AN: And here is the next chapter for Road of Domination.
Now after since we finished this Norse Arc it's time to move towards the Slavic Arc which I can promise you will be more interesting with a lot more fights and well you will see hehe. Also, Issei will have 3 males in his peerage that will join him before the Tournament arc, which I have alredy made match parring and have plans for them.
Now onto the chapter. Enjoy!
26. Finding a solution
It was tense atmosphere between them, as they all settled in the great hall, waiting for any new information about the condition of the Red Dragon, who was currently in a medical bay, were the best Medics from Norse were gathered in order to accelerate his healing. It was unnerving to know that even though all the damage that was done to Issei was gone. he was still out of it, even with some very advanced healing abilities like stamina replenishment didn't help in him waking up, which meant that all they could do was wait for Issei to weak up.
Though while most were tensed and waitingfor Issei's recovery, Wulfrik was calm and collected, he was currently enjoying food that was brought up from all of them. The sight of Wulfrik eating calmly made some extremely pissed off.
Though while they were pissed at Wulfrik and wanted nothing short than to beat the living crap out of him, they knew better than that. Wulfrik, even in his heavily damaged state,is still a powerhouse and must not be taken for granted.
As Chelsea and Cassie were having a conversation with Arnett and Asuka, the rest of Issei's girls were in their own thoughts, were praying to anyone that Issei will wake up soon. The only one missing from the great gathering was Lucy, who stubbornly refused, to the point of others giving up, to leave Issei's side. Though while it did annoy some, it was understood that Issei was very important to the young Lucifuge heiress, so they let her be. But they did force her to at least eat and rest while someone else watch over him.
"Please my love, wake up soon. I don't know what I would do without you beside me." Lucy muttered softly to herself as she lightly squeezes Issei's hand, while her royal blue eyes were on a brink of letting tears fall free.
XXXX
While the North was in worry over the mighty Red Dragon Emperor, who proved his worth and power to the Gods of the North, back in Kuoh things were slowly getting ready for the meeting between the Great Factions and their guests of honor.
But as always, nothing would be as easy or normal (well for Supernatural standards at least). Not even a week after Issei and his harem (peerage) left, Rias was on a verge of gathering her peerage and marching directly to the Norse Faction to bring back Issei. It was a stressing mater to Rias, there she was a beautiful and powerful girl that anyone would die for, yet the one she desired so much was not giving her a damn second of his time to , to add salt to injury, he was in relationship with another heiress and from the rebel faction that bitch Lucy Lucifuge.
And as if that wasn't enough, Sona and she detected a powerful energy entering Kuoh a few days ago, though no matter how much they searched for that power source, they couldn't find was as if the moment they located it, the power source would disappear just as they would get there and be hidden for a few hours before again appearing in a different location.
Though as much as she wanted to call her Brother, asking him for help, her pride was higher than that so she just let that happen and ignores it like usual.
XXXX
Speaking about the power source, it was currently approaching the house of Hyoudou. It was a person a bit taller than Issei, though his features were covered by a thick blood-red cloak that had a hood which was over his head, the few things visible under the hood was it eyes which to anyone who saw it would run away thinking it was a devil himself. One eye of the cloaked person was bright green almost emerald, while the other one was bright orange. And his dark chocolate hair with just a tip of orange.
As the person approaches the door of Hyoudou household, he let a wide grin appearing on his blank face, an almost nostalgic look appeared in his miss-matched eyes.
"Well little bro, I hope you didn't change too much. I would hate to see that goofy expression of yours change too much." The person spoke in a deep muscular tone, before he sighs and knocked on the door a few times.
He didn't need to wait long, as the patriarch of the Hyoudou household opened the door, before looking at the hooded figure with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes? How can I help you?" Gorou spoke in a general confused voice that only made the person chuckle a bit.
"Well you can help me by letting me in for starters, Old man." The figure spoke in a mock teasing voice, that made Gorou widen his eyes a bit before a huge smile appeared on his face as he realized who the hooded figure was.
"Jaden, my 's nice to see you again, come in come in, Suna will love to see you again my son." Gorou spoke with a huge smile on his face as he hugged the person who returns the hug.
"Yeah is nice to be here again, though I figured that Issei will be the one to open the door. Is he here or is he at school?" Jaden spoke in a calm manner that made Gorou chuckle a bit prompting a raised eyebrow from Jaden
"I will tell you over dinner, though fair warning Suna will probably hug you to death." Gorou chuckles a bit as Jaden's face became pale, as he remembered that the matriarch of the Hyoudou household tended to go overboard with hugs, and on a few occasions almost made him blackout.
"Crap." Was all that Jaden could muster up before a female voice that was all to known to the 2 males rang from the house.
"Gorou who is at the door?
Deciding against answering her verbally,Gorou dragged the frozen Jaden inside the house. And at the very second when Jaden stepped inside his whole face pale, as if he was facing his worst nightmare and it didn't help that Gorou just grinned at him.
''Y-YOU BASTARD!' Jaden roared inside of his head as his glares aimed at the man that he considered family. But before he could say anything, Suna stepped inside the hallway and raised her eyebrows in confusion.
"Gorou, who is that?" Suna asked him in a way to sweet tone, that made Gorou gulp in fear before answering her in a stuttering voice, while Jaden had a small smirk on his face at the payback.
"Um...uh...dear you know this person very well and I thought it would be best to show you then tell you."
"So? Who is he?" Suna asked again this time a bit more normally which eased the 2 a bit.
"Go on show her." Gorou said as he nudged Jaden to remove his hood to show his face, which after a few moments of thinking to flee and to face the consequences of woman's wrath or take it like a well-mannered boy. He considered that it was better to just show it and hoped for the best.
So, with a slow and painful movement, his hands slowly started to remove his hood while he closed his eyes in anticipation of a painful hug or a slap that would await soon as the hood was down, he heard a gasp of surprise before he opened his eyes to see a teary-eyed Suna looking at him.
"J-J-Jaden, is t-that r-really you?" Sona asked in a shaky voice as she approaches him, who smiled softly at the woman who was like a second mother to him.
"Yeah, it's really me, I'm finally back in Kuoh." Jaden answered as he hugged the shell-shocked woman.
It took a few more moments for Suna to recollect herself, the thought that Jaden her "son" was back. After that she squeezed him so tight, that Jaden was turning from red to blue instantly. Though he was saved by Gorou, who pulled his wife away from Jaden, letting him get the much need breath.
And after a few apologises, that Jaden even before the first one was said, told her it was all right. Jaden was shown his room where he would spend the night, and told that in an hour the dinner would be ready.
During the nice homemade meal that Jaden missed so much, he learned a few disturbing facts that while they rattled him, he didn't show it on the outside. He figured that could wait until Issei and his girlfriend return from their "School Trip" to Norway. While the talk was more about Issei and his new behavior, Jaden also told them a few of his own adventures that he partook during his 2 years in Europe. After everything was said and done and seeing as it was late, Jaden decided to call it a night.
As Jaden entered his room, he quickly set up a soundproof barrier and channelled his power for a bit before a demon with half dark purple and half white hair, with the same eyes as Jaden and one on her forehead that was blood red appeared before him. The demon also had one half of it's body male and other female.
"Yubel, it's been awhile hasn't it?" Jaden asked with a fond smile on his face, as he looked at his guardian/best friend demon who also smiled towards him.
"Jaden, that it has. How may I help you?" Yubel asked, her tone sounding extremely dark but to Jaden, it was like a soft and calming voice. Though as soon as Yubel asked, Jaden's smile vanished, and his face turned from smiling into deadly serious which prompt Yubel to do the same.
"I need Malicious Edge or Inferno Gainer to go to Underworld and see what they can find about what was happening in Kuohin the time span of 2 years. Can you do it for me?" Jaden asked his voice turning also demonic as he looked at Yubel, who's eyes shined for a moment before she nodded and disappeared for a second before returning.
"I informed both of them, and they said they would be off to see that your wish is completed without a fault my lord." Yubel answered making Jaden smile.
"Good, now that that is done, what do you say about hanging out with me for a bit?"
"I thought you never ask." Yubel smiled as he/she went to the roof and chatted.
XXXX
Back in the North of Europe, Issei still hasn't woken up yet, even when his health and stamina had returned to normal, though while he looked stable on the outside, on the inside it was very much a different story.
Being glared at by 3 of the deadliest and extremely powerful individuals, was something that Issei was honestly not used to, knowing that those 3 had the power to level the world with ease didn't even calm his nerves at all.
Issei was in the middle of Elsha's realm, were somehow he ended up tied upside-down to the tree branch he didn't know how. Though what he did know, was that he was going to get an ear full and if his bad luck till recently was any indication, he was in a world of hurt also.
Ddraig and Belzard glared at Issei, they were doing that mostly because if they didn't, Elsha would have probably cut what made them male, shove it so far up their ass that they would need a miracle to get it out, and that was something that both the Dragon and the Strongest Sekiryuutei didn't want to experience not now or ever.
They were very pleased by how Issei stood up, fought against one of the most powerful warriors of the Norse realm, and even if they knew that a sadistic battle maniac was using just above 1/2 of his full power, it was still an unbelievable achievement for someone that was so young and was emotionally driven. The battle that all 3 of them saw was an interesting and enjoyable one, while it also quenched their battle lust that all 3 had by having a worthy and powerful opponent against who they could fight. It was after all in their Dragon nature to fight for dominance and the stronger the opponent the more of their pride and drive for battle was forcing them to fight.
But even if all of them enjoyed a trill of a good fight, there always had to be a moment where it was wiser to withdraw than go to a certain death, which brought them to this point.
"Now Ise, do you have any idea as to why we brought you here and why are you hanging from a tree?" Elsha spoke in a sweet, a way too sweet voice for the men around her liking, as an aura of doom enveloped her, daring Issei to answer the question incorrectly or say something stupid to get his ass out of this.
Gulping down hard and calming his unsteady nerves, Issei answered in a scared voice that both other males knew that Elsha was the one that made him that way. "Ummm... I-is it to lecture me about my stupidity at charging head first?"
"Hmm...that is half right, though do you have any more ideas?" Elsha said in a bit calmer voice, that made all 3 males sign in relief for a bit.
"Umm...I might been a bit too close to the edge for Juggernaut Drive?" Issei innocently said while trying his hardest not to pass out by all the blood going to his brain.
"Bingo you idiot! Now that you know why you are here, it's time for you to know just how far you got to it and what would probably happen should you enter what I will show you isn't what happened, but what would, so you really know what happens when you go berserk." Elsha said as she snapped her fingers releasing Issei from his "prison", before casting a spell and making a huge magic circular at the clearing behind Issei, who was rubbing his nose and trying to get his blood back into his hands and feet.
As soon as he was able to get himself back to normal, Issei turned around to see what Elsha has casted and when he saw it his eyes went wide, his face paled and his whole body started to shake in fear.
In front of him in the magic circular that Elsha created, was Issei in what he questioned was a Juggernaut Drive armor. Juggernaut Drive appeared very similar to the Scale Mail armor that Issei had, though it gave a lot more a dragonic appearance to it and it looked very deadly with its sharp claws, teeth and tail.
But what made Issei pale and quake with fear, was an aura that it surrounded the Juggernaut Drive armor as the draconian armor roared towards the heavens in signaling his mighty victory, and the death that he left behind the battle. It was an aura of extreme dread, bloodlust and death, so much so that Issei was frozen an unable to move even a muscle at the sight of the monstrosity that was in front of him. And the images didn't stop there.
After the appearance of the armor, it was the site that left Issei almost vomiting. Death and destruction were everywhere, bodies among bodies of dead, the whole countries destroyed and devastated. And then the image that made his blood froze and his pale skin to turn paler, while his eyes almost becoming also white.
In the middle of the dead, lay Lucy, Chelsea, Cassy, Murayama, Katase, Ravel, Arnett, Asuka, his parents, and some of his friends that he meet before all this supernatural stuff happened in a brutalized state, some of the bodies were left with a limb or two and some were even beheaded or snapped in half.
Seeing Issei like this, and knowing what was probably going through his head, Elsha stopped the image from further going and place her hand on his shoulder, snapping him from his unmoving state.
"Issei, dear, don't worry this didn't happen and it won't happen. I just showed you what would happen if Belzard and I didn't stop the past users from getting to you. What you just saw is what a Juggernaut Drive does to a user. True in that form, a Sekiryuutei is unstoppable along with Hakuryuukou, it was even said that whoeverentered their Drives first is the winner of the battle. But that is beside the point now. What I'm trying to tell you is that in that form, you have the power of Ddraig at his prime and I mean it, just ask that lazy scale lizard." Elsha said while pointing at the red dragon, who growled at being called a lazy scale lizard, while Belzard just chuckled a bit before he stepped forward towards the duo getting their attention.
"And with that power comes a great trath to yourself. You see… when Ddraig was sealed into the gear, his anger and his negative emotions were also transferred into the gear and that is what sadly also transfers to the user. Basics of it are, the more anger and more rage you have in you, the closer to unleashing that horror is. It also comes with a hefty price; one loses his mind and life. The more you are in that form, the more your life energy is required for it. Though Elsha found a way to prevent that from happening but in your case, it would be your life that is sucked out to power it. So, while it is okay to be enraged or to be angry, you should watch how much you put out it out." Belzard said in a sage voice as Issei was somewhat starting to regain his senses.
"I-i-is there any way to prevent me from going into that?" Issei asked in a shaken tone, while Belzard and Elsha looked at each other and then at Ddraig, who seeing the looks of his 2 strongest users sighed heavily.
"Yes, there is Partner, but in other to do it, you would need to do one of the 3 following things." Ddraig said as he lowered his head a bit to look into Issei's eyes who widen again at hearing this.
"And those things are?" Issei quickly asked, wanting to find out so he could work on them.
"First is to experience the Drive itself and survive it. That would be the easiest but deadliest way of the 3. Second is to learn a lost magic, the Dragon Slaying Magic, that is something I sadly can't teach you, since it requires a living Dragon with an exposure to its aura constantly and eating his magic that will help you a lot, that is easiest but also the longest way. The final is to bath in the blood of a Dragon King, and that is almost like the 1st thing I said partner, you are in no condition to slay a Dragon King." Ddraig told him in a very serious voice as he made it perfectly clear to his young host that it was almost impossible to stop it.
Signing sadly, Issei hanged his head down in defeat before his brain started to think about what Ddraig said to him once about Dragons. And then it clicked into his head that the dragons were still around and in large numbers no less. So quickly getting his head up, he asked a question that surprised the mighty Emperor.
"Do you know any dragon that can teach me Dragon Slaying magic Ddraig?" The hope in his voice didn't get unnoticed by the other two companions there.
Signing, Ddraig shock his head in disbelief, though he should have seen this coming. "Yes, Partner, I know of a few that could teach you, but before you ask who they are you should know that you can't learn it from any dragon. You must learn it from a Dragon King since I was an Emperor and there are no other Dragons with that rank or power, so you must learn it from the second-best source and that is King."
"Hell yeah! I don't care what I need to do to get that Dragon to train me I will do it!" Issei shouted in excitement at the thought of getting rid of that cursed drive and getting a new power. Which after realizing this the other 3 also chuckled/giggled at the thought of Issei getting even more powerful.
"But Issei, before that you need to get to the Slavs so you can finish the mission that Sirzechs gave you and to get the weapon." Elsha said calmly after Issei finished his little victory dance that gave them all a good laugh.
"Yeah, that looks like it's a bit urgent, can't disappoint the other. So Elsha how do I get back?" Issei said before looking at the blonde mage who giggle and snapped her fingers, which prompt a black hole to appear under Issei who screamed in surprise as he fell through it all the while cursing Elsha to the ends of the world.
Seeing that Issei was away, Elsha turned towards the 2 other males and gave them a smile before nodding and disappearing which was quickly followed by other two seeing as the discussion was over.
XXXX
Lucy was just about to drift off to sleep, as her eyes were slowly closing, her head was ever so slightly going down and towards her lover's bed where he still lay peacefully. Well that was what she assumed before she heard a soft groan followed by a small growl. Hearing this, her eyes snapped open as she quickly looked towards the bed, her eyes went wide as she saw that the object of her tired and sleepless state was finally in the land of the living and she couldn't stop herself from jumping on top of him and hugging him with all of her might, all the while shouting in pure joy and happiness that also attracted a lot of curiosity as not a few moments later, the door of Issei's room were blown up as Cassie and Arnett rushed into it to see what was happening.
"Lucy! What happened why did yo...oh Issei you are awake!" Cassie said in a rush before seeing that the silver haired was hugging Issei while also having a tear running down her cheek.
"So, the big bad dragon woke up from his slumber? Hehe... oh princess you might wanna let go of him if you don't wanna knock him out again..." Arnett asked with a grin as Issei was trying to his hardest to get Lucy off him so he could breathe some much-needed air, which thanks to Arnett's comment, he managed to get as Lucy squealed in embarrassment and quickly let go of him all the while apologizing to him which he just said that it was nothing and that he is now fine.
Not long after that others also entered into Issei's room, and were pleased to see that he was finally back, though before he could be release from the room, Odin told him that it would be wise to have a checkup from the medical team that was taking care of him just to be safe.
Seeing as it was nothing to get fussed over, and he didn't want to be rude in front of the leader of Norse faction,Issei nodded while everyone left all the while dragging Lucy, who refusing to let go of Issei, though Issei just pat her head and whisper a few words that made her blush madly and started mumbling some nonsense leaving Issei to chuckle at how easy was to embers his future Queen.
XXXX
It didn't take too long for others to hear footsteps coming towards them, they all seat at the long table in the Great Hall, chatting among themselves and after a few more moments all of them could see the huge iron and wood doors opening, as they revealed Issei Hyoudou, looking perfectly healthy and with a huge grin on his face. And what surprised some was that even Elsha in her golden armor was beside him having a smile on her face as she giggled at something Issei told her no doubt.
"Yo everyone, sorry to keep you worried." Issei stated as he made it to the table, where Odin instructed him to take a sit down which he did. While Elsha bowed to Odin and Frigg before telling them why Issei was in a coma state.
"Lord Odin, Lady Frigg, Issei was in a coma state because I put him into it to discuss some very important matters and to make him understand what would happen if we, as in Belzard and I, didn't intervene during his fight with Wulfrik. By the way, I'm glad to see that you didn't mellow down in this time of peace Wulfrik." Elsha said making some glare at her, some to look in surprise while the other look confused. While Wulfrik grinned at the female general with a feral grin which she returned in kind.
"And what is that important matter that you discussed dear if it isn't a secret." Frigga asked in a motherly tone snapping Elsha from her staring contest with Wulfrik.
"Why of course Lady Frigga. What we spoke with Ddraig and Belzard, is that during a fight, Issei was extremely close to entering Juggernaut Drive." Elsha said before being silenced by shouts of surprise and disbelief, though they were silenced when Frigga lifted her hand stopping any more comments and words.
"Juggernaut Drive you say? I thought that it is unstoppable and it's very hard to stop a wielder of Booster Gear from entering it when he gets to some limit of rage." Frigga said calmly while her eyes told Elsha that she was unnerved by this discovery.
"Yes, my Lady, that is what I said. And the only reason you didn't saw Issei going berserk and killing most of gods and people here is because, Belzard and I fought the other users of Booster Gear with some help of Ddraig, as all 3 of us would like to see Issei be the first one to escape if you could say from it." Elsha said in a serious voice that gave other Gods the shiver since they knew Elsha very well and it wasn't recommended to question her word if you valid your life.
"I see than I need to thank you for stopping the worst-case scenario, my dear." Frigga said in calm voice.
"But is there a way for Issei to escape it?" Murayama who was quiet from the very beginning ask a question that was on everyone's mind.
"Yes, there is a way." Issei was the one to answer it as everyone turned towards him as he took a gulp of soda before continuing to explain.
"Ddraig told me that there are 3 way to stop it. 1st is to experience it and survive. Which I for one won't even try or think about it." He said sternly getting some to release a breath that they held when they heard it. "The 2nd is to learn Dragon Slayer magic which will help me and the 3rd is to bath in Dragon King's blood, which is to Ddraig as feasibleas surviving Juggernaut Drive."
As he finished his explanation there was silence, as everyone was in shock. Some mainly older Gods because they knew what learning Dragon Slaying magic meant. While others were about the other 2 way to remove the curse which one was deadliest then other.
"Interesting." Wulfrik muttered quietly while his face once again featured a battle-lust grin as his eyes shined with a prospect of having a even more excitement match against the Dragon Emperor.
"So, I guess you will learn Dragon Slaying magic Issei?" Odin asked as Issei nodded his head towards the Faction Leader.
"Then I have something to offer you once we meet at the Peace meeting," Odin said with a grin making Issei smile as part of his mission was successful at least. "Though that is for later, I'm here to tell you that in order to gain the weapon that Elsha wielded you need as mentioned go to the land of Slavs, but your first destination must be the city of Warsaw. There you will be meeting the Slavic God of Underworld and one of the 3 most powerful Gods. God Veles. Now Issei, I must warn you." Odin spoke in anextremely grave and serious voice making it very clear that this was of upmost importance.
"The Slav Gods may look weak or they may look like they simply don't care or are fooling around, but that is just a mask that they put to judge anyone that wish to gain something from them, in fact, they are completely opposite of that and will if insulted or not shown respect kill anyone without a care in the world. And they do not care if the go to war with Devils or anyone else since they know they could content with them, and the more bloodlust they feel and the more blood they spill, or the battle is more gruesome the more they want to fight. I know from experience as I had a privilege to watch them in a war and I had to say that they made good on their promises of destroying an entire faction because they insulted and even sacrificed their followers. Also, I need to mentioned this, while we here in Asgard have 2 units of you could say bodyguards the Valkyries and Asgardians, all 3 of head Gods have their own units. I think you heard of them. For the West it's Winged Hussars, for the East it's Perun's Royal Guard and for the South they are Order of Red Dragon." Odin said making some younger Gods of North to turn a bit green as they knew from the aftermath of some battles the shire brutality that followed those elites of the elite units of Slavic Lands and they could only shiver in dread and fear at what would happen if all 3 Gods decide to march all 3 of those killing machines to the battlefield. And they then remembered that Elsha was in command of one of those death bringing units and could only cower a bit from her which brought her to grin at them making her even scarier.
"Now onto Veles. While yes, he is the God of Underworld, he doesn't have many need's and is, in fact, a very good to us and is helping a lot of his followers and many other Gods in need. All you need to do is show him respect and if he indeed needs something you do it without a question as he is on who could sway Perun to help you, and if you can get him on your side, you can be assured that Perun will talk to his brother, the God of War that is in the south to ease a bit on his test that will sure to be even more gruesome or dangerous then what we put you all through."
Hearing all this Issei could only gulp in fear as he could see that even some other Gods and even Wulfrik shivered as Odin spoke about the Slavic God of War. And if a mere mention of him sent shiver down some of the most sadistic and powerful warriors in the realm, then the God that is mentioned needed to be extremely powerful and ruthless.
"Um...I guess, I will need to go to the West first if I don't want to die gruesomely right and have a chance?" Issei asked only to get a nod from the All-Father.
"And you don't have to worry, the messenger was sent from us to the West to let them know that you are coming, so you won't have any problem in entering their lands. After all, even if you are with the Devils faction, Slavs respect and honor their allies and will not do anything to ruin their alliances if they can help it. I will also be sending Asuka and Arnett with you so that will reinforce your claim as the Norse representatives will be there. Now you go and prepare you to leave in a day." Odin told them as they nodded and left leaving Odin to think about an upcoming meeting with his old friends and some new blood that will sure to be interesting.
Done.
Issei's peerage:
King: Issei Hyoudou
Queen: Lucy Lucifuge
Knight: Cassie Locketheart
Knight: Arnett McMillan
Bishop: Ravel Phoenix
Bishop: Roseswise
Rook: Mirajane Strauss
Rook: Elsha
Pawn: Chelsea (2x)
Pawn: Elmenhide Karstien
Pawn: Murayama
Pawn: Katase
Pawn: Jaden Yuki
Pawn: ?
Pawn: ?