Out in the multiverse:
The multiverse was quite empty.
Except for, of course, the bubbles of universes that occupied its space.
Yet, as plentiful as it was to occupy space, it seemed just as empty. An uncountable number of universes floated around the even more immeasurable distance of empty space that was the realm of the multiverse.
Yet in it floated a being that glided motionlessly amongst the all-colorful and all-colorless background of the multiverse. Its eyes were half-lidded as it effortlessly dodged the specs of realities, timelines, and possibilities floating around it.
Its scales fluctuated and fluttered numerous colors from red to white, green to blue. The underside of its 7 sets of leathery wings presented itself as an almost pitch-black color, separating itself as the only constant variable in an ever-changing environment. Its 3 tails swayed around as it moved its body. The white horns that adorned its face and spine shined greatly in the background.
The Dragon didn't have anything, in particular, to accomplish as it huffed and gruffed along the vast scope of the empty and full space around it. Its breath pusheing some of the bubbles around, bumping into others.
This was not the vacation The Dragon had hoped for. It was more or less work, managing a less chaotic multiverse. That was The Boss's idea of vacation.
What a joke.
It looked around, hoping for something interesting to do; however, fresh out of luck, it was. The Boss had given them around an eon to "relax" after giving its assistance with that absolute crap show of a multiverse that their sister had so royally screwed up.
A barrel roll among the space interrupted its once steady trek toward nothingness.
The Dragon reflected on its family, one they hadn't seen in quite a long time. Not that it bothered them in any way; they were an existence that would surpass infinity, so there was a lot of time to play catch up with them.
Nonetheless, their siblings were either managing their own projects, or keeping others in check, and last they heard, their sister was dealing with the cleanup of that previously stated crap show. A dragon had donned the appearance of a young girl with… questionable attire. Somehow, she had wandered out of her domain and into other universes, recruiting herself to meet The Boss.
That was a particularly messy situation.
The Dragon's help regarding that debacle had gained favor with the Boss to let them manage a relatively calm multiverse. No eldritch, Outer God or conceptual being was acting out of place.
For now, at least.
But why worry about possibilities lest they come to fruition. That just wasted everyone's time, and The Dragon had no time to waste, with what its vacation, only being granted an eon of it.
As the Dragon swooped around and glided, it distinctly focused on a random universe bubble, seemingly floating away from the rest of the group.
It got a little closer to inspect it, huffing on the delicate universe, as it changed course from its path just slightly, its eyes narrowed more, its lips slowly parting to reveal a multitude of sharp teeth, and then beginning to open its jaw like it would consume.
What good was a vacation without something to entertain and fill the empty space? With an opportunity like this, The Dragon finally had a chance to stretch to run free… or… fly free? Whatever it was not important to them.
With its maw fully opened, which could only be best described as some abomination of eldritch horror, the Dragon let out a concentrated red and green energy swirling around straight at the bubble.
The beam of light and energy effortlessly pierced through the bubble with nothing to seem in disarray before something was finally heard.
Music.
With words that could only be described as a grin that appeared on the face of The Dragon, its outstretched wings spanned a massive distance before looking in a direction that could only be described as up. Opening its maw fully again, it unleashed a sizeable beam of energy once again that flashed with the colors of its ever-changing scales: red, white, blue, and green.
A yawn.
As the music reverberated around the endless bounds of the multiverse, The Dragon flapped its seven sets of wings and took off in a determined direction. It moved with a blend of power and grace, its wings slicing through the space with rhythmic precision.
Flying up and down, The Dragon executed barrel rolls and sudden dives with remarkable agility, narrowly avoiding the multiversal bubbles that floated around it. Each bubble contained a unique universe, glimmering softly as The Dragon maneuvered around them.
Its flight was both calculated and instinctive, a testament to its mastery over the vast and varied landscape of the multiverse. Despite the apparent chaos, The Dragon moved with purpose, deftly navigating the intricate web of realities that surrounded it.
It seemed that this vacation would be well spent; it could go on like this forever and ever.
Yet just out of the corner, it noticed something that made even The Dragon aghast with horror.
In the remains, a bubble universe slowly disintegrating into nothingness as two scales of theirs, red and white, flew off in the opposite direction.
Right towards that supercluster of universes that it had explicitly avoided.
Crap.
It mused on the best course of action for something like this. Something like this happened even though it was entirely unexpected for the being. So it seemed like it might be
- Shit out of luck. I can deal with that later. It's best to take care of causing any more additional collateral damage before Boss finds out. It shuddered the last time when their cousin had accidentally pissed off The Boss.
Now was The Dragon utterly immune to making mistakes.
No, of course not. In fact, it was quite the opposite when they had started their existence, which was an infinite time ago. No time to think about that.
However, down the line, they had done their best to uphold the standards and responsibilities that they were given as time progressed.
As the universe almost now disintegrated, the bubble withering away was an issue they would have to fix right after dealing with the most pressing issue. The Dragon was a hard worker and took pride in their job; they were quite literally known as the systematic reset of the multiverse. Destroy billions, if not trillions of universes, when their time had come to reset, starting the process all over again.
However, destroying one in the early stages of life, with billions if not trillions of lifeforms thriving, even for them, was bad taste.
Focusing on the most pressing issue, however, were the scales speeding away from them at the supercluster.
Uggghhhh…it groaned internally, nothing much could be done without causing even more damage to the surrounding area if The Dragon decided to go after it. With what could only be described as an enormous breath, the being opened its maw again and released a concentrated energy of blue and white towards the two scales, shrinking them until they were a minuscule size.
That was the best judgment it could come up with. Shrink the scales till they could practically do no damage, and as they soared into an unsuspecting bubble, hope that it just landed on some rogue planet and call it a day.
The Dragon smiled at themselves for avoiding, once again, another catastrophe, swelling in its own pride, unaware of the effect such actions would have in the future.
High above the Earth, within the metaphysical clouds, the Biblical God surveyed His newest creation with satisfaction. The Earth teemed with life, a vibrant testament to His omnipotent creativity. Among the most impressive of His creations were the dinosaurs, magnificent beasts that dominated the planet. This latest project was partly an experiment, a diversion to alleviate His divine boredom, but the results were spectacular.
Dinosaurs of various sizes and functions thrived across the Earth. Colossal marine reptiles swam in the oceans with grace and power, their massive forms slicing through the water quickly. On land, herbivorous giants like the Brachiosaurus and Stegosaurus roamed, their towering bodies casting long shadows over the verdant plains. Predatory titans like the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Velociraptor hunted with lethal precision, their survival instincts honed to perfection. In the skies, pterosaurs soared, their wingspans casting wide arcs against the blue expanse.
God watched these creatures with a sense of pride. Each dinosaur was a marvel of design, perfectly adapted to its environment. The ecosystems thrived, each species playing its part in the intricate web of life. He observed their behaviors, from the gentle grazing of herbivores to the ferocious hunts of the carnivores, and found joy in their complexity.
He patted Himself on the back, admiring the thriving world below. It wasn't every day that He created something as grand and diverse as the dinosaurs. The Earth was a canvas, and He had painted it with the broad strokes of life and the fine details of survival and adaptation.
But then, His serene contemplation was shattered. From the vastness of the sky, two foreign objects hurtled towards the Earth with blinding speed. God squinted, focusing His divine sight on the incoming objects. They were red and white scales, each trailing a streak of fiery light. A piece of the red scale chipped off, veering off on its own path.
The scales, glowing with an otherworldly radiance, descended rapidly, their fiery trails cutting through the atmosphere. Their brightness intensified as they neared the Earth, casting an ominous glow over the land. God's eyes widened in realization and horror. These were no ordinary scales—they were imbued with immense power, the remnants of a cosmic being far beyond the scope of this world.
The impact was cataclysmic. The scales struck the Earth with a force that defied comprehension. A massive explosion erupted from the point of impact, a blinding flash of light followed by a shockwave that rippled across the planet. The ground shook violently, and a plume of debris and fire shot into the sky, darkening the heavens.
Dinosaurs, once the masters of their domains, were obliterated in an instant. The force of the explosion leveled forests, boiled oceans, and incinerated entire species. The skies filled with ash and smoke, blocking the sun and plunging the world into a darkness punctuated by fiery embers. The mighty roars and calls of the dinosaurs were silenced, replaced by the deafening rumble of destruction.
God watched in stunned silence as His creation was annihilated. The thriving, vibrant world He had meticulously crafted was reduced to a barren wasteland. The dinosaurs, His grand experiment, were no more. The sheer scale of the catastrophe was beyond anything He had ever witnessed.
"WHAT THE-?" His voice echoed through the metaphysical clouds, a rare outburst of divine anger and disbelief. How could this happen? How could His perfect creation be so abruptly and utterly destroyed?
The Dragon opened one of their eyes, believing to have heard something from a distance, before dismissing it and returning to a position that could only be described as laying down.
He cast His gaze towards the source of the catastrophe. The scales—those cursed scales—had wrought unimaginable devastation. He had not recognized their origin, though he understood that they came from an otherworldly being.
Unfortunately, with all the foresight that God had possessed, He was unable to ascertain the future devastation of what would occur when the fine dust of the chipped red scale that lingered in the air was inhaled by the humans in the future.
The origin of the first sacred gear that His creations would possess is the [Twice Critical].
Present Day:
It wept.
The torrential downpour continuously hammered into the barren dirt road, surrounded by the green plains. The once clear night sky and stars, now obscured by thick gray clouds, cast everything in a dark gloom. The once-sprouted greenery now hung low and sagged, and the dry dirt road was turned into a slick and muddy mess.
It all seemed to ignore the near-motionless teen, Issei Hyoudou, who lay sprawled on the ground.
Soaked.
Battered, bruised, and deep lacerations decorated his body as each labored breath felt like a fire ignited his lungs and sent a sharp pain down his ribs. His vision continued to blur in and out, fighting to stay conscious and alive lest he succumb to the multiple mortal wounds on his body.
His thrift clothes lay in tatters around his body, soaked in an alarming amount of blood, both equally his and another party. The blood that streaked his face combined with the rain that fell upon his, making its way into his mouth.
Tasted like shit. Devil bat shit. It Definitely wasn't his.
With as much strength as he could muster, he turned his head to the side to the deceased party, ignoring the shooting pain that hit his neck. It never got easier, no matter how often he fell into the same situation. The pain, the near-death experience, he couldn't even avoid it if he wanted to, it almost seemed like the pull of death was constantly tugging at him no matter how cautious he tried to be.
It also never got more easier to see the sight before him. The wrangled creature, if you could even call it that, though an abomination would be a more apt description of it. It donned the appearance with the upper body of a young woman with quite the set of oppai that even Issei couldn't disregard. Its bottom half took the shape of some spider legs. It lay there motionless, its chest cavity opening a hole with a clear view of its insides. The upper part of its head caved in, forcing its eye to hang from its socket, and three of its spider legs bent in the wrong direction. It wasn't spared from the countless bruises and cuts they had lovingly gifted him.
It never got easier.
It… she had begged for her life as he threw his final attack at her head. The one that put her out of her misery, if she was even being genuine about it. A lot of them always seemed to end the same way, vowing to consume him to become stronger, to enact revenge, or whatever their prerogative was; he didn't give a damn. Yet in the end, as he looked them in the eye, for just a moment, right before he ended it, he might have mistaken the relief they showed.
Yet they still begged for their life.
And he didn't stop either.
Focusing on his left hand strewn across the mud, his weapon slowly vanished as if it wasn't there. His gauntlet, which he had called "Doubler," as he could tell to his best ability, doubled all attributes that he could think of. Speed, strength, stamina, regeneration, reaction speed, acuity of his sight, and more. Yet it only persisted for 10 seconds before all the effects simply vanished from him and left him feeling like he had come back from an exhausting day. However, the after-effects seemed to lessen the more he was doing physical activity, becoming almost negligible at this point.
He thought back on when he was first introduced to it by… that person.
He swiped away at the thought, not wanting to reminisce on those memories of his potentially last chance at living.
Though near death, this was an almost reoccurring situation with every stray devil he had encountered. Mumbling under his breath and making a few swift motions with his hands, his fingertips began to glow white.
Purification magic.
It allowed him to prevent any infections from lingering or developing in his very open, very exposed wounds.
Steadying his mind, he gathered his thoughts and called upon his weapon.
The red, metallic gauntlet reformed around his left hand, exposing his fingers. It extended up to his elbows and was adorned with a large emerald green gem in the center, with multiple yellow spikes on both sides.
[BOOST]
A voice suddenly called out in the open field.
The tips of his fingers seemed to glow brighter; his senses and physical and neurological attributes doubled.
He had to work quickly. Pushing himself to the limit for survival, he had doubled himself up to 24 separate times before finally ending the fight.
The 25th time would leave him unconscious at best.
Dead if he didn't address the most pressing wounds on him at worst.
He traced the most damning wounds that were on his body. Particularly a deep diagonal slash that went across his chest, ending at the bottom of his rib cage that was likely fractured. With that, any festering infection, along with any coagulated blood that formed and returned to its former state flowing back into his body, should be gone.
Moving his hands downward to his thigh lay another deep gash, tracing it once again with his fingers, wincing at the pain.
His hands suddenly grew a bright but gentle green.
Healing magic.
Grabbing a handful of his torn shirt, he stuffed it into his mouth, preparing for the worst.
Tracing over his wound on the chest, his screams and cries were muffled by the clothes acting as his mouthguard.
The split flesh began to quickly converge once again, leaving a trail of raw red flesh akin to a burn, his fractured ribcage fusing back together before relocating in the proper space. Not wasting another second, he performed the same action on his leg, trying to avoid thrashing around.
Right then, the doubled effects left his body, leaving him feeling exhausted; his "doubler" suddenly vanished; Issei lay there motionless. The feeling of the rain falling on his skin slowly faded away as darkness began to envelop his sight.
Kalawarner winced as she observed the sudden attack on the teen. The sudden swipe from that stray devil's spider legs sent the human tumbling tens of meters away, immediately pursuing her prey. "That's definitely gonna cause a break," she muttered, seeing the teen hold his side.
She reinforced the wind magic above her, swiftly pushing the rain that poured on them to the side.
Amidst the thunder and lightning, the figures hovered silently against the pattering of the rain on their dark wings. Raynare and Kalawarner observed the fight below them between the stray devil and the human teen known as Issei Hyoudou. The teen they had been tasked with observing and potentially recruiting to their ranks was given to them by their dear Azazel-sama.
"Are we really just gonna keep watching him get his ass beaten, Raynare?" she remarked to her comrade as another slam to the chest sent Issei flying once again. The fight raged for the past 4 minutes, with Issei and the stray devil trading multiple blows across the open field. Yet the fight was coming to a close, and the scales seemed to tip in favor of the disfigured devil.
"It's not up to me whether this lowly human lives or dies," Raynare said, crossing her arms under her chest, and she laid back in the air, seeming uninterested in the commotion occurring below her.
"Besides, our mission was to observe and recruit; whether the human lives or dies, I really don't care," she scoffed.
"Well, if he dies, you can't really recruit him, huh Raynare," knocking her head, taunting her comrade.
Raynare clicked her teeth, "We've only been following him for a week, and you're already concerning yourself with him. Are you that eager to rerun another human dry?" she chided.
Kalawarner rolled her eyes in response to the statement. Unlike her comrade, she generally had no regard for humans, who seemed to harbor more profound distaste for them, more so than their own kind. However, they were her most significant assets; they were easy to control and coerce. With a few empty words, and a little skin, those humans just seemed to dance in the palm of her hand, how could she really hate them for that. She never really concerned herself with any human's appearance or attractiveness regarding the mission, though she couldn't deny that the boy would be pretty cute, almost in a naive way. If it wasn't for the blood, sweat, and grime that he was covered in almost daily.
Her thoughts were cut short when she and the fallen angel suddenly felt a rise in energy, both feeling on edge and leaning from their relaxed positions in the sky.
"Oh, draconic energy and he's practically drowning in it right now," she mused. "Most I've seen in a human for a long time, too," her interest suddenly reignited in the fight now. Her disconcerted attitude towards the victor of the battle swayed slightly in favor of the teen's possible victory.
Her fellow fallen angel Raynare had opted for only a raised eyebrow but was otherwise quiet, observing the potential tides of the fight shifting.
[BOOST]
"That's the 24th time," Kalawarner remarked before the teen finally roared and charged toward the devil.
Narrowingly ducking the devil's swing, Issei positioned his fist for his final strike as an uppercut. As he connected the attack, a heavy feeling encapsulated the surrounding area, sparing no living being, including the two observers. The area around the impact of Isseis first lit up in a deep maroon fire with sparks of green, launching the devil roughly 5 stories into the air. A strike that was stronger than the rest, leaving a gaping hole in the chest cavity.
"Ohoho, he's even subconsciously using his draconic energy to strengthen his attacks," Kalawarner's interest piqued at that demonstration, her eyes following the speeding devil flung upward in the air.
Wasting no time, Issei planted his feet into the ground, crouching, and launched himself, matching the speed of the ascending devil before resting for just a moment at the peak. Clasping both hands above himself, he struck down again on the head of the devil with another flash fire of maroon and green. Sending it speeds it down, creating a small crater and shock wave. Issei followed closely before landing nearby and rolling off a few meters, seemingly ending the once one-sided fight.
"Well, looks like the kid's got some fight in him after all," Kalawarner said, a smirk playing on her lips. "He might just be worth recruiting, don't you think, Raynare?"
Raynare let out a disdainful snort. "Just because he managed to get lucky doesn't mean he's worth our time. He's still just a human, after all."
Kalawarner chuckled, leaning closer to Raynare. "You know, Raynare, you might hate humans, but you can't deny they can be entertaining. Especially when they've got a bit of fire in them. And this one," she nodded towards Issei, who was panting heavily on the ground, "definitely has some fire."
Raynare rolled her eyes. "Fine. If it makes you happy, we'll see if he's worth anything. But I'm not holding my breath."
"Good," Kalawarner replied, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Because I think he's going to surprise you."
"Let's go," Raynare propelled herself forward from the unsightly scene below her, "His next destination is Kuoh; there's an abandoned church we can stay at for the time being."
Kalawarner took one last look before trailing behind.
Dry.
That's all he felt as he suddenly regained consciousness after the shit show from last night. His skin felt dry and cracked, his mouth parched. Eventually, it was followed by the coolness of the morning air against his damaged skin and then the dull throbs of pain among the numerous bruises that surrounded his body. Eventually forcing his eyes to flutter open, he took in the view of his surroundings. The same greenery around him hung low, and the smell of morning dew permeated the air. The once muddy road turned back to dry dirt.
Becoming more and more conscious, the memories flood from the last night in broken fragments. The sudden encounter, the quick and frantic exchange of blows and blood in the rain and dark, his desperate attempt at survival, which was really more of just dumb luck. As a testament to his battle, he winced at every breath at his still raw wound and the shooting pain in his leg.
Pushing through the pain, Issei stood up, walking towards his discarded travel bag littered in the tall grass a short distance from him. Pulling out a fresh set of new clothes, he unashamedly changed in the open, removing the last apparent evidence of his battle from the previous night.
He took a deep breath, grounding himself in the present moment, and mentally mapped out his next steps. Kuoh Town lay ahead, his destination where he hoped to finally get some answers. With each movement, he felt a renewed dread pulsing through him, forcing himself forward into the uncertain path that awaited beyond the peaceful morning calm.
With each limped step, Issei recalled the journey he had undertaken.
The near death.
The stray devils he had killed. Almost like they were progressively getting more and more dangerous.
Stewing in his thoughts for what seemed like hours, the dirt road eventually converged into a sidewalk, and into edges of the city.
Kuoh.
He noticed the first signs of civilization—a few scattered houses and the faint hum of traffic in the distance. The familiar sights and sounds brought a small measure of comfort, reminding him that he was back in a place he knew, even though so much had changed before his disappearance.
Issei's pace quickened slightly as he ventured deeper into the town, his determination overshadowing the pain in his body. He passed by small shops opening for the day, shops that were never there before, their owners setting up displays and preparing for the morning rush. The scent of fresh bread wafted from a new bakery, momentarily distracting him from his thoughts.
As he walked further into town, he couldn't help but notice the glances people cast his way. He almost forgot his appearance— all disheveled, bruised, and dirt-covered. Whispers followed him as he continued down the main street; he did his best to ignore them, his mind focused on his just getting home.
He just wanted to go home, just for one day.
The town square was bustling with activity. Street vendors set up their stalls, children hurried to school, and people went about their daily routines. The normalcy of it all was almost jarring to him, too stark of contrast to the chaos and violence he had experienced countless nights before. He paused for a moment, taking it all in. It felt surreal to be here, among ordinary people, after everything that had happened.
There, he stood in front of something he never thought he would take for granted.
His home.
It looked almost frozen in time, the grass had not overgrown, and the mailbox was as empty as ever. The pavement was not even cracked or shifted. The blinds had been shut just like that night, and no sign of wear or tear on any part of the building.
He walked up the pathway to the front door, looking down.
The same doormat, unchanged as ever, the little fountain on the side, running just as efficiently as three years ago.
He steadied his breath, pushing the unlocked door like he had remembered it.
A wave of relief and regret washed over him, as the setting had been unchanged, just like that day so long ago. The slightly messy floor and disheveled blankets and pillows around the sofa.
He walked deeper into the house, gliding his finger over the dusty living room table, before going to the kitchen. He had left out some washed dishes, along with some cutlery. Exploring more of the house, he saw the TV remote still on the couch and his school back that still hung on the back of the chair. The singular family photo of them on vacation, his parents smiling at him.
The same couldn't be said for Issei.
Eventually, he made his way upstairs to the bathroom. He needed to wash away the grime and blood from his journey, but more than that, he needed a moment to himself, even though he didn't know it. Stripping his dirty clothes, he stepped into the shower and turned on the water. The hot spray hit his skin, and he leaned against the cool tiles, letting the water cascade over him.
As the steam filled the room, the physical pain from his injuries began to fade, but the emotional weight he had been carrying for so long finally caught up with him. The relief of being home, the regret of everything he had endured, and the overwhelming loneliness that had been his constant companion for the past three years all came crashing down on him.
Issei sank to his knees, the hot water mixing with the tears that streamed down his face. He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking as he sobbed. This feeling of regret was like a knife in his chest—regret for leaving without a word, for the pain he had caused his parents, and for the lost time he could never get back.
Why did it have to be like this? he thought, his inner voice breaking. Why couldn't things have just stayed the same?
The relief of being back home was almost too much to bear. He had dreamed of this moment countless times, but now that he was here, it felt bittersweet. The house was empty, his parents were still missing, and the future was uncertain. Despite the familiar surroundings, he felt more alone than ever.
The feeling of isolation encompassed him, wrapping around his heart like a cold, unyielding grip. He had fought so hard to get back here, but it was almost unbearable now that he had realized what he had lost. The house was the same, but he was not. He was no longer the carefree teenager who had left; he was scarred by his experiences and burdened by the weight of his journey.
After what felt like an eternity, Issei's sobs began to subside. He took deep, shaky breaths, trying to steady himself. The water started cooling, and he knew he couldn't stay in the shower forever. Slowly, he stood up, turning off the tap and reaching for a towel. He dried himself off, wrapping the towel around his waist, and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
The face staring back at him was both familiar and foreign. His eyes were red and puffy from crying, his skin marked by bruises and cuts. He barely recognized himself. Despite everything, he had made it this far. He had survived. He just didn't know what to do.
What was his purpose?
Was there even one after this?
Was this suffering just bad luck, or was there some grand life lesson he should have learned?
He didn't know and didn't want to ponder it anymore. Grabbing some old clothes from his drawer and putting them on, he lay on his bed, holding another pillow close to him.
He fell asleep immediately, something he hadn't done for a long time.