Chapter 1
Issei had planned everything. From the moment he arrived to the moment, he would awake the following day. His date with Yuuma was his first ever, and he wanted to please by showing his lack of experience in the area. He looked up several articles on where to take her, consulted the Lover's Manual on what to talk about and flirt, and even took an idea for his outfit from one of those cheesy high school romance movies. He didn't want to screw it up. Not when this girl had gone out of her way to ask him out.
The brunette wouldn't call himself popular. No, he was far from it. He was as unpopular and disliked as any person could be. And who could blame him? He was a pervert, a big tit-loving pervert. He was outcasted at school with two other perverts to call friends. He was beaten daily by the Kendo Club for spying on them, avoided like the plague, and criticized for everything he did. Hell, his parents constantly reminded him that they wished for another child.
But now that he had Yuuma, maybe that could change. He could take a chance ogling only at her. She didn't seem to mind by the way she flaunted her assets throughout the date, whether purposeful or not. Hopefully, his parents would approve as well. School life would improve since he would no longer peak. And maybe, just maybe, it wouldn't be long before he no longer needed porn.
That wasn't important right now.
The date itself went off without a single hitch. They did a little window shopping, tried on some clothes, ate at a nice restaurant, and did typical date stuff. Yuuma laughed at his jokes, smiled, held his hand, and wore the cute bracelet he bought her. All while he was on his best behavior, making sure not to leer too long or too obviously. He did pretty well for the first time.
But all good things do come to an inevitable end. Both seem troubled by the knowledge of the fact. The sun was setting, they were walking back to the residential district, and both were tired from the long, exciting day.
The couple made their way to a fountain through a small park. Yuuma hooked her arm around one of Issei's, leaning her head against his shoulder as they stepped. Issei felt content, removing many cliche date moments from his bucket list. This, however, was the best so far. But as they grew closer, his girlfriend relinquished the appendage, much to the boy's dismay, and skipped ahead before spinning on her heel back towards him.
"Issei, I had a great time today," Yuuma chirped. Her smile was bright, and her eyes were squinted in glee. "It was so much fun."
Issei smiled back, bashful. "Thanks, Yuuma. I had a nice time as well."
Their eyes met, and a blush adorned their cheeks. Issei looked at her as a whole. She was stunning, with the water spouting behind her and the sunset glistening in the background. Her eyes seemed brighter, and her skin glowed with a bright radiance.
"Issei..." Yuuma spoke up, pulling him from his staring. How could he not? She was like an angel. "I want to make this a day we won't forget. Make it a memory we cherish for the rest of our lives."
Yuuma took a step, and Issei audibly gulped.
'Oh no, is this where we...' His mind began to run. 'B-But I didn't bring any condoms. Will I forget how to stroke? Will she use her mouth or...'
Yuuma took another step. This one is louder than before. At least to Issei, it was.
"Issei, will you do something for me?"
His heart leaped into his throat. It was coming. He needed to answer confidently. He had watched enough porn. He was ready for this.
"Yeah, sure? What is it?" he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
She cast a glance to the side and squirmed a little in place. The brunette found it adorable. But when she looked back, the deep want and desire made her look sexy. Little did he know what that want was.
"Would you...die for me?"
Issei's brain screeched to a halt, his body not that far behind. The words were slow to register, and when they did, they were unbelievable, so much so that the poor boy laughed at what he thought was a joke.
"...Haha, that's a good one, Yuuma..." He had to get used to laughing at her jokes. As a good boyfriend should.
"Oh?" she said, tipping her head. "But I wasn't joking…" Issei froze again. His eyes widened as he watched a sinister smile spread across the girl's face. "I'll repeat it if you didn't get it the first time. Would you please die for me?"
Then, Issei saw something he would never forget. Two black wings erupted from Yuuma's back. They were like a crow's wings, several feathers fluttering against the ground, landing delicately at her feet. And yet, no matter how many fell, it didn't look like she genuinely lost them.
Issei's jaw dropped. It moved to try and form words, but nothing but air came back. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was right before his eyes, but his brain had difficulty registering it. The idea that something like this existed. He didn't mean for her to be an angel literally—significantly, not a fallen.
"I had a lot of fun these last few days," she giggled. It was mockingly. "You're a real sucker, you know that? You made my job so much easier."
She raised her hand, and a flash of light appeared in her palm. It took shape, morphing, thinning, sharpening. It didn't take a genius to realize what the light had been formed into. And it nearly made Issei's heart skip a beat as the tip of a spear was aimed in his direction.
It was a second between her raising the spear and Issei's legs finding a feeling once more. Fear was one of many fuels for the body. And in that moment, it was Issei's drive to turn and run. A mistake he found out too late.
The feeling of a solid object piercing through him was foreign. It went in his back and out his chest with ease. He watched it in slow motion, null to the world around him. The spear was clean of blood, the splash it drew out splattering onto the walkway. It was hard to register that he was looking at his blood.
Then, pain struck. Never had he known such a level of pain before. Adrenaline had numbed the initial contact, but now, all he could feel was pain. The force had knocked him off balance. He tripped and stumbled, trying to keep his feet under him. The pavement came, and he twisted himself, falling onto his side hard and skidding across the ground. It hurts but pales compared to the pain still resonating in his chest, spreading throughout his body. He couldn't stop shaking as every nerve screamed at him in agony. Was this what dying felt like?
The spear faded into particles, and blood pooled from the holes in his chest and back. He never realized just how much blood the human body held. It was so red and thick, yet he could see his reflection. It was so red, no, crimson. Just like...
"If you want to blame someone for this, blame God. After all, he gave you the Sacred Gear."
Yuuma hovered over him, a toothy sneer splitting her face. She seemed much more mature, but he could see the visage of the girl who asked him out. The girl he spent the day with. YuumaThis face of sadistic glee now accompanied her. How were they the same person?
"All always remember our date, Issei. I did have a wonderful time fooling you." Yuuma, no, this monster held up the bracelet he bought her. Her face morphed back to Yuuma's for a split second, and she smiled sweetly. "I will cherish this. A souvenir in your memory." Then, the monster was back, and she cackled one last time.
With that, the woman spread her wings and took off. Leaving Issei on his own, left to die. Lost, afraid, and hurt. Not just physically but mentally as well. He didn't want to die but found himself unable to fight the cold setting in. He was growing tired and growing weak. The world around him was dimming, black seeping in from all around. The light slowly faded, and his breaths began to lessen and lessen. The pain was starting to numb, but so was the rest of his body. He couldn't help how heavy his eyes were but kept them open as long as possible. Whether it was hope for a miracle or because he was that stubborn, he didn't know.
Issei reached for a handout but lost the strength soon after. It fell over, and with it, a slip fell next to him. He could barely turn his head to see what it was. It was the weird flyer that the woman had given him earlier. It had said something about a wish. He didn't care to think about it, but, with him dying, he humored the question.
What did he want..?
Red. No, crimson flashed before his eyes.
If only he could see the beautiful sight that was Rias Gremory's boobs. He used what little strength remained to reach for the paper.
Three inches. Two inches. One...
Flash!
Gasp!
Issei's eyes shot open, and he gulped in his biggest breather. His eyes bounced around but couldn't land on anything in particular. The boy saw nothing around him. He felt nothing, nor could he hear anything. There were no signs of life, or even material for that matter. There was just nothing surrounding him, let alone anyone. There was only the endless abyss with him just floating around inside of it. It was an empty void of black mass, and he couldn't be sure if it were because there wasn't any light specifically where he was or if there wasn't any, to begin with.
Slowly, it dawned on him. He had died not too long ago. He tried to reach for that piece of paper but was unsure if he got it. But judging by the fact he wasn't anywhere familiar and he couldn't feel anything, the slip was obviously fake, and he died, or he fell short.
The teen looked down to see his clothes mended. He guessed he got to keep his clothes in the afterlife. Good, if he were to go wherever after death was, he'd instead not be forced to wear that white tunic all those paintings depicted of Heaven. Nor would he rather be nude and in chains like similar paintings depicted Hell.
In a moment of curiosity, Issei decided to lift his shirt. His eyes widened at what he saw, making him gulp a dry wad of air. There was a large scar on his chest. It looked like it was mended, too, but it would never fully heal. Neither would the image he had of Yuuma. Or that monster she seemed to mask underneath. There was a tingling, unpleasant sensation from the scar, and he pulled his shirt back down. Out of sight, out of mind, right?
...
...
...
So he was dead... How would people react to his death? Would they genuinely mourn for him? Or would they cheer that the stain on life died? His parents always talked as if they regretted having such a perverted son. Everyone at school essentially avoided him like the plague. Girls knew of him no matter where he went and were disgusted by him. It wouldn't be too far-fetched that people would dance on his grave rather than pray. He shouldn't expect flowers, either.
It was best he focused on what lay ahead. So he took a shaky breath, unsure if it was nerves or the sad reality that struck him. But as he exhaled, he again took in the black around him.
"So this is my afterlife then..." He mumbled to himself.
The brunette reached out, trying to find anything solid, but his hands kept grabbing air. He tried to step forward, but no floor was beneath his feet. They just danced back and forth beneath him. It didn't feel like he was moving forward or backward, either. Neither did it feel like he was falling or rising. So where exactly was he?
"You are in limbo, my son." A voice spoke up. It was intense and very masculine, booming throughout the void.
"W-What? Who are you? Who's there?" Issei asked, caught off guard by the abrupt addition of another.
"Who am I? I've gone by many names over vast lifetimes. I've had many forms and have done many things upon this rock. I have even appeared as male, female, animal, and plant before many of your kind."
Issei's eyes widened, and he felt his left hand twitch. He quickly noticed a conflict of anger and fear radiating within him. It was a part of him but at the same time separate. But it knew this new arrival, and, somehow, Issei knew too.
"Y-You're...God," he muttered in awe.
In response to his answer, a bright white light filled the void and brightened the area surrounding the teenager. It didn't hurt his eyes despite staring directly at it. No "heat" radiated off it, yet it seemed to provide a cloak of warmth and comfort that enraptured the boy.
As the light faded, it revealed a figure. An older man, easily surpassing Issei's age five times over. He was balding at the top, with white hair on the sides, a long snow-white beard, a little too muscular for His age, and dressed in an exquisite and expensive-looking white tunic.
"For a child of Japanese descent to know of me. That is very good and makes things much easier."
Issei couldn't help being in awe at the power radiating from the being before him. He still found his mouth functioning, and words flowed without much thought. "Yeah, my old friend, Irina, was a strong follower of the Christian religion. She made sure I knew of your work, too."
"Ah, yes, Irina Shidou. Very good, very good. I can cut to the chase without explaining who I am. You have died, Issei Hyoudou."
This confused the boy, and his eyebrows knitted to reflect that. "But didn't you say that I didn't die?"
God merely stroked His beard, unaffected by the question or didn't show it. "Yes, you would be both right and wrong. You died, but you aren't dead."
Issei blinked twice. "That makes no sense...your Holiness."
"To a mere mortal no. But to us gods, it is a thing we've come to know of and prepare for."
"Wait, gods? As in more than one?"
"Yes, but don't worry about such things. We have much to discuss and little time to discuss them."
Issei shut his mouth. If what God was saying was true, he was somehow still alive. He was dead but wasn't finished. Didn't that mean Issei was active and not alive? Whatever that meant, it was obvious He wasn't here to chat idly, especially if the urgency in his tone was anything to go off of.
"Now, to start, the world you have known, my dear Ise, has ended."
There was a long pause. God was surprisingly patient as he watched many emotions dance across the boy's face. Confusion, disbelief, anger, sadness, back to confusion, then shock.
"W-What!? Wait a minute! Ended!? What do you mean it ended!?"
God nodded His head, understanding of the child's outburst. "I am afraid your world has ended in every sense of the word, my child. Chaos was brought forth, many lives were lost, many beings were awakened and enraged, and it was only a matter of time before the world you knew was obliterated. Without you, it was only a matter of time before such rifts of reality were torn open and the world was driven to its demise."
"What!? But how!? What would I have done that kept the world together!?"
"More than you could have ever imagined. All for the people you love and tits. Lots and lots of tits." God had spoken with an insurmountable amount of pride. For the first sentence. The rest, however...
Issei couldn't believe the words coming from God's mouth. God is the one and only, well, not so much anymore. But still! He was the Almighty. After all, he survived the destruction of his world.
"I saved my world simply for tits?"
"And for the life of your family, friends, and the people you swore to protect. Several times. It was awe-inspiring but mentally scarring. Thank me that I'm a god, or I'd have been embarrassed for you with all the boob squishing, nipple poking, tit sucking, and God know what else. But I've seen such things so often that I've become somewhat used to it—still, tits of everything. I gave them to women on a whim, yet it has continuously created mighty men through many ages, timelines, and universes. So many heroes and villains, all for two mounds of flesh. Ha ha, I don't know whether to pat myself on the back or kick it."
A heavy blush of shame and embarrassment colored his entire face. He had God questioning his decisions when he first created man. He wasn't the only one, but the one God stood to speak out to after so many centuries of silence.
Still, Issei didn't think his obsession with boobs would save the world. Let alone multiple times. Maybe his grandpa was on to something after all. Even more so still, it WAS a pair of boobs that also killed him. So they could be his greatest strength and his greatest weakness.
"Back to the topic at hand," God spoke up. Issei turned his attention back to the older man. "As the world was ending, the system I created, the system that held the very fabrications of the world, the reality you knew, was destroyed in the process. With it, many unspeakable things happened across the world." God looked away. His eyes were clouded with pain, regret, guilt, and sorrow. He was mourning; that which He created was no more. All because what He made destroyed what He made. Due to selfishness, greed, envy, and sadistic satisfaction. It was unbelievable for Issei to imagine what He went through and still have the strength to carry on. How could anyone cope after watching what was essentially his children kill each other?
"Many died, many went insane, many wept, and many felt just angry. All before, the world you once knew was completely wiped. And who do you think that was all pointed at, Ise?" The boy didn't answer, but the being already knew he knew. "They didn't blame each other. No, no, they were too smart for their good. They are too righteous to blame one another for going to war. No, they blamed me, Issei. They blamed the God who abandoned them. Who left them free to create and destroy as they wished."
"..."
"I didn't give my angels free will. They succumbed to corruption and fell, one by one. My most trusted became the devil and waged war against me because I chose humans over angels. The other Pantheons stayed away; dragons did as they wished and were hunted; my children, your kind, fought amongst one another. Devils, angels, fallen, and beasts hunted them and continued to fight each other and the other species. I created them with free will, which led to them fighting, no matter who it was. It led to them being hated and sought after for childish games, unifying the supernatural against them to play childish games. So, I created the Sacred Gears to allow humans to live how they wished. To try and hold that freedom I dreamed of. And look how that turned out. My greatest project, my greatest achievement, the things and people I loved turned against one another and eventually killed everything I created. Every. Little. Thing."
The teen noticed something appear in the older man's hands. A doll burned and blackened. He watched God rub Him affectionately over it as if it was his daughter who once held the plush toy. And, in one way or another, it was. He was mourning.
He then remembered God's words and how they reminded him of Yuuma and her final words. "Wait, Yuuma, my girlfriend-"
"She was no such thing, Issei." The toy disappeared, and the being turned back to the boy. His eyes were hard, no longer carrying the sadness from a few moments ago. "She was a fallen angel sent to kill you and another. She tricked you, gained your trust, toyed with you, wrapped you around her finger, and ended you."
Issei swallowed a lump in his throat. The words rang in his head, but he pushed them out in favor of a bigger question. "What happened to her?"
God sighed, exhaustion marring His face. "She was stripped of her powers for disobeying direct orders from her leader. Her wings were ripped off, her magic sealed, and she was reduced to a human. She was punished by becoming that which she hated, used, and abused. Fitting, in my opinion."
Issei felt his blood run ice cold. Had he been that important? She was essentially stripped of who she was as a person—Yuuma or not, to be deprived of something that defined her. Issei couldn't imagine losing all she had when she was born. She was losing her wings and her powers, essentially becoming like him. He hated feeling useless, so he couldn't fathom applying to becoming anything.
"But as I have stated, we shouldn't worry about that world. Your world is gone, stripped from the face of reality. Many gods have fled, others dead amongst those of that world. It is gone."
"What of the other gods in my world? The ones who ran. Surely even they-"
God raised His hand. "Wherever they have gone, I do not know. There are millions, billions, even trillions of other worlds. The odds of finding them are extremely slim because the world they once inhabited no longer exists. They hope to find others, rebuild, and find a new life. And we still have much to discuss about your next steps, Issei."
"Ah, yes, I'm sorry to ask so many questions." Issei bowed his head, and the older man nodded in acceptance.
"Now, you are here due to the troubles another world faces. Very similar to what yours had gone through." Issei looked perplexed, but God continued to clarify. "This world has been plagued by creatures known as Grimm. The Grimm have hunted and killed humans, not as a need to feed but merely out of instinct and order."
"Order? How is any of that order?"
"Have humans ever seen eye to eye in your world?"
Issei paused and gained a troubled look. It was an easy answer. "No. I wouldn't say so. We still have...We had wars and problems amongst one another despite the want for peace."
"This world shares similar issues. The Grimm was created by one of the gods who ruled it in an attempt to bring humankind together. The common ploy was creating a common enemy to unite the people. It did not, and humanity continues to fight amongst itself over the same trivial matters your kind had."
"Wait, you didn't create this world?" Issei asked.
"No, it wasn't. Many primordial gods, such as I, have created worlds and taken their attempts at creating humanity. This one is still relatively new, made by two gods."
"Two!?"
"Yes, twin brothers, actually," God nodded. "Similar to me, they spoke and communicated with the humans initially. However, they were much closer and face-to-face with humanity. They gifted them magic, knowledge, and wisdom when asked. Until an incident drove the two sides apart."
God had a reminiscing look. He remembered something from his past. His lips thinned, the wrinkles on his forehead creased, and his eyebrows furrowed deeply. It is evident to Issei that it wasn't a pleasant memory.
"Humanity eventually turned on the brothers. The two made a mistake after mistake, leading to humanity's distrust in them. And instead of realizing where they went wrong, they blamed the humans, killed most of them, and left the world in shatters." God stroked His beard and showed a hint of emotion disdain. "They cowered before their duties and left. They were leaving humanity to fend for itself. And every day, their chances grow slimmer and slimmer to survive. For they still fight amongst each other, and the Grimm continue to hunt and kill."
"Didn't you do such a thing when you caused the worldwide flood? Grimm aside, you took out a majority of life on Earth. And when humans turned on you and killed your son, you stopped communicating with them directly."
God turned to the brunette. His old, pale blue eyes narrowed in a piercing glare aimed at the boy. It made Issei want to take back what he said and crawl into a hole to try and hide. But with only the blackness of the abyss, he was left to float under the powerful gaze of a god who could quickly kill him. Or leave him dead-dead. However, being dead and not dead worked.
Eventually, God relented and sighed. "Yes, that is true. Your knowledge seems quite adverse in my religion."
"My friend made sure of that," Issei stated dryly. He remembered the constant Bible studies Irina put him through. He wished to have some of his childhood back but was also thankful for the information now that it was paying dividends. Who knew that he could talk to God about His history?
"You'd be correct in your words, Issei. I abandoned my people and killed them countless times, never once intervening to create peace or find a compromise. I left them to their own devices, and it created wars, mass homicides, and even genocide in some cases. And, now, complete and utter destruction. All for what? Power, money, fame, just because they could? This is my biggest mistake, with so many leading up to it. I couldn't even create angels without the ability to create and cause war. I inadvertently created devils and vile humans with no shred of humanity within them. I am indeed a failure of a god if what I sought for never even had a chance."
Now Issei felt terrible. Had he just made God depressed? Irina might have killed him for that if he was still alive.
The dark cloud forming over His head indicated He was ashamed of His mistakes. After all, he created such a world, created life, created beauty. But He also made that same life that grew corrupted, envious, angry, jealous, disgusted, vile, and evil. It wasn't His fault per se, but to watch what He loved to destroy each other and wipe all that He created from reality, God wouldn't blame anyone but himself. In His mind, His carelessness, lack of effort, and hope that things would work themselves out caused this.
Issei felt sorry for God. He wondered if taking pity on the supreme being was a sin. Despite all that was depicted of Him in the Bible, God didn't seem as jealous and unforgiving as depicted. Then again, He lost everything He worked for. The freshness of such a thing could have left the older man so distraught. Then again, Issei needed to learn precisely how time worked wherever he was.
Still, time was against him if God's words rang true. "Hey, hey, mistakes happen. I assume this is why you're intervening with the twin gods?"
The cloud disappeared, and God seemed to take a calming breath. He straightened back to full height, and the fog in his eyes cleared. Issei's attempt to take his mind off of Earth worked.
"Yes, yes, you are indeed correct. I wish these two avoid making the same mistakes as I did. And for their world to not succumb to the chaos as yours had."
Issei nodded his head. So God really could be sympathetic and forgiving. "I see. But that doesn't explain why you need me."
The older man stepped towards the boy. Issei stiffened but held his ground, keeping his eyes locked on God. He could move, though.
God raised one lone finger and tapped the brunette's left hand.
Flash!
A shine of green blinded Issei momentarily. His hand grew heavier, and the sound of metal clattering drew his attention back. When he looked down, his eyes widened at the red gauntlet that covered his arm, reaching up to his elbow. Issei thought it looked reptilian style, the metal pieces reminding him of scales and the tips sharpened like claws. Two yellow spikes jutted out at the end, and a sizeable emerald jewel sat on the back of his hand, glowing ominously with symbols and shapes of ember dancing within it.
The power it exuded was far beyond anything Issei could fathom.
"W-What is this..?" He asked, still understanding that this thing was attached to his arm. He could feel it radiating an ancient power, how he knew he was unsure of. It felt like the same power from earlier when God arrived, but it was much more potent now that it was in a physical form.
"That, Issei, is your Sacred Gear. The Twice Critical, to finally, you had its counterpart, the Boosted Gear, but due to the world you are entering being altered due to your world and the Sacred Gears within it, I couldn't let the Longinus be sent there, so I destroyed them. The Boosted Gear was one of my more powerful and proudest creations. It had the power to double the user's strength every ten seconds and is also said to be so powerful that you could kill a god."
Issei looked back at the Lord. "K-Kill a god!?" He choked out.
God nodded His head. "If you grow to become strong enough and wish for it, yes. I took every precaution to ensure my children could protect themselves from any threat. Including ones like myself..."
The grim tone that was being used made Issei wary. Had such a situation already transpired? Where did a human have to kill a god? Issei didn't know if he had it in him to kill anyone, let alone a being as powerful as a god. The sheer thought that he could achieve such a feat scared him. But it also excited him at the very idea he had that potential. To become that strong. Strong enough to rival what he considered practically immortal.
Well, he was used to it. Not anymore, since God just told him, gods could die. And at the hands of a human.
Issei clenched and unclenched his fist. He could become that strong. With such a weapon, his doubt subsided just a fraction. He didn't know he had such a kickass gear at his disposal. He could understand a fear of wanting him dead if he could become a god.
...
...
His world was gone due to his weakness, but God gave him another chance. Another opportunity to save another world. Could he do it? He didn't know. But he wasn't brought here to doubt and question. God believed in him, so he had to, too, for the sake of this new world. He could do so, or God wouldn't have brought him back.
It sounded like he was the protagonist of one of those isekai anime. Or even a main character in a video game. He wondered if there was a princess to save. Or a possible harem to form. Maybe they will all have big boobs too. And if he held one, she would let him squeeze and suck on her milk makers.
Crack!
A shiver ran down the boy's spine, and he went stiff as a board. Images of Raynare clouded his mind, and he shook his head at the thought of that malicious grin. The spear in her hands left and impaled him once more. The scar began to burn, and his hands shook.
No, no, no, she was dead. Yes, she was dead. On the other hand, he was still alive and would be going to a new world. One he would save. He couldn't allow his past to haunt him. Not when so many lives would depend on him. Meaning he had to keep a level head.
Issei willed himself to stop shaking and drew his hand into a fist of resolved determination. He looked up at God, meeting those icy blue eyes with renowned vigor. "So what will I do once I bring everyone together?"
God smiled for the first time. It wasn't like His rueful smiles or saddening ones of remorse. This one was true and shined like a thousand suns. It was one of pride, pride in Issei. Satisfaction that he was taking the initiative with a strong foot forward. There was no hesitation for the moment.
"That, my dear boy, is for you to decide."
This made the Sekiryuutei falter. "E-Eh? Me?"
The Lord nodded His head. "Yes. I have given you the gist of this new world, but I do not know everything myself. And, unfortunately, I won't be able to find out."
"What? You aren't coming?"
"No, my child. I shall be going off to find the brothers."
"But didn't you say it was near impossible to find other gods?"
"If their world is destroyed. If what they created is still intact, I can trace their power source to wherever they fled."
"...So I'll be on my own?"
"Not completely," God replied. Issei looked back to see a knowing smirk on God's face. "Normally, I am not allowed to, but due to the absence of the brothers, I have already made contact with someone from this world."
"What? Who?"
"His name is Ozpin. He is the headmaster of the school you'll be attending." There was a groan from the brunette at the thought of still having to go to school. God could only chuckle. "This isn't your normal school, Issei."
"Oh yeah, how's that?" He mumbled out, looking very uninterested.
"This is a school that trains you to become a huntsman. That which travels the world, keeping humanity safe." This made the boy perk up, and watched as a curiosity glimmer surfaced in his eyes. "As I've stated, this world is plagued by corrupt creatures known as Grimm. The Grimm hunt and kill humanity. So, humanity created its force to defend against the threat, the huntsman. They are trained fighters, warriors, some even soldiers, all with the skill to take down the Grimm and any other threats against the human race."
The last part caught Issei's attention. The Lord spoke as if there was more to defend against than just the Grimm. Then he remembered His words about the similarities between worlds and realized what He implied.
"So, I would have to fight humans as well?"
God's lips thinned, and he nodded. "Unfortunately. And there are other threats that you will find out about soon enough."
Issei closed his eyes and took another breath. He had a lot on his plate, and the more they spoke, the more he felt he would become overwhelmed. It was already a lot, and he still accepted that his world had been destroyed.
His parents. His friends. The people he would have saved if he wasn't so weak. It was still a raw mark, but it seemed he didn't even have time to mourn properly.
All he could do now was prevent it from happening to this new world. There would be adjusting and a lot of learning. Plus, he had to train heavily if he was even to have a chance. He had new lives to save, a second chance to become the hero he was destined to be.
Even without God, he would have to grow strong enough to save these people. Somehow.
"Is there anything else I should know?"
"As I've stated, my knowledge of this world is limited. Ozpin will fill you in on everything you need to know and ensure your enrollment into the school. There, you'll be trained and prepared for the inevitable. However, I will advise this..."
Issei's eyes narrowed. The seriousness in God's voice had increased. Judging by the tension, Issei could tell this was more of a warning than mere advice.
"Do not trust anyone blindly. Not even Ozpin..."
This caught Issei off guard. "But you-"
"He was merely the easiest to talk to due to some...interesting events I discovered about him. I don't fully trust him, and neither should you. Find out everything you can about this world and find your conclusion. Do not let anyone make it for you."
"I- yes, I understand."
"Good. You won't have me at your side, Ise. I'll talk to you when I can, but I must put a lot of focus into finding the brothers." God came forward and placed a firm hand on the Sekiryuutei's shoulder. "I believe in you, Issei. You may not have been able to save your world, but you can save this one. I know it."
Issei looked up and met the Lord's gaze. It was firm, reassuring, and confident. To have such a being believe in him so strongly, Issei felt he could do it. He had to believe in himself. To make up for his blunder.
This was his redemption. He didn't have the chance to be the hero of his world. But he'd be damned if he didn't save this one. He knew no one had any family, no friends, but people were counting on him even if they didn't know it.
And he wouldn't let them down.
After taking another deep inhale. Issei clenched his armored hand into a fist. The green gem glowed brightly, feeding off his flux of emotions, responding in kind. He never felt more ready, adrenaline fueling through him.
The teen released a sigh. "Okay, I'm ready."
"I know you are, my son. Safe travels and good luck."
Flash!
Abandoned Temple.
Issei opened his eyes as he looked at the trees and was amazed by the scenery. "Woah. Kuoh Town had nothing compared to this view."
Issei couldn't help but admire the beauty of the forest as he began to walk through it before seeing a note appear in his hands.
Dear Issei Hyoudou,
I have one last gift for you. I reached out to some people who dabble in magic and such so they could better explain the situation. Since the Longinus are destroyed, other Sacred Gear users are in this world. Still, the number of them is minimal because they have unique powers than they did initially but are not overpowered to make them compared to the Longinus I created.
Also, I altered your body so you can use this world's power known as Aura. It reflects one's soul, so one can utilize it in combat or defense. The people of this world can use another ability due to their Semblance, which is always unique and different. They are similar to superpowers but with limits.
You are unique since you have two Semblances. The first one is part of your new anatomy. There is a species called Faunus, similar to DemiHumans due to their animal-like attributes. You are a Dragon Faunus and have two semblances.
The first is Flame Breath, which allows you to blast a deadly stream of fire from his mouth or hands, but doing so continuously will cause his flames to get weaker due to overuse. The second one is Copy Soul, which allows you to copy the Semblance of others you touch, but the problem is that when copying a semblance, the copied version will only be a version that suits the user.
Your weapon is known as Twice Critical, but thanks to my associates, the abilities are different since it can boost one's base power up to ten times before the power is reset.
Finally, the final form of your Sacred Gear is known as the Balance Breaker, an ability that allows the Sacred Gear to break its limits: Critical Over.
It allows the user to be donned in armor while their physical strength is pushed to the absolute limit, making the user a deadly tank that excels in power, endurance, and stamina.
Use your powers well and use them wisely since I know you can help this world, Issei Hyoudou. Remember what I said, and don't fear letting others in. You deserve to feel love and be loved as well. There is someone out there who can make you happy. You have to look for them.
From God.
Issei didn't say a word as he let a tear leave his left eye before smiling at the letter.
"Thank you, God. I promise I won't let you down or this world." Issei said as he pocketed the letter and saw his old phone in his left pocket. It worked until he saw the location of Beacon Academy marked on his phone.
"Woah. God did think of everything. Okay then. To Beacon!" Issei shouted as he headed towards the academy, unaware of the dangers in the forest.
Scene!
Let me know what you think in the reviews, and follow and favorite the story. I got a friend of mine helping me with this one.
