Chapter 6

'WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!'

As Ddraig shouted within Junichiro's mind, the Boosted Gear manifested on Junichiro's left arm in all of its glory. It manifested as a bright red metallic-looking gauntlet with a large green orb on the back of the hand and two large golden spikes up near the elbow. Meanwhile, his mana continuously drained at a rapid pace while constantly being refilled by his infinite mana generator. Junichiro grinned as he addressed Ddraig, "Did I forget to mention I used The Workshop to make a device that provides me with an infinite supply of mana?"

'YES! YES, YOU DID FORGET! THIS IS MADNESS! I HAVEN'T HAD POWER LIKE THIS SINCE I WAS ALIVE!'

Junichiro couldn't stop himself from cackling in reply. Even when he did manage to stop laughing like a madman, he maintained a shit-eating grin, "Still think The Workshop is a junk sacred gear?"

A little calmer, Ddraig replied, 'I'd already changed my mind about it before agreeing to work with you, but this?! This is insanity! With so much magical power...' Ddraig started to laugh, 'You're going to unlock more of my abilities than anyone before you ever has! Albion will never stand a chance against us!'

Ddraig's laughter became as manic as Junichiro's had been. It made Junichiro think the two of them would get along rather well. While he let Ddraig revel in his newfound power, Junichiro examined the Boosted Gear on his arm. He wasn't sure if it differed very much from when Issei had it in the show or how much it did. He did notice that deep within the large green orb covering the entire back of his hand there was a pulsing light that seemed to be getting stronger. The pull on his mana core hadn't slowed down in the least and seemed to be getting faster as his mana core continued to grow from the constant use.

"Hey Ddraig, how much longer do you think you will be taking my magical power?"

'No idea, until I have as much as I did in my prime?' Junichiro could hear the shrug in Ddraig's voice, 'While the amount of magical power you have is impressive for a regular human, it's nothing compared to the stronger races out there. I can feel it constantly growing though. In order for the Boosted Gear to function it's always taken a bit of power from its host. Humans are most often born rather weak magically and even fewer unlock their magic and begin practicing with it. I've never been partnered with anyone that had huge amounts of magical power at their disposal. This is all new and I haven't a clue what it will mean.'

Junichiro opened his mouth to ask another question but before he could there was a loud popping sound as several thick cracks suddenly formed throughout the gauntlet of the Boosted Gear. It looked like it was about to shatter into pieces, "Ddraig what's happening?!"

'I don't believe it...,' more pops, snaps, and other sounds echoed out as the gauntlet continued to crack apart, 'The magical power you're giving me is breaking through the limits placed on my power by God!'

"What limits?"

Ddraig was silent as the gauntlet continued to break apart. Pieces of it even began to fall off and land on his floor, 'Kid, when that dick put me in this thing he had to limit what I could do or my power would instantly kill any human that tried to use it. Do you honestly think that I became The Red Dragon Emperor just by being able to double my power every few seconds? No. When I was alive and in my prime I could boost myself by any amount I desired! I wasn't limited to just boosting my overall abilities either. I could easily and instantly boost something arbitrary, such as my flight speed, by a thousand times if I felt like it. My ability to boost is a purely conceptual power and since it was my power as a dragon, I could use it any way I saw fit. Right now your absurd magical power is breaking down the barrier that limited my hosts to just doubling their power every ten seconds.'

Junichiro didn't know what to say to that and remained silent as Ddraig continued, 'If... no when this barrier is broken you will become the most powerful Red Dragon Emperor to exist since I was sealed. My base gauntlet form will be stronger than my balance breaker ever was!'

Suddenly Ddraig was howling with laughter as the implications of what was happening fully sunk in. Junichiro wasn't too far behind him. The two laughed like mad men until, with a final loud shattering sound, the classic Boosted Gear gauntlet shattered into hundreds of pieces. In its place was a brand-new gauntlet that looked far more streamlined. The fingers of the gauntlet were thinner, pitch black, and still ended in deadly-looking points. The large green orb on the back of his hand was replaced with a much smaller one that was surrounded by softly glowing golden lines. From the wrist to the elbow the gauntlet consisted of thin articulated metallic plates. A single thick golden spike came off of the gauntlet at the elbow that would align with the back of Junichiro's arm when held straight.

'Shit kid.'

"So... this means I can boost like you used to?"

'Yeah, kid. You could do a general boost of say times ten, then specifically boost just your speed by times ten. Your general stats would be ten times higher while your speed would be a hundred times higher. Boosting is my most basic and weakest ability. The power it grants is always temporary and dependent on your body's current state. Still, be careful. You might have broken the limiter on the Boosted Gear but your body can still only handle so much power. Boost too much and you will definitely explode. Even I would have exploded if I boosted too much, even in my prime.'

Junichiro nodded to himself, "Yeah, gotta fix that soon." He slowly smiled, "Ddraig, I just remembered something. You can take weapons into yourself and incorporate them, right?"

'I can. Haven't had much reason to do so though.'

"What about armor and other items?"

Ddraig hummed to himself for a moment before he replied, 'I've never actually incorporated armor into myself before but I don't see why I couldn't.'

"Ddraig, once you stop stealing all of my magical power, I am going to make some things for you to incorporate into yourself. I'm going to give you soooooooooo many upgrades! Though I'd like you to give me some upgrades as well."

Before Ddraig could comment there was a loud sound similar to shattering glass. Junichiro checked the gauntlet but couldn't see any changes. Ddraig laughed and informed him, 'Another barrier is broken, my ability to Penetrate anything and everything is now available. How does it feel to know you now wield two conceptual powers, kid?'

Junichiro just started cackling again. He had hoped the Boosted Gear would be a good booster for his creations and something to help boost his personal power, but this was honestly just so wrong. Issei had to work so hard to unlock even small upgrades to the Boosted Gear and here all he had to do was keep feeding it magical power from his infinite supply.

'Now tell me what you meant by upgrades, kid.'

"Right. First...," He activated his Incursio-based armor, "I made this armor to protect myself. It's decent as is, but it has the ability to evolve and grow stronger as it encounters new things. Right now it's got resistance to the holy light of angels. I plan to give it to you to incorporate so that you can take advantage of the evolution and adaptation, which should transfer to me as you're part of my soul now. I also thought of a better version that I can have on at the same time."

Ddraig hummed in thought, 'It will not improve our power by much, to begin with, but over time we will grow stronger and stronger... Acceptable. Still, even if you upgrade me multiple times in various ways, one thing will never change. You're human and that will limit you.'

Junichiro nodded in full agreement, "True. Which is why I intend to have one of the local devils reincarnate me into one. It will remove my human limitations and allow me to grow as strong as I desire. Not to mention the extended lifespan will give us time to see if we can find some of your body to make you a new one from. Having ten thousand years to look is better than the seventy or less I currently have left. I'm sure I could find ways to extend my life, but a devil body will help much more."

'There are devils around?'

"Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri. Both are sisters to two of the four currently ruling devils, the Satans. I plan to have Rias reincarnate me. Sona's personality is just not something I could put up with in the long term. There are honestly other devils I would prefer to join, I simply can't. With the power I will eventually gain and the things I can do for other people, such as give them infinite mana regeneration as I have, I will be a prime cut of meat. I could risk waiting and trying to join a peerage I would prefer over Rias, however, there is an unacceptable amount of danger in that choice. If I slip up, or something gets out about me, before I am ready I could easily be kidnapped and forced into a peerage run by someone I despise. It would be all too easy for someone like Diodora Astaroth or Zekram Bael to force me into their peerages to take advantage of me. Despite everything I've done and will do, standing up to the higher echelons of the devils is currently impossible."

Junichiro took a breath to order his thoughts, "So, I feel like I have to join some group before I'm found, kidnapped, and forced to work for someone I despise or at least dislike. Joining the Grigori is out, I'd remain human that way. Fuck that. Literally can't join the angels. Other pantheons are out. That leaves me with just the devils. They can turn me and they can offer me protection until I am strong enough to stand on my own. I need to join soon-ish and that leaves me with only two choices. Rias Gremory or Sona Sitri. Already said I couldn't stand Sona for long so that just leaves Rias. She's far from perfect but she's definitely one of the better choices overall. She'll treat me like family, which will give me plenty of freedom to work with. She also has her overprotective overpowered big brother looking out for her and, by extension, her peerage. That's another protective umbrella I can use while I build strength."

'I see. Becoming a reincarnated devil will help quite a bit. If we do things properly, you could become the most powerful devil in existence in a very short time.'

Junichiro grinned broadly, "You have no idea. I already made an item that will let me take samples of genetic material and another to implant what I want into my body. At some point, I will get my hands on a member of the Phenex clan and add their regeneration to myself. Just imagine it... I push myself with the Boosted Gear, tearing muscles and breaking bones. Then I regenerate stronger than ever and repeat the process. I'd be able to do so indefinitely because of my infinite mana generator. Unlimited rapid regeneration! And being a devil will make that easier since adding a devil trait to a devil body would be simpler than adding it to a human or another form of body."

'Kid... you're just too much. I know the Phenex clan and aside from specific things such as light and holy weapons, their regeneration is only limited by their available demonic power. Aside from things you'd be weak to and specific special abilities, you'd be near invincible, especially if you boosted your healing speed!'

Junichiro's grin grew more manic, "Let's not even contemplate me copying the Power of Destruction from the Bael Clan, which Rias has, or finding a way to meet a member of the Agares clan and getting their power over time..."

He let that hang in the air and was met with absolute silence from Ddraig. When Ddraig finally did speak up his voice was almost reverential, 'Kid, if you pull that off we would be one of the most powerful beings in existence, possibly ranking up there with Ophis and Great Red. If you pull all of that off I might not want to go back to my body!'

"The choice will always be yours Ddraig. I think it's time for me to get back to sleep though. I, unfortunately, have school in the morning. Now that I'm used to the feeling of my core constantly being drained and refilled, it shouldn't bother me too much, I hope."

'Sleep kid, I need more time to integrate with your soul anyway. Not to mention contemplate everything you've thrown at me tonight. This has been the most interesting day I've had in thousands of years.'

Junichiro barely paid attention as the teacher droned on in his math class. He was more focused on his coming plans for the future. He was pretty much ready to start drawing the attention of the devils. He was really only waiting for the non-stop draining of his mana core to come to an end. He hadn't unlocked anything new since the Penetrate ability but Ddraig assured him that he was going to be unlocking one of his power powerful abilities, the Blazing Inferno of Scorching Flames. Dragon flames so powerful that they could turn gods to ashes and even burn their souls.

'Hey Ddraig, I was wondering something. I know you can turn parts of my body into dragon parts. Right?'

'Not something I do very often. Usually, it only happens when someone is exchanging it for time in my Balance Breaker that they haven't earned yet. Why?'

'This might be a stupid idea, and feel free to tell me if it is, but could you change my heart, lungs, throat, and mouth?'

'… That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard... I can but... Wait... Kid, you are truly INSANE! Having the heart of a dragon would rapidly transform your blood into dragon blood which would then begin enhancing everything about your body from head to toe. Just that alone would practically make you half-dragon! But changing your lungs too... Dragons are practically the living embodiment of power. Every inhale would fill you with power and every exhale would release new power into the world. The last two combined with the lungs would let you breathe fire like a true dragon. I'll say it once more kid, YOU ARE INSANE! … I LOVE IT!'

'Be prepared to do it after I am changed into a devil.'

'Good call, your odds of survival will rise significantly with a stronger body to handle the changes.'

'Oh, that reminds me of something. How familiar are you with the devil's evil piece system?'

'It exists.'

'Right, well it has limits. As far as I can tell, Rias is FAR too weak to reincarnate us as we are right now. It would have taken all eight of her pawn pieces to turn Issei even with you in a dormant state.'

'How could you possibly know that? I can ignore you knowing other things like Albion's current host and his abilities. Seeing you use The Workshop gave me a fair idea of how creative you are so something to spy on him with makes sense. But knowing how many of the evil pieces it would take to revive my last partner? Explain.'

'I take it you haven't synced with my soul enough to see my memories?'

'That will take a few more days, a week at most.'

'Right. I'm pretty sure you won't believe me but I'll try to explain. Reality is infinite and within infinity, everything that can exist does exist somewhere. I'm from a reality where this world was a somewhat popular light novel, manga, and anime. As such, I know some advanced or future knowledge but I am NOT all-knowing. Once you sync with my soul you will see everything. I hope.'

'You hope?'

'For all I know, all my knowledge of this world will be hidden or something. I dunno. This is all new to me too. In my last life, I was just a normal man who lived a normal life and died a normal death. Then I was bombarded with all kinds of existential crisis-inducing information and shoved in this universe.'

Ddraig said nothing else. Either his new host was batshit insane, which seemed very possible right now. Or, what he said was true and Ddraig was going to have his own existential crisis in the near future. Joy.

It took until Friday afternoon for the Boosted Gear to stop draining Junichiro's mana core constantly. When it finally stabilized both of them were truly shocked by the sheer amount of magical power Junichiro could access in an instant.

'You have as much raw power as the strongest high-level dragons, kid. Once your body matches up to your magical power you will be a match for any high-level dragon.'

Junichiro was practically vibrating with excitement, "This is so awesome! I can make so much now and make such powerful items!"

That calmed him down a bit. Due to Ddraig taking all of his power, he hadn't been able to make a single new thing since they fused. Ddraig was also a tad annoyed since it meant Junichiro couldn't make a small body for him to mess around in. The freedom of movement was something Ddraig cherished deeply. Being stuck in a prison for a millennium, give or take, would make any type of freedom precious.

Junichiro decided that making a small working body for Ddraig came first. The happier Ddraig was with him the better. He knew Ddraig was still not quite one hundred percent with him by the way he was addressed. Ddraig still referred to Issei as his old partner but still referred to Junichiro as 'kid' all the time. Having Ddraig one hundred percent behind him would be extremely helpful and set him at ease. As a partner, Ddraig was one of the best he could hope for.

He moved over to the little toy dragon he'd put Ddraig in before and began working on it. Extra metal was used to make the dragon even more complex and life-like. He added in many features and tried to make the body as life-like as he could in any way he could. He especially added the ability for the small body to eat, and more importantly taste, food. The food would be converted to energy and used to make nano-machines that would let Ddraig make changes to the body and 'grow' over time. Though, he added a feature to allow Ddraig to shrink his body so he could take a small form to not take up the entire apartment in time.

To go along with the new body for Ddraig, Junichiro made a bracelet to go on his left wrist. The bracelet was the connector that would allow Ddraig to project himself into the new body and control it as if he was within it. It also had a kill switch that Junichiro could easily activate if he needed to get Ddraig back immediately, such as when a fight was starting. Once both items were finished he addressed the dragon in his soul, "Hey Ddraig, I want you to focus on the bracelet on my left arm. It should be connected to the Boosted Gear and allow you to take control of the body I just made for you."

The apartment was silent for a few moments before the small dragon body began to move. The body was styled after a western dragon with bright crimson red scales, any other color would insult Ddraig. He'd also made sure the eyes were deep green and that there was a small golden horn on the tip of the snout. It was only about three feet long from the snout to the tip of the tail and had two little wings on the back. However, this version moved much more realistically than the previous one and seemed much closer to a living body.

Ddraig looked around the room from his low viewpoint, trying to get a better lay of the land. His new body was way better than the quickly tossed-together one from the night he met the kid, "This feels weird."

It took a moment for what he'd said to sink in and suddenly he was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of sensory information that came flooding in. It'd been so long since he'd felt something himself that it took him a while to even realize what was happening to him. His green eyes glowed with emotion as he exclaimed in sheer joy, "I CAN FEEL!"

His whole body vibrated with excitement as he identified long-lost sensations, "I CAN SMELL!" His tongue shot out into the air, "I CAN TASTE!"

For so long he'd only been able to see and hear through his hosts, a limited existence that only proved to make his prison all the worse. He could no longer speak as the physical sensations and his own emotions overwhelmed all of his senses. He quickly disconnected from the new body to give himself a small break and time to reign in his emotions. Everything he'd felt was simply too much and overloaded him. It would take time and practice for him to get back to the point where everything felt normal once more.

Junichiro smiled as he watched Ddraig experience life once again. Once he felt the dragon had calmed down, he explained, "I didn't want to just give you mobility Ddraig. I wanted to give you everything I could short of a living body. It has almost everything a living body would, minus the annoying bits. It can even eat food and grow larger over time. Though I ask that you use the shrinking feature to keep yourself to a small size while indoors."

Ddraig's reply was some time in coming but when it did Junichiro could hear the emotion in his thickened voice, 'Thank you, Partner.'