Issei opened his eyes and saw he was back in Erakhan's realm. "Father?"
"I am here, my son." Issei turns around and sees the mighty Death Dragon swaying his tail with a smirk on his face. "Sorry for disturbing your slumber, but there is something that I must tell you."
"Shoot." Issei says bluntly.
"You were quite skilled when you fought Riser Phoenix, well done. However, you have only scratched the surface of your power. There are other forms of your Balance Breaker."
Issei cocks a brow. "'Other forms'? You mean the Scale Mail I used against Flame Boy isn't my only form?"
Erakhan nods. "Quite so. Each individual armor possesses and controls a certain power. Your first armor uses, at most, ten percent of the powers of the other Scale Mails combined. But in order to unlock the other armors, your training will have to increase. In and outside my realm through which we speak."
"What type of armors are they?" Issei asks.
"Explosion, Absorption, Combiner, Destruction, Corrosion, and the most terrifying: Demonic Slayer."
Issei grins. "I like the sound of that last one."
Erakhan looks up as the the stormy sky starts to dissipate. "It seems our time is up. But a final warning before you leave, Issei. The Apocalypse Dragon Twins will be coming."
Issei widens his eyes. "Wait, wait, wait. Who?"
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Issei opens his eyes again and sees he's in his room. He feels something soft press against his back and two arms snake around his stomach. Issei turns slowly and sees Rias sleeping next to him with a peaceful smile on her face.
Issei laughs quietly and pecks her lips before moving her hair out of her face.
Rias stirs before opening her eyes and looking up at Issei. "Good morning, Issei."
"Morning to you too, beautiful." Issei says stroking her hair. "Sleep good?"
Rias sits up and hugs Issei. "Always with you." She then suddenly pins Issei to the bed and bites his neck.
Issei growls in pleasure but gently pulls her off. "Rias, as tempting as this is, let's do this another time. We got the training, remember?"
Rias gives him a pouty face before sighing and nodding.
A knock on the door is then heard. "Issei? Sweetie, it's time to wake up!" Anaria says.
Issei's eyes bulge in worry. "Uh, be out in a sec, Mom!"
Anaria opens the door and sees the position they were in on the bed. "Oh my! I'm hoping to be a grandmother soon, Issei. Didn't expect it to be this soon." Anaria giggles.
Issei rolls his eyes. "Do you mind?" Anaria giggles again before shutting the door. "(Sigh) That mother of mine. Well, milady, shall we?"
Rias smiles. "We shall."
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Issei and Rias walk to school with Issei's arm around her waist. Rias sighs in bliss as they enter the school. After kissing, they head to separate classrooms.
Issei then sees Jack getting practically backed into a corner by Matsuda and Motohama. Issei rolls his eyes before grabbing their ears and twisting them like a screwdriver to a screw. "Is there a problem?"
The perverted duo cries in pain.
Jack gives a sigh of relief. "Thanks, bro. These two were getting on my case about our and Asia's involvement with the club."
Issei shakes his head. "Why am I not freaking surprised?" Issei smacks their heads together knocking them out cold.
"So, wait aren't you and Rias having relations at night?" Kiryuu asks. She was a brown-haired girl with large spectacle glass.
Issei smacks his forehead. "Pervs, fangirls, stalkers, is the ORC the only group of people that are normal in this school?" Issei then groans and holds his arms in pain.
Jack puts his hand on his shoulder. "Issei, you okay?"
Issei nods. "Fine. Just need to see Akeno."
"Arms again?"
"Bingo." Issei then heads out.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
After having his arms drained through Akeno's "healing methods", Issei and the rest of the ORC were holding a meeting in Issei's room.
"Well then, let's begin our regular meeting." Rias declares. "This month's contract numbers are in, Akeno: eleven..."
"That's right." Akeno giggles.
"Koneko: ten..."
Koneko nods. "Sounds good."
"Kiba: eight, Asia: three..."
"That's great, Asia." Kiba compliments.
"Way to go, lady!" Akeno agrees.
"Oh my goodness, thank you so much!" Asia says gratefully.
"And finally, Issei and Jack: twenty." Rias finishes. Issei and Jack smirk before fist-bumping. Kiba pats them on the back while Akeno kisses them on the cheek.
Rias sips her tea and smiles at Issei. "Well done. As to be expected of my boyfriend."
"Knock it off, you're making me blush here." Issei laughs.
"Sorry, we don't mean to intervene." Anaria says walking in with Jack's mom. "We just brought up some snacks."
"Thanks, mother." Issei nods.
"Also..." Jack's mom then holds up a photo album. "I brought something I thought might inspire everybody."
Jack slaps his forehead. "Mom!"
Rias, Akeno, Asia, and Koneko all gather around Anaria and Jack's mom as they look at photos from him as a baby.
Issei laughs his head off at Jack's embarrassing misery until he notices Kiba with a serious face looking at another photo album. "Yo, Kiba. You good?"
Kiba doesn't say anything and continues to stare at one of the pictures in the album. "I guess anything's possible..." Kiba puts down the album and exits the room.
Issei looks confused before he looks at the album and sees Jack and another girl when they were younger. He then also notices the sword behind them in the background.
~Was this what he was looking at? The sword?~
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
Later that night, Issei and Charn appeared in front of a hotel room where they had been summoned for another contract.
"Guess this is it, huh buddy?" Issei says to his wolf companion.
Charn grins. "Just try not to flip if it's another hot chick."
"That was one time! Besides, maybe you forgot WHAT she'd summoned me for! Any other guy would react the same way." Issei argues before knocking on the door. It opens and Issei bows. "Hello, I'm Issei Najasaki. I'm the Devil that you summoned. Sorry if I'm not what you'd expected."
"Well, you're here now. Might as well come in." Issei then gets a look at the man's face.
Issei then enters the room with Charn and sits down on the couch with Charn at his feet. Issei whistles at the interior of the room. "Nice place you have here."
The man returns with a tray of wine and glasses. "Something to drink?"
Issei shakes his head. "Sorry, no. I don't drink anything alcoholic. Even wine."
The man shrugs. "Bummer. I was hoping to have a drinking partner."
"Is that why you summoned me?" Issei inquires.
"Is that bad?" The man asks.
"No, not at all. Honestly it's kind of nice. Most of my summons have been women and...you know what? Never mind. Rather not talk about that. Uh, anyways! What else can I do?"
The man then begins to laugh. "You're an interesting character, that's for certain."
~I'm getting a weird vibe from this guy...~ Issei thinks.
After several hours of talking, the man then says, "So, Issei, if you don't mind my asking, anyone special in your life?"
Issei was taken aback by the question. "Well, I mean...yeah. Why?"
"Just a curious thought. Handsome young man like yourself? It's not really a wonder why women have been summoning you." The man shrugs. "Don't worry I'm not coming onto you, it's just guy talk."
Issei nods. Suddenly his arms begin to hurt and he clutches himself. ~Not now, not now.~
"Well, I guess I should let you go. Thank you for your time. I may summon you again, you seem like a nice fellow." The man says.
Issei exhales slowly ignoring the pain. "Thank you, sir. Uh, what was your name again?"
The man doesn't respond and takes the painting off his wall. "Here. Take this as my payment."
Issei takes the painting and smiles at it. "It's beautiful. And thanks for the talk." Issei then exits the room with Charn and tucks the painting under his arm.
The dragon and wolf duo then walk out of the hotel and stroll down the sidewalk. Suddenly Issei gets a text from Rias about a stray Devil.
Issei and Charn then make their way to the group's location and sees them at the entrance to a large warehouse.
"Issei! Over here!" Rias calls. Issei and Charn jog over to them. "Sorry to call you like this."
"Hey, I'll always be here whenever you need me." Issei says smiling. He then turns to the warehouse. "So this is where it is, huh?"
"No one can miss the smell of a rogue Devil." Koneko states.
"No kidding. We've been given orders to take it down before the night is over." Akeno adds.
Rias then says, "Whatever it is, must be extremely dangerous. We shouldn't try to fight it inside. Asia, you wait at the rear. Akeno and I will wait out here ready for it. Issei, Jack, Koneko, and Kiba will flush it out."
Issei grins. "Let's do to it!" Issei summons his gauntlets.
"Hell yeah! Boosted Gear!" Jack agrees summoning his gauntlet too.
The four then make their way to the door.
"What do you think it is?" Jack asks.
"Who knows?" Issei shrugs. Koneko then smashes the doors down with one punch. Issei notices Kiba looking down before waving his hand in front of him. "Kiba? Let's go."
"Huh? Oh, right." Kiba then follows as they enter the warehouse.
Charn sniffs the air and stops before growling. Issei follows his gaze and spots a girl with gray hair hiding. She then comes out and screeches growing a horn and the body of a spider.
"A spider!" Issei groans. "Why did it have to be a spider?!" The Devil Spider then shoots something at Koneko that melts part of her clothes.
Jack jumps in the air. "BASTARD!" He sends a dragon shot at the Spider but it has no effect. Issei jumps in and uppercuts it into the air for Charn to transform into his two-legged form and dropkick it away. Charn grabs Koneko and keeps her safe.
Issei sees Kiba zoning out again. "KIBA!"
Kiba widens his eyes and jumps at the Devil, slicing it with his sword. The Spider screeches in pain before tackling Kiba to the ground.
"Jack! Double Blast!" Issei shouts. Jack and Issei regroup and interlock the fingers.
The brothers both aim their arms. "COMBINED DRAGON BLAST!" Red and black mixed together and blowed the Spider through the roof and into the air, allowing Akeno to electrocute it.
The Spider landed at Rias's feet. "Stray Devil, you left your master to fulfill your desires. For that you shall die a thousand times over. BEGONE!" Rias then sends the final blow that erases the Spider from existence.
Issei and the others run out to see. "WHOO! That's my girl!"
Akeno lands next to them. "That poor creature's heart was lost at this point. You could barely call her a devil anymore."
Jack shudders. "Wouldn't wanna end up like that."
They then hear a slap and see Rias had done so to Kiba. "Think you got it together now? You put everyone in danger from your obliviousness."
Kiba sighs. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
Rias holds his shoulders. "Kiba, what's wrong? This isn't like you."
Kiba shrugs her off. "I'm fine just having an off day. Now if you'll excuse me President." Kiba then walks off.
Issei walks up to Rias. "I'll go talk to him." He kisses her cheek and jogs off after him. "Yo, Kiba!"
Kiba stops walking, but keeps his back faced at Issei. "What?"
"Dude, what's been going on with you man?" Issei demands. "First you refuse to talk to us, then your head was in the clouds fighting that devil and now you're just gonna walk off and leave us hanging? Seriously, what's up?"
"Again, it's nothing. It's none of your business, Issei." Kiba says rudely.
Issei gets angered by this and turns Kiba around. "Listen you idiot, we're trying to help you! The least you can do is not be a freaking jerk."
"Issei, what's your purpose in life?" Kiba asks bluntly.
Issei steps back, phased at the question. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, what do you live for?" Kiba rephrases.
"For you guys! For Rias, Jack, you, everyone in the ORC!" Issei states.
Kiba exhales. "Issei, I appreciate your willingness to help me. But trust me when I say that I'm not worth it. I went through some rough patches when I was younger so let's just leave it at that."
Without anything else to say, Kiba then leaves Issei pondering.
-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-
In Issei's room, Issei showed Rias the picture of Jack and the girl with the sword. "It was this picture that made him all unfocused. What is it? It's just a sword."
Rias takes the picture. "That's not just any sword, Issei. It's a holy sword. They're the worst weapons used against devils. Just touching one could kill you. Truth is, this sword was part of Excalibur."
Issei widens his eyes. "Yowza, did not see that coming. But what does that have to do with Kiba?"
"He was part of something called the Holy Sword Project." Rias states. "Children were made and raised artificially so that they could wield Excalibur. Kiba nearly died from it."
Issei was now shocked. "Kiba...so what now?"
Rias stands from her seat. "For now nothing. We can only hope that nothing will come to pass from this."
Issei nods. "Right. We should probably try and get some sleep-AGH!" Issei falls to his knees and grips his head.
"Issei!" Rias kneels and holds him. "What's wrong?"
"Kiba..." Issei groans standing up. "He's in trouble. Stay here, I'll be back. Tell Jack and Asia. Indo!"
Indo then appears in his human form. "Yes, Master?"
"We got trouble I need your help!" Indo nods as they both then rushed out after Kiba.
~Hold on buddy, we're coming!~