Cry Havoc
An idiom: to warn of danger
Note: Finally reached the 100k word mark. I probably forgot to mention it, but that became my goal after my collaborators peaced out. I'd like to think it was a pretty dense 100k thus far. If not, then, my b ig, g.
Thanks for sticking by either way!
...Also, I forgor scenes and some increases of affection were supposed to give rewards. I cramped a bunch for Raynare previously (and will eventually do so with Kunou), but long-term, that doesn't make sense. Instead of doing a meta thing like updating, I'll just pretend it had happened how it was supposed to from now on, with the exception of Kunou.
For a dating sim-esc power, I completely forgor the CHA stat somehow. I will get around to filling those in the previous chapters where applicable.
Having struggled to finish his weekend training all by himself (Ddraig was resting for once), Issei found himself returning to his grandparent's home. He was half-and-half on how he felt about coming back. He didn't want to be a burden. There was an indescribable guilt as his divine grandparents were breaking their self-imposed isolation, made to hide and protect themselves, to deal with him. Still, they had tried so hard to be warm and inviting. It was awkward and barely worked.
All the same, it was endearing if he could ignore their "?!" and unconscious auras. If his father could do it, so could he! He was higher level than his dad anyway.
Eventually, he cut through the last bit of foliage with his arm to face the remote log cabin. He would've probably used the sword he got from Raynare, but he didn't want to spook anyone.
There, waiting for him patiently, two figures stood at the door.
"Welcome back, Ise," came the soft voice of his angelic grandmother. She stood at the entry of her humble home. Just behind her, hunched over slightly to fit beside her, the former martial god, Hachiman, grinned down at him.
Issei smiled back, briefly stilling from their immense auras. Ddraig's warm presence helped snap him out of it. "Glad to be back!"
If they noticed his hesitation, they made no show of it, beckoning him in instead.
It didn't take long for them to settle in the same places they did yesterday: Issei across his grandparents as they tried their best to restrain their auras on their oversized loveseat.
"Should I tell my mom? My dad?" the boy twirled his fingers together, relaying the thoughts of festering guilt. "It doesn't feel right to pretend and..."
Just like the rest of his questions, the couple always had an answer for him, almost as if practiced.
Sariel spoke first, "This is a question for your father, Ise." That sorta indirectly answered the second part.
Then, her husband pulled in. "How much she knows or doesn't know, we don't know. It's not up to us. Your father should know your mother best. As for our son..."
The man and woman matched eyes in a silent conversation that lasted but a moment.
"For all intent and purposes, he's a mortal man and made no steps to ever change that. You can ask him if he wants to know. Knowing that it deals with you, he'll want to know some, but all the same, trust that you can handle it if you put your mind to it, I'd assume.
You carry both a Longinus and a combined blessing, after all."
Sariel took Issei's hands into hers, massaging softly.
"Do you think you can handle it?"
A million thoughts rushed through his mind as he struggled to hold her gaze. However, a warmth that quickly started to become familiar overtook his left side. Ddraig was here to stay, reminding him of her watchful ear and growing attachment. A smile replaced whatever expression he had. He could feel it and embraced it. From the corner of his vision, he could see Ddraig's budding embarrassment.
"Yeah, I got this, Obaa-san."
So focused on her eyes, Issei didn't catch her expression change, feeling the warmth from Ddraig.
She didn't mention it, putting it into the back of her mind. Besides, her dear grandson was smiling so brightly. She couldn't help but return it, leaning into her husband. And as his large hands encompassed the duo's hands, she felt any anxiety from Issei melt away.
Hachiman rumbled out another speech. And listening to him speak always made Sariel's muted heart beat lighter—like she could just float away with the feathery love and joy that engorged it. A part of her demanded she unleash her many wings to convey her feelings physically, but she didn't want to interrupt his words.
"Between your ties to the Youkai Queen and to ourselves, your parents should remain safe. So, my grandson, train without worry for now, and do what you must for the woman you love.
"Just promise... You'll keep true to yourself as best as you can."
With Ddraig actively working for and with him, the godly duo didn't worry much for his fate in the near future. It was the far future they had to prepare him for. Not a single Red Dragon Empress fell gracefully. Hopefully, with their intervention, they could deter the will of the Fates themselves, however unlikely.
They would try in that future, even if damning their peaceful recluse.
Issei relished in their loving auras, closing his eyes and swaying slightly, before he exclaimed, "Of course! If there's nothing else my parents taught me, it's that!" Sure, he hadn't exactly been following the assumed doctrine, but he was still so new to everything, so he was sure they'd cut him some slack. With his known and unknown worries put on the backend and plans put into stones, the teenage boy was filled with even more resolve than ever before.
Before his powers, he had thought he lived fulfilled under that guise of honesty. However, that could not compare to this moment and this connection with everyone. And so, he did the only thing he thought could convey his feelings to his grandparents. As he did so, it was as if he were in slow motion.
His trained sight absorbed their minute flinches as he flung himself forward at them. He didn't mind it. It seemed like common acts of love were still such a surprise to them, despite their small and seemingly rare touches of affection. Issei melted into them as they allowed him to pull them together and hugged him back. His arm span didn't allow him to surround them, but that was okay.
Nor did he forget about his soul buddy. He had a feeling the feelings of warmth could go both ways. With his Gamer ability, he should have perfect control over said body. So while it'll be a first try for him, he was confident he could pull it off.
On purpose this time, at least.
Using both the mental connection between them and the source of his Sacred Gear, he drowned them in the warmth pulsing within him. His biggest hope was that it would counteract and overload her biggest concern that was technically his fault. Outside influence over the Longinus seemed to be able to do so. Yu—Raynare had done exactly that, after all!
Although, in place of raw positivity, she had used Holy Light.
For a moment, Ddraig was overwhelmed with a touch of fear. Issei knew she would never admit to it. He knew much of it was fear for him. Revealing how aware he was of these worries was a card he tried hard to keep hidden.
His dragon empress spirit was seriously too prideful to ask for help. She was silly. Even an 1,000 year old people needed help! Just look at his grandparents; his grandfather hadn't outright stated it, but he was sure he wanted to return Ame (Heaven) to its proper state of being, equal between the two sexes, welcomed to all that deserved it. And then, there was Yasaka. He was pretty sure she wasn't 1,000 years old (if she was, that didn't matter!), given Kunou's age, but she felt nearing the strength of his grandparents.
Not even a being as strong as Yasak could find her daughter without help.
And then, Ddraig was worried about bringing down the mood with her presence. If he could, Issei would squeeze the life out of the dragon for the stupid idea. He was only in this position because she was in his life in the first place! She had saved him twice now! Her power and guidance set the foundation everything else built atop.
Snuggling deeper into his blissful grandparents, he tried to impart these notions on Ddraig before she could even think to dive away.
His wide grin reveal his teeth as he felt his left arm grew hot, but not unbearably so.
He had succeeded.
So, he focused back on his grandparents, who gathered him into their shared embrace. It didn't really feel all that different from hugging his birth parents. So, really, Ddraig had been right to say they had been more than his grandparents despite the slight unfamiliarity.
Some of the Youkai stuffs he read up on touched upon Buddhist teachings. One thing that stood out to him was that the body WAS the soul in some kind of reflection. His soul, and therefore his body, had been formed with their essence. It was akin to thinking that he had four sets of parents, but the heavenly pair kept up the usage of "grandson." He hoped that he managed to impart how much he appreciated their words and gifts, no matter how unintentional, like he had with Ddraig.
Despite the passing of time working differently for them, his grandparents seemed inexplicably lonely.
His gaze, while jovial, was sharper than ever before. Unlike Ddraig, the chains that bogged Issei down were almost entirely gone.
He fanned the area for his tutor. It didn't take long for him to notice the status window sticking out of the shade of a tree. Issei was sure Ddraig would disavow his next action, but given the insight from his grandparents, he thought it would be fine to reveal a tad more. And so, he marched right up to the shadow. The status shifted, and he could only imagine a black cat preparing to retreat at a moment's notice.
"Good evening, Shishou," he said, crouching down at an arm's length.
The window flinched, and it took all of his bodily control to not break out in a smile. An awkward, shy, or a confident one, he wasn't sure which, but he didn't want to scare away the black cat again. And so, the brown-haired teen patiently waited for Kuroka to regather herself.
It wasn't long before a cat, blacker than the deep shades around, oozed up from the ground. She was slightly miffed and turned away from him a little. All in all, it was pretty cute. A dark, elegant beauty to the regal cuteness of Kunou's fox form. Or even Yasaka's impressive form from legends.
"Thank you for allowing my request."
The cat turned to him and found him bowing his head slightly. She finally mustered a response and transformed into her full-form. Her hidden curves never failed to invoke certain urges into him, but he was trying to be too busy thanking her!
"Of course, Sekiryuutei-sama. I assume you've worked it out with your grandparents?"
Of which, Kuroka did the extensive research on what exactly were "grandparents." A part of her wondered where hers were—but that only brought back the fact that she and her sister were the last of their kind, confirmed by her Teacher and Yasaka-sama. She thought she learned to accept it years ago, but... This new sentiment made her feel a little weird. The older girl in cat-form didn't like to linger on it.
"Yeah, it went great! I learned a lot about myself. Got some training in too! Look!"
A bright smile overtook the lips of the boy. And, for the briefest of moments, Kuroka found herself envious.
Then, pure power pulsed off of him in waves that ruffled the leaves and her sensitive hairs. It seemed a heightened connection to his family awoke something within her pupil. His soul and mind had been refined in such a short timespan. It was nothing short of extraordinary.
Her eyes widened, and her pupils narrowed into needles as she unconsciously threw up a barrier. There was a new power she sensed flowing within him. The purest kind of Ki trickled into his veins at an increasing level.
God Ki.
She was only familiar with it due to her original teacher being a Buddha and her current master being the Daiyoukai to bridge their kind to the Heavens. And within Issei, it was by no means as impressive or oppressive as theirs. Having it at all meant either he had awoken his heritage or gained immense favor from a god.
She could assume it was the former. Yasaka-sama hadn't mentioned it to her and there was no way the older woman hadn't sensed it. So, Kuroka could only guess it was just another reason why she, of all people, was training Issei, why Yasaka-sama demanded to be kept up to date on his growth so personally, and kept his training as a secret. The woman never pointed out a mistake in any of her reports. Although, that may be due to Kunou's presence.
The secret of his heritage must be top-secret then...
The God Ki had always been there, but diluted immensely. She could distinctly recall sensing through his pathways. He was different from any other human, dragon, or Youkai, for that matter. She had assumed it was a partial dragonification of the [Boosted Gear] at work, putting him into a transitional stage. A humanoid or human-turned dragon was probably different as well.
However, Issei was very distinct. It was no wonder she had missed it, then. Whatever ritual the boy has carried out or whatever power he awoke to, opened his balanced body (for a mostly untrained male in this regard) to his apparently dense soul. Progressing as he were was only natural. He was a demigod of sorts, whose divinity may lay outside Buddhism or the Japanese realm. She guessed due to the unfamiliar feeling it gave. He was demigod with a weapon capable of slaying other Gods. Whose destiny was to mingle with Devils, Youkai, and whatever else Yasaka-sama had spied into the future.
And somewhere along the way, he would eventually return her sister to her side.
A knot formed in her throat, and Kuroka struggled to swallow it down. She really shouldn't be panicking. She had been trained by the Heavenly Monkey King and further raised by Yasaka-sama. One, a god of myth that was still recited into modern day. The "cool" and once rebellious Buddha loved to share that fact.
The latter person held more power than all local and minor Gods in Japan, combined. A few of which were quite notable even by Kuroka's standards. Yasaka was the focus where nearly all the "magical" ley lines in Japan crossed.
Her meteoric rise to power wasn't solely due to the boost from the Shinto Gods either. The only reason she still answered to them was because the system of their powers was governed by them. If they took out the main Gods, there was a good chance they'll end up like the Angels. Stagnate creatures without a master or clear direction.
"Shishou?"
Perhaps, it was just the dragonic nature of his energies getting to her. Issei, a boy just a year older than her sister, wasn't one to fear nor one to dominate.
Not yet, at least, her mind supplied, recalling what exactly was within his left arm.
His time would come. These sessions were all but guaranteeing it. She would see to it. She hoped he wouldn't ever be against her. Because she would be the worst matchup for him, and she really didn't want to harm the one who would return her sister to her. If it came down to it, she would put him down and shatter his soul with but a notice. In doing so, she could always fall back onto her original plan...
- :|: -
"Kuroka: Route
Status: The Key to Reclaiming my Sister
Currently: 17%
Bonus:
Meditation
(unlocked at 15%)
Refer to the Relationship Tab in your Profile
- :|: -
Internally, he groaned at the new skill. It was one of the most boring things he's gotten thus far. Ddraig would probably implore that he use it whenever he could. Maybe he shouldn't judge the skill without even looking at the description...
"I understand you're excited, Sekiryuutei-sama." Her humanoid form rose from her twin-tail cat shape, overtaking it completely. "But please wait until we're at the training grounds, nya."
The energy waves stopped instantly. "Oh shit! My bad!"
There was a strange beauty to his control to Kuroka. It was odd for his seemingly newness, but she racked it up to be tied with his dragon energy manipulation. Learning Shinto Runes would see to it, despite being more of a focus for energy by a heavenly faction than a lawful system of magic (A/N: to explain why it wasn't a skill).
His colorless aura eventually condensed into a faint emerald. It was decent control, she could admit, for something her charge awoke to for, at most, two days. The boy hadn't needed to shut the flow to condense it, wasting energy to the environment in the process.
Despite his amateur utilization, a part of her roared to life within her. That part of her she tried to keep buried. Her constant practice of Senjutsu had absorbed some of his dense God Ki. It had been a while since she's been drenched in it. A part of her craved the feeling of it, and another part of her wanted to fight, suddenly being reminded of her original teacher.
Her main charge, Kunou, had yet to awaken it, but with the recent training with her mother and the girl's newfound resolve, it really was just a matter of time. Especially given her inspiration from the Sekiryuutei, which Kuroka could finally understand.
"Nyeh, Sekiryuutei-sama, I have also trained up my Godai (5 elements subsystem in Youjutsu)." A sinful smile split her face. Seeing her pupil shiver, it widened ever so slightly. She then tilted her head, hair spilling over her exposed pale shoulder. "Would you like a rematch?" She rose to stand straight, just a few inches over him. "Would like to let loose?"
This time, Issei didn't even need Ddraig's input, as his cheek ached to fit yet another beaming grin this day.
"Just say when, Shishou!"
His eyes refused to leave his tutor's as a familiar blackness overtook the duo. In the long second for the blackness to engulf them, the pair disappeared.
... :|: ...
And because they were gone, the soundless Watcher revealed herself, dropping from treetops. Her black feathers scattered and blanketed the area alongside the many leaves.
Her feathers served a purpose beyond a show of her six wings (she almost couldn't believe it still!) unfurling from her back. They were to absorb any lingering... whatever that energy from Issei was. She would allow the Youkai faction to take their fill of it on their isolated training grounds, but here? They gave her explicit command of the lands here, having evacuated their many civilized Youkai and leaving cleanup to her.
Her proper body shivered slightly.
It was the same energy she had absorbed from him in the past. She pooled some of it into her cupped hands. The energy, now condensed, formed a near invisible liquid that shimmered jade-ish as more feathers returned to her and released more energy into her patient hands.
Despite her self-control, her mind was a whirlwind of want as she waited. Underneath the magically lengthened hoodie and sporty shorts, she wore nothing else as she squirmed slightly. It did little to alleviate the flame flickering within her
Soon, the last feather returned to her, dripping the last of Issei's lingering energy. The liquid emerald that swirled slowly in her hands. Looking at it now, she frowned. His semen was far purer, which made sense. However, the purity disparity between the two shouldn't be so high!
The barbs and barbule of her feathers should be able to filter out the impurities from the environment with near perfect efficiency. She was a scientist directly beneath the head of her faction, after all! She knew how to best utilize her wings and powers, and knew their capabilities very intimately. But, there was something missing from the sample before her...
She shook her head. There was no point in lingering on it right now. Raynare could wait for the evening for their promised meet. Lust and an unfamiliar feeling filled her.
The Fallen Angel lied.
She knew what exactly the "new" feeling was. Her eyes squeezed shut as she debated on what to do with the feeling. There were only two ways to go about it: reject or accept it.
Her mind trailed back to her experiences with Issei. The feelings intensified to an embarrassing degree as she sat with it undecidedly. Her cheeks and ears grew warm. It wasn't much different from her faux embarrassment in her Yuuma-form. And that realization was what broke the spell over her.
"There's no way…." she mumbled with wide purple eyes.
As much as she wanted to deny it, the future Red Dragon Emperor was growing on her. Heavy. She swallowed thickly. That was understating it. A ton.
The boy had fallen for Yuuma, though. His caring and unrelenting attention was all pointed for someone she wasn't. Yuuma was the face he was most comfortable with. Issei couldn't lie to her even if she asked. The slight shift in his gaze betrayed his mind.
Funnily enough that was when her own mind interjected.
'—You know exactly what the look meant. Stop second-guessing his affections. He's practically a dragon with his affinity.'
Raynare did. He was simply taken him by surprise that she was older than him, and because of that, he tried to respect her more. And honestly? It was the perfect move on his part, unintentional or not.
Still, she didn't want to listen to a side of her that was newly awoken!
'Didn't stop you from sucking his dick.'
Her ears reddened again as the bedridden memory from the night before jumped to the forefront of her mind. Her heart and core grew warm, imparting goosebumps all throughout her fair skin. The six black wings across her back fluttered in unison. Her hands balled around the sphere of Issei's residual energy, threatening to break it so she could absorb it herself, regardless of the lacking purity.
She had it bad! There was no denying it. Her "holy" side wouldn't allow it.
And despite all the mental battle with herself, she knew she didn't want to deny it. To deny herself. To give up on a tangible route to her dreams. Even if it was wildly different from the dreams she once cherished...
She floated down to the ground, trying to calm her unstable emotional state. Her best go-to was to turn to logic. Repression as a Fallen was a dangerous thing. It was an easy explanation. There was a reason all her brethren delved deeply into their desires and sins, even if enlightened with their holy ascension. Said ascension gave them a way to limit the lengths needed to feed their darker impulses. However, Fallen Angels had to fill the void that came with their lack of a proper patron or God. For a while, she had fed it by remaining close to her Uncle and helping with experiments. But, that had become dull, despite learning so much. Nor was she completely blind to her Uncle's efforts to ignore her overt attempts of affection.
Raynare sighed, having succeeded in turning herself off. For a moment, she wanted to laugh at the rapid turn of (mental) events.
She spied down to the glowing sphere in her hand. Maybe her team should have it. Being a good leader meant she had to also reward good behavior. She hadn't done much of that, too focused on trying to be a proper double agent and gaining the Sekiryuutei's loyalty, instead of a good leader and following in the footsteps of her Governor/uncle.
Mittelt honestly didn't need the little power boost, but it may come in handy in the future if Raynare could draw the girl to her side. Despite the "girl's" random antics, the miniature blond was prepared for almost anything and probably like anything else that reminded her of Issei—more specifically, his mother.
For Kalawarner, this could be the gift to help patch up the honest mistake Raynare caused. Back in that moment, she had been so overwhelmed by her new awoken side that she barreled the older woman through a building. An overreaction, but not entirely unwarranted, given Raynare's suspicions.
And for the most part, they had followed her orders without much issue.
As they materialized onto new land, their unbroken staring contest broke when Kuroka said, "When."
Issei smiled widely at the familiar foliage and the joke (?), watching his tutor leap backwards out of immediate range. Fire erupted from his left arm as a more intimate feeling encased it. Ddraig stood by him, more than a little prepared to help.
["BOOSTED GEAR!"]
["BOOST!"]
His smile slipped into a smirk. It would be a long time before he tired of this feeling of sudden power. His brown eyes narrowed on the black-haired youkai. She had exacted the trees to her control with an array of symbols; they disappeared with just enough time to read them. In their absence, an incalculable amount of tendrils of barbed roots and spires of hardened leaves and branches locked onto him.
Even still, his lips stayed curled upright. The practice he got while playing with his girlfriend's body was paramount to his plan. Intent was his craft now!
His gauntlet-clad arm pointed Kuroka's way. A small glance to the corner of his version noticed a third of his MP draining away. Instead of an array to carry out a complex task, he cast but a single one that shifted thrice and overcharging it like hell. The MP loss was fine. Ddraig assured him plenty during their training recovering his MP was a non-issue with the Boosted Gear.
An endoscopy of fire roared to life, matching Kuroka's wood technique. His opponent merely raised an eyebrow, questioning his choice to fight her attack head-on.
The boy responded by sending his salvo at her. The first few chipped the hardened and fast moving wood but were quickly snuffed out. That was fine. He was just waiting for the next...
["BOOST!"]
"Transfer!"
["GIFT!"]
Because the fire was made from his energy, there was no need to touch each flame. And as such, he was regaled with the sight of his tutor's golden eyes widening and her pupils shrinking.
She wasn't afraid. He could tell even without the glance to her summarized status. No, she was fighting the urge to take this fight more seriously—to deny him even a sliver of a foothold. The boy was under no illusion that if she wanted, she could blitz him before he could even think to counter. She was incomprehensibly strong.
He wanted to think that his grandparents were stronger still, but ?! was still way out of his league.
As the enhanced fire arrows broke down her attack, Kuroka gracefully dodged any that came whistling her way. Her twin tails shot two separate characters; one his way and the other to the greenery again.
Huh, a tail would be useful..
['...One of the Longinus' forms gains a tail. Besides, you use each finger tip. Your tutor is only using her tails and palms.'] He could hear her brows furrow in thought, which only made him want to ask if she even had eyebrows. ['You're becoming distracted, Partner.']
The character sent his way flickered wildly before disappearing all together. In its place, a symphony of water that swirled out of nowhere rushed his general area.
His eyes narrowed. He didn't cower. His mind whirled faster still, refocusing on the fight completely.
He didn't have the control over the other elements like his tutor did. He could've made an affinity with each, but he was already spread so thin with all other skills to train up. So, he turned to what he did know.
What could fire do to water?
Evaporate.
He would need a lot of heat. Much more than the fire from earlier. He would need to use a different series of symbols. It would help to know the exact temperature to vaporize water. The intent would essentially double down with actual fact, working with the laws that govern the world instead of in opposition.
His Sacred Gear grew warm. A glance to it saw Ddraig's status, indirectly asking for permission.
"Do your thing, Ddraig!"
An unfamiliar memory rushed him. Instead of an ancient botanist, he was a budding alchemist from Rome. Knowledge then joined the rush. And before it could threaten to overwhelm him, it ended, throwing back to the battlefield in just a fraction of a second.
Ddraig must've learned from last time, huh?
Issei didn't linger longer, drawing his focus together with a single breath. His armored hand threw forward. With clear fact backing his intent, his two longest fingers were capped with identical characters. They flickered four times before scattering.
Water.
Fire.
Kill.
Air.
The boy nearly stumbled, feeling the unanticipated and immense drain to his mana pool.
He captured the flinch from his tutor just as heat erupted from the carapace of his gauntlet. It was something in the ballpark 14,000F (7,760C) and lasted no longer than a second.
The surrounding greenery rapidly shriveled into itself. The ground cracked. And the air was still superheated, making each inhale a labor in of itself. Kunou's Favor was protecting him, even if just barely.
His teacher, on the other hand? She had erected a wall of clay with a snap of her fingers. The flicker of her "rune" was much too fast for him to even read. It had absorbed the heat easily, hardening with minor cracks.
Peeking over her clay wall, she wagged a finger slowly with a sly smirk. "Nice try, Sekiryuutei-sama!"
Issei sent back a wry smile of his own.
['—It should be brittle now!'] His partner yelled into his mind suddenly. And just like that, he was back in the game.
["BOOST!"]
The boy channeled the miniscule of Ki he could control into a great leap. The plan was to double down on his speed in an instant. "Jet!"
Energy exploded from his elbows. Pain Tolerance worked overtime to keep him from crying out in shock as he felt his shoulder blades seize from the sudden force he applied to them to send him torso first into the dried earth.
Still, his gamble worked as he launched himself at the wall, face-to-face with his taunter. Kuroka simply ducked down, probably to set a trap. He wanted to think she wouldn't assume he would just break through her wall, rather than leap over it like logic would dictate.
One of his fists flew forward. Kuroka took the blow with water-covered forearms in an 'X,' using the momentum to escape the heat.
This time, Issei didn't call out his skill as he quickly followed for a wild haymaker. His confidence in his form and hand-to-hand combat wasn't the highest. He knew that he couldn't even begin to contest her in that, so as he launched his best attempt at a fury of blows, the Longinus wielder racked his mind for something to force Kuroka to move seriously.
She twirled, blocking both of his hammering fists with her tail. All the same, her line of sight no longer contain Issei.
This was his chance!
He charged nearly half his MP-turned dragon energy within his left fist for his own signature move. It took a second—the practice with Ddraig's supervision having all the results she wanted—just in time for him to go face-to face with a new earth wall. He tossed the energy in front of him for his right hand, which was encased in a shimmering protective field, to unleash the orb with a punch that was empowered by Jet.
"Dragon Shot!"
Like Ddraig had promised, the splash radius of his pure dragon-energy attack didn't harm him directly. It threatened to force him away—if he wasn't already flying through the new hole. The resulting ust and scattering of rocks were annoying, but he could ignore it.
However, as expected, his tutor expected something like this, given their last sparring match.
Air refracted his energy like he'd imagine the ozone layer did the sunlight, pushing raw energy further out. Kuroka taunted him with a calm grin and glinting gold eyes. She didn't push his obvious opening, solely focused on taking his assault head on. And he was grateful as ever for it.
His next Youkai Rune following was long-drawn. The sudden loss of MP left him slightly jittery. Because she was using air against him to deflect his pure energy, that was her mistake.
Fire.
Air.
The simplicity made it activate far quicker. Quicker than he assumed. Issei barely managed to whip his Longinus to stand between him and the sudden inferno that swallowed his teacher. It helped force the fire away. But, it couldn't stop the force of the blaze from instantly lifting him off his feet.
He flew through a canopy of trees and belted in every way by jostled vines and branches. Still, his glowing emerald eyes remained on the fire swirling with a defeating roar.
His smiling lips faltered at the miniaturized window screen coming his way slowly through the fire, unbothered and nonchalant. Soon, the shadowed figure of Kuroka joined the slow march. The sight was quite intimidating...
He was pretty sure he's seen a western hero in a black cowl do that in a movie...
It wasn't long before she stepped out with a wide smile of her own. If it wasn't for her window, Issei would've thought she was mocking him. Instead, she was proud because, again, he had forced her to reveal her hand and delve outside of lesser powers she had wanted to practice. It was nice to know in real time and really beat back his frustration—especially since it was the second time.
Most of his damage had been self-inflicted this time. Of which, he was sure, his tutor would chew him out about through a lesson.
All the same, it was... kinda cool how she recognized how much power she should use, followed through with ease, and left him huffing by the end with enough energy and vitality to begin the lesson proper. He was able to notice it this time since the power hadn't got to his head.
A delighted clapping from Kuroka drew him from his own critique. It was somehow louder than the fires...
His eyes widened.
The fire was just gone again, leaving only scorched earth and vegetation where it once raged. He didn't notice even when his attention was firmly on the Nekoshou. He was left to blink dumbly and confused as she finally stood up to him with a pleased smile.
"You did it again Sekiryuutei-sama and managed to remain upright until the end of the sparring session."
Despite everything, it was always nice to get complimented. Especially from an older girl.
...Did he have a type that was more than a good pair of boobs?
His lips curled back as he shoved down the thought with another. Nah, all the older women he met just happened to have a chest full of hopes, dreams, and beauty. Though, he wasn't exactly sure about Kalawarner...
"I still wasn't enough, Shishou."
Caught up in her good mood at applying just pressure or the lack of initial awkwardness—or, perhaps, she had been sucked into his general good mood for today—she snickered with a joke into a sleeve of her beautiful kimono that had sustain not a single burn or mark, "I'd be a lousy tutor if that was the case, Sekiryuutei-sama."
Issei paused. Blinked. And looked at Kuroka with new eyes. While he was eager to learn, she was so close to his age, his mind had been so competitive unconsciously. Ddraig or Issei himself had to consciously remind himself of how this was just sparring consciously. A learning session of practice. One where the stakes were nowhere near his other scuffles.
"Did.. I mispeak?" the Youkai asked demurely.
"No no no no!" He quickly waved both his hands to help clear the misunderstanding. "I think," he started slowly, realizing more in real time, "I forget that I'm here to learn." He glanced down his fists. The times Ddraig told him to refocus rang into his mind. "It's hard for me to take it seriously if I don't go all in."
Easily, Kuroka understood and nodded. "I noticed." Then, she remembered how deflated he got at her critique and tacked on, "Sekiryuutei-sama, it's my job to notice and train bad habits out of you while giving you an environment you can learn best in."
As much as she enjoyed it, opening up their lessons with this seemed to fit best. It was how Yasaka taught a younger and more excitable Kunou, who had been once so eager to learn. It was a shame that her mother had been far busier back then to give them any more attention than she had. The aftermath of civil war was bloody in so many ways. But the war itself extinguished the lingering tensions, just her sparring lessons with the Sekiryuutei-sama.
..Maybe it wasn't a completely one-to-one comparison since the aftermath carried so much more, but the correlation was there! She was working on the "aftermath" with Issei, like a good teacher should!
It was slow, and she would have to be patient. That was easy.
Issei shook his head softly. "I like learning from you. You make it fun and give interesting demonstrations constantly." His loosened hands fell to his side. "If.. If I don't treat it as a joke, I'll treat it as a life-or-death situation," he admitted aloud whilst slumping.
In simulating threatening situations, he'd feel like a cornered animal. He hated the feeling of weakness. It was only because he was lucky enough to wield Ddraig that he had gotten under Raynare's wing.
A part of him knew that was why he tried not to rely on her. It was dumb. Very much so. But he couldn't help it.
The gamer in him was frustrated that he refused to take "advantage" of potential power. All the same, the steepening incline of growth—it set a dangerous precedence. He wasn't blind to his grandparent's and Ddraig's worry about his future. It reflected in how some shut-ins were so self-destructive and destructive in their social and online life.
He had come across quite a few of those kinds. He wasn't much of a grinder, nor one
Because he was slouched in self-pity, he missed Kuroka's smile returning.
"I'll train it out of you eventually, Sekiryuutei-sama. It's understandable you feel this way with your introduction to this side." She couldn't quite relate, being a genius in her own right. But that was because her trauma lay in a different realm with the final key set right in front of her. "N-Nya! You've done amazing to even ask for teaching in spite of it and are willing to return!"
When he asked for a break, she had done much studying on what to do and be better at teaching properly. She eventually went as far as to use just enough time magic to displace the books and herself to learn and teach properly.
She hadn't taken it as seriously until she realized her own actions may disrupt her future more intimately than she realized! Because of that, she hadn't been able to spy on Issei meeting his grandparents and realize his excuse was true and not him thinking about backing out. In the process, Kuroka was convinced, her student even managed to awaken his bloodline and God Ki!
A part of her status revealed most of her thoughts as it flicked rapidly. Issei bit his cheek so he wouldn't giggle at yet another misunderstanding. His Shishou could be cute in some of the oddest ways. But again, compliments were well and nice, even if he couldn't actually take credit for it.
So instead, he bowed deeply. "Thank you for your time and effort, Kuroka-sensei!"
Internally, Issei vowed to do better. For her, Raynare, Ddraig, and all of his parents.
And when silence was his answer—expected on Ddraig's end though for obvious reasons—he peeked upwards much like their first meeting. His tutor didn't know how to react. She was trying. The Gods knew she was, but she wasn't equipped to handle his spontaneous mannerisms.
Because he was only trying to sincerely thank her—trying his best to not be so blind to it like he had with his girlfriend—he moved first. "I'm ready for lessons now!" he practically demanded so she would snap out of her 'confusion.'
"N-nya!" Kuroka jolted a bit. A flicker of a rune followed suit to make an impromptu wooden desk.
First, she went over his fighting style. It was closer to a raging berserker. While that was normal for the Red Dragon Empresses, she tried her best to convince him to mix it up without saying it outright. It was so obvious, he didn't need to see the worry on her window or hear it in her tone as she taught him new ways to defend with his fire or other common Youkai magic.
She went over a short story of a berserking human-turned monster that died at Yasaka's hands. It was a little eye-opening and made him recall Kunou's manipulation of flames.
"...Sekiryuutei-sama, you have the dexterity to dodge all attacks and the speed to outsight blitz most low-tier and some mid-tier creatures. You have the power to eventually take on the ogres that harmed you in the past and overtake them. That, Nya can promise you. My attacks weren't that fast.
This sparring session revealed that you are quite bad at dealing with impromptu sessions. You would benefit from more stalling techniques. You're destined rival, in this way, is the opposite here given their powers."
"Um," he interjected, "who even is that?" Immediately as the unconscious question was asked, he regretted it, recalling the small details Raynare had taught him. He quickly tried to shut out Ddraig's presence, who was half listening. He wasn't sure he succeeded, but his left arm gave no reaction other than a slight numb sensation.
While urging him to learn dutifully, the dragon personally didn't appreciate criticism and would shuffle through her memories actively instead. He was hoping he caught her in one of those instances.
First, Kuroka paused, looking at him oddly with an unsaid question of her own and a couple twitches of her black cat ears. She left it that way and answered his question instead. She had assumed his allied faction would have informed him.
"The Hakuryuukou. If she is able to immediately divide her opponent and steal that half of power, the battle is already favorable. It's said to be a type of activated poison on touch, as that was said to be Albion's preferred weapon, nyaa..
"Their container, I imagine, wouldn't be as great as yours if at the same level. But where you rely on your own personal strength, nya, they rely on their opponent's powers to foster their own. At the moment, without a proper fighting style, I cannot ask that you fight up close."
Thankfully, his tutor moved on before he couldn't hold the barrier between him and Ddraig anymore. He wasn't practiced in this kind of restrain... and he doubted he ever wanted to be. Ddraig was already so limited in her prison.
"It'll be for another lesson that I'll teach you the basics on close combat. For today, we'll explore Fire elemental theory. I'll be mostly touching on defensive uses of the element. You have the basics down (Thanks, Ddraig!)—which is amazing for your rather recent awakening, Sekiryuutei-sama—but..."
Oop. Here comes the brutal honesty!
Issei glanced over to the treetops. He had hoped to see his girlfriend greet him after his training, but there was no sign of her this time. No floating panel. No feathers. No lovely Angel of his. Maybe, he just got so used to her constant and consistent presence that it was weird to be alone.
['If...'] Ddraig started, quietly, ['If you don't mind, we can talk.']
Given they were still at the secluded forest at night, Issei saw no reason to speak internally as he started to make his way out. "Something you want to say, in particular, Ddraig?"
['Not really, Partner. Just.. Just wanted to remind you that you're never alone anymore.'] Issei stilled. ['I realize I'm not much of a talker and am not much use outside of combat—']
"Don't you dare say that!" He summoned the Boosted Gear, staring down at the main jewel intensely. He bit his lip for a moment, calming himself with the jolt of pain. "I didn't want to bother you too much, cuz like, you still have all those memories to sort through."
The Boosted Gear dematerialized as he continued his trek home, mostly alone.
"I can't imagine what it's like to have the memories of, like, so many people," he cracked a small grin. "It's sorta like reincarnation since you cycle through people, but you keep the memories of the past lives."
['That's... a good metaphor.']
"Simile, actually."
His grin widened into a smirk. He really had been paying attention in school. Both the INT stat and not wanting to shame his girlfriend and parents were his main motivators. It had intensified in the past few days. Unfortunately, there was no school for him to direct that energy at, aside from Kuroka.
['Ah, how could I have forgotten.']
He had a couple of reasons why. Her memory was so vast, he couldn't even begin to imaginable. Just a sliver of another's memory was a lot. This life of his was already so much, and his journey had only just begun! Even now, she was still so behind in rediscovering her memories.
Then there was, did dragons even study language? Issei was pretty sure it was a modern school thing to teach. And then just how do dragons communicate? Oh and—
['That was sarcasm, Partner.']
Oh, that made sense. He just hadn't expected it.
['Did I...'] It was almost outlandish to hear the tentativeness coming from her, a dragon empress of legends. So much so, he couldn't interrupt her undue concern in time. ['Did I misstep?']
"No! No, Ddraig, you're fine." He trickled warmth into their bond. This time, he didn't want to overwhelm her and the shitty curse of hers. "I just didn't think.. you could be sarcastic?"
The boy struggled to explain that, in case he offended her.
"You're always so earnest and honest. Honestly, if there's nothing else I could learn from you, it's being more of that. My parents always tried their best to get me to be like that. I don't think I've done a great job of that lately, haha..."
A "hmph" echoed through the silence.
Issei knew it wasn't necessarily directed at him, and Ddraig's status had revealed her embarrassment at such an audible reaction during the sudden silence. He could only smile. It never revealed any sort of offense.
["N-Nevermind that! Dragons have no reason for deceit. We... They are creatures of pure intent, good, evil, or something in-between. They are what they intend. They mean to only do those things. Everything else is an accident in their efforts to live true to themselves..."]
The dragon spirit seemed to linger on those words more than he had, as she trailed off in thought.
It gave him time to sort through the notifications he got. There were various entries to his encyclopedia. More specifically, the latest entry to the catalog: Dragons.
- :|: -
Encyclopedia:
Races:
[…]
Dragons:
(3/?)
Creatures born from energy given the breath of life, making their lifeforce one of the purest.
(Unlocked due to DdRaiG and DrE)
They are honest creatures out of principle and are true to their desires.
(Unlocked due to DdRaiG)
Unbound by Fate at birth, they uniquely have the choice to pick their destiny.
(Unlocked due to DdRaiG and the Dream)
Met: 2
- :|: -
He assumed the "new" species finally unlocked now because he hadn't really seen Ddraig as a dragon until she started to explain them and what his own origins could make of them. His quests and all them had referred to her as a dragon. However, they had also deemed her worthy of his help and... potential romance.
He was going to ignore that last one before Ddraig could "hear" it...
The boy had really only thought of her as his soul buddy, someone he could never begin to lie to as she held the same power as he did but only directed at him whilst locked in the Sacred Gear. It was hard to see her as a dragon when all he wanted was to befriend her, completely irrespective of his quest.
Like, I might as well befriend the person who lives within my soul, y'know?
Although, he did wonder how she experienced the world when she would take over his body. Ddraig didn't realize it, but each time she did, that body part would grow numb. Basically, like if an entire limb or, oddly enough, just a finger at times had fallen asleep. It was too obvious to ignore—but he never really minded it.
She seemed curious during the nights usually and these days, it no longer bothered him enough to wake him. Other times, he ignored it and whatever notification she swiped away, often to either sort them for him or whatever. If it was truly important, Ddraig wouldn't bother, he was sure. If anything, she'd speak up and point it up for him. All she wanted to do was help him and tried to respect his space whilst doing so.
He wanted to do exactly that in return.
Still, who the fuck was the second dragon he had met? And what dream?
['...Hm, I didn't say that exactly about dragons, but it is as it says.'] Ddraig's tone was speculative as she glanced through the open window through him.
Issei could only crack a shaky smile. Either, she had been so absorbed with her earlier thoughts that she hadn't felt his thoughts or was ignoring them for both their sakes. Since she hadn't mentioned the dream part, he put that out of his mind for now.
"It's pretty good at getting the important parts?" he asked.
Although, the Angel entry had filled itself in. But he scratched that up to be because some of this infantile power had come from his grandmother.
By now, his trek was complete as he stepped up to his front door with a new mission in mind.
Issei had waited to check the new equipment he had been given. His mind immediately drew a list from highest quality to lowest:
Soul Link (Raynare)
Raynare's Tears x2
Gray Halo
Corrupted Essence (Shard)
6-Feathered Fallen Sabre (Wristlet form)
Black-Feathered Dragon Mask
Normally, the boy would test things in his little hideout by the library. He doubted things would get out of hand but had done enough learning for today. So for now, he would satisfy his curiosity and look over the items in his inventory.
Issei froze on the first item on his mental list.
- :|: -
Soul Link: Raynare (Legendary)
- Manifests a complete conjuration of "Raynare" for 24 hours once activated, once every 30 days.
A sign of your bond with "Raynare" given a physical form.
Cooldown: n/a
- :|: -
What the hell is a complete conjuration?
['It's either a perfect clone or siphoning from her mind and body to make a replica of her.. It's an odd item that doesn't betray its rarity outright.']
He knew what Ddraig meant. It would grow stronger the more Raynare grew. It was a very weird item out of nowhere. Why a summon of all things? Usually, his power supported his current mindset and whatever training he found himself in. So, getting a summon when he was a mix of a brawler and rapid caster at the moment was strange.
'It sorta makes sense since I haven't really decided on what kind of "class" I wanted to go for.'
Issei hadn't exactly picked a build to focus on. Ddraig hadn't pushed him towards any direction, either. She had only informed him on the things she could help with. Which was, being a berserker, essentially.
Wreathing himself in flames, boosting herself to heights he couldn't even imagine, Ddraig was an unstoppable dragon—up until her last breath in the waking world.
['It was the last one, until you, Partner.']
The boy could only grin at the correction. He didn't linger on it long, not wanting to open up his teasing side towards Ddraig.
He also had 5 more items to look at.
- :|: -
Raynare's Tears [x2] (Unique)
[Consumable]
[Lasts: 1 hour]
20% STR
15% MAG
Affection gains by 5%
- Affection by 5%
- Doubles libido and sensitivity
A unique essence from "Raynare" that imparts her dreams and love for you in a way she couldn't quite say.
- :|: -
Issei stared extra hard at this... love potion. The icon showed it to be a clear and thin vial in the shape of a teardrop. Floating amidst the liquid was a lone feather. The deep shade of it belonged to his girlfriend.
Maybe that wasn't fair to say..
He could use it for bedroom purposes. Or, he could abuse the stat boosts it gave him instead.
['Emergencies then.']
Issei nodded, reading the lack of specifying.
In all actuality, he was trying not to gush about how cute his Raynare was! The whole "in a way she couldn't quite say" made up for her lack of presence times a hundred! He knew firsthand just how sensitive his Angel was. It was crazy that she could double it for others if she just so wished. At least, he assumed as much, given it came from her liquid essence and feather.
There was a chance it came from the Fallen's own heightened sensitivity—
['If I delve into the Alchemist's memories, you could potentially reverse the vial.']
While that was cool, being an alchemist didn't quite appeal to him. It was in the same vein as the summoner class as well. He much preferred a more pure DPS class. It was simple and straight-forward.
"I'll just leave it up to you, Ddraig!" She had access to all his skills and inventory, after all.
At the lack of response, Issei glanced down to his left hand—only for it to go numb and hide behind her hand. His lips grew into an even wider smile as the urge to impulsive tease Ddraig nearly took over.
They both ignored the following popup.
['By your request, then, Partner.']
For her sake, he didn't reply, lest he say something he shouldn't. He wouldn't hold back normally, but after that conversation with Ddraig, he didn't want to tempt the dragon to flee. His glance of the ignored popup had revealed another one of her "Divine Chains" breaking. Which had to be a good thing right? He was pretty certain it was part of a quest. It said "3/7" before it faded into obscurity.
He huffed back a sigh. He'd look over it later. For now, he refocused on the equipment in his inventory.
- :|: -
Gray Halo (Unique)
[Equipment (Head)]
[1/2 "Watcher" set]
10% INT
15% MAG
- Boosts "Light" and "Sin" skills to their next tier
- Increases EXP gained by "Light" and "Sin" skills
- Decreases EXP gained by other skills
A unique halo that would make any person double take in confusion. It is the perfect fusion of Sin and Virtue, imitating the final form of Fallen Angels.
Full "Watcher" Set Bonus:
- Unlock the next tier for "Light" and "Sin" skills
- Gains skill: [Ruinous Wings of the Fallen]
- Removes any debuffs gained from equipment
- :|: -
Huh.
As it stood, this was a tool best used to help progress his abilities gained by Raynare and maybe his grandmother, if she ever decided to teach him more directly. It was a shame he didn't have anyone he could really show this off to aside from his grandparents. His girlfriend—she would have too many questions, and Issei didn't have enough answers that he was willing to share yet.
The boy wished he could say it physically hurt him to think that, but his cute tutor had already fully restored his HP.
['You're allowed to have secrets, Issei.']
"Yeah, but..."
His girlfriend would eventually figure it out based on his not-so private training. And like his ability to manipulate holy light, he figured she wouldn't question it.
['That was before you sprouted a gray halo, which is wholly unheard of from the... little I can remember. There may have been one instance... Even then, it was just a rumor.']
The boy only hummed. He was curious about her reaction to it. His grandparents as well. An archangel like his grandmother may know more about it, for one. Given it's something about "balance," his grandfather may have some insight that either angels lacked.
['That's not a bad idea, to show them.']
It was decided then. He would show at least them tomorrow after school and before his session with Kuroka. Based on their reactions, it would determine how he would train with it.
With that dotted, Issei glanced over to the next item in his inventory.
- :|: -
Corrupted Essence (Unique)
[Shard (1/4)]
[Consumable]
1/4 HP Restored
1/4 MP Restored
- 100 MAX HP
- 10 CHA
?
As a shard, it could fill a wounded soul, tinging it with Sin or Virtue.
Once fully combined, new LifE will sprout.
- :|: -
Well, that's something.
['It's certainly nothing to scoff at. Be very careful with it, Partner. As it is now, it's best to save it as a pseudo revival item as a last resort.']
The teen mulled over the advice, comparing it to his experience with games. Normally, revives didn't really contain any drawbacks. This had two and an unsaid effect. Though, now owning it meant he wouldn't have to rely on Raynare to save his ass again...
- :|: -
6-Feathered Fallen Sabre (Epic)
[Wristlet Form]
[2/6 Forms Unlocked]
10 STR
10 INT
Increases MP Efficiency for "Light" or "Sin" skills
Access to Wristlet Form
Access to Spear Form
A shapeshifting weapon to help a Fallen Angel acclimate to their growing powers. It grows with the user in an effort to imitate Sacred Gears, having been made with a heart of a fallen Cadre. This is one of Raynare's few successful projects, focused on increasing power.
To repair the equipment, feed Light into the heart.
[Due to Raynare's current Affection, the third form has been unlocked!]
Access to Sabre Form
5% CHA
5% STR
Gained passive skill: [Beginner Spear Mastery III*
Gained passive skill: [Beginner Sabre Mastery I]
(* adjusted due to Raynare's own Mastery)
- :|: -
Speaking of Raynare... Did his powers just steal from her?
His train of thought would've continued, but upon noticing the last section, he couldn't help but let loose a fit of giggles. He couldn't help it, having felt so neglected earlier. He had really... gotten so attached. Whereas, his girlfriend was far more mature about their space.
He was still holding his gut when he moved on. Still, a part of him made a note to ask her about it, putting it out of his mind for now.
- :|: -
Black-Feathered Dragon Mask (Rare)
[Equipment (Face)]
5 CHA
5 END
- Passive skill: [Obscure]
A sleek mask made in the form of a Watcher and Dragon hybrid, Samael. Its only real purpose is to hide your identity.
- :|: -
Issei blinked at this. The name did nothing to indicate what the mask actually did. All the same, he couldn't see himself using it much, if at all.
['You could use it in tandem with the halo item.']
That was true... but he didn't see it being used much still. It did make sense such an item would come from Raynare, he supposed. Her incessant and seamless use of a facade; it only made him glad that he had hurdled over her walls.
Based on the miniaturized version of it in his inventory, the mask was pretty cool looking, if not teetering on being super edgy. A small grin overtook his lips as he recalled a phase, where he made his RPG or MMO characters undergo their own edgy arcs (skins/etc). His friends had happily joined him on it—it never failed to make him laugh, especially when the group tried to cosplay for a gaming con in Tokyo or Akihabara.
They couldn't pull off the edgy look in the slightest!
His smile widened further as he stepped into his home. "I'm home, everyone!"
A man's head tilted back from the couch where he lounged in front of the television, "Welcome home, son."
From the kitchen, a woman's head perked out of the archway, "You want a snack before dinner, my son?" As always, his mother always knew what to ask, as if she could read his mind.
"I'll wash up first, if that's okay?"
"Mhm! I won't be long!"
Aes (A/N): To be clear, Issei doesn't know he has this "God Ki" yet. His Ki ability doesn't clarify it after all~ Kuroka assumes Yasaka and he knows already because she doesn't know any better, smh. Assumptions make an ass out of both parties!
Could you imagine Yasaka's expression at the reveal?
There's a real explanation as to why Raynare can absorb his energy so easily whereas Kuroka can't quite yet. Two, actually, now that I think about it. Any guesses? If you're still worried about how she feels regarding Issei based on that scene after the Kuroka meet, she's just being tsun about her feelings, lol. Hope I cleared up some of the lingering doubt about her attentions!
Also, maybe it feels like I'm repeating things in the story. I kinda hope it feels like I am without mocking the readers because Issei is dumb as a bag of bricks, needs to be told more once, and given my updating speed, I think it helps returning readers reacclimate. He's not suddenly smarter, just less clueless in general—which isn't much given how aimless he currently is, aside from one overarching quest. Though, his emotional intelligence is quite high (when he's paying attention), brought up further with the status windows.
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