I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Yukime continued to sink deeper. The area surrounding her seemed like a dark ocean with no end in sight. She had no map or guide to help her traverse this place except for a single red light that seemed to be at the deepest part of this ocean. The girl continued to make her way down while disregarding her own safety.
This ethereal form was being maintained with her own powers and with each minute that went by her powers got drained. It was only a matter of time until she was forced to escape or suffer the consequences.
Yukime continued to descend at full speed until she reached what seemed to be a transparent platform.
"You shouldn't be in this place, Yukime." The large red dragon told her as he turned his sight towards her. His whole body was surrounded by flames covered with shiny cracks. It almost seemed that his soul was about to fall into pieces.
Right beside him was a small creature that seemed to be the same demonic four-headed beast that had joined them not too long ago. Its body seemed like that of a demonic canine that had certain characteristics of other creatures. The several horns that sprout out of the top of its heads were one of its most curious characteristics.
"Ddraig…. you need to power down. This is damaging your soul. Look at yourself. Let me help you" Yukime tried to approach the dragon but he quickly stopped her.
"Don't come any closer. These flames will kill you if they reach you. I'm barely holding all of this power under control. Don't come near me; I might hurt you in this state. If you wanna help me and my partner, you need to find him." Ddraig said.
"Issei? But where is he?" Yukime asks.
Ddraig eyes turn to the area below them. "Deeper within this place. He's trapped inside a house of regrets and anger. He's burning alive and my voice can't reach him. The past has come back to haunt us both and he's not doing better than I am. I can't do this on my own, so help him to come back. I can see what he sees and he's in more trouble than I am."
A piece of his chest area falls to the floor as soon as he finishes talking.
"Ddraig, your soul!"
"I know. Take the pup and reach my partner. I can't move from this place but you can. Do whatever you can Yukime. Maybe you can finally help him to put the past to rest." Ddraig says.
Yukime sees the worry behind his eyes. "... I'll do whatever I can."
Ddraig turns to the beast beside him. "Go with her. She might be able to help him."
The four-headed beast focuses on its owner for a few seconds before it turns around and approaches Yukime.
"Let the way, pup," Yukime says.
The beast howls before it jumps out of the platform and into the depths. Yukime follows soon after, thus leaving Ddraig alone.
"Partner…. I'm sorry for leading you on this path but the past can't be changed…. But you already learned that lesson. Remember who you are, partner." The dragon said as it closed its eyes.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield in the real world.
A massive glowing fish continued to swim through space as it devoured and opened the way for the alliance members moving behind it.
"Keep it on Bahamut. Our enemy is right behind all of those units." Sirzechs said as he led the charge of the alliance.
The massive beast obeyed its master and continued to move forward while opening the way for other allies to take care of the remaining enemy units.
All around the different layers of the atmosphere of the planet battles rage on as the alliance and different groups which showed up to face Kanzaki continue to do their best against the increasing numbers on Kanzaki's side.
Typhoon and his descendants were enjoying the hunt alongside the alliance since there appear to be no end for targets.
For every ship and enemy unit that the alliance or other groups destroyed with their attacks, another 3 or 5 showed up in a matter of minutes.
For every slayer unit that was destroyed another 10 showed up.
The numbers were on Kanzaki's side when it came to this conflict but even all of those units were not enough to achieve its goals.
A figure engulfed by dark blue energy continued to move around the battlefield as it destroyed and interfered in multiple fights whenever the life of anyone was in danger.
The figure didn't seem to care whether they were allies or part of the other groups as it kept flying from one place to another. His next destination after making sure that a group of angels was safe was a particular pair of gods that were surrounded by a large group of cyborg fallen angels.
The male who was holding a katana in his hands cut through the cyborgs with some difficulties. His movements were too fast for the cyborgs to track them down but the power behind his attacks wasn't as effective as he expected against these enemies. Right behind him, the goddess with the mirror covered his back as she returned the attacks that she received with her mirror towards her opponents.
"Susanoo-nii we need to push them back and reunite with our faction," Amaterasu said.
"Amaterasu I won't back down. I'll have the head of that human no matter what." Susanoo replied coldly.
"Seems like you still need to mature a bit more, Susanoo no Mikoto," Shiva said cheerfully before rushing in and opening a path for both gods to escape the clutches of their enemies. His fists create waves of energy that push the cyborgs away but for some reason, their damage wasn't as much as one would expect from a god. "This way you two."
Susanoo keeps silent and chooses to trust Shiva. Both gods escaped their enemies and followed Shiva while their enemies gave chase.
"Go back to your faction and move with them as a unit. Don't head out on your own. These things are specially made to counter us. You should have realized that by now." Shiva said as he continued forward.
"How is this possible? We are gods! And why do you even care?" Susanoo asked while he evaded the attacks of those enemies chasing after him. "Amaterasu, grab my hand and stay close to me."
The goddess nods and does as told.
"That man Mitsuya Kanzaki has a goal and nobody should underestimate how far he's willing to go. The cyborgs chasing after us are effective against gods. But when it comes to other beings." As Shiva says this a group of Youkai intercepts the enemies that were chasing after them. "They are effectively less of a danger. Susanoo, I have my reasons for interfering in this fight. I won't allow any deaths since every life is important for the fight to come. One day you'll understand why I have allied myself with the alliance. Now go back to your faction and be careful with your moves. We'll see each other on the day of your duel with my student." Shiva says before speeding up and moving in another direction.
"Wait…" Susanoo calls out to him but Shiva is already gone.
"Nii-san? Are you alright?" Amaterasu turns her eyes towards her brother.
"Let's go back to the others. We'll find a way to Mitsuya Kanzaki before any other group." Susanoo said while also thinking about the words of Shiva. "Damn your stupid ability, Shiva."
In another place on the battlefield.
Shiva continued forward until his path led him to meet the feathered snake and the golden sun god. "Ra, Quetzalcoatl, nice to see you here. Seems that you need some help with those."
Both deities turn their sights towards the small god.
"Stop talking and lend us some help." Quetzalcoatl's voice seemed a bit frustrated. The jaguar people that were sitting along the length of his body continued to protect their leader by fighting any enemies that dare to get close to the body of their deity.
"Get in here manchild," Ra said before lifting his scepter and creating several small suns that started to impact the enemies closing in around his ship. The followers that were alongside him opened fire with their bows soon after.
"Alright, just follow my directions. We need to drive them towards the vampires of the Carmilla faction. They would be able to fight them back while you two take care of their enemies for them. These things are made for one type of enemy each." Shiva shouts while he clears a way out for both. In a matter of a few moments, a path is cleared for both deities to escape.
Quetzalcoatl roars before flapping its wings and making its way past the enemies that were trying to block its path. Ra goes alongside it and in a matter of seconds, both join Shiva while being chased down by their enemies.
"Did your ability show that to you?" Quetz asks.
"You already know the answer. Follow me and keep up with my speed. I appreciate your participation in this operation. Your powers allow beings without the ability to fly and breathe in space to fight in these conditions." Shiva thanks his fellow gods.
Quetz laughs it up. "You think I wouldn't show up if Gaia was in danger? I create this world alongside Gaia and the others. I don't care about what happened in the previous war that much. My faction ignored me and went ahead just to get themselves killed. The past is the past. As long as I'm alive and the jaguar people can survive, that's enough for me."
"Gaia, this planet and its denizens are a different affair than the war. That human is a threat to this world and everybody else. Finishing him now is what matters." Ra joins in. "Shiva, when this is over I have several questions for you. You have betrayed your faction by doing all of this. I know there's a reason and I want to know it now."
Shiva smirks. "If an answer is what you seek you're going to need to be willing to accept a treaty with the alliance. The knowledge I possess is not something I can just give willingly. For now, focus on the fight ahead." The god says as he continues to lead his fellow deities. His eyes turned towards the direction of his student for just a second. "You can do it. Prove my visions right once more. The wings of Ragnarok need to become real for others to follow us. Carve our way into the future."
At that exact moment, Le Fay.
Master and student did their best to cure the most superficial injuries of the dragon with the remaining power they had left after helping Yukime.
"All of this damage. I have never seen him like this except for when he was training with Shiva." Le Fay admitted as she touched the scales of her "husband." The body of the Welsh Dragon was hot but not as hot as before. She could feel the tension on his muscles even now when he seemed inactive.
"You must never forget that he's not immortal and even if he's the strongest member of the alliance he can be injured and even killed. No matter how strong one might be, there's always the need for others to pick up where they failed on their own." Elaine said before turning her attention towards Ophis. The magician approaches the loli while riding her staff. "My lady, would you like something to eat as we wait for Welsh-sama to come back?"
The small dragon remained silent for a few moments before extending her hand toward Elaine. "I'll accept your offer just this once."
Elaine smiled and took out a small bag that contained some snacks. "Let me know if you like them."
Ophis took the bag. "Ddraig said that I should thank anyone in these cases so I offer you my thanks for this." The girl opened the bag and began to eat its contents while sitting on top of Ddraig's head. Her eyes were focused on the spectacle of explosions that were taking place all around the earth's atmosphere and beyond.
Elaine kept a calm smile as she appreciated the figure before her. "Is hard to believe that she is one of the strongest beings around but I can see why Welsh-sama is protective of her. She's more like a child that wants to be left in peace." Elaine thought before going back to her task.
But then both magicians felt the presence of an unknown visitor. Their eyes turned around just to see a dark silver-haired male. Fancy robes adorned his body and several devilish wings extended from its back.
Elaine and Le Fay felt his dark aura. They had read reports from the alliance that described his appearance and designated him as one of the main criminals the alliance should kill on sight or evade at any costs.
"Rizevim Livan Lucifer," Elaine said as she grabbed her staff and thought of something.
"You don't need to move a finger, Elaine," Ophis said as she continued to eat. "He won't dare to make a move in my presence or I'll kill him."
Elaine and Le Fay felt the killing instinct of the loli.
"My oh my. Is this how you treat your old friend?" Rizevim said in a nonchalant manner.
"You and I have no connection or friendship. Mind your words or I'll make you eat them." Ophis said.
Le Fay tried to keep her cool as she witnessed such an unexpected interaction between Ophis and Rizevim. "I need to inform the alliance of this but they're focused on the fight right now. What should I do?... Should I record this?" With few options at her disposal, Le Fay thought about what to do with her skills.
"You're right. I apologize. We're not even allies just because you didn't want to accept my offer. Is this what you wanted? A massive flying lizard and a bunch of misfits working for who knows what. I told you, take my hand, allow the Khaos Brigade to use your powers and we will make your goal into a reality. Is not too late to join me." Rizevim said.
"There lies the biggest difference between you and him," Ophis said.
"What?" Rizevim is taken back for a second.
"This flying lizard has never asked me for power or ordered me around. Since I began to live with him he hasn't stopped moving forward. Each day that goes by he becomes stronger. One day he will make my dream come true and I'm willing to wait. I enjoy the current living conditions that he has offered me and he has proven my expectations right. You're a pathetic devil that can't match his powers. A weak child with dreams of making others surrender to his selfish desires can't ever achieve the desire I have. I know that." Ophis says.
"Do you really believe he has what it takes to kill Great Red?" Rizevim asks.
"I know he has the potential. I only need one sword to fight for me. The only one to slay my enemy. I don't need an army, I don't need plans that take years to come to fruition. I only need one dragon that can defeat Great Red and he is that dragon."
Ophis's words are filled with determination.
Rizeveim starts to laugh. "Mark my words, one day he will betray those expectations." Rizeveim uses a magic circle and begins to disappear. "One day I'll bring chaos upon everything and every single being will have to surrender to my will. I am the true satan, the enemy of peace, the bringer of desolation and dread. I will bring an end to this stupid peace. For I possess the key to bringing the beast back from its prison and you will make it happen even if you don't want it."
Rizevim disappears soon after leaving the crew with a sour taste in their mouths.
"Is that a declaration of war?" Le Fay asks.
"It was. You better kill him before he achieves whatever he's trying to do, for I will not interfere in this matter." Ophis declares.
As soon as those words escape her mouth, the dragon begins to shake. Cracks begin to appear all around him as the power within the Welsh Dragon increases even more.
Ophis feels the particular power of Great Red emanating from Ddraig alongside her own. "What are you doing Ddraig?"
A flash of light appears below Ophis' feet. From within the light, Yukime appears. "We need to move, now."
"Wait but what happened to Issei and Ddraig?" Le Fay asks.
"Fewer questions and more moving. Trust me when I said we don't want to be nearby him right now." Yukime spreads her wings and rushes to grab both girls before getting away from Ddraig. Her eyes look at Ophis one last time before flying away. "He's going to be fine but I doubt that you could ever be happy with what he's about to do."
Ophis's hearts start to beat faster. "Ddraig what are you doing? Answer me!"
The massive dragon doesn't answer as his body begins to crack while his crimson flames begin to form an egg around him.
"Ddraig!" Ophis screams his name.
A pair of flaming arms embrace her. "Trust my words. Your dream will be a reality so just believe in my words." The voice of the Welsh Dragon reaches out to her.
The dragon feels how the Welsh Dragon has begun to absorb her power into his body. Whatever he was doing was something that required her power. "... I'll allow it just this once," Ophis says. The loli closes her eyes and allows herself to be dragged into the embrace of her flaming protector.
The egg is completed. Three massive magic circles which represent Ophis, Great Red, and Ddraig's powers appear around the egg before they start to spin around.
Meanwhile, from a safe distance.
Yukime the egg from a safe distance while she held both girls under her arms.
"Yukime-san would you tell us what happen in there and what in the loving grace of the gods is happening with my "husband"?" Le Fay asks.
Yukime releases both of them. "I apologize but I needed to act quickly. He advised me to do this just before I left. Pay attention to what I'm about to tell you."
Flashback.
Yukime kept following the beast with four heads into the depths of this place until both of them saw what lay at the bottom.
"Is that a town?" Yukime asked herself.
The beast growled at her and Yukime took it as a sign to follow it.
Both descended into the streets of the town. Yukime's eyes wandered around for a few moments until her memories connected the dots.
"This is Kuoh town but it seems different from the one I know," Yukime said.
The beast growled at her.
"Right, we have to find him. Can you detect his scent?" Yukime asks the beast.
The four-headed beast shakes his heads.
"So no scent. Well, yours should be better than my own since I'm not a full flesh dragon. We should try looking for him at his house." Yukime says.
The pair departs and starts making their way to the house of Issei. As they were walking throughout the streets, Yukime notice a few things around.
The family names on some signs of the houses didn't match the information she had on the current Kuoh town. Their appearances also seemed different, the paint seemed newer. The old mailboxes that she had seemed were much nicer than the ones she saw in Kuoh before.
And then a particular set of extra houses alerted her senses.
"Those houses were destroyed to make way for the current chaos residence. This can't be the same Kuoh."
Her words had hit the right idea. As she speed up and reached the location of the chaos residence, she found a normal house.
"Hyoudou."
That was the name that the metal sign in front of the house.
"..." Yukime stayed silent.
The beast growled.
"I know." Yukime opened the metal gate and reached the front door. "Let's hope he's in here."
Yukime tried to open the door but instead, the door slammed open before she even got the chance.
"Mom, Dad, I'm going to play with Irina." A small boy said as he walked out of the house. It was a much younger Issei. The child seemed to be around the age of 5 or 6.
Yukime was expecting him to bump into her but the child pass through her like some kind of ghost. "..." Yukime stayed silent. Her mind was trying to connect the dots. "Follow him. I'll look in the house."
The beast nodded and sprinted after the child.
With the way clear, Yukime entered the family home. As soon as she went in she notice the particular aura of the place. "Warm….."
Photos hung from the walls which showed the family story. The early years before the marriage, some of the places the parents visited as a couple, the wedding, the daily lives of the couple, and finally the pregnancy of the mother.
"She seemed very happy and he seemed proud."
Yukime kept wandering around the house before she found books, toys, and other items that told her the story of the family that once lived in such a home.
"... The past…" Yukime's eyes wander to the stairs.
As she started to make her way to the second floor her mind ponder about what Issei must be feeling. As she climb each step her ears detected the screams of a boy.
Her eyes looked around but she saw nothing.
"The flames! It hurts!" The voice of a young child was heard.
"Issei! Where?" Her eyes kept looking around. The house changed for a second. The place was being consumed by the flames but it went back to its nicer form in a matter of milliseconds. "What is happening?"
Yukime rushed to the top of the stairs and wasted no time opening the door in front of her.
"This is…. It was his room." Yukime enters the room and starts to inspect it. "... A school uniform, a notebook filled with basic math….. A future that was taken away."
The items around the room were those that any child in that kind of home would have at that age. Yukime could feel the connection that Issei had to these things. As she continued to wander around the room she realized that something was missing.
"That wall… something was hanging from it. It had to be a large item based on the nail spot. A large item that could be in the room of a child this age….. A mirror? Why is the mirror missing?" Yukime wonder for a bit before the barking of the beast attracted her attention. "What could be happening?"
The girl rushed down the stairs and went outside the house. The barks became more intense with each second. Yukime followed the sounds as she jumped from one roof to another while trying to find the source.
It didn't take long for her to find a park and the reason behind the barking.
The beast was being attacked. Trees were being pulled out of the floor by an unknown force before being used against the beast. The beast kept jumping out of the way as it kept barking at the being that was doing this.
"Issei…. Hyoudou." Yukime's eyes fell on the child that was standing at a certain distance from the beast.
The child's eyes moved away from the beast and instead focus on her. The child lifted his hand and a tree was then thrown at her.
Yukime quickly jumped out of the way and reunited with the beast. "Stop this. We're not your enemies."
"... Get out of here. Leave me alone. I don't want to go back." Issei Hyoudou said.
"Issei Hyoudou where is the real you? We need him back." Yukime questioned the boy.
"I'm the real Issei. That other boy is a fake, someone that gave up on going back to our lives. Someone that never went back for Irina. He is not the real me. I want my life back. I want my humanity back. I want my family back to what it was. I hate all of you for taking that away from me. I hate Kokabiel, I hate the angels, I hate every single being that accepts that faker. I just want to be normal!" The boy screams his heart out.
As a living embodiment of the past that couldn't be saved. A living memory of the child that once was.
More trees are pulled out from the ground and they are used as weapons by the child to attack the duo.
The beast growls at the boy while Yukime stays silent but alert.
"These are your deeper feelings. The things that you have buried deep inside you. The side you couldn't accept… Issei."
Yukime and the beast evade the trees while trying to approach the boy.
"Get away from me. I don't want to go back!" Issei Hyoudou screams which create a wave of energy that pushes the duo away from him.
"So much pain." Yukime keeps her cool. "I'm sorry child but your wish can't become a reality. The past won't return and that is something that the real Issei knows."
"You're a liar."
"The real Issei has always known the truth and this desire of yours is just a remnant of his past. You're nothing but the guilt that he feels and the desire to go back to that past."
"Lies."
"You exist only because of the trauma that Ereshkigal brought back to the surface."
"Liar!"
The screams of the boy start to affect the area. Everything starts to change into a town filled with flames and ravish by destruction.
Yukime is surprised, to say the least, but her brain quickly thinks about something. "Pup please distract him. I need to see something."
The beast barks before it charges a projectile made out of its devil energy before shooting it against the boy.
"You damn dog!" Issei H. screams before going on the offensive once more.
Yukime takes this moment to rush back to the house at full speed. "Come on. Please work."
Time was against her and she needed to find the real Issei right now. As soon as she found the house the changes became apparent.
"The night of the fire." Yukime wasted no time in busting the door open and rushing inside. Everything was engulfed in flames. The pictures on the walls were nothing but ash at this point.
Yukime could feel the heat of the flames but she wasn't going to stay around and test if they were able to damage her or not. The girl quickly makes her way to the stairs and tries to reach the second floor. The stairs then start to stretch endlessly.
"Issei Welsh, can you hear my voice?" Yukime calls out to him as she tries to reach the door of his room.
Yet she did not receive any answer.
"Danmit Issei! You need to grab a hold of your emotions. You can't just throw away everything you have achieved. I know it's painful, I know you feel guilty about their deaths and everything else but you already accepted that you can't return to that life. Think about the lives you have affected since you came out of that egg. You have done so much. Your parents must be proud of the man you have become so come back to us. No parent would ever blame their child for the actions of somebody else."
The flames increase in intensity and somehow they start to chase after Yukime.
"Ddraig didn't choose you as a host, you have always known that. You didn't start the fire. Kokabiel was the one that did it but even then are you just going to let your anger consume you. Is that what you want to show your parents? Is this the example that you want Tosca to follow? Aren't you the enforcer of the alliance? The man in a child's body who has become a symbol that others believe in? Are you going to betray Tiamat's and everyone's else trust? Didn't you say that you're going to keep carving a path for others to follow? Answer me!"
Inside the missing mirror.
Issei was chained from head to toe with several chains. He was in some kind of burning cave in which the remnant of his past had put him. His body was filled with cracks that slowly spread out.
"You're not the real Issei." Those were the words of his past self as he chained him up in this place. His eyes were filled with anger just like his own. "You're only good for achieving vengeance against Kokabiel but you have failed to kill him. You fail to avenge them."
It hurt to hear those words because they were true. No matter how many copies he killed, Kokabiel just kept coming back.
His laugh, his face, everything just kept making him angrier with each second.
"Kill him, take revenge, avenge them!"
That little voice just kept ringing in his ear. The anger was just too much to control and Ddraig wasn't of any help.
Now he found himself trapped within his own cell. He felt so tired. So much anguish, it would be so easy to just stay here and let the other him enjoy his plastic fantasy which involves reliving his memories endlessly.
But then he heard her voice.
"Issei Welsh!" Yukime's voice was loud and clear.
"What are you doing here?"
"Issei!"
"Just let me stay in here."
He heard all that she said. He knew that she was right but it was so hard to accept it.
It is so hard to let go of the past. The anger. The grief. Just seeing Irina after so long hurt him even more. She wanted the boy from the past, the childhood friend and what he was…
"A dragon. Kid… I know it's not what you wanted. I know it might be hard for you to get used to this kind of life but if you hold my hand and embrace this path. It will be rough. There are going to be many challenges but I promise that you'll find happiness once more. A place where you belong. People for whom to care and love. So take my hand and never stop." Those were the words of Ddraig.
The words of his partner.
"Issei!"
As the boy open his eyes he saw the face of Yukime. She was trying to smash the mirror and free him from his chains. The flames were surrounding him and trying to immobilize her.
"Yukime!" Issei tries to move but the chains keep him in place.
"Issei!" Yukime screams. She smashes the mirror and but as soon as she does that she's dragged away by the flames.
"I won't let you get away, faker." The voice of Issei H. was heard.
"Yukime! Danmit!" Issei tries to escape the chains but his body is not strong enough. "I'm going to let someone else get hurt because of me?" His eyes twitch as he tried to escape the chains. "Not again!"
"Letting go of your humanity will be your hardest decision."
His skin begins to burn.
"There won't be a way to return to what you were."
His teeth become sharper.
"You're going to need to do it. Let go of the child form. Embrace me, embrace us and this power. Become a true dragon, Issei." The words of his partner.
He pushes himself to break the chains with all of his strength but his efforts are mostly in vain. "No! No! Danmit all to hell. This is not enough!"
Issei cursed his weakness and doubts. He had the power and yet he was holding himself back. He was still holding some attachments to his humanity and his former self.
He was so close to the edge but he was missing a final push.
And in his case, it was a long-lost memory. As his eyes watched the room before him, a particular one came back to him in this moment of desperation.
He remembers that day as he sat on that bet while crying after getting his legs injured due to a small fight with some kids in his neighborhood.
His mother was taking care of mending the cuts. "Stop crying, my boy. Injuries are temporal and although scars might last a lifetime you shouldn't keep crying due to them forever. Some pains don't go away that easily but you must never back down if there's something you need to protect. You protected Irina and you should be proud of that. So keep your chin up and don't betray your friends or allies. A man has to be determined and keep his face up in front of any challenge no matter how hard it might be."
Such were the words of his mother. Such a caring person that tried her best to raise him and protect him alongside her husband.
Tears fall from his eyes as he finds the final push he needed.
"Very well Ddraig, I won't doubt anymore. I'll let go of them and all my grief. I'll…. Let go of them for everyone's else sake." Issei looks into the ceiling. "I'm sorry. I… can't change the past. I can't bring any of you back. I can't become anything normal. I… let go of this anger so please forgive me for what I'm about to do."
The flames start to consume his body and before long his form starts to change. The shape of the boy is consumed by the flames and instead, a new one takes over.
"Yukime!" The armored Dragonoid roars as he breaks free from his chains and stands tall as a young adult. His voice had been altered drastically and no longer sounded like that of a boy.
Outside of the house.
Yukime and the four-headed beast were facing the remnant once more. The boy was standing in front of the burning house preventing either of them from going inside.
The remnant shakes in fear as his ears detected the voice of the real Issei. "Faker!" Issei Hyoudou screams as he turned around.
Issei Welsh pierced the ceiling of the house and landed in front of the boy. The house continued to crumble behind them. They were barely separated by a few meters from each other.
"Issei!" Yukime called out to him. He looked completely different but she knew it was him.
The eyes of two sides of a single coin meet each other's sight. A child that wanted the life he had lost back and the Dragonoid that had learned to embrace the cruel reality while also finding something else for which to live on. The tension was at its highest as neither made a move but their eyes clearly felt similar emotions and share a common pain.
"How can stand up and look at me like that after failing to avenge them? You, who has so much power is incapable of getting them back!" The child screams his grief at his current self.
"I can continue to kill that bastard for hours and hours but that won't make the pain go away, my past self. I always knew that. I also know that I can't and I won't try to bring them back. Life doesn't work that way. I cannot return to that kind of life. Is over, Issei Hyoudou and his parents died in that fire and nothing is going to change that." The Dragonoid replies.
"No! I deny all of you. I want my freedom. I want to go back to them. I want to enjoy my childhood with Irina. I want my school life back. I want it!" Tears rolled down his cheeks. The waves created by his screams shook the area.
"..." The Dragonoid started to approach his former self.
"Stay away from me." The child used his control of the area to attack the Dragonoid with different objects.
Cars, trees, debris, everything was being used as a way to stop Issei Welsh from getting close but it was all worthless. Everything melted on contact with him.
"I know. You…. won't accept me and I won't accept the dreams of going back to that life. If I did that I couldn't face Tiamat and the rest….. I'll cut those attachments from the core. As many as needed. Yukime, do what you need to do now. I entrust this to you!" Issei Welsh said.
"What are you-" Issei Hyoudou was interrupted by Yukime's action.
She cuts the distance between her and the target. She pierces the chest of her target and then looks into his eyes. "I'll try to leave at least something behind. I'll only take what's necessary."
"I trust you." Issei Welsh replies.
"What are you doing?" Issei Hyoudou asks. His body starts to disappear.
"I came here to take anything that could prevent him from being the Welsh Dragon. I'm going to take away his memories related to his parents and his life as a child. I'm going to "Steal Issei Hyoudou" from Issei Welsh." Yukime admits.
"No, no, no. You can't do this!" The child screams.
"... I have to continue. If I can't everything I have done until now would be for nothing. There's too much at risk and even if it pains me to do it, I'll accept this. I'll endure the pain." Issei Welsh admits with regret on his face. "I'm letting you go."
"No!" Issei Hyoudou screams before disappearing.
Yukime continues her work as she continues to take almost everything from Issei. Every memory attach to the boy that once was."... This will also affect Ddraig's memories but it can be reversed if you so desire."
"Keep them. Keep my past away from me for as long as is necessary. I don't know if one day I would be strong enough to embrace those memories again but I don't need them right now. I'll move forward with broken memories of the child I used to be. I'll entrust them to you."
Yukime feels the weight he is putting on her shoulders. "I'll protect them until the day you can get them back." She pulls her hand out and a family photo comes out.
*One Ok Rock- Broken Heart of Gold*
"Thanks," Issei says with tears in his eyes as his past disappears from his mind. His parents' faces, their names, the memories with them, and his grandparents disappear as well and many of the memories with Irina vanish alongside them. Something breaks inside of him as the empty spots left by those missing memories tell him that something important has been lost. "Yukime is best if you leave this place. Keep everyone away from my body. I'm going to go all out and finish any enemy that stands in our way."
Yukime nods. "Very well…. Remember you're not alone, Issei Welsh."
"I know. Now go."
Yukime looks up and starts to make her escape.
Issei looks around the crumbling Kuoh one last time. His chest hurts as he's unable to recall almost anything about this place. As he turns back to look at the house burning house that was once his, the pain becomes worse. "I can't remember… Irina? Who was.."
The four-headed beast gets close to him and starts to lick his hand.
The Dragonoid turns to the beast. "... It's ok. I still have them. They are my…. Family." The memories alongside the alliance are all that remains. The only pillar keeping his existence stable.
"Let's go." The duo makes their way up as the last remains of Kuoh disappear. His wings were taking him away from the past.
While they advance, Issei notices that the cracks along his body continue to spread out. "My soul…. It won't last long."
After a few moments, the Dragonoid and the dragon meet each other once more. The four-headed beast follows Issei right behind.
"Partner." Ddraig faces him.
"I know. I'm sorry that I kept you waiting." Issei replies as he approaches the dragon.
"The alliance needs us. There are many enemies and Mitsuya Kanzaki is a threat that we need to eliminate."
"We need that power. Infinity is not enough on its own. Shiva most likely wants zero deaths on our side so we need to make sure of that."
Neither of them acknowledges Kokabiel as a target while they talk.
"... I'll do what I can to keep both of our souls stable for now but we need to combine and form one that can endure the strain that is using all of this power. We're running out of time but I'll make it happen. I won't let us disappear."
"I know you won't. For now, there's a fight that we need to win. It's time to see if his visions will become a reality or not. I won't doubt anymore." Issei extends his right arm to the side. "I embrace the blessing of the true dragon, he who dominates as the strongest being." His face shows pain and yet the determination behind those eyes is unmatched by none at that point.
The crest of Great Red appears beside them.
Ddraig smiles and lifts its right claw. "I embrace the blessing of the Ouroboros dragon, the god of dragons, the child of the void whose endless power can destroy anything on its path."
The crest of Ophis appears on the other side.
"I am the Welsh Dragon, he who has been blessed by both of these beings. I will push the limits of my current self and obtain what seems impossible. For the sake of that which I wish to protect and my connection to those that live on Yggradsil, I won't admit defeat or show fear in the face of an enemy. I will overcome my weakness and carve the way into the future."
Their voices resonate with each other as the crest of the Welsh Dragon appears on top of them.
The husks of the previous booster gear users appear around them.
"Embrace it, the incomplete power that you're trying to achieve."
"The path has been chosen by you. Don't doubt and face the consequences."
"Your wings will bring salvation and destruction."
"Carve it into your soul."
"The power that could let you to ruin or victory."
"Go beyond Infinity!"
"Even if it might lead to your death."
Their chanting continues as the duo nod at each other. The path was cleared to them.
Flashback ends. Back to the real world.
"He did that for us?" Le Fay asks.
"Yes. He chose the present instead of the past. Such is the determination of Issei Welsh. Even if it is painful for him, he chose his current life instead of trying to go back to his former life." Yukime's sight turns to the egg. "He's truly someone that cares about those dear to him."
"Issei…" Le Fay feels her chest tighten after hearing what happened.
Meanwhile, Kanzaki.
His body felt the claws of death around his neck. His sight turned away from the battlefield and towards the planet that was being protected by his enemies.
"A lot of power is being accumulated around the Welsh dragon's last location." He ponders what might be happening for a second.
But his answer came soon with the roar of a beast that announced the beginnings of Ragnarok.
*Notes of the author: Sorry that it took so long. Been busy with other things. I'll see you next time.*