Issei woke up. His dream had ended slightly better than it had started, thinking about his parents. It was them begging him to live, but change is change.

He got dressed, brushed his teeth and checked on his body's markings. They had spread further. The day before, they hadn't reached further than his upper torso. Now, they were branching towards his limbs and neck. He only had a few days to practice his magic to a proficiency capable of maintaining it eight hours at the minimum. Issei could tell the devils about it, and it would spare him having to last longer.

Satan, his body was toned. He looked good. Tall and muscular, if not a bit pale. The crimson markings marring his torso ruined it, looking like peculiar tribal-style tattoos.

Vain comments aside, he made his way downstairs to his family. Light conversation put a smile on his face after a particularly stupid joke from his father. He wasn't in the mood for breakfast today, for some reason, and his mother did not like that.

"Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! If you feel ill, you shouldn't go to school but you can't not eat anything!"

Issei was not listening. Well, not properly. He was handed a packaged breakfast bar and resolved himself to eat it later, once that sickening feeling in his gut vanished. A quick goodbye kiss to his doting mother and a wave to his 'too-manly-for-kisses' father and he was out the door. He wasn't late, so he walked at a comfortable pace. Complex thoughts about power began to place their roots in his mind.

They were cut short by a more-than-ominous devilish aura permeating the entire space outside of his barrier. Ddraig manifested almost immediately. Something was not right. Whatever it was, it involved powers on the level of all the Maou combined. The Old-Devil Faction? They shouldn't be active this early in his timeline.

Regardless of the source, if Rias and Sona were involved, he was their only source of protection. Skipping the walk, he checked his surroundings before teleporting directly inside one of the bathrooms on the ground floor of the Academy. He almost had to hold his breath upon doing so. It felt not quite murderous, but like it promised death. He could feel another aura, different in nature, but suppressed. He couldn't tell what it was though, thanks to the outlying devils present. They were in the ORC.

Another quick spell and he was outside of the internal door to the main room. Time could not be spared if they were in danger, and he prepared his Balance Breaker's alternative forms. Ddraig kept silent for now while doubling his power, resolved to keep a third and fourth eye on Issei's surroundings.

Two small destructive spells cast at the same time blew the door wide open, and he blitzed through the splinters poised to kill. His aura flooded the room following alongside him, far more potent than what he showed Sirzechs and the devils.

[OVERDRIVE]

Ddraig let cry his own declaration of promised death. A designation of his own design, focused on a perfect balance between his reflexes and physical capabilities. He had enough time for fifty Boosts, usual timeframe of ten seconds forgotten in exchange for a set amount of recoil. It was prepared on sheer reflex once he had left the barrier.

Speaking of Sirzechs, he was sat calmly drinking some tea on one of the sofas, eyes locked onto his in the middle of turning his head. A third sofa lay facing him, which bore three of the four Maou, with an empty sofa and-

Was that Tannin's humanoid form? Why is he here?

Issei's aura was dismissed within the microsecond. If all the Maou and the Blaze Meteor Dragon were here, there was no threat. The increase to his senses was also relinquished, leaving the speed and strength boost just in case.

With his sense of time returning to normal, Sirzechs' head snapped toward and followed his own. Signature magical circle in one hand and teacup in the other, he was also ready to kill. Serafall was the only one quick enough to react too, even if hers was slightly delayed too. Ice manifested itself in the spot where he stood previously, having already teleported to the sofa and seated himself.

Issei wasn't looking at them. He was staring into Tannin's eyes with a mix of confusion, shades of respect and an unspoken question. Tannin was staring back, as impressed as his blank face could show. At least, until a wicked full-face grin filled his visage. This was, by far, the strongest wielder of Ddraig he had ever encountered. Stronger than some of their Juggernaut Drives too. Incredible.

Magical permafrost glued him to his seat, pinning his arms to his side. He did not resist. Serafall had a strange look on her face, something he had only seen once previously. It was slightly scary.

"Hello, Issei Hyoudou. It's been a while, how have you been?"

His politeness was deceiving, Issei saw the Power of Destruction he had prepared.

"Yes, hello Sirzechs. I've been great, teaching Rias and Sona a few things about magic. Why exactly have you gathered the Maou alongside Tannin?"

"Tannin came because he wanted to see the new Red Dragon Emperor. We came to decide if you need to be executed or not."

"I'll speak with Tannin later. As much as I enjoy his company, unfortunately, my execution comes first. Why?"

"You've expressed a certain degree of hatred towards a faction. We need to know what that faction is."

Issei's head slumped down, shadows overcasting his eyes in the naturally dimly lit room despite the ever-shining Sun outside. Only Tannin could see his eyes, and he saw nothing but rage and hatred. As a dragon, he knew what such a potent rage meant. It was not something simple, like a disagreement or something small being stolen from him, it was the kind of hate you feel after you learn your kin has died. Sympathy was in order.

"I do not hate any of the biblical factions, nor any of the factions you are acutely aware of."

"That is not what I asked. Which faction do you resent?"

"Sirzechs, I respect you for taking care of me and my dragons, but the Red One deserves more sympathy. I will side with him if you continue being this unfair."

Tannin had spoken, in that familiar rough voice of his. It was the same whether he was in his humanoid or draconic form. Comforting, in a way.

"Do you know something we don't know, Tannin?" Serafall accused.

"I can see it in his eyes. He has lost someone to this faction. Have some respect, devils."

"I see. My sincerest apologies for your loss and our hostility, Issei Hyoudou. Nevertheless, the identity of that faction is important. We can organise protection for you from them, or cooperation in destroying them alongside you if you'd like. We need to know who they are, first."

Sirzechs spoke with what sounded like genuine remorse. He knew what happened when dragons lost their kin. Cities burned, innocents died and they become too swarmed in fury to die until their revenge was fulfilled.

"They are known as mirages, without a faction name. Their goal is the elimination of anything conscious and capable of unique thought. I lost my parents and lovers to them."

Issei spoke through tightened jaw muscles, head still bowed. One of his teeth cracked loudly, being repaired with magic nigh instantly. His face was contorted and perverted into a snarl.

"I see. There is no further need for hostilities here. My apologies, Issei. Per our understanding, your parents are still alive, however. Would you mind explaining to me?"

The permafrost melted and the devils suppressed their aura, resorting less to hostility and more to caution. Tannin suppressed his own spirit too, and Issei did not expect him to. Dragons, especially the notoriously prideful and youthful ones, blatantly refused such an act. It was a kind gesture amongst those of draconic descent, performed as a sign of respect for the lost kin.

"My parents are alive, now. They were not, before."

Teeth unclenched, he spoke in an almost monotone voice not unlike the Abyss. The devils present would not make the comparison however, as they had only met Ophis in the future.

"Did someone perform necromancy? What are you referring to?"

"My parents died in the past for me. They would've died in the future for you, but I will die myself before I let that happen."

Ajuka was the sharpest knife in this metaphorical kitchen drawer, and locked onto a solution amidst the cryptic answer.

"So you're from the future?"

Everyone present turned to first look at Ajuka, before it also clicked in their head, then turned to Issei.

"Yes."

There was a general sense of hesitation involved with mentions of coming from the future. Tannin believed him immediately, despite the admittedly outrageous claim. The devils were more-so hesitant on believing him immediately.

They were, until another voice joined the silent chorus of doubt.

[My partner tells no lies. I have seen his memories, and he may show you too if he decides it is necessary. Upon the name of the Dragon of Dreams, I declare his proclamation as truth.]

"To swear upon Great Red is the ultimate expression of good faith. No dragon would wilfully enter a verbal pact involving it without being genuine. The consequences of going against that pact is a fate far worse than death. Devils, you would do well to believe the Dragon of Domination."

The Blaze Meteor spoke on the draconic matters, and educated them in case they were unaware. He was as kind as Issei remembered.

The Maou were the pinnacle of devil sorcery, power, knowledge and wisdom. They were the upholding pillars of Hell, and even they were hesitant to doubt the words of two renowned dragons recorded as nigh unmatched calamities, especially if one had sworn on the name of a Dragon God.

"I see. Would you mind sharing certain memories with us then, Red Dragon Emperor?"

Sirzechs was the safest option, as Issei had the most recorded memories of him. It would make the process far easier and much less taxing on himself. Instructing Maou Lucifer to sit next to him, Issei placed his roughened left hand atop his paler right counterpart. Whispers flew and marked the space, crafting an intricate circle atop their hands and connecting it to their individual magical pathways. It tied them together.

"Nightmare, Ambition. Left to die under The Sun. War and Peace, Crow and Declaration. I Wish Death upon Myself. Feel me in my entirety. Bear my past and my future. Behold my being, in all its twisted beauty."

It was easier to cast on Ddraig because they were inherently intertwined at his birth. They were a part of each other's souls, and the bond between them made any possible resistance futile.

This Sirzechs was not the same.

Alongside the recoil of his fight preparations, Issei may very well lose consciousness performing this. It came from a pact with the World, after all.

Sirzechs experienced brief flashes of a time passed. He saw Issei Hyoudou amidst a decadent wasteland littered with the dust of disintegrated bones, broken splinters and particles of metal and plastic, Boosted Gear fading. He felt the despair, the self-loathing.

He saw Issei telling himself of his sister's passing to the machines. He felt the similar rage displayed on his own visage.

He saw his last moments, within his magical epitome. He watched the last flames of his life extinguish. He felt the pride and the sorrow.

He saw Issei's last moments too, forced to watch as unbridled Hate in every form flooded his being.

He saw the precursor fights with the last of humanity sided with the 'mirage', the Power of Destruction Issei had used almost surgically. He saw himself giving the boon to the boy. He felt the reluctant urge to die.

These feelings were so potent they filled his own form and took root. He saw what remained of his sister and despaired.

He saw Ddraig in all his fury. He was forced to watch.

He saw the-
The Death.

He felt it. It grabbed his essence and claimed him. He could feel it. It burned. It hurt worse than any duels involving the Father's own Light. It hurt, Satan it hurt. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt. It hurt. It hur—

Sirzechs stared at the sofa lying opposite him. He looked down and saw the Red Dragon Emperor, Issei's hand resting next to his, face up, pulled away forcefully by Serafall who was tearing up. His sister's lover was laid out on the coffee table in front of him, being checked and acted on by Ajuka and Tannin. Falbium was practically shouting into countless magical circles.

His head hurt. He couldn't hear anything they were saying, screaming. Issei was covered in blood. They were performing chest compressions and healing magic as best they could.

The feelings faded, but their scar remained. Issei had bore everything, all on his own. He was the spearhead of every humanoid's existence.

The lack of hearing faded into tinnitus, which faded further into faint cries of worry. He couldn't move. He could only whisper, even faintly.

Serafall could barely make it out, and had to lean in. Upon casting the spell, Issei had begun to seize. Sirzechs was locked in abject horror. They had to be pulled apart, and Issei was vomiting and spilling blood from his nose and eyes. Deep cut-like tattoos were spurting hot dark sanguine, and Ajuka took action immediately to apply pressure and magic. Tannin was trying to restart his heart, and Falbium was commanding every half-decent healer in Hell to arrive immediately. Phoenix Tears were procured almost instantly, and slowed the bleeding only slightly. Stasis and healing magics were applied to lacking effectiveness.

Sirzechs could finally be heard. It was like a whisper across dimensions, but it could be discerned.

"...he's from the future."

She slapped her friend, and it seemed to shock him back to reality. He performed various magics on himself in silence, leaving Serafall to also tend to Issei.

Their magics were not working. It refused to cling to him, like the World didn't recognise his presence. He was like a blank space in the system. The seizing stopped as Ddraig manifested on his full arm and shoulder, lacking claws, and he seemingly worked the poor boy's body like a puppet. He cracked ribs and crushed the sternum to reach the heart and kept it pumping. Now, he could act properly.

[BALANCE BREAKER]

The desperation in his voice could be heard. Every system had completely shut down in Issei's corpse. A crimson armour adorned in green jewels manifested around him, containing the blood loss. The chest cavity was left exposed to allow access to the heart. The Welsh Dragon was drowning out everyone else in countless cries of [BOOST]. It was the only time ever observed by them that the being had taken action to preserve any partner to this extreme.

[What the world desires, What the world rejects.]

[SHUT THE FUCK UP.]

[Has always been Power, Has always been Love.]

[Silence yourselves, souls.]

[ENOUGH.]

Numerous cries could be heard emanating from his Sacred Gear. Some female, some male. It seemed the past souls were trying to activate the Juggernaut Drive in this weakness, and were being suppressed by the Dragon of Domination, Issei Hyoudou's own body and two indiscriminate voices. All the while, said dragon was still powering up.

After Ddraig's last comment, they had fallen silent. A narrow escape from death. Issei was stabilised following a last roar of [OVERTUNE]. Healing spells were conjured, numbering in the hundreds. It seemed his own incantations would work. All were Low-to-Mid-Class, but the sheer quantity stitched him up faster than most immortals could themselves. It was all a spectacle to behold.

The Red Dragon did not have access to the portion of power stolen from the White Dragon, so he had to multiply his partner's base reserves. He practically forced Issei's consciousness back into his body. It would hurt, unimaginably so, but that was why they trained his pain tolerance.

Balance Breaker shattering around him, his eyes opened.

"My everything is screaming, what the fuck happened?"

Upon hearing no response, he lifted his head slightly to see he was surrounded by the Maou. He practically dived into an open space, stomping his foot and demonstrating his full spirit..-

-Why didn't his aura manifest? Why was Sirzechs hugging him? Did he do something? Why was he so slow? Why were there three Sirzechs'?

Why was he on the sofa now, head rested against-

Tannin? A dream?

Oh.

Right. The memory spell. He had lost consciousness practically instantly. All he knew was he was suddenly within his soulscape facing twenty screaming shadows in unarmed combat. Ddraig, Elsha and Belzard were beside him, so he didn't stand a chance of losing. Everyone was shouting. Then, Ddraig forced him to wake back up. He seemed angrier than usual, desperate for something.

"Oh hey guys. Sorry about that."

The Maou Leviathan and Lucifer were conversing while he was reflecting and turned to him almost immediately, halting their discussion. Falbium was currently dismissing the support he had requested, and Ajuka was staring straight at him already.

"Issei, you died."

Rather blunt from Serafall. It didn't surprise him though. The recoil was massive and hit at the exact same time he performed an already advanced and intricate technique. He had died more than a few times before, in his various skirmishes. Only two deaths were memorable.

"Yeah, that tends to happen. Tends to hurt too. Anyway, do you guys believe me now?"

"Yes, we do. We'll have further discussions tomorrow. Grayfia will come to collect you as you arrive at school from the ORC. For now, I speak for all of us when I say that you should rest. We also have a lot to discuss amongst ourselves."

"Alright. I don't suppose you could lend me a teleport home?"

"Thanks to the barrier you cast, we can't place magic even slightly close to it unfortunately. You'll have to walk."

Well, Sirzechs' words seemed accurate. Devils would struggle to be within the same city as it, let alone cast magic. It would apply even to the Maou.

"I'll take him. I want to talk with him and Ddraig, so it'll save some effort."

Tannin was like a knight in beautiful glistening white armour, having come to save the princess and take her home. Although he was more like the dragon, Issei supposed it didn't matter. He was just happy he didn't have to exert any effort.

Tannin picked Issei up and left the Maou with their thoughts following goodbyes. As a reincarnated devil himself, he couldn't get too close to the barrier but most of the way should suffice. He walked to have more time to talk.

"You encountered me in the future, didn't you?"

"I did. I was far weaker than I am now, barely at the level of a youngling drake having not even mastered Balance Breaker, but you trained me and showed me the dragons you foster."

"What did you think of them?"

"Incredible. To build a haven just for dragons, I would've loved to live there someday. Not just because the dragon apples were delicious, either."

[Thank you for the assistance, old friend. It's lovely to see you again.]

"It's nice to see you too, Red. Your host this time is strong. He must be on my level by now and only at, what, eighteen years?"

"Sixteen, it helps that I fought for my life constantly. Right now, I'd still lose against you, unless I used everything in my arsenal."

"So you have something you think could kill me?"

"Ascalon."

[BLADE]

The familiar weapon formed in his hands. It felt as good as it used to. It felt purer than he remembered too.

"Ah, the sword of St George. Certainly, as a dragonslayer and holy weapon, it could kill me. You should come and visit the dragons sometime, they always look up to Red's hosts."

[RETRACT]

"I will, I'll see how the discussions go tomorrow and see if I can visit soon. It might be a sticky situation having someone like me within the Underworld's territory, though."

"Nonsense, if you're accompanied by me, they will allow it. I'll make sure they do."

"I appreciate it, thank you. For everything."

They both fell quiet. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, it gave solace to Issei to just get to appreciate Tannin again. He had fought alongside the Maou, but fell quickly due to the dragonslayer adaptations they had procured. Tannin had nothing left to say.

When they had arrived a street away from his home, the dragon had let go of him and left him to walk. The aura was potent and, as strong as he was, he was a devil in the face of its natural enemy. This much burned enough.

With passing goodbyes, Issei learned that he would attend alongside the Maou once more. Tannin's presence was therapeutic, as the Kindest Dragon King.

Dragging his feet and pressing forward, it felt like he had lived an eternity within the minute of walking, filled with torment and agony. He just wanted to sleep.

Before that, he had to be scolded by his mother for coming home so late. Upon lying and saying he had eaten dinner with some friends, she calmed herself down and dismissed him to his shower.

Not even getting the chance to, he just walked into his room and fell asleep sideways on his bed, half of his torso and legs slumped atop his floor. His dreams of death were replaced by an extremely angry Ddraig, Belzard and notably so Elsha. They had all beaten his soul into a mangled pulp under the guise of training. No rest for the wicked.

Today was the worst of it, hopefully.