Chapter 2: Reborn Again

My name is Issei Hyoudou, and I was killed days ago by a creature that had disguised itself as a high schooler. I was lured into a park where I was killed near a fountain, the next day I faced a similar fate by a man who had chosen to hunt me down until stabbing me through the heart.

I was in the process of moving on through the afterlife, however I was not allowedto. Instead, a terrifying man told me that I was not allowed to due to my soul being trapped in this world, however, he gave me the choice of being resurrected under one condition; I live my life for my own sake and not allow anyone to take that from me again.

I agreed, having seen nothing to lose in that deal. He granted me enough power to deal with the creature who killed me I had managed to kill that bastard and scatter his remains in the forest.

I had made a deal with the Devil and at this moment.

'I regret nothing.' I had thought to myself, even if it were a few days since then I knew that something terrible was coming my way.

I didn't go to school; in fact, I didn't think it was smart to leave my home at all. Even though I had killed that one creature, I knewthere were others out there looking for me.

I stayed alone in my room, the light was always off. It didn't matter anyway since my vision had been adapted to the darkness. All I saw was red like a night vision goggle. All my senses had been increased tenfold; I felt superhuman.

After I had killed that creature, I passed out, waking up the next morning to find myself in an almost paralyzed state, my chest felt as if it had been torn apart. After a few hours, I managed to crawl back home.

Now that it's been a few days since I got back home, I was able to think about what was next for me.

I kept thinking about the fight, the source of power that had been implanted within me, and the bright shining red light that manifested on my arm. A red gauntlet with green gems, something draconic in nature.

I remember the dark and ancient voice that awoken from the red gauntlet, I've only heard that voice in my dreams since then. His name was Ddraig, he was a powerful dragon from a time long ago, eventually, he and another dragon were killed by beings from the Bible including the Biblical God. At first, I thought he was crazy, butthen it occurred to me that I was hearing voices and had died twice.

I had been born with a device given to me by the Biblical God called a Sacred Gear, my best guess is that it was the reason that Yuuma killed me.

'If you want someone to blame, then blame Him. He gave you the sacred gear after all.'

I can still hear her voice, that damned bitch's voice tormenting me!

I wish I could kill her, take revenge for that day. Taking advantage of me and my nature as a horny desperate teenager, luring me into my first death.

There were no do-overs this time, I have one life left to live. I was weak, that one great boost of power had sapped my body to breaking point, andsince then I haven't been able to replicate it.

How was I supposed to defeat her if I was weaker now than before I died the second time?

I haven't been able to eat much since then, my stomach has been churning every time my mom brought food up to my room. I haven't spoken to either of them since I got home, I can't take this much longer.

'How am I supposed to live my life for myself if I can't even manage to leave my room?' it was something I hadn't been able to fight against.

I was going to starve at this rate, not even miso soup was appetizing. My favorite meal to get me to heal from sickness was now a turn-off, why me?

I haven't gone to school either, or there were no reports of anything happening in the park regarding the explosions. I would have guessed that no one was able to detect our fight, or it was just like what happened with Yuuma when she erased the memories of my friends who said that they didn't know who she was.

Those two must have been partners in crime, they were both the same creature anyway. It's all making me wonder, were there others in Kuoh too? I mean it wouldn't be impossible since I didn't even know they existed two days ago.

'I was going to have to kill a lot of them, freeing this town was a part of my will. It was my desire.' To live my life the way I wanted, and all I wanted was revenge… *grumbling*

… and something to eat.

(Scene Break)

I had gone to the grocery store, during the designated lunchtime that Kuoh Academy. It was odd that I had made the time, but it wasn't a bother. As I was looking around, I could see some of my fellow students were there too.

I had put on my school uniform, but only the red shirt I normally wore and the white overshirt. I had buttoned it up fully for once unlike the normal open concept I'm used to. It was a similar look to what my buddies do, the jacket was just too much.

I wasn't particularly athletic; however, I still had a good frame to improve on. Given enough time I should be able to put on a bit of muscle without slowing myself down.

I had to get stronger anyway, protein was necessary for muscle growth. I remember something about it in anatomy, a lot of things about the human body were odd yet incredible.

Going down the grain aisle I soon found myself in front of instant ramen. Looking around at the different containers it only seemed to offset me.

"These won't do, I need something real." I picked up one of the ramen cups.

'SPICY BEEF FLAVORED' I read the label as the images of a steak and peppers seemed enticing, more the fact a steak would be more favorable.

I put the cup down and walked over toward the butcher, walking past people as my mind began to race as the thought of a steak began to make my mouth water.

As I got closer to the butcher counter I stopped in my tracks, the aroma that invaded my nostrils began to activate something in my senses. I was getting hungrier, a lot hungrier.

'Blood.' I thought to myself as I walked over, looking at the fresh selection of meats that were laying on ice in front of me. Behind the counter in a kitchen, I could see a man sharpening knives, his white apron and gloves having a very familiar sight, flowing crimson running down them.

As I looked down at one of the sirloins a voice called out to me.

"Anything I can help you with sir?" I looked up to see the butcher standing in front of me with a smile on his face. I looked back down and pointed to one of the steaks I could hear calling my name.

"I'll take that one." I said timidly, it was almost impossible to hide the fact I was starving.

"Good choice, just meet me by the register over there and we can get you on your way." I walked away as the butcher grabbed the steak, finding it hard to look away I bit down onto the inside of my mouth; however, a sharp pain forced me to let go.

The taste of blood began to riddle my senses, and realization hit me once more.

'My teeth had become sharper since that day in the park, my canines were especially dangerous now.' I would have to be careful not to bite my tongue or it would come clean off. Damnit, what all did my do to change?

I can't be human anymore, some of the changes occurred after Yuuma killed me, what am I?

Even though I had barely lived life itself I's sure that what am now is much more than just human, did I become a demon after making a pact with the devil?

That would make sense, I did find the oddities that I was starting to crave more animalistic.

Licking the open wound in my mouth I found the blood inside somewhat tasty.

That and meat, raw meat seemed so appealing. I wanted to tear that steak apart with my teeth like a rabid animal. A bear upon an elk or a shark against a seal.

I quickly paid for the slab of meat and walked out of the store. I was ready to tear this thing apart as it was, I could feel myself drooling over the thought of sinking my teeth into its flesh.

(scene break)

It wasn't until a couple of days later that I had decided to leave my room again, I had eaten that steak as if it were the last thing I ever would. It was scary for the people who were watching me as I tore it apart in the park, I don't know why I would even go back there.

Currently I was walking though the downtown area of Kuoh, back in the day there was a large economic boom, up until some years ago a lot of places moved out altogether. In their wake there were a large number of abandoned places, a lot of homeless people used to stay here actually until recently.

"Missing persons had been reported, not even the police could solve anything." Kuoh seemed to have gotten more dangerous, especially knowing that those creatures were still lurking around.

I wasn't going to let them hunt me for much longer, I know that they wanted me dead, I was going to kill them all.

"Help me!" cried a voice from an abandoned warehouse, my attention quickly turned to what sounded like a woman. At first, I wanted to make my over there, but my instincts told me otherwise, I couldn't tell much but I knew it wasn't human.

I continued my walk, if I were to take the bait, I know I would die or worse. One of my sharpest senses since I made that pact with the Devil has been my instincts to sense danger.

As I continued to walk down the street, even increasing my pace I could feel something watching me, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being stalked.

A predator watching its prey from behind cover, in my case I wasn't ready for what would come after me knowing it was ready to pounce.

These massive factories that once were the most bustling places in all of Kuoh were turned into a barren and void landscape, except in this moment I could feel whatever was watching me get closer.

"I smell something bad. But I also smell something delicious. I wonder if it's sweet, or if it's bitter?" Spoke a voice as the figure of a woman began peering from around a nearby building.

Even with my senses blaring I knew this wasn't everything, but even in my state of survival I couldn't help but notice her chest.

Her massive breast and sexy body were all I could see; I wanted to get my hands on them.

NO! NOT NOW

I shook my head and started backing away. This was a trap, that figure must have lured others in as well.

"Come now boy, don't you want to play with me?" spoke the woman in a seductive voice, my heart strings were being pulled as if my mind was tearing itself apart.

"Live for yourself." My own mind was still weak, even when I was fighting for my life, I couldn't keep myself focused on that guy Dohnaseek. I was worried about it so much at that moment but now it was against my instincts and my filthy mind.

I turned around and started running, if I was going to die it wouldn't be due to my old obsession with tits, I wanted to live freely for once.

As I was starting to run, I could hear the thumping of something large behind me.

"To hell with it all." I remarked before turning back around, much to my horror in front of me was a massive creature with a woman's torso attached to the body of a… a centaur? Another bad feeling started to pump through my veins, short white hair and teeth sharp as knives. Below a massive mouth in the center of her underbelly, this creature was going to eat me.

I needed that power I used against Dohnaseek, even if it was going to strain my body more now since I've haven't been eating.

"Focus." I knew that I needed to focus, I've seen it multiple times in those anime's where the bad guys are crazy strong. Focus all your energy on one point and unleash it to awaken, like Dragon Boy Z.

"I smell a virgin's scent on you. You'll make me stronger if I ate you whole!" I closed my eyes as the monster jumped at me with its massive beastly mouth opening. I could feel it, the sense of dread inching closer.

CHOMP

I could feel the warm slimy insides of its mouth, yet I still found a way to keep calm.

This thing was going to eat me, it wanted to kill me.

I won't let it, if I do then there will be no third chance for me.

From within the depths of me I could feel that anger starting to manifest, growing more and more together until my left arm was warming up. I tried to free myself, but my knees couldn't budge against the inside of this throat.

My left arm, if I could manifest that gauntlet again, I could tear through and escape.

I tried, Ddraig wasn't responding. Damnit, I'm still too weak to call upon him. I'll die here, give me something!

As the air began to thin, I began to struggle to breathe, incidentally I ended up biting down on my tongue.

That delicious metallic taste, a crimson liquid.

…

An idea popped into my mind; I still have sharper teeth. It might be nasty but it's all I can do.

With all my strength I opened my mouth all could manage and bit down against the slimy inside of this thing.

Once my teeth had sunk into it, I bit down as hard as I could.

Blood started to pour on me, my strength felt as if it had been revitalized. My eyes focused and was able to muster enough strength to push against this thing.

It was then I could feel something in my left arm, a slight green glow was shining from it. I must have manifested it again; I needed to do something.

I extended the claws of the gauntlet and began slashing into the walls of the throat, combining with my teeth I began to tear myself out through these things' back.

Once again, I could see the night sky, my clothes were torn, and blood was everywhere. I turned around to find that thing running into a nearby warehouse.

I could have escaped then and there, but something else was bothering me. My stomach was growling, not to mention that thing might eat more people.

I ran after it.

Inside the warehouse it nearly pitch black aside from the few holes in the roof letting the moonlight in.

I stepped carefully, the smell of blood was everywhere. It was overwhelming, my focus was off. However my vision was still weird, everything was in a bright red color similar to night vision.

"You bastard, how did you get out~" that creatures voice had rang out, from every direction?

Something told me to duck, luckily, I managed to slip past a quick swipe of a claw. However, it still managed to scratch my back. I could feel the flowing blood starting to soak up into my shirt.

I turned my back to the ground and aimed my gauntlet at the ceiling, I still couldn't see it.

It must have been moving too fast, but it was hurt. I tore a massive chuck out of it already, so what possibly could keep it alive? What could I do? How did I manage to beat that guy in the forest… an explosion.

I used all the power I could and formed an orb at the palm of the gauntlet, before detonating it against him.

All I had to do was get one good hit into it!

"Come on you bastard!" I shouted into the air, I felt like I was getting stronger. The energy I felt earlier was starting to come back to me, if I could then I should be able to get strong enough.

I looked right, narrowly avoiding another incoming claw. I grabbed onto the arm of the creature and pulled it toward the ground, it was strong. Yet I still managed to pull it down.

It was then when it had gotten mere inches from me I could tell what exactly I was facing.

This thing was massive, probably the size of a house. A mixture of a spider and demon, this thing was nasty.

I took my gauntlet and drove it against the creatures abdomen, narrowly avoiding the giant mouth that nearly chomped down on me again.

"Just die already." Shouted the beast as is made distance between us, it puffed its chest out and its exposed breast were blocked by strange glowing circles.

Before I could question it lasers seemed to shoot out of them towards me.

I ducked, barely missing the blast.

"Fucking nipple lazers! Wtf is going on." I moved around again, dodging its swiping attacks from left to right.

I needed to kill this thing, just like that guy in the forest. I needed another Dragon Shot to kill it.

"Alright Sacred Gear let's do this." I wasn't going to let this thing kill me, I wasn't dying again.

The gauntlet began to glow.

[Boost]

I could feel more power starting to draw towards my arm, a small red sphere developing in my palm.

It was too weak, I needed more time to pull strength from the depths of my body. It was hard, a fight for survival.

*Growl*

My stomach made a painful growling noise, I was hungry again.

I continued to dodge the swipes from the monster, thinking about how I could defeat it.

When I had taken a bite out of its throat I got a small boost the rejuvenated my body, just the thought of taking another bite out of it was getting me hungry. Saliva began to fill my mouth, until a small taste of blood made its way onto my tongue.

I had an idea, but it could end up getting me killed.

[Boost]

The second boost made my knees feel heavy, I was nowhere near the level of strength I needed to fight this thing.

Instead I ran towards it, keeping my arm readied.

The monster opened its large mouth once again, I jumped forward into it.

Instantly I felt the walls of its mouth close around me, the pressure nearly crushing me, however I was keeping it from closing all the way with my legs.

From my angle it was like stopping two stone walls from closing together, only a matter of time before they broke me in half.

I looked down the throat of the monster, aiming my arm I knew I had to take this thing out from a vulnerability.

As I tried to move it was getting harder and harder as the strength in my legs was beginning to be sapped out.

It was hard, a lot harder than I thought it would have been. I was going to die here, again.

It was getting funny at this point, dying alone and afraid. Twice in the park and now in some random building away from my family.

The mouth of the monster was getting tighter, the pressure in my lungs felt as if it were going to explode.

Flashes of memories were playing, and a set of yellow eyes made me freeze.

That man, the one who gave me a second chance. I made a deal, even if it wasn't going to workout I still wanted to live for myself. I needed to look deeper within myself, I needed to get stronger.

"Then call upon him, and he will provide the power you need." In a twisted and corrupt voice someone called out. It wasn't around me, it was in my head or rather somewhere much deeper.

Call upon him, the sacred gear. There was something within it,

[Boost]

That's right, there was someone inside who possessed that mighty ancient voice. It was the dragon, a symbol of power and strength.

"Give me everything you have dragon!" I shouted out with the little breath I had left, the pain shooting through my body began to run rampant.

A glowing green light then shot out of the gauntlet, and the orb in front grew. I looked away towards the light from the opening in the jaws of this creature. I focused everything into the dragon shot.

I reeled my arm back and smacked it forward with everything I had left.

BOOM

I was sent flying across the large room that this creature had retreated to. I smacked the ground hard, my arm going numb as a headache rang out.

The sound of flesh and blood smacking the ground before everything fell silent brought me comfort.

I opened one of my eyes, in the center of the room only the legs of that beast were still standing. Its entire upper body had been destroyed by that dragon shot; I smiled before fading into darkness.

(scene break)

After some time had passed, I woke up in the same room where I had killed that creature.

The smell of blood, this monster's blood was driving me crazy. My stomach was growling, an act I used to think was repulsive was tempting me closer.

I walked over toward the corpse of the monster; its grotesque body and disfigured torso were massive. If it weren't for this abandoned warehouse this thing would have had no chance of hiding out in this town.

I grabbed onto an arm that had been blown off, the blood that poured from the separated elbow made me sweat nervously. My canine teeth had sharpened since I was resurrected, but now more of my teeth were transforming, sharper, and terrifying.

My stomach did not turn I couldn't help but…

Chomp

I sank my teeth deep into the arm, tightening my jaw before tearing out a large chunk of flesh which caused blood to pour onto my shirt.

The taste was different, it was savory. I wanted to eat even more, I was starting to get even hungrier. I began to take more and more bites out of the arm until it had been stripped of flesh to the point only bone remained.

I could feel all the tiredness from my body begin to fade, even though I had spent a large amount of my energy killing this Viser thing I no longer felt tired.

I stopped and dropped the arm onto the ground, I then fell to my knees.

The sudden realization that I had eaten another human-like creature, looked like a normal woman before revealing its monstrous body.

'Stray Devil.' Isn't that what it called itself? No, I made a deal with the Devil, then what was this? Are we the same? Will I end up like this?

Despite my body being replenished the act of eating a devil was… otherworldly. Was I supposed to feel this much better physically after eating a stray devil?

[It seems eating the flesh has made you stronger, despite its odd outcome it seems that eating a strong opponent would allow you to grow in power as well.] The light on the back of my gauntlet began to glow as the voice awoke once more.

"What the hell is going on?" I asked it, hoping for something that could solve my mental war. Wait stronger?

[I'm not quite sure, however I can tell your body is quickly replenishing from the flesh of that devil you ate.] The voice made me look over toward the string of meat in my hand, immediately I could feel the ease of pain in my body.

"I 've seen this before, in manga I've read where eating the flesh of people or enemies made the characters stronger. I'm so hungry, yet this feels so disgusting." I was confused, would this mean I would have to be a cannibal.

Is it cannibalism? I'm not human anymore for sure. Yet, I still feel like I am.

[It is odd, you were human. However, from what I can tell you are a devil as well.] The voice had confirmed something I didn't want to hear.

I was reincarnated into a devil, that was the price for freedom and my own will.

All I knew is that there was going to be some problems ahead of me, and I wasn't willing to die again for it.