The Lone Vigilante Issei – High School DxD
Hey everyone, it's me Hide Shinyama.
It has been nearly two months since I last released a chapter. I really apologize for taking this long but that paper report really needed to be done and I had to give full priority to it. Plus, I needed to take some time off writing to rest.
But now, I am back and ready to complete my quest in finishing this story.
In the last chapter Issei had snuck into the Grigori with the Hulk's help, fought and defeated Ridley, befriended Azazel and ended up in Kuoh.
What is Issei going to do now?
Find out in…
Chapter 61 – Back in Kuoh
14th of November, Saturday, 1:25 pm – on the grounds of Kuoh Academy, Kuoh
"I can't believe this! Why the heck am I in Kuoh!? I told him to teleport me to Nerima!" Issei exclaimed in shock and some frustration in being in what could be described as the lion's den.
[Well, maybe Azazel pressed the wrong button. The Hulk did come rushing at them causing mayhem there] Ddraig reasoned.
"Hmm…" Issei hummed as he thought about this piece of information to himself. "You may have a point…"
[But anyway, that's not important now. At the very least, you're out of the Underworld and back in Japan. Getting back to Nerima may take a while, but it won't be difficult] Ddraig pointed out.
Issei sighed. That was also true. Better than nothing…
But wait! If that was true, then…
Issei pulled up his wristwatch and proceeded to make a call.
After a few seconds, someone answered the call.
"Issei? Is that you?" the voice of Matsuda could be heard from the other end of the line.
"Yeah, it's me," Issei replied with relief in his voice.
"Thank God, you're alive!" Matsuda praised the Biblical God (unknowingly). "You've been gone for a whole day! Where are you? I heard you got struck by lightning and disappeared!"
"Yeah, it's true," Issei confirmed with a nod. "And then I found myself in the Underworld. It was a real hassle I tell you."
"I can imagine," Matsuda acknowledged. "When we were there the last time, there were so many beasts there – and a huge blue Dragon, too!"
[Tiamat… brr…] Ddraig shuddered at the thought of his fellow Great Dragon King.
"After that," Issei continued. "I encountered a… destroyed village with its residents dead… They were killed by bandits…"
Issei clenched his teeth at the memory. It was not a pleasant memory to remember.
"Oh, that sounds… bad…" Matsuda remarked. He was uncertain as to how to respond to that.
"It was horrible… At least those bandits will never hurt anybody ever again… I made sure of that," Issei said with an edge in his voice.
Matsuda shuddered at the end of the line. He could tell that Issei did something to those bandits that he… probably did not want to know.
"After I took care of things there, I saw the Hulk passing by. He also must have ended in the Underworld somehow," Issei continued his story.
"And Loki? Did you see him?" Matsuda interrupted curiously.
"Nope. I did not see him. Lucky for me," Issei answered truthfully. "And then I chased him all the way to Grigori, broke in fought a huge purple dinosaur and…"
"Wait! Wait! Wait! A purple dinosaur!? You don't mean…?" Matsuda was about to say his guess as to what the dinosaur might be when Issei answered before him.
"It was a huge pterodactyl-like creature that could shoot fire. It was a really tough one, but in the end… I could kill it…" Issei answered.
"Oh, a… pterodactyl? For a second, I thought it was…" Matsuda was about to say his guess as to the identity of creature, but then hesitated to say it (for who wants to acknowledge the existence of something as stupid as Barney the Dinosaur?).
"You thought it was… what?" Issei wanted Matsuda to finish his thoughts.
"Uhm… you know… never mind that!" Matsuda quickly wanted to move on from the topic. "So, are you still in the Underworld? I did not know that you could call from there to here."
"Well, I'm not in the Underworld anymore," Issei corrected Matsuda. "Thanks to Azazel I was able to get back to Japan."
"You're back in Japan? Great!" Matsuda was glad to hear this piece of news from Issei. "Wait, where in Japan are you? And who is this Azazel?"
"Azazel is the leader of the Fallen Angels. He was kind enough to give me a lift back to Japan," Issei answered to Matsuda's shock.
"The leader of… What!? Why would he do that?" Matsuda asked in incomprehension.
"He was thankfully that I saved the lives of his men. And that's why I am back. But unfortunately, the Hulk came rushing in causing chaos and we both ended up being teleported to Japan," Issei explained.
"What!? And where is the Hulk now? Is he still with you?" Matsuda wanted to know.
"Nah, he left just a while ago going who knows where," Issei answered.
"This is not good… The same crap from yesterday is going to start all over again!" Matsuda fretted upon hearing the Hulk was back. "But wait! If the Hulk is back, the sound of it jumping around and causing chaos should be heard all over Tokyo."
"Yeah, well… that brings me to the other bad news… We did not get teleported to Tokyo. I'm at Kuoh Academy…" Issei said truthfully while looking around warily. Fortunately, nobody was around the area.
"Kuoh Academy!?" Matsuda shouted in shock. "This is bad, you've got to get out of here! That's where the Devils are! And they're looking for you!"
"Well, yeah. We did encounter them yesterday, didn't we? They almost turned me into a Devil…" Issei shuddered at the memory of being at their mercy.
"It's worse than that! They aren't just looking for you, they're looking for Motohama and me, too! In fact, they showed up at the Tengu dojo earlier today and wanted to take us by force!" Matsuda informed Issei.
"WHAT!?" Issei was now the one shouting in shock. "What do you mean they wanted to take you guys by force?"
"Gremory-senpai and her three underlings from the Occult Research Club showed up and wanted to take us by force to find your whereabouts and get our stuff we got from Monika. Luckily, Shinyama stepped in and took them out. You should have seen it!" Matsuda answered with some enthusiasm at the memory of Shinyama fighting earlier today.
"Good to know you guys are safe…" Issei sighed in relief.
"Then, Sitri-senpai, Shinra-senpai and then a Devil named Sairaorg showed up and fought against Shinyama as well. They did not stand a chance against him either. Shinyama sent them back by taxi while they were unconscious. He assured us that they won't be coming after us any time soon."
"That's a real relief, man…" Issei smiled in relief.
"Not quite. There's still one more problem," Matsuda told Issei.
"Huh?" Issei voiced in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Issei," Matsuda said in a serious tone. "The Chinese Amazons are on the move. They've gathered an army that's making their way to Tokyo. They're here to kill you – and all of us at the Tengu dojo."
"What!? Why!?" Issei voiced incredulously.
"As far as I know, it's revenge for their destroying their restaurant and restoring of their honor," Matsuda explained grimly. "Issei, the Amazons are going to be here by tomorrow morning. You need to get back here as soon as you can!"
"I'm on it!" Issei replied.
Before anybody could say anything else, Ddraig let out a warning.
[Partner! Hide!] Ddraig urge Issei with an unusually frightened pitch in his voice.
Issei jumped into the empty pool and hid there.
Just then, a huge blue Dragon whooshed into the sky from Kuoh Academy followed by two humanoid figures following the blue Dragon. One of them was a man with red hair and the other was woman wearing Magic Girl clothing and had black hair tied in twintails.
"What… was that…?" Issei asked, as he peered out from the pool towards the flying figures.
[That was a close one…] Ddraig sighed out in relief. [Tiamat could have spotted us…]
"Wait! That was Tiamat!?" Issei exclaimed incredulously.
"Tiamat is here!?" Matsuda voiced out equally shocked.
[Indeed. And the two of them following behind are two of the Maous, namely Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan] Ddraig answered them both.
"Why are they here?" Issei asked Ddraig.
[They must have sensed the Hulk and are chasing after him. There's no other explanation than that. If it were not for the Hulk, Tiamat would have…] Ddraig shuddered again. […found me!]
Issei could not help but drop a sweat at Ddraig's fear for Tiamat.
Just then, Ddraig and Issei sensed something.
"Matsuda, I'll have to end this call! I'll get back to you later! See you!" Issei quickly said before ending the call.
"What? Wai-!" Matsuda wanted to say, but the call ended before he could say more.
Issei got out of the pool and snuck away to hide himself. And why did he do that?
"Look around the campus for every nook and cranny," the voice of Rias Gremory could be heard from the distance.
"""Yes, Buchou!""" the voices of Akeno, Koneko and Yuuto could be heard.
'Crap! Did they find me!? Why are they looking around the area!?' Issei thought to himself in a panic, as he tried to find a better place to hide.
To answer that question, we must look at what happened a few minutes earlier.
14th of November, Saturday, 1:20 pm – Occult Research Club, Kuoh Academy, Kuoh
"I can't believe this!" Rias grumbled, as she reclined on the couch of her club room.
Rias was in a sour mood. She and her peerage, along with (to Rias' surprise) Sona, Tsubaki and Sairaorg had found themselves inside two cabs on their way to Kuoh. The cab drivers told her and the others that the man named Shinyama had paid them to bring them back to Kuoh. The cab drivers did not ask why they were unconscious to their relief. However, just the fact that they had been beaten and sent back to Kuoh by this… human… was more than humiliating enough. But that was just the beginning of it.
Upon reaching back home, Sirzechs had heard about what Rias had done, disobeying his orders to cause trouble. He gave her a firm scolding with Sona and Serafall sitting in the club room with them. Serafall also gave her a piece of her mind for causing Sona to get hurt, all while coddling up to Sona (much to the latter's discomfort).
And since they were talking, Sirzechs and Serafall also took the opportunity to speak to them on another matter. Namely, the decision to ally themselves with several Mythological Factions, among them Heaven, the Grigori, the Nordic Gods, the Youkai and the Grim Reapers. Frankly, this shocked Rias and Sona, as it was hard to believe that something like that could even be talked about, let alone come into fruition. But it came to be so because the threat of the Hulk was so great that it caused chaos and destruction to both Hades' realm and the Grigori.
And because of these factors, Sirzechs and Serafall had decided on her punishment. Rias and her peerage were ordered to remain in Kuoh Academy and not leave it until further notice.
In other words, Rias had been grounded. Grounded! And all because she of her desire to get Issei's two friends on her own with her peerage. And it all ended up backfiring because of this man called Shinyama!
Just who was that man named Shinyama anyway? And how could he know about her and the others? How was he so strong?
The only comfort was that Sona was to stay here with her. At least, she would not suffer the indignity of being alone.
And just as she was mulling all these things in her head, she sensed something coming from outside. She went to the window and saw a green man leap into the air. The Hulk was heading away from the academy.
"Is that…?" Rias widened her eyes in surprise and shock.
A green muscular man wearing purple pants… she recognized who it was instantly.
Rias immediately contacted her brother using a magical communication circle.
"Rias, why are you…?" Sirzechs started off with an annoyed tone.
But Rias interrupted him.
"Big brother! Big brother! I saw the Hulk! It's here!" Rias told Sirzechs in a voice mixed with fear and excitement in her voice.
"WHAT!?" Sirzechs roared in shock and hung up the call.
Immediately, Sirzechs teleported to the Occult Research Club right in front of Rias.
"Where is that thing!?" Sirzechs demanded of Rias urgently.
Rias pointed at the window.
"I saw the Hulk a few seconds ago right outside that window. It was jumping away in that direction. It can't be too far away," Rias told Sirzechs.
Sirzechs looked at where Rias was pointing.
"Hmm… I do sense a presence of something powerful moving away from here at a fast speed," SIrzechs confirmed.
However, he raised an eyebrow as he noticed something else.
"What is it?" Rias asked her brother.
"I also seem to sense a second presence in this area. This presence… is the Red Dragon Emperor!" Sirzechs exclaimed.
"WHAT!?" Rias shouted in surprise. "You mean that Issei Hyoudou is here!?"
"It's possible," Sirzechs stated, while pondering on what he was to do or say next.
Ten seconds passed before Sirzechs decided on his next move.
"Rias, you are to remain here," Sirzechs ordered Rias. "I will get Serafall and we will chase that Hulk. You and Sona are to remain here in Kuoh Academy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Big brother…" Rias answered reluctantly.
After that was said, Sirzechs quickly told Serafall the gist of things. Just like Sirzechs before her, Serafall also teleported into the Club Room without a moment's delay.
To Sirzech's and Rias' surprise, there was another person who teleported into the room as well.
"Lady Tiamat?" Sirzechs voiced surprised.
"Indeed, Lord Lucifer. It is me," Tiamat addressed Sirzechs calmly.
"Why are you here?" Sirzechs asked her.
"I was with Lady Leviathan, discussing certain affairs. I came here with her hearing that this Hulk has appeared here," Tiamat answered.
"Yes, it is true. It's here," Sirzechs confirmed.
"Where is Sona-chan!? Is she safe!?" Serafall asked, as she looked at Sirzechs and Rias hysterically.
"Calm down, your sister is unharmed," Sirzechs assured Serafall. "However, we should hurry. I can sense that the Hulk is getting further away from us."
"No problem…" Serafall said and revealed a sadistic smile that sent chills down Sirzech's and Rias' spine. "…I will not let my cute little sister Sona-chan be harmed by that green monster…"
"Ehem… yes… Anyway, let's go, shall we?" Sirzechs suggested to Serafall.
"Yes, let's go!" Serafall said in a cutesy manner (in a manner completely opposite to how she behaved before). "We'll make sure that it won't hurt anybody again!"
"Do be careful!" Sirzechs warned Serafall and Tiamat. "If the Hulk can defeat Hades and the entire Underworld, there is a good chance that we might not be able to defeat it either. Our mission is to observe it and make sure it doesn't hurt anybody. Engage it only if necessary."
Tiamat and Serafall agreed and the three of them opened the window and took flight. Tiamat even transformed into her Dragon form upon climbing higher into the sky.
As Tiamat was going after the Hulk, she could not help but look behind for a moment at a certain spot in Kuoh Academy.
"Is that…?" Tiamat asked herself.
For a second, she considered stopping and turning back.
But she shook her head. She had more important things to do. Given what she had been told about the Hulk, it was clearly a huge threat to the whole world. And she knew that dealing with an enemy like that was an absolute priority…
Even if Ddraig happened to be nearby…
As Rias watched the two Devil Kings and the Great Dragon King become a small spot in the horizon, Sona entered the room with Rias' peerage.
"Rias! Why were Lady Tiamat, Serafall and your brother here!?" Sona demanded of Rias.
"It's the Hulk. I saw him appear here suddenly and called my brother. My brother called your sister and Tiamat and they're chasing the Hulk as we speak," Rias summarized briefly.
Sona, Akeno, Koneko and Yuuto widened their eyes in shock.
"That Hulk is here?" Yuuto voiced out in shock.
"Ara… that thing was just so violent…" Akeno remembered their last fight with the Hulk.
"Too violent and too angry…" Koneko shuddered, while keeping a stoic face at the memory of being beaten up by the Hulk.
"Well, at least it hasn't caused any havoc here, so that's a relief," Sona said with a sigh of relief.
"Yes, that's true, but…" Rias said and formed a smirk on her face. "There is someone else who appeared here suddenly. Unlike the Hulk, this person is still on Academy grounds…"
All those assembled were confused at what Rias was talking about until she spoke about whom she meant. This put them on alert and made them chase after Issei Hyoudou.
14th of November, Saturday, 1:26 pm – on the grounds of Kuoh Academy, Kuoh
And Issei did his best to get away from Kuoh Academy as fast as possible. He sprinted down familiar ground.
The gothic-like buildings… the green park… the trees… Even though Issei was running for his life, he still could not help but reminisce of the wonderful time he spent here.
Issei looked behind him and heard voices talking to each other. Plus, he could here the sound of running footsteps chasing him.
"I sense him! He's somewhere up ahead!" Issei heard Yuuto's voice behind him.
"Not good!" Issei said to himself. "Ddraig, any ideas?"
[Just keep running!] Ddraig simply answered Issei.
"Oh, great!" Issei groaned in exasperation. "Thanks a lot!"
Issei proceeded to turn a corner around one of the buildings, which led him to a side of the building whose walls ran along the perimeter walls keeping outsiders out. The advantage for Issei was that it kept him obscured from the sight of his pursuers. The downside for Issei was that it was a dead end.
"Damn it!" Issei cursed to himself, as he ran towards the wall.
But then suddenly, he had an idea!
[Boosted Gear!]
Issei summoned the Boosted Gear and summoned the Dragon Scale Mail.
[Dragon Scale Mail Equip!]
With his armor on, Issei used the booster on his back to propel himself into the air in a diagonal angle.
(((WWWRRRROOOOOOMMMMMM!)))
The Booster roared like a jet engine, as Issei gained height and speed. With that, Issei flew into the air and accelerated like his life depended on it (which in way it did).
Yuuto and the other members of Rias' peerage arrived at the scene. All they saw was the trail of smoke left behind after Issei's launch.
"Where is he?" Rias demanded, as she arrived at the scene.
"He escaped, Buchou," Yuuto answered. "He must have flown over the wall here."
"Well, then what are you waiting for? After him!" Rias spread out her wings and was about to take off when she noticed that the other Devils simply stood there, not even having her wings out.
"Did you not hear me? I said…" Rias was about to order them to take off when Sona stepped forward.
"No, Rias. We will not go after Issei Hyoudou and neither should you," Sona told Rias to the latter's surprise.
"What? Why!?" Rias demanded incredulously.
"It's because you were strictly ordered not to leave the Academy. Leaving the Academy building was fine. That is why we all decided to chase Issei Hyoudou in the first place. But leaving the grounds is forbidden," Sona stated in a professional manner like a student council president ought to.
"Well, going out for a short while is…" Rias tried to make a loophole for herself, but Sona would not let her.
"No, Rias. You will stay here," Sona strictly cut her off. "You will not go after Issei Hyoudou anymore. You have caused too much trouble doing so. You've been reprimanded several times by Sirzechs and even Serafall. If they find out that you disobeyed you again, they won't just put you under house arrest. They might do worse."
"Worse? Like what?" Rias asked Sona with a frown.
"They might decide to have you get married to Raiser sooner – without even having the chance to challenge him in a rating game," Sona answered Rias, making her blood run cold.
"You… you're joking…" Rias whispered, as she stepped back in horror. "…Why would such a thing…?"
Rias could not believe that such a punishment was even possible.
"Sirzechs took me aside just before he went back to the Underworld. He told me to keep an eye on you. And he told me to warn you of this, should you disobey him again," Sona warned Rias seriously. "He also told me that your peerage – or at least one of them – can be taken from you. That was an alternative punishment that he suggested could be done unto you. So, unless you want that to happen, I suggest that you don't disobey your brother."
"…" Rias could not anything.
Seeing her shock, Sona sighed and went ahead of everyone to go back inside.
"I hope you take what I just said seriously," Sona said to Rias before leaving.
Rias stood there, still unable to process what she just heard. Akeno, Yuuto and Koneko stood there for a while before they headed back one by one. Akeno gave Rias worried looks before leaving.
"Are you coming, Rias?" Akeno asked concerned.
"I… sure…" Rias answered stoically.
Akeno nodded and headed back first.
For the first time, Rias did not even bother trying to break the rules again. Thinking about that terrible Raiser and the fact that she won't even stand a chance to contest the validity of her engagement to him… it was too much… and so was losing her peerage…
Looking up towards where the trail of smoke was leading into the sky, Rias could not help but wonder…
"Am I never meant to become someone worthy of honor and respect?" Rias asked herself weakly.
14th of November, Saturday, 2:39 pm – near a certain fountain, Kuoh
It was fairly chilly today. But even so, it was nice to see the sunshine on the fountain as the water sparkled in the sun. It would have been better if it was summer.
Those were the thoughts of Murayama when she passed by the fountain on her way home.
It was as she admired the fountain that she suddenly heard a sound. It sounded like the rustling of leaves and branches and then something fell from one of the trees.
"KYAH!" Murayama yelped in fright as she saw a figure fall from the tree.
She recovered from her fright to see who or what it was that had done so.
And when she came to the figure in question, Murayama gasped in shock. It was a young man her age and he was unconscious. But that was not what shocked her the most for she recognized that young man.
That brown hair… that build… that face…
"Issei… Hyoudou…?" Murayama whispered out in surprise at seeing the brunette here in Kuoh.
Murayama could not help but ask a ton of questions. What was Issei doing in that tree? Wasn't he supposed to be sentenced to jail for two years? Why was he out so soon? And why were his clothes so wounded, ragged and dirty? It looked like he struggled through the wilderness and fought with animals?
Murayama decided that first, she needed to help him up. She dragged the unconscious Issei to the nearest bench and let him recover.
Five minutes later…
Issei slowly opened his eyes to see Murayama staring at him from above. This made Issei jump up in surprise.
"WAH! Don't… don't scare me like that!" Murayama said, as she recovered from her shock.
"Murayama!?" Issei voiced in shock, as he sat up. "Is that you!?"
"Yeah, it is… but never mind that. Why are you here? And why were you on that tree?" Murayama asked Issei inquisitively.
"Tree?" Issei asked her puzzled.
Murayama pointed at the tree in question.
"I found you on my way back from school. You were on it and then suddenly you fell. But anyway, how come you're back in Kuoh, shouldn't you be…?" Murayama drifted, leaving her question hanging in the air.
Issei realized what she was going to ask and why, which made him sweat nervously. Right, in her eyes, he should be in jail serving his sentence for two years or so. He should not be out here back in Kuoh.
Issei needed to make an excuse… and fast! Issei found one and said it.
"I… have been given the day off and have been allowed to return to Kuoh for a day…" Issei lied to Murayama.
"A day off? Why?" Murayama questioned skeptically.
"Good behavior. I don't know the minds of the prison wards," Issei explained, hoping inwardly that this would satisfy Murayama's curiosity.
"Well, I guess that explains it…" Murayama said, apparently satisfied with Issei's explanation. "And what of Matsuda and Motohama? Are they here, too?"
"No, they're back in jail. They were not so good as I was and were peeking at girls even in jail, so they have been placed under stricter supervision," Issei lied again, while suppressing the urge to laugh.
"Really?" Murayama said, as she narrowed her eyes skeptically. "But aren't jails like… gender-segregated?"
"When there's a will, there's a way," Issei explained to her with a straight face. "And they got busted, so there's that. As for me, I stayed out of their antiques this time. Heh, pervs…"
14th of November, Saturday, 2:45 pm – with Matsuda and Motohama at the Tengu Dojo, Nerima Ward, Tokyo
""ACHOO!"" Matsuda and Motohama sneezed at the same time.
"Why does it feel like Issei is gossiping behind our backs?" Matsuda asked Motohama.
"I dunno. Maybe it was someone else talking bad about us. The Devils certainly don't like us. That's for sure. I hope Issei is fine," Motohama replied to Matsuda.
"Don't worry. I spoke to him not too long ago and he was alive… well… hopefully, the Devils did not get him. I'm sure that he managed to escape them and is on his way back here as we speak," Matsuda said with a confident smile.
"Yeah, no way he would talk crap behind our backs…" Motohama said, now reassured.
How wrong they were…
14th of November, Saturday, 2:46 pm – near a certain fountain, Kuoh
"So, how is your time there… in juvie?" Murayama asked Issei.
"It… it is great," Issei answered her. "The wardens were really nice and helpful. I even felt like I was learning things I never thought I would learn."
"Really?" Murayama questioned skeptically at the high praise for prison wardens.
"Really, really…" Issei said, as he leaned back and stretched his arms and legs on the bench. "They were best you could ask for. One of them especially, she was the best."
"She?" Murayama voiced in surprise. "They have female prison guards keeping watch over you?"
"Yeah," Issei answered her truthfully this time. "I was also surprised that they had female wardens there. And they were the best. I learned a lot from Sayori. She was always nice to me…"
Issei's face started to soften at the memory of Sayori. "She was so… wonderful… and she always looked out for me… she was the best kind of girl you could ever meet."
Issei then sighed, as his face saddened at the memory of Sayori.
"Sadly, she's… no longer in this world…" Issei said.
Murayama said nothing. Instead she showed Issei a look of concern. Were she and Issei…a couple?
"I'm sorry to hear that," Murayama said to Issei.
"It's fine…" Issei replied as he sobered up. "…it happened a long time ago anyway…"
Murayama and Issei said nothing for a while until Issei remembered… Mikasa, the girl he had hurt in a fit of anger.
"Say, is that girl… Mikasa okay?" Issei dared to ask Murayama.
At once, the air became cold between them as Murayama remembered why it was that Issei and his buddies were in juvenile prison to begin with.
"She… woke up from her coma… but she no longer attends our school. She's in rehab," Murayama revealed, her tone now colder and her face stern.
"Rehab?" Issei wondered.
"Her mind… has not been the same since that day," Murayama answered cryptically, though it was clear to Issei what she was trying to say.
"I see…" was all that Issei could say, as he looked down in shame.
Both of them were silent once more.
They did not know how long they waited there in the park, just expecting the other person to say something.
It was Issei who finally broke the silence.
"I completely messed up…" Issei spoke up.
"An understatement…" Murayama said, her voice remained cold.
"After my parents died, I swore that I would become a hero – someone who would protect the people, not hurt them. I lost my cool and did something like that," Issei said, openly admitting his guilt.
Murayama's face softened in sympathy.
"Right, I forgot your parents died just the day before…" Murayama said.
"I wish I could go back in time and change what I've done. I wish I could even save my parents if possible. But I can't. All I can do is bear the guilt of what I have done, accept the losses I've suffered in my life and cherish the people I have now…" Issei said, as he stood up and walked away from Murayama.
"You're going already?" Murayama asked Issei.
"Yeah," Issei simply answered.
"If you really feel sorry for what you did to Mikasa, you should go and see her and apologize in person," Murayama told Issei.
Issei became silent, unsure as how to answer that. But then, he found his reply.
"I'm afraid I'm out of time. I need to get back. But…" Issei drifted off at that and turned his face back to Murayama one last time. "…if you see Mikasa… tell her… and her other two friends… that I'm sorry for everything…"
"You really think such a half-baked apology like that will be enough?" Murayama asked with an edge in her voice.
Issei said nothing, making Murayama continue.
"Do you really think saying sorry for beating them up is going to fix things?" Murayama asked again.
Issei was silent once more. For a while nobody spoke for a while once more.
"I know saying sorry won't fix anything. But… that's all I can do for now," Issei answered her and then left.
Murayama just watched as Issei left her behind at the fountain. She did not know what else to say.
All she felt when looking at Issei's departing figure was how different he had become. He was no longer the perverted young man she knew a few months ago. Rather, he had changed so much that he seemed more like a man at that moment.
Just when Murayama was about to leave and head home, both she and Issei heard someone cry out. They both turned in the direction the cry had come from and saw somebody fall from a nearby tree nearby with a thud.
"What the…? Again!?" Murayama exclaimed.
"Huh? What?" Issei voiced surprised.
Both Issei and Murayama rushed to the tree where the person had fallen from and saw…
"It's a man!" Murayama said to Issei in shock.
"And he's half-naked!" Issei added mortified at the man's state.
Indeed, the man was wearing only purple boxers and looked Caucasian. Moreover, he had landed with his face and stomach on the ground.
The man sat up and looked around him to see two teenagers staring at him in bewilderment.
"Sir, are you alright?" Murayama asked him in English.
"Yeah… I'm alright…" the man answered in American English.
Issei stayed on the sidelines when something dawned upon him. Those shorts, the fact that he was half-naked and that he was an American. He recognized that man. Could he be…?
"Dr. Bruce Banner?" Issei addressed the man by what he presumed was his name.
The man turned to him in surprise and so did Murayama.
"You… know me?" the American asked Issei.
Issei widened his eyes in shock and stepped back in shock.
"You… you really are…" Issei whispered as he stared at the man in disbelief.
"Hyoudou? You know this man?" Murayama asked Issei with no small amount of surprise.
"Yeah… sort off…" Issei answered Murayama.
"How… do you know my name?" the man asked Issei.
Issei found himself tongue-tied there since his English was not all that good.
"I…" Issei began to speak English to the best of his abilities. "…am a friend… I know… someone who can help… you go home…"
Bruce looked at Issei confused.
"You can help me go home? What do you mean by that?" Bruce asked Issei.
Issei did not know what to say next.
"What do you mean you can get him home? How do you even know him?" Murayama asked Issei.
Issei looked at Murayama, then at Bruce and then back at Murayama.
"Murayama. Let me handle him. I think I can help him," Issei said to her.
"You can? But aren't you going back to juvie?" Murayama asked Issei confused.
"Trust me, I can," Issei replied and went up to the man and whispered into his ear in broken English. "I know… you are Hulk… I am here to help…"
Bruce looked at Issei in shock.
"You can?" Bruce asked.
"Yes, I know someone… name is Shinyama Hide. He can help. Is in Tokyo," Issei whispered into Bruce's ear.
"I see…" Bruce nodded.
The American did not know whether Issei was telling him the truth. But Bruce had no other leads to return home and it was obvious to him that he was not in his home dimension. Thus, Issei was his only chance.
"Lead the way," Bruce requested of Issei as he stood up.
Murayama could not help but ask Issei.
"What did you say to him?" she asked.
"I said I could help him. Trust me on this," Issei told her.
Before more could be said, Murayama suddenly felt weak, and she fell down unconscious.
"Murayama!?" Issei exclaimed in shock with Bruce doing the same.
Before more could be done, Ddraig suddenly spoke up.
[Partner! I sense something heading this way! They are three powerful entities!] Ddraig warned Issei in a panicked voice.
"Huh? Who?" Issei wondered and then found his answer when he turned around.
[DDRAIG! I'VE FINALLY FOUND YOU!] an enraged female voice could be heard along with the sound of the wind accompanying it.
[OH NO! TIAMAT IS HERE!] Ddraig panicked.
Just as Ddraig said this, Tiamat did appear before them, landing on the ground in her Dragon form.
[There you are…] Tiamat said as she looked at Issei with excitement in her eyes.
[This is not good! This is not good! Partner! You need to run like all hell is loose!] Ddraig begged Issei as he was going crazy from fear.
"You will not be going anywhere," a masculine voice could be heard saying from above.
Issei and Bruce looked up and saw Serafall and Sirzechs in the sky above them.
[It's Maou Lucifer and Maou Leviathan!] Ddraig exclaimed.
"Damn it! Three powerhouses at once! Why now?" Issei complained loudly, as he tried to some up with a plan.
"Who…?" Bruce wondered who these beings were as he looked at them in awe.
"Sirzechs said it best. We cannot allow any of you to escape, especially not you!" Serafall pointed at the Hulk with her Magic Girl stick.
Bruce pointed a finger at himself in confusion.
"We know that you are the Hulk. And we cannot allow you to run wild anymore. You have caused too much destruction and mayhem here in Japan and in the Underworld. We will stop you here," Serafall announced.
After saying this, Sirzechs and Serafall summoned their peerage members, who were ready for battle.
Issei and Bruce looked around them. Not only were they surrounded and outnumbered, it seemed like a magical barrier had been put in place all around them in the park. They could not get out.
"Sigh… I can never take a break here, can I?" Bruce sighed to himself.
"Huh?" Issei wondered what the American was saying.
That was when Bruce looked at Issei.
"You better step back and get away from here with that girl," Bruce said, as he pointed a finger at the unconscious Murayama. "I'll help you out with it?"
Due to the language barrier, Issei did not understand what the scientist was saying.
"What…?" Issei asked confused until he saw Bruce grow bigger. "Oh, no…"
"ROOOOOAAAAARRRRRRR! HULK FIGHT!"
14th of November, Saturday, 2:55 pm – in the Underworld at a Conference
Currently, there was a huge gathering of supernatural leaders of the Devils, Heaven, the Grigori, the Grim Reapers, the Western and Eastern Youkai and even the Nordic Gods.
The leaders seated in the conference hall in the Underworld are Ajuka Beelzebub and Falbium Asmodeus of the Devils, Michael and Gabriel from Heaven, Azazel and Penemue of the Grigori, one Hades' trusted confidants, Yasaka of the Western Youkai, Nurarihyon of the Eastern Youkai and Thor of the Nordic Gods.
The Gods were holding small talk with each other.
"I am surprised to see you here, Ajuka Beelzebub and Falbium Asmodeus. I would have expected Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan to represent the Devils," Azazel remarked.
"Yes, but they are attending other matters related to our meeting," Falbium answered.
"And what may that be?" Michael asked Falbium.
"You will see soon," Ajuka answered for Falbium.
"I hear that the Hulk has attacked the Grigori. Is that true?" Yasaka asked Penemue.
"Yes, it did," Penemue sighed sadly. "We are still recovering from the damage as we speak. And it is heavy."
"It would be surprising if you didn't," Yasaka replied.
"It's even more surprising that the Hulk is no longer in the Underworld. Did you teleport it away somewhere?" Thor asked this time.
"Well…" Penemue merely left the answer hanging, as telling the truth might have unforeseen consequences for the Grigori.
[At least your leaders escaped this unscathed. Lord Hades is currently still recovering from the injuries that that green abomination has inflicted on him] the Grim Reaper representative said.
"And that is one of the reasons why we are sitting here," Nurarihyon spoke up. "Dealing with the Hulk is an urgent matter."
"By the way, Thor," Azazel spoke up. "I heard your brother Loki was the one who got involved with the Hulk first. Does he not want to show up and give us an explanation as to what he was doing?"
"I'm afraid even I do not know what he is up to," Thor shook his head.
"Yes, despite that. I see that we are all here, I guess we can begin," Ajuka said, starting the meeting. "But before we go any further, are all of you in favor of joining the anti-Hulk coalition? If you are raise your hands and if you are against, then keep them down."
Every one of them raised their hands.
"Good, let us now begin," Ajuka said and summoned his magic to create a livestream of where Sirzechs and Serafall currently were.
This got everybody's attention. They all saw that the Hulk was avoiding all of the attacks of Sirzechs, Serafall and their peerages, while bashing its fists against the magical barrier keeping them in. They already knew the Hulk was strong, but to see it in action with its endless vigor and strength made them feel slightly… intimidated.
"We are streaming this battle live so you all can make an assessment as to what needs to be done and how many resources need to be put into the battle. My own estimations based on many calculations and assessment methods state that having Sirzechs Lucifer, Serafall Leviathan, Tiamat and the peerages of the first two… won't be enough to defeat the Hulk," Ajuka stated.
This made everyone assembled have grim expressions.
They all had the same thoughts. They needed more men to stop the Hulk. But at the same time, they knew they needed the right strategy and the right tactics to win.
They will have to form a plan as the fight was ongoing.
They had to.
The existence of the world was at stake here.
But while the leaders of the various factions were making their plans, they did not notice Issei carrying Murayama on his back while rushing towards the barrier.
14th of November, Saturday, 2:59 pm – on the battlefield, Kuoh
"Hang in there, Murayama!" Issei panted, as he carried Murayama while avoiding all the blasts all around them. "I'm not letting you die here! I'm not going to disappoint you ever again!"
And that was the Chapter 61 of The Lone Vigilante Issei.
I have to say that while I did write a draft on how finish this story, the way that ended up going differed significantly from my plans. I guess I do need to rewrite my draft.
It was one of the commenters for the last chapter who suggested to bring in Murayama or Katase into this chapter, as Issei flees the Devils. Thanks for the suggestion. I really appreciate your comments. Thanks to that, I managed to write this interaction between Issei and Murayama. I also ended up writing about Issei's lingering regrets that he had in Kuoh and how he addressed them. I really felt the need to tie up that part of the story, given how Issei beating up those three girls is the worst part in this story. It is also the part that I regret writing in this story, given how sudden it came.
Rias has been put in place for good by her repeated shenanigans. I have to say, even I did not expect to mention her engagement to Raiser at all at this point, which made it darker than I intended it to be.
Also, the supernatural factions have agreed to form a coalition to fight the Hulk. This is the beginning of one of the two final fights in this story.
Stay tuned for more.
In the meantime, what did you think of this chapter?
Did you like it?
Please read and review, I would like to hear from you.
And as always, I hope to see you around next time.
Until then.
Hide Shinyama