Chapter 1

Here we go with the rewrite of The Might of the Magus, or as I call the new story: A Heroes Journey.

Beta: Old man of the mountain/Darklord331

Issei was floating within an endless abyss as he looked at his chest to see the massive gaping hole within it. A mark to show the world how a woman killed him he thought loved him back.

"If this is karma for all the shit I've done at my school, then I deserve it, but being betrayed by a girl I thought loved me was something I wasn't expecting," Issei said as he felt tired and wanted to go ahead and close his eyes as he waited for his life to slip away until a voice woke him up.

[Wake Up!]

The voice shouted as Issei looked and saw a bright light fill in the darkness as many strange objects floated around him, but one particularly stood out. It looked like a mix between the model of an atom and the solar system.

Except it glowed blue. And the rings Revolved around the orb.

"Where am I? The Afterlife? Or is this a dream?" Issei spoke to himself.

[Neither little child. This is a place that I created to speak with you.] The orb glowed as it talked to Issei, which shocked him, even though he had just met a Fallen Angel and learned of the supernatural just a few hours ago.

"Okay... So what am I doing here, and why did Yuuma-no. Why did Raynare kill me?"Issei questioned as he still couldn't understand her reasons for killing him since he wasn't anything special.

He is an average regular guy whose unique skill is his mind and lust.

[The truth is that the Fallen Angel known as Raynare killed you, so you didn't unlock your Sacred Gear that would possibly be a threat to their people.]

"But I didn't even know of this power until now, so why kill me if I didn't know about my Sacred Gear? Also, what is a Sacred Gear?"

The orb chuckled as it replied to him. [Simple. Sacred Gears are weapons given to humans to defend themselves from supernatural forces.]

"Well, a lot of good it did me. I lost my family, my life, and my heart." Issei said as he felt more alone until the voice spoke to him again.

[And that is why I brought you here. Do you recall your dream before wanting to become a Harem King?] The voice asked as Issei pondered this question as he remembered when he was a kid and played with his old childhood friend.

"Oh yeah. I wanted to be...a hero. I remembered that day very well." Issei said as he had a melancholic look on his face. "It was the day before Rin moved away with her family. Rin didn't want to leave me alone, but I told her I'd be fine and remembered that we made a promise to each other. A promise that we were going to be heroes in the future."

Flashback

"Hey, Issei. Let's go check out some of the stands here in the carnival?"

Issei would follow 'him' when a specific stand caught the boy's attention: the 'Throne of Heroes.' Shrugging, he walked over to it and was immediately greeted by an old man who quickly offered Issei a seat. "Hello, boy, what can this humble magician do for you?" greeted the man.

"I was just wondering what this stand does," Issei replied as the man gained a smug smile.

"We make heroes, child. Would you like me to do the same to you?"

Issei's eyes widened, and he nodded eagerly; he wanted to become firm, and heroes were strong, weren't they? He would do it so that when Irina returned, he would be strong enough to protect himself; he wouldn't have to rely on his friend to bail him out all the time.

"Very well then, let's begin, shall we?" grinned the man before he chanted something in a strange language Issei couldn't recognize and reached into his pocket to pull out several objects.

The boy looked at the old man in confusion as he held up seven cards that reminded Issei of tarot cards and placed them along the table, "There are many types of heroes in this world, and I wonder which one are you, hmm?"

The old man then pointed at the first card, showing a Knight with what looked like a claymore drawn and ready, "first, there is the Saber class, fighters whose skill with swords was so great that they rivaled even the gods!"

"So they're like noble knights protecting the innocents?" asked Issei.

The man frowned, "some are, but not all. Don't forget that knights aren't the only ones skilled with a sword, young man, and not all knights are noble. One is even called the Knight of Treachery..."

"Even if they weren't noble, I'm sure they had reasons for doing what they did; knights are people too, after all," argued the boy as he looked up to the old man with a determined expression, not noticing the Saber card light up slightly at his reply.

The man raised an eyebrow as he replied, "Indeed, they did have reasons, but what is better, boy? To do the wrong things for the right reasons or do the right thing for the wrong reasons? If you truly want to be a hero, you must learn this."

The boy just frowned as he stared at the Saber card, almost feeling his hand closing around the hilt of an imaginary sword before nodding in understanding; seeing this, the old man moved on to the next card with a man holding a long spear ready to strike. "Next, we have the Lancer class, heroes that, like the Saber class, have mastered spears to godly levels."

An amused grin spread across his face as he leaned forward and whispered to Issei, "But just between you and me, they seem to have the worst luck of the bunch."

"Who needs luck when you have skill? After all, they wouldn't have been able to become heroes if something as minor as bad luck stopped them," replied Issei as he looked down at the Lancer card, the image of a blood-red spear appearing in his mind as he touched it.

"Quite so," agreed his companion, snapping Issei out of his daze and drawing his attention back to the conversation, the boy again not noticing a small light coming from the Lancer card.

The man seemed to frown slightly in confusion as he examined the two cards, but the moment passed quickly, and Issei was left wondering if he had imagined it as the old man moved on to the third card with a smile. Looking down at the third card, Issei saw it appeared to be a rider in some chariot, preparing to ride after his enemies.

"Now we come to the Rider class; they are heroes who are known for their amazing mastery of mounted combat or have a mount so famous they can't be pictured without it," continued the old man.

"What does that mean?" asked Issei in confusion.

"Hmm…ah, I got it! When you think of Batman, what do you picture?" asked the man.

"Batman riding down the street in his Batmobile, chasing after the bad guys," the boy eagerly replied.

"Exactly! Batman would be considered a Rider hero," he explained, giving Issei an approving nod.

"So I could be Batman!" shouted Issei in excitement, drawing the attention of others celebrating the festival.

"Indeed," laughed the man before fixing a stare on Issei. "However, be aware that Riders are usually at a disadvantage in most fights; after all, most circumstances don't let them use their mounts."

Issei just looked up at him with an eager smile as the feeling of reins appeared in his hands, and he heard thunder booming, "The harder the fight, the greater the prize. After all, that's what conquering is all about."

Like the two before it, the Rider card glowed softly at this while the man nodded as his grin grew more expansive, and he led Issei over to the next card. When examining it, Issei saw what appeared to be a man with his bow and arrow drawn, sighting down on some imaginary enemy.

"This is the Archer class, the masters of ranged combat. Give them a target, and they will be able to hit it even from miles away; they usually are very independent of others, though," grinned the man, eager to see the response he would get.

"So they're like solitary hunters? The ultimate hunters can catch anything they put their minds to. Too wild and free to be held down by others and yet…at the same time one of the loneliest heroes to exist," replied Issei sadly as images of a lone figure hunting in the woods and running in footraces faded out of his mind.

The older man nearly jumped for joy as he eyed the card beneath Issei's hand and watched as it glowed softly; the man then quickly drew the boy's attention to the next card before Issei noticed the light. The boy looked down and saw what appeared to be a cloaked older man holding a book of some kind and giving off a very wise aura.

"Next, the Caster class embodies the best magic users ever. They can do spells that most mages today could only dream of and then some, definitely not one to be looked down upon for its lack of physical strength," the man cheerfully explained.

"Magic is real!" cried the boy in wonder.

His companion nodded in amusement, "That's right, and speaking from personal experience, it is advantageous. Wouldn't you want to use it too?"

"Of course, then I could do my magic show!" as his thoughts were filled with childish wonder at the possibilities.

However, his thoughts soon turned into something…odd. He felt his body growing hot, yet it was comforting, almost like the Sun. Following images of a tall woman wearing a dark cloak as she held up her staff and allowed magic to rain down from the skies above.

"OI BOY!" shouted a male voice, snapping Issei back to the present as the man watched him with an intrigued expression.

"Sorry. I must've zoned out for a second," apologized the boy.

His companion waved him off and pointed to the next card, causing Issei to freeze as he followed the man's gaze and examined the card. Issei frowned as he saw the picture of what could only be described as a horror or mad beast on the card.

"W-what is that?" he asked fearfully.

"Now, don't be so quick to judge," criticized the old man with a smile. "This is the Berserker class, heroes that have gone mad with grief, rage, or bloodlust. They are one of the strongest but at the cost of their sanity."

"Heroes that have lost their loved ones? I know how that feels," replied Issei, looking at the card with sympathy.

"So you can understand why they did what they did?" questioned the man in surprise.

The boy nodded with a weary look that didn't belong on a child's face, "Yeah, honestly, I probably would have done the same."

However, the boy's eyes widened as he saw the card glow and a stone axe-sword appeared in his hand before fading away. Another image appeared with a massive blue armor set with a sword in its hands as said armor roared with a scream that shook the boy to his core.

This alarmed Issei. He quickly looked up at the old man, who just smiled and continued to the final card, which showed a man with a skull mask performing a midair backflip.

"And finally, we come to the last one, the Assassin class. Now I know what you are thinking, 'how could an assassin ever be a hero?' Well, have you ever seen the Ninja Turtles? They are assassins, yet people still consider them heroes," he quickly explained, seeing Issei's horrified expression.

Issei was silent as he just picked up the card and stared at it, clearly conflicted about the choice, until finally he placed it on the table and looked up at the man with a serious expression that completely contrasted his childish face.

"No one respects life more than someone who has to take it away; if I had to do it, I would never enjoy it, but at least I could make it painless," The boy said as the card gave off a soft glow and as Issei looked back at the old man his eyes widened. For just an instant, he could have sworn he saw a tall purple-haired woman with many like her surrounding him until he blinked away the image. He frowned as the vision faded away while he let go of the assassin card.

The man just laughed before he picked up all seven cards and examined them with growing excitement, "Incredible. I've only seen this in a few worlds, but I couldn't believe you are compatible with more than one, let alone all seven. Hahaha!"

"Huh?" came Issei's reply to this apparently madman's ravings.

The man smiled as he handed the seven cards to Issei, who nearly dropped them as all seven began glowing at his touch. "Alright, boy, listen carefully; these cards will help you become strong enough to be a hero. Now, you need to pick one. So which will it be? What kind of Hero do you want to become?" he asked eagerly.

Issei just looked at the seven cards and frowned as he examined them; the two of them were silent for ten minutes until the boy looked up at the man, "so these cards will help me become stronger?"

Seeing the man nod, Issei continued, "And I can pick any of them? And you'll give me the one I pick?"

"That's right," replied the man, looking even more curious.

Issei just put all seven cards on the table and stared at his companion with a determined expression, "Then I choose-!"

"Issei? Where are you? It's time to go!" Issei's mother called out. Issei was so shocked that he didn't notice that the tent and the old man were fading away until the man watched Issei run back to his mother.

"How rude. And I was just about to hear his decision. Ah, well, there's always next time. I'm sure of it, and that's because this boy has much potential like his counterparts." The old man said as he chuckled and watched Issei return home to his family.

In another timeline, Issei would've gotten the cards that would've helped him be a hero sooner, but not this time.

End Flashback

Issei chuckled as he recalled the memory but felt nostalgic that he had lost that memory after he tried to fill the hole in his heart after being alone for many years. Sure, Matsuda and Motohama were his friends, and granted, they got into trouble together, but they were still great friends to him.

[But even though you made friends with those two, you still felt alone and couldn't make any other friends before meeting them. Right?] The voice asked as Issei sighed but nodded in reply.

"Yeah. I only acted as a pervert to protect myself from those who didn't want to do with me, but I guess I got so caught up in the act that I...completely forgot about my dream and ambition to become a hero." Issei said as he knew his reply was valid before the voice talked to him again.

[Do you genuinely wish to become a Hero? Being a hero involves many responsibilities and hardships, especially when you must learn that life isn't a fairy tale. You must understand that even if you had all the power in the world, you can't save everyone, right?]

"I know, but even if I can't save everyone, I'll save as many people as possible. I'll even save the villains from going down the darker path."

[But what if the villain is irredeemable? Would you still try to save them?]

"...If there's one thing I've learned about Heroes and Villains, it's that all heroes and villains are neither good nor evil. One of my favorite villains wanted to be a good guy who was powerless and wanted to be a hero like his idol, but sadly, the world he lived in shoved him aside and didn't support his dream except for a few people. Eventually, he finally got a breaking point and vowed to change the world, even if he had to become the story's villain. And so he did. He became the villain of the story and was able to bring those who were outcasts like him and show the world that their government was more corrupted than the victims who were labeled as villains and experimented on to become weapons of war."

"That's why I desire not to be the 'Hero' of the story or the final boss but as...one who walks down the path in the middle. A Neutral person who doesn't wish to cause chaos and Destruction or a goody two shoes who's all 'Friendship is Power!' Blech." Issei said as the voice was silent for a bit, which worried Issei until the voice replied to him.

[How interesting. You are different from HIM, who wished to be a Hero of Justice. I'm curious about how you'll become the Hero you desire to be, so I'll give you powers to be a hero.] The voice said Issei was surprised by this before asking.

"Wait? Like real superpowers?"

[Oh no, no, no. That would be boring. It'll allow you to keep your Sacred Gear but with a twist. It'll be much stronger without the limiters on it.] The voice said as Issei saw a purple ball in his chest. The wound mended together until the aura from the purple ball was still there.

[Also, I shall give you Heros of the past, who shall guide you through your journey. I'll give you the words to speak the incantation for the summoning process, but it is up to you to command them. Just remember that several beings in your world are like Raynare. People who like that take advantage of others and kill innocent humans just because they can. However, that doesn't mean all the supernatural are like Raynare.] The voice said as a hand was outstretched and touched Issei's heart. He felt light enter his body until the voice spoke to him again.

[That light I gave you is the words that will help you with the summoning ritual. They shall teach you what it means to be a leader and will help train you if you ask them. These heroes are spirits of the past, so as long as you survive, they will not die permanently; they will return and await you to summon them again. Now, one last thing I should mention before I wake you up.]

"What's that?"

[You will be summoned back to the time your second year begins at Kuoh Academy, a month before you met Raynare on that day. However, you can't tell anyone about your resurrection, for the timeline will have unforeseen consequences. Is that clear, Issei Hyoduou?]

The voice asked in a stern voice before Issei nodded his head and replied.

"I'm in. So how do I begin the ritual?" Issei asked as the voice giggled in reply.

[That's simple. Repeat the incantation. The words are in your mind; now they need power.] The voice said as Issei found himself standing on a platform underneath his feet with a book in his hand.

The book's pages flew open as if searching for something until it landed on a page for him to read.

"Summoning 101: How not to screw up your Summon?" Issei said in curiosity as he read the chapter title before looking at the book's title in his hands until the title appeared with the author underneath it.

"Becoming a Hero. By the World Traveler Zelretch? What kind of a name is that?" Issei asked himself before he looked back at the summoning ritual page before a piece of chalk flew out of the book and began to draw on the ground, which amazed Issei at the artistic design of it until he saw the chalk vanish into thin air.

"Woah. This is unlike any magic circle I've seen in anime." Issei said as he looked at the words that told him what to do next.

"Prick my finger and let the blood fall into the circle," Issei said as he did so until he saw the circle glow crimson red as well as hints of purple in it until a shadowy aura enveloped the red as it blended with it as if assisting the ritual.

Let silver and steel be the essence.

Issei began as he felt the magic circle glow with power before continuing.

Let stone and the archduke of contracts be the foundation.

Issei chanted as he didn't mind the wind swirling around him and the shadows enveloping his own.

Let black be the color I pay tribute to.

Issei said as his eyes became bright purple until the shadows continued to envelop his legs as if they were being called to him.

Let rise a wall against the wind that shall fall. Let the four cardinal gates close.

The wind picked up as he said the words, but Issei didn't deter as he would give it his all and go beyond that.

Let the three-forked road from the crown reaching unto the Kingdom rotate.

Issei shouted as he felt the wind throw his hair back before the circle began to open a portal.

Let it be declared now; your flesh shall serve under me, and my Fate shall be with your sword.

Issei then felt a spiritual connection to the one he was summoning, as if he was looking into their soul and vice versa, which made him feel...happy.

Submit to the beckoning of my call! The answer is if you would submit to this will and this truth!

Issei shouted in a commanding voice as thunderclouds appeared in the sky, and thunder roared in the air as Issei continued his chant. The shadows underneath him now covered his legs and arms before reaching his heart.

An oath shall be sworn here. I shall attain all virtues of all of Heaven! I shall have dominion over all evils of all of Hell!

Issei then saw a bright light as his vision blurred a bit thanks to the shadows surrounding his eyes until he felt tired as he collapsed on the ground from the over-usage of magic for the first time in his life.

Issei then looked up to see a figure standing in the middle of the circle. They appeared to have a feminine appearance while the smoke cleared away to reveal their face.

Issei could barely move as he slowly stood up, thanks to his shadow helping him until he spoke to the person.

"Hello. My name is Issei Hyoudou. I'm the one who summoned you. May I have your name?" Issei asked as the figure pondered their reply until speaking to him.

"I am the servant known as..."

Issei couldn't hear the name as exhaustion hit him tenfold. He collapsed before feeling a force catch him.

"Rest, my master. Rest for now before we talk more." The person said as they allowed Issei's head to rest on their lap before the scene changed around them. The voice giggled in reply with a particular troll.

"I knew this boy would be interesting, but still, I'm a bit worried about the book I gave him since it is sentient."

[Do not worry, Zelretch. It has taken a liking to him. Let's observe and see how this plays out.] The voice that talked to Issei earlier said as it sent the Servant and their master back in time to Issei's home.

[I can't wait to see what kind of King he becomes with his servants.]

This marked the beginning of the Hero's Journey as he would have to be prepared for the trials that he would have to face in the future.

Kuoh Town.

Issei groaned as he slowly opened his eyes to see that he was back in his room. Issei slowly sat up; he thought it was all a dream until he looked at his clock to see that it was six in the morning, which amazed him since he had never been able to wake up this early.

"Wait, if it was sent back in time, then..." Issei said as he headed to his calendar and looked at the date before his eyes widened at the day.

"It was a month before I met Raynare that day, so it did work."

"Indeed it did, Master." A voice said. Issei recognized the voice, turning around to be greeted by the sight of a young woman with long purple hair and bright golden yellow eyes dressed in a yellow tank top, a pair of blue jeans, and an apron.

Issei was stunned at seeing the girl as she was quite beautiful, the clothes enhancing and hiding her figure in a captivating manner and her bountiful bounty attracting his eyes—the girl's beauty spellbound Issei.

"My, my, what a lecherous master I have." The woman's voice snapped Issei out of his dazed state as he stared at the girl before him, "I do wonder what is going on in your mind, master? Is it some plan to ravage me or something more intimate and depraved?"

Issei ignored the questions posed to him as he focused on the way the girl was addressing him.

"Master?" Issei asked, not sure what the woman meant.

The girl seemed to have caught on to his confusion as she said, "It seems like you have forgotten who I am, my master. Maybe this would help."

And like a shimmering image cast in water, the girl's visage changed; her head and body were covered by a massive black cloak as a staff appeared in her hands.

"Wait a minute. You...You are the one I summoned back there, right?" Issei asked as he pointed to her, to which the girl smiled and nodded in reply.

"Correct. I was sad you passed out after summoning me, but it makes sense since it was your first time summoning a Servant. I'm glad you chose a Caster as your first Servant before the others."

"Wait, others? What do you mean by that?" Issei asked as the girl chuckled in reply.

"Well, do you remember those seven cards at the carnival when you were ten? You were about to choose what card you wanted but were interrupted by your mother calling out to you, right?" The woman asked as Issei recalled the memory and didn't see the stand again until the woman shook him out of it.

"However, even though you didn't say it, the seven cards still resonated with your soul, which means you are still connected to them. Also, the older man who worked the stand? He knew you were going to choose all seven of them."

"Wait, he did? Then why not send them or give them to me before my mom called me?"

"A much more powerful force tied his hands, and trust me when I say there are many powerful beings in other worlds that are far more powerful than me." The girl said Issei was shocked by this until she shook him out of it again as she sat on his bed.

"Oh my. I should introduce myself. My name is Medea, the Caster Servant of my master Issei Hyoudou." Medea said as she introduced herself to Issei, who was stunned to hear that Medea, the Witch of Colchis, was right in front of his eyes.

"...I feel like I'm going to faint, and yet I'm not doing so," Issei said as Medea giggled at the comment before she took Issei in her arms and hugged him with her chest squishing against his chest. This made Issei happy, and he blushed at the massive pair on her until Medea kissed Issei's lips, which shocked the boy until he felt warmth and comfort from the woman's heart. He let tears fall from his eyes as he cried in her arms, which made Medea wrap her arms around Issei and pull him closer as if she wished to comfort him with her warmth.

"It's okay, Issei. I'm here now, so there's no need to feel sorry for yourself. That crow manipulated you and played you, but now you have me, and eventually, the others will come, so don't worry about her and others trying to take advantage of you. I'll always be here for you, my love." Medea said as she kissed his head while Issei mumbled two simple words that strengthened the Witch's resolve.

"Thank you."

The Witch's heart melted as she heard these words and made a promise to herself that she wouldn't let that woman, who hurt the heart of her beloved master, come within ten feet of him, and if Raynare ever tried to harm Issei, then the crow would feel the wrath of the Sun itself.

"Rest, my master. Rest, and let me comfort you." Medea said as she let Issei relax in her arms while shadows formed around them as if the clouds wanted to give the two their privacy.

The two decided to sleep for a bit longer as the master and Servant began to enjoy the comfort of each other even more.

An Hour Later...

"Thanks again for comforting me, Medea. I'm glad I got a caring and kind servant like you." Issei said warmly, making Medea smile even more as she hugged his left arm while the two walked out of the Hyoudou home.

It was a Saturday and the first day of his summer vacation, so Issei didn't have to worry about school. So, he decided to spend some time with Medea and better understand how to get stronger and work with Medea in battle.

Medea meeting Issei's parents was an enjoyable and embarrassing experience since his mother was happy that Issei had found himself a girlfriend and would give them many grandchildren. In contrast, Gorou merely gave Issei a salute of respect, which Medea enjoyed very much until Issei's mother brought out the baby photos, which made Issei groan in embarrassment as he had to bear witness to Medea gushing over the baby photos when Issei was little.

"I still can't believe you walked around the house in your birthday suit when you were only a kid. What a naughty boy my master is. Hehe." Medea said teasingly as Issei's face turned red from more embarrassment.

"What is this? Tease Issei Hyoudou Day?" Issei asked himself until he felt Medea's left hand enter his pants pocket as the boy stiffened up and the woman found her target.

"Oh my. You're packed, and I wouldn't mind teasing you if you offered me such a wonderful gift." Medea said as she whispered some naughty things in his ear, making Issei's face turn beet red while trying to hide his face. Medea smiled in glee, teasing her master again.

"Aw. What a cute reaction. I wonder how you'll be in bed, though."

"W-Woah there. At least let me buy you dinner before we get that far." Issei stuttered but spoke as Medea chuckled at the boy's reply before they went into the forest park, where there was a large clearing.

"Now that we're alone, it's time to begin your training. Now, I can't help you learn how to fight like a warrior, but I can help you in the magic area and unlock your unique magic." Medea explained as she sat across from Issei before the book that Issei had used before had been summoned forth and laid in his lap.

"I remember this book, but I thought it was a one-time use?" Issei asked as Medea shook her head in reply.

"Nope. The book is a guide for beginner mages to understand magic, so it bonds to your body to help you when needed. Now tell the book what you want." Medea said as she watched Issei look at the book and tell it his question.

"How do I unlock my magic?" Issei asked as the book shook as the pages within it flipped until it stopped on a page marked:

How to Unlock One's Magic

Issei was surprised by this as he began to read it to himself while Medea watched in interest and allowed him to figure it out himself.

"First, I need to access my Prana. I can feel it in me just waiting to release it, but I don't know how even to bring out my magic." Issei read the first instruction. "The easiest and safest way to access my Prana is to draw the ritual circle and meditate in the middle, so I focus on finding a trigger to help me access my area."

Issei continued reading the following instructions before looking at Origin Magic. Now that got his attention as he was most excited to discover his Origin. After all, it would dictate how he can use his magecraft.

"Origin is the starting point that defines one's existence and directs one's actions throughout life. The driving force from within the Root has managed to stream out of the Source and take on material form. The form it can take at times is that of a human being, and all humans match their actions to be in harmony with the driving force that originated them from the moment they enter the world. These actions are more like an inherent compulsion that could be called a person's instinct rather than a conscious decision. If a person becomes awakened to their Origin, it becomes nearly impossible to stray from it, if it's even possible in the first place. It becomes an impulsive behavior one would follow as though it were an absolute order. Under the system of Magecraft, Origins are used to describe precise details about a magus, while Elemental Affinity indicates one's general alignment. Magi with an Origin that is strongly expressed outwardly are sometimes removed from the normal alignments, and there are times that the Origin itself becomes the alignment. Most of those magi exhibit their talents as extreme specialists, allowing them to reach higher grounds than normal magi. Even those without an Elemental Affinity can sometimes still cast spells simply by following their Origin. They can overcome obstacles such as a lack of Circuits or talent for Magecraft altogether."

Issei looked at the circle on the same page and saw it was simple to draw. It was not too large, too, meaning he could remove one in his room and erase it later. What got him thinking was the trigger.

He continued to read as he thought of the trigger. "Please note that the trigger should be something the user is intimately familiar with and draws upon his greatest feelings and desires, yet requires intense concentration. Base desires like lust make for poor triggers, often leading to the magician using their magic at inappropriate times and causing undue damage."

"Well, there goes my idea of using breasts as a trigger." Issei sighed at the loss of his most obvious choice. "Still, there must be others I can use."

Issei gathered the needed components to draw the circle in his room. While he did the necessary preparations, he focused on figuring out a trigger.

'The most obvious choice is 'Light Them Up,' but it just doesn't give me much of a feeling, and frankly, it does not even make me think too deeply.' Issei thought and discarded that phrase as his trigger.

(Issei Hyoudou will not know about Emiya or anything of Fate as a show franchise. So, I put something in from Genshin as an example. Like if Issei was trying to come up, 'I will have Order' from Zhongli.)

Unfortunately, even after an hour had passed when he had finished the circle, Issei had still not been able to find a decent phrase for him to use as his trigger. Phrases like 'Henshin,' 'Go Team Laggan,' 'Bankai,' etc., had not helped him even a bit. Hell, he even went with 'Raising Heart, Set Up,' which, while getting some reaction from the circle, still failed to make any decent progress.

Issei was surprised that the circle was genuine and the surreal revelation of magic being real. He tried to dismiss it as a trick of the light and his mind, yet the circle glowed for 10-14 seconds, proving that magic was real. Thus, with a burning determination, Issei sought to pour his all into unlocking his Prana.

'Still, who knew a magical girl's transformation phrase would help a boy like me.' Issei chuckled at the strange yet exciting avenue of thought.

While Issei had failed to use that phrase as a trigger, a thing that both disappointed and relieved him. (Cause what kind of man would use a magical girl's transformation phrase.) It showed Issei how to go about choosing his trigger.

"I have to think and pour all my emotions, not just my lust but also my curiosity, joy, awe, and even fear and hate, into the trigger." Issei recited the mental image of Nanoha, saying her phrase made him jump with joy and yet brought a bit of fear of her using those giant death beams of Death. "Man, this is going to be hard."

And it was true, for an ordinary boy like Issei, who had not experienced many things, had only encountered one life-changing incident. The one with the perverted old man, it was hard to visualize something in which he could pour his heart.

Sure, he could still use breasts as his trigger, but he could not pour his hate and fear into them. It was almost unthinkable for him to regard breasts as something monstrous, and he was not that deep into the internet community to see some of the more debased forms for him to make it a trigger.

Sighing, Issei almost gave up on thinking of a trigger, but then something caught his sight: the poster of Zhongli from Genshin Impact.

It was a poster that he had bought when Mihoyo released official wall posters of their popular game.

He liked the game and loved the characters. The personalities he saw grabbed him. There was Keqing, the princess of Liyue, who upheld her ideals of a world free of the gods' control. Then, there was Ayaka, a clan heiress from Inazuma who shouldered such responsibility for the good of her people yet desired the friendship that Aether gave her. And, of course, there was Diluc, a fire-wielding badass who took it upon himself to uphold justice.

But the one who grabbed all of his attention was Zhongli, the Geo Archon of Order. He was the god of Liyue and endured thousands of years of tormenting memories to protect Liyue. Issei felt sad for him when he learned how he lost Guizhong, but he also felt so proud of how he was willing to give up his godhood for the sake of his people.

His strength also amazed Issei. How could a man manipulate the Earth as if it were his own to summon mountain-sized spears? Yet for all that power, he was still humble not to enforce his rule as a god. Issei could remember the words Zhongli spoke that he kept close to heart.

'I have no desire for dominion, but I cannot let the common folk suffer.'

A smile stretched Issei's face when he remembered Zhongli's phrase when he brought down the meteor.

'I will have order!'Issei thought about how cool it would sound if it left his lips.

Issei then turned to the poster of Gildarts from Fairy Tail. Issei deeply respected that warrior since he had a deep past that made him into the person he is today.

Gildarts, The Ace of Fairy Tail, as he stood tall and proud as he defeated Bluenote Stinger. Issei could still remember his two favorite quotes from the Crush Magician as he spoke to Natsu and Bluenote.

"Fear is not 'Evil.' It is good to know your weakness. If you know your weaknesses, you can become stronger and also kinder. That's what is necessary to becoming an S-class."

"It was an important test... It meant more to these kids than any adult could ever imagine. This test represented their determination towards their futures... and you've stepped all over it."

The circle glowed even brighter, feeding on his interest in the abilities and Gildarts.

A bone was being cracked from an unknown impact.

As the image played in his mind, Issei said the words that unlocked his dormant power like a dam bursting forth and filling every inch of his body, pushing the 15-year-old boy into the life of a Magician.

"Break." And with that, his gate was unlocked.

"I'm impressed with what you did, though I have to say that some of the catchphrases you tried to do were interesting and downright hilarious. Especially the magic girl one." Medea said as she laughed at the one before. Issei groaned in frustration at using a magical girl's quote before looking at his hands and seeing magic flow within his body quickly.

Issei then looked at a tree and decided to test it. He sent a right punch to the tree, which was knocked out of the ground after the Impact landed on its target, which shocked and impressed Medea as she enjoyed this very much.

"Well, Master," Medea said as she walked over to Issei, wrapped her arms around his neck, and snuggled into his left arm. "From what I have witnessed, its appropriate name should be Impact since your Origin seems to rely on your body. After seeing your magic, I've concluded that it all comes down to the concept of "Impact."

"So basically, I just punch things with my magic?" Issei asked as Medea shook her head.

"No, No. Nothing like that. It's not as simple as a fist hitting a wall. An impact is anything that makes contact with a "meaningful" force behind it. It can be similar to a bump on the shoulder, a touch on a wall, a knock on a door, or even a fist punching as it is "impacting" the air. With this Disassemble Element you have within you, you can break down any defense, potentially making any defense-type magic useless against you. It's interesting how your being is similar to my Noble Phantasm. A tool that made me a danger to other mages."

"Really? What is the name of it?"

"That's a story for another time. Because now..." Medea said as she summoned a few spell circles while smiling at Issei.

"It's time to train."

Later...

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

"Well, hold still while I heal you. It's your fault for charging into my attacks, thinking you could take them."

"To be honest, it looked cooler in my head."

Medea giggled at her master while healing his burns, which made Issei smile at the Witch as she tended to his injuries with a warm smile because she wanted to, not because she was his Servant.

As she tended to him, Issei began to ponder about his dreams and how he wanted to become a hero who wasn't like those self-righteous heroes in his shows who were stupid and replied with cliche lines like 'With my friends here, I know we can win!' Or 'Friendship is real magic!' He also didn't want to become the overlord villains who were often cliche and dull. Still, he had to admit that some of the villains in his shows he respected, like Aizen as a villain due to his goals and ambitions to stand as a God, unlike Ywach, a man who wanted to stop the concept of Death but became the thing he hated most.

The path of being in the middle of a Neutral character. Similar to Issei's favorite anti-villain, Greed from FMA. At first, the Homunculus was seen as a villain, but eventually, the show revealed that Greed wasn't evil. He just did what he wanted and still cared about those who stood by his side.

Ultimately, Greed wanted a family and friends who loved him back and would do anything to protect them, even if that meant killing.

'The path of a Harem King will be long and filled with obstacles.'

It was a thought that made him laugh but one that he was now determined to work hard for.

'I don't know what the supernatural world holds, but with magic, I have some protection against it.' Issei grimly thought he was happy and satisfied to learn about magic and that it was real.

It had also proven that the world was not what it seemed and that the supernatural still existed and was as accurate as anything on Earth.

The monsters that kill for entertainment, the devils that seek to corrupt the pure and damn them for eternity, the vampires that wooed their prey with supernatural charms and fed on their lifeblood, and so many more, the world seemed to become more dangerous.

'Damn, you and your Moonlit World.' Issei thought all joy was now gone, filled with dread and fear, as he remembered the monsters of the moonlight world. He knew they were fictional and thus had no reason to fear.

Medea could read this due to the bond of being his Servant but stayed silent as she continued to listen to him.

But with the existence of magic, he was unsure whether the depictions were authentic or the reality was even worse. He dared not think too optimistically about the supernatural as even in folklore, they wore masks upon masks of lies and deceit.

He was a bit scared, he would admit, but now Issei had some minor protection against them in the form of magic, and Issei knew that to protect himself better, Issei would work his ass off because he refused to let the supernatural stand in the way of his goals.

Not again.

'I vowed to become a harem king and the greatest Magus. I promised that voice that I would become a Hero of my choosing and not let her down. Especially after the gifts she gave to me before I summoned Medea.' Issei thought, his face full of determination.

'I refuse to let the supernatural get the better of me until I become a harem king and fondle the perfect pair of breasts.'

Medea had to bite her tongue so she wouldn't laugh at the comment while rolling on the grass and avoiding Issei while listening to his thoughts.

While his thoughts were not what you would say average, they did strengthen his will and fuel his desire to become a Neutral Hero. At that moment, Issei looked outside his window and gazed upon the Sun, and strangely, it became a full moon, shining in the clear sky as he made his solemn vow.

"I vow upon the sun and moon itself and stake my pride and goal of becoming the Harem King and the greatest Hero the world has ever seen." Issei proclaimed, staking his dreams, which he regarded as more precious than his life.

"I will surpass the threats that the moonlit world will throw at me. From now on, I will prepare myself to face everything the moonlight world offers and overcome them, but will the moonlight be ready for me?" Issei said as if questioning the Sun and moon itself, asking whether they would challenge his claim.

As if in response to his words…his challenge…the Sun and moon shined brighter as they seemed to accept his vow.

'Ready or not, world, here comes the future Harem King.' Issei thought, gazing at the blue moon in the sky before it slowly became the Sun again. Issei turned away from it to see Medea wheezing heavily on the ground as if she were dying of laughter.

"Uh... you okay, Medea?"

Medea slowly stood up as she panted but nodded in reply as she walked over to Issei and continued to dry heave as if she was still laughing until she brought Issei down with her on the grass, which made Issei chuckle at her actions before the Witch laid on top of his chest and smiled at him with a cheeky grin.

"So, Mr. Harem King, would you let this cute Witch be the first?

"Of course, though, I do have to warn you I am a pervert and was recently hurt by Raynare."

"I don't mind if you are a pervert. As long as you control yourself, it's fine; I'm a pervert, so it works out for both of us. And as for that woman, know I'll make sure to burn away any trace of her in your mind and soul, so when I'm done, you'll only have eyes for me. I'll support the harem dream, but know I'll test the girls to see if they are good enough to be in it." Medea said as she kissed Issei's lips once more, and Issei felt the warmth of the Sun envelop his body, mind, and soul, as he thought Raynare's presence left his being more and more.

"Damn. With kisses like that, I'll probably fall for you sooner than later."

"So why stop now? Let my love warm and consume you in the fires of my heart." Medea said as Issei kissed her lips, which made the witch mewl in joy as she liked the kiss, as well as the hands of her master wrapping around her waist and going to her rear, which made her smile as she allowed it and loved the touch of her master.

This marked the beginning of the Hero.

Scene.

Now, this rewrite will have three of the Demi Servants I planned for the Might of the Magus, so in this story, the total of the servants will be ten, meaning there will be a Shielder, a Ruler, and an Avenger Class servants. Issei will be one of the Demiservants, while the second one will be an exceptional addition to the team.

The caster will be Medea since it was either her or Paracelsus that would've suited Issei best. Issei will have a mix of male and female servants, but most will be female. As for his Sacred Gear, Issei won't have the Boosted Gear but the Annihilation Maker without its limitations.

Issei will also summon his familiar to assist him in battle better, which means it's voting time!

Here are the options:

Riser Phenex: This guy, if selected, would be Issei's new best friend and a fellow harem king. I can think of lots of good interaction between the two and the Phenex peerage, and it works well for the overall story. His connection to his family is nothing to scoff at, though Medea will only like it a little that Riser would keep dragging Issei off to some of his adventures.

Though if he is chosen, you can bet that Rias will marry Riser, and Issei will do his damn best to hook them up. As I said, they will be best friends, and you know just how far Issei is willing to go for his friends. While Issei would be jealous of Riser, he would be happy to see his friend happy.

Saiorag Bael: With his connections and peerage, as well as being the heir of the Bael family, he'll be a good brother figure for Issei. Plus, I can imagine Medea battling the females of Saiorag's peerage should they want to date Issei. Saiorag would be an excellent choice to help Issei with his Origin magic and help Issei become a man.

Venelana Gremory: Rias' Mother if you guys didn't know who she is. Now, as for why I chose her as a candidate, it is because first, she is a Bael, and the reason Rais and Sirzechs have the power of Destruction in the first place but do not have the reserves to last in a long battle, so while she is powerful she is not too OP to be game breaking too. Venelana also plays the role of a teacher for Issei and could help him with her connections as the mother of Lucifer while staying out of the spotlight. She also fulfills the role of a mother figure for Issei.

And Venelana will not be in Issei's harem unless requested, but if asked, I'll have her become a widow.

Also, as for the servants:

Archer:

Saber:

Lancer:

Caster: Medea

Assassin:

Rider:

Berserker:

Ruler:

Avenger:

Shielder: Spoiler Alert...He was a Lancer in the anime.

Who would you pick in the reviews for Issei's new style and character development as he becomes a Neutral Hero and a Harem King?

Like, Follow, Favorite, and leave a review. As always, I'm open to honest criticism. Ta-Ta for now!