delight, pulling out his sword from the corpse and waving it about as it started to glow. "Killing guys like this was just starting to get boring~!"

"That Holy aura...!" Yuuto flinched, finally noting the strange appearance of Freed's sword. It was shaped like a long Kris, the blade appearing wide with a diamond shaped gap through it, along with spikes on both edges. "Is that...?!"

"Perfect! Nice timing." Freed snapped his fingers. "I'd like to test something out to return that bloodlust of yours. Let's compare your piece-of-shit Demonic Sword against my Holy Sword... {Excalibur Rapidly}!"

'Did he just call it...?' Unbelieving of what he just heard, Yuuto stared at the sword before chuckling, then bursting out into a cold laughter. In response, Freed laughed as well, his laughter as cracked and unhinged as Yuuto's, albeit for different reasons.

The two swordsmen laughed and cried and laughed and cried until it stopped just as suddenly as it started.

The rage of one who lost everything to monsters met the lust of one who gave everything to become a monster. Like an abomination of a fusion, their bloodlust synced, increasing each other's force on their host, like two opposite powers strengthening the other. Their teeth were bared as the two snarled, their glares focused only on each other.

Demonic, chilly energy burst out of Yuuto's weapon, freezing the raindrops and puddles nearby as his peaceful memories became forgotten in the blizzard of rage.

Unholy, vibration energy surged off Freed's form as it started to blur, his laughter in tune with the reverberatory waves that resonated with and broke down everything around him.

A grieving Devil with Wrathful humane nature.

A laughing Human with Lustful demonic instincts.

Looking into the other's being, they were upset by what they found. Thus, they thought the same.

'I don't like the fact this scumbag before me is still alive.'

At a silent signal, the two swordsmen clashed, crashing ice and supersonic shockwaves rending their surroundings apart, just loud enough to mask their roars.

KingVessel: Well... for those confused about me tagging Lust onto Freed, other than the fact that he has constantly propositioned Raynare and her female comrades during his employment under them, his bloodlust for dangerous battles still counts as a type of lust. Please review!