REVIEWS:
frankieu: HEAVEN FORBID!
uchiha-rune: My friend, by the power of Author, I reject this!
R0gueMess1ah and Rezenith: Yeah, I know I am switching between past and present tense a lot, but that is due to English being my second language. Can't help it, so I guess it will remain as my eternal blight.
Rezenith: Also, thanks for all the advice, but I really don't know how I could fix things now. Not everyone is perfect, and I at least hope that you can bear with me and enjoy the story. Though I do admit on the subject of some characters not sounding right, in my defense, it has been a while since I watched DxD, so I kinda forgot how some characters act. I am trying my best, but some are bound to slip by me.
: My dude, you have no idea. Most of those haters say shit like "Delete the system' or "This Issei is thrash, cannon Issei could fold him.". But honestly? I think those people need a medical check-up because they clearly do not compare Issei correctly here. Those reviews come from older chapters where Issei is admittedly weaker but definitely still stronger than Cannon in other departments. As the story progressed, Issei grew past what his cannon self could ever hope to be able to do AT THE SAME POINT OF THE TIMELINE. For real, I think they were comparing this Issei, who is in the Kokabiel Arc, with end-game Issei, who has shit like Illegal Move Triana and Diabolos.
Xerzo LotCN: Ok, a lot to break down, but I will focus on the main points. My friend, the corrupted version of the Moonlight Blade has been destroyed back in the mountains. Remember? Also, Gasper is going to develop blood-related stuff, but not outright blood magic.
UNNYANEMPEROR: Hmm. Chapter 7, when Rias mentioned it...Ok, but did you forget who's sister Rias was? Hmm? Issei and Kuroka might be who they are, but you seem to be forgetting that this was still TOO FUCKING early for Issei to be fighting a Super Devil and winning. No chance. Nup. Not at all. Even Kuroka wouldn't do much. So, all in all, capture is totally possible. And even without Sir, there were other ways to fulfill this which did not involve directly fighting them. Strategy over raw power! So, lemme ask you, who is mentally challenged between us? Me, for putting the possibility into light, or you, for thinking with only one filter: Raw Combat. Hmmm?
Lamont: I apologize for the incoming disappointment.
blazingwolffang: Yeah, no, not gonna bother. Refer to what I told Cobin; the fifth review is answered here. I did my own power balancing too, as this is no Power-Creep story. You want that? Go to the Naruto section and see what story has Sasuke going God-Mode, and be ready for bandages for all the edge those stories have. God, the cringe...
As Asia walked through the Familiar Forest with the Familiar Master, Issei hiding in her shadow, she couldn't help but feel nervous. This was not only a brand new place, but there were so many creatures all over that it was almost too much. The Familiar Master said that, while rare, some humans were known to be able to get familiars. As such, she was curious if she might get one herself.
Sure, that is not what they were there for, but his trait as a Dragon Tamer was meant to aid Issei in attracting a potential dragon to them. But the method he might have planned to get the blood worried her, and she hoped he was not planning anything violent or planning to harm the dragon in any major way.
Then again, this was Issei she was thinking about. He is not the kind of man to do things like that unless STRICTLY necessary, and if they can use an alternative way to get the blood, she does not doubt in her mind they will do that instead.
"You know, it gets stale after some time, having to deal with only Devils. I can tell the forest is welcoming you two warmly." The Familiar Master said, still leading them through the woods that seemed to be nothing short of endless. "Though, I do wonder what your friend there is doing, hiding like that. Surely, Tiamat won't just pick up on him that easily."
"You cannot know that, but I can!" Issei replied from Asia's shadow. "Trust me, the second we walked into this forest, she must have picked something up before I went into hiding. Though, I sincerely hope we hurry along. I might have never met her, but from what Ddraig told me, I don't want to."
"You are quite paranoid, but I guess that is only fair considering Tiamat's history with the Red Dragon Emperors. Still, do try to enjoy the forest a bit! It is the most beautiful place there is!" The Familiar Master then picked up the pace, rushing forth. "Come on!"
"Umm. Mister Familiar Master-"
"Just call me Fam! I don't like being called the full title." The boy replied, cutting her off.
"Fam, can you tell me where we are going? We seem to have been wondering at random for some time now." Asia asked, getting him quite confused.
"What do you mean? We are waiting!"
"Waiting?" Asia echoed.
"Yes, waiting! Familiars usually linger about, but given that you are a Dragon Tamer—yes, I can sense that—then that means Dragon-type familiars are going to appear! However, they tend to be evasive and often choose their masters, not the other way around!"
"Makes sense. We dragons are prideful creatures, so we won't just bow our heads to those we deem unworthy." Ddraig added in Issei's head.
"Hmm. Getting the blood might be easier or harder,r depending on what we get. But on a more important note, how many uses of the potion do we have left, Issei?" Solomon asked.
"3. If this goes on for more than half an hour, we might be in trouble," Issei replied as Asia and Fam continued onward, doing what Fam said and mostly waiting for any dragon-type familiar to jump out of nowhere. Granted, Issei had high doubts in that regard.
What were the odds of them getting a dragon to appear out of the blue like that?
"Huh?" Asia turned around, hearing some ruffling in the bushes. "What's that?"
"Maybe another creature of the forest?" Fam said, going closer to Asia as she peered over the bush.
"AHHHH!" And then promptly screamed as something just leaped out from the bushes, jumping right at her and knocking her down on the ground.
"Asia, are you alright?!" Issei asked, but then he realized something. He began to see just what knocked her over, and he couldn't believe his eyes. "I can't believe this…"
"Neither can I, and I have been doing this job for so long I lost count," Fam stated, being equally surprised by the scene before them, as Asia giggled.
"Stop!" She cried out as not one, not two, but four small dragons nuzzled themselves at her, one of them even standing on her chest and licking her face. "Hahaha! Stop! This is enough!" She told them again, a bit more firmly, and the four dragons obeyed, lining up before her. "Oh my!"
"Well, looks like you found your familiars! Congratulations!" Fam replied, and then he went over the four dragons before them. He whistled. "A nice selection as well. The first one is a Sprite Dragon! Those are a pain to tame, as you have to catch them young; otherwise, they are impossible to tame as adults!"
The dragon in question let out a small roar. It was a small dragon with blue diamond-like scales and a small pair of wings. Its underbelly and face were a lighter shade of blue than its face, and it had a pointy tail, almost like that of a Devil, with red eyes.
"Now, this is a sight! This is an Asian Gale Dragon!" Fam said, pointing at the next dragon that came out. Sure enough, it was a long, serpentine dragon with emerald-green scales and a yellowish underbelly with gray eyes. The wings on its back seemed strange, however, as they were a darker shade of green than the rest of its scales. "Those are special! As they grow, their wings wither away and fall, but they retain the power to fly thanks to their fine control over wind! It should grow the usual mustache his kin is known for as it grows and even a mane of fur around its head."
The dragon in question roared as well, but compared to the previous, it then seemed to strike a prideful pose. A little prideful this one, isn't he? "This one is not something to overlook either." The next dragon on their small list was a small, western dragon, currently standing on all four of its tiny legs. Compared to the first, which was able to sit on its hindlegs somehow, this one seemed incapable of that.
It has quite the scale pattern, too. It had a bright red underbelly, yet the scales around it were of an oceanic blue. The wings were colored like the scales, sans the membrane binding them together, which was red like the underbelly, along with mismatched red and blue eyes. Its tail presented no particular shape, being what one might call the 'usual' shape one might expect from a dragon's tail. "This one has two types! This is a Western Dragon, no doubt, but it seems to be a hybrid! From what I can see, it holds both fire and water capabilities."
"Now, THAT is rare!" Even Ddraig admitted to that little one's uniqueness.
"Now, let's move on to the…Oh my." Fam said suddenly, examining the last of the dragons. "No wings? Odd."
"Is something wrong?" Asia asked.
"Not wrong per se, just odd. This here has the traits of a Cavern Dragon, which are dragons that dwell deep beneath the earth. As such, they don't have wings to fly, but usually they do not come to the surface." The last of the dragons was a bulky one, with scales rough and rugged around it like a rock. It had a grayish underbelly with brown scales, with its tail having a mace-like shape. Its eyes were surrounded by hard scales as well, so they could barely see how green they were below.
However, Fam seemed more intrigued by it, which is why he brought out some kind of book. "Here, little one, step on this." The small dragon pushed its front leg onto the book, and then text appeared on the once-blank page, causing Fam to gasp. "Oh my! This is a once-in-a-generation dragon!"
"What?!" Issei exclaimed from Asia's shadow, the girl being equally surprised by this.
"What do you mean by that, Fam? How is it once in a generation?" She asked out of curiosity.
"This is what we call a Tertiary Dragon! You see, it seems this little one was not born with one or two capabilities but three! Three abilities!"
"Ha!" Ddraig laughed aloud, getting Fam's attention.
"Ah, Ddraig himself! I guess this is the reason to rejoice, considering that you and Albion were both Tertiary Dragons when you hatched, were you not? My, time sure flies, but the forest never forgets!" Fam stated.
"I never knew you used to be someone's familiar, Ddraig," Issei stated, but Ddraig simply shrugged.
"I wasn't. Neither was Albion. We both grew up and left the forest before anyone could lay any claim on us." Ddraig clarified.
"Does this mean this little one has the potential to become a Heavenly Dragon, then?" Asia asked, squatting down to the four dragons, standing in front of the wingless Cavern Dragon. It seemed to smile at her in some way, tilting its head. They all seemed to enjoy her presence a bit much.
"Well, yes, all dragons can have that chance, but this little one has a greater chance to achieve that spot than most others. According to my ledger, it can control the earth, but it holds two distinctive abilities. It can harden its scales to great lengths, making itself more durable. It is almost like an unbreakable shield in the making. Additionally, it can also alter its weight." Fam finished reading the ledger.
"That's amazing!" Asia stated, picking up the little dragon. Or at least, tried to. "Gosh, you are so heavy!"
The little dragon let out a small roar, seeming a bit disappointed it couldn't be picked up. However, the moment Asia put it down, the Sprite Dragon jumped into her arms almost immediately. The Asian one flew on her shoulders, and the Western one perched on its hind legs, leaning on her leg whilst the Cavern dragon nuzzled against her ankle.
"Umm." Asia seemed a bit nervous regarding the four dragons currently if she were to guess, begging to be chosen as her familiars. " I wish I could take all of you with me, but I don't know if I can. I mean, I don't know if I can have more than one familiar or if I can take care of all of you!"
"Oh, you can!" Fam stated. "I can do the ritual for you, to bind all four of those critters to you in one ritual!"
"Also, you don't need to worry about space, Asia. They can spend time in my dungeon, where I will make sure Blackberry feeds them well. You can always visit them from there." Issei added as the dots connected in his head. Those little ones were the source! Dragon blood! Granted, he is unsure if blood from multiple dragons would count or if he needs blood only from one dragon.
Note: It doesn't matter.
Once again, thank you, system, for clarifying things. Well, with that question answered, Issei reckoned there were only a few more steps to go. They had to hurry along, all things considered. "So, Asia, are you going to name them?"
"Name them? I don't know…Isn't it a bit early to do that?" She asked, then Fam intervened.
"Not all at! You can name them whenever you wish and even change their names if you so wish! It doesn't matter to me."
"Alright…In that case, I think I will name this blue one Rassei." The Sprite Dragon in her arms roared out, acknowledging its name. She then turned to the ones at her legs. "I think I will name you…Hmm. Water and Fire…I know! Fuquo!" A play on the words for fire and water in Italian. The dual dragon roared out as well, taking its name. She then turned to the Asian one on her shoulders, which seemed to wait patiently for its name. "I think I will name you…Nado! As in Tornado! Because you will one day grow big enough to make one, no?"
The Asian dragon stuck its nose up, likely lording his new name over its pseudo-siblings. "And lastly, you big boy. How about Aegis? I can tell you will be a great protector one day." The Cavern Dragon roared out happily, accepting its name.
Rassei, Fuquo, Nado, and Aegis. Those are Asia's newly acquired familiars, all of them dragons with potential. Honestly, Issei thinks she must have gotten more of a bonus from him than he imagined, but all is going well. It didn't take long for Fam to conduct the ritual either; however, they found themselves in a pickle.
Issei ran out of the potion, and the effect was running out. "Asia, we need to go! Fam, how quickly can you open the portal to send us back?" He asked hurriedly.
"It should take me only a minute! I will send you and your new familiars back to the exact place you came from!" He began to play his flute, and Issei got out of Asia's shadow as his potion ran out. Below them, a magical circle manifested, and the same feeling washed over them. They were being sent back.
However, it wasn't fast enough, as a roar tore through the forest, making everyone there flinch a bit. Fam stopped for a second. "Oh! Tiamat."
"HURRY!/HURRY!" Issei and Ddraig shouted at once, and Fam resumed his melody. The portal finally launched just in time, and Issei and Asia, along with their dragons, vanished from the familiar forest.
"Ah, another happily satisfied customer. Now, let's go and—" Fam turned around, trying to walk back to where he had manifested from, but he didn't get to take even one step as he noticed a shadow looming over him. Looking up, it was impossible to mistake the pale blue underbelly of the western dragon before him or the celestial blue scales that seemed to shine like stars when he looked at them. "Oh…Tiamat."
The she-dragon standing over him right now, the Dragon Queen Tiamat, the Chaos Karma Dragon, didn't look happy in the least as she blew a thick cloud of steam in Fam's face. "Where?"
"Now, now, Tiamat, you know I cannot just-"
"WHERE!" She demanded louder, pouncing on Fam and pinning him under her claw.
"Please, Tiamat, I just sent them back! I want to get back to my slumber as well, so please don't do this!" Fam begged, but Tiamat was not giving up.
"Where. Did. You. Teleport. DDRAIG?"
Returning home with Rassei, Fuquo, Nado, and Aegis, Issei and Asia had a rough landing, to say the least. "Nya!" Kuroka, who was napping in the living room, woke up at once. The loud sound of the returning two was heard, along with the sound of their coffee table breaking. "Issei, Asia! You're back! And…" She spotted the dragons. "Oh my, you wasted no time."
"Y-yeah…" Issei got up slowly, having gotten the short end of the stick as Asia and the other dragons landed on top of him. "We did. We must have landed this way because we rushed the Familiar Master."
"Why did you rush them? Did Tiamat pick up on your presence?" Kuroka asked.
"Yes, she did," Issei replied.
"Hopefully, she won't follow us. The last thing that we need is the Dragon Queen showing up at our doorstep, demanding who knows what or attacking us at once, with full intent to kill us." Ddraig's statement was certain, with the hints of fear undeniable. "Let's hope we managed to escape."
"What is this ruckus about? Asia!" Raynare came in, seeing Asia with four little dragons around her. "You—you returned with four dragons?!" She was clearly surprised by this.
"I did!" Asia turned to her with a smile. "Raynare, meet Rassei, Fuquo, Nado, and Aegis!" She introduced the dragons to her fallen angel friend, Raynare, who was standing there with a stunned expression before she turned to Issei.
"This has to be your influence at play here!" She claimed.
"Partly, I think so too, but Asia IS a dragon tamer by blood. Even if I had a role to play, it was minor." Issei replied humbly, but then more people walked into the living room.
"Oh my, look at the young ones!" Ingvild went straight to Asia, checking out the dragons. "Congratulations, Asia! Many devils do not even come close to acquiring such several familiars, let alone powerful ones like dragons of all species!"
"Indeed," Rias added, her smile betraying her bewildered feelings. "It's quite the line-up as well. There is no doubt in my mind they will grow to become powerful allies in the future for you to rely upon."
"Ooohhhhhh. Look at them!" Irina said, cooing over Fuquo. "They are so cute when they are young! I wish the Church allowed for familiars as well, but they are seen as a pagan practice."
"Fitting," Xenovia said. "With this, your status as a witch is all but confirmed."
"Xenovia!" Irina turned to her partner. "Be nice!"
But the blue-haired woman dismissed her and went back to her room. "It looks like she doesn't give in easily, does she?" Issei asked, but then something happened—something both he and Asia noticed.
"Huh?" Asia opened her stat window, peering in to see something new added to her.
"Hmm? What are you looking at?" Irina asked in confusion, yet everyone else knew what was happening.
"Irina, dear, why don't you come to help me prepare dinner?" Kuroka said, going to Irina and slowly managing to take her away.
"I gained... a new title," Asia said slowly, then allowed everyone to see it. The thing was, she didn't just gain a new title, but so much more as well.
Mother of Dragons
Thanks to your capabilities as a Dragon Tamer and draconic companions, you have been awarded this title. This title grants the skills [Draconic Nurture], [Dragon's Call], and the perks [Mother's Touch], [Gift to the Mother], and [Gift of the Mother].
[Draconic Nurture] (Level 1| 000/400): The more time you spend with your dragons, the more they will grow! Your dragons gain EXP passively when they are with you, albeit at a slow rate. Additionally, when you are around, they will gain +20% more stats when training.
[Dragon's Call] (Level 1| 000/400): No matter where you are, upon hearing your call, your dragons will rush to you. 100 Stamina to use this skill is needed.
[Mother's Touch]: This perk makes your healing +20% more powerful on your dragons.
[Gift to the Mother]: As your dragons grow, part of that growth will be gifted to you, be it either EXP or free stat points.
[Gift of the Mother]: By choosing to do so, you can transfer your EXP and/or stats to your dragons.
"Holy…" Raynare said softly, seeing the newly acquired title, skills, and perks that Asia had acquired. "Wait, so if those little ones train hard and offer her some of their progress, that means-"
"Asia can level up faster," Issei stated. "Not only that, but they can increase her stats too."
"Oh my…" Asia said slowly, processing what she had just learned. Looking down at her dragons, she thought about all the ways this could empower her, but at the same time, training and all of that meant eventual combat. She knew they won't stay young forever—they were dragons, for crying out loud! One day, they will be great beings worth all respect, more than able to fight their own battles.
Still, she was a bit conflicted about it. Whether to let them train or not. But that decision was not hard to take, all things considered. She will let them choose instead. If they wanted to get stronger to protect her, given her trait as a Dragon Tamer, then she wouldn't stop them. However, there was one thing they still had to do. Putting Rassei down, she addressed her dragons. "Alright, everyone, I…Ummm. Sorry, I am new to this, but what I want to say is that I am glad you all chose me."
Her dragons gave gestures of agreement. "Now, I must ask you to help me." She pointed at Issei. "He is a person that is very dear to me, and I want to help him grow further. I want to ask you if you'd be willing to donate some blood to help him grow."
Nado, surprisingly, got forward first, presenting its tail. The others did the same, with Ddraig giving Issei a small explanation about it. As it turns out, dragons have a major vein in the tail, and if he wished to extract the blood, doing it from there is the key to it. He smiled softly, nodding his head. "Looks like you all wish to help. I thank you for your aid." He bowed lightly. "Now…How should we do this? I don't exactly have any needles to get 250 Mililiters from each."
"Allow me to take care of that, my student. Focus your blood magic." Solomon stated, then guided Issei as he summoned forth four magical circles under the dragons. With a bit of blood magic at play, four spheres of blood were extracted from each. The blood just came flying from underneath a few scales on their tails and formed the spheres, each containing 250 ML. In total, he now had the 1 L of dragon blood he needed.
Quest Updated!
TIME TO HAUL ASS! AGAIN!
It is time to get to work once again! However, with your current stunted growth, there is no way to actually grow stronger, no matter how many levels you gain! Fear not! The System is here to help!
Main Objective: Obtain 1L of Dragon Blood, Reach the Competent stage with your [Blood Magic], and MAX your RP with Asia Argento!
Optional Objective: Ask Rias Gremory for aid in getting into the Familiar Forest, where you can more easily collect the needed materials!
Main Reward: 300K EXP, 2 Skillbooks (Blood Magic), ?. - Unclaimed
Optional Reward: 100K EXP, 1 Skillbook (Familiar Arts), 1 Potion of Unseen Shadows. -Claimed
Failure Penalty: Death.
"Great! Everyone, I want you to stay here whilst I figure out what to do next, alright?" Everyone replied, and then Issei went inside the dungeon. It was time to grow once again, and he was starting to get an idea of how the system intended to do that. If he was right, then he better do it in the dungeon, away from Irina and Xenovia.
The Church has been sounding more and more hypocritical to him by the day, fair be fair. Ever since Asia joined them, and now, with them here and their behavior, it has confirmed it to him. He hates to admit it, but even Irina showed disdain toward some of the other people in their household, even if she might hide it for his sake. Xenovia was more open about it. He... doesn't wish the Church to learn of his secrets.
Sure, there might be good people there as well, but his judgment was set. Entering the dungeon properly, Issei stood in the main hallway, Leonna already there to greet him.
"Master." She bowed her head. "How was your expedition?"
"Succesful." He replied. "Listen, Leonna, I need something."
"Whatever you order may be, we will obey."
"Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou." He brought up their names. "Is it possible to, somehow, plan a bug on them? Something to enable us to spy on the Church?"
"Issei!" Solomon spoke up, scandalized. "You cannot be possibly thinking of spying on the Church! The Devils are one, and the Fallen Angels are another, but the Church is in direct link with Heaven! The very ones that control the Sacred Gear system!"
"Solomon is right, partner. Antagonizing them could end poorly for us. If you plan to pursue this, you need to be ready to face serious consequences."
"I do not intend to spy on them! At least, not on a major scale." Issei clarified. "I need to get a better grasp of how the Church IS. So far, based on everything we learned, they seem like a…Like a…"
Solomon sighed. "A two-faced organization that condemns others for their sins but says nothing and does everything to hide its own?"
"It's a longer description, but yes," Issei added. "From what we know, they picked Asia up as soon as they learned of her Gear. Then, she was excommunicated for healing a wounded Devil. Even now, it seems most agents know of her story and judge her according to what the Church paints of her, ignoring the truth of the situation."
"But the truth is clear, my student. Asia DID heal that Devil." Solomon pointed out. "And right now, the Church and the Devils view one another as enemies."
"I am aware of that. I am also aware that we are in cahoots with Devils, and our entire household could be seen with a wary, paranoid eye by them." Now, this got the attention of everyone involved. "Call it a hunch, but I don't think Xenovia and Irina are here solely for the Excalibur Fragments, or at least, I don't think they realize they are being used for more."
"Of course! Given that they live in our very household, they have all the opportunities to spy on the Red Dragon Emperor of the current generation!"
"Since you kept your racial human identity, they believe they still have a chance to get you on their side," Ddraig added. "Yet, they must be aware by now of our relations with the Underworld. Whatever they do to get us on their side would have to be carefully executed; otherwise, it could risk sparking a conflict."
"One to evolve into another Great War…A domino effect, if not one of many." Solomon added.
"I have tried to make my stand clear in everything. I will never obey any of the other factions but will be willing to lend help where my help is needed. But given how they treated Asia…And what they did to Kiba…Unless the Seraphs themselves are the ones speaking with me, I won't trust a word."
"Makes sense. The Seraphs cannot lie."
"We also need to contact Azazel of the Grigori, further indirectly antagonizing them. My, what an intricate web of decisions and consequences."
"I also agree," Leonna added. "Unfortunately, Master, such a thing is not possible with the current resources at our disposal. Anything that is created in the dungeon, without using materials from outside of it, cannot function outside of it either. What is born in here must exist only here."
"I see. If so, then growing in power has just become a bigger priority than before." Issei said as he brought forth his quest tab; then, with one single press of a button, the quest was completed. The notifications began pouring in. First, the EXP. 300K was promised to him, but the bonuses began to apply themselves. 1.485M was the final result. It's not enough to level up, but it's still enough to get him halfway there for the next level.
He also got two new skill books for his blood magic, which he consumed right away.
Skills gained!
[Blood Border] (Level 1| 000/400): This skill enables you to create a border by drawing lines of blood on the ground, making beings unable to cross it, be they on the ground, under it, or above it. 50 HP is required per Meter, and 100 Mana is needed to activate, and 50 Mana is needed to maintain this.
[Sanguin Healing] (Level 1| 000/400): This skill enables you to transfer your HP to others as a form of healing. 200 Mana to cast.
"Not bad," Issei said, but then, he noticed the last reward. The one that was all hidden, namely, he took out a scroll from his inventory. "This is new." There was also a seal with a dragon on it, but a normal one. Once he took it off, he unraveled the scroll to see what it said. The paper seemed to catch fire as various drawings appeared on it, and sure enough, there was one soul in Issei who knew what this was.
"This is-! So this is how the System plans to aid us." Solomon stated.
"Solomon?" Issei asked.
"This ritual…It makes sense now." Solomon said again. "Issei, the System is planning to convert your race into a dragon's."
"WHAT?!"
"WHAT?!"
"Indeed. The ritual here is meant to change one's race. However, it seems relatively modular." Solomon stated. "Some of those runes are optional, affecting the percentage of change. As such, I think we can control how much of you is changed at once!"
"Really? So I don't have to give up my humanity fully?" Issei asked, receiving a nod from the wise king.
"Indeed! Depending on how much we need to change until you break the limit, we might need more draconic blood, but given our new proteges, that is easy! Speaking of, you have had a notification all this time ever since you claimed the quest, Issei. Check it."
"Huh?" Sure enough, there was something there. Upon opening it, however, his eyes widened. "No way…"
Since you completed all requirements, this hidden perk was unlocked! This is the final perk gained from the maxing of the RP with Asia Argento.
[Father of Dragons]: Adults might see you as an enemy, but not the young ones! No, they see you as a model to follow! Young dragons, provided you are powerful enough that your sheer presence impresses them, will look up to you and follow you! Additionally, if you train them, they will have a 100% EXP bonus!
'Hahahahah!"
"What's so funny? This is a great perk!" Issei stated.
"What's funny? What is funny is the fact the system has pretty much crowned you a fresh father! Congratulations on your quadruplets, partner."
"What the- Ddraig!" Issei shouted at his partner, given the bad nature of the joke, but Solomon had something to add.
"I wouldn't blame him, my student. Ddraig does have a point. You and Asia are basically parents now, and the four little dragons are your children." Solomon's statement made Issei sigh as he resigned his fate. At least, he hopes the others won't make such a connection.
"Anyway, how about we get on with this ritual, shall we? Solomon, what do we need for it?"
"Changing the subject? I will allow it, given that this matter is much, much more urgent than a simple squabble. We already have the blood and mastery over blood magic we need, so now we need some blood-soaked chalk and some pure salt to draw the ritual with. Leonna, dear?"
"At once, Solomon." Leonna swiftly gathered the needed materials, and Issei followed Solomon's instructions carefully, preparing the rite. The chalk and salt were used to draw the circle, which was a double-layered circle with a pentagram in the center. However, on further drawing, several symbols had been drawn within each side of the pentagram.
"Before it was a demonic symbol, pentagrams were used as a universal, archaic symbol. It is used even to this day in many rites." Solomon stated as Issei brought forth the sphere of blood, placing it on the inside of the pentagram. "Now, my student, stand in the heart of the circle. Leonna, be prepared for anything."
"Yes." She replied.
"One drop, my student," Solomon stated, and Issei nodded. Summoning his gear, he used the sharp claws to cut his palm, letting the droplet fall to the ground. It was almost instant.
The entire magical circle caught on fire, and Issei was in the center. The resulting fumes traveled up, surrounding him and eventually entering his nose. "Solomon!" Issei shouted, feeling unable to breathe.
"DO NOT STEP OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE!" Solomon shouted, giving Issei instructions. He stood there as the ritual continued. The flames began to change color, becoming the usual, normal orange everyone knows, but then the blood began to be absorbed within the circle. Issei saw from the corner of his eye how part of the fire was becoming crimson, like blood, and the fumes grew in intensity.
They forced their way into him, even through his mouth, and his eyes were watering as the oxygen became non-existent in him. But, soon enough, he heard it.
Racial Alteration Detected! Measuring…Measuring…Measuring complete!
The fumes stopped coming, the last of it making its way into his body as the flames died down, mostly orange fire…But a part of it was crimson. The fire died down, and Issei finally was able to collapse on the ground and cough violently.
"What…The fuck?" His voice was hoarse and dry, so Leonna swiftly brought him some water. He drank it but was unable to drink much as he coughed again, spitting the water out. "Solomon!"
"It's all alright, Issei," Solomon said. "Look."
Issei's breathing stabilized slowly, and raising his head, he saw the screen before him.
Race has been successfully altered! You are now 95% Human and 5% Dragon.
Your Stat Limit has been increased by 25!
"All of that…For a mere 5%?!" Issei shouted in rage; however, Solomon replied swiftly.
"I decided on that! Issei, if you change too much at once, you might encounter issues adapting to your new body changes. This way, little by little, you will be better off in the long run. We can also do this ritual again when your stats cap. We only need to get more blood from the little ones." Solomon explained swiftly. "Additionally, it's not like you can turn FULLY into a dragon! Doing that can affect your ability to use your Gear, so keeping even 1% of your human is a MUST. However, from what I know, once we pass the 50% mark, the limit should increase greatly, and once it is past 80%, it will vanish fully. Once we reach that point, the gates of godhood are ours to walk through."
"I see…" Issei said, slowly getting up and looking at himself. He checked his tab and saw a new line under his level.
Gamer
Issei Hyoudou
Title:
Red Dragon Emperor
Dungeon Master
Level:
40 (2169844/4191495 EXP)
Race: 5% Dragon/95% Human
"Alright…I don't feel all that different, and nothing seems to have changed, though. How do we know it worked?" Issei asked.
"Hmm. Let me try something…Hey, partner, Kuroka is pregnant."
"Huh?" Issei perked up hearing that. "What do you mean, Ddraig, pretty sure we always use protection and-"
"Umm. Issei? Care to tell me what Ddraig said?" Solomon asked, which confused Issei.
"Ddraig?"
"Simple. You see, partner, us dragons have an ancient language. A tongue far older than the translation spell, which only older dragons speak anymore. The spell was never altered properly to handle it, so it stands as the only language that cannot be translated and that only a dragon can understand. The fact you understood me means you did indeed turn into a dragon, even if partially."
"I was unaware of such a thing!" Solomon stated. "How come you never brought it up, Ddraig?"
"Because I knew you'd ask me to teach you, which I haven't the patience to do."
"Regardless of all of that dragon language mambo…Time to do something satisfying." Issei said as he brought forth his stat page. All this time, he has been building up Stat Points. Now? He had 99 of them. Almost 100 points, which have been stewing for who knows how long. Now, it was time to use them. Sure, he might keep the emergency 20 or not.
Actually…Fuck the emergency 20! He was going all out. First, he capped his STR, AGI, and DUR.
Sure enough, this meant his perks were improved.
Since your DUR has reached 125, your [Golden Skin] perk has evolved into the [Steel Skin] perk.
5% more damage resistance against raw physical strikes. Good.
Since your STR has reached 125, your [Golden Striker] perk has evolved into the [Steel Sriker] perk.
5% more damage is always welcomed.
Since your AGI has reached 125, your [Marathon Runner] perk has evolved into the [Silver Flash] perk.
[Silver Flash]: This perk enables you to run quicker using your [Run] skill with a 55% Stamina discount! Whenever you use this skill or any related AGI-based skills, you will gain a +30% to your AGI based on its current value.
Improvements all over the board! He still had 24 points to spare, so maybe spreading them equally for once was better. 10 went into his MGI, 5 into his ACC, 5 into INT, and 4 into CHA. Damn, it felt good to be able to do this again, but that being said, only after Issei had put the points in did he realize his folly.
"Oh, fuck me…"
"Fuck you, indeed, my student," Solomon added, a sly smirk on his face. "Your STR, DUR, and AGI can be easily trained, as well as MGI. The rest? Not so much."
Issei sighed in defeat. "Leason learned."
For admitting and learning from your mistake, you were awarded 2 WIS.
"Hey, at least stat rewards are back, too," Issei said. Then he heard a new notification.
Quest updated!
The Church of Lies
You do not trust them, neither do they trust you. Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou are not your enemies, but that can change if you are not careful! They are here with a mission, and now that you have grown stronger, it is time you actively help them finish that mission!
Main Objective: Recover the Excalibur Fragments.
Secondary Objective: Defeat Kokabiel.
Tertiary Objective: Do not engage in battle with anyone aside from Kokabiel.
Quest Time Limit: N/A.
Main Objective Rewards: 1M EXP, 10 SP, +10 RP with Xenovia Quarta and Irina Shidou.
Secondary Objective Rewards: 50K EXP, +20 RP with Raynare.
Tertiary Objective Reward: ?.
Failure Penalty: ?
"Partner?"
"I know, Ddraig. I know." Issei stated, tightening his fist. This was it, huh? The time to face off against Kokabiel, the one behind Asia's situation and who aided Raynare's previous group. From what Raynare had told them, he was a veteran of the Great War and a Cadre, meaning an Ultimate-Class being. He might only be around the level of a High-Class, on the lower side of it…Wait, no, he was not even there! He was 10 levels away from that position.
Still, that did not mean he was afraid. Oh no. If anything, he had wanted to do this for quite some time now. The stage was set, and now it was awaiting its actors to each play their part. Issei would do what had to be done and see to it that Kokabiel paid in full for everything he had done.
For he had challenged the wrath of the Red Dragon.
"Come on!" Danbooru shouted at Leon, who had lagged as the group of three climbed the side of a mountain. George, for his part, had it easy.
"Fuck. You. Dan!" Leon said as he finally made it. "And fuck you, George! You could have teleported me as well!"
"Apologies, but teleportation can get a bit tricky with more than one person. It is easier to teleport one person at a time than more." George replied.
"That is bullshit, and you know it! You are just sour because I ate the last pudding one week ago!" George's eye twitched.
"I know not what you mean, Leon…Truly." Yeah, that was the reason.
"The two of you can squabble later. George, what do you see?" Danbooru asked him, and George looked onward in the distance, their position atop the mountain giving him quite the view. Despite his blindness, his sight spell did fix it somewhat and more. He saw the colors and shapes of things and looking down; he could see several red spots walking about—devils. They were currently on a mountain, overlooking a facility owned by the Great King Faction.
"At least a couple dozen guards, give or take. Likely High-Class and above. Is that going to be a problem?" George asked.
"Not for me. You?" Dan asked back.
"I will stick to the backlines, so go on ahead. Here." George touched Dan's shoulder, casting several layers of reinforcement magic on him. "This should even out the fight. So, whenever you are ready."
"I was always ready," Dan replied as he got a running start. "AHHHH!" He jumped off the mountain, his feet eventually making contact with the edge, yet, as he slid down, the ground beneath him formed into a board, allowing him to surf down the rocky cliffside. The devils guarding the facility looked in his direction, only to see Danbooru charging in.
Jumping high into the air, his board crashed into the ground, causing a violent earthquake. The worst, however, was yet to come. Landing in the heart of all guards, Danbooru's landing caused the earth to rise, capitalizing on the element of surprise. He then began to attack the devils, his great strength ensuring his strikes were heavy and decisive.
"Sound the alarm!" One of the Devils said, triggering the loud, blaring alarm. They were under attack.
"Come on, it's just one!" The devils shouted as they tried to regroup and charge at Danbooru, yet their attacks proved to be ineffective. Danbooru was truly a beast, the enemy weapons doing little to slow him down as he made his way to the gates.
George's reinforcements were truly top-notch—quality! Danbooru made full use of them as he charged right in at the gate. 'AHHHH!' With another battle cry, he managed to break through the gate and enter the facility.
"Come on," George said to Leon as he readied the teleportation circle.
"I hope this is worth it." Leon took the circle, going away to take care of business on his side of things. In the meantime, George manifested a magical circle in front of him and, with focus and refinement, summoned forth a bow made of light. Not holy light, but normal light. He used it to shoot the devils below, offering further support. Danbooru might have broken through, but he was going to pick up the stragglers he left behind.
"Woah there!" Leon said to himself as the teleportation circle took him to the main manor of the Bael House. The man almost fell off the edge of the roof. Luckily, he corrected himself and hid down, waiting for the opportunity to arise.
Given that their attack was quite violent and raised the alarm, it didn't take long before he spotted several Devils flying away, including the current Lord Bael. He sincerely hoped those two knew what they were doing; that guy could obliterate them instantly if they were not careful.
But he shouldn't be worrying about Dan and George that much—not right now. Now, he had a job to do. "Let's see…" He leaned over the edge, checking the windows until he saw one close to him. With a smirk, he brought out his knife tied to a rope and stabbed it into the roof, then used the rope to lower himself to the window.
He checked it, wiggling it, but it was not open. Not an issue for him, as he grabbed a little something from his pocket and slid it into the crack. A simple poker card, really, namely, the Joker. He used it to find the hook and lift it, allowing him to enter the room. He pulled his knife back to him and looked around. Books, a shit ton of them.
He was in the library. He needed to reach the main office of Lord Bael. Easier said than done. He carefully went to the door, peeking his head out into the hallway, and spotted a guard. With a smirk, he whittled. "Come and get me, faggot!"
"What the- Intruder!" The guard rushed to Leon, and the guard followed the man entering the library once more. But in a cruel twist, the guard found itself with their throat slit. Leon was fast in his action, and he swiftly caught the dying guard.
"No worries…" Black ink spread over them both as Leon's Sacred Gear took over. The body was gone in moments, and now, Leon was wearing the guard's face and armor. "I am just borrowing this." Checking the memories of the guard, he had an easy time finding the main office, not to mention no one seemed suspicious of him.
How could they? He looked and sounded, and judging from the memories, he was not loved by them. Just his luck finding the asshole guard no one liked. Still, he had an easy time finding the main office, but there was a problem. He had no access to it. Two guards were standing there in front of the door, and from the memories, he knew that the guard he was currently looking at had no permission to access the main office in the absence of Lord Bael himself.
It was frustrating, but he had a fix. It was a bit of a gamble but one worth trying. "Gluttonous Copycat…Balance Breaker!" He activated his Sub-Species Balance Breaker, which sent his Gear into overdrive. What was the effect of this? Well, when he came out from around the corner and walked to the guards…
"Sir! You returned early." The guard saluted him as Lord Bael was before them. Yet, in truth, this was just Leon's Gear in Balance Breaker. It enabled him to copy the appearance of those he sees, and he did Lord Bael leaving. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with memories, but that was alright. Trading the information gained for easier disguises was worth it.
"The others took care of the intruders swifter than predicted, and before I got there, the job was done. Please, step aside, I have work to do." Leon said, going forward and trying the door, only to find it locked. He swiftly dove his hand into the fake pockets, trying to pretend like he was looking for the key. "Blasted!"
"Sir?" The guard questioned.
"It seems I misplaced my key. It must have fallen during the flight. Would you care to open the door for me?" The guard obeyed without question and unlocked the door. "Thank you." Then, he walked in, locking the door behind himself.
"Did he just…Thank you?" The other guard asked.
"Yeah…" The other replied, equally stunned. "He must be in a good mood."
That much Leon was, as once inside the main office, he began to look around. First, he tried the desk, rummaging through the drawers for anything that screamed Great King Faction to him. There was nothing in the drawers, and he even checked for secret compartments as well. Nothing. His sights, however, turned to the large bookshelf to the side. Now, why would such an influential man have so many books in their office? Especially when they have an entire private library?
The books there were not even rare titles. Leon chuckled. The Devil Society might be sly, but it was also unbearably arrogant. Leon approached the bookshelf, checked the books, and noted how neatly they were arranged. They were arranged by title and series in alphabetical order. But he saw an inconsistency.
The first shelf, all the way to the top, was missing Volume 6 of one of the books, which later appeared four books to the right on the shelf below. Then, looking at the third shelf, Leon noted another out-of-place book three spots to the left of the previous one. Then another, two spots to the right. And finally, one last misplaced book, one spot to the left, on the very last shelf.
"Hello there." Leon grabbed it and noticed that the book, despite its apparent thickness, was lighter than it should be. Opening it, he saw why. It was no book, just a bunch of paper bound together in fancy leather to make a fake book. He had found them. Grabbing them, Leon pulled out several small envelopes containing letters. The seal on them confirmed it, too…The Great King Faction.
He opened one, checking the contents to confirm it, and nodding his head, he was satisfied with what he found. Now came the good part: making sure the specific letter they wanted was there.
"Jackpot." Cleria Belial…He had found the letter with the details they required. It spoke clearly of the House of Bael's involvement in the murder and cover-up, including the clear treachery of them and other Houses which allied themselves with the Church to, as far as the church knew, break up a forbidden love, whilst secretly, the Great King Faction cared only for the secret of the King Pieces being kept. "With this, a lot of heads will roll."
"Mayhaps, but you will get to use it." Leon turned sharply to the door, seeing none other than the current Lady Bael herself standing there. "I must say, the fact you were able to trick the guards so easily and even disguise yourself as my husband is quite the feat in itself. However, you are not good enough to fool me, so why not drop the disguise?"
"And reveal my face? No chance." He grinned, storing the letters in his pocket. "Now, how about you move aside? I am already aware you rank only just a sliver above a Mid-Class Devil, woman, so let's not make things go south."
The woman chuckled. "Dear me, you must not know much then... about my heritage." She lifted her hand. "Before my marriage, I was known as Selene Leraje!" Leon's eyes widened as a bow grew in her hands, vines, and roots becoming solid, and a vine turning into the string in an instant. The moment she pulled the string back, an arrow GREW there, and she let it loose. Leon attempted to dodge, but the arrow managed to scratch his thigh.
What was worst…He felt the wound starting to worsen and fester quickly. "The power of the Leraje House, masters of archery…Those arrows cause wounds to worsen instantly."
"Well-informed." She aimed another arrow at him, several guards surrounding him. "Now, how about you surrender those letters quietly?"
"So, you are in on the entire thing, huh?" Leon asked.
"My husband told me when I accidentally read those letters. Made me swear to keep the secret." She recounted. "Now, hand them over."
"Hmmm. How about I tell you to stuff your used-up cunt with petrol instead?" Leon replied with a wide grin, his words making even the guards flinch. Selene, however, was not about to let those words slide, so she let loose another arrow.
But just in time, a magical circle appeared, causing the arrow to change course and enter the ceiling. "What?!" Selene gasped, watching as two individuals teleported right into the room. "Impossible! No user of teleportation magic can pinpoint this exact room!"
"Maybe," George said, then pointed at Leon. "But he is wearing a beacon."
"A beacon?!" She took a step back.
"Dan, George! What took you fuckers so long, my leg is killing me now!" Leon said as he dropped his disguise.
"Our apologies, but Lord Bael proved to be better at tracking than we originally anticipated. It took us time to shake him off." Danbooru replied. "George, get us out of here."
"Get them!" Selene ordered, firing another arrow at George, but Danbooru was swift to catch it. This had her breathing hitch seeing the large man so easily catch one of her arrows and, worst of all…He was not getting harmed by the magic in it.
"Now."
"Right away," George replied, the magical circle under them glowing brightly. The guards tried to get them, but as the light blinded everyone in the room, no one could so much as get close. By the time the light died down, the trio was gone. And Selene knew what this meant.
"Ma'am…Lord Bael will not be happy," the guard replied, aware only that sensible information had been stolen.
"No…He will not be." Yet something else bothered her. The man, George, who was with them… looked very similar to someone she knew.
"FUCK!" Leon shouted as George was treating his wound. "Careful, light eyes!"
"Your wound has already produced a very nasty infection! Unless you want this to get septic, I suggest you stand still. I am barely able to keep up with the power of the Leraje, as is my skill in healing magic." George replied, focusing on trying to fix the wound on Leon's leg. The group had escaped, and now, they have taken shelter in a cavern they agreed on beforehand. They were deep within unclaimed territory. To this day, some places that belonged to extinct houses are unclaimed by the survivors.
"Fuck…How is it, Dan? Is that everything, at least?" Leon asked as the large man inspected each of the letters.
"And more. The incident that saw the death of the Belial girl was one of many political murders orchestrated by the Great King Faction, and the Bael seem to have been their main cover-up allies." Danbooru replied, reading the letters one by one.
"Figures. Their Power of Destruction is perfect for erasing evidence." Leon stated.
"In a way that makes it impossible for them to recover—or rather, nigh-impossible to recover," George said.
"With this, we can set a great chain of events in motion. My contact has already agreed to publish copies of those letters, meaning that the next phase of our plans is nigh." Danbooru put the letter he was reading down. "We have in our hands the dagger that will plunge into the hearts of the kings, my friends. We are close."
"So, what now?" George asked.
"Now? We act and watch Rome burn."