The Lone Vigilante Issei – High School DxD

Hello, dear readers.

Sorry for the problems in the last chapter.

I have been having these technical mishaps when creating this chapter.

It is so annoying. It infuriates me to no end!

Well I am going to fix these problems.

You'll see.


Chapter 6 – The End

4th September, Tuesday, about 12:01 pm – somewhere not too far away from Kuoh Academy

"Ugh… Where am I…?" Matsuda groaned, as he woke up feeling all sore and groggy.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that he was lying on his stomach for some reason. Moreover, it did not seem like he was landing on solid ground, rather on something cylinder-like. The moment Matsuda found out where he was, though…

"WAAHHH!" Matsuda gave out a loud cry, as he found himself on a thick tree branch about 10 feet above the ground. There was grass that covered the ground below him, yet even a fall like that could still be painful to him.

Looking around to find a way to get down, Matsuda managed to find a branch just below. The problem the difference in height was two thirds of that of his own, so he had to be careful. He lowered himself to the branch, his arms still gripping the branch on which he was hanging. Matsuda tried to get a foothold onto the branch, lowering himself on it. As soon as he put his weight upon it, however…

[CRACK!] "WHOA!"

Matsuda cried out, as the branch snapped beneath his weight, causing him to fall.

With a thump and a grunt, Matsuda landed on his back. Matsuda groaned in pain for a few seconds, as he tried to recover from the dizzying feeling and throbbing pain he received from the fall.

As he slowly sat up, Matsuda rubbed his back. To his relief, none of his bones were broken, though the pain was still there. He figured it would go away after a few minutes, so… everything was probably OK.

Matsuda sighed in relief. He dragged himself to the tree, not caring about the dirt that would end up on his pants, and rested against it.

Now that he knew that he was OK, he needed to figure out how he got here.

Matsuda thought back until he remembered everything. Indeed, how could he forget…?

Going peeping with Motohama, finding themselves warped into an empty dimension, freeing some black haired dude… Then the dude explaining how they were all trapped into an illusion of some kind, receiving all the answers they needed from their girlfriends, their 'mastermind' (a succubus), about the existence of supernatural beings and their past memories…

It all sounded… crazy… but given what he and his friends had seen, it sounded believable. That also meant that they all were in great danger! And that meant that Matsuda and Motohama needed to find Issei.

Nevertheless, Matsuda decided to rest for a few more minutes. He was still in pain, after all.

Speaking of pain… Matsuda frowned. He remembered how he got unto that tree. It was that dragon… Ddraig, if he remembered correctly. That dragon flew him and Motohama through that portal… only for him to warn them that he would vanish once they were through!

Stupid dragon… Couldn't he have not vanished at all?

'Oh yeah…' Matsuda realized something. '…Where did that dragon disappear to, anyway?'

As he looked up into the sky, as if trying to see where Ddraig even was, he heard a rustling sound right above him. Matsuda would have dismissed it for the wind, blowing in the trees. However, then he noticed that only the tree he was resting under rustled and not any other. What's more, it sounded like it came from high up above, as if someone was on it, climbing on it, as he did earlier.

Matsuda stood up and when he did…

"WAAAAAHHHHH!"

A scream suddenly interrupted his thoughts. Matsuda looked up and when he did, he saw a figure falling straight towards him.

"OOOF!" Matsuda gave out, as the falling figure fell on him, knocking him to the floor back first.

Matsuda lay dazed on the floor for a second time, as the figure above him lifted his head.

"Ugh… man, this sucks… ouch… I hope I didn't break any bones… or anything…" the person, lying on top of Matsuda said, as he rubbed his back. "Yet, why does the ground feel so…?"

It was then, that Matsuda recovered from his daze and looked at the person above him. The other person looked downward at him, their eyes meeting. That was when they recognized each other.

It was Motohama! That oaf just fell on top of him as if he was a mattress!

Seeing, Matsuda below him, Motohama quickly got off from him and stood up.

"Dude! Are you OK?" Motohama asked worried, as he leaned forward. In response, Matsuda groaned in pain.

"Ugh… No… I feel like I broke something," Matsuda spoke raspy. He hugged himself in pain, while clenching his teeth.

"Really?" Motohama exclaimed in shock, as his eyes inspected his body in worry. "Where?"

"Over there…" Matsuda pointed with his finger. Motohama looked and he pointed at his right leg.

Motohama went over to Matsuda's leg and kneeled down in front of it.

"Is it your leg? Is your leg broken? Oh, goodness, we might need to get a doctor!" Motohama said in a panic.

Matsuda shook his head. "No… not my leg… over there…" he pointed towards his foot.

Motohama turned his face towards Matsuda's foot.

"Your foot?" Motohama asked worried.

"No…" Matsuda said, shaking his head.

"Then where?" Motohama asked confused.

"YOUR FACE!" Matsuda exclaimed suddenly, as he lashed out with a kick – right into Motohama's face!

"YEOW!" Motohama yelled in pain, as he rubbed his bleeding nose. Motohama's face took on a glare, as he glared at Matsuda. "What the frigg was that for!?"

"That's for dropping on me like an elephant!" Matsuda retorted, as he was getting up.

Even though his nose was still bleeding, Motohama, being filled with rage, let go of it and tackled Matsuda. As a result, the two of them wrestled for a three minutes, trading blows and wrestling each other until they lay there panting for breath. By then, they had a quite a few bruises, in addition to their bodies being sore from their fall. When they looked each other in the face, they just glared at each other for a while, even as they sat up.

"Now… we're even…" Motohama said exhausted.

"Yeah… whatever…" Matsuda responded with a snort.

After that, they said nothing after that, having decided to leave it that and recover from their injuries (they already had enough of those as it is). The only thing that could be heard was the sound of their breathing, the birds chirping in the trees and the gentle wind rustling through the leaves.


4th September, Tuesday, about 12:03 pm – elsewhere not too far from Kuoh Academy

"Ddraig? Are you sure they are somewhere here?" Issei asked, as he ran in a grassy area with trees not too far from the academy.

[I'm positive] Ddraig replied. [I can smell them. They're not too far away from here.]

Issei widened his eyes in realization. "Oh, yeah… I forgot about that! Dragons have enhanced smell! And my nose is dragonized…"

Issei tried it out. Issei sniffed his surroundings, yet despite his nose working as it should be, he had a problem.

He could make out a whole variety of scents, yet couldn't tell which one was Matsuda's and Motohama's. In fact, he couldn't tell if it was theirs or… someone else's.

[I see you're having problems, Partner] Ddraig spoke up.

Issei sighed, as he stopped for a moment.

"Yeah. I can't tell if it's Matsuda's or Motohama's scent. As far as I'm concerned it could be anybody's scent," Issei told Ddraig.

[Well, Partner, it is important for someone who uses his nose as a tool to memorize people's scents – especially when it comes to those close to you] Ddraig explained.

Issei nodded. While he contemplated on what Ddraig said, he thought of something the manifestation of his consciousness said to him not too long ago.

"Say, is it possible to dragonize my eyes and ears?" Issei asked Ddraig.

Ddraig said nothing for a few moments, but then spoke up.

[Hmmm… so you are considering that strategy, huh?] Ddraig replied.

"Yeah," Issei answered. "My counterpart told me that when I'm fighting the succubus that I need enhanced eyes and ears, too."

[Yes, you do… but…] Ddraig started, getting Issei's attention.

"What's wrong?" Issei asked concerned. "Is there some kind of risk to dragonizing?"

[Well, yes… in so far as that you cannot truly transform an organ back into that of a human's once you have dragonized it… though don't worry. On a superficial level, your nose and ears will still look human…] Ddraig told Issei.

"That's good to know," Issei said with a sigh of relief. "So, what's the problem?"

[The problem is that while your senses have become stronger, they can be used against you] Ddraig answered.

"Used against me?" Issei asked, as he looked at the Boosted Gear in confusion.

[Yes, see… as a dragon you perceive everything better than as a human, meaning you can smell better, for example. But what were to happen, if someone attacked you with a strong sense of smell?] Ddraig asked Issei.

Issei pondered about that for a while until he came to the right conclusion.

"I wouldn't be able to fight because of the stench!" Issei realized.

[Indeed. What's more, you can't dismiss those enhanced senses] Ddraig said.

Issei shuddered as he thought of being overwhelmed by strong smells. Not a good picture, he had to admit.

There is another problem, though] Ddraig continued. [In a fight, you must make sure that all your senses are ready to be used. These are seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling and sensing. If any of these senses are disabled, you will lose a part of your edge in battle!] Ddraig told Issei.

"So, what do I do then, if that happens?" Issei asked Ddraig in worry. He did not want to end up in a situation like that.

Ddraig chuckled. [Do not fear. There are ways to overcome those problems – namely by making sure that your other senses can compensate for your lost sense or senses. For example, taking down an enemy that immobilizes your sense of smell, sight and hearing. Use your sense of feeling and sensing to take the enemy down.]

"But…" Issei protested. "…But I don't have the ability to sense… maybe feeling… but… you know what I mean!"

[Partner] Ddraig replied patiently, as a teacher would to a student. [You may not be able to do so, now. But with enough training, things like that won't be impossible. You're still young. No one expects you to do it so soon – more so with no training at all. That's why… I'm here. To help you.]

Issei didn't respond. He just stood there, staring at the crimson gauntlet with a dazed expression.

[Partner?] Ddraig asked, causing Issei to wake up from his daze and smile.

"Thanks, Ddraig. You don't know how happy I am to see you again…" Issei spoke with a warm smile.

[You're welcome, Partner. You're welcome] Ddraig replied, as warmly as a dragon could.

After a few seconds, Issei's smile dropped. He nodded. Ddraig noticed this and came to the same unspoken conclusion.

Issei gritted his teeth. An intense feeling came through his body – a feeling of energy moving up into his face. It reached his eyes and ears and then…

…the feeling faded away. The dragonizing was complete.

Issei felt his ears… they felt as they always did, meaning they probably looked the same. As soon as Issei realized this, he noticed that his sight had become… different somehow.

Issei looked around. He looked at the boughs of one of the trees about 50 feet away from him. He could see the outline and color of the leaves clearly and a nest on it. He could even see the straws on it in fine detail. It felt like his vision had been enhanced… the feeling that Issei felt was, as if he was seeing things clearly and sharply for the first time in his life.

Moreover, he could hear distinct sounds in the distance. The birds chirping in the air, the roaring of car and trucks, the sound of people talking in the distance. Even the rustling of insects on the ground were audible to Issei's ears.

That's when Issei realized… It worked! The dragonizing was completed!

[Well done, Partner] Ddraig praised his host.

"Yeah, thanks," Issei responded with a chuckle. He spread his arms, as if trying to take in the world. "To be honest, I feel great! I… I feel like I'm seeing and hearing things for the first time in my life!"

[Glad to hear that, Partner] Ddraig replied satisfied. However, that satisfaction turned into one of shock upon realizing something.

[Partner! No time for delays! Use your ears to find out where young Matsuda and Motohama are!] Ddraig told Issei urgently.

Issei flinched in response, but then widened his eyes in realization and nodded. He quickly put his ears to work, trying to filter out the unwanted noises and focus on the voices of Matsuda and Motohama. Surely, he would be able to hear something…

While Issei looked and listened intently left and right, he managed to hear some voices in the distance.

(Hey, it's not my fault that I ended up waking up on a tree!)

(You could have tried not to fall, idiot! As if falling down once wasn't bad enough…)

(Wait. What do you mean 'falling down once'? Does that mean you also fell down like I did!?)

(Umm… well…)

(Who are you to lecture me then!?)

(Hey, at least I fell down from about ten feet or so. You fell down from much higher – on top of me!)

(Climbing down from there is much harder, you hypocrite!)

(What did you call me!?)

(You heard me, bro!)

(That's it! Come here, you little…)

After that, all Issei and Ddraig could hear from those voices were the sounds of grunting and scuffling.

"Ddraig…" Issei said. He simply stood there with a deadpan expression.

[Yes, Partner…?] Ddraig said with an equally deadpan tone.

"I think I found them…" Issei replied with an expressionless tone.

[Indeed, you did, Partner… Indeed, you did…] Ddraig remarked calmly.

After a few second of standing, Ddraig realized he forgot something.

[Partner! I forgot to tell you something!] Ddraig replied, his voice filled with urgency.

"Wh-wh-what?" Issei responded startled by Ddraig's outburst.

[We need to get to them! Now!] Ddraig commanded Issei.

Issei started running in the direction of where Matsuda's and Motohama's voices came from.

"Why? Why so urgent?" Issei asked Ddraig.

[That bear-thing from the Matsuda's dream...] Ddraig began.

"Huh? What about it?" Issei wondered, as he looked at the Boosted Gear, while running. Issei certainly remembered how Matsuda told him about this bear-like creature that was trying to chase Matsuda down in his dreams. But what did that thing have to do with anything?

[I encountered it in the white void prison where young Matsuda, Motohama and I were earlier. I took it out by tackling it, but that thing just disappeared in front of me – for the second time!] Ddraig growled in anger.

"What's your point?" Issei asked, as he huffed and ran.

[My point is… right before it disappeared, it told me in its nonsensical hollering that he was going to get 'the cute boys' as it called and nothing could stop him] Ddraig explained urgently. [I didn't understand what it was talking about at first. But after seeing him disappear in front of me and seeing its obsession with Matsuda and Motohama and…]

"Oh… no…" Issei was filled with dread upon realizing what Ddraig was trying to say. "Ddraig, why didn't you tell me this sooner?" Issei asked in a panic.

[Sorry, Partner. I got distracted] Ddraig apologized.

Issei shook his head. "Never mind. We can still fix this," Issei replied, as he looked straight into the tree-filled area he was running towards.

"Hold on, guys! I'm coming for you wait for me!" Issei called out, as he ran into the forested area.


4th September, Tuesday, about 12:06 pm – about 250 meters away

"Haah… haah… ouch… agh…" Motohama panted, while still feeling the pain on his stomach and back. Matsuda had kicked him against the tree trunk earlier and now he was currently propping himself by leaning himself against the same tree trunk.

"Had… enough…?" Matsuda said tiredly, having collapsed from exhaustion.

"No…" Motohama growled, as he tried to get up by using the tree trunk. Unfortunately, he was too tired and in too much pain, which is why he slumped back to his original position.

"That's enough, man…" Matsuda said with a fatigued but serious expression. "…We should save our strength… We've got more important things to do. Remember?"

Motohama didn't say anything. He just continued to heavily breathe in and out. He was in too much pain to do anything and besides, he already managed to land a few good punches at Matsuda's face.

At least that was something.

Both of them decided just decided to let bygones be bygones and recover from their injuries (again).

It was then that Issei came running towards them.

Matsuda and Motohama turned to look and were surprised to see not only him, but also the crimson gauntlet on his arm.

"Guys! You're here! Thank goodness I found you! I came here just in the nick of time!" Issei exclaimed, a smile of relief forming on his face.

Matsuda and Motohama got up, despite their injuries and sent Issei a look of confusion.

"What do you mean?" Matsuda asked.

"Yeah, and what's that?" Motohama asked, pointing his finger at the Boosted Gear.

"This?" Issei replied, as he held his arm up. "This is the Boosted Gear – a Sacred Gear that can kill gods. Pretty cool, huh?"

"Wait a minute. I remember now," Matsuda spoke up, his eyes widening in realization. "That dragon Drag said that it was one of the eighteen top-tier Sacred Gears out there."

[My name is Ddraig, fool!] Ddraig called out to them annoyed much to Matsuda's and Motohama's shock. They both looked around to see where his voice was coming from. [I'm inside the Boosted Gear, fools!]

"Oh, yeah! I forgot you were supposed to live inside Issei's arm. Sorry!" Matsuda apologized.

Ddraig sighed. He wanted to tell Matsuda that he didn't live in Issei's arm but his Sacred Gear. But he decided to let it go.

"Dude, you can't believe what we went through!" Motohama spoke up in excitement. "We went peeping earlier. Nice bloomers, boobs, panties… all nice and all… and then we stumbled on a portal. We ended up in some kind of dimension and found this guy who told us everything we needed to know! It turns out he was captured by the mastermind behind all this – until we came along," Motohama added proudly.

"OK…" Issei simply said, trying to take in the information that Motohama just said.

"Yeah!" Motohama continued, as he rambled on. "He told us a lot of things. But the gist is: We're stuck in an illusion, just like you said earlier! Our girlfriends and Monique-sensei have been working for the mastermind all along. Don't worry, though! The girls are really on our side, so don't feel down! Anyway, the mastermind is some kind of succubus that wants to eat us and… uh… oh yeah! And our memories have been manipulated! I know it's a lot, but it's all true!"

"Oh…" Issei simply said. "I already knew…"

""WHAT!?"" Matsuda and Motohama shouted simultaneously, causing Issei to flinch.

"B-b-but… how!? When!? And…" Motohama stuttered, trying to form a coherent sentence.

"I was walking down the hallway after going to the bathroom and found myself at a graveyard with my dead parents…" Issei hesitated at that, something that caused Matsuda and Motohama to wince because of the subject matter. But Issei continued. "…then I had all my memories restored by a clone… who supposedly represents my consciousness or something… and then I reunited with Ddraig here, before looking for you guys."

Matsuda and Motohama didn't say anything. They felt surprised and awkward.

Seeing how silent his friends have become, Issei noticed all the bruises on their bodies.

"Let me guess… you two found yourselves on a tree for some reason… Then Matsuda fell down first, followed by Motohama falling on top of you," Issei deducted, as he pointed at Matsuda. "And then you got into a brawl, right?"

"Yeah," Matsuda nodded, confirming what Issei had said. "And all of that because Drag here…"

[My name is Ddraig] Ddraig corrected grumpily.

"Yeah, whatever," Matsuda waved dismissively, before continuing. "…Because Ddraig here happened to disappear on us, while we escaped through the portal. Which is probably how we ended up falling down from the sky and unto that tr- Wait! How the f*** did you know all this!?" Matsuda shouted suddenly in surprise when he realized that Issei knew pretty much, what they were doing.

"Uh… yeah… I overheard your argument about a minute earlier…" Issei replied meekly, rubbing his nape innocently.

"How? You just came running a minute after we had said that. So how did you know!?" Matsuda demanded.

Issei blushed. "Uh… well… uh… I dragonized my ears and eyes…"

""WHAT!?"" the two perverts shouted, causing Issei to flinch again.

"Stop it guys! I have sensitive hearing!" Issei told them.

"Sorry…" Motohama apologized after calming down. "But seriously. How did you do it? Why did you do it?"

"Alright. It's because my counterpart from my vision told me that in order to find the succubus, I needed enhanced hearing and seeing. The only way I could do it is by asking Ddraig to turn my ears and eyes into that of a dragon. I already turned my nose into that of a dragon's, so now I have enhanced vision, hearing and smelling. Pretty neat, huh?" Issei answered with a grin.

"OK… but how did you end up with an all-knowing version of yourself restoring your memory?" Matsuda asked.

"I don't know," Issei replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Anyway, you just mentioned some kind of guy you rescued, right?" Issei inquired to which Matsuda and Motohama nodded.

"Yeah," Matsuda responded. "It was really weird. He told us everything we needed to know. He even knew about Julie's note. It's as if he knew everything about us."

"Who was he?" Issei asked next.

Motohama shrugged. "We have no clue. All we know is that whoever he is, he is strong. Almost Deus ex Machina kind of strong. Although…" at that, Motohama's mood fell.

"Although what?" Issei asked Motohama in concern.

"…Well… although we managed to get out…" Matsuda said somberly. "It was only because he made sure that we did. While we escaped with Ddraig here… he stayed behind… He never made it out…"

An uncomfortable silence permeated the atmosphere among the perverted quartet. Granted, Issei may never have met the man, but even he couldn't help but feel sorry for the man. Issei shuddered at what the succubus may have done to him. He couldn't help but think of the police driver Yuusuke who had his life force drained out of him.

Issei clenched his teeth in anger.

Another casualty of the succubus and there was nothing they could do about it.

How many more had to die because of that unscrupulous creature? How many more had to suffer because their lost ones never came back?

Issei knew one thing for sure – his anger boiling.

That succubus won't get away.

The buck ends here. From now on, he will make sure that the succubus would no longer harm anyone again.

After a moment of silence, Motohama spoke up.

"Say, Issei?" Motohama said, getting both Issei and Matsuda to snap out of their thoughts and focus on him instead. "You said something about coming in the nick of time, right? What did you mean by that?"

Matsuda turned to Issei with a confused look. Issei also had a look of confusion on his face, before he widened his eyes.

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" Issei hit his head with the palm of his hand in realization.

"Guys," Issei told Matsuda and Motohama urgently. "Do you know of some kind of… bear-like creature that's been trying to hunt you recently?"

Matsuda and Motohama shuddered at the memory.

"Please, don't mention that thing…" Matsuda said in disgust with his arms clenched over his chest, while shivering.

"Yeah! We went through hell on earth because of that thing. Just seeing it once was scary enough! Heck, Matsuda over here…" Motohama gestured his hand to Matsuda. "… had to deal with it twice! I mean, that thing was trying to rape us! Luckily, Ddraig managed to come to the rescue and take it out. Why? What about it?"

[That's just the thing…] Ddraig spoke up this time. [It managed to escape from me… twice…]

""Hah?"" Both Matsuda and Motohama said with their mouths agape in surprise.

[That's why we hurried to find you two. We think that the bear-rapist is…] Ddraig said, but the sound of birds flying into the air in the distance interrupted him.

Matsuda, Motohama and Issei turned to look at the birds flying away. That's strange… When birds do that they normally do it because…

Suddenly more birds came fluttering from the trees – this time from an area of trees a bit closer to them.

What's more, is that this time they heard something like… big footsteps in the distance. Moreover, it sounded like the footsteps caused some of the trees to be rattled a bit… the sound of shaken leaves being heard in the distance.

"Guys? What was that?" Motohama asked, as he looked at his buddies with worry. He hoped to see if they knew what was going on. But Issei and Matsuda just shrugged their shoulders, indicating that they didn't know either.

[I have a bad feeling about this…] Ddraig voiced in concern. […I think I know what it is…]

"You do?" Issei looked at the Boosted Gear with a surprised look. "Then what was that?"

[Exactly what I warned you about] Ddraig answered rather cryptically.

"Wait, you don't mean…?" Matsuda said, realizing what Ddraig was getting at.

"It has got to be…" Motohama said in fear, also coming to same conclusion.

"Oh… crap…" Issei cursed, as he trembled in fear, having also come to the same conclusion as everyone else. Issei may not have seen it like the other two have, but he knew what was coming.

The sound of rattled trees and shaken leaves came closer along with the footsteps. Then a familiar unsettling sound came the forest, giving the three of them a shiver down their spines.

((This is the end, there ain't no more,

Unless I see, those boys once more.

This is the end, there ain't no more,

Unless I hump those boys JUST ONCE!))

"Oh, no. No, no, no… not again…" Motohama said with a voice filled with dread.

"This is the third time now… How long is it going to follow us…?" Matsuda moaned terrified.

'So, this is what Ddraig was talking about…' Issei thought. This had to be that bear monster that has been harassing the others not too long ago. A feeling of terror came over his heart. This thing sounded like it was huge! Issei had to admit. He could understand why Matsuda and Motohama didn't want to be reminded of the creature. Its horrific singing did not make this any better.

Why on earth was it singing anyway?

Issei shook his head. Now was not the time to be disheartened. He mustered his courage and took on a stern look.

"Guys, get away from here," Issei told his friends, as he started walking towards the sound of the bear-thing.

"Wh-wha…?" Motohama said stunned at Issei's actions.

"Issei, what are you doing?" Matsuda asked worried.

"Taking down that monster with my Boosted Gear," Issei answered, as he turned his face towards his friends. "I'm the only one who can take on that monster, right now. And you'll only get in my way…"

"Are you crazy!?" Matsuda exclaimed.

"You're going to take down that thing all by yourself!?" Motohama said incredulously.

"What choice do I have?" Issei retorted. "You guys don't have Sacred Gears, like I do. So, what are you gonna do? Lie in ambush, only to throw sticks and stones?"

Matsuda and Motohama bristled at Issei's reply until Ddraig spoke up.

[Wait a minute… I think you're on to something…] Ddraig commented, as the footsteps and rattled trees echoed in the distance.

"Huh?" Issei said confused.

[People, I think I have an idea on how to beat this abomination. But it will only work if you work together] Ddraig instructed them.

"You've got a plan?" Matsuda asked, his voice filled with eagerness.

[Indeed. But in order to do this, I have to ask young Matsuda and Motohama here something] Ddraig turned his attention to the two non-Sacred Gear wearing perverts. [How good are you two at running?]


((WOLOLO! WHERE ARE YOU!? COME OUT, COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE!)) the perverted bear-thing hollered.

Right now, it was looking all about, looking left and right, up and down the trees to find his favorite boys.

((COME OUT! I NEED TO HUMP YOU!)) it called out, panting heavily in animalistic heat.

Ever since it failed to capture Matsuda and Motohama, it has been trying to hunt them down, never failing, never ceasing. They were so… juicy, so fleshy! It just couldn't wait to rip down their pants and hump them! But first it needed to find them.

It was then, that the bear saw some movement from the corner of its eye. It turned and sure enough just behind a tree just seventy meters away…

"Crap!" Motohama yelped, as he bolted away.

At last, he found them! Now is the day, now is the hour!

The three-eyed bear wasted no time. It quickly took chase, loud thumps by its footsteps shaking its vicinity with every step. Having the more physical power and thus also the more powerful legs, it slowly gained on poor young Motohama who was running for his life once again. Could this be the end for him?

After about a hundred meters away, Motohama dashed to the nearest tree and started climbing it. Thanks to the more lower lying branches, getting up there was no problem. Motohama sighed in relief, as he climbed up the tree just before the bear could reach him with its paws.

Unfortunately, the bear didn't remain idle. It started climbing after Motohama, using the branches to do so as well. Motohama started to panic, as he made his way even higher up the tree. The branches were getting thinner and thus harder to climb, yet why was he doing that? Why on earth was he climbing higher just to get stuck in what seems to be a dead end?

The bear climbed up higher and higher almost reaching Motohama with its paws, panting as it swiped at him. Motohama looked at the bear-thing in fright. It was only a matter of seconds before the perverted monster bear grabbed his ankle and pulled him down with him.

"HEY! YOU WANT US? THEN EAT THIS, PEDO-BEAR RAPIST!"

What? A cry just came from the tree top. But who was it?

Looking just above Motohama was Matsuda Hibiki! Ready to throw a large rock as big as his fist at the bear-thing below them!

The bear-thing looked stunned and confused for a moment, as it laid his eyes on Matsuda. That was more than enough time… for Matsuda to hurl the rock right into its face!

[THUD!]

The rock hit the bear-thing with full force right into the forehead! With pained grunts and moans, it fell from the branch it was holding on with a daze, slipped and fell with its back first with a thud!

((Wololo… Wha… wolo… what… happened…?)) the bear thing mumbled, barely forming a sentence.

[Boost!]

A sound came from somewhere. This caused the winded bear creature to look around until

suddenly a figure came out hiding behind a tree nearby. It was… ISSEI HYOUDOU!? How long was he hiding there!?

Wait a minute, what's that? Is that his Boosted Gear!? Why is it resonating with so much power!?

[Boost!]

"This is for your boss, trapping us in an illusion…" he said coldly, as he aimed his arm towards the bear monster! The bear monster, still feeling dazed tried to regain its bearings tried to get up but found it difficult to do so.

[Boost!]

"…taking away our memories…" Issei continued. His Boosted Gear's power rising to previously unseen levels! All of which is concentrated in an energy orb, being prepared to shoot at the bear monster!

[Explosion!]

Suddenly a burst of seemingly limitless energy came rushing through Issei's body out of nowhere! It's as if the mere energy alone could set the forest on fire!

"…AND FOR OUR GIRLFRIENDS!" Issei shouted, as the energy started overflowing from his Sacred Gear!

[Dragon Shot!]

The overkill Dragon Shot hit the bear-thing with overwhelming firepower!

((GAAAAAHHHH!)) the poor bear screamed, before being obliterated by the power of the beam!

[BOOM!]

The resulting blast was so powerful, it caused a massive explosion of fire and earth! The explosion was so big, the flames, smoke and flying earth could be seen from the distance! It was a miracle a forest fire hadn't started!

The tree that Matsuda and Motohama were on wasn't exactly spared either! It was immediately uprooted by the blast!

"WHOAAA! WAAAHHH!"

"WE'RE FALLING!"

Matsuda and Motohama yelled as they hung on to dear life. The reason being because the tree was falling. The crown of the tree impacted on the ground causing Matsuda and Motohama to be thrown off the branches they were on and unto the ground. Their bodies and clothes were immediately covered in leaves and dirt the moment they landed.

They grunted upon impact and lay motionless soon thereafter. It was almost as if they were dead! It certainly seemed so, since they weren't moving, so yes! They had to be dead!

"Guys? Guys!" Issei cried out, as he ran towards his friends to check up on them. But to no avail for the moment he checked their bodies he saw to his horror that they were…

"*cough* *cough*"

"*cough* Dude! Watch where you're aiming it the next time. You could have nuked us!"

"Sorry, Matsuda! Here let me help you up…"

"Don't forget me!"

"Of course not. Let me pull you both up… hmpf!"

"Ah! Man, I'm so going to need to take a bath after this!"

"Yeah! But at least we're still alive! I mean… who knows what that pedo-bear abomination could have done to us!"

[…]

"Either way, I'm glad it worked out…"

[Indeed, Partner. It was all thanks to your teamwork, my power and my intellect that saved our hides!]

"Hey! Don't get too cocky, Dragon! How come you get all the praise and glory?"

[Because I deserve it.]

"In that case, I guess you deserve the lion's share of the blame for nuking our asses!"

[Grrr… Why you little…]

"Guys, guys! We shouldn't be fighting each other. And besides, 'nuking' is probably too harsh of a word."

"But it fits!"

"Yeah, I agree with Motohama here. It may not have been a nuke, but the explosion is so big, it may have as well been one."

"*Sigh* Whatever… But anyway, I'm glad our plan worked out, huh?"

"Well, yeah… other than nearly getting fried and getting ourselves dirty our plan worked."

"I have to admit, I thought the plan was crazy! Carrying a stone, while climbing up a tree is pretty tough!"

"Still not as tough as running away from a pedo-bear rapist – again! I thought I was going to die back there! Carrying a rock up a tree and then throwing it is easy by comparison!"

"That's debatable, mind you. But it's still harder than standing behind a tree and charging a Dragon Beam!"

"It's called Dragon Shot, not Dragon Beam! And it's not as easy as it looks either. Doubling your power every ten seconds feels like you're being weighed down by more and more weight – as if an elephant decided to put its weight on you little by little, only for you to find yourself carrying the elephant!"

"Yeesh… That sucks…"

"Totally…"

[Regardless. What matters is the plan worked and we are all safe and sound. But more importantly, we need to decide on our next move. The succubus may have suffered a defeat, but she will surely try something else…]

"Yeah, that's true…"

"Unfortunately, true…"

"She could be sending another foe against us."

"I just hope it won't be another pedo-bear abomination again. I've had enough of those…"

"What about Sally and the others?"

[I'm not sure. But one thing is for certain: If we can find the succubus, we can find the girls. Which is why I suggest that we focus on finding the succubus.]

"The main enemy…"

"Yeah, but… how are we supposed to find her? Do you have any ideas, Ddraig?"

[Unfortunately, no. I can't sense her presence anywhere and as far as I'm concerned, she could be anywhere.]

"So… what are we supposed to do then, Ddraig?"

[I don't know. But I do know that the succubus won't leave us alone. She'll make a move soon enough and when she does, so will we.]

"So much for making a move…"

[It's not like we have much of a choi- huh?]

"What's wrong?"

[Partner, something is wrong.]

"What do you mean?"

[I'm not sure… I have the feeling that something is missing here…]

"What are you talking about?"

"Yeah, what the heck are you talking about?"

"What on earth could be missing here? Everything is norm-"

[I'm not talking about those things! I'm talking about something else. Something… beyond our physical surroundings… I'm sensing something odd… I don't know what it is, but whatever it is… I can feel it…]

"Ddraig… You're not exactly being reassuring…"

[Forgive me, Partner. But I really don't know how to describe it, but… I feel like somehow an influence outside this world is manipulating whatever is happening in this one.]

"WHAT!?"

"FROM THE OUTSIDE!?"

"Are you sure!?"

[I'm positive! Listen, this might sound crazy, but… I have the harrowing feeling that the succubus is making its move once again.]

"It is?"

"Then what is it?"

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"Gah!"

"What the…?"

"Was that…?"

[People. Brace yourselves! I think she's making her move now!]

"What do we do!?"

VEhBVCdTIEVOT1VHSCE=

"Yikes!"

[I don't know… Whatever is happening I…]

SSdWRSBIQUQgRU5PVUdIIQ==

[BRACE YOURSELVES!]

SSdNIEdPSU5HIFRPIENSVVNIIFlPVSBPTkNFIEFORCBGT1IgQUxMIQ==

"DDRAIG!"

RElFIQ==

"MATSUDA!"

RElFIQ==

"MOTOHAMA!"

RElFIQ==

[PARTNER!]

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