Once they boarded Skíðblaðnir, the group took the time to heal their wounds as best they could with a series of medical implements and bandages, as neither Issei nor Sairaorg were skilled or able to use healing magic. Sairaorg was out of his armour and had his wounds sewn shut by Regulus, who had a set of cracks and cuts on his skin.

"I really need to learn some healing spells. OUCH!" Issei said to himself, only to scream in pain when he had his spear wound stuffed full of gauze. Despite the severity of this wound, it was thanks to Issei's demonic biology and his training as a greenery household member that had allowed him to not be killed by this wound.

Once they were as prepped as possible, Skíðblaðnir was activated. Due to the defeat of Cao Cao and his allies, the vessel could activate its pre-set fast travel option. Within a few minutes, the ship arrived at the entrance to the Gremory port. Under its own power, the ship slowly and carefully docked at the port.

"Let's get to Rias," Issei said as the group left the legendary ship's main hall and walked off with Sairaorg. They activated the vessel's transformation ability and returned it to an embroidered cloth.

"Now we just have to...ouch!" Issei said as he spoke to Sairaorg, only to turn around and receive a hard slap to the face

"Where were you!"

"Akeno? What was that for...Wait, how did you know I was here?" Issei rubbed his face as he realised Akeno was crying before pulling him into a tight hug. Only for Issei to realise that the rest of the peerage was there.

"You left without telling us."

"I'm sorry, but I had to do this."

"Why!?" Akeno screamed as she sobbed

"I...I felt lost. To be honest, after Rias died, I wanted to die because it was my fault that this happened, but when I saw a chance, I had to do it. I couldn't live with myself if anyone else I cared for died. I'm sorry." Issei said, letting his heart talk, which caused him to begin crying.

"It's okay, Issei," Akeno said as she held Issei tighter. The rest of the peerage followed, coming around the pair and embracing them.

However, this was not to last, as the King of Hell made his appearance.

"ISSEI!" Sirzechs yelled. He was in his formal white and gold-trimmed suit, which only added to the seriousness of his appearance and gaze.

"Shit, he's angry..." Issei muttered as he saw Sirzech's approach; his face was stern and severe, and he strutted towards Issei and the rest of the group.

"So Issei, you have returned..."

"Yeah, I have," Issie said, attempting to meet Sirzech's Gaze. But as soon as he made eye contact, he felt a presence, like that of an overbearing father, pushing his gaze back down to the floor.

"You defied the order of your king and left against my wishes," A red Aura like that Rias would produce began emanating from Sirzechs. It was far darker in colour, closer to a blood red crimson on the lighter shade of his sister, which only panicked Issei more.

"Right, I can explain," Issei whimpered, fumbling about with his hands as he tried to summon the Grail, only to be pulled into an unexpected hug from Sirzechs.

"This is why Rias loves you...thank you, Issei," Sirzechs said, his voice mixed with happiness and sadness as tears ran down his face. This allowed Issei to finally produce the Grail from his gauntlet, its golden glow lighting the port once feared mere days ago for its implications. It is now a ray of hope to those embraced by its golden light.

The group made their way to the family crypt of the Gremory family, which held the remains of the family for millennia, and they laid Rias. Due to how recently she had passed, she was being held in a clear crystal sarcophagus, which was part of a funerary custom of the Gremory family, which required the body to be retained in the state for 7 days after which they would be placed into a custom made sarcophagus bearing their effigy. This custom was said to help encourage the deceased's spirit to return if it was deemed that it was not their time to pass. Rias, as part of the Gremory funerary customs, was dressed in a tightly fitted crimson dress bearing the rose crest of the family on her chest, which was obstructed by Riases slim arms, which were placed on her chest, similar to that of a saint. The dress was lined with tiny strands of dark black thread, with small obsidian glass gemstones sewn into the dress around the neck of the dress. While Rias had been taken care of in death and looked as ravishing as she did in life, the slash upon her neck could not be hidden by magic or makeup and had simply been sewn closed, leaving the distinctive stitched wound on her slender neck.

Before the group opened the sarcophagus, they were met by a cheerful voice.

"So Issei did it...good man!" Azaezel walked towards Issei with a huge grin. He took hold of Issei and gave him a much-needed hug with thunderous pats on his back.

"Thanks, Azaezel. Hey! How did you get that?" Seisie yelped when he realised that Azaezel had gotten his hands on the Grail without him noticing.

"Trust me, Issei, ive got spells, skills and incantations you could only dream of...now this is truly a work of art," Azael said, chuckling as he admired the craftsmanship, swirling the glowing contents of the Grail, admiring how the fluid moved in its vessel without any loss of fluid.

After a few seconds of Issei trying to get the Grail back and failing, Azazel, with a big grin and hearty laugh, returned the Grail to Issei.

So, how do we use this on her?" Gasper asked as he and the rest of the peerage encircled the sarcophagus, which had been opened by Sirzech through a spell.

"Well, its effects were done by drinking it. Would it still work even if you're not alive or conscious?" Akeno replied, taking a moment to think.

"Only one way to find out," Issei said, who was on the right-hand side of the sarcophagus, leaning over slightly to push Rias's head up and carefully open her mouth, her skin as cold as ice.

"I hope this works."

"It will, Issei; just watch," Ddraig told Issei, which caused his wielder to smile as he placed the Grail on Rias's lips and carefully tipped the glowing fluid within it into her mouth. As soon as it touched her lips, the fluid on its own began to empty from the vessel and enter Rias's body, causing her to glow with a bright golden, almost white light, with her body beginning to rise slightly from within the sarcophagus, with the wound on her neck, being sealed within a matter of second.

The entire room was silent, watching a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

This lasted for around a minute before the golden light faded. Rias slowly returned to her sarcophagus, lying there unmoving.

"Did it work?" Issei said, leaning his head to see if he could hear Rias breathe, only for her to suddenly rise up at great speed, clashing heads with Issei, knocking him to the floor

"Gasp... where am I?" Rias said as she took a deep breath, rubbed her eyes, and began to adjust to the crypt's low lighting.

"Rias!" the group screamed with joy as they hugged Rias, with Issei rising to his feet to see Rias smiling.

"Rias," Issei muttered as he stood there in shock, drinking in every detail of her face and the life in her eyes that had mere moments ago been lifeless. This was noticed by Rias, who looked back at Issei, which everyone else saw, clearing the way for Issei. As soon as Rias and Issei locked eyes, rias's mind flicked back to the moments after she had her throat cut and seeing Issei crying. At the same time, she was held in his arms, causing her to quickly raise her left hand to touch her throat in a panic, checking for a scar, but no scar was present.

I've missed you, Issei." Rias said softly, her eyes welling up with tears as Issei rushed towards her and hugged her. He began to cry.

"I thought I'd lost you!"

"It's okay, Issei." Rias held Issei closer, taking in his warmth.

Issei held on to Rias until he had stopped crying, after which they separated to allow Rias to get out of the sarcophagus.

"So, how did you bring me back? "Rias asked,

"After you passed, Sairaorg and I tracked down Cao Cao to bring the Grail back, as it is said to have the ability to resurrect the dead. Let's just say it was a hell of a fight, but we worked as a team and kicked Cao Cao's ass."

"With some bumps along the way,'' Sairaorg added, showing off a few cuts and scrapes he had received from the battle.

"What kinds of bumps?" Rias raised her brow

"Well, Cao Cao used the Grail and was unstoppable. I couldn't even leave a scratch on him.

"He had me literally pinned to a wall with his spear thrown through my shoulder, and this was after having Seigrfried run me through the chest with one of his swords." Sairaorg pointed to his shoulder and pulled down his shirt to reveal a scar where the sword had pierced his chest.

Ouch!" Gasper yelped as he imagined the moments in his young mind, with the rest of the group wincing or scrunching their eyes at the thought.

"So, the Red Dragon of Domination and the Lord of Bael encased in the armoured hide of the Nemean lion could not even scratch Cao Cao".

"That's right," Sairaorg and Issei said in unison, nodding.

"So, how do you stop an immovable force?" Rias asked.

"With a bit of luck and a perilous gamble," Sairoarg stated, looking to Issei, who explained their gamble.

"Basically, Ddraig mentioned how the Grail got its power from being given blood, and I thought, well, if we return the power to the Grail, would it have the same effect?

" A brilliant deduction, Issei," Kiba said, leaving Issei with a second to try remembering what a deduction was.

"Anyway. I absorbed the Grail into my armour, thanks to Sairarg being pinned to the wall. My fantastic acting distracted Cao Cao for long enough to allow him to run through with his spear, with the Grail catching his empowered blood. And thanks to that, we defeated Cao Cao and brought you back." as Issei said, he noticed that Rias was not only intensely focused on the story but could see her eyes growing wider and filling with more and more awe and wonder.

"Woah,"

"Yeah, it was pretty badass if you ask me." Issei chuckled, raising his hand to receive a high five from Sairaorg, which stung a lot more than Issei had expected,

"You went through all that to bring me back," Rias said as she walked slowly towards Issei.

"I had to. Your Rias, there was no chance I would stop fighting for you," Issei said with a happy smile, not realising that what he said was so laden with passion and love that it caused Rias to rush towards him and embrace him with a passionate kiss, much to the envy of the rest of the girls of the peerage, who all knew that Issei would do the same for them.

"My, my Rias, I never expected you to do this brain in front of your brother, no less," Akeno chirped, expecting an embarrassed reaction. Still, Rias was so under the throws of passion that she didn't even hear her.

After a blissful eternity, the pair broke their embrace and said in unison.

"I love you."

This brought a tear to all watching. Even Azaezel, who usually joked or was stoic in these moments, couldn't help but wipe a tear, doing it in such a way as to hide how much he cared for his charges.

After this kiss, Rias, Issei, and the rest of the group made their way to leave the crypt, taking the Grail to be stored away so that no one else could be hurt and gain its power. Issie and Rias walked side by side, holding hands, their bond strengthened by the traumatic experience they faced, as they both came to realise that no matter the obstacle and no matter the cost, they would go against the gods and devils of this world, as no force could break their bond.

The end.

Hi everyone. I hope everyone enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. This story has been in the works for a long time and has been a great piece to write. I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story, and I aim to write more stories in the future. See you all in the following story.