Hey everyone, it's me Hide Shinyama.
Five weeks since the last chapter, huh? I really have gotten slow.
Well, that is what happens when you slack off – and visit Hungary for a two-week Business Summer Course to get credits.
Anyway, the last chapter dealt with Sanma and his final battle with the Amazons in an epic battle. But what about Issei Hyoudou and Yuuto Kiba? Will they be able to put aside their differences and work together?
Find out in…
Chapter 65 – Devil and Dragon Talk
15th of November, Sunday, 3:40 am – Hotel Entertainment
Issei Hyoudou and Yuuto Kiba were walking down the stairs towards their destination. It was dark, due it being nighttime and the fact that the building was in ruins. That meant the lights did not work. Also, there was dust and cracks inside the building, something that was left in the aftermath of Issei's rampage against the German terrorists and Fallen Angels some time ago.
Also, it was silent. Only the sound of Issei's and Yuuto's footsteps could be heard echoing in the dark. Of course, nobody else was in the building since it was abandoned. But another reason for the silence was also the fact that both Issei and Yuuto were keeping quiet. The two of them felt awkward around each other. After all, the two of them were enemies of each other and had fought each other on several occasions.
The only reason why they had bothered to walk down together was because they had a common mission and a common goal that both were eager to fulfill – and that was to stop the Fallen Angels and Stray Exorcists from carrying out their plans.
They did not what the Fallen Angels were planning, but if someone like Kokabiel was there (a certified warmonger), then that meant that something bad was being planned there.
Still, Issei could not help but take this opportunity to talk to Yuuto. After all, they had nothing better to do on their way down.
"Hey, Kiba?" Issei addressed Rias' Knight.
"Yes? What is it?" Yuuto asked Issei.
"There's something I have been meaning to ask," Issei said to him.
"What is it?" Yuuto asked again, though he had a feeling that what Issei was going to ask was related to Rias' attempt to take him into her peerage.
"Why do you guys keep trying to get me? And why were you targeting Matsuda and Motohama the other day?" Issei asked him two questions.
'Two questions at once… a bit unexpected,' Yuuto thought to himself before answering. "It isn't for any bad reasons, Hyoudou-san. In fact, the real reason why she tried to recruit you into her peerage was because she saw potential for growth in you. She was hoping you would become a great Devil to accomplish great things as a member of the Gremory Family."
"Really?" Issei voiced skeptically. "That still does not answer why you targeted Matsuda and Motohama. So why?"
"We…" Yuuto fumbled at first before answering Issei. "We just wanted some answers out of them regarding you."
"You sure you didn't mean to use them as hostages to blackmail me into joining you guys?" Issei accused Yuuto somewhat subtly.
"No!" Yuuto quickly denied. "Rias is not that bad of a person as you think! In fact, every one of us is treated like family by her. Also, we could grow in ways that I could never imagine. It isn't as bad as you think."
"Really?" Issei relied still skeptically, though he decided to concede somewhat. "Well, perhaps you're right about Rias treating you well. But regardless, you still tried to kidnap me and my friends and take away our freedom without asking us. Also, I know that Devils like you have this Evil Piece System, which allows the masters to control their servants however they like. As far as I am concerned, those are more than enough reasons for me to reject her. I could never accept being under her – and neither would Matsuda and Motohama."
Yuuto was a bit offended by the accusations but decided to swallow any feelings of offense and change the subject.
"There is another reason why Rias wants you in our peerage," Yuuto continued answering Issei's original question.
"Oh? What's that?" Issei wondered with raised eyebrows-
"It's to get out of her engagement with her fiancé," Yuuto answered Issei.
"Hold the phone!" Issei exclaimed surprised at that. "She has a fiancé?"
Yuuto nodded. "Her fiancé is a member of a very powerful Devil family similar in status to the Gremory family. Both families agreed that she should be married to him, though Rias herself does not want to. To get out of the engagement she needs powerful peerage members to defeat his peerage in a Rating Game."
"What's a Rating Game?" Issei questioned.
"It's a game where two peerages fight each other in a battlefield. All peerage members have chess piece designations, each of which have their own specialties. In my case, I am a Knight. My specialty is speed. The winner will be the one where all the opponent's chess pieces are eliminated. Another way of winning the match is to defeat the opponent's King, who is the head of the peerage. In our case that would be Rias," Yuuto explained.
Issei said nothing at first for he was in deep thought.
'Getting out of a marriage she doesn't want? I guess I could understand that. But…' Issei thought to himself.
"Also," Yuuto interrupted Issei's thoughts as he continued explaining. "Our chances of winning are weak. Time is running short, which is why she is desperate to find someone powerful to join her peerage… So, when she found out that you were the holder of the Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor…"
"You decided that you had to get me into your peerage no matter what, right?" Issei finished what Yuuto was going to say. "Well, guess what? I don't care what justifications you may have for doing it, whether it be to escape from an arranged marriage or for some other benefits. What you guys tried to do to me – and my friends – was wrong. Plain and simple."
Yuuto sighed and made a Japanese apology bow.
"In hindsight… you are right. I apologize, Issei Hyoudou," Yuuto apologized with his head low.
Issei was feeling awkward at the sudden gesture and tried to persuade Yuuto to stop it.
"It's okay, it's okay… Please, lift your head… If you don't try attacking me, it's all cool – at least for you. As for the rest of your peerage, let them come later and apologize to us. We've got a mission to do after all…" Issei told Yuuto.
"I understand," Yuuto replied and lifted his head. "But I assure you that Rias is a good person. After all, I owe her my life."
Issei's interest piqued at that.
"Why is that?" Issei asked curiously.
"She saved my when I almost got killed many years ago," Yuuto answered as he remembered fondly at Rias' kindness.
"Almost got killed!?" Issei exclaimed surprised. "How did that happen? Were you hit by a truck or something?"
"No, nothing like that," Yuuto replied, as he chuckled at the image for a moment.
However, Yuuto's face turned serious as he continued.
"Maybe I should I explain from the beginning. In fact, this is related to our mission, so you probably should know," Yuuto said to Issei.
"The mission? Okay, out with it then," Issei urged Yuuto to tell his backstory.
Yuuto closed his eyes as he explained everything that had happened.
"I was raised as an orphan by the church. I, and a bunch of other boys and girls, were taught to trust and love the church and their leaders. We all hoped to grow up and become great servants and warriors of the church. One day, our wishes came true – or so it appeared," Yuuto's eyes darkened as he explained all this.
"What happened?" Issei pressed Yuuto on.
"The Holy Sword Project. We were told that we all could become candidates to wield Excalibur, the sword used by Arthur Pendragon himself. We were all gathered into a room for it, but then…" Yuuto trailed off at the end.
"Look, you don't have to say it if you don't want to," Issei tried to tell Yuuto.
"No, I want to. I insist," Yuuto insisted before continuing. "We were betrayed. The room suddenly filled with gas, killing everyone inside. I was lucky and managed to survive. I escaped those dogs in the church, though just barely. I was injured and was about to die. It was then that I saw Rias in the distance and asked her to save me. She agreed. And that is how I ended up becoming Rias' Knight. It has been years since I became a member of her peerage. Since then, I have trained under Souji Okita, Knight of her brother Sirzechs Lucifer, in the way of the sword. As time went by, I also awoke my Sacred Gear, too. I had waited, hoping that one day, I will be able to get my revenge on those that betrayed me and killed my friends!"
Issei shivered at how the well-manned pretty boy had turned murderously cold. He did not say anything for Yuuto was not finished yet.
"And now, the opportunity has finally come. When that letter came a few hours ago, I was shocked, elated and filled with fury all at once. I snuck out of the Gremory mansion at night and made it here where I met you. And now, I can get my revenge on that scum VALPER GALILEI AND ALL THAT HE HAS DONE TO US!" Yuuto shouted out at the end, making Issei flinch.
Seeing Issei flinch and looking at him with a startled expression, made Yuuto regain his composure.
"Sorry about that! I guess I got too caught up in the story," Yuuto apologized to Issei.
"N-no problem, man," Issei said dismissively. "Though, I have to say that… I'm really sorry you had to suffer through all of that…"
Issei meant what he said. He may have never been an orphan, but Yuuto had also lost those closest to him. And as somebody who had lost his parents, he could sympathize with him.
"Thank you, Hyoudou-san. By the way, I am also sorry about your loss," Yuuto said to him.
"Huh? What loss?" Issei wondered confused.
"Your parents. I heard you lost them a few months ago, right?" Yuuto sought to clarify.
"Oh, that is what you meant…" Issei said as he sighed sadly. "You know, given all the things I have been through… you might have as well been talking about… the other losses that I've had since then."
"Other losses?" Yuuto wondered.
"Yeah, I had to see my girlfriend leave…" Issei said as he thought about Sayori.
"…my friendly alien pet, Tomo die…" Issei continued as he thought sadly about Tomo.
"…and even the masses of villagers in the Underworld that had been slaughtered in the Underworld," Issei finished as he thought about the victims of the Devil bandits.
"Death… seems to follow wherever I go…" Issei said to Yuuto with a sad sigh.
"Hyoudou-san," Yuuto addressed him with sympathy. "I understand what you have gone through. In fact, the other members of Rias' peerage also went through a lot of tragedy in their life just like you and me."
"Oh?" Issei voiced curiously.
"Yes. Akeno Himejima, the black-haired girl, she saw her mother get killed and almost got killed herself because of her Fallen Angel father. Koneko Toujou, the short girl with White hair, suffered abuse from an evil master while her older sister went mad and ended up becoming a Stray Devil after killing her master. Also, there is Gasper Vladi who became a shut-in because his powers went berserk right after he was born, killing everyone inside the room," Yuuto explained.
Issei could not help but be shocked at the fact that all of them had such a tragic backstory, especially the one named Gasper. Everybody in the room died right after he was born? Did that include his parents? What on earth was Gasper that he could do such things at his birth?
Perhaps it was completely unintentional if Yuuto's words were anything to go by. But that just made it worse, did it not? Issei did not want to think further about it. Though, come to think of it, if Gasper was a shut-in that would mean that Issei had never seen him before.
"On another matter, I have to ask something," Yuuto spoke up.
"What is it?" Issei asked Yuuto.
"Who is Shinyama? And how does he know about me so well?" Yuuto sought to know.
"Huh?" Issei voiced confused.
"How does he know about things like my former name being Isaiah or that I am a victim of the Holy Sword Project? There are only a few people who know these things, so how does he know?" Yuuto wanted to know.
Issei was stunned at the questions Yuuto was throwing at him. He really did not know what to say at first. He thought a bit about it before speaking.
"I do not know to be honest. He has been a mystery from day one. Matsuda and Motohama found him once being captured by an evil succubus before he showed off his mysterious powers and helped them out. When we met him later, he had an apartment prepared for us and has also been helping us in fighting off bad guys, too."
"Is he, huh?" Yuuto asked.
"Yeah. Thanks to him, I and the others received a lot of physical and moral assistance from him. He even helped one of my friends deal with some serious personal issues he has in his life. I don't know what he is or where he is from. I do know this about him. And that is that he is a good man and will not put us under a magical slavery system or something like that or anything else unbecoming…" Issei declared firmly until he remembered the mission about kidnapping Zatouji, which made him falter somewhat.
"Well, mostly… he's just a bit bossy. That's the only problem!" Issei quickly added with flustered face.
Yuuto raised an eyebrow at that but decided not to press it. He did remember the fight against Shinyama with the rest of Rias' peerage, but he and the others got knocked out by Shinyama. Yuuto also heard that Shinyama had also knocked out Sairaorg, Sona and Tsubaki with ease. His strength was undeniably the real deal.
"I see…" Yuuto replied and left it at that.
While the two boys had spent their time talking, they both reached the bottom of the stairs to where the ground floor was. Like the other floors, it was ruined and dusty. But one major difference was that it had huge holes on the floor where one could look at the underground floor. But most importantly, what they also saw were…
"Stray Exorcists!" Yuuto whispered as he hid behind a wall out of sight with Issei right behind him.
Indeed. Right as they were approaching an entrance of some kind in the hallway, they saw two Stray Exorcists standing guard. There was no way to sneak around them despite the pillars in the hallway. To go further, the two Stray Exorcists had to be taken out.
"So, Shinyama's intel was correct. There really are Stray Exorcists. And where there are Stray Exorcists, the Fallen Angels cannot be far behind," Yuuto concluded.
"So, we've encountered our first opponents. Honestly, I expected to meet them on some of the floors above. What should we do? Any ideas?" Issei asked him.
"I'm not sure…" Yuuto admitted to his cluelessness on how to proceed.
Taking on two Stray Exorcists wasn't a problem. But there had to be many more of them just nearby. Rushing in would be suicide for that would alert the others and they would find themselves in a sticky situation.
[Oh, for crying out loud!] Ddraig suddenly spoke up with the Boosted Gear appearing on Issei's arm. [I've got a plan!]
"You are… Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor…" Yuuto voiced with wonder.
[Indeed, I am] Ddraig affirmed with pride.
"What plan do you have in mind?" Issei asked Ddraig.
[My plan is this. So, listen up. Use a stone and…] Ddraig said and revealed his plan.
15th of November, Sunday, 3:50 am – Hotel Entertainment
"Did you hear that?" asked one of the Stray Exorcists.
"Hear what?" asked the other Stray Exorcist.
"I thought I heard something over there," the first one said and pointed at an area with a pillar.
"Must be a piece of rubble that fell from the ceiling. This place is practically in ruins as it is," the second one dismissed.
"Maybe, but I still want to check it out," the first Stray Exorcist insisted.
"Do whatever you want," the second Stray Exorcist replied with a shrug.
And so, the first Stray Exorcist went towards the pillar carefully.
And just then, Issei jumped out!
"HURGH!" the first Stray Exorcist grunted as Issei seized him from behind in a chokehold and pinned him to the ground.
Issei proceeded to choke the man into unconsciousness.
"What the…!" the second Stray Exorcist voiced out surprised.
Unfortunately, he did not have much time to react. Yuuto rushed out from a pillar from the opposite end and ran the second Stray Exorcist through with his sword, thus killing him instantly.
"That went easy…" Issei said as he let go of the unconscious Stray Exorcist.
"I agree," Yuuto said as he pulled his sword out of the dead Stray Exorcist. "Thank you for the valuable advice, Red Dragon Emperor."
[No problem!] Ddraig said, his voice beaming with pride. [Now, let us move on to the next ones.]
"Well, it worked well thus far, so why the heck not?" Issei reasoned.
Agreeing with each other, Yuuto and Issei headed past the entrance where the two Stray Exorcists were guarding and walked a little further. There was a staircase at the other end of the hallway. But they also saw five more Stray Exorcists. The Stray Exorcists were sitting in the hallway and eating some bread.
Upon seeing them, Issei and Yuuto hid themselves behind another pillar nearby.
"Five of them. This is going to be more difficult than before. Will the same trick from before work?" Issei asked worriedly.
"I don't see any other choice if we want to get to where Valper and Kokabiel are without making a noise. So, will you do the honors?" Yuuto asked Issei.
"Sure," Issei nodded, while Yuuto rushed with the speed of the wind from one pillar to the next.
Issei did his thing. He threw another stone, making a sound that got the attention of the Stray Exorcists.
"Hey! What was that?" asked one of the Stray Exorcists.
"Let's check it out. We're told to be on guard for even the smallest of suspicious activities in the area," another Stray Exorcist said.
Thus, all five Stray Exorcists unsheathed their swords and guns and walked towards Issei's position.
'Dang it! All five are heading my way! You better do something, Kiba!" Issei thought to himself.
And sure enough, Yuuto did do something. Coming from behind…
[SLASH!]
…he speedily cut off the heads of two of the five from behind.
Hearing the slash of Yuuto's sword, the other three turned around.
[SLASH!]
But by then, Yuuto had cut off the head of the third one.
"YOU!" "DAMN YOU!"
[CLANG!] [CLANG!]
Both of the remaining Stray Exorcists cursed and swung their swords at Yuuto who parried their blows in time.
'The surprise has been blown…' Yuuto thought to himself with gritted teeth.
Before either Yuuto or the two Stray Exorcists could do any more, Issei rushed out from his hiding spot and seized the heads of both Stray Exorcists from behind. Yuuto quickly moved back to Issei…
"AGH!" "UGH!"
…smash their faces into the floor with cracks forming underneath them. Both were bleeding and did not move anymore. Whether they were dead or not, they did not know. But they certainly were taken out of the fight.
"That was a close one…" Issei said to himself. "…though I'm afraid it may have caused more noise than expected."
"Yes, perhaps. I am worried that this may alert others to our presence," Yuuto stated as he looked at the prone and dead bodies on the ground.
Sure enough, both Issei and Yuuto heard some footsteps coming from below.
"Not good! Let's get out of here!" Issei said to Yuuto.
Yuuto nodded and they both made their way to another part of the hotel's ground floor.
They ended up in the lobby where there were pillars and sofas in it along with a reception desk.
"Let's hide here and hope they will leave soon enough!" Issei said to Yuuto.
"Fine by me!" Yuuto replied and thus they hid. Issei hid behind the receptionist's desk and Yuuto right behind the door to the hallway.
"Search the intruders! They could not have gotten far!" they heard the voice of a Stray Exorcist say.
"Right!" "Yes!" "Understood!" several more men replied and spread out.
Two of the men could be heard walking towards the lobby. And when they entered with their swords unsheathed…
[SLASH!]
…Yuuto cut their heads off in an instant. Both bodies collapsed in an instant.
It was then that Issei noticed how bloodthirsty and cold Yuuto looked when he killed them, giving him the shivers.
[Revenge… It truly can make someone like him into a heartless killer] Ddraig commented.
Issei only nodded in response. Truth be told, Issei understood the feeling Yuuto had all too well. But seeing it in somebody else truly scared Issei. Revenge truly does make monsters…
"Let's get the rest of them…" Yuuto said, his bloodlust unabated.
Issei was stunned and did not answer, while Yuuto walked out of the lobby in his pursuit of the other Stray Exorcists.
[What are you standing around for, Partner? Follow him!] Ddraig urged Issei.
Issei awoke from his stupor and followed Yuuto out the hallway.
By then, Issei saw three more further down the hallway walking in a group. They did not notice Yuuto coming from behind them.
[SLASH!] [SLASH!] [SLASH!]
Within two seconds, Yuuto beheaded all three of them. The first one died failing to notice Yuuto, the second one did notice him but failed to draw his weapon in time. The third one had managed to unsheathe his sword in time but failed to use it in time before he was killed.
"Man, he is fast!" Issei remarked upon Yuuto's deadly efficiency.
Just then, two more Exorcists with guns appeared from an adjacent hallway coming right behind Yuuto. Upon seeing Yuuto, they aimed their guns at him. Neither of the two noticed Issei who was hidden from view behind them.
"Oh, no you won't!" Issei called out and rushed at them.
The two Exorcists turned around to see what the noise behind them was. But it was too late. Issei grabbed their heads and smashed them to the ground, killing them instantly.
As Issei looked up, he saw Yuuto was gone.
"Tch! This guy! Can't he wait up?" Issei said angrily, as he tried to catch up to him.
Issei took his time to make his way to where he had seen Yuuto last. Turning around the corner, it was there that he saw more bodies of Stray Exorcists that had lain beheaded or pierced through the torso on the ground. None of them were alive. Yuuto himself was nowhere to be seen.
"Dang it! Where is he?" Issei asked himself out loud.
[You better hurry! With how recklessly he is behaving himself, he might get himself killed!] Ddraig warned Issei.
"I know, I know! You don't have to tell me that!" Issei answered annoyed and stressed.
Issei ran, not caring about being seen by the enemy anymore.
"KEUK!"
"THERE HE IS! GAAAH!"
"HE IS TOO FAST! ARGH!"
Issei heard the sounds of exorcists calling out to their comrades before being slaughtered.
Issei was about to run over to where Yuuto was (he guessed he might be at the end of the hallway right around another corner).
Just then, he saw even ten more Stray Exorcists appear from another hallway and were trying to head to where Yuuto was with guns, swords and Sacred Gears brandished.
"HE'S OVER THERE!"
"HE'LL REGRET MESSING WITH US!"
Issei heard the Stray Exorcists yelling and realized with those numbers that close quarter combat was no longer optimal in this situation.
Thus, he readied the Boosted Gear.
[Boost!] [Boost!] [Boost!]
"Hmm?"
"What was that?"
Some of the Stray Exorcists heard some strange sounds coming from behind them and when they did.
[Dragon Shot!]
"ARGH!" "GAH!" WHAT!?" "NO!" "UAH!"
With cries of agony, all ten of them were burnt to a crisp.
Issei panted heavily, as he watched the Dragon Shot burn them down and destroy the wall at the end of hallway. With things being as loud as they were, he decided not to waste anymore time and headed over to the end of the hallway and turned at the corner.
What Issei saw a real battlefield. There were dead Stray Exorcists laying dead on the ground in the dozens with Yuuto inflicting several sword strokes on one Exorcist each (due to them blocking his strikes with their weapons before being cut down). Issei stood there in awe of Yuuto's fighting prowess until he saw the state Yuuto was in.
Yuuto was tired and even injured. Also, some of the Stray Exorcists had shot him with their guns and even managed to injure Yuuto in the shoulder.
Just as Yuuto managed to cut down the newest Stray Exorcist…
[BANG!]
…he was hit with a bullet in the side, making him fall on one knee.
"KIBA!" Issei cried out in shock.
This got the attention of the five Stray Exorcists that remained standing. They turned their weapons towards Issei.
"Oops…" Issei realized his mistake as he readied himself for battle.
But unexpectedly, Yuuto (despite his injuries) used whatever remaining strength he had left to stand up rush at the distracted Stray Exorcists.
[SLASH!]
With one stroke, he slashed off the heads of two Stray Exorcists.
This caused the other three Exorcists to turn around in surprise.
"A chance!" Issei cried out.
[Boost!]
Issei rushed forward and struck down one of the distracted Stray Exorcists with his fist. The Stray Exocist landed with his head on the ground first, leaving him in a coma.
This move got the Stray Exorcists' attention back to Issei, leading one of them to attack Issei with his sword. Issei jumped back to avoid the strike.
With two Stray Exorcists left in the fight, the one facing Yuuto parried another strike with his sword and pulled out his gun.
[BANG!]
"AAAAAGH!" Yuuto cried out as he was struck in the stomach this time.
Yuuto fell and landed on his back.
"DAMN IT!" Issei cursed and fired another Dragon Shot at both of Stray Exorcists.
[Dragon Shot!]
Both Stray Exorcists cried out as they were burned to death by the powerful beam.
The fight had ended.
"You stubborn fool…" Issei cursed as he approached Yuuto to see if he was alright.
Issei saw that Yuuto was breathing quickly and was in immense pain. He seemed conscious.
Issei was about to do something to aid him.
Just then…
[BANG!]
"GUAH!" Issei cried out as he, too, had also been struck by a bullet to the side.
Issei collapsed on his back, as he groaned from his injury.
[Partner!] Ddraig cried out in worry. [Are you alright!?]
"Does it look like I'm alright… ouch… Who…?" Issei voiced in pain.
Just then, he saw the culprit come out of the shadow.
"You…!" Issei voiced out in shock and pain for he recognized the man that appeared before him.
"Long time no see, Issei Hyoudou, was it?" a familiar German accent addressed him.
The man was none other than the German terrorist that was responsible for the incident at Hotel Entertainment and had participated in the exploration of planet SR388. He was also in cahoots with the Fallen Angels, especially the one named Dohnasseek.
That man was known as the Boss.
And coming right behind him were his assistants Hans and Torben.
"You probably never saw this day coming, did you?" the Boss said while making small smirk. "But my boys and I have been waiting a long time for this. I figured somebody had entered the premises after all that commotion. Of course, we had to bide our time to catch you off guard. So, my boys and I had to stay hidden until the right time came – the moment when you let your guard down. And what better moment would that be other than the moment you think all your attackers are dead?"
Issei gritted his teeth in pain and anger. It made tactical sense to do something like that. But that also meant that he watched his comrades die to both Issei and Yuuto before making a move. Such a heartless man!
"Well, anything to win. Right, boys?" the Boss asked Hans and Torben, both of whom nodded in agreement.
The Boss walked up closer to Issei and stood over him. He aimed his gun at Issei's head.
Issei glared at the Boss frustrated.
"But now, it is time to say goodbye, Issei Hyoudou," the Boss said to him just before pulling the trigger.
[BANG!]
A shot rang out in the Hotel – lethal one at that.
But the one who received the gun shot was not Issei.
The Boss suddenly clutched his chest. The blood seeped into his shirt as he did so.
"How…? You…!" the Boss stammered out in shock and fell to ground lifelessly.
"BOSS!" "NO!"
Hans and Torben cried out and turned to one of the hallways (where they thought the shooter might be).
[BANG!] [BANG!] [BANG!] [BANG!] [BANG!]
They fired shot after shot only to realize that nobody was in that hallway.
What both Hans and Torben did not realize was that Issei and Yuuto had taken this opportunity to take some of the guns lying nearby. Issei took the Boss' gun and Yuuto took one from the Stray Exorcists.
Although they both had never used a gun before, they had no problem using them. They aimed at Hans and Torben, while they were looking around for the shooter.
[BANG!] [BANG!]
"UGH!" "AGH!"
Both Hans and Torben were shot and followed their boss to the afterlife.
"Ugh… Kiba?" Issei said to Yuuto.
"Yes, Hyoudou-san?" Yuuto replied.
"Don't ever run off on your own like that…" Issei told him.
Yuuto just nodded at that before looking around.
They were saved – and that only by sheer luck. If it were not for that mysterious shooter, they would have been dead.
But the question was: Who was the shooter?
As if to answer the question, a person suddenly appeared out of thin air and stood right in front of Yuuto.
"Who…?" Issei voiced out confused.
"You are…!" Yuuto voiced out in shock.
"H-hold on! I-I'll help you Kiba-senpai!" a voice Issei had never heard before spoke to Yuuto.
Issei looked up and saw a platinum blonde girl wearing the uniform of Kuoh Academy standing by Yuuto. He took out a magical ball and made it glow. Upon doing that, Yuuto's injuries started to heal up, allowing to stand up.
"Thanks!" Yuuto thanked the girl. "Heal Issei over there, too. He needs just as much help as I do."
"Y-y-yes, senpai!" the girl replied and headed over to Issei.
"Who is she…?" Issei asked himself.
Judging by the uniform, this girl was from Kuoh. And seeing how she is here and had a healing item with her, he figured she was one of Rias' peerage members. But who was she?
As the girl stood over him and activated the healing orb, Issei felt himself recover. His body felt rejuvenated as his injuries disappeared.
Issei stood up and looked at the girl in amazement. Then he nodded his head and smiled.
"Thank you," Issei politely said to the girl.
The girl flinched upon being addressed and disappeared into thin air.
"Huh? Where did she go?" Issei wondered in surprise as he looked around.
[Partner, she is over there behind Kiba] Ddraig pointed out.
Indeed. The girl was hiding a good distance behind Yuuto.
Yuuto turned around to speak to the girl.
"What are you doing here? In fact, how are you out of your room?" Yuuto asked the girl.
"I… I was told to come here," the girl answered shyly. "It happened about yesterday…"
The girl thought back to the moment that changed her entire life.
"I was inside my room when all the sudden a man appeared inside my room," the girl recounted.
"What!?" Yuuto exclaimed. "How is that possible? Your room is magically sealed, right?"
The girl nodded her head.
"Yes, but somehow, he managed to get in. I tried to freeze time and escape, but he seemed immune to it. I was so scared that I did not know what to do. I thought I was going to die. And then he said something to me," the girl recounted.
"What? What did he say?" Issei asked this time while trying to approach her.
This made the girl flinch fearfully from Issei, making the latter stop.
"Don't be scared of him. He won't hurt you. Please continue," Yuuto told the girl.
The girl nodded and continued her story.
"The man told me that you two were in danger and that only I could save you. I was so scared. I told him that I was absolutely the wrong person. But he insisted that I was the only one. He told me that my time freezing abilities were the only way of saving you both. I really did not want to. I even told him that I was terrible at using my powers. I told him that but… the man told me that all I needed to do was use the powers that I already had and… to use this healing orb and… this…" the girl explained while showing a gun.
"So, you were the one who…" Yuuto realized in shock and awe.
The girl nodded.
"Yes, it was not easy… Also, the man told me that I had to get to this place called Hotel Entertainment by myself and get there by around this time. He even showed me the location himself. I told him I could not go outside because I was scared. The man said to me which was worse. Either it was living in comfort and peace while knowing that two people would die tonight or leave my comfort zone and save two people. Before he left, he told me that you were one of the two people and told me that Rias-senpai would be truly sad if you died…" the girl trailed off at the end at the prospect of disappointing Rias.
Issei could not help but feel for this girl. This girl seemed to be a shut-in and also just got out after who knows how long she had been stuck in her room.
"Such courage…" Issei mumbled to himself.
"I thought about and decided that going out to save you was something I had to do. I told the man I wanted to do it. He told me that about 11 pm this night that the seal would be unlocked and that I could go then. He vanished soon afterward. I mustered all my willpower to leave the room and run all the way to Tokyo and enter the building. That was when I saw you two lying injured and bleeding and well… I can't believe I managed to do something like that…" the girl said as she looked at the gun in her hand.
Yuuto walked up to the girl and nodded at her with a smile.
"I don't know what to say, except… You saved our lives. What you did made you the bravest person in the whole world," Yuuto said to the girl.
"Th-th-thank you… Kiba-senpai…" the girl stammered out.
Issei also smiled.
"He's right," Issei spoke to the girl. "What you did today will never be forgotten. You saved our lives, and we cannot thank you enough."
The girl blushed furiously upon hearing that.
'This girl is so cute…' Issei thought to himself with a grin.
"Gasper, you were the greatest today!" Yuuto complimented the girl once more.
"Oh, no… I was just…" Gasper fidgeted shyly from the praise.
"Gasper?" Issei voiced confused. "Isn't that the name of one of your peerage members?"
Yuuto nodded. "Yes, Gasper is the one I told you about earlier. Gasper, this is Issei Hyoudou, the current Red Dragon Emperor. Hyoudou-san, this is Gasper Vladi. Gasper is the holder of the Sacred Gear Forbidden Balor View which specializes in time-stopping. He is very shy which is why he was a shut-in for the longest of times, which makes it a miracle he is even out here with us."
"Time-stopping? So that is why you vanished like thin air!" Issei exclaimed impressed.
And just then, his mind froze upon realizing something.
"Umm… Kiba?" Issei asked Yuuto.
"What is it?" Yuuto asked Issei.
"Did you just say 'he'?" Issei asked Yuuto.
"Yes. Even though he looks like that, Gasper is actually a boy," Yuuto revealed to him.
Issei said nothing as he looked at Gasper with widened eyes.
Gasper took a few steps back as Issei stared at him.
And after a few seconds after the shock had hit him…
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?" Issei screamed in shock to the heavens.
And that was the Chapter 65 of The Lone Vigilante Issei.
Now about this chapter.
It was expected that after all the enmity between Issei and Rias' peerage that the two of them would argue. But it was also a time to get to know each other better and we all know Yuuto Kiba's backstory. I must admit it has been a long time since I read the light novel or read any High School DxD fanfiction, so I had to refresh my memory on what actually happened to Yuuto.
Also, I had to finish up the loose ends of the story with the German terrorists. I have to say it was a bit anti-climactic how I let them go out, but I did not know of a better way to do so. Plus, I think they outstayed their welcome a bit in my mind.
Finally, there is the plot twist with Gasper Vladi. I have to say that bringing in Gasper into the story at this point was something I came up while writing this chapter. I know that Gasper is a whole lot more afraid of people in the original story, but I wanted to make him a bit more courageous in this fanfiction.
But now that he is in this with Issei and Yuuto, how will he fare when dealing with Kokabiel and his minions? This will be an immense test on Gasper's courage.
Stay tuned for the next chapter to find out.
In the meantime, what did you think of this chapter?
Did you like it?
Please read and review, I would like to hear from you.
And as always, I hope to see you around next time.
Until then.
Hide Shinyama
