The Next Day:

Training Ground #3, Main Gremory Castle:

Isaiah frowned as he ducked under a slash, tossing the falchion grasped in his right to his left as he spun out of the way of another slash before slicing at Okita's waist, clicking his tongue as the man used one of his bokken to block the blow.

Okita quickly moved to attack with a thrust of his other bokken only to grunt as a force smacked into his back, capitalizing on Okita's distracted state as he lunged upwards and slashed at his neck.

Stopping his falchion just as it touched Okita's throat, he smirked before groaning in disappointment as he felt a pressure against his abdomen, looking down to see the first bokken pressed against the spot where his liver was.

"I have to admit you won this one. The blow may be fatal, but someone like Asia or with a Phenex Tear can heal you before you bleed out."

"Nope, that's still a draw. I need to win." I grunted as I walked back a few paces and turned back only to be confused as Okita gave me an amused smirk.

"Huh, if this was you from a few years ago, you would have all too happy to take that win. Good to see that you've grown up, gaki."

"Yeah, yeah." I said as I rolled my eyes, making him chuckle before I grumbled as he shook his head and got into a relaxed stance as MacGregor spoke up.

"This is going to have to be your final battle for now. After that, Isaiah's going to go pack & say his goodbyes as the three of us need to go & meet Lord Lucifer in Lilith along with a few other people who will be joining us."

"…How the hell did this spiral from just us four going on a trip to help me unlock my True Devil form to more people joining us on this trip to just beat me up?" I asked with a grumble and MacGregor chuckled as Okita & Bardou snorted.

"That's your fault for wanting them to train you, Master."

"Hah, I guess you're right. Well, then come on, old timer! Let's get this fight over with so that I can go tell Akeno and the other girls that they're going to have to sleep alone for a while."

"Hah! Speak for yourself, gaki! I still need to go tell the missus that I'm going to be gone training your lazy butt for the next week and she's not going to be happy!"

"…Hey, if I beat you, can I meet the innocent woman that you managed to seduce?" I asked and Okita hummed before he shrugged.

"Sure. She's been asking me to tell you anyway so why not let you find out this way? Now, enough talking and let's-!" I didn't give Okita chance to finish his sentence as I activated my Touki once more and dashed forward, the air whistling as I threw the falchion in my right hand as hard as I could.

It whistled as it flew past him and curved through the air, Okita frowning as he gave it a quick glance before he quickly looked back as I spun and threw the other directly at him.

Flipping the bokken in his right hand in a reverse grip, he spun on his heel with a flourish and easily parried both attacks to the side before his eyes widened at the strings of demonic energy attached to the pommels of the two falchions.

A grin spread across my face as I brought my hands in, the two falchions glowing before the spun rapidly and rocketed inwards towards Okita as I appeared in front of him. The samurai grunted as he strained himself to block the two attacks & pushed them back only for my fist to flash forward and smash into his chest, sending him skidding back as I flicked my hands inward & caught the falchions as they flew towards me.

Bringing both hands hand, I growled as I dashed forward at a breakneck pace, leaping at him while spinning rapidly through the air like a saw as Touki flooded my form. Watching as Okita crouched lowly while his Touki ripped into existence, I smirked as I funnelled all of my Touki into the falchions before stopping my spinning as I brought both blades down with a roar.

'Tsubame Gaeshi: Rising Wings of the Crane!' As I brought the blades down on him, I was not surprised to see Okita easily roll out of the way before he lunged at me, tossing one bokken into the air while gripping the other with both hands.

Trusting my instincts, I saw nothing but a slight blur as I ducked, the air above me quaking before I smirked as I flipped both falchion into a reverse grip and swung them upwards while leaping into the air.

I could feel Okita's shock as the attack knocked his bokken into the air, but my eyes widened slightly as he smirked, the second bokken I had forgotten about falling into his hands as he steadied his footing.

Forcing my body to move, I could feel my muscles straining themselves as I stretched my arms wide and brought both falchions in a cross-slash just as Okita unleashed a flurry of three slashes.

The first two of his slashes knocked the falchion out of my hands and to the sides just as the third slash stopped just a few millimetres from piercing my neck, Okita chuckling as he glanced behind him & saw his other bokken floating behind him with the point touching the back of his skull.

"When?"

"When I knocked it up into the air. I de-attached the strings on the two falchion and attached them to the bokken's blade & hilt and all I had to do was wait until you focused entirely on my & my last attack as I positioned it for a killing blow."

"Hahahaha! I see you're no longer trying to bulldoze your way through every battle now that you're no longer using your Sacred Gear." I had to admit that Okita was speaking the truth.

Compared to before when my mind & body had felt sluggish and weak, now it felt as I was fully awake, both my mind & body working perfectly in sync and it felt as if I was finally able to truly fight.

'Did…did I really neglect the basics that much that relearning them is this much fun?' I thought with a frown before I shook my head, banishing those thoughts as Okita spoke.

"Well, you should go and no, it was a draw so I'm not telling you who the missus is."

"Fine~! Bardy, come on."

"Sure thing, Master!" Bardou nodded as he walked towards me & I gave Okita & MacGregor a bow before Bardou & I walked back up to my room to pack my stuff.

A few minutes later:

Courtyard, Gremory Castle:

"Why do I feel like you hate being stuck in the Gremory Castle?" Zeoticus asked with a pout and Venelana sighed as I gave an apologetic smile.

"My apologies, Lord Gremory, but this training is essential to the future of House Gremory and unfortunately, it requires myself leaving the Underworld for the Devil's Bermuga once more."

"Well, stay safe. I don't want my son to bring back your corpse." Venelana said with a frown as she hugged me softly and I smiled as I nodded, giving her a light hug back before she pulled back & stepped out of the way as Rias frowned at me.

"Fine! When I get back, we can have a Rias-Isaiah day like we used to when we were younger when we do everything you want BUT! Just for that day, okay?"

"Yay~!" Her frown quickly turned into an ecstatic smile as she nodded, wrapping me in a tight hug and I rolled my eyes as I hugged her back before she let me go and skipped towards the castle.

"She's not letting it be just a day, is she?"

"Nope, not at all." Akeno said with a giggle and I groaned before I smiled as I wrapped my arms around both her and Kuroka.

"I wish Tsubaki & Serafall were here so that I can say goodbye to them." I sighed and both girls giggled as I pulled back & gave them each a kiss on the cheek.

"We're going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you all, too. Now, please don't cause too much trouble for the others." I said to Kuroka, who pouted before I smirked as I looked at my peerage, who quickly whistled as soon as they caught my eye.

"That goes for you all as well. Do your best to act in the manner of a fitting Gremory Vassal should, understand?"

"Yes, Lord Azathoth!"

"Do not worry. If they misbehave, I shall discipline them and correct their etiquette just like I used to do with you." Venelana said with a soft smile and I could see Zeoticus' nervous smile as I smiled and nodded.

'Well, now I do hope they actually are on their best behaviour, because no one should have to go through that stuff.' I prayed with a smile as Akeno and Kuroka stood back to stand next to the others.

"You're not coming with?" I asked Bardou with a smirk and chuckled as he rapidly shook his head.

"Not at all. The two of us together create too much bad luck, so this way, at least you can't blame your bad luck on me." I chuckled at his words as I nodded and turned, walking towards MacGregor and Okita as the Bishop created a magic crest under us.

With a flash of the magic crest, I gave the others a last smile and wave before I felt the air shift as my vision went crimson.

Lucifer Manor, Lilith, Underworld:

As the light of the teleportation circle died down, I blinked a few times to adjust my vision before I hummed as I looked at the giant castle in front of me.

Made out of black stone with crimson accents, it looked like the generic castle of a demon king that you would see in fictional works, with gargoyles stationed on the castle towers and a few dozen guards floating around the castle.

The guards gave us a wary glance as the teleportation crest disappeared before they relaxed as they saw Okita and MacGregor, although I did notice a few of them giving me a cautious look as I followed the other two devils into the castle.

"Isaiah! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?!" I chuckled as I heard Surtr Second's voice as soon as I walked in, watching as he along with Beowulf walked out of a hallway and towards us.

"Wait a second. Are you two the ones that are coming with us?"

"No idea what you're talking about." Beowulf said with a confused shrug and Surtr nodded with his words, making me frown before I sighed as I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"Nope! I'm the guy that's going along!" I sighed as I turned to the right and saw Azazel walking out of one of the hallways of the castle along with another unknown person.

The other person was a tall, young man with short grey hair and matching coloured eyes, his body covered in a black bodysuit and a black coat covering his body as he smiled & nodded at me.

"Hah, why the hell are you going with, Az?" I asked and the man snickered before he grinned.

"Well, who's the number one expert in the world on Sacred Gears and everything related to it?"

"…I hate it when you're right." I grumbled and the man snorted before I turned to the young man as I held out a hand with a smile.

"Isaiah Azathoth, Vassal of House Gremory and Ultimate-Class Devil."

"Tobio Ikuse, leader of the Grigori's Slash/ DOG team and wielder of the Longinus Sacred Gear-"

"Canis Lykaon." My eyes widened at that voice as the shadows under Tobio's feet darkened, staring in shock at the sight of a familiar bipedal wolf clawing his way out of the shadow and stretching to his full height as he grinned at me.

"Hey, pup. Long time no see." Lycaon said with a smirk and I grinned as I cheered, my arms wrapping around the wolf in a flash as I hugged him as tight as I could.

"You satan-damned bastard! I missed you, you old fucker!" I grinned and Lycaon chuckled as I felt him patting my back before I pulled back with a happy grin as Tobio & Azazel looked utterly confused.

"D-Do you know each other?" Azazel asked and Lycaon chuckled as I nodded.

"Do we ever?! I was Lycaon's wielder five years ago but my body wasn't compatible with it and so, we had to sever our connection. Since we weren't fully connected on the soul, I lost a fair amount of power but was able to survive the severance as I let him free in the air. However, I see that he's managed to find a good host." I said with a grin as I looked at Tobio and Lycaon chuckled as he nodded.

"He is, indeed. Other than Sebastian, he's easily the strongest wielder I've had. Uh, no offence."

"Eh, none taken. I was never going to be as proficient as wielders that you've fully bonded with and besides, you told me that I was in the top 20 & that was enough for me." I answered with a shrug and Lycaon rolled his eyes before Tobio spoke.

"S-So, you are Jin's former partner, then?" He asked and I smiled as I nodded, Lycaon chuckling as he nodded before he looked past me.

"Hello there, you old timer! Your hip hasn't broken yet, has it?"

"Not at all. You're still sane enough to continue fighting?" Okita answered back with a wide grin, to which Lycaon just chuckled as he shook his head.

"Of course. MacGregor, good to see you healthy & alive."

"And you as well, Lycaon." MacGregor said with a nod, which Lycaon reciprocated before I turned as I heard Sirzechs' voice.

"Well, I see that you all have become acquainted. I suppose introductions are no longer necessary?"

"Not at all. So, can I know why there are so many of us going?" I asked and Sirzechs chuckled as he nodded.

"Of course. Okita & MacGregor are going with to train you in the basics once more. Azazel, Lycaon & Tobio are there to help you master your new fused Sacred Gear further and help figure out the inner works of your Sacred Gear. Finally, I'm there to help you to finally achieve your True Form." He explained and I hummed as I nodded.

"Okay, I see. Well then! Let's get this show on the road!" I exclaimed with a grin, Sirzechs chuckling as the others rolled their eyes while Tobio smirked amusedly.

"Sure, sure. Magic Guy, let's go." MacGregor rolled his eyes at Okita's words but did as he asked as he snapped his fingers, multiple magic crests appearing under all of us and I only saw a flash of light & the air warping before we disappeared.

A/N: And there we are! Another short chapter and next chapter, the new arc starts!

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!