Time moved as if it was tar for Issei as he sat there with Rias lying in his arms, lifeless. He hadn't stopped crying since she had passed.

"It's my fault...if I had been stronger, I could have stopped this... I'm sorry, Rias." Issei mumbled as he focused solely on Rias, holding her closer as he spoke, covering himself in more blood.

As this was happening, Azazel arrived to see what had happened.

"Is everyone alright!" Azazel cried as he rushed towards the peerage, scanning everyone for injuries.

"We're fine, but Rias, she..." Kiba stated, but his voice grew weaker as he spoke, as he tried to hold back his tears, pointing to where Issei and Rias were. Azazel's heart dropped at the sight of Rias limp in Issei's arms in a pool of blood.

"I can't believe this..." Azazel mumbled as he took a deep breath and slowly walked to Issei, kneeling before him. Issei didn't acknowledge him as he kept his gaze on Rias, rocking her carefully back and forth.

"Issei...Issei!" Azazel stated, raising his voice the second time, getting Issei's attention. As Issei looked at Azazel, the fallen angel stayed silent rather than immediately speaking and looked at Issei's face. Issue's eyes were a stinging shade of red as tears continued to stream down his face,

"What happened, Issei..." Azazel said softly, knowing if he raised his tone or tried to be sterner, he might tip Issei over the edge, and as Azaezel expected, his soft skills approach got a response.

"We, we got ambushed and taken to this place..."

"And?" Azazel asked with Issei stating in a trembling mumble

"Cao Cao took the relic we found..."

"What was the relic?"

Issei was silent after hearing Azazel's question. His mind flashed back to seeing the Grail filled with Rias's blood, with Cao Caos grinning as he slashed her throat. Issei after a moment of silence, Issei spoke.

"The Holy Grail," Azazel's eyes became as wide as saucers as he processed Issei's answer.

"Shit!" Azazel yelled in shock as he suddenly jumped to his feet and rushed over to the rest of the group, who were collectively sobbing.

"This is bad! If Cao Cao uses the Grail, we are in deep shit! I need to warn... Sirzechs," Azazel stated to the group as he summoned a communication spell, only to stop when a large portal bearing the Gremory household symbol appeared in the clearing. Sirzechs, in his traditional demon garments, rushed out of the portal.

"Sirzechs," the group stated, only for them to be ignored by him as he just kept running. They saw an expression that none had ever witnessed in the Demon King. Panic.

"Sirzechs, I..." Azazel muttered while raising his arm to catch Sirzech's attention so he could warn him of what he had just learned, but Sirzechs just barged past him.

"Rias! I'm...here." Sirzechs roared, only for his voice to drop to a terrified whisper as he saw his little sister dead; Azazel and the rest of the peerage turned to see his aura of destruction magic grow as he lowered himself to Issei's level and grabbed him by the collar turning Issei to face him

"WHY DIDN'T YOU PROTECT HER!" Sirzechs roared, causing Azazel to rush to grab the King of Hell. He tried to pry him off Issei, who was limp and defenceless, but had his gaze moved to focus on Sirzech.

"Stop! Issei did all he could!" Azazel yelled, hoping to get through to Sirzechs, but as soon as he saw the rage in his eyes, he knew his intervention would not be enough.

"ANSWER ME!" Sirzech's aura began to flare, causing Azazel to back off from the pain inflicted by the aura, which was burning Issei's skin, causing him to grimace in pain. Still, he made no attempt to fight back.

Issei broke eye contact and instead looked to Rias, his hands trembling as he held on to her hand.

"WHY! Why! Why! Why! Why...why did she have to die." Sirzechs screamed at Issei, tearing Issei's collar off his shirt, only for his roar to turn to manic sobbing as he dropped to his knees and wept as he took his sister's hand in his and squeezed it tightly. As Sirzech's anger dissipated, so did his destructive aura, which grew weaker until it vanished. Once, it was apparent that Sirzech's dangerous aura had dissipated. The rest of the peerage encircled the pair as they two wept.

Unbeknownst to the group, the portal that Sirzechs had used was still open, and out from the portal came Rias's mother and father.

"Son! What happened to...no." Rias's father said only to catch sight of his daughter, with his wife coming short

"Where is Rias.." she said, only to cover her mouth in shock as she started to cry at the sight of her daughter lifeless on the floor. Rias's father grabbed his wife and took her head, burying it into his shoulder, muffling her cries while he tried to stifle his own.

After a period of silence, Sirzechs rose to his feet and apologised to Issei, but Issei again did not respond, after which Sirzechs walked over to his inconsolable parents and hugged them before heading to the portal and calling the peerage.

"We must return home...to arrange the funeral proceedings. Will you all come to help with this?" Sirzechs asked, with the peerage being silent and nodding, still in shock at what they had seen, but Issei did not respond as he kept his back to everyone and kept his focus on Rias, which concerned everyone.

Asia, seeing this, slowly walked over to Issei; she was fidgeting with her hands before she stopped and knelt beside him.

"Issei. We are going to take Rias home...will you come with us?" Asia stated nervously, placing her hand on Issei's Shoulder

"I can't. I have to stay with her...I have to bring her back Asia...I can't let her go." Issei said weakly, grabbing hold of Rias tighter in his grip.

The peerage heard this statement, turned and walked over to Issei.

"Issei, can you listen to me for a moment?" Akeno said softly as she stood across from Issei, who nodded at her.

"We will get Rias back. We need to let her rest. Please, Issei, let her return home." Akeno said, slowly placing a soft hand on Issei's hand. Akeno could feel him shaking from fear and the tension of holding Rias so tightly.

Issei was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath, took hold of Rias and carefully lifted her as he rose to his feet and slowly walked towards the portal. He said no words as he walked, keeping his gaze on his beloved.